36 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 15, 1894. 
A New Seedling Rose.—A very handsome new, 
seedling Rose has been sent us by Mr. James Bryson, 
nurseryman, Helensburgh, N.B. It is seldom we 
hear of new Roses of this class being raised in Scot¬ 
land. The seedling is a cross between Madame Isaac 
Pereire and Madame Berard, but the sender does 
not say which was the seed parent. The former 
variety is a hybrid Bourbon with vivid carmine 
flowers of the first size and is a vigorous grower. 
Madame Berard on the other hand is a Tea of 
vigorous growth with salmon-rose coloured flowers. 
The seedling has large and well formed ovoid or 
broadly conical flowers which should be very hand¬ 
some in June and July. The outer petals are slightly 
revolute at the edges and the centre is perfectly full, 
at least in the condition in which we saw it. All are 
of a beautiful and uniform warm rose with exception 
of the outermost and small petals which serve to 
cover the bud in a young state and which are of a 
deep crimson-red. Furthermore, the flowers are 
deliciously scented like those of a Tea. The new 
variety will evidently have to be classed with the 
hybrid Teas, and should it be of vigorous habit, as 
both of its parents are, then we consider it an 
acquisition to this section of the universally popular 
flower. 
Conference on Hardy Trees and Shrubs. —The 
Council of the Horticultural Society, being anxious 
to direct greater attention to the ornament and 
utility of the trees and shrubs which are to be found 
growing in the British Isles, and of which many were 
originally introduced by the Society's collectors, 
have decided to hold a Conference on the subject in 
the Society's gardens at Chiswick, on Tuesday, 
September 25th, 1894. The Council are particularly 
desirous that specimens in the shape of branches of 
trees and shrubs not generally known, and remark¬ 
able either for their economic value or ornamental 
aspect (or both), should be sent to Chiswick gardens, 
so as to add thereby a greater interest to the con¬ 
ference. In addition to the exhibition and confer¬ 
ence on hardy trees and shrubs, there will also be a 
display of Orchids and hardy, half-hardy, stove or 
greenhouse plants, &c., as well as fruits and 
vegetables, such as are usually exhibited at the 
Society’s fortnightly meetings in the Drill Hall, 
Westminster. The conference will be opened at 
12.30 p.m., and the following papers will be read : — 
i, Mr. J. B. Carruthers, F.L.S., on " The Larch 
Disease”; 2, Mr. E. J. Baillie, F.L.S., on "Forest 
Trees for Commercial Purposes,” being treated with 
reference to soil and aspect; 3, Mr. J. Simpson, on 
“ The Utilisation of Waste Ground unsuitable for 
Agriculture”; 4, Mr. A, C. Forbes, on "The 
General Management of Woods, Planting, Thinning, 
Nurse Trees, Coppices, Hedgerows, &c.” 
Lord Kinnaird on Foreign Competition—Speaking 
at the opening of the Dundee Flower Show, on the 
6th inst., Lord Kinnaird said he supposed the sight 
of the beautiful exhibits brought together would 
send their thoughts to the question of how they were 
to meet as a country the competition which was 
coming upon them from abroad. That competition 
was not becoming less, and some of them who had 
to do with foreign countries knew that they were 
quite prepared to send them a great deal more than 
they had sent them in the past. What they had to 
do was to accommodate themselves to these circum¬ 
stances. From a certain point of view it was rather 
trying to have to compete with foreign countries, 
but on the other hand they would find that competi¬ 
tion just kept them in the forefront of the nations of 
the world, and that competition in the long run 
would benefit even those who compete, as well as 
certainly benefit those who get the advantage of the 
cheaper produce. Their society was a training- 
ground, and one of the best schools that they could 
have. They were talking at the present time about 
secondary schools and continuation schools, and he 
did not know anything that was more important for 
the industrial portion of the population in great 
cities, as well as those living in the country, which 
would be the means of bringing enjoyment to them¬ 
selves, and cultivating that taste which their 
primary education gave them. 
Proposed Revival of the National Potato Show.— 
Mr. A. Dean, 62, Richmond Road, Kingston-on- 
Thames, writes :—" Having heard many wishes 
expressed by persons interested in Potatos for a 
revival in some shape of the old Potato exhibitions, 
I have to ask your consent to allow me to make 
widely known that desire through your columns, 
and to invite the opinions of others equally interested 
in Potatos with respect to the suggestion. Should 
the coming great fruit show at the Crystal Palace 
become a permanent institution, no better oppor¬ 
tunity or more convenient place would offer for the 
revival. That would at least show that in no sense 
was the proposal put forth in antagonism to the 
Royal Horticultural Society; indeed, the promoters 
would look for and no doubt secure the kind co¬ 
operation of the Royal Horticultural Society, as 
afforded to the old show committee, through the use 
of Chiswick Gardens for trials of new Potatos. I 
venture to voice the suggestion as to a revival of the 
old shows, because now I am absolutely independent 
of all Potato interests other than such as attaches to 
a love for the tuber that knows no abating. What 
I would ask, therefore, is of all persons desirous of 
seeing National Potato shows revived that they will 
kindly communicate to me early their opinions. If 
the verdict is for, then I think it would be most 
fitting to invite all favourable to a meeting, which I 
am sure the Crystal Palace authorities would readily 
find room for, on the first day of the great fruit 
show, viz., the 29th of the present month; and a 
duly representative committee could then be formed 
to promote the first exhibition next year.” 
TOMATOS FOR WINTER USE. 
In a great many establishments where the Tomato is 
held in special esteem, a supply is expected to be 
forthcoming at all seasons of the year. It is true 
that, by cutting green fruits with a portion of the 
stem attached, from plants outside, after the season 
has too far gone to allow of them ripening properly 
there, and hanging them up in a warm room, or 
greenhouse, to ripen, a supply of fairly presentable 
fruit may be obtained until the middle of November. 
Still, it is absolutely necessary to have a house 
devoted to the growing of Tomatos for use during 
winter and early spring. 
As the plants will need all the light obtainable, a 
span-roofed house is the most suitable, although I 
have seen good crops obtained from a lean-to, 
running east and west. A minimum night tempera¬ 
ture of 50° Fahr. will be essential to success, and 
even then, growth will be a slow, and ripening of the 
fruit a still slower process. Young plants obtained, 
either from seed or from cuttings taken in August, 
should be potted on into 12 in. pots, a handy size for 
fruiting. A compost of three parts good loam to one 
part of well rotten manure or good leaf soil, with a 
sprinkling of river sand will be found to answer ad¬ 
mirably. Some growers prefer to get their young 
plants from cuttings, as they consider these to be 
more fruitful and less inclined to too rank growth 
than those obtained from seed. But this is, I think, 
largely a matter of opinion. 
I should recommend the single rod system of train¬ 
ing, in preference to any other, as likely to yield the 
most satisfactory results. All laterals therefore, 
should be closely pinched out, and any large rank¬ 
growing leaves may be cut half way through. Hack- 
wood Park Prolific, Hathaways Excelsior, and Ham 
Green Favourite are three of the most suitable red 
sorts. If a yellow one be needed, Sutton’s Golden 
Queen is about the best. The Snowy fly is very 
partial to the leaves of Tomatos and will often cause 
a lot of trouble. Once it gets into a house it becomes 
a matter of extreme difficulty to get rid of it. 
Removal of affected parts or syringing with tobacco 
water are the best methods of keeping it under. — 
A. S. G. 
--**■- 
MONTBRETIAS. 
The Montbretias are a race of Iridaceous bulbous 
plants, natives of southern Africa, that might be 
more universally distributed than one finds them. 
They are almost hardy, requiring only the protection 
of a cold frame where the frost is excluded, or if 
planted at the foot of a south wall with a covering 
of cocoa-fibre or bracken until the frost has dis¬ 
appeared, say until the end of April. As their 
leaves make their appearance early in March, and 
are of such delicate texture any injury done to them 
would be impossible to amend. 
The most suitable soil is a sandy loam and peat, 
and planted at a depth of from three to five inches. 
At the time of writing there is a grand display of 
these lovely flowering plants at Messrs. Barr & Sons 
Nurseries, Long Ditton, in a large frame and flower¬ 
ing most profusely. Of these, and which are of 
recent introduction, mention may be made of the 
most distinct, M. Crocosmaeflora Bouquet Parfait, 
rich deep yellow, shaded vermilion, very handsome ; 
M. D. Etvillde Feu, vivid vermilion red, spotted at 
base, very distinct; M. C. Phare, orange scarlet 
suffused golden yellow, small but very showy; 
M. C. Golden sheaf, very large, deep golden 
yellow flowers, of dwarf habit very distinct; M. C. 
pyramidalis, apricot, suffused yellow, erect grower, 
dwarf habit, very distinct; M. C. Aurea, large pale 
yellow flowers, freely produced ; M. Pottsii was 
flowering in the open border very vigorously with 
branches of tubular-shaped crimson-scarlet blooms, 
and remarkably decorative, also, M. Crocosmaeflora > 
flowering equally well close by with orange-red 
flowers, centre pale yellow spotted base. 
The bright red flowers of the Montbretias stand 
like torch lights above their spear-shaped leaves 
which tends to make them most showy and grace¬ 
ful subjects for the garden or conservatory. They 
are also valuable as cut flowers for table decoration, 
— IV.H. 
-4.- 
FILMY FERNS. 
The Filmy Fern house at Kew is now open to the 
public, after being closed during the spring, and the 
greater part of the summer. Its inmates are no-w in 
a particularly flourishing condition, and in fact look 
happier than they have done for some time past. 
No one should visit Kew without paying this 
interesting little house a visit. Curiously enough 
this pretty class of ferns has acquired the unenvi¬ 
able distinction of being difficult to grow. And 
whilst no one can deny that they are very beautiful, 
very many fight shy of attempting to grow them 
from fear of failure. This a great pity, for Filmy 
Ferns are no more difficult to grow than any other 
ferns, (when you know how.) True it is that they 
have their likes and dislikes, just as most other plants 
have. 
Certain conditions are necessary to their well¬ 
being, and if they do not have their requirements 
properly administered to, they will obstinately refuse 
to thrive. The essentials to success in Filmy Fern 
culture are shade, plenty of water at the root, and 
an atmosphere as near the saturation point as 
possible. Fire-heat is not necessary (except for 
those kinds that hail from the most tropical of 
climes,) indeed in most cases it is positively harmful. 
At Kew, where the collection is of a mixed character 
fire-heat is only applied at the most inclement 
seasons of the year, and this for the exclusive benefit 
of the tropical kinds. Some cultivators never give fire- 
heat at all, in houses where the cool ones are grown, 
and a few degrees of frost in the house will do the 
plants no injury whatever. This is all the more 
astonishing, when one takes into consideration the 
apparent delicacy and extreme fragility of the 
fronds. 
When planting Filmy Ferns, some compost should 
be used that will remain sweet for a long time under 
copious and repeated waterings. For this purpose 
nothing is better, than pieces of rough fibrous peat 
(and loam, where necessary) with charcoal, sphag¬ 
num moss, and sandstone. To get the plant 
established is the most difficult part of the culture, 
for once this is accomplished, they will not cause a 
great deal of trouble. Filmy Ferns are a class of 
plants, that only need to be better known to become 
general favourites. They posses an indiscribable 
charm of their own—such as no other plant does, 
that cannot fail to render them most attractive to the 
true lover of plants, and to those who are 
capable of appreciating true beauty.— A. 
_ ^ 
DORONICUMS. 
Little appears to be known of the true value of the 
“Leopard's Bane” as an early spring-flowering 
plant for conservatory decoration. Its large yellow, 
daisy-like flowers are much admired in the herba¬ 
ceous border, where they never fail to produce abun¬ 
dance of flowers in almost any soil or position. But 
by removing them in clumps from their natural 
element in autumn, potting in a loamy soil, and 
placing them in a cold frame during winter, they will, 
by the end of January or early in February, be 
ready to place in gentle heat for a display of bloom 
that will repay f jr all the trouble taken with them. 
For this purpose, D. plantagineum excelsum is by far 
the best, having large golden-yellow flowers from 2J 
in. to 3$ in. in diameter and produced freely. Two 
other varieties may be used but are not so handsome 
or showy as D. p. excelsum ; they are D. austriacum 
and D. caucasicum. The Doronicums are also much 
prized for cutting, lasting well in water.— IV. L. 
