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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  22,  1900. 
It  is  generally  acknowledged  that  at  this  period  of  the  year 
Cinerarias  are  amongst  our  most  useful  and  effective  decorative  plants, 
especially  if  the  varieties  are  of  good  self  colours.  Pretty  as  a  mass 
of  mixed  colours  may  be,  I  think  that  a  group  of  seifs,  in  colour, 
such  as  reds,  whites,  and  blues  on  the  conservatory  floor  forms  a 
sight  not  easily  surpassed.  There  seems  to  be  an  idea  that  the 
Cineraria  is  not  so  well  grown  now  as  in  the  past,  and  I  think  we 
may  admit  that  we  do  not  usually  meet  with  such  fine  individual 
specimens  as  was  the  case  tw^enty  or  twenty-five  years  ago,  owing 
doubtless,  in  part  at  least,  to  its  liability  to  attacks  of  green  fly. 
I  think,  however,  the  chief  reason  is  found  in  the  change  time  has 
brought  about ;  the  requirements  of  those  days  were  vastly  different 
from  what  are  expected  at  the  present.  Some  years  ago  the  finest 
specimens  for  conservatory  decorations  seem  to  be  preferred ;  to-day 
we  must  have  small  plants  suitable  alike  for  house  or  conservatory 
decoration.  This  is  the  general  rule,  whether  we  look  at  the  matter 
from  a  private  or  commercial  point  of  view. 
This,  then,  does  not  encourage  the  assumption  that  the  Cineraria 
is  not  so  well  grown  now  as  in  the  past  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  think 
that  time  has  done  much  to  improve  it.  Certainly  there  is  no  com¬ 
parison  in  the  size,  the  colour,  the  form,  and  general  quality  of  the 
flowers  of  to-day,  and  notwithstanding  the  introduction  of  various 
other  acceptable  plants  during  recent  years,  it  is  still  a  favourite,  and 
as  indispensable  as  ever.  Not  only  is  this  the  case  in  our  private 
places,  but  as  a  plant  of  commerce,  for  we  gather  that  the  Cineraria 
is  most  extensively  grown  for  the  supply  of  the  metropolis  and  large 
midland  towns,  where  it  is  in  great  demand  by  those  whose  lot  does 
not  admit  of  their  enjoying  the  beauties  that  are  so  common  to 
ourselves. 
It  is  generally  considered  that  the  Cineraria  is  of  easy  culture 
provided  the  conditions  essential  to  the  plants’  well-being  are  always 
kept  in  mind.  The  first  point  is  how  to  secure  a  really  good  display 
of  bloom,  and  this  can  only  be  done,  if  seeds  are  relied  upon,  by  pro¬ 
curing  the  best  strains  possible.  The  time  of  sowing  must  be 
governed  by  individual  requirements.  Where  two  or  three  separate 
collections  are  grown  a  good  time  to  commence  would  be  about  the 
middle  of  March,  with  successional  sowings  in  May  and  July ;  these 
would  give  flowers  from  November  to  the  end  of  May.  The  first 
consideration  must  be  the  raising  of  the  young  plants.  There  are 
two  methods — namely,  the  sowing  of  seeds,  and  propagation  by 
cuttings.  The  former  is  the  more  general,  but  the  latter  is  the  better 
for  certain  purposes,  because  we  cannot  depend  upon  getting  a 
particularly  good  variety  true  from  seed. 
Of  course  we  must  have,  as  I  said  before,  seedlings  from  an  excel¬ 
lent  strain,  to  get  high  class  flowers.  A  good  means  of  obtaining  the 
choicest  varieties  is  to  select  a  plant  producing  the  finest  flowers  and 
of  a  good  habit  of  growth  to  propagate  from.  By  this  system  one  can 
collect  in  a  couple  of  seasons  a  very  fine  stock.  I  usually  sow  a 
number  of  seeds  about  the  middle  of  May,  but,  as  I  have  before  stated, 
one  must  be  guided  by  one’s  own  requirements.  The  pans  should  be 
filled  to  within  an  inch  or  so  of  the  rim,  using  a  compost  of  loam,  leaf 
mould,  and  sand  in  about  equal  parts,  the  whole  being  run  through  a 
sieve  ;  make  the  surface  fairly  firm  and  level,  and  then  give  a  thorough 
watering  through  a  fine-rosed  can.  Let  the  pan  stand  for  a  time  before 
sowing  the  seeds,  then  scatter  them  thinly  and  evenly  over  the  surface, 
and  finish  with  a  thin  covering  of  sand.  I  am  aware  other  methods 
are  adopted  in  raising  Cineraria  seeds,  some  growers  preferring  to 
cover  the  seed  lightly  with  sphagnum  moss ;  others  again  use  no 
covering,  simply  keeping  the  seeds  perfectly  dark  until  they  have 
germinated,  then  gradually  bringing  them  to  the  light. 
After  covering  the  pan  with  a  sheet  of  glass,  it  may  be  placed  at 
the  foot  of  a  north  wall  or  hedge,  under  a  hand-light  or  frame,  or 
wherever  there  may  be  available  space ;  they  should  be  kept  close  to 
prevent  evaporation,  as  I  believe  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases  want  of 
moisture  is  the  cause  of  failure  in  the  germination  of  Cinerarias,  as 
well  as  many  other  small  seeds  we  grow  under  glass.  If,  however,  the 
frame  be  kept  closed,  as  advised,  and  a  good  soaking  given  in  the  first 
place,  this  will  be  found  sufficient  until  the  young  plants  appear.  Do 
not  allow  the  sun  to  shine  on  the  glass,  and  it  is  also  well  to  raise  the 
pan,  to  prevent  slugs  from  eating  the  tiny  leaves  as  soon  as  they 
appear,  at  which  stage  remove  the  glass.  If  the  advice  of  sowing 
thinly  be  followed,  nothing  need  be  done  until  the  first  rough  leaves 
are  formed  ;  they  should  then  be  carefully  raised  out  of  the  earth  and 
placed  singly  either  in  small  pots,  or  again  be  placed  back  into  pans 
or  boxes,  using  similar  soil. 
Here  occurs  to  me  that  many  of  us  in  our  desire  to  secure  what  we 
think  a  good  stock  are  apt  to  take  the  quantity  and  leave  the  quality, 
or  iu  other  words,  we  take  the  stronger  seedlings  and  leave  the 
smaller,  which  in  many  cases  are  the  cream,  as  regards  quality.  It 
is,  therefore,  advisable  to  take  every  care  of  these  weaker  seedlings. 
which  should  be  pricked  into  pans  and  treated  as  their  stronger  com¬ 
panions.  They  must  be  kept  moist  by  lightly  sprinkling  with  water  ; 
also  be  close  for  a  week.  In  a  short  time  roots  will  show  through  to  the 
side  of  the  soil,  and  t}ie  plants  may  be  transferred  to  5-inch  pots.  The 
compost  should  be  somewhat  coarser  at  this  potting,  and  must  be 
pressed  in  rather  firmly  with  the  fingers  to  induce  a  sturdy  growth. 
After  a  few  days  when  the  roots  will  have  taken  to  the  new  soil, 
admit  air  freely  in  the  frame,  which  should  still  be  in  a  position  where 
the  sun  does  not  beat  dirtctly  upon  it,  or  if  so  it  must  be  shaded. 
It  is  excellent  practice  to  raise  the  frame  on  a  brick  at  each  corner. 
This  will  admit  of  a  current  of  air  passing  among  the  pots,  which 
will  conduce  to  stronger  root  action,  and  assist  in  keeping  the  plants 
sturdy,  which  must  be  one  of  the  chief  objects  in  view.  In  this 
position  the  lights  may  be  kept  off  during  fine  weather,  but  should  be 
in  readiness  for  use  in  the  event  of  heavy  rains  or  thunderstorms. 
Before  proceeding  further  I  will  speak  of  offsets.  The  best  time 
to  take  these,  if  they  can  be  bad,  is  while  the  plants  are  in  flOwer. 
In  most  cases  suckers  spring  from  the  base,  and  these  are  what  we 
require.  Cut  them  off  with  a  sharp  knife,  and  put  singly  in  small 
pots.  The  hand-light  will  be  a  suitable  covering  for  them,  and  they 
must  be  kept  moist  and  close  as  advised  for  seedlings.  These  cuttings 
root  in  a  very  short  space  of  time,  and  as  soon  as  this  has  taken  place 
the  plants  may  be  put  direct  into  48-pots,  and  be  treated  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  others. — {Paper  read  hy  Mr.  ^Y.  H.  Damerell,  Under- 
lanic,  at  a  meeting  oj  the  Torquay  Gardeners'  Association.') 
(To  be  concluded.) 
- - 
Droitwicli  Experimental  Garden. 
Mr.  J.  Udale,  F.R.H.S.,  sends  us  a  report  of  the  above  experi- 
ments,  as  conducted  by  him  for  the  Worcestershire  County  Council  in 
1899.  The  garden,  which  is  2  acres  in  extent,  was  established  in  1896, 
and  is  well  stocked  with  the  different  kinds  of  fruit,  while  vegetables 
have  adequate  attention  in  the  form  of  comparative  trials  of  varieties, 
and  the  effects  of  different  manures  on  them.  The  report  is  an 
elaborate  one,  and  evidently  the  work  is  carried  out  with  great  care, 
and  the  results  systematically  tabulated.  The  garden  appears  to  be 
increasing  in  popularity,  as  there  is  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
visitors  from  911  in  1897  to  1809  during  1899.  The  soil  is  described  as 
dark  sandy  loam,  the  subsoil  very  gravelly  marl,  and  of  a  naturally 
dry  nature.  A  few  of  the  season’s  results  may  be  noted. 
Fruit  Experiments.  —  Of  the  larger  kinds — Apples,  Pears,  and 
Plums — the  trees  are  obviously  too  young  for  displaying  the  character¬ 
istics  of  the  varieties;  but  New  Hawthornden,  Court  Pendff  Plat,  Lord 
Grosvenor,  and  Lane’s  Prince  Albert  appear  to  have  made  the  best 
start  in  yielding  ;  and,  as  might  be  expected,  vertical  cordons  were  the 
most  productive  form  of  trees.  Gooseberries  show  how  quickly  some 
of  the  varieties  come  into  profit.  Whinham’s  Industry  heads  the  list 
in  productiveness,  followed  by  Rough  Green  and  Whitesmith,  all  free 
growers.  Red  Currants  :  La  Fertile  (Red  Dutch)  is  described  as  the 
best,  both  in  vigour  and  fruitfulness  ;  Victoria  the  next  in  merit. 
The  timely  application  of  black  cotton  from  branch  to  branch  prevented 
injury  to  the  buds.  It  is  allowed  to  remain  permanently.  Among 
Raspberries  Superlative  is  proving  itself  the  best  variety  for  all 
purposes.  The  most  jroductAe  Strawberry  of  the  season  was  Royal 
Sovereign,  Countess  excelling  all  others  for  flavour. 
Vegetables. — Of  these  many  kinds  were  tried,  and  the  produce  of 
several  were  sold  as  a  test  of  their  value.  In  a  trial  of  early  Potatoes 
Sharpe’s  Victor  gave  slightly  the  best  yield.  It  was  closely  followed  by 
Ringleader,  the  next  in  order  of  merit  being  Sutton’s  Al  and  Webb’s 
Early  Ash-leaved.  Wiidsor  Castle  gave  the  heaviest  yield  of  the  main 
crop  varieties,  followed  by  Ninety-fold,  Supreme,  and  Reliance.  Sets 
of  3  ozs.  weight  were  found  more  productive  than  2  oz.  sets.  Onions 
were  tested  as  to  thinning.  With  all  the  rows  a  foot  asunder,  in  four  out 
of  five  trials  the  heaviest  yields  were  produced  by  thinning  the  plants 
to  2  inches  apart.  In  ihe  trial  of  spring  Cabbages  Early  Offenham 
realised  by  sale  close  upm  £40,  Mein’s  No.  1  £37,  and  Ellapi’s  Early 
£27  an  acre.  They  wen  all  sown  on  August  11th ;  cutting  of  the  first, 
named  variety  commenced  on  April  22nd,  of  the  second  on  May  20th, 
and  of  the  third  on  May  27th. 
Manures. — With  practically  all  crops  chemical  manures  proved  much 
less  satisfactory  than  farmyard  manure,  also  than  decayed  and  burnt 
vegetable  refuse,  the  effects  of  the  chemicals  being  presumably  nullified 
by  the  extremely  dry  season.  A  mixture  of  superphosphate,  nitrate  of 
soda  and  kainit,  scattered  in  the  drills  when  sowing  the  seed,  had  a 
pernicious  effect,  for  Peas  so  treated  were  destroyed  as  they  germinated, 
few  plants  appearing.  Sone  of  the  rows  were  left  as  an  object  lesson  of 
how  not  to  apply  chemicas  ;  others  were  hoed  up  and  sowing  repeated 
without  adding  more  of  the  fertilisers,  satisfactoi'y  results  following.  The 
Rape  meal  manure  “  Homto  ”  was  found  excellent  in  promoting  growth 
and  in  repelling  wireworm  attacks  on  root  crops.  Mr.  Udale  has  done 
his  work  thoroughly,  and  lis  report  is  interesting  and  suggestive. 
