126 



HORTICULTURE 



February 2, 1907 



bloomed at any time, as are iily of the valley, their im- 

 portance is unquestioned. In these days, when the in- 

 crease in the demand for first rat© grown pot plants is 

 such that the supply is not equal to it the amaryllis is 

 one of the most available plants for the purpose. They 

 can be grown as readily and as quickly as the cyclamen 

 if the routine of cultivation is followed as given herein. 

 For this purpose it is important that care be taken to 

 obtain seed of that group in which the vittata branch is 

 the most pronounced, rather than that of the aulica 

 group — the former has from four to six flowers in a 

 scape whereas the latter has only two or three flowers. 

 First-class seed can be had from first-class seedsmen. 

 You do not want seeds of either straight vittata, 

 Johnsoni, ^-ckermanni or aulica, but the seeds from the 

 modem hybrids — those possessing fine coloring, bearing 

 three or more flowers on a spike, and with good foliage. 

 After the flrst crop of flowers the careful cultivator will 

 save his own seed from such varieties as have the most 

 desirable properties. They seed as freely as freesias, 

 and are very prolific. 



""\^^L lkAi-h»^ 



(The next chapter will deal with their cultivaiion.) 



British Horticulture 



A RETEOSPECT 



In taking stock of horticultural matters in Britain 

 in 1906 the growers have had an exceptional year as 

 to the weather. There was a "record" as regards sun- 

 shine. The exceptional autumn enabled immense quan- 

 tities of outdoor bloom to be. marketed. The amount 

 of chrysanthem.ums sent to Covent Garden market this 

 season was unprecedented. Katurally the prices have 

 ruled very low. The special societies have held suc- 

 cessful exhibitions, whilst the new Winter Flov/ering 

 Carnation Society has held its first show, which was of a 

 very encouraging character. The chief event of the 

 year was the Hybridization Conference in the summer, 

 arranged by the Eoyal Horticultural Society. A dis- 

 tinguished gathering of experts assembled from all parts 

 of the globe, and the discussions were of a profitable and 

 practical character. At the Royal Botanic Gardens at 

 Kew, Sir Wm. Thiselton Dyer, the director, has re- 

 tired, and has been succeeded by Col. Prain, formerly 

 of the Calcutta Botanic Garden. The Eoyal Horticul- 

 tural .Society has had a busy year, with a record of 

 prosperity. The Eoyal Botanic Society whose head- 

 quarters are at Eegent's Park, has not been so fortu- 

 nate. There have been some stormy meetings at which 

 several members have freely and forcibly criticised the 

 managing body. 



ARBOR DAT 



British peojile have been somewhat shnv to adopt the 

 American custom of observing Arbor Day. Thanks to 

 the enterprise of IMr. E. D. Till, some progress has 

 been made with the movement at Eynsford, in Kent. 

 The event was lately carried out when a number of 

 trees were planted in the village by the lady students of 

 the Swanley Horticultural College. The first observ- 

 ance was at the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee in 

 1897. The school bank was planted with a row of 

 trees, arranged in emblematic form to spell the text 

 from Proverbs, "My son be wise." An orchard of 



cider apples, and a variety of fruit trees by cottagers 

 and farmers were also planted. On the year of the 

 Queen's demise there was planted a row of emblematic 

 trees, recording Tennyson's line, "She wrought her 

 people lasting good." On one occasion a weeping 

 lime, a plane, and a sycamore were planted in the vil- 

 lage to commemorate the relief of Mafeking, Lady- 

 smith and Kimberley during the South African war. 

 An effort is now being made to further popularize 

 Arbor Day in this country. There are numerous places 

 where it would be advantageous to secure the shelter of 

 trees and to improve the landscape. Fortunately local 

 authorities are realizing the importance of making some 

 provision in this respect, although there is a great deal 

 to be done before our cities are able to offer the tree- 

 sheltered avenues which are the delight of Paris. 



SOME NEW SWEET PEAS 



There is no lack of novelty in the sweet peas now 

 being offered by the leading British raisers. The great 

 attention which is being given to this branch of horti- 

 culture by the trade testifies to the increasing popu- 

 larity of this annual. Messrs. Dobbie & Co. are sending 

 out Mr.''. Collier, which received a certificate of merit 

 last year from the National Sweet Pea Society. It is 

 of a primrose tint, and blooms are of good size and 

 substance, and freely produced. Albatross is a fine 

 white, and Blush Queen is of the tint its name implies, 

 a useful variation from Gladys Unwin. These are also 

 Messrs. Dobbies' introductions. Mr. C. Breadmore, a 

 well-known prize winner, is making a specialty of Helen 

 Lewis, which was awarded the National Sweet Pea 

 Society's silver medal as the best novelty of 1905, and 

 their first-class certificate. The standard is of a deli- 

 cate shade of orange, which contrasts well with the 

 deep rosy salmon wings. The form is of the Countess 

 Spencer type. Mr. Breadmore also has Tweedy Smith, 

 a new bi-color, and Cecil Crier, a handsome bloom of a 

 deep, rosy pink tint. Amongst his other recent intro- 

 ductions are George Herbert, with rosy magenta 

 standards, and deep carmine wings; Evelyn Breadmore, 

 pearly white; and Lady Cooper, a lavender self. 



SOME WEM NOVELTIES 



Growers always look forward vni\\ interest to the 

 novelties emanating from Mr. Eckford where a large 

 proportion of the present day favorites were raised. 

 There is a useful batch which are likely to be in demand 

 for show purposes. The Queen of Spain won unstinted 

 praise at last year's shows. It is described as a soft 

 pink of ivory clearness, and the stoiit stems enhance its 

 value for decorative work. Agnes Eckford is a bold 

 bloom of an exquisite shade of pink, and the plant is of 

 a robust character. Horace Wright, named after the 

 former secretary of the National Sweet Pea Society is 

 an advance on the existing blues, and it is likely to be 

 as popular as its namesake. Earl Cromer offers a 

 delightful combination of tints very pleasing to the eye. 

 The bloom is of a crimson lake hue; the "back of the 

 standard is overlaid with a rich red chocolate tint, the 

 inside of the standard and wings being shaded with 

 soft lilac. Frank Dolby is a lavender blue, similar to 

 Lady Grispl Hamilton, and E. J. Castle is of a striking 

 bright rose, shaded with pale soft salmon. 



>t>v. Ciditxc^ 



