June 19, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
485 
.•season by growing it in an unbeated structure, such as a frame or con¬ 
servatory. Next comes the charming Poet’s Narcissus (N. poeticus), with 
its pure white perianth and conspicuous red corona. This can be obtained 
in flower as early as February if placed in a warm atmosphere. I under¬ 
stand that Mr. T. S. Ware has several varieties, which he states will 
flower quite five or six weeks before the typical species. Whether 
this advantage would hold good to the same extent when grown under 
-glass I am not in a position to state, but should be inclined to doubt it. 
A favourite with the growers of Scilly is the Orange Phcenix, one of the 
•numerous varieties of Narcissus incomparabilis. It would be rash perhaps 
to call any one form the handsomest of all Narcissi, but the one just named 
■certainly ranks very high among the best. The soft and delicate orange 
of the corona, and the sulphur colour of the very double perianth, are only 
•secured by growing it under glass, with or without heat. When growing 
in the open air, exposed to all weather, and in a heavy soil, the corona 
assumes a very coarse orange tint, while the perianth is of an exceedingly 
•dirty yellowish colour. There being plenty of substance in the flower, and 
as it lasts in beauty for a considerable time, it has been cultivated with 
much pecuniary success at Scilly, where it is grown by the acre, and the 
bulbs ploughed in something after the style of Potatoes. The flowers are 
packed in small baskets, and thus forwarded to various metropolitan and 
•other markets. 
The Lily of the Valley, although a “paying plant,” does not seem to 
be forced to any great extent in Cornwall; and the methods there employed 
in its indoor culture are not likely to insure very much success with it. As 
a general rule, the crowns are set in boxes of sand, placed in a strong 
heat, and watered when the soil gets rather dry, the house having at the 
same time a dry or comparatively dry atmosphere. This method of culti¬ 
vation is altogether an erroneous one. Success can only be obtained by 
placing the boxes containing the crowns over a properly constructed hot- 
water tank, and then closing the opening of the same perfectly close. The soil 
must at all times be compl Rely saturated with water, and the atmosphere 
■of the house kept as moist as possible. A bottom heat of from 95° to 100° 
may be maintained throughout. The boxes can be removed from the beds 
In about four or five weeks from the time when they were first placed 
’therein. I have seen boxes having Lily of the Valley crowns with icicles 
hanging transferred at once into a moist bottom heat of nearly 100°, and with 
every success. The English three-year-old crowns of the German strain 
-are far more likely to produce flowers before Christmas than those im¬ 
ported from Germany direct or the ordinary native sort; the experiences 
•of other people may, however, be different. 
The Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis Belladonna) is also grown extensively 
in various parts of Cornwall, but more especially at Scilly. Its large 
sweet-scented funnel-shaped blooms are extremely handsome, and the only 
drawback to the entire plant is that flowers and leaves are produced at 
entirely different seasons of the year—the former in autumn, and the latter 
in spring. It varies much in its colours, from nearly quite white to red, 
and sometimes two or three shades are produced in one flower. As it 
flowers in the autumn only, forcing is foreign to its nature; the supply, 
therefore, is wholly obtained from plants grown in the open air. In pur¬ 
chasing roots, large and solid ones only should be selected, and these should 
be in the ground before the end of August, or flowers will not be forth¬ 
coming until the following season. In cold districts it will be necessary to 
-cover the roots with plenty of litter, but success will be impossible on a 
damp heavy soil, in whatever district. 
Both Deutzias and Spiraea japonica are somewhat extensively grown for 
market purposes, the plants being usually imported from Germany ; and the 
•Ghent strain ot Azaleas has been gradually proving to be fairly remunerative. 
With the present article I conclude my brief sketch of Cornish horti¬ 
culture in its several phases. I am quite confident that the resources of this 
county are vast and varied, and these, if backed up by the various elementary 
principles which are so essential to success in all branches of every industry, 
•would serve to constitute Cornwall one of the richest and most important 
counties in England.— William Roberts. 
GRAPES SCALDING. 
The time is approaching when the scalding season may be said 
to be at its height, indeed it has begun already ; so a word on the 
■subject may not be unwelcome to any of your numerous readers who 
are in the position of amateurs beginning Grape culture, and who 
may, perhaps, be saved from various mishaps in their practice by 
Taking note of the advice on all questions concerning the Vine that 
is tendered by various writers who have learned by experience how 
many difficulties atteud Vine culture. 
Scalding generally may be looked for when the Grapes begin to 
;stone. Examine a berry or two, and if signs of stoning are seen 
keep the houses cool. If this is not done, especially in the case oij 
Lady Downe’s, serious damage will result if the weather be hot and 
sunny. The moment the first scalded herry is seen, ventilate at the 
top and side, and open the doors too if the temperature cannot be 
'kept down. 
The fuliage should be allowed to cover every inch of the roof, 
so that the direct rays of the sun may be kept from striking on the 
bunches. Rather have an excess of foliage for the fortnight or so 
that the danger lasts than lose a lot of berries by the scalding that 
results from the sun striking the berries. As soon as the first signs 
of colouring are seen the amount of air given may be reduced, and 
gradually the temperature may be increased, till at the end of a week 
from the time the first coloured berry is seen the Vines may be 
having a good temperature, which will push them on and enable the 
grower to obtain well-fiuished Grapes. 
By this means, however, endeavour to attain this increased tem¬ 
perature with a certain amount of air. Some amateurs known to the 
writer have been found stewing their Vines in an atmosphere more 
like a vapour bath than anything else, the result being thin attenuated 
foliage and a general debility that told a very decided tale the 
following season—a tale of unfruitfulness not at all encouraging to the 
cultivator. Grape-scalding is essentially one evil in Vine culture that 
can be almost entirely prevented if the means are used in time.—S. 
MITRARIA COCCINEA. 
Mitraria coccinea has the merit of being the only hardy plant of 
its order yet discovered. We do not, however, use the term “ hardy ” 
in its most extended sense ; in very severe winters some protection 
would doubtless be necessary. 
The habit and general appearance of the Mitraria will be sufficiently 
understood by a reference to our figure. Its stem9 are unusually slender, 
branched, and, in specimens of sufficient age, reach the height of about 
3 feet. The foliage is small, and somewhat brittle and succulent, with 
a number of short hairs scattered over its upper surface. The flowers 
are numerous, and produced singly from the axil of the leaves, on 
footstalks 2 inches long, with a ventricose corolla, from the mouth of 
which protrudes the long slender style. Its season of blooming extends 
from May to the end of June. 
The soil most suitable for its cnltivation is a mixture of good turfy 
peat and loam, in the proportion of three parts of the former to one of 
the latter. Where this is not at hand any soil containing a t Jerably 
large proportion of leaf mould may be used, avoiding those of a poor 
sandy character, as well as pure loams deficient in decayed vegetable 
matter. When grown out of doors it must be planted under a north 
wall, or screened from the sun’s influence by a fence, for it will not 
flourish except in the shade. Until its hardiness in the northern and 
eastern counties has been more fully tested we would not recommend 
its exposure during the winter months without some protection. A small 
handglass or a large inverted flower pot will offer a ready means of 
warding-off the effects of frost; and to these may be joined, as an 
auxiliary, a small heap of coal ashes. Where there is the convenience 
of a cold frame, the roots may be potted in the autumn and preserved 
with less risk. 
If grown as a pot-plant it will be necessary to provide it with a 
cool shady window ; and an arid atmosphere must at all times be 
avoided. Especial attention must be paid to the drainage, for the soil 
in which it appears to succeed best being of a retentive nature, too great 
