December 10, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
235 
planted out on the rockery. The best effect is obtained 
from the variegated kind when grown as pot plants in 
heat, which seems to bring out the variegation in its 
truest form. Both the green and the variegated 
varieties are cultivated under glass by Messrs. J. 
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, where it must be acknow¬ 
ledged the green colour of the type is brought out more 
vividly than when grown in the open air. The varie¬ 
gation consists of a broad silvery white margin to each 
leaf, which is very effective when healthy vigorous 
plants are grown in pots and pans, and stood about in 
well-lighted parts of the stove, greenhouse, or con¬ 
servatory. Propagation is most easily effected by 
division of the rootstock or rhizomes, preserving a bud 
or crown of leaves to each piece. The plant is by no 
means fastidious, and will grow in almost any soil. 
Bronhendra, Carnarvon. — This is the seat 
of Charles Jones, Esq., who is well known as the 
leading amateur around Carnarvon, for his specimen 
Ferns and foliage plants have been well represented at 
the local shows. When passing this way the other 
day I was invited to see his Camellias, and must say 
they are in excellent health, being studded with bloom 
and buds. They were planted out about two years 
ago at the back of a greenhouse, and evidence shows 
that this treatment suits them.— G. Tyler. 
Posqueria multiflora. —There are in all about 
a dozen species of Posqueria, natives of tropical 
America, and of these more than one half have been 
introduced to cultivation. P. multiflora, if not the 
best, is certainly a grand thing that ought more often 
to be seen in cultivation. We noted a large specimen 
at Oswald House, Oswald Road, Edinburgh, where Mr. 
Grossart gives every possible attention to all plants of a 
useful character. It belongs to the Cinchona family, 
and is classed in the Gardenia group. The flowers are 
pure white, deliciously scented, and produced in large 
terminal cymes or trusses. Each individual flower has 
a tube about 4 ins. in length, with a starry five-lobed 
spreading limb measuring about 2£ ins. across. A well- 
flowered specimen of such a magnificent plant could not 
fail to have a telling effect amongst a collection of stove 
or warm conservatory plants, while the delicious 
fragrance of the flowers indicates their presence in 
another way. There are several plants of this order, 
characterised by the beauty and the fragrance of their 
flowers, such as Psychotria (Gloneria) jasminiflora, 
Gardenias, and others. 
Saxifraga sarmentosa tricolor varie- 
guta.—Whoever may object to the long name of this 
plant, no one would have any hesitation as to the 
beauty of the plant itself. The ordinary form has 
been a familiar plant in many a cottage window for 
more than half a century, and is known under a great 
variety of popular and sometimes local names. Its 
great popularity is due to the beautiful markings of the 
leaves themselves, and to the numerous, long, slender 
stolons or runners, furnished at intervals with young 
plants, which may in their turn give rise to other 
runners bearing a second generation of young plants, 
while still attached to the mother plant. Its value 
for hanging baskets cannot be over estimated. What 
then shall we say of a plant of this habit, whose leaves 
are possessed of three distinct and beautiful colours, 
such as those grown by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill? The specimens we noted were grown in 
pots and pans, and the leaves had a central green 
blotch, surrounded by a broad creamy white band, and 
are margined with bright red. A little warmth, we 
believe, is conducive to the distinctness of the variega¬ 
tion, as it is to that of many other beautifully and 
delicately coloured plants. 
Fraser’s Silver Thyme. —Two distinct varie¬ 
gated varieties of Lemon Thyme, commonly known in 
gardens as Thymus citriodorus, have long been grown 
in gardens for the beauty of their foliage—one with a 
golden margin and the other with a silvery margin. 
The latter is, however, in no way comparable to the 
golden variety, on account of the indistinct and un¬ 
decided character of the white margin. A perfectly 
new variety, a sport from the golden one, originated 
about ten years ago at Glenbervie, Fordoun, Kincar¬ 
dineshire, where Mr. Cruickshank, the gardener, has 
gTown it ever since. It has a broad silvery margin to 
each leaf as decided and distinct as the golden margined 
form, and is even more constant than the latter, or, in 
other words, hardly ever bears branches reverting to 
the green form. It has been growing as an edging at 
Glenbervie for a number of years back, and the wonder 
is that such a fine thing could have remained isolated 
for ten years in one garden, as Mr. Cruickshank 
possesses the stock of it. As a variety it is as distinct 
from the old indistinctly-variegated silver form as the 
golden one is from the type. The botanical name of 
the latter should be Thymus Serpyllum vulgaris, and 
not T. citriodorus, as it is generally called. 
Chrysanthemum Emily Dale. — I notice 
that Mr. Molyneux left this out of his list of forty 
varieties of incurved Chrysanthemums, published in a 
contemporary last week. True, the National Chry¬ 
santhemum Society, in their first catalogue, gave it as 
a synonym of Golden Queen of England, but this 
they corrected in the second catalogue, in which it is 
described as follows “ pale straw, sport from Queen 
of England, and of similar character.” In the same 
catalogue Golden Queen of England is thus described: — 
“canary-yellow, sport from Queen of England, differ¬ 
ing from Emily Dale, the outer petals being striped 
bronzy pink.” Surely after such an expression as 
this, Emily Dale and Golden Queen of England should 
be looked upon as distinct varieties, yet I know that 
a great many exhibitors are afraid to put the two 
varieties on a board of distinct kinds, lest they should 
be disqualified. I should like to know Mr. Molyneux’s 
reason for leaving it out of his selection, as, if not for 
the reason of this question of difference, it decidedly 
ought to have been included in the first twelve 
incurved flowers. It was unfortunate that the National 
Chrysanthemum Society should have included it in 
their list of synonyms in the first catalogue, but that 
is no reason why it should not now be looked upon as 
distinct, and I think that growers, who have grown the 
two together, will admit that there is a marked 
difference between them.— A. TV., D. 
Apprentice Gardeners v. Journeymen. 
—Being a young gardener 1 can vouch for the accuracy 
of a few of the statements made by the correspondents 
who have been writing on this subject in your columns, 
but I am not sure if the serving of four years ap¬ 
prenticeship would make such a difference on the 
young lads as some seem to suppose, unless the place 
be an exceptionally good one, and the apprentices can 
be kept a year in each department. I think that three 
years is long enough for a youth to serve in places 
where the glass is not extensive, and the apprentices 
have to do kitchen-garden work nearly all their time. 
I think a few will agree with me that the apprentice 
will get nearly as much insight in three years as he 
will do in four. That horticultural Associations have 
a beneficial effect on the minds of young gardeners is 
unquestionable, and young men would find it greatly 
to their advantage if they could attend a class like the 
one conducted by Mr. Fraser at Kew, or the meetings 
of the Mutual Improvement Association held in the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, both 
of which I had the pleasure of attending all last winter, 
and at which subjects were introduced and discussed 
that were never even hinted at by some of the head 
gardeners under whom I have served.— J. Peebles, 
Wcxhcim Park. 
Treboth Hall. —When on an outing to see the 
Menai Bridge, which spans the Menai Straits, and 
forms the entrance from Carnarvonshire into Anglesea, 
I was advised to pay a visit to Treboth Hall, the seat 
of Richard Davis, Esq., whereat there is one of the best- 
kept gardens in the district. The mansion is nearly 
new, and a very handsome building it is, standing on 
rising ground, which commands some of the finest 
views in North Wales. The pleasure grounds are 
rather extensive, and the shrubberies very fine, every¬ 
thing seeming to grow away in fine style. On entering 
the kitchen garden, which is well stocked with the 
usual winter vegetables, I soon learnt that Mr. 
Fitzpatric must turn out a good quantity to meet the 
large demands that are made upon the gardens at 
Treboth Hall. I could see, however, that he has one 
thing in his favour—viz., a good heavy loam, which 
is, of course, very suitable for growing vegetables and 
fruit. As to the fruit trees, they are all in a free- 
bearing condition ; indeed, there is no doubt as to this 
being one of the best kitchen gardens in North Wales. 
Mr. Fitzpatric has turned out some of the finest fruits 
and vegetables that have been grown in this part, 
samples of which have been shown at the Bangor 
exhibitions, and have taken away several cups. In 
the glass department everything seems to be kept very 
neat and orderly, and I noticed some very fine late 
Grapes, among them being Black Alicante, which was 
keeping well. In the Peach houses there are over 100 
varieties of Chrysanthemums, which are making a 
grand show, and are well worth a visit to see. In the 
plant houses the usual winter-flowering subjects are 
conspicuous. I noticed some fine Pelargoniums, and 
amongst them that grand variety, Madame Thibaut, 
which was very good. The fruit room contained a 
good collection of Apples and Pears too numerous to 
mention. I must say that the gardens are well managed, 
and reflect great credit on Mr. Fitzpatric, the head 
gardener.— G. Tyler, Pladirion, near Carnarvm. 
-- 
The Gardeners' Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Callas. —The bed of planted-out Callas are now 
beginning to throw up their blooms, which promise to 
be very fine, and are at all seasons most welcome in a 
cut state, being much admired when used in decorative 
work, such as will very shortly be upon us. In the 
cutting of the foliage for use in conjunction with the 
flowers, if the plants are very vigorous, it should not 
be cut too low, for very frequently two, and even three, 
flowers rise from the axil of the same leaf; of this we 
had proof a few years since, and always take precaution. 
So soon as they commence to flower freely they should 
receive the assistance of liquid manure, as they are 
such hungry subjects ; if small flowers are required 
(and this is sometimes the case) avoid liberal treatment. 
Cyclamen, too, are now throwing up a quantity of 
flowers, which are extremely useful for cutting purposes, 
and also for house decoration. Most unfortunately, 
much of the perfume possessed by the old Persicum is 
absent from the present race ; a great advance, however, 
has been made, both in the size of flower and foliage, 
which render them much more attractive than formerly. 
Writing of the advance made, I may say I well 
remember a cultivator of the old strain who would 
look with pride upon a gnarled old bulb in a wide¬ 
mouthed 32-sized pot, carrying half-a-dozen blooms, 
which were so slender that they needed stakes ; the 
foliage, too, from being kept constantly in heat was of 
the same style, and the plants individually worthless ; 
therefore a wonderful advance has been made, but not 
without the cost I have named above. 
Bouvardias. —-As soon as any of the. Bouvardias go 
past their best, remove them into cool quarters, 
gradually withholding water, until they are induced to 
go to rest for a time, preparatory to starting later on 
to obtain the necessary stock of cuttings. Avoid 
placing them in cold pits, if possible, where they are 
extremely liable to rot. but endeavour to find some 
light airy position for them. Should the summer 
bedding stock of Pelargoniumns be stored in cold pits, 
it is necessary that it should at once be thoroughly 
gone over, and all dead and decaying foliage removed, 
or much injury will be done, and the stock greatly 
diminished. Where house room can possibly be 
afforded, it should be given in preference to pits. 
"Verbenas, which are treated in the same way, must be 
looked to, or they are liable to get very dirty. 
Fortunately, the seed now procurable produces plants 
of so reliable a quality that little need remains for 
perpetuating named varieties in private gardens. 
Roman Hyacinths are throwing up finely, and are 
most useful all round, even for button-hole work. 
When the flowers begin to open they will be found to 
last much longer if removed to a cooler temperature ; 
the perfume, too, is not so strong or objectionable as if 
kept in heat. A dozen or so pots of Neapolitan 
Violets may with advantage be placed in the house in 
which they are staged, keeping the greater part of the 
stock in reserve until the new year. Those in the 
frames afford continuous pickings, and are always 
valued indoors, particularly while the weather outside 
is so dreary. _ 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Inside Borders. —It will be as well to examine all 
inside borders of both vineries and Peach houses. Very 
frequently they are left without water for a long time 
through the autumn and winter, and much injury is 
done to next season’s crop—in the former by the points 
of the clusters not lengthening out, and in the latter 
by the loss of a considerable quantity of the bloom- 
buds as the trees are starting. Let the disbudding of 
the early Yines be carried on rather sparingly", so that 
the most promising shoots are secured. If the Yines 
are old, and carry long spurs, use every endeavour, by 
judicious disbudding and the pinching of any lateral 
likely to result in the shortening of such spurs, that is 
most conducive to the well-being of future crops. 
The Grape Roo.m.— Preparations should now be 
made in this room for the reception of the remainder 
of late Grapes, which may be cut and bottled towards 
the end of the month. We are now drawing quite a full 
supply of Rhubarb from the Mushroom house; the 
