October 4, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
sticks and chains, used for carrying the tubs, against their sides. We had 
a gentleman staying here a little time ago who was a great angler, and 
when in want of worms for bait he would take a pointed rod of iron and 
insert it in the ground to a considerable depth, and then rapidly twirl it 
about in the subsoil, when the worms would immediately come to the 
surface all around. The fisherman on the Thames also tells me that in 
dry weather when he cannot get worms he has many sent from the 
neighbourhood of Nottingham, which are procured in the same way.— 
S. Mortimer, Parley Park, Reading. 
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES IN BEDS. 
As the time is now drawing near for planting Carnations and 
Picotees in beds, I propose to give a description of the process, also 
naming the best varieties for that purpose. In the north generally they 
plant in beds, with the result that the flowers are very fine. If new 
ground is used a crop of Potatoes is taken off it, which brings out the 
wireworm in the Potatoes—one of the greatest pests the Carnation 
grower has to contend with, and which must be thoroughly eradicated 
before planting. The best time to plant is October and November if 
the plants are well rooted, whilst those which have not good roots can 
be placed in small pots 3 inches in diameter, a pair in a pot, wintering 
them in cold frames and planting out in the beds from the middle to the 
end of February, following with those of weaker constitution in 
7 to 9-inch pots, a pair in a pot, using plenty of drainage to them. 
They want placing either on a bed of ashes or a wooden stage, so as to 
keep earthworms out of them. It is a good plan to dig the ground 
deeply, mixing in some good manure with the soil—that which has been 
used for a hotbed the same season. I plant my beds with pairs of 
plants in rows a foot apart and the stools a foot from each other. The 
beds consist of two rows, with a path between the outside rows of each 
bed, which are 2 feet apart. This leaves plenty of room to get amongst 
the plants for weeding and layering. 
I do not layer many of the plants the first autumn after planting, 
as generally the finest blooms are obtained from the plants the second 
year. Of course, where the plants are very thick it is wise to layer a 
portion of them, which can be taken off for other beds. The second 
year after planting it is a good plan to layer all the plants, and lift them 
when ready, making new beds. 
The following list includes a few varieties in each class most suitable 
for planting in beds :— 
CARNATIONS. 
Scarlet Bizarres. 
Admiral Curzon .(Easom). 
Fred.(Dodwell). 
Edward Adams.(Dodwell). 
Lord Napier .(Taylor). 
Mars.(Hextall). 
Mercury .(Hextall). 
William Spoor .(Adams). 
Crimson Bizarres. 
Rifleman.(Wood). 
Harrison Weir.(Dodwell). 
John Harland .(Adams). 
William Murray .(Adams). 
J. D. Hextall.(Simonite). 
John Simonite .(Simonite). 
Pink and Purple Bizarres. 
Falconbridge.(May). 
Eccentric Jack .(Wood). 
James Taylor.(Gibbons). 
Unexpected.(Turner). 
Sarah Payne.(Ward). 
Stanley Hudson.(Dodwell). 
Purple Flakes. 
Dr. Foster .(Foster). 
Earl of Wilton .(Holland). 
Juno.(Baildon). 
James Douglas.(Simonite). 
Mayor of Nottingham . .(Taylor). 
Squire Meynell.(Brabbin). 
Sporting Lass .(a sport from 
Sarah Paj'ne.) 
Scarlet Flakes. 
Annihilator . 
Clipper. 
John Bull . 
Dan Godfrey . 
William Haidand .... 
Sportsman . 
Rose Flakes. 
Apollo . 
John Keet . 
Cleopatra. 
James Merryweatlier 
.. (Wood). 
Sibyl..... 
PICOTEES. 
H, Heavy; L, Light. 
Red. 
Brunette (H).(Kirtland). 
John Smith (II).(Bower). 
Master Norman (n) ... .(Norman). 
J. B. Bryant (H) .(Ingram). 
Thomas William (L)....(Flowdy). 
Thomas Jivens (L) ... .(Flowdy). 
William Summers.(Simonite). 
Violet Douglas (L)....(Simonite). 
.Alliance (H) .(Fellows). 
Alice (M).(Lord). 
Mrs. A. Chancellor (H) (Turner). 
Zerlina (n) .(Lord). 
Rev. J. B. M, Camm (H) (Fellows). 
G. Rudd. 
Rose. 
Edith D’Ombrain (H) . .(Turner). 
Fanny Helen (II) .(Niven). 
Lady Holmesdale (H) . .(Schofield). 
Miss Horner (II) .(Lord). 
Mrs. Rudd (II) .(Rudd). 
Ethel (L).(Fellows). 
Mrs. Adams (L).(Adams). 
Mrs. Allcroft (L) .(Turner). 
Nellie (L).(Rudd). 
Purple. 
Clara Penson (L).(Willmer). 
Ann Lord (L).(Lord). 
Minnie (L) .(Lord). 
Her Majesty (L).(Ad lis). 
Master Nicliol (L).(Schofield). 
WHITE ELEPHANT POTATO. 
As I had read so much about the Potato White Elephant being an 
enormous cropper and a disease-resister, we procured one peck from 
Messrs. Harrison k Sons of Leicester last February, and on the 31st of 
March planted them in heavy clayey soil, for which we understood they 
were suitable. They were cut into as many sets as possible, which were 
planted 2 feet apart and 3 feet between the rows. A slight trench was 
made, and a layer of light manure, strawy material, placed over them to 
a depth of 2 inches, each row following another as we dug and planted 
as we went on. No more was done to them until they were earthed up 
early in June. The weeds were kept down, and on the 31st of August 
a monstrous crop was lifted. In all 37 stones of useful Potatoes, for 
there were no small ones, and not one diseased among them all. Many 
were of a great size, weighing above 2 lbs. each. We determined to try 
them as to their quality, and we found them to possess everything that is 
requisite for a good Potato, being light and floury, with a good flavour. 
No more was used, and we have reserved them all for seed next year 
should they keep during the winter. I looked at them yesterday and 
found them sound and good. I have no doubt that as soon as the 
variety is well known it will be much grown, as I think almost every¬ 
thing is in its favour. — H. Harrison, York. 
FRITILLARIAS. 
The Fritillarias belong to the section Tulipete, including some of the 
showiest and most popular of our early spring-flowering bulbs, and from 
their botanical interest it is cause for regret that so few make a speciality 
of them. The Fritillary is one of the few bulb us plants that readily suits 
itself to nearly any position, and requires no attention whatever other 
than staking when planted in exposed situations. They will not bear, 
however, being disturbed when once established, and to this very prac¬ 
tice may be traced many failures that have from time to time been 
recorded. They are distributed over the greater part of the northern 
hemisphere, and number between fifty and sixty species with endless 
varieties, and although not more than one-half are in cultivation, a few 
only of these can be recommended for general ornamental purposes. 
Fritillaria armena , Boiss.—This is comparatively new to cultiva¬ 
tion, having been found only within the last few years, and is not 
admitted as a species in Mr. Baker’s monograph of the genus._ In 
general appearance it closely resembles and falls between F. tulipifolia 
and F. greeca, and is full of interest, from the fact of its forming a 
connecting link between the sections with entire and trifid styles. It 
is rather dwarf, seldom attaining more than a foot in height, and the 
flowers, which are of a lurid purple without any tessellation or chequering, 
make a beautiful contrast with the bright green lanceolate leaves. 
Grown in pots for the greenhouse it is very desirable, giving a colour 
much appreciated at this early season. It was first found about 
Erzeroum, at an elevation of 7 to 8000 feet; and a yellow variety was 
also found in the neighbourhood of Smyrna by Mr. Maw, which de¬ 
serves a distinct name. It is being distributed by Mr. T. S. Ware 
under the name of the species, and is represented in the woodcut, 
fig. 55. Flowers early in April and May. 
F. recurra , Benth.—The most beautiful of all the Fritillarias. It 
crrows from 1 to 2 feet high, with spear-shaped leaves clasping the stem, 
and the bright red of the numerous drooping, recurved, bell-shaped 
flowers, interspersed all over the inside with cream-yellow blotches, far 
surpassing that of a Lily. It is a native of California, and belong 
