290 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 11, 1880. 
farther attempts have been made in hybridising the Clivias -with 
each other or with the species of other allied genera. 
In the Ghent Exhibibition of 1878 another great display of 
Clivias was made, and from that time quite a number of handsome 
varieties have been figured in continental and other periodicals, and 
appeared in English collections. C. miniata concinna, shown by 
Mr. B. S. Williams, was certificated by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, June 10th, 1879. C. miniata superba was exhibited at 
a show of the Royal Caledonian Society by Messrs. Downie in the 
same year and certificated. C. miniata Lindeni, another very 
handsome variety, was figured in “ L’Elustration Horticole,” 
t. 343, 1879, equally fine varieties being C. miniata Van Houttei, 
figured in the “Revue Horticole” in 1880,and C. miniata maxima 
in the same work in the following year. In all these the chief 
characters are the increased size of the flowers, the broader 
petals and the brighter colours, and one of the best of the type is 
Martha Reimers, which Mr. Williams sent to the meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on March 8th, 1881, when it was 
honoured with a first class certificate. Another very brightly coloured 
variety obtained by the same firm was C. miniata cruenta a couple 
of years later, but Mr. Williams has also raised many fine seedlings 
at Upper Holloway, where for some time these plants have received 
much attention. 
A particularly handsome variety named Baroness Schroder was 
• shown from The Dell Gardens at the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
meeting on March 10th, 1885, and since then until the present 
year no certificates have been awarded for these plants by the 
Society named. At the meeting held on March 12th, however, 
Mr. P. Davidson, Iwerne Minster, Shaftesbury, exhibited a variety 
raised by himself called Lady Wolverton, with brilliant orange 
red flowers, the petals broad, rounded, and nearly of equal size, 
one of the best that has yet appeared. Then on March %6th last 
Messrs. John Laing & Son, Forest Hill, exhibited a superb variety 
named John Laing, which was also certificated, and it was similarly 
honoured at the Crystal Palace. This is distinguised by the excel¬ 
lent shape of the flowers, affording an admirable example of what 
has been effected in recent years in the improvement of these 
plants. 
At the present time the last named variety is one of the most 
conspicuous in a large group of Clivias in Messrs. Laing’s nursery, 
one umbel over a foot in diameter containing twenty-two flowers 
each 3£ inches across ; the divisions of the corolla broad, rounded, 
rich deep orange red, the centre creamy yellow. The plant is a 
strong one, perhaps seven years old, and it may be expected that the 
progeny of this and some other varieties will constitute a fine 
strain. Mrs. Laing is another of the same character, rather lighter 
in colour but with excellently formed flowers; this was certificated 
a year or two since at the Regent’s Park Royal Botanic Society’s 
show and at the Crystal Palace. For several years past seedling 
Clivias have been raised at Forest Hill, and there are now 
hundreds of young plants in various stages, many having now 
flowered. In about three years if the plants are grown strongly 
flowers are produced, but their best characters are not seen until they 
are five or six years old, and if in the meantime they bear a crop 
of seed it often weakens them to such an extent that the flowers 
are greatly deteriorated for a season or two. Out of a list of 
twenty-nine named varieties the following are the best in flower 
now besides those already described. Orange Perfection, rich 
clear orange, well formed flowers ; sulphurea, pale sulphur tint, 
compact truss, very distinct ; Purity, orange red with a light centre; 
delicatissima, a large flowered variety of a soft orange tint ; 
salmonea, a pale but clear salmon coloured variety ; aurantiaca 
compacta, very free compact trusses, medium sized, good shaped, 
orange tinted flowers ; Brilliant and Glow, both of high colour 
and excellent habit. 
The chief efforts of the seedling raisers and selectors have been 
directed to improving the shape of the flowers and increasing the 
diversity of tints as far as possible. This is necessarily a slow 
process when so little can be done by hybridisation to introduce- 
fresh characters, yet a considerable range of tints has been secured,, 
and there is every probability, now that light-coloured forms have- 
been obtained, that a white-flowered Olivia may be expected. It 
must not be supposed that all the seedlings raised have been, 
improvements on the type ; in fact, many have had to be thrown 
away, and I have seen scores that were decidedly inferior to the- 
original C. miniata as figured in the “ Botanical Magazine,” both 
in shape of flowers and colour. Still the seedlings raised from the- 
best of the selected varieties such as have just been named will 
gradually form an improved and reliable strain, in the same way 
as has been effected with other plants ; still it might be worth the- 
trouble if cultivators would try tha hybridising effects of the- 
other species of Olivia, the Vallota, Cyrtanthus, or even the- 
Hippeastrums, all nearly related plants, and in any case the 
experiments would be interesting. 
The cultural requirements of Clivias are neither numerous nor 
difficult to meet. Similar treatment as regards temperature and 
moisture to that accorded Camellias suits them well, with a. 
substantial compost of loam containing a liberal admixture of sand 
and a little peat. The plants gro w quickly under liberal treatment,, 
and in the early stages are materially assisted by being plunged in 
moderate heat. The roots are fleshy, and extend rapidly, requiring 
plenty of pot space ; water must also be supplied freely while the 
plants are growing, and they are then benefited by a rather higher 
temperature than that of an ordinary greenhouse. After growth 
is completed cooler quarters and less water are needed, but no 
attempt at “ drying-off ” should be made. Syringing and sponging 
the leaves occasionally will keep them clean, as they have few insect 
enemies.—L. Castle. 
GROWING FRUIT FOR PROFIT. 
When farmers a few years since were advised to grow fruit 
and make jam, I lifted my pen against it, knowing full well 
from experience what the result would be. I was prompted to 
do so by the very fact mentioned in your leader for March 7tb 
of inexperienced persons possessing little knowledge of the art, 
but “ dexterous in using phrases,” so as to make a plausible but 
misleading article for a gullible public. The late Mr. Wm. Raitt 
wrote much about Strawberries, and as an inducement to others 
to cultivate them said, “ the poorer the soil the greater the crop.” 
When I questioned the accuracy of such teaching, he, after in¬ 
dulging in a few irrelevant sentences, said that “ seventy tons of 
manure per acre was necessary to grow Strawberries successfully.”' 
These two sentences showed the strength of the argument, and I 
was rewarded by several letters from intending planters thanking 
me for the timely advice in rescuing them from what would have 
been a risky undertaking. 
I am of opinion that it is not only desirable, but advisable, 
for everyone who has the opportunity and the means, to grow a 
quota , of fruit of sorts suitable to the soil and climate, even 
although to no greater extent than for use in his own household. 
Apples are good as food and medicine for both man and beast, and 
taking everything into consideration, many small orchards are more 
to be recommended than a few extensive ones. Monopoly in 
anything is a mistake. Besides, it is as unsafe to launch into a big 
undertaking of fruit-growing as it is with bees. By keeping in a 
medium line, and with caution in either, or with both, the variation 
of labour stimulates, and cannot fail to end profitably. With a 
wider distribution, consumer and cultivator are brought nearer each 
other, and both are benefited by co-operating, thereby reducing 
unnecessary expenditure. 
Cultivators of fruit should, before embarking in the business, 
organise themselves in such a way that dealers cannot take the 
advantage of them, as well as to prevent the possibility of markets 
being glutted, which often happens when there is a scarcity. It is 
quite customary for dealers in Glasgow and Edinburgh to do their 
business by telegraph ; thus, when they hit upon a glutted market, 
goods are bought by proxy, and the goods of a sparsely stocked 
market are bought easier, outwitting the producer. Unless pro¬ 
ducers adopt some means to prevent this, fruit-growiDg will be a 
failure. Do not start fruit-growing with the intention of sup¬ 
planting the foreigner, but rather with the view of supplying the 
public with a better article, a-nd while doing so, increasing your 
own income. 
