JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r Jant 21 , 1868 . 
^OS 
our best and most striking perennials not one appeared drawn or 
weakly by having been subjected to artificial heat, in support of 
which it may be remarked that many were exhibited naturally and 
without sticks. As I took special note of one of the groups I ■will 
name some of the most worthy. A central position was given to 
Lychnis vespertina plena, also called the Double White Campion. 
This is one of our handsomest perennials. It is one of the most 
floriferous of hardy plants ; it may be planted out in good rich 
soil, and if lifted in the end of September or before sharp frosts 
a rive, potted and placed in a cool greenhouse, it wiU continue 
to flower till Christmas, thus showing ivith a little timely assistance 
one of the very best hardy plants in cultivation may be had in 
flower for eight months of the year. When so much can be 
said of a plant with pure white double and fragrant flowers I think 
it only fair to assume that it is highly valuable if utilised to its 
fullest extent. It delights in generous treatment at all times. 
Another conspicuous plant was the double scarlet Geum, G. cocci- 
neum fl. pi., the vividness of which is fully equal to that of a scarlet 
Zonal Pelargonium. This is also profusely flowering and very 
ornamental. 
Another telling plant was the Golden Columbine, Aquilegia 
chrysantha. This with its graceful and elegant foliage and long 
spurred characteristic flowers formed one of the most beautiful 
of the group. It is one of the most delightful plants of my 
acquamtance, and when grown under glass seems even more 
beautiful than in its natural element in the open border. Years 
I grew this plant under glass, and it always attracted a 
good deal of praise. The ladies were particularly fond of its 
flowers by reason of their picturesque and pleasing form. For vase 
decoration it is unique, while for several years past the ladies 
exhibiting at the horticultural shows in this district are always 
anxious to include this one in their arrangement, and right well it 
looks in large gardens, and particularly where plants are used for 
indoor decoration extensively this will be found most useful, and 
being quickly grown from seeds the outlay is not a severe item, 
while the return is almost without limit. Just imagine a fine 
plant of this 3 feet high and nearly as much through in the midd'e 
of May, not a mere pigmy this, but a veritable specimen such as any 
one may admire with ease. There were also the double crimson 
Pffionia, P. officinalis rubra pi., with its gorgeously coloured blos¬ 
soms, and some varieties of single Pyrethrums, very pleasing and 
effective. The double and single Pyrethrums are excellent for 
forcing if treated properly, they are so pleasing and durable and 
very free flowering. 
Yet another instance, Doronicum austriacum, which may be 
taken as the best of the genus. The flowers are beautifully 
formed, clear in colour, freely produced, one plant having nearly 
200 flowers. In height it is not quite 2 feet, and is, therefore, self- 
supporting. The other forms under notice, as caucasicum, Clusii, 
plantagineum excelsum, are all good border plants, the last having very 
handsome flowers, but the plant for the purpose is D. austriacum. 
I well remember Mr. W. Spinks, of the Harborne Road Nurseries, 
Birmingham, trying his hand with this plant for early work some 
years ago, when the demand for such plants was at its height, and 
what a success he secured. It was grown in 6-inch pots, and from 
a decorative point of view eclipses all the Marguerites I have seen. 
It is not adapted to hard forcing, and is best brought on in a cool 
temperature, such as the cool conservatory'. In such a place in 
early spring a few pots of this would enliven the surroundings 
beyond measure. I regard this Doronicum, taking into account its 
perfect hardiness, its easy culture, combined with its great useful¬ 
ness, one of the most valuable plants either the amateur or profes¬ 
sional gardener can be possessed of, -n'hile for spring bedding 
en masse it has no equal. Its natural flowering period is from the 
middle of March to the end of May. 
Take again the German Irises with their exquisitely shaded 
blossoms. Particularly noticeable were the varieties Princess of 
Wales, Darius, Due de York, the first named being the purest white 
among the Flag Iris. Darius has crome-yellow standards, while the 
falls are bluish lilac reticulated with white and margined with pale 
yellow ; it is an exquisite variety. The other variety named has 
flowers of a glistening rosy purple, and then there was the old blue 
Flag, bold and very effective, still one of the most showy of its 
race. Many of these Irises may be had in flower weeks before they 
«in be had out of doors, which must be a great advantage. It is 
nlso worthy of note that these Irises will expand each bud in water 
after the first has opened, thus rendering their handsome flowers so 
characteristic of some Orchids still more valuable. Then if we 
would turn to Liliums we find the lovely L. Harris!, L. longi- 
florum eximium, L. davuricum erectum, L. colchicum, and L. 
pomponium rubrum all well represented ; tbe best of these, how¬ 
ever, for forcing are the three first named, with candidum 
previously mentioned. Take again Cypripedium spectaj)ile, which 
was in g-and style, and here we have a plant in point of beauty 
fully equal to the best tropical species and a long way ahead of 
many of them. To look momentarily at some more familiar we 
find Spiraeas japonica and palmala. Dielytra spectabilis, and many 
more. It would, however, be difficult to name a more truly 
beautiful plant than Hemerocallis flava ; in habit elegant, while ibj 
lovely fragrant golden blossoms is not surpassed by the most chaste 
of the Liliums. It is really difficult to understand why they are 
not grown under glass more than they are. Can it be that they are 
not sufficiently known to be so useful when forced with other 
things for early work ? If this be so it is only fair to assume that 
the group in question has acted as a seasonable reminder of whafc 
may be done with some of our best hardy perennials. 
But I will only ask the reader in conclusion to bear with me a 
few moments longer while I mention two commonplace plants 
made doubly valuable by subjecting them to a little artificial heat. 
They are the Winter Heliotrope, Tussilago fragrans, and the Buck- 
bean, Menyanthes trifoliata. These are both common, though none 
the less beautiful or valuable. Everyone will readily admit that 
there is not too great a quantity of fragrant flowers at Christmas I 
am sure, but by including the Winter Heliotrope we have one of 
the sweetest flowers of the year. The strongest crowns should be 
lifted and potted three or four in a pot in September, and placed 
in a cold frame they flower finely for Christmas. It will succeed 
in almost any soil, preferably a stiff moist clay. The Buckbean is 
a native aquatic, sending up its white beautifully fringed spikes:, 
which closely resemble those of the Horse Chestnut in form. To 
be successful with this it should be collected in quantity where it 
abounds in the month of November ; and having freed it from mud 
and dirt simply cast it into the water tank in the greenhouse, or if 
an aquatic tank exist so much the better. In the early months of 
the year it will surprise all who have the pleasure of beholding this 
British weed in flower. It is abundant in many parts of England^ 
and those who have not tried it should do so. Such, then, are soma 
of our best hardy plants which may be forced.—J. Howard. 
WATERING. 
I THINK “A Kitchen Gardener” deserves the hearty thanks of every 
reader of the Journal for so carefully expounding the important 
practice of watering. It is a subject that has always deeply impresseil 
me. When I first started using a watering pot I was taught to do so 
carefully, but at the same time quickly. I have since been thankful for 
the care bestowed upon me in my earlier career, for I have noticed 
repeatedly how common are the errors mentioned by “ A Kitchen 
Gardener,” not only amongst young men but amongst their leaders as 
well. It is surprising to note the time it takes some men to water a 
house of plants—men who are in the habit of attending to the same: 
plants day after day, and who should know almost to a certainty which 
plants require w'ater and those that do not; those that are root-bound and 
those that are newly potted ; those that need an unlimited supply and 
those that require careful management; in fact, he should know the- 
individual requirements of every plant. He wiH be easily guided by 
the weather and the external surroundings. There are some plants, 
which can scarcely have too much water ; take for instance a house of 
Ferns. If they are healthy and full of roots they require an unlimited 
supply, and without such a supply they ■will soon show signs of 
degenerating. All florists’ flowers, such as Pelargoniums, Hydrangeas,. 
Marguerites, «kc., that are grown as large as possible in small pots for- 
conservatory or house decoration must have abundance of water,, 
especially during the summer months. This is a case where every plant- 
can be wateral without the slightest fear of doing injury. It is annoying 
to see a man rapping the pots with his knuckles, or feeling the soil in 
such a case as this. Certainly they may look a little damp on the: 
surface early in the morning, but an observant man must know they 
will require watering half an hour after the sun strikes on the pots. I 
do not think there should be the slightest difficulty in watering soft- 
wooded plants ; all that is necessary is a little common observation- 
But when we come to the hardwooded section more care is required f 
such plants as Azaleas, Camellias, Heaths, Epaerises, and the choice- 
Rhododendrons always require careful management in watering. But I 
feel sure in the majority of cases hardwooded plants do not get sufficient- 
water during the growing period. Camellias and Azaleas require an 
enormous supply during the summer. As “ A Kitchen Gardener 
mentions, it is ruinous to allow these plants to droop. How many 
Camellias have their young foliage scorched yearly through being too dry 
at the roots ? How many cast their buds from the same cause ? Why- 
do we see hundreds of Chrysanthemums with 3 or 4 feet of leafless stems, 
year after year ? I have derived great benefit by using pans, as: 
suggested by your correspondent, especially for stove plants grown in 
small pots for furnishing purposes. I find it impo.ssible to keep Palms,. 
Dracaenas, Dieffenbachias, See.., in a healthy condition without them. 
For forcing Strawberries they are invaluable, at least I mean the later 
plants ; for tbe early crops that are ripened in March I prefer pieces of 
turf. Early in the season the plants do not absorb so much water, and 
it is a nuisance to have to empty the water out of the pans, which if 
left in soon becomes sour, while it can dram steadily through the turves. 
But for all crops ripened in April, May, and June they are indispensable. 
I quite agree with •* A Kitchen Gardener ” as to the utility of syringing 
