January 29, 1898. 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



E 



Spr 



Flowers 



forming a head, while in the old typical white P. denticulata the flowers 

 were small, very poor, and of a dirty white. It flowers always much 



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One clear indication of the mildness of the season is that hardy plants, in earlier than the purple P. denticulata. Primula acaulis coerulea (Baden- 

 ordinary seasons flowering out of doors at the end of February or March, Baden form) is not only much earlier than our common primrose, but it 



flowers so very freely and is much more robust ; in fact, while we find 

 the common primrose loses its leaves during the winter and often dies 

 out entirely owing to fog and smoke, this one keeps its leaves, and its 

 flowers, though paler, seem otherwise not to be any the worse for it. I 

 cannot enough recommend this charming primula to all lovers of hardy 

 flowers. The Snowflakes or leucojums are very early and pretty. 

 L. carpaticum (L. Wagneri) produces peduncles about afoot long, usually 

 two-flowered ; flowers campanulate white, perianth segments tipped 

 green ; sweet scented. Although in small weak bulbs the difference in 

 size and shape of flower between this and Leucojum vernum is so very 

 slight that none would consider them quite different, yet, when well 



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days of the previous weeks. There is no doubt the dry, warm summer 

 and following wet autumn had also something to do with the precocity of 

 these plants, the dry weather ripening bulbous plants early, and the early 

 autumn rains starting them sooner than usual into growth. 



Among those in flower at Tottenham were Colchicum Bertoloni (C. 

 Stevensi), the Asia Minor form, which is much more robust, hardy, and 

 floriferous than the Algerian form. The bulb is long and rather small, 

 the leaves appearing with the flowers ; the latter are globular, bright 

 pink to pure white and carmine-purple. A very pretty plant, the 

 Algerian form differs in the more narrow segments and longer, poorer 

 flowers, flowering as early as November or December, and being less 

 hardy. Cyclamen coum, to which also belong the many forms of 

 Cyclamen Atkinsi, all so easily grown, even in our unfavourable London 

 climate. The difference between the two is the more or less marbled 

 foliage of C. Atkinsi, while in C. coum the leaves are almost of a uniform 

 dark green. They are very free flowering, with purple, rosy, or white 

 flowers, and, like all hardy cyclamen, do best planted shallow in a loamy 

 soil, peat, or leaf-mould, in a partially shaded position ; the rockwork 

 border, or, as I saw them growing in gardens near Penryn, Cornwall, 

 planted on slopes on the lawn, suits them well. Crocus Imperati, with 

 its large, bright purple flowers, externally buff-coloured anthers and 

 orange stigma, forms one of the most beautiful of crocus. There is also a 

 pure white form. C. suaveolens differs from C. Imperati in the paler 

 colouring, exterior being striped, and short, stiff foliage, 

 this flowers a week earlier than C. Imperati, but this year both flowered 

 at the same time. Crocus Sieberi (C. nivalis), with its bright lilac flowers, 

 is a very strong species, and one that is flowering a month earlier than in 



former years. C. chrysanthus superbus produces small, bright golden or its early growth, be planted in a sheltered position. 



orange-yellow flowers, with orange stigma and anthers. C. alatavicus, 



white, exterior striped silvery grey, is [a very pretty and distinct species 

 that flowers usually at this time of the year. 



Of snowdrops (Galanthus) there are a great many kinds in flower, the 

 most distinct being the following : G. Elwesi robustus, flowers large, 

 white, with distinct, dark, curvate markings on the inner segments, leaves 

 glaucous green, broad, and stiff. G. Elwesi unguiculata has much longer 

 flowers. G. nivalis var. cilicicus is a new early-flowering form, collected 

 on the mountains of Cilicia and sent to this country erroneously as G. 

 Fosteri. It has long, glaucous leaves and white flowers, inner segments 

 marked green. I could not, however, recommend it as a really good 

 plant, especially when comparing it with G. Elwesi, G. Ikariae, or even G. 

 byzantinus, all of which are superior. G. Perryi is undoubtedly a gem, 

 the flowers are rather small, creamy-white, the ovary being sometimes 

 tinted sulphur. It differs from the closely-allied species G. caucasicus in 



In some seasons 



established and grown, L. carpaticum is at once much stronger, taller, 

 flowers much larger, and nearly every peduncle bears two flowers. L. 

 vernum, when well grown, is sometimes two-flowered, but the whole plant 

 is smaller, weaker, and altogether poorer. Besides, Leucojum carpaticum 

 flowers earlier, and this year the difference in the time of flowering is so 

 great that to-day (January 19), while L. vernum is still under the ground, 

 and only here and there a plant pushing through the soil, L. carpaticum 

 makes a good show close by, in the same heavy damp soil and under the 

 same sunless sky. Leucojum vernum is a very common species in damp 

 and shady places of Germany, Switzerland, and the Austrian Alps. 

 Leucojum carpaticum, or L. Wagneri as some are wanting to call it, is a 

 local Carpathian plant, though sometimes the lower Austrian form is 

 erroneously sold for it. It is the best of the genus Leucojum. Orchis 

 Robertiana — closely allied to that rare British orchid, Orchis fusca — is 

 now producing large greenish purple to dull purple flowers ; these are 

 large and sweetly scented. When well developed the plant attains a 

 height of two feet. It is a native of Algeria, and should, on account of 



G. Reuthe. 



Chrysanthemum Niveus. 



This favourite show variety has been largely grown here during the 

 past season for producing quantities of fl jwers in sprays suitable for 

 arranging in vases, and for working into devices and other decorations 

 at Christmas and the new year ; and although most of the sorts that 

 have from time to time in the past been recommended as useful for this 

 purpose have been grown here, I have not found one among them that 

 produced such a wealth of pure white flowers, or that opened its blooms 

 in a cool house so easily as this. For flowering late the cuttings should 

 not be inserted until the end of February, and as soon as rooted they 

 must be kept as cool as possible to promote a sturdy growth. Late in 

 May the tops should be taken out of the plants to cause them to throw 



the broad, pale-green leaves, the leaves of the latter being glaucous green, t h e necessary number of shoots, which should not be less than six or 

 and very short and stiff peduncle, also exceedingly free habit. G. Perryi " ' 



Ware 



eight on each plant, according to the size of pot it is intended to grow 

 them in. If likely to be required for vases, pots seven inches in dia- 



ago. It is of easy culture, but the bulbs should never be allowed to me ter may be used, and in this size some very useful plants may be 

 remain out of the ground over a week. G. Ikaria: has large, very broad, grown; but to save such close attention to watering, those an inch or two 



bright green leaves, occasionally being pale green, flowers large, white, 

 with green markings on the interior segments. G. Fosteri is somewhat 

 allied to this species, but the leaves are more narrow, flowers smaller and 

 less pure ; it is easily grown and flowered, which is not always the case 

 with G. Fosteri. A distinct feature in G. byzantinus is the stiff, plicate 

 foliage ; flowers of medium size, white, with green markings on the 

 interior segments ; very free and easily grown. G. plicatus has flowers 

 of medium size, but G. latifolius, which is usually as early as the pre- 

 ceding, does not even show flowers yet. 



Fntillaria oranensis grows about six to nine inches in height : the 



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larger are preferable. 



When finally potted a neat stake placed to each shoot will keep ttiem 

 secure from breakage, and the pots may be plunged to the rim in coal 

 ashes or other suitable material, which will effect a great saving of 

 labour by way of watering in hot weather. Grown in this way no more 

 stopping of the shoots is required, and the plants will not greatly exceed 

 thirty inches in height, if care is taken that they are not placed under 

 other plants when they are removed to the houses in October. If re- 

 quired in the form of long sprays of bloom, no disbudding will be re- 

 quired, as each shoot, even when grown in a small pot, will bring to 



few inches along the stem, rather than in clusters, and generally open 

 pretty much at one time, this variety has much to recommend it. To 

 obtain large blooms more pot room must be given, and the buds thinned 

 to one on each shoot, and in this way twelve or more good-sized blooms 

 may be grown upon each plant, which will open freely, and of a pure 

 white, even in the dullest weather. 



These remarks apply to experience of the variety in the north, 

 where many of the frequently recommended late-flowering sorts do not 

 succeed well, and their flowers when produced are often so weakly in 

 substance as to give but a poor return for the time and labour bestowed 

 upon them. One of the least satisfactory of these is L. Canning, which 

 has been tried both as a yearling and on the second-year system, but in 



leaves are lanceolate-Iineata, sessile, flowers one or more, campanulate perfection several flowers, and as these are produced at intervals of a 

 greenish-yellow striped purple exterior, and tesselated interior. It is a 

 most interesting species, fairly hardy, and the first of fritillarias in bloom. 

 1. Korolkovi is, however, almost as early. Iris stylosa lilacina has 

 ill a penanth ' ra ther large, with yellow marking on the lamina of 

 'alls and sweetly scented. Iris stylosa alba flowers usually earlier than 



t\ Whlle the two darker blue forms > I. stylosa speciosa and L 



stylosa Ehsabethae, flower here much later, which may perhaps be owing 



to the coldness of the Tottenham soil; as the form L Elisabeths has 

 already been shown in flower. All forms of Iris stylosa are most desirable 

 on account of their free habit, and they can be grown in any soil 

 provided it is not too damp, which would only encourage growth without 

 producing flowers. To protect the flowers, however, during the winter 

 should sharp frost set in, it is best to have the plants against a wall facing 

 south, or put a frame over them during the winter. They are first-class 

 town plants, as smoke seems to have no influence on leaves or flowers. 



a hl 1 st " 0ldes » closely resembling Iris reticulata, is giving large bright 

 or dark blue flowers, falls veined white and lilac ; these are violet scented. 



EL » U a P ur P urea (t Krelagei) has flowers reddish-purple, falls 

 nncd yellow ; inodorous. The Lenten Roses (Helleborus), in many 



flmvl en a - ° f P ur P le > greenish-white, white, deep and rosy-purple ; 

 PnH f u i5 lng a mild winter as the Present, from Christmas till the 

 rolrt u ' are ada P ted for the mar # in of the shrubbery, furnishing of 



rock green J) ouses and conservatories, the herbaceous border, and the 

 a/vJ [ X , ny of the common ) niore robust growing kinds, are also 



s hal? Wn i P a u m ?' To do them J ustice the y should be P ,an <ed in partially 

 ^ Inn. sheltered positions, and if once doing well should be left 



neither case has it proved worth growing here. 



House 



James Day. 



no J ^LS^iS y s P n n&- fl owering Primula denticulata alba, there are 

 thi s P a ln bloom ; this is ' of course ' rei *arkably early even for 



manv vSI5 * i a - Severe frost would destro > r man y of them. Through 

 has dJ^wJf lectlon > the once inferior plant has been improved, and 

 aevel °ped a most superior one. The flowers are large, pure white, 



Drainage of Vine Border. — Failing a natural drain of the right character 

 it is folly to expect good results from vines unless the borders are drained artificially. 

 Considering that the drained border ii several degrees warmer than the undrained 

 one, a great point is gained for the welfare of the vine roots. Of course, if the 

 borders are borders inside, so much the better. A raised border with fair drainage 

 and accompanying warmth will be a great inducement for vines to maintain a 

 healthy vigorous condition for a long period. Most growers know how their borders 

 are made, and also, should be aware of the formation of the subsoil or drainage 

 underneath. A clean sand on the top of gravel is good, and gravel oyer sand is 

 not to be complained of, only such takes more water and also more feeding. Clay 

 under either of these two subsoils will do no harm, at least I have found it answer 

 for at least a dozen years, though possibly in course of time the vines might require 

 root-lifting, i.e., out of the clay. A clay soil for vines will never do, as water 

 does not pass through such quickly. A good test in doubtful borders is to gently 

 dig up the surface and see how much water will pass through in a given time, then 

 dig down for actual proof of the passing of the moisture through the subso'l. 



