246 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 21, 1889. 
Beauty of Castlewood is a fine large Japanese sort in 
the way of Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, not so dark in 
colour, but much finer in build and petal, and is dwarf. 
Gold is another very promising exhibition Japanese 
variety, with large heavy flowers of the colour of old 
gold. Mrs. J. Clark (syn. Volunteer) is a very fine 
variety, flesh coloured, with very large and spreading 
flowers. H. Waterer is a very large yellow Japanese 
variety, suffused with coppery bronze in the centre. 
Magnet, belonging to the same class, has large pendulous 
flowers, of a pleasing mixture of rose and lavender. 
Excellent (Japanese), is of a beautiful soft pink, with 
very large spreading flowers, and will make a grand ex¬ 
hibition variety. 
Other Japanese kinds of great promise are Miss 
Esmeralda, fine crimson ; Coronet, orange ; Mrs. M. J. 
Thomas, sulphur-white ; G. F. Moseman (syn. David 
Allard), chestnut-red ; Cythere, rich purple; Mr. J. 
Brown, like Sunflower but darker; Seduction, peach 
colour; George Atkinson, white, after the style of 
Condor ; Mrs. Mencke, golden yellow, with narrow 
petals ; M. Bazart (incurved), amaranth, with silvery 
reverse ; Delie, bright cinnamon ; Jean Bernat, bright 
chestnut; Wm. Joice, purplish rose ; Mrs. J. C. Price, 
fine yellow ; L. Canning, large pure white; and General 
Jack, claret colour. There are several fine seedlings 
here in various colours, which are being named after 
some of our best growers, and will probably be sent out 
next year. 
The best large-flowered Anemones of this year are 
Mrs. Judge Benedict, white, with sulphur centre, and 
very large, E. C. Jukes, bright magenta, shading off 
towards the centre to bright gold, and very fine. Mrs. 
Charles Price, a fine white. The best of the new in¬ 
curved sorts are Ada Spaulding, of medium height, a 
strong grower, with its flowers larger even than any of 
the Queen family ; the colour is light rose, the lower 
petals much darker. It should make a grand acquisition 
to the incurved class. Mrs. S. Coleman is a sport from 
Princess of Wales, and like the parent in every way, 
except the colour, which is the loveliest canary-yellow, 
beautifully flushed with bronze and delicate rose. John 
Lambert is a sport from Lord Alcester, and is creamy 
yellow, beautifully shaded rose, and much superior in 
every way to Golden Queen or Emily Dale. Hermes is 
a new incurved sort in the way of Lady Hardinge, of a 
silvery lilac hue, and well worth a trial.— Visitor. 
-- 
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS. 
There is something peculiarly appropriate in the 
appearance of the Christmas Eose (Helleborus niger) at 
the festive season, and it must have been more 
valuable even in days gone by, when few other flowers 
were to be had for mixing with Holly, Mistleto, and 
other Evergreens, which were lavishly employed on 
many a high occasion. The advanced state of horti¬ 
culture, and the facility with which large quantities of 
hothouse and hardy forced flowers can be placed at the 
disposal of the public, not only at Christmas, but any 
time during autumn and winter, has lowered the 
Christmas Eose in the estimation of the public, and 
consequently its commercial value. Its hardiness and 
beauty will, however, preserve it in the first rank of 
popular flowers, so long as flowers of any kind are 
grown for ornament in this country. 
The industry in flower culture is a great and growing 
one, and although a visit to the London flower 
markets during the day will give some idea of its 
extent, yet the public, in general, can have no true 
conception of its magnitude, because so much of the 
wholesale trade is done in the small hours of the 
morning. There is not, perhaps, a greater variety 
at Christmas than at any other season, but the 
quantity is much greater, and the public taste may be 
gauged by such as are most plentiful; for whatever is 
most in demand, that the market growers will supply. 
Dark-coloured flowers are present only in small 
quantity, with the exception of Violets, Heaths, and a 
few Chrysanthemums. The greater bulk of those 
exposed for sale are either white or light coloured. 
White Flowers. 
White Chrysanthemums of various kinds hold the 
market for a long period every year, and amongst those 
to be seen at present are incurved, Japanese, and 
Pompon Anemones. Lady Lawrence and Lord Eversley 
may also be detected amongst them as pure as ever ; 
but a number of others are silently testifying to age 
and the lateness of the season, by assuming a pinkish 
hue. The Eucharis is always present, and the same 
might almost be said of white Marguerites and white 
Eoses, of which Niphetos seems to be the greatest 
favourite. The length of time during which white 
Lilac may be obtained is also remarkable. This may 
be said to extend from September till the last flowers 
have expanded in the open air, all the late and early 
supplies being obtained by forcing. The hardy 
Helleborus niger is frequently mixed with other flowei'3 
in bouquets, or is made into wreaths supported by Ivy 
leaves. The great trumpets of Eichardia africana 
also appear in bunches, or mixed in wreaths 
along with white Camellias. Chinese Primulas, both 
single and the double (Primula sinensis alba plena) 
find their admirers, and add variety to the chaste 
white Cyclamens. White Bouvardias are also great 
favourites, and the Paper White Narcissus, which 
has been in force for some time, will constitute an un¬ 
failing supply for a long time. White Tulips are 
represented by that variety of Due Van Thol, and white 
Azaleas are displayed in small quantity. Amongst 
white flowers, a number are notable for their fragrance, 
including Tuberoses, Eoman and other Hyacinths, Lily 
of the Valley, and Eoses. Eoman Hyacinths have 
been on the stalls and in the windows for a long time, 
but some of the early-flowering varieties of the large 
kinds are now making their appearance, and will be 
appreciated. The chaste Freesia refracta alba proves 
very amenable to forcing, for it already appears in fine 
form. 
Coloured Flowers and Ferns. 
Yellow Chrysanthemums in great quantity and variety 
show that few other classes of plants may be made to 
yield the same return for a small amount of labour and 
expense incurred upon them. Amongst the darker 
sorts, one may detect Val d’Andorre, and Edwin 
Molyneux. Miss Joliffe is still the favourite Carnation 
almost at any season. The double light blue Marie 
Louise Violet is now in fine condition. Salmon and 
yellow-coloured Tea Eoses in bud or half expanded 
form, together with white, are very charming at this 
period of the year. They are largely worked into 
bouquets, in company with many of the white flowers 
above mentioned. Others are made into button 
holes, along with Carnations, Violets, Tuberoses, 
and Orchids. Amongst the evergreen foliage used for 
mixing with the above, or sold separately, are Ferns of 
various kinds, including the common Adiantum 
cuneatum, the Black Spleenwort (Asplenium Adiantum 
nigrum), Nephrodium molle and Aspidium aculeatum. 
Large quantities of the Black Spleenwort and the last- 
named are brought into market at different times of 
the year, but more especially the former, and sold 
under the name of French Ferns. Both are, however, 
true British natives, but it is far more preferable to 
have them imported than that our natives should be 
exterminated. The rich bronzy green or bronzy red 
leaves of Mahonia aquifolium are largely used by 
themselves or for mixing with flowers, for which 
purpose the bright hues assumed by the Mahonia in 
winter admirably adapt it. 
Amongst the odds and ends to be seen on the stands 
or in the windows of the florist, are some baskets or 
other devices made of acorns, and the cones of the 
Spruce Fir strung together and varnished. There is a 
display of Mistleto, Holly, Ivy, Box, Laurel, and the 
dried seed-vessels of Lunaria biennis, popularly known 
as Honesty. The Mistleto is not so plentiful as we 
have seen it on former occasions, although it may be 
exposed in greater bulk a day or two before the 25th. 
Something less common in its way are some fine pieces 
of the yellow-berried Holly. 
Orchids. 
A large display of Orchids is never seen at any one time 
in the market, except perhaps on the occasion of the 
Covent Garden fete in aid of the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund. A sprinkling, however, may be seen in any of 
the first-class shops at any time of the year. The most 
frequent are Odontoglossum erispum and Cypripedium 
insigne, both of which are common and easily grown. 
Another tolerably common subject is Zygopetalum 
Mackayi. A great many kinds appear in the market at 
different times as they come into season. Amongst 
those that may be mentioned at present are Cypri¬ 
pedium Spicerianum, C. villosum, Lielia anceps, L. 
autumnalis, Calanthe Veitchii superba, Dendrobium 
Wardianum, Phaleenopsis amabilis, Odontoglossum 
grande, Oncidium tigrinum, and 0. pr<et,extum. The 
Moth Orchids (Phalrenopsis) seem to be favourites, for 
one or other of them may frequently be seen amongst 
cut flowers. Speaking of Orchids generally it may be 
stated that they are sold in sprays as they are cut from 
the plants, without any attendant foliage, or made up 
into button-hole bouquets, a popular method of 
employing them. 
Pot Plants. 
The number of species of plants that attain sufficient 
popularity to be grown on an extensive scale for market 
purposes are comparatively few, when we consider the 
number of plants in cultivation throughout the 
country, and which are available. The public demand 
and the ruling fashion modify or regulate the supply in 
a great measure, because the former involves so many 
side issues that must be taken into account The 
plants, for instance, must be showy or ornamental, and 
possessed of considerable durability, even if they are 
not hardy; and further, they must be easily and quickly 
grown, otherwise the growers could not furnish them 
at a cost sufficiently reasonable to meet with public 
approval. The number of species that will meet all 
these requirements is therefore limited, and although 
some of them, such as Ferns, Palms, and Conifers, are 
never absent, others appear only at certain seasons ac¬ 
cording to the kind. 
Heaths that have been in season for a long time are 
Erica hyemalis, E. gracilis, and E. caffra. Other 
flowering plants are forced Tulips of the Due Tan Thol 
kind in red, yellow, and white colours. Sometimes all 
the kinds are grown in pots mixed, although there is 
not much taste in the arrangement. Eoman and large- 
flowering Hyacinths, Chinese Primroses, Cyclamens, 
and, perhaps, Mignonette make up a not very extensive 
list. Berried Solanums are plentiful and likely to 
continue so for a long time. 
Amongst Palms one may notice C'hamaerops excelsa, 
C. humilis, Corypha australis, Geonoma gracilis, Coco 3 
Weddelliana, and others. Sedges are represented by 
the well-known Cyperus alternifolius at all seasons. 
Selaginellas that meet with public favour are S. 
Martensii robusta and S. Kraussiana, the former being 
admirably grown. A Fern that seems to be rising in 
popularity is the Golden Polypody (Polypodium 
aureum). It can be raised from spores with the utmost 
facility, and is ornamental from its earliest stages to 
plants with leaves 2 ft. or 3 ft. long. The rich 
glaucous hue of the foliage is very distinct and attractive. 
Pteris serrulata cristata and P. cretica are always 
grown in large quantities. The broad leathery pinnae 
of Aspidium falcatum also make it a desirable subject 
for indoor work. The graceful character of Pteris 
tremula also makes it popular for decorative purposes. 
Young pieces of Osmunda regalis are neat and pretty. 
Fine-foliaged plants of another kind are Dracaenas, 
Aspidistra lurida, and A. 1. variegata. 
Conifers in pots are available at any season, but none 
are more common than the varieties of Cupressus Law- 
soniana and Eetinosporas. R. plumosa and R. p. aurea 
are generally shown of moderate size, and constitute 
neat and ornamental objects. Of Cupressus Law- 
soniaua erecta viridis some handsome pieces may now 
be seen, forming columnar or pyramidal bushes, or, 
rather, trees, from 3 ft. to S ft. in height. The Norfolk 
Island Pine (Araucaria excelsa), with its bright green 
horizontal branches, may be had at any season. 
-- 
ON CROPPING A KITCHEN 
GARDEN. 
(Continued from p. 229.) 
Herbs. —These should have a special piece of 
ground devoted to their cultivation, as they are among 
the most important subjects in gardens for flavouring, 
garnishing, &c. Those intended for winter use should 
be cut on fine days just as their flowers are fully open, 
and dried slowly in the shade. 
Horse-Radish. —The ground should be trenched 
from 2 ft. to 3 ft. deep, working in a good dressing of 
manure at the bottom of the trench to encourage the 
roots downwards. When the ground is ready for 
planting, prepare the sets by cutting the straight roots 
into 4-in. lengths ; plant in rows 1 ft. apart each way, 
afterwards keeping the bed free from weeds. 
Leeks. —Sow at the end of March on rich soil, 
scattering the seed thinly. As soon as the plants are 
strang enough, plant out in well prepared trenches 
about 6 ins. deep and 15 ins. apart. Make the holes 
with a bluut dibber, keep the plants upright, cover 
the roots, give water when required, and keep the 
ground free from weeds. 
Lettuce.— Sow early in March, under glass, and 
plant out when large enough and the weather is 
favourable on well-manured ground 1 ft. apart. Make 
successional sowings through the spring and summer. 
Lift in autumn, and plant in cold frames for winter 
use. 
Onions. —Sow in March in drills 1 ft. apart on rich 
soil of a firm texture ; trench the ground in autumn, 
or dig it deeply, working in plenty of pig manure. Get 
