Jannaiy 2, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
15 
even more fleeting than the shape. Not of the largest size, but a free 
bloomer and a good autumnal. This is everybody’s Rose, of strong con¬ 
stitution, doing well as a cutting, or on poori.sh soil. 
John Stvart Mill (Turner, 1874?).— Of strong, long, growth and 
good foliage, not very liable to mildew or to be injured by rain. The 
National Rose Society’s catalogue describes this as “ a good reliable 
flower but it is not so with me. It is true, more or less, of a great 
many Roses that they come we'l in some seasons but not in others. The 
one under notice has been very uncertain with me generally, but came 
exceptionally well and good last year. A capital imbricated red Rose, 
of average size and good lasting qualities, but only fair in freedom of 
bloom or as an autumnal. 
Jule.f Margottin (Margottin, 1853).—Of strong hardy growth and 
good foliage, not liable to mildew or to be injured by rain. A very free 
bloomer and good autumnal, but a poorly shaped rough bloom from a 
florist’s point of view. Early, sweet-scented, and not particular as to 
soil or treatment. A useful old-fashioned garden Rose, of strong con¬ 
stitution, and suitable for cottage gardens or odd corners. The seed 
parent of Edward Morren.—\V. R. Raillem. 
(To be continued.) 
Tea Roses in a Cool Conservatory at Christmas. 
Tea Roses are welcome blooms at all times, but at none other more 
so than Christmastide, when the demand for cut flowers generally quite 
keeps pace with the supply. At that season their chaste beauty is a 
pleasing relief after the Chrysanthemums, and always finds ready 
appreciation. In those establishments where houses are specially used 
for forcing flowers it is no very difficult task to have them in quantities 
at that time, but in gardens of more limited extent with scanty appli¬ 
ances this is not such an easy matter. Any method that will assist the 
supply is readily turned to account for that purpose in the latter places. 
For several years past we have been able to cut good quantities of 
blooms about Christmas from a plant which covers a portion of the roof 
of a cool conservatory without subjecting it to any special treatment, 
which might prove injurious to the other plants. In fact the manage¬ 
ment which it appears to like has been more beneficial than otherwise 
to them, although they are of the ordinary character for such a 
structure. 
The plant itself is worked on the Briar stock, which I have always 
found the most satisfactory for Tea Roses, and planted in a nariow border 
on the shady side of the house. The compost in which it is planted 
is a sandy loam well incorporated with brickbats and a scattering of 
crushed bones, placed over a thick layer of rubble for drainage. But I 
may here mention that in my opinion a wonderful mixture of ingre¬ 
dients, which some consider indispensable, is less necessary than a 
simple compound which will remain sweet and porous for a long 
period. When planted in a compost of this description the necessary 
food for its conrinued prosperity can be readily supplied when necessary. 
In our case all that is given in that way is an occasional watering 
with liquid manure when the family are away, and a sprinkling of 
artificial manure when the former cannot be applied, but not oftener 
than twiee in the course of a year. 
It has been said that the.abuse of the waterpot has killed thousands 
of plants, and if this be so it may be added that the wrong use of ven¬ 
tilators is accountable for the death of tens of thousands. At all stages 
careful ventilation is of the utmost imnortance for the welfare of Roses, 
direct currents of air on the tender growths being most disastrous in the 
results. Even if the thermometer registers 10° or 12° more than the 
orthodox number when an easterly wind is blowing the occupants of 
the house will show that they have had quite enough of it through the 
laps of the glass, without letting it into them full face, at 'east we have 
found it to be so, and if the Journal has been read aright this is no 
solitary experience. Another matter which we have attended to is 
keeping the growths well thinned, cutting weakly shoots clear away, 
encouraging only the strongest, and those well apart, more flowers and 
better being got from this treatment than when they are allowed to 
glow into a thicket. By following this course of management an almost 
continuous supply of blooms can be had from one plant, but if a 
quancity is required at any special time an extra thinning ought to be 
done about three months beforehand. Such a pruning was given to the 
plant in question at the latter end of September, and now for several 
weeks we have been able to cut fair quantities from it, a good average 
sample of which is forwarded for the Editor’s inspection, besides an 
occasional bloom ever since.—M. D. 
[The blooms received were of great excellence, and accompanied 
with large, deep green, glossy leaves. The variety was Adam.] 
Rosa laxa. 
Gardening papers are recommending, on the authority of Otto 
Froebel, Zurich, Rosa laxa for standard Roses. Is Rosa laxa to be found 
in English woods or hedges ? I should like to get some, and seed to sow 
for Briar seedlings.— Rosa (Mono-maniaca). 
THE TREE TOMATO. 
At a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society's Fruit 
Committee the Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley, sent fruits of the “ Tree 
Tomato” Cyphomandra betacea. They were acutely egg-shaped, 
3 inches long and inch in diameter in the widest part, dark 
salmon in colour, firm, sprightly and agreeable, and possessing a brisk 
Tomato flavour. A cultural commendation was unanimously awarded, 
accompanied with a request that plants be grown at Chiswick. 
Mr. Wilks sent the following description of the plant with his 
exhibit:—The “ tree ” on which the fruits shown have been grown 
is about 9 feet high, with a spreading much-branched head. The 
leaves when young are of a violet purple colour, changing with growth 
into a deep green. They are very large when fully developed. The 
blossom is precisely like a Solanum, being, in fact, to an ordinary 
observer identical with that of the plant commonly known as “ Black ” 
or “ Woody Nightshade.” It is an abundant bearer, the fruit ripening 
late in November and throughout December and January. The fruit 
when raw has a much firmer flesh than a Tomato, and is slightly mors 
acid, but when cooked it is almost indistinguishable from the ordinary 
Tomato. The plant has been grown throughout in a cool orchard 
house, from which only frost is excluded. 
Cyphomandra betacea is a member of the Solanum family, and ia 
FIG. 3.— THE tree TOMATO, CYPHOMANDRA BETACEA. 
Decandolle’s “Prodromus” about thirty species were described, chiefly 
from South America. The Tree Tomato has been known to botanists 
for many years, and has been cultivated in botanic gardens for a 
considerable time, but it is rarely seen in private gardens. As it 
succeeds in a cool house and is easily grown it is worth a trial as a> 
fruit-yielding plant, and is very ornamental when its bright red fruits 
are ripe. 
EUCHARIS GRANDIFLORA. 
I HAVE read with interest from time to time the articles on the 
above plant ; and now send you a few notes as to the system adopted 
here. In the middle of a house which is devoted to Palms, Ferns, &c., 
there is a small rockery, which was at one time planted with Ferns. 
Finding the latter did not thrive well, being so far from the glass 
*bout 10 feet), I thought I would try a few Eucharises in it. The bulbs 
were placed between the stones, the only soil used being refuse from the 
potting bench. They have now been planted ten years, and with the 
exception of the top soil being scraped off in the spring and a top¬ 
dressing of loam and manure and a little liquid at flowering time they 
have had nothing else. Along the top of the rockery is a shelf filled 
with Palms, and nearer the roof two more shelves with smaUer plants. 
The Eucharises get the drip from these, so that the drying-off process is 
not rigidly followed here. We nearly always have some flowers, bat 
regularly three times every year. They flowered last September, and 
they are now in full flower again. I enclose a spike and a leaf, asking 
your opinion as to whether it shows any signs of “ mite.” Some of wj 
