December 17, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
543 
very successful, being visited by 10,000 persons. One of the principal 
exhibitors was Dr. H. P. Walcott of Cambridge, who, besides taking 
numerous prizes, received certificates for several varieties. “ Standing 
out in marked distinction with the average run of seedlings was a magni¬ 
ficent white reflexed flower shown by Dr. Walcott. This, which was 
labelled C 10, was considered the finest white seedling ever shown in 
Boston or anywhere else. It is a perfectly shaped globular flower, with 
firm strap-shaped petals of such pure colour that Elaine looks dusky 
beside it. The petals reflex in such a way that the flower appears to be 
globular, and the centre is filled to perfection. The specimen on exhibition 
measured over 1 inches across. It was awarded a first-class certificate of 
merit, and was stolen on the last night of the Exhibition by someone who 
no doubt hoped to propagate it from the stem.” 
Chrysanthemum Boule d’Or. —A handsome bloom of this fine 
Japanese variety has been sent us by Mr. N. Davis of Camberwell, by 
whom it was also shown at the Westminster Aquarium last week in very 
good condition. Well-grown examples of this are most telling on an 
exhibition board, and as the bloom can be had of great size, it takes its 
place amongst the heaviest of “ back row ” varieties. The florets are 
very broad and long, the outer ones drooping and twisted, the inner ones 
curling and twisting in a peculiar manner, giving the bloom a remarkably 
distinct appearance. Though sent out by a French raiser about three 
years ago, it is not yet generally grown in England, but it will un¬ 
doubtedly soon find a place in the best collections. 
Chrysanthemum Show Reports. —The reporters of horticultural 
papers and their respective editors are to ray mind the backbone of 
horticulture. What they see and communicate form the basis of our learn¬ 
ing on all matters connected with horticulture. Flower shows would lose 
their chief interest if the world at large had no reports of their doings. 
A large number of readers will no dou >t agree with me in complimenting 
the staff of the Journal of Horticulture upon the vast amount of in¬ 
formation reported in its pages during the recent Chrysanthemum shows. 
In a short space of time we have had reports of shows extending over a 
large area—from Kent to Cornwall, and from Cornwall to Aberdeen, and 
to get reports of all these shows some hundreds of miles must be travelled 
in anything but pleasant weather. I congratulate and thank the Editor 
for the full information found in these pages.— N. Davis, Camberwell. 
Carter’s Bronze Queen.— Calling at the Perry Hill Nurseries the 
other day I was interested in observing that this fine new variety is pro¬ 
ducing an abundance of cuttings, indicating that it is a “good doer.” 
The two plants that were exhibited at the Crystal Palace, and produced 
blooms that were certificated by tho Committee of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, will be the progenitors of a sufficient number during the 
ensuing spring to induce the firm to distribute plants. The necessarily 
limited number will command a rather high price, but the variety is of 
such great promise that the demand is sure to be considerable.—A 
Visitor. 
HOT WATER AND SCALE ON FRUIT TREES. 
In a recent number of the Journal directions were given to a corre¬ 
spondent for getting rid of scale on a Pear tree trained against a wall. 
Having a tree in the same condition, I wish to ask whether the scale may 
not be got rid of by syringing the tree with water hot enough to kill the 
scale, but not hot enough to injure the tree ? I have an indistinct recol¬ 
lection that this plan was tried many years ago with success. It has this 
advantage over scraping and painting, that it is more easily applied, and 
by the water running down the wall at the back of the branches the 
scale would be killed in places where it could not well be reached for 
scraping and painting. If this plan is feasible I shall be glad to know 
what is the greatest degree of heat at which water can be safely applied to 
a tree in a dormant state.— An Inquirer. 
[Possibly some of our correspondents may have tried the hot-water 
cure for scale and can supply the information requested.] 
THE RANUNCULUS. 
The Ranunculus is one of our most beautiful old-fashioned 
flowers, yet it is seldom seen, though very useful for cutting, being 
both a good traveller and lasting several days in good condition. If 
cut whilst the buds are young or about a third expanded they will 
continue to unfold the same as if growing on the plant. A bed of 
the old florists’ varieties is a sight to be remembered. Many gardeners 
no doubt are under the impression that the Ranunculus is rather 
fastidious. They want attention, we admit, but they only require 
ordinary treatment if the soil is suitable. Sandy clayey loam is the 
best soil, similar to that in which the common Buttercup grows freely, 
and if this flower flourishes in the district it may be taken for 
granted that the Ranunculus will thrive too if the following details 
are carried out. 
Whilst growing the Ranunculus requires an ample supply of 
moisture, but it will not thrive in a close sodden soil. The position 
for the bed should not be in a high and dry place, or where the soil is 
not drained and in a well pulverised condition. The site of the 
bed having been marked out stir the soil deeply, and if it is poor we 
would sooner add some fresh loam than use manure ; but if it is de¬ 
cided to use the latter, in autumn cow manure should be dug in, 
not being nearer to the surface than 6 inches. The most suitable 
time for planting is any time after the middle of February, when the 
weather is favourable and the soil in a workable condition, and we 
would sooner wait a week than plant when the ground is in a wet 
state. When planting some people draw drills about 1| inch in 
depth ; but what we have found the quickest and best way is to make 
the surface of the bed level, placing an edging of thin boards around 
the bed, the top edge of the board to be 1£ inch above the level. 
Instead of drawing drills press the tubers on the surface in rows 
3 inches apart and 4 inches between the rows, covering each with a 
pinch of sand, which will cause them to turn out clean when the time 
arrives for lifting. When the tubera are all laid out the soil should 
be levelled carefully over the tubers up to the top edge of the 
boards, and levelled off firmly with the back of a small rake. If 
those gardeners who have hitherto planted Ranunculus in drills were 
to adopt this plan they would not regret it, and the tubers would all 
be of an uniform depth. 
There is one point in the preparation of the tubers before planting 
that needs attention, and that is to soak them in water for about 
twenty-four hours. When this is not done the tubers are apt to 
force themselves upwards too near the surface, and often out of the 
ground altogether, which weakens them considerably, and if not de¬ 
tected at once they perish, this being the cause of many failures. 
Another cause of failure is through the tubers not being harvested 
carefully, or they are stored in a damp place. A blue mould or 
mildew will often appear amongst them, which, if not detected at 
once, will soon cause serious havoc. If this should happen to appear 
the mouldy tubers should be picked out at once and the remainder laid 
out thinly in a dry place. 
As the young foliage appears above the ground all weeds should 
be removed, and on the first dry day lightly work the surface of the 
bed with a small stick or fork, and press the soil lightly about the 
roots. All the treatment they will require is to keep them free from 
wee Is and to give them a thorough watering occasionally if the 
weather prove dry. A slight mulching with well-pulverised manure 
would also prove beneficial and would lessen the supply of water, 
keeping the roots cool. When the blooms commence showing colour 
take care that no water touch them, as the construction of the flower 
causes them to hold water, and if the sun happens toBhine powerfully 
the blooms would most likely be injured unless a shading should be 
provided. As the blooms fade they must be removed, or the tubers 
may be weakened, and as soon as the foliage turns yellow and withers 
lift the tubers, clear them of soil and old foliage, and lay them out to 
dry in the open air out of the reach of sun, or, what may be better, in 
an airy shed. When perfectly dry store them away. If the tubers 
are left in the ground after the foliage decays they are apt to com¬ 
mence making fresh growth or roots, which weakens them con¬ 
siderably.—A. Young. 
VALLOTA PURPUREA. 
I CAN fully endorse all that Mr. Roberts says respecting the treatment 
of this handsome greenhouse bulb at page 524 of your last issue. Your 
correspondent truly says that the drying system practised by some 
gardeners is wrong, as after having had experience with this plant for a 
numuer of years, I am convinced that it is a mistake to allow it at any 
time to become dry at the roots. I have generally had the bed results 
from plants where the bulbs were allowed to increase without being dis¬ 
turbed ; but they are extremely useful if grown with one strong bulo in a 
5-inch pot, as with good feeding they throw up a grand spike of their 
beautiful scarlet flowers. At one time I thought it was quite right to 
gradually dry them off after flowering, but now instead of that 1 supply 
them with liquid manure occasionally right through the winter, and f 
have every reason to be sausfied with the change of treatment.— F. H., 
The Chestnuts, Walton-on-Thames. 
THE CARNATION AND PICOTEE. 
“The fairest flowers o’ the season 
Are our Carnations and streaked Gillyflowers.” 
I would have ventured to apologise for once more writing 
on this subject, if it had not been that so many people are 
clamorous for information anent the winter management of their 
choice plants. I am afraid many persons do not preserve their 
back numbers. We value our Carnations all the more when we 
read that they gave exquisite pleasure to Shakespere aij.d so 
many of tne ancient great and good people of centuries ago. Jt 
was evidently a favourite of Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers. 
Indeed, it was cultivated in England as early as the reign of 
Edward III., at least we would infer as much from Chaucer, the 
father of English poets. We also read that “ many varieties of 
Carnations were cultivated in the time of Charles 1., whose 
queen is reported to have been excessively fond of the flowers.” 
