October 8, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
295 
Polyanthus Narciss out of doors in England, its place is in the con¬ 
servatory. You and I find the utmost difficulty in distinguishing more 
than six or seven varieties of Polyanthus Narcissus. Yes, and so I 
believe do the growers. They tell you that these two are just alike 
except the bulbs, which vary a little. The fact is two are catalogued, 
and people ask for them. The grower has years ago chosen the better 
of the two, and sells it for both. On our way back we pass acres of 
small Tulips, and as we approach the large can.il we see a huge field 
covered with that tender russet brown which denotes the young growth 
of Spirtea japonica, or, as the Dutch call them, Hoteia. There are 
scores of acres grown on the heavier and damper land which will not 
grow bulbs. Our host could show us much more if we would stay, but 
we have been walking three hours with him, and now the day is de¬ 
clining, and we have a long ride before we get back to our dinner. Of 
course we must smoke a cigar with him, and drink a little glass, for the 
Dutchman is the soul of hospitality, and would be quite hurt if you 
did not take something with him. 
I always find myself quite at home in the Netherlands—the people, 
the manners, the cleanliness all seem to remind us of home ; every¬ 
thing except the language, and that is fairly easy for a Scotchman. 
Everything did I say ? No, I must make an exception. One rarely 
sees a beggar, and abject poverty is almost unknown. True, there are 
not so many millionaires, but the towns are smaller, and people do not 
get lost as they do in our fearful metropolis, and either starve, or what 
is almost worse, work for such wages as starve themselves, whilst they 
take employment from others. The working man in the Netherlands 
keeps long hours —i e., in the summer. I suppose he cannot do much in 
the winter, but he seems contented. His sabots or wooden shoes cost 
him 6d. a pair, perhaps lOd. if he is stylish. They keep his feet dry 
and warm in winter, as I can testify, having worn them myself, and in 
the summer he can keep his feet cool, or fairly cool, walking in the hot 
sand, whereas in boots one feels the heat very much. 
I have been particularly struck on the bulb farms with the appear¬ 
ance of politeness and goodwill displayed between employers and em¬ 
ployed, and I know that a good feeling exists, for when I ask a large 
grower, “ What do you do with your men in the winter ?” he replies, 
“Oh, there is always something ; they must live in the winter as well as 
the summer.” In making this remark I would not draw any contrast 
between Dutchmen and our own people, for if an employer cannot get 
on with English workmen it is generally his own fault. I have been 
moralising some time, but have not been keeping our host waiting, for 
we bade him good-bye some time ago, and are rolling along in the 
steam tram towards our well-earned meal and repose. 
ROSES ON THEIR OWN ROOTS. 
While thoroughly endorsing all that “ Utilitarian ” (page 82) says 
in favour of raising Roses on their own roots, it might be well to give 
another system of attaining the same end. It gives an additional 
chance to those who have not availed themselves of the way recom¬ 
mended by him, and who might still wish to put in a few cuttings this 
autumn, for which there is still ample time, for November is as good a 
time as any for this operation. As a frame is not required the system 
has the advantage of great simplicity, and when properly done will 
ensure a strike of about 80 per cent, at least. Select a shady border, 
under a north wall for instance, so long as it is free from draught. If 
the soil is of a tenacious nature it is well to fork-in a quantity of leaf 
soil and sand, but if moderately free or sandy this will not be necessary. 
When the ground is ready set the line. Take out a narrow space with 
the spade about 7 inches deep, cast a little sand along the bottom, and 
insert the cuttings about 6 inches apart, and a foot between the lines. 
Tread the soil firmly when filling up the lines, and leave the ground 
level. When finished spread about an inch of sand over the surface, and 
by the following November there will be quite a forest of Roses, fit to be 
removed to their permanent quarters. 
As to the cuttiDgs I always make them from 12 to 15 inches in 
length and of medium wood, if with a heel so much the better. It will 
therefore be seen that they are about half in and half out of the 
ground. As Mr. David Thomson said in a January number of this 
Journal, they will continue to grow and throw up fresh shoots like Osiers 
when generations of Briar-worked Roses have passed away. It may 
surprise many to know that tender Tea and China Roses may be propa¬ 
gated in this way, while such as Gloire de Dijon, Rove d’Or, and others 
similar to these root more freely than the Hybrid Perpetuals. 
About the middle of last November I had a mixed lot potted that 
had been put in exactly twelve months before, and in April they 
bloomed as well as the older Briar-worked ones, and better in some 
instances, as the blooms of Magna Charta would not have looked out of 
place on an exhibition table. At the same time I remember when I first 
began this way of propagating Roses some sixteen years ago I potted a 
number, and top-dressed them heavily with hen dung in spring. They 
grew well and bloomed magnificently, but lackea the Rise’s greatest! 
charm—they were totally without scent, while the older established 
ones treated the same way were all right. It is needless to say I have 
never resorted to a similar top-dressing until the second year at least.— 
H. C. W. 
A ROSARIAN’S INVENTION. 
On Saturday afternoon last the whole of the officers and Committee 
of the Preston Fulwood Horticultural Society were entertained at lun¬ 
cheon in a large marquee, erected for the purpose upon the lawn at the 
residence of Mr. Samuel H. Stott, Linden House, Fulwood, Preston. 
This gentleman is an expert in Rose culture, and is a frequent visitor at 
some of the principal exhibitions. He has a large collection of all the 
most popular varieties, and for many months past has been engaged in 
his leisure hours by an endeavour to invent a scheme by which insecti¬ 
cides and manures might be distributed for both cleansing and feeding 
purposes. Mr. Stott’s endeavour has proved successful, as was shown at 
the various tria’s of insecticides and manures which the members, num¬ 
bering over forty, were invited to witness. 
The distributor is a vessel made of either zinc or iron sheeting, in 
the shape of an ordinary 4 or 6-inch hot water pipe, with two divisions 
causing three or more cells. At either end a hosepipe is attached, the 
latter being fixed to the water supply of the house, or from any other 
source from which there is a downward course in the direction of the 
distributor. With the water connected, all that remains to be done is to 
put the desired insecticide soap or manures into the cells. The water 
now turned on passes through the instrument. The water in passing 
through dissolves apd carries with it the properties of the soap or other¬ 
wise, which are distributed by a man at the hose in the same way a.3 
clean water would be put on from any water supply in the ordinary 
way. The strength is regulated by filling one, two, or more of the cells, 
according to the requirements.—A. W. 
THE ENGLISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
A VISIT TO ALNWICK CASTLE. 
The fifth annual excursion of the English Arboricultural Society: 
took place on Wednesday, September 18th, the place chosen being 
Alnwick Castle, permission having been kindly given by His Grace 
the Duke of Northumberland. It was a lovely September day, 
the sun shining brightly, cheerful, and yet not too warm, adding 
considerably to the pleasure of the visitors. The party met and break¬ 
fasted at the Crown Hotel, Newcastle, and left by the 8.20 train for 
Alnwick, where they arrived at about 10 A.H. They were met by the 
head forester, Mr. J. D. Coxon, who conducted them to the gardens, 
when they were met by the gardener, Mr. Geo. Harris. On entering 
the visitors were much struck with mixed beds, which had a most 
pleasing and telling effect. The large conservatory or winter garden, 
which is 120 feet long, 60 feet broad, and 30 feet high, was visited, and 
well repaid the trouble. All the usual greenhouse plants were doing- 
well, but the great feature was the climbers round the posts which sup¬ 
port the large roof. Lapageria alba was 25 feet high, flowering most 
profusely. Mr. Harris never entwines the shoots, which causes them 
to fall in graceful festoons, and the large clusters of white flowers are 
seen to much better advantage. Luculia gratissima is showing over 100- 
heads of flowers, and even the laterals are all showing flowers. Fuchsia 
Carolina? has grown 35 feet in four years, and was profusely draped with 
flowers from top to bottom, and the charming Clianthus puniceus is 
also in a very flourishing condition, and is likely to flower well in 
February. There is also the rare Bignonia Chirire, which has the re¬ 
markable character that in its early stages of growth the leaves are 
small, but as the growths develope the leaves increase proportionately. 
There is also Tacsonia Von Volxemi and Solanum jasminoides. In 
this conservatory were some plants of Chrysanthemum G. \Vermig r 
which was splendid both inside and out. Mr. Harris considers it in¬ 
valuable. 
We next entered the vineries. A range of about 120 feet divided into 
three compartments. These were planted some fifty years ago at con¬ 
siderable expense, the borders extended, and from 4 to 5 feet deep. 
This depth of rich soil is considered by our guide far too much ; 2 feet 
6 inches is ample, and artificial food can be employed better and safer 
to them under these conditions. These Vine borders are gradually- 
being restored. By noting carefully the northern climate here it is 
found that all the thick-skinned Grapes are six to seven weeks later than 
the thin-skinned ones, and it is advocated that all late Grapes be started 
by the first week in March, and Muscat of Alexandria on no account 
later. The favourite late Grape is Mrs. Piuce, then Trebbiano, Lady 
Downe’s, and Pearson’s Golden Queen. The bunches averaged from 
2 to 3 lbs. each, were large in berry, and likely to finish off very well. 
On emerging from this raDge our attention was drawn to some fine 
horizontal trained Pears of Beurre Clairgeau, a good cropper, and a 
much esteemed Pear in the ducal kitchen. Beurr4 Diel was good, and 
Louise Bonne of Jersey had an excellent crop. In the borders worthy 
of note were Roses flowering from the second growth. The principal 1 
varieties were La France, Gloire de Dijon, and Souvenir de la Malmaison r 
the latter is often seen good in the north very late. We again entered 
two fine Muscat of Alexandria houses planted in 1885. These houses: 
are 30 feet long, 18 broad, and 16 feet high at the apex. Fine new hay 
was spread all over the borders inside to stop the ascending moisture,, 
and removing the hay the borders were seen to be quite damp under- 
