February 7 , 1869. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
species of spider carries her ball of eggs about with her ; but I do not 
know about this, or what enemy she is capable of protecting them 
against. The two I discovered in no way attempted to defend their 
nests against the thumb of the spoiler. 
Then, again, most people know that true insects have four stages 
of life—egg, larva grub or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, and perfect 
insect, and that it is only in the grub state that they grow ; and 
here I thought I “ had ” my entomological friend, who said earwigs 
were true insects, for I found them of all sizes, down to so small 
that it was a matter of difficulty to distinguish their legs, &c., yet 
all, of whatever size, looking just like the full grown ones ; but he told 
me that earwigs in all stages (except, of course, the egg) are almost 
■exactly alike “ to the ordinary observer ; ” and, after that, I somehow 
forgot to ask him what white earwigs are, for occasionally, say one in a 
thousand, we would find an earwig quite white, like an albino. These 
are very unpleasant-looking creatures, and being only “ an ordinary 
observer ” I have never yet felt called upon to make a minute examina¬ 
tion of one of them, or find out “ what they are for ; ” but if any extra¬ 
ordinary observer would like to inspect and question one we are sure to 
have some next year, and I think I could manage to spare him one or 
two. 
Thrips being essentially the pest of a hot dry time were naturally 
* l not in it ” last season ; but a candid friend pointed out one or two in 
one of my best Tea blooms at some show, and I much fear this pest in a 
good Rose year. My letter has gone so far that I must reserve a few 
notes on some other Rose enemies for another communication.— 
\V. R. Raillem. 
TRANSPLANTING STOCKS. 
I AM surprised that Mr. Machin thinks there has been little about 
the propagation and planting of dwarf stocks in this column of the 
Journal. Both these subjects were treated of in the numbers of last 
November, when these operations should have been in hand. 1 am 
afraid he did not read Mr. D. Gilmour’s articles very closely, for not 
only did he give instructions for “ transplanting seedling Briars, so as 
to be ready for budding on the following July,” but this very point of 
his routine gave rise to a little discussion. I am glad of the opportunity 
of alluding to the subject again, because further investigation has 
caused me to believe Mr. Gilmour to be right and myself to be wrong— 
to some extent at least. He recommended cutting off or removing the 
tap root of seedling Briars in transplanting, which seemed to me to be a 
destruction of the one point in which seedling stocks were said to be 
superior. 
But I find, from experiment, that if the bottom of the tap root is not 
put straight down in transplanting, but is turned at an angle, the turned 
part loses a considerable portion of its vitality, and that, for practical 
purposes,where the tap root was turned there it might as well have been 
cut off. As Mr. Gilmour’s soil is, I believe, shallow, he is no doubt right 
in vfery considerably shortening his tap roots ; and, as in the best of soil 
it would be very difficult to plant long tap roots and their attendant 
fibres in the position they held in the seed bed, a shortening is no doubt 
advisable in all cases. The fibrous roots that are made after such 
shortening have still, I find, more of a downward tendency than the 
growth of cutting roots. 
I am not aware that there is any other point in the transplanting of 
stocks that can present any difficulty to Mr. Machin or other amateurs. 
—W. R. R 
PENRHOS, HOLYHEAD. 
Rough seas and storms are usually associated with Holyhead, and 
few would think of a horticultural treat in its immediate vicinity. Yet 
at Penrhos, the seat of Lord Stanley of Alderley, there is in almost 
every department of horticulture much to interest and instruct. If 
circumstances permitted a far more detailed report could be penned. 
We simply had a brief run through and found all departments in 
excellent order and well managed. Surrounding the mansion and gardens 
good depths of forest form the necessary shelter on at least three sides, 
whilst a park of risingground intervenes between the mansion and the 
busy harbour. Within this ample protection, “ the winds being carried 
above,” we find a variety of tender plants in robust health, having 
occupied their quarters for years, such as the Blue Gum Tree, Palms 
(some of these are 20 feet high), Edwardsia grandiflora, Solanum 
ligustrinum, Pomegranate, Leptospermum lanigerum, Benthamia fragi- 
fera, Desfontanea spinosa, &c. A good collection of old-fashioned 
herbaceous plants occupies long borders in various positions, with huge 
specimens of Fuchsias, Hydrangeas, and other noble flowering plants, 
the whole wearing that venerab'e appearance difficult to explain, but 
which gardeners well know, and generally strive to attain in gardens 
under their care. Ordinary bedding plants find a home here also, the 
usual Pelargoniums being extensively used ; but the finest effect in 
this department is produced by large beds of Tuberous Begonias in the 
gardens immediately skirting the mansion. 
The summer feature here, however, is the grand blaze of bloom, 
mostly scarlet, that covers the walls of the house to the height of about 
15 feet. At a short distance away, with the sun shining upon this dense 
mass of colour, the effect is most brilliant, and we are at a loss to know 
what it is that produces such a glorious effect. On approaching 
sufficiently near to distinguish, however, I feel much like Naaman the 
Syrian of old, who for his malady was advised by the prophet to wash in 
the waters of Jordan. Expecting to find some extraordinary or 
uncommon plants we find instead the most ordinary—namely, Zonal 
Pelargoniums. These are grown in pots, and planted or plunged in 
pots in the border made for the purpose at the usual bedding-out time. 
Being limited in root space, but amply fed, they bloom throughout the 
season in the manner indicated, and are towards autumn taken up and 
carried entire to an old house kept for their accommodation, where again 
they afford another good winter supply. Of course, young plants are 
constantly being trained to replace those worn out, and thus annually 
Penrhos is made attractive for the summer sojourn of a worthy 
family. 
Springtime again rejoices in having the lawns and woodlands all 
aglow with Snowdrops, Crocuses, Daffodils, and a host of other bulbs ; 
besides, at all seasons the glass structures afford a supply of the choicest 
in flowers and fruits. Orchids, though not a specialty, are well repre¬ 
sented by free-flowering kinds, as Dendrobium nobile, which has carried 
as many as 400 blooms, Calanthes, and Cypripediums. Eucharises are 
quite at home and in perfect health, rather the exception than the rule 
nowadays. Passiflora quadrangular is, carrying fifty fruit, speaks for 
itself. Indeed, all climbers seem to have special attention, the natural 
manner in which they are trained on pillars, roofs, and other suitable 
positions being particularly pleasing. Excellent fruit, such as Grapes, 
Peaches, and Nectarines, are produced in houses eminently suited 
to their requirements. Conditions of climate are certainly very 
favourable for first-class all-round gardening ; but nevertheless, Mr. 
Everett, the genial gardener, deserves much congratulation for making 
the very best of those conditions.— Brad WEN. 
EUCHARIS CULTURE. 
[Read at a meeting of tile Wakedeld Paxton Society, by Mr. W. Dime's, of Mirfleld.J 
There can be no difference of opinion as to the value of this grand 
plant, and I shall therefore not say much in reference to its merits. It 
is one of the most useful stove plants we have for exhibition, so rich 
and effective do its pure white flowers appear in contrast with its 
ample deep green foliage, and so highly are its flowers appreciated for 
either the decoration of the dinner table, wreaths, bouquets, or the 
most delicate of all the lady wear, that it is well worthy of being 
cultivated expressly for its flowers. 
Cultivators differ as to the means of securing a plentiful supply of 
flowers, and some meet with so little success that they are not slow in 
asserting it to be very shy in blooming. There are undoubtedly several 
good ways of growing it, but I have never found my mode of culture 
surpassed as regards simplicity, or the satisfactory character of the 
results. Those who condemn the Eucharis on the ground of its not 
blooming freely have yet to master the details of its culture, for 
assuredly under good management it will flower most profusely. In 
proof of this, I may say I had several plants in 7 and 9-inch pots under 
my care that flowered well at the end of October and in the fore part 
or November of last year, and at the present time are carrying a good 
crop of flowers. I have one plant in a 15-inch pot that flowered at the 
time named. It had nineteen flower spikes, and at the present time it 
has twenty-nine spikes, thus giving a total of 240 flowers. If one 
plant will bear in this comparatively brief period so large a number of 
scapes, the charge of shyness cannot well be preferred against it. On 
the contrary, as the specimen here alluded to is by no means singular, 
the flowering properties of the Eucharis may be regarded as extra¬ 
ordinary. 
The Eucharis was first brought to Europe from New Grenada in 
1854. Its correct name is Eucharis grandiflora, but it is so commonly 
known in gardens as Eucharis amazonica that it is doubtful if this 
name will now be suppressed. The plant is easily propagated by 
division, and those in possession of a few can add to their stock con¬ 
siderably in a short time. Each strong flowering bulb will produce 
three or four in a season, which can be taken off and grown separately 
or together when it is necessary to increase the stock. I do not see the 
wisdom of removing the small bulbs from those that have produced 
them, for they grow more rapidly attached to the parent. They should 
be grown on together until a number of large bulbs have been produced, 
when they may be divided and the small ones potted singly. Potting 
may be done at almost any season with equal success. I do not advise 
it being done during November and December, when the days are very 
short and growth naturally slow. It should be done annually if 
plants are to be retained in health and vigour, not necessarily the 
whole at the same time, but successionally as they cease flowering. I 
think it a mistake to subject the whole to the same treatment at one 
time, for they must be pushed into active growth afterwards, which 
would be the means of bringing the whole of them into a flowering 
condition about the same time. 
I will imagine the case of someone purchasing a thrifty plant well 
established in a 6-inch pot. This should be shifted into a pot two sizes 
