January 3, 1834. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
15 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
chairman. 
Geo. F. Wilson, F.R.S., HeatUerbank, Weybridge Heath. 
Section A, General Plants. Section B, Florists’ Flowers. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
Maxwell T. Masters, M.D., F.R.S., Mount 
Avenue, Ealing, W. 
Thomas Moore, F.L.S., Botanic Gardens, 
Chelsea, S.W. 
John Fraser, Lea Bridge Road Nursery, 
Leyton. 
Shirley Hibberd, Park House, Stoke New¬ 
ington, N. 
James McIntosh, Duneevan, Weybridge. 
W. B. Kellock, F.L.S., Stamford Hill, N. 
SECRETARY. 
A. F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W. 
Rallantine, H., The Dell Gardens, Egharn. 
Hominy, John, 11, Tadema Road, Chelsea, 
S.W. 
Ebbage, H., The Hall, Stamford Hill, W. 
■Green, Charles, The Gardens, Pendell 
Court, Bletchingley, Surrey. 
.Herbst, H., Kew Nursery, Richmond, 
Surrey. * 
Hill, E., The Gardens, Tring Park, Tring. 
Hudson, James, The Gardens, Gunners- 
bury House, Acton. 
Einghorn, F. R., Sheen Nursery, Rich¬ 
mond, Surrey. 
Laing, John, Stanstead Park, Forest Hill, 
S.E. 
O’Brien, James, West Street, Harrow-on- 
the-Hill. 
Williams, Henry, Yictoria Nursery, Upper 
Holloway. 
Woodbridge, John, The Gardens, Syon 
House, Brentford, W. 
Bealby, William, The Laurels, Roehamp- 
ton Park, Putney Heath, S.W. 
Bennett, H., Shepperton, Walton-on- 
Thames. 
Cannell, Henry, Swanley. 
Child, Jas., The Gardens, Garbrand Hall, 
Ewell. 
Douglas, J., The Gardens, Great Gearies, 
Ilford, E. 
Duffield, G., The Gardens, Bamford Lodge, 
Winchmore Hill, W. 
Eckford, Henry, The Gardens, Boreatton 
Park, Baschurch, Salop. 
James, J., Woodside, Farnham Royal, 
Slough. 
Lathbury, D. C„ Woodend Cottage, Witley, 
Surrey, and 1, Oxford and Cambridge 
Mansions, Marylebone Road, N.W. 
Llewelyn, J. T. D., F.L.S., Penllergare, 
Swansea. 
Turner, Harry, Royal Nursery, Slough. 
TALL LOBELIAS. 
By these I mean the varieties which have originated from L. fulgens, 
L. splendens, and perhaps L. cardinalis, and very frequently designated 
perennials, and indeed they may be, hut that is a moot question. In 
certain soils and places they are scarcely biennial, while in ethers I have 
known stools to exist for several years. In the bog garden they are the 
longest lived, but under all conditions it is advisable to secure duplicate 
■stocks, as they most capricious in their behaviour, and they are so distinct 
and showy that we cannot afford to lose them. To keep certain varieties 
true to name they are propagated by cuttings, the young shoots being 
taken off in spring and struck in gentle warmth, and they quickly form 
good plants. Of course such a method of propagation is indispensable 
where it is desirable to keep certain varieties separate, as in trade esta¬ 
blishments. I have found them to very impatient of splitting up, having 
lost many plants after division, and they do not like to be kept without 
plenty of moisture. But where a particular variety is not so much a 
desideratum as a string showy batch of plants the best way to increase 
Ihe stock by seeds ; and here let me say that if certain kinds are kept 
separate seeds collected from such will generally come true, but I think 
■a slight variation in foliage and colour is very desirable in a bed of these 
plants, and to this end a packet of good mixture should be sown, usually 
under the name of L. splendens hybrida ; from such seeds I have 
secured a fine display with many shades of colour, but all rich, and 
vigorous-growing. 
To secure good flowering plants the same year the seed should be 
sown very early in the year, and the seedlings are very slow-growing 
until they reach a certain stage, when they make rapid growth. The end 
•of January or early in February is not too early to sow ; this should 
be done with care, as the seeds are exceedingly small, and by no means 
so free in germinating as the dwarf bedding Lobelias. Well drain the 
pots and fill with light sandy soil, water well before sowing, and sprinkle 
the seed thinly upon the surface, after which lightly cover with a little 
sand, and cover the pot with a piece of glass and place in a gentle 
warmth, either in the greenhouse or pit in a shady position. It may be 
necessary to give further waterings, which should be done with a fine 
rose or syringe, so as not to disturb the small seeds. When the seedlings 
show they may be subjected to more light, and when strong enough to 
handle pricked off in stoves, finally potting them singly, placing them 
in the cold frame, when they will grow quickly, and by May be quite 
ready to plant out whenever they aie required. 
As to the position they should occupy we must judge from circum¬ 
stances, but they are decidedly much more effective en masse than as 
isolated specimens. I like to see them planted thickly together, and 
■when a good bed is secured thick with the spikes of crimson flowers it is 
■one of the most distinctive features possible to have in a garden, and it is 
in prime when many other plants are failing.—T. 
LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
This is one of the most valuable of all flowers iu winter ; but although 
It is sometimes had in bloom at Christmas I do not think it can be forced 
with profit or with the utmost satisfaction at that time. I have seen 
fl wers in December with some good market growers, but they had special 
appliances for bringing them forward which few gardeners possess. It 
must be started very early to flower now, and only the very best roots and 
crowns will submit to this. Much heat, too, is required to develope it 
fully, and I would advise those who possess good roots to defer forcing 
•until February or March, when they will have a much better return for 
•their expenditure. Now the flower spikes would appear puny and he 
deficient of fragrance, with little or no foliage to garnish them, but 
two months hence the pure white flowers will come with the most per¬ 
fect fragrance and abundance of the most beautiful green leaves, for 
which we may look in vain at present. I have seen many fine pots of 
home-grown Lily of the Valley in bloom in March, and I have also seen 
imported roots in the same condition, so that both sorts are good, and 
lovers of this charming flower should try to improve the bought pieces by 
careful culture in summer. Roots required to flower two months hence 
should be iu their pots by this time, and they may either be placed in a 
cold frame or under ashes like other bulbs for three or four weeks, and 
then plunged in a bottom heat of 80°, when they will quickly throw up 
their blooms and leaves in great profusion.—W. M. 
CURL TAIL APPLE. 
We have already figured one of the curiosities that were exhibited at 
the National Apple Congress at Cbiswick in the Scotch Apple, Stoup 
Leadington. We now introduce to our readers a Sussex Apple, which 
was exhibited iu the collection of Messrs. Cheat & Son of Crawley. The 
form which is here represented is not accidental, for the specimens 
Fig. S.—Cur Tail Apple. 
shown were possessed of this character. It is only fit for cooking, and 
the flesh resembles that of the Ccdlins. 
Curl Tail. —Fruit medium-sized, 3 inches wide and the same in 
height, inclusive of the prominent swelling at the stalk ; round and 
flattened, somewhat obtusely angular, and with furrows at the crown. 
It has an extraordinary enlargement at the stalk, which curls round like 
a parrot’s beak, which i rassety. Skin straw-coloured, without any 
traces of red or russet. Eye closed, with convergent segmen's, set in a 
rather deep and furrowed basin. Stamens marginal or median ; tube 
deep and wide, conical. Stalk neaily obsolete, being the point of the 
fleshy swelling. Flesh white, very tender, sweet, and agreeably flavoured. 
Cells obovate, abaxile. 
An extraordinary-looking Apple, which possesses little merit, and is 
only fit for cooking. It is in use up till Christmas. 
THE CONSERVATORY AT LONGFORD CASTLE. 
At the present time the conservatory at this establishment presents 
an appearance which may very appropriately he described as interesting 
and beautiful. When it is mentioned that the inside measurement of 
this structure is 42 feet by 32 feet, with two large stages in the middle 
and one round the sides, it will at once be seen that to obviate the least 
semblance either to meagreness or overcrowding, an extensive collection 
of plants is required, which in health and appearance, together with their 
arrangement, reflect the highest credit on the gardener Mr. Ward. Its 
outward appearance is such as cannot fail to command a certain amount 
of attention from both builders and horticulturists. To the latter, however, 
it is that a brief notice in your columns of its occupants will be the most 
acceptable. Entering by the principal doorway the visitor’s attention is 
at once attracted by the grand floral display of climbers. On the left we 
have Lapageria rosea, resplendent with its numerous and beautifully rose- 
coloured bell-shaped flowers, whilst on the right is its worthy congener, 
L. alba, flowering with more than its usual freedom. To give the reader 
