166 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 15, 1890. 
desired to cultivate them. Orchids which were formerly 
valued at pounds, were now to be had for shillings, and 
this seemed likely to continue. It had also been found 
that Orchids did not require the tremendous heat 
that popular fancy conceived they did, and this had 
tended to increase the popularity of these most inter¬ 
esting, varied and lovely flowers. Florists’ flowers had 
made wonderful strides of late years, and every season 
seemed to produce something more beautiful than had 
ever been seen. Horticulture was, therefore, not likely 
to fail owing to a want of subjects to charm the people. 
But were cottage gardens available to a greater degree 
than at present, that would greatly conduce to an 
extension of horticulture. He did not think allotments 
would be difficult to obtain near towns if the people 
really desired them, and he had a strong conviction 
that many would find it profitable and pleasant to 
spend some of their spare time in cultivating those 
fruits, flowers, and roots which were always so much 
more pleasant to the palate or charming to the eye 
when grown in one’s own garden. 
-—>-X<-- 
A WELSH NURSERY. 
Five years have scarcely elapsed since building opera¬ 
tions were commenced by Mr. Gilbert Davidson, Am¬ 
manford, R.S.O., South Wales, and what has been 
accomplished during that short period is full of en¬ 
couragement to this young and enterprising nursery¬ 
man, and worthy the emulation of others. One thou¬ 
sand six hundred feet of glass have been erected for 
the production of choice fruit and flowers, which com¬ 
mand a ready sale in the great manufacturing centres 
of the United Kingdom. A good local trade is also 
done in the surrounding towns, Swansea and Llanelly 
taking large quantities of the produce. 
Consequent upon the large demand for choice pro¬ 
ductions, a considerable extension of glass accommoda¬ 
tion is to take place at an early date. The leading 
specialties of the establishment are Eucharis amazonica, 
Gardenias, Pancratiums, Stephanotis, Tabermemontana, 
Richardia zEthiopica, scarlet Pelargoniums, Chrysan¬ 
themums, mostly white, suitable for wreaths and 
crosses, and Tea and other Roses in large batches to 
come into bloom in successional order, along with an 
enormous quantity of bulbs. 
Herbaceous and Alpine plants and florists’ flowers 
receive great attention, and many new borders are in 
course of formation for the reception of these deservedly 
popular plants. Carnations do exceedingly well at 
Ammanford, being absolutely free from disease, strong 
and well rooted. The now well-known Clove Carnation, 
Paul Englehart, was distributed by Mr. Davidson, and 
a most valuable acquisition it is for cutting purposes. 
Many prizes have been gained by Mr. Davidson’s 
productions at local exhibitions, and if I may prog¬ 
nosticate, many more will fall to his lot during the 
coming season. His aim is to supply genuine home¬ 
grown fruits and flowers at reasonable prices, and that 
is the secret of his success.— J. McNab. 
-->x<-- 
FLOf^ldlJLTtJfjE!. 
-- 
The National Pink Society. 
Mr. Ranger Johnson’s proposition for a united and 
truly national Pink Society is the perfection of sim¬ 
plicity and efficiency, and it will be a sad mistake if it 
be not adopted, and the growing enthusiasm be allowed 
to fritter away into small local efforts. By all means 
let us have unity. The old proverb says : “Unity is 
strength,” and as this is the day of unions, pray let us 
go hand in hand. If we can have one centre, much 
may be done to resuscitate the laced, or as it is called 
the florists’ Pink, and the chief organisation can easily 
arrange for “home rule ” in the various centres. I was 
told by some of the old growers that the laced Pink was 
lost to us, and I thought that it would be a long and 
tedious job to get together a respectable stock. On mak¬ 
ing enquiries, I soon found that there are still among us 
those of the olden times who adhere to their first love, 
and keep their old favourites too. 
However much our friend “R. D. ” may be disposed to 
question the prospect of future success, I was de¬ 
lighted to see such magnificent stands as were exhibited 
at the Royal Aquarium. True the exhibitors were few, 
but the exhibits were grand, and the impulse given was 
such as will be felt in the future. There were but few 
amateur exhibitors, but there were thousands of 
observers who, when they saw, were anxious to have ; 
and if an opportunity be' afforded in the coming 
summer, there is evidence that as the Auricula and Car¬ 
nation have revived, so may the laced Pink. When 
such enthusiasts as Mr. Johnson, Mr. S. Barlow, Mr. 
Thurstan, and others resolve to do their best, there 
need be but little fear of the result. 
The Aquarium and Manchester shows told us what 
sorts are now grown, and although some of them may 
be difficult to obtain at present, they will soon be in¬ 
creased, now that they are no longer kept in the back¬ 
ground by the vagary of fashion. Who, then, can dare 
to say what may be the position of the garden Pink in 
the near future, particularly if it be taken in hand by 
those who truly love it, and will devote themselves to 
careful hybridisation ? Next in beauty and usefulness 
to a bed of seedling Carnations is a bed of seedling 
Pinks for cut blooms. They are not only June flowers, 
but they come in successional bloom during the whole 
of the summer season, and their delightful aroma is as 
a feast for the gods. 
As it is essential to success in the culture of the 
Pink that autumn planting be adopted, let those who 
have not yet secured their stock, do so at once, as the 
Pink, like the Carnation, will not tolerate disturbance 
of its roots in mid-winter or in the spring. The Pink 
is everybody’s flower, and will succeed in almost any 
situation. In the open country the greater the ex¬ 
posure the better, but within the influence of town 
smoke it is better to have protection of some kind. 
As Mr. Johnson says, “ The number of exhibitors is but 
a poor criterion of the number of cultivators, or of the 
popularity of a flower.” Now that the Pinks are coming 
to the front again, let the lovers of them unite, and it 
will be easy to arrange for local exhibitions in company 
with the Rose in the great centres of the floral world. 
The Carnation Union, in the hands of the veteran. 
Mr. E. S. Dodwell, is an evidence of what may be 
done by perseverance, energy, and unity.— William 
Wardill. 
-- 
ARDENING ffflSCELLANY. 
-- 
Six Popular Roses. 
On July 9th, 1881, the Gardeners' Magazine published 
a synoptical schedule of Roses of the preceding fifty 
years, together with the names of their raisers and a 
few other very concise particulars. It is a long cata¬ 
logue of seven closely-printed pages, containing as 
much information as could reasonably be expected from 
such a list, and judging from my own frequent refer¬ 
ences to it, has been to many readers a source of much 
pleasure and contemplation. There is, however, a lack 
of detail; for all plants—like their owners—have a story, 
often traditional, and I fear in some cases rather shady 
and romantic. Doubtless plenty of witnesses are still 
in the flesh who can remember all about the pedigrees, 
early associations, and introduction of Rosa Devoniensis 
(1840), Cloth of Gold (1843), Niphetos (1844), General 
Jacqueminot (1853), Gloire de Dijon (1858), and 
Mareehal Niel (1864). My stock of gardening books 
unfortunately is not a large one, so it is quite likely 
that the histories of these Roses, or some of them, 
without my knowing it, have been published already, 
yet I feel sure that if there are any of your correspon¬ 
dents willing and able to give some further news in 
The Gardening World concerning these universally 
known favourites, a host of your subscribers would 
gladly welcome the same, and enjoy it as much as I 
should.— W. Mapper, Chelsea. 
Liliuxn auratum. 
A vert prolific specimen of this beautiful Lily has 
been grown in a small garden in the neighbourhood of 
Barnet, Herts, this season. The bulb -was planted in 
a border in the spring of the present year, in a mixture 
of loam and peat, with a little silver sand, then placed 
to a depth of 9 ins. It sent up a stem bearing a 
great number of narrow leaves, and as the buds began 
to form the upper half of the stem flattened, being 
fully 2 ins. across in the upper part. The Lily put 
out seventy buds, some nine or ten of which dropped 
off, and others of imperfect form were cut out ; forty- 
two fine flowers were gathered—well striped and 
spotted, averaging 9 ins. across. Fifteen good blooms 
have been left on the stems. These simple facts may 
perchance be interesting to admirers of this beautiful 
Lily.— X. 
Begonia Scharfiana. 
This quite recent introduction from the south of Brazil 
reached this country from the Continent. There seems 
to be some difficulty in flowering it, at least in some 
establishments ; but at Dover House, Roehampton, 
this difficulty is not experienced, for we noted it there 
the other day throwing up a succession of bloom. The 
open flowers were pure white, and of medium size, 
with a few reddish hairs along the middle of the back 
of the sepals, not a heavy boss of them, as occurs in B. 
Haageana, with which this plant has been confused. 
B. Scharfiana is also much dwarfer than the latter, and 
not, perhaps, exceeding 10 ins. or 12 ins. in height. 
The flowers rise clear above the leaves, which are very 
broad and obliquely orbicular, dark green above, and 
of a fine red underneath. These remain close down, 
covering the pot and overlapping one another owing to 
the shortness of the fleshy rhizomatous stems as in B. rex. 
Golden Noble Apple. 
Ripe fruits of this Apple have a fine appearance 
amongst a collection of various coloured kinds or on the 
table. "When grown in the open air the skin is of a 
clear golden yellow, but under glass it is much paler in 
hue and even more tempting in appearance, as we 
noted in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society 
at Chiswick. Out of doors the fruits were grown upon 
bushes which produced a fair crop, notwithstanding 
the general scarcity of fruit this year. The variety 
also succeeds remarkably well even in the neighbour¬ 
hood of London, grown as a standard without other 
pruning than the thinning out of useless wood. A few 
small reddish blotches may sometimes be seen on the 
sunny side but with this exception the skin is 
uniformly coloured. The variety was first brought to 
the notice of the public in 1820 by Sir Thomas Hair, 
of Stowe Hall, Norfolk, who found it in an old orchard 
at Downham. Its noble appearance make3 it notice¬ 
able in many a fruit collection at exhibitions during 
the autumn months. 
Begonia Adonis. 
A batch of plants of this hybrid has now been gay for 
some time past at Tower House, Chiswick. It was 
obtained by crossing one of the tuberous varieties with 
pollen from John Heal. Both it and the last named are 
remarkable for the production of male blooms only, so 
that while they remain true to this character, no 
seedlings can ever be obtained from them. Adonis is 
characterised by the great length and drooping habit of 
its inflorescence, which represents long arching sprays, 
from the apex of which young flowers continue to be 
given off in quick succession for a great length of 
time. The leaves are ample, roundly but obliquely 
heart-shaped, and of a rich dark green. The flowers 
are a rich rosy carmine, and of medium'size compared 
with the summer-flowering tuberous kinds, but are 
much larger than those of J ohn Heal flowering alongside. 
The ease with which both of these kinds may be 
propagated from cuttings, and their autumn and early 
winter-flowering character should secure them a place 
in every establishment where Begonias are grown. 
Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. 
Evidently much less will be heard of this peculiarly 
hairy incurved Japanese variety this year than last. 
A large number of establishments had been supplied 
with it last year and during the spring of the present 
year, but notwithstanding the large number of exhibi¬ 
tions that have already been held, Mrs. Alpheus Hardy 
has been conspicuous by its almost entire absence from 
the exhibition board. Even where prizes have been 
offered for a stand of six blooms, no competitor came 
forward. A few flowers have been grown in different 
establishments, large enough to fill a place on the board 
with advantage, but they are far between, and in other 
cases the plants have failed to flower with any degree 
of satisfaction even for decorative purposes. There are 
two reasons to account for this. Either the constitution 
of the plant is weak, or it has been rendered so by 
excessive propagation. Another year will determine 
which of these surmises is the correct cne. Growers 
will do well to use the strongest cuttings and to give 
them a long season in which to make the best growth 
of which they are capable during the coming year. 
Cinerarias Planted Out. 
This method of growing the Cineraria will find favour 
with those who are hard pressed for time during the 
summer months, as when treated in this way they 
succeed fairly well with a minimum of attention. Seeds 
should be sown in the usual way, and the plants when 
large enough should be pricked into boxes until they 
have attained five or six leaves. A shady corner, well 
sheltered from the winds, should be selected and deeply 
dug, thoroughly breaking up the soil, and mixing with 
it a quantity of leaf-soil and wood ashes. In this, the 
Cinerarias should be planted 15 ins. or 13 ins. apart, 
be given a thorough watering, and shaded for a day or 
