Decemler 6, 1883. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
491 
the improvident things “ Non-Believer ” makes them ont to he, hnt that 
they always, when they are rationally treated, lay up a good store for 
future use. If it were not so, if they only carried on ft sort of “ hand to 
mouth ” existence, they would the sooner succumb to the unfortunate 
treatment many of them are obliged to endure, while the renovation of 
those which had a little life in them would take a shorter time than we 
find it to do in practice. If it is true that a cat has nine lives I am sure 
a Vine has at the least a dozen. 
I must positively deny having said or implied that Vines had com¬ 
pleted their store of sap at the fall of the leaf. On the contrary, root- 
action in the Vine is very busy at the fall of the leaf, and continues so for 
some time afterwards, say a month or six weeks. It begins later and 
continues later than it does with other plants. On one occasion some 
years ago I had my faith in this habit of the roots rather rudely shaken 
for a time. On examining some pot Vines which had been placed in a 
forcing pit in October, active roots in great numbers were found. This 
was after the Vines had been in the comparatively warm quarters three 
weeks, and before there were any signs of the buds moving. But later on 
when top growth commenced the active roots were looked for in vain. 
Those I had seen were late roots belonging to the departing season. 
I ventured to hint in a former communication that water might be 
absorbed by the old roots before root-action proper commenced, as we 
know it can be absorbed by a brickbat or a log of ‘ wood. The author now 
before me, Dr. Prantl, at page 83 puts the matter in a muA better light 
by referring to a Potato tuber* He says, “A Potato tuber, even if kept 
quite dry, will sprout under the influence of a sufficiently high temperature, 
and in proportion to the growth of the shoots the tuber will become flaccid 
and wither, beginning at the more remote parts in consequence of loss 
of water. This water is not only of use in that it dissolves nutrient 
substances, and thus renders possible their transport to the apex of the 
growing shoot, but it is itself of use in the process of growth; for not 
only are solid particles of cellulose deposited in the growing cell walls, 
hut also a quantity of water ; and moreover, the vacuole of the growing 
cell containing cell sap also increases in size. The water which is indis¬ 
pensable for these purposes is gradually absorbed from the more remote 
portions of the tuber. As a consequence if the tuber be kept dry it will 
gradually become flaccid and withered, but if it lies in damp earth it takes 
up water from the soil, and this water is conveyed with the nutrient 
materials to the growing parts. Water is similarly conveyed to the 
developing buds of trees, to the growing points of seedlings, and generally 
to all growing parts of plants, from the nearest parts in the first instance, 
then from the more distant, and finally from the external medium.” It 
will he observed that the Potato absorbs the water before any roots are 
made to penetrate the soil, for if only one end of the tuber is inserted in 
the soil the effect will be much the same, and according to Dr. Prantl 
woody plants are capable of doing the same thing. 
Here, then, I think is the key to the mystery existing in your corre¬ 
spondent’s mind. He takes the absorption of water to mean root-action, 
whereas roots are not even necessary for its absorption, as we see in the 
case of cuttings inserted in damp soil, or even from cut flowers in a glass 
of water.— Wm. Taylor. 
Being very much interested in the above discussion, I should like 
to know if “ Non-Believer ” means that Vines do not store up sap in 
the rods for the next year’s use. I grow about 5 cwt. of Grapes yearly, 
and always treat mine under that impression. If they do not, how does 
a grafted Vine bring a different kind of Grape, or an eye when first 
struck grow an inch and then stop, as it were, to rest till roots are 
formed to carry it on ? As to bleeding when started, if they are well 
ripened they seldom “bleed ” excessively. If Vines do not store up sap 
what makes the difference between good and bad condition or ripe and 
unripe wood ? If “Non-Believer ” will state just what he meant, those 
who are looking on will understand his arguments betters.—J. C. 
PANSIES AND VIOLAS. 
VIOLA PERFECTION AND BLUEBELL. 
I AM glad to see a communication under this heading from my old 
correspondent, Dr. Stuart of Chirnside, who has done good service in 
raising and distributing some charming and useful varieties of Violas.; 
but he is in error in stating Mr. B. S. Williams raised Viola Perfection. 
It was Mr. James Cutbush of Highgate who first called attention to this 
Viola, having seen it at Botherfield Park, Alton, Hampshire, where it is 
said to have originated ; but if the latter statement is correct, it had 
become distributed previous to Mr. Cutbush calling attention to it, as I 
was able to procure plants from another source. Acting on Mr. 
Cutbush’s advice, some plants in flower were sent to one of the meetings 
of the Boyal Horticultural Society, when it was awarded a first-class 
certificate of merit. Mr. B. S. Williams then bought the stock of it and 
sent it out ; but, as I have stated above, I procured my supply from 
Rotherfield. It was said at the time that it resulted from a cross, but 
it might have been a chance seedling. 
Viola Bluebell, a variety which has, I imagine, become more gene¬ 
rally grown perhaps than Viola cornuta itself, originated in my garden 
at Ealing as a chance seedling. It is not a little remarkable that I had 
not previously grown Pansies or Violas in my garden. I discovered a 
dwarf tufted Viola growing, and being struck with its habit took care 
of it until it flowered. I named it Bluebell, and sent it out. This, then, 
was the origin of this popular variety, and one remarkable characteristic 
of it is that it is not so subject to mildew in summer as the Perfection 
type, and not a few others, 
For some reason the Viola has declined in the south as a bedding 
plant—so many plants die in the height of the summer ; and now there 
is very little demand for plants. I have given up raising seedlings for 
this reason ; but there is no justification for believing that all the 
possibilities in the Viola are exhausted. Presently someone else will 
take it in hand, and improve upon existing varieties, carrying on the 
good work to a higher level of attainment than has been before reached. 
The floral succession, if at times a little broken, never wholly ceases, 
and therein lies my hope of the future.—ft. Dean, Ealing, W. 
NOTES AT KEW. 
AN IRIS GARDEN. 
Preparation is being made for an extensive Iris garden at Kew r 
which will undoubtedly be a welcome and attractive addition to the 
numerous improvements that have been effected there in recent years. 
The long border near the wall of the herbaceous ground has been 
hitherto devoted to this beautiful family of plants, but a better position 
is needed for them, and the one chosen is preferable in every respect. 
Beds are to be formed in the turf at one end of the new rockery, 
between No. 2 museum and the T range, and we understand that 
Professor Foster will give the Kew authorities the advantage of his 
experience in Iris culture in determining the site, the formation of the 
beds, and other special details. It has already been noted that the 
charming Iris laevigata (T. Kaempferi) has been planted in clumps by 
the lake, a situation that is unquestionably well adapted for the species, 
though, of course, it will be also represented in the general collection. 
Judging by the plan marked out upon the turf it is not intended to 
have gravel walks leading to the beds, and this is rather to be regretted, 
for after heavy rains and in damp weather generally, many visitors 
(especially ladies) who wish to inspect the plants find it very incon¬ 
venient to walk over the wet grass. Indeed, this is the only disadvantage^ 
attending the beds of plants in the herbaceous grounds proper, as they 
are not like beds of Pelargoniums and similar occupants of the flower 
garden where distant effect is obtained. 
BULB BORDER. 
Another suitable experiment is about to be tried in the same garden 
—namely, the formation of a Cape and half-hardy bulb border, the result 
of which will be somewhat anxiously watched for. Similar attempts have 
been previously made with little success, but the preparations have never 
been so thorough and efficient as on the present occasion. The border 
by the wall forming the boundary of the Duchess of Cambridge’s garden 
has been chosen, and the soil removed to the depth of about 8 feet, a 
good drainage of potsherds and rubble, 6 inches deep at the back and 
rather deeper in front, the bottom sloping slightly. Above this layers of 
leaves and turf are placed, and the other portion will be filled with 
special composts according to the requirements of the plants to occupy 
the different parts. This border will, unquestionably, be an extremely 
interesting one, and will probably be as successful as is expected, but a 
cool house in the style of those in the late Mr. Joad’s establishment at 
Wimbledon would, we consider, have been preferable. Possibly, however, 
the additional expense had deterred anything so extensive as this being 
attempted at present. 
HOUSE FOR HALF-HARDY PLANTS. 
Such a house might at some future time be advantageously erected 
in the herbaceous ground, to be kept supplied with the choicer and 
most tender species when in flower. Under the present arrangements 
scores of rare, beautiful, and interesting plants flower in the frames of 
the private portion of the garden which the public have no chance of 
seeing. If a few good specimens in pots of the most attractive hardy 
species were added, a display of more than ordinary beauty could be- 
maintained during a large portion of the year with little trouble or 
expense. One of the most attractive examples of this kind that we have 
seen is in Mr. Broome’s garden at Didsbury, Manchester, where a small 
conservatory is kept furnished with hardy and half-hardy plants, and 
during the early spring and summer months there is a constant succession 
of floral beauties. The advantage this method possesses over such houses- 
as those of Mr. Joad’s is that plants can be removed when out of flower. 
The Cape house at Kew, it is true, provides for this to some extent, but it 
is confined to too small a group of plants. 
ROOMS FOR THE YOUNG MEN. 
Now that a spirit of improvement seems to be so general in our great 
public garden, it is regretable that measures have not been adopted to 
provide some accommodation for the young men there. Kew ought to set 
an example in this respect that would be a credit to an establishment of 
such fame, whereas scores of private gardens are vastly superior to it in 
the provision for the comforts of the employes. Undoubtedly it would 
be an expensive undertaking to erect a suitable building, but if the 
advantages that would accrue to the meD, and eventually to the credit of 
the Gardenp, were pressed in the proper quarters with the same ardour 
as others of less importance, there is little doubt that the scheme might 
be accomplished. A large proportion of the young men who go to Kew 
have been perhaps but just released from the wholesome restraint of 
bothy life, and they do not always employ their freedom to the best 
advantage. Add to this that lodging and living are very expensive, and 
generally unsatisfactory in Kew, the men often being regarded.as the 
legitimate prey of extortionate “landladies.” Some difficulty is also 
experienced in obtaining rooms convenient to the Gardens, and men 
