March 5. l8 98- 



GARD ENERS MA GAZINE. 



149 



R 



R/ECOX 



H ardv shrubs flowering during the month of February are so few in 

 number that they should be widely known and taken full advantage of in 

 anv alterations that may be made with a view to enhance the attractions 

 of the garden early in the year. More especially does it appear desirable 

 that the beautiful Rhododendron precox should be more fully utilised in 

 earden decoration than has yet been the case, for in seasons that are at 

 all favourable to outdoor vegetation it commences to bloom early in 

 February, and produces a bright glow of colour extending over several 

 weeks. This precocious rhododendron is of hybrid origin, and was 

 raised some years since at Ormskirk from a cross effected between 

 R. ciliatum, a Himalayan species with rosy white flowers, and R. da- 

 huricum, a Siberian species producing flowers of a rich rose-purple hue. 

 The growth is neat, and the bright rose-lilac flowers are produced with 

 remarkable freedom, and although not possessing the warmth of colour 

 for which some of the later-flowered forms are remarkable, they are 

 decidedly attractive. R. pnecox is plentiful in nurseries to which 

 special attention is given to hardy trees and shrubs, and the other day 

 we saw a fine mass in the Waltham Cross Nurseries. Our illustration 

 represents a superb bank near King William's Temple in the Royal 

 ( iardens, Kew, which presented a highly attractive appearance throughout 

 the past month, and proved to demonstration the value of the precocious 

 rhododendron in the production of winter effects. 



Choice Daffodils. 



In the Sheffield district the usual time for daffodils to flower is about the 

 third week in April. This season, however, the varieties have advanced 



telling in a collection of cut-blooms, arranged in glasses ; this is fond of 

 good rich soil, but dislikes crude manure. Continuing, we have Mrs. 

 H. J. Elwes, Shirley Hibberd, and P. R. Barr, the last two are very 

 distinct. Sir William Harcourt and Obvallaris (Tenby daffodil) must not 

 be omitted, nor the two imperial forms, Emperor and Empress, both 

 raised by the late Mr. Backhouse, of Darlington. Horsfieldi is another 

 fine thing, very closely resembling the latter, but has the advantage of 

 coming into bloom a little earlier. Bicolor grande is not to be despised, 

 for it has a cool constitution, and coming in late, it is useful. J. B. M. 

 Camm forms a very good companion to the last, and it is one of the 

 most distinct varieties, the colour being a pleasing shade of pale chrome 

 yellow in the trumpet, and white perianth. Madame Plemp has a larger 

 flower, and one of finer substance. T. A. Dorrien-Smith is a very good 

 variety, with the perianth a little shorter than the trumpet, the colour is 

 pale sulphur. Colleen Bawn, Matson Vincent, and Mrs. Thompson are 

 early, and followed by Mrs. J. B. M. Camm, a most elegant form, with 

 white periath and sulphur trumpet ; the flowers are pendulous. Mrs. 

 Vincent is of rare beauty and perfect form. All these white and pale sulphur 

 varieties thrive much better in virgin loam than elsewhere, provided 

 plenty of sand is mixed with it. Avoid manure for them, as their consti- 

 tution is weak, and they soon die if not treated as they like. Madame 

 de Graaff is a most lovely form, and one of the best whites in cultiva- 

 tion ; it has a large and well-formed flower, without any trace of coarse- 

 ness. The last of the Ajax varieties to be mentioned is that gigantic 

 form Weardale Perfection. This is one of the largest, combined with 

 splendid habit and flowers of great substance, the segments being very 

 large and of a creamy white shade ; the immense trumpet is primrose- 

 yellow. Weardale is rather late in flowering, and is altogether a very 

 choice daffodil. 



BANK OF RHODODENDRON PRECOX IN THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, 



ovelv Su^Sta ° f the SCas0n ' 1 m ^ state that 



WjC^ daffod.1 Narcissus mm.mus expanded its first 

 slopes of i rock/rv We f ha ? « planted m a pocket, on the southern 

 sunny nook ™ , £l and c ftamly this neat little gem is well worthy a 



lowering kinds tl N° St S ? leCt collec S° n - ° ther earl y and small 

 juncifoliL thP w cyclammeus, N. major, N. nanus, and 



the small* fl« r rush " Ieaf ed species and producing 



know? , a 7 ers of an y- N - triandrus albus, 



tn \ ngClS ' TearS ' 1,as been often us ed 



^ith plenty S of gr inH beaUt J' t lt t0 be planted on » sunny "slope 



Phased a t vv^Ua™ ab ° Ut ltsbulbs - These ^ daffodils can be 

 and sweet 7 C0St ' and when m flower the y are mos t attractive 



in 



N. 



one of 

 perhaps better 

 cross-fertilisation 



In the medium and short cupped section there are some very pleasing 

 daffodils, with colours ranging from yellow to deep orange-scarlet. The 

 flowers are most valuable when cut and arranged with a little of their 

 own foliage in glasses, as they are light and elegant. N. Barri con- 

 spicuus and N. Barri Sensation are two very good varieties, followed by 

 Gloria Mundi, a fine bold deep red flower and a form having a good 

 constitution. Queen Sophia and the giant Welsh daffodil, Sir Watk.n 

 —the largest of the Incomparabilis group-make, w!th the more recent 

 introduction, Lulworth, with its pure white perianth and bright orange- 

 red cup, a famous trio. Siddington was introduced about the same time 

 as the last mentioned, and it is a free-flowering variety, usually producing 

 twin-flowered scapes. Duchess of Westminster, belonging to the Leedsi 



^ . _ 0 is Iike a six-pointed star ; Katherine Spurrell has a broad and 



sent °II 1S . a selec , tio ? ° f the best daffodHs in cultivation at the overlapping perianth, and should have a select place in the > smallest 



Present dav • 3C1 ?-»°n 01 tne oest oanooMs in cultivation at the 



Nelson and Sr g f r,' th the 1™™?* vane . t,es first, such as Captain 

 an d yellow tmm ♦ of n 5 esmond > the latter Wlth soft primrose perianth 



Leyden, with if<-*i-L_ "~ r *- "■"'»'■ 6"'swu5 variety uiory ot 



thi s, however ic gt L expanded trumpet and broad yellow perianth ; 

 Her Majesty • •,i/u m it season variety. Golden Spur, Henry Irving, 

 m °* distinct fn Hu T dlbras are other choice forms > together with that 



Glory of 



perianth 



most 

 and 



which has a rich primrose trumpet 

 Nelson has a larger uniform bloom of a 



form J. „ J 



somewha?? 6 " dwarf< J oh n 



a °d for 'vase? if '"^ hablt J oh nstoni Queen of Spain is most elegant" 



,n * perianth wiV" \ ' as il is of a soft delicate y el 'ow with reflex- 

 spread.n- ,nH ?l at th . e mouth of the trumpet some blooms are 



and others straight. N. maximus 



collection ; Gem is another acquisition to this beautiful group, being white 



and of splendid form. 



The Nelsoai group of daffodils is very interesting. N. major and 

 N aurantius, with Mrs. C. J. Backhouse and William Backhouse, make 

 a fine quartette. The first two are heavily stained with orange-scarlet 

 round the expanded cup. As these all flower so late they seem to be 

 even more attractive than some of their earlier relations. In conclusion, 

 I hope this interesting family will be more cultivated in future, especially 

 among those who have time and inclination to hybridise and cross- 

 fertilise them, so that the forms may still continue to increase, and our 



gardens enriched. 



Totley Hall Gardens. T. W. BlRklNSHAW. 



