October 10, 1878. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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Tulips which are seen in Covent Garden during the dullest 
months of the year are grown in the pots they are exhibited 
for sale in; but this is not so, They are managed thus: The 
bulbs are placed thickly together in pans or boxes, and placed 
under cocoa-nut fibre until they are well rooted, when they 
are placed in heat and close to the glass. A temperature of 
about 55° to 60° is quite hot enough ; if higher they become 
drawn. After the flowers have well shown their colours the 
plants are potted into 48-size pots. Three reds and two whites 
are generally how they are placed, or the plants can be intro- 
duced after removal into baskets or vases. Keep them close 
for a day or s0 and inure them to a cooler atmosphere, when 
they will be fit for use either for the conservatory or dinner- 
table decoration.—A SOUTHERN GROWER. 
DUPLICATE ROSES. 
ABOUT election time last year a discussion was originated 
by “WyLD SAVAGE” and Mr. Hinton, and taken part in by 
many, upon the similarity existing between the following 
“sets” of Roses :—Mons. Boncenne and Baron de Bonstetten, 
Eugenie Verdier and Marie Finger, Ferdinand de Lesseps, 
Maurice Bernardin and Exposition de Brie, Louis Peyronny 
and Lelia, and others. Much was said about the needlessness 
of having more than one of each “set’’ in a small collection, 
but I do not think anyone said which was the best one of the 
“set” to have. One gentleman said which was the brightest 
and which the darkest, another spoke of the difference in the 
wood, and a third referred to the shape. 
With the exception of a small Briar plant of Baron de 
Bonstetten, which has never bloomed, I do not possess either at | 
present, and in common with many other small growers I can 
neither spare the money to buy nor the room to grow a lot of 
all these sorts; but I want to know which is the best “all- 
rounder,’ combining hardihood, freedom of bloom, and shape 
of each family. So if some of the knowing ones will tell us 
we shall be greatly obliged. It seems to me that La France 
and Capitaine Christy come under the category of those Roses 
that small growers need not have both of, for if we except a 
slight difference in shape they are very much alike. Ferdinand 
de Lesseps as exhibited at the Alexandra and Crystal Palaces 
this year appears to be rather a ragged, loose character. Is it 
so? It is quite possible that I am wrong on both these points. 
If so, I hope someone will tell me so, as I am not a “Hercules” 
ora “Savage” but only—A LOVER OF ROSE SHOWS, 
NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
THE WEATHER in the south has during the first week 
in October been of the most brilliant character—quite, as 
many have remarked, a second summer. The sunny days 
have been specially acceptable to gardeners who have had to 
wage for many weeks an incessant war against weeds, and 
even then the weeds too often conquered. Gardens, which it 
has been almost impossible to keep clean during the summer, 
are now assuming a neat appearance, so far at least as falling 
leaves permit, and are yet bright with autumn flowers, frosts 
as yet having done little or no damage to tender plants. The 
‘dry sunny period is also very opportune in ripening the wood 
of fruit trees, which, owing to the absence of fruit and pre- 
valence of wet, have generally made exuberant growth this 
year. 
— WE remind our readers that at the meeting of the 
Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tues- 
day next, the competition for the prizes offered by the Messrs. 
Pearson for their NEW GRAPES, Mrs. Pearson and Golden 
‘Queen, will take place. The latter Grape we have seen very 
fine in certain places this season. We are also informed that 
many of the growers have signified their intention of exhibit- 
ing collections of fruit and also Potatoes, so that a very in- 
teresting meeting may be anticipated. 
— Iv is very seldom, writes ‘‘A SOUTHERN GROWER,” 
that well-grown PELARGONIUMS are seen, especially in small 
pots, and the reason is generally that the plants are kept too 
close and moist at the roots during the winter. If growth is 
encouraged during the dull short days the plants are sure to 
‘be drawn, the wood does not ripen, and the result is very little 
bloom, Abundance of air and light, and only enough water 
to keep the plants from suffering, is the plan to adopt until 
Webruary. At that time they must be well watered and never 
afterwards be allowed to become dry, or they will lose a great 
part of their foliage. Another mistake isto give liquid manure 
| before the plants show buds, which causes them to make rank 
growth, which cannot thoroughly ripen. If they are treated 
as above directed the wood that is made in winter will be stout 
and short-jointed, and the plants will flower profusely. 
ACCORDING to custom, notifications are issued that the 
SURPLUS BEDDING PLANTS in the London parks, Kew Gardens, 
and Hampton Court will shortly be distributed to the in- 
dustrial classes who apply for them through the clergy, school 
managers, and other representative bodies, who can obtain 
information as.to the time of distribution by applying to the 
Superintendents of the parks. Some of the applications for 
plants we are informed are very amusing, amounting to large 
orders of Roses, shrubs, &c., the applicants appearing to be 
ignorant that only such bedding plants as Geraniums are 
distributed. 
THE monthly meeting of ‘the ScorrisH HORTICUL- 
TURAL ASSOCIATION was held on the Ist inst. at 5, St. Andrew’s 
Square, Edinburgh. The Vice-President, Mr. Hugh Fraser, 
occupied the chair. Mr. Charles Taylor read a paper on the 
Theory of Fern Spores, illustrating his remarks by diagrams. 
‘He described the views generally held on this subject, and, 
after tracing the development of spores, concluded by urging 
the members to give more attention to this question than they 
had hitherto done, as it opened up a wide field for fresh and 
important inquiry. Mr. Andrew Kerr continued the subject 
by another paper, in which he gave his experience in the treat- 
ment and culture of Ferns in a very elaborate manner. In 
the discussion which followed it was stated that Adiantum 
eracillimum was a sport from Adiantum cuneatum. This was 
borne out by the personal observation of several of the mem- 
bers present. The following plants and flowers were exhibited 
by Mr. L. Dow :—Aralia spinosa, two varieties of Hibiscus, 
Spirea Foxei, and Myrtus communis, all in a profusion of 
flower growing out of doors; by Messrs. Dickson & Co. a stand 
of Violas and Cyclamen europzeum album ; by Mr. A. McKin- 
non four varieties of the autumn Crocus; by Messrs. Downie 
and Laird a splendid stand of seedling Phloxes of their own 
raising, and Rhododendrons Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess 
Royal; by Mz. R. Morrison a Fern case admirably adapted for 
raising Ferns from spores. 
THE business of the old-established house of Fergus 
Farrell & Sons, seedsmen, Dublin, has been purchased by 
Messrs. WALTER TAIT & Co. of that city, who will carry it on 
in conjunction with their own establishment. 
Mr. HARDING informs us that he has lately seen not 
far from Peterborough a plant of FUCHSIA RICCARTONI 
trained against a stone wall facing the north-east. The plant 
is 10 feet in height, and from its appearance it looked as if it 
had been there during many years. It appeared to have had 
a tying-in or nailing once a year and the summer growths left 
to grow out from the wall, and the sprays of flowers were very 
beautiful. With its free-branching habit and profusion of 
flowers it is very useful when cut flowers are wanted in 
quantity, and it is in full bloom from July to November. 
Plenty of rain seems to benefit this plant. 
—— A NOTICEABLE and attractive feature in the Fulham 
Nurseries just now is a batch of SKIMMIA JAPONICA, The 
plants range from 1 to 2 feet in height, and amongst them 
may be found pyramids 2 feet in diameter at the base : yet the 
plants vary in shape, some of the tallest have a flat face to 
them, others of the dwarfest type are flat. The whole of the 
plants are densely covered with scarlet berries brighter than 
they are often seen. These plants were lifted from the open 
ground last season, placed in a pit until after the flowering 
season, when they were again placed outside : hence the result, 
which is highly creditable to Mr. Fancourt, the manager. 
— Some of the late kinds of Porarors taken up in 
September in the neighbourhood of Peterborough have turned 
out very much diseased ; Scotch Regents, Hundredfold Flukes, 
King of Potatoes, Paterson’s Victoria, nearly one-half ; while 
of Red-skin Flourball and Red Regent not 2 per cent. were 
diseased. Myatt’s Prolific, Ashtop Kidney, and American 
Early Rose amongst early kinds turned out very prolific ; the 
former two kinds being quite free from the murrain, and the 
latter kind about one bushel out of sixty at digging time (first 
week in August) were found bad, but in sorting over a fortnight 
later about 10 per cent. were taken away diseased, 
—— WE have pleasure in confirming the announcement 
