230 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 10, 188P. 
and are better in a suitable outside position than kept in frames. 
These plants start better and more quickly into growth after 
they have been subjected to one or two good sharp frosts than is 
the case if protected from early frosts by a frame. 
If plants suitable for decoration in pots are not desired and 
the flowers only wanted in a cut state, it is not worth going to 
the trouble of establishing them in pots, for they do wonderfully 
well when good clumps are lifted and placed in boxes The most 
suitable boxes for ihese are those about 18 inches in length, 
9 inches wide, and not less than 4 inches deep. These will each 
accommodate four or five good plants, and more if they are only 
of a small size. The treatment after placing them in boxes 
should be the same as advised for those to be grown in pots, 
which entirely depends upon the quantity of fibry roots the 
plants possess when lifted. Those grown for this purpose in 
boxes need no farther staking than placing two or three short 
stakes round the sides of the box, one or two rows of thin 
matting being placed round to keep the outer flower stems from 
falling about- Those grown in pots for room and conservatory 
decoration have each flower stem supported with a slender portion 
of cane. 
For the benefit of those that have not forced these plants it 
may be added that they must not be into flower in a close con¬ 
fined atmosphere, or they will become weakly and produce only 
poor flowers, if any. The earliest should be started in December 
on a shelf close to the glass where the night temperature ranges 
from 45° to 50° until they commence growing, when a few degrees 
higher than the last-named temperature may be maintained until 
they come into flower, providing a circulation of airis dailyadmitted 
to the plants when the weather will allow of such being done. I 
have always found a shelf in an early vinery or Peach house just 
started to work an admirable position for them until they are 
lengthening out their flower stems, by which time the atmosphere 
of the vinery is often too confined for them. The plants should 
then be removed to a cooler and more airy position. Yery often 
those grown in boxes are not removed from these positions until 
the flowers have been cut, for they are no worse for cutting even 
if the flower stems are slightly drawn, which would totally 
destroy the beauty of those grown for decoration in pots.— 
HIMALAYAN WINDFLOWERS. 
Op the Windflowers inhabiting the Himalayan Mountains, numbering 
about fifteen altogether, probably not more than half a dozen are in 
cultivation at the present time, and that notwithstanding the large 
amount of seeds of various kinds imported annually from these localities. 
Those already introduced are much admired, and especially those with 
such a wealth of foliage and bold appearance as in the present instance. 
The wonder is that more attention is not given to collecting seeds of the 
others, many of which are said to far surpass those already introduced as 
useful garden plants. Those annually received from the south of France, 
&c., and which belong to the Anemonanthea group, seldom if ever give 
satisfaction to the grower unless on the very lightest and sandiest soils 
or in a particularly favourable situation. Where the locality is damp and 
the soil clayey, success is almost impossible, and even if they grow they 
must be lifted when they have flowered, submitted to a process of roast¬ 
ing, stored away for a time, and then replanted, all of which entails a 
large amount of labour, the more so if grown in quantity, hardly to be 
tolerated in the average garden, especially at so busy a season of the 
year. Some of the Himalayan species not yet introduced are just as brightly 
coloured as the European sorts, besides having the advantage of being 
perfectly hardy in all situations ; indeed, the situations worst suited to 
A. coronaria, A. fulgens, &c., are just the places in which the others 
thrive best; the cooler and more shady, provided the drainage be good, 
the better will they grow and flower. 
A handsome plant is A. polyanthes, of which a good illustration is 
given in fig. 39, and which has been generally distributed under the 
Dame A. obtusiloba ; that differing, however, from A. polyanthes in having 
oblong unwinged fruit, fewer-flowered scapes, and having purplish or 
golden instead of white flowers. A. polyanthes grows about a foot to 
18 inches in height, with a wealth of fine ornamental foliage not equalled 
by any we know. The flowers are produced in bunches of from six to 
eighteen, umbel fashion, on longish scapes. The flowers are rarely less than 
an inch in diameter, pure white, firm-textured, and lasting a considerable 
time in a cut state. It loves shade, plenty of moisture in rather a heavy 
but rich soil. The leaves are deciduous ; the crown, though exposed, requir¬ 
ing no protection, as it is found at altitudes of from 10,000 to 12,000 feet 
above sea level from Kashmir to Sikkim, flowering during the early 
summer months. It is nearly allied to the better known A. narciesiflora, 
and is thought to be connected with that species by intermedialis (syn. 
A. lungiscapa, Wall.; Scaposa, Ed gw.; villosa, and Govaniana Royle). 
The others in cultivation are A. vitifolia, A. rivularis, and A. narcissi- 
flora, &c.— M. S. 
TOMATOES IN AUTUMN. 
Speaking from experience and extensive observation, Tomatoes have 
often succeeded better out of doors than they have done this season. The 
plants did not start so freely into growth after being turned out as they 
ought to have done, and this retarded their fruiting until later thaa 
usual. I know of several instances where they were bearing ripe fruit 
against the open wall in July last year, and plants in the same position 
have hardly as yet a ripe fruit on them. A good start is everything in 
outdoor Tomato-growing, because as soon as the plants become robust and 
established thoroughly, they will fruit,whether the summer and autumn are 
favourable or not. Open-air plants, if properly managed, will yet pro¬ 
duce much fine fruit, and more attention should now be devoted to getting 
the fruit ripe that is formed than in trying to secure more fruit. Any 
which may form now and after this time will never mature or become 
large enough to cut and ripen indoors in October, and the best treatment 
open-air plants can have now is to stop all young growths, allow no more 
blooms to form or open, and thin the leaves off which are shading the 
fruit. Ripen what is on them, but do not try for anv more. As soon as 
fruits of fair size begin to change colour, cut them off and put them in a 
greenhouse or room to finish ripening. It would not increase in s'ze 
much if left on, and it will colour and be as well flavoured if ripened as 
we suggest as it would be on the plants, so long as they are not cut 
until colouring commences. When they are watered at the roots liquid 
manure may be given them, but it is better not to give much as the days 
shorten, for the fruit will swell almost as well and not be so liable to decay 
prematurely if the plants are kept rather dry at the roots. 
When there is much rain it may be difficult to observe this rule, but 
in that case we would place some spare frame lights over the plants to 
afford shelter and hasten the ripening of the fruits. Last autumn we bad 
ripe Tomatoes in the open until the middle of November through putting 
lights against the wall and over the plants. 
Where Tomatoes are wanted very early in the spring, the best way to 
secure plants for the purpose is to take cuttings during September, root 
them in 3-inch pots, keep them in these until the new year, and then 
give them more heat and root room, when they will start rapidly into 
growth and bear ripe fruit sooner than any plants which can be raised 
from seed in the spring. If many varieties have been grown this season, 
and one has proved superior to all the rest, it might not do to save seed of 
it with the hope of still having it true, as they sometimes degenerate i 
little by being crossed with others, but if stock cuttiDgs are taken in 
autumn the genuine sort will be secured beyond doubt.—A Kitchen 
Gardener. 
BATH FLORAL FETE. 
September 2nd and 3rd. 
One of the finest exhibitions of the year, as the Show in question un¬ 
doubtedly was, opened under somewhat depressing circumstances, rain 
falling more or less heavily throughout the first day, and towards evening 
it descended in torrents. The Mayor of the city, however, in the course 
of his eloquent speech at the luncheon, remarked as an expression of con¬ 
solation, that what was a misfortune to them was a blessing to others. Yet 
though it was not possible to suppress feelings of disappointment that such 
a splendid Exhibition could not be enjoyed by the thousands of persons who 
were longing to see it, there was no despondency, the Committee appear¬ 
ing to take cheerful refuge in the hope of “ a brighter day to-morrow.” 
It were almost impossible to imagine a more suitable position for a 
show than Sydney Gardens, Bath, which are extensive, pleasingly undulated, 
and abound in fine trees. So plentiful are these, that the marquees in 
which the products are arranged are quite masked, the system being adopted 
of isolating them in different parts of the grounds. When the weather is 
fine a brilliant company invariably assembles, promenading the embowered 
walks and admiring the plants, fruit, flowers, and vegetables as the differ¬ 
ent tents are reached, while, at the same time, the crowd is divided in the 
most agreeable manner. The show in question was the largest ever held, 
splendid examples of culture being arranged in every department. 
Plants. —The long marquee, which covers a series of grass terraces on 
which the specimens are arranged, presented a beautiful appearance, mag¬ 
nificent Fuchsias (such as are only seen in the west of England) alternating 
with grand stove and greenhouse plants from Mr. Cypher and other exhi¬ 
bitors. The Fuchsias were accorded the post of honour in the schedule, the 
first five classes being devoted to them. In the class for nine plants the 
prizes were T6, T4, and £2, and they were won respectively by Mr. Snell, 
gardener to Mrs. Counsell; Mr. Lye, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay; 
and Mr. Tucker, gardener to Major W. P. Clarke. The first-prize 
plants were characterised by a free gracefulness in training, fine foliage, 
and large flowers. They were 7 to 8 feet in height and 4 io 5 feet 
in diameter across the base. Mr. Lye’s plants were close columns 9 to 
10 feet high, about 2 feet in diameter at the base, and terminating in a 
point like a church spire. They were perfectly furnished, and every inch 
covered with flowers, and apart from the “ close lacing ” were less vigorous 
than the others. Mr. Tucker’s plants were still taller but rather less full 
and vigorous. The last-named exhibitor secured the first prize in both the 
light and dark single specimen c'ass with Charming (dark) and Arabella 
(light) 9 to 10 feet high, Mr. Lye following with smaller but admirably 
grown specimens. Mr. Hall, gardener to C. H. Miy. Esq., was first with 
six plants; Mr. Southard, gardener to F. J. Walker, Esq., second ; and Mr. 
