October 11, 1838. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
329 
more stakes, as occasion may require, then with a handful of straw 
(form a cup on the top, and all is complete. This may seem con¬ 
siderable trouble for a plant which is called hardy, and which is 
hardy beyond doubt so far as actual frost is concerned, but which 
at the same time cannot endure alternately frost, thaw, rain, and 
snow in a period of twenty-four hours. The Tritomas suffer most 
perhaps in common with Yuccas, Pampas Grass, and a few others 
from snow settling in their hearts, and from which they seldom re- 
•cover. The Yuccas are broken down and thus permanently 
disfigured, but which can be avoided by adopting the plan I have 
.alluded to; for all will readily admit that it is easier to thus 
protect fine specimens which do exist rather than let them take 
their chance of being either killed outright or, it may be, rendered 
unsightly objects for the greater part of the ensuing year. Nothing 
is more discouraging or disappointing as the spring time dawns 
than to discover one by one how this or that plant has suffered 
-during the winter just past. 
The positions most suited to these plants are the large border, 
-the shrubbery in good open positions, not crammed between huge 
.und ungainly specimens. For conspicuous places on the large rockery, 
or in bold masses or groups on the lawn, they are grand and 
effective, and are always admired. An excellent effect may be 
produced by forming an irregular clump on the lawn, say of twenty 
or thirty plants, raised a couple or 3 feet in the centre, and sloping 
to the sides. Dotting plants here and there may be very well in 
many cases, but nothing can pourtray the importance of this hand¬ 
some genus of plants like planting in bold picturesque masses. 
With exactly the same results might this be extended even in our 
London parks and gardens, that the public may the more fully 
appreciate one of our best town plants. 
But now a word as to planting time. After some experience 
with these plants, I consider that March and April are the best 
months for planting Tritomas. They may, however, be planted in 
autumn very successfully on warm, well-drained soils, but not 
always so on cold or clayey soils. If from various causes thej 
must be planted in autumn, it is most important that the foliage 
should be left entire, and not cropped off to within a foot of the 
ground. In wet seasons, or when snowstorms are abundant, this 
•cropping off the leaves, which is done sometimes for mistaken 
tidiness, often ends fatally, and should therefore be avoided. 
The Tritomas have of late years increased in importance by the 
addition of new varieties, some of which assist in extending an 
already lengthened period of bloom, and at the present time by 
selecting the best of new and old varieties their richly coloured 
spikes may be had almost without interruption from early in 
August till the end of November. The best known and most 
widely distributed are the varieties of T. Uvaria itself, valuable 
and free-flowering. This is usually 31 feet high, producing spikes 
of orange and scarlet flowers, which begin to expand in August and 
continue to October. The other forms of this species are grand i- 
flora, a bold habited plant with crimson and orange-coloured 
■spikes ; grandis has a good deal of the last named about it. In 
general aspect and colour the two are not requisite in one collec¬ 
tion, though both are excellent individually. Glaucescens, very 
distinct foliage and flower, the latter being of a bright orange scarlet 
and very effective, toning to deep orange with age. The last of 
this group is nobilis, a well named form, fully 7 feet high, producing 
a succession of reddish orange spikes from September to November, 
and in open seasons even later. Of other good and distinct forms 
T. Macowani is deserving special mention. It is much dwarfer 
than those already named, and rarely exceeds 18 inches high. It is 
not so robust as the majority, and is remarkable for its charming 
light golden orange red tinted spikes of flowers. This is just now 
(October 3rd) passing out of flower, and is well suited for the 
rockery or the border. A distinct species is T.Leichtlini, a September 
flowerer, which bears grand spikes of yellow flowers. This is most 
handsome and should be grown by all. Mutabilis is among the 
earliest of all, and has completed flowering nearly a fortnight ; its 
spikes of saffron yellow changing to orange and slightly tinted with 
red are very pleasing. It grows from 3 feet to 4 feet high and is a 
very handsome plant. The last I shall now name is Caulescens 
This is sometimes described in hardy plant lists as an arborescent 
species, which is misleading in the extreme. It may be more faith¬ 
fully described as a gigantic form of nobilis with broad handsome 
glaucous recurving leaves, from which issue brilliantly coloured 
spikes of crimson and yellow to a height of 6 feet. I have never 
seen this species in a more happy condition than it is in the Bir¬ 
mingham Botanical Gardens. Being somewhat tender Mr. Latham, 
the able curator, has thoughtfully placed it at the foot of the wall 
of the new conservatories, where it enjoys full exposure to the sun 
in a border duly prepared for them. It is not suited to a heavy 
soil or damp low-lying position, but the reverse. 
All the species and forms are readily increased by division and 
also by seeds, which in most kinds germinate with remarkable 
freedom. I have this season potted several thousand plants from 
seed sown about eight months ago. These are now ready for plant¬ 
ing in the open giound. I mention these facts to illustrate how 
readily a stock may be obtained for purposes of naturalisation 
either in the woodland or the arboretum.—J. H. E. 
POTTING SHEDS. 
AY hex visiting the gardens of L. Gueret, Esq., of Castleford, 
Chepstow, recently we greatly admired the potting house ; for a. 
house it is, not a shed such as is usually found in gardens. A new 
range of glass houses were erected in these gardens some three years 
since, which do great credit to the builders, Messrs. Boulton & Paul 
of Norwich, the house referred to being almost a continuation of 
the stove, forcing house, &c , and differs from these only in propor¬ 
tion to the purpose for which it is required, being efficiently heated 
and well fitted with every convenience necessary, such as cupboards, 
writing desk, &c. Nor is this all, as was pointed out by Mr. AY. 
Iggulden in this Journal some years ago. These potting houses 
can be used in various ways—as an orchard or Tomato house, or, 
as in the case in question, a vinery, for we noticed a Vine of 
Foster’s Seedling making its way up the roof of the house and 
bearing a few creditable bunches of fruit. Mr. Geuret evidently 
saw all this and probably much more when having these houses 
erected, for when there is a house of this kind close to the plant 
houses it must be clear to all that not only can much more work be 
done in a given time, but it can also be much better done, to say 
nothing of the additional comfort to those employed. How often 
do we find in gardens elaborately built glass structures with per¬ 
haps every accommodation for growing the plants, while the 
potting shed, mostly very badly lighted, is some distance away. 
Owners of gardens are not always to blame for this sort of thing. 
AYe know of instances where it has been entirely the fault of the 
gardener ; and, again, we could tell of cases where by a small 
outlay the want has been adequately supplied, and in return a 
profitable crop taken from the roof. AYe have often been obliged 
in eai'ly spring to do much of the potting in houses where the 
plants were growing. This may still be advisable in certain cases 
even where such a house as described above exists, but it is often a 
very great nuisance, especially on bright days, for it is not easy to 
keep the atmosphere in a condition to suit both plants and men, 
besides which the door has often to be incessantly opened and shut, 
which I need not say, when it opens into the cold air, is very 
objectionable. In cases (and there may be some) where the potting 
house or shed is of necessity disconnected with the plant houses, 
the glass potting house is of double advantage, as plants which 
have been repotted may be allowed to remain where they are for 
a few days until there is a favourable opportunity for removing 
them, I mean when the external air is exceptionally cold.— 
AY. Jenkins. 
ROSES AT THE NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY’S 
METROPOLITAN EXHIBITIONS. 
Having now before me the necessary data for the last three 
National Shows, I am able in the present analysis to give the 
average results for the whole three years, instead of, as before, the 
positions taken by the different varieties at each show separately. 
A three-years average is of course a very short one, but it is the 
best as yet at my disposal. Had any one of the last three Rose 
seasons been an early one the tables here given would have been in 
every way more satisfactory than they now are ; but unfortunately 
each of these three summers has been unusually backward, so that 
the earlier flowering kinds become unduly f ivoured, whereas those 
coming into bloom late occupy lower positions than they are 
entitled to. That these adverse influences have not, however, 
seriously affected the places accorded to the leading varieties is, 
I think, shown by the fact that when the results obtained at the 
Society’s two Exhibitions this year—one held on the 7th and the 
other on the 20th of July—were compared, there was found to be 
but little difference between them. In fact, out of the twenty- 
four Hybrid Perpetuals most frequently shown at the Crystal 
Palace and Darlington respectively, only E. Y. Teas, Prince C. de 
Rohan, Xavier Olibo, Camille Bernardin, and Heinrich Schultheis 
are absent from both lists. AVith the exception of those Roses 
sent out since 1882, the positions of the varieties included in the 
accompanying tables, are dependent upon the average number of 
times they were shown in the prize stands at the last three 
metropolitan Exhibitions of the National Rose Society. The 1883 
Roses are placed according to their averages for the last two 
Shows only, while, for the still newer kinds the number of times 
they were staged at this year’s Exhibition is alone taken into 
