326 



JODKNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ April 27, 1876. 



(Headly) was finer than nsnal. Lovely Ann (Oliver), Colonel 

 Taylor (Lee), Admiral Napier (Campbell), Peter Campbell 

 (Canningham), and General Neil (Trail) were in good order. 

 The best greys were Alderman Charles Brown (Headly), Col. 

 Champneys (Turner), Miss Giddinga (Read), Mary Ann 

 (Fletcher), John Waterston (Cunningham), Robert Trail 

 (Lightbody), George Lightbody (Headly), Lancashire Hero 

 (Lancashire), Competitor (Turner), and Sir C. Napier (Light- 

 body). In whites Drake Lewis (Turner), SmiUng Beauty 

 (Heap), Ann Smith (Smith), Arabella (Headly), Catherina 

 (Summerscales). Selfs.— ApoUo (Dickson), Eliza (Sim), Mrs. 

 Sturrock (Martin), Charles J. Perry (Turner), Topsy (Kay), 

 Petronella (Headly), Pizarro (Campbell), and Mrs. Smith 

 (Smith). 



Of Alpines some very finely formed flowers were exhibited, 

 nearly all of them raised and sent out by Mr. Charles Turner 

 of Slough. The best were Diamond, Bronze Queen, Philip 

 Frost, Susie Matthews, Slough Rival, SeUna, George Light- 

 body, Dear Hart, National, Trojan, Queen Victoria, Illnmi- 

 nator. Col. Scott, and Miss Reed. 



The only difficulty with Auriculas is to obtain the good old 

 sorts ; but these, and even those sent out quite recently, cannot 

 be obtained except by exchange. The culture of the plants is 

 by no means difficult. They must be grown in frames near 

 the glass, and air must be admitted as often as possible. The 

 plants, whether in flower or not, must be shaded from scorch- 

 ing sun ; and with plenty of water at the roots when the plants 

 are in full growth success will be certain. — J. Douglas. 



NOTES FBOM MY GARDEN IN 1875. 



GLvUHOLUS. 



The last, I may say, of one's collection of favourite flowers, 

 and certainly not the least cherished, is this grand autumn 

 flower ; for although I grow Chrysanthemums I almost look 

 upon them as commencing one's season rather than finishing 

 it oS, and they are grown by me for decoration more than as 

 a florist's flower ; so that when I have taken up and harvested 

 my Gladiolus bulbs I look upon it that my gardening year is 

 at an end, and one's ecclesiastical and gardening years synchro- 

 nise very much, as the Chrysanthemums come in a little before 

 Advent, the height of their season being about the 20th of 

 November. 



I have never been more satisfied with my growth of Gladiolus 

 than I was last year ; and I might well be, for at the Exhi- 

 bitions at South Kensington, the Alexandra Palace, and the 

 Crystal Palace I took first prii-.e in all the classes in which I 

 exhibited except once, and my flowers generally were of very 

 fine quality. The reasons of this were, I think, threefold. In 

 the first place I have considerably weeded my collection ; and 

 although small it contains, I imagine, the crriiw de la crcnu: 

 of the French sorts, each year giving us a few, at any rate, 

 varieties which are worth proferving. Then in the second 

 place I mulched my beds heavily and early, so that the roots 

 were kept moist and received also the benefit of the manure 

 washed down by the rain, of which we had in tho early part of 

 the season rather too much. It used to be thought — and I was 

 of the same opinion myself — that heavy manuring was bad for 

 them. Perhaps it is when mixed with the soil ; but as on my 

 visits to Langport I noticed how heavily Mr. Kelway manured 

 the surface of his beds, I felt convinced that bo successful a 

 grower as he is would never have adopted the plan had it been 

 injurious ; and I thought that perhaps the grand finish of his 

 flowers might in some degree bo attributed to the liberal mulch- 

 ing they received. Then in the third place I diligently shaded 

 my beds, erecting over them an awning for this purpose. I re- 

 member Mr. Standieh used to insist that the Gladiolus would 

 not stand it, but I think he was mistaken. Care must be taken 

 as to the way in which it is done. Thus, for instance, if there 

 is a tolerable prospect of a fine night I always draw up the 

 awning in the evening and leave it up all night. If, again, 

 the day is cloudy and yet not likely to rain I do not cover 

 them, my object being to preserve them from the heavy rains 

 which spot the flowers, especially the more delicate-coloured 

 flowers, and from the sun, which burns some varieties and 

 drives all more quickly out of bloom. As the awning is so 

 arranged that I can walk under it, the flowers can be enjoyed 

 much better than when having to stand out in the full blaze 

 of the sun. 



I tried last year a plan which my friend Mr. Eauka told me 

 of, and to which I have already alluded iu the .Journal — that 

 of cutting the bulbs in two when they are a good size ; and 



found on lifting the corms in the autumn that quite as good 

 new corms had been formed from those cut iu halves as from 

 those left whole. The advantage of this is obvious where the 

 varieties are scarce, as it doubles the numbers. Of course care 

 must be taken to feel the corm and see where the eyes are 

 forming for the new corms, and cut the bulb so that each set 

 may have an eye. It may be perhaps said, " But if you left 

 the oorm uncut you would have the same effect, for the two 

 eyes would each throw up a shoot and each produce fresh 

 corms.'' But this is by no means certain ; for sometimes when 

 one shoot starts strongly it seems to absorb all the strength of 

 the corm, and the other remains dormant and finally perishes ; 

 whereas by cutting the corm you are assured of each growing. 

 Besides, when the two shoots come up alongside of one another 

 it is very difficult to keep them apart, and one injures the 

 other. 



I may here say that my object in putting up the awning 

 was mainly the preservation of the corms in autumn, and that 

 after the blooming was over it remained on altogether. Having 

 never been able to account for the disease and its greater pre- 

 valence with us than in France, it struck me that it might 

 be owing to the greater dryness of their autumns, and that 

 if our bulbs could be kept from the drenching rains the same 

 end might be gained. So far I am hopeful it has made a 

 difference. I have never lost so few corms in the winter, for 

 like Potatoes they may be taken up apparently sound, and yet 

 before long begin to dry up and rot ; but I can say nothing 

 with regard to it until I see the result of this seafon. 



Twelve new varieties were sent out by Messrs. Souilliard and 

 Bruuelet, the successors of Mens. Souchet, and of them I have 

 found the following to be iu my estimation first-rate varieties — 

 Geneva. — A fine spike. Flowers lull size, fine light cherry 

 with red markings, each petal having a white line ; throat 

 yellow, with purple-carmine spots. 



Grand Lilas. — Long spike of flowers of a distinct and new 

 colour — lUac, with shadings of a deeper hue of the same colour. 

 Ilcrcule. — A fine flower of tho same type as Virgile and Le 

 Vesuve. Extra large and very tine fiower ; colour a deep fiery 

 red with orange shading. The individual flowers are very 

 large, but I am doubtful as to the length of the spike whether 

 a sufficient number of flowers will be open at one time. 



Lcda. — A very fine flower, white striped with lilac ; large 

 and full. 



Pactolc. — Without doubt the best yellow Gladiolus yet sent 

 out. The spike is very long; the colour a pure yellow, some- 

 times without a bar or spot in it, at other times very prettily 

 bordered with rose. In either condition it is a most attractive 

 flower and is very robust in habit. The spike which I exhi- 

 bited at the Alexandra Palace Show received a first-class cer- 

 tificate. Looking at its colour I regard it not only as the best 

 yellow flower we have, but as the greatest acquisition of this 

 year. Of the remaining eight the most promising were Andro- 

 mcde, Giganteus, and Themi?. 



It is with great regret that one is obUged to contemplate tho 

 disheartening fact that we shall have no show of this flower 

 in the metropolis this season except a late one at the Crystal 

 Palace, when the greater number of bloonn in small collections 

 will be past and gone. I have tried n-.y iiliTjost to secure a show, 

 but have miserably failed and must now luive it. — 1'., Deal. 



P.S. — In my short note on the dioi used bulb of Gladiolus 

 on page '269 the whole force of the note was destroyed by the 

 omission of the little word "never." What it ought to have 

 been was that it " never was planted in English soil." 



CULTURE OF VEGETABLE MARROWS. 



Vegetaeli: Marrows are generally produced by raising the 

 plants in heat, potting them off and growing them in a frame 

 for some time, and finally planting them on a gentlo hotbed 

 of manure and leaves which has been surfaced with good soil. 

 That is a successful plan when carefully carried out, and is the 

 best mode to adopt when Marrows are required early iu the 

 season. Frequently, however, the plan is not well carried out, 

 and this may arise from no fault of the cultivator, for in the 

 early spring his glass structures are often so much crowded 

 that it is next to impossible to prevent many plants from be- 

 coming drawn. Those who have but limited glass accommo- 

 dation will do well not to attempt raising plants from seed 

 early in tho season, or it is more than possible that they will 

 deftat their object. Seeds of Vegetable Marrows sown in 

 March, and the plants crowded under glass, will become weak 

 and long instead of stout and strong, and will not give such 



