528 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 7, 1882. 
is a very pretty little species, much smaller in all parts than all 
the others except pusillum, which I think is not under cultivation 
in this country. It flowers in April and May. Found from 
Western Pennsylvania to Kentucky, Iowa, and Wisconsin. 
T. ovatum. — Stems 6 to 12 inches high, erect; leaves broadly 
ovate, bluntish ; flower stalk erect; petals lanceolate or sometimes 
oblanceolate, sometimes very narrow, white or tinged with pale 
purple, this really appears to be a narrow-petalled form of 
T. grandiflorum, which it very closely resembles in habit and 
appearance. It is also known under the names of T. obovatum 
and T. californicum, and it is found from British Columbia south¬ 
ward in the coast range to Santa Cruz, California. It flowers in 
May and June, and is very easily grown. Introduced early in the 
present century. 
T. petiolatum, —Stem very short, scarcely produced beyond the 
basal sheath ; leaves ovate-elliptic to sub-reniform, 3 to 5 inches 
long, with petioles equally as long or even longer ; flowers without 
a stalk ; sepals erect; petals narrowly oblanceolate, 1 to 2 inches 
long, dark purple. This is very distinct on account of the stalked 
leaves. It flowers in April and May, and grows well in most 
places, but the dull colour of the flowers renders it unattractive. 
It has been cultivated in English gardens since 1810. 
T. recurvatum .—Stems short, but longer than the last; leaves 
petioled, ovate to ovate-oblong, acute, usually so at both ends ; 
flowers sessile ; sepals recurved, acute ; petals oblong-lanceolate, 
narrowed to a claw at the base, three-quarters to 1^ inch long, 
brownish-purple. Known also as T. uDguiculatum, and it occurs 
from Wisconsin to Indiana and Arkansas. There is a variety of 
it named lanceolatum, which has sessile leaves and narrower 
petals. The typical form flowers here in April and May, and is 
of more recent introduction. 
T. sessile .—A very variable plant, from 4 to 12 inches high : 
leaves sessile, broadly ovate, or even rhomboidal in form, cuneate 
or rounded at the base, 2 to 5 inches long ; flowers sessile ; sepals 
spreading ; petals narrowly lanceolate, more or less acute, one- 
half to 3 inches long, brownish-purple or rarely greenish-white. 
Known also under the names of T. viride, T. discolor, and there 
are forms under the names of Wrayi, Nuttallii, and angustipetalum. 
The variety Wrayi has greenish-white petals, and was figured in 
the “ Botanical Magazine,” plate 3097, under the name of T. dis¬ 
color. The plant is found naturally from Pennsylvania to Wis¬ 
consin, south to Florida and Alabama, and the forms are more or 
less local in their distribution. It is easily grown, and flowers 
in this country during April and May, and has been known since 
1759, and was figured (typical form) in the “ Botanical Magazine,” 
plate 40.—1ST, * ’ 
GRAPES FOR SEPTEMBER—INFORMATION WANTED. 
During the last twelve months your pages have teemed with 
valuable matter on Vine culture. Mr. W. Taylor’s experiences 
proved extremely interesting to me, as also have other com¬ 
munications, especially those on manure. The leading article 
on page 469 contained some valuable hints, and I hope will not 
be lost sight of by your contributors. 
May I be allowed to ask a few questions ? First, I may say I 
have to give up growing those thick-skinned varieties, as no 
Grapes are required here after Christmas; I must, therefore, 
grow for flavour and appearance. Why is not the Black Muscat 
more grown ? What are its faults ? Will it succeed best grafted ? 
If so, on what stock? Is not this considered the best black 
flavoured Muscat grown ? Will some experienced and successful 
grower give me a hint on its cultural requirements ? Many Grape- 
growers give the Duke of Buccleuch a bad name ; not so the 
writer of the article above referred to. Will this succeed grafted, 
or better on its own roots ? The house I want to renew is a 
span, the border all inside. How would the four following kinds 
succeed, providing the Muscat Hamburgh is amenable to ordinary 
cultivation ?—Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Hamburgh, Duke of 
Buccleuch, Madresfield Court. I must exclude the Frontignans. 
Would the above four thrive in one house ? What four or five 
kinds would your Grape-growing correspondents recommend me 
to grow to be ripe about the middle of September ?—J. E. It. I. 
CAPE COWSLIPS (Lachknalias). 
Among neglected bulbous flowers we may fairly, as I think, 
class these quaint denizens of South Africa ; and yet when well 
grown, as they were by the late Rev. Mr. Nelson of Aldborough 
or by Mr. Ollerhead, whose baskets of L. luteola were ever a sight 
to see and remember, few spring flowers can be more useful or 
beautiful. There are at least fifteen or twenty known species, 
perhaps many more not yet discovered ; but that not -generally 
seen in gardens is L. luteola, which, being very variable in its 
coloration, has obtained many names. This plant is that most 
often seen under the name of L. tricolor ; and Mr. Nelson once 
wrote me that it was grown in the windows of sundry flower- 
loving dames in his parish far better than in many good gardens. 
L. pendula is a distinct species with broad Tulip-like leaves. 
L. tricolor and L. quadricolor are highly coloured varieties of 
the L. luteola type, but moie rarely seen. L. aurea is a golden- 
flowered gem, but rather more difficult of culture than most others. 
L. Nelsoni, a hybrid raised at Aldborough between L. aurea 
and L. luteola, is one of the most robust and floriferous of the 
whole group, bearing long stout spikes of rich apricot-coloured 
drooping bells, which dangle from the gracefully arching stems in 
a most attractive manner. 
Lachenalias are properly speaking greenhouse bulbs. Too much 
of heat or of moisture, especially when at rest, is death to them. 
Their growth begins in October, at which season they are best 
potted, selecting the bulbs into sizes so as to insure equality of 
bloom. Good sandy loam suits them if on a well-drained bottom ; 
and when in full growth, say from this time onwards until Febru- 
ary, regular waterings and an occasional sprinkling of Clay’s 
fertiliser or other hardy manurial stimulant is most serviceable 
in promoting strength of leafage and flower SDike. Our plants 
generally bloom in February, and the spikes remain fresh until 
April or even longer. Indeed, of all the bulbous flowers I know, 
none endure fresh and fair in blossom so long as do these. Soon 
after flowering the leaves turn yellow and fall, and water should 
be gradually withheld ; then, when all the leaves have dried off, 
place the pots in a sunny frame or on an airy shelf in the sun, and 
give no water until the bulbs are again turned out and repotted 
in September and October. Few bulbs have a more decided 
season of growth and season of rest, and if this is duly observed 
and the plants encouraged when growing all will be well. They 
increase very fast under good culture. L. Nelsoni, indeed, seems 
to increase in a most remarkable way, every bulb throwing up 
five or six offsets every season, all of which bloom the next year. 
Our engraving was made from some grand spikes which Mr. 
Nelson sent last spring shortly before he died, and long may he have 
a monument in all true gardeners’ hearts as the raiser of Lachenalia 
Nelsoni and several beautiful new Daffodils.— Dublinensis. 
THE KNOWFIELD NURSERIES, CARLISLE. 
Having a few hours to spare lately in the old border city it was 
but natural that they should be spent in the nurseries of Messrs. 
Little & Ballantyne, which both by their extent and the variety 
and excellence of the stocks of hardy ornamental deciduous trees, 
evergreen shrubs, and Conifers, also of fruit trees and Roses, are 
famed far beyond the district in which they are situated. 
We are reminded at the very threshold of the great railway 
terminus of the existence of a seed and nursery trade of considerable 
magnitude by the new and extensive stores that have just been 
opened. This great building, which is one of the most complete of 
its kind in the country, is an index of the character of the firm— 
namely, well-established, yet active as with the vigour of youth. 
This structure is 100 feet long by 40 feet wide. There are seven floors 
of the dimensions named replete with every convenience for the 
conduct of an extensive agricultural and garden seed trade—lifts, 
speaking-tubes, steam engines for driving the seed-cleaning mills, 
stores, offices, &c., with a siding from the railway at the basement 
entrance, and telephone connection with the nursery. It is indeed 
one of the finest trade erections of the city, and certainly merits 
notice here. 
The nurseries are upwards of a mile distant. The site being 
elevated and the stock exposed to the breezes from the Scottish hills 
assumes a sturdy and hardy habit of growth, which is necessary for 
enduring the severity of the winters in the north of England, as well 
as in the widely extending district “over the border.” The extent of 
ground under cultivation exceeds a hundred acres. The approach to 
the nursery and residence of the proprietor, Mr. Watt, is rendered 
attractive by the wide borders on each side of the long drive, the 
fronts of which are formed into panels of choice Conifers in a smalT 
state, such as variegated Yews and Cypresses, Retinosporas, Thuias, 
and Cryptomerias, with choice Hollies, and a background, too crowded^ 
of specimen Pines and choice deciduous trees. Amongst these was 
noticed the Snakebark Maple, Acer striatum or pennsylvanium, with 
its curiously marked branches, and many fine varieties of Oaks and 
other trees too numerous to be particularised. 
An interesting portion of the grounds is that devoted to choice 
specimen Conifers. One of the first that arrests attention is Pinus 
Balfouriana, a handsome conical specimen, possessing somewhat the 
habit of P. cembra, but very distinct by the white inner surfaces of 
the leaves and their dark exterior, also by their tufted arrangement 
at the ends of the branches. On this account it is commonly called 
the Fox-tail Pine, and the name is certainly appropriate. The plant, 
which is about C feet high, is reputed to be the finest specimen of its 
kind in this country, and it received the lion’s share of attention 
