454 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 16, 1889. 
know very well a more genial or better class of men 
never lived than our gardeners, but their kind natures— 
their desire to treat their fellow man generously— 
often work to their injury. Very many of the best, in 
being kind to others, have been unkind to themselves, 
to their utter ruin. 
IVe know of many instances where men of wealth 
have become so disgusted with the arrogance and 
unsteady habits of their gardeners, that they have 
either abandoned their conservatories, or employ only 
an inexperienced gardener, simply because they will do 
as they like with their own. We know others that 
would gladly erect large structures for flowers and fruits, 
but will not because of this peculiarity of the gardener. 
The situation in America is simply this. If an 
experienced gardener, a man worthy the name, comes 
here, and gets a situation, and at the same time is 
determined to please his employer in all ways, he will 
very soon get £10 to £20 per month, and a good house 
to live in. Many of our most successful florists came 
here with this intention ; they did as men should do, 
and the result in many cases was that the owner of the 
place said, “Here, John, I will put up a range of 
houses for you if you like ; I will furnish the bullion 
and you the brains, and we will divide the profits.” 
I have an intimate friend in an English gardener who 
started in just this manner, and who is now worth 
£20,000, which he has made within the last fifteen 
years ; and there are many others I could name who 
are on the same road to success. 
In conclusion, let me say to the gardener who starts 
out for America, leave caste or rank at home ; do not 
think because you rate A 1 at home that you will here 
rank higher than he who cannot pot a plant. Your 
ability will be fully appreciated, but that alone will 
not meet with success. You must be a man as well as 
a gardener—then success awaits you.; and it is here 
considered a better indication for a man to spend his 
evenings at home rather than at the beershop.— 
C. L. Allen, Garden City, N. T. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
-■$»— 
Dahlias. 
Those who possess old tubers, either of the single or 
double kinds, should now overhaul them, and see that 
they are sound and good before inserting in soil to start 
them. Cut away all decayed tubers, or portions of 
them, and allow the wounds to dry up for a day or two, 
or rub them over with dry powdered charcoal. Then 
get a box or boxes, according to the quantity, and 
having put some rough material in the bottom by way 
of drainage, set in the roots as thickly as they may con¬ 
veniently be placed, and cover up with light sandy 
soil containing a good quantity of partly-decayed but 
rough leaf-soil. Leave the crowns well exposed, so 
that the progress of the buds may be watched, as well 
as to prevent damping. Place the boxes in the warm 
end of the greenhouse, where a moderate heat is main¬ 
tained. Here they will come on rather slowly at first, 
but as the sun increases in power, so will the Dahlias 
grow. Those who possess a warm propagating case 
may then take off cuttings and root them. Those who 
have not this means at command may simply divide 
the old tubers carefully with a knife, retaining a tuber 
to each bud if possible ; or if this cannot be done, part 
of one will suffice to form a new plant, which should be 
potted up in a light but rich compost, and put back to 
the same place till they form fresh roots. After 
becoming established, they may be removed to cooler 
quarters, with more ventilation to keep them sturdy. 
Gladioli. 
Several methods or modifications of the same are 
adopted, with the view of obtaining an early batch to 
flower before the main lot comes on. One method is 
simply to plant early in the open ground, and this 
may be done at once proviled the soil is fairly dry and 
in good workable order. Another way is to pot up a 
selection of large or good corms in 3-in. pots, standing 
the latter in a house where a moderately high tem¬ 
perature is maintained. Here, however, if they stand 
for any length of time they must not be neglected in 
the matter of light, that is, if they are primarily stood 
in a dark place or at a distance from the glass for the 
sake of greater warmth. As the foliage elongates the 
pots had better be placed in a light position near the 
glass in a properly ventilated house. Harden them off 
and plant out of doors as soon as the weather becomes 
favourable. Another way is to plant the corms thickly 
in a box, and place out after they have made some 
growth, but this method is objectionable, on account 
of the injury to which the roots are liable. Select all 
the small corms, and plant immediately in a reserve 
piece of ground consisting of rather rich soil. A great 
number of these small corms will flower strongly in 
autumn, forming at the same time good-sized corms for 
next year’s flowering. 
Propagating Herbs. 
These are propagated in different ways, according to 
the character and habit of the respective kinds. 
Annual sorts must, of course, be propagated from seed, 
while most of the perennial or shrubby kinds may also 
be grown in this way by those who have no old plants, 
and wish to add fresh subjects to their collection. Sow 
at once, when the soil is in favourable condition, seeds 
of Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), Fennel (Fcenieulum 
vulgare), Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis), and Pot 
Marjoram (Origanum marjorana). The following sub- 
shrubby kinds may be propagated by slips or cuttings— 
namely, Sage (Salvia officinalis), Hyssop (Hyssopus 
officinalis), Lavender (Lavandula vera), and Rue (Ruta 
graveolens). The undermentioned old and well-known 
kinds are readily and easily increased by lifting the old 
plants and pulling them to pieces, each consisting of a 
few shoots, or even underground stems or rhizomes with 
their roots attached. Useful sorts are Peppermint 
(Mentha piperita), Spearmint (Mentha viridis), Thyme 
(Thymus vulgaris), Balm (Melissa officinalis), Chives 
(Allium Schcenoprasm), Common Marjoram (Origanum 
vulgare), Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), Winter Savory 
(Satureja montana), Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), and 
Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus). Pennyroyal may 
be left undisturbed till towards the end of the month, 
when the weather is warmer. 
Hardening 
->x<--- 
Miscellany. 
Anthracite Coal. 
Concerning the question as to the size of coal suitable 
for greenhouse furnaces, I may say that we use lumps 
weighing from 1, 2, to 3 lbs. It is delivered in certain 
sizes, such as “parlour,” “stove,” and “furnace.” 
We have no trouble in its use ; a fire will last as long 
again as with soft coal, and will “ draw up ” as easily. 
I have three houses attached to one boiler, running 
1,500 ft. of 4-in. piping, the fire-box having a capacity 
of about 250 lbs. When steam is “up” at 6 p.m., I 
can fill the box, and by regulating dampers, can run it 
until 7 a.m. next morning, maintaining a temperature 
of from 50° to 58°, according to houses, on zero nights, 
and by still further regulation, it will run until 4 p.m. 
next afternoon, and then “ draw up ” and “ brighten” 
ready for banking at 6 p.m.— T. D. Hatfield, Wellesley, 
Mass., U.S.A., Feb. 26th. 
Amaryllis, J. R. Pitcher. 
There is something very striking in the colour of this 
garden variety. One need not look inside the flower 
to see this colour, for both sides, including the tube, 
may for the want of a better term be described as of a 
rich crimson-red. The tone is exceedingly dark, so 
that on the whole the variety is notably distinct not¬ 
withstanding the number of kinds in cultivation. 
Although so nearly uniform, the inner face of the 
perianth is undoubtedly the brightest and most 
lustrous. The whole flower is of medium size, com¬ 
pared with the huge kinds now in cultivation, and the 
lower portion tapers into a short tube. It seems also 
to be an early-flowering kind, as it was one of the first 
to flower this season in the collection of Mr. B. S. 
Williams, Upper Holloway. 
Early Spring- Flowers. 
Those who lav out part of their garden for early spring 
flowers are well rewarded for doing so. At Oakwood 
we have a number of beautiful flowers in bloom, not¬ 
withstanding the late very trying weather. Early 
Cyclamens have been in great beauty, but are past 
their best; I am now sure that they thrive best in full 
sun. Narcissus minimus has been out for more than a 
month ; a large Hoop Petticoat, I believe Corbularia 
sulphurea, is in fine flower, and also a smaller pretty 
one. Hybrid Hellebores, of many shades of colour, 
are finer than we ever had them before ; these have a 
rough shelter in hard frost and in very rough weather. 
Some Helleborus niger I had from Bath, planted late, 
continue to throw up good flowers. Scillas are begin¬ 
ning to bloom, and so are Chionodoxas. Some species 
of Snowdrops are out, Galanthus plicatus, G. Imperati, 
G. Redoutei, G. Elwesii, and some others; some 
varieties I had given me before we knew the best places 
to grow them in, alas ! are lost. Many of the species 
of Crocus are most beautiful, one a purple, much richer 
in colour than any of the garden varieties I know. 
Hepaticas are coming out well ; some of our best are on 
a mossy bank, which adds to their beauty ; the single 
pink and blue have endless shades of colour. Primroses 
have been beautiful of all shades, many of the 
descendants of Scott Wilson having beautiful shades of 
plum-blue and blue-purple, and some of them are of a 
pale greyish blue, more like the colour of the old Blue 
Primrose. Iris reticulata coerulea, a gem, is nearly 
over, but the type is in beauty. A few hardy Heaths, 
both pink and white, are out, and large plants of 
Andromeda floribunda. Petasitis has not much beauty, 
but looks well in a mass. Snowflakes also are especially 
beautiful in large clumps. Anemone buds are slow in 
coming out. I have enumerated all the flowers I 
remember, but not writing on the spot some may have 
been left out .—George F. Wilson, Heatherbanl', Wey- 
bridge Heath. 
Trough-ton's Prolific Cucumber. 
This is the most prolific Cucumber I have met with. 
It is a seedling raised by Mr. William Troughton, 
nurseryman, Preston. A friend sent me a few seeds 
two years ago and I soon found it to be quite distinct. 
We have had fruits of it 24 ins. long, without neck or 
rib, and when better known it will doubtless make a 
name for itself on the exhibition table. The skin is a 
good shade of green, with a few black spines. The 
fruit is free from bitterness, even when badly grown, 
which cannot be said of many Cucumbers. The plant 
has a vigorous constitution, and shows as many as six 
and eight fruits at a joint, which set freely ; on this 
account it has proved to be an excellent variety for 
winter culture. All Cucumber growers should give it 
a trial, for I am certain it would afford every satis¬ 
faction as a winter-fruiting variety.— Llewellyn Jones, 
Roby Hall Gardens, Liverpool. 
Prunus Pissardii. 
I quite agree with your correspondent, “ R. D.,” that 
Prunus Pissardii is a very useful and highly decorative 
plant, and if placed in borders amongst other trees and 
shrubs produces a grand effect. I have a fine stock of 
it in my nursery, and I must say it stands well. It 
has also fruited out-of-doors in my borders for the last 
two seasons, the fruits being about the size of a small 
Greengage, and the flavour good. I thought perhaps 
some of your readers might like to know that it does 
fruit out-of-doors in this climate.— -W. Potten, Camden 
nursery, Sissinghurst, Staplehurst. 
Primrose, Bine Gem. 
Improvement continues to be made in the single 
varieties of Primula vulgaris, and in that under notice 
the depth of the blue colouring is most remarkable for 
a Primrose, or indeed a Primula of any kind. The 
individual blooms are large, and, with the exception of 
a large eye, is of a uniform tint, which for want of a 
better term we may call indigo-blue. It is not only a 
decided advance over the old-fashioned blue Polyanthus, 
but is altogether different from any of the blue forms 
of P. sinensis. The eye consists of five deep yellow 
lobes surrounded by a narrow white line. A plant was 
exhibited at the Drill Hall, 'Westminster, on Tuesday 
last, by Mr. R. Dean, of Ealing, when it received a 
First Class Certificate. 
Primula sinensis, Imperial White. 
The variety shown under this name at the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, on Tuesday last, by Mr. Robert Owen, 
Floral Nursery, Maidenhead, was a semi-double pure 
white of great substance. The flowers individually are 
large and apparently produced with great freedom. 
Being semi-double, of course the variety can be 
perpetuated by seed, a matter of no small importance 
from a horticultural point of view. The foliage is of 
the ordinary type, but robust, with red petioles. A 
First Class Certificate was awarded to it by the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Iris Rosenbacheana. 
Plants of this Iris were shown at the Drill Hall on 
Tuesday last, both by Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent 
Garden, and by Mr. James Douglas, gardener to 
Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford, and a First 
Class Certificate was awarded in both cases. In 
habit the species resembles I. tuberosa, and has 
light green flattened leaves clasping the stem at tue 
base. One flower terminates each peduncle, and is 
much larger than those of I. reticulata. The broad 
