484 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 28, 1896. 
Merveille, blush-pink; La Grandesse, white; Von 
Schiller, rosy-red; Fabiola, blush-pink, striped 
carmine; Macaulay, semi-double, rose, striped 
carmine. The yellows are as yet a notoriously 
weak section. Judging from appearances, however, 
Obelisque is one of the very best we have at present, 
and one that is well worthy a trial. The’plants are 
all grown in 48-pots, and are thus very handy for the 
filling of ornamental vases, etc., in dwelling rooms. 
Tulips. 
These are no less worthy attention as suitable 
subjects for pot culture than the Hyacinths. A large 
batch of them staged side by side with the latter in 
one of the show houses at Holloway looked exceed¬ 
ingly gay and bright. The decorative section was 
the one chiefly represented. The bulbs were grown 
five or six in a 48-sized pot, and as each of the bulbs 
produced a large fine flower the result was a potful 
of bloom that was a veritable multum in parvo of 
beauty. These smaller pots had all been plunged, 
the same as the Hyacinths, in large 7-in. pots, the 
intervening spaces being filled up with cocoanut 
fibre. A considerable number of varieties was on 
view, of which the following are some of the most 
noteworthy:—Ophir d’Or is still one of the best 
yellows. It is rather dwarf in stature, but throws 
large flowers with segments of great substance and 
surpassing richness of colour. It lends itself very 
readily to early work. Rose Luisante, a rich rosy- 
carmine-hued flower, although it dates so far back 
as the year 1866, is still a good and distinct variety. 
Couleur Cardinal exhibits a deep rich cardinal hue 
that is all too uncommonly met with in our favourite 
flowers, whilst the gorgeous chestnut-red and gold 
of Keizer Kroon are too well known to need further 
description. Vermilion Brilliant, bright scarlet, and 
Dussart, deep dark crimson, are both excellent forms, 
whilst the creamy-purple flaked flowers of Cerise 
Gris de Lin may be described as beiDg rather more 
curious than pretty. A very charming section is 
that in which the flowers are semi-double and closely 
resemble a Paeony in form and appearance. Of 
these Murillo, a lovely blush-pink, flaked and 
striated with carmine; and Velvet Gem, rich 
chocolate-brown, the segments of the perianth 
lightly tipped old gold may be cited as excellent 
samples. 
Amaryllis. 
This popular subject is grown in large numbers at 
Messrs. Williams & Son’s establishment. We were 
rather too soon, however, to see them in their glory, 
as judging from appearances, the majority of the 
plants want at least another fortnight. Still these 
self-same plants were not without interest, for the 
strength and vigour manifested by the flower scapes, 
and the clean and healthy appearance of the foliage 
were prima facie evidences that their wants and 
requirements are well looked after, and that a brave 
display may be confidently expected presently. Dr. 
Masters, one of the earliest varieties, is said to 
average about 18 in. in height, and to throw flowers 
of extra large size. Several early seedlings were in 
bloom, but as they have not up to the present been 
christened we are prevented describing them in 
detail. 
Clivias. 
It would be hard indeed to exaggerate the glowing 
beauty of, and the brilliant effect produced by, a large 
house full to overflowing of these superb and 
decorative plants. Suffice to say that it is one of the 
features of the establishment at the time of writing. 
Plants in large pots of from 18 in. to 20 in. in 
diameter down to comparatively small yet neat 
specimens in 5 in. and 6 in. pots are all represented, 
and all are carrying huge umbels of the showy 
orange-scarlet flowers—in fact, some of the umbels 
borne by the larger plants would measure fully a foot 
in diameter. One of the best varieties is Ambroise 
Verschaffelt, the flowers of which are of a particularly 
deep orange-scarlet hue, shading somewhat lighter 
towards the edges of the segments. Holloway 
Beauty is another gem. The individual flowers are 
of more than ordinary size, and the segments are all 
prettily margined with silver. It exhibits a rather 
lighter colour than AmbroiseVerschaffel t. Lindenii is 
remarkable on account of the compactness of the 
truss. The flowers are of a rich scarlet hue, and the 
edges of the segments are rather more revolute than 
usual. Meteor produces a huge flower truss, but is 
most remarkable on account of its exceeding dwarf¬ 
ness. The flowers are fiery scarlet-orange in colour. 
Miniata splendens and Miniata princeps are both 
grand varieties that should be in every collection. 
The flowers of the former are of the same shade as 
those of Meteor, but the segments are spathulate in 
shape and the umbel is rather looser in character. 
Baroness Schroder shades nearly to white towards 
the centre of the flower, which throws up the rich 
orange of the outer portions of the segments with 
increased brilliancy. 
--t-- 
SPRING FLOWERS AT LONG DITTON. 
The early comers amongst spring flowers are always 
welcome because an earnest of more to come 
presently. In spite of the general and long-continued 
lack of sunshine, the mild weather is bringing on the 
flowers apace and urging the trees of various kinds 
into blossom. A boxful of spring flowers, consisting 
largely of Daflodils, reached us the other day from 
the nursery of Messrs. Barr & Son, at Long Ditton, 
Surrey. 
Amongst the Daffodils were the large sulphur 
Hoop Petticoat Narcissus (N. Bulbocodium citrinus) 
and the charming N. cyclamineus with its reflexed 
segments and cylindrical trumpet. Golden Spur is 
one of the finest of the Golden Daffodils and very 
suitable for forcing. N. princeps has larger and paler 
segments, but is otherwise a splendid variety. One 
of the earliest is N. pallidus praeccx, with delicate 
and charming lemon, sulphur, and primrose tints. 
Equally early and more popular for forcing and 
market purposes is N. obvallaris, the Tenby 
Daffodil, with a short and wide-mouthed golden 
trumpet. N. cambricus has broad sulphur seg¬ 
ments. 
Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) in various 
species or forms, furnishes the garden with some of 
the most delightful of spring flowers. C. Luciliae 
has large sky-blue flowers, with a white eye ; while 
those of C. gigantea are larger and soft sky-blue almost 
to the centre. C. sardensis has the smallest, but 
darkest blue flowers of the three. All of them con¬ 
stitute handsome flowers for spring bedding. The violet 
flowers of Iris reticulata, with a golden blotch on the 
falls, are deliciously scented. Scilla taurica alba has 
small white and very early flowers. The Hepaticas are 
always charming, and on this occasion the single 
blue and single red varieties were sent us. One of the 
prettiest and earliest of the hardj Heaths is Erica 
carnea with purple flowers. 
-- 
HOME-GROWN LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
The modest Lily of the Valley is a well known and 
universal favourite amongst choice flowers. It 
always receives exclamations of admiration when 
seen in fair condition, at whatever season it can be 
had in flower; and according to the gardening 
papers, its flowers may, by special arrangements and 
treatment, be had at any season of the year. But all 
are not fortunate enough to possess the necessary 
requirements, and, therefore, must make the best 
of the means they have at their disposal. The 
natural flowering season of the Lily of the Valley is 
a short one ; but to have it in flower for about six 
months out of the twelve, it is not necessary to have 
any very special arrangement further than a supply 
of good strong crowns and a fair command of heat, 
such as that of an ordinary stove. To flower it 
satisfactorily from December to March it is necessary 
to have the temperature of a stove or forcing house. 
After the latter month it will come very well in an 
intermediate temperature, such as that of a vinery 
newly started. When forced in a high temperature 
it should be removed as the blossoms begin to open, 
to a somewhat lower one, to harden the flowers and 
make them more durable after cutting. 
Lily of the Valley is not always found in gardens 
to be in the best condition for forcing; indeed, it is 
sometimes seen in any out-of-the-way corner where 
it receives little or no attention, producing very poor 
flowers, and few even of them, and, therefore, quite 
useless for forcing. To have good crowns for forc¬ 
ing or any purpose it must be well treated. Given 
good soil and situation it will repay the trouble. 
Some years ago we had only a small bed of it, about 
12 ft. long by 18 in. broad. Finding the demand 
ahead of the supply, the bed was cut up into small 
pieces, and planted in well-manured ground between 
the fruit trees at the base of a wall facing east, and 
200 ft. long. It grew well, and as it grew thick it 
was extended along the base of other walls. 
Three years ago we commenced to force it in 
fair quantity, and we had four stretches each 200 ft. 
long by about 18 in.wide to pick from. The crowns in 
many cases were quite equal to any of the best Berlin 
crowns we usually bought in. The foliage coming 
up very strong, and giving the boxes in which we 
force it a freshness which nothing else could. 
When lifted for forcing it is cut into squares with 
the spade, and then raised with a fork. The squares 
are put into the boxes as lifted, and any holes made 
up with small pieces or single crowns. Soil is put 
over the whole to fill up the crevices. The boxes 
are taken to where they are to be forced and well 
watered. When lifted in October and November, 
after being boxed, the boxes are stood where they 
will have a chance of getting well frozen before 
introducing them to heat. We have been cutting 
it in fair quantities weekly since December, and 
will continue till we get it in the open air, where its 
season of flowering may also be considerably 
lengthened by planting in different aspects.— Perth¬ 
shire. 
-—— —**——— 
iSCELLANY, 
SWISS STONE PINE. 
Pinus Cembra grows freely on the chalk escarpment 
and at Chaldron House, Boxmoor, several specimens 
are producing cones in great abundance, and, what 
is still more remarkable in this country, the seeds are 
fertile. Each cone is just 3 in. long, by about 2 in. 
in diameter, with thick, leathery scales, each 
enclosing two of the large wingless seeds.— A. D. 
Webster. 
SAXIFRAGA OPPOSITIFOLIA MAJOR. 
This improved form of our native species is now to 
be met with in most gardens ; large carpets of it are 
now studded with its lovely rosy-purple flowers which 
are borne singly on short stems, and so freely pro¬ 
duced that the foliage is almost hidden from view. 
S. oppositifolia alba, its white form, makes a charm¬ 
ing companion, each vieing with the other in 
harmonious opposition. When side by side on the 
base of the rock-work, or on the margins of the 
herbaceous border, they claim a large share of well- 
merited attention at the present time.— Coila. 
THE SYRIAN HIBISCUS (H. SYRIACUS). 
This grows and flowers with unusual freedom on the 
chalk formation ; indeed, I have never seen so great a 
profusion of the semi-double carmine flowers, each 
really as big as a monthly Rose, as are produced by 
plants growing where chalk occurs within 18 in. of 
the surface. I write this as it was stated recently 
that the beautiful shrub would not succeed in a 
alcareous or chalky soil.— A. D. W. 
-■+■- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Botanic, March i%th .—Spring flowers turned 
up in strong force at Regent’s Park on the above 
date. Most unfortunately the unfavourable state of 
the weather militated very considerably against 
success from the visitors' point of view ; for it rained 
incessantly the whole of the day. The exhibits 
were accommodated in the large corridor attached 
to the conservatory, and part were staged in the con¬ 
servatory itself. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Totten¬ 
ham, N., showed up strongly with a fine group of 
hardy cut flowers. A very comprehensive collection 
of Narcissi was the prime feature here, most of the 
leading early forms, both single and double, being on 
view. To these were added Freesias, Anemones, 
and Scillas in charming profusion (Silver Medal). 
A Small Silver Medal fell to the lot of the St. 
George's Nursery Co., Hanwell, W., for a splendid 
group of first-class Cyclamen. The flowers through¬ 
out were of extra large size, as well as being 
numerous on the individual plants. The same firm 
also received a first prize for twelve splendidly- 
grown plants of this choice flower. The Church 
Road Nursery Co., Hanwell, W., likewise showed 
Cyclamens in first-class style, being awarded a Small 
Silver Medal. Twelve plants staged by Mr. Bowles, 
Church Road, Hanwell, received an extra prize. A 
Large Silver Medal was deservedly awarded to 
Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, Herts, 
for a magnificent group of Camellias in pots. The 
stage in front of these was filled with a considerable 
