158 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 20, 1904. 
house, and though they come in close contact, the difference 
between the two was evident, even at the far end of the house. 
Another dark variety is that named Ruby, with richly-col¬ 
oured flowers of large size and foliage of the Fern-leaved type. 
Several light-coloured varieties are very pretty, including 
that named Rose, having red petiole®' and foliage of the Fernr 
leaved type. Salmon iis an early variety, producing its flowers 
well above the foliage and in great abundance. Holborn Pink 
has salmon-pink flowers of large size. There are two forms of 
Venus having white flowers striped and mottled with rose, and 
only differing in the foliage being of the Fern-leaved type in 
one case and the other the ordinary shape. 
Doubles. 
The earliest variety in this strain is that named Snowflake, 
having white flowers with a faint blush tint at this early 
period of the year, but later in thei season turning out pure 
white. The foliage is of a pale green hue, in keeping with the 
fight colour of the flowers. These double varieties are very 
suitable for cut-flower purposes, as they last longer than the 
single ones in, a out state. The variety is evidently a favourite, 
for it is grown in large quantity. Vivid has rosy-carmine 
flowers of a bright rich colour, and iisi well named. Another 
early variety isi that named Aurora, having larger flowers than 
Snowflake and slightly deeper in colour. The foliage is wholly 
of a light green, and the plants make quite bushy specimens. 
The flowers of Prince of Wales are salmon-pink, and the 
large trusses are both freely produced and thrown well above 
the foliage. Princess of Wales is a, white variety recalling 
Venus amongst the singles, inasmuch as the flowers 1 are finely 
mottled and striped with purple. Occasionallv they are pure 
white. Carmine Empress is also, rather early, with bright 
carmine flowers and red leaf-stalks. Double Scarlet is very 
brightly coloured for a. double one, as the bright surface, is 
almost the only one exposed. The leaves are distinctly small 
and nearly orbicular, but very finely cut. 
Star Primulas. 
The decorative value of the Stella,ta strain of Primulas is 
fully recognised here, and several of the best varieties have 
distinctive names, referring chiefly to the colour. Lilac has 
large and smooth flowers of good size. White ha® also flowers 
of good size. In a batch of this colour we noted one with an 
unusually largei yellow eye, giving the variety quite a distinct 
feature. Another very distinct variety is Mont Blanc, having 
brownish leaves and dark brownish-purple leaf-stalks. The 
flowers are pure white, however, and freely produced on 
long stems. The contrast between the flowers and the foliage 
is very marked, but it is a feature that we have observed in 
former years in the ordinary large-flowered 'strains. 
The strains of 'Calceolarias and Cinerarias for which Messrs. 
Carter are noted are, making healthy growth, but they are very 
much behind the stage they had reached by this time last year. 
We may state, however, that they were intentionally sown 
later, but the season has also been against them on account of 
the relatively low temperature, but more especially in the 
lack of sunshine. No: doubt they will be ready, however, 
by the season they are wanted. Cinerarias are at the pre¬ 
senttime in 32 and 24-sized pots, and the foliage is coveringthe 
soil. Of the large-flowering strains, there are something like 
1,000 plants in one long house. The Stellata strain of Cinr 
erarias is also extensively grown here, so that altogether about 
2,000 plants of the different strains are grown. 
Rose Mme. Driottt.— The above is described by “ Revue de 
L’Horticulture Beige ” as a new variety, a sport from Rose 
Rein© Marie Henriette, with variegated flowers. It arose as 
a branch upon that variety, of which it has kept all the good 
qualities of growth, hardiness, and flowering. The flower is a 
dark rose, with a satiny gloss, and is splashed and striped with 
lively carmine, forming a beautiful contrast. That variegation 
seems well fixed, and almost constant in every flower. 
A Trio of Pretty Stove Plants. 
In choosing the following three stove plants I think I 
have chosen three which are easy to grow, very showy, and 
also, useful. They are Plumbago rosea, Eranthemum pulchel- 
imn, and the Justicias. 
Now, I consider Plumbago rosea one of the most handsome 
winter-blooming stove plants, and it is 1 of fairly easy cultiva¬ 
tion. 
It may be very easily propagated by cuttings taken in spring. 
They may be either put singly into small pots or three or four 
round the sides of a. 60-size pot in a mixture of loam, sand, 
and a little, peat, and then put into a propagating frame where 
a warm, moist atmosphere can be maintained, and they will 
very soon root. When well rooted they should be potted off 
singly into 3-in. pots in a, mixture of loam, sand, and a little 
peat. Keep them growing in a warm, moist stove temperature, 
and when they have grown to a length of about 9 in. take out 
the end of tire shoot to make them form three or four shoots. 
They will soon be ready for the pots in which they are 
to flower—say, 6-in. or 7-in. pots. Pot them in the same mix¬ 
ture as before, with the addition of a little rotten manure; pot 
them pretty firmly, so, as to, keep a, short sturdy growth. 
During warm weather use the syringe pretty freely. In 
autumn occasional waterings of diluted manure-water will be 
very beneficial to them. 
The plant is a native of Eastern India; therefore it is neces¬ 
sary that it should be grown in a, stove temperature all the' 
year round. If well grown its lovely, showy, rose-coloured 
flowers will be found a. great acquisition during the winter 
months. 
Next we will take Eranthemum pulchellum. This plant 
is a very free-flowering stove-house subject, whose bright blue 
flowers come at, a time when flowers are generally scarce and 
much needed. It is of very easy culture, and may be very 
easily propagated by cuttings put in, in the spring of the year. 
Put three or four cuttings round the sides of a, 3-in. pot in 
a mixture of loam, sand, and leaf-soil; then place the pots in 
a warm, moist, propagating frame, and keep them well shaded. 
When they are well rooted pot them off singly into 4|-in. pots 
in a, mixture of loam, sand, leaf-soil, and a little rotten manure. 
As soon as they begin to grow pinch out the points. They 
will very soon require a shift into larger pots, where they wiL 1 
flower. In potting, use the same compost as, before. 
When watering give them liberal supplies of weak manure- 
waiter. Use the syringe pretty freely during the growing 
sea,son, and always keep them well pinched, a.si they are apt 
to run up into unsightly and straggling plants. Keep a sharp 
look-out for red 'spider, or it will spoil the looks of your plants. 
Lastly, we will take the Justicias. These plants bloom 
chiefly in the autumn, but they can be had in bloom sooner, 
according to the temperature in which they are grown. They 
are a very quick-growing subject, and are very readily propa¬ 
gated in the spring. I think it is best to strike thqm singly 
in small pots. Take short growths, and place them in pots in a 
mixture of loam, leaf-soil, and sand, using plenty of sand. 
They will soon root in a, warm, close, propagating frame. 
As soon a,s they are well rooted, pot them on into larger 
pots in a mixture of good loam, leaf-mould, sand, and some 
rotted manure, using 3-in. or 4|-in.. pots, according to the size 
of your plants. When they have got well established pinch out 
the tops. They will require another shift about the back 
end of April or the beginning of May; pot them in the same 
mixture as before. Keep them in a, warm, moist, stove at¬ 
mosphere ; they will then make nice plants. 
Occasional waterings of manure-water are very beneficial. 
Use the syringe freely during the growing season. There are 
several varieties of Justicias, all of which are very beautiful 
when in bloom, as their large heads of bloom are very con¬ 
spicuous. All three of the foregoing' plants are well worthy of 
good cultivation for the sake of their pretty and showy blooms 
in the autumn and winter months. Japonica. 
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