358 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 6, 1888; 
borders when the plants are divided and replanted, and there are 
few shrubbery borders that could not accommodate the castaways 
with advantage. Wet spots will suit Spiraeas Ulmaria, venusta, 
and Aruncus, Astilbe rivularis, Sweet Flag, Carex paniculata, 
and Equisetums, with Gunnera scabra. Wet and shady places 
will suit Ferns, such as Osmunda regalis, Struthiopteris pennsyl- 
vanica, Athyrium Filix foemina and its beautiful varieties, 
Lastraea diLitata, &c. If there should be a rivulet, however tiny, 
and it can be widened so as to form a small lake, then the Bull- 
rush is useful, Aponogeton, and the Nymphaeas, with other 
aquatics. We get the moisture-loving plants altogether, and if 
judiciously placed they form quite a feature. 
Plenty of places will present themselves as suitable for single 
RoEes as Rosa rugosa, Paul’s singles, &c., that are so finely 
contrasting with the Dog Rose in summer with flower and in’ 
autumn with fruit. Sweet Briar will lade the air with fragrance 
and Rose of Sharon (Hypericums) will light up the sombre 
summer foliage with gold. Bare tree stems with not very 
vigorous heads, but past their best, can be clothed with Clema¬ 
tises, such as Traveller’s Joy and C. montana. Roses, too, of 
the common climbing sort, Ayrshire, Boursault, and evergreen; 
and if Virginian Creepers, Vines, and Hops are added, something 
of the picturesque will be obtained, charming in summer and 
still more so in autumn with the rich tints the foliage imparts 
to the scene. Honeysuckles will complete the beauty of the 
scene; they look so natural twining about trees. Bare spots in 
shade or open are suitable for bulbs. Winter Aconites, Snow¬ 
drops, Daffodils, Scillas, and others for shady situations or under 
deciduous trees; and Crocuses, with the choicer Narcissi, for 
open places, bulbs of all kinds doing well in grass, being all the 
better of a lifting occasionally; besides, the bulbs that are used 
in bedding are utilised annually for planting in shrubbery 
borders and woodlands. The time to lift, divide, and replant 
bulbs of all sorts is as soon as the foliage dies. Drying is only 
a matter of convenience with many bulbs, and with some is 
positively injurious, especially for Snowdrops and Daffodils. 
What a fine show Tulips make on grass! They only want a 
trial in good soil in open spots,keeping them from being smothered 
with rubbish, whilst little attention is needed for most, whether 
cultivated or semi-wild.— G. Abbey. 
AURICULAS AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 
“ T); Deal.” at page 339, does not place the details of the National 
Exhibition fairly before the readers of the Journal, and he is quite in¬ 
correct in some particulars. The dry statement that Mr. Horner was 
absent has to he accounted for by his absence from his plants for about a 
period of three weeks previous to the exhibition watching by the death¬ 
bed of his mother. His plants were five days late, had he been at home 
to attend to them he would undoubtedly have been present as usual. 
Mr. Brockbank, not “Brocklebank,” was not represented; he did not 
intend to exhibit it his plants had been in. There was not such a very 
great falling off in exhibitors. I find on reference to the prize list that 
there are seventeen prizetakers, some of them exhibitors for the first time. 
I am also considerably bewildered by the remark that Mr. Turner’s 
Auriculas had received fire heat “night and day since Christmas.” All I 
can say is that our Auriculas had no heat, except sufficient at nights to 
keep out the frost, and they were certainly some days in advance of Mr. 
Turner’s. Further, I must protest against the remark that the trusses of 
the Auriculas in the large collections had spindly stalks, requiring sticks 
to support them. “ I)., Deal," knows quite well that this is a slur on the 
professional character of an Auricula grower, and as far as I am concerned 
the statement is utterly untrue. Mr. Castle saw our plants five days 
previous to the exhibition, with the trusses all standing up firm and 
elastic, and pot a stick to one of them, and as soon as the plants came 
home the sticks were removed, and although the plants had been two days 
in the conservatory at South Kensington, and two nights in the close 
van, the stems were yet as firm and erect as ever, and by the appearance 
of Mr. Turner’s plants I should say his were the same. I have paid some 
attention to Auriculas during the last dozen years, and am quite safe in 
saying that “ D., Deal’s ,” remarks are neither correct nor generous to the 
Society. What is one to think of a judge who failed to distinguish much 
difference between Sapphire (Horner) and Charles J. Perry (Turner) ? 
It is just as reasonable to say there is not much difference between Sim’s 
Eliza and Campbell’s Pizarro, or between Lancashire Hero and George 
Lightbody. In all three cases the difference in foliage and flowers can be 
distinguished at a glance.— Jas. Douglas. 
LEEK AURICULA AND SPRING FLOWER EXHIBITION. 
The first Exhibition of Auriculas and spring flowers in Leek took place 
at the Town Hall on May 1st, for the benefit of the Cottage Hospital. The 
Show was arranged and energetically carried out by a few growers and 
admirers of the Auricula in L ek, to whom great credit is due. This 
favourite flower (bo little known in Leek) was, of course, the centre of attrac¬ 
tion, and considering the lateness of the spring, the specimens exhibited in 
all classes, more especially the self-coloured edged ones, would compare very 
favourably with other exhibitions held in different parts of the country, and' 
augurs well for the culture of this charming flower in this district. 
In the green-edged class we missed F. D. Horner and Prince of Greens, 
these plants not being in bloom with us. Anna (Trail) first honour;, 
L\ curgus second honour. Grey-edge class.—The veteran George Lightbody 
first, Prank Simonite second, Rob Trail third. White-edge.—Acme (Reid)' 
first, Beauty (Trail) second, True Briton third. Self-coloured class was the 
best class of all, the first honour being deservedly awarded to Negro 
(Mellor), a splendid trust of eleven pips; Mrs. Heap (Mellor) second, and' 
Lord of Lome third. Stage Alpines.—Diana first, Lavinia second, Mercury 
third. Mr. Mellor, nurseryman, Leek, was awarded first-class certificate for 
a splendid collection of garden varieties Alpines. 
The competition for Daffodils (ten varieties) were certainly one of the 
featu'es of the Exhibition, the bloomB being remarkable fine and everything' 
that could be desired. The prizes (which were given by Mr. Mellor, Leek 
Nun-eries) were awarded as under :—H. W. Nixon first, j. Cheetham second,. 
J. Garner third. 
The room was suitably decorated with stove and greenhouse plants, 
kindly lent for the occasion, and Mr. H. W. Nixon of Leek read a very 
interesting paper in the afternoon and evening upon the history and culture 
of the Auricula, which he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. 
The Committee are pleased to be able to hand over to the Cottage- 
Hospital a nice little sum. 
PRIMULA OBCONICA (P. POCOLIFORMIS). 
Since its introduction into this country four years ago by Messrs, 
Yeitch & Sons of Chelsea this species has proved itself a popular favourite 
with all lovers of Primulas. It is one of those sterling novelties that will 
not fail to command admiration on account of handsome habit of growth, 
floriferousness, and pleasing flowers. Moreover, owing to its perpetual- 
flowering character, it admirably supplies the link wanting in the sinensia 
section—abundance of flowers during the summer. Beautiful as the 
numerous varieties of the P. sinensis section are, their flowers are not 
(with the exception of the doubles) so suitable for cut purposes as those 
of P. ohconica. There is a want of lightness about the blooms of the 
former that prevents their use to a great extent in strictly artistic floral 
arrangements; but it is not so in the case of P. obconica, for here you have 
a trues of blooms, not large or “ lumpish,” but of a more convenient size, 
light, and graceful, with blooms of a pleasing shade of colour, ranging 
from mauve to pale lilac and frequently pure white. 
To those who have not seen this beautiful species in its true character 
my description of its good qualities may seem somewhat exaggerated. In 
order to dispel this illusion I may say that my employer is an accom¬ 
plished artist, and whose friends possess similar acquirements; these, one 
and all, are charmed with this species. In consequence of its being such 
a favourite here I have long ceased to grow any of P. sinensis. Here, 
however, it grows under conditions more favourable to the development 
of its true character than is usually accorded to this or other plants of a 
simil >r character. 
Our plants, as soon as they commence flowering, are employed to form 
portions of several groups of plants which are arranged in a large winter 
garden here ; and as these groups are arranged on large irregular mounds 
of soil interspersed with large blocks of stones, among which the pots of the 
various plants used are plunged up to the rim, the Primulas having what 
is most congenial for their roots, a cool and moist condition unattainable 
in the ordinary conservatory or greenhouse. Some of these plants are 
grouped in masses, others placed in clefts between the large boulders of 
stones, and in this position they thrive remarkably well. As a proof of 
the good effects of having their roots plunged in a cool moist medium as 
just de-cribed, I may state that(although the best of our plants are grow¬ 
ing in pots of not larger than 5-inch size, each plant carries on an average 
from six to fifteen trusses of bloom. 
The culture of P. obconica is by no means difficult for anyone possess¬ 
ing a greenhouse. Seed should he sown now in pots or pans filled one- 
third of their depth with drainage, over this place a layer of rough 
material, filling the remainder of the pot to within an inch of the top with 
equal pr iportions of finely sifted peat, leaf mould, loam, and sand, pressing 
it in firmly and giving when finished a watering with a fine-rose waterpot. 
On this sow the seed evenly, covering the pot with a square or circle of 
glass, and plunging it if possible up to the rim in cocoa-nut fibre in slight 
bottom heat. Cover the glass with a layer of fibre or a sheet of brown 
paper until the seed commences to germinate, then gradually expose the 
seedlings to the light, and after a few days place the pot on a shelf as 
near the glass as possible, taking care to shade the youDg plants from 
sunshine. As soon as the plants have formed the second leaves carefully 
transplant them rosnd the edges of clean 3-inch pots filled with the same 
compost as before for the seed pots. Water these at once, and plunge 
the pots in fibre either in a warm moist corner of a greenhouse, or in a 
frame which can be kept close if desired. In the course of a couple of 
weeks the young plants will be fit for potting singly in small GO’s, 
using a little decayed cow manure and a sprinkling of old mortar in 
addition to the compost already mentioned. R place and plunge the 
plants in the frame, attending carefully to watering, and shading, and 
airing, and when the pots are full of roots shift them on into 5-inch pots. 
In potting for the last time allow the depth of at least an inch from the 
top of tbe pot to remain; the object of this is to p^imit the plants 
being top-drossed with a little cow manure and Clay’s fertiliser after they 
have borne their first flowers. This species is a very free rooter, hence it 
requires stimulating frequently during the flowering period. The top¬ 
dressing will work wonders in the course of a few days ; indeed, we often 
find the inch of manutial top-dressing full ot delicate white and pink 
roots within a week of its application. A little soot and liquid cow 
