444 
TUB GARDENING WORLD, 
July 4, 1908. 
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Gdiiomal, 
the "Rose. 
The present is an excellent time for 
making a thorough inspection of the 
Roses in the garden to note those which 
are most suitable for any given purpose 
and for particular situations. This should 
be done at the present time for the pur¬ 
pose of making the necessary alterations 
in November next. The present also is 
the time to make notes of new and old 
varieties which one would like to pro¬ 
cure, and this might be done by vii’ting 
nurseries and various Rose shows which 
commence about the beginning of the 
month in the more southern part of Eng¬ 
land. 
When beds of mixed Roses are planted 
without due inquiry into the habit of the 
plant or its suitability for beds, some will 
be found too strong of growth for the 
situation, but if they flower well they 
would look better either in the centre of 
the same bed or elsewhere where their 
excessive vigour can be accommodated. 
Beds of mixed varieties of Roses may be a 
success where they have been selected 
with care as to height, habit and vigour. 
The proper remedy for inequality of 
growth is to plant each bed with a single 
variety. In small gardens, however, this 
can seldom be done. Tall varieties 
should be transplanted to a more suitable 
situation to meet the circumstances early 
in November. 
The close observer will soon find out 
whether his Roses are unsuitably planted 
by the poor growth they make and the 
poor flowers. In badly lighted situations 
mildew and insects become troublesome. 
Aphides cling to Roses in almost any 
situation, but more particularly in small 
gardens, which are much shut in, making 
the place sheltered, and therefore a para¬ 
dise for insects. Some situations may be 
very dry and encourage red spider on 
Crimson Rambler, for instance, when 
planted, against a wall. Near trees, 
again, or where the situation is kept too 
dry by overhanging trees and climbers 
Roses will never assume the healthy 
vigour they would in a more open situa¬ 
tion. In such places a small yellow and 
white insect, named Typhlocyba Rosae, 
often turns the leaves quite yellow or 
colourless with a spotted appearance. In 
early stages, while these insects are still 
in the larva form, strong soapsuds with 
Notwithstanding the march of improve¬ 
ment, there is still some importance at¬ 
taching to varieties of florists’ flowers of 
bygone days. Some of the more marked 
improvements in certain directions may 
not come to stay for particular purposes, 
and it occurred to Mr. W. Cuthbertson, 
of Messrs. Bobbie and Co., Rothesay, to 
make a trial of Violas on their seed farm 
at Marks Tey, Essex. Numerous people 
interested in Violas were invited to Marks 
Tey to inspect the Violas the other week, 
where a splendid display of this useful 
bedding subject was to be seen. 
The plants were obtained from various 
sources, and were planted last October to 
the number of seventy varieties. These 
were arranged in groups according to col¬ 
our in order to test their floriferous char¬ 
acter and continuity of bloom, which are 
the determining points in the value of 
Violas for bedding. The inspection was 
made-on June 13th, after the plants had 
been subjected to the varying conditions 
of our climate at Marks Tey. 
The soil is a heavy brick earth, which 
is the prevailing character of the soil 
through the greater part of the county. 
This should have been a pretty severe test 
for the hardiness and vigour of the varie¬ 
ties during winter, but when this soil gets 
dry in summer, it is even a better test for 
the capabilities of Violas. They, how¬ 
ever, like a cool, moist soil, and are cer¬ 
tainly hardy, for they were originally 
mountain flowers. It depends largely on 
their origin, however, as to their constitu¬ 
tion and capability of holding out against 
unfavourable conditions. As a rule, the 
cuttings of Violas are kept in cold frames 
during winter and planted out in spring. 
At a distance from town, however, the 
atmosphere is not charged with carbon 
and other filth, and Violas are there under 
more natural conditions than they would 
be in town. 
For the purpose of getting some un¬ 
animity on the question of the best varie¬ 
ties, the party constituted a temporary 
committee under the chairmanship of Mr. 
C. H. Curtis. Nineteen white varieties 
were on trial, and Snowflake was adjudged 
to be the best. Ordinarily it is a pure 
white, rayless variety, but may occasion¬ 
ally be slightly rayed. The blooms are 
large and freely produced, while the plant 
is of dwarf habit. The old Countess of 
Hopetoun also impressed the visitors 
favourably. Another notable white 
variety was Purity, which has well-shaped 
flowers of moderate size, pure white, 
sweetly scented, and very continuous. 
some tobacco juice in it will do much to 
destroy the insect and clean the bushes. 
The dry conditions, however, which fos¬ 
ter the increase of this insect should be 
got rid of if possible by removing the 
cause or removing the Roses where space 
will permit. This insect is closely allied 
to the frog hopper, which passes its early 
stages under a white froth-like spittle. A 
light brush of twigs may be used in this 
case for breaking up the froth and expos¬ 
ing the grubs to sunshine, which will soon 
destroy them. 
Trials of Bedding Varieties. 
Marchioness and Pencaitland are favou¬ 
rite whites with some growers, and Sylvia 
is a rayless variety, but should really 
have been placed amongst the cream col¬ 
oured ones. It is a dwarf habited plant 
and very continuous. 
Amongst the cream coloured varieties, 
Cream King was considered to be the best, 
and Devonshire Cream was not much in¬ 
ferior. 
There are now several primrose col¬ 
oured varieties on the market, and some 
of them are very pleasing when seen in 
the mass. The^old Ardwell Gem is well 
to the fore as a good pale yellow r or prim¬ 
rose, of wiry habit and continuous. 
Primrose Dame was, however, considered 
to be the best variety in this section, and 
Sulphurea followed close behind. 
Amongst modern varieties, the telling 
beauty of Maggie Clunas cannot be over¬ 
looked, but it is an exhibition flower 
rather than one for a continuous display 
in beds. Under favourable conditiofts, it 
blooms till a late period of the season all 
the same. 
Within recent years Redbraes has come 
to the front as the best yellow bedding 
variety, and this has been attested by 
various societies and cultivators. It is a 
splendid rich colour and of tufted dwarf 
habit. Royal Sovereign is a grand Viola 
in spring, but is not so continuous as some 
of the others in our experience. King 
Cup is also a fine yellow, but of rather 
tall habit. Bullion still persists as a 
free flowering and continuous bedding 
Viola, and although the flower is not the 
best as to form, the colour is -excellent, 
and it has the recommendation of being 
the first to flower in spring. 
Amongst lavender varieties, Florizel is 
now rather an old variety, but it still 
holds a leading position in its class, both 
for its system of flowering and continuity. 
A more recent variety is Kitty Bell, which 
has rather small flowers and wiry stems, 
but grows rather tall. In a north aspect 
garden we find this comes a shade or two! 
•darker than in full sun. It is also one of 
the earliest to bloom. 
Of light blue varieties, Maggie Mott 
was the best, and we think it has come tc[ 
stay as a continuous flowering bedding 
Viola. The flowers are of large size,! 
clear, light blue, and very freely pro¬ 
duced. It is a favourite with market 
growers. When we say that Blue Duchess, 
was also considered a useful variety by 
the party, we may state that it is one ot. 
the sports from Duchess of Fife, and all 
of them are good as to habit and con¬ 
tinuous flowering. 
- Violas at Marks Tey - 
