January 14, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
311 
the style, the ovary, the petioles of the leaves and 
the roots. A worthy companion to it is Crimson 
King (Fern-leaved) of very robust and vigorous 
habit, and having the beautiful leaves standing well 
up to the glowing crimson flowers. Both are early 
varieties that have been in bloom for some time 
although sown in J une like the rest and put into their 
first pots in July. The object of sowing late is to 
get the new seed, thus gaining practically a year in 
advance. The two varieties in conjunction with 
Snowdrift occupy a whole house; and what a 
contrast they present to the snow-white flowers and 
the light green foliage of the latter ! Snowdrift, 
moreover, maintains its character as the earliest 
variety to flower, and is indispensable as 9 prelude 
to an extended display. 
Quite of another type is Giant Royal White. To 
say that a variety is white conveys no idea of its 
attributes, for there are many perfectly distinct 
white sorts, both single and double. Giant Royal 
White is a robust variety with magnificent white 
flowers and much imbricated segments, giving depth 
to the blooms. Rosy Queen (Fern-leaved) is another 
robust variety with light green foliage, and charming 
rosy-pink flowers, in large trusses, borne well above 
the foliage. The colours are reversed in Gipsy 
Queen, which has white flowers, associated with the 
darkest foliage occurring amongst Chinese Primu¬ 
las ; and for this alone it is highly ornamental and 
worthy of a place in every collection. The colour 
of the bronzy and metallic-looking petioles extends 
to the midrib and undersurface of the leaves, and 
thus modifies the hue of the upper. Giant White 
is a huge, flat, pure white flower, associated with 
light green foliage. The bright rosy-pink flowers of 
Reading Pink are also associated with light green 
foliage, but the distinctions are great, the charming 
flowers being early and freely produced. 
Another fine contrast may be made between 
Purity (Fern-leaved) and Blush Pink. The former 
has massive pure white flowers, associated with 
dark red petioles ; while the latter has delicate 
silvery blush-pink flowers and light green foliage. A 
charming azure-blue variety has not yet received a 
name, and not being yet plentiful must go with the 
mixed seeds. No other variety has the same light 
green foliage associated with blue flowers. The 
heart-shaped, light green foliage and curled leaves 
of Alba Magnifica Compacta are surmounted by a 
perfect ball of large, pure white flowers, when the 
variety reaches its best. The white flowers of Car¬ 
nation Flaked are mottled and striped with red and 
carmine, and supply a type that is by no means 
common in the genus. The superiority of Reading 
Double Blue is well maintained in the vigorous, up¬ 
right habit of the foliage, and the deep blue of the 
flowers. A large batch of this grand variety affords 
evidence of its popularity. Double Scarlet takes 
rank with Snowdrift in earliness, for the first truss 
of flowers has given place to young seed vessels. 
The rich colour of the flowers makes a fine contrast 
with those of the last-named, for which it makes a 
beautiful companion. The silvery-pink flowers of 
Double Pink are also chaste and pretty, associated 
as they are with light green foliage. Double Purple 
and Double Crimson, indicate, though they hardly 
express, the colours, particularly in the case of the 
latter, which would make a good companion to the 
two forms of Crimson King, now placed on the list 
for the first time, and destined to make rapid head¬ 
way wherever Chinese Primulas are cherished. 
The light green foliage of Giant White (Fern¬ 
leaved) is very robust, yet compact and completely 
covers the pot, and the huge, white,flowers are very 
late, as indeed are all those of the giant section, 
though sown at the same as the rest. This in itself 
is a great recommendation. Equally superior and 
handsome in their way are Giant Royal White, Giant 
Scarlet, and others, that will prolong the display for 
many weeks to come. A large houseful of plants, 
only commencing to flower, is a good guarantee of 
this. 
A houseful of crosses shows an infinite amount of 
variety, but owing to the very rigid selection prac¬ 
tised here, very few of them may ultimately be re¬ 
corded in the lists, because, though excellent in their 
way, they do not surpass the standard varieties. Yet 
here were crosses of Moss Curled in variety,Sutton’s 
Star Primula, crossed with a large yellow-eyed sort; 
also terra cotta, deep salmon, blue, mauve, purple, 
rose, pink, crimson, picotee edged, and other 
varieties in endless array, both single arid double. 
Some ot them will be heard of again, when their 
special characteristics have been perfected and fixed 
by the processes in operation here. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The Stove. 
For the last six or eight weeks the thermometer in 
the warmest stove has been kept up to 58° or 6o° Fahr., 
with a rise in the day proportionate to the amount of 
sun. This temperature has just been enough to keep 
things from becoming quite stagnant, but has per¬ 
mitted those that required it to take a spell of rest. 
Fire-heat has not been nearly so much needed 
this winter, owing to the mild weather, and the 
plants are looking all the better for it. That sickly, 
yellow, look which may be seen oh so many stove 
plants as the winter wears on, is in great measure 
due to the enervating influence of fire-heat. For the 
next week things may remain as they are, but a rise 
of a" may then be given, as things will be beginning 
to move quietly. 
Syringing has, of course, been out of the question 
during the dull weather, but in order to keep a cer¬ 
tain amount of moisture in the air,the shingle on the 
stage upon which the plants are standing, should be 
damped down twice daily; also the walls and 
passages. 
The Annual Cleaning.- The cleaning of plants 
from insect pests is going on more or less the whole 
of the year round, but the comparative slackness of 
winter times gives opportunity for a more thorough 
overhauling than is possible at other seasons. The 
glass and wood-work will be all the better for a wash, 
and any repairs that may be necessary may also be 
seen to at the same time. With the constant heat 
and moisture that is present in the stove wood does 
not last so long as it does in the cooler houses. The 
sponge must be vigorously plied amongst all plants 
which have leaves large enough to sponge, for while 
the summer syringing keeps down spider, and bug 
and thrips to some extent, scale cannot be dislodged 
in this way, and Crotons, Dracaenas, Palms, and 
Cycads are generally besprinkled with it to some 
extent. 
Poinsettias that have had their heads removed 
for decorative purposes should be turned into a warm 
pit where they may be allowed to go gradually forest. 
The same instructions will apply to Euphorbia 
jacquiniaeflora, except that it should not be dried off, 
but should only have the water supply reduced. 
Allamandas. —These handsome Apocynaceous 
plants are very strong growers, and make a lot of 
wood annually, more particularly when they are 
planted out in a prepared border. Even pot plants 
make an astonishing amount of growth as compared 
with their root run. In order to keep them within 
bounds, therefore, it is very necessary to prune hard 
each year. The wood of last year’s formation should 
be cut back to within two or three eyes of the old 
wood, and the leading shoots need only be left a few 
inches long. With plants that are growing in borders 
and which not only have plenty of root run but 
plenty of space for overhead development.it is a good 
plan not to prune so hard but to give them a 
little more freedom. The Allamanda is naturally of 
very stiff habit, and when tied tightly to wires most 
of its flowers which are produced on the tops of the 
tips of the young growths, are out of sight. It is to 
be seen at its best when it is allowed to ramble 
somewhat, and the long branches are allowed to 
droop as the results of their own weight, bringing 
the flowers better into view. 
Greenhouse and Cool Conservatory. 
Although, according to the calendar, we are in the 
middle of winter, there is plenty of bloom in the con¬ 
servatory, that is, providing a close watch has been 
kept upon keeping up the supply. The absence of 
frost has made it somewhat easier than usual in this 
department, for we have scarcely had a day in which 
plants could not be shifted from one house to another 
without covering. This is a matter of importance, 
for not infrequently the conservatory is situated 
some distance trom the feeding houses, and plants 
have to be carefully covered up in order that they 
may perform the journey with safety. 
A good night temperature for the conservatory 
will be from 45 0 to 48° Fahr. If this is maintained 
damping, usually so great a bugbear at this season 
of the year, will not cause a lot of trouble, providing, 
of course, tbat due care in picking off and lemovmg 
dead leaves and flowers he xercised. I'u.-ie wii be 
a good deal of this kind of worn to do, and 11 must 
be done if the house is to be kept up to the mark. Some 
ventilation will be necessary on bright days, but 
when air is given it should be given in such a way 
that it does not cause draughts, than which nothing 
is more hurtful to plants that have lately been in a 
higher temperature. All watering must be done in 
the forenoon of each day, and no plant must be 
watered until it needs it. At no time of the year is 
more judgment necessary in the use of the watering- 
can, for in a batch of the same plants some dr> up 
very much more quickly than others, and an attempt 
to treat all alike is certain to be fraught with failure. 
Forced Material is now plentiful enough. 
Roman Hyacinths, Polyanthus and Paper-white 
Narcissi, Due Van Thol Tulips, Crocuses, Lilies of 
the Valley, and Snowdrops are all to be had in relays 
as they are required. 
Forced Shrubs, too, are abundant. Deutzias, 
Staphyleas, Azaleas, and Lilacs all find admirers. 
The practice of bleaching Lilac by allowing its 
blooms to remain for a time in a semi-dark cellar is 
not so commonly practised here as it is on the Con¬ 
tinent, except by market men who must supply white 
flowers at any cost. In addition to the bush Lilacs 
ordinarily seen standards with clean stems 3 ft. or 
4 ft. high are to be seen. These ate very effective, 
for the flowers show up to advantage. 
Azalea mollis is an old favourite, but some of the 
new hybrids raised between it and A. sinensis bid 
fair to oust the former species from its high position 
as a winter decorative subject. Some of these 
hybrids are exceedingly handsome, and fully as 
floriferous,while they retain their blooms for a much 
longer period—a quality that must appeal very 
strongly to gardeners. These hybrids are sure to 
become popular ere long for winter forcing. 
Viburnum Tinus. —Our old friend Viburnum 
Tinus is even more useful under glass than outdoors, 
and that is saying a good deal. It flowers well in 
pots, and naturally takes on a close, symmetrical 
habit. In 32’s and 24’s it is a great success, provided 
that it be not hurried along too much to make its 
buds drop. 
The Mezereons. —Daphne Mezereum, and its 
white and deep purple forms may be employed 
with advantage in the conservatory. All that the 
plants want is shelter from the cold, and they will 
develop their blooms of themselves, for they are 
naturally early flowerers, and in a mild season like 
the present, are not long in breaking into full bloom. 
The plants are rather straggling in habit, it is true, 
but they form a pleasing variety, and that is one of 
the things that should be aimed at in furnishing a 
house of this sort. 
Chinese Primulas. —Most gardeners lay them¬ 
selves out to obtain a good show of Chinese Primulas, 
and they display their wisdom in so doing for, thanks 
to our florists, we have now a marvellous variety of 
colour in them, and the blue is now really a blue, and 
not a washed-out purple. Both Fern and Palm¬ 
leaved sections should be grown, although in point 
of foliage the Fern-leaved varieties win. The doubles 
and semi-doubles are even more profuse in the way 
they flower than the singles, and they keep in bloom 
over a longer period. An occasional dose of weak 
liquid manure will help all of them very much, as 
the plants are apt to exhaust themselves by their free 
flowering. 
Cinerarias and Cyclamen. —Liquid stimulant 
will also be gratefully received by the earliest batch 
of Cinerarias. These plants abominate fire-heat, and 
if it can be avoided they should not be placed any¬ 
where near the pipes. The Cyclamen, although they 
love a moisture-laden atmosphere, should be given a 
warm corner, where they will not be exposed to 
draughts from opening and shutting doors. Liquid 
manure will be serviceable in their case also. 
Richardias —The popular Calla Lily is always in 
request throughout the winter and spring, and a good 
stock is a desideratum. In addition to the ordinary 
R. africana the dwarf form Little Gem is very useful, 
for it is even more suitable for cutting than the tall 
one. 
Peristrophe speciosa. —This pretty winter¬ 
blooming Acanthad is but comparatively rarely met 
with, and yet it is one of the prettiest and most easily 
grown things in cultivation. It has naturally a com¬ 
pact and bushy habit, and its small but numerous 
carmine purp e do ersarepr . luce? ron'.nu' 1/ Mi 
through the winter months. L ii*<.-s to be grown on 
in heat, out may be flowered well enough in the con¬ 
servatory.— A. S. G. 
