342 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 18, 1895. 
moderately thick coating of ashes placed over the crowns will preserve 
them from harm during the winter. I append a list of named varieties 
sufficiently good to satisfy the moat exacting—Britannia, Beatrice 
Kelway, Ben Davies, Evelyn, James Kelvay, Lord Charles Beresfoid, 
Miss MacIntyre, Miss Sal way, Mr. Edgar Wild, Nuphar, Robin Adair, 
and Sea Spray.—R. P. R. 
PrlUNINGS. 
Mr. Arnott'S sectional diagram (page 247) of rockwork for hardy 
plants was not as satisfying as his inimitable papers on that subject are. 
In fact, t’was pondered over till I found myself humming a few bars 
of that stirring old tune, “ Such getting upstairs I never did see ! ” Yet, 
as he explains, the outline is not a hard and fast one; it has, too, the 
merit of simplieity, and a simple plan is often the safest. 
If the only reason in substituting Rape for Mustard (vide cutting 
from the “ Globe,” page 241)) is that it can be cut in a week, as against 
a fortnight for the Mustard, then it is no reason at all, for I find it easy 
to BOW and reap the genuine article inside of a week. This is the gist 
of the matter in gloho. I use shallow wooden trays, 1 inch in depth, 
half filled with rough leaf mould, on which the Mustard or Cress is sown 
without covering; watered with warm water, then piling the trays 
muffin fashion. Germination is rapid. This effected, they are removed 
to the light, and further watering is done by running a little water 
through the tiays without wetting the leaves. 
Eucharis Stevensi, judging by fig, 44, page 253, appears to be more 
recurved than the type, in addition to the merits claimed for it. I 
welcome an old friend appearing by proxy through the haze of a score 
of years, coupled with some kindly thoughts of him and his hospitable 
missus.” 
“ D., Beal," deals trumps in his notes on new Roses (page 254), and 
very reasonably asks what an English gardener would make of the 
name Grande Duchesse H^dti^re Anna Maria de Luxembourg ? It is a 
question not easily answered. I could have recommended for the 
purpose an old gardener who loved his “ Glory de Johns,” but he has 
long since “ shuffled off this mortal coil.” Anyway, I venture to say 
that its own parent—the raiser—would not have known it. 
All holders of (Dahlia) stock are indebted to Mr. Mawley for his com¬ 
prehensive balance sheet (pages 265-267). In the Cactus section I 
venture to predict that Juarezi will always take high rank. In fact, 
they are all very beautiful, and the exhaustive analysis will keep old 
growers up to date, may bring new investors to take up some shares, and 
there is but little danger ot love’s labour—by “ E. M., Berkhamsted" 
—being lost. _ 
Mr. Dunkin ably pleads and prescribes for the sick and wounded 
(page 268). A hot (hospital) bed would indeed be a boon in many 
gardens, for many who have not this convenience are prone to sacrifice 
their maimed and muti'ated on the altar of appearance by throwing 
them out. On one occasion when noting the super-luxuriance of some 
large Palms, in very small pots, just imported from the Continent, I was 
told by one who knew, that they had been grown in strong bottom heat 
standing thickly together. And—tell it not in Gath—where the roots 
had come through they had been trimmed off! Would that Mr. Dunkin 
•could be the universal provider of the wants he so well depicts. 
I am quite of the same opinion as " E. K., Dublin," on the advisa¬ 
bility of moving with the times (abnormal seasons) in the matter of 
flower shows, but must confess that, while he exposes an evil, the 
remedy is not clear, so all concerned are as they were, and likely to 
remain so, unless the verdant imagination of our Hibernian friend can 
suggest a way out of the bog. _ 
Glad to see you, Mr. Molyneux, among your beloved ’mums (page 277). 
The border section needed a little stimulus. They have it now. You 
had but to say “I recognise the merits of this section,” when ‘‘so say 
all of us.” I must now seek the whetstone.— Saynor. 
A SPRING DAY AT FULMER. 
As a rule when one goes visiting in the country during the early 
spring months it is with the hope ot seeing something special, something 
•out of the ordinary run. A little later in the season the trees and 
hedges are bursting into leaf, the birds into song, and everything wears 
an air of tranquil peace that is peculiarly soothing to the nerves of the 
townsman provided he is a lover of Nature. A Londoner recently in 
quest of a restful pilgrimage found himself at Slough, with a four-miles 
drive before him, “ coached ” by Mr. J. G. Mowbray. The route was 
picturesque, the time shortened by anecdote till reaching the gates 
of Fulmer, and we were soon in the skilful young gardener’s pleasant 
home. Here, “ far from the madding crowd,” is no haste, no bustle, no 
smoke—nothing but sweet surroundings and a quiet peaceful calm. 
Under their soothing influence w'e discuss congenial topics deliberately 
lazily till darkness steals silently on, rendering it impossible for us 
to examine what we had come in part to see—the Cyclamens—the 
home display, from which plants were drawn that swept up the chief 
prizes at the Crystal Palacs show last month. 
As is befitting on the part of gardeners, wa were out in good time in 
the morning. At no time do flowers look so fresh and so bright as 
under the gleams of the early sun. Refreshed by the rest of night, 
their substance seems increased and their charms intensified. Is it not 
thus with most flowers ? It appears to be distinctly so with Cyclamens, 
which are apt to look a little jaded some hours later on sunny spring 
days. 
The sight on entering the structure is indeed a glorious one. Each 
side is a mass of blooms—sheets of white, rose, red, and crimson—while 
on a shelf above is another bright and beautiful display. No sign of 
the staging is perceptible, the plants having to be placed in direct contact 
one with the other to permit of space being found for them. A single 
pot is placed on the floor, and then the individual dimensions of the 
plant are first recognised, being almost 2 feet across. The habit is 
perfect, foliage stout, strong, and beautifully marbled, and the exquisite 
blooms stand boldly above the leafage. That single plant in a 6-inch 
pot is worth travelling a very long way to see. Dozens ot plants are 
grown, some in il and others in 6-inch pots, as Mr. Mowbray is not a 
believer in growing plants year after jear, the majority of his being two 
and three years of age. The strain of seeds is an excellent one, as the 
flowers combine so admirably clear colouration with perfection of form. 
The question as to the mode of culture followed is approached with 
diffidence, as we fear the grower may be reluctant to give himself away, 
so to speak. Such, however, is very far from the truth, for he is only 
anxious to give the world the benefit of his experience, in the hope that 
it may be of assistance to some less successful slave to the Persian 
beauty. Its name is Simplicity. The seeds are sown in pots or pans at 
any time during the months of October or November, the whole, after 
moistening the soil, should this be dry, being covered first with a sheet 
of glass, and then with a piece of brown paper. The receptacles are 
then plunged in boxes of moss, these being stood on the hot-water pipes, 
the moss never being allowed to become very dry. Immediately the 
young plants appear the glass is gradually tilted to admit air, more and 
more being given until the seedlings are fully exposed. Directly this 
stage is reached the pots are stood on a shelf close to the roof glass of an 
intermediate house, and as the plants attain to sufficient size are pricked 
out into pans, and again placed on the shelf, where they remain until 
they are ready for placing singly in small pots. 
The operation of potting, which commences directly the plants have 
two or three leaves, is carried out with the utmost care, the first shift 
from the pans being into small 60-sized pots. This with the next 
transfer, which is to large 60’s, is what may be termed a light potting, 
the soil not being pressed at all firmly round the roots ; the next move 
brings the plants to 48-sized pots, and the final into, as was previously 
mentioned, 32’s or 6-inch pots, each of the latter pottings being compara¬ 
tively firm. At the earliest potting the corms a’e buried in the soil, 
and at the last are right on the surface. During the whole of the 
period covrrai by the growth to this stage the plants are kept on 
the shelf, and freely syringed, the temperature ranging between 
65° and 7u°. In the month of July the plants are removed to a span- 
roofed pit, and there left until October, when they are brought indoors 
to commence flowering. From the time the s^eds are sown until the 
plants are in flower the attention is unremitting, and as such deserves 
success. 
The compost for Cyclamens is a matter of some importance, and 
varies with the different stages of growth—becoming gradually stronger. 
At the first it consists of about three parts leaf mould to one of loam ; 
while at the last the positions are exactly reversed. These proportions 
are, it may be well to point out, approximate, as Mr. Mowbray simply 
goes by the feel and appearance of the soil, not measuring anything. 
At each of the stages a good admixture of road sidings, or in the 
absence of these coarse sand, is thoroughly incorporated with the soil. 
As with the mixing of the soil and potting the utmost care is taken 
to insure good drainage, the advantage of looking after such details being 
fully recognised. 
Though Cyclamens are grown so well it must not be imagined that 
other plants are neglected, for such is not the case. Attention is given 
to all plants grown to such extent as to bring them as near perfection 
as possible. The Freesias may be adduced as an example of this, 
for though of the variety F. refracta alba, they have become, by 
extraordinary cultivation, almost unrecognisable. They are superior 
to those usually seen in all ways. The growth is stronger and 
dwarfer, the flower spikes are more numerous and more profusely 
bloomed, while the colour is purer and clearer and the scent 
even more fragrant than customary. Compared with many so-called 
varieties of florists’ flowers, and between which there is so little 
difference, this is undoubtedly worthy of a distinctive name. ’Were it 
an Orchid we might dub it F. refracta alba, Mowbray’s variety, but as 
it does not come beneath this magic category we must perforce leave it 
as it is. If the grower would favour the readers of the Journal of 
Horticulture with his method of treatment there can be no doubt that 
the notes would be read with interest, and be of great assistance 
to many persons who are desirous of improving these beautiful and 
deliciously fragrant flowers. 
At Fulmer fragrance, combined with beauty, is the desideratum, 
hence we see large numbers of Freesias ; handsome plants of Gardenias 
grown as they are rarely seen, so pure is the colour, so perfect the form 
and so powerful the scent, and of which details of culture would be 
welcomed; Violets, Hyacinths, and many others all showing the 
influence of watchful care. Foliage plants are also admirably grown 
