380 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 1, 1883. 
quantity outside the frame every cutting died during the winter except 
two, and these both departed later. It is true we had a fearful winter, 
but a large proportion of the plants in the frame close to the exposed 
cuttings did very well, but then ours is a truly bleak country. 
Our friend Mr. W. Taylor used to tell me that he inserted cuttings of 
Roses amongst the Cabbage plants and let them take their chance, and 
that most of them struck well; but then Longleat is down in the valley. 
Not improbably the Cabbages or Broccoli are a great protection to the 
cuttings, and save them. Acting on this, I think I shall try again 
amongst the Broccoli, for the crowding in the frame is a serious dis¬ 
advantage later on when removal is the order of the day ; for the close 
quarters will make the roots intertwine and numbers will be broken off, 
for the union between the cutting and the root is singularly like a joint 
the first year, and a very slight twist brings about a separation. 
When Mr. Taylor some years ago gave us his directions (the most 
certain I know) for striking Rose cuttings in small frames covered with 
sheets of glass, he laid special stress on making the hole for the cutting 
with a largish stick, the end being cut squarely off, so that each cutting 
(cut similarly square) might reach with certainty the soil on which it 
has to rest, and that the soil, well mixed with road grit, should be firmly 
pressed. I have adopted with much success making a small furrow, 
filling the bottom of it with the gritty soil, and then, making a shallow 
hole, place the cuttings side by side and fill up the furrow, pressing all 
firmly down. 
Several years ago I ventured the idea that the smooth-wooded sorts 
struck more easily. This I see “ W. J. M.” also finds, but we may add 
to his list Charles Lefebvre, Alfred Colomb, Jules Finger, Madame 
Sophie Fropot, Madame J. Perri^re, and Crown Prince. All of these I 
have proved as rooting easily, the latter especially. Madame Rothschild. 
Mabel Morrison, and Madame Gabriel Luizet I have also succeeded with, 
Amongst the more thorny Marie Baumann, Baron de Bonstetten, Ferdi¬ 
nand de Lesseps have repaid the experiment, while amongst the Teas 
Marie Van Houtte, and Madame Lambard do very well in the frame ; 
but would they succeed in the open ? I fear not. My cuttings of last 
autumn have given me some beautiful blooms this season—quite repaying 
one for the trouble. One caution more. Prepare the ground, then 
prepare and plant the cutting without delay, the quicker the greater 
success.—Y. B. A. Z. 
A FEW GOOD THINGS AT SWANLEY. 
There are many “good things” in the establishment of Messrs. 
Cannell, as nearly all the world knows, for it is certain there are few 
civilised countries that have not had their floral collections enriched 
from this “ home of flowers ” in the pretty Kentish valley that has under¬ 
gone such a remarkable transformation during the past few years. So 
great, indeed, is the variety of plants, notwithstanding the periodical 
weedings with the object of making the collection still more choice, that 
they almost bewilder by their numbers ; and that such an assemblage is 
necessary proves the extraordinary diversity of taste that exists in culti¬ 
vators of flowers. There appear to be not only local but national 
fancies. In one district a mania sets in for Pelargoniums, another for 
Fuchsias, another for Begonias, and so on ; while in the continental, 
American, and Australian markets there are “runs” on plants that are 
not at the same time in such great demand at home. This, then, accounts 
for the multitudinous nature of the stock, for the clients of the establish¬ 
ment are scattered all round the globe. 
Having had some small business connection with Mr. Cannell since 
his commencement as a trade florist in a small way at Woolwich, and 
<each year had plants from his nursery, it is interesting to pay a visit now 
and then to head-quarters and to note the progress that is continually 
being made. I always take down a few names on these occasions of the 
plants that appear to me the most striking ; and as such a list, however 
patchy it may be, may possibly be of some service to others I send it for 
what it is worth. When on a mission of the kind indicated I take no 
notice of the mere date of introduction of a plant; whether it is old and 
common, or new or rare, matters not. The chief question with me is, 
Is it meritorious 1 Passing the Dahlias, of which so much has been said 
lately, and that have been so grand and numerously represented in the 
several types, I pause, as everybody must pause, at the 
Pelargoniums, commencing with a section that I fear is not suffi¬ 
ciently appreciated. I note as particularly attractive the following Ivy¬ 
leaved varieties :—Comte Horace de Choiseul, a free grower with deep 
salmon-coloured double flowers ; very distinct. Eurydice, also a strong 
grower, with fine trusses of rosette-like purplish rose flowers. Gloire 
d’Orleans, compact, free, floriferous, with magenta-coloured flowers, and 
worthy of a place in every greenhouse and conservatory. Jeanne d’Arc, 
a free grower and bloomer, producing very large, double, nearly white 
flowers ; an acquisition. Madame Crousse, also free and very fine, with 
pale rose-coloured flowers with dark-veined upper petals. To complete 
the half-dozen choice falls on M. Dubus, a dark and beautiful variety 
with fine flowers and trusses freely produced. There may be finer 
doubles than the above, but I have never seen them, and those named 
will give satisfaction to most persons who grow them well, while their 
cultivation might with advantage be greatly extended. These double 
varieties surpass the singles in my opinion, but those who think differently 
may try Beautb de Lyon, which is undoubtedly one of the finest, having 
large trusses and flowers of a bright magenta colour. Madeleine Reitter- 
hart, very large and fine, glowing pink. Mrs. H. Cannell, purplish 
mauve, with striking trusses of well-formed flowers ; and Masterpiece, a 
magenta variety of great merit, and a distinct acquisition. This is the best 
quartette I can name, and with the doubles above mentioned we have a 
very choice collection of these charming plants. 
Double Zonals. —As I only wanted a few, a few only were marked, 
these, so far as could be selected, being the best in their colours. F. Y. 
Raspail, deep scarlet, with fine pips and truss, dwarf in habit and flori¬ 
ferous. Paul Charbonniere, orange-scarlet, with large trusses and fine 
flowers. Clara Pfitzer, rich glowing pink ; free, sturdy, and fine. Madame 
Francois Dubois, purplish pink ; compact, and floriferous. M. Gelein 
Lowagie, orange-scarlet, very bright, with noble trusses freely produced. 
Grand Chan. Faideherbe, deep crimson flowers of fine form and very 
striking. Charles Darwin, deep rosy purple ; distinct and fine. Aglaia, 
very free, lighter purplish flowers, and highly attractive. General Farre, 
deep salmon, with flowers and trusses of the first quality. Lord Mayor, 
purplish pink; dwarf, and remarkably floriferous. And now we come to 
the whites, and not being able to determine the best, the two following 
had better be ordered :—Heroine and Madame Leon Dallay, the latter 
blush-tinted, but very charming. This is a very select dozen, exclusive 
of the liliputians Comtesse de Jannberg, Princess Stephanie, and Arch¬ 
duke Rudolph, which only grow a few inches high and cover themselves 
with flowers. The first is salmon shaded with purple, the second pinkish 
lilac, and the third rich magenta. They are distinct from all others in 
habit, foliage, and blooms. 
Single Zonals. —To choose a dozen from 200 is not an easy task, and 
perhaps another examiner would select some others, yet he would scarcely 
exclude all that will be named. Mrs. Gordon, a splendid bright crimson 
flower with white eye ; truss large, and habit good. Right Ahead, deeper 
than the preceding, having dark crimson flowers of the finest form, borne 
on large trusses. La France, this is of the Dr. Denny type, but finer 
in every way; upper petals purple with orange-crimson base. Dupont 
de l’Eure, a grand variety of the same type, with even deeper top petals, 
and a fiery orange base. Miss Hamilton, blush white with a dark eye, a 
charming Phlox-like flower that should be grown by everybody. Czarina, 
white with a pink centre, also one of the best in its class. Mrs. J. 
Gibson, bright clear salmon, with large pips and fine symmetrical truss ; 
very effective. Eurydice, deep purplish pink, upper petals tinted with 
white, dwarf, free, and a fine trusser; very telling. Mrs. Strutt, paler 
in colour than the preceding, but scarcely less attractive, and altogether 
good. Constance, pure rose colour, very free and flue ; the best of its 
colour. Paul Bauer, deep glowing pink, base of the toD petals white, 
large pips and truss; distinct and attractive. Snowball, the best white 
variety ; pure and fine. All the above have large round flowers. Two 
extra may be added of the semi-nosegay type, remarkable for their huge 
trusses and dazzling colour—namely, Bacchus, magenta-crimson, rich and 
glowing, and T. Schuler, brilliant scarlet, dwarf and free. This selection 
was made some time ago—that is to say, long enough since for the merits 
of the varieties to be proved, and is not the less reliable on that account. 
If there are any better, especially amongst the newer ones, as there pro¬ 
bably is, perhaps some persons who have proved them will make their 
merits known. 
Amongst the Show Decorative varieties two of the most effective were 
Edward Perkins, orange-scarlet with maroon blotch, and Madame Thi- 
baut, round white flowers, veined and marbled with rose. These are 
very free and useful for the home stage and market purposes, and may 
safely be added to those collections that do not include them. 
Begonias. —Equal to the Pelargoniums in variety of colour and 
general effectiveness these commanded attention, double and single 
varieties being represented in great numbers. The finest half-dozen 
Tuberous varieties noted were Madame de Dumast, blush white, with 
flowers much larger and fuller than Gardenias, and very striking. 
Davisii hybrida flore-pleno, dwarf, floriferous, rich, and telling. Eugenie 
Lequin, orange-scarlet, very bright and full. Lucie Lemoine, one of the 
best whites, and admired by all. Edouard Morren, crimson-scarlet, full 
and fine; and Calypso, rosy pink, large and symmetrical. The double 
varieties, as a rule, are not so free as the singles, nor can they be so 
rapidly propagated, and hence it is difficult to maintain the supply, as 
they appear to be very popular, and the demand for them is consequently 
great. 
Twelve superior single varieties, which admirers of these beautiful 
flowers cannot well do without, are Francois de Craen, crimson-scarlet, 
handsome and floriferous. Massange de Louvrex, bright orange-scarlet 
and dark foliage ; very effective. Countess of Kingston, reddish crim¬ 
son, flowers of great size and substance ; extremely fine. Graham Bell, 
rich crimson, large, habit dwarf, and plants floriferous. General Roberts, 
deep velvety crimson ; one of the richest and finest. Madame Valette, 
rosy carmine, round and smooth ; plant dwarf and free. Annie Laing, 
soft rosy pink, large, well-formed, and free ; the best of its colour. 
L’Abbd Froment, deep golden yellow, erect and fine ; one of the best of 
its colour. Mrs. Highgate, rosy salmon, good form, free and pleasing. 
Lady Hume Campbell, white suffused with pink; large, free, and good. 
John Laing, clear light scarlet, of the first quality, very attractive; 
and Madame Saladin, French white, free, with large flowers of great 
substance, and a general favourite. 
Fine-folia ged Begonias. —Varieties of the Rex type have been for 
a time under a cloud, but are again increasing in public favour. For 
growing in shady places, such as under the foliage of Vines, they have, 
when tastefully grouped with Ferns, a beautiful effect; while for plant¬ 
ing on rockeries under glass few plants are more suitable. They are 
also admirably adapted for corridors, halls, staircases, and windows, as 
they thrive well in semi-dark positions, and colour better than in the full 
sun. From a very large collection the following twelve are chosen as 
distinct and good. To describe them is impossible, so beautifully are 
