March 20, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
227 
and bars are boldly marked, and of a distinct violet-purple colour on a 
pure white ground, the flowers also being very symmetrical. So hand¬ 
some a variety was a suitable addition to the fine collection of varieties 
at The Dell, Egham, and Baron Schroder did well in securing it as a 
companion for his numerous valuable specimens. It may be incidentally 
mentioned that some growers have estimated this plant to be worth £250. 
- Cinerarias are now in excellent condition at Woodside, Farn- 
ham Royal, for Mr. James seems to have surpassed his previous efforts in 
the production of large substantial blooms and deep rich shades of 
colour. Some object to large flowers as coarse, but this cannot apply 
to the Woodside strain, for the utmost refinement is preserved, together 
with a velvety lustre of colour that renders the flowers very handsome. 
- “ B.” sends us a box of Magnolia conspicua flowers as pure 
and wax-like as Lapagerias, and remarks :—“ This is one of the most 
beautiful spring-flowering shrubs I know ; its large white blooms well 
repay for what little attention is required at this time of the year to 
protect them from frost and cold winds. I have a large plant of it here 
with some hundreds of blooms just expanding, like those enclosed. The 
plant is perfectly hardy, having never been protected during any of the 
late severe winters.” 
- The same correspondent observes :—“ I am somewhat surprised 
to see Mr. Luckhurst calling Azara microphylla a climber. I have 
several plants of it, and find it quite a shrub. One plant stands out on 
the lawn here, about 6 feet high, quite a bush, being one of the first 
plants that Messrs. Yeitch sent out. It has for several years flowered, 
and the berries have set freely, but I have never succeeded in getting 
any of the seeds to grow. I have propagated it from cuttings taken off 
the old plants in September, and inserted in a cold frame, have made 
good plants by the following autumn.” 
- The local and general press have much to answer for in regard 
to the mis-rendering of plant names, and instances of such are fre¬ 
quently brought to notice. One now before us in a report of a meeting 
at which a number of plants were employed refers to some well-known 
Palms as “ Latama Borbonica,” “ Kenthia Belmorenia,” and “ Corplyha 
Australis,” very moderate slips, but “ Robusta Arabia Reticulata ” is 
rather mystifying, and would seem to be a combination of Grevillea 
robusta and Aralia reticulata. 
- We are informed that “ Messrs. Webb & Sons, the Queen’s 
seedsmen, Wordsley, Stourbridge, offer valuable prizes for the best 
dish of their new Pea, the Wordsley Wonder, to be competed 
for at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Show, South Kensington, on 
July 22nd next.” 
- At the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society Prim¬ 
roses and Polyanthuses were shown in strong force, and constituted 
the chief feature of the attractions. The Woking plants were exceedingly 
fine, the diversity of colours being surprising, from the richest crimson 
and purple blue to the most delicate mauve, lilac, yellow, and white, 
presenting a range of hues seen in few plants at this time of year. 
The profusion of flowers, too, renders them of great value for culture in 
pots. Mr. Waterer’s plants had been lifted from the open borders as 
soon as the buds were showing, potted, and placed in a cool frame or 
house kept well ventilated, the principal object of this protection being 
to prevent heavy rains injuring the flowers and spoiling their appearance. 
They became established in a day or two, do not suffer in the slightest 
degree, and the flowers expand freely. For a conservatory or greenhouse 
stage such plants are most useful, and continue in flower for a week or 
two. The Polyanthus Prince of Walep, which was certificated, is 
probably the finest that was ever been shown both in size and colour. 
The individual flowers were 2 inches in diameter, the heads containing 
ten or a dozen each, and the colour a beautiful warm shade of crimson- 
One of Mr. Dean’s varieties, named Blue Beard, was equally remarkable 
for the clear deep violet blue colour, much superior to any “ blue ” yet 
produced. 
- We have received a copy of the new issue of “ Carters’ 
Practical Gardener,” which has now reached the eleventh edition, 
bringing up the total sale to 81,000—a convincing result of its great 
popularity. It is a handy book of reference for amateur gardeners, and 
a safe guide on the culture of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, the various 
chapters having been written by some of the most successful gardeners 
of the day. 
Digging.—I notice on page 184 that a correspondent advocates 
commencing digging at the lowest part of the piece of ground to dug. 
This may be the easiest way of getting the ground level, but it tends to 
reduce the depth of surface soil at the upper part. In the Hop gardens 
and fruit plantations here, which are dug annually, and the men are paid 
by piece-work, they always commence at the lower part and throw the 
soil downwards. In consequence, in the upper part of the gardens, the 
subsoil is quite close to the surface, and in the lower part there is a great 
depth of top soil. On my own ground those portions which I have dug 
at all are dug uphill, which keeps the depth of soil more even and 
counteracts the tendency of the soil always to move downhill when hoed, 
or by the action of rain, &c.—W. K., Maidstone, 
PRUNING ROSES. 
' “ Experientia Docet ” and “ D., Deal," will doubtless by their 
timely remarks on this subject relieve the minds of young Rose- 
growers who are watching Rose growth anxiously, if they have not 
already been induced to prune their plants. If they have not used 
the knife they will be encouraged to wait. Each year I watch I be¬ 
come more convinced that the later the pruning the better for the 
blooming season, and in cold districts much exposed to the delight¬ 
ful (?) bracing period of nor’-nor’-easters this is more than ordinarily 
necessary. 
“Experientia Docet” does not, however, mention what I fancy 
most growers imagine injures the plants that are cut back when in 
this advanced state of growth, when, a3 he remarks, the bud can be 
detected at the end of the shoots—viz., the bleeding or weeping, which, 
if growing weather follow the pruning, is pretty certain to be seen. 
This weeping, many imagine, must weaken the plants. I do not think 
it does ; at least, I know that beautiful blooms may be obtained from 
plants that have bled freely. I do not care to venture on any theories 
about sap. All I know is that good blooms have followed on these 
plants that have bled freely so as to damp the soil after being pruned. 
Would these blooms have been ever so much grander had the plants 
not bled at the section ? Who can tell ? Supposing the plants 
pruned earlier no bleeding would take place, but the sap that would 
have flowed in the later pruning, must, I presume, be rising now and 
pushing forward the lower buds into succulent growth, the very 
growth that is certain to suffer from late frosts. It seems to me it is 
a choice of two evils, and as the old saying advises us under such 
circumstances to “ choose the least,” I confess to believing that the 
least is the late pruning. 
Somewhat connected with this subject is the protection given to 
our Roses during the winter. I doubt not where there are plenty of 
hands this may be done by covering only when severe frost comes, 
and uncovering again. There is no question to my mind that during 
the past winter it was wholly unnecessary, in fact I wish I had not 
done it ; but my man Friday cannot dance attendance on Roses only, 
and I must get them into winter quarters in early December, and my 
plan is to cover with bracken and long coarse grass. There is evil as 
well as good in this with such a winter as we have had. I think there 
is a degree of heat in the moistened Fern fronds which stimulates 
growth in the lower buds and disposes some of them to start sooner 
than is desired, and this is approaching the same effect that the early 
pruning has. I think it is wiser to uncover early in March. Even 
then with the last two winters lovely coloured pink shoots will be 
showing from the root, and are likely to suffer from late frosts. Last 
winter in March we had for several nights over 20° of frost, and my 
winter clothing was all in a heap decaying. I confess I looked with 
some anxiety for the result. Not a few of these pink-root shoots 
were cut down, but I never grew better Roses ; and the few times I 
ventured into the exhibition tent a fair share of success awaited me, 
and until sadder experiences attend me it will be my plan of action 
to uncover early in March. If the winter have been unusually severe 
and prolonged it might be the exception.—Y. B. A. Z. 
ORTHOSIPHON STAMINEUS. 
This is a very pretty and interesting member of the Labiat®, and is 
well deserving the attention of growers of stove plants ; for, coming into 
full bloom about the end of July, it becomes extremely valuable in a 
decorative point of view, serving to enliven tbe plant stove just at the time 
when there is somewhat of a dearth. As a genus, Orthosiphon is closely 
allied to Ocymum, Coleus, and Plectranthus, bnt its inflorescence reminds 
one of a Clerodendron. 
Orthosiphon stamineus is herbaceous in habit, and forms neat little 
bushes, which if required may be had in bloom when only about 6 inches 
high. Most cultivators will, however, prefer growing it to a larger size 
before allowing it to flower, and, therefore, when any bloom buds which 
are not required to develope make their appearance, they must be picked 
off. The stems and branches of this elegant little plant are furnished 
with light purple hairs ; leaves sharply oval, toothed on the edges, and 
dark green on the upper side, but glaucous beneath, the veins in addition 
being sparingly clothed with short white hairs. The flowers are pro¬ 
duced in terminal racemes, as the illustration shows. The corolla is 
about an inch in length, bluish-lilac in colour, having the stamens much 
exserted, which adds materially to the beauty of the raceme. 
