THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



April 27, 1912, 



build of Harold Peerman, but considered 

 to be a deeper flower. Frederick AVenham 

 is a fine variety, a warm fawn-pmk in 

 colour, and a very desirable shade. Richard 

 Box should make a fine addition to this 

 section^ „ 



deep, elegant flower. Mrs. H. S. Brandt 

 is a Very large flower, after the type of 

 William Marshall, but the colour is salmon- 

 buff, shaded yellow in the centre. John 

 AVnnlmnTi is; n. finp scarlet-shaded rose, quite 



being a soft pale yellow, and 



a 



were several of the 1911 varieties that will 



maintain their reputation for some time to 

 come. Sweet Briar is a charming pmk, 

 very free-flowering, and a splendid habit. 

 AVhite Ensign is worthy of its name, carry- 

 ing its flowers well above the foliage with- 

 out any sign of drooping. Mrs. Forrester 

 Paton, scarlet-crimson, forms a mass of 

 flowers. Mrs. Landale, a yellow ground, 

 edged rose, is free-flowering, and has a 



capital habit. 



The striking new cactus varieties for 1910 



a distinct form ; while Fulgent should make The striking new cactus va^ue. lu. ...u 

 . .^l.n.li^ nxlrlitinn to this class, beins a were somewhat hmited m number, though 



a splendid addition to this class, being a 

 bright dazzling scarlet, and the flower is 

 deep and of good form. 



Coming now to the garden cactus type, 



it is not right to condemn any variety after 

 one season's trial, and that an unsatisfac- 



^ A 4 • I ^ ■ I 



ORANGE CULTURE. 



For conservatories and as decorative 

 plants in pots, orange trees are very much 

 appreciated in some gardens. They are 

 not, however, grown as extensively as they 

 deserve to be. The trouble and expense is 

 not really great, and specimens last for a 

 considerable time in excellent condition if 

 ordinary care be taken of them. Having 

 had considerable experience in the cultiva- 

 tion of oranges on a fairly large scale for 

 private purposes, I will briefly give a few- 

 hints which may prove serviceable to those 

 cultivators who have not had much 



tory season. The following gave the best experience in the prodTiction of oranges. 



A 



DAHLIA DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH. 



charming variety belonging to the garden cactus section, raised by 



^ ^ - The flowers are of good form, and the colour 



and Sons, Crawley. 



Messrs. J. Cheal 

 silvery-pink. 



it is a pleasure to record the rapid strides 

 that are lieing made to produce a class that 

 will flower freely in our gardens, and at 

 the same time exhibit all their flowers well 

 above the foliage. Of the new varieties, 

 Duchess of Marlborough stands out clearly 

 as an improvement on Mauve Queen; it 

 is similar in colour, but possesses a more 



ideal form, 



■bein 



a 



bushy habit. Sunlight is an 

 the colour— vellow, shaded orange 

 quite distinct, and there is no question 

 to its flowering capabilities. Stabdity, 

 mauve-pink variety, is another pleasmg ad- 

 dition to this clafts. 



It mav be added that, although the past 

 season did not help this particular section 

 in its relation To other cactus kinds, there 



results, and are quite distinct: Claudius, 

 a briglit, bold crimson, every flower good. 

 Dr. Roy Appleton, best described as a glori- 

 fied C. E. Wilkins, l>eing larger and deeper 

 in form than the latter variety. Flossie 

 Ridout, the best yellow of the year, of free 

 habit, and with perfect flowers, (iolden 

 Eao-le bright yellow, suffused fawn and 

 rose 'Kingfisher, a pure lilac flower, most 

 distinct ; rather tall a grower for exposed 

 positions. Mrs. Chas. Wyatt and Mrs. 

 Douglas Flemming are both white, and are 

 both excellent in their way. New York, 

 orange-yellow, was very constant right 

 through the season. Sherlock, bright 

 orange-cinnamon, is the best of its coloiu-. 



^ J. B. Riding. 



Sowing Seeds. 



Fill a few pots with light but rich loa] 

 two-thirds, leaf-soil one-third, and a fair 

 quantity of coarse sand. Sow one seed 

 in each small 60-sizod pot, and then plunge 

 the pots to the rims in a bottom heat of 

 about 75 deg. When the resultant plants 

 are 2in. high they must have more air and 



and be transferred to larger pots 



But 



light, 



when sufficient 



roots have formed . 



it is advisable to partly plunge the pots, 

 after the repotting, for about two weeks, 

 then stand them on the warm bed for a 

 week, and finally place them in cooler 

 quarters, giving abundance of air night 

 and day on all favourable occasions. 



Cuttingfs. 



If 



cuttings are 



rooted in the autum 



the current year's shoots^ with a heel of 

 older wood attached, should be selected. 

 They must be placed in a very sandy com- 

 post in a cool frame, but safe from frost. 

 If cuttings are rooted in spring, younger 

 wood— shoots without a heel of hard wood 

 attached to each one-^must be chosen, and 

 inserted in almost pure sand. Plunge the 

 pots in a strong bottom heat in a close, 

 moist atmosphere, and maintain the sandy 

 compost in a very moist state. Roots will 

 soon form, and then the cultivator must 

 gradually inure the young plants to air m 

 a greenhouse. During the first year plant^s 

 nearly 2ft. high may be grown. Ric 

 fibrous loam, leaf -soil, 

 manure, and sand to ensure drainage, form 



the best compost. 



Grafting:. 



Young seedlings may be cut back, and 

 grafts inserted. Those about four months 

 old will serve for stocks ; and if they can 

 be grafted while in a warm house, with a 



close atmosphere, and the pots 

 plunged in a warm bed, only damp moss 

 will be needed for wrapping round scion 

 and stock, after making both secure witn 



soft matting. 



Both the citron 



well-rotted cow 



moist 



and 



shaddock make 

 good, robust stocks, and they are most ser- 

 viceable in cases where the trees are in- 

 tended to be planted out in beds m an 

 orangery, or grown on large tubs. 



Cleanliness. 



iled 



The leaves of oranges soon become soU^ 

 even in districts where there is not muci 

 smoke from surrounding chimneys, ano 

 svringing and sponging are ^^^^^^^^^i^^ 

 keep the foliage quite clean and healtn^ 

 Fresh air. whenever the weather is tavou 

 abhv ninst be admitted by night, as ^ 

 as in the daytime. 



The St. Michael's, the 



r 



Blood Red are three 

 grow. 



good 



Man<larin. and 

 varieties to 



Geo. Garner 



to the succoseful culture 



PERFECTTON.-A 

 _ .... ........ of the^e popular flJ>^^foe, 



Dahlias and their Cultivation,"* by ■ ,f ' 6d.. 

 price le. n^t, by post \s. 2cl.. l>ound m yidge, 

 by post, Is. 8d.. from W. H, and L. 

 148, Aldersgate Street, Lonflon. 



