326 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDERER . 
[ April 23, 1885. 
maroon, changing almost to black. How seldom we see it! per¬ 
haps it is because it will not thrive happ ly everywhere. My 
plants are looking right well. 
Double Primroses — These are an equally interesting 
series of plants, but unfortunately they will not thrive every¬ 
where, unless with some patience and attention as to the kind 
of soil used. Most of them like a good strong loamy soil en¬ 
riched with manure, they will do in light soils provided they are 
fed well. The old double crimson or Pompadour is, however, an 
exception as far as my experience goes. Manure seems to be 
poison to it unless in an absolutely decayed condition; plenty 
of grit and leaf soil suits it, freedom from hot sunshine, and 
protection from severe frosts. There are numbers of varieties. 
Take the sulphurs and yellows as an example There is the early 
and late sulphur ; the latter is the largest, and rather deeper in 
colour, and 1 do not distinguish between it and what is sold as 
Giant and Giantess. I have dropped these names. Cloth of 
Gold is a rich lemon yellow, very double and rather late, quite 
distinct from the rest. Golden Gem, received from Ireland, is 
earlier, of the same form as the early sulphur, but deeper in 
colour, and the foliage is broader and much more wrinkled. Of 
purples there are three forms. One is known to me as Scotch, 
it is reddish puple yellowish at the base, and slightly tipped 
white, it is frequently called Ruby. The ordinary purple is rich 
lake purple, with a strong inclination to become single. Another 
is rich crimson purple, most likely the same as Amaranthina 
il.-pl ; with these one may class what is usually called double 
lilac, it is pale and very free, one of the best for general cultiva¬ 
tion; also the two Polyanthus-like varieties named platypeta'a 
plena (syn. Ai'thur Demoulin) and Crousei plena. Both pro¬ 
duce strong trusses of conspicuous flowers, are extremely showy 
when in first-rate condition ; they delight in strong loam. 
Crousei plena is yet but little known At Morrison Bros, of 
Aberdeen it thrives amazingly, the flowers are very large rich 
rose-purple, faintly edged with white, just double enough to look 
comfortable. The white-flowered forms vary but little as far as 
I can judge. There are two or three forms of rose; one rich 
salmon rose, vigorous and free, but scarce; another called 
Bronze Pink is a dull rose, bronze-shaded, very scarce, appa¬ 
rently more abundant in Ireland than elsewhere. The double 
blush is exceedingly pretty, very floriferous, and large. I re¬ 
ceived this from Rodger McClelland & Co. of Newry. Can any 
of the Hibernian readers of the Journal enlighten one as to the 
existence of avariety which formerly existed in Ireland under the 
name of Sapphire ? I should much like to hear of it. Then 
there is the old double crimson or Pompadour, a gem rich and 
scarce, flowering well only under careful treatment, and best in 
n damp mild climate. A fair correspondent from the South 
Wales coast just writes—“My double crimson Primrose is 
crowded with flowers outside.” How fortunate to live in such a 
climate, for it means a multitude of other garden joys. 
Planting Hybrid Gladioli. —I have just finished this 
work (April 2nd), being fully convinced they should be beneath 
the surface ere this as a general rule. Of course much depends 
on soil and situation. Remembering their progenitors and the 
place of their nativity, one is forced to the conclusion that it is 
impossible to give advice all round. In some gardens they can 
never be perpetuated. In heavy soils late planting is advisable, 
and the corms should not be more than 2 inches deep, well 
seated, and covered with sand. In light soils with a sunny 
position I strongly advise planting at least 4 inches deep, or 
they are liable to suffer from excessive sun heat during dry 
weather. My soil is light and we 1 drained. I have planted all 
the corms 4 inches deep, dug the ground two spits deep, and 
ananged the manure beneath them, but not in contact with 
them, some soil being placed between; instead of placing sand 
about them, ashes from burnt garden refuse has served the 
same purpose. Every corin was carefully examined for signs of 
t e disease, for you may detect the black spots, also look out 
tor corms which never started last year, but through oversight 
were lifted and put m with the rest. I agree with “ D., Deal,” 
that continental corms are the best. 
Planting Carnations and Picotees. —I have just put the 
last of these in their flowering quarters (April 3rd)—viz , the 
ye low ground varieties. It is advisable to leave these till last, 
as most of them are less vigorous than the other sections, and 
the warmest and _ most efficiently drained position is assigned 
em. My stock is not large, so I have bestowed extra pains 
upon them, but am sorry not to have secured Turner’s Lady 
Rosebery, it appears to be extremely scarce. Florence and 
Mrs Lazenby are both first-class varieties, and 1 have a pure 
yellow self raised from seed which is as good as any. The self 
Larnations are my favourites, with strong constitutions. Rich 
• 
pinks, glowing scarlets, intense crimson, whites, blush, Ac., 
make a garden gay, and are far more effective when cut than 
the bizarres and flakes, however much we may esteem them 
as aristocratic florist’s flowers. All my stock plants were stored 
in a small low frame under a south wall; they were planted in 
the frame when removed from the stools last autumn, and they 
are right healthy, strong, and well rooted. Those near the wall 
have once received water since they were planted. I am so 
satisfied with this plan of wintering that it will be a future 
arrangement with me. They lift with excellent balls of soil, 
and are transferred to beds or borders without feeling any check, 
whereas if they root free y in small pots a certain amount of 
cramping is unavoidable.—T. 
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE FLOWER SHOW. 
The Durham, Northumberland, and Newcrstle-on-Tyne Horticultural 
and Botanical Society held their spring Exhibition in the Town Hall and 
Corn Exchange on Wednesday and Thursday last week, in favourable 
weather, the exhibits being of superior quality. The active Com¬ 
mittee and the Secretary, Mr. Thomas Gillespie, ever on the alert for 
improvement, arranged the exhibits this year somewhat differently from 
former years. The Hyacinths, which generally form the most conspicuous 
attraction of the spring flowers, have lrtherto been arranged upon long 
tables in the centre of the Exchange ; this year they were placed on the 
western side, slightly elevated, and tli9 Cinerarias took their place. The 
advantage of this arrangement was more effectively seen from the top of 
the stairs wh’ch leads from the Co n Exchange. The observer had there 
a full view of the entire exhibits. 
The plants were numerous, and were wonderful examples of the culti¬ 
vators’ skill. Especially might be mentioned those of Mr. F. C. Ford, whose 
fine plant of Rhododendron Veitchianum 5 feet through with its large globular 
creamy white blooms attracted general attention. The exhibits of the 
Darlington gardeners were, on the whole, excellent in Azaleas and Cinerarias, 
showing that the Quaker town has lost none of its prestige. The local 
exhibitors were also good. Dendrobium nobile and Imantophyllums 
superbum and miniatum, the former with fourteen growths, the latter with 
twenty-eight spikes, from Mr. Methven were highly commendable to his 
skill as a cultivator, while the Hyacinths exhibited by Mr. Jos. Watson 
were of great merit. Mr. Dewar, Gray Street, was also well to the front 
this year with Hyacinths. 
In the A division, which is open to all, the Society offer £5, £3, £2, and 
£1. In this class there were four competitors. Mr. F. C. Ford, gardener to 
Mrs. H. Pease, Pierremont Hall, Darlington, was first with a superb 
Rhododendron Veitchianum 5 feet through, a perfect mass of its large 
globular cream and white flowers. Genetyllis tulipifera and an excellent 
Erica Victoria, with a Tremandra ericoides, completed the four to which 
the Judges awarded the premier honours. Mr. A. Methven, gardener 
to E. Lange, Esq., Heathfield House, Low Fell, was second. He had Iman- 
tophyllum superbum and Aitoni, Azalea Due de Nassau, and an excellent 
Dendrobium nobile. Mr. Noble, gardener to Theo. Fry, Esq., Woodside, 
Darlington, was third, and Mr. Neil Black, gardener to the Misses Pease, 
South End, Darlington, fourth. In his stand was a Vanda suavis with 
thirteen spikes averaging nine flowers each. 
With four Azalea indica Mr. Ford followed up his previous success. 
His plants were well bloomed, not too much trained, but natural, the 
varieties being Mr. Wm. Ball, Due de Nassau, Roi d’Holland, and Edward 
de Vos. Mr. Methven also occupied his previous position. He had Louis 
Van Baden, Due de Nassau, and Model; Mr. Short, Hamersknott, Darling¬ 
ton, being third. Deutzias were well shown, Mr. W. R. Armstrong, 
florist, Benwell, being first. Genistas also formed a good feature, Mr. J. 
Wood, gardener to H. N. Middleton, Esq., Fenham Hall, being first. Cine¬ 
rarias were quite up to those of former years, Mr. M. J. Blackwood, 
gardener to A. McDonald. Esq., Saltwell Hall, leading; Mr. Watson being 
first with Lily of the Valley, which was unusually good. For Scillas 
and hardy Primulas Mr. W. L. Thompson, gardener to Captain Bell, Wol- 
sington Park, was first. Table plants were as usual very commendable, 
Mr. J. McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. J. Pease, Darlington, being first with 
Pandanus Veitchii, Dracaena superba, Croton reticulatus, Cocos Weddelliana, 
and Dracaena gracilis. Mr. McIntyre has also exhibited—not for competi¬ 
tion—six pots of Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury Strawberry, which had 
over a dozen good berries each. 
Auriculas were excellent, and showed a great improvement as compared 
with former years. For twelve Auriculas nine varieties, Alpines excluded, 
Mr. W. H. Whit?, Killing worth, was first, his best flowers being Sapphire, 
Frank Simonite, C. J. Perry, and Acme. Mr. Ed-ward Adams, Swalwell, was 
second, his be<t flowers being Frank Simonite, General Havelock, and Lord 
Lome. For six dissimilar varieties, the same as above, Mr. Alfred Holmes, 
Manchester, led with Pizarro, Tam o’Sbanter, and Frank Simonite ; and for 
four dissimilar Mr. W. L. Thompson was first. For the twelve Alpines the 
latter exhibitor was also first. The best flowers were Godfrey, Diadem, 
Colonel Scott, King of the Belgians, Mercury, Sensation, and Mr. Ball. 
For six Polyanthuses, gold-laced, Mr. Stobbs, Winlaton, was first. The 
flowers were George IV., Queen of Tyne, and William IV. Mr. Thomas 
Battensby, Hogg Hill, was first for six other lhan gold-laced. For six 
po s of Polyanthuses the same exhibitors were placed in the same respec¬ 
tive posi'ions. 
Cut Flowers and Table Decoration .—For twelve Camellia blooms Mr. 
F. C. Ford was first, and Mr. W. L. Thompson second. The former had 
Mrs. H. P. ase, Chandehri elegans, Cup of Beauty, Imbricata, and Indica 
rubra. With twelve Rhododendron bunches Mr. F. C. Ford was again first, 
showing fine examples of Countess of Haddington, Princess Royal, and 
Jasm'niflorum. For twelve bunches of Azaleas Mr. Short was first, and 
Mr. Neil B'ack second. The former had splendid blooms of Phoebus, 
SigismundKerchove, Magnificent, Empress of India, Madame Van de Cruyson. 
With twelve Rose blooms Mr. Jas. Wright, Newcastle, was first, having 
large and superior blooms of Marechal Neil; Mr. Wm. Bushby, gardener 
