354 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 6, 1887. 
Thirdly, with regard to the potting. All soil should be used in a rough 
state and not sifted, as is sometimes done, for in this state it so soon 
becomes sour. Another important point is that great advantage is ex¬ 
perienced by giving small shifts in preference to overpotting, and also 
in cases of all hard wooded plants the necessity for firm potting ; I do 
not mean simply potting them with the hand, but I strongly recommend 
the use ot the rammer. I remember once one of the greatest gardeners 
of the day coming on a visit to the gardens when I was then foreman, 
and at that time 1 was potting some Azaleas, and on his passing through 
the potting shed he remarked, “ That’s right ; ram them firm if you 
wish to make good plants of them,” a lesson which I have always borne 
in mind.— Alfeed Bishop, The Gardens , West'ey Hall, Bury St. 
Edmunds. 
We understand that Me. B. S. Williams, Victoria and Para¬ 
dise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, London, N., was awarded a large gold 
medal for a collection of ^Orchids, Imantophyllum, Amaryllis, and 
Cyclamen exhibited by him at the Horticultural Show held at Amsterdam 
from 2nd to 7th April this year. 
- Me. F. Haems, Bose grower, Eimsbiittel, Hamburg, states in a 
communication to us that the Bose Amebican Beauty is, in h's 
opinion, synonymous with Madame Ferdinand Jamin (Ledechaux) that 
was sent out in 1875. He imported 200 plants from America, only a few 
of which survived. From these he propagated, and in the flowers that 
followed recognised the French Bose named. This he describes as an 
excellent Bose for forcing, but the colour (cherry red) was not suffi¬ 
ciently appreciated to create a large demand for blooms. 
- Messes. James Dickson &; Son, Newton Nurseries, Chester, 
send us a box of flowers of 'the handsome Naecissus incompakabilis 
Sib V> atkin, which is the finest and most effective variety of that 
group. The flowers are of great size, over 4 inches in diameter, the 
perianth divisions fresh pale yellow, the broad beautiful crown bright 
orange. The flowers stand at right angles to the scape, and have a most 
agreeable fragrance. 
“ Daventky ” asks if any of our readers will give their ex¬ 
perience of anthracite coal for heating hothouses. “ Is the fire easily 
kept in ? Does it burn rapidly ? Does it require more attention than 
ordinary coke ?” 
- “ A \oung Fobeman” writes :—“ Should any of the readers of 
this note be receiving dormant bulbs of the valuable and handsome 
Amaryllises I should advise them to thoroughly examine the upper 
portion of the bulb where the dried portions of the leaves remain. 
Having received half a dozen bulbs from a nursery they were potted at 
once. After six weeks had elapsed, seeing that there was no signs of 
starting into growth, I removed the dead leafy portion, and to my sur¬ 
prise I found a quantity of mealy bug, showing how soon a stock may 
be obtained when least expected.” 
- Me. D. C. Simpson has sent us samples of his Watebpeoof 
and Indelible Ink Labels foe Plants. They appear to be made 
of stout paper, pale green in colour, and have a smooth glazed surface. 
They are an inch wide and 8 inches long, with a brass eyelet for attach¬ 
ing to plants. When the names are written in ordinary ink they are 
said to be firmly and permanently fixed, and cannot be obliterated. We 
will try them, and as the nature of the material suggests their being in¬ 
expensive we suspect many other persons will try them too. They are 
neat in appearance, very tough, and no doubt durable. 
-A pamphlet of eight pages, treating on Tobacco Cultuee, 
has been issued by Messrs. Howcroft & Watkins, Hart Street, Covent 
Garden, and giving details respecting selection and preparation, harvest¬ 
ing and marketing the crop. Some interesting particulars are included, 
contributed by a Tobacco grower in the United States. 
- Caeteb’s Mammoth Seeing White Beoccoli.—“ For some 
years,” writes Mr. W. J. Murphy, Clonmel, “ I have been in the habit of 
growing various Broccolis side by side for trial, and as inquiries have 
recently been made as to the variety that stood best in the late trying 
winter, I must give first place to the above. I divided the seed with two 
cottagers, and they have the same tale to tell. I do not think it i s 
hardier than others—for the head is singularly tender at any time, as it 
turns in during March and April—but the leaves protect the centre, and 
the stem being so short frost cannot affect it so severely as in tall 
varieties. Though I do not find planting in holes made by iron liars a 
sine qua non, I plant after early Potatoes without manure and without 
stirring the soil. Forking or digging the soil for late Broccolis is a sad 
blunder, and in many cases accounts for soft growth and winter destruc¬ 
tion.” 
- - The same correspondent writes on Potato Degeneeation. 
and Change of Seed. While thanking Mr. Iggulden for the courtesy 
of his references, and you for the space extended to the discussion of this 
important matter, I cannot think many of your readers or growers in 
general will agree with his conclusions, which I may fairly summarise- 
— a. Old varieties have not degenerated, they have been supplanted by 
newer and of better quality, not so liable as the old to disease,, 
b . 1 Greening,’ or ripening Potato tubers in the sun is useless, and in some 
seasons injurious, c.i Allowing precocious (early sprouting) varieties of 
Potatoes— e.g., the Champion, to remain in the ground over winter as a 
remedy for degeneration, d . Change of seed. ‘ After close obser* 
vation,’ says Mr. Iggulden, 1 1 have been obliged to confess it is a mere 
fanciful theory,’ vide page 331, and previous Nos. If this is right the 
present theory and practice must be wrong.” 
- The firm of Messes. Blake & Mackenzie of Liverpool is- 
well known in the trade, and their staff will be considerably augmented 
by the addition of Mr. A. Grice, who for many years has been the active 
manager of Mr. T. B. Thomson’s seed business, High Street, Birmingham. 
He leaves this establishment in June to fill a leading position at Messrs, 
Blake & Mackenzie’s, taking the journeys formerly taken by Mr. W. 
Blake, the senior partner, also the charge of their catalogue department, 
and supervises the preparation of novelties in the way of seed packets? 
labels, &c. Mr. Grice’s long practical experience will be of great use to 
the firm, and he will have in Birmingham a large number of friends. 
- Me. E. Bubton, Eirlcby Lonsdale, sends us trusses of Ehodo- 
dendeon caucasicum album, which demonstrate the usefulness of 
this variety for early flowering, and with them he sends the following 
note “ On page 308, April 2-lst, I observe a few lines by Mr. Carter 
respecting this useful variety, and I have forwarded a couple of trusses, 
the last, on April 29tli, from a bush employed for Easter. When visiting 
various establishments I have rarely seen this variety, which is easily 
distinguished from others by its foliage and habit of growth. Having 
grown it largely in a previous situation, 1 made a special effort to- 
procure a good stock here, and for several seasons have been reaping 
great advantage. No variety I have met with is so free and certain to 
bloom each season. Nor is it apt to become unhealthy with anything 
like reasonable treatment and freedom from lime rubbish. For forming 
distinct masses furnished completely to the ground, or for furnishing 
the fronts of older and somewhat naked clumps, it could hardly be' 
surpassed, and I would strongly recommend anyone who appreciates 
Ehododendrons to give this a place, especially where numbers of white 
and other cut blooms are required.” 
- Death of Mbs. Chaeles W. Neumann. —Only four months 
ago we announced the death of Charles W. Neumann, Esq., of Wyncote, 
Allerton, Liverpool, and now we have to record that of his wife, who 
expired at her residence on Monday, the 25th inst., in her seventy-fifth 
year. We regret that Liverpool horticulturists should have lost two of 
the best patrons of gardening that the neighbourhood possessed. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Neumann were ever ready to help any horticultural' 
object, and have been liberal supporters of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association from its commencement. We have on many occasions- 
alluded to the gardens at Wyncote and the wonderful productions that 
have been staged at public exhibitions by Mr. W. Mease, who has lost 
one of the worthiest employers that ever owned a garden. 
-—- Gaedening Appointment. —Mr. James Williams, who has for 
several years been second gardener at Welfield, Builth, has been ap¬ 
pointed head gardener to Sir Joseph B. Bailey, Bart., M.P., Glauwye 
Park, Builth, Breconshire ; and Mr. E. Trollope, foreman, Norris Green? 
West Derby, Liverpool, succeeds Mr. T. W. Sanders as gardener to J. W. 
Larking, Esq., The Firs, Lee, Kent, 
