470 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 27, 1897. 
something like a Cactus Dahlia. This Narcissus is 
popularly called " Queen Anne's Double Daffodil. 
N. Moschatus of Haworth is the cheapest of the 
white varieties and is the most suitable for naturalis¬ 
ing. It is dwarf in habit, but somewhat variable as 
to the size of the flower. 
N Leedsii Grand Duchess is as yet the only 
representative of the Leedsii section in bloom in the 
open. The narrow white perianth segments are those 
of N. Leedsii, but the cup is very spreading and 
stained with orange-yellow. This is a very distinct 
and beautiful early flowering form. 
Chionodoxa Tmolusii, the latest of all the Chiono- 
doxas is now in fine condition. It has rather larger 
flowers than C. Luciliae, the eye is larger and a 
purer white, and the blue of the upper parts of the 
segments is several shades deeper. 
Chionodoxa gigantea alba. —The whole of the 
colour has not yet been eliminated from this fine 
Chionodoxa, although the . flowers are so nearly 
white as to need no apology on our part for calling 
them so. A batch of plants in the rockery at Long 
Ditton exhibits some flowers that have only the 
faintest tinge of colour. The flowers are borne one 
or two, one usually, on a scape, and are fully as large 
as those of the type. 
Tulipa kaufmanniana has not only its earliness 
to recommend it, but likewise a great deal of grace 
and beauty. As it is growing with Messrs Barr & 
Sons the flowers are creamy-yellow in hue with a 
yellow base on which, towards its upper limit, are 
several splashes of deep carmine. Externally the 
flower is tinted deeply with carmine, which deepens 
towards the base of the segments. The individual 
segments are oblong and obtuse, and about 3 in. in 
length. The peduncle is from 4 in. to 6 in. in length. 
Although rather expensive, it would be well-worth 
the money to those who are on the look out for early- 
flowering Tulips. 
Due Van Thol Tulips are chiefly employed for 
pot culture, but their earliness stands them in good 
stead for planting out of doors where the scarlet 
Vermillion and yellow forms are starring the ground. 
Their dwarf habit is somewhat against them, since it 
renders them liable to be splashed and dirtied by 
rain. 
Erythronium grandiflorum (yellow var.).—This 
is certainly one of the handsomest of the Erythron- 
iums, and one that when it becomes known will 
undoubtedly be grown extensively. The leaves are 
green, lanceolate in shape, acute, and from 4 in. to 
5 in. in length The scapes are from 4 in. to 5 in. 
in height, and usually two flowered. The 
flowers are about 2 in. in diameter, although the 
narrow and abruptly reflexing segments make them 
appear to be smaller. They are rich yellow in hue, 
a faint green stripe being apparent in the centre of 
each segment externally, towards the base. A fine 
batch of plants is flowering with Messrs. Barr in a 
protected ground. 
Erythronium giganteum roseum.— The leaves 
here are broadly ovate short, and prettily 
mottled. The scape is about 3 in. long and bears a 
single flower which, as the name signifies, is rosy-pink 
In colour with a white base to each of the segments. 
The flowers are about ij in. in diameter. 
Erythronium citrinu m has ovate lanceolate leaves, 
from 4 in. to 5 in. in length and prettily mottled. 
The scape is about 6 in. in height, and two flowered. 
The blooms are 1^ in. in diameter usually, and 
exhibit a light citron-yellow hue. The segments are 
very narrow. This is a pretty form, and worth 
growing for the sake of variety, although it is not 
nearly so showy as the yellow E. grandiflorum. 
E. Dens-Canis and its varieties must not be 
forgotten. Naturalised in grass they prove a con¬ 
spicuous success, and in such a position the flowers 
seem to be thrown higher above the foliage than 
they are when the plants are growing in prepared 
soil. They should be planted in moist and partially 
shaded places. 
Iris caucasicus major where it has been slightly 
protected during the winter months is now in flower. 
It appears to be a good deal stronger than the type. 
The stem is about 10 in. in height and bears from three 
to four flowers enclosed singly in bracts. The falls are 
comparatively undeveloped, being small, spathulate 
in shape, and of a pale lilac hue. The standards 
are of the same colour as the falls, but large and with 
strongly reflexing tips. A bright yellow blotch is 
apparent at the tip in the centre of each. 
Fritillaria aurea. — This is certainly the most 
showy of all the Fritillarias open at the present time. 
The large bell-shaped, bright, yellow flowers with 
their faint markings are very handsome. The great 
disadvantage is that it is so low in stature that the 
bells will persist in lying down upon, or close to, the 
soil. When grown in pots, however, this defect is 
remedied, as is amply exemplified at Ihe present 
time by some plants in the Alpine house at Kew. 
Fritillaria nobilis (improved ). —The flowers here 
are about 1 in. in length by the same in width, thus 
coming very close to F. aurea. The habits of the 
two plants are also similar. The flowers of F- 
nobilis, however, are pink-white internally, heavily 
tesselated with deep purple-crimson. Externally the 
latter colour is uniform. On a sunless day the flower 
looks somewhat dull in hue, but once let the sun shine 
on it and the rich purple-crimson shows up to the 
greatest advantage. The leaves are linear-lanceolate 
in shape, acuminate, twisted, glaucous, and of very 
succulent texture. Grown in pots it would probably 
come a little taller, and the flowers would then display 
their charms more satisfactorily. 
All the above Erythroniums and Fritillarias are in 
excellent condition in Messrs. Barr & Sons’ nursery 
at Long Ditton. 
--*•- 
DUTCH BULBS AT HIGH BARNET. 
Messrs. Cutbush & Son’s establishment at High 
Barnet has been especially gay during the past week 
with a display of Hyacinths and Tulips that it 
would be difficult to beat as evidences of sound 
and successful culture. This show has been thrown 
open to the public for several days from 6.30 a.m. to 
6 p.m. free of charge, although a unique money box 
in the shape of a watering-can affixed to the sides of 
one of the houses gently solicited free-will offerings 
to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
The past winter has proved a somewhat curious one 
for bulbs grown under glass, for owing to its mildness 
considerable difficulty has been experienced in keep¬ 
ing the flowers back until this time, and we were 
assured that all the plants that we saw had been 
grown absolutely without fire-heat at all. This was in 
great contrast to the previous winter, when the bulbs 
moved slowly even with the application of fire heat. 
The great discrepancy in the experiences of two con¬ 
secutive seasons only goes to show that it needs a 
wideawake cultivator to surmount the difficulties. 
Hyacinths. 
Upwards of fifty varieties are grown at Barnet for 
purposes of exhibition. These are representative of 
the different shades of colour, although with a single 
exception they were all singles. This exception con¬ 
sisted of a new arrival from the Continent named 
Isabella. It is of dwarf sturdy habit and throws a 
long, deep, and broad spike. The flowers are large 
and massive, very double, and with rather abruptly 
reflexing segments. In colour they aie white with a 
slight suffusion of pink. 
Of the singles, one of the most notable varieties is 
La Belle, which has only been grown in quantities this 
year for the first time. It bears massive spikes of 
great depth. For the sake of curiosity we measured 
one and found that from the top of the spike to the 
lowest bell it went over 10 in. Lord Derby is a first- 
class light blue with a very large spike, but the latter 
always seems to come flat-topped. King Cole is 
certainly well named. It throws a dense spike of 
nearly black flowers which have more than usually 
narrow segments. Snowball is a very fine white of 
dwarf habit and sturdy foliage. The spike is of 
medium size, but the flowers are very massive, their 
segments being abruptly reflexed. Adelaide Restoni 
was the best yellow on view. Marquis of Lome, 
yellow, suffused with rose, is also very charming. 
Princess Mary of Cambridge is, as may be imagined, 
a true Cambridge blue, a popular colour with many 
at this season. 
Other well-known varieties which were in first- 
class condition were King of the Blues, blue ; Sultan, 
deep blue ; Von Schiller, deep rose ; Lord Macaulay, 
bright red; Moreno, flesh-pink; Etna, rose; and 
Grandeur a Merveille, flesh-pink. 
The whole of the plants were accommodated in 7-in. 
pots, and as the surface of the soil was all covered 
with bright green moss, they presented a very attrac¬ 
tive feature arranged in banks of flowering colour all 
round the side stages of a roomy house. The Messrs. 
Cutbush have grown Hyacinths for exhibition since 
1859, and comparing photographs of the specimens 
turned out then with those of to-day there does not 
seem to have been any advancement made in the size 
and depth of the spike except in the yellow section. 
Cultivation however, must have improved greatly, 
since in the fifties the bulbs grown fer exhibition 
were usually seven years old, whereas now they are 
only from four to five years old. 
Tulips. 
In another house we saw one of the finest lots of pot 
Tulips that it has ever been our lot to witness. 
Sturdy foliage of unusual size was surmounted by 
large and brilliantly-coloured flowers, the depth of 
cup and width and substance of the segments leaving 
nothing to be desired. The arrangement, too, 
merited a note of praise since the plants were placed 
together in batches of one sort, the effect being a 
most happy one. Three bulbs were grown in a 7-in. 
pot. 
A number of varieties is grown, fairly representa¬ 
tive of the range of colours. The gorgeous scarlet 
and gold of Keizer Kroon was as evident here as it 
will be presently in the open ground, Cbrysolora is 
deep yellow, and very dwarf. Canary Bird exhibits 
a two shades lighter yellow than Chrysolora, and is 
also rather taller. Vermillion Brilliant is aptly 
Darned, for the bright vermillion-scarlet of the 
flowers cannot well be overlooked. The deep 
crimson, and white forms of Joost Van Vondel were 
likewise much in evidence. White Pottebakker is 
unsurpassed as a pure white, although now and again 
it illustrates the vagaries of its kin by turning out a 
segment or two bright green instead of white. Ophir 
d’Or is deep yellow, striped with scarlet—a very 
showy form. Thomas Moore is a rather lanky 
grower. The flowers are terra cotta in hue, enlivened 
by the yellow margin, Cottage Maid is dwarf, but 
the pink and white flowers are by no means unattrac¬ 
tive. 
The above formed the backbone of a collection 
through which from first to last not one inferior 
plant was to be seen, but which demonstrated most 
unmistakeably how high a degree of cultural skill had 
been exercised in its behalf. 
———*»*- 
VEGETABLE CALENDAR. 
In the course of the next week or two, some of the 
principal crops of the year should be sown. Among 
the more important are the main crops of Brussels 
Sprouts, Broccoli (Walcheren), and other kinds for 
succession, Borecole, Savoys for early autumn and 
winter supplies. Succession beds of Cauliflowers, 
Lettuce, Cabbages, and Leeks. An open unshaded 
position should be selected for the seedbeds, and the 
soil should be in good heart. Sow thinly and give 
ample room in the seed beds. It is a great mistake 
to sow an ounce of seed on a few square feet of 
ground where a quarter of an ounce would be ample 
and give much better plants. 
Carrots. —Another sowing of early Horn may be 
made in a warm position. The main crop of Nantes 
and the better forms of Intermediate should also be 
got in during the first favourable opportunity. The 
ground for this crop requires special preparation in 
getting it thoroughly worked and pulverised. Good 
dressings of burnt refuse will be a great advantage, 
in producing an early development and clean roots. 
Turnips.--A good breadth may now be made of 
Early Milan and Snowball, as most of the roots 
from this sowing will, if well thinned, attain a good 
size before running to seed. The beds should be in 
a position convenient for giving them a good water¬ 
ing, should dry weather occur while the plants are in 
the earlier stages of growth. 
Asparagus. —A good stock of one and two-year- 
old plants should be kept in every garden and this 
necessitates growing annually. An open position 
should be selected for sowing in drills 18 in. apart. 
The seed should be carefully sorted, selecting the 
strongest seeds only, and these should not be sown 
in heaps as is usually done, but carefully dropped in 
the rows at least an inch apart. By taking this 
slight extra care when sowing, stronger plants will 
be secured in one year, than in two by thick sowing. 
Dwarf Beans. —Successions of these may now be 
made in any cold frames where a sunny position is 
available, as by keeping them close, sufficient heat will 
be obtained to secure a healthy germination. A few 
hundred large 60-sized pots should be filled with 
some light sandy compost, and a single bean pressed 
into the centre, placing them in any position where a 
temperature of 6o° can be maintained. These, if 
