December 12, 1S85. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 22(1 
and after a season of hard-forcing, a period of vigorous 
well-matured growth is necessary in the first to prepare 
for it, and in the second case, as a means of recuper¬ 
ation.— F. L. S. 
-—- 
POINSETTIA PULOHERRIMA. 
The appearance of the scarlet-vermilion of the 
Poinsettia, reminds one of approaching Cliristmastide ; 
for during this most festive season, and on into the new 
year, these form highly attractive objects when judici 
ously arranged among other foliage and flowering plants. 
A few plants suffice to brighten the rather predominant 
foliage of the many occupants of the stove, unless, 
indeed, well-coloured plants such as Crotons, Dracienas, 
and the like abound, and if so, the effect will be brighter 
and more enjoyable, owing to the greater variety. It 
may not be out of place here to remark on the pecu¬ 
liarity of the Poinsettia ; the peculiar characteristic to 
which I refer is the whorl of coloured leaves, or bracts 
as they are called, which encircle the head of the plant, 
and to which the plant owes its universal use. 
Generally speaking, it is the flowering of the plant 
which is looked forward to, but in the present instance 
few people ever think of the flower of the Poinsettia, 
and many, probably, have never noticed it at all. The 
true flowers are inconspicuous, and of no value from a 
decorative stand point, and so it is, in lieu of flowers 
we have large handsome heads of brilliantly coloured 
leaves, which, 1 believe, renders this genus unique. 
There are other genera possessed of the same charac¬ 
teristics, though not iu the -same degree, and those 
occurring to the writer at the moment are Dondia 
epipactis, and one of the Salvias, in this case the bracts 
are purple-blue, and furnish the stems for several 
inches, and lasting for weeks ill perfection ; then we 
have the Gnaphaliums, to which belongs the renowned 
Edelweiss ; in each case the bracts, or whorls of bracts 
taking precedence over the true flowers. But to the 
point at issue. 
The Poinsettias will now require attention in order 
to get the best possible colour. Cuttings which were 
rooted in May and June will, according to the attention 
they have received, and the position which they have 
occupied, be from IS ft. to 2j ft. high, they should be 
stout, firm, short-jointed, and well-hardened and 
ripened before having been brought indoors. Frame 
culture is the best for them where grown in small 
quantities during the summer months ; here they 
are well under control, and with good management 
may be made to answer well. At the present time 
they will be best suited in a temperature ranging from 
65° to 75°, and placed in a light position as near the 
glass as possible. When the bracts begin to show 
signs of colouring, they will require assistance in the 
shape of artificial manure, and of all that I have tried 
I am inclined to the belief that Standen’s manure is 
the best; by the use of this I have always had good 
ordinary sized heads of bracts and well coloured. 
During the growing season I prefer feeding them with 
weak liquid manure and soot water, the latter always 
providing for them large healthy dark green leaves. 
It should be the aim of all having a warm house—in 
which to place them in winter-time^-to grow a few of 
these attractive plants, for it may be remarked that it 
is the worst of all plants to travel mostly, if not 
always losing the majority of its leaves, leaving the 
bare stems anything but attractive and interesting. 
Poinsettias are grown in great numbers in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London for decorative purposes, and 
generally find a ready sale. The best known kind 
is the one above named and the variety plenissima, 
which latter, when v T ell grown, is furnished with a 
greater number of bracts, hence the varietal name. 
The other varieties are pulcherrima alba with whitish 
bracts, the white is not good and it is not likely to get 
into general use ; Rosea carminata is a pleasing variety, 
colour carmine-rose as the name implies ; other kinds 
worthy of mention, are pulcherrima major, somewhat 
larger than the type, and similar in colour ; Ignescens, 
a slightly stronger grower, probably is in colour a rich 
vermilion-lake, surpassing all else in richness of colour, 
it will be sought after when better known ; in P, 
mirabilis the colour is similar to the type, bracts 
larger, well-formed, and of a rose-vermilion ; the pre¬ 
vailing colour in this variety is very pleasing. The 
only departure in the culture of the Poinsettia known 
to the writer, is that followed by Messrs. Heath, of 
Cheltenham, who adopt the planting out system 
with good results, and thereby secure an abundance of 
moderate sized heads of bracts with ample foliage, 
which for general use are equally valuable, and all are 
obtained at a minimum cost for growing, and very 
much below the cost for growing pot plants.— J. 
-- 
FLOWERS AND PHILANTHROPY. 
Notwithstanding the fact that the annual horti¬ 
cultural exhibitions in connection with Wolverhampton, 
the metropolis of the black country, as a general rule 
foryearsliave proved to be wanting in success, thiseannot 
be said to have been the case in reference to an act of 
philanthropy, which was the result of a call made by 
Miss Manders, a well known local philanthropist, on 
the 3rd and 4th inst., on behalf of the Ladies’ Fund for 
providing cheap dinners for poor children during the 
coming winter. In reply to the call so made, a most 
gratifying response was made by all the leading plant 
growers in the district, the result being that the large 
agricultural hall was filled with the choicest productions 
that the district could afford, and a floral exhibition pro¬ 
duced unrivalled by anything that has taken place in the 
midlands for years. Groups of magnificent plants were 
contributed that had never before been brought to public 
view, showing that their owners were more willing to 
yield to rhe cry of charity than the attractions of prizes 
and awards. The example so set is one worthy the 
emulation of other great centres of industry. The exhibits 
were most tastefully arranged and presented a charming 
effect. The Right Hon. the Earl of Dartmouth, Sir 
Rupert Kettle, Colonel Foster Gough, Mr. A. Briscoe, 
Mr. C. H. Crane, Mr. E. T. Cresswell, Mr. Job Evans, 
Mr. A. Hickman, M.P., Mr. P. Horsman, Mr. T. 
Ironmonger, Mr. J. Jones, Mr. B. Jones, Mr. S. Love- 
ridge, Mr. W. Tees, Mr. S. S. Mander, Mr. H. Lovatt, 
Mrs. Pearson, Mr. J. E. Perry, Mr. J. E. Underhill, 
Mr. J. Walker, and Mrs. Stokes, made up a formidable 
list of exhibitors, the gardeners from each establish¬ 
ment evidently doing their best to vie with each other 
on the occasion. From the Right Hon. the Earl of 
Dartmouth, came a splendid collection of Apples and 
fruit; and from Sir Rupert Kettle, Mrs. Lovatt, and 
Col. Gough, were grand collections of plants, including 
fine Orchids, Palms, tricoloured Pelargoniums, Primulas, 
Ferns, Dracwnas, and other stove and greenhouse plants. 
As a matter of course Chrysanthemums proved the 
back-bone of the show, fine groups well grown and 
splendidly bloomed were ranged on each side of the 
large room. Four magnificent Crotons from Mr. J. 
Evans, Hammerwicli Hall, 6 ft. through and splendidly 
coloured, were presented by that gentleman for sale for 
the benefit of the fund. From the local jnurseries of 
Messrs. Low, and J. E. Knight, two fine groups of 
plants were also staged. The musical arrangements 
were all that could be desired ; a promenade concert 
by eminent local artistes who gave their services, being 
arranged on the afternoon and evenings of both days. 
The promoters and exhibitors must have had every 
cause to be well satisfied with the result, seeing the 
high character of the exhibition, and the crowds of 
interested spectators that crowded to the hall both 
days. 
-- 
GOLD STRIPED MARIGOLDS. 
We had few more showy things in flower during the 
autumn, and well into October, than the dwarf French 
Marigolds, which are very easy of cultivation, and 
wondrously free of bloom. The most compact growing 
and brightest coloured variety that has yet come under 
our notice, is the variety which Messrs. Carter call 
their Compact French Gold-striped, of which we give 
an illustration, to show its low prostrate habit, and 
desirable character on that account, as a bedding plant. 
It really grows only about 6 ins. high on ordinary soil, 
and the flowers are most regular in form and marking, 
the ground colour being golden yellow, and the stripes 
chestnut brown. 
-- 
THE WOODS IN AUTUMN. 
Freed from the toil, the turmoil, and the convent- 
ionalties of a thoroughly artificial existence, there can 
be nothing more soothing to the properly organized 
mind than to recline lialf-buried in theFerns and tangled 
grasses that clothe the banks of this laughing sunlit 
stream. Here in truth is rest for both mind and body, 
and here we may drink to the fill the cup of enjoyment we 
promised ourselves ; for is not this the very essence of 
that relaxation which, when parched and weary, we 
have looked forward to, as soon as ever the leafy forests 
have become touched with a glamour of gold and crim¬ 
son and brown, as soon as ever the month of October 
had been ushered in with all the glory of its autumnal 
colouring ? 
And the variety of tint is as interminable as the num¬ 
ber of combinations possible to be produced upon the 
musical scale, nay, rather, as countless as the sands 
upon the sea-swept shore. 
See there across the stream how each individual tree 
is clothed in its own gaiment, and even upon each leaf 
of each of these trees may be noticed a fresh shade or a 
novel arrangement of colour ; and see too how this end¬ 
less combination of minute particles blends into one 
Carter’s French Gold Striped Marigolds. 
