166 



JOUENAL OF HOETIOCLTURE AND COTTAGE QABDENER 



[ Febrnaiy 25, 1875. 



does not keep nearly so well as Lady Downe's. The VioeB are 

 trained on the double-rod system. A large house is devoted 

 to Fig culture, the trees being trained to a trellis fixed under 

 the glass and also against the back wall, the varieties most 

 approved of being Brown Turkey and Itaby Castle. 



In the stove the beautifully. marked leaves of many different 

 varieties of Coleus had an excellent effect. A fine specimen 

 of Adiantum farleyense was noticeable. The old Centradenia 

 rosea floribunda was flowering very profusely, and an esceUent 

 plant it is for decorative purposes during the winter months. In 

 the greenhouse Coronilla glauca is largely represented ; it will 

 thrive under ordinary treatment, and is very useful either for 

 cutting or decorative purposes. I also noticed a very hand- 

 some specimen of what seemed to be Clianthus puniceuB, the 

 Glory Pea of New Zealand, but it was of a much more robust 

 growth than is commonly seen. It is evidently a variety of 

 the species, and has been named Magnificent. The Clianthus 

 is a good pot plant, but to see it in all its glory it should be 

 planted in a conservatory border. The coolest treatment suits 

 it, and if kept free from red spider by daily syringing when it 

 is making its growths it will soon make a large plant or bush 

 12 feet high, which when loaded with clusters of its large crimson 

 Pea-hke flowers is an object of great beauty. I noticed in the 

 conservatory a number of well-flowered specimens of Salvia 

 , splendens; their numerous spikes of brilliant scarlet flowers 

 were very attractive. There was also a good stock of healthy 

 plants of the double white Primula sinensis. This is rather a 

 difficult plant to keep through the winter, but the flowers are 

 useful for cutting, and they also remain in good condition on 

 the plant for a very long time. Attached to the conservatory 

 is a fernery under glass ; it is formed of artificial rockwork, 

 the Ferns being planted in nooks in prominent positions, where 

 a sufficient depth of mould can be obtained ; the groundwork 

 is principally composed of Lycopodium denticulatum. I 

 noticed the following Ferns : — Adiantum scutum and A. cune- 

 atum, Nephrolepis exaltata ; Lygodium scandens, the climb- 

 ing Fern ; Cibotium spectabile, &a. 



There is a neat flower garden in front of the conservatory, 

 but the principal part of the bedding-out is done at the kitchen 

 garden. A series of beds have been laid-out iu front of the 

 gardener's cottage, which has been erected about the centre of 

 the hothouses. The plants had all been cleared from the beds 

 at the time of my visit, but under the management of such 

 a master as Mr. Grieve they are no doubt worthy of Culford. 

 — J. DocdL.vs, 



THE LATE MK. DOWNING'S AURICULAS. 



A WKiTEE in one of your contemporaries, in an appreciative 

 article on the Auricula some time ago, said that he thought 

 there was something in the flower that seemed to fascinate the 

 grower, and that it was the last fancy that clung to a florist in 

 his declining years. I believe it is true. There are no florists, 

 I believe, so mad as Auricula-growers ; there are none who 

 give so much personal care to their pets as they do, and it is 

 the last thing they relinquish. Mr. Lightbody gave up his 

 Pinks, Tulips, and Pianunculuses, but he still kept his Auri- 

 culas ; and although Mr. Downing had been a celebrated breeder 

 of shorthorns — so much so that one animal of his breeding 

 some years ago sold for £1700 by auction — yet they were given 

 up. He had his garden and greenhouses, but the care of these 

 was relegated to his gardener ; but his Auriculas he repotted 

 and cared for himself. I never had the pleasure of meeting 

 him ; we have corresponded, and his letters were those of a 

 kindly and enthusiastic lover of flowers. 



I should suppose that his collection must have been certainly 

 one of the largest, if not also the richest iu the kingdom. It 

 comprised a row of four three-light frames containing very 

 nearly a thousand plants in Si's, and another pit 18 feet long 

 filled with seedlings. Every variety in growth of any value 

 was to be found here, and many of them in large quantities. 

 He had grown them for thirty or forty years, and was as enthu- 

 siastic over them as ever. He had many seedlings of which 

 he thought highly. All this fine collection was disponed of last 

 week. A large number of the lots (which were put into too 

 large quantities to suit amateurs) were bought by our great 

 southern Auricula-grower, Mr. Charles Turner of Slough, and 

 the others by nurserymen, only cue lot, I believe, having been 

 bought by an amateur. 



Mr. Downing's illness was of very short duration, and his 

 death quite unexpected. Although never an exhibitor, yet we 

 see he was a most enthusiastic grower of this fine flower ; and 



we are sorry to miss from the roll-call of the Auricula-lovers 

 one who, with a fine property and with everything at his dis- 

 posal for any fancy he might indulge in, yet to the last never 

 deserted the flower which he had wooed in his early days as 

 to many of us have done, and which exerts so strange an 

 influence over us even to old age. 



I am indebted for these few facts to Mr. John Gray of Ilagley 

 near Stourbridge, who was a friend of Mr. Downing's and also 

 au enthusiastic Auricula-grower. — D., Deal. 



JOTTINGS ON LAST YEAR'S GARDENING. 



No. 4. 



Eadish. — Long Scarlet Short-top is the only one of the long- 

 rooted kinds grown after the first sowing in spring. Wood's 

 Frame being shorter and earlier. The best of the Radishes 

 grown last and previous years is AYhite-lipped, Olive-shaped, 

 or French Breakfast, it being of very quick growth, very 

 tender, and mild flavour. Olive-shaped Scarlet ditlers but 

 little, except in being finer in colour and of quick growth. The 

 Olive-shaped are the best of Radishes, either for outdoors or 

 forcing. The red and white Turnip kinds are also good, but 

 stronger in flavour than the Olive-shaped. Sown in August 

 (third or fourth week) the Olive-shaped will be fit to draw in 

 October, and, protected from frost by mats or straw iu severe 

 weather, they will be in good condition the greater part of the 

 winter. Californian Mammoth was sown at the same time as 

 the last of Olive-shaped, August .tlst, and came to nothing. 

 The seed was evidently sown too late, but the Olive-shaped are 

 good now — end of January. The first outdoors were drawn on 

 April 30th, in 1873 on May 8th. 



Rami'Ion.— This root stems to be coming into favour, and 

 requires to be sown in AprU for autumn use, and in May for 

 storing to keep over the winter. By some the roots are pre- 

 ferred to Radishes. The roots last year were small. 



Salsify. — This was fine, and the frequent call for it shows it 

 was relished. It makes, I am told, a nice dish. It was first used 

 on November 12th. 



ScoiizoNEKA. — More nutty-flavoured than Salsify. It is a 

 good vegetable for winter, but it was a complete failure. In 

 1873 the first dish was sent in December 30th (it is ready in 

 October), and last February 2Cth, 1874. 



Savoy. — Tom Thumb is the earliest, and may be planted a 

 foot apart. Drumhead is best, but not so hardy as Dwarf 

 Green Curled. The first was cut December 7th (Cabbage was 

 abundant until then), and last January 31st. 



Seaiule. — Raised from seed it made less growth than usual 

 last year ; generally by one year's growth plants were fit for 

 forcing, but this year they were no use, the small crowns of 

 the former year's sowing far surpassing the seedlings. It ia 

 taken up for forcing, but some is covered with pots and comes 

 on naturally. The pots are put in the Mushroom house about 

 a hundred every fortnight, commencing last year November 

 Dth, and continuing until March 13th. Before Christmas 

 twenty to twenty-one days are required from putting in the 

 roots to cutting the Kale, while roots put in after are ready in 

 a fortnight. It was first cut December 8th, and in use until 

 June ICth. 



Spinach. — Despite the drought it did well. A rich soil 

 makes up for want of moisture, and for Spinach it can hardly 

 be too much so. Summer or Round is best for spring and 

 summer sowings ; Prickly the best for winter ; Flanders is a 

 good winter sort with round seed. The Prickly sown about 

 the 10th of August comes-in in October, and lasts in condition 

 until the spring sowings come in. 



Tomato, — Hathaway s Excelsior is a smooth ribless variety ; 

 Early Prolific not so desirable as Orangefield Dwarf. Toma- 

 toes do no good here outdoors. 



Turnip. — Early Snowball and Early White Stone or Six- 

 weeks were both good. Orange Jelly for winter has no superior. 

 Alter the first sowings, which are best made on a warm border, 

 au open situation on a north border is desirable. Chirk Castle 

 Black Stone is an excellent keeper, and its flesh being white is 

 by some preferred to Orange Jelly. Turnips, with Carrots and 

 other soup ingredients, are expected throughout the year. 



Vegetable Mabkow. — The season being warm these did 

 well, but under the first moist weather in early autumn the 

 plants succumbed. Custard invariably does badly. The Shoit- 

 jointed Long White is the best of the JIarrows. 



RnuBABB.— Johnson's St. Martin's, a fine improvement 

 upon the small Scarlets. The stalks are red inside as well as 

 outside. It is as early and productive as any, and better 



