216 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 6, 1894. 
and essential conditions of growth, but from a manurial point of 
view sulphur and nitrogen only can be supplied to the protoplasm, 
and upon the activity of this or its preservation (as it is in the seed 
through dryness) the health of the plant depends. Only a little 
sulphur is needed, that quantity is essential, and it was there—in 
the lime or chalk—before the nitrogen was supplied that put colour 
into colourless Vine leaves. 
This is a very important subject. Another proof conclusive 
has been given of the importance of supplying nitrogenous food to 
plants, for it is a constant constituent, and without it there can be 
no growth ; but nitrogen alone is not enough, for without due 
supplies of potash, lime, magnesia, phosphoric acid, and other 
substances, it can do little beyond intensify the colour and favour 
the development of foliage at the expense of fruit or seed. 
Nitrates, like ammonia salts, not only heighten the colour of the 
foliage of plants, but increase absolutely and relatively the quantity 
of nitrogen of the plant to which they are supplied, and without 
some compound of nitrogen in the soil vegetation cannot attain any 
considerable development, notwithstanding all requisite ash ingre¬ 
dients are present in abundance. The case mentioned by Mr. 
Molyneux confirms this, also that nitrate of soda is the nitrogenous 
manure to use on a chalky soil, for sulphate of ammonia takes to 
itself wings and is lost in the air, as in light soils it is rapidly 
washed out unless given in small quantities at frequent intervals 
in the early stages of the crops’ growth.—G. Abbey. 
AUTUMN FLOWERS IN SCOTLAND. 
In England many plants that have finished flowering in the end 
of summer or the beginning of autumn are then only in full beauty 
in Scotland, and owing to the cooler climate they continue blooming 
for many weeks after growth has come to an end in the south. 
This explanation is necessaiy because note will be made of plants 
that cannot be termed autumn flowers the whole country over. 
The border Carnation affords a good example of what is meant. 
It is generally the middle of August, sometimes even later, before 
Carnations here are in full beauty ; but it is also to be noted that 
they continue in flower for a much longer period than in the south 
of England. Moreover, where the collection is well chosen, and 
early flowering varieties as well as late sorts are planted, the season 
in Scotland can be lengthened considerably. I have had a few 
kinds flowering since the middle of July, the earliest being William 
Perrin, a variety not unlike Ketton Rose, which, however, is much 
later. Countess of Paris follows closely, and then a rose-coloured 
flower named Delambre comes into bloom about much the same 
time as the charming white Niphetos, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, and 
Oriflamme. August opens with a number of good sorts, foremost 
among these being the border varieties that have been raised by 
Mr. Martin R. Smith. Alene Newman is known for its good 
qualities ; but even more brilliant than this is Lady Audrey Buller, 
which in a mass glows like a fire. I have grown these two years 
now. Even finer than either is The Port Light, a new sort that, 
along with the good qualities of the above, is a better and much 
brighter flower. Iona is an older variety, pure white, with small 
flowers, but wonderfully floriferous. Following these we have 
Border Maid, Mrs. Muir, Ketton Rose, AVhite Lady, a good German 
sort ; Lady Nina Balfour, a blush flower having a suspicion of 
salmon tinting it ; Jessica, Theodore, King of Crimsons, Raby 
Castle, Germania, white Cloves in variety, crimson Clove, and many 
others. A feature in the newer Carnations that commends them 
for an extended cultivation is the habit they possess of continuing 
to produce one set after another of flowering stems, so that their 
period of flowering is stopped only by frost. 
Next in importance to Carnations we place Sweet Peas. 
Unless the flowers are very closely cut it is necessary to remove 
the seed pods once or twice, so as to enable the plants to continue 
flowering till the winter sets in. The tops of the plants also must 
be cut off when they reach the limit of the stick. This also causes 
the plants to flower a longer time. Like Carnations they are being 
rapidly improved, some of the latest seedlings being most charm¬ 
ing. Of those that are in commerce the following are quite 
indispensable for vase-decorating Countess of York, Blushing 
Beauty, Venus, a most charming sort ; Peach Blossom, 
Mrs. Eckford, and Countess of Radnor among the light coloured 
sorts ; Captain of the Blues, Emily Eckford, Stanley, Meteor, 
Lady Penzance, Her Majesty, and Cardinal among the dark 
coloured. I find Mignonette, too, of great service. This 
year the seed seems to have germinated badly, and there is a 
consequent want of this fragrant flower in many gardens. If, 
however, the plants are allowed space to grow a limited number 
will suffice to provide bloom for most establishments. White 
flowered Mignonette is gaining in favour with ladies. The sort I 
am growing this year is Sutton’s White. Cloth of Gold is also 
good, and Queen Victoria is a fine dark form. Machet is large 
and fine, and New Perfection is particularly valuable on account 
of its lengthy stems. 
Montbretias have attained an important position among autumn 
flowers. They are good alike for massing and for cutting. The 
earliest, and one of the best, is Etoile de Feu, Gerbe d’Or being 
also early and fine. Rayon d’Or is late and good, Crocosmgeflora 
is still one of the best, sulphurea is noteworthy on account of its 
being late in flowering. For vase-furnishing Montbretias are 
indispensable. I have, while they are in season, always one or 
more glasses filled with these alone. Cut to the ground, foliage 
and flower together, they are from 3 to 4 feet in height, and 
arranged as cut, they are effective. The foliage and blooms also 
group well with other flowers. It is worth noting that a mulch 
of good manure placed over the plants at the beginning of the 
winter is beneficial not only in preserving the roots from frost, 
but also in causing a more luxuriant growth. 
The Pentstemon is a most important plant for autumnal 
decorative effects. The improvement noticeable on new varieties 
during the past few years is very marked, the individual blooms 
being much increased in size, and the spikes longer. When grown 
in rich soil, and no spikes left to go to seed, the plants bloom 
continuously. Cuttings are taken in the earlier part of October, 
and dibbled in a bed of light soil in a cold frame, protection being 
afforded during frosty weather. There is sometimes a difficulty in 
obtaining cuttings of the newer kinds, as they are less free in 
producing growths than the older varieties. Strong and long shoots 
are to be preferred to weakly ones for propagating. The under¬ 
mentioned comprise some of the very best sorts, and these will be 
found suitable for filling a vase occasionally, though it must be 
noted that special care is necessary with Pentstemons for this 
purpose, the flowers drooping quickly if the shoots are not put in 
water as soon as cut. When cutting I take a vessel filled with 
water along with me, and the spikes are placed in this as cut, and 
are not taken out until they are transferred to a vase. Sorts that 
are white, or nearly so, are Mont Blanc, La Perle, Olivier des 
Serres, and Petrarque. Light sorts, and all extra fine, are 
Mdlle. A. Schauffele, Sylphe, and Gulliver. Varieties more 
or less rosy in tint comprise Bolivar, Chinoisserie, Prestige, 
Hofsmrtner Stodtler, Aspasie, and Quintessence. Scarlet shades 
are found in La Foudre, General Championnet, Btendard, Le 
Superbe, Franklin, and Charles Dickens. All these are most 
beautiful, and equally so are those with various shades of maroon 
or carmine, as P’lambeau, Emile Augier, Renommee, Sesostris, 
Pythagoie, and Leonidas. The following are purplish blue— 
Tradition, Pythonesse, Dr. Planchon, and Victor Hugo. A variety 
of great beauty but of an indescribable shade of shining purple is 
Le Borda. 
A selection of varieties of Phlox decussata is invaluable. 
I grow along with a few clumps of mixed flowers a large 
number as a background to two long borders. The sorts are all 
old except a very few that have been lately introduced. Phloxes 
are of the greatest value when cut for furnishing large glasses. 
Care, however, must be taken not to take for this purpose flowers 
of a purplish or lilac shade, which as a rule are among the worst 
flowers for decorating. Eclaireur is one of the best varieties I 
have seen. It is bright in colouring and the flowers are large. It 
blooms early and continues late. 
Gladioli in themselves form quite a feature in autumnal garden¬ 
ing. But few flowers are so valuable for decorative purposes 
when cut, and when in season I have several vases continually 
filled with them. For church decoration again they hold a premier 
position. If the spikes are cut when the earliest flowers are open¬ 
ing they last for several weeks, merely requiring fresh water two 
or three times weekly, and the decaying flowers removed as they 
fade. Very useful are Snapdragons or Antirrhinums. I grow along 
with striped and spotted flowers a number of white and self- 
coloured kinds. They are raised from seeds. The most useful 
are those with flowers of one colour. Some of these are very dark 
and effective. The most distinctly dark coloured flowers are some 
I secured from seeds kindly supplied by Mr. Oliver, Esslington 
Park Gardens. These are the darkest I have yet seen. One 
variety is named The Lawyer, and another Kelso Ker. These 
are common flowers, and easy to cultivate, but few are more 
beautiful when a really good strain is grown. A goodly number 
of Hyacinthus candicans, grown here and there in clumps, provide 
a feature of much beauty. For the furnishing of extra large 
flower receptacles these are indispensable, a few long spikes making 
