October 12, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
663 
named Purity (see illustration"), the flowers 
of which are of moderate dimensions, but 
shapely and carried well above the foli¬ 
age on long stalks. They are pure/White, 
rayless, and unusually fragrant, especi¬ 
ally during the evening. The plant is 
of free growth and liable to get tall where 
under the influence of shade. All the 
same, it is a choice and desirable variety. 
A well known variety is Pembroke, with 
golden-yellow flowers and an orange lip. 
The lower petals have a few slender 
violet rays. It blooms freely, early and 
late, and likes plenty of light, even if not 
direct sunshine. That liking would 
apply to most Violas, which are always 
of better habit when not overhung nor 
crowded with taller plants in the same 
bed. One of the most floriferous in this 
collection, and brightest of the yellows, 
is Kingcup, which may be described as 
golden-yellow with an orange lip and rav- 
less. The plant grows 6 in. to 9 in. high, 
according to situation, and is a very de¬ 
sirable one amongst its colour. A free 
and tall growing variety is Snowflake, 
with pure white flowers that maintain 
their size till late in the season. "When 
fully exposed it is much dwarfer, and all 
parts of the plants sturdy. 
A very free flowering, soft lavender 
flower is" Kitty Bell. The plant is of 
wiry habit, throwing up suckers freely 
all t-hroueh the summer, and these are 
still flowering. It recently had a Certi¬ 
ficate from the Scottish Pansy Society. 
Closely similar to this is that named Bed¬ 
ding Rose, which has rather paler flowers 
than Kitty Bell, with a larger golden- 
yellow eye. The habit is the same and 
the plant is equally free flowering. 
A very choice blue variety is Campbell- 
Bannerman, which has the top petals 
slightlv shaded with purple, though the 
rest is clear blue. It is a question of 
taste as to whether Admiral of the Blue 
is not even finer than the last-named; 
the flowers are of large size, good sub¬ 
stance, of a dark violet-purple, and ray¬ 
less. Either of them is well worthy of 
cultivation for bedding purposes, and the 
relative value would depend as to whether 
a light or dark flower is the most 
cherished by the cultivator. The blooms 
of White Empress are creamy white, ray¬ 
less, and apparently only moderate in 
size : at least they have been so this sea¬ 
son, though situation may have much to 
do with it. 
Those who delight in miniature Violas 
will find a very choice quartette in Queen 
of the year, Gold Crest, Blue Bonnet 
and Violetta. The first is pale sky-blue, 
and Blue Bonnet is somewhat similar, but 
slightly darker, with a primrose blotch 
on the lip. All four of them are of very 
dwarf and compact habit. The above 
varieties were obtained from Mr. John 
Forbes, Hawick, N.B. 
Bulbs in the London Royal Parks. 
Visitors to the London Royal parks 
next spring will be afforded the oppor¬ 
tunity of seeing in full bloom the enor¬ 
mous number of 66,000 Hyacinths, 1 so.000 
Tulips, 133,000 Narcissus and Daffodils, 
116,000 Crocus and 194,000 Liliums, 
Snowdrops, etc., which Messrs. James 
Carter and Co., the well-known seedsmen 
of High Holborn, have again been com¬ 
manded by His Majesty’s First Commis¬ 
sioner of Works to supply. 
J 
l 
Border Carnations. 
The most appropriate time for making 
new plantations of border Carnations is 
during the first fortnight of October, and 
if my instructions were followed, as given 
last month on page 618, the work will, by 
this lime, have been accomplished. This, 
of course, applies to soils and districts 
suitable for autumn planting. Those 
who have a heavy clay soil, or are situ¬ 
ated in smoky districts, would do better 
to pot up the layers in 3 in. pots and 
winter them in a cold frame. With the 
aid of lights the roots can be kept rela¬ 
tively dry, and the plants pass through 
the winter in better condition than where 
exposed to alternate freezing and thaw¬ 
ing in clayey and wet soils. 
Show Carnations and Picotees. 
If the layers have not been potted up, 
this^should be accomplished without de¬ 
lay, to give them a chance of getting 
established before the approach of win¬ 
ter. Use a compost of sandy, fibrous 
loam, with a small proportion of leaf 
mould. If the loam happens to be 
heavy, the cultivator must use his discre¬ 
tion in adding sufficient sand to make 
it porous. Carnations are in no way ten¬ 
der, except old-fashioned varieties that 
have been so from the first, but the rich 
soils of gardens are unsuitable for them 
in winter. In pots, however, this diffi¬ 
culty is overcome if the layers are potted 
quite firmlv in a compost so tempered as 
not to hold too much moisture in winter. 
Water immediately they' are potted, in 
order to settle the soil, but very little 
or none will be necessary afterwards, un¬ 
less the autumn continues to be dry. 
Frequent inspection will show whether 
they really require anv watering or not. 
Keep the frames closed for eight days or 
so till the plants commence to take hold 
of the fresh soil. After this they should 
have all the air -possible, but must be 
kept dry by means of the lights, which 
should be merely tilted up at the back in 
wet weather. 
[Maclaren and Sons. 
Viola Fred Williams. 
