420 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 2, 1889. 
Fi^idi/LTUf^. 
The Florists’ Laced Pink. 
It is to be regretted that the several articles which 
appeared in The Gardening World a few months 
ago (see issues of August 11th, September 1st, 8th, 
15th, 29th, and October 13th, 1888, &c.) in favour of 
the florists’ laced Pink have met with apparently but 
little support. I, for one, anticipated that the hearts 
of many old florists would have been warmed up, and 
that a few suggestions would have appeared in your 
journal in support of the object in view—i.e., by once 
more bringing the Pink prominently before the public 
by introducing a few stands, either for competition or 
as specimens, at some of the principal flower shows 
which will be held about the first or second week in 
July next. There are several amateurs who I know 
have small collections, and if some of the old florists 
possessing influence with the committees of flower 
shows would try and get the Pink introduced in the 
respective schedules, and the announcement of same 
made through this and other florists’ periodicals during 
the next four weeks, I feel convinced that their efforts 
would be fully rewarded by the response exhibitors 
would make. 
I notice that the “Turner Memorial Fund ” trustees 
have contributed five pounds to the funds of the 
National Auricula Society, and a similar sum to the 
Royal National Tulip Society. If those gentlemen 
could only have had in their minds, at the time these 
handsome donations were granted, what a lover of the 
“Pink” the late Charles Turner was, and what a large 
grower and exhibitor he was thirty or thirty- five years ago, 
at the time he raised the then celebrated Pinks, 
“Sarah,” “Optimer,” and numerous others, they 
might with very good grace have divided the ten 
pounds into three, and have voted one third as prize 
money for Pinks, to be competed for at two or three 
of the coming July flower shows. The very name of a 
“Turner Memorial Fund” prize would, I venture to 
say, bring together such specimens of the Pink, as 
would not only be appreciated by the public, but 
would give encouragement to present growers, and 
induce amateurs to add to their collections one of the 
greatest charms of florists’ flowers.— James Thurston, 
Cardiff. 
Auriculas—The Awakening has Commenced ! 
Dull, gloomy and wintry as it is, the plants are show¬ 
ing signs of growth, and in another fortnight, especially 
if some warm and sunny weather should set in, they 
will literally rush forward in the race to flower. It is 
because the plants should have the advantage of all 
the solar light and warmth which can be had at this 
season of the year that it is recommended the plants 
should have a south or south-west aspect in the early 
spring months. “Turn the frame round to the sun” 
was the advice of the old Auricula growers, and the 
advantage is obvious. The grower can assist nature 
by cleansing the pots of any growth or slime during 
the winter, by removing from the surface any stale soil 
and replacing it with something fresh and sweet, by 
removing all decayed foliage, and imparting a neat and 
clean appearance to their plants. All these little 
attentions are helpful, and the plants appreciate them 
in their silent and expressive way. If the sun shines 
out brightly, fresh air rather than shade is what is 
required. In giving air, secure the plant as much as 
possible from cold draughts. The coming two months 
are delightful ones for the Auricula grower, and he will 
soon begin to look for the first-fruits of the flowering 
season.— Pi. D. 
Carnations and Picotees. 
Thanks, friend Rowan, I am delighted to learn that 
others are searching in the same direction as myself. 
Your quotation from the schedule of the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society, shows how the stream is 
flowing. I should like to see copies of each of the 
two societies’ schedules ; they are, doubtless, in 
circulation amongst the subscribers, and might b e 
obtained from the respective secretaries, but if published 
in the pages of The Gardening World, they would be 
seen by all the floral brotherhood, and both gardener and 
amateur could learn what may be expected to be seen at 
the Drill Hall in July, and at Stanley Road, Oxford, in 
August, and thus be induced to attend in great 
numbers. The Carnations and the Picotees are each 
and all amenable to culture in the greenhouse or garden, 
by peer and peasant alike, in almost any soil or climate, 
and the publication of the schedules would be an 
advantage at the present time, insomuch that as now 
the schedules of most societies are being prepared for 
the coming season, and the love for these grand old 
florists’ flowers is spreading, there would be a chance 
of seeing a class or classes introduced at each and all of 
the metropolitan and provincial exhibitions. 
Mr. Rowan says I may remember the papers written 
by the Rev. George Jeans, and published in the Florist. 
No, I am sorry to say that I fear I am one of thousands 
who have not had the advantage of their study. The 
year 1849 appears as yesterday to me, time flies so 
rapidly, but during that time many changes have 
taken place—the florists’ Carnation, Auricula, Poly¬ 
anthus, Pink, Pansy, and many others had vanished 
from general culture, and were only to be found in 
the possession of a few enthusiasts ; but now there 
is a glorious revival of the old as well as a desire for 
the new, so much so that I think it would be wise to 
reproduce the writings of such men, “for there were 
giants in those days,” if they could be compiled and 
issued in pamphlet form for the instruction of the 
coming generation of gardeners, as well as for the 
edification of those more advanced in years. I, as one 
of the latter (very far advanced), would be glad to read, 
mark, and learn, being ever anxious to advance. I 
still feel a novice amongst the wondrous beauties of 
Nature, ever on the look out for the best, new or old, 
amongst the flowers I love.— IV. War dill, Luton. 
-->T<-- 
THE ROSE.* 
With so many good works on the Rose as have appeared 
during the last quarter of a century, it says much for 
the inherent good qualities of the one published by 
Mr. Cranston, of Hereford, that a seventh edition 
should have recently been called for. The first edition 
was published thirty years ago, and each succeeding 
edition may be said to have brought the subject matter 
up to date, and to have recorded from time to time the 
experience of one of the most successful cultivators and 
exhibitors of the Rose that we have. Mr. Cranston is 
above all things a practical man, and in a plain straight¬ 
forward way he records his successes and failures, and 
gives such instructions of a cultural character as cannot 
fail to teach even a tyro how to proceed and what to 
avoid if he would successfully grow this right royal 
flower. 
The first part of the book, extending to sixty-eight 
pages, is devoted to cultural directions, in which the 
various methods of pruning, training, and disbudding 
are amply explained. The modes of treating various 
kinds of soils, with a view to the welfare of the Rose, 
are plainly described ; as well as the manures which, 
under various conditions, give the most satisfactory 
results. The various methods of propagation are also 
treated upon ; and in discussing the subjects of cross¬ 
breeding and hybridisation, the author encourages 
amateurs, as well as professional Rose growers, to take 
up the work of raising new varieties in this country, so 
that the Roses of the future may have stronger consti¬ 
tutions, and thereby be the better able to withstand 
the rigours of our climate than the continental-bred 
varieties. The subject of forcing is discussed at some 
length, and details are also given as to how plants 
should be treated that are intended for exhibition. 
The second part is devoted to selections of the most 
popular and esteemed varieties, classed under the 
species from which they have been derived. Not the 
least remarkable feature of the work is an alphabetical 
list of about 2,000 varieties of Roses—as complete a 
list as it is perhaps possible to obtain of the varieties 
that have been introduced—with the class to which each 
belongs, the name of the raiser, the date of introduction, 
and brief particulars relating to habit and colour. 
The lists of varieties specially suitable for particular 
latitudes and localities and smoky towns will be 
specially useful, and no less so to the inexperienced 
will be the calendar of seasonable operations. A book 
that can be heartily recommended is Cultural Directions 
for the Pose. 
-—- 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
At the meeting of the Manchester Horticultural 
Improvement Society, held on Thursday evening, 
February 21st, Mr.fBrue.e Findlay, the president, in 
the chair, Mr. Samuel Barlow, J.P., Stakehill House, 
Castleton, in an address on “Garden Gossip,” said 
that during his long experience he had always derived 
great pleasure from associating with men who, although 
in humble positions, were sympathetic with him in his 
love for floriculture and horticulture. Many of these 
* Cultural Directions for tiie Rose. By John Cranston, 
King’s Acre Nurseries, Hereford. Seventh edition. 
men were possessed of an immense amount of mother 
wit, and he had also found the results of their ex¬ 
perience, communicated in their own peculiar fashion, 
to be of the greatest value to him. It would be only a 
small return indeed for the many benefits he had 
personally received from them, to put on record a few 
of their sayings and doings. He had read and enjoyed 
a goodly number of the witty sayings which passed 
current in the olden times, but amongst these men he 
had heard more genuine humour than was to be found 
in the jest books of the more educated circles. Alluding 
to his own love for flowers when a child, he had advised 
that whenever a child showed a taste for gardening it 
should be cultivated, for from that pursuit children 
would derive a great amount of pleasure and profit. 
Mr. Barlow had a great deal to say about Lancashire 
people, their peculiarities and quaint sayings. Many 
of these humble people loved gardening, and to them 
horticulturists were greatly indebted for much of their 
knowledge. He related a number of anecdotes to show 
the keen perception of humour which these people had. 
He said the subject was an almost inexhaustible one, 
and he could not possibly do it justice at one meeting. 
He, however, held out hopes that at an early date he 
would be able to continue the subject. 
The president said Mr. Barlow had pointed out their 
indebtedness to small and humble growers. He hoped 
it would not be long before County Councils would 
bring forward some resolution to assist humble growers 
in cottage gardens. He thought prizes could fairly be 
given out of the county fund for the best cultivated 
gardens, and for the best produce from them. He 
trusted that Mr. Barlow would see his way as a County 
Councillor to bring this matter forward, for there was 
many things more unpractical and unreasonable than 
what he suggested. Referring to the effect of a love of 
flowers and such-like things on the humbler classes, he 
was of opinion that the works of nature were quite as 
elevating as the works of art, and more refining in 
their tendency. It was a curious fact that thousands 
more persons annually visited Kew Gardens than the 
National Gallery. 
Mr. A. Stansfield thought their acquaintance with 
the old local characters should be renewed. Mr. Barlow 
had entered a wide field, and he would not have finished 
his task until he had thoroughly ploughed and culti¬ 
vated it. Mr. R. Tait, Mr. Leo H. Grindon, Mr. 
E. G. Hughes, Mr. W. B. Upjohn, and Mr. Rogers 
also took part in the discussion. 
-»>!<-=- 
A BLUE PRIMROSE. 
I HAVE been having an interesting correspondence with 
Herr Max Leitchlin, of Baden-Baden, relative to the 
blue Primrose shown at the last meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society under the name of True Blue. 
In one of my letters I said that the artificial evolution 
of the blue Primrose had been the work of years, and 
had been accomplished only by persistent selection. 
To that Herr Max Leichtlin replies : —“ Yes, it is quite 
true ; such a valuable sport is the work of years. I am 
labouring at it since twelve years last, but in this 
country the Primroses do not grow so well as they do 
in England. I well remember when—now forty years 
ago—there w T ere only violet, yellow, and white Pansies, 
and now-a-days we have many shades of pure blues. 
There can be no question that Primroses must come 
blue, only they take much longer to raise, and stick 
with greater tenacity to their typical race, having 
always a tendency to revert. Here I have great diffi¬ 
culty in saving the seeds, which are attacked by slugs, 
and when not taken just ripe, ants carry them away. 
Yet, notwithstanding all difficulties, I have made steps 
in the direction to blue, and hope that among a batch 
of seedlings the desired shade may come ; but, alas ! ’tis 
only hope. I always take abnormal colours as seed- 
bearers, and I find this brings me more forward by 
selection than if I take pure colours to do so.” Some 
years ago it was regarded as practically impossible to 
get the blue shade into certain flowers ; but in spite of 
all, it has appeared unexpectedly in some—among them 
the blue variety of Primula sinensis. Advances in this 
direction have also been made, with more or less degree 
of attainment, in the case of the show and zonal 
Pelargoniums, Rose, and Dahlia; but the rate of 
progress is very slow. Going back to the Primrose, 
my old friend Mr. Samuel Barfow has raised two blue 
varieties from some selected seed I sent him a few years 
ago ; one has been named Sapphiro and the other Lady 
Salisbury. Nor must we forget Mr. G. F. Wilson's most 
satisfactory work in this direction. His Scott-Wilson 
was a marked advance, and from it he anticipated an 
instructive progeny. I am not sure if these antici¬ 
pations have been realised, but the work already done 
is worthy of all praise.— P. D. 
