484 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
June il, 1904. 
Earliest of All, and not only does it give a sprinkling of blooms 
in, the autumn, but it flowers some weeks, in advance of the 
spring sorts, when, cold winds keep, the others back. 
Another standpoint from which we should not, I think, 
overlook Wallflowers is their use for culture in window-boxes, 
in order to impart a brightness in spring. T'oo frequently one 
notices that bulbs alone are used, but surely few can, compare 
with Wallflowers for sweetness, and if I had a cold house at 
liberty in the winter I would not hesitate to pot up a few of 
them for early blooming, for it is surprising what a deal one 
may doi with these old-fashioned plants in a house from which 
cold, cutting winds are excluded, in anticipating the spring. I 
have heard the argument, advanced that as Wallflowers, are 
often in the way of plants needed for summer bedding, they 
should only be used moderately ; but when we come to consider 
the quantity of flowers they yield, the diversity of colour they 
impart, particularly when, planted out each in their separntel 
varieties,in beds on lawns, we should, 1 submit, encourage the 
growth of them in every way possible. In, the pure atmosphere 
of the country they are seen to the best advantage, but also 
in, the precincts of a town they lend not, a little beauty to a, 
garden, and it is on these grounds that just at the present 
time we should give the sowing of seed special attention. 
W. F. 
Gesnera exoniensis. 
Considering the number of years since this strikingly hand¬ 
some subject was first introduced, it, is surprising that it is 
not more generally cultivated, as its merits deserve it a place 
in all good collections of stove or intermediate-house plants. 
G. exoniensis is noi doubt the best of the species,, being the 
most vigorous grower and the most profuse bloomer, but this 
latter trait, is of secondary importance, as it is chiefly grown 
on account of its handsome foliage. Good specimens are 
seldom seen, and not a few experience a difficulty in meeting 
its requirements, ,so I will give a few cultural details. 
C'oirms started early in June should make fine plants by the 
winter and be in bloom about Christmas-time, continuing good 
tor several weeks, and if successional batches are required they 
may be started accordingly. Select the strongest, corms and 
place them singly in 3-in. pots, in a mixture of fine sandy peat 
and loam, having the crown of the corm just below the level 
of the soil. Stand the pots in a house or pit, the night tem¬ 
perature of which does not fall below 65 deg. F., and water 
sparingly until they show signs of growth, but keep the atmo¬ 
sphere moist by damping between the pots and on the stages 
and floor. So soon as growth commences they will need shad¬ 
ing from direct sunshine, as the young leaves are very tender 
and 'are apt to scorch if exposed. 
When the plants attain a, height of 5 in,, or 6 in,, they should 
be supported by a stick, otherwise they may snap off at the 
collar, owing to the weight, of their fleshy leaves. Do not, 
allow them to become, rootbound, as, this gives them a severe 
check, hut pot on when necessary. 
Six or 7 in. pots, according to the size of the plant, will be 
plenty large enough, and the potting should be done a.s expe¬ 
ditiously a,s passible, so as not to allow them to remain, in a 
reduced temperature for any length, of time. The compost 
should consist of equal portions of fibrous loam and peat, 
broken about the size of a walnut, to which may be added a 
little finely broken dried cowdung and a sprinkling of silver 
sand and hone meal. 
After potting, return them to their former position, placing 
them as near the glass as possible, and keeping the atmosphere 
rather closer for a few days until fresh roots are emitted. 
When well growing again, air can be given more generously, 
but cold draughts must, be strictly -avoided, and at this period 
a rise in temperature from sun-heat by shutting the house up 
rather earlier in the afternoon will help the plants a, great deal. 
Under this treatment they ought to grow vigorously, and 
towards the end of the autumn show signs of making flower- 
buds, A little weak manure water, with a change to soot, will 
help them now, but care must be taken not to overdo it, as 
they do not respond to hard feeding. 
During the winter, whilst in flower and when the foliage is 
at its best, the temperature of the house may be kept a little 
lower, as the blooms will keep longer; but, as soon as the 
plants begin to lose their leaves they should he removed to 
a, drier and sunnier position and gradually ripened off, when 
they may be stored away in their pots in a fairly warn place. 
Thrips and mealy bug are the two worst enemies, and 
during the growing stage a sharp' lookout must be kept for 
these, as they seriously injure the foliage, thereby spoiling the 
plants. E. B. 
South Berks. 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 
The Gardeners’ Association. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,— Writing as a young gardener who is, greatly interested 
in the Gardeners’ Association—thank goodness we have got rid 
of the “ proposed ”—and who was present, at the Essex Hall 
meeting, a, few comments upon it may perhaps interest my 
comrades who, were less fortunate, though doubtless the meet¬ 
ing will be adequately reported in The Gardening World. 
It must, have been very gratifying to the promoters of the 
meeting to see such a good attendance—the large hall was 
nearly full—but at the same time it was noticeable how very 
many of the gardeners present at the Temple Show during the 
afternoon were “ conspicuous by their absence,” and a some¬ 
what saddening thought was that their interest in the welfare of 
their profession should be so- shallow. 
Mr. Pettigrew’s speech was an admirable one, and was 
warmly received by an audience noticeably largely composed 
of head gardeners. Were men of Mr. Pettigrew’s, stamp more 
general in the responsible positions of the gardening world, 
the need for an association would be less apparent. 
Mr. Ward’s presence and speech had a peculiar interest, from 
the fact of his being a genuine market grower—certainly the 
class from which least support to the association might be 
expected. 
The moving of the resolution, by Mr. Gordon was a happy 
token of the support of the, Press, that most necessary adjunct 
to the association’s prosperity. 
The speech of Mr. Herbert Burroughs (one of His Majesty'-; 
civii servants and widely known for his unvarying devotion to, 
the cause of labour for many years), in which he ably laid down 
general principles of right and wrong, was received with 
enthusiasm, albeit a, few of the audience were apparently some¬ 
what shocked by his statement that he was not, a, gardener. 
Somewhat unexpectedly there was no 1 opposition worthy of 
the name, as it seemed to the writer that the objections of Mr. 
W. P. Wright, and the one or two speakers who supported his 
amendment would not have been, made had they made a more 
careful study of the prospectus. 
Many of the audience were, I think, rather disappointed at 
not hearing-a fuller speech from, Mr. Watson, to, whom veiy 
great credit is due for his activity in, “ the cause.” 
I sincerely hope that the £250 Mr. Watson spoke of as 
being requisite to give the association a fair start is rapidly 
coming in,; £250 from 50,000 gardeners—how much is that 
a, head ? 
There are certainly some of the right type of men on the, 
new committee of selection. Has anybody ever heard any¬ 
thing but praise of, for example, Mr. Isbell, of Low’s—one of 
the best nursery propagators of the day? 
I will conclude with two, words which only want doing to, 
make us, all better off ; these are “ Gardeners, unite! ” 
A. G. 
Cowslip with 188 Blooms.— A Cowslip was picked on Norton 
Common by Mr. Leonard Howie the stalk of which measure. 
| in, in diameter, while the blooms numbered 186. 
