February 8/1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
369 
pagating frame it will often root. You might try 
this on a future occasion. 
Ivy-Leaf Pelargoniums.— H. Warney writes: Will 
you kindly mention half a dozen of what you con¬ 
sider the best varieties of Ivy Leaf Pelargoniums ? 
Galilee, Beauty of Castle Hill, Ryecroft Surprise, 
H. Cannell, Percy Surman, and Jersey Beauty, are 
all first-rate sorts. They may be had at very reason¬ 
able prices from H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, 
Lewisham, S.E. 
Calceolaria cuttings.—How long should Calceolaria 
cuttings be, and when may they be inserted.—S. T. 
About three inches in length will be quite 
sufficient. The two bottom pairs of leaves may be 
taken off, and the stem cut through with a sharp 
knife just below their insertion. You may put in 
your cuttings as soon as you like now. They should 
then make decent plants by bedding-out time. 
-- 
SUTTON’S CYCLAMENS. 
In a vast establishment like that of Messrs. Sutton 
& Sons, Reading, there is no time for idleness at any 
season of the year, and at whatever time we pay a 
flying visit something is being carried on with zeal 
amongst newly-harvested or dried and cleaned seeds, 
or amongst the multitudinous cultures of flowers 
and vegetables on the seed farm. The other week 
we passed through the flower seed department of the 
extensive warehouses on our way to the Portland 
Road Nurseries. Everywhere here just now the 
greatest diligence prevails, but nowhere is there 
bustle and confusion. This is due to the admirable 
order in which everything is kept in alphabetical 
arrangement, neatly and distinctly labelled. The 
seed drawers are arranged, tier above tier, with 
mathematical precision from one end of the long 
room to the other, like a herbarium where seeds are 
kept, instead of specimens of the whole plant. 
Numerous assistants, some on the floor and others on 
step-ladders, follow each other in succession, and 
select from the drawers the particular seed they re¬ 
quire to make up the order-sheets in their hands. 
The orderly arrangement of everything is responsible 
for the precision, expediency, and punctuality with 
■which the respective orders are executed. The 
flourishing condition of this department is amply 
demonstrated by the fact that a large number of 
additional cases of seed drawers has just been added 
to those previously existing. We suggested that this 
must have necessitated a fresh arrangement of the 
labelling of the drawers, but were assured that it was 
an annual necessity, owing to the numerous additions 
and alterations of the seed list every year. If this is 
the case in one extensive room, we leave our readers 
to imagine the vast extent of the work that has to be 
accomplished during the year in what may be looked 
upon as a village of warehouses. The above is but 
a part of what we saw at a glance in passing through 
one house. , 
Sutton's Giant Cyclamen. 
As in the case of Chinese Primulas, recorded in our 
last issue, the Giant strain of Cyclamen is the most 
advanced type of the cultivator’s art in this particular 
class of flowers. This fact was forcibly brought 
home to our mind on coming across a plant of the 
original Cyclamen persicum, raised from seed brought 
home from Palestine. The soft lilac and twisted 
segments of the small but elegant flowers show how 
far they have been left behind by the march of pro¬ 
gress, improvement, and evolution at the hand of 
man When the giant form first appeared it flowered 
very sparingly, but the changes in this respect that 
have been effected by Messrs. Sutton & Sons are 
marvellous, for the quantity of bloom now produced 
by this strain leaves nothing to be desired. The 
colours infused into them are numerous, and the 
foliage is also varied and beautiful in its marbling 
and markings. Giant Rose is of a soft rosy colour, 
inclined to be feathered, and having a chocolate base. 
Much richer and darker is Giant Crimson, and telling 
when contrasted with the lighter shades. Sutton’s 
Giant White is the gem of this strain, both for size, 
substance, and snowy purity. Each petal measures 
ij in. in width. For decorations of various kinds, 
both on the plants and in the cut state, it is an 
acquisition. The special feature of Giant Crimson 
and White is the beautiful contrast produced by the 
crimson base to the pure white petals. The rich 
purple hue of Giant Purple enriches the strain con¬ 
siderably. All of the above and some more may be 
had separately or in packets of mixed colours. 
The Persicum Type. 
This is the name usually given to the ordinary strain, 
which, however, is vastly superior in every way to 
the unimproved original above mentioned. In fact, 
any one of the varieties mentioned below might have 
been described as perfection itself had we not known 
of the Giant Cyclamen strain. On entering the 
house we were confronted with a unique novelty 
named Salmon Queen. It was, indeed, certificated 
last year, but has only been put into commerce for 
the first time. The flowers are of large size, good 
substance, of a rich salmon shade, and profusely 
produced. It has taken ten years’ close attention 
and working to get this, but it well repays the 
patience and labour, for no one who knows anything 
about these popular subjects can pass it without 
being attracted by its beautiful distinct hue. Sutton’s 
White Butterfly has attained great popularity 
amongst a wide circle of gardeners. The large, pure 
white flowers are produced in great profusion and 
continuity over a long period. See the accompanying 
illustration, for which we are indebted to Messrs 
Sutton, Every plant is, indeed, a picture in itself, 
particularly when well grown in 48-size pots, as they 
may be seen at Reading. 
The ordinary white Persicum is noticeable not 
only for its flowers, but the beautifully-marbled 
foliage. Free and attractive is Sutton’s Rose, and 
Crimson and White is the counterpart of the giant 
form of that name. Vulcan is the richest and dark¬ 
est crimson Cyclamen in cultivation, and to avoid 
too violent a contrast with the pure white varieties 
it should be grown in batches by itself or toned down 
by the numerous intermediate colours, which give a 
charming effect in artistically-arranged combinations. 
It shows up grandly by artificial light. No collection 
should be without it. The silvery marbling of the 
foliage of Sutton’s Purple forms a handsome setting 
for the flowers. The length of time during which 
both of the above strains continue in bloom, even 
when grown for seed, is remarkable. They are given 
ample attention at Reading, and brought to perfection 
in 48-sized pots, and no staking whatever is 
required. 
We have occasionally seen a double Cyclamen, but 
here a strain of several colours already exists, in 
which each flower consists of seven to fifteen petals. 
We were particularly pleased with a double rose- 
coloured one, the flower stalks and flowers of which 
assume a spreading or horizontal direction, making 
the plants extremely well suited for suspending as 
baskets from the roof. It is also suitable for table 
decoration on a white cloth. The strain is a genuine 
novelty offered for the first lime in mixed colours. 
The seeds for next year's display were sown in 
November last, and the seedlings are now making 
good progress. Our attention was called to a strange 
anomaly in a solitary pan of seedlings, which look as 
if the sowing had been made several weeks later than 
the rest, though in reality at the same time and under 
the same conditions exactly, except that in this 
particular case some horse-hoof parings were sifted 
through a fine sieve and mixed with the soil. This 
particular manure has had a retarding effect upon 
germination. 
CYPRIPEDIUMS. 
It is certainly a matter for much thought and 
reflection that, during the past thirty years, so many 
additions should have been made to this interesting 
genus; and for the present purpose, the South 
American Selenipediums are also included in this 
notice. When the latter section was represented, as 
the writer can well remember, by just C. Schlimi, 
and C. caudatum, and Uropedium Lindenii, it was 
considered a clever feat when the former was 
induced to grow freely and produce its flowers in 
any way presentable. This little pet in the few 
establishments where it was grown was verily a 
little gem. Its flowers were highly prized, and its 
successful culture esteemed a great horticultural 
success. C. caudatum and U. Lindenii were 
perhaps a little more often met with, and even as now, 
the attenuated petals, reaching 24 in. to 30 in. in 
length, were objects of special interest to the grower 
and curious alike. 
Many a pilgrimage then was made from Hoddesdon, 
Wandsworth, Chelsea, Stamford Hill, Tottenham, 
Clapton, and Stratford, backward and forward, that 
the last new thing recently from abroad might be 
seen and admired. Hackney had been *the chief 
trysting place some short time before, and here, too, 
many of the grand, noble, and singular were seen for 
the first time. Now and again a veteran grower of 
those days is met with in the flesh, but in many 
cases masters and men have passed over to the 
majority ; and whilst we remember their successes t 
as well as some of their disappointments, we may, for 
our satisfaction and comfort, bear in mind that every¬ 
thing nowadays does not always succeed the first 
or even the second year of its introduction. 
Of the East Indian species, the writer can also 
well remember when C. insigne, C. venustum, C. 
barbatum, in several varieties, C. villosum, C. 
hirsutissimum, C. superbiens and C. Lowi, repre¬ 
sented just the whole of the sorts that were then 
cultivated. Perhaps it might be that the rare C. 
fairieanum would be met with in one or two of the 
places just mentioned; how rare it was then, and 
how seldom seen even now! It maybe that a too 
tender regard for its welfare hastened its departure 
when once it had been obtained; at all events, it 
Cyclamen, Sutton’s White Butterfly. 
