February 2, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
353 
HARDY PLANTS FOR POT 
CULTURE. 
The Tenby Daffodil. 
In the open ground this is one of the first to come into 
flower, so that if the bulbs are potted up in autumn, 
and plunged in ashes or coco-nut fibre in a cool frame, 
it may be had in bloom considerably earlier than those 
under more natural conditions. They may be trans¬ 
ferred to a warm corner of the greenhouse, and gently 
stimulated by artificial heat, but not forced, in the 
strict sense of the term, unless desired particularly 
early, because the flowers lose both in size and sub¬ 
stance. Good soil should be used, and the culti¬ 
vator will be well rewarded with the results. As a 
Daffodil, it is widely distinct from all others of its 
class, owing to the corona being short, stiff, very wide, 
and of a bright yellow colour. The segments are paler, 
but are short, broad, spreading, and altogether very 
distinct in appearance. The name Tenby Daffodil is 
applied to different forms of the common wild Daffodil ; 
but botanieally it is a form of Narcissus Pseudo-Nar¬ 
cissus majorsub-var. obvallaris, or simply N. obvallaris, 
by which it is best known. 
Narcissus pallidus praicox. 
The plant now widely known under this name is also a 
form of the common Daffodil, as in the above case. Its 
leading characteristics are that it is the earliest of all 
to come into flower, and is very pale in colour. With 
these exceptions, it is not so distinct as the Tenby 
Daffodil, while in structure it cannot be compared to 
the bold outline of the latter. The segments are of a 
pale sulphur-white, while the corona is very little 
darker; but the variety well merits cultivation on 
account of its earliness. It may receive the same 
cultural treatment as the Tenby Daffodil, and be very 
acceptable at this season, either for the decoration of 
the greenhouse or the windows of the dwelling-house. 
Being so very hardy and so readily amenable to pot 
culture, not only these but many of the Daffodils merit 
being taken in hand, especially by those having little 
heat at command. 
Iris Histrio. 
Having been introduced as recently as 1873 from Pales¬ 
tine, this species has not become disseminated so 
widely in gardens as the English and Spanish Irises, 
if indeed it ever becomes plentiful. Like the latter, it 
belongs to the Xiphion section of the genus, having 
bulbous instead of rhizomatous rootstocks, like the 
German Flag Irises. In size and habit it may be 
compared with I. reticulata, to which it is closely 
allied, and has the same narrow grass-like and quad¬ 
rangular deep green leaves. When grown in a pot the 
flower is produced on a stem about 3 ins. above the 
surface of the pot. The individual flowers are compara¬ 
tively large for the size of the plant, and have deep 
blue, somewhat jagged stigmas, and narrow standards 
of the same colour. The falls are the most striking 
, t O 
and attractive feature of the flower, and in the boldness 
of the spotting of the broad apical portion may be 
compared to the spotting on a peacock’s tail, being 
irregularly blotched, spotted, and reticulated with deep 
blue on a paler blue and white ground. Beautiful 
markings of purplish blue on a white ground are con¬ 
tinued to the base of the segments. Ic is the earliest 
of this section to come into bloom, and is certainly 
handsome when brought into the greenhouse when in 
flower. Any cool house from which frost is excluded 
will suit it admirably. 
Saxifraga Bup.seriana major. 
Few can conceive a prettier rock plant than a tuft 
of this in full flower in March. It is equally amenable 
for pot culture, and in fact is not so liable to be lost 
during summer when grown in this way and stood in a 
pit facing north, than when left pretty much to chance 
on a hot day, and on an exposed part of a rockery, or in 
an herbaceous border, where it is liable to be lost through 
damp or other contingency. Under a system of pot 
culture it can be introduced to the genial atmosphere 
of a greenhouse, where it will come into flower during 
February, and appear to better advantage than when 
exposed to a spell of bad weather out of doors. In 
potting it use a compost of loam with a good portion 
of silver sand, and broken pieces of porous sandstone 
to render the soil gritty. 
Lenten and Christmas Roses. 
Both these different classes of Hellebore give great 
satisfaction when grown in pots throughout the year, 
and introduced to the greenhouse or other cool struc¬ 
tures where they will receive plenty of light for the 
sake of the foliage. The true Christmas Roses (Helle- 
borus niger and its varieties), are the first to bloom, 
and commence in autumn or early in winter under 
favourable conditions. These are now mostly out of 
flower, and should be stood in cold frames, or some 
similar place till all danger of frost is over. Large 
pieces grown in tubs look handsome, and after the 
weather becomes favourable should be stood in a partly 
shaded position to save watering to some extent during 
the warmer months of the summer. Lenten Roses, 
both in pots and out of doors, are flowering freely. 
They add greatly to the appearance of a conservatory 
or other cool house at present, and deserve more 
extended cultivation. When kept continually in pots 
or tubs they do not suffer that root disturbance which 
they otherwise would if lifted annually and potted up 
for indoor work. Some of the best are Helleborus 
abchasicus, H. colchicus, H. olympicus, H. orientalis, 
and its varieties H. o. antiquorum and H. o. guttatus, 
the last being beautifully spotted, and H. atrorubens, 
with rosy purple flowers. Pot them in loam, leaf-soil, 
some well-decayed cow manure, and a fair proportion 
of silver sand. 
The White Hoop Petticoat Daffodil. 
Botanieally this is known as Narcissus Bulbocodium 
monophyllus, or Corbularia monophylla. Suffice to 
say it is the prettiest of all this section, and should be 
grown by everyone who can afford it greenhouse tem¬ 
perature. Being a native of Algeria it is not at all 
suited to the exigencies of our capricious climate in the 
open air ; but under glass it thrives satisfactorily, and 
flowers in a very attractive way. The segments and 
corona are white, and the blooms are borne on pe¬ 
duncles about 3 ins. above the surface of the pot. 
The great width of the corona, which is more or less 
Narcissus bulbocodium. 
deeply notched, makes the flowers appear large and 
simply charming. The deep green rush-like leaves are 
at first erect, but after flowering attain some length, 
and spread about on the ground. Our figure illustrates 
the typical Narcissus Bulbocodium, from which the 
beautiful variety under notice differs chiefly in the 
corona being more expanded and more decidedly 
notched at the apex, as well as being more slender 
in the elongated leaves, and in the colour of the flowers, 
which is the most important feature from a horticul¬ 
tural point of view. 
-- 
HOYAS. 
A Very pretty and elegant class of plants that may be 
called either climbers or trailers. In H. carnosa we 
have a distinct climber that will often grow as well in 
a good greenhouse as it will in the stove, the only 
difference being that it may not make its shoots 
quite so long, nor yet produce bloom so early as it does 
in the stove. As a covering for a wall it is a very 
serviceable plant, the shoots clinging to the wall as they 
grow, like Ivy will do. In H. bella and H. Paxtoni we 
have two very distinct and beautiful plants suitable for 
suspending in baskets, and if this means of growth be 
adopted, they show their fine trusses of waxen flowers 
to advantage. For bouquet or button-hole work these 
flowers are very chaste. They will bloom continuously 
through the summer season, and should be placed in a 
good position to make their growth. They are very 
ticklish plants at the root, and at no time must they be 
potted in a retentive soil ; it should be of a loose and 
gritty nature, something that the roots can easily work 
among. — W. G. 
NOTES ON VEGETABLES. 
A FEW notes may not be out of place at a time when 
many are making out their seed order for the coming 
season. 
Peas always take a prominent part in the list. Of 
these we depend upon William I. for our early supply. I 
have grown this variety for some years, and have tried 
others against it, and although some more recent intro¬ 
ductions may be a few days earlier, yet in point of 
usefulness we find Wililam I. to be the best. It has a 
good constitution, and is very prolific. Dr. Maclean 
was sown for a succession and rotted in the ground, 
when another sowing of William I. was made, and 
saved us from any lengthened gap in the supply. 
Telephone, Duke of Albany, and Champion of England 
followed ; of these the two first did us good service. 
M e always rely upon Ne Plus Ultra for our general 
and late crop, and so far have had no reason to regret 
doing so. We had a magnificent supply the whole of 
the season, as, in spite of the frost early in October, 
which played such sad havoc in the gardens, we con¬ 
tinued picking peas till well into November. 
Kidney and Runner Beans were very good ; of 
the former we grow Osborn’s Prolific and Ne Plus 
Ultra for forcing and early supply, and depend upon 
Canadian Wonder for main crop ; these sown twice 
will keep up the supply till cut down by the frost. 
The old Scarlet Runner still holds its own where 
monstrosities in the way of Beans are not desired. 
Beet. —Carter’s “Extra Early ” Crimson Ball Beet 
is a decided improvement upon the old Turnip-rooted 
Beet, and deserves to be largely grown. It is fit for 
use in less than three months from the time of sowing, 
and is of a splendid colour when cooked. 
Brussels Sprouts.— Scrymger’s Giant and Craigo 
Favourite Brussels Sprouts are excellent varieties for 
general use, producing firm and compact sprouts of a 
medium size. 
Celery. —Sutton’s White Gem Celery is rightly 
named ; it is indeed a gem. Major Clarke’s Solid Red 
and Leicester Red are as good as one could wish for 
main and late crops. 
Carrots. —We grow six varieties of Carrots, the best 
being Sutton’s Early Gem and their New Scarlet 
Intermediate. 
Cabbage. —Ellam’s Early is a first-rate variety; 
Nonpareil comes in well after Ellam’s, whilst Rosette 
Colewort should not be lost sight of. 
Cauliflowers.— Walcheren and Veitch’s Autumn 
Giant Cauliflower are sufficient for all ordinary 
purposes. 
Endive and Lettuce. —Improved Round Leaved 
Batavian Endive is the best; whilst amongst Lettuces, 
Paris White Cos and Hicks’ Hardy White comes in 
well after the old Bath Cos, and cannot well be beaten. 
Onions. —Amongst the many excellent varieties of 
Onions offered, we find that Banbury Improved, White 
Spanish, Brown Globe, and James’s Keeping answer 
our purpose as well as any ; these, with Flat Italian 
White Tripoli, give us a supply all the year round. 
Turnips. —Carter’s Jersey Lily and Extra Early 
Milan are, perhaps, among the best Turnips for early 
sowings ; whilst Early White Stone and Veitch’s Red 
Globe form good successions ; for storing for winter we 
generally endeavour to get some of the old green Round 
or Globe, from the farm bailiff. 
Savoys. —Amongst Sivoys, Gilbert’s Universal finds 
great favour for the dining-room ; Drumhead, though 
large for small gardens, is an excellent variety, probably 
one of the best for general crops. 
Kales. —Asparagus Kale, Cottager’s, and the Green 
Curled are all hardy, and invariably give a good lot 
of greens at a time when vegetables are none too 
plentiful, whilst with 
Broccoli, no one will be far wrong in planting such 
varieties as Veitch’s Self-Protecting, Snow’s Winter 
White, Cooling’s Matchless, Wilcove’s Improved, 
Knight’s Protecting, Veitch’s Model, and last, but not 
least, Sutton’s Late Queen.— Thomas. Nutting, The 
Gardens, Childwickbury, St. Albans. 
Purple Sprouting Broccoli. 
Of all winter vegetables none seem hardier or more 
capable of withstanding the winter in the neighbourhood 
of London and other large or smoky towns than the 
Purple Sprouting Broccoli. In the same districts it is 
rivalled perhaps only by Chou de Burghley in its 
hardiness. Independently of the cold, there is some¬ 
thing in a smoky atmosphere, including no doubt 
sulphur and charcoal, which act injuriously on vege¬ 
tation, causing it to succumb, whereas, in districts 
more remote from town, there is generally a much 
greater wealth of various kinds of vegetables. The 
