May 25, 18S3. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
415 
While recommending these late-flowering Tulips I by no means wish 
it to be understood that the early blooming section should be ignored. 
I grow a large number of these ; indeed, all the pot-grown bulbs are 
planted out, and in a short period these produce some useful flowers, 
although they are not quite so valuable as the others. Nor have I forgotten 
the quaint and richly marked Parrot Tulips ; but of these I have grown 
comparatively few. At the same time these are proving so valuable 
that I hope to increase my stock for another season. Those who are 
totally unacquainted with Parrot Tulips may assure themselves that 
they are worth cultivating. The flowers are very large, and whether 
unexpanded or when fully developed they are equally beautiful.—B. 
GLADIOLUS COLVILLI THE BRIDE. 
Some two or three dozen pots of these extremely useful and chaste 
flowering plants are to be seen in the gardens at Draycot, Chippenham, 
where these, as well as Freesias, are always well grown. They are un¬ 
usually strong and well flowered, and so sturdy are the plants that no 
supports are required to keep their handsome spikes, now open, erect. 
For house decoration in a cut state, or as pot plants, these are choice 
and beautiful. They are grown in turfy soil, leaf mould, and some 
decayed manure, and when growing freely get the benefit of weak 
doses of liquid manure often. 
The secret of flowering these well is to thoroughly ripen the bulbs 
after their growth is completed, not by suddenly withholding water, 
causing the foliage to die away prematurely, but by standing the 
pots on a sunny shelf, and attend to them with their daily needs until 
signs of natural decay in the foliage are dearly apparent, when water can 
be withheld altogether. This is the treatment given by Mr. Gibson, and 
the results are satisfactory. 
I find they will not bear much exposure to sharp frost in pots without 
injury ; a portion of our stock plunged in ashes in a cold pit last winter 
were so crippled that they did not recover but few of them, and those 
that did do so are not strong enough to flower. Another gardener 
writing on the subject expressed his regret at the loss of several 
hundreds of his bulbs from the same cause. In the future, therefore, 
greater pro'ection will be afforded these valuable Easter and Whitsun¬ 
tide flowers, to avert such a serious loss which is now felt by their 
absence among the current season’s display. 
The plants at Draycot are growing in 6-inch pots, each containing 
seven bulbs, which, well grown, is sufficient to present a perfect indi¬ 
vidual specimen suitable for vases in the house, as dot plants in mixed 
conservatory arrangements, or any other use for which flowering plants 
are eligible. The bulbs in potting should be selected, keeping the 
stronger ones separate from small ones, or an evenness of flower spikes 
will not be secured.—W. S. 
LARCH DISEASE. 
I WAS very pleased to read Mr. Molyneux’s practical letter respecting 
the above in your issue of May 11th, answering my inquiry as to whether 
the disease is on the increase or decrease in the country generally. It 
evidently is not on the decrease in the district where Mr. Molyneux 
resides, but is as bad, or worse, than here. His account of it was all the 
more interesting to me as being from a district so entirely opposite to 
this both as to climate and composition of soil. Whilst the Swanmore 
soil there is heavy, and the subsoil chalk, ours is light loam in some 
places, sandy upon a subsoil of gravel or slaty rock. There is neither 
lime nor chalk in the soil, as is evidenced by the fact of Rhododendrons 
and other American plants flourishing very luxuriantly. We have 
moved some hundreds of bushes of all sizes, from 1 up to 12 feet in 
height of recent years, and all have done well, in fact they grow almost 
anywhere here. 
Our Larch plantations are mainly on hillsides, and in most cases 
naturally well drained, and facing almost every aspect, but, like Mr. 
Molyneux, we have noticed that where the plantations are on a north 
aspect the trees have escaped the disease much better than elsewhere. 
This favours the theory that late spring frosts of the last few years 
have a great deal to do with the spread of the disease, as those on a warm 
position start into growth early, and are cut back, are the first to be 
attacked by the disease, whilst those facing north start much later, and 
are not attacked so badly. 
The Larch aphis, or Chermes Laricis, is to be found in places with 
us, but not in such numbers as to do much damage. Our chief enemy 
is the canker. It has attacked trees of all ages, from three years 
up to twelve. We cut out about 12,000 diseased trees four years 
old from one plantation this spring. It is only about four years since 
the disease was first noticed here, but in that time it has made rapid 
progress. 
The Spruce and Pines grow well here, and attain good dimensions ; 
but they cannot take the place of the Larch as a timber tree, there 
being a great difference in their value. Abies Douglasi, which Mr. 
Molyneux says will not grow at all with him, thrives well here where 
we have planted it; but we have not planted it extensively, nor in 
exposed positions. I am afraid it will only do in sheltered positions. I 
should like to hear the experience of others who have tried it more 
extensively, also its value as a timber tree in comparison wi'h the 
Larch.—R. C. Williams, Crosswood Parlt, Ahcrystwith. 
Events of the Week. —Apart from the Temple Show, which 
opens to-day (Thursday) under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and continues on Friday, but few events of special horticultural 
interest will take place during the ensuing week. The Gardening and 
Forestry Exhibition at Earl’s Court, of course, is now open, and the 
customary auction sales at the various rooms will take place. 
- The Weather in London. —The current week opened with 
bright and sunny weather in the metropolis. Monday was also a 
glorious day, and the same may be said of Tuesday with the exception 
of the evening, when a slight shower fell. Wednesday morning was 
likewise fine, and as we are going to press the weather appears settled. 
- Weather in the North.—A bundance of rain has fallen 
during the last week, and the weather continues unsettled. A great 
deal of thunder has accompanied a half-hour’s storm, on the evening of 
Saturday being very severe. The 22nd was a remarkably fine day 
throughout. The temperature has been high for the season, only on one 
night falling under 45°.—B. D., S, Perthshire. 
- Florence Narcissus.—I have had some bulbs of a Narcissus 
sent me. They have been cultivated near Florence, and are said to 
be the sort painted by the Italian masters of the fourteenth century. 
Can anyone oblige with name, saying if hardy? They somewhat 
resemble small Tazetta bulbs.—B. 
- Hemerocallis flava. — Large patches of this fine old 
herbaceous plant are now in full beauty, the stately habit and bright 
yellow flowers making it one of the most attractive of hardy plants. 
Unfortunately the flowers do not last long, but either on the plants or 
cut and arranged loosely with foliage in vases they are very beautiful. 
—H. Richards. 
- Opening of a Public Park at Sr. Helens, Lancashire.— 
On Thursday, May 18th, Taylor Park was formally opened by the Mayor, 
A. Sinclair, Esq, J.P., who received the deed of gift from the donor, 
S. Taylor, Esq., B.L. The park comprises 36 acres of land and 11 acres 
of water. Mr. Thomas Smeatham, late of Leaton Knolls, Shrewsbury, 
rece.ved the appointment of head gardener. 
- Potatoes in Ireland. —According to an Irish paper there 
has seldom been a more hopeful promise of a rich yield in all descrip¬ 
tions of crops than at present. The Potato sets were put in during fine 
dry weather, which is of the greatest advantage, and all were planted 
in excellent time. New Potatoes were dug some weeks ago in Glandore, 
and they are at present comparatively common. 
- Shower and Victoria Bouquets.— I shall deem it a favour 
if information can be given on making the above bouquets. I have been 
a subscriber to the Journal of Ilortictdture for several years, and 
though, as you probably know, our winter occurs when it is summer 
in the old country, yet I have gained much useful knowledge from 
perusing your pages.—W. S. Tandy, Fairview, near Pleterniaritzhurg, 
Natal. [We will readily publish the desired information if any of our 
bouquet-making readers will favour by supplying it.] 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. J. Wright, late gardener 
to A. Sarle, Esq., Green Hayes, Banstead, has been appointed gardener 
to H. 0. Wills, Esq., Kelston Knoll, Bath. Mr. James Jones, after 
sixteen years as under gardener at The Larches, Preston, has been 
appointed head gardener to R. Fenton, Esq., Dutton Manor, near Long- 
ridge, Lancashire. Mr. Albert Pearce, for over two years foreman at 
Temple House, Great Marlow, Bucks, has been appointed head garlener 
to H. C. Jobson, Esq., Summer Hill House, Kidderminster. 
- Arnica Montana. —I quite agree with your note as to the 
beauty of this plant, but can anyone tell me if it requires any special 
treatment? I purchased a plant last summer which grew very slowly, 
and eventually died down in the autumn. It came up again in a very 
weak state this spring, and has now apparently collapsed altogether. I his 
may be owing to the exceptionally dry se.ison. Has any of your readers 
even seen a thoroughly vigorous plant of it, and under what conditions 
was it growing?—W. H. Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
