408 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 25, 1899. 
INTS FOR ||mATEURS. 
Lachenalia Nelsoni.—Our friend Lachenalia tri¬ 
color is a very old friend indeed, and it has been 
grown in gardens and nurseries for more years than 
any of us can remember. It was, in fact, introduced 
to this country as far back as the year 1774, and has 
been cultivated, more or less, ever since that time. 
No one likes to turn the back on old friends, but 
still, there is ever a tendency in the human breast to 
worship the rising sun. Everything is good until a 
better one is found, when naturally enough we turn 
to the better one and let the other one go. 
We have a capital instance of this in the two 
Lachenalias mentioned. L. tricolor has proved a 
showy plant as well as an easy one to grow, but it is 
far out-classed by L. Nelsoni, a hybrid which made 
its appearance about the year 1882 The flowers 
are long (about i* in ), tubular, and rich yellow in 
colour, each of the points being prettily tipped 
with green. The spikes run to 8 in. or 10 in. in 
length, and occasionally on strong bulbs to 12 in. 
Flowers are borne for nearly two-thirds of this dis¬ 
tance, the rich yellow of the drooping bells being set 
off by the orange-red flushing of their common stem. 
The leaves are much like those of L. tricolor, being 
heavily mottled with brown on a deep green ground. 
As my readers will see, we have in L. Nelsoni all 
the makings of a firs'.-rate decorative plant. It is as 
easy to grow as the species, and there is no finer 
sight than a good batch of it in the conservatory 
during February and March. As a basket subject 
L Nelsoni fully maintains its ascendancy over the 
species, and attention might advisedly be paid to 
this method of cultivation, as it displays to advan¬ 
tage the peculiar habit of the plant with its droop¬ 
ing leaves and erect flower spikes. 
There should be no difficulty in obtaining a few 
bulbs at a reasonable rate, for the plant is much 
better known now than it was a few years ago; in¬ 
deed, until recently it was a comparatively rare oc¬ 
currence to see a good batch of it in any one place. 
White Camellias.—White flowers never come 
amiss at any season of the year, and white Camellias 
are amongst the most delicately beautiful of all 
white flowers, alike for the gentleman’s buttonhole 
and the lady's hair. There are two white varieties 
that are to be recommended to those who are in search 
of this kind of material, and they are Alba Plena and 
Fimbriata. Both are pure white, but in Alba Plena 
the edges of the petals arequite smooth and rounded, 
while in Fimbriata they are, as the varietal name 
indicates, finely notched, or fimbriated as it is techni¬ 
cally called. To judge from the many scraggy-look- 
ing samples that we see from time to time, these 
varieties are difficult to grow, but if they are given 
proper care and attention they are as easy to do as a 
Cabbage. An occasional pruning is required just to 
keep them in shape, and the drainage must be well 
looked after to see that it does not become choked. 
If a stoppage of this kind is allowed to remain un¬ 
remedied the soil soon becomes sour and full of 
worms, and then goodbye to the health of the plant. 
Narcissus minimus.—This charming miniature of 
a trumpet Daffodil does well when planted in a 
sheltered nook in the rockery, but the flowers being 
so close to the ground are always liable to have 
their beauty sullied by being splashed with mud. As 
the plant is quite at home in a pot, this method of 
culture recommends itself to those who have a cold 
frame or two and a greenhouse amongst their pos¬ 
sessions. Nothing like forcing should be attempted 
or the flowers will be devoid of colour and substance, 
and the rich green of the healthy foliage will be 
represented by a very colourless, washed-out looking 
article. The plants only want sheltering from the 
cold, for they are naturally early bloomers, to come 
into bloom about the middle of February. It will 
thus be seen that a cold frame that can be covered 
up sufficiently during wintry weather to keep out 
the frost is really all that is wanted until the buds 
commence to expand, when the plants may be 
removed to the greenhouse to finish. 
Old Chrysanthemums.—There are so many things 
that will be calling for more room under glass 
during the next few weeks, that every foot of space 
is becoming of more importance day by day. Up to 
the present the old Chrysanthemums have been 
reposing peacefully in a cold frame. A sufficiency 
of cuttings has now been taken, and hence the 
chief object of the existence of the old stumps has 
been obtained. They may be turned to further 
account in another way, however, if the oppor¬ 
tunity occurs, viz., for planting out in odd corners 
of the mixed border for flowering out of doors. In 
such an autumn as that of 1898, for instance, such 
plants give a good account of themselves and furnish 
any amount of flowers for cutting. These remarks 
will, of course, apply only to early and mid-season 
varieties—late ones will be of no good and may as 
well be thrown away at once. 
The plants that it is intended to save may be 
lifted out of their pots (the balls being a mass of 
roots will remain intact under a good deal of knocking 
about), and stood close together under a wall or 
hedge in the open ground. There they will get 
sufficient shelter, and will be in readiness for planting 
out when the border is given its spring overhauling. 
Primula Princess. —Each year sees some addition 
to the ranks of the Chinese Primulas, and certainly 
“The Princess 1 ' may claim to be one of the most 
important of the 1898-9 additions, for it is not too 
much to say that it is the finest white Primula in 
existence. In habit it is intermediate between the 
well known “stellata" or “Lady" type, and the 
florist’s forms which have so long been grown in their 
thousands all over the country, and which are now 
represented to seme degree in every garden of any 
size at all. 
The flowers of “The Princess” are of great size 
and substance, and have prettily frilled margins and 
big, bright yellow eyes that are very attractive, and 
show a great improvement upon the dull green- 
yellow eyes so frequently to be seen in many varieties. 
The foliage is distinctly of the Fern-leaf type and 
is very handsome, especially when it is thrown into 
contrast with the tier upon tier of bright flowers 
above. "The Princess” was shown for the first 
time at the Westminster Drill Hall on February 
14th by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons of Swanley, by 
whom it was raised. Certainly the Swanley firm has 
given us nothing better amongst the many good 
things it has sent out from time to time. 
Primula Seed. —In order to induce Chinese 
Primulas to set seed, it will be necessary to resort to 
artificial pollination, for the anthers and the stigma 
being at different heights the pollen cannot reach 
them in the ordinary way by wind, and the shutting 
up of the plants in greenhouses, as well as the 
resulting earliness of the blooming season, precludes 
the possibility of insects reaching the flowers and 
transferring the pollen as they do out of doors. 
Employ a very soft camel’s hair brush, thrust it 
down the tube and give it a gentle twist round. A 
light hand is necessary so as to avoid bruising the 
stigma, which would be fatal.— Rex. 
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Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
“Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Timely Reminders. 
Pot Chrysanthemum cuttings. 
Watch Chrysanthemums carefully for mildew and 
dust them with sulphur. 
Give manure water to pot Vines once a week. 
Disbud succession Vines. 
Disbud second early Peaches. 
Finish pruning of outdoor fruit trees. 
Fix shadiDg on Odontoglossum houses. 
Set traps for mice in early Peas. 
Make Seakale cuttings and tie in bundles. 
Prick off Onions raised under glass into pans. 
Sow Short Horn Carrots on south border. 
Lift more Asparagus and Seakale for forcing. 
Protect early Peas with boughs of evergreens, 
heather, etc. 
Look after rabbits in the flower garden. 
Pot off rooted Fuchsias and Coleuses. 
Pinch flowers and flower buds out of bedding 
Pelargoniums. 
Look over Hyacinth glasses, and refill where 
necessary. 
Roll lawns in fine weather with a goad heavy 
roller. 
Prune Laurels, and dress the wounds with coal 
tar. 
Prune H.P. Roses—either knife or secateur may 
be used. 
Look over Onions, and use first those that are 
sprouting. 
Bedding-out Plans. — Tyro : The effect produced 
by planting alternately Perilla and variegated zonal 
Pelargoniums, such as Flower of Spring and Bijou, 
would be very good in beds numbers three and five, 
as the white and light green, and dark-bronzy pur¬ 
ple would afford an admirable contrast. 
Tom Thumb Nasturtiums.— Tyro : Sow the seed 
under glass from the beginning to the middle of 
March,and give a temperature of about 6o° to induce 
quick germination. As soon as the plants are big 
enough to handle prick them off singly into small 
thumb pots. Transfer them from these to larger 
ones—48's will be a handy size—as soon as the 
small pots are filled with roots. By the end of May 
you will then have sturdy plants which will soon 
commence to flower, and will keep right on until 
frost comes. Do not coddle the young plants after 
they have got out of their seedling stage, or they 
will become drawn and miserable-looking things. 
The soil in the flower bed should not be rich, for 
Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. If you give 
them too much to feed upon they will grow at a 
tremendous rate, but flowers will be fewer. 
Astilbe (Spiraea) Japonica.— Alpha : Spiraeas will 
not force two years in succession, but they will do 
well enough if allowed a year’s rest between, i.e., till 
the year after next, as you suggest, so that the plants 
are well worth saving on this account. Plant them 
out some time during the spring,cutting back the old 
growths, and they will make a quantity of fresh 
growths. Keep them well supplied with water. 
Next spring, before growth has commenced, lift and 
divide the clumps, replanting the divisions in good 
rich soil. These divisions will make capital forcing 
clumps by the following autumn, i.e., about twenty 
months from this date. 
Roses on their Own Roots. —What would be the 
best Roses to grow on their roots as bush plants for 
supplying buttonholes for market purposes ?— Alpha. 
Almost all Roses will do well upon their own 
roots, although propagation by grafting and budding 
is still extensively favoured on account of the quick¬ 
ness with which saleable plants may be thus 
obtained. It becomes than a question of the kind of 
market you intend to supply, and the colours that 
would be likely to “ take ” there. The following list 
of varieties will give you an opportunity of making 
a selection:—Anna Olivier, Brilliant, Crown Prince, 
Duke of York.Fiammetta Nabonnand,Fisher Holmes, 
General Jacqueminot, Gloire Lyonnaise, Homer, Ma 
Capucine, Madame des Watteville, Madame Falcot, 
Madame Pierre Cochet, Marie Van Houtte, Niphetos, 
Prince Camille de Rohan, Sunset, The Bride, W. F. 
Bennett, and W. A. Richardson. The last-named 
variety exemplifies probably the most popular 
colour, and it is always in request. 
Three Dark Roses .—Exhibitor: Try Abel Car- 
riere, Duke of Connaught, and Louise Van Houtte. 
A fourth variety, as good as the others, is Prince 
Camille de Rohan. 
Rochea falcata, is by no means a rare plant K., 
for it is frequently to be met with in collections of 
greenhouse plants in private establishments. It is 
true it is not grown in batches like Primulas or 
Cinerarias, but it is there all the same. By the way, 
the correct name of the plant is Crassula falcata, 
although the name you give is the one generally met 
with in gardens. The specific name " falcata ”, mean¬ 
ing sickle shaped, bears reference to the form of 
thick, bluntly pointed leaves. 
Deutzia gracilis.—Can you tell me why the 
flowers of a forced plant of Deutzia gracilis fell with¬ 
in a few hours after they opened ? The plant was 
in the greenhouse along with others which were not 
affected in this way. F.M .—Have you allowed the 
plants to get dry at the roots, because this would 
account for the untimely dropping of the flowers. 
If a check has not been given in this way it may 
simply be a freak on the part of the plant, which may 
or may not be repeated another year. Is the plant 
