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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
31 £ 
obtained some 500 seedlings, all of which bore white flowers, and which 
marked a great improvement on all the white-flowered varieties then in 
cultivation. They varied greatly in habit, but all bore fine flowers, and 
a selection of the tallest-growing sorts was named Reine Blanche, while 
the dwarf growers were matched and named Stanstead Bride. The 
former was certificated the same year, as also was Stanstead Rival, a 
variety selected out of the same batch, which marked the greatest 
advance of all, and which was the first variety that had nearly erect 
flower stems and round flowers. Other fine seedlings raised the same 
year were Princess of Wales, Lady Hume Campbell, Exoniensis, and 
J. S. Law ; and some fine dark seedlings, among them being a very 
small, nearly black variety, of no use for general cultivation, but 
which was kept for hybridising purposes, and which was one of the 
progenitors of the splendid dark crimson bedding varieties which 
were so much admired by all visitors to the Messrs. Laing’s nursery 
last autumn. 
“ In 1879 renewed energy was thrown into the work of cross-ferti¬ 
lising, Mr. Laing having so many improved flowers to work upon, 
and in the spring of the following year he had 161 different crosses 
from single and double varieties, Stanstead Rival being the most, ex¬ 
tensively used variety on account of its stiff habit and erect flower 
stems. Reine Blanche and Lady Hume Campbell were also extensively 
used, and from the seeds obtained that season were acquired still 
further advances in shape, size, substance, and colour, in the latter 
point especially. The later sorts obtained at Forest Hill have befen 
obtained by constantly selecting the largest and finest shaped flowers 
for crossing, the results therefrom being the grand strain now offered as 
‘ Royal Begonias.’ Mr. Laing has truly done wonders for the Begonia, 
and in no way can this be better illustrated than by comparing the 
flowers of the first hybrid, B. Sedeni, with one of Mr. Laing’s greatest 
achievements, Queen Victoria. 
THE SWANLEY COLLECTION. 
“ Some two years after Mr. Laing took the Begonias in hand, Mr- 
Henry Cannell commenced their cultivation at Swanley, and as showing 
what progress he has made, we may mention that in 1877 he offered for 
sale only nine Begonias, including B. octopetala and B. Frcebeli, which, 
as we have before observed, have taken no part in the production of 
the magnificent varieties of the present day. Sedeni, Dr. Masters, Stella, 
and Vivicans were among the tuberous varieties, offered together with 
B. boliviensis and B. Pearcei. The following year thirty-eight sorts 
were offered for sale ; but four of them do not belong to the tuberous 
type as now recognised. The greater number of these were of conti¬ 
nental origin, and few of them now figure in collections containing the 
more modern improvements. Three doubles were mentioned-namely, 
Louis Van Houtte, W. E. Gumbleton, and Argus, together with a semi¬ 
double, Notaire Beaucarne. In 1879 twelve doubles were described, and 
ninety-six singles, including six of other species. A good sprinkling of 
them originated in this country, including White Queen and Queen of 
Whites, but still the continental productions were most prominent in 
this collection. The doubles numbered twenty-two, and the singles 
about a hundred in the following year, necessitating classification into 
different colours, of which the variety even then was most wonderful. 
In 1881 the double varieties numbered twenty-nine, and in the follow¬ 
ing year forty-two, with a corresponding increase of single-flowered 
sorts. At least thirty-five of the double forms were of continental 
origin, and even at this time they began to show some of the freaks and 
peculiarities for which they are noted. Some of the flowers mimicked 
those belonging to other natural orders, and a new section was created 
for those having serrated margins to the sepals, an indication of a 
tendency to revert to ordinary foliage leaves. 
“ More progress seems to have been made with the single varieties in 
this country, and six are specially mentioned as having been raised by 
the Messrs, Cannell,, including three yellow and two buff coloured varie¬ 
ties, which owe their origin to B. Pearcei as one of the parents. A 
house of 150 feet in length was set apart for them at Swanley in 1881, 
and what is equally interesting, a number was planted out in the ex¬ 
perimental garden there, and which withstood the following winter, 
flowering well the succeeding year. The double varieties numbered 
fifty-two in 1883, and were mostly or all, as before, of continental 
origin ; in 1884 they numbered sixty-five ; in 1885 forty-four of the older 
varieties, together with thirty-five new ones, are described, including 
the beautiful late-flowering Camellia-formed white Octavie. In 1886 
112 doubles were described, including seventeen new ones obtained 
from France and Germany. Last year (1887) 119 doubles were de¬ 
scribed. An inspection of them shows that they have mostly been 
derived from B. Veitchi and others of that type, having broad leaves and 
broad rounded petals ; a few have also been obtained from B. Davisi. 
During the last year or two Mr. Cannell has been most successful in 
raising double varieties, and now possesses a number which mark a great 
stride onwards. Some dozen or more of these will be offered next 
season. 
“ Mr. Cannell cannot be described as a raiser of the Begonia in the 
same sense as Mr. Laing, but he has grown them by tens of thousands, 
and has rendered horticulture good service by constantly introducing 
the best of the continental novelties, and exhibiting them in a condi¬ 
tion that few can surpass. Mr. Cannell during the last quarter of a 
century has been a power for good in the horticultural world, inasmuch 
as that, perhaps, no man during the same period has sent out so many 
grand florists’ flowers. During the same period, we must also add that 
he has, by indomitable pluck and energy, built up a business of con¬ 
siderable magnitude, and that, too, under circumstances which wouldl 
have deterred many another man from attempting the task.” 
GRAPES SCALDING. 
The discussion on this subject grows more interesting. Mr. Simpson its 
your last issue advances some very pretty theories, but I am sorry to say 
they are unaccompanied by hard facts. It is an easy matter to advance 
ideas, but quite a different matter to substantiate them. I have given 
some stubborn facts, none of which Mr. Simpson has cleared away. He 
wishes to remind me that Lady Downe’s and Black Hamburgh grown in 
the same house cannot be compared, for they would not pass the critical 
stage at the same time. But what if they were treated alike till they 
had both passed the stoning process? The case I placed before your 
readers, page 261, was where Lady Downe’s is planted in an early Black 
Hamburgh house, and the former scald wh ; le the latter never lose a 
berry. I will now endeavour to show Mr. Simpson that both varieties- 
did pass through the stoning process under the same conditions. When 
the Black Hamburghs commenced stoning, a light was left open a little 
way above the Vine of Lady Downe’s, and the bottom light also on hot 
days (which were very few). Now that light was never moved except 
for rain during the whole period, and the ventilation always given so as- 
to prevent the condensation of moisture on the berries. If both are as- 
liable to scalding, I say, why did one variety escape and the other 
suffer ? 
Mr. Simpson repeats that Black Hamburghs grown with little heat 
are as liable to scald as the other variety in question. I think I have 
proved conclusively that such is not the case, for the Black Hamburgh 
did not receive more air as suggested by Mr. Simpson, as the secret 
of their generally escaping the evil. Again I say there is no com¬ 
parison relative to the scalding propensities of these Grapes. Mr. 
Simpson says that the treatment of the range in question being exactly 
alike accounts for the evil. How so ? Neither would he think of 
treating early and late Grapes alike, neither should I. But when they 
are all started in March and ripened in September I fail to see where 
the comparison comes in in this particular case. 
I still adhere to my former statement that it would require gross 
carelessness to scald Black Hamburghs, but not so the Lady Downe’s, 
Mr. Simpson asks if it is gross carelessness to scald the one, what is it to 
scald the other ? Well, I should say slight mismanagement, for the 
slightest cause will scald Lady Downe’s, but I have never accomplished 
the feat of so treating the Black Hamburgh, for I still hold it a feat. 
I have no pet theory to advance why Lady Downe’s should scald more 
than other Grapes ; but still the fact is there, If, as our friends would 
have us believe, it is entirely due to atmospheric conditions, I say why 
should it scald more than other varieties ? If due only to external 
surroundings, why should not the thin-skinned varieties be affected ? 
for to me it appears feasible that a thin-skinned variety should scald 
sooner than a thick one. I am fully convinced that the reason wby 
Grapes scald more than others under the same circumstances has yet to 
be explained. As I am always open to conviction, I shall be pleased to 
acknowledge it if any reader can explain the reason satisfactorily. 
I see that there is one point that Mr. Simpson and myself are agreed 
upon—viz., we do not object to a few degrees rise or fall in any fixed 
temperature. I feel flattered in obtaining such an admission. Strange 
to say, the “ fixed temperatures ” Mr. Simpson so kindly gives for my 
future guidance have been my fixed temperatures during the pas* 
season, of course allowing the few degrees either way. Our night tem¬ 
perature was 65° as nearly as possible, and the airing of the house 
during the day, especially the early morning, was always to guard 
against the condensation of moisture on the berries. 
Like Mr. Simpson I take great interest in Grape culture, and shall 
be pleased to obtain any further information on the subject. I think 
the subject of great importance to all gardeners alike, and I trust they 
will come forward with their opinions on the subject.— JAMES B». 
Riding. _ 
I had not overlooked Mr. B. Riding’s communication on pages 260 
and 261. I have been waiting Mr. Young’s reply in the last issue. I 
gladly welcome the spirited criticism that my letter has brought out. 
Three correspondents are agreed that it is “fancy” on my part to affirm, 
that Black Hamburghs will scald as badly as Lady Downe’s, and which 
can only be accomplished by “ gross carelessness.” If a professional 
gardener of the stamp of Messrs. Ridtog, Young, and Kirby had scalded 
their Black Hamburghs until their bunches were “ bits” instead of full 
bunches it might be termed “gross carelessness but with the young, 
gardener or amateur growing Grapes perhaps for the first time any such 
accident could not be due to carelessness on their part, for they may 
have exercised every care that their knowledge warranted. It was the: 
inexperienced I tried to instruct, and amongst whom I did not include 
your three correspondents ; but I can already perceive they too haves 
something to learn on this subject, and therefore my communications- 
may be of service to a wider circle than I had anticipated. 
All three would lead us to believe they repudiate the theory thair 
scalding is constitutional, and yet they are firm believers in the theory 
if we draw conclusions only from their writings. If it is not constitu¬ 
tional with Lady Downe’s (do not misunderstand me, I argue that it is 
not), why should that variety be subject to scalding and all other 
varieties not? This they say is the case, but the arguments they 
have adduced do not prove*that they are right and I am wrong. If I 
admit for the sake of argument that to scald the berries of Black. 
