May 25, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OF HOKTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



411 



lierbaoeone plants ; and now as one lonka down from the many 

 railways about London, how few really pleasurable gardens 

 we Bee. I tbiuk one reason is that of the bedding system, 

 and another that the grower of bardy plants has no place to 

 show bis pits for prizes of any consideration ; therefore, also, 

 our tlower thowa necessarily to a cei tain extent only attract 

 those of the class that have either stoves or greenhouses at 

 their disposal, and do not help to create that healthy love of 

 flowers amongst all that every horticulturist wishes to see. I 

 wish it to be distinctly understood that I am not saying any- 

 thing in the disparagement of tender plants, but that I wish 

 those to be encouraged who have but a small garden and 

 humble means at their disposal. 



Take for instance the Auricula. What is more beautiful 

 when well grown y and when I look back to the marvellous 

 epeoimena I have seen in little back gardens round London, 

 grown often in home-made frames, I am apt to think those 

 were indeed gardening days. At the present moment I do not 

 know of one amateur gardener so occupied. Then how were 

 these represented at the last Palace Show :' Why, as far as I 

 could find by a few rather ordinary alpines. Why don't the 

 Auricula fanciers rally in London and lead on this fancy ;' It 

 will help to make many a little home happier. The Tulip again 

 was a London fancy. Where is it now '! It was represented at 

 the Palace by one tray sent by Messrs. Hooper. Pansiea can 

 be grown by all. This firm sent of these a most brilliant lot, 

 Home of the colours being dazzling. 



Now I will turn to more of our London flowers — the 

 herbaceous. Here only one firm exhibited (Mr. Parker), and 

 very interesting I observed the plants were to many, though 

 apparently they did not seem to have the idea that they 

 were perfectly hardy and could be grown well in their little 

 suburban gardens, and this comes from the now long usage 

 of only, or nearly so, of offering prizes for plants that require 

 heat. Taking the Trolliua for instance ; I heard the remark, 

 "How beautiful! but of course difficult to grow," as only 

 one or two plants were shown. What I want to see is prizes 

 offered rather freely at these our great London shows for 

 plants that are within the reach of all both as regards price 

 and cultivation. At present the general remark is, " All flower 

 shows are too much alike," and so they are to the general eye. 

 There are the same crinoline Azaleas, the tamo tied-ont Roses, 

 the same spread-out Pelargoniums, and Zonals and Tricolors 

 and others of the Geranium type. These I own there are 

 many lovers of, and deservedly so, but the multitude cannot 

 grow them ; if they could there would be a multitude more to 

 admire them. If there are classes at these shows that evei-y 

 one who has a garden can compete in, I feel certain it will give 

 an interest in floriculture that it now lacks — that of the multi- 

 tude. Why cannot we rival the Auricula growers of the north, 

 the Gooseberry growers, &a. ? I believe the only reason is and 

 has been the want of encouragement to anything that does not 

 "bed-out well." I hope ere long to hear that the love of 

 florists' flowers — such as the Anemone, the Ranunculus, the 

 Auricula, the Tulip, the Polyanthus, and others that do not 

 now recur to my mind — has gained a new life, and that they 

 will be seen and admired at our shows, and the delight of and 

 the study of the possessors of the little gardens round London. 



Formerly how pleasantly many a one need to talk of his little 

 garden, of the growth of this, the beauty of that ; but now 

 the " bedding-out " fever is raging, and one seldom hears a 

 word. — Harbison Weie. 



COTYLEDONS— NAVEL OR PENNY WORTS. 

 This is a small group of interesting plants seldom met with 

 in cultivation, and are mostly sought after as rarities by the 

 collector of choice plants ; but when they find their way, which 

 they ought to do, into more general cultivation they will be 

 better appreciated. They are found in different countries, but 

 we claim one at least of the family as our own — Cotyledon um- 

 ' bilicue, and on Tofield's authority C. Intea also. The former kind 

 is a most interesting plant when met with in its native home in 

 some of our south-western counties, covering old mouldering 

 walls in moist mountainous shady situations. The wonder to 

 me is that these plants have not found their way into more 

 general cultivation. They are looked upon by some to be difficult 

 to deal with under cultivation, but let us first take a lesson out 

 of Nature's book, and then three parts of the difficulty vanishes. 

 Let the same elements be provided for them, and other circum- 

 Btances being favourable we may then expect to succeed. They 

 require partial shade, good drainage, water when required, and 



as pure air as can be had. A little sandy loam and lime rubble, 

 with stones to keep the plants in their places, will be suitable 

 for the Cotyledons. Where variety is sought after they may be 

 used as edging plants, bat old walls and rookwork are their 

 locale. C. cymosum is a graceful and desirable plant, and 



Fig. 113.— Cotyledon ojmosum. 



should have a first place in all choice ooUeotions of alpiie 



plants. — N. 



EARLY FORCING STRAWBERRIES. 



I WAS much pleased to see Mr. Anderson's ariicle on early 

 Strawberries in your Journal of May 11th, and am sorry that 

 great pressure of engagements prevented me sooner noticing 

 his practical remarks therein. Ulr. Anderson is one of the most 

 skilful forcers of Strawberries with whom I am acquainted, 

 and his probity is such that any opinion from him may be 

 received with the greatest confidence. 



The new seedling Amy Robsart had been tested by several 

 accomplished gardeners and pronounced a most excellent 

 forcer ; but before issuing this variety to the public and giving 

 a positive opinion as to its merits in this respect, I submitted 

 some plants to the care of Mr. Anderson for his impartial 

 opinion. My own opinion from plants forced this season fully 

 corroborates his in every respect. 



Amy Robsart is nearly as early as Black Prince, carries but 

 a moderate quantity of healthy handsome foliage, consequently 

 is not liable to mildew, and bears the largest quantity of even- 

 sized high-flavoured fruit a pot plant can well produce. It be- 

 haves equally well out of doors ; but it is to good forcing Straw- 

 berries that I wi-h to direct attention, and this is par excellence 

 an early forcing Strawberry. Alpha, too, I have every reason 

 to believe will turn out an excellent forcer ; and if so, this variety 

 will come in still earlier, making Amy Robsart Eeoond, and 

 Early Prolific third. An esteemed friend of mine fojced Alpha 

 this season only moderately, and I was surprised at the beauti- 

 ful colour and high quality of the fruit. It is not everyone, 

 however, who will take the trouble and who knows how to 

 force Strawberries like Mr. Anderson, and I hope next season 



