May 1*. 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
861 
temperature that a month earlier may still be tacked on to the Daffodil 
period, which now runs from the end of January to the end of May. 
Only firm picked bulbs should be potted for forcing, and it is worthy 
of note that many failures may be avoided if the pots or boxes in 
which the bulbs have rooted freely uuder a mulching of cocoa fibre 
outdoors are, before being put into heat, first placed for a fortnight in a 
very m (derate warmth indeed, so as to, as it were, accustom the bulbs 
to a change of temperature before they are place! in the forcing houses. 
Still, it is unwise to have this temperature too high. Mr. Walker forces 
finally in his earlier Peach houses, of which there are some of great size 
at Ham, and in a temperature of from 60° to 65°. To some extent out¬ 
door blooming may be checked by late planting, and where so many 
bulbs are grown it is needful to extend the season of flowering over as 
long a period as possible. The gathering of flowers is chiefly done by 
boys, as women's skirts are objectionable, and in bad weather the blooms 
are carried into sheds for bunching, but in good weather they are, to 
save trouble, often bunched as gathered near the beds. Apart from 
what Narcissi have done for the grower, there can be no doubt but that 
they have brought a good livelihood, and in some ca^es competence, to 
workers, whether male or female, but especially to dealers, who have 
found material for trading during the spring months which no other 
flower presented. Still further. Daffodils have cheaply carried sweetness 
and beauty into myriads of households, which would otherwise have been 
been devoid of flowers. 
As to varieties grown at Ham, beyond ornatus, verily their name is 
legion. Emperor, Empress, Horsefieldi, Maximus, Lorenzo, John 
Stephens, Alb'cans, Stella, Barri conspicuus. Princess Mary of Cambridge, 
Maurice Vilmorin, bicolor grandis, rugulosus, these are but a few noted 
hurriedly out of the many, all of which find special demands for them in 
the market. The enormous preponderance given to ornatus shows, how¬ 
ever, how greatly it is in request. Giving glorious variety to the other¬ 
wise somewbat monotonous hues of the Daffodil are large quantities of 
single and double Tulips in long lines of the most beautiful hues. Prince 
of Austria, Keizer’s Kroon ; Thomas Moore, orange buff ; Rose Gris-de- 
lin, Rosa Mundi, Canary Bird ; Artus, deep crimson scarlet; Duchesse 
de Parma ; and numerous doubles are represented. The matter of 
special interest about these beautiful Tulips is that they have been 
grown by Mr. Walker for some ten years, and, therefore, show that 
first-rate bulbs can be produced at hime ; indeed, it is found that new 
Dutch bulbs are never a whi; better, if so good, on the whole, as are 
those which are purely home-raised.—A. D. 
The long continued cold winds have had a chilling effect on the 
plants which are being cultivated for the production of large blooms, so 
much so that in some cases the colour of the leaves has been changed 
from the deep green so pleasing to the grower to a much paler hue. ^ It 
behoves the inexperienced to act with caution in the matter of air-giving, 
not exposing the p ants entirely to the elements during such weather. 
On some days a hot sun has driven the thermometer up to 76° in the 
shade, and on the next few perhaps it has been quite the reverse, the 
highest reading not being more than 55° with a night temperature very 
little above 25°. Such variations are very trying to plants, especially 
when grown at a high rate of speed, and it is absolutely necessary to 
push them along at this period to lay a foundation for future success. I 
have alvays held the opinion that it is not possible to grow the plants 
too strong at this stage of their existence. Direct draughts of cold air 
will cause paleness of foliage on plants that are a little late through 
the cuttings not being available as soon as desired, and they are kept a 
little closer in the frames for awhile to push them on in order to make 
up for lost time. Plants growing under such conditions ought to be 
ventilated with caution during spells of cold easterly winds. Avoid 
direct draughts and also the employment of cold water to the roots. It 
is fur better to spend a few more minutes oa them than to neglect such 
apparently small details. It is difficult to say why certain sorts are so 
much more prone to loss of colour in the leaves than others. Bouled’Or, 
Madame J. Laing, Mrs. Wheeler, Meg Merrilies, and Edwin Molyneux 
are sinners in this respect, and it is especially noticeable where the soil 
employed is inclined to be heavy in spite of the quantity of lightening 
material added to it. This subject should prove an interesting theme to 
some “ scientist.” _ 
I note some of the newer varieties, such as Viviand Morel, are very 
persistent in forming bloom buds instead of making a free growth. No 
-doubt such varieties were weakened by hard propagation to meet the 
demand for stock, and the results are now apparent. Where this is 
observable it is a wise plan to cut them down to the soil level, which 
induces a more vigorous growth to spring from below. One pleasing 
featuie that I note about the majority of the new varieties this season is 
the dwarf habit of growth they are assuming. As a rule they have 
broad foliage and short-jointed stems, which is a step in the right 
direction. Madame C. Audiguier, beautiful as she once was considered 
to be, will very soon be but little grown. Fancy comparing this variety, 
14 feet high, with others equally good in the quality of their flowers, 
but not more than a fifth as tall. The introduction of dwarf growing 
kinds will assist in popularising the growth of Chrysanthemums for 
large blooms. Few persons can manage plants of the maximum height. 
Where flowers are in demand during September and October it would 
be a wise step to pay more attention to the cultivation out of doors of 
the Madame Dasgrange type of eirly flowering varieties. The white 
original, with the soft and deep shades of yellow of G. Wermig and 
Mrs. Hawkins, are just the flowers which are in favour at the time of 
the year at which they are ready. They are much appreciated in long 
spikes for filling vases in the house, and when a-s iciated with autumnal 
foliage a pretty effect is produced. By liberal treatment during the 
summer months free growth is induce h and i is best if the shoots are 
not topped, but allowed to grow unin’erruptedly until they flower. It 
is necessary to maintain the plants erect oy a looie form of staking 
them. Their beauty in a cut state is very much marred by the crooked 
growth made when the branches are allowed ti lay on the ground any 
length of time. Either old or young plants are useful for this mode of 
culture. 
Confusion' in Nomenclature. 
I do not intend to take psrt in a discussion with “Lancastrian” 
anent Chrysanthemum Golden Queen of England v. John Lambert, 
because it is a settled fact, in my mind, that they are one and the 
same. To give separate names to plants of one variety only leads to 
confusion, and possibly to the disqualification of some person who 
accepts in good faith what others says, and who, unfortunately, has not 
personal experience. When “Lancastrian,” or anyone else, has the 
courage to stage blooms of both together m competition for prizes, and 
they are accepted as distinct, then will be the time to assert the distinct¬ 
ness of John Lambert from the original tlolden Q teen of England. It is 
true that I grew cuttings of the supp ised sport, nut the variety was never 
named anything else here but G luen Queen of Eng and. As such I 
obtained a certificate at Chiswick, and not because it was an improved 
form. With a wide experience of Ch-ysintbemum exhibitions I cannot 
call to mind one instance where the tw > have been staged as distinct. 
Surely this would be a test of its merits. Whv should I wish to dis¬ 
parage any variety which is generally a 'mitied to be both distinct and 
an improvement upon existing sorts ?— B. Molyneux. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 3kd. 
Scientific Committee — Pre eat : D". M. T, Masters (in the 
chair), Mr. Morris, Dr. Scott, Mr. Michael, Prof. Church, Rev. G. Hens- 
low, Hon. Sec., and Mr. B im Tnuim, visitor. 
Narcusus Basal T/uL—Specimens of the variety Troilus were sent by 
the Riv. W. Dod, with the following c immunication ;—“ Of this variety 
thousands go off every year. With regaid to the disease I observe, (1) 
in places wnere plants get little or no sun, though tiiey do not flower 
well, the rot never comes ; (2) It attacks particular vari. ties, e.g., 
Ard Righ, Spurius coroaatus, and Golden Spur worse than orhers ; while 
Horsefielui, Emperor, and all of ihe muiicus blood are entirely exempt. 
The incomparabilis tribe never show a symptom of it, however delicate 
their growth may be; nor do any poeticus or other delicate Narcissi, 
such as triandrus; (3) The best preventive is annual transplanting. 
Maximus used to suffer here, but by this means I now have a large and 
healthy stock of this form.” 
Rasphe-rry Canes Diseased. —Mr. G. Massie reported on the plants 
sent to the last meeting from Holly Lodue, dighgate, as follows :—“ The 
black patches on the stems are caused by a minute parasitic fungus 
belonging to the genus Dothidea, probably D. roste, Fr., but as the 
specimens are immature the species is not eertaiu. Spirma and other 
rosaceous plants suffer from the attacks of sp-cies of Dothidea. In all 
known cases the spores germinate at once when mature, and then infest 
the younger shoots ; hence the entire removal of all diseased portions 
before the spores are mature is imperative.” 
Conifers. Growth of. —Phoiographs were received from Mr. Curtis, 
of Kensington, showing the c imparative growth of a Silver Fir (Abies 
pectinata), and of a Douglas Fir (A. Dougla'i), which grew side by side 
for twenty-two years. The former was lOJ inenes in diameter, the latter 
19^ inches. The trees were taken from a plantation in Ireland, in a soil 
equally adapted to both. The comparative results showed strongly in 
favour of the cultivation of the Douglas Fir as a timber tree in Great 
Britain and Ireland. 
Odontoglossvm citrosmum, 3Ianstrovs —A blossom was received from 
Mr. Bull, in which there were thiee well-beveloped stamens and three 
lips, the two extra lips represendog two lateral smmens. 
Tulip Leaf., Monstrous. —Dr. Masters exhibited a leaf showing a very 
thick midrib, which was densely clothed with thick and branching 
cellular processes, which bore stomata and hairs at certain points; 
a remarkably hypertrophied couoition of a not uncommon peculiarity 
of certain Tulips, which have a row of hairs oa the bulb scale, but not, 
however, on the leaf. 
Orchid Leaves Attached hy Beetles (?).—-Mr. Ingram of Elstead 
forwarded some leaves of imported Orouids attacked apparently by 
I beetles. They were forwarded to Mr. Pascie for examination. 
