260 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t March 29, im. 
of the right varieties for that purpose. These need not be very 
numerous, indeed the more rigorous the selection the larger 
may be expected the return in bloom. I find it much better to 
grow from one to three dozen plants, each of a few good sorts, 
than to increase the number of kinds. The following have been 
well proved as extra free-flowering and fine in other respects : — 
White Vesuvius ; Aida, blush, extra fine ; Remus, white with red 
eye, fine; Lizard, salmon shaded, fine ; Helen, fine salmon 
and white ; Louisa, light rose, very floriferous ; Lady Sheffield, 
Mrs. Leavers, Lady Bailley, and Olive Carr, all extra fine pink 
shades; Earl Manvers, Col. Seeley, and Charles Schwind, shades 
of crimson ; DeLesseps, Lady Stanhope, E. Davies, Lizzie Brooks, 
shades of scarlet; and Hettie, a plum shade. 
The next most important matter to having the right varieties is 
to have a proper structure in which to grow the plants. The best 
of the kind I have seen was a roughly built lean-to pit, having the 
sashes moveable and with a flow and return 4-inch pipe for heat¬ 
ing. The plants were placed on coal ashes and were within a few 
inches of the glass. Whatever the kind of structure, light is one 
of the chief requirements. A temperature to keep the plants 
growing healthily is also necessary, as, unless a continued growth 
of foliage and stem is secured, the supply of trusses must soon come 
to an end. It may be noted here that there is little if any difficulty 
in obtaining flowers up to Christmas. It is between that time and 
the beginning of March that any weakness in the treatment is 
betrayed by an absence of flowers. 1 have found a temperature 
of 55° to 60° secure a continued state of floriferousness right 
through the winter. 
Having disposed of these points I will now note the modes of 
propagation and the summer treatment of the plants. They may 
now be propagated at any convenient time. We like to have the 
cuttings rooted, so that when they are transferred into 4-inch 
pots they may be at once placed in a cold frame. What I con¬ 
sider the best mode of propagation is to place each cutting singly 
in the smallest sized thimble pot. The compost employed for the 
cuttings consists of half sand, half soil. No drainage is required. 
The pots are placed several dozens together on the potting bench, 
and the compost placed in them with a spade ; the cuttings are 
then inserted and the soil made firm. They are placed in a stove 
quite close to the glass, a minimum temperature of 65° being 
allowed them. Water is given as they require it, and in from ten 
days to a fortnight root-action has commenced. They may also 
be rooted quite readily in boxes, using about an inch in depth of 
the same compost. The quickest mode of all is to dibble the 
cuttings into the sand in a propagating house. After the plants 
are all rooted they should be removed to a cooler house, just keep¬ 
ing them growing. 
In April they are transferred into 4-inch pots, the compost 
preferred being a friable loam, not turfy, a fourth part of cow 
manure being added. A few coal cinders are employed for 
drainage. The compost is rammed down quite hard, a slow 
sturdy growth being needed. We have a frame about 3 feet in 
depth for growing the plants in during the summer months, and 
in this they are at once arranged. They require little water 
until the weather becomes warmer. In June the points are taken 
out of the young growths, and that is all the pinching they receive 
or require. In July the plants are shifted into 6-inch pots in 
which they flower, the same compost being used, and the manner 
of potting being the same as wiih the first shift. The plants are 
returned to the frame again, some beiDg placed behind hothouses 
when we have too many for our frame to hold. It has been re¬ 
commended to place them out in the sun throughout the summer 
months, the object being to render the growth firm and stout. 
I have tried various plans, and would much prefer to have a 
structure set apart for the plants the whole year round. Next to 
that my plants do much better under the shelter of the deep-sided 
frame set apart for them. They never fail to flower, and the 
foliage keeps a healthy green hue which exposed plants never 
have. 
It is not well to be late in housing the plants, as a few cold 
nights will cause the greater portion of the foliage to fall after 
going into warmer quarters. The last week in September may, 
therefore, be taken as the latest time they should be standing out. 
Besides the points already treated of at the beginning of these 
notes there are only three matters requiring referring to in their 
winter treatment. The first is to allow the plants plenty of room. 
It will be found better to throw aDy inferior plants away during 
the winter than to allow the whole collection to be overcrowded. 
The next point refers to watering. This, of course, is a question 
greatly resting on local circumstances. For instance, plants 
standing in a low pit on coal ashes will not require half as much 
water as plants standing on an open wooden trellis in a larger 
structure. This, however, may be noted, that the necessary tem¬ 
perature required to keep the same plants in a healthy and 
floriferous condition throughout the winter and early spring 
months, also requires that a sufficient supply of water be re¬ 
gularly forthcoming. I do not believe in dryness for a growing 
plant. The plant is certain to break down at some point; even if 
it flowers it will affect the size of the trusses and pips. The last 
point is the question of manure. Our plants are regularly sup¬ 
plied with a stimulant about once a fortnight. Sulphate of 
ammonia or nitrate of soda are not suitable, a little of the former 
which we gave our stock last year threw the plants out of bloom 
for a week or two. Standen’s manure is the safest and best.— 
R. P. Brotiiekston. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 27th. 
The first promenade Show of the season was held in the conser¬ 
vatory, the Council-room being now occupied by the Fisheries Exhi¬ 
bition Committee. As usual at these early shows bulbs formed the 
great feature of the display, Hyacinths being particularly well repre¬ 
sented, the large collections from Messrs. Yeitch, Williams, and 
Cutbush occupying a large portion of the space. Several other 
handsome groups also contributed to the beauty of the Show, not the 
least pleasing being Messrs. Pauls’ Roses and Mr. James’ Cinerarias. 
Fruit Committee. —Philip Crowley, Esq., in the chair. The 
following members were also present:—Messrs. (4. H. Goldsmith, 
Sidney Ford, G. Paul, C. Silverlock, J. Burnett, J. Woodbridge, J. 
Smith, W. Denning, and Thomas Laxton. Mr. J. Hudson, gardener 
to H. J. Atkinson, Esq., Gunnersbury House, Acton, sent six bunches 
of Lady Dovvne’s Grapes extremely well kept, fairly coloured, and the 
bunches very even. A cultural commendation was awarded for these 
Grapes. Mr. J. Summers, The Gardens, Sandbeck Park, Rotherham, 
Was awarded a cultural commendation for a box of La Grosse Sucree 
Strawberries large and well ripened. Mr. S. Ford, gardener to W. E. 
Hubbard, Esq., Leonardslee, Horsham, exhibited a collection of about 
forty dishes of Apples and Pears, the former comprising some well- 
kept fruits of Norfolk Beefing, Round Winter Nonesuch, Mere de 
Menage, Coronation Pippin, Blenheim Pippin, Scarlet Pearmain, and 
Redstreak. The Pears were Uvedale’s St. Germain’s, and Beurre 
Berckmans. A cultural commendation and vote of thanks were 
awarded for this collection. 
Floral Committee. —Shirley Hibberd, Esq., in the chair. The 
following members were also present:—Rev. G. Henslow, and Messrs. 
T. Moore, J. Laing, H. Bennett, James Cutbush, H. Cannell, H. 
Ridley, W. Bealby, J. Duffield, H. Ballantine, J. Dominy, James 
Hudson, H. Turner, J. James, and M. T. Masters. Messrs. H. 
Cannell ifc Son, Swanley, sent plants of a Zonal Pelargonium named 
Edith George, a variety with a very large truss of bright pink flowers, 
and a basket of the double Cineraria Sir Drummond Wolff, Miss 
Simpson, and Hernia. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. W ood- 
bridge. The Gardens, Syon House, Brentford, for some fine trusses 
of the fragrant Pancratium-like Hymenocallis macrostepliana. 
Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, staged a magnificent collection 
of Hyacinths, comprising nearly 250 plants, and representing all the 
best of the varieties in commerce, together with a number of novel¬ 
ties. The plants were in excellent condition, the spikes very massive, 
the bells large, and the colours clean, bright, and rich. They were 
also tastefully arranged, the colours being carefully contrasted or 
harmonised. Of the new varieties the following were the most note¬ 
worthy in addition to the certificated varieties which are described 
at the end of the report. Empress of India, single, very dense spike, 
warm crimson, small bells; Sa/rano, single, pale yellow, compact 
spike, large and distinct; Mauve Queen, single, purplish mauve, the 
margins of the petals lighter, spike compact, of moderate size ; Bal- 
samceflora, double, flowers very large and full, white tinged with pink ; 
L'Obscurite, single, very dark blue, almost black, neat spike; Passe 
Incomparable, single, very rich rosy red, extremely bright; Actrice, 
double, blooms very large, pale pink, loose spike. Amongst the older 
varieties the following were the best, taking the single forms first. 
Blue and Black: Lord Byron, Charles Dickens, King of the Blues, 
Grand Lilas, Queen of Blues, Porcelain de Sevres, Tricolor, Sultan, 
Grand Bleu, Pienneman, Blondin, Masterpiece, and General Havelock. 
Red and Pink : Von Schiller, King of Reds, Macaulay, Prince Albert 
Victor, Princess Alexandra, Princess Clotilde, Annie Lisle, Queen of 
Hyacinths, and Countess of Rosebery. White : Mont Blanc, L’lnno- 
cence, Grandeur a Merveille, La Franchise, Snowball, Baroness Van 
Tuyll, and La Grandesse. Yellow: Queen of Yellows, Bird of Para¬ 
dise, Ida, Marchioness of Lome, King of Yellows, and Jonquillon. 
The best doubles were Princess Louise, rosy red ; Van Speyk, pale 
blue, very large bells ; Susannah Maria, pale rose ; Lord Wellington, 
creamy white; Von Siebold, pale blue; and Koh-i-noor, pale red. 
A collection of new Amaryllises and greenhouse Rhododendrons was 
also shown by Messrs. Veitch ; all these were very fine, and certifi¬ 
cates were awarded for several, which are described below. A silver- 
gilt Banksian medal was awarded for these groups. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, contributed extensive and 
beautiful collections of Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilies of the Valley, and 
Cyclamens, all of great merit. The Hyacinths in particular were 
remarkably fine, the spikes massive and the colours rich. About 
