472 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 24, 1888. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Friends in Council. 
Apropos of the retrospect of the yellow-ground. 
Carnation, which was honoured by a simultaneous 
publication in the Gardeners' Magazine and The Gar¬ 
dening World, the editor of this journal was pleased 
to inform me it was his wish that his columns under 
this head should be used as a medium for a full and 
free interchange of opinion amongst florists—as I in¬ 
terpret the phrase, lovers, admirers, and observers of 
nature in all her diversities of ways, manner, and form 
—whatever may be their bent, and I hold this statement 
to be so important that I have sought and obtained 
permission thus to make it public. 
I hope I shall not be misunderstood in this matter. 
I have been favoured during a long florieultural life— 
now come to the inevitable sere and yellow leaf—with 
many marks of the confidence of my fellow florists ; but 
in no sense do I assume to speak save as one of a large 
and, as I presume to believe, a worthy fraternity. 
Yet, as one of that fraternity, I have long felt how 
much was wanting in its latter-day relations with the 
horticultural press. I have little inclination to go 
back upon the reasons for such a lack of harmony, but 
that it existed is sufficiently demonstrated by the fact 
that a journal arrogating to itself a place of first im¬ 
portance in garden literature declared, coincident with 
the founding of the Southern Section of the National 
Auricula and National Carnation and Picotee Societies, 
that “ florists’ flowers were hopelessly at a discount in 
the south,” and resolutely set itself against publishing 
any information to the contrary. That it yet exists is 
shown from the fact that as recently as last autumn, in 
the columns of another journal of equal pretensions, 
florists were charged with giving no attention to self 
Carnations, with being servile upholders of dogmas 
inconsistent with reason, and admirers of so-called 
models opposed alike to the beauty and freedom of 
nature. 
The whole of the subject, indeed, was treated 
with such confusion of idea and fact alike on the 
part of our critics that one would have thought 
that the mere repute of the paper as a gardening 
organ was involved in the correction of such 
blunderings. Yet here again the florist was denied 
reply. I adduce these instances only to show that 
florists have ground for dissatisfaction, and that the 
remedy is now in their hands. From week to week 
they may meet in council in the columns of a paper 
accessible to the humblest member of the community, 
and, within the limits of good fellowship and the 
charity that thinketh no evil, discuss or detail every 
matter in which they take interest, whether of theory 
or practice, of fact or opinion. 
For myself, though, like Verges, had I the power, I 
might “find it in my heart to bestow my whole 
tediousness ” upon my fellows ; yet, tied and bound by 
grievous infirmity, my part must of necessity be small. 
I will hope, however, occasionally to be found at the 
board, and most earnestly trust always to find it well 
manned by my younger brothers.— E. S. Dodwell. 
Auriculas. 
Happy are those growers who have their plants in a 
house where they can apply fire-heat during cold and 
frosty, as well as damp weather. I observe that Mr. 
James Douglas, in writing to a contemporary, gives a 
list of Auriculas he has now in bloom, and remarks 
that the temperature of the house is not allowed to fall 
below a certain point. Those who grow Auriculas 
in cold houses and cold frames, unassisted by anything 
in the way of artificial heat, have to observe their 
plants actually standing still during the prevalence of 
these bitterly cold north-easterly winds, and to have to 
mourn that during the night—if not by day as well— 
the soil in the pots is frozen. It seems to me im¬ 
possible that I can have a single Auricula in flower by 
the time fixed for the Auricula show in April ; and the 
present bitterly cold and late spring gives a strong 
point to Mrs. Gaskoin’s contention, that plants grown 
in heat should not compete with those that are 
not. The fact of the matter is that all the leading 
prizes at the National Auricula Show held in London 
are at the mercy of a few men who actually make 
greenhouse plants of their hardy Auriculas ; and this 
fact places at a great disadvantage those growers who 
grow entirely under cold treatment. 
I have not attempted to enter my house for a few 
days past. It is not safe to water while the temperature 
at night is so low, and to open the door means the 
letting in of a rush of cold air. I have recently gone 
through the pdants, cleaning them of any decaying 
foliage, stirred the surface, and top-dressed such as 
required it, and washed the pots where necessary. 
During the few mild days in the early part of March 
the plants appeared to come away from their winter 
repose with a rush, but now a tremendous check has 
come, and, as I have already stated, they are at a stand¬ 
still. 
Gold-laced Polyanthuses are nearly frizzled up, the 
atmosphere is so drying, while frost has them in its grip. 
Old florists used to dwell upon the benefits derived by 
the plants from warm showers falling upon them. 
If only these icy winds would give place to warm 
and congenial showers, how welcome they would be ! 
At present it looks as if cold snow instead of warm rain 
would visit us, and these have a very retarding effect 
upon vegetation. — It. D. , March 20th. 
Carnations and Ficotees. 
A quotation by “ R. D.,” given at p. 456 of your last 
issue, from my little book is so marred by an error of 
punctuation and transposition that I hope you will 
permit me to correct it. Referring to suitable compost, 
I am made to say, “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.” 
The quotation should read “take the top spit of an 
old upland pasture of an unctuous retentive character 
three parts, old manure (whether, &c.) and leaf-soil 
one part,” that is, three parts of loam to one part of a 
mixture of old manure and leaf-soil—a distinction of 
great importance.— E. S. Dodwell. 
-- 
NEW PLANTS CERTIFICATED 
By the Royal Botanic Society. — March 21st. 
Fritillaria Thomsoniana. 
The linear grassy leaves of this plant are crowded at 
the base of the stem, which rises to the height of 
12 ins. or 18 ins., bearing towards the top a raceme of 
pale rosy flowers, varying from fifteen to twenty in 
number. The individual blooms are drooping, and 
something between campanulate and funnel-shaped. 
The plant is also known as Lilium Thomsonianum and 
L. roseum, the latter of which is now the accepted 
name. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Trillium discolor atratum. 
This is merely a variety in which the flowers are darker 
than the type, being of a dark brownish purple. The 
inner face of the three inner segments are brighter 
in colour, the latter also being the broader ones and 
erect, while the outer segments are more spreading. 
The leaves come close up to the base of the flower, and 
are irregularly blotched with greyish green on a bronzy 
green ground. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
DENDROBIUM NOBILE COOKSONI. 
The petals of the form here exhibited are less expanded 
than some that have been shown. For description, see 
p. 393. It was a well-grown specimen, however, with 
nine flowering stems. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited 
by Mr. Perkins, gardener to the Right Hon. W. H. 
Smith, Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames. 
Saxifraga Frederici Augusti. 
For description of this hardy Alpine, see report of 
R. H. S. Committee, p. 456. Botanical Certificate. 
Exhibited by Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. 
Rose, Lady Alice. 
The flowers of this new hybrid perpetual Rose form 
compact conical buds in the young state of a lively 
blush colour. As they become older and more ex¬ 
panded the outer petals become revolute, or rolled 
backwards all along their margins. In this state they 
are less compact and paler. It flowers very freely, and 
the foliage, which is dark glossy green, is very neat. 
Florieultural Certificate. Exhibited by Messrs. Paul 
& Son, Cheshunt. 
Cinerarias. 
Maria. —As a white variety, perhaps no finer has been 
seen. The flower heads are large, although not so 
conspicuously so as darker coloured forms. Owing to 
the breadth and regularly overlapping character of the 
rays, the heads have a fine appearance. The dark 
violet florets of the disc constitute a fine contrast to 
the pure white ray. 
Favourite.— The bi-coloured forms have an attrac¬ 
tion for many, and in this we certainly have a strain 
of great merit. The broader and outer zone is deep 
reddish purple and well defined at its junction with 
the white band round the central dark violet disk. 
Irene. —The specimen exhibited possessed a dwarf 
habit, and broad well-formed foliage, by no means 
coarse. The flower head might be described as self- 
coloured, having great breadth, with rich dark purplish 
violet rays, merging into carmine at the very base, with 
a narrow, white, but inconspicuous zone surrounding 
the dark violet disk. Florieultural Certificates. All 
exhibited by Mr. James, "Voodside, Famham Royal, 
Slough. 
-►>=£<-- 
GALANTHUS ELWESII. 
The species of Snowdrop at present known are confined 
to Galanthus nivalis (the common one), G. plicatus, 
and Elwes’ Snowdrop under notice. The latter is the 
finest of the genus, looked at from various points of 
yiew. The size, peculiar markings, and general con¬ 
formation of the flowers may be seen by reference to our 
illustration. The specimens from which the illustration 
was prepared were sent us by Mr. J. T. Poe, Riverston, 
Nenagh, Ireland, the climate of which place is par¬ 
ticularly suitable for bulbs of a great many kinds. 
The whole flower, when newly expanded, is ellipsoid 
in outline, while forms with a short globose flower may 
occasionally be found. 
When the flower is fully expanded, the three outer 
segments become spreading, exposing the inner three, 
which are much shorter, nearly erect, beautifully lined 
with green internally, while externally they are fur¬ 
nished at the base and apex with an intense dark green 
blotch, which, contrasting with the pure white of the 
rest of the flower, gives it a charming appearance. The 
broad glaucous green leaves are also very fine. The 
inferior ovary at the flowering stage is oblong or 
somewhat top-shaped ; but a flower at the lower right 
hand corner of the illustration exhibits a globose 
ovary, and it was of the same age as the others when 
drawn. 
The short inner segments of the flower of the Snow¬ 
drop constitute the chief difference between it and the 
Snowflake (Leucoium). G. Elwesii is a native of Asia 
Minor, and is quite hardy in this country. It is a 
recent introduction compared to the other two species, 
having been imported in 1875. 
-- 
ON FORCING LILAC. 
In private establishments the gardener has greater 
resources at his command, and more liberty to act in 
that respect than the nurseryman who has to please 
and attract the fancy of the British public. This idea 
suggested itself the other day when inspecting the 
Lilacs that are largely forced during the winter and 
spring months by Mr. Drost, Rew Nursery, Richmond. 
Several of the lighter-coloured varieties of Syringa 
vulgaris are most esteemed by the public at large, 
though why this should be so is difficult to say. 
These varieties are the white, the pink, and the common 
one. The latter when forced is considerably paler than 
when flowered naturally in the open air, so that on the 
whole the pale varieties are the most popular, to the 
exclusion of S. v. ecerulea, S. v. grandiflora, S. v. 
violacea, S. v. purpurea, and many others. It must 
not be forgotten, however, that one of the best Lilacs 
for forcing is Charles X., with deep purplish lilac 
flowers, which turn out white when forced. 
One particularly noticeable feature in the exclusion 
of the Persian Lilac from the list of kinds for forcing 
is the greater amount of space or at least head-room 
that is required for the stems of S. vulgaris, and here 
we must contrast the two species for conservatory pur¬ 
poses. Owing to the larger growths made by S. vulgaris 
and the relative size naturally attained by the plant, it 
must be allowed to develope to a considerable size before 
flowering. The stems of those coming under our notice 
would range from 4 ft. to 6 ft., and as no useless wood 
is required in plants grown to force for cut flowers, all 
the smaller shoots are pruned away, so that S. vulgaris, 
at least when grown and treated in this way, would be 
useless for conservatory purposes unless the naked 
stems could be hidden by other plants. S. persica, on 
the other hand, naturally forms dwarf and bushy plants, 
which may be grown as bushes or small standards, 
confined to a single stem with a branching twiggy 
head. 
The system pursued by Mr. K. Drost at Richmond, 
when the plants have been grown there, is to plunge 
them in pots at least a season before lifting them for 
forcing purposes. At present those in the forcing 
houses are stood on the floor, while considerable 
