46 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 21, 183# 
boarded with Scotch Fir for twenty years, and which are standing per¬ 
fectly well; but it is convenient to get the imported boards ready sawn 
out, and where the people can get them cheap they do not pay attention 
to the Scotch and home-grown timber. But, speaking for myself, I should 
say that Scotch Fir is a perfectly good wood as long as it is sufficiently 
mature, and I think, as foreign wood becomes dearer, as it will in a few 
years, English timber and Scotch timber will become of a value which it 
has not now.” 
On the general subject of the proposed Forest School Col. Pearson 
expressed himself in favour of a Chair of Forestry at the Edinburgh 
University, but he further stated that he had no actual faith in lectures 
in the school unless illustrated by Dractical instruction. “ If,” he says, 
“ you tell a man in the lecture-room that such and such consequences will 
take place, and do not show him the consequences on the spot, he does 
not believe anything about it; it goes in at one ear and out at the other ; 
he will think it all nonsense ; but if you want to impress your teaching 
upon him, you must take him out into the forests and show him the 
operations of Nature.” Regarding the extent or scope of the School, 
Mr. Thiselton Dyer, in reply to Sir Edmund Lechmere whether he would 
not make the School of Forestry applicable to India and the Colonies as 
well as to our own country, said, “ I should like to get all the fish possible 
nto the net, and if we had such a school to make it as useful as possible., 
I think it is surprising, considering how large is the interest of the 
English race in forestry, that except in India we have taken no kind of 
active interest in the subject : although we own more forests in the world 
than any other race, we are at present, except in the most piecemeal 
fashion, absolutely washing our hands of the whole business.’’ Mr. Dyer, 
in his evidence, further pointed out by way of illustration a few of what 
are usually called the minor industries of forest produce, which in the 
aggregate become of considerable national importance. 
It is to be regretted that the Committee was not nominated at an 
earlier period of the session. The first sitting was on July 14tb, and at 
the two subsequent sittings on July 21st and 24tb, witnesses only were 
examined. The report of the Committee refers to the impossibility of 
concluding their investigations during the Sesdon, and “recommends 
that a Committee on the same subject should be appointed in the next 
Session of Parliament.” 
CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE. 
This is a favourite Orchid here now. It flowers unfailingly at this 
season, and as the plants are very hardy and the blooms substantial it is 
very useful. Our plants have not been potted for two years. The largest 
one is in a 10-inch pot. The leaves of this one droop over and almost 
hide the pot, and it is now bearing forty-three blooms. Another plant 
in an 8-inch pot had twenty-four flowers; this one was placed in a room 
four weeks ago, it is there now, and the blooms are as fresh to-day as 
they were on the 26th of November. This, I think, is one of the greatest 
recommendations a plant could possess. When the flowers are cut they 
are equally useful, as they will remain fresh for a fortnight at least in a 
glass of water. Some time ago C. insigne was grown in a warm house, 
but the excellent plants I saw in Mr. Cypher’s nursery at Cheltenham 
two years ago induced me to alter the treatment for them. These were 
allowed to remain in a cold frame from May until the end of September, 
fully exposed to the sun and liberally ventilated. It is simple and easy, 
and a plan which any amateur with a cool frame and a small greenhouse 
could adopt with success.—J. Muir, Mar gam. 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED IN 1885. 
MESSRS. H. CANNELL & SONS. 
The Home of Flowers has long been a prolific source of novelties, 
and every year some of sterling merit are added to the lists of popular 
flowering plants. Whenever a variety of great promise is obtained it is 
extensively propagated, and a large stock is quickly secured to supply 
the numerous demands, and not unfrequently visitors to Swanley may see 
a whole house devoted to one such novelty. Owing, however, to the 
number of specialties at the nursery, there is a surprising succession of 
interesting floral displays throughout the year. At one time we find 
Pelargoniums predominating, at another Primulas seem to occupy the 
greater space, or Cyclamens and Fuchsias are in the majority. Later we 
see the brilliant Tuberous Begonias in their thousands, and conclude the 
season with a multitude of Chrysanthemums. These are a few of the 
principal features of the glass department; to them might he added many 
others, such as Verbenas, Bouvardias, and Petunias, to which much space 
is devoted. Then, too, the spring and summer months bring a grand 
succession of outdoor flowers, Roses, Dahlias, Pansies, Violets, Pent- 
stemons, and all the best hardy herbaceous plants, every square yard of 
ground being occupied with garden treasures innumerable. With such 
resources at command, and a widely extended correspondence, it can be 
readily understood that Messrs. Cannell & Sons enjoy especial facilities 
for obtaining novelties, of which they fully avail themselves. 
Reviewing those which have received honorary awards at the various 
metropolitan shows this year, the following deserve particular notice for 
their distinctness and beauty. Tuberous Begonias have been increased 
by eight fine varieties, of which several are doubles of great merit. Of 
these may be mentioned Antoinette Guerin, white, neatly formed ; 
Blanche Duval, creamy white, with a pink tinge before expanding; 
Gabrielle Legros, pale yellow, delicate and beautiful, of excellent form and 
substance ; Marchioness of Lothian, creamy white, the blooms large, full, 
and drooping, well adapted for baskets; Picotee, a bright rosy-tinted 
variety, with a clear white edging to the rounded petals ; and Louis 
Boucharlet, scarlet, free and handsome. The single varieties include the 
following—Earl of Bessborough, a dwarf free variety, with bronze yellow 
flowers ; and King of Crimsons, crimson soarlet, very large rounded 
flower, hold and handsome. 
The Swanley Chrysanthemums have bam referred to at some length 
recently, and it is only necessary t > mention the names of the principal 
varieties. The Japanese Beauty of Swanley is one of the best that have 
been certificated this year; it is of fiae sub^taaca and a novel shade of 
co'our—a soft rosy lilac. It appears likely to make a good exhibition 
variety, and we may expect to see it at some of the leading shows next 
Novemher. The Japanese Anemcne variety Catherine-wheel—white with 
a sulphur centre—and the single Queen of the Yellows are also notable 
varieties from the same establishment. 
A trio of good Dahlias gained certificates for Messrs. H. Cannell and 
Sons in the past year. Two of these are single varieties—namely, Eclipse, 
rich deep scarlet yellowish at the base of the florets, which are round, and 
the general outline is good ; and Faust, of a peculiar bright red tint, 
very distinct, and, like the preceding, of excellent form. The third 
variety is Germania Nova, a decorative variety, with compact blooms, 
formed of numerous acute closely packed bright rose florets. A pair of 
Verbenas, Dr. Feyerlin and Purity, the former rich purplish crimson and 
the latter pure white—have been certificated, together with a superb 
single white Primula named White Perfection; the handsome pure 
white Carnation, The Governor; and the old but useful Centropogon 
Lucyanus. 
It has already been remarked that there is a succession of floral exhi¬ 
bitions at Swanley that render the nursery attractive at all seasons, and 
a few notes upon the leading features there at the present time will show 
that even in such a season as this flowers can be had in abundance. The 
winter-flowering Zonal Pelargoniums are still bearing plenty of bloom?, 
and the usefulness of the plants is very great, for they have provided a 
brilliant show in the houses since October, the singles being the brightest 
and best for grouping and general effect, while the doubles are invaluable 
for cutting. The latter are, however, now getting past their best, though 
there is no lack of singles to choose from, some of the most striking being 
as follows—Scarlet: Ajax, Plutarch, very dark; Aurore B reile, light 
scarlet, large bloom ; and Lord R sebery, bright. Crimson : Zalia, 
Octavia, and Ferdinand Kauffer. Imogene, salmon ; Norah, blush, very 
fine ; Kate Greenaway, pink, large and deep ; Lady Read, pink centre, 
white edge ; Swanley Gem, rosy salmoD, white eye ; Edith Little, blush ; 
Eurydice, pink, white centre; Mary C swell, blush; and Constance, 
pink, a handsome variety. The double var eries comprise the following— 
Colonel Flatters, crimson; Laknal, crimson; B ule Noir, dark cdmson ; 
Mrs. Cordon, cerise scarlet; L rd Mayor, purplish crimson ; Lord Derby, 
pink ; and F. V. Raspail, scirlet. All these are reliable winter-flowering 
varieties, and form a selection of much va’ue. 
Primulas have two or three hous s devoted to them, and are in 
superb condition, vigorous p ants, with plenty of bright or puce flowers. 
The Swanley strains of re 1, purple, white, an 1 blue form the bulk of the 
stock, and possess their distinguishing characters true and strongly 
marked, as much care has been given to the selection and fixing of the 
types. In addition to these, however, there are some chtice named 
varieties, such as the large hands )me . elic te blu-h-tinted Piineess of 
Wales, the curious lilacina, the charming Fern-leaved del cits, the 
enormous ro3y crimB n Mammoth, the largest-floweied variety of all ; the 
dark-stemmed Queen of the White?, and a wondeifully blight form 
called Coccinea Improved, which was obtained from Swanley Red crossed 
with the old Coccinea, possessing the size and substance of the former 
with the brilliant colour of the latter somewhat deepened. Then of double 
Primulas there is the invaluable old Dmble White, affording its blooms 
by the basketful, and other doubles of the Gilbertian type, such as Mrs. 
Laxton, white ; Earl Beaconsfield, pmk ; Marchioness of Exeter, white ; 
Miss Eva Fish, and Annie Hillier, blush, very delicate and pretty, are also 
flowering plentifully. The curious Parsley-leaved crispata alba plena is 
worth growing, as it is quite distinct in foliage from any of the other 
Primulas, but the flo wers are not so useful as those of the old Double 
White. 
Houses of Cyclamens in flower form another feature, the v riety 
giganteum being extremely beautiful for the size and substance of the 
flowers. The stock of seedling Cyclamens for ano her season is astonish¬ 
ing. Thousands of healthy little plants about thiee or four months old 
in small thumb pots are those that a year hence will contribute to the 
floral display what the others are doing now. B uvardias are in similar 
numbers, the larger plants flowering freely, such as Vreelandi, white ; 
Priory Beauty, pink ; Hogarth and Dazzler, scarlet; with the double 
pink President Garfield ; white Alfred Neuner, and scarlet Sang Lorraine. 
A pretty group is arranged in one of the houses, composed of dwarf 
Oranges in pots, and which, for ornamental purposes, might be much 
more freely employed than they are at present. The pots are mostly 
32-size, and the plants from 9 to 12 inches high, bearing from six to 
twelve fruits, that ripen gradually and remain on the plants for a con¬ 
siderable tmi. 
Winter-flowering Begonias occupy much space in the same house, and 
those who wish to increase their supply of flowers in the early months of 
the year cannot do better than procure a good selection of such Begonias, 
for they are easily grown and exceedingly floriferous. The semperflorens 
varieties stand at the head of the list, comprising the ordinary form, 
with gigantea carnea, a deep rosy red when opening, and paler when 
expanded; and gigantea rosea, similar in habit but having delicate rosy 
pink flowers. The hybrid B. Carrieri is very free and compact in habit; 
