214 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 13. 1884 
Amaryllis General Graham (Veitch).—A grand variety, with very dark 
scarlet flowers 6 inches across, with broad petals. 
Amaryllis Ne Plus Ultra (Yeitch).—A superb variety, the flowers 
71 inches across, bright scarlet, the petals inches in diameter. 
Rhododendron Princess Beatrice (Yeitch).—Yery distinct, the flower pale 
creamy buff with a tinge of rose, 2 inches across and about ten in ahead. 
Cineraria Royal Standard (James).—Flowers 2^ inches across, rich 
crimson, of wonderful substance, the florets recurved and broad. 
Cineraria Pollie Charming (James).—Flowers 2J inches broad, very 
symmetrical, the florets warm rosy crimson with a white ring at the base. 
Cineraria Challenger (James).—Intense violet-blue in colour, very large ; 
the florets thick and of great substanc 0 . 
Rose Grace Darling (Bennett).—A pedigree seedling Rose of good form, 
the petals imbricated, of a bright pink colour and very fragrant. 
Azalea Mrs. Heaver (Todman). — A double white variety, the flowers 
inch in diameter, the petals rather pointed, but neat in form and full. 
Scientific Committee. — Introduction of French Mushroom Spaivn .— 
A communication was read from Rev. M. J. Berkeley on this subject, brought 
before the Committee at the last meeting, in which he observed on the great 
uncertainty in the development of Agarics generally, the mycelium some¬ 
times lying dormant for a year and then springing up vigorously. Agaricus 
arvensis and Marasmius oreades thus failed to grow at Chiswick ; spawn 
from the Swan River likewise failed, the reason being that it is impossible to 
guard against minute differences of atmospheric and cosmical conditions, the 
failure being due to no fault of the cultivator. 
Coryneum Beyerinckii. —Mr. Plowright sent twigs, with illustrations, with 
gummy exudations, proved by Prof. Oudemans to be due to the fungus in 
Holland. 
Canker. —He also sent specimens caused byNectria ditissima on Hawthorn. 
The canker on Apple appears to be of a different cause, which did not appear 
to be capable of discovery. 
Pellia epiphylla. —Mr. G. Murray exhibited a specimen of this plant 
growing with moss and species of Jungermannia, on which it had acquired 
an abnormal habit of growing erect. 
Knot in Red Currant. —Dr. Masters showed a specimen received from Mr. 
Webster of Gordon Castle. It was suggested that it was due to Phytoptus, 
which has been thought to cause the black knot in the Birch. Mr. Mac- 
Lachlan questioned this hypothesis; Miss Ormerod appears to think it due 
to it. 
Cones of Abies Fortunei. —He also exhibited cones and foliage of this 
remarkable Fir, which is intermediate between Abies and Picea. It was 
grown at Patlanza_(Lago Maggiore), but is a native of China. The cork is 
remarkable, as being exceedingly light, and apparently without the thin 
layers (Periderm) so conspicuous in Pinus maritima. 
Servian Spruce. —He also showed specimens of the cones and foliage of 
this tree, figured and described in the Gardener’s Chronicle for March 1st. 
Phalcenopsis Stuartiana. —Mr. O’Brien exhibited a ispecimen in which 
every petal had produced a small ridge down the centre, indicating in a small 
degree the protuberance on the labellum. 
Hyacinths Grown in the Dark. —Mr. A. H. Smee exhibited specimens of 
purple.and red Hyacinths, planted last October and sunk in pits, but covered 
by drain pipes and buried in cocoa-nut matting. The leaves were of a pale 
green, but the colour scarcely paler than usual, showing the independence of 
colour upon light. 
Monstrosities. —He also showed a two-spathed Ant'nurium; a Lselia 
tnceps with anomalous petals, partly misplaced, and with none at all; a 
seedling Cyclamen with contorted and misplaced petals. 
Apples Preserved in Dried Sand. —Sir J. D. Hooker exhibited Apples of 
two kinds, Duke of Devonshire and Court Pendu Plat, received from the 
Earl of Ducie. Professor Church remarked that he had preserved Apples 
for two years in charcoal. 
Prevention of the Potato Disease. —A communication from Mr. Plowright 
on this subject was read, in which were detailed experiments showing the 
advantages of high moulding and in bending the stems to one side, though 
this latter process should not be done in the latter half of July, as it lessened 
the weight of the produce if done when in flower or at a time when the 
foliage was in full, vigour. To prevent “after-sickness”—that is, impregnation 
of the tubers during or after being raised, they should not be dug up till a 
week after the foliage is quite dead. The paper concluded with a description 
of a method of disinfecting seed tubers by heating them at a temperature 
from 100° to 120° F., which killed all mycelium and spores, but left the ger¬ 
minating powers of the Potatoes uninjured. It is proposed to carry out 
experiments on Mr. Jensen’s system at the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens at Chiswick. 
Plants Exhibited. —-Mr. Loder brought the following which were referred 
to him for identification, many of them being unnamed, from the garden of 
the late Rev. Harpur Crewe :—Fritillaria sp., Galanthus virescens, Tulipa 
altaica (?), the earliest species to flower ; a Narcissus sp., Ornithogalum sp., 
forming dense mass of flowers 10 inches across, Narcissus obvallaris, Anemone 
patens, grown from seed from Colarado, Crocus versicolor, a curious nearly 
colourless Iris with semi-scarious petals, Fritillaria tenella, Narcissus citrina, 
and a green-sepalled Ophrys. 
Tulipa Kaufmanni, sent by Mr. Elwes ; a new species from Turkestan, 
with light crimson petals in one specimen, the three inner ones were white, 
but yellowish at the base. Epidendrum rhizophorum was sent by Hon. and 
Rev. J. T. Boscawen with particulars of its growth, a species requiring the very 
brightest sun; also Azara microphylla from the same exhibitor. 
Lecture. —The Rev. George Henslow first called attention to a basket 
of magnificent Yiolets sent by Mr. Wells, Fern Hill, Windsor Forest. He 
remarked upon the general infertility of the Violet until the summer, when 
it bore numerous inconspicuous buds which never opened, but were very 
prolific. They would be readily found under the foliage. Primroses.—He 
next remarked on the fine display by Mr. Waterer and Mr. Dean, the former 
gaining two first-class certificates. The latter gentlemen brought the first 
example of a hose-in-hose Primrose, this peculiarity being hitherto only in 
the Polyanthus. It is due to the calyx being converted into a corolla. 
Cinerarias came in for some remarks, especially upon the enormous size of 
their blossoms, some of Mr. Cannell’s being nearly 3£ inches in diameter. 
Mr. Yeitch sent, three speciea of Pinguicula, which the lecturer took for 
remarks on the insectivorous habits of plants, and observed that although 
such plants are peculiarly constructed for the purpose, yet in every seed 
when it germinates the same process of digestion is carried out to enable the 
embryo to grow at the expense of the food held in reserve. A Hyacinth 
grown in the dark by Mr. Smee had its blossoms of proper purple tint, this 
being due, not to direct light, but to the reserve material stored up in the 
bulb. This, of course, depends upon the foliage, and the green colour of the 
last only upon the light. The lecturer noticed that alpine plants, such as 
Soldanella and Saxifraga oppositifolia exhibited, as also the deep blue Gen¬ 
tians of the Alps, appear to become more intense in colour the higher they 
grow. M. Best proved the same thing to occur the higher the latitude, and 
thence deduced the result that the foliage is enhanced by the longer amount 
of sunshine; and this, then, indirectly enhances the flowers. He lastly called 
attention to a new variety of Narcissus sent by Mr. Barr called pallida prsecox, 
of a pale lemon colour. 
NOTES FROM A SCOTTISH GARDEN. 
Parsley. —The time when we make our annual sowing of 
Parsley has arrived, and I make a note of the means we take 
to insure an all-the-year-round supply of this everyday 
herb. I say “annual sowing,” for I find one sowing made at 
this time is sufficient to meet wants which cannot be called 
small; but when the sowing is made, the whole of our system 
of cultivation has not been stated. The sowing is only for the 
purpose of providing plants which in May are transplanted from 
the seed bed to the selected ground they are to occupy. A 
damp day is invariably chosen to plant out Parsley, setting 
them a foot apart. Highly cultivated ground is necessary. The 
plants are small when dibbled out, and do not receive water at 
any time. A sufficient number to yield a, winter supply is at tbe 
same time put out where they can be protected by frames in 
that season. It is also a very good plan to grow a score of 
plants in pots in very hard weather, shifting them into 8-incb 
pots. The Parsley we grow is from home-saved seed, and does 
not extend over a foot across, the leaves being very finely cut 
and curled. Those who have merely sown Parsley in beds and 
left the plants without further attention would be surprised to 
find how extraordinary is the improvement when treated as 
above noted. 
Lily op the Yalley. —A correspondent several weeks ago 
declaimed against the practice of flowering Lily of the Yalley 
earlier than March. I am unfortunate in having had it con¬ 
tinuously since November, and am therefore not in a position 
to appreciate the good qualities of that most charming flower 
when first seen so late in the forcing season as March. How¬ 
ever, as the flowers have been deliciously fragrant, accompanied 
with ample foliage, I am, perhaps, not so much to be pitied. 
What I want to note here is in the way of helping those who 
would like a supply of flowers either early in the year or at 
Christmas, for now is the time to begin preparations. Bought 
clumps in flower or prepared home-grown clumps in the same 
condition, instead of being turned out of doors when they have 
flowered, should be kept in a temperature of 55° to 60° in order 
to insure the formation of flower spikes and foliage for the 
ensuing season. As the year grows older and the general 
weather warmer less artificial heat is necessary, but the plants 
are not safe out of doors until all danger of frost is past. 
During summer, and indeed until the plants are wanted for 
forcing, they do well out of doors; plunged, however, to save 
watering. An ordinary stove temperature is high enough to 
bring the flowers and foliage out, only they must be kept in the 
dark until the spikes have grown considerably. Our home¬ 
grown plants are much superior to imported roots. 
Auriculas. —Increase is one great aim of most Auricula 
growers, and at present numerous offsets will be severed from 
the parent plants and placed on an independent footing. It 
ought to be generally known that a little heat does these offsets 
no harm, while the little plants are established and become 
strong much quicker through being kept in a temperature of 
about 50°. I have only once tried to accelerate the opening of 
Auricula flowers by a slightly higher temperature. The imme¬ 
diate object was gained, but the after results were such as to 
stop forcing for the future. It may be noted that Auriculas 
require more water during the next six weeks or two months 
than they do at any time during the rest of the year. Over¬ 
dryness is a frequent cause of failure with amateurs. One 
result of this is sometimes an extensive development of woolly 
aphides, a pest I have seen got rid of by planting out the stock. 
Wallflowers. —We have had a few delicious deep crimson 
Wallflowers all through the winter, and now the spring is 
bringing out the flowers in abundance. I do not think it is an 
extravagant statement to say that many young gardeners would 
be puzzled to know when to sow Wallflowers for an early spring 
supply. Practically, it is hardly grown in private gardens, yet 
few flowers give greater pleasure. In our northern climate 1 
find March is a good time to sow the seed, transplanting during 
