60 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COT^TAGE GAKDKNEB. 



[ July 25, 1867. 



mnch mistaken if the (?reat majority of exhibitors are able to be thus 

 high-minded. They are oUiRed to calculate their chances, and from 

 the Bmallness of their means to consider if they are warranted in en- 

 countering a larpe certain expense witli a great uucei-tainty as to any 

 return. The whole matter of exhibitions wants clearing up. In the 

 great majority of cases gardeners show entirely at their own risk. 

 Therefore I atWocate not merely good prizes, but increasing the number 

 of prizes, and instead of the schedule for the specials, taking the 

 schedule for the cottagers more as an example. If it become the 

 fashion to give few prizes, and these, of course, to the vei"y best sub- 

 jects that can be prodnced, then ere long little will be brought to these 

 exhibitions, and few, except the thoroughly interested, vn]l come to 

 visit them. We should have the select learned conversaziones, but we 

 might look in vain for the assemblages of the thousands. The great 

 paying public must have quantity as well as quality to satisfy it for 

 its money. 



I heartily hope that, despite the unfavourable weather, the Exhi- 

 bition will be a success hnancially considered. In a gardening point 

 of view there can be no two opinions as to the greatness of the success. 

 and that success reflects honour on all concerned. Of the grandeur of 

 the Exhibition as a whole, the fine specimens, the .splendid-foliaged 

 plants, the beautiful Ferns, the magnificent Roses, the next-to-un- 

 eqnalled florists' flowers — Pinks, Picotecs, and Carnations, the striking 

 novelties, the charming collections of bedding plants, and the display 

 of vegetables and fruit, I can only express my highest admiration ; 

 and I indulge the pleasing hope that this first provincial visit of the 

 Boyal Horticultural Society will only be the forerunner of, if possible, 

 BtiU grander triumphs in the future. — F. 



HYBRID PERPETUALS A MISNOMER. 

 Now that florists and botanists can do almost all they like 

 ■with plants, I think it would be a Yer,y good thing if they tried 

 their hands on Roses, and endeavoured to make Hybrid Per- 

 petuals more in accordance with their present name. I think 

 "Perpetual" quite a misnomer, for really, after the general 

 blossoming in June and July, Rose blooms for the rest of the 

 geason are like angel visits. Would it not, then, be well if, in- 

 stead of " Perpetuals," we named them Hybrid " Occasionals ? " 

 It strikes me it would be more appropriate. Is there not, then, 

 a, good field open for experimentalists to make their Roses as 

 perpetual as Teas and Cliinas ? If the faculty only set to 

 work with the determination of a Beaton, the thing would be 

 done.— W. H. B. 



EUCHARIS AMAZONICA. 



The Eucharis amazonica is one of those plants which amply 

 repay the attention bestowed upon them. When in bloom, 

 who does not admire their snow-white flowers, contrasting so 

 well with the fine glaucous foliage when in health ? One of 

 its greatest recommendations is that it can be had in flower at 

 any time by a little forethought and attention to its growth. 



Here we find them most useful to come in about Christmas 

 and the spring months. Now is a good time to look over them, 

 and see if any are in want of fresh potting ; if so, let it be done 

 at once, carefully shaking out the bulbs, as the roots are easily 

 broken off. If a larger stock of plants is required, arrange the 

 bulbs to their sizes, put the large ones into their flowering pots 

 at once, but not too many bulbs of the large ones in a pot, for 

 if the foliage gets too crowded it is at the expense of the flowers 

 the following season. The small bulbs should be put into 

 small pots, which will require a shift whenever the roots appear 

 at the side of the pots. This lot can be grown on in autumn 

 for a month or six weeks, which will make a fine succession of 

 bloom the following spring. 



We find a good fibry loam chopped up rather rough — with a 

 good quantity of old mushroom or deer-dung when to be had 

 — sifted through a fine sieve, with a sprinkling of silver sand, 

 well mixed together, will suit them well. In potting great care 

 should be taken to see that the pots are well crocked, as they 

 are very impatient of stagnant water, although, when growing, 

 they delight in plenty of moisture, both at the roots and in the 

 atmosphere. 



After potting they should be placed in a house where they 

 can have the benefit of a temperature of from 05° to 70° at 

 night, with a rise by day of 10°. They should have the ad- 

 vantage of a little shade on bright days. After they are in full 

 growth a little dung water, with some soot mixed along with it, 

 gives the foliage a brighter appearance. I prefer dung water 

 to guano water, for if the latter is not carefully used it is apt 

 to burn the thick fleshy roots. 



Grown on in this temperature until about September — the 

 smaller bulbs later, as recommended before — gradually harden 



them off until they can stand in a house with a heat of about 

 55°. If there is not much room at command, lay them on their 

 sides under a stage where they can have a little light. Here 

 they may lie for two mouths, giving them little or no water, 

 but syringe them every other day. AVhen wanted to start, let 

 them be taken to the potting-bench, examine the drainage, 

 and give them a rich top-dressing ; then, if found very dry, put 

 them in a bucket of tepid water until completely wet. Now 

 that they are ready for flowering, plunge the pots in a bottom 

 heat of about 80°, with GO" top heat. This I consider one of 

 the conditions which makes them show so well and strong, 

 which they will generally do in about six weeks. Plants in 

 11-inch pots treated in this way here this spring threw up 

 ten and eleven flower-spikes. Hardened oS they stood in the 

 entrance hall four and five weeks during the severe weather we 

 had in January. Standing so long is a great recommendation 

 to the Eucharis as a room-decorative plant. — A. Henderson, 

 Tlwresby Park (in Gardener.) 



WHAT CAUSES VARIEGATION? 



Various opinions have been expressed, and many reasons 

 assigned, as to the cause of the variegation of the foliage of 

 plants. Much valuable and interesting information has from 

 time to time appeared on the subject in these pages, and it 

 may not now be a misapplication of time for any one to 

 examine the alleged causes of variegation. 



What causes the variegation of the foliage of plants I do 

 not profess to know, neither can I learn by what process I can 

 produce variegation. It is well known that abnormal forms, 

 commonly, at least very frequently, occur along with normal in 

 the same individual, and that some parts of a tree will have 

 green and others variegated leaves. I am aware that the pollen 

 of one species applied to the stigma of another species will 

 produce a hybrid or departure from the normal form ; that a 

 hybrid will not retain its character if perpetuated from seed, 

 even without being further impregnated with the pollen of 

 another species or hybrid ; and that it will vary still more 

 when impregnated with the pollen of a hybrid. I also know 

 that breeding in-and-in will produce still further departures 

 from the original, and that a continuation of this in-and-in 

 crossing of varieties will produce variation in the habit, colour, 

 and form of leaves and flowers, to say nothing of the hardiness 

 and longevity of the plant. I know that by such a process we 

 obtain various tints of colour and double flowers, many varia- 

 tions in the tints of the leaves, and also in their forms ; in 

 fact, some may have variegated foliage, striped and blotched, 

 whilst others have striped and blotched, or spotted flowers. 

 There is nothing in all that proving that the variegation of the 

 foliage of plants is caused by any well-defined system of hybridi- 

 sation ; but we have the same occurring in plants not sub- 

 jected to such a process, and there are variegated species that 

 were for a considerable time quite green, and all the while ex- 

 hibiting no traces of variation from the normal condition. 

 I want to know why from these normal conditions variegation 

 should be so suddenly and unaccountably produced. Is it 

 attributable to some alteration in the constitution of the in- 

 dividual through the agency of foreign pollen applied by 

 insects or other agency to the stigma of the seed parent ? If 

 so, in what manner are we to act to secure variegated foliage 

 when both the parents have green foliage ? Can it be attained 

 by fertilising with the pollen of another species or genus, the 

 stigma of the plant desired to have its foliage rendered more 

 attractive by adding another colour to the leaf ? I think that 

 if there be a successful union we shall obtain a hybrid, a varia- 

 tion in the habit, foliage, colour of flower, or some other de- 

 viation from the normal form. I should like to know of a 

 hybrid with variegated foliage, and yet we have variegated 

 species no way differing from the ordinary form of the species, 

 except in the colour and marking of its foliage. Comparatively 

 with cross-breds we have very few hybrids. It may appear 

 strange, but I beg to submit that we have no known hybrid 

 with variegated foliage, but many variegated species that are 

 constant. If this be the case, surely the variegation of the 

 foliage of plants is not caused by the agency of pollen. 



We have undeniable testimony, however, in the introduction 

 of Mrs. Pollock Pelargonium, that the probability of obtaining 

 a tricolor-leaved Pelargonium was foreseen by Mr. Grieve, and 

 by adopting a clearly-defined system of crossing, the wished- 

 for object was attained by him. Mr. Grieve makes no secret 

 of the mode of crossing which he pursued in order to obtain 



