22 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 9, 1909. 
in bloom in winter if simply protected 
against frost. Indeed, the mild autumn 
which we had previous to the advent of 
the recent snowstorm enabled this to 
bloom in the open air. It was, indeed, 
flowering on Christmas Day in Belvoir 
Castle Gardens, where spring bedding is 
largely employed and where many other 
hardy flowers were in bloom at the same 
date. 
The plant is by no means new to 
cultivation, having been grown in this 
country and on the Continent for many 
years. It is a native of Portugal, from 
whence it was introduced in 1845. There 
is only one other known species, but this 
seems the only one in cultivation. Those 
who can get seeds of it and will make 
a sowing now can have it in full bloom 
in a greenhouse or conservatory in a few 
months’ time. 
-- 
Rock-Garden for Buckingham Palace. 
Rock-gardens are a great fashion of 
the moment. Under the auspices of that 
past-master in the art of landscape gar¬ 
dening, who has been conducting recent 
improvements at Sandringham, a new 
rock-garden is being made in the grounds 
of Buckingham Palace. 
N. C. S. Fixtures. 
The Secretary of the National Chry¬ 
santhemum Society, Mr. Richard A, 
Witty (St. James’s Villa, Swain's Lane, 
Highgate, N.), sends us the following 
dates for this year’s shows : — October 6th 
and 7th, November 3rd, 4th and 5th, and 
December 1st and 2nd. The Floral Com¬ 
mittee will meet on the following dates: 
September 20th, at Essex Hall ; October 
6th, Crystal Palace; October 25th, Essex 
Hall; November 3rd, Crystal Palace; 
November 15th, Essex Hall; December 
1st, Crystal Palace; and December 13th, 
Essex Hall. 
- ¥++ - 
TO FORCE RMUBRRB 
QUICKLY. 
It should not be introduced to very 
strong heat all at once. A moderate 
temperature that can be gradually in¬ 
creased will be found to give, not only 
the best, but the quickest, crop. Another 
real aid to quick forcing, of both Rhu¬ 
barb and Seakale, is to lift the roots ten 
days or a fortnight before placing in heat. 
The Seakale, being rather tender, can be 
covered with sand, or leaf-mould, and 
placed in a shed, but the Rhubarb should 
sfmply be dug up, and left lying fully ex¬ 
posed to sun. wind and rain. If it gets 
well frozen, so much the better, as by this 
means the plants get the equivalent of a 
good long rest, and start very readily 
into vigorous growth. If stalks of fine 
colour and quality are aimed at, too 
much heat must not be employed at any 
stage, as strong artificial heat induces 
pale insipid growth, that few 7 people care 
for. The old Victoria is still one of the 
very best forcing Rhubarbs, while for 
very 7 early work Royal Albert is useful, 
although the stalks are very slende \ 
C. Blur. 
Preston House, 
Linlithgow. 
= Liobelia = 
KatWm Thailand. 
C l- . - - 
A Letter to the Editor. 
Sir, — The experience of others in re¬ 
gard to novelties, or newer varieties of 
plants, etc., always makes extremely in¬ 
teresting reading. The letter of H. 
Arnold (page 762, No. 30) is no exception 
to the rule, but on the contrary, distinctly 
worthy of note. In relation thereto it is 
true the gardening press has been un¬ 
stinted in its praise of the Lobelia Kath¬ 
leen Mallard, yet, in my opinion, nothing 
has been said which this little treasure 
does not fully justify. Peculiarly, my ex¬ 
perience is quite the reverse of H. Ar¬ 
nold’s, fof this season I have particularly 
observed and made note of the excellent 
result of this plant, both in heavy soil 
and shade. I do not wish to suggest that 
H. Arnold is in error, nor that his cul¬ 
ture has been at fault, but for the bene¬ 
fit of readers I will relate my experience 
and they can draw their own conclu¬ 
sions,, or, w 7 hat would perhaps be better 
still, experiment therewith for themselves. 
Having had this variety under observa¬ 
tion with a view to testing its merits, no 
opportunity has been allowed to escape 
in noticing its behaviour under various 
circumstances. In light, open soil and 
full sunshine it has certainly done excel¬ 
lently, as the writer remarks. 
On. a stiff clayey soil, facing full north, 
the result was equal, if not superior, to 
the former, inasmuch as the depth of 
colour was more pronounced and of 
longer duration than generally happens 
R, H. S. 
The next fortnightly exhibition of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, of flow'ers 
and fruit, will be held in the Society’s 
Hall, Vincent Square, Westminster, on 
Tuesday, January 12th, from 1 to 5 p.m. 
Gardening Advice Free. 
The Brighton Distress Committee are 
finding work for unemployed labourers, 
and residents who engage them for gar¬ 
dening work are, if thev desire it, pro¬ 
vided with advice free of charge by skilled 
amateur horticulturists. 
Rose Gardens of Bulgaria. 
The Rose gardens of Bulgaria, occu¬ 
pying a total of 13,000 acres, are confined 
to 148 parishes of the provinces of Philip- 
popolis and Stara-Zagora. The Roses 
most cultivated are the red Rose (Rosa 
damascena) and the v 7 hite Rose (Rosa 
alba). Sixty ounces of the famous Bul¬ 
garian Ottar of Roses is said to be w'orth 
yjioo, and the value of a year’s export 
is something like 50 , 000 . 
Women Gardeners Not Wanted. 
By a large majority the Imperial 
Austrian Horticultural Society have re¬ 
jected a proposal for the establishment of 
schools for women gardeners in Austria. 
So strongl} 7 were the members opposed 
to any encroachment bv 7 women into this 
field of men's labour that they refused to 
re-elect the president of the society be¬ 
cause he was known to favour the inno¬ 
vation, 
under the influence of the sun's ra^ 
In regard to robust growth being its ch 
fault, might we not, though not discrediti- 
~such statement, remove the blame frc 
this tiny subject to that of our oi 
shoulders, for how often does it happ 
that what we are inclined to consider 
a fault in various plants results only frc 
one’s lack of knowledge or readiness 
understanding rightly their proper 1 
quirements. Robust growth at the e 
pense of flowers is frequently the rest 
of too liberal treatment (knowingly 
unknowingly). Starvation treatme 
alone causes some plants to flower free] 
Take, for instance, the Nasturtiums, h- 
they revel in noor soil. The Lobelia 
not far removed in this respect, hence u 
due richness in the soil could be respo 
sible for growth at the expense of flowei 
A last point is, heavy soils retain nut 
ment for a much longer period, with le 
waste than that of a lighter nature, henc 
though the application of manurial fo 
may not be recent, the probability is, rir 
ness exists, and only remains dormant f 
a period, not washed below to a dep 
outside the range of roots of such situ 
subjects as in soils of a lighter texture. 
This item is worth consideration, f 
on a very poor clay to which manure h 
been applied some exceedingly nice cor 
pact little plants grew splendidly, we 
literally covered with flowers, whilst ti 
amount of sunshine which reached the 
would I fear not average half an her 
per day. 
However, H. Arnold's letter is extreme 
timelv, and should I ever experience tl 
same condition as he relates I shall (wi 
the Editor’s permission) be pleased to co 
-vey the information to H. Arnold throuj 
the medium of these pages. 
Sussex. M. D. 
She, Uses of jVsUfiual Naim? 
uv Small Saedews. 
There is no more useful form of ar 
facial manure than guano, which contar 
so much that is necessary to plant lif 
viz., ammonia, potash, and phosphor 
acid. It is easily applied, as a dressii 
on the surface, or incorporated with t! 
soil. Crushed bones may be dug in, at 
will last for years, and are especial 
suitable for Vine borders. 
Potash and sulphate of ammonia a 
good for the Cabbage tribe’, but they a 
rather forcing in their effect, and mt. 
be renewed from time to time. Bas 
slag will be found most useful and stv 
able for grass, which it soon improve 
Quicklime is valuable in most soils, pa 
larly cold ones; it acts at once, co 
verting the vegetable and animal su 
stances into nourishment for the plant 
and if applied in the autumn, will de 
troy slugs in the soil. The concentrate 
forms of manure, such as Clay’s fertilize 
and others, are so expensive, they a:; 
generally used for pot plants. 
Soot and wood ashes may be applied 
all times, and soon show their effect 1 
the deeper green of the leaves. Gypsun 
if powdered over the leaves of a growiv 
crop in spring, is very beneficial, but 
all manuring one must bear in mind th;} 1 
the object is to restore to the earth wh;. 
the last crop has taken from it. 
Miss D. Sparkf.s. 
