602 
THE GABDENING WOBLD 
May 19, 1888. 
The Amateurs’ Garden, 
Mulching Eoses. 
Kemembering the severe drought -which curtailed the 
flowering period of this grand girden subject last year, 
it will be well to be fortified against it as much as 
possible. We cannot evade the aridity of the atmo¬ 
sphere during a time of drought, but with the prospect 
of another dry season in view, cultivators of Eoses, 
whether for exhibition or ordinary decorative purposes, 
should have recourse to mulching with good stable 
manure. The soil should first be loosened up, if that 
has not already been done, and the manure laid on to 
a tolerable depth, so that not only will the soil thus 
prepared readily absorb water, but also retain it. Some 
may object to the use of manure in this way near the 
dwelling-house as being unsightly. To obviate this 
a thin layer of soil may be removed, and replaced after 
the manure has been put on. Mulching might be done 
with old tan or coco-nut fibre, but no manurial value 
would be derived from such materials. 
Solanums. 
Amateurs no doubt envy the close compact bushes 
of Solanum capsicastrum, which they see in autumn 
glowing with red or scarlet berries, without knowing 
that they can grow these plants for themselves. In 
commencing, use old plants, which may now be closely 
cut down, or rather hard pruned back, and if retained 
in a close pit or greenhouse to induce fresh buds to push, 
they will do all the better when planted out afterwards 
in the open. As soon as the pruned plants have pushed 
their buds, plant them out in lines in the open garden. 
Here they will make their new growth, flower and 
develop their fruit. In autumn, when they can no 
longer be retained in the open ground with safety, pot 
them up, and the berries will gradually ripen and 
colour. Berries are more profusely produced under 
this method of treatment than when grown under glass 
all the year round. 
Chrysanthemums. 
These are now growing freely, and with the prevalence 
of sunshine, and especially of windy or dry weather, it 
will be necessary to pay particular attention to those 
grown in pots lest they get ruined in the initial stages 
of their growth. As the pots become filled with 
roots shift them on, and as soon as they have taken to 
the new soil see that they do not suffer for want of 
water. They should be thoroughly hardened off by 
the complete removal of the sashes of the frames in 
which they may be located at present. This will 
prepare them for placing out on a bed of ashes or on 
a gravel path fully exposed to the sun in a place 
tolerably well sheltered from fierce winds. 
Calceolarias. 
Those grown in pots are rapidly advancing into flower, 
and require close attention in the matter of watering 
and light. On no account allow them to get crowded, 
as the leaves are easily spoiled by want of light. 
Ventilate the house freely, and keep a close eye upon 
them, lest green-fly get a footing. On the first appear¬ 
ance of the pest fumigate lightly with Tobacco-paper, 
and repeat the process on the following night if the fly 
has not been completely destroyed. Specimens that are 
wanted of large size should receive a shift, and have the 
stems neatly tied out to stakes. Bedding Calceolarias 
may be potted up and grown as specimens for the 
decoration of the conservatory if they are liked, and 
will certainly repay the trouble by the amount of bloom 
they furnish. The beds in the open air may also be 
planted where Calceolarias are wanted. They with¬ 
stand a considerable amount of cold. 
Phloxes. 
There are few admirers of hardy plants who do not 
enjoy the endless warm and bright tints of the garden 
varieties of Phlox paniculata and P. decussata. They 
have been so hybridised and improved in gardens that 
there is practically no limit to the number of varieties ; 
and although they are not so popular at present as they 
have been, they deserve extensive cultivation, both for 
their intrinsic beauty and the quantity of cut flowers 
they furnish from the open ground. Unless carefully 
watered, it is now rather late to divide and transplant 
old pieces if the best results are expected ; but cuttings 
may now be put into boxes or pans in a cool house, 
where they may be slightly shaded from strong sun¬ 
shine till they make roots. These may be grown on 
and planted out early in the autumn, while the ground 
is still sufficiently warm to enable them to become 
established before winter. Grand panicles of bloom 
may be expected from them next summer. 
Antirrhinums and Pentstemons. 
Antirrhinums that have been wintered in a cold frame, 
whether autumn-struck cuttings or seedlings that have 
not yet been flowered, should be planted out in beds or 
borders where they are intended to bloom. Those who 
have not yet got a collection of these beautiful and 
varied garden flowers should get a packet of seed and 
sow at once in a box in a frame or greenhouse. They 
will come on rapidly, and after being planted out, will 
give a considerable amount of bloom before autumn. 
The very best of these should be selected when in 
flower, and be propagated by cuttings for preservation. 
A pinch of a good strain of seed will give many fine 
varieties, which alone should be saved and grown. 
Beds of these selected Antirrhinums are exceedingly 
beautiful. 
Pentstemons require almost similar treatment, with 
the exception that a good strain of them should be got 
to commence with, and a fresh stock propagated 
annually from the old plants about August. Some 
growers even propagate them much later in the season 
than this, but finer plants are obtained by having 
them well rooted before winter. They are less hardy 
than Phloxes or even Antirrhinums, but may safely be 
wintered in a cold frame. Plant out the stock now in 
rich soil in well-prepared beds. They furnish a great 
quantity of cut flowers, and render the garden ex¬ 
tremely gay. 
Potatos. 
As the earliest planted kinds come up the amateur 
should endeavour to keep the ground between the 
rows well stirred up, which not only keeps down 
weeds but assists the plants themselves marvellously. 
If the ground has been planted for some time it gets 
into a hard or baked condition on the surface ; this 
both prevents the easy growth of the stems and the 
free access of air, which not only raises the tempera¬ 
ture of the soil but is necessary for growth itself. 
If there be any likelihood of injury from frost, they 
should be earthed up at once. 
Onions, Carrots, &c. 
The early sowings of these are now well up, and 
where such is the case, lose no time in running the 
Dutch hoe between the rows. When this is done 
early it saves a great amount of labour in weeding 
afterwards, as the ground is liable to get matted with 
weeds, especially where the latter have been allowed to 
seed in autumn, or vegetable refuse is used as a manure. 
The same statement applies to early weeding the lines 
by hand and the thinning of the crops themselves 
where they have been too thickly sown. They need 
not yet be thinned out to the regulation distance, as 
that operation may be performed when it can be seen 
which are going to be the most vigorous and healthy. 
This applies to Onions, Carrots, Beet, Parsnip, Turnips, 
and similar garden crops. The surface soil, if kept in 
a loose condition, encourages growth, and prevents 
undue evaporation. - 
Two Good Primulas. 
Primula obconica .—A very fine free-flowering species 
from central China, and being of recent introduction 
only, it has not yet obtained among amateurs that 
distinction which its delicately sweet-scented flowers 
and robust compact habit entitles it to deserve. An 
evergreen plant withal, so easy to manage, and so 
useful for decorative purposes, that when its merits in 
this respect become more widely known, it cannot fail 
to be much appreciated. The colour of the flowers is 
almost pure white, save and except a faint suffusion of 
pale lilac, which rather adds to than detracts from the 
beauty of the subject. The blooms are produced in 
umbels, Polyanthus-like, and so continuously and freely 
that the plant is hardly ever out of flower. It can be 
propagated by division or by seed, and so desirous is 
it to display its floral proclivities at the earliest 
opportunity, that the tiniest of plants push up their 
flowering heads soon after the germs have become 
independent individuals. A plant I obtained last 
season was deeply divided, and at present they occupy 
4^-in. pots ; these are well filled with foliage, and 
produce fifteen and sixteen trusses of bloom respectively. 
Given an ordinary amount of attention they become not 
only very ornamental, but very useful members of that 
interesting structure, the hardy plant house. 
Primula cortusoides Sieboldi .—Although reference 
was recently made, by description and illustration, to 
this charming species of the Primrose order, yet I 
cannot refrain from again commenting upon the 
exceeding beauty of its bright rosy purple flowers, and 
its adaptability for cool-greenhouse or conservatory 
decoration. Being the fortunate possessor of two 6 in. 
pots brimful of soft delicate green foliage, which in 
itself is harmonious, but when to this is added sixteen 
and nineteen magnificent scapes of bloom respectively, 
each umbel on an average containing nine flowers, and 
these again measuring 1| ins. in diameter, the result is 
not only pleasing to the eye, but highly gratifying to 
the taste. I attribute this floriferousness and vigour 
generally to the annual top-dressings which are duly 
administered in season, and to the fact that these roots 
have not been disturbed for the last four years. Are 
not these, Mr. Editor, fine specimens ? [Very good.— 
Ed.] I have not, in my limited peregrinations, come 
across anything so remarkable, although I have seen 
many forms of this perfectly hardy herbaceous plant in 
less beautiful condition.— C. B. G ., Acton, TP. 
-->Z<-- 
NEW PLANTS CERTIFICATED 
By the Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, 
May 1 6 th. 
Delia purpurata Archduchess. 
This variety differs from the type in its larger size 
and fine colours. The sepals and petals are suffused 
with a lively blush or pink colour, reticulated with 
darker veins. The terminal lobe or lamina of the 
labellum is of an intense dark purple, with a pale tip. 
Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by Mr. James Cypher, 
Cheltenham. 
Lxlia purpurata nobilius. 
The sepals and petals in this case are white or almost 
so, showing off the richer colours of the labellum. The 
flowers are rather larger than those of the variety 
mentioned above, particularly in the case of the 
labellum; but the latter organ is rather paler in 
colour than that of its congener. Botanical Certificate. 
Exhibited by Mr. Cypher. 
Axthurium Scherzerianum sanguineum. 
The enormous spathes of this plant are rather of a 
bright scarlet than a blood-red colour, and very con¬ 
spicuous. In shape, they may be described as broadly 
oblong, elliptic, blunt, and closely reflexed. The long 
snake-like scarlet spadix is spirally coiled or twisted. 
It is said to be a cross between A. S. Wardii and A. S. 
Hendersoni. The leaves resemble those of the former, 
and are good. Botanical Certificate. Exhibited by 
Mr. Henry James, Castle Hill Nursery, Norwood. 
Myosotis undulata grandiflora. 
The ordinary or typical form of the plant exhibited 
under the above name is a well-known spring-flowering 
plant, namely, M. dissitiflora, and that exhibited 
should have been named M. d. grandiflora, which 
differs only in the greater size of the flowers. They are 
of a fine sky-blue when fully expanded, and freely 
produced on semi-procumbent and partly rooting stems. 
Floricultural Certificate. Exhibited by Mr. J. Tirgo, 
"VValton-in-Gordano, Clevedon, Somerset. 
Caladiums. 
Charlemagne. —The leaves of this new variety are of 
large size and wholly of a pale red colour, with the 
midrib and principal lateral veins of a deep red. Green 
is almost indiscernible in any part of the leaf. 
Comte de Germiny. —The foliage in this case is 
much less ample than in the case of Charlemagne, and 
of a pale bronzy red, splashed all over with pink and 
white irregular sized and shaped blotches. Flori¬ 
cultural Certificates. Both exhibited by Messrs. Laing 
& Sons, Forest Hill. 
Olivias. 
Orange Perfection. —The segments of the flowers 
are broad and overlapping, of a deep orange colour, 
giving place to an almost uniform yellow in the throat. 
The trusses are large and massive, and borne well above 
the foliage. 
Sulphureum. —The colour of the flowers of this 
variety is not exactly sulphur, but rather of a pale 
orange yellow, with a pale yellow throat, of a different 
shade from that of the upper half of the segments. 
Floricultural Certificates. Both exhibited by Messrs. 
John Laing & Sons. 
Gloxinia, Madame Bleu. 
The flowers of this variety belong to the erect-flowered 
type, and are of good size and substance. They are very 
conspicuous and attractive on account of the clearly 
defined deep reddish purple colour of the corolla, 
margined with white. The throat is closely and 
densely spotted with purple, and the foliage has silvery 
midribs. Floricultural Certificate. Exhibited by 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons. 
Azaleas. 
Ami du Cceuk. — The flowers of this new Indian 
Azalea are of great size, double, and of a soft rosy red, 
slightly spotted at the base of the segments. All the 
