THE GARDENING WORLD. 
27 
January 12, 1907. 
on the matter of the American Gooseberry 
Mildew to a small skilled Committee for a 
decision, at once, as to the danger of the 
disease spreading, and other important fac¬ 
tors in the matter.” 
- +++ - 
AN . . 
Drange Crocus. 
(Crocus Balansae). 
The winter display of Crocuses in the 
>pen air has been interrupted by the snow- 
torm, but when mild and open weather 
train intervenes, the Crocuses will be 
eadv to resume the season of flowering. 
1'hose which naturally bloom in autumn 
vould have completed’ their flowering be- 
ore the advent of frost and snow, and 
hose to come later would, of course, be 
>ther species which naturally flower earlier 
*r later in spring. That under notice 
hould bloom during February or March, 
.ccording to the state of the weather; 
vhile cold weather continues, flowering 
vould be retarded, and this serves to bring 
arly and late kinds together. In mild, 
■pen winters, this does not take place. 
Those who have the advantage of a cold 
rame or a greenhouse can, however, se- 
ure a_succession of bloom more or less 
ndependently of the weather even in un¬ 
dated houses. The plant being hardy, 
10 fire heat need be employed of a neces- 
ity, but those who have a heated green- 
iouse could still employ these early flower- 
ng species for securing a winter display. 
The flowers are moderate in size, not 
avmg been improved by the florist, but 
hey are of a rich orange, and beautifully 
rnamented on the exterior with three 
ironzy crimson feathered lines. The 
pecies is a native of western Asia Minor, 
nd is of the easiest cultivation, whether 
;rown outside or inside. Of course, out 
f doors the flowers are liable toi be 
estroyed, when storms occur, after they 
ome into bloom, but that is an injury 
ikely to happen to most flowers out of 
.oars in our uncertain climate. 
-- 
The Blancard Fund. 
In answer to my appeal in the garden- 
ng Press on behalf of the grand-daughters 
>f M. Pierre Blancard, who introduced 
he first Chrysanthemum into Europe over 
l century ago (see page 890 of The Gar- 
)ening World), the following is a 
urther list of donations received up to 
late:— 
c . £ s. d. 
Sir Mm. G. Pearce, Bart... 220 
Mr. Norman Davis. 5 o 
Anon . 3 6 
Miss Wigan ..'... 3 o 
Mrs. and Miss Johnston. 2 o 
Two Flower Lovers. 2 o 
E.S. 1 o 
J-H.D. 1 o 
C. Harman Payne, Foreign Secretarv. 
National Chrysanthemum Society', 141, 
A ell meadow Road, Catford, S.E. 
-4~M=-- 
Willow Trees for Wet Places. — 
Those who have wet places in their gar- 
lens unsuitable for most kinds of plants 
.‘xcept aquatics, should plant some of the 
Willows, either for their highly-coloured 
>ark or their graceful sprays and elegant 
oliage, especially where it is hoary. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
FOR JANUARY. 
Notable points of culture at this time of 
year are: To provide the cutting:- with 
as much light as possible, and sufficient 
air to prevent damping. On no account 
must too much artificial heat be used. 
Growers must be content to make haste 
slowly until the days lengthen, when plant 
growth will be correspondinglv stronger. 
It is advisable to put in cuttings of 
desirable varieties as fast as good ones 
oan be got, as once the cuttings have 
reached a height of 3 to 4 inches they 
good lasting manure. Readily soluble 
fertilisers should be avoided at this sea¬ 
son, as should raw materials, such as 
superphosphate, etc. What is required 
is a properly balanced and moderately 
slow-acting manure, to enrich the soil and 
promote robust growth. 
It often happens that, for one reason 
or another, amateurs and others with 
onlv limited accommodation, find them¬ 
selves with a very mixed collection, often 
including varieties that have long since 
Crocus Balansae. \Maclaren and Sons. 
will not improve by being left on the 
stools. And besides, the grower has 
more time at this season to give to; his 
cutting frames, in the way of removing 
the first couple of green fly, or dabbing 
with methylated spirit the first spot of 
“rust” that appears on the underside of 
the leaf, than he would have later in the 
spring, wffien so many other things de¬ 
mand attention. 
As soon as cuttings are found to have 
rooted, they must be gradually accus¬ 
tomed to the air, and in the meantime 
soil for the first potting should be pre¬ 
pared as follows:—To each bushel of soil 
prepared as for cuttings add an extra 
peck of fibrous-loam, half a peck of sifted 
horse - droppings, a quart of sifted 
mortar-rubble, a light dusting of soot, and 
ilb. of artificial manure, care being 
taken that the latter is well mixed with 
the other ingredients, and that it is a 
been superseded by better ones of the 
same colour. Some varieties, too, though 
necessary for inclusion where large num¬ 
bers are grown, are, owing to a too- tall 
and over-luxuriant habit of growth, un¬ 
suitable for exposed positions or small 
greenhouses. Amateur growers often 
procure stock of a variety the habit of 
growth of which they know nothing, 
through having seen a bloom exhibited 
that took their fancy at the time, but 
which might have been very tedious to 
bring in perfection, even by experts. On 
the other hand, it may be noted that even 
such a robust and altogether admirable 
variety as Airs. Barkley will not hold 
its own with the_ majority in low-lying 
localities with impure air, such as in the 
poorer parts in the vicinity of large cities. 
The following are 0 fairly safe two- 
dozen varieties for an amateur to start 
with, none of them being extra tall, while 
