September 17, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
43 
Zulu. —One of the so-called Cactus varieties, of good 
size and self coloured, very dark maroon, almost black. 
Exhibited by Mr. T. S. Ware. 
By the National Chrysanthemum Society. 
September 14th and 15th. 
Single Dahlias. 
Maude Millett. —Light in the centre, and flushed 
with rose on the margins, from Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, 
Sunningdale. 
Miss Roberts. — Clear lemon-yellow, from T. S. 
Ware. 
Cactus Dahlias. 
Henry Patrick, pure white ; and Zulu, almost jet- 
black, from Mr. T. S. Ware. Sydney Williams, 
almost equally black as Zulu, from Mr. G. Humphreys. 
Lady Brassey, a fine crimson ; Lady Marsham, a 
clear red ; and Lady E. Dyke, a fine clear yellow, 
from Messrs. Cannell & Sons. 
Pompon Dahlia. 
Janet. —A flower of pretty form, and light red in 
colour, from Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
' Shoav Dahlias. 
Nelly Cramond. —A beautiful rosy purple flower, 
from Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. Malcolm, a 
large, somewhat flat bloom, of a light shade of 
crimson ; Purple Prince, a purple self; and Gloav- 
avorm, a fine dark scarlet, from Mr. Turner. 
Semi-double Dahlia. 
W. J. Abery. —Under this heading, for the want of 
a better, we place a very showy flower shown by 
Messrs. Cannell & Sons. It has two to three rows of 
petals, Avhite, margined on either side with broad 
bands of scarlet ; a showy border flower. 
Gladioli. 
Rupert. —Deep rose, with a light centre ; Irene, 
flesh-pink, with purple pencilled throat; and Iolanthe, 
salmon, with purple markings in the throat, from 
Messrs. Burrell & Co. 
ARDENING 
ISCELLANY. 
Large Market Apples. — Lord Sufiield is 
perhaps the best fruit among the early kinds, and 
its taking appearance and good qualities for cooking 
make it popular. But unfortunately for the growers 
the tree is tender : in damp summers and cold springs 
it takes the mildew in the foliage, which, running 
down the footstalk, induces canker in the axils of the 
leaves. This can be mitigated by a dressing of sul¬ 
phur, as proved in our nurseries here. Again, it 
makes a rapid growth in the young state, and on 
heavily manured soil ; in this case the imperfectly 
ripened wood is badly affected by the winter frosts, 
and canker sets in the following year, so that a 
flourishing tree will be destroyed in a season. Its 
large fruits also strain the tree, and the weakly 
cankered shoots give way, so that a really healthy 
standard is seldom seen. As a garden tree on the 
Paradise stock it is not so subject to the frosts. I 
send you herewith some fruits of Lord Grosvenor, a 
much hardier Apple and an enormous cropper, and 
also of the Grenadier, the true flat Codlin (not Lord 
Derby), as substitutes; these make trees in much 
less time, and are altogether hardier, while they fetch 
the same price as Lord Sufiield in the market.— G. 
Bunyard, Maidstone. [The samples of both varieties 
were all that could be desired, and planters would do 
well to take the valuable hint Avhich Mr. Bunyard 
gives them.—E d.] 
Hot-weather Bulbous Plants.—' With us, 
among the plants which the hot summer has suited 
best, an Agapanthus umbellatus—the white-flowered 
one planted out last autumn, and unprotected—has a 
head with sixty flowers ; the blue form, and A. 
Mooreana, the small-flowered one, had a wicker coop, 
with bracken through the bars, over them in winter, 
and are also in bloom. Crinum PoAvelli has bloomed 
beautifully. A friend having given me C. Macgowani, 
I planted offsets, which stood the winter, but were too 
small to flower. A Belladonna Lily on the top of a 
mound had two stems, one with eight flowers, and the 
other six ; but, perhaps, the different varieties of 
Lilium speciosum have gained most from the long heat, 
as they have bloomed earlier than usual, and so have 
escaped frost injuring the flowers.— George F. Wilson, 
Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath. 
Brunvigia Josephinge. —At the annual meeting 
of the Preston and Fulwood Floral and Horticultural 
Society, reported in your last issue, Mr. John Atherton, 
of Cadley, Preston, the secretary, forwarded for in¬ 
spection a plant in bloom of this remarkable Cape bulb. 
Above the soil it measured 29 ins. in circumference and 
14 ins. in height, and the plant is believed to be 
upwards of thirty years of age. When in flower it is 
barren, so far as foliage is concerned ; but as soon as 
the blooms die doAvn, twelve splendid leaves, 6 ins. 
wide and about 3 ft. long, are sent up, Avhich are 
annually renewed. Mr. Atherton is a specialist so far 
as bulbous plants and Cacti are concerned ; therefore, 
it is not in the least surprising to find that although 
the Brunsvigia Josephinas was in the possession of a 
lady residing in the district for fifteen years, and Avas 
never knoivn to have borne a single flower, it has so 
succeeded under his charge that thrice it has bloomed 
profusely. Five years ago, at the Preston Guild—a 
custom observed every twenty years—it Avas exhibited 
at a floral display, and naturally attracted considerable 
attention. The blooms last for about a month. When 
the spike begins to grow, one can almost notice its 
development, as it rises fully 2 ins. a day. Several of 
the members expressed surprise at seeing such a re¬ 
markable plant, it being the first of the kind they had 
had the opportunity of inspecting. Mr. Atherton said 
that numerous visitors came from far and near to see it 
whilst in flower.— P. 
The Reported Scarcity of Wasps certainly 
does not apply to West Somerset, for they have been 
as plentiful and as destructive as usual in the district 
where I live. — West Countryman. 
Tratrellers’ Joy. —Clematis vitalba worthily 
merits this curious appellation round and about 
Basingstoke, for it grows in the hedgerows for miles in 
extent with marvellous profusion. In some places 
where trees are near, this hardy climber has gone up 
some 20 ft. to 30 ft., but its chief beauty is found in 
the dense masses of growth, Avhich line either side of 
the roadway. When I saw it so abundantly the other 
day the bloom Avas past, but the cottony-like remains 
of the floAvers bore a most pleasing appearance. I 
doubt very much ivhether any other part of the 
kingdom can display such Avealth of this Clematis as 
may be seen on the Reading and Winchester Roads. 
As the earth’s substratum here is chalk, it Avould be 
interesting to learn how far forms of Clematis Jackmani 
would thrive under similar conditions. If some kind- 
hearted landowner Avould but form bowers of the 
Clematis at intervals on the roadsides, and place seats 
beneath, Avhat real joy might not thus be afforded to 
travellers. As it is the foot-weary sojourner may 
traverse hundreds of miles of our rural highways, and 
not find a single seat on which he can rest, except 
Avithin some public house or beer-shop.— A. D. 
Single Dahlias. —-It has long been a reproach 
against these certainly elegant and beautiful flowers 
that the plants are on the whole too tall and leggy. 
Not a few of the best kinds, Paragon, Duchess of 
Westminster, &c., are so tall that their value as garden 
plants is greatly discounted. By way of contrast I 
have a seedling blooming this year, evidently true to 
habit, and carrying its bright scarlet flowers on stiff 
erect stems, which, when in bloom, is not more than 
16 ins. in height. I should like to know whether that 
dwarfness is singular or not 1 Certainly it looks as if 
we have but to breed on, and soon shall obtain a 
really dwarf bushy strain, which will make effective 
bedders, and thus dispense with stakes.— A. D. 
--i- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Planting Carnations. —It Avill now be advisable 
to prepare the beds for the planting out of Carnations, 
whether seedlings or layers. We have ours ready, 
and the Avork will be completed during the coming 
week. Be careful that the plants are made quite firm 
by pressing at the collar. If this be not done, much 
damage will be worked by the wind, as they snap off 
at the ground-line if at all loose. The same remarks 
apply to Pinks—that is, Avhere “pipings” are used ; 
but in any case where it is desirable to make fresh 
beds, the ground should at once be prepared, thoroughly 
enriching it with good farmyard manure, and in most 
cases divisions will be found to succeed equally as well 
as “ pipings.” Lord Lyon and Annie Boleyn, however, 
must not be subjected to such treatment. Our stock of 
Souvenir de la Malmaison, layered outdoors, 
look very well, and evidently will very shortly bear 
severing. When this is done, they must be carefully 
treated for a fortnight or so by being kept in a closed 
frame, and lightly dewed over two or three times a-day, 
that the severance may be as little felt as possible. 
When once established, they must be placed in a light 
airy position, and as soon as ready be shifted into their 
flowering-pots, the size most suitable for the first season 
being 5-in. The compost used should be of an open 
nature, containing a good quantity of sharp river-sand, 
if possible ; but avoid the use of manure of any kind, 
which only tends to render the soil sour. When food 
is necessary, it is far better to administer it in a liquid 
form. I feel confident that the result, in all cases, 
Avill be much more satisfactory than adding manure to 
the soil for potting purposes. 
Storing Plants. —Complete with as little delay as 
possible the work advised in previous calendars with 
regard to propagating, storing, and so on ; the nights 
are lengthening perceptibly, and with a consequent 
loss of solar heat. Salvias noiv show signs of their 
requiring shelter, and if wanted to flower satisfactorily 
they must at once be placed in the greenhouse or pits ; 
when the pots are filled with roots, and so soon as 
they are staged, they must be constantly fed with 
liquid manure, or the flower-spikes do not open freely. 
S. Heerii Ave find very useful indeed for staging pur¬ 
poses, the colour being so bright, and the foliage 
emitting such a pleasant perfume. While the winds 
remain so rough and cold, it will be necessary to keep 
the stock of 
Autumn and Winter-Floavering Begonias rather 
warmer; Avatering earlier in the afternoon will be 
advisable, and also close early. Many of the earliest- 
flowering tuberous Begonias can be spared from the 
intermediate house, and, in fact, Avill be much benefited 
if removed and staged in a cold pit, where they are 
fully exposed to the sun, and can be gradually dried 
off; water sparingly, but see that they are not dried 
off too hurriedly, or the bulb will be sure to rot. As 
they dry off, let the pots be laid upon their sides in 
some rather dry position, and when work is required 
for outdoor hands later on through rain, &c., they can 
assist in the shaking out and storing of the bulbs ; only 
be careful not to submit them to too low a temperature. 
The same remarks apply to Caladiums and Gloxinias, 
but these should be kept even warmer. Achimenes we 
find keep thoroughly well in the pots in which they 
Avere flowered. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Mushrooms. —Following the advice given, Ave have 
made up two good Mushroom-beds and spawned them. 
The manure had been allowed a long time to dry, and 
was in first-rate condition. We shall, of course, 
continue the collection of droppings for succession beds ; 
and if, as Avith us, there is room on the floor of the 
house to allow of a heap of fermenting material being 
always kept, so much the better, as it does away with 
frequent dampings, and is altogether more beneficial 
where the beds are in bearing. Do not maintain too 
high a temperature, but let the house feel comfortable 
irrespective of the thermometer. Hard-and-fast lines 
regarding temperatures are fast becoming obsolete, and 
rightly so, too, where young men of ordinary intelligence 
are employed. In our opinion, if outdoor and indoor 
temperatures Avere allowed to run more in harmony 
through the forcing season, there would be less red- 
spider and thrips than are generally found. 
Cucumbers. —The house in which the Avinter-fruiting 
Cucumbers are to be groAvn has been quite cleared out, 
the roof well scoured, and all made as clean as possible. 
We hope, by the end of the week, to plant them out, 
or, rather, pot them, as we groAV this lot always in 
large pots. We intend using tan for bottom-heat, it 
being cleaner and preferable to manure in many Avays. 
We have also placed in this house the whole lot of 
Poinsettias ; they Avill here be well attended to as 
regards heat and moisture. Tomatos are showing 
fruit freely and setting well, especially Victoria, 
Avhich we find the most reliable winter-fruiting 
variety ; the flavour, too, is considered delicate, and is 
much liked. _ 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
General Work. —Keep the hoe constantly at work 
among all green crops, for although care was taken not 
to allow Aveeds to seed, an abundant crop is making its 
appearance, which must have sprung from the manure 
used ; however, the cultivation necessary to eradicate 
the weeds will greatly benefit the crop, so that the 
