February 24,1687. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
151 
position are these—they are not so much affected by frost; this may 
not he apparent to many, but it is a fact nevertheless, and the soil is 
kept in a more equably moist condition with less labour in watering, 
resulting in the plants, as a rule, being in much better condition for 
planting out. 
Pelargoniums may be propagated with certainty of success at this 
season. Flowering varieties are, of course, better from autumn-struck 
cuttings, but in instances where any of these are wanted to be increased, 
very good plants can be had by spring propagation. Variegated sorts, 
though not so large, do very well when struck at this season. The 
points to be attended to are, in the first place, not to be in too great a 
hurry, but to allow shoots which produce cuttings to grow on the plants 
until they have become a good size, for if a cutting from 6 to 9 inches 
in length can be secured, it will prove more satisfactory in the end than 
three half the length. The cuttings should be in a growing condition 
when taken, and they strike most rapidly when put singly into thumb 
pots, allowing them until rooted a stove temperature. The soil used 
should be very open to induce the free emission of roots. When fairly 
well rooted the tips of the shoots should be taken out. The easiest way 
of bringing on the plants is to fill the bottom of a cold frame with light 
soil, not too rich, and into this plant out when nicely rooted. The 
frame must be kept close for a time until the roots take to the new s oil, 
thereafter keep as open as the weather will allow. When wanted, the 
plants lift well. 
In the desire to get work forward we may err in doing things too 
quickly for the well-being of the subjects operated on. Thus there is 
nothing gained in propagating fast-growing softwooded plants too early, 
no matter wha'; they may be. But as our stock of most plants is kept 
over winter on old growing plants in pots, and these as few in number 
as can safely be depended on, a batch of cuttings is put in just now, from 
which material for propagation is secured later on, the stock plants, in 
the meantime, being thrown away. The best way to do these is to strike 
in beds of sand with a little light material added, and well heated from 
underneath. But they will be found to do perfectly well in boxes 
covered with sheets of glass if the cuttings be put in so quickly as to 
prevent flagging, and the sand has been well warmed first by placing 
the boxes on the pipes in one of the hothouses. When the cuttings 
are inserted the boxes must be returned to their places on the pipes, 
and it matters very little where the pipes are ; under stages does 
very well, only they must be taken out immediately roots are formed. 
When moderately well rooted they are boxed oil and kept growing from 
the middle of March to the end of April. Cuttings strike best, and 
there is little labour connected with them, as they may in most cases 
be planted in cold frames into rich open soil at once. Cuttings must 
be strong to do this, and the frames kept close and covered day and 
night until fresh growth takes place. The reason why so much withered 
material is annually planted out comes from too early propagation, 
too much coddling in warm structures thereafter, and then that marvel¬ 
lous process known as “ hardening off,” which turns green leaves into 
brown, and plump succulent stems into hard and shrivelled sticks. 
Cold is bad doubtless, but hot drying sunshine is worse under the con¬ 
ditions in which softwooded plants are produced, and I think most of 
the blame must be apportioned to the sun for the results effected by 
“ hardening off.” Seeds of plants which grow slowly should now be 
sown, but all kinds that grow quickly should now be left until April, 
or even later in some instances. A seedling which has the opportunity 
of growing from the very first under the very slightest artificial condi¬ 
tions makes wonderful headway, and outstrips those sown earlier and 
coddled up. We shall have something to say about hardier kinds 
later.—B. 
C> 
It is proposed to make comparative trials of the following 
vegetables this season in the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Hardens, Chiswick, under the direction of the Fruit and Vegetable 
Committee—viz., Cabbages, Tomatoes, Cauliflowers, Onions, Turnips’, 
new varieties of Potatoes and Peas. Persons desirous of contributing 
examples of any of these objects for the opinion of the Committee are 
requested to forward the same as early as may be possible to the Super¬ 
intendent, Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick. 
- The schedule of prizes at the Horticultural Exhibitions to be 
held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, this year, is now issued, and 
we are glad to see that the usual liberal arrangements have been made. 
The Shows will be held on the following dates :—Spring Exhibition, 
March 26th ; Summer Exhibition, May 21st ; Roses, July 2nd ; Fruit 
and Rational Dahlia Show, September 2nd and 3rd ; Autumn Fruit 
Show, October 6th to 8th ; and Chrysanthe mums, November 4th and 
5th. Schedules can be obtained from the Superintendent, Mr. W. G. 
Head. 
- A correspondent (“ D., Teignmouth,"') states that he mulched 
fruit trees last summer with German moss litter, and now finds the 
roots of the trees full of fungus ; he desires to know if we have heard 
of similar cases before, and to ascertain a reason for this occurrence. 
We have not heard of similar cases, though the existence of such may 
possibly be known to some of our readers. 
- It is with regret that we announce the death, in her seventieth 
year, of Madame Le Grelle, which occurred on the 17th inst., at her 
residence at Berchcm, near Antwerp. Those of our readers who have 
perused the reports of horticultural exhibitions in Belgium must have 
observed the frequency of Madame Le Grelle’s name as a prizewinner, 
and visitors who have had the privilege of inspecting the Marantas and 
other ornamental foliage plants that achieved so much success, will 
admit their excellence and beauty. Madame Le Grelle was a Chevalier 
of the Order of Leopold, a great patron of horticulture, and judging 
from the extensive collection of shells we remember seeing at her 
delightful residence, must have been an earnest conchologist. The 
deceased lady was much esteemed by all who knew her, and her loss will 
be lamented by a wide circle of friends. 
- We further regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Annie 
Featherstone, wife of Mr. Robert Featherstone of St. Ann’s Nursery, 
Kirkstall, Leeds, which occurred on the 17tli inst., in the fifty-fourth 
year of her age. Much sympathy will be extended to Mr. Featherstone 
and his family on the great loss they have sustained. 
-A correspondent, “ S.,” calls attention to the peculiarity of Col 
letias gradually changing their character, and sends samples, remarking, 
“ Of C. horrida a branch is sent with the divisions and spines cylindrical 
and needle like. When the plant was received it was all like that, but 
now the other portion has the flattened’ spines of C. cruciata. The 
latter also shows much variability, the spinose branches being much 
broader and more distantly placed in some cases than in others. I also 
send a sample of fasciated Eucharis blooms, the tubes of the corolla, 
ovaries, and peduncles having grown together.” 
- The Hon. Sec., Mr. C. A. Partridge, informs us that the 
Ludlow Horticultural Society will hold their annual Exhibition 
this year on Thursday, August 25th. We also learn that the Wimble¬ 
don Horticultural Society has elected Dr. Walker, 12, Longfield Road, as 
Hon. Secretary, and Mr. J. Lyne, Belvedere Gardens, as Assistant 
Secretary. 
- Larse consignments of Cut Flowers from the Continent 
are now being received in Covent Garden Market, Violets, Narcissi, 
White iRoman Hyacinths, and Acacias (chiefly A. Farnesiana and 
A. dealbata) having been sold by auction recently in great quantities. 
Some hundreds of baskets of Acacia have been disposed of, and the 
demand seems to be extensive, although the prices realised in several cases 
would scarcely seem sufficient to pay carriage. Yet according to a 
correspondent of one of the London daily papers at the Nice “ Bataille de 
Fleurs” recently, flowers were not so abundant as usual, “Violets few 
frozen, and scentless, and Roses conspicuous by their absence.” It 
appears, however, that at this Floral Festival Carnations, White Lilac, 
Marigolds, and Acacia were abundant. One carriage, occupied by a lady 
attired in a mauve-coloured dress, was loaded with White Lilac, wreaths 
being wound round the wheels and festooned upon the horses. 
_Manchester Royal Jubilee Exhibition. —The horticul¬ 
tural decorations of the industrial or principal transept of the above have 
been entrusted to the Liverpool Horticultural Company (John Cowan), 
Liverpool. At the intersection of the two main transepts a dome, 
risino- to the height of 140 feet and 90 feet in diameter, is to be sur¬ 
rounded by a rockery 9 feet wide, to be erected by Mr. William Clapham 
of Stockport. This is to be planted and kept in order by the Company for 
the period that the Exhibition is open to the public. Four groups, 25 
feet by 15, with a height of 30 feet, are to be arranged at intervals on 
each side of the rockery. Tree Ferns, Palms, Dracaenas, and other large 
ornamental and flowering plants, tubs of a uniform pattern, in which 
specimens are to be planted, will give combined an imposing and 
pleasing effect. 
_NationalFloral Societies. —Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Ivcw, near 
London, Hon. Treasurer, and Mr. James Douglas, Great Gearies, Ilford, 
