January 20, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
321 
economy of space Beet is sown in beds and trans¬ 
planted when large enough into deep holes as in the 
case of transplanted Onions. Cucumbers and 
Vegetable Marrows were to have the coverings 
taken off them to allow the stems to run, as night 
protection was no longer necessary. 
Oxford Botanic Garden.—We learn from a corre¬ 
spondent that a transformation is in progress in the 
Oxford Botanic Garden in respect .to the glass 
structures. All but three of the old ones, more or 
less ancient, have been demolished, and a block of 
very substantially built houses has been erected by 
Messrs. James Boyd & Sons, of Paisley, on a portion 
of the site occupied by the former ones. These 
accommodate the collection of succulent plants, 
while a third spacious and interiorly well appointed, 
broad, span-roofed structure accommodates a thriv¬ 
ing lot of Orchids and Ferns. The Lily house, when 
completed, will be of larger dimensions than the old 
one; so the Oxford Botanic Garden is likely to 
maintain its pfestige in the cultivation of a class of 
plants for which it has been so long deservedly 
famous. In respect to the two houses designed for 
succulents and Palms, as compared with those in 
which they were formerly housed, it is observable 
that there is no appreciable additional ground area 
for grouping, and the two exterior sides of the stove 
only are accessible—defects that are most regrettable 
in view of their permanency, and which certainly 
should have been avoided even in the most limited 
establishment. An object lesson in horticultural 
buildings in these days should possess no such pal¬ 
pable defect to form a stumbling block to unwary 
imitators. 
Edinburgh Botanical Society.—The monthly 
meeting of this Society was held on the nth inst. 
Professor F. O. Bower, president of the Society, in 
the chair. A communication was read by Mr. G, F'. 
Scott-Elliott describing an African species of the 
genus Ficus. Mr. A. Robertson contributed a 
paper, which was read by Professor Bayley Balfour, 
giving an old list of stations of the rarer plants 
ascertained to grow round Inverkeithing and north 
of the F'orth. Professor Bayley Balfour also gave a 
resume of a paper by Dr. Harshberger, of the 
University of Pennsylvania, on the question of the 
home of maize, in which he proved the plant had its 
origin in Mexico. It was, he said, unknown in 
Europe or in the Old World until after the discovery 
of America by Columbus. Mr. Lindsay's report on 
he temperature and vegetation at the Royal Botanic 
Garden stated that during the month of December 
frost occurred on ten mornings, indicating collec¬ 
tively only 52° of frost for the month. So little 
frost had not been registered at the Garden in 
December since 1883. In the corresponding month 
of last year frost was registered on 23 mornings, the 
total amounting to 192 degs. Rain fell on 14 days, 
and there were slight falls of snow on two days. On 
the Rock Garden four plants came into flower 
during the month. The total number of species and 
well-marked varieties which flowered on the Rock 
Garden during the past year was 1,114, as against 
1,212 for the previous year. Mr. A. D. Richardson 
contributed some meteorological observations taken 
at the Garden, and Mr. R. L. Harrow some notes on 
plants in the planthouses. The statement of accounts 
of the Society for the year showed a credit balance 
of £2^ 8s. lod. ; the total value of the funds being 
^65 IIS. 
Death of Mr. Ingram of Belvoir.—We deeply 
regret to record the death, on the gth inst., 
at Belvoir Castle, Grantham, of Mr. William 
Ingram, gardener to the Duke of Rutland, aged 73. 
Mr. Ingram had for some time been out of health, 
and succumbed to a painful internal disease. It is 
about forty years since he went to Belvoir as gar¬ 
dener to the fifth Duke of Rutland, so that he served 
under three dukes—the fifth, sixth, and seventh. 
He was born in 1820 in the Royal Gardens at F'rog- 
more, where his father was for many years gardener. 
In 1846 he went to France, and on his return to 
England became gardener at Hatfield, which place 
he left to go to Belvoir in 1853, where he had re¬ 
mained ever since. He was a recognised authority 
on spring gardening, and his skill and taste were 
much appreciated at Belvoir Castle. He was well 
known as a judge at horticultural shows, and lectured 
and wrote on horticultural subjects. He also took 
an interest in meteorology, and was a member of 
both the Meteorological and the Geological 
Societies. A Leicester correspondent writes : Mr. 
Ingram was a true friend, a singularly well-informed 
man on a wide range of subjects, and in the best 
sense a gentleman. I enjoyed his friendship for 
many years, and shall miss him very much.” 
Scottish Horticultural Association.—The annual 
meeting of this Association was held on the gth 
inst. in the rooms- of the Bible Society, St. Andrew 
Square, Edinburgh. Councillor Mackenzie pre¬ 
sided. The Secretary (Mr. Robert Laird) submitted 
the report by the Council for 1893. The objects of 
the Association, it stated, had been successfully 
carried out. Sixty new members had been added. 
Numerous papers had been read at the regular 
meetings, and lectures in scientific and practical 
horticulture had been given. The Chrysanthemum 
show had been so great a success that, although it had 
not been quite so largely attended as on the previous 
year, the Council had determined to continue it next 
year. The Treasurer (Mr. Mackenzie) submitted 
the financial report. On the Association’s proper 
account the income had been ;^53 14s. 5d., and the 
expenditure /40 17s, leaving a balance of 
£12 17s. 5d., compared with £8 2S. iid. on the 
previous year. The number of ordinary members 
contributing (331) had been the largest in the history 
of the Association. The Chrysanthemum show 
account showed an income of ^983 and an expendi¬ 
ture of £g^j, leaving a balance of ^46, compared 
with £66 in the previous year, but this difference, it 
was explained, was mainly accounted for by the 
operations of the benevolent fund. The grant of 
£\oo, under the auspices of the Edinburgh Town 
Council, for lectures on scientific and practical 
education, had been expended — £'ji gs. for nineteen 
lectures, £26 for twelve prizes, ;^24 for general 
expenses, leaving a balance of £1. The report and 
accounts were adopted. Office-bearers for the 
ensuing year were then elected. The Duke of 
Buccleuch was appointed honorary president. 
Councillor Mackenzie was re-elected president. 
Mr. Grieve (Dicksons & Company) and Mr. Chap¬ 
man, Easter Duddingston, were elected vice-presi¬ 
dents ; Mr. R. Laird, secretary ; and Mr. Mackenzie, 
treasurer. 
-- 
PRIMULAS AT READING. 
It is charming at this dull period of the year, when 
flowers in the open air are at their lowest ebb, to turn 
into the house of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, 
where the display of the innumerable varieties of 
Primula sinensis is now at its best. There are thirteen 
houses and some frames devoted to this popular and 
highly ornamental subject. They were sown in 
June, and have been developing into blossom for 
some time, but cannot be seen in better trim than at 
present, while the work of fertilising them is being 
carried on with diligence. Twenty-seven types of 
Primula, single and double, may be seen in one 
house, besides which there are many superb forms 
of great excellence, but only yet in small quantity, 
and cannot yet be put into commerce till a sufficient 
quantity of them can be raised to get seed. We 
noted one novelty, the large flowers of which re¬ 
sembled a highly coloured Sweet Brier bloom, and 
very choice indeed. There is also a small quantity 
of a moss-leaved, semi-double white, with leaves 
that may aptly be compared to those of a dwarf 
specimen of Scolopendrium vulgare crispum. All 
of this stage of growth are in 48-size pots, and pre¬ 
sent a uniform appearance. There is also an exten¬ 
sive trial of some ninety-five varieties of this 
Primula, twelve plants, and sometimes more of a 
kind, obtained from all the different sources possible. 
The sowing for this trial was made in July, and the 
plants are still in small 60-size pots. Many of them 
are showing for bloom, but the month’s difference in 
the time of sowing has had a remarkable effect upon 
the size of the plants compared with those now in 
perfection. 
Double 'Varieties. 
Seeing that all the varieties grown here are readily 
raised from seed, it will be taken for granted that 
those placed under this heading are really semi¬ 
double, but beautiful all the same, and may be raised 
in any quantity and with as great facility as the 
single sorts. The flowers last longer in a cut state 
than the singles, and in some cases we noted a close 
approach to the old doubles which had to be propa¬ 
gated from cuttings. Although all those now in 
bloom were sown at the same date, there is a con¬ 
siderable difference in the forwardness of the 
varieties. One of the earliest is Double Scarlet, 
now tending past it best. The large trusses of 
richly-coloured flowers are very effective and well 
thrown above the foliage. Improved Double 
Carmine holds the same position for eailiness and is 
equally charming in its way. The rich magenta- 
purple flowers of Imperial Purple exhibit a shade 
of colour that will find much favour with cultiva¬ 
tors. Fine as the colours are, they acquire their 
greatest intensity in March, when the light has been 
greatly improved. At present it must be remem¬ 
bered that the plants have just passed through a 
very trying time with the recent low temperature 
and bad light, yet they do not seem to have suffered 
in the least. Imperial Purple has been brought to 
great perfection, and is now one of the most valuable 
novelties offered. Of lighter shades the soft 
salmon-rose flowers of Double Rose are delicate, 
pleasing, and choice. It finds favour with a large 
section of the people. Double White is equally 
satisfactory to those who favour light colours, and 
that portion of the community is very large. The 
flowers of the Double Alba Magnifica bear a strange 
and striking correlation to the foliage in being much 
and finely fringed at the margins. Na'-.ure evidently 
strives to maintain this correlation of homologous 
parts so that the curly leaves and wavy-fringed 
flowers are each the reflex representative of the 
other, only the foliage is light green and the flowers 
white. It is one of the novelties. 
Moss-curled Double Lilac is a selection from a 
strain that has been under improvement for years, 
and now it has been most admirably perfected in the 
variety named. The deep lilac flowers are large and 
so much fringed, wavy, and crisped as to appear as 
double as some of the old-fashioned and truly 
double kinds now anything but common in cultiva¬ 
tion. While speaking of Moss-curled kinds, we 
cannot refrain from mentioning Sutton’s Gem, 
which is indeed remarkable in many ways. The 
dwarf and compact plants appear like a tuft of 
finely curled Parsley, into which a bunch of pink 
flowers has been inserted. The leaves themselves 
are circular, light green, and very finely curled. 
The variety is very aptly named Gem. Bronze 
Moss-curled has large beautifully fringed hlac 
flowers and equally attractive foliage, resembling 
those of Gipsy Queen in colour. In shape the 
leaves are half way between those of the fern-leaved 
and the ordinary type, but they are much curled, 
and the dark, bronzy-red petioles and other portions 
are very distinctive. The variety is a novelty to be 
sent out in 1895 for the first time. 
As to colour, the most interesting of the novelties 
is Heliotrope, the mauve flowers of which are of 
that shade or description which ladies call Helio¬ 
trope. It strikes the eye of the visitor at once as being, 
something distinct, and at the same time attractive. 
It was obtained from the Double Blue as the seed 
parent, crossed with Carnation Flake, a white 
variety that becomes flaked with purple as it ages. 
The first batch of seedlings gave an equal number of 
Heliotrope and Carnation Flake in 1892 ; but in 
1893 the first named predominated to the extent of 
three-fourths of the whole of the seedlings. The 
variety may therefore be considered as fairly fixed or 
constant. A selection has been made from Imperial 
Purple above mentioned, and seems to be the 
harbinger of a giant strain of doubles possessed of 
large flowers and rich colours. If this premise can 
be realised, the old semi-doubles must give way be¬ 
fore the new giants, which will raise the standard of 
size as already exists in the single strains. The 
tendency of the strain is to flower early. True 
fern-leaved varieties are scarce among t the doubles, 
but Double White Fern-leaved is a great acquisition. 
The small petals in the centre of the flower spread 
out in such a way as to give them the appearance of 
those of the old Alba Plena, for which this may be 
regarded as an excellent substitute. 
Single 'Varieties. 
The variety of distinct shades of colour in this class 
is very great and always clearly defined. Reading 
Blue holds its own, maintaining its original distinc¬ 
tiveness of colour, while free flowering and of robust 
constitution. It represents a shade of colour not to 
be matched by anything else at this or any other 
period of the year in hothouses. Reading Scarlet is 
one of the earliest to bloom, and is both florifercus 
and brilliant in colour. We noted a batch that had 
