246 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
March 21, 1895 
beneficial during the summer and autumn months ; and thirdly, 
resting them in too low a temperature. 
I have tried various methods of culture, in pots, pans, and 
baskets, but much prefer the pot system, _ As regards compost we 
have varied our trials, but the mixture with which we have been 
most successful consists of the following—equal parts good fibrous 
peat and loam, one part well dried cow manure, and one part, in 
equal amounts, of charcoal and potsherds, the peat, loam, and 
cow manure being broken up quite roughly, in size not less than 
pigeons’ eggs, some larger, the charcoal rather less, and the pot¬ 
sherds smaller, though free from dust. I much prefer the crocks 
to sand, as I find the latter in such an open compost immediately 
washes into the drainage, doing more harm than good in the 
preparation of the pots and drainage. 
All must be thoroughly clean, as the roots will cling to pots 
with the greatest tenacity—in fact, it is impossible, when thoroughly 
active, to take the plants out of their pots without injuring the roots. 
The size of pots we use is 5-inch for medium single bulbs, 6-inch 
for large bulbs, and 7 or 8-inch for two or three bulbs. The latter 
we use very little, the others being most useful generally. In 
potting we afford about half drainage, on this a thin layer of 
moss, filling up to the rim with the compost, then placing the 
bulb in the centre and packing sufficient material around it to 
keep it in position by pressing only moderately firm. We then 
place them on shelves, near the glass, in a warm plant house 
with a minimum temperature of 65® and maximum of 90° or even 
100° in bright days by closing early, and maintaining a very humid 
atmosphere (such as Dendrobes delight in when making their 
growths), giving no water till growth is well on the move. 
As the days lengthen and the growth advances they are removed 
to a three-quarter span pit and elevated on shelves sufficiently 
below the glass to keep the foliage from touching, shading them as 
lightly as possible, and increasing the moisture at the roots, syringing 
well under the foliage. We find ours ready for potting generally 
early in March. Some cultivators prefer resting them in the old 
soil, but we prefer shaking them out immediately after the flowering 
season is over, and storing them in pans of moss on warm dry shelves. 
(A few weeks ago a writer in one of our gardening periodicals was 
recommending us to place three good bulbs in a 5-inch pot. Bulbs 
1 foot high and 7 inches in circumference would have but little 
space for future development were that method adopted.) 
By the end of June the plants will have well filled the pots with 
roots, then we commence feeding with liquid manure from the cow- 
stalls, using it weak at each alternate watering. We also use the 
same kind of liquid for damping down the last thing at night ; it 
imparts a deeper colour to the foliage, and is objectionable to 
all insect life, continuing to feed both at the root and in the 
atmosphere till the flower spikes commence opening, when a 
gradual redaction takes place, so that by the time the biro ms 
are about half open the moisture is quite withheld, admitting 
air on all favourable occasions with a standing temperature of 
about 60°. 
I find this the most critical period of their existence, as they are 
often used for house decoration or arranging with other plants in 
glass structures, ofttimes subject to cold draughts or moisture, low 
or stagnant atmosphere, such are I fear is the prime cause of the 
dreaded spot. With the above treatment we have produced many 
spikes 5 feet 9 inches long with pseudo-bulbs 12 and 14 inches high, 
objects of no mean interest and usefulness during the dark winter 
months.—J. Friend. 
FLORAL FACTS AND FANCIES,—8, 
Mr. Fortune was the means of introducing to our gardens 
many capital species, and one of the best is the Winter Jasmine, 
J. nudiflorum. It has proved well able to stand our ordinary 
winters, though I fear the recent arctic weather has dealt hardly 
with it in exposed places. By judicious training it will produce 
a succession of flowers during the winter months against houses 
and walls, imparting at a dull season a cheery aspect both to the 
mansion of the well-to-do and the cottage of the labourer. 
Fittingly, it is a symbol of grace or elegance, and the familiar white 
Jasmine represents “amiability.” The Ipomma, sometimes called 
a Jasmine, shows us “ attachment,” and another, also thus named, 
properly the Bignonia, by contrast “ separation.” This significance 
may have been given from the fact that the plant has left its 
native home, but Mr. Tyas remarks it is in consequence also of 
its being separated from an elegant humming bird, which is attached 
to the Bignonia in America, building its nest within a rolled leaf, 
and feasting on the honey yielded by the purple bells. 
That a popular flower of very different habit, yet with a name 
not unlike the last—the Begonia—should represent “ deformity,” 
seems curious. This might have been suggested from the irregular 
form of the leaves of some species, or by the di*proportion they 
have often to the size of the plant. The Virginian Creeper, which 
will thrive amid the smokeiest haunts of men, while it spreads itself 
so rapidly and persistently over any available space, reminds us 
of “ clinging affection.” To the Hop, occasionally cultivated in 
gardens as an ornamental climber upon trellis work, belongs no 
pleasant character. Its Latin name associates it with the wolf, 
and since the time of Pliny it has been a symbol of “ injustice,” 
because it was supposed to twine round and also injure trees 
which could not defend themselves from its attacks. Bad, 
too, is the repute of the Fumitory, some varieties of which 
may be seen in flower during the spring ; owing to its bitter 
and nauseous taste it was made a representative of hatred. To the 
Chinese we owe the favourable meaning of the Glycine (G. sinensis), 
a creeper which tells of “ faithful friendship,” covering walls or 
trees as it does with a succession of the pale blue and fragrant 
blossoms. 
We are now eagerly expecting the appearance of flowers upon 
the Almond tree, a welcome intimation that our much-delayed 
spring is near at hand. The Easterns compared its bloom to the 
hoary head of an old man ; from an unknown date these have 
been representative of hope under disadvantages. A Greek story 
connected the Almond with the history of two attached lovers, 
Demophon and Phyllis, who were obliged to part, but the absence 
of Demophon was so prolonged that at last the hope of Phyllis 
failed, and out of compassion the gods transferred her into this 
tree. But when he did return, though it was winter, the effect on 
the tree which enclosed Phyllis was such, that it became suddenly 
covered with flowers. Besides this meaning, the Almond in our 
cool land is an emblem of “ thoughtlessness,” for it seems to act 
regardless of consequences ; flowering when it does, the early 
formed fruits are destroyed by frosts or cold winds, and few reach 
their maturity. The double meanings that belong to some is a 
notable feature of flower lore. We have an example in another 
plant of the spring, the familiar Wallflower. Queen of the Cress 
tribe it has been styled, one of the favourites of the old trouba¬ 
dours, often growing seemingly wild, yet not, ’tis said, a British 
native. Charlemagne the Great, warlike though he was, had a 
taste for flowers, and the Wallflower was a species he recommended 
and helped to distribute. Possibly, it was introduced to us by the 
monks, and if not by some Crusader, and it became a type of 
“ lasting beauty,” because the pyramids of bloom may be seen in 
gardens through the greater part of the year. But more than 
this, the Wallflower decorates decaying masonry, as venerable 
walls and neglected buildings afford it a home. Fragrant amid 
desolation, it is a plant “ faithful in adversity.” As the poet Moir 
(Delta) remarked :— 
“ It sheds a halo of repose around the wrecks of Time, 
To beauty give the flaunting Rose, the Wallflower is sublime.” 
Still, something may be said in favour of the garden Kocket, 
especially the double varieties, with spikes a foot in length. They 
tell of “ rivalry,” for the plant seems as if it would excel its rela¬ 
tives of that family. Gerard was proud when he obtained the 
white and purple kinds from Italy about 1597, and planted them in 
his Holborn garden ; but the Rocket does not take kindly to the 
neighbourhood of London, though a clay soil is suitable for its 
culture. Some people retain a liking for this old-fashioned flower, 
overlooked through the rush of novelties. “ Indifference ” is pro¬ 
claimed by the growth of the perennial and evergreen Candytuft ; 
its white scentless flowers disregard the changes of the seasons, and 
fear neither summer’s heat nor winter’s cold. The Ten-week Stock 
illustrates “ promptitude,” since it runs its course with speed and 
punctuality. As a family, the Stocks represent “ constant sweet¬ 
ness ; ” they are always fragrant, and continue in bloom till they 
die off. What is the connection between another old favourite—the 
Lunaria—and “ honesty ” is not obvious. The Latin name would 
associate it with the moon, but our forefathers believed that the 
plant had an influence potent enough to produce honesty amongst 
the people in whose gardens it grew. The Arabis, or Rock Cress, 
we cultivate for show merely, though plants of this genus were 
once supposed to have special qualities, as, for instance, to cure 
heart complaints, or strengthen that organ. 
“ Ever charming,” is the characteristic of the Cineraria, which 
is indeed a flower generally liked, though it has the disadvantage 
of tenderness, and that of liability to insect enemies. Gerard and 
Parkinson made a prize of C. maritima with its beautiful foliage, 
attaining the height of 3 or 4 feet, and which they probably obtained 
from South Europe ; it appears to have almost gone out of culti¬ 
vation. The Cyclamen tells us of “diffidence,” for the flower 
stalks bow themselves as if in humility, and as the seeds ripen the 
plant dees not discharge them after the manner of some species, 
