216 
THE GARDENING V/ORLD. 
December 6, 1890. 
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-*i*- 
The Gold-laced Polyanthus. 
I think that the gold-laeed Polyanthus will yet be 
grown for exhibition purposes for a long time to come, 
because, let what may be said to the contrary, there is 
about it a peculiar and distinct beauty, captivating to 
visitors. Black and gold, or red and gold go well 
together, and also form admirable contrasts ; and we 
perceive the same in some of the Japanese Chry¬ 
santhemums. A black or a red ground Polyanthus, 
distinct and enduring in colour, with a rich deep or 
clear bright gold lacing of the same colour in the 
centre as on the side edgings to the lacing, equal in 
width throughout, and striking down from the centre 
of the petal edge to the base, is, after all, one of great 
refinement of beauty, and well worthy of the best 
care and admiration of the florists. The attainment of 
new varieties of high quality is an object worthy the 
best attention of a lover of flowers. 
What is required is good shape and substance in 
the petal, combined with fair size, not developing into 
coarseness, and good bold decisive grounds, not 
reds changing to black, or blacks to red, but 
persistent grounds, standing true and bright until 
the end; and when one beholds such superbly 
finished examples as I have seen John Beswick, of 
Middleton, stage at Manchester and Rochdale, then 
one perceives something of the winsome and refined 
beauty of a gold-laced Polyanthus. While this is not 
an unusual sight at the northern Auricula and Poly¬ 
anthus shows, it must be admitted that in the south 
the gold-laced Polyanthus has been seen at a dis¬ 
advantage during the last two or three years. There 
does appear to be some defect in the constitution of 
the Polyanthus that tells against its endurance through 
our summer. The plants die, and then if a grower 
gets plants of named varieties from the north—say, in 
October or November—-there is not time for the plants 
to become well established by the spring, and be 
capable of putting up a good head of bloom. So I 
have come to the conclusion that if anything is to be 
done with gold-laced Polyanthuses in the south in the 
direction of growing them for exhibition, it must be by 
means of seedlings. 
Last spring a few promising seedlings were sent to me, 
but having been kept in the open ground all the 
winter, they reached me too late in the spring to get 
into anything like form for the National Auricula 
Society’s show in April. Later on they developed 
quality of a higher order than I had expected, and I 
fertilised a few of the flowers with pollen from others, 
and succeeded in getting a few seeds. The seed-bearing 
plants were then plunged in a border up to their rims, 
and they remained there all the summer, all doing 
well. In September they were re-potted, and I have 
now a few promising specimens for the coming spring. 
It is during the months of January and February 
that the struggle for existence comes, when fog 
and frost join hands, and when vegetable energy 
appears to have dropped to its lowest power of existence. 
A vigorous plant, however well cared for, will go off 
suddenly, much to the grief of the cultivator. I give 
them a compost of good loam, leaf-soil, and some grit, 
placing a little fine coco-nut fibre about the roots to 
induce root action ; and when one has done this, and 
sees a good autumn growth developed, with the pots 
well filled with roots, it is vexing to have the plants 
die when apparently most promising. I am quite 
certain, in my own mind, that fog—London fog, 
charged with many impurities destructive to vegetable 
life—is the prime cause of the loss of the plants. And 
though one may keep them close and under glass, the 
fog appears to find its way to them, and work harm. 
What a pleasant occupation it would be if any one 
who favours the gold-laced Polyanthus, could grow a 
bed of them in the open, as the florists in Derbyshire 
and elsewhere in the north used to do thirty years ago! 
They had suitable soil, a clear atmosphere, and strong 
plants. To these advantages they added a suitable 
position, and it was then that exhibition specimens of 
gold-laced Polyanthuses were seen worthy of their 
name. 
I again assert, we in the south who favour this 
flower, must attempt seedling raising : and to get seed 
of good varieties, fertilization must be resorted to. 
When at Cardiff in the summer, Mr. James Thurstan 
gave me a little seed he had obtained from crosses 
with named sorts. It was sown, and I have secured a 
fair harvest of plants. From these I hope to get 
something good. The plants will not be strong enough 
to bloom until next year ; but they shall have all the 
care possible during the winter season, in order that 
they may be seen to the best advantage in 1892.— R. D. 
Some Good Auriculas. 
A friend, writing to me a few days ago, asked if 
I would give in the columns of The Gardening World 
the names of some good Auriculas that were procurable. 
The following can be had, though perhaps it would not 
be possible to procure all from one dealer. They are—- 
Of green edges : The Rev. F. D. Horner, Prince of 
Greens, Colonel Taylor, and Talisman. Grey edges : 
Lancashire Hero, George Lightbody, William Brock- 
bank, Dr. Horner, Ajax, LIr. Moore, and Silvia. 
White edges : Conservative, Glory, John Simonite, Mr. 
Dodwell, Reliance, Heatheibell, John Waterson, Acme, 
and Smiling Beauty, some of these are faint whites 
intermixed between white and grey. Selfs : Mrs. Potts, 
Heroine, Black Bess, Glow-worm, Sapphire, Blackbird, 
Pizarro, Mr. Douglas and Lord of Lome. As a matter 
of course, it would require a considerable sum of money 
to purchase all the foregoing, but they can be had 
from one source and another. I think that Mr. 
Horner’s fine green-edged Monarch is to be let out 
during the coming year, but I am not quite sure.— 11.1). 
-- 
HOWEA BELMOREANA AND 
H. FORSTERIANA. 
Both of these Palms are better known in nurseries as 
well as private gardens under the name of Kentia, but 
curiously enough, the names for the two plants are 
transposed. H. Belmoreana is characterised by its 
erect or ascending habit of growth from the seedling 
onwards ; while H. Forsteriana is equally notable for 
the spreading habit of its leaves, and its drooping and 
narrow leaflets. There is a fine specimen of the latter 
in the London Nursery, Maida Yale, having a spread 
of 12 ft. It therefore occupies a much greater space 
than a plant of H. Belmoreana would with leaves of the 
same length. This is, no doubt, the reason why there 
are so few large plants of it about, the specimen in Mr. 
P. McArthur’s nursery being the largest we have seen. 
It occupies the whole width of the Palm house, and in 
the same house are large and healthy specimens of 
Seaforthia elegans, Corypha australis and Latania 
borbonica. Plants of Cocos Weddelliana vary from 3 ins. 
to 3 ft. in height. 
-- 
SEASONABLE NOTES 
ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 
It has occurred to me lately, as it has often in years 
gone by, that readers of such j ournals as The Gardening 
World would do well to record their horticultural 
experiences during the previous season, and also note 
the kinds of fruits or vegetables which have proved 
most valuable. While I know that many difficulties, 
both north and south of the Tweed, have been en¬ 
countered, much success has also attended the efforts 
of painstaking and persevering men. In the correspon- 
. dence before me, I note that many Scotchmen in the 
north are ready to exclaim over the results of their 
labours, “I canna complain,” and I also note the 
remarks of an old friend, Mr. Dewar, at Dunnikier, 
how he has secured abundance of Apples for family use, 
while many others have not. I say to many, “ Go and 
do thou likewise.” By growing such Apples as Atkins’ 
No. 2, Stirling Castle, and a few others, Mr. Dewar 
can meet the family wants and feel confident that 
abundance of such fruit is likely to be supplied for 
years to come, for I have never seen these kinds fail. 
With due consideration at planting time, which is 
now at hand, there need be no difficulty in making 
provision for a supply of fruit every year for culinary 
purposes, as there are a few kinds which I have never 
seen fail in the warmest districts in England, or in the 
coldest of Scotland. But while extensive collections of 
fruit trees are planted, a fact by far too common, it is 
not to be wondered at that so many have to record 
their harvest as nil. I notice among many of the 
old Scottish veterans, selections, but not collections, 
are their choice when planting fruit gardens ; moreover, 
there is something in culture, especially when we see, 
under the same conditions, one man have abundance, 
while his neighbour is often in want. As an example, 
two friends of mine are keen cultivators of fruits ; the 
one grows his fruit trees in fine form, grand foliage, 
and wood which would make handles to whips ; this 
friend is a practical gardener. The other friend, an 
amateur, started his trees well, got them to the desired 
size and shape, and wished the trees to extend no 
lurther, but to produce fruit instead ; his best wishes 
have been realised. Instead of cutting back strong 
wood year by year, he cleared away all down-growing 
roots, and at a desirable distance from the trunk of the 
tree all out-growing feeders were cut clean off, the soil 
being made firm as a rock round and underneath the 
roots, with rich mulching placed above them, in 
which they have found all that a fruit tree requires. 
Fruit is always abundant, and every autumn the short 
spur-like growths are bristling with fruit buds, which, 
by having plenty of light and air among them, become 
firm and ready to expand strongly at the proper season. 
The foliage is dark green and finely developed, and one 
need not add that the fruit, so well exposed to air and 
sunshine, is of the finest quality. 
"What of number one cultivator ? Just this—because 
he follows the practice of his fathers, of blessed memory, 
he has to be contented with a good crop of wood and 
leaves only. He looks with disdain upon such 
unnatural notions as cutting the feet from his trees. 
It is quite as unnatural, I think, to cut the heads off. 
Though the season has, on the whole, been a good 
one for the hardier class of vegetables, there are 
peculiarities which cannot be easily accounted for. 
One which concerns a number of my friends (self 
inclusive) is that so many kinds are “bolting” to 
seed, notably Brussels Sprouts, Beet, Leeks, late 
Cabbage, and early Savoy Cabbage. There seemed 
nothing of the kind here till after the almost tropical 
heat in September set in, succeeding the cold rainv 
weather. Though we do not apprehend much incon¬ 
venience from this bolting, it defaces fine even plots of 
good vegetables. 
The most serious malady (and it is all that) is the 
Potato disease, which is so general on all kinds of soil 
in this district, and our garden crops are suffering equal 
to any of our farming neighbours. If the great Porato 
districts in Ireland are as bad as they are around us, 
I cannot conceive that the worst reports which I 
have read are exaggerations. 
Regarding kinds of vegetables I have little in the 
way of novelty to report. Most of the new names I 
find are selections from good old established kinds 
familiar to most vegetable growers. Firstly, the Potato 
that has resisted the disease entirely is Sutton’s 
Abundance, while the red kinds seem to have suffered 
most. The kind referred to I saw at Dunnikier, 
Fifeshire, two years ago, and it was cropping there 
amazingly. It seems to be a favourite with many 
cultivators who have proved its value. 
Beet, which has shown a tendency to go to seed, is 
fairly good. Pragnell’s and Nutting’s are the best, and 
they seem identical. Brussels Sprouts are not equal to 
the fine samples we have had for some years ; Downie’s 
Improved is the best, but a number of other kinds have 
gone to seed. Cauliflowers have been good and 
abundant ; there are no kinds out of a dozen names 
that deserve special mention. Walcheren and Drum¬ 
mond’s Second Early have all been fine in quality, and 
no bolting among them. Celery is not so large as it 
generally is alter a warm summer ; Major Clarke’s Red 
and Veitch’s Rose are by far the best out of seven 
kinds. Leeks are all extra gross ; Lyon, Dobbie’s 
Champion and Musselburgh seem to be the same. 
Peas were not good early in the season, but all later 
erops were extra good. Laxton’s Prolific is distinct 
and an extra good cropper. Onions, though late, are 
large and solid, Veitch’s Main Crop being by far the 
best out of seven kinds.— Stirling. 
- ->*<- - 
A NEW WAY OF GROWING 
ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRAS. 
There is to be seen at the residence of C. Davidson, 
Esq., Sydenham Hdl, a splendid lot of Odontoglossum 
Alexandra?. The rude health of the plants causes 
one to inquire if there is anything particular in the 
management of the plants to obtain such satisfactory 
results. Mr. Ballard, under whose care the plants are, 
says they are not potted according to established rules 
and precedent, but are what may be called an 
exception to prove the rule. The plants are potted 
entirely without crocks in the bottom of the pots. 
“ But surely you place a single piece over the hole in 
the bottom of the pot ? ” we inquire. “ No, that I 
should consider worse than the usual system. The 
plants are potted in about equal parts fibry peat, 
sphagnum moss, and Rhododendron leaves, gathered 
after falling from the bushes ; these we put through a 
chaff-cutting machine.” “But what is the object of 
that ; would not other decayed leaves) answer the 
purpose as well ? ” we inquire. Mr. Ballard replies 
that they do not so readily render the potting material 
liable to become sour as when decayed leaves are used. 
