CULTURE OF CYCLAMEN PERSICUM, 



YCLAMEN PERSICUM is gayest of the gay 

 among all the plants which brighten the 

 dull winter months with then- flowers, yield- 

 ing a profusion of blossom from November 

 till May, thus having a duration of about 

 five months in fullest beauty. Some sorts 

 have deep pink flowers, others are of a 

 lighter hue, and eo they range upwards to 

 purest white, including many charming 

 blotched and mottled kinds, embracing a 

 pleasing variety of colour, to which is added in many of 

 them the rare and precious intrinsic merit of a refined 

 and delicate perfume. This property is not common to 

 all, nor is it of equal power in any two kinds ; occasionally 

 it is so powerfully developed that a single plant will 

 send its subtle essence into every part of a large room, 

 but even then its richness rarely cloys the most sensitive 

 or delicate palate. To these merits we must not omit to 

 add the important one of free flowering; seedlings of 

 eight or nine months bearing a couple of dozen flowers, 

 the number annually increasing, till in about three sea- 

 sons we have huge corms laden with upwards of a 

 hundred expanded flowers, to the effect of which the 

 elegant foliage, with its curious and interesting marbled 

 markings, contributes very materially. 



My object in this sketch is to convey some idea of 

 this useful class of plants to the uninitiated, and I think 

 it will become more clear if I now proceed once again 

 to describe a simple and efficient mode of culture. Cycla- 

 mens are easily managed, never faUing to reward good 

 culture by an abundant display of flowers. So invariably 

 is this the case that I am quite unable to understand the 

 statement that they have not been good this season. 

 Certainly the plants under my care have been most satis- 

 factory — perfectly robust in health and vigour, and with 

 flowers, if anything, rather better than usual, both as 

 regards quality and quantity. Now, I do not pretend to 

 infer that I have never had failures — that would be in- 

 correct, but I am free to own that the cause of every such 

 failure was clearly traceable to neglect or mismanagement. 

 Thus much for my own experience. If A, B, C, and others 

 who have not been very successful with this plant will 

 follow me a little farther they will, I hope, by comparing 

 their efforts with my statement, be enabled to discover 

 what has been wrong in their practice ; for be it remem- 

 bered we have here a plant of such a robust nature as to 

 enjoy complete immunity from bhght or disease of any 

 kind. 



At this season of the year as the flowers fade the plants 

 are removed to an unheated frame or pit till all danger of 

 frost is past ; they are then turned out of the pots into a 

 bed of hght, rich, gritty soil, fully exposed to the sun, 

 and far enough apart to admit of a vigorous root-action. 

 Abundant and frequent waterings in dry weather and 

 an occasional weeding is then all that is necessary till the 

 end of September or early in October, when the plants 

 are lifted with just a modicum of soil upon the roots, and 



No. 7S9.— Vol. XXS., New Seeies. 



potted firmly in rich, hght, and very gritty soil in pots 

 of a size proportionate to that of the plants ; they are 

 then placed in a close frame for a week or two, and are 

 thoroughly watered once during that time ; afterwards 

 they are taken into a vinery or plant house, wherever 

 space can be had, and then the flower buds which cluster 

 so thickly at the base of the leaves soon spring upward 

 into beauty, a httle liquid manure then being given occa- 

 sionally to assist them. 



There are two or three points worthy of especial atten- 

 tion here. The plants are not hfted in August, as is so 

 often advised, but in October ; they are at no time subjected 

 to a drying process or period of rest. In potting, care is 

 taken to keep the crown of the corm rather high in the 

 centre of the pots, and to let the soil slope downwards to 

 the sides in order to prevent any water accumulating 

 upon the crown ; care also being taken to apply the 

 water close to the sides of the pots : a very little moisture 

 upon the crown in winter soon spoiling the plant, both 

 leaf and flower stalks rotting with surprising rapidity, the 

 mischief being almost invisible to the casual observer till 

 it is irremediable, the leathery foUage clustering so thickly 

 as entirely to conceal the corm. 



Experience proves that with due attention to these few 

 simple matters the culture of this plant is not at aU diffi- 

 cult, and I must repeat that I am at a loss to understand 

 the meaning of the expression, " Cyclamens have not 

 done well this season.'' The assertion is so vague and 

 so calculated to mislead that I should much like to 

 know if a reason is forthcoming to support it. — Edwakd 



LUCKHUEST. 



FRUIT-TREE COPINGS.— No. 3. 



There is a village a few miles out of Oxford where 

 there is scarcely a cottage wall that is not covered with 

 Apricots. The cottages are mostly thatched, with a good 

 deal of overhanging roof. Some of the garden walls are 

 coped with thatch overhanging about a foot. The general 

 impression there is that the projection is a protection to 

 the bloom from frost. Certainly the trees are specially 

 proUfic; and it is quite the staple fruit of the place. I 

 am not aware (I never observed it) that the trees are 

 unhealthy from any cause, except that the Moor Park 

 exhibits the same tendency to die off in sections as else- 

 where. 



I have here (Cheshire, S.) the south wall of a long range 

 of outbuilding covered with Apricot trees. The wall is 

 about 16 feet high, and there is a projection of roof (slate) 

 of about a foot. My trees generally bear well, and are 

 quite healthy, except the Moor Park, which has its con- 

 stitutional infirmity. Since my acquaintance with the 

 Oxfordshire village I have considered the fruitfulness of 

 my trees influenced by the projection of roof. 



I have no experience of glass coping, but can quite 

 beheve what Mr. Taylor says of the effect of permanent 

 glass upon the foliage within its direct influence, and the 

 worse than uselessness of retaining it all the year round. 

 I do not, however, understand how such coping on a wall 

 high enough for fruit trees "must extract moisture both 



No. IIU.— Vol. LV., Old Sehies. 



