March 21, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
459 
remark also applies to any cuttings that are not suffi¬ 
ciently strong for forcing. The after treatment is 
identical with that advised in the culture of plants from 
cuttings. 
If permanent plantations are required, plant three 
in a clump, with 2 ft. spices between each clump to 
allow pots and heating material to be placed over and 
between each clump. — Thos. Nutting , Childwickbury. 
-»>»♦-- 
THE CASTLE, STROUD. 
Calling at The Castle, Stroud, a few days ago, I was 
agreeably surprised to see such a fine display of bloom 
in the Orchid houses. Dendrobiums were particularly 
good and well flowered. D. nobile nobilius, two 
specimens of great beauty, quite put the ordinary form 
in the shade. I question for general usefulness if we 
have many Orchids to equal it, as by introducing a 
few plants at intervals in heat, it can be had in flower 
from January till June. 0. D. Ainswcrthii there were 
five plants, well flowered, and there is no doubt this is 
one of the best hybrids ever raised ; D. Brymerianum, 
a good specimen with its bright golden flowers ; D. 
crassinode, several plants suspended from the roof, a 
mass of bloom ; large paLS of Ccelogyne cristata, 
Cypripedium villosum, C. biflorum, C. Boxallii, 
Cattleya Trianse, C. Percivaliana, and Cymbidium 
eburneum all helped to make a pretty and interesting 
show of bloom, which did Mr. Charles King, the 
gardener, great credit.— IV. D. 
-- >X< -- 
VIOLAS. 
I have noticed in one of the gardening papers a writer 
states that if Pansy and Viola cuttings are mixed 
together when put in for striking, it will be next to an 
impossibility to distinguish one from the other until 
flowering time, as the foliage is almost if not quite 
identical. These are in reality editorial remarks, and 
from a writer who evidently knows very little of what he 
is writing about, for much also of what follows is 
calculated to raise a smile among Viola growers who 
may read the remarks I allude to. 
I am an old cultivator of the Viola, and for years 
past have written a great deal in order to make the 
Viola popular as a valuable spring decorative plant. 
1 am the raiser of some of the best known varieties, 
and I warmly protest against the absurdity of calling 
them “Tufted Pansies.’’ Why, such varieties known 
as Ardwell Gem, Elegans, Duchess of Fife, Bertie 
Clark, Bullion, and a host of other varieties are not 
Pansies at all, and are so distinct in their foliage that a 
Viola cultivator of any repute could readily—blind¬ 
folded almost—distinguish them amongst any amount 
of Pansy plants. 
What can be more distinct from Pansies than 
Countess of Hopetoun, Skylark, True BUe, or 
Countess of Kintore ?—for these varieties could easily 
be sorted from a thousand plants of Pansies. It is 
perfect nonsense to write about not distinguishing Violas 
such as I have named, and many others as well, from 
Pansies not in bloom. 
“The term Viola should now disappaar, as it is the 
name of the genus alone,” this writer authoritatively 
states, and be replaced by the name of “ Tufted Pansy.’’ 
But this “ term ” will never be adopted generally, and 
there is no necessity for it. We must stick to the 
word Viola, as designating our very early blooming, 
small-leaved and small-flowered varieties, in contradis¬ 
tinction to our grand fancy and show Pansies. We 
have a race of Pansies known as bedding varieties, bu 
they are not such early bloomers generally, or last so 
long as our true Violas, and we are also getting cross¬ 
bred Violas and bedding Pansies. 
In any future list I may publish, I shall use as a 
heading the words “ Violas and bedding Pansies,” 
because some varieties partake much of the Pansy. 
Still, there are a large number which retain the Viola 
cornuta character in foliage, habit, flower, and earliness, 
and continuance of blooming. It is many years since 
Mr. John Wills brought into prominent notice the old 
Viola cornuta as a spring bedding plant, and when my 
brother Richard brought out Blue Bell, it was a great 
acquisition, and was grown for many years, and then 
came the beautiful varieties we now possess. We find 
“faddists” in all walks of life. We have our flori- 
cultural faddists, who want to change Violas into 
‘ ‘ Tufted Pansies. ” A few old florists have worked hard 
to make the Viola popular, and we can now rest upon 
our oars, for the Viola has become a recognised spring 
and summer decorative plant, and the most beautiful, 
useful, and continuous blooming of all.— IV, Dean, 
NOTES OF THE SEASON. 
Until the recent spell of bad weather, though I had 
heard much of snowfalis, frosts, and fogs, little of the 
severities of wintry weather had visited our locality ; 
but during no previous season here had the land been 
in such a damp and sloppy condition. Every attempt 
to sow Onions had, up to March 4th, been baffled, and 
then, when we should have liked to see March dust, 
came snow, sleet, and frost. I learn from various 
sources that vegetables are likely to be scarce in the 
market, and private growers, who have had a good 
stock of Curled Kale and Brussels Sprouts, will have 
reason to be thankful. I notice the former already 
sprouting from stocks cut early in the season, and 
a plentiful supply are reserved. 
The old fashioned Curled Dvarfs are at their best. 
The third succession of Brussels Sprouts, on rather 
poor ground, are very good and sound, and though 
much smaller than the earlier crop 3 , they are quite as 
useful. It is not gross growth one should strive to 
cultivate when the frost-proof and damp-proof crops 
are desired. Celery is extra good, and we ought to be 
able to lift a few dozen heads weekly till well within 
May. The most satisfactory kind at present is Major 
Clarke’s Red ; most of the white kinds have suffered 
somewhat, but the “ Major” is sound to the core, and 
has been protected in no way. 
This will be a season which will prove Broccolis, and 
I notice that old favourites which have done good 
service ever since we knew Broccolis, are favourites still. 
Knight’s Protecting and Cattell’s Dwarf are greeD, 
sound, and likely to supply good heads. Lettuce has 
suffered somewhat, but Bath Brown Cos is the best we 
have this season. I have noted Sutton’s Abundance 
Potato as being fine cropping, of good quality, and 
resists the disease well. Examining our numerous 
stocks 1 find them in excellent condition, and the 
loss less than any other kind. Rintoul’s White Don 
and International Kidney are very sound and good. 
— Stirling. 
-- 
SYON HOUSE. 
At Syon House, Brentford, the seat of the Duke of 
Northumberland, the evil effects of the fog during the 
past winter have been experienced to the fullest ; 
indeed, it is questionable whether any other suburban 
garden is more subject to the effects of fog when it 
prevails. The vicinity of the river and the low marshy 
land on its banks give rise to much atmospheric 
moisture during winter. 
A large number of flowering plants suffered the loss 
of their leaves ; but this was comparatively unim¬ 
portant when laid in the balance against the subjects 
which are being forced for fruit. The flowers of the 
early Vines became brown and dropped off, so that the 
Vines became useless and had to be thrown away. 
The first batch of Cucumbers was also destroyed after 
the plants had attained some, size, and a second lot 
that was planted had the lower leaves destroyed, and 
the stems of what remain are thin and spindly in 
appearance. Batches of Strawberries had their flowers 
entirely destroyed ; and Tomatos and French Bean 
lost their lower leaves. The only way of surmount¬ 
ing these difficulties was to keep on raising fresh 
batches ; and it does much credit to the tact and 
ability of Mr. G. Wytbes that matters are no worse 
than they are now. One houseful of pot Vines that 
came into flower at a favourable time are now bearin'* 
O 
a good crop of nearly half-grown fruit. The house 
was closed about the beginning of November. 
Some of the Peach and Nectarine trees have fared 
badly in the early house ; but others again have set a 
good crop of fruit. Lord Napier Nectarines and somo 
unnamed sorts have set remarkably well. In another 
house the trees have now been in flower for some little 
time, but it is not yet evident whether there is to be a 
good set. The effect on the Figs, -whether planted out 
or not, has been most remarkable. Many of them 
have entirely lost the first crop of fruit. Amongst the 
kinds in pots that have suffered in this way are St. 
John’s, Brown Turkey, Black Ischia, Brunswick, 
“White Marseilles and Negro Largo. The fruits of the 
first named, although about the size of pigeon’s eggs, 
continue to become limp and yellow, ultimately falling 
off. A large tree of White Ischia, which usually 
bears well, has lost all its first crop. Tornelia fragrans 
(Monstera delicosa) may be mentioned here as bearing 
a good crop of fruit in the conservatory, as it has done 
so regularly for many years past. 
A large number of shrubby plants are forced for the 
sake of cut flowers ; and amongst them may be men¬ 
tioned Rhododendrons in a great variety of colour, 
Astilbe japonica, the Snowball tree, Deutzia gracilis, 
D. crenata Waterii, a double-flowered kind ; Azalea 
sinensis (A. mollis) and Spiraea confusa. The latter 
forces remarkably well, producing a great quantity of 
bloom. The same may be said of Laburnum vulgare, 
which has been brought to the front as a forcing plant 
within the last few years. The plants are grown as 
standards in pots, and the quantity of flowers they 
produce is wonderful, and have a novel and charming 
effect as they hang in long drooping racemes from the 
branches. A large number of these are located 
in the Rose-house, which contains a collection of 
Roses in pots, and mostly Tea varieties. Their buds 
are now well advanced. Large old plants also cover 
the roof, and will also soon afford a supply of flowers. 
In one of the houses is a large quantity of Eupatorium 
Weinmannianum, with stems 3 ft. to 4 It. high. The 
plants are also much branched near the surface level 
of the pots, showing that they had been well pinched 
when young. The uppermost flowers are now about 
fully expanded, and a large quantity can be cut in 
succession for some time to come. 
An early batch of Tuberoses was just about to open 
its flowers when we saw the plants the other week ; and 
considering that the stems were about 3 ft. high they 
did not seem to have suffered from the fog. A batch 
of one sort of Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) was also very 
gay on a back shelf of one of the fruit houses. The 
flowers were of a brilliant scarlet, deepening to crim 
son along the centre of the segments ; and each scape 
bore 2—4 flowers. In the same house, and also in the 
Victoria-house adjoining, were quantities of Azalea 
indica in variety, Carnations and other subjects. 
Amongst white Azaleas we noticed A. indica alba in 
quantity, also Deutsche Perle, Apollon, and Field¬ 
ing’s White. A. amoena was also in flower, as well as 
large-flowered forms of if, apparently of the Carmichael 
strain. 
The greenhouses were gay with such plants as delight 
in a cool atmosphere. One of them contained Heaths 
and Epacris, amongst the latter of which were E. 
miniata splendens, E. hyacinthiflora and E. h. candi- 
dissima ; the latter had pure white flowers of good 
size. The second house contained soft-wooded plants 
in great variety, such as Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilac, 
Deutzia gracilis, Prunus sinensis, Scilla sibirica, 
Cyclamens, Cinerarias, Azaleas, Double Daffodils, and 
the old double white Chinese Primula, so useful fer cut¬ 
ting from. The plants of Richardia africana with their 
great leaves and huge spathes were admirable specimens 
of culture. In other and warmer houses were well- 
grown and healthy Gardenias from one to three years 
old. 
The Orchid houses contained a number of subjects in 
season, including about sixteen large pans and pots of 
Ccelogyne cristata. The bulk of flowers bad been cut, 
but the harvest of bloom had been heavy. The Alnwick 
var. of C. cristata was still in perfection. The pseudo¬ 
bulbs were large, the rhizomes long, and the segments 
of the flowers very much undulated. A fine piece of 
Cymbidium Lowii carried six scapes, each 4 ft. long. 
Dendrobium densiflorum with six dense racemes of 
golden yellow flowers was a fine sight ; and D. 
thyrsiflorum, with nine racemes, was on the point of 
expansion. This speaks volumes for the treatment they 
receive, as the plants were by no means large. The 
flower stems of Phaius grandifolius were vigorous, and 
bore plenty of bloom. Lielia liarpophjlla and Cattleya 
Triame are now in season, but C. Percivaliana was 
flowering late. Associated with the Orchids was a large 
quantity of Anthurium Scherzerianum in bloom, 
showing considerable variation in the size of the spathe. 
AVe also noticed A. Rothschildianum with its curious 
mixture of scarlet and white on the spathes. 
The large conservatory as is welt known is divided 
into several compartments, of which the central one is 
the warmest, and contains some fine Palms, the giant 
Bamboo, and many other subjects of large size, being 
surmounted by a bold and conspicuous dome. One of 
the wings contain forced plants in bloom and several 
other things in season, such as Pernettyas laden with 
berries of various colours, Sparmannia africana, 
Primulas, Cyclamens, Camellias in pots, ranging from 
3 ft. to 30 ft. in height. A tree of Acacia longifolia 
in a pot is 30 ft. high and now flowering profusely. 
Some fine pieces of Thujopsis dolobrata laetevirens 
variegata measured above 2 ft. each way and were very 
conspicuous. Strelitzia regina was flowering in the 
central division ; and some fine pieces of Clivia and 
Begonia manicata with its spray-like panicles of bloom, 
were gay in a warm division of the other great wing of 
the building. In the cool compartments of the same 
were flowering plants as in the first. 
