8 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  January  7,  isar. 
Edelweiss. 
The  romantic  interest  of  this  flower  seems  to  cause  it  to  be  more 
eagerly  sought  after  than  its  intrinsic  beauty  would  merit,  compared 
with  many  other  gems  of  the  mountains.  Doubtless  much  of  its  value 
to  the  Swiss  mountaineer  is  that  of  its  “everlasting”  nature,  and  that 
on  account  of  this  it  may  be  kept  as  a  remembrance  of  the  marriage 
ceremony.  I  had  better  cut  short  this  introduction  to  what  is  really  the 
more  prosaic  question  of  the  winter  treatment  of  the  Edelweiss,  or  I 
shall  be  in  danger  of  incurring  a  remonstrance. 
Well,  then,  the  Edelweiss  is  hardy  enough,  but  should  be  kept  high 
up  on  the  rockery,  in  light  soil,  and  should  have  glass  or  a  slate  a  few 
inches  overhead  to  keep  its  woolly  leaves  dry.  So  I  told  a  friend  who 
bad  had  some  plants  sent  him,  and  who  asked  me  what  he  could  do  with 
the’’”.  I  fear,  however,  the  steed  was  stolen,  as  it  appeared  that  the 
plants  were  already  on  the  rockery.  The  stable  door  was  locked  too 
late,  as  they  were  not  in  a  very  good  place,  and  it  was  too  far  in  the 
season  to  remove.  Then  it  wag  going  to  be  too  much  trouble  to  put  the 
glass  above,  and  I  was  told  “  they  would  just  have  to  take  their  chance.” 
What  could  one  do  but  think  that  after  all  the  inquirer  would  never 
become  a  grower  of  Alpines  ?  He  might  grow  Euphorbia  Cyparissias, 
but  the  Gnapbalium  is  beyond  his  patience  and  so  beyond  his  skill. 
— Alpinus. 
(To  be  continued.! 
POINSETTIAS. 
The  remarks  by  your  able  correspondent,  “  J.  S.  G.”  (page  586), 
prove  that  he  is  an  enthusiast  and  a  practical  grower  of  the  Poinsettia, 
and  his  article  appears  at  the  opportune  moment  when  they  are  at  the 
height  of  their  season  and  popularity.  That  perfection  in  their  growth 
and  treatment  is  arrived  at  under  varying  conditions  is  admitted  by 
your  correspondent,  and  some  growers  no  doubt  may  be  inclined  to  take 
exception  even  to  the  methods  described  and  adopted  by  “  J.  S.  G.,” 
excellent  though  his  results  may  be,  and  undoubtedly  are. 
My  observations,  extending  over  several  years,  justify  the  opinion 
that  no  hard  and  fast  rule  can  be  universally  adopted,  but  the  grower 
must  adapt  himself  to  the  conditions  with  which  he  is  brought  into 
contact.  One  cultivator  will  produce  good  material  under  cool  summer 
and  autumn  treatment,  while  another  secure  the  same  satisfactory 
results  under  warmer  conditions,  and  very  often  the  latter  course  is 
adopted  from  force  of  circumstances  rather  than  from  choice. 
The  past  summer  certainly  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  typical  one,  the 
drought  and  heat  being  much  above  the  average,  so  that  the  Poinsettias 
grown  entirely  in  the  open  air  may  have  been  favoured  ;  but  in  my  case 
results  clearly  show  that  a  three-months  course'  in  the  open  air  was 
agreeable  to  them,  their  growth  being  short  jointed  and  well  ripened, 
and  the  resultant  bracts,  though  not  equalling  the  greater  diameter  of 
your  correspondent’s  plants,  are  nevertheless  of  average  size.  Having 
cool  treatment  since  they  were  placed  indoors  at  the  end  of  September, 
they  are  in  good  condition  for  house  furnishing.  Needless  to  say,  it  is 
only  the  old  plants  and  the  earliest  rooted  cuttings  that  have  been 
given  this  cool  outdoor  treatment. 
It  is  presumed  that  “  J.  S.  G.”  admits  there  are  at  least  two  distinct 
forms  of  Poinsettia  beside  the  double  and  the  white  one  in  general  use. 
I  know  there  are  some  gardeners  who  do  not  acknowledge  this  fact. 
There  is  not  the  least  doubt  of  this,  as  anyone  growing  the  two  k’’nds 
can  readily  distinguish  them.  They  are  distinct  both  in  point  of  size 
and  form  of  bract,  in  habit  of  growth,  and  time  of  flowering.  One  will 
develop  its  bracts  early  in  November  under  cool  treatment,  the  other 
can  be  more  easily  flowered  for  the  Christmas  festival.  One  has  a 
uniformly  shaped  head,  the  other  is  not  so  compact,  and  the  colours  vary 
almoBt  as  much  as  Bhape  in  the  two  forms.  What  their  distinctive  titles 
may  be  I  cannot  determine,  but  probably  some  other  reader  may  be  able 
to  decide  the  point.  It  is  a  subject  that  may  engage  the  attention  of  the 
young  gardeners  who  contribute  so  well  in  the  column  set  apart  expressly 
for  them.  Mr.  Robinson  of  Heywood  and  Mr.  Mann  at  Leighton  are 
both  very  successful  growers  of  the  late  variety,  and  at  each  place  a 
number  of  good  plants  may  be  seen  at  their  best  for  the  Christmas 
season. 
During  the  twelve  years  Mr.  Iggulden  was  at  Marston  Poinsettias 
were  an  annual  feature,  arranged  while  at  their  best  in  the  fernery. 
There  is  nothing  that  I  have  yet  seen  that  can  surpass  an  arrangement 
of  Ferns  and  Poinsettias,  and  grown  as  they  were  in  various  sized  pots 
and  of  differing  ages  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  form  perfect  banks  of 
their  glowing  bracts.  Mr.  Robinson  retains  none  of  the  old  plants  after 
they  have  supplied  the  number  of  cuttings  required,  and  as  these  are 
given  frame  treatment  from  the  time  they  are  well  rooted  until  placed 
in  their  winter  quarters  the  plants  are  comparatively  dwarf  and  well 
clothed  with  foliage  to  their  pots.  Mr.  Mann  is  a  strong  advocate  for 
high  temperatures  to  develop  a  good  autumn  growth  and  flower  head. 
I  have  seen  plants  quite  6  feet  in  height  bearing  enormous  bracts  in 
7-inch  pots  from  cuttings  rooted  in  May.  I  cannot  give  exact  dimen¬ 
sions,  but  I  believe  I  have  measured  them  22  inches  in  breadth.  From 
a  decorative  standpoint,  however,  I  consider  a  plant  half  the  height, 
even  if  the  flower-head  is  an  imh  or  two  less,  much  more  effective! 
because  they  can  be  more  easily  seen  and  they  are  better  adapted  for 
grouping.  At  the  same  time,  Poinsettias  with  heads  nearly  2  feet  in 
diameter  are  sure  to  win  favours,  and  bestow  credit  on  those  entrusted 
with  their  custody.  For  securing  such  results  there  must  be  strong 
cuttings  to  start  with  and  good  accommodation  for  rooting  them  quickly 
— W.  Strugnell. 
Weather  in  London. — As  a  whole  the  weather  during  the 
past  seven  days  has  been  of  a  more  settled  character,  though  it  is  not 
yet  quite  seasonable.  On  Saturday  a  dense  fog  hung  over  the  whole  of 
the  metropolis  all  day,  occasioning  much  discomfort  to  everyone,  and 
causing  the  trains  at  the  various  termini  to  be  very  late.  It  cleared 
t  >ward8  eight  o’clock  in  the  evening,  and  at  ten  the  stars  shone 
brightly.  Sunday  and  Monday  were  fine,  but  Tuesday  was  miserably 
w it,  Wednesday  was  bright  and  clear,  with  a  sharp  frost  in  the  early 
h  >urs  of  the  morning. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — The  close  of  the  old  and  the 
beginning  of  the  new  year  have  been  attended  by  variable,  and  by  no 
means  seasonable  weather.  New  Year’s  Day  was  dry  and  brightish, 
the  following  day  drizzly  and  cold.  Monday  was  also  fair,  though  cold  ; 
and  on  Tuesday  morning  there  was  the  only  slight  touch  of  frost  for 
the  week  then  ending. — B,  D.,  S  Perthshire. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  —  The  first  meeting  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  in  1897  will  be  held  as  usual  in 
the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  on 
January  12th,  1  to  4  P.M.  On  or  before  that  date  the  Society’s  new 
book  of  arrangements,  containing  particulars  of  the  shows,  lectures, 
Committees,  &c.,  for  1897,  and  the  report  of  Council,  and  new  list  of 
Fellows  will  be  issued. 
-  Remedy  for  American  Blight  on  Apples.  —  I  always 
read  with  much  interest  “  Work  for  the  Week  ”  in  the  Journal,  and  in 
reference  to  the  practical  remedies  for  the  above  (page  634)  I  have  found 
the  following  by  far  the  most  effective  in  my  garden  on  Cox’s  Orange 
Pippin  and  Cellini,  the  former  being  of  twenty-two  varieties  most  subject 
to  it  'Take  a  quart  or  a  gallon  of  water,  more  or  less  as  may  be 
required ,  and  boil  it.  Pour  on  freshly  ground  flowers  of  sulphur — the 
quantity  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  trees  affected — then  mix  well* 
When  going  to  use  take  a  tenth  of  petroleum  and  add.  Then  apply 
with  a  painter’s  brush,  taking  care  to  put  plenty  into  the  crevices.  A 
second  application  may  be  unnecessary. — W.  J.  Murphy,  Clonmel. 
-  Mr.  Cypher.  —  Hearty  will  be  the  congratulations  to  Mr. 
Cypher  upon  the  attainment  of  the  “  allotted  span,”  and  earnest  the 
cimmon  hope  of  his  fellow  townsmen  and  others  that  he  will  long  be 
spared  to  preside  over  the  flourishing  business  which  has  made  his  own 
nime  and  that  of  Cheltenham  so  familiar  in  the  horticultural  world, 
la  celebration  of  his  seventieth  birthday  Mr.  Cypher  gave  a  compli¬ 
mentary  dinner  to  his  workpeople  on  Friday  evening  in  one  of  the 
Orchid  houses  at  his  nursery  off  the  Queen’s  Road.  Mr.  Cypher  was 
present,  accompanied  by  his  two  sons,  Mr.  William  Cypher  and  Mr. 
Frank  Cypher,  and  his  two  nephews,  Mr.  John  Cypher  and  Mr.  William 
Cypher,  and  the  heads  of  the  various  departments.  Altogether  the 
company  numbered  upwards  of  seventy.  During  an  interval  in  the 
songs  Mr.  Cypher  made  a  characteristic  little  speech. 
-  Presentation  to  Mr.  W.  Mackay. — On  the  occasion  of  the 
completion  of  twenty-five  years’  service  with  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  &  Sons, 
Exeter,  his  fellow  employes  took  the  opportunity  to  present  to  Mr.  Mackay 
an  address  (beautifully  written  and  illuminated  by  Mr.  F.  Tozer), 
expressing  the  great  esteem  in  which  he  had  always  been  and  is  now  held 
by  them.  The  address  was  accompanied  by  an  exceedingly  handsome 
solid  silver  cigar  case  and  vesta  box,  richly  engraved  with  his  monogram 
and  bearing  a  suitable  inscription.  These  were  presented,  on  behalf  of  his 
fellow  workmen,  by  Mr.  Webber  in  a  neat  and  appropriate  speech.  At 
this  juncture  a  parcel  was  handed  to  Mr.  Mackay,  which,  on  being 
opened,  was  found  to  contain  a  very  handsome  solid  silver  salver  with  a 
cheque  for  £25  as  presents  from  Mr.  Veitch  to  commemorate  the 
occasion,  and  “in  recognition  of  twenty-five  years  of  faithful  service  to 
the  firm.”  Mr.  Veitch’s  gift  was  accompanied  by  a  letter  written  in 
feeling  terms,  expressing  his  appreciation  of  the  value  of  Mr.  Mackay’s 
services,  and  hoping  that  the  cordial  relationship  which  had  existed  for 
so  long  might  continue  for  many  years  to  come.  The  recipient  of  these 
good  wishes  feelingly  replied,  and  expressed  his  warm  appreciation  not 
only  of  their  kind  gifts,  but  still  more  of  the  kind  words  and  manifesta¬ 
tions  of  goodwill  which  accompanied  them.  -* 
