232 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 12, 1885, 
HERBACEOUS PHLOXES. 
1 have just sown seeds of these under glass, and 
hope to have results not less favourable than those 
which followed from a similar sowing last year. That 
sowing gave me some 300 plants, all of which bloomed 
finely during the past autumn, and produced many 
very distinct and beautiful forms. Certainly the 
weather was none too favourable for the production of 
fine heads of bloom, as at the flowering season the soil 
was exceedingly dry, but none the less the results were 
excellent, and far better than I could have anticipated, 
jin spite of what others may write on the subject, the 
production of a fine batch of seedlings which bloomed 
well in less than ten months from the time of sowing, 
is a matter which does not occur frequently. Without 
doubt, there is a decided tendency on the part of the 
seedlings to produce more light than rich coloured 
flowers ; but in my special case, that may have arisen 
from want of care in selecting seed parents. This year 
I have been more careful, and marked some of the 
finest and most striking kinds only for sowing, 
hence I hope another year to show even more varieties, 
and get finer trusses and pips. 
The drought made the ripening of seed more difficult, 
because the blooming was later. Still hardly a pod 
has failed to ripen its seed now, and as last year I 
found immediate sowings to be so effective and success¬ 
ful, I have the same things now, in the hope of equal 
good fortune. Happily the seedling plants transplant 
Well in the spring ; they simply need dibbling out in 
rows 12 ins. apart in the first year, and all will produce 
one stem, and many even more. In the second year 
the majority will produce some half dozen stems, and 
the best may the following spring be increased by 
propagation if found desirable. In garden borders few 
who have regard for neatness care to let the stems 
remain after the bloom is over, hence few gardeners 
save seed. Where it is saved, however, there need be no 
jlimit to the stock of these hardy Phloxes, which may 
jtfnjs easily be raised. They merit far wider cultivation 
jthan they usually receive, especially that they bloom 
go late ip the season.— D. 
-- 
LILIUM AURATUM. 
This has been called “ the most magnificent flower¬ 
ing bulb in cultivation,’’ and if further proof of its 
magnificence and noble port were needed, then would I 
draw attention to the fact that annually hundreds of 
thousands of its bulbs reach this country, and are dis¬ 
tributed hither and thither. But it was not of its 
splendour that I wished to say a few words, though even 
may not be out of place, but rather on the treat- 
jmenj £>f imported bulbs after they are received. Previous 
to dpjpg this I would ask the reader momentarily to 
accompany me in thought and imagination to the na¬ 
tive habitat of this truly noble lily; to be an eye witness 
of the immense area covered by one jdant—farms as 
it were—upon which they are cultivated to a great ex¬ 
tent to supply the wants of this and other countries. 
The rage for this favourite Lily seems ever on the in¬ 
crease, despite the annual losses which nine out of 
every ten experience who cultivate it. Happily, how¬ 
ever, the losses individually are not great, and it is a 
question whether or not this Lily, like Hyacinths, Tu¬ 
lips, and similar things is worth the trouble of retain¬ 
ing a second year ; they are to be obtained so cheaply 
in good sized flowering bulbs that the cost of obtaining 
a fresh supply annually is considerably less than the 
labour which must of necessity be bestowed upon old 
bulbs. This, however, is a question of individual 
Ghoice, and must remain so. 
The question of the best means of starting fresh im¬ 
ported bulbs into growth is one which has entailed a 
great deal of time, and been accompanied by consider¬ 
able loss. It is a subject upon which a Variety of 
opinions still exist, so that it is difficult to 
lay down any hard and fast rule ; and, indeed, it would 
not be prudent so to do, seeing that the modus operandi 
may differ in certain respects, according to the con¬ 
dition of separate importations, and after a somewhat 
varied experience with thousands of bulbs, I prefer to 
start them in the following manner Immediately on 
the bulbs coming to hand, the first thing to be done is 
to examine them, and remove any damaged or bruised 
portions which may be detected on the outer scales, 
especially is it necessary to examine the base of the 
bulbs, and if the slightest fear or doubt be entertained 
as to its being perfectly sound, it should be dusted with 
powdered charcoal or sulphur, or a mixture of both. 
The bulbs having been carefully examined throughout, 
next procure some shallow boxes or pans in which 
to place the bulbs, then place them closely together 
and cover them up with Cocoanut-fibre refuse, put 
them in any shed or similar place where they will be 
secure from frost and were they will not suffer from 
drip. Under no consideration should water be given 
them, as there will be sufficient moisture in the fibre ; 
they should be examined once a fortnight, and any 
decayed portions removed, and again dusted with char¬ 
coal to prevent its further spread. 
By placing them in the Cocoanut-fibre a two-fold 
benefit is secured—viz., a gradual plumping-up of the 
bulbs, which will have become, in some cases, shrivelled 
probably ; and secondly, it will at the same time accele¬ 
rate the growth of fungus in the decayed parts of the 
scales. It is a common practice to pot the bulbs as soon 
as received, and in many cases they are never examined, 
the consequence oi which is that the greater moisture 
in the soil hastens the decay of the already injured por¬ 
tions of the bulb, and this remaining about the built 
frequently ends in its absolute decay. This is not a 
great matter where they are grown by thousands, for 
they are not missed, but it is another matter with the 
amateur with his half-dozen bulbs, and from which 
he is anxious to secure as many good spikes. The ex¬ 
perienced grower will ascertain at a glance whether 
the bulbs are quite sound, and at his discretion they 
may be potted at once, for let it be borne in mind that 
no bulb of any description is benefited by exposure to 
the continued changes of temperature, atmosphere, and 
so forth, and thus it is that the annual losses are so 
great in the Lily now under notice. Consider for a 
moment that these bulbs are lifted, in many instances, 
in an immature state, deprived of root and branch un- 
mercifully and without thought, sorted and packed, and 
shipped to this country to be disposed of in a variety of 
ways. In transit they suffer much from fermentation, 
and when they are ultimately unpacked they invariably 
suffer the other extreme. Is it, then, to be wondered 
at that they suffer to a very great extent, and lose an 
amount of vitality which ought to have been retained ? 
The answer is obvious to all. 
The bulbs having been in the fibre for a month or 
so, and examined twice or thrice, will be comparatively 
safe, the surest guarantee of which will be the increased 
weight of the bulbs themselves, a certain amount of 
freshnessrostored, and lastly, though primarily, perhaps, 
the sturdy young roots bristling from the base of the 
bulbs ; these are the signs of returning energy and 
activity, and potting may safely be proceeded with 
when roots are apparent. A good compost for potting 
them in may consist of equal parts of good fibrous loam 
and peat, with abundance of sharp sandy grit!; manure is 
unnecessary for imported bulbs of L. auratum, and 
should be avoided ; the pots should be well drained 
and when potting place a little sand under each bulb. 
After potting place them in a cool frame or pit, but 
give them no water till the flower stems are at least 
6 ins. above the soil, water may then be given by 
degrees, and more frequently as the plant increases in 
strength. Thus I have briefly given one method of 
starting these bulbs in to growth, but many other ways are 
practised. Some prefer sphagnum moss and silver sand, 
simply placing the bulbs upon it; others to cover them 
with leaves ; and others to place them in pots of soil 
and leave the bulb uncovered till signs of renewed life 
appear ; the system I have followed, and as herein 
stated is, however, very simple and effectual, and 
within the reach of all. 
In conclusion, I may remark that no time should be 
lost in securing good sound bxdbs; and with the 
increased facilities of the Parcels Post, it is possible to 
obtain small quantities in this way, delivered at your 
own door. When started early they may be introduced 
into heat early in the year, and may be had in flower 
for the Easter or Whitsuntide festivities. This grand 
lily is perfectly hardy, and when well established out 
of doors, forms a grand picture ; it is specially adapted 
for massing in Rhododendron beds, or under the 
partial shade of trees in peaty soil ; it belongs to the 
group of Lilies, with horizontal or drooping flowers ; 
the body colour of the petals are pure white, more or 
less thickly studded with crimson spots, and having a 
golden band in the centre of each petal, which has 
gained for it the now popular name of the Golden- 
rayed Lily of Japan, the flowers in this respect, however, 
and also in the intensity of its crimson spots, differ 
considerably; all are good, and in its overpowering 
fragrance it is almost unique.— J. 
-- 
THE GROS GUILLAUME GRAPE. 
In our issue for November 28th, we recorded the fact 
of Mr. R. M'Kenna, gardener at the Chief Secretary’s 
Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin, having exhibited at the 
late exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society 
of Ireland, three remarkable bunches of this useful 
late Grape, cut from vines only two years old. The 
largest of the bunches—of which we give an illustration 
prepared from a photograph kindly sent us by Mr. 
M'Kenna—weighed 20 lbs , or 3 lbs. 5 ozs. less onlv 
than the heaviest bunch which his formor menfbr, Mr. 
Roberts, of Charleville, exhibited in 1877, and which 
still stands as the heaviest bunch of Black Grapes on 
record. This last named example, we may also note, 
was produced by a vine which in the previous season 
(1866) produced three bunches of the aggregate weight 
of 45 lbs. 6 ozs. 
The cane which Mr. M ‘Ivenna has had under his 
charge from its infancy, and from which the bunch 
now under notice was cut, also bore two other examples, 
of the respective weights of 14 lbs. and 11 lbs., a total of 
45 lbs., or 6 ozs. only behind Mr. Robert’s achievement. 
Mr. M'Kenna last week had the honour of presenting 
the bunch now illustrated to H.R.H. the Prince of 
Wales at Marlborough House; and we congratulate him 
on the proud position _ he has attained as a Grape 
grower. Our Irish readers will be pleased to know 
that Mr. M'Kenna was bred and trained in the Emerald 
Isle, and will wish him still further success in his 
career as gardener to the Chief Secretary. 
--* 35 =:—- 
HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES 
OF THE DAHLIA. 
Having last week dwelt upon the points of perfection' 
in the Dahlia, we now proceed, before touching upon 
the culture of the flower and giving selections of the 
best varieties, to give some details of an interesting and 
instructive character, bearing upon the development of 
the flower during the past half century. 
Our earliest recollection of the flower takes us back 
to the year 1836, a few years previous to which a very 
marked improvement had been made ; the flowers in 
greatest repute at that time were Beauty of Sheffield, 
Picta Perfection, Royal Adelaide, Acme of Perfection, 
and a variety sent out it is believed in 1S35, called 
Springfield Rival, a flower which maintained its 
popularity longer than any other flower at that period, 
as it appeared in almost every winning stand for years. 
In 1837 a few new flowers were introduced, and those 
most preferred for exhibition were Quilled Perfection, 
Sir H. Fletcher, Dodd’s Mary, and Sulphurea elegans ; 
Springfield Rival still holding its own. In 1839 the 
following were the most popular flowers, Springfield 
Rival, Dodd’s Mary, Eva, Virgin Queen, Sussex Rival, 
Glory of Plymouth, Grace Darling, and Marquis of 
Lothian ; the last named was a favourite for many 
years, 
