December 15, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
■247 
high .winds, but open and not surrounded by trees of 
any kind. When planting do not cut only the long 
shoots back, but prune all broken roots. Put 
bracken between them or any long litter. At the 
end of March or beginning of April prune them 
back to five or six buds, which will cause them to 
make good growth the first year. In May give the 
beds a watering with manure water, or a dressing of 
any good chemical manure.— H.W. Lewis, The Village, 
Hayes, Kent. 
THE CHRISTMAS ROSE. 
There are many varieties of Helleborus nlger, the 
true types of which differ from each other, though 
specimens are often to be found which are difficult 
of classification. The giant variety maximus is first 
to flower, the blooms commencing to open here on 
November 12th. It is a vigorous plant with 
tall flower scapes, having large blooms tinged with 
pink. Juvernis or St. Brigid's is a charming 
variety having beautifully cupped flowers of the 
purest white. The Riverston variety flowers freely 
showing pink stigmas on white blooms. H. n. 
major is an improved variety and grown extensively 
for Yuletide markets. Other varieties are scoticus 
or angustifolius, ruber or Apple blossom, a clear, 
rosy shade, and Mdme. Fourcade. Christmas Roses 
like a deep rich soil, and do best in a partially 
shaded position, which should also be shaded from 
strong winds. The bed should be 3 ft. to 4 ft. deep 
having a heavy dressing of cow manure worked 
through the lower portion. This provides the cool 
moist bottom that is such an important factor in the 
well being of Hellebores. They should be mulched 
and attended in watering during summer. February 
is the best month in which to plant or transplant.— 
Henry H. Gibson, The Gardens, Glencairn, Belfast. 
SUTTON’S “AMATEUR’S GUIDE IN 
HORTICULTURE” 
Is one of the very few annuals that have been issued 
continuously since the dawn of the nineteenth 
century, and from the first number to the preseot 
time this periodical has steadily increased in interest 
and in usefulness. Almost every page of the edition 
for 1901 is illustrated with one or more admirable, 
reproductions from photographs, showing the highest 
types of vegetables and the most beautiful examples 
of flowers. Many of these are modern types of old 
favourites ; others are comparatively recent intro¬ 
ductions which have secured a firm position in 
popular favour. The work is not merely a record of 
progress, but it contains a gallery of horticultural 
fine art, and some of the illustrations will be specially* 
valued for their suggestions of decorative effect. 
The authors, Messrs. Sutton & Sons, are evidently 
enthusiasts in their work, and they have succeeded in 
inspiring enthusiasm in the public mind. As a 
result, the period of almost all important vegetables 
has been considerably extended, and there is now 
greater variety than ever, combined with a marked 
advance in those qualities which ensure success on 
the exhibition stage. 
In very modest terms the great Reading seedsmen 
refer to the honours awarded for their exhibits 
during the past year, including Gold Medals at Paris, 
Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, York, and other 
leading horticultural aud agricultural shows. 
As specialists in the distribution of high-class 
Potatos, Messrs. Sutton & Sons maintain their 
reputation, and the illustrations of these apparently 
unpromising subjects will arrest the attention of 
those who eat, although they may not grow the 
" noble tuber.” 
Those who have gardens will find ” Sutton’s 
Amateur’s Guide" indispensable, and those who 
live in towns may spend more than a pleasant hour 
in scanning a work which is crowded with informa¬ 
tion conveyed in clear and lucid language, free from 
troublesome technicalities. The cover is a beautiful 
example of what can be achieved by simple means, 
and will grace the table of any drawiDg-room. For 
this edition of the “Guide” a special paper has 
been made, which has the advantage of doing justice 
to the numerous illustrations without the hard 
metallic surface of art paper. The details got into 
the pictures, and the apparent depth to which one can 
see by means of variations in the light and shade, 
are remarkable. The smooth, rolled surface of 
thick paper enables this to be accomplished ; yet 
there is a lack of the glossy surface which offends 
the eye, especially when reading by artificial light, 
from printing on art paper. 
RETIREMENT OF AN OLD AYRSHIRE 
GARDENER. 
Many will learn with regret that on the 28th ult. 
Mr. Robert Campbell severed his connection with 
Corwar Gardens after having had charge there for 
the long period of fifty-one years. 
Early in the forties Mr. Campbell came from 
Cudham, in the upper part of Ayrshire, and began 
his career as head gardener with the late George K. 
Young, Esq , of Glendoune, Girvan, whom he served 
satisfactorily and well. The writer had the unique 
pleasure of showing this veteran gardener round the 
latter place the other day, and it was, indeed, a treat 
to see with what pride this old craftsman pointed out 
the handsome trees and shrubs which he had planted 
upwards of fifty years ago. On leaving Glendoune 
Mr. Campbell was appointed gardener to the late 
Rigby Wason, Esq., M.P., at Corwar, Barhill, who 
was then busy transforming a large track of veritable 
moorland into a beautiful residential estate. Mr. 
Wason had great ability as a beautifier of landscape, 
and he was ably assisted by his worthy gardener, 
who carried out the ideas of his talented employer in 
a highly creditable manner. Some years ago the 
estate was acquired by the Hon. H. Elliot, who 
wisely retained the services of the gardener who was 
so long identified with the place. 
Mr. Campbell has thus attained a position that 
falls to the lot of very few—of having charge of the 
same garden for the long period of fifty-one years— 
and in that time had only two masters. Mr. Camp¬ 
bell is a quiet unobtrusive man, highly respected in 
the district where his lot has so long been cast; in 
short atypical old Scotch servant,now, unfortunately, 
very rare. Mr. Campbell was a good, all-round 
gardener, mixing little with the crowd at exhibitions, 
&c., finding the routine work of a gentleman's gar¬ 
den, well done, left little time for riding hobbies, as 
he called them. It must have been a great wrench 
to the old man leaving the familiar ground where he 
had toiled so long and faithfully, and I am sure his 
gardening and other friends sincerely wish he may 
long be spared to enjoy his well-earned leisure.— 
Brightspade. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Conservatory. 
Now that the principal flowering plant of autumn is 
all but over, the greenhouses and conservatories are 
not so bright as they were recently. But when one 
takes notice of what can and is done at such places 
as Kew it will be found that even although the 
Chrysanthemum is gone, there are numerous other 
very showy subjects that might be used in their 
stead. The Heath tribe, including dwarf Pernettyas 
together with Acacia platyptera and A. cyanophylla, 
flower now.- Among the long list of Begonias suit¬ 
able for the conservatory we would name B. coccinea, 
B. fuchsioides, B. semperflorens gigantea rosea and 
even B. Gloire de Lorraine when the plants are 
sturdily grown and are placed in the cosiest part of 
the house. Browallia speciosa major furnishesa fine 
blue flowered plant for this period of the year; 
while the purple blossoms of Peristrophe speciosa 
are also most welcome. Cyclamen and all the 
varied race of Primulas from the brilliant little P. 
floribunda up to the large Star Primulas of recent 
re-establishment are also in season. Reinwardtia 
trigyna is a plant of extraordinary excellence when 
properly grown, but alas! how seldom are perfect 
specimens met with. The paper-white Narcissus 
(which I do not in the least care for) is now to be 
had; N. pseudo-Narcissus and the Roman and 
Italian Hyacinths (both distinct) are in 
bloom. Freesias also, and soon many others will 
appear. It is gladdening to recall the fact that in a 
day or two the days will begin to stretch out, for the 
shortest day of the year passes on December 21st. 
After that the plants appear to appreciate the fact, 
and certainly by the second week in January con¬ 
siderable signs of increased vitality are evident 
among the stove occupants. The Cinerarias will 
now be coming into flower to last by succession, for 
some months. The Salvias need not yet be all over 
either, especially if some of the plants were retarded 
for late work, In a few years we shall have quite an 
array of plants in bloom at this season through 
being retarded, where heretofore they could never 
be had by any system of forcing. Spiraeas have 
been lately quite common at some of the best 
London exhibitions. The Liltum tribe are subjected 
to the retarding process, and they too, are now as 
fresh and fine as Liliums are at Easter, or even in 
the open borders in May, June and July. Not con¬ 
tent with these comparatively easily handled and 
easily treated plants, the “ retarders ” have taken 
Azaleas in hand also. 
The berried class of plants such as Solatium 
Capsicastrum; the whole series of Capsicums with 
their pretty seed pods, and the Citrus (Orange) 
tribe; as well as the smaller Pernettyas already 
noted, are much neglected in the average private 
garden. Considering the length of time they are 
in fruit and how attractive they are, it is a matter 
for wonder that they do not occupy greater attention. 
The conservatory at the present time should be 
maintained at from 50° to 60® Fahr., and as little 
moisture as possible should be disseminated. Change 
the air once a day, at least, and so long as the 
weather is mild 1 in. or 2 in. of top air may be given, 
Stove. 
This is the season when one can get the upper hand 
of the plant pests such as scales and mealy bug, 
The plants should all be gone over at this time, 
There will be no need for more than one damping- 
down per day and this should be done before ten in 
the morning ; going all over the stages with a rosed 
can and damping between the pots.— J. H. D. 
--S--- 
©leanings ftpim ffje Duttlb 
nf tn'icure. 
Origin and relationship of Cycads.—^Mr. W. C. 
Worsdell, F.L.S., at a meeting of the Linnean Society 
on November 15th, read a paper entitled “ Further 
Observations on the Cycadaceae,” intended to throw 
additional light on the problem as to the phylogenetic 
origin and relationships, of this group of plants. By 
some authorities these have been considered as allied 
to the Conifers, while in appearance they resemble 
Palms and Ferns. They are now confined to the 
warmer regions of the globe, though they were formerly 
widely distributed. The group was at its maximum in 
Jurassic and Triassic times; and Cycad remains, 
especially in the Lias and the Oolite, are familiar to 
palaeontologists in this country. This paper, like the 
rest of the author’s work on this group, had two 
main objects^to contribute to the clear and precise 
knowledge of the vegetative structure, and to point 
out, by means of that knowledge, the relationship of 
the Cycads to, and; their descent from, Fern-like 
plants, The structure was made clear by a series of 
lantern-slides and diagrams. 
At a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 4th inst., the 
subjects mentioned below were discussed :— 
Seed-vessels,—Her Grace the Duchess of Cleve¬ 
land sent fruits of the following plants :—Aranjia 
albens, fruit consisting of two thick oblong follicles ; 
Mandevilla suaveolens, fruit of two long, narrow, 
slender follicles ; Stauntonia latifolia, fruit a long, 
thick, oblong obtuse berry; Cercis Siliquastruoa, 
with legumes like those of a Pea, but compressed ; 
Magnolia soulangeana, a long cluster of follicles, 
bursting, and revealing a seed covered with an 
orange-red investment. 
Weeping Chrysanthemum " Pioneer.”—This 
was one of eleven seedlings from a cross between 
Eva Knowles and Viscountess Hambleden, raised by 
Mr. Austen, Ditting Court, Maidstone. The pecu¬ 
liarity of all eleven plants consisted in the downward 
geotropic direction of the branches, which were bent 
downwards like those of the Weeping Ash, but up¬ 
turned heliotropic at the ends, when flowers are pro¬ 
duced. This peculiar habit would render the plant 
very useful for certain decorative purposes. No 
cause could be assigned for the drooping tendency. 
Double Cyclamen.—Some remarkable flowers 
were sent by Mr. Ker, of Liverpool, on which Dr. 
Masters undertook to report at the next meeting, 
Germination of Leucodendron.—Dr. Masters 
showed a drawing of seedlings raised by him, and 
presenting a curious outgrowth from the caulicle 
(hypocotyl), similar to that in the Pea, shown orrthe 
last occasion. 
