384 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 16, 1889. 
Dean or Bishop, however, long may our 
eloquent Rosarian he spared to us. 
1 ) oses as Party Emblems —Referring to 
Roses reminds us of a recent reference 
to that grand Rose La France as being the 
badge of the Comte de Paris in France. We, 
in England, happily have no such war of the 
Roses ; we had enough of that kind of 
fatuity leading to cruel, bloody, civil war 
interminably a few centuries since, and the 
remembrance of that enmity will suffice for 
some time to keep us from such folly as 
setting up Roses as emblems of party. We 
have had to endure some foolish hallucinations 
in relation to another flower, but it is so far 
comparatively harmless. If any one section 
of French politicians choose to select a Rose, 
other sections, and they are numerous enough, 
have some grand flowers at their disposal in 
Marechal Riel, Marie Beaumann, and other 
superb flowers. General Boulanger seems to 
have gone in for Carnations of rich colours. 
If things go on at this rate we shall soon 
have every flower representing some one or 
other of the myriads of parties in France. 
“MTeather Forecasts. —The daily forecasts 
of the Meteorological Office which are 
scanned with so much interest by all anxious 
as to the weather, are entirely cast into the 
shade by the publication of what purports to 
be a weather chart for the year, compiled by 
Mr. B. G. Jenkins, F.R.A.S., who doubtless 
may conscientiously believe that his system, 
which seems to be clearly based on the 
moon’s phases, is an exact one. It so happens 
that we have been enabled to test the value 
of the chart of the past month of January, 
which it is found enjoys in the forecast a 
reputation which events proved it did not 
deserve. February so far has exhibited a 
much more wintry aspect, and well it is so, 
as a cold dry month now would prove of 
great service in retarding vegetation, and in 
drying and sweetening the soil. The chart 
tells that February is to be stormy, that 
March will be wet and stormy, that April 
will be quiet and warmer, May much the 
same, June and July fine, August the same 
except for a week in the middle, and that 
the other four months will be wet ones. 
However, we place no faith in these forecasts. 
-- 
Bolton and District Chrysanthemum Society. —The 
third annual exhibition of this society is announced to 
be held on November 15th and 16th. 
Plants for the Mixed Border was the subject of a 
paper read by Mr. Wallace Adams at the last meeting 
of the Manchester Horticultural Improvement Society. 
Gardening Engagement.—Mr. A. J. Brown, late of 
the Finches, Lindfield, Sussex, and one of the most 
active of the local secretaries of the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund, as gardener and general estate manager to T. 
Bradley, Esq., Bear Park, Bedale, Yorkshire. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—We understand 
that Lord Brooke, M.P., Easton Lodge, Dunmow, Essex, 
has accepted the office of president of this society, 
which has become vacant through the retirement of E. 
Sanderson, Esq. His lordship, who is heir to the 
Earldom of Warwick, is a great lover of the Chrysan¬ 
themum, and no better choice could have been made 
for the office. 
The Havant Chrysanthemum Society's annual 
exhibition will be held on November 1st and 2nd. 
Manchester Horticultural and Botanical Society.— 
As at present arranged, we understand that the exhi¬ 
bition programme of this society for the coming season 
is as follows :—Spring Shows in the Town Hall on 
March 19th and April 30th ; National Horticultural 
Exhibition at Old Trafford, from June 7th to 15th ; 
Kose Show at the Gardens, July 2Cth; Autumnal 
Fruit and Flower Show, September 20th and 21st; and 
a Chrysanthemum Show on November 19th and 20th. 
The Bean Weevil.—We have not heard so many 
complaints this season, as last, of the seeds of Broad 
Beans being attacked by the larvfe of Bruchus granarius, 
but if anyone has infested stocks, it may be useful for 
them to know that by steeping the seeds for one hour 
in a mixture of one part of paraffin to ten of water, they 
can completely get rid of the enemy. This is not one 
of the worst pests that gardeners and farmers have to 
contend with, but with such a simple remedy, there is 
no reason why they should be much troubled with it. 
Fruiting of Ficus elastica. — There are several 
species of Fig that fruit more or less freely or regularly 
in this country, but the India-rubber Plant seldom 
shows any signs of it, even although there are many 
large plants in this country. There occurred an instance 
of it some fourteen years ago at Clapham. Last autumn 
a large plant, under the care of Mr. G. A. Bishop, at 
the Grove, Teddington, produced a number of its curious 
fruit in the axils of the upper leaves. They may be 
compared to small, light green acorns, and may occur 
singly, or two or more together, The plant being too 
tall for the convenience or utility of the place it was 
cut down, and the cuttings put in to strike. The apical 
portion, after rooting, has produced some more fruit, 
which bear very little resemblance to other kinds with 
which gardeners are more familiar. The species has 
been cultivated in this country since 1815. 
The “ Walking-Leaf” Fern.—Commenting upon a 
note on Comptosurus rhizophyllus which appeared in 
The Garden a few weeks ago, Mr. Percival, of Smithy 
Bridge, the well-known Lancashire botanist says :— 
Soon after the publication of Buxton’s Botanical Guide 
I paid a visit along with some friends to Barton Moss, 
to see the habitat given for Pyrola minor, the small 
chickweed winter green ; and strangely enough one of 
the party, Mr. James Barlow, of Swinton, picked up a 
small Fern known in America as the Walking Leaf. In 
general appearance it is not much unlike a small 
narrow form of the Hart’s Tongue Fern. I have often 
wondered how this plant could have got there. I knew 
it had been planted there, but by whom I never could 
tell—I always thought by the finder, as he grew a nice 
collection of Ferns, both British and exotic. The 
writer in The Garden, “ W. H. J.,” says that about 
thirty-five years ago, when he was gardener to Lord 
Ellesmere, this Fern was planted abundantly in all the 
woods about, and no doubt the plant picked up by Mr. 
Barlow was one of them ; and if it had remained till 
now no doubt the plant would have been abundant. 
Its mode of propagation is worth noting. The frond is 
from 4 ins. to 12 ins. long, tapering from a heart-shaped 
base to a long narrow point which often roots at the 
end, and then gives rise to another plant. Hence the 
name “ Walking Leaf.” 
-- 
SNOWDROPS. 
These I think may safely be called the queen of all 
our hardy early spring flowers, their pure white 
blossoms being very much admired by everybody. I 
think, however, that they are seen to the best advantage 
when they are grown in large clumps, as they are then, 
when in good order, very effective. I have for some 
time sent large quantities of Snowdrops every spring 
into Glasgow, and they are always much thought of by 
the family I serve, and very often are asked for long 
before they are ready for cutting. For the last five 
years or so, I have each season taken up and potted 
some good clumps without reducing them much, about 
the same time as the usual autumn bulbs are potted. 
If plunged in a cold frame for a time, then taken to 
the greenhouse with a temperature of about 45°, they 
flower some weeks before those outside. They can 
also be taken up as soon as they are seen to be well 
through the ground, and potted or put into boxes as 
the case may be, and introduced at once to a suitable 
temperature ; treated in this latter way they will come 
in some time before they are ready elsewhere, and make 
a very fine display as well as supply a quantity of fine 
cut flowers. 
When lifting, I always take them from some part 
where very few had seen their beauty, and when they 
have done flowering they are stood in a cold frame till 
they get hardened a little to the outside air ; afterwards 
we take and plant the clumps whole, just as they come 
out of the pots, under hedges and in sheltered nooks 
along walk-sides, and anywhere we think they will be 
seen to good advantage, and where we will be likely to 
get a few flowers in good order should the weather be 
even frosty. I have a hedge planted with clumps in 
this way, as well as many corners filled up, and the 
display of flowers is always very fine in their season. 
I have also planted thousands of them in lines and 
clumps in the grass, and here also they are very beauti¬ 
ful and have long ago repaid the trouble taken with 
them by the grand show they annually make ; but in 
this position they have been frosted in some seasons, 
and their blossoms thereby destroyed for house work. 
To grow them satisfactorily the soil about them must 
always be moist—this was proved in the spring of last 
year, a great number of the bulbs being almost leafless 
as well as flowerless under some large trees where 
during the summer of 1887 they were dust dry. We 
usually plant the bulbs in the grass in autumn, the 
lines for single bulbs being cut by the edging-iron, and 
opened with a spade to allow the small bulbs to be 
planted in about an inch apart along the line ; after¬ 
wards the turf-lines are pressed down. Bulbs planted 
in this way five years or so ago are now about 3 ins. 
through. Small clumps may be formed by making 
holes in the grass with a round-pointed piece of wood, 
not too sharp. The hole should then be filled up to 
near the top with any good soil, the bulbs set in, and 
some soil placed over them. In this way they also look 
well. We never mow till the foliage is seen to be quite 
yellow. The cause of Snowdrops failing in grass is 
often due to the leaves having been cut away before 
they are ripe.— Perthshire. 
-- 
DEUTZIA GRACILIS. 
Conditions so unfavourable as had to be contended 
with—in the west of Scotland — last season for the 
maturing of the wood of this useful, and I may say 
indispensable spring-flowering favourite, might not 
unreasonably lead cultivators to be apprehensive that 
the results to their plants this year would be scant show 
of flowers. It does not appear to be so, however, if a 
number of plants I had removed to the conservatory 
early in the month are fair examples of most plants 
throughout the country. Success with the Deutzia, as 
with other plants subjected to more or less forcing 
annually, must depend to a great extent upon the 
treatment the plants receive for some time immediately 
after they have done flowering. 
They may often suffer not from ignorance of their 
requirements, but from want of ample accommodation, 
other subjects that have been forced together with large 
numbers of bedding plants often overcrowding the struc¬ 
tures suitable for their proper treatment. Our plants 
after flowering last spring were allotted alight position 
in a Peach house, where they were encouraged to make 
free growth, then gradually hardened, and stood out 
of doors for the rest of the season. They should not be 
allowed to suffer for want of water at any time. The 
winter being unusually mild they were left outside till 
the middle of December. 
After they were taken under glass they occupied a 
position for some weeks prior to bursting their blossoms 
on the floor of a late vinery, where the heat was seldom 
turned on, and were thus subjected to very little 
forcing. Amateurs who may be only making a start 
in growing pot plants for decoration of the greenhouse, 
and who may be unacquainted with the plant forming 
the subject of these notes, would, by procuring a few 
vigorous young specimens, possess themselves of an 
addition to their stocks which would amply reward 
them with an annual display of white flowers at a time 
when they are most acceptable, either for cut flowers or 
for other forms of decoration. — TVestern. 
-- 
SOME USEFUL STOVE PLANTS. 
POINSETTIAS. 
These are so well known as being brilliant decorative 
winter plants that but little need be said about them 
here, as they have been the subject of many paragraphs 
in this paper at various times. Where they may be 
required for cutting from, the best plan to adopt is to 
grow them as strong as possible, not minding to what 
length the shoots may run, provided they give large 
bracts in return for the room they occupy. In some 
places they are planted out and tied up to rafters, or 
to a wall, and generally do well in this manner, but 
where it is necessary to have short plants for decora¬ 
tion, the usual process of rooting cuttings every 
summer will have to be followed out, keeping the plants 
as close to the glass as possible. They like plenty of 
heat and light when forming their bracts, but during 
the summer months a light airy greenhouse, or frame, 
will do for them, and potting in a rich loamy soil. 
Eondeletias. 
These are splendid high-coloured flowering plants of 
somewhat loose habit, requiring the assistance of stakes 
to support them if they are to be kept in bush form, 
which is about the best way to grow them. Should 
they become leggy at any time the best thing to do 
with them is to cut well back into the old wood, 
from which they will start out a number of shoots that 
otherwise would remain dormant. It generally takes 
