HARVARD UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

OF THK

GRAY HERBARIUM

Received

THE

FLORIST, FRUITIST,

AND

GAEDEN MISCELLANY.

1861.

LONDON ;

PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 162, FLEET STEEET, E,C.,
MENZIES, EDINBURGH ; M‘GLASIIAN, DUBLIN ;

AND ALL BOOKSELLEES.

xlCjuiX. V^U-

London :

J’rlatccl by Truscott, Son, & Simmons,
Suffolk Lane, City

THE

FLORIST, FRUITIST, AND GARDEN

MISCELLANY.

L ■ E N V 0 I.

In looking back at the announcement we made at the begin¬
ning of last year with regard to our intentions, we can, with
some degree of confidence, say that the promises we then
made have been fulfilled ; during a season of almost un¬
exampled severity, as far as floriculture is concerned, we have
endeavoured to keep alive the interest of our readers in the
ever enticing field to which our attention has been devoted.
This has been no easy matter when flowers were draggled and
torn, and fruit tasteless and scarce ; but we held on our way
steadily, and owing to the kindliness of our various contributors,
we have been enabled to place before our friends, from time to
time, various items of interest, and to give correct and pleasing
portraits of either new favourites, or older ones revived. And
now we desire to say a word or two for the future. The year
1861 will be memorable in the annals of horticulture, inas¬
much as it will witness the revival of the Horticultural Society
in more than its former vigour. It has at last escaped from
the trammels of red-tapism and exclusiveness, with which it
was so long bound, and has acknowledged the just claim of
florists to a share in its favours and rewards. The statement
of its intended proceedings at Kensington Gore fully attest
this. A grand flower show is announced for June ; a Eose
show for July; a fruit and cut flower show in September:
and a Chrysanthemum show in November : that they will
be a great success we have little doubt, and we hope to
chronicle them in due course and as the Floral and Fruit

* The following plan of arrangenaents, &c., is given by the Gar¬
deners' Chronicle on authority : —

In the grand general exhibition in June, when the garden will be formally
opened, in addition to prizes varying in value from £l to £20 for Orchids,
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Roses, general collections, fruit, and other usual
subjects of competition, we find the following new classes : Dracsenas and

VOL. XV., NO. CLVII. B

2

THE FLORTST.

Committees are now acknowledged to be the court of appeal
on all novelties, we shall endeavour to give reports of their
meetings as they occur. Our old friend, the Koyal Botanic
Society, will not he forgotten amidst the flourish of trumpets
and burning of blue lights with which the Horticultural Society
will he ushered in. Its voice must be heard. Any other
exhibitions of real interest — not forgetting our own child, the
National Eose Show — will also be recorded.

We have to thank our various kind friends and contributors
for the manner in which they have assisted our humble endea¬
vours, and while soliciting a renewal of their labours on our
behalf, we beg to express a hope that others will give us the
benefit of their experience. Let none think any item of intel¬
ligence too common-place ; even lists of flowers which bloom
well in various localities would be a desideratum, and perhaps
help to soften down many a hard word levelled against those
who have raised them. There is one part of our serial in which
we have been most anxious to attain to eminence, viz., our
Calendar. The departments pertaining to greenhouse and
stove culture, and those of the fruit and kitchen garden, will
still fall to the share of the same able hands who conducted
them during the past season, and we fear not to appeal to our
readers as to whether they have not given general satisfaction.
In the department of florists’ flowers an alteration will take
place : Mr. Charles Turner, of the Eoyal Nurseries, Slough,
will duly record, from month to month, the necessary treat¬
ment of florists’ flowers intended for exhibition, and his

Cordylines, Sikkim or Bhotan Rhododendrons, Begonias, Tree Ferns, tuberous
Tropseolums, and Wardian cases filled with plants effectively arranged.
Moreover, “ Special prizes for the best group of three baskets of fruit and
flowers, for the decoration of the dinner tables, are offered by C. Wentworth
Dilke, Esq., V.P.H.S. ; first prize, £10 ; second, £5 ; third, £3 ; fourth, £2.
Beautiful arrangement will be the test of merit in this exhibition ; valuable
flowers or fruit are therefore not demanded. Each set must consist of three
baskets. Ladies are invited to join in the competition. The prizes will be
awarded by a Jury of ladies.” Here we have a very important new feature,
and artistic skill may now distinguish itself as well as skill in cultivation.
Extremely liberal arrangements are made for the issue of passes and break¬
fast tickets to exhibitors, but “ no exhibitor can take more than eight passes
or eight breakfast tickets.” At the grand Rose show, in July, 14 classes
are formed, with prizes varying from £l to £7. Three classes for Roses
in pots, one for a basket or vase, and the remainder are to be cut. The
September Dahlia show also admits Roses, Hollyhocks, German and French
Asters, Gladioli, and Phloxes; the prizes vary from 10s. to £10. Finally,
the Chi .ithemum and fruit exhibition, in the beginning of November,
which wai last for two days, is to consist of 14 classes of Chrysanthemums
and about 40 of fruit. Among the former the prizes run from 5s. to £6;
among the latter the highest is £6, the lowest 10s. In addition to the
ordinary arrangements for a fruit show, prizes are offered for stewed Pears,
Pommes tapes, and Oranges and Lemons, we presume of home growth.

irwr-'m.-''P

Auricala .

Noji^o Sf/i7-

PIa-te]7?

P'lnxm ^ 'huJb'^^ \

Aruir^-^^ i Zma'

JANUARY.

3

success as an exhibitor will be a guarantee of the value and
accuracy of his directions. To the bumble individual who
conducted that department last year will be assigned a corner
in the calendar for what small gardeners should do each
month — his own square inch, which has caused many a
smile on the countenances of those who have seen it, will be
taken as a sample of many others, and it is hoped that those
similarly circumstanced will derive some little instruction from
what he may detail.

Having thus spoken of the past, and detailed our plans for
the future, we have nought now to do but to wish our many
readers, according to good old English custom, Happy New
Year.” It may be true, if our weather-wise folks he correct,
that we are to anticipate another wet and stormy season, that
they may have difficulties to contend with, hut we doubt not
that they will recollect that, in the pursuit of floriculture, as
well as of every other object of man’s desire, heavenly or
earthly, the word is true which says —

“Amor omnia vincit.’*

Deal) December 18. D.

AURICULAS.

WITH AN ILLUSTRATION OF RICHMOND’S NORTH STAR.

(Plate 172.)

Revenons a nous moutons,” the “ moutons” in this case
being Auriculas; and though it be the cold and dormant
month of December, and our frames with four inches of snow
on them, the sight of this new and apparently handsome
variety awakens many a pleasing reminiscence, and kindles
many a bright expectation. Already we fancy we see the
frames opened to the morning sun, the plants under the influ¬
ence of its rays, and the good and careful top-dressing they
have received expanding their leaves, which come up from
some unknown region, the truss pushing its way up, and even
the whole stud in the full vigour of bloom. This is, however,
but fancy’s sketch, and we must come down to sober realities,
and say a few words on self-coloured Auriculas in general, and
of this North Star in particular.

I have very little doubt that to the ol ttoWoi this class has
more attractions than any other, and the amateur knows very
well that his frame would have an appearance of great same¬
ness were it not for the sprinkling of the many beautiful
varieties of them that he is enabled to intersperse amongst
them, and considering how many of them come from every pan

4

THE FLORIST.

of seedlings, it is rather a matter of astonishment that more
first-rate varieties have not been obtained. Indeed, this whole
subject of Auricula seedlings has been in a most unsatisfactory
state ; the number of persons who have taken honours in them
has been very small, and even they have been satisfied with a
lower standard of excellence than they ought to have been, and
consequently, for want of better, some have been admitted into
the list of stage Auriculas which are doomed sooner or later
to be expunged from it. I use the expression “have been,”
because I see symptoms of a great revolution coming on, at
present somewhat like the mysterious movements of Garibaldi
at Genoa, when whispered intimations were all that could be
obtained of that mighty band which has/ though small in
numbers, swept away an ancient monarchy, and, as usual, the
earliest note is from our canny and persevering friends north
of the Tweed. Already we have received an instalment of
what they mean to do ; Lightbody, Campbell, and others have
added some most desirable varieties to our lists, while the
former gentleman tells me that “some astonishing flowers
in greens, whites, and seifs have been raised there lately — one
green which beats all others.” This is not the opinion of a
young and inexperienced cultivator, seeing in his own children
nothing but perfection, but of a veteran in the service, who,
comparing the progeny of his neighbours with perhaps the best
collection in the kingdom, thus deliberately pronounces his
dictum. And can any one tell me how it is that the Scotch
florists, with climate against them, do thus succeed ? In
Eanunculuses and Pansies they have long been ahead of us,
and now they seem determined to get before us in Auriculas
also, although some southern growers are earnestly trying what
they can do (indeed, I know of one instance in which a variety
has been lent, for the purpose of cross-breeding, a hundred
miles ofi*), and there is some comfort in thinking that, canny
though the northerns be, it will be some time before they can
beat Chapman’s Maria. Well, there is room enough for all,
and it would be a shame if, with all our advantages, we allow
ourselves to be beaten.

With regard to the illustration, Eichmond’s North Star, I
know nothing of the flower, save from hearsay and the plate,
and I know some say you cannot trust plates, and instance the
figures given in the Florist of Oxonian and Maria. In
looking at the former again, I do not hesitate to say it is a
correct representation of the flower; it exhibits just that defect
which is fatal to it — the muddiness of the paste; and when to
that is added the statement that it was raised from Fair Eosa-
mond, I wonder that any one should have expected a first-rate
variety from it. Then as to Maria, I am somewhat to blame

JANUARY.

5

in the faultiness of that, which I own fails on the side not
generally where failure takes place, in not being at all equal to
the original — but the fault is not Mr. Andrews’s. I did not
know his exact address, and finding a Mr. Andrews, an artist,
in the directory, sent my truss there, and when I found out my
mistake could only send him a pip from a second bloom, and
this doubtless was not at all as good as it ought to have been.
I can say nothing about North Star; the colour is lovely,
reminding one ot Headly’s Apollo, but better in shape. I should
feel inclined to say, from its appearance, that it has too many
petals, and would perhaps cup. But if the drawing be a cor¬
rect portrait, it will be well worthy of a place in every collec¬
tion. The following notes of a few of the best selfs out I have
added from personal observation this year : —

Blackbird (Spalding’s). — A remarkably fine-looking flower, having a
fine bold pip of a dark maroon colour, paste good, eye bright orange —
having, however, one fault, the anthers project too much above the eye,
making it what we call thrum-eyed ; the foliage is long and smooth, and
the plant vigorous.

Bessy Bell (Spalding’s). Another good flower by the same raiser. I had
but a small plant ; it was not with me so vigorous in growth, or so large a
plant, but promised well.

Hannibal (Faulkner’s). — There is a good deal of discussion about this
flower, which it owes to my having re-introduced it from Ireland — some
asserting it is the same as Squire Munday ; this I cannot determine, not
having that flower. Hannibal is a fine foliaged plant, with meal on the
midrib ; the pip is large, rather flimsy, bright maroon, eye orange ; a good
constitutioncd plant, and always ready for an exhibition table.

Meteor Flag (Lightbo<ly). — The plant is mealy throughout, the leaves
long and serrated, pip circular, and the colour a lively blue ; it has, however,
the appearance of being divided into segments, which gives it a curious
appearance, not adding to its beauty.

Othello (Netherwood). — A robust green-foliaged plant, the flower-stem
too long, the pips of a dark maroon colour, very pretty when it first opens,
but has the defect of throwing back the petals after a few days.

Mrs. Sturrock (Martin). — Foliage mealy and pointed, increases well,
pips round, colour almost a crimson, very striking on a stage; eye would be
better if a little deeper.

Metropolitan (Parker’s). — Foliage very small; indeed, in the winter
the plant looks as if it were vanishing altogether, but it revives wonderfully
in the spring, and always throws up a large truss of a beautiful plum colour,
somewhat shaded, as if it had an Alpine parentage on one side ; the eye is
orange. I have never met Redmayne’s Metropolitan, which this is often
sold as.

Mrs. Smith (Smith’s). — Strong-habited plant, colour deep indigo blue, eye
light, a tolerably good trusser, and generally speaking a very desirable variety.

Eclipse (Martin). — Foliage smooth and mealy, the pip somewhat under¬
sized, a good colour, dark plum ; were the flower larger it would be a first-
rate variety.

Chapman’s Squire Smith was very poor with me this year. Headlt’s
Aurora too small ; others I cannot speak much about, but hope to take
notes of them another year.

Deal, Dec. 24,

D.

6

THE FLORIST.

THE ORANGE.

The Orange — by which I mean large Orange-trees, such as may be
seen in the Crystal Palace at the present time — has not been very suc¬
cessfully treated in Britain, although from time to time many fine
specimens have been imported from the continent. I cannot help
thinking that the great drawback to the culture of the Orange in
Britain (both great and small) is chiefly owing to the bad winter treat¬
ment which it receives. Gentlemen who visit France are shown the
“ Orangerie” at Versailles and other places where the Orange is grown,
and they conclude that, because the magnificent trees they see there
have been wintered for generations in the basement stories of their
palaces, all they require in this country are similar places, and that any
dark building which will exclude frost is all that is necessary to winter
them in. That this treatment has killed a large number of trees we
have good evidence. Two noblemen whom we knew, and who imported
large trees into their gardens, were of another opinion. One erected a
costly edifice for their reception, with an opaque roof, which in time was
the death of all his trees ; this we venture to say would not have been
the case if a building had been provided with a glass roof. In France,
where the climate is warmer and much drier than with us, the Orange-
tree commences to grow soon after it is placed out of doors, and as the
trees are pruned into very symmetrical shapes they are gone over two
or three times during the summer season, and all the shoots stopped
back, to produce the formal shaped heads so invariably seen in France.
This species of pruning has the effect of inducing an early maturation
of the wood, by admitting the sun and air to the whole surface of the
tree, and by the time they are housed (generally the middle of October)
the summer's wood is well ripened and the trees are nearly in a state of
rest, and do not therefore suffer during their hybernation, if the venti¬
lation of the buildings is attended to, and frost is excluded. Owing to
the long rest they get, and the well-ripened state of their wood, the trees
commence blooming early in the spring ; as the bloom is all picked off
for commercial purposes, the trees soon recover themselves and com¬
mence their summer growth. In Britain, the trees bloom at a later
period, and of course make their growth correspondingly later than in
France ; and as they rarely, if ever, get any of the close stopping prac¬
tised on the continent, no assistance is given to the ripening process,
and the trees are placed in their winter quarters with their wood
imperfectly ripened, and even in late seasons like the present without
having completed it, and it frequently happens that during winter these
immaturely formed leaves drop off.

It is therefore obvious that if the Orange is to be kept in health in
our climate, the natural heat of the season required to ripen the current
year’s shoots must be supplied by artificial means, and this can only be
accomplished by wintering the trees under a glass roof, where the light
they will receive, aided by a little sun-heat and a dry atmosphere, for
the six w^eeks following their being placed in their winter- quarters, will
produce the same effect as the generally warni, dry autumns of the

JANUARY.

7

continent, and we see no reason why, with these precautions, large
Orange-trees may not be cultivated in England. It is generally thought
that growing them under glass forces the trees too much. We have
not found such to be the case. The trees will bloom probably in March
and April, and will commence growing directly afterwards, or about
the time they are removed to the open air, as we attach considerable
importance to the growth being made out of doors. When we find that
the wood has become ripened, which it will be by the beginning of
December, the house is kept no warmer than merely to exclude frost,
and a large share of ventilation is given daily, keeping the air of the
house at the same time as dry as is practicable. It is very desirable that
the heads of the trees stand clear of each other, for each tree must be
considered as a specimen, whose form and symmetry it is of the utmost
importance to keep perfect, and this can only be done by taking care
no injury befalls the leaves by overcrowding. When the summer
shoots have made some progress, they should be gone over and all the
strong ones pinched back, to encourage the weaker ones ; and at this
time, which will generally be about the middle of July, a few of the
shoots, where they are too thick, may probably require thinning out ; in
September the trees must be gone over again, and each shoot not pre¬
viously stopped have its point pinched out. This practice assists the
Orange-tree in two ways ; it increases the size of the leaves left, and
permits the wood to ripen much better than it otherwise would. In
fact, we should treat them as Mr. Rivers does his Apricots and Cherries
in pots, to keep the trees furnished equally all over with bloom-buds,
and also within a limited space as to size. It is impossible here to
enumerate all the advantages which would follow a more frequent system
of thumb-and- finger pruning ; but, having paid considerable attention
to gardening in France, I am convinced that they understand this prin¬
ciple better than we do, and that by carrying it out very completely,
with the assistance of the climate, it gives them alone all the advantages
they assuredly possess in some branches of cultivation over ourselves.
But to return to the Orange : we must add something about compost,
in which respect French gardeners are even more fastidious than our¬
selves. With their very old trees, which require a considerable amount
of nourishment to keep them in health, old and completely decomposed
nightsoil, loam, and lime rubbish are the principal ingredients in their
composts ; to this is sometimes added peat. After the trees are fully
grown, and it is not convenient to increase the size of their boxes, the
soil round each side of the ball of roots is picked away with a sharp
iron pin, and fresh compost is well worked in among the roots, to which
it supplies food for half a dozen years. In this country, the greatest
care should be taken in the preparation of a compost, for when once the
trees (if they are at all large) have been newly tubbed, or put in fresh
cases, disturbing them afterwards is attended with great risk to the
tree, and therefore both the composition and mechanical properties
of the soil should be carefully considered. The loam, which should be
the top spit, and rather strong in texture than otherwise, should be
quite mellow, and have been well exposed to the atmosphere ; to this
should be added one quarter in bulk of old mortar and bone-dust, and

THE FLORIST.

the remainder may consist of one part of thoroughly decomposed horse-
dung and decayed night-soil ; the dung should be in a dry pulverised
state, and should be mixed with an equal proportion of loam which has
been thoroughly charred by being burnt over an iron plate. We have
thus a compost consisting of one half strong loam, and the other half
old mortar, dry pulverised manure, and charred earth. We do not
recommend peat, except for small trees, as after it has been in the tubs
or boxes for a short time only, it becomes sour and holds the wet too
much. This compost is more open than that generally used in France,
but the rains of our climate require, that when so large a body of soil
is placed together as that required for Orange-trees, it should be so
composed that it will allow both rain-water and the usual supplies
given them to pass freely away, for which purpose the drainage must
be deep, and carefully placed over the bottom of the case, and of a
material which of itself will not absorb water too readily, for in that
case the lower roots would always be damp, and consequently cold.
There is nothing better for the upper layer than broken flints, or gravel
drift and charcoal ; and for tubs three feet or upwards in depth, from
eight to twelve inches of drainage is not too much.

During the growing season the Orange requires a large quantity of
water, which should be poured gently and evenly over the surface of the
soil, so as to penetrate it regularly ; and when it does not do so, bore
holes with a small iron rod into the parts which do not admit the water
to pass through, as it is of the greatest importance that all the roots
are equally supplied with water, for I have seen fine trees greatly
injured by the water missing the ball, and escaping down the sides of
the tubs. Should liquid manure ever be given — and its application
produces the best results when the roots are healthy and numerous —
it should be clear and perfectly liquid ; that made with guano, soot, or
pigeon’s dung is preferable to all others. We consider thick manure
water highly objectionable, as it chokes up the drainage powers of the
soil, and creates a kind of sourness in the compost, which should be
avoided by all means ; and for this reason I exclude sheep, cow, and pig
manure from all composts for the Orange tribe.

During very wet weather, trees standing out of doors, which have
recently been reshifled, should have the surface of the boxes protected, so
as to throw off the rain. There is nothing better for this than a piece
of tarpauling, cut so as to cover the box and made to tie round the stem
of the tree, which will effectually preserve the roots from becoming
saturated to excess, which if continued for a short time only, will cause
them great injury, and most probably entirely destroy those newly
formed. There is nothing in the management of the Orange-tree which
requires such constant care as attention to the supply of water ; for
if overdone with it, especially towards the end of the seasoH, or during
winter, the soil becomes close and sour, and the young roots, which are
very sensitive of cold and damp, quickly become rotten — when scarcely
anything will recover the tree but a fresh shift, and this with large or even
small specimens is most injurious to their growth. We therefore advise
protecting the roots from heavy rains after August, when out of doors,
and more particularly newly shifted trees. During winter the quantity

JANUARY.

9

of water they will require will depend mainly on^^the state of their roots,
if in compost such as we recommended above, and the tubs or pots are
well filled, we water whenever the soil appears quite dry. The foliage
will soon indicate when they require water, and is the best criterion to
judge by. Newly shifted or sickly trees should be kept as dry as
possible short of absolute flagging. As the days lengthen and solar
heat increases, the supply of water must be increased in proportion,
and the heads of the trees washed over three or four times a week from
the middle of March till they are placed out of doors. This should be
done with water slightly tepid, and pretty early in the afternoon, for
the foliage to dry before night ; towards the end of April, it should be
done later in the afternoon, as at that season the foliage will be rather
benefited by being kept damp ; and when out of doors in dry hot
weather a good washing overhead, between 6 and 7 in the afternoon,
will produce good results by keeping the foliage clean and healthy.

Next to the material of which common garden pots are manufactured,
wooden boxes are the best and most congenial for the roots of the
Orange to grow in, and Oak or Teak the best wood for the purpose.
Slate is, we consider, too good a conductor of heat for placing in the sun,
and iron the same, though we saw the other day that some of the trees
in the Crystal Palace have been placed in iron cases. Whether these
have an inner casing of wood we know not, but, if not, we have no
opinion of iron being found a good material, though, as the trees are
always in the building, it is not there so objectionable as it would be
out of doors. The boxes should stand clear 4, 5, or 6 inches above the
ground, according to their size, for it is of great importance to the
roots that all contact with a damp soil or floor should be cut off ; and
if grown in pots these should have a false bottom or be placed on wood,
to preserve them ^in the same way. In placing the trees out of doors,
choose a sheltered situation open to the south or south east, but protected
from the west and north, and also from currents of air coming in any
direction ; they will stand the full sun and be benefited by it, but they
should not be exposed to rough winds, which are extremely injurious.

R. B.

NEW WINTER FLOWERING PLANTS.

Fully one-half of our winter flowering stove plants belong to one Natura
Order — Acanthaceee — and if they be most of them somewhat inclined
to become what we call leggy — to be, in fact, rather weedy in their
habit, they have at least good qualities enough to outweigh that one
fault. They are easily propagated, grow freely, flower profusely, and
are remarkable for the brilliancy of their colours. They are the weeds
of the tropics ; but as among our own weeds there are many gems, and
from the group which has already been introduced to our gardens we
could but ill afford to lose such plants as Justicia, Thunbergia, Hexa-
centris, Meyenia, Ruellia, Goldfussia, Aphelandra, and Eranthemum.
Among these genera we find many of our most useful plants, without
which our stoves would look rather bare of flower in the dull months.

10

TUE FLORIST.

and our bouquets lose much of that variety which is their greatest charm.
We need offer no apology, therefore, for introducing to our readers three
more plants belonging to this order ; and if they have to a certain extent
the fault we have attributed to their allies, they have also all the good
qualities we have pointed out.

Beloperone violacea produces dense heads of flowers at the points of
the shoots and in the axils of the upper leaves. It only opens two or
three flowers at a time, and so the plant continues in bloom for a con¬
siderable time. The individual flowers are not much unlike those
of Justicia speciosa ; they are gaping with a broad three-lobed lip,
which is of a violet purple colour with a double row of minute pure
white lines along the centre. This plant is a native of tropical America,
and was introduced by M. Linden, the enterprising Director of the
Royal Zoological and Horticultural Garden of Brussels, whom we are
indebted for so many valuable new plants.

Stephanophysum Baikiei flowers most profusely. It produces large
panicles of rich crimson inflated tubular flowers, each more than an
inch in length, at the points of the branches ; when these are cut the
upper leaves produce panicles almost as large, and it will continue in
flower in this way down almost to the surface of the soil. This plant
was discovered by the ISiger Exhibition, and was one of the last things
sent to this country by poor Barter, the Botanist, who fell a victim to
the climate ; it is named after the Commander of the Expedition, Dr.
Baikie. It is a most useful and desirable plant ; we have few such
bright coloured, free flowering things in winter. Old plants flower much
better than young ones.

Dipter acanthus Herbstii has foliage prettily marked with white along
the principal veins (as in Aphelandra citrina squarrosa) while in a
young state, but it generally loses this charm before it is large enough
to bloom. The flowers have a long slender tube, which makes a sharp
bend and then the upper portion becomes suddenly inflated. They are
sessile and produced in dense terminal and axillary fascicles. The
colour is a very delicate pink outside, while the inside of the tube is
almost white with a distinct pink line up each division of the limb. It
was named in honour of M. Herbst, of the firm of Herbst and Rossiter,
Nurserymen, of Rio de Janeiro, by whom we believe it was first sent to
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All three of these plants are very
easy of cultivation, and will soon become general favourites.

Delta.

PLUMBAGO ROSEA AND ITS BRETHREN.

As a class gardeners must be acknowledged to be most ungrateful.
Without the slightest compunction they show the cold shoulder to our
oldest and best of vegetable friends, although they may have served well
and truly for years, as soon as a new acquaintance springs up, which is
(or, what is too often the same thing, is said to be) a little better
looking than our old ones. And these, in like manner, we throw on
one side, to be replaced by the next new comers. Sometimes, it is true.

JANUARY.

11

a pang of conscience induces us to seek out an old acquaintance, and Iry
to do it justice at the eleventh hour.

This was the case with myself in regard to Plumbago rosea, a short
time since, and I had to search a dozen metropolitan and provincial
nurseries before I could find this plant. Fifteen years ago we most of
us went half mad about a plant which Mr. Fortune had found growing on
the old ramparts of Shanghai. Messrs. Knight & Perry, who then had
the nursery which Mr. Veitch now carries on with such energy in the
King’s Road, Chelsea, possessed the stock of this wonderful Plumbago
Larpentse.* The houses in which it was grown were kept constantly
locked, and only a few favoured individuals were allowed a sight of the
plant which created so much enthusiasm, which was to be a fine bedder,
a beautiful specimen plant, and everything that is good. As soon as
we could get hold of a little plant — for which, by-the-by, we had to
pay in bright gold — to work we went, and every scrap of root or shoot
had to make a cutting. And what did they prove to be ? A weed — a
mere weed. While we had been cruelly neglecting a good and useful
free blooming plant, with flowers of the colour of the Cerise Unique
Geranium, which had been introduced nearly sixty years before, we
had been driven half crazy to obtain this upstart.

Well let us, now that we are cooled down again, go back a little, and
do justice to an ill-used genus. Plumbago capensis holds its ground as
a pillar or trellis plant, and well it deserves to do so, for it would be a
difficult matter to find a rival to it for these purposes. It is almost
half the year in flower, and we have nothing exactly like it in colour.
P. rosea is, as I have said before, quite equal to it in general useful¬
ness. I have a plant now almost covered with its clear rosy flowers,
and it has been in bloom for the last six weeks or more. P. zeylanica
looks like capensis with white flowers. P. aphylla, I am told by a
friend living at Calcutta, is one mass of flowers in his garden every
season, and yet we never see it in bloom in this country. P. rhom-
boidea has rather small blossoms of a dark purplish blue, but the habit
of the plant is not good. Who can tell us what P. tristis is like ? And
is P. mexicana a better white than zeylanica ?

And now, having catechised the reader so far, let me ask a third
question. Who will be the first to try what hybridisation will do
among Plumbagos ? Here we have a family some members of which
have a decidedly good habit ; we have various shades of colour, from
pale blue to dark purple, clear rosy pink, and pure white ; and further,
the materials are, or may be, in the hands of every one. So far as we
can tell. Plumbago may become as plastic in our hands as Tydsea,
Passiflora, or even Begonia itself. We too often allow our continental
brethren to carry off the palm in these things ; let us see if we cannot
take the lead ourselves for once. Few men will have the courage, in
these days of progress, to deny that before the next three years are
gone, we shall have a coloured figure of a hybrid Plumbago as a
frontispiece to our periodical.

* This plant has since been placed in another genus, and is now only occa
sionally met with under the new title of Valoradia plumbaginoides.

12

THE FLORIST.

ADDITION OP LEAVES TO ROSES.

As one of the censors at the National Rose Show — a post which I have
very unworthily occupied at each of the tournaments held in honour of
the Queen of Flowers — I may perhaps be considered as competent to
speak, if not quite ex cathedra, still with some little weight, on the

matter mooted by Mr. Radclyffe, in the December number of the

Florist, as to whether the addition of leaves to Roses ought to be a dis¬
qualification ; and I venture to do so, the rather, as I believe the

greater number of those that I held to be delinquents in the matter

were in that portion of the exhibition which fell under our censorship —
(I say our, for there was associated with me a gentleman whose name
is well known in the floricultural world) — and we never had the least
hesitation in the matter. I may therefore state the grounds on which
we held them to be disqualified : —

1. It was distinctly stated in the schedule of prizes furnished to each
exhibitor, that they were to be shown as in their growing state, or
words to that effect ; and on discovering that some were thus (as we
believed) disfigured, an appeal to the hon. secretary settled the matter
as we had already decided — it was a clear breach of rule.

2. We considered that the Rose, of all flowers, ought not to have any
meretricious ornament — that no tricks should be played with it. While
saying this, I do not for a moment mean to impute anything of the
kind as intentional on the part of the exhibitors ; their doing it arose
either from inadvertence or misapprehension of the meaning of the
rule.

3. We considered that the object in making that rule was, to enable
a good idea to be formed of the habit of the variety, at least as much so
as could be gained from a cut flower at any time. This, it is needless
to say, would be entirely frustrated by addition of foliage, and I trust
that any one considering the subject will come to the same conclusion
that we did.

As a loyal subject of Her Majesty, I do hope all exhibitors will
endeavour to leave her in her unadorned beauty for the future. Let
no tweezers attempt to give her greater symmetry than she already
possesses, or false leaves be used to set her ofP. Were we to see some
grand beauty sailing into a room in the consciousness of her power, and
knew at the same time that there were would-be admirers who suggested
that a little rouge to her cheeks, or a false curl or two, would be an
improvement, should we not be ready to hurl the vile insinuator — were
he a man — out of the room ; or — if a lady — to set it down to envy ?
So, I hold him to be devoid of true devotion to her queenly beauty,
who would resort to any of the plans by which flowers undergo a meta¬
morphosis as queer as any that Ovid records. I think, too, that the
same objection applies, though not in so strong a degree, to the dis¬
budding. Surely it will be better to allow them to be shown in their
natural state.

While on this subject, I think it well to notice another practice which
ought to be prohibited, viz., flowers being plugged down into the tubes ;

JANUARY.

13

and for this simple reason, that it is quite impossible to determine
whether they are shown in their natural state, or not. The exhibitor may
be honest, but then his honesty ought to be capable of being tested, and
no judge can know the character of those whose productions he is called
upon to decide on ; and, if he be dishonest, he may say that the act of
taking them out of the tubes by force has disengaged the foliage from
the bud. I hope, therefore, that at the next National — which I have
no doubt will even surpass its predecessors — this practice will be equally
a disqualification as the other. I hope to visit “ the Lion in his den ”
ere that takes place, and to talk over this and other matters with him
about the fair Una whom he protects, and acts —

. . . . “ as a strong guard

Of her chaste person, and a faithful mate
Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard.

Still when she slept he kept both watch and ward,

And when she waked he worketh diligent
With humble service to be prepared.

From her fair eyes he took commandment.”

For now, when winter throws his mantle over her, he scans her
closely, and prepares to welcome her opening eyes, when the warm days
of spring bid her once more awake. May she reward him with many
a gracious smile, next year, and he drink her health out of other silver
, won by the prowess of his brawny arms !

D.

Deal, Dec, 8.

1860.

The year which has just passed away will be long remembered as the
wettest and coldest of the present century, the effects of which will
be felt for years to come. It is useless speculating on the causes
which have produced the continued rains and low temperature which
have characterised the year 1860, from February to December inclusive ;
but without placing much faith in any of the weather prognostics
hitherto propounded, we are not insensible to the great importance of
the subject — one above all others interesting to cultivators, who have
to contend against the influences of adverse seasons in a hundred ways ;
and if any reliable data could be established whereby the forthcoming
seasons could be anticipated, we should hail it as an invaluable boon to
the gardener.

In reference to the effects of the season, we have only space to notice
a few facts bearing upon the subject; and first, we may take the Peach,
which appears to have suffered in some degree everywhere, and to
have been entirely killed in many places. To explain the matter fully,
we must go back to the autumn of 1859, which, up to the third week
of October, was characterised by a moist and high temperature, inducing
a vigorous autumnal growth in the Peach as well as other fruit trees.
The frost which followed at the end of that month was very severe, and
at once arrested the action of the foliage and left no means of escape for

14

THE FLORIST.

the fluids with which every part of the plant’s system was surcharged.
The severe frosts which followed in the early part of the present year con¬
sequently produced a fatal effect on the unripe wood of the Peach. Dark
blotches began to show themselves on the young shoots, which, when
cut into and examined under the microscope, shewed that the cells and
their contents were entirely decomposed, and undergoing a species of
mortification, and this was rapidly extending itself to the surrounding
parts. Still, however, when vegetation commenced, and the trees
burst into leaf, the system was so far relieved by it that the functions
of blooming and setting fruit were perfected ; and probably had a
warm dry May occurred many trees would have overcome the attack,
but directly the cold wet weather of May commenced all the previous
symptoms of gum and gangrene became intensely aggravated. The
young wood and foliage became affected simultaneously and died off,
commencing from the lower part of the tree where vitality was weakest,
and progressing upwards until only a few leaves were left on the top¬
most shoots ; the young fruit was attacked in the same way and
fell off shortly after the leaves. The above presents a true picture of
hundreds of trees which we examined ; and where death did not
follow at once, a serious check has been given to the trees which it
will take some time to overcome. The fact that Peaches and Nectarines
on east walls suffered less than those on south aspects is well established,
and can only be attributed to the trees in the spring having been
sheltered from the cold westerly winds and rains, which so greatly
increased the bad effects of the previous October’s frost on trees on
south walls, to which they were more exposed than those on east aspects.

Unfortunately, owing to the unfavourable nature of the season for
ripening the wood, the prospect for the next year’s Peach crop is a
slender one unless we get a dry backward spring. At the present time,
many Peach trees have not yet shed their leaves, and the wood is still
quite green — a state of things which the severe frost we are now
experiencing will not at all mend. We have, therefore, great doubts
that unless a dry spring follows (to harden and ripen the wood), the
trees which survived 18t)0 are doomed to perish in 1861.

The progress which horticulture and floriculture have made this last
year is suggestive of a widely increasing interest in all that pertains to
gardening and gardeners. The Horticultural Society has now fairly
got into work, and is doing that work well. The Fruit and Vegetable
Committee on the one hand, and the Floricultural Committee on the
other, have been established on a sound practical system, and are taking
every means to ascertain the comparative merits of every new production
placed before them ; and their published reports bear the highest value
as references to the properties and merits of horticultural products.

The Fruit Committee is organising a local committee for separate
districts, where many fruits doubtless exist of which little is now known
beyond their own localities. By-and-by we shall have reports on
garden engineering, including heating apparatus, horticultural buildings,
ventilation, &c. ; and with the splendid garden at Kensington Gore
completed and the experimental garden at Chiswick in full working
order, a considerable portion of those bright visions of usefulness which

JANUARY.

15

we once hoped almost against hope would eventually crown the labours
of the Council of the Horticultural Society with success, will have
become realised. May it long continue its now prosperous course, and
prove the great agent for improving and elevating the national taste for
horticultural pursuits.

It is also gratifying to learn that the public taste is year by
year leading itself to the enjoyment of gardens, in preference to other
sources of recreation or means of pastime. That a growing feeling for
the pleasures and enjoyments of garden scenery is fast spreading among
the masses, the published reports of the numbers who annually visit the
Royal Gardens at Kew and those of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham,
afford conclusive evidence, and show how necessary such places are be¬
coming, and the manner in which they are appreciated by the public.
And as we know that it is impossible for any one to visit either of those
gardens without receiving some useful or instructive impression, we
should like to see public gardens attached to every large town as a
necessary means of promoting and improving a taste for gardening
and rural improvement generally.

NEW PLANTS OF 1860.

The following list, abridged from “ Hogg’s Year Book for 1861,”
enumerates some of the more important new plants which have come
particularly under notice during the past year : —

Alocasia metallica. [Bot. Mag. t. 5190.) Aracese. The corrected name
of a strikingly beautiful Caladium-like stove plant, with lustrous, bronzy, ovate-
oblong, peltate leaves, noticed in our last year’s list as Gonotathus cupreus.
Borneo. Messrs. Low and Co.

Amygdalus persica V. VERSICOLOR FL. PLENO. {Flore 1319.) Drupaceae. A
handsome, early-flowering, hardy shrub, with neat double flowers, which are
sometimes white, sometimes rose-coloured, and sometimes white and rose varie¬
gated. Japan. M. Van Houtte.

Aporocactus flaqelliformis. {Ulllust. Hort. vii. 68.) A new name for
the well-known favourite window plant, called Cereus flagelliformis, or the
Creeping Cereus.

Aquilegia VULGARIS p. CARYOPHYLLOiDES. {Fhr.Mag.t.ll.) Kanuncu-
lacese. A fine double-flowered variety of the common Columbine, the flowers
white, striped and flaked with dull reddish crimson and reddish purple. An
English variety. Messrs. Carter and Co.

Aralia Sieboldii. Araliacese. A fine, ornamental, greenhouse shrub,
having glossy leaves, palmately divided into about nine elliptic-lanceolate
acuminate, coarsely-serrated lobes. The inflorescence forms a large branched,
terminal panicle; the flowers small, pale-greenish, produced in umbels resembling
those of the Ivy. Japan. Messrs. Veitch and Son.

Astelia CuNNiNGHAMiA. {Bot.Mag.t.b\1b.) Juncacese. A curious half-
hardy or greenhouse perennial, with long, narrowish, silky leaves, and large
panicles of deep green flowers. New Zealand. Kew.

Azara Gilliesii. {Bot. Mag. t. 5178.) Flacourtiacese. A handsome and
peculiar cool greenhouse shrub, bearing leaves of two kinds, — the larger rigid,
elliptic-ovate, serrated ; the smaller, which are very deciduous, roundish. The
flowers are small, yellow, numerous, in dense catkin-like elliptical heads from the
axils of the leaves. Chili. Kew.

Begonia eximia. {Ulllust. Hort. t. 233.) A pretty dwarf, variegated,
stove hybrid, having the leaves moderate-sized, red beneath, and silvery upon
the upper surface, the course of the principal veins marked by reddish lines. A
Belgian variety. M. VerschaffeU.

16

THE FLORIST.

Beeberis intermedia. {Oard. Chron. 1860, 143.) Berberidacese. A
supposed new Berberry of the pinnate or Mahonia section, but apparently very
near to B. fascicularis, though reported to be more hardy. French Gardens.

Beschorneria yuccoides. {Bot. Mag. t. 5203.) Amaryllidacese. A
beautiful dwarf AIoe*like plant, with narrow, glaucous leaves, and a slender,
coral-coloured scape, 3 — 4 feet high, gracefully curving to one side, and bearing
slender drooping racemes of large pendant green flowers, tinged with red,
resembling in shape those of some long-flowered Fuchsia. Mexico. W. W.
Saunders^ Esq.

Calceolaria FLEXUOSA. [Bot. Mag. t. b\5A.) Scrophulariaceee. A useful
free-blooming decorative plant ; vigorous in habit ; the leaves stalked, cordate-
ovate, deeply-toothed ; the flowers forming large compound panicles, large,
inflated, deep yellow, somewhat downy, and seated in large yellow-green calyces.
Peru. Messrs. Veitch and Son.

Calliandra HiEMATOCEPHALA. (Bot. Mag. t. 5181.) Leguminosse. A
lovely hothouse shrub, with the leaves dividing into a pair of pinnse, which are
pinnate, the filaments of the stamens forming balls of bright crimson threads.
Native country uncertain : Eastern. Kew.

Callixenb POLYPHYLLA. {Bot.Mag.t.5\^2.) Smilacese. A dwarf, bushy,
cool 'greenhouse plant, with numerous small oval or oblong leaves, glaucous
beneath, the flowers very copious, one from each axil, gracefully drooping, six¬
leaved, pure white. Chili. Mr. Standish.

Calonyction DiVERSiFOLTUM i;. SULPHUREUM. {Flore 1328.) Convolvulacese.
A pretty climbing stove plant, which may be planted out in summer in hot
situations. It has pinnately palmatifid leaves, and smallish sulphur-coloured
flowers, stained with purple in the centre. Java. Continental Gardens.

Campanula arrecta. Campanulacese. A rather effective border plant, appa¬
rently biennial, raised from C. primulsefolia. The whole plant very hairy, with
oblong, spathulate, Primrose-like leaves, and numerous erect stems, erectly
branched, rising in succession, and bearing flowers about the size and shape of
those of the chimney Campanula, but of a deep blue purple. An English variety.
Mr. Young.

Campylobotrys regalis. Cinchonacese. An ornamental stove sub-shrub.
The leaves stalked, broadly-elliptic, narrowing both to the base and apex, the
surface somewhat bullate, but with a satiny lustre, bronzy green, the main rib
and principal side veins of a pale greyish colour. Chiapas. 31. Linden.

Campylobotrys smaragdina. A dwarf stove plant, with oblong-obovate
sessile leaves, of a satiny shaded green, the numerous principal side veins being
sunk so as to produce a ridgy and somewhat bullate surface ; the young leaves
tinged with brown. Chiapas. M. Linden.

Ceanothus oreganus. {Bot. Mag. t. 5177.) Rhamnacese. A hardy ever¬
green shrub, with elliptic-obtuse leaves, and panicles of greenish-white flowers.
Oregon. Messrs. Veitch and Son.

Ceanothus velutinus. {Bot. Mag. t. 5165.) A very handsome evergreen
hardy shrub, growing 8 — 10 feet high, with dark green varnished orbicular-
elliptic leaves, hoary beneath, and three-nerved. The flowers are white, in erect
dense thyrse-formed panicles, in early winter. Oregon. Messrs. Veitch and Son.

Centrostemma multi florum. {Bot. Mag. t. 5173.) The name preferred
by botanists for the stove shrub known in gardens as Cyrtoceras reflexum.

Cereus Claudianus. {Flor. Mag. t. 20.) Cactaceae. A handsome warm
greenhouse succulent, with the habit of speciosissimus ; the flowers smaller,
very compactly formed, bright purplish rose with a crimson bar, the outer petals
entirely crimson. An English variety. Mr. Fry.

Cham.®batia foliolosa. {Bot. Mag. t. 5171.) Rosacese. A beautiful¬
leaved dwarf evergreen bush with white rosaceous flowers, and finely cut tri-
pinnatisected foliage. California. Messrs. Veitch and Son.

Cissus (?) PORPHYROPHYLLUS. Vitaceae. A handsome-leaved free-growing
climber, with slender stems, rooting at the joints, and producing heart-shaped
leaves about five inches long, of a rich emerald green in the younger stages,
changing as they become older to a deep purplish green. The leaves are convex,
and being also longitudinally ribbed with the rib depressed, the satiny richly
shaded surface is shown to much advantage ; the under surface is purple, and

JANUARY,

17

along the course of the veins on the upper surface are scattered irregular an¬
gular livid or pale purplish flecks or blotches. India. Messrs, Veitch and Son.

Cissus VELUTiNUS. (Bot. Mag t. 5207.) A climbing stove shrub, with red
stems, and having the leaves red beneath, groved above, silvery along the course
of the principal veins. It is inferior to C. discolor. Probably Malayan. M.
Linden.

Clarkia pulchella V. NANA. A dwarf bushy-habited variety, called Tom
Thumb ; the plants form a compactly branched mass, about eight inches in
height and as much in diameter, profusely flowered, the flowers rich purplish-
rose colour. An English variety. Messrs. Carter and Co.

Clarkia pulchella v. striata. A very pretty variety, with the flowers
white, streaked and flaked with rosy-purple in a very elegant manner. An
English variety. Messrs. Carter and Co.

Clematis ccerulea v. violacea. {L'lllust. Hort. t. 254.) Ranunculacese.
The flowers of this fine hardy creeper are represented to be yellow, edged with
reddish violet. A Belgian variety. M. Spae.

Clerodendron cruentum. [Card. Chron. 1860, 456.) Verbenacese. A
noble-habited hothouse plant, with erect stems, large smooth oblong stalked
leaves a foot long, and a large dense oblong terminal panicle of rich orange-red
flowers. India. Messrs. Veitch and Son.

CoLUMNEA ERYTHROPHiEA. [Hort. Lind, t.^ .) Gesneracese. A tall fleshy-
stemmed stove plant, with broad lanceolate leaves, and axillary long-tubed two¬
lipped scarlet flowers, the large leafy calyx stained with red at the base. Mexico.
M. Linden.

CoRDYLiNE Banksii. [Card. Chron. 186f', 792.) Liliacese. A slender-
growing subarboreous greenhouse plant, of elegant character, with long linear
lanceolate leaves contracted below into a long petiole. The flowers are white.
New Zealand. Mr. Standish, [For information on this and other Cordylines
in cultivation, see Card. Chron. as above quoted.]

CoRDYLiNE Banksii v. erythkorachis. A very handsome variety of the
foregoing, in which the central rib of the long narrow leaves is of a deep crimson-
red colour, the upper surface being also marked with a few slightly divergent
pale reddish or orange-coloured lines formed by the principal side veins. New
Zealand. Messrs. Veitch and Son and Mr. Standish.

CoRYDALis SPECIO.SA. {Card. Chron. 1860, 336.) Fumariacese. A very
handsome dwarf, herbaceous spring-flowering plant, with bipinnatifid leaves,
and dense spikes of large golden yellow flowers, stained with bright brown towards
the point. Mantchuria. Olasnevin Bot. Garden.

CosMiDiuM Burridgeanum p. ATROPURPUREUM. 1321.) Compositse.

A fine variety of a very handsome annual, in which the dark -coloured (Corecpsis-
like) spots, at the base of the orange-yellow florets, are enlarged, so as to leave
but a small border of yellow. A Belgian variety.

CoTONEASTER Symondsii. Rosaceae. A beautiful dwarf erect hardy evergreen
shrub, with ovate elliptic leaves and bright orange-scarlet flowers. An English
variety. Mr. Standish.

Cydonia japonica, varieties. {L’lllust. Hort. t. 260.) Rosaceae. The
varieties here represented, obtained in the Belgian gardens, are — Gaujardii, de¬
scribed as having the flowers bright rose, but represented a light red ; Papeleuii,
very pale citron, with a faint rosy border ; Princess Emilie Soutzoe, a deep crim¬
son, rather dull in tint, as represented. M. Verschaffelt.

Cyrtodeira cupreata V. viRiDiFOLiA. {Bot. Mag. t. 5195.) Gesneraceae.
This is the very elegant and showy-flowered trailing stove plant, known in gar¬
dens as Tapina, or Achimenes splendens.

Delphinium formosum v. Beauty. [Flor.Mag. ined.) Ranunculaceae. A
remarkably beautiful variety, having the sepals of the richest blue, and the petals
pure white, with a small tuft of yellow hairs near the base. The contrast of the
two colours is very striking. An English variety. Messrs. Fraser.

Deutzia gracilis variegata. Philadelphaceae. A neatly-variegated sport
of the well-known Deutzia gracilis. An English variety. Mr. G. McIntosh.

Dianthus hybridus (Captain Clarke’s). Caryophyllaceai. A very hand¬
some, fragrant, semi-double, bright, rose-coloured Mule Pink, the produce of a
florist’s Carnation crossed with an Indian Pink; leaves resembling those of a

18

THE FLORIST.

Carnation, but rather broader, and of a deep green ; flower-stem growing 12 to
15 inches high, numerous, bearing a profusion of blossoms. An English variety.
Captain Trevor Clarke.

Dianthus htbridus multiflorus. a handsome hybrid Pink, of continental
origin, having dark green Carnation -like leaves ; of vigorous habit, being from
12 to 18 inches high ; freely producing sweet-scented rose-coloured flowers,
which are rather more than an inch in diameter. The flowers-stems are robust,
and yield a succession of bloom from June till October or November. A con¬
tinental variety. Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son.

Dipteraoanthus Herbstii. {Eot. Mag. t. 5156.) Acanthaceae. An
elegant soft-stemmed stove shrub, with broad lance-shaped leaves, and many
flowers, crowded into a kind of panicle at the ends of the shoots, and having a
long, slender, graceful tube, swelling out to a trumpet shape, and curved towards
the end, rose-coloured, with a white, spreading limb. Brazil. Kew.

Epacris multi flora. Epacridacese. A very handsome greenhouse shrub,
with something the habit and aspect of E. grandiflora, having downy stems,
ovate acuminate leaves, and very numerous flowers, with crimson tubes, and
rounded erect white segments, crowding the flowering branches. New South
Wales. Messrs. Rollisson ^ Sons.

Erica aristata, v. Barnesii. {Flor. Mag. t. 5.) Ericaceae. A very
beautiful greenhouse shrub, with large, pinkish salmon-coloured, ventricose
flowers, remarkable for the breadth of the square-ended white limb segments,
and the deep sanguineous mouth. An English variety. 3Iessrs. Low ^ Co.

Erica aristata, v. Lowii. A handsome form of the awned Heath, having
the flowers of a fine varnished red, with an inflated tube, and dark contracted
mouth; the segments of the limb small and ovate. An English variety.
Messrs. Low ^ Co.

Erica aristata, v. virens. {Flor. Mag. t. 5.) A fine, showy variety,
with large whorls of bright, varnished, red flowers, slightly ventricose, the
mouth sanguineous, and the limb-segments small blush-white. An English
variety. Messrs. Low ^ Co.

Erodium PELAKGONiiFLORUM. Geraniaceae. (i?oL t. 5206.) A pietty
half-hardy perennial, with ovate-cordate radical leaves, and umbels of 8 — 10
white Pelargonium-like flowers, the two upper petals stained with red.
Anatolia. W. W. Saunders, Esq.

Eucharidium grandiflorum, V. ALBUM. Onagracese. A neat dwarf¬
growing blush white variety, which may probably be useful where light colours
are in request. An English variety. Messrs. Carter ^ Co.

Eucharidium grandiflorum, v. roseum. A blush-coloured variety, rather
larger than the foregoing, but more flushed with rose-colour. An English
variety. Messrs. Carter ^ Co.

Gardenia radicans, v. fol. variegatis. Cinchonacese. An interesting
dwarf, free-blooming shrub, with narrow lance-shaped leaves, almost Willow¬
like in character, irregularly edged with white ; flowers white and, like the
allied forms, deliciously fragrant. Japan. Messrs. Veitch ^ Son.

Gesnera gloxini^flora. Gesneracese. A handsome erect-growing hybrid,
producing large ovate hairy dark -coloured leaves, and numerous axillary flowers,
as large as those of a Gloxinia, deep rich rose-colour, with a paler tube and
deeper throat. It is a fine ornamental variety, of Continental origin. Messrs.
E. G. Henderson ^ Son.

Gilia achilleaefolia, V. ALBA. PolemoniacesB A pretty variety of this
useful species, having the flowers pure white. An English variety. Messrs.
Carter 4’ Co.

Gutierrezia gymnospermoides. {Bot. Mag. t. 5155.) Compositee. A
hardy perennial three to four feet high, with spathulate lower leaves, and heads
of orange-yellow florets which form a ray an inch or more across. New Mexico.
Kew.

Hemerocallis disticha, V. FLORE PLENO. {Flor. Mag. t. 13.) Liliacese.
A very fine herbaceous perennial, probably requiring greenhouse treatment. It
has the habit of the common day Lilies, but narrower leaves, and large double
tawny yellow flowers marked with a blotch of deep brownish crimson on each
segment. Brought from Madagascar. Messrs. Veitch ^ Son.

JANUARY.

19

IIeterocentron MEXICANUM. {Bot. Mag. t. 5166.) Melastomacese. A
re.illy handsome cool stove dwarfish suffruticose autumn and winter-flowering
plant, with small elliptic feather- nerved leaves, and large leafy terminal panicles
of very numerous rosy purple flowers of the usual four-petaled form found in
this order. Mexico. Messrs. Low ^ Co.

Imatophyllum cyrtanthiflorum. Amaryllidacese. A fine plant, having
distichous lorate bluntish leaves, and an erect flower-scape, bearing numerous
drooping Clivia-like flowers, of a pale flame colour, very like Clivia (or Imato¬
phyllum) nobilis, but paler coloured. A Belgian variety.

IxoRA jucuNDA. {Bot. Mag. t. 5197-) Cinchonaceae. A fine stove shrub,
with smooth lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate leaves, and terminal corymbs of
white flowers. Ceylon. Kew.

Lasiandra Fontanesiana. {Hort. Lind. t. 11.) Melastomaceae. A
shrubby stove plant, with broad, hairy leaves, and large purple, five-petaled
flowers. Brazil. M. Linden.

Linaria bipartita, V. SPLENBIDA. Scrophulariaccse. A very fine and
richly-coloured annual, flowering profusely ; the habit erect ; the flowers large,
of a very deep purple. This species is often grown under the false name of
macroura. An English variety. Messrs. Carter ^ Co.

Lonicera japonica iiybrida. a desirable, hardy, evergreen, free-flowering,
climbing shrub, raised between L. japonica and L. flexuosa. The foliage and
flowers are much like those of japonica, from which it differs in its greater hardi¬
ness, and more profuse flowers. The leaves are ovate, acute; the flowers have a
downy tube, and are white, changing to yellow, remarkably sweet, and literally
loading the branches. An English variety. Mr. Ingram.

Lonicera Standishii. {Flore 2 ser. iii. 63.) A much -branched, hardy,
ornamental shrub, with deciduous, oval-lanceolate, acuminate, hairy leaves, and
geminate flowers, white inside, reddish, or violaceous outside, and in form re¬
sembling those of L. fragrantissima. China.

Maranta argyr^a. Marantacese. An elegant dwarf, stove perennial, with
oblong, lanceolate, acute leaves, which are purplish beneath, and pale green on
the upper surface, marked with broad, oblique bands of grey. Brazil. M. Linden.

Methonica grandiflora. {Bot. Mag. t. 5216.) Uvulariese. A fine hot¬
house climber, of vigorous habit, with broad lance-shaped leaves, lengthened
out into a tendril, and large, clear, pale-yellow flowers, with reflexed narrow-
lanceolate, wavy petals. Fernando Po. Kew.

Nemophila atomaria, V. ocuLATA. Hydrophyllacese. A very pretty
variety, in which the flowers are greyish blue, with a black spot at the base of
each petal It agrees, in other respects, with the plant known as N. atomaria
ccelestis. An English variety. Mr. W. Thompson.

(Enothera grandiflora. Onagracese. A fine showy hardy border flower,
having the habit of (E. biennis, with the flowers of (E. macrocarpa ; the upper
part of the stems crowded with large bright-yellow flowers, of a very showy
character. It is sometimes called (E. Lamarckiana. N. America. Messrs.
Carter and Co.

OEnothera ripario-glauca. a very handsome decorative plant, of branch¬
ing habit, with lance-shaped leaves, and flowers nearly or quite two inches in
diameter, rich deep yellow. An English variety, raised by crossing CE. riparia
with (E. glauca, and well suited for bedding purposes. Mr. J. Young.

P.®ONiA Moutan, V. Alexander II. {L'lllust. Hort. t. 237.) Banunculacese.
A fine large-flowered variety, full double, deep rosy crimson shaded with sal¬
mon-colour, becoming pale rose towards the margins of the petals, which are
lacerately-fringed. A Belgian variety. M. Verschaffelt.

PiEONiA Moutan, v. Elizabeth, {lllust. Bouq. t. 35.) A fine variety with
immense flowers, 9 — 12 inches in diameter, double rosy-crimson in the centre,
shading ofi* to a lighter rose towards the margin. It is very handsome. Of
continental garden origin. Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son.

Pentapterygium RUGOSUM. {Bot. Mag. t. 5198.) Vacciniacese. A curious
greenhouse shrub, with lanceolate serrate leaves, and producing from the old
wood pendulous corymbs of pentagonal tubular flowers, which are transparent
waxy white, and transversely marked by distant red wavy lines. It has been
called Vacciuium rugosum. Mountains of India. Messrs. Veiteh and Son.

20

THE FLORIST.

Petunia ntctageniflora, v. Eclipse. [Flor. Mag. t. 30.) Solanaceae.
A handsome variety, of which the flowers are very large, 3 inches across, with
broad overlapping wavy segments, and very effectively marked ; the colour is
mauve purple, forming sometimes five broad bars radiating from the centre, two
or three of these being at other times confluent into a large purple blotch, while
the rest of the surface is veined with mauve on a white ground. An English
variety. Mr. G. Smith.

PiNus LOPHOSPERMA. {Gard. Chron. 1860, 46.) Pinacem. A new Pine
tree, which it is said for beauty of foliage is unsurpassed by any other kind.
Leaves in fives, rigid, 8 — 10 inches long. The cones resemble those of the Stone
Pine, but are larger, and the ends of the scales more erect and two-edged.
Lower California. 3Iessrs. Low and Co.

Primula Fortunii. {Flor. Mag. t. 7.) Primulacese. A fine dwarf hardy
or half-hardy perennial, with Primrose-like leaves, and large dense heads of pale
lilac yellow-eyed flowers. Probably Indian. Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son.

Primula pr^nitens (sinensis), v. atrorosea plena. {Flor. 3Iag. t. 2.)
A beautiful variety of the Chinese Primrose, of vigorous habit, producing
umbels of numerous large double flowers, fully 1^ inch in diameter ; deep rose-
colour, fringed on the margins as in fimbriata, of which this is a double-flowered
form, accidentally produced. An English variety. 3Ir. Turner.

Primula pr^enitens, v. carminata. A very desirable new form of the fringed
Chinese Primrose, the flowers being of an entirely new strain of colour, a kind
of salmony-rose, likely to render the variety not only useful as an ornamental
plant, but also as a breeder. A German variety. M. Senary.

Primula pr^nitens, v. fol. variegatis. A variegated-leaved form of the
fringed variety of the Chinese Primrose, with the variegations well marked. An
English variety. 3Ir. W. Lee.

Pyrethrum roseum, V. atrosanguineum. {Illust. Bouq. t. 38.) Compositse.
A fine new variety, with the flower heads nearly 3 inches across, the rays violet
crimson. Of continental origin. 3Iessrs. E. G. Henderson and Son.

Quercus bambus^folia. {Gard. Chron. 1860, 170.) Corylaceae. A fine,
evergreen Oak, supposed to be hardy and of an ornamental character. The
leaves are linear-lanceolate and leathery. China. Mr. Fortune.

Richardia hastata. {Bot. Mag. t. 5176.) Araceae. This is the pretty
yellow-flowered species noticed in our last year’s list under the prior name of
R. oculata.

Rosa SERIOEA. {Bot 3Iag. t. 5200). Rosacese. A hardy bush, of mode¬
rate size, producing single, white, four-petaled flowers. India. Kew.

Saponaria calabrica, V. ROSEO-ALBA. A pretty, free-flowering variety,
with blush-white flowers, forming a pretty contrast with the rose-coloured
form of this useful annual species. An English variety. 3Iessrs. Carter and Co.

Sph.®rostema marmoratum. {Illust. Bouq. t. 40.) Schizandraceae. A
fine hothouse climber, with bold, acuminately, heart-shaped leaves, beautifully
marked with silvery fleece-like spots or clouds on the green surface. Borneo.
Messrs. Low and Co.

Spir^a Fortunii. {Bot. Mag. t. 5164.) Rosaceae. A very handsome
hardy shrub, commonly known in gardens as S. callosa. Its large cymes of
deep rose-coloured flowers are very ornamental. China and Japan.

SpiRjEA Nobleana. {Bot. Mag. t. 5169.) A very fine, hardy shrub, inter¬
mediate in character between S. Douglasii, and S. callosa (Fortunii), having
oblong lance-shaped sharply toothed leaves, and short, dense panicles of
purplish-rose-coloured flowers. A garden sport or hybrid. Mr. C. Nohle^ and
others.

Stokesia cyanba. {Illust. Bouq. t. 42.) Compositae. A fine, long-lost,
re-introduced, half-hardy perennial, with lance-shaped leaves, and large,
purplish-blue Aster -like flower-heads, 3-5 inches in diameter. North America.
Messrs. E. G. Henderson ^ Son.

Taxus baccata, V. erecta. Taxaceae. A distinct and elegant form of the
common Yew tree, remarkable for the regular and compact pyramidal or cone-
shaped figure of the plants, which taper upwards to a slender point ; the branches
being erect, close and regular, clothed with shortish recurved dark-coloured
bluntish leaves. An English variety. Mr. W. Crowder. Under the same

JANUARY. 21

name there exists a similar or perhaps identical variety obtained from France.
It is the most elegant of all the pyramidal Yews.

Torenea HiRSUTA, {Bot. Mag. t. 5167-) Scrophulariacese. A very hand¬
some diffuse-growing stove plant, with slender quadrangular stems, ovate serrated
leaves, and large highly coloured purple flowers, of which the lower segment
bears a large, white blotch, and the side ones are marked with a spot of deep
purple. It is very similar to, if not identical with, that called T. asiatica v.
pulcherrima. India. Messrs. Low and Co.

VVeigela amabiliIs, V, Grobnewegeni. a variety of this fine hardy shrub,
in which the changeable, rose-coloured flowers are sometimes streaked with
deeper rose-red. A continental variety. Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son.

Yucca gigantea. [L'lllust. Hort. vi. 91.) This is described as a noble
arborescent plant, with very long, acuminate, channeled leaves, having a whitish
membranaceous margin, and a very robust, tall, much-branched, flowing panicle,
bearing white flowers. (Supposed to be Mexican. J. Verschaffelt.

Zinnia Elegans, v. flore-pleno. A new and very handsome form of this
fine annual, in which the yellow centre or disc is transformed into florets like
those of the ray, forming rosettes of from two to three inches in diameter, of
various shades of colour, embracing purple, deep-rose, light-rose, mottled-rose,
red, orange, and buff. The flower-heads are full, double, perfectly regular in
form, and are said to be produced as true, from seeds, as China Asters. A French
variety. M. M. Vilmorin^ and 3Iessrs. Carter and Go.

FLOWER POTS.

I WAS delighted to see your article on this subject in the November
number of the Florist^ page 292, though I do not entirely agree in all
you say.

There is, as you remark, great room for improvement in the form of
flower pots, and I would add in the colour ; but I think it is not those
who can give ten guineas for a shrub that have any difficulty in finding
suitable pots for their expensive plants, but those who are obliged to
study economy in this as in every other branch of their expenditure.
The former may purchase from Ransome, Austen, and others, very
elegant vases ; but what is really wanted is a cheap article for general
use, which in form and colour shall be such as a person of taste would
not find fault with. The real cause of this I believe to be that from
the general want of taste there is not a demand for elegant flower pots,
and not the difficulty of supplying them.

I mentioned to you some time since, and recommended through your
columns, two flower pots of a superior form, one for Verbenas and similar
low-growing plants, and one for Geraniums, &c., the former costing 4^.
and the latter 6s. per dozen ; these, as I mentioned, were of the
common clay, the colour of which is to my eye intolerable. I have
lately persuaded a potter to try to make me some of the former of fire
clay, which I expect will look exceedingly well, if T may judge from
the appearance of some of the common form which he has lately been
making of the same material ; these are of a nice warm stone colour
and very unobjectionable, and have a simple ornament impressed on
them, which has a very good effect ; these may be bad for 3^. 4d. a
dozen — TJ inches in diameter and 8 inches high. I believe if they
were brought into general use they might be sold for little more than
he common detestably ugly pots.

22

THE FLORIST.

If Mr. Wiston and Mr. Blashfield would publish an illustrated
catalogue of their manufactures 1 think they would find it answer, only
let them beware of fancying that they can charge any price they like for
their wares. This is the rock on which most introducers of noveltits split,
and it is that v\'hich has prevented several manufacturers in this neigh¬
bourhood from succeeding. Let them aim at first at something simple
in form but yet elegant, and not attempt elaborate designs, which are
less beautiful and necessarily more costly.

Leeds. C, H.

KEVIEW.

The Rose Annual for 1860-61. By William Paul, F.H S.
The Rose Annual for 1859-60. „ ,,

The Rose Annual for 1858-59. ,, „

We have placed these three issues of this tempting periodical in the
same notice, although our remarks will be principally confined to that
for the current season, for the simple reason, that we do not think we
can confer a greater benefit on any lover of the Queen of Flowers than
that of bringing under his or her notice so handsome a tribute to her
queenly Majesty. You are an amateur, my good reader, and you have
fair friends who admire the Rose — why, there is our good contributor,
the President of the “ Six of Spades,” who, if he speak the truth (far
be it from me to question it), either in his amusing papers, or in his
“ Little Tour in Ireland,” has a peculiarly susceptible portion of his
heart, on which long eyelashes, and bright eyes beneath them, are ever
making their impression — what can you do better than get these three
parts daintily clothed in morocco binding (couleur de Rose, if you will) ,
and present it to the fair one ? Such sweetly coloured portraits,
executed in Andrews’s best style, and so much really useful information,
will win for you everlasting gratitude. The number for the present
year contains portraits of H. P. Empereur de Maroc, Victor Verdier,
Comtesse Cecile de Chabrillant, and Tea Due de Magenta, with descrip¬
tions. As these have been previously described in the Florist, it will
be sufficient to say, that they have many striking points about them,
and that the first of the four is an eminently attractive Rose, in the
style of Prince de la Moskowa, but more double, and of better shape ;
I hear, however, that it is of delicate habit. The letter-press pertains
to four points of interest : — 1. The Current Year; 2. The Favourites
of 1859-60 ; 3. The Exhibitions of the Season ; 4. The Forthcoming
Brood. In the first of these divisions Mr. Paul gives a review of the
weather, as it affected the Rose, from the end of September, 1859, to
the same period of the current year. He concludes his review by the
declaration, “ The bloom was late but not indifferent. There was but
little aphis, mildew, or maggot, and no spring frosts to injure or destroy.
There was frost in June and July, and many flower shows were post¬
poned ; but although later by weeks than usual, the Roses blossomed,
and blossomed well at last.” In alluding to the favourites of 1859-60,

JANUARY.

23

he says, “There are many beautiful novelties, far surpassing the kinds
previously existing ; but when we come to particularise, it is not alto¬
gether so easy to draw the boundary lines between good, bad, and
indifferent.” Of these he gives full descriptions, though, of course, not
pledging himself until he has a better opportunity of forming an opinion.
In the portion devoted to the exhibitions of the season, there is a great
deal of very interesting information, both to the exhibitor and the
amateur. After giving detailed accounts of each of the great shows, a
very useful table is given of the various sorts exhibited and the number
of times shown ; from it we learn how largely Hybrid Perpetuals enter
into the field of competition, and how prominently some kinds come out.
Thus, General Jacqueminot was shown in 20 stands; Jules Margottiii
in 17 ; Lord Raglan in 18 ; Madame de Cambaceres in 12 ; Madame
Knorr in 14 ; Madame Vidot in 16 ; Caroline de Sansal in 14;
Mathurin Regnier in 10; Geant des Batailles in 12; Souvenir de
Malmaison in 14 ; Prince Leon in 14 ; William Griffith in 14 ;
Cecile de Chabrillant in 12; Eveque de Nimes in 10; Gloire de
Dijon in 17; Devoniensis in 11. &c. In the last division — “The
Forthcoming Brood” — Mr. Paul remarks, “ We are most struck with
the number of dark Hybrid Perpetuals offered for sale this year.
Good dark autumnal Roses are still a desideratum, and there appears
good reason to hope that something superior to what we possess will
gladden us with their flowers next summer.” The whole of this
section, with its list and descriptions, is full of promise and bright anti¬
cipations — whether ever destined to be realised, is another question ;
but, what with a Tea Rose as yellow as a Jonquil, and a Hybrid Per¬
petual striped like a Carnation, he will indeed be a “ dainty fellow ”
who will not be satisfied with the bill of fare presented to him ; and if
he be fond of hard and absurd names, what with General Zachargosky,
and Prairie de Terre Noire! (Meadow of Black Earth), he may satisfy
the most greedy appetite, I think.

This brief notice will show the varied information that the Annual
contains ; and, in fact, whoever wishes to be kept au courant in Rose-
ology will hardly think himself up to the mark without it. Amongst
my own bright thoughts of the future, is the hope ot seeing these new
gems of Flora, under Mr. Paul’s own hands, at his new nurseries at
Waltham Cross, some time in the course of the ensuing summer.

D.

Deal, Dec. 17.

THE SIX OF SPADES.

CHAPTER XHI.

Mr. Oldacre’s Story — The Lady Alice.

Mr. President and Friends, said Mr. Oldacre, you must “ pity the
sorrows of a poor old man, whose trembling limbs,” and here he
glanced complacently at his well-filled gaiters, “ have borne him to
your” excellent gin and water, and must not look for anything remark-

24

THE FLORIST.

able in pippins from a decaying and exhausted Apple-tree. As for
lecturing you upon the culture of a garden, or haranguing you scien¬
tifically at all, I should no more think of it than of seeking horticul¬
tural information for myself in the books of those who wrote a century
ago of the subject ; and I have no shame in the conviction, that some
to whom I now speak, beginning at a point where I have all but
stopped, and having opportunities and resources, developed since my
manhood waned, know more about gardening than I do. It is sufficient
for me to have been in my day with the foremost, and to have fought
my way to many victories. But were I to “ shoulder my crutch
and show how fields were won ” to you of this generation, to you who
have such an improved artillery as leads one to expect that England
will soon be able to pepper her enemies, however distant, from bat¬
teries fixed upon her shores, to you who are blessed with a thousand
facilities, unknown to your ancestors, of smashing and ripping up
your fellow- creatures — how would you forbear to smile? No; as
old Mr. Whippy, the huntsman, or rather the ex-huntsman, for he
has been, as you know, a pensioner for years of my noble master’s,
trots after the hounds on his pony through the gaps and the gates, which
he once despised, so must I now be content to look on from afar,
travelling easily by quiet lanes and by-ways, and leaving the bravery
and the honours of the chase to you.

So I will tell you, if you please, a simple story, a mere inci¬
dent, in fact, which occurred many years ago in the family I serve,
but which made at the time a great excitement among us, and may
still I hope prove interesting to you.

Through the solemn avenue of cedars, which leads to our Mauso¬
leum, I have followed three Dukes to the grave. The second of
these at one period of his life was most austere and haughty. I may
speak of his faults, although he is dead, because he lived to hate them,
and to cast them from him ; and I have no hesitation in enlarging
upon them, as the circumstances of my story prompt. Well, then,
he was just the proudest, coldest, most disagreeable Duke that ever
stalked (“ stalk, to walk with high and superb steps,” says Dr.
Johnson) over the earth. It was a positive insult to the English lan¬
guage to call such an ungracious ungentleman “ your Grace.” We
gardeners used to declare that the thermometers fell twenty degrees,
whenever he walked through the houses, and that the water froze in
the tanks and cisterns. We were prepared to affirm that when he put
on his coronet, the strawberry leaves turned into ice-plants. Indeed,
we all of us found a relief and comfort in this harmless kind of ridicule,
just as schoolboys most delight to mimic the master, who rules the
most unkindly over them. It was a natural and pleasant rebound
from the constraint and awful abasement to which his presence re¬
duced us ; and as for the propriety of our conduct, why if men in
high places are not high-minded, as they ought to be, and, for the
most part, are, they only become the more conspicuously assailable,
and the homage which is offered to them is as unreal and worthless,
as the sham silver and the sham gold which the Chinese offer to their
gods. So the Duke played at being an Idol, and we performed the

JANUARY.

25

worshiping. He thought himself something more than human, I am
sure, and received our most lowly obeisance as though he were upon a
golden throne. His demeanour was calculated to give us the idea,
that we had no claim, strictly speaking, to existence in any form, but
that he tolerated us. He sent for us, kept us waiting for hours, and
then either dismissed us without an interview, or gave us his orders,
as though he gave out oakum to convicts. In my subordinate capacity,

I was only honoured with two brief conversations, during which he was
pleased to address me, for he never remembered names, as “ Mr.
Cutts ” and “ Rowbottom,” appellations which belonged respectively
to the stud-groom and to an under-keeper, but which were as unlike
Oldacres, as, I dare say, he wished them to be.

We servants were not the only ones who shivered in his icy pre¬
sence, and winked and capured with exuberant joy as soon as we were
fairly out of it. Living at that time in one of the lodges, I frequently
witnessed the arrival and departure of certain county families, who
were annually distinguished by an invitation to the Castle. To open
the gate for these favoured guests, and to look upon their expression
of complete despair, was like being hall-porter at a dentist’s. They
might have been blue-bottles, who had just set foot within the meshes
of a spider’s net, or rabbits, helplessly mesmerised by a weasel, and
drawing nearer to their doom. One footman, I remember, was wont
to weep in the rumble, and to assume for my edification such an
aspect of pretended woe, pointing the while with his thumb to the un¬
conscious tenantry of the chariot below, that at last I dared not go out
to meet him, and he was compelled to dismount, and clear the way for
himself.

But there was an entire change of performance, I can tell you, when
these visitors came forth on their journey homeward, as distinct an
alteration and improvement of countenance, as may be observed in the
features of that gentleman, who appears from time to time in the pic¬
torial advertisement, as now enduring the agonies of toothache, and now
“Ha! ha! cured in an instant!” The tragedy, with its tyrant and
dungeon -chains, was over ; and, as the lamps blazed out once more,
the orchestra, which had been executing Dead March and dirge under¬
neath the darkened stage, emerged to play “ Garryowen.” They who
had come to us so silently and sadly, laughed and sang as they drove
down the Park. They could not have been in a happier frame of
mini, if they had been poachers coming out of jail in the shooting
season. Hurra! they were going home! home to have beer at dinner,
and to turn to the fire at dessert ! Home, to astonish the Browns, to
fill the mouths of the Walkers with the waters of envy, and to awe the
Bumbles with fancy statements about their “ delighful visit at the
Castle.” Well, I could bear truthful witness that the latter part of the
proceeding had been delightful enough. As Robert Hall said to the
pert young preacher, who asked what he thought of his sermon,
“ There was one very admirable passage, the passage from the pulpit
to the vestry,” so it might be affirmed with confidence that these guests
had been especially happy in the last act and deed of — departure.

Now this Iron Duke, you will, be surprised to hear, had actually

26

THE FLORIST.

condescended to marry. Of course, if Cupid had not been blindfold, he
would no more have thought of taking aim at him than a schoolboy of
shooting his. favorite arrow against the wall of a fives-court, and how
that promiscuous young archer made his dart to stick in the ducal
granite must remain for ever among the “things not generally known.”
Never since Eve had the world seen such a proof of Love’s omnipotence,
as when he sent our grim Lord a-courting. No weaker influence
ever could have taught that cold pale face to smile, to smile and to beam
with a happy brightness, as the snow sparkles in the sun. But how he
ever remembered her name, or brought himself to proffer those little
tendernesses, which are usual upon these occasions, those touches of
nature which make the whole world kin, is to me a complete perplexity,
an unreality as astonishing as though I were to see the ghost of Hamlet’s
father with his arm round the waist of Jessica.

Poor Jessica ! she came to us as joyous as a thrush in summer, and
she sang awhile blithely and sweetly in the tomb of Hamlet’s father.
But when he resumed, as he shortly did, his old sepulchral ways, a
chill struck the heart of our singing-bird, and all her mirthful music
was changed into a plaint and wail. She had come from a home
of love and cheerfulness, and she drooped in his x\rctic atmosphere, as
an Orchid would droop in an ice-house.

“ For a trouble weighed upon her,

And perplexed her night and morn,

With the burden of an honour,

Unto which she was not born.”

Six years after her marriage-day, they bore her slowly through the
dark avenue of Cedars, and the chaplain came in his white surplice to
welcome her with words of hope and peace.

Three children were born to them. The Marquis, who soon showed
himself to be a true “ chip of the old (ice) block,” and a ghostling of
amazing promise ; Lord Evelyn and the Lady Alice, who, happily for
us all, resembled their mother. Never were two brothers so unlike
each other. I doubt whether the elder ever broke out of a walk or into
a laugh in his life, whereas the younger would be scampering all over
the place, with his little sister breathless behind, and his merry voice
making our hearts glad. Now they were in the conservatory, changing
the tallies, and sticking the fallen flowers of the Camellia upon the
Euphorbia’s thorns ; now turning out a lot of sparrows, which they had
caught in traps, and adorned with appendages of brilliant worsted, red,
green, and yellow, in the immediate neighbourhood of the aviary, and
so essaying to impose upon us the idea of a general escape and dispersion
of all our feathered curiosities ; and now “drawing ” the shrubberies,
with Lord Evelyn at one end as a master of foxhounds (the foxhounds
by an Irish retriever), and Lady Alice at the other as an under- whip,
waiting, watchful and silent, for the fox to break, which he generally did
in the guise of a blackbird ; and then announcing his exit with the
promptest and shrillest of “ tally-hos.” Our Marquis the while was
indoors at his books, having, it was reported, a precocious relish for
algebra, and an insight into the science of political economy not often to
be found (thank Heaven) in young gentlemen of fourteen.

JANUARY.

27

Years passed. There was some misunderstanding between the
IMarquis and the Cambridge examiners on the subject of his being
Senior Wrangler, and the Duke, after hearing his son’s statement, was
pleased to pronounce that the Dons were “ offal.” Lord Evelyn went
into the Guards, and I shall never forget him on his first return from
London, after an absence of six months from the Castle. I was at tea
in the Lodge when his mail-phaeton drove up, and was hardly out of
the porch, when his hearty “ How are you, Oldacres?” drew my eyes
to the handsomest, merriest, kindliest face that ever wore a moustache.
And sitting by him was a brother officer, just the man you would
have expected that my Lord would choose for his friend, looking as
though he would go at anything from a rat to a Redan, and yet would
do no wilful hurt, as though his heart, like Tom Bowling’s, was brave
yet soft, and he was, in the full beauty of its meaning, a gentle man.
I went back to my wife, who had Frank Chiswick's wife, a baby, on
her knee, and I said to her, “ Susan, my Lord’s come, and has brought
home a husband for Lady Alice.” “ I ’ll believe it,” she answered,
“ when I see his wings ! for the Duke must have something more than
mortal to suit his fancy in son-in-laws.”

And now, gentlemen, let the old horse catch his wind, if you please,
dip his nose in the refreshing waters of the trough, and then trot on to
the end of his journey.

S. R. H.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — If not already done, lose no time in getting
the stock of Azaleas neatly trained, removing all or as many of the
weak shoots which have not set for bloom as may not be required for
filling up the plant. The stock intended for blooming next May should
be kept as quiet as possible, giving air on every favourable opportunity,
and using fire- heat only to prevent the temperature sinking below 38°;
and if actual frost is excluded, plants which have matured their growth
will take no harm. If flowers are in demand, plants which are well
set, and have been some time at rest, may be placed in a warm house
or pit, where they will soon expand their blooms. Amoena, Bealii,
and Narcissiflora are excellent varieties for forcing, but any of the strong
growing kinds will answer very well, if they have been properly pre¬
pared. Moisten the plants in heat overhead morning and evening with
the syringe, and carefully supply them with water at the root. Attend
carefully to the watering of Camellias, as any excess either way is
injurious ; and see that the foliage is bright and clean. Plants in
bloom, and those about opening their flowers, should be afforded a
temperature of from 45° to 50°, guarding against drip or condensed
moisture settling on the blooms, which would speedily ruin them ; but
when fire-heat has to be used care will be necessary, to prevent the
atmosphere becoming too dry, and it may be advisable to sprinkle the

28

THE FLORIST.

borders, &c., occasionally. Conservatory. — If not yet done, prune the

twiners, cutting back freely and reducing the dimensions of everything
whicli obstructs the light, as far as can consistently be done ; at the
same time thoroughly cleaning the glass and woodwork. Do not allow
plants growing in the borders which bloom at this season to feel the
want of moisture at the root, but those in a dormant state, especially
such as are scarcely hardy in the winter temperature of this house, can
scarcely be kept too dry. Use every exertion to make the best possible
display in this house at present, and until flowers become plentiful in
the open garden, for they will be much more esteemed during the
winter and early spring than when they become plentiful out-of-doors ;
therefore introduce into heat at intervals of about three weeks Hyacinths
and other bulbs, hardy scarlet and other hybrid Rhododendrons,
selecting the early blooming kinds for the first lot, also Ghent and other
hardy Azaleas, Kalmia latifolia, Deutzia gracilis, Roses, and any other
suitable things of which there may be a stock. But, useful as these
things are, we greatly prefer Camellias, Epacrises, Acacias, Daphnes,
and other greenhouse winter blooming plants ; and where flowers are
in demand at this season, a good stock of these should be provided,
especially of Camellias, and the beautiful and deliciously scented
Luculia gratissima should occupy a portion of every conservatory which
has to be kept gay in winter. Keep everything about the house as
trim and clean as possible, and occasionally rearrange the plants, which
will greatly add to their interest. In case much fire-heat is necessary,
see that the atmosphere is not allowed to become too dry, but avoid
excess of moisture, which would be liable to injure the blooms of many
things, in the event of the temperature falling too low at night. The
temperature must be regulated according to the class of plants which
occupy the house, but in most cases it may range from 45^ to 55°,
allowing it to sink to 40° on severe nights. Give a little air on the
sheltered side of the house, whenever this can safely be done. Cold
Frames. — In the event of severe and continuous frost, it will be diffi¬
cult to winter anything here uninjured, save such as are nearly hardy,
unless the frames or pits are fitted with pipes, so as to allow of removing
the covering during the day, &c. ; and the expense of a two-inch flow
and return pipe would be very trifling, and would render the pits
equally suitable for the winter as for the summer accommodation of
greenhouse stock of all kinds. But if fire-heat is at command use it
sparingly, and do not dispense with covering on frosty nights. Give a
little air on every favourable opportunity. Attend carefully to Cine¬
rarias and Calceolarias, and see that they are not infested with Aphis,
and keep them rather close, to induce free growth, and do not allow them
to feel the want of pot room until they are in their blooming pots. Tie
out the shoots of the former, and plants for late blooming, if not already
done, should be stopped at the fourth or fifth joint, to induce them to
form fine bushes. Peg down the shoots of Calceolarias, so that they
can root into the soil. Examine hard-wooded plants and other things
frequently for mildew, and apply sulphur on the first appearance of this
pest. Water carefully, and keep hard- wooded plants rather on the
side of dryness at the root. Greenhouse. — Take advantage of every

JANUARY.

29

hour which can be spared from other work, to get the plants nicely
tied, first repotting Ericas and other things which can safely be shifted
at this season, if they require more pot-room. Leschenaultias, Pimelea
Hendersoni, and some other hard-wooded things, are liable to be
attacked by aphis in winter, and, except they are carefully looked after,
to be greatly injured before it is perceived that they are infested, there¬
fore carefully examine these and everything likely to be attacked by
this pest frequently, and smoke any plant immediately it is observed to
require it. Use fire-heat as sparingly as possible, but do not allow the
temperature to sink much below 40°. Give air whenever this can
safely be done, but do not allow cold frosty winds to blow through the
plants. The whole stock should be kept rather on the side of dryness
at the root, but when a plant is considered to require water, give suf¬
ficient to moisten the ball throughout, watering in the morning ; and if
necessary to expel superfluous moisture use a little fire- heat, with back
air. Flower Garden. — If not already done, get the beds and borders
neatly trimmed up, and if any spring-flowering bulbs have been left
out until now, get these planted out as soon as possible. Keep the
walks and Grass frequently rolled. If there is a short stock of any of
the bedding-out plants these should be placed near the glass, in a moist
warm house, to encourage growth and secure early cuttings ; but things
not wanted to furnish cuttings at present should be kept as hard as
possible, giving air freely on mild days, but protecting them securely
against frost. Stove. — Prune and repot Echites or Dipladenias and
Allamandas, shaking away as much of the old soil as can be done
without injuring the tubers or principal roots ; also cut back Ixoras,
and repot such as require more pot-room, and see that everything is
perfectly free from insects. Plants of either of these wanted for early
Uooming should be placed in the warmest part of the house, sprinkling
them overhead with the syringe morning and evening, but such as have
been partially disrooted must be very carefully watered until they start
into free growth. Also prune and thoroughly clean Stephanotis, and
Cleroderidron splendens, and repot if necessary ; but these bloom more
freely when rather pot-bound. Towards the end of the month a lot of
Gloxinias, Achimenes, Clerodendrons, &c., if wanted for early blooming,
may be repotted and placed in the cool end of the house. Temperature
()0° to 70°, keeping the atmosphere in a healthy state as to moisture.

Hardy Fruit. — Proceed with the pruning and nailing of wall fruit-
trees, such as Pears, Plums, Cherries, and Apricots ; every favourable
opportunity should be taken to forward this work, more especially if
the weather is wet, so that the ground work in the kitchen garden
cannot be carried on. All standard fruit-trees may be pruned, and if
they are infested with Moss the stems and large branches should be
scraped or scrubbed with a broom, and afterwards dressed with a mix¬
ture of lime-water, soot, and urine. Root prune dwarf standard Apple
and Pear trees, if they are unfruitful or growing too strong; this is done
by digging a trench round the tree, two or three feet from the stem,
according to the size of the tree, and cutting the large roots. It is also
a good plan to lift small bush trees every alternate year, to keep them

30

THE FLORIST.

dwarf and in a fruitful condition. Examine the labels of fruit trees,
and prepare new ones when the weather is unfit for out- door opera¬
tions ; also cut shreds and clean old wall nails — this may be done by
heating them in an iron vessel, and stirring a little coal-tar among
them while hot. Still pay attention to the fruit-room, and remove
every decayed fruit. Any Pears that will not soften as they may
be required for use should be placed in a warm room or vinery.
Forcing Ground. — A succession of Rhubarb and Asparagus roots
should be placed in the forcing-pits ; the Asparagus should be covered
six inches deep with light soil or leaf mould, and afterwards well
watered ; give air in fine weather to heads coming through the soil ;
those being forced in the open air should have the linings renewed, so
that a regular heat may be maintained. Place pots over Seakale in the
open ground, and cover with leaves or dung ; a succession of roots should
be placed in the forcing- pits, as before advised. Sow succession crops
of French Beans in pots, and keep a good heat, with air in fine weather,
to those coming into bearing. Place a succession of Chives, Mint, and
Tarragon in heat, according to the supply required. Also sow Basil
occasionally, and small salad every few days. Prepare a slight hotbed
with dung and leaves for sowing Early Horn Carrot and Wood’s Early
Frame Radish. Place some Ashleaf Potatoes in a gentle heat to spear
for planting in pits next month ; some also may be put into pots half
filled with soil and placed on the Peach-house borders. Sow Royal Dwarf
Peas in cold pits, near the glass, and draw the lights off every fine day
as soon as they are up ; these may also be grown in pots. Cucumbers
still require a good heat ; a night temperature of 70° should be main¬
tained, with an increase of 10° through the day, with air in fine weather,
taking every advantage of sun heat by closing the house early. Sow a
little seed about the middle of the month ; also some early Melons for
planting in pits and frames next month. Prepare dung for linings, and
mix a heap of dung and leaves, to be in readiness for filling pits and
making beds when required. Cherries. — (See last month’s directions).
Pines. — Any plants now started into fruit should be watered, and main¬
tain the temperature previously advised. Keep a moist atmosphere
if much fire heat is used Those plants intended for starting next
month should be kept dry, and the temperature increased. Keep a
steady heat, from 65° to 70°, to the succession plants in dung-pits,
and guard against sudden changes in the weather by regulating the
covering at night and attending to the linings. Give a little air in fine
weather, avoiding a draft in the pit. Collect plenty of leaves to be in
readiness for renewing the beds when required, for no better material
can possibly be had than a good bed of leaves for the successful cultiva¬
tion of the Pine. Peaches and Nectarines. — Attend to previous direc¬
tions, and maintain a moist atmosphere by syringing till such time as
the trees are in bloom, when it must be discontinued till the fruit is set.
Give abundance of air when the blossoms expand; at this stage tlie
night temperature must not exceed 55°, or a lower temperature is pre¬
ferable to so much fire heat. Disbud sparingly at first, and fumiga’e
at the first appearance of green-fly. Bring the succession-house forward
as before directed. Strawberries. — Keep the pots near the glass in an

JANUARY.

ol

airy part of the house ; do not give much water at the commencement
of forcing, for keeping them dry at first is the best means of getting up
the fruit-spikes in early forcing, before the plants make so much foliage.
Give plenty of air every day, especially when the blossoms expand. Bring
in more plants under glass by the end of the month. Keep all plants
intended for later work sheltered from frost and drenching rains.
Vinery. — Keep up a steady night temperature of 60*^ in the early house,
with a moist atmosphere, till such time as the Vines are in flower, when
syringing must cease for a time, and the temperature raised 10*^ by
night and to 80° during sunshine. Give air every fine day; indeed, the
house should always be ventilated every day, when the weather will
permit ot the sashes being let down. Commence thinning the berries
at an early stage after the fruit is set, and keep the borders protected
from frost. Maintain a moist atmosphere in the succession-house, and
raise the night temperature to 50°, increasing the temperature gradu¬
ally according to the stage of growth. Pot Vines should be supplied
liberally with manure water as soon as the fruit is set. Bemove all
lateral shoots and other useless growth. Kitchen Garden. — Owing to
so much wet the slugs have made sad havoc among the winter plants
in many gardens, and where this is the case sow some seed of Lettuce,
early Cauliflower, and Cabbage under glass at the end of the month, to
have the plants forward for spring planting. It is not advisable, in
heavy wet soils, to be in a hurry in sowing the succession crops of
Beans and Peas ; nothing will be gained by so doing. In light soils,
Mazagan and Long-pod Beans and early Peas may be sown, about the
middle of the month, in a warm situation ; also Wood’s Frame Radish,
on a warm border. Embrace every opportunity in frosty weather to
wheel manure on all vacant ground. Dig and trench in dry weather,
to have the soil in a proper condition to receive the spring crops. Give
air every fine day to Cauliflowers and other plants under glass.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Pelargoniums. — This season being dull and damp, Pelargoniums are
somewhat late, therefore those wishing specimens for early exhibition
should lose no time in making a selection from the early-flowering sorts,
giving them a little fire-heat, the temperature at night ranging about
45° Fahr. Tying should be commenced at once, with a view to the
ultimate formation of nice round compact plants ; by it the air and light
will be more freely admitted, and it will greatly tend to prevent their
becoming drawn. All the room that is possible should be given the
plants. Water should be administered carefully, and only to such as
need it ; the plants must be kept free from insects, and air should be
given abundantly when the weather will permit. Such is the treatment
suggested both for the show and fancy kinds ; the latter, however,
should be of the two most carefully tended, very especial care being
taken that the decayed foliage should be speedily removed. Of the show
kinds for early flowering, among the very best are Desdemona, Fairest
of the Fair, Etna, Leviathan, Governor- General, Carlos, The Bride,
Sanspareil, Admirable, Festus, Vestal, Viola, Rose Celestial, Prince ot
Wales, Candidate, Sir Colin Campbell, Fair Ellen, The Belle. Ot
Fancies, we should recommend Cloth of Silver, Princess Royal,

32

TUB FLORIST.

Acme, Captivator, Modestum, Clemanthe, Countess of Craven, Musjid,
Celestial, Circle, Queen of the Valley, Formosum, Madame Rougiere.
Cinerarias — We will suppose these gay spring plants to have now had
their final shift into their blooming pots, which for exhibition should be
eight-inch ones. Should they not, it ought to be set about forthwith,
taking care to select vigorous dwarf plants ; such as have been stopped
would be preferable. The soil best suited for them is two parts good
friable turfy loam and one of each of well decomposed stable manure
and leaf mould. Add silver sand freely, and well drain by filling one-
third of the pots with broken potsherds and loose turfy loam. When
properly treated, the Cineraria forms a beautiful object for the conser¬
vatory, and is required among the first plants on our exhibition tables,
and to such as are unacquainted with their general treatment a few
words may be acceptable. Those that are now established will require
great care in thinning out all the small leaves and suckers. When this
is done, have small pegs and peg out all the largest of the leaves and
the longest of the shoots, to admit air freely. Keep them as near
the glass as possible, to prevent their drawing. Use the syringe fre¬
quently, to clean and invigorate them; this must be done only on bright
days. Watch closely for greenfly, and fumigate immediately on its
appearance, and apply sulphur wherever you see a spot of mildew.
As they grow, stake and tie out as wide as possible. Such as are in¬
tended for early exhibition should be kept a little closer, but not forced
unless thoroughly established. Give a little liquid manure to such as
are well furnished with roots.

WHAT SMALL GARDENERS SHOULD DO IN JANUARY.

Auriculas. — If the weather be as it is at present, we ought, according
to “ A. J. C.” in “ Gossip,” to have a first-rate bloom, but the idea of
so confounding the post hoc and propter hoc, as to suppose that frost is
good for Auriculas, will not do. We say, rather, keep them well covered
up ; frigi domo is a capital covering; and then, quite at the latter end
of the month, get all ready for top-dressing ; this ought to be done with
well-rotted cow-dung and silver sand — others add leaf mould and loam,
and prefer all good stuff. Pansies and Carnations may remain as
they are for this month, but get the stuff ready for potting the former.
Greenhouse. — Primulas, Cinerarias, and Camellias will now help to give
a little life here. Pelargoniums may be repotted (as we are not talking
of exhibitions), they will bloom later, but well ; and through next month
you may be removing bedding-stuff elsewhere ; give more room for
them to grow. Japan Lilies. — These will probably begin to spear at
the end of the month ; repot them, planting the bulbs tolerably deep.
Light compost suits them, with some well rotted manure ; they are very
useful for autumn decoration, and are now to be had very cheap.
Tulips. — Keep these covered up from severe frost ; after so much wet,
they will suffer if not so done. Pinks. — See, when frost gives way,
that these are pressed into the ground, as it is apt to dislodge them.
General Work. — Get sticks made and painted, labels prepared, and tied
up in bundles for use. Turn over beds intended for Ranunculuses, &c.,
that they may be sweetened by the frost. Protect tender Roses, and
keep a sharp look-out for slugs and other vermin. D*

J^-Andrvws, D(Ak & Zvnco.

2 CaZbiope

Pourp one S . _ f Seedlxngs)

(Sdbx^) _ %. Thj& Ihijl2& Gis?ti/. (Irifiroin.')

3. Dwjiou. iSaltar)

Plate 173.

J^rvrascL- 'by C. Chaiot.

' FEBRUARY.

33

POMPONE CHKYSANTHEMUMS.

(Plate 173.)

The exceptional cliaracter of the year 1860, influenced not
only out-of-door productions, hut also the more sheltered
inmates of greenhouses, and even stoves ; not only had wall-
fruit no flavour, and Verbenas no character, but even Chry¬
santhemums were very different from what they usually are ;
the shows were, comparatively speaking, failures, and even
the winter garden of Mr. Salter was shorn of some of its
splendour. This was to he attributed in a great measure to
the absence of sunlight; it was impossible to hope that flowers
would expand, or that colours would be vivid, when day after
day a cold and leaden sky hung overhead, or the rain descended
in torrents. One might naturally have expected, considering
how fond this flower is of moisture, that those planted out-of-
doors would have flourished ; hut here again, there was dis¬
appointment, they were so late in coming into flower, and when
they did, the weather was so unfavourable, that they were
quite below the mark ; and even the Temple Gardens made
but a poor display, compared with what they have done in
previous years ; yet we see, despite of all this, that Mr. Salter
lias contrived to introduce a few novelties to our notice, and
I have notes taken at his nursery in December, which I hope
to give in a future number; with those who are not exhibitors,
Pompones generally are greater favourites than the large
varieties, they are so much more compact in growth, and
copious in their blooming. They will not do, however, for that
tremendous operation called dressing; generally speaking, they
are much too compact for that, but the extent to which this is
carried in large flowers, may he judged from the fact that one
flower (which shall he nameless) which the raiser was anxious
to dispose of, took three days to dress, and then was brought
to such a state of perfection as to completely take in the
experienced foreman of a London nursery, who was sent to
look at it. Two out of the flowers selected for illustration
this month may be considered as novelties, one especially so,
and coming from the same raiser who has already given us
so many valuable varieties, they may he regarded as an in¬
dication that he does not mean to stop where he is. The thirst
for new things is as insatiable as ever, and though the last
season was not favourable generally for the raising of them,
yet the growers of Chrysanthemums will not be disappointed,
and we must only hope that the year 1861 will he an inprove-
ment on its predecessor ; we have just had a winter that has

VOL. XV., NO. CLVIII. D

34

TUE FLORIST.

slaughtered its myriads of our clearest productions: may we
not hope for a summer of corresponding brilliancy. Of the
three productions figured we can just say the following: —

Calliope is a flower of very compact liabit and free-blooming character,
the colour a bright ruby, and the centre exceedingly well filled up ; it is
quite an addition to the Pompone Anemone class.

The Little Gem, raised by that zealous hybridiser, Mr. Ingram, is really
a gem ; it is of a pretty rose colour, the margin of each petal distinctly
marked with white ; the flower is full and well up in the centre ; quite a
novelty,

Diana, a white Pompone, very pure in colour, and a good petal ; not
unlike Mrs. Turner. This, too, is compact in growth and very free-flowering.

Deal, Jan. 28. • D.

A FEW THINGS WORTH FORCING MORE EXTENSIVELY.

Do we not overlook many good things, when providing for the drawing¬
room or conservatory decoration at this season ? At least I think so ;
for although I have seen most of the plants and shrubs I here recom¬
mend for forcing in a few places, they certainly are not employed so
generally as they deserve to be ; for when brought into flower and
arranged with other plants, they are most pleasing, reminding one
more completely of spring than the plants usually got up for such occa¬
sions, and which are mostly evergreen, such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas,
Kalmias, with forced greenhouse plants.

First let us take the common and scarlet Thorn, of which there are
several varieties ; to get Thorns or Hawthorns into a blooming
state they should be potted at least one year before forcing, and a
year or two previously should have been root-pruned once or twice,
according to their age. The best- shape to have them in is either
conical or globular-headed bushes, from two to three feet high, or low
standards, that is, with a stem a foot in height, and with a moderately
sized head ; mind, that to be effective, the wood should be composed
almost entirely of bloom spurs ; and this habit will be obtained in the
first place by root pruning and pinching back the wood, when growing
in the open ground, and by fully exposing the plants, the year they are
in pots, to the full sun, and keeping the roots rather dry, to prevent any
growth, beyond the conversion of every twig into a blooming spur ; by
this treatment you will get a good head of bloom, than which nothing
is more pleasing and grateful at this season. The Pyrus spectabilis and
sinensis adapt themselves to the same course of treatment. To have
these latter suitable as dwarf bushes for pots, they should be grafted or
budded on the common Thorn. These plants form such charming
bushes when grown in the way described, and slightly forced into bloom,
that I hope nurserymen will be induced to bud and prepare all the
above on the Thorn stock for forcing, as I think they would be in great
demand, if obtainable in the market. Those I have grown I have
budded myself, as I could not procure the two Pyrus’s except on

FEBRUARY.

35

the Crab stock, which makes them grow too strong for pots. There
are also three or four sorts of Apple with rose-tinted blooms, which if
dwarfed and got into bloom early would be a great acquisition to collec¬
tions of forced flowers. I have not tried them myself, but intend
doing so. The beautiful Carnation Peaches must not be omitted,
especially those introduced by Mr. Glendinning, and of which you gave
us capital figures in the Florist some months ago.

I must next notice Ribes sanguineum, and R. aureum praecox and
flavum ; these may be grown in the open ground and trained into form
until large enough for forcing. In August I cut with a sharp spade all
round the plants, and leave a ball no larger than will go into a suitable
sized pot. This treatment checks the plants, and by the first week in
October they may be lifted and potted, placing them in the shade for a
fortnight, and then in an open place ; a warm greenhouse is all these
require to bring them into bloom. The common mock Orange, or
Syringa, is another plant which merits forcing more extensively, for the
fragrance which a plant or two in blossom imparts to the conservatory.
The double Cherry, double Sloe, double Plum, and Almond must also
be included, as showy and very desirable plants ; these should be budded
on the common S’oe, of which also I beg to give the trade a hint, as it
would materially dwarf them, and make them more accommodating as
pot plants, and more prolific of bloom. Magnolia conspicua, Soulangeana,
and speciosa are grand plants, when well done ; and when once grown
into a good blooming state will keep so for several years with care.
Weigela rosea and amabilis are more commonly used than many others
I have named ; but nevertheless my list would be incomplete without
them — they are both valuable. As are also the Belgian dwarf Honey¬
suckle and Lonicera flexuosa and floribunda. — The former is readily
trained into the shape of low standard bushes, and very easily forced.
The two latter are also manageable by training them to a low trellis in
the first place, and then spurring in the shoots and allowing them to
grow naturally, they will form globular bushes ; all are fragrant and
useful as forced plants.

Daphne Mezereon is an old but well-known favourite ; the large-
flowered variety is the best. The common and Scotch Laburnums are
not good plants to dwarf ; if they could be worked on some of the
weaker growing Cytisus, more might be done with them in this way.
The white and cream-coloured Brooms are useful later in the season ;
but for this class the greenhouse Genistas afford good substitutes.
Then we have Deutzia gracilis and scabra, particularly the former,
which is one of the most really beautiful plants for our purpose, when
trainei so as to form low standards, with stems 6 or 9 inches high
and globular heads, which when covered with their snow-white flowers,
are particularly graceful. Nor must I omit the old double and single
Cydonia, a few bushes of which will warm up a good collection ; to grow
these well in pots, they require free cultivation and well stopping back
to throw all the growth into flower buds. I have tried no experiments
with budding these, but I do not see why some stock could not be found
for them, so that we might have them in the shape of nice standards ; on
their own roots they are rather difficult to manage for any length of time.

36

THE FLORIST.

Cercis siliquastrum can be dwarfed, and bears pot culture well ; and
very interesting it is in this form. I need scarcely allude to the Chi-
'monanthus, as it is already a general favourite, as are the Sweetbriar
and Lilac ; but of the latter there are several French varieties, which
appear much more worthy of cultivation than our Persian or Siberian.
Having seen them in the Paris markets I can speak of their superiority.
I believe some of our nurserymen have the best French varieties ; they
are worth growing extensively, and the culture they get in France may
perhaps form the subject of another article ; this I fear you will find
already too long, but I think the subject one worth your noticing.

M. A. S.

[We think so too ; and shall be pleased to insert our correpondent’s
notes on French Lilac culture.— Ed. Florist, &c.]

®l)ituac2.

EDWARD BECK, WORTON COTTAGE, ISLEWORTH.

We ljttle thought, when urging on our valued friend the Vicar of
Alford, a request that he would once more pive to the Florist some of
his excellent aid, that his response should take the form of an obituary
notice of one whom we know he so highly esteemed, as the subject of
the present notice. It would ill become us to add anything to the
very interesting account that he has given of the life and character of
our deceased friend ; all who knew him will appreciate the justice and
truth of his observations ; but we may say that which his modesty forbids
him saying himself, that’ the pages of the Florist in those da}'S to which
he refers owed a great portion of their attractiveness to his own writing ;
page after page bears the evidence of his clear and graphic pen, even
where his signature appears not, and we very much hope that he will,
during the present year, give us many communications. No one is
better able to do so, especially on anything bearing on the science and
philosophy of gardening.

Deal. D.

We are sure of the sympathy of the earlier readers of this periodical,
when with deep sorrow we anounce that it has pleased God to take
to himself, on January 15th of this year, at the age of fifty-seven,
Edward Beck, of Isleworth. He was most extensively known to
the world as a slate merchant and dealer in building materials ; and
the great waterworks at Hampton, which under three companies supply
so much of the purest water to the metropolis, were of his construction.
But the horticultural world owes him a debt of gratitude, not only as
one of the most successful raisers of Pelargoniums in the kingdom, and
long unrivalled as an exhibitor, but for higher deeds, as one who at a
very considerable pecuniary sacrifice to himself, which he had counted

ft

ir

1}

beforehand and determined on, from high moral and religious motives,
became in 1848 the regenerator of the Florist, and therein a leader in
the present improved tone of piety, of science, and of gentlemanly
feeling in horticultural publications. Any one who will take the trouble
to compare the difference of spirit and language characteristic of the
two periods, before and since that date, will see what is meant, and how
much in this respect the public has gained by the labours of the de¬
ceased, and of those who wrought in a like spirit. Of course, it is not
implied that all is due to one man, nor even that the chief place is due
to the periodical of which he was nominally the superintendent really
the proprietor. This is willingly admitted, to belong to that Titan, the
Gardeners' Chronicle, which, like another Hercules, could have
strangled serpents even when it was in its cradle. But it is affirmed,
that the time, labour, and expense were deliberately undertaken with
that fixed purpose, and the Florist having been placed at the head of
its class, was effectively carried on until the close of 1850, when the
concern was transferred, with all its high purposes, to those able and
more practised hands, which, under brighter auspices, and in a higher
state of social requirement, are now so worthily fulfilling its mission.

Edward Beck was no common man. Commencing life as a sailor,
and passing long afterwards from the command of a merchant ship to
that of a merchant’s counting-house, he showed an aptitude for busi¬
ness, which was general and not merely special. Indeed, in intuitive
sagacity, and in perception of character as well as of circumstance, some
anecdotes of him recall to mind the doings of higher personages, who
produced greater results in the world. For instance ; his gardening
establishment was large and expensive, his glass houses being numerous,
much more so than they have been of late years. His head gardener
did not give satisfaction, not for want of honest desire to please, but his
heart wns not in his work, and therefore that work did not prosper as
it ought. The master did not want to dismiss the man, but things
must be altered. He had seen in his groom an interest in garden
matters, little things that would have escaped the notice of a more
ordinary observer ; and to their own surprise the men were retained,
their offices were exchanged. And the consequence was eventually
seen in an improvement in both departments. And the so-made gardener,
after a faithful and brilliant service of some years, became, and is now,
a leading florist and seedsman in the neighbourhood of London. More¬
over, the facts of his establishment in that position, honourable alike
to master and man, are a practical lesson of the way to secure faithful
and willing service. Yet he was a strict, almost a stern, disciplinarian
and inspector, as all really good managers of men are. But those who
were connected with him quickly felt that they had to deal with a
man of high sterling principle, who carried a sense of duty equally into
comprehensive commercial speculations, and the minutest matters of
detail.

No doubt much of this arose from natural disposition. But the true
force of his character was due to the pervading principle of religion,
which in him was in the best sense that of the Bible. He was a thorough
disciple of his crucified Saviour. Tjiough he belonged to the Society

38

THE FLORIST.

of Friends, and the writer is a clergyman of the Established Church,
there existed between them the closest sympathy, and a real unanimity
of creed and of feeling in the all-important matter of religion. A long
and truly Christian letter illustrative of this, written only on the fourth
of last month, is lying before us, and strongly tempting us to make
extracts, showing a Christian’s way of meeting the anxieties of a family
man, and God’s practical way of answering the prayer. He puts into
the heart of such an one to use. May his family follow in his steps.
Would we all resembled him in this ; for he was a living proof that a
man of business, and a leading florist, can at the same time be a con¬
sistent Christian.

It was floriculture that brought us together, but the gospel of Christ
that cemented the acquaintance into friendship. It was at his instance
and for his sake the writer made his first appearance under the signa¬
ture of “ Iota,” and with his departure that signature shall be laid down.
Henceforth, any articles that come from the same pen, shall bear the
signature of

George Jeans.

Alford Vicarage, Jan. 18.

MR. EDMONDS.

The severity of this winter has been manifest, not only in its effects on
the gardener’s productions, but on gardeners themselves. A notice of
one eminent raiser of florist flowers appears above, and we have to
record also the death of another, very eminent as a raiser of Verbenas.
Mr, Edmonds was gardener to the Dowager Lady Lacon, at Great
Ormsby, Norfolk, and in that capacity not only won the respect of his
employer, but became well known, by name at least, to the floricultural
world, in connection with a flower so universally grown as the
Verbena.

The aim of Mr. Edmonds was to grow the seedlings in the open air,
so that it might be seen which were fit for out-door purposes ; conse¬
quently, except in a very young state, they never bloomed under glass ;
and out of many thousand seedlings which he annually grew, not more
than one or two dozen ever came up to his idea of what was required.
In the year 1852, Ormsby Beauty was distributed, and annually, since
then, the lists of new Verbenas have borne evidence to his industry
and great skill in hybridizing ; Leviatlian, Mrs. IMoore, Lord Shaftes¬
bury, IMrs. Spencer, and other well known and esteemed fiovrers were
of his raising; and it is a melanclioly instance of the “Vanitas vanitatum,’*
to see his name affixed to new varieties now coming out, and the raiser
himself among us no more ; he died suddenly on the 4th inst., respected
by all who knew him.

Deal, Jan. 22. D.

FEBRUARY.

89

MELONS IN POTS.

Vines are now grown in pots yearly by the hundred, and so are
Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Apricots, Cherries, and Figs; for several
years past I have grown my early and late Melons in pots, by which
plan I can secure the crop earlier and with less risk than % the planting
out system, which is that generally practised ; for when one or two plants
are turned out under a light, should any accident happen during their
growth, you can hardly replace them ; and the difficulty of keeping up
a uniform bottom heat early in the season, unless by hot-water pipes
(which are not at every gardener’s command) is a serious objection
to early Melon culture, and even had I hot water for bottom heat,

I would grow the first and the last crops in pots.

It is considered by some gardeners that to grow the Melon to a first-
rate size, a large border for the roots and space for the Vines to ramble in
are necessary ; my experience does not confirm this, for I can produce
more and finer fruit per light when my plants are in pots than when
growing in a border the size of the pit or frame, as I have repeatedly
proved. The crop usually taken from each ordinary frame or pit light
is from four to six fruits, according to the size of the sash, which
generally runs from 6 to 8 feet long by 3 feet 6 inches wide. Now
under each sash as above I plunge from five to eight pots, each to
contain one plant. I train the Vines to a trellis, 12 inches clear from
the glass, for the first crop, and 18 inches for the latter. The pots I
use are deep 14-inch pots, and the soil pure loam from well-rotted top
spit earth, as heavy as I can procure, and made tolerably firm. I allow
a distance of 12 inches between the surface of the pots and the trellis,
so that the bed of leaves in which the pots are plunged is 2 feet from
the glass ; or rather we make it so that it will settle down to that
distance, which will be the case by the time the plants have grown
sufficiently high to take to the trellis, which being moveable is not
placed in the frame till the plants have grown 12 or 14 inches.

After the holes are made to receive the pots, three or four spades
full of loam are placed in the bottom of the hole on which the
pots are to stand. To prevent the soil from choking up the drainage,

* I place each pot on two brick-bats. I find the supply of loam below
the pots of the greatest use, it quickly becomes 'filled with roots, which
penetrate through the drainage holes of the pots, and as it is always
of a uniform warmth, it materially assists the swelling fruits. When the
soil in the pots has become warmed, the plants are transferred to them,
and tied up, without stopping, to the height of 12 or 14 inches (as
above noticed) ; by having the pots plunged, the bottom heat can be
nicely regulated. I have, at times, removed a portion of it when the
plants have grown considerably, and replaced it with hot leaves, mixed
with tan. I find also, that by having a clear two feet inside, I can
maintain a higher top heat, even with dung linings, than when the bed
is made up near the glass — no small advantage during the cold weather
of April, when working with dung.

When the trellis is placed in the frame, and the plants are tied to
it, they are stopped, and will break at two or three joints, each lateral
showing fruit at the third or fourth joint ; when these appear, the Vine

40

THE FLORIST.

is again stopped at the joint above the embryo fruit; and when these
are set and commence to swell, the best is reserved, and the other two
removed ; the one left only being allowed to ripen. The other Vines are
shortened back one or two joints, according to the size and condition of
their foliage, as a certain number of full-sized healthy leaves must be
retained as indispensable to the due swelling and flavour of the fruit ;
all further growths are pinched out as they appear, unless a second
crop is desirable from the same plants ; when, about the period that the
growing fruit is half swelled, one or more lateral shoots may be allowed
to grow from the disfruited Vines, and the first to show fruit retained
to produce a second crop, which the plants will carry, if due care has
been taken with the leaves. I water very freely — indeed, nearly every
day ; and the surface of the leaves in the bed is frequently stirred and
sprinkled, to maintain a moist growing atmosphere in the frame or
pot. I manage this in frames, by leaving a hole under the frame, to
enable me to introduce a fork ; and in pits, an opening is left in the
front wall for the same purpose. The plants produce numerous roots,
running throughout the body of leaves below the pots ; when the pots
become full of roots, slates or tiles are placed over them to prevent
evaporation ; the plants form large foliage, and I find the fruit swell on
the whole to a larger size, than the same kinds when grown in an
open bed ; each fruit is suspended in a piece of old netting to the
trellis. I have occasionally left two fruits on each plant, and when the
fruit is a small variety, as the Victory of Bath and Scarlet Gem, this
may be done, when a little more room must be given. For a late crop
I prefer Trentham Hybrid and Beechwood ; lor early work, the two
former. Golden Perfection, and Egyptian Green-flesh.

S. T.

DECOBATED CLIMBING ROSES.*

A STRANGE term, for can a Rose-tree be decorated? Yes, and I
must at once tell how it has been done with these evergreen Roses — the
most vigorous and the most tractable of Rose- stocks — and how it may
be easily practised.

A few years since, a friend, living at Weycliffe, near Guildford, found
the heavily-built brick bridge leading over the railway to his house
(this is, however, in his grounds, so as to be private), conspicuously
ugly, and he wished it to be hidden by evergreen climbing plants. As
the carriage-road ran over the bridge, the gravel, of which it was made,
did not seem to offer very happy quarters for any plant but Ivy,
which was objected to, as being too heavy. I then proposed planting
it with varieties of Rosa sempervirens, or, as we ought always to call
them. Evergreen Roses. They were with some difficulty planted, the
gravel being loosened by the pick, and some manure mixed with it.
In my annual visits to my friend living in this charming district — for
no part of England is more so — I watched with some interest my

* Extracted from a new edition (the seventh), just published, of Rivers’ Rose
Amateur’s Guide, a most valuable instructor on all matters relating to Rose
growing, and one which we can heartily recommend.

JANUARY.

41

bridge Roses. They grew with great rapidity, and soon covered every
brick ; but when they bloomed in large beautiful masses, some disap¬
pointment was expressed at the monotony of colour. I was prepared
for this, and told my friend that they must be decorated. A good-
natured incredulous smile met me with “ how ? ” I called the gar¬
dener, for this was in July, the budding season, went with him to the
Rose-garden, and thence took buds of some of the most beautiful of the
dark Hybrid Perpetual Roses, not forgetting some of the bright rose-
coloured tints, such as Colonel de Rougemont, La Reine, General
Simpson, and some others. Our great “ horse ” was, I remember.
General Jacqueminot. ]\Iy budding hand had not forgotten its cunning,
for did I not consider myself at twenty as the most dexterous and rapid
budder of Roses that ever lived and was. likely to live? So I and the
gardener proceeded to place buds here and there in shoots favourable
for the purpose. The day was warm and the thorns much sharper than
they used to be forty years ago, so I have a misty idea that my friend
Jackman the gardener put many more buds in than I did. To use the
common phrase, nearly all the buds “ took,” i. e., lived, and many of
them put forth fine clusters of bloom the following August and Septem¬
ber. I paid my annual visit to my friend in June of the next year, just
eleven months after my budding exploit. As I approached the bridge
I felt full of interest about my buds. What a glorious sight met my
eye! Amid the masses of flowers of pale climbing Roses shone forth
large clusters of the Geant, General Jacqueminot, Triomphe des Beaux
Arts, Prince Noir, Comte Bobinsky, Louise Peyronney, Colonel de
Rougemont, Jules Margottin, and others; the bridge was a fairy
avenue, so charming was the effect.

I have a full and fervent belief that ere long banks and avenues of
decorated Roses will be in every Rose garden, and that their culture
will be carried to an extent we at present scarcely dream of. I have
one Rose friend who has formed his Rose-walk wdth network of iron
wire, fastened to upright iron rods ; the meshes formed by crossing the
wire occasionally, are twelve or fifteen inches in diameter, so as effec¬
tually to support the shoots of the climbing Roses. This walk, in the
course of a year or two, will be between two upright walls of “ decorated
Roses,” and I can scarcely imagine anything in Rose culture more
beautiful. It must be borne in mind that no arches, unless some fifteen
feet apart, and no arched coverings must be placed over a Rose-walk or
avenue of this description, for the finer kinds of Roses require all the
light and air they can have.

For pillars, banks, coverings for walks, and every fancy that can enter
into the mind of a Rose-lover, these budded climbing Roses are adapted,
and they will well repay the ingenuity of a clever Rose gardener ; in
many cases superseding the use of standards, which are for a great
portion of the year so very ugly.

The “ how to do ” these Roses is very simple. If very rapid growth
be required, the place in which they are to be planted should be stirred
to a depth of two feet, some manure mixed wdth the earth, and climbing
Roses such sorts as as Felicite, Princesse Louise, Princesse Marie,
and spectabile (all varieties of Rosa sempervirens) should be planted

42

THE FLORIST.

in November ; if they have strong shoots, they may be tied or
fastened up to nearly their full length ; if not with long and strong
shoots, they may be cut down to within five inches of their bases ;
they will in the following season make shoots from ten to twelve
or fifteen feet in length. The first shoots that will be fit to bud
will be the old shoots that were left at full length when they were
planted ; these may be budded in June, and the young shoots that are
made during the whole of the summer may be budded weekly till the
end of September ; the position of each bud must be thought of, so as
to make a picture really artistic and beautiful. As soon as a bud is
inserted, or if two or three buds are placed in the same shoot, the end
of the shoot must be cut off to within two buds of the topmost inserted
bud ; the buds may be untied about three weeks after insertion, and
all the young shoots that break out below the inserted buds must be
rubbed off ; this is all that need be done the first season. The next
season the buds will bloom abundantly, and it will only be necessary
to destroy all the young shoots that break out of the budded branch
below the buds ; those shoots that break out above the inserted buds
may be pinched in frequently, the budded branch will not then become
rigid and starved like the stem of a standard rose.

In decorating climbing roses the buds should be dotted over tiie
whole surface of the plant, two or three buds in one branch will be
found enough, and care must be taken not to bud every branch of the
climbing rose ; some must be left to grow in their natural, graceful,
vigorous manner, so that the decorated wall or walk has not a stumpy
appearance like an avenue of standard roses.

Evergreen roses, trained to tall pillars or suffered to hang in festoons,
are capable of most fanciful decoration, as buds of choice kinds may
be inserted at different points of view so as to have a charming effect.

FLORAL COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL

SOCIETY.

As the Committee has now bid a long farewell to the dear, dirty, dingy
room in which its deliberations have been hitherto held, the opportunity
seems a good one to say a few words as to its constitution and method of
conducting its proceedings, while giving a short account of its last meeting
in St. Martin’s Place on Oecember 13. Imagine yourselves, then, in the
most unfavourable spot for horticultural deliberations, in the very heart
of bustling London, ov^erlooking Charing Cross and its everflowing tide
of human life — its ’busses, cabs, &c. — and in a room some 16 or 18
feet long by about 14 wide, in the centre a large green table, and
around, in about as good order as confined space will permit, on tables,
bookshelves, and boards, are arranged the various objects which have
been sent in for the opinion of the Committee. Seated at the table
may, be, on ordinary meeting days, some twelve or fourteen members,
representing every branch of the floricultural world — nurserymen,
whose estimate of a flower is perhaps rather more commercial than
otherwise — gentlemen, whose eyes are ever keen for novelties, and who

EEBRUARY.

43

have purses, perhaps, corresponding thereto — amateurs who, in their
little boats, keep nearer shore — and editors of gardening periodicals,
sharply on the look-out for some pabulum for their next number ; a
goodly medley, and yet, from that very circumstance, the most suitable
court of appeal. Were all nurserymen and growers for sale, it could
not but be that there would be the same sort of collusion that ruined the
National Floricultural Society ; and were all amateurs, it would be more
likely that they would pass encomiums on some flowers which had
already been out in the trade, and so injury be done ; but men of long
experience in business wall at once say whether a thing is so or not.
A case occurred at this very meeting, when that lovely Thibaudia was
placed on the table ; the exclamation of every amateur would be at
once to honour it ; but then came the cautious question, has it ever
been let out? And though it was ultimately decided in its favour, yet
the question being started shows the value of such a counterpoise.
These members, be it observed, are not necessarily Fellows of the Hor¬
ticultural Society, the Couucil having thought it wise to obtain what
aid they could from those who knew the science, whoever they were.
In fact, I believe seventeen out of the thirty, exclusive of President, &c.,
alone are entitled to add F.R.H.S. to their name. Thus seated around
their table, the Chairman announces that the proceedings are to
commence, the minutes of the last meeting are read, and now the
members look round to see what is to be brought on the tapis first.
Alas ! on an unlucky day (nay, we must not call it so) last summer,
the Committee had met at Chiswick, and there had an inspection of
various things sent in to them to test the merits of, and the Secretary
announces that he has a long paper to read on the merits of Stocks,
Heliotropes, &c., very ably drawn up, and likely to be very useful ; but
whoever can exhibit any degree of patience under the reading of a
report, be it religious, political, or floricultural, especially when you
know you are about to read it in print in a short time ? The first object
for exhibition is now placed on the table ; incontinently one of the
members takes up his hat and walks out of the room. Have any of his
co-censors insulted him ? Is the plant produced of so contemptible a
character that he can only express his disgust by this summary mode
of proceeding ? No such thing ; the plant produced is his own child,
and by the rules of the Committee he is not allowed to remain while
its merits or demerits, as the case may be, are discussed. In the case
of plants forwarded from a distance, a detailed account of them is
expected At the meeting on the 13th ult., an interesting discussion
arose as to the Erect Yew, forwarded by Mr. Crowder, of Horn-
castle, it being by some considered very similar to others already in
cultivation. However, the previous award of the Committee was con¬
firmed. By the Messrs. Veitch & Co. was exhibited a specimen of
I'hibaudia macrantha, a most lovely but comparatively little known
greenhouseshr;^, producing clusters of large handsome pendant blos¬
soms, three or icur in a bunch, from the woody part of the branches.
Each flower is about two inches in length and an inch in diameter,
angular, narrowed at the base and point of the flovver ; the general
colour white, with beautiful wavy lines of mauve or rosy red colour.

44

THE FLORIST.

As we have said, a first-class certificate was awarded to this, although
not a new flower. Messrs. Maule & Son, of Bristol, exhibited a very
fine and well -grown specimen of Cypripedium insigne ; this also
received a first-class certificate.

Mr. Salter, of Hammersmith, exhibited some striking varieties of
Chrysanthemums, amongst them “ Little Harry,” to which on a former
occasion a first-class certificate had been awarded, and which proved
now that it had deserved the award ; it was a medium sized golden
yellow incurved flower, quite a ball in shape. The following, from the
same raiser, were commended : — Canary Bird, Caractacus, and Golden
Hermione ; of these we shall have more to say by and by. Messrs.
E. G. Henderson & Son had a very nice collection of Tree Carnations,
well grown and in good bloom, forming a pleasing adjunct to the con¬
servatory at a season of the year when flowers are scarce ; for these a
special certificate was awarded. Nothing else of any moment was
brought before the Committee, the season of the year being of course
unfavourable to the production of novelties.

Such, then, is an ordinary meeting, in the dull season, of this Com¬
mittee of Taste ; and now the scene shifts, and when the curtain rises
next, we shall find ourselves in our new room at Kensington Gore, the
full, true, and particular account of which we shall hope to give on some
future occasion, satisfied if now it has been demonstrated that this
Committee is so constituted, that the public may with confidence look
to its awards, and believe that they will be given with judgment, wisdom
and impartiality.

Deal, Jan. 16. D.

REPORT ON ANNUALS GROWN FOR TRIAL AT

CHISWICK, 1860.

Br Mr. Moore, Secretary to the Floral Committee.

No. I.

The experimental trials of annual flowers made during the past
summer at the Garden at Chiswick, have doubtless, like those of other
plants, been influenced in some degree by the unpropitious nature of
the season, and therefore the opinions pronounced on the respective
subjects may not be regarded as altogether final. Nevertheless, it was
found that the majority of the plants belonging to this class acquired a
very fair state of development, and some may even have preferred the
moisture and comparative coolness which were prevalent, to the more
heated and parching conditions of soil and climate which are the conco¬
mitants of ordinary summer weather.

The observations embodied in this Report were made from time to
time during the summer, the plants having been examined by the
Committee, as they reached the flowering state.

Acroclinium roseum. (Van Houtte.) — This pretty Swan River
Everlasting, raised in gentle heat, and afterwards planted out, came
into flower early, and continued for a considerable period in blossom

FEBRUARY.

45

It grew about a foot or rather more in height, forming a tuft of erect
stems, which were unbranched, bearing narrow leaves, and each termi¬
nated by a single showy flower-head, which in most cases was pink,
becoming paler in age, but was sometimes white, the centre or disk
always yellow, and the ray of coloured involucral scales some\\’hat dry
and membranous in texture, like what are known as Everlasting flowers.
It proved to be a distinct and pretty border plant, for early summer
flowering.

Ageratum mexicanum naniim. (Thompson A good dwarf variety
of Ageratum, with a diffusely branched habit, the leaves almost deltoid
in outline, coarsely toothed, and the stems bearing large heads of clear
pale or grayish-blue flowers. Useful as a dwarf pale-blue bushy
annual summer flower.

Alonsoob Warczewicsii compacla. (Turner.) — A very pretty border
plant, of erect habit, growing about 2 feet or rather more in height,
branching, furnished with small ovate toothed leaves, and clear scarlet
flowers, resembling those of A. incisifolia, the old Celsia urticoefolia of
gardens, but without the black central spot which occurs in that plant ;
the leaves are also less deeply cut. This variety proved to be rather
dwarfer in habit than the ordinary form, and like it may be treated as
a suffrutescent greenhouse perennial.

Amhlyolepis seiigera. (Thompson.) — A dwarf procumbent branching
plant, somewhat like Gaillardia in habit, but of weedy character, pro¬
ducing poor yellow composite flowers, which however have a fragrance
resembling new hay, and are said to retain it when dry.

Anagallis grandijlor a Napoleon III. (Van Houtte.) 7 These were

Anagallis grandijlor a Eugenie. (Van Houtte.) j not well de¬

veloped, owing to accidental circumstances of position. They were
however remarkable for their fine large flowers, which were varied
in colour, including dull purplish -red, orange, and blush- white with
purple eye, and were regarded as very useful plants for rockwork.
These belong to a large-flowered race obtained from A. Monelli, and
like it are half-hardy perennials.

Antirrhinum majus Brilliant. (Benary.) — A very showy and
attractive variety, remarkably true as to colour. The flowers had a
white tube, a crimson upper lip, and a yellow palate, the colour of which
becoming blended with the crimson of the lower lip produced there a
rich bronzy hue. '

Antirrhinum magus striatum. (Carter & Co.) — Under the names of
striatum eximium and striatum nanum was received a very fine strain
of Snapdragons, the seedlings of which produced many beautiful striped
varieties, as well as numerous richly coloured seifs. From amongst
them several first-rate sorts might have been selected.

Argemone Hunnemanni. (Carter & Co.). — This proved the same
as A. mexicana, a tall branching plant, with glaucous pinnatifid soft-
prickly thistle-like leaves marked with rich veins, and having Poppy¬
like yellow flowers, which are not very showy. ’

Argemone platgcer as. (Carter & Co ) — This proved to be A. grandi-
flora, a plant similar in habit to the foregoing, but with large white
flowers.

46

THE FLORIST.

„ 11- n *7 7* fVan Houtte.7 This plant, introduced

Browallia Uzerwiakowski. < x.\ -n ^ ■

^Carter & Co. 3 through the Belgian

gardens, proved to be the same as B. elata, a pretty old-fashioned

annual for pot culture, and in this case succeeding tolerably well in the

open air. The flowers were blue, numerous, and showy.

Calliopsis bicolor nana. (Carter & Co.) — A dwarf-growing variety,
forming a compact bush, about 15 inches high. The plants were not
fixed in character.

Calliopsis bicnlor speciosa. Syn. C. bicolor nigra speciosa. (Carter
& Co.) — A good dark form of garden Coreopsis, the florets being of a
dark crimson or maroon-crimson, very rich and effective.

Calliopsis bicolor tubulosa. Syn. Coreopsis, new quilled. (Turner.)
— The flower-heads were yellow and crimson, the florets rolled up into
a tube. It was very inferior to the usual forms, as regarded its orna¬
mental qualities.

Callistephus chinensis. — Of the very beautiful family of China Asters
a large collection was grown, but the season proved so unfavourable,
that no detailed report could be drawn up. Seeds were furnished by
Messrs. Carter & Co., Messrs. Fraser, Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son,
Mr. W. Thompson, Mr. Turner, Mr. Veitch, and MM. Vilmorin-
Andrieux & Cie. The few varieties enumerated below were the only
ones that proved really fine : —

§ 1. Dwarf Chrysanthemum- flowered.

These, which belong to the series called French Asters, grew 4 to 6
inches high, producing large flat double flower-heads, arranged so that
the central head and from 5 to 7 laterals form a flat-topped bouquet.
Some of the more perfectly formed plants were very handsome ; and
this group seems adapted to furnish beautiful pot plants. The varieties
of this habit are sometimes called “ Dwarf Perfection.”

“ Hose ” (Fraser), light rose or pink.

“ Carmine and White" (Carter), light rose with white centre.

“ Lilac" (Fraser), light blue purple.

“ Dark Blue" (Carter), dark purple.

§ 2. Pompone.

These grew about 1 foot high, the plants moderately and compactly
branched, with close ranunculus-like flower-heads, formed of crowded
flat florets, the whole mass constituting each “ flower ” having an even
convex outline : —

Indigo" (Henderson, Vilmoriii), very deep purple.

“ Rose fonce" (Henderson), deep rose.

'■^Pompone blanc" (Henderson, Vilmorin), pure white.

Rouge fonce" (Vilmorin), rose colour.

§ 3. Large-flowered French.

These were of the ordinary stature, the plants being moderately
branched, and producing flower-heads of large size, consisting of flat
expanded florets, arranged so as to form a flat-faced “ flower —

“ Rose came" (Henderson), flesh colour, or very pale rose.

Lilas" (Henderson), bluish lilac.

“ Rose lisere blanc ” (Vilmorin), light rose, white striped centre.

“ Snow White" (Veitch), pure white.

FEBRUARY.

47

There were many other beautifully coloured variations and some of
distinct habit, but not sufficiently perfect for description.

Chrysanthemum carinatum, Syn ; O. tricolor. (Carter & Co.) —
A good old-fashioned showy annual for large flower-borders and the
front part of shrubberies. It has bipinnatifid leaves with distant
spreading narrow acute segments ; the involucral scales are keeled ;
the ray florets are white, marked with yellow at the base, the disk
being dark brown. C. carinaturn flavum, sent as “ C. tricolor yellow,”
is the same in all respects, except that the ray florets are entirely
yellow. These species were grown for comparison with some handsome
modern varieties noticed below.

Chrysanthemum carinaturn Burridgeanum. Syn : C. tricolor
Burridgeanum (Vilmorin) ; C. tricolor, Burridges (Carter & Co.). —
This proved a very handsome variety when in its best or true state ;
but it was open to the same objection as the next, being wanting in
fixity of character. When perfect, the ray florets were white, with a
zone of yellow forming a circle around the dark-coloured disk, and next
to this on the outer side was a zone of purplish-crimson, forming a
second circle exterior to the yellow. It was the most beautiful of the
several forms of this showy species, and deserving of every effort to
render it permanent by careful selection of the seed-bearing plants.

Chrysanthemum carinaturn venustum. Syn : C. tricolor venustum
(Thompson) ; C. tricolor. Beautiful (Carter & Co.). — The true plants
of this variety were of a very pleasing character, but the greater part
were sportive and not sufficiently distinct or decided in colour. Ihe
ray florets were yellow at the base, forming a ring around the disk, and
in the best forms, rosy-purple in the upper part; or they were whitish,
more or less stained with rosy-purple : these latter having an indistinct
appearance. If the deeper-coloured forms produced more or less freely
in every batch of plants can be perpetuated and fixed, this will form a
very showy border flower.

Chrysanthemum coronarium albo-fiavum. Syn : Chrysanthemum
white and yellow. (Carter and Co.) — This resembled the following in
habit, but the florets were flatter and less quilled, and in some plants
were wholly yellow, in other yellow below and creamy- white at the tips.

Chrysanthemum coronarium albo~plenum. Syn : Chrysanthemum
ichite double-quilled. (Carter and Co.) — This and the preceding, being
free-flowering, strong-growing annuals, were determined to be useful
for the ornamentation of large shrubbery borders. They were tall-
growing plants, of densely branched habit, and distinguished from the
former series (C. carinaturn) by having smaller and more closely-lobed
tripinnatifid leaves, the lobes of which were spathulate ; and also by
having smaller flower heads, 1| inch in diameter, of which the involu¬
cral scales were not keeled. The ray florets were incurved at the
edges so as to be more or less quilled or tubulose, yellow at the base,
paler and creamy-white at the tips, multiplied so as to form a semi¬
double “ flower,” the disk deep orange-yellow.

Clarkia pulchella integripetala.

C Turner
^ Vilmor

This variety proved
to be a fine and

showy plant when true, but seems scarcely to have become fixed in

'48

THE FLORIST.

character, some of the specimens being intermediate between it and the
old type form of species. It grew foot high, and in general habit
and foliage resembled the common sort ; the flowers were also of the
same rosy-purple colour, but the petals were flabeilate, forming a seg¬
ment of a circle, without indentations on the outer margin, and clawed
at the base. The immediate plants had the petals slightly indented.
If the entire-petaled character can be rendered permanent, this will be
a very desirable flower.

Clarkia pulckella marginata. (Turner.) — In this variety the petals
were deeply three-lobed, as in the parent ; rosy-purple at the base.

the lobes more or less deeply tipped with white. The plants proved to
be individually pretty when in their best condition, but sportive, and
ineffective in a mass. On the whole, the variety was considered to be
too dull and indistinct for general cultivation, though when well marked
interesting as a fancy flower.

Clarkia pulckella pulcherrima.

)son

]

This was considered
as a very much

improved form of the species, the flowers being large and of a deep
bright crimson-tinted rose colour, quite distinct from the purplish tint
of the common sort. The plant was similar, both in habit and foliage,
to the older form, but on account of its larger flowers and brighter
colour was much more rich and effective, and had a very flne appear¬
ance in a mass.

Collinsia bartsicefoUa alba. (Parker & Co.) — This was determined
to be a useful plant as a very dwarf- growing white annual, but the
flowers were not quite pure in colour. The plants were not more than
6 to 8 inches high, with minutely glandular pubescent stems, branched
from the base ; the leaves ovate oblong, sessile, crenately toothed ; the
flowers numerous, white, slightly tinged with blush.

Collinsia bicolor alba.

}

dhis was decidedly inferior
to C. bicolor candidissima.

C Parker & Co.

^ Carter & Co

The plants were 15 inches high, with loosely branched stems, smooth
below and pubescent above ; the leaves ovate -lanceolate, crenately
toothed, the flowers large, greenish-white. The plants were taller and
looser than those of candidissima, and the flowers much less pure in
colour.

Collinsia bicolor atrorubens. (Carter Co.) — This, which is said
to be a deeper-coloured variety of C. bicolor, did not prove at all dif-
. ferent in colour from well-grown samples of the species, with which it
was compared.

n IT ■ 1- 1 1- j- ■ C Parker & Co. 7 A first-class white

Loilmsia bicolor candidissima. < rp > ] c \

^iurner. } annual, oi showy

character and good habit. The stems were 1 foot high, sparingly
pubescent, compactly branched from the base ; the leaves ovate-lance¬
olate or oblong-lanceolate, obscurely toothed ; the flowers of large size,
j)ure white. The plants were dwarfer ani more compact than in
C. bicolor alba, and the flowers of a much purer white.

Collinsia multicolor mar mor ala. (Turner.) Syn ; C. bicolor mar-
morata nova. (Carter & Co.) — A pale variety of C. multicolor, which
is itself perhaps only a form of C. bicolor. The variety was too dull

FEBUUARY. 49

and indistinct in colour to be effective, and very much inferior in this
respect to multicolor, which is a handsome plant.

Cosmidinm Barridgeanum, (Turner.) — A very handsome Coreop¬
sis-like plant, growing about 2 feet high, of branched habit, the leaves
pinnatisected, with long filiform or subulate leaflets. The flowers were
on long stalks, deep orange -yellow, with a broad dark maroon-crimson
spot at the base of the florets, which were truncately obovate, much
broader than in the well-known Calliopsis bicolor. The flower buds
were 8-furrowed, not smooth as in Calliopsis.

Delphinium consolida tricolor elegans. (Carter & Co.) — A tall form
of branching Larkspur, producing single and double flowers of richly
varied colours, many of them elegantly striped. These latter, which
were very handsome, were of various shades of rosy-pink, striped with
blue. Others were of a rich purple.

Dianthus atrorubens. (Carter & Co.) — A very handsome and
brilliant mule Pink, having dark stems, with broad leaves at the base,
and terminating in an open branched head of flowers ; the flowers nearly
1 inch in diameter, produced continuously through the summer, single,
vivid glowing crimson of slightly varying shades. It was a bright-
coloured and beautiful border flower.

Dianthus chinensis Heddewigii. (Carter & Co.) — A beautiful form
of Indian Pink, of dwarf sturdy habit, with very large flowers, richly
varied in colour : crimson and rose in various shades, and variously
mottled in darker and lighter tints, being predominant. The best
formed and most richly-coloured flowers are exceedingly beautiful
additions to the flower-garden, and these only should be perpetuated,
the many inferior ones being discarded. They are charming plants,
both for the garden and for pot-culture, for the greenhouse and con¬
servatory.

Dianthus chinensis laciniatus. (Carter & Co.) — This, though per¬
haps not permanently distinct from Heddewigii, differed more or less
obviousl}’’ in being of taller and more slender habit, with the flowers
more deeply jaggefl at the edge : it was also more varied in colour ; in
some of the varieties the flowers were very well formed, while in
others they were narrow and 'loose. It was, however, inferior to
Heddewigii, on account of its loose habit, and narrower-petaled flowers.

■n’ jt 7- ■ ■ .7. ("Carter & Co. 7 A very handsome

Dianthus chinensis imperialis. ^ m r r r c

^Turner. 3 . ordinary form of

Indian Pink ; the flowers moderately large, mostly double, and beauti¬
fully variegated, the colours being chiefly rose and rosy-purple, with
darker markings.

Dianthus hybridus corymbosus. (Van Houtte.) — A broad-leaved
mule Pink, not very attractive in colour, the flowers being single, and
for the most part of a dullish purple or rosy -purple colour.

Dianthus hybridus Laxtoni. (Carter & Co.) — A mule Pink, of
mixed character, and, like the last, not very attractive, compared with
others of similar habit.

Erysimum arkansanum. (Carter & Co.) Syn : E. asperum.
(Thompson.) — A vigorous and showy species, growing 2 feet high and
upwards, sparingly branched, the Inanches erect, with sinuately toothed

VOL. XV., NO. CLViri. D

50

THE FLORIST.

leaves, and fine bright smooth-petaled yellow fragrant flowers, as large
as those of the common Wallflower. The flowers at first formed a closed
head, but the inflorescence afterwards became elongated. It was con¬
sidered as a first-class bright yellow annual.

Fenzlia dianthiflora. (Carter & Co.) — A beautiful little dwarf
annual, not more than 2 or 3 inches high, forming a small compact
tuft, with narrow leaves, and handsome light rose-coloured Gilia-like
flowers, paler towards the centre, with a dark spot in the throat, the
segments of the limb evenly toothed at the ends.

Gaillardia, new dwarf scarlet. (Van Houtte.) — Not distinguish¬
able from the ordinary form of G. picta.

Gypsophila rnuralis. (Carter & Co.) — A dwarf and very slender,
much branched, divaricately diffuse plant, forming a mass about 1 foot
in diameter, with long linear leaves, and small blush or pale pinkish
flowers. It is a neat plant for rock-work, pretty, but ineffective as a
mass.

Helianihus annuus calfornicus. (Thompson.) — A large-flowered
deep golden-yellow double Sunflower.

Helichrpsum bracteatum incurvurn. Syn : H. bracteatum nanum
ferrugineum (Turner) ; H. compactum maximum (Turner) ; H. com-
positum maximum (Carter & Co.) ; H. macranthum compositum
maximum (Thompson) ; H. macranthum nanum (Turner). — This
plant (of which the older forms, bearing the scientific name of Helichry-
sum bracteatum, are the yellow and white Everlastings, long known as
popular annuals), has, by admixture with H. macranthum — another
exotic form, undeserving of specific distinction, having rosy-tipped
flowers — given rise to a beautiful race, which is distinguished by the
large size of the flower-heads, and the more numerous as well as smaller
coloured involucral scales which compose them, and which are grace¬
fully incurved so as to cover the disk. This incurving gives them a
much richer effect than is seen in the older kinds, where the scales are
larger, and spread out so as to expose the disk wholly to view. The
species, in its various forms, is to be recommended 'for its property of
blooming late in the year, unaffected by the earlier frosts of autumn.
The forms here collected were improved variations of the old H. brac¬
teatum, with larger and more varied-coloured flowers ; some of the
plants acquiring also a dwarfer habit, but none being apparently of
fixed character, either as to habit or colour. The plants grew 3 feet
high, branched, with lanceolate leaves, and large flower-heads upwards
of 2 inches in diameter ; the coloured involucral scales surrounding them
were very numerous, ranging in several series, smaller than in the
common forms, the innermost ones incurving neatly over the disk, and
they were various in colour, including yellow, sulphur, white, pink,
crimson, and copper-colour in various shades. The plant seems to have
a sportive tendency with respect to colour.

ITelicJirgsum bracteatum nanum.

f Thompson.") The flowers in this
3 variety resembled

IT urner.

those of the ordinary form of the species, but the plants had a tendency
to assume a dwarfer habit, being from 15 to 18 inches in height, but
not very uniform in this particular.

FEBRUARY.

51

Hibiscus Mspidus. Syn: H. calisureiis. n

^ ^Carter & Uo. > some,

II. Ilumboldtii. Parker & Co.^ large-
flowered species, distinguished by its dark-coloured stems. The leaves
were three-parted, their divisions lobed. The flowers were large, cream-
coloured, with an intense black spot at the base of the petals, and having
the scales of the involucel recurved at the point. It is a very showy
and desirable plant.

Hibiscus Trionum. Carter & Co.*^ This resembled the last, but
c XT ‘ f Carter & Co. > had smaller flowers, and the

^Veitcn. J stems were pale-coloured;
the leaves were three-parted and lobed ; and the scales of the involucel
were incurved. It is the Bladder Ketmia, long known in cultivation,
and not the true H. africanus.

Iberis umbellata atropurpurea. This variety, which

c rr- T\ 7 n j , jy. C Carter & Co. >had the habit of
byn : Fine Dark (Jandytuft. 4

burner. J the common Can¬
dytuft, growing about 1 foot high, and branching from the base, had
flowers of a tolerably uniform rich deep rosy-purple. Some few were,
however, of a deeper and richer colour than the rest, and these were
considered very fine : quite first-class amongst annuals. — Horticultural
Society's Proceedings.

PYRAMIDAL HYBRID PERPETUALS.

Standard Roses, inartistic and unpicturesque as they are, have
“held their own ’’for some years. It is time that some new Rose
idea was originated, and I hope, ere long, to have standard Roses
spoken of as things of the past — like stage coaches and road waggons.
The culture of Pyramidal Roses will require more care and time than
the culture of standards, which we all know is very simple ; but the
Rose gardener will be amply compensated by such glorious effects as
have never yet been seen in our roseries.

Like all really good gardening ideas, the culture of Rose pyramids,
although requiring more time and care than the culture of standard and
dwarf Roses, is still very simple, and may be carried out as follows : —
Some strong two years old stocks of the Manetti Rose should be planted
in November, in a piece of ground well exposed to sun and air. The
soil should have dressings of manure, and be sti^’red to nearly two feet
in depth. In the months of July and August of the following year
they will be in a fit state to bud. They should have one bud inserted
in each stock close to the ground. The sort to be chosen for this pre¬
liminary budding is a very old Hybrid China Rose, called Madame
Pisaroni, a Rose with a most vigorous and robust habit, which, budded
in strong Manetti stocks, will often make shoots from six to seven feet
in length, and stout and robust in proportion. In the month of
February following, the stocks in which are live buds should all be cut
down to within six inches of the bud. In May the buds will begin to
shoot vigorously ; if there are more shoots than one from each bud they

52

THE FLO RIST.

must be removed, leaving only one, which in June should be supported
with a slight stake, or the wind may displace it. By the end of August
this shoot ought to be from five to six feet in height, and is then in a
proper state for budding to form a pyramid. Some of the most free-
growing and beautiful of the Hybrid Perpetual Roses should be selected
and budded on these stems in the following manner : — Commence about
nine inches from the ground, inserting one bud ; then on the opposite
side of the stock, and at the same distance from the lower bud, insert
another ; and then at the same distance another and another, so that
buds are on all sides of the tree up to about five feet in height, which
in the aggregate will amount to seven buds. You will thus have formed
the foundation of a pyramid.

I need scarcely add that the shoots from the stock must be carefully
removed during the growing season, so as to throw all its strength into
the buds. It will also be advisable to pinch in the three topmost buds
rather severely the first season, or they will, to use a common expres¬
sion, draw up the sap too rapidly, and thus weaken the lower buds.
The terminal shoot must be cut off early in June. In the course of a
year or two magnificent pyramids may thus be formed, their stems
completely covered with foliage, and far surpassing anything yet seen
in Rose culture. I have as yet found no Rose equal in vigour to
Madame Pizaroni, although when attention is turned to the subject
other varieties may perhaps be found. If extra strong growth be
desired, the stem may be suffered to grow two seasons before it is budded.

The most free-growfing kinds, such as Jules Margottin, General
Jacqueminot, Colonel de Rougemont, Triomphe des Beaux Arts, Lord
Raglan, Souvenir de la Reine d’Angleterre, Triomphe de I’Exposition,
and other kinds of vigorous habit, these will form grand pyramids from
six to seven feet in height. For smaller pyramids those of more mode¬
rate growth may be selected. It will scarcely be advisable to bud more
than one sort on a stem, as no two kinds will be found equal in growth,
but as a matter of fancy varieties of different colours may be inserted, so
as to make a variegated pyramid. Vigorous growing Bourbon Roses
may be employed for pyramids, and Tea-scented and Noisette Roses,
as the stock is highly favourable to their growth, but they should be
protected in winter by Fern or branches of evergreens tied round them.
— Rivers' New Rose Amateur s Guide.

THE LATE SEVERE WEATHER.

The low temperature of the past month, which, according to our own
observations and the records of the frost which have reached us from
various quarters, is found to be lower than has been experienced within
the present century, appears to have given way to-day (22d) ; for,
although the day has been clear, and the barometer is still very high,
the frost seems gradually breaking up, having lasted in this neighbour¬
hood, with the exception of two days of a thaw, about 32 days. The

FEBRUARY.

53

greatest degree of cold experienced here was zero on the morning of
the 25th December, a day which will be long remembered ; for very
many years may elapse before we experience another Christmas- day
so intensely cold as that of 1860. The greatest degree of cold, as
recorded in the columns of our contemporary, the Gardeners Chronicle,
appears to have been felt in the midland and north midland counties
and the east coast, or north of an imaginary line drawn from London
to Gloucester, excluding some parts of Wales, and the estuaries of the
Dee and Mersey, and a few other favoured localities ; while the frost
of 1838 was most severe in Surrey, Kent, Middlesex, Berks, and Wilts.
We believe the rapid fall of the thermometer, from the 24th of
December to the 25th, to be without a parallel in the records of
meteorology, and produced the remarkable phenomena observable on
the morning of Christmas-day. Every atom of vapour in the atmo¬
sphere was condensed by the extreme cold, and deposited on the
branches of trees, which were covered with myriads of brilliant
crystals, which, when lighted up by the sun, reflected every colour of
the prismatic spectrum, producing an almost indescribable efect.

It is too early yet to form a correct idea of the mischief which will
follow the late frost, but even now its effects are clearly visible on
many trees and shrubs ; common Laurels, in exposed places, have all
their young wood killed. Laurustinus, Phillyreas, Arbutus, Chinese
Privet, Euonymus, have all the appearance of being scalded, and the
foliage and young wood are quite killed. Scarlet and many other Hybrid
Pihododendrons, are either dead or irrecoverably injured. The Exmouth
Magnolia is in the same state ; indeed, wherever there was the least
disposition to tenderness in evergreen shrubs, they have suffered, in
most places beyond recovery. In the Pinus way, insignis and radiata
have been struck very hard in some situations ; while in others they
appear unhurt ; and even where growing close together, some appear
to suffer much more than others. P. Hartwegii, apulcencis, ayacahuite,
Sabiniana, Lindleyana, Montezumce, all trees from 15 to 25 feet in
height, are much injured, many beyond recovery, but we must wait
a month before passing a final opinion. The low temperature of the
preceding season, in connection with the great* quantity of rain which
fell nearly up to the end of the year, prevented the wood of trees from
ripening, and they are therefore much more liable to injury than if
they had had the benefit of a drier and warmer summer, to prepare
them for the rigours of the present winter. How fruit-trees will fare
it is yet too soon also to give an opinion. February will show us better
how far they have suffered, in common with so many other things.
We hear of almost ruinous losses in some of our great nurseries ; dor¬
mant buds of Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines, being killed by thousands.
And the same may be stated of Boses ; Teas, Noisettes, and yellow Roses,
being entirely killed, both in bud, and marketable plants. The destruc¬
tion to kitchen garden crops is yet more on a wholesale scale, in many
situations, the out-door vegetable crop having been quite swept away.

54

THE FLORIST.

USEFUL GENERAL INFORMATION.

I HAVE often thought that if horticulturists and florists would write
their experience of plants, fruits, and vegetables, distinguishing experience
from hearsay and reading, they would greatly advance the public
interests ; and I have further thought that it is the duty of those who
take in publications that are good to recommend them to others. If
each subscriber would enlist one more the publication would be doubled.
I hope I have enlisted at least one for the Florist for the year 1861 ;
and, if it is the duty of readers to do this, it is still more the duty of
contributors to its pages to do so.

A new Rose stock. — Some new standard Roses from Belgium have
been sent to me by my friend Mr. John Milne, of Hull, which he
purchased of the Belgian agent at Hull. The standards, rather over
four feet, are six in number, and they are, for heads and roots, the best
that I have ever planted. The Roses sent are two each of the following :
Gloire de Dijon, Duchesse de Nemours, and Baronne Prevost. Mr.
Milne in his letter says : — “ I beg to present you with some Roses on
the new unknown stock. It is quite a mystery about here, and quite
a curiosity. I saw the agent who brings it from Belgium : he will
not tell what stock it is, consequently we shall be in the dark. I wish
you may discern what the stock really is. I think it must be a rapid
grower.” I cannot determine yet what it is for certainty. I am not
quite clear that it is not Manetti ; if it is, I shall be able to discover it
by brood or branch. The roots are like a “wig,” and approach nearer
to Manetti roots than to any I have seen. If it is Manetti, it will
require “ special culture and special management ; ” the bark must
be kept open with a knife, the liead sealed, and the whole stock bandaged
with something that will retain moisture during the droughty season
of the year. For lack of this, Manetti standards have failed; the
moisture is drawn from the skin, which is verv thick, and then it dries
and cracks, but does not expand sufficiently for the expansion of the
inner part of the stock* I hope, however, it may be some other stock.
At present I cannot determine what it is ; but this is certain, that, if
it is Manetti, I shall be sure to know it when the time of growth sets
in. The stock itself is not so smooth as the Briar, being rougher and
more knotty; the skin of the stock is azure grey. The specimens
presented have three good points, viz., good roots, good heads, and the
Rose is budded into the main stock instead of the side branches. I
have also here Mathurin Regnier, budded on the main stock of the
Briar, and it succeeds admirably. With regard to this stock, I can
now only wait for summer, saying “we shall see what we shall see.”
I spoke of it in a preceding Florist, adding “ we shall all bite and be
bit.” At present I am “not bit,” and hope my friend who has so
kindly sent them to me may not find that he has suffered from Belgian
teeth. Since writing to the above I have reviewed the stock again,
and my present impression is that it is not Manetti. It is, I think.
Cinnamon Rose much used by the Dutch.

Roses of 1859. — Anna Alexieff and Eugene Appert for general
cultivation and for most good qualities, as to plant, habit, and flower.

FEBRUARY.

55

are the two best. Anna Diesbach, Marie Thierry, Chabrillan, and
Armide, are all beautiful and can be recommended. Fran9ois Arago,
very dark plum, large, good, and' of good habit, is the best dark Rose
of its year.

Bourbon. — George Peabody is a beautiful rich crimson purple,
apparently dwarf habited on Manetti, but a free grower on its own
roots ; it is a continual bloomer and a free bloomer. Its raiser has not
said one word too much in its praise. A bed of it on the Manetti
stock would be very gratifying.

Roses of 1860. — Victor Verdier (now out) will stand for many a
year in the catalogues ; it is Jules Margottin better shaped and far
deeper in colour ; its colour is deep rose of carmine ; its habit appears
to be good. Triomphe de Lyon (six plants) is now blooming on three
plants ; the colour is very rich dark crimson, and the shape appears to
be good. Madame Charles Crapelet is a rich rosy scarlet, well shaped,
and well folded, and with petals of very thick substance, a virtue too
much overlooked. Celine Forestier is a deep golden yellow rose, of the
finest habit, very hardy, and will give great satisfaction. At present,
I stick by Triomphe de Rennes, which for shape and quality and general
excellence I consider to be the best yellow Rose that I have ever yet
seen. Gloire de Dijon is also most excellent, and both, when well
shaded for exhibition, are of a deep golden yellow. Louis the Four¬
teenth, very dark crimson, of good outline and series of petal — was the
best new dark rose of any size at the Floral Hall. None of these
Roses of 1859 and 1860 will, I think, disappoint the purchaser.

Roses for 1861. — Two celebrated English professionals and a most
distinguished French professional all agree in this, viz., that the yellow
Tea Rose, La Boule d’Or, and the Hybrid Perpetuals Madame Furtado
and La Reine des Violettes are to be the charms of 1861.

Manetti Roses. — I have made one convert in Berkshire, well known,
who has bought 50. He says, “ If they go on as well as I see them
now, I shall henceforth swear by Manetti.” With regard to them
here, I am more enamoured of them than ever. I am persuaded that
my Manetti article will be one day appreciated. I am highly gratified
by the Gardeners' Chronicle, the Dorset paper, and the Hull Advertiser s
publication from your Florist of my Briar article. I see nothing at
present to retract.

Fruits. — Marie Louise is the best Pear that I have ever tasted.
Angouleme is the finest I ever saw. This Beurre d’Anjou and Gloriton
Morceau (alias Delices des Hardenpont), brought here by Mr. Gloede
from his garden in France, are all good Pears. Beurre Diel, grown
here, is also very good and a good cropper. The Ribston Pippin is the
best Apple that I ever have yet tasted ; the trees (three) are given to
canker and American blight. The best baking and boiling Apples that
I have ever yet tasted (both grown here) are the old White Lion and
the Hawthornden. The best red Raspberry to crop here and to produce
strong canes to go on with is the “ Beepot.” The Fastolff here has no
chance with it. The richest Gooseberries here are the Red and White
Champagne.

Vegetables, — The Dalmahoy Potatoes are great croppers and admir-

56

THE FLOlUST.

able in every respect. The French Cabbage Lettuce affords an
immense quantity of food, and it does not go to seed as all others do
here. The Ipswich Standard Cucumber is good in quality, and the
plant maintained its health and vigour while two others, tried by its
side, sickened and turned yellow.

In conclusion, I bid all fragrarians and rosarians welcome to Rushton.
I shall be able to show about 70 sorts of Strawberries in fruit in tlie
season, and from 1450 to 1500 well-selected Roses, the rubbish having
been cast aside; and I hope that “D.” will not again visit these parts
without coming to see me. As he likes Strawberries and cream, I
think that 1 shall be able to suit his palate. Belle Bordelaise, which
cropped early and heavily and then gave me runners, is now in still
heavier crop, which, were it under glass, would ripen ; it is the only
Strawberry known that will perform this wonder. Does not this
performance speak loudly in the ears of those who have forcing houses ?

Rushton, Nov. 28. W. F. Radclyffe.

SAPONARIA CALABRICA.

As a bedding plant, this has long been a favourite with many, and in
localities where it does well I should say that it is the best plant that
could be employed for a circular bed on Grass, or for rows of circular
beds. Sowing it in September, however, does not answer ; but any
one wanting spring beds of the same colour has only to sow Silene
pendula and transplant it into the blooming beds, when the autumn
occupants are removed ; it is quite as effective during April and May
as Saponaria is in July and August. Last season I saw, at Strawberry
Hill, in the month of May, on the side of a walk leading from the
drawing-room, a long row of circular beds, in which the blue Myosotis
alternated with Silene, and a more pleasing effect I never witnessed.
I should, however, have had every third row white Myosotis, but that
has not yet become common as a bedding plant.

F.

ROSES IN DORSETSHIRE.

In July 1859, I sent you some particulars, which you published, of a
visit I made to the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe, at Rushton. Having made
a similar visit last year, I venture to send you some account of it, in
the hope that my observations may not be uninteresting to your readers.

After a journey of above three hundred miles I reached my destina¬
tion, and received the heartiest of welcomes from my reverend friend.
We were soon engrossed respecting the beauties of “ England’s proud
Rose ; ” and happy was I to review his fine collection once again.
From the long continued wet and boisterous weather which we had
experienced in the north, and the unfavourable accounts which I had
received of the weather in the south, I did not expect to see Roses in

FEBRUARY.

57

the fine condition they were really in. At home our blooms were only
in the first stage of development ; at Rushton I was agreeably surprised
to find them in full beauty and in prime order ; the foliage too was in
excellent condition, which rather astonished me, as the hurricane of the
28th May last, which was felt so severely here, and which entirely
stripped some of my Rose trees, appeared to have spent itself before
reaching Dorset, for but few of the trees of my host’s exposed collection
seemed to be the worse for the storm.

I had arranged that, during my visit to Rushton, I should see the
great National Show held in London, but in this I was disappointed :

I will refer therefore to the Exhibition which took place at Salisbury,
after describing a few Roses new, or at least so to me. Altessi Im¬
perial is, without doubt, a very dark fine crimson ; Comtesse Cecile
Chabrillant, a rich salmon -pink of perfect form, and decidedly the best
of the light coloured novelties ; Marie Thierry is a good Rose ; Anna
Alexieff is of good habit, honest rose colour, and an abundant bloomer ;
Beaute de Royghem exhibits fine shape, tinted with carmine, it is of
good habit and an abundant bloomer ; Beaux Arts is very dark, but not
full enough ; De la Motte is nicely shaped and clear crimson, free from
stain ; Marie Portemner, 4 plants, rich deep crimson, is of good habit,
and possesses lovely broad Bourbon foliage ; George Peabody, from
Baltimore, 4 plants on their own roots, is of very vigorous growth, of
deep crimson-purple, with very thick petals, three blooms were taken
to Salisbury, had been rained upon, more or less, for a week, and yet
wore well, and were in the winning pan ; this will be one of the
greatest of favourites when better known ; Tea Cornelia exhibited
beautiful clean creamy buds, but had not expanded, this was a present
from Mr. George Pentland, of Baltimore ; Beauty of Greenmoint is a
pretty Rose for a pot, but too small for show, its colour is like Fellen-
berg, the foliage small, thick, and of a dense green ; Edith de Murat,
strong grower, is a pretty white Bourbon ; Octavie Fontaine, pure
white, and Celine Forestier, yellow, are strong growers, but their buds
were not expanded — the former will be a good pole or wall Rose ;
Verschaffelt is a large Rose, of crimson-purple, but was stained by the
weather ; L’Oriflamme is a fine scarlet, an abundant bloomer, and very
vigorous. The blooms of the General (its parent) were exceedingly
large, and remarkably full. I never saw them so full before nor so
large. There were two other American Seedlings, not in flower, which
were on their own roots, viz., Midland Margaret and Dr. Kane, com¬
mitted to Mr. Radclyffe to introduce ; they appeared to be nice plants,
but their buds were not sufficiently forward to judge of them, even at
a hazard. The other novelties were on Manetti, with the exception of
the Portemners which were on Briars. I regret that the fine buds of
M. Vigneron, Montigny, Anna Diesbach, Armide, Ardoisee de Lyons,
did not expand during my week’s stay, and that Lord Elgin and Beau¬
fort had bloomed out before my arrival. Mr. Radclyffe says in his
letter, “ Anna Diesbach has produced two large Roses (Flanders mares
like), but superior in quality to Angleterre, and liable to show her eye.
M. Vigneron has proved to be a splendid show Rose, measures 4J- inches
in diameter, circular, flat, of good substance, and calculated to satisfy

58

THE FLORIST.

the amateur, and judges too, who are more led by size than substance;
centre, form and quality excellent.”

Let us now advert to the Salisbury Show, where Mr. Radclyffe took a
second prize for 24 clusters of three, viz., Cardinal Patrizzi, Duchess
of Sutherland, Geant des Batailles, Madame Place, Madame Knorr, Mrs.
Elliot, Chenedole, Bachmeteff, Caroline de Sansal, Lord Raglan, De-
voniensis, Win. Griffiths, General Jacqueminot, Princesse Clementine,
Leon des Combats, Comte Odart, Paul Ricaut, George Peabody, Ma-
thurin Regnier, Duchess of Norfolk, Madame Phelip, Baronne Prevost,
Malmaison, Madeline : also the second prize for 24 single blooms, viz.,
Marie Portemner, Felicite Parmentier, Prince Noir, Madam Knorr,
Triomphe de Paris, Gloire de Dijon, Marie Thierry, Colonel Rouge-
mont, Eliza Sauvage, Jules Margottin, Sir Joseph Paxton, Comte de
Paris, Madame Campbell, Pauline Lansezeur, General Brea, Gloire de
Mousseuses, Anna Alexieff, Comtesse Cecile de Chabrillant, Geant des
Batailles, Madeline, Malmaison, Baronne Prevost, Louise Odier, Com¬
tesse de Murinais, a nice white moss Rose.

We cut the above and many others between four and six o’clock on
the morning before the show day ; this was done in order to save them
from another day’s soaking rain, so they were actually cut thirty hours
before they were judged, and had to travel twenty-two miles in a
waggon, and yet they were declared on all sides to be really good, thougli
not as large as we left behind on account of their having been wetted.
Every Rose was exhibited with its own foliage attached to it, just as it
was cut from the tree.

Among the lighter Roses that were shown, I took the greatest in¬
terest in Comtesse de Chabrillant (a gem) : there is no mistake about
this being a first-class variety that will maintain a high place. Mr.
Tiley’s pans contained a fine collection, -indeed there were two new
blooms which I must especially notice, viz., Triomphe de Lyons, very
dark, and good ; and Sophie Coquerelle, which appeared to be an im¬
proved Sidonie.

In conclusion, let me say that it has seldom fallen to my lot to
experience such pleasure as my week’s sojourn at Rushton afforded me ;
to my reverend entertainer, therefore, allow me publicly to tender my
most sincere thanks.

Jno. Milne.

Derrwgham, Spring Bank^ Hull.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Look over and attend to last month’s direc¬
tions for the management of the general stock of the former, giving air
on every favourable opportunity ; and while the plants are compara¬
tively inactive, carefully avoid overwatering at the root. Young plants,
which it may be desirable to increase in size as much as possible during
the season, if they have had a moderate rest, should be placed in a
moist warm house to encourage early growth, and allow time for their

PEBEUARY.

59

making two growths during the season, and setting for bloom. See
that such are not in want of pot room, keep them free from insects, and
use every care in watering, &c., so as to encourage a free vigorous
growth. Camellias which have done blooming, and have their wood
buds well up, if wanted for blooming in autumn, should be placed in a
general heat as soon as convenient — a house where the Vines are being
started will be an excellent situation — but first thoroughly clean their
foliage, &c., cutting back any shoots which incline to overgrow the rest
of the plant, and repotting any that may be found to require this ; but
plants of these, intended for very early blooming, should be kept rather
short of pot room, otherwise they will be apt to make a second growth
after having set for bloom, and plants which do this seldom bloom
finely ; hence avoid repotting only when necessary to secure a
moderate growth, &c. Conservatory. — Since our last monthly direc¬
tions were written, the weather has been very unfavourable for the
preservation of flowers here, and also for forcing plants into bloom ; and
those who have had to preserve plants, forced into flower in heat, in
houses insufficiently provided with means for heating, need not be sur¬
prised if they find their supply of bloom very limited at present;
but if the experience of the recent very severe frosts should serve to
convince persons entrusted with the arrangements of houses for plant
culture of the propriety of making ample provision for the frequent
occurrence of similar trials of the efficiency of heating apparatus, &c.,
it will at least have taught a valuable lesson, and one which cannot be
too long remembered. If flowers are scarce as compared with the de¬
mand, and a supply of plants suitable for forcing at command — such
as recommended for this purpose last month — a quantity of these,
sufficient to furnish a good display, should at once be placed in a house
or pit, where a moist temperature of from 55^ to 65° can be main¬
tained, syringing the plants overhead morning and evening, and carefully
attending to them with water at the root. These, if in proper condition
for forcing and well attended to, will be in full beauty, and will greatly
assist in keeping up a display until the plants, which furnish the usual
spring display, can be got into bloom. Maintain a steady temperature
of about 45° by fire heat, allowing it to rise 10° by sun heat before
giving air, and then opening the ventilators on the sheltered side of the
house only, and these just sufficient to prevent its rising higher. See
that every thing is perfectly clean, and endeavour by means of effective
arrangement to make the most of the plants in bloom. Acacias,
Camellias, and other things planted in the borders, which bloom at this
season, must be freely supplied with water at the root, and unless this
is done, the plants need not be expected to bloom in anything like per¬
fection ; water at a lower temperature than the atmosphere of the
house should not be used ; and when a plant is watered, care should be
exercised to ensure the whole of the soil about its roots being thoroughly
moistened. Gold Frames. — Hard-wooded plants here must be care¬
fully supplied with water, keeping them rather on the side of dryness
at the root ; and, when possible, watering should be done on the morn¬
ing of a bright day, and the plants should also be very carefully watched

60

THE FLOEIST.

for mildew, applying sulphur immediately this is perceived. Give air
on a sheltered side whenever this can be done, but do not expose the
plants to currents of cold air. Get all young plants intended to form
specimens tied into form as soon as possible. The stock of bedding
plants, as Verbenas, Lobelias, Petunias, variegated Geraniums, &c.,
should be carefully examined, and those of which a large increase may
be required, placed at once in a warm moist temperature of from 60*^
to 70*^, placing them close to the glass, repotting such as may require
this, and using every means to secure an ample stock of strong cuttings
as early as possible. And unless some better convenience for propa¬
gating such things is at command, a dung bed should be prepared, so
as to be in readiness to receive the cuttings as soon as these can be
procured. Early propagation is the only certain way to ensure strong
well-prepared plants at planting-out time, and furnish a good display
in the flower garden early in the season. Keep every thing perfectly
free from green-fly, by gentle fumigations as often as may be necessary.
Greenhouse. — A rather dry atmosphere, with a free admission of air
on every favourable opportunity, should be aimed at here for the pre¬
sent, carefully avoiding overwatering ; but when a plant is watered,
enough should be given to thoroughly moisten the ball. Towards the
end of the month, young stock of New Holland and other plants, which
it may be desirable to increase in size as fast as possible, should be
collected and placed where they can be kept rather closer, and afforded
a somewhat moister atmosphere than the general stock, giving air
against them very sparingly. Such plants should, however, first be
cut back and tied out as may be necessary, to secure a well shaped
foundation for the future specimen, and those that require more pot
room should be shifted. But such things, when repotted at this season,
must be very carefully attended to with water until the roots strike
into the fresh soil, for any excess will be dangerous. See that every¬
thing 'is perfectly clear of aphis and mildew, and apply the proper
remedy immediately either of these pests make their appearance.
Btote. — If not already done, prune and repot Dipladenias and Allamandas,
shaking away as much of the old soil as can be done, without injuring
the principal roots ; also Stephanotis, Clerodendron splendens, and
similar plants. Plants that have been partially disrooted must be very
sparingly supplied with water at the root until they start into growth,
but they should be lightly sprinkled overhead with the syringe morn¬
ing and evening. Proceed with repotting the general stock as fast as
circumstances will permit, and endeavour to get everything infested
with scale or mealy bug thoroughly cleaned, as there is little chance
that time for this sort of work will be more easily commanded as the
season advances, and plants will be much less trouble to clean now than
after they have made fresh growth. Attend to potting a batch of
Gloxinias, Achimenes, Clerodendrons, &c., according to the time when
they will be most valued in bloom. Maintain a steady temperature of
from 60^ to 65° at night, raising it to 70° or 75° during the day, and
maintain a moist atmosphere.

FEBRUARY.

61

Hardy Fruit. — The frosty weather during the last month offered a
good opportunity to get manure on the quarters and other places' occu¬
pied by small fruit ; and when the weather is open, no time should
be lost in getting it forked in about the trees, and ground trenched, if
it is necessary, to make new plantations of Gooseberries, Currants, and
Raspberries, all of which should now be planted. Strawberries, when
they are growing thickly together, should have the dead leaves cleared
away, the beds cleaned from weeds, and dressed over with short manure
or leaf mould ; this should be done by the end of the month. New
plantations may now be made, choosing a time when the soil is in a
lit condition to receive the plants. Finish the planting of all hardy
fruit-trees before the month is out, and mulch the surface round the
trees with rotten manure ; secure all newly-planted trees to stakes, as
well as others that may require it in exposed situations — also those
whose stems are not perpendicular. Proceed with the pruning, &c., of
all sorts of fruit-trees. Apricots should be nailed at once, if not already
done, and the covering material got in readiness to protect the trees
when necessary ; and it will be well to bear in mind that whatever
covering is used for protecting the blossoms from frost, it should be so
arranged that it may be easily removed in the day time, otherwise
more harm than good will be done by covering. Nothing answers the
purpose better than thin canvas fixed on rollers, so that it may be
easily drawn up or let down at any time with comparatively little
trouble. Orchard houses, and walls covered with glass, or any other
glass structure not artificially heated, should have abundance of air in
bright weather, to prevent the trees being excited too early in the
spring. The trees should be all pruned, and those in pots top-dressed
with fresh loam and dung. Plunge the pots if convenient; much advan¬
tage will be gained by so doing. Forcing Ground. — Prepare pits or
frames for planting Ash-leaf Kidney Potatoes ; those speared last month
should be planted on a slight hotbed at once ; give plenty of air in fine-
weather as soon as they come into leaf. Remove those in pots to a
place where they will have the advantage of air and light ; fill up the
pots with light soil ; prepare succession beds for sowing early Horn
Carrot and Wood’s Frame Radish, and give plenty of air to those that
are up. Make a sowing of Basil and Knotted Maijoram, and small
Salad occasionally ; place a few more roots of Mint, Chives, and Tarra¬
gon in heat to keep up the supply according to the demand ; sow suc¬
cession crops of French Beans, in pots, of the early dwarf kinds, and
keep a moist heat to those in bearing, using the syringe frequently in
order to check red spider. Give all the air possible to Peas in pots
every day when the weather permits. Bring in a succession of
Rhubarb, Seakale, and Asparagus roots, and place them in the forcing
pits, and attend to the linings of those forced in the open ground.
Collect horse droppings, and place them in a heap under cover in
preparation for making new Mushroom beds. Those already made
should be spawned when the temperature of the bed is about 65*^.
Give air every favourable opportunity to Cucumbers and I\Ielons,
and maintain a night temperature of 70°, allowing a rise of 10°
or !5° through the day during sunshine, and close early. Plant

62

THE FLORIST.

out those sown last month. It is a good plan to place a thick turf
under the hillock in dung beds, to prevent burning the roots of the
plants ; sow more Cucumbers and Beechwood or other Melons for suc¬
cession crops. Prepare a heap of fresh manure and leaves to be in
readiness for making new beds, renewing linings, &c. Cherries and
Plums. — These will not admit of rapid forcing, especially in the early
stages of the process. Keep a moist atmosphere till the trees come
into bloom, and plenty of air every bright day. "Water sparingly at
the root at present. Peaches and Nectarines. — As soon as the fruit
is properly set in the early house, use the syringe freely, and raise the
night temperature from 5° to 10°, according to the state of the weather,
and in like proportion through the day, especially if the weather is
bright, at the same time giving plenty of air. Attend to the disbudding,
and remove or pinch back all strong or foreright shoots, that are not
wanted to furnish the tree with bearing wood for the following season.
Keep the trees, at all times, free from green-fly, by fumigating with
tobacco. See previous directions for the management of those not so
far advanced. Pines. — Prepare soil and keep it moderately dry, to
be in readiness for shifting the plants by the end of the month. Keep
up a moist heat in the fruiting house, syringing the plants occasionally
if much fire-heat is used. Those starting into fruit should be watered
as soon as the fruit spike is visible. Collect plenty of leaves or tan to
be in readiness for renewing the beds when required. Fruiting plants,
either before or after they are started, may now be planted out on
ridges of free porous loam, mixed with rotten manure. Leaves are the
best material to form the bed on which they are to be planted, as it
will ensure a steady bottom heat for some months, and will at no time
‘ be too violent. Attend to last month’s directions in regard to succession
plants in dung pits. Strawberries. — Attend to previous instructions,
and place those coming into bloom in a situation where they will have
the advantage of plenty of air and light, water with liquid manure as
soon as the fruit is set. Bring in a succession of pknts by the end of
the month. Vinery. — See directions last month, and as soon as the
fruit is set use the syringe and keep up a moist atmosphere ; com¬
mence thinning the berries at an early stage of growth. Thin on, tie
in the shoots, and stop all laterals down to the last bud. The tempe¬
rature should be increased in the succession house as the days lengthen,
in accordance with their stage of growth. Plunge pot Vines, if
convenient so to do, otherwise place the pots on rotten manure or turf,
and supply them liberally with liquid manure. After the fruit is set,
remove all useless growth. Propagate Vines by eyes, cut them about
1 J-inch long, and place them in pots or striking pans about J-inch below
the surface, and plunge the pots in a brisk bottom heat. Kitchen
Garden. — We may look forward for a busy month in this department,
on account of the severe frost during the past month, whichh as, of
course, retarded many operations. Therefore, should open weather set
in, no time should be lost in getting the ground prepared to receive the
spring crops. Make sowings of early Peas, such as Emperor, Early
Warwick, and Scimitar, at the same time to follow them in succession ;
the New Dwarf Marrow Peas may also be sown toward the end of

FEBRUARY.

63

the month. Sow Longpod Beans, and plant a warm border with
Ash-leaf Potatoes about the middle of the month. Some may be also
planted in the open quarter. Sow Early Plorn Carrot, Round Spinach,
Turnips, Parsley, Radishes, Brown Cos and Cabbage Lettuce, and a
little Onion on a warm border ; get the ground well prepared in dry
weather to receive the principal crops of Carrots, Onions and Parsnips,
some of the latter may be sown the end of this month. Make new
plantations of Mint, Chives, Tarragon, and all kinds of herbs ; plant
Garlic and Shallots, and prick out autumn sown Onions in aich soil ;
probably these may be injured by the severe frost, if so, some seed of
the Tripoli should be sown at once on a slight hotbed to get them for¬
warded for planting in the open ground. In all probability, nearly all
the Brassica tribe will be killed by the severity of this winter.

WHAT SMALL GARDENERS SHOULD DO IN FEBRUARY.

According to present appearances, we should say this would be
whatever Master Jack Frost will allow ; while fairs and fetes are being
held on the Serpentine, and women set fire to by way of amusement
with fireworks ; while hunters are reposing ignominiously in their
stalls, and hounds baying the moon in their kennels, and the thermo¬
meter below zero, without apparently a prospect of a change, it seems
rather a farce to give directions for out-of-door work ; and yet it must
be done, and we must live in hope that ere February opens we may
have an opportunity of getting through what there is to be done ; but
at present to dig up Celery and Leeks with a pickaxe is the most lively
operation in our calendar ; as to flowers, they are indeed blushing
unseen ; Auriculas, Pansies, and Carnations covered up with mats and
frigi domo, and to keep the thief out of the house is the great problem
for solution. If it breaks up there will be plenty to do. Auriculas
must be top-dressed, as advised last month, and the frames turned
round to the south; at present compost, as well as everything else, is
frozen hard, and this severe weather will teach the necessity of always
having some under cover for all emergencies. We shall see what effect
this severe frost will have on the blooms, as well as on the constitution
of the plants. Pansies. — Those in pots should now be potted. Be
careful not to overpot, and use about one-third loam, one-third leaf-
mould, one-third well rotted manure, with the addition of some silver
sand. Do not leave more than two stems, indeed some of the prettiest
plants are those with a single stem. Pinks. — Be careful to fasten
these in the ground, as they are apt to be loosened by the frost ; it is
probable there will be losses, too, which will have to be repaired. Car¬
nations and Picotees will only require to be looked over, decaying leaves
removed, and water given sparingly, if the weather is open. Ranun¬
culus. — The ground ought to be in good condition, as frost has so
thoroughly got into it. Let the bed be carefully dug over, all worms
picked out, and then carefully raked. About the 12th of the month is
a good time for planting ; make drills one inch and a half in depth and
five inches apart ; fill the bottom of the drills with silver sand ; any
fine sand will do as well. Plant the tubers firmly in the drills about
four or five inches apart, then cover in the drills, and rake all over

64

THE FLORIST.

smoothly. One of the greatest annoyances in a Ranunculus bed is the
throwing of the bulbs out of their proper position by the worms ; there-,
fore it cannot be too carefully handpicked. Roses. — Alas, alas ! this
cruel, nipping frost has made sad havoc. Here we have had nothing
lower than 16° ; but in some places it has been even — 6° and 8° ; in
the midland counties, especially, it has been very trying, and I hear
that half the Hybrid Perpetuals in those regions are killed. Those
who have moved their Roses late, will I fancy be best off, as the drier
the stock the less likelihood of frost laying hold of them. Those who
likejop-dressing at this time of the year can do so when the weather
changes. Nightsoil, mixed with drainings of the dunghill, is, Mr.
Rivers assures us, very good ; and unfortunately, the grosser the food
the sweeter the perfume. Tidips. — The bed, which should have been
protected during the severe frost, will, as soon as the thaw begins,
require to be uncovered and looked over, as the bulbs will soon begin to
push their way up. Greenhouse. — Cinerarias, Cyclamens, Karly
Tulips, Hyacinths, and Tropceolums will now give to this a gay appear¬
ance. Azaleas will be pushing on their way. Give air in fine weather,
and if fire-heat be needed take care that the edges of the Cineraria
leaves are not burned up, a sprinkling of the floor, and syringing occa¬
sionally, when you can rely on keeping off frost, will be of much
service. Give more room to growing things, if possible, and fumi¬
gate, to keep down greenfly. Those who have conveniences for striking
will now think of increasing bedding plants, but those who have not
had better wait another month, when a hotbed may be made for the
purpose.

Deal, Jan. 17. D.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias. — Little can be done with these other than the treatment
given last month ; but as they will now be very succulent, owing to
being kept close through the severe frost, great care must be taken not
to let them have any strong currents of cold air until they become firm,
as it is likely to curl the leaves and disfigure them. Still continue to
remove any superfluous woods and small leaves with suckers from such
as are intended for show, keep them as thin and near the glass as pos¬
sible ; as strong established plants are now getting forward, remove
them to the forcing house for early flowers. When well established,
a little weak liquid manure is very beneficial, giving size and colour to
the flowers. Look to seedlings, and select the gayest and best for stock.
Pelargoniums. — Continue the course recommended last month, but
increase the heat a little as the season advances ; avail yourself of every
favourable opportunity to give air, and that freely ; close however early
in the afternoon to retain a little of the sun heat which is so desirable.
Plants which have been wintered in small pots should now be finally
repotted ; attend regularly to the tying and training of the shoots as they
progress, and apply water freely when necessary. If you intend to
have fine specimens, it is an indispensable condition that they have
ample growing space, and therefore every thing like crowding plants
hould be studiously avoided.

MARCH.

65

LYCASTE SKINNEEI VAE.

[Plate 174.] '

We tliis montli furnish our readers ’with a faithful representa¬
tion of a remarkably fine variety of this beautiful species of
Orchidaceous plant, ;^which, under good management, is justly
considered one of the handsomest of the valuable tribe to which
it belongs. Of L. Skinneri itself we have seen specimens
flowered with a vigour and beauty that could not be exceeded
even in their native haunts. On some of them the flowers
have actually measured upwards of five inches across from the
tips of the lateral sepals, while the latter were nearly an inch
and a half wide in the broadest part. As regards the colours
of- the flowers, nothing could be more delicate or pretty, the
sepals being white faintly tinged with crimson at the base ;
the petals of a more rosy hue, while the lip exhibited all the
charming spottings and markings peculiar to this species.

The present excellent variety "u^as sent, we are informed,
along with several other distinct forms, from Guatemala, by
G. U. Skinner, Esq., to Messrs. Veitch, Eoyal Exotic Nursery,
King’s Eoad, Chelsea, with whom it has bloomed in beautiful
condition. The habit of the plant, like that of the species, is
stately, and its growth free and vigorous. It has oblong-ovate
compressed pseudo bulbs, from the base of which spring the
flower scapes, each terminated by a single large showy flower,
of a thick fleshy texture. The leaves, which are large and
plaited, grow from the top of the pseudo bulbs. The flowers
are remarkably beautiful, being of large size and attractive
colouring ; the sepals are of a delicate rose tinted with deep
blush ; the petals of a brilliant rosy crimson ; and the lip
white, producing a contrast at once rich and striking.

With respect to culture, the plants should be grown in well
drained pots or shallow pans, in turfy peat, sphagnum, and
broken charcoal ; as, however, they do not root deeply, pans
are perhaps preferable. The cool division of the Orchid house
suits them best, i.e., where the temperature is kept at, on an
average, about 60°.

The soil used should be elevated above the level of the rim

ij|

of the pot or pan, and the plants secured to it by means of pegs
until they have become established. After having made their
growth in the temperature just indicated, they should be
rested in a cooler and drier place, or they will not flower so
finely ; with vigorous growth, however, such as the conditions
named above will ensure, and that followed by a period of rest,
flowers may be expected to he developed in abundance.

66

THE FLORIST.

We have also seen varieties of Skinner’s Lycaste grown with
success in open baskets filled with Moss and leaf-mould ; and
treated in this way they have a very pretty appearance.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S NEW GARDEN.

T HE new gardens at Kensington Gore have made greater progress than
we expected to find, considering the severe weather we have expe¬
rienced ; this, however, the indefatigable superintendent appears to
have turned to account by proceeding with the substratum operations,
so that most of the walks are bottomed, and the heavy earthwork is
principally completed. There is yet, however, a vast amount of surface
work to finish, as well as the masonry for the waterworks and the
balustrading, steps, &c,, not yet begun. Two of the large patterns in
Box embroidery, as shown on the plan, are completed, and the ground
levelled for the circular one which forms the centre of the design, as are
also the two designs on the glacis of the slope flanking the canals, and
which represent a union of the Rose, Thistle, Shamrock, and Leek. A
great number of specimen Limes, Chesnuts, Poplars, and Deodars is
already planted, including some large trees of the latter, removed from
the Society’s Garden at Chiswick ; these were planted in the autumn,
and most successfully managed, if we may judge by the active condition
of their buds, which are already in a forward state, and ready to cover
the branches with verdure on the first gush of spring. It would be
c[uite unfair to attempt a criticism on the gardens in their present state,
we must therefore wait and see the plan fully completed before doing
so. The arcades are now being pushed on vigorously, and will form
a grand feature in the plan when finished. The conservatory, also, is
being proceeded with rapidly, but the building department will require
most unremitting attention, if all is to be completed by the 1st of June.
Behind the arcades, and near what we presume will be the entrance
from the Kensington road, the residence for the superintendent is now
being built. We confess to a strong feeling of disappointment and
mortification at the shed-like unmeaning character of what is to be the
residence of the Society’s principal officer, who will occupy a position of
great trust and responsibility ; and for whom, out of the large funds the
Society is expending in forming one of the grandest gardens in Europe,
surely something more befitting his position, and more worthy of the
place, could have been erected. The interior arrangements are altogether
paltry and deficient ; and we cannot but express our surprise that the
Council of the Society did not interfere, and insist upon something at
least respectable being provided for their Superintendent, when the plans
were under discussion.

THE BLUE LESCHENAULTIA.

Although this is one of the finest and most generally admired of
greenhouse plants, and one which, when well managed, remains in

MARCir.

67

beauty longer than most of our greenhouse favourites, yet it rarely
happens that we see it in anything like perfection. It is a first-class
plant for decorative purposes, as well as one of the most effective for
exhibition ; and no plant with which I am acc[uainted better repays the
trouble necessary to manage it properly. There are two varieties of it
in cultivation, the best of which is known in the trade as biloba major
(Hunts variety) ; and I would advise persons commencing its culture
to procure that kind in preference to the others, for its blooms are larger
and produced more freely under similar treatment ; both, however, are
beautiful plants, well deserving a place in every collection.

In commencing the culture of this plant, procure nice young specimens
from the nursery now ready for starting, for the earlier this month
the plants are placed in growing circumstances the better chance there
will be of getting them to make satisfactory progress during the season ;
and, in selecting young plants, choose such as have a clean healthy
appearance, and are strong and stocky and not overpotted. As soon as
the plants can be procured, they should be repotted and placed in an
intermediate house where a temperature of from 50° to 60° is main¬
tained, placing them near the glass and encouraging growth ; giving air
on the sheltered side of the house on every favo,urable opportunity, but
avoid ventilating so as to cause dry cold currents. As they progress,
attend to stopping the stronger shoots and tying out the branches as
may be necessary to secure a compact regular growth. Plants which
do well will be ready for a second shift by the end of June or early in
July, and they should be afforded this as soon as they may be found to
require it. If all goes well, the plants will have taken to their second
shift by the middle of August, and will then be nice half specimens.

To prepare these to stand a damp and sunless winter must now be
attended to. They should be gradually exposed to a free circulation of
air, removing them to a cool dry house for a week, and then placing
them out of doors for a fortnight or three weeks, which will ripen and
harden the wood and render them much less liable to suffer from damp
during the winter ; while out of doors they must be laid on their sides
if heavy rains occur, and be carefully watched, so as to guard against the
soil getting saturated, and, if wet weather should set in, the plants
had better be placed under glass, allowing them all the air possible.
During winter they should be placed in a cool house where the tempera¬
ture will not exceed 40°, keeping them near the glass and giving air
whenever the weather will permit ; but this should not be done so as
to cause currents of cold air to rush through the plants. Except on very
mild days air should be given on the sheltered side of the house only ;
drip, too, must not be allowed to fall on the plants. If, during damp
weather, the foliage shows any teniency to fog off, a little fire-heat
should be applied, giving air at the same time to dry the leaves.

Treat the plants the second season exactly as ha^ just been recom¬
mended, taking care to stop any over luxuriant shoots, and to put them
nicely into form before starting into growth in March. By the end of
the second season they will be fair-sized specimens, and should be
placed out of doors early in August ; for, unless the young wood is
ripened, there will be little chance of their blooming. In my opinion,

68

THE FLORIST.

it is better to have a moderate- sized plant covered with bloom than one
twice as large with only a few straggling flowers on it.

The soil in which I have found this plant to do best in is good fibrous
peat, nicely broken up, mixed liberally with silver sand. Care should
be taken to have the ball in a properly moist state, and also the fresh
soil in as nearly as possible the same condition as to moisture ; the
new soil should be regularly and rather (but not over) firmly pressed
about the ball. Care should also be exercised to secure perfect drainage,
and this should be done by nicely arranging a moderate quantity of
thin crocks and covering them, so as to effectually prevent the fine soil
from stopping up the drainage.

I have said nothing about watering, but the proper application of
this is a very important point with respect to securing success in the
culture of this plant. When in an active growing state, a liberal supply
is required, but the soil must never be saturated ; and, when the
season’s growth is completed, the plant should be very sparingly
supplied with water ; and, in winter, I find it good practice when the
plants are dry to place them for an hour in a pan filled with water,
so that the crocks may be covered. This feeds the active roots and
moistens the bottom soil without saturating the mould towards the
surface where the thick fleshy roots are, and which are liable to suffer
from excess of moisture at any season, particularly in wdnter. I
have also said nothing about shading during summer, but I suppose
that now-a-days I need not say that it would be hopeless to expect
vigorous growth from a plant exposed to the full influence of the sun’s
rays in a dry atmosphere deprived of the health-giving influence of
night dews. I need hardly state, likewise, that if free rapid growth is
expected shading must be applied as early in the season as the weather,
&c., may render this advisable, and constant care must be exercised to
maintain a moist atmosphere during dry weather. This should be
done by sprinkling the passages and not by syringing the plants over¬
head, which ought only to be done during the summer months, and
then only in the evening and when the weather is very bright and dry ;
and neither shading nor moisture should be used in excess unless large
plants without bloom should be desirable.

Wm. May.

REPORT ON ANNUALS GROWN FOR TRIAL AT

CHISWICK, 1860.

By Mr. Moore, Secretary to the Floral Committee.

No. 11.

Leptosiphon hybridusQIilmoxirC). — This was a very interesting hybrid,
the result, doubtless, of a cross between L. luteus and L. androsaceus,
the peculiarities of these two species being evident amongst the varied
progeny. The plants were dwarf and compact in habit, generally
about 4 inches high, the flowers of several distinct colours, and for the
most part larger than in L. luteus. Some were of a clear rosy-lilac
colour, and very ornamental in character ; others were more rosy.

MARCH.

69

some of a coppery red, some buff or chamois, and a few identical with
L. luteus and luteus aureus. In its present state, this hybrid is too
mixed and uncertain in character, but if some of the brighter-coloured
of the forms can be perpetuated, they will become elegant additions to
a very ornamental genus.

Lobelia bicolor. Syn : L. gracilis (Carter & Co.) ; L. Erinus
oculata (Thompson) ; L. Erinus oculata alba (Carter & Co.) ; L.
Erinus maxima (Carter & Co.); L. Erinus (Van Houtte); L. Erinus
compacta (Carter & Co.) ; L. Erinus grandiflora (Carter & Co.) ; L.
Erinus ramosoides (Carter & Co.) ; L. erinoides (Van Houtte) ;
L. campanulata (Veitch); L. arguta, — This is the pale blue Lobelia
so extensively cultivated under the name of L. gracilis ; to which species,
I'.owever, it has very slight resemblance. The plants were of diffuse
habit, with angular, prostrate, smoothish or hairy stems ; the lower
leaves obovate, sinuately-toothed ; the upper ones lanceolate, becoming
more and more entire upwards ; the flowers pale or grayish-blue, with
a white blotch at the base of the lower lip, this white blotch varying
in size, and more or less spotted with black. This sort was distinguish¬
able from the rest by its diffuse habit and pale-coloured flowers, and is
of no importance in decorative gardening.

Lobelia bicolor albida. Syn : L. erinoides alba (Van Houtte). —
This variety had the habit of L. bicolor, the flowers having a pale blue
tube, and a white or grayish-white limb.

Lobelia bicolor lilacina. Syn: L. gracilis alba (Van Houtte);
L. erinoides rosea (Van Houtte); L, erinus lilacinus (Van Houtte). —
This had the habit of L. bicolor, and the flowers had a pale lilac tube,
and a blush-white limb.

Lobelia bicolor rosea. Syn : L. gracilis rosea. — (Thompson and
Van Houtte); Tj. Erinus Lindley ana (Thompson); L. Lindleyana
(Van Houtte). — This had the habit of L. bicolor, being diffusely
branched and prostrate, but the flowers were of a rosy-lilac colour.
Some plants, producing deeper- coloured flowers than usual, were hand¬
some objects ; and these forms were considered to be useful as rosy-
flowered dwarf plants, adapted either for beds or pot culture.

Lobelia Erinus? Syn: L. densa multijiora (Veitch). — The plant
received from Mr. Veitch, under the name of L. densa multiflora,
resembled very closely in habit the old Lobelia Erinus, the genuine
form of which has probably long disappeared from gardens, having been
modified by seeding and admixture with other sorts. That now
described formed a small compact tuft of slender hairy stems ; the leaves
hairy, oblong, obscurely toothed, the very lowermost small and obovate;
the flowers small, deep blue, with acutish segments and a conspicuous
white eye. It was of little value as a decorative plant.

Lobelia Erinus compacta. Syn : L. gracilis erecta (Thompson) ;
L. gracilis compacta (Carter & Co.) — This was a dwarf, slender, and
very compact, dense-growing form, with crowded stems forming a
cushion-like tuft ; the lower leaves were obovate, and, as well as the
upper ones, obscurely toothed ; the flowers pale blue. This form
appeared to be useful for small pots, and for edgings to very small beds.

Lobelia Erinus speciosa (Carter & Co.) Syn : Jjobelia speciosa

70

THE FLORIST.

(Turner); Crystal Palace Lobelia (of Gardens). — This was decidedly
the best for flower-garden purposes of the dwarf Lobelias here collected,
the habit being neat and compact, and the flowers large and deep blue ;
but being raised from seed, it presented a slight amount of variation.
Like other plants employed for special purposes, however, the best
forms of these Lobelias, when required for artistic gardening, should be
perpetuated by means of cuttings, so as to secure thorough uniformity
of character. The best of those grown on this occasion was that known
as the Crystal Palace Lobelia, the plants of which, having been raised
from seeds, showed some diversity of habit. This form had the deepest
blue flowers, with a smaller white spot or eye; the upper. part of the
stems had a dark brownish tinge, and the plants formed compact open-
branched tufts, with the lower leaves oblong- obovate, deeply and
irregularly toothed, and the upper ones fewer, lanceolate, toothed.
The others, contributed under the name of speciosa (seeds), quite agreed
with the foregoing in habit, but differed in having the tips of the
branches green instead of brownish, and the flowers of a rather lighter
shade of deep blue ; the stems were hairy, the lower leaves obovate,
dentate, the upper ones lanceolate, less toothed, and the flowers marked
with a white spot or eye at the base of the lower lip, this spot being
sometimes large and rather conspicuous.

Lobelia ramosa (Veitch). Syn : L.formosa (Carter & Co.) — A very
handsome species, better adapted for pot-culture for the decoration of the
greenhouse and conservatory than for the open air. It was of erect,
openly-branched habit, with the lower leaves pinnatisected, and the
upper ones linear-lanceolate ; the flowers were bright deep blue, larger
than in any of the foregoing species, and remarkable for the dimidiate
or halved appearance of the lateral lobes of the lower lip, as well as for
its large size as compared with the minute divisions of the upper lip.
It is very nearly related to the true L. gracilis of botanists.

Lobelia triquetra (Thompson). — A slender erect thinly-branched
plant, with narrow lanceolate toothed leaves, and small pale blue
unattractive flowers.

Lupinus Dunnettii siiperbus (Veitch). — A very showy and effective
plant, with the habit of L. hybridus insignis, but having light- coloured
stems, and nearly smooth branches. The flowers in the young state
were white, becoming lilac with age, the standard deep purple. The
plant was dwarfish in habit, and produced its parti- coloured flower-
spikes very freely.

Lupinus Hartwegii albus (Veitch). — A very good form of Lupin
with hairy branches, producing long and abundant racemes of large
white flowers. This variety, together with the original blue form of
the species, and the var. coelestinus, are handsome border plants.

Lupinus Hartwegii ccelestinus (Veitch). — In this variety, which
was a very pretty one, the flowers were of a very pale or grayish-blue.

Lupinus hybridus insignis (Veitch). — A plant of dwarfish habit,
having dark-coloured stems, and smooth branches, producing a fine
central spike of bloom. The flowers were deep purplish-lilac.

Lupinus Menziesii. Syn: L. sulphur eus (NWimnn). — A plant of
dwarf tree-like habit, producing, at about a foot from the ground, a

MARCH. 71

whorl of spreading branches ; these bore pedunculated spikes of hand¬
some pale-yellow flowers. It proved to be a good border species.

Liipinus mutabilis variicolor (Carter & Co.) — A sportive form of
L. mutabilis, various in colour. The plants were of tall branching
habit, with smooth branches ; the flowers in short racemes, of different
shades of blue with a darker standard, or white with a purplish-lilac
standard. A suitable and ornamental plant for shrubbery borders.

Lupinus nanus lilacinus (Van Houtte). — A variety of this dwarf
species, with pale or grayish flowers, dingy in appearance, and far
less effective than the ordinary blue form, which is a very elegant
dwarf, spreading, diffusely-branched plant, with longish racemes of
clear blue flowers, the standard of which is marked throughout the
centre with white.

Lupinus subcarnosus. Syn: L. subramosus (Van Houtte). — A fine
dwarf, spreading, compactly- branched species, with light green foliage,
producing numerous short racemes of deep-blue flowers marked on the
standard with a conspicuous white spot. It w^as a showy, high-coloured
species, but did not produce its flowers so freely as usual during the
present season.

Lupinus tricolor elegans (Veitch). — An ornamental variety, of
branched and spreading habit, the stems finely downy, 2^ feet high,
bearing abundantly racemes of moderate size ; the flowers white, with
the standard deep lilac changing to pucy-purple. The flowers w’ere
very effective, the colours being finely contrasted.

Benary The plants of this handsome

Carter & Co. 3 hybrid Lychnis did not
succeed very well in the open ground, owing to accidental adverse
conditions of soil. They were about a foot high, and unbranched,
bearing a few flowers opening in succession on the upper part of the
stems. The flowers were various in colour, including vivid scarlet,
light orange-scarlet, light and dark crimson, dull reddish-crimson, and
white ; and their petals had a conspicuous single tooth at the side.
In pots of good soil, the plants were taller, and more branched ; and
those with bright scarlet flowers were very handsome. The stems
were sometimes dark-coloured, sometimes pale green, according as the
plants produced lighter or darker coloured flowers, and they were clothed
with reversed hairs ; the leaves were oblong-ovate, acute, downy and
ciliated ; the calyces clothed with long cobwebby hairs, and the flowers
varying from 2 inches to 2| inches in diameter.

Malcomla maritima alba. Syn ; Gheiranthus maritinius (Van
Houtte). — An early-blooming, white-flowered Virginian Stock.

Nernophila discoidalis marmorata (Vilmorin). — A poor looking
annual, with small dark mottled flowers.

Nycterinia selaginoides (Veitch). — This plant formed dwarf compact
tufts, furnished with small narrow or oblong spathulate leaves, which
were toothed towards the blunt apex, and clothed like the stem, with
soft hairs. The flowers grew in flattish terminal corymbs, elongating
with age, and were pretty, star-shaped, white or lilac, with a bright
orange centre. Tiie calyx was adnate for half its length with the mid¬
rib of the leaf or bract in whose axil the flower was placed ; the corolla

Lychnis Haageana -I”

72

THE FLORIST.

consisted of a very slender tube, J of an inch long, and a spreading
five-lobed limb, the lobes obcordate, and deeply two-parted with diver¬
gent divisions. The spaces between the bases of the lobes, and between
the notches, when seen against the dark background of the leaves,
appeared to give a third colour to the flowers. It is a pretty dwarf
plant for rockwork, and has succeeded well during the present moist
cool season. The plants, however, sometimes die off unequally.

(Enotliera bistorta Yeitchiana (Veitcli). — A showy yellow-flowered
annual, dwarfish, but irregular in growth, the stems decumbent, rising
at the points to a foot or more in height ; the leaves lanceolate, attenuate
at the point, wavy-margined ; the flowers solitary from the leaf axils,
abundant, about 1 inch in diameter, four-petaled, forming a compact
circular corolla of a bright yellow, with a small crimson spot at the base
of each petal. The flowers were apparently stalked, the stalk-like part
. being in reality the slender ovary an inch or more in length, which
becomes a twisted capsule. The flowers were individually bright
coloured and attractive, but the plant had rather a straggling appear¬
ance, and in the present season the demerit of dying off early and
irregularly.

Oenothera Drummondii nana (Vilmorin ; Truffaut; Carter & Co.).
— The plants raised from seed sent under this name were diffuse-
growing showy annuals, forming a mass of branches over a foot m
height, the taller ones rising to a foot and a half ; the lower leaves were
downy, sinuately or somewhat lyrately pinnatifid, the upper ones very
slightly toothed. The flowers were large, pale yellow, and showy. It
was considered as a good bold-flowered dwarfish plant for the front
parts of shrubbery borders.

(Enotliera salicifolia. Syn,: E. biennis kirsutissima (Carter & Co.);
E. versicolor (Of some). — A tall-growing plant with the habit of
E. biennis. The leaves were long lanceolate, wavy, strongly-nerved ;
the flowers small, dull reddish, or copper-coloured, having a faded
appearance. It was of weedy unattractive character, the plants being
coarse, and the flowers dingy.

Papaver somniferum monstrosum (Van Houtte). — A curious rather
than ornamental plant, of tall growth, like the common Opium Poppy,
and with similar large dull purplish black-spotted flowers. The flower-
heads were remarkable for producing a number of small ovaries around
the base of the principal one, after the manner of the Hen and
Chickens Daisy.

Phacelia tanacetifolia (Vilmorin). — This had the habit of the

well-known species itself, and bore dull grayish-white flowers. It was
of weedy character.

Portidaca. — Several varieties of this genus were grown, but all
proved inferior to the old P. TJiellusonii and P. splendens, which were
the only ones having rich and decided colours in their flowers.

Pyreihrum Partheniitm eximiam. Syn : Matricaria eximia
(Turner). — A fine late-flowering double quilled white Feverfew, cf free-
compact habit, growing to 2 feet high, and forming a handsome
border plant. The centre of the flower-heads was closely filled with
tubular or quilled florets, and the flower-heads were very numerous,
pure white, fijrming an attractive mass.

MARCH.

73

Ricinus. — Of these fine-foliaged plants several kinds were planted
out, but the unpropitious season did not enable them to come to
perfection.

Sckizanthus chilensis (Veitch). — This species grew 2 feet or more
in height, and was more erect in habit than the better known S. pin-
natus. The flowers were also smaller than in that species, narrow,
deep lilac with a smaller white blotch on the central upper segments,
where they were dotted with black. It was an inferior sort.

Sckizanthus grandiflorus oculatus (Van Houtte). — A very handsome
form of S. pimialus, growing about 14 foot high, branching, the stems
clothed with glandular hairs ; the leaves pinnate, with pinnatifid seg¬
ments. The flowers were bright rosy lilac, the upper lip divided into
five obcuneate bipartite lobes, whitish, heavily tipped with rose, and
having a large black central spot ; the lower lip rosy. The bold con¬
spicuous eye rendered this a very showy plant of its kind. In some of
the plants, the flowers were dotted with black instead of having the
bolder blotch which rendered the best form so attractive.

Spraguea innhellata (Veitch). — A dwarf succulent-looking herb,
with a rosulate tuft of spathulate leaves, and numerous scapes supporting
the umbellate heads of rosy-coloured flowers, which issued from among
crowded whitish or scarious bracts, and were arranged in short recurved
scorpioid spikes three or four together at the ends of the branches of the
primary umbel. It was considered a neat and pretty plant, of very
distinct aspect, adapted for rockwork.

Tagetes patula aurantiaca (Carter & Co.) — The true plants of this
Marigold were very gay, somewhat intermediate in character between
the French and African races ; the flower-heads were clear light orange
colour, and 2\ inches in diameter, dhough marked Dwarf French
Orange Marigold, it could hardly be classed as a dwarf.

Tagetes patula nanissima (Carter & Co.). Syn : New Miniature
Rrmch Marigold (Veitch). — This was the very dwarf early-flowering
French Marigold, a neat variety for the margins of flower-borders, and
mostly producing dark orange-brown flowers.

Tropceoluin majus, Tom Thumb (Carter & Co.). — A fine compact¬
growing bright orange-scarlet-flowered Nasturtium, well adapted for
beds and borders. It proved also very handsome as a pot plant.

Tropceolum majus. Yellow Tom Thumb (Carter & Co.). — The same
habit as in Tom Thumb, but the flowers of a clear yellow. This also
was very showy as a pot plant. These two varieties were exceedingly
gay, and decidedly the best of the kinds belonging to the common
Nasturtium series.

Veronica syriaca (Thompson). — This was an early-flowering plant,
out of bloom by the end of June. It formed a neat dwarf early annual,
of compact habit, pretty when seen in masses or lines. The plants
were 3 — 4 inches high, and had roundish ovate- toothed leaves, and
abundant small starry flowers, about half the flower being blue and
half white.

Viscaria cceli rosa nana (Carter & Co.). — A dwarf-habited variety,
growing 12 — 15 inches high, and uniform in habit. It did not prove
sufficiently enduring, being soon out of flower. The flowers were rose-

74

THE FLORIST.

coloured with a paler centre, as in the taller form, the petals narrowish
and bi-lobed, and the corona ^ of an inch long, deeply two-lobed, with
narrow almost subulate lobes — in all these particulars agreeing with the
taller common form.

Viscaria coeli rosa alba. Syn : Agrostemma coali rosa alba
(Thompson) ; Agrostemma, New White (Turner). — A variety of
diffusely-branched habit. The flowers were white with deeply two-lobed
petals, having an interval between them. The plants were too diffuse
in habit, and the flowers too narrow petaled to be effective.

Yiscaria oculata, var. splendida. Syn : Agrosteinma cceli rosa
(Vilmorin). — This was by some error sent from Paris under the name
of coeli rosa. It proved to be a large-flowered and highly-coloured
variety of oculata, the flowers being of a very rich rose colour, remark¬
able for its brilliancy in some of the selected plants. In this species
the petals are broadly obovate-emarginate or even obcordate, often
over-lapping, and the corona is very short, one-eighth of an inch long,
and obtusely bifid.

Viscaria oculata nana (Carter & Co.). — This was pronounced a
first-class annual, being dwarf and compact in habit, and uniform in
character. The plants were about 15 inches high (growing up to 18
inches later in the season), erect, and compactly branched. The flowers
were of the lively rose colour with rich deep crimson eye, proper to the
species, and had also the same broad obovate petals, forming a full
circular flower.

Viscaria oculata Dunnettii (Parker & Co). Syn : V. Dunnettii
(Vilmorin ; Truffaut). — A pale blush- coloured variety of V. oculata,
too indistinct in colour to be an effective plant for decorative purposes,
but forming a pretty variety in a border of annual flowers.

Viscaria oculata Burridgii (Parker & Co.). — A large -flowered
variety, with the flowers of a very pale slate colour or pale bluish lilac,
almost white. Like the last, the colour is not distinctive enough to be
effective for masses, but the plants form very desirable and rather
attractive annuals for mixed borders. — Royal Horticultural Society's
Proceedings,

' PHILIBERTIA GRACILIS.

The delicious fragrance of this plant must always render it an agree¬
able addition to any collection. Its beauty, however, is not of the most
conspicuous kind, and unless the plants when in flower occupy a
position which will enable the observer to see the interior of the blossoms
with their singular markings, the appearance of the finest grown
specimens will be anything but attractive or pleasing. The plant is a
most profuse bloomer, producing from the axils of every leaf on the
bearing wood a cluster of about five flowers, which are suspended by
feeble peduncles, and invariably assume a drooping position. In the
culture of pot specimens, this natural defect is easily obviated by
training to a flat trellis placed in the pot, so as to stand at an angle of
some SO^ from the point of observation. Like most plants which are
profuse bloomers, this is rather a shy grower, and every encourage-

MARCH.

75

ment should be afforded young plants early iu the season, otherwise it
will be difficult to induce vigorous growth, or to obtain ^ood- sized
flowering specimens.

Propagation is readily effected by cuttings, provided they are selected
at the proper season, viz., when the plants are making free growth,
but if deferred until flowers begin to be produced, suitable bits for this
purpose will hardly be obtained, and they should be put in as early in
the season as possible, so as to get the plants some size and well esta¬
blished previous to winter. Short jointed shoots, when about half ripe,
if planted in sandy peaty soil, covered with a bell glass, and afforded
a bottom heat of from 70° to 80°, will be found to root freely, but
the glasses must be wiped as frequently as is necessary to prevent injury
from damp, to which the cuttings are liable, particularly if rather soft.
Pot off into 4- inch pots as soon as they are sufficiently rooted to allow
of their being handled. Place them in a close moist warm situation,
and if they cafi be afforded a gentle bottom heat it will be all the
better, until the plants are well established. The most careful attention
during the summer, in addition to early propagation, will be necessary
to get them sufficiently large to be useful the second season as flowering
specimens. The best situation for them during summer will be a
rather warm close pit, where they will be screened from the midday
sun, and where a moist atmosphere is maintained. Attend to shifting,
so as to afford plenty of pot room, but take care that the pots are tolerably
full of roots by the end of the growing season ; and as the plant is
rather a weakly grower, large shifts should be avoided. The leading
shoot should be stopped occasionally, in order to secure compact bushy
plants, and the support of a stake will be necessary from the time when
the plants are potted singly. About the end of September they should
be removed to a situation near the glass in a rather warm, dry atmo¬
sphere, and be but sparingly supplied with water at the root ; this will
check growth and ripen the wood previous to the dull sunless days of
winter, and unless the shoots of this plant are in a firm state, then they
will be very likely to damp off, especially in the hands of amateurs.
A temperature of from 50° to 00°, with a situation near the glass, and
a sparing supply of water to the soil, is the safest treatment during
the winter months. I have wintered the plant successfully in a tempe¬
rature of from 45° to 55°, but I would not advise beginners to risk
their stock of this plant in so low a heat, at least until they have had a
year’s acquaintance of it.

Early in February, or as soon after as circumstances will admit,
remove the plants to a brisk, moist, growing temperature, and a gentle
bottom heat of 75° or 80° will greatly assist in promoting active growth.
It will be advisable to examine the state of the roots at once, and if the
drainage is defective, or the soil sour or uncongenial, remedy the evil
by reducing the ball so as to clear away the bad soil ; but except in
the case of plants, the roots of which are abundant and healthy, re¬
potting will be better deferred for a fortnight, or until the plants start
into growth. A rather small shift may be given as soon as more pot
room is required, and the shoots trained to two or three stakes, and
stopped occasionally ; and when the plants are well rooted after the

76

THE ELORIST.

first move they should be shifted into their flowering pots, 10-inch
ones being sufficiently large for this season. The trellis should be
applied at once, and the shoots neatly tied to it, taking care to cover the
lower part of the trellis first. As the sun becomes powerful in spring,
a slight shade during the forenoons of bright days will be of advantage
to the plants, and they should be syringed night and morning, and
every means used to encourage active growth, so as to obtain specimens
of considerable size early in the season, for when once flowers begin to
appear it will be nearly impossible to obtain rapid growth. The best
situation for the plants, after they commence flowering, will be a rather
shady position in a house, where the temperature may range from 60°
to 80°, and if properly supplied with water and kept clear of insects
(this plant not being particularly liable to any), they will continue
growing and blossoming for two or three months. After flowering the
specimens should be wintered as directed for last season, and in spring
they may be turned out of their pots, the balls reduced if the soil is
found to be unhealthy, and repotted in smaller pots, and treated much
as they were last season. It will of course be necessary to cut back and
prune the plants, but the winter will probably do the great portion of
this work ; the stronger shoots should be shortened, so as to secure a
supply of young wood at the bottom of the trellis, and the weaker
pieces should be altogether cut out ; carefully managed, the plants will
make good sized specimens in 12-inch pots, but it will be unsafe to
depend upon them after this season, and a stock of young plants should
therefore be kept up.

Rich light sandy turfy loam and good turfy peat, in the proportion
of three parts of the latter to one of the former, with a liberal quantity
of sharp silver sand, which should be regulated according to the nature
of the loam and peat, and a slight admixture of broken potsherds, or
lumpy bits of charcoal, will form an excellent compost for this plant.
Care should be observed in potting to secure perfect drainage, by
using plenty of potsherds ; and when used, the soil ought to be in a
proper state, as respects moisture.

Cheadle.

BOUQUET FERNS.

The following is a list of twenty Ferns for growing in pots and suitable
for cutting for bouquets. They are easily grown, and will succeed even in
a pit heated by a common brick flue. They should however be kept from
sun during summer; and if grown in a pit heated by a common brick flue
they will require more moisture at the roots than if cultivated in a more
suitable Fernery, as the heat from the flue will dry them a good deal.
Ferns should never be allowed to get dry at the root ; if so, they will
most likely die or lose all their young fronds, which would disfigure
them for some time.

The soil that I find most suitable for Ferns is turf, loam, peat, and
leaf-mould, in equal parts, mixed with a portion of silver sand, all
chopped well together. The more vigorous growing kinds require the
soil to be a little rough, but the more delicate kinds like it finer, and with

MARCH.

77

more sand intermixed with it; this induces them to root more freely.
In potting give good drainage, mixing some small pieces of potsherds
with the soil ; place some broken crocks in the bottoms of the pots, then
a layer of rough peat or moss ; for it is of great importance to tlieir
successful growth to keep the soil open and porous and the drainage
active. Let the plant be set level with the rim of the pot, fill up with
the soil, press firmly round the roots, and give a good watering with
a rosed water-pot, to settle the soil.

Ferns require a good supply of water at their roots during the
summer season, but in winter they should have but little — only just
enough to keep the soil moist ; and, as I have said before, they should
never on any account be allowed to get dry. A pit or small green¬
house will suit the following perfectly : —

Adiardum capilhis 'Generis^ a desirable species for small bouquets ;
grows about 8 inches high. This is a British species, but to grow it
in perfection it requires to be kept under glass.

Adiantum cuneaium. This is one of the prettiest of the Adiantums ;
it grows a foot high, and is one of the best for bouquets. It has a
beautiful drooping habit, and light green foliage, which makes it very
attractive among flowers.

Adiantum formosum. — This fine Fern grows about 2 feet high, and
is very useful for bouquets.

Adiantum assimile. — A very pretty species, which grows about
12 inches high, and is a good kind for small bouquets.

Adiantum setidosum. — A small growing Fern, suitable for growing
in a basket or pot.

Adiantum pedaturn. — A graceful kind, and hardy, but all the better
for being grown under glass. It is some 12 inches high, sometimes
more, when the plant is growing strongly.

Acropkoriis choerophyllus^ an elegant deciduous Fern, which grows
10 inches high.

Acrophorus immersus. — A pretty Fern, which grows about 12 inches
high.

Asplenium Adiantum acutum. — An elegant variety, and hardy. It
is a native of Ireland, but does best under glass.

Cheilanthes alabamensis, — A very pretty dwarf species, growing
about 8 inches high. This is a good variety for small bouquets ; it
should be placed at the warmest end of the pit, and great care should
be taken that no water is allowed to get on the fronds, as on this
depends, in a great measure, the successful growth of all the Chei¬
lanthes ; if allowed to get wet, they turn brown and sometimes die.

Cheilanthes elegans, a handsome small Fern, growing a foot or more
high. This ought to be in every collection, as it is one of the most
beautiful of all ; it requires the same treatment as alabamensis.

Lasirea glabella. — A very pretty distinct species, growing 10 inches
high ; a useful kind for bouquets, and one which lasts a long time in
water.

Lasirea pubescens. — A very distinct Fern, growing about 10 inches

iiigh-

Lasirea canariensis.-^A particularly useful kind for bouquets.

78

THE FLORIST.

NotJiochlcena Eckloniana. — A charming little Fern, very suitable for
small bouquets. These, like the Cheilantlies, do not like water on the
fronds.

NotJiochlcena maranta. — A pretty variety, 10 inches or so in height.

Onycldum auritum. — An elegant Fern, 12 inches or more high ;
very useful for bouquets.

Onycliium lucidum, a useful hardy Fern, which grows 12 inches high.

Eteris scaherida. — One of the most elegant of all small Ferns,
growing about 10 inches high.

Pteris serridata. — A common Fern, very useful for bouquets ; it
grows 10 inches in height.

B. S. Williams.

Paradise Nursery, Hornsey.

THE CHIRONIA.

Some of the species of this genus, as grandiflora, glutinosa, and decus-
sata, form excellent subjects for the decoration of the greenhouse during
the summer and autumn months, when the greater number of such
structures are not overfilled with handsome plants. All the sorts are
easily induced to form compact, large-sized specimens ; and when well
managed, they become literally covered with bright-coloured flowers,
which keep gay for months together.

Young plants will be foundjo form the finest specimens, and there¬
fore a good stock of them should be kept up by annual propagation.

• For cuttings, select strong, short -jointed, rather firm bits of young wood,
as early in the season as they can be obtained. Plant in light, sandy
soil, under the protection of a bell-glass, and plunge the pot in a mild
bottom heat. As soon as the cuttings make a little growth, they will
be sufficiently rooted to bear potting singly in 4-inch pots. After potting,
place them in a rather warm, moist situation, till they have become
established in their pots. After this, the best situation during the
remainder of the growing season will be a pit which can be kept suffi¬
ciently close and moist to promote rapid growth, and where light and
air can be afforded to prevent the production of weakly shoots. Shift
into larger pots as may be necessary, and keep the plants regularly
pinched back, and pegged down, or tied out, so as to secure a compact
bushy habit ; and maintain a moist atmosphere till about the middle
of September, when they should be prepared for winter by full expo¬
sure to sunshine, and a free circulation of air on every favourable occa¬
sion. When the weather becomes cold and damp remove the young
specimens to an airy situation near the glass in the greenhouse. Give
no more water to the soil during winter than may be required to
maintain it in a healthy condition, and admit air freely during mild
days, but avoid cold drying currents. By propagating early, keeping
the plants growing as rapidly as possible till late in autumn, and
starting them into growth early the following spring, they will form nice
moderate sized specimens for flowering late in summer and autumn;

MARCH.

79

but if very large examples are wanted, it will be expedient to grow
plants a second season before allowing them to flower, and in
this case it will not be necessary to start them into growth so
early in spring as when they are intended to form flowering specimens
the same season. With good management from the first, and an
early start, nice plants in 10- inch pots may be obtained in time
for flowering the second season. To effect this, place them in a light
airy situation, close to the glass, early in February, or as soon
after as circumstances will admit of a moist temperature of about
50*^ or 55*^ being maintained. When growth commences give a
liberal shift, and, as I have already stated, attend to the formation of
well- shaped specimens by stopping and training the shoots, as may be
required. Water must be carefully administered for some time after
potting, but when the roots strike into the fresh soil, and the plants
commence to push vigorously, a liberal supply will be necessary, and
clear manure water from the stable or farm-yard tank, diluted with an
equal quantity of clean water, may be given frequently. Stopping
should not be practised after the middle of May, or the plants will be
late in flowering, as blossoms are not freely produced till the wood
becomes rather firm. And when the shoots produced, after the final
stopping, are from 4 to 6 inches long, the plants should be removed to
the warm end of the greenhouse, or to a cold frame, and gradually
accustomed to a free circulation of air, full exposure to sunshine, and a
rather dry atmosphere, which will check growth and hasten the produc¬
tion of flowers. While in blossom give a liberal supply of water to the
soil, and avoid exposing the plants to cold drying currents of air.
When the beauty of the specimens is over for the season, they may be
rather closely pruned and removed to a light airy part of the green¬
house for the winter ; and if repotted in the spring, and treated the
following season as just directed for last, they will form very large
specimens, and this in time to be in full beauty in June or early in July.
But after flowering this time it is hardly advisable to retain the plants
in hope of their being further useful, for they seldom prove of much
further value, and unless watered with great care during the autumn
and winter they become a certain source of disappointment. This,
however, need be the cause of no regret, inasmuch as young plants are
easily propagated, requiring but little care ; and as these form nice
useful sized specimens, the plants that have flowered in large pots may
be thrown to the rubbish heap as soon as their beauty is over.

A rich light porous soil is essential for the successful culture of the
Chironia. 1 use rich turfy peat and turfy sandy, loam in about equal
proportions, with a liberal mixture of silver sand ; and for plants to be
thrown away after flowering, I add a sprinkling of thoroughly decom¬
posed cow-dung. For young plants a quantity of broken potsherds,
broken bones, or charcoal, is useful in securing perfect drainage. Let
the soils be well broken up and intimately mixed before use, and see
that they are in a proper state as regards moisture.

80

THE FLORIST.

VARIEGATION IN PI^LARGONIUMS.

There are few subjects more deserving of notice than this, and perhaps
few are less tho-ught of by the generality of gardeners. Various
physiologists have, I'rom time to time, done much towards solving the
mystery ; still tlie cause lies in comparative obscurity. That there
are fixed laws, which govern the cause as well as the effect, no one can
doubt, and a thorough acquaintance with these must be acquired before
we can satisfactorily investigate the matter. It is poor logic to say that
the effect is produced without a cause ; there is no such thing in
nature as chance ; on the contrary, order and perfection are everywhere
observable. Some may inquire when a change which results in varie¬
gation takes place. I say, at the moment the cellular tissue is generated,
which afterwards furnishes a seed or bud. Although at this early stage
no perceptible alteration is discernible, still a chemical change must have
taken place. I can see no difference in the arrangement of the tissue
in a full-grown leaf, whether the parts be white or green, and there
may be none, except the presence or absence of green matter. If
the tissue in the buds of Pelargonium Annie (variegated') , and Com-
pactum Superb (Green Horseshoe) , the former a sport from the latter,
be examined, no difference will be observed between the two, as regards
colour, until light begins to play its important part : still, this does not
alter my opinion as to when the change takes place. It is probable that
all the cells generated at that juncture were, to a certain degree,
deprived of the power to become green, and that the green patch in the
middle of a leaf is an effort of nature to regain a lost position. As to
the primary cause, I consider it to be water absorbed by the roots while
in a state of decomposition. A plant such as a Pelargonium will live
for a time without the aid of rootlets ; indeed, when they perish no
callus is formed between the dead and living portions. The same
result follows, in some cases, when dead or decaying branches are
allowed to remain on a plant ; in the first case, the putrid matter may
be carried upwards, and in the second, downwards ; be that as it may,
matter in a state of decomposition assuredly does enter. If the power
to form green material in a seed were partially destroyed, the future
plant would doubtless become variegated, but if wholly destroyed, no
germination could take place ; yet we often see white shoots start from
a healthy-looking plant, growing as vigorously as any of the others, but
deprive them of the aid of the green portion, and they would soon die.
I have never been able to get a variegated plant from seed, although I
believe Flower of the Day was so obtained ; nor do I see that any
practical means can be employed whereby dependence may be placed in
seeds to furnish variegated results ; the case is, however, otherwise with
buds.

Having found that in good soil variegated plants indicated a tendency
to become green, and that, in wet mould badly drained, green sorts
had a tendency to throw up white shoots, I was led to try a few experi¬
ments. The first was in 1857- A plant of Cerise Unique, which had
been very unmercifully cut for cuttings, was selected for the purpose.
It was pretty well furnished for snags — in fact, a good specimen of bad

MARCH.

81

cultivation. It was planted out in June, deep enough to hide all
defects. As autumn drew on my doubts began to rise, for not a vestige
of white could be seen about it. I therefore took it up, potted it, and
cut the head off it. In a few weeks afterwards I was encouraged
on seeing by five or six buds that had started that some were green,
some white, and one beautifully variegated ; this I preserved and
propagated. Next year two or three plants of the same (C. Unique),
which had been bedded out, were taken up and potted after tbe frost
had killed their tops. Keeping bad treatment still in view, I would
have nothing cut off them, and here again I got a sport similar to one
which 1 obtained the previous year. 1 next took Tom Thumb in hand,
and from it I was surprised to get Brilliant. I tried it again, and now
I have got what I think is identical with Silver King ! I believe,
therefore, that all the so-called scarlet Pelargoniums may be changed
in this manner. Whether this alteration in appearance be a disease or
not there is one very remarkable fact connected with it worthy of Mr.
Darwin’s notice ; that is, I have never got a green sport from a varie¬
gated plant like tbe green parent of the variegated variety. From
Annie the sport is like old Compactum ; from Brilliant it has an upright
habit and becomes red with cold ; and the variegated plant I raised
myself, alluded to above, resembles Cerise Unique in nothing but the
flower.

20th Feb. An Old Showman.

THE CLOTH OF GOLD AND THE BRITISH QUEEN

STRAWBERRY.

This is a curious combination ; but there is something still more
curious, viz., I never remember seeing a good Cloth of Gold on a south
wall, or a successful bed of British Queens under a south wall. I
believe the grand key, however, to both of them to be suitability of
soil, viz., strongish land, but friable enough for good Barley and
Turnips, with gravelly subsoil. All the good Cloths of Gold that I
know are in such soil and are all east aspect, or open to all four winds.
I tried to grow the Queen under my south wall, but she was worse
there than in the centre of the garden. 100 feet above the top of my
chimneys, in strongish land, and blown upon by all four winds, she is
healthy and strong, and has been these three years. I cannot grow
her in my home garden — west aspect. I have tried her under a south
wall, a north wall, and in the centre — fully open to the bluff of the
west winds, north-west, and south-w'est ; there she was best. I have
her now in stronger soil in a garden open to north and east, and there
she is as green and strong as Trollope’s Victoria. I sent her first
runners this year to France to my friend Mr. Gloede, and he has sent
for her second runners now on her strings. The first sent w^ere beau¬
tiful, and these are better ; both were self-pegged. I can only account
for this, and what I have said about the Cloth of Gold, by “ radiation,”
which is so destructive of vegetables, fruits, and flowers. It is radiation
that makes it so necessary to protect things on or under a south wall.

VOL. XV., NO. CLIX. 0

82

THE FLORIST.

I have lost no Roses under my north wall, but I have lost four or five
under my south wall It is the worst place to winter tender Roses,
such as Teas ; and for this further reason, that while the heavy rains
are driven by the south-west wind over the north wall, and so miss
the plants, they are driven into the plants under the south wall. A
south wall is the most insidious wall in every garden. The sun comes
out sometimes in winter and often powerfully in March, dew falls in
the forepart of the night, hoar frost comes on at the turn of the night,
and from radiation or transition from heat to cold, plants or trees,
easily excited, suffer much unless they are of robust constitution. I
believe that these are the two reasons why I have never seen the Cloth
of Gold good, or good for any length of time, or the British Queen good
at any time, under a south wall ; while I have seen them both flourish
in places where the aspect is severe. If any of your readers should
have experienced different results, they would much oblige me by
stating them in the Florisi.

As regards the British Queen, I am certain that burying her crowns
or muffling them up in winter is destructive of her welfare. The
robust Queens in my other garden were two-years old plants half dead
with the winter of 1859. 1 simply opened a hole, trod her in tight,

and ordered my groom to put a little fresh cow manure round her
roots ; they will be in the same place all next summer, where they
may be seen. My home Queens are canary birds : did the cow-dung
make the difference?

W. F, Radclypfe.

MANETTI ROSE STOCK VERSUS DOG ROSE.

AovERTiNGto an article in one of your former numbers, “ Rosa spinosa,”
the writer of it puts me very much in mind of the man in TEsop’s
fables, who blew hot and cold in the same breath. Had he -simply
given your readers a description of the soil in which the Manetti
flourishes best, and instanced the success which Mr. Francis has had
in growing it in poor soil, it would have been all very well ; and I for
one should have been glad to hear that that gentleman had succeeded
in making a beautiful Rose garden out of a piece of barren land. But
he then goes on to endeavour to make your readers believe that Mr.
Raul, from having a prejudice against it, has sacrificed a fortune, and
thrown the trade into the hands of his neighbour. He draws another
breath, and then candidly informs us that the Dog Rose is more suitable
for strong land, and gives it some excellent recommendations, viz., that
it is durable, produces larger flowers, and that it will remove at almost
any age. He then gives an instance where the Manetti did not succeed
with Mr. Lane, who is known to be a large Rose-grower ; and lie then
winds quietly up by informing us that the Dog Rose succeeded so well
with him that he did not require it. But his worst argument in favour
of his pet stock is, that he tells us of one place where he thinks it would
have answered, but the workmen did not like it, and so gave it a " sly
kick.”

.MARCH.

83

He appears very anxious to know why the two ii’s are used ; all
I can say is, that it would require two eyes to see the drift of his
argument. I am not wishing to recommend either one stock or the
other ; but my ground being naturally heavy, if I must have a worked
Rose at all, give me the Dog Rose ; though I much prefer Roses upon
their own roots, especially with vigorous growing sorts. For instance,
I bought a worked Coupe de Hebe ; and though it has flowered pretty
well, you would scarcely believe it to be the same sort as a cutting I
took from it, which now occupies a wall of about twelve square yards,
and when in bloom is the admiration of every one who sees it.

Clay Soil.

PERENNIAL HERBACEOUS PLANTS ADAPTED FOR
GROUPS, BEDDING, &c., IN THE FLOWER GARDEN.

The following descriptive list is offered as a “ remembrancer,” at least
as regards the flower garden, bringing into view, as I trust it may, a
series of plants whose average character, colour, &c., well adapt them
for producing a gay effect previous to the bedding out of more permanent
varieties. Amongst them will be found some whose merits for the
object described are not generally known or appreciated. ' As the greater
part of them are of strictly perennial character, it should be remembered
by those who grow them that all the earlier flowering kinds should be
succeeded by later blooming plants of. similar colours, &c., where desired,
and also that the amount of bloom and general effect will be just in
proportion to the amount of the previous year’s growth. Therefore, as
a general rule, it is important to secure vigorous growth one year
previous to that in which a fine display is desired. The exception to
this rule will, of course, depend upon the opportunity of procuring strong
plants the previous autumn, and the number equal to the amount of
bloom sought for. Let no plant, however, be condemned until its
average excellencies and capabilities have been correctly ascertained,
and the most favourable conditions for producing such, carried out.

1. Alyssiim saxatile. — Very ornamental in spring ; grows from nine
to twelve inches high, compact in growth, with hoary leaves, and con¬
spicuous densely-flowered racemes of bright yellow blossoms, produced
from the latter end of April until June.

2. Jjinum jlamim. — Equally dwarf, compact, and- ornamental as the
preceding, producing racemes of comparatively large bright yellow,
compact, salver-shaped blossoms at the same period.

3. Viola palmensis (syn. V. strictai) — A neat dwarf plant, which
bears a profusion of bluish lilac Violet-like flowers during April and
May.

4. Iberis sempermrens (Evergreen Candytuft). — An ornamental,
dwarf, compact, and densely branched evergreen spring flowering plant,
six to nine inches high, forming en masse quite a carpet of snow white
blossoms upon a dark green ground, and forming a conspicuous object in
the shape of single groups in flower borders or the foreground of shrub¬
beries, or in relieving the darker background of massive rockwork.

84

THE FLORIST.

5. Iberis saxatilis \ Of smaller habit than I. sempervirens, being

6. ,, cordifoliay a very neat, compact evergreen species, four to
six inches high, and producing an equally fine effect as the foregoing
species, and, with it, blooming from the last week in April until June.

7. Scilla nutans. — A neat early spring flowering bulbous-rooted
plant, twelve inches high, with numerous terminal spikes of rich dark
blue pendent bell-shaped Hyacinth-like flowers in April and May,
forming a conspicuous object for small groups or parterres.

8. iScilla campanulata alba. — An ornamental early spring flowering
bulbous plant, twelve to sixteen inches high, of slender upright Hyacinth¬
like habit, with dark green flaccid lanceolate leaves, and numerous erect
flower scapes, bearing a profusion of conspicuous snow-white open-lobed
bell-shaped blossoms. A beautiful plant for early effect in small or
large groups throughout the borders, or in the foreground of select
shrubberies, or in prominent positions, en masse, of the flower garden.

9. Cheiranthus alpinus (syn. Erysimum diffusum). — A gay early-
flowering biennial plant, of dwarf compact habit, six inches high, with
narrow leaves and short stems, terminating with massive corymb-like
clusters of remarkably bright brimstone-coloured flowers, forming a
conspicuous and enlivening object for small groups in April and May.

10. Yeronicateucrium^'\S\^'&'d may be classed amongst the most

11. ,, patens > desirable species of this genus for early

12. „ nana J summer effect in small beds or groups in

flower borders. They are ornamental perennial herbaceous plants, the
first named about eighteen inches high, and the latter from nine to
twelve inches, of a compact bushy habit, producing numerous terminal
and axillary spikes of very rich ultramarine blue blossoms in May and
June.

13. Mimulus rivularis par dimes. — A rare and highly ornamental
spring and summer flowering perennial herbaceous plant, six to nine
inches high, perfectly hardy, distinguished from most other allied
varieties by a less luxuriant growth, and producing, when grown in
fully exposed situations, and in soils not over stimulated by vegetable
matter, a profusion of comparatively large golden yellow flowers, 1| to
2 inches wide, each picturesquely marked with five remarkably rich
crimson cloud-like blotches on the marginal lobes. Well adapted for
early summer effect in full south aspects, and for a successive bloom on
north or north-east borders.

14. Cheiranthus MarshaUi — A highly interesting spring-flowering
biennial plant, of compact habit, with neat dark green leaves, and
terminal racemes of brilliant orange, close lobed, salver-like blossoms,
each nearly three-quarters of an inch wide, and imparting a delightful
odour. Well adapted for distant effect in single groups or small
parterres.

15. Scilla campanulata intermedia. — This plant is similar in its
growth to S. campanulata alba (No. 8), as a perennial spring flowering
herbaceous bulbous-rooted plant, twelve inches high, with conspicuous
spikes of porcelain blue, open bell-shaped flowers, suitable for varied
effect among early blooming objects.

16. Narcissus tenuifolia (Corbularia tenuifolia)\ Two of the most

17. „ bulbocodium (G. bulbocodiimi) y beautiful species

MARCH.

85

of their respective section and type of growth — the second named kind
well known to all lovers of spring flowers as the “ Hoop Petticoat
Narcissus.” They are remarkably neat, dwarf, and compact, spring¬
flowering bulbous-rooted plants, four to six inches high, with. slender
dark green rush-like leaves, and comparatively large and conspicuously
beautitul orange yellow Narcissus-like flowers, differing from many
other species in having a much smaller outer frill-like belt, from which,
at a distance, the blossoms appear like rich golden flower tubes grace¬
fully reclining from the centre of the grass-like foliage, with which
they are finely contrasted. The first named species is readily distin¬
guished by its erect and more slender herbage.

18. Veronica caucasica. — A neat dwarf spring-flowering herbaceous
plant, six to nine inches high, with numerous racemes or spikes of pale
azure-blue blossoms from the second week in May until the middle of
June.

19. Anemone Scarlet Soldier\ Plighly ornamental compact perennial

20. ,, Josephine y varieties, six inches high, with
brilliant double scarlet flowers, nearly two inches wide, yielding a
successive bloom throughout the summer season by repeated plantings
about 10 weeks previous to the required periods of display.

21. Campanula rostia? (C. hostis, of nurseries). — A remarkably
neat, dwarf, compact, summer flowering, hardy perennial herbaceous
plant, 12 inches high, with smooth narrow lanceolate dark-green
leaves, and numerous .terminal spike-like racemes of conspicuously
rich purplish blue bell-shaped flowers, in July and August. Ibis valu¬
able species is perhaps the best of its extensive genus for effect, en
masse, during its season.

22. Campanula rotundifolia alba. — Much similar in habit and growth
to the preceding species but somewhat taller, producing at the same
period many terminal graceful spike-like racemes of pendent white
bell-shaped flowers upon slender upright stems twelve to sixteen inches
high.

23. Genista tinctoria pleno. — A very neat and ornamental hardy
perennial half- shrubby plant of dwarf compact habit, with small dark-
green narrow leaves, and numerous terminal branch-like racemes or
spikes of golden-yellow blossoms, from July until September..

24. Campanida carpatica. — A hardy summer and autumn flowering
perennial herbaceous plant, of neat erect compact bushy habit, twelve
inches high, producing a profusion of comparatively large expanded
blue bell-shaped flowers, upwards of an inch wide, from July until
October.

25. Campanula carpatica nirea. — Like the foregoing species, a dwarf
and compact summer and autumn-flowering variety, producing a
profusion of comparatively large and conspicuous snow-white bell¬
shaped blossoms, nearly IJ inches wide, from July until September.
A late bloom for early autumn effect may be obtained from the two
last ornamental plants by cutting off’ about one-third or more in length
of the advancing flower stems about the latter end of J une or early in
July.

26. (Enothera macrocarpa. — A neat and hardy ornamental herba-

86

THE FLORIST.

ceous plant, with decuiJnbent or partially trailing stems, six to nine
inches high ; lanceolate leaves and numerous remarkably large close
lobed salver-shaped yellow blossoms, four to six inches wide.

27. Campanula j^umila. — A diminutive and interesting small
dwarf hardy summer-flowering perennial herbaceous plant, from two
to four inches high, with slender erect stems, each tipped with one or
more conspicuously clear blue pendent bell-shaped flowers, in July and
August. Well adapted for small groups or parterres, or for marginal
effect in larger beds ; preferring a situation partially screened from the
hot sunlight.

28. Campanula pumila alba. — Equally neat and interesting in
habit as the preceding species, the tiny slender stems tipped with
elegant clear white drooping bell- shaped flowers, forming a pleasing
and conspicuous contrast to the blue-coloured one.

29. Calceolaria sulphurea splendens. — A highly ornamental and
desirable hardy perennial, summer-flowering, herbaceous plant, of
remarkably dwarf and compact habit. This very interesting variety
forms its entire growth upon the ground, its central stems not rising
more than six to nine inches, yet so vigorous and free in its herbage as
to attain occasionally a diameter of twelve and eighteen inches. Its
ample green lanceolate leaves and numerous flower-scapes crowned
with finely formed and comparatively large golden-yellow pouch¬
shaped blossoms, seldom attaining an elevation beyond twelve to sixteen
inches, form a very beautiful object, either as single groups or in small
parterres. Its short and densely-leaved tufted growth renders it slow
to increase.

William Wood.

A SOUTHERN AURICULA SOCIETY.

The following letter has been forwarded to us, and we do not think
that we could do better than insert it as we have received it, and ask for
the attention of all Auricula growers.

“ Why not ? — the Tulip, the Carnation, and other favourites, have
their local and national societies and associations ; then why not the few
— if few they be — Auricula growers in the south make a move on behalf
of their favourite ?

“ I had hoped ‘ D., Deal,’ would have again this season agitated the
ciuestion of a National Auricula Show; but there may be — I do not
say there are (I believe, as far as the flower is concerned, not) —
impracticabilities in connexion with that subject, but something would
be gained, as a preliminary step, if we could establish a Southern,
Midland, and Northern Society for this special flower. Will ‘ D.,
Deal,* ‘ Iota,’ and Mr. Turner, as a nucleus, seriously consider what
may be done to establish a Southern Auricula Society ? I think I can
promise three members, with a hundred plants each, from this place ; a
few more threes, and the thing will be done. Perhaps, if the three
gentlemen before alluded to will ventilate the subject among their
Auricula-growing friends, they might probably present something

MARCH.

87

tangible in the March number of the Florist, in the shape of a
meeting this spring, whilst April would be time enough for the final
arrangements.

“ Cheltenham, Feh. 4. “ A. J. C.”

The subject is one surrounded by difficulties which we shall endea¬
vour to submit. In the first place, the Auricula is totally unlike any
of those other florists’ flowers which are honoured by national exhibi¬
tions ; they are shown as cut blooms, while it has ever been the custom
to show the Auricula in pots ; and while a grower could easily send up
a box of cut blooms of Tulips or Pansies, he would be unwilling to trust
a dozen of his best Auriculas to the tender mercies (we will say) of the _
Eastern Counties Railway, or indeed to the care of any one, however
experienced, in London, where the show would have to be held. Then
there is a difficulty as to fixing the time ; for instance, I am writing
this at the house of my friend, the Rev. George Jeans, Alford Vicarage ;
his plants will not be in bloom, I see, nearly so early as mine, and
though the 18th or the 20th of April might suit me, it would not him ;
and then, unless w^e could tack it on to some of the spring shows of the
Royal Botanic Society, it would hardly answer, we could not expect to
take any money by visitors, and to hire a room would be expensive.
These reasons seem rather like fatal to the project, but still some ideas
may suggest themselves to the growers of the flower, if these matters
are put before them. I can say that Mr. Turner will gladly fall into it
and give two guineas ; Mr. Chapman, the father of Maria and Sophia,
one guinea ; “ Iota” and myself, one each; and doubtless others would
be willing to contribute also ; but, after all, the great question is, can the
flowers be brought together ? As I have mentioned the subject in the
“ Cottage Gardener,” as well as here, it is just possible some plan may
be hit upon. If so, any communications, addressed to me at the Florist
office, will be acceptable ; and should failure altogether ensue, it will, I
hope, be attributed, not to any lukewarmness on my part, but to the
difficulties inseparable from the subject. That an interest in this flower
is being excited, I have very little doubt, from all that I hear on every
side, and the difficulty of obtaining plants of any scarce variety becomes
greater every day. If the growers increase in number, the day cannot
be far distant when we must meet together for mutual profit.

Feb. 18. D.

PINKS.

Having been a florist just forty-three years, and having been a culti¬
vator of Pinks and Carnations and other florists’ flowers, I think I may
fairly be permitted to have a voice and to give my opinion on the pro¬
gress of improvement, at least as respects our two former favourites.
When first I commenced. Pinks were just beginning to be well culti¬
vated, and shows were established in various parts of England, when,
besides those exhibited for the first, second, and third prizes, seedlings
were also exhibited, and Davy’s Eclipse, Davy’s Duchess of Devon-

88

THE FLORIST.

shire, Davy’s Venus and Countess of Bridgewater, as well as Salter’s
Lord Nelson, were fine and decided good rose-leaf flowers ; and the
second-class flowers, the large-leaved ones, then produced, were
Dakins’s Burdett, Sutton’s Duke of Wellington, Dry’s Earl of Uxbridge,
and Bexley Hero. Tiiese constituted the gems of the different stands.
In some sense the kinds have increased in quality, as to Pinks, but not
in the others ; gems are of essential quality, but they can be too small,
so no flower ought to be classed first-rate unless it can attain to a certain
size. There are many nice Pinks of a fair size, and large enough, yet
there is not so much merit in blooming them as in former times, for the
pods now are so well formed that a Pink can bloom itself without the
aid of the art of tying, to prevent the pod from bursting. I see no Pink
nov/ so handsome as Dry’s Earl of Uxbridge.

As to Carnations, they are exquisite in colour as to flakes and purity
of white ground, but their size is so diminished that they have lost their
grandeur in my estimation. The greatest improvement is in Picotees,
which are as large as they used to be, and some are exquisite in every
point, as may be seen in the plants exhibited and in the plates of the
Florist — no specks on the petals, clean edging, clear broad and narrow
lacing. What Carnation bloom can now be grown to the size of a quart
mug? The best Carnations are but little larger than first-class Pinks,
and, like the march of the present day, nothing is now grown that gives
any trouble. By watching, once I turned a blighted and deformed
Pink -pod quite straight. Who will do that now, and who can find the
time, which is a much more sensible argument to use? None but
amateurs who have spare time can attempt it ; but what a reward, to
see a fine bloom produced from a pod which many w^ould have picked
off and thrown away as useless. Mr. Turner has exhibited some
splendid specimens of Pinks, of new kinds, well worthy of cultivation.
At Winchester, formerly, the' Messrs. Hopkins and Mr, Mann w^ere
three good cultivators of Pinks, and raised seedlings, some of which w^ere
useful flowers. Mann’s Village Maid and Duchesse d’Angouleme,
Corbett’s Leopold, and latterly Mr. Young, of Twyford, has raised good
seedlings, including Lady IMildmay and Double X, &c., and the best
bloom of Earl of Uxbridge I ever saw was produced by him ; but,
unfortunately for that flower, it has so weak a stem and small grass,
that it requires high cultivation and a peculiar season to bloom it, and
that is the reason it has been less grown of late, yet it is one of the
finest Pinks I ever saw. Mr. Keynes also used to exhibit good flowers.
Norbury Buck is still a great favourite of mine; so are Hector and
Jupiter. The red and scarlet laced flowers are evidently the most
tender, and in some positions will not live, especially in wet soils. In
damp soils the Delphiniums, also, will not enjoy th.emselves ; nor will
Liatris spicata, or Spigelia marylandica ; but where you find those or
any other delicate plants that cannot live in damp soil, thrive, you
may grow Pinks and Carnations in perfection, if well managed.
Beading. An Old Florist.

[If Earl of Uxbridge was a favourite with our correspondent, surely
hlaclean’s Miss Nightingale and Napoleon would indeed please him. —
Editor.]

MARCH.

89

VIOLETS IN POTS.

I HAVE that most beautiful and best of all the lovely tribe of Violels,
the old double blue, now in full bloom, each plant having upwards of a
hundred flowers on it, and that in a 24-sized pot. In order to obtain
this I split the roots up into pieces and plant them in May on a warm
south border of good soil, in rows one foot asunder, placing the plants
six inches apart in the row. In August I take them up and put them
into large pots filled with good rich soil. I then place them in a frame
on a south border, after filling it with cinders to within six inches of
the top. When that is done I plunge the pots, and in that condition
I leave them until frost sets in, when the lights are put on and kept on,
tilting them about an inch every day, and covering at night with mats.
Violets love a dry bed of cinders, a cold frame, and a situation as near
as possible to the glass.

Delta.

EEVIEW.

The Floral Magazine, comprising Figures and Descriptions of Popular
Garden Flowers. By Thomas Moore, F.L.S., IMI.S., Secretary
to the Floral Committee of the Horticultural Society of London ; the
Drawings by Walter Fitch, F.L.S. Nos. I. — X. London: Lovell
Reeve, 5, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.

We hold that to be a very narrow mind, in which envy lurks, carping
at the success of others, and considering that nothing really good can
come out of anything that in any way crosses their path ; and he is a
generous soul who welcomes excellence wherever it is, and gives credit
to endeavours honestly and faithfully done, although they may trench
on his own peculiar province. That was a generous saying of Thacke¬
ray’s, when announcing that one of the ablest contributors to the
“ Cornhill Magazine ” had seceded, and, like South Carolina, set up
on his own account, as the Editor of “Temple Bar “ Our course
has been so prosperous, that it was to be expected other adventurers
would sail on it, and accordingly I heard with no surprise that one of
our esteemed companions was about to hoist his flag and take command
of a ship of his own ; the wide ocean has room enough for us all ; at
home, and over our own immense dominions there are markets enough
for all our wares ; the old days of enmity and exclusiveness are over,
and it is to be hoped buyers and authors will alike profit by free trade,
friendly courtesy, and fair play.” And shall we not gladly welcome a
new candidate for public favour in our line, even though it may seem
to claim some of that which belongs to ourselves ? But in truth it
occupies different ground ; it is more a biographical gallery of Flora’s
beauties, holding to the floricultural world something of the same position
that the “Botanical Magazine” does to the more scientific botanist;
and when we see the worthy trio whose names are interested in keeping
it up to the mark, we may be quite sure that the floricultural knowledge
of Mr. Moore and the artistic skill of Mr. Fitch will be exerted to

90

THE FLORtST.

produce a work which shall be worthy of the repertoire of the publisher
of so many beautiful works emanating from the Royal Gardens at
Kew. The work has now reached its tenth number, and certainly
has improved as it has gone oil ; and although there must ever
be, in a work of this kind, different degrees of merit, yet the plates
are, with few exceptions, admirably executed. What can be more
beautiful than the plate of Zinnias, or more carefully worked out
than that most difficult of all flowers to figure, the Hyacinth ; while in
our own peculiar line, florists’ flowers, there are some very beautiful
illustrations ; the plate in the last number of the new Picotees raised
by ]\Iessrs. Kirtland and Keynes is admirably executed ; and the
same may be said of that of Volunteer Auricula, another of Mr.
Richards’ seedlings we presume ; not that it seems to us to have pro¬
perties entitling it to a first-class certificate ; we are simjily speaking
of the execution of the plate ; again, there is a very fine group of some
of the new Pelargoniums of last season (wrongly marked as to figures),
not displaying, indeed, a great deal of novelty, but withal very striking.
Short cultural directions, as well as biographical notices, are given with
each plate, and are characterised by sound sense and wisdom. Tlie editor’s
position as secretary of the floral committee of the Royal Horticultural
Society, of course gives him facilities for obtaining the newest and best
flowers to figure, and we have no doubt, if the favour of the public is
given to it, it will greatly benefit floriculture. We ourselves can trace
up many of our first loves in the floral world to the sight of drawings
rather than to that of the flowers themselves ; and there are thousands
who, seeing a good drawing, will exclaim at once, “ Oh, I must have
that ! ” And the appetite of the lover of flowers is really insatiable.
Hence we wish every success to this new candidate ; we trust its course
will be long and prosperous, and that all alike interested in it, pub¬
lisher and the public, may be great gainers by its course of usefulness.
Deal, Feb. 18. D.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Plants of new or other kinds of which it
may be desirable to increase the size as much as j^possible during the
season should at once be placed near the glass in a moist warm house,
so as to secure early growth ; and healthy vigorous plants started now,
with proper attention and convenience, make two good growths during
the season. See, however, that the plants are not in want of pot room
before placing them in heat, and also that the shoots are nicely distri¬
buted, so as to secure the desired form of plant. Also attend very care¬
fully to watering, and moisten them overhead with a fine rosed syringe
morning and evening, and keep them free from black thrip. Specimens
intended for exhibition purposes or late blooming had better be removed
to a north house wherever this can be done, giving air freely unless
when the temperature is below 36°, and where a north house is not at
command, the plants intended for late blooming should be placed in the
shadiest part of the coolest house ; and, if the weather should prove

MARCH.

91

mild and bright, it will be advisable to shade before the end of the
month, for we have always found that unless the wood was well
matured in autumn, the plants were peculiarly excitable in spring,
pushing their wood buds on the occurrence of a few mild bright days ;
and, it is to be feared that, as a rule, the wood was not as w^ell ripened
last autumn as it should have been, hence every care should be
exercised to avoid prematurely starting the plants into growth.
Camellias which have done blooming should be placed in a gentle heat
at once if they are likely to be wanted for early blooming next season ;
but such as have bloomed very heavily, or from other causes are not
pushing their wood buds, should be allowed a further rest, and those
only which had their wood well up and promise to break freely should
be placed in heat at present. See that the foliage is perfectly clear of
insects and dust, &c., and also that the plants are in proper condition,
as to pot room, &c., before placing them in heat ; but those intended
for early blooming should be rather under than over potted, otherwise
they will be liable to make a second growth after setting their bloom
buds, and either drop their buds or bloom very imperfectly. Gon-
servatory. — Make every effort to keep up a good display of bloom here,
and also to preserve the beauty of plants in bloom as long as possible.
The temperature should be regulated so as to make it as suitable as
can be done for the more important plants in the house; in most cases,
45° at night and 5° to 15° higher during the day, according to the
state of the weather, will be proper. If the weather proves bright and
frosty, care must be used to prevent the plants being injured through
want of moisture in the atmosphere, and the beds and borders and
other available surfaces must be sprinkled sufficiently often to secure a
healthy moist atmosphere ; and this attention will be especially necessary
where there are many things in the house which have been forced into
bloom in a damp warm house. Acacias, Camellias, &c., planted in the
beds or borders must be freely supplied with water at the root while
in bloom, and those which have done blooming should be cut back as
much as may be necessary to secure a close bushy growth ; and if the
soil about their roots is exhausted, as much should be removed from
the surface as can be done without injuring the roots, replacing it with
fresh compost mixed with bone-dust, small bones, or any other safe
fertiliser. See that the permanent plants are not injured by aphis,
which frequently makes its appearance upon the young wood; and as it
is generally inconvenient to smoke here and troublesome to use any
other efficient means, they are sometimes allowed to do considerable
injury, and every day they are left unmolested adds to the difficulty of
extermination, as well as exposes the plants to injury. By carefully
applying a moderate dose of tobacco smoke when the plants are perfectly
dry, and repeating this the following morning, the most delicate plant
in bloom will hardly be injured, and the pest will easily be eradicated
if taken immediately it is perceived. Cold Frames. — Keep stock plants
from which cuttings are wanted close and moist to encourage growth,
and be careful to keep them free from green-fly. Rush on the propa¬
gation of bedding-out stock with the the greatest possible dispatch ;
also get autumn-rooted cuttings which have been wintered in pans or

92

THE FLORIST.

boxes potted off or planted in beds of light soil under glass, so as to
secure strong vigorous plants by early planting-out tinae, and without
having to place them in a close warm temperature. Sow seeds of choice
half-hardy annuals wanted to bloom early ; also Maurandyas and
Lophospermums, and endeavour to have the whole stock of bedding-
out plants rooted before the month is out, or at all events to have the
cuttings put in. Flower Garden. — Any alterations in progress should
be finished with the greatest possible dispatch, and the routine work
pushed forward so as to have the garden neat and trim. Shrubs which
have been greatly injured by the frost may be cut back so as to remove
the unsightly and certain dead portions ; but it would be useless to
attempt to finally cut back such as are partially killed until it can be
seen by the swelling of the buds what is really dead. Those who were
fortunate enough to have a stock of Roses in pots under glass should
make the most of these in the way of getting grafts off such as were
not pruned, and cuttings from those forced for early blooming, for the
stock of Roses has been very seriously reduced in many parts of the
country; and as these are unquestionably the most beautiful of out-door
plants, every effort should be used to get up a good stock. Here
Roses on their own roots, or worked so low that the stock is buried in
the soil, are alive ; but as to standards, and all which were not covered
with the snow, nearly all are dead ; and 1 shall not again depend to
any extent upon plants which are not upon their own roots, or worked
so low that the point of union can be protected by being covered with
the soil when planted. Greenhouse. — Those who wish to excel in the
culture of what are termed greenhouse plants should after this time be
able to find two houses for the accommodation of their stock ; for young
plants of such things as Boronias, Gompholobiums, Leschenaultias, &c.,
should now be encouraged by an amount of warmth and moisture
which would be ruinous to specimen Ericas, &c. It may be true that
good specimens of the more delicate New Holland plants are grown
without the aid of an intermediate house, but this is generally done
by keeping the plants growing in damp close pits late in autumn and
when they should be ripening their wood ; and plants got up in this
manner are exceedingly liable to mildew, &c., during the winter. By
starting young stock early a long season for growth is secured, and time
left for getting the young wood well ripened up before winter. But
where the convenience of an intermediate house is not at command the
young stock should be placed together at one end of the house, and
encouraged by being kept close and rather moist. For the general manage¬
ment of these — as also of the specimens, Ac. — look at last month’s
directions. Do not allow the plants to suffer through the want of
moisture in the atmosphere, but sprinkle the floors on the forenoons of
bright drying days, and give air so as to save the plants from cold drying
winds. Stove. — ^ Plants which were started early, such as Ixoras,

Dipladenias, Ac., will now be growing vigorously, and must be care¬
fully tended with water at the root and kept free from insects. Such
things as Dipladenias should have a few stakes placed for the shoots to
run up ; for if these are left to twine amongst each other, it is a very
troublesome job to get them separated. See that all young growing

MARCH.

93 .

stock is properly supplied with pot room, and endeavour to provide a
good supply of plants for blooming in summer and autumn. The
temperature may now range from 70° to 80°, giving air very sparingly
during the prevalence of cold winds and shutting up early. Keep the
atmosphere moist by frequently sprinkling the passages, &c,, and
syringing the plants gently overhead in the afternoons, giving extra
a:jtention to such as are known to be liableTo be attacked by red spider.

Jlardy Fruit. — Attend to the protection of Peach and Apricot trees,
as before advised ; but where no proper covering material is at hand,
evergreen branches may be used for this purpose. Where this mode
of covering is adopted, it should be partially removed through the day,
when the blossoms expand, recovering again at night, if frosty. If
any work recommended to be done last month at this time remains
unfinished, it should now be proceeded with immediately. The pruning,
nailing, and planting of all fruit trees should be brought to a close
without delay. Top dress all newly planted trees, as well as those in a
weakly condition. Prune Filbert trees as soon as the blossoms are
visible ; shorten or cut out all small shoots that do not show for fruit.
Keep the main branches thin and the centre of the trees open, similar
in form to a goblet. Plant Strawberries, as before advised, and use the
hoe frequently in dry weather round the plants in the fruiting beds.
Graft Plums, Cherries, and ether fruit the beginning of the month, and
head down large Apple and Pear trees intended to be grafted late in
the season. Give air daily during sunshine to orchard-houses and
glass cases ; but close early if any appearance of frost at night. Syringe
the trees occasionally in the morning, but be sparing of water on the
floor of the house, as it is injurious to the blossoms during a low tem¬
perature. Forcing Ground. — Give plenty of air to Carrots, Radishes,
Rhubarb, Peas, and other things under glass. Bring in fresh roots of
Asparagus and Seakale to follow in succession. Ash- leaf Potatoes
should be planted in frames early in the month ; earth up those in a
forward state. Sow Capsicums, Tomatoes, and Egg-plants ; the French
purple variety of the latter is a very good vegetable. Plant succession
crops of French Beans, and this is now a good time to plant a warm pit
to come into use about the time the crops in the forcing houses are
cleared. Keep up a good heat to those in bearing, and syringe fre¬
quently, to check red spider. Attend to the linings of Cucumber and
Melon frames, by adding fresh stable litter and turning the whole
together ; a top heat of 70° should be maintained in the beds. Pinch
out the points of the leading shoots as soon as they begin to spread, and
keep the rest moderately thin. Stop all the shoots above the show for
fruit. Earth up the plants as they advance in growth, adding a little
by degrees, so as not to chill the beds. Water Melons very sparingly,
plant out those sown last month, as soon as the beds are in a fit state
to receive the plants. Sow again for succession. Sow Basil and
Knotted Marjoram on a slight hotbed, to get forward for planting in
the open ground. Continue to make fresh Mushroom beds, and spawn
them when the heat of the bed is about 65° or 70°. Keep the house
more humid as the season advances. Peaches and Nectarines. — Attend

94

THE FLORIST.

to previous directions in regard to temperature, &c. Water the inside
borders of the early house, if the crop is set and swelling ; thin the
fruit, but be careful in leaving sufficient to allow for dropping during
the process of stoning. Thin the shoots, and select those required for
fruiting next year. Use the syringe freely, to keep the foliage in a
healthy state. Towards the end of the month, as heat and light
increases, the temperature may range a little higher, especially through
the day in clear weather. Cherries require a moist atmosphere till
they come into bloom ; therefore use the syringe to keep up the neces¬
sary moisture. When the trees are in flower the atmosphere should
be less humid, abundance of air admitted, and a night temperature of
about 60°, rising from 10° to 15° through the day during sunheat.
Plums require similar treatment to the Peach, commencing with a low
temperature and increasing it gradually by degrees. Give plenty of
air when the trees are in bloom, and water freely at the root. These
require more water than Cherries. Straioberries. — During the time
the fruit is swelling, the plants should be liberally supplied with liquid
manure, and be careful not to let them at any time suffer from drought ;
if so, it will greatly deteriorate the flavour of the fruit. Use the syringe,
to check red spider, and give plenty of air to those in flower, and place
more plants in late Vineries or pits, to succeed those in the forcing
houses. Should the demand for this fruit be large and the stock of
plants in pots limited, some strong young plants from the open ground
may now be taken up with a ball of earth, potted, and placed under
glass at once ; these, if taken up carefully and potted in rich light earth,
usually produce a very good crop. Pines. — If the succession plants
requiring a shift were not done the end of last month, they should now
be potted, and in so doing use free porous turfy loam mixed with a
little rotten manure ; do not press the soil too hard in the pots. Turn
or renew the beds before the plants are replaced in the pits. Avoid
strong bottom-heat, and keep the plants rather close till they begin to
grow, when more air may be admitted- Keep a moist atmosphere to
those where fire-heat is applied, and give the fruiting plants a soaking
of water, as soon as the fruit spike is visible. All other plants that are
dry will also require water. Pot suckers and attend to the linings of
those in dung pits. Admit air according to the state of the weather.
Vinery. — Now that we have more solar heat and light, the temperature
in the succession houses may range higher, from 65° to 70° is a good
average night temperature. Muscats require strong heat, with plenty
of air, to ensure their setting properly. Keep a moist atmosphere in
the early house till such time as the fruit begins to colour. Vines
intended to be grown for fruiting in pots next season should now be
started. See last month’s directions for other Vines in pots. Kitchen
Carden. — If our previous directions for working the land have been
attended to during the past favourable month of open weather, the soil
will now be in good condition to receive the principal crops requiring to
be sown during this month. Therefore choose the earliest opportunity
to get in the principal crop of Parsnips, Leeks, Onions, and Early Horn
Carrots. Make sowings of Peas, such as the Champion of England
and Scimetar, and at the same time make the last sowing of Warwick

MARCH.

95

Peas, to succeed the previous sowing ; also any of Dr. M‘Lean’s new
dwarf Marrows may be sown during the month ; they are excellent
Peas, and very suitable for small gardens, on account of their dwarf
habit. Plant Windsor and Longpod Beans, and draw earth to the
early crop ; also Ash-leaf and other early Potatoes ; second early
Potatoes, such as Early Oxford and Dalmahoy, at the end of the month,
the latter is an excellent sort. Sow early Turnip, Spinach', Lettuce,
and Radishes of sorts, to follow in succession ; also make sowings of
early Cabbage, Cottager’s Kale, Green Curled Savoy, Walcheren and
other Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, and Celery on a slight hotbed.
Plant out Cauliflower, Cabbage, and Lettuce, and prick out those sown
last month under glass. Make new plantations of Rhubarb, Seakale,
Asparagus, and Globe Artichokes. The ground for the latter should be
well manured and trenched, as the roots will remain some years in the
ground. Protect Rhubarb from frost with pots or litter, and cover Sea-
kale in. the open ground, to get it blanched for the last cutting.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN MARCH.

Aye ! work, indeed ; now comes on a busy time, and much of the
future beauty of the flower garden will depend on the operations of this
month ; therefore, make the best use of the time that you can, for,
what with vegetables, sowing seed, &c., it will be hard work to over¬
take all there is to do.

Auriculas. — These will now require a more constant supply of
water, and especially towards the end of the month, when they will be
showing room. Give plenty of air on all favourable days, but avoid
the sharp cutting easterly winds — a calico wing to the frame acts as an
excellent break ; still cover up well at night, as frost greatly injures
the bloom. Bedding Plants. — You must now calculate your supply
and demand, and get up a hotbed for Verbenas if you have no other
convenience. The old plants will now throw off cuttings, and these
readily strike and must be potted off singly as soon as struck. Calceo¬
larias should also be potted off so as to make bushy plants, which they
will soon do. I say this presuming that the cuttings put in in the
autumn are still in store pots. Gazania splendens must be treated in
the same way, and seed of Lobelia speciosa bo sown, or cuttings taken
off old plants. Verbena venosa, if it has survived the frost, may be
taken up and cut up for plants ; they do admirably planted in amongst
variegated Geraniums. Carnations and Picotees. — The compost for
these must now be got under cover, so as to be ready for use in the
beginning of April ; carefully go over it and hand pick it, one wire
worm being quite sufficient to destroy your best plants ; good loam,
old hotbed dung, and leaf-mould, form a good mixture, with some road
grit to keep it open. Greenhouse. — This ought now to be somewhat
gay — Cinerarias, Tropseolums, Primulas, Hyacinths, and Cyclamens,
now being in bloom. Watch carefully against greenfly and fumigate
with tobacco or tobacco paper, and give as much room as you can to
growing plants. Pansies. — Give plenty of air. Keep the pots clear
of weeds, and water according to the state of the weather. Pinks
rec[uire nothing at present but stirring the surface of tlie beds occa-

96

THE FLORIST.

sionally. And now comes a word I almost dread to write, Roses. —
I very much fear that we can form no idea of the destruction to our
favourites as yet. Many have looked over and counted so many dead.
How many more will never push again remains to be seen. I have
seen plenty with apparently vigorous young shoots, and yet dying at
the neck of the plant. Thus I am almost inclined to think that very
few standard Roses in the country will be worth anything after this
winter ; they may live to all appearance, but a Rose once checked is,
I think, done for. However, we shall see ; and I am rather inclined
to think that we are on the eve of a revolution in Rose growing.
Standards will be given up largely, and Roses on their own roots, or on
some stock which roots more freely than the common Briar, will have
to be used instead. However, this month, the pruning knife must go
to work, and I fear the spade must be used very extensively. One
word of advice I would give, do not buy standards now; they will only
bring grief to both buyer and seller. Tulips. — These must be protected
from heavy rains, and the surface of the bed kept stirred, and of course
all weeds taken away. In general work, get the beds dug over and
ground prepared for planting out ; keep the walks tidy and look after
slugs, it being quite a myth, I fear, that a hard winter kills them.
Deal, FeL 18. D.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias. — Great care must be taken in giving air this month
to such of these as are very succulent, as the winds are frequently very
nipping, and an hour may undo the work of a season. Syringe
frequently in warm open weather, as this tends much to the elongation
of the shoots and the colour of the foliage. Continue to tie out as wide
as possible, removing at the same time all intruding suckers and
spindling shoots. Give weak liquid manure occasionally, and shade
when they flag too much, though it is necessary that they should flag
a little at times, to harden the wood. Where there are seedlings they
should be looked to, to see if there are any new and desirable for the
following season. Fumigate slightly every now and then to prevent
their becoming infested with the green-fly. Pelargoniums. — If the
directions previously given have been acted upon, the May plants will
be now assuming the shape they will take for the exhibitions ; their
growth should now be encouraged by giving them a little stimulant
three or four times in the course of a week. For such purpose, guano
water will be most safe and effective, of which half a thumb pot of the
Peruvian will make four gallons. The plants will now require frequently
watering, as their roots must be kept thoroughly moist. Everything
like forcing should be carefully avoided. The temperature of the house
at night should now range about 50*^. Each plant should enjoy air,
light, and space in abundance. As the June plants progress, let them
be well tied out. Let them be kept thoroughly clean by frequent
fumigation. Stop the shoots of such as are thin, to induce dwarf and
bushy growth, and also of those intended for late flowering. In the
tying out of the plants fail not to let the form they .are ultimately to
take be kept clearly in view.

r

APRIL.

97

CHRYSANTHEMUMS RIFLEMAN AND PANDORA

(Plate 175.)

Are those Dahlias ?” was the question of one who shall he
nameless, when I opened out the plate to view; with a half
derisive laugh, I said, Oh, dear no,” and yet bethought
myself, after all it was not such an absurd question; for, as
far as size goes, they might very well he regarded as such ;
and an unpractised eye would hardly mark the difference of
petal, which makes an incurved Chrysanthemum so very unlike
a Dahlia ; and very marvellous it certainly is, to see how every
year seems to he increasing those properties which, in a florist’s
eyes, stamp the value on a flower. As I have oftentimes said,
and as Mr. Salter repeats again in his Catalogue this year, it
is quite misleading to suppose that such blooms as those from
which this drawing was taken are those that ordinarily are to
he had in growing such kinds; they cannot he obtained hut
by very careful management — by disbudding the plant, and
watching it in all stages of its progress ; in fact, taking all
that trouble with it which only a grower for exhibition will
care to do ; for its capability for that purpose does not make
such a variety equally desirable for those who only wish to see
large masses of bloom, and well filled up flowers, not caring
whether they ever appear on an exhibition table or not, exhi¬
bition flowers rarely blooming well enough for specimen plants.

The Channel Islands have long been famous as a region
specially favoured by Flora and Pomona ; Guernsey Lilies are
well known. I have heard that they were originally wrecked
on its shores, forming part of a cargo from distant Cathay or
Japan ; that they were thrown into a heap as rubbish, but in
the following spring the heap was all covered with bloom, and
then Nerine sarniensis was well taken care of, but that all the
care will not make it flourish in even the neighbouring island
of Jersey; while every year tens of thousands are imported to
this country, only to bloom for once, and then be thrown away.
In the more favoured island of Jersey the melting Ohau-
montel, Louise Bonne, and other Pears, acquire a flavour
unknown here ; and all Flora’s productions flourish in pro¬
portion. To one of these islands (Jersey, I believe) the floral
world is now indebted for the large proportion of the additions
to new and excellent varieties of Chrysanthemum, Messrs.
Smith and Clarke both living there ; and a reference to Mr.

^ Salter’s Catalogue will show how largely they contribute to
them. Their cultivation there is materially aided by the
nature of the climate ; they mature their seed better than in

VOL. XV., NO. CLX. II

1.

a

B

BBi

i

98

THE FLORIST.

our more cliilly regions, and tlie experience of the last two
seasons has shown us how disappointed we may he in the
prospect of a bloom.

Nothing has been added to our knowledge of the culture of this
flower during the past year or two, and we are dependent more
on climatic influences than on any difficulty in soil. A sunless
summer and a cold dull autumn baffle even the most expe¬
rienced cultivators ; and we have to lament too often failures,
even after all our care. The grower for exhibition still pursues
his plans, and gets up most astonishing flowers, the parents of
which would never know their own offspring. But may we,
who are amongst the profanum vulgus,” not be wise to save
ourselves some trouble in the method at present generally
adopted of shifting two or three times. The Chinese, we are
told, adopt an entirely different plan, and at once pot from the
cutting pot into those they are to bloom in ; and that by this
means they acquire well-feathered plants, and not tall gawky
things. We all know that if we plant a cutting in the open
ground, how very soon it outstrips its companion whose
energies have been cramped in a small pot, and the next best
thing we can do is to imitate this, and give it plenty of room.
By growing them on the one-shift system, potting them from
the small forties or sixties into 11 -inch pots at once, lateral
shoots will at once start out, and without the care and fuss of
tying out, will soon furnish the plant. To those whose time
is limited, and who grow only for their own pleasure, this
surely is preferable to that stunting and starving they too often
have to endure at that early stage of their growth. It is a
mistake, I fancy, to grow them in too rich stuff, that stimulus
to their growth, which arises from gross feeding, being better
supplied in the shape of liquid manure afterwards. Two-
thirds loam and one-third rotted frame-dung is as good a
mixture as we can give them. During the summer months
they should be ^kept perfectly cool, and it is a good plan to
place on the top of the joots something that will retain moisture
well. Moss, rotted cocoa-nut fibre, or spent hops, are used by
various persons for this piiiq)ose. When the blooming buds
appear, then liquid manure may be applied, but not profusely,
the practice of the Chinese not being quite adapted for us, with
our colder and damper climate.

And now as to new sorts. I carefully went over Mr. Salter’s
collection, when in bloom, and noted those which seemed to
me worthy of cultivation, and from those notes I now give the
following list ; some of the varieties (those figured were
amongst them) had not then been named, but a reference to
the numbers they bore, which Mr. S. has obligingly given me,
has set that matter right. The cream of the collection has

APRIL.

99

been transferred to paper, and the portraits of Little Harry and
Lady Harding, in the Floral Magazine,” and of Kifleman
and Pandora in our present number, will express better than
my words can do, what exquisite varieties they are. Of others
I have also notes against, and give in order those that seemed
to me most deserving of notice.

Ariadne,^ cream and buff*. There was an air of novelty about this, and it
promised to be free in growth.

Caractacus, rosy carmine, blush tips ; large and fine flower; will probably
do better as an exhibition flower than as a specimen.

Golden Hermine. Those who value the older one will gladly recognise
in this a valuable sport ; the flowers are orange, tipped, as its parent,
with carmine.

Little Harry, a beautiful bright yellow, most perfectly incurved, never
needing to be dressed, and one of the most profuse bloomers possible ;
the plant, too, is easily grown. Ex. ex.

Lady Harding, a pretty rosy pink, equally abundant in bloom to the last,
though larger, and beautifully incurved. Ex. ex.

Lord Elgin, that indescribable colour, bronzy rose, finely incurved.
Pandora, deep nankeen, with yellow centre ; fine show flower. Ex. ex.
PncEBUS, bright orange, not very large, but very free in blooming ; later in
flower than some of the kinds previously named.

Queen of Whites, large white, and well incurved.

Rifleman, dark ruby red ; a very noble looking flower, beautifully incurved
and early flowering. This plate is taken from a very fine specimen.
Ex. ex.

Dealy March 23. D.

PRUNING PEACHES AND NECTARINES.

Too much is done with the knife and too little with the thumb and
finger, in managing these as 'well as many other fruit trees. It is
considered a very clever thing by many fast gardeners to use the knife
freely, and well thin out their wall trees. Now, having suffered many
years by allowing my gardener too much license with Saynor, I cannot
do less than caution my fellow- sufferers in this way (and I know we are
a numerous class) not to allow their gardeners a knife at all, except it
be to prune Gooseberry bushes. In fact, I wish the Chancellor of the
Exchequer would put a tax upon pruning knives ; it would yield a good
sum to the revenue, and save hundreds of Peach trees every year.
The way I found out that the knife had caused all the evils my trees
had been subject to for the last 14 years (during which time two series
of trees had been “ used up,” and a third set were going in the same
direction), was this : — My gardener left me two years ago, and wishing
to bring a sharp young fellow who had worked with him for some time
into his place, I took to the management of my wall trees p7'o. tern. ;
and being a subscriber to the Florist, took lessons from your back
numbers, wherein thumb pruning is strongly insisted on ; and strictly
following the plan laid down, I shortly discarded the knife altogether.
I began my work in April, 1859. My principal Peach trees were
then four years old, and were already getting naked in the centre and

100

THE FLORIST.

lower part of the tree, owing, as I soon found, to the buds not wanted
for wood having been cut away with the knife, by which practice, in
two or three ^ears, the lower parts of the main branches were left
without young wood on them, and what was still worse, without the
power of forming even adventitious buds. My plan is to cut nothing
away ; every bud is allowed to grow a few joints in length, when I
pinch out the point, leaving two or three leaves at the base, which
includes as many joints. Those intended for filling up are selected and
laid in when grown sufficiently long, but I am more sparing of this
wood than many, depending on my spurs. The shoots pinched back
may again push during the summer, when they are again closely
stopped and result in fruit spurs, which have also generally latent
wood buds at their base, which prevents the wood ever becoming naked
and unproductive, which it otherwise would. By this simple method,
mv trees are now covered with shorf spurs and small wood in place of
the long coarse shoots which used to run up to the top of the wall in a
season, and naked wood is now impossible. My trees have escaped
this severe winter without suffering any bad effects that I • can see,
whereas my neighbours all tell me the wood of their trees is blackened
or dead. My spurs ripen sooner than the wood on longer shoots,
as they become brown and lose their leaves earlier, hence the supe¬
riority of the plan in seasons like the last. My man is now getting
into his work, and I shall in some measure place the trees in his care
this season, allowing him no knife, except to shorten back a few long
shoots when they have fairly broken. Yes! gardeners must learn to
dispense with the knife in tree management, just as we have done with
the lancet in our medical practice.

A M.R.C.S,

LARGE CAMELLIAS.

Foremost among these stands the fine specimen of C. reticulata at
Bank Grove, near Kingston-on-Thames, the residence of Byam
Martin, Esq. This cannot measure less than 20 feet in height, and
50 feet in circumference. It was planted out in a house devoted to
itself some 25 years ago, and is supposed to be one of the first trees of
the kind planted out in England. Some years as many as 4000
flowers are said to have been produced by this plant. The back walls
of the various plant houses here are covered with Camellias planted in
slate boxes, and the effect which they produce is excellent, though they
are considerably shaded by plants on stages in front. Here also may
be seen some fine specimens, planted out, of JMonarch, Eclipse, Double
Red and White, and many others. The next specimen remarkable
for size to which I would direct attention is one of old Double White,
at Sundridge Park, near Bromley, in Kent. This would make a
good companion to the reticulata just noticed. Though a very old
tree, it is still in excellent health, and flowers well every year. Here,
also, may be seen some magnificent specimens of Double Red, Double
Striped, Lady Hume’s Blush, and many other choice sorts.

T.

APRIL.

101

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S NEW GARDENS.

For three days the members of the Horticultural Society — which
begins to be very much the same as saying the London public — have
been admitted to see the new gardens at South Kensington, and very
beautiful they have found them. These Gardens are included within
the quadrangle composed by the Kensington Road on the north — where
was originally Gore House, belonging to the Countess of Blessington —
the new Cromwell Road to the south — ^Prince Albert’s Road on the
west — and, at the east, Exhibition Road. The whole of the space
within this quadrilateral is not occupied by the Plorticultural Society —
a portion of land on the north being left unoccupied, with a frontage
towards the Kensington Road, while on the south, several hundred feet
in depth, and the entire width from east to west, with a section at the
south-west angle, is devoted to the International Exhibition of 1862.
To this the Gardens, with their waters, vast plats of level turfing and
innumerable flowers, will be a delightful and appropriate adjunct.
The whole space occupied by the Horticultural Society is about 1200
by 800 feet, the longest measurement being from north to south. In
the same direction, the gradient of the land, or its natural slope, is
about thirty feet incline, that being the difference between the levels o.f
the Cromwell and the Kensington Roads. This affords an ample fall
for the water, and, most conveniently, the introduction of a series of
slopes, turfed terraces, and grassy banks, which, with the shallow
flights of steps employed at intervals, will add greatly to the variety of
the aspect presented by the whole. The soil is a well-drained gravel.

We will introduce the reader as he may enter those Gardens on the
4th of June next, with, we hope. Her Majesty, for that is the day
which the Committee, accustomed to do great things in extraordinary
circumstances, have announced for the opening. The entrance is to the
south-east, from Exhibition Road, within 100 yards of the South
Kensington Museum. We pass through the narrow belt of exterior
garden, that is to be tastefully laid out for the benefit of the public in
general. The front of the entrance-building is as yet but a plain piece
of brick- work ; but it is to assume architectural proportions and
pretensions when the other works are completed. Between piers which
are closed by shutters, or may be made open by sinking them com¬
pletely out of sight, w’'e may go into the vestibule, an elegantly-designed
hall, lighted from the roof by a flat skylight, oblong in form, decorated
with pilasters and mirrors, and kept very simple in colour and pure in
design. Traversing this, we cross a corridor, and, by a flight of steps,
come upon the level of the garden itself at the centre walk of the ante-
garden, which occupies the entire width and about three hundred feet
of the length of the grounds : to the right and left are to be pedestals
with statues, a gravel path thirty feet wide in front, which is, some
day, we believe, to have in the centre a large octagonal tank filled with
water, wherein are to be placed various Nymphsese and water plants of
the like description ; a statue will probably stand in the middle of this,
upon a circular pedestal. Here the main central walk, which traverses
the grounds from north to south, ascending from one level to the other,

102

THE FLORIST.

is met with. Before going any further, we look round upon the
domain thus entered. Without much difficulty, as the works now
stand, we can conceive their completed state — the whole boundary of
the garden, north, south, east, and west, is inclosed by an arcade of
considerable height, judiciously varied in its design, so that on the south
and east ends runs a highly beautiful belt of columns, to be glazed in
the openings. To the north, much above our level as standing here, is
a bold colonnade of Ionic pillars, sweeping iCs curved ends inwards, so
as to inclose the head of the grounds. In the centre of this will arise a
conservatory nearly two hundred and fifty feet long. The colonnade
will be a covered way, or sheltered promenade, decorated with statues,
climbing plants, and, may be, wall-painting, so that the visitors may
take exercise under shelter. On the roof is to be a balustraded
balcony, snme twenty-four feet above the highest level of the grounds,
and, consequently, about fifty feet higher than our present post.
Hence will be gained a complete view of the grounds, with their gay
groups of promenaders and sparkling waters, within convenient hearing
of the bands which are to be stationed below, just within the returning
horns of the colonnade. This balcony, or upper promenade, is, we
believe, when there are sufficient funds, to be carried along the two
sides of the garden as well as on the north. Now turning to look at the
south arcade, there is visible what we consider the most beautiful, as it
is certainly the most novel, section of the architectural part of the
design. Between the piers, set apart about twenty feet, are openings,
in which are introduced round-headed arches, three in each division, of
a very elegant order. The arches spring from the heads of slender
shaftings, with spiral mouldings in relief running round them ; these
are doubled, have pretty bands of flowers midway in their height, upon
a flat belt, their capitals delicate and graceful to a high degree with
similar ornamentation. The lightness and graceful appearance of this
arcade, even in its present state, must strike and delight every
spectator ; but its agreeable disposition and true beauty will hardly be
developed until the roof which shall convert its interior face into a cor¬
ridor, and the glass which is to close it in, have been added. The
shaftings, caps and belts for the arcades are moulded in terra-cotta, of
several designs, so made that, by fitting one segment to another, great
diversity, the 'very essence of romantic art, is readily obtained. The
result of this experiment will be accepted as a hint by architects in
designing windows for modern buildings, such shaftings being durable
beyond conception, strong, capable of infinite adaptation, and cheaper, we
opine, than the brick-and-stucco mullions which intercept the light of a
window-opening vvithout adding to its beauty, They may be used
with square or round heads, can be made to fit for sashes or fixed
frames, with a discharging arch above, and the tympans, open with
glass or closed with brickwork at pleasure. These shaftings alone
would give a beautiful architectural character to the cheapest of
buildings; they might be glazed of any vitrifiable colour, when they
would endure for ever.

The extreme southern side of the grounds it is proposed to leave
for the present partly unoccupied, in case it be wanted for the Floral

APRIL.

103

Exhibitions : a part of it is, however, to be appropriated to Perns
and Rock plants. Belts of evergreen shrubs, trees, and statuary
are to be disposed around us here ; looking northwards on the left is a
maze of Holly and Hornbeam, about a quarter of an acre in extent ;
surrounded by trees may be an aviary for song birds, standing upon
turf and within a mass of shrubs. The compartment for American
plants is on our right, secluded by a belt of evergreens, and surrounded
by Grass alleys ; near the centre walk, and as a companion to the
aviary, may stand a pheasantry, 50 feet by 30 feet. Quitting the
station beside the basin for Nympheeoe, we advance beyond the limits
of the ante-garden, marked by a turfed slope to right and left, and
ascend by a shallow flight of steps to the garden proper, having before
us some splendid Deodars and other trees, which, when time matures
them, will be highly picturesque ; a circular basin on either hand is to
mark the intersection of the next wing pathway, going parallel to that
by which we entered, called the south cross-walk of the principal
garden. The view obtainable here is to be enhanced by a bridge,
which, ascended by steps, traverses the sides of the garden, marked
again by banks of turf and beds of flowers, — ramps giving access to
higher levels with ease, as well as diversifying the aspect of the whole,

• — producing light and shade and variety of colour. These turf ramps
are disposed in geometrical order over various parts of the garden, and
form boundaries for the different terraces.

A further progress along this centre walk will give us another station
for looking around, and place us in what may be styled the heart of
the garden, which, from its superior level, is preferable to that last
quitted. Here the path divides to right and left. Hence we get a
notion of the whole, and shall be near enough to examine one of the
marked features of the design ; this is, the employment of beds of
coloured earth, formed by use of pounded stones and other durable
substances, which, when Nature no longer furnishes flowers, will, as
well as may be, add colour to the landscape. Some of these beds have
their surfaces inclining inwards towards the centre of the garden, so as
to catch the spectator’s eye fully, and occupy more space to the sight.
To the north is a great rectangular basin, into which pours a cascade
18 feet wide and 11 feet high, from the base of a pedestal to be sur¬
mounted by a memorial sculpture of the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Immediately to the right and left are to be standard Portugal Laurels
on the verges, which latter are 15 inches above the surfaces of the
compartments and promenades. An alley of these evergreens will
stand on either side of the centre walk, flanked by low ramps, backed
over the Grass plats by masses of divers shrubs and taller trees. At
the east and west of our station are basins with jets of water, the back¬
ground to which will be flights of steps ascending to the terraces and
corridors. We will now go further on, and stand by the site of the
cascade above the principal basin. It will be remembered that the
great colonnade, with its horns curving inwards, has been in front of
us all this time ; in the centre will rise the glittering mass of the con¬
servatory, disposed to an appropriate architectural design, with its bal¬
cony on the roof, to be filled with gay crowds, the dark masses of the

104

THE FLORIST.

Deodars ever present. As we look from this new station, four canals,
supplied by cascades — whose course is traversed by the pathway in which
stand the basins with jets and the flights of steps whereby we reach the
level of the side terraces, are discernible, for we are now above them, and
look over ramps of earth supporting the paths that surround them and
the stairways giving access from one grade to another. Each of these
canals is about 180 feet long and 25 wide ; they are four in number,
two on each side, reaching from our present standing-point to the
pathway at whose intersection with the centre walk we stood with the
circular basins on either hand, — the south cross-walk of the principal
garden. One hundred and eighty feet from the pedestal of the sculp¬
ture which it is proposed to place above the great central cascade, is the
last flight of steps, which brings us to a level with the band platforms,
and only just below the conservatory ; we are now inclosed by the great
colonnade, whose horns advance with a grand sweep 250 feet, spanning
700 feet. From the lowest level of the steps just ascended goes to
either side a long ramp of turf, encircling half the band-houses and
platforms, so that large accommodation for auditors is provided. From
the highest level the path runs in front of the conservatory, sweeps
round the ramps last mentioned, and by a brief ascent brings us to the
colonnade itself, — standing under or upon the roof of which we can see
the whole domain, with its many levels, flights of steps, belts of trees,
evergreens and dwarf shrubs, its embroidered beds, canals of running
water and many-shaped basins, its jets, cascades, the multitudinous-
hued flowers, large spaces of Grass and ramps in long lines from side
to side, with their curving faces here and there as they stretch beneath
us ; the rich diversity of greens from the plats and shrubs, statues, band
houses, and dark Deodars, all inclosed with the diverse corridors to the
east, south, and west. Beyond the south side will be the Exhibition
building. With great judgment the employment of fountains has been
restricted to two simple and lofty streams, which under shelter of the
corridors and colonnades can play at all times and in all winds. Hence
it will be seen that the error of the Crystal Palace decorators has been
avoided. We have had occ^asion to speak of many flights of steps ; but
it will be seen that these are in easy gradients, from the fact that the
total ascent, thirty feet, is overcome by no less than seven shallow flights.

Such, we hope, will be nearly the state of the gardens on the 4th of
June ; but the long-continued wet and frost lead us to doubt if the
gardens can be quite finished by that day. — Athenceum.

CRASSANE D’HIVER (BRUNNEAU).

This is a late French Pear, which is worthy of further trial. I find
it to be a very handsome fruit, nearly round, yellow, slightly tinged
with red, when ripe, and keeps till April and May. In 1855 my
dwarf trees on Quince stocks bore abundantly, but the fruit did not
ripen so kindly as heretofore. I am inclined to recommend this high-
flavoured Pear to be planted against a south or south-east wall, and I
have no doubt that it would ripen well and prove a valuable late Pear.

T. R.

APRIL,

105

HINTS ON GARDENING.

Do not be in a hurry to pull up or even cut back such of your trees
and shrubs as may appear killed by the frost. During the spring of
1 838, numbers of good evergreens were needlessly destroyed by being
pulled up as apparently dead, whereas others of the same kind which
were left to take their chance ultimately recovered ; and I have now
very fine plants which, to all appearance, were dead in 1838 and are
so now, but which I am in hopes will break again vigorously after
midsummer, if not before. The vitality of some plants is truly
wonderful, the Thuja and Cypress tribes more especially, as well as
many others. My plan is to allow everything to stand as they are,
where there is any chance of a recovery, until it is seen whether they
will break again or not ; and I don’t even prune them before they
commence growing, for supposing the shoots are dead half way down,
as we may conclude the roots are uninjured, they will make a vigorous
start when they commence growing. Roses, where there is any doubt
about their state, should be left unpruned for two or three weeks yet ;
Magnolias and other plants, which have been protected, should have
this protection continued for some time, for if removed, the dry winds
of March may do the trees more injury in their present state than the
frost. It is a mistake to suppose the true Pines will not make a new
leader when the primary one dies. I have now growing a Pinus
insignis and P. ayacahuite, which were killed back by the frost (I think
in the spring of 1853 or 1854), all except the lower tier of branches,
which were uninjured. The strongest branch in each tree was selected
and tied up to the dead stem as nearly vertical as we could get it, and
as the whole flow of sap was thrown into these branches, they soon
changed their character, and after two years no difference could be
detected between them and a natural leader, except by examining the
stump ; both are now trees from 12 to 15 feet high, and, though
browned, have I think escaped this winter without serious injury.

We are likely to have an early vegetation this spring, for the sap of
plants is more easily excited by warmth after very severe weather than
when the temperature has been uniformly low, but not so intensely
cold as during the past winter. Those who have deciduous trees to
plant should therefore set about it at once, as those who have trees to
fell should cut them immediately for the same reason. *

So far as our observations extend, the escape from injury to plants
during the past season is in direct ratio to the dryness of the soil and
elevation, the exceptions being where the plants were exposed to the east
wind. In moist, although sheltered valleys, plants have suffered more
th.an when fully exposed on dry elevated ground, facts which planters
should bear in mind. The graceful Pampas Grass seems killed every¬
where, as does the Chusan Palm ; we regret this, as two more deco¬
rative out-door plants did not exist, but I fear the last winter has
given a blow to their future culture.

We hear of great things from Japan in the tree and plant way, and
are asked to give an opinion as to their hardiness : at all times a
difficult question with respect to new plants, but more so from an

106

THE FLORIST.

entirely new country like Japan. We know some to be hardy, others
again are not so, as this last season has demonstrated. As a general
rule, we may take it for granted that Japan plants, which grow at
a higher elevation than 1500 feet above the sea level will prove
hardy, and we can say of the others for ourselves, that we shall try
all we can get. G. F.

VISITS TO NURSERIES.— No. IV.

MESSRS. SPARY AND CAMPBELL, QUEEN’S GRAPERIES

AND NURSERY, BRIGHTON.

Having been in Brighton some time ago in the “hoighth of the
sayson,” I bethought me of paying a visit to the above establishment,
to see whether, amidst all the evil influences under which floriculture
must labour in that miniature edition of London, it were possible for
skill and enterprise to surmount them. We knew, of course, that we
were not to expect the freshness and trim neatness of Slough, or the
large and luxurious growth of Bagshot ; but had no doubt but that
something would be gained, and perhaps some information useful to
the public in general elicited. There are great difficulties in the way,
the biting east wind, the chalky soil, the quantity of dust, the descent
of blacks, the burning sun in summer, and sou’ westers and sea-fogs
at times, make a nurseryman’s time no sinecure. Then the season is
from October to February — the most unfavourable time in the year for
flowers — when there is, nevertheless, a constant demand for cut flowers
and plants for decorative purposes every day. However, there is a
wonderful adaptiveness in our Anglo-Saxon nature. We find it very
hard at first, with our angularities, to fit into a round hole, but, after a
trial or two, we settle down ; so here, Messrs. Spary and Campbell
have found out the way to satisfy the demands of a craving public with
profit to themselves.

As the name implies, their establishment is well known for its Grapes,
which are grown in twelve large Vineries (mostly heated with flues),
and supply that delicious fruit nearly all the year round, the cutting
commencing in March and the main crop being gathered from August
to January. These Vineries are used in the autumn for housing the
greenhouse plants, which are required more particularly for sale in the
spring and summer. At the same season, the plant houses are occupied
with plants approaching a flowering state, in order to meet the demand
during “the season,” both for drawing-room plants and for cut flowers;
and as these are sold out, their place is supplied by others from the
Vineries, and thus the plant houses are always full ; and at the time of
year when in most nurseries stock is going to sleep for the winter, in
this nursery they are all growing fast and rapidly advancing for bloom.
Necessity is said to be the mother of invention — she is certainly the
mother of discovery — and hence Messrs. S. & C. have found out what
suits them best for the bouquet part of their business ; seme plants of
single Primulas were grown to a monster size, and they had furnished
immense quantities of bloom for this purpose. Various sorts of
flowering Begonias also come in, and the very pretty Heterocentrum

APRIL.

107

roseum is extensively used for the same purpose. Very dwarf plants
of the gorgeous Poinsettia pulcherrima are grown in quantity, and
make a great display during November and December, and at the
same time Linum trigynum, with its rich golden flowers, similar in size
and shape to a Convolvulus ; this is rarely seen in a satisfactory
condition, it being so subject to red spider, and certainly is not usually
grown in numbers to sell as a flowering plant, and would not be here if
it could not be made to bloom at the dullest time of the year, and with
healthy clean foliage too. There is also a dwarf growing variety of
scarlet Geranium, which they have found out to be an incessant
winter- flowering one; it is called Queen. All the winter months it is
continually sending up bloom, and hence large quantities of it are
grown ; Christina also produces its rosy pink flowers all the winter.
I found also that they have a kind of yellow Calceolaria which is
admirably adapted for the hot soil and glaring sun of Brighton ; this
they call Brighton Yellow, is very free flowering and easily propagated.
This may be interesting to those who have found their Calceolarias
going off in large numbers during the hot weather. From what I have
said it will be easily gathered that the greater portion of the stock is
sold in a flowering state ; and as they are carefully looked after and
well grown, the Geraniums are not crammed full of sticks, but short
and stubby, and deserve a better fate than that which they too often
meet with — to be at first praised and petted, and then drawn and
excited by a dry atmosphere and crowded rooms, to pine away and die.

But Messrs. Spary and Campbell are also raisers of seedlings. I
find in Mr. Turner’s catalogue a Petunia called Peerless, described as
a rich glossy crimson — an improvement on Phaeton — with dwarf habit,
an excellent self variety ; this was raised by them, and there is also
another of their’s, which is to be let out by Messrs. E. G. Henderson
& Son, a fine bold dark one, called British Lion. They will also send
out shortly a seedling early forcing Geranium — a cross between album
multiflorum and Gauntlet — of a bright lively salmon pink colour, called
Valentine, and it promises to be a useful acquisition. They have also
a seedling show Pelargonium, with variegated foliage ; the plant at
present is small, but if the marking continues permanent, it will be the
first instance of variegation occurring in that tribe of our popular
favourites. Although my visit was paid at a time of the year when
nearly everything in flower was sold out, and when consequently the
houses were at their worst, yet I felt that one gained an insight into
the manner in which we may adapt ourselves to circumstances; and as I
pursue gardening under difficulties myself, am always glad when I
see anyone successfully surmounting the difficulties which to

contend with. I quite forgot to mention that Mr. Spary has patented
a new fumigator, which promises to be useful where Vines are culti¬
vated, it appearing to be excellently suited for the use of sulphur, &c,
The energy which has enabled the proprietors to surmount their private
difficulties has also been made available in a more public capacity, and
the success of the Brighton Horticultural exhibitions — one of the most
prosperous of the large provincial shows — is mainly owing to their
indefatigable perseverance.

Dealt March 21.

D.

108

THE FLORIST.

GIGANTIC CACTI.

This day — says M. Mollhausen, in his “ Diary of a Journey from the
Mississippi to the Coasts of the Pacific ” — we saw, for the first time,
the giant Cactus (Cereus giganteus), specimens of which stood at first
rather widely apart, like straight pillars ranged along the sides of the
valley, hut afterwards, more closely together, and in a different form —
namely, that of gigantic candelabras of six-and-thirty feet high, which
had taken root among stones and in clefts of the rocks, and rose in
solitary state at various points.

This Cereus giganteus, the queen of the Cactus tribe, is known in
California and New Mexico under the name of Petahaya. The
missionaries who visited the country between the Colorado and the
Gila, more than a hundred years ago, speak of the fruit of the Petahaya,
and of the natives of the country using it for food ; and they also
mention a remarkable tree that had branches, but no leaves, though it
reached the height of sixty feet, and was of considerable girth. We
touched, on our journey, the northern limit of this peculiar kind of
Cactus, which from there extends far to the south across the Gila, and
is also frequently found in the State of Sonora, and in Southern
California. The wildest and most inhospitable regions appear to be
the peculiar home of this plant, and its fleshy shoots will strike root,
and grow to a surprising size, in chasms and heaps of stones, where
the closest examination can scarcely discover a particle of vegetable
soil. Its form is various, and mostly dependent on its age ; the first
shape it assumes is that of an immense club standing upright in the
ground,'^ and of double the circumference of the lower part at the top.
This form is very striking while the plant is still only from two to six
feet high, but as it grows taller, the thickness becomes more equal,
and when it attains the height of twenty-five feet, it looks like a
regular pillar ; after this it begins to throw out its branches. These
come out at first in a globular shape, but turn upward as they elon¬
gate, and then grow parallel to the trunk, and at a certain distance
from it, so that a Cereus with many branches looks exactly like an
immense candelabra, especially as the branches are mostly sym¬
metrically arranged round the trunk, of which the diameter is not
usually more than a foot and a half, or in some rare instances a foot
more. They vary much in height ; the highest we saw at Bill
Williams’ Fork measured from thirty-six to forty feet ; but south of
the Gila they are said to reach sixty ; and when you see them rising
from the extreme point of a rock, where a surface of a few inches square
forms their sole support, you cannot help wondering that the first storm
does not tear them from their airy elevation.

Inside the fleshy column, however, it is provided with a circle of
ribs, each from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter, reaching to
the summit, and of as close and firm a texture as the wood of the
Cactus usually is ; and these enable it to defy the storm. When the
plant dies, the flesh falls off from the woody fibres, and leaves the
skeleton of the giant standing sometimes for years, before it too becomes
the prey of corruption. The trunk of the Cereus, as well as its

APRIL.

109

branches, is notched from the root to the tip, at regular distances, and
the structure of the outer surface gives it a certain resemblance to an
organ. The edges are closely set vsrith tufts of grey prickles, at equal
distances between which gleams out the bright green colour of the
plant itself; in May or June, the tops of both branches and trunk are
adorned with large white blossoms, which are replaced by pleasantly
tasting fruit in July and August. When dried, this fruit strongly
resembles a fig, and is a favourite kind of food with the Indians, who
also prepare a syrup from it by boiling it in earthen vessels.

If the smaller specimens of the Cereus giganteus that we had seen
in the morning, excited our astonishment, the feeling was greatly
augmented, when, on our further journey, we beheld this stately plant
in all its magnificence. The absence of every other vegetation enabled
us to distinguish these Cacti columns from a great distance, as they
stood symmetrically arranged on the heights and declivities of the
mountains, to which they imparted a most peculiar aspect, though
certainly not a beautiful one. Wonderful as each plant is, when
regarded singly, as a grand specimen of vegetable life, these solemn,
silent forms, which stand motionless even in a hurricane, give a some¬
what dreary character to the landscape. Some look like petrified
giants, stretching out their arms in speechless pain, and others stand
like lonely sentinels, keeping their dreary watch on the edge of preci¬
pices, and gazing into the abyss, or over into the pleasant valley of the
Bill Williams’ Fork, at the flocks of birds that do not venture to rest
on the thorny arms of the Petahaya ; though the wasp, and the gaily
variegated woodpecker, may be seen taking up their abode in the old
wounds and scars of sickly or damaged specimens of this singular plant.
The hedges of Organ Cactus are a feature in the landscape of Mexican
plains, and we first saw them in perfection on the road between Mexico
and Pachuca. This plant, the Cereus hexagonus, grows in Italy in the
open air, but seems not to be turned to account anywhere except in
Mexico for the purpose to which it is particularly suited. In its wild
state it grows like a candelabrum, with a thick trunk a few feet high,
from the top of which it sends out shoots, which, as soon as they have
room, rise straight upwards in fluted pillars 15 or 20 feet in height.
Such a plant, with pillars rising side by side and almost touching one
another, has a curious resemblance to an organ with its pipes, and
thence its name “ organo.”

To make a fence, they break off the straight lateral shoots, of the
height required, and plant them closely side by side, in a trench,
sufficiently deep to ensure their standing firmly ; and it is a curious
sight to see a labourer bearing on his shoulder one of these vegetable
pillars, as high as himself, and carefully guarding himself against its
spines. A hedge perfectly impassable is obtained at once ; the Cactus
rooting so readily that it is rare to see a gap where one has died. The
villagers surround their gardens with these fences of Cactus, which
often line the road for miles togetlier. Foreigners used to point out
such villages to us, and remark that they seemed “ well organised,” a
small joke which unfortunately bears translation into all European
languages, and was inflicted without mercy upon us as new comers.

110

THE FLORIST.

RADIATION.

Radiation is one of the greatest enemies of vegetation ; it takes place
with great effect in March, April, and May, when the days are hot
and the nights cloudless and cold. The heat taken in by the plant by
day radiates or goes forth by night, when the temperature is often only
4P or 5*^ above freezing point. Thus the plant loses the day heat,
amounting to some degrees, when the night is clear, owing to the
absence of clouds, which are not only the anti-radiators of the world,
but are also radiators of heat towards the earth. The greatest radiation,
therefore, takes place when the sky is clear and the wind is N. or
N.E. Hence the moon, which is an opaque body, having no atmo¬
sphere of its own, gets the discredit of ruining vegetation, whereas it
is perfectly harmless ; it has no atmosphere of its own, neither does
it exercise any influence on our atmosphere, nor cause changes in
the weather. The weather is as variable at other times as at the
quarterings of the moon — the difference being simply this, that at the
quarterings we observe changes of the weather, and at other times we
observe them not. At the spring of the year, when the moon is full
and the sky is clear, radiation, after a hot day, takes place, more or less
frost ensues, and the moon gets the blame. It is not, therefore, the moon
in April that destroys vegetation, but frost that follows excessive
radiation, when the sky is cloudless and the air is keen. Certain it is
that many tender plants and flowers need protection both in winter and
spring, to prevent their giving off the heat received during the day,
hence a south wall is a more dangerous place in winter and spring than
a north wall ; the plants under the latter lie in a state of death-like
abeyance till the dangers are past. Fruit blossoms under a north wall
often escape without protection, when the unprotected, under a south
wall, are destroyed. The espalier Apple blossoms in my garden often
suffer from their early appearance, when the high standards in the
orchard close by escape, because they have little day heat to give out
when the night comes on ; in a word, they come out when the danger
is over, or, being fully exposed, take in less heat by day. This leads
me to return to an old topic, the necessity of covering our south fruit
walls in spring, especially our Peach blossoms.

There are of course many ways of covering or mther pretending to
cover our wall trees ; some of the coverings used (rabbit nets !) might
as well be discarded. The three most successful that I have ever seen
are the following : First. — Wheat straws hung by the neck close to
each other, and fixed by driving nails through a long stick against the
wall ; this I saw succeed last year at the lower end of my parish ; it
is, however, fair to say that it was a favourable year for trial. Secondly,
glass cases which are so abused that I fancy the trees, if they could
speak, would say, “ I would rather be without you.” The cases should
be totally removed after the crop is safe, otherwise the wood is drawn,
weak, and soft, and people are tempted to overcrop the trees, a fault
that I fear attaches to me ; however, in common life, we do not argue
against the use of a thing from its abuse. Thirdly, sheets which are
more like clouds than other coverings are : this is my “ cloud.” They

APRIL.

Ill

are put on, as described before in the Floris^, at four o’clock in the
afternoon, and are taken off at ten o’clock in the morning (unless the
day is wet, very windy, or sleety), thus allowing the walls to cool
gradually and heat gradually, quick transition being most baleful.
This is my mode of covering, and very successful has it been for some
years. As regards Peaches, in 1858, we brought to table or gave away
1024, off three trees in a foggy valley close to the rivulet ; in 1859 we
took 197, in 1860 we landed 755 ; thus taking in three years off three
trees 1976 Peaches.

The benefits of a sheet are at least threefold ; it keeps the blossoms
dry, prevents in some measure radiation, and also saves the foliage
from curl. The foliage here is always as good as the crop. Now, go
into the gardens of England, and I believe I may say into many
glassed houses, and you will see that the foliage of Peach and Nectarine
trees is a disgrace to science. This will lead me to say one word about
curl. What is it? I believe it to be occasioned by some insect that
inserts, by its forceps, an egg between the first and second cuticle of the
leaf. In due time it is hatched and crawls betw^een the cuticles,
disorganising the functions of the leaf, till it (the leaf), being resinously
bloated, falls off. The sheet certainly stops its development and glass
does not, neither do the Wheat straws prevent it. The only appreciable
curl that I ever see here is just where the sheets do not meet, and also
between the sheets and the tiles. I cannot account for this, and
probably I may be wrong altogether about the theory of curl.
Curl seems to be most developed during hot days and easterly winds,
but as I often, during such weather, keep on the sheets all day, to
prevent the walls from being overheated, previous to certain morning
frosts, it may be that the sheets prevent the hatching of the egg till the
cuticles are too hard for the insect to travel between them, or it may
be that the sheets prevent the hatching altogether. Mr. Worthington,
Mr. Hilyar, Mr. Leach (Lord Portman’s gardener) saw the fruit and
the leaves, and greatly admired the latter as well as the former.
Indeed, the greatest and best foliage here last summer were the Peach
leaves.

I should feel much obliged to any of the readers of the Florist who
would kindly correct me if I am wrong about the origin of curl. The
sheets last year were put on the 7th of March, and finally removed
the 7th of May. I want to know what chance the Peach blossoms
would have had, during two months of such weather as your readers
will not easily forget, without the solid protection of the sheets. The
following was the disfruiting of the three trees — May 17, 6488 ;
June 11, 663 ; and some time in July, at the recommendation of Mr.
Leach, I took off 538 more, leaving on 755. He said that the crop
would otherwise be too much for the trees ; there is, however, plenty
of wood, though I fear the wood here and everywhere else will be found
to be inferior to preceding years. I depend chiefly on fan fashion, but
also grow the fruit on little spurs, which after cropping are removed.

Rushton. W. F. Radclyfee.

March 22. — The trees are now in bloom, and the blooms are suffi¬
cient all over the trees, but they are not so thick as last year.

W. F. R.

112

THE FLORIST.

ORNAMENTAL B^TLBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS.

Crocus. — Messrs. E. G. Henderson state that this favourite genus
yields to none in its season for effect and special adaptation to flower-
garden decoration. Its habit of growth renders it suitable to positions where
it may be allowed to grow undisturbed without being removed to make
way for plants of later bloom ; and its small size will allow of its being
placed in close contiguity with the extreme outer margin of flower-beds
or borders. Hence the suitability of the Crocus for forming ribbon-like
lines or belts. It may also, like other bulbs, be planted in larger inner
groups or masses, which can be removed before the summer bedding
stock is planted. Besides this, it may be grown in pots to any extent
in the form of portable specimens for conservatory and greenhouse
decoration. For pot- culture the corms should be planted in successive
batches, from six to ten or twelve being placed in each pot or vase,
and using ordinary rich soil to a full inch in depth above the crowns ;
the pots are to be placed along with those of the potted Hyacinths, for
the purpose of encouraging preparatory root-growth before their
exposure fcr bloom. The Crocus differs, however, materially from the
Hyacinth in its after treatment, inasmuch that after the formation of
root- growth, the latter are benefited by a genial surface or bottom-heat
to mature the bloom, whilst the Crocus, Snowdrop, Aconite, and Dog’s-
tooth Violet only require the aid of a cold frame or pit, with due
ventilation in mild weather, which preparation admits of their removal
to the conservatory or drawing-room flower-basket. For extensive
border decoration in large gardens, and where large quantities are
required, the various colours, yellow, white, blue, violet, variegated, and
Scotch are selected as the most appropriate. All the varieties under
the above colours are well adapted for early forcing in pots ; and
amongst the large extra-fine hybrid varieties especially suited for this
latter purpose, are those named Aletta Wilhelmine, Dorville, La
Majestueuse, Lilaceus superbus, Mont Blanc, Pluto, Pride of Albion,
Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria, and Sir Walter Scott. Of the
distinct species and rarer kinds, C. medius, C. nudiflorus, C. odorus,
C. pulchellus, C. serotinus, C. speciosus, and C. sativus are the best
and most desirable autumn-flowering kinds ; and amongst the earliest
spring-blooming species, C. biflorus, C. imperatorius, C. nivalis, and
C. multipetalus are select and desirable.

Cyclamen. — The species and varieties of this genus are very pretty
half-hardy and greenhouse tuberous plants, blooming through the
winter and spring months. The species may be separated into two
sections, pertaining respectively to C, persicum and to C. coum. The
former are somewhat less hardy than the latter, and therefore better
adapted for the greenhouse and conservatory; the latter are manageable
through the winter with protection from frost by the aid of a good
cradle-bed or pit. After the early spring-bloom the leaf-growth is
encouraged for a few weeks longer, and then they are allowed to cease
from growth, and are placed upon a dry border until late summer and
autumn, and then during the latter period they are repotted or
resurfaced as may be required. One half good loam, and the remaining

APRIL.

113

half equal portions of sandy peat and well decomposed leaf-mould, form
a compost suitable for their growth. When potted they are protected
in frames or pits until severe weather comes on, when those of the
persicum section require to be housed for the winter, and those of the
coum section to be plunged in ashes or dry tan within the cradle-bed or
frame. The Persian varieties are adapted for blooming throughout the
early winter months by being repotted at an earlier period, and after the
root-growth is formed in autumn, the varieties in either section may be
stimulated to bloom successively by the gentle heat of a greenhouse or
early forcing-pit. Amongst the most desirable varieties for early and
successive bloom are C. persicum and its varieties album, rubrum, and
roseum ; and C. africanum. Of the coum section, the most elegant
are C. Atkinsi,v C. Atkinsi roseum, C. ibericum, C. ibericum album,
C. coum, C. coum carneum, and C. vernum. The hardy autumn¬
flowering kinds are C. neapolitanum and neapolitanum album, whilst
C. europseum is also a late summer-blooming species with richly
fragrant blossoms.

ON LIME AS A SOIL IMPROVER.

Old gardens are frequently unproductive through being manured year
after year with the same kind of manure and growing the same crops.
In such cases, the vegetables are rank in growth and ill flavoured.
Potatoes and other roots watery and liable to disease, and Peas and
Beans unproductive, and Cauliflowers and Cabbages subject to club
disease. When such is the case, use no manure for a couple of years.
The first spare ground you get trench it two spits deep, if the ground
will allow of it, and thoroughly mix with the earth, as you turn it over,
a good dressing of fresh slaked lime, the fresher the better. My plan
is, when the top spit is thrown to the bottom of the trench, to throw
over the hot lime and to fork it in, and to repeat the dose of lime over
the lower spit thrown to the surface. Employed in this way, lime acts
as a complete renovator of old and over-manured soils, as the produce
afterwards will show. The second year I repeat the lime dressing
fabout half the quantity of the first year), forking it in instead of
digging the ground, as % that means the lime becomes more com¬
pletely mixed with the soil. I add also to the lime a surfacing of road
scrapings if the ground is heavy or inclined to be so. By these
means, giving up manure for two years, I have succeeded in bringing
an old garden soil, which would positively grow nothing well, into a
first-class soil, producing good crops and of the best quality.

R. M.

GOMPHOLOBIUM POLYMORPHUM GRANDIFLORUM.
Although this is one of the most beautiful of greenhouse climbers,
and a plant which, when properly managed, remains in beauty longer
than most things, and is equally valuable for exhibition or decorative
purposes, yet it is, rarely seen in anything like perfection. The

VOL. XV., NO. CLX. I

114

THE FLOKIST.

first time I saw a well-done plant of it was at the Horticultural
Society’s exhibition at Chiswick in May, 1847 ; this was exhibited by
the late Mr. Hunt, then gardener to Miss Traill, and was trained
upon a half-round wire trellis, 4 feet in diameter, which was clothed
from top to bottom with delicate foliage and bright red pea- shaped
flowers, together with multitudes of buds in all stages of forwardness ;
it was awarded (and justly) an extra first prize or gold medal.
I, as well as other plant growers who saw it, admired it greatly,
and considered it well deserving the high award it received ; but
I thought that if it could be trained upon slender stakes in the
bush form, it would look more natural, have a more graceful appear¬
ance, and correspond better with the other plants when staged among
them in a collection ; for much as I admired the plant shown by
Mr. Hunt, I could not help thinking that, trained as it was, it had
an appearance of stiffness and formality which greatly detracted from
its beauty. When I went to Ealing Park, as plant grower, I had an
opportunity of trying what could be done in growing a specimen of this
without the assistance of a wire trellis, and succeeded to my own satis¬
faction ; and as the plant which .1 exhibited, trained upon slender
green stakes in the bush form, was the first which had been seen
grown in that way, it was admired by plant growers generally, and
noticed by the reporters of the various exhibitions at which it was
shown that season.

Persons intending to commence the culture of this Gompholobiiim
should procure young plants as soon as possible, choosing those that
are clean, strong, and healthy looking, and which appear to be weU
rooted and firm about the collar. In choosing young plants to be grown
into specimens, it will be found to repay the trouble to see that they
have their stems or collar strong in proportion to the size and strength
of the rest of the plant, which is often delicate ; and if plants wnich are
not perfectly sound in the stem are selected, their progress will never
be satisfactory, and the chances are they will not live to attain any
useful size. Directly the young plants are received, they should be
repotted and placed in an intermediate house where a nice moist
temperature of about 55^ is maintained. In potting young stock for
starting, I prefer giving a liberal shift, say from a 3-inch pot to an
8-inch one, which allows more space for placing the stakes for training
shoots upon. A few slender green stakes, according to the size of the
plant, should be placed in the soil at once, and the shoots trained round
them, taking care to cover the bottom with the likeliest shoots for
breaking strongly. In potting now, and on all future occasions, care
must be exercised to have the ball of the plant in a healthy state
as to moisture and also the new soil ; great care must also be used in
watering, especially until the roots can strike into the fresh soil ; and
the atmosphere should be kept rather closer and moister at this time,
so as to avoid as much as possible the necessity of frequent waterings,
and encourage active growth. Keep the plants near the glass, and as
soon as the sun becomes powerful, a thin shade must be used, for this
variety is impatient of exposure to bright sunshine, and anything
approaching free vigorous growth need not be expected, unless it is

APRIL. 115

shaded ; and although air should be admitted whenever this can be
done without cooling the temperature below 55° or 60°, yet this
should be done very cautiously at all seasons, and especially during
the prevalence of drying winds, so as to avoid draughts — for a current
of cold drying air always to play upon a plant for a few hours
when in free growth would sadly check its progress or probably ruin it.
Hence, while air should be admitted freely on every favourable oppor¬
tunity, this must be done so as to avoid draughts or cause cold currents
to pass through the plants ; during bright warm weather, however,
sufficient ventilation must be given to prevent weakly growth, and the
plants should be moistened overhead two or three times a day, and the
atmosphere kept damp by frequently sprinkling the passages, &c.

If the plants do well the first season, they will form nice little
bushes, and will fill their pots with roots ; but they must have frequent
attention in the way of training their shoots, for if these are allowed to
twine upon each other, neither the wood nor the foliage will be properly
developed; and although training may prove a rather tedious part of
the attention required to grow this plant properly, it must be attended
to, and this is a formidable job enough ; but when the young growths
are not allowed to become entangled, it will not occupy much time if
done, as it should be, at short intervals, adding extra stakes as may
be required. I generally remove my young plants to the hardening
greenhouse in August, placing them where they will not be exposed
to through draughts of dry air, and by gradually reducing the moisture
in the atmosphere, &c., the wood will ge^sufficiently ripened to stand the
winter, and the plants will continue growing slowly until November,
when they may be safely wintered in an ordinary greenhouse, but they
must not be exposed to cold frosty winds, and drip should not be
allowed to fall upon them; and as the plants, too, during the winter,
will be in a comparatively inactive state, they must be carefully watered
at the root, keeping them rather on the side of dryness than otherwise,
but when water is applied enough should be given to moisten the whole
of the ball.

The treatment during the second season should be similar to what
has been recommended for the first, repotting early in March,
giving a rather liberal shift, restaking and training, placing them in
an intermediate house, and attending to them throughout the season
as recommended above ; if very large specimens are desired, a third
season’s growth will probably be necessary to produce them. When
the plants have reached the desired size, if they are wanted for
purposes of exhibition, it will be necessary to use means to secure
having them in the greatest possible beauty at the proper time ; to be
successful, you must not only be able to grow handsome specimens, but
also to have them in full beauty on a given day. As a rule, I leave
specimens of those which I intend for exhibition in the greenhouse until
April, and then remove them to the intermediate house, earlier or later
in the month, according to the state of the plants and the time when they
may be required. But as to the time at which a plant can be brought
into beauty, this can be easily learned by careful observation for a season
or two — and by that means only — for a healthy plant, with its pot well

116

THE FLORIST.

filled with active roots, will be in full bloom before another with
imperfectly ripened wood, and not over healthy or active roots, will
show any symptoms of having felt the excitement, which, if it had been
in perfect health, would have been sufficient to have induced it to put
on its best appearance. For plants in a sound healthy state, with well
ripened wood, from a fortnight to a month in the intermediate house
will be sufficient to bring them into full beauty ; but others, with
imperfectly matured roots, may require longer. I can, however, only
say that there can be no mistake in having the plants early enough,
for a vigorous plant of this Gompholobium will be in full beauty for a
month at a time at least.

The soil which I find to be most suitable is the light fibrous kind of
peat found in Kent ; this, broken up moderately fine, and cleared from
excess of fibre and strong decayed roots, and mixed with about one-
fourth its bulk of Reigate sand, is the compost I use. In potting, care
should be exercised to have the soil in a proper state as to dampness.
I use soil just moist enough to bear compressing in the hand without
sticking together or readily falling in pieces ; and in potting, the fresh
soil should be pressed about the ball, so as to make it as nearly as
possible in the same state as to water as the ball of the plant.

There are two other twining varieties of Gompholobium well
deserving of a place in every collection, viz., G. splendens, which, when
grown in the form of a bush, and clothed with its clear bright yellow
blossoms, is one of the most charming plants I know of, and G. versi¬
color, the blossoms of which ar^ of a buff colour, large, and remarkably
striking. This variety is somewhat difficult to procure, but it is well
worth any trouble that may be necessary to obtain it true.

Hawkesyard Park, Rugeley^ Staffordshire. Wm. May.

HOT WALLS FOR FRUIT TREES.

Before glass coverings to walls or orchard houses were thought of,
hot walls were very generally employed to facilitate the ripening of the
wood in the autumn, and protect the blooms from frost and wet windy
weather, which appear to act more injuriously on the constitutions of the
Peach and Nectarine than even frost, as the results of late seasons have
taught us. Hot walls are simply ordinary walls built with a flue or flues
making three or four returns in the middle of the wall before the smoke
escapes at the top. One flue will heat about 30 or 35 feet of a wall
12 or 14 feet high. Fires are lighted only when the bloom is about
opening, and continued till the fruit is securely set, and even up to the
middle of May, when cold or wet weather intervened, which affords
great protection to the trees, by being in close contact with dry warm
material ; for when once the walls had become slightly heated,
the trees would resist frosts when not too severe without further
protection. Indeed, we well remember, when we had charge of a
large extent of hot walls, that a single net in front was ample
when once the wall had become warm, to keep the bloom safe from

APRIL.

117

external influences and ensure a crop of fruit. But as the success
of the Peach crop depends mainly on the well ripened state of
the preceding season’s wood, hot walls offer great advantages in this
respect — advantages even superior to orchard houses or glass walls ;
for, by warming the walls during the latter part of September and
October, the wood of the Peach growing against them becomes ripened
and changes to a dark brown colour more quickly than does the Peach
wood in orchard houses ; and if means could be secured to keep the
roots tolerably dry at that season, I believe nearly all the difficulties
attending the culture of the Peach in the open air would be removed.
In the northern and midland counties, flued walls are tolerably
common, and much appreciated ; and the experience of the last season
confirms their value, of which I noticed a case the other day. A friend
of mine has two south-east walls, against both of which Peaches are
planted: one of the divisions is flued, and is regularly heated in
unfavourable seasons, and of course was so during the spring and
autumn of 1860 — the result was a good crop of fruit borne by healthy
trees. The other division had the protection of a woollen net, and
although a good crop of fruit set they afterwards fell off, and the
trees have fully one-half of the wood dead, and that remaining is'"
greatly affected with canker ; while the others are sound and healthy,
and showing an abundance of bloom already. My friend tells me he
always fires his wall in October, and continues the fires until the leaves
on the trees change colour, and that he has never missed having a crop
of fruit since the trees were planted ; but, on the other hand, he has
rarely averaged a crop on alternate seasons on the wall not heated, and
is now going to take up his Peach trees and plant Apricots in their
place.

When we consider that it incurs little more additional (or a very trifling
one, indeed) expense to build walls with hollow flues, than solid ; and
that the chances of securing regular crops of fruit and healthy trees are
made almost a matter of certainty at a trifling expense of fuel, during
at most two months in the year, it seems to me quite worth while, when
walls are being newly built, that flues should be made in them — for,
independently of firing them, the walls would be drier and warmer
built hollow ; and supposing fires not always required, it would be a
great thing to have the means of saving your fruit and trees, even during
such seasons as the past, if you could do so by merely expending a few
hundred weights of fuel. In the western and southern counties flued
walls appear all that is really necessary for growing the Peach tribe,
and I prefer them to orchard houses.

R. S.

FLUKE POTATOES.

Hearing a great deal about the good quality of these, and their general
freedom from disease, I was induced to make a trial of some. The
first year, however, I only purchased a very small quantity. They
were treated in every respect like other sets, but they were so long in

118

THE FLORIST.

making their appearance above ground that I almost feared they would
not come up at all, and many of them really did not grow. Those that
did push gave a very fair yield, but nothing extraordinary ; their
quality was, however, very good.

On finding this to be the case, nearly all were set aside to plant
another year. They kept capitally, and with a quantity which I
purchased were planted last spring, in the usual manner, with the
exception of a little more manure ; and, as in the preceding year, they
came up badly, but greatly improved during the summer, and gave fair
promise of a good crop ; and on taking them up I was by no means dis¬
appointed, for both as regards number, size, and quality they were
admirable. Everybody who has seen them speaks highly of them, and
I think their growth would be much extended if people in out-of-the-
way places like myself were aware of their good qualities. For the
cause of so many of them failing to grow I was at a loss to account, till
some of my friends kindly pointed out to me the fact that they ought
not to be cut ; they also require to be well dressed.

During the two years they have been grown here they have been
remarkably free from disease, there not being more than half a gallon
affected to a bushel of sound ones. S.

THE LATE SEVERE WINTER.

The following is a select list of Conferee^ Evergreen Shrubs, &c., that
have proved hardy in most situations during the last unusually
cold winter.

CONIFERJE.

Abies canadensis (Hemlock Spruce)

,, Douglasi
„ orientalis
Arbor Vitae (sorts)

Biota Meldensis
Cupressus Lawsoniana
Cephalotaxus Fortuni
Cedrus Deodara
,, Atlantica
Cedar of Lebanon
Juniper us chinensis
,, depressa

,, ericoides

„ excelsa

„ glauca

,, virginiana (Red Cedar)

Picea amabilis
„ ceplialonica

EVERGREEN

Auenba japonica
Berberis Aquifoliuni
„ japonica
Box (sorts)

Broom

Cotoneaster microphylla
Holly (sorts)

Picea grandis
,, ' nobilis
,, Nordmanniana
,, pinsapo
Pinus austriaca
,, Benthamiana
„ cembra
,, excelsa
,, Hamiltoni
,, Lambertiana
„ Laricio
,, monticola
,, Sabiniana
Thuja (sorts)
Thujopsis borealis
Wellingtonia gigantea
Yew (sorts)

SHRUBS, &c.

Kalmia latifolia
Laurels
,, Portugal
Ligustrum japonicum
Rhododendron (sorts)
Skimmia japonica

APRIL.

119

A FEW VARIETIES OF POPULAR FLOWERS,

That may he depended on for all classes of growers^ and that are
also i0ell contrasted as regards colours.

Admiration

Chelsoni

Crispiflora

Criterion

Distinction

Etoile de Gaud

Extrani

Gem

Gledstanesi

Glory of Sunning Hill

AZALEAS.

Iveryana

Miltoni

Model

Perfection

Perryana

Sir Charles Napier
Standard of Perfection
Sir H. Havelock (Frost)
j Stanleyana

Variegata

FANCY PELARGONIUMS.

Arabella Goddard (Turner)
Amy Sedgwick (Turner)
Acme (Turner)

Beauty (Turner)

Bridesmaid (Turner)

Circle (Turner)

Clara Novello (Henderson)
Cloth of Silver (Henderson)
King of Roses (Turner)

Lady Craven (Turner)

' Master Harry (Turner)

Musjid (Turner)

Madame Rougiere (Turner)
Marchioness of Tweedale (Turner)
Modestum (Turner)

Omega (Turner)

Sarah Turner (Turner)

The Champion (Turner)

SPOTTED PELARGONIUMS.

Bertie (Hoyle)

Beadsman (Turner)
Bracelet (Turner)

King of Purples (Turner)
King of Spots (Turner)
Mammoth (Turner)

Mazeppa (Turner)
Osiris (Turner)
Picnic (Turner)
Peacock (Turner)
Sweep (Turner)
Sanspareil (Hoyle)

ORDINARY PELARGONIUMS.

I

Ariel (Fellowes)

Angelina (Hoyle)

- Autocrat (Foster)

Bacchus (Foster)
Bridesmaid (Beck) ,

Czar (Hoyle)

Desdemona (Fellowes)
Empress Eugenie (Story)
Etna (Turner)

Eastern Beauty (Hoyle)
Fairest of the Fair (Beck)
Festus (Hoyle)

Garibaldi (Foster)
Governor-General
.James Lodge (Hoyle)
Jessica (Hoyle)

Lady Canning (Hoyle)
Leviathan (Hoyle)

Lord Raglan (Hoyle)

Lord Clyde (Foster)

Mrs. Benyon (Hoyle)
Monarch (Hoyle)

Mulberry (Beck)

Norma (Hall)

Perdita (Foster)

Prince of Wales (Hoyle)
Rosa Bonheur (Hoyle)
Roseum (Turner)

Rose Celestial (Turner)

Sir Colin Campbell (Hoyle)
Symmetry (Foster)

The Belle (Turner)

The Gem of Roses (Beck)
The Lady of Quality (Beck)
Transcendent (Beck)
Volunteer (Hoyle)

120

THE FLORIST.

ACCLIMATISATION.

Acclimatisation, or the art of acclimatisiDg plants and animals in
countries to which they are exotic, is one of the most interesting
branches of natural history. So far as plants are concerned, the past
winter has taught us some useful lessons, both as to the great differences
in hardiness which exist, in plants of the same species, and also as to
the effect which cultivation . produces generally on the constitution of
plants.

Upon viewing the comparative peculiarities observable in different
races of animals and plants, we are led to the conviction that one law
is applicable to both, and that the domesticated classes in. both kingdoms
are constitutionally more tender the farther they are removed from
the original types of their race ; for instance, what appearance would the
high-bred cultivated short-horn cattle of to-day present, if subjected
to the same food and shelter as their Teeswater progenitors? or a
prize Devon, or Hereford, if supplied with no food better than the
aboriginal species subsisted upon from which they sprung? All our
best breeds of domestic cattle are the results of a cultivation of greater
or less duration ; but with the refinement of breed, and improvement
in what constitutes their superiority, they also inherit a tenderness of
constitution which makes them dependent on the care of man for tneir
preservation in their present state of perfection. We might support
this analogy by a reference to other races of domesticated animals,
and even man himself, did we not consider that sufficient has been
stated to illustrate our opinion on this question.

Arguing from the same premises, a similar law prevails with the
vegetable kingdom. Long cultivation has made our Cauliflower and
Celery, and many other garden plants, almost as tender as exotics, and
they now require great protection to preserve them through our winters ;
and yet the genera from which their origin has been derived are amongst
the hardiest of British plants. The same law applies to fruits and all
cultivated plants generally. A friend of mine, who resides in the Cape
Colony, being fond of plants, when on a visit to this country a few years
back, took with him a large collection of Cape Heaths, intending to re¬
introduce the original Cape species, with the British varieties, now so
numerous, of that charming tribe to the home of their family. Young
healthy plants, on their arrival at the Cape, were planted in suitable earth
in my friend’s garden, and tended with considerable care; but the greater
part of them died within a year, and none of them continued long
healthy, unable to withstand even the vicissitudes of their native climate
with constitutions weakened by greenhouse treatment in England ; and
yet the varieties taken over included all the original Cape species
procurable, and of which also several similar kinds were growing indi¬
genous in the locality ; and my friend informed me these latter, when
placed under cultivation, grew with great luxuriance, under the same
conditions which those planted from English gardens could not survive.

The above teaches us an important fact as regards acclimatising plants,
and that, as a rule, seedling plants, intended to be transported to a colder
climate, should only be raised from parents growing on the most elevated

APRIL.

121

situations and coldest districts ; and this fact should be' strongly impressed
on the minds of collectors of plants intended to grow in the open air of
Britain. There are probably few individuals, who have made hardy
plants their study, who cannot bear testimony to the wide difference ob¬
servable in many species of plants reputed to be hardy, among which the
numerous varieties of Coniferous trees which have been planted within
the last dozen years afford some striking examples, a remarkable instance
of which is named by the editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle, relating
to a batch of seedling Araucarias in Mr. Glendinning’s nursery, in
a recent number. The subject is one of great importance to out-door
planters, and any evidence we can produce bearing on the subject
we gladly record. In our own collection of Conifers are — or,
rather, were — several plants of P. insignis growing within less than a
stone’s throw of each other, all on a similar soil and the same
exposure, of which, one tree, planted twenty-two years back, has never
had a leaf browned even by the severest winters, and has maintained
its usual rich verdure through the past trying season ; while several
other trees of the insignis, and its close ally radiata, which have been
planted subsequently, have died in previous years ; two more are this
season dead, and the others greatly injured. The tree which has so
good a constitution, as compared with the others, was raised from the
first batch of seeds sent to the Horticultural Society, I presume by
Hartweg, in 1836 or 1837- I name this, as perhaps the Society may
know from what locality the seeds were obtained by their collector.
For several years we possessed several good specimens of -P. patula, at
all times a delicate Pine, but valuable for its graceful habit and cheerful
green foliage. In 1854 or 1855, all of them excepting one were much
injured, and two or three died ; two or three years later the rest
suffered, and subsequently died, but the one noticed above appeared to
have a charmed life, for it kept its colour uninjured. Within the past
month the effects of the fearful 25th of December, and the frost which
shortly afterwards followed upon a thaw, have become painfully visible,
and it is now beyond recovery ; but leaving us the testimony that,
either through some law of nature with which we are unacquainted, or
owing to its parents having been natives of a colder climate, it possessed
the power of resisting cold in a greater degree than others growing
under the same conditions. Foreign seedlings of the Cypress, Juniper,
and Abies sections of Coniferse are all liable to be affected differently by
severe cold, and in a seemingly inexplicable manner.

Having these facts before us, are we right at all in inducing any¬
thing approaching a luxuriant growth in plants as to whose hardiness
doubts exist? We think not; for this past winter must have shown
how much more easily pampered plants have been cut down by the
frost, than those of slower growth, but with a more matured system ;
and consequently having the power of enduring cold to a much greater
extent than those which have been planted in rich soils. Near
where I write are four Stone Pines, twelve years old, which had grown
luxuriantly, and are much cut ; while an older tree, which had made
but little wood, owing to its growing on a dry brashy soil, is none
the worse ; and many similar cases occur with other species of plants.

122

THE FLORIST.

But notwithstanding all that we can do by planting trees and shrubs
on elevated ground and dry soil, by way of acclimatising them —
and most certainly this should be our first step — protection from wind
alone being regarded as of consequence ; we should take every means to
obtain our seeds or seedling plants from as cold a climate as the tree will
grow in, or occupies indigenously ; and in preparing the seedling plants,
by no means coddle them by hothouse, or even greenhouse treat¬
ment ; but raise and keep them hardy from their first development into
plants, until the period for planting ; their growth will be slower, but
you will lay the foundation of as hardy a constitution as can be given
to them. I do not wish to be understood as saying this treatment will
make the plants more hardy than is natural to them ; for all plants
will bear only a certain limit of cold, prescribed to each by nature herself.
But you certainly will not make them more tender; and that is the point
to insist upon, not only in their preparatory stage, but in their after cul¬
ture, and that forcing them to grow beyond the power of the solar heat
of our climate to ripen their wood is an evil which tells its own tale, by
making them much more susceptible of injury from our winters than
they otherwise would be.

Above all, avoid damp valleys for proving plants on which there
is any doubt; to the inexperienced they may appear warmer and
more sheltered, but the damp atmosphere common to low situations is
inimical to the maturation of the current year’s wood, on which the
hardiness of the plant or tree will mainly depend, and its chances to
longevity increased.

S.

THE OHIO SQUASH.

This is a vegetable which I think deserves to be more generally
known and cultivated than it is ; it is very nice — far superior in flavour
to the common Vegetable Marrow. I am of opinion that it is more
nutritious, and what is of great importance, is, that it keeps a long time
after being cut ; they were used here last winter up to February, and
were favourites to the last ; how much longer they might have kept,
provided I had stored more of them, I cannot say. For winter use, I
cut them when they attain a measurement of from 18 to 24 inches in
circumference, and I very seldom find one decay ; I merely place them
on shelves, in a dry situation, secure from frost. For cottagers, whose
stock of winter vegetables is often limited, this Squash will be found
most valuable, and anybody who can command two or three barrowfuls
of well-rotted manure may grow it successfully ; it may even be trained
over hedges or other fences. Everyone to whom I have given them
appreciates them highly.

CUCUMIS.

APRIL.

123

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Specimens of Azaleas wanted for late
blooming should now be carefully shaded from bright sunshine and
exposed to a free circulation of air at all times, save when there may
be danger of the temperature sinking below WP ; and plants which it
may be desired to retard as long as possible may be placed out under
a north wall, but every possible care must be used not to expose these
to heavy rains or a temperature below 36°, and we recommend placing
them out of doors only in cases where it may be desirable to keep them
back longer than could be done by any other means at command. If
healthy vigorous plants of these are exposed to the full influence of the
sun, and the weather should prove bright and mild, the blooms will
soon be too far advanced to bear without injury any further attempt to
retard ; and Azaleas bloom so much finer in a gentle moist heat than
in a cool airy house that every means should be used to keep them
back sufficiently to allow of placing them in a shady moist heat before
the blooms begin to open. Plants which have bloomed, if wanted for
early flowering next season, should be placed at once in a moist warm
temperature, so as to secure early growth, which is the best preparation
for early forcing. Repot such as require more pot room and nicely
tie and regulate the shoots, cutting out all weak back wood, and any
which may not be required for filling up the specimen. Camellias
intended for early blooming should also be placed in a moist warm
temperature at once, selecting such varieties as generally bloom early,
and such plants of these as are pushing plenty of wood buds. These
must be shaded from bright sunshine as soon as they start into growth,
otherwise the young leaves will be very liable to be scorched ; and they
should be syringed overhead every evening, and carefully attended to
with water at the root, giving weak manure water to such as are rather
under potted. The general stock should be carefully looked over as
soon as they are out of flower — well cleaning the foliage, repotting such
as require this attention, and placing them where they can be kept
rather close and moist, so as to encourage free and early growth, which
is perhaps the most certain method of securing a fine display of bloom.
Conservatory. — Twiners, such as the beautiful Mandevilla, Ipomoea,
Tacsonia, Passiflora, &c., which bloom in summer and autumn, should
now be liberally supplied with water at the root, in order to promote
strong healthy growth early in the season ; and timely and frequent
attention should be given to regulating the young growths, so as to
induce each to cover the space for which it may be intended, without
having to resort to untwining and tying after the plants have made long
growths, when it is very difficult to dispose the shoots of such things so
that they will look natural and free. Hardenbergias, &c., will require
a liberal supply of water at the root while in bloom, and should be cut
back freely as soon as they have done flowering, and carefully cleansed
if infested with scale. These will not require much water at the root
after cutting back until they start into growth, but will be greatly
benefited by a rather moist atmosphere, and syringing overhead on the
evenings of bright days. Attend to keeping specimens planted in the

124

THE FLORIST.

beds and borders properly supplied with water at the root. Also cut
back Luculias and other plants which require this attention, to keep
them bushy, and see that this is done before they start into growth.
Keep everything clear of aphis and other injurious insects. Be prepared
with shading, which will be necessary to preserve the beauty of plants
in bloom, and, if used only for a few hours during the forenoons of
bright days, will not injure plants making their growth. If the weather
prove bright and dry, sprinkle the beds, borders, &c., morning and
evening, in order to secure a moist atmosphere, which will greatly
benefit things in growth, and prolong the beauty of those in. bloom.
See to providing a liberal supply of Fuchsias, Clerodendrons, Statices,
&c., for the decoration of this house, when the Azaleas and other spring
blooming things are over. Also get a good stock of Chinese Primulas
(double and single). Daphnes, &c., for autumn and early winter
blooming ; likewise get a large batch of Achimenes and Gloxinias
potted and started, selecting the most useful varieties. Cold Frames. —
The whole stock of plants propagated by cuttings intended for the
decoration of the flower garden should be potted off with the least
possible delay, and late weakly plants should be placed in a warm
moist temperature, so as to get them sufficiently strong in time to allow
of their being properly hardened before planting-out time. The general
stock of half-hardy annuals should be sown in a gentle heat at once,
not forgetting to provide a liberal supply of Stocks and Asters, which
should be pricked out as soon as they are sufficiently strong to handle
in lines upon a bed of light soil on a spent hotbed, so as to have them
strong stocky plants by the middle of May. Where frames cannot be
spared for this purpose hand-lights will answer, or even, with a little
extra care, good plants may be obtained with the aid only of hoops
and mats to cover the beds. See that the whole of the bedding-out
stock is perfectly free from green-fly, which, if allowed to gain a footing,
is sometimes difficult to eradicate, especially in the case of the woolly¬
leaved varieties of Calceolarias. Flower Garden. — If not already done,
no farther time should be lost in getting shrubs injured by the winter
cut down, so as to remove the unsightly portions ; and those that are
either dead or so disfigured as not to be worth leaving removed, and
the ground prepared and replanted, and attend to keeping recently
planted trees and shrubs supplied with water. Also get any necessary
re-arrangement of American plants done at once, and take up and
divide herbaceous plants where necessary, and large-spreading stools of
these never flower nearly so fine as smaller plants, and the transplanting
will afford an opportunity for trenching and enriching the soil for
weakly growers, &c., more effectually than it could otherwise be done.
Roses should be planted at once, except the more tender sorts, as Teas,
which may be left until the end of the month. We need not say that
no pains should be spared in the preparation of ground to be planted
with Roses, or that it should be trenched at least 2 feet 6 inches deep,
and abundance of good rotten manure worked in and well mixed with
the soil throughout its whole depth ; and where the soil is of a light
gravelly nature, the expense of replacing a portion with good strong
tenacious loam, where this can be obtained at any reasonable cost, will

APRIL.

125

be amply repaid. In many parts of the country, Roses will require no
farther pruning this season than cutting off the dead shoots ; and as it
will, in most cases, be readily seen now what is dead, this should be
cut off at once, and where the pruning was not performed by the frost
this should be finished. Sow hardy annuals at once ; also biennials
and perennials now or towards the end of the month. Greenhouse. —
Many . of the specimens here will be coming into bloom ; and as the
beauty of most of our finest New Holland and other plants will be but
of short duration if exposed to bright sunshine in a dry atmosphere,
shading on the forenoons of bright days will be necessary', but this
should be used sparingly, and attention should also be given to keeping
the atmosphere moist by sprinkling the passages, &c., two or three
times during bright drying days. Ventilate freely but cautiously
during the prevalence of cold winds, and endeavour, by opening the
ventilators on the sheltered side "of the house, only to avoid currents of
cold dry air passing over plants in bloom or those making their growth.^
Look to last month’s directions as to the management of young stock,
and endeavour to induce these to make free strong growth. Attend
carefully to the watering of these and also the general stock, and be
particularly careful not to allow any of the stock, and particularly large
specimens, to get too dry during bright weather. Stove. — Keep a
sharp look-out for insects of all kinds, and endeavour to eradicate these
immediately they are perceived. Maintain a constant and abundant
supply of moisture in the atmosphere, and syringe the plants freely
overhead every afternoon, and play the syringe freely under the foliage
of things which are known to be subject to red spider; but avoid touching
Ixoras which are showing flower, for these are liable to drop their
flowers if syringed after the heads are in a forward state. Ventilate
freely on fine days, but avoid admitting cold drying winds, and shut
up early in the afterno(ffi. Water carefully but rather freely, especially
free-growing plants, as Clerodendrons. Attend to staking and training
and stopping shoots which are overgrowing the others, and endeavour
to keep all young-growing stock near the glass, so as to promote short-
jointed strong growth. Shading will be necessary here soon if the
weather proves bright, but use this as sparingly as possible. Attend
to providing a stock of plants for autumn and winter blooming.

Hardy Fruit. — If the directions previously given have been carried
through, very little remains to be done in this department for the
present. The most important thing is the protection of choice fruit-
tree blossoms from spring frost ; and if Shaw’s tiffany or Haythorn’s
.hexagon net is used for protection, it may remain on the trees till the
crop is safe. The fruit sets very well under this light material,
especially if a space is left open at the bottom of the wall for the
admission of air ; but if any covering of a thicker texture is applied,
it should be always removed through the day. Keep a close watch
for the first appearance of green-fly on Peach trees, and destroy them
by using common snuff and sulphur in equal parts ; this may. be
applied either with a dredge or sulphur bellows, and it is the safest
thing to use at this early season, when the young fruit would be injured

126

THE FLORIST.

by a wash sufficiently strong to kill the green-fly — next month it may
be used with safety. Do not commence disbudding the Peach and
Nectarine trees at present ; but, on the other hand, encourage all the
foliage, to protect the young fruit from cutting winds, and to encourage
an active circulation of sap in the trees. Graft Apples and Pears early
in the month, especially large trees that have previously been headed
down for that purpose. Plant Strawberries, and keep the hoe moving
in dry weather among the growing plants, and prepare the fruiting
beds for mulching with dung or litter next month. Liquid manure
may now be given, especially to old plantations. Examine the borders
of orchard houses and water freely if dry. The trees in pots will also
require frequent waterings, and occasionally with liquid manure. Give
plenty of air and use the syringe freely, either in the mornings or
evenings of fine days. Forcing Ground. — Cucumbers and Melons
will now require more air and water in proportion to the increase of
sun-heat and light. Keep the linings turned or renewed, so that the
bottom-heat does not decline. Syringe the plants and close early in
the afternoon ; still continue to cover the frames every cold night,
except where fire -heat is used. Thin and stop the shoots, so that the
foliage may have full exposure to air and light, and avoid shading if
possible. Pot the young plants, and sow again early in the month for
succession ; also Vegetable Marrow and Gourds. Make the last sowing
of French Beans under glass, either in frames or handglasses — keep
close till they are up ; those in bearing should be well watered and
syringed, to keep them in a healthy condition. Earth up Potatoes in
frames, and give all vegetables under glass a good soaking of water
once or twice a week, according to the state of the weather, and
abundance of air at all times. Give Cauliflower, Lettuce, and other
plants forwarded under glass, full exposure, for the purpose of hardening
them before planting in the open ground. Pof Capsicums, Tomatoes,
and Egg plants, and keep them growing in a moderate heat. Pines. —
Look over the succession plants and water if dry ; and if any were not
shifted last month, no time should be lost in getting them repotted,
using a mixture of free turfy loam and rotten manure. Keep the plants
close for a few days after potting. Syringe occasionally, but do not
give much water at the root till the plants begin to grow, when more
air and water should be given, avoiding, at all times, a current of air
through the pit, by giving front and back air at the same time. Plants
in fruit require a temperature of about 80*^, with an increase of 10^
during sunshine. Water freely, and syringe the plants when the house
is closed in the afternoon, to keep up the requisite moisture. Attend to
the linings of those grown in dung pits. Peaches and Nectarines. —
Tie in and regulate the shoots in the early house. Select for next
season shoots of moderate strength, choosing those springing from the
heel or base of the previous season’s growth ; stop the shoots above
the fruit, with the exception of those that are required to form leading
branches. Proceed with the thinning of the fruit as they may require
it ; .of course this must entirely depend on the condition of the tree —
what quantity it is capable of bringing to maturity. Double the number
may be retained on a vigorous tree in comparison to those in a weakly

APRIL.

127

condition, which should only carry a moderate crop, and every assistance
should be given by surface dressing and liquid manure. Do not
hurry the fruit during the process of stoning : a night temperature of
about 60^ at that stage will be sufficient. Use the syringe frequently,
to keep the foliage clean and healthy, and do not allow the inside
borders to get dry. Continue the disbudding and thinning in the late
house, and air on every favourable opportunity. Cherries. — Keep the
trees well syringed while the fruit is swelling ; also give plenty of
moisture at the root ; as soon as the fruit begins to colour less mois¬
ture is needed and the temperature may be increased, with plenty of
air through the day. Keep down the black-fly by dipping the young
shoots in tobacco water. Strawberries. — See directions given last
month. Vinery. — Attend to the thinning of the berries in the
succession houses, commencing sit an early stage after they are set, and
keep the shoots tied in and the lateral shoots stopped. Water the
inside borders and maintain a moist atmosphere during the time the
fruit is swelling. Where the fruit is beginning to colour, syringing
must be discontinued ; and attend to previous directions in regard to
temperature, air, &c. Vines in pots must not at any time suffer from
drought, especially those where the fruit is swelling. Water liberally
with liquid manure, and cut away all useless growth. Young Vines in
small pots should be shifted when they have made a growth of a few
inches ; in potting, use rough turfy loam mixed with sheep droppings.
Kitchen Garden. — On the first favourable opportunity, the principal
crops of Altringham and Surrey Carrots, Beet, Salsafy, and Scorzonera,
should be sown; also succession crops of broad Beans and Peas, sowing
twice through the month. Scimetar, Champion of England, Victoria,
and other Marrows are suitable for sowing at this season. Sow early
French Beans on a warm border, and at the end of the month Scarlet
B,unners and Haricot Beans should be sown. Get the ground well
prepared for the main crop of Potatoes, which should be got in before
the month is out. Choose a piece of rich light soil for planting Cauli¬
flower, Lettuce, and Cape Broccoli, that were forwarded under glass ;
these should be hardened by full exposure to the weather a few days
before they are planted out. Snow’s Early Broccoli, Walcheren and
Mammoth Cauliflower, intended for autumn use, should be sown at
the end of the month. Sow Incomparable and Red Celery, Early and
Late Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, &c., and succession crops of Turnips,
Lettuces, Radishes, and small salad, in a shady situation every few
days. Make new plantations of Seakale, Horseradish, and Jerusalem
Artichokes. Dress and earth up Asparagus beds in dry weather.
Make new beds early in the month. Keep the soil moved i3y frequent
hoeings among all growing crops. Keep down weeds, clear walks, and
clear away all litter, and make all clean and neat.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias. — If last month’s instructions have been carried out, the
plants will now have attained the shape required for exhibition ; bul
as the lateral shoots will still be growing, they should be tied out as
wide as possible as they develope themselves. Still continue to give

128

THE FLORIST.

weak liquid manure, to give brilliancy to the flowers. Water freely
and shade in the middle of the day when the sun is very bright.
Ventilate freely when the winds are not too parching or cold. Give
each plant as much light and space as possible. Keep an eye on seed¬
lings, and select the finest for the following seasons. Felargoniums
will now require increased attention, as they are making considerable
progress. The flower buds of the May plants will now begin to appear
above their foliage. Whenever the weather is mild, air should be
freely given, and that early in the morning; the house, however,
should be closed sufficiently early in the afternoon to dispense with fire-
heat as much as possible. Very careful attention must be given to
watering the plants, which, during dry harsh weather, should be care¬
fully examined twice a day. Shading from the midday sun will be
necessary. Prepare and lay up some good turfy loam with some deer
or sheep manure, which, occasionally turned over during the summer,
and kept sheltered from heavy rains, will make excellent compost for
potting in the autumn.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN APRIL.

Auriculas. — These will now be in their perfection. Carefully look
over and take notes of your bloom, even though you may have done it
with the same kinds before, the effect of season being quite as interesting
to a thorough amateur as anything else. Of all new kinds, if you
possess any, take special notice, carefully comparing them with older
varieties in the same class, so as to see whether they are an advance
upon them or not. If you have seedlings, do not trust your own
judgment, but submit them to some one who has grown them well. A
good bloom will now reward all the care and potting that they have
had for months. Carnations and Picotees. — Any that have been left
unpotted should now be finished off, and during this month should be
in some sheltered place where the cold biting winds cannot injure
them ; if they have been, gradually hardened off they will bear it
better than if kept in close confinement until potting time. Pinks. —
The surface of the bed must be kept stirred, and a top dressing given.
They seem with me to have suffered much from the severe winter, but
time will tell, as they very rapidly make growth, when once they set
to work at it. Pansies. — These will now be coming into bloom, and
will require a liberal supply of water. Pinch off superfluous shoots
and make cuttings of them. Watch for slugs, which are very destructive
to the bloom. Greenhouse. — Bedding plants of various kinds may now
be removed to pits or frames, so as to give more room for growing
plants. Cuttings of Verbenas, &c., may still be struck in a hotbed if
required. Fumigate for green- fly and syringe in fine weather ; both
of these operations tend very much to the health of the plants. General
Wo7'k. — Move Japan Lilies out of doors — a cool place they like best.
Prepare beds for and plant Gladioli. Get all ready for the bedding-out
work, which will take place next month. Keep all clean and tidy, and
destroy all slugs, &c., unmercifully. “ Delenda est sluggiana ” must
be the cry with gardeners.

]).

MAY.

129

MADAME FUETADO (EOSE).

(Plate 176).

Ah me ! we live in a puzzling age, when the ordinary means
of intelligence are rapid enough, but far outstripped by the
extraordinary. How one was puzzled in the Crimean war
to read telegrams giving a slight sketch of events, and then a
fortnight afterwards getting the details, hut before they
arrived to find that another telegram quite upset them ; so the
other day we had a long account of the conciliatory measures
adopted by the Emperor of Eussia towards the Poles, and as
we were reading it (much to our own satisfaction) a telegram
is announced that a massacre had taken place, and the concilia¬
tion was that of bullets and bayonets ; so in Eoses growers
get a-head at such telegraphic speed that we are quite puzzled.
We are just thinking over the Eoses of last year, determining
which we shall retain and which reject, asking our friends their
“’sperience” in the matter, when lo ! we have a Eose of a newer
brood altogether put into our hands, and we are asked what
we think of it. (Prowers now get over to France, and obtain
their plants of new sorts much earlier in the season ; they then
work away at grafting, and by pushing them on in a strong
yet moist heat are enabled to have them in bloom at this early
season, and to advertise them for sale. But let no one who
has not a warm place to put them in venture to purchase just
at present. They are not hardened off, and to place them in a
cold greenhouse without a fire is almost certain to subject
them to mildew if not to death, the shock consequent on the
change of temperature being too great for them in their highly
excited state ; for the same reason it is hazardous to venture
an opinion on them, as they cannot be in character and their
after state may very much differ from what they are now. This
much, however, I think may be said, that those which show
themselves good in the graft are very unlikely to disappoint
afterwards. If they come full and of good shape they will
most likely, under a more natural course of treatment, fully
maintain, if not exceed, their character in those points. Colour
of course it is difficult to decide about, and habit still more so,
though shrewd guesses may be given on these points.

Thej:e are amazing efforts being made on all hands to get
forward with a stock of Eoses on their own roots, and I am
quite inclined to think that the well-known intelligence of our
gardening world will lead to the remedying of the only defect
under which the system labours, the length of time before they
make good plants. We shall see ; but I shall be very much

VOL. XV., NO. CLXI. K

130

THE FLORIST.

surprised if this he not accomplished in a much shorter space
than hitherto has been the case, and that even in the first
autumn really good plants will he obtainable. If so, farewell
to standards! We shall never have then the heartache some
have had this year ; for independently of growers for sale, the
devastation amongst amateurs has been tremendous. I believe
the highly valued originator of the National Kose Show has
lost 1000, and another private grower in my neighbour¬
hood has lost 900 ; while on the other hand even Teas, on
their own roots, are endeavouring to push their way up through
the ground again.

The following notes must therefore he taken with all the
above reservations, and though I have the plants now blooming
in my own house (for which I am indebted to the kindness of
one of our best rosarians), I must still say they must be taken
“cum grano salis.”

Abd-el-Kader (V. Verdier & C. Verdier), apparently a strong and
vigorous grower ; the petals of the flower are large and somewhat
crumpled, it is not very full, the colour a brilliant velvety crimson,
darker in the centre, and likely I believe to be a striking flower.

Darzens (Ducher), a Rose of vigorous habit, large and tolerably well
filled, the colour a peculiar one, yellowish rose ; described in the
French catalogues as of the colour of fresh butter — that is a varying
commodity with us, from creamy white to deep saffron. I am
at a loss to discover a trace of yellow.

General Washington, H.P. (Granger), a vigorous grower; the
flowers are very full, large, and exquisitely built, the colour a
brilliant vivid red. I am quite sure that this Rose cannot fail to
please ; it has a peculiar scent, more approaching to the Tea Roses.

Jean Bart, H.P. (Margottin), a vigorous, free-blooming variety,
the colour deep reddish violet, somewhat of the same shade as
Empereur de Maroc, but much more free in growth and blooming.

Comte he Falloux, H.P. (Trouillard), a perfect gem as a pot Rose.
I saw six plants of it the other day in bloom, and nothing could
exceed their beauty ; on every shoot there were one or more buds ;
the colour a brilliant crimson and the fragrance delicious. It is
not of a very vigorous habit, but neither is it delicate. The figure
in the “ Floral Magazine,” while quite a portrait in many respects,
was incorrect in making the flower droop, for it stands quite erect
on its footstalk. I feel confident that when this flower becomes
well known it will be the Rose for gentlemen’s conservatories in
winter, and for Covent Garden it will be invaluable.

Madame Furtado (Victor & Ch. Verdier), a moderate grower (not
delicate) ; flowers very large and very double — form excellent,
somewhat of the style of Madame de Cambaceres — brilliant Rose
colour, the centre filled up with small petals of a deeper colour. The
figure in the present number gives a very accurate idea of it ; it

MAr. 131

remains to be seen whether it is too full to open out of doors well,
but in the house it is a very grand Rose.

Reine des Yiolettes (Millet- Malet). — It is said that a late eminent
author who was constantly bored for his autograph had a drawer
inscriber “Yo and into this used to be put all such demands.
IS^ow, I am inclined to think, this much-be-praised Rose will have
to be put into the Rose grower’s no-go drawers. It is very vigorous,
quite smooth in the wood ; it comes out a good colour, but imme¬
diately commences to fade ; on the second day is quite dingy, and
dies off into a very poor slaty thing — such at any rate is my expe¬
rience of it.

La Boule d’Or (Margottin). — I have as yet only seen this in the
bud — there it is very yellow, and promises to be, what I have
heard it described, the yellowest Rose grown except Persian Yellow ;
if so, it will be a decided acquisition, as its habit is good.

Madame Standish ( Trouillard), a very free-growing hardy variety ;
I say this advisedly, from having seen it with hosts of others. It
has stood the last severe winter without protection, where others
have perished by scores. The colour is what is called “ rose
satinee ” by the French raisers ; and I think, from the style of its
growth, it is likely to prove a fine pillar Rose.

These are all that I have seen at present. I hope by-and-
hye to have frequent opportunities of seeing the others, though
doubtless there are many of our readers who, with better
opportunities and more correct taste, will he able to much more
accurately give us their character. I know, however, how
much people wish to know about the new varieties, and hence
these notes, which future observation may perhaps correct.

Dealy April 23. D.

ON PLANTING IN MAY.

This has been an unfavourable spring for planting, for from the breaking
up of the frost to the end of March rains were nearly incessant, and clay
soils, and those approaching them, could not be worked in consequence ;
since that time the air has been both cold and dry, and not at aU
tempting to the planter, and m.uch is now left on .hand for completion.
I do not think we need much regret this, for of all months in the year
for planting evergreens, I consider February, March, and April (except
the end of April), the worst months for planting evergreens of any
size ; and therefore, if advantage has been taken of the late dry weather
to trench and well pulverise the soil, preparatory to actual planting,
advantage may be taken immediately rain falls, and we get a cloudy
-sky, to commence. If the ground has been well worked, it will have
absorbed heat from the sun, and its temperature will greatly assist the
development of young roots immediately the plants are transferred to
their new quarters. There are, however, two or three things to attend
to when planting evergreens in May which, it may be as well to point

132

THE FLORIST.

out to the inexperienced ; for of course to all engaged largely in planting,
experience will have dictated them, as facts which are not to be trifled
with if you wish to succeed. In the first place, the soil, whether the
planting is to be continuous in breadths of ground or only single specimens
in holes, must be broken perfectly fine ; indeed, the more pulverised
and dry the soil with which you surround and cover the roots of newly
planted trees the more quickly will new roots protrude into it. My plan
is to work the surface soil which has been exposed to the sun for some
time into a powder, and with this to cover the roots, giving only a veiy
moderate quantity of water at planting. The next point is to have a
puddle hole made near where your plants are being taken up, and
directly they are out of the ground immerse the roots in the puddle,
and work them about until every root is well coated over. The roots
should be pruned before immersion. They should be then carried to
the prepared ground at once, and carefully planted. If you have to
carry or cart them any distance, envelope the roots in wet straw or
moss, to prevent them from becoming dry before planting. Next take
care that the heads of the trees are engined .over each evening about an
hour before sunset, except when it rains ; and if you have time to
syringe the leaves overhead two or three times daily, when the sun is
not shining very powerfully on them, it will greatly assist in arresting
perspiration from the foliage until the roots are in a position to
supply the waste of the system by their usual action ; and lastly,
mulch over the surface of the roots immediately after planting ; and
where the trees are large, moss or hay bands may be wrapped round
the stem and principal branches, to facilitate the ascent of the sap and
keep the bark moist. These points attended to it will be found that the
plants will quickly rally, even where the summer’s growth has commenced ,
and but little water in comparison will be required to be given to the
roots for some time ; for experience teaches us that the roots renew
themselves much more freely when the earth about them is only mode¬
rately moist and warm (which it will be if our plan is followed) than
when placed in a cold unpulverised soil and deluged with water, as is
too often the case. All the Abies section of Coniiers and some Pinus
may safely be planted all through May with the above precautions.
Cedars, Yews, Cryptomerias, Taxodiuins, Hollies, and Hex of all
kinds and evergreens generally. We hope to transplant ?pruce and
Silver Firs 20 to 25 feet high, and other evergreens in proportion ; and
reasoning by the suocess which has followed our previous trials, without
any fear as to losing a single plant, although none of them have had any
previous preparation.

S.

THE SLOUGH AURICULAS.

Wednesday, the 10th of April, was indeed to me “ dies creta
notanda,” for I enjoyed there such a floricultural treat as for many a
long year I have not had ; for although I saw last year the Monks-
town Auriculas, and still hold to my opinion that I never saw a stage

MAY.

133

of plants in such perfection, as Dr. Plant's, yet it had then (though, I
believe, the liberality of my good friend, the Vicar of Alford, has since
remedied that) one great defect, which I noticed at the time, a want
of variety. It was a stage of six hundred blooming plants, in the
highest state of perfection, any of them fit to place on an exhibition
table, but then the same variety was repeated over and over again ;
and thus an air of sameness was given to the stage, which considerably
detracted from its value and beauty. At Slough, on the other hand,
there is a very large variety ; every kind nearly of known or unknown
value is grown ; and the whole are so done as to give an appearance
of great effect and beauty. The growth of the plants, too, leaves
nothing to desire ; the foliage is large and ample, in many instances
entirely covering the pot, and displaying a vigour which was eminently
characteristic of the success which seems always to attend Mr. Turner
in whatever department he enters. They are not, however, what
amongst growers for exhibition would be considered the thing,
inasmuch as sometimes two or even three trusses are left on the same
plant; and this in a strictly Auricula country would be fatal to a
stand or pair on an exhibition table. It evidences a considerable amount
of confidence in the vigour of his plants to enable a grower to draw
thus upon them — a confidence which certainly, in the present instance,
does not seem misplaced, as I never saw plants so evidently rejoicing
in their treatment. The frame in which they are placed is a large
two-light one, with a stage erected in it, giving successive steps
suitable for the height of the plants. This, while an effective arrange¬
ment, is not by any means so much so as that adopted by Dr. Plant,
where, the plants being ranged to the level of the eye, were all seen at
once, and that without the need of stooping, no slight matter for those
who feel their backs are not so pliable as they used to be a dozen years
ago. I shall best serve the interests of the growers of the flower if I
first give some remarks on those flowers which are either new varieties
or were new to me, and then add some on the older varieties.

Volunteer (Turner). — In many respects this is an advance on some
of the older dark seifs. The petals are large and without any
indentation, the whole appearance of the pip being flat ; but it is
deficient in both eye and paste, the former being small and of a
watery colour, and the latter wanting solidity, not so much so as
Oxonian certainly, but still sufficiently hlankeity to detract from
the value of the flower. The foliage is good, and the flower
altogether a striking stage variety, pleasing more at first sight
than it does on closer inspection.

Rifleman. — This is in many respects a similar flower, having the same
excellencies as to size and shape, and the same defects as to eye
and paste, in a stronger measure perhaps.

No7'th /S/ar (Hichrnonds). — A decided acquisition. When I noticed it in
the Florist a couple of months ago I only wrote from hearsay.
Having now seen the flower, I can testify to its being an excel¬
lent variety, the colour being somewhat similar to what I remem¬
ber Keys’ Apollo, a bright lively blue, but a much better shaped

134

THE FLORIST.

flower, paste good, and the eye pale yellow ; a very striking stage
flower, and one which is sure to attract the eye at once.

Mr. Finch (Chapman). — Another flower of the same raiser as the
Sisters Maria and Sophia ; not certainly equal to the former of
these, but a very fine flower ; the eye large and yellow, the paste
solid, the ground colour a beautiful violet, somewhat similar to
the two just named ; edge a good grey, the pip large, and the
flower altogether a good one, wanting, indeed, the refinement of
Maria, in which respect that lovely flower is still unequalled.

Rev, George Jeans (Turner). — A worthy tribute to that enthusiastic
Auricula grower, who has done so much to bring the flower into
vogue. The flower is a very good grey edge, somewhat in the
style of Sykes’ Complete ; good eye, edge decided grey, and the
colour a deep black ; it received a label of commendation from the
Floral Committee of the Horticultural Society at their meeting on
the 10th of April.

Mag (Clark). — A very excellent flower, good grey edge, something
like Lancashire Hero, ground colour intense lampblack, the eye
pale orange.

Ladg Sale (Smith), good grey, fine paste and eye, but deficient in
ground colour.

Miss Brightly (Spalding). — Another flower of the raiser of Black¬
bird, Bessy Bell, &c., and somewhat in their style ; the colour
is good, a dark purple and the foliage white ; the flower is, how¬
ever, rather crumpled, and has (despite of 4») the great defect of
his other flowers, throwing up the thrum above the eye.

Brixton Farewell (Chapman), rough, the colour good, thrum-eyed,
and a second-rate flower altogether.

No. 138 (Traill), a pretty light purple flower, somewhat rough in its
pretty state, and requires to be grown another year or two before
anything positive about its merits can be said.

No. 83 (Smith’s), grey edge, splendid circular, paste of great solidity ;
it will require proving before it can be fully decided on.

Richard Cobden (Smith), a plant of large and vigorous growth, a fine
lively green, paste good, and a large quantity of ground colour,
the eye, if anything, rather too small ; but it is a most striking
stage flower, and will for that reason find its place in every good
collection, and from its habit is likely to increase quickly.

White Rival (Traill), white edge, coarse in texture, and with a great
deal of colour ; at present it is by no means a rival to Glory.

Mrs. Sim (Smith), white edge, though rather greyishly inclined,
ground colour dark ; a neat-looking flower.

Metropolitan (Spalding). — What a pity that raisers will persist in
giving names to their flowers already held by others. Here is a
third Metropolitan amongst so limited a class as self-Auriculas.
It creates great confusion, and answers no end that I can conceive.
This flower was of a good colour, light blue ; but not so good as
North Star, either in shape or colour, though somewhat resem¬
bling it.

Lord John Russell (Smith), good lively green edge, with abundance of

may. 135

ground colour ; rather rough, however, and inclined to throw up
the thrum too much.

George Lightbodg (Headly). — Mr. Lightbody speaks of this as the
best grey edge in cultivation. I have not yet seen it as such ; it
is not, to my mind, equal to Lancashire Hero, which it closely
resembles in some points, and is deficient in ground colour ;
moreover, it seems to have a weakly constitution. My plant is
gone, and Mr. Turner speaks of it as difficult.

Hufton's Squire Mundag, alias Faulkner s Hannibal. — After much
consideration, I have come to the conclusion that these two flowers
are synonymous ; not only are they alike in colour, but in their
very peculiar foliage. The flower is rough and in most points
defective, the paste being quite scolloped and the eye not first
rate. It is, however, a very fine trusser, is of a rich dark colour,
looks well on a stage, and is therefore, I think, under whichever
alias a grower has it, not to be discarded just yet.

Waverleg (Walker). — An old flower, with too much green in it, or
rather too little body colour ; in this respect not unlike Yates’
Morris Green Hero, a flower long since discarded from most
collections.

Sir Isaac Newton (Storey), green ground colour, very deep, going too
much into the edge, eye good, the green somewhat forced.

So far with regard to new or comparatively little-known flowers ;
and as there was a large collection of the older varieties, an opportunity
was afforded of comparing them one with the other, and from what I
have said it will be seen that many of the old flowers are unequalled by
recent additions. I do not think, in green edges, Booth’s Freedom or
Page’s Champion have been beaten. I am sure none of the new greys
are a beat on Maria cr Lancashire Hero. Taylor’s Glory still holds its
place as the best white edge ; and 1 am not certain that any dark self
beats Othello. This may not be very encouraging to raisers of seedlings,
but withal, I believe a great deal may yet be done, and what we want
is good constitutioned plants, such plants, for instance, as John Bright
or Richard Cobden. Had they the properties of Champion or Freedom,
they would indeed be glorious flowers. Perhaps if they were used as
the maternal plants of a new breed, carefully hybridised with one of
the first-rate greens named, the desired result might be obtained ; and
let it not be forgotten that two at least of the flowers above named are
new, one so much so as to be almost impossible to obtain, and there¬
fore, we may fairly say that a good start has been made of late years.
Let seedling raisers not be contented with saving seed any way, but
let it be done carefully, and I do not see why the same success should
not attend Auriculas as has been so strikingly manifested in other
flowers. If one be ambitious, here is a place for posthumous as
well as present fame. Raise a first-class Auricula, and when that
fabulous party, the educated New Zealander, sits “chewing the cud
of sweet meditation ” on London Bridge, he will rummage up the
catalogues of these days and find your name as a raiser. Many
who were formerly famous for their seedlings in Dahlias, Geraniums,
&c., have long since disappeared; but the Pearsons, Howards, and

186

THE FLORIST.

Dicksons, of half a century back, still are typographed in Auricula lists.
Amongst older varieties I found in good order, Page’s Champion,
Smith’s Waterloo, Dickson’s Matilda, Dickson’s Duke of Cambridge,
Howard’s Lord Nelson — green edges ; Lancashire Hero, Waterhouse’s
Conqueror, Syke’s Complete, Fletcher’s Ne Plus Ultra, amongst greys ;
Taylor’s Glory, Summerscale’s Catherina, Hughes’ Pillar of Beauty,
Campbell’s Robert Burns, Smith’s Ne Plus Ultra, amongst whites;
Spalding’s Blackbird, Martin’s Mrs. Sturrock, Nether wood’s Othello,
Martin’s Mayfield, Berry’s Lord Primate, amongst seifs. And could
only wish that more persons would visit this deeply interesting collec¬
tion and judge for themselves. Its beauty will not be over when these
lines are in print, and the trip down will be amply repaid.

Deal, April 17.

*

REPORT ON SCARLET AND OTHER BEDDING

PELARGONIUMS,

Grown at Chiswick in 1860.

By Mr. Moore, Secretary to the Floral Committee.

(Extracted from the Proceedings of the Royal Horticultural Society.)

The season of 1860 having proved unfavourable to these plants, it has
been determined to renew the trial of them in the present season, and,
as far as it can be done, to prove them also under pot culture. The
brief particulars noted concerning them, and which embody_the opinion
pronounced by the Committee, though influenced to some extent by an
exceptional season, may, nevertheless be worth recording. They are
to be understood as applying to the varieties as grown in the open air,
and in many cases are derived from single plants.

The following is a summary of the varieties which the Committee
adjudged to be the most desirable for cultivation : —

Series I. — Plain-leaved Scarlet Pelargoniums.

§ 1. Flowers scarlet: — Frogmore Improved, and Punch. Defiance
and Wellington Hero, in addition, were commended for pot culture and
for training up conservatory pillars. § 2. Flowers cerise : — Beaute de
Meldoise, Lady Middleton, Le Titien. ^ Flowers rose-pink: —
Christina, Rose Queen. § 4. Floi&ers white : — The only variety of
this colour was considered inferior.

Series II. — Horse-shoe-leaved Scarlet Pelargoniums.

§ 1. Flowers scarlet : — Baron Hugel, Captivation, Lilliput, Martin
Gireau, Queen of England, Scarlet Perfection. Bishopstowe, Conway’s
Royalist, and New Globe were selected as good secondary sorts; while
Amazon, British Flag, Compactum, and Richmond Gem were com¬
mended for pot culture or pillars. § 2. Flowers cerise: — Fran9ois
Chardine, Mons. Martin, Rubens, and Sheen Rival ; and for pot cul¬
ture Paul Labbe. § 3. Flowers salmon or flesh-colour: — Prince
Louise of Hesse ; and for pot culture, Aurora and Blackheath Beauty.

MAY.

137

% Flowers rose-pink : — None of the varieties in this group were
considered of first-rate character. § 5. Flowers blush with pink centre :
— Henri de Beaudot. § 6. Flowers white: — Madame Vaucher, and
Nivea floribunda.

Series III. — Nosegay Pelargoniums.

These all have zonate leaves. The best sorts were Crystal Palace,
Imperial Crimson, Pink Nosegay, and Red Nosegay. Of good secondary
sorts, of larger growth, there were: — Bishopstowe Nosegay, Purple
Nosegay, and Salmon Nosegay.

Series IV. — Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums.

These were all considered to be useful bedding plants for various
purposes.

Series V. — Variegated-leaved Pelargoniums.

§ 1. Leaves golden edged: — Golden Chain and Lady Cottenham
were pronounced to be useful varieties. § 2. Leaves silver or cream-
edged : — Of the scarlet-flowered sorts: Annie, Alma, Bijou, Burning
Bush, Countess of Warwick, Julia, Perfection, Scintillatum ; and for
pot culture, Picturatum. Of those with cerise-scarlet or rosy-tinted
blossoms : Flower of the Day and Flower of Spring, both first-class
sorts. Besides the foregoing, Lilac Variegated and St. Clair, both with
pink flowers, were considered useful varieties of secondary rank. The
varieties having the whitest-edged foliage were: — Alma, Bijou, Jane,
Mrs. Lenox, Mountain of Light, Mountain of Snow, and Perfection.

Series VI. — Hybrid Bedding Pelargoniums.

The varieties of this group did not succeed as bedding plants in 1860.
In the following brief descriptions of the varieties, habit and colour are
the chief points to which attention has been directed : —

Series I. — Plain-leaved Scarlet Pelargoniums.

§ 1. Flowers scarlet.

1. Collinson’s Scarlet. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit;
flowers scarlet, in small trusses. Inferior.*

2. Defiance. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous habit; flowers
large, in fair-sized heads, elevated on long stalks, light scarlet. A
good variety for training to the pillars of greenhouse conservatories, or
for pots.

3. Emperor. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous ; flowers large,
bright scarlet.

4. Frogmore Improved. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium and
compact habit ; flowers large and well formed, in fair-sized trusses,
bright scarlet. One of the best sorts grown.

5. Gen. Sir F. Williams. — From Messrs. Low and Co. Rather
vigorous in habit ; flowers large, scarlet. Similar to Punchy but
inferior to it.

* It may be explained that this term has been employed to express briefly the
fact that superior sorts of similar character are known. It does not necessarily
imply that the varieties to which it is attached are worthless.

138

THE FLORIST.

6. Goliath. — From Messrs. Rollisson and Sons. Vigorous ; flowers
large, well formed, in good-sized trusses, reddish-scarlet. Inferior.

7. Harkaway. — From Mr. Taylor. Dwarf, slender habit ; flowers
narrow-petaled, in small trusses, scarlet. A useful bedding sort.

8. Indispensable. — From Mr. Turner. Dwarf; flowers scarlet, in
small truss 3S. Inferior.

9. Lamartine. From Mr. Scott. Medium spreading habit ;
flowers light scarlet, of good form. Inferior.

10. Little David. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Dwarf; flowers
scarlet. Inferior.

11. Lord Raglan. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit; flowers
large and showy, in small trusses, scarlet. Inferior.

12. Magnum Bonum. — From Mr. Scott. Vigorous ; flowers small,
in compact trusses, deep scarlet Inferior.

13. Mrs. Bloomer. — From Mr. Taylor. Dwarf compact habit ;
flowers medium-sized, scarlet. Inferior.

14. Punch. — From Messrs. Fraser and Mr. Taylor. Rather vigorous
in habit ; flowers large, scarlet. A fine variety for large beds.
It appears that there are several distinct seedling forms of this variety,
and that the best of them has a small white eye.

15. Rigby’s Queen. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous ; flowers
large, loose, bright scarlet. Inferior.

16. Royal Dwarf — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit ; flowers
medium-sized, in small trusses, scarlet. Inferior.

17. Scarlatina. — From Mr. Turner, Messrs. Fraser, and Messrs.
Low & Co. Vigorous ; flowers large, in medium-sized trusses, bright
scarlet. Inferior.

18. Tom Thumb. — From Messrs. Fraser. . Medium or dwarfish
habit ; flowers scarlet Inferior.

19. Wellington Hero. From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous habit;
flowers large and well formed, in fine trusses, scarlet with white eye.
A fine variety for pot culture, and for conservatories.

§ 2. Flowers cerise^ or rosy-scarlet.

20. Beaute de Meldoise. — From Messrs. Fraser and Mr. Turner.
Moderately vigorous ; flowers large, well formed, in good-sized trusses,
rosy-scarlet, similar in colour to Jjady Middleton. A very fine variety,
superior to Le Titien.

21. Judy. — From Messrs. Fraser. Dwarf; flowers rosy-scarlet.
Inferior.

22. Lady Middleton. — From Mr. Taylor and Messrs. Fraser. Mo¬
derately vigorous, compact habit ; flowers large, well formed, abundant,
in good-sized showy trusses, rosy-scarlet. An old variety, of good
quality.

23. Le Titien. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit ; flowers finely
formed, and growing in compact trusses, better shaped than those
of Lady Middleton, which they resemble in their rosy- scarlet colour.
A useful variety, of excellent properties.

24. Lord John Russell. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Dwarf
spreading habit ; flowers medium-sized, reddish scarlet, deeper than the

MAY. 139

rosy-scarlet of Lady Middleton. It was not, however, considered a
desirable variety.

§ 3. Flowers rose-pink.

25. Christina. — From Mr. Kinghorn and Messrs. Low & Co. Mo¬
derately dwarf; flowers freely produced in fair-sized trusses, deep
rose-pink uniformly coloured. It is deeper coloured and dwarfer than
Rose Queen, and is further distinguished by the absence of white from
its upper petals. It is one of the best sorts of its colour.

26. Lucea roseum. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous ; flowers pale
rose -pink. Inferior.

27. Princess Alice. — From Mr. Ingram. Medium spreading habit ;
flowers deep rose-pink. Inferior.

28. Rose Queen. — From Mr. Kinghorn and Messrs. Rollisson &
Sons. Medium habit ; flowers medium- sized, in moderate trusses,
deep rose-pink with white base to the upper petals. It is one of the
best rose-coloured sorts.

29. Roseum compactum. — From Mr. Turner. Dwarf compact habit ;
flowers small, deep rose-pink. Inferior.

§ 4. Flowers white.

30. Ingram’s White. — From Mr. Scott. Medium spreading habit;
flowers white. Inferior.

Series II. — Horse-shoe-leaved Scarlet Pelargoniums.

§ 1. Flowers scarlet.

31. Agatha. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit;
leaves boldly zonate ; flowers small, in compact trusses, scarlet.
Inferior.

32. Amazon. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous habit ; leaves dis¬
tinctly zonate ; flowers large, well formed, in large compact trusses
on long hairy stalks, light scarlet. A good variety for pillars in con¬
servatories.

33. Baron Hugel. — From Mr. Turner, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Scott.
Also known as Conway s Princess Royal, and Dr. Duval. Dwarf
and spreading in habit, with distinctly zonate leaves; flowers medium¬
sized, in small trusses, scarlet. It appears to be an early and profuse
bloomer ; and producing bright-coloured flowers, and decidedly horse¬
shoe-marked foliage, is to be recommended.

34. Bishopstowe. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit ; leaves
boldly zonate; flowers medium -sized, in compact trusses, bright scar¬
let. A good old sort.

35. British Flag. From Mr. Turner and Mr. Taylor. Medium
spreading habit ; leaves distinctly zoned and mottled with green ;
flower-stalks pale-coloured ; flowers large, in medium-sized trusses,
light scarlet. It was considered a good and useful variety for in-door
culture, in greenhouses and conservatories.

36. Captivation. — From Mr. Turner and Mr. Scott. Vigorous
habit, with boldly zonate leaves ; flowers full size, in bold long-stalked
trusses, scarlet. It is similar in character to Empress of the French,
but the trusses are bolder, and it was pronounced a good variety of the
large or vigorous habited series.

140

THE FLORIST.

37. Clarissa. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit ;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers small, in compact trusses, scarlet.

3S. Compactum. — Prom the Society’s collection. Coarse habit ;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers small, in large compact trusses, scar¬
let. Inferior as here grown, but a good variety for in-door culture.

39. Compactum coccineum. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous habit ;
leaves boldly zonate ; flowers small, in compact trusses, scarlet. Similar
to Royalist and Bishopstoioe, but not so bright in colour.

40. Conway’s Royalist. — From the Society’s collection. Medium
habit, rather spreading ; leaves boldly zonate ; flowers small, in com¬
pact trusses, bright scarlet. It is similar to Bishopstowe^ but rather
dwarfer, and is a useful variety.

41. Cottage Maid. — From Mr. Scott. Medium habit; leaves
boldly zonate ; flowers medium-sized, scarlet. Inferior.

42. Empress of the French. From Mr. Turner and Messrs. Low
& Co. Vigorous habit, with boldly zonate leaves ; flowers large, in bold
trusses, scarlet. The variety is rather coarse, and was considered in¬
ferior to British Flag.

43. Fire Queen. — From Mr. Scott. Medium habit; leaves indis¬
tinctly zonate ; flowers scarlet, of medium size, loose. An inferior
sort.

44. General Pellissier. — Prom Messrs. Fraser and Mr. Scott.
Medium habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flower-stalks pale ; flowers
medium-sized, tolerably well formed,* in moderate trusses, scarlet.
Inferior.

45. Glory of Somerset. — From Mr. Scott. Medium habit ; leaves
zonate. This variety did not flower, but is said to be a dark scarlet
with white eye.

46. Ivery’s Pet. — From Mr. Scott. Medium habit ; leaves boldly
zonate ; flowers medium sized, scarlet. Inferior.

47. Lilliput. — From Mr. Turner. Very dwarf ; leaves small, with
distinct dark zone ; flowers medium-sized, very bright scarlet. This
variety proved to be a little gem.

48. Martin Gireau. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Vigorous ;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers large, in bold long stalked trusses,
light scarlet. A good variety, with fine bold infloresence.

49. New Globe. — From Messrs. Fraser. Vigorous habit ; leaves
boldly zonate ; flowers small, in compact trusses, bright scarlet. In
the way of Bishopstowe. The foliage is fine, and the colour of the
flowers good.

50. Orion. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium habit; leaves
boldly zonate ; flowers medium sized, loose, scarlet. Inferior.

51. Queen of England. — From Mr. Scott. Vigorous, with boldly
zonate leaves ; flowers large, of good shape, produced in fair-sized
trusses, bright scarlet. A variety of good properties. The same va¬
riety was received under the name of Excellence, apparently a mis¬
nomer.

52. Reidi. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit ; leaves boldly
zonate ; flowers scarlet. This variety was not well in flower, but was
considered inferior.

MAY.

141

53. Richmond Gem. — From Messrs. Fraser and Mr. Scott. Vigorous
habit ; leaves slightly zonate, mottled with green ; flowers light scarlet,
rather loose. It is, however, a fine pot plant.

54. Roi de Feu. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium
habit ; leaves boldly zonate ; flowers small, in compact trusses, very
bright scarlet. In the way of Bishopstowe, but no improvement.

55. Scarlet Globe. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons and Messrs.
Low & Co. Medium habit ; leaves zoned ; flowers large, in fair-sized
trusses, bright scarlet. Inferior.

56. Scarlet Perfection. — From Mr. Turner. Also called Attraction
and Boule de Feu. Medium habit ; leaves faintly zonate ; flowers in
fair-sized trusses, bright scarlet. It is a very fine variety.

57. Scarlet Unique. — From Mr. Ingram. Medium habit ; leaves
distinctly zonate, and marbled with green ; flower-stalks pale ; flowers
small, in small trusses, scarlet. Inferior.

58. Shrubland Scarlet. — From Mr. Taylor. Vigorous habit ; the
leaves faintly zonate ; flowers scarlet, in large showy heads. A variety
called Eclipse^ sent by Messrs. Fraser, appeared to be the same as
this.

59. Village Maid. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Vigorous, with
boldly zonate leaves ; flowers medium-sized, in moderate trusses,
rather loose, scarlet. Inferior.

§ 2. Flowers cerise^ or rosy -scarlet.

60. Beauty of the Parterre. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium
habit, with indistinctly zonate leaves ; flower-stalks pale ; flowers
small, in compact trusses, of a lively rosy-scarlet. Inferior.

61. Cerise Unique. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit; the
leaves slightly zonate ; flowers small, cerise-scarlet. Inferior.

62. Comte de Morny. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Dwarf ; leaves
indistinctly zonate; flow^ers well-formed, in fair- sized trusses, lively
cerise or rosy- scarlet. Inferior.

63. Emperor. — From Mr. Turner. Dwarf and vigorous ; with
boldly zonate leaves ; flowws in small trusses, rosy-scarlet. Inferior.

64. Fran9ois Chardine. — From Messrs. Fraser and Messrs. Low &
Co. Medium habit ; with boldly zonate leaves ; flowers large, well
formed, in medium-sized trusses, deep rosy or salmony- scarlet. A
fine variety, near to Mons. Martin, but having better foliage.

65. Lady Dorothy Neville. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Dw'arf
spreading habit ; leaves distinctly zonate, and mottled with green ;
flower- stalks pale ; flowers above medium size, rather quartered, rosy
or cerise -scarlet. Inferior.

66. Leoni. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit ; leaves
distinctly zonate; flowers large, in moderate -sized trusses, cerise or
rosy- scarlet. A promising variety, but not well flowered.

67. Mons. August. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium
habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers large, well formed, rosy or
cerise- scarlet A promising variety.

68. Mons. Deschamps. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Dwarf;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers well formed, cerise-scarlet. Inferior.

142

THE FLORIST.

69. Mons. Martin. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons, Mr. Turner,
and Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit ; leaves distinctly zoned ; flowers
large, well formed in compact trusses, of a lively rosy-scarlet, or bright
cerise-scarlet, like Lady Middleton. This is a fine sort, in the way of
Rubens and Lady Middleton, and one well deserving of cultivation.

70. Paul Labbe. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium and somewhat
erect habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers of good size and fine form,
but produced in small trusses, rosy-salmon. A fine variety for pots.

71. Picturatum. — From Mr. Hally. Medium habit ; leaves indis¬
tinctly zonate ; flowers deep rose. This variety scarcely came into
bloom.

72. Rubens. — From Mr. Taylor. Moderately vigorous; leaves zo¬
nate ; flowers large, fine form, produced in good-sized compact trusses ;
cerise-pink. A fine variety for all purposes.

73. Sheen Rival. — From Mr. Kinghorn. Medium and somewhat
spreading habit, with distinctly zonate leaves ; flower-stalks pale ;
flowers large, well formed, in bold compact trusses, cerise-scarlet. One
of the best varieties in cultivation.

74. Surprise. — From Mr. Turner. Dwarf, with zonate leaves, dis¬
tinctly marked with mottled green ; flowers medium-sized, in compact
trusses, rosy-scarlet. Inferior.

75. Talma. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit ;
leaves slightly zonate ; flowers rosy-scarlet.

76. The Bishop. — From Mr. Scott. Medium habit; a very distinct
variety, the leaves green, with a yellowish green centre, and a dark
zone ; flowers large, in large trusses, rather loose, rosy-scarlet ; they
are produced on pale-coloured stalks. Though a distinct sort, it is of
inferior properties.

§ 3. Flowers salmon or flesh- colour,

77. Aurora. — From Mr. Hally. Dwarf ; leaves distinctly zonate ;
flowers deep salmon-pink, not well developed. The variety is evidently
not adapted for open air culture in such a season as the past, though a
very beautiful object for pot culture.

78. Blackheath Beauty. — From Mr. Hally. Dwarf ; leaves dis¬
tinctly zonate ; flowers pinkish-blush. This, like Aurora, is a beau-
ful little plant for pot culture, but in seasons like the past is not suited
for bedding.

79. Cherry Cheek. — From Mr. Taylor. Vigorous ; leaves large,
zonate ; flowers medium- sized, deep salmon -pink. Inferior.

80. Chione. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers medium-sized, flesh-colour. Inferior.

81. Criterion. — From Mr. Taylor, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Turner.
Moderately vigorous habit ; leaves large, distinctly zonate ; flowers
well formed, in compact trusses, flesh-colour or blush. Ineffective,
and evidently not suited for out-door culture in seasons like the past.

82. Prince Louis of Hesse. — From Mr. Ingram. Medium habit,
with the erectish growth of Paul Labbe; leaves distinctly zonate;
flowers large, well formed, salmon-red, paler towards the edges. This,
which was grown as seedling A, was pronounced a first-class variety

MAY.

143

of the salmon-coloured series. Mr, Ingram states that it is very pretty
when grown in the shade.

83. Kingsbury Pet. — From Mr. Turner, Messrs. Fraser, and Mr.
Scott. Medium habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers of good form,
produced in fair-sized trusses, salmon or pinkish flesh-colour. A good
variety for pot culture, but not equal to Aurora.

84. Lady Emily Stanley. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit ;
leaves boldly zonate ; flowers flesh colour, in small trusses. Inferior.

85. Madame Chardine. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium habit ;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers rosy-salmon. Inferior.

§ 4. Flowers rose-pink.

86. Amy. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit ;
leaves with distinct dark zone; flowers rose -pink, white on the upper
petals. A very poor and inferior sort.

87* Frogmore Seedling. — From Mr. Taylor. Medium compact
habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers narrow petaled, deep rose-pink.
Inferior.

88. Ingram’s Seedling. — From Mr. Ingram. Medium habit ;

leaves faintly zonate ; flowers small, rose-pink. Inferior.

89. Minnie. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Medium habit ;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers medium-sized, in moderate trusses,
deep rosy-pink, white on the upper petals. Inferior.

90. Princess Royal. — From Mr. Ingram. Dwarf compact habit ;
leaves faintly zonate ; flowers small, deep rose-pink, with white on the
upper petals. Inferior to others of this colour.

91. Tom Thumb’s Bride. — From Mr. Turner. Dwarf, with slightly
zonate leaves ; flowers small, in small trusses, deep rose-pink, with
white on the upper petals. Not equal to Rose Queen.

§ 5. Flowers blush with pink centre.

92. Anthony Lamotte. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium habit ;
leaves boldly zonate ; flowers medium-sized, of good form, in small close
trusses, whitish with pink centre. Not equal to Henri de Beaudot, and
paler in colour.

93. Comte de Morny. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium habit ;
leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers small, in small close trusses, whitish,
with salmon -pink centre. This was similar to Anthony Lamotte,
and quite distinct from another variety under a similar name, also
contributed by Messrs. Low.

94. Henri de Beaudot. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Moderately
vigorous in habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers medium-sized, in
moderate- sized trusses, of good form, whitish, with a large distinct
salmon-red centre. The best of the salmon -eyed light varieties.

95. La Coquette. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Dwarf; the
leaves slightly zonate ; flowers blush white, of a deeper blush at the
eye. Inferior.

96. Skeltoni. — From Mr. Turner, Messrs. Fraser, and Mr. Scott.
Dwarf ; the leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers small, in small trusses,
white, with blush centre. Inferior.

14

THE FLORIST.

§ 6. Flowers white.

97- Auber Henderson. — From Mr. Scott. Dwarf ; leaves slight
zonate ; flowers white, of tolerably good form. It is now surpassed by
other white varieties.

98. Boule de Neige. — From Mr. Turner. Moderately vigorous
habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers small, of good form, white.
A good variety, but interior to Madame Yaucher.

99. Lady Turner. — From Mr. Scott. Moderately dwarf habit ;
leaves distinctly zonate, white. Not well developed.

100. Madame Vaucher. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium
habit ; leaves distinctly zonate ; flowers of moderate size, well formed,
produced in compact trusses, white. This was adjudged to be one of
the best white sorts.

101. Miss Emily Field. — From Mr. Scott. Dwarf; leaves faintly
zoned ; flowers blush-white. Inferior.

102. Niveum floribundum. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Dwarf ;
leaves with distinct dark zone ; flowers in medium-sized compact
trusses, well formed, white. A good white variety, but not considered
equal to Madame Yaucher.

The following sorts did not produce flowers : —

103. Amy Robsart. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Dwarf ;
leaves slightly zonate.

104. Iraperatrice Eugenie. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium
habit ; leaves with a distinct narrow zone.

105. Premiere. — From Messrs. Rollisson & Sons. Vigorous and
coarse habit ; leaves distinctly zonate.

106. Royalist. — From Messrs. Fraser. Leaves indistinctly zoned.

Berks III. — Nosegay Pelargoniums.

107- Bishopstowe Nosegay. — From Mr. Taylor. Vigorous; leaves
large, faintly zonate ; flowers rosy-crimson, in large bold trusses. It
is a good large growing sort, but was considered rather coarse.

108. Crystal Palace. — From Mr. Taylor. Dwarf and compact ;
leaves •prettily marked with a narrow distinct dark zone ; flowers small,
pink. The flowers were not well developed, but its dwarf habit and
very pretty foliage are sufficient to recommend it as a desirable variety
in this section.

109. Frewer’s Nosegay. From Mr. Taylor. Medium compact
habit ; leaves zoned ; flowers small, rose-coloured, in small trusses,
which are not well filled.

110. Imperial Crimson. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit;
leaves faintly zoned ; flowers loose, produced in moderate-sized heads,
deep rosy-crimson. One of the best of the nosegay section.

111. Model Nosegay. — From Mr. Turner. Vigorous habit; leaves
faintly zoned ; flowers loose, in large heads, rose-colour. This was
considered too coarse in habit.

112. Pink Nosegay. — From Mr Taylor and Messrs. Fraser.
Medium habit ; leaves neatly zonate ; flowers large, bright rose, in
moderate- sized trusses. This is a fine variety, with flowers larger than
in any other Nosegay variety grown in the collection.

MAY.

145

113. Purple Nosegay. — From the Society’s collection. This was
also received under the name of Mrs. Vernon and Mrs. Colville.
Vigorous ; leaves large, zonate ; flowers bright rose-colour, in good
trusses, but they were not well developed. It is, however, a good large
growing sort, though somewhat coarse.

114. Red Nosegay. — From Mr. Taylor. Medium habit; leaves
bright green, with faint zone ; flowers reddish crimson, in good -sized
trusses. A variety of good habit, and one of the best in this section.

115. Salmon Nosegay. — From Mr. Taylor. Vigorous; leaves large,
zonate ; flowers salmon-pink, in large trusses. It is a distinct large
sort, somewhat coarse.

Series IV. — Ivy- Leaved Pelargoniums.

These are all of spreading habit, and have loose narrow petaled
flowers. They are useful bedding sorts.

116. Golden Ivy-leaved. — Leaves having a motly edging of yel¬
lowish-green and zonate.

117. Scarlet, or Crimson Ivy-leaved. — From Messrs. Fraser. Leaves
green ; flowers loose, rosy-crimson.

118. Variegated Ivy-leaved. — From Messrs. Fraser. Leaves
cupped, silver-edged ; flowers lilac.

119. Variegated Crimson Ivy-leaved. — From Messrs. Low & Co.
Leaves cupped, silver-edged ; flowers pink.

120. White Ivy-leaved. — From Messrs. Fraser. Leaves green,
slightly blotched in the centre; flowers large, white.

Series V. — Variegated-Leaved Pelargoniums.

§ 1. Leaves golden or yellowish edged.

121. Golden Chain. — From Mr. Scott. Leaves flat, golden-edged ;
not in flower. Well known as one of the most useful bedding sorts for
special purposes.

122. Lady Cottenham. — From Mr. Turner and Mr. Scott. Medium
habit ; leaves flat with yellowish-green edge, and faintly zonate ;
flowers deep pink, or rose-colour. A useful sort.

§ 2. Leaves silvery or creamy-edged. Flowers scarlet.

123. Alma. — From Mr. Scott, Mr. Turner, Mr. Taylor, and Messrs.
Fraser. Medium habit ; leaves broad, flattish, white edged ; flowers
medium-sized, in compact trusses, deep reddish scarlet. A first-class
variety.

124. Annie. — From Mr. Kinghorn. Dwarf compact habit ; leaves
with a whitish edge ; flowers large, light orange -scarlet, rather loose.
It is one of the more desirable varieties, similar to that called Flower of
the Day^ but having better foliage.

125. Bijou. — From Messrs. Low & Co., Messrs. Fraser, and Mr.
Turner. Medium habit ; leaves rather convex, white-edged ; flowers
large, well formed, bright scarlet. This is one of the finest varieties in
cultivation, and was considered to be quite A 1.

126. Brilliant. — From Mr. Taylor. Medium habit; this, which is
a variegated sport from Tom Thumh^ has leaves slightly edged with
white, the edge more or less abortive p flowers bright scarlet. It is a
useful sort.

vox-. XV., NO. CLxr.

I.

14(5

THE FLOlilST.

127. Burning Bush. — From Mr. Hally. Dwarf ; leaves convex
edged with creamy-white, and zoned with dark red, pinkish on the
younger parts ; flowers of good form, in fair trusses, medium- sized,
light scarlet. A very excellent variety.

128. Countess of Warwick. — From Mr. Kinghorn, Messrs. Low &
Co., and Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit ; leaves rather cupped, silver-
edged, with distinct dark zone ; flowers medium-sized, in compact
trusses, bright scarlet. It is one of the best varieties, and is good
either for beds or pot culture.

129. Jane. — From Mr. Turner. Vigorous, with spreading one¬
sided habit of growth ; flowers large, well formed, light scarlet. It is,
however, inferior to other sorts.

130. Julia. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit ; leaves having a
creamy fidge ; flowers medium-sized, in good trusses, scarlet. A dis¬
tinct and good variety.

131. Mountain of Light. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit;
leaves convex, white edged ; flowers scarlet. Inferior.

132. Mrs. Lenox. — From Mr. Taylor. Medium habit; the growth
rather one-sided ; leaves with distinct white edge ; flowers bright
scarlet, in sniiall trusses. It was considered to be inferior to Alma.

133. Perfection. — From Messrs. Low & Co. Medium habit ; leaves
flattish with broad white edge, and mottled green surface ; flowers of
tolerable form, in fine trusses, bright light scarlet. A variety of good
properties.

134. Picturatum. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit; leaves with
a creamy edge and zoned with red ; flowers of medium size, in com¬
pact trusses, scarlet. A pretty variety for pot culture, but apparently
not suited for beds.

135. Scarlet variegated. — From Mr. Taylor. Medium habit; leaves
cupped, with creamy or slightly silvered edge ; flowers loose, crimson
scarlet.

136. Scintillatum. — From Mr. Hally. Medium habit ; leaves
cupped, creamy silver-edged, and dark -zoned ; flowers well formed, of
medium size, and produced in good trusses, deep scarlet. It is a very
beautiful variety.

'Ploizers cerise, or light rosy-scarlet.

137. Attraction.^ — From Mr. Kinghorn. Leaves creamy-edged, and
zonate ; flowers cerise-scarlet ; not in good condition.

138. Bridal Wreath. From Mr. Turner and Mr. Scott. Medium
habit; leaves white-edged ; flowers rosy-scarlet above medium size.
Inferior.

139. Fairy Nymph. — From Mr. Turner. Medium habit; leaves
rather cupped, white-edged ; flowers cerise-scarlet, in small trusses.
An inferior variety.

140. Flower of the Day. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit ;
leaves rather cupped, creamy-edged ; flowers light or cerise-scarlet, of
medium size, and good form, in fair-sized trusses. A good old useful
sort.

141. Flower of Spring. — From Mr. Turner. Moderately dwarf
habit ; leaves silver-edged, and mottled with green ; flowers large, of

MAY. 147

extra fine form, rosy-tinted scarlet. This is a first-class variety, fine
every way.

142. Mountain of Snow. — From Messrs. Fraser. Medium habit ;
leaves concave, white-edged ; flowers large, well formed, light salmony
scarlet. A useful variety.

143. Shottesham Pet. — From Mr. Turner. Moderately vigorous ; »
leaves cupped, silver-edged; flowers mediuni-sized, cerise-scarlet.
Inferior.

144. Variegated Tom Thumb. — From Mr. Scott. Dwarf ; leaves
white-edged ; flowers small, cerise scarlet. It is too small to be
effective. .

*** Jj'lowers reddish-crimson:

145. Lady Granville. — From Mr. Taylor. Moderately vigorous 1
leaves cupped, slightly silver-edged ; flowers loose, reddish-crimson-
inferior.

Flowers jxlnk.

146. Lilac variegated. — From Mr. Taylor, Moderately vigorous ;
leaves cupped, slightly silver-edged ; flowers pink, loose, in trusses of
considerable szie. A distinct and useful old-fashioned sort. It was
received under the name of Peach Blossom from Messrs. Low & Co.

147- St. Clair. — From Mr. Turner, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Scott.
Moderately vigorous in growth ; leaves cupped, white-edged ; flowers
rose-pink, in compact trusses, rather indifferent in form. It is, how¬
ever, distinct, and useful as a rose-coloured variegated-leaved sort.

148. Silver Queen. — From Mr. Taylor, Messrs. Low & Co., and
Mr. Turner. Medium habit ; leaves flattish,. white-edged ; flowers
loose, pink, distinct in colour, but inferior.

The following did not produce flowers : —

149. Fairy Nymph. — From Mr. Scott. Leaves silver-edged, in¬
distinctly zonate.

150. Koh-i-noor. — From Mr. Scott. Dwarf, the plant being weakly
in habit ; leaves silver-edged. Described as a bright scarlet.

SeriesW. Hybrid Bedding Pelargonium.

This name is applied to a group having more or less resemblance in
habit, foliage, and blossoms to the classes of show and fancy kinds.
There are some interesting and useful varieties in this section, but
during the last season they scarcely came into bloom, and they are
evidently not adapted for bedding out in seasons like that of 1860.
Some of them form fancy pot plants suitable for decoration.

REGENT’S PARK SPRING MEETINGS.

At the three early meetings of the Royal Botanic Society, held this
season, the following among other prizes were awarded : —

March 20. New Plants, &c. — Small Silver Medal to Mr. W. Bull,
Chelsea, for Pteris cretica albo-lineata, a fine new variegated Fern.
Bronze Medal to Mr. Bull, for Calamus Verschaffeltii, a very elegant
Palm from Madagascar, having pinnated leaves, glaucous beneath, on

148

THE FLORIST.

brownish-red stalks, which are armed with needle-shaped spines
pointing backwards. Certificate to Mr. Bull for Areca Verschaffeltii, a
vigorous growing, but elegant pinnated Palm from Madagascar, re¬
markable for having a yellow-keeled rachis to the leaves. Also to Mr.
Bull, for Rhodea japonica macrophylla fol. aureis marginatis, a herba¬
ceous plant, with bold erect lanceolate leaves, broadly edged with
yellow. First Class Certificate of Merit to Mr. James, gr. to W. F.
Watson, Esq. Isleworth, for Cineraria Lord Elgin, a variety with
remarkably smooth florets of a bright and distinct Magenta-colour ;
but somewhat reflexed forming, slightly convex flower heads. Second
class Class Certificate of Merit to Messrs. F. & A. Smith, Dulwich,
for Cineraria Queen of Spring, a very showy large-flowered variety,
having a dark disk surrounded by a ring of white on the lower half of
the florets, and tipped with bright rosy-purple. Also to Mr. Todrnan,
gr. to R. Hudson Esq., Clapham Common, for Azalea Flag of Truce, a
fine white semi-double variety, with large blossoms resembling those of
a double Oleander.

Of this class of plants there were also exhibited the following ; — From
Mr. Todrnan, Clapham ; Azaleas — Miss Amelia, very light rose-colour,
slightly spotted ; Miss Julia, bright rose ; Lord Macaulay, large bright
rose, well spotted ; Advancer, a lively rose in the way of Triumphans ;
Hope, small bright rose ; all flowers of average merit but wanting in
distinctness. EVom Messrs. Parker & Williams, Holloway ; a small-
flowered Cattleya, allied to Mossiee, with a purplish lip, lemon -coloured
at the edge towards the inflected portion. From Messrs. Cutbush &
Son, Highgate : Begonia Prince of Wales, a handsome variety very
closely resembling Marshallii. From Mr. Bull, Chelsea : Agathea
coelestis fol. variegatis, an uncertain dwarf variegated bedding plant,
which had been already rewarded at the Society’s summer ex¬
hibitions. From Mr. James, Isleworth: Cinerarias — Lord Raglan and
Lord Clyde, two deep purple-rose seifs. From Mr. Wiggins, Isle¬
worth : Cinerarias — Victor, and Maiden Fair, two rose-tipped, grey-
eyed sorts. From Mr. Todrnan, Clapham : Cinerarias — Attraction,
white, scarcely tipped, and with a purple disk; Clapham Defiance,
rose-purple with white ring around the dark disk, a showy but old
fashioned sort ; Perfection, similar in colour to Clapham Defiance, but
with a grey disk; General Simpson, bright rose purple. EVom Messrs.
E\ and A. Smith, Dulwich : Cinerarias — Mammoth, very large,
irregularly tipped with rose ; Sanspareil, purple-shaded rose, with
white ring around the disk ; Symmetry, unevenly and faintly tfpped
with rose, and having a dark disk ; Standard, deep blue, white at the
base, with gi-ey eye ; King of Italy, deep crimson with dark disk ;
Delicata, a rather pretty sort, pure white, with a slight tip of bright
rose ; Celestial, irregularly tipped with dark blue ; Rosa Bonheur, large
with heavy tip of rose purple.

Ap’il 3. New Plants, &c. — Small Silver MeddH to Mr. Todrnan gr.
to R. Hudson, Esq., Clapham Common, for Azalea E^'lag of Truce, a showy
semi-double white variety, producing large flowers well filled out with
petaloid filaments. It had been awarded a certificate at the previous
meeting. Bronze Medal to Messrs. Parker & Williams, Holloway,
for Statice propinqua, a half-shrubby greenhouse hybrid, raised between

MAY.

149

S. Halfordii and S. puberula, and resembling Statice profusa, a mode¬
rately vigorous free-blooming blue and white flowered hybrid of
similar origin. Also to Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea, for Citharexylon
niveum, a young plant of a broad-leaved Palm, of which the leaves are
w'hite and pulverulent beneath. Certificate to Mr. Bull for Amaryllis
vittata fol. striatis, a variety in which the leaves were marked with a
more or less regular central band of pale green. First Class Certificate
of Merit, to Mr. Todman, Clapham, for Azalea Lcrd Elgin, a showy
deep bright rose-coloured variety of good form, and neatly spotted on
the upper segments. Also to Mr. C. Turner, Slough, for Cineraria
Prairie Bird, a medium sized variety, having the florets clear violet
blue with a very small portion of white at their base ; for Cineraria
James Andrews, a new^-coloured variety with broad florets, rose, suf¬
fused with blue, so as to produce a rich purple or pucy-plum- colour,
deeper in tint than Antagonist mentioned below : and for Auricula
Bifleman, a large-flowered mulberry purple self, with circular eye and
even paste, and blooming in fine trusses. Also to Messrs. F. and A.
Smith, Dulwich, for Cineraria Queen of Spring, a brilliant variety of
good properties, having a dark brown disk, surrounded by a clear
white ring, and bright rosy tips to the florets, the colours clear, and
well defined. Second Class Certificate of Merit to Messrs. Smith for
Cineraria Antagonist, a showy, well-formed bright rose suffused with
blue, producing a purplish-hued flower, lighter than James Andrews
already mentioned, and with a dark disk ; for Cineraria Rosy Morn,
an attractive bright rose-coloured variety, with a narrow ring of clear
white around the grey disk ; and for Louise, a variety in which the
florets were white at the base, tipped with deep rosy-tinted purple,
and set around a dark-coloured disk. Also to Mr. James, gr. to W.
F. Watson, Esq., Isleworth, for Cineraria Duchess of Hamilton, a very
large- flowered variety of average properties, rewarded for its size ; the
flower-heads have a dark-coloured disk, surrounded by a white ring,
and heavy tips of rosy purple. Also to Mr. Bull, for Primula sinensis
(fimbriata) nivea plena, and rubella plena, two pretty semidouble
varieties, which it has been stated are perpetuated by seeds, and will
thus form useful decorative objects, though individually inferior to
some of the fine double kinds already known.

There were also exhibited in this class the following additional sub¬
jects : — From Messrs. Jackson & Son, Kingston : — Sauromatium gut-
talum, a singular Araceous plant, flowering before the leaves are
produced, the spathe curiously spotted with brown. From Mr. Tod¬
man, Clapham : — Azaleas — Rosy Morn, light rose, deficient in spot¬
ting ; Lord Clyde, salmony red, faintly spotted ; Rose Celestial, clear
bright rose, full medium size, smooth, and of good form and substance,
but deficient in spotting ; Bridesmaid, light rose, slightly spotted, but
of a faded-looking tint ; crispiflora rosea, large crispy clear rose. These
were for the most part good varieties of average merit, but wanting in
distinctness, and in some cases deficient in the spotting which produces
so fine an effect in many varieties of this flower. From Mr. Bull ;
Dracaena spectabilis, a narrow green-leaved sort, not at all showy in
its present state. From Mr. C. Turner : Rose John Waterer, a hybrid
perpetual of a deep rose colour filled with small confused petals ; also

150

THE FLORIST.

Madame Boll, a fine light rose, coloured sort ; Cineraria Lurline, a
pretty and showy kind, rewarded last season, having the florets heavily
tipped with deep rose, and a white ring around the dark disk ; also,
more or less closely resembling this in colour and general character.
Fairy King, Fleur de Marie, Miss Franklin, Amber Witch, and Miss
Eyles — the latter a pretty flower, selected for a certificate last season.
Reynolds Hole, a bright crimson self, rewarded last season, showy but
with somewhat ribbed florets ; Great Western, rosy self suffused with
blue ; Eton Boy, crimson self ; Maid of Astolat, white with dark disk,
and slight tip of rosy-purple; also Auricula Volunteer, a fine dark
maroon self rewarded last year ; and North Star, rough purple self.
From Messrs. Dobson & Son, Isleworth : Cinerarias — Conqueror, a
showy large bright rose-crimson self, with grey eye ; Meteor, bright
rose self ; and Admiration, one of the heavily rose-tipped class. From
Mr. James, Isleworth : Cineraria, Lord Elgin, rewarded at the last
meeting. From Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate : — Cineraria,
Miss Burdett Coutts, a purple tipped variety, inferior to Louise.
From Messrs. F. & A. Smith, Dulwich : Cineraria Prima Donna,
dark disk, and moderately heavy tip of bright rose ; Criterion, dark
disk, with slight purple tip ; Lilacina, light lilac-tinted rose ; Orion,
large, with small dark disk, and uneven tips of deep rose ; Perfecta,
crimson self, very near Reynolds Hole ; Geant des Batailles, good
bright crimson self, rewarded last season ; Sanspareil, pucy-tinted rose
with grey eye ; Standard, grey eye, and heavy purple tips ; also
Pelargonium Snowdrop, an early forcing variety with white flowers in
the way of Album multiflorum : and Pelargonium floribundum, rose
colour, with feathery spot.

April 24. New Plants, &c. — Small Silver Medal to Miss Clark¬
son, Avenue Road, St. John’s Wood, for Athyrium Filix-foemina, var.
Frizellise, a remarkably elegant and curious form of Lady Fern, in
which the pinnee were reduced to small flabellate bodies resembling
the pinnoe of Asplenium flabellifolium, thus forming a narrow linear
frond. Bronze Medal to Mr. B. Williams, Paradise Nursery, LIollo-
way, for Rhododendron Madame Wagner, a beautiful variety in which
the flowers are white edged with bright rose-colour. Bronze Medal to
Mr. W. Bull, Nurseryman, Chelsea, for Pteris rubro-nervia, an ele¬
gant free-growing Fern having a red midrib to the pedately pinnato-
pinnatifid fronds. Certificate to Mr. Bull, for Erica “ mediterranea
alba,” a very dwarf, white -flowered, hardy Heath, resembling E.
carnea in habit. First Class Certificate to Mr. Turner, Slough, for
Variegated Pelargonium Clara, a variety with w^ell-marked foliage
having an orange-coloured zone and gold margin, the flowers of a deep
bright scarlet, and well formed. First Class Certificate to Mr. Turner,
for Pelargonium Herald of Spring, a horse-shoe-leaved variety with
very large and finely-formed flowers of a lively orange-tinted cerise.
First Class Certificate to Cineraria Miss Franklin, a variety with very
large flower heads, which have heavily rosy-crimson tipped florets, and
a clear ring of white around the dark disk ; a variety of large size
combined with good properties. First Class Certificate to Messrs. F. &
A. Smith, Dulwich, for Cineraria Magnum Bonum, another large-

MAY.

151

flowered and ornamental variety, having a dark disk, and white florets
with a moderate tip of blue. Second Class Certificate to Messrs. F. &
A. Smith, for Cineraria Enchantress, a bright-looking and effective
kind, useful for decorative purposes, the florets white at the base heavily
tipped with reddish purple, and the disk dark-coloured. Second
Class Certificate to Mr. Turner, for Cineraria the Colleen Bawn, a
variety of diffusely branched habit, the flowers having a dark disk, and
white florets with slight and rather irregular tips of blue ; a pretty
decorative sort. Second Class Certificate to Mr. Turner, for Cineraria
Great Western, a distinct and attractive self-coloured variety, of a
purple-flushed rose colour, and having a dark disk. Second Class
Certificate to Mr. Turner, for Pelargonium Prince of Hesse, a fine horse¬
shoe-leaved variety, having large finely-formed flowers, of a delicate
salmon-pink, paler towards the edges. Second Class Certificate to
Mr. Turner, for Auricula Rev. G. Jeans, a variety with large grey-
edged flowers, having maroon markings, and an even paste ; a useful
second-rate flower.

Of this class of subjects there were also shown many others to which
no awards were made.

PALMS.

There are few places in Europe where so good an idea can be formed
of the luxuriance and variety of tropical vegetation as in the noble Palm
house of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Standing in the gallery,
we look down upon Bananas, Spice-plants, and hundreds of the most
characteristic trees of hot countries. Here we always find some plant
of peculiar interest in flower or fruit. Last year a member of the
Cocoa-nut genus blossomed for the first time. This gigantic and yet
graceful tree — the Cocos plumosa — produced an enormous mass of pale
primrose coloured flower-spikes, which for several days were as beau¬
tiful as a plume of feathers. The flowers have now been succeeded by
many fruits, which are rapidly progressing towards maturity. The
Wine Palm, Caryota urens, is now in blossom; this is the first time
this glorious tree has produced perfect inflorescence in Europe ; it has
previously made one or two abortive attempts to flower, but never
accomplished the feat so successfully as at the present time. Another
species, which is often confounded with this, blooms much more freely,
and that even in a small state, viz., the Caryota sobolifera. C. urens is
a common tree throughout the warmer parts of India and the East
Indian islands. It is a useful as well as ornamental Palm. By simply
tapping it the natives obtain, every day in summer, from a single tree,
as much as a hundred pints of a very pleasant beverage ; on this
account the tree obtains the name of the Toddy Palm. Its fruit is not
edible, the outer covering of it being of so acrid a nature as to blister
the mouth. Seaforthia elegans is also producing flowers of an elegant
and delicate rose colour. This is the Australian Cabbage Palm, so
called because the young leaves form a by no means disagreeable addition
to the dinner table. The infiorescenoe of Areca Baueri, the Norfolk
Island Palm, looks like an elegantly-formed piece of cream-coloured
coral. Sabal umbraculifera, the gigantic Fan Palm of the West Indies,

152

THE ELOIllST.

is laden with large bunches of its black, shining fruits, each about the
size of a Grape berry.

Popular taste inclines to the cultivation of plants remarkable either
for their form, size, or colouring of their foliage ; we feel confident,
therefore, that Palms will shortly play an important part in this move¬
ment. But, says some one. Palms cannot be properly cultivated except
in a house of gigantic proportions, like that at Kew ; and who can
afford such a stove, except, indeed, the ducal proprietor of Chatsworth ?
Yes, that is the point which has hitherto kept them out of our exhi¬
bitions ; that idea has prevented our nurserymen from obtaining a stock
of Palms, and discouraged almost every one who would have tried the
experiment. And yet there is just as much error in the matter as truth,
I have practically studied horticulture in more than half a dozen diffe¬
rent countries, and my native land is the only one in which Palms are
considered unfit for general cultivation. In Prussia, in Saxony, in
Austria, in Hanover, in Belgium, you will hardly find a garden of any
note in which Palms are not grown for decorative purposes. There
are dozens of species which may be grown in the same sized pots, and
not occupy more room than most of the plants which are cultivated for
the beauty of their foliage. We hope soon to see prizes offered specially
for Palms, as they are now for Dracaenas. Variety is what we want
among fine-foliaged plants ; we want as many kinds of gracefully
growing plants as can be obtained, why then should we not seek them
among Palms, whose great characteristic features are elegance and
beauty. There are Palms which may be grown in the greenhouse, as
well as those which require a stove. There are bright colours among
Palms, too — as for instance, Latania rubra, L. aurea, and Areca Vers-
chaffeltii ; while for gracefulness of appearance there are few Ferns
which could rival a well-grown plant of many species of Calamus and
Chamtedorea. The only objection which can be brought against Palms
is, that they grow too large ; but people forget the time it takes them to
attain any great size. A specimen of either of those we have named,
or of many others which could be mentioned, would take from 10 to 25
years before it became too large for exhibition purposes, and surely that
is as long as we can expect any plant to remain in perfection.

So great is the demand for Palms upon the continent, that some
nurserymen devote themselves almost exclusively to their cultivation,
and in every establishment at least one or two houses are set apart for
them. The nursery of M. Augustin, of Wildpark, near Potsdam, is
one of the most noted for these plants. Every excursionist who goes to
Berlin should visit this garden ; it is only a trip of some 15 or 16 miles
from that city. Palms will be found growing there, not by the dozen,
or the score, not even by the hundred, but b^y thousands and tens of
thousands. It is almost impossible to conceive the number of them
raised in this establishment without personal inspection. M. Augustin’s
catalogue contains the names of between two and three hundred species,
and of almost all of them he has a large stock. All I can say in con¬
clusion is, that I hope Palms may soon become as plentiful as Ferns in
this country. Should the cultivation of this family be once fairly
started, there cannot be the slightest doubt that they will become
thoroughly and generally popular. Delta,

MAY.

153

ROSES.

I EXPECT the late Russian winter will effect one or two reforms in
Rose growing, by what I hear and see. It is a fact that nearly all the
standards and worked Roses are dead ; while those growing on their
own bottoms, though the upper wood may be killed, are breaking strongly
from the bottom. La Reine, Geant, Duchess of Sutherland, Lord
Raglan, Madame Vidot, Prince Leon, Madame Knorr, Lord Palmers¬
ton, Eugene Appert, Anna des Diesbach, Cardinal Patrizzi, La Ville
de St. Denis, and a host of others, struck from cuttings, and growing
in an exposed situation, are throwing up shoots strongly from the
bottom ; and so are even Devoniensis and Souvenir de la Malmaison.
Of course it will take some time to work up a stock on their own roots,
as it takes time and good cuttings to do it ; but as we must come to
this, the sooner it is set about the belter.

Standard Roses are now being generally condemned ; the Florist has
taken the lead in the matter ; and I see the veteran king of Rose
growers feels that their days are numbered ; and his business shrewd¬
ness has already suggested what form the next style of fashion in Roses
is to assume. I am not disposed to question the soundness of his
authority, but would advise amateurs like myself to cultivate their own
stock. In September and October next all the sound healthy year’s
wood will grow if made into cuttings and put firm into a sandy compost
and covered wdth a handglass. In a sandy soil and a somewhat shel¬
tered situation the handglass is not necessary, as I have succeeded well
without ; but during frost you are enabled to protect the cuttings more
readily ; and some of the Chinas, Teas, and tender Perpetuals strike
quicker with a glass over them. The glasses should have moveable
tops, to give air, so as to keep the cuttings dry. If the cuttings are
taken off in August or September, and if you can then get the wood
tolerably well ripened, it is the best season. (They strike best when
not fully ripened, but just when the wood begins to cut firm.) They
will form roots freely during the autumn and winter, and you must
judge by the progress of the tops as to the state they are in, as they
will probably make a start to grow, in which case keep them cool by
removing the glass top, or giving plenty of air. By March or the
beginning of April you may take up the cuttings and transfer them to
a mellow piece of ground, in rows, 18 inches apart, to grow a year
before final planting — or to beds, as may be required, d he cuttings may
vary from 6 to 8 or 9 inches in length, of which two joints with buds
will be above the ground when the cutting is inserted, and the rest
below. The heel of the cutting should be at a joint, which should be
clean cut through, and the buds taken out of that part of the cutting
below the surface, to prevent future suckers. When put into the
ground without glasses, any time during the autumn will do. These
will have to remain all the following summer, and should therefore
have more room, as some of the kinds will make a good growth.

In detailing my own plan, and by asking you to publish it, I
may do a service to others who, like myself, not have the means
of buying largely every year worked Roses, and yet are desirous of
possessing in abundance the Queen of flowers. What standards I have

154

THE FLORIST.

I manufacture from my dwarfs. Where the sort is capable of forming
a strong shoot, I keep it, and remove all the rest, and the buds from
this one, up to two or three feet, to which they are cut back and left to
form a head, which they will soon do. Of course I have to buy new
kinds, which are worked, but I keep them for stock, to take cuttings
from, and tliink myself lucky if they live long enough to supply me
with what I want before they die, for they are very short-lived with me,
on my dry, sandy soil. Amateur.

NOTES ON THE MONTH.

Three weeks, aye a month, of dry weather has done wonders for the
land, and what was all mud and bird-lime in March is now in fine
order for seeds of all kinds ; and the thousands of couch fires one sees
in crossing the country indicate pretty clearly not only the state of the
weather, but the vast extent of land over which couch and other weeds
had spread themselves unchecked during 1860, and which the dry
days of April have now mostly converted into ashes, to the great relief
of the farmer and the benefit of the future Barley and Turnip crops.
What is good for the farm cannot be bad for the gardener, and so far
nothing could have happened more opportunely for those who have to
deal with heavy clay soils ; for where these have been properly worked
they must have benefited largely by the process and be fit for every
description of crop. But the nights have been frosty (as usual) of late,
and our register indicated 6*^ ot I’rost on the morning of the 20th, and
5° the morning following, and this with a keen easterly wind. We
felt a somewhat queer sensation when reading the thermometer’s doings
for the night, considering that all our wall Plums, Cherries, and Pears
were in full bloom, and that 1860 had quietened our anxiety as to wall
Peaches for a year or two, for 6° of frost under such circumstances is
fearful odds to fight against. Plowever, we are glad to say, from what
we can see at present, no damage has occurred to anything on tlie walls —
a breadth of tiffany, just under the coping, kept off vertical frost; and
as the days previous had been bright, the walls retained some degree of
heat, we should suppose sufficient to keep the air adjoining just above
freezing point ; and then the atmosphere was dry, which we have found
has always a great deal to do with the matter. What Pears and Plums
were in bloom on cur orchard trees have been destroyed, and indeed
every year’s experience only confirms more strongly our previous
conviction as to the impolicy of growing such fruit as choice Pears, Plums,
as orchard fruits, when the uncertainties of our climate are considered.

The planter, too, looking forward to a showery April, may have felt
some disappointment at the absence of rain ; and if he was imprudent
to plant evergreens in March, most likely will be taught a useful lesson,
and will be led to conclude that September and October are rather more
fortu nate months for evergreen planters than IMarch or April.

The Horticultural Society seems just now troubled with an embarras
des riches — strange contrast to former times. £50,000 expended on
21 acres of ground, and now £20,000 more wanted, while one of the
Co uncil told the meeting held the other day that they did not

MAY.

155

want them to fin'd the money — there was no difficulty about getting
that — they only wanted their consent to allow them to spend it ; and
so, as they were told not to trouble about the cash, the meeting
unanimously gave the council the power to borrow the additional sum.
We shall see what we shall see when this £70,000 is expended, and
the big building in the adjoining ground complete in 1862 ; and surely
a greater architectural monstrosity was never concocted, to “press the
earth with dulness and foul shapes,” We hope that the Council
of the Horticultural Society will not needlessly hurry Mr. Eyles to a
completion before the work can be legitimately done, remembering that
work done in a hurry is seldom well done, and that it would be far
wiser to wait a little longer for some portions of his work to be completed
than to have it done imperfectly. G. F.

[Quite true the amount to be expended is a large sum, but we
believe the Council have expectations of very large receipts which will
soon enable them to pay off the Debenture Capital. — Editor of
Florist^

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Specimens of the former expected to bloom
as finely as it is possible to have them should be placed, before they
begin to open their blooms, where a moist warm temperature can be
maintained, carefully shading them from the sun as soon as the flowers
begin to open. Syringe the plants overhead morning and evening. Shut
up the house early on the afternoons of bright days, and sprinkle
passages, walls, and every available surface, so as to thoroughly saturate
the atmosphere with moisture ; and also be careful to have the balls
thoroughly moist, for unless the plants are freely supplied with water at the
root the flowers may be expected to be undersized and crumpled. Give
water, however, only when the ball is approaching dryness, but then
give a thorough soaking, so as to make certain about moistening the
whole of the roots. When the plants are fairly in bloom gradually
inure them to a freer circulation of air ; then remove them to a cool
house, but continue to carefully shade from the sun, and maintain a
moist atmosphere, so as to preserve the blossoms as long as possible.
Plants that have bloomed should be repotted at once if they require
more pot room, properly distributing and tying the shoots and placing
them in a rather close moist shady house, to encourage free growth.
Also stop gross shoots on young plants of new or other varieties in free
growth, and nicely regulate the wood of these, so as to keep them in
form, and secure the largest possible increase of size during the season,
and see that these are not allowed to suffer for the want of pot room,
and also that the whole stock is perfectly free from black thrip. Look
over and attend to last calendar’s directions as to Camellias. Some of
the early started plants will probably be setting their bloom buds
towards the end of the month ; and as soon as the buds are fairly set
these had better be removed to a cool house or a shady situation out of
doors, for if allowed to remain in a moist warm atmosphere they will

156

THE FLORIST.

be liable to start into fresh growth, and this would probably ruin the
bloom. See that the foliage of the whole stock is clean and free from
insects. Conservatory. — There will be a plentiful supply of plants at
command for the decoration of this house during this month, but do not
overcrowd to the extent of injuring any of the permanent specimens,
and use as much care in the placing of the plants in bloom as if they
were scarce, and endeavour to produce the best possible effect with the
abundance of materials at command. Ventilate freely during warm
weather, but avoid cold draughts, especially against things that have
been brought from the stove ; and use every care to maintain a moist
atmosphere, keeping tlie beds and borders well watered, and frequently
sprinkling every available surface. Also keep a sharp look out for
insects, and if red spider is perceived upon any of the permanent
specimens, give these a thorough washing with the engine or syringe ;
and apply gentle doses of tobacco smoke as often as may be necessary,
to keep aphis and thrips in check, taking care to have the house as dry
as possible before smoking ; and if only a few plants, which can be
moved, are infested, these had better be removed to some other house
or close room, so as to avoid the risk of injuring things in bloom, and
the certainty of rendering the atmosphere of the house unpleasant for
days by smoking. Attend to regulating the young w’ood of twiners
before this gets too much entangled, and see that plants of these in free
growth are properly supplied with water at the rout, particularly such
things as Passionflowers, Mandevillas, &c., which bloom upon the
young wood, and which bloom but poorly unless where they make
a vigorous and rather early growth. See that every possible effort is
used early in the month for providing a supply of plants for blooming
here throughout the summer and autumn. Gold Frames. — Bedding-
out plants which are sufficiently strong should be gradually exposed
to a free circulation of air, leaving them exposed at night only
when there is danger of frost, but shade from bright sunshine if
only to save labour in watering. Late stock, however, should be
encouraged by a close moist rather warm temperature, in order to
get them sufficiently strong for planting out as quickly as possible,
and allow of their being hardened and ready for placing in the beds
before the end of the month ; and if the weather proves favourable
towards the middle of the month, planting out may be commenced,
beginning with such things as are not the most tender and have been
well prepared by exposure to air, &c. But we would not advise
planting out if the weather appears unfavourable or frost likely to occur ;
and before beginning to plant out be certain that the whole stock is
perfectly free from green-fly, particularly Calceolarias and Verbenas,
and keep those in small pots liberally supplied with water. Flower
Garden. — Get the beds, &c., prepared for their summer occupants,
thoroughly pulverising the soil by occasional diggings wherever this can
be done ; and get the arrangement for planting decided upon at once,
so as to be able to add manure or leaf-soil for such things as will
be benefited by such dressings. The whole class of variegated Geraniums
delight in a rich light soil ; and ground to be planted with these should
have a liberal coat of old decayed manure nicely incorporated with the

MAY.

157

soil, and the dwarf Lobelias will be benefited by a similar preparation
of the ground where they are to be planted. But Verbenas — especially
the strong growing kinds — Petunias, Calceolarias, Heliotropes, &c.,
bloom more freely in a deep light rather poor soil than in strong rich
ground, and scarlet Geraniums can hardly be planted in too poor a soil.
Attend to the plants with water. After planting out never allow the
balls to get dry until the roots get good hold of the soil ; and if the
weather should prove very hot and dry, a slight shade, such as would
be afforded by sticking branches of evergreens amongst the plants,
would be beneficial, especially for such things as may not have been
well “ hardened ” before planting. If not already done, sow the more
useful and showy kinds of hardy annuals about shrubbery and herba¬
ceous borders, or wherever space can be found for them. Also plant
out in well-prepared soil. Stocks, Asters, and half-hardy annuals which
have been raised under glass, and carefully attend to these with water
until they get fairly established. Greenhouse. — Many of the New
Holland plants will now be coming in bloom, and unless these are
shaded on bright days their beauty will be but of short duration.
During bright warm weather, sprinkle the floors and passages, &c.,
frequently, so as to keep the atmosphere moist, which will greatly assist
in prolonging the beauty of specimens in bloom, and also benefit plants
making their growth ; and these should be syringed overhead on the
afternoons of bright days. Ventilate freely during warm weather, but
sparingly if drying cold winds prevail. If not already done, Epacrises
and winter-blooming Heaths should be cut back, placing them in the
closest part of the house until they “ break and those that have been
cut back, and have started into growth, should be repotted where
necessary, and any over-luxuriant shoots stopped, so as to secure close
compact specimens. Attend carefully to everything with water,
examining the plants frequently, and never water a plant without
giving enough to thoroughly moisten the whole ball, and a too free use
of the syringe after the heads are fairly formed is also apt to cause the
flowers to drop before opening. Start a fresh lot of Achimenes, Gloxinias,
and Clerodendrons, which will be extremely useful for late summer and
autumn decoration, and encourage the growth of such things as Euphorbia
jacquiniflora, Gesnera zebrina, G. cinnabarina, Aphelandras, Epi-
phyllums — the truncatum varieties ; Hebeclinium, Impatiens Jerdoniae,
Manettias, Sericographis, Sonerilas, Thyrsacanthus rutilans, which with
many others, are always extremely useful for winter blooming and
easily managed; but for early blooming they should be encouraged to
make free growth at once. See that everything is perfectly clear of
insects, and do not allow young stock to suffer for the want of pot room.

Forcing Ground. — Still continue to keep up a good heat to Cucumbers
in bearing. The linings at this time of the year are liable to get too
dry, therefore they should be examined, and if necessary turned and
well watered. Keep the shoots thin, so that leaves may have the full
benefit of air and light. Stop the shoots at eveiy joint as soon as the
fruit is visible. Water freely and occasionally with liquid manure.
Syringe the plants in clear weather, and close early in the afternoon.
Look over Melons ; stop the shoots and cut away all useless growth.
Give plenty of air during the time the fruit is setting, and place tiles

158

THE FLORIST.

under the fruit when they begin to swell. Plant out those sown last
month and sow again for succession ; likewise Cucumbers both for
frames and for ridging in the open gronnd. Give good soakings of
water to Potatoes, Carrots, &c., in frames, and remove the lights every
fine day. As soon as the frames are clear of any of these crops, fork
over the soil and close the frames for a day or two to get the soil warm,
in preparation for planting Cucumbers and Melons. Harden off
Tomatoes, Egg-plants, and tender herbs, to be in readiness for planting
out by the end of the month. Give plenty of air and water to French
Beans in pits ; and as soon as these are in bearing those growing in
pots in the forcing houses should be thrown away, as the red spider will
now be troublesome. Hardy Fruit. — The prospect of a crop of fruit
in this department is not very cheering. All fruit trees, with the
exception of Plums and Apples, have suffered from the effects of the
cold wet summer of last year, followed by an unusually severe winter,
which has caused much injury in many gardens to the unripened wood.
Peaches and Apricots have suffered most ; indeed, we hear accounts
from sorhe parts of Peach trees being totally’ killed. It is not unlikely
that many of the shoots of last year’s growth in Peach trees will die
back during the early part of the summer, when the sap in the shoots
becomes exhausted. These should be cut back to the healthy part, as
well as all other side shoots that are destitute of fruit, the object being
to furnish the trees with a fresh supply of bearing wood. Disbudding
may now be commenced, removing a few of the strongest shoots at first
from the vigorous branches ; but all the foliage on the weaker members
should be encouraged for the present, to equalise the flow of sap through¬
out the trees, and at all times retain sufficient foliage to shade the
main branches from the scorching sun. Keep a sharp watch for green¬
fly, and destroy them by using common snuff and sulphur in equal
parts, or by a wash made of tobacco, soft soap, and sulphur — 2 lbs. of
each will be sufficient to make twenty gallons ; use with the syringe in
the evening when the sun is off the trees. Go over Apricot trees and
remove all strong shoots that are not required to fill the wall. Keep a
close watch for the first appearance, of caterpillars ; about this time
they will be making their appearance, and the curling of the leaves
will indicate their whereabouts ; they are very destructive to the leaves
as well as to the young fruit, and the only Vvay to get rid of them is
to unrol the leaf and pick them out. The fruit will now require
thinning ; this should be done at different periods — the final thinning
should be done when ail danger of dropping is past. The young fruit
may be used for tarts, and it also makes an excellent preserve. Keep
down weeds in Strawberry beds, and mulch the ground round the plants
with stable litter, which will greatly assist the plants by keeping the
soil moist, and the rains will wash it clean before the fruit ripens.
Plant out early forced plants, and if kept watered in dry weather it is
likely they will produce a good crop of fruit in the autumn. Peaches
and Nectarines. — Continue to syringe the trees till the fruit begins to
ripen, and give plenty of air at all times. Tie in the shoots, and expose
the fruit as much as possible. When the fruit is swelling the tempe¬
rature may be increased with safety, and Water freely at the root. Tie
n and thin the shoots in the late houses. Give air freely, and use the

MAY.

159

syringe to keep the foliage healthy. Cherries. — Reduce the moisture
when the fruit begins to colour, at the same time increasing the tempe¬
rature to hasten their ripening. Water well at the root. When the
crop is gathered remove the trees to a shady situation. Pines. — Shift
the succession plants as they may require it, and keep up a moist growing
heat ranging about 70° at night and from 80° to 90° during sunshine ;
by all means avoid a burning bottom heat. Give plenty of air in warm
quiet weather, but always avoid a draught in the pit, for giving
front and back air to the pits at the same time is the principal cause
why the plants sometimes assume a brown and unhealthy appearance.
Give water freely to all plants and liquid manure occasionally, especi¬
ally to those in fruit. All plants intended for winter fruiting should
have their final shift, and give them more heat and less moisture, to
encourage them to start into fruit. Keep up a moist heat in the fruiting
pit, and the temperature should range from 75° to 80° through the
night, with an increase of 10° by sun-heat, Syringe and close the
house early in the afternoon. Vinery . — Continue to apply artificial
heat to all except the late houses, so that the temperature does not fall
below that previously maintained. When the fruit is perfectly ripe
the houses may be kept cool, to prevent the fruit from shrivelling.
Keep the latest Vines retarded as much as possible until they show for
fruit, when the usual treatment must be given. Clear out all plants
such as French Beans, Strawberries, &c., from the Vineries, other¬
wise red spider may be troublesome on the Vines. Assist pot Vines
by mulching with strong manure and watering with manure water.
Cut away all useless growth. Strawberries. — Introduce the last lot
of plants under glass early in the month ; this crop will keep up the
supply between the forced fruit and the ripening of those in the open
ground. Give plenty of air and water to those in bearing, and syringe
frequently to keep down red spider. Kitchen Garden. — Now that
many of the crops, such as Onions, Potatoes, Parsnips, &c., are progressing,
the hoe should be kept moving amongst them, and at the same time
thinning should commence. Plant out Cabbage, Lettuce, Walcheren,
and other Cauliflowers, and sow again for the succession crop. Look
over the seed beds, and if any failures sow again immediately. Sow
Beet, Cardccns, Salsafy, and Silver Onion, on poor soil, to have them
small for pickling. Carrots may be sown at any time through the
month, and Turnips on a cool border. Sow Dwarf Beans in light soil
on a warm border. Also Scarlet Runners and succession crops of Peas ;
these should be sown sufficiently wide to admit of two rows of winter
Greens or Broccoli between them by-and-bye. A drill of summer
Spinach may be sown in the middle for the present crop. Prick out
Celery in about three inches of rich earth placed on a hard surface ;
prepare trenches for the early crop ; plant out as soon as the plants are
sufficiently strong. Water well after planting. Sow Radishes and
small Salad in succession. Cut oat seed spikes from Seakale and
Rhubarb. Plant out tender herbs at the end of the month ; also
Tomatoes and Egg-plants. Prepare ridges for Vegetable Marrows
and Cucumbers, and plant under handglasses. Dutch Cucumbers for
pickling may be sown in rich light earth in the open ground.

160

THE FLORIST.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias, — As specimen plants will now be in full flower, great
care must be taken to see that they do not want for water. Weak
liquid manure may still be given with advantage. Shade through the
middle of the day, and give all the air you can, avoiding as much as
possible any strong current passing through them, which curls the
foliage and deteriorates the quality of the flowers. Still tie down any
overgrowing shoots to furnish the bottom of the plants, and, as advised
last month, look well to seedlings for next season’s culture. Pelar¬
goniums, — Let the plants be kept clear of each other, that free circula¬
tion of air around them may not be impeded ; they will also require a
liberal supply of water, in which they should not be stinted. Treat
them some three or four times a week with a little manure water
made by diluting sheep-dung therein. If possible, increasing care and
attention will now be required. As the plants come into bloom, let
them be well shaded from the midday sun, and carefully exclude bees
from the house. The process of tying, as detailed in previous months,
should be judiciously continued, bearing in mind that, to ensure an
even head of bloom when exhibited, the flowers should be carefully
tied out some days previously. In cases where it is wished to reserve
the bloom for late shows, let the plants be placed in a cold pit or in a
house with a northern aspect ; in each case they may need slight
protection, and take good care that all are kept clear from green- fly.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN MAY.

Auriculas^ will now be going out of bloom. If seed is desired, take
the trouble of hybridising ; if not prick off the truss, and place the
plants in a cool place sheltered from the sun and heavy rains. Pansies ,
— As these go out of bloom cut them down ; put in cuttings in a shady
border, and be very careful of mildew and dust with sulphur, otherwise no
autumn cuttings will be obtainable, and these are decidedly the best for
pot culture. Carnations and Picotees. — Alas ! my little lot is of a very
shady character, and there is not much prospect of a bloom ; but they
will require now staking and tying up, as they advance for bloom.
Bedding out will now be at its height, and those who have been fortu¬
nate enough to save theirs will be very busy. It is a subject which
requires longer directions than can be given in a calendar, and about
which a great deal has been written in former numbers of the Florist.
Greenhouse. — As Azaleas, Cinerarias, &c., are removed, more space
will be given to Geraniums, and where people have only a 12-foot
house to grow them in this is of some consequence. I of course can
never presume to stake and tie out, as I like to see variety, and this
can only be done by having small plants and allowing them to grow
naturally. Tulips will now be coming into bloom. I hope to have an
opportunity of seeing some good collections this year. They will require
now careful shading and protection from weather. In general work
care will be required to keep all things tidy, the Grass out of walks ;
and if rain comes, of which we have had a plentiful scarcity lately,
slugs will have to be watched against. D.

*Some very interesting notes on new flowers have just reached me (April 26)
from the Rev. Geo. Jeans, but too late for the present number.

JUNE.

161

BOUGAINVILLEA SPECIOSA.

(Plate 177).

We tliis month furnish our readers with a coloured representa¬
tion of this wonderful plant, which has flowered so magnificently
for these last two or three years past under glass in the garden of
the Bev. C. E. Ruck Keene, at Swyncombe House, near Henley-
on-Thames. The roof of Mr. Keene’s plant stove, in which it
is growing, has been one mass of floral beauty for several weeks
this spring. In April last the plant covered with lovely mauve-
coloured inflorescence nearly 400 feet of glass, and would have
covered even more, but that every terminal spray hung down
loosely, many of them a yard or more in length. Certainly it
was a glorious sight ; the house, however, in which the plant is
growing is ill adapted for the exhibition of its wonderful beauty.
One wants to look down upon it as it is looked upon by the sun,
to which its blossom is displayed. At a distance from it, and
standing on a somewhat higher floor, you see imperfectly the
upper surface of the mass of bloom lying nearly close to the glass;
and in the slanting light of the evening sun the whole of the leafy
canopy reflects on one side an almost glowing sheet of colour ;
while on the other, partly in the shade, and the semi-transparency
of the coloured bracts thus coming into play, it has more of an
amethystine hue.

The plant at Swyncombe has already a stem as thick as one’s
wu-ist, and everywhere there is evidence of the most vigorous
vitality.

, As regards treatment, however, we have been favoured by the
following letter on the subject from Mr. Daniels. He says, “ Let
us commence with a young plant, say in a 60-sized pot. I should
first turn it out and examine its roots, and if I found them
healthy, I should pot on into a 32-sized pot, using a mixture of
peat and loam, in about equal parts, in a rough state, with a fair
proportion of silver sand, taking care to use plenty of drainage,
as the plant, though a gross feeder in an older state, is very
impatient of too much moisture while young, several fine healthy
young plants having died that have been sent from here, from, I
have no doubt, too much water, and the soil being allowed to
become sour from imperfect drainage. After the plant is potted,
plunge it in a sweet bottom-heat, such as that of a Cucumber or
Melon pit, or Pine stove ; and if this is done in spring, stop the
plant, so as to make it throw cut lateral shoots, with the view of
producing a stiff handsome bush. If to be grown as a specimen in
a pot, this stopping and shifting must be practised at intervals
of about a month for the whole summer, taking care that the
pot is well filled with roots by August (and never shift till the

VOL. XT., NO. CLXI. M

1(>2

THE FLORIST.

roots toucli tlie sides of'tlie pot), then gradually reduce the
quantity of water, and raise the pot out of the plunging material,
and place it in a dry airy house. Give just sufficient water to
prevent flagging. With the above treatment, by winter the
wood will be found to be quite hard and firm. Place the plant
in a dry airy house ; give only just sufficient water to prevent its
leaves dropping off — about once in three weeks or a month will be
found sufficient for this. If all has gone well, a plant thus grown
will be found at the end of one year under the above treatment to
be in appearance something resembling a nice round Gooseberry
bush, with the whole of the lateral shoots hanging down over the
outside of the pot. Towards the end of January, if early bloom
is required, plunge the plant in bottom heat, in the hottest and
driest end of the house. Give water sparingly for the first month,
afterwards more frequently; and towards the end of February or
beginning of March it will begin to unfold its charms. If your
specimen is required to be planted out no stopping should take place,
as of course the first object would, be to cover a given space of
roof or wall; but in either case it must have all the light and sun
that can be given it while in bloom, or the colour will be found to
be very faint ; and if planted out in a larger mass of earth it will
require watering less frequently. The large plant here is growing
with its roots close to the boiler, which projects through to the
inside of the house ; this made the end of the house so hot that
any other plant placed near it was always destroyed with insects,
as spider, scale, &Co ; but it is a great recommendation to Bou¬
gainvillaea to say that no insect except greenfly ever touches it,
I believe too much dry heat cannot be given, nor too little water.
The large plant here, although covering a space of quite 400
feet, has not been watered more than three times since August
last, although in a roasting heat : and I believe it would not have
suffered if not watered at all during that time.”

With respect to the colour of our plate, we must confess that
it badly represents the brilliancy and lively beauty of that of the
floral leaves themselves. This Mr. Andrews frankly admits;
in short we believe it to be impossible to faithfully exhibit on paper
the many shades which are blended so nicely together by nature
in the lovely inflorescence of this noble plant. The figure, how¬
ever, is as good as could be made under the circumstances, and,
with the exception just alluded to, correct.

We-may just note in conclusion that Bougainvillsea has bloomed
in other ]>Iaces besides Swyncombe ; but compared with the plant
there, very imperfectly ; and to Mr. Daniels belongs the honour of
having first shown the world what this fine creeper is capable of
becoming under skilful cultivation. The specimens which he has
shown at the floral exhibitions this year have excited the wonder
and admiration pf all who have been so fortunate as to see them.

JUNE.

163

HORTICULTURE IN AUSTRALIA.

For the following valuable information on the culinary vegetables and
orchard produce of Victoria, we are indebted to Mr. F. Smith of
Melbourne : —

The climate is admirably adapted for all European vegetables, from
the old Scotch Kail to the delicious Melon, the latter surpassing those
of English growth in flavour and tenderness. Yet the climate is not
without drawbacks to the culture of vegetables at certain seasons, such
as long-continued droughts with severe hot winds daring the summer, ^
or as heavy rain during the winter, when culinary crops suffer most
severely in untrenched and undrained soils. Bnt our spring and
autumn are so congenial to growth that amazing crops are produced
even with most simple modes of treatment. The soils used for growing
vegetables vary from stiff adhesive clay to the sterile sandy soils, the
worst of which produce crops to advantage at some season when properly
managed ; but the more productive of all are either the deep brown
loamy or black vegetable soil, well pulverised and free of stagnant water.
The best situations are low banks sloping to the rivers or creeks and
low flats, if not subject to floods, with almost any exposure, the north
being the least favourable. Where the site is on a declivity, the
upper portion is selected for crops of winter growth, and the lower
portion generally for crops of summer growth.

A few remarks on some of the leading crops will assist in giving
some idea of the culinary vegetable resources of the country. Cabbage :
Good supplies can be had daily all the year, as far as the growth of
this wholesome and nutritious vegetable is dependant on climate. But
the aphides have become so destructive during the last four years that
crops can only be brought to perfection by great skill and attention ; the
chief remedies seem to be perpetual examination of the plants and
frequent liquid stimulants, principally guano, to the young growing
crops, and it is worthy of remark that in localities with cold under¬
ground the ravages of the aphis are more readily subdued than else¬
where. — Cauliflower : The principal crops are fit for use in J une and
July and from October to January, then less abundantly obtained till
March and largely again till June. Although all English varieties are
productive, dwarf sorts are preferable. — Peas: Supplies can be had
daily all the year round, but are sparingly to be got in very wet
winters. — Kidney Beans are excellent summer crops, withstanding hot
winds well ; seeds ripen freely. — Onions : Young green Onions may be
had daily ; those intended for keeping ripen only from November to
February ; seeds generally mature well. — Parsnips, although long
neglected, are very much in request and esteemed ; the main crop is
ready in January ; they grow exceedingly large, and are very superior
in quality. — Carrots ; Daily supplies can be had without difficulty ;
they are extensively cultivated ; in flavour they are superior to those of
England ; seeds generally mature well. — Turnip ; Spring, summer,
and autumn crops can be with difficulty obtained on account of the
aphis and the dry hot nature of the climate. — Potatoes : Three crops
may be produced in one twelvemonth — one in May, October, and

164

THE FLORIST.

November ; they are, as may be imagined, extensively grown, producing
heavy crops of fine quality, but their keeping properties are shortened
on account of the mild winters. — Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Seakale
bear very abundantly ; seeds ripen perfectly. — Cucumbers and Vege¬
table Marrow : On tolerably good soils there is no more trouble or care
bestowed in the sowing and growing of these crops than there is with
any common vegetable. — Melons : The Rock and English green and
yellow-fleshed varieties being more of a rich heavy nature, although
not quite so much appreciated as others, are grown in very large
quantities. These commence ripening their fruit about the end of
January. The crops generally are heavy ; the plants have six to eight
fruits each, weighing trom 4 to 10 lbs. — Tomatoes are sown in October,
and ripen fruit very profusely from January onward. — The Chinese
Yam has recently been cultivated, and promises to become an additional
table vegetable of the colony. The long-podded Chinese Bean is found
to be hardy in Victoria, and would unquestionably luxuriate in the
northern districts.

Concerning the orchard products we have the following. What
occurs to us in the admirable account given by Mr. Smith is the
advantage that will result from importing and exchanging seeds and
roots with our distant friends.

Perhaps there is no more favoured land upon earth than Victoria for
producing in abundance and perfection a variety of the finest fruits, whether
they are considered as a mere luxury or as constituting one of the neces¬
saries of life, adapted to the wants of man in this hot climate, or as likely to
become one of the staple articles of our commercial exports at no distant
period. Nearly all the fruits of them which can be cultivated in any
of the temperate latitudes can be produced here in the briefest space of
time and with the most certain success. However sterile and unpro¬
mising the land may appear, the simple act of breaking up the earth
and of introducing drainage when needful appears to act as magic on
the newly planted ground, converting the barren-looking wilderness
into a fruitful garden. It is astonishing to observe how very rapidly
and how vigorously the trees grow when placed in favourable situations
under good treatment. But horticulture has to contend with the long
parching droughts of the summer months, experienced particularly in
low open districts, and occasionally with fierce burning winds. A hot
wind, however, seldom continues more than two or three days at a
time, and is almost certain to end in a good fall of rain, which soon
rallies up the exhausted powers of vegetation. Fruit realised this
season the following average prices : Apples, id. to Sc/, per lb. ; Pears,
2d. to Is. ; Plums, 3c/. to 6c/. ; Cherries, 6c/. to Is. and Is. 6c/. ; Apricots,
6d. and Is. per dozen ; Peaches, 2d. to Is. 6c/. per dozen ; Walnuts,
3d. to 6c/. per dozen. This may suffice to show that fruit is freely
available for all classes, both for dessert and cookery purposes ; and the
community will no doubt soon be placed in a position to provide for the
preservation of fruits on an extensive scale. The reasons why, compara¬
tively speaking, but little land is as yet devoted to this lucrative and
pleasant branch of industry may be sought in the low return for the
capital expended, so long as the price of labour and the outlay for garden

JUNE.

165

land continued so unusually high. An eastern aspect having a little
declivity is the most eligible for fruit gardens. It is invariably found
that upon naturally sandy poor soils fine fruitful orchards can be esta¬
blished under good management when the choice loamy deep soils are
not available. Ihe deep alluvial cool soils along the river banks are
very suitable for all kinds of stone fruit ; and rich gravelly bottoms of
the hill sides for Apple, Pear, Quince, Mulberry, &c. None of the
small English fruits, such as Gooseberry, Currant, Raspberry, or Straw¬
berry succeed well, except in cooler valleys or mountainous elevations,
where they always attain the highest perfection for quality and produc¬
tiveness. A few remarks on the leading kinds of fruits will assist in
judging of their comparative value in the colony. The Loquat trees
delight in warm gentle slopes of hills on good soils, where they produce
in some seasons very good crops of fine large well-flavoured fruit.
Quince, Walnut, Chestnut, Apple, Pear, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot,
Cherry, Plum, are common. Figs grow to perfection, some varieties
bearing’ two or three crops in the year freely ; the leading varieties are
green and white Provence, green and brown Ischia and Smyrna. It
may be expected that dried colonial Figs will eventually supersede those
imported. Orange and Lemon trees: Although there are some few
Orangeries in favourite spots in the vicinity of Melbourne, yet they are
generally planted in smaller quantities in the warm places of orchards,
or in clumps on lawns, more for the sake of ornament and variety than
for profitable purposes. The Vine ; Amongst the branches of industry
yet to be extensively developed the cultivation of the Vine will be one
of the most important in this colony. The climate throughout the
greater part of our territory being exquisitely adapted for the growth
of Vines, although the severity of hot winds and blight has, during
showery seasons, in some localities, affected the Vines. The vineyards
hitherto established in various parts of Victoria comprise approximately
an area of 600 acres. It seems, however, that their extent is annually
increasing without a corresponding increase in wine manufacture, and
thus the market is more plentifully supplied in Melbourne with table
Grapes — prices ranging Irom \\d. to fits?, per lb. There have been
instances this season of an average weight of 25 lbs. of fruit on Vines
three and four years old, bunches attaining a weight of upwards of
lbs.

Gladly would we continue the sensible remarks of Mr. Smith if our
space would permit, for it is impossible not to feel deeply interested in
whatever relates to our colonies, and especially to Melbourne, so many
of our personal friends having made that their future home.

A SPECIMEN FERN.

Though we searched all Europe over, we should probably not find
another plant which could rival the magnificent specimen of Angiopteris
evecta which occupies the centre of the tropical fernery in the Royal
Botanic Gardens of Kew. This gigantic plant is of such colossal pro-

THE FLORIST.

166

portions, that it looks like the living type of that wonderful Flora which,
ages upon ages ago, covered vast tracts of country with a dense and
luxuriant vegetation, successive forests of which were buried beneath
the sand and mud cast upon them by some terrible convulsion of
nature, their remains forming the strata which we now quarry as coal,
and which forms one of our greatest national treasures. The rapidity
of its growth, the peculiar appearance of the plant, as well as its great
size, favour this idea. One can hardly believe, at first, that the
Angiopteris belongs to the same family as the semi-transparent and
delicate little species of Trichomanes ; the whole plant, in some kinds of
the last-named genus, might be covered with a shilling.

The fronds of this plant are about eighteen feet In length, spreading
out at regular distances ; there are a dozen and a half of these fronds.
Each one is supported by a thick stem, as much as eight or nine inches
in circumference ; what a contrast to that of the Maiden-hair Fern
(Adiantum), which looks like fine black wire. All the fronds of the
Angiopteris radiate from a large solid crown, having two thick fleshy
appendages at the base of each. The fronds are twdce divided (bi-
pinnate), the ultimate divisions being linear-lanceolate in form, and
about three inches in length. In old plants, almost every pinnule is
fertile, the cases containing the spores being arranged in a double row
along the veins towards their points. These spore-cases are separate,
and usually eight or ten in number; this is the leading character which,
in a botanical point of view, separates Angiopteris from the nearly allied
genus Marattia — in the latter, the spore-cases are united. Tlie
number of spores which such a plant as this must ripen is something
too enormous for the mind to grasp — it borders upon the infinite.
There are, as was said before, eighteen fronds upon the plant ; each of
these produces on the average thirty primary divisions (pinnae), and
one of these taken from the middle of the frond will be found to be
subdivided into about a hundred pinnules. One pinnule taken from
near the middle, so as to get the average as nearly as possible, we found
to have about two hundred and thirty veins which bore sori, each of
these sori consisting of from eight to ten spore-cases. How^ many spores
each case might contain, would require great microscopic .power and still
greater patience to determine. We have, however, carried it far
enough to show that it is an arithmetical calculation of proportions cor¬
responding with the plant which gave rise to them.

The name of this plant is very frequently mis-spelt. We often find
it called Angiopteris erecta (upright-growing), instead of A. evecta
(which means spreading), the alteration of a single letter giving a
different and quite erroneous meaning to the term.

There are now several kinds of Angiopteris in cultivation, but as
they all appear inclined to grow to a similar size, and as their general
characters are all nearly alike, one specimen of the genus will be as
mu h as even the most princely establishment will find room for. We
however subjoin a list of them : — A. Teysmanniana, A. gigantea,
A. Brogniartii, and A. pruinosa. There are several other names, but
most likely they are only synonyms. The last-named species is beau¬
tifully white on the under side of the fronds.

JUNE.

167

They are all inhabitants of marshy ground in the East Indian and
Polynesian islands, and consequently require a liberal supply of water.
Where room can be found for its accommodation, a plant of Angiopteris
is well worth growing, for it certainly is one of the wonders of the
vegetable world. Delta.

A FEW RATHER NEW BEDDING PLANTS.

Those who have not seen Alstrcemeria chilensis when planted in
masses, can form no idea of its beauty for a large bed on turf. Nothing
has a richer appearance ; and, as they bloom from July to September,
they give us a long season of their beauty. They only require that
their bed rests on a dry porous bottom, to prevent any stagnant wnter
from lodging near their fleshy roots, and if right in this respect, they
are not very particular as to soil, but a light sandy loam will suit them
well. When the stems die down in the autmn, the bed may be covered
over with dry ashes or sawdust, throwing a little fine earth over to hide
it. With no protection but this my plants have stood through the past
winter without injury and are growing vigorously, and will in two or
three weeks be a mass of bloom of every shade of orange, carmine,
scarlet, yellow, and pink.

Hedychium Gardnerianum, flavum, and coronarium : strong plants
of these, turned out in June, have been known to bloom in September ;
but, whether or not, their noble appearance proves very effective for
giving an exotic character to particular situations. They should have
sheltered situations exposed to the sun, and be planted out in leaf-soil,
sand, and light loam.

Oxalis Bowiei makes a neat autumn bed. The bulbs should be pre¬
served from year to year, and planted in any dry soil in April : they
will commence blooming in August, and continue till frost destroys
them. The flowers are a bright rose, and produced in abundance.
0. floribunda, a smaller growing species, also makes a neat bed or edging.

Tigridia conchiflora, Wheeleri, and pavonia. These make very
effective beds. The bulbs require to be planted from March to the
end of April, in any common garden soil. The flowers are yellow,
orange, and brown.

Lilium speciosum and album are fine objects in dry seasons, planted
in a peat bed, or for mixing with American plants.

Gladioluses are now so well known as most desirable garden plants,
that we need not further allude to them.

For certain situations, or low vases or tazzi, there are very few plants
superior to the old African Lily (Agapanthus umbellatus). It forms a
noble bed when it can have plenty of water w^hen growing.

The old Chimney Campanula (C. pyramidalis) is another favourite
plant for certain situations.

Marvel of Peru : This plant is extensively planted on the Continent,
where it grows freely, and looks well covered with its many-coloured
flowers. We rarely see it in Britain, where it might be judiciously

168

THE FLORIST.

introduced as a fine plant for a large lawn bed, or for mixing in borders.
It will bloom the first year from seed sown in heat, and afterwards the
tuberous roots should be preserved like Dahlias.

Canna : The exotic species are all now coming into general use in
Britain ; on the Continent they have been planted out for several
seasons. The noble foliage of all the species renders them extremely
valuable for giving effect to the flower-garden. Our plan is to mix
the tall scarlet Lobelia or Gladioli with them, which, when combined
together, form striking groups. Soil, light and open.

Anomatheca cruenta : This pretty little bulb forms one of the neatest
border plants we know for larger masses. It is also useful for small
beds, from its neat habit and showy little flowers.

Asclepias tuberosa : This plant was formerly much more grown
than at the present time. It forms an excellent orange colour bed,
flowering throughout the season, and thrives best in peaty soil.

Caladium and Arum, two allied genera, of which several species are
largely planted on the Continent for flower-garden decoration in warm
situations. Their coloured rich foliage tells with admirable effect ; and
those who have the chance should try them in open porous soil, well
supplied with water in dry weather.

R.

CRYSTAL PALACE FLORAL EXHIBITION.

The grand flower show of the Crystal Palace Company, which took
place on the 1 8th ult., inaugurated these popular , meetings for the
present ‘season, and judging from what was there produced, we may
fairly predict a brilliant season for the admirers of horticultural
productions for 1861.

The summer and autumn of 1860 were unpropitious for in-door as
well as out-door gardening; and when we consider the immense
importance of a dry atmosphere and light in perfecting the w^ood and
organism of plants necessary to produce bloom buds, we need feel no
surprise that Azaleas in some places are sadly deficient in bloom, or that
many Heaths, Epacris, and New Holland plants, are blooming
indifferently from the same cause, and that sparseness of flower is very
prevalent, even under the best ijaanagement. At a local show which
we attended the other day, where the magnificent Azaleas are generally
one blaze of bloom, they were so inferior this season that we expected the
plants had stood in the open air throughout the past season, up to housing
time, which was the case. Those who kept their plants under glass had
them in a better condition, although these were hardly up to the mark.
By this we by no means infer that there was any deficiency of bloom in
the Azaleas exhibited the other day at Sydenham. Many of them
were magnificent, and, in fact, were the plants of the day ; but we
opine that they had received glass treatment, and probably a little fire-
heat, to obtain a good set of bloom ; whereas for years we have had
them covered with bloom, with no other assistance than what a full
exposure to the sun, after 'they had made their growth in July, gave
them.

JUNE.

169

We said just now that the Azaleas made the exhibition at the
Crystal Palace, but not altogether ; there were some magnificent Roses-
in pots, and when we looked — and who did’nt look, and admire too —
at that grand Paul Perras in the Messrs. Lane’s collection of 10 pot
Roses, we thought of the trouble Dr. Lindley had in persuading these
great Rose firms, (and nearly everybody else,) that Roses might be
grown in pots ; whether the Doctor had in his mind’s perspective any
of those wonderful specimens which of late years have formed the great
attraction of these meetings, and of which Paul Perras appeared to us the
acme of perfection, we are not prepared to say ; but as he is not the man
to give up a thing when its practicability has been made clear to him,
he persisted, and then people began to try what could be done with
them, and now we see the result ; and we beg therefore to thank the
Doctor for having been the means of introducing the highest features of
art — as regards cultivation — on the most beautiful flower in creation.

The w^eak point in the exhibition appeared to us to be the four first
classes, stove and greenhouse plants. Whether these collections were
really the best that could be brought forward, or whether, as was hinted
to us, the best plants were being kept in reserve for Kensington Gore,
we are unable to say. If there was no reservation, then most of the
collections were faulty and not up to the mark, and moreover some of
the plants were so outrageously overtrained that it ought to have
amounted to a disqualification.

The feeling that one has after having seen these great show's for
two or three seasons is that they become so familiar that one can almost,
without going to look at the cards, award the prizes, and even name
the individual plants that comprise the collections. In greenhouse
plants this is especially the case. Now and then a new plant finds its
way into the collections, and adds a little variety ; but generally
speaking we are face to face with old friends, who have, indeed, grown
£C trifle larger and more corpulent than last year, but whose general
contour is very much as it was, exhibiting tokens of a ffreeu old age.
The first collection in stove and greenhouse plants was that contributed
by Mr. Tredwell of Norwood; it contained the usual quantum of Cape
and New Holland plants, Ixoras, Boronias, Impatiens, Aphelexis, &c.
In collections of 12, Messrs. Green, Baxendine, and Cutbush; and in
collections of 6 and 8, Messrs. Chilman, Kaile, Page, and Smith, were
contributors. Those of plants distinguished for the beauty of their
foliage w'ere certainly deficient, probably owing to the early day at
which the exhibition was fixed ; but the plants generally speaking were
not remarkable. Amongst Orchids, the largest and best collection was
furnished by Mr. Day of Tottenham, the most remarkable of his plants
being Dendrobium Devonianum and macrophyllum, Lselia purpurata,
Cattleya Mossice, and Oncidium arnpliatum. Mr. Tredwell was
second ; and had some fine plants of Phaius grandifolius, Phalaenopsis
grandiflora, and Lycaste Harrisonirc. Collections of 6 and 10 Orchids
were furnished by Messrs. Milford, Stone, Page, Penny, Bunney, and
Woolley. Amongst the plants exhibited were Phalaenopsis amabilis,
Cattleya lobata, C. Aclandiae, C. Mossiae, C. amethystina, Laelia
purpurata, Vanda suavis, Oncidium arnpliatum, Uropedium Lmdeni,

ITO

THE ELOBIST.

Aerides Warneri, Odontoglossum citrosmum,Calanthevei’atrifolia, Vanda
insignis, Cypripedium hirsutissimum, Dendrobium nobile, D. cserulescens,
D. Paxtoni. Azaleas, as we have said, were exceedingly beautiful,
Mr. Turner of Slough taking the post of honour. Nothing could be
more beautifully grown than his collection was ; and moreover they
were so placed as to colour, &c., as to give the greatest possible effect.
This is rather an intuition than an art, but Mr. T. seems to possess it ;
for whatever the plants he exhibits, there is always an evident deter¬
mination to make the most of them in all points. Mr. Green, gardener
to Sir E. Antrobus, and Mr. Carson, also showed good collections ; the
smaller-sized groups were also excellent. In six, Mr. Turner was first,
and in eights second. Amongst new varieties which were exhibited by
Mr. Ivery of Dorking were Gem, a fine plant, beautiful crimson, and
well shaped; Admiration, pink with white stripe; Etoile de Gand,
white and pink (figured in the Distinction, salmon; rosea

alba, and Lord Raglan. Cacti were hardly in bloom, and Heaths
were as usual pretty and striking, but no way remarkable for novelty.

Amongst new plants, Mr. Williams of Hornsey contributed Lcelia
sp., like purpurata, but purplish instead of white. Mr. Bull of Chelsea
contributed several new things, some of which had been previously
exhibited at the Floral Committee, such as the variegated Agathaea
coelestis, Campylobotrys refulgens, Dracaena spectabilis, &c., but there
was nothing particularly worth noticing.

The most attractive features of the exhibition were, after all, if we
may judge from the groups of visitors, the fruit and florist’s flowers.
It was, however, amongst the latter that as florists we found ourselves
at home. Roses in magnificent bushes. Geraniums quite shrubs, and
Tulips and Pansies, all distracted one’s attention. In Roses, the first
prize was taken by Mr. Lane of Berkhampstead. His plants were Paul
Perras (H.B.) ; Souvenir d’un Ami (Tea); Comtesse Mole (H.B.),
large, but coarse; Baronne Prevost ; Triomphe de Paris (H.P.);
Coupe d’Hebe (H^B.), a most beautiful bush; Chenedole ; Jules
Margottin (H.P.), covered with its large and fresh-looking flowers;
Gloire de Dijon (Tea), very fine and beautiful ; and Leon des Combats,
fine. Mr. William Paul of Waltham Cross was second, with Louise
Odier, Souvenir de la Malmaison (B.), Souvenir d’un Ami, Baronne
Prevost (H.P.), Chenedole (H.B.) ; Vicomtesse de Cazes (Tea), very
yellow; Paul Perras (H.B.) ; Paul Ricaut (H.B.), very fine indeed;
Jules Margottin (H.P.), and Madame de St. Joseph. Messrs. Paul &
Son of Cheshunt were third with Aubernon, Charles Lawson, Narcisse,
Baronne Prevost, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Jules Margottin, Geant
des Batailles, Chenedole, Niphetos, and Paul Perras. In 6 Roses in
8-inch pots, Mr. Wm. Paul took first prize with Victor Verdier, very
large rich rose ; Empereur de Maroc, very dark ; Madame Boll, large
rose, but rough ; Lselia, a large fine shaped rose in the style of Louise
Peyronney ; Madame Domage, a fine Tea ; and Triomphe de Paris.
Mr. Charles Turner of Slough was second with Mathurin Regnier,
Madame de Cambaceres, Caroline de Sansal, Jules Margottin, Paul
Perras, and Duchess of Sutherland. Messrs. Paul & Son third, and
Messrs. Lane & Son fourth. In cut Roses there were some fine blooms

JUNE.

171

exhibited by Mr. Wm. Paul : amongst them, Eugene Appert, intense
glowing crimson — Madame William, fine Tea — Baron Gonella, large
Bourbon — Homere, mottled Rose, Tea — Triomphe de Lyons (H.P.),
fine crimson — Buff (H.P.), dark red — President, fine Tea — Victor
Verdier — Empereur de Maroc, very dark — Cardinal Patrizzi, very
dark.

The Pelargoniums were remarkable, especially taking into account
the dull and sunless time that we have had. Mr. Turner, of Slough,
was, as usual, first in both large kinds and fancies ; Messrs. Dobson &
Son, of Isleworth, second. Mr. T.’s plants were Mr. Marnock, Desde-
mona, Rose Celestial, Candidate, Roseum, Guillaume Severyns, Ad¬
mirable, Governor-General, ‘Fairest of the Fair, and Prince of Wales.
They were beautifully arranged as to effect, and the lilac tint of the
French one, Guillaume Severyns, had a very fine effect as a contrast.
Messrs. Dobson’s were Admirable, Sanspareil (an old but fine spotted
variety), Rosalie, Fairest of the Fair, Eugene Duval, Rose Celestial,
Una, Symmetry, Aurelia, and Fair Ellen. Fancies in 8 varieties were,
in Mr. Turner’s collection,, Modestum, Madame Rougiere, Lady
Craven, Cloth of Silver, Circle, Celestial, Queen of the Valley, and Acme.
The plants of Celestial and Acme were perfect models of growth.
Messrs. Dobson’s were Madame Rougiere, Negro, Captivation, Evening
Star, Madame Van de Weyer, Attraction, and Bridesmaid.

In Cinerarias, in groups of 6, Mr. Turner was first with Bellissima,
Alarm, Slough Rival, Perfect, Lidgard’s Brilliant, and Queen Victoria.
Messrs. Dobson & Son were second, with Duchess of Sutherland,
Brilliant, Perfection, Mrs. Hoyle, Masterpiece, and Mr. Marnock. Mr.
Burley, of Limpsfield, Surrey, was third, with Mrs. Dix, Miss Godfrey,
Perfecta, Beauty, Wonderful, and Perfection. Mr. Fry, of Bromley,
fourth. One of the most striking groups of plants exhibited was one of
six shrubby Calceolarias, exhibited by Mr. Burley, of Limpsfield, very
large in size, and approaching somewhat the herbaceous ones in colour¬
ing; their names were Lord Raglan, Emperor, Primrose Perfection,
Victor Emmanuel, General Havelock, and Lord Derby. Mr. B. is
evidently on a strain of flowers which cannot fail to be generally popular
and profitable to himself. He also exhibited some cut blooms of a
dwarf bedding variety, angustifolia globosa, very bright yellow, and said
to be very dwarf.

Cut flowers, with the exception of Roses, already noticed, were con¬
fined to Tulips and Pansies ; in the former four stands were exhibited,
the best being that of Mr. Turner, of Slough, utterly disproving what we
have heard alleged against the Slough Tulips that they were coarse —
nothing could be cleaner than the strains were, and one or two of his
own and Mr. Headly’s flowers were exquisite; they were Royal
Sovereign, Rosa blanca, Fleur de Marie, Aglaia, Lady Wildair, Sir C.
Campbell,- Duchess of Cambridge, Mary Headly, Claude, Sarah
Headly, King, George Glenny, Friend, Rose Celestial, Dr. Horner,
Seedling 64 S, Rutley’s Queen, Enchantress, Duchess of Sutherland,
Seedling C 29, and Gem of Gems. Mr. Betteridge was second ; Eve-
rard, George Hayward, Salvator Rosa, and Strong’s King were very
fine. Mr. Norman, of Woolwich, was third. Mr. James Batten,
Clapton, fourth.

172

THE FLORIST.

In Pansies, the first and second prizes were taken by Mr. James,
gardener to F. Watson, Esq., Isleworth, the rule of the Palace shows
being that an exhibitor may take all he can get. The first stand of
flowers contained Colonel Wyndham, Rev. H. H. Dombrain, Nepaulese
Chief, Francis Low, Father Gavazzi, Maid of Bath, Lord J. Russell,
Alexander McNab, Eugenia, Miss Hill, Ladyburn Beauty, Alice,
Duchess of Wellington, Mr. J. White, Mrs. Laird, Canary, Duchess of
Hamilton, General Young, Rev. J. Dix, Nymph, Jeannie’s Rival, Miss
Walker, Saturn, and Mr. T. Graham. Mr. Shenton was third ; Messrs.
Dobson & Sons, fourth.

It was early for Seedlings of any kind. A nice rosy salmon variety
of bedding Geranium, which has already received the stamp of the
Floral Committee, was exhibited by Mr. Turner, of. Slough, called
Prince of Hesse, and raised by Mr. Ingram, of the Royal Gardens,
Frogmore. Amongst miscellaneous subjects, one can hardly pass by the
very beautiful Dahlias made of paper, and which really at first sight
might deceive even a practised eye.

Considering all things the fruit was good, although in no great
quantity. Mr. Hill’s black Grapes were first-i'ate specimens of Grape
forcing, and those from Mr. Henderson of Trentham scarcely inferior.
The white Grapes were, with one or two exceptions only, unripe. The
Peaches were fair, but nothing extraordinary ; but, on the contrary,
the Nectarines from Trentham were all that could be desired, both as
to size and colour, as also were Mr. Henderson’s Circassian Cherries.
Melons were pretty plentiful, and some of them really of first-rate
flavour ; Mr. Taplin’s green-flesh, and that placed second, particularly
so. The scarlet-fleshed Melons were also in good condition. There
were a few fine Pine -apples among the 24 specimens exhibited. The
Charlotte Rothschild from Chatsworth is a new and apparently good
Pine in the way of the Cayennes ; this was placed first, and with two
or three Cayennes, a Providence and Queen, comprised those to
whom prizes were awarded. Lastly — for there were no Figs, and
nothing in the miscellaneous class to call for comment — there were the
Strawberries ; and it would be difficult to match such a bonne bouche as
some of the Queens and Napiers in Mr. Smith’s collection would make
with these delicious fruits. Suffice it to say, his dish of Queen’s was
most superior, and fully indicated the fact of the British Queen being
yet the first Strawberry in cultivation. Mr. Smith had also Oscar in
good condition ; fine, and of large size. Mr. Smith was deservedly
first in both classes, and Mr. Turner of Slough was second in a collection
of three varieties.

The day, though bright and dry, was at times bitterly cold ; a north¬
east wind swept over the grounds, and produced a general chilliness
over those who attempted anything like a parley in the grounds, and
doubtless was the cause of a number of ladies and invalids remaining
at home sooner than run the risk of a rheumatic attack. We are,
however, happy to state that upwards of 10,000 persons visited this very
gratifying exhibition.

JUNE.

173

ON SOME OF THE NEW AND SCARCE AURICULAS, AND
THE WHITE-EDGED SECTION.-

For one living lialf-way between London and Edinburgh, it is too
early yet to make remarks on tiie Auricula bloom of the year ; but as
there is an advanlage in doing so, though imperfectly while the plants
are yet in bloom, and may be compared with what is said of them, I
take the liberty of sending you a part of what I have to say at once.
As I am this day an exhibitor for the first time at the Botanic Gardens
in London, I took the opportunity of sending half-a-dozen new ones
besides the competitors, for public inspection merely ; and more would
have been added if the basket had been larger, and more still had it
been a week later. Indeed, it was just that week too early for my
prospect of a prize ; but that may pass ; the flowers themselves are
with me the first prize. Those I sent for inspection are Lycurgus,
Lords Clyde and Byron, Formosa, Pizarro, and Superintendent, to
which, perhaps, may be added the two Uniques which were among the
competitors. I hope Mr. Turner also sent North Star, Volunteer, and
George Lightbody ; this last I should myself have sent, but that it was
only half opened, for it promises to be what I hardly expected, worth
its grievously high price. On each of these I w^ould make a few
remarks.

Campbell's Pizarro, self. — Beyond reasonable question the gem of
the new ones ; the best of seifs, and the nearest approach to ideal
perfection that has yet been achieved in the Auricula. Its colour is
neither very bright nor new, being a deep rich brown, identical with
that of Mary Gray, which is probably its female parent, and which it
resembles in the form as well as the colour of the flower, and partly
also in the foliage. But Pizarro is absolutely flat and throughout
circular and proportionate, with good open orange eye and low anthers,
and is a capital trusser.

Smith's Lycurgus {Greeri). — Had I had another week for this to
have opened slowly and perfectly, it would have been the chief attraction
of my contribution. It is a most striking flower, with but one fault,
a beaded margin to the edge, its green being otherwise pure and deep.
The truss sent to London for inspection was not in full bloom, and its
shape spoiled moreover by being forwarded in heat. '

Ljghtbodi/s Lord Clyde, self, very striking certainly ; and Mrs.
Sturrock looked so tame beside it that I withdrew the latter from the
set to be exhibited, and substituted a Vulcan, Pizarro being a fortnight
past its best, and besides being, I believe, not yet let out. But Lord
Clyde has faults. It does not flatten, and its paste is angular and too
narrow; its colour is a very dark crimson, but it is lively, a good

* This paper was forwarded to me last month too late for insertion ; its value,
however, is not dependent on the time of its appearance, as it will be read with
interest by all Auricula lovers. My good friend promises some observations on
the other classes, which will be most acceptable, as no one has a keener eye,
better taste, or a more varied collection. — I).

174

THE FLORtST.

trusser, with large healthy handsome foliage. It is still in the raiser’s
hands, and the plant I sent to London belongs to him.

Campbell's Lord Byron {Greert). — This raiser aims high, though
not ail his progeny can claim a place among the first. The present is
a very showy flower, dressy perhaps would be a better word ; inferior
perhaps to Admiral Napier, though the latter has a bead, but much
better than Lord Palmerston, and its very deep mulberry colour is
novel and attractive, and contrasts well with the edge. But it has too
much of it; its paste is thin and undefined, and its short footstalks
prevent the formation of a large handsome truss. Still I was very
near showing it, for it has a pure and vivid green edge, which is so
rare, though it is too narrow.

Smith's Formosa^ self. — Of a colour that, though not new, is extremely
rare, and reminds one of the nearly extinct Redman’s Metropolitan ; and
is almost exactly that of a pasteless Auricula in my possession, imported
some thirty years ago from Hamburgh. It is nearer lilac than any¬
thing else, but is a compound of that with French grey ; its paste is
good, but the eye only lemon ; and it is far from flat, nor are its foot¬
stalks long enough. Still it is very ornamental, and its foliage particu¬
larly so.

Mauley's Superintendent {Greeii^. — Of the imitators of Page’s
Champion, such as Hudson’s Apollo (which is perhaps rather in the
way of Leigh’s Colonel Taylor), or Lightbody’s Fairy Queen, this is
the most redoubtable. In fact, if I were a Champion, and standing
next to a Superintendent (though not of police), I should feel my
petals rumpled. They are very like one another, with an equally pure
and brilliant edge ; but this has a perfectly flat pip, which Champion
never has. Its only drawback is in its thin paste, in which it resembles
Colonel Taylor. Moreover, it seems to be the smallest plant among
Auriculas. I have two ; but they were such bits of things that, not
being expected to show bloom at all, they were both put into one small
pot, where they produced each a full truss, with large and bold pips,
and in that condition went to London to see the world, and to be seen.

Turner's Volunteer, self. — Yet in the raiser’s hands. Of a colour
that, in the Dahlia, would be miscalled purple. When first fully open
it most resembles that of Sim’s Eliza, but differs from it in beingr
lighter and yet having more of violet. It is a fine large flower, very
showy, and smooth at the margin; flatters well, has a broad petal,
and good breadth of paste, which however would be improved by being
a little thicker. The eye is circular and depressed, but is lemon
coloured and bleaches early, and the whole flower is short lived.

Richmond's North Star, self, figured in the January No., and to be
let out by Mr. Turner. Of a new shade, though not new tint. Two
shades lighter plum than ]\reteor Flag (for in this latter, as in many
others, the plum and the violet contend for predominance), or six than
Hey’s Apollo. It has too many petals, as the very correct drawing
shows, but they flatten out well, and make a circular frilled pip of
good size (this frilled appearance is exactly represented in the figure) ;
good broad circular paste ; eye large but round, and of a good deep
cowslip that lasts well, with low anthers.

JUNE.

175

hnique, Maclean's and Dickson's. — These are not new flowers, but
both are much rarer than they should be ; and though here placed
together have little in common except their beauty, which is such that,
in a collection of six out of upwards of 130 sorts, I shewed them both.
Maclean’s is a lively energetic masculine flower, Dickson’s all feminine
soilness andr grace ; indeed, the delicate grey velvet of its edge is
unequalled, and it makes an even and particularly handsome truss.

And now, instead of entering upon Headly’s George Lightbody,
before I know much about it, I will conclude with some practical general
observations on the third section, or white edges. The late Mr. Beck
used to say that Taylor’s Glory was the only good one, which is so far
true that for one good white edge it is easy to find four in any other
section. One of the best I have ever seen was the grey-edged Light-
body's Sir Charles Napier, which, in all my plants this year, is a pure
and distinct and excellent white ; and I should have shown it this day
as such, though with only six (but those were perfect) pips, but that I
was overruled. Owing to the show being too early for me by a week,
I was obliged reluctantly to forego Heap’s Smiling Beauty, and to put
up with Lightbody ’s Fair Maid ; the maid instead of the mistress,
which is about their relative value. Why do not the three C’s —
Messrs. Campbell, Cunninghame, and Cummings, or other enterprising
raisers — turn their attention to whites and seed expressly for them ?
The great fault of this very pretty section of Auriculas is that so few
have a well-defined body colour ; the colour runs into the edge, and
the edge meals over the colour, and there is no sharp contrast between
them. By far the best of all in every requisite is Heap’s Smiling
Beauty ; next may come Taylor’s Glory ; 3rd, Ashworth’s Regular ;
4th, Taylor’s Favourite ; 5th, Taylor’s Incomparable. What is to be
called the sixth ? I am at a loss to tell. Earl Grosvenor or Countess
of Wilton may 'possibly, if they can be got to flower in time ; but I
am doubtful. Of Smith’s Ann Smith and Lady Sale 1 can say nothing,
as I have not seen them on the plants, and Trail’s White Rival is not
yet open with me ; but all the rest are not worth numbering in order
of merit, and few of tliem ought ever to be shown. And even of those
numbered above. Favorite has too long a stem, and is apt to hold down
its head ; Incomparable is usually streaky; and Glory itself is uncertain,
liable to curl, and difficult to be caught on the day. True Briton, fine
as it is, is undecided, and the petal curls ; Catherina is occasionally
not much amiss, though always indistinct ; Pott’s Regulator is an
ornament to the box, but its edge is undecided, and its eye too large
and bleaches ; Robert Burns is uncertain, often having a mere streak
of colour, and always too large an eye; Smith’s Ne Plus Ultra is
pointed, angular in the rings, and the edge not mealed enough ; Fair
Maid has an impure, mealed, dull colour; Popple well’s Conqueror is
all eye and colour, and that not distinct ; Pillar of Beauty has its
colour coarsely daubed on, and the eye bleaches ; Clegg’s Crucifix is
like the preceding, coarse and indistinct ; Gairn’s Model is much too
small, and even what there is of it is not distinct enough to form a
contrast ; Countess of Dunmore is very poor, edge impure, colour
smeary, and eye too large ; Mrs. Willoughby is a lady in mourning,

176

THE FLORIST.

who has brushe.l by a meal tub; Lee’s Bright ^ eu us is as distinct
sometimes as any of the outsiders, but has the misfortune to have a
Polyphemus eye, in which a truant humble bee could conveniently
hide himself from the chastisement due to his intrusion into the
Auricula box. For exhibition purposes it would be a mistake to culti¬
vate more than at most half-a-dozen varieties, and, in fact, if I really
wanted to win, I should confine the number to the three first named.
Surely this is a reproach to all seedling raisers. What \vould a box be
without its mealed-leaved plants and white edges? All the other
sections have been improved surprisingly ; Leigh’s Colonel Taylor s
exhibition days are numbered, though its purity will secure for it an
honoured place, and its difficulty of multiplication a high price. But
it will not stand against the circular flowers of more recent times. The
Privateers and Ringleaders are no longer the models of the greys ; nor
will the Hannibals and Squire Mundys (which are the same flower;
and is it not an odd coincidence that Admiral Mundy was cruising
about in the Hannibal all the time?) hold their ground against the
Pizarros and North Stars now coming into the market. Let us hope
the whites will not be far behind their brethren, and that some worthy
compeers of Smiling Beauty may soon be forthcoming.

George Jeans.

PEACHES COVERED WITH A SHEET,

From March 11th to Mat 10th.

From April 8th to May 9th we had trying weather, the ice being some
mornings half an inch thick. I hear, from bad wood and other causes,
Peaches out of doors are annihilated ; those covered with wheat straws
in Rushton, and fir boughs in Rawston, are both failures. The following
is the result of sheet covering on my three trees, which are close to the
rivulet; — Top Peach, 175 taken off, 168 left on; middle tree, 176
taken off, 198 left on; lower tree, 183 taken off, 144 left on; total
510. They are nicely sprinkled over the trees, the \vood is abundant,
leaves thoroughly clean, and though the trees are from 24 to 50 years
of age, they are vigorous from head to foot ; they are 9 feet high, 54
feet in breadth. It will naturally be asked how can they be vigorous
from head to foot ? These are the keys. Eight years ago I cut them
down as far as I dare. 1 cut all their downward roots off (some as
thick as my arm), and all their radial roots in a circle of SO inches
from the stumps. I removed the earth around them, and filled in with
new stiff loam and black dung. Since then they have become good
fruitful trees, and the two lower trees are the best I ever saw, either
under glass or outside of it. I neither disbud nor pinch, but leave all
the wood on till a week before gathering, and then I only cut off the
forward wood. After cropping, I lay in a double quantity, and leave it
till spring, and then remove what I don’t want. One reason why I
don’t disbud is this ; I feed very high, and the wood would become too
gross; if spurs are formed, I leave them on. I like the article of

JUNE.

177

M.R.C.S. much. I shall be glad to see him here, and I will undertake
to show a fine array of the only four things to which I pay any attention,
Peaches, Roses, Raspberries, and Strawberries ; I never had the second
and fourth so strong and good. Souvenir d’un Ami has opened the
season to-day with three blooms ; the Geant, Triornphe de Paris,
redden ; and within a few days the following novelties will bloom out
of doors — La Boule d’Or, Triornphe de Lyons, Victor Verdier, Madame
Boll, Lord Nelson, L’Elegante, Alexandrine Belfroy, and Madame Louise
Carique ; the three last and second are sure to please. I have besides
Vaisse, Montceau, Melanie, Furtado, Amiens, Violettes, Terre-Noir,
Eugene Verdier, Crapelet, Bonnaire ; they appear to be nice plants,
but are not budded. H.P. Parmentier has bloomed, and is of fine form,
thick and smooth petal, rose and silver ; her leaf is thick and clean, an
item too much overlooked. Walnut leaves I do not like.

I could not end without a word about a Rose. Manetti is the first
stock in the world.

May 10. W. F. Radclyffe.

EFFECT OF FUNGI ON ROOTS.

The following may possibly be of interest. In a garden where I am
directing some improvements was a large Portugal Laurel, which, with¬
out any apparent cause, had gradually decayed. Upon examining the '
soil, however, about its roots large patches of a yeasty-looking fungus
were conspicuous ; and, on still further scrutiny, the half rotten stump
of •a tree felled some two or three years ago, revealed itself. The Laurel
has just been grubbed up, and on nearly the whole of its roots are
traces of the Mycelium of a fungus. This has, I imagine, killed the
tree, the primary cause, however, being the decaying tree stump.

AMARYLLISES.

To me it is something extraordinary that, while florists are picking up
everything in the way of new Cinerarias, Calceolarias, &c., so very few
individuals grow Amaryllises ; and yet they are, perhaps, more easily
managed than either of the above favourite classes, and no comparison
can be drawn between the superior beauty of our Amaryllis, when in
good bloom, and either the Cineraria or Calceolaria. With the Amaryllis
there is a nobleness and grandeur which leaves the others far in the
distance, and, besides these advantages, very many of them possess a
delicious fragrance. I only wish Mr. Turner or the Messrs. Henderson
would grow and exhibit them, when we should soon get them known
and popularised among the professed florists.

To grow them, a low pit with a hot-water pipe round it is all that is
required. When growing, they delight in a warm moist atrnosphere,
with plenty of light, and a slight bottom heat, although this is' not

VOL. XV., NO. CLXII. N

J78

THE FLORIST.

absolutely necessary. Supposing an attempt made at cultivating them
in January, and that you start with dry bulbs, pot the bulbs in medium
sized pots, allowing plenty of drainage, and using a rather rich loam
and sand for potting. Ycu may now place the pots on the surface of a
''tan or leaf bed, to afford a slight bottom heat, and within 18 or 24
inches of the glass. The temperature, if they are not wanted in bloom
very early, may be 60°, raised gradually to as they show for
blooming. This latter temperature is quite sufficient for ordinary
culture by fire heat. As they throw up their flower- scapes, the plants
may be removed to the conservatory or greenhouse, or for in-door
decoration, than which, when mixed with h erns and Mosses, nothing
is more useful or beautiful. If they are not wanted to bloom before
June a much less heat would suffice ; and, indeed, an ordinary brick
pit, without fire heat, would bring them sufficiently forward. After
they have done blooming they should be placed near the glass, and
encouraged to perfect as many leaves as they produce. When these
give indication of turning yellow or ripening, reduce the quantity of
water and allow more air, by which treatment the bulbs will gradually
ripen off their leaves and get into a dormant state by October, when the
bulbs in their pots may be laid on one side, in a shed or cool house, to
winter. By forcing them a little earlier, in May or June, I have
managed to ripen the bulbs by August, when, by placing them on the
shady side of a wall for a month, and again introducing them to the
frame, they have given me a second bloom in October, and on to
Christmas.

I see, by the Bulb Catalogue of the Messrs. Henderson, Wellington
Road, that they cultivate a valuable collection of Amaryllises ; should
any of your readers wish to start with them, they cannot do better than
apply at once.

R.

LATE GRAPES.

A VALUABLE collection of these was shown in February last at one of,
the meetings of the Horticultural Society. They had been grown in
the great vinery in the Society’s Garden at Chiswick, and the fruit had
been allowed to hang on the Vines till the first week in February,
when it was cut and placed in the fruit room. The berries of all the
varieties were very much shrivelled, and some had almost assumed the
appearance of Raisins. They consisted of : — Barbarossa, quite plump
and fresh, very juicy, but last season not richly flavoured ; Burchardt’s
Prince, a long tapering bunch, the berries much shrivelled, very rich
and vinous; Blussard Noir, which, though an early Grape, hangs well,
and when shrivelled has tender juicy flesh, rich and rather vinous, but
not equal to many others ; Catalenesia Nera, a long tapering bunch
with oval berries, thick skin, and firm flesh, very rich and vinous, but
not so piquant as Burchardt’s Prince ; Gros Panse, a wine Grape with
firm crisp flesh without much flavour ; Morocco Prince, bunch long and

JUNE.

179

tapering, berries oval, black and shrivelled, skin tough, flesh firm, juicy,
very rich, vinous and piquant, a very excellent late Grape ; Muscat of
Alexandria, very fine ; (Eillade precoce, a small bunch slightly
shrivelled, flesh very tender and juicy, of good flavour, but neither rich
nor vinous ; Oldaker’s St. Peter’s, berries shrivelled, but apt to become
mould}^ and fall, skin thin, flesh tender, very rich and vinous ; Prune
d’Herault, skin thick, flesh firm, neither juicy nor rich; Raisin de
Calabre, a long tapering bunch, berries white, skin thin and tough,
flesh tender, juicy and sweet, but neither rich nor vinous; Verdal, an
early Grape, which appears to hang remarkably well, berries shrivelled
and in sound condition, the flesh very sweet, rich and vinous. — Mr.
T. W. Booth, gardener to R. Egerton Warburton, Esq.,.Arley Hall,
near Northwich, furnished excellent bunches of Muscat of Alexandria,
which had almost acquired the condition of Raisins. — Mr. Mobbs, gar¬
dener to W. B. Praed, Esq., Tyringham, near Newport Pagnell, also
sent a collection of bunches of Early Grapes, grown in pots, which
were well coloured, and exhibited much skill in Grape cultivation.

PRIMULA DENTICULATA.

I HAVE had beautiful specimens of this really pretty plant, and I
would recommend all who love Primulas to grow it extensively. If
your plants are young let them be potted in a mixture of half turfy
loam, quarter sharp sand and quarter decayed leaf soil; keep them all
summer in the shady part of a cold pit or frame. In autumn let them
be protected from rain, and winter them in the warm end of a green¬
house. In February they will show flowers in abundance, and v^ill
keep in beauty for three or four months at a time ; they do not seem
to like cold winds or draughts, and therefore should not be exposed to
them. I have some niee plants in full flower, and they will remain so
a long time.

W. S.

The Hanoverian Band Committee of Bath held their first
grand Horticultural Fete in Sydney Gardens, on the 15th ult. The
day was fine, and the exhibition was attended by all the rank and
fashion of Bath and its neighbourhood, including rather a wide area, as
we understand upwards of 10,000 visitors attended the exhibition.

The Azaleas were the great attraction, and though many magnificent
specimens were staged, they were hardly so well bloomed as in former
years. Cape Heaths were particularly good, and the same may be
stated of the Stove and Greenhouse classes. Pelargoniums, Calceolarias,
Ferns, &c., and other popular flowers, were well represented, as well as
Fruit and Vegetables; and taken altogether it was one of the best
exhibitions the society has held.

180

THE FLORIST.

THE POTATO DISEASE.

The Potato disease is a most important national matter, for a Potato
is the rich man’s luxury and the poor man’s wealth. Too much con¬
sideration cannot be given to it. Various remedies have been tried,
but not one of them has as yet been thoroughly and universally
successful. Till we can determine the cause and seat of the disease
we shall not be able to remedy it. However it may have originated, I
am persuaded that it is now a “tuber” disease, liable to more or less
development, according to the suitability of soils, seasons, and situations.
I believe the disease may be propagated externally as well as internally.
One thing is certain, that the greens of the Potato having been cut off
so often since 1845, before the Potatoes are perfected, the cellular
tissues have been injured, and are less able to resist the disease. I
find here that the thickest skinned and hardest stalked Potatoes, such
as the early Dugdales, stood it best last year. My cottagers grow this
sort on an exposed chalky hill, and last year I observed that, though
the greens were cut off, the tubers were but little affected. The soil
and the situation, I need hardly observe, were favourable. I never
knew more of all kinds in any year so bad as last year. I planted all
the 6th and 7th of March last year (equal to February in any ordinary
year) in ground dunged in the autumn and mowed twice. I have no
doubt that the disease, be it “fungus, insect, or virus,” goes from the
diseased “ set ” and roots upwards into the greens through the circu¬
lation, as well as into the young tubers by the string : for I cut some
open at digging time, and found the disease in the very heart of the
young Potatoes. I have done nothing as yet to remedy the disease by
way of prevention ; but, being persuaded that it is now chiefly a tuber
and root disease, I mean to try a few nostrums, confessing humbly
that I am “at my wits end.” I shall take off the “sets” from some
of the plants as soon as they are up, and leave nothing but the new
roots and stalks. To some of these roots I shall apply a solution of
vitriol at the time that I remove the “ sets ” from the roots. If the
disease is “fungus,” vitriol is a good remedy. It is always successful
in curing smutty seed Wheat. To some of these deprived “ roots ” I
shall put sulphur, to some soot, and to some lime. I propose also to
try these things on the greens on some ranks which are not deprived
of their “ sets ” as soon as the greens appear ; for if it is a fungus
proceeding through the circulation or pitching upon the leaves and
descending downwards it will quickly spread its spores, to be developed
in suitable weather. 1 shall try the experiments on the Dalmahoy,
which is a charming Potato. One thing is observable that, when the
greens are striking, the stench in confined situations is nearly as offensive
as smut in Wheat or fungus puffs on a down. I mean also to bandage
tolerably tight the stalks beneath the greens, to try and stop the ascent
or descent of the disease through the circulation.

The following things are tolerably evident to me that, if the disease
is in the cellular tissues, as I believe it to be, external applications only
will fail ; that if it is a fungus, as I believe it to be, its development

JUNE.

181

depends on heat, wet, and contiguity to the atmosphere, and that
keeping the Potatoes dry in the ranks is the best way to stop its under¬
ground development, although it will not stop its existence ; that the
disease being in the cellular tissue it will be a good thing to remove the
set” as soon as the Potato is rooted up ; that those who try experi¬
ments should have a book, and put down everything that they do with
nicety ; that leaving out of their statements some one apparently trifling
thing may seriously affect the correctness of their conclusions.

In fine, let me hope that everybody will suggest and try some
remedy, and that he who succeeds may receive a substantial testimonial
of national gratitude.

Rushton, W. F. Radclyffe,

CHRISTMAS ROSES.

Have any of your correspondents ever observed the partiality slugs
have for the flower buds of Helleborus niger ? For years I have not
been able to gather a perfect bloom, indeed hardly a bloom at all.
Last year I thought to baffle them by potting my favourites and
maturing them under glass, and accordingly did so early in September,
just after the buds shewed themselves. I found, however, in November
that most of them were disfigured by these pests, the mischief having
been done immediately the calyx made its appearance.

M.

READING HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The first exhibition for the present season took place on the 23rd ult.,
on the site of the old Abbey. Special arrangement had been made in
a portion of the inner ruins for the reception of plants, similar to that
which has been so successfully carried out in the Regent’s Park. At
Reading, a considerable space of ground is formed into a kind of amphi¬
theatre, formed with turf banks, round which the plants are staged
on grass steps, gravel walks leading round or through the grass slope to
examine and survey the plants, and a gigantic sheet of tenting covers
the whole. Altogether, the effect, when filled with plants, was admir¬
able ; nor were there the inferior odds and ends generally got together
to make up a local exhibition. We believe the artistic arrangement of
the panel garden, with its turf banks and tables for the plants, is due to
the good taste of G. W. Hoyle, Esq., to whom and his fellow- secretary,
G. Lodge, Esq., are mainly due, not only the high character of the exhi¬
bition brought together for the occasion, but the very business-like and
gentlemanly way in which the whole was managed.

As an exhibition, our readers will draw their own inferences, when
we tell them that Mr. May exhibited the unrivalled collection of stove
and greenhouse plants which won, the day before, the highest honours

182

TliE FLORIST.

at the Royal Botanic Exhibition ; that Mr. Turner had also his magni¬
ficent Azaleas, Pelargoniums, and Tulips ; that Mr. I very also exhibited
Azaleas; Mr. Noble, Rhododendrons; and that Messrs. Lane & Son
sent their Pot Roses. Among the local exhibitors, J. J. Blandy, Esq.,

. of Reading, whose taste for horticulture is so well known, contributed to
a great number of classes, including a grand display of fine-foliaged
plants. Ferns, Orchids, stove and greenhouse plants, and fruit, in all of
which Mr. Ingram took first or second prizes. The former classes
evinced excellent cultivation, and would have stood high in any com¬
petition. We must not close our short report without noticing the
extraordinary Oscar and British Queen Strawberries and Black Grapes
shown by Mr. Dwerrihouse, gardener to Lord Eversley. The Oscar
Strawberries were the best ever grown of that popular kind.

GAZANIAS.

A VERY interesting group of the different kinds of these in cultivation,
in illustration of their differences of habit, was shown at one of the
meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society by Messrs. E. G. Hender¬
son & Son. G. pavonia was of close or tufted growth, with long stalked
leaves, which were regularly pinnatifid, sprinkled with rigid hairs above
and on the ribs beneath. It was described as a shy bloomer; but with
large, well-formed, and very beautiful flowers. G. rigens, of close
tufted habit, was said to be more restricted in growth than its reputed
varieties ; the leaves were smooth, narrow, and tapered into a long
stalk-like portion, acute at the apex, and either simple and merely
widened upwards, or occasionally with three or four pointed lobes. It
is a fine old plant when suitably grown. G. rigens major was more
robust, rather close-habited, with broader that is spathulate, bullate,
crowded leaves, and blooming scantily, so that it is little sought after.
G. splendens, or rigens hybrida, which is the variety or species lately
brought into notice as a valuable bedding plant, blooms profusely
throughout the summer and autumn months, and afterwards by pro¬
tection in the greenhouse continuing to expand its later blossoms until
January ; it had smooth spathulate leaves and a free branching habit.
G. uniflora was of branching habit, but without special treatment too
diffuse to produce adequate blossoms for flower-bedding, and the flowers
are yellow, instead of orange, as in all the preceding.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY.

May 22. — This, considering the unfavourable spring we have had,
was an excellent exhibition. Azaleas and Pelargoniums were numerous
and made a brilliant display. Roses were produced in first-rate
condition, and there was as usual also large numbers of stove and
greenhouse plants. A large collection of the latter, furnished by Mr.

JUNE.

183

May, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Hawkesyard Park, near Rugely,
was in a most beautiful state, both as regards growth and flower. It
consisted of Ixora javanica, a noble bush, each branch of which produced
a glorious bouquet of rich orange flowers ; Ixora coccinea, also in good
condition ; Pimelea Hendersoni, 5 feet through, though it was stated
to be only four years old, and covered with bloom ; huge specimens of
Epacrises, Chorozemas, Coleonemas, and Azaleas ; Pimelea spectabilis
and Gompholobium polymorphum, the latter grown in the form of a
bush, a state in which it is much prettier than when trained on a
trellis; Acrophyllum venosum, Genetyllis macrostegia, loaded with
drooping orange red bells ; the Heath-leaved Tetratheca ; Dipladenia
crassinoJa ; an Everlasting or two, and a charming specimen of blue
Leschenaultia. To these a first prize was awarded. Of Orchids, Mr.
May also sent a small collection, which received a first prize ; it consisted
of Dendrobium nobile and Paxtoni, two examples of Phaleenopsis,
Cattleya Mossise, and Aerides affine.

Among large Azaleas, Mr. Turner’s plants again stood first. His
specimens of Chelsoni, Criterion, and Iveryana, were magnificent.
Messrs. Green and Carson also showed large and fine specimens.

Roses in pots were shown in beautiful condition ; in Mr. Francis’s
group, which was not at the Crystal Palace, were Vicomtesse Decazes,
covered with rich yellow flowers ; Paul Perras, Souvenir d’un Ami,
Coupe d’Hebe, Madame Willermoz, Jules Margottin, Auberon, Baronne
Prevost, Niphetos, a white kind ; and Madame Hector Jacquin. From-
Mr. Wm. Paul came a collection in small pots which was greatly
admired, and deservedly, for the plants of which it consisted were
nicely grown and well flowered. Amateurs also showed tolerably
well on this occasion; Mr. Terry, gardener to Lady Puller, had good
plants of Paul Perras, Souvenir d’un Ami, Niphetos, Vicomtesse
Decazes, Jules Margottin, and Comte de Paris; and A. Rowland,
Esq., of Lewisham, had a beautiful plant of Chenedole, with large
richly coloured blossoms ; Gloire de Dijon, Queen, Baronne Prevost,
and Paul Perras. Of cut Roses a beautiful collection was shown by
Mr. Wm. Paul, containing among others blooms of the following new
kinds, viz., Victor Verdier, a large showy rose; Madame William,
yellow ; Baronne Gonella, rose ; Comtesse Cecil de Chabrillant, rose ;
Virginal, white ; Gloire de Santenay, crimson ; and Madame Boll.
Messrs. Paul & Son also showed cut blooms, among which was a
remarkably fine truss of the fawn-coloured Tea Rose, Madame de St.
Joseph.

Of Cape Heaths Mr. May had a small collection, consisting of
ventricosa magnifica, florida, odore rosae, vestita purpurea, ventricosa
coccinea, and suaveolens.

New plants were numerous. From Mr. Pike, Winchmore, came a
fine specimen of the handsome sweet-scented purple and white double
Petunia named Inimitabilis ; Messrs. Veitch sent the variegated variety
of Pteris cretica in beautiful condition ; also the Petunia just alluded to,
the handsome Lomaria blechnoides, a pretty Gloxinia named Princess
Beatrice, the silvery-veined Adelaster albivenius, and Araucaria excelsa
variegata. Mr. Williams again showed his new variety of Loelia, and

184

THE FLORIST.

a singular creeping Ficus-like plant from Manilla ; from Messrs. Fraser
came a new white-flowered Heath which promises to be an acquisition
to that tribe of plants. Messrs. Ivery sent two new Azaleas, and Mr.
Bull a great variety of plants, consisting of Palms, Ferns, variegated
Begonias, double and single-flowered Petunias, some of them very
pretty ; three kinds of Dracaena, the handsome Campolobotrys refulgens
and pyrophylla, Aralia leptophylla, a pretty kind; the singular- looking
Alocasia metallica, Sphaerostema marmorata, with silvery-blotched
leaves ; three kinds of Caladium, Statice propinqua and profusa, Cissus
porphyrophyllus, Theophrasta imperialis, the long spiny-leaved Hippo-
mane longifolia, a glaucous variety of Araucaria Cunninghami, B,hopala
cfenata, and a species of Cupania. Mr. Verschaffelt also showed some
new plants, chiefly Begonias, and other things remarkable for the
beauty of their leaves, among which the most conspicuous was Campy-
lobotrys Ghiesbreghti. Captain Speke showed blooms of a handsome
red and white-flowered Amaryllid from Central Africa ; Messrs. Lee, a
fine plant of Cordyline indivisa, and some pretty New Zealand Ferns.
Messrs. A. Henderson & Co. furnished Rhododendron calophyllum, a
large pink-tinged white-flowered kind, a dwarf yellow Wallflower, and
the singular purplish blue-flowered Mantisia saltatoria.

Among miscellaneous subjects w^ere some handsome stands of Pansies
from Messrs. Downie & Laird; Tulips and Verbenas from Mr. Turner;
a collection of variegated Begonias from Mr. Young, Highgate ; and a
large Phaenocoma proliferum from Mr. May, Rugeley.

Pelargoniums, especially the two first collections, both from nursery¬
men and private growers, were excellent. Leviathan, Fairest of the F'air,
Candidate, Etna, Picnic, Vesta, Admirable, and Rose Celestial, in Mr.
Turner’s group, which was placed first, were beautifully grown and well
flowered. Messrs. Dobson had Governor-General, Fairest of the Fair,
Una, Viola, Rosalie, Rose Celestial, Symmetry, R. Benyon, Eugene
Duval, Fair Helen, Sanspareil, and Admirable. In the Amateurs’
class, Mr. Nye, gardener to E. Foster, Esq., sent among others, Rose
Celestial, Fair Llelen, Flora, Sanspareil, Sir Colin Campbell, Fairest of
the Fair, Saracen, and Vesta. Mr. Bailey, Shardeloes, contributed
extremely well grown plants, dwarf and well flowered, both of ordinary
and fancy kinds ; their only fault was that the blossoms were rather
small. Of fancy varieties those from Mr. Turner, to which the first
prize was awarded, were also all that could be desired. Messrs. Dobson
and Fraser likewise show^ed good collections. In the different groups.
Cloth of Silver, Acme, Madame Rougiere, Circle, Formosissimum,
Princess Royal, Attraction, and Lady of the Lake were conspicuous.
Several Seedlings, which we hope to describe this month, were shown.

PROPAGATING ROSES.

I HAVE often heard it remarked by persons who have propagated the
Rose, that the Hybrid Perpetual class could not be rooted from cuttings
in the winter, but that all the other classes could be. I think this is a
mistaken idea ; I have succeeded in propagating them equally as well

JUNE.

185

as either the Bourbon or Bengal Boses, which with me are the most
certain to root. I put in the first week of December last, one hundred
cuttings of the Souvenir de Leveson Gower, and on examining them to¬
day I find that all but six of them have rooted well. My course of
treatment is this : — I have a bed containing four inches of clean washed

o

sand ; the bottom is bored full of two-inch holes, over which is spread
straw, to prevent the sand from falling through. The pipe which con¬
ducts the hot water through my greenhouse is completely boxed up
under the bed, which affords a strong bottom-heat, and I have sashes
over the cuttings which confine the heat that arises from the sand. I
keep the cuttings moist by watering with clear rain-water, at about
70*^ temperature. The glasses must be kept close, only occasionally
raising them to give air.

I have not only succeeded in rooting Roses in this way, but a great
many varieties of hard-wooded plants. It may, perhaps, be an old
plan, but to me it is entirely a new one — I have never seen it used,
but only adopted it, after experimenting in various ways in rooting
plants from cuttings.

Lancaster. T. H. H.

LANDSCAPE GARDENING.

It has been asked — Is landscape gardening an art or a trade? I
should say it is as much one as the other. Mechanical arts are trades.
The fine arts are more scientific, and call forth a greater exercise of
mind, refinement, and natural good taste. Landscape-gardening may
be defined as a science, practical in its developments. It embraces
good taste in arrangement, combined with scientific and practical
gardening, applied to beautify the landscape.

Simple gardening, or gardening without landscape prefixed, is also a
science, practical in its developments. ^ It embraces botany, and a
knowledge of the various kinds of care each plant requires. Chemistry
also aids it.

Landscape-gardening, like good taste, is a gift, and every lover of the
fine arts is supposed to possess the gift of good taste. The height of
good taste is the love of nature. But it is necessary first to familiarise
ourselves with nature’s forms before we can form a model of taste.

It is the pursuit of every good gardener to know the real character
of the plants he is dealing with. It is the gardener’s business to assist
nature and provide for the wants of the plant, that it may develop
itself in healthy beauty. So, on these grounds, we would claim that it
takes a gardener to be a gardener.

I would not count a man not a landscape-gardener because he was
not born and brought up in a garden ; but he should be a practical
gardener. It is the study of a lifetime to be a proficient in all the
branches of gardening, and too much time cannot be afforded to mere
extraneous branches.

I never meant to say that because a man may be a proficient in any
other business that he is unfitted for the duties of a landscape gar-

186

THE FLOlllST.

dener ; but he is unqualified to beautify the landscape to an exalted
degree of perfection, unless he is or has been a practical gardener.

As illustrative of these views, I would further remark : First —
Landscape gardening is gardening ; the making beautiful by the scien¬
tific and practical application of planting, digging, levelling, mounding,
dressing, building, or removing unsightly objects. Also manuring,
draining, and general improvement of the soil, that Grass, trees, and
flowers, vegetables, and fruit may grow to perfection when planted.
And it is of the utmost importance that the designer should be able to
direct the work, or to do it. If he is not, his qualifications to design
are of the most limited nature. He may see the castle or garden in
the air, but he cannot command the material to make it permanent.
He may think he can go to the nursery and get what trees suit him,
and so on ; but the trees will not remain as he plants them. The big
tree, costing five dollars, will be outstripped in three or four years by
the little one at its side that you paid twenty-five cents for ; and that
handsome little evergreen that he planted on the walk, will probably
have to be cut down or trimmed out of shape in two years, because its
branches will extend twenty feet in diameter in a very little while.
Paint remains where the painter puts it, but your trees run away and
spoil the picture.

And so a gardener must know the proportions that his trees will
attain. He has this foreknowledge to govern his taste in creation of
landscape scenery. Science is often lost without a knowledge of minute
practical details.

A doctor sent an order to an apothecary for two articles, to be applied
separately to a patient; but as “separately” was not mentioned in
the order, (the doctor thought it unnecessary, supposing the apothecary
should know,) the apothecary put up the articles in one bottle. The
doctor coming in, inquired, “What have you done? Don’t you know
that these combined make a deadly poison?” The apothecary laugh¬
ingly applied the bottle to his mouth, and said, “Haven’t I drank them
repeatedly ? ” then fell backwards and died.

So in gardening, — things well enough by themselves work badly
together. An injudicious application of fertilisers will kill a tree or
plant, and an injudicious combination of trees, &c., will kill all harmony.

Landscape-gardening is not wholly inaccessible. If you are a
good gardener, you only want to add the gift of good taste, and impro'^e
the combination. Mark what has been done in the art, and excel it if
you can.

Many good florists are not skilled nor have the taste to lay out
grounds ; but from the gardeners we would select or make the land-
scape-garde7iers, as a captain would select a mate from experienced
navigators.

All the absurdity concerning architects, surveyors, civil engineers,
draughtsmen, and painters becoming Ian iscape-gardeners, is that they
should, all at once, become possessed of those acquirements that take
professional men a lifetime to learn ! — American Gardeners' Monthly.

JUNE .

187

EFFECTS OF THE WINTER.

The following notes may perhaps be interesting to your readers,
showing as they do the effects of the late cold winter on plants growing

in the pleasure grounds at Highcler

Pinus insignis killed.

,, tuberculata ,,

,, monticola, injured.

„ Montezunne ,,

,, Llaveanj;, uninjured.

„ JefFreyi" „

,, Pallasiana ,,

,, Lambertiana ,,

„ excelsa ,,

Abies Brunoniana, injured.

,, Douglasii, uninjured.

,, Menziesii ,,

,, morinda ,,

Picea cephalonica ,,

,, Pinsapo ,,

„ grandis _ ,,

,, Webbiana, injured.

Cupressus torulosa, killed.

,, Uhdeana ,,

,» Goveniana ,,

,, macrocarpa, killed in an

exposed situation ; un -
inj ured where sheltered
Cedrus Deodara, uninjured.

,, atlantica ,,

Junij)erus Bermudiana, killed.

,, recuiwa, uninjured.

Thuja gigantea ,,

,, nepalensis ,,

Castle, near Newbury, Berks: —

Thujopsis borealis, uninjured
Taxus adpressa ,,

Taxodium sempervirens, injured.
Cryptomeria japonica, uninjured.
Araucaria imbricata „
Quercus Ilex, injured.

,, ,, Fordii, nearly dead.

Wellingtonia gigantea, uninjured.
Berberis japonica, injured.

„ Bealii ,,

,, Fortunii ,,

,, Darwinii, uninjured.
Aralia spinosa , killed.

Crataegus pyracantha „

Lonicera flexuosa „

Bhus cotinus, young wood killed.
Punica granatum ,,

Halesia tetraptera ,,

Cercis siliquastrum ,,
Calycanthus floridus ,,

Prunus sinensis ,,

Ilex cornuta, killed.

Laurustinus, Sweet Bays, Arbutus,
Escallonia rubra, Ligustrum
japonicum, Myrtus communis,
killed back to the ground, but
breaking from the bottom.
Wistaria sinensis, uninjured.
Forsythia viridissima ,,

On the morning of December 25, 1860, the thermometer indicated
8°, 24° below the freezing point, the lowest noted here last winter.
May 22. D.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Get the seed pods and faded blooms picked
off plants that have done flowering, and remove them as soon as
convenient to a rather close warm house, to encourage free growth.
Keep them well shaded, and the atmosphere as moist as possible,
syringing the plants freely night and morning during bright weather.
Plants which require more pot room should be shifted as soon as they
are out of bloom, and the shoots nicely arranged, so as to cause the
young wood to grow in its proper place and form ; and weak back
shoots not required for filling up the plant should be cut out, and the
wood should not be left too thick. Young plants of new or other

188

THE FLORIST.

varieties, which it may be wished to increase the size of as fast as
possible, should be kept near the glass in a stove or some warm house
where they can be shaded from sunshine and afforded a moist atmo¬
sphere. See that these are not allowed to suffer through the want of
pot-room, and stop over -luxuriant shoots as may be necessary to secure
a regular growth. Plants being kept for late blooming should be
placed in a shady situation out of doors, where they will keep equally
well as in a north house, and will be benefited by the night dews, &c.,but
they must not be exposed after the flowers begin to open. See that
the whole stock is free from thrips, and apply tobacco-smoke or some
other known cure directly this pest makes its appearance. Camellias
which were started into growth early will have set their buds, and may
be placed in a shady situation out of doors, unless they are wanted to
bloom early in autumn, in which case they had better be kept in heat
until the buds are as large as large peas, and then be removed to a
cool airy house, where they will not be so liable to make a second growth
as they would if placed out of dcors. Those making their growth should
be kept rather warm, syringing them freely morning and evening, and
shading from bright sunshine. Plants requiring more pot-room should
be shifted at once, and see that all are clear of insects. Conservatory. —
Careful shading, and abundance of moisture in the atmosphere, will be
essential here, in order to preserve the beauty of Azaleas and other
hard-wooded plants ; and these are so beautiful as to deserve any
amount of care which will prolong their beauty, if but for a few days.
The surface of the beds should be kept constantly moist — paths and
every available surface sprinkled two or three times a day during bright
weather ; giving air freely during the day, and a little left at night,
will prevent a stagnant atmosphere, or the blooms being injured by
damp settling on them. Remove plants directly their beauty is over,
and replace them with others in full bloom ; or, if these are scarce,
with ornamental or variegated foliaged plants from the stove, many of
which will do perfectly well here for two or three months, provided
they are placed out of the way of draughts, and kept rather close at
first. Attend to regulating the growth of the twiners, and see that
these, and specimens planted in the beds, are properly supplied with
water at the roots, and also clear of insects. Cold Frames. — These will
now be cleared of the bedding stock, and will be extremely useful for
growing Balsams and many similar plants for furnishing the conservatory
in autumn, and will also furnish the best possible accommodation for
young specimens of the more tender greenhouse plants, as Boronias,
Gompholobiums, &c. &c. ; and, indeed, young stock of all kinds of
greenhouse plants will do better here for the summer than in the house,
or placed out of doors. The finer kinds of shrubby Calceolarias are also
well worthy of notice for blooming in the conservatory after the hard-
wooded plants are over ; and, if a stock of these are in hand, they
should receive a liberal shift, stopping and tying Out the shoots, so as to
secure stocky well furnished plants, and be placed in the cold frames,
where they can be shaded from bright sunshine, and afforded a moist
atmosphere, and kept clear of aphis by gentle fumigations as may be
necessary; and they will form nice plants for blooming in July and

JUNE.

189

August. Seeds of those sown now will, with ordinary care, make fine
plants for next season, and are not so liable to go off at the collar as
plants from cuttings are when stopped and kept for late blooming.
Flower Garden. — If not already done, finish planting out as soon as
possible, and get all plants liable to be injured by being blown about
by high winds pegged at once ; and Dahlias, Hollyhocks, &c., secured
to their stakes. Attend to the whole of the stock with water as fre¬
quency as may be necessary until they get well established, giving a
thorough soaking every time water is applied, for surface sprinklings
leave the roots dry, and are of very little surface to the plants. Green¬
house. — Large specimens of the hardier kinds of greenhouse plants may
now be placed in a sheltered situation out of doors, where they will
be shaded from the midday sun ; but care must be observed to protect
them from heavy rains, either by having a waterproof cloth which can
be stretched over them, or by laying the plants on pots on their sides.
Those that require repotting should be kept in the house after shifting
until the roots get hold of the fresh soil. Attend well to young stock,
which will now be growing freely ; keep the shoots nicely regulated,
and shaped as may be necessary, to secure well- formed specimens, and
use every care to afford these a moist atmosphere, sprinkling them
overhead early on the afternoons of bright days, and reducing the air ;
but, as already stated, young stock will be better in pits and frames
for the summer than in this house. Spare room in this house may be
occupied with Fuchsias and other soft-wooded plants for the conservatory.
Stove. — Keep a sharp look-out for insects here, and if red spider makes
its appearance upon Dipladenias or other plants, the foliage of which
will not bear a very liberal use of the syringe or engine, it must be
wasiied off with the sponge — examining the affected plants frequently,
to make certain that the pest is eradicated, for if this is once allowed to
gain a footing, it will speedily ruin the finest specimens. Also keep
clear of aphis and spider by gentle fumigations as often as may be
necessary, but be careful to have the house and foliage perfectly dry
before smoking. Keep the atmosphere moist by frequently sprinkling
the paths and every available surface, giving the plants a good moistening
with the syringe every afternoon before shutting up the house; but avoid
wetting the heads of Ixoras, as these are apt to drop their blooms if
syringed overhead after they are in a forward state. Attend to providing
a supply of plants for autumn and early winter blooming.

Hardy Fruit. — During the present month every attention should be
given to all trained fruit-trees in this department. All wall-trees
especially should be gone over in time, and the shoots thinned and
stopped to admit air and light among the fruit and young shoots, which
will greatly assist the formation of fruit-buds for the following season.
Old Pear-trees in particular, that are unfruitful, should be subjected to
the above treatment. Keep Peach-trees free from green -fly by the
means previously advised, and dust sulphur on the shoots affected with
mildew. Use the garden engine occasionally in warm weather, to clean
the trees and prevent red spider. The thinning and stopping of shoots
should be carried on in moderation, bearing in mind to retain sufficient

190

■V

THE FLORIST.

foliage to shade the larger branches from the scorching sun, for at times
much injury is done to the trees in this wa3^ Destroy black-fly on
Cherries by dipping the shoots in tobacco-water and soit soap, or by
syringing the trees with the same. Well wash the trees after the fly is
destroyed. Water and mulch newly-planted trees, if the weather is
hot and dry. Finish mulching Strawberries with litter or short Grass,
at once, if not already done. Water in dry weather. Tie up the large
kinds to small sticks, such as the British Queen, or other heavy fruit
that do not colour well at the point. Look over Gooseberry and Cur¬
rant bushes, and see that caterpillars do not injure the trees ; hand¬
picking is the best means of destroying them. Pinch out the points of
Currant shoots, to check green-fly, and water with liquid manure if the
trees are weakly. Forcing Ground. — As soon as any pits or frames
are clear of Potatoes or other forced crops, the beds should be prepared
without delay, and successional crops of Cucumbers and Melons planted
in them. Give good soakings of water occasionally to Melons when the
fruit is swelling ; keep the shoots thin, to preserve health and vigour in
the foliage; stop and earth up advancing crops, give abundance of air
through the day in good weather, and avoid shading if possible ; syringe
the plants on the afternoons of clear day^s, and close the frames early ;
be sparing of water when the fruit approaches maturity. Be careful,
and guard against sudden changes in the weather by having linings of
Cucumber and Melon beds always in good condition, for if they get
chilled it will probably bring on mildew and canker. Sow Cucumbers
as they may be required, and Melons for the latest crop. Give plenty
of air and water to French Beans, as well as the last crop of Straw¬
berries in pits. Plant^ out Cucumbers in ridges under hand-glasses,
and Tomatoes against a wall in a southern aspect. Egg-plants should
be planted on a warm border. Cherries. — As soon as the crop is
gathered, remove the trees to a shady situation and keep them syringed
and watered ; the pots should be plunged, or the plants taken out and
planted in a northern aspect. Those plants in pots intended for forcing
next season should not suffer from drought or from the effect of the
Cherry-fly. Peaches and Nectarmes. — Expose the ripening crop as
much as possible to the sun and admit plenty of air, to give colour and
flavour to the fruit. Late houses, where the fruit is swelling, should
have an increased clay temperature, with plenty of moisture. Thin and
tie in the shoots in the last house, and treat them as previously
advised. Vinery. — In the early vineries, where the fruit is perfectly
ripe, the houses should be kept as cool as possible by giving plenty of
air, to prevent them from shrivelling. Muscats should be assisted
with a little fire heat, except in hot weather, so that the night tempe¬
rature do not fall below 70°, and, with air and moisture, it may rise to
90° in the daytime. Late vineries should also have a little fire heat in
chilly weather, more especially when they are in flower. Use dry
sulphur if mildew makes its appearance, and keep the house a little
warmer for a few days. Vines in pots should have every assistance by
mulching and manure water. Plunge the pots, or otherwise shade
them from the sun. Pines. — Tie up the fruit to keep them upright,
when they are swelling off, and maintain a humid atmosphere with a

JUNE.

191

liberal supply of water at the root. Keep the succession plants growing ;
syringe in the afternoon, and do not let the plants suffer from drought
at the root, especially those planted out on ridges. Shift the plants as
they may require pot-room ; do not shade, except for a few days after
the plants are shifted, and attend to last month’s directions respecting
airing, temperature, &c. Kitchen Garden. — Nothing could be more
favourable, to get the soil in proper condition after a very wet autumn,
than the dry spring of 1861 ; a warm shower now will cause all crops
to make rapid growth. The principal thing now is to keep the hoe
moving every opportunity among all growing crops and other parts of
the garden ; also go on with the thinning of Onions, Parsnips, Carrots,
&c. Another sowing of the latter should be made early in the month
for a late crop, and succession crops of Turnips and Lettuce, and another
of Bread Beans, may yet be got in ; also Scarlet Banners and Dwarf
Beans Succeasion crops of Peas should be sown at intervals through
the month ; Marrow Peas are suitable for sowing in the early part of
the month, followed by early kinds, such as Emperor or Sangster’s. It
is a good plan to sow them in trenches, six inches deep, for the sake of
moisture ; the rows should be a good distance apart, so that they may
have plenty of air and, light; Winter Greens ma}'’ be planted between
the rows. Sow Lettuce, Early Cape, Walcheren, and other Cauliflower,
and Snow’s Early Broccoli early in the month. Sow Coleworts not later
than the middle of the month ; the London Market and Rosette are
among the best. Prick out and plant Celery for early crop ; water after
planting, and frequently in dry weather. Prepare more trenches, to be
in readiness by the end of the month. Plant out Cauliflower, Lettuce,
and Brussels Sprouts as soon as the plants are ready. Sow Cardoons
immediately, if not already done.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias. — We will suppose that these are nearly out of flower,
and consequently will require great attention to prepare them for
cuttings for the ensuing season. They should now be placed in a shady
situation-under a north hedge or wall, and when the wood is mature,
cut down to about three inches of the surface of the soil. Stir the
top of the soil slightly, and then surface neatly with a mixture of
light turfy loam and leaf-mould. Sprinkle daily in dry weather, and
protect in very wet weather by lights or other covering suitable to
carry the water off. In a few days they will throw up suckers, which
should be carefully taken off, and inserted in pots or pans prepared for
the purpose, and placed under handglasses or in frames in a shady
situation. Pot off as soon as rooted, and encourage by shifting into
larger pots. Seed may now be sown for early flowering plants. Keep
all plants cool and sprinkle frequently. Pelargoniums. — To admire
the beauty of your plants as it more and more prominently appears
may now be your chief employment. Water freely, but let it be in
the morning, and your bloom will last all the longer. From the
piercing rays of the sun and the industrious bee you must alike guard ;
and be sure to keep your plants and every nook about them perfectly
clean, for the care you thus bestow you will be more than repaid.

192

THE FLORIST.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN JUNE.

Auriculas will now require only to be kept cool and clean for some
time, and therefore in warm weather water should be freely given ;
and wherever they are the sun kept from them, as my frames face the
N., and they will be well shaded by calico covers. I intend to keep
them there this season ; it will save me much trouble, and I hope will
answer. Green-fly must be kept from them ; the most effectual plan
for this purpose is to brush them off with a large camel’s-hair pencil.
Where seed is not wanted the stalks may be pricked off, and the pots
must be kept clear of weeds. An interesting article on some of the
new kinds will be found in this month’s number. Bedding-oul Plants.
— Any that have not been put in should be so now without delay.
Verbenas should be pegged down. Where Ferns are abundant they
make the best pegs ; in default of these, I find a penny broom cuts up
into a large number of pegs. It is to be hoped the present will prove
a more favourable season than the last for trying the various kinds
which have of late been brought out. Pinks will now be spindling up
for bloom ; pick off all, flower stems save three, or, where the plant is
strong, four. Disbud as the buds show, and where great nicety is
desired shade from hot sun. Carnations and Picotees. — Tie up the
flower stems as they spindle, and watch against green- fly. This warm
and dry weather will necessitate a good deal of watering. Ranunculus,
as far as I can see, will be a failure ; when the tubers dry off take
them up, and plant either Verbenas or Asters in their place. Tulips. — •
As soon as the flower stems will bend without breaking take up the
bulbs, carefully marking any that run or are deficient in equality or
height, and put them into a second bed, next year filling up their places
with some good bulbs. Many have blown very much out of character
this year, owing to the bad season of last year, having militated against
the vigour of the bulbs. Greenhouse will now be gay with the Pelar¬
goniums. I very nearly destroyed my bloom, and have much injured
the appearance of my plants by the use of tobacco paper. I suppose
there must have been some error in using it ; the first time it did not
seem to injure them, but the second, when not nearly the same quantity
was used, and the same paper, some of the planis at the top of the
house were completely scorched, and the others more or less injured.
Twice I have been thus served, formerly with Gishurst and now with
paper; henceforth, nothing but “baccy” for me. Pansies. — As these
go out of bloom, remove them to a shady place, and sulphur for mildew ;
take cuttings, and strike in a cool border under a handglass. In general
work, the hoe will be much wanted to get rid of rubbish ; Hollyhocks
and Dahlias will want stakes ; Asters and others annuals planted out,
and plants tied up, and carefully watched as they grow.

Deal. " D.

1

\

"1:

Ml Andrews Dele. & Zdneo.

Ger amums.

1. Sercbcr Wr'aThgZed'. Z. DzopTuxntiLA . 3

Plate 178.

ThA Moor.

JULY.

193

SPOTTED GERANIUMS.

(Plate 178).

Concerning the handsome varieties of Geranium which form
the subject of our plate this month, we hope to give a full
description in our next, the limited space at our command on
this occasion preventing us doing them justice in our present
issue. We may, however, state that they are a wonderful
advance on anything of the kind that has yet appeared even in
the fine class to which they belong. Although good growers,
easy to winter, and throwing full sized trusses freely on all
shoots, yet, to have them in perfection, they must he well
grown, a point to which it is to he regretted many pay no great
attention. True, we never miss seeing splendid specimens at
our great metropolitan exhibitions ; hut in many private esta¬
blishments throughout the country second-rate plants are the
rule rather than the exception. A common fault is too much
crowding, and when that happens plants that have their growth
wholly to make in spring will not bloom in true character.
Over-potting is also a mistake of frequent occurrence ; it should
be borne in mind that the pots must become full of roots before
there can be a fine head of bloom. Starting them into growth
at a time when they are throwing up their trusses is likewise
injurious.

ON GREEN.EDGED AURICULAS.*

I DO not think either you, Mr. Editor, or those for whom you cater,
would thank me for stretching on a Procrustean bed whatever I may
have to say on each of the four classes of Auriculas, and making them
separately yield an article apiece ; but I this will easily do so. And as
I began with the least advanced of the four, the white-edged, I will
now take that which at present ranks next lowest in its list of first-rate
varieties, though highest in general estimation, and much the most
numerous in named sorts, namely, the green-edged. The reason of
the high estimation in which this class is held, is, because in a good
example, the contrast between the four zones is much the most perfect,
and gives it a far more striking and refined appearance than can be
found in any of the other kinds. Something may also be due to the
rarity of such examples. This I believe to have been the spring which
moved “ D. of Deal ” to suggest the fusion of the classes ; for no one
can see a collection of twelve or more set out for a show, and therefore
of the most perfect, without being struck with the absence of any broad
line of distinction between the classes ; the insensible gradation by
which the greens melt into the greys and the greys into the whites,
suggesting a natural reason for the Manchester system of class showing
by single specimens, or at any rate by not more than one in each class.
Take an Al of each and put them together, and the classes are separated

VOL. XV., NO. CLXIII.

0

194

THE FLORIST.

in appearance as much as in name. Inspect a collection, and even an
habitue may ask to which class a given specimen belongs.

To produce the full effect of its class superiority there is necessary,
besides the form and general markings required in all, that a green-
edged Auricula have its edge pure, that is, free from a particle of meal,
and of a deep and vivid green, for some are light and seme Apple green,
and some, though deep and pure, are dull. The best and purest in
these respects, if you except its pointed form, is the old Lancashire
flower Leigh’s Colonel Taylor, which came out nearly fifty years ago ;
and its contemporary, Booth’s Freedom, is but little behind it in that,
and before it in most other properties. Page’s Champion came out
not very long after them ; and when to these you have added others.
Lady Ann Wilbraham, Litton’s Imperator, and Beeston’s Apollo, I am
at a loss what other I can name that has been long enough in hand,
with me at least, to rank with them as pure and perfect green edges.
And of these how far fi’om perfection is the best ! Something of this
deficiency may be owing to their being members of the highest and
most perfect class, for the ideal type in such will always be further
beyond ordinary reach than in lower classes. But more is due to the
actual falling short of any fair standard in the varieties themselves,
which is much more conspicuous in these than in the greys or in the
seifs. Yates’ Morris Green Hero, though permitted to take a low
prize this year at Middleton, I cannot consent to include among show
flowers at all ; its green is so dull and so broad, with a mere thread of
colour, that it has made a long approach in returning to its original
condition of a leaf. Its purity of edge once deceived me into thinking
well of it ; but after I had grown it a year or two I completely gave
in to the general opinion of its demerit and discarded it.

No doubt there are other long-established flowers besides the six
mentioned that are undeniable in purity of edge, of which perhaps the
best is Hudson’s Apollo ; but unless under superior cultivation its want
of size and its form of truss render it insignificant, and its green is not
nearly deep enough. In a good trainer’s hands it may be made a
first-rate flower, but it requires special attention, and is besides of
delicate constitution. You must be careful how you play tricks with
it, to get more body colour and a more vivid green ; if indeed they ever
succeed, the tricks I mean, good cultivation does. Of Matley’s Super¬
intendent, I can only speak irom one year’s experience ; Mr. Lightbody
says it is too angular. I sent a pair to London, and not a pip on
either had an angle in it. Its fault was that the paste was weak and
thin. In a good year like this, it need not fear being shown against
the Champion itself The question really is, how often do these years
come? And that cannot be answered without longer trial. Dickson’s
Duke of Wellington after all deserves its London popularity, for it does
its best to please ; it is showy, it is hardy, it is prolific, it is not particular
as to treatment, and always looks well and striking ; and in the ten
years I have grown it, and that by the dozen, I have seen it with a
pure green edge of tolerable breadth — once 1 And what is more it
was then fit to show at Middleton. But it would be absurd to rank it
with the pure green edges because it can sometimes be seen pure. Its

JULY.

195

habit is to be impure, and besides, with the colour overpowering the
edge and spoiling the symmetry of the flower. There are several
others that sometimes come pure and throw a first-rate truss ; Headly’s
Conductor and Excellent do, the latter having a dull but deep green
edge; Hepworth’s Robin Hood, Lightbody’s Fairy Queen, Ashton’s
Prince of Wales, which last, from its angularity, narrowness and
dulness of body colour, and want of smoothness, must rank low with the
connoisseur notwithstanding ; Franklin’s Colonel is often pure, though
light green in the edge, but then it has no two pips with the very
smart colour like polished Spanish mahogany of equal breadth ; Prince
Albert I have seen pure, and then if caught before the tube bleaches
it is first-rate, though of light green ; Lord Lynedoch may be pure and
deep, but so may Mother Bunch ; Star of Bethlehem stares at you like
a vulgar minded, but not bad looking, milkmaid, all eyes and cheeks ;
Howard’s Lord Nelson is better, but seldom gives a truss for an exhi¬
bition table ; Hogg’s Waterloo is pretty, but only Apple green ; and
Clegg’s Lady Blucher is light green in the edge and angular throughout.
Of the newer ones, Lycurgus, if it ever shakes off its beading, will go
into the front rank, and General Neil bids high for a good place ; but
time is wanting to judge correctly of these. I do not remember to
have seen any other sorts with a pure edge at any time. But there
are many good flowers remaining in the class notwithstanding, some of
them far better in their impure state than most of the above. Camp¬
bell’s imitations of Booth’s Freedom, Admiral Napier, and Lord
Palmerston, are both good, the former very large and bold, the latter
more correct, but with a light and transient eye ; Matilda is perfect
in form and beautiful in colour, but the edge is light and the eye
transient, also, it forms a bad truss ; John Bright has a bleaching eye.
Emerald too small a one ; Freeman is not pleasing, though sometimes
very fine ; Sir John Moore is brilliant and effective, and easily satisfied ;
Moore’s Violet is among the loveliest of the lovely ; Oliver’s Lovely
Ann is useful and lasting ; Lord John Russell is lively and good ; Trail’s
General Havelock is good ; Pollitt’s flowers have far too many petals
(lobes), and are anything but smooth, but are not to be despised ;
Partington’s Trafalgar is useful ; Smith’s Waterloo is of doubtful green
and thin paste, but I cannot part with it.

In this enumeration I have left out some that I grow, but the only
one worth mentioning is Strong’s Sir Isaac Newton, which, though an
old flow^er, is very rare, and not first-rate either.

And now to conclude. Where are we to look among them all for
the type of a green edge such as we want ? I confess I know not. Is
not Page’s Champion the best we yet possess? “ D. of Deal ” thinks
it is, “ <I> ” says it is, and I am forced to admit that it is. And there¬
fore it is the best, for who in the Auricula world shall pit his dictum
against such a trio ? But then I say shame to seedling raisers if it is.
But I believe it is, notwithstanding. If Dr. Plant would teach us to
grow Booth’s Freedom as he can grow it, with nine or eleven pips,
if/at would be second. Shall I confess to the mortifying fact that I
fear Wilbraham ought to stand third ? Dickson was supposed to have
achieved a revolution in these matters. But though every flower of

196

THE FLORIST.

his is beautiful, and Wellington will hold its place in spite of adverse
criticism, he did not remove the reproach from the class. Nor till
some resolute seeder will be content to isolate the parents and exclude
insects and cross for the purpose, foregoing the pleasure of the bloom
of a few of his best plants, can we expect that the reproach will be
removed. For as this class is farthest removed from the original
simplicity of the wild species, and exhibits the highest effect of artificial
cultivation, it is natural that fewest seedlings should be found in it at
all, and fewest of the few in a pure as well as perfect state. But now
that we know better than formerly — everyone knows — ^how to raise the
seed when we have it, and that by a little care every plant may be
bloomed by the end of the third year, some blooming in their first, the
labour and time required are not what they were.

To those who mean to try for this class I have a word of advice
— eschew chance seed. If you have a collection of good flowers, and
choose to let them seed, by all means do so. It will not hurt them as
it does annuals or biennials. Let them give you what seed they will,
collect it carefully, and — sell it. It will produce many good flowers.
It may possibly produce some first-rate in the other classes, though
there is no florist’s flower that produces from seed so few of even
average excellence ; but seed so saved will yield you no first-rate green
edge. George Jeans.

VISITS TO NURSERIES.— No. V.

MR. JOHN CATTELL’S, WESTERHAM, KENT.

The traveller who forms his idea of the beauty and fertility of the
county of Kent from that portion of it that meets his eye as he whisks
along at express speed from London to Dover will have a very incorrect
opinion of the garden of England, inasmuch as the line traverses some
of the worst land and some of the most unpicturesque portions of the
country. Here and there, as at Penshurst, he gets a glimpse of some
of its richly wooded and historic spots ; but in general there is little
either to attract attention or merit praise. To see it, he must diverge
from the main line ; and in some of its beautiful valleys and byeways
he will find scenery which for richness and quiet pastoral beauty can
hardly be surpassed. Let him leave, e.g., the Tunbridge station ; and
if he be a good walker, and does not mind mounting a good hill (for
Kent has its hills) let him trudge to Sevenoaks, and “ my word for it ”
he will feel that he has been amply repaid. If he do it as I did the
other day (though alas ! I do not feel that pedestrian tours suit me
quite so well as they used), when the woods were vocal with the trill
of the nightingale and the jolly song of the thrush, and green of every
hue marks the foliage with a variety of tints equal to those of autumn,
and with the far more pleasing associations of lovely spring time, he
will, if he have an eye for nature’s beauties, greatly rejoice. As he
mounts the hill that nears the town of Sevenoaks, let him take his
stand, and then look back over the weald of Kent, and what a lovely
view meets his eye ! On a clear day, the downs of Fairlight over

JULY.

197

Hastings can be seen ; and wood and hamlet, church spires peeping
through the foliage, and streams threading their way like a silver string
through the verdant meadows, form a picture not easily forgotten ; and
then at Sevenoaks he may take the road to Bromley, passing again
some lovely spots, or he may drive through the valley that leads from
Chenie to Westerham, a valley at a considerable elevation, but dotted
with the residences of many of our nobility and gentry. Knole, the
seat of the Earl of Amherst, but celebrated as one of the oldest and
most historic houses in Kent ; Chevening, the residence of the Earl of
Stanhope (better known as Lord Mahon, the historian); Squerries,
the ancient domain of the Wardes, are among those most worthy of
notice. At Westerham, if he be a gardener, he will find too that for
which I was bound the other day, the quiet, but productive, nursery
of Mr. John Cattell. It is one with which I have been for many
years acquainted, when it was under the management of the elder Mr.
Cattell, one of those sturdy honest yeomen who contented with “ keeping
near shore,” cared not to launch out into those less safe seas, where
more gain might have accrued. He last year entered into his rest,
full of years, and honoured and respected by his friends, who were
many, and his nursery is now under the more enterprising manage¬
ment of his son. The place is at present somewhat difficult of access,
Edenbridge being at present the nearest point of access, and though
only four miles, yet as a very high and steep hill intervenes between
it and Westerham, it has not been found possible to make a public
conveyance pay. When the new branch of the Dover and East Kent
line is open it will be more easy to reach ; but I am sure that if anyone
desires to pay Mr. Cattell a visit, he wdll be always ready to send a
conveyance to the station ; and not only will they find a nursery replete
with many plants in excellent health, but also a pleasant drive, more
pleasant than a walk I once took there, when my zeal for floriculture
drew down on me a hearty laugh, my friends being fully persuaded
that nothing but there being a lady in the case could have accounted
for such a walk on such a day, and nothing I could do could remove
the impression.

Since my last visit to these nurseries, considerable improvements have
been made in the grounds leading from the seed shop to the green¬
houses. A new broad nicely gravelled walk has been formed, fringed
on either side with borders of specimen Conifers ; amongst these
I noticed flne plants of Wellingtonia gigantea, Cupressus Lawsoniana,
Thujopsis or Cupressus Nutktensis, Thuja Lobbi and gigantea; Abies
nobilis, Douglasii, amabilis, and grandis ; Pinus excelsa, insignis, and
other kinds ; Cedrus Deodara, &c. &c. ; in fact, a general collection of
the Coniferous tribe ; and although these have all been planted since
last September, and fully exposed to the north-east winds, the only
plants that have suffered to any extent are Pinus insignis ; all the
others are looking remarkably well, considering the severe ordeal they
have undergone. There were a quantity of Araucaria imbricata as
fresh and green as possible, and as handsome young specimens as
could be wished for ; and yet Laurestinus, Bays, Aucubas, and many
other evergreens suffered severely — the two first named killed to the
ground. Cryptomeria japonica, large and small plants, are scarcely

198

THE FLORIST.

browned. Wellingtonia, Cupressus Lawsoniana, Thujopsis borealis,
and Thuja gigantea, here as in other places, must certainly be placed
A 1 in the list of hardy plants.

The last two seasons having given an impetus to the cultivation of
fruit trees in pots, Mr. Cattell has found it necessary to erect a large
house, 90 feet by 20 feet, expressly for their cultivation ; economy
and utility were the principles studied in its erection. The ventilation
is arranged in the manner described by Mr. Rivers in his “ Orchard
House Guide,” and seems to answer the purpose thoroughly, as nothing
could look more healthy and vigorous than the young shoots and leaves
of the various fruit trees with which it is filled. The glass used is
16 oz. horticultural for the sides and 21 oz. for the roof, 16 oz. being
found too slight for the roof, and it was thought the extra cost for the
21 oz. glass would be saved almost in one season, as a great deal of
16 oz. glass is broken in putting in, and is liable to crack from other
causes. I inquired the cost of this house, and found it somewhat
under £120, showing how cheaply they may be built and yet be useful.

Roses form a leading feature at this establishment. I found, how¬
ever, they have suffered very much here. Mr. C. does not think
more than two or three buds in a hundred are left alive. A large
piece of ground has been planted with standard Stocks, and these are
now breaking freely. I observed a nice lot of the new Roses of this
season, but none have bloomed sufficiently to form any opinion as to
their merits. There is one point in which these nurseries may be
relied upon ; owing to their exposed position it is impossible to have
tender or coddled plants, even the old Clove Carnation will not stand
the winter, and Chrysanthemums are impossibilities in the open air.

American plants are also extensively grown ; amongst them is a
unique collection of Ghent Azaleas now nicely in bloom, and includes
every shade of colour peculiar to the tribe.

In the other portions of the nurseries, fruit trees, ornamental trees,
&c., and selected vegetables, are grown. The Reliance Cabbage and
Cattell’s Dwarf Purple-top Beet are two well-known useful vegetables ;
and particular attention is paid to the saving of the seeds of the various
kinds of Kales and Broccoli. Amongst the Kales, Buda, Curled
Jerusalem, and the old Jerusalem, are the best and most productive.
Coming’s Reliance Broccoli is the only variety that has withstood the
test of the late winter ; it is now forming heads of a good size, and should
be grown in every collection.

There are also quantities of florist flowers, herbaceous plants, &c.,
usually found in nursery gardens. Large beds of the beautiful Squill
(Scilla siberica) were just past their best at the period of my visit.
Every spring the beds are covered with their beautiful rich light blue
flowers. This, and the White Dog’s-tooth Violet (Erythronium dens
canis alba) are two of our prettiest spring flowers.

Space will not permit my extending the notice of the many good
things to be found in these nurseries ; they are, however, worthy of a
visit from all persons who take an interest in gardening, and they may
rely upon the proprietor or his assistants endeavouring to make their
visit an intercstinof one.

DcaL Jane 20.

D.

JULY.

199

THE FRUIT CROP OP 1861.

-The season being now so far advanced as to enable us to speak with
accuracy as to the state of the fruit-crop, I beg to offer a few remarks
on the subject. Its importance cannot be over-rated. When we con¬
sider the daily increasing demand for fruit which the daily increasing
populations of all our great towns create, its importance is clearly
manifest; and moreover, when we consider the facilities which railways
and steamships, now-a-days, offer continental growers of sending their
produce to all our great markets, enabling them, with their more
favourable climate and cheap labour, to sell at prices highly injurious
to home growers, it becomes a necessity with the latter to make every
endeavour to meet a competition so destructive to their interests. As
there must be a cause for everything, so, when there is a deficient fruit-
crop, the cause generally assigned is the cold unfavourable weather of
pur springs. That cold, frosty, unfavourable weather in spring is
highly injurious to fruit-crops, no one, who knows anything of fruit-
tree cultivation, will deny. I, however, notwithstanding this drawback,
believe it is quite possible to get good crops of fruit in nine seasons out
of ten. Extraordinary and exceptionable seasons, like the last, which
baffle the skill of the best cultivators, will occasionally occur, but when
they do come we should take them as salutary stimulants to renewed
exertion. With these few prefatory remarks, I now proceed to the
subject more immediately before me — The Fruit Crop of 1861.

The fruit crop in this part of the country is, with the exception of
Cherries, bush fruit, and Strawberries, very light. What, then, let us
ask, is the cause ? Has a mild winter and a cold precarious spring
done the mischief? Decidedly not : for surely the last winter was suf¬
ficiently seasonable and cold to satisfy those who say the seasons have
completely changed since their juvenile days — that now our winters are
much milder than they were in former times, and our springs
much milder, and hence the failure of our fruit crops. With the
exception of two slight frosts early in May, I never remember a
spring more favourable for fruit-trees than the past ; therefore, the
deficient crop this year cannot be attributed to the mildness of the past
winter, nor to the precarious weather of the past spring. What, then,
has been the cause of the deficient crop ? Owing to the last most extra¬
ordinary season, the want of bright solar light for so many months last
year and the great fall of rain, the young wood and buds were un¬
ripened and imperfect, and hence the cause of our deficient fruit crops
this year. Even our glass structures have suffered from want of light
last season; hard- wooded greenhouse plants are not in general flowering
so profusely as usual. Vines in late houses, where little or no artificial
heat has been used, have not “ shown” fruit so abundantly as usual,
nor are the bunches as compact and full as usual. Peaches, Nectarines,
and Pears in orchard-houses, where no artificial heat has been used,
are also very deficient.

And now as to the state of out-door crops. Bush-fruit — Raspberries,

Gooseberries, and Currants — are abundant crops. Raspberry canes

2U0

THE FLORIST.

suffered in some places last winter. Gooseberry-trees have in many
places suffered much from caterpillars. I keep my bushes clear by
dusting them with powdered Htl ebcre as soon as 1 perceive any on
them. Currant bushes have in many places suffered from fly, Straw¬
berries are very fine ; I never saw the British Queen so good.

Cherries appear to be a general crop. Peaches and Nectarines may
be set down as a complete failure. Old trees have in many places been
completely killed last winter, and much of the young wood has been
killed in many places. The trees here have escaped with little injury.
This I attribute to several causes : in the first place, the situation of
the garden is a dry one — the subsoil is of a gravelly porous nature ;
and, in the next place, I never encourage over-luxuriant growth, but am
satisfied with wood of moderate thickness, which, by being kept suffi¬
ciently thin and nailed in proper time, will get properly matured in
ordinary seasons.

Standard Pears are also a failure this season ; trees on walls have a
sprinkling of fruit. Some of the trees here have nice crops ; the sorts
are — Easter Beurre, St. Germain, Glou Morceau, Swan Egg, Vicar of
Winkfield, &c. Fig-trees suffered much last winter ; the wood has in
many places, even under a thick covering of straw, been killed. Part of
one of the large trees here suffered in this manner ; the greater part is,
however, alive, and has a good many fruit.

Apricots are very thin in general; indeed they may be called a complete
failure — or nearly so ; the trees in some situations suffered from last
winter. The trees here received no injury; they have a nice sprinkling
of fruit on, but I cannot call it an average crop.

The Apple crop is in general a light one. Cockpit is, however, a
heavy crop ; this is a sort much grown in this part of the country —
it is a free-growing tree and bears abundantly. It keeps well, is an
excellent baking Apple, and, when ripe, a good dessert fruit. There
are several trees of it here, all full of fruit ; most of them had heavy
crops last year.

Plums are a tolerable crop, full an average one on walls ; on standards
they are rather light, having suffered from the frosts at the beginning of
May.

The above is an accurate account of the state of the fruit at present
in this part of the country. The deficiency 1 attribute, not to the pre¬
carious weather of the past spring, but, as I have already stated, to the
want of light, the quantity of rain, the low temperature, and heavy crops
of the past season.

If now we attend properly to our trees, we may confidently look for¬
ward to a good crop in 1862. We must not, however, neglect our
crop now, and put our chief trust in a favourable spring. We must
remove all superfluous wood at once, nail all shoots that require it, and
try to keep insects down, so as to have the foliage healthy as long as
possible. Perseverance in attending properly to the trees now, will
assuredly be rewarded by an abundant crop in 1862.

M. Saul.

Stourton, Yorkshire.

JULY.

201

VARIETIES OP COMMON YEW (TAXUS BACCATA).

{Read before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society ^

March I2th^ 1861 j.

By Mr, William Paul, F.R.H S., Cheshunt Nurseriesy Waltham Crossy N.

As many of our favourite evergreens hitherto reputed hardy have
been seriously damaged or destroyed by the last winter’s frost, we turn
with increased interest to those which remain to us uninjured. Bays,
Evergreen Oaks, Arbutus, Euonymus, Laurestinus, Common Laurels,
Cypress, and in some cases, Portugal Laurels are killed. Araucarias,
Deodaras, and some other South American and Indian beauties have
in many places complexions as brown as ground rhubarb ; Phillyreas
and more hardy evergreens are stripped of -their leaves. But our
native plant, the common Yew, is safe ; none of the varieties have a
leaf injured in this valley of the Lea, where the thermometer on
Christmas-day was 5° below zero.

The common Yew is, no doubt, w^ll known to every observer, but
perhaps the numerous and beautiful forms which have descended from
it are as yet strangers to the many. It is these varieties which I
would now attempt to describe. They are many in number, beautiful
in appearance, and vary greatly among themselves. Neat, graceful,
elegant, picturesque, sombre, massive, grand, are terms which may be
appropriately used to one or the other of them.

It is my present intention to look at them from one point of view
only, and that a popular one — their value as ornamental trees in garden
scenery — and so regarded, they seem to fall naturally into four groups,
viz. : —

Group I. — Varieties of a spreading habit, of which the common
Yew is the type.

Group 2. — Varieties of pyramidal or columnar habit, of which the
Irish Yew is the type.

Group 3. — Varieties of weeping habit.

Group 4. — Varieties with variegated foliage.

Group I. — Varieties of spreading habit.

1. T. haccata, common Yew.

2. T. b. fructu-luteOy the yellow berried Yew. This is one of the
most elegant ; the pulp surrounding the seed is of a dull yellow colour
instead of red, as in the ordinary kind. The growth is vigorous ; the
leaves are of a very pleasing green medium tint.

3. T. b. nigra. — This is a striking plant of bold and rather upright
growth ; the leaves are of a bluish or blackish-green. It flowers
abundantly, and is very effective in the landscape, forming a somewhat
sombre, but grand and massive tree.

4. T. b. procumbens forms a huge spreading bush; leaves bright
green, the plant, looked at as a whole, having a reddish appearance.

Group 2. — Varieties of pyramidal, or columnar habit.

5. T. b. fastigiata, the Irish, or Florence-court Yew, is a plant of
rigid growth, columnar in form ; leaves dark green. This plant is too

202

THE FLORIST.

familiar to require an extended notice, although very useful in formal
gardening. Seeds of this variety produce for the most part the common
Yew, but some vary in form and tint.

6. T. h. cheshuntensis is a very graceful variety, of pyramidal
growth, the leaves small and closely set on the branches ; the colour is
of a bright glossy green. It appears to stand midway between the
common and Irish Yew, but is less formal than the latter and grows
twice as fast. This variety was raised by me some years ago, from
seeds of the Irish Yew.

7- T. h. jpyramidalis. — This variety resembles cheshuntensis in out¬
ward form, the leaves are, however, broader and shorter, and the bark
of the young shoots reddish.

8. T. b. nidpathensis, the Nidpath Yew, resembles cheshuntensis
in the leaf, branch, and colour of the foliage, but is of stiffer growth,
being columnar rather than pyramidal in habit, with a disposition to
spread at the top.

9. T. 6. stricta is similar to the preceding, but with smaller and
paler green leaves ; it is almost as erect as the Irish Yew, and forms a
compact dense tree. This is a seedling from the Irish Yew, raised
from the same batch as cheshuntensis.

10. T. b. nana is a neat plant of dwarf habit, and compact upright
growth ; the leaves of a dark and more glossy green than the common
Yew. It appears equally suitable for a single tree on the lawn, for
planting in masses, for the shrubbery, or for a dwarf hedge in a
geometrical garden. This also is one of my seedlings raised from the
Irish Yew.

11. T, b. erecta is similar to the preceding, but of larger growth,
although with smaller leaves.

12. T. b. erecta Growderi, the variety recently brought under notice
by Mr. Crowder, of Horncastle, is of compact pyramidal growth, and
approaches more nearly to erecta than to any other, but has smaller
branches, and will probably not grow to so large a size. It appears of
more regular growth than erecta, and may perhaps be considered an
improved variety of it.

13. T, b. ericoides (empetrifolia) is an interesting and neat little
plant of dwarf growth, closely set with branches ; the leaves are small,
the bark reddish.

Group 3. — Varieties of toeeping habit.

14. T. b. Dovastonii is a weeping variety, somewhat picturesque,
the branches shooting horizontally to some distance from the main
stem, and drooping at their points. The foliage is ample, of a dull
dark green.

15. T. b. Jachsonii is a distinct and elegant weeping variety, with
small light green leaves somewhat curled.

16. T. b. recurvata is a handsome variety, with leaves of a pale
dull green. The habit is diffuse, rather drooping, the leaves curled in
the way of Picea nobilis.

Group 4. — Varieties with variegated foliage.

' 17. T. b. variegata, the Golden Yew, is a well-known plant of

JULY.

203

great beauty, well suited for planting in masses, and relieving the
monotony of large surfaces of green. The gardens at Elvaston Castle
derived some of their celebrity from the artistic working up of quantities
of this beautiful tree in contrast with the darker shades of green. I
have heard it said, on good authority, that the Golden Yew is a male
plant, but as I have seeded it, I strongly suspect that there are two or
more varieties of too close an external resemblance to be distinguished.
This supposition is strengthened by the fact that the offspring from seed
retain the variegation of the parent, though differing slightly among
themselves.

18. T.h. elegantissima is paler in colour, and of more erect and
uniform growth than the last-mentioned. Both these varieties, if
grown entirely in the shade, quickly become green, but regain their
golden appearance on re-exposure to the sun. They form handsome
formal plants when worked standard high on the Irish or common Yew.

19. T. b. silver variegated’lis a seedling from the Golden Yew,
but which I never thought sufficiently distinct or attractive to merit a
name.

20. T. h. fastigiata variegata, the variegated Irish Yew, is a sport
from the Irish Yew, with occasional silver leaves. The plant is of
slow growth, and still scarce, but it is hardly striking enough to become
a general favourite. — Boyal Horticultural Societifs Proceedings.

A PRUSSIAN GARDEN.

One of our correspondents has forwarded us the following extract from
the diary he kept while travelling through northern and central Europe.
As it gives some idea of horticulture, as practised in Germany, we have
no doubt our readers will find some interest in it.

“June 30. — At ten o’clock this morning I walked down the most
beautiful and imposing street in the world ; almost all the public
buildings of Berlin are clustered at one end and along the sides of it.
There is the king’s and half-a-dozen other palaces, the Cathedral, the
Museum, the University, the Opera-house, the Arsenal, the monument
to the great Fritz — all within a few minutes’ walk of each other, and
all within sight at once. Along the street, which is perfectly straight,
although more than a mile in length, there are four lines of Lime-trees ;
the centre avenue is reserved as a promenade for pedestrians. This
noble street is very appropriately called ‘ Unter den Linden’ (Beneath
the Lime-trees). At its western extremity there is a magnificent
triumphal arch ; this is surmounted by a figure of Victory, standing in
a chariot drawn by four horses. Beyond this gate, called the Branden-
burgher Thor, stretches the principal public park near Berlin; an avenue
several miles in length, and in a line with the street I had just left,
divides it into two parts. I followed this avenue for nearly a mile,
and then, taking one of the smaller ones, struck off to the right across
the river Spree, and was soon in the village of Moabit. It is an easy
walk from Berlin, and is therefore a favourite place of resort for the
Prussian Cockneys. The village has, therefore, a varied appearance ;

204

THE FLORIST.

one-half of it is devoted to manufactories — the other, to music-gardens
and other places of amusement. A large open space occupies the centre
of the village, around \vhich the houses are scattered. At this time of
year it looks very bright and pleasant ; but as the soil is nothing but
sand, and the summers here are very hot, the trees are almost leafless
and the turf entirely burnt up by the end of July. Nevertheless, the
celebrated Bavarian beer and the music are attractions which never fail
in bringing visitors here by hundreds and thousands, especially on a
Sunday.

“ It was to the private residence of one of the principal manufacturers
of this village that I was directing my steps ; his garden is celebrated
through all Germany. Herr Borsig is one of the leading locomotive
engine builders on the Continent — it was a grand day for Moabit when
the thousandth engine was finished. He does also a very extensive
business in every other branch of the iron trade, and he keeps a little
army of workmen. He is no less zealous as a horticulturist than suc¬
cessful as a manufacturer. The garden is thrown open to the public
two days in the week on the payment of five silber-groschen (sixpence
English), this money being in winter divided among the poor of the
neighbourhood. The ground upon which this princely mansion and
beautiful garden stand was, twenty years ago, an open common.
While walking round it I could hear the dull heavy report of the ten-
ton strokes of Nasmyth’s steam-hammer — ‘ There,’ thought I ‘ is the
fairy who has wrought this change.’

“ I was most politely conducted round the establishment by the very
intelligent gardener, Herr Geardt, the man after whom that beautiful
new variety of Gymnogramma is named. In visiting a German
garden, nothing strikes an Englishman so much as the want of ever¬
greens ; the winter is too severe for anything except a few Conifers.
It is astonishing, too, the amount of labour that is expended in keeping
the turf fresh and green here. On either side of the flight of steps
leading up to the hall-door were two fine plants of Dracaena australis,
and two others of the New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) ; these
are planted out in summer and taken up every autumn. In front of
the entrance there is an elaborately and intricately designed flower-
garden, very different from anything of the kind we see in England,
and the effect is, perhaps, not so good as our more bold and striking
plans. The design of the small square garden, on the south side of the
house, is more simple. Mr. Geardt explained to me that he kept the
flower-garden as gay as it is now from the commencement of April by
a succession of plants. I think more attention should be paid to this
point at home, where the climate would be more favourable for it than
here. I took a note of the plants he employed for this purpose.

“ To the left of the mansion is a long conservatory, divided into three
portions. The middle one is paved with marble ; the floor of the other
two, covered with a turf of the common Lycopod, Selaginella denticu-
lata. The effect of this is most beautiful ; flowering plants are plunged
in groups, and there is a semicircular bank of Australian plants as a
background. A gallery runs along the back of these houses, and the
w^all behind it is covered with the dark green glossy foliage of the

JULY.

205

Camellia. There is a broad stage along the front of the house, beneath
which are the hot-water pipes ; they are kept out of sight by a light
iron-work trellis, to which the Irish Ivy is trained. It is curious to
observe how fond the Germans are of the Ivy; they would go mad with
delight if they could have it growing out of doors as luxuriantly as we
have.

“ Beyond the conservatory is a well-furnished little Fernery; and at
right angles to it a magnificent Palm-house. It is an oblong building,
with a ridge-and-furrow roof, and a gallery running all round it.
There are eight or ten large specimens of Palms, and a Tree-Fern with
a clear stem of twelve feet in height ; around these small Palms and
other stove plants are very artistically grouped. Rockwork is introduced
into this house with a very good effect ; it is done upon such a massive
and gigantic scale that one is almost forced to believe it is natural.
The staircase leading up to the gallery appears to have been hewn out
of the solid rock ; a spring of clear water gushes out near the top, and
falls in a cascade by your side as you ascend. Ferns, Aroids, and
other creeping plants grow in the fissures of the rocks, and fall in natural
wreaths over the ledges. I never saw rockwork so successfully managed.
No natural stone is used, but the design was first roughed out in brick¬
work, and then a surface of cement given ; this shows no trace of the
workman’s tool.

“ On the opposite side of the garden, a range of three span-roofed
houses was devoted to a fine collection of Orchids, purchased a few
years ago in England. In the warmest division, the centre of which is
occupied by an open tank which keeps the air always moist, a set of
Pitcher-plants and other varieties were growing most luxuriantly.
Behind these houses come another range — a Peach-house and two
vineries; forcing has not, however, reached that perfection in Germany
to which it has attained in England, although they have very little of
that dull sunless weather against which our countrymen have to
struggle.

“ It was rather amusing to see a bed of Rhubarb in one part of the
ground, planted entirely for its fine foliage ; strange to say, its stalks
are seldom or never eaten in this neighbourhood. There were also
several other beds of Gannas and other foliage plants, so characteristic of
German gardening, but I do not think they were quite so fine as those
I saw in the Louisen Strasse yesterday, nor was there so great a variety
in the plants used. There was one sight, however, which I never saw
equalled. In the lower part of the garden was a large sheet of water ;
as there is a great quantity of waste hot water from the manufactory
close by, it is conveyed underground into this lake, so that almost any
temperature may be kept up. At the time of my visit, the surface of
the water was half covered with Water Lilies, and hundreds of flowers
were expanded. Among these Nymphseas were many hybrids and
species not often met with ; the variety in their colours was charming.
There was the bright blue, pure white, deep crimson, and every shade
of pink. I should think the effect of this could not be rivalled in
Europe. There was a Victoria house close by, in which the royal
Water Lily was growing well. Most of the Nymphseas had been

206

THE FLORIST.

planted in baskets of soil, nnd started into growth in this tropical
aquarium ; then, as soon as they required more room, and the tempe¬
rature out of doors warm enough (the water was kept at about 80°),
the baskets w’ere sunk in the places where they were intended to remain
during the summer.

“ There were many other points worthy of note in this garden, but
time does not permit me to mention all. At the lower side of the
garden was a terrace, overlooking the Spree, with its tall-masted
shipping, the dome of the Schloss glittering in the distance. There were
several beautiful fountains. There were some splendid standard
Orange-trees, and some Portugal Laurels grown on the same plan,
which looked even finer; and there was a standard Weeping Ash, the
straight stem of which had been grafted at least thirty feet above the
ground. I think, instead of writing more, the better plan would be to
recommend all English lovers of gardening who should make an excur¬
sion to Berlin, to spare one afternoon (either on a Tuesday or Friday —
the public days), for a visit to the garden of Herr Borsig at Moabit.
There are omnibuses every hour, if a two-mile walk is thought too
much beneath a Prussian sun ; I can assure them that they will not
consider this the least pleasing way of spending a few holiday hours.”

Delta.

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S OPENING

FETE.

The 5th of June having been appointed for the great inaugural fete of
this society, the new gardens at South Kensington were formally opened
by the President, H.R.H. the Prince Consort. The morning of the
day did not give great promise of being fine, and during the forenoon a
violent thunder-storm occurred, which deluged the ground wdth rain,
but the whole passed away before the hour arrived at which the gates
were to be opened for the admission of the public ; and the afternoon,
though lowering at times, was dry, and enabled a large and highly
distinguished company to visit the new gardens and the superb col¬
lections of horticultural skill which the occasion had collected together.

From previous notices which had been issued by the society to
the fellows and the public, before the day of meeting, they w^ere
informed that the gardens would be in an unfinished state, a circum¬
stance we stated would be the case some time ago, after a personal
visit ; and although much — very much — has since then been done, yet
there still appears to be a great amount of mason’s work to get through
to complete the steps, fountains, canals, &c., and, so far as we could
judge, the whole will not be finally finished before the autumn, when
the general effect will- be more easily comprehended, and we therefore
reserve our comments on the style and character of the gardens until
that opportunity.

To return to the exhibition : it contained, according to the best
authorities on the subject, the finest specimens of plant and fruit culti¬
vation ever exhibited at one time. The new conservatory, or winter

JULY,

207

garden, contained the collections of Azaleas, Stove and Greenhouse
plants. Ferns, Orchids, new plants, and some other classes. The
grouping, generally speaking, was good, but in one or two instances an
improvement was suggested by a friend in the method of arrangement.
But in reference to this, when we consider the unfinished state of every¬
thing, and even with work progressing up to the very hour of opening
the gardens to the public, the surprise to every practical mind was how
everything got into its place so quickly, and with less confusion even, than
we have many times witnessed to accommodate a tenth part of the
articles sent on that morning to Kensington. The getting up of the
exhibition must have entailed a vast amount of labour and anxiety on
the general superintendent, and it is therefore with no ordinary pleasure
W'C add our testimony to that given already by our contemporaries to
the great exertions made by that gentleman and his staff to satisfy
every one connected with the exhibiting body, and to congratulate the
society and Mr. Eyles on the unmistakable success of the day’s
proceedings.

The present opportunity seems to us a favourable one to notice briefly
that part of the society’s operations on which its future success and
position, as the first horticultural society in the world, will hereafter
have to be measured. With the special support and countenance of
Royalty and the Aristocracy, besides a long list of Fellows elected from
nearly every class in society — (a proof how universal is the feeling
which inclines Man to interest himself with the art of cultivation and
production, whether the objects sought to be realised belong to the useful
or beautiful in nature) — the success of the Horticultural Society
may now be considered unquestionable, and Kensington must there¬
fore become a popular place of resort for the fashionable world ;
and as its contiguity to the Great Exhibition Building of 1862 will
enable the thousands visiting the Exhibition to see the Gardens at the
same time, of course a large income will be realised thereon ; and it
is with the funds which Kensington will produce that we look forward
to the development of the science of horticulture at Chiswick, where
we hope the practical part of gardening will receive that amount of
support which will enable Chiswick to become equally the exponent
of cultivation, as Kensington will be of pictorial gardening. On this
point we mention with satisfaction the two Committees on Fruit and
Flowers, which are working admirably under the management of their
respective secretaries, whose names are of themselves a guarantee to
horticulturists and florists that the duties of each department will be
most efficiently conducted.

The fruit arranged under the eastern arcade was of itself an
exhibition, not that all was perfection — far from that; many new
exhibitors have evidently to wait until they reach these exhibitions
before they find out what good cultivation consists of, or w^e should not
soTrequently see the inferior productions which in some respects mar
the general appearance of the whole. In collections, Mr. Ingram, of
the Royal Gardens, and Mr. Henderson, of Trentham, were the only
competitors. The former, who took the first prize, had a well varied
collection — the most noticeable of which was a dish of nicely ripened

208

THE FLORIST.

Muscat Grapes, a Cayenne Pine, good Nectarines, and superb British
Queen Strawberries ; Mr. Henderson had fine black Hamburgh Grapes,
Trentham ditto, excellent Peaches, Nectarines, Melons, and Cherries.
The Pine class was not well represented ; a large Providence from C.
Bailey, Esq., a batch of Cayennes from the Royal Gardens, and an
excellent Queen from Shardiloes, embrace all worth mentioning. Of
Black Grapes, the Black Princes of Mr. Hill were perfection itself; but
the Hamburghs were scarcely so good as those exhibited at the Crystal
Palace. There were a few dishes of Muscats ripe, but generally they
were not in condition. The Buckland Sweetwater Grapes exhibited
by Mr. Hill showed that Grape to be a valuable acquisition ; it very
justly obtained the first prize in the white class. Besides the above
new Grape, Mr. Henderson exhibited the Trentham Black in good
style; and Mr. Standish had a most interesting collection of new Grapes,
containing Ingram’s Hardy Prolific, a new black Grape of great merit,
both for productiveness and quality — Muscat Trouveron, which may
be described as a large form of the White Frontignan, has the delicate
aroma of that esteemed variety, with much larger berries — Citronelle
is also a white Grape of merit. Grapes in pots were very good ; the
four pots of the Black Hamburgh, exhibited by Mr. Sanders, probably
the best ever seen, were first-rate specimens of cultivation^ Mr. '
Masters had also some fine pots, as had Mr. Standish of his new varie¬
ties. Peaches were generally good, Nectarines the same. Those
exhibited by Mr. Rochford, the Elruge, were large and in good
condition ; Mr. Henderson exhibited Murray, and Mr. Peacock had
the best- coloured dish of Violette Hative we have seen this year.
Cherries call for no particular remark ; but Mr. Smith’s collection of
three kinds of Strawberries, consisting of Queen, Oscar, and Empress
Eugenie, were wonderfully fine — in single dishes, Sir Charles was
equally good.

Melons were numerous, but very few first-rate ; that to which the
first prize was awarded, named Hybrid Cashmere, was a deep-fleshed
variety, with a thin rind, and we were told was deliciously flavoured —
it was contributed by Mr. Meredith ; Mr. Frost was second. In the
scarlet-fleshed section. Turner’s Gem carried off all the prizes.

We noticed, in the miscellaneous class, a dish of the Banana in good
condition.

Hardy ornamental plants : Of these the groups sent by Mr. Standish
and the Messrs. Veitch contained many new plants, principally from
Japan. The former had very recently received a case of Japan plants
from Mr. Robert Fortune, which had been so carefully packed and
tended during the voyage that, although many of them were fine
bushy specimens, they exhibited the best of health, and formed perhaps
the most interesting group of novelties ever exhibited on one occasion.
The Messrs. Veitch’s large connexion also enabled them to bring
forward a host of new things, both in this class and that of new species
of flowering plants. In Mr. Standish ’s collection, we observed
Sciadopitys verticillata, Thujopsis dolabrata variegata, Retinosperma
obtusa, male and female plants of Aucuba, a Eurya, Bambusa variegata
(a pretty plant), two Podocarpuses (with striped foliage), a blotched-

JULY.

209

leaved Euonymus, Osmanthus a.[uifolius (a nice looking Holly-lil:e
plant), a very pretty variegated Box (which will be sought after for
embroidery work in fancy patterns for parterres, as indeed wall all
these variegated plants if hardy), variegated varieties of Thea, Camellia,
Rhapis, Gardenia, and Daphne. This group of Japan plants shows us
that the Japanese gardeners have paid quite as much attention to
variegated plants as ourselves, and that they are equally as good culti¬
vators, judging by the specimens Mr. Fortune has sent, which bore a
favourable comparison with British grown plants.

The Messrs. Veitch had young plants of the grand Libocedrus
tetragona; also a very distinct looking Abies from Vancouver’s Island,
A dwarf Thuja (which will be useful in ornamental parterre work), a
new variegated Euonymus, and the handsome Acer japonicum poly-
morphum. The Messrs. Jackson exhibited a new Buxus from Nepal,
a handsome-looking shrub; and a Juniper from Asia Minor, with
elegant small leaves.

The beauty of the Pelargoniums shown on this occasion has, we think,
never been surpassed, and their numbers were unprecedentedly great.
Those shown by Mr. Turner who, both for Fancies and ordinary kinds,
took first prizes, were in all respects admirable examples of skilful
cultivation, and the exhibitions from amateurs were also good. They
occupied a position by themselves under one of the colonnade wings of
the conservatory, and were, as they deserved to be, objects of universal
admiration.

The special prizes offered by Mr. Dilke, V.P. (whose active interest
in everything which concerns the society is well known,) for fruit and
flowers combined as decorative objects for the dinner table, brought
forward a number of competitors, and, taken altogether, this part of the
exhibition was perhaps the most interesting, as it was certainly the
most novel, feature of the whole display. The groups consisted of
three baskets or dishes, and the arrangement of these showed an
immense disparity as regards the taste displayed. In some instances,
the exhibitions were elegant and refined, to wit, those to which prizes
were awarded ; while others consisted of little more than a combina¬
tion of subjects, beautiful in themselves, but entirely destroyed, as
regards effect, through bad arrangement, which in several instances
descended to vulgarity. However this will in time be mended, and
next year will doubtless show an advance in good, as well as the absence
of such bad taste, as that of which we now complain.

We learn that on the morning of the 24th ult.. Her Majesty the
Queen planted a Wellingtonia, which was presented to the Society
by Messrs. Veitch, in the new garden at South Kensington. It will
therefore form a fit companion to that put in by H.R.H. the Prince
Consort on the 5th ult. The Queen being still in mourning, the
ceremony took place only in the presence of the members of Council
and a few of their friends who had the privilege of being present on
the occasion.

VOL. XV., NO. CLXIir.

r

210

THE FLORIST.

NOTES ON THE MONTH.

The glorious weather of the early part of June has been broken up by an
unsettled atmosphere and copious rains, the effect of which on the parched
crops and thirsty soil has been almost magical. Nothing that we
remember has ever surpassed the wide-spread luxuriance which now
clothes the face of the country ; meadows and pastures, grain, pulse,
and roots have all the appearance of immense vigour and healthiness,
indicating full stocks for the barn and store-yard in the autumn. The
hay crop in some districts will probably prove the lightest, the tropical
climate of the earl}?- part of the month (when the thermometer in the
shade indicated 86^ for several days) having cEecked the growth of the
Grass and brought on a premature maturity. Again (the 24th) a
tropical sky has revisited us, and, with the mercury rising, bespeaks more
heat and summer weather.

Early on the 5th of June we took a quiet stroll through Mr. Nesfield’s
chef-d'oemre at the Horticultural Society’s new Garden at Kensington.
We noticed some considerable deviations from the published plan in the
lower part, opposite the Council chamber (a noble room), and we think,
considering the Gardens are surrounded by bricks and mortar, in the
form of terraces, squares, arcades, &c., with the great Exhibition
building in front, and the “ annex” on one side, that the effect would
have been more pleasing had there been less of the “ mason” seen in
Ihe Gardens themselves. To the eye accustomed all day, in bright
sunshine, to the glare of streets and houses ad infinitum^ nothing so
completely induces the sensation of repose and enjoyment as a verdant
lawn. To our own sensorium the relief is something wonderful, and
our enjoyment of the beauties of a garden is greatly increased after
spending a day or two in town. For these reasons we should have
preferred more lawn, trees, and shrubs, and less of the artificial pre¬
valent in the shape of retaining walls, balustrades, terra-cotta, and, we
will add, embroidery work and gravel; we think the water will be
good when completed. But, as the Prince President, in his admirable
address to the Council, told them he hoped to see Gardening again
take its place with the sister arts — Architecture and Sculpture — we
bow with submission to so high an authority, merely premising that
more use might have been made of architectural trees than appears
to be the case. But then the work is unfinished, and our comments
must be taken more as suggestions than a critique on what, on the
whole, will be a magnificent spot for London.

We could not help admiring the wonderful collections of plants brought
together from the four quarters of the globe, to grace the opening day of
the Royal Horticultural Society’s new garden. We noticed representa¬
tions of the Flora of Australia and Behring’s Straits, Vancouver’s
Island, and Japan; majestic Ferns from New Zealand and Orchids
from the tropics ; “ flowers of all hue,” and fruit from every clime,
were brought together such as no other country, and no cultivators
besides, could produce ; and her most gracious Majesty, w'ho paid
privately an early visit to the exhibition, must have felt a just pride at

JULY,

211

the wonderful display her subjects had brought to do honour to the
opening exhibition of the society, in which Her Majesty and tlie Royal
Family take so earnest an interest. The florist’s art, too, as distin¬
guished from that of the general plant cultivator and introducer, was
strongly represented ; such Pelargoniums and Azaleas — so redundant
of bloom and so systematically trained — that we should like to know
who tied all those tiny stems so evenly ; surely, thought w'e, Messrs.
Turner and Fraser must employ those little French mademoiselles who
manufacture the bouquets for operas for this purpose. But perhaps w'e
are w'rong. Then the Roses : how proud Mr. Lane must have felt
wdth his collection, though they were perhaps slightly inferior to those he
exhibited at Sydenham, and Mr. Wm. Paul had equal reasons for con¬
gratulations ; of this latter, who has not many agreeable reminiscences,
through reading his Morning Rambles among the Rose Gardens in
Hertfordshire,” or “An Hour with the Hollyhock.” By the bye,
anent of Roses, we do not remember seeing the “ King of Roses ” at
all that day (we allude to the Rev. S. R. Hole), though two other great
clerical celebrities in the floral world w’ere present, D. of Deal and the
Rev. Jos, Dix. But w^e must finish, or your editor will finish for
us, when he comes to make up his matter ; not, however, before we
ask the society — great and powerful though it now is — not to forget,
in this its day of prosperity, the humble florist. We should like to
see a larger corner of the exhibition, and tolerably wdde margin of
prize left to this meritorious class; wdien we should hope to see
Iflnks and Polyanthus, Auriculas and Anemones, Sweetwilliams and
Rockets — exhibited as in the olden time, “ with the medern improve¬
ments ” — as well as Carnations, Picotees, Pelargoniums, and other
more fashionable flow'ers. G. F.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, REGENT’S PARK.

June 12.-^With all the dazzle and splendour of the opening fete at
South Kensington still fresh in one’s mind, with the recollection of the
wonderful store of plants of all sizes and kinds then exhibited, and with
one’s clothes still redolent of the presence of royalty. Princes and Dukes,
native and exotic, I yet dare to utter the heresy that if you want to see
a flower show you must go to the Regent’s Park [!] Sornewhat satiated
as one had been by the previous exhibitions of the year, and expecting
to see the same friends again, there was still sueh a freshness and
beauty in the appearance of the grounds, and the manner ef grouping
the plants was so artistic, that it was impossible not to feel pleased
and to acknowledge the vast superiority that the Botanic Society must
always have in the position of its grounds and the greater nearness to
the fashionable population of the West-end [?] I do not know what the
attendance was, as I generally manage to get away before that takes
place ; but I believe the fineness of the day attracted large numbers.
The Royal Family were present at a private view, and were followed
by the ex-Royal Family of France, who were evidently greatly pleased
with the great beauty and variety of the productions.

212

THE FLORIST.

I will confine myself on this occasion to what are Called florist
flowers, the great bulk of other plants being the same as has been pre¬
viously described. In Fuchsias the first prize was awarded to Mr.
Young, gardener to G. R. Barclay, Esq , West Hill, Highgate, for
exceedingly well-grown plants of Catherine Hayes, Guiding Star,
Rose of Castile, Prince Imperial, Souvenir de Chiswick, and Queen
of Hanover; equal 2nd to Mr. Bishop, of Regent’s Park, and Sir J. R.
Goldsmith ; 4th, to G. F. Bennett, Esq., Tulse Hill.

In Pelargoniums Mr. Turner was, as usual, first amongst growers ;
his sorts were Etna, Desdemona, Candidate, Guillaume Severyns, Rose
Celestial, Evelyn, Viola, Sir C. Campbell, The Belle, Ariel, Nestor,
and Madame Furtado; 2nd, "Messrs. Dobson; 3rd, Messrs. Fraser ;
4th, Mr. Winder. Amongst amateurs, Mr. Forster, of Clewer, was
first, with Fairest of the Fair, Seraskier, Ariel (a grand plant), Sans-
pareil. Symmetry, Carlos, Rose Celestial, Conspicuum, Sir C. Camp¬
bell, and Fair Helen; 2nd, Mr. Drake ; 3rd, Mr. Doxat ; 4th, Mr.
Taylor ; 5, Mrs. Hodgson. I noticed some very bad spelling on the
cards of the latter lot, which would have, in the eyes of less lenient
judges, disqualified it altogether. In Fancies, which were decidedly
behind the mark, Mr. Turner was first ; the sorts were, Acme, Rosa¬
bella, Clementhe, Princess Royal, Captivation, and Madame Rougiere ;
2nd, Messrs. Fraser; 3rd, Mr. Winder, of Hendon; 4th, Messrs.
Dobson. Amongst amateurs, Mrs. Hodgson, The Elms, Hampstead,
was first ; 2nd, Mrs. Drake ; 3rd, Mr. Watson, Isleworth. An inte¬
resting lot of seedlings was exhibited ; one, which obtained the prize
as the nearest approach to scarlet with the habit of florists’ Pelar¬
goniums, was a very bright one from Mr. Turner, called Flambeau ;
there was also a first class certificate to Paragon, a fine spot, by Messrs.
Rollisson ; Lilacina (Beck’s), a peculiar shade ; Rosy Bloomer (Beck’s),
very fine and clear ; Loveliness (Turner), an exquisite light ground,
with spot ; Senior Wrangler (Turner), another fine spot ; and Emperor
of Morocco (Turner), dark fancy ; Hoyle’s Celeste, Turner’s Zingari,
very dark top petals; John Leach, a good spot ; and Undine, a light
spot, obtained second class certificates. Some fine Verbenas were
shown by Mr. Perry, of West Bromwich, and Mr. Turner, of Slough.
The latter’s stand contained Bellona, Mars, Riccio, Beatrice, Kathleen,
Queen of Roses, II Trovatore, Fairy, Princess Mary, Reine Blanche,
Zampa, Pendrillon, Firefly, Grand Eastern, Admiral Dundas, Gari¬
baldi, Diadem, The Flirt, Elfrida, Angelina, and Lord Clyde. Pansies
were exhibited by Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, and other growers ;
Ranunculuses by Mr. Tyso, and Roses by Messrs. Paul, Lane, &c. &c.
But our space forbids us entering into particulars, and we hope that
the forthcoming Rose shows will give us an opportunity of writing on
them ; so many and apparently such good Roses, are coming forward,
that it will require no little discrimination to know what to keep and
what to reject.

Deal, June 20.

D.

JULY.

213

RHODODENDRON PR^COX.

This new Rhododendron is stated to be a hybrid raised from R. atro-
virens, crossed with R. ciiiatum, and has every appearance of having
been obtained in that way. It forms a dwarf erect openly-branched
shrub, of a couple of feet in height, with slender twigs leafy at the end.
The leaves are small, from one to nearly two inches long, oblong-oval
acute, deep-green, rugosely-veined, and sparingly ciliated. The flowers
grow in small terminal heads of two or three together, and are of a
light rosy-lilac, about two inches in diameter, forming a shallow
expanded self-coloured cup, with rounder overlapping obtuse and
slightly undulated lobes. Mr. Davis, of Wavertree, by whom it was
raised, states that it had proved perfectly hardy, having been grown for
two years in the open ground without the slightest injury from frost ;
and that in this situation it formed a dwarf bush, with dark- green
leaves about the size of those of the Myrtle, flowering about the end of
March in great abundance, the blossoms as large as a moderate -sized
Indian Azalea. The plants, he continued, “ will be found invaluable
for forcing, from the fact that they may be got in flower at any time
during the winter months, merely by placing them in a greenhouse.
The flowers last more than three weeks after expansion, and from the
peculiar odour of its foliage, which it inherits from its mother, not a
green -lly will live upon it.”

LANDSCAPE GARDENING.

It is plain that they who would imitate nature in gardens, must do so
in another way than by copying her piecemeal. They ought, indeed,
to be imitators, but not painters, transcribing her spirit, and not her
individual expressions — her general countenance or aspect, and not her
particular features. An artist, to be a painter or a landscape artist, or
an amateur in either branch, should go to nature to study principles,
gathering up snatches of scenery, and storing them up in his memory
or his portfolio for future use. He should note all that pleases him, and
endeavour to understand how and why it influences his mind. By thus
filling his brain with numberless beautiful little pictures or images,
and his intellect with the foundations and sources of pleasure in his art,
he will come from nature doubly primed to give practical utterance to
his imaginings, and prepared to embody in a composition the fine touches,
and a more artistic and spiritual element which he has collected from
such a variety of sources. All this is his “ duty.” Nature is the great
school of landscape gardening. It is in her broader teachings and
general promptings that materials should be gathered for practical use.
And these, be it remembered, will be solely available in idealising and
exalting art, in “landscape and picturesque gardens.” This he a'quires
by industry.

To regard a garden otherwise than as a work of art, would tend to
a radical perversion of its nature. A garden is for comfort and con-

214

THE FLORIST.

venience, luxury and use, os well as for making a beautiful picture.
It is to express civilisation, and care, and design, and refinement. It
is a blending of art with nature, an attempt to interfuse the two, or to
produce something intermediate between the pure state of either, which
shall combine the vagaries of the one with the regularity of the other.
That beauty should be the ultimate aim of every operation of gardening
in landscape. There may be different opinions as to what constitutes
beauty, and of what ingredients it is made up ; some affirming that its
chief elements are those of form — others, that it consists solely in asso¬
ciation. We may assume that it is to be found in both. Beauty in
gardens is not by cultivating only a few particular species of plants, and
not merely harbouring, but cherishing, a dislike to all others. A garden
denuded of half or three- fourths of its proper ornaments is much in the
same predicament as an individual with only a portion of his ordinary
garments. It is imperfectly clothed, insufficiently finished, weak in the
expression of the beautiful. And should be pretty obviousl}^ expressed
in that part of every garden which is in the immediate vicinity of the
house, terraces, straight lines of walks, avenues of trees or shrubs, rows
of flower-beds, and geometrical figures, with all kinds of architectural
ornaments. The artist’s taste will be shown in his “ acquirements” in
concealing all its manifestations in the little arts, and ingenious con¬
trivances, and kindly cares which embellish gardens, as they do life,
without ever revealing the machinery of their action, and of which the
effect is seen and felt in their results, rather than their process — in the
whole rather than the detail. A beautiful, quiet-looking garden, like a
well-educated individual, presents no particular feature that can attract
special notice ; all is smooth, easy, agreeable. And perhaps this quiet¬
ness of expression is the truest index of “ duties, acquirements, and
abilities,” refinement and taste.

The artist’s “abilities” assist him in the greatest of practical diffi¬
culties w'hich an artist in landscape has to contend with — his “ acquire¬
ments” in dealing with the picturesque, Smoothness and regularity of
treatment are so thoroughly what an ordinary gardener is accustomed
to, that it requires no small effort to enlighten him as to the mode of
achievement of anything really beautiful in the way of curved lines and
undulations. But when ruggedness and the appearance of rude natural¬
ness a^e sought, it is indeed hard to obtain a practical operator in either
architect, surveyor, civil engineer, or draughtsman and “ landscape-
painter.”

. The practical gardener in landscape knows nothing imparts a greater
air of refinement and gentility to a garden than a certain amount of
riclmess and polish. His “ accjuirements” teach him the first of these
may be attained by means of a tasteful selection of plants and flowers,
and by the sparing use of appropriate architectural decorations. Every¬
thing straggling or ragged, all that produces confusion, and, as a rule,
all angularity and harshness, are completely opposed to it.

Modern tendencies in gardening have been too much awav from its
character as an art, and the more it is restored to its legitimate position,
the more nearly will it be brought into kindred with architecture. All
architects endeavour to extend their business ; for as a house and a

JULY.

215

garden are naturally and intimately associated, and it is a law of the
universe that boundaries of each domain in the natural kinadom should
insensiby mingle and be lost in each other, so it is plain that an
unvitiated taste would be most gratified when the province of architec¬
ture is extended so as to embrace lightly and harmoniously such parts
of the garden also, in these parts, rises in character to meet the require¬
ments of architecture, until either art is so refined and attenuated that
it would be almost difficult to say what belongs exclusively to each.

Still there is that about gardening which, in the nature of things, and
apart from the difference of materials with which it has to deal, consti¬
tutes it a distinctive art. And garden architecture has lineaments of
its own decidedly removed from those of house architecture, and so
seldom studied, that the ordinary architectural practitioner is at sea the
moment he enters the region of the garden. It is less a matter of rule
and measurement. Its effects are more to be judged of by the eye. It
comprehends a far greater variety of combinations. It requires a man
to be as much an artist (at least in feeling) as an architect, and to be
familiar with natural groupings and tones — to take an entire landscape
in the range of his design, and not merely isolated or detached objects.
In fact, the garden architect has to make a general picture, and not
simply to set a work of art, as it were, on a .solitary pedestal.

The province of garden architecture is, primarily, to supply fitting
appendages and accompaniments to a house, so that the latter may not
appear naked, alone, and unsupported. If judiciously applied, it will
be effective in helping to produce a good outline or group ; to carry
down the lines of the house to connect it with other buildings, such as
a conservatory, arbour, &c. ; to provide a proper basement for the
house ; to afford shelter and privacy to a flower-garden ; to extend the
fa9ade or frontage of a house ; to shut out back yards, offices, &c. ; to
enrich, vary, and enliven the garden ; to supply conveniences, such as
shelter, receptacles for birds, plants, sculpture, &c., with museums for
works of art or specimens of natural history, and supports for climbing
plants ; to indicate refinement, wealth, and a love of art ; and otherwise
to blend the two by communicating a more artistic tone to the garden.

But in addition to expatiating upon the political and physical relations
of gardening in landscape to mankind, it is not unusual for authors or
editors, in order to excite, on the part of gardeners and the community
in general, an increased interest in the cause of gardening in landscape,
as well as to commend their own labours to public favour, to indulge in
elaborate encomiums on the moral dignity of rural pursuits, and their
adaptedness to ennoble the lives and characters of those who engage
in them. Such encomiums are just, and in their proper place useful
and gratifying. No reflective mind, however, whether that of a gardener
or a tradesman, needs to be informed of the tendency of constant com¬
munication with the works and phenomena of nature to purify the
thoughts, and thus exert a largely restraining influence upon the dark
passions of the human soul. No man works more in the immediate
presence of his Creator than the gardener. He sees Him not only “in
the cool of the day,” but in every waking moment — in the purity and
fragrance of the circumambient atmosphere — in the untamed grandeur

21G

THE FLORIST.

of nature’s mountains, rocks, fields, forests, and gushing waters — in the
germination of every seed — in the growth of every leaf and of every
blade of grass ; by these, and numberless objects besides, is he im¬
pressed, not only with the power, wisdom, and goodness of Him who
“ causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of
man,” but with the gracious course of His providence, which rewards
every discovery of His laws, and every act of obedience to them. It is
uttering no harsh judgment, then, when we say, briefly, that the man
who can live and labour, surrounded by so many and so palpable attes¬
tations of a beneficent and controlling Power above, without realising
the nearness of his relations to that Power, or without hymning in his
heart devout ascriptions to praise and gratitude, is a sad example of the
derangement which sometimes characterises man’s moral machinery.
And if, with the Book of Nature thus unfolded so luminously before
him, his feelings fail to be voluntarily awakened to a just sense of the
honourableness of his employment, and of his “duty” to improve
every means and facility that will enable him to become skilful and
thrifty in his calling, no words of rhetoric, however eloquent, will be
able to arouse them.

American Gardeners' Monthlif.

DOUBLE-FLOWERED TABERN^MONTANA CORONARIA.

Although this fine stove shrub has long been common in well-
managed collections, it is not so generally cultivated as it deserves to
be. Its large white flowers are hardly inferior to those of the Gardenia
in fragrance, and last longer in beauty, and are produced very thickly
under proper management.

Being a native of the East Indies, it requires a warm moist tempe¬
rature while growing, with a liberal supply of water at the root, but
when the wood is formed, from which flowers are expected, it must be
subjected to a period of cool dry treatment, to thoroughly ripen the
wood, which is essential if a good display of blossom is wished for.
By the exercise of a little forethought and attention, to get the wood
properly ripened, and allow the plant a period of rest, it may be, had
in bloom at any time from March to November, as properly ripened
wood will never fail to produce flowers.

Young plants should be placed in a moist growing temperature of
about 65° by night and 75° by day, as early in spring as circum¬
stances will admit ; and if they can be afforded a bottom heat of about
85°, this will greatly assist in promoting active growth. At this season
the plants should be kept near the glass, and afforded all the light possible,
admitting air whenever the state of the weather will permit, in order
to prevent long-jointed weakly growth. If dwarf short- jointed plants
have been selected, the points of the shoots may be pinched out, tying
the latter down to induce the lower buds to start, but if the plants are
straggling they had better be sufficiently cut back to secure a close
habit. Shifting must be attended to as soon as the pots are mode-

JULY.

217

rately well filled with healthy roots, using pots one or two sizes larger,
according to the vigour of the plants. If in bottom heat, great caution
will be necessary, ibr a fortnight or so after potting, to apply water
properly ; for when the pots are plunged, it is not so easy to judge of
the state of the soil as when they are exposed ; and so little is required
in this case, that beginners are very apt to water too frequently, and
many a promising plant is thus ruined. Care should always be
exercised to ascertain the state of the soil before giving water, and
there should be no dribbling, or mere surface watering, but enough
should be given to thoroughly moisten the ball, giving no more until it
is absolutely wanted. As the season advances, it will probably be
necessary to afford a slight protection against bright sunshine, but
only a th'n shade should be used, and this as sparingly as can be safely
done. As soon as the pots are found to be well filled with roots, give a
second shift, unless that should not be the case until towards the end
of the growing season, when it will be better to avoid shifting till the
following spring. Maintain a thoroughly moist atmosphere, and syringe
the plants overhead on the mornings and evenings of bright days in
summer ; and also keep the shoots regularly tied out and stopped, as
may be necessary to secure a compact bushy habit ; but in the case of
plants intended to bloom the following spring, stopping must not be
practised later in the season than will allow of getting the young wood
jToperly matured before winter. If the plants can be placed in a pit
or house where the temperature may range about 55°, this will form a
suitable situation fur them in winter, and if proper care has been
exercised to get the wood well ripened in autumn, the night tempe¬
rature may be allowed to fall as low as 45° in hard weather. Give
very little water to the soil at this period, only just sufficient to preserve
the roots in a healthy state, but draw the syringe over the foliage occa¬
sionally on the morning of a bright day, so as to clear it of dust, &c.
I f it is intended to grow large specimens before allowing the plants to
flower, place them in a moist temperature of about 65°, by fire-heat,
as early in spring as circumstances will permit, and afford them a brisk
bottom heat, to induce a vigorous root action. See to the sta‘e of ihe
roots, and shift before these suffer for want of pot room ; also keep the
shoots tied out and stopped as may be necessary to secure bushy growth,
and otherwise treat the plants as recommended for last season. While
in bloom the specimens may be placed in a cool house, but they must
be carefully guarded from damp in the atmosphere, and after flowering
they should'be cut back as may be required, and re-potted; but with
an occasional watering of manure water during the growing season,
they may be kept in good health for several seasons without repotting.
For soil use good fibry peat and loam, in the proportion of three parts
of the former to one of the latter, adding a sufficient quantity of silver
sand to ensure a free percolation of water through the ball after the
decay of the fibre. Cuttings of moderately young wood soon rot if
planted in sandy soil, covered with a bell glass, and afforded a sharp
bottom heat of 80° or 90°.

J. S.

218

THE FLORIST.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

There appears room for a new class of cultivated plants in our
exhibitions — that of trained climbing plants, which, if artistically
carried out under good cultivation would prove an interesting feature, and
one which in some degree would break into the mixed stove and green¬
house class, by showing the plants under a new form, interesting in
itself, and under which the plants might assume a great variety of
outline, through the agency of the different shaped trellises employed.

When it is considered that a number of shov/y plants are necessarily
excluded from the tables of our exhibitions, solely through the difficulty
of training them so as to harmonise with other specimens, the managers
of exhibitions should make them into a class by themselves, stipulating
that the gracefulness in their outline, and natural style of training,
should have weight with the judges, just as much as the mere value
of the plant or its merit as regards cultivation. We might then expect
to see the different species of Bignonia, Brachysema, Hardenbergia,
Lapageria, Passiflora, &c., among greenhouse plants ; and Allamandas,
Ipomoeas, Hoy a, Jasminum, Echites, Dipladenia, and Combretum
exhibited in something like their natural form, instead of being tied
into balloons and globes, as now generally seen. I am of opinion that
if a class was formed, with prizes for the best 12 or 6 climbing plants,
something both tasteful and novel would result in a very short time.

Iris.

SCOTTISH PANSY SOCIETY.

The Seventeenth Annual Competition of this flourishing Society was
held in the Experimental Gardens, Edinburgh, on Saturday, the 22nd
of June. The Exhibition, as a whole, was a very successful one,
a great improvement being observable in the quality of the blooms
produced.

The following is a list of the successful competitors, with the names
of the first and second prizes in each class, which will give a very
correct idea of the best blooms shown on this occasion.

Nurserymen’s prize for 24 dissimilar blooms ; 1st, Messrs. Downie,
Laird, and Laing, West Coates, Edinburgh, with Mrs. Laird, Eclat,
Great Northern, Mr. T. Graham, Duchess of Wellington, Colonel
Wyndham, Francis Low, Mary Lamb, Nepaulese Chief, Cherub, Miss
Williamson, Miss Carnegie, Ladyburn Beauty, Perfection, Lady Lucy
Dundas, Lord Clyde, Rev. H. Doiiibrain, Lord Cardigan, Royal
Standard, Charles Watson, Mrs. Downie, Countess of Rosslyn, C. M.
R. Ramsay, Fair Maid ; 2d, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Paisley, with A.
M'Keith, Cupid, Bruce, Maid of Bath, Rev. H. Dombrain, Mary
Lamb, Lord Clyde, Prince Imperial, Nymph, Jessie, James Peddie,
Earl of Derby, Miss Carnegie, Reine Blanche, Alex. M‘Nab, Saturn,
Seraph, Cherub, L. Desdemona, Perfection, Othello, Annie Wood,
Lavinia, Wallace ; 3d, Mrs. Carstairs, Warriston Lodge, Edinburgh ;
4th, Messrs. Dickson & Co., Edinburgh.

JULY.

219

Practical Gardeners and Amateurs, for the best 18 dissimilar blooms :
1st, Mr. J. Fraser, gardener, Belmont, Edinburgh, with Lady Susan,
Mr. Hope, Nepaulese Chief, Colonel Wyndham, Miss Hill, Ladyburn
Beauty, Jessie, Mary Lamb, Perfection, Mr. A. M‘Nab, Lord Clyde,
C. W. 11. Ramsay, Miss Carnegie, Mrs. Laird, Francis Low, Alexander,
Isa Craig ; 2d, Mr. H. Gibb, gardener, Inglis Green, Slateford, with
Mr. A. M'Nab, Miss Talbot, Lord Derby, Nepaulese Chief, Mr.
M‘Caul, Duchess of Wellington, Lavinia, C. W. R. Ramsay, Jeannie,
Duchess of Hamilton, Francis Low, Ladyburn Beauty, Conqueror,
Dundee, King of Purples, Mrs. Downie, Mr. J. Graham, Mr. J. White :
3d, Mr. James Dobbie, Renfrew; 4th, Mr. James Henderson, gardener,
Millbank, Gorebridge.

Practical Gardeners and Amateurs, for best 12 dissimilar blooms :
1st, Mr. J. Fraser, gardener, Belmont, with Mrs. Hope, Mary Lamb,
Nepaulese Chief, Blinkbonny, Colonel Wyndham, Alexander M‘Nab,
Lord John Russell, Lady Susan, Miss Hill, Mrs. Laird, Alexander,
C. W. R. Ramsay; 2d, George Wilson, Esq., Dunse, with Rev. H.
Dombrain, Countess of Rosslyn, Perfection, Dr. Stewart, Mr. J.
Graham, Rev. Joshua Dix, Una, Nymph, General Young, Jessie, Mr.
Hope, Royal Standard ; 3d, Mr. James Henderson, Millbank ; 4th,
Mr. John Hampton, Newport, Fife.

Practical Gardeners and Amateurs, for best 6 dissimilar blooms: 1st,
Dr. Stewart, Chirnside, with Alexander M‘Nab, Countess of Rosslyn,
Mr. T. Graham, Cream of the Valley, Miss Carnegie, C. W. R. Ram¬
say; 2d, Mr. John Hampton, Newport, with Jessie, Countess of Rosslyn,
Ladyburn Beauty, Perfection, Mrs. Laird, Gen. Young ; 3d, Mr. Jas.
Dobbie, Renfrew ; 4th, Mr. James Fraser, Belmont.

Amateurs exclusively who cultivate their own plants, for best 6 dis¬
tinct varieties : 1st, Charles Watson, Esq., Dunse, with Saturn, Mr. T.
Graham, Mrs. Downie, Alex. M‘Nab, Una, Rev. H. Dombrain ; 2d,
Mr. James Dobbie, Renfrew, with Lizzie, Alexander M‘Nab, Countess
of Rosslyn, Perfection, Mr. Hope, Nymph ; 3d, George Wilson, Esq.,
Dunse ; 4th, Dr. Stewart, Chirnside, Berwick.

Classes open to all ; best 12 dissimilar blooms — 4 seifs, 4 light
grounds, and 4 yellow grounds : 1st, Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing,
with Countess of Rosslyn, Eclat, Blinkbonny, Imperial Prince, Lord
Clyde, Lady Lucy Dundas, Nepaulese Chief, Mary Lamb, C. W. R.
Ramsay, Rev. Joshua Dix, Lady Susan, and Perfection ; 2d, Messrs.
Dickson & Co., with Volunteer, Mrs. Hope, Lord Clyde, Milton, Mr. J.
White, Mr. T. Graham, Prince of Prussia, No. 58 Seedling of 1861,
Attraction, Caroline, Countess of Rosslyn, and Mrs. Hopkins ; 3d, Mr.
.John Fraser, Belmont ; 4th, Mr. William Wilson, Old Cathcart,
Paisley.

Open to all, and selected from all the blooms in the Exhibition — best
yellow ground single bloom; 1st, Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing,
with Perfection ; best self, Mr. H. Gibbs, with Nepaulese Chief ; best
light ground, Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, with Lady Lucy Dundas.

Premier bloom in the Exhibition, Messrs. Downie, Laird and Laing,
with Lady Lucy Dundas.

Single blooms, Amateurs exclusively : Best dark self, Mr. James

220

THE FI.ORIST.

Dobbie, Renfrew, with Lizzy. Best yellow self, Mr. Wnri. Wilson, Old
Cathcart, with Cherub. Best light ground. Geo. Wilson Esq., Dunse,
with Mrs. Laird. Best yellow ground, Charles Watson, Esq., Dunse,
with Mrs. Downie.

Seedlings were numerous and many of them very promising. The
only flower selected for an award was a dark self named Charles W atson,
from Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing ; this was awarded a Certificate
of Merit. Colour, very dark bronzy purple ; form good, smooth, and
of fine quality.

A stand of curious fancy Pansies was also exhibited by the Messis.
Downie, Laird, & Laing, which attracted great attention. The flowers,
instead of their ordinary regular markings, were spotted, striped, and
blotched in a most extraordinary manner. These are rapidly becoming
great favourites.

The next annual Exhibition wfill be held in Glasgow, June, 1862,
wdien, in addition to other prizes, four handsome silver medals will be
competed for.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias, — Azaleas which have dropped their blooms
should not be allowed to stand about wherever they will be the least in
the w^ay, but should, immediately their beauty is over, be cleared of all
decaying blooms and seed pods, and placed where they can be encou¬
raged to make free growth by keeping the house rather close and
moist, and shading the plants from bright sunshine. There has been
little difficulty this season in keeping plants for late blooming ; and in
many instances the plants are so backward, that unless they are well
attended to as soon as they are out of flower, there wdll be little chance
of getting them to set for bloom without the aid of art.ficial heat late in
autumn ; and the necessity of having to resort to this should be
avoided as far as can be done by making the most of the present
favourable weather. Before placing the plants where they are to make
their growth, repot such as require more pot-room ; and in all cases
w^ell thin out all back shoots which can be spared, and tie the plants
so as to nicely distribute the wood and secure regularly filled-up and
handsomely-formed specimens. Examine plants in free growth fre¬
quently and carefully for black thrips, and apply tobacco-smoke or
some other effectual remedy directly this pest is perceived. Stop
gross shoots on young plants ; and such as have made a free growth,
and are inclining to set for bloom, may be stopped regularly over and
encouraged to make another growth. Plants which have w^ell set
their flower-buds should be removed to a cool house or shady situation
out of doors, but not exposed to bright sunshine. Camellias making
their growth should be carefully shaded from bright sunshine, syringing
them freely over-head at least every evening, and affording them a
moist atmosphere. And any plants which require more pot-room
should be shifted at once, using about equal parts of good fibrous loam

jn,Y.

221

and peat, with a free admixture of silver-sand and rough bones ; those
that have fairly formed their bloom-buds should be placed in a shady
sheltered situation out of doors. Consei'vatory. — Careful and sub¬
stantial shading, with abundant ventilation and a thoroughly moist
atmosphere, will be necessary here during bright weather, in order to
prolong the beauty of the few remaining Azaleas and other hard-
wooded plants. And specimens planted in the beds or borders will
require to be liberally watered at the root ; and such as are making
their growth will be benefited by being syringed over-head every
evening while the weather is bright and warm ; and every care should
be used to keep everything clear of red spider and other injurious
insects. In removing stove plants to this house be careful to place
them in the closest part of the house ; for, however warm the weather
may be, plants from the stove will hardly feel at home in this house, if,
they are exposed to through draughts ; while, with a little management
and care, most stove plants, whether those in bloom or those grown for
the beauty of their foliage, will do perfectly well here for some months,
especially if we have a warm season. But they must be gradually
inured to the change, by keeping the house rather close and moist ;
and, in the event of cold damp cloudy weather occurring soon after
any valuable plants have been removed to here from the stove, it
might be advisable to use a little fire-heat ; but this will hardly be
necessary, unless we experience another such a season as last. Use
every possible foresight and endeavour to make the most of the means
at command for providing a supply of plants for blooming here
throughout the summer and autumn. Cold Frames. — The more
tender greenhouse plants which may be making their growth here
should be very carefully attended to, so as to induce a tree vigorous
growth, in time to allow of getting the young wood well ripened up
before winter. Boronias, Gompholobiums, and similar things, should
be kept rather close, shutting them up early in the afternoon, after
lightly syringing the plants and well moistening the walls and bottom
of the pit, allowing the temperature to stand at from 75° to 80° for an
hour or two after shutting up ; and similar treatment may be adopted
with most New Holland plants ; but if any are observed to be making
weak or thin growth, they should have air left on for the night ; and
the syringe must be sparingly used upon Aphelexis and some other
things. See that all are properly supplied with water at the root, and
do not allow young vigorous plants to suffer through the want of pot-
room. Also keep a sharp look-out for greenfly and red spider, and
use means to clear any plant infested with either of these pests imme¬
diately they are observed. Leschenaultias are particularly subject to
the attacks of the former, Chorozemas to the latter, and Pimelea Hen-
dersonii to both. Keep the plants near the glass, and do not stand
them too close together, and screen them from bright sunshine by a
thin shade ; attend to stopping and training, as may be necessary to
secure close compact specimens. Flower Garden. — There will be
little required here at present beyond attention to the ordinary routine
work necessary to secure neatness. Keep Verbenas, &c., nicely pegged
until the ground is covered j and where the practice of edging the beds

222

THE FLORIST.

or planting them wltli several distinct colours is adopted, give attention
to keeping the plants regulated, so that each band of colour may
occupy the space intended, and the-whole will then be seen to advan¬
tage if the plan of planting was correct ; but where a line intended to
form a distinct edging to a bed is allowed to extend into the beds, and
the plants forming the bed to mix their flowers among those of the
edging, the only feeling which can be experienced on looking at such a
bed will be that it is a disagreeable muddle. Keep Hollyhocks and
Dahlias secured to their stakes as they advance in growth, and if the
weather should prove dry and hot do not allow them to suffer through
drvness at the root ; and other thinfrs must also be attended to with
water as may be necessary to keep them in vigorous health until they
have fairly covered the ground. Greenhouse. — Many of the inmates
of this house will now be placed in their summer quarters in a shady
place out of doors, and their room in the house may be occupied with
Fuchsias and other things for the decoration of the conservatory in
autumn ; or if the house can be cleared of all plants which would be
injured by rather close moist treatment, it may be used for Azaleas
and Camellias making their growth, and New Holland plants, which
require a little assistance to induce them to start freely into growth
after having been cut back. Heaths will now do better in a shady
situation in the open air than in the house, and will be much less
liable to suffer from mildew ; but they must be protected from heavy
rains, either by means of a waterproof cloth, spare lights, or tilting the
plants on their sides. Epacrises are exceedingly useful for winter
decoration, and the early flowering varieties should be encouraged to
make a free growth as soon as possible ; but they must not be kept so
close as to induce weak growth. Any plants of these which require
more pot-room should be shifted at once, so as to allow of their
getting well established in their pots before winter ; and all should be
nicely trained, endeavouring to keep the specimens well furnished at
the bottom, for some of the most useful varieties are not naturally of a
compact bushy habit. Store. — Attend to last month’s directions, and
do not allow any of the specimens here to be injured by insects ; and
during bright warm weather sprinkle the paths, floors, &e., frequently,
so as to maintain a moist atmosphere and keep the plants properly
supplied with water at the root. Use sufficient shading to prevent
tender things being scorched, but such plants as Allamandas and many
others will not set freely for bloom if they are kept too closely shaded.
Get Dipladenias and other twiners properly trained as soon as they are
fairly set for bloom, taking care to nicely distribute their flowers; also
tie out Achimenes, Gloxinias, &c. Attend well to young stock of hard¬
wood and other plants, and do not allow those in full growth to suffer
from the want of pot room.

liar Fruit. — In our last month’s calendar we advised the thinning
and stopping the shoots of all trained fruit trees at an early stage of
their growth — therefore, if this remains undone it should bo proceeded
with early in the month ; and at the same time make the final thinning
of Peaches and Apricots, leaving the heaviest crop on the vigorous parts

JULY.

223

of the trees. Young Apricot and Peach trees that are making a
vigorous growth should be stopped, to induce them to make shoots of a
fruitful character. Keep the shoots free from fly and closely nailed to
the wall, so that the wood may be well ripened. Thin and stop the
shoots of Figs as soon as they have made a growth of about six inches.
If the weather sets in hot and dry, Strawberries (where the fruit is
ripening) will require frequent waterings. Tie up the heavy fruit as
before advised, and place nets over the beds, to protect the whole from
birds ; it will also be very beneficial in partially shading the plants.
Layer runners for new plantations, also for forcing ; cut away all spare
runners, and keep the beds free from weeds. Orchard houses will
now require plenty of air, and a little through the night in hot weather
would be beneficial. Assist the trees occasionally with liquid manure
during the time the fruit is swelling, and at no time should they suffer
from drought. Syringe in the evening after a bright day. Forcing
Ground. — Attend to last month’s directions. Plant out the last crop
of Melons early in the month, and sow Cucumbers for the late crop.
If the weather sets in shady and cold, the linings of Cucumber and
Melon beds should be attended to. Peaches and Nectarines. — Go
over the trees as soon as the crop is gathered, and cut aw^ay all useless
shoots, such as are not required for fruiting next season or for filling up
vacant places ; when this is done, give the trees a good syringing with
the garden engine, and if the borders are dry, and the trees are w^eakly,
a good soaking of manure water would greatly assist them for another
season. Give air night and day ; and if the weather is warm, the
sashes may be removed altogether about the end of the month, which
will assist in ripening the wood. Expose the fruit in the succession
house as much as possible to air and light as soon as it begins to
ripen, for the purpose of giving better colour and flavour. Keep
the atmosphere dry and a little warmer through the day, with air at
all times in favourable weather. Water the borders if dry. Pines. —
Shift succession plants as soon as the pots are filled with roots ; do not
reduce the ball, merely remove the drainage, and, in potting, use free
turfy loam, with a mixture of rotten manure — do not press the soil too
firmly in the pots. All plants intended for fruiting early next season
should now^ be shifted into their fruiting pots, otherwise plant them out
on ridges, which is an excellent plan where there is the convenience to
do so. Water freely, and keep a moist heat in the fruiting pit, and
air according to the state of the weather ; avoid shading, and do not
admit front and back air at the same time, to cause a draught through
the pit. When the succession plants are growing in tan beds, care
should be taken that the heat is not too violent, otherwise it may
greatly injure the young roots, from the effect of which they would not
soon recover. Yinery. — In the late houses, where the fruit is swelling,
a moist growing heat should be maintained. Use fire-heat in chilly
weather to these as well as late Muscats. Air freely in the early part of
the day, but syringe and close as soon as the sun is off the house in the
afternoon. Tie in the shoots and thin the berries as they may require
it. Ripe Grapes should be kept cool by admitting plenty of air ; and
as soon as the crop is cleared syringe the Vines and allow the lateral

224

THE FLORIST.

shoots to grow, so that the foliage will remain in a healthy state for Some
time to come, during which time the Vines will be gaining strength for
the following season. Kitchen Garden. — Continue to plant out succes¬
sion crops of Celery, and give them good soakings of water in dry
weather. Earth up the early crop. Plant out Lettuce and Endive,
and sow again for succession. As soon as any ground is clear of early
Peas, Potatoes, &c., the winter crops of Greens, Broccoli, Brussels
Sprouts, and Savoy should be got in without delay ; also plant out
Cauliflowers, and make a sowing of Walcheren and Cape Broccoli for
the late autumn crop ; this must be done early in the month. Earth
up and stick Peas and make the last sowing about the middle of the
month ; choose a moist piece of ground, with full exposure to air and
light. Sow Black Negro or Mohawk Beans.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias. — If last month’s instructions were attended to, they
will now be throwing up suckers, which, when about an inch long,
should be taken off and prepared by removing the bottom leaves, so as
to prevent the base of the cuttings suffering from damp and mildew.
Place these round the edges of pots, or, if more convenient, in pans well
drained in an admixture of loam and silver sand ; a cold frame or pit
in a northern situation is the most desirable place. Pot off as soon as
rooted, sprinkle frequently, and shade daily in bright weather ; keep
them moving by shifting frequently. Pelargoniums. — These will
still be in fine bloom; but as they go out of flower, dry them well
before cutting down. Also well fumigate, and thoroughly clean them
of green-fly before putting the cuttings in. Clear away all old petals
from such as are seeding, to keep off damp ; any refuse will cause the
stalks to damp, and good seeds may be lost. Some cuttings should
be put in, to ensure some early bloom next spring.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN JULY.

Auriculas. — Keep clear both of weeds and green-fly, and be sure
that they are shaded from sun and heavy rains ; greenfly multiplies
very fast, and should be brushed off with a camel’s-hair pencil. . Have
the compost ready prepared for potting by the end of the month ; I
shall try mine a little richer this year, one-half rotted dung, the other
half loam and leaf-mould. Carnations and Picotees. — These will now
be blooming, and will require carding, tying, &c. ; the bloom this year
will I fear be a defective one, as the layers were so very late in rooting
last season. Pansies. — Make cuttings as they can be taken off ; the
old plants in pots to be either plunged or planted out in a cool border,
to encourage growth. Greenhouse. — Pelargoniums will be soon past
their prime ; let water be withheld and the plants well hardened oft’
before cutting down ; do not spare the knife. Dahlias will require
tying out, and cutting according to the character of the sort, some
needing it more than others. General Work. — Weeding and hoeing
and keeping the ground clean will give a good deal of work. Ver¬
benas must be kept pegged down, Asters staked and tied. Phloxes the
same ; Pinks must be piped. Carnations layered, and everything kept
in (-rJer. D., Deal.

Hr* ’.H-F

AUGUST.

225

PETUNIA MADAM FEKGUSON.

(Plate 179).

Alterations both in the form and colour of Petunias have of
late been numerous and striking ; but among single kinds we
have seen none so constant and beautiful as the variety which
forms the subject of our plate this month, and of which a
charming specimen, loaded with upwards of a hundred flowers,
in which there did not appear the slightest tendency to sport,
was shown at the last Koyal Botanic Society’s exhibition in
Eegent’s Park. This favourite kind, for so it was considered
by all who saw it at the ‘'Park,” was raised by Mr. Eerguson,
of Stowe, in Buckinghamshire, in the spring of 1860; but
being the smallest among thousands of seedlings, it did not
flower till October in that year, when its first blooms were
submitted to the inspection of Mr. Beaton, who pronounced
it to be “ a most charming flower,” and added, “ You are
welcome to make me godfather to it.” Being very weakly, it
survived the severity of last winter with difficulty. In May,
however, it was sufficiently forward to enable examples of it
to be shown, and it was again exhibited at the opening fete of
the Eoyal Horticultural Society at South Kensington. On all
occasions the constancy of its characters has been so remark¬
able as to induce people to think, and even say, that all bad
flowers had been picked ofl*. Such was, however, not the case,
and to settle the matter, Mr. Eerguson determined to exhibit
to the Eoyal Botanic Society the fine specimen above alluded
to. The flowers are of a rich glossy silky white, regularly and
distinctly marked with five bands or stripes of beautiful bright
purplish crimson.

This variety has a hard wiry habit, and a strong disposition
to bloom in a small state ; under ordinary treatment it is,
therefore, somewhat difficult to propagate. Out of doors it
makes a good bed, and under glass, both in the shape of
bushes in pots or trained up pillars, it is both pleasing and
efi'ective, and in the evening it is reported to emit an agreeable
perfume.

It may not be out of place to mention that we picked a
flower exactly like those figured, oif a Petunia at Slough the
other day ; but that was the exception not the rule, for the
rest of the blooms on the plant exhibited different colours and
varieties of marking. Madam Eerguson, therefore, at present
remains distinct and unique of its kind.

VOL. XV., NO. CLXIV.

226

THE FLORIST.

ORCHARD HOUSES— CULTURE.

•

We shall have to dispense with walls for Peaches and Nectarines at
any rate, and probably tor Apricots, and by-and-bye our south walls
will be occupied by Pears, as they are now at Heckfield and other
places — a wise economy, and one perfectly justifiable on the grounds of
the precarious nature of the Peach crop.

When glass was a costly object, indulging in glass erections was con¬
sidered much in the same light as keeping hounds or a yacht — i.e.y
entailing a large annual expense, and as such confined to the wealthy,
who only might enjoy the luxuries they produced. The times have
changed much within even the last quarter of a century, and since the
duty has been taken off glass, and free trade in it established, it has
opened up a wide field of enjoyment for professional men and the
middle classes of society, who can now have their own glass erections —
their greenhouse, pit, and orchard-house — appended to their establish¬
ment, coming within their means for keeping up, and entailing no great
expense in the first cost. We shall look through these several items of
country-life enjoyment, to show what may be done with them, what
they will cost, and what is the best plan of construction, in the hope that
some of our readers may profit by our remarks, or at any rate may
compare them with the opinion of others who instruct in the same line,
and draw therefrom their own conclusions.

If we have any readers anxious to commence at once with growing
the Peach (by which please to understand the Nectarine and Apricot,
as regards culture, will be included), say next season, of course plants
with fruit-buds on them will be required, and we will suppose these
will have to be purchased in the autumn in the ordinary way, and
potted for a twelvemonth before they are in a state to bear fruit, unless
you go to the expense of buying ready prepared trees, which are costly,
and which, to furnish a house, would cause an outlay equal to the building
itself. We say, therefore, do this, and save your cash. Go to a nursery
and look out your stock — good strong maidens with plenty of lateral shoots,
if down to the stock, so much the better ; buy your trees as they stand,
they will rarely exceed I5. each, and when you have marked them
as your own, cut the leading branch down to (say) from 6 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in.,
according to their strength. There will then remain, probably,
from five to eight or nine laterals, springing from the main shoot headed
down, and these should all be shortened back one-third of their length.
These trees will look something rather stumpy compared with those
unpruned ; but never mind, this pruning back will induce the forma¬
tion of blossom-buds on the lateral shoots, and we shall be enabled to
show you that many of these trees, if the present season proves a
favourable one, will produce you fruit next year. If the trees are
growing in what is called a quarter, thick together, pick out the outside
ones, that the sun and air may more readily act upon them, to further
your wishes in respect to fruitful buds. There are also to be met with
in nurseries, cut-back trees of the Peach, which have not been well
formed for training, and are allowed to grow for buds ; these have gene¬
rally four or five strong shoots, and as they are a year older than the

AUGUST.

227

former a few would be just the thing for you. If you can put your
hand on such secure them, though at double the price of the former, and
shorten back each shoot one-third, and also any laterals which may
have grown ; these will make strong plants, certain to produce a larger
crop than the year-old trees. The plants must remain until October,
wdien, as soon as the leaf shows signs of getting ripe and falling off,
they will have to be taken up, brought home, and potted, on which we
shall write hereafter. Bear in mind, the sooner in August you cut back
the plants, the greater chances you have of obtaining fruit-buds ; so, if
you mean to commence, set about the matter at once — -procrastination
means failure in this instance.

Having secured your trees, set about procuring as much sound loatti
as will serve to pot your stock ; good heavy top-spit from a common or
roadside, dug at once and stacked up in an open place, will become in good
condition by October, when all that will be required will be to mix a
very little rotten manure with it, or a little road earth, if the soil prove
too heavy. You will also require a certain number of 10 or 12 inch
pots.

R. T. 0.

{To he continued.)

THE ROSE SHOW AT SOUTH KENSINGTON.

Six weeks ago the hand which writes this article was dangling idly
over the side of a boat in the pale green waters of “ clear, placid
Leman.” The boat was returning from Chillon to Vevay, and the pro¬
prietor of the hand was ruminating about Byron and about Bonnivard,
that poor “ Prisoner of Chillon,” of whom Byron sang, trying to imagine
what his sensations must have been, when, after six years in his double
dungeon of wall and wave, he was delivered by the bravery of the men
of Berne, and brought out of his living sepulchre into the glorious sun¬
light of heaven. As his sight must have been wholly impotent to sus¬
tain “the bickerings of the noontide blaze,” so must his spirit have
shrunk and trembled in the great amazement of his sudden gladness,
and in the strange perplexity of his new-born hopes. At first, he must
have been quite unable to realise his freedom, or to believe in himself.

‘ A month went by, and then my own feelings were somewhat akin to
Bonnivard’s. I, too, passed from a scene of dreariness and desolation
into an arena of loveliness and life, for I went from the burial-ground
of my dead Rose-trees to the brilliant assembly of living beauties in the
conservatory of the Royal Horticultural Society at Kensington. Bonni¬
vard himself, when that prisoner of Chillon became a free man with
the chill off, could not have been more bewildered by his bliss ; and as
for blinking, there has been nothing like it, I am sure, since the^ days
when we boys were wont to inflict upon a touchy old spinster, knitting
at the window opposite our school, the dazzling torture of the looking-
glass. My Rosarium was strewed like a battle-field with dead Generals
—Castellan and Jacqueminot, Simpson and Pelissier among them ;
Field Marshal the Duke of Cambridge made no sign; great Princes

228

THE PLOlUST.

and Emperors were stiff and stark; the very Giant of Battles lay lifeless
by the dead Lion of Combats amid broken Standards, which never more
should unfurl their bright colours to the wind ; and lo ! here they all
were, renascent, in their best health and in their best uniforms. I
stood astonied, like the hero of that thrilling story, “ The Woman in
White,” when, at the grave of Lady Clyde, he saw, standing close to
him, her ladyship’s living self.

Overwhelmed for a time by the mere vastness of the great enjoyment
before me, like some famished mouse unexpectedly finding himself in
the middle of a cheesemonger’s shop, I gazed, with my eyes and mouth
as open as a countryman’s at a coronation, upon that charming com¬
pany, until at length their individual identity revealed itself to my glad
perception, and one after another the dear friends, for whom I had
mourned as lost, smiled a pleasant greeting upon me. Although many
of them were evidently in indifferent health, and some of them were as
altered in their appearance as ladies and gentlemen who land at Folk-
stone, after two hours’ misery among the “ white bears,” yet never did
I feel so earnestly happy in welcoming each familiar face ; never did I
know so thoroughly how absence, according to the adage, educes a new
fondness from the heart. Wisely has it been said by a Warwickshire
dramatist —

“ If all the year were playing holidays,

To work would be as easy as to play ;

But when they seldom come, they wished for come

and in all our enjoyments a little previous deprivation or abstinence is sure
to cause a keener zest. Do you not remember that grand supper at the end
of “ the half,” for which we saved our sixpences, and of which for days
before its actual mastication we spoke yearningly with bated breath ?
Do you not remember, how, when Mr. Robinson, the butler (he was of
“ robust habit,” as we gardeners say, and was irreverently known to
us boys by the appellation of “ Old Swill-tub”), had taken away our
candle, another light, concealed never mind how, was produced from
under the cubicle of Jones, minimus — how a rabbit-pie, surrounded
with cheese-cakes, was brought out of the portmanteau of “ cock-eye
Dobson,” jam and lobsters from the hat-box of “ sneaky Smith,” with
various viands, and fluids (I grieve to say), from other occult localities
and deep mysterious bins ? And, more pertinently to my present
theme, do you not recall, how, to ensure a full fruition of our banquet,
we put our appetites into a due restraint and training, eating sparingly
throughout the day, and with an affected magnanimity bestowing our
cheese at supper upon the tiny non-subscribers to our approaching
feast? Well, thus jejune and fasting, went I to the great feast of
Roses ; glared upon them like ravenous Richard, when —

“ Round he cast his greedy eyes
Upon the tartlets and the pies

and finally settled down to my meal, like a doctor’s horse to the Squire’s
old beans. But what have I done, unhappy miscreant that I am? I
have dared to draw a vile analogy between the Queen of Flowers and a
cheesecake : I have assimilated Her Majesty to a dead lobster ; — I
banish myself from metaphor for life !

AUGUST.

229

The Rose Show, then, which was held in the new gardens of the
Royal Horticultural Society on Wednesday, July 10, and with which
was incorporated the Grand National Rose Show, was, in simpler phrase,
a great refreshment to us poor frozen-out amateurs, whose tWmo-
meters, on the morning of Christmas last, showed 42° of frost, and
whose Rose trees, nine-tenths of them, were burnt, or in the budding
ground. Pleasant it was to forget awhile the vacancies and gaps
at home ; the waste places to which one had wandered in happy
forgetfulness to see some fairest of the fair, and found her place was
empty ; and here to rejoice once more in the presence and the perfume
of all the Boses ! Yes, here in their glowing beauty were the flowers
of which I had so often dreamed, amid the pale sweet Pea blossoms,
the flaunting Poppies, the Nasturtiums, the Balsams, the Larkspurs,
and “ bedding-out stuff,” which reign for the present in my rosarium,
like a mob in a plundered palace.* It was all I could do not to take off
my hat to the lovely Countess de Chabrillant ; all I could do not to
call to Madame Vidot —

“ Madame, I bow, as is my duty,

Down to the shadow of your shoe tie ; ”

and I was only prevented by the Bishop of Nimes for his eye was
upon me ”) from kissing Madame Knorr upon the spot.

I am not going through the list of established beauties, as long as
Don Giovanni’s, who turned into glorious summer the winter of my
discontent, for the Florist must have a supplement if I did, and most
of its readers are already well acquainted with the charming personages
referred to ; but I pass on now to gaze upon newer faces, and to speak
of individuals recently appointed to be lords and ladies in waiting upon
Queen Rosa, and less known to the public at large.

To my fancy, the three best new Roses in the Show were Senateur
Vaisse, Louis the Fourteenth, and Reynolds Hole. With regard to
Senateur Vaisse, I have a strong conviction that the magnificent bloom
of it in Messrs. Fraser’s collection was, for shape, size, and colour,
conjointly, the best Rose of the day. I kept my eye upon him during
the afternoon, and he stood the heat as unconcernedly as though he
had been the Fire King at Cremorne ; and the Speaker himself might
envy the imperturbability of such a Senator as Mr. Senator Vaisse.
Louis the Fourteenth was shown by many exhibitors, and was invari¬
ably brilliant, effective, and distinct. A bloom of him in one of
Mr. Turner’s stands was the most beautiful Rose for colour in the
exhibition, as absolute a monarch as Louis XIV. himself, and san¬
guinary in complexion as his martial synonyme in war. I went to
beg him, just before pack-up time, but only arrived to see him
bestowed on an earlier and happier applicant. I hope he was destined
for somebody very nice, for a lovelier Rose I never saw. As poor old
Clark, the cricketer, used to say of Guy, that he “ was all helegance,
fit to play before Her Majesty in a drawing-room,” so I should affirm
of that particular flower, that it was worthy to be placed upon the
heart of a Queen, yea, of the Queen of Queens, Victoria. Reynolds

* I cannot endure my expatriation fi*om metaphor, so give myself ^ Ticket’
of-leave.

230

THE FLORIST.

Hole was only shown by one exhibitor, Mr. Standish,’ who is the sole
proprietor, and coming from Bagshot, a soil unfavourable' to the Rose,
was by no means shown in its perfection ; but it was universally
admired for its originality of colour, a fresh, charming, vivid Rose—
“lovely pink,” according to “ D. of Deal” — which may be seen, tO
quote another excellent critic, “ among 50 sorts at 500 yards distance.”
This latter authority has qualified his praise by remarking that the
flower is no great acquisition to florists, but I hope, when he sees it in
1862, he will allow himself to be beat on that point. For vigorous
growth, and for the abundance and perpetuity of its flowers, this Rose
can hardly be surpassed.

There were many other Roses, of recent introduction and about to
be introduced, quite good enough to ensure them a place in every
superior collection. Among the former were Gloire de Santhenay,
Madame Boll, General Forey, Roi David, Victor Verdier, Madame
Charles Crapelet, Mademoiselle Bonnaire — all Hybrid Perpetuals ;
Victor Emmanuel, Bourbon ; and Boule d’Or, Due de Magenta, and
Rubens, Teas ; and among the latter were John Standish (which I
have since seen in great beauty), Madame Furtado, Prairie de Terre
Noire, Mrs. Standish, General Washington, Marguerite Appert; Due
Decazes, and Gregoire Bourdillon. All these I commend earnestly to
my brethren who love the Rose.

Of this Show generally, it may be said that, although the best
growers showed their best Roses, the exhibition was necessarily inferior
to the three National Rose Shows which preceded. This necessity
arose from the untoward summer and pitiless winter of 1860, which
killed half the Rose trees of England, and injured a great proportion
of the survivors. The Roses at Kensington were deficient, in conse¬
quence, both as to size and colour. Some of the boxes, when the lids
were removed, instead of presenting the glowing diversity of tints and
the glossy freshness of foliage which we have been accustomed to see,
showed a dreary surface of dull lilac flowers, reposing on leaves of almost
“ invisible green.” Many of them, invalids when they started, were
terribly altered by the journey, and disappointment was as visible upon
the faces of their exhibitors as upon the countenance of the sailor who
expected grog in the bottle he had found, and opened it to discover —
tracts. I remember, in my merry Oxford days, bringing home the
leader of a tandem, so very dirty and disfigured, by a little gallop of
20 miles on a wet night from Henley, that the ostler started back on
seeing him, and positively asserted “ that bearCt our Harkaway ;” and
some of the Rose growers seemed to me to be murmuring, in their sad
surprise, “ that beant my General Jacqueminot r

Such adversities of weather are not likely to recur, and we may
hope — “not to the past, but to the future looks true nobility” — to
“see another sight,” when the knights of the Rose hold their next
tourney at Kensington. They were there in July, but their armour
was rusted and their plumes draggled by the rain, the temper of their
lances injured by the frost, and their good steeds sadly out of condition.
May they meet, in gallant state, in 1862, and the dear Queen of all
Rose-loving hearts — Victoria! — be there to see ! S. R. H.

AUGUST.

'2Sl

ON GREY-EDGED AND SELF AURICULAS.

Will you permit me to say, that having always been as particular as
Mrs. Malaprop about my parts of speech, 1 take it the more imkind of the
printer to make the first sentence of my last communication ungram¬
matical, by the gratuitous insertion of a second nominative, namely,
the letter “ I,” in the form of the personal pronoun (page 193). But
I must forgive him, as I see there is nothing personal in the matter,
except the pronoun ; for at page 217 he has made “ J. S.” give some
startlingly unnecessary instructions about the .^) -propagation of

the double-flowered Tabernsemontana coronaria, and all by the omis¬
sion of another little vowel, “o.” For we are told that if sufficient
care be taken, as prescribed, in the original selection, and if sufficient
care be taken with them afterwards, “ cuttings soon rot,” while the
hapless propagator is expecting them to root.

But respecting the grey-edged section of Auriculas, though a very
interesting one, it need not occupy a whole paper, and therefore I shall
take it and the seifs together. As far as I can discover from old gar¬
dening books, the grey edge seems to be the first form of deviation from
the simplicity of the wild species, and to have arisen from the force of
cultivation acting upon the habit of the plant, to exude a meal upon
the thinner parts of its external surface. Colour seems to have a ten¬
dency to prevent the formation of this meal. The original species
appears to exist in two varieties, the yellow and the coloured, for tra¬
vellers in its Alpine home have mentioned meeting with both these
forms. Choice' Auriculas cultivated in pots, and much prized, I find
notices of nearly 150 years ago ; but the habit of naming varieties
appears not to have been in common use then, though probably it
existed. The first named variety I have met with. Grimes’ Privateer,
is still cultivated, and is usually among those that get a prize at
Middleton, having been preferred in a judgment of points ’’ or “ pro¬
perties ” (very unsoundly as I think) to Lancashire, when the latter
was shown by Robert Lancashire as a seedling in 1846.

Even in 1827, when I first made acquaintance with this florist’s
flower, at the nursery of a grower in Sunbury, who commonly carried
off the cup at the London shows, the green-edged section were included
in this class, and only separated by their position in it, like the
wranglers and senior optimes of the early Cambridge triposes. The
separation of the two classes, though in particular specimens more
fanciful than real, and therefore often objected to, is a sound one, and
no doubt will henceforth maintain its place.

But why is it that this older class is in every dealer’s catalogue the
less numerous ? And why is it, seeing it is the less perfect form, that
the highest priced flowers are almost always found in it, and that the
average prices are higher than in any other section ? These facts at
first sight seem out of due order, and yet when examined they admit
of a fair explanation. Being the eldest and first formed class it has
had more time to evolve its perfection, and the best specimens of the
cultivated Auricula ought to be looked for in it; and consequently
inferior novelties would be less tolerated. Besides which, there will bo

232

THE FLORIST.

a tendency in raisers to look for green-edged seedlings as the higher
form, and to thrust up into that class productions that as greys would
not be worth notice. I know of no doubtful edge except Lancashire
in which this is not conspicuous. Lancashire might have been called a
green edge ; it is more so than Sir John Moore. But it is too intrin¬
sically excellent to hide its only imperfection by a device.

Nevertheless it is by no means easy to find a score — is it to find a
dozen ? first-class flowers, even in this section. Lancashire, if you can
get the edge grey, would rank first in properties, first, indeed, of all
Auriculas. Maria, in every case, will be first in beauty. This year
with me it was second to none in any respect. The colour I find, by
careful comparison, is pure violet ; but either from its substance, or
transparency, from reflexion, or from some other cause, its tint seems to
differ from every other in the floral world, and to be superior to them
all. I hardly know how imagination could paint anything more
exquisite than my plant was this year, and I only regret it was not in
bloom early enough to exhibit in London. What is to come next?
Mr. Lightbody will have it his namesake ought to be placed before
these two. Perhaps I might accede to its standing next to them.
What then ? None to be named singly. But there are many that
come behind in a ruck, and very respectably up too ; Dickson’s Duke of
Cambridge, when it has an edge not swallowed up into the body
colour; Sophia, the same ; Dixon’s Lady Jane Grey; Fletcher’s Mary
Ann and Ne plus ultra; Lightbody ’s R. Deadly and Sir C. Napier ;
Dickson’s Unique, when large enough ; Maclean’s Unique, always.
After these come Smith’s Bolivar and Capt. Barclay, Headly’s Superb,
Sykes’ Complete, Waterhouse’s Conqueror of Europe. Then, at a
respectful distance, but still not distanced, Barlow’s Morning Star,
Grimes’ Privateer, Headly’s Stapleford Hero, Hedges’ Britannia,
Kent’s Victoria, Pearson’s Badajoz, Warris’ Union, Willmer’s Squire
Chilman, Beeston’s Fair Flora, Buckley’s Surprise, Holland’s Village
Bride. Bone’s Perfection I know not where to place, as I have never
reen it in character. There are a few others equal to these last, but
not many, and I do not grow them. It is in this class you see the
largest proportion of varieties with broad and flattened lobes or petals,
making a bold and circular pip, and with pure edges, and therefore it
must be deemed to have made the nearest approach towards its perfec¬
tion, although its three best specimens are all of very recent date.

The Selfs are the last class, and till very lately were least in esteem.
At present they are attracting as much notice from connoisseurs as they
always have from the uninitiated ; and that from their intrinsic merit
rather than from an advance in the goodness of modern varieties, for
the advance has been less rapid than the great increase of late in the
number of named Selfs would lead us to suppose. Martin’s flowers are
numerous, and were little thought of at first ; nor are any of them,
except Mrs. Sturrock, an improvement upon their predecessors.
Spalding’s flowers had the luck to come in somewhat later, when more
inquiries were made for Selfs, and, in consequence, they obtained a
place beyond their real merits. They are all good, but none of them
are a real improvement in properties upon what were grown twenty

AUGUST.

233

years ago. Campbell’s Pizarro is an advance, having the stiff petal and
brown colour of Spalding’s Mary Gray, with the advantage of a per¬
fectly flat and circular pip, and exact proportion in the parts ; and
therefore it may be pronounced the nearest approach yet made towards
a faultless flower. Its drawback is that it is sombre instead of bright ;
its colour is not, like that of Maria, one that would insist on pleasing in
spite of many faults. Next to Pizarro I should place Mrs. Sturrock,
notwithstanding its flimsy petal and undecided colour. And then —
perhaps — Othello. After these would come Nonsuch, Blackbird, North
Star, Vulcan. Then Bessie Bell, the Metropolitans, Meteor Flag,
Key’s Apollo, and many others. It will be observed I have not
inserted in this list Lord Clyde, which is not because I rank it with the
“many others,” but the contrary ; because I cannot yet satisfy myself
where to place it ; probably among the first three ; but I must grow it
another year before I can tell its real value.

And now to conclude. The properties of an Auricula blossom being
supposed to consist in form, colour, and substance ; the substance being
as leathery as may be without clumsiness ; the general form circular
and flat ; and the colour, whatever it is, bright and pleasing ; the lobes
six in number (and therefore broad) and elliptical ; then the form of
its component parts comes into review, and here it is that the Self
differs from the edged classes. In the latter a line drawn through the
centre should leave four breadths on each side of it nearly equal, for the
eye, the paste, the colour, and the edge. But in the self the two
exterior circles are united into one, and therefore the paste should at
any rate never fall short of its due proportion, but rather should occupy
a little broader space than in an edged flower. Nor should it ever be
angular ; the smallest inequality catching the eye so much more
readily against the broad unbroken contrast of self-colour. Now it
happens that both these particulars are just those in which most of our
present seifs most offend. Very few have their proper breadth of
paste, or have it circular. Pizarro has both, and therein consists its
advance upon its predecessors.

George Jeans.

VISITS BY AN “OUTRIDE.”

I STILL like to keep to my old description, the same that I started life
on the road with, now nearly thirty years back — although the term
“ Commercial ” is now the modern synonyme for it, as well as for
“ Bagman,” as in days yet older we used to be designated.

Well, then, having an afternoon on hand in Bath, I brushed up,
after luncheon at “ Amery’s,” and passing across the market, to make
inquiries as to the Potato crop, found myself at the top of Pulteney-
street, one of the grandest streets in Britain, with what used to be the
Pulteney Hotel at the lower end — a noble pile, and standing at right
angles with the street forms apparently an imposing termination, for the
roadway branches off to the right and left, leaving the hotel clear.
When the present Emperor of the French had slipped his confinement

234

THE FLOBIST.

at Ham, and found refuge in England, he resided here for several
months, and may probably in the shady groves of Sydney Gardens,
which formerly belonged to the hotel, have meditated on what particular
course would soonest lead him to Imperial power, which from a youth
we are told he believed it to be his destiny to possess. Turning to the
right and next to the left, we soon found ourselves at the gate of Mr.
Tiley’s nursery — our destination, as we were bent on a look over
Tiley’s Roses, for which report told me his nursery was famous. Some
of the great guns will exclaim, Roses in Bath? Yes, there they are,
something like a stock of 100,000 now being budded, and an equal
number lor sale. To be sure, Mr. Tiley’s Rose grounds do not extend
to scores of acres, as at Maresfield, Berkhampstead, Sawbridge worth, or
Cheshunt, in one piece ; but then land round or in Bath is not to be had
in twenty-acre fields ; you must be content with a bit here and a
larger slice there, just as old gardens and land not available for building
upon falls to hand, and hence Mr. Tiley told me his nursery consists of
nine separate grounds. Such an arrangement has its inconveniences in
some respects, but it is handy in others, and whether for the best or
not, has to be put up with.

The principal Rose ground is on the north slope of one of the romantic
hills which nearly surround Bath, and which, rising from the valley
of the Avon to a great height, form a natural amphitheatre, and con¬
stitute the great charm of the city and neighbourhood. From Mr.
Tiley’s nursery the eye takes in a panoramic view of the “ City of the
Sun,” as it was called by the Romans, with its terraces and crescents
rising from the banks of the Avon, which flows through the valley, to
the heights of Landsdown to the west, crowned by Beckford’s tower. To
the north, the view embraces Batheaston, a kind of offshoot from the old
city, situate in a valley famous for market gardens and Strawberry
grounds (who has not heard of Lydiard and his Strawberries, which,
before Smith took to growing them, were unequalled at London shows ?)
and further up the valley is Swanswick, nestling in Beech woods, peering
from which is plainly discernible the “ home of a florist,” Charles
Sainsbury, Esq., the raiser of numerous first-class Dahlias, and an
enthusiastic lover of flowers. Further up the Avon, a short distance to
the right of Batheaston, is Bathford, the residence of a celebrated florist,
the late G. M. Yeeles, Esq , and which we heard is again to come out
under the auspices of the present Mr. Yeeles and Mr. Salter, the well-
known gardener to his late father. At our back, but towards the
summit of the hill behind where we stood, is the residence of — Sims,
Esq., once noted for Orchids and Heaths : and a little further on is Crowe
Hall, the seat of H. Tugwell, Esq., an enthusiastic florist, who still main¬
tains a great fondness for Picotees and Carnations.

This little digression respecting the locality surrounding where I stood
reulted from questions to the worthy proprietor, and may perhaps
prove useful to those who, situated like myself, may have a few hours
on hand, and may wish to know what there is in our line in the
neighbourhood ; not that we have mentioned all the places worth seeing,
but only those brought out by my queries.

This Rose nursery appears to be a deep rather strong loam, and judging

AUGUST.

235

by the luxuriance of the stocks, well suited for both the Dog Rose and
Manetti stock. This latter, Mr. Tiley thinks the sheet anchor of the
Rose grower ; all his dwarf plants are worked on it, and were pro¬
ducing blooms of most astounding size ; but he says that it is so rapid
a feeder that, to keep the plants in health, it should be taken up yearly,
their roots pruned, and planted in fresh soil ; with this treatment the
stock will last many years in health. We were rather late for the
principal summer display of bloom, but still a number of grand Roses
were in flower. Of those which occurred to us as extra fine, we noticed
Comtesse de Chabrillant (figured in Florist), and a brilliant distinct
Rose it is. Empereur de Maroc, a dark velvet, valuable for its
approach to the old Tuscan rose colour; Madame Boll, very fine;
Louis XIV.-, unquestionably the finest Rose out, and one which
you should have figured — a deep rich crimson, the petals shaded
with a dark velvet hue, difficult to describe, but most gorgeous to look
at ; it seems to stand the sun well, and will throw our old friend
Jacqueminot, with the Geant des Batailles and Eugene Appert class, into
the shade ; Victor Verdier, cherry coloured shaded with a carmine tint,
though not very constant, a pleasing and sterling flower ; Virginal, a
clear white Perpetual, a lovely flower ; Madlle. Eugenie Verdier, a
French white slightly shaded with peach, good ; Senateur Vaisse, a
large showy flower, deliciously sweet ; Empress Eugenie, another true
white Perpetual ; Madame Vigeron, rose ; M. Vidot, as well as M.
Vigeron, magnificent on the Manetti ; M. Celine Touvais, a good show
Rose ; Madame Crapelet, shaded cerise, fine ; Prince Leon, grand,
as was also General Jacqueminot ; Victor Trouillard, fine ; Mdlle.
Bonnaire, white, but only in the bud — appearance in that state good ;
Mr. Tiley considers it first-rate. The above are a few of the new Roses
caught in bloom. Of the older kinds there was a very fine display, and
we were struck with the large size of the blooms generally, doubtless
owing to the favourable nature of the soil, perhaps also a northern slope,
fully exposed, may assist in producing a larger flower than when the
trees are full south. We shall generalise on this more fully, after
looking at the Salisbury collection, where I am told wonderful results
are obtained from a similar situation.

Mr. Tiley has several houses in this nursery, for the growth, prin¬
cipally, of soft-wooded stuff, and an imposing new range is about being
commenced, and also lots of frames for Cucumbers, for which he is
much noted ; each variety has a separate frame, to keep them distinct,
and these were full of fruit ripening off for seed.

In another ground florists’ flowers are grown ; Fuchsias, bedding
things. Ferns (for which we are told there is an increasing demand in
the winter). Begonias, to which the same remark applies, and other
popular plants filled up the remaining houses ; in one we noticed some
very prettily marked Petunias, one of which was tipped with white in
a manner that reminded us of the beautiful Ipomoea limbata. Passing
on to another ground, lower down the hill, we found it stocked chiefly
with fruit trees, all of which seemed to delight in the deep loamy soil
which has been washed from the higher grounds to these lower levels,
rendering them well adapted for fruit tree culture. After having thanked

236

TriE ELOBIST.

Mr. Tiley for answering all my round-about queries, I returned to my
quarters, musing on the perseverance which has enabled Mr. Tiley to
work on from a small beginning to his now extensive trade ; and I was
satisfied that not only are there Roses in Bath, but that they will stand
a comparison with larger collections on the score of merit.

If you think the above worthy a place in your number, I may again
give you the result of other inspections which I may make during my
travels. ' ■

“ Outride.’*

CENSORS.

A CENSOR, like the wife of Caesar, should be above suspicion ; but, if
from incapacity or prejudice his awards displease, there is no divinity
which doth hedge him round to screen him from a just exposure.
Only ‘^Jiat justitia,"" let him have fair play ! Let the aggrieved protest,
and let the authorities appoint a commission of enquiry, and let the
defendant be heard in answer, at once and upon the spot, that the
decision complained of may be then and there discussed, acknowledged,
or condemned. It is as unfair as it is useless to make an anonymous
accusation some days afterwards, as “ Visitor ” has done in the Gar¬
deners' Chronicle of July 13, when “the guests are fled, the Roses
dead, and all but he ” keep silence, satisfied or not, because the time
for expostulation is past.

The letter of “ Visitor” is, however, much too amusing to be dealt
with very gravely. His insinuation, that “ the Judges had dined,"
fills the mind with novel and merry reflections. If Judges are in the
habit of dining before they proceed to their duties at eleven of the
clock, a.m., what early village cocks they must be at breakfast, and how
wonderfully, according to Sam Weller’s theory, they must “get on at
supper ! ” It is related of some very fastidious cavalry officer, that
being quartered in one of our large manufacturing towns, and returning
a call which had been paid to him, he found the family dining at one
o’clock. “ What do you think ?” he exclaimed at his seven o’clock
mess in the evening, “ I went to see those Grundy s this morning, and
the brutes were at breakfast on a leg of mutton 1" What would he
have said, could he have seen these censors over their pudding at half¬
past ten ?

But, further, as the insinuation implies that these censors had so dined,
that not one of them was sober as a judge" ought to be, we are
prompted to imagine them, with their hats on the back of their heads,
and their hair well over their noses, reeling, arm-in-arm, from flower
to flower, like intoxicated butterflies on a gigantic scale — now running
against some tall Fuchsia, and telling him to “ hit one of his own size ” —
now turning up the inverted cards and awarding the prize, irrespective
of the plants, to some favoured exhibitor, with a grand chorus of “ for
he’s a jolly good fellow ” — anon pelting each other with Peaches and
Pine-apples, and finally removed by the police.

To speak more soberly than, according to “ Visitor,” these judges
could have spoken, it is of the first importance to secure the services,

AUGUST.

237

I will not say of honest men, for they, I am proud, as an old exhibitor
and as a gardener, to know, are plentiful, but of men who are qualified
by a large experience to discharge the office of censor. It is not suffi¬
cient that a man should be fond of dowsers or that he should have a
supervision of gardens, but he should be familiar with the objects
submitted to his sentence. He must not only know that such and
such flowers are beautiful, but he must know their degrees and capa¬
bilities of beauty. We can all of us admire what is lovely in Nature,
but thoroughly to appreciate the cleverness and industry of Art you
must have an Artist,

H.

SAXIFKAGA OPPOSITIFOLIA MAJOR.

Tins was exhibited this spring at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural
Society, by Mr. T. Rawbone, gardener to R. T. Adderley, Esq., Bar-
laston Hall, Stone. Mr. Rawbone stated that this fine old native
plant, of which large patches full of blossoms were exhibited, was then
flowering in splendid condition on the stone edgings of the terrace beds
in the flower-garden at Barlaston Hall. He wrote : —

“ I believe this is one of the earliest flowering Saxifrages, and not
in very general cultivation, though it certainly deserves to be widely
spread. As an edging plant I know nothing to equal it in beauty and
profusion of bloom. It has been cultivated here for upwards of 20
years, and with Crocuses in the centre of the beds. The Crocuses we
chiefly grow are yellow and white, and they certainly do contrast well
with this beautiful purple Saxifrage, and are generally in great beauty
at the same time. We replant some of the Saxifrage every year, and
I find that growing on or over the sandstone edgings of the terrace
beds it does remarkably well. We always pull it into small pieces
before planting, which is done about September and October. 1 believe
it will stand any sort of weather — in fact, it does so here, though the
terrace is very much exposed. We contrive to keep the bedding
plants from growing over it.”

FILMY FERNS.

The word impossible has now well-nigh become obsolete. The next
generation will have to seek the word in a dictionary, before they can
know the meaning of it ; and practical gardeners have not been behind
their comrades in helping to bring about this result. Our forefathers
thought it was impossible to grow Orchids — the stages at the Kensington
and Crystal Palace exhibitions will show whether or not they were right.
But we need not go so far back for an example of the ingenuity and
perseverance of the horticulturist, in overcoming difficulties quite as
great as those surrounding the ephital wonders of the tropical forests.
Trichomanes and Plymcnophyllums, which are found by scores in warm
and humid climates of many parts of the world, had been repeatedly

238

THE FLORIST.

introduced into this country, and as often allowed to die ; it was reserved
for the present generation of gardeners to prove that their cultivation
was not impossible. A long list might now be made of these delicate
and lovely little plants, which are as well grown and as successfully
propagated as any other tribe of Perns. There are, probably, more
than 30 species in the fernery of the Royal Botanic Gardens, at Kew,
and scarcely a less number might be found in the celebrated nurseries
of Messrs. Sim, of Foot’s Cray, and Backhouse, of York ; while in
almost every other garden of note, a greater or less collection of these
pets may now be seen.

Like everything else, now we know how to manage them, their culti¬
vation seems simple enough, and we wonder how it was that cultivators
used to fail with them. Shade and moisture are the two great neces¬
saries of their existence ; they are absolutely requisite — a gleam of
direct sunshine, or a breath of dry air, and the poor little plants would
be murdered outright. Guard well against these two things, and all
will go well. Soil is a very secondary thing with them ; they require
but very little ; the wet surface of a piece of porous stone, or a block of
wood, suits them quite as well, or even better. I like best to grow
them among pieces of sandstone, for though I have several growing well
upon the stems of tree-ferns and other vegetable substances, yet these,
with the continued moisture, are apt to rot ; they are also likely to pro¬
duce fungi, both of which circumstances may bring about unpleasant
results. A thorough drainage for the pots, and a little fibrous and
very sandy peat sprinkled in between the blocks of sandstone, is what
experience teaches us is the best means of growing them. It must be
a very snug and quiet corner where they will grow without the protec¬
tion of a bell-glass ; still even this has been accomplished. There is a
cavern, deep and shady, with a trickling rill of water in it, in the
rockery at Mr. Backhouse’s, where several species grow luxuriantly ;
but in few gardens can the natural habitat of these plants be so closely
imitated. The safest and best plan is to cover them with a bell-glass
while young, and as they increase give them a square hand-glass, the
top of which is made moveable. With glasses so made the top can be
lifted off without disturbing or injuring the fronds. During summer
these plants cannot be kept too moist, if the drainage be good ; they
may safely be sprinkled with a very fine-rosed water-pot every
morning. They enjoy having their fronds wet. In winter they should
be kept a trifle drier, not so much on account of the Ferns, if the air be
warm enough, but to guard against mildew, and other minute Crypto¬
gams which are apt to creep over the surface of the soil, and which, if
not kept in cha^k, will destroy the young fronds.

And now, having shown how the impossible has been conquered in tlie
case of the Filmy Ferns, we want to know why the same term, with
some show of truth, may still be applied to the genus Lindsoea. This
genus includes many species, as beautiful and graceful, and far more
varied than the Maiden-hair Ferns. Why are there so few of these in
our collections ? The so-called Lindsaea Lowii is not a Lindsaea at all,
but has been shown by Mr. J. Smith, one of the best authorities on
this subject, to belong to quite another family. Its proper name is

AUGUST.

239

Arthobotrya articulata. Lindssea cultrata was in cultivation, is it so
still ? And there is an Australian species, called L. linearis, occasion¬
ally met with. But there ought to be dozens of them, and it would be
difficult to assign a reason why there are not. They are all extremely
beautiful, quite as much so as the Adiantums. Who will be the first
to prove that the word impossible should not be applied to the cultiva¬
tion of Lindsaea ? Here is an opportunity for a man to distinguish
himself, and such a one as does not often occur.

Delta.

THE PELARGONIUM.

In my floral chit chat during the past season, I have met among my
friends two opinions upon the Pelargonium, from which I entirely
dissent, and which I think have been formed without sufficient
enquiry or examination. One sentiment often expressed is, that we
are making but little progress in the improvement of this favourite
flower. Now, if those who think so will do as I have just done — ^look
through the early numbers of the Florist, and compare the portraits of
the favourites of that day with the flowers that have been raised lately,
they will see that an immense improvement has been made in size,
colour, and quality of petal, and I may say in every point of excellence.
This might be very strikingly illustrated, if we could bring the old
favourites into competition with the new ; but this would be difficult
if not impossible to do, so fully have the new varieties taken the places
of the old.

The other sentiment I refer to is the very opposite ; it is that the
flower has been so much improved there is little room or capability for
further improvement. This idea I am sure is far from correct. As a
raiser of seedlings I speak from experience. We frequently meet with
flowers which, though deficient in some of the requisite properties, such
as profuseness of bloom, or size, and therefore unfit to be sent out, are
yet great improvements on other points, and help to show the line and
way for further novelties. In both size and colour great progress has
been made, as well as freedom and constancy of bloom, and I see no
reason to doubt that this improvement will in due time be obtained in
all the varieties of colour, and be still more extended.

With the excellent advice that has been from time to time given in
the pages of the Florist, on the cultivation of the Pelargonium, none
need to be at a loss, but unfortunately rules are often neglected. Some
growers — no, it is hardly right to say growers — some who purchase
Pelargoniums, treat them as if of course they would grow without any
further care on their part ; and we cannot be surprised at the miserable
result. But with reasonable attention, and following your excellent
hints, a gratifying head of bloom may be anticipated with certainty.

The last two or three seasons I have observed with surprise and
sorrow a return to the old plan of exhibiting yearlings at the metro¬
politan shows — showing, perhaps, their first truss of bloom. This is
both unsatisfactory and unwise ; it had been abandoned for many years.

240

TUE FLORIST.

and I would strongly urge growers to discontinue it. It is not possible
to judge confidently the merits of yearlings.

A Raiser op Seedlings.

STRAWBERRIES.

July 19. — The Strawberry season, with the exception of the Alpines,
is now over here. My friend, Mr. May, of the National Provincial
Bank, at Blandford, came with a noble basket of Queens, to add to my
Trollop's Victoria, Alpines, Bicton White Pine, and Belle Bordelaise ;
and with these we yesterday finished the season, which has been the
most abundant that I can remember. The flavour of Strawberries has
been better than last year ; but still it has not been so good as in a dry
West Indian summer. I have destroyed a great many English and
Foreign Strawberry plants, heavy croppers, as not distinctive or better
than those we have already. I will mention no names, as, in other
situations, where the sun rises and shines all day on the bed, the
flavour may be better than in my garden, which slopes from the
rising sun. With regard to flavour, 1 have eaten nothing so rich and
good as Filbert Pine, tasted in Mr. May’s garden. Lest 1 forget it, let
me say (and Mr. John Keynes, I doubt not, will bear witness to my
words) that the plants and crops of such sorts as are grown by Mr.
May were this year such as would be equalled by few, and probably
surpassed by none. Last year I took my friend, Mr. Gloede, who, I
regret, was not able to come this year to see me, to review them ; and,
splendid as the crops were then, I fancy they were still better this year.
The crops of the Queen, Filbert Pine, Nimrod, Eleanor, Trollop’s
Victoria (it colours in his garden as deep as Eugene Appert), Cinque-
folia, a rich, fine, and good Strawberry, but dwarf-habited and shabby
in foliage, were 'very heavy. If any of your readers should travel
through Blandford in the Strawberry season, I am sure my distin¬
guished brother Fragrarian would be gratified by a call, and I am still
more sure the visitor would be gratified. I saw, in his garden, and
tasted some fine rich berries of Eliza Vilmorin, raised from the Queen,
Oscar, Eugenie, and a very rich and good seedling of his own, which I
hope he will introduce to you some day as the “ May King.” It is of
the Filbert Pine flavour and quality. I believe he found the seedling
in his Raspberry bed.

As regards my own Strawberries, I must appeal to the tastes of the
24 gentlemen who dined here on the 5th of July. We had 13 dishes,
all picked fruit. The finest for size and beauty, and uniformity of
growth, were the Eleanors ; and the best-flavoured were Rivers’ Eliza,
and Magnum Bonum, like, but hardier than the Queen in wet valleys.
However, as regards the Queen, where she likes the soil, she cares for
nothing else. My noble plants in another garden (once half-dead here)
are as high as a man’s knees, dark, and unfreckled in foliage, and have
borne the noblest fruit. The aspect is severe N.E.

The Strawberries that I recommend are much the same as last year’s ;

1. Ilaulhois, The Black Hautbois, small, but the muskiest and

AUGUST.

241

richest of all Strawberries, and Belle Bordelaise, the most certain and
most accomplished of its race. I have had fine crops of the last under
my south wall, in the centre of the garden, and under the north wall,
where the berries were by far the largest. The monstrous Hautbois,
good, is not of such fine flavour and quality as the two former. They
are all three easily growable and perfectly hardy, beautiful in foliage,
and good.

2. Pine- flavoured. The Bicton White, and Brittany White Pine,
slightly reseated, are good, ornamental, and interesting. The second is
the firmest and highest in flavour, but the first is the best cropper.
Mr. Nicholson’s White Seedling, like the Bicton Pine, is good.

3. Alpines. There is nothing better than the old White. The
Whites are, in all instances, larger and better, and better croppers, than
the Red. The Red and White bush Alpines are good, and give no
trouble. They must be raised occasionally fresh from seed, and the old
stools must be divided and fresh planted.

4. Other Strawbei'ries. I still recommend May Queen as first
early, ripe here the 80th of May. A Strawberry that is ripe, even two
days before any other, must be valuable ; because, as a beggar once
told me, there is “no taste in nothing.” Oscar, Wonderful, and Eu¬
genie are the three best British novelties here on trial, and are worthy
of a place, and I fancy will give satisfaction. The finest-flavoured of
all are the Queen, and her race, viz., Carolina, Superba, Rivers’ Eliza,
Myatt’s Pine (probably the Queen’s parent). Scarlet Pine, Magnum
Bonum, Hendrie’s Seedling, Nimrod, Rival Queen (hardy, and very
rich and handsome, but a fickle cropper), Eliza Vilmorin, and La
Chalonaise. To these add Filbert Pine (not grown here), and you
have the eclectics of fine flavour and quality. For dependence there is
nothing “out,” of fine flavour, better (for me) than Rivers’ Eliza.
Wonderful, apparently the same as Sir Walter Scott, is a very excellent
Strawberry, hardy, great cropper, and of fine flavour. Ingram’s
Prince of Wales, Trollop’s Victoria, are great favourites with me, and
retain flavour in adverse weather. These two. Rivers’ Eliza, and
Wonderful, are sure to winter well and crop heavily. If Wonderful is
distinct from Sir Walter Scott, it is not far from the best novelty here.

Now, a word about Foreign Strawberries. My valued friend, Mr.
Gloede, says, we are bigoted and prejudiced against foreign Straw¬
berries. This does not apply to me ; I judge of , Strawberries as I find
them here. Permit me to say, that Strawberries, which come from
fine climates, require time to acclimatize, and should not be judged
hastily. Moreover, the discrepancy between Foreign and English
judgment arises from the differential powers of the sun. In France, I
find that while they are burnt up I am drowned with wet, and lack
sun. This, of course, will greatly affect the opinions formed of Straw¬
berries, and render the judgments diverse. I have great pleasure to
speak now of a foreign Strawberry, that is really good and valuable in
every respect, and not inferior to the best English novelty here ; indeed,
I am not sure that it is not the best novelty here, viz.. La Constante
(De Jonghe, Belgium). It is a dwarf and stout hardy plant, the fruit
is numerous and handsome, firm, juicy, and of fine refreshing flavour.

VOL XV., NO. CLXIV. R

242

THE FLORIST.

Mr. Rivers, in a letter in reply to mine speaking highly of it to him,
says : “ I have been much interested in La Constante ; it is so large,
finely- shaped and coloured, and with a nice, brisk, unobjectionable
flavour.. It is, out-and-out, the best market Strawberry ever seen,
being so firm.” He also, together with Mr. Turner, speaks highly in
every respect of the Crimson Queen (English), which I have not yet
tried. With regard to La Chalonaise (raised by Dr. Nicaise, in
France), Mr. Rivers says, “it is a large and very fine-flavoured
Strawberry, almost as good as the Queen.”

Let us hope, then, that with these admissions, we shall free ourselves
from the charge of prejudice. La Reine, last year (also raised by De
Jonghe), I thought a high-flavoured, heavy-cropping Strawberry. I
destroyed with guano my older plants, and the three fresh ones sent
late in the fall have not cropped. From my recollections of last year,
added to my experience this, 1 have no hesitation in saying, that these
are two admirable Foreign Strawberries. Add to these the Black
Hautbois, Belle Bordelaise, and White Brittany Pine, endorsed by me,
and La Chalonaise and Eliza Vilmorin, both Queen-descended, respec¬
tively endorsed by Mr. Rivers and Mr. May, and we have “gained”
from abroad seven good Strawberries, besides the useful red and white
bush Alpines.

One word more, and I have made a clean breast of it. While Mr.
Adolphus Keat and Mr. Milne, respectively from Surrey and York¬
shire, were gone to Salisbury with my 96 roses, on June 27, I had a
very agreeable, but short visit, from Mr. Stoveld, of Stedham Park,
Sussex, who came with Chronicle and Florist, containing my articles,
in hand, to review my Fragrarium ; and I am very glad that I stayed
at home and made such a nice acquaintance. 1 was in my other garden,
budding Senateur Vaisse, Louis XIV., and Gloire de Santhenay, three
first-rate roses, and the last good in every respect, when my servant
came down, and said, “ There is a very nice gentleman, who wishes to
see the Strawberries.” “ Very good ; say he is most welcome, and
that I will be home in a few minutes.” After the usual politenesses
were over, we went into my home-garden, and tasted the leading of 59
sorts ; and, at the end of the review, he did me the honour to say, that
he would not have missed the sight of the Strawberries for one hundred
guineas ; and, that what I had written in various articles was most
strictly true. Since then, I have sent him plants of such good sorts as
I had ready, viz.. La Constante, Nimrod, May Queen, Black Hautbois,
Belle Bordelaise, Bicton Pine, Monstrous Hautbois, and Oscar. In due
time I shall send Wonderful, Eliza, Prince of Wales, Trollop’s Victoria,
Plugenie, Eleanor, and Brittany White Pine. These, added to the four
sorts he has already, viz.. Queen, Keen, Old Carolina, and Elton Pine,
(Salter’s Jucunda is as late, and sweeter), he will have the British and
Foreign basis of a first-rate Fragrarium.

There is one Strawberry here that succeeds admirably, and is good,
viz., Kitley’s Goliath, and the reason that I have never recommended
it is, that, in some gardens, it is subject to red spider. It never suffers
here, and the plants, crop, and berries have been noble. High culti¬
vation and soot are sure estoppels of red spider. The Crimson Queen,

AUGUST.

243

and Frogmore Late Pine, I hope to try next year. Mrs. Clements,
wife of the Rector of Worleggan, Cornwall, sent me a forced plant of
her seedling, King Arthur, with the fruit on. The berries were large,
numerous, well-shaped, and the fruit of excellent flavour. Cornwall is
the France of England, and famous for Strawberries ; and I hope we
may be able to encourage an indefatigable lady Fragrarian by high
encomiums on her other seedlings. Ladies do everything well but
preach, and that is something like a dog walking on his hind legs ; it is
not done well, but you are surprised to find it dene at all ! All
married men admit that they are capital curtain lecturers! She
once said in a letter, “ I perceive by your articles you are a bit of a
wag 1 ” If there was any doubt about that, I trust my two last obser¬
vations will clear up the matter.

Rushton, July 19. W. F. Radclypfe.

®bituaru.

We regret to announce in our present number the death of
Charles Empson, Esq., of Bath, who for several years has been
a valuable contributor to the Florist^ and an esteemed personal
friend. Mr. Empson’s decease took place rather suddenly in
London on June 25th, and has caused a profound grief to his
numerous friends, who were warmly attached to him on account
of his amiable and disinterested character, and the vast fund
of information contained in his richly stored mind, and which
induced his society to be courted by all who could appreciate refined
taste, and an ardent lover of Nature, which in the late Mr.
Empson was happily united to the most catholic philanthropy.

The late Mr. Empson belonged to an ancient Yorkshire family,
and his love of natural history induced him, when a young man,
to accompany the late Robert Stephenson, Esq., to South America,
in which country and Mexico he spent several years exploring
the different states of Chili, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico,
collecting information on the natural history and archaeology of
those remarkable countries. Most unfortunately for science the
accumulated treasures which he had collected in relation to the
natural products and ancient history of the above countries were
lost, by the ship which was conveying them to England foundering
in the Gulf of Mexico, a mere fragment only being saved.
Among things lost were specimens of nearly the entire flora of the
vast districts he had traversed, as well as a most valuable collection
of treasures connected with the different dynasties who governed
those countries before they were conquered by the Spaniards.
For the last 25 years Mr. Empson resided in Bath (making
occasional continental tours), where his loss will be deeply felt,
not only by the upper classes, with whom his conversational
powers was the great charm of society, but by the poor, to whom
he was ever the kindest and most sincere of friends.

S.

244

THE FLORIST.

THE TWO GRAND ROSE SHOWS.

CRYSTAL PALACE, JULY 6th.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, JULY 10th.

Presuming that the proud parent of these Siamese twins is too
happily engaged to come down from his ethereal dwelling even to
chronicle the success of the Queen of Flowers, I will again venture, as
I have endeavoured each successive year, to give the readers of the
Florist an account of the doings on Her Majesty’s gala day, to once
more essay it. By the floral world in general, the twin character of
this notice will be at once understood; from what was then considered
a bold step, but which now seems to have been one of a very mode¬
rate character (the opening show at St. James’s Hall), four years ago,
we have advanced by rapid strides — to Hanover Square Rooms, then
to the Crystal Palace, and now two, yet not divided, it and South
Kensington both house us. Well may the wwthy secretary (to whom I
wdsh not only a recovery of all his lost beauties, but olive branches as
numerous as the prizes he may win) rejoice at seeing to what his
work has tended — well may he look back with pride at having taken
such a step, and smothered in showers of Roses — like President Davis,
he may well make his bow to those ardent cultivators who have so ably
seconded his efforts. As we saw our favourite standards falling before
that fell frost, as we heard coming up from all parts of the country
piteous plaints of Roses killed by hundreds and thousands, as day after
day, through an unpropitious spring, we saw those that had survived
dropping off, we felt, alas ! the Rose show must come short ; but thanks
to the consideration of the projectors of both exhibitions, and to the
great extent to which the flower is grown, the number of stands was
as great as ever, although the number of blooms fell far short of last
year. In the nurserymen’s stand of 100 varieties, single trusses
instead of triplicate ones were shown, and so with other stands ; and
indeed, it is an open question whether such an arrangement would not
be the best for all future years. They look better, one sees more
correctly the character of the flowers, and it gives a better opportunity
to growers on a moderate scale to exhibit ; and surely it would be
better to have seven or eight stands of 100 varieties than three or four
from only the very large growers for sale. A fair comparison of the
two exhibitions, leads one to give somewhat of the preference to
South Kensington. I speak not now of the company or the accessories
of the place ; the difference between the two in the former respect was
as striking as in the latter, the one being evidently of the very highest
order, and the other the multitude. We shall, however, go to Sydenham
to learn all about bedding out, for few, I conceive will be the imitators
of Mr. Nesfield’s mosaic patterns ; and from what I heard, the con¬
servatory seems too warm a place for cut blooms, as towards the after¬
noon the greater portion of the Roses were said to be in a very drooping
state. My main object is with them, and viewed as a whole I think
tliey were in greater variety and freshness on the 10th than on the 6th;
that nurserymen came out more strongly on the former day and amateurs
on the latter, while at the same time it must in truth be said that

AUGUST.

245

there was hardly a Rose in either exhibition up to its true character.
It was curious to see how utterly untrue the season had made them —
to see General Jacqueminot, instead of his brilliant scarlet coat, glorying
in its freshness and purity, spotted and dashed as if he had have worn
it through a field of gore on a day of mud and rain — to see her Grace
of Sutherland, instead of the grand dignified beauty, no better than a
China mandariness, with pinched features and little feet — or Comtesse
Cecile de Chabrillant, displaying, not her exquisite lovely tint and
shape, but looking as if she had forgotten that it was an exhibition
day. What could they do, however, when they had to brave such
weather as the last season ? They could no more expect to be neat
and trim than the young ladies who, venturing on a yachting party,
come home draggled and dishevelled — wind and rain, and sea-sickness
and salt water, so sadly marring their appearance, as to lead a match¬
making mamma once to say to her bevy of marriageable daughters,
“depend upon it, my dears, yachting is a mistake.”

But now to the details. The greater portion of the stands exhibited
were from the southern part of the kingdom ; the midland counties
having, I believe, suffered most from the frost, were not, contrary to the
experience of former shows, represented. Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury,
who only won his spurs last year, held a conspicuous place ; and Mr.
Cranston, of Hereford, re-occupied the ground won from him last year.
Amongst amateurs, Mr. Hedge, of Colchester, still stood conspicuous,
winning several of the first prizes, while our valued contributor, Mr.
Radclyffe, of Rushton, took a place that his zeal and love of the flower
justly entitles him to hold, winning a first prize at Kensington with a
remarkably fine box for the season.

In the class of new Roses of 1860 and 1861 several boxes were
shown at both exhibitions. At the Crystal Palace, Mr. Standish, of
Bagshot, was first, and Messrs. Fraser, of Lea Bridge Road, second.
Mr. Standish’s box contained Madame Furtado, Abd-el-Kader, John
Standish, Princesse Clothilde, Gregoire Bourdillon, Marguerite Appert,
Andre Desportes, Madame Standish, John Watson, Eugene Appert,
Reine des Violettes, Mademoiselle Bonnaire, Comte de Falloux, Louis
XIV., Reynolds Hole, and Ophelia. Messrs. Fraser’s were, Madame
Furtado, Mademoiselle Bonnaire, Prairie de terre noire, Triomphe de
Lyon, Eugene Appert, General Washington, Barlow, Victor Verdier,
Louis XIV., Vainqueur de Solferino, Belle de Bourg, La Reine, Par-
mentier, and Reine des Violettes. At South Kensington, Messrs.
Fraser and Mr. Cant, of Colchester, ran a tie as first ; the flowers
were, Abd-el-Kader, General Washington, Due de Cazes, Madame
Furtado, Princesse Mathilde, Madame Pauline Villot, Madame Charles
Crapelet, Le Senateur Vaisse, Victor Verdier, Eugenie Verdier, and
Louis XIV. Mr. Cant’s, La Boule d’Or (Tea), Eugene Appert, Victor
Verdier, Madame Charles Crapelet, Rubens, Gloire de Santhenay,
Louis XIV., Madame Boll, Victor Emmanuel, Due de Magenta (Tea),
Buffon, and General Forey. Mr. Standish took second, owing mainly
to the smallness of his flowers, with Reynolds Hole, Marguerite Appert,
Eugene Appert, Madame Standish, Triomphe d’Amiens, Andre Des¬
portes, Madame Furtado, John Standish, Gregoire Bourdillon, Comte

246

THE FLORIST.

de Falloux, and Reine des Violettes. Mr. Keynes was third, with
Louis XIV., Madame Furtado, Victor Verdier, Triomphe de Lyons,
Vainqueur de Solferino, Senateur de Vaisse, Mademoiselle Bonnaire,
Eugene Appert, Madame Eugenie Verdier, Madame Meillez, Madame
Pauline Villot, and Triomphe’ d’Amiens.

Of the Roses of 1860, we find the following the greatest favourites : — •
Victor Verdier, a Rose of fine shape, size, and colour; an improve¬
ment (not an easy matter) on that fine and favourite Rose, Jules
Margottin. Senateur Vaisse : This is, I think, the Rose of last
year ; as exhibited by Messrs. Keynes and Cranston, it was a truly
magnificent flower, large and double, of a brilliant red colour. Eugene
Appert, a brilliant crimson of the Geant race, not very perfect in
outline, but at the same time a most striking Rose, and attracting
attention whether cut or in the garden. “ Oh, how like velvet ! ”
was the unsophisticated exclamation of my little girl on seeing it.
Mademoiselle Bonnaire, a beautiful white with a light blush
centre, very good, and in growth better than Virginal. Triomphe
de Lyons, very dark, but too dull in colour to please many.
Madame Charles Crapelet, an exquisitely beautiful Rose, with
large petals, but perhaps a little too few of them, bright rose colour ;
this, I think, comes next to Senateur Vaisse. Madame Boll,
a large and well-filled Rose, lively in colour, and good in habit.
Gloire de Santenay, another fine Rose, brilliant in colour, rich
crimson, and of good shape; it has hardly been exhibited in character;
by some it is said to exceed Senateur Vaisse. Madame Pauline
Villot, crimson purple, blooms very freely, and a well-formed Rose.

Of the Roses of 1861, Madame Furtado seems to take the
highest place as yet ; it is a very fine, well filled, and well formed Rose,
good in shape, and is well represented in Mr. Andrews’ figure, the
faithfulness of which Mr. Radclyffe has borne testimony to in last
week’s Chronicle. Louis XIV. — This is a very fine dark Rose,
sharing with Senateur Vaisse and Madame Charles Crapelet the
honour of being one of the best of the Roses of last year ; it is very
full and well shaped. General Washington is another promising
Rose, of deep crimson colour, and very full. Reynolds Hole —
worthily named after the worthy secretary of the National Rose Show —
a brilliant pink colour, thick shelly petal, and of wondrous habit ; the
flower standing up well, and instead of failing when older, if possible,
better; may its namesake be equally flourishing! Gregoire Bour-
DILLON, a very fine Geant des Batailles, large and more vigorous ; is
also another acquisition of this year. La Boule d’Or (Tea) is
certainly in colour what it was said to be, a deep almost orange yellow ;
hut — ah, those hats I — will it open freely or is it merely a house Rose?
There is a hardness about the bud which I do not quite like, but should
it do well out of doors it will be a great acquisition. Comte de
Falloux is, without doubt, the pot Rose. I am as certain of this as
I was that Eugene Appert would prove a favourite, which it has done,
or that Reynolds Hole will be a universally grown flower. Of Abd-el-
Kader, Princesse Mathilde, Due Decazes, and others, I cannot say
positively what is even my own opinion of them. But there is one Rose

AUGUST.

247

which was lauded up as the best Rose of the season — Reine des
ViOLETTES — which, I believe, will be found to be not worth growing.
Triomphe d’Amiens, on the contrary, is a very novel flower — of good
substance, and very singularly mottled and barred with deep crimson
on a lighter crimson ground. On the whole, I am inclined to believe
that the season of 18(50 saw a far finer lot of flowers sent out than any
two seasons previous, and that the season of 1861 will produce sever^
of note, but not equal in number to the previous one.

It is curious to remark how the Hybrid Perpetual class is gradually
pushing the summer Roses out of growth. Take, for example, Mr.
Cranston’s stand of 48 — which was one of the finest exhibited at the
National — one finds one Moss, two H B.s, four Bourbons, three Teas,
and thirty-eight Hybrid Perpetuals. By-the-bye, I believe summer
Roses will be numbered amongst the things that are past. We used
to say we cannot do without Paul Ricaut; but I believe Senateur
Vaisse will prove to be a Perpetual fully equal to it and very similar.
Jules Margottin and Victor Verdier have displaced Brennus. Coupe
d’Hebe is run very hard by such Roses as Comtesse de Chabrillant,
and so ere long the very best of the Hybrid Bourbons and Hybrid
Chinas will be matched — aye, and beaten by the more lasting Hybrid
Perpetuals.

At the Crystal Palace, as well as at Kensington, Mr. Hedge, of
Colchester, held a very high place. His pan of 36 flowers at the
former comprised Geant des Batailles, La Fontaine, Auguste Mie,
Shakespeare, William Griffiths, Jacques Lafitte, Virginal, Duchess of
Buccleuch, Gloire de Mosseuses, Prince Regent, Duchess of Suther¬
land, La Ville de St. Denis, Reine Victoria, Lord Raglan, Madame
Knorr, Madame Boll, Acldalie, Coupe d’Heb6, Bizarre Marbree,
General Jacqueminot, Eugene Desgaches, Souvenir de la Reine
d’Angleterre, Juno, Charles Lawson, Oderic Vital, Letitia, Caroline de
Sansal, Princess Helene, Leo X., Paul Ricaut, and Cynthia. In 18
varieties, Mr. Denis, gardener to H. S. Heyward, Esq., Folkington,
Hurst Green, Sussex, took first with Madame de Cambaceres, Melanie
Oger, Coupe d’Hebe, Comtesse de Chabrillant, William Griffiths,
William Jesse, Alexandrine Bachmeteff, Anna Alexieff, Madame
Hector Jacquin, Madame Knorr, Auguste Mie, Madame Portemer,
Gloire de Dijon, Souvenir de la Reine d’Angleterre, and Madame
Rivers. Mr. Cranston’s 48 was a splendid lot ; it comprised Senateur
Vaisse, Madame Charles Crapelet, General Jacqueminot, Eugene
Appert, Anna Alexieff, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Triomphe de Lyons,
Gloire de Dijon, Madame Marie Dauvesse, Louis XIV., Virginal,
Souvenir de la Reine d’Angleterre, Caroline de Sansal, Alexandrine
Bachmeteff, Eveque de Nimes, Victor Verdier, Princess Mathilde, La
Sylphide, Ltelia, Baronne Hallez, Francois Arago, Madame Therese
Appert, Dr. Marx, Louise Odier, L’enfant de Mont Carmel, Oderic
Vital, Manory, Madame Furtado, Eugene Appert, Alphonse Karr,
Madame Vidot, Lord Raglan, Louis Chaix, and Comtesse de Chab¬
rillant. Mr. Keynes also well maintained the position which, as a
new hand, he had so ably won last year, having carried off four first
prizes at the two shows. In 24 at the Crystal Palace, he had Gloire

248

THE FLORIST.

de Vitry, Triomphe de Rennes (very fine), Madame Vigneron, Madame
Vidot, Leon des Combats, Comtesse de Chabrillant, Lord Raglan,
Pius IX., Comte de Nanteuil, General Jacqueminot, Madame Livers
(very fine), Victor Verdier, Anna de Diesbach, Prince Leon, Fran9ois
Premier, La Ville de St. Denis, Jules Margottin, Paul Dupuy,
Senateur Vaisse (a splendid flower). Due d’Orleans, and Pauline
Lanzezeur ; his 24 at Kensington were Victor Verdier, Madame
Vidot, Triomphe des Beaux Arts, Gloire de Dijon, Madame Pauline
Villot, Anna Alexieff, Virginal (very pure white), La Ville de St.
Denis, Lord Raglan, Duchesse de Cambaceres, Mathurin Regnier,
Eugene Appert, Souvenir de la Malmaison, General Jacqueminot,
Madame Miellez, Dr. Bretonneau (too dull to please), Triomphe de
Paris, Jules Margottin, Eveque de Nimes (no one can do this Power
as Mr. Keynes does). Prince Leon, Comtesse de Chabrillant, Madame
Rivers, and Madame Knorr.

It were useless to transcribe further lists of names, although I have
them, and the prize lists will give the names of the winners in each
class. Roses, too, were so out of character that it would be idle to
pronounce upon them positively. Before leaving this, however, may I
ask right out something to be done as to the naming of the flowers.
Many were altogether imongly named. People — amateurs especially —
lose their tallies, and then put a name which they think correct, but
which is often just the reverse, and hence others are led astray ; and
then as to spelling, alas ! one wonders where the schoolmaster is — one
may perhaps pardon Prairie de tair noir, but ought “ Yilage Maid ”
to be passed over — one may pardon the curtailing of the Madame
before Duchesse de Cambaceres, but is it quite fair to label “ Angle-
terre” for “Souvenir de la Reine d’Angleterre.” Yet this is done.
Granting that the French do give most absurd names, they ought to
remain or else be altered by common consent ; the “ Kotscouby ” has
been, by common consent, subtracted from “ Prince Leon,” but in other
cases there is no consent on the subject. There is one thing more, too,
whatever may be the destinies of the future — happily we know not —
but this, I think, will be found necessary, never to hold a Rose show
in the conservatory at South Kensington again ; by 4 o’clock all had
fallen, the place being like an oven. Either under canvas or else in
the corridors would better them ; but it is melancholy to see the
Floral Queen so draggle-tailed after a few hours’ of brief glory. Let
us hope for a more favourable winter, and I believe that we may then
look forward to such a Rose show next year as has never yet been
seen,

Dealj July 24. D.

SOMETHING MORE ABOUT STRAWBERRIES.

Most people, old and young, rich and poor, like Strawberries ; they
are so wholesome and delicious that all ages may eat them, even to
excess, with impunit3\ No other fruit is so universally relished in
this and other northern countries, where it can be successfully culti-

AUGUST.

249

vated, as the Strawberry. It is therefore fortunate that it can be
grown in as great perfection in the small plot of land of the cottager, as
in the largest and best walled garden.

Strawberries are everywhere in this neighbourhood exceedingly fine,
and most abundant this season. The wet weather of last autumn was
favourable to the growth of the plants ; and the deep covering of snow,
by which they were protected from the severe frosts of December and
January last, saved them from sustaining the slightest injury. I never
saw Strawberry plants look better in the month of March than they did
this last season. Nor do I ever remember to have seen them push
into growth with so much strength and vigour as they did this season.

A good, deep, heavy loam is considered a soil suitable to the growth
of the Strawberry ; and with proper cultivation they will in general
succeed well in it. But a suitable soil and proper cultivation will not
always secure an abundant and fine crop of the British Queen, as I will
presently show.

I have always been a grower of the British Queen to a considerable
extent, though I have not been always rewarded with a good crop for
my labour. Six years ago I selected a piece of ground, which I con¬
sidered the best here for the British Queen. I had it planted with
good strong runners, and gave them proper attention afterwards. They
grew well, and some seasons bore some very fine fruit, and other
seasons very few and very poor. They have borne more fruit this
season, and much finer, than they bore the four previous seasons all put
together. Last year they bore very little fruit ; indeed, one-half the
plants were killed the previous winter, and those that lived looked so
yellow and sickly that I felt half inclined to dig them up. If a stranger
had then seen them he would have pronounced the land unfit for
their growth.

I did not, however, dig them up ; but, instead, I had some good
rotten manure put round the plants ; as soon as there were runners fit
for layering, I had them put into pots, and when rooted, I had all
the rows made good with the best plants ; I had the ground
between the rows frequently hoed during the season, and had all
the runners pinched off. In the autumn, I had a little rotten
manure put around the plants, and the result has been this year the
most abundant and the finest crop of British Queen Strawberries that I
have ever seen. The British Queen is not an abundant bearer.
Nevertheless, I never saw a more plentiful crop of fruit on any other
kind of Strawberry.

And not only were they abundant, but they were very fine — the
admiration of every person who saw them. Many of the fruit weighed
two ounces. I had pecks full of fruit which averaged an ounce and a
half each ; and this, be it remembered, without any extra attention.
During the very dry weather through the months of May and June,
the plants never once had a single drop of water given them, neither
was the fruit thinned. Had I thinned some of the fruit where finest,
and given the plants good soakings of liquid manure whilst the fruits
were swelling, I believe I could have obtained Strawberries of very
great weight.

250

THE FLORIST.

From this it is manifest that a suitable soil will not always yield an
abundant crop. Few persons ever had a worse crop of the British
Queen Strawberry than I had last year, and very few ever had a
better crop than I have had this season. High as was my opinion
always of the British Queen, it stands still higher after what I have
had this season. I purpose, in the autumn, after the plants have done
growing, putting plenty of rotten manure round the crowns to save
them, in the absence of snow, from the withering effects of frost. Ad¬
miral Dundas, Victoria, and many other kinds have also been very fine
this season.

Alice Maud is a very useful Strawberry ; it keeps in bearing a long
time. Sir Harry I have had very fine, but I don’t like it, as I con¬
sider the flavour very coarse. Eleanor is very prolific and useful ; it
is very fine at the present date, July 18, and will continue for some
time. For late use we have nothing yet better than Elton, which is a
most prolific bearer, is very showy, and is also good for preserving.
Oscar I have not yet tried. A friend of mine, a large grower of Straw¬
berries for market, has the Wizard of the North, but he speaks very
unfavourably of it.

Six or eight first-class sorts will furnish sufficient variety for private
growers. When a great number of sorts are grown, it is very difficult
to keep them true, they run so into one another, and the stronger gene¬
rally overpower the weaker. I always grow a limited number of kinds,
and when I have proved a new sort to be better than one I grow, I
discard the inferior one and substitute the new sort.

The sorts of Strawberries in cultivation are very numerous, and each
year adds to the number ; still there is room for very great improve¬
ment. It is a strange fact that Keen’s Seedling, raised so long since,
is still the sort in most general cultivation, both for forcing and open
air. Let us hope something better will, ere long, be produced.

M. Saul.

Stourton, Yorkshire.

CULTURE OF TOMATOES.

About the end of the month of last February, I sowed some seeds of
these in a pot, which was then placed in the frame of a hotbed. When
two or three leaves had become developed, I transferred the plants
singly into separate pots, and deposited them in a greenhouse. On the
17th of May, by which time the whole had become fine strong plants,
full of flower-buds, I took three of these out of the pots without dis¬
turbing the roots further than shortening the taps, and sunk them in a
border of my garden against a close paling facing the south, at a distance
of about three yards from each other. They were then well watered with
weak liquid manure made from fresh cowdung that was allowed to
remain a month or two in a large cask before being used. To this a
small quantity of Peruvian guano was added, together with home-
manufactured bi-phosphate of lime from bone-dust — I mean clear
liquid manure a day or two after it is made, when the thick matter has
fallen to the bottom.

AUGUST.

251

The good effects of this, mixed as above stated, upon every kind of
vegetable, as well as on florists’ florists, are probably not generally
known to gardeners. When used it must be very largely diluted, or
it will kill the plants, instead of acting beneficially. It may be said,
that if water be added to the dried superphosphate that is sold in the
manure market, and the liquid drawn off after it has been allowed to
settle, the same solution may be obtained. I grant it may, but not to
the same extent, nor so pure, containing as it does so large a per
centage of nearly insoluble matter. Besides, the bought article cannot
always be depended upon, for, as has been frequently adverted to, and
proved by the analyses of Professor Way, Dr. Anderson, and others,
not one-half of what is offered for sale contains a particle of biphosphate.
The plan I should recommend those to adopt for gardening purposes
who cannot prepare the article themselves, is to get from a respectable
manufacturer the liquid separate in jars, and the residue sulphate of
lime in an evaporated state, without any admixture whatever, which I
have found to be a valuable application, incorporated with dung, to
Peas, Beans, Potatoes, Celery, all the Brassica tribe, &c., as well as if
diffused alone in promoting the appearance naturally of white Clover on
Grass plots, and greatly improving the colour of the sward.

Being shaded for a short period the plants did not droop in the
slightest degree, and as they were again watered several times at
intervals afterwards with the same composition always very much
diluted, they not only grew most vigorously, but displayed a vast
profusion of blossom. In order to prevent the stems from bending
over these were closely secured to the paling, as they increased in
length, with tarred line, such as is used for thatching, nailed across
them, all superfluous and crowding shoots being cut away as they
appeared, for the purpose of admitting air and sun to the branches
intended to mature fruit. Each plant was trained in the shape of a
fan, and in course of time showed an immense quantity of fruit. As
it was impossible that above a tithe of it could come to perfection, I
thinned out the smallest from the bunches and removed the extremi¬
ties of the shoots when they had reached the top of the paling, 6 feet
high, in order to throw strength into the fruit. The effect produced,
first from the numerous flowers, and then from the hanging red Apples,
was exceedingly beautiful.

Upon gathering, the following was obtained — from one plant 73,
another 65, and the third 68, in all 206. The largest measured full
9 inches in circumference, the smallest about 6^ inches, and the weight
of the whole amounted to 42 lbs. 9 ozs., a pretty fair return, I think,
from three plants. The crop, however, did not all ripen at one time,
some of it having been gathered in September and October, and the
remainder early in November, before any was damaged by frost. I
attribute the astonishing vigour and fecundity of these plants in a great
measure to the application of the guano and soluble phosphate, because
of two others that I grew also against the paling by way of experi¬
ment, one was watered in the same manner and at the same periods
with merely liquid cow manure, and the other with water alone. The
former certainly grew as tall, but had not nearly as much fruit upon it

252

THE FLORIST.

as any of the three others, and that was mostly of inferior size. The
other plant did not reach the top of the paling, and ripened but few of
its Apples.

The exposure also has, no doubt, had a good deal to do with the
ripening, for several plants from the same lot that were placed in a
less favourable situation in the garden produced hardly any but small
green fruit when overtaken by the frost. These half ripe Tomatoes I
have found to be excellent for pickling. Notwithstanding, however, their
being in that condition when gathered, a good many of them that were
ranged on a shelf in a dry room after a time ripened perfectly. A
neighbour to whom I gave two plants had not a single Apple upon
them, although they grew luxuriantly, the blossoms having dropped
off after they expanded. To account for the circumstance puzzles me
completely. Perhaps it arose from my garden being thoroughly
drained throughout and his not. Mine has 4 feet pipe drains at 30 feet
apart, which I find to answer capitally. The subsoil in sonrie parts is
good sound yellow clay. The surface is a good loam to the depth of
from 12 to 18 inches, otherwise the soil in both is very similar.

Daily Paper.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — If the directions of former Calendars have
been attended to, the Azaleas will have been cleared of their seed-pods,
their wood properly thinned and tied into form, and such as needed
more pot-room re-potted, and the plants placed in a favourable situa¬
tion for inducing them to make free, strong, and vigorous growth. But
if any of the specimens have hitherto been neglected, these should be
attended to at once, especially plants which bloomed late and heavily,
and do not seem inclined to start freely into growth; and these should,
if possible, be placed in a warm moist situation, and be afforded every
possible attention, to induce them to make vigorous growth at once.
Specimens in heat, which have their bloom-buds well formed, should be
removed to a cool house, or a sheltered shady situation out of doors, but
they must be protected from drenching rains. Young plants, of choice
or other kinds, which it may be desirable to increase in size as much as
possible, should, if they are setting for bloom, be stopped regularly over
and encouraged to make another growth. See that the whole stock,
particularly plants in heat, are free from black thrips, and spare no
trouble to keep the plants clear of this pest. Camellias which have
fairly formed their bloom-buds should either be placed out of doors, or
in a cool dry house, keeping them rather dry at the root in order to
prevent their making a second growth, which young vigorous plants are
apt to do if kept in a close moist situation after they have formed their
ftower-biids. Any of the plants which may require more pot-room
should be repotted at once, so that the roots may get hold of the fresh
soil before the blooming season, for these seldom bloom finely unless the
pots are moderately filled with roots. Conservatory, — The principal

AUGUST.

253

display here at present will probably be produced by plants brought
from the stove, and if so, the house should be kept rather close, giving
air cautiously against such things as are at all liable to be injured by
a free circulation of dry air. But where Camellias and other green¬
house hard-wooded things are planted in the borders, it will doubtless
be advisable to be satisfied with such a show of bloom as can be
obtained from such things as will enjoy the treatment most suitable for
the permanent occupants of the house, rather than to injure these for
the sake of securing an extra show at this season, when in-doors flowers
are perhaps less valued than at any other season of the year. Make
the best possible use of variegated and ornamental-foliaged plants
which will bear the temperature of this house, by arranging them taste¬
fully among the plants in bloom ; and such things as Crotons, Marantas,
Dracasnas, Begonias, &c., &c., will, with a little care, do very well here
while the weather is moderately warm, and will give variety and greatly
assist in producing effect. See that everything in this house is perfectly
free from insects, and give twiners and other things growing in the
borders a liberal supply of water at the root. Also attend to keeping
the young growths of the twiners nicely regulated, going over them
frequently for this purpose, and endeavour to avoid in the training of
these anything like a too close formal method, or allowing them to get
so much of their own way as to result in the appearance of neglect and
confusion. Attend to Chrysanthemums and other autumn-blooming
things, and endeavour to be prepared to have a good display of bloom
here when the out- doors flowers are cut off. Gold Frames. — Look
over and attend to last month’s directions as to the treatment of tender
greenhouse things making their growth here, and afford these every
possible care, so as to induce them to make free vigorous growth in
time to allow of the young wood getting well ripened up before winter.
Specimens of Pimeleas, Epacrises, and other free-growing things,
which may have been kept rather close in order to induce them
to break heely after having been cut back, should, as soon as they
have fairly started, be sufficiently exposed to air to prevent their
making long-jointed weakly wood ; and many things will be benefited
by exposure to the night dews when this can be done with the balls
being saturated with rain. See that all are free from insects, and
attend to training, &c., and re-potting any plants which may require
this attention. Examine Ericas, and other things subject to mildew,
frequently, and apply sulphur immediately the pest is perceived.
Flower Garden. — Use every possible effort to maintain perfect neat¬
ness everywhere here at present. Keep the shoots of Verbenas, Petu¬
nias, &c., nicely regulated as they advance in growth, and remove
decaying blooms directly they are perceived to be unsightly. And
while the bedding plants are in full beauty, carefully note any errors of
arrangement, and prepare to | avoid them next season. Autumn¬
blooming Roses will be greatly benefited by a liberal supply of manure-
water, if the weather should prove warm and dry, and they will well
repay any attention which can be bestowed upon them. Keep Dahlias
and Hollyhocks well secured to their stakes. Proceed as speedily as
convenient with the propagation of bedding- out stock for next season,

254

THE FLORIST.

and aim at getting the young plants strong and well-established before
winter. Greenhouse. — Any of the specimens which require more pot-

room should be attended to as early as possible, and fresh-poUed plants
must be very carefully supplied with water at the root, and tender-
rooted things should be kept in a rather moist shady situation until
they appear to have got hold of the fresh soil. Strong growing things,
which may already have made a fair growth, should be freely exposed
to air, and many of them will do better against a north wall than under
glass, but they must be protected from getting their balls saturated by
heavy rains, either by being laid on their sides or by some other means.
Examine all plants liable to mildew frequently, and apply sulphur on
the first appearance of this pest. Also watch Chorozemas, Pimeleas,
&c., for spider, and give the foliage a good washing with the engine
occasionally, and see that the whole stock is free from all kinds of
insects. Such things as the Erica Cavendishi, E. depressa, E. elegans,
&c., &c., bloom but sparingly, unless their young wood is well-
matured in autumn, and such should, as soon as they have made
sufficient growth, be placed out of doors and freely exposed to the sun ;
but this should be done gradually, and the pots should be shaded on hot
days. Stove. — Ixoras, which have bloomed, and which it may be
desirable to increase in size as fast as possible, should be cut back,
re-potted if necessary, thoroughly cleaned, tied out, and placed in the
warmest end of the house. These, if properly attended to, will make a
fine growth before winter. Attend to re-potting all young growing
stock, as may be necessary, keeping it well supplied with water at the
root, and the whole of the plants free from insects. Be careful to main¬
tain plenty of moisture in the atmosphere, and give air freely on fine
days, but not so as to cause drying currents to pass through among
growing plants. Attend carefully to plants for winter blooming, and do
not allow these to be placed in an unfavourable situation for the sake of
plants which are more showy at present.

Hardy Fruit. — Proceed with the thinning and nailing in' the young
shoots of all wall trees, if any remain unfinished. Peaches in particular
should now be kept closely nailed in, to get the wood ripened, and to
give the fruit every advantage of air and light. Remove a portion of
the leaves from the fruit where it is too much shaded, and at the
same time remove any nails that are likely to come in contact with the
fruit. If the weather is hot and dry before the crop ripens, give the
borders a good watering. Wash the trees occasionally in dry weather,
and trap earwigs at their first appearance ; perhaps the easiest way to
rid the trees of them is to place short pieces of Bean stalks or other
hollow stems in different parts of the trees, and look them over every
other day, blowing the contents into a bottle, and replacing the tubes as
before. Protect all ripe fruit intended for use late in the season with
nets or canvas, and mat up Currants and Gooseberries for late use.
As soon as the crop of Strawberries is gathered, go over the beds and
cut away all runners ; fork the soil about the plants, to encourage them
to make a good growth before the growing season is past. Layer
runners for new plantations ; plant as soon as they are rooted. Thin

AUGUST.

255

the young canes of Raspberries, and, as soon as the crop is gathered,
cut away all the old canes. Forcing Ground. — Melons will require
plenty of air and water, while the fruit is swelling ; and in hot weather
the sashes may be drawn off altogether, closing the frames again at
night. Stop and thin the shoots, so that they do not get matted together.
If woodlice are troublesome in the frames, it is a good plan to place the
fruit on pieces of brick over shallow pans of water — where the fruit is
ripening water should be withheld. Should Cucumbers be scarce on
the ridges, those under glass ought not to be neglected. If the nights
are cold the linings should be renewed, and plants that have been some
time in bearing may be cut back and thinned ; and if they are top-
dressed with rich earth it is likely they will produce plenty of fruit
by-and-bye. Plant out those sown last month and sow again for the
winter supply ; keep the plants hardy by giving plenty of air. Strmo-
herries. — Continue to layer runners in small pots for forcing ; pot for
early work as soon as they are well rooted ; place the plants in a situa¬
tion fully exposed to air and light ; place the pots on coal ashes to
prevent the worms entering them. The following are among the best
kinds for forcing : Keen’s Seedling and May Queen, for early work,
and Ingram’s Prince Arthur, Sir C. Napier, and Oscar, for later crops.
Peach house. — As soon as the crop is cleared the trees should be looked
over, and all useless shoots, such as are not required for next season,
should be cut away. Well wash the trees, and water the borders if very
dry. If the wood is well ripened, and the weather is warm, the sashes
may be removed. Pines. — Those planted out on ridges will now
require plenty of water, and encourage growth by keeping a moist
atmosphere ; close early in the afternoon at a temperature of about 90*^.
Liquid manure should be given occasionally, especially to those where
the fruit is swelling ; use the syringe freely to all, except where the
fruit is ripening. All plants intended for fruiting next summer should
be shifted during this month, as well as the young stock, as they may
require it ; use free turfy loam from an old pasture, with a mixture of
sheep or pig manure ; do not press the soil too firmly in the pots.
Vinery. — Maintain a moist growing heat in the late houses ; give a
little fire heat if the weather is chilly, especially to late Muscats. If
mildew makes its appearance dust sulphur on the fruit and leaves, and
keep the house a little warmer than usual ; it may be easily washed off
again with the syringe after the mildew has disappeared. Keep the
houses containing ripe Grapes well aired, and free from moisture. Cut
out all decayed or unhealthy berries. Remove the sashes as soon as
the crop is cleared, if the wood is ripe and the leaves beginning to
decay. Vines in pots should be watered often with strong liquid
manure ; those intended for fruiting next season should be stopped as
soon as they are the desired length ; cut out the lateral shoots when the
wood begins to ripen. Kitchen Garden. — Finish planting Broccoli and
all Winter Greens as speedily as possible. Make the principal sowing
of Vanack and IMitchell’s Matchless Cabbage for spring use; these
should be sown about the 12th of the month, and plant out those sown
last month for Coleworts. Sow Brown Cos and Hardy Cabbage Lettuce
toward the end of the month for spring use ; plant out those sown last

256

THE FLORIST.

month, in a warm situation; these will probably be useful in Novem¬
ber. Water the late crops of Celery in dry weather, and continue to
earth up those in a forward state. Sow Turnips in the. second week,
and make a sowing of Early Dutch at the end of the month, for use in
the spring ; also Early Horn Carrot directly — these should remain in
the ground for winter use. Sow Tripoli Onion about the middle of the
month, also prickly Spinach for the winter and spring supply. Sow
American Cress, Chervil, and Parsley ; it is a good plan to sow some
of the latter under trees, which will be a slight protection through the
winter.

PLANTS FOB, EXHIBITION.

Cinerarias. — We will suppose that last month’s instructions were
carried out, and that cuttings are now ready, which should be carefully
taken off and inserted round the edges of pots, well drained with pots¬
herds or other loose matter, in a loose compost of light turfy loam and
silver sand, well amalgamated ; place in a shady situation, and as soon
as rooted, which will be in a few days, pot off into small 60’s in a light
rich compost. Sprinkle frequently, and if mildew appear, sulphur
immediately, or the foliage will be disfigured and the growth of the
plants weakened ; shift frequently, to encourage growth.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN AUGUST.

Auriculas. — These should now undergo the important operation of
re-potting. There are two formulas for the compost, either of which is
good. No. 1, one -half cow-dung, one-fourth loam, and one-fourth
leaf-mould, with a little silver sand : No. 2, one-third each of cow-
dung, loam, and mould, with the sand. The former is Mr. Lightbody’s,
I believe, and no plants can be finer than his. Everything used must
be well decayed. Then, again, some shake out all the old stuff, others
do not ; some use large pots, others small ; let experience decide the
matter. By all means try experiments, when you have a good stock,
but not before. Carnations and Picolees. — Layering must be finished
as soon as possible. Never layer a run flower under any pretence — the
best plan is to take it out at once and prevent mistakes. Pansies. —
This is the best season of the year to make cuttings for growing in potS.
Put them in under a hand-glass in a cool border, taking care of slugs
and worms, which very soon throw the cuttings out of place ; tb y
must not be kept too close. Pinks. — Towards the end of the month
these should be planted out in store beds, so as to make growth before
October. Pelo^rgoniums. — As soon as they have pushed about an inch,
they should be watered, and then shifted into smaller pots to make
growth, and stood in a cool place, but not exposed to too heavy rain.
Bedding -stuff. — Cuttings should be made of scarlet and variegated
Geraniums, so as to get strong plants. It is of no use troubling one’s
self with such a host of varieties. The Floral Committee’s report will
perhaps determine as to which are the best, but growers should decide
for themselves, as soil and situation make a wonderful difference.
General Work. — See to staking Asters, Hollyhocks, &c., and mark
anything to be specially kept. Sow Mignonette now for winte
flowering, in pots, and keep all neat and tidy.

Deal.

D.

-i^inteA 'by C. C}u>h\

Andrews, Delt. &. Zznco:

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Hardy HroUfic MurcoA?.
( IizyroTwJ

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SEPTEMBER.

257

INGRAM’S HARDY PROLIFIC MUSCAT GRAPE.

[Plate 180.]

We are indebted to Mr. Standisli of Bagshot for permission
to figure the new and valuable Grape which forms our present
plate; the variety originated at the Royal Gardens, Frogmore,
under the superintendence of Mr. Ingram, who, we are
informed, obtained our present subject by crossing a black
seedling of his own raising with pollen taken from the
Muscat of Alexandria.

To Mr. Ingram belongs the merit of having raised not only
the seedling Grape now figured, but several other new fruits
and flowers owe their origin to the skilful process of hybrid¬
ising practised by that gentleman at Frogmore ; the Prince
Arthur, Prince of Wales, Frogmore Late Pine, and Rifleman
Strawberries, perhaps the four most useful varieties in culti¬
vation, have all been raised by Mr. Ingram. The Apples,
Pears, Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines, have also all been
operated upon with successful results, although these results
are not yet sufficiently proved to be made known to the
world. Nor have flowering plants been forgotten; the Crystal
Palace Scarlet Geranium, about which so much has been said,
had its origin at Frogmore ; so had Princess Alice, a pink
variety, and many others. Of Heaths, Epacrises, and Be¬
gonias, Mr. Ingram has raised many charming hybrids, a few
of which are known, but the greater part are confined to the
Frogmore collection.

We have great pleasure in having an opportunity of noticing
Mr. Ingram’s labours as a most successfu] hybridist, and hope
our pages will ere long show further evidences of his skill in
this particular branch of gardening.

Mr. Standish informs us that he has fruited the Prolific
Muscat both in pots and planted out, and can therefore
speak with certainty to its great productiveness and hardi¬
ness. It produces hard, short-jointed wood, with thick
robust foliage, a property which adds to its value, when we
remember how manv crosses from the Muscat have tender
foliage, apt to become scorched under a bright sun. The
bunches are somewhat long, tapering, and well shouldered.
The berries set very freely, even under the disadvantage of a
low damp atmosphere ; the berries are medium sized, oval¬
shaped, of an intensely black colour, and well covered with
bloom, possessing a rich vinous flavour, with a slight dash of
musky aroma; the variety has been pronounced by competent
judges to be a most delicious as well as very useful Grape.

The Hardy Prolific Muscat has been exhibited before the

VOL. XV., NO. CLXy. S

258 .

THE FLORIST.

Fruit Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, where it
received a first-class certificate ; it also competed for Mr. Wilson
Saunders’ prize of ^5 for the best seedling Grape of the year,
which was awarded it as such; and in the miscellaneous class
at the opening fete of the Royal Horticultural Society, at South
Kensington, it was awarded an extra prize, all of which certify
to its excellence. The stock, which is now being distributed,
is solely in the hands of Mr. Stan dish, Royal Nursery, Bagshot.

Our plate gives an excellent representation of »this valuable
acquisition to our lists of hardy Vinery Grapes. We consider
that no garden or greenhouse should be without it ; and as,
from its habit, it is admirably adapted for pot culture, and the
orchard house, we expect to see it very generally grown both
in this country and on the continent, where its merits will no
doubt procure for it a prominent place in out-door cultivation.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S GARDENS, SOUTH

KENSINGTON.

Modern flower gardening has become one of the fine arts, and requires
to be judged by a very diflerent standard to what applies to horti¬
culture as representing cultivation only — the former depending on the
combination of certain forms and colours ; the latter recognising solely
cultivation and training. The one embodies principles dependant on
the properties of soil, temperature, ’and culture ; the other, the arrange¬
ment of plants possessing diflerent colours, either singly or in groups,
so as to form a picture, and in fact governed by the same laws as critics
would apply to a painting, which, with a flower garden, may be defined
as the “ Beautfal,” exhibited in visible forms by colours.

It will not be difficult, therefore, to understand that the aesthetics of
modern flower gardening are derived from the same source as the
aesthetics of any other branch of the Fine Arts — Painting, Sculpture,
or Architecture. Admitting this, we at once recognise the true position
of geometrical gardening, and the force of a passage in the speech of
H.K.H. the Prince Consort, when replying to the address of the Council
at the inaugural fete, when he stated that he “ hoped to see Gardening,
and the sister arts Architecture and Sculpture, carried out in harmony
together in these grounds to their highest perfection.” This quotation
justifies our introducing the subject, and will guide us in our brief
review of the gardens on the present occasion.

Before the gardens were in so finished a state as they now are, we
thought we could perceive defects in their composition which would tell
against them more fully when furnished with flowering plants and
dressed out in their summer attire. A second view of them, in their
present condition, confirms in some respects our first impressions.
The polychrome beds of the Saturday Revme, or the Box embroidery

SEPTEMBER.

259

set with coloured gravel, are not at all to our taste ; they produce a
bit of a polychrome certainly, but we should have much preferred that
the verdant slopes on which they are placed had been left unbroken.
Then, again, the panels into which the grand shield compartments for
flowers, which tiank each side of the main walk, are thrown, would have
been better filled up, and the flower beds brought up to the level of the
gravel walk. Neither are the lines of Box forming the pattern and scroll¬
work in the design bold enough to be distinguishable at even a small
distance, which will prove a great defect in the absence of flowers when
the Box and different coloured gravel will alone have to represent the
design. An alteration also suggests itself in the interior of the com¬
partments to allow for additional space for flow’ers ; for, admitting the
principle that in the arrangement of masses of colour on a given design
or painting, it should be evenly balanced, and not laid on with a great
dab of glare in one place, and a weak one to match, more room seems to
be required, to enable Mr. Eyles to make good his picture. These latter
defects in the details of the design are, however, naturally incidental to
most new plans, for even the most cultivated eye can scarcely see far
enough to comprehend to its full extent the difference in appearance
between a coloured design lying before it and the same carried out
and filled with growing plants.

Although the grounds are incomplete, yet the parterres and flower¬
beds are in the full blaze of beauty ; and however we may differ in
opinion as to whether Mr. Nesfield’s design for the gardens is the one
best adapted for a town garden, as to details, there can be but one
opinion on the admirable way in which Mr. Eyles has arranged the
planting. We have seen in places more variety, as was to be expected ;
but with a few exceptions, arising from not providing space for more
flowers in the design (over which Mr. Eyles had no control), the massing
of colour and general arrangement are such as to show that that gen¬
tleman clearly understood his objects, and has most successfully worked
them out.

We have stated above that flower-gardening differs widely from that
of mere cultivation ; the principal object of the one being to cultivate,
the other to combine. But nevertheless, as bright colours are indis¬
pensable for effect, good cultivation is necessary to produce them ; and
that this is the case at Kensington, the condition of the bloom affords
ample testimony. There is a brilliancy of colour and healthiness of
foliage which bespeaks careful tending in this respect — avoiding, on the
one hand, an excess of growth, inducing foliage at the expense of bloom,
and, on the other hatid, any deficiency of support, which would at
once show itself in the starved appearance of the foliage and puny
blossoms.

The variety of plants employed for the garden decoration are com¬
paratively few ; it is to their numbers, redundancy of bloom, and artistic
arrangement, that the grand effect observable is produced. The scarlet
section of Geraniums comprises the Crystal Palace Scarlet, so called,
which has several synonyms, but is an old variety, raised many years
by Mr. Ingram, and given away to several parties, who sent it
out under different names, one being Collins’ Dwarf — others called it

260

THE FLORIST.

the Frogmore Improved ; Punch, Cottage Maid, Royalist, Trentham
Rose, Lady Middleton, Rosy Queen (a fine variety), Compactum, and
the Purple and a lighter kind of Nosegay, are all largely used, more
particularly the first named, which forms the centre line ot all marginal
beds. Variegated Geraniums are extensively grown, and the beds of
Brilliant had a striking effect — Alma, Flower of the Day (Mangles’,
for edging). Lady Plymouth, and a dwarf free-flowering kind named
Halley’s Burning Bush; Verbenas, Calceolarias, the dwarf Lobelia,
Gazania splendens, and Tropseolum elegans, are also extensively
planted.

We have only space to particularise a few of the arrangements. The
marginal beds surrounding the two shield compartments on each
side the centre walk are conposed of a broad line of scarlet Geraniums
running down the centre, flanked on each side with Purple King
Verbena, and edged with Tropseolum elegans. The circular beds
which intervene between the above are mostly variegated plants, one
was Alma Geranium, var. Allyson, and a blue Lobelia; a second
Lady Plymouth and Lobelia, with the small Maronette Verbena;
a third (and this, in oi:r estimation, the prettiest) was planted with
Allyson, a free rose-coloured Phlox of the Drummondii section, called
Radowitsky, the purple- leaved Atriplex, and a few patches of a deep
violet Heliotrope ; the combination of colour in this bed was very
pleasing. The Rosy Queen Geranium, noticed above, presents a new
colour and is a most effective bedder; we believe it was raised by Mr.
Kinghorn.

The beds of American plants, and shrubs and trees generally, are
progressing freely, the season having been favourable for their growth.
We shall have to wait a few years to allow the trees and shrubs to
grow into character before we shall be able fully to judge of the general
effect. We still, however, incline to the opinion that more evergreen
trees and shrubs will be required, more especially such architectural
plants as Irish Yews and Junipers, with trained Hollies and Box and
Bay trees, and probably some Pines, if they would stand the London
smoke.

Steps are being taken to furnish the winter garden with plants for
the forthcoming season. The arrangement of this conservatory is
unique ; the arcades which surround the garden being carried through
the north side of it; the roof forming a gallery from which the interior of
the building is overlooked, adds greatly to the picturesque character of
the interior, and forms a charming spot to view the exhibition on iete
days.

Chiswick.

The experimental grounds are now the great feature of Chiswick.
All who are interested to know what are the best plants to grow for the
flower garden may see and judge for themselves, and learn many
a useful lesson for next season. Indeed, we strongly advise all who
have the opportunity to avail themselves of it, and taking a large
memorandum book with them, make their own observations. They
will find growing here all the procurable varieties of Geraniums,
Verbenas, Petunias, Heliotropes, Phloxes, Pentstemons, &c., which

SEPTEJIBEPw 261

they can see at no other place growing together, as all the nurserymen
contribute to the stock. By this time the Floral Committee will have
met and examined the comparative merits of each plant in all the
sections ; and we shall get their report in due time. This, in my
opinion, however, does not lessen the necessity of country florists and
gardeners seeing and judging for themselves. Many ladies and their
gardeners are now looking out for some new shade in a Verbena or
Geranium to match something they already have or want; and no where
could they so readily see what they require, if at all procurable. A
personal introduction, or order from a Fellow, is all that is required to
procure admission, provided the parties are not F.R.H.S. themselves.
A long pit is filled with a very interesting collection of pot Grapes, also
for trial ; a second pit was filled with Cucumbers for a similar object ;
and altogether the experimental department is specially worth a visit.
The Grapes in the large conservatory have not been cropped so heavily
as last year, but the produce is fine, and they bid fair to cover the
roof this s^'ason with wood ; and when this is the case, and the Vines
are in fruit, it will be a splendid exhibition of itself.

LAPAGERIA ROSEA AND ITS ALLIES.

All climbing plants are beautiful. Though there be many which are
difficult to manage, we cannot make them flower in a small state, yet
even then they are beautiful, and they are universal favourites. If any
friend sends you home a package of foreign seeds, you may, before
opening them, be certain tliat more than half of them will be the seeds
of climbing plants. Even our own hedgerows owe the greater part of
their beauty to the wreaths of Convolvulus or wild Bryony with which
they are decked ; and when travellers visit the tropics the first thing
with which they are struck is the luxuriance and beauty of the climbers.
Many of the most beautiful of our cultivated plants are climbers too;
what could we do without our Ipomoeas, Passionflowers, Stephanotis,
Hexacentris, and a score of others? But there is not one which can
rival Lapageria rosea for general use ; and yet it is not so often met
with in gardens as it deserves to be. And although its cultivation is so
simple, yet when we do see it, it is not so luxuriant as it might be.

The Lapageria strongly objects to close soil ; it should be potted in
the very roughest peat, from which the fine soil should be sifted. The
peat should be broken into pieces the size of one’s fist, and some silver
sand sprinkled in as the pieces are arranged about the roots. In potting
a very large plant, it will be well to throw in, here and there, a handful
of crocks, or better still, some pieces of broken charcoal. Nothing keeps
the soil open so well as this ; they should not be mixed with the soil,
but thrown in clusters. The roots of the Lapageria are very wiry and
brittle, so that they should not be shifted oftener than is necessary, and
if they could be planted out so much the better, such soil as we recom¬
mend would not easily become sour if well drained below. With such

262

THE FLORIST.

soil and drainage it cannot be overwatered ; the more liberally it is
supplied the better.

The Lapageria is a native of Chili, and there are several other beau¬
tiful plants from the same country which succeed admirably under the
same treatment. By-the-by, no house suits them so well as a green¬
house facing the north. The plants we allude to are Philesia buxifolia,
a trailing shrub with large trumpet-shaped crimson flowers, and two
species of Luzuriaga or Callixene. The last-mentioned plants belong
to the natural order Liliacere, but in habit and appearance closely
resemble those above-mentioned. I have not yet seen the flowers of
Luzuriaga radicans, but L. erecta (or as it is now more properly called
Callixene polifolia) is a most charming plant. In the spring every
leaf produces a little, drooping, white. Snowdrop like flower. It is well
worthy of general cultivation, although the plant is but seldom seen.
These plants, like almost all those from Chili, are nearly hardy in this
country; quite so in well-drained and favourable situations.

Delta.

FLORAL DECORATIONS.

There were three persons who achieved, this season, in the flori-
cultural world, what is considered the most desirable and most difficult
accomplishment of modern days — the making a sensation, and each in a
different department : Mr. Leach, in his production of the magnificent
plants of Disa grandiflora; Mr., or rather (for shall we not give honour
to whom honour is due) Miss March, in the successful competition for
Mr. Wentworth Dilke’s prize for table decoration ; and Mr. Standish,
with the wonderful collection of Japanese plants sent home by Mr.
Fortune ; — the first, conspicuous as a notable example of a triumph
over difficulties which had puzzled many a wise horticultural head ;
the second, as a charming result of taste and just appreciaion of
beauty ; and the third, as a proof of that indefatigable perseverance
which leads our Anglo-Saxon race to the utmost parts of the earth in
the pursuit of any cherished object, and of the skill which brings them
to our own doors as fresh as if they had only just come from a neigh¬
bouring nursery. Having lately had an opportunity of seeing Mr.
March’s design, I think one may say a few words on the subject gene¬
rally of floral decoration indoors — for that love of nature which so
strongly marks our race is to be seen in the constant endeavour at window
gardening among all classes of the community, from the lordly occupant
of the town mansion in Piccadilly and Belgravia to the toiling seamstress
of St. Giles’ and Shoreditch. Nothing is more grateful to a regular
occupant of the great metropolis than the vase of bright and fragrant
flowers adorning the breakfast table, and reminding him of the sweets
of country life ; and when fashion came to add impetus to it, and,
instead of costly epergnes and lumbering plateaux, the diner a la
Russe demanded stands of flowers, not only as centre pieces, but also
in other places on the table, it was a wise thought cf Mr. Dilke to
challenge a competition which might bring out such an examjile of taste.

SEPIEMBER.

263

as that the fashionable world might fairly appeal to it as the pattern for
similar decorations. I shall not easily forget the astonishment which
some persons manifested when the label “ First Prize” was attached to
the design of Mr. March. There were elaborate specimens of silver
vases filled with gorgeous flowers, others topped with the expensive
Pine, and others as if they were intended for some school children to
carry about on May Day The first prize ! Several times I was taken
off, m et armisy to decide between contending parties, and always
stoutly maintained that the judges were right. Look at the design.
Does it not combine every requisite? It is simple, elegant, and
inexpensive ; the lightness and transparent nature of the stem no ways
obstructs the view, and the freshness of the elegant Fern leaves shows
off on the white table-cloth admirably. With the same general cha¬
racter, the constituents of the design may vary according to the season
of the year ; there must not be too much colour, and what there is
should be bright and lively ; and, as has been kindly suggested to me
by Mr. March, many of the smaller Mosses and Ferns would keep in a
growing state in the sand with which the dishes are in part filled, and
thus add fresh beauty and interest to the design. A visit to Messrs.
Dobson and Pearce, of St. James’- street, will well repay the trouble.

And not only may these be taken as a model for dinner-table deco¬
ration, but they are also quite suited for the drawing-room or boudoir
of the country mansion. They are to be had, as originally shown, all
of glass, or else with the bottom dish of zinc, which answers quite as
well, is not so expensive, and of course not so liable to damage.
Messrs. Dobson & Pearce have also brought out several novel patterns
in flower vases, some of which were exhibited at the Rose show at
Kensington on July 10; one especially beautiful, with three vases
combined together. The visitor to this establishment will not fail to
notice the most exquisite specimens of engraving on glass to be seen in
England ; they have given their attention to this branch very much,
and selecting some of the best and rarest specimens of the Venetian
school, and the patterns contained in that unique collection in the Hotel
de Cluny, they have brought it to great perfection ; the variations are
infinite, and exquisitely chaste. Of a totally different character are
Mr. G. H. Stevens’ mosaic jardiniere, of which the following is a repre¬
sentation, though no drawing can give anything like a fitting idea of
their extreme richness. Frequently growing plants are brought into
the house and placed on the centre of a table, and we all know a
common flower- pot is not the most tasteful thing in the world, and these
jardinieres are intended to put them into ; they are also used as Fern
cases, and are very appropriate for that purpose. A very large one was
exhibited both at Kensington and the Regent’s Park by Mr. Standish, of
Bagshot, and all Mr. Stevens’ Fern cases have the advantage of thorough
drainage, a screw being placed underneath by which the water may be
drained off. At the same establishment, either at the Pantheon or in
Great Queen-street, are also to be seen some very neat ornamental pots
for nearly a similar purpose, although, from their light porous chara ter,
the plants may be grown in them, and so brought into the house as they
come into bloom. Here, too, a visit will be well bestowed, for not only

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265

is this very beautiful invention applied to gardening purposes, but is to
be seen in tables, stands, and various other articles, the small pieces of
various coloured glass being combined together in a vast number of
patterns, and all very beautiful. On the whole, we may say that these
floral decorations are an evidence of the growing taste for floriculture.

and that the thanks of all possessed of real taste are especially due to
Mr. Marsh and his sister for the admirable fashion they have set, and
to Mr. Wentworth Dilke, for his liberality in thus being the means of
educing so good an example of simple taste and artistic arrangement.

Dealf August 20. D.

266

THE FLORIST.

A FEW HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

The shortness of time during which border flowers last in bloom is no
doubt one cause why they are not so much grown ; and the reason
Verbenas and similar plants have taken their place. I have, however,
managed to get them to bloom with me quite up to November, and as
the sorts I employ are really valuable both for effect and for cutting, a
hint on the plan 1 adopt may not be unacceptable to your readers.

The plants I take are Phloxes, Delphiniums, Campanulas, Lysima-
chias. Asters, Lychnis Bungeana, &c — the three former principally.
The border for these should be deep and well manured in the spring, for
much will depend on this. My borders form several large groups in
the centre of a lawn surrounded by other beds filled with Geraniums,
&c., and are interspersed with dwarf shrubs. About the middle of
June — sometimes before — we cut back two-thirds of all our Phloxes,
&c., to within six inches of the ground. The beds are now kept well
watered to encourage the plants cut back to break afresh, which soon
takes place. The spaces between them are filled with Gladiolus,
Salvias, and Pentstemons, to produce a show of bloom in the interim,
when they are removed, if necessary, to make room for the above
to flower, which are now showing bloom, and will continue until
late in the autumn ; whereas the same plants not cut down are now
dying and are being cut away. If the Phloxes throw up more
shoots than will grow strong and produce good heads of bloom, I
thin them to three or four on each plant, and the same by others.
Where herbaceous plants are prized, this plan will enable the above
and probably several other kinds to be seen in bloom as long as the
season will permit them ; they form good masses of bloom in the centre
of a lawn, which we could not fill with common bedding plants, and
are also very useful for cutting.

G.

THE ACHIMENES.

N EARLY all the varieties of this lovely genus deserve to be ranked with
the most beautiful and useful ornamental plants which our glass houses
possess. Their flowers, of many delicate and pleasing shades of colour,
are produced in great abundance for months in succession, and the
plants themselves are mostly of compact growth and easy culture.
While in a growing state all the varieties require the assistance of a
rather warm and moist atmosphere, but during their flowering season
they may be removed to a cooler and drier situation, such as a close
greenhouse or conservatory, where they may be said to be indispensable
during the summer and autumn months.

As all the Achimenes increase rapidly by means of their scaly
tubers, artificial propagation is almost unnecessary, except in nurseries,
where it is perfectly understood. I shall, therefore, merely state that
cuttings of the young wood, treated in the ordinary way, and placed in

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267

a brisk bottom heat, will root freely. Taking it for granted that there
is a supply of tubers at hand in early spring, they should be separated
from the soil in which they have been wintered, and planted in shallow
pots or pans (the latter are preferable) well drained, and filled with
light sandy soil to within two inches of the top. The tubers should be
laid rather thickly and regularly upon the surface, and covered with
mould to the depth of an inch, or as much more as the pan will hold.

Water should be sparingly applied, only just sufficient should be
given to keep the soil in a moist state. If active growth is desired,
without loss of time, plunge the pots or pans in a gentle bottom heat.
When the plants are about three inches high they should be carefully
lifted from the soil and potted in 7-inch pots, placing twelve or more
plants in a pot, according to the sized specimens that may be wanted.
After potting, place them in a close and rather warm atmosphere till
they have become fairly established ; a temperature of about 60^ at
night, allowing it to rise 10° or 15° with sun-heat in the daytime, will
be found the most congenial to the plants at this stage of their growth.
As soon as they are established in their pots, air should be freely
admitted on all favourable occasions, and the plants kept near the glass.
If all goes on well they will soon fill the pots with roots, when a final
shift will be necessary. The size of the pots for this shift should be
regulated by the size which it is desirable the plants should attain ;
10-inch pots will be sufficiently large where moderate sized specimens
only are requiied ; but for very large masses, 12 or 1 j-inch pots may
be used. Some first-rate cultivators prefer deep pans for Achimenes,
but these are better suited for plants to be flowered in a moist, warm
house, than for those intended to be removed to the greenhouse or con¬
servatory during the flowering season. About twelve plants may be
placed in a 10- inch pot. It will be necessary to maintain a moist
atmosphere, and keep the house rather close till the plants can lay hold
of the soil ; and water must be carefully supplied during this time, but
the syringe may be used freely, if the weather happens to be bright. As
soon as the plants start into free growth, after potting, air may be more
freely admitted, and a slight shade during the forenoon of sunny days
will be found beneficial. Varieties of the habit of pedunculata should
be stopped as soon as they are established in their flowering pots ; and
if it is intended to train them in a formal manner all the kinds should
be staked before the shoots have become entangled. Tlie stakes should he
cut off at the height to which the variety is likely to attain ; they should
be so arranged as to form the frame- work of a handsome specimen, and
the shoots should be kept carefully tied as they advance in growth.
When it is supposed that the pots are filled with roots, an occasional
watering with clear manure water may be given. Indeed, I regularly
water my Achimenes with weak manure water from the time they are
well established in their flowering pots till the blooming season is over,
and I think that the plants are greatly benefited by this teatrnent. If
it is intended to remove the plants to cooler quarters while they are in
flower, they should be judiciously and carefully prepared for the change
by giving more air, and gradually lowering the night temperature as
mucli as circumstances will allow. When removed they should be

268

THE FLORIST.

placed in the warmest part of the house to which they have been trans¬
ferred, and guarded from currents of cold air; but if they can be kept
in an intermediate house the flowers will be larger, and the blooming
season will be prolonged ; still, a close kept conservatory will supply a
suitable temperature, at least during summer and early autumn.

When they have done flowering they may be thrown on the rubbish
heap, merely preserving about two pots of each variety for stock ; these
should be kept sparingly supplied with water, and if they can be
removed to a warm dry house, the ripening of the tubers will be better
secured than under other circumstances. Water must be altogether
withheld as soon as the leaves assume a sickly appearance, and when
the tops die down the pots may be removed to any dry situation, where
they will be free from frost, and where they may remain till the tubers
are wanted for starting next spring.

For soil, take light sandy turfy loam, peat, leaf-soil, and thoroughly
decomposed cow-dung, in about equal proportions, to which add as
much sharp sand as will ensure a free percolation of water through the
whole materials. The loam and peat should be used in a rather rough
state ; the dung should be broken up and intimately mixed with the
sand before it is added to the compost. All the Achimenes are very
impatient of stagnant moisture at their root ; therefore secure perfect
drainage by using plenty of potsherds or lumps of charcoal ; indeed,
when pots are used, they may be one-third filled with draining
materials.

S.

ORCHARD HOUSE CULTURE.

There is not much required to be done to the Peach trees you are
supposed to have selected, further than to pinch back to one joint only
any secondary growths which theyjnay have made. You will now
perceive, in looking into the axil of each leaf on the shortened shoots,
that two or three buds are being produced at each joint. If such is
the case it will be satisfactory, for these are the fruit buds ; and it you
can make them perfect by getting the wood to ripen well (which you
will know by its turning a reddish brown in September), you may
expect these small buds to give you fruit next season. Should any of
the shoots which have pushed since the cutting back have the appear¬
ance of these buds at the top instead of forming leaves, let them remain ;
they will form a natural spur and produce fruit as certainly as the
others. Mind the drier the w^eather is from the present time, the
better chance have you for ripening your wood ; therefore, do not wa'er
the plants on any account.

The loam which, as before advised, should have been procured,
may be turned over and exposed to the weather, so as to become
mellow and ready for use when wanted.

If it so happens that a stock of young trees were purchased and potted
in the spring to grow on for next season, these will require the same
pruning process as the former, i.e , to have the ends of the growing

SEPTEMBER.

269

shoots pinched off as far back as they are soft and green ; diminish
water gradually to about the middle of the month, after when, if the
leaves droop occasionally before the watering is repeated, it will rather
benefit than injure them. If you have a dry pavement or gravel
walk it will materially conduce to the ripening of the wood and the
formation of fruit buds, if you lay the pots on their sides by day (or
they may remain so if convenient) ; the radiation of heat from a hard
walk or pavement is very great, and will greatly assist the ripening
process of both wood and foliage. If the surface of the floor could be
blackened, so much greater would be the temperature within a foot of
its surface by the absorption and radiation of the sun’s rays ; the hori¬
zontal position of the wood also assists the perfect maturity of the fruit
buds.

In our next we shall detail how to pot the trees and store for the
winter.

ON THE CULTIVATION OP THE AURICULA.

Twice this summer I have been asked for a modern treatise on the
cultivation of the Auricula, and to each inquiry I have referred to the
scattered papers on the subject in the Florist for the last twelve years,
and to those of one or two other gardening periodicals. But as the
most systematic account, and the only one which singly would be of use
to a commencing cultivator, is one by Mr. Lightbody, published first
in the “ Scottish Gardener,” and reprinted by permission in the Florist
for 1852, page 32, I endeavoured to persuade Mr. Turner to supply
the want. It would come better from him than from anybody else,
because it has turned out upon trial that with this, as with almost every
other plant he has tried his hand on, his success as a grower has
distanced all competitors, in England at least, for Dr. Plant in Ireland
and he have not yet measured their strength. But as my last querist
is in no mood to wait, I have promised to write this for his especial
edification.

It is rather late, but not too late, to commence a stock when this
appears. Owing to a detention from home, by the serious illness of a
member of my family, I shall not be able to repot my own till that time,
and yet I hope to appear at the Botanic Gardens in London next spring
with undiminished lustre. There is yet time with careful treatment after
potting to procure a sufficiency of new root', before winter to ensure a
good bloom. After trying all the prescribed times for repotting, I have
come to the conclusion that the best time is at the end, not at the
beginning of their summer rest ; when vigour begins to show itself in
a renewal of growth after the heats of summer are past ; and that
probably as soon after this as is convenient is the best ; that is quite at
the end of July or in the first half of August, The plants, which are
slow in all things, will then have time to establish themselves before
winter, which in the case of small, young, or weakly plants, is of great
importance. Late potting is also said to diminish the number of

270

THE FLORIST.

autumn trusses. I have not found this effect, but neither do I care
about it. I do not believe in the general opinion of its injury to the
spring bloom, though I am careful to save their strength all I can by
pinching off the buds of such trusses as appear not later than October,

The soil is the next thing, and with that must be associated the size
of the pot that is to contain it. In England the universal caution has
been, “ Do not overpot.” And one most successful exhibitor, culti¬
vator, and raiser (the late Mr. Dickson), rarely used larger pots than
4-inch ; 5-inch pots are by most considered the utmost allowable size.
And there is truth in this, if you will not take the most scrupulous and
apparently unnecessary care about drainage, and to get the new roots
to the sides of the pot before winter ; for then you will stand a fair
prospect of the tap and the old roots rotting. But the only cultivator
who can get eleven pips on Booth’s Freedom, and nine of two inches
diameter each on a Fletcher’s Ne Plus Ultra, and that on a column or
stem in size proportionate to carry such a capital, as I can bear ocular
witness, namely Dr. Plant, of Monkstown, uses much larger pots ;
and he says you must if you want his results. Mind the drainage,
and the roots, and you may if you like.

P’or the soil, please to keep common sense in view, and you will
succeed. All the “ villanous compounds ” of past times belong to the
dark ages. Let them go. The plant in its native valleys has an
abundance of vegetable earth, and no manure. Copy this. Let your
loam be as rich as you like, provided it be native, the richer the better
in clay and fibres of grasses. To this add one-half of decayed leaves,
or if you Lke it better, what comes to the same thing, well-rotted cow-
dung. Add sand enough to keep it open, if any is necessary, which it
by no means always is ; and you have what I have used now for some
years, and have no intention of altering. If you put moss over your
crocks do not let it be too lively, or it will grow up through the mould, and
usurp the nourishment of your plants. The drainage being arranged,
let the pot be filled to about two-thirds with the compost not in too dry
a state. It should neither be dusty on the one hand nor visibly moist
on the other, but in such a state that a handful taken up and squeezed
will remain in a ball. Spread the roots out evenly over the mould, and
fill in. Very little pressure, indeed a tap upon the potting table will be
almost enough to settle the plant. The usual plan is to plunge the pot
then to its rim in water till the soil is moistened, and it is gcod prac¬
tice ; but I am inclined to think, from some unintentional experiments,
that new roots would be formed more quickly and satisfactorily if this
were omitted for a time, provided the soil used were, as it always ought
to be, in the proper condition of moisture when the plant is potted, and
the plunging deferred till roots are formed. This is the time to take off
all offsets that are rooted. If not rooted they should be allowed to
remain attached to the parent at this season, however large. In
February they may be removed without roots ; and in May another
artificial help to propagation may be practised, which will be mentioned
in its place.

The plants should now be kept close for a few days, varying according
to circumstances from three to ten ; and then gradually accustomed to

SEPTEMBER.

271

the air, for no plant requires more of free air than the Auricula. When
established the stages should face the north at all times, except from
February till April, and the plants have all the air possible, and the
night dews, but no rain.

As winter approaches, water should gradually be withheld till they
go to their winter’s rest, for the less succulence there is in the leaves
the less will they suffer by the severity of cold. . Still they must not
become entirely dry, even in the winter ; and therefore it is better to
cover them entirely and efficiently during a frost, by mattings or frigi
domo, as they are in their Alpine homes by their mantle of snow.
It is of considerable importance during the autumn and winter to keep
the plants free from decayed leaves, or dead matter will be taken into
the circulation.

Nothing else is needed till the frost breaks up and returning life
begins to show itself in early growth, usually soon in February. At
that time turn the frames round full to the south, take out as much of
the old soil from the pots as you can without disturbing the roots, and
replace it with a top-dressing of the same compost as that used for
potting, or if you please a little richer by the addition of a little well-
rotted manure, provided it has also been exposed to the frost of the
preceding season. If manure, either solid or liquid, is ever given, this
and the succeeding two months are the time for its being done. Liquid
manure is the best, and it should he one of these three kinds : either a
peck of sheep droppings to 60 gallons of soft water ; or a solution of
superphosphate of lime ; in either case the clear liquor only to be used,
and that very weak, and not oftener than once a week or once in four
days at the utmost ; or a solution of saltpetre, an ounce to a gallon of
water. And in watering be very careful, even with pure water, to
avoid wetting the leaves. I use a watering pot made on purpose.

When the trusses are getting forward they must have all the air but
no wind, and above all no north or east wind ; for which purpose calico
wings, to cover the sides of the open frames are of prime necessity ; for
the frames must be opened, though no rain must be admitted, a single
drop of which would disfigure a blossom, and spoil the labour of a year.
U'he cold east wind would sere the green edge with yellow ; so would
now a single degree of frost, which must therefore be carefully excluded
by much more covering at night than is necessary in the depth of
winter. At this time any offset that has any portion at all of stem, though
without any root, may be taken off with the certainty of its growing.
They now want watering three times a week.

Wlieii the trusses begin to separate their pips thin out those that are
too full with a fine pointed scissors, and press the rest separate ; they
wdll need no other training. The ITmgleader family, and those inclined
to cup, will require the full power of the sun, under a handglass sup¬
ported on bricks at the corners, to give air, in order to flatten. At this
time, too, when the bloom begins to show, that pest greenfly will make
its appearance, and must be kept under with a camel’s-hair pencil.

As soon as the bloom is over in May a vigorous leaf growth takes
place, during which it is customary to place the plants out of doors,
under a north wall, or hedge, sheltering them merely from sun and

272

THE FLORIST.

from violent rains. The summer’s sun appears to me the only thing
they will not bear. My own practice for the last two years has been
to leave them in their frames facing the north, as they always do from
the time the first pip opens ; and I am satisfied with the result of this
treatment, which, however, was adopted because I have no good place
to expose them in.

But now there is a dodpe worth the attention of those who grow for
profit. The Auricula is a slow propagator, and you cannot take cuttings
as from a Dahlia. Nevertheless in May an approach to it may be
made. If you find any plants 10 'th offsets loi0 down,yo\x may do what
you cannot do with safety at any other time — cut off the head just
above the offsets, and under a glass it will soon root, and of the offsets
perhaps two, certainly one, will be a full flowering plant next season.

I suffered for this in the case of an expensive plant by doing it in June,
but it was late in June, when the plant was going to rest. In May I
would not hesitate to decapitate Maria herself. (It was by this means
that the late Mr. Weltjic, of Hammersmith, obtained his immense
stock of Leigh’s Colonel Taylor forty years ago.)

It is at this the summer period of growth that strict watch must be
kept for a little black caterpillar, very small and very destructive ; for
if not discovered it will eat out the heart of the plant and destroy it.
But they should be gone over once a week at least, to remove dead
foliage, greenfly, and black caterpillar.

There are two diseases, or two forms of one disease, to which they
are very liable — the rot, wet and dry ; the former infectious, rapid,
and sweeping ; and the latter, unless taken early and treated with great
care, destructive to the individual. The former attacks the foliage first,
the latter the stem. When a leaf looks in part semi-transparent and
dissolved (Mr. Lightbody says, when the plant hangs its head, but the
disease will have made great progress when that is the case), and the
peculiar spicy smell of the Auricula is intensified and coarse, beware as
you would of a Potato field that emits a strong Potato smell. Remove
at once every infected plant, or you may lose your whole collection in a
month. But if you are early, you need not lose a single patient. If
the soil is moist you must shake it out, take off every suspected leaf,
and repot in soil nearly dry, consisting of loam and sand in about equal
proportions, with one-fourth charcoal in coarse powder. It must be as
nearly dry as is consistent with 1 fe to the plant, and kept so till
recovery takes place ; and the earliest indications of spreading disease
must be watched for and removed. If the soil is tolerably dry when
the discovery is made, and you are certain the fault is not in that, there
will be no need of shaking it out. Remove every tainted leaf, and keep
the plant as dry as it can be to live till healthy growth begins to return,
and be very sparing of water then. It is said to be generally brought
on by indiscriminate watering, or by suffering water to stagnate in the
heart. And probably that may sometimes be the exciting cause ; but
I know that the mischief is often taken in at the root, and is due
to other things than pure water. The worst and most destructive case
I ever knew was clearly traceable to the misuse of stimulants.

The dry form of rot also gives out a strong aromatic smell of Auricula

SEPTEMBER.

273

from the infected parts, and is visible in the form of a darkened spot
in the stem. When cut into the tissue is seen to be brown wherever the
disease has penetrated, which is often very deep and wide, before it is
discovered, though the stagnation of growth will probably have induced
a suspicion of something wrong long before. If the plant is to be saved
every particle of brown matter must be carefully cut out with a sharp
knife, and the plant then treated as in the other case.

References to Cuts.

A. The side-board of the frame, inner side.

B. The rest nailed to the side-board, to support the shelves, and graduated

according to slope of the top light.

C. The shelf, formed of two pieces of strong laths, and fixed together at each

end by short cross-pieces at the under-side.

D. Outside view of the back-board of the frame, with its two sliding- doors,

E being shut and F g open, and having a small knob for handle.

The doors slide in a grooved beading of wood. The front board of the frame is
similar to the back-board, D, now described.

I know of nothing else absolutely necessary. Indeed, if they are
kept carefully from summer’s sun and insects, every rational treatment
seems to succeed with them. And well they are worth the care.

George Jeans.

LUCULIA GRATISSIMA.

This is one of the most beautiful and most deliciously fragrant of all
our winter flowering plants. With a little management, it may be
had in blossom from September to March ; and, with the exception of

VOL. XV., NO. CLXV.

T

274

THE ELOmST.

Pinceana, I am unacquainted with any plant which requires so little
artificial heat, and so little care generally in its management, which is
equal in respect of both beauty and fragrance. That it is not more
generally cultivated is owing, I believe, to a somewhat prevalent, but
mistaken notion, that it is difficult to manage. I must, however,
admit that it is somewhat difficult to propagate, as cuttings, when not
well matured, are apt to damp off in bottom heat ; and when too hard,
they frequently take so long to root that they exhaust the patience of
the propagator ; and it is difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to give
instructions which would enable the inexperienced person to select
cuttings in the proper stage of ripeness ; but practice and careful
observation will overcome this difficulty, and the Luculia will be found
to root in bottom heat in a shorter time than is required by many of
our favourite plants. Until this is the case, however, adopt the
following method, which, if slow, has the recommendation of being sure.

Select cuttings of short-jointed pieces as early in the season as they
can be had in a rather hard state. These may be obtained in May, if
a plant is left without being cut down after flowering. Slip them off
with a heel, and use the knife merely to- remove any loose bark which
may extend beyond the wood, and to divest them of superfluous leaves.
Insert the cuttings thus prepared in small thumb pots filled with sandy
peat, and give a moderate watering, to settle the soil, &c. But observe,
with respect to the soil, that it should be in a rather moist state when
used, as the cuttings are impatient of damp, which, in the event of
repeated waterings being necessary, it is difficult to prevent. After
potting, place them in a shady situation in a house, the temperature of
which may average 55®, and cover them with a handglass. The only
farther attention which they will require will be an occasional sprinkling
of water ; this should be applied towards the evening, the plants left
uncovered until the following morning, and in cloudy weather it may
be necessary to remove the handglass, or place it so that there may be
a circulation of air, so as to prevent damp. If cuttings are properly
attended to in these respects, and allowed to remain during the summer
in some quiet corner, the probability is that nine-tenths of them will
root. They should be carefully attended to during the winter, and
should not be thrown away, even if after having been in the cutting
pots the whole summer they should not he found rooted, give them the
farther chance of a little bottom heat during next January. As soon
as they are fairly rooted, they will grow away freely, and should be
shifted into a size larger pots, and gradually exposed to a freer circu¬
lation of air. No advantage will be gained by keeping them in a
temperature exceeding 60®, as, if they are kept in a wanner place,
they will grow weaker, and will require so much stopping to keep them
bushy, that the loss will probably exceed the profit. As the sun
becomes powerful, it will be necessary to shade at least a few hours
during the middle of the day, for this plant is exceedingly liable to
suffer from the direct rays of the sun ; and I have never been able to
do any good with it, except when I could protect in this respect ; and
I have also found that sudden exposure to drying currents of air
injures it more than most plants. With attention to its wants in these

SEPTEMBER.

275

respects, and if allowed plenty of pot room, and kept free from insects,
the plants will form nice specimens by the end of the first season,
and may each produce flowers, but this will greatly depend upon their
having been stopped at the proper season. The weaker plants should
not be stopped at all, and there will be nothing gained, as respects the
production of blossoms, by stopping even the stronger plants more than
once, and none should be stopped later than the middle of July, or the
first week in August.

As soon as they have pretty well ripened the wood from which
flow^ers are expected, they should be kept rather cool, or they may be
removed to a shady, but airy situation in the greenhouse, or to any
place where they can be assisted to harden their wood by a cool, dry
atmosphere. Such of the plants as have never been stopped will
probably show flower towards the middle or end of September, \vhen
they may be removed to a damper atmosphere and kept rather moist,
so as to encourage them to develope their beauty and fragrance ; and
if the plants are removed from the greenhouse, or cool situation in
which they were placed to ripen their wood, to a warmer situation, at
intervals of about a fortnight, they will afford a succession of flower for
at least three months. While in blossom they will be found to require
a rather dry atmosphere ; and unless this is provided, their beauty will
be short lasted. I have found a sitting-room window to suit them
exceedingly well at this time, but situations where the temperature will
average from 40*^ to 45°, and where they can be protected from damp,
is all that they require.

When they have done flowering, the plants should be rather sparingly
supplied with water for a fortnight, previous to their being cut back,
and they may be stowed away in any spare corner of the greenhouse or
cold pit, where they will be safe from their great enemy — damp.
After being treated rather hard for a fortnight, they should be cut back
sufficiently to secure a compact, bushy growth, and now is the time
when they can, with least trouble, be thoroughly cleared of insects.
They are especial favourites with the black thrips, as most delicate
plants are, and if these pests have a residence about the place at all, it
may be looked for upon the Luculia, and they should now be carefully
removed at any expense of time and labour ; for if they are permitted
to establish themselves they will do much injury during the ensuing
season. After the plants have been cut back and cleaned, a portion
may be encouraged to grow early in the season, so as to come into
flower soon in the autumn ; but it will be advisable to introduce them
into heat very gradually, otherwise they will break their uppermost
buds only, and will consequently become naked below. If the plants
can be kept during their second season’s growth in a moist growing
atmosphere, where they will receive abundance of light and protection
from the direct rays of the sun during the summer months, and also
guarded against the attacks of insects, and allowed plenty of pot room,
they will form handsome specimens, and flower abundanfly during the
dull months of winter.

With respect to soil, the Luculia is not difficult to accommodate.
For its pot culture, I use about one-half turfy peat, and one-half light

276

THE FLORIST.

turfy loam, adding a portion of silver sand, more or less, according to
the nature of the other materials.

Those \vho have room for the Luculia in the conservatory border
"will find it a most eligible plant for such a situation. But it succeeds
best, shaded from the direct rays of the sun from the beginning of May
to the end of August ; and in order to bloom it in perfection, it also
requires to have the house kept rather close. It will not thrive in a
temperature under 40° or 45°; for where the temperature does not
average this the flowers are liable to damp off. Planted out, it will
thrive perfectly in any light soil, whether peat or loam. It will be
found to require some attention, in order to keep it clear of insects, and
also the same treatment, with regard to stopping and cutting back, as
recommended for young plants ; but as it cannot receive any assistance
in the way of heat and moisture, never stop later than the middle of
July. S. J.

A HORTICULTURAL GALLOP.

Yes ! such a one as only the Iron Horse can enable one to take —
Slough in the morning, Worton Cottage in the forenoon, Chiswick in
the afternoon, and Sawbridgeworth in the evening. What floricultural
gourmet would not be satisfied with such a day’s feasting as that ?
Imagine taking your dejeuner at the Maison d’Or — dining at the
Trois Freres — and finishing off with a petit souper at Verey’s. What
visions of ragout and fricandeau, of Johannisberg and Chateau Lafitte,
would fill one’s uneasy dreams. Would it be any wonder that Picotees
and Carnations, new Pelargoniums, bedding plants of various hues, and
fragrant Roses, should have given their colouring to mine? and although
it is a very poor satisfaction to the hungry looker on to see the tempting
morceaux that fill the wiridow where some bon vivants are going to dine,
yet I may perhaps give some gratification to the readers of the
Florist if I tell them of a few things that struck me as worthy of
notice in my pleasant though hurried journey. Need I say to any who
have ever visited Slough that Mr. Turner’s nurseries were as usual
the very model of all that is clean, bright, and comely ; and that in so
favourable a season as this, the garden itself was specially gay on
every side — foliage and bloom shewed how much attention had been
paid to the proper arrangement and careful grouping of the various
plants, ribands and beds vied with each other in beauty. I was
most struck, I think, in the way of novelties, with a bed of Royal
Scarlet Geranium, a very dwarf horseshoe kind of the Baron Hugel
character, but having a very fine scarlet flower, and blooming very
profusely ; then Flower of Spring, variegated, with a fine pink
flower, was also very good ; it struck me, however, that Reine d’Or
is not any improvement on the old Golden Chain, there being too much
green in the leaf, a fault not compensated for by the superiority of
the flower ; the best of the new golden variegated ones seems to me to
be Cloth of Gold, though I question whether its foliage will be

SEPTEJMBEIl.

277

quite as pleasing as the older flower, but it is a much better grower,
and has a very good deep scarlet flower, not over freely produced.
Dahlias, after a long and severe time, attacked as they had been by
fly ill a most alarming manner, were beginning to recover and to
exhibit proofs that we may look for some grand blooms at the forth¬
coming September shows. Verbenas, too, were showy and fine ; but
as I promised myself a battue by-and-bye, I will say nothing of the
sorts seen, only that I do not think that last season has added much
to us in the way of novelty ; but the to me treat of the day was the
collection of Carnations and Picotees, for which Mr. Turner is so
famous, and many of which were in their full vigour. Twenty years
ago, what interest there used to be in these sweet and beautiful flowers ;
but these geometric gardens, and bedding plants, and mosaic patterns,
were not in vogue. Well, “every dog will have his day,” and I
fondly hope to see the time when lovers of flowers will again have
their collections of Carnations and Picotees, Pinks, Auriculas, &c.
“ There’s a good time coming and although I do greatly admire the
appearance of gardens at this season, yet I do long to see florists’
flowers, properly so called, asserting their supremacy. The loss (by
death and other causes) of such raisers of seedlings, as Puxley, May,
Ac., has made the hope of increasing the collections by many novelties
rather faint ; and, indeed, last season produced nothing worthy of
notice in the way of Carnations, nor have 1 seen anything likely to come
out this year. Not so, however, in Picotees ; the class which was
formerly most deficient in these was that of scarlet and rose edge ; it
bids fair, however, ere long to be quite as numerous as either of the
others. Rutland’s two parsons — the Rev. H. and Rev. A. Matthews
— are fine flowers, and so are Princess Alice and Miss Meeking;
the latter a very lively pink, and, what is better, of good strong habit.
They are, however, surpassed by two flowers of this year, one a heavy-
edged rose of great beaut}^ — Flower or the Day, a long-podded
flower, the petals of good substance, and a clear pure white ; the edge
a very deep scarlet rose, very similar in colour to that old and irnffy
flower. Green’s Queen, but whereas that is most difficult to keep,
Flower of the Day is of the most robust habit. Another very beau¬
tiful flower was Rosy Circle (Payne’s) ; this is also a very vigorous
habited plant, and a great addition to a very limited class, the light
rose edges ; the edging is very thin and does not run the least into
bars, the pod is long and it opens well and flat, equalling Mrs.
Barnard in her best state, and not having the tendency that that other¬
wise beautiful flower has of running into bars, so as at times to be
undistinguishable from Miss Desborough ; both of these charming
varieties have received first-class certificates from the Floral Committee
of the Royal Horticultural Society, and richly deserved it, too. I saw
also Mrs. Hole (Turner), light edged red ; a great improvement on
Eugenie, which is itself a very favourite flower, although somewhat
creamy in its bud, w'hile Mrs. Hole is pure ; this was also commended
by the Floral Committee. Lady Elcho (Turner), a light edged
purple, was also very good ; and Norman’s Favourite promises to be
a full and useful flower. There was one point which struck me forcibly

278

THE FLORIST,

in all these flowers, viz., their excellent habit of growth; it is very
true we may have flowers nearly as good, but then these have habit,
which is a matter of great consequence in all florists’ flowers.

Having finished my survey at Slough, admired the beds of Phloxes,
and the general arrangement of the bedding plants, I then got into^
not oriy the Iron Horse — a more wonderful one than the wooden one of
Troy — and paid a long- threatened visit to Worton Cottage. Who has
not heard of its former owner ? who has not grieved over the kindly
and Christian heart that, until this year, directed all its arrangements ?
who has not felt that, when the “old gardener” was gathered to his.
rest, English floriculture lost one who had done much to rescue
gardening publications from the low personalties and vulgar jests that
formerly disfigured them ? Surely, at any rate, no reader of the
Florist but recalls the name of Edward Beck with feelings of lively
gratitude. Well, Worton Cottage and all its arrangements are still ihere,
and under the care of its intelligent gardener. The flowers its owner
loved will be fostered ; and as Mrs. Beck takes a warm interest in
them, the list of Pelargoniums will still contain seedlings with that
honoured name attached to them. It was too late to see them ; and
one only had I a glimpse of. Maiden Fair, v/hich is in the same
style as Fairest of the Fair, but improved upon it — will be, I doubt
not, a very useful flower. My visit here was a very hurried one, but
if God spare me for another year, I hope to go there when the collection
of Pelargoniums is in full bloom.

The chief cause of my being in so great a hurry was to enable me
to get to Chiswick in time to go through the work arranged for the
Floral Committee, in deciding on the varieties ot bedding plants and
annuals which had been grown there for comparison ; suffice it to say,
that the new annuals were almost universally condemned, the Stocks
considered a failure, the Phloxes many of them greatly admired, and
the Geraniums and Verbenas hardly considered forward enough for a
right decision to be come to on their merits. The main points of
interest will be duly detailed in the Royal Horticultural Society’s
proceedings.

In the evening, escaping safely from the perils of the Eastern Counties
Railway, I found myself at a place long known to me by name, and
enjoying the friendly hospitality of its owner ; for as a Rose grower in
however small a way, I could not but have a lively interest in the
Sawbridgeworth nurseries and their owner — for if the one has been
famous as the place from whence so many new Roses have first found
their way into the world, the other by his popular method of writing up
the subject, has been no less successful in making it everybody’s flower.

Having no orchard house, and not being an enthusiast on the subject
of fruits, I could only, I fear with too little interest, receive the intel¬
ligence Mr. Rivers kindly gave. His Curate's Vinery struck me as
being, however, an excellent idea. A Vine is planted in the open
border, and a glass case is then put over it, raised on a loose brick at
each end, slates are laid on the earth, and the Vine is then allowed to
run along it ; there is abundance of heat to ripen them, and ventilation
of course secured. It will be also an excellent method for getting in a

SEPTEMBER.

279

few early Strawberries, not forcing them in the ordinary sense of the
word, but pushing them a week or ten days earlier than those in the
open ground. The inexpensive manner in which this Grape growing-
can be effected well entitles it to be called by the name which Mr. Rivers
has given to it.

The beauties of Rose Hill have been so often described, that I shall
not attempt to do what others have so much better done — give a general
description of the grounds — but simply a few notes of the Roses. Last
winter made here, as everywhere, most fearful havoc (by the by, not
everywhere, for I hear in Ireland Roses suffered but little, and were
never finer than this season), whole quarters which should have been
one brilliant mass of bloom were now little better than a quarter of
Stocks ; here and there one had survived, but not one in fifty. One
piece, however, of about five thousand dwarfs, budded on the Manetti
stock, and on a piece of new ground, had survived, and here were to be
found some grand blooms ; amongst the old leading varieties, Mesdames
Vidot, Rivers, Knorr, de Cambaceres ; General Jacqueminot, Prince
Leon, Baronne Hallez, Geant des Batailles, and others, were very fine.
While as to new Roses — I mean those of 1860 — Mr. R. is decidedly of
opinion that there is not one which can compete with Gloire be
Santenay — not even Senateur Vaisse. I saw both of them in
bloom, and certainly the former was much finer ; one flower of it was a
most perfect gem. Madame Boll was also very fine, and so was
also Loms XIV. ; while amongst those of 1860, Madame Furtado
and General Washington were apparently the two gems. But it
is impossible rightly to decide on ; all this season everything has come
so out of character, that it will be very hard indeed to say which are to
be thrown away and which kept. J ust before I left home I found a
bloom of Alexandre Breton, a Rose of 1859, which I have hardly
heard of this season, quite a gem, and it is just possible there may be
others which have been pooh-poohed that may yet astonish us.
Boule d’Or had not opened well with Mr. R. ; it is evidently a good
grower, and perhaps, when more chance is given to it, it may yet dis¬
close its beauties ; but its colour is so grand, that, as a house Rose even,
it will be a great acquisition. We have nothing to equal it except the
Persian Yellow. Reine des Violettes had not bloomed, but unless
it comes out something better than it has done there is no loss. When
I shall have had another opportunity of seeing the autumnal bloom of
the Roses of 1859, I shall hope to give a few further notes on their
merits.

Such was my gallop, and such the hurried notes of what I saw. Let
me add, that I experienced what I have ever found, with very rare
exceptions, that kindness and hospitality universally attend the love of
flowers in either grower or amateur ; whether it be that “ one touch of
nature makes the whole world kin,” or that the pursuit itself expands
the mind and brings out the kindlier feelings of the heart, I know not,
but so it is, and a grumbling, selfish horticulturist is an anomaly and
a disgrace to the gentle craft to which he belongs. That there are such,
I know, but he is a “ rara avis'* May the sort become scarcer every

Deal, August,

D.

280

THE FLORIST.

ROSES:— A REVERIE.

“When the dewy twilight lingers ” is a time, we are told by the poet,
peculiarly suited to lovers. How far this is correct we are scarcely
prepared to say ; there certainly is a dreamy influence, and something
perhaps soothing about the hour ; but, leaving the poet and the lovers
to settle the matter in any way they think proper, as we are not disposed
to argue ; and taking our seat at that delightful time beneath the sombre
branches of a Cedar — on the top twig of which is perched a thrush,
pouring forth in cadence sweet a “song without words,” far more
beautiful than Mendelssohn’s — we call to mind those opening buds
which day by day add new pleasure to our toil, and delight us with
their novelty. It is true we meet with disappointments ; what lover
does not ? And we confess ourselves captivated by the winning charms
of Flora’s Queen, for never was “ Love among the Roses ” more com¬
pletely lost than we have been. At this balmy hour, as we said before,
we take our seat beneath the tree, and fall into a reverie. There is
something very charming in being lost to the world for a time, and letting
the mind dwell unfettered on our heart’s desire. And first and fore¬
most in the train which floats before our fancy like a fairy in a dream
is that model of perfection, “ the Countess her features cannot be
surpassed, and the tint upon her cheek most lovely. Who can look
upon her and not love her ? Her character will bear the strictest
scrutiny. Mr. Andrews has introduced her to the world and sent her
portrait far and wide, perfect in outline, but a little less rouge we think
would have suited her complexion better. A fit companion to the
Comtesse de Chabrillant, and worthy of her company, is Madame Boll ;
her eye perhaps may be a little prominent, but she is handsome not¬
withstanding ; fine in habit, and in figure rather embonpoint , In
Victor Verdier we trace the Margottin blood, and a very noble race it
is ; if such is the case, it has something to be proud of, and will no
doubt be well received at all the courts her floral majesty holds a levee.
What is that which looks so brilliant in the green foliage around it, and
shines like a ruby set in emeralds ? It is the “ Senateur,” so exquisite
in colour, and in form so singularly beautiful. It is painful to say the
“ General ” is o\5T-generalled ; we have fought so long beneath his
standard, won such glorious victories ; he has so long taken command
of our box, and unfurled his crimson banner with success, that to
breathe disparagement now would be to act the traitor’s part, we there¬
fore merely add, with all due deference to our hero, that the
should take precedence of the “ military'' and it is only etiquette that
General Jacqueminot should stand aside, and allow Senateur Vaisse to
lead the way. This is doubtless a great Rose era, and should be
chronicled as such. We have arrived at great perfection, and the last-
named flower, we think, has gained the highest pinnacle. In our
imaginary moments we speculate on future possibilities — our rambling
thoughts have no limit on such occasions — we hope to see another
Cloth cf Gold with the habit of that glorious Rose from Dijon. We
do not despair of a Geant free from mildew, or a William Griffiths with
the complexion of Sir Joseph Paxton. Sir Joseph we think the clearest

SEPTExMBER.

281

coloured Rose we ever saw, and only have to lament its shape. We
should welcome something new of this class, instead of the purply slaty
tint of Reine des Violettes. It is a matter of satisfaction to think of the
impossibility of the production of a blue Rose, to which the Queen of
Violets is the nearest approach ; should, however, in this age of marvels,
a thing so illegitimate be brought to light, we trust its reign will be of
short duration. We would much prefer the coal black one ” of negro
song celebrity. Whilst on a dark subject, our darker novelties occur to
us, some of which we are much pleased with. Triomphe de Lyon, for
instance, is a good flower, of a deep claret hue, petals stiff and shell¬
shaped, truthfully described as such in all the catalogues ; a little more
brilliancy would improve it vastly, as it is we do not think it superior,
in fact not equal in colour to Francois Arago. Louis XIV., from all
report, is the gem of 1860. We are glad to hear it so well spoken of,
as we invested at a high price, but his majesty has not yet favoured us
with a bloom, and to all appearance has no intention of doing so.
What the catalogues mean by describing it as “ free,” we are at a loss
to know ; ours have been free from bloom, and so have alhwe have seen
this season, and in habit like our own, dwindly and dwarf Eugene
Appert is of very different character ; he is indeed a noble fellow, hand¬
some in foliage and extremely rich in colour, which we think more
permanent than many of its class. We are not acquainted with the
genealogy of Eugene or the Duke of Cambridge, but we imagine both
to be nearly allied to the Geant. The Duke has proved a great acqui¬
sition to our stock, the brilliancy of the flower (which we think a true
cerise), renders it most attractive ; and although the size is moderate,
the bloom is nicely formed, and produced in great abundance.

We have “great expectations” from our pet Celine Forestier, and
have been more polite to her, perhaps, than many of her companions ;
but all the attention we have bestowed upon her we do not now regret ;
she is indeed most beautiful, and destined, we think, to become the
belle of many a floral fete next season ; the colour, perhaps, is not so
full as we expected, and certainly not so deep as Triomphe de Rennes,
which the strong family likeness leads us to suppose to be the parent.
We do not, however, object to the colour of Celine ; on the contrary,
we rather prefer it, and as our last addition (La Boule d’Or), promises
to be very golden, we are glad to find Miss Forestier the delicate tint
she is.

But in the midst of all our novelties, why do we forget our dear old
favourites, such as Louise Odier, Jules Margottin, Devoniensis, and
many others which were brought to our sick bed in early summer, all
dewy and wet with the lately fallen shower ? With what delight we
Iiailed their return, like friends that had been dead and were alive
again. How we revelled in their sweetness and refreshed our weary
senses with their fragrance. We do not wish to be ungrateful, but we
must think of these old favourites some future time, for the night is
growing chilly, and the thrush having sung his little ones to sleep, has
gone himself to rest. We beg to follow his example, and bid our friends
good night.

R. T. E.

282

THE FLORIST.

ALLAMANDA SCHOTTII.

This beautiful plant, coming from Brazil, requires for its successful
cultivation a warm and humid atmosphere, and except where this can
be obtained, it is useless to grow it. I have little accommodation for
tropical subjects in winter, and as young plants occupy less room and
form equally as fine specimens as old plants, I provide fresh stock
every year. I select cuilings of short jointed pieces as early in spring
as they can be obtained in a sufficiently ripe state, and insert them in
sandy peat, covering with a bell-glass, and plunging the pot in a
smart bottom heat. As soon as the cuttings are rooted, they are potted
singly in small pots, replaced in the propagating pit, and encouraged
with bottom heat in a warm moist temperature, until they become
established in their pots. When they appear to have made plenty of
roots they are shifted into 7-inch pots, in light, sandy soil, and kept
warm and moist for a time.

If it is desirable to secure large specimens for flowering early next
spring, they must be encouraged to make wood, and should occupy
9-inch pots before they have finished the present season’s growth. It
will, of course, be necessary to equalise the growth by stopping the
stronger shoots ; but this should be done carefully, as such branches,
when removed while soft, are apt to bleed excessively, and seldom
break again strongly. Gross shoots should be broken and bent down,
so as to check their over luxuriance, and they may be removed after the
buds behind the fracture have begun to push. Whatever size the plants
may be induced to attain this season, especial care should be paid to
get the wood thoroughly ripened. Small plants, with well matured
wood, will be found greatly preferable to larger examples with soft ill
ripened shoots, and they will speedily outgrow them when subjected to
heat and moisture in spring. The plants should be freely exposed to
light and air during the autumn months, and if they can occupy a
situation in a house where the atmosphere is kept rather warm and
dry, it will greatly assist to mature the wood. A pit, the temperature
of which averages about 50°, will be a suitable place for them during
winter ; and they should receive but little water, just sufficient to
prevent the soil from becoming quite dry.

As early in spring as possible place them in a moist, warm atmo¬
sphere, and encourage them to start into growth by frequent sprinklings
with the syringe, and a close, warm temperature. When they com¬
mence growing, examine the state of their roots, and, if necessary, shift
into larger pots, using soil composed of one-third loam, one-third peat,
and one-third well decomposed cow-dung, with a sufficient proportion of
silver-sand to render the compost porous. A quantity of broken bones
or charcoal may be added with advantage, especially if the loam is of
an adhesive character ; water with care after potting, until the roots
penetrate into the fresh soil. As the plants advance in growth they
will require attention, in order to form them into compact bushy
specimens ; but bear in mind what has been stated above, respecting
this operation. I do not stop until the plants have pushed consider¬
ably, and then I stop every shoot at once ; this induces a finer mass of

SEPTEMBER.

283

bloom, as all the shoots produce flower at nearly the same time. With
the increase of light which the advance of the season affords, I increase
the temperature, allowing it to rise during bright days as high as 90*^
or 95° ; shutting up early, and keeping the atmosphere as damp as
possible. The plants should be sufficiently forward by the middle of
April to require their final shift. I use 13-inch pots, and to the more
promising plants I give 15-inch pots, with an extra stopping, so as to
bring them in for late flowering. When the plants have commenced
to grow vigorously, after their final stopping, they should be sufficiently
staked to prevent injury fjom accidents, and they should be placed as
near the glass as possible, which will assist to keep them dwarf, and
hasten their flowering. If any shoots exhibit a disposition to outgrow
the others, these should be checked by being nicked, or broken down,
which may be done without farther injury than retarding their growth
for a week or so.

As soon as 1 discover that the plants have filled their pots with
roots, I water with clear manure water. As they approach the flowering
state they are neatly trained, using as few stakes as possible, but as
many as may be necessary to support the shoots in such a position as
to secure a well formed specimen. When they commence flowering,
they may be removed to a cooler and drier atmosphere, but they
should not be subjected to sudden change. With proper management
they will be in flower early in June, and may then be removed to the
conservatory, where they will remain in great beauty during most of
the summer season ; that is, if the conservatory is kept rather close,
and they are furnished with a place in the warmest corner of it. I
avoid giving air opposite to my specimens of Allamanda, and I keep
them as warm as is consistent with the general management of the
- house.

When their flowering season is over, the plants are thrown to the
rubbish-heap ; but if they can be kept over winter, they form large
specimens for early blooming next season. If they are to be wintered,
care must be taken to secure the perfect ripening of the wood, and
such plants had better not be allowed to remain in the conservatory
until late in autumn, as in that case they sometimes drop off at once.
They should be removed to the stove, or some other place where the
temperature will assist their ripening, and they should receive very
little water. They will amply repay those who can give them a warm
house, as they will grow and flower continuously from April to
December. '

A.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Look over former Calendars, and attend
to previous directions respecting Azaleas. Plants growing in heat must
be very carefully and rather liberally watered at the root, syringing
them freely overhead every evening, and sprinkling the floors, &c.,
sufficiently often to maintain a nice genial moist atmosphere. Black
thrips will probably now be very troublesome upon plants growing in

284

THE FLORIST.

heat, and means should be used, as soon as this is perceived, to effectually
clear the plants of this pest, and, if many plants are infested, the cheapest
and most expeditious means of clearing them will be to smoke the house
rather strongly at night, and again the following morning. But care
must be used to have the foliage of the plants and also the atmosphere of
the house as dry as possible before* smoking, for the foliage of these,
when at all damp, is readily injured by tobacco smoke, but if perfectly
dry will stand any reasonable amount. Some persons consider that
sulphur applied to the under side of the leaves is a means of preventing
the plants being attacked by this pest, andjnlthough our practice of
syringing the plants, while making their growth, once or twice a day,
renders this useless, judging from what we have seen elsewhere, it is
worth trying where the syringe is not used so freely as to remove the
sulphur almost as soon as it is applied. Plants which have their bloom
buds well up should be removed to a cool house, but be satisfied that a
plant is thoroughly well set for bloom before removing it to a cool house,
for unless the plants are well set before winter there will be no chance
of their blooming finely next season. Where there is the chance of
keeping young plants in a moist warm situation until November, any
plants which it may be desired to increase in size as fast as possible
may, if setting for bloom, be stopped regularly over, and will with care¬
ful treatment make a nice growth, but plants stopped after this time
need hardly be expected to bloom in anything like character. Any
plants which may have been placed out of doors should be placed under
glass immediately there is any danger of their balls getting sodden by
heavy rains or their buds injured by frost, but should be kept cool with
a dry atmosphere, and be rather sparingly supplied with water at the
root. Camellias will require little more at present than attention with
water, and any plants which may be infested with scale should
be thoroughly cleaned. Plants which set their buds early and have
been standing in a shady situation out of doors will now be ready to
open, and if w^anted in bloom may be placed in rather a close house,
where they will soon be in full flower. Plants which it may be incon¬
venient to find room for under glass, must, if the w’eather prove wet, be
protected against heavy rains, and the whole stock should, if possible,
be under glass before the end of the month. Conservatory , — Where
Achimenes, Clerodendrons, Allamandas, and fine foliaged plants from
the stove form the principal attraction here, the house should be kept
as moist and close as can be done without injuring the permanent
occupants, and on cold nights a little fire heat would be beneficial to
such things as have been brought from the stove ; but where green¬
house plants — as Camellias, Acacias, &c. — are planted in the beds, the
house should be managed so as not to seriously injure these, and in this
case Fuchsias, late-blooming Ericas, and the few greenhouse plants
which bloom at this season, should be grown for decoration now, which,
with Balsams, and many things well known to all plant growers, will,
if grown in quantity, furnish a nice display. See that everything in
the house is perfectly clear of insects, and endeavour to place each plant
in its proper place, and keep all clean and in the most perfect order as
regards arrangement. Cold Frames, — Look over and attend to

SEPTEMBER.

285

previous directions. Plants which have made a satisfactory growth
should be gradually exposed to a free circulation of air, so as to
thoroughly ripen the young wood before winter ; but this must be done
carefully, for Boronias, Gompholobiums, &c., which have been induced
to make a free growth by being kept rather close and moist, will not
bear sudden exposure to thorough currents of air, but shading should be
discontinued, giving top air freely on every favourable opportunity ;
but plants which are late and weakly should be kept close and moist,
and afforded every encouragement during this month. See that every¬
thing here is perfectly free from insects, and apply sulphur on the first
appearance of mildew upon any plant. Water cautiously, especially
plants which are at all weakly, but when a plant is considered dry give
sufficient to thoroughly moisten the ball. Primulas for winter blooming
will now require careful attention, and must not be allowed to suffer for
the want of pot room. The finer varieties of shrubby Calceolarias are
extremely useful and effective plants for the summer decoration of cool
houses, and where wanted for this purpose cuttings should be put in at
once, and the old plants, after being cut back and breaking, may be
shaken out and repotted into smaller pots, keeping them rather close
until they make fresh roots, and these, if properly cared for, will form
large effective plants next season. See, however, that they are perfectly
free from green-fly, to which they are rather subject, and unless they
are kept clear of this enemy no care will be sufficient to ensure good
plants. Also attend carefully to the stock of plants of the herbaceous
kind, repotting as may be necessary, and keeping the plants rather close
and moist, and near the glass. Flower Garden. — Maintain the most
perfect order and neatness here at present, removing decaying blooms
as soon as they are perceived to be unsightly. Proceed as expeditiously
as possible with the work of propagation, until there is an ample stock
of everything prepared to meet the demand next spring, and the sooner
the young plants of such things as Verbenas are fairly established, so
that they can be freely exposed, in order to secure stocky, well-matured
plants, the less trouble there will be in carrying them over the winter.
Any alterations which it may be intended to make in planting next
season should be noted, and stock provided accordingly; alterations
involving the transplanting of trees and shrubs may be proceeded with,
where this can be done without destroying the comfort of the garden,
for the present is probably the safest month in the year for transplanting
evergreens. Hollyhocks which have nearly done blooming, if cut down
at once, will furnish a supply of prime cuttings by the beginning of
next month, which, if put into a gentle heat, will soon emit roots, and
form nice plants by next May. Greenhouse, — Any of the stock which
may be out of doors without any other means of protecting them from
wet, save laying on their sides, had better be placed under glass as soon
as convenient, unless the w'eather should prove more settled than it has
been lately ; but if the weather should prove dry and fine. Heaths and
other hardy greenhouse things may with advantage be left out until the
end of the month. Plants which require to have their wood well
ripened in order to get them to bloom in perfection, should, if they have
made sufficient growth, be exposed freely to sunshine, and shading

286

THE FLORIST.

after this must be used very sparingly. Take advantage of any spare
time to repot and tie any specimens which may require this attention,
and use every effort to have the plants neat and trim before ihe house
is made up for the winter. After housing the plants give air freely,
and keep the atmosphere rather dry. Stove. — Many of the principal
ornaments will have done blooming, but care should be used to get the
wood of such things as Echites, Ixoras, Allamandas, &c., well matured, by
exposing them freely to light and giving a rather sparing supply of water
at the root, just sufficient to keep the plants in health, but not to encou¬
rage their making more growth; and every care should be used to keep
the foliage clear of insects, and plants ripening their wood should, where
possible, be removed to a house where a drier atmosphere is maintained,
and where this cannot be done, place them together at the driest end of
the house. Continue to repot all young growing stock; keep them
clean, and encourage free growth by a moist atmosphere and careful
watering at the root. Also attend well to all plants intended for winter
decoration.

Hardy Fruit. — Look over early Pears, and watch their ripening, as
the generality of the early kinds require gathering before they are ripe ;
for if allowed to hang too long and ripen on the trees, the flavour will
be greatly deteriorated, and the flesh dry and spongy. It is a good
plan to go over the trees at different times, and gather them as they
approach maturity, and store them in a cool room. The earliest
dessert Apples are best gathered from the trees as they may be required
for use. Judging from appearances, wasps are likely to be very
troublesome during the present month ; therefore, use every means
to destroy them, as well as every other insect that is likely to damage
wall fruit, trapping them, as before advised. Late Peaches should
have a good soaking of water at the root in dry weather, and wash the
trees occasionally till the fruit is ripening. Remove a portion of the
leaves that cover the fruit, so that it may have full exposure to sun and
light. As soon as any Peach trees are clear of the crop, go over them
and clear away all dead leaves and useless shoots ; afterwards wash
them with the garden engine. Protect late Plums with hexagon net
or tiffany, to preserve the fruit from flies and wasp, for use late in the
autumn. Cut out the old canes, and tie up the bearing shoots of
double bearing Raspberries. Water with liquid manure if the weather
is dry. Continue to clear Strawberry beds from all weeds and runners.
Dress and fork the ground between the plants, as before advised. This
is a good time for making new plantations. If any plants are required
for spring planting, the runners had now better be planted out a few
inches apart in nursery beds. Forcing Ground. — Late Melons will
not require much water after this time. Keep up a good heat if there
is any convenience to do so, that plenty of air may be given through
the day, otherwise make the best of sun-heat. Cucumbers bearing in
frames should have the linings renewed when the heat declines ; thin
and stop the shoots so that they do not get matted together. Water
with liquid manure once a week, and cover the frames with mats when
the nights are cold. Those sown last month should now be planted

SEPTEMBER.

287

out in large pots, or in pits where a good command of fire-heat can be
had ; use free turfy loam, in a rough state, such that is not liable to
get soddened. Keep the plants strong and hardy by admitting plenty
of air through the day. Use fire -heat when the weather is chilly, and sow
again for succession. Peach House. — Go over the trees in the late
houses, and cut away all small shoots that are not required for fruiting
next season or for filling any vacant space ; this operation will greatly
assist in ripening the wood, by more exposure to air and light.
Remove the sashes, and water the inside borders if very dry. Pines. —
All plants intended for fruiting next season should be potted at once if
not already done ; see previous directions. Pot crowns and suckers,
and place them in a moist, close pit till they are rooted, after which the
usual treatment for succession plants may be given. Those plants
intended for fruiting in the spring should now be kept moderately dry,
and the temperature steady. Keep a moist night temperature from
70° to 75° where the fruit is swelling. The day temperature may
rise to 90° during sunshine. No growing plants or those in fruit
should at any time suffer from' drought. Strawberries. — These may
yet be potted for late forcing. Clear away all weeds and runners froru
those potted last month, and water occasionally with liquid manure.
Keep the pots in an open situation. Vinery. — Keep a dry atmosphere
for ripe Grapes. If there is any damp in the house, or in very wet
weather, a little fire -heat through the day would be beneficial, at the
same time admitting plenty of air to dry the house. Cut out all
decayed berries, and nail gauze over the openings if wasps are trouble¬
some. Remove the sashes as soon as any of the houses are clear of the
crop, and the wood well matured. Vines in pots that are intended for
early forcing next season should now be taken out of the house ; nail
them to a warm wall, and cover the pots with litter till required for
forcing. Kitchen Garden. — The past month has been very favourable
for the destruction of weeds among all growing crops ; still the hoe
must be kept moving in every part of the garden during the present
month, to get all clean before winter sets in. Take advantage of dry
days to earth up Celery and Cardoons ; and all the winter crops of
Broccoli, Greens, &c., should now be earthed up. Hoe and thin
advancing crops of Turnips and Spinach ; the winter crop of the latter
should be sown not later than the first week in the month. Plant out
Green Curled and Batavian Endive, also last month’s sowing of Lettuce.
Make another sowing of some hardy sorts, and tie up those to blanch
that are ready for use. Make another sowing of Endive early in the
month. Make a sowing of Cauliflower, about the 10th, on a warm
sheltered border or in a cold frame. Thin and stop Tomatoes, and
expose the fruit to the sun, to hasten their ripening. Take up Onions
as soon as they are ripe, and get them well dried before housing them.
Potatoes may be taken up as soon as the tops are dead ; but the late
sorts had better remain in the ground for a time, to get well ripened.
The dry warm weather of late has been very favourable, and no doubt
will be the means of arresting the progress of the disease. Cut Box
edging, and make all clean and neat.

286

THE FLORIST.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

Pelargoniums. — These should have been shaken out by this time — it’
not, it should no longer be delayed ; and plants intended for early
blooming should have their final repotting by the end of the month.
Let the soil be in good condition for use, and the pots well drained, to
allow the water to pass off, as this will tend to make the plants flower
more freely. When the plants are potted, they should be kept close
for a few days. Water carefully at first, after they have made fresh
root. Water more freely, and give plenty of air at all favourable
opportunities. Stop fresh struck cuttings, and repot young plants
intended to make specimens as they advance in growth. Cinerarias. —
Cuttings of these put in as recommended last month will now be ready
to pot off into separate pots, and should be set about forthwith, using
for the purpose a light rich compost, composed of good friable loam and
rotten leaves or well decomposed manure ; add a little silver or river
sand, to cause the water to pass freely. Place in a cool shady situation
in a close frame for a few days until established ; sprinkle frequently
and give air by degrees, when in a few days they will be ready to
shift into larger pots. Look carefully after thrip and mildew, and
sulphur or fumigate immediately on its appearance.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN SEPTEMBER.

Auriculas. — Nothing but care and attention to cleanliness and
watering is now required. Keep down green-fly by brushing it off
with a camel’s hair pencil. If any show signs of defective drainage
see to it at once, as excess of moisture is death to the Auricula. Do
not let them have rain. Buy in what you want. A drawing of
Smith’s Lycurgus in the September number of the Floral Magazine,
by Andrews, will show what is doing in the raising- of new sorts.
Carnations and Picotees. — Take off rooted layers and pot them singly
or in pairs. No better or safer compost than that which they have
been growing in can be used, as wireworm is not likely to exist in it.
Pansies. — These should be, if rooted, potted off into single pots ; to
stand the winter they require nothing but good loam and a little sand
and leaf-mould, to keep it open. Many fine varieties have been
exhibited this year. Pinks. — The store beds should now show a good
deal of vigour in the plants, and the better they are now the more
success may you expect in their winter quarters. I do not like too
large plants — moderate sized ones are better. Pelargoniums should
be repotted, and their growth encouraged, so as to be strong and well
furnished before winter. Bedding-stuff. — The Geraniums, &c., put
in last month should now be potted off, and left to harden, to stand the
winter well. If you have room, pot into single pots ; if not, two or
three in a pot will answer well. See to cuttings of Gazanias, Verbenas,
&c. The bedder-out must look a long way ahead.

Peal.

D.

OCTOBER.

289

GLADIOLUS— MRS. REYNOLDS HOLE.

(Plate 181.)

Our present illustration represents one of the new varieties
of Gladiolus, for which the Bagshot nursery of Mr. Standish
has become famous. On a former occasion we figured two
remarkably fine varieties from the same source, namely, John
Standish^ a rich crimson, with the highest quality of any
variety we have met with; and Mrs. Standish, a very beautiful
white, with feathered lip. The former of these, we regret to
learn, was accidentally lost during last winter. That now
figured, and named in compliment to the wife of the Rev. S.
Reynolds Hole, is of a novel character, presenting well-defined
richly-coloured bars on a white ground, which give it a dis¬
tinctly striped character. It is very beautiful, of average size,
with all the desirable qualities of form and substance, and is in
all respects a perfect painted lady. The colour is white, marked
with numerous bars and streaks of rosy crimson, the markings
being more crowded and confluent towards the ends of the
sepaline segment, so as to form richly-coloured variegated
tips. The large upper petaline segment is longer than the
sepaline parts, which it resembles in colour, but is rather less
freely marked ; while the two smaller lower petaline divisions
which are rose flaked at the top, are dashed with a rich
creamy buff lower down, and as well as the lowest sepal have
a crimson feather-like marking up the centre. At the mouth
of the contracted tubular part there is a rosy star. Our
figure, drawn from some of the earlier blooms, does not show
the flaked tips of the two small petaline divisions, nor the
bold feather-like mark just described, which are present in
the specimen from which our notes were drawn up. The
flowers are arranged in two opposite rows so as to stand back
to back, which is the least desirable quality presented by this
otherwise charming new variety.

We need not here occupy space with remarks on the
culture of these now favourite flowers, nor on their adapta¬
bility for the autumn decoration of flower gardens either in
beds or borders, nor on their remarkable quality of endurance,
and of continuous development when cut for the in-door
flower vase. All these points have been already touched
upon in our preceding volumes. We prefer rather to invite
attention to some of the structural peculiarities of the race
of hybrid Gladioli which is now bidding high for popular
favour, with the view of directing into a proper channel the
current v. hich is setting strongly in the direction of raising
new seedling varieties.

VOL. XV.. NO. CLXVI. U

290

THE FLORIST.

It will be found that the flowers of tlie hybrid Gladioli are

4'

formed on one of two models, whicli are tolerably constant
and determinable in particular varieties. The flower is natu¬
rally made up of six divisions; its basis is a blunt-angled
triangle; and the differences presented in the two groups
just indicated, consist in the direction in which these imagi¬
nary or ideal triangles are set upon the stem.

In one of these two groups, which we call the erect-
flowered, the three outer segments — the sepaline divisions
as a botanist would call them — form a triangle whose apex is
erect, the upper division overlapping on the outside the two
next, or petaline segments, and therefore occupying the posi¬
tion of a sepal. In these varieties the three petaline, or inner
segments, form a triangle with its apex turned downwards,
and the lower one is generally smaller and difiTerently coloured,
forming as it were a one-leaved lip to the flower. The fol¬
lowing are fine varieties having these peculiarities of form : —

Rembrandt. — Hich crimson scarlet, with a small purplish feather
on the lower petaline segment.

Napoleon the Third. — Orange scarlet, with the lower petaline
segments (and frequently one of the others) creamy yellow
about the centre, and marked with a crimson feather.

Comte de Morny. — Fine rosy crimson, with a creamy tint on the
three lower segments, and somewhat white feathered.

Rl Dorado. — Light yellow, with rosy purplish feather. The best
yellow is said to be Solfaterre, but we have not seen it.

Princesse Clotilde. — Clear salmon, with the lower petaline seg¬
ment, or sometimes two, dashed and feathered with rich purple,
the two lower sepaline divisions marked with a bar of the
same colour. A finely marked variety.

Jeanne J Arc. — Blush, with the lower petaline segments feathered,
and the two lower sepaline ones barred with rich purple.

Oracle. — Deep salmony rose ; the lower petaline segment creamy,
feathered with purple ; the two sepaline lower segments
barred with purple ; the markings are sometimes disposed
irregularly, with respect to the sepaline and petaline divisions.

Agl'de. — Salmon colour, dashed with scarlet streaks ; the lower
petaline division rich crimson ; the divisions pointed ; the
flowers along one side of the spike are sometimes reversed.

The other group to which allusion has been made is, we
think, the more effective of the two, and has the flowers
formed on an opposite plan. The two sepaline divisions which
form the base of the (imaginary) triangle are on the upper
side, and the one which forms its apex is on the lower, so
that instead of pointing upwards, as in the first group, the
sepaline triangle here points downwards. This group we
therefore call reverse-flowered. The petaline divisions are
placed so as to have one large upper and two smaller basal
segments, so that in these varieties the lip-like portion con-

OCTOBER.

291

sists of two petaline lobes instead of one. The upper or back
segment of the flower, which in the erect-flowered group
answers to a sepal, corresponds with a petal in this reverse-
flowered group, to which some of the very finest varieties
known, including the subject of our illustration, belong.
Omitting, as in the previous list, the novelties which are yet
hardly purchasable, we will mention a few examples from
among the finer sorts of this section : —

Vulcan. — Brilliant crimson scarlet, with a flush of deep crimson
on the lip-like segments. A much richer colour than Brejich-
leyensis, which is, however, probably one of the most useful
for planting in masses, to produce a striking effect.

JBertha JRahourdin. — White, with all the lower segments flushed
with clear rosy purple, through which runs a feathered
marking of a deex3er shade of the same colour. The marking
of this variety is very rich and eflective.

Berenice. — Itosy salmon, marked with deeper, or salmony red
streaks, the lower segments marked with rosy crimson, the
petaline ones in a feather-like, the sepaline in a bar-like form.

Vesta. — Blush white, the two lower petaline segments of a rich
creamy tint in the centre, and, as well as the lower sepaline
one, boldly feathered with rosy purple.

Empress. — Blush white, blotched with rosy streaks ; the lower
segments with bold rosy purple feathers.

Goliath. — Deep salmon colour, with the lower segments feathered
with crimson purple ; similar in colour to Brincesse Clotilde,
one of the erect flowered group.

Neptune. — Salmony red, the lower segments with a faint dash of
cream colour, suflused with rosy purple.

Sulpkureus. — Creamy white, the lower petaline divisions straw
colour, and, as well as the lower sepaline one, purple feathered.

Calypso — Blush, with salmony streaks ; the two lower petals
yellowish, with a crimson purple feather ; the lower se]3al
with a bold stripe of the same colour.

The foregoing memoranda were made from some finely
bloomed plants in the collections of Mr. W. Barnes, of Cam¬
berwell, and Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son, of St. John’s
Wood.

Both the groups above indicated are distinct enough in
their aspect to be worth perpetuating ; and by selection there
is no doubt that such deviations of structure as are now occa¬
sionally though rarely met with, may be entirely obliterated,
and the two groups rendered quite fixed and permanent.
The deviations to which we allude, though occasionally to be
seen are not frequent. Sometimes, however, it will be found
that the lower and earlier flowers differ from the upper ones,
which are developed later; and sometimes those situated on
one side of the flower-spike will differ from those on the other
side. These discrepancies might soon be removed by careful
selection. In addition to the properties of colour, size, sub-

u 2

292

THE FLORIST.

stance, and general form^ which determine the selection of
seedlings, we therefore strongly urge the rigorous rejection of
varieties in which one or the other of these definite and
special characteristics of form are not well marked. Those
seedlings which throw out their flowers in two opposite rows
should also be rejected, as being very much inferior to those
on which the flowers are all turned to face one side of the
flower-spike. In arranging cut flowers, this peculiarity of
growth may nevertheless be turned to account, by placing in
the vacant space between the two rows of blossoms, a spike
of another variety in which the flowers face one way, and in
this manner covering the unfurnished portion of the original
flower-spike. M.

ORCHARD HOUSE CULTURE.

(^Continued from p. 269.)

“ In our next we shall detail how to pot the trees and store for the
winter.” So we ended our last article, and from this point we
should have commenced our present continuation, had we not since
that was written paid a visit to Sawbridgeworth, to note what im¬
provements the originator of Orchard Houses had introduced in
their construction since our last visit ; as well as to record any¬
thing new which might present itself in the way of treatment.

Size of House. We noticed one important fact, — which has
doubtless forced itself on the practical mind of Mr. Rivers, — that
as he progresses with building new Orchard Houses, they gradually
increase in size. The first were very simple structures, “ hedge-
houses,” as he called them at the time ; i. e., they consisted of a
mere glass roof with the ends boarded up, and the sides between
the roof and the fioor-line was planked with either a yew or arbor
vitae hedge. No other means for ventilation were provided for
them, we presume, than opening the doors at the ends in very hot
weather, if safety from frost could be guaranteed in these erec¬
tions. When the trees bloomed it was found the fruit ripened in
them ; but they were rather too risky in that respect, and the
internal atmosphere, which was kept sufficiently cool and congenial
during the hottest days of summer by the circulation of air through
the side hedges, was found rather too much so during March and
April, with a low external temperature, and subsequently, Mr.
Rivers improved his next batch of houses, by substituting Louvre
boardings for the evergreen hedges, which could be opened or shut
at pleasure; this step was an improvement, as it permits a control
over the temperature of the house, which was out of the question
with a mere hedge, through which the wind, which in March is
frequently down to near the freezing point, rushed at pleasure,
and was found to make sad havoc with the tender buds just then
opening into bloom. In addition to boards as a substitute for

OCTOBER.

293

hedges for side walls, the houses were also increased in size, being
built wider and loftier than the original ones. This step was
adopted on sound practical deductions, for as the internal area of
any building increases in comparison with its exterior or cooling
surface, in proportion as it is built wider and higher, it follows
that, when once filled with warm air, it would be longer in cooling
in proportion to its size than in a narrow house ; hence, by taking
advantage of the sunny afternoons which usually precede frosty
nights in the spring, you may collect a body of air in these houses
sufficiently heated to maintain a temperature something higher
than the freezing point through the night, even when it is several
degrees lower than freezing externally, — a most important point
in the erection of true Orchard Houses, as we term those where
artificial heating is not applied, and should not be lost sight of by
parties contemplating their erection. In confirmation of this fact,
the houses now being erected by Mr. Rivers are still larger than
those previously described ; so that there has been a successive
increase in their size from the commencement to the present time.
I speak from recollection only, but I should say his last new houses
are twenty -four feet wide (just twice the width of those first
built), and of corresponding height, and something like 100 feet
in length, — noble structures, and built on sound principles. We
noticed that these houses, which are five feet high at least from
the ground to the roof plate, are glazed down to the floor, the
centre division being formed into large glazed squares or shutters
running the length of the building, for ventilation. Glass all
round gives an imposing appearance, and probably these may be
intended for show houses ; but on the score of economy the lower
half of the sides might have been Louvre boarding, for which we
have seen nothing better, or which more economically answers the
purpose of ventilation and protection. These houses, 100 feet
long by 24 wide, we were told, could be constructed for 150/. each.
We shall, however, go into this subject more fully hereafter.

Ventilation. — A strong discussion is now going on in respect to
the proper ventilation of Orchard Houses. We observe that Mr.
Pearson, of Chilwell, considers that ventilation at the apex of the
roof is indispensable. Now, if such is the case, it would materially
interfere with the cost and details of construction, which on Mr.
Rivers’ plan is very simple. The roof being a complete fixture, ven¬
tilation being given only at the sides and ends, which, in the case of
houses like those at Sawbrigeworth, are 100 feet long, would seem
to most gardeners a long way apart ; we must therefore look at this
question more closely, for there cannot be a question but that in a
span-roofed house the heated air will rise to the highest part of the
interior, and that in such houses the air will increase in rarety
and temperature from the floor to the angle of the roof. Mr.
Rivers maintains that his mode of ventilation is amply sufficient
to correct this to an extent that would render it no longer un¬
favourable to vegetation, or the production of red spider, which
invariably attack vegetation exposed to an overheated atmosphere.

u 3

294

THE FLORIST.

We critically examined all the Sawbridgeworth houses with an eye to
this question, and are bound to admit that, so far as our observation
led us to form an opinion, nothing could look better than the whole
of Mr. Rivers’s stock under glass ; and we therefore conclude
that what may 'prima facie look like a defect in the fixed roofed
system for large Orchard Houses, is found in practice not to be so,
and therefore a great fact in this simple mode of constructing them
is established. Mr. Rivers’ plan is to make each gable end of his
houses in the form of a shutter, to open and shut as required, thus
giving an opening to the admission of air exactly in a line with
the hottest part of the house ; and as we know that the rush of air
through any opening connecting one temperature with another,
will be in proportion to the difference between the respective den¬
sity of each body of air, the flow of the external air into the
house will be very rapid through these ventilators ; and, indeed, so
far as we could judge, was quite equal to keeping the air of the
house in a healthy state,' with a full side ventilation, and the doors
open on very hot days.

Treatment. — We observed no deviation from the rules already
laid down in respect to management ; pinching back the current
year’s wood, more especially in young potted trees not yet in a
bearing state, is strictly carried out, and is extended to all the
stock of apricots and cherries in pots. The pyramids in pots of
these two latter were admirably done, — perfect as regards compact¬
ness of form and abundance of bloom buds. In reference to the
merits of pot versus planted-out trees, we believe, with good
management, both plans may be considered equal. The system of
lifting planted-out trees annually, and shortening the long roots
which have made way into the border, would soon induce such a
ball of short spongelets to be formed, that the operation would
merely resemble re-potting a pot-grown plant, and as we think it
possible to grow for very many years the peach and nectarine in
18 or 24-inch pots, by occasionally shaking the old worn out soil
from the roots and replacing it with fresh, either plan may be
adopted with the certainty of success, with this difference, that
although the planting-out system may give the least trouble, there
are advantages on the score of forwarding or retarding pot plants,
as well as otherwise arranging them, that would lead us to give
the preference, ourselves, to pot culture.

We now resume our cultural details, which will necessarily be
brief. It is just possible, now rain has fallen in considerable
quantities, that the wood of the trees intended for potting, and
growing in the open quarters, will continue to make wood, which
will prevent that intended to fruit from ripening. Continue
therefore to stop all the lateral shoots as they appear, not leaving
a joint untouched which will prevent the fruit buds from breaking.
It will be a good plan to check any strong indication to grow at
this season, to go round each tree with a spade or five-grained fork,
and, after inserting it deep in the ground, raise the point slightly ;
this will give a check to the plant, prevent any future growth,

OCTOBER.

295

and assist the wood to ripen. If you have plants in pots pre¬
paring for next year, and have no glass, continue to lay them on
their sides, as advised in our last article.

Potting and storing in our next.

THINGS TO BE DONE.

Now is the time to purchase a stock of bulbous roots ; if you do
not want to force them very early, wait until you can have them
from a second importation, as Hyacinths and Narcissus are larger
and generally produce finer bloom from the second consignment
than the first, which are taken up and packed off early by the
growers to be in time for the first demand for forcing.

If you are fond of spring gardening, early Tulips, mixed Hya¬
cinths, Crocuses in varieties. Anemones, and the pretty spring¬
flowering Scillas, should not be omitted ; nor Lilium atrosangui-
neum, bulbiferum, chalcedonicum, aurantiacum, pyramidalis, and
the varieties of the martagon, for mixing in with herbaceous
plants for the summer. Gladiolus may remain for the present.

Look round your walls and fruit quarters, and note where addi¬
tions are wanted, and towards the middle of the month visit your
nurseryman (we say personally) and make your selection ; you will
have the whole stock to chose from, whereas if deferred you will
not.

If possible go and see them taken up yourself : nursery-gardeners
are frequently wholesale gentlemen with trees, and cut and slash
the roots on taking them up as a matter of no consequence ; we
advise you to have them taken up with a steel fork, by which you
will have the roots entire, and your trees will start more vigorously
in the spring.

If you grow your own briars for budding roses upon, give your
orders for them early so as to have them planted in November,
the sooner the better, and your man will also have the pick of the
hedge-rows, which will insure you better stocks.

See that your frames, sashes, and pit-lights are washed and
dried, so as to be ready for painting before the month is out, that
the whole may be in good order for winter. Greenhouses should
by this time be finished off in this respect.

Look also to your flues and heating apparatus generally, that all
may be ready for work when wanted.

If you have not procured a stock of loam and peat, lose no time
in doing so before they become saturated with wet, and stack up
in a dry place.

Look over your flower-beds, and note down what alteration you
require for next season, that you may propagate stock to mCet
your new arrangements.

If you are a Rose grower, and have either attended the shows
or read our reports on them, you will by this be informed what to

u 4

^96

THE FLORIST.

purchase in the way of new kinds ; give your orders for these at
once, or select them yourself. When they arrive, if they are
worked, lay them in a sheltered spot till February j if in pots,
keep them protected till the same time.

VALLOTA PURPUREA.

%

This valuable and beautiful autumn-flowering bulbous plant is not
so extensively grown as it deserves. Its culture is the simplest
possible, which makes it the more surprising that it should be so
little grown. A lady friend of our own has grown and flowered
it successfully, in her parlour window. Like most other bulbous
plants, a soil composed of loam, peat, a little rotten cow-dung, and
plenty of sand, suits it admirably ; the pots should always be well
drained. Good strong bulbs will flower well for several years in
the same pots, by giving them a top dressing of the above compost
annually, in spring. They will do well in any greenhouse or late
vinery, where they can get plenty of light ; they should be well
attended to in watering during the summer months, and early in
September (in general) the flower stems will appear. It is
scarcely possible to conceive anything more brilliant than a pot of
flve or six bulbs with a dozen flower stalks having five or six
flowers, and all nearly fully expanded. They are most useful at
this season, not only for in-door decoration, but also for out-door
purposes. A friend of ours who grows them in quantity, uses
them largely in this way. When vacancies occur in his mixed
borders, he plunges the pots, and when the season is not very wet
and stormy, they flower and look exceedingly well. After the
plants are done flowering, water should be gradually withheld ;
during the winter months they should be stored away on a dry
shelf, or other situation in the greenhouse where they are safe
from frost. They are readily increased by off-sets, potted and
treated nearly as above, but more heat should be given them when
growing. M.

FRUIT TREE PLANTING.

The season for planting being now at hand, a few words on the
subject may not be altogether out of place.

We do not intend to enter fully on the subject, but merely to
throw out a few practical hints, which if followed may save begin¬
ners some disappointment. The first thing to be considered is the
soil and situation ; where the situation is low and the soil a strong
clay, a very different practice must be followed from that where
the situation is high and the soil of a light loamy nature, resting
on a sandy or gravelly bed. In heavy retentive soils, trees gene¬
rally throw out a great quantity of shoots after midsummer,
which rarely get properlj’' matured. To insure success in planting,
all fruit tree borders should be well drained, especially those of a

OCTOBER.

297

retentive heavy nature. Strong soils should not have much
manure put in them, burnt clay and lime rubbish will much im¬
prove them.

In planting, keep the tree’s roots as near the surface as possible,
so as to have the soil about the tree elevated a little above the
general level of the surrounding border ; it should not, however,
be like a mound, but merely a few inches. Don’t manure your
fruit borders, is frequently the advice given to enquirers ; under
certain circumstances the advice is very good, such as in the new
made borders of rich turf, strong soils, low situations, &c. ; but to
follow such advice on light sandy soils, or porous gravelly subsoils
and high localities, would be wrong, and would lead to notliing
but disappointment. Under these circumstances good rotten
manure, I will not say may be used to advantage, but should be
used liberally for fruit trees of every kind, and especially for
Peach trees. It will be objected that this practice will encourage
the trees to make stronger shoots than will get properly ripened ;
this is not the case. Where the soil is light and resting on a
porous bed, and the situation a high one, over- strong shoots will
only be produced in exceptional seasons, and then only under bad
management. I have here for several years planted fruit trees of
all sorts in borders made of fresh turfs, both with and without
manure, and the result is, the trees planted with manure have in
all cases grown better, borne better, and are in every respect
better. Cherries, Plums, and Pears, have all done well with it.
Peach and Nectarine trees planted with plenty of manure not only
grow and bear better than those planted without manure, but they
also always look better ; they seldom sutfer much, even the driest
season, from the red spiders, whilst the others almost invariably
suffer to some extent. I also find it of the greatest advantage to
keep the soil about the roots on a level with the surrounding earth,
and in many cases a little below — the trees here never suffer from
too much moisture at the roots, but sometimes they suffer from
want of it. I have seen such good results from a liberal appli¬
cation of manure to Peach trees, that I intend using it more freely
than heretofore.

The satisfactory results stated at page 176, by the Rev. W. F.
Radclyffe, were obtained by the use of new stiff loam and black
dung. Whilst strongly recommending the use of manure on light
soils for fruit trees, we would be very cautious in using it on stiff
heavy soils.

Stourton, Yorhshire. M. Saul.

HOMES OF THE FLORIST, No. I.

Rushton Vicarage, near Blandford.

What reader of the Florist is there that does not know Rushton?
what lover of the Rose is there that has not been profited and
amused by the mixture of sterling common sense, quaint humour,
and downright enthusiasm that have marked the articles written

298

THE FLORIST.

bj its owner ? what friend of the Manetti is there who has not
relished the trenchant blows that the Vicar of Rushton, one of its
doughtiest champions, has levelled against all comers who would
attempt to put any fair dame, Celina, Boursault, Briar, or any¬
thing else, on a par with his Dulcinea ? Not one, I venture to say;
not one, too, but would have gladly done as I did when the oppor¬
tunity offered, — visit the little quiet vicarage, from whence have
issued forth some of the best Roses that have been exhibited this
season, and to whose tenant, the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe, the lover
of the Rose and the readers of the Florist are so much indebted.

Last year, when I returned from Dorchester, where I had been
as a deputation for the Irish Society, I found a letter from the
Vicar of Rushton, rating me in good set terms for having passed
him by, and a promise was then made that if called in that direc¬
tion again, I would not do so. All idea of it had, however, been
abandoned, when a letter brought me the intelligence that my
services would be required, and having a day to spare, I wrote to
say my promise should be fulfilled. At Dorchester I made the
acquaintance of another florist, about whom I may have to say a
word by and bye, — Mr. Millar, of Upway, the raiser of “Fox-
hunter,” the best Verbena of the year ; and on Tuesday, the 10th,
found myself at Wimborne, the nearest convenient station for me,
though not the nearest to Rushton. The drive from thence to my
destination was very lonely, and to one accustomed to a neighbour¬
hood where trees are sparse and foliage scanty, the delicious verdure
and luxuriant shade were especially pleasing, particularly as I had
no idea that that part of Dorset was so pretty. I soon found that
like master, like man, held true in this case, and that “Will” was
quite as full of roses as the Vicar himself, and had his tales to tell
of many a well-fought field of victories gained and opponents
vanquished. After a pleasant drive of seven miles I found myself
at Rushton, and heartily welcomed by the Vicar. It is one of
those quiet nooks, far away from noise and tumult, which lie
scattered over our happy England ; a centre of kindly influence
and of benevolent regard, which so many of our country parson¬
ages are, where, but for them, the poor would be, comparatively
speaking, uncared for, and would never have the opportunity of
seeing a life any way higher or more refined than their own. The
house is an old and roomy one, which has many a tale to tell, could
its old walls speak, of those who have entered often in happiness,
of sorrow, and doubtless of death. The garden, — ah ! there’s the
point, — laying on the slope of a hill facing the S. and S.W., and
exposed to the force of the latter winds ; and as Rushton stands
on the chalk, the ground is light, with a considerable mixture of
flint in it. At Rawston, about half a-mile distant from the house,
he has another small garden, sheltered from the S.W. winds, so
that he has the advantage of all aspects, and here he grows in
'perfection four subjects, — amongst flowers, Roses, and amongst
fruits, Strawberries, Raspberries, and Peaches. As I have already
intimated, and as most readers of the Florist know, Mr. Radclyffe

OCTOBER.

299

is a most strenuous advocate for tlie superiority of the Manetti
stock above all others, thus seconding Mr. Rivers in his recom¬
mendation of it. It has been said by its opponents, “Yes, it is all
very well for such rich, deep, loamy soil as Sawbridgeworth, but it
will not do on poorer land.” Now its success at Rushton is a com¬
plete answer to this ; there the soil is the very reverse of the Hert¬
fordshire loam ; shallow, instead of deep, hot and dry, instead of
cool and moist, and poor instead of rich, and proves, I think,
beyond question, that for hybrid perpetual and Bourbon Roses,
there is no stock that excels it. But there are two points which
Mr. Radclyffe insists upon with regard to it : 1st. That it must be
grafted low, so as in transplanting to be able to cover the union of
scion and stock, from whence generally roots will be sent out, and
thus the plants acquire almost the vitality of one on its own roots ;
and, 2ndly, abundance of good stuff, or as he himself expresses
it, my roses live like the Lord Mayor. In front of the house is a
grand tree of Solfaterre, now full of its beautiful corymbs of
golden flowers, from whence some may be cut at any time. The
beauty of the trees has been somewhat spoiled by hacking off (for
buds, &c., to give to friends) the lower branches. In a sheltered
corner was a nice plant of Celine Forestier, but the Yellow Rose,
to which Mr. Radclyffe trusts most, and of which he has thirty
trees and upwards, is Triomphe de Rennes, which, too, he has
exhibited in flrst rate order this season. “I wish,” he said, “you
could have come in the rose season !” “ No,” was my reply, “ then
one may see roses anywhere, but to see them now is the treat and
there they were, glorious Jacqueminot, and vigorous Jules Mar-
gottin, brilliant Lion des Combats, and delicate Souvenir de la
Malmaison, large and flashy Souvenir de la Reine d’Angleterre,
and the sturdy Geant, charming Acidalie, and blooming Duchess of
Norfolk ; and despite of all the severity of last winter, growing
vigorously and blooming freely. The situation, as may be readily
conceived, was favourable to their withstanding the frost, and
when the Vicar saw it set in, he further mulched the roots and
covered up the stems. As we went round the garden, he pointed
to several good-sized H. P. plants on the briar ; “ These,” he said,
“ are condemned, nothing now but Manetti for me,” and in a note
from him since, he tells me many of them have been cast into the
river. He quite agreed with me that on their own roots was the
best plan, but then he thought that they would take a great deal
of time in making large plants, — a point I am not so sure about if
proper management is adopted. We had, of course, our chat over
the new roses, and his opinion is that of Mr, Rivers and myself,
that of the roses of 1859-60, Gloire de Santenay is the gem, and
that that year was unusually productive in good sorts, far more so
than the present, or indeed than any rose year of which we are
aware. The peach trees, of which he has frequently written in
the Llorist, are certainly the most glorious trio I have ever seen,
upwards of half a century old, covering fifty-four feet of wall ;
there they were, clothed from top to bottom with fine healthy

300

THE FLORIST.

vigorous verdure, and filled with their tempting and luscious pro¬
duce, on which the rascal wasps were feasting themselves. From
these trees Mr. Radclyfie gathered last year 7d0 peaches, the year
before 179, the year before that 1040, and this year 480. Listen
to that, ye wise gentlemen ; with all your theories can ye match
that ? The strawberry plants were looking in first-rate order, and
he did give me, according to his threat, strawberries and cream,
the fruit being gathered off the long-enduring Hautbois. After
much talk on the various claimants on the notice of Fragarians
and the strawberry-eating public, he came to the conclusion that
Rivers’ Eliza, Trollope’s Queen Victoria, and Wonderful, were the
best there for general use. He had also a French kind there of a
wonderfully prolific character, from six plants of which he had
gathered nearly a gallon of fruit, and that of the very best descrip¬
tion ; it is called Marquise : of its fiavour Mr. Radclyfie could say
nothing.

The raspberry canes also were magnificent. He does not allow
the ground to be turned up, but feeds them high ; with straw¬
berries, immediately after they are done fruiting, he cuts ofi* all
layers and outside foliage, and gives them a thorough good coating
of dung, not stirring the ground at all, but trusting to the rain to
wash it in, and to the strawberry roots to go in search for it, and
they will thus, as he describes it, aquire a good head of hair before
the winter sets in.

It so happened that the 10th was the day before the grand
Dahlia Show at Kensington, whither my good friend purposed send¬
ing a box of twenty -four Roses (trebles). Now, as I was bent
Londonwards, and had moreover promised myself a peep at the
Exhibition before I went home, and as Mr. Radclyfie did not like
the fuss and trouble of going himself, I volunteered both, which is
ever a delicate matter. Convey his fiowers for him ! this necessi¬
tated travelling all night, but then here was an enthusiastic rosacean
in a strait, and so what could I do ? At “dewy eve” we sallied
forth. Will, master, and self; under the umbrageous shade of a
lofty tree in front of the house the box was placed, and to different
parts of the garden we went forth ; from one place came Gloire de
Dijon, another Triomphe de Rennes; now came Will, laden with
three Geants, and I, carrying three Duchesses in my arms, while
Master wouldn’t entrust his three jewels to any but his own stal¬
wart keeping ; then off to Rawson we all three sallied, and came
back laden with sweets for our box. Twilight began to settle
round us before we had finished, and then all must have a look, —
and all pronounced it the best box of the year. “Toby” is har¬
nessed, and I am off, retaining a lively recollection of the hospitality
and kindliness of Rushton Vicarage, carrying with me a goodly
box of the delicious peaches, and feeling assured that if I didn’t
carry Caesar and his fortunes, I did carry what would gain the
first prize at Kensington. The pleasures of night-travelling are
not many, nor is it a very lively thing to get into London at half¬
past four ; to be told at the hotel to which one drives, “No bed

OCTOBER.

301

but a four-story one,” and when one declares no bed wanted, ‘‘No
one here to boil any water if you want breakfast early however,
I managed to get to Kensington safely with my charge. As the
other boxes were brought in, I clearly saw, that if the judges were
of my mind, where.it would be placed, an opinion in which the
other competitors coincided ; it was certainly for the time of year a
very fine box, and contained the following varieties; —

Triomphe de Rennes (three fine corymbs of flowers), Geant des
Batailles, Celine Forestier (small blooms), Duchesse de Camba-
ceres, Caroline de Sansal, Mrs. Elliott, Comte de Nanteuil,
Duchesse d’Orleans, Octavie Fontaine (very small, but pretty).
Souvenir de la Malmaison, Re veil, Madame Knorr, Lion des
Combats (the finest bloom I ever saw of this variety was one of
this trio), Jules Margottin (very good), Devoniensis, Souvenir de
la Reine de TAngleterre (fresh and lively). General Jacqueminot
(a grand trio), Solfaterre (very good and full), Mogador (damask,
nice blooms of a by no means common rose), Elize Sauvage (small
and pale). Duchess of Norfolk (splendid blooms), Gloire de Dijon,
and Auguste Mie.

On my return, after having breakfasted, I eagerly sought the
box, and gladly found it labelled First Prize, and when my time
was up, I hurried off to Waterloo Station, and telegraphed to my
friend a message which must have set me down in the eyes of the
telegraph clerk as a sporting parson, “ Won easily in a canter !”

Peat

D.

Mr. Radclyffe has written much about the Rose and the goodness
of Manetti ; it may be well then to say, that as the proof of the
pudding is in the eating, he has won this year the following
prizes : —

Dorchester . June 13

Salisbury . June 28

Royal Horticultural Society, Kensington. July 10

Langport . Aug. 12

Shepton Mallet . Aug. 20

Blandford . Sept. 5

Reading . Aug. 28

JJ .

Royal Horticultural Society . Sept. 1 1

. . 24 Singles . .

1st Prize

. . 24 Singles . .

4th

. . 18 Singles . .

1st

. . 24 Singles . .

1st

))

. . 8 Trebles . .

1st

. . 24 Singles . .

1st

yy

. . 12 Trebles . .

1st

yy

. . 12 Singles . .

1st

yy

.. 24 Trebles ...

1st

yy

Well may he say, “Hooray for Manetti,” and no wonder Will
should say, — “ Master, isn’t it queer that we should take so many
first prizes out of such a scratchy little place as Rushton ? ”

LORD SUFFIELD APPLE.

About December last we obtained from Mr. Turner, of Slough,
several young apple-trees, among them was one of the above. As
the ground was not in readiness they were not finally planted until
the end of February. This variety was the only one that had any
fruit, which is not very surprising when thousands of old, and

302

THE FLORIST.

generally fine bearing trees, have not a fruit this season ; but on
this small tree of Lord Suffield there was five splendid fruit,
which, when gathered about the middle of September, averaged
in circumference at the largest part twelve inches, and a beautiful
pale yellow colour all over.

The cook that used them spoke of the first-class quality for
kitchen uses.

If a tree produced such fine fruit under these unfavourable cir¬
cumstances, we may expect from established trees good crops of
certainly one of the finest early kitchen apples in cultivation. The
tree appears a very free grower, but as mine is intended for a
pyramid, it has been kept stopped to a few eyes ; by so doing the tree
is now well furnished with spurs, so I may expect a nice crop next
year.

Perhaps some of your correspondents, growing the above variety,
could favour us with their experience, if they can speak as favour¬
ably of it I have no doubt it will soon be more extensively grown.

S. T. C. C.

AYRES’ BLACK SPINE CUCUMBER,

A SORT I have grown for the last two years, and intend to grow
no other in future. I know no variety to equal it for a supply the
whole year. The middle of September, 1860, I planted a pit for
winter supply, the sorts were Sion House, Cuthill’s Black Spine,
and Ayres’ Black Spine ; the pit is heated by a flue at front for
top heat, and a lining of dung at back for bottom heat ; during
the sharp weather of last winter it was impossible to keep heat in
the linings, it would be quite cold for several days together.

The top heat was seldom above 50° by night, and often below
that. Through the low temperature, and it being too cold to
ventilate, the Sion House and Cuthill’s mildewed badly, and the
plants died away, one after another, without producing any fruit
fit for table, while Ayres’ continued to grow all through the winter,
and from three plants of this sort I was scarcely without fruit all
the winter, and quite without a spot of the disease so much com¬
plained of the last few years.

Last February I planted the same sort in a common three-light
frame set on a bed of dung and leaves ; from these plants I began
cutting fruit at the end of March, and have cut cucumbers from
these plants every day since, and shall continue to do so for some
time yet, — at any rate until I can cut from plants of the same
variety in a flued pit, planted about the same time as last year.

It is one of the finest bearing varieties I know, showing two or
three fruit at every joint; and I generally leave on all the fruit
that shows. I do not want fruit the enormous length some people
like cucumbers ; from twelve to fifteen inches in length answer our
purpose far better than eighteen inches or two feet, especially as
we can always cut from the short growers, and only now and then
from the long ones.

OCTOBER.

303

This variety cuts up quite back to the stem, and carries a
beautiful bloom equal in winter to its appearance in summer. I
found it very difficult to get this sort true, so obtained cuttings,
and continued to work from cuttings until I saved some seed
myself ; and as I have this season grown but this kind I shall
have no trouble that way in future, as I saved a good batch of
seed. S. T. C. C.

ROSE INFORMATION.

Considering the severe winter which followed sixteen months
of rain and sunless weather, roses have bloomed most nobly and
continuously here, since the 6th of June, and I am glad that “ D,”
of the Florist came here on the lOtli of September and reviewed
them.

I must here pause to return public thanks to him for placing my
twenty-four trebles projierly in my box, and for taking them to
the Royal Horticultural Society for September the 11th, and not
less for his thoughtfulness in sending a telegram the same day,
conveying the gratifying intelligence of “ triumph.”

I have been fortunate this season, having, at seven exhibitions,
won eight first prizes and one fourth prize. I owe these victories
to the Manetti, chiefly; and I trust that the above victories will
justify what I have said in public of that most noble stock. The
propagators have hitherto been its chief hindrance, by budding
it too high. I have just bought 112 plants of Mr. Gill, of Bland-
ford, budded scarcely more than two inches above the radius
the roots, and I will undertake to say that they will do well.
Being planted two inches over the point of union, they will root
from the rose as well as from the stock.

To show the value of well-selected and accumulated roses on
the Manetti stock, I may mention that I won six first prizes
between August the 12th and September the 11th, viz., at Lang-
j)ort, Shepton Mallett, Reading (both the first prizes), Blandford,
and South Kensington. Henceforth, having done my duty in
defending the stock and in illustrating its excellence, I shall say
no more about it. Not one word will I retract of what I have
already said.

I will now recommend; —

1st. Roses that are new, and yet not novelties, — Eugene Appert,
Empereur de Maroc, Comtesse Cecile Chabrillan, Dr. Brettoneau,
Stephanie Beauharnais, Georges Dupont, George Peabody, Sou¬
venir d’Elise (now in lovely bloom), Celine Forestier, Octavie
Fontaine, Marie Thiery, Monsieur Jard, Reine de la Cite, and
Francis Arago.

2nd. Roses of 1860 and 1861. — Madame Furtardo, Triomphe
d’ Amiens (mottled lake, choice, distinct, and very fine), Wash¬
ington, La Boule d’Or (for glass ; it is perfectly hardy, very
efflorescent, but it has not opened freely), M. Melanie, Parmentier,
and Due de Cazas. These are good, and the best, as far as I have

304

THE FLORIST.

proved them, of the roses of 1861. It has been a bad year for
small pot roses. Of the roses of 1860, I can highly recommend
the following, and especially the three first, viz., Oloire de San-
then ay, Senateur Vaisse, Madame Louise Carique, M. Charles
Crapelet, Belle de Bourg la Reine, M. Bonnaire, Victor Verdier,
and L’Elegant. These are all good roses.

Seeing nice plants of Lord Nelson and Vanqueur de Solferino
in good bloom at Mr. Grill’s, I have bought seven plants of them,
but I will not recommend them from personal experience. Neither
of them did well here this summer. No doubt others will do
better when more established, and when propagated on stronger
stocks. They are struck in shingly stuff and tied to willow and
currant sprigs, which root faster than the plant, and the wonder
to me is, that any of them do well.

All my pot novelties are now taken up and housed for the
winter, which I think will be an early and severe one, as the
robins began their plaintive notes in August.

In conclusion, Gloire de Santhenay and Chabrillan are the two
most perfect roses that have come out since M. Regnier appeared.
Triomphe d’Amiens is the most distinct of any; and, for its colour,
Madame Bonnaire is the greatest acquisition. The catalogue
description of new roses is correct.

RushtoJi, Sept. 24:th. W. F. Radclyffe.

CRYSTAL PALACE AUTUMN EXHIBITION.

September 4th and 5th.

We scarcely expected to see a very large display of either out¬
door fruit or florist flowers this present autumn, for the former are
in most places a failure, and the late extreme hot weather has
stunted the growth of such autumnal-flowering Roses as had
escaped the previous winter, and on dry soils we knew that the
Dahlia was much infested with the thrips : such is the case at
Slough, where it has baflled every attempt to keep it down ; and
Mr. Turner, whose collections usually held the post of honour on
these occasions, could only master a single stand of 24 blooms and
one of fancies ; while Mr. Keynes’ flowers from the damp cool
soil of his Salisbury nursery were magnificent, and he was placed
first in all the Dahlia classes, and for thirty-six cut Roses.
Chinese and French Asters were unprecedently fine, the bright
sun of the last fortnight having evidently improved both the size
and markings of these popular autumnal flowers. Holyhocks,
both in spikes and single blooms, were good, and included some
striking novelties in the seedling way.

Our readers will remember in what laudatory terms we have
before now written of the Gladiolus, the collections exhibited fully
justified our observations, and the jump Mr. Standish has made in
this class by his successful mode of cross breeding, is something
to talk about; his group, which v/e understood consisted solely of

OCTOBER.

305

his own seedlings, eclipsed anything we have seen among conti¬
nental varieties in brilliancy as well as perfectness of form and
delicacy of marking ; some of those exhibited equalled the rich
shades of crimson, violet, and lake belonging, as we thought, only
to some species of Orchids ; but, as we hear one of the most
striking of Mr. Standish’s batch of seedlings is to be figured in
your present Number, your readers will judge of the beauty of
the class generally by your Mr. Andrews’s accurate representation.
Messrs. Youell, Paul, of Cheshunt, and Cattell were also con¬
tributors in this class. Mr. Perry’s Verbenas were superb, and
fully maintained his position as a grower and raiser of these
“ Everybody’s flowers,” as we heard them called. The season was
too late to have Phloxes in perfection, and those exhibited were
not very first-rate.

Fruit was well represented in some classes, in others not so.
Pines as a class were inferior; the heaviest Queen, d^lbs., is
nothing very remarkable for September, and the best in the black
class was a Jamaica, not quite so heavy. There were some other
middling fruits of both Queens and Jamaica, and a curious looking
Cayenne Pine, from the base of which spread an entire circle of
small well-shaped fruit, each surmounted by a crown; below these
were a second cluster of sprouts, each with its fruit, forming
altogether a novelty in the Pine way, and bearing about the same
relation to an ordinary Pine as the Brussels-sprout does to the
Savoy.

Several good collections were exhibited in the Class of Eight
Dishes. Mr. Henderson, of Trentham, had a fine pine and grapes,
including Muscat, Lady Downes, and Hamburg ; splendid peaches
and good nectarines, evidently from under glass ; melons and
cherries. The second prize was given to Mr. Tillyard, who had
three bunches of the finest Muscat grapes in the Exhibition in his
collection, and also a good pine, fine plums, peaches, cherries, and
melon. A third collection was furnished by Mr. Young, of
Havant. In collection of Six Dishes, Mr. Henderson was again
first, with fruit very similar to the above ; Mr. Dawson, of
Panshanger, second, and Mr. Page, third, — all of which were
meritorious as regards the fruit they contained, and were noticeable
for the absence of every thing below par, in an exhibition sense.
If we could not conscientiously praise the pine class, we can safely
do so with the grapes ; more magnificent Hamburg grapes, than
the two dishes shown by Mr. Meredith, of Garston, could scai-cely
be provided : so good did they appear by 'comparison with their
competitors that we observed the judges withheld the second
prize, marking thereby their great superiority over the rest in the
same class. Mr. Meredith exhibited also some superb Muscats,
but owing to the berries being somewhat discoloured, they had
only a second prize ; Mr. Frost winning with very fine clean
grown bunches,

In the Market Gardener’s Class Messrs. Meredith and Harrison
Avere placed equal, first, for 12 lbs. Hamburgs. After our ob-

VOL. XV., NO. CLXVI. X

306

THE FLORIST.

servations on the former grapes, our readers may suppose Mr.
Harrison’s were also very first-rate, and so they were. Tlie second
prize was awarded to a basket of good Muscats, contributed by
Mr. S. Solomon ; two other prizes were awarded in this class to
Mr. Frost and Mr. Young. The prizes for the largest bunch
were obtained by Mr. Dwerrihouse, for a monstrous bunch of the
true Marchioness of Hastings grape, a large berried white grape,
something intermediate between the Syrian and White Nice ; but
which has not much to recommend it besides its noble appearance.
Mr. Meredith had the second prize, with a fine bunch of Black
Hamburg. Mr. Snow’s prize for the best dish of Muscat Ham¬
burg, was awarded to Mr, Henderson, and second to Mr. Smith.

Peaches and Nectarines were more plentiful than we expected
to see, but it is evident that orchard-house fruit will beat those
from the open walls in size and appearance, and we think they
should be separated, by making a distinct class for each. There
also appears to be great confusion in the names of Peaches exhi¬
bited from open walls, many very different peaches being shown
under the same names.

Plums very good and numerous; the “Washington” is extra
fine, and proved itself the best plum in the Exhibition, not except¬
ing the Jefferson; although we must except, as regards flavour
alone, the Green Gage. Two veteran exhibitors, Mr. Snow and
Mr. Whiting, found themselves side by side in the class for Three
Dishes, and altogether the other classes were well contested.

Figs. Only one collection made its appearance.

Cherries. The Morello Cherries from Mr. Betteridge, were
extremely fine, both as regards colour and size, but all the dishes
exhibited were good. The Apples and Pears furnished two large
tables, but call for no particular comment ; Six Dishes of Dessert
Pears were contributed in fine condition by Mr. Harrison, Oat-
lands, and we noticed some nice fruit in the class of Three Dishes,
from Mr. Holder of Reading. In the class of Pears for flavour
Beurre d’Amanlis was placed first, and Louise Bonne, of Jersey,
second ; so far superseding William’s Seedling and the Jargonelle,
which have hitherto usually held first place, but we understand
one, if not both, of the two placed first were orchard-house fruit,
A large quantity of Melons were exhibited, mostly very inferior
in quality, from which we must, however, except the first prize
fruit from Mr. Bailey, Shardiloes, and also the second prize, awarded
to Mr. Pottle. In the Scarlet flesh class, “ Gem ” was placed
first and second, and indeed was the only Scarlet shown.

In the miscellaneous class, Messrs. Lane & Son exhibited a col¬
lection of orchard-house fruit trees in pots, the fruit on which,
although plentifully produced, was only half ripe, and scarcely in
a state for exhibition. Sir Joseph Paxton had also half a dozen
vines in pots, loaded with what appeared some kind of French
Chasselas Grape, and several dishes of Peaches, Nectarines, and
Plums, showing the quality of the fruit grown in his house for the
million, which obtained the commendation of the judge, although

OCTOBER

307

not placed for competition. In this class, we noticed several dishes
of the Salway Peach in fine condition, and showing it to be not
only an excellent late wall-fruit, but also a useful kind for houses,
where it will ripen and keep long after the usual crop is gathered;
indeed, from late orchard houses, we may expect to have this fruit
good through November. Mr. Henderson obtained a prize for a
dish of the Guava, and Mr. Young, of Havant, for a nice dish of
the Banana, which included all that we considered noticeable in
the class.

List of Prizes Awarded.

DAHLIAS.

Class 1.— 48 Blooms, dissimilar varieties : —

1st Prize, 71. Mr. J. Kej’nes, Salisbury.

2nd „ 5L Mr. C. Kimberley, Stoke Xui'sery,
Coventry.

3rd „ 31. Mr. H, Legge, Edmonton.

4tb „ 21. Mr. J. Walker, Thame.

Class 2. — 24 Blooms, dissimilar varieties : —

1st Prize, 51. Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury.

2nd „ 31. 105. Mr. C. Turner, Slough.

3rd „ 21. Mr. J. Walker, Thame.

4th „ ll. 105. Mr. C. E. Allen, Shacklewell.

5th „ IZ. Mr. J. Cattell, Westerham.

6th „ 105. Mr. C. Kimberley, Stoke Nursery,

Coventry.

Class 3. — 12 Fancies, dissimilar varieties : —

1st Prize, 2Z. 105. Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury.

2nd „ IZ. 10s. Mr C. Kimberley, Stoke
Nursery, Coventry.

3rd „ IZ. Mr . C. Turner, Slough.

4th „ 105. Mr. II. Legge, Edmonton.

Class 4. — (Amateurs only) 24 Blooms,
dissimilar varieties : —

1st Prize, 5Z. Mr. W. Dodds, Salisbury.

2nd „ 3Z. 105. Rev. C. Fellows, Norwich.

3rd „ 2Z. Mr. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich.

4th ,, IZ. lOs. Mr. W. Corp, Salisbury.

5th „ IZ. Mr. A. Moffatt, gardener to Lord

Maynard, Dunmow.

Gth „ 105. IMr. T. Leslie, Ramsgate.

Class 5. — (Amateurs only) 12 Blooms,
dissimilar varieties : —

1st Prize, 3Z. 105. Mr. T. Charlton, Market Har-
boro’.

2nd

2Z. IO5. Mr. T. Woodward, Stoke, near
Coventry.

3rd

IZ. IO5. Mr. W. Dodds, Salisbury.

4th

IZ. 55. Rev. C. Fellowes, Norwich.

IZ. Mr H. Glasscock, Bishops Stort-
ford.

5th

99

6th

155. Mr. J. Sladden, Ash, Kent.

7th

99

105. Mr. W. Corp, Salisbury.

Class

6. — (Amateurs only) 12 Fancies,

dissimilar varieties : —

1st Prize, 21. 10s. IMr. C. J. Perry, Castle Brom¬
wich.

2nd „ IZ. 105. Mr. W. Dodds, Salisbury.

3rd „ IZ. Rev. C. Fellowes, Norwich.

4th „ 105. Mr. W. Corp, Salisbury.

SEEDLING DAHLIAS.

Class 7.— Three Blooms of each variety.

Certificate of merit for “ IMinnie Dodds,” Mr.
W. Dodds, Salisbury; for “Black Prince,”
IMr. J. Keynes, Salisbury ; for “ Lord Derby,”
Mr. J. Pope, Chelsea.

X

ASTERS.

Class 8. — 24 German Asters, dissimilar,
single blooms (quilled) : —

1st Prize, IZ. IO5. Mr. R. H. Betteridge, Milton
Hall, Steventon.

2ud „ IZ. Mr. L. Besley, East Hendred.

3rd „ 1-55. Mr. T. Westbrook, Abingdon.

Exti'a Prize, IO5. Mr. D. Lewis, Wantage.

„ „ Mr. C. Sandford, gardener to

T.Thomasset, Esq.Waltham-
stow.

Class 9.-24 French Asters, dissimilar,
single blooms tasselled: —

1st Prize, IZ. IO5. Mr. C. Sandford, gardener to
T.Thomasset, Esq. Waltliamstow.
2nd ,, IZ. Mr. C. Wyatt, gardener to H.

IVilles, Esq., Epsom.

3rd „ 155. Mr. J. Walker, Thame.

Extra Prize, IO5. Mr. W. Sandford, Woodford.

„ „ Mr. R. Penwill, gardener to

T. Browning Esq., Leyton,

„ „ Mr. J. T. Hedge, Colchester.

ROSES.

Class 10. — 36 Roses, distinct varieties, one
Truss of each ; —

1st Pri;^e, 3Z. Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury.

2nd „ 2Z. Mr. R. Laing, Twickenham.

Class 11. — 24 Roses, distinct varieties,
single blooms : —

1st Prize, 2Z. Mr. R. Laing, Twickenham.

2nd „ 1 Z. Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry.

3rd ,, IO5. Mr. J. Cattell, Westerham.

Class 12. — 18 Roses, distinct varieties, single
blooms (Amateurs only) : —

1st Prize, 2Z. Mr. J. Hollingworth, Maidstone.
2nd ,, IZ. Mr. J. Dennis, gardener to H.

Hayward, Esq., Folkington.

3rd „ 155. Mr. J. T. Hedge, Colchester.

4th „ IO5. Dr. Cooper, Slough.

HOLLYHOCKS.

Class 13. — 12 Hollyhocks, distinct varieties,
in spikes : —

1st Prize, 2Z. Messrs. Laird and Laing, Forest
Hill.

2nd „ IZ. Mr. Wm. Chater, Saffron Walden.
3rd „ IO5. Mr. W. Bragg, Slough.

Class 14.— 24 Hollyhocks, distinct varieties,
single blooms : —

1st Prize, 2Z. Messrs. Mincliin and Son, Hook
Norton.

2nd „ IZ. Mr. Chater, Saffron Walden.

3rd „ 105. Messrs. Laird and Laing, Forest

Hill.

2

308

THE FLORIST

Class 15. — 12 Hollyhocks, single blooms,
distinct varieties {Amateurs only) : —

1st Prize, IZ. Mr. H. Glasscock, Bishops Stort-
ford.

2nd „ 15s. Mr. W. Plester, gardener to Mrs.

Rush, Bishops Stortford.

3rd „ 10s. Mr. T. Anstiss, Brill, Bucks.

VERBENAS.

Class 16. — 24 Verbenas, distinct varieties,
five Trusses of each variety : —

1st Prize, 1?. Mr. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich.
2nd „ 15s. Messrs. W. Minchin & Son, Hook

Norton.

3rd „ 10s. Mr. G. S. Patey, Steventon.

4th ,, 7s. &d. Mr. C, Grimhly, Stoke New¬

ington.

GLADIOLUS.

Class 17.— For the best collection : —

1st Prize, 2L Mr. J. Standish, Bagshot.

2nd „ IL Messrs. Youell, & Co., Great Yar¬
mouth.

8rd „ 10s. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshnnt.

4th ,, 7s. ^d. Mr. J. CatteU, Westerham.

PHLOX.

Class 18. — 18 Spikes, distinct varieties: —

1st Prize, \L Mr. N. Lawrence, Chatteris.

2nd „ 15s. Mr. J. Cattcll, Westerham.

Class 19. — Miscellaneous.

Extra Prize, 10s. Mr. G. S. Patey, Steventon.

„ „ 10s. Design. — IMr. T. Sparkes, gar¬

dener to W. Joyn-
son, Esq., St. Mary’s
Cray.

„ „ 7s. Qd. Mr. J. Burley, Limpsfleld,

Surrey.

FRUIT

Class A. — Collection of eight dishes, distinct
kinds : —

1st Prize, fiZ. Mr. A. Henderson, Trentham.

2nd „ 4Z. Mr. G. Tillyard, gardener to J.

Kclk, Esq., Great Stanmore.

3rd „ 3Z. Mr. G. Young, gardener to W. H.

Stone, Esq., Havant.

Class 3.— Collection of six dishes, distinct
kinds : —

1st Prize, 4Z. Mr. A. Henderson, Trentham.

2nd „ 3Z. Mr. T Dawson, gardener to Earl

Cowper, Panshanger.

3rd ,, 2Z. Mr T. Page, gardener to W. Leaf,

Esq., Streatham.

Extra Prize, 10s. Mr. W. Kaile, gardener to
Earl Lovelace, Ripley.

Class C. — Pine Apple, single fruit, any variety
but Queen

1st Prize, 2Z. Mr.T. Young, gardener to C.Bailey,
Esq., M.P., Aberdare.

2nd ,, IZ. Mr. G. Young, gardener to W. H.
Stone, Esq. Havant.

3rd „ 10s. Mr. T. Page, gardener to W. Leaf,

Esq., Streatham.

Class D. — Pine Apple, Queen, single fruit: —
1st Prize, 2Z. Mr. T. Page, gardener to W. Leaf,
Esq., Streatham.

2nd ,, IZ. Mr. R. Dalrymple, gardener to C.

H. Leigh, Esq., Pontypool park,
Monmouthshire.

8rd „ 10s. Mr. T. Young, gardener to C.

Bailey, Esq., M.P., Aberdare.
Extra, 10s. Mr. W. Bull, King’s-road, Chelsea.

Class E. — Grapes, boxes of 121bs. weight : —

Equal 1st Prize, 3Z. Mr. C. F. Harrison, Wey-
bridge.

Equal 1st „ Mr. J. Meredith, Garston, Liver¬
pool.

2nd Prize, 2Z. Mr. S. Solomon, Peckham-rye.
Equal 3rd Prize, IZ. Mr. T. Frost, Aylesford.
Equal 3rd „ Mr. G. Young, gardener to W.

H. Stone, Esq., Havant.

Class F. — Grapes, Black, two dishes, distinct
kinds: —

1st Prize, 3Z. Mr. J. Meredith, Garston, Liver¬
pool,

2nd „ 2Z. Withheld.

3rd „ IZ. Mr. T. Simmonds, gardener to J.

Smith, Esq., Mickleham Hall,
Dorking.

Class G. — Grapes, White, two dishes, Muscat
or any other variety : —

1st Prize, 3Z. Mr. T, Frost, Aylesford.

2nd „ 2Z. Mr. J. Meredith, Garston, Liver¬

pool.

3rd „ IZ. Mr. T. Reid, gardener to T. N.

Farquhar, Esq., Sydenham.

Class H. — Grapes, the largest bunch of any
kind : —

1st prize, IZ. Mr. J.C. Dwerrihouse, gardener to
Viscount Eversley, Heckfield.

2nd „ 15«. Mr, J. Meredith, Garston, Liver¬

pool.

Class I.— Peaches and Nectarines, four dishes,
two kinds : —

1st Prize, 3Z. Mr. A. Henderson, Trentham,

2nd ,, 2Z. Mr. W, Kaile, gardener to Earl

Lovelace, Ripley.

3rd „ IZ. Mr. G. Tillyard, gardener to J.

Kelk, Esq., Great Stanmore.

Class J. — Peaches and Nectarines, two
dishes : —

1st prize, 2Z. Mr. O. Goldsmith, gardener to Sir
W. R. Farquhar, Bart., Dorking.
2nd „ 1 Z. 10s. Mr. H. Packman, Ewell Castle.

3rd „ IZ, Mr. W. Kaile, gardener to Earl

Lovelace, Ripley.

Extra Prize, 10s. Mr. W. Holder, Eton College.

Class K. — Melons, green-fieshed, single
fruit : —

1st Prize, 2Z. INIr. T. Bailey, Shardeloes Garden,
Amersham.

2nd „ IZ. Mr, J. Pottle, gardener to B. D.

Colvin, Esq., Woodbridge.

3rd „ 10s. Mr. T. Westbrook, Abingdon.

Class L. — Melons scarlet-fleshed, single
fruit:—

1st Prize, 2Z. Dr. Cooper, Slough.

2nd „ IZ. Mr. T, Blair, Kingston.

3rd „ 10s. Mr.T.Bayley, Shardeloes Garden

Amersham.

Class M. — Figs, two dishes, 12 fruits each,
distinct ; —

1st Prize, IZ. 10s. Mr. E. Spivey, gardener to J.

A. Houblon, Esq., Hallingbury
Park, Essex.

Class N.— Cherries, two dishes, in fifties: —

1st Prize, 2Z. Mr. R. H. Betteridge, Milton Hall,
Steventon.

2nd „ IZ. 10s. Mr. T. Dawson, gardener to
Earl Cowper, Panshanger.

3rd „ IZ. Mr. S. Snow, gardener to Countess
Cowper, Wrest Park, Silsoc.

OCTOBEK.

309

Class O.^Plums, three dishes, distinct kinds,
10 fruits each : —

Equal 1st Prize, 21. Mr. J. B. Whiting, Deep-
dean Gardens.

Equal 1st „ 2Z. Mr. S. Snow, gardener to the

Countess Cowper, Wrest
Park, Silsoe.

2nd Prize, ll. 10s. Mr J. Enstone, gardener to
Sir J. Duckworth, Bart., Exeter.

3rd Ih Mr. T. Turnbull, gardener to Lady

Lambert, Thames Ditton.

Extra „ 10s. Mr. T. Simmonds, gardener to

J. Smith, Esq., Mickleham Hall,
Dorking.

Class P. — Apples, dessert, six dishes, distinct
varieties, 12 fruits each : —

1st Prize, 21. Mr. J. Mortimore, gardener to Miss
Browne, Carshalton.

2ud ,, H. lOi. Mr. J. Newton, gardener to
G. Graham, Esq., Enfield Chase.

3rd „ IL Mr. 1’. Turnbull, gardener to Lady
Lambert, Thames Ditton.

Extra „ 10a, Dr. Cooper, Slough

Class Q — Apples, kitchen, six dishes, distinct
varieties, 12 fruits each : —

1st Prize, 21. Mr. R. Heather, gardener to R.

Pulsford, Esq., Ember Grove,
Kingston.

2nd. „ 11, 10s. Mr. J. Mortimore, gardener

to Miss Browne, Carshalton.

3rd „ IL Mr. J. Newton, gardener to G.

Graham, Esq., Enfield Chase.

Extra „ 10s. Mr. T. Frost, Aylesford.

Extra „ 10s. Mr. J. Holder, Reading.

Class R. — Pears, six dishes, distinct varieties,
12 fruits each : —

1st Prize, 31, Mr. C. F. Harrison, Weybridge.

2nd „ 21. Mr. W. Holder, Eton College.

, , ,, IL Mr. P. Nickles, Hammersmith.

Class S.— Pears, three dishes, distinct
varieties, 12 fruits each : —

1st Prize, IL 10.?. Mr. J. Holder, Reading.

2nd „ IL Mr. D. Hutchinson, gardener to H.

Cotton, Esq., Quex Park, Margate.
3rd ,, l.'is. Mr. W. Holder, Eton College.
Class T.— Pears, single dish, for weight: —

1st Pi'ize, 15.?. Mr. C. F. Harrison, Weybridge.
2nd ,, Mr. G. Grover, Hammersmith.

Class TJ. — Pears, single dish, for flavour: —

1st Prize, 15s. Mr. D. Hutchinson, gardener to H.

Cotton, Esq., Quex Park,Margate.
2nd „ 10s. Mr. C. F. Harrison, Weybridge.

3rd ,, 5s. Mr. J. Beer, Hammersmith.

Class W. — Miscellaneous.

Prize 81. Fruit Trees, in Pots — Lane& Son, Great
Berkhampstead, Prize 11. — Bananas— Mr. G.
Young, gardener to W. Stone, Esq., Havant.
Prize IZ — Salway Peach — Mr. J. C. Dwerri-
house, gardener to Viscount Eversley, Heck-
field. Prize 10s. — Mammoth Gourd — Mr. S.
Bennett, gardener to S. Fenton, Esq., Penge.
Prize lOs. — Cucumbers— Mr. J. Horwood, gar¬
dener to G. H. 'i’urubull. Esq., Downe. Prize
10s. — Guavas — Mr. A Henderson, Trentham.
Prize 10s. — various Gourds— Mr. Salter, gar¬
dener to A. Sillems, Esq., Sydenham.

Class X. — Snow’s Muscat Hamburgh Grapes.

1st Prize, Mr. A. Henderson, Trentham.

2nd ,, Mr. James Smith, gardener to Lord
Tenterden, Hendon.

T/ie Judges highly commend a Collection of
Grapes in Pots, and various fruit grown in
Glass Houses for the Million. Exhibited by
Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P.

Judges of Flowers : — Messrs. John Edwards, W. Holmes, F. K.. Kinghorn,
Joseph Eobinson, and Charles Edmonds.

Judges of Fruit: — Messes. Andrew Stewart, Lewis Solomon, and John

Spencer.

EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION,

September 11th.

In two great shows following so close one upon the other, there
must of necessity be a great similarity, the same exhibitors well-
nigh in each place, the same flowers, and the same prizes. As
the Palace ” Show has been reported, I shall merely mention a few
of the more notable things that struck me in the Florist’s “ way.”

As the Exhibition was called a “ Grand Dahlia Show,” we must
first begin with those favourite autumnal flowers, which, despite
the “ classical’s” epithet of “lumpish,” we shall still consider A 1.
The exhibition missed the presence, as a competitor, of Mr.
Charles Turner, of Slough, for the thrvps had so completely con¬
quered him that a few days before, when I was there, he had taken
away all his shades, stands, &c., and had determined to submit to
the invasion of blacks^ which had made fast quite on one side.

Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, stept into the front rank, and took the
three fir.st prizes oftered to nurserymen. The best box of Dahlias
in the Show was his. It contained admirably done blooms of

X 3

310

THE FLORIST.

D’lsraeli, Chairman, Lady Pennant, Golden Drop, Andrew Dodds,
George Elliott, Sir G. Douglas, Lilac Queen, Perfection, Mrs.
Trotter, Lady Franklin, Kimberley’s Queen, Lord Palmerston,
Jenny Austin, Triomplie de Pecq, Hugh Miller, John Keynes,
Flower of the Day, Pandora, Mrs. Dodds, Mauve, Juno, Earl of
Shaftesbury, and Colonel Wyndham. Amongst amateurs, the
best box was decidedly, I thought, Mr. Fellowes, 24’s — the Beauty
of Hilperton, Norfolk Hero, Bravo, Lord Palmerston, Pre-eminent,
and Clara Novello, were very fine. The finest seedling in the Show,
and indeed, so far as I have seen, the finest of the year, was Pope’s
Earl Derby, a flower of wonderfully grand build. This received
a first-class certificate from the Floral Committee, and will pass
into the hands, we believe, of Mr. Turner, of Slough.

Of Roses I have already said something in another paper, but
there was one collection, sent in by Mr. Mitchell, of the Piltdown
Nurseries, which deserves especial praise. He not only sent in the
only box of 48 trebles, but also a very nice collection of nearly 100
varieties besides. His box of 48 contained H.P.’s Alexandrine
Bachenstaff, Auguste Mie, Abd-el-Kader (a son of General Jac¬
queminot, brilliant scarlet, with a dark velvety-crimson shade in
the petal), Baronne Prevost, Caroline de Sansal, Cardinal Patrizzi,
Colonel Cambriels (a flower I did not know, shaded crimson, of
fine form), Comtesse Cecile de Chabrillian, ex. ex., Doctor Guil-
lard, Duchess of Norfolk, Duchess of Sutherland, General Jacque¬
minot (some fine blooms in excellent character), Gustave Coraux,
Jacques Lafitte, Jules Margottin, Lord Raglan, La Reine, ex. ex.,
L’Oriflamme de St. Louis (very good), Madame Charles Crapelet
(a fine and brilliant flower), Madame Masson, Madame Knorr,
Madame Furtado (a lovely rose, one of the toppers of this year).
Monsieur de Montigny (very large), Norma, Orderic Vital, Ornement
de Jardins, ex., Pauline Lausezeur, Prince Leon, Senateur Yaisse
(a magnificent flower), Souvenir de la Reine d’Angleterre, Triomphe
des Beaux Arts, Victor Verdi (good), and William Griffiths, B.
Acidalie, Dupetit Thouin, Docteur Berthet, General Blanchard,
Paxton, Souvenir de la Malmaison (as usual, good and large),
Novello, Narcissie, and Triomphe de Rennes (the latter very fine).
Teas, Gloire de Dijon (as ever, grand and fine), tiomere (large
and good). La Pactole, Louise de Savoie (very fine), Madame de
Lartas, and Souvenir d’Elise. It will be seen that the H.P.’s, as
usual, contribute the largest quota to the autumnal blooms. Mr.
Keynes had also a nice box of 26’s, and there were some fine Teas
in Mr. Hollingsworth’s stand. Phloxes in pots were contributed
by Mr. Cattell, of Westerham, and Mr. Standish, of Bagshot, the
former taking first prize, thus justifying what I ventured, in
speaking of a visit to his nursery this year, to say, “ that he was
pushing his way up as a grower.” His Phloxes were certainly as
fine, and probably finer, than most of the frequenters of the Show
were in the habit of seeing in the open grounds.

There can be no doubt but that the revival of the Horticultural
Society, its transference to Kensington Gore, and its wisdom in

OCTOBER.

311

securing the services of Mr. Eyles, have given a great stimulus to
floriculture ; and as now there are three grand series of flower-
shows every year, the Crystal Palace, Royal Botanic Society, and
Kensington, I do hope it will bring many new competitors into the
field. One does not like to see the old stagers ” running off with
all the prizes, and the infusion of new blood will tell favourably in
every respect.

The Gladioluses were perhaps the most attractive feature of the
Show, and although they were a leetle better at Sydenham, yet
Mr. Standish’s collection was again the object of general attention,
— the variety of tints, the purity of some, and the gorgeousness of
others, were exceedingly interesting. What could be more lovely
than Lady Caroline Legge, with its pure snowy petals, and its bril¬
liant feather of purplish-crimson ? what, again, more brilliant than
Achille ? Then, how novel the colour in Egerie, and how delicate
the markings in Mrs. Hole, for which see Mr. Andrews’ admirable
figure in this number. Look again at the deep vivid crimson of
Ketterii, and the delicate primrose of Goldfinch. Miss Graham and
Susan Ingram, snowy and pure, fit to be the bridesmaids of a Queen ;
and J. W. Lane, and Rev. Joshua Dix, brilliant, and worthy of the
names they bear. Amongst others, there were Colonel Hood (deep
scarlet), Madame Leselbe (white, with purplish-crimson or plum-
coloured feather), Colleen Bawn (striped carmine), Tippoo Saib
(orange), Rose of England (bright cerise), Mr. Rucker (beautiful deep
cerise, white throat, and cerise feather). In fact, there seems to be
no end to the variety which this flower is capable of running into, and
as it seeds so freely, and hybridizes well, we may expect every year
still further novelties ; and as decidedly it has become iho, fashionable
flower, those who have, like Mr. Standish, hit upon a good strain,
will have every encouragement to proceed with their hybridizing.
My own experience with it has been that it does not require a poor
soil, but that any light soil will answer for it ; that in my own
garden is good, but light and friable, and they seem to thrive won¬
derfully well in it.

Having thus touched on some of the more salient points of the
Exhibition, one ca^nnot close it without testifying to the admirable
manner in which the whole arrangements were carried out under
Mr. Eyles’ superintendence. Every attention was paid to exhi¬
bitors, and there was as little confusion as could well be on such
an occasion. There were of course, as usual, some complaints as
to the judging, and in one or two instances, perhaps, well founded.
Class S. — a box of six dahlias obtained one of the prizes in that
class, although it had two yellows in it ; a want of variety which
ought to have condemned it. But these things will always happen,
— the only pity is when people lay it to the charge of unfairness or
incompetence, as was done in a notable case this year, and when
gardening publications allow their columns to be made the vehicle
of attack on a set of men whose task is never an enviable, and often
a most difficult one.

Dealy Sept. 2Qth.

X 4

H.

312

THE FLORIST.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Fruit Committee. — F. J. Graham, Esq., in the chair. At
this Meeting prizes were offered for the best three dishes of
Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. Mr. Dwerrihouse, gardener to
Lord Everslej, at Heckfield, sent Royal George, Noblesse, and
Salway. The first was briskly flavoured, but not sweet ; Noblesse
was very rich and sugary, and remarkably highly coloured for
that variety ; while Salway was very flat in flavour, though large
and remarkably handsome fruit. The merit of this variety is in
its lateness ; and from this exhibition it was evident that it does
not do to force, but requires to be ripened gradually. This being
the only collection exhibited, Mr. Dwerrihouse was awarded the
First Prize of IZ. Mr. Dwerrihouse also exhibited a dish of very
fine Violette Hative Nectarines. There were no competitions for
the Nectarines.

In Plums there were three competitors, of whom the most suc¬
cessful was Mr. Francis Dancer, Little Sutton, Turnham Green,
who obtained the First Prize of \L His collection consisted of
Jefferson, Pond’s Seedling, and Poupart’s Seedling. The Jeffer-
sons were remarkably large and handsome, having a bronzy tinge,
and most deliciously flavoured. Pond’s Seedling was also large,
but the flavour, though good for that variety, was only that of a
cooking Plum. Poupart’s Seedling is the size of an Orleans, quite
black and lined all over with bronzy tracings. The flavour is rich,
and it appears to be a very desirable Plum. The Second Prize of
I5s. was awarded to Mr. John Newton, East Lodge, Enfield Chase,
for Jefferson, Red Magnum Bonum, and Coe’s Golden Drop ; and
the Third Prize of 10s. to Mr. Henry Eyre, gardener to A. F.
Slade, Esq., Chiselhurst, for Green Gage, Jefferson, and Bleeker’s
Yellow Gage. The last is an American variety, about the size of
a well-grown Green Gage, of an amber colour, but not particularly
rich in flavour.

There was a very nice collection of Grapes exhibited from the
garden at Chiswick, among which were Muscat Noir HMif, Hatif
de Jura, and Rouge de Rolle. These seemed all to be very much
alike, and appeared to be the same as our old Early Black July.
There was not the slightest trace of Muscat in the Muscat Noir
Hatif. Muscat Hamburgh was well exhibited, the bunches being
of good size and very well set. The flavour was most excellent.
Burchardt’s Prince, grown in the Vine-pit in a pot, was very well
developed. The bunch was large and long, and the berries as
black as Sloes, while the flavour was that of the finest Black
Hamburgh. The true Esperione, as exhibited, is a short bunch
and not very well set, the stalk and pedicels very stout and warted,
and the berries perfectly round. The skin is jet black and thick ;
and the flavour is good, and between the Black Hamburgh and
Black Prince character.

A Seedling Grape of a remarkable character was received from

OCTOBER.

313

Mr. William Melville, of Dalmeny Park, near Edinburgh; it was
obtained by crossing Champion Hamburgh with the pollen of
Canon Hall Muscat. The result is a Grape producing a very
large bunch, with enormous roundish or rather oblate berries of a
grizzly colour, having the flesh of the Mill Hill Hamburgh impreg¬
nated with a distinct flavour of the Muscat. The Grape had
evidently been produced under some disadvantageous circumstances,
and there is no doubt when well grown it will prove a very
valuable acquisition.

Mr. Graham, of Cranford, also sent a Seedling Grape of the
White Frontignan class, and in the way of Chasselas Musque ; but,
as it was not quite ripe, Mr. Graham was recommended to bring
it up at the next Meeting.

A fine, large, and well-set bunch of a Muscat Grape was re¬
ceived from John Ruck, Esq., Sutton Court, Surrey, under the
name of Muscatel Jesus. This, in the opinion of the Committee,
proved to be Muscat of Alexandria.

Mr. Drummond, gardener to J. J. Smith, Esq., Beechwood,
exhibited a basket of very large berries of Mill Hill Hamburgh
Grapes. They were beautifully covered with bloom ; but, as they
Avere not allowed to be tasted, the Committee could not give an
opinion upon them.

Mr. F. Joynes, of Bourtou, Berks, sent a shoot of a Yine bear¬
ing two bunches of Grapes, the produce of different crops : one
was ripened in June and the other in September. From the con¬
dition in which these were exhibited, the Committee were of
opinion that there Avas no advantage to be gained by this mode of
culture ; but that, on the contrary, the result, which is after all an
unsatisfactory one, must be obtained at the expense of the vigour
of the Vine. Mr. Busby also exhibited a shoot of the Golden
Hamburgh grown under similar circumstances.

Mr. Rivers, of SaAvbridgeworth, brought fruit of a Seedling
Peach called Early Albert ; it is of good size, of a pale, creamy
white on the shaded side, and a lively crimson Avhere exposed ; the
flesh is quite pale at the stone. The flavour was excellent. The
same gentleman also exhibited good specimens of Crawford’s
Early, a large yelloAV-fleshed American Peach of excellent flavour,
and another of the same race and origin called Bergens’ Yellow,
Avhich is larger than the former, but was flatter in flaAmur.
Princess Marie is of rich flavour, as is also Grosse Mignonne
Tardive, a variety a fortnight later than the old Grosse Mignonne.

Mr. Rivers’ greatest triumph is the production of a Seedling
Nectarine, Avhich has all the merits of the Stanwick, and none of
its defects. It Avas raised from the Violette Hative, impregnated
by StanAvick. The fruit has all the appearance and richness of
flavour of its male parent ; but with the deep stain of red in the
flesh where it surrounds the stone like the female. It is a month
earlier than the Stanwick, and a fortnight later than the Violette
Hative. Perhaps the most remarkable feature in the whole is,
that the fruit being altogether that of the StauAvick, the kernel is

314

THE FLOKIST.

bitter, showing how very decided the cross has been. Here, then,
is a bitter -kernelled Stanwick, for both the leaves and flowers as
well as the fruit are Stanwick. It is called the Victoria Nectarine,
and it was awarded a First-class Certificate.

Mr. Rivers also exhibited another Seedling Nectarine called
Pine Apple, which was not quite ripe; and another from the New
White, which was very rich in flavour.

George F. Wilson, Esq., of Gishurst Cottage, Weybridge, sent
a dish of magnificent Louise Bonne of Jersey Pears, among the
largest we have ever seen of that variety. They were grown in
pots in an orchard-house, but moved out of doors during the
summer months, v/here they were brought to the excellent con¬
dition in which they were exhibited. The flesh was very tender,
melting, and juicy, and the flavour delicious. Mr. Wilson also
exhibited a large specimen of Melon Apple.

A Seedling Apple called Jedburgh Abbey, was received from
Mr. William Deans, Nurseryman, Jedburgh, N.B. It is of medium
size, conical shape, and with a smooth, yellow skin. The flesh is
briskly flavoured and tender. It is said to be a very regular and
abundant bearer. The opinion of the Committee was that this
might be considered a good summer kitchen Apple; and from its
tender flesh and agreeable brisk flavour would be valuable for
apple jelly, the Keswick Codlin being the variety which is now
most used for that purpose.

Mr. Newton, of East Lodge, Enfield Chase, exhibited specimens
of Devonshire Quarrenden, Kerry Pippin, and Yellow Ingestrie.

TRADE LISTS.

List of Bulbs cultivated and imported by E. G. Henderson ^
Sony Wellington Road Nursery. Autumn, 1861.

The Bulb List is classified and described with the Messrs.
Henderson’s usual care. There is, in addition, several novelties
in the miscellaneous class, in the way of Caladiums and fine-
foliaged plants (becoming more popular every day) which parties
interested in ornamental gardening should avail themselves of.
In this department, as well as in bulbous rooted plants, the List
is rich and complete.

Catalogue of Bulbous Roots and Tulips imported and sold
by Charles Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.

A very complete and select Bulb List. Respecting the Tulips
offered, we can only say that, as Mr. Turner’s collection is decidedly
unique, the List also comprises the gems of the celebrated Slough
collection, as well as those of all our best growers, and it should
be in the hands of every Tulip fancier.

OCTOBER.

315

Autumn Catalogue of Dutch and Cape Flowering Bulbs
offered for sale by Butler ^ McCulloch, Seedsmen,
Covent Garden Market.

Here we have a Catalogue filling fifty pages of closely printed
matter, comprising a list and description of all kinds of Bulbs and
their allies, with directions for culture, forming altogether a com¬
plete vade-mecum to the subject of which it treats.

Select List of Hyacinths and other Bulbs recommended and
sold by William Paul, Cheshunt Nurseries and Seed
Warehouse, Waltham Cross.

A very choice selection, got together with the author’s usual
discrimination, and which we vouch for may be relied on for
correctness,

Paul ^ Sons’ Bose Catalogue, 1861-62. The Old Nurseries,

Cheshunt, Herts.

The Messrs. Paul’s Rose List has been well weeded of all second-
rate and doubtful kinds, and the selection contains, so far as a
hasty perusal enables us to judge, all the really good things worth
growing.

Catalogue of Imported Bulbous Flower Roots. Sutton ^ Sons,

Beading.

This contains an excellent collection of Bulbs, &c., and useful
lists of a few popular plants. The Messrs. Sutton have also
appended a short list of vegetable seeds, saved this present
favourable season, and of which many will be glad to avail them¬
selves for sowing this autumn.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Plants of the former which are back-
v/ard in forming their bloom buds, should still be kept as close
and warm as can conveniently be done ; and any specimens which
incline to make a too free growth instead of forming bloom buds,
should be sparingly supplied with water at the root, giving no
more than may be deemed necessaiy to prevent the foliage being
injured, and if these could be placed in a warm, dry, airy house,
this would greatly assist in checking growth, and inducing them
to set for bloom. But any plants which have made but a poor
weakly growth should be treated as kindly as circumstances will
allow, syringing them overhead every afternoon, keeping the
atmosphere moist, and attending very carefully to them with water
at the root until a fair growth and moderate sprinkling of bloom
buds are obtained. Young plants which have been recently stop¬
ped must also be afforded every possible encouragement until a
nice regular strong growth is obtained j but unless in the case of

316

THE FLORIST.

new kinds wliicli it may be desirable to bloom for the purpose of
judging as to whether they are any improvement upon older kinds,
we would not recommend forcing young plants which have been
stopped recently to set for bloom, for they will grow much more
freely next season if allowed a long rest, and spared the drain
upon their energies of blooming. Plants in heat, which are well
and regularly set, should be removed to a cool house, but do not
expose them suddenly to currents of cold air. See that the whole
stock are perfectly clear of black thrips, and this pest will pro¬
bably be very troublesome on plants growing in heat, after this
season. Take advantage of every minute which can be spared
for such work to tie the plants, so as to make them all as neat and
trim as possible for the winter. Any of the Camellias which are
still out of doors had better be placed under glass at once, for there
will be considerable danger in allowing the balls to get saturated
by heavy rains, which they will be very liable to do if left out of
doors any longer. Such of the plants as were grown in heat and
set their bloom buds early should be ready to open their blossoms,
and these should be placed in prominent situations in the stove-
house, and those which are rather backward, if wanted in bloom,
may be placed in a house where a little warmth is maintained.
Examine the whole stock carefully, to see that the drainage is
right, and well clean the foliage of any which require this atten¬
tion. Conservatory. — Thin out twiners on the roof, especially
such as have done blooming, so as to admit all the light possible.
Give the beds and borders, if at all dry, a liberal soaking of water,
but those occupied by plants in a partially dormant state should be
kept rather dry, especially in the case of plants which are scarcely
hardy in this house. See that everything is perfectly free from
insects, and endeavour by judicious and tasteful arrangement and
perfect cleanliness, to compensate as much as possible for the want
of any great display of bloom. Endeavour to place the more valu¬
able hardwood plants near to the glass, and in the best situations.
Ventilate freely on every favourable opportunity, save in cases where
the gaiety of the house principally depends upon plants brought
from the stove, when it will be necessary to keep the house rather
close, and to use a little fire heat when the weather is cold and
damp. If not already done, Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs should
be procured and potted, using light very rich soil, and placing the
pots in a cold frame or on a well- drained spot out of doors, covering
them some three inches with sand or old tan. These are
exceedingly useful for blooming in winter and early spring, and
should be largely grown wherever there is an extensive demand
for fiowers at this season. Cold Frames. — Most of the hard-
wooded plants will have completed their season’s growth, and such
things as Boronias and other subjects which are found to be diffi¬
cult to winter safely, when their wood is not thoroughly well-
ripened, had better be placed near the glass in the greenhouse,
keeping the atmosifiiere dry, and exjx)sing them to whatever
sunshine we may experience ; but do not expose them suddenly

OCTOBER.

317

to draughts of cold or drying air. Water very carefully, and
more sparingly as the plants become less active. G-ive air freely
on every favourable occasion to heaths and other hard-wooded
plants remaining in the pits, but shut up at night whenever there
is any danger of frost. Proceed with re -potting and tying any of
the plants which require this as fast as time can be spared for such
work, and endeavour to have the whole stock as trim and neat for
the winter as they can be made. Many growers have an objection
to shifting hard-wooded plants at this season, but, with careful
watering, heaths may be shifted as safely now as at any period of
the year, and we greatly prefer re -potting any thing now, or at
any time in the winter, which may be sutfering for the want of
pot room, to keeping them longer stunted for the want of pot room.
See that all are clear of aphis and mildew, and plants infested with
scale should be thoroughly cleared of the scale, and their foliage and
wood well-washed first possible opportunity. Flower Garden. —
Pot off rooted cuttings of Verbenas, &c., and endeavour to get the
whole stock of such things well-established in their winter pots as
early as possible. If the stock of anything is found to be short,
no time should be lost in putting in as many more cuttings as may
be necessary. Calceolarias, or some other plants largely used in
bedding, do not require to be rooted before the winter ; but care
should be taken to secure an ample stock of cuttings of these
before they are injured by frost. Also get up Golden-chain, and
other variegated Geraniums, before the points of their shoots are
frost-bitten, for if this happens they are very troublesome to
carry over the winter, especially the more delicate kinds — as Golden
Chain. Avoid lifting anything, however, as long as can be done
with safety, and be prepared to cover the beds any evening when
frost may appear likely. For this purpose a thin sprinkling of
straw, or any dry litter will answer. See to putting in a good
stock of Hollyhocks, if not already done, and afford these the aid
of a gentle bottom heat, without which they will hardly root after
this season. Any alterations projected about the grounds should be
proceeded with as fast as possible, especially those involving the
removal of large shrubs or trees, for which work the first half of
this month is a very suitable time. Greenhouse. — If any of the
inmates of this house are still out-of-doors, they should be placed
in their winter quarters without delay. First, however, have
the house thoroughly cleaned, well washing the glass so as to
admit all the light possible. Do not stand the plants too close,
and rather than be forced to run the risk of injuring fine
specimens by this means, get out by some means as many of
the less valuable as will allow of giving ample space to those
retained. Ventilate freely, on every favourable occasion, and
aim at getting the young wood well matured before winter, but
close the house at night when there is any danger of the ther¬
mometer falling below 40°. Look out for mildew and insects,
and spare no trouble to have the plants perfectly clean for the
winter. Water cautiously, especially plants which are in a rather

318

THE FLORIST.

dormant state ; but when a plant is watered give enough to
moisten the ball throughout. Re-pot any of the specimens which
require more pot room, and get all nicely tied as soon as possible,
in order that they may be trim, as for the winter. Stove. — Varie¬
gated and other ornamental foliaged plants should now be brought
into prominent situations, and these, if in goo4 condition, will be
generally admired, while specimens in bloom are not over plentiful.
Attend carefully to the stock of plants for winter blooming, report
any that require this attention, and afford them the most suitable
situations at command, and see that these are all perfectly free
from insects. Many plants, as Allamandas, Clerodendrons, &c.,
may be removed to an intermediate house, where, if the tem¬
perature is not allowed to sink below 50°, and a dry atmosphere
can be maintailied, they will do better during their season of rest
than in the ordinary stove. See that the whole stock is free from
insects, and spare no labour which may be necessary to effect this.

Hardy Fruit, — Nothing could be more favourable to the
ripening crop of Apples and Pears than the warm dry weather
which we have experienced in this part of the country for some
time past; therefore, most of these will be ready for housing
earlier than usual. All Apples may be gathered during the pre¬
sent month, leaving the late kinds till the last. Late Pears, such
as Beurre Ranee, Prince Albert, Ne Plus Meuris, &c., should
remain on the trees as long as the weather favours their ripening,
but if they will not hang without dropping they had better be
gathered. The finer sorts of dessert Pears should be gathered
very carefully, so that the skin does not get rubbed or otherwise
injured; lay them singly on shelves in the fruit room, where they
ought to remain without moving till they are fit for use. Admit
plenty of air and light to the fruit store for some time after the
fruit is housed to allow the moisture given out by the fruit to pass
away, after which time the house should be kept closed.

Continue to clear out all runners, &c., from Strawberry beds, if
not already done, and get the ground forked over before the month
is out. All kinds of fruit-trees may be planted toward the end of
the month, or at any time after the leaves are partially fallen ; large
trees, especially, should not be moved before the leaf drops. Mulch
the surface of the soil about the roots after planting. Plant Raspber¬
ries, Gooseberries, and Currants ; the latter may now be propagated.

Forcing Ground. — Keep up a night temperature from 65° to
70° to Cucumbers, and admit plenty of air through the day, to
strengthen the plants, that they may better withstand the dark
foggy weather we may expect next month. Shift those sown last
month into large pots, or plant them out in pits where there is a
good command of heat; use rough turfy loam, mixed with rotten
manure. Be very careful in watering, so that the soil does not
get soddened ; it is better to allow them to get dry occasionally,
after which give them a watering with liquid manure, especially
those growing in pots ; sow again for succession. Munroe’s Cu¬
cumber is an excellent kind for winter work.

OCTOBER.

319

Peach-house. — As soon as the leaves are off the trees in the
early liouse they may he pruned, and if the trees are weakly, the
borders should be forked over at once, and dressed with a good
coat of fresh loam and dung.

Vinery. — The vines may now be pruned in the early house, and
if very early Grapes are required, prepare to close the house by
the end of the month. Still continue to give a little fire heat in
bad weather to late Grapes that are not properly matured. Also
a little through the day in damp weather to those that are ripe, at
the same time giving air to free the house from damp. Look over
the bunches often, and remove all decayed and unhealthy berries.

Strawberries. — Cut away all runners and clear the pots of weeds
Keep the plants fully exposed and moderately dry, so that they
may finish their growth before sharp frost sets in.

Pines. — Those plants growing in dung pits should now have
the linings renewed ; cover the pits if the nights are cold. Plants
intended for fruiting next season on ridges, may now be planted
out on a good bed of leaves. See previous directions in regard to
plants in fruit, &c.

Kitchen Garden. — Plant out a good breadth of cabbage early
in the month for spring use, and prick out the small plants on a
sheltered border to stand the winter for planting early next spring.
Plant out Hardy Green and Brown Cos Lettuce, sow under glass
for spring planting. Plant Cauliflower under hand-glasses, and
some may be planted on the sunny side of small ridges; if the
winter is not too severe they will do very well. Prick out what
small plants remain in a cold frame, for planting out in the spring.
Those heading in should be protected from frost, by breaking
down the leaves over ,the heads, otherwise taken up and placed
under cover. Prepare a piece of rich soil for planting out Tripoli
Onions that were sown last month ; this should be done at the end
of the month. Take advantage of dry days to earth up Celery
and Cardoons. Take up late Potatoes. Carrots and Dioscorea
roots should be packed away in sand. Tie up Endive as it may
be required for use. Earth up all winter Greens and Brocoli, and
use the hoe in every part of the garden in dry weather, to check
the young weeds before bad weather sets in.

Pelargoniums should by this time all be housed, and if the
plants intended for specimens are not yet selected, and have not
had their final repotting, both should be done without delay. Be
careful in repotting that the soil should be in good condition, and
that the ball of the plant be in a good state, especially with regard
to moisture. Let the house in which the repotted plants are placed
be kept for a time tolerably close, in order to encourage fresh roots.
A good start in growth is essential to their becoming fine plants.
Water at first very carefully, and give none unless it is needed ;
fumigate thoroughly to destroy the green fly, and the plants being
thoroughly established, they should, whenever the weather is
sufficiently favourable, have air in abundance.

Cinerarias. — These, if potted as recommended last month, will

320

THE FLORIST.

now require shifting into a size larger pot, taking care to well
drain the pots with potsherds or other loose material. The compost
best suited for this purpose is two-thirds good friable loam with
one of good rotten horse-dung or leaf mould, add a little silver or
river sand to cause the water to pass freely. Keep them in a cool
shady situation, and, if bright weather, sprinkle frequently.
Should thrip or green-fly appear, fumigate immediately on its
appearance, and sulphur such as have the mildew.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN OCTOBER.

A VERY important month in gardening operations, rendered still
more so by the fact of early frost having occurred during the past
few years with great intensity, so that I should strongly advise
everything being made snug as soon as possible in the month.

Auriculas. — As they are now fast approaching their season of
rest, be careful that all is right as to drainage ; if the mould in
any pot seems soddened, look to it at once, for something is wrong,
and if the plant has not made roots, re-pot it into a small pot, give
water less often, pull ofi* all decaying leaves, and give abundance
of air.

Carnations and Picotees. — This season has been the very re¬
verse of the last, layers have rooted well, and the grass looks very
flourishing ; all should be potted off early, and, where it can be
done, in single pots. I find the compost in which they have been
growing aided by a little loam to answer very well.

Gladiolus. — As the foliage decays, the roots should be taken up,
cleaned, and dried quicMy ; this I believe to be the great secret.

Pansies. — These should now be in j)ots for wintering ; some
advise to put them into their blooming pots now, but the general,
and I believe the best plan, is to keep them in small pots all the
winter, and pot again early in February ; watch for mildew, and
keep the plant clean and dwarf.

Pinks. — As early as possible in the month make up the bloom¬
ing beds, let the soil be rich and friable, and then they will give
no further trouble till April, except to keep the bed clear of weeds.

Poses. — It is desirable, if possible, to prepare your ground now ;
in most gardens they will have to be brought in, and I should again
advise, where practicable, to get them on their own roots, or
grafted low on the Manetti. November is generally considered
the best month, but the end of October answers very well.

General Work. — Plants must now be arranged in the little
greenhouse, (if such there be), bedding stuff be safely housed,
bulbous roots planted, such as Ranunculus, Anemones, &c.
Liliums laid on their side to dry off, and, in fact, one’s eyes must
be everywhere, and hands always ready. At this season of the
year, the weather is most favourable for all gardening operations.

D.

PrmtecL hy C- CTiabat,

NOVEMBER.

321

VERBENA EOXHUNTER.

(Plate 182.)

The novelties wliicli have appeared this season amongst
Verbenas have been very few^ owing no doubt to the un-
propitious nature of the summer of 1860^ which must have
prevented the maturation of seed^ except under very favour¬
able circumstances. Indeed^ with the exception of that
which forms the leading feature in the accompanying plate,
none of a very remarkable character have appeared as novel¬
ties at the meetings in London. This variety, however,
which from its colour has been appropriately named Fox-
hunter, is one of remarkable merit. It was raised by John
Miller, Esq., of Up way, Dorchester, to whose courtesy, and
that of the Messrs. Low, of Clapton, into whose hands it
has passed, we are indebted for the opportunity of figuring it.

Our first acquaintance with Mr. MilleFs Verbena was
made at a meeting of the Floral Committee of the Royal
Horticultural Society, held on the 9th of J uly in the present
year. On that occasion its large size and brilliancy and
attractiveness of colour secured for it the award of a First-
class Certificate, to which it was well entitled. The trusses
then produced were bold and well furnished, and the flowers
were remarkably large, some which we measured being over
an inch in diameter ; they were, moreover, of excellent form
and firm in substance : they had, in fact, all the qualifications
of a fine Verbena. Add to this, a colour of the richest and
brightest scarlet, which of course the pigments used by artists
utterly fail to imitate, and imagine each flower to be relieved
by a yellow eye. Such was the Foxhunter Verbena, as exhi¬
bited on the occasion referred to, the flower-trusses sent for
examination having been cut from an unprotected plant in
the open ground. The variety is stated to be one of robust
habit, and the samples we have seen bear out this statement,
this characteristic being indeed sufficiently indicated by the
foliage introduced into oiir figure. We have no hesitation in
speaking of this as the finest scarlet Verbena yet made known.

Verbena — Fairest of the Fair.

The other variety we have represented is called Fairest of
the Fair. It was raised by Mr. G. Smith, of the Tollington
Nursery, Hornsey road, and was sent out last spring. It is
certainly one of the best in its class ; indeed we have met
with none at all equalling it in the purity of its ground
colour, and the brilliancy of the rosy-coloured ring which
surrounds the eye. As to its merit, it may be stated that
when shown as a seedling, it received commendation from the

VOL. XV., NO. OLXVII. Y

322

THE FLORIST.

tribunal already referred to. We regard it as one of the
most chaste-looking and pleasing varieties in cultivation.

There is a growing opinion unfavourable to the Verbena as
a subject for bedding out in high class geometrical gardening,
especially where, for the sake of regulating the development
of other plants, it is necessary to avoid a tolerably stimulating
soil ; but despite this, the flower will, we are sure, continue
to hold its place as a garden ornament applicable to a variety
of uses, and affording almost endless variations of colour,
some of which cannot yet be dispensed with, even in the
style of gardening to which allusion has been made. We
have, therefore, much pleasure in presenting our readers with
portraits of two varieties which will be found to possess
high-class qualities, rendering them desirable for general
cultivation. M.

SPUR-PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES.

Fruit trees are now in a very different state to that which they
were in at this time last year. The young wood and buds were then
not half ripened, and the trees were exhausted from the heavy crop
of fruit they bore. The prospect of a fruit crop was then any¬
thing but cheering. Now, however, the case is different. The
crops of the past season being in general light, and, in many places,
a failure, and the weather being hot and dry, the wood and buds of
all trees are, in consequence, thoroughly matured; indeed, it is
not often that the blossom buds are so plump and prominent as they
are at the present time. The prospect of a good fruit crop next
year is most encouraging. If the weather next spring be favour¬
able, the crop will be a very heavy one.

Overbearing is an evil to be guarded against as much as possible,
as it enfeebles the constitutions of trees and brings on premature
decay. Spur-pruning and thinning of the fruit are the best means
of preventing this. We would, therefore, strongly advise that
all trees should be carefully and judiciously spur-pruned, Avhen the
state of the weather permits it to be done. Through the almost
total neglect of this, one of the most important operations in fruit-
tree culture, we generally see trees one year bent to the ground
with the weight of fruit, and the following year no fruit at all ;
and this goes on year after year. One season a heavy crop of
inferior fruit, the next year none.

When the trees bear these heavy crops, the fruit is never so fine
as it would be if it had been properly thinned, and the trees are
thereby greatly debilitated. It is very bad management to allow
trees to become exhausted by over-bearing. The thinning of the
blossom and fruit is an operation Avhich cannot be properly carried
out to a very great extent, as it is in general a busy season when
such work requires to be done. Spur-pruning should therefore
be regularly attended to and carefully performed. Go where you

NOVEMBER.

323

may you will find old trees generally full of old long spurs, with
ten times more buds than are necessary for a good crop of fruit,
and so crowded that scarcely any sun and air can get to them.
The flowers are in general small and the greater portion of them
imperfect. When allowed to expand they rob the trees of their
powers, and even of those that set a great quantity not unfre-
quently drop oflf. Spur-pruning is, therefore, a work of the first
importance.

When the spurs are crowded, all the longest and weakest should
be cut clear away ; and on those that are left the buds should be
well thinned out ; all the weak buds and those on the ends of the
spurs should be cut clean off, leaving the roundest and most plump,
and taking particular care of those at the base of the spurs. When
pruned the buds should be left at such a distance from each other
that the sun and air should have full influence on them. On old
trees that have been neglected, spur-pruning can hardly be too
freely carried out. We have ourselves operated largely on old
trees of all kinds a few years ago. Since then the trees have
regained fresh vigour, and they bear much finer fruit than they did
previously. Some apple trees here were so exhausted by over¬
bearing and by profuseness of flowering, that the fruit — when
there happened to be any — was wretchedly poor and malformed.
But since they have been regularly and properly spur-pruned, the
fruit has been all that could be wished for.

It may be here objected to what we have said, that to carry out
spur-pruning properly in large gardens and orchards, necessitates
a great amount of labour. Our answer to this is, that where trees
have beenne glected it requires considerable labour to bring them
into a proper condition, but when once got into this state, the
labour yearly required to keep them so is not very great. It is
quite lamentable to see the neglected state of orchard trees in
general, and too often of garden trees also, crowded to excess with
wood and spurs ; one year an excessively heavy crop, the following
year none at all ; and so it goes on, year after year. The fruit
never attains its proper size or quality, and tire trees in time
become so enfeebled that the fruit produced is almost worthless.
When the fruit crops fail people generally blame the seasons, not
their own bad management. They say our springs are so pre¬
carious that it is almost hopeless to expect a good cro23 of fruit — a
very great fallacy, by the way. If fruit trees are j^roperly managed
from the time they are planted, by timely thinning of shoots,
pruning of the spurs, thinning of fruit, never over-bearing, &c.,
there is an almost certainty of getting a fruit croj) iu_ nine seasons
out of ten, excepting such extraordinary seasons as the last. We
do not say that spring frosts will not destroy the fruit blossoms ;
but we do fearlessly assert that trees that have been w^ell managed,
and whose buds will in general, owing to the amount of light and
air they receive, be bold, round, prominent, and plump, will bear
more fruit and of better quality, on an average of years, than trees
full of wood and spurs. Many of the flowers of the latter will, in

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324

THE FLORIST.

general, be imperfect, and will drop off after expanding. The
greater part of the blossoms on Apricot and Peach trees last
spring was imperfect and dropped off. Young trees will, in
general, bear regularly for some years. When, in the course of
time, they become covered through neglect with wood and old
spurs, they only bear a crop every alternate year — one season a
heavy crop, and the next season none at all.

About fifty yards from where we are writing there is an apple tree,
by no means a very large one, from which we had a cart load of
wood cut out a few years ago ; the fruit has since been much
finer than before. We have just had gathered forty stone of fine
fruit from this tree. If spur-pruning were regularly carried out
on orchard and garden trees, we should not so continually be
healing of the failure of our fruit crops. And not only should we
have crops more regularly, but the fruit would be much finer also.

It is neglect of trimming, and pruning, and over-bearing, which
has so enfeebled the constitution of the Golden and Pibston
Pippin apples, and other fruits ; and the propagation from a de¬
bilitated stock that has led to the fallacy that such sorts were fast
wearing out. To us it is no wonder that these trees should be
dying out under such bad management as they are generally sub¬
jected to. The wonder is that there should be found any healthy
trees of these kinds in the country. All trees that have been any
way neglected should at once be gone over. The centre of the
trees should be well cleared out, and all shoots when crowded
should be well thinned ; this done, the shoots should then be care¬
fully spur-pruned, leaving the best buds. The result will be next
year a crop of fruit much superior in size and quality to what has
been produced for years.

Stour ton, Yorhshb'e. M. Saul.

PRIMULA SINENSIS FIMBPvIATA.

This useful plant is seldom seen to the perfection it should be, as
there are very few winter flowering plants that can be had in
flower for four or five months with so little trouble as the Primula.
It is both adapted for cutting from, or a display in the conservatory.
A few words on cultivation might be interesting to some of your
correspondents, if you think it worth a space in your valuable paper.
I begin with sowing the seed, I think, earlier than it is generally
sown, about the first week in March. I sow in pots and place
them in a cucumber frame, or any other warm place. As soon as
the plants are up and large enough to transplant I prick them out
into shallow pans, keeping them close and warm till they get
established, when I put them in a cold pit where they remain till
about the middle of May, when I })ot them off into 3-inch pots,
and place them in a cold frame under a north wall. The soil I
use is about two-thirds rich turfy loam, and one-third equal })arts
well-decayed manure and leaf-soil, with silver sand enough to
keep the soil open. I use the soil in a dry state, pressing it in as

NOVEMBER.

325

firm as possible. In the early part of July I re-pot into 6-inch
pots, using soil as before, still keeping them under north wall with
plenty of air, when they make plenty of nice, short, stocky
leaves. About the end of October I place them in a cold vinery,
where they get plenty of light and air. I do not let young plants
flower before January, by which time they make fine plants from
twelve to eighteen inches through ; a complete mass of flowers,
and continue flowering till the end of April, when they are placed
in a cold vinery near the glass, where they get plenty of light and
air to ripen the seed, which is worth any trouble it takes to ripen
it properly, as there is always a demand for good Primula seed.
As soon as the seed is gathered I cut off all decayed leaves and
flower stems from as many of the best plants as 1 want to save,
and re-pot them into 10-inch pots, using soil, and treating them
the same as young plants. I let them begin to flower lastly in
November, by which time many of them will be from twenty-four
to thirty inches through, and continue to flower till the young
plants are strong and large enough. A great advantage Primulas
have over most winter and spring flowering plants, they are never
infested with green fly, or any other insect, so it is no trouble to
keep them clean. As I save my own seed every season, I get
none but the brightest colours and best fringed flowers.

S. T. C. C.

THE ISABELLA GRAY ROSE.

Grave doubts have been expressed that this rose would not bloom
in the open air of this climate, in which up to the present time I
have partially shared ; but as I happened to see the veritable
plant which furnished the subject for your plate at the time, I was
so enamoured with its beauty, that I purchased it at oiice, and
have grown it ever since ; but it is only just now that I have
been fortunate in getting it into bloom — in a small way certainly,
but still as it affords the key to future success, I cannot longer
delay withholding what I believe will insure its blooming (as
freely, at any rate, as the Cloth of Gold) from the readers of the
Florist, in whose pages it was first made known to the public.

I have tried the plant in several situations, but the one now
blooming with me is on a due south wall and dry situation. The
blooms are produced on short spurs, breaking away from the best
ripened shoots of this present season, and it is a fact to be remem¬
bered that while the most forward spring shoots, which of course
ripened earliest, have broken out into blooming spurs, there is no
indication of their doing so on the later shoots, although much
more vigorous. My plan, therefore, for next season will be to
cut back hard this year’s wood, and to induce the trees to break
and make wood early, wdiich I shall lay on thinly that it may get
all the benefit of the sun and light, and at the same time prevent
any secondary or latter season shoots from being formed, as I
imagine they only rob those from which blooms may be expected.

y 3

326

THE FLORIST.

I strongly advise your readers who are rose gi'owers to try this
plan, and to plant only on very shallow and dry soils, to curb the
tendency of the plant from making gross wood, which, as it cannot
rij^en, will not produce blooms. If we can get the current
year’s wood tolerably hard and firm by August, then I have no
doubt but that each eye, or a good number of them, will throw
out spurs, producing from one to three on each bloom, as mine
have done. I am of opinion that a month’s fine dry weather in
July or August, is what this rose requires to prepare for blooming,
and during that period I recommend all artificial waterings to be
withheld, until the wood assumes a reddish brown hue, and cuts
firm, after which water may be given frequently, and even manure
water to encourage vigorous blooms. It is quite probable also
(au experiment I am now about trying), that ripened buds taken
from these shoots, and inserted in the Bauksian, Boursault, or any
congenial stock growing against a wall, may succeed in producing
clusters of bloom earlier in the season, possibly as early as May or
June. I will merely add, that when in perfection it is the queen
of yellow roses, being a bright golden yellow, and possessing a
most delicious and powerful perfume. S.

COBSHAM COURT, NEAR CHIPPENHAM,

The seat of the Right Honourable Lord Methuen, is a place very
little known, although situated close to a railway station, and but
nine miles from the first-class stations of Bath, and four from
Chippenham. It is not five minutes’ walk from the town of
Corsham, from which it is quite concealed by large trees, prin¬
cipally yews, formed into high banks. The principal entrance is
on the south side by a carriage drive though an avenue of fine old
elms. A distance of about 300 yards between the entrance gates
and the front of the mansion adjoining the drive are several very
fine specimens of trees, especially Cedar of Lebanon ; the most
handsome Salisburia adi antifolia I have seen, about thirty feet
high, and a very fine Catalpa syringicfolia ; some very large
Myrtles and Magnolia grandiflora, growing against the south wall,
which, with a slight protection in winter, had not been injured
for many years, were last winter killed to the ground, and to all
appearance quite dead until about midsummer, when they all
began to throw up some very strong shoots from the bottom, and
now promise to soon fill the wall, if we escape such seasons as the
last.

The inclosure in front of the mansion is thickly planted on one
side, to shut out the sight of the farms, and on the other the
parish church, which joins the pleasure-ground wall.

The mansion is a large and beautiful pile of buildings of the
mixed style of architecture. The north front was re-built about
fourteen years ago, has a noble appearance, and shows plainly the
skill of Mr. Yelemay, the architect. From this side is seen the

NOVEMBER.

327

pleasure ground, about eighteen acres in extent, of close-mown
turf, containing many fine specimens of Cedars of Lebanon and
Deodara, some of the latter well-grown plants of twenty feet high,
and fine grown trees of Taxodium sempervirens and Cryptomeria
japonica, &c. Among deciduous trees are very large and hand¬
some Copper Beech, Tulip trees, Planes, and a very fine American
Hickory. Holly, Yews, and tree Box have been very extensively
used, all of which grow remarkably well.

A deep sunk fence divides the pleasure ground from the park,
which is very extensive and thickly wooded. A short distance
from the house is a fine piece of water. A bank of evergreens on
the west side of pleasure ground shuts in the flower garden, which
is small and nicely laid out, and with beds and borders gay with
flowers, has a very pleasing appearance. A brick wall, which
divides the flower and kitchen gardens, looks rather unsightly this
season, the roses and climbers with which it was covered being
killed last winter, and will take two or three years to get covered
again.

The kitchen garden contains about five acres within the walls,
divided into two parts by a high wall, which gives a good space
for wall trees, although but little fruit has been obtained for
several seasons ; and this year, as at most other places, the fruit
crop, both on walls and standards, have been very small. Peach
trees have suffered so much the last two winters that many of them
are almost dead. Much of the soil is very shallow, in some parts
not more than eighteen inches to the rock ; it can be worked in
any weather, as the rain sinks direct through it as it falls. Vege¬
tables of all sorts do extremely well, if attended to for water while
growing. Peaches under glass have this season been a fine crop.
Grapes, of which a supply is kept up for nine or ten months ot
the year, are very fine. Early and late melons, and winter cu¬
cumbers are grown in a lean-too pit, heated by a brick flue, and
in summer both are grown in dung frames, and are found to do
better than with fire heat ; and in winter the frames are used for
lettuce, and other salads, and for forcing asparagus, seakale, potatoes,
carrots, radishes, &c.

REMINISCENCES OF THE AUTUMN FLOWER SHOW

AT BRIGHTON.

I WAS a good deal annoyed at first to think that the length of my
autumnal holiday would only allow me time enough to visit
Brighton, but I learnt a good moral lesson by it, for I was after¬
wards quite pleased to think that circumstances caused me to be
staying for few a days at Ijondon-sufper-Mare. I had a great horti¬
cultural treat there, at the autumnal exhibition of the Sussex
Fioricultural and Horticultural Society, on the 18th and 19th of
September. My readers will be kind enough to recollect that I
was holiday keeping, and will not, therefore, expect a formal report
of that show at my liands — that would have been too much like

Y 4

328

THE FLORIST.

work. Of course I took notes of anything which struck me, and
these I now transcribe from my note-book.

I may first of all say, that I had no idea that the show would
have been such a good one ; I have never seen anything equal to
it out of the metropolis ; there were many individual plants, and
some whole collections quite equal to anything ever seen at the
Palace, or the Park, if not indeed superior to them. The large
rooms of the Pavilion are well suited for this purpose, but they
were not large enough, for in the grounds adjoining there were
several tents all full of Ferns and other plants. Among the Ferns,
by the by, there were but few novelties, except in regard to the
nomenclature ; and I was rather amused to see Nephrodium molle,
one of the commonest of the family, called Asplenium Braziliense.
There were many other mistakes of a like character, which is
greatly to be regretted, and is the more to be wondered at now-a-
days, when so may ladies are scientifically proficient in this subject.
But enough of grumbling ! it was the only thing in the whole place
I could see to find fault with, and, like a genuine Englishman, I
have brought it forward at once.

The entrance-hall gave a foretaste of what the Exhibition was to
be ; it was very tastefully decorated with groups of Palms, and
other plants, possessing remarkable foliage. This is something
like the continental style of decoration, and is a step in the right
direction. Brighton followed the example set by the Royal Horti¬
cultural at Kensington last spring, and offered a silver cup of the
value of 10/., for the most tastefully arranged set of three stands
of fruit for the dessert. We often find fault with the Railway
Companies, let us also do them justice, when they are deserving of
praise ; this beautiful piece of plate was presented for this purpose
by the L. B. and S. C. Railway Company. And this is not the
only way in which the Railway Company promoted the interests
of the Exhibition, for, I believe, they also brought the plants to
Brighton free of cost. I walked round and round the table where
the eight sets of stands were placed for more than an hour, and
then, being ashamed to be seen for so long a time in one place,
I walked away, but came back again several times. I never in
my life enjoyed anything so much as I did these groups of fruit
and flowers ; no flower show will ever be complete without the
addition of this feature in future. I shall never again despise one
of the commonest of Ferns, which I must say has not had justice
at my hands before ; it is Pteris serrulata, a mere weed in every
stove, which comes up upon the soil, the paths, or even on the
walls, if its spores can only find a moist and undisturbed footing.
The long narrow pinnaB of this fern, hanging from the vases,
looked quite as beautiful as those of any other plant, and much
more graceful than those of many others. It was also shown how
well the variegated leaves of the new Begonias are adapted for
mixing with flowers and fruit. Thdre was another bouquet,
which will for ever remain photographed upon my memory, it was
a flat glass dish, filled with dark crimson roses, the spaces between

NOVEMBER.

329

them being occupied by the simple, little white flowers of a
Clematis, and edged with the fronds of Adiantum cuneatum — the
effect was charming.

The collections of stove and greenhouse plants were very good ;
one seldom sees such a specimen of Aphelandra cristata as that
there exhibited. This is a very old and familiar plant, but still
few people seem to appreciate it as it deserves to be ; it is, as we
there saw, capable of being made a first-rate show plant. We are
sadly in want of variety among the plants which are exhibited
under the title of “ stove and greenhouse.” One sees, year after
year, the same kinds of Ixora, Allamanda, Echites, Rondeletia,
Stephanotis, Vinca, and the like, and we shall still continue to see
them until some new arrangement is made in the schedules of
prizes. Why may not prizes be offered for collections containing
the greatest number of new plants, or of old plants which are
seldom met with ? It would give an ever-increasing interest in
our flower shows, and nothing which can promote their popularity
should be omitted. Plants suitable for the purpose are plentiful
enough, but, of course, they cannot in a year or two be grown into
such large specimens as we are accustomed to meet with, and
novelty, rather than size, should be the point aimed at. Such soft-
wooded, easily-grown plants as Vinca, Pentas, and such like, should
also be excluded from first-class collections, and only such plants
as really require skill and attention to grow, should be looked upon
as Avorthy of receiving the highest prize. Our floral exhibitions
have been much enhanced by the introduction of the so-called
foliage plants. There were splendid sets of these at Brighton.
The neAv Caladiums came out Avell, but I am inclined to think that
the variegated Begonias do not look so bright and attractive when
grown into immense specimens as they do when comparatively
small and groAving quickly.

The whole suite of apartments in the Pa\Tlion was filled with
plants and fruits, the latter being very fine ; but I Avas so much
engrossed Avith the plants that I did not pay so much attention to
it as I ought to have done. There were also collections of the cut
floAA^ers of stove plants, annuals, and hardy perennials. Among the
latter, for instance, Avere sets of Phloxes, Pentstemons, Salvias,
and so on. I Avas Avell pleased among the Salvias, to meet with an
old acquaintance Avhich I had not seen for many years. It was
Salvia ianthina, a plant with a bad habit of groAvth it is true, but
it Avould be invaluable in the hands of a careful hybridiger.
Celosia aurea pyramidalis has already been done justice to in these
pages ; some beautiful plants of it were shoAvn by one of the
Brighton nurserymen. There Avere also seven Fuchsias, the like
of Avhich I never saAv exhibited in London ; and on the same table
there Avas a funny little seedling Fuchsia, it was only remarkable
for having yelloAvish foliage, Avhich, to my thinking, gave it an
unhealthy appearance.

I cannot say that I am an admirer of those models of gardens
Avhich one is almost sure to see in a provincial shoAV. Some of these

330

THE FLORIST.

were laid out with natural turf, and the beds, only an inch or two
in diameter, filled with full-blown flowers, this produces an incon¬
gruous appearance. They are called “ Designs for flower-gardens,”
but designs should be shown on paper, they would look much
better, and by this means they would escape the character of
childishness which some critics freely applied to them.

One gentleman, a real benefactor to his race, exhibited the re¬
sults of a series of experiments on the improvement of wheat.
These experiments have occupied several years, but the result
appears to be highly satisfactory. Among other things worthy of
note at this show I observed a plant of Ounnera scabra, the flower
of this curious Chilian plant is inconspicuous, but the leaves are
gigantic. It makes a remarkable object when planted on the
lawn. Delta.

ORCHARD HOUSE CULTURE.

(^Continued from p. 295.)

Potting and Storing, — The warm weather and rains of the past
month, and the absence of frost, have kept the stock of Peach and
Nectarine trees growing too freely for us to think of lifting them
before the middle of November ; the best guide for this, however,
will be the state of the wood, and if the leaves commence falling
off the lower part of the shoots, or turn yellow even, we may
safely lift them for potting ; never mind the few green leaves which
will remain on the upper ends of the shoots, they will assist in
keeping up the circulation of the sap, and enable the roots when
potted the more quickly to re-start into growth.

As a rule all nursery stock should be taken up with the fork in
preference to the spade; in fact, we would do all we could to banish
the spade from this branch of the nursery business altogether had
we the power ; but at any rate, where the preservation of every
root is indispensable to success, as is the case with our present
subject, nothing but the steel fork should be employed in lifting
the trees. When out of the ground, if they have far to travel,
wrap the roots in some damp material, or puddle them, to prevent
them becoming dry before they get into their pots.

The pots required will be of twelve-inch diameter for the
maidens, and fourteen or fifteen-inch pots for the two-year olds.
The roots should go in with as little pruning as you can help,
and therefore if the plants are at all strong the above sizes will
not be too large.

At page 227 we gave a few directions as to soil or compost, and
if our advice was then taken this will be now in good condition
for potting. Observe, that for the trees to succeed well, they
must be potted firm, and this will inform you that the compost
must be dry when used ; further, as other compost will have to be
filled in between the roots, it must not be too coarse and lumpy,
and therefore the manure, turf, and more earthy portions should
be well mixed, and made tolerably fine to lill up the interstices

NOVEMBER.

331

between the roots ; an oyster shell or flat crock over the hole of
the pot, on this one inch of smaller drainage, and then half a hand¬
ful of soot to keep out worms, completes this part of the business.
Next one inch of the compost, and then the plant, set in the pot,
and its roots arranged regularly all round, with as little pruning as
can be dispensed with. I only stipulate that the highest roots have
half an inch of soil over them, and that the pots are filled to
within half an inch of the rim. The compost should be slowly
added, and placed carefully betwixt the roots, making it quite firm
as you proceed, with two or three knocks down on the board at
finisliing to consolidate the whole.

The application of bottom heat to newly-potted plants of this
class, is now become a regular routine in first-class nurseries, and
although in Avarm situations and a sunny exposure, the trees now
potted would commence to make roots at once, this operation
would be greatly accelerated if the newly potted plants could be
plunged in the open air in a warm bed of leaves, or leaves and
dung, for a month, allowing the heat to decline towards the middle
or end of December, when the pots must be removed to a situation
where protection can be given them in severe frost.

Should this bottom heat be difficult to procure, then place your
plants under a south wall, to get the benefit of what sunshine may
be obtained for the rest of the season.

Trees which have been grooving in pots all the season, and to
whose management allusion has already been made, if the wood
is ripe, or nearly so, may for the next month remain fully exposed,
taking the precaution, however, Avhen frosty nights occur, to place
some half decayed litter, or other protective material, round the
pots, to preserve their roots, a remark which will equally apply to
the former lot, if not plunged in a warm bed to forward their
rooting. T? T n

NOTES ON THE MONTH.

I HAVE only recently returned to England from a two months
tour on the Continent, which must account for contributions being
suspended. 1 also find I am quite in the dark as to the gardening
gossip during my absence. There is, however, much to con¬
gratulate my countrymen upon, — in the magnificent weather you
have had for harvest operations ; and the recent rains and unusual
high temperature of late, is doing wonders for the root crops. The
season, though not marked by any unfavourable features on the
Continent, has produced only scanty crops, and hence there is a
deficiency in grain, and a mere average in roots, Avhich by no
means occupy so important a position there as at home. Flower
gardens continue still in considerable beauty, and Ave hope may
remain so for some time to come ; the first frosts of autumn ahvajs
give a pang to the loA^ers of gardening, by the sudden destruction
Avhich folloAvs its efiects on our summer favourites, Avhich this

332

THE FLORIST.

season have gladdened onr hearts and enriched our homes with the
glowing colours of a tropical climate for some months.

Britain, or London rather, can barely hold her own in the com¬
petition for decorative gardening with Imperial Paris, whose
squares, gardens, and boulevards have immense pains — and we
should say immense sums — expended on them to make them attrac¬
tive, and a great success they are. I have only had time to walk
through Hyde Park and the Kensington Gardens since my return ;
the former, though greatly in advance of former years, is much
behind the artistic arrangements of the Parisian gardens ; the
space between the two walks appears to want more of such things
as tree box, hollies, yews, cypresses, junipers, and pillyreas, as
well as vases, &c., to relieve the flowers in summer, and to give
expression to the scenery in their absence. We should also like
to see some of the bare earth in front of the shrubbery covered
Avith ivy, periwinkles, or St. John’s wort. We presume the
above would stand the London atmosphere, with its sooty impreg¬
nation, or what is to become of the rare trees in the new gardens
at Kensington, when every available yard round the area becomes
built upon, which Avill soon be the case, and when it will be worse
for trees in this respect than Hyde Park is at the present time.

I notice your contemporary, the Chronicle, has an article on
the trees of Paris, which I frequently examined when staying
there. In my opinion the early ripening of the foliage arises
simply from drought, and neglecting to renew the soil sufficiently
when planting new ones, by which the growth is arrested early in
the season ; the soil in which the trees grow, from its being so
constantly walked over, prevents the rain from penetrating to
their roots ; all the rain which falls on the surface should, there¬
fore, be contrived so as to pass to the roots, and not run off to
the water channels. I would also arrange a series of two-inch
pipes, with outlets at short intervals, just beneath the surface,
which I would connect with the water mains, and charge them
frequently in dry weather sufficiently to saturate the soil about the
roots, when I have no doubt the foliage would continue green much
longer, and the trees grow more vigorously ; besides, I believe a
much greater variety might be grown by so doing than now. The
underground pipes Avould also water the trees without incommoding
the paths for pedestrians.

I see the Saturday Review is again dealing hard blows at the
Exhibition building, the hideousness of Avhich, it states, becomes
more apparent as it progresses towards completion. It is so far a
pity that its proximity to the new Horticultural Gardens gives it
the appearance of enveloping their best frontage with a pall of
deformity ; it is somewhat lucky, how’ever, for the Poyal Society
of Gardeners, that they haA^e retained ChisAvick, for as aa^c know
not how soon they may be forced out of Kensington, either by the
smoke, or the veto of the Royal Commissioners, tliey may again
require it for their head-quarters, and, probably, last resting-place.

G. F.

NOVEMBER.

333

RELATING TO ROSES.

I SHOULD apologise for writing so soon another article relative to
roses, were it not the fact that nothing interests the public gene¬
rally so much as the premier flower of England. If a Floricul-
tural Editor were to exclude rose information, or only publish it
sparingly, or infrequently, a great number of persons, who now
take it in, would soon give it up ; the reason is, that while one
man here or there takes an interest, either in tulips, pansies,
hollyhocks, dahlias, pelargoniums, and such like, all feel an in¬
terest in and admire the National flower. When a periodical
comes out without a word about roses, how quickly does the dis¬
appointed reader put it down again. This, however, is hardly
fair, because we ought to feel an interest in that which interests
others, and rejoice to see the diverse noble works of God, “made
in wisdom,” highly cultivated and written about. Still, it cannot
be denied that the British public, whether they cultivate roses or
not, are always greatly pleased to see them, read about them, and
possess them. At all the shows that I have attended the last few
years, I have always been struck with the earnest petitions of all
classes, especially the lower and middle classes, for a few withered
blooms at the close of the Exhibition. After the National Rose
Show, I was loudly entreated at the Waterloo Station, by persons
who were going by the mail train, to give them a rose or two, to
which, of course, I acceded. In my passage to Reading, persons
learning from my fugleman “ Will” that my boxes contained roses,
begged me to open them, and let them have a view ; again, though
the weather was torrid and adverse to the exposure of cut flowers,
I acceded, “ Will” loudly proclaiming that “we” {ego et rex mens
— enter the king and two fiddlers solus), had won four “ First
Prizes.” Even the cottagers here are budding roses, the favourites
being, General Jacqueminot, Geant des Batailles, Baronne Pre-
vost, and Jules Margottiii, thus showing their good tastes in
selecting four of the best roses in England for good habit, beauty,
and continuity of blooming. They are roses which are good on
all stocks, in all situations, in all seasons, wet or dry, and early
and late in the year. To this lot, Gloire de Dijon may be well
added. I may also observe, that my school children ask as a great
treat, that they may be permitted to go down into the garden and
have a look ; and, I must say, they are among the best judges of
the flowers, for they do not admire the rose that is simply large,
but the rose that is symmetrical, and of a clear and decided colour,
and of well disposed petals. Of the value of thick petals, they
cannot be expected to be aware. Permit me here to say, that
judges of roses should do as the judges of cattle in Baker Street
do, who award the gold medals to the most level animal, — award
the prize to the box of roses which are most level in excellence,
rather than to that which contains large flashy uiilevel roses. If
these premises be admitted, my conclusion also must be admitted,

334

THE FLOKIST.

viz., that I shall not be doing an unpopular thing if I write a few
thinofs which affect the interest of the Rosarians of England and
of the National flower. And

First. Of the time suitable to a National Exhibition.

I am well aware that the Royal Society were peculiarly situated
this last year, and equally am I aware, that they only wish to
know what time would be best to hold the meeting ; and this they
cannot know, unless some one expresses the mind of the nation at
large. This year was an abnormal year, and can form no prece¬
dent. The National Exhibition, for one cause or another, was
held much too late. It was held but a few days before the second
bloom here. The show was respectable, but it was not a good
one. The absence of choice summer roses, of delicate and dark
tint, was much felt by me ; I mean those roses which help to vary
a show-box, and break the monotony of rose coloured and crimson
roses. Some, however, of the boxes had a fair sprinkling of light
coloured roses, chiefly Teas. It is plain that if the Rose Show is to
be national, the nation by deputation should express their mind ;
and it is equally clear, that if the meeting is to be held in July at
all, we must move our roses in the south and west. I think that
the day should be a permanent fixture (excluding Mondays and
Saturdays, as inconvenient to the clerical florists), to suit the
north and east one year, and the south and west the next year. I
believe that, taking an average of seven years, the 30th of June
would suit the former, and the 20th of June the latter; or the
day might be fixed, say the 25th, permanently. All persons
worthy of the name of Rosarians could manage to get their roses
ready by that time. This would put an end to individuals waiting
to see which way “the cat jumps !” If roses cannot be got ready
to show in June, let us no longer talk (poetical absurdity) of the
rosy month of June. If the roses of England (II. P.’s and
autumnals), cannot be produced either by the 20th, 25th, or 3()th
of June, then I naturally ask, when are they going to give us two
other series, which as Perpetuals^^ they ought to give, besides
the interstilial ones. I get (with rare exception) from such sorts as
I keep, three series. If I cannot get this, then such a rose as Boule
de Nauteuil, which will cost 100 fine roses per tree, in a pro¬
longed bloom of five or six weeks, is infinitely superior to II. P.’s
To myself it is immaterial what time the rose show is held, pro¬
vided I know it in time to move such trees as are likely to need
it. I would just as soon have it in July, August, or September,
as June, provided the day was a permanent fixture. I should
then, from knowing the habits of roses, be able to decide whether
it would be advisable to move them, and when to cut them back ;
but this cannot be done if the time is fixed after it is advisable to
remove them. Only fix the day at the fall, say November 1st, and
you Avill have double the number of roses that you have ever yet had.
If the above be not approved, the following suggestion may obtain ;
let five nurserymen and five amateurs (changing them annually),
from the north, south, east, west, and midland counties, meet an-

NOVEMBER.

335

nually not later than January, before the acutest eye can see which
way “ the cat jumps, or is likely to j ump,^' and settle the day, and
if their votes be even, let the Royal Society appoint a Fellow to
give a casting vote. At present people are not “ nationally ”
satisfied with waiting to see ‘‘which way the cat jumjDs.” When
the day is fixed too early for the north, they must let in the sun
with Parkes’s fork, and when it is too late for the south they must
move the trees and cut back later. It is diificult to fix any day
that would suit small roseries, but it is ridiculous to say that large
roseries could not find roses, either the 20th of June, the 25th, or
the 30th. If people will not work hard, and make it their busi¬
ness to get their roses ready, it is plain that they are not Rosa-
rians. But if the day of show is kept in the dark, till it is
impossible for them to hasten or retard their trees, men are not to
blame for not “putting in an appearance.” There are, however,
it is to be feared, many winners of prizes that are no Rosarians.
What is their history ? They plant roses in November, with a
shovel full of manure, never fence ngainst frosts, aphides, or
mildew ; but having run a rent charge on Providence, they bide
their time, wait to see which way “the cat jumps,” and settle the
day accordingly ; and when the day arrives, they cut what roses
they have ready, and if they have none ready, they say Providence
has “ a spite at them,” and that it is a bad year for roses. How
came the rose plants all over England to be nearly annihilated ?
The answer is, ignorance and neglect. I should like to give them
three dozen from the tail of another “cat,” that, having no eyes,
could not have the pleasure of seeing which way “ they jump ! ”
This would quicken their senses, and cause them to be Rosarians
in substance as well as in name only. However, I must now turn
to another subject not unimportant.

Secondly. To the Rose Box and the Roses.

(1) . The rose box. It is desirable that there should be uni¬
formity, and that the size should be settled at once, that we may
alter our boxes at once. The Royal Horticultural Society is
entitled to settle this point. True, there were regulations on this
point, but people felt that they might be liable to further altera¬
tions, unless the Society called a meeting of members. The result
was, that the rule was not obeyed. The same tribunal might
settle this point, as well as the day of exhibition.

(2) . The classes for exhibition, and the number of Roses. I
think it would be a good thing if amateurs were allowed to com¬
pete, say for twenty-four singles or trebles of Tea Roses, Moss,
Bourbons, and Noisettes in the same box. They cannot be ex¬
pected to face the nurserymen. A good box might be got up out
of these four families, whereas now the exhibition of Tea and
Moss Roses is bad. I have never yet seen at any exhibition a
good pan of Moss Roses.

The nurserymen’s prizes should be open to the amateurs, but it
is useless to open the amateur prizes to the former. When I saw
tw'enty-four single roses (open), I said to myself, there is a “bonus”

336

THE FLORIST.

for Mr. J. K. With regard to the number of trebles exhibited, I
think 100 singles, 48 trebles, and 24 trebles, would be more con¬
venient than 96 trebles. Where such a large number of trebles
are to be accumulated, if the weather is adverse, you get possibly
one good rose, one indifferent and one bad one (more or less over-
gone), and that one really good rose by itself would to a critical
eye be more charming than an indifferent trio. This, however, is
a matter for nurserymen to consider ; to skin their rose trees at
the time they want buds must be inconvenient. The chief good
of trebles is to keep the great fish from swallowing up the smaller
ones, and to show that a particular rose can be grown good. A
man may produce one splendid bloom from an undesirable variety,
but if he can produce three good ones, it is a 'primct facie evidence
that the sort is generally growable, and therefore such as the
spectators may go home and buy. Nurserymen should be con¬
sulted on this point, as it affects their interests. This year I see
by the judges’ book, there were only five entries for ninety-six
trebles. Had the number of roses been ninety-six single varieties,
other men might have contended who have not stock enough to
cut ninety-six trebles. Moreover, the five distinguished men who
did contend, would have brought ninety-six single roses much
better than selections from these they carried, because no doubt
they had many trees that would have turned out one good rose,
but which would not, at so late a season as 10th of July, produce
three. I fancy another reason for large quantities of trebles is

effectiveness,” but if the trebles are not all good, where, then, is
the “effectiveness?” I suppose trebles, with one good, one bad,
and one indifferent one, act as “effective” foils to each other.
They positively make my eyes ache. Notwithstanding the com¬
ments on the National this year, I must say that at such an incon¬
venient season as the lOth of July (between the stools), I felt
proud of the nurserymen and amateurs, who managed to produce
such large quantities of trebles, containing so many good roses.

Thirdly. Preparing for the Show.

When you have made up your mind in what class you mean to
contend, you must get your note book, and write down the names
of such trees as are likely to be ready. If you want trebles (a
difficult thing to get in great numbers), and see that your buds do
not synchronize, you must disbud in order to get the lagging bud
up to the foremost ones. These roses you must especially attend
to ; you must see that they arc sufficiently watered in dry weather,
and you must stir the ground to let in sun if the weather is cold.
If the show day is so fixed that it suits a large rosery of well-
selected and accumulated sorts (not varieties), of course you will
have little of this to do. At the fall of the year, when the true
Rosarian proves himself to be distinct from the hybrid Rosarian,
you must open your eyes five or six weeks before the day, using
your pruning knife judiciously, and pursuing the same plan as
before stated. As the days get shorter, and the mornings and
evenings colder, you will find it no easy matter, at times, to get

NOVEMBER.

337

twenty-four trebles, varied in colour and character, and good in
outline, substance, and condition, in the month of September.

When I say that you must disbud, let me explain that I mean
where no contrary rule exists. I did not disbud for either of the
shows at Kensington, as it was forbidden ; but had no such rule
existed, I think that I could have hastened some better roses.
The bud rule is inconvenient to every person at times. Moreover,
at a National Show judges have no time to take roses out of the
cups to see if the rule has been obeyed. Were they to do this,
they would cause “ disaster for they would not put the rose
back exactly in the same natty position, and down would go the
petals of a loose rose, that has been ^^inadvertently'’ propped with
moss, like the leaves of a table. I wish all H. P’s., at least,
bloomed single roses like Maxime, a fine rose of good constitution.
All, I think, that can be reasonably asked is, a good circular rose
in good condition, with its foliage. I would by no means exclude
buds, but tolerate and not command them ; they are useful, as well
as leaves, to stufi* into the clefts of unsymmetrical roses, which, if
they were removed, would look little better than an unilateral
horse shoe. If the rule is not enforced (and enforced it is not),
an honest man has no chance with an unconscientious person. The
effect of the rule is to shut out the roses of honourable men. As
long as the rule stands, I shall obey it, but I hope that it will be
reconsidered, and, if unrepealed, that it will be enforced without
fiivour or affection. There was barely time at the National in
July to count the good, the bad, and the indifferent roses in each
pan, and strike the difference. To continue a rule that every one
finds inconvenient, and which is neither obeyed nor enforced, is,
to use the pithy saying of Talleyrand, ‘‘ a blunder worse than a
crime.”

There is one more thing that I wish to call attention to with
regard to trebles. They should not be separated. In a large sea
of roses to be adjudicated, there is not time to trace them out, and
it gives a dishonourable competitor the plausible excuse of “ inad¬
vertence.”

Once more let me hope that the day of our National Exhibition
will be fixed before any human being can see “ which way the cat
jumps, or is likely to jump !”

Rushton Rectory. W. F. Radclyffe.

THINGS TO BE DONE.

Those who have greenhouses or forcing -house, will find it to
their advantage to purchase their fuel in the summer months, say
August or September, or even at this time, if they have not already
done so. Coke is much the same in quality at all seasons, but
should be kept dry, as also should coal ; the latter, when fresh from
the pit, is always damp, and is all the better for being kept in stock
under cover for some months before using. Damp fuel is not
VOL. XV., NO. CLXVII. Z

338

THE FLORIST.

nearly so effective as when dry. The water of course is driven off
by the process of combustion, and takes with it a certain amount of
heat, which passes off as waste ; in addition, the volume of smoke
is increased thereby, and the space round your boiler, and the
interior of your flues, are quickly choked up with soot.

Procure your seeds at once for next season ; and if you are not
fully satisfied as to their quality, sow a certain number of each kind
in pots, and watch how many germinate out of the number sown.
This will be a guide for you when the season for sowing them
arrives, and save you disappointments. Observe, all seeds should
be kept in a dry airy apartment, and not shut up in close drawers
or boxes, when they frequently get damp and lose their vegetative
property, and then the seedsman gets the blame. In damp situa¬
tions, such seeds as lettuce, celery, radish, onion, parsley, &c.,
should be placed in coarse canvas bags, and suspended from the
ceiling of a room. Cucumber, melon, dahlias, balsams, larkspurs,
stocks, marigolds, zeninas, and similar seeds, will be greatly im¬
proved by placing them loose in bags as above, and hanging them
near the kitchen chimney, where there is a considerable warmth ;
this will thoroughly ripen them, and, in the case of the two former,
induce greater fruitfulness, and of the latter, a much larger pro¬
portion of double flowers. Age will have the same effect ; and, as
a rule, seeds of composite flowers are more difficult to keep than
others.

Evergreens should now be planted. The soil is warm, and the
weather favourable. The sooner, therefore, they are planted, the
better chance have they to become established before winter.
Mulch after planting. October and early in November is also the
best season for pruning evergreens, as the wounds will heal before
winter. If pruned too early, they are frequently disposed to make
a new growth, which is as frequently killed by the frost of the
succeeding winter, and the trees are disfigured.

Six inches in depth of dry sawdust, or charcoal dust, placed over
the floors of pits and frames, where half hardy or bedding stuff is
to be wintered, will prevent the damp from rising, and probably
save scores of plants, which would, without such an absorbent,
fag off.

THE LORD SUFFIELD APPLE.

Mr. Abbots, Market Gardener, of Knaresborough, grows this
apple. He sjieaks of it as one the best early kitchen apples in
cultivation. He says it is larger, a little earlier, and a better
baking apple than the Keswick Codlin. The tree is a strong free
groAver. When its merits become better known it will, no doubb
be planted largely. M. Saul.

NOVEMBER.

339

FORTHCOMING NEW ROSES.

As I knew that amongst the readers of the Florist were to be
found some of the most enthusiastic rose growers in England, I
thought that the best service I could render them during my
recent visit to France, was to obtain such information upon the
subject of the forthcoming roses as might gratify my own curiosity,
and be someivliat of a guide to them. I have made the best
use of my eyes and ears that I could; have visited Margottin,
Verdier, Marest, Touvais, Troulliard, Portemer, &c. ; have obtained
lists of the new varieties, and, in fact, done my best to get
together Some information on the point, and the conclusion that I
have come to is, that we are not to expect any very striking addi¬
tion to our lists this season. (I do not here allude to Troulliard,
which will not be forthcoming till 1863.) There are some which
promise well, but when I say that there are, I verily believe,
nearly a hundred new ones to come out, it will be seen how diffi¬
cult is the task of selection, especially as one feels that under the
most favourable circumstances not one-tenth of these will be
retained in our lists ; in such a case one must rely more on the
known characters of the vendors than on anything else. Men like
Margottin and Marest will not wilfully deceive; they may be mis¬
taken, but they regret it as much as the public when it is so.
The name of Margottin reminds me that he was the sender out of
Boule d’Or, and that that rose may be cited as a proof of a
mistake. I think we must bide a bit before we condemn it. I
saw it in twenty different places in the raiser’s ground, and in
every case it had opened freely, and was most brilliant in colour ;
perhaps like some other Teas, it may prefer a wall, but at any
rate, what I saw of it would make me say, do not condemn it yet ;
the whole subject of seedling roses is one on which a good deal of
light was thrown, for me at least, by Margottin ; he says that he
has generally 20 to 30,000 of them, and that rarely any really
valuable seedling flowers before the fifth or sixth year, and that
those that flower the first and second, however taking they may
seem to be, are so delicate that they die off after blooming.
He showed me great gaps in his seedling department, which had
arisen from this cause. Again, he says that roses which are very
double as seedlings, never open when they are budded ; and that
many which seem to be valuable in the seed plot, are good for
nothing when put upon stocks. He thus never sends out a rose
which has not been through a long series of proofs, and if after
that it disappoints, I believe in his case and that of some others,
it is not a matter of wilful deception. We had a long talk on the
subject of shape, and he seems fully alive to the fact that it is that
that we want on our side of the water. Louise Odier was raised
by him, and is the parent of some seedlings which promise well
for next year. There was another matter in the cultivation of
roses which I heard from Troulliard of Angers, which struck me
forcibly as one likely to be of service to us, and that is to graft

z 2

340

THE FLORIST.

low on stocks of the Dog Rose raised from seeds. However
excellent the Manetti may he for strong, vigorous growing kinds,
I think no one can say that it is equally good, especially on strong
soils, for the more delicate constitutioned kinds ; for they, not
having power to receive the sap, are soon overpowered, the stock
begins to throw up suckers, and the rose languishes and dies ; while
stocks of the Dog Rose taken from the hedges, are, on the other
hand, generally so defective in root, that they answer badly for
that purpose, but by sowing seed of the Dog Rose you obtain nice
healthy stocks, with abundance of fibrous roots, not too vigorous
in character, and giving a fine healthy start to the rose, and is also
more permanent than it is likely to be on the Manetti : it is, at
any rate, worthy of the consideration of rose growers, and I am
not aware that it has yet been tried in England.

The demand for roses in France this season has been very great,
and, in fact, of the newer and more approved kinds, it is almost
impossible to obtain anything ; the English growers, having lost
so many, have been compelled to buy largely in France, and as the
frost was very severe there also, the stock has not been equal to
the demand ; they have consequently somewhat increased in price,
so that rose amateurs must not be surprised if they find a large
price is demanded. There is a singular difference in the estima¬
tion in which they are held, or rather in their character ; thus
Reine des Violettes has come well with them, while Due de Gazes
is good for nothing, and they pronounce Triomphe d’Amiens to be
be a veritable General Jacqueminot, but Madame Furtado and
General Washington seem equally appreciated on both sides of the
Channel. The same causes which affect us do not affect them, and
as we find a difference in the value of some sorts in one season
compared with another, so here also, in giving the names and de¬
scriptions of the sorts now announced, I can only say, that save in
the case of Margottin’s, they are the owner’s own ; his three I saw
in bloom, and the description of them is such as they appeared to
myself to merit. The season is very late, and had it not been for
the excessive fineness of the weather, even these would not have
been in flower. Instead of giving an alphabetical list, I shall
put them under the growers’ names, so that their value may be
somewhat appreciated by that means.

Victor Verdier, pere, et Charles Verdier, fils, announce the
following : —

1. Frangois Lacharme, H.P. — Vigorous, flowers medium size, full,

globular in form ; lively carmine in opening, passes into red,

reverse of petals lighter • said to be in the style of Senateur

Vaisse.

2. La Jdrilliante, H.P. — Vigorous, medium size, light transparent

carmine, blooming in clusters; blooms well in the autumn.

3. Olivier Delhomme^ H.P. — Vigorous, flowers nearly full, medium

size, brilliant lively red in colours ; like Bourbon Souchet.

4. Turenne, H.P. — Vigorous, flowers medium size, petals large

and somewhat crumpled at the edge ; brilliant red.

NOVEMBER.

341

5. Viscomte Vigier, H.P. — Vigorous ; flowers medium size, very

full, lively violet red ; blooms well in autumn.

6. Vulcain, H.P. — Vigorous ; flowers not quite full, lively deep

purple violet, shaded with black, blooming in clusters ; very
free flowering, and producing a fine effect ; a seedling of
General Jacqueminot. They also let out,

7. Adolphe Nohlet, H.P. (Ledechaux). — Vigorous ; flowers

medium size, well formed and slightly cupped, brilliant light
red ; flowers well in autumn ; a seedling of Souvenir de
L’Exposition.

Of these Francois Lacharme, Olivier Delhomme, Viscomte Vigier,
and Vulcain, were said to be the best.

Monsieur Margottin, of Bourg la Reine, has but three to send
out ; and these all I have, as I have said, seen in bloom.

The best rose probably of this season is —

8. Souvenir de Comte Cavour, H.P. — A very vigorous free

grower ; flowers large, full, and well made ; fine bright
crimson, shaded with velvet black. Also,

9. Alexandre Dumas, H.P. — A remarkable looking rose, very

nearly black, with dark maroon dashes in it. Darkest rose
yet out. It obtained the first prize for seedlings and silver
medal at the Exhibition of the Imperial Society of Horti¬
culture at Paris, in June, 1860.

10. Comtesse Ouvaroff, Tea. — A vigorous growing plant, well
shaped, standing very erect, and an improved Souvenir des
Ami. A rose of hardy constitution.

Monsieur Eugene Verdier, fils aine, advertises twelve ; of these
one — Mrs. Charles Wood — is likely to prove good. They are —

11. Mademoiselle Felicite Truillot. — A Bourbon; vigorous;
flowers full, in clusters ; lovely rose.

12. Eugene Boucier, H.P. — Vigorous ; flower large, full, cup¬
shaped; velvety purplish red.

13. James Dickson, H.P. — Vigorous; large; not quite full;
crimson shaded with purple.

14. Jean Baptiste Guillot, H.P. — Vigorous ; flower medium
sized, very full, globular ; bishop purple, shaded with reddish
purple.

15. Madame Caillat, H.P. — Vigorous ; flowers large, nearly full;
lovely cerise rose.

16. Mrs. Charles Wood, ll.V. — Very free growing ; flowers very
large, full, large petals ; brilliant red, passing into lively rose,
reverse of petals whitish ; superb.

17. Prince Camille de Rohan, H.P.— Plant vigorous ; flower
medium full ; crimson maroon, velvety, shaded with blood red.

18. Professor Koch, H.P.— Vigorous, flower medium, globular ;
rose cerise, shaded with lively carmine.

19. Richard Smith, H.P. — Plant vigorous ; flower medium, nearly
full, flowering in clusters ; purplish red, shaded with violet,
reverse of petals whitish.

z 3

342

THE FLORIST.

20* Wilhelm Pfilger^ H.P. — Vigorous ; flower large, full ; brilliant
flne red.

21. James Mitchell, Moss. — Vigorous ; full, well formed ; rose
shaded with slaty lilac.

22. John Cranston, Moss. — Vigorous ; flower medium-sized ;
crimson violet, shaded with lively red.

Monsieur Touvais, of the Rue Boulard, announces no less than
ten ; in justification it may be stated that he is retiring from his
present place, and is desirous of disposing of his stock. I do not
hear of anything remarkable among them. They are —

23. Madame Julie Daran, H.P. — Very vigorous grower ; flower
very large, full globular; form and appearance perfect ; colour,
vermilion red and shining.

24. Frangois Sourat. — Very vigorous ; flower very large, full
globular ; handsome form and appearance ; colour, lilac red.

25. Archeveque de Paris. — Very vigorous, and flowering freely in
autumn ; flowers medium-sized full ; form and appearance
perfect ; very velvety purple, back of petals shaded violet.

26. Richesse de Couleur, H.P. — Very vigorous ; flower large,
well made, good appearance ; lively purple, velvety shaded,
very dark at centre, back of petals, lightly violet shaded.

27. Couronne de Parterre, H.P. — Very vigorous, and fine flower¬
ing ; flowers large full ; form perfect ; colour, clear lively
velvety crimson,

28. F Fhlouissante, H.P. — Very fine ; flowers very large, full ;
colour, clear dazzling red.

29. Ricolor Incomparable, PI.P. — Very vigorous; flower medium,
jDerfectly imbricated ; centre black, edge of the petals very
delicate rose. Very original in appearance.

30. Peauie Seduisante, B. — Very vigorous, with beautiful foliage ;
flowers very large, well made ; colour, red maroon. Very
beautiful.

31. Mademoiselle Claudine UOffroy, H.P. — Flower very large,

very full, globular, opening well ; colour, clear red ; plant
vigorous. '

32. Aurore, H.P. — Flower nearly full, guard petals, very large,
clear rose, coppery at the centre, reverse of petals red. New
colour among hybrid perpetuals.

Monsieur Jamain, of the Rue Cendrier, announces two, of one
of which — Madame Boutin — I heard from other quarters good
accounts.

33. Madame Boutin. — Very vigorous ; flower large, full, well
made, opening easily, of a beautiful lively cerise red ; very
sweet scented ; beautiful appearance.

34. Marechal Vaillaint. — Very vigorous ; magnificent foliage ;
flower large, full, well made, opening well ; beautiful lively
purplish red, reverse of petals red, blooming in clusters,

Lartez fils, of Bordeaux, announces two tea-scented ones from
Gloire de Dijon, but no one seems to say much on their behalf,
though his description of them is very magnificent.

NOVEMBER.

343

35. Gloire de Idordeaux, T. — Very large, imbricated ; perfect
form ; silvery white, reverse of petals, lively rose ; very
vigorous.

36. Idelle Chartronnaise^ T. — Very large and full imbricated j
perfect form ; colour, lively red passing into velvety crimson,
shaded with flame colour. Also,

37. Madame Lamon, H.P. — Very vigorous ; flowers very large,

opening well, well formed, cup -shaped cerise red, shaded

with violet.

38. J3elle Briine, H.P. — Vigorous ; flower large, full, opening
well ; violet lightened with white. A new colour in hybrid
perpetuals.

39. Mademoiselle Amaud^ T. — Cerise red, passing into an in¬
describable colour.

Pradel, pere, et fils aine, of Montauban, announce,

40. Madame Maxime Bouet, B. — Flowers large, well imbricated;
carmine cerise ; very vigorous and flne flowering.

41. Madame Charles Seguret^ B. — Blooming in clusters, imbri¬
cated, very full ; clear crimson ; very fine flowering.

42. Madame Adelaide Ristori, B. — Flower medium, in clusters,
very full ; cerise, with back of petals coppery ; very vigorous.

43. Madame de Monseignat, B. — Flowers large, opening well ;
purplish cerise.

44. Comtesse de Moshourg, B. — Flowers large, petals regularly
arranged ; lively satiny rose.

45. Marechal Niel, H.P. — Flowers large, full; clear rose.

46. Mademoiselle Oahrielle Loanville, H.P. — Flowers medium,
full, perfectly imbricated ; tender coppery rose.

47. Mary Lafow, H.P. — Flowers large, imbricated ; velvety
purple, centre cerise.

48. Mademoiselle Louise Bessayre — Flowers full ; white ground,
petals imbricated.

Lenegue et fils, of the Boulevard de I’Hopital, Paris,' announce,

49. Due de Rohan, H.P. — Very vigorous, flowers very large,
full, opening very well, globular, lively red, shaded with
vermilion. ^

50. Comtesse de Seguier, H.P. — Very vigorous, flowers large,
globular, velvety red shaded with violet. Obtained second
prize at the Paris Exhibition.

51. Maurice Bernaudin, H.P. — Very vigorous, flowers large,
well imbricated, in clusters, beautiful clear vermilion red.

52. Souvenir de M. Rousseau, H.P. — Vigorous, flowers large,
full, imbricated, lively red shaded with carmine.

53. John Frazer, (Perpetual Moss). — Vigorous, calyx covered
with beautiful green moss, flowers large, lively red shaded
with carmine.

M. Troulliard has the following four, which have passed into

the hands of Mr. John Standish, but will not be sent out until the

following year. I saw the plants at Angers, and nothing could be

finer, even on poor ground, than their growth.

z 1

344

THE FLORIST.

54. Andre Leroy. — Very free growing flower, large; maroon
velvety black ; magnificent plant, one of the most beautiful of
the day.

55. Margaret of Anjou. — Very free growing, flower large, very
well made, sweet scented ; red, shading into violet, edged
with white, seedling of General Castellane.

56. 3Irs. Dombrain. — Very free growing, flower large, very
beautiful red shaded with velvety black, good effect, seedling
of General Jacqueminot.

57. Goliath. — Very free growing, flower large, dark rose edged
with white, in centre, shaped like a peony, a large flower,
seedling of Louis Bonaparte.

I have not been able to obtain any account of the Lyons roses;
if there are any coming out ; it will be seen that neither Portemer,
the raiser of Marie Portemer, or Marest, the raiser of two of the
best roses out. Prince Leon and Comtesse Cecile de Chabrilland,
have any to let out this season ; time only will show which of this
numerous family will be retained in our rose lists.

Leal. D.

REVIEWS.

The Ladies^ Assistant in the Formation of their Flower Gardens.
By Joshua Major & Son, Landscape Gardeners, Knows-
thorpe, Leeds. London: Longman & Co. 1861.

The Messrs. Major, we understand, have an extensive practice as
landscape gardeners in the midland and northern counties, and
submit to the public under the above title a series of plans for
flower gardens, accompanied by letter-press descriptions as to the
details of each design, and a brief introduction (under the heading
of general remarks) to the art and science of landscape gardening.
In this the authors inform us, as to the plan of their work, that
— “ Besides giving a scale to each plan, we have named pretty
nearly the size of the plot of ground required for its adaptation,
so that in making choice of a design it will be necessary to con¬
sider the extent of ground, and determine accordingly, and should
the choice happen to fall upon one too small for the plot, and the
plot be considered large enough for a design twice the size, the
same plan might with perfect propriety and increased effect be
repeated with a good bold walk between, by way of centre.”
Further on we meet with the following observation on a class of
geometric gardens, — “Parterres formed of beds, gravel walks,
box edging, &c., without any grass, ought always to be laid out
in compartments, removed from the view of the windows of the
house, and to be shut out from the natural or English style of
pleasure ground, for in such situations their fantastic shapes would
be inappropriate and exceedingly cheerless in the winter months.
If we were to consult our own taste, we would not introduce the
box edgings (after the Dutch style) at all; but as it is gradually

NOVEMBER.

345

creeping into fashion, and as we do not wish to appear singular,
we have given two plans which may be edged with box, but at
the same time we must say that we prefer neat edgings of earthen¬
ware, cast iron, wire, &c.” We presume the authors have seen
La JBlondel, La Theorie et la pratique du Jardinage, as well as
some of Nesfield’s designs, where edging, embroidery, and scroll
work, are seen in all the elaborate finish of high art, and which
belong to the French school, rather than to the Dutch, the prin¬
cipal features of the latter consisting of sloping banks, straight
canals, and clipped hedges, a modification of the French style
certainly, but with sufficient distinctness to constitute it a sej)arate
school. We quite admit that geometrical gardens should be shut
out from natural scenery, or at least should be separated from it by
some broad line of demarcation ; but that the geometrical style is
unsuited to be looked upon from the windows of the house, will
depend on what the authors’ views of a geometric garden consist
of. We are pretty well read in geometrical gardening, and our
own idea on the subject is, that geometric gardens are especially
adapted to accompany architectural features, and of course to be
looked upon from the windows of the house ; but if the figures of
the design take the fantastic shapes our authors allude to, by which
we presume they have in their minds’ eye, the stars, hearts, cross
swords, and the many nondescript-sliaped beds too frequently
seen even in otherwise good gardens, then we say, the sooner they
are banished, — not only from the vicinity of the house, but from
every part of the ground, — the better ; they constitute an offence
against good taste which should render their removal an impera¬
tive act on all who have gardens, and who value either art or
nature. In reference to edgings, we hope in time, and as fashion
is now a-days everything with professional men, that the authors’
scruples as to the use of box as an edging will be overcome, espe¬
cially when they consider, as a matter of taste and beauty, how
much superior it is to any manufactured article. Of the designs
themselves, twenty in number, many of them give very pleasing
combinations of easy flowing lines. We prefer ourselves No. 1,
more particularly if the centre figures were less complicated; the
centre division of No. 8, which would be a gem planted with good
taste ; No. 10; No. 14, which is a good modification of an original
French design; and No. 19. The length and narrowness of the
beds may be considered objectionable to some by not allowing for
large breadth of colour ; and for these reasons, we should have
preferred the centre or key beds to have been larger and less com¬
plicated. The work, however, will afford many useful ideas for
laying out grounds to those engaged in this subject, and we can
therefore well recommend its perusal and study.

The Wild Florcers of Great Lritain. Illustrated by Charlotte
Gower, and botanically and popularly described by R. Hogg,
LL.D., F.L.S., and George W. Johnson, F.R.II.S., editors
of the ‘‘Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener.”

346

THE FLORIST.

London : “ Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener ”
Office, 162 Fleet Street. Parts I. to VI., I5. each.

The expensive nature of former works on British botany has
proved a great hindrance to a more general knowledge of British
plants than unfortunately exists amongst us ; we say unfortunately,
for no science is really more popular, or deserves more to he en¬
couraged, as a delightful source of pure unalloyed pleasure and
recreation, than collecting and studying the habits and forms of
our native Flora. A few months back we had to notice in favour¬
able terms the completion of an abridgment of Sowerby’s Botany
— British Wild Flowers, arranged in one vol. ; the figures given
were, however, necessarily small, and some of them difficult to
identify by the tyro in botanical science. The present work is
got up on a larger scale — in fact equal to the expensive work
alluded to, and on a much more popular scale. The plates are
life-like, botauically correct, and the colouring sufficient to convey
a truthful character of the original ; while the descriptive letter-
press is divested as much as is possible of technical terms, and
rendered as popular as such descriptions to be accurate can be
made. Under the head of “history and uses,” the authors have
given us valuable information on the uses, as well as much inte¬
resting matter on classic, as well as domestic plant lore. The
work is published monthly, price I5., each number containing Four
Plates, with the accompanying letter-press. We most cordially
recommend this cheap edition to all concerned in promoting a love
and knowledge of British plants in their respective circles.

TRADE LISTS.

Charles Turners Catalogue of Fruit Trees, Roses, Coniferce,
Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Climbing Plants, ^c. Royal Nur¬
series, Slough, and Salt Hill. Autumn, 1861, a/it/ Spring,
1862.

To speak of Mr. Turner’s establishment as the head-quarters of
floricultural productions, would be superfluous ; but in addition
the Slough Nurseries contain a very general as well as excellent
selection of nursery stock, of which the present Catalogue enu¬
merates and describes the particulars o^ each. The Slough
Nursery possesses a pure air, and fine soil for fruit trees and
shrubs, and Mr. Turner’s good management, with the above ad¬
vantages, has made his stock second to none in quality and good
condition for planting.

William Paul’s Rose Catalogue. Cheshunt Nurseries and

Waltham Cross, 1861-62.

The name of William Paul and Roses are most fitly associated
together, for there arc very few individuals wlio have done so
much to make the Rose popular as Mr. W. Paul. We have

NOVEMBER.

347

therefore much pleasure in recommending Mr. Paul’s Rose Cata¬
logue to the notice of all interested in the queen of flowers, feel¬
ing sure they will neither be disappointed by the descriptions
given, nor in the stock Mr. P. here offers for sale.

Retail Catalogue of New Plants offered by W .Bull, Nursery¬
man and New Plant Merchant , Kings Road, Chelsea.

Mr. Bull here presents to the public a goodly list of rare and
new plants, of home and continental origin, which well deserves
the inspection of connoisseurs in new plants.

Catalogue of Hyacinths and other Bulbous Roots imported and
grown by B. S. Williams, Paradise Nursery, Holloway,
London.

Very complete and very good, with a capital list of Gloxinias.

Catalogue of Hyacinths, ^c., imported and sold by Robert
Parker, Exotic Nursery, Tooting, Surrey.

Another excellent assortment of Bulbous Roots, &c., by Mr.
Parker, late partner with Mr. Williams, and now established at
Tooting, where we wish him every success in his undertaking.

Barr ^ Sugden's Autumnal Catalogue, comprising choice
selections of Dutch Cape Florjering Bulbs, ^c., by Barr
and Sugden, 12, King Street, Covent Garden.

The Catalogue of this new firm appears to have been got up
with care, and the various articles offered for sale well selected
and described.

Prix Courant des Plantes des Serres et de Pleine Air, de Louis
Van Houtte, Horticulteur a Gand, Belgique.

A vast collection of plants is here offered to purchasers, culti¬
vated at M. Van Houtte’s establishment, which has a Avorld-wide
celebrity for old, new, and rare plants. There is a capital index
arranged for Nos. 87 and 88 of the Prix Courant, as well as the
current issue, which will make these numbers valuable lists for
reference.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — The greater portion of the stock of
Azaleas will probably be well set for bloom, and all which are so
should occupy a cool airy house. The plants will appear to be at
rest after having set their bloom buds, but the roots will nevertheless
be active, and the plants must be carefully attended to with water,
keeping the soil in a healthy state, otherwise the bloom will not be
what it should be. We aim at keeping plants which are making
no perceptible progress at the top rather on the side of dryness at
the root, but use every care to avoid any injurious excess, and
especially against getting the soil too wet. Any plants which are
still backward in the way of forming bloom buds should be kept

348

THE FLOKIST.

in the warmest house in which accommodation can be found for
them. Our own practice is to keep plants in heat until Christmas,
unless they are properly set for bloom. Look over and attend to
last month’s directions regarding plants being kept in heat, and
be especially careful to keep them free from black thrips. Plants
which set their bloom buds early in the season, and have had a
period of rest, may, if necessary to provide a supply of bloom, be
placed in a warm moist house, and may be had finely in flower by
Christmas ; but they must be afibrded a moist atmosphere, syringing
them over bead daily, keeping them perfectly clear of black thrips,
and be carefully attended to with water at the root. Some of the
Camellias which set their buds early will be in bloom, and should
be placed in a dry airy situation, and be assisted with weak manure
water ; especially plants which may have been allowed to carry
rather too many flowers for their strength, and where the supply
of flowers is not equal to the demand. A selection of such plants
as have well swelled their flower buds may be placed in a moist
gentle warmth, which will very much forward their blooming.
It is not advisable, however, to subject Camellias to much
artificial heat for the purpose of forcing them to open their buds,
as the result generally is that they bloom much smaller, &c., than
their natural size ; but by the aid of gentle heat they may be
forwarded very much without sustaining the slightest injury.
And in all attempts at forcing these the roots must be properly
supplied with water, otherwise the buds will drop prematurely.
Keep the general stock cool, giving air freely on mild days, and
see that the foliage is clean and bright, and water very carefully.
Conservatory. — Where this house is occupied by plants from the
stove, the greenhouse, and any other house which will furnish a
pldnt in bloom, as is too frequently the case, it will be very difficult
to manage it so as make it suitable for its various occupants. In
houses containing a mixture of this kind slight fires will be ne¬
cessary to keep the atmosphere rather dry, and also for the sake
of warmth, when the weather is not very mild for the season.
Use fire heat, however, as sparingly as will answer the objects in
view, and endeavour to arrange the plants requiring warmth as
much together at one end of the house as can conveniently be done,
and give air against these very sparingly. When the Chrysan¬
themums and winter-blooming Heaths and Epacrises, &c., are in¬
troduced, these must be afforded a Aee circulation of air on every
favourable opportunity, and then it will be advisable to dispense
with such things as require warmth ; for it is impossible to manage
a house so as to make it suitable for these and Crysanthemums, &c.
See that everything about the house is perfectly clean ; and do
not overcrowd the plants, and endeavour to arrange those in bloom
to the best advantage. But where valuable hard-wooded plants
have to be wintered in this house, these should be afforded the
situations most suitable for them, keeping them near the glass, &c.
Look over and attend to last month’s directions, if not already done.
Cold Frames. — Where hard-wooded plants have to be accom-

NOVEMBER.

349

modated here at this season, they will require very careful manage¬
ment to prevent their being inj ured by damp, &c., especially things
which are rather tender, or others, the young wood of which is not
well ripened. Give air freely whenever the weather will permit,
and endeavour to water on the mornings of bright days, so that the
superfluous moisture may be dried up before shutting up for the
night ; and keep the plants rather on the side of dryness, giving
them water only when it is absolutely necessary. Be prepared
with efficient covering in the case of frost, which may be expected
any night now. Calceolarias, both the herbaceous and shrubby
kinds, will now be growing freely, and these should receive every
attention, not allowing them to feel the want of pot room, keeping
them as close as can be done without injuring them by damp, and
perfectly free from their great enemy, aphis. Water cautiously,
and endeavour to do so on bright mornings, so as to get the foliage
dry before shutting up. Flower Garden. — Where a spring display
is to be attempted, the beds should be cleared at once, prepared
and planted with bulbs, &c. And even where the beds are not
intended to be filled with things for blooming in spring, they
should be cleared and neatly trimmed up, in which state they will
look better than with the remains of their summer occupants.
Any alterations which may be in hand should be pushed forward
while the weather continues favourable. Give air freely on mild
days to Verbenas, and other autumn-struck cuttings, and en¬
deavour to get these well established and hardened before winterly
weather sets in. Look over the stock of Calceolarias and other
recently put in cuttings, and make up any deficiencies, either by
putting in more cuttings, or potting up some of the old plants.
Be particularly careful to keep the whole of the bedding- out stock
perfectly free from aphis. Greenhouse. — Use every dispatch to
get the whole stock here nicely tied, repotting any plants which
require more pot room, so as to have all as trim and neat as
possible for the winter. Place Leschenaultias, Boronias, and other
plants, which are impatient of currents of cold air, together at
the lightest end of the house, and give front air against these only
on very mild days, and where necessary to dispel damp, from
which these are very liable to suffer during winter. See that the
whole stock is perfectly free from aphis, and other injurious insects.
Water very cautiously, and only when it is positively necessary;
but when a plant is watered, give sufficient to moisten the ball
throughout, and the watering should now be done in the morning.
If damp is troublesome use a little fire heat in the morning, with a
free circulation of air ; but use fire heat at night only when neces¬
sary to keep the temperature from falling much below 40°. Stove.
— Advantage should be taken of every hour which can be spared
from other work to get the stock in this house thoroughly cleaned.
Ixoras, and many other plants which have done blooming, may be
cut back, when they should be thoroughly cleared of scale, well
washing the foliage, &c., re-potting such as require this, and nicely
tying the shoots, and every effort should be used to get the whole

350

THE FLORIST.

stock perfectly free from insects, while they are in a comparatively
dormant state, and will be uninjured by washes, &c., which would
disfigure them when their foliage is young and tender. Attend to
last month’s directions as to winter -blooming things, and afford
these every attention.

Cinerarias. — We will suppose that such of these plants as are
required for early flowering or exhibition to be now ready for
their final shift into their blooming pots, the size best suited for
this purpose being eight-inch ones, well drained with potsherd
and other loose material, such as rough turf, &c. The compost
best suited is two parts good friable loam and one each of rotten
manure and leaf mould, add sand to cause the water to percolate
freely. Keep a little close for a few days, then give air gradually ;
look well to mildew and green fly, and sulphur or fumigate imme¬
diately on its appearance ; keep tolerably close of nights, as the
least frost is very injurious to these tender foliaged plants ; stand
them, and keep as near the glass as possible.

Pelargoniums. — -If previous directions have been attended to,
with early specimen plants little can be done this month. Avoid
crowding the plants, and also be careful in watering ; at this season
only water those that are really dry, and give plenty of air at all
favourable opportunities to prevent them getting drawn. Keep
the plants clean of decayed foliage, especially the fancies, and
re-pot any that require it.

Train and stop back, if long enough, the shoots of young plants
that it is intended to make specimens, and when the weather is wet
and cold give a little fire-heat and air at the same time to dry up
damp, and in cold nights the temperature of the house should
average about 40°.

Hardy Fruit. — This is perhaps the best time for planting all
kinds of fruit-trees ; and in the renewal of wall-trees, where the
borders are old, the ground should be well trenched to the full
width of the border, and fresh loam mixed with the old soil as the
work proceeds. Mulch the trees after planting with rotten manure
to encourage them to root at once. Large trees that are unfruitful
or growing too strong may now be lifted with advantage ; if stan¬
dard trees, take care to secure them to stakes after re-planting.
Go over peach and nectarine trees with a soft broom, to remove a
portion of the leaves, that the wood may get well ripened. Any
other fruit-trees that have shed their leaves may now be pruned.
Give air to the fruit store till after the sweating process is over,
after which time the room should be closed; a dry, cool, close
atmosphere is best adapted for the long keeping of fruit. Look
over the fruit often, and remove all those going to decay. If any
late apples or pears still remain on the trees they should be
gathered at once.

Forcing Ground. — Mushroom beds intended to produce the
winter supply should now be made ; sprinkle the beds lightly that
are coming into bearing, and keep up a moist atmosphere in the
house. If Asparagus is required early, the roots may now be

NOVEMBER.

<

351

lifted and placed in the forcing house or in pits, where a moderate
heat can be maintained ; place the roots thickly together, and
cover them with about six inches of light earth ; keep the pits
close till the heads appear, when air should be given. Sea-kale
may be forced in a similar way, by covering the crowns with coal
ashes to blanch the heads ; some in the open ground may also be
covered with pots, and a good bed of leaves placed over them. A
few roots of Rhubarb should be placed in the forcing house for
early use, also a few pots of Tarragon and Mint. Basil can be
propagated from cuttings through the winter, which is a better
way than growing from seed. Take up Chicory roots and place
them in the mushroom house, or some other dark place to grow
and blanch. Cucumbers will now require every care to keep them
healthy ; a night temperature of 75° should be maintained, with
air through the day at every favourable opportunity ; use water
rather sparingly at the root for the present. Plant out those sown
last month.

Cherries and Plums. — This is the best time for potting young
trees for succession, and all pot plants intended for forcing by-
aud-bye should be examined ; see that the drainage is perfect, and
those requiring more pot-room should be shifted, and when finished
plunged in a bed of leaves or litter, to protect the pots and roots
from frost.

Strawberries. — The pots should now be protected from frost
and drenching rains. Those intended for early work had better
be placed under glass in a cold frame to get dry ; others for later
crops may be plunged sideways in ridges of coal ashes or litter.

Peach House. — Place the sashes on the early house, and finish
tying the trees. If early Peaches are required, the house should
be closed at night, but do not apply fire-heat for the present,
except the nights are cold and frosty, when a little fire-heat may
be given towards the end of the month. Surface the inside
border with a mixture of fresh loam and dung.

Pines. — Give air at every favourable opportunity to the succes¬
sion plants, but close the pits early in the afternoon. Keep a
steady bottom heat from 75° to 80°, and a night temperature of
65°, with a rise of 10° to 15° during sunshine. Less water will
now be needed. Plants swelling their fruit should be kept a little
warmer than the succession plants ; keep the atmosphere moist,
and give air every mild quiet day. Collect plenty of leaves to be
in readiness for filling pits when they may be required.

Vinery. — Look over ripe grapes frequently, and cut out all
decayed berries ; give fire-heat during the day in damp weather,
giving air at the same time to dry the damp. If the early vinery
was closed last month, a little fire-heat may now be given in cold
weather, so that the night temperature does not fall below 45°,
and keep about 60° through the day ; use the syringe every day,
and keep a moist atmosphere by sprinkling the pipes and fioor of
the house ; give air in fine weather, and raise the temperature 5°
by the end of the month. Prune the vines in the succession house

352

THE FLORIST.

as soon as the leaf has fallen. Pot vines intended for early fruit¬
ing should now be placed in the forcing house ; these will require
a higher temperature than established vines, on account of both
root and branch being in the same temperature.

Kitchen Garden. — Cauliflowers and Lettuces under hand-glasses
or in cold frames should have full exposure through the day in dry
weather ; small plants of these may still be pricked out, either in
frames or in a sheltered situation to stand the winter. Tie up
Endive to blanch, and take up a quantity, and place them under
cover either in .cold frames or in sheds for present use in case of
frost. Take advantage of dry weather to finally earth up Celery
and Cardoons. Take up Carrots, Parsnips, and Dioscorea roots,
if not already done; look over those in store, and remove all that
are decayed. Plant out Tripoli Onions in light rich soil, if not
done last month, and go on with digging and trenching all vacant
ground when the weather favours that operation.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN NOVEMBER.

Auriculas. — The present lovely autumn weather may, perhaps,
have an injurious efiect in causing these plants to throw up flower
stems ; if so, pinch them oif, and keep the plants as dormant as
possible ; give plenty of air, pick olF all decaying leaves, and be
careful as to the watering. Get the manure for top-dressing into
a sheltered place ready for spring.

Carnations and Picotees. — Here give air constantly, and let
no moisture stand round the plants ; if possible, give them plenty
of room. I believe a northern aspect to suit them better than any
other during winter. See to the compost for spring potting.

Dahlias ought now to be safely housed, the great enemy to the
roots is . damp. A well-ventilated dry cellar, free from frost, is the
best place for them.

Pansies should now be in their winter quarters, and will require
much the same care as Carnations and Picotees.

Pelargoniums should now be re-potted for blooming ; if left
until later, you get quantities of leaves and little bloom. After
January, all that is required for them ought to be given in the
shape of liquid manure.

Pinks. — Keep the beds clean ; and if the weather be very
severe, protect ; but at present they are in fine condition.

Gladiolus should be lifted when the leaves are decaying, and
dried quickly ofl* ; some of them are blooming now (October 19)
in fine condition.

2\lips ought to be planted early this month, and every care
taken of the bed in severe weather.

Greenhouse. — Here everything will be (as it has to do so many
duties) necessarily somewhat crowded, but give as much room,
light, and air as possible. Clear the garden of rubbish, plant roses,
and make such alterations as may be necessary ; and take care to
procure manure, leaves, &c., for next year’s supply of compost.

Deal. D.

DECEMBER.

353

NEW PICOTEES.

(Plate 183.)

The good old Clove Gillyflower of our forefathers, together
with the races into which it has sported in the hands of the
Florists, enjoys a position to which few other flowers, except¬
ing always the Pose, can lay claim, that of being an universal
favourite; for while there are none to whom the old fashioned
Clove Pink is not acceptable, there are none who do not prize
the Carnation and the Picotee, which are the forms into which
the fine old garden flower has diverged under cultivation.
They are, indeed, appreciated in different degrees, and in a
different manner, by different classes. Thus in the genuine
Florist they excite a glowing enthusiasm, and a keen and
searching criticism, which, while admiring every point of
excellence, leaves none of the properties of the flower
unchallenged ; while in the rest of the body floricultural they
rather give rise to a feeling of calm but deep appreciation of
their beauties and their sweets, both optic and olfactory nerves
finding a sense of gratification. In all this public favour the
Picotee shares at least as largely as the more freely painted
Carnation, what is wanting to it in gaiety being made up by
the peculiarly chaste character of its flowers.

The Illustrations we now place before our readers repre¬
sent some novel varieties of the Picotee, which combine in
themselves the peculiar features of merit which have progres¬
sively been stamped upon the flower, namely, size, fulness,
smoothness, and perfection of colouring ; they may there¬
fore be recommended without hesitation. Both varieties
have been submitted to the censorship of the Floral Com¬
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and both obtained
First-class certificates. They were exhibited by Mr. Charles
Turner, of Slough, in whose hands we believe they now are.

Of the individual peculiarities of the two novelties now
figured, a better general notion will perhaps be conveyed by
our Illustrations than by any descriptive remarks. The
flowers themselves have been greatly admired wherever they
have been seen, and in regard to their position from a Florist’s
point of view, there can be no question that they are both
varieties of first-rate excellence; while the bright attractive
colouring of the one, and the chaste subdued marking of the
other, as displayed respectively on the pure solid-looking
white ground of the petals, are qualities which will command
general admiration. They are both stated to be of vigorous
constitution, which in itself is no small recommendation.

Fig. 1. Flower of the Day (Norman), is a splendid variety,
of the heavy-edged scarlet class, in which it is the brightest

VOL. XV., NO. CLXVIII. A A

3o4

THE FLORIST.

and best yet obtained; the general form is excellent, the size
is large, the petals bold, firm, and remarkably smooth, the
white pure, and the marking, which is of a rosy carmine,
strong and bright (and, as it should be, confined to the edge),
so that altogether this forms a very attractive flower.

Fig. 2. Rosy Circle (Payne), is of the light-edged rose-
class, a very constant and delicate variety, standing at the
head of its class ; this also is a large full flower, of fine form,
with firm smooth broad petals, very pure, and having the
marking confined to a thin even thread-like line of rose-
colour, resembling Mrs. Barnard, to which, however, it is much
superior.

BOOT- PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES.

Having in the last number offered a few remarks on the spur-
pruning of fruit trees, we now take up the subject of root-pruning,
which we regard as nearly of equal importance. Notwithstanding
all that has been written on root-pruning of late years, we do not
find it so generally attended to as it ought to be, especially on
wall trees. Most, if not all, the failures in fruit-tree culture are
owing to something wrong at the roots. We hear, year after year,
of fruit trees gumming, cankering, and dying off ; this arises entirely
through allowing the roots to strike too widely and deeply into the
cold soil. VV^hat should we think of the plant grower who bestowed
much labour and attention in tying out and training of his plants,
but paid no regard to the state of the roots or the soil ? We would
at once say that such a person was ignorant of the first principles
of scientific gardening. Successful plant cultivation depends in a
great measure on the care and attention given to the prepai’ation
of the soil, tlie drainage, and potting of the plants. To succeed
in fruit-tree culture we must always pay the greatest attention to
the state of the roots in the soil, &c. Between the roots and leaves
the action is reciprocal. If we allow the roots to strike deep into
a highly enriched, strong, retentive soil, we must naturally expect
robust luxuriant growths, which will never get properly matured
in our climate. And yet how common it is to see young trees in
this state. IIow often do we see even young peach trees encou¬
raged to make robust shoots, which, for want of the high and warm
temperature of the American summers to ripen, after a few years
die of canker. Then people say it is no use attempting to grow
the peach in open air in this country, it requires the aid of glass.
Unsound tissue is the result of rapid growth. If trees are allowed
to grow rapidly for a few j’-ears without any check, sooner or later
the evil will show itself; they may tide over a few mild winters,
but the first severe one will either kill them, or so completely
injure them, that they never do much good afterwards. We have
this season seen hundreds of apple trees, even, which were so in¬
jured by the frost last winter that they will never recover.

DECEMBER.

355

We strongly advise, then, that before planting young fruit trees
the soil should be so prepared that no robust growth may result ;
always aim at moderate-sized wood which will stand a chance of
getting ripened, particularly peach, nectarine, and apricot trees ;
by this means, and by not over-cropping whilst the trees are young,
you will, in a few years, get a wall of well-ripened sound wood,
which will stand any ordinary winters we may have, and will bear
good crops regularly, with proper attention, for a number of years
— What a pleasure to the gardener !

When young trees make too strong wood, they should be root-
pruned ; and with young trees this is best done by lifting them,
shortening the longest roots, then carefully planting them anew.
All large trees on walls, such as pears, which it may be incon¬
venient to lift, are best operated on by opening a trench a few feet
from the bole, then lifting the roots and cutting back the strongest.

By root-pruning we check robust growth in young trees, and
we bring robust unproductive trees into a bearing state. By
operating freely on large, robust, unproductive trees, we stop the
supply of nutriment, the growth of the branches is arrested, organ -
i sable matter accumulates, and fruit buds are formed. A single
root-pruning will in general bring large unproductive trees into a
permanently fruitful condition. When trees are in a good bearing
state they will not require root-pruning ; and as all excessive
pruning shortens somewhat the life of a tree, we should not do
anything that would in the least degree aifect the continued pro¬
ductiveness and longevity of the trees. With regard to orchard
trees, we would strongly advise caution in root-pruning. All
large, robust, unproductive trees may be root-pruned with ad¬
vantage, but young growing trees should be cautiously root-
pruned — -just sufficient to check robust growth — as it is better to
wait a few years, than by root- pruning to bring them prematurely
into bearing. Whilst striving by every means in our power to get
well-ripened wood and fruitful trees, we must do nothing to
enfeeble their constitution, as the ultimate value of all ' orchard
trees depend on the size, longevity, and productiveness of the trees.

Stourton, Yorkshire. M. Saul.

THE FLOBAL COMMITTEE OF THE EOYAL HORTI¬
CULTURAL SOCIETY.

Since our last notice of this body, its meetings have been
held in the Council Room, at the new gardens. South Kensington.
The present season has been tolerably prolific of novelties, and we
propose here to offer a resume of those which have obtained awards,
besides which, however, many other interesting flowers have ap¬
peared. The following memoranda refer to the meetings held
between March and July inclusive, up to the commencement of
the Dahlia season : —

First-class Certificates.

Agatiitea ccelestis fol. variegatis.— March 12, Mr. W.

A A 2

356

THE FLORIST.

Bull, Clielsea.- — A pretty, variegated, form of the well-known
Agathcea, or Cineraria amelloides. The neat roundish foliage is
margined with creamy white, and when properly developed the mark¬
ing is well defined and characteristic. It, however, occasionally
becomes less decided, apparently from over excitement, or too
great luxuriance. The flowers are of the ordinary character.

Azalea Flag of Truce. — March 26, Mr. Todman, gardener
to R. Hudson, Esq., Clapham. A large semi-double white, in the
way of Leviathan, but with fuller, better-shaped flowers, the small
petaloid filaments being more compact and even. It is a vigorous-
habited and very desirable sort.

Azalea Kinghornii. — April 9, Mr. Kinghorn, Richmond. —
The flowers of this variety are of exquisite form, and remarkable
for their smoothness and substance. It is one of the bright rose-
colours, and a very beautiful sort.

Calceolaria canariensis. — May 28, Mr. Gr. Smith, Hornsey-
road. — A fine dwarf bedding variety, of shrubby habit ; certainly
one of the best, if not the very best known. Tlie flowers are large,
and of a rich, clear yellow,

Campylobotrys refulgens. — April 9, Mr. Bull, Chelsea. — A
beautiful-leaved dwarf stove herb, with a short stem, and numerous
large, obovately oblong leaves, reddish-tinted and velvety with
whitish ribs and veins and a singularly ridgy surface above ; which
shows off the satiny colouring to advantage. This is probably the
finest of the species yet made known.

Cattleya guatemalexsis. — March 26, Messrs. Veitch and
Son, Exeter and Chelsea. — A curious and pretty orchid, with
smallish pale rosy flowers, having a singular flush of orange colour,
and a deep purplish-red lip. It was sent from Guatemala by Mr.
Skinner, and is an interesting plant.

Clarkia pulciiella flore-pleno. — July 9, Messrs. Carter
and Co., Holborn. — The flowers of this variety, which are of the
deep rose-colour of C. p. pulcherrima, are made up of three or four
rows of petals, forming a tolerably compact double flower.

Delphinium alopecuroides.— July 9, Mr. G. Wheeler, War¬
minster. — A handsome double-flowered hardy perennial larkspur,
remarkable for dwarfness, being not more than 2 to 2^ feet high,
and for its dense compact spike, upwards of a foot long, slightly
branched below, and covered with small double bright blue flowers,
paler and reddish towards the centre.

Drac^na FERRE a variegata. — June 25, from the Society’s
garden. — A fine broad-leaved plant ; evidently diflfering in this
peculiar feature from the ordinary D. terminalis, which it re¬
sembles in rich colouring — the D.ferrea variegata being much the
finer, on account of the breadth of its foliage.

Eurya japonica latifolia variegata. — June 11, Mr. Stan-
disli, Bagshot. — An elegant variegated shrub, recently sent from
Japan, by Mr. Fortune. It has moderate-sized, elegantly acumi¬
nated Camellia-like foliage, broadly-margined, and more or less

DECEMBER.

357

blotched inwards with white, the young leaves being also fleshed
with a rich orange tint.

Fuchsia Mammoth. — June 25, Mr. G. Smith, Hornsey-road.
— A flne habited variety, with very large double flowers, having
bright red sepals and violet corolla. It is a very effective decorative
plant.

Lomaria ctcadifolia. — April 23, Messrs. J. and C. Lee, Ham¬
mersmith. — A flne bold pinnated fern, closely related to L. ma-
gellanica, and, like it, producing two forms of fronds. It is hardy
and evergreen, but worthy a place in any greenhouse collection.

Lomaria fluviatilis. — April 23, Messrs. J. and C. Lee. — A
fine New Zealand fern, with the evergreen sterile fronds dark
green, with roundish pinme, similar to those of Platyloma rotundi-
folium, the fertile pinnm being linear. An elegant cold greenhouse
species. ^

Lomaria Fraseri. — May 28, Mr. Standish, Bagshot. — A
slender dwarf tree fern, of remarkable beauty, and quite unique
among Lomarias, having the sterile fronds bipinnatifid, with small
oblong segments, and the fertile ones being of similar form. It is
a hardy greenhouse plant, native of New Zealand.

Osmanthus aquifolius VARiEGATUs NANUS. — June 11, Mr.
Standish, Bagshot. — A dwarf Japanese shrub, with flat, deeply-
toothed holly-like leaves, elegantly margined with white.

Pelargonium (zonale) Herald of Spring. — April 23, Mr.
C. Turner. — A variety of moderately-vigorous habit, the leaves
broadly and heavily zoned, the flowers large, finely-shaped, of an
orange cerise colour.

Petunia inimitabilis flore-pleno. — May 14, Messrs. Veitch
and Son, Chelsea. — A charming double-flowered variety of Petunia
violacea, exceedingly well adapted for pot culture for decorative
purposes, being of excellent habit, dwarf and stocky, and producing
abundantly-close, well-shaped, double-flowers, variously blotched
with large patches of white on a rosy -purple ground.

Picotee Flower of the Day. — July 23, Mr. C. Turner,
Slough. — A full-sized, heavy rose or scarlet-edged variety, of ex¬
cellent properties, probably the highest coloured of its class.

Picotee^ rosy circle. — July 23, Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — A
light rose-edged, constant and delicate, the marking forming an
uniform wire edge.

PiMELEA ELEGANS. — May 14, Messrs. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. —
A very elegant greenhouse hard-wooded shrub, producing freely
large globular heads of white flowers, from which large orange-
coloured anthers project. The contrast between the corollas and
the anthers is charming.

Pink Delicata. — June 25, Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — A large
well- formed flower, heavily and evenly laced with a delicate purple,
the blotches at the base of the limb being of a deeper purple.

Pink Lady Eokeby.— June 25, Mr. W. Bragg, Slough. — A
full petaled variety, evenly laced with purple.

Polystichum vestitum venustum. — April 23, Messrs. J. & C.

A A 3

358

THE FLORIST.

Lee. — A very handsome evergreen hardy greenhouse fern, with
dark green bipinnated fronds, having the pinnules prettily toothed.
It is a New Zealand fern.

Pteris cretica ALBO-LiNEATA. — March 26, Messrs. Veitch &
Sou, and Mr. Bull. One of the most beautiful of recent additions
to the fern family, and a remarkably handsome variegated plant.
The long ribbon like divisions of the frond have each a broad
central band of white. It will succeed in a greenhouse, though
better in a stove.

Rhodanthe maculata. — June 25, Mr. W. Thompson, Ipswich.
— A beautiful new species of Rhodanthe, with the habit more
vigorous and the flower -heads considerably larger than in the old
R. Manglesii, which it resembles in general character. The
coloured involucral scales are stained with a deeper rose towards
the base. It is a first-class new annual.

Rose (H. P.) Beauty of Waltham Cross. — .Tune 11, Mr. W.
Paul, Waltham Cross. — A fine English rose, of vigorous habit,
with bold foliage and rosy crimson cupped flowers, which are about
medium size and of fine form and substance.

Todea superba. — May 28, Messrs. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. —
This is a charming fern, sometimes called Leptopteris supe7'ba. It
is of filmy character, and amongst the most lovely of greenhouse
species. The fronds are lance-shaped, with the pinnae cut into a
multitude of narrow crowded segments, which bristle up over the
whole surface. It is nearly related to the handsome Todea hymen-
ophylloides, often called T. pellucida, but is yet quite distinct
from it.

Verbena Foxhunter. — July 9, John Miller, Esq., Upway. —
The most remarkable scarlet verbena vet raised. The flowers are
large, bright rich scarlet, and having a small yellow eye ; espe¬
cially brilliant and attractive.

Commendations.

Adelaster albivenis. — April 23, Messrs. V eitch & Son, Chelsea
and Exeter. — A fine warm greenhouse or cool stove climber, from
Peru. It has dark olive green leaves prettily marked with white
veins, and in the form of young dwarf plants, before the climbing
habit is developed, forms a very useful decorative plant.

Amaranthus melancholicus ruber. — July 23, Messrs. Veitch
& Son, Exeter and Chelsea. — A curious looking annual of dwarf
habit, obtained from Japan, accompanied by the other forms of
Amaranthus known as A, hicolor, ti'icolor, and tricoloi' splendldis-
simus. The leaves are broad and roundish in form, and of a deep
sanguineous purple. It is interesting for the colour of its foliage,
and may be useful in out-door gardening, Messrs. Veitch stating
that the colour is improved by exposure in summer.

Aralia Sieboldii variegata. — May 28, Messrs. Veitch &
Sou, Chelsea. — A stout greenhouse shrub, with bold long-stalked
palniatifid leaves irregularly tipped and edged with white.

Auricula, Rev. G. Jeans. — April 9, Mr. Turner, Slough. —
A useful second class grey-edged variety.

DECEMBER.

359

Calandrinia sp. — July 9, Messrs. Yeitch & Son, Exeter and
Chelsea. — A pretty dwarf rock plant from South Chili, stated to
be perfectly hardy ; something in the way of (7. umhellata, but
larger-flowered ; the leaves narrow, greyish, with appressed hairs;
the flowers rich bright rose purple or deep magenta.

Cineraria Prairie Bird. — March 26, Mr. C. Turner, Slough.
— A deep clear violet, with a white ring around the dark disk.
It is a pretty sort, of good general properties.

Cineraria Maid of Astolat. — March 26, Mr. C. Turner. —
A well- formed variety; white, with narrow marginal belt of rosy
purple.

Cineraria Rosea plena. — May 14, Mr. A. Kendall, Stoke
Newington. — A dwarf compact -habited tufted growing sort,
with the flower-heads rosy crimson, many of them full double, and
others semi-double. If the double-flowered character is unimpaired
it will be a pretty plant for decorating small flower-vases.

CoB^A SCANDENS VARIEGATA. — June 25, Mr. Bull, Chelsea. —
This differs from the common sort in having the leaves edged with
creamy white, and forms a pretty variegated climber.

Coleus Verschaffeltii. — June 25, Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea. —
A very richly coloured free-growing soft-wooded branching stove
plant, having as shown, the leaves of a pale green tint, with a blotch
of rich reddish chocolate. With the advancing season this colour
becomes richer and more extended, until, as exhibited at the Dahlia
Show, September 11, the whole surface of the leaves was clothed
with this rich warm tint. In this state it is a very fine plant for
decorative uses. The habit is that of C. Blumeiy but the leaves
are larger.

CuPANiA PiNDAiBA. — Juue 25, Mr. Bull, Chelsea. — A graceful
pemiate-leaved, large-growing, conservatory shrub, from Brazil.

Epacris Vesta. — April 9, Messrs. Veitch & Son, Chelsea. —
A very pretty and distinct variety; the flowers white, tipped with
bright pink.

Erodium guttatum. — April 23, Mr. Wicks, Gardener to W.
Wilson Saunders, Esq., Reigate. — A pretty half-hardy herbaceous
plant, with purple geraniaceous flowers, spotted with black in the
centre; it is suitable for rock-work as a summer plant.

Hypolepis distans. — July 9, Mr. W. Dean, Bradford. — An
elegant, slender, drooping-fronded, greenhouse. New Zealand fern,
suitable for baskets. It has a creeping caudex and bipinna, te
fronds, a foot or a foot and a half long, finely divided; the stalks
and main rachis rough, with small raised, often prickly points.

Illicium anisatum variegatum. — June 11, Mr. Standish, Bag-
shot. — A greenhouse shrub, introduced from Japan, and apparently
a variegated form of /. anisaturn,

Nemophila discoidalis elegans. — July 9, Messrs. Chari-
wood and Cummins, Covent Garden. — A pretty and eflective
variety, the flowers being distinctly bordered with white around a
bright chocolate or bright reddish maroon centre.

Pansy Princess Alice. — May 28, Mr. W. Dean, Bradford. —

A A 4

360

THE FLORIST.

A large flowered fancy sort, white marked on all the petals with a
broad ray — margined purple blotch ; very pretty and eflective.

Pelargonium Amazon. — May 28, Mr. W. Beck, Isleworth. —
A decorative variety, of vigorous free blooming habit. The flowers
are large deep purple-rose, with a violaceous eye.

Pelargonium Floeibundum. — April 9, Messrs. F. and A. Smith,
Dulwich. — A forcing variety, of free habit, the flowers light rose-
pink, with a dark spot on the orange-rose upper petals. Useful
for decoration.

Pelargonium Lady Churston. — June 11, Messrs. Veitch and
Son, Chelsea. — A rich and fiery orange-scarlet, with dark spotted
petals ; a very bright and effective decorative sort.

Pelargonium Mrs. Ponsonby Moore. — May 14, Messrs.
Veitch and Son, Chelsea. — A dwarf-habited variety, very free
flowering, the flowers bright rose-crimson, with black spots on all
the petals. It is very handsome as a small decorative plant.

Pelargonium Snowdrop. — April 9, Messrs. F. and A. Smith,
Dulwich. — A blush-white forcing variety of free habit.

Pelargonium (zonale) Firefly. — July 23, Mr. G. Smith,
Hornsey. — A very dwarf short-jointed sort, with small distinctly
zonate leaves, and orange-scarlet flowers, freely produced, and
elevated on long stout footstalks. It was found to be superior to
Scarlet Queen.

Pelargonium (zonale) Prince of Hesse. — April 23, Mr. C.
Turner, Slough. — A moderately vigorous variety, with a deep-
coloured zone, and large well-formed flowers of a salmon pink,
paler at the edge.

Pelargonium (variegated) Clara. — April 23, Mr. C. Turner,
Slough. — A handsome variety, having the leaves dark centred,
with yellowish margin, and marked with a dark coloured zone,
which is orange tinted while young ; the flowers are large, deep
crimson-scarlet, of fair shape. It was thought a highly promising
sort likely to improve.

Phlox Peine Blanche. — June 25, Messrs. Downie, Laird, and
Laing, Sydenham and Edinburgh — A handsome vigorous summer-
flowered variety, with large pure white flowers.

Phlox Lydia. — June 25, Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing. —
A summer flowering sort, vigorous in growth, the flowers French
white, with bold purple eye.

PicoTEE, Mrs Hole. — July 23, Mr. C. Turner, Slough — A
pretty light red-edged variety, of good properties.

Prenantiies arborea. — April 23, Mr. Wicks, gardener to W.
Wilson Saunders, Esq., Reigate. — A greenhouse shrubby plant, of
the composite family, having elegant pinnated foliage, with fine
narrow segments.

Primula sinensis nivea plena. — March 26, Mr Bull, Chelsea.
— A neat double-flowered or semi-double, white fringed Chinese
primrose, not equal to other varieties in individual merit, but
stated to be reproducible in the double form from the seeds, and
hence valuable because accessible for decorative uses.

DECEMBER.

361

Primula sinensis rubella plena. — March 26, Mr. Bull. —
This is similar to the preceding in its habit and general character ;
but tjie flowers are of the ordinary rosy or reddish hue. The
plant is very much inferior in itself to atro-rosea^ the finest of all
the double kinds, but has a certain value on account of its ready
increase by seeds, as stated.

Primula sinensis filicifolia. — March 26, Messrs. E. G.
Henderson and Son, St John’s Wood. A very distinct form,
with elegant foliage, and red or white fringed flowers. The leaves
are oblong, elongated, and pinnatified, so as very much to resemble
fern— leaves.

Primula sp. — July 9, Messrs. Veitch and Son, Exeter and
Chelsea. — A dwarf hardy Chilian primrose, tufted in habit, the
leaves wedge-shaped with the ends evidently toothed ; the flowers
small, pretty, purplish rose, with a yellow eye, growing in umbels
at the top of the peduncle. A pretty rock plant, or suitable for
growing in pots with alpines.

Rhodanthe maculata alba. — June 25, Mr. W. Thompson,
Ipswich. — A pretty variety of JR. maculata, in which the flower-
heads instead of pink, are of a silvery white ; very desirable for
contrast.

Rhododendron pr^cox. — March 12, Mr. Davies, Wavetree.
— A dwarf, and perfectly hardy bushy evergreen, of hybrid origin,
having been bred between ciliatum and atrovirens. It has distinct
rosy-lilac flowers, and will be valuable as an early flowering shrub,
either for the open garden, and for pots within doors.

Symphytum tuberosum yariegatum superbum. — April 9, Mr.
J. Salter, Hammersmith. — A bold-leaved and very effective hardy
variegated plant, the leaves finely margined with rich creamy
yellow.

Veronica chamjedrys pulcherrima. — April 9, Mr. J.
Salter, Hammersmith. — A dwarf hardy herbaceous variegated
plant, with small oval toothed leaves, margined with creamy white,
and forming a neat and pretty tuft.

We shall complete our record at the close of the floral season,
in the first number of our new series. Meanwhile, among the
subjects which, during the period embraced in this notice, did not
obtain awards, the following are more especially worthy of mention.

Cineraria Tom Thumb. — May 11, Mr. Kendall, Stoke Newing¬
ton. — A race of very dwarf compact tufted growing varieties, very
free-flowering, with the flower heads of various shades of rose and
purple. They are pretty small decorative plants, and may pro¬
bably be improved in quality and variety.

Dianthus hybridus multiflorus. — March 12, Messrs. E. G.
Henderson and Son, St. John’s Wood. — A very pretty and useful
dwarf hybrid pink, with a tufted habit, green carnation - like
leaves, and abundant double rosy-red (or in-doors in spring, deep
rosy-pink) flowers, on shortish branching stems ; being a con¬
tinuous bloomer it is both a good pot aud border-plant.

Rhodanthe atrosanguinea. — June 25, Mr. W. Thompson. —

362

THE FLORIST.

A distinct small-flowered species, branching more abundantly at
the base than It. Mangiest^ and bearing smallish rose-coloured
flowers with a dark-coloured disk.

RoHDEA JAPONICA MACROPHILLA AUREO MARGINATO. - March

26, Mr. Bull. — A broad-leaved form of the It. jajwnica, a herba¬
ceous plant, with the leaves finely margined with yellow. A good
pot-plant.

Rose L’Enfant Trouve. — June 4, Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester.
An old English Tea Rose ; supposed to be generally lost, grov/n as
Aurora, which it is not, and subsequently published in the Floral
Magazine, under the foreign name above quoted. It is near
Madame William, and is a beautiful and charming rose, very full,
and of a rich creamy bulf colour.

THINGS TO BE DONE.

Where tender trees or plants are frost-bitten, they should be
immediately covered with mats or tifiany, and syringed several
times with cold water, keeping on the shade for a day or two.
Frequently plants usually hardy are killed or injured by being
exposed to a bright sun suddenly, after a sharp frost, which would
not be injured if allowed to thaw gradually. The best means of
preserving pot plants caught with frost is by immersing them over
head in spring water, the colder the better.

Dust currants and gooseberry bushes well over when they are
wet with quick lime and soot; a good portion of it will lodge
about the buds, and prevent in a great degree the depredations of
sparrows and finches, which have a great partiality for the buds
of these trees in hard weather. The dose must be repeated occa¬
sionally. We have tried a weak solution of aloes, by syringing
the bushes over head, which was eflbctual.

Standard Tea and tender Noisette Roses in cold situations,
should be taken up (preserving the roots carefully), and laid in, in
old tan, leaf mould, or any light earth, keeping their heads about
a foot from the ground. In frosty weather shake a little straw or
fern over their heads and stems, which will preserve them, and
you may plant them again in February or March. An old and
extensive rose grower always treats his tender roses in this way,
and last winter lost not a bud even. Tender H. P.’s may be
similarly treated. Dwarfs of the two former classes should have
their roots protected by saw dust or old tan, and dry straw or fern
packed in among the branches in severe frost ; or where these are
objectionable. Spruce fir branches may be substituted. Never
prune, transplant, or train any tree or shrub when frozen, or for
several days afterwards. The conservative effect of dry straw
spread loosely over tender vegetables is very great. Lettuce,
Cauliflowers, Parsley, Strawberries, &c., may frequently be found
unhurt after a frost, when others not* so protected arc killed.
Mind, the straw should be fresh and new, and not stable litter.
A shallow coating of new straw, laid on the ground evenly, if

DECEMBER.

363

only two or three inches thick, will keep out more frost than twice
that thickness of litter ; the reason is, that the hollow stems of
fresh ^raw are uninjured, and are so many tubes of air, acting as
non-conductors, which tubes or cells are partly destroyed when
the straw has been used for bedding down cattle. As a protective
material straw should always be used fresh from stack.

RELATING TO ROSES.— No. 2.

First. Dressing up.

I am afraid that I go to the other extreme, and put moss roses
into the box as zig-zag and awkward as I can do, trusting to the
roses to speak for themselves. Extremes, it is said, are bad ; any¬
thing, however, is better than an attempt to make roses look good
that are really not good, nor worthy of a place in a rosery. It
deceives the public, who are not versed in roses, and whose in¬
struction is one of the principal objects of a Rose Exhibition.
My impression has often been, when at exhibitions, that Rosarians
keep a valet and lady’s-maid, well stored with “ wimples and
crisping pins.” Moss, though it is the best thing to convey roses
upon, is nevertheless objectionable, as it enables persons to set off
a worthless rose, and to support a rose that is in a state of flac-
cidity, and which, being out of condition, should not be shown.
Roses that are good need not the aids and supports of foreign
substances, and you may truly say of them, as of beauty, that
“ when unadorned they are adorned the most.” If roses were to
be taken out of the boxes and their mode of location examined,
how often would the examiner find a “moss prop,” or a hole
scooped to support “a falling cause.” If roses were allowed to
rest on nothing that supports the bloom, how few of the roses that
now figure at our exhibitions would dare to show their faces.
There, is one other objection to moss, viz., the inequality of its
quality in different localities. Here it is little better than a brown
door mat. Tree moss, which is scarce, is the best ; and if we are
compelled to show on moss, I must say that I envy those who can
get good green moss. Tree moss is of mosses the best for prop¬
ping, and when I see it look “wavy” or uneven, I always suspect
the roses. My plan is to damp the moss, and press it flat with
my hand, and if a rose placed on it does not look well, I replace
it with another, but I never “ prop.” I saw the following plan
adopted at a country show a few years back. The roses, six in
number, were placed in two tiers, on a white painted stand, in
white glass bottles filled with water. I never saw roses look
better ; I could see the stems through the water. The roses were
as perfect as I ever saw show roses; they were. General Jacque¬
minot (quite full and cupped), Caroline de Sansal, Jules Margottin,
Lamarque, Comte de Nanteuil, and Malmaison. They justly won
the first prize in that class, and were the production of my friend
Charles Ingram, Esq., an amateur general gardener of no ordinary
merit. This mode of exhibition could not be practised on a large

364

THE FLORIST.

scale ; moreo.ver, it would be inconvenient for distant exhibitions ;
but if it could be adopted, it would defeat unworthy practices.
At country exhibitions, when persons are appointed to adjudicate
who are not well versed in the points of excellence and defects of
roses, “ dressing wp” and, what is very like it, corymb showing of
several expanded blooms on stalks, jammed together, may obtain ;
but at the National Society’s Exhibitions of Roses, “dressing up”
is useless, because none but experienced men are appointed to
adjudicate, — men who will not be led to prefer any amount of
“ effectiveness ” to circularity of outline, to disposition and sub¬
stance of petals, to smoothness of the edges, to decision and fixity
of colour, to a sufficiently full centre, and to a generally symme¬
trical and level aspect. Substance of petal is, indeed, a most
important point, and no one ought to know this better than the
persons who are in the habit of exhibiting cut flowers. Among
the older roses. La Quintinye, Empereur de Maroc, Prince Leon,
Duchesse d’Orleans, Eugene Appert (micro-petalous), and Devo-
niensis, are excellent for substance. Among the new ones these
are distinguished for the same virtue, viz., Victor Verdier, Gloire
de Santhenay, Belle de Bourg la Reine, Madame Charles Crapelet,
Madame Louise Curique, and Madame Metanie. These are all
good roses, and will stay some time in the catalogue, as, in addi¬
tion, their habits are good. BafFen is also good, but it appears to
be identical in leaf, bloom, habit, and in every respect, with my
two Le Princes, sent to me some years ago as the free climbing
Geant des Batailles. They are both here, and I have compared
them, when in bloom, with Baffen.

Second. Handicapping.

In a National Exhibition I think mileage should be marked on
the card on each box, that the judges might make some allowance
for condition when roses are brought a great distance, if they are
fine and well grown. It is ridiculous to suppose that persons
living in Cornwall or Northumberland can bring roses to the
Exhibition in as good condition as persons living in the counties
contiguous to London ; or that they will travel roses such distances
unless some allowance is made. Travelling is most expensive,
and any fair indulgence that would induce far distant Rosarians to
compete, would of course greatly advance the rose cause nation¬
ally’^ We want recruits from all parts of England; let me hope
yet to see representatives from every county in England. The
grand obstacles are, I fear, the expenses, and the hopelessness of
snatching a prize from the good people of Edmonton and Tooting.
Roses which are brought from such a distance as to entail a day
and night’s travel, should, at any rate, receive, as far as condition
goes, some indulgence, where the other points of excellence are
equal. As I am only 107 miles distant from London, I ask no
favour. My roses are cut from five to seven o’clock p.m., the box
lies open to catch what dew may fall till nine o’clock, and being
travelled in the night, they have nothing to complain of ; indeed,
they will be in better condition for show than if they are cut in

DECEMBER.

365

the morning, full of water with the night’s dew, which is always
heavy in proportion to the excessive heat of the preceding day.

Thirdly. The Day before the National.

Wh^n you have to carry several boxes of roses, or say twenty -
four trebles (which roses ought properly to be placed separate, in
triangles, the two biggest at the top and the smallest at the bot¬
tom), you should settle in your mind how you mean to place them,
with a view to a horizontal and also perpendicular contrast ; in
order to do this quickly, the best way is to write down the names
of the roses on paper as they should stand contrasted in the box.
You should then write the cards, and place each card in Zoco, and
then go and cut the roses and put them at once in their places.
When weather is humid or doubtful you will, perhaps, have to cut
much earlier. Supposing you have trebles to make up, you must
cut them and put them into wine bottles filled with water, and
standing as if they were trebles in the box. You can thus if you
please rehearse location without too much handling. In deciduous
weather you had better label the roses, as many of the rose-
coloured ones will otherwise soon confuse you. If the weather is
hot and dry, a dairy is a good place to keep them in. If the
weather is dry, but cloudy, place them in the bottles under a shady
tree, with a sheet over their heads. If the weather is hot and
misty (the elements of maturity and also of dissolution), you will
be much tried. The best place then is a room with a fire in it,
and the door and window left open to let the heated damp escape.
There is no wind (provided you keep a wet sheet over your box)
so good 'to travel roses in as north or east v/ind. I never wait,
like Mr. Micawber in the Fleet Prison, to see ‘‘ what good thing
will turn up,” and therefore, when the weather is unsettled, or
likely to be so, to secure the adequate number, I cut at once, even
two days before, availing myself also of Mr. Micawber’s ‘‘future
prospects.” The public, who see and admire our roses, little know
what difficulties we have in producing twenty-four trebles (the
combination of the horse-shoe and nails) in good condition and
well contrasted, in critical weather. Before I finally locate these
frail creatures (they are well called madames I) I lift the bloom
high over my head, switch it with considerable violence to my
knees. If it stands that it will assuredly travel and go through
the show-day. You must always take a surplusage ; and if the
■weather is hot and misty, you must not depend upon fully ex¬
panded blooms, but take also with you some roses just beginning
to expand, and at your journey’s end they will probably be your
best and brightest roses. The cover of your box should not be
painted, as paint greatly attracts heat. In all cases you should
liave a wet cloth over it. Your expanded roses should be put as
near the engine (or the centre of the train) as you can get them,
and your uuexpanded ones as near the tail of the train as you can,
as the vibration and oscillation, which are greater there than else¬
where, will probably cause them to expand, and these will be your
best roses. I won both the first prizes at Reading by taking a

366

THE FLORIST.

large surplusage of unexpanded roses. I left Wimborne at half¬
past twelve p.M. the day before ; I never travelled on a hotter
day, I never rememember a worse night for decay. The guard at
Wimborne said, by way of comfort, “ Your roses, sir, must go at
the tail of the train (Mail train), and they will be beaten to atoms
before they get to Basingstoke but they had undergone the
previous “switch,” and bore the journey well, but the night was a
smoker. I consider that travelling cut flowers in good condition
to a distant show, in critical weather, to be a most first-rate thing.
As evaporation takes place through the leaves, you must stop the
pores. Gum water will effect this, but it must be washed off
before the judges enter, as it is a foreign substance. A little
spirit of camphor put into the water in the cups will tend greatly
to preserve the bloom. In some of the above remarks, I have
forestalled the next head.

Fourthly. The night of travel before the National.

After two days of labour in shading roses from the sun, and in
fencing against wind and rain, you will not be very ^^freshf but
it is the National, and you bear the fatigues patiently. You will
have to travel with a talkative gentleman, or with an old lady who
has no real malady but “ an imaginary spider in her heart,” and
who will insist upon going through the “diagnosis” of her endless
complaints. This is simply a nuisance, and you will get no rest.
The great source of anxiety will be the porter at the railway
stations, who, if you do not look out, will throw out your box as
if it was a sack of oats, and before you can get in a word of cau¬
tion to carry it level, he will catch up the box, and put it upon his
back at an angle of forty-five degrees ; and “ cabby,” too, will lay
hold of it, and put it “ perpendicular ” on the top of his Hansom !
You may threaten the former with a fi. fa., and the latter with
ca. sa., but the mischief is done. Of course the water will be all
spilt, a shaky rose will be crumbled to atoms, and you must replace
it with another. With tin teapot with a “ snipe” spout you must
fill your pipes again with water, or your roses will be quickly
withered with other breath than that of popular applause.

Fifthly. Night travellers, or a little fun to please your chil-
dre7i readers at Christmas.

(1.) An American — a funvy fellow.

After the Exhibition of 1858 — the best that I have ever yet
seen — I returned from the Waterloo Station to Southampton with
an American traveller. His loquacity, his love of his country,
his greater love of hyperbole, I shall never forget. Allowing for
but little hyperbole, or “ wroughting up,” on my part, the follow¬
ing may amuse, and is substantially true. As soon as I was in
the train, I pulled a cap over my eyes, and was about to try and
go to sleep, but, alas ! no such luxury was to be indulged in. He
began the vigils. “Been in the States?” “No.” “ Then you
don’t deal in cottons?” “No.” (I might have said, I spin a
couple of first class yarns every week.) “ Heard of Virginny, or
South Caroliny ?” “ Yes,” I said ; “and as you mention S. Carolina,

DECEMBER.

367

I should be glad if you can tell me something of Isabella Gray.
We think the glorious Cloth of Gold to be the best yellow.”
“The Cloth of Gold,” said he, — “ Phoo !” and he blew the Cloth of
Gold •into the Lake Ontario; adding, “we have another yellow,
Jane Hardy, that will lick all the yellows in England.” “Well,
sir,” said I, “your’s is a great nation!” “Nation, sir,” said he,
“why, there is no such nation. We have the biggest ships, the
fastest sailers, the best and bravest soldiers in the world:” — (not
being a clairvoyant, of Course I could know nothing of the future
glorious battle of Bull’s Run, so worthy to be chronicled with
Waterloo, Austerlitz, and Marengo) — “America, sir, can lick the
whole world, English and French, and I would not mind throwing
in the ‘Rooshians.’ We have the highest mountains, the largest
rivers, and the noblest lakes in the world. Phoo 1 ” and he blew
the Duke of Wellington into the vasty deep with an imaginary
broadside from the Orinoco. Well, he talked without ceasing
till we arrived at Southampton, and I got no sleep. I kept my
gravity outwardly, but I laughed inwardly till my sides and gan¬
glions ached. At parting, I shook hands with him, and invited him
to Rushton, if ever he should come that way. He replied, “When
you come to ‘ Virginny,’ come and see me ; I can’t stop, the ‘ tug ’
will be gone ! ”

(2.) An Englishman — a very funny fdlow^

“ Will,” honourably noticed in your last, is a short, thickset
man, about five feet six, and is an industrious fellow. With the help
of sheets he will grow peaches out of doors by the rivulet side, in
ground that was originally a swamp, with any man in the world.
So persuaded is he that the blossoms must not be wetted, that, if
the weather looks fickle, he will not go home to dinner without
putting up the sheets. The result of the last four years is given
correctly in your last. “Will” is very fond of going to rose
exhibitions. When it gets near the time, he fishes to know
whether he is to go with such questions as these, “ Had I better
shave ? Must I put on my best clothes?” and no peace is there
in him till I announce the fact that he is to go. I took him to
Langport with me, and both forgot to take the keys of the boxes ;
but with borrowed keys we unlocked our boxes, and won what he
calls a “ Fust Prize.” He has a great horror of third and fourth
prizes, and when we win a second prize, he says, “ I do not know
how it is, but go where we will they always cheats ‘us,’ the
nation gets wickeder and wickeder;” but if we win a “Fust,” he
declares the nation is converted, and thinks that the millenium is
set in. I sent him, solus, to Shepton Mallet, where he won a
“Fust,” and on his return home in the night, in order that I
might see the victory as soon as I was up, he stuck a notice on a
stick opposite my door, which looked very like, “Fust Prize wind,
holler agin.”

His delight at winning a “Fust” in London was so great, that
he tipped “Cabby” so handsomely, that “Cabby” hoped to have
the honour of driving him and the winners next year. At the

368

THE FLORIST.

Waterloo Station I found him exhibiting my roses to English,
French, and Jersey travellers (the two last could not have been
less than 100), who divided the spoils, 188 roses. “Will ’’was
uncommonly amused with the “furriners,” who made face's and
talked gibberish. He gave a bunch of Solfaterres to a “lady
furriner,” who, in reply to the gibberish of her companion, cried
out, as fast as lightning, “ we ” “ we ” “ we ! ”

Well, the spoils having been disposed of, the whistle blew, and
off we went. I thought, of course, that I should now hear no
more of “Will” and his “Fusts,” but no sooner did he arrive at
Southampton than he went to the only eating house open at half-
past one A.M., and proclaimed “ our ” fame ; so that when I went
to get what he calls a “sanwig,” I was accosted by the innkeeper,
“Are you the gent that winned a Fust in London?” I made a
low bow, which, interpreted, meant, “ I am that same,” — a similar
bow to that of a heroine at a penny theatre, who hurls a look of
defiance at the enemy of her lover, beginning at his shoe ties and
ending at the top of his head ! The issue was, I was intreated
to send him some roses. I said, “ Sir, I have skinned my rosery,
and think that for some days there cannot be another ‘ F ust,’ but
you shall have some in the course of time.” The next day, how¬
ever, I cut from fifty to sixty as good roses as you would
wish to see, and better far than my winners. These and a basket
of Trollope’s Victorias were sent to him, and I received a civil
letter, and “Will” a present of stamps, which made him cry
louder than ever, “ There is nothing like a Fust in Lunnun; don’t
you think, sir, they will all be afeard on us next year?” adding,
“who’d a thought that ‘me’ and you, going out of this scraggledy
hole, could have winned a ‘Fust’ in Lunnun? look at the rabbit
scratches!” I replied, “A scraggledy hole. Will! there is but
one nation, the Fushtonians, all the others are but so many popu¬
laces. Henceforth, let London and Paris be abolished, and let
Rushton be the metropolis of the whole world ! ” My fugleman
was not to be stopped, and as I bolted towards my room, I heard
him say, “I shall dream all night we winned a Fust ! ”

Sixthly. The result of victory at the National.

As money is soon spent, I shall buy two silver cups, of the
value of 3Z. and 4/., and place them on my drawing room table,
with the honours marked on them. Visitors will ask, What mean
these cups ? I shall then explain the National victories, and
perhaps create another Rosarian, more able and more successful,
but not more grateful to the Royal Society for their courtesy and
liberal prizes, nor more friendly to the rose and the rose cause, than

liushton Rectory^ Oct. 8, 1861.

W. F. Radclyffe.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S FRUIT AND
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW, Nov. 6th and 7th.

The display of fruit at this Exhibition was magnificent, and, con-

DECEJIBER.

369

sidcring the untoward nature of the 1860 season, remarkably so.
The greater part of the hardy fruit exhibited was large and well
grown, possessing those clear, mellow tints which indicated that
they Aad ripened under a kindly sky ; and doubtless very much of
the excellence exhibited in the hardy fruit classes, was owing to
the high temperature and bright sun of the past two months. In
fact, the effects of climate on such fruits as the apple and pear
was practically demonstrated by Mr. Lewis Soloman’s collection.
Such pears and apples had probably never been seen in Britain
before ; and, if we understood correctly that they had been pro¬
duced some in Algiers and others in the south of France, we see
at once what a favourable climate will effect (other circumstances
being equal) in increasing the size, and giving those warm tints of
colour which characterised the fruit in question — specimens of
Uvedales St. Germain weighing considerably more than 3 lbs.
each, Catillacs nearly 3 lbs., and Beurre Diels upwards of 2 lbs.
each.

We must, however, bear in mind that such fruit as the above
is the result of an extra degree of cultivation. Large showy
pears and apples are valued in France much more for their
appearance than their flavour, and are in great demand for dress¬
ing up the windows of the more celebrated “ restaurants” in Paris.
In some instances the rivalry between different establishments as
to which can produce the finest display in this line, has led to
their giving almost fabulous prizes for large pears and apples and
other productions, and this has stimulated the French fruit growers
to pay particular attention to their size and appearance, and has,
doubtless, led to their selecting the most congenial soil and climate
for their production. These helps, with well thinning the fruit and
supplying the trees plentifully with water in dry weather, have
resulted in bringing the culture of the pear to the highest per¬
fection yet attained as regards appearance. Very probably, how¬
ever, this overfeeding has tended to deteriorate their flavour,
which, if subjected to the scrutiny of a taste, would have led the
judges to have pronounced in favour of fruit grown by such
exhibitors as Messrs. Ingram, Flarrison, Dwerrihouse, and others.

The classes of Grapes, both black and white, were very superior
— more particularly the Black Hamburgs and Frankenthals of
Mr. Henderson, of Trentham, and the Black Hamburgs of Messrs.
Hill, of Keele Hall, and Kay, of Finchley, all of which j^resented the
best evidences of high culture — fine regular bunches, well-swelled
berries, and the most exquisite bloom. There was also in the
class for Black Grapes a good dish of the Lady Dowme’s grape
and Black Barbarossa, with larger berries and a more compact
bunch than is usually seen in this variety. The Lady Downe’s
grape is fast becoming a favourite late variety, and it certainly pos¬
sesses many qualities to recommend it. A free setter, with good-
sized berries of an intense black in colour, it has a fine appearance
on the table, and, moreover, it keeps fresh and plump for a very
long time after being ripe — we have, indeed, seen it very good in

VOL. XV., NO. CLXVIII. B B

370

THE FLORIST.

March. The only drawback in our opinion to it is, that the flesh
is somewhat hard, and deficient in the peculiar vinous flavour
presented by the Black Hamburg and the St. Peter’s grapes.

There was a dish of black grapes, wrongly marked Black
Damascus, which struck us as being closely allied to, if not the
identical. Black Tripoli, of Speedily — a grape we have not seen
for many years. Perhaps Mr. Tillery may still retain it at
Welbeck, or it may be found at Willersly Castle, in Derbyshire,
or Donnington Park, in Leicestershire. We name this, as our
recollection of it induces us to think it would be found a useful
late grape. It must not be confounded with the Welbeck Tripoli,
which is a synonyme of the Frankenthal Hamburg, and very
different.

The Muscat Grapes, especially those shown by Mr. Tillyard and
Mr. Hill, were equally on a par with the black grapes noticed
above ; as was also a dish of Mr. Mead’s, except a defect in the
colouring, which told against them.

In other white grapes Mr. Hill had very fine Trebbiano ; Mr.
Meredith, White Nice ; and Mr. Tillery, Trebbiano. This was
also a good class.

The Pine class was good on the whole, but not extra so. Some
fine Ca^^enne were exhibited by Mr. Ingram, of Frogmore, but
not equal to what he has shown on former occasions. The heaviest
was contributed by Mr. Floud, a smooth Cayenne, nearly 8 lbs.
Mr. Ingram came next with a similar variety, and Mr. Tillyard
followed with a handsome Ripley Queen. We noticed also two or
three handsome Jamaicas.

We have only space to notice that the most meritorious collec¬
tion of Pears came from Oxenford Castle, Scotland, contributed by
Mr. Anderson, and the fact that they were placed first will en¬
courage our friends in the north to follow up this success. This
collection contained twenty-two distinct kinds, well and evenly
grown, and correctly named, and, although there were many finer
dishes individually in other collections, yet we consider the judges
acted correctly in placing them first on the list. The other prin¬
cipal exhibitors in the Pear Class were Mr. Ingram, many of whose
specimens were finely grown and beautifully coloured ,* Mr.
Dwerrihouse the same ; Mr. Harrison ditto ; Mr. Cox and Mr.
Spivey, Mr. Tranter and others. The highest flavoured pear in
the class of single dishes was the Glou Morceau, the next Marie
Louise, and the third Beurre Diel. Some fine dishes of the Seckle
pear were exhibited. This exquisite but short-seasoned pear,
however, was too ripe to stand a chance with the above.

The class for Uvedales St. Germain, and Catillacs was well
filled. That for Kitchen Pears appeared to have been misunder¬
stood by exhibitors and judges — at least by some — or why should
the Catillac, of which a fine dish was exhibited, have been ex¬
cluded ?

Apples we can only notice by saying how much they exceeded
our expectations. The quality, as before observed, was every-

DECEMBEK.

371

tiling that could be desired, and the quantity exhibited very large.
Cox’s Orange Pippin maintaining its ground as the best dessert
varfety, by taking all the prizes in its class.

Plums were not altogether so fine or so largely shown as on
previous occasions. The Reine Claude de Bavay looked promising,
but the judges preferred the Imperatrice.

Decidedly the finest dish of autumn Strawberries we ever saw
were the Sir Harry’s, exhibited by Mr. Widdowson — they would
have been creditable at a May show.

Mr. Dwerrihouse’s Melon — Heckford Hybrid — was extra fine
for flavour, and we should like to know how Mr. Dwerrihouse
manages this so late in the season.

In the class for Pears Stewed simply, it was the condition that
the stewed pears in glass jars for which prizes were to be given
should be prepared without any other admixture than their own
juice, as the only way in which their respective merits could be
ascertained correctly. On this occasion the highest flavoured and
richest jar was composed of the Swan’s Egg pear, and prepared by
Miss Ingram; a second jar of the Vicar of Winkfield was also
nearly equal to the above, by the same lady; the second prize
was awarded to the Chaumoutel, prepared by Mrs. Powell, of Old
Windsor.

In the Miscellaneous Class was a very interesting collection of
thirteen varieties of G-rapes, exhibited by Mr. Hill, which obtained
the first prize. There was also a fine dish of the Salway Peach,
sent by Mr. Ingram, and some Chinese yams by Mr. Ivery ; and,
in conclusion, let us ask. What real merit belongs to the Eugenia
Ugni, which we saw in several instances exhibited? vSurely this
is not worth house room.

TREES APPARENTLY KILLED BY FROST

RECOVERING.

Be cautious in cutting down trees which were apparently killed
by last winter’s frost. Rather late in the day to talk about this,
seeing that hundreds of trees and shrubs have long ago been con¬
signed to the fire ; nevertheless some may yet be standing, and if
not, the caution is worth naming, if only to afford a hint to be
treasured up till the next visitation. I am old enough to remember
the frost of 1838, and the havoc it made with evergreens ; at that
time many of my Cypresses, Junipers, and Arborvitajs, suffered
greatly, as well as Bays and other things. At that time I did not
cut them down, but allowed them to stand, brown and scorched
as they were, most of the summer. By and bye many of them
indicated a move in the sap, which first showed itself by the bark
becoming greener, from the lov/er part of the trees upwards,
and after a time, in the case of the Thujas and Cypresses, the
central or mid-rib of the leaf became green ; and this vitality
grjidually spread, following the large channels for the ascent of
the sap which accompany the venation of the leaves, and ultimately

B B 2

372

THE FLORIST.

spreading itself over the entire surface. With some specimens it
was not until late in the year 1839 that the edges of the leaves
became green, others recovered more quickly ; and excepting
losing the extreme points of the shoots of some of my trees,
nearly all recovered, while my neighbours’ trees of similar kinds
were grubbed up and lost. The last winter was even more severe
in its effects than that of 1838 ; and as since that period the in¬
troduction of Coniferm and evergreen shrubs has greatly increased,
our losses have been correspondingly great. I, however, allowed
all my trees to stand, to see what power they possessed to regain
that vitality, which although I felt sure was quite destroyed in
many instances, might only be paralyzed in others, and hence sus¬
ceptible of recovery. I have a number of the Italian Cypresses
which to all appearance were dead, and finding the bark quite
black down to near the ground, I gave them up for lost, but still
allowed them to stand ; to my great delight, in June, I observed
the bark of some of them was regaining its green appearance, and
soon after a number of the trees produced several live shoots from
the mass of dead spray, and this living growth has spread itself so
far upwards, that the trees are green to within two feet of their
tops ; but as these parts were quite soft and unripe, I do not
expect they will regain their vitality ; others worse injured are now
commencing a similar growth, and I see that, with only one excep¬
tion, the bark of the rest— dead, so far as we could discern in the
spring — is becoming green, and I am in hopes all, with probably
one exception, will yet revive, although they may not entirely
recover themselves until next season. I mean if the next winter
is severe to cover them with a double tiffany-screen, as a second
frost of any intensity may kill them outright in their present weak
state. Bays, Evergreen- oaks. Arbutus, and several species of
Mexican Junipers, and other evergreens, are gradually recovering,
as are most of my Cupressus Macrocarpas, though I fear some
are dead.

When recovery takes place, I conclude the frost has not pene¬
trated to the centre of the plant, and consequently the sap-vessels
then are uninjured ; and as the sap-vessels in the roots are also
preserved, when the season for growth arrives the upward flow of
sap takes place as usual, and gradually forces itself upwards, filling
the cells, to all appearance dead, with a living fluid, and spreading
itself horizontally to the outer bark. I observe the progress of this
new life upwards is gradual^ which may arise from its having to
reorganize the cells through which the sap must pass upwards ; but
whether I am right or not the phenomenon is a curious one, and
worthy the attention of physiologists. One thing is certain,
vegetable tissues, to all appearance dead and incapable of per¬
forming their functions, revivify and regain that power supposed
to have been destroyed.

The effects of frost on the same species of plants affords
striking evidence how even the same batch of seedlings will differ
in their power of withstanding the effects of cold. I liave a large

DECEMBER.

373

Pinus Insignis here, near, if not quite, 60 feet high, which has
given me many cones from which numerous seedlings have been
rai#ed. The parent tree was a very young plant in 1838, yet it
was not then injured, nor has it been in subsequent years, although
I have lost others growing near it. It is now intensely green,
going through the last winter unscathed, and yet most of the
seedlings raised I'rom it were killed, although more sheltered than
the parent tree, which is fully exposed. This fact furnishes us
with another physiological problem not easily solved.

J. T.

A WORD OR TWO ABOUT WATERING PLANTS.

The following cursorily written remarks are not intended for
practical gardeners, but for inexperienced amateurs and young
gardeners ; indeed, principally for a portion of the latter. For,
whilst we bear willing testimony to the conduct of a numerous
class of young men, who are deeply anxious to learn thoroughly
everything appertaining to their profession, and solicitous to dis¬
charge properly the duties confided to them ; there is also, we
must (however unwillingly) confess, a large class who take but
little interest in their business. Watering is one of the most im¬
portant operations in plant culture, and yet how often is it most
improperly performed by the latter class of young men. I believe
I do not in the least exaggerate when I say that more plants are
killed by improper watering than from all other causes put
together. No matter how perfect the drainage may be, nor how
carefully the soil may be prepared, if watering be improperly per¬
formed failure is certain.

Often and often have I taken considerable trouble to explain to
young men the requirements of difierent kinds of plants, and of
plants in different states of growth ; and yet, most annoying, the
next watering has been performed as indiscriminately as former
ones, without any regard to the condition of the plant or the state
of the soil in the pot.

In small places, where a gardener can himself daily inspect
everything under his charge, no very serious injury can occur
under his experienced eye, but in places of large extent the case is
different. The carrying on of new work or other improvements
in a di^nt part of the grounds, will often for several days prevent
the gardener from minutely inspecting matters of this nature, and
the consequences are often serious before detected.

Heaths may be beyond recovery before the evil is found out ;
even soft-wooded plants will often suffer from a similar cause. You
go into your stove some morning and in looking round see a fine
plant of Clerodendron dropping its flowers before they are ex¬
panded ; you examine the surface of the soil in the pot and all
seems right, but give the pot a good rap with your knuckles and
you at once discover the cause ; you call your man, John Careless,
and ask him why he has not followed your directions by properly

B B 3

374

THE FLORIST.

watering llio plants ? His answer is, he lias done so, regularly ;
wliicli, so far as wetting tlie surface goes, lie perhaps has clone,
but so far as wetting the entire ball of earth, it has not been cV^ne
for weeks, lienee the cause of mischief. Take the plant and im¬
merse the pot in a cistern of water — you see it bubbling for an
hour or two. After the ball of earth has become thoroughly
moistened, return it to its old quarters in the stove, and in a
week or two you will see an improvement in expansion of the
tlowers, &c.

Young men, generally from want of thought, fall frequently
into the error of giving some plants too much water, whilst others
get too little. Succulent plants and bulbs require little or no water
in winter ; most plants not in active growth require to bo carefully
watered during winter. All plants in active growth require good
supplies of water during the summer months ; when watered, suf¬
ficient should be given to moisten the entire ball of earth, and not
little drops sufficient merely to moisten the surface.

An Old Gardener.

TRADE LISTS.

Descriptive Catalogue of Roses, by Thomas Rivers, Bavjhridge-

worth, 1861.

The name of Rivers has long been a household word with rose
growers on all matters pertaining to the queen of flowers ; and the
present Catalogue yields to none of its predecessors in that accu¬
rate perception of the properties and habits of new roses which
make the author’s descriptions invaluable to purchasers, who may
safely rely on the charaeters here given, should they not have seen
the roses in bloom themselves. The different selections have been
well weeded out, so as to have none but good and distinct flowers
in each class.

William Paul’s Rose Catalogue. Cheshunt Nurseries and
Seed Warehouse, Waltham Cross, 1861-62.

Mr. William Paul here gives us the result of his own close
observation on the respective merits of the roses he has inserted
in each class of his very carefully prepared Catalogue; after this
we need scarcely say that Mr. Paul’s judgment of the rose will
stand the strictest scrutiny, and that therefore purchasers may
safely rely on the description given of each flower, should they
decide for Mr. Paul to select for them.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas and Camellias. — Plants of the former which have been
kept in heat until now must not, wlnyi removed to a cool house,
be exposed at once to currents of cold air, but should be placed,
for a fortnight or so, where they can be kept rather close. If not
already done, get the whole stock neatly tied as soon as possible.

DECEMBER.

o ^ ^

o ( o

and the plants nicely arranged, giving each ample room, and keeji-
ing them near the glass. Ventilate freely on every favourable
op]3^rtunity, but through ventilation during cold winds only tends
to browu the foliage and cause it to drop prematurely ; and this
should be avoided as long as the plants appear to be making up,
giving air on cold rough days on the sheltered side of the house
only, and this but sparingly. Attend carefully to the plants with
water, for although they will require but comparatively little for
some time, they should be examined twice a week so as to avoid
the chance of any of them being neglected, and when a plant is
found to be dry it should be watered thoroughly, giving enough to
moisten the ball throughout. Plants which set their bloom buds
early in the summer, and have had a long rest, may, if wanted in
bloom as soon as possible, be placed in a moist warm house, where,
if properly attended to, they will bloom as finely as could be
desired, and may be had in flower by the new year, or even by
Christmas, if a high moist temperature can be maintained. But
plants forced into bloom in a high moist temperature must not, if
they are expected to last long in beauty, be removed to a house
where the temperature falls much below 50”, for the flowers would
soon perish in a cold dry airy house. Camellias in bloom must be
carefully guarded from drip, and should also be afforded a free
supply of air on every fixvourable occasion, using fire heat when¬
ever this may be necessary to expel damp, for these soon droop in
a close damp atmosphere. If any of the plants of these are in¬
fested v/ith scale, these should be thoroughly cleaned before the
bloom buds are so far advanced as to be liable to be inj ured by the
operation, and if too late for this, see that they are thoroughly
cleaned before the wood buds push. Attend carefully to the plants
with water, particularly those well furnished with bloom buds, as
any excess, either way, might cause these to drop prematurely.
Conservatory. — Every possible effort should be used to maintain
a good display of bloom here, for as flowers in the open garden
are destroyed, and the weather not likely to be favourable for out¬
door exercise, this house will be more resorted to, and its inmates,
if attractive, valued much more than they would be at any other
season of the year. At present the house will be gay with Chry¬
santhemums, but the beauty of these will, in most places, have
passed away before the end of the month, and every means should
be used in order to be prepared to occupy their place with equally
showy plants. And where there is a good stock of Camellias
properly prepared for winter blooming. Azaleas, Epacrises, Acacias,
Daphnes, Chinese Primulas, Mignonettes, Tree Violets, and the
many other plants which might be named, it will not be difficult
to keep this house well furnished with gay plants in full beauty
for some months to come. If not already done, trim the twiners,
cutting back freely such things as Passion-flowers, and reducing
the dimensions of all as far as can consistently be done, so as to
admit as much light as possible. Such things as Camellias,
Acacias, Luculias, &c., planted in the borders, which bloom about

B B 4

376

THE FLORIST.

this season, should he liberally supplied with water at the root,
but plants which are comparatively dormant, and especially de¬
ciduous things, and such as are found to be scarcely hardy in 'the
temperature of this house, cannot be kept too dry at the root while
in a dormant state. Give every attention to properly arranging
the plants in bloom, and see that the house and all its inmates are
perfectly clean and arranged to the best advantage. Keep the
temperature about 45° by tire heat, and give air on every favour¬
able opportunity, but sparingly, and so as to avoid cold currents ;
and during damp cloudy weather, when the atmosphere is too
damp, a liitle tire heat should be used during the day, giving a
little top air, so as to dry the house. Cold Frames. — Give air
freely here whenever the weather will permit. Water very cau¬
tiously, and on the mornings of bright days, especially hard wooded
plants, which it may be necessary to winter here, keeping these
rather on the side of dryness. Cold Frames are not, however,
suitable places for wintering tender greenhouse plants, and such
things as Boronias, Leschenaultias, Gompholobiums, &c., should be
removed at once to safer quarters. Be prepared with efficient
covering, and whenever there is any indication of frost let the
glass and sides of the frames or pits be well protected. Keep a
sharp look out for aphis and mildew, and apply the proper reme¬
dies directly either of these pests make their appearance. Green¬
house. — Proceed as fast as possible with tying and trimming up
the plants, and heaths and many other hard wooded plants, if in
want of more pot room, may be shifted. But in re^potting at this
season, great care should be used to have the ball of the plant,
and also the fresh soil, in a proper state as to moisture. Pinelia
Ilendcrsonii, Leschenaultias, and many other hard wooded plants,
are liable to the attacks of aphis at this season, and if any of the
stock seem to be infested with this pest, the house should be
smoked, otherwise every suspected plant removed and well smoked.
Water very carefully, but examine the plants frequently, and when
one is found to be dry give sufficient water to moisten the ball
throughout. Ventilate freely on mild days, but cautiously, and on
the sheltered side of the house only, during cold frosty winds; and
the front lights against such things as Boronias should not be opened
at present. Use fire heat only when necessary to prevent the tem¬
perature falling below 38°, and occasionally, during damp weather,
a little may be necessary to dry the atmosphere. Flower Garden,
— Look over and attend to last month’s directions. If not already
done, get spring fiowering bulbs ifianted at once. Boses which
are at all tender, such as Teas and Chinas, should be afibrded the
protection of a good thick coat of dry litter, or fern over their
roots, and after last winter’s experience we intend to give hybrid
Perpetuals on their own roots — and we neither have nor intend to
again have any plants of these worked above the soil — similar
protection. If this cannot be done where the plants stand without
causing a littery appearance where it may be objectionable, they
may be removed and laid in rather thickly where they can be

DECEMBER. *

377

hooped over and well covered with mats, &c., in case of severe
frost. Stove. — Look over and attend to last month’s directions as
to craning the plants, and as many of these may now be cut back
and thinned, cleaning will be much more easily accomplished than
at any other season. Cut over Ixoras, well clean their foliage,
and tie out their shoots into the desired form ; also prune Dipla-
denias, Allamandas, &c., well thinning out the wood, and towards
the end of the month these may be shaken out and re-potted,
placing any of the plants wanted to bloom early in the warmest
end of the house. Water very sparingly after re-potting, parti¬
cularly plants that have been partially disrooted, until the roots
get hold of the fresh soil, but sprinkle such with the syringe, as
the state of the atmosphere may render necessary. Use fire heat
as sparingly as possible, and keep plants which are in a dormant
state rather dry at the root.

Cinerarias. — Little can be said regarding their general treat¬
ment other than that recommended last month. Large plants that
are intended for exhibition should now have every attention paid
them. Remove all superfluous leaves and small suckers, and peg
down the strong shoots and foliage. To admit of the light and
air freely to their centres, stand them thin and place as near the
glass as possible ; give air freely on every favourable opportunity,
and be careful to avoid as much as possible all cutting and frosty
winds.

Pelargoniums. — At this season water only when absolutely
necessary, and ventilate as freely as the weather permits. Let the
plants stand as thin as your room will allow, and carefully train
and tie out the shoots, a process which will materially strengthen
them. It will be impossible for you to pay too much attention to
cleanliness ; pick oflf every dead leaf as it appears, and examine
the plant frequently for insects. Avoid giving too much heat, as,
at this season, it is quite sufficient if frost and damp be entirely
excluded.

Hardy Fruit. — It is very probable that in many parts the soil
was too dry during the early part of last month for the operation of
removing and planting fruit trees as previously advised ; therefore
no time should now be lost in forwarding this work early in the
month, before severe frost sets in. Proceed with the pruning and
nailing of Pears, Plums, and Cherries, at all times when the
weather is mild. See that the trees are free from scale and moss;
if any require dressing, they had better be unnailed and painted
over with a mixture of soft soap, tobacco-water, and urine, thick¬
ened with clay. Strong lime water will destroy moss.

All small fruit-trees, with the exception of Gooseberries, may
now be pruned, and embrace the first opportunity to wheel rotten
manure on the quarters, in readiness to be forked in about the trees
Avhen the weather is open. Trench and manure ground intended
for new plantations, as well as for planting Strawberries in the
spring. Protect Figs from frost, either by covering with fern or
by tying them in bundles and binding them with hay-bands. It

378

THE FLORIST.

is also a good plan, when the trees are trained in the hin form, to
imnail them, and bring the branches to the bottom of the wall,
and cover them with stable litter. Attend to the fruit ctorc
and see that all decayed fruit is removed. No air or light is
needed after this time, except the store is damp ; if so, it should
be ventilated in dry weather.

Forcing Ground. — Give air to Asparagus as soon as the heads
appear above the soil, and introduce a succession of roots in the
forcing pits, treating them as previously advised. If these are
forced in the open ground, the linings should be turned or renewed
so that a good heat be maintained ; cover the frames at night with
mats or litter. A fresh supply of Seakale and Rhubarb roots
should also be brought in ; the latter may be grown in any dark
part of the forcing house. Sow French Beans in succession, and
keep a good heat to those in a forward state ; top the plants as
soon as they have made the second leaf. Small salad should be
sown at regular intervals, according to the supply required.

Keep up a moist temperature of about 60° in the Mushroom
house ; collect fresh droppings, and place them in a heap under
cover to heat, in preparation for making new beds at the end of
the month. Still continue to keep up a steady night temperature
of about 75° in the Cucumber house, and give air through the
day at every favourable opportunity. Stop and tie the plants as
they progress; do not allow the leaves and shoots to get crowded
together, if so, they will soon get yellow and unhealthy. Water
sparingly in dull weather, and when liquid manure is applied, it
should be given when the soil is dry.

Peach House. — Apply fire heat with caution to the early house,
and do not allow the night temperature to exceed 50°; the day
temperature may range 10° to 15° higher, with plenty of air when
the weather is favourable. Syringe the trees occasionally in clear
weather, and close the house early in the afternoon. This treat¬
ment should be continued till the blossoms begin to expand.
Protect the outside borders from frost and drenching rains, by
covering with fern or straw. Get the trees tied and dressed in
the succession house in readiness for starting by the end of the
month.

Cherries. — If early fruit is wished for, the trees should be
placed in the early house by the end of the month. Admit plenty
of air through the day, and keep a moist night temperature of 45°
to begin Avith. Plunge the pots, and top dress them with loam
and rotten manure. The May Duke is the best kind for early
Avork.

Strawberries. — Attend to previous directions in regard to keep¬
ing the pots dry and sheltered from frost. Some of the early
kinds, such as Keens’ Seedling and May Queen, may be placed
in the forcing house toward the end of the month. No wa'ker
should be given for a time, except they are very dry.

Pines. — Collect plenty of leaves in dry weather, and place them
together, to bo in readiness for renewing the beds in the spring.

DECEMBER. . 379

Where succcssicn plants are growing in dung-pits that are not
heated in any other way, they should have the linings turned or
rene'wed, according as it may be required, so that a temperature of
65° is maintained, and the bottom heat should not fall below 75°.
These will not require any water or syringing for the present.
Give a little back air in good weather, and cover the pits early
every evening, especially if frosty. Plants in fruit should not
suffer from drought ; keep up a moist high temperature, and close
the house early after bright days, andif much fire-heat is used syringe
the plants, with the exception of those in flower. Water should
now bo withheld from those plants intended for starting into fruit
next month. The temperature should be increased to 80° or 85°,
with a dry atmosphere, and if the bottom heat is on tlie decline,
and the plants are in j^ots, the bed should be turned and the plants
re-plunged. If any strong suckers are making their appearance
on these plants, they had better be removed at once.

Vinery. — If the early house was started last month, the tem¬
perature should be gradually increased. At present the night
temperature may range from 50° to 55°, and 60° by the end of the
month ; do not hurry them in dull weather, but during sun heat
the temperature may range- 15° higher, with air at every oppor¬
tunity. Keep up a moist atmosphere by syringing and sprinkling
the floors, especially if the house is heated with flues. Thin and
tie in the shoots as they advance in growth, and stop them as soon
as the bunch is visible. Dress and tie the vines in the succession
house, and prepare for starting them by the middle of the month.
All vines in late houses should be pruned as soon as the crop is
clear.

Kitchen Garden. — If severe frost sets in, Celery, Cardoons,
and Artichokes should be covered with straw or litter. Endive
may be taken up and placed thickly together in pits or sheds to
blanch. Go on digging, manuring, and trenching all vacant
ground, to be in readiness for cropping when required; this is the
principal work to be done in this department for the present. A
crop of early Peas may be sown, Sangster’s No. 1 is a good early
kind. A small sowing of Mazagan Beaus should also bo got in ;
choose a Avarm sheltered situation. Give air every fine day to
Lettuce, CaulifloAvers, and other plants under glass. If slugs are
troublesome in the frames dust the plants over Avith slacked lime.

J. P.

WORK FOR SMALL GARDENS IN DECEMBER.

Auricidas. — Quite a time of rest for these; still keep the plants
clean, pick off dead leaves, and give only so much Avater as Avill
keep them from flagging. Cover up at night, so as to keep out
frost.

Carnations and Picotees. — The same applicable here. Damp
is the great enemy : Avhen black spots appear on the leaA’es, clip
them off Avith a pair of scissors, as it is apt to spread.

380

THE FLORIST.

Chrysanthemums. — Cut down blooming stems, and keep the
pots wdiere frost will not injure them. Discard second rate varie¬
ties, and make notes of good ones to fill up their places by and' bye.

Geraniums. — The roots should now be filling the pots, so that
all after work should show in the plant itself j fumigate to keep
down green fly.

DaliUas. — Look over the roots to see that damp does not reach
them.

Pansies. — Keep clean, and only water as really needed.

Pinhs. — Frosts such as we are having now, after so much wet,
will probably loosen them ; see to their being firm in the ground,
and when the w^'eather is fine gently stir the surface of the beds.

Roses. — All planting should be over by this time, and if the
weather be severe they should be protected. It is a good plan to
lay tiles round the roots of those on their own bottoms, as it keeps
them dry, and prevents frost getting at them so readily.

General TF orh. — Now will be the time to see that stakes, labels,
&c., are ready for next season ; during the dull part of the year
it is w^ell to be employed in work which can ill be done at the
more busy season.

Peal, • D.

OBITUARY.

Died on the 30th October, at Derby, Thomas Adams, Esq., a
kind, generous, and Christian Florist, for many years an ardent
cultivator and exhibitor of the Tulip.

TO OUR READERS.

And now, kind readers, Farewell ! With this volume we
close a goodly career of fourteen years, during which The
Florist” has maintained an honourable and we believe an
influential position in garden literature. With it, too, we
terminate the present series of this work, but only to re¬
appear on the first day of the new" year in a new and more
attractive form, under the designation of ‘^Tiie Florist
AND PoMOLOGisT.” Wc trust that the smiles that have at¬
tended us during the past days of our existence will then be
ready to cheer us on in the course which lies before us —
Farcw"ell !

GENERAL INDEX

Acclimatisation, 126

Achimcnes, the, 266

Adams, Thomas, Esq., obituary of, 380

Allamanda Schotti, 282

Amaryllis, 177

Annuals, reports on at Chiswick, 44, 66
Apple, Lord Sufficld, 301, 338
Auricula Society, a southern, 86
Auriculas, 3

„ green edged, 193

„ new and scarce, 173

» grey-edged and seifs, 231

,, cultivation of, 269

„ at Slough, 132

Bedding plants, 167
Beck, Mr., obituary of, 36
Bougainvilltea Spcciosa, 161
Brighton Show, reminiscences of, 327
Bulbous and tuberous plants, 112
Cacti, gigantic, 108
Calendar for January, 27
„ February, 58

„ March, 90

,, April, 123

„ May, 1 55

„ June, 187

„ July, 220

„ August, 252

„ September, 283.

„ October, 315

,, November, 347

,, December, 374

Camellias, large, 100
Chironia, the, 78
Christmas roses, 181
Censors, 236

Chrysanthemums, Rifleman, 97
„ Pandora, 97

„ Pompone, 33

Corsham Court, 326
Crystal Palace Autumn Exhibition, 304
„ Floral Exhibition, 168
Cucumber, Ayres’ black spine, 302
L’Envoi, 1

Edmonds, Mr., obituary of, 36
Empson, Mr., obituary of, 243
Exhibition, plants for, 218
Fern, specimen, 165

Ferns, for bouquets, 76
Floral Decorations, 262
Floral Magazine, review of, 89
Flowers, popular, a few, 119
Flower pots, 2 1

Flowering plants, new winter, 9
Foreing, a few things worth, 34
Frost, trees apparently killed by, 37 1
Fruit tree planting, 296
Fruit trees, hot-walls for, 116
„ spur pruning, 322
„ root pruning.

Fruit crop of 1861, 199
Fungi, effect of on roots, 177
Gardening, hints on, 105
Gazanias, 182
Geraniums, spotted, 193
Gladiolus, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, 289
Gompholobum polymorphum, 113
Grape, Ingram’s Hardy Muscat, 257
Grapes, late, 178

Hanoverian Band Committee, 179
Herbaceous plants, a few, 266
„ „ perennial, 83

Homes of the florist — Rushton, 297
Horticultural galop, a, 276
Horticultural Society’s Garden, 66,101,
258

Horticultural Society’s exhibition, 309
,, „ floral committee, 42

„ „ floral committee

awards, 355

„ „ fruit &chrysan the-

mum show, 368
,, „ fruit committee, 312

„ ,, opening fete, 206

„ „ rose show, 227

Horti culture in Australia, 163
Landscape gardening, 185, 213
Lapageria rosea, 241.

Lcschinaultia, blue, 66
Lime as a soil improver, 113
Luculia gratissima, 273
Lycastc Skinneri var., 65
Manetti stock, 82
Melons in pots, 39
Month, notes on the, 154, 210, 331
Nurseries, visits to, 106, 196

382

index.

One thousand eight hundred and sixty,
13

Orange, the, 6

Orchard houses, 226, 268, 292, 330
Palms, 151

Pansy Society, Scotland ,218
Peaches covered with a sheet, 176
,, and nectarines, pruning, 99
Pear, Crasanne d’Hiver, 104
Pelargonium, Diophantes, 193
„ the Moor, 193

„ Senior Wrangler, 193

„ Scarlet and bedding, 136

„ the, 239

„ variegation in, 80

Petunia, Madame Fergusson, 225
Philibertia Gracilis, 74
Picotee, Flower of the Day, 353
„ Rosy Circle, 354
Pinks, 87

Plants, new of 1860, 15
Planting in May, 131
Plumbago rosea and others, 10
Potatoe, fluke, 117

„ disease, the, 180
Primula denticulata, 179

„ sinensis fimbrata, 324
Prussian garden, a, 203
Radiation, 110

Reading Horticultural Society, 181
Regent’s Park Spring Meetings, 147
Review, 22, 344
Rhododendron precox, 213
Root pruning, 354
Rose, Cloth of Gold, 81
„ Isabella Gray, 325
,, Madame Furtado, 129
,, information, 303
,, shows, two grand, 241
Roses, 153

„ addition of leaves to, 12
„ decorated climbing, 40
„ forthcoming new, 339
„ pyramidal H.P.’s, 51
„ propagating, 184
* ,, in Dorsetshire, 56
„ reverie on, 280
„ relating to, 333, 363
Royal Botanic Society, 182, 211
Saponaria Calabria, 56
Saxifraga oppositifolia major, 237
Six of spades, the, 23

Squash, Ohio, 122
Strawberries, 240

„ something more about, 248
Strawberry, British Queen c
Tabernsemontana, double flowered, 216
Things to be done, 295, 337, 362
To our readers, 380
Tomato, Culture of the, 250
Trade lists, 314, 346, 374
Useful general information, 54
Vallota purpurea, 296
Verbena, Fairest of the Fair, 321
„ Foxhunter, 321
Violets in pots, 89
Visits by an outride, 233
Weather, the late severe, 52
Winter, effects of the, 187
,, the late severe, 118
Work for small gardens, October, 320
„ „ November, 352

„ „ December, 379

Yews, varieties of the common, 201

INDEX TO COLOURED PLATES.

Auricula, North Star, \ ^ ^
Bougainvillasa speciosa, 161
Chrysanthemum, Calliope, 33 ^

,, Diana, 33 ^

,, Little Gem, 33

,, Pandora, 97 t'

,, Rifleman, 97 i/

Gladiolus, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, 289 ^
Grape, Ingram’s Hardy Muscat, 257 ^
Lycaste Skinneri. var., 651^
Pelargonium Diophantes, 193 L'

,, the Moor, 193 ^ .

„ Senior Wrangler, 193^

Petunia, Madame Ferguson, 225 ^
Rose, Madame Furtado, 129
Verbena, Fairest of the Fair, 321 ^

„ Foxhunter, 321 ^

INDEX TO WOODCUTS.

Auricula frames, 273

Flower and fruit decorations, 264

Floral decorations, 265

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