184 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 22, 1880. 
FROfjidifhW^sl 
The Auricula in Winter. 
I have seen it stated on several occasions that Auriculas 
should be allowed to go quite dry during the winter. 
Now all depends upon the degree of dryness present in 
the mind of the writer. I am decidedly opposed to 
allowing the plants to go dust-dry about the roots, for 
the inevitable result is exhaustion of the plant, and 
this exhaustion tells severely upon the plants afterwards, 
its evil results being shown in a poor and unsatisfactory 
head of bloom. I have tried the dust-dry process, and 
had to pay the penalty for following such advice. My 
plants have dried freely up to within the past fortnight, 
and I have watered freely in consequence; doing it 
as early in the day as possible, so that the shelves 
of the stage might dry thoroughly before evening 
set in. 
Since the 1st of November the weather has been 
wet, dull, and foggy, and there being plenty of 
moisture in the atmosphere, very little water 
indeed is required, and it is therefore administered 
very carefully. A free circulation of air through the 
house is maintained, which is also most desirable. I 
have recently gone over the plants, removing all decayed 
leaves, and cleaning away any growth of green on the 
surface, gently stirring the soil at the same time. I am 
greatly in favour of keeping the dead leaves removed, 
because they hold so much moisture in dull weather, 
and it is conducive to rot. 
It is curious to notice how slowly the foliage decays 
this season as the plants fall away to their winter’s rest. 
It is, no doubt, owing to the soft, moist, mild weather 
that prevails. This being so, I strongly advise all 
growers of Auriculas in pots, and especially those who 
have them in a house, to give them ai. the air possible. 
There is a softness about the foliage winch is likely to 
be affected by damp, and a current of air will assist in 
keeping the foliage dry. It may be said I am only 
reasserting what has been stated by others, but the 
incidence of seasons changes sometimes, and in past 
seasons I have had my plants almost entirely denuded 
of leaves by the third week in November, whereas 
now they are, as already stated, clothed with foliage, 
as if reluctant to put it off at the approach of winter. 
— R. D. 
New Chrysanthemums. 
Aida. —The heads of this new Japanese variety are 
large pale yellow, and tinted with a bronzy orange ; 
sometimes, however, they are of a soft yellow, and but 
slightly tinted with bronze. The tip of the florets is 
slightly concave, after the style of Criterion, with which 
the bloom entirely agrees in form. Me. A. H. Neve. 
—The blooms from the crown buds, at least of this 
Japanese form, are of good average size, and of a pale 
blush hue or fading to a silvery white. The florets are 
of spreading habit, or the outer ones aTe drooping, 
revolute at the sides, and more or less twisted and 
slightly interlacing as they get old. Both were shown 
at the exhibition of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society on the 11th inst. by Mr. Robert Owen, Castle 
Hill, Maidenhead.. The second variety given above 
was also shown by C. E. Shea, Esq., The Elms, Foots 
Cray, Kent ; and in each case a First Class Certificate 
was awarded. Camille Flammaeiox. —This is an 
incurved variety of continental origin, and in size and 
form comparable to the Prince of IVales and others of 
that type. The florets are broad and rose coloured, 
with a silvery pink reverse. The variety was also 
shown by Mr. R. Owen, and was awarded a First Class 
Certificate. 
-- 
A COLLECTION OP BRUSSELS 
SPROUTS. 
A dozen varieties of Brussels Sprouts may now be seen 
in perfection at the Chiswick trial grounds of Messrs. J. 
Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea. All being grown on the same 
square of ground, and under the same conditions, they 
afford an opportunity of making notes and comparisons. 
It is well known that Brussels Sprouts vary considerably 
in different soils and under different treatment from year 
to year, although the chief characteristics of each variety 
remain more or less evident. In mild wet seasons the 
sprouts are more or less inclined to form open rosettes, 
and in rich soil whole plantations become ruined in this 
way. Amongst the whole twelve varieties we noted the 
other day, one or two only presented this condition, the 
bulk of the sprouts being firm and fit for use. In fact 
the earliest have been in use for some time past, while 
the smallest and latest are about the size of a cherry or 
gooseberry. 
In our opinion the finest crop of sprouts now in use 
was the old Scrymger’s Giant, the stems of which 
varied from IS ins. to 30 ins. in height, and were 
vigorous, bearing dark green leaves in the customary 
terminal open rosette. The sprouts were large, firm, and 
closely set along the stem from the ground to the 
leaves. A selected stock of this variety was consider¬ 
ably dwarfer than the type, while the sprouts were 
equally good. The Aigburth variety is another fine 
sort about 30 ins. high, with a heavy crop of sprouts, 
but many were inclined to open. Ne Plus Ultra is 
much less vigorous, the stems ranging from 18 ins. to 
20 ins. in height, with moderate-sized leaves ; but the 
sprouts were very numerous and firm, varying from a 
small to a good average size. Somewhat similar in 
habit is Merritt’s Brussels Sprouts, with stems about 
18 ins. high, bearing numerous closely set sprouts of 
medium size. Another variety of moderate vigour is 
Paragon, the stems of which range from 18 ins. to 
24 ins. in height. The leaves are of a light glaucous 
green, and considering the moderate growth of the 
variety the sprouts are not only of large size, but 
closely set upon the stems. 
At the Vegetable Conference held at Chiswick last 
year the sort named Paris Market secured an Award of 
Merit. This was on the 24th of September. At present 
very vigorous variety about 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and 
named Half Dwarf Paris Market is well furnished with 
good sized sprouts. Yeitch’s Exhibition is also a very 
vigorous soit, about 30 ins. high, with plenty of 
medium and large sized sprouts on different plants, but 
they are not very closely arranged. The variety is 
considered an early one, and has large, much wrinkled 
and deeply glaucous leaves. On poorer soil it would 
grow less vigorously, and the sprouts would then, no 
doubt, be much more closely arranged. The plants of 
the sort named Finlay’s presented a very regular and 
even appearance, standing in the rows at 2 ft. high. 
The sprouts are very numerous, varying from medium 
to large size, but sometimes inclined to open. The 
strain is evidently true to character, and pretty well 
fixed, judging from the uniform height of the plants. 
Northaw Prize is a dwarfer sort, about 20 ins. high, 
pretty regular, and very well set with average sized 
sprouts. 
One of the more recent introductions is President 
Carnot, a moderately strong-growing sort about 26 ins. 
high, bearing a large quantity of sprouts, which seem, 
however, rather variable here. They are generally of 
good size, but often inclined to open, a fault probably 
of the rich loamy soil here, which is rather inclined to 
be heavy. Imported Sprouts continue to meet with a 
considerable amount of favour. The plants are seldom 
very vigorous, and here they stand about IS ins. high 
and do not appear very robust, but being on the 
outside of the plantation, and near a pathway, they 
may have suffered from drought or from the soil being 
trodden firm. The sprouts are rather small, but very 
numerous and firm. Earley’s Hardy Curled is a curious 
1 sort, apparently of a hybrid nature. Some of the 
plants resemble a Borecole, others a Brussels Sprout 
or even a Savoy. The stems are dwarf, and bear 
numerous sprouts, which are close and firm in some 
cases, but the greater part form open rosettes. The 
variety is new, and requires to be carefully selected for 
several years to fix the best form. 
-- 
THE BIRDS. 
Riding through a Somersetshire lane in company with 
a local farmer on the afternoon of the 6th inst., the 
day preceding the night when the late fierce wind¬ 
storm broke over the kingdom, I noticed a big flock of 
rooks and starlings in an adjoining field. The obser¬ 
vation that these birds seemed to be fond of each other’s 
company, drew the reply that such association was 
always regarded as a sign of bad weather. I admit 
that then I did doubtingly smile, but the truth of the 
sign was forced upon me a few hours later, when the 
wind raged with terrible force and the rain fell in 
torrents. All the same, the association may have been 
just then pure accident. 
The subject is an interesting one, especially to lovers 
of natural history, and there may be some readers who 
can explain if such be really the reason for the as¬ 
sociation of the two kinds of birds in question and the 
speedy coming of the storm. The mild weather causes 
the song-thrush to trill out his rich melodious notes in 
the early morning as though it were spring. What a 
beautiful companion to rural life is the thrush at this 
dull, cheerless season of the year! It is very pleasant 
to watch the sparrows as they run amidst the grass and 
weeds which the season has produced in such abundance, 
the seeds of which they eat up wholesale. What useful 
work they are performing, and how much better they 
should do it than form food for powder ! 
A huge flock of black and white plovers or peewits 
are hovering over the fallow fields, and occasionally a 
weird cry is heard that has in the twilight an un¬ 
earthly sound. Robins have now put on their rich- 
coloured breast-plates, and are as bold as ever. There 
is great beauty in bird-life, and not less much of joyous 
activity, which is peculiarly pleasing. Without birds, 
rural life would indeed be bald and bare ; with them 
the densest grove or wood becomes full of life and 
activity.— A. D. 
-- 
CRYSTAL PALACE HORTICUL¬ 
TURAL EXHIBITION. 
The Directors of the Crystal Palace Company have 
arranged to hold in March next an exhibition of the 
numerous and diversified articles required in the various 
branches of horticulture, and thus to afford to all 
interested in the pursuit of that science, whether as 
amateurs or with a view to profit, the opportunity of 
inspecting and examining a vast collection of gardening 
appliances and specialties. The exhibition will be 
opened on March 3rd and closed on the 21st an 1 the 
entire length of the nave of the Palace will be appor¬ 
tioned to the several exhibitors, and so arranged as to 
give the greatest amount of frontage to each for the 
most advantageous display of.goods. 
The exhibition will embrace, the following sections : 
Greenhouses, conservatories, vineries, and other plant 
houses and frames ; heating apparatus of every descrip¬ 
tion ; engines and apparatus for watering and other 
purposes ; india-rubber hose, &c.; lawn mowers and 
garden rollers ; rustic arbours, garden seats, hammocks 
&c., cork and other decorations ; lawn and garden 
games ; tools of every description, wheelbarrows, 
cutlery, &e. ; scientific instruments—thermometers, 
rain gauges, microscopes, &c.; seeds and plants ; soils, 
silver sand gravel, charcoal ; manures; chemicals, 
insecticides, and preparations ; fuel; earthenware— 
flower pots, vases, tiles, borderings ; nettings, shadings, 
and other protectors ; hampers, baskets, and packages 
of all kinds ; preserved and stored fruits and vegetables ; 
early spring products in connection with the flower 
show in March ; apiarian requisites and honey ; and 
horticultural and apiarian literature. 
There will also be two special competitions of excep¬ 
tional interest, viz., a lawn-mowing competition, to 
take place in the Crystal Palace grounds, and a com¬ 
petition to discover the best spraying apparatus. 
-o**- 
BOUVARDIAS. 
The Bouvardias are universally popular and extensively 
cultivated for the decoration of the conservatory, and 
where cut flowers are in demand a few trusses of the 
undermentioned varieties seldom fail to be appreciated. 
Alfred Neuner, double white ; President Garfield, 
double pink ; Hogarth, Yreelandi, and Priory Beauty. 
The latter is a magnificent single pink variety and 
worthy of a place in every collection. Formerly con¬ 
siderable diversity of opinion existed as to the proper 
treatment of the Bouvardia, some cultivators treating 
it as a stove plant, while others considered it a green¬ 
house subject, but there cau be no doubt now that 
an intermediate temperature suits it best, and under 
these conditions much cultural skill is not required to 
produce satisfactory results. 
There are different methods of treatment that qan 
be recommended, all of which lead to a successful issue. 
The most magnificent trusses of bloom that I have yet 
seen were produced by vigorous, sturdy plants grown 
planted out on a spent hot-bed in the open air during 
summer. Those who wish to adopt this method of 
management ought,after the plants have done flowering, 
to rest them well, and cut them fairly hard back, after 
which—about the beginning of June—they must be 
planted out as stated above. About the 1st of Septem¬ 
ber they must be lifted and re-potted, and put in a frame 
which must be kept close and shaded for a few days 
until they become re-established, when they may be 
removed to the conservatory or introduced into heat as 
occasion requires. 
The Bouvardia is liable to the attacks of mealy-bug 
and red-spider. The former pest can be kept under by 
frequently sponging with a solution of Gishurst’s 
Compound. To prevent the latter being troublesome, 
let a liberal supply of atmospheric moisture be main¬ 
tained, but if this should be neglected and the atmos- 
