726 
July 17, 1897 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The yellow-ground section has been strengthened 
very considerably of late years, and now contains 
some of the richest and most handsome flowers. 
Almira and Colonial Beauty are well-known standard 
sorts. Cardinal Wolsey is one of the best and a 
great improvement on Victory both in build and 
colour. 
Coming to the Picotees, the yellow-ground section 
is very strong, and many of the varieties grown by 
the Messrs. Veitch are as near perfection as we have 
seen, Eldorado has bright yellow flowers edged and 
striated with bright rosy red. Gulden Eagle is rich 
golden yellow, edged and marked with bright red. 
These two grand varieties, together with two other 
tine forms, viz. Xerxes, and Voltaire, were raised by 
Martin R. Smith Esq., in his garden at Hayes. All 
four, moreover, have been awarded First-class Certi¬ 
ficates at various times. 
Of the other sections the following varieties have 
acquitted themselves well Norma Carr, heavy red 
edge ; Edith D' Ombrain, Mrs. Sharpe, and Little 
Phil, heavy rose edge; Amy Robsart and Muriel, 
heavy purple edged ; and Gannymede, crimson edge 
These varieties are the pick of the collection with 
regard to form and markings of the flower, and they 
are all possessed of a robust habit. Malmaisons, tco, 
are well grown at Chelsea, and the healthiness of the 
plants, which were for the most part out of flower at 
the time of our visit, gives a visitor a good idea of the 
size and quality of the flowers. A few of the latter 
were still to De seen and even these were good. That 
superb white variety, Nell Gwynne, has been a 
marked success this year The same might be said 
of the Prime Minister, which has the distinction of 
being the first scarlet Malmaison raised. Its vigour 
and beauty are remarkable. Princess May, Mrs. 
Everard Hambro, and the Churchwarden are three 
other splendid sorts ; indeed there is a great deal of 
variety now obtainable in tte ranks of the Malmai¬ 
sons alone, and the popularity of this section can 
scarcely fail to increase by leaps and bounds once 
the novelties are generally known, and their price 
other than prohibitive. 
Golden Spire, Stirling Castle, Cellini, Seaton 
House, and King of Pippins never fail, and these 
make sure of plenty of fruit from August to May. 
Morello Cherries were heavily set with fruit, but 
many shrivelled up by reason of cold and damp. 
Sweet Cherries suffered severely. The finer sorts of 
Plums have suffered ; Victoria is the hardiest.— M. 
Temple, Canon. 
ABELIA FLORIBUNDA. 
The flowers of this Abelia are totally different from 
those of the better known and hardy A. chinensisi 
and comes from Mexico, from which it reached our 
shores in 1845. The Chinese species has relatively 
short white flowers, but A. floribunda has slender, 
tubular flowers widening to a five-lobed but short 
lamina, and of a uniform gooseberry-red. When 
badly grown, the plant belies its name bearing only 
a few flowers, whereas when properly treated it pro¬ 
duces clusters of five to six of these showy blossoms, 
suspended from the apex of the slender shoots. The 
plant belongs to the same family as the Honeysuckle, 
and in shape the flowers may be compared to these 
of L. sempervirens, though widely distinct in colour. 
In this country it requires the shelter of a cool green¬ 
house. It is quite dwarf, and makes a pretty pot 
plant when properly cared for. There is a coloured 
plate of it in the Revue de L'Horticulture Beige. 
fjARDENlNG 
Oo 
n I8CELLANY. 
BRIDAL WREATHS. 
To be able to supply Orange blossom for the 
construction of bridal wreaths has often been a sore 
puzzle to gardeners at certain seasons of the year, 
particularly in winter. Old customs are, however, 
passing away and giving place to others. Lily of the 
Valley is now considered to be more elegant, graceful, 
and moreover, in accordance with good taste. Lily 
' of the Valley is a native plant, and above all is easily 
forced at any time during winter, so that gardeners 
will be thankful for that even if they reckon it more 
economical to send to market for the flowers then to 
grow them. Other flowers suitable f^r such occasions 
are white Tea Roses, Hyacinths, Camellias, Lilies, 
and Carnations. If a florist supplies the flowers, 
the ribbons he employs to tie them may be 
obtained to match the bridal gown by sending a 
sample of it. This will be no trouble to a first-class 
florist who studies his business. 
BROCCOLI UNIVERSAL. 
This is a splendid Broccoli for late work coming in 
after Late Queen. I can always depend on it for 
cutting in June. Out of the ten varieties grown 
three years ago, only two passed through 28° of 
frost, namely, Champion and Universa', every plant 
of Late Queen being killed.— Thos. Cochevill, XVirks- 
ivorth. 
CORREA CARDINAUS. 
This is in my estimation the most beautiful of the 
family. It is a New Holland plant, more frequently 
grown some years back, when there was not the 
demand for cut flowers for personal and room 
decoration there is at the present time, and when 
many would rather have the pleasure of seeing the 
flowers on the plant than elsewhere. This was just 
the plant to suit such, for it will often remain in 
flower fer months. It is not one of those things for 
the careless grower to take in hand. It likes a good 
sandy peat, and a fairly large plant may have a little 
good yellow loam mixed with it. A good airy green¬ 
house for about nine months of the year, and a cold 
pit or frame or a position behind a north wall 
during the summer months will suit it admirably. 
Like the other coloured members of the genus, it 
does not do well on its own roots, but succeeds best 
grafted on C. alba. C. cardinalis is the highest 
coloured member of the genus ; the tubular flowers 
are of a bright deep scarlet tipped with greenish- 
white. — W. B. G. 
HARDY FRUITS. 
In northern parts there are many complaints on the 
scarcity of small fruits—Gooseberries and Currants 
almost nil —but with us these are abundant and 
promising, though very late. Apples in many 
gardens and orchards are a small crop, and have 
suffered severely from wind and cold rain atter they 
had set well. There are some varieties which seem 
almost invulnerable to cold, sunless weather, and 
every year are a full crop. All the codlin classes 
(Keswick does so especially) Lord Grosvenor, 
A UNION FOR GARDENERS. 
A onion amongst gardeners is needed, because wages 
of masters and journeymen are going back, and 
heusirg accomodation is much the same as it has 
been for many years back. Wages can never rise 
with so many men in the market ready to sell their 
horticultural ability for what it will bring. The 
great body of gardeners has never had a union as 
understood amongst other trades; they have united 
in districts in a temporary way for the attainment of 
some common object, and the union was then dis¬ 
solved as scon as the question was settled ; so that 
the success or fai'ure of a union amongst gardeners 
has yet to be decided. 
Three of the commonest arguments against a union 
are (1) living in isolated groups ; (2) occupying their 
employers’ houses as part of their pay; (3) that 
gardening is not a necessary of life. Country 
labourers have overcome the first argument as they 
are isolated and have a union. Colliers have over¬ 
come the second, as they live in their employers 
houses (not all), and have a union ; and neither of 
the two bodies of workmen boast of their intelligence. 
The answer to the third argument is that fruit and 
vegetables are necessaries of life, and cut-flowers and 
plants (like tea) are indispensable luxuries. If 
gardeners nad a union they would not, as votaries of 
the gentle art, care to fight, except as a last extremity. 
If the executive used reasonable arguments and had 
the pressure of public opinion at their back, gardeners 
would get many things improved without going to 
the last exlremity. One of the reasons why gardeners 
have not a union is the foolish idea of head gardeners, 
that their interest and their men’s interest are not 
the same, and will therefore take no part in forming 
a union. 
The facts are a head gardener's remuneration and 
tenure of office are largely influenced by the number 
of young men in the market ready to take their place. 
Some think that gardeners could get their position 
improved by approaching their employer individually. 
True, a man could approach bis employer with cap 
in hand and eye on ground and beg of him &c., but 
ten to one if he would succeed ; if not, if he did not 
leave, ihe relation afterwards would be strained. 
A wail in The Gardening World might influence 
a generous employer here and there, but it would 
have no effect on the great body of employers. A 
union is undoubtedly the only means by which 
gardeners can improve their position ; if union is 
impossible, then gardeners must remain behind in 
the upward march of the working classes ; and con¬ 
sole themselves with the reflection that they are very 
clever fellows.— IF. K. 
-►*.- 
NOTICE OF BOOK. 
Hartland’s Conference Daffodils, &c. Draw¬ 
ings by Gertrude Hartland. Special Jubilee 
Issue. William Baylor Hartland, Cork, Ire¬ 
land. Price 3s. 6d. post free. 
This may be described as an Album of Daffodils, for 
its ninety-eight pages are mostly devoted to illustra¬ 
tions of Daffodils, the greater number of which are 
well recognised as leading and indispensable varie¬ 
ties in any good representative collection. It was 
originally brought out in 1890 : but since then it has 
teen considerably enlarged by fresh additions. The 
illustrations consist of woodcuts, and are in no way 
overburdened with text, seeing that they are merely 
accompanied by the name cf each respective variety. 
By some, this might be considered a defect ; but the 
matter is easily rtmedied, by applying to the author 
for the descrij tive little bcok of over 2C0 varieties, 
of Daffodils, with original Tulip list of May flower¬ 
ing sorts, which may be had on application. 
By consulting the pages of this album of Daffodils, 
we note good illustrations of Ard Righ or Irish King, 
Golden Plover, Golden Spur (well adapted for forc¬ 
ing purposes), Vicar of Lulwortb, Primrose Dame, 
Maw's Bicolor, Corbularia citrinus, CyclamiDeus, 
Bicolor Horsfieldi, Bicolor Grandee, Incomparabilis 
Sir Watkin, Muticus or The Omega, Muzart 
Orientalis, Madame de Graaff, Glory of LeideD, 
Countess of Annesley, and various others of similar 
importance. 
Paper and printing are excellent, so that altogether 
this may be considered a unique and interesting col¬ 
lection of illustrations of the most popular of spring 
flowers for outdoor work. The album would make 
an excellent companion to any work with a merely 
descriptive list from which the colours may be taken. 
There is a poetical address to several Nineteenth 
Century men accompanied by portraits such as 
James Watt, George Stephenscn, Thomas Alva 
Edison, and Professor Rontgen. There are also a 
poetical address to Princess Victoria on her birth¬ 
day on May 24th, 1837, and other pieces. The 
Daffodil pictures are mostly very faithful to nature. 
-- 
THe Drcfiifl Browers’ calendar. 
Angraecum falcatum. —What a dear little gem this 
is ! It is one that takes up but such a small space 
that room should be found for it without much diffi¬ 
culty. Unlike other kinds, too, it thrives best under 
cool treatment. In summer the shade and moisture 
of the Odontoglossum house is just what it likes, but 
during the winter months for safety’s sake we sus¬ 
pend our plants up near the glass of the Cattleya 
house. 
Being a dwarf grower, basket culture is the 
most suitable. A six inch basket would accommo¬ 
date a six lead plant; or it could be made up to that 
amount. Such a basket would have when in bloom 
perhaps ten or twelve spikes in full flower at once, 
making a very pretty object. A few crocks and live 
sphagnum moss worked in together is all we use to 
grow it in, for it only requires just enough to keep 
it from drying up too quickly When the moss 
gets sour by constant watering it should be renewed. 
Laelia tenebrosa.— It is very rarely that we do 
much potting during the month of July, but there 
are some things that are very much benefited by a 
shift along now, and one of these is the above fine 
addition to the summer flowering Laelias. As socn 
as the growths are fully made up they begin 'to put 
forth large fleshy roots; and we contend that they 
should have some fresh material to root into aad be 
enabled to build up a sound, healthy constitution. 
Without this the next season's growths will be small, 
