May 13, 1875. ] 



JOtJENAL OP HOBTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



375 



one of the little matters of great importance pertaining to 

 gardening pursuits, and is wortliy of special attention at this 

 period of the year. — W. 



CALCEOLARIA FAILURES. 



We have received from several correspondents complaints 

 of the decay of their plants, both herbaceous varieties in pots 

 and bedding plants intended for garden decoration. That 

 failures in Calceolaria culture are extensive we have abundant 

 evidence, and that the causes of these failures are to a certain 

 extent enveloped in mystery we are ready to acknowledge. It 

 must necessarily be so. It is not always easy for a gardener 

 even who has devoted his life to the cultivation of plants, to 

 describe their real state and to intelligibly convey to another 

 precise data leading to a correct appreciation of the circum- 

 stances which exert an influence on the plant's condition. 

 That being the case with the gardener, is in a still greater 

 degree so with the amateur ; and it is, therefore, less from the 

 statements of others than by incidents of our own experience, 

 that we seek to investigate common causes of failure, and if 

 not to point out a remedy, at the least hope to aid in prevent- 

 ing a recurrence of the evils complained of. 



In the case of herbaceous Calceolarias which decay round 

 the collar just as the plants are comiug into bloom we cannot 

 prescribe a cure. For the origin of the evil or disease wo 

 should be inclined to look back for some months, and such a 

 remedy as can be offered is only iu time for future plants by 

 advising a means to prevent the decay being originated in the 

 plant's infancy. There is always a hope of an evil being pre- 

 ventible when it is, at will, producible. That the decay of 

 herbaceous Calceolarias can be produced we have no doubt, 

 and perhaps we cannot do better than give a familiar recipe 

 for its production. 



Sow the seed in any light soil, poat predominating. Do not 

 pot-off the plants too soon, but allow them to become drawn 

 in the seed-pan. Let them become dry occasionally until the 

 leaves flag, so that the stem becomes somewhat hardened. 

 Eventually pot them singly into small pots iu sandy soil. Let 

 the soil bo put lightly into the pots, but press it firmly and 

 neatly round the necks of the plants. As soon as the pots are 

 tilled with roots do not shift them, or, perhaps, they may not 

 decay, but suffer them to become thoroughly pot-bound, to 

 flag at times, and carry a few insects. If standing on ashes 

 let them remain to root well through the bottom of the pots. 

 When the foliage has turned yellow and the stems are woody, 

 then proceed to put them in their blooming pots. The pots 

 will lift with a large cake of roots at the bottom. As this 

 cannot be drawn through the pot it must be torn off. In 

 potting, as the plants are rather leggy, they must be put deep 

 into the pots to make them look dwarf. They must have rich 

 soil to make up for lost time, and to further encourage them 

 they must be regularly sprinkled and be kept rather close. By 

 regularly sprinkling the soil must be wet on the surface but 

 dry beneath. Plants so treated may be depended on to decay 

 at the collar just as they commence to bloom. To that practice, 

 or some modification of it, is to be traced the decay of nine- 

 tenths of dying Calceolarias, the remaining tenth succumbing 

 to some injurious and untraceable matter in the soil. 



The remedy or prevention is clear. The practice must be 

 reversed. The plants must not be drawn in the seed-pan, 

 they must have no check by want of water, must never be pot- 

 bound, or be infested by insects. They must not root through 

 the pots and have the feeders torn off, and must not be hurried 

 in any part of their life to make-up for lost time. The effect 

 is the same whether the rootlets are torn off or dried-off. The 

 main roots may still look healthy, but their feeders are gone, 

 and, unlike Geraniums or Fuchsias, Calceolarias will not emit 

 fresh feeders at the summons of fresh soil and plenty of water. 

 Instead of that the plants decay. A steady, regular, unchecked 

 growth throughout ; the soil richest at the bottom of the pots 

 and never dry ; a cool bottom on which to stand the plants, no 

 matted roots through the pots, no fingering round the stems 

 in potting, and healthy plants will follow. If, however, there 

 is a suspicion that some fell agency is lurking in the soil, place 

 crushed charcoal round the necks of the plants and have no 

 fear of its effects. 



As a general rule it is not insects or a poisoned atmosphere, 

 nor yet a (normally) poisoned soil that causes decay, but some 

 little mistake at a critical time iu a point of culture that is 

 the real source of the evil. To meet the inquiries of several 

 correspondents we have stated fully the results of our own 



practice in endeavouring to produce as well as to prevent this 

 troublesome disease. We will notice the failures in the 

 shrubby section on a future occasion. 



AURICULAS. 



As Auriculas are once more occupying a prominent plac3 in 

 the afi'dctions of florists, your readers may caro to have some 

 notes of the Show of the National Auricula Association held in 

 Manchester on the '27th of April. I wont over from Ireland, 

 expecting to see great things in that, the classic ground of 

 Auiicula culture, and certaiuly I saw a fine display of plants. 

 The entries seemed to me to bo very numerous ; and the effect 

 of so large a number cti masse was very cheering to a lover of 

 this delightful flower. The Bev. F. D. Horner, the indefatigable 

 Secretary of the Assooiatiou, showed a very beautiful grey edge, 

 called Alexander Meiklejobu, which took the premier prizi iu 

 its class, beating George Lightbody. I, however, do not think 

 it excels that perfect variety. I am apprehensive that it may 

 have a weak stem, but I cannot be certain, as the plant was 

 small and young. Mr. Horner also exhibited an extraordinarily 

 large-flowered plant of Robert Traill, one of the best Auriculas 

 ever raised, but generally rather smiU iu the pip. Mr. Charles 

 Turner showed some very beautiful and well-grown flowers. 

 I much admired his C. J. Perry. It is a blue self, possessing 

 that estimable quality, a satin-like surface, like a Pansy. 



But I am not inteudirfg to laud exhibitors who are too 

 well known to require it. I will just mention one or two 

 points which struck me, and which may be worth thinking 

 over against the next show. In the first place the exhibition 

 should never have been held where it was. The Town Hall, 

 though a splendid room, was altogether too dark. Plants on 

 the side of the room away from the windows had no justice at 

 all. Surely the Botanical Society of such a city as Manchester, 

 iu connection with whose Show the Auricula Association held 

 theirs, could afford a large marquee, the only place in which 

 flowers look to most advantage. In the next place, the spacs 

 allotted to the Auriculas was too limited. Theylookod huddled 

 np, and it was nearly impossible to make out what plants 

 belonged to auy one exhibitor. 



I think also that the minimum number of pips might well 

 bo increased from three to five. Three pips may satisfy a 

 judge as regards correctness of marking; but I submit with 

 all deference that a good truss which is able to balance well 

 luxuriant foliage is a very important point. The large number 

 of three-pipped plants necessarily produced a lean and hungry 

 look; and iu many instances you could see that the pips had 

 been purposely reduced to three. 



I venture also to suggest a relaxation of that rigid rule which 

 some of the old growers observed, and which seems to have 

 considerably swayed the exhibitors, which demands as black a 

 ground as possible in the edged varieties. Almost all the 

 entries for the premium in the three classes of edged flowers 

 had black grounds, and that produced tameness and monotony. 

 We should strive to obtain every shade of colour that is possible 

 into the edged varieties, and I am sure the Auricula would be 

 much more popular. One of the most striking flowers in the 

 Show was a Colonel Champneys, with rich violet ground and 

 grey edge, and yet I am sure it would not have been able to 

 compete for the premium with a black ground variety. I am 

 glad I saw the Show ; and all lovers of the Auricula are in- 

 debted to the National Auricula Association for what they are 

 doing for our favourites. I hope the Associitiou may prosper 

 and improve in every respect each sucoeeding year. — Fredeiuce 

 Tyjions, Cllc, Co. Duhlin. 



CUTTINGS OF PLANTS SENT BY POST. 



I OBSERVE in your advertisement pages that cuttings of plants 

 of various kinds are forwarded to every part of the United 

 Kingdom continuously by post. Accordingly I sent lately a few 

 cuttings of Geraniums, securely placed in a small pasteboard 

 box, postage duly paid, to a relation. To my surprise I re- 

 ceived from the General Post Office, London, a printed notice 

 to the effect that the box was detained by the authorities, 

 " cuttings of plants " not being allowed to pass through the 

 post, being amongst the " prohibited articles." 



I replied to the notice, which was signed by G. Tilley, Esq., 

 the Secretary of the General Post OlUoe, requesting him either 

 to forward my box to its destination or return it to me, with 

 the postage paid thereon, as I did not consider " cuttings of 

 plants" to come under the head of "prohibited articles;" 



