July 26, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
741 
Another kind is spoken of as the white Italian. The 
same objection applies to this form as in the case of the 
double one. The flowers are of a pale creamy tint 
lightly suffused with pale rose, especially when it has 
been exposed to light for some time. Both the Italian 
forms have fragrant flowers, a point strongly in their 
favour. The same applies to the Blue Roman, so called, 
for its flowers are not blue, but of a dark purple hue. 
The individual blooms are, however, smaller than those 
either of the single or double white varieties, but their 
decided tone of colour should recommend this variety 
to cultivators who require variety at an earlier period of 
the year than the large-flowered Dutch kinds can be 
had in bloom. 
A lighter compost than is used for the large-flowering 
kinds is here advisable, because less liable to become 
unsuitable for the roots where hard and early forcing is 
practised. It may, however, be made rich in order to 
encourage free and rapid growth. A compost consisting 
of equal parts of fibrous mellow loam and well-rotted 
dung may be used ; but to this should be added a 
quantity of leaf-soil and sufficient sharp silver-sand to 
ensure porosity. 
If it is intended to flower the plants in pots, 5-in. 
ones will be sufficiently large for three bulbs, and for 
all ordinary purposes this number of bulbs in a pot will 
be quite sufficient. Drain the pots carefully, and after 
filling them with the prepared compost, arrange the 
three bulbs triangular fashion on the top, and press 
them firmly but equally into the soil. The latter 
should then be made firm all round, just leaving the 
necks of the bulbs exposed. In selecting the bulbs for 
each pot, a more balanced and even growth might be 
expected if they are sorted into sizes. When the whole 
batch for early work has been potted, convey the pots 
to a bed of ashes in some sheltered place, and plunge 
them, placing 2 ins. or more of the ashes over the tops. 
Coco-nut fibre would even prove more advantageous 
in allowing the sun’s rays to warm the soil in the pots 
more easily. Undue excitement would, however, be 
undesirable, and should the remaining portion of the 
summer prove warm, it might even be necessary to 
shade them. This could, however, be avoided by 
plunging the pots in the first place behind a north wall. 
No watering will be necessary at potting time provided 
the compost used is moderately moist, as it ought to 
be. 
If the bulbs to be forced are intended for the pro¬ 
duction of cut flowers only, space might be economised 
by inserting the bulbs rather thickly in square or 
oblong boxes, so that no space may be wasted when 
taken into the forcing-pit. The same compost may be 
used as in the case of pots. This method offers a 
further advantage, after the plants come into bloom, of 
sorting out the best samples for potting up if so desired 
for use in the drawing-room or conservatory. This 
method of treatment does not affect either the size or 
the number of blooms on a spike, but possibly the 
flowers would last longer in good condition if the 
newly-potted bulbs are kept for a day or two in heat to 
give the roots a fresh hold on the soil. The best 
results for pot work is, however, undoubtedly attained 
by growing on the plants steadily in pots from the first. 
Fresh batches may continue to be potted at intervals 
of a few weeks, according to the quantity required. 
The bulbs should not be put into the forcing pits 
before the roots become well ramified in the soil, 
otherwise the plants will develop but a small display 
of bloom. After the flowering stage has been reached 
the plants may be kept in a much lower temperature, 
provided the atmosphere is not stagnant and moisture¬ 
laden. In greenhouses it may be necessary to raise a 
little heat occasionally to dispel superfluous moisture. 
--WEC—- 
THE FRUIT CROP IN MID¬ 
LOTHIAN. 
The fruit crop in this district, taking it all round, is 
about an average one, Apricots, Strawberries, Goose¬ 
berries, Raspberries and Currants being abundant, 
Pears, Cherries, Peaches, and Nectarines good, and 
Apples and Plums generally light crops, although 
occasionally good crops of both are met with. Among 
Apples, some of the freest bearers are remarkable for 
their light crops or none at all this season, while many 
varieties that bear irregularly and at long intervals 
have now good crops. The best crops this year are 
borne by Cox’s Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin, 
"Worcester Pearmain, Ecklinville, Blenheim Pippin, 
King of the Pippins, Beauty of Kent, Tower of Glamis, 
Maltster, Prince Albert, Lord Grosvenor, Margaret, 
Cox’s Pomona, Golden Noble, Yorkshire Beauty, 
Loddington, Pott’s Seedling, Frogmoro Prolific, York¬ 
shire Greening, Golden Spire, Margil, Mannington’s 
Pearmain, Scarlet Pearmain, Early Julien, and some 
other less known varieties. 
Pears are a more even crop, but here, too, some 
hardy and free-bearing varieties, such as Hessle, 
Magpie, and Lammas, have very light crops. The 
best are on Beurre de Amanlis, Catillac, Hacon’s In¬ 
comparable, Marie Louise, Williams’ Bon Chretien, 
Fertility, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Colmar d’Ete, Black 
Achan, Doyenne du Comice, Souvenir de Congres, 
Doyenne d’Ete, Beurre de Aremberg, Red Doyenne, 
Beurre Diel, Glou Morceau, Thomson’s, and Beurre de 
Capiaumont. Plums are a good crop on such varieties 
as Early Transparent, Early Prolific, Jefferson’s, Pond’s 
Seedling, Sultan, and Pershore ; but many varieties are 
thin, which is only what could be expected after the 
enormous crops they bore last year. 
Cherries are generally a good average crop, Frogmore 
Early Bigarreau, Black Tartarian, May Duke, Elton, 
Bigarreau Napoleon, Governor Wood, Black Eagle, 
and Morello having perhaps the heaviest crops. 
Apricots are the finest crop that we have had for a long 
time, and they promise to be large and of good quality 
if the autumn be at all favourable. Peaches and 
Nectarines on the open walls are also a fair crop, and 
the absence of frost and harsh east wind in spring has 
been highly favourable to them. Early and mid-season 
Peaches and Nectarines do tolerably well in good 
seasons, but both are more profitable when grown in 
glasshouses, where they are safe from frost and the 
vicissitudes of our climate. 
Strawberries are an excellent crop, but the damp 
weather has rotted some of them in low-lying districts 
and closely-sheltered spots. The dry weather of the 
past few days has greatly improved them, and the later 
varieties will be very fine. Laxton’s Noble has been tried 
in a few places, and the result has, on the whole, been 
satisfactory, as owing to ripening so early and its fine 
size, it commands a good price in the market, even 
although it lacks something in flavour. Gooseberries 
are a heavy crop generally, Industry, Keen’s Seedling, 
Crown Bob, Whitesmith, Leveller, Hebburn Prolific, 
and many other excellent large varieties being loaded 
witli fine fruit. Currants are also a fine crop, and the 
fruit clean and large. Raspberries are fully an average 
crop, and have been improved, if anything, by the 
heavy rains. 
Fruit trees and bushes generally are clear of insects, 
and have made a vigorous growth, promising well for a 
good crop next season if thoroughly ripened this 
autumn. All fruit is clean and well grown so far this 
season, and with favourable weather it will be above 
the average in size and quality .—Malcolm Dunn, 
Dalkeith, July 1 6th. 
-—>X<-- 
IVY-LEAVED PELARGONIUMS. 
Great improvement has been wrought amongst Ivy¬ 
leaved Pelargoniums within recent years, and instead 
of the long straggling stems or the little hay-stacks of 
the trained specimens, we have now varieties from 
which, if not so dwarf and compact as the zonal kinds, 
yet with a little care and good culture, very floriferous 
specimens of reasonable size can be grown. A houseful 
ot them, such as may have been seen for some time past 
at Chiswick, in the gardens ot the Royal Horticultural 
Society, amply demonstrates the capabilities of this 
section of the weeds of the Cape for greenhouse or con¬ 
servatory decoration. Compared with zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums, the Ivy-leaved types more often have semi¬ 
double than strictly double flowers. Their duration of 
individual blooms or trusses is not very great, but the 
display, while it lasts, is certainly fine. 
Doubles. 
One of the handsomest of the semi-double types is 
Souvenir de Charles Turner, with very large deep rose- 
coloured flowers shaded with scarlet. It is rather a 
tall-growing variety compared with many others, but 
the showy character of the flowers, their size and 
abundance, more than compensate for the lack of com¬ 
pactness. A rose-coloured variety, named Comte 
Horace de Choiseul, with large semi-double flowers and 
light green foliage, is much admired by visitors. 
Madame Thibaut is another choice kind, with closely- 
imbricated, somewhat undulated petals of a soft rose. 
A plant in a 9-in. pot carried close upon three dozen 
trusses of bloom, independent of those to open. One 
of the most distinct varieties in the house was that 
named De Quatrefages, with double purple flowers and 
dark-zoned leaves. A plant in a 9-in. pot bore about 
thirty open trusses of bloom. The brilliant scarlet 
flowers of Flambeau strongly resemble those of some of 
the zonals ; the foliage is of a light shining green. 
Close by Le I’rintemps, with soft rosy double flowers 
shaded with salmon, is a floriferous variety with rosy 
purple blooms borne in a compact truss. 
A number of the dwarfer kinds would prove very 
suitable for basket work, including Galilee, with double 
lilac flowers, produced in great abundance. The stems 
are short-jointed and compact, while the foliage has 
a dark zone. Two very distinct varieties bear the above 
name. The newer one is a tall long-jointed plant, 
with large semi-double, bright pink flowers, which are 
produced in great abundance. A dwarf and extremely 
floriferous variety is Sarah Bernhardt, with blush-lilac 
flowers. It is well suited for basket work, as is 
Jeanne d’Arc, another blush-coloured variety, with 
bright foliage, dwarf stems and floriferous. Mrs. Moore 
is another of the same type, with double lilac flowers. 
The large soft pink flowers of Isadore Feral are also very 
abundant and attractive. The foliage is pale, the 
habit dwarf, and suitable for basket work. The old 
flowers, singularly enough, are inclined to produce 
green petals in the centre. 
Of taller habit is Andre Gill, with bright rosy pink 
flowers, which are produced in large compact trusses. 
The colour is very engaging. Gretchen Schultzer has 
also attractive, dark rose, semi-double flowers, shaded 
with purple. Another rather tall kind is Madame 
Thuverin, with rosy flowers shaded with scarlet, and 
very freely produced. Berthelot is somewhat similar 
to the last, and has compact trusses. The flowers of 
General Negre are rose coloured, and the foliage of a 
shining dark green hue. Those of Massenet are semi¬ 
double, rosy purple and freely produced. 
Single-flowered kinds. 
Single varieties are not largely grown, but they are very 
distinct and attractive. The flowers of Bridal Wreath 
are white with two feathered purple lines on each of the 
two upper petals. The foliage is of a light greenish 
yellow, very conspicuous, and the stems assume a 
spreading habit. The flowers of Innocence are also 
white ; but the petals are of great length, and the upper 
two have each two broad, feathered purple lines, which 
render them both distinct and attractive. The leaves 
are green with a conspicuous dark zone around the 
centre. One of the finest of the dark kinds is Master¬ 
piece. The flowers are of a deep magenta-rose, with two 
pale or white blotches on the upper petals, surrounded 
with a scarlet shading. In these latter respects there is 
great similarity between this variety and the double 
Gretchen Schultzer. Mrs. H. Cannell has circular lilac 
flowers, dark zoned leaves, and a dwarf habit, rendering 
it suitable for basket work. Le Vesuve is a rosy 
scarlet variety, with a somewhat similar arrangement 
of colours as seen in Masterpiece. 
-»K-- 
TRINITY GROVE, EDINBURGH. 
Trinity Grove, the residence of A. Thomson, Esq., 
in the beautiful suburban district of Trinity, is so 
well known, both by its associations with historic 
events and horticulture, that it may seem inexcusable 
on our part to make the present brief remarks. His¬ 
torically, it is connected with that most ill-fated of 
queens, Mary Stuart—apparently her seaside resid¬ 
ence. Some gnarly Vines, still pointed out as growing 
on the walls of the mansion-house, are said to have been 
planted by this notable person ; and considering her 
close intimacy with the Court of France, the inference 
would force upon us the probability that she brought 
them from that country—this perhaps making one of 
the earliest events in the introduction of the Vine to 
Scotland. Every place associated with the memory of 
this Sovereign excites a sympathetic interest iu the 
breast of the Scot, more or less as the surroundings are 
favourable. 
Here are many things that require only a fertile 
imagination to assist in conjuring the restoration of 
the unhappy Queen and her train once more to peram¬ 
bulate the shady walks and mossy lawns; and it 
requires no effort of will to picture the lioary-lieaded, 
royal gardener wending his way from Holyrood with his 
basket of carefully cultivated “Nettle tops,” to supply 
the royal table with the greatest horticultural vegetable 
delicacy of the times, which by the way was raised by 
the aid of hand-glasses. The Nettle has apparently 
become quite acclimatised since then ! It is alleged 
that it was here that Sir Walter Scott one evening at a 
dinner party first acknowledged his relationship with 
the “ Waverley” Novels. 
So much for the historic element. Let us now 
consider briefly the present-day features of this well- 
