1875.] 
GOLD-LACED AND OTHER POLYANTHUSES. 
that of a Turnip ? Simply by studying its character, and applying horticultural 
skill to this savoury biennial, so as to hinder it from going to seed. 
Now bulbs, as well as most other plants, make a desperate effort to propagate 
their species, and if that effort happens to be thwarted the next best thing they 
can do is to increase the size of the bulb, so as to renew the effort again when the 
season returns. This is the case with Hyacinth bulbs, and with onions grown for 
two years to get them of large size. The Leek in like manner will well repay the 
grower, for if he can only prevent it from running to seed, or botanically speaking, 
from producing its u fruit,” and will keep its feeders well supplied with manure, 
much after the fashion of growing Celery, it will form bulbs as big as duck’s 
eggs, and indeed often twice that size. It is still necessary to earth them up a 
little, as the bulbs should be blanched, and the thick neck should be trimmed to a 
pear shape, for the sake of appearances. 
A plant so hardy and so amenable to culture, so cheaply got, and coming into 
use in early spring as a delicious esculent, is not to be thought lightly of, although 
it savours of the olden time, and is associated with many jibes and jeers against 
the ancient Briton in his mountain home.—A. Forsyth, Salford. 
GOLD-LACED AND OTHER POLYANTHUSES. 
SHOULD infer, from the many inquiries I am constantly receiving, that the 
old Gold-laced Polyanthus is again likely to become popular with many lovers 
of flowers. Scarcely a week passes during the winter but some one is found 
Njj> asking where such fine old sorts as Sanders’ Cheshire Favourite, Hufton’s 
Earl of Lincoln, Cronshaw’s Exile, and Buck’s George the Fourth can be obtained. 
These and eight or nine others were much grown from twenty-five to thirty years 
ago, and I had feared some of them had entirely gone out of cultivation ; indeed, 
a few of them may have quite died out. Of our best known present Polyanthus 
cultivators, I can instance the veteran John Read, of Market Rasen ; William 
Alsebrook, Sheffield; and the Rev. F. D. Horner, Kirkby Malzeard—who is, flori- 
culturally speaking, “ the worthy son of a worthy sire.” A visit to either of these 
gentlemen at this season of the year, would prove a treat to any lover of this fine 
old florists’ flower. 
To do full justice to the exquisite beauty of the Gold-laced Polyanthus, the 
plants must be grown in pots. Polyanthuses in the open air cut but a sorry 
figure, when the cold winds of March sweep across our gardens, and shrivel up 
the delicate blossoms of our early spring flowers. The Polyanthus should be in 
a cold frame, near the glass, where the plants can have plenty of light and air, 
to keep them from becoming drawn. Top-dressing is done now. The reason for 
this is at once seen by any one conversant with the habit of growth of the Poly¬ 
anthus. At this time of the year, the spring growths are being matured, and 
these growths spring from near the collar of the plant, and they throw out root¬ 
lets near the surface. These rootlets should have something good to root into, 
for the plants derive a great deal of sustenance through them; hence the practice 
