232 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 23, 1893. 
and was introduced to cultivation about 1796. It is ficrured in the 
“ Botanical Magazine,” t. 3018, under the name o£ Jonesia asoca. 
Christmas Roses. 
Quite the best thing in the grounds during the past month has been 
a large clump, several yards square, of Helleborus niger in the wild 
garden near the Cumberland Gate. This was planted about two years 
ago, and has not been disturbed in any way since. This system of 
naturalisation might with advantage be practised much more exten¬ 
sively, not only in our parks and public gardens, but also in private 
places. Several of our hardy spring flowers besides Hellebores lend 
themselves readily to such treatment, and many unsightly corners might 
be beautified by their use. 
A large number of named species and varieties of Hellebores are 
grown in the rock garden, and the finer sorts are also utilised to a con¬ 
siderable extent as pot plants for the decoration of the alpine house, 
which by the way is now beginning to look quite gay and will so^n be at 
its best. 
Bromeliads. 
Our neighbours on the continent show a keener appreciation of the 
merits of Bromeliads than we do. It is surprising that these charming 
plants should gain favour so slowly with us. It cannot be because of 
difficulties in their cultivation, for no exotics are more easily managed ; 
nor can it be from a lack of beauty in the flowers, for no class of plants. 
Orchids not excepted, can surpass them in their richness and delicacy of 
colouring and in the harmonious blending of the various tints of the 
bracts and flowers. The majority of the plants can scarcely be called 
decorative, but their deficiencies in this respect are fairly atoned for by 
their magnificence when in flower. 
Tbe collection of Bromeliads at Kew is probably the finest in the 
kingdom. It occupies nearly the whole of the staging in the Victoria 
House and one of the stages in the stove, and numbers somewhere about 
160 species. At most seasons of the year a fair number of these are in 
flower. The most noticeable at the present time are Hilchmea coeru- 
lescens, with small red flowers in an erect panicle; M. glomerata, flower 
bracts bright red, flowers reddish lilac ; Billbergia Breauteana, bright 
red bracts, deep violet-blue flowers; B. pyramidalis bicolor, violet 
flowers and bright red bracts ; B. thyrsoidea longifolia, bracts bright 
red, flowers red with purple tips ; Dyckia frigida, golden yellow flowers 
in a panicle about 1 foot long; Tillandsia microxiphion, a very dwarf 
plant, not more than 3 to 4 inches high, with rosy pink bracts and 
violet flowers. Two plants of Bromelia fastuosa are fruiting, bearing 
huge erect panicles of large, yellow, egg-shaped berries about 
] I inch in length. 
Calliandra Tweediei. 
Although it has been in cultivation for over fifty years, this elegant 
stove shrub does not appear to be very well known. It is deserving of 
a greater popularity, for it is handsome alike in foliage and flower. It 
•belongs to the natural order Leguminosse, tribe Mimosm, and bears a 
considerable resemblance to the Mimosas. It is of a compact, shrubby 
habit, and attains a height of about 3 feet. The bi-pinnate leaves, in a 
young state, are of a delicate light green colour, which is very pleasing 
and forms a fine contrast to the bright red of the flowers. The latter 
appear in early spring, and are borne in compact globose heads of about 
twenty flowers. The beauty of the flower lies entirely in the numerous 
bristling stamens, with their very long red filaments, and the name, 
Calliandra (beautiful stamen), is very appropriate. It was introduced 
from South Brazil about 1840, and is figured in the “ Botanical Magazine” 
for 1845. A plant is now flowering in the Palm house. 
Hibbertia dentata. 
The greenhouse does not present much of attraction in the way of 
climbers at the present season, but a fine specimen of this Hibbertia is 
worthy of a passing notice. The rich yellow flowers about 2 inches in 
diameter are freely produced, and show up well against the dark bronzy 
foliage. H. dentata is the best known of the Hibbertias, and is worthy 
of a place in every greenhouse for its foliage alone. It lacks the dis¬ 
agreeable odour which most of the other species possess. It is an old 
garden plant, having been in cultivation since 1814. A good figure of 
it is given in the “ Botanical Magazine.”—A. B. 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. 
Nearly every fruit tree gives promise of a heavy crop ; in fact, our 
trees here are exceptionally full of bud. Still, it makes us nervous to 
see the buds coming on so rapidly. Apricots are in full bloom, so are 
some of the Peaches. Brockworth Park Pear has opened some of i^s 
blooms, and other varieties are ready to expand. Plums are ready to 
burst open, and many Apples are showing the colour of their petals. 
That grand Apple Lane’s Prince Albert is scarcely on the move, and the 
same may be said of Bramley’s Seedling. This lateness is a valuable 
feature in lio'h varieties, as it makes the crop far more certain. 
I comuienced spraying on March 7th with Paris green, 1 oz. to 
20 gallons of water. On that date I discovered the first larva of the 
winter moth (which is about three weeks earlier than previous years), 
and on Maich 8ih I found a female winter moth on the trees. This 
opens up an important question as to how long the hatching process 
may go on. Utilei-s I am mistaken the caterpillar plague will be severe 
this spring, as there are more eggs on fruit trees than usual. Psylla 
Mali will also be strongly to the fore. So far the March moth has not 
appeared here. Fruit growers will have to make up their minds to 
figtit insect pests manfully in the west of England if they desire good 
crops, otherwise the enemy will work serious damage.—S. T. Wriqht, 
Glewston Court Gardens, _ 
It is most pleasing to note such an abundant promise of a fruit crop. 
It is not one kind of fruit that gives such a splendid display of flower 
buds, but all are alike in this neighbourhood. No doubt the compara¬ 
tively dry weather experienced during August and September of last 
year is partly accountable for the maturity of the wood and fruit buds. 
It is generally considered that where Apple trees bear an unusually 
heavy crop of fruit one year the same trees give promise of but a thin 
one the following. In our case it is not so this season ; trees of many 
kinds that gave exceptionally heavy crops last year are now literally 
smothered with buds. 
Trees planted but two years, irrespective of variety, give promise of 
more fruit than will be good for them if we escape the usual spring 
frosts. Here the flower buds are severely thinned on these recently 
planted trees. I find the practice is well worthy of the time spent; it 
does not take long to remove one half of the flower buds from the trees. 
I prefer to do this just prior to expansion. 
Trees planted last autumn, instead of allowing them to carry fruit 
during the coming season they w'ould be all the better if the buds were 
pinched off directly they are large enough to handle. The chances of 
growth of a superior order will be increased, tending much more toward 
the future success than crippling the trees by premature cropping. 
Peach and Nectarine trees on the open walls I have never seen more 
promising, many of the former are fully in flower. Gross Mignonne on a 
southern aspect, and Royal George facing east were the first to open 
their blooms, even before Alexander and other early kinds growing 
against a south wall. 
Plums of all kinds also show well, and Cherries are no exception. 
Pears show, by the plump buds and breaking calyx, that they mean to 
give us plenty of flower. Gooseberry blooms are now (March 16th) 
fully expanded, and the trees are fairly well clothed with foliage. 
These are, I fear, much too forward to ensure a full crop.—E. M., 
Sivanmore. 
THE SWANLEY PRIMULAS. 
“I HAVE a Primula such as you have never seen before. You are 
an enthusiast about these flowers, come and see itthus wrote Mr. 
Henry Cannell a fortnight ago. An ingenious man is the head of the 
Home of Flowers. He contrives to arouse curiosity, while leaving no 
means of gratifying it but a journey to Swanley. This is not what 
may be termed a florist’s Primula, but a decorative acquisition. 
Imagine a plant 18 inches to 2 feet high from the rim of a 5-inch pot, 
and a foot through, with the true Primula sinensis foliage. Recall the 
flowers of the old sinensis if you have seen it, single, about three- 
quaiters of an inch across, and nearly white. Clothe the plants with 
dense clusters of these flowers, not in single trusses, but japonica-like, 
whorl above whorl on long brown stems, and you have an idea of 
Primula The Lady, by which name Mr. Cannell gallantly describes his 
new favourite. For freedom of blooming obconica has no place beside 
it; in loose graceful beauty japonica bears no comparison. It is like a 
well grown pyramidal Saxifrage as we sometimes see that useful plant 
in parlour windows, but with the difference that it is more flowing— 
more fleecy so to say, altogether more charming. Does this sound 
promising 1 If so it may convey some idea of merits of the new star in 
the Primula firmament, and when it is added that it comes from seed 
just as freely as a weed, and grows vigorously and healthily, it will 
perhaps be agreed that the plant is worth thinking about. To compare 
it with the choice forms is futile. It is of a totally different class, 
calculated to add brightness to greenhouses, conservatories, and windows 
by its cheerful profusion and clustering wreaths of blossom. 
I should like to add a few words about the Primulas proper—the 
forms of P. sinensis which comprise the famous Swanley strain. They 
are a really grand assortment. What splendid size and substance there 
is in the flowers, and what perfection of truss, can only be gathered 
from a visit; but I will say a word or two about some of the best 
varieties Kentish Fire is a carmine red, very free flowering. Eynsford 
Purple is a rich purplish carmine. Pink Queen is a lovely soft pink 
with a fine truss and pips nearly inches across. Picotee is a distinct 
and charming flower, white with pink margin. We are getting Picotee 
forms of everything ; a Rose will be cropping up soon. The more the 
better, for they are all pleasing variations. Duchess of Fife is a Fern¬ 
leaved with a fine truss and pinkish lilac substantial fimbriated flowers 
2|- inches in diameter. Future Queen is another Fern-leaved of great 
beauty. It has a very large, evenly formed truss, pips substantial, 
fimbriated, and nearly 2^ inches across, pure white. This is one of several 
magnificent whites. Her Majesty, plain leaved, is nearly as good as 
Future Queen. White Perfection is another splendid one, having noble 
heads of beautiful pure white pips. In size, substance, form, and purity 
it might indeed be styled Perfection, but it is doubtful if it is not 
eclipsed by another superb variety—Eynsford White, which has recently 
been raised. It is a little earlier than White Perfection, has a large 
truss, and immense pips of great solidity, pure white with yellow eye. 
Cannell’s White is another splendid variety. Mary James, clear mauve, 
is very distinct in colour, and has a good truss. Cannell’s Pink is a 
worthy companion to the White. It has a large truss, pips of great size, 
and the beautiful colour of a La France Rose. Cannell’s Favourite is 
a rich purplish carmine, and, like Swanley Blue, has other points of 
