March 19,1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
457 
the last gasp. You may try the candy when they 
are stronger. 
Cabbages Running to Seed — G. T .: To use a 
technical phrase which is well understood amongst 
gardeners, the cabbages are “ bolting.” Pull them 
out, they are of no use for cutting as they will never 
heart in. Your best plan will be to get some early 
spring raised plants and fill in the gaps. They will 
turn in very soon after the autumn plants, and will 
thus form a good succession. 
-- 
CYCLAMENS AT READING. 
For months past three span-roofed houses have 
been gay with a profusion of blossom of Cyclamens 
in the Portland Road Nursery of Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, Reading. High-class cultivation upon the 
best of modern principles enables a grower to get 
a greater quantity of flowers, extending over a 
longer period of time from the best strains of Cycla¬ 
men than, perhaps, from any other flower. The 
better he grows them and the more he pulls the 
flowers, the greater the total quantity obtainable 
from a given number of plants. Needless to say 
there is no lack of flowers on the plants at Reading, 
as the accompanying illustration lent us by Messrs. 
flower is different, the form being normal to the 
genus. Size leaves nothing to be desired for any 
ordinary purpose. From this we get a distinct and 
pleasing variation in Giant Crimson and White, the 
base being the dark portion of the flower according 
to a characteristic that is prevalent in the genus. It 
would be an innovation and an acquisition to the 
race if a variety could be obtained having the dark 
colour confined to the apex of the segments. 
Possibly this may be realised in the near future, but 
the basal colour is indeed hard to eliminate without 
obliterating all colour except white. 
The custom of growing Cyclamens in batches of a 
variety, at Reading, and persistently weeding out the 
intermediate colours, has the effect of making the 
varieties distinct and decisive in tone. There is no 
insensible gradation of one colour running into 
another. By this means a batch of seedlings can be 
calculated to give any required hue by sowing seeds 
of the variety furnishing it. A pleasing light hue is 
furnished by Giant Rose, whose flowers are of a 
uniform soft rose and freely produced. In like 
manner Giant Purple produces dark purple flowers 
that develop a considerable amount of blue when 
fading, after having been open for a considerable 
time. Whether a blue Cyclamen can ever be raised 
irom this is a question ; but the fact remains that the 
colour, as in the giant strain. Very free flowering is 
that named White. Salmon Queen is one of the 
most distinct and attractive colours that has been 
raised for many a year, being of a handsome salmon- 
pink, the salmon being so conspicuous that it can be 
singled out by the eye at a glance amongst a houseful 
of many varieties. A giant form of this is being 
evolved, and, when fixed and obtainable in quantity, 
it will be another triumph of the cultivator’s art. 
Purple is a very dark variety, and decidedly of that 
hue indicated by the name. In the matter of frag¬ 
rance, we often meet with the same peculiarity 
amongst the improved types as in the wilding. 
Amongst Crimson, with White Base, we met with 
individuals in a batch that were distinctly and 
deliciously scented, while others of the same variety, 
and grown under the same conditions precisely, were 
altogether scentless as far as we could discern. The 
stage of development of the flower and the degree 
of temperature may have some influence upon the 
sceat; but all the same, there are individuals in the 
batch that betray no evidence of this desirable 
quality. Cherry Red presents the same dark but 
brightly coloured flowers as in the giant strain. All 
the above and other colours may be obtained in 
mixture, which many growers prefer, who like as 
much variety as possible in the small space at their 
Sutton will show. “ Thick as autumnal leaves that 
strew the brooks in Vallambrosa ” is hardly suffi¬ 
ciently expressive of the appearance of a houseful 
of bloom, for the foliage is entirely hidden by the 
flowers to the eye of the spectator who takes his 
stand at one end of a house and looks aioog the 
benches. 
The giant stjrain is no longer characterised by the 
paucity of flowers which signalised the race when 
it first made its appearance, for the flowers are now 
profusely produced, although, as might be expected, 
the great size of individual blooms precludes the 
possibility of numbers being so great as in 
the old persicum strain. The massive, pure white 
flowers of Butterfly and the spreading character of 
the segments continues to make the variety one of 
the most popular amongst gardeners and growers 
generally. The dwarf and compact habit of the 
plant, and the effect produced by a mass of it, places 
the variety in the front rank as a decorative sub¬ 
ject. No staking nor tying are requisite to keep the 
flowers erect. The contrast between Butterfly and 
Vulcan is immense, the former being notable for the 
snowy purity of its flowers, the latter for the inten¬ 
sity of its dark crimson colour. Giant White may 
be likened to Butterfly in hue, but the form of the 
House of Cyclamens at Reading. 
flowers are striking in their way when on the wane. 
Brilliancy is the striking feature of Giant Cherry 
Red. The great size of the individual flowers, and 
the freedom with which they are produced, make the 
varieties of the giant strain indispensable in any well 
regulated establishment where flowers of beautiful 
form and colour are always in demand. 
What is known as the persicum strain is as replete 
in colour as the giant types, or even more so, as 
might be inferred from its being cultivated for a 
longer period of time. Even here, the improvement 
upon the wild original is immense, as may be seen 
from specimens raised annually from the seeds of the 
wild type recently imported from Palestine. By the 
way, the botanists tells us that no Cyclamen grows 
wild in Persia, and that the plant grown as Cycla¬ 
men persicum is really C. latifolium. The flowers of 
this as seen at Reading are characterised by long and 
narrow segments. In any case, this wild plant is a 
most interesting illustration of what the cultivator 
has been able to effect by long continued crossing 
and selection. Many of the plants are deliciously 
scented, but not all. Could the characteristic be 
perpetuated with certainty, the value of Cyclamen 
flowers would be greatly increased. 
The varieties are mostly named according to 
command for this particular class of winter flowers- 
For profusion of bloom, it would be difficult to sur¬ 
pass the persicum strain. 
--J.- 
CLIMBING FRENCH BEANS. 
The section of Climbing French Beans is a notable 
addition to our list of easily grown vegetables. It 
may be said to bridge over the gap between the 
dwarf French and the Runner Beans, and is inter¬ 
mediate in character between the two extremes. 
Thus the habit of the Runner Bean is associated with 
the earliness of bearing, and the shape and general 
characters of the pod of the dwarf French varieties. 
Of the several sorts which are offered for the 
choice of the cultivator, Sutton’s Tender and True is 
one of the most conspicuous. The long, prettily- 
shaped pods are produced along the whole length of 
the haulm in great abundance, a continuous supply 
being afforded over a long season. Crops will turn 
in as early as those of that well-known dwarf form, 
Canadian Wonder. Tender and True does not lack 
honours, for it was awarded a First-class Certificate 
by the R.H.S. in 1891, and in the following year’s 
trials received the high cultural qualification of XXX. 
Confirmation of its good qualities was again given 
