JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 31,1881. ] 
249 
feeling in looking at the bed of four hundred standards. If I 
might offer a suggestion it would be not to root them all up, as 
the Briar is probably alive half way down, and likely to throw 
out very strong side shoots for budding. 
To turn to another point. All readers of the Rose Journal must 
have rejoiced to find “Wyld Savage” again discussing about 
his particular pets—Tea Roses. I do not despair of even seeing 
him return still more fully to his old love and again exhibit, 
“ On revient toujours 
A ses premiers amours.” 
Or in more homely English— 
_« Old porridge is sooner heated than new-made.” 
One other'point I have to remark on, and that is what has been 
written respecting Marechal Niel on its own roots. Abundant 
proof has been given that it may be as glorious in this way under 
glass as any other, and the descriptions have been enough to make 
us all long to order for it a palace of crystal. As far, however, as 
my own experience goes I have found that, though it strikes 
readily enough, the plants on own roots are always feeble. 
Possibly, if one could wait long enough (like the man who bought 
a raven, to see if the bird really did live a hundred years), it 
might give satisfaction ; but budding on the Banksia or seedling 
Briar gives far more rapid growth. The late Mr. Webb of Calcot 
near Reading grew it to a large extent from cuttings as well as 
otherwise, but then there are some soils which will do almost 
anything. I find on a light hungry soil that there is hardly a Tea 
Rose of any kind on its own roots which will supply me with an 
exhibition bloom.—A. C. 
TOMATO CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 
As the demand for fresh Tomatoes now extends over the greater 
part of the year, the cultivation has necessarily undergone a great 
change. To grow Tomatoes to the best advantage a house specially 
adapted for them is required, and in these dull times a new house 
cannot always be erected ; but in gardens where the cultivation 
of the Pine Apple has nearly ceased to be one of the main features 
of the establishment, one of the Pine-growing structures might 
advantageously be converted into a Tomato house, as there is at 
disposal a good command of bottom heat, and a broad bed the 
length of the house. 
Sow the seeds in a rich soil in pans or pots, and plunge them in 
gentle bottom heat from January 1st to the end of April, accord¬ 
ing to the time the plants may be required. Prick out the young 
plants in small pots, and when these are filled with roots shift 
the plants into 5-inch pots. The soil should be rich. Perhaps 
some persons fail in growing Tomatoes because they employ too 
poor soil. In preparing a bed employ rich loam, well-decomposed 
cow manure, leaf soil, and a little sand, and place out the plants 
directly they are large enough. Plants raised from cuttings 
inserted in September or October are very suitable for early plant¬ 
ing. They should be from G to 7 feet apart, with a stake to each. 
Maintain a steady night temperature of 55°. to 60°, rising to 70° 
or 75° by day when the sun shines brightly, affording them also a 
little bottom heat and a moderate degree of moisture in the atmo¬ 
sphere, and as the days lengthen increase the temperature. Ihe 
utmost care should be taken in training and tying. Let the main 
stem extend to the top of the house before stopping it, and pinch 
the side shoots the first joint from the flower. The growth which 
ultimately comes from that should be permitted to extend until 
flowers appear ; then stop it again, continuing the process until the 
house is filled with growths. Do not allow the foliage to become 
too crowded, and attend to watering, especially during dry weather, 
weak liquid manure being beneficial when the plants are heavily 
cropped with fruit. Supplies of fruit will thus be obtained untii 
November. 
To have Tomatoes all the year round pot culture must be re¬ 
sorted to, plants being raised from cuttings taken in July and 
grown on with careful attention. Their final shift should be into 
10-inch pots in a rich soil, and fruit them in a house where the 
temperature is between 60° and 70°. In November do not cut 
down the plants that have been bearing all summer ; on the con¬ 
trary, lower the temperature of the house and diminish the 
supply of water, this being the period of rest. Clean the house 
thoroughly, washing all the glass and woodwork, and limewash 
the walls. The plants during summer have a tendency to become 
crowded ; therefore cut out all superfluous wood in winter, leaving 
enough for another season. A good top-dressing of rich loam and 
well-decomposed cow manure should be given to the bed to in¬ 
vigorate the plants. Assuming all this has been carried out by 
the middle of December, the plants should be started the second 
week in January with a night temperature of from 55° to 60°, 
rising to 70° or 75° on bright days with a little bottom heat and a 
moderate degree of moisture, increasing all as the season advances. 
If the crop was large last season assuredly it will be better this, 
the plants bearing abundantly with a decided superiority in 
quality of fruit. This mode of Tomato culture is not generally 
practised ; it is nevertheless good, hence this record of it in the 
Journal.— Wm. Muir. 
CHIONODOXA LUCILIiE. 
One of the most beautiful hardy spring-flowering plants is that 
represented in the accompanying engraving ; and though it has 
only been in cultivation during the past two or three years it has 
already attracted much attention, and is likely to become very 
popular, rivalling the Scillas in its lovely blue flowers. A recom¬ 
mendation of inestimable value is its extreme hardiness, which 
has been well proved during the past severe winter in several 
gardens, but particularly in Mr. Ware’s Hale Farm nurseries, 
Tottenham, where clumps of plants are in excellent health and 
Fig. 57.—Chionodoxa Luciliie. 
flowering most profusely. From a single plant selected from one 
of these clumps the engraving has been prepared, and well repre¬ 
sents the general character of the plant both in habit and the 
form of the flowers. In colour the latter are light blue, nearly white 
in the centre, the blue tint becoming darker towards the points of 
the petals, thus imparting a very delicate and distinct appearance 
to the flower. A rich soil and well-drained border are needed to 
grow it to the best advantage, similar soil being also required when 
the plant is grown in a pot, for which it is very well suited. 
It is a native of Asia Minor, and was first found by Boissier on 
the Western Tmolus in 1842, about 1000 feet above sea level ; 
but the honour of introducing it to cultivation is due to Mr. G. 
Maw of Benthall Grange, who thus describes the locality where 
it was found:—“ The specimens were obtained the first week in 
May, 1877, in ascending the Nymph Dagh, east of Smyrna, at 
elevations of from 3000 to 4300 feet. At the lower level it was 
