148 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 2S, 1892. 
variety, the Brockhurst variety, Madame Fourcade, St. Brigid, 
W. Brockbank, &c., some of them having probably been in gardens 
for many years, and grown simply as the Christmas Rose. The 
gathering of a collection together was the inevitable result of so 
much correspondence, the comparing and describing of which has 
been very gradual. In addition to these, however, a host of new 
forms have cropped out as a result of selection from seedlings 
raised in this country, and also from the numerous importations 
that are now of annual occurrence. North Germany, the Austrian 
Tyrol, and other well-known localities supply our markets ; but so 
many equally good, if not better, forms are being raised from seed 
that we will soon be able to dispense with collected roots altogether. 
A collection of plants from the Austrian Tyrol, which we had the 
pleasure of going over in flower, were plentiful in forms resembling 
Madame Fourcade, Riverston hybrid, and others, which led to the 
conclusion that all or most of these varieties were at one time or 
other imported. 
Our chief difficulty with Christmas Roses in the open air in 
England, and which we suppose will be greatly aggravated in 
America, is the uncertainty of our season, especially midwinter, 
when the flowers are most in request. A simple covering of glass 
is of no use whatever, and if the flowers are wanted for cutting, 
and wanted clean, they must be grown indoors, and out of the 
reach of frost. We believe that when the plants are gently forced 
the flowers are larger and cleaner, and last considerably longer in 
water. A large group of Italian forms have shown beautiful 
flowers for many weeks now in the wild garden at Kew, and 
although invisible during frosty weather they are up as fresh and 
bright as ever when a change takes place. They have been here 
without any special cultivation for several years, and every winter 
brings a greater abundance of flowers, which are much admired by 
visitors. This mode of dealing with surplus stock will be found a 
very advantageous one even in private gardens, and large quantities 
of flowers for cutting could in this way be secured. Hellebores, 
at any rate the niger section, are gross feeders, and the question of 
manure or no manure in their cultivation will depend largely on 
the nature of the soil in each particular locality. Where the soil 
is heavy and rich little or no artificial feeding will be required, but 
where it is light or sandy a sprinkling of heavy loam should be 
given in addition to the manure. In the latter soil, and in dry 
seasons especially, a mulching of leaves or other material during 
summer will be necessary. Where Christmas Roses are annually 
lifted and potted for greenhouse decoration it is essential to keep 
a double set, lifting them alternately, and never planting back 
those used for the house until all danger from frosts is past, other- 
wist the young tender leaves are destroyed, and the plants greatly 
weakened. 
Of the varieties of H. niger, altifolius, also called maximus, is 
one of the commonest in English gardens, and perhaps the finest of 
the whole niger group. When grown in shady sheltered situations 
the flowers come pure white, but where exposed they are shaded 
with rose on the outside, which, in our opinion, enhances rather 
than detracts from their beauty. The leaves are large, leathery, 
and the stalks, as well as the flower stems, are deep purple. 
H. angustifolius is apparently an old garden plant, the name 
being well known in Sweet’s time. It was not, however, until 1876 
that Miss Hope’s variety was recognised as the true H. niger 
angustifolius. The flowers are quite 3 inches in diameter, white, 
and often tinged with rose on the outside ; the leaf-divisions 
narrow, and the stalks and flower stems green, sparingly spotted 
red. There are two other well marked forms of angustifolius to 
be found in gardens. The Brockenhurst form, in which the leaf 
stalks and flower stems have scarcely a trace of purple markings, 
usually bears two flowers ; the other, St. Brigid’s Christmas Rose, 
has pure snow white flowers somewhat cup-shaped, with flower and 
leaf stalks of a rich apple green. 
The Bath variety is almost intermediate between H. niger and 
H. niger angustifolius. The flowers are large, flat, pure white ; 
the flower and leaf-stalks spotted red, the latter slightly furrowed. 
H. caucasicus is a very misleading name, there being a species, 
H. caucasicus, belonging to the orientalis section. It has been 
widely distributed in England under the above name, and it is one 
of the most profuse-flowering varieties we possess. The leaflets 
are coarsely and sharply toothed, and much resemble the Italian 
forms ; flowers pure white, tinged rose on the outside ; the flower 
stalk densely spotted red, and the petiole stout and deeply fur¬ 
rowed. Madame Fourcade is a charming variety belonging to the 
altifolius set. The flowers are nearly 3 inches in diameter, pure 
white ; the flower stalk and petiole red-spotted, the latter slightly 
furrowed. Of the variety major there appear to be a large number 
of forms in cultivation, although varying but slightly from the old 
type. The leaves are very massive, the flowers large, white, with 
a pale pink tinge. 
The Riverston hybrid might almost be classed as a form of 
angustifolius. It is said to be a hybrid, but we fail to find any 
justification for this statement. It is a robust plant, with flowers 
nearly 4 inches in diameter, white, tinged rose. The petioles are 
green, and the flower stalks red-spotted, 
H. vernalis seems allied to the variety caucasicus. The 
flowers are large, white, tinged rose ; petioles green, deeply 
furrowed ; the flower stalk red-spotted. A useful form and a free 
flowerer. W. Brockbank, named as a fitting compliment to Mr. 
Brockbank, who has done much to make this family popular in 
England, is very distinct, remarkable in the flowers being so 
deeply cupped ; flowers about 3 inches in diameter, pure white ; 
petiole and leafstalk sparingly spotted. There are numerous other 
forms equally desirable, but the above will suffice to show the 
wealth of hardy midwinter flowers within the reach of all.— 
D. Dewar, Keio (in American Garden and Forest). 
SEAKALE “ BOLTING.” 
During a thirty-years practice in gardening I have had a good 
deal to do with the forcing of Seakale, and have for the most part been 
tolerably successful. I regret to say, however, that recently I have 
been troubled with it bolting to seed before it was large enough to cut 
for use. The number of roots bolting would be about 20 to 30 per cent. 
The roots are usually introduced to the forcing house direct from the 
open quarter, the temperature of the former ranging 50° at night to 60° 
by day with sun heat; but I have had them bolting also when blanched 
among ashes outside with no artificial heat. I do not remember to have 
seen the subject ever brought up in the Journal, and shall be glad if the 
probable cause of the annoyance referred to can be point-ed out, and a 
preventive suggested. The seeding roots were brought in from a 
nursery.— HORTUS. 
LIVERPOOL NOTES. 
The Weather. —Again I have to record a spell of most severe 
weather. Snow fell to the depth of a few inches, which remained 
on the ground, and the frost has been continuous day and night, outside 
work being entirely at a standstill. Cutting winds from the N.B. have 
been prevalent. The night temperatures have been—16th, 21°; 17th, 
14° ; 18th, 10°; 19th, 5°, which is the lowest recorded here this winter ; 
20th, 22° ; 21st, 26°. A rapid thaw took place on Sunday and Monday, 
and there was not the slightest vestige of the snow and the weather 
decidedly warmer. 
Horticultural Association.— On Saturday evening last the 
most successful meeting of the present session of winter lectures was 
held in the Lecture Room, William Brown Street. The Chairman, Mr. 
T. White, presided, and there were present Mr. G. Blackmore, Sub- 
Treasurer ; Mr. W. Dickson, the newly appointed Secretary ; Mr. R. W. 
Ker, Aigburth Nurseries ; and an excellent attendance of the leading 
gardeners in the district. 
The paper read was on “ The Cultivation of the Tomato,” by Mr. J. 
Stoney, gardener to Sir Thomas Earle, Allerton Towers. For many 
years Mr. Stoney has been a noted grower of Tomatoes, and those who 
were present had the satisfaction of hearing the subject treated in a 
thorough manner. So good was the paper that very little room was left 
for discussion. Mr. A. R. Cox did not quite agree with Mr. Stoney as 
to compost, which he thought rather too rich, containing as it did old 
Mushroom bed refuse in addition to a little artificial manure. His own 
impression was that good loam and wood ashes formed the best material 
until the plants had set their fruit. This opinion was shared by Mr. 
Carling, both speakers agreeing as to the excellent paper which had 
been read. Mr. Bennett, New Brighton, gave some interesting details as 
to outdoor cultivation pursued by the Cheshire market gardeners, where 
he spoke of acres being grown with capital results in a warm season. 
Referring to cuttings, he said they were not so profitable as seedlings, 
which for indoor cultivation were always raised in November and the 
ripe fruit gathered in May. The mention of acres of outdoor Tomatoes 
being grown successfully brought Mr. Sargent to his feet with the re¬ 
mark that he thought Mr. Bennett must live somewhere near the Canary 
Isles to see outdoor culture successful. Mr. Bennett reassured him that 
their cultivation was within easy distance. 
Sulphur and Red Spider. —Mr. Sargent asked if anyone present 
could state if sulphur really killed red spider. His experience was that 
having heated the pipes in one vinery to about 180°, and having painted 
them with a slight coating of sulphur, he found the leaves coated and 
the spider quite dead. His views were generally agreed to by those 
present. 
Tomatoes Again. — Mr. R. W. Ker, in a very able speech, reviewed 
the doings of those who had charge of the Chiswick Conference, and of 
the inspection he made of the plants growing in the Society’s Gardens. 
He briefly sketched the native home of the Tomato, stating the climate, 
and expressed the belief that if the plants were grown on a much drier 
system that fungoid diseases would be almost nil. As to varieties 
Hathaway’s Excelsior and the Perfection type amongst reds, and a new 
yellow, “ Golden Sunrise,” had testimonials of a very high order both as 
regards flavour, free setting, and handsome appearance. A hearty vote 
of thanks, proposed by Mr. Blomily, and seconded by Mr. R. W. Ker, 
was passed to Mr. Stoney for his admirable paper. Mr. Ker, in pro¬ 
posing a similar vote to the Chairman, referred to the very pleasant 
' evening spent, and hinted that considering the educational interest 
