January 29, 1891, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
83 
tion I find them looking exceedingly well, the grass green and vigorous 
and no signs of decay or mildew; but the soil in the pots is frozen hard, 
precluding the possibility of doing anything with them at present. 
Now will be a good time, if it be not already done, of getting the com¬ 
post ready for them, placing it under a shed where it can be exposed 
to the action of frost without rain falling on it, and when the frost goes 
it can be hand-picked and all worms and grubs, especially the wire- 
worm, carefully looked for and destroyed. I do not know how the 
border Carnations will fare after this severe winter. I fear that many 
a reputation will be damaged, and that there will be many vacancies. 
I already see some ominous signs of approaching dissolution. 
Gladiolus. —Here again we are in a very quiet state. Where the 
corms are wintered the cold weather has been in their favour provided 
they were kept from frost, as it will prevent the tendency in some of the 
earlier blooming kinds of pushing out roots (or shoots as in some cases), 
and thus keeping them in a thoroughly dormant condition. I fear that 
those who have lately essayed their growth will experience somewhat of 
the same disappointing results as we who have gone before—that losses 
will occur do what we will. By-the-by, it is pleasant to find that the 
Eoyal Horticultural Society is offering prizes this year for them on 
August 25th, as an opportunity will then be given of testing the correct¬ 
ness of some statements that have been made of late as to inferiority of 
the French spikes as compared with those of English-raised flowers, an 
inferiority I confess I cannot see. 
Pansies. —I do not grow these in the open border or 1 should be in 
a great fluster about them. I think the frost loosens the hold of the 
plants on the ground and makes them altogether have an uncomfortable 
and distressed look, and I should think the losses amongst them will be 
numerous. My own small collection is in pots and in a frame, but even 
they look limp and flaccid. They will, however, I hope revive. They 
are, of course, kept perfectly dry, as indeed are all florists’ flowers at 
present. 
Ranukcdlus. —These, at least the Persian varieties, are now snug in 
their drawers or boxes (as the case may be), and nothing can be done 
for them at present; the tubers may be looked over to see that they are 
free from damp. I grow also the Turban varieties, but these do not 
come under my notion of florists’ flowers. I had a piece of good luck 
with them this year, showing the advantage of being on the look out 
Tor weather. A favourable day for planting occurred in November. 
1 thought. Shall we plant or leave it until to-morrow ? We seized 
time by the forelock, and got in both them and my one bed of 
Tulips. The bed where the Persians are to be planted is well turned 
up, and I hope the ground will be in a good condition by the time 
their planting is possible. I am surprised that this beautiful flower is 
not more grown ; indeed, it has fallen into a state of neglect. I 
remember the time when Carey Tyso of Wallingford and George 
Lightbody of Falkirk were running a race as to the production of the 
best flowers, when new varieties were priced in their lists at a guinea 
apiece, and what is more, when amateurs paid that for them. I fear 
these strains have now well nigh vanished ; no one has taken them up, 
while more showy and less symmetrical flowers, which go by the name 
of French Ranunculus, have intruded themselves into our gardens. It is 
one of those instances in which show and glare have taken the place of 
elegant form and delicacy of colouring. 
Roses. —Much searching of heart is going on now on the condition 
of Rose trees after this long spell of severe frost, and various and con¬ 
victing are the accounts, especially with regard to Teas. I fear that 
they who depend on standards will have a sad tale to tell, but the con¬ 
dition of dwarfs is still hopeful. In some places I hear of their being 
utterly ruined, while Mr. Burnside brought up to the meeting the other 
-day some wood of Mar^chal Niel and Francisca Kruger which were 
■quite uninjured. It is, of course, too early as yet to judge, but I do not 
think the damage will be so great as some people imagine. One is 
surprised at the very opposite views held on the most common subjects. 
I have been much astonished to see it stated that the damage to the 
Roses by frost was to be attributed to the unripened nature of the wood 
■caused by the wet summer, while many of us believe that they will not 
suffer so much because the wood was so thoroughly ripened in the 
splendid September and October which we enjoyed after our wet July 
and August. 
Tulips. —These are safe in the ground, and we hope are making 
good roots preparatory to their blooming, but nothing can be done with 
■them.—D., Beal. 
WINTER FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 
When Begonia socotrana was introduced to this country nine or ten 
years ago it was thought by some that while constituting a beautiful 
addition to our cultivated Begonias it would not be likely to help the 
■hybridiser materially. Upon what this opinion was founded does not 
appear, but the fact remains that the converse has been abundantly 
■proved, and there is every reason to expect still greater results. It will 
■probably be remembered that when an illustration of B. socotrana was 
published in this Journal (p. 95, February 2nd, 1882) it was stated 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons of Chelsea had secured the stock, and further 
that the plants seemed to combine the characters of several popular 
types of Begonias. At Chelsea experiments were commenced with the 
plants as soon as they flowered, and one of the first crosses that produced 
any results was from B. socotrana as the seed parent and the variety 
Viscountess Doneraile as the pollen parent. The seed thus obtained 
was sawn in December, 1883 ; one plant only was raised, and when this 
flowered it formed a distinct and beautiful acquisition, receiving the 
name of its raiser, “ John Heal.” It was shown at the meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, October 13th, 1885, and was awarded a 
lirst-class certificate. The plant was very graceful in habit, with rich, 
rose-coloured, freely produced flowers, and we hazarded the prediction 
at the time that it would “ probably prove the commencement of a new 
race of winter flowering Begonias.” 
Further experiments were tried, and in 1885 seed was obtained from 
a cross between an orange-scarlet Tuberous Begonia and John Heal, the 
former being the seed parent. The seed was sown in December of that 
year, and the plant obtained was shown and certificated on November 
8th, 1887, under the name of Adonis. The flowers have broad petals of 
FIG. 15.— begonia winter GEJI. 
a rosy scarlet hue, very distinct in colour, and the plant in general 
habit resembles B. socotrana. 
The third success is Winter Gem (fig. 15), for which the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society granted an award of 
merit at the meeting in January of the present ye-r. This was raised 
from a cross between B. socotrana and a tuberous crimson - scarlet 
seedling. The seed was sown in February, 188G, and only one plant 
was obtained from the pod, exactly as in the case of John Heal and 
Adonis. It is of dwarf habit, with rounded leaves, and soft, rosy, well 
formed flowers, rather suggestive of the modern Zonal Pelargonium. It is 
free, lasts well, and is especially valuable for the fact that it flowers 
regularly in December, lasting to the end of January.^ The other two 
generally flower in October and November, so that Winter Gem forms 
a natural succession. It is a singular circumstance that the flowers 
seem to ’oe all staminate, and this has been a difficulty in perpetuating 
the type. Fortunately they are increased by cuttings or bulbils, and 
every advance made will be watched with much interest. A pure 
white variety would be decidedly welcome ; it is not too much even 
to expect a double variety, and if a group with marked variations can 
be once formed the plants will take a place amongst the most useful for 
winter.—C. 
