February 2, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
91 
seasin, thea, frocn a return based on the last eight years, July 8th an! 
■9th are the most popular dates, more shows clashing on these dates than 
on any other, and, therefore, presumably the height of the Rose season, 
I have exhibited at every “ Rose Derby ” from the first Show held in 
St. James’Hall in 1877, and my experience leads me to the same con¬ 
clusion—viz., that the height of the Rose season is July 8th or 9th. 
Now for a little friendly criticism. What special advantages does 
Mr. Grahame possess whereby to form his opinion as to the height of the 
Rose season ? 1, Has he a lengthened experience ? No. His name first 
appears as a member of the N.R.S. in 1889. 2, Has he a large Rosa 
garden, growing plants in different situations ? No. He describes his 
garden as “ being of the most diminutive size.” 3, Does he grow his 
Roses in such a way as to lengthen his Rose season, cut-backs followed 
by maidens ? No. He says in reference to maidens, ” I have no room 
to try such experiments,” 4, Does he visit, other than the two provin¬ 
cial shows of the N.R.S. in 1891 and 1892, the Rose shows north of the 
Trent, and so ascertain the high standard there attained in the latter 
half of July? No. He says, in reference to attending these shows, “ I 
am not anxious to compete out of my proper district.” Herein, I think, 
lies the reason for the course he has taken. If his “proper district” 
was less circumscribed, if he ventured once now and again to visit 
northern shows, he would know the strength of the north. He would 
know on what date the northerners are at their best. He would 
not class Messrs. Burch of Peterborough with “ other northerners,” 
seeing Peterborough is seventy or eighty miles south of Worksop. He 
would know that the Midlands, except in special localities, is the latest 
t)f all districts. He would know the “ Cants” do not show north of the 
Trent “ late in the season.” He would know the grand displays of 
seventy-two blooms exhibited at the late shows by Messrs. Merry weather, 
Harkness, Perkins, Dickson, and Cocker ; he would remember, if he had 
been there, the magnificent Charles Lefebvres exhibited by Mr. Machin 
last year on July 30th ; and when he knew all this he would desire to 
see such Roses exhibited at the “ Rose Derby ” of the year. 
I am sure he will take my criticism in good part, A difference of 
opinion should not make us worse friends ; but I cannot forbear speak¬ 
ing my mind when I observe him stating time after time that which I 
feel sure he would be the last to state were he not drawing upon his 
conjecture rather than speaking from experience. — Joseph H. 
Pemberton. 
DOUBLE PRIMULAS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
There are many good forms of Primulas in cultivation. I have 
grown a variety named albo-pleno fimbriata for many years. It is 
invaluable for supplying cut flowers during the winter. Nurserymen 
and florists are alive as to the value of these plants for supplying a 
profusion of choice white flowers. In visiting a nursery where there are 
large demands for cut flowers one would be astonished to see the number 
of double Primulas grown for that purpose; Many people find it 
diflScult to propagate and grow these plants satisfactorily, I grow from 
eighty to 100 of them annually, and will now give a few simple cultural 
instructions that I have proved to be sound. 
After the plants have done flowering I clear off all the bottom leaves. 
I then prepare some light compost of leaf mould, old cocoa-nut fibre 
refuse, silver sand, and crushed charcoal. With this material I earth 
the plants up, forming a mound around the stems, but not entirely 
covering the crowns. After this they are watered through a fine rose to 
settle the soil. They are then placed on a shelf in a warm house near 
the glass, keeping the soil moist by sprinkling the plants in bright 
weather. Here they usually remain for five or six weeks, by that time 
they will be well rooted. I then shake the soil from the roots, and 
divide the plants into as many pieces as possible. Nearly all those 
crowns can be taken with roots attached. They are then placed singly 
in small pots in a compost of good turfy loam, leaf mould, a good 
sprinkling of crushed charcoal, and some coarse silver sand. 
After being potted the young plants are placed in a cold pit kept 
rather close till the young crowns are established in the pots. When 
well rooted the plants are placed in 48-size pots, in which they flower. 
The compost for this potting is the same as that recommended, with the 
addition of a little bonemeal. Careful watering is always needed in the 
culture of double Primulas, with constant attention from beginning 
to end, or failure will sure to follow. The best place for flowering them 
is a shelf near the glass in a warm greenhouse where they will cjn- 
tinually produce trusses of bloom in great abundance all through the 
winter. Are the flowers of White Lady superior to those sent ?—E. H., 
Mountains, Hildeniorough. 
[Admirably grown specimens of a bold form of the old Double White 
accompanied this communication. The variety resembles a pa’e form of 
Annie Hillier, the stems or stalks are of a pale green hue, and the fully 
developed flowers tinged with flesh colour. White Lady has dark foliage 
and reddish stalks, the flowers more double and purer in colour, in fact 
a good white. Marchioness of Exeter is of the same character, but has 
larger flowers that are less pure. Still, when well grown it is a splendid 
variety.] _ 
I CANNOT but think Mr. Gilbert (page 75) is under some misappre¬ 
hension with respect to the names of his double Primulas. I have 
always understood that Mrs. A. F. Barron was of a carmine colour. It 
was by that name shown last October, in excellent condition. The 
white form described by Mr, Gilbert reads like White Lady. 
Marchioness of Exeter should be carmine flaked, but there is always a 
tendency for the flake to wear out, and unless plants that maintain that 
feature in the flowers are chiefly propagated the flake may disappear 
altogether. Generally it is of so trifling a form that it rarely interferes 
with the classification with the white variety. Added to those named, 
Annie Hillier, robust grower, flowers white, heavily suffused with pink, 
having also pale green foliage, is good ; so also are Rubra grandiflora, 
crimson ; and Atro rose-plena, deep crimson. Those named constitute 
probably the finest half dozen of double Chinese Primroses in cultivation. 
I should like to hear whether anyone has the fine varieties that 
some twenty-five to thirty years ago were raised by Mr. Stewart, gardener 
to Mrs. Eyre Crabbe, Southampton, and named and introduced by 
Mr. Henderson of Pine Apple Place. It is possible that these were not 
so robust as were those Mr. Gilbert of Burghley put into commerce ; or 
no one may have understood how to grow double Primulas as Messrs. 
Cannell & Sons, who do them splendidly, or some of the Leatherhead 
gardeners, whose fine plants I referred to in the late autumn.—A. D. 
PEAS AND CABBAGES. 
New varieties of Peas come upon us in such numbers that it is 
impossible to keep up with them ; but it is possible to try two or thne 
of the newer kinds. Gradus is a decided advance upon the early 
varieties, having pods and peas of the size of the midseason kinds, such 
as Telegraph. This will be in great request by exhibitors for early work. 
Handsome though it be, it will not displace Charmer with me, which 
comes in about the same time, is a heavy cropper, and of excellent 
quality. Oracle is a great acquisition, a very prolific cropper, bearing 
its pods in pairs, which are of deep colour, long, and very closely packed. 
Alderman is one of the giant-podded varieties, and will be a favouiite 
with those who are admirers of immense pods. It is a grand exhibition 
variety, but I prefer Autocrat, which I believe cannot be beaten for 
appearance, quality, and cropping. No Pea has ever done so well 
with me. 
I do not like a Pea that does not keep the pods well filled. However 
young one may pick Charmer, Autocrat, or Oracle the pods are filled in 
proportion to their size. Some of the giant-podded Peas are too often 
deceptive in this respect. I am not fond of the very early round Peas, 
and am quite content to wait for William Hurst, which is early and of 
excellent quality. William Hurst, Charmer, Oracle, and Autocrat, 
together with Duke of Albany, form an excellent succession of good 
Peas such as can hardly be beaten for cropping, appearance, and 
quality. 
A Trio of Cabbages. 
Last spring 1 had under trial Ellam’s Early grown alongside of 
Messrs Viimorin’s Express, Etampes, Paris Market, and Rennes. 
BHam’s once more took the lead, and had firm little hearts a week before 
Express, which, however, is a very good Cabbage indeed and a capital 
companion to Ellam’s Early. Paris Market and Etampes I will only 
say were very good Cabbages, but as earliness is everything I do not 
think they are desirable when the two first mentioned are obtainable. 
For a main crop and a large Cabbage of very good quality I can 
recommend Rennes. This i should judge to be just the Cabbage for 
cottagers and market growers, for it is by no means slow in turning in, 
and is of good appearance, compact, and of fair size. It is also good in 
quality when cooked. These three Cabbages will afford an excellent 
succession.— H. S. Easty. 
LABtLS IN KENSINGTON GARDENS. 
I SHOULD be much obliged if you will kindly inform me how the 
names of the plants are written on the large labels used in Kensington 
Gardens. The labels appear to be ordinary wooden ones painted white 
and written on with some sort of ink or paint in a bold copper plate hand¬ 
writing with some very broad pointed pen, and seems to be practically 
indelible. I should have said such labels were in use last summer, and 
no doubt are so now.—H. B. M. 
[We received the foregoing letter last week, and replied to it briefly 
in our “ Answers to Correspondents.” In the meantime we wrote to 
Mr. W. Browne, the Superintendent of Hyde Park, and he promptly 
favoured us with the following reply :— 
“ The labels referred to are ‘ home made.’ I send herewith a couple 
for your inspection. You will observe they are simply pieces of deal, 
painted with three coats of green colour, and the points tarred. The 
name is written in ordinary white paint, with a ‘ writer’s pencil ’ (small 
camel hair brush). Labels are a great disappointment to a plant border, 
reminding one of cemetery tombstones in miniature. I suppose they 
must be regarded as a necessary evil. However, I think the green 
ground of our label is a great improvement on those with a white 
surface.” 
It appears that “ H. E. M.” was wrong in h s impressions. The 
labels are not painted white and the names displayed in dark letters, 
but the labels are green and the lettering white. There is nothing con¬ 
spicuous about these labels but the names, and that is exactly what is 
wanted. Wirh white labels the reverse is apt ^o be the case—the labels 
obtrusive, and the names obscure. The change is a simple one, biic 
altogether satisfactory, the labels being far more agreeable in appear¬ 
ance than the “staring” white ones that adorn the borders in many 
gardens. Th,e samples sent by Mr. Browne are made of half-inch deal, 
one of them 18 inches long and 2 inches wide, the other a foot long, and 
1^ inch wide. The names are very clear as represented in what may 
be termed half-inch letters.] 
