456 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 17, 1888. 
FLORICULTURE. 
On Potting 1 Carnations and Picotees. 
Those- who make a point of potting into the flowering 
pots early are compelled to wait a bit to perform that 
operation, unless plants and soil alike are under cover. 
March is the month when the principal part of the 
potting is generally done, but some amateurs, whose 
leisure is circumscribed, will begin in February, all 
things being favourable. 'We will suppose that all 
things are to hand in order to complete the process ; 
and then the question might be asked, what principles 
should apply to the work ? Anyone reading Mr. 
Dodwell’s book on the Carnation will not fail to notice 
how emphatic he is on the practice of firm potting. 
He states, “Firm potting gives us many advantages. 
In the first place, it saves from the great injury of 
extreme saturation by heavy rain, and its correlative 
evil, drought ; and further, as soil well firmed is not 
subject to the excessive fluctuations of heat and cold 
which follow that of a loose texture, and as experience 
and theory alike teach that successful cultivation 
depends upon the nearest realisation of an equable 
temperature, gradually increasing according to the 
necessities of the plant, and the avoidance of sudden 
changes from heat to cold, and drought to moisture, 
firm potting goes far to produce for us these conditions, 
therefore I prescribe it. If the cultivator be minded 
to make the experiment, to do which, however, I do not 
recommend him, he will find that plants firmly potted 
are shorter jointed and stouter in their growth than 
those in a loose soil, and have a much more fleshy 
root.” 
And as to soil, what is the most suitable compost ? 
The grand master of the art of growing the Carnation 
shall speak again : “For choice, take the top spit of 
an old upland pasture of an unctuous retentive character , 
three parts old manure (whether from stable or cow¬ 
house is of slight consequence), and one part leaf-soil ; 
but if the cultivator cannot command these, almost any 
moderately retentive soil, well sweetened and pulverised 
by repeated turning during dry, hot, sunny, or frosty 
weather, and enriched with a proportion of manurial 
and vegetable matter, as described, will suffice, and 
give results certain to afford gratification. To the 
inexperienced I would say, Be careful, especially in the 
application of manurial matters. Where one plant has 
perished for lack of sustenance, hundreds have been 
killed, or worse, the seeds of incurable disease engen¬ 
dered by excess of stimulants.” As a matter of course, 
these ingredients should be gathered and mixed together 
some three months or so before they are used, and if 
they can be exposed to the action of frost, will be 
benefited thereby. I may state that I placed my 
compost together in October last, it having been 
exposed all the winter to the varieties of weather we 
have experienced ; and as soon as the departure of frost 
allows potting to commence, I think it will be found in 
admirable condition for use. When used for potting, 
its mechanical condition must be appropriate—that is, 
it 1 ‘ should neither be so dry as to fall in dust, nor so 
clammy as, when potted, to form a compact ball im¬ 
pervious to the air.” Its proper state can best be 
described when it is said that it “should, when taken 
into the hand and pressed, readily cohere, showing the 
imprint of the fingers and palm ; and when pressed the 
opposite way, as readily crumble.” 
The pots should be clean and well drained. Mr. 
Dodwell recommends two inches of clean crocks, and 
these covered with some rough fibrous soil; the pot 
should be filled up to the point to take the plants, and 
when potted the soil pressed down firmly about it. 
“ A covering of clean oyster shells on the surface of 
the pots will be a great advantage, and all tall growers 
should be carefully guarded against high winds by 
small sticks placed diagonally athwart them. Then 
remove to the blooming quarters, place on strips of 
wood to prevent the ingress of worms, and give the 
best available protection until the plants are well estab¬ 
lished and danger from sharp spring frosts has passed. 
Nothing gives this better than Haythorn’s Hexagon 
Garden Net, drawn over light hoops, under which the 
pots are placed. See that each pot is upright, or water, 
when needed, cannot be equally distributed, to the 
detriment of the plants.” 
And, Mr. Dodwell adds, “ Some discretion is 
necessary in potting the different varieties, many 
requiring plenty of room, and others suffering from 
over-potting. The cultivator will be guided to a deci¬ 
sion on the point by the habit of the variety, those 
robust requiring, as a rule, plenty of room ; those less 
robust, a smaller space. Where one-sized pot only is 
used the desired result may be obtained by placing one, 
two, or three plants in each, according to their strength. 
Attend constantly and carefully to watering the plants, 
so long as left in the small pots.” 
It will be instructive to learn how the young plants 
in the pots have wintered with growers. Mine have 
been in cold frames on a north aspect all the winter, 
and they have come through the winter so far without 
apparent injury to a single one. It has been a trying 
time of late, for they have been frozen hard for several 
days together, and then a sunny day would come when 
they would thaw, only to freeze hard again at night. 
Watering has been a matter of great difficulty in con¬ 
sequence, as might reasonably be supposed. But no 
fatality has happened as yet.— R. D. 
Pansies. 
How have these fared generally in the open air ? If 
my own plants or other collections are indicative of 
effects of frost and wind, then the outlook is a very 
poor one. Plants put out in good soil early in October, 
which had rooted and made a very free growth, now 
look wretched in the extreme, and I am afraid that a 
large majority of them are killed quite back to the 
roots. A few choice white grounds—potted into small 
pots, and wintered in a cold frame by which they were 
sheltered from cutting winds—have done well, and are 
now being hardened off to go out in the open as soon 
as the weather will permit. The moral to be drawn 
from this is, that in all cases of autumn planting it is 
well to keep a reserve of plants, so as to be prepared 
for contingencies. I am afraid that many hardy plants 
have suffered greatly, especially round London. In a 
few weeks we shall be better able to estimate what has 
been the effect of the frosty winds of February.— R. B. 
-- 
NEW PLANTS CERTIFICATED 
By the Floral Committee of the R. H. S. 
March 13 th. 
Utricularia rhyterophtlla. 
The leaves of this new species are strap-shaped as the 
specific name implies, tapered into the petiole, leathery, 
and light green. The character of the plant is similar to 
that of U. Endressi, U. montana and similar species of 
an epiphytal or semi-terrestrial habit; it is well suited 
for growing in baskets and for associating with Orchids. 
The naked flower stems rise to a height of 15 ins. or 
18 ins., and bear a raceme of flowers towards the apex. 
The latter are violet with the exception of a large 
orange blotch on the palate. The lower lip is by far 
the largest part of the flower and very conspicuous as 
well as showy. Exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P. (Mr. Bickerstaff, gardener). 
Saxifraga Frederick Atjgusti. 
In this we have an Alpine Saxifrage, of which we 
cannot possess too much, either for growing in pots or 
for planting out in the rock garden. It is one of those 
species that are truly tufted and compact in habit. 
The individual rosettes are small, with awl-shaped 
pointed leaves, often exhibiting one or more white, 
lime-encrusted, glandular pores at the margins or apex, 
frequently giving character to the larger rosulate 
species. The scapes are rather closely covered with 
bracts, and rise to the height of 2| ins. or 3 ins., 
bearing at the apex a truss or cyme of good-sized, 
conspicuous, primrose-yellow flowers. Exhibited by 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. 
Violet, The Bride. 
A basket of plants of this new Violet was staged, 
showing the habit of the plant to be very dwarf, com¬ 
pact and floriferous. The heart-shaped leaves are 
moderate in size, deep green, with short petioles, so 
that the soil or surface of the pot in which it is 
growing is completely covered. From above this the 
flowers arise, forming a compact mass of pure white, 
with the exception of the spur, which is purple or 
violet-purple, and rather adds to the charm of the 
flowers, which are deliciously fragrant. Exhibited by 
Messrs. James Veitch & Son, Chelsea. 
-- 
CULTURE OF ANTHURIUMS. 
These desirable stove subjects are universally admired, 
wherever and whenever met with, either on account of 
their brilliantly coloured spathes, or the beautifully 
marked foliage. Utilised for conservatory decoration, 
or arranged with other stove occupants, they always 
present a noble and conspicuous appearance. For 
exhibition purposes they are of immense value, and 
never fail to gratify the visitors, when a good plant is 
on view. The compost that suits them admirably is 
lumpy peat, loam, and a proportion of charcoaL 
VTien mixing, be sure to reject all the fine soil; as they 
are moisture-loving plants, it will soon become 
soddened and sour, which is detrimental to the well¬ 
being of the plant. The pots should be well crocked, 
so that the water will run out as quickly as possible, 
and proceed with the potting in such a manner that, 
when it is finished, the plant will be above the rim of 
the pot, to the height of 2 ins. to 3 ins. 
These Aroids require a warm temperature, but 
moderate stove heat will suit them well. Plenty of 
water must be administered during the spring and 
summer months, also syringe them thoroughly and 
often. Shading from the hot rays of the sun is also 
necessary. An increase can be effected by seeds, which 
require constant care and attention, or by dividing the 
plants. The early part of the year is the best time for 
the latter mode of increase, and while doing so handle 
them carefully, so that the roots are not in any way 
bruised. 
The following are a few of the species and varieties 
most frequently met with A. Scherzerianum, spathes 
of a brilliant scarlet colour ; there are several varieties 
of this type, such as A. S. maximum, a magnificent 
form, the spathes measuring 9 ins. in length, and 
4 ins. in breadth, very rare ; A. S. album (William si), 
white ; and A. S. pygmaeum, a free-flowering variety, 
much smaller than the type. A. Andreanum is a beau¬ 
tiful species, its orange-red spathes and yellowish 
spadix contrasting well together ; the surface is 
irregular, and the spathes measure 6 ins. to 9 ins. in 
length, and 3 ins. to 4 ins. across. A. crystallinum : 
the leaves are the chief characteristic of this species, 
being bright green, traversed with veins of pure white. 
A. splendidum is a most distinct species, and its hand¬ 
some foliage is always admired. A. Veitchii : this is 
without doubt one of the finest in cultivation ; the 
leaves attain a length of 4 ft. to 5 ft., and are green 
with a metallic surface, the nerves being arched and 
sunk, giving the plants a curiously waved appearance; 
a fine subject for exhibition.— F. E. S. 
-->-K-- 
GLOXINIAS. 
These may be sown at any time from January to May, 
according to the requirements of the cultivator and the 
convenience at command for raising seedlings in the 
earlier and colder months of the year. If they are 
wanted to flower the first season and be of a good 
appreciable size, they must be sown early and put in a 
propagating pit or Melon frame to germinate. Different 
cultivators use various composts, and succeed more or 
less satisfactorily, according to their experience. Some 
use two parts of loam to one each of leaf-soil and sand; 
while others use rough leaf-soil and lumpy peat in 
equal proportions with a quantity of charcoal and sand. 
The top \ in. on which the seeds are to be sown should 
be finely sifted, otherwise the soil should be as lumpy 
and porous as possible. With the exception of very 
fine varieties that may be propagated from leaf or stem 
cuttings we recommend the practice of seed sowing 
from fine strains, as it is productive of an immense 
amount of variety. 
One of the leading distinctions to be observed among 
the fine strains of garden Gloxinias (which would more 
correctly be termed Sinningias, as they have mostly 
been raised from S. speciosa) is the division into 
those that have horizontal or drooping flowers, which 
is the original wild type ; and into those having 
erect flowers. The latter kind is considered the 
more ornamental, according to the view of the florist, 
as his aim is to make the flowers as round and as 
regular as possible. Then we have self-coloured flowers, 
and those in which the different tints and shades or 
well-defined colours are confined to concentric zones. 
Then we have another well-marked group in which the 
darker shades of colour are broken up into fine spots or 
lines, giving rise to the application of the term spotted 
strain or spotted flowers, which are universally acknow¬ 
ledged to be very beautiful. The latter are still capable 
of further improvement, as the flowers, although of the 
largest size, are flimsy in substance and without 
durability, especially when removed from the warm 
temperature in which they have been growing or when 
cut. The self-coloured flowers and others are frequently 
perceptibly or even conspicuously smaller, but of greater 
substance and durability. Our illustration shows the 
popular erect-flowered type, the drooping type being 
not now held in great estimation. 
