438 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 16, 1893. 
FORCING BULBS. 
Chrysanthemums, -wliich are now so infinite in variety and 
attractive in appearance, supply our gardens with such a wealth of 
flowers during the dullest months of the year, that the forcing of 
bulbs may with advantage be delayed to a later period than was 
formerly desirable. Although it is wise, even if not absolutely 
necessary in many instances, to have a few Roman Hyacinths and 
Narcissi in flower early in November, it is not till the middle of 
December, or about Christmas-time, that forced flowers are in 
great demand. Even then the late varieties of Chrysanthemums 
supply an abundance of bloom ; still the bulk of them are over, and 
variety among them being less, a change in floral fare is welcomed, 
if for no other reason than to divert our thoughts from holding in 
too light esteem the charms and usefulness of the “ Autumn 
Queen,” an error which too long familiarity with things and beauty 
sometimes begets. 
The present is a good time to place in heat bulbs for flowering 
at the time indicated. Roman Hyacinths rank among the most 
useful for this purpose, as they may be brought into flower quickly 
with but little risk of failure if good bulbs are obtained. It is 
surprising what hard forcing they will bear with impunity, pro¬ 
vided suitable treatment is given them. If necessary it is quite 
possible to have them in flower ten days after their introduction 
in heat, if they have previously made a little more than an 
inch of growth before being removed from the plunging material. 
It is not often advisable to force them so rapidly, but whenever 
the imperious demands of special occasions renders the practice 
necessary it is well to be prepared with a safe plan of action. 
Those which I brought into flower so quickly were managed in 
the following way. Shallow boxes were placed over the hot-water 
pipes in front of a pit ; the pots of Hyacinths being stood in these, 
and a little cocoa-nut fibre packed around the base of the pots to 
keep the soil in them from drying too quickly at that point by 
reason of their close contact with the heated pipes. When the 
requisite number of pots were placed in position they received a 
thorough soaking with warm water, and were afterwards watered 
almost every day, only failing to do so should the soil appear quite 
wet when the usual time for watering arrived. No regular 
temperatures were kept up, but a strong heat was maintained in 
the pipes throughout, a little air being also left on the back of the 
pit. This treatment, with a couple of syringings daily, resulted in 
even potfuls of these useful flowers ten days after being placed 
in heat. For a couple of days before their removal from the 
pit they were put on pots near the glass, away from the hot- 
water pipes, to accustom them to the loss of bottom heat before 
being transferred to a much cooler temperature. 
Tulips of the Due Yan Thol type bear hard forcing extremely 
well, and if they are allowed to make fully 1^ inch of growth 
before being taken from the plunging material, and then gradually 
inured to light in cold pits, they are then in the right condition to 
bring into flower quickly whenever there is a demand for them. 
The Double Roman Narcissus is excelleijt for early forcing ; but 
as soon as the improved form of Paper White (Snowflake) comes 
in in bulk the first-named is not wanted. If the flowers are 
required for cutting only the majority of Narcissi bear sharp 
forcing well. I find, however, that pots of various sizes, containing 
from five to nine bulbs, are extremely useful and effective for 
arranging singly in vases ; those, therefore, that are required for 
this purpose should be kept quite close to the glass in a rather 
cooler temperature, otherwise the leaves become drawn and weedy 
looking. 
Whenever it is absolutely necessary to force potfuls intended 
for vases on quickly they may be placed on a shelf near the glass 
in a Cucumber house, or forcing house having a similar tempera¬ 
ture, till the flowers begin to show colour. If the pots are then 
removed to a cooler structure both leaves and flower stems will 
become considerably strengthened by the time the flowers are fully 
expanded. Poeticus ornatus is a grand Narcissus for bringing on 
in a gentle heat. If forced too sharply a large percentage of 
flower buds which never open are produced. Sir Watkin, which is 
now considerably reduced in price, is, I think, the variety of the 
future. Hitherto it has been too choice to subject to sharp forcing, 
but this season I hope to try its capabilities in that direction. 
Freesias seem to become more popular each year, as their 
culture is better understood. If the bulbs are potted in light rich 
soil, the pots plunged in cocoa-nut fibre till an inch of growth has 
been made, and are then removed to a shelf in a cool house, they 
will succeed admirably. The earliest plants thrive well it grown 
in an intermediate temperature. Allium neapolitanum is also an 
extremely useful bulbous plant, which requires exactly the same 
treatment as Freesias. It ought, I think, to be more generally 
grown. ^ 
Much of the success or failure experienced in bulb forcing is 
due to the manner in which this operation is performed. I find 
there is a general tendency among young men to allow the soil to 
get into about the same state of dryness before W'ater is given, no 
matter what position the pots occupy, or what temperature they 
are grown in. The effect of this is sometimes ruinous to the plants. 
When growing in a strong heat, especially if the pots are near the 
hot-water pipes, the soil ought to be kept constantly moist, for if 
it becomes thoroughly dry many of the roots are destroyed. On 
the other hand, when grown in cool houses where but little fire 
heat is employed, the pots should ring sharply when rapped, before 
water is given. 
Notwithstanding much which has been said to the contrary, I 
consider frequent applications of liquid manure to be of great 
benefit in helping to swell the individual flowers up to their 
fullest size ; for although each bulb already contains the embryo 
flower spike, strong healthy roots are required to feed and develop 
it, and in liquid manure these roots find stimulating food, in a form 
most easily assimulated.—W. 
SOME NEW VIOLAS. 
On looking through my notes of new Violas for this year I find over a 
hundred varieties altogether have come under my notice. In these 
notes, however, I will deal principally with those sent out in 1893, and 
include a few varieties of 1892 because of their great beauty, I will 
refer to the new kinds yet to be introduced in another paper. 
The early part of 1893 was all that could be wished for the Viola, 
mild and genial, and with such a wealth of bloom everywhere. In the 
south and the midlands, however, we had a very long spell of tropical 
heat and drought, with a pitiless downpour of brilliant sun heat, which 
drove vegetation into a state of misery, and Violas were in so many 
instances during the summer scorched up, and they had to bear a 
terrible infliction of brown aphis. 
For bedding out many of the varieties in cultivation are very 
suitable, but I have no intention of touching upon these exclusively. I 
wish to draw attention to some of the best of the newer sorts. 
Blue Bonnet (J. D. Stuart).—White with a broad edging or margin 
of bright purple, and distinct. 
Bridesmaid, (Dean).—Pale primrose and quite rayless and fine. 
Comet (McKie).—Rich rosy purple with a darker centre, fine. 
Blue Gown (Dr. Stuart).—Blue self, dwarf and very free blooming. 
Blush Queen (Dr. Stuart).—White tinted with blush. 
Bridal Wreath (Dr. Stuart).—Pure white, very like Sylvia. 
3Irs. B. Fergusson (Irvine).—Pure snow white, good form, very fine. 
Mrs. McDonald (Irvine).—Violet purple clouded with blue tinted 
lilac, fine form. 
Countess (McKie).—Shaded rosy plum and purple, fine. 
Duchess (McKie).—Shaded lilac pink with lighter top petals, fine. 
Edina (Dobbie & Co.).—A grand variety and so distinct; rich dark 
violet centre with a bright blue lilac margin, very handsome. 
Favourite (Dobbie & Co.).—Light blue ; an excellent bedder. 
Golden Ilahe (J. D. Stuart).—Deep yellow, good habit, a valuable 
variety. 
Hyacinth (Baxter).—Shaded white and lavender, blue centre, and 
quite distinct. 
Laveroch (J. D. Stuart),—A “skylark” style of flower, but an 
improvement, and fine. 
Lemon Queen (Dobbie & Co.).—A little deeper in colour than Brides¬ 
maid ; fine. 
Magnet (McKie).—A rich coloured flower, and extra fine ; a very 
handsome variety. 
Mrs. Hay. —A very distinct striped flower, violet purple stripes and 
white ground ; fine. 
Peter Barr (Barr).—Yellow, bordered with pale pink; a peculiar 
flower, and really a miniature Pansy. 
Picotee (Dr. Stuart),—White with a wire margin of blue lilac on 
each petal, and small flowers, very pretty and distinct. 
Roh Roy (Dobbie & Co.).—An improved “ Vernon Lee,” yellow, with 
with the top petals chocolate coloured with small gold band on each. 
Sylvia (Dr. Stuart).—Creamy white self, type of Countess of Hope- 
toun. 
White Flag (Baxter).—White, of great substance, and with long 
footstalks. 
White Duchess (Baxter).—This is the “Duchess of Fife” with a 
white instead of yellow ground colour, a charming variety which will 
become popular. 
The foregoing 1 have seen, and they are of the ordinary large flower 
section of Violas, but there are many others which were sent out last 
year for the first time, some of which I have not seen, and of others the 
plants came to harwi late in the spring and had no chance of doing well 
owing to the very hot weather. 
The pretty miniature section of the Violetta type has an earnest 
champion in Mr. George Steel, late of Heatherslaw and now of Etal in 
Dumfriesshire, who has discarded all Violas not of the Violetta type, so 
as to devote attention entirely to the latter. Dr. Stuart of Chirnside 
originated them, and is the raiser of Violetta and other pretty varieties. 
The Violetta section is distinct in the smaller growth, w’hich is of 
more procumbent habit, and in giving a profusion of small, well 
shaped flowers, all remarkable for their strong violet fragrance and 
