January 31,1396. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
103 
four monkish Latin verses. Several old translations of the lines are met 
with; the following is one of the English versions :— 
“ If Saint Paul’s Day be fair and clear, 
It doth betide a happy year ; 
But if it chance to snow or rain, 
Then will be dear all kinds of grain ; 
If clouds or mists do dark the sky, 
Great store of birds and beasts shall die. 
And if the winds do fly aloft. 
Then war shall vex the kingdom oft.” 
St. Paul’s Day last year was miserably wet and cold ; this year it 
was made unpleasant by rain and sleety showers. Still, we will hope 
for a happy year, and, at least, we do not expect that abnormally high 
prices will rule in our grain markets. At the meeting of the Court of 
Fruiterers last Friday, the Lord Mayor (Sir Joseph Renals) was unani¬ 
mously elected Master of the Company, and Mr. W. E. Brooks and Mr. 
T. Platt, Wardens. The Lord Mayor was unable to attend the banquet 
that followed in consequence of impaired health. Mr. W. Garland 
Soper, the Senior Past Master of the Guild present, was chosen to 
preside, and he displayed marked ability in the position. The company 
numbered about 150. After the Chairman, the chief speakers were Sir 
Donald Currie, Sir Stuart Knill, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Samuel 
Alderman Pound, and Mr. John Eagleton. Among horticulturists 
present were Messrs. G. Bunyard, Peter Kay, George Monro, T. Francis 
Rivers, and J. Wright._ 
WINTER-SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. 
The fruit trees here are washed regularly every year as soon as they are 
pruned with softsoap and water, and the branches thoroughly scrubbed 
with a brush, such as is used for cleaning carriage wheels, to remove 
insect pests, smut, and any cryptogamic growth that may be on the 
bark. After this is done the trees are syringed all over with solution 
of a wineglassful of petroleum to a gallon of water to destroy any 
insects that may still be left harbouring in the crevices of the bark and 
branches. 
Hitherto this operation was performed by two men. One was 
employed in churning and mixing the oil and water with the syringe in 
a pail, while the other was applying it to the tree. It was a tedious 
process in getting over the work where there were a number of trees to 
be done, and I often thought it would be a great advantage and saving 
of labour if a garden engine could be constructed so as to mix the petro¬ 
leum ani water just as it left the nozzle of the engine. About two 
years since a member of the firm of the Stott Fertiliser and Insecticide 
Company, Ltd,, called on me, and I mentioned the circumstance to him, 
pointing out the great advantages to be derived from such an engine. 
He said that the firm had been working for some time trying to perfect 
an engine of this kind, and they bad succeeded, with the exception of 
some minor details, in adjusting the quantity of petroleum the engine 
can deliver per gallon of liquid, which could be easily got over. 
After this assurance I ordered a 30-gallon engine to be sent on as 
soon as possible after it was perfected. It took longer to do this than 
they expected, and I did not receive it till last autumn, and this is the 
first season I have used it in spraying the trees. It does its work well. 
It is a great saving of time, as we can do six trees in the time we used 
to take to do one with the syringes, and it is much cleaner and easier 
for the men. The petroleum is put into a square box with a perforated 
lid, which is level with the top of the engine, and by means of a valve 
attached to it, it can be regulated and adjusted to distribute from a 
quarter of a glass to two wineglassfuls to the gallon of water. 
For summer or winter spraying of fruit trees I consider the engine 
is perfect, and a great improvement on the old method of using the 
syringe when applying petroleum as an insecticide to trees.— 
A. Pettigkew, Castle Gardens, Cardiff. 
UPWARDS AND ONWARDS. 
Probably at no other time of the year are flowers so greatly 
appreciated as at present. They brighten the wintry days ; cheer us 
when we feel downcast ; provide us with food for thought and for work, 
and moreover prove to us that at all seasons of the year flowers may be 
had by proper attention to the essential details of culture and of kinds. 
During the past decade the advance made in the improvement of winter 
flowering plants has been unprecedented, as will readily be admitted 
when the Chrysanthemums, the Primulas, the Cyclamens, and numerous 
others of to-day are mentally compared to those of days gone by. For 
quality of flower, richness, and diversity of colouration, and exquisite 
symmetry of form in either of the examples above named there can be 
little, if any, comparison. Yet we must not despise those that were 
really pioneers to the present greatness, for did they not act as an 
incentive, if such was needed, to those true florists, w'ho, in their un¬ 
remitting endeavours to find something better, have earned for them¬ 
selves the gratitude and respect of all classes of the gardening community 
of the present day ? Upwards and Onwards was their motto, and it must 
be ours. Let us strive as our predecessors have striven, that our 
successors may say the same of us as we are saying of those good men 
who have gone before. The reward is worth the winning, and it can 
only be had by honest labour. Who will not enter the lists ? 
Though mention has been made in the above lines of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums it ii not proposed to refer again to them, but to the other two 
mentioned—Primulas and Cyclamens. Taking them in their order, let 
us look in on a collection now at the summit of its beauty, and see what 
a wealth is afforded. But perhaps it would be as well before going 
farther to say that the display may be seen by any readers who care to 
journey as far as Reading and inquire for the nurseries of Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons, and whenever it is possible to go the opportunity should be 
taken, for there is much to see, to interest, and to instruct, as everyone 
who has heen will he only too ready to testify. Let the guide be Mr. 
Leonard Sutton (as in the present case) or Mr. J. Martin (as on a pre¬ 
vious visit) the result can but be the same, and that is the visitor departs 
with the glory of the flowers ever before his eyes ; the thought of the 
courtesy and geniality, combined with an unusually deep practical 
knowledge of his guide, and the determination that should ever kind 
fate place Reading in his way again he would not fail to avail himself of 
another look, and mayhap another talk. 
The strides that have been made in Primulas by the great Reading 
firm have been referred to many times, and it is consequently the more 
difficult to say anything fresh, and yet did we not place the latest intro¬ 
ductions on record year by year we should not be doing justice either to 
the introducers, to our readers, or to ourselves, and it is simple justice 
that is aimed at by the writer, and surely that is all that is desired by 
anyone. Thousands of plants are to be seen, representing many varie¬ 
ties, and it is obviously impossible for anyone to mention the whole, so 
reference will only be made to those that are possessed of more than 
ordinary merit either in colour, freedom of flowering, or shape. 
Though it has been pointed out many times before, the fact of the 
Chinese Primulashaving been raised from one species will bear repetition. 
To the cultured mind of the florist this conveys a world of meaning, 
for does it not show that instead of hybrids the magnificent kinds seen 
to-day are cross-breds? At Reading the original form may be seen 
alongside the best varieties, and the latter certainly lose nothing in the 
comparison. The plants are of course models of health and good culture, 
and as examples of the latter could not be overpraised. The chief 
points may be briefly stated. The plants are compact, the foliage stout 
and broad, and the handsome flower trusses are carried well above the 
leafage. There are thousands of plants in 5-inch pots, all raised from 
seeds sown in June ; but let us now glance at a few of the varieties, for 
time presses, and they must not be missed. 
As representing one of the first of the firm’s introductions, and one 
that continues to maintain a very high position in the public estimation 
despite the fact of its having been sent out in 1879, mention may be 
made of Ruby King, while another introduced in the same year— 
namely. The Pearl, still holds its own. The truss of this chastely beau¬ 
tiful white variety are shapely and strong, while the individual flowers 
are as near perfect as possible. Of the first named nothing need be said ; 
it has its reputation, and in upholding that it proves its merit in a most 
convincing manner. Brilliant Ruby is exceedingly floriferous and sturdy 
in habit. The colour, while resembling Ruby King, is richer and more 
intense, and is of a distinct and pleasing shade. The flowers of Reading 
Pink are of a particularly delicate tint that commands instant attention and 
admiration. The blooms are large in size, stout in texture, and of splendid 
shape, while they are in addition borne in great numbers. Rosy Queen 
speaks for itself in regard to colour, as indeed do most of the Primulas 
seen at Reading. The soft shade of rose is peculiarly pleasing, the 
trusses being large and shapely. It is a Fern-leaved form, and this 
characteristic not a little enhances its beauty. Reading Blue is a blue 
indeed. The drab shade that predominated in many of the earlier 
“blues” has almost disappeared in this, and it probably stands unri¬ 
valled for depth and purity of colour, combined with freedom of 
blooming and compactness of growth. 
One of the most useful of the Fern-leaved section is Snowdrift, 
which is exceptionally early and very free flowering. The blooms do 
not fall from the plants so readily as do some of the varieties, and this 
may be taken as a distinct point in its favour for decorative purposes. 
Grenadier is very brilliant in colour, of splend'd habit, and is certain 
to attain popularity in a very short time. Gipsy Queen everyone 
knows. The heads of flowers, pure white in colour, stand prominently 
over the deep green leaves, which have red stalks. It belongs to the 
Fern-leaved section, and is one of the most distinct, and at the same 
time charming, of the whole collection. A word for the Giants, and 
then we must glance for a few moments at the doubles. They have been 
well named, for they are giants indeed. The blooms are of immense 
size, extraordinary substance, and carried in a manner that leaves 
nothing to be desired. Though of such size, there is no semblance of 
coarseness either in foliage or flower. White, pink, and crimson are 
each represented in perfect condition, while a superb Fern-leaved white 
lends variety and makes a splendid fourth. 
The structures devoted to the double kinds were bands of colour on 
each side, the colours being arranged in groups, each numbering some 
dozens of plants. In this manner the best possible effect is insured, and 
the eye of the visitor can thoroughly grasp and retain the one ere it 
passes to the next. As a whole the display is wonderful. The intensity 
of colour, the contour of the flowers, combined with the sturdy, erect 
habit of growth, demonstrate very conclusively the quality of the 
strain and the care with which it has been selected. It has been said 
that with a double blue Primula there is a lack of substance of petal 
and compactness of habit, and no doubt that was the case a little time 
ago, but it is not so now. The growth is very robust, and the blue shade 
ig most decided. Both Sutton’s Double Blue and Imperial Blue are of 
the first quality, and will long hold a foremost position. The blooms of 
Double Heliotrope are excellent in every way, being particularly refined 
both in shade and build. 
The popularity and utility of the double Primula for cutting 
