70 
JOURN'AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  25,  1900. 
CYCLAMENS  AND  PRIMULAS  AT  READING. 
It  is  not  every  year  that  the  fates  are  sufficiently  kind  as  to  allow 
me  to  visit  Beading  during  the  dull  winter  days,  to  be  cheered  and 
invigorated  by  the  sight  of  the  Cyclamens  and  Primulas  in 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons’  Portland  Eoad  Nurseries.  Come  when  it  may 
the  opportunity  should  be  seized  to  go,  for  the  spectacle  presented  by 
thousands  of  plants  in  5-inch  pots  is  one  that  will  not  readily  be 
forgotten..  There  are  no  huge  plants,  but  all  are  compact  and  sturdy, 
and  in  the  best  possible  condition  to  perform  the  particular  function 
for  which  they  are  grown,  that  is  seed  bearirg.  They  are  not  required 
to  make  huge  growth  but  to  develop  all  the  essential  organs  to  the 
highest  state  of  perfection,  and  thus  insure  a  bountiful  harvest  of 
seeds.  Under  other  circumstances  larger  plants  would  be  more 
advantageous,  but  not  in  this  case,  and  those  who  desire  size  may  rest 
assured  that  those  which  thrive  at  Beading  will  flourish  elsewhere  if 
their  particular  requirements  are  carefully  sought  and  provided  for. 
Thousands  of  handsome  little  plants  occupy  the  structures  erected 
for  them,  and  each  winter  finds  a  beautiful  display,  something  like  its 
predecessors,  and  yet  somewhat  different,  for  new  forms  or  colours  are 
ever  pushing  to  the  fore.  This  is  more  particularly  the  case  with 
respect  to  the  Primulas,  which  always  show  advancement.  With 
Cyclamens,  however,  such  a  state  of  excellence  has  been  attained  to, 
that  the  difficulty  of  forging  ahead  becomes  greater  and  greater,  and  a 
variety  to  receive  a  special  name  must  literally  be  without  fault.  There 
are  amidst  the  Beading  strain  of  Cyclamen  persicum  colours  that  were 
undreamt  of  a  few  years  ago,  and  with  this  form  of  beauty  has 
been  retained  the  florifercusness  and  the  splendid  marbling  of  the 
leaves,  which  are  found  in  the  type.  Take  for  example  Salmon  Queen 
and  Vulcan,  each  in  its  way  perfect.  The  flowers  are  of  wonderful 
substance,  faultless  in  shape,  and  each  in  their  respective  colours  unique. 
Each  produces  immense  numbers  of  flowers,  and  in  both  instances  the 
habit  is  excellent.  What  more  desirable  attributes  cculd  be  desired  ? 
'•  Fragrance  ”  someone  may  say  ;  but  let  them  have  patience,  for  there 
are  indications  that  even  this  will  come  eventually. 
These  are  by  no  means  the  only  colours  in  the  persicum  section,  but 
they  are  chosen  as  the  best  from  the  writer’s  point  of  view.  Those 
who  would  doubt  or  disagree  can  go  to  Beading  and  decide  by  personal 
inspection  ;  they  will  be  heartily  welcomed,  and  will  return  home  the 
wiser  for  what  they  have  seen. 
The  dividing  line  between  the  persicum  and  the  grandiflorum 
section  is  very  clearly  marked,  and  each  has  its  ardent  admirers,  who 
see  far  more  beauty  in  their  respective  favourites  than  they  do  in  any 
others.  Here  we  find  stronger  growth,  stouter  and  bigger  leaves,  and 
bolder  flowers.  The  votaries  of  the  grandiflorum  type  pin  their 
admiration  mainly  to  the  size  of  the  flowers,  as  the  leafage  is  not  so 
handsome  as  in  the  smaller  flowered  group.  In  this  respect,  however, 
advance  can  readily  be  seen,  as  it  is  not  so  very  long  ago  that  the  leaves 
possessed  no  particular  beauty,  whereas  many  of  them  now  are  con¬ 
siderably  marbled.  Perhaps  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  will  some  day 
give  the  horticultural  world  a  Cyclamen  grandiflorum  with  the  freedom 
of  flowering  and  the  charmingly  marked  leaves  of  the  smaller  section. 
Of  all  the  colours  amongst  the  grandiflorums  I  must  still  place  the 
pure  white  as  prime  favourite,  with  the  white  on  a  crimson  base  as  a 
wonderfully  close  second.  These  two  occupy  the  same  position  in  my 
regard  as  the  two  named  in  an  earlier  paragraph.  There  is  no  garish 
beauty,  but  rather  have  they  a  simpler  charm,  which  appeals  with 
greater  force  than  the  more  effective  crimsons,  purples,  and  others. 
Naturally  enough  these  have  their  admirers,  as  must  have  all  such 
excellent  flowers,  but  I  speak  now  from  a  purely  personal  standpoint. 
There  can  certainly  be  no  two  opinions  as  to  the  value  of  Cyclamens 
for  Christmas  flowering,  and  hundreds  of  gardeners  would  miss  their 
presence,  and  have  difficulty  in  finding  an  equally  good  substitute  for 
various  purposes  at  the  festive  season.  It  is  still  an  open  question  as 
to  whether  the  curious  papilio  section  will  ever  run  level  with  the 
others  for  popularity.  So  far  they  are  decidedly  in  the  rear,  but  the 
tide  of  fashion  may  turn  in  their  favour,  when  they  will  quickly  range 
up  in  the  front  rank. 
In  the  houses  devoted  to  the  Primulas  there  are  many  varieties 
to  admire  amongst  the  single,  the  double,  and  the  stellata  sections. 
The  plants  are  arranged  in  such  a  manner  as  to  call  forth  the 
highest  praise,  for  they  are  staged  in  large  batches  of  colour.  For 
instance,  in  one  house  are  some  hundreds  of  Crimson  King,  and  they 
rivet  attention  and  form  a  lasting  impression.  These,  indeed,  are  the 
results  that  accrue  from  seeing  several  of  the  varieties,  some  of 
brilliant  hue,  others  owing  their  charm  to  chasteness  of  shade,  while 
still  more  range  between  the  two.  There  are  varieties  with  identical 
flowers  and  different  foliage  ;  in  the  one  case  it  will  be  plain  and  in 
the  other  Fern-leaved.  Both  have  beauty,  and  show  their  flowers  up 
in  a  peculiarly  distinct  manner.  The  Beading  Blues  are  well  known 
for  their  high  quality,  as  are  such  whites  as  Pearl  and  Snowdrift,  which 
now'  require  no  cards  of  commendation.  A  new  break,  of  which  The 
Duchess  may  be  taken  as  typical,  is  very  beautiful ;  the  flowers  are 
striking,  with  their  zone  of  brilliant  rose  round  the  eye,  and  this 
encircled  by  white  with  an  attractive  rose  suffusion.  There  are  other 
new  colours,  too,  but  of  these  more  will  certainly  be  heard  in  the 
future. 
The  Star  Primulas  have  been  accorded  a  great  meed  of  admiration 
of  late  years,  and  they  may  new  be  expected  to  maintain  their  position. 
The  flowers  have  not  the  size,  substance,  or  form  of  the  sinensis 
section,  but  they  are  of  more  graceful  habit,  and  branch  and  flower 
with  remarkable  freedom.  These,  too,  are  becoming  more  diversified 
in  colours  every  year,  and  have  a  beauty  that  is  qrrite  their  own. 
Amonst  the  semi-doubles  and  doubles  there  are  the  well  known 
Beading  varieties  that  may  be  taken  as  types  of  excellence  in  their 
respective  shades.  Birt  to  these  must  be  added  the  newer  ones,  of  which 
General  French  will  be  regarded  as  the  most  important.  This  has 
received  an  award  of  merit  from  the  Boyal  Horticultural  Society,  and 
this  alone  is  a  true  hall  mark  of  excellence.  It  is  a  very  deep  rich 
crimson  flower,  freely  produced  by  a  compact  growing  plant,  having 
elegant  leaves.  Many  others  might  and  perhaps  ought  to  be  par- 
tiularised,  but  time  forbids  that  more  shall  be  written  save  to  advise 
those  who  have  not  been  to  Beading  to  go  as  soon  as  possible,  so  that 
they  may  lose  none  of  that  charm  and  beauty  which  were  so  much 
admired  by — R.  H.  R. 
Remarkable  in  extent  and  variety  as  was  the  fine  collection  of 
Primulas  shown  by  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  of  Beading  at  the  Drill 
Hall  on  the  9th  inst.,  and  so  happily  helping  to  save  the  meeting  from 
failure,  yet  no  comparison  could  well  be  instituted  between  that  exhibit 
and  the  collection  of  these  beautiful  winter  flowers  seen  in  their  home, 
the  long  span  houses  at  Beading.  It  is  not  merely  that  one  may  see 
there  so  many  more  plants,  but  under  the  clear  bright  light  the  true 
beauty  and  excellence  of  the  flower  is  so  much  more  fully  manifested. 
As  the  primary  object  of  the  firm  is  to  obtain  seed,  sowings  are  not 
made  until  July,  and  the  plants  are  all  in  48’s.  Thus  whilst  so  beauti¬ 
fully  in  bloom  thus  early  in  January,  they  will  increase  in  floral  beauty 
as  the  year  extends  and  light  increases,  so  that  the  considerable  work 
of  pollination  which  has  to  be  in  every  case  artificially  performed  is 
materially  assisted.  February  and  March  are  important  months  for 
the  performance  of  this  work. 
The  Beading  Primulas  have  been  written  about  continuously,  but 
those  who  may  have  seen  them  as  I  have  for  many  successive  years 
still  find  them  to  be  each  recurring  winter  wonderfully  attractive.  No 
doubt  much  of  this  attraction  is  due  to  the  great  stocks  of  plants  seen, 
each  one  to  true  in  form,  colour,  size,  and  everything.  Then  the  clear 
light  aids  so  much  to  display  the  colours  of  the  flowers,  and  the 
admirable  culture  bestowed  helps  also  to  one’s  appreciation. 
Whilst  every  year  shows  some  advance  in  form,  variation, . or 
colouring,  the  present  season  seems  to  have  been  peculiarly  rich  in  that 
respect,  for  there  are  several  singularly  charming  novelties  seen  that 
must  in  time  become  exceedingly  popular,  and  will,  when  they  can  be 
put  into  commerce,  be  in  great  demand.  Certainly  The  Duchess  is  a 
great  beauty.  The  flower  stems  are  stiff  and  erect,  habit  excellent, 
flowers  large  and  finely  fringed,  and  the  colour  white,  but  having 
round  the  eye  a  ring  of  intense  rosy  red,  that  shades  off  into  the  white 
indefinitely.  This  is  indeed  a  beauty,  and  most  distinct.  Then  there 
is  one  that,  because  even  more  delicately  coloured,  though  in  all  other 
respects  alike,  that  I  even  preferred  to  the  Duchess ;  that,  so  far,  has 
no  name,  but  it  will  have  to  be  “  Princess  ”  at  least.  The  ground  of  the 
flower  is  flesh  white,  verging  to  a  ring  round  the  eye  of  soft  rosy  flesh  ; 
a  singularly  charming  flower.  Another  of  great  beauty  has  flowers  of 
vermilion  round  the  eye,  shading  off  to  pink.  There  is,  too,  a 
gloriously  rich  magenta,  with  lemon  eye  ;  one  of  singularly  deep  solid 
blood  crimson  ;  another  of  a  heavy  plum  blue  ;  one  having  a  deep  peach 
centre,  shading  off  to  pale  pink ;  and  another  having  bright  red  centre, 
shading  off  to  rose. 
The  old  Reading  Blue  has  been  intensified,  whilst  by  crossing  that 
on  to  a  good  white  with  pale  green  stems  there  has  resulted  a  very 
pleasing  Cambridge  blue,  a  shade  that  is  very  refined.  That  brilliant 
heavy  hued  Crimson  King  is  indeed  a  superbly  coloured  variety,  being 
in  striking  contrast  to  Snowdrift,  the  pure  white  form  which  again  is 
flanked  by  the  crimson  on  the  Fern  leaf,  the  colour  of  the  flowers  in 
this  case  seeming  to  be  much  intensified.  Then  Pearl  is  another  beau¬ 
tiful  pure  white  on  pale  green  foliage.  But  singles  are  in  every  direc¬ 
tion  remarkably  varied  and  beautiful,  yet  cannot  be  all  noted. 
Still  a  word  is  due  to  the  charm  as  winter  decorative  plants  of  the 
star  or  stellata  section,  large  quantities  of  which  are  here  in  variety.  There 
is  the  original  form,  then  comes  a  greatly  improved  white  on  intensely 
dark  foliage,  and  a  third  white  on  pale  green  foliage,  the  habit  being 
more  compact.  There  is  also  a  carmine  or  pink  flowered  section,  all 
abundantly  blooming.  From  out  of  the  entire  collection  some  improved 
forms  or  possibly  improved  forms  have  been  selected,  but  the  merits  of 
pink  flowers  will  not  outweigh  the  absence  of  the  graceful  branching 
pyramidal  habit  if  that  be  lacking. 
The  semi-doubles  are  in  great  abundance.  Blood  red,  pink,  white, 
carmine,  carnation  flaked  and  splashed,  blue,  and  others  are  all  as  fine 
and  as  effective  as  Primulas  well  can  be.  One  long  lean-to  house 
devoted  to  trials  will  soon  possess  special  interest.  Here  are  grown 
in  large  60-sized  pots  some  plants  of  every  stock  of  Primidas  in 
the  hands  of  the  firm.  It  says  much  for  the  excellence  of  the  culture 
given  that  out  of  the  several  hundreds  of  these  plants  here  every  one  is 
as  good  as  the  other,  so  that  the  trial  will  be  a  perfect  one.  Of  course 
these  are  from  a  rather  later  sowing  than  were  the  many  stock 
plants  in  larger  pots.  But  it  will  enable  visitors  to  discern  a  week  or 
two  later  how  much  floral  beauty  such  small  plants  can  produce. 
—A.  D. 
