January 15, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
311 
tinted with bronze, and freely produced, The size is 
all that could be expected where a great number of 
flower heads are produced. Exhibited by Mr. E, 
Owen, Floral Nursery, Maidenhead. 
Chrysanthemum, Mrs. H. J. Jones. 
This is a fine yellow sport from Ethel, producing 
medium-sized flowers very freely at this season. The 
individual florets have broad strap-shaped corollas, of 
a fine, deep, but clear canary yellow on the upper face, 
and paler on the back. As a late-flowering variety it 
requires no recommendation. Exhibited by Mr. T. S. 
Ware. 
Chinese Primulas. 
The varieties Certificated were :—Double Blue, plain¬ 
leaved, and Double Blue, Fern-leaved ; Double Scarlet, 
plain-leaved ; Gipsy Queen Fern-leaved; Rosy Queen, 
Fern-leaved, and Double Rose, plain-leaved. For des¬ 
criptions see p. 315. Exhibited by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, Reading. 
By the National Chrysanthemum Society. 
January 12th. 
Chinese Primulas. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons were awarded First Class 
Certificates for the same half-dozen varieties as are 
named above, and for two others, viz., Reading Blue, 
Fern-leaved single ; and Double Carmine, a very pretty 
variety of the semi-double section. Messrs. James 
Carter & Co. received a similar award for a Fern-leaved 
variety named Pearl, a very attractive blush ground 
flower with a rosy centre ; Messrs. Cannell & Sons, for 
White Perfection, a Fern-leaved variety, with large 
massive single white blossoms ; and Mr. G. Braid, 
Winchmore Hill, for Braid’s Seedling, a variety which, 
so far as we know, marks a new departure, being 
what by florists would be called Auricula-eyed. The 
ground colour is crimson-purple, and the yellow eye, 
small, and surrounded with an angular band of dark 
ruby-red. 
Chrysanthemums. 
At this meeting, Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead, received 
First Class Certificates for the new Golden Gem, des¬ 
cribed above, and for Princess Blanche, a medium¬ 
sized reflexed Japanese, of a creamy white colour with 
salmon centre ; dwarf in habit, and said to be naturally 
a late bloomer. Mr. T. S. Ware also received a similar 
award for the yellow sport from Ethel, Mrs. H. J. Jones. 
Cyclamens. 
Mr. R. Clarke, Twickenham, received First Class 
Certificates for Cyclamen persicum Albert Victor, a rich 
deep ruby-crimson flower of very fine quality ; and for 
Cyclamen persicum giganteum compactum album, a 
large finely shaped pure white variety, distinguished 
from the generality of the giganteum strain by its 
shorter and stouter flower stalks. 
-->X<-- 
§ARDENING IfoTES FROM 
Scotland. 
_ 
The Weather. —While we read of the intense 
severity of the weather for some time past, especially 
in southern parts, it fills one with gratitude to ex¬ 
perience such leniency in our own district, where 
frost has been comparatively of a minimum character— 
15° below the freezing point has been the most severe 
figure which we have experienced, but seldom has 
there been more than 10° of frost. Snow has also been 
little more than an inch deep, certainly not 2 ins., and 
many portions of the land have not been covered with 
it at all—grass sown late during last autumn being 
uncovered and green. We wish snow had been more 
plentiful, as it would then have afforded protection to 
many crops, such as Lettuce, Celery, young Cabbage, 
Onions and others. Last season, when the frost ivas 
most severe, we had a good coating of snow over the 
surfaces of crops, and as a protection for Celery it was 
much more serviceable than long dry litter. To read 
the details of wreck and ruin produced by snowstorms 
and wind in the southern counties of England is 
appalling. The pictorial papers, as well as newspapers 
and horticultural journals, give sad accounts of desola¬ 
tion caused by the storms which have prevailed of late, 
and reports from private sources in Somersetshire are 
such as never were known in those parts ; some friends 
had to get the snow dug from their dwellings before an 
exit to the outer world could be made. We may yet 
get our turn of wintry weather, and have prepared for 
it by covering the roots of shrubs, Roses and vegetables 
likely to suffer with dry soil and sand. Vegetables 
are abundant and fresh.— Caledonian. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.— 
Jan. 4 th. —Mr. Robert Grossart, Oswald Road, Edin¬ 
burgh, read a paper at this meeting on “Odonto- 
glossums.” He made the remark that these were a 
comprehensive and strikingly beautiful genus from the 
cool airy ranges of the Cordilleras of Mexico, Peru, 
New Granada, and Venezuela, where they grew and 
flowered profusely. There was scarcely a species that 
was not worth growing, the whole genus being highly 
popular with Orchid growers, while they were con¬ 
stantly gaining favour in the estimation of the plant- 
loving public. The flowers of Orchids were, without 
exception, the most peculiar and beautiful in nature, 
the singular shape of the flowers, their delicate and 
aromatic odours, and the richness and variety of their 
colours, all being different from anything met with in 
other flowering plants. The colour, size and formation 
of the flowers varied greatly in the different species, 
some being borne on short spikes and generally few- 
flowered, while others had tall branching panicles, with 
from thirty to fifty flowers, and on some upwards of a 
hundred. Mr. Grossart then proceeded to describe the 
various varieties, and in referring to the cultivation of 
the plants, remarked that a few points to be observed 
were careful potting, watering, shading, and the regula¬ 
tion of the temperature with regard to moisture and 
heat. After some discussion, Mr. Grossart was heartily 
thanked for his interesting paper. 
Mr. A. D. Mackenzie, Upper Grove Place, then gave 
a paper on “The Present Position of Horticultural 
Building,” in the course of which he remarked that 
in the great tide of prosperity the country had ex¬ 
perienced during the last fifty years, horticulture and 
the necessary accompaniment, horticultural building, 
had participated to the full. Fifty years ago there 
were many noble establishments where horticulture 
under glass was brought to very great perfection, as 
perfection was then looked upon ; but it had only 
been within recent years that the marvellous develop¬ 
ment in this direction had taken place. Many causes 
might be assigned for this, the greatest being, of course, 
the increasing wealth of the mercantile and trading 
class, along with an ever-increasing love of the beautiful. 
Another cause was the abolition of the duty on glass 
about thirty-live years ago ; and yet another, the 
great revolution in the modes of heating. The old 
smoke flue was fast dying out, as, with the advent of 
improved modes of casting hot-water pipes, there was 
no further need for them. Calculating roughly, he 
believed that during the last ten years there had 
been expended in Scotland about £40,000 per annum 
upon the erection of buildings for the cultivation of 
fruits and flowers. The depression of trade had not 
had such an effect upon this trade as upon others, 
showing that there was abundance of wealth in the 
country. Mr. Mackenzie went on to describe the 
great improvements which had taken place in the 
modes and manner of construction. Glass houses, he 
said in conclusion, were being erected, the taste for 
them having largely increased ; they were making 
progress in the modes of erection, ventilating and heat 
ing ; and, looking to the future, there was good reason 
to think this onward progress would continue to de¬ 
velop in a wider and wider circle. Aftersome discussion, 
a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Mackenzie. 
Dumfries Horticultural Improvement 
Association. —The first monthly meeting of the 
second season of this Association met in Greyfriars’ 
Hall on January 6th. Mr. M’Creath, president, 
occupied the chair. After the minutes of last meeting 
had been read and approved of, and other business 
matters dispatched, the President read an interesting 
and instructive paper on the Gloxinia. Starting with its 
history from its introduction, when the flowers were 
only about the size of our present type of Pentstemon, 
he traced it to its gorgeous and immense size of the 
present day, to which care and cultivation have brought 
it. The cultural directions were treated in a masterly 
way, which showed that they had been drawn from 
practical experience. He was aivarded a hearty vote 
of thanks. Several members intimated their willing¬ 
ness to give special prizes as in the past season, and 
other monthly papers were offered and arranged for. 
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the 
meeting. 
The Am ateurs’ Garden. 
Peas and Beans. —Little will be gained by sowing 
these too early out of doors, especially towards the 
northern part of the Island. When a favourable 
opportunity occurs, however, a sowing may be made in 
dry sunny positions on south borders. A more profit¬ 
able plan, however, and one that will in the future be 
more universally adopted, is the sowing of early Per 8 
in boxes or on turves indoors. Rough boxes may be 
made of two long narrow pieces of deal loosely fastened 
together with cross pieces at the end to make them 
stand ; a transverse section of such a box would give 
a triangular outline ; the bottom of this should be filled 
with rough material from the potting shed, and the 
Peas sown on it and covered up; keep in a cool house 
well exposed to light, and do not attempt to force them- 
When all danger of severe weather is over, the boxes 
may be transferred to the open ground, and the boards 
forced apart with some wedge-shaped instrument, 
allowing the whole line of Peas to drop into a prepared 
trench, by this means Peas fit for use will be obtained 
much earlier than by sowing out of doors, without the 
attendant risk of being destroyed by mice or frost. 
The Spring Garden. —The planting of Tulips, 
Hyacinths and other hardy bulbs should be finished 
without delay whenever a favourable opportunity 
occurs. Where collections of Daffodils and other 
species of Narcissus are still on hand, no time should 
be lost in getting them in the soil, as growth should 
now be progressing fast. Such valuable bulbs as those 
of Narcissus, which are of permanent utility in a 
garden, will repay the trouble of potting. This is 
especially the case where the collection consists of 
named species and varieties, together with the numer¬ 
ous hybrid forms and cross-bred races now in cultiva¬ 
tion. By placing the pots in a cool house, growth is 
favoured, as -well as a proper development of the roots. 
When the spring weather becomes mild and otherwise 
favourable, the bulbs may then be transferred to their 
permanent quarters in beds, borders, or on the rockery. 
They receive no check if the ball of soil be plunged in 
the ground intact after removing the pots, and will 
flower with their wonted vigour. 
Rhubarb and Sea Kale Forcing.— The roots of 
these may be lifted and introduced to a regular forcing 
house, or any warm structure, such as a stove or an 
early vinery. No soil is necessary for Rhubarb pro¬ 
vided it is lifted with a good ball, but most satisfaction 
is given by those clumps that have their roots well 
protected by tan, or some other material to preserve 
the moisture, and induce strong, plump and crisp 
stalks. The other method is a little more troublesome 
but perfectly practicable. The roots are allowed to 
remain where grown, and Sea Kale pots or conical or 
pyramidal boxes, furnished at top with a lid, are placed 
over the crowns. Stable manure, leaves and other 
fermentable material should be collected and placed 
around and over the boxes to some considerable depth, 
so that the heat engendered may start the crowns into 
active growth. Longer time is required by this 
process to obtain the leaf stalks fit for use ; but they 
are equally good and as valuable as those obtained in 
a forcing house, while the forced roots do not sustain 
such injury as in the former case, and the Rhubarb 
will generally regain its usual luxuriance in the course 
of the following summer. — F. 
Carrot-tops for Dressing Vases, &c. —Have any 
of your readers ever tried the forcing of Carrot-tops for 
this purpose ? I am given to understand, by a member 
of my employer’s family, that -when visiting in the 
south, last winter, Carrot-tops were noticed as figuring 
largely in vases arranged with flowers, and that they 
looked well. I suppose that if a few deformed or forked 
Carrots are planted in boxes—say, 4 ins. apart each 
way—and placed under stages, or in any out-of-the-way 
place where there is a little warmth, the young tops 
will soon appear, and after a little exposure to light, 
will be available for use. I have no doubt, where there 
are large demands for Ferns, the Carrot-tops would 
occasionally make a good substitute, and be none the 
less effective or appreciated either, notwithstanding that 
cynics may suggest a preference for vegetables in their 
proper place. We use the tops of the Asparagus from 
the kitchen garden instead of A. plumosus nanus. 
Why, then, not use Daucus carota, with its finely-cut 
foliage, in the same way 1 — B. L. 
