888 
February 20, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Carnations: A split Calyx. 
A correspondent writes :—“ I should be very glad 
if you would kindly give me the names of a dozen or 
so of good border Carnations that do not split their pods. 
I have purchased several of the recent introductions, 
and find that most of them are ‘ pod splitters,’ 
which, in consequence, in my opinion are not worth 
the trouble of growing.” 
The only answer I can make to your enquiry, is 
that I know of no double Carnation which may be 
guaranteed to bloom without more or less of irregu¬ 
larity in the points of the calyx. Singles and semi¬ 
doubles alone in my experience throw out their 
petals without infraction of the calyx beyond the 
opening of nature. And pray forgive me, and least 
of all do not think I would be offensive, if I say I 
have no sympathy with your objection to a split 
calyx. No florist in any generation has more strin¬ 
gently insisted upon the point that flowers for com¬ 
petition should have the calyx intact. But outside 
competition I am really at a loss to know why we 
should reject a mass of glorious inflorescence be¬ 
cause, perhaps, it comes nearer in a few cases the 
winged form of the Lily than the hemispherical 
Dianthus. This is my conclusion after fifty years of 
study, and after such attempt to understand the prin¬ 
ciples of beauty as may be found by one daily en¬ 
grossed in business cares and necessities. But I do 
not for one moment mean to say you are bound to 
arrive at a similar conclusion.— E. S. Dodwell. 
National Dahlia Society. 
The annual meeting of the above society was held 
on the 9th inst., in the room of the Horticultural 
Club, Hotel Windsor, Mr. E. Mawley presiding, and 
there being present a good representation of growers 
and exhibitors. The report read by the secretary 
stated that owing to the reduction in the amount of 
the members' subscription a less sum had been 
received this year than last, though there had been 
a slight increase in the number of members. The 
annual exhibition held at the Crystal Palace last 
September was stated to have been the best held 
since 1887, the show and fancy varieties being 
numerous and very fine, the Cactus and single 
varieties never before so numerous, and of such high 
quality. The experiment of a class for true Cactus 
varieties answered well, and made a specially inter¬ 
esting feature ; and the list will have to be extended 
by the addition of the new varieties of 1891. The 
death of Mr. Henry Glasscock, of Bishop's Stortford, 
the champion amateur Dahlia grower, was deplored as 
a serious loss to the society. The financial statement 
showed an income from all sources, including the 
balance brought over from 1890 of /31 17s. yd., 
amounting to /153 is. id., and the entire expenditure, 
including the payment of all the prizes awarded at 
the Crystal Palace, to £150 18s. 3d., leaving a 
balance in the society’s fund of /2 2s. iod. Some 
members' subscriptions not yet paid, when realized, 
will enable a balance of something like £-] 7s. to be 
carried forward. 
The usual exhibition will take place at the Crystal 
Palace on the 2nd and 3rd of September. The 
names of Mr. Samuel Barlow, J.P., Mr. G. H. St. 
Pierre Havus, and Mr. John Downie were added to the 
vice-presidents ; and those of Messrs. A. Rawlings, 
F. Glasscock, F. Vagg, and G. Phippen to the 
committee. The hon. secretary, Mr. T. W. 
Girdlestone, was re-elected, and heartily thanked for 
his services during the year. 
WEATHER FOLK LORE. 
Regarding old sayings about the weather, it is 
worth remarking how true two at least of them 
proved in relation to the year 1891. 
A cold April brings Corn and wine, 
i.e., a good harvest, and it is cheering to find that 
notwithstanding the fact that the bitterly cold spring 
of 1891 was followed by as cold, wet, and cheerless a 
summer as anyone could well wish not to experience, 
the Corn grew and “ did ” far better than could have 
been expected. The Wheat-ears were long and well 
filled, and although the wet, stormy weather at the 
end of August gave us Barley too much discoloured 
for the fastidious taste of the brewer, and here and 
there Wheat “ laid," and even a little chitted, yet the 
latter grain, albeit a little coarse in the skin from 
standing too long in the fields, seems from all 
accounts to yield remarkably well when brought to 
the threshing machine. The other prophecy was 
fulfilled only too well. 
All the months in the year 
Curse a fine Februeer. 
We had last year the finest February which has 
occurred within living memory ; but since the close 
of that month it is no exaggeration to say that June 
and the early part of September gave us the only 
seven consecutive days of genial, seasonable weather 
which we enjoyed. The very heavy fruit crop, as well 
as our ornamental and timber trees, suffered sorely 
from the autumnal gales ; and the remembrance of 
those long weeks of continuous rain as the short dark 
days came upon us will make us glad to see " Feb¬ 
ruary fill dyke” in all its old form again. 
It was observed recently that the partridges began 
to pair much earlier than the traditional 14th of 
February, and those who are dwellers in country 
districts and take note of such things say that the 
fact of the early pairing of the partridges may be 
taken as indicating the probability of an early and 
genial spring. Let us hope so, for it is nearly time 
Nature awoke to the sense of responsibility of her 
position, and paid some attention to the just claims 
to consideration the gardener can place before her. 
-—I-- 
GROWING TURNIPS FOR 
EXHIBITION. 
To succeed well at a Fbwer Show, knowledge and 
experience is necessary in the growing and showing 
of the simplest subjects, even such as the common 
Turnip. No doubt many a one wonders how the 
beautiful golden yellow balls to be seen at some sho*s 
are produced, with skins so smooth as often to elicit 
the remark, “ That fellow has polished them with 
butter." I don't believe in the butter dodge, but by 
treating them as hereinafter described, the grower 
may depend on producing specimens to his-satis¬ 
faction. 
Soil. 
This has much to do with success, and should be 
poor. A bed that has carried an exhausting crop the 
previous year, or is otherwise poor, should be chosen. 
A layer of sand along the rows and mixed a little 
with the soil, is of advantage in reducing its strength 
and giving a smooth surface. Among rough soil 
snails find a lodgement, and these pests may spoil a 
whole crop for competing purposes ; the Turnip bed 
should therefore be smooth. The time to sow is 
regulated to some extent by the date of the show. 
For shows at the end of August, sow one crop about 
June 1 st, and a second sowing about three weeks 
later, so as to make certain of hitting the time. So 
much depends on locality and climatic influence 
that arbitrary dates cannot be fixed. Sow in rows 
about 15 m. apart, and thin out to 8 in. or 9 in. between 
the plants. Should the Turnip Fly visit your crop 
give a slight dusting overhead with soot when the 
leaves are wet; while effecting a cure the soot also 
acts as a stimulant. Sunlight and air should get to 
their roots as much as possible, in order to assist the 
colouring of the yellow varieties. From a bed in 
which nothing can be seen for foliage no prizes may 
be expected. 
Exhibiting Them. 
It is easier to arrive at a standard for judging 
vegetables than flowers. Utility is a first consider¬ 
ation, form and size coming after. Some vegetables 
are spoiled both for show and culinary purposes by 
being grown extra large ; others are not. Among the 
former is the garden Turnip. A large specimen has 
no chance on the exhibition table, or should have 
none; while in the kitchen it is looked on with sus¬ 
picion as being soft and hollow-hearted. What is 
wanted is a firm built bulb of medium size, say 
about a foot or little more in circumference. In 
form it should not be quite round, but a little 
flattened and well-proportioned throughout, the 
root small and thin, the leaves few and cut off an 
inch from the crown ; colour, a deep-golden yellow, 
or if white, of course as pure as possible. The 
yellow varieties, which are most in favour for ex¬ 
hibition (at least in Scotland), are often dressed by 
having their rough parts carefully scraped off with a 
knife and the whole polished with a cloth; some 
competitors in their enthusiasm even using silk. It 
should be noted that the mature yellow turnip is 
richest in colour. The Snowball variety will 
not stand rubbing or bruising. If their silvery- 
white skin is broken they soon after appear of' a 
dirty white. Simply wash theftl dlean. The vellow 
varieties are much improved in colour by being 
lifted two days before the show, and then buried in 
damp sand. When staging them they should be 
neatly arranged on plates, or in boxes lined with 
silk paper. Artful staging should never be lost sight 
of; it often means a prize instead of a blank. 
Growing TurnIpS for Ordinary Use. 
About the beginning of May sotv Early Milan of 
Snowball for first crops, and another sowing 
about the end of May. In mild localities a sowing 
may be made in April, but a sharp morning’s frosf 
may make a whole crop run to seed. Two sowings 
of yellow varieties may be made, one in May, and 
another in June for second crops. Laing’s Swede 
should be sown about June 1st, for winter use. All 
other varieties are best used in a young state, hence 
sowing at intervals is fegomifiended. The soil 
should be moderately rich only, except for Swedes, 
which should have a liberal supply o'f mafftire. The 
Swede should be in rows 2 ft. apart and 9 in. iff the' 
rows, the others about 15 in. between the rows. 
I trust the foregoing directions will be of service in 
helping beginners into the list of prize-takers, and 
also Amateurs who do not compete, in having a 
fresh and seasonable supply of the indispensable 
garden Turnip mostly all the year round.— Michael 
Cuthbertson, Public Park Nursery, Rothesay, N.B. 
PHALzENOPSIS AT 
CLAPTON. 
The Phalaenopsis house near the entrance to the 
nursery of Messrs. Hugh, Low, & Co., Clapton, is 
now gay from end to end with different species, 
varieties, and natural hybrids of this beautiful genus 
of plants, popularly known as Moth Orchids. The 
bulk of the kinds we noted the other week consisted 
of P. Schilleriana and P. amabilis, as might be 
expected, but there were numerous other and rarer 
kinds. It was a little too early for P. Stuartiana 
when we inspected the collection, so that few of them 
were in bloom. The fine show at present is doubt¬ 
less due to the absence of fog since Christmas. 
Good cultivators have no difficulty in making a 
display of Phalaenopsis, but in the neighbourhood of 
large towns the fog nuisance often plays havoc with 
the flowers. 
Near the entrance to the house above mentioned 
we noted a fine piece of P. casta well furnished with 
strap-shaped deep green leaves. The flowers were 
large and handsome with white sepals and petals 
slightly tinted with pale purple near the base. The 
lip was white, tinted with yellow at the base of the 
middle lobe; the base of the side lobes and the 
golden yellow crest were spotted with crimson. 
Another noteworthy kind was P. leucorhoda rosea, 
having rather darker flowers and more colour in 
them than in the type. The leaves were 12 in. long, 
obovate-ligulate, leathery, and mottled or marbled 
with deep olive green on a greyish-green ground. 
The side buds of the flower scape develop into 
sprays of bloom should the apex get cut off either 
accidently or intentionally. This is an advantage 
should the first opened blooms get destroyed by 
fog, for then the upper portion may be cut off in the 
hope of getting a second flowering later on. This 
peculiarity is also shared by P. amabilis, P. Ludde- 
manniana, P. Brymeriana, and in fact most if not 
all of the species except P. Schilleriana. 
The flowers of P. Brymeriana are smaller than 
either of the above named, excepting of course P. 
Luddemanniana, but they are nevertheless pretty 
and interesting. The flower scape may either be 
panicled or racemose according to the vigour of the 
plant. The sepals and petals are white faintly 
tinted with pink. The side lobes of the lip are 
shaded with rose and streaked with red on a white 
ground; the middle lobe is of a warm reddish 
purple. What may interest connoisseurs is that the 
points of the middle lobe of the lip of P. Brymeriana 
are subulate and straight as in P. Veitchi. There 
was a fine plant of this sort, grown in a basket and 
kept in a light posiiion near the glass. 
Amongst the very numerous specimens of P. 
Schilleriana in bloom a considerable variation may', 
be noted in the colour of the foliage and also in the 
size and colour of the flowers, as well as the amount, 
of branching of the" flower scape. One variety' we 
noted had very dark foliage and also more richly 
coloured flowers.' Another plant exhibited an 
interesting peculiarity. It boretwo flower scapes/. 
