February 23, 1903. THE GARDENING WORLD. 189 
Laeliocattleya wellsiana magnificat 
The parentage of the original Laeliocattleya wellsiana was 
C. Trianaei leeana x L. purpurata, and the progeny may be 
regarded as intermediate. The influence of the latter is well 
seen in the form of the petals and the peculiar markings in 
the front of the lip. C. Trianaei lias had the effect of washing 
out the lines in the throat except towards the very base, where 
the usual lines of the L. purpurata make their appearance. 
This has the effect, of leaving the throat of a clear bright yellow. 
The finest feature of the flower, however, consists in the large 
and intensely-coloured rich crimson-purple lamina, of the lip. 
In this respect, and in the intensified rose-purple of the upper 
half of the petals it differs from the original Lc. wellsiana. 
Hyacinthus azureus. 
The little azure Hyacinth has deceived many gardeners, 
nurserymen, and others as to its true relationship. Mostly 
all nurserymen grow and catalogue it under the name of Mus- 
cari azureum. It is a true Hyacinth, and though the Grape 
Hyacinths are closely allied to the true Hyacinths, they are 
nevertheless easily separable by botanical characters, and 
with the unaided eye by anyone who cares to examine the 
flower closely. The flower of the true Hyacinth is open at the 
mouth ; whereas the Muscari or Grape Hyacinth has the flower 
in all cases contracted so as to be partly closed at the mouth, 
and, in any case, the opening is very small. The length of the 
flower does not determine the distinction between the two 
genera. In this small flower we have therefore a true 
Hyacinth with a. dense spike of bloom resembling the Muscari, 
so that those who would discriminate carefully between one 
plant and another have often to’ look very closely. The 
species commences to bloom in January, February, or March, 
according to the conditions of the weather during those 
months. It often happens that we get severe weather after 
this beautiful little plant conies into bloom, so that those who 
value interesting hardy flowers should make some preparation 
for protecting it during severe weather, if planted out on the 
rookery. A pane of glass and a sheltered position would in 
most cases save the blooms from destruction in the early 
months of the year, in the southern part of England at least. 
Our illustration was taken from a pan of flowering bulbs 
exhibited by Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., of Colchester, at the 
Drill Hall meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on 
Friday, the 10th. 
There are a. few varieties of this cheerful little Hyacinth 
which we consider well worthy of recording. H. a. praecox is 
a variety that flcwers earlier even than the type. In other 
respects it is of more slender growth, with smaller spikes of 
flower aud smaller and paler flowers than the type. The other 
variety is H. a. robustus, which has more vigorous scapes and 
larger leaves than the type. Both of these varieties were 
noted in the alpine house at Kew. 
Ailsa Craig Onion. 
Tins famous variety has long been in the front rank as one 
of the finest exhibition Onions, and is held in the highest 
esteem by most exhibitors. There are few competitions in the 
autumn months either for Onions alone or collections of 
vegetables in which Ailsa Craig is not strongly represented. 
I well remember the magnificent specimens exhibited by the 
raiser of this famous variety, Mr. David Murray, of Culzean 
Gardens, Ayrshire, over twenty years ago, weighing each 
2 | lb. These were fine deep bulbs which caused quite a sensa¬ 
tion, and of much better shape than many we see at the present 
day. 
There is no doubt it has been a difficult matter to keep to 
the true type of this Onion, as it is so liable to variations of 
* See page 1S3. 
form, and only those seedsmen who rigidly keep to one stock, 
and year by year select the most shapely bulbs, can hope to 
send out a selection that is anything like uniform in character. 
I remember once saving seed from a fine-shaped bulb, and 
thought there would be no difficulty in having a true stock, but 
was disappointed to find they turned out a very uneven lot 
indeed, which only proves that selection is the work of more 
than one year. 
I have no doubt, however, if I had gone on selecting year 
after year, always using the same strain, I would have suc¬ 
ceeded to a great extent. 
I had the pleasure last autumn of looking over the trials of 
Ailsa Craig Onions in the nurseries of Messrs. Sutton & Sons 
at Reading, and there saw a splendid illustration of the import¬ 
ance of continuous selection. There were on trial many 
different stocks of Ailsa. Craig from various houses in the trade. 
These were a. varied composition, some deep, some flat, and 
some intermediate, and not two stocks alike in the whole lot. 
The trials of the Reading firm’s own stocks were side by side, 
and contained their selections over several years. The oldest 
of these were but little better than the best of the others, but 
year by year there was a decided improvement until a type has 
been reached that possesses all the necessary qualities of this 
Hyacinthus azukeus 
first-class Onion. The most remarkable feature was the 
uniformity of the bulbs in shape in their latest, selection— 
every one appeared the exact counterpart of its neighbour. It 
remains to be seen whether this type will become absolutely 
fixed through this rigid selection. There can, however, be no 
doubt as to the great improvement seen, in that, direction. 
Deep bulbs with small necks usually keep the best, and are 
easier ripened. 
The past season was not a good one for ripening the crop, 
but with us those that were lifted before being quite ripe have 
kept the best. James Gibson. 
Danesfield Gardens, Marlow. 
Primula megaseaefolia. 
A pretty plant resembling P. obccnica in appearance. The 
rounded leaves, which are about 21, in. broad, are borne on 
stout, reddish petioles, profusely covered with white hairs. 
Scape, 6 in. to 8 in. long, terminating in a whorled cluster of 
10 in. to 12 in. bright lilac flowers on long pedicels, which 
chiefly differ from those of obconica by the long, pointed, mem¬ 
braneous, closely-adherent calyx teeth. An exceedingly pretty 
early-flowering Primula adapted for cold-frame culture. If 
crossed with obconica, some desirable forms might be derived. 
