March 3, 1892 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
161 
Baldwin, Banmana’s Red Reinette, Bedfordshire Foundling, 
Bismarck, Blenheim Pippin, Bramley’s Seedling, Cellini, Cox’s 
Pomona, Dcmino, Ecklinville, Gascoigne’s Seedling, Golden Noble, 
Grenadier, Hanwell Souring, Kentish Fillbasket, Lady Henniker, 
Mere de Menage, Lord Grosvenor, Biauty of Kent, Seaton House 
(Norfolk Beefing is the best I have found for colour and keeping), 
Peasgood’s Nonesuch, Potts’ Seedling, Red Beitigheimer, Rymer, 
Schoolmaster, Small’s Admirable, Loddington, Stirling Castle, The 
Queen, Tom Putt, Sandringham, Warner’s Kmg, New and Old 
Hawthornden, Tyler’s Kernel, and Dumelow’s Seedling. Of dessert 
varieties we have Adams’ Pearmain, American Mother, Balchin’s 
Pearmiin, Duchess of Oldenburg, Braddick’s Nonpareil, Court 
Pendu Plat, Court of Wick, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Pine Golden 
Russet, Jefferson’s, KedJleston Pippin, King of the Pippins, 
Lady Sudeley, Beauty of Bath, Mannington’s Pearmain, Mr. 
Gladstone, Peck’s Pleasant, Red Astrachan, Irish Peach, Rosemary 
Russet, Worcester Pearmain, Grange’s Pearmain, Rus;et Nonpareil, 
and Sturmer Pippin. These are a selection of sure bearers in this 
district (Monmouthshire) out of 150 sorts at present tried. I have 
many others as bush and standard trees, including all new sorts, on 
trial, but anyone desiring to plant cannot fail to make a good selection 
from the above either for bushes or standards. - John Chinnery. 
PLA.NT CULTIVATION IN TUBS. 
_ Some cultivators object to growing plants in tubs because, 
being less porous, air cannot penetrate them as reajiily as through 
the sides of pots, thus the soil is likely to become sour and the 
roots unhealthy. Physiologically this sounds feasible, but in 
practice I find plants thrive equally as well in tubs as in pots, and 
I would suggest that those who have not succeeded might have 
traced their failure either to careless watering or overtubbing. 
To keep roots health}’’ and active air should pass freely through 
the soil ; but it must be patent to all who will give the matter a 
thought that roots in a properly drained medium must enjoy far 
more of this life-giving element than when planted out, yet it is a 
fact that most plants thrive better planted out than in pots. 
In the decoration of large stageless conservatories it is generally 
found that if several plants of one kind are arranged together in 
groups they are far more effective than if the same number of 
plants were scattered over a large area ; hence it follows that if 
from six to twelve plants, according to their size and nature, are 
planted together in a tub there will be considerable saving of labour 
both in watering and arranging the plants. 
For cut flower purposes this mode of culture has much to 
commend it, especially, as is often the case, when grown in fruit 
houses, as there is all the advantages of the planting-out system, 
with the additional one of being able to carry the plants from one 
house to another. 
By way of illustration, what could be more charming than a 
tub containing about twelve strong plants of Arum Lilies ? Grown 
in this way the flowers are much larger and the growth more 
vigorous than in pots. A tub containing enough Poinsettia plants to 
produce about two dozen large floral heads will create an effect not 
easily forgotten when seen in the depth of winter and associated 
with Arums. Eucharis amazonica grows well and flowers freely 
in tubs, especially if placed over hot-water pipes so as to get a 
little bottom heat. Olivias should be seen in tubs to realise 
their true value. They are ornamental whether in flower or out, 
and there are few plants that will flower so freely with so little 
attention, or that are so indifferent as to position. 
There are a host of plants, both flowering and foliage, that do 
not attain to very large dimensions individually which could be 
grown to a higher state of excellence several together in tubs, 
and in roomy places they would be far more useful than if grown 
singly in pots. 
Let it, however, be remembered that most of the plants must 
be properly prepared in pots before planting them in tubs, for to 
place small plants in a great mass of soil in a tub would in most 
cases end m failure. As a rule they should be established in at 
least 5-inch and 6-inch pots before they are fit for tubs. 
Old Zonal Pelargoniums that have done service through the 
winter and early spring make fine objects, if sufficient plants are 
carefully arranged in tubs to fill them without overcrowding. They 
are especially useful either for standing outside through the summer 
or for conservatory decoration. 
The cheapest way of procuring tubs is to buy petroleum 
barrels and saw them through the middle. When cut in this way 
there will be no hoop within from 5 inches to 7 inches of the top 
of the tub, and unless braced round in some way the staves at the 
top will separate and allow the water to pass through ; thus the 
plants may be starved from the want of it. To prevent this we tie 
No. 6 black fencing wire into a hoop just big enough to knock up 
tightly to within 1 or 2 inches of the top of the tub. Two strong 
handles should be screwed to each tub, and whatever form is chosen 
they should be bent at right angles with tho sides of the tubs, so 
that they may be easily carried either with the hands or with sticks. 
In order to prevent any mischief arising from the petroleum’ 
the tubs should be burnt out and the inside slightly charred^ but 
care must be taken not to burn them too much. A coat of green 
paint on the outside and the hoops and handles brushed over with 
Brunswick black will give them a far better appearance than red 
poti. Of course holes must be provided for drainage. 
The only disadvantage with these tubs is, that they are about 
4 inches too shallow for receiving plants that are turned out of 
large pots and at the same time affording adequate drainage and 
keeping the plants low enough to provide for watering. For the 
mode of culture, however, this paper is intended to suggest, 
viz., of growing several p'ants in one tub, in order to produce a 
maximum effect with a minimum of' labour, petroleum barrels, 
prepared as directed, are unique.—J. H. W., Leicester. 
NARCISSUS JOHNSTONI. 
Opinions seem to differ as to whether Narcissus Johnstoni (fig. 2;}) 
is really a species or a natural hybrid, and in one trade list the confusion 
has been still further increased by terming the type a species, and some 
FIG. 23.— NARCISSUS JOHNSTONI. 
of its very near relatives as hybrids between the Ajax group and 
N. triandrus. However, it is obviously correctly placed with the Ajax, 
or Giant Trumpet Daffodils. The flowers are of moderate size, but very 
neat and compact, the perianth and the short straight corona being of a 
clear sulphur yellow tint, very bright and pleasing. A variety named 
Mrs. George Cammell, or “ The Great Spanish Beauty,” is also of a elear 
soft yellow, somewhat paler and more delicate, but even more charming 
in general appearance than the type. It was collected by Mr. Peter 
Barr in Spain during the spring of 1888, together with the Queen of 
Spain ” and “ Pelago,” both having very softly tinted flowers. 
N. Johnstoni and its varieties succeed in rather dry gritty soil near the 
base of a wall or the trunk of a tree, where shelter from excessive rain 
is afforded. The plants are, however, quite hardy, at least in the 
neighbourhood of the metropolis. 
PRIMULAS AT PERRY HILL. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co. have, as is well known by 
visitors to their nurseries, long been engaged in raising new forms 
of these deservedly popular and increasingly admired winter and 
spring flowers. Their clients know how great has been the 
advance both in the size, colour, substance, and form of the floweis 
during recent years, and it follows that as every jear brings 
improvements, this season’s display of the plants grown for se.d 
is finer than ever; but as “brushing” (pollen distiibution) is 
going on daily for setting the seed, there is consequently daily 
diminution in the floral effect. This, when the plants were in full 
beauty a week ago, was sufficiently imposing, as will be conceded 
