JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 1, 1881. ] 
look forward to as an integral part of the year’s enjoyment. Mr. 
Findlay has been instrumental in promoting public enjoyment in a 
rational manner to a degree it would be difficult to over-estimate. 
That he does his work in the calm and business-like way that best 
commends a man to his friends is proved by the way in which they 
constantly and uniformly rally round him. There is never any ‘ un¬ 
certain sound’ in the voice with which he speaks. He says what he 
means, and means what he says. There is never any disguise, and 
he has no idea of what half-heartedness is. He is renowned among 
his brother gardeners for his sincerity and courtesy. He is a friend 
to every man who loves gardens and gardening, and is always ready 
to lend a helping hand ; and, best of all, he does not know what it 
is to have an opponent or to hear unkind words.” 
Mr. Pettigrew also pays the following deserved tribute to his 
friend— 
“ Mr. Findlay is a gentleman of calm demeanour, sound judgment, 
extensive knowledge, great professional attainments, and never fails 
to accomplish what he undertakes. From the time he came to Man¬ 
chester he has gradually risen in public esteem and confidence—both 
rich and poor respect him. Amongst friends and acquaintances he 
is very social, and an excellent conversationalist. His society is 
coveted and sought by the wealthy around him. He is interested 
in the progress of horticulture, willingly writes and reads papers 
to help in the formation of small societies of gardeners, is always 
anxious and willing to help respectable gardeners seeking situations, 
and is very frequently applied to for gardeners to fill vacant places. 
He is enthusiastic in his profession, and in all respects is an ex¬ 
cellent man.” 
Such testimony as the above leaves us little to say. Mr. Findlay’s 
last triumph has been his greatest, and we trust he will live to achieve 
similar results under more favourable circumstances. A man of 
such energy will not be checked in his course by a rainy day or 
rainy week ; he will produce success at last, and, as Mr. Pettigrew 
says, will “ accomplish what he undertakes.” We will only add 
that we hope he will accomplish it soon, as such earnest labour 
deserves its reward. 
STANDARD CURRANTS. 
If standard Roses are going out of fashion standard Currants 
ought to come in, for they are not only beautiful objects grown at 
intervals by the sides of the walks in kitchen gardens, but are 
extremely profitable and valuable for late use. The birds always 
leave them until the last, and when they do attack them the head 
of each tree can be easily enveloped with hexagon netting, and 
the fruit is then safe. These standards do not usually grow so 
luxuriantly as bushes and they bear prodigiously, the fruit hanging 
like swarms of bees. True, they need stakes to support them, 
and they are worthy of them—quite as worthy of such aids as 
Roses or Raspberries are. If standard Red and White Currants 
were generally grown they would not only add to the attractiveness 
of most gardens, but, what is more, the period of the fruit supply 
would be considerably lengthened, for it is certain that the fruit 
keeps better on standards than on bushes. Standard Currants 
are easily formed, but it is a question of time to produce fine 
heads ; these, however, when once produced continue fruitful for 
many years. Select straight cuttings, and do not stop them until 
they are 3 feet high, but all the lower buds must be scrupulously 
removed or suckers will be troublesome. Secure the leading 
growths to stakes and pinch the side shoots, and in due time 
fruitful miniature trees will be produced that will be both useful 
and ornamental. The best variety for this mode of culture is 
—Raby Castle. 
ROSE REVE D’OR. 
Amongst Noisette Roses Reve d’Or occupies a prominent posi¬ 
tion. It is a most desirable variety with its rich golden flowers, 
which are of moderate size and full. It is a vigorous grower and 
a good climbing Rose, and when planted out in suitable soil soon 
covers a good space. 
I have recently been looking over some back numbers of the 
Journal, and was struck with the lamentable tale many cultivators 
have recorded against that most beautiful of all Noisette Roses, 
Marechal Niel. When we read of the difficulties growers have to 
contend with in trying to cultivate this Rose, and failure results 
after the utmost care and good management, it is almost sufficient 
to cause them to abandon further experiments. I would not advise 
such a course to be pursued, as I have found in several instances 
brilliant success result after repeated failures in trying to grow 
this Rose. But where Rose blooms are required and must be pro¬ 
duced cultivators cannot afford to wait year after year, and the 
result of their labours be a failure, therefore I advise a trial of 
Rf;ve d’Or. The blooms of a rich orange yellow will be produced 
with certainty, and the plant will grow and flourish luxuriantly. 
207 
It will not produce shoots quite so long as the Marshal, and in 
consequence will take a little longer time to cover a certain space. 
Like Gloire de Dijon the Rose under notice is rather inclined to 
branch from its shoots instead of producing leaders branchless for 
perhaps 20 feet. If the end of the young leading shoot once 
turns down and remains in that position for a time a number of 
side shoot? are certain to be produced. I have, however, had 
growths some 12 feet long without a side shoot on plants in pots. 
When strong shoots are left their entire length at pruning time 
they will flower as freely along their entire length as the Marechal 
or “ Old Glory.” 
I do not trouble myself as to what particular stock is best 
suited for this Rose, as I am certain it cannot grow better nor 
bloom more profusely upon any stock than upon its own roots. I 
have had failures enough with growing Noisette Roses on stocks, 
and long since devoted my attention to growing such varieties as 
I require on their own roots. Success has been certain, and the 
production of blooms considerably larger. 
Cuttings root readily at any season of the year when half-ripened 
wood is employed, and this variety strikes as freely as any Rose I 
am acquainted with if only a judicious system is practised in carry¬ 
ing out the operation. To be brief, I shall say, Follow out the de¬ 
tails given on striking Roses some short time ago in the Journal, 
and success will be sure. If rooted at once splendid plants can be 
produced by the end of next year that will carry on an average 
twenty blooms each if the plants are kept in pots. To accomplish 
this they must be repotted as often as they require it until they 
are placed in 10-inch pots. The plants should be grown upright 
or close under the glass during the summer, and not crowded too 
thickly together if a good quantity of blooms are expected. When 
the growth is made and ripened it can be trained round stakes 
placed round the side of the pot, and will break from nearly every 
joint and produce a flower. This Rose will force very well, and 
if ripened early can be had in bloom by the end of February or 
early the following month. 
Those who have not grown Reve d’Or will, I am sure, if they 
give it a fair trial, be delighted with it.— Scientia. 
STRATAGEM PEA. 
Having grown this new Pea for two summers, I have great 
pleasure in answering “ Clericus ” (page 98) respecting its merits. 
It grows some 3 or 3£ feet high, and it is particularly suitable 
where sticks are dear or where the situation is exposed. The pods 
and peas are truly magnificent, quite green, the latter of a delicious 
flavour. The constitution of the plant is excellent, and not sub¬ 
ject to mildew. I can promise that whoever grows this Pea well 
will not be disappointed. While I am on the subject of Peas 
I may mention that the plan followed here is to make the first 
sowing of Peas on or about the 1st of February, and every ten 
days till the 1st of July. This plan enables us to gather Peas 
every day for four months.—J. Rust, Eridgc Castle. 
LACHENALIAS. 
For spring decoration no dwarf-growing plants are more 
brilliant than these, and few are more useful. They are valuable 
for associating with Lilies, Cyclamens, Spiraeas, Hyacinths, &c., 
from all of which they are distinct both in form and colour ; yet 
Lachenalias are absent from many gardens, and in some others 
where they are seen they are not satisfactory, because they were 
not potted until the Hyacinths and other bulbs were obtained. 
The right time for potting Lachenalias is in August, but bulbs potted 
now—at once, will make brilliant masses of scarlet and yellow next 
April. They are of most easy culture. I place seven bulbs in a 
5-inch pot, using a light, rich, gritty compost, and plunge the pots 
in cccoa-nut fibre in a frame. Growth soon commences, and the 
pots are removed to a shelf in the greenhouse, where they remain 
until they flower. We have no plants more useful than these in 
the spring, and none more certain to grow and flower freely. I have 
read of their being grown in hanging baskets, and can quite under¬ 
stand how beautiful they must be ; however, such baskets are not 
wanted here, but a few dozen pots of these elegant and brightly 
coloured flowers could not be dispensed with. The variety 
we grow is named L. tricolor grandiflora.— A CONSERVATORY 
Foreman. 
Potatoes from Single Eyes. — The following facts were 
communicated to me a day or two ago by my friend Mr. Cole of 
Tower House, Bexley Heath, and as I think they may be of interest 
to the readers of the Journal of Horticulture I send them to you. 
“ This season, by way of an experiment, Itook three Potatoes—Early 
Rose—weighing ^ lb. each, and cut them into thirty sets with a 
