244 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 15, 1888. 
Primulas and Cyclamens at Reading. 
Having seen the Messrs. Sutton’s plants for many con¬ 
secutive years, and almost as often expressed my 
opinion that improvement of the strains had reached 
the zenith, I am this year compelled to acknowledge 
how very little I knew of the subject, and hereby 
confess that my notions of perfection have fallen far 
short of that which this season has been attained, not 
more in respect of cultivation, great as the strides made 
in that direction have been, than in the improvement 
of the strains of both genera. I was going to say, 
of Cyclamens in particular, but this would not be just 
to the Primulas, for both are alike perfect. Referring 
to Cyclamens, I was a visitor to the recent show of the 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society, and the Messrs. 
Sutton sent to that meeting some scores of plants so 
completely alike, in all but colour and size of flowers 
and foliage, as to forcibly remind one of their having 
been cast to order in a mould ; and if one may judge 
by the crowd that was constantly viewing the plants, 
as well as of the remarks made, not a few were of the 
same opinion. That the judges vrere, the granting of 
seven First Class Certificates for as many superb new 
varieties speaks for itself. 
Several of these grand new types the Messrs. Sutton 
intend to offer next year, and as any description I might 
give would convey but a very faint idea of their beauty, 
I will not attempt the task, but say, go and see the 
plants, and those who cannot go may take my word 
for it that they are even better than represented. 
Personally, I give preference to the Persicum varieties, 
as the plants are of such compact growth and the 
flowers more numerous than the Giganteum type, and 
the size of the flowers are now very nearly as large, 
with such stout flower stems that a good shake does 
not move them. I do not give these particulars with a 
view of disparaging the Giganteum section, for, as seen 
at Pleading, nothing could be more perfect or more 
floriferous, and the marking—shall I call it marbling? 
—of the foliage more beautiful. 
On inquiring of Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ grower, 
as to what he most attributes such marked success in 
the cultivation of Cyclamen, he replied, “A good 
start, i.e., a good seed bed, no check of any kind, 
cleanliness, freedom from insects, plenty of humidity 
right up to the period of flowering, shade in summer, 
and plenty of light in winter.” How simple, yet to 
most of us how difficult, because, instead of one species 
of plant, we are required to grow in our houses several. 
Would that our employers would just now pay a visit 
to Reading, and inquire why we fail: I know the answer 
would be honestly given, and as a consequence, some 
of us might get a structure that would honestly be 
called a Cyclamen or a Primula house. 
Like most people I have a preference for doing the 
most agreeable work first. It is, however, open to 
question whether I have done so in this instance, for 
really I think that, perfect as they are, the excellence 
of the Primula exceeds that of the Cyclamen. The 
diverse forms, colour of flowers, and leaf-stems—Fern¬ 
leaved, Moss-curled, round, and oblong-shaped—are 
just as wonderful in their way as are the size and 
brilliancy of the flowers. The Reading strain of the 
semi-double varieties is, I think, unique, but the cry 
is “still they come,” and next year will witness the 
debut of two or three that must surely cause a flatter 
amongst florists generally; a variety called “Giant 
Crimson,” and another, “Double Rose,” with Fern¬ 
leaved foliage, are assuredly destined to become famous. 
Their names describe the colour of the flowers, which 
are borne well above the foliage, in clusters of from six 
to twelve to the stem ; and from present appearance I 
should pronounce the doubles to be more free flowering 
than the singles. The variety called “Hew Giant 
White ” is far and away better than the old Double 
White, the propagation of which has puzzled so many 
of us, as, in fact, the growing has too. All the kinds 
come perfectly true from seed, so there is an end to the 
bother of propagation by cuttings ; and seedlings make 
infinitely better plants in something like half the time 
that it takes to grow plants of the old Double White a 
respectable size. The colours of the doubles are as 
rich, numerous, and varied as are the singles ; for 
besides the white there is scarlet, rose, carmine, car- 
nation-flaked, lilac, and a so-called, blue—certainly as 
near that colour as any I have yet seen, but a horrid 
dingy lead colour for all that. A blue Primula has yet 
to be raised, else I am colour-blind in respect of the 
blue Primulas. 
Referring to the single varieties, which are very 
numerous, the most novel and as pretty as any is the 
Fern-leaved Gipsy Queen. This variety has all but jet- 
black flower and leaf-stems, and deeply serrated dark 
brown foliage and white flowers, which by contrast 
with the leaves are strikingly beautiful. It is an 
early and free-flowering variety, and continues a long 
time in perfection, the white flowers with age becoming 
diffused with rose, which is a characteristic of many 
white flowers. Giant White is my next favourite ; 
in habit of growth it is dense and robust, with flower- 
stems of great thickness and blooms as large as the 
biggest Primula ever seen. The substance of the petals 
is sufficiently indicative of its power to withstand 
damp. Other first-rate whites are the Fern-leaved 
Snowdrift, the earliest and freest flowering of all ; and 
Pearl, later flowering, but as good in its way as Giant 
White. 
The coloured varieties are numerous, but I name 
only those that took my fancy most. They are 
Advance,, a light rose, with a deeper tint of rose round 
the edge, fine truss, and thrown up well above the 
foliage; Reading Pink, as free flowering as Snowdrift, 
and possessing all the good qualities of that fine white 
variety ; Reading Scarlet has flowers of immense size, 
good substance and freely produced ; and Ruby King is 
an older but still a grand variety. Of other Fern¬ 
leaved varieties the best are Rosy Lilac and Rosy 
Queen. Several others are worthy of mention—indeed, 
after viewing such a collection the difficulty is to know 
at which variety to stop. I shall therefore settle 
matters by ending now, but assuring my readers that 
this list by no means exhausts the splendid varieties of 
Primulas now to be seen at Reading. As regards 
cultivation, I can bestow no higher praise than by 
saying that it is quite on a par with the excellence of 
the strain or varieties.— IF. IF. 
Pansies in December. 
A box of Pansies containing a dozen or so of named 
sorts besides some unnamed kinds has been sent us by 
Mr. F. Hooper, Vine Nursery, Widcombe Hill, Bath. 
They are as fresh and some of them as fragrant as if 
produced in summer, and illustrate the remarkably 
mild nature of the weather at this period of the year. 
Dr. Scott is a brilliant yellow, with a large brownish 
black velvety blotch on each of the five segments. 
Another superior yellow is Harry Hooper, with a 
broader and paler yellow margin. Mrs. Robinson is a 
rich purple, with a striking white margin to the three 
lower petals. Annie Lakin differs in having the two 
upper petals white as well as the margin, while 
Mrs. Lakin has the upper petals shaded blue. 
In Mrs. Douglas the latter are of a creamy yellow, 
and the flower of great stze. The velvety black 
blotches extend over nearly the whole flower in 
A. J. Wray, and constitute the most conspicuous 
feature of a fine round flower. A large-sized flower 
is Her Majesty, but the colours seem somewhat un¬ 
naturally tinted, owing probably to excess of moisture 
and lack of sunshine. Richard Lockyer is even larger 
but more regular, of better substance, rich plum-purple 
and heavily shaded with blue at the margin. A yellow- 
ground coloured variety is King of the Pansies, with the 
central blotches and the upper petals of a rich brownish 
purple. Mrs. Barlow is also a very striking, perfectly 
round flower, with a large yellow blotch on the upper 
petals, and the three lower ones are richly flamed with 
brownish crimson. The whole flower is bright, fresh, 
and in no way tarnished or soiled. The same might be 
said of an unnamed variety of a rich velvety plum 
colour, heavily suffused with red. Mr. Hooper says 
they were picked from the open ground, where they 
have not had shelter of any kind. 
National Auricula and National Carnation 
and Picotee Societies. 
A largely attended meeting of the committee of the 
Southern Sections of these societies took place at the 
Hotel Windsor on Tuesda}', the 11th inst., the Rp.v. 
H. H. D’Ombrain in the chair. The minutes of the 
last meeting having been read, it was resolved that 
the offer of the Council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society to give the sum of £10 to each of the societies 
be accepted, and it was arranged that the annual 
exhibition of the National Auricula Society should take 
place in the Drill Hall, Westminster, on April 23rd, 
and that of the National Carnation and Picotee Society 
on July 23rd. The Council having expressed a desire 
that something in the form of a conference should be 
held at each of the shows, a sub-committee, consisting 
of the Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain, Messrs. H. S. Leonard, R. 
Dean, and J. Douglas, was appointed to make arrange¬ 
ments for the same. The schedule of prizes of the 
Auricula Exhibition was passed in the form in which 
it appeared last year ; and a few alterations were made 
in that of the Carnation and Picotee Exhibition. 
Yellow-ground flowers can no longer be shown with 
seifs and fancies ; and the class for twelve yellow- 
ground flowers was reinforced by one for six varieties 
also, it being understood that yellow seifs could also be 
shown in this class. Mr. Douglas having stated that 
there was a balance in hand from the two societies 
amounting to £40, suggested that a portion of it should 
be invested as a reserve fund, and eventually the sum 
of £25 was set apart for this purpose, it being left to 
the Rev. H. n. D’Ombrain, Messrs. H. S. Leonard, 
and J. Douglas to make the best investment they 
could. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks 
to the chairman. 
Primula sinensis, Cannells Pink. 
A NEW variety under this name appeared at the Drill 
Hall, Westminster, on Tuesday last. It is dwarf and 
stocky, of great substance, and with dark green leaves 
of the ordinary ovate and lobed type. The flowers are 
of great size and substance, of a beautiful pink, a soft 
and agreeable shade of colour, with a large deep 
yellow five-lobed eye. The segments of the corolla are 
flat and greatly overlap one another. It was exhibited 
by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, and 
received a First Class Certificate from the Floral 
Committee. _ - >x< _ _ 
CATTLEYA DOWIANA. 
The leading authorities now regard this as a variety of 
Cattleya labiata, differing chiefly in colour, and we do 
not doubt the correctness of their opinion ; but for 
garden purposes it is convenient to retain it under the 
best known name. It was originally discovered by 
Warscewicz somewhere about 1850, in Costa Rica, a 
district lying some distance north of the isthmus of 
Panama, and therefore in North America. Specimens 
sent home then failed to reach this country alive ; but 
it was again discovered, sent home, and flowered in 
1865. The sepals and petals are nankeen-yellow ; the 
lip, Jon the contrary, is of the richest crimson-purple, 
beautifully striated with golden or orange-yellow lines. 
This, the typical form, may be best understood by 
reference to Veitch’s Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, 
part ii., Cattleya and Ltelia, opposite p. 15. C. 
Dowiana aurea differs in the more copious orange lines 
which almost merge into one another in suffused 
masses in certain places on the lip. This can be seen 
by reference to the accompanying illustration of it. 
Gustav Wallis discovered it in the State of Antioquia, 
in New Granada, South America, about 600 miles 
from the home of the typical form. 
As fresh importations continue to arrive and come into 
flower, we may expect variation more or less in this 
grand autumn and winter-flowering Cattleya. A 
specimen now flowering at Kew differs from the two 
well-known named forms in cultivation, namely, the 
type and C. Dowiana aurea, in being paler in all its 
parts. It is nevertheless very pretty, and ought to 
receive a distinctive name. The sepals and petals are 
pale nankeen almost sulphur-yellow, while the lip is of 
a rich purple, but devoid of the usual crimson hue. 
In the lower part of the tube it is richly reticulated 
with yellow on a pale purple ground ; towards the 
opening of the tube the yellow lines become merged or 
suffused into one another, resembling in this respect 
C. D. aurea, which in that part is of a decided orange 
hue. The terminal portion of the lip is deeply bifid 
and beautifully striated with white on a purple ground, 
from the margin inwards. 
This variety may best be diagnosed by reference 
again to our figure of C. D. aurea. The sepals and 
petals are paler, and the mass of suffused orange-yellow 
lines are also much paler, as well as the crimson-purple 
ground colour. In addition to this, we have the white 
lines extending from the margin inwards, but which 
are represented in the figure by dark lines or veins. 
-->$<*- 
THE ONION. 
The Onion is a plant of great antiquity, and is a native 
of Central or Western Asia. It is a biennial, although 
sometimes perennial, as in the case of the Potato Onion, 
which does not produce seeds, but propagates itself by 
division of the roots where bulbs are produced. Some¬ 
times, instead of flowers, a head of small bulbs is 
produced. This may occur exceptionally in any of the 
varieties, but it is an invariable characteristic of the 
Tree Onion, which is thence named the bulbiferous 
Onion. I may state respecting the Potato Onion that 
it neither produces an inflorescence or bulblets, as in 
