MAY 7 



1898- 



GARDENERS MAGAZINE. 



293 



Cyclam 



AT KE 



?r?JS sac o f m^p^HS 



ng to our ^reader, an of a splendid collection cultivated 



? Lum gardener to A. Stirling, Esq., at Keir, Dunblane, Per h- 

 b l Mr Lunt has for a long number of years been widely known as a 

 fir r J ^cyclamen grower, and as an exhibitor he has been a most as 

 LrresoeSed by competitors, A reference to the illustration will 

 W i y to move that Mr. Lunt is not easily beaten with these useful winter 

 S V£S ^els, and that the foliage on his plants is strong and 

 Sealth^thus forming a splendid setting for the wonderful quantities of 

 large substantial flowers above. 



MAR 



LOU 



Violets 



The East Lothian Stock. 



Though coming somewhat late in the season for my remarks anent 

 East Lothian stocks to be adopted generally, there may be some which 

 may yet be practically followed up with advantage. It is a remarkable 

 fact, though true, that seldom in the southern counties are these stocks 

 seen in the same perfection as in the cooler temperatures of the northern 

 and western counties. This defect is generally attributed to the exces- 

 sive heat, and accompanying arid conditions so detrimental to vegeta- 

 tion ; and, while agreeing that climatic circumstances exercise some 

 influence over their growth, I am of opinion that we are in a 

 greater measure responsible, and that the lack of practical know- 

 ledge of the requirements of this most useful subject, or the failure 

 to exercise such knowledge, is the rock on which our hopes perish. I 

 am justified in making this assertion, after having given the matter 

 careful consideration, and in repeated trials, now extending over several 

 years, I have been able to produce crops of superb flowers, as rich in 

 colour as those seen in Scotland — the home of the subject under notice ; 



who has not the con- 



The cultivator of these charming violets 

 venience for rooting his stock in frames previous to planting, should 

 split up his plants during the present month. When runners have been 

 suppressed the crowns multiply, so that when divided these are each 

 provided with a fair share of roots. Such divisions are planted straight 

 away into a piece of good ground where they are encouraged as much as 

 possible all through the summer. The aim is to prevent the formation 

 of runners and to develop stout crowns and strong leaves. Partial shade 

 during the greatest heat of summer should be afforded. In September 

 these plants are lifted and placed in brick pits that face south ; by 

 planting at this time, and giving a little extra care for a week or so, the 

 plants become thoroughly established when dull November arrives. 



though I must admit the season was proportionately shorter, 

 was this so in the tropical summer of 1893. 



Especially 



For seed sowing I find from about the middle to the end of January 

 is a good time. The seed is sown in the ordinary way, in pans or boxes, 

 covering them over with about an eighth of an inch of finely-sifted soil. 

 The pans are placed in a vinery at work, which at that season has an 

 average temperature of 60 degrees. As soon as the young stock is fairly 

 through the ground a change into a cooler and dryer house is essential, 

 as at this stage the plants are liable to " damp off "—a gardening expres- 

 sion descriptive of a condition brought about by an over accumulation of 

 moisture. Directly the third leaf is formed the seedlings are subjected 

 to a necessary process, viz., pricked out — i.e., transplanted into quarters 

 in which the tiny"plantsiare afforded space for subsequent development. 



Cyclam 



at Keir, Perthshire. 



Mane Louise violets planted later than September almost always collapse 

 aunng a long spell of dull weather. Water must be carefully given in 

 winter, and it is safest to err on the side of drought. All runners must be 

 Kept pinched off, and also all small leaves and decayed foliage, so that 

 lamp is not harboured and rot prevented. When thoroughly established 

 inese violets should not need water durjng December, January, and 

 F ebruary unless the weather be exceptionally bright. About fifty well- 



cSber7rame re Suffident for a pit the size of an ordinary two-light 



Dinilnf \° n } S, l vi , olets ' if . rooted earl y> do ver y weI1 out of doors in 

 anotWin .1 P laCes ' g - lving a crop of flowers durin S autumn, and 

 ako h?Z? * S S" ng ' P rovided the y P ass the winter safely. They can 

 snnd L ^i d m pots - or boxes ' and in the former they are useful for 

 0 hea? g n ?• \°? m ?> ^Yr" in flower 5 forcing the y ob J' ect to, and if subjected 

 Pit is tL q K ' ly , dwindle awa y and become infested with aphis. The cold 

 roo ed nl, ^ P a ° e ? r the cultiva tion of Marie Louise violets, and if well 

 the tro.K ? i Uear glaSS ' carefull y wired and watered, they will repay 



uwe taken. A Dorsetshire Grower. 



La Grosse wfi , es *~ I was very P Ieased to note that Mr. Wythes find 



a «d especiallv SU % * vaIuable forcin g strawberry. That, too, is my experience, 

 k, — T J ™» »ts very free setting qualities when under difficulties. It 



nappens each vm *u V ~* ■"-"■""£> m"*" xuc: > wuen unaer aimcuiues. 11 



Moom that D r/v7„V ^ e 0r tw ° of our hav e to occupy positions when in 



rises s„rv>r£. V ' . "Whuig like a good set on moist varieties, but La Grosse Sucree 



its 

 no 



" v °ur, and it forr* -11 s one ' on y° un g plants is all in 



°ther size for it tl? Y ■ m five " inch P ots t indeed, it is my practice to use U u 

 who have to forr* tk • " S 11 alt °g ether il « really the best of all varieties tor those 



the occupants a Z It >T V*"*** under the difficulties found in houses where 



Fants are of a mixed nature.— J. C. Tat.lack, 



Strong cutting boxes are here requisitioned, and I find those prepared 

 from three-quarter inch deal, and made into the following sizes are most 

 suitable twenty-four by sixteen by four inches ; the depth should be still 

 made shallower by having a liberal quantity of drainage placed over the 

 bottom, over which is again placed a layer of well-rotted dung. The soil 

 we use is composed of loam two parts, and one each of mushroom-bed 

 compost, sand, leaf soil, and a dash of soot, and the whole when well 

 mixed is fairly well pressed into the boxes. About two and a half inches 

 either 'way is allowed in pricking off, and this gives ample room. A nice 

 srrowing temperature is again of considerable advantage, but water must 

 be very carefully and sparingly applied until growth is active ; a peach 

 house having a comparative shade is an excellent site at this stage, and 

 then the plants are gradually inured to cooler quarters as they gam size 

 and strength, until about the end of March a frame in which frost is 

 excluded onlv may be utilised ; here the lights must be kept close for a 

 few days by 'which time the plants will have taken to their new quarters. 



About the middle of April the final planting takes place, and a word 

 as to the preparation of the soil may not be out of place. During the 

 winter months the ground is trenched deeply and a liberal coating of 

 manure placed at the bottom. I use cow manure on account of the 

 lightness of our subsoil, and consequent drought in the hot summer 

 months. The surface is left quite rough that the frost may the better 

 penetrate the staple. In March the whole is deeply forked over, turning 

 it well up. This stage affords opportunity for applying a dusting of soot 

 and dissolved bones, or any of the much-advertised special manures may 

 advantageously be applied. In planting, the plants are placed eighteen 

 inches either way, made firm, and afforded a good soaking should the 

 ground be dry and no immediate prospects of rain apparent ; it is always 

 advisable to pot up a few dozens of plants to take the place of any show- 



ing single flowers. 

 Roehampton. 



Water 



J 



