March 30, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
this is that the plants are dressed with fresh material applied to the 
surface once a year, and in addition a very slight application 
of superphosphate. 
In passing I may say that the latter is a more important 
manorial agent than is generally supposed. I use a good deal of it 
in the course of each year. Just at present a very slight dressing is 
applied to growing flower.®— e.rj, Tulips, Narcissi, summer Irises, 
Carnations, early Gladioli, Polyanthuses, and to mixed borders ; 
also to Cabbages, Spinach, Onions, and anything that appears to 
require a fillip. Later the crop of Celery, Carrots, and also bedding 
plants are treated. There is nothing gained by applying a heavy 
dressing. For instance, last year I set a man to dress a plot of 
ground, and when I went back to see how he progressed 2 cwt. had 
been spread over a superficies of 480 square yards. One tenth 
would have been of more benefit to the crop. The general fault 
with those inexperienced with manures is to apply too heavily. 
The rule, which may have exceptions, is to dress lightly, and if 
necessary to dress often.—B. 
PROGRESS OF THE SPRING. 
IN A SCOTTISH MANSE GARDEN. 
It is most interesting to mark the growth and development of 
the vernal flowers at this season of the year. Owing to the in¬ 
fluence of the recent brilliant sunshine, followed in the calm June- 
like evenings by a gracious dew, much progress has been made. Every 
morning discloses to the thoughtful mind a new floral revelation. 
The Chinese Sacred Lily, which is essentially a Narcissus, exceed¬ 
ingly fragrant, but of somewhat unobtrusive attractiveness, is now 
in full bloom. So also is the familiar Wallflower, “ with its homely 
cottage-smell ” (to quote the expressive language which my friend 
Matthew Arnold applied to another and not fairer flower) ; while 
the lilac and pure white double Primroses are glowing everywhere. 
The Madonna Lily, called “candidum” by Virgil, and “argen- 
teum ” by Propertius, both expressive epithets, is growing very 
rapidly; a slower growth characterises the more delicate longi- 
florum ; and the great Lilium giganteum of the Himalayas is just 
beginning to appear. Only one of the speciosums—viz , the 
exquisite Kraetzeri, has made its appearance ; but the Krameri- 
anum, or Lily of Kramer, whose colour varies from palest pink to 
deep rose, has produced to my gratification four strong stems the 
first year from a single bulb, which surely beats the record. This 
is a Lily which, as I am informed by Dr. Wallace of Colchester, 
“ rarely does well.” 
A Gloire de Dijon Rose growing on a wall with a southern 
aspect has produced its first bud, and many others will be visible 
within the next two days. The “ Gloire ” with me is the earliest 
Rose to bloom ; in this respect it is usually in advance of the Rosa 
rugosa, Austrian Briar (Harrisoni), or Persian Yellow, which at 
present are only coming into leaf. Everywhere through the garden 
is seen the wonderful glow of the Daffodils, which as Shakespeare 
finely says, “ take the winds of March with beauty ; ” but its 
golden masses are still more beautiful in front of this manse, 
beneath the leafless trees. The Snowdrops and the Crocus, having 
fulfilled their mission, are fast vanishing from our gaze. The Lily 
of the Valley, that loveliest of the flowers of early summer, is 
rapidly developing its latent resources, and will come into bloom 
prematurely this year. The Periwinkle is luxuriating in a remote 
corner of the garden, and on the flower border opposite the 
“Adelina Patti” and “Comte de St. Clair” Iris are exhibiting 
for the first time signs of vitality.— David R. Williamson. 
DISCUSSION ON PEACHES. 
I HAVE read with interest the articles about Alexander and Waterloo 
Peaches. I prefer the last named, as Alexander is very precarious, nor 
is the fruit equal to Waterloo. I lose a few buds of Waterloo in the 
early house, but always have a fair crop of fruit of high colour and 
good quality. I do not irse the camel’s-hair brush to fertilise the 
blossom, but for twenty-five years have used a rabbit’s tail. This I skin 
and glue on the end of a long pointed stick. With this I reach to the 
top of the trees. I dew the trees with the syringe on fine mornings all 
through the blossoming and setting season. 
When the buds begin swelling I rub off all the back ones, as I 
scarcely ever lose any blooms through the setting. I have Waterloo in 
the early house, which is a lean-to 75 by 12 feet. Last year I gathered 
from the tree on May 5th, and sent the fruit to Mr. Monro, Covent 
Garden. These were sold for SGs. a dozen. In 1891 I sent my first 
fruit to market on May 8th, and these made 243. a dozen. 
I also have Waterloo in the late house, which is 180 feet long, and 
not heated. The low front trellis and the back wall are planted with 
Peaches and Nectarines. In this house I gather Waterloo about the 
middle of July, and the fruit is very useful, as it comes in just after the 
early house is over. Hale’s Early in the same house is ripe a few days 
after Waterloo is over. Next come Early York, Grosse Mignonne, and 
Sea Eagle. The last named is a good market Peach. Lord Napier and 
Pitmaston Orange Nectarines are favourites here. I grow more Eoyal 
George Peaches than any ether variety, as this is good for table and 
market, always cropping and colouring well. — W. Mowbray, llie 
Gardens, Fulmer, Slough. 
NEW FRENCH ROSES. 
{Concluded f rom 'page 2Z8.') 
As I have already indicated, there does not seem to be much hope of 
our getting anything very novel from our neighbours across the Channel, 
to whom we have been indebted for so many years for nearly all the 
lovely flowers which adorn our gardens and attract the notice of visitors 
at our exhibitions, but that time seems over, as I think may be gathered 
from two facts ; one being that in the new catalogue of the National 
Rose Society I do not believe that there will be half a dozen considered 
worthy of a place amongst exhibition Roses of such flowers as have 
been put into commerce since the supplement was publishevi ; the other 
is that when we look at the list of new Roses sent out in the autumn 
of 1891 we find that thirty-four Teas, eight Hybrid Teas, and twenty 
Hybrid Perpetuals w’ere announced, and I do not believe that one of 
them is known to be worthy of retention in our exhibition lists. Of 
course there may be a “ dark horse ” among them that may be at present 
unknown to fame, but the probability is that if there was anything very 
good we should have heard of it before now. We must therefore, I think, 
base our hopes of novelties upon our home raisers. 
Your correspondent, Mr. Williamson (page 214), seems to be in a bit of 
fog about some of the Roses he has named. There is a wide difference 
between a seedling and a sport, which he does not seem to recognise. 
Thus, Merveille de Lyon is not a seedling, but a sport of Baroness 
Rothschild ; Duke and Duchess of Fife are but sports of Etienne Levet 
and Countess of Rosebery, and not seedlings ; Souvenir de S. A. Prince 
is a sport of Souvenir d’un Ami ; Augustine Guinoisseau is a sport of 
La France, and not a seedling. As to Mrs. G. Paul, which, by-the-by, is 
not a Hybrid Bourbon, but a pure Bourbon, it is a seedling from that 
very vigorous Rose Madame Isaac Pereire. This may seem a digression, 
but it brings one face to face with the fact that it is amongst the raisers 
of our own islands, instead of those from France, that we are to look for 
additions. As far as Hybrid Perpetuals are concerned there is a more 
scientific system of hybridising practised amongst us. I take the Hybrid 
Teas first, not because I have any special love for them, but they come 
first in Ketten’s catalogue. 
Hybrid Teas. 
Elise Sehnle (H. Geisler).—Brilliant cerise red flower, the petals 
clear and transparent, those in the centre edged with white ; large, full, 
opening well, tulip-shaped. 
Lady Henry Grosvenor (Bennett).—Carnation rose flower; large, 
full, ball-shaped. 
Mrs.Charles Banting (Vigneron).—Carnation red rose, shading off to 
light rose ; very large, full in the cup, and very sweet scented. 
Madame Emile-Metz (Soupert & Netting) — Silvery white flower, 
tinted and shaded with bright rose, centre light carmine, sometimes 
yellow ; very large and full. 
Michael Buchner (Soupert & Netting).—Light brick rose flower 
shaded with carnation red ; very large, full, imbricated, cup-shaped. 
Paul Marot (Bonnaire).—Pale china rose coloured flower ; large, 
full, very long bud. Cross between Baronne A. de Rothschild and 
Signor Victor Hugo. 
Richard Wagner (Tiicke).—Salmony yellow flower, shading off to 
flesh coloured ; very large, full, and sweet. Cross between Belle Lyon- 
naise and Mary Fitzwilliam. 
Souvenir de Genevieve Godard (Godard).—Dark china rose coloured 
flower ; full, large, and sweet. 
Roses.—Hybrid Perpetuals. 
Baronne M. de Lustende (Pergravand).—Centre of flower dark rose, 
on the outside bright rose, and lighter shade in the autumn'; large, very 
full, long bud. Cross between Elizabeth Vigneron and Jules Margottin. 
Claude Jacquet (Liabaud).—Purplish scarlet flower, lightly shaded ; 
very large, full, convex, and very sweet. 
Clinihing Queen of Queens {W. Paulj.—Light rose coloured flower ; 
large and full. 
Buchess of Ffe (Cocker).—Light silvery red ; large, full, cup-shaped 
flower, very sweet. 
Duhe of Fife (Cocker).—Crimsony scarlet flower ; full and large. 
ByhowsM (Ldveque).—Clear vermilion red flower ; large and full. 
Frances Bloxam (G. Paul).—Brilliant salmony red flower, semi¬ 
double. 
Grand Buc Alexis (Ldveque).— Blood-red flower,shaded with purple 
and light vermilion, lightened up with bright carmine ; large and full. 
