442 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 22,1896. 
form a good succession to the first flowers. They will do well at this season 
in a temperature of 65°, and 70° will bring them on faster, hut they will 
not grow and bloom successfully in less heat than this during the winter. 
Frequent syringings and copious supplies of liquid manure also help 
greatly to bring them to perfection, and they are well worth all the labour 
which is required to bring them out to the fullest, as they are really the 
best and choicest of our winter flowers. The new double-flowering 
varieties recently introduced are very handsome, and are as easily grown 
and bloom as freely in winter as the single ones; but with many others 
I prefer the single flow r ers to the double ones.—J. Muik. 
LANE'S PRINCE ALBERT APPLE. 
Since the favourable reference to this Apple in articles that have 
recently appeared we have been requested to describe its character ; and 
though an outline of the fruit was published in this Journal a few years 
ago, we have prepared a more complete representation of the fruit. 
We may remind our readers that there are two Prince Albert Apples 
in commerce ; but the best known, and we believe the first to bear the 
name of Prince Albert, was that raised by Mr. John Lane of Berkhamp- 
stead from Russet Nonpareil fertilised by Dumelow’s Seedling. It 
received its name on the occasion of Her Majesty and Prince Albert 
visiting Berkhampstead. 
Lane’s Prince Albert (fig. 87) is a large handsome Apple, and the 
tree is an immense bearer. The shape of the fruit is short, conical, or 
ovate, even and regular in its outline, with broad ribs round the crown 
Skin smooth, bright grass green at first, but changing to clear pale yellow 
as it ripens, and sometimes with faint broken streaks of red on the side 
next the sun. Eye rather small, closed, with erect pointed segments; 
which are reflexed at the tips and set in a deep rather angular basin. 
Tube funnel-shaped ; stamens basal. Stalk over half an inch loDg, 
inserted in a deep round cavity. Flesh very tender, juicy, briskly acid, 
and agreeably flavoured. Cells wide open. A very excellent kitchen 
Apple, in use from October till March. 
In all probability this Apple will be largely planted both in gardens 
and orchards, as it bears freely in a dwarf state on the Paradise stock 
and as a standard on the Crab. It, moreover, appears to be hardy during 
the blossoming period, as trees of it produced fine crops during the first 
few almost appleless years. 
The other Prince Albert, Smart’s, is a very good conical dessert Apple 
grown in Kent, and is now called Smart’s Prince Arthur. 
PELARGONIUM v. GERANIUM. 
To botanists like Mr, Percival the difference between the Pelargonium 
and the Geranium may be as “ clear and distinct ” as he says it is. To 
ordinary observers there is great confusion and disorder, with the usual 
accompaniment—bewilderment. To begin at the very beginning, con¬ 
fusion meets us in the very names and their derivations. Take them as 
they are given in the “ Cottage Gardener’s Dictionary ” :—“ Pelargonium, 
Stork’s-bill (from pelargos, a stork, referring to the beak-like formation 
of the ripe seed-pod). Geranium, Crane’s-bill (from geranos, a crane, 
referring to the beak-like torus, or projection beyond the seeds).” What 
is the difference here ? Are not Cresar and Pompey very much alike,, 
especially Pompey. 
I accept Mr. Percival’s explanation as one more addition to those 
clearing-up of differences already given ; but I beg to point out to him 
that his explanation is not clear enough to the lay understanding, and 
that the contention begun here as to the difference between the Pelar¬ 
gonium and the Geranium does not lie in matters of nice botanical 
distinctions, but in those broad and clear lines of judgment that are- 
required for the ordinary observer to decide which is which. For 
instance, the Show and Fancy Pelargoniums are called Pelargoniums- 
rightly ; there is no confusion here except amongst the hybrids as to 
what family or families of Pelargonium have been married to produce- 
such a wide variety of form and colour; but then the bedding 
Geraniums are Pelargoniums proper, and yet who ever thinks of calling 
them Pelargoniums ? It was this confusion that was referred to by me 
in quoting the curiosities of the styling of Pansies and Violas. That- 
confusion lies on precisely the same lines as the other ; so it appears te 
me, and the sooner we reconcile the differences the sooner we 6hall get 
order where at present there is disorder. It is calling things by first, 
and often ignorant but conventional, names that does the mischief, and 
it is only in the pages of the gardening press where we may thresh th& 
matter out and bring about a right way of speaking of things. 
It may be said, and I admit the force of such a speech, that it is 
easier to point out an evil than it is t) suggest a remedy that shall 
effectually right the evil. My own contribution is, I own, a very feeble one,, 
and is more in the form of a suggestion of a remedy than a remedy itself- 
I would have the botanists and other plant-namers in their classification 
of plants not to make families of plants from small and hidden pecu¬ 
liarities, but to classify on broad lines, and on lines that can be seen at 
a glance. This, with a correct way of speaking of plants by their real- 
names rather than their local or conventional ones, would, I think, clear 
the ground a little of some of the differences that now exist. Anyhow 
this is what occurs to me, and I throw it out for what it is worth.— 
H., Notts. 
FORCING RHUBARB AND SEAKALE. 
The time of the year being at hand for the above work, a few remarks 1 
as to the best and most economical way of proceeding may not be out of 
place in your widely read journal. Undoubtedly the best place for such, 
a purpose is a Mushroom house, as it curtails labour, which is a great 
consideration to many gardeners, but all do not possess such a structure. 
Failing this the next most suitable place, if it is wanted early and good, 
is a heap of thoroughly prepared manure and leaves. 
The manure and leaves, about half and half of each, should be well 
mixed before using them, for by so doing most of the rank heat will 
have escaped, the object aimed at being a steady lasting heat. The- 
manure being properly prepared, a suitable position in which to make 
the bed must next be decided upon. I may here state that we have for 
some considerable time now dispensed with Rhubarb and Seakale pots,, 
and the generally practised method of putting hot manure around them,, 
such a practice proving not only less satisfactory, but causing much un¬ 
necessary labour. 
The bed may be made in any corner as near the heap of prepared 
manure as possible, but if against a south or east wall so much the- 
better. All being ready, lift the desired quantity of Rhubarb roots- 
carefully, and place them in a line 4 feet from the wall and as close 
together as the balls of soil will allow. Next drive some stout stakes 
about 4 feet in length into the ground, allowing about 3 feet above 
ground on each side of the roots, equidistant 2 feet. It will thus be- 
4 feet wide inside the bed. To the outside of these stakes nail boards along 
both sides and the ends to the desired height, 3 feet. This done, put in 
what soil is necessary. Any good garden soil will do well for- 
this purpose. The Seakale may now be planted. Lift carefully as- 
many roots as will meet the demand, and plant them on each side of the- 
Rhubarb, introducing more roots from time to time as required. Place- 
the manure 2| to 3 feet wide around the whole, shaking it well and 
treading it firm during the operation. Some boards should now be placed 
on the top, and on these a few barrowloads of rather long manure. 
Water may be occasionally given with advantage if the soil gets at all? 
dry.— J. Richardson. 
GARDEN CHEMISTRY. 
THE PREPARATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SOILS. 
Having made up our mind in the choice of soil it depends-- 
on the purpose to which it is to be put, how it should be- 
collected, and how prepared. In the case of pot plants much 
depends on whether the plants are lai-ge permanent specimens, 
or only decorative stuff destined to live one season only. For 
large plants it is necessary to cut the turf so that only soil full 
of fibre be taken; for decorative plants much more may be¬ 
taken, and indeed it may do very well though it be devoid of 
fibre. For years we were in the habit of using loam that once 
had been weeds, but had, after years of decay, become plain soiL 
When we say weeds it is wrack grass, weeds from fields that is 
referred to, not the weeds from gardens. 
