April 17, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
305 
the variety of tints, and breaking as much as possible the uniformity 
of scarlet and crimson shades that are so abundant. The flower is 
perhaps not quite so perfectly formed as in many other Chelsea 
varieties, and one objection raised against it was its angular outline ; 
but this would scarcely hold good, as a certificate was given for one 
equally as angular and by no means so distinct. The body colour 
is a peculiar but pleasing dark shade of rosy crimson, slightly broken 
into irregular broad stripes, the margins and tips being white, con¬ 
stituting a bold contrast. It will certainly make its way in popular 
favour, and will probably become the parent of a handsome race of 
novel varieties. Two of the most experienced florists on the Committee 
expressed a very decided opinion in its favour, but they were out¬ 
numbered. 
- As a trio of EABLY Rhododendrons the following are 
undoubtedly worthy of notice, even if their names are seldom recorded 
in current garden literature :—Nereus, dark maroon or claret colour 
with white stamens ; Russellianum superbum, light crimson ; and Prince 
Camille de Rohan, blush with prominent chocolate spots. In Mr. 
McIntosh’s unique collection of hardy Rhododendrons at Duneevan 
those named are the only varieties in full beauty, and the trusses are as 
fine, fresh, and effective as if flowering in June. They are thus hardy 
as well as attractive, and their condition also shows that the weather, 
although not genial of late, has not been excessively inclement. 
- The display of Hyacinths in beds in the same garden has 
been extremely fine, even perhaps richer than ever, by the freer inter¬ 
mixture of the deeper colours, notably reds. Some 5000 bulbs are 
planted about 8 inches apart in the proportion of one-third of double 
and two-thirds of single varieties, the effect of this assortment being 
more massive than if singles alone are employed. Each truss neatly 
secured to its galvanised wire stake, and all the beds margined with 
the arching foliage of Crocuses, produce an appearance at once rich 
chaste, and unquestionably beautiful. All who have the honour of th e 
acquaintance of the owner of Duneevan will rejoice to learn that his 
illness is less pronounced than it has been for some months past. The 
absence of such an earnest horticulturist creates a blank at South 
Kensington, and everyone will be delighted to see him in his place 
amongst the flowers and on the Council board once more. 
- A colonial paper referring to Australian Tobacco states 
hat in New South Wales Tobacco is profitably grown in the north from 
the Hunter to the Tweed Rivers, ten miles back from the creek ; to 
the west in a line from Tamworth to Dubbo, taking all the country 
to within ten miles of the coast ; and to the south from Albury to 
G-oulburn ; in fact, Tobacco can be well grown in the greater part of the 
colony. The yield is from 1200 lbs. to 2000 lbs. per acre, the market 
value being from 5 d. to Is. per lb. 
- Gardening Appointments.— The following appointments 
have been made through Messrs. John Laing & Co., Forest Hill:— 
Mr. Ch. Catchpole, late gardener to R. W. Relfe, Esq., Meldon 
House, Ravensbourne Park, as gardener to Miss Fanny Hill, Acacias, 
Dulwich ; Mr. Blackburne, lately at Snowden, Ryde, Isle of Wight, 
as head gardener to Jas. Scott, Esq., Elmstead Grange, Chislehurst ; 
Mr. Messenger, as gardener to Henry Waters, Esq., Langley Lodge 
Beckenham ; and Mr. McIntosh as gardener to T. W. Lawrence, Esq. 
Oakleigh, Beckenham. 
- Mr. Joseph Mallender sends the following summary of 
meteorological observations at Hodsock Priory Gardens in 
March: —“Total duration of sunshine in the month 918 hours, or 
25 per cent, of the possible duration ; we had six sunless days. Total, 
fall of rain D50 inch ; maximum fall in twenty-four hours, on the 3rd 
0 42 ; rain fell on nine days. Mean temperature of the month 42*7; 
maximum on the ICth, 68'4 ; minimum on the 1st, 24T ; maximum in 
the 6un on the 16th, 114 2 ; minimum on grass on the 26th, 191 ; mean 
temperature of the air at 9 A.M., 422 ; mean temperature of the soil 
1 foot deep, 42 6 ; number of nights in which the temperature was below 
32® in the shade, nine ; on the grass, twenty. Highest reading of the 
barometer on the 27th, 30258; lowest read.ng vn the 10th, 29-135- 
Wind has blown from all the points. Average velocity 9 - 8 miles per 
hour; it exceeded 400 miles on four days, ana one short of 100 miles on 
five days. The temperature recorded on the 16th is higher than in any 
of the previous eight Marches, and has not been recorded in April since 
1876. The mean temperature is nearly 8° higher than last year; sun¬ 
shine less than in either of the last three years ; vegetation forward, fruit 
blossom abundant.” 
LIQUID MANURES. 
May I ask you to take up the subject of liquid manures in the Jouma 
at your convenience ? Frequently a certain quantity of guano or some 
other product of extremely variable composition is directed to be added 
to a gallon of water with the result of yielding a liquid of unknown 
strength, and though a skilled gardener may make clever guesses and 
achieve success with such materials, others are simply in the dark. For 
two years I have used a mixture containing a quarter of an ounce of nitrate 
of potash (from the chemist), half an ounce of phosphate of soda, and 
a quarter of an ounce sulphate of ammonia (ordinary commercial from 
the manure dealer) to each gallon of Edinburgh town water (containing 
lime to 5° or 6° of hardness). When this mixture is freely used Cinerarias 
become vigorous with deep green leaves, and flower for weeks ; and 
it evidently is not too strong for them and other soft plants. Thirty- 
two gallons is a convenient quantity to mix at one time. I find ordinary 
gardeners quite helpless when asked questions on matters beyond their 
own personal experience, and therefore hope that you will discuss the 
question of feeding plants with ready prepared food without trusting to 
food resulting from decomposition of the potting materials.—A Constant 
Reader. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
After an unusually mild winter it is perhaps remarkable 
that most hardy plants, forward as they are, are not in a more 
advanced stage of growth. True, some have flowered quite out 
of season, hut these are exceptional and do not call for any 
particular comment. 
Of the flowers that have been with us in March, and are at 
its close mostly over, I may mention Snowdrops, Scilla sibirica, 
Helleborus niger, H. maximus, and Crocuses. The last have 
been very beautiful, it being quite unaccountable why they are 
not more genei’ally planted. Planted amongst grass that is not 
mown very early, so that they have time to complete the growth 
before the grass is cut, as is common enough in woodland walks, 
they are indescribably charming, their bright gold and silver 
and purple being matchless when seen in the green sward. I 
suppose we shall in time get clear of the bare-earth system of 
displaying these, with Snowdrops and Daffodils, and have them 
clean and bright as we find them naturally. 
Primroses have been flowering since the new year, but they 
were not really good until March. The double varieties of 
Primula acaulis have been beautiful, and still are so, as they 
bloom for a lengthened period, and are far more enduring than 
the type, and much as I like the single varieties I consider the 
doubles are more effective. The double white, double crimson, 
double yellow, and double lilac are very bright and pure in 
colour, and the flowers are perfect rosettes. Double rose, purple, 
sulphur, and plum are not so clear in colour, being somewhat 
dingy, yet the double plum has large flowers, is very free. It is 
identical with Primula acaulis platypetala plena. One noticeable 
feature about them is that the birds do not pull the flowers to 
pieces, as they do those of the single varieties and Polyanthuses. 
Primula denticulata capitata with its large Auricula-like 
foliage, covered with golden farina on the under side and on 
its stems, has been very fine with its large close globular 
umbels of purplish violet-blue flowers with yellow centres, and 
is now (the close of March) over. P. viscosa nivalis is just 
expanding, its pure white fragrant flowers on stems just rising 
above the foliage being very pretty. In charming contrast to 
all the Primulas is the really lovely P. rosea, which is of free 
though miniature growth, appears to increase rapidly, and in a 
mass must be very effective. As it is, it is a gem; the flowers 
are borne eight or more on a stem a few inches' high, in bud are 
bright crimson, and when expanded a very bright clear rose. 
Arabis albida with its sheets of white flowers has been gay 
all the month. It is very much visited by the bees, and appears 
to be well worth growing, if only for their use, yet it makes a 
sheet of telling white flowers either on rockwork or in the 
border. 
Aubrietia grseca as a rounded tuft or clump tells well in the 
herbaceous border, its profusion of bluish-purple flowers rendering 
it very effective, and is fine for spring bedding. 
Anemones of the stellata and coronaria section are unques¬ 
tionably the most effective of all the flowers in the herbaceous 
border during March. Shades of blue, purple, lilac, white, 
scarlet or crimson, and an admixture of colour producing a 
splendid effect, and for cutting the flowers are superb. All 
they want is to be planted and left alone, so as to grow into 
masses, and the more mixed they are the finer the array. 
A. apennina with its bright blue flowers is charming, especially 
