802 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ i pril 10, 1890. 
straction, and at that time I had a keener interest in its welfare than its 
owner. It was in my early gardening days, but at date I was allowed 
the free run of the nursery, and many a useful lesson have I learned 
therein. At one period I had a list of the whole of the occupants of 
the garden. During the last four years I have only been able to pay 
occasional visits, but I must confess 1 have lost interest in many of the 
occupants of the various corners and pools, for to appreciate bog plants 
one must be in constant association with them. In my last visit I 
noticed many new occupants, and missed 'many old friends ; but I 
suppose it is the same in every garden—gaps in the ranks will appear. 
At present everything seems springing into life. The excellent collec¬ 
tion of Calthas are blooming, except the later forms, such as purpu- 
rascens and monstrosa, but they will be better in a fortnight. The 
Orchises are starting very vigorously. Primulas denticulata and 
japonica seem to be the only species that are really at home. I do not 
remember seeing japonica flower better than in this bog garden. The 
other species is in 'full flower at the present time. The Winter Haw¬ 
thorn thrives splendidly in the pool, and flowers freely, even in 
November. The Spiraeas are perfectly at home, so are the Sarracenias. 
These interesting plants are always worth a careful study. The Azalea 
mollis, planted on the bank surrounding the garden, caught my eye ; 
they are literally a mass of flower buds. Irises are successful here 
Speaking generally, and they flower most freely. The various Hushes 
also thrive very well, but I must take adieu of the garden for the 
present.— James B. Biding. 
- Hyacinths at Duneevan.— The beds of these, which are a 
prominent feature in Mr. McIntosh’s beautiful and highly kept garden 
e/ery spring, are now in full beauty. There are about a dozen beds, the 
central one displaying about a thousand spikes. Each is supported as 
neatly as if the plants were grown in pots, and more neatly than they 
are often seen in greenhouses, the stakes being of galvanised wire. The 
Hyacinths are in mixture, two-thirds of them single and one-third 
double varieties, the employment of the latter giving a massive appear¬ 
ance to the display. The beds were broadly margined with Crocuses, 
the green arching leaves of which form a pleasing fringe to the flowers 
they encircle. Tulips are advancing, but, like many others we have 
seen, are not likely to quite reach the usual standard of excellence, and 
judging by what we have heard these flowers have not, as a rule, been 
so good in greenhouses as was hoped for. There is good promise of 
Ehododendrons at Duneevan, where the collection is choice and ex¬ 
tensive, and similar remarks apply to the hardy fruit garden, which 
contains many model trees well studded with blossom buds. All who 
have the pleasure of Mr. McIntosh's acquaintance will rejoice in his 
improved health ; and though he cannot, as was his wont, traverse his 
grounds daily, with wild birds following him to be fed, they come to his 
windows to see what he has for them, and whichever room he occupies 
find him out. Thrushes, robins, finches, nuthatches are alike on friendly 
terms, but do not quite equal the robin that we have seen rest in bis 
beard and take crumbs from his mouth. The Duneevan grounds and 
gardens always reflect credit on Mr. T. Taylor, who has had charge of 
them for about twenty years. 
FLORAL NOTES IN SEASON. 
After Treatment op Bulbs. —If bulbs grown in pots are in¬ 
tended to be used next year for pot culture or flowering out of doors 
they must be thoroughly ripened, fully exposed, and grown continuously 
without a check of any kind. The custom is, when flowering is past, 
to throw them aside, to become either water-logged or as often dried at 
the roots before balf the growth has been completed. Of all the methods 
of treatment after flowering for Crocuses, Hyacinths, Narcissi, Irises 
(especially reticulata), Dielytras, Tulips, Hepaticas, the Chinese 
“Joss” or Sacred “Lilies” (Polyanthus Narcissi), &c., I find the best is 
to plant them in a warm sunny border. If that is not convenient, 
as in many town gardens, then sink the pots to the rims. If that can¬ 
not readily be done either, greater care in watering—giving a stimulant 
of some of the advertised manures liquified now and then—is indispen¬ 
sable. The bulbs can be shaken out where the foliage has withered. 
Fuchsias. —It would be a pity to allow the sun of their popularity to 
grow dimmed through the temporary attraction of something not half so 
good, though labelled “new ” Kemovethemfrom under thestageorpotting 
shed, or wherever stored, if not already done. Shake out the old soil, 
repotting in a fairly rich mixture of yellow loam with a little sand, and 
place them in a warm temperature until they break. Sun heat alone 
will be necessary after growth has started. Cuttings with me taken last 
autumn of good varieties are coming into flower now. To secure a 
young stock to form handsome plants for the autumn, cuttings taken 
now, if possible at a joint, inserted in a sandy medium—all the better 
covered with a bellglass, and with a temperature of at least 55“ Fahr.— 
will be rooted in a few weeks, and may be potted into a somewhat 
poor sandy loam at first, to prevent a too luxuriant growth during 
the summer months. 
Dahlias. —Those lifted in the autumn—and I have found, though 
our winters are comparatively mild, it is best and safest to lift good 
named varieties—will now be slowly moving, even under a greenhouse 
stage, where little or no forcing has been resorted to. Amateurs not 
having proper facilities for striking cuttings will easily increase their 
stock by division of the tubers, always making certain of having a couple 
of eyes. Cuttings root best in silver sand, on a hotbed, and with a 
temperature of 70°, or near it. As the cuttings progress they will be 
repotted and kept as cool and as stocky as possible. Long and spindly 
growth spoils the chances of fine flowers. Single Dahlias have not 
maintained their popularity, while those of the Cactus and decorative 
varieties are steadily competing with the show and fancy sections. 
Those wishing to raise new varieties, or to observe the effects of 
hybridising, will be sowing seed, if they have not already done so. 
There is always a peculiar zest in watching the progress of seedlings, 
and all the more if they have been home-raised. 
Sparmannia aericana. —Of Cape origin, this is far easier to 
succeed with than many floral beauties from that colony. It is almost 
hardy, and if properly ripened in the full sunshine in summer and 
autumn, flowers the whole winter with ordinary greenhouse treatment. 
The stems may be cut back now, and the cuttings rooted to form young 
plants ; but it is only in the second or third year its long-continued 
flowering peculiarities are fully developed. It is unlike any other 
flower, inasmuch as it is the peculiar bunch of feathery looking stamens 
and not the corolla that attracts most attention, while it will contrast, 
either in foliage or flowers, with any other occupant in the conservatory. 
On occasions it is admirable for dropping into vases for decorative pur¬ 
poses. 
Primula obconica. —I am under obligation to say a good word 
for this accommodating Primrose, inasmuch as it has proved a continuous 
flowerer in my greenhouse, sitting room, and windows, since last autumn, 
and still the flower spikes increase and multiply. It would have been 
a gross blunder had the cry that “ poisoning ” resulted from touching 
the leaves, scared people away from growing it. I am constantly 
touching it, and yet I have found no inconvenience therefrom ; but 
this is not meant to discredit those who have stated their experience 
is otherwise. I have found it responds readily, like Primula Harbinger, 
P. rosea, and P, marginata, to diluted liquid feeding, but more so than 
any other. From this time forward after flowering will be a good time 
to divide the crowns where an increased number of plants is desired. A 
good precaution is not to overpot. 
Double Petunias for Greenhouses. —Except with peculiar 
facilities for protection from rough weather and slugs, I am for wholly 
growing these indoors. They are so beautiful and rich in colour, grow 
so large and unwieldy, and are produced in such profusion, that I con¬ 
sider them too good for ordinary outdoor culture. Take those delightful 
combinations of green, rose, purple, lilac, white, crimson, rosy magenta, 
&c., some crimped, folded, fimbriated, suffused, veined, edged and 
tipped, or with a number of those characteristics in the same flower, 
and tell me if you know any other flower, except some of the Cattleyas, 
so curiously attractive. My advice to anyone having a greenhouse is 
to get some good named varieties well rooted just now, rather than 
depend on the chance of raising a number of worthless seedlings, all 
inferior to named sorts, and give them at first small pots until these 
are full of roots. A 4J-inch pot will be ample the first year if liquid 
feeding is resorted to, and as in my case, blooms may be guaranteed 
for nine months out of twelve. If large specimens are desired the 
plants can be shifted accordingly. A distinct dozen would be Rubens, 
M. Buchner, Labyrinth, Crimson King, Aida, Mrs. Shirley Hibberd, 
Fimbriata, Delicata, Telephone, Madame Sawyer, and Lady Lome. 
By taking cuttings now and then a stock is continuously maintained, 
not merely the year round, but in perpetuity.—W. J. Murphy, 
Clonmel. 
L.elio-Cattleya Hippolyta. 
The list of Veitchian hybrid Orchids is still steadily extending, 
and scarcely a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Com¬ 
mittees passes without some newly flowered production making its 
appearance on the tables. At the gathering in the Drill Hall on 
March 25th last a bigeneric hybrid bearing the name given at the 
head of this note was exhibited and unanimously certificated by the 
Committee. It was stated to be the result of a cross between 
Cattleya Mossiae and Laelia cinnabarina, both well known Orchids, 
and it was comparatively easy for anyone familiar with the parents 
to trace their relative influence. The Laelia has undoubtedly very 
greatly predominated both as regards the shape and colour of the 
hybrid, but the Cattleya has exerted a modifying effect chiefly upon 
the colouring, and the result is a uniform soft and distinct orange 
