March 1, 1877. ) 



JOURNAL OF HORTICUIiTURB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



FLORIST PliOWEBS RAISED FEOM SEED. 



^l^jf^NQDESTIONABLYthe most important, ex- 

 vi.-,-.JIl pensive, and indispensable of tiower seeds 

 are tliose of tiie plants under notice. No 

 other class caii.ses when inferior so much 

 ^^JL disappointment, none afforJs greater satis- 

 !^^^ faction when superior. Only the best strains 

 W-i/f^ are worth growing. Such being the result 

 J^" of much care and forethought— the very 



^]j best examples in habit of plant with flowers 



of great size, fine form, great substance, and 

 well-defined colour being selected for seeding, they are 

 not low-priced ; in fact 1 invariably find that a packet 

 of seed of a valuable strain coitains but few seeds, 

 causing occasionally perhaps a feeling of disappointment 

 at having so little for the money expended ; wbilt-t a lot 

 of seed, whatever satisfaciion may be afforded at sowing 

 time, is to my mind suggestive of in-oportionate annoyance 

 at flowering time. Economy in steds is not found in 

 cheap articles. 



Florist flowers from seed are noticeable for, as com- 

 pared with named varieties, possessing robustness of 

 growth, dwarfness of habit, and vigorous constitution, 

 combined with a diversity of colour and superior flowers. 

 In brief, to such a staodard of excellence has the seed of 

 florist flowers attained, tliat for general decorative purposes 

 plants so raised are much superior to named varieties 

 continued by cuttings or other modes of propagation. I 

 do not, of course, intend these remarks to apply to such 

 plants as Auricula, Carnation, &c , grown for exhibition, 

 but I do submit that for a majority of cultivators and 

 general purposes many (and I shall only mention such 

 as are rehable) plants had from seed are hardier in con- 

 stitution and more floriferons in character than are named 

 kinds which are raised by other means. 



Primula sinensis, or Chinese Primrose, is the first 

 demanding notice. The strains of Primulas are now so 

 good, so certain of coming true to character from seed, 

 that no one cares to treat the plants other than as annuals. 

 The plants are dietingui--hed by dwarf robust habit and 

 amplitude of firm-textured, rather deeply-indeLted leaves, 

 largo trusses of flowers borne above the foliage, but not 

 80 high as to be straggling ; the flowers remarkable for 

 their brightness and intensity of colour, clear eye, large 

 size, great substance, and exquisite fringing. The flowers 

 are not meritorious if under ordinary cultivation they are 

 not 2 inches in diameter. I have a decided dislike to 

 those forms which have a disposition to produce the 

 flowers in whorls. They have a loose etragghng appear- 

 ance, anything but the compactness ard ■ hness of those 

 exhibiting their flowers in a hall-ball. 



The varieties are rather numerous. P r. -eMisfimbriata 

 rubra, purplish red or crimson, and sulphur eye; and 

 P. sinensis fimbriata alba are, when the strain is good, 

 nneurpassed ; but I also appreciate their varieties follow- 

 ing, which are very fine — viz., Florence, scarlet, shaded 

 red ; kermcsina splendens, bright rosy carmine ; Cottage 

 Maid white, striped and spotted carmine ; striatiflora, 



No. SSl.-VoL. XXXII., New Seeies. 



very like the last, but striped and splashed deep rose ; 

 punctata eleganliasima, crimson, of great velvety sub- 

 stance, marked with small white dots, and perfect in 

 fringing ; and lilaciua lutrrginata, ro.sy lilac, margioed 

 white. All have finely-fringed flowers, and are indis- 

 pensable for effect where variety is sought for. Russell's 

 Pyramid Bed and 'White are remarkable for having the 

 flowers in a pyramid and throwing them well above the 

 foliage; and the Fern-leaved (P. filicifolia alba and rubra) 

 are amply furnished with foliage ; but the flowers of the 

 last four are not worth much in comparison with those 

 preceding. 



I would particularly note the great value of Double 

 Primulas which are now x-aised from seed. I have some so 

 large and double as to be taken for named varieties, only 

 the greater vigour of plants and their floriferons charaeter 

 soon dispel any such assumption. 'J he colours are white, 

 purplish crimson — the old colour of P. siueusis fimbriata 

 rubra; double kermesina splendens (Prince Arthur), car- 

 mine crimson ; and Double Florence (Prince of Wales), soar- 

 let, shaded red. 'Ihe doubles often produce their flowers 

 in whorls, giving a pyramidal aspect, and have longer 

 stalks than the singles, hence every pip is available for 

 cutting, otherwise I look irpon the wborl tendency as a 

 disadvantage, though there is no deny log the beauty of 

 the pyramidal form for table purposts. 'Ihe doubles are 

 more enduring in a cut state than the singles. A green- 

 house without its Primulas deprives its owner of the 

 finest of all dwarf autumn, winter, and spring ornaments. 



It is usual to sow at various times for different seasons 

 of bloom, but, except for spring bloom, I consider one 

 sowing sufficient — namely, the early part of April. The 

 pots being well drained and filled to within half an 

 inch of the rim with turfy loam, and decayed manure 

 (reduced to soil by exposure for a considerable time) 

 in equal parts, and a little silver sand, watering the 

 pots before sowing the seed. The seeds are only just 

 or barely covered with very fine soil. Ihe pots are 

 placed in a hotbed— a Cucumber or Melon frame, and 

 kept shaded, 'ihe seedlings will be up in ten days to a 

 fortnight, and must be kept shaded, aiid they are better 

 rather dry than wet, as when the soil is made very wet 

 the plants damp off; also ventilate freely to ensure 

 sturdy growth. Pot-off singly in small pots auS. return to 

 a frame— a cold one will answer, only keep it close and 

 shaded, l)ut bo careful not to overwater or keep so close 

 as to induce damping. After a few days the plants will 

 be established, and should have moderate ventilation and 

 shade throughout the summer. A tiffany or sciim canvas 

 (fine) shading is suitable. The plants are sprinkled over- 

 head every afternoori, and in this way watering is done; 

 but if the weathtr be dull and the plants not requiring 

 water it is omitted. 



The plants ai-e shifted into larger pots as required, 

 which is when they fill with roots, assorting the plants 

 into sizes after they are brought to the potting bench for 

 the final shift, which will be required early in July. The 

 strongest plants have 8-inch pots, the next size 7-inch, 

 and the sniallest 6-inch pots. The drainage is thorough, 



No. Ht8.— Vol. LVII., OlD SEEIte 



