February 12, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
purposes, I recommend a perusal of one or more of the excellent 
'little treatises published by Scotch florists, as each gives brief 
practical instructions which may be safely followed. 
Those who do not wish to go to the expense of buying named 
■varieties can obtain a good display of Pansies by bu;ving a packet 
of seed from some reliable source, and sowing it in March or early 
in April, the earlier the better, using good sandy soil, sowing in 
pans or boxes, not in heat, and as soon as the plants have two pairs 
ot leaves transplanting them into other boxes or a frame until they 
can be planted in April or early in May, April if possible, keeping 
much soil about the roots in removal, and watering freely in dry 
weather. These plants make rapid growth, soon come into bloom, 
and continue flowering until late in the autumn. 
For the convenience of amateurs who may wish to add to their 
-collections, or commence one, I give the names of sixty of the 
best of the newer Pansies in commerce, but with the fact that we 
have about a thousand varieties in cultivation, and over a hundred 
new sorts introduced each year, many of the newer kinds must be 
passed over, but amateurs may safely rely upon getting a good 
selection from the undermentioned and at cheap prices—namely, 
A. S. Glass, Alexander Smith, Bella Coutts, Bonnie Annie Laurie, 
Blooming Heather, Daughter of the Morning, George Anderson, 
Henry Hamilton, James Campbell, James Douglas, John Taylor, 
Julia Goodfellow, Lizzie Duncan, Lord Bute, Lord Hamilton, 
Maggie A. Scott, Maggie B. S. Cocker, Miss French, Miss Hen¬ 
derson, Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. John Ellis, Mrs. Freeland, Mrs. Lindsay, 
Marvel, Mrs. Lister, Mrs. Mack, Mrs. John M’Connell, Mrs. Philp, 
Neil Leitch, Neil Gillies, Eobert Jamieson, Robert Stobbie, 
Thomas McCrorie and William Evitts. Good varieties a little 
older are Andrew Gray, Allan Ashcroft, Archie Buchanan, 
Charlotte Muir, Donald Morrison, Mrs. John Downie, John 
Lament, Neil M’Kay, Mrs. Dobbie, Evelyn Bruce, J. J. Ashton, 
Mrs. Browell, Mrs. Maxwell, Campbell Binnerman, Charles 
Stansell, John Pope, May Tate, Mrs. G. P. Frame, Pilrig, Princess 
Beatrice, Kate McArthur, Tom Bell, Thomas- Battersby, Miss 
Jeannie Reid, William Dean, and Wm. Cuthbertson. 
Amongst the twenty-six last named varieties are many ex- 
■ceedingly fine flowers of great beauty and value to exhibitors. 
Objection may be taken by some raisers to the list I have given as 
not including some well worthy of notice. Granted, but with the 
enormous number of new varieties sent out every year who can 
select all the best, much less grow them ? AVe are having far too 
many every year, some not sufficiently distinct and many inferior 
to existing varieties. One florist sent out thirty-three new varieties 
last year at 2s. 63. each, not one of which had received a certificate 
^t any Pansy exhibition.—W. Deax, SimrlCiill, Birmingham. 
YARIEGATED FOLIAGE PLANTS. 
ADMiTTlxa that our Journal is open for free discussion, and that 
much good may be the result thereof, I am going to defend myself 
against the remarks of “B.,” page 81, who thinks I am severe upon 
Mr. Atkins. In the first place it was far from my intention to be 
severe, but I desired to be truthful, and to enlighten readers. B.” 
says I am incorrect in my statements, and he alludes to my condemning 
'Caladiums and Coleuses. The article I referred to was published in 
the columns of this Journal of January 15th, pages 39 and 40, and it 
states “ At this season of the year (viz., January),” and goes on to 
recommend these two plants for decorative work. I again repeat that I 
have never seen Caladiums fit for decoration in winter, or only occasion¬ 
ally the variety argyrites, and Coleuses I have never found to stand 
longer than an hour or two. I admit in their proper season they are 
useful, but not for winter decoration. I am willing to go any distance 
to see these plants fit for that purpose now, and shall be very glad to 
-purchase large quantities. 
Then as to Ananassa sativa variegata he imagines that neither of your 
correspondents has seen this in good form, anl he goes on to explain 
his method of growth and propagation. He states, “ We grow our large 
^plants in 16 and 12 inch pots, and when large enough the plants are 
beheaded, and the tops are rooted in 5-inch pots and kept in the full glare 
of the sun all the summer.” In this I am somewhat mystified. IIow can 
you behead Ananassas and serve them as he directs ? I am only speaking 
for myself. For his edification I will tell him what I have done with 
the Ananassas. Many years ago, when a boy in Messrs, Rollisson’s 
nursery at Tooting, these plants were scarce and valuable ; we then had 
Two varieties of sativa variegata, and another variegated one called 
Porteana, now seldom seen. The difference in the two forms was that 
one had much narrower and more highly coloured leaves. I do not 
remember where they originated, but Porteana came from the Philippine 
Islands. This has a leaf of a deep olive green colour, with a oroad 
band of pal-e y-ellow extending down the centre. Our mode of propa¬ 
gating was principally by suckers and crowns. AVe used to fruit 
both varieties {fruit 1| lb. to 2 lbs. only). A. sativa variegata produces 
-crowns very freely from the fruit, and these made symmetrical plants. 
We grew them in pots suspended from the roof of the house, and they 
used to colour■fiupecbly. For ordinary decoration they are useful, but 
not as table plaasita, for they are very spiny, and no one would care to 
use them for table decoration when the d.anger of getting scratched is 
so apparent, I should as soon think of using Yucca aloifolia variegata, 
with its spear like leaves and spines, as the Ananassas ; both are 
dangerous. 
“ B.” states then Pandanus A’’eitchi is one of the best standing 
plants. Yes, everybody who grows it knows its value. The Screw 
Pines are numerous, but this is the best variegated form, a great im¬ 
provement on the old Pandanus javanicus variegatus. The former was 
introduced by the late John Gould Veitch from the South Sea Islands, 
and is one of the most useful decorative plants grown. PerhapsB.” 
will be surprised to hear I grew this before it was in commerce, so I 
think I may claim a slight knowledge of what I am writing about. 
His remarks respecting Ficus elastica variegata would not do for 
those who have to make their living by growing plants. His mode of 
propagation would occupy too much room, and is far too long an 
operation. Then, to finish, he remarks both have omitted the Draemnas 
named by him ; why even after this ■wm could easily swell the number 
by naming many others if desirable.— Rusticus. 
Two Good Late AA'hite Chrysaxthemums. 
Probably few growers are as yet aware of the great value of 
L. Canning for flowering during January, either for decorative or 
market purposes. A year ago this variety was in great demand, there 
being a general belief amongst growers that it w'ould prove first-class' 
for exhibition, but in this it was disappointing, as owing to its lateness 
it was scarcely seen upon the exhibition tables. In consequence of this 
there appears this season to be no demani whatever for it. Its true 
value, however, is seen in its character as a late variety for producing 
grand white flowers during January, and in this I believe at present it 
has scarcely an equal. The plant is of dwarf and vigorous growth, 
producing smooth, hard, and shining foliage which is not susceptible 
to mildew (1 have never seen a trace thereon), and swells its buds 
freely during the dull dark days of December and January. During the 
past week I have been cutting fine flowers from it, which would be 
taken by most grow-ers as representing a superior type of Elaine, having 
exactly the form and character of that justly popular variety, but with 
slightly broader florets, and if possible a clearer and purer white. This 
is the type of flower which sells most freely and realises the highest 
prices, as it is most effective when cut for any purpese—in wreaths or 
bouquets, as flowers to wear, or for table decoration. It is my intention 
to grow as many as possible of it during the coming season for cutting 
from in January, 1892. 
The other variety deserving a word of praise is Sarnia, which has 
been in cultivation a number of years, but is not met with in many 
collections ; being of little use as an exhibition variety, owing to its 
lateness, many have eeased growing it. Like the above it is at its best 
during December and January, and for producing valuable flowers fer 
cutting dur’ng those months it is certainly very useful. Its flowers 
have exactly the form and character of Ethe', but without the objection¬ 
able dark centre which imperfectly grown flowers of that variety 
invariably show. A local grower of cut Chrysanthemums for market 
showed to me some flowers of it during the list week in December,, 
asking me if I could give him its name. He said he had grown it for 
some^years for cutting from at Christmas not knowing its name, but 
finding that it produced better flowers and sold more freely than Ethel. 
My own experience of it this season fully coincides with what he then 
told me, and 1 shall cultivate it in future for Christmas flowers in 
preference to Ethel.—AT. K. AA'". 
Late Chrysaxthemums. 
Ix endeavouring to provide blooms for Christmas a number of plants 
were raised from cuttings inserted in a cold frame in December. In 
April the late varieties were cut down, and the plan+s w-ere afterwards 
allowed to grow without either topping or taking the crown buds, but 
the terminals were thinned to one bud on each stem. Boule de Niege 
was over in November ; Putney George was later, and kept well till 
Januarv. Grandiflorum was the best, being well in bloom at Christmas, 
and kept till the 15th January. Princess Blanche does not grow over 
3 feet high, and requires no cutting down. It is the dwarfest variety 
we have seen, and flowers in December when grown in pots, and this 
year was out well till the 15th of Janury. It planted out and potted 
before the frost comes it does not flower until the new year, and is very 
useful for low houses. Mrs. C. Carey is now being employed in vases, 
and is our latest, but it comes almost single. AVe shall try the varie¬ 
ties named by “ E. M.” for late work ; but can he, or any grower, tell 
us of a w'hite Grandiflorum ! It would be a boon for late w-ork, fine 
in form and holding its blooms well up to view, while some drop their 
flowers in vases. M. E. A. Carriere was over with us in November ; but 
Meto on a cut-back gave us two grand blooms at Christmas ; very" 
pretty, but m our opinion no good as a fiil'oasket ” flower.—H. G., 
[Vi/ichcsfer. 
