January 2l> 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
325 
handed gardeners where no permanent help is given : 
The best twenty-four most useful plants for keeping the 
conservatory ga.y during the twelve months, with 
notes on their culture and time of flowering. Under 
gardeners : Twenty most useful herbaceous plants, 
with notes on their propagation and cultivation. The 
essays will be read and th e prizes awarded on March 27th. 
A New Bromeliad.—A new species of Chevalliera, to 
which the name of C. gigantea has been given, is 
figured and described in the Le Jardin. It was 
discovered amongst a consignment of living plants sent 
from Brazil by M. Glaziou to the Natural History 
Museum at Paris. A history of all the reputed species 
is given, in which all are excluded with the exception 
of C. sphseroeephala, C. ornata and the species under 
notice. C. Yeitchii, which is perhaps the most fre¬ 
quently cultivated one in this country, is relegated to 
the genus zEchmea. The radical leaves are ascending 
or sub-erect, and sometimes over 2 yds. in length ; the 
young inflorescence of the specimen at the Museum 
measured nearly 5 ins. in diameter; the fruiting 
inflorescence of another specimen was about 2 ft. long, 
carried on a stout* peduncle or flower stem, about 2 ft. 
in height, so that the whole, both stalk and inflorescence 
would vary from 4 ft. to 4| ft. in length. With this 
description the new comer is justly entitled to the 
specific name. The petals during the period of flower¬ 
ing are rose and blue, either delicate or dark. 
Portsmouth Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual 
dinner of this society was held on the 12th inst., at 
the “Albany” Hotel, Portsmouth, and a most enjoy¬ 
able evening was spent. The company numbered over 
forty, and the chair was occupied by Mr. F. Power, 
the hon. secretary, who was supported by the Ex-Mayor, 
Sir W. King, and many of the Town Councillors of the 
Borough, while the vice-chair was occupied by Mr. Ellis, 
an energetic member of the committee. Sir W. King, in 
proposing success to the society, dwelt upon the rapid 
progress it had made, and pointed out that by adopting 
popular prices of admission and providing a first-rate 
show, the committee were able to present a statement of 
accounts which showed a balance in hand of over 
£123, which was most creditable to all concerned. 
He was also much pleased to hear that the committee 
contemplated the extension of the exhibition to be held 
in November to three days, so that a larger number of 
people might have an opportunity of seeing the exhibits. 
Mr. Power, responding for the committee, said by 
offering special inducements to gardeners, in the shape 
of increased prizes, they hoped to make a three days 
show. It was the intention of the committee to offer 
another Challenge Vase for cut blooms of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, also good prizes for both Grapes and hardy 
fruits. Mr. Molvneux, in responding for the exhibitors, 
thought that the three days show was likely to limit 
the competition, as two days were quite long enough 
for exhibitors now that there are so many societies who 
must hold their shows within a short space of time. He 
advised them to let well alone. Mr. Drover, in 
responding for the growers, also deprecated the holding 
of a three days show, and suggested instead a supple¬ 
mentary show to be held the week before Christmas. 
The Fog.—Whilst the recent dense fog was so 
general, it would be very interesting to learn how far 
Middlesex experience compared with that of more 
rural districts. All round the western side of the 
metropolitan county the soot deposit from the fog was 
remarkable, quite blackening the surface of the earth. 
Whether nutritive to the soil or not, it is obvious that 
fog so heavily laden with such noxious particles as soot 
is must be a grave danger to human health, and it is 
not to be wondered at that whooping-cough, colds, and 
other bronchial affections have been rife. It seems 
very obvious that not only have we done nothing to 
purify the metropolitan atmosphere from smoke, but 
that the evil is being more and more intensified. Fogs 
may have been as dense on the sea as on the land ; but 
at least the foul deposit of soot, with its atrocious 
sulphureous perfume, is limited not only to the land, 
but to populous districts. Vegetation always suffers 
from fogs ; indeed, the exclusion of light for so long a 
period alone would act injuriously upon vegetable life. 
Still more so is it the case when the fog is laden with 
poisonous adjuncts. It was fortunate that heavy as 
was the depression of air which produced the fog, yet 
it was not so cold as to produce frost. A few winters 
since, with a similar visitation of fog we had a much 
lower temperature, and everything living in the open 
was covered with hoar frost. Still farther, that kind of 
fog or rime did much harm, killing plants in all direc¬ 
tions. So far, we seem to have escaped evils of that sort; 
but it is a long time yet to the end of the winter. 
Gardening Changes. —Mr. G. A. Bethell, formerly 
gardener to the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim 
Palace, Woodstock, has been engaged as gardener to 
the Baroness Adolphe de Rothschild, Chateau de 
Pregny, Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. T. Burns, who has 
for some time past been on the staff of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, and served in various departments, has 
recently been appointed gardener to Lord de Tabley, 
Tabley Park, Cheshire. 
-->$«•- 
BROUSSONET’S NARCISSUS. 
For some time past this botanically very interesting 
species, namely, Narcissus Broussonetii, has been 
flowering in a pit in the herbaceous department at Kew. 
On casual observation it bears a strong resemblance to 
the common N. papyraceus or Paper-white Narcissus, 
extensively used for forcing purposes. In stature, 
foliage, and flowers, both with regard to their colour, 
and the thin texture of the perianth, the similarity is 
complete. On closer examination the corona is seen to 
be so closely amalgamated with the tube as to be 
almost obliterated or obsolete. In this respect then it 
bears the same relation to N. papyraceus, as Eucharis 
subdentata and E. Hartwegi, frequently grown under 
the name of Caliphrurea, do to the other species of 
Eucharis. We have certainly an intermediate form in 
E. Sanderiana, in which the corona is almost obsolete. 
The Narcissus under notice is of comparatively recent 
introduction, and comes from Mogador, in Morocco 
Our illustration shows the natural habit of the plant, 
the scapes of which bear a variable number of flowers 
in umbels, after the manner of N. papyraceus, or the 
Polyanthus Narcissus (N. Tazetta). Single flowers on 
a much larger scale show the long slender tube, that 
becomes funnel-shaped just beneath the expanded limb, 
which does not at first sight resemble a Narcissus, 
owing to the almost obsolete condition of the corona. 
--»*<-- 
BRITISH CULTIVATION OP 
TOBACCO. 
A conference, presided over by Sir E. Birkbeck, was 
held on Wednesday last, at the Salisbury Hotel, 
for the purpose of forming an association for resusci¬ 
tating and encouraging Tobacco cultivation in England, 
Scotland and Ireland under profitable conditions. 
The report of a committee previously appointed, 
presented by Mr. Kains-Jackson, stated that the East 
and West India Dock Company have offered free 
storage in London for the present year where Tobacco 
can be prepared to compete for the £50 prize offered 
by the London Chamber of Commerce. The samples 
grown in Great Britain have been remarkably free 
from damage, the injury done by insects being insig¬ 
nificant ; but out of sixty-four varieties tried, opinion 
favoured only about six as being suited for home 
cultivation. The committee were of opinion that, all 
things considered, the experiments were very satis¬ 
factory and encouraging, and that Tobacco cultivation 
in England, Ireland, and Scotland might be easily 
carried out and become a profitable British industry, 
which in the course of time would probably be taken 
up by tenant farmers in suitable districts. The chair¬ 
man stated that letters on the subject had been received 
from Lord Walsingham, Lord Torrington, Mr. Mark 
Stewart, M.P., Mr. Colman, Mr. E. Beck (Prince of 
Wales’s agent), and others. One question, he said, 
would be whether the Treasury would allow the asso¬ 
ciation to issue licences for growing Tobacco in the 
United Kingdom ; another, whether a deputation 
should ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to allow 
a drawback, or whether there should be a duty of 
so much per acre. Mr. C. H. Sharman of Messrs. 
James Carter k Co., stated that the firm had received 
nearly 400 letters on the subject, and that Tobacco 
had been successfully grown in Wales and in Ireland. 
Mr. Wright (of Messrs. Sales, Pollard & Co.) said 
that English manufacturers would be glad to take the 
matter up, and that his firm had purchased Lord 
W alsingham’s Tobacco. On the motion of Mr. Hastings, 
of Devonshire, seconded by Mr. Sharman, an association 
was formed, and it was further resolved that Sir E. 
Birkbeck shall be chairman, and the foilowinggentlemen 
members of the council: Lord Walsingham, Mr. W. 
L. Wigan, Mr. Kains-Jackson, Mr. E. .1. Beale, Mr. 
Mitchell-Henry, Mr. Suttm, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Mark 
Stewart, M.P., Mr. C. H. Sharman, and Mr. Faunce 
DeLaune, with power to add to their number. It was 
also agreed to ask Lord Harris to become president. 
-->X<- 
THE CAMELLIA AS A WINTER- 
FLOWERING PLANT. * 
Camellia is the name of a genus of plants, remark¬ 
able for their evergreen foliage and Rose-like flowers, 
whence the common species—Camellia japonica—is 
sometimes called the Japan Rose. In Japan, its native 
country, it attains to the size of a large tree, and is held 
in high estimation on account of the beauty of its large, 
showy and various-coloured flowers, which, however, 
have this drawback, that they have no scent. 
It appears to have been cultivated by the Chinese 
from time immemorial, and all our earlier introductions 
were obtained from that country. The progress and 
development of this plant has not been so marked as 
that of many other introductions. As an instance of 
this we have only to refer to the old double white, Alba 
plena, which has been cultivated in England for nearly 
100 years, having been introduced in the year 1792, 
and is still, I think, one of the front rank. 
Many of our English and continental growers have, 
by careful hybridising from time to time, produced 
some really grand varieties. Still, it is remarkable 
how some of our oldest kinds hold their own as general 
favourites. 
The cultivation of this subject in England is generally 
confined to the conservatory or greenhouse. Although 
the plant itself is nearly hardy enough to stand any of 
our winters, yet it cannot be grown outside with any 
degree of success. The Camellia is naturally a spring¬ 
flowering subject, making its wood one season and 
blooming the following spring ; but it is as a winter¬ 
flowering plant that I wish to draw special attention to 
it, its accommodating nature, when well managed, 
rendering it the most valuable of all plants for the 
latter purpose. There is no doubt that it is best grown 
in pots, being much easier to manage when the roots 
are under control than when they are allowed an un¬ 
limited amount of root-room, being then very liable to 
grow too strong. The plants should be potted as soon 
as they have done flowering—the earlier in the year the 
better. 
The best soil for potting them in I consider to be 
good fibrous loam three parts, good leaf - soil one 
part, a little charcoal in pieces about the size of a nut, 
and sand to make the whole porous. The potting 
being done, the plants should be started into growth in 
a warm greenhouse temperature, and they will be 
greatly benefited by the frequent use of the syringe in 
bright weather, closing the house early to husband the 
sun-heat. Now is the time to do all the forcing this 
plant should have ; it is worse than folly to try to 
force them into flower in autumn if they are not well 
prepared for it. The result is that the plants become 
sickly, the buds drop, the cultivator is disappointed, 
and blames his plants, while the real error lies with 
himself. 
As the season advances the sun will become powerful 
and the plants will require shading, as the foliage is 
very tender when young. The lighter the shading the 
better, if it is sufficient to keep the foliage from being 
damaged. Be careful to give as much air as possible 
on all favourable occasions to ripen the wood ; as this 
becomes matured, the buds will begin to swell, and 
thinning must be attended to. If the plants are at all 
sickly, thin heavily ; but with healthy plants thin less. 
A plant will also carry many more buds if it begins to 
flower in November, than one that begins in February. 
They will now be greatly benefited by applications of 
weak liquid manure ; it is much better to give weak 
liquid doses and often, than to give it too strong ; it is 
s A paper read by James Hicks, Tlie Gardens, Ravenswood, at 
a Meeting of the Bolton Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Society, January 5th, 1SSS. 
