510 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 13, 1889. 
I* 1,0 l] I 01. l/lT 1} li. 
Blue Gem Primrose. 
Mr. Dean sent me two blooms of Blue Gem Primrose 
a few days ago, and much pleased I was to see them. 
The variety is well worthy of the certificate, as in ad¬ 
dition to its lovely colour, it possesses all the properties 
of a first-class Primrose, including a strong gold plated 
eye, so much valued in florists’ Auriculas and 
Polyanthuses. 
As to the colour, all the colours in nature are derived 
from the three primary colours, red, blue, and yellow, 
and very rarely indeed, if ever, is the colour of a flower 
a pure representative of any of these, nor does it 
detract from its beauty that it is not, but on the contrary 
how often do we see the beauty of a flower enhanced by 
the mixture of colours. We speak of blue Hyacinths 
and blue Delphiniums ; did anyone ever see a pure 
blue flower of either 1 I do not think that I have, and 
I have seen some thousands of both. In all that I can 
remember there are mixtures of red in various tones of 
purple, violet, &c. ; the same may be said of the 
Gentians. The nearest to pure blues that I can at 
present call to mind is the blue colour of Delphiniums 
Bella Donna and Wheelerii, Gentiana verna, and Forget- 
me-not ; even the lovely blue of the latter has a trace 
of yellow in it. 
Blue Gem is nearer pure blue than three-fourths of 
the blue Hyacinths, or than half of the blue Del¬ 
phiniums. It is a purer blue than that exquisite 
Primula sinensis “ Holborn Gem,” which is none 
the less beautiful and distinct in a collection because 
it is lavender and not blue. Why there should have 
been opposition to its being certificated 1 cannot under¬ 
stand. Would there have been opposition to the 
granting of a certificate to a Dahlia equally as good a 
blue, and equally as perfect as a flower ? I trow not. 
Or was it opposed because it was simply a “ Primrose ” ? 
If so, I am glad that the Peter Bells of the Floral 
Committee were outvoted. How much poorer our lives 
and our literature would be if we had no Primroses ! I 
have yet to learn that the Primrose is inferior to any 
other flower.— S. Barlow , Stakehill, April 8 th, 1889. 
Being an admirer of the whole tribe of Primroses, 
and having read with interest the article in last week’s 
issue (p. 497), I should be very pleased if “ Blue Gem ” 
would inform me, through your columns, where I could 
obtain plants of the above-named Primrose, as I am 
very anxious to add the novelty to my collection. I 
should also be pleased to know where I could obtain 
plants of any species and varieties of this class of plants 
true to name.— Needwood. [The stock of Primrose 
“ Blue Gem’’ is in the hands of Mr. A. Dean, Bedfont, 
Middlesex. The others can be obtained from any 
nurseryman who makes a specialty of herbaceous and 
Alpine plants.— Ed.] 
-- 
CALADIUMS. 
When seen in their prime, there can be no question 
that Caladiums have a noble and telling effect. The 
vigorous-growing exhibition kinds can only be seen to 
best advantage when in the form of large and estab¬ 
lished specimens, so as to furnish a goodly number of 
leaves to hide the long petioles. The unique collection 
of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, at Forest Hill, is now in 
excellent condition, exhibiting a wonderful range and 
variety of colouring, from delicate porcelain-white to 
the deepest red and crimson, and in most cases showing 
a number of colours. 
Exhibition Kinds. 
All of the kinds mentioned under this heading are 
large specimens suitable for exhibition purposes. A 
specially handsome subject is Baronne James de 
Rothschild, the leaves of which are white with red 
midribs, and the finer ones of a warm rosy pink. The 
huge white leaves of Mrs. Laing are handsomely 
reticulated with green. Madame Lemonier has red 
ribs and a broad green border, while the whole centre 
of the leaf of Comtesse de Condeixa is rose-red sur¬ 
rounded by a narrow green edge. Madame Imbert 
Kceehlin is beautifully variegated with scattered red 
blotches on a greenish white ground. Two of the most 
delicate porcelain-white and almost transparent kinds 
are Madame Fritz Kceehlin and Duchesse de Montemart. 
The former has red ribs, green veins and edge, while 
the latter is undoubtedly the most delicate and fine, 
being lightly splashed here and there with pale green. 
Vigorous-growing kinds are Mithridate, Charle¬ 
magne and Souvenir de Madame Bernard. The latter 
has broad red leaves with a green edge, while Mithridate 
has a red centre and ribs. The second-named kind has 
very large red veins, being a counterpart of Le Titien, 
which is green with red veins. Equally vigorous as 
any of them is Leopold Robert Rothschild, which is 
marbled with green, red and white all over. The 
leaves of Triomphe de l’Exposition are arrow-shaped, of 
great size, crimson and red in the centre, with a broad 
green border. Somewhat similar is Sanchonianthon, 
but the broad border is pea-green. A beautiful and 
vigorous kind is Madame Marjolin Scheffer, which is 
red in the centre, and reticulated with green on a 
white ground over the rest. Luddemannii is also red 
in the centre, while the remaining portion is blotched 
with white and pink on a green ground. Bosphore 
rises to a height of 2| ft., and has green leaves, with a 
red centre and broad pink ribs. The leaves of Ferdinand 
de Lesseps are green, with a red centre, and range from 
2 ft. to ft. in height. 
Softer colours are presented by Mons. de Hallory and 
Clio ; the leaves of the former are of a beautiful cerise 
pink slightly marbled with green, while those of the 
latter are marbled with pink and pale green. Candidum 
is a near approach to white, as the name implies, and 
has long narrow green ribs. 
Decorative Varieties. 
Under this title may be included a number of beautiful 
decorative kinds that are naturally too small to be of 
any value for exhibition purposes. Their small size 
renders them admissible to stoves where larger kinds 
could not be accommodated. The silvery-blotched 
leaves of Argyrites are well known, and are but little 
inferior in size to those of Minus erubescens. A charm¬ 
ing dwarf kind is Ibis Rose, the leaves of which are 
wholly of a warm rose and very attractive. Comte de 
Germiny is comparatively new, dwarf, and wholly red 
with pink blotches. The leaves are larger than those 
of the above. A counterpart of Madame Imbert 
Kceehlin is L’Automne, having pale greenish white 
leaves blotched white. Raymond Lemoinier and 
Princess Royal may also be placed here. They have 
red centres, while the border of the former is greenish 
white, and that of the latter bright green. 
--»*«-- 
PETUNIAS. 
As in the case of Cinerarias, Chinese Primulas and other 
popular garden flowers, little attention is now given to 
the raising and naming of seedlings—at least, so far as 
the single kinds are concerned. The various strains 
are now generally so good and so diversified that a 
pinch of seed from any respectable firm will give a 
large percentage of beautiful kinds. 
A very suitable time to sow seeds is in March, especially 
where it is intended to plant the seedlings out. Seeds 
may still be sown for indoor purposes, and although 
they will be later in coming into flower, they will 
prove useful for the conservatory late in summer and 
in autumn. As the seeds are very small, the soil in 
which they are to be sown should be sifted through a 
£-in. sieve. Use a compost consisting of a small 
quantity of loam, with a large proportion of sifted leaf- 
soil, and sufficient sand to allow the water to pass 
away freely. Get some shallow seed-pans, drain well, 
placing some moss or other rough material over the 
crocks, and fill up with the compost. Press the soil 
firmly with the fingers, and after making it level water 
it well down with a fine-rosed pot. After the water 
has drained away for twenty minutes or half an hour 
sow the seeds thinly and evenly. Give a slight 
sprinkling of soil from the same compost, just sufficient 
to keep the seeds in position, but scarcely to cover 
them. Put a square of glass over the pans to preserve 
the moisture, and stand them in a moderately warm 
place where the seeds will soon germinate. As soon as 
this has taken place the square of glass should be 
removed, and the pans stood in a light position near 
the glass to prevent drawing. 
When the seedlings have attained an appreciable size 
to handle, and before they become crowded, prick off 
a sufficient number into shallow boxes of rougher soil. 
A moderate warmth must be maintained for a time to 
bring the plants on quickly, but an abundance of air 
must be given to keep the plants dwarf and sturdy as 
soon as they have taken to the new soil. Before the 
plants get crowded they should be potted off singly into 
60-size pots, using a compost consisting of two parts of 
loam to one of manure and a dash of sand. When 
established in these pots the weather will be sufficiently 
warm for them to be placed in cold frames, where they 
will receive all the advantage of light and a free 
ventilation. Even before this, if necessary, the tops of 
the plants should be pinched out to induce a branching 
and bushy habit from the very first. 
Never allow the plants to become crowded, otherwise 
their foliage will suffer, and they can never afterwards 
present the same fresh and healthy appearance. 
When grown in pots, they require a liberal supply of 
clear soft water, although we know from experience 
that Petunias bloom much more freely in the open air 
during a dry summer than a wet one. This may be 
applied to a ceitain extent as the plants in pots are 
coming into flower ; but it must always be remembered 
that if carried to too great an extent the foliage will 
inevitably suffer—a thing which is to be avoided. 
Weak liquid manure applied when the flower-buds 
begin to form will greatly assist the size of the blooms. 
When the plants are removed to the conservatory plenty 
of light and ventilation must be given. 
Single kinds may now be obtained in various colours, 
and striped in various ways. Some of the self-coloured 
flowers are really handsome, while others show a most 
beautifully-feathered venation, similar to that seen in 
the Salpiglossis. There is also a strain of blue or purple 
blooms, greatly resembling those of Clematis Jack- 
manni. Double-flowered kinds may be and are raised 
from seedlings, but they do not seed very freely, and 
require an experienced hand to set the flowers. They 
are only suitable for indoor culture on account of the 
heaviness of the blooms. 
--- 
The r ose G arden, 
Practical Rose Growing.* 
It can be fairly said that as a winner of the National 
Rose Society’s Challenge Trophies in London (1S87;, 
Edinburgh (1887), and Darlington (1888), and a very 
successful exhibitor generally, that anything written 
by Mr. John Harkness on Rose cultivation may be 
accepted as “gospel truths.” His little book of sixty- 
three pages on Practical Pose Growing is truly a 
Rose-growers’ guide, the observations being those of a 
close observer and a practical cultivator and exhibitor. 
Situation, soil and manures receive ample attention, 
and the observations in respect to them are most useful 
to amateurs. Stocks, selection of plants and planting, 
are the subjects of another chapter, and here again the 
amateur has trustworthy guidance. Propagation, 
pruning, disbudding, pests, &c., receive thorough 
treatment by the author, and much information is to be 
gained therefrom. A chapter is devoted to the selection, 
cutting and staging of blooms for exhibition, and 
intending exhibitors new to the work will be glad to 
have such good advice given to them. 
Part II. of the book is devoted to selections of garden 
and exhibition Roses, and lists are given, while a 
chapter on “Brief Hints on Monthly work amongst 
Roses,” gives a calendar of operations which young 
growers will do well to study. 
The MarEohal Niel Rose. 
After calling upon Mr. Fish, at Hardwicke, where 
Roses are grown everywhere, and Marechal Niel in 
abundance, I was agreeably surprised the same daj’, 
when calling upon G. Wood, Esq., at Brandon, to see 
so large and fine a plant as he has against a south wall, 
some 18 ft. high. Though it has been planted but a 
comparatively short time, it covers 40 ft. run of the 
wall, and Mr. Wood told me that it yielded an enormous 
number of blossoms. It receives no protection in 
winter, yet is in rare health.— Con. 
-o-Z<-- 
IfoTES ON ErUITS. 
The Lord Shffield Apple. 
Thomas Thorpe, of Rhodes, a man in humble life, raised 
the Lord Suffield Apple from a Keswick Pippin, and he 
raised also another variety, which is known as Miss 
Manley. I grow both of them. He raised them both, 
and the manner of doing so is known to most of you. I 
remember being in Scotland once, and going to Abbots¬ 
ford, the seat of the late Sir Walter Scott, where I went 
into the garden, and saw the gardener, who had a very 
nice lot of pyramidal Apple trees in good bearing order. 
I was admiring them, and he said, “But I will show 
you a new one,” and he took me to a Lord Suffield, 
which was laden with fruit, and he said, “I wish they 
were every one of that sort ; that is the best Apple I 
ever grew in my life.” I said that I knew the man 
who raised it, and that he lived within four miles of 
my house. So the gardener got quite interested when 
I told him the whole story. I mention this to show its 
wide-spread popularity. I may say that some years ago 
^Practical Rose Growing. By John Harkness, F.R.H.S., of 
Messrs. Harkness & Sons, Bedale. 
