3U 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Maj G, 1875. 



crimsonB, have a tendency to run into the Polyanthus form. 

 Among'ft several hnndretl plants I have of a rather pretty and 

 bright crimson all have the tendency to sport in the manner 

 described; they are earlier than the ordinary Polyanthns, and 

 also earlier than the double-flowering Primrose, and on the 

 whole flower more abundantly. The double varieties when 

 well grown flower freely also; but my collection of these is 

 limited to the white, yellow, and lilac. The greatest favourite 

 here is the Hose-in-hose Oxlip, which I fancy is not generally 

 known, and wtiich when well grown is more densely covered 

 with bloom than any variety I know of, and that, too, of a 

 bright clear yellow, not the pale hue of the ordinary Primrose. 

 Unfortunately it does not seem to perfect any seed with me, 

 neither does a pretty lavender-coloured Polyanthus which 

 forms a strong contrast to it, and is equally admired for its 

 free-blooming qualities as for its colour. But I fear I must 

 exclude the whole of the Polyanthus family from the section 

 of very early- flowering plants, for April is usually far advanced 

 before they are at their best. The single white Primrose, how- 

 ever, is usually the earliest of all winter-flowering plants, and 

 being of a neat and compact habit, is available for most places 

 where the Primrose is required. 



Erica carnea and herbacea are useful and highly ornamental 

 plants. I confess not to have used them much for winter- 

 decorative purposes in the way of filling empty beds, for the 

 reason that we have plants growing elsewhere in a permanent 

 manner, so that it is not wanted for the temporary purpose of 

 replacing the Geranium and other summer-flowering plants. I 

 have no doubt it can be used to aiivantage, and more especially 

 with those who have a congenial soil for it to grow in. The 

 plant is so very accommodating that it thrives in most places, 

 and is amongst the earliest flowers we have. It is very hardy 

 and second to none for compactness of habit and profusion of 

 flowers, and as these stand all weathers it may be set down as 

 one of the most useful and becoming of all early fjowers. 

 ^ Daffodils and other Narcissi are beautiful and interesting 

 p'ants, but I have my misgivings about recommending them 

 for beds, and would rather advise their being planted in some 

 less conspicuous place, as in the fronts of shrubberies or under- 

 neath trees near to walks. They are also suitable for the mixed 

 herbaceous border, and even now and then amongst grass in 

 places where the scythe is not likely to cut them down before 

 their foliage begins to decay. All such places where not too dry 

 answer very well for the common Daffodil, its presence in such 

 places is more becoming than in the parterre. 



Forget-me-not and Arabis albida. For many years I have 

 grown these two plants rather extensively, as being a very 

 good match in habit and widely diverse in colour. Usually 

 the first flowers on each are not more than two or three days 

 apart. The Forget-me-not, which with me is the dissitiflora 

 species, is the most attractive when examined closely. When 

 in the pink condition, which is the garb it first of aU puts on 

 (and this season was very late indeed in shaking off), it is cer- 

 tainly not so good as the Arabis. Bat it is idle making a 

 comparison since both are wanted, and being widely dissimilar 

 colours they cannot compete with each other. I am, how- 

 ever, uncertain whether to class them in the list of very early 

 flowering plants, as they are very rarely at their best until 

 April, and in some seasons like the present not until the 

 latter end of it. Their utility as representing masses of blue 

 and white in the most compact form cannot be too highly 

 commended. 



Pansies and other Violas. I confess not to have employed the 

 Viola to the extent I find others have done. With me it only 

 blooms in the early summer months. I allude to V. cornuta 

 and its varieties. Pansies are apt to go off entirely during the 

 dry summers we are frequently visited with. One or two popular 

 varieties, notably the Cliveden Blue, is extremely pretty later 

 in the spring and deserves the highest praise, as also does a 

 yellow one having only a local name, and not conforming to 

 the conditions laid down for a florist's flower. The whole 

 family are, however, useful, or at least the kinds usually met 

 with in cultivation are all admired ; and for furnishing beds 

 near to walks mfich frequented they may be planted with 

 advantage. 



Hepatica is on the whole a more serviceable plant when 

 occupying a permanent position in the herbaceous border, as I 

 have never met with it in a good condition where it had to 

 endure transplanting twice in a year. With me it does not 

 thrive very well. The single blue is my favourite. 



Daisies are much too late to be classed in the list of very 

 early flowers, and I fear the assumed improvement made in 



them has not been in the direction of earliness. They are, 

 however, extremely pretty in May. The clear white and dark 

 red being in my opinion more showy than the intermediate 

 colours. 



Saxifragas. These plants are more remarkable for foliage 

 than for flowering ; but S. crassifolia looks well in winter, be- 

 sides having a fine spike of rose-coloured bloom in the early 

 part of April. The most of the other species are more showy 

 in their foliage than in their flowering, and may be treated of 

 hereafter. 



Helleborus fcetidus. Like the last, this plant unites the 

 twofold recommendation of being good in appearance as a 

 foliaged plant, and by its flower being interesting. When in 

 flower it is 18 inches high or more, but being clothed with 

 Palm-like foliage of a dark-green colour to the ground its ap- 

 pearance is handsome at all times. In hardihood it is second 

 to none, standing as it does equally well in the open bed or 

 elevated vase. For winter and early spring gardening I have 

 for many years placed this plant first, and have not seen 

 reason to alter my decision. 



Amongst other early-flowering plants much to be admired is 

 Alyssum saxatiie, especially a dwarf variety of it of a bright 

 golden yellow, and enduring the sun much better than Cheir- 

 anthus Marshallii, besides being earlier, still not early enough 

 for this list. Neither are the Wallfloweis nor any of the 

 various annuals, which are exceedingly useful iu their way, but 

 comparatively few flower before May. Bright clear-coloured 

 flowers on tidy-looking plants which flower before April seem 

 desirable, and experience of such plants would be valuable. 



I should say that everything recommended for early decora- 

 tion should precede the Polyanthus. This being a widely known 

 plant may be placed as denoting the demarcation between the 

 early and late spring-flowering plants. For late spring we 

 have no lack of choice, but any addition to really early flowers 

 will be very acceptable. — John Eobson. 



AIDS TO FERTILISATION. 



The winter, which we may now hope is almost gone, has 

 been a very trying one for the forcing gardener, not on ac- 

 count of the severity of the weather, for with one notable 

 exception (31st December), when the ground was beautifully 

 and effectually covered with Nature's blanket, we have had no 

 severe frost, but because of the absence of sunshine. Caloric 

 we can manufacture, daylight we cannot, and without the 

 latter the former is comparatively useless for plant life. Yon 

 may have elongation without sunlight, but it can scarcely be 

 called growth, and when at last sunlight does come, the plants 

 will suffer as much from it as they had previously done from 

 its absence. 



Probably one of the greatest difficulties this season has been 

 with the fertilisation of flowers, such as Peaches, Strawberries, 

 and Vines. Before this is forgotten I should like to invite 

 those who have had difliculties, and partial failures, to think 

 over the matter a little, with a view to being better prepared 

 to meet such diflloulties in future. 



The following remarks are merely intended to be suggestive, 

 as T have not time now to go deeply into the matter if so in- 

 clined, and, besides, I would rather encourage our rising young 

 gardeners to think for themselves than lay down laws and 

 rules for them to follow without reason. Exceptional seasons 

 like this go far to prove who are the thinking and reasoning 

 gardeners, and to divide them from those who blindly and 

 mechanically copy their forefathers. Copying a good master 

 is all very well when the conditions and requirements are the 

 same ; but a little variation iu the conditions or requirements 

 will often upset the whole affair, and the copying pupil is lost 

 in a maze. 



What are the conditions generally favourable to the fertili- 

 sation of flowers? And when the conditions are unfavourable 

 how can we best assist Nature to perform her functions ? First 

 of allwe must have mature growth. You might as well try to 

 keep-up a supply of Mustard and Cress without seed as to 

 force Grapes, Peaches, and Strawberries where the buds and 

 crowns were not matured the previous season. Have good, 

 plump, ripe growth, and you can afford to smile at those who 

 tell you that the plants require rest. As a rule plants rest 

 only to accommodate themselves to the seasons. The growth 

 once matured the plant is immediately able and willing to 

 start afresh if introduced to a suitable climate natural or 

 artificial. 



Healthy, but not rampant, root and leaf action are an ab- 



