406 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 26, 1887. 
test the growth of some cheap collections in 
past years, and have found it to he entirely 
satisfactory. But the quality in other respects 
is naturally of the commonest or cheapest kind; 
as really first-class things, whether in the form 
of seeds, plants, or cuttings, could not he 
retailed, unless the bulk were of very ordinary 
quality. Still, there may he thousands having- 
very small gardens, and troubled as to what 
seeds to purchase, to whom one of these 
collections of seeds may come as a boon. On 
the other hand, the chief difficulty which 
presents itself to those who have some know¬ 
ledge of gardening is that a collection may 
give just the things not required, and omit 
those most desired. In all such cases the very 
best course to take is to order what is wanted 
as per catalogue, and leave the collections alone. 
It is very probable that the greater the garden 
knowledge the more will that course be 
adopted, and seedsmen will hardly complain, 
as collections create so much work, and at the 
best leave a very narrow margin of profit. 
We are just now referring only to those col¬ 
lections, ranging from one shilling up to five 
shillings in value, the preparing of which must 
demand considerable outlay in labour, even 
if the first cost of the seeds is trifling. Before 
us lie one collection'-'of vegetable seeds and one 
of flower seeds, each valued at one shilling, 
though really costing twopence more for 
postage. In the one case we find sixteen 
small packets of such things as ridge Cucumber, 
Vegetable Marrow, Savoy and white Cabbages, 
white Cos Lettuce, Leek, Onion, red and white 
Celeries, Autumn Giant and Sprouting Broc- 
colis, &c., all very useful in a cottage garden, 
and each packet at the very least well worth 
one penny. Then of flower seeds for the same 
price we find no less than twenty packets, 
chiefly hardy annuals, and presenting enough 
of material to make any cottage flower garden 
exceedingly gay. 
Taken in bulk, perhaps, the seed may have 
cost not more than fourpence ; but each kind 
is in a neat packet, fully named and described, 
and the packeting alone of these twenty sorts 
of seeds must have entailed considerable labour. 
Whether the kinds sent be common or other¬ 
wise, whether desired or not, at least all are 
useful, and in no case can it be said that 
money’s worth is not given. Probably, to 
poor people, and especially to children who 
have school gardens or allotments, it would be 
difficult to find other presents so useful and so 
acceptable as these seed collections. It is to 
the honour of the seed trade that whatever 
may be said as to commonness or usefulness, 
there is not the least attempt to impose, and 
full value for money is given. 
Turning to other collections, still of the 
same low price, we find one of vegetables, 
which includes eight really good packets of the 
following, each packet not purchaseable singly 
probably under twopence or threepence:— 
Spanish Onion, white Turnip, Altringham 
Carrot, Drumhead Savoy, mixed Lettuce, 
Mammoth Broccoli, Student Parsnip, and 
Radish. Another comprises one pint of 
Supreme Peas, one pint of Broad Beans, and a 
packet each of Cabbage, Carrot, Onion, Lettuce, 
Parsnip, and Turnip—a very cheap lot indeed ; 
so much so, that these collections will be sold 
only in quantity, and we should think a big- 
trade would be needful to make it profitable. 
In this case also the flower seed collection 
comprises thirteen packets only, but larger 
than in the previous one of twenty packets, 
and includes rather better quality. Of course 
larger collections, which cost more money, 
include greater variety; but enough has been 
said to show the nature of the competition 
coins on in the seed trade, and the meagre 
profits which flow from that competition. 
Of course traders of this sort have to appeal 
to the million literally, and they do so chiefly 
through the agency of the press; so that 
advertising must make an appreciable hole in 
the narrow margin of profit. 
We have drawn our readers’ attention to 
this phase of trade, because it presents almost 
a curiosity of commerce ; and the same may be 
said of the plant collections which are offered 
so cheaply in the spring. Of course the 
Parcels Post has made this form of trade 
possible ; but the plants are necessarily of the 
smallest, and too often are fresh from cutting- 
pots and heat. In such case they need a 
month in a frame or greenhouse to make them 
at all useful. It will thus be seen that as 
investments the seed collections are the most 
meritorious. 
-■►>*<-•- 
The Queen has been graciously pleased to permit 
the dedication to Her Majesty of Mr. E. J. Beale’s 
forthcoming book on Messrs. James Carter & Co.’s 
experiments relating to Tobacco cultivation. 
The annual meeting of the Royal Southampton 
Horticultural Society was held on Thursday evening, 
when the council, for the first time for many years, had 
the pleasure of producing a statement of accounts 
showing a considerable cash balance. 
The Amaeyllis at Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons, 
Royal Exotic Nursery, King’s Road, Chelsea, are just 
opening their first flowers, and promise to be even finer 
this year than ever. In the centre bed alone there are 
over 1,000 large bulbs with from one to three spikes 
each, and in the main house there are nearly 3,000 
flowering bulbs. 
Feom Mr. B. S. "Williams we have received some 
blooms of his Chinese Peimula, Magenta Queen, a 
new variety of good substance and bright colour, with 
a small bright lemon eye. Like some other sorts of a 
similar shade of colour, the blooms are flecked with 
white spots, which we hope in time to see eliminated. 
Me. Maw exhibited at the last meeting of the 
Scientific Committee a drawing of Crocus Karduchorum, 
collected by Mr. Hubbard in the neighbourhood of 
Sivas in 1885, 3° or 4° west of Miikus and Sherwan, 
where it was originally discovered by Theo. Kotschy. 
It is allied to C. zonatus of the Taurus, but a much 
smaller plant, with exceptionally small leaves, lasting 
on till the ensuing flowering time ; two sets of leaves 
thus occurring contemporaneously, one being bidden 
within the sheathing leaves. 
Me. R. C. Teeatt, Dunster House, Mincing Lane, 
has published some notes on the Cultivation of the 
Rose Tree, and on the Attae of Rose Trade. The 
latter portion of the brochure is devoted to statistics of 
the trade, which may be of value or interest to some ; 
but as regards the first portion, the author’s opening 
statements, that “Rosa canina is the species from 
which Attar of Roses is made,” shakes our faith in the 
remainder of his remarks. 
An interesting and instructive address was given by 
Mr. Alexander Dean before the Chiswick Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Association on the 17th inst. 
The subject, namely, Chaeactee in Gardeners, was 
treated under the headings of moral and mental 
character, in which he ably expressed himself, using 
some forcible and convincing argument. After a lively 
discussion, Mr. Dean replied, and in the course of his 
remarks advised young gardeners to commence com¬ 
mitting their ideas and observations to paper, which 
might ultimately appear in the gardening press. 
At a meeting of the Linnsean Society held on the 
17th inst., a paper was read by Sir John Lubbock, 
Bart. , M.P., on Seedlings, being a continuance of his 
phytobiological observations commenced last year. He 
dwelt at some length on the Onagrarire, illustrated by 
diagrams showing a remarkable development of the 
cotyledons of annual and biennial species of CEnothera, 
comparable to that of the primary leaves. He also 
accounted for the form of the leaf of Liriodendron in a 
very natural and ingenious manner. 
At a committee meeting of the "Wilts Horti¬ 
cultural Society, held in Salisbury on the 17th inst., 
when the officers of the society were re-elected, and on 
the proposition of The Mayor, seconded by Mr. H. W. 
Ward, Longford Castle Gardens, a vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. H. W. Williams, the honorary secre¬ 
tary, for the very able manner in which he has con¬ 
ducted the duties of his office. The summer show was 
fixed to be held about the middle of August, and it was 
also decided to hold a Chrysanthemum and fruit show 
in November. In the evening about 150 supporters of 
the society dined in the Council Chamber, the Mayor 
presiding. 
The site chosen for the Manchester Royal 
Jubilee Exhibition is an admirable one, including 
as it does the whole of the Botanical Garden at Old 
Trafford, which in itself must prove very attractive, 
with its well-arranged herbaceous and flower gardens, 
and extensive lawns and promenades. The exhibition 
buildings proper are situated at the rear of the gardens ; 
and in the central nave—1,022 ft. long and 56 ft. 
high—the committee of the industrial section intend 
massing large groups of plants surpassing anything yet 
attempted iu the northern counties. In the centre of 
the nave, and of the same height, a transept crosses, 
its length being 370 ft. ; and at the intersection there 
will be a dome, 140 ft. high and 90 ft. in diameter, 
around which a rockery, 9 ft. in width, is to be built 
by Mr. William Clapham, of Stockport. The furnish¬ 
ing and management of the floral decorations for the 
six months that the exhibition is to remain open has 
been entrusted to the Liverpool Horticultural Com¬ 
pany (John Cowan), of Garston and Liverpool. The 
banks on either side, under the dome, will prove 
an imposing feature, as they will rise to the height 
of 30 ft., which must produce a pleasing tropical 
effect, being composed of Palms, tree Ferns, Dracaenas, 
and other foliage and flowering plants. A Venetian 
arch, 10 ft. high, furnished by the same company, and 
plants in tubs, of one uniform pattern and colour, will 
also add greatly to the general effect. 
--Kgs-- 
SISYRINCHIUM GRANDI- 
FLORTTM. 
Variety might be introduced to our greenhouses 
and conservatories at this season, by growing a batch 
of the above named Iridaceous plant, whose lovely deep 
purple nodding flowers awaken a lively 1 - interest in all 
lovers of hardy plants, when they expand in the early 
part of the year. In the open border little else besides 
Snowdrops and Crocuses enliven the bare unattractive 
ground, when they suddenly spring into life and expand 
with all their beauty. One reason why this showy and 
easily-grown plant is so uncommon about London is, 
that the soil, generally heavy, is liable to become 
baked during the dry summer months ; and this 
condition is very unfavourable to other members of the 
family, such as Iris and Schizostylis, which were almost 
destroyed in some gardens by severe drought a few 
years ago. Being a native of North America it enjoys 
a moist climate, such as the northern part of this 
island enjoys, and for that reason grows there in 
company with herbaceous plants, without other 
attention than the latter receives. In this respect it 
resembles Tropaeolum speciosum, so difficult to establish 
in the south. 
The slender rush-like stems and grassy leaves are so 
graceful in themselves, and withal, so distinct, that 
every collection of hardy plants might, at least, possess 
a few clumps. One or two comparatively large flowers 
are borne on a stem which seldom exceed 10 ins. to 
12 ins. high, and the pedicels of the individual flowers 
are so slender that the slightest breath of air sets them 
in motion. Several species are cultivated, but none 
will compare with the handsome and showy appearance 
of S. grandiflorum. A pure white variety has also 
been in cultivation for many years, but, except by way 
of contrast, is less desirable than the type for general 
purposes. It flowers with equal freedom, aud is 
probably equally hardy, although the flowers are more 
liable to get soiled. 
By way of obviating the difficulty with regard to 
climatic influences iu baking the soil, a compost, in 
which peat should form a considerable part, might be 
used out of doors. This, if rendered porous with river 
sand and enriched with well-decayed cow-manure, will 
do much to overcome the difficulty ; moreover, its 
cultivation in pots may be attempted with even more 
satisfactory results, supplying it with plenty of water 
during the growing season. The protection of a cold 
frame will induce it to flower much earlier than it 
would out of doors, and there can be no question that 
with the slightest provocation as to temperature, it may 
be had iu flower very early, as was shown recently 
at South Kensington.— J. F. 
