January 1, 18S1.;] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
17 
^CHIMENES EOSY QUEEN, 
Achimenes rank amongst the most pleasing of summer 
flowering greenhouse and conservatory plants, and one of the 
most charming of the family is the appropriately named Eosy 
Queen, raised by Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Eeading, and certi- 
flcated last year. The illustration with which we have been 
favoured appears in the “ Amateurs’ G-uide ” of the firm 
mentioned, and faithfully pourtrays the plant. It is sturdy 
in growth, with rosy tinted flowers softening to white in the 
centre, and they are displayed to advantage by the dark 
foliage. As the time for potting Achimenes tubers is approach¬ 
ing the variety in question is well worthy of a place in all 
collections, for it is distinct from all others of the genus and 
decidedly attractive. 
two good varieties are wanted, as by amateurs and small establish¬ 
ments, the first of each section will suit admirably ; and if a hardy 
Lettuce is required the last in each case is the most suitable. In the 
ordinary acceptation of the term no Lettuce is hardy, nor is it of much 
palatable use except growth is completed before November. Once a 
thaw sets in the soft tender growths begin to rot, and afterwards, 
during the early spring months, it is difficult to render them inviting. 
I have tried on a former occasion like the present to preserve Cos 
varieties by covering them with dry hay ; but when rain and thaw 
came the last state was worse than the first. An empty frame full 
covered with hay, and to which air and sunshine is admitted by day, 
is an excellent system of preservation for those requiring this tender 
vegetable during winter. 
Onions. —I rather agree with Mr. Easty in preferring globular 
Onions such as Tennis Ball to flat-shaped varieties such as Golden Globe 
or the Holborn Onion ; and at all the shows at which the question came 
for consideration my brother judges agreed with me, one of the 
reasons being that they keep better ; but I admit much of this 
property depends on the time of sowing, position, and the 
season. If too late, say in April, and with a sunless aspect, 
followed by a moist season like the last, the best varieties 
will be almost impossible to ripen, and consequently to keep. 
Now, Silver Ball or Tennis Ball, very much similar, is my 
favourite Onion, and such a moist sunless summer compara¬ 
tively, as the last, it would be almost impossible to keep well 
through the winter in an out store or implement house. Be¬ 
lieving this I got my garden boy to bank a quantity, especi¬ 
ally those that did not seem quite firm at the neck, and had 
them suspended in my kitchen and pantry ; and so far not 
one has rotted, while they come dry, silvery, and hard off 
when required for kitchen use. I know of no other Onion so 
mild, tender, and well flavoured for the winter and spring 
months. With me the crop was about double in quantity the 
well known Deptford and Strasburgh. Unfortunately, except 
from the most respectable firms who have reputations to lose, 
reliable varieties, true to name, and fresh seed of last year's 
sowing, a high per-centage being likely to grow, is not to be 
expected. 
All my gardening friends agree with me, a very good thing 
among very good seed cannot be expected very cheap.—W. J. 
Muephy, Clonmel. 
saillaise, is excellent for bottling, and when ripe for either eating or 
preserving with Raspberries. Mr. Rosa’s is a late ripener and excellent 
for jelly. I call it the Welford Red. 
Black Currant Jam and Jelly. —I call mine the Collard Black for the- 
reason given above. When visiting me last season Mr. Collard brought 
some berries in a box. lie had measured them, and he said each of 
them had a circumference of 3 inches. I thought, perhaps, they might 
have shrunk just a leetle ; but it is an excellent Black Currant. 
Carter's Early ProUjic Itasplerry is all that is desired for a cot¬ 
tager. It and the Versaillaise Currant, which united composed No. 5,. 
cannot be disapproved of. 
Rivers' Early Prolijic Plum Jam. —This is as its name implies : it i,s- 
also a good Plum to eat in an uncooked state, and it may be termed a 
good all-round Plum. I have heard it disapproved of as not being large 
enough for the market. Then, for my part, the market would have to 
go without Plums. Nevertheless, Plums for market purposes must be 
FIG. 4.—ACHIMENES EOSY QUEEN. 
had, and the immense-bearing large inferior Victoria is to be recom» 
mended. 
I have many seedling Plums here which have not yet gained sufficient 
favour. But I have some large old trees of a common Berkshire Plum 
which is a great favourite with the authorities of this household, and 
the jam exhibited, I find, too, these old trees, which overtop all their 
compeers, are preferred first of all for their early plump buds by the 
bullfinches, &c. They will, moreover, bear firing into without com¬ 
punction of conscience, which the smaller and choicer vaiieties will not 
admit. So much the worse for the finches, and so much the better for 
the fruit. 
Strawberry Jams and Syruy}. —Keens’ Seedling, Sir Joseph Paxton,, 
and Knight’s Elton Pine are my three Strawberries here ; Black Prince 
might be added as an earlier kind than Keens’, and Frogmore Late 
Pine as a better bearer than the Elton, and in fact the gamut on the 
Strawberry might be pirouetted to in endless shifts, but the three men¬ 
tioned above are what I grow, if I cannot recommend them dictatorially- 
Elton Pine is in fact the Strawberry to convert into jam, but the above 
exhibited, and which gained the missus a first-class certificate of merits 
was made from Sir Joseph Paxton. The Strawberry syrup we consider a 
grand invention ; we use it instead of sugar over our light batter and 
suet puddings. 
Rhubarb a7id Vegetable Marrow Jams, plain and flavoured with 
AS OF A DREAM. 
{^Continued from jyage 570.") 
I FELT, and still feel, that the objects on my stand were 
worth more notice than they received. Imported produc¬ 
tions and the produce from large manufacturers, elaborately 
embellished for purposes of commerce, which claimed their 
importance at the show, will always command the rich and well-to-do 
inhabitants of large towns ; but for the million with moderate means, 
such as small holders and cottagers, the growth and utilisation of 
fruits in common preserves, &c., must be undertaken by themselves 
if they hope to live upon and make the most of their land. I could 
have brought up a greater variety of startling fruits, but my object 
was to explain a means to the end with as few good sorts as possible, 
and of those which can be depended upon for quality, and are 
hardy and bountiful for general cultivation. It is a great mistake to 
aim at huge fruits for home consumption, or to become encumbered 
with too many kinds. Leave the monstrous show fruits for those who 
are rich enough to make them so to take prizes, or whose business it is as 
nurserymen to supply the demand. 
I will touch upon the Gooseberry first. My wife’s exhibit of this was 
jam, because she found a customer for all she had for early bottling 
whole, and there is no better sort for this purpose than the Whinham’s 
Industry—every one of them, as it is of poor quality when ripe. The 
"Warrington is the best for preserving and for eating in a ripe state. 
I have many seedlings and sorts of high and low degree, but the first 
two mentioned are all that is necessary for the purposes mentioned. 
Red Cun-ant Jelly. —I pride myself upon my Red Currants. They 
are two varieties, presented to me by old friends, Mr. Collard, Minster, 
near Ramsgate; and Mr. Ross, Welford, Berks. The first, called Ver- 
