May 29, 1878. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



427 



equally effective in the greenhouse or conservatory. The plants 

 are also at the present time one of the principal features at our 

 exhibitions, and as there exhibited are compact masses of 

 bloom, in some cases as much as feet over, the marvel being 

 thai such a mass of leaves and flowers can be supported and 

 brought to so high a degree of perfection in a pot limited to 

 8J inches in diameter. The potting material is rich turfy 

 loam, firmly compressed in the pots, yet sufficiently porous to 

 allow the water to drain through, as the plants require an 

 enormous supply during the latter stages of theii- growth. A 

 perfect thicket of sticks is required to support the flower- 

 trusses, which would otherwise be much damaged in their 

 transit to and from the exhibition. Such large specimens are 

 very well for the purpose for which they are grown, and are 

 highly creditable to those who have the time and patience to 

 bring them to such perfection ; but I very much question if 

 they are productive of so much real enjoyment to their owners 

 as more humble plants are to the lovers of flowers for their 

 own sake. 



For general purposes small plants grown in 4, 5, and G-inch 

 pots are the most useful. Even in the smallest size compact 

 little plants may be grown, each with a dozen or more trusses 

 of flowers. Such plants are very useful for all decorative pur- 

 poses, and the pots fit well into the small vases used in draw- 

 ing-rooms. 



The stage Pelargonium is easily propagated ; cuttings may 

 be taken either when the old plants are cut-down in August, 

 or early in April when the young growths are thinned-out. I 

 insert one cutting in the centre of a small CO-sized pot in light 

 Bandy soil, and place the pots in a frame where they have a 

 very little bottom heat ; they may be shaded during the first 

 four days, but only lightly. In two weeks they will have 

 formed roots, when they should be freely aired, but be allowed 

 to remain two or three weeks longer. Each of the plants, if 

 potted into a 5-inch pot, wiU produce a few trusses the same 

 season, and will make a strong flowering plant the following 

 year. Cuttings put in when the old plants are cut-down ought 

 not to be rooted in bottom heat, as they are apt to rot. If 

 they are placed on shelves near the glass in an airy pit or 

 greenhouse, every one of them will emit roots. 



The new varieties sent out within the last four or five years 

 are a great advance on those grown previously. I will add a 

 short list of good sorts, which will be useful to intending pur- 

 chasers. Achievement, Beacon, Celeste, Charles Turner, Cor- 

 sair, Example, John Hoyle, Lilacina, l\Iaid of Honour, Mary 

 Hoyle, Pompey, Progress, Purpurea, Warrior, and William 

 Hoyle. — J. DonoLis. 



THE ROSES AT CALCOT. 



Calcot is three miles from Reading on the Bath road. Mr. 

 Webb has there upwards of one thousand Marechal Niel Roses. 

 Many of these are at this moment (May 21st), in flower, all in 

 the open air, and those that are coming on promise an almost 

 endless succession. 



It is well worth while making a pilgrimage to Calcot. Ap- 

 proaching from the public road by an avenue that rather re- 

 minds one of Christian and the lions, as the gauntlet has to be 

 run of four magnificent bloodhounds, all dancing np and down 

 and endeavouring to break their chains, but who would not 

 barm anyone, Mr. Webb thinks, even if they succeeded — having 

 rung the door-beU after this peouUar fashion — that is to say, 

 by a timid approach having set the dogs roaring, the pilgrim 

 wiU, probably, feel somewhat relieved by observing the speedy 

 approach of the courteous owner. 



Passing over all the other wonders of the place, as becomes 

 a rosarian, the one-hundred-years-old Apple tree, the Vine five 

 times as large as the Vine at Hampton Court, and the grave- 

 yard of Alcohol with its monumental inscription, let us pro- 

 ceed at once to the king of 'the Tea and Noisette tribe of 

 Boses. It is to be found at Calcot under every possible charao • 

 ter. Upon walls of all aspects, on the Manetti, on the Briar, 

 and principally on its o>vn roots, which is what Mr. Webb 

 prefers, Mareohal Niel is to be found, I should imagine in 

 unequalled profusion. From the cutting of last season which 

 is just starting, to the king of the garden growing alone, and 

 which might almost be mistaken for a forest tree, Marechal 

 Niel is to be seen everywhere, in every stage of robustness of 

 growth and luxuriance. Mr. Webb began cutting blooms 

 from this Rose in February last, he will probably go on cut- 

 ting them unto February come round again. The number 

 of Roses in prospect might glut even the London market, 



where, I believe, all Calcot produce is eagerly sought after. 

 These Roses have no manure, with the exception of a httle 

 leaf mould occasionally put to them, no protection in winter, 

 no very large amount of attention, and yet they are un- 

 equalled, take them altogether, for growth and produce. 

 No doubt the marvellously stiff and rich clay in which they 

 grow has much to do with this, aud Mr. Webb has allowed, 

 very judiciously, but little interference with successful nature. 

 This is certainly the place to see what this grandest of all 

 Roses is capable of under suitable circumstances. To all who 

 would learn to grow Marochal Niel in perfection we would say, 

 Go and caU upon the Rose king at Calcot ! — A. C. 



FLOWEES FOR OUR BORDERS.— No. 7. 



CALOCHORTUS VENUSTUS.— Spotied-flowered Caiochortcs. 



This strikingly beautiful bulbous plant was introduced into 

 England in 1832. This species, with several of the others, is 

 a native of Northern California, where the winters are not 

 much less severe than in England, and the changes of tem- 

 perature even more trying than in our proverbially fickle 

 cUmate. The common Tiger flower, Tigridia pavonia, although 

 brought from intertropical Mexico, is nevertheless so easily 

 grown and increased among us, that good flowering bulbs may 

 be bought for two or three shillings a-dozen. Like the Tiger 

 flower, the species are very impatient of wet in the winter 

 season, and it is doubtless to the combined effects of cold and 

 moisture at this period, and from want of protection from the 

 autumnal rains, by which the maturation of the bulbs is 

 hindered, that so many of them have perished. 



CalochortuB venuatue. 



Although brought from a cUmate where frost is by no means 

 unknown, it is therefore not advisable to risk them in the open 

 air during the winter months ; or, if the experiment is tried, 

 it should be only where the soil is sandy, and the bulbs at 

 least 6 inches below the surface, and covered with a large pan 

 or pot to preserve the soil in as dry a state as possible. Where 

 there is the convenience of a frame to place over the bulbs, 

 they may safely be left in the ground all the year, the protec- 

 tion being of course removed as soon as all danger from spring 

 frosts has ceased. 



When this plan cannot be adopted, as the bulbs generally 

 begin to grow before it would be prudent to plant them in the 

 open ground, it will be better to pot them about the middle or 

 end of February, in a soil composed of sandy loam, with a 

 portion of leaf mould, placing a little sand under and around 

 each bulb, which should be planted about 3 inches deep, over 

 an ample drainage of broken crocks. The pot must be kept 

 from frost, and if the compost be moderately damp when used, 

 but httle or no water will be requisite until the leaves have 

 made their appearance above the soil. 



