July 4, igo 8 - 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
443 
= Herbaceous Calceolarias. = 
1 he Way to Grow these Charming Plants. 
These charming plants are not nearly so 
opular as they were a few years back. 
,'hy they should lose favour is hard to 
nderstand, save, perhaps, on account of 
ie somewhat extra skill and attention 
hich they require to bring them to per- 
■ction. 
owing: the Seed. 
The seed for general purposes should 
2 sown about the middle of July in shal- 
nv pans or boxes. Take care to drain 
loroughly, and above the crocks first 
lace a layer of moss or rough material, 
ten nearly fill with fine soil and sand, 
ell mixed in equal parts. When finished, 
ater the pans if the soil is at all dry 
ith a fine rose watering-pot, and allow 
little while for them to drain, when 
.e seed may be sown. In carrying out 
e latter operation scatter the seed 
- enly and thinly over the surface; do 
it cover with soil, but place a sheet of 
ass over the top of each pan, and re- 
ove to an ordinary greenhouse, where 
ey should be covered with sheets of 
iper until germination takes place. In 
moving the paper after this is. accom- 
ished. be careful to do so gradually, and 
>t to expose the seedlings to brilliant 
nshine. Shoulc^the soil become dry at 
1 they should not be watered overhead, 
it the pans should be immersed in water, 
lowing the - latter to gradually soak its 
iv up until sufficiently moist, 
icking Out. 
As soon as large enough to handle, 
prick out into shallow boxes, allowing 
2 or 3 inches each way between the plants 
and using similar compost as before; 
water, and place in a cool frame, keep 
close and shaded for a few days or until 
established, when ventilate and water 
freely. 
Potting. 
When well rooted, transfer singly into 
60-size pots, using a compost of three parts 
good fibrous loam, two parts leaf soil, one 
part decayed manure, and one part coarse 
sand. Pot firm and replace in the frame 
on a bed of ashes, taking care to keep a 
cool moist atmosphere within. When 
roots appear at the sides of these pots, 
shift on into 48-size, using the same com¬ 
post as before. To obtain nice, bushy 
plants, pinch back once or twice. The 
next shift will be into 32-size and again 
into 24-size if specimen plants are desired. 
When potting for the last time, add a 
little charcoal and patent fertiliser to the 
soil, and do not sift the soil, but simply 
break it up by hand or spade. A liberal 
watering with liquid manure water will 
assist the plants wonderfully when they 
begin to show flower. 
Wintering the Plants. 
The plants will need to be wintered in 
a house free from frost, but remember 
always to keep a cool bracing atmosphere 
around them. A position on a shelf close 
to the glass where they can obtain at all 
times a free circulation of air and abun¬ 
dant light is an ideal one for this class of 
plant. Anything in the shape of a very 
hot or dry atmosphere is disastrous to 
their well-doing. 
Seed procured from a reliable source 
and of a choice strain can be relied on to 
produce a diversity of colour with flowers, 
many of which will have their pockets 
beautifully blotched. H. R- 
Cypripedium rothschildianum Northaw House 
Var. 
A splendid plant of this variety was ex¬ 
hibited at the meeting of the R.H.S. on 
June 9th by J. B. Joel, Esq. (grower Mr. 
E. May), Childwick Bury, Herts. It has 
been grown for six or seven years, and is 
believed to be the finest plant of C. roths¬ 
childianum in the country. It had five 
spikes of bloom carrying an aggregate of 
thirty flowers. It had been shifted from 
a 48 size pot until it is now in number 
one. Its size, health and floriferous 
character is a standing testimony to the 
cultural skill of Mr. May, who is quite a 
young man. It was accorded a Cultural 
Commendation. 
- f+4 - 
. . The Culture of . . 
Giant Antirrhinums. 
Rearing Herbaceous Calceolarias. 
This shows a seed fan filled with soil, seedlings pricked off, second and final 
fotting, and frame in which to keep the young plants. 
Those who only know these plants as 
wall subjects or have simply allowed them 
their own sweet will on the rockery or 
in the border, without giving them any 
special treatment, only know half their 
charm. 
Their beauty on an old wall or in the 
rock garden cannot be gainsaid, but they 
are seen at their best when given the re¬ 
verse treatment generally - prescribed for 
them and Wallflowers. 
Now, although Antirrhinums will grow 
in chinks of walls when seed is sown there, 
they are plants which can stand very 
liberal treatment. Undoubtedly the finest 
plants are grown from seed sown in June 
or July - , and the plants grown sturdily on 
with plenty of room in good loam on the 
dry side. No feeding should be given 
until the following year, when they are 
pushing up their flower stalks, and when 
a watering of nitrate of soda gives them 
vigour and stoutness of stem. After they 
commence to bloom, frequent applica¬ 
tions of liquid manure, chiefly phosphatic, 
should be applied when the ground is wet. 
That this treatment is correct is shown 
by the fact that last year I had several 
plants over 4 ft. high and one measured 
6 ft. 6 in. This latter was quite a sight, 
and was a mass of flowers from the top to 
about 3 ft. from the ground (and had 15 
spikes of bloom) for about 10 weeks. I 
allowed it to seed a few pods on the main 
stem, and these were sent to a prominent 
seedsman as the probable start of an extra 
giant strain. 
They can be grown to flower the same 
year if seed is sown in gentle heat in 
February - , and they - may also be grown 
from cuttings put in in August. \\ hen 
they - are often produced at the bottom of 
the plant. The secret of success, how¬ 
ever, is giving a few shifts in fairly good 
soil prior to planting them where they 
are to flower. This latter position should 
be in full sun and rich soil, but no ma¬ 
nure should come in contact with the 
roots. The whole should be made firm 
and hoed frequentlv. 
R. J. Taylor. 
