J one 12, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
489 
specimen Azaleas and Imantophyllums there is a great demand to 
furnish windows in all the large Dutch towns, and Mr. Krelage does 
something to meet it at Haarlem. It is surprising to note on how much 
larger a scale plants are employed for room decoration there than in 
(supposed) flower-loving England. The interior of almost every window 
has its small densely flowered Azalea or Imantophyllum, with Lilies of 
the Valley and early Tulips to set off the larger specimens. This is a 
custom that does much to brighten and beautify the large towns and 
render them what they are, amongst the most pleasant and interesting 
in Europe. 
Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, jun., of Haarlem is another bulb grower 
who may be visited at what would prove an off time with the great 
majority, and there would be something to repay a call. He, too, deals 
largely in miscellaneous flowers, and in his collections .at the Haarlem 
Show, including one of Irises, there was much to admire. Iris Born- 
millleri, dwarf, bright yellow ; Trillium sessile var. californicum, very 
large white flowers, 6 inches across when expanded ; Lachenalia aurea. 
Large rich yellow flowers ; Erythronium grandiflorum var. Smithi, a 
pure white variety of the large Dog’s Tooth Violet; and Tecophylma 
cyanocrocus, a fine pan of rich gentian blue, were a few among many 
noteworthy plants he had there. His Irises are in themselves a source 
of unusual interest, and the collection is added to by every novelty that 
possesses merit or is likely to be sought after. Other farms out of the 
ordinary character that will repay for an inspection are those of Messrs. 
Eoozen Bros., Overveen ; Van Eeden & Co., Haarlem; G. C. Van 
Meeuwen, Haarlem ; and De Graaff Bros., Leyden. 
The wholesale establishments afford opportunities of becoming 
acquainted with the best varieties of the most popular bulbs. They are 
easily compared when each variety is grown by the thousand in large 
blocks, and many, unlike myself, prefer to linger over these than over 
different species of Crocuses and Irises in smaller numbers. Mr. Eobert 
Sydenham, the Birmingham amateur, whom I met at Haarlem, has 
taught himself a great deal about bulbs by going over to Holland, 
getting up at six o’clock every momin?, and spending the whole day 
amongst the beds. He is an enthusiastic lover of the flowers as well as 
a large dealer in them. Whether he allows himself time to eat or 
drink while amongst them is very doubtful. I have heard of his falling 
into a canal in his eagerness to get over the other side and inspect 
something good ; and I am sure he would cheerfully endure more than 
this in order to find a good variety for his customers. The visitor to any 
of the farms may rely upon receiving every courtesy, hospitality, and 
attention. In leaving the subject my special acknowledgments are 
due to Mr. H. Van Waveren of Hillegom and his sons; to Mr. Ant. 
Roozen of Overveen; to Mr. G. J. Van Waveren, head of the firm of 
F. & H. Van Waveren ; to Mr. Egbert Kersten of Haarlem, and to the 
managing partner of Messrs. Van Meerbeek & Co., all of whom were 
courteous and helpful in the highest possible degree. 
A closing word as to spring flowers on this side of the water, with 
special reference to Tulips. These do not appear to have flowered .so 
■well as usual this year. My own collection of about thirty early Dutch 
varieties in pots yielded only a few flowers. In this case I should be 
prepared to modestly bow to the verdict of the distinguished critic who 
gives judicial opinions on my gardening operations when he is not feasting 
on Paris green and caterpillars, and aclmit some error of treatment, but 
for the fact that many experienced cultivators have had similar results. 
One large market grower estimates his loss from the imperfect flowering 
of Tulips this season at £300, a serious item if accurate, as all the 
remarks of market men are not. I observed, too, that in the public 
gardens there were ugly gaps in the Tulip beds in April and May. It is 
possible that the bulbs were not well matured, or else were prematurely 
ripened last year, and that more favourable results may accrue from the 
present season’s crop. It would be very regretable if the upward move 
in favour of these beautiful flowers were to receive a check from dis¬ 
couragement at their not blooming. 
With these, as with bulbous flowers generally, there is room for ex¬ 
tended cultural knowledge. The general principles governing their 
wants and weaknesses are known, but many important details have not 
been closely studied. Bulbs generally form so important a link in the 
floral chain that increasing attention may be claimed for them. They 
provide flowers from the earliest to the latest period of the year ; they 
are beautiful in the greatest and most diversified degree ; they are 
amenable to culture by the highest and lowest ; and in one instance 
they present a phenomenon undiscoverable in any other flowers. For 
all these reasons it is hoped that too much has not been said about them 
in the present series of papers for the patience of Journal readers, and 
that their brightening and refreshing influences may be extended from 
year to year.—W. P. Wright. 
CLEANING OUT PONDS. 
A CORRESPONDENT, “ A. McK.,” asks how to clear ponds of green 
slime. 1 will gladly give my experience. In the first place I get on 
good terms with the poultry woman. Then I ask for a few ducks to 
put on the ponds, and the green slime soon disappears. This is a very 
simple remedy, and if “ A. McK.” tries the plan he will soon get clear 
of the slime.—H. E. K. _ 
In answer to “A. McK.,” on page 40.5, I may say we have several 
ponds here, two of which were cleaned out last winter. The principal 
pond, which is rather over an acre in extent, and about 12 feet deep in 
the deepest part, is the lowest one, and is fed from the other ponds by 
streams. Last year a large quantity of moss collected and grew in the 
ponds. I do not think it was detrimental to the fish, but it was 
unsightly, and it was determined to have the ponds cleaned. The 
bottom sluice or outlet opens into a channel about 3 feet wide. We 
fastened across this channel a strong piece of fine wire netting. The 
sluice was opened for a few minutes, then closed. The fish could not 
get past the wire, so were caught in pails, put into watercarts, and taken 
to the upper ponds. This continued until all the water was out and the 
fish caught, only half a day’s work altogether. The pond ought to 
remain empty for a few weeks to allow the mud to stiSeh, then it can 
be easily wheeled out on planks supported on strong boxes or blocks. 
The stuff that comes out of the ponds is excellent for top-dressing 
shrubberies or making new ones. We have made three large borders 
this winter with the emptyings from one pond. When this pond was 
completed the water was let off from the upper pond, and the fish 
allowed to go with the stream into the large pond. Such dirty work 
should be done in the winter, and not when the grounds should be in 
their best condition to receive garden parties, Ac. In carting fish from 
one pond to another too many should not be put into one cart, and the 
water should be fresh every time. We have seen them die through 
being too crowded and too long in the small body of water which a 
watercart holds. The other ponds will be emptied in the same manner 
next winter.—A. B. D. 
TEA ROSES OUT OF DOORS. 
For the last month we have been enabled to cut these Roses freely 
from plants growing at the base of a low wall having a southern 
aspect. The wall is really the front part of a range of houses con¬ 
sisting of a plant stove, Peach house, and a greenhouse. Two years 
since the border in front of the wall was banked up, the latter some 
distance, and was useful for the growth of early vegetables, such as 
Potatoes and dwarf Peas. The idea struck me that by lowering the 
border 18 inches at the back and half as much at the front the wall 
might be better utilised for growin g early Roses, and, except the loss 
of a narrow space close to the wall, the border for vegetable growing 
would be but little worse. Consequently, the subsoil was removed the 
depth named, retaining the surface heavy soil. The bottom of the 
trench was well broken up, and a good layer of decayed vegetable 
refuse laid in. Owing to a crop that could not be removed at the time 
—October—we were enabled only to operate on a part of the border 
until the following spring; but for a year there was a marked differ¬ 
ence in the progress of growth of the Roses of those planted at the 
two seasons, which proved to me, were it necessary, that early autumn 
planting of Roses has much to recommend itself over spring planting, 
and it sounds like common sense that those planted out in the autumn 
have a much better opportunity to succeed than those planted five 
months later. 
Beyond a thick mulching of the surface soil with manure partly 
decayed I do not find it is necessary to cover the Roses, although we 
had 18° frost on the 4th of March, The Rose trees in question did not 
suffer, they by that time were started into growth. Where early out¬ 
door Roses are valued, and I do not know where they are not, any space 
with a similar aspect should be planted with Tea varieties. The blooms 
succeed those grown inside the greenhouse so well, maintaining an 
unbroken supply of choice blooms up to the time when they can be had 
in numbers from the open quarters. This place being of a high 
altitude and exposed to easterly winds, which are prevalent in the 
spring months, the foliage has suffered somewhat from mildew attacks, 
which rather deteriorates from the appearance of the plants when in 
bloom, although it is not very often that early flowering outdoor Roses 
are well provided with good foliage. We have treated our plants the 
last month to a couple of soakings of tepid liquid manure, which has 
had the effect of improving the quality of the flowers, the border not 
being in a position to obtain much moisture from rains of late. 
The earliest variety to open its blooms was Safrano, and certainly 
this is one of the most useful Roses we have, especially where button¬ 
hole bouquets are in demand, buds of this sort are capital for this 
purpose. Even when this Rose is fully blown there is something 
especially taking about the manner in which the petals unfold ; in this 
way also Safrano is much appreciated. Our plants of this variety are 
all from cuttings, and right well do they grow and blossom. The next 
to open its flowers is Heine Marie Henriette, sometimes called a red 
Gloire de Dijon ; why, I fail to see, as there is but little, if anything, 
in common between the two. This variety flowers with great freedom. 
The colour is not nearly so deep as in the blooms growing in a cool 
house. In spite of this defect it is a first-natc sort for producing e.arly 
flowers. The growth is not nearly so rampant out of doors either, a 
point in its favour where sp.ace is limited. From cuttings also will 
this Rose succeed freely. Princess of Wales is much admired for its 
perfect form and pleasing colour. The petals are broad and waxy in 
