814 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 17, 1901. 
crowns. The plants must be kept moist, and if the 
day is very hot and sunny perhaps a watering three 
times a day will be required. When the plants are 
thoroughly rooted plant them out in a warm and 
not too sunny position, keeping them about 2 ft. 
apart. The last year’s plants can be cleaned and 
kept for another year’s fruiting — G. W. D. 
-■ ■ — 
CALANTHE VEITCHII 
Is one of the most handsome genera of stove 
Orchids that are now throwing up their long erect 
spikes, 2 to 3 ft. in height, bearing many flowers, 
lasting a considerable time. Many of the varieties 
are at their best, such as Calanthe furcata, C.Masuca, 
C. vestita, and C. Veitchii, coming in a little later, 
making a grand display in the conservatory. Pot up 
the pseudo-bulbs early in March with a mixture of 
loam, leaf mould and peat, broken up rough, to 
which may be added some silver sand and dried cow 
manure, with a little charcoal. Divide the pseudo¬ 
bulbs up, placing the strongest singly in 5 and 6 in. 
pots, and three smaller ones in a 7-in. pot, keeping 
them well above the rim of the pots and making 
them quite firm. See that the new growth is kept 
apart and do not overcrowd your plants, affording 
room sufficient for applying the syringe between 
them to keep down red spider. Do not damp too 
heavily overhead or decay will set in. Care should 
be taken in the watering until the roots are well 
established in the soil. When the flower spike is 
pushing its way through give them a weak solution 
of manure water; shade against bright sunshine, 
with a temperature from 60 to 70 degrees. Keep 
them near the glass as much as possible. When in 
flower take them to a cooler house and gradually 
dry off.— W. E. Havill, Marpool Cottage, Exmouth, 
Devon. 
PBIMULA CAPITATA. 
The round headed Mealy Primrose is perhaps one 
of the finest of our hardy Primulas. It was first 
introduced to cultivation by Sir J. D. Hooker, who 
found it growing on gravelly banks at Lachen at an 
elevation of 10,000 ft. above the sea level. It has 
also been found in the Hariab district in boggy 
meadow ground that is watered by springs at eleva¬ 
tions of 8,000 ft. Although a true perennial in its 
native habits it can hardly be regarded as such in 
our gardens (at least, that is the case in some 
districts, perhaps), but I have seen it flowering well 
for a few years in succession. It ripens seeds fairly 
well in good seasons. It should be sown in pans in 
February and afterwards potted singly into small 
pots and hardened off in frames, after which they 
can be planted out. A north exposure suits them 
well. Use a good mixture of turf, peat, and sand. 
In dry weather they should get a good watering; in 
fact they should never be allowed to get at all dry. 
Primula capitata grows nearly a foot high, with a 
large globular head of flowers not unlike a Sea Pink, 
cf a deep purple hue. Although. P. capitata does 
well enough outside it can be grown to a far higher 
state of perfection when always grown in a green¬ 
house with plenty of ventilation.— T. S. Dick, Castle- 
milk, Lockerbie. 
BULBS FOR EARLY FORCING. 
The first batch of Roman Hyacinths and paper 
white Narcissus shoula now be potted. The best 
soil for them is a mixture of about three parts sandy 
loam, one part leaf soil, one part decayed manure, 
and a sprinkling of sand and wood ashes. If 
required for cut bloom only they can be grown in 
boxes about 4 in. deep. For pot plants 5-in. or 6-in. 
pots are most useful. Well drain the pots or boxes, 
and put a layer of rough soil over the crocks. 
About three parts fill with soil and sprinkle a little 
silver sand on it resting the bulbs thereon. About 
four bulbs for a 5-in., or six for a 6-in. pot will 
suffice, while in the boxes they can be placed about 
2 in, apart. Work the soil well down between the 
bulbs and leave moderately firm, the crowns of the 
bulbs beiDg visible above the soil. Place them pot 
to pot in a frame or on an ash bottom. Give a 
gentle watering with a fine rosed can. Leave them 
until next day, and then cover to the depth of 6 in. 
with damp ashes or cosoanut fibre refuse. In about 
six weeks they will be started and ready for taking 
out of the plunge. Take them into a cool house for 
a week or two, and they will then be ready for 
forcing gradually in heat — E. Brown, The Gardens, 
Nostell Priory, Wakefield, Yorks. 
-— I— - 
A WELCOME HOME. 
I daresay there are few county families who have 
not had near relations out at the war. When those 
who have been fortunate enough to escape the 
bullets or fever return home to their dear ones, then 
is the time to express our feelings in some form or 
other. It is only natural that those brave warriors 
should enjoy a hearty welcome home. In decorating 
for the dinner table use the British colours (red, 
white and blue) in the glasses or vases. In addition 
a novel idea is to have one of the British flags made 
with flowers. The following is how we did the 
"Union Jack” lately : We procured two table napkins 
about 18 in. square; made the cross lines of the 
flag red with two rows of double Geranium pips; 
then put a row of the double white along each side, 
filling in the angle corners with pips of blue Del¬ 
phinium. We used the white Everlasting for to 
show part of the handle, and placed the flag down 
on each side of the centre piece. If these instruc¬ 
tions are carried out successfully a lovelier style of 
decoration could not well be conceived, and does not 
escape the eye of the hero of the evening. No 
doubt it will add to his happiness—a happiness that 
no one can feel except those that have been on the 
battlefield and are safe amongst their friends once 
more.— John C. Dick, The Gardens, Champfleurie, 
Linlithgow. 
SUTTON’S BULBS FOR 1901. 
Sutton's Bulb List for the current year cannot fail 
to arrest attention for the singular beauty of its 
cover. On cne side a dense mass of Narcissi, 
Hyacinths, and Tulips, backed by a half-timbered 
house on the edge of a stream, makes a very charm¬ 
ing picture, in which the warm tones find an effec¬ 
tive contrast in the leafless trees. On the other 
side a characteristic Dutch landscape shows great 
sheets of bulbous flowers in full splendour. Had 
these illustrations been issued as separate plates 
there would have been a large demand for them. 
During the early months of the year we are 
almost entirely dependent on bulbous flowers for the 
adornment of homes and gardens. And it must be 
admitted that these flowers include a wide range of 
splendid colours which are unmatched for purity 
during the summer bedding season. The contrasts 
and harmonies to be seen every spring in public 
parks and private gardens demonstrate the reli¬ 
ability of bulbs for producing magnificent effects. 
This, no doubt, accounts in some measure for their 
increasing popularity. But the most striking advan¬ 
tage claimed for them is that they can be success¬ 
fully cultivated where the great majority of flowers 
are simply impossible. The smoky atmosphere of 
great towns scarcely mars their beauty, and really 
handsome specimens are frequently seen in cottagers' 
windows. Yet they are worthy of the grandest con¬ 
servatories, and on stately terrace gardens their 
brightness is indispensable. 
Sutton’s Bulb Catalogue contains carefully com¬ 
piled lists of all the finest and most popular varieties, 
and the brief but accurate descriptions facilitate the 
task of selection. Those who experience the least 
difficulty, or who desire to limit expense, are offered 
a series of collections which meet the requirements 
of conservatories, greenhouses, and even windows. 
For the open ground there are assortments to suit 
quite small gardens, and In sufficient numbers to fill 
a series of large beds or borders with the glow of 
inimitable colours. 
Begonias, Cyclamens, and Gloxinias, and other 
subjects which can only be brought to perfection 
under glass, have, during a long course of years, 
been developed by the Suttons into strains of sur¬ 
passing beauty. Their exhibits at leading horticul¬ 
tural shows never fail to attract admiring crowds of 
visitors. We observe that for recent displays of 
these flowers, Gold Medals have been awarded at 
Cardiff, Manchester, and York. 
Nearly every page of Sutton’s Bulb Annual is 
illustrated with reproductions from photographs, 
many of them suggesting modes of treatment that 
will be valuable to lovers of horticulture. Those of 
our readers who secure a copy of the work will find 
it full of interesting information, conveyed in 
language free from the technicalities which often 
perplex the amateur. 
Many photographs of single plants of Hyacinths 
give ocular demonstration of what should be aimed 
at in the culture of Hyacinths, that is, in merely 
developing the full grown bulbs to the full flowering 
stage. The long, massive, and dense spikes of 
bloom, in association with remarkably short leaves, 
are marvels of cultivation. In many cases the 
leaves are altogether overgrown or drawn by the 
time the bulbs come into bloom. The camera here 
shows the whole plant in perfection. Many other 
plants are here excellently illustrated. 
PEAR GANSEL’S BERGAMOT. 
Most cultivators know only too well how soil and 
locality affect Pears, and some kinds especially. 
The kind here named in many gardens is worthless. 
I found it to be so from a dessert point of view in 
one garden I bad charge of; while in a soil of a 
totally different nature (light sandy soil) in north 
Hants it was very good. When in west Norfolk (in 
a garden last autumn) I got fruit from a tree growing 
in the open garden on a bush formed tree. Although 
not attractive in appearance the flavour was of the 
very best.. These fruits were not large but very 
russety in colour, a sign of high flavour. This kind 
is in use durmg October and November, and not a 
long keeper; but where the soil is of a nature to 
favour it, I should not hesitate planting it. In this 
Norfolk garden the soil is of a nature similar to that 
in north Hants—sandy loam. This gets warm and 
somewhat dry, which appears to suit this kind. 
When this is present the flavour is of the very best. 
It has the reputation of being a strong grower, but 
this is easily corrected by root lifting in early 
autumn. When the tree crops well it corrects this 
tendency, or when the trees are aged.— J. C., F., 
Chard. 
APPRENTICE GARDENERS. 
I do not believe any head gardener can put any in¬ 
ducement to young men to serve an apprenticeship 
at gardening. 
For if I had to answer the question, which would 
be the best profession for a young man to take up I 
should certainly not say gardening, that is, if he 
wants to earn a living without being a slave. 
At the present time gardeners are so cut down as 
regards wages and labour that it is often a case to 
make ends meet at all, and yet they are expected to 
keep everything in good order just the same as when 
fully manned. 
Take for instance the majority of gardeners’ hours 
and their wages, against that of a first-class mechanic, 
and bear in mind a mechanic only serves six or 
seven years to be a first-rate workman, fit for any¬ 
where, and taking top wages, whereas a gardener has 
got to serve fourteen to sixteen years before he can 
think of taking a head gardener’s situation. Then he 
has got to begin at the bottom again, for very few 
gentry care to take a foreman as gardener, except 
they know the place he has been living at. 
Again, when a tradesman has finished work he has 
done for that day, and has nothing else to trouble 
about; not so with the gardener; there is always 
something to do and think about. We may say a 
gardener has never finished, Sunday or week day. 
Of course some men are lucky, and drop into a 
good place straight away, but they are few and far 
between, and often-times we find the best men in the 
worst places through no fault of their own. 
As a writer says on page 765, "journeymen cannot 
be had.” Well, is there any wonder ? For as a rule 
young men that go into the garden are well educated 
so can anyone blame young gardeners leaving garden¬ 
ing and taking up something else with better wages 
and. less hours ? I could give instances of first-rate 
journeymen leaving the bothy with 16s. weekly and 
getting 30s. instead with less anxiety. 
But returning to the apprentice again. A young 
lad with well-to-do parents is put in the garden as an 
apprentice because they are friends with the head 
gardener from the castle, and they think they would 
like their son to be one some day in a similar posi¬ 
tion. Well, perhaps the lad has no more thought 
of gardening than it has for him, but nevertheless he 
has his time to serve, and the majority of them are 
only too pleased when it is up. Who has got to 
have all the trouble with these lads ? Not the head 
gardener, but the foreman ; this I know too well, and 
the sooner such things are altered the better. The 
lad that starts as garden boy with his heart bent on 
