December SI, 1888. 1 



JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



499 



X,«(>/iairf.— Bright red, with large yellow spots on the surface 

 of the petals — a most novel combination of colour. 



Most of the varieties named are showy, and present a very 

 chaste appearance. I usually strike them in November. When 

 struck 1 place them in a pit to harden off, and then ehilt them 

 into bloomin;; pots, generally into 8 and 12 sized pots. The 

 compost employed is a strong fibrous loam, rotten duuR, and 

 leaf mould. Liquid manure is given very frequently. In this 

 I put plenty of decayed cow droppings — in fact, to thrive well 

 Chrysanthemums require plenty of dung. This morning there 

 called on me a gardener who is a good grower of Chrysanthe- 

 mums, and, whilst showing him through my winter garden, he 

 remarked that to grow them well they should have plenty of 

 rotten dung. 



Before closing this paper I wish to say a word in favour of 

 one of the Japanese Chrysanthemums in particular. I be- 

 lieve I shall not be far wrong when I say The Daimio is the 

 most superb variety named, of extraordinary size and substance. 

 Mrs. Haliburton, a large-flowering variety, is the most perfect 

 white I ever saw. It is the gem of my collection. I usually 

 plunge the pots in sifted ashes. Care ought to be taken not 

 to allow worms to enter the pots. I place these so as to be 

 exposed to the sun from early morning till late at night all 

 through the summer. On the least sign of mildew being per- 

 ceived, I instantly sprinkle the foliage well with sulphur and let 

 it remain on all night. In the morning I give a good syringing. 

 I apply to the plants a top-dressing of sheep's droppings, and 

 have found it very beneficial. Under this treatment I invari- 

 ably meet with success. — F. P. L. 



and patience, in this field, especially if favoured with a dry 

 soil and climate, achieve an ample reward for bis pleasurable 

 toils. 



I should add that the soil here, overlying the oolitic lime- 

 stone, is dry, and suitable for the ripening and flavonring of 

 fruits generally, although, from the prevalent east winds, the 

 springs are excessively cold and unfavourable to the setting of 

 early blossoms, which are frequently injured in the hud and 

 abortive. The climate is more devoid of humidity than the 

 central, northern, southern, and western districts. 



To those who have not attempted the raising of seedling 

 Koses, but contemplate doing so, I would recommend a perusal 

 of the chapters on "Hybridising," and " Seedlings," in " The 

 Bose Garden," by Mr. William I'aul, a work containing eminently 

 practical teachings ; and if the instructions contained therein 

 be followed, I feel sure much disappointment may be saved 

 and considerable success secured ; and although we may still 

 have to go to southern climes for most of the new varieties of 

 Teas and Noisettes, there can be no reason why, in some parts 

 of this country, advances fhould not be obtained upon John 

 Hopper and Beauty of Waltham, and Eoses of that class, and 

 even upon the more illustrious Dovoniensis. One of the first 

 steps towards securing these ends is for growers and amateurs, 

 especially the latter, whose province, Mr. Paul justly says, it is 

 to raise seedlings, mutually to give and receive information 

 upon the subject. I trust, therefore, 1 may hear through your 

 columns of the experiences of other labourers in the same vine- 

 yard. — Thomas LIxton, Sia/nfonl. 



ROSE SEED AND SEEDLINGS. 



The interesting notes on the ripening of Eose seed in Eng- 

 land, by Mr. Curtis, are valuable as affording the means of com- 

 paring results between the present, past, and future seasons, 

 and between the climate of Devonshire and that of other dis- i 

 trjcts of the country in ripening seed of the different varieties ' 

 of Boses. Most of those mentioned by Mr. Curtis have ripened 

 seed with me this season, but the heps of Charles Lefebvre, ! 

 which usually ripen here, have become prematurely withered i 

 before being properly coloured. ! 



In addition to the varieties named by your correspondent, [ 

 I have just gathered ripe heps from Lord Eaglan, Madame 

 Caillat, Anna de Diesbach, Madame Furtado, Madame Buutin, 

 La Ville de St. Denis, Madame C. Joigneaux, Marie Eaumann, 

 Thorin, Antoine Duoher, Gloire de Santenay, Prince de Porcia, 

 Prince Leon, Due de Bohan. Beauty of Waltham, Madame C. 

 Wood, Madame Domage, Camille Bernardin, Exposition de 

 Brie, Abel Grand, Dr. Lindley, Cnmte de Nanteuil, Francois 

 Louvat, M ons. Boncenne, Victor Yerdier, Fran9ois Lacharme, 

 Madame Moreau, Comtesse de Paris, Le lihone, and numerous 

 other Perpetuals, and from Charles Lawsonand Madame Zout- 

 man amongst summer Roses. 



I have found the past season one of the worst I remember 

 for cross-fertilising the Esse, the excessive heat early in the 

 summer having been more damaging to successful fertilisation 

 than our ordinary amount of moisture in most seasons. 



On John Hopper and Madame Knorr, two excellent varieties 

 named by Mr. Curtis, I have never yet seen seed, although I 

 have, during the past twelve years, cross-fertilised and recorded 

 nearly a thousand blooms, including many of those varieties. 

 Experience has, however, sitisfied me that cross-fertilisation 

 ol the Rose is not so productive of the end sought as might 

 be expected, in comparison with the results obtained from a 

 similar treatment of many other flowers and plants. I have, 

 however, been able to g^iin some valuable acquisitions amongst 

 a vast amount of mediocrity and labour lost. In some seasons 

 I have scarcely obtained a single ripe hep or seedling from 

 upwards of a hundred attempts at artificial fertilisation. I 

 would therefore recommend the tyro not to attempt cross-ferti- 

 lisation of the Rose on a large scale, but to rely more upon the 

 naturally fertilised produce of those kinds which do not easily 

 seed, especially the light sorts, and certainly not to take much 

 trouble about such varieties as General Jacqueminot, Mar^chal 

 Vaillant, and other free-seeding reds. 



Amongst the results of cross-fertilisation, I have obtained 

 seedlings from Madame Vidot, Comtesse de Chabrillant. La 

 Ville de St. Denis, Anna de Diesbach, Louis Peyronny, Victor 

 Verdier, Charles Lawson, and Gloire de Dijon, and from the 

 latter I have some ripe heps of the offspring. Upon the whole 

 I consider that the watchful English amateur may, with work 



THE CLAIMS OF WINTER ORNAJIENT.VL 

 GARDENING. 



(Continued from page 478.) 



Befoee describing the mode of planting, it may be as well 

 here to take a glance at the materials that have hitherto been 

 sufficient for the purpose, but to which I intend making addi- 

 tions when advisable. First of all, I will state that the ground 

 on which I have principally carried out the winter decoration, 

 is laid out in two borders, each IS feet wide, and a large oval 

 bed measuring 90 feet by C71. A 3 feet margin of turf reduces 

 the latter bed by that much all round, still it presents a large 

 extent of ground, and we have generally had a centre compart- 

 ment 10 or 18 feet in diameter planted, and smaller ones as 

 well, with a groundwork of coloured material, and that ground- 

 work intersected with some other fancy work of similar ma- 

 terial, with a suitable bordering. 



The plants we use are in themselves simple enough, and 

 easily obtained and grown. A few tall upright-growing plants 

 4 or 5 feet high seem indispensable, and they ought to be such 

 as will readily bear removing in the autumn. Irish Yews and 

 Capressus Lawsoniana are about the best that I have nsed,- 

 but it is very likely Swedish Juniper, and many other plants 

 of similar habit would answer as well, but I was not so sue- 

 cessful with Virginian Cedar, though Arbor Vift'o did very well. 

 These tall plants occupy the centres of groups, which may 

 consist of any description of evergreen which can bo removed 

 without showing the effects of the operation. I have found 

 Aucubas and Box about the most effective, as well as the most 

 compact and neat-looking plants, but Laurustinus has done 

 well in mild winters. 



Assuming that the foregoing plants or those of a kindred 

 character are planted round the central Irish Yews, or other 

 conspicuous plants, it is better to surround them by a line of 

 white-leaved plants, if such can be had. Here we have found 

 the old Lavender Cotton, when forming stiff, tufty plants, 

 almost as good as anything, and it transplants well. Much 

 better still, only the plant is so low-growing, are good large 

 tufts of Arabis albida variegata. The beautiful cream- 

 coloured leaf which this plant has in winter renders it by far 

 the most important winter decorative plant I know. It must 

 be borne in mind, that the ground is damp on the surface the 

 whole time, or nearly bo, that winter gardening is required, 

 and white-leaved plants are seen to much advantage then. The 

 Arabis also transplants well, and 20' or 30° of frost do not 

 seem to have any effect upon it. It is often necessary to plant 

 edgings of this or other plants at the present time, and slips 

 6 or more inches long, taken from old straggling plants, have 

 only to be buried in the earth up to their neck, and they in- 

 variably grow, and in spring are found to be well-rooted plants, 

 that may be used anywhere. So large a proportion of the leaf 

 being white, gives the plant a pre-eminence over all others I 



