488 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 2 , 1887. 
SPRING FLOWER EXHIBITIONS. 
The leading nurseries, in the metropolis in par¬ 
ticular, are just now popular places of resort for the 
cognoscenti, the magnetic attraction being the displays 
of the flowers of spring, which seem to become more pro¬ 
minent every year. Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons’ 
nursery at Chelsea claims our attention first on 
account of the extent of the display of floral wealth 
now to be found there. That the Orchid houses are a 
fertile source of attraction goes without saying, because 
there are always some good things to be seen in them, 
but for the moment bulbous plants command the field. 
The show house proper, redolent with the perfume of 
hundreds of Hyacinths, is especially worth visiting, all 
the leading kinds of Hyacinths being grandly repre¬ 
sented, and in association with a great variety of other 
spring-flowering subjects, form an exhibition of the 
most pleasing character The Amaryllis house is just 
now a sight to be seen and remembered. The firm are 
this year flowering more seedlings than ever, and have 
so far been rewarded with a greater variety of novelties 
in form and colour than has ever before fallen to their 
lot. The central bed of the large house, which contains 
over 1,000 flowering bulbs, presents a magnificent array 
of massive blooms, which should be seen by all who are 
interested in these easily-grown and free-flowering 
plants, and in connection with which it may be noted, 
as a sign of the timeSj that the demand for them is 
increasing day by day. 
At the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Hol¬ 
loway, Mr. B. S. Williams has also a very fine show 
of Hj'acinths, Tulips, &c., which occupies the front 
and side stages of the large winter garden facing the 
main road. All the leading kinds of Dutch Bulbs 
are represented by admirably-grown examples, and 
the brightness of the colours seems to be greatly 
enhanced by the presence opposite of the sombre 
fronds of the noble tree Ferns, and the green 
foliage of other specimen fine-foliaged plants. Mr. 
Williams’ admirable strains of Cyclamens and 
Cinerarias are also well represented in conjunction with 
Ghent Azaleas, Lilacs, Daffodils, Lily of the Valley, 
&c. But Mr. Williams has something else to show his 
visitors—such a houseful of Imantopliyllums in bloom 
as can scarcely be matched in this country. On the 
central stage of the large span-roofed house which 
contains them, are some 200 massive heads of flowers 
standing above the deep green leaves of the plants, 
which forms a perfect setting to them. True though 
it is that we have not yet obtained a very wide range 
of colours in this grand genus, an inspection of the 
individual plants reveals the fact that there is much 
variation in the form of the flowers, and for garden 
purposes a pleasing amount of difference in the depth of 
the shades of the prevailing colour — orange-scarlet. 
The display is an unusually good one, and well worth a 
visit if there was nothing else to be seen. The Amaryllis 
house will be the next feature, and that shortly ; for 
though at present somewhat late, there is abundant 
promise of a great head of bloom. In the plant houses 
generally everything seems to be springing into new 
life, and to a lover of nature the beauty and freshness 
of the young growths afford an infinite amount of 
pleasure. Many nice things are in bloom in the Orchid 
houses, but things generally are being kept quiet in 
this department in view of later requirements. 
On Highgate Hill, the Messrs. Cutbusii & Son have 
also been ably maintaining their well-earned reputation 
as growers of Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs. Their 
two show houses are very gay, and during the past 
week have been a great source of gratification to the 
residents in the locality. Looking carefully through the 
collection, we noted nothing among the newer varieties 
particularly above the level of the best old sorts as re¬ 
gards Hyacinths ; but in Tulips, Ophir d’Or, a compara¬ 
tively new sort, proves to be a grand yellow companion 
to such high quality varieties as the rose-coloured Proser¬ 
pine and the white Joost van Vondel. We must also 
add a word of praise for the Heaths and Epacrises, 
which are well done by this firm. Erica Wilinoreana 
and E. melanthera were especially well bloomed, and, 
than the latter, few Heaths are more useful, as it con¬ 
tinues such a long time in bloom. Staphylea colchica 
is also extensively forced, and is really invaluable for 
this purpose. The new Laurustinus hirta is also made 
the most of, as it proves a grand forcing plant, being 
got into bloom early with very little trouble. Its 
flowers are whiter than those of the common variety, 
and for cutting is well worthy of the attention of those 
with whom quantity and quality is a sine quC i non. 
THE CHINESE PRIMULA. 
A long and admirably practical paper on this 
popular plant was read before a meeting of the Bir¬ 
mingham Gardeners’ Society, on March 17th, by Mr. 
Horton, gardener to Richard Chamberlain, Esq., M.P., 
Edgbaston. 
Referring to the early history of the Chinese Primula, 
allusion was made to its first introduction from Canton, 
in 1800, by Capt. Eowe, who found it as a cultivated 
plant in China, and to its being figured in the Botanical 
Register from a plant which bloomed in March, 1821, 
in the garden belonging to a lady at Bromley, in Kent; 
and several varieties must have then been in culti¬ 
vation judging from the illustrations in this and other 
botanical works of the time. Mr. Horton went on to 
say that, “ It is not necessary for me to minutely par¬ 
ticularise the individual efforts which during the past 
twenty-five years have, by careful hybridisation and 
selection, enabled us to fill our greenhouses in the 
dullest and most sunless period of the year with 
innumerable varieties of this most useful and beautiful 
plant. Some of the very best varieties in cultivation 
at the present day have been raised and grown for 
years in this locality, and from observations I have 
made iii different parts of the country, coupled with 
the dimensions of flowers which have been sent to me 
as sonic of the very best from friends, I feel convinced 
that we in Birmingham can hold our own in fine sorts 
of Primulas.” Especial reference was made to those 
very fine sorts, Emperor, The Queen, Princess Louise, 
Marquis of Lome and others which have been raised in 
Birmingham. 
In sowing the seed, Mr. Horton recommends quite 
clean well-drained pots or pans, with plenty of drainage 
and a layer of sphagnum over the drainage. A soil 
consisting of three-parts thoroughly decomposed cow 
manure, which has been well baked to destroy any 
insect life, and one part of sifted cocoa-nut fibre, and 
covering them with paper ; then plunging the pots or 
pans to the rim in a bottom heat of from 65° to 70°, 
and as soon as the seed vegetates removing the paper. 
For pricking off four to five in a pot, the compost should 
consist of one part turfy loam, one part leaf-mould, one 
part silver sand, adding a little well-decomposed cow 
dung, the whole being rubbed through a fine sieve. 
For the final potting in June or July, Mr. Horton 
uses the following compost, in proportions of turfy 
loam, one bushel ; leaf-mould, half-bushel; marl, one- 
tliird-bushel, which for a long time has been exposed 
to frost and the action of the air ; coarse gritty sand, 
one-third-bushel; a 6-in. pot-full of Clay’s fertiliser, 
and the same quantity of powdered oyster shells ; also 
a 48 pot-full each of soot and lime, and to these 
ingredients a 9-in. pot-full of roughly broken charcoal, 
well mixing the whole. 
To have good plants in bloom in 7-in. or 8-in. pots 
in November, seed should be sown not later than 
January 10th, of the finest kinds previously mentioned. 
Before re-potting, Mr. Horton takes care to thoroughly 
water every plant the day previous, so that the ball of 
soil when removed into a larger pot is in a good con¬ 
dition to undergo the operation. About the first week 
in June the plants are removed to a cold frame with a 
northern aspect, and upon a bed of coal ashes, giving 
the plants all the light and air possible, but avoiding 
draughts, syringing lightly about 4 p.m. on hot days, 
entirely closing the frame subsequently about an hour. 
"Water all plants requiring it just before damping down, 
prevent the admission of a great quantity of air late 
in the day, and conserve the moisture supplied by the 
syringe. Shadingis not adopted during themonth of June 
if the plants are not visibly distressed by the omission, 
but with the exception of the brief period mentioned, 
keeping more or less air on day and night, being guided 
by the outside temperature. The final potting should 
take place about the middle of June, and it is most 
desirable that this should be done as soon as the pot 
the plant is in is fairly-well filled with roots ; a check 
in this respect immediately causes the flowers to appear 
and vigorous growth disappear. The soil for the final 
potting has already been alluded to. "We have no space 
to give more than fragments of Mr. Horton’s explicit 
paper, which deals with every point in Primula culture. 
"We hear, however, that the society contemplates pub¬ 
lishing, shortly, a few of the most practical papers 
which have been read by members, and Mr. Horton’s 
paper will be amongst them, and will be welcome 
additional information to growers of the Primula. 
THE QUEEN’S VISIT TO 
BIRMINGHAM. 
The nursery establishment of Mr. Hans Niemand, of 
Birmingham, received from the reception committee 
instructions to decorate the public buildings visited by 
her Majesty, as well as the portico and interior of the 
banqueting room at the council house, and in the whole 
over 5,000 plants were used, consisting chiefly of 
Palms, many of them of a large size, "White Lilacs, 
Lily of the Valley, Clematis in flower, Azalea indica 
and mollis, in great variety, Staphylea colchica, 
Deutzias, Arums, Tulips, white and yellow Italian 
Hyacinths, Narcissi of sorts, in quantities, Marguerites, 
Spiraeas, Erica ventricosa and Cavendishiana, Genistas, 
white variegated Funkias, choice Ferns, some hundreds 
of Isolepis, &c., &c. 
The most beautiful oriental upholstery decorations in 
the Queen’s luncheon room, specially fitted up in a very 
costly manner, necessitated careful decoration with 
graceful choice Palms, Ferns and flowering plants, 
chiefly of a white colour, with a quantity of Marechal 
Neil Roses. The splendid white marble mantle piece, 
erected specially for the day, was dressed in an artistic 
manner with Palms, Ferns and Clematis ; some of the 
newer kinds, in flower, were trained up and over the 
mirror. The retiring and other rooms were duly 
ornamented by groups, as well as about the dais. 
Large banks of specimen Talms and flowering plants 
were arranged on either side of the chief entrance to 
the Town Hall. 
In the immense pavilion, erected by Messrs. Edging- 
ton, of London, for the ceremony of laying the founda¬ 
tion stone of the new Law Courts by the Queen, several 
beautiful groups of plants were arranged in the recep¬ 
tion room, the corridors leading to the platform and 
about it. 
At the Council House, in the spacious banqueting 
room, the recesses were filled in with plants, and over 
the portico a large group of Deodar Cedars from 12 fc. 
to 15 ft. high were in the background, with huge 
specimen Latanias and smaller flowering plants in the 
foreground. In addition, the decoration of Mason’s Col¬ 
lege was also entrusted to Hans Niemand, boxes being 
fitted up in the windows and filled with plants, and 
large floral designs were used for the upper windows. 
Mr. William Spinks, formerly of Chiswick, and floral 
manager of the Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham, is 
the manager of Hans Niemand’s Nursery, and he 
designed and superintended the whole of the plant 
decorations we have alluded to, and also designed and 
supplied the two magnificent bouquets presented to her 
Majesty and Princess Henry of Battenberg by the 
Mayoress. 
Mr. Charles Winn contributed a superb lot of cut 
Orchids from his fine collection at Selly Oak, and these 
were placed in the luncheon room used by the royal 
party, and were greatly admired. 
A large floral arch was entrusted to Messrs. Thompson, 
nurserymen and seedsmen of High Street, erected 
opposite their shop ; it was large, with a central span 
and two smaller arches over the pathways, and was 
much admired ; rustic wood and evergreens were used, 
and baskets of flowers thrown out. Mr. R. H.. 
Vertigans, Chad Valley Nurseries, presented a hand¬ 
some bouquet to the Majmress, and supplied another to 
the children of the Grammar School for presentation to 
her Majesty. 
-->XN-- 
DOUBLE CHINESE PRIMULAS. 
In our issue for January 15th last, we described a 
series of very handsome double varieties of Primulas, 
grown by Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Reading, and the 
importance of which, to all lovers of these winter¬ 
flowering plants, can hardly be over-estimated, inasmuch 
as that they can all be raised annually from seeds, and, 
therefore, can be more easily obtained than those 
double-flowered sorts, which have to be increased by 
means of cuttings. 
In the accompanying illustration our artist has 
depicted some half dozen varieties, which w : e cannot, 
unfortunately, print in colours ; but which, even in 
black and white, show the different intensity of shades, 
and varying forms to be found among these most 
beautifnl plants, which range from pure white as in 
Snowdrift, rosy blush as in Rosy Queen, to carmine, 
scarlet and blue. The plants are all of neat habit and 
free bloomers, and last in perfection for some time. 
