N^OVEMBER 2, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



843 



CROCUS SPECIES. 



It is scarcely j^ossible to conceive of 

 failure with the various species and varie- 

 ties of crocus^ as they are generally re- 

 garded as among the easiest of all bulbs 

 to grow, but, unlike most other bulbous 

 plants, they resent deep planting, and 

 where this is practised, much of their 

 strength is dissipated, and the flowers aro 

 not equal to those produced by similai* 

 bulbs, placed at a depth of only two inches 

 in the soil. Planting of croci should begin 

 early, commencing with the autumn- 

 flowering species, as these flower toward 

 the end of September and during October. 

 C. speciosus is one of the hardiest and 

 largest, strong bulbs producing six to a 

 dozen llowers of bright pure blue, pencilled 

 with a deeper shade. C. Aitchisoni is a 

 selected form, even more vigorous than 

 the type, with darker flowez's. C. zonatus 

 is much smaller, but exceedingly free, 

 the flowers being of a pretty rcse-lila? 

 shade. C. p.ulchellus produces lavender- 

 blue flowers, intermediate in size between 

 C. z-onatus and C. speciosus; the anthers 



in this specicis a^e much paler in colour 

 than the normal orange of most kinds. C. 

 longiflorus has rose-lilac flow'ers. C. hye- 

 malis Foxi produces white flow^eis, veined 

 purple, and C. sativus gives purple-lilac 

 flowers with dark-coloured veins and bril- 

 liant orange stigma, the latter producing 

 the saffron of commerce. The last-named 

 species gives only indifferent results on 

 some soils, and even with favourable con- 

 ditions it must always be well-established 

 to flower freely. 



Following the autumn kinds are those 

 that flower some time during winter, and 

 mclude C. biflorus, with white flowers, 

 ])encilled violet ; C. chrysanthus, with 

 various shades of yellow ; C. Susianus, gol- 

 den-yellow ; C. Imperati, variable, but 

 mostly shades of violet; C. Sieberi, pale 

 hlue, Avith dark yellow base; and C. vitel- 

 linus, with bright yellow flowers. 



Of the spring-flowering species, C. 

 aureus prodiices golden-yellow flow^ere, the 

 varieties concolor and pallidas giving sul- 

 phur and primrose self-coloured flowers 

 respectively. C. Tommasinianus is a 

 dainty species, with silvery-grey and pale 

 lavender-coloured flowers. C. vermis gives 

 white flowers pencilled purple, and of this 

 there are several distinct forms. C. vei^si- 

 color^ the Scotch crocus, produces w^hite 

 flowers pencilled with reddish-purple. 



All the species and varieties of crocus 

 are admirable for planting in short grass, 

 under trees, at cnlges of walks, in wood- 

 lands, or around law^ns. The winter and 

 spring-flowering kinds, named above, are 

 generally characterised by smaller flowers 

 than the po])ular large-flowering Dutch 

 forms, and for this reason they provide a 

 distinct contravSt and w^elcome change, pro- 

 ducing most pleasing effects, either in 

 garden or woodland, when planted with a 

 liberal hand. 



Coombe Court Gardens. 



Thomas Smith 



Border 



mum 



Tliese are makino^ a charming display, and 

 will continue to do &o for sonr?. little time if 

 the weather remains open. Keep them care- 

 ^^dly tied to their supports, and stir the Lsoil 

 ^vitli the hoe. It is often convenient to lift a 

 number to flower under glass when the early. 

 nowering section is not largely grown in pots. 

 1 rovidtid tbat the roots are well soaked wlien 

 they are lifted they are none the worse f;>r 

 the disturbance. After the outdoor plants 

 "ave finished flowering tbey should be hfted 

 V^id placed in boxet^, so tliat^hey can Ix^ stored 

 |«i cold frames for the winter. See that a 

 y^''Ol earefully attached to each variety, — 



EDUCATION AND TRAINING 

 OF YOUNG GARDENERS. 



(Continued from page 793.) 



The 



Importance 



Things 



of Little 



Young gardenei^s do not, ]ii;^tliink.s. attach 



sufficient importance to this. Everything 



they do should he done well. Once this i'act 

 is impressed upon them in their daily routine 



and practice the better will it he lor tliein, 

 A carelessly-written letter — I have had many 

 such from young gardeners myself, a nd 1 

 have made mental note of it — points toother 

 things besides their writing. A carclecssly- 

 written label, a plant tied in a slovenly man- 

 ner, plants in pots stood dow^n in a carelesfs 

 way and not level, all indicate the kind of 

 workman he is. Carelessness in the arrange- 

 iTient of flowering plants for colour elfect, 

 the inability to see and remove faded foliage 

 and flowers, both reflect upon the Avorkman 

 himself. In many cases it takes quite as 

 much time in the long run to do work in a 

 slipshod manner as it does to do it in a 



Method should, as far as it is 



proper way. 

 practicable, enter into all phases of garden- 

 ing. Two instances occur just now to me 

 to illustrate this — the careful packing of 

 fruits in a rational manner as contrasted 

 with the same done in a careless way — the 

 packing of llowers so that they will with- 

 stand the i^ossi'ble rough treatment of transit 

 Is most important. It pays to pack well. 



The Use of Spare Houn 



This is a valuable asset to every young 

 gardener, if he will but take advantage of 

 it. First, I would advise him to keep a 

 diary of the work he does from day to day. 

 add to tliese notes a^ occasion may occur 

 later on. This will be much better tlian 

 mental notes. Evary young man should know 

 wherein he is w-eak. If it be in writing, or 

 any of the elementary essentials, lie should 

 i,i the long winter evenings do his utmost 

 to improve his education. In the longer 

 davs he should have time to take everv 

 advantage in acquiring the names, the char- 

 a c ter is t i cs , a nd othe r f e at u re s of fruits, 

 flowers, and even vegetables. I have noted 

 that young men are not so well up in the 

 names of trees, shrubs, and hardy border 

 flowers as they should be. No gardener 

 w^ould, I am sure, object to the young men 

 I' oving about the gardens in order to accom- 

 plish this; it can be done without anyone 

 obtruding himself where he should not, at 

 certain times, be found. All that is needed 

 ill this is discretion. 



Visiting otheT gardens is a most, important 

 factor in ^ the education of young gardeners, 

 as it is also to the older men. Voung men. 

 at such times, should cultivate the art of 

 mental observation, and should be able to 

 write up nt)tes aft.-rwards that will ])rove 

 useful later on in life. To ^e.- the saiiU' 



most up-to-date 



Therefore the 



manner. 



young gardener of the present day has ines- 



timable advantages over his somewhat remote 

 predecessors. The rising generation of gar- 

 deners cannot 1m> Jiighly value this great 

 boon, lint is it taken advantage of as it 

 should Iter I must candidly say I think it is 

 i.ot. I have alluded to dlnstrations — this 

 needs amplifying. These illustrations are 

 not merely examples of pnxlucts taken at 

 exhibitions, and the like, luit ;ilso of how to 

 d'> certain work in the ino^l wiukinajilike 

 manner. 



Its Temptations and Snares. 



W iiil-; llio increase I have alluded to has 

 \nvn lor tlie gotxl of tlie gardening frater- 

 nity, there Initi also been an increa.s<' in clu-ap. 

 trashy literature, tsonie of wliich >lnnii<l h.' 

 burned as &oon as it is print<'d. Sfutio of 

 these inferior products ol the ]niiitiii<r ])ress 

 have an undoubted fascinath>n lor young 

 (and otiivT* uien. This i.s not only in the 

 daily issK's willi Nensatioua] headings, but 

 also ill till- clirap. tiasliy r^frials and' novel- 

 ettes tliat aii' >pi\'a:l lMoa<lrast over tlie land. 

 Our young gardeners will do well to avoid 

 all tjuch, and keep their mindN nj;on snb|t't-ls 

 that win assist them to advance in the pur- 

 tiuit^ of their profession, and also in litera- 

 ture that is entertaining, yet instructive. 



The Boon of Technical and 



Continuation Schools. 



The value of these to the rising generation 

 cannot well be over-estimated. In the South 

 of England ^heir importance is now Ijeing 

 recognised, and we are lolJowing in the wake 

 of the Northern and Midhnur districts in 

 this. Young gardeners should, wiierever 

 they can, take advantage of the classes that 

 ar?. arranged for the mutual Ix^netit of young 

 people. It will pay to make a saci itice in 

 time and in money^ too, to arcouiplish tlii.s. 

 Here again one cannot say what subjeev t(t 

 take and what not to take, but it should ho 

 something that will benefit tlie ri.-^ing aspi- 

 rant in his i>rofestsion. I am luily (■i)nvinc?d 

 that the better a young gardi'iier'i^ ^'ijuipped 

 ill all things that pertain to Jiis jirofcission. 

 tile l>etter will it l>e for him in after-life. He 

 .sliould be conversational to such a degree as 

 to be able to hold his own and to be able to 

 give the why and wherefore both of success 

 and of failure. — the latter often occurs. 



The Future of the You 



Gardeners. 



nger 



ily reference to this is that, if I had my 

 time over again, Mr. Editor, I should follow 

 the i^niG profession, but I might take advan- 

 tages of my past exj^eriences, and so endea- 

 \our to l>eneHt by them. Is there a future 

 for young gardeners, some may atskr My 

 reply to this is yes, there is. beyond any 

 qT'e.stion, but the risincr onu-ratioii rn u>t 

 eqiiip themselves witJi cvei v ]Mi.--ililc adjiiiict 

 to their pr<vre>sioii. Th\> is, in uiy oj^niion. 

 the correct way to rai-.f the Mifiaf status of 

 gardeners. It must i>e done individualiy. 

 Mutual help is beneficial beyond any question. 



garden at different periods of the year i. als,. ^ ^ ^j^^^^j^ cheerfully rendered l.v everv 

 most instructive, especudly .so u alterations g^^j.^^ji^^^ j^j^ .^.p^^^^. „-^^j.p..j^.i.^ ^ rj.^^^,^^^ 



and extensions arc being made. 



The Present-day Literature- 

 Its Great Advantag^es. 



In si>eaking of literatui-e I do so in its 

 broadest ^euse. I mean not only the weekly 

 gardening periodicals, and some monthly 

 ones, too, but also the various (and the many) 

 works that have issued from the press during 

 the past few years. When I was a young 

 man there were but few such then in circula- 

 tion ; this remark refers to both the periodi- 

 cals and the individual works on gardening. 

 I say without any hesitation that gardeners 

 of all ages and conditions, their employers 

 and amateurs also, were never &o well in- 

 formed upon matters horticultural as at the 

 present day. It is no excuse to a man it 

 lie now fails to obtain information in a 

 general M'ay. The illustrations, too, that 

 are so well tendered )iow, add much to the 

 knowledge that is supplied in tlie observa- 

 tions made thereon m the Ietterj>ress- All 

 phases of gardening are dealt with in the 



should also always l>e mutual trust and con- 

 t de n ce l>e t w et^ n e ni j) 1 oy e r and e ni p 1 oy ed . 

 ^Vhen this obtained it is lietter for all parties 

 concerned. Jas. Huoson, V.M.H. 



Calanthes of the C. ve^tita and C. 

 Veitchi groups are now showing tlieir flower- 

 spikes. Kxpose the plants fully to the light, 

 and admit air freely whenever the outside 

 conditioiis permit. Water mu.st not be with- 

 held until the foliage lias decayed, for if the 

 plants are allowed to >utfer the roots perish, 

 the pseudo-bull)« fail to ripen .satisfaetoiily, 

 and next year tlie growths are smaller than 

 they ought to l>e. If a little litpiid manure 

 water has been given them (KH^asioiiall}-, tlie 

 spikes shoixld be strong, and able to ju'oduce 

 richlv-coloured, well-formed tlower.s. From 

 this time onwards water should be earefuilv 

 applied until the tiowers are fully developi^d, 

 gradually decreasing the amount until the 

 foliage falls away; very little is required 

 during the flowering period. — J. T. JJakker. 



