January  7,  1897. 
JOURNAL  ON  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
1 
and  the  sister  one,  the  Royal  Agricultural,  join  hands  in  this  matter 
and  do  something  more  ?  In  this  respect  their  interests  are  mutual, 
and  I  see  no  reason  why  classes  could  not  be  introduced  at  the 
Palace  show  for  Apples  and  other  fruit  open  only  to  bona  fide 
farmers.  Surely  there  must  be  many  in  the  great  army  of  agri¬ 
culturists  who  would  take  advantage  of  such  an  opportunity,  and  it 
would  also  be  an  inducement  for  others  to  visit  our  shows.  It 
is  from  small  beginning*  the  great  things  grow,  and  for  this  reason 
such  a  thought  is  worthy  of  consideration.  While  agri-  and  horti¬ 
culture  are  looked  on  as  being  quite  distinct  we  cannot  expect 
great  things  in  this  direction,  but  when  this  barrier  is  broken  down, 
and  it  becomes  more  fully  recognised  that  their  interests  are 
mutual  in  many  respects,  we  may  look  for  the  gardener  and  farmer 
to  join  hands  in  the  common  interest. — Gr.  H.  H. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
VELTHEIMIA  VIRIDIFOLIA. 
This  is  a  greenhouse  bulbous  plant  not  commonly  seen  or  cultivated. 
It  forms  when  in  flower  a  very  effective  decorative  plant  in  the  con¬ 
servatory  or  greenhouse,  the  spikes  of  drooping  red  and  yellow  flowers 
lasting  in  good  condition  a  considerable  time  at  the  present  season  of 
the  year,  which  is  its  natural  time  of  blooming  in  a  warm  conservatory. 
Cooler  treatment  will  retard  its  blooming  until  February  or  March,  so 
that  with  several  plants  it  is  possible  to  provide  a  successional  display. 
The  Veltheimia  is  not,  however,  a  very  popular  plant,  as  the  spikes  of 
bloom  or  even  the  individual  flowers  are  of  little  or  no  use  for  cutting. 
Hence  a  few  plants  are  usually  all  that  are  cultivated  or  required  in  a 
large  establishment. 
Like  many  other  of  our  uncommon  bulbous  plants  the  Veltheimia  is 
a  native  of  South  Africa,  from  whence  it  was  introduced  to  this  country 
in  1768.  The  bulbs  with  good  cultivation  attain  to  the  dimensions  of 
lajge  Onions.  The  leaves  from  such  bulbs  are  correspondingly  large, 
long,  and  leathery  ;  but  they  will  not  endure  rough  treatment,  which 
causes  them  to  break  transversely,  spoiling  to  some  extent  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  whole  plant. 
The  bulbs  rest  during  summer,  new  growth  commencing  again  in 
August.  That  is  the  best  period  to  pot  the  bulbs  or  shake  away  the  soil 
from  those  occupying  pots  in  which  they  may  have  rested.  Select  potB 
according  to  the  size  of  bulbs,  draining  them  moderately.  Prepare  a 
compost  of  rich  turfy  loam  two  parts  and  well  decayed  manure  one  part, 
adding  a  little  sand  also.  Flace  soil  in  the  pots  and  then  the  bulbs,  so 
that  the  points  of  each  are  just  below  the  surface  when  sufficient  soil 
has  been  introduced  and  pressed  firmly  therein.  The  soil  being 
used  in  a  moist  state  it  is  not  necessary  to  water  heavily  at  first,  but  as 
growth  becomes  free  the  supplies  should  be  increased,  never  allowing 
the  soil  to  become  dry,  especially  when  the  roots  fully  occupy  it.  Weak 
liquid  manure  may  be  applied  occasionally,  and  it  will  assist  in  improving 
the  colour  of  the  beautiful  glossy  foliage  as  well  as  strengthening  the 
bloom  spikes. 
A  temperature  of  46°  to  55°  is  ample  for  the  continuance  of  healthy 
growth,  plenty  of  light  and  an  airy  atmosphere  also  being  essential. 
Crowding  the  plants  among  or  under  the  shade  of  others  tends  to  make 
the  leaves  brittle  and  the  flower  spikes  develop  weakly.  * 
The  best  position  for  the  plants  after  potting  is  undoubtedly  a  cold 
frame  where  they  can  have  a  position  near  the  glass.  As  the  plants 
increase  in  size  take  them  to  more  roomy  quarters  in  a  greenhouse, 
allowing  them  there  to  remain  during  the  rest  of  their  period  of  growth, 
both  before  and  after  blooming.  The  plants  should  mature  in  full 
sunshine.  When  the  leaves  have  died  down  the  bulbs  may  rest  in  any 
dry  corner  in  greenhouse,  keeping  the  soil  dry. — E.  D.  S. 
BRIEF  NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
( Continued  from  page  610.) 
Protecting  Winter-flowering  Crocuses. 
“  What  can  I  do  to  protect  my  winter  Crocuses  from  wind  and 
rain?”  This  is  what  is  not  infrequently  asked,  and  it  cannot,  if  fairly 
considered,  be  deemed  a  superfluous  query.  “Cover  them,”  is  a  reply 
good  enough  in  its  way,  but,  like  many  other  replies,  not  sufficiently 
definite.  “  With  what  shall  I  cover  them  1  ”  would  almost  inevitably 
be  the  next  question,  and  this,  again,  could  not  be  thought  unneces¬ 
sary.  Let  us,  then,  talk  over  the  matter  from  a  practical  point  of  view. 
It  is  sufficient  with  many  flowers  in  winter  that  they  should  have 
a  sheet  of  glass  above  and  a  free  current  of  air  passing  between  the 
glass  and  the  plant ;  but  unless  in  very  sheltered  gardens  this  will  not 
do  for  the  Crocus.  In  the  wild  days  of  winter  the  flowers  are  soon 
blown  down  by  the  strong  winds,  which  seem  to  do  all  the  more  mischief 
if  they  get  below  the  sheet  of  glass — at  least  the  flowers  are  more  easily 
destroyed  by  the  wind  even  if  saved  from  the  rain.  What  is  to  be  done 
then  ?  “  A  small  bell-glass,”  say  some.  Unfortunately,  these  little  glass 
domes  are  rather  too  expensive  to  be  employed  on  a  large  scale.  They 
are  also  not  very  difficult  to  break,  and  take  up  a  good  deal  of  space 
when  put  away  for  the  time.  Unless  lifted  up  a  little,  too,  they  do  not 
give  enough  of  air  if  the  sun  shines,  and  the  atmosphere  inside  is  heated 
to  an  excessive  degree.  Small  hand-lights  are  expensive,  and  a  simple 
wooden  frame  with  sliding  sheets  of  glass  is  the  best  thing  for  the  pur¬ 
pose.  If  not  too  large  (and  there  is  no  need  for  this)  waste  pieces  of 
glass  may  be  used,  and  the  covers  made  at  very  little  expense.  Later  in 
the  season  they  may  be  used  for  other  purposes.  A  drawing  and  parti¬ 
culars  of  two  of  these  accompany  this.  It  will  be  seen  that  air  can  be 
given  on  a  side  opposite  the  wind. 
Shelters  for  Early  Bulbs. 
Fig.  3. — o,  Glass  sliding  in  grooves  cut  in  the  wood  of  which  the  frame  is  made.  The 
wood  is  about  1  inch  square.  Size  of  shelter  shown  is  8  inches  by  8  inches 
and  6 \  inches  high,  but  these  dimensions  can  bo  altered.  The  glass  on  the  top 
and  two  sides  is  shown  partially  drawn. 
FIG.  4.— This  is  an  older  pattern,  with  glass  top  (G)  sliding  in  a  groove  eut  in  top  of 
wooden  side,  S.  For  further  ventilation  the  sides  l>  turn  on  wire  mails  N,  and 
close  against  strips,  of  woods  connecting  the  two  sides  s  at  bottom.  The  size 
of  this  shelter  is  about  8  inches  long  Dy  8  inches  broad,  and  t  he  same  in  height. 
The  wood  is  about  '(-inch  thick.  The  opening  sides  are  shown  partly  open. 
An  Early  Saxifrage. 
One  of  the  earliest  of  all  the  Saxifrages  is  full  of  flower  buds,  and 
promises  to  be  attractive  early  in  January.  If  the  impression  regarding 
aliases  which  prevails  with  respect  to  men  and  women  is  to  be  taken 
as  holding  good  about  flowers,  what  an  evil  character  this  plant  would 
bear  !  But  the  truth  is  that  it  is  in  no  way  responsible  for  others’  misdeeds, 
and  it  is  through  no  fault  of  this  Saxifrage  that  it  has  had  no  fewer  than 
four  names,  and  that  it  obtained  honours  from  the  R.H.S.  under  an 
assumed  one.  Its  real  name  is  admitted  to  be  S.  apiculata,  but  its 
Bynonvms  are  Frederici-Augusti,  luteo-purpurea,  and  luteo-viridis.  It 
can  stand  a  good  deal  of  hard  weather — frost,  snow,  or  rain — and  the 
only  advantage  it  receives  from  being  covered  with  a  sheet  of  glass  is 
that  the  flowers  are  of  a  brighter  primrose  yellow  that  if  left  uncovered. 
Some  say,  “  Divide  it  every  year  to  get  it  to  flower  freely.”  Do  not  do 
anything  of  the  kind  unless  it  persistently  blooms  unsatisfactorily.  In 
many  gardens  it  flowers  perfectly  well  without  such  drastic  measures, 
and  is  surely  much  more  beautiful  when  it  grows  into  a  big  mound  of 
grey  green  with  little  spikelets  rising  above  and  showing  their  little 
yellow  flowers. 
Euphorbia  Cyparissias. 
This  is  sometimes  recommended  as  a  plant  for  rockeries,  and  one  is 
led  to  wonder  if  the  one  who  recommends  it  has  had  it  long  or  has 
plants  to  sell.  It  has  pretty  foliage,  and  its  flower  bracts  are  of  a  green 
which  has  sufficient  yellow  in  it  to  make  it  bright.  It  is  easily  grown, 
!  and  will  cover  a  rockery  in  a  very  short  time.  All  this  is  true,  but  all 
j  the  same  one  feels  sorry  for  the  unfortunate  beginner  who  is  deluded 
into  putting  this  Euphorbia  among  his  choice  rock  plants.  We  all  do 
very  foolish  things  when  in  our  “  salad  days  ”  and  green  in  judgment, 
and  the  harvest  is  generally  reaped  afterwards.  We  introduce  the  wild 
Oats  and  grumble  later.  The  writer  knows  a  rock  garden  into  which 
this  Milkwort  was  introduced  through  its  forming  one  of  a  “cheap” 
collection  of  rock  plants— “  vendor’s  selection."  The  Cypress  Spurge 
is  somewhere  described  as  “  an  elegant  plant  of  perfect  hardiness,  and 
succeeding  in  any  soil  or  situation.” 
We  shall  not  pick  holes  iD  the  description,  but  all  the  same,  gentle 
reader,  we  beg  of  you.  do  not  allow  yourself  to  be  induced  to  buy  it. 
The  unfortunate  amateur  who  owns  the  garden  mentioned  above 
bought  E.  Cyparissias  some  ten  or  eleven  years  ago,  and  for  some  eight  or 
nine  he  has  been  endeavouring  to  get  rid  of  it.  He  is  still  at  the  work, 
and  begins  to  think  it  will  occupy  some  of  his  leisure  for  the  remainder 
of  his  natural  term  of  life.  It  runs  under  the  surface,  making  use  of 
stones  as  fortresses,  whence  it  may  sally  forth  among  the  gems  beloved 
of  the  man  who  has  gone  crazy  over  alpine  flowers.  A  little  bit  will 
grow,  and  it  must  be  set  down  as  one  of  the  flowers  to  be  fought  shy  of. 
