Pebrnary 15, 1677. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICDLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



123 



ing to the mODtb, and Eome botanists call the Snowdiop the 

 Fair Maid of February, and place the Daisy amid the mani- 

 fold blossoms of March ; bnt the Daisy, like the Chickweed, is 

 an offspring of every month of the year. It enamels the 

 tD''^Uow8 by thousands in spring, but does not disdain to show 

 II pretty face here and there evtn during the present wintry 

 ireather, unless the snow falls thick upon the ground, or frost 

 binds-up the earth tight in its icy fingers. At such times 

 when 



" The cherished fields 

 Pat on their winter-robe of purest wbito 

 'Tis brigbtnees all, save where the new Bnow melts 

 Along tile mazy current. Low the wooda 

 Bow their hoar head; and, ere the lan^ruid sun, 

 Jaint from the west, emits his evening ray, 

 Earth's universal face, deep bid and chill. 

 Is one wild dazzling waste that buries wide 

 The works of man."' 



Then, indeed, we look for even the hardiest and commonest 

 wild flowers in vain ; but no sooner does the sun shine and 

 " Shifting gales with milder influence blow, 

 Cloud o'er the skies, and melt the falling bdow. 

 The soften'd earth with fertile moisture teems, 

 And, freed from icy bonds, down rush the swelling streams," 



than we see many evidences of renewed life in trees and 

 plants. The wee modest crimson-tipped flower perks up its 

 little head from the surrounding dark green leaves, and we see 

 " few frail friendly plants, 

 Withstand all storms, and e'en in this dull month 

 Look green and cheerful.'' 

 But even these few of Flora's train, and the hardy insects 

 such as the winter gnats and a few venturesome beetles that 

 creep from their winter quarters at the invitation of a warm 

 bright day, make nature more cheerful, and prepare us for the 

 time when spring 



" Shall rise renewed from winter's sleep. 

 And bid the flowers re-bloom." 



— T. S. J. 



APPLE ELECTION. 



As a grower of nearly a hundred different kinds of Apples, 

 I have watched with great interest the result of the proposition 

 of our friend Mr. Eobson as to an Apple election. I was 

 afraid the subject had dropped until I saw the letter of 

 " Amatecr " in this week's paptr. I quite agree with him in 

 his division, bnt think that three sorts of eummer Apples are 

 snflicient for our purpose, as so many other fruits clash with 

 the summer Apples. 



I shall be pleased to carry out the election if your readers 

 in the Apple-growing counties of England will kindly forward 

 me the names of fifteen dessert and fifteen kitchen Apples as 

 a succession. I have sent the names of fifteen of each kind 

 — not, perhaps, what I should entirely choose myself, but as 

 showing the different varieties ; eome are good croppers and 

 others of good flavour. Those I should advise to growers who 

 have limited space I have marked with an asterisk. This 

 small list may satisfy ua for our first attempt, perhaps another 

 year we may increase our list; as it is, I have no doubt the 

 number will reach a bucdred sorts. — Lf.his A. Killick, 

 Mount Pleasant, Langlcij, Maiilstonf. 



P.S. — If my idea is carried out, I shall be pleased to receive 

 any intelligence on Apples or Apple trees from my corre- 

 Bpondents, which when the election is over I will endeavour to 

 pat into shape for your readers. 



DESSERT. 



Jo&nneting 

 DtV'mebvje Qnarrcndei 

 Slimmer Golden Pippi 

 *Ktng of the Fippii s 

 M argil 



*Cox'8 Orange Pippin 

 Itibston Pippin 

 'Ulenbcim (.»rauge 

 Cornish GiUiflower 

 Ashmead's Kernel 

 Coatt-Pendu-Plat 

 Pearson's Plate 

 Calvilli Blanche 

 Golden Knob 

 "Sturmer Pippin 



KITCHEN. 

 Manks Codlin 

 •Lord Sofheld 

 Keswick Codlin 

 Cellini 



^Mason's Seedling (SloneJ 

 Ecklinville Seedling 

 Ilawthornden 

 *Bcanty of Kent 

 Bedfordshire Foundling 

 Bess Pool 

 AVinter (Juoining 

 French lioyal 



♦Bamelow's Seedling (Welliugto 

 Hambledon Deux Ans 

 French Crab 



POINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA PLENISSIMA. 



We are all more or less anxious to publish the success that 

 may have attended our efforts in growing any new plant or 

 vegetable ; but I tbink much information may bo given and 

 received if growers would state their failures and mishaps when 



they occur, and I fear there is none of ns who do not meet with 

 them occasionally. The above-named plant was sent out last 

 season by the MeEsrs. Veitch, and it was spoken of as being 

 grand, not only by the vendors, but by good gardeners who 

 had been supplied with plants for trial, and it was generally 

 described as being far superior to the old scarlet Poinsettia. 

 In the spring I had a small plant of the new variety cent to 

 me from London, a neighbouring gardener alFo rccei-ving a 

 plant at the same time. I potted mine in the same kind of 

 soil and gave it the same treatment as my old Poineettias, but 

 I was disappointed with the new one. It was paler in colour 

 and very little more double than the other, and not so large. 

 Some of my old Poinsettias measured 13 inches across the 

 bracts, while the ne'iV one did not exceed 10 inches, and my 

 friend was rewarded much in the same way as myself. Will 

 someone who has been more successful state their opinion and 

 mode of treatment? as by so doing they will have the thanks 

 of others ns well as myself.— S. Tai-lor, Castlccroft. 



CULTURE OF PRIMULA SINENSIS. 



At the Darlington Gardeners' Institute a paptr on the 

 cultivation of the Primula sinensis was read by Mr. Wrather 

 of Greenoroft West. He observed — The Primula sinensis, or 

 Chinese Primrose, is one of our favourite plants for blooming 

 either in autumn, winter, or spring. It is alike fuitable for 

 greenhouse, Qonservatory, or house decoration, and is veiy 

 valuable for cut flowers. The cultivation of the Primula is 

 simple and easy, and will amply repay the attention given to 

 its cultivation, either by gentlemen's gardeners or amateurs. 

 It is suitable for those amateurs who possess ft greenhoufo with 

 artificial heat, and it is very desirable that they should grow 

 such a floral gem, but it did not appear to be aplantsrfJi- 

 ciently attended to or grown so extensively as it deserved to be. 



Plants may be had in bloom from October to May by suc- 

 cessive sowings from the middle of March to the end of May 

 or early June. Mr. Wrather said he generally sowed in pans 

 in a compost of turf, leaf soil, and sand, with good drainage 

 of crocks covered with the roughest leaf soil. 'The pans aro 

 then filled within half an inch of the top with the prepared 

 compost pressed moderately firm. The seed is sown evenly 

 on the surface, a mere dusting of silver sand or sandy soil is 

 spread over it, great care being taken not to cover it too deeply, 

 as one of the principal causes of failure in raising from seed 

 nriees from not observing the latter directions. Another im- 

 portant matter is the watering, and dipping the pans very 

 gently overhead into the water he had found the best plan. 

 For the earliest-sown a temperature from o5' to GO' was re- 

 commended, with a slight bottom heat if at the command of 

 the grower. Apiece of glass placed on the pans would hasten 

 the germination of the seeds. From the timo of towing to 

 that of potting from six to eight weeks elapse. His first lot 

 is potted into 3-inch pots about the 1.3th of May, a compost 

 of turf, leaf soil, with sand and horse droppings from the Mush- 

 room bed being used. The pots are then placed in a pit with 

 a south aspect (but shaded) for ten days or a fortnight and 

 kept close. By the middle of .June those plants are ready to 

 shift; the same compost, with the addition of cow manure, btiug 

 again used. The later sowings are ready for shitting into 

 their blooming pots about the middle of August or the begin- 

 ning of September. When the plants are wanted for the de- 

 coration of the sitting-room or hall o-inch pots are Itrge 

 enough, as they ate often placed in vases ; but for greenhouse 

 or couEervafory C or 7-inch pots may be better, as the larger 

 the pot the greater chance of good plants and flowers. 



Care must be taken in potting to keep tho collar of the 

 plants well up in order to prevent damping-off, which they are 

 apt to do. From this time till wanted for the house or con- 

 servatory they should stand in pits or frames with a soulh 

 aspect, shaded from the sun either by whitewashing the glaes 

 or otherwise until the latter part of August. They should be 

 placed on ashes to prevent worms entering the pots. Some 

 practical cultivators recommend a north or east aspect in sum- 

 mer, and doubtless they may be safely grown in either from 

 .June to August. In September the earliest ought to have a 

 top-dressing of cow manure and turf. This will cause the 

 flower spikes to stand well above the foliage, produce larger 

 flowers, and make much handsomer plants. When the pots 

 becomes matted or full of roots liquid manure should be given, 

 at first cautiously and weak. Some cultivators recommend 

 guano, he preferred something less heating and exciting. Ho 

 used with success liquid manure prepared from cow dung, and 



