May 28, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
615 
Isis.—This is a semi-double flower with broad 
obovate petals, jagged at the apex, and of a brilliant 
or lively carmine, slightly suffused with rose at the 
base. The plant staged was dwarf, but this character 
may not be constant in an old-established plant. Ex¬ 
hibited by Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons. 
Mimulus Jubilee Queen’s Prize. 
The enormous size of the flowers of this Mimulus is 
no less striking than the rich crimson of the lobes of 
the corolla. The margins and throat are yellow, the 
latter spotted with crimson. The whole plant, of which 
many specimens were exhibited, was very dwarf; and 
we understand, comes true from seed. Exhibited by 
Messrs. Carter & Co., 237 & 238, High Holborn, London. 
Ranunculus corxus^efolius. 
In this we have a strong-growing, bold-looking 
buttercup, with large shining yellow flowers borne pro¬ 
fusely in terminal panicles, on stems about 2£ ft. high 
in the specimen exhibited. The leaves are mostly 
radical or confined to the lower part of the stem, and 
are broadly orbicular, shallowly lobed and toothed, and 
6 ins. to 8 ins. in diameter ; they are also of good sub¬ 
stance and somewhat rigid. Exhibited by E. G. Loder, 
Esq., Floore, Weedon. 
Hybrid Azaleas. 
Beauty. —The flowers of this variety are large, 
funnel-shaped and widely spreading at the mouth, 
and of a pleasing shade of soft rosy pink, suffused and 
blotched with yellow on the middle of the upper seg¬ 
ment of the corolla. The leaves are pretty - well 
advanced during the time of flowering. This and the 
following are hybrids between A. mollis and A. occi- 
dentalis. Exhibited by Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons. 
Maiden’s Blush. —In this case the flowers are 
equally large and of a very delicate blush colour, 
almost white, and blotched faintly with pale yellow on 
the upper segment of the corolla. The foliage is also 
equally good. Exhibited by Messrs. James Yeitch & 
Sons. 
Peach Blossom. —The flowers of this Azalea are 
rather small, but each truss bears a considerable 
number, and the plants producing the latter in great 
profusion, a good effect is obtained. They are double, 
and of a delicate soft pink colour, flushed with yellow 
on the upper segment. Exhibited by Mr. Anthony 
"Waterer. 
Snowflake. —The habit, leafage and general appear¬ 
ance of this plant is similar to the last, and both are 
acquisitions to our list of hardy Azaleas. The flowers 
are double, with the segments arranged in a stellate 
manner. Exhibited by Mr. Anthony Waterer. 
--- 
Hardening IJotes from 
COTLAND. 
Forced. Leeks.—These have become quite general 
throughout many northern localities, and some of our 
provincial nursery friends have adopted the raising of 
early Leek plants, to supply amateur growers and 
others, as a part of their trade. How is a good time to 
plant out the well-nourished young Leeks ; and as good 
a plan as any I have seen for growing the large well- 
blanched produce so often seen in the north is to take 
out a ridge in the old-fashioned style, the same as for 
Celery—say, 3 ft. to 4 ft. wide—digging in an abun¬ 
dance of well-rotted manure, in which the plants are 
placed in the usual manner. Earthing is done piece¬ 
meal as the plants advance in growth. The large 
quantities of manure-water which they will take 
without injury is astounding. Plenty of room for the 
huge foliage to develop itself is an important item of 
management, and careful manipulation to avoid 
breakage is of moment. How well some cottagers 
succeed in Leek-growing is often puzzling to practical 
men .—Caledonian. 
Swede Turnips. — This vegetable is of great 
value in the north, and when properly treated forms a 
very pleasant and agreeable change among culinary 
vegetables. The sowing of them on rich land renders 
the bulbs very coarse in flavour, and on dry, poor and 
gravelly soils they become so tough and stringy that 
it is out of reason to attempt the eating of them, 
especially if one be a novice in the culinary depart¬ 
ment. 
From now onward for a week or so is a good 
time to sow seed, which should be covered evenly and 
made firm. We suppose the cool nights in summer 
and absence of broiling sun being so favourable to the 
production of grand bulbs causes so many northern 
agriculturists to grow them so extensively. They cer¬ 
tainly do them well, as they do all their Turnip¬ 
growing ; and the care which is taken to select the seed 
by leading seedsmen is very commendable. 
We noticed in the nurseries of Messrs. Drummond, 
Stirling, last season, heaps of perfect-shaped bulbs of 
immense size and beautiful form ; one of the members 
of the firm had been to the fields selecting them. In 
northern gardens yellow Turnips are valued most, and 
along with others are grown for general use. We have 
fortunately kept up a supply of old ones till the present 
time along with Parsnips ; the latter were, a week ago, 
still at their best, by burying them in the soil after 
they were lifted at the end of March, so it is no 
achievement now with Early Milan, as we have the 
former season’s sowings in use at the same time. At 
present early Turnips should be sown every ten days in 
small portions and have soot scattered over the seed.— 
Caledonian. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aber¬ 
deen. —A meeting of the acting directors of this society 
was held in Aberdeen on Friday evening, 20tli inst., 
Councillor Lyon presiding. It was resolved that the 
summer exhibition should be held in the Duthie Public 
Park, Aberdeen, the use of which has been kindly 
granted by the town council, on the 29th and 30th of 
July. It is expected that the summer show will prove 
one of the best ever held in the north of Scotland, 
several large money prizes being offered, in addition to 
the usual prizes in honour of Her Majesty’s Jubilee. 
North of Scotland Horticultural As¬ 
sociation. —At a meeting of this association held in 
Aberdeen on Friday evening, 21st inst., Mr. Henderson, 
Wellwood, Cults, submitted the report of the committee 
in reference to the “ Jubilee Prizes.” It stated that in 
commemoration of H.M. Jubilee, the North of Scotland 
Horticultural Association have decided to offer the 
following prizes, to be competed for by members of 
the association, viz. :—A Gold Medal for the best essay 
on “The Principal Points to be considered in Judging 
Fruits, Flowers, Plants and Yegetables.” (2) A Gold 
Medal to the member who shall produce a plan for the 
best arrangement of a kitchen garden not to exceed one 
acre in extent, with a list of the trees and small fruit 
bushes best suited to the various exposures, and a brief 
description of their mode of arrangement. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
Mulching Strawberries. —If the Strawberry beds, 
borders, plots, or squares have been thoroughly cleansed 
and made loose on the surface (which ought to have 
been done during the dry weather before the recent 
rains), they should now receive a good mulching of 
rank or littery stable-manure. This may be used fresh 
from the stables without any previous preparation. 
The finer material gets well washed down by the rains 
of early summer, greatly benefiting the swelling of the 
fruit, especially should a spell of dry weather set in 
during that period. The littery part -will get washed 
clean and sweet by rain, keeping the fruit from being 
spoiled by contact with the soil or from being splashed 
with heavy thunder-showers in summer, which render 
fruit of this kind useless with sand and grit. The 
supply of manure in many cases, however, is limited, 
so that gardeners are often unable to use the best and 
most suitable mulching for Strawberries. In such a 
case recourse may be had to straw, which one may buy 
of dealers in that class of goods. A third, and not 
the least valuable mulching is the mowings of Grass 
lawns, which may be laid all over the ground between 
the lines of plants to some considerable depth ; this is 
necessary on account of the great reduction that takes 
place in the bulk of the material, by the drying of the 
soft watery young grass. Mulching not only prevents 
undue evaporation, but helps to keep down the weeds. 
Forced Leeks. —These are within the reach of any 
one possessed of a hot-house, or even a frame placed 
over a hot-bed of leaves, stable dung, fermenting tan, 
hop refuse, or other materials, some of which are 
obtainable in most neighbourhoods. The success at¬ 
tained by some amateurs with this wholesome vegetable, 
whether growing for home use or for exhibition, should 
encourage others to adopt the same or similar lines of 
culture. Professionals, in many cases, come off second 
best in the competition. Deep tilth, heavy manuring, 
and good drainage are necessary to make success more 
certain, as the Leek is a deep-rooting plant that readily 
responds to good cultivation. Presuming that seedlings 
have ere now been raised and hardened off ready for 
planting, the first operation necessary, is to take out 
trenches 8 ins. to 10 ins. deep, piling the soil on either 
side in the form of ridges. The bottom of the trenches 
should be well loosened up, incorporating a considerable 
quantity of well-rotted manure with it; into this plant 
the seedlings about 6 ins. or 9 ins. apart in the line, 
according to the size required. In the course of the 
summer give heavy waterings if necessary, supplying 
them with liquid manure pretty frequently. Earth up 
from time to time as the plants increase in size. 
Scarlet Runners. —In the midland and northern 
parts of the country, these may be sown or planted out 
on the level ground in the ordinary way ; but in the 
neighbourhood of London and southern counties, much 
heavier crops are obtainable by planting in trenches, 
where the plants may be heavily watered if necessary. 
The white variety generally keeps up a better supply, 
especially towards autumn, than the scarlet one. 
Window Boxes. —Those who are unable to pursue 
other modes of gardening from want of time or space 
may, even in the very heart of London, with its smoky, 
foggy, and soot-begrimed atmosphere, grow a few 
window plants indoors, as well as on the window-sill 
outside. Plants may be grown in pots ; but the best 
effect is produced by growing them in a box, and 
less trouble is necessary in watering and keeping them 
in healthy vigorous growth. Greater variety can also 
be ensured with a judicious use of plants suitable for the 
London atmosphere. Some use china boxes, others 
finely-painted ones, or those covered with rough pieces 
of virgin cork ; but a plain wooden box, painted green, 
will meet the requirements equally well, and be as 
suitable. Lobelias bloom profusely, and should be 
planted on the sunny side, or that best exposed to 
light, when they will hang down and cover the box. 
Creeping Jenny is essentially a London plant, and 
always looks well, whether in flower or not. Its 
slender stems hang gracefully at great length. The 
evergreen Box, Euonymus, Holly, and other plants 
suitable for winter should now give place to Heliotropes, 
Mignonette, Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and 
such-like things. Tropieolums are also very desirable; 
and T. aduncum, or the yellow Canary Creeper, by the 
use of a couple of wires or strings, may be trained 
round the window, afterwards allowing it to hang 
down in graceful festoons. — F. 
The Amateurs’ Orchid House.— Calling at Mel¬ 
bourne House, Heeley, Sheffield, the other day, I was 
very much pleased with what I saw in a warm green¬ 
house, a lean-to structure attached to the dwelling- 
house. Mr. Marshall, the owner of this compact and 
pleasantly situated dwelling, has succeeded far beyond 
his expectations with Orchids, as it is only about two 
years since he commenced by purchasing a few newly 
imported pieces, which started growing to his satis¬ 
faction. This encouraged him to make further purchases 
from time to time, until now the house is comfortably 
filled with healthy growing pieces, several of which are 
at the present time in flower. Amongst them is a 
handsome piece of Dendrobium Jamesianum, also D. 
thyrsiflorum and D. aggregatum majus; Cattleya 
Mendelii is an extra fine variety, having very broad, 
nearly white sepals and petals, with a large lip, the 
colour being very rich ; C. citrina is well adapted for 
the amateur cultivator, as is shown by Mr. Marshall’s 
healthy and well-flowered plants ; Laelia elegans was 
represented by several well-flowered plants ; Oncidiums 
are also doing well, amongst them are 0. ampliatum, 
0. flexuosum, 0. Kramerianum, and 0. Phalaenopsis, 
which will shortly be in flower : Odontoglossum citros- 
mum and O. vexillarium are in good form and will be 
objects of interesting beauty in due course. The roof 
of Mr. Marshall’s Orchid house is nicely shaded with 
Hoya carnosa and Stephanotis floribunda, one at each 
end of the house. Both plants are bristling with flower 
buds all over the roof, and they form a nice shading, 
but not too thick for their companions below. Mr. 
Marshall’s success should encourage others to take up 
the cultivation of these interesting and beautiful plants, 
which can be purchased now without much extrava¬ 
gance. —District Visitor. 
