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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  8  1897. 
The  firm  of  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons  has  long  been  striving  to  widen  the 
favour'now  given  to  the  Clivia,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  its  efforts  will 
be  crowned  bv  success. 
If  anyone  desire  a  good  object  lesson  in  the  effect  that  may  be  pro¬ 
duced  by  a  collection  of  Olivias,  let  him  hagten  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to 
the  Stanstead  Park  Nurseries,  when  a  very  fine  digplay  will  be  the  certain 
reward.  There  may  be  found  a  large  span-roofed  structure  almost 
wholly  devoted  to  them,  comprising  plants  of  all  sizes,  from  those  that 
are  now  blooming  for  the  first  time  to  others  that  are  giants  in  com¬ 
parison,  and  have  seen  many  years  of  growth.  The  veterans  are  mainly 
upon  the  central  staging  of  the  house,  with  the  juveniles  arrayed  along 
the  two  side  and  end  stages.  The  broad,  leathery,  clean,  strap-like  leaves 
■of  dark  glossy  green  hue  set  off  the  flowers,  which,  as  everyone  knows, 
are  produced  in  circular  heads  of  considerable  size  on  a  stout  footstalk, 
to  the  best  advantage,  and  force  one  to  wonder  why  they  are  not  more 
grown. 
For  the  conservatory,  the  greenhouse,  or  the  window  Clivias  are 
admirably  adapted,  they  not  requiring  either  very  much  heat  or  atten¬ 
tion,  the  most  important  points  in  the  latter  direction  being  good 
judgment  in  watering  and  perfect  cleanliness  They  cannot  be  said 
to  be  plants  highly  susceptible  to  visitations  from  insects,  for  they  are 
not  ;  but  it  is  nevertheless  a  fact  that  if  the  leaves  are  frequently 
sponged  enemies  are  prevented  obtaining  a  hold,  the  pores  of  the  leaves 
are  kept  constantly  open,  and  the  plants  thrive  far  better  accordingly, 
for  to  all  plants,  the  same  as  to  ourgelves,  the  maintenance  of  perfect 
cleanliness  is  one  of  the  royal  roads  to  health. 
Besides  bearing  in  mind  the  easiness  of  culture  the  intending  grower 
should  make  a  memorandum  of  the  fact  that  Clivias  last  for  a  very 
considerable  time  in  flower — several  weeks  in  fact.  This  alone  should 
prove  a  distinct  recommendation  in  their  favour.  Then  the  grower  who 
thirsts  for  fame  can  amuBe  himself  by  seeking  new  varieties  by  the  aid 
of  cross  fertilisation.  There  is  abundance  of  room  still  left  for  the 
extension  of  the  range  of  colouration,  and  constant  experiments  carried 
out  on  rational  lines  are  practically  sure  to  eventuate  in  something 
distinct  and  good.  So  far  the  colours  are  mainly  shades  of  orange, 
though  some  are  almost  scarlet,  so  that  a  pure  white  or  a  yellow  would 
be  hailed  with  delight,  though  it  is  probable,  judging  by  the  progress 
that  has  been  made  so  far,  it  will  be  some  time  ere  either  of  these  is 
given  to  us. 
To  name  and  describe  all  the  varieties  would  be  impossible,  so  the 
selection  shall  be  limited  to  one  dozen,  each  of  which  will,  of  course,  be 
good.  Duchess  of  York,  reddish  salmon,  with  a  lemon  yellow  throat,  is 
worth  watching,  as  is  the  shapely  Orange  Gem.  Firefly  is  large  and 
rich  in  colour,  while  sanguines,  of  which  the  colour  is  described  by  the 
varietal  name,  is  very  fine.  Then  there  are  Comet.  Mrs.  John  Laing, 
Mrs.  Davidson,  Princess  May,  Vesuvius,  Princess  of  Wales,  Sunrise,  and 
Fascination,  all  decidedly  above  the  average  in  size,  colour,  and  shape, 
and  worthy  of  being  grown  everywhere. — Visitor. 
Daffodils  at  Dittos. 
Perhaps  no  one  has  done  more  to  popularise  the  Daffodil  than  Mr. 
Peter  Barr,  whose  name  in  connection  with  the  flower  is  a  household 
word.  Many  years  have  now  elapsed  since  he  turned  his  attention  in 
the  direction  of  the  Daffodil,  and  by  dint  of  the  perseverance  character¬ 
istic  of  a  Scotsman  he  is  in  possession  of  a  collection,  the  magnitude 
and  variety  of  which  are  unsurpassed.  Aided  by  sons  embued  with  a 
kindred  spirit  the  gigantic  work  is  still  going  on,  and  year  by  year  fresh 
novelties  are  put  in  the  market,  which  trace  their  origin  to  the  famous 
nurseries  at  Ditton.  To  say  there  are  acres  of  these  charming  flowers  is 
no  exaggeration,  and  at  the  present  time  they  form  a  picture  worth 
going  a  long  way  to  see.  Here  is  a  large  area  of  Narcissus  Barri 
conspicuus,  the  king  of  the  Barri  section.  Thousands  of  graceful 
flowers  sway  hither  and  thither  in  the  breeze,  or  make  themselves  more 
showy  in  the  sunlight.  Near  at  hand  is  a  similar  quarter  of  Emperor. 
What  a  contrast  is  formed  by  its  trumpet  form  and  bold  sturdy  habit  1 
It  seems  to  be  the  type  of  true  manliness  in  a  Daffodil,  while  the  former 
has  more  of  the  fragility  of  the  female  sex.  To  fully  appreciate  a  visit 
to  the  Ditton  Nurseries  one  ought  to  be.  an  enthusiast  versed  in  every 
new  departure  in  the  world  of  Daffodils,  otherwise  the  variety  is  enough 
to  confuse. 
To  speak  of  and  describe  only  a  small  portion  of  Messrs.  Barr’s 
Daffodils  would  be  a  task  too  great  in  limited  space,  but  one  thing  that 
strikes  the  visitor  is  the  method  and  orderliness  that  prevail.  Every 
variety  has  its  own  bed,  either  small  or  large,  as  the  case  may  be,  and 
one  looks  in  vain  for  a  flower  of  one  sort  in  the  portion  allotted  to  another. 
There  is  no  confusion  of  names,  and  when  one  comes  to  think  of  the 
continual  lifting,  drying,  and  transplanting  that  is  ever  going  on,  one 
has  some  idea  of  the  amount  of  labour  required,  and  also  of  the  excellence 
of  the  system  by  which  it  is  done.  Each  Beason  a  little  more  space  is 
taken  up,  and  in  addition  to  the  large  extent  of  waving  flowers  and 
foliage  there  are  other  portions  on  which  the  younger  bulbs  are  grown 
through  their  various  stages  till  they  are  ready  for  sale.  Fertilisers  are 
sparsely  used,  the  principal  being  broken  bones,  which  are  excellent  for 
retaining  moisture.  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons  do  nothing  by  halves,  and 
have  made  themselves  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  habits  and 
requirements  of  the  flower  that  has  made  the  firm  famous. 
Turning  again  to  the  varieties,  there  are  contrasts  enough  even  in 
the  various  sections  to  suit  the  tastes  of  all.  In  the  trumpet  family 
■comes  the  elegant  little  Cyclamineus  major,  a  charming  flower,  yet  so 
modest  that  one  might  be  excused  for  passing  it  by.  It  is  valuable  for 
pot  culture,  though  its  true  home  seems  to  be  in  some  shady  nook  in  the 
rock  garden.  How  different  is  Glory  of  Leyden,  with  its  bold  yellow 
trumpet  and  perianth  1  Yet  of  its  type  how  beautiful !  Amongst 
others  that  one  could  hardly  pass  without  stopping  to  take  a  second  look 
is  N.  Johnstoni  Queen  of  Spain.  For  pot  culture  the  variety  is  un¬ 
surpassed,  and  its  free-blooming  qualities  render  it  invaluable  for 
bedding.  Its  blooms  are  of  a  delicate  clear  yellow,  and  of  its  kind 
there  is  perhaps  none  better  in  cultivation.  One  might  go  on  to  any 
length  telling  of  the  beauties  of  P.  R.  Barr,  Sharman  Crawford, 
Emperor,  Monarch,  J.  B.  M.  Camm,  sometimes  called  the  Queen  of  the 
trumpets,  and  many  another.  Weardale  Perfection  is  truly  a  glorious 
flower  with  its  spotless  perianth  and  bold  trumpet.  Madame  de  Graaf 
is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  white  trumpets,  and  William  Goldring  has 
all  the  characteristics  of  a  true  Swan’s-neck  Daffodil. 
Beauty  occupies  a  high  position  in  the  incomparabilis  section,  and  is 
a  bold  handsome  flower.  Frank  Miles  is  an  elegant  flower  with  yellow 
perianth  and  cup.  It  is  very  suitable  for  planting  in  grass.  So  striking 
are  the  blooms  of  Gloria  Mundi,  with  its  rich  yellow  perianth  and  large 
cup,  that  one  cannot  fail  to  notice  it  ;  and  Lulworth  by  some  is  con¬ 
sidered  equally  fine.  Though  better  known  and  more  widely  spread  Sir 
Watkin  holds  its  own  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  accommodating 
of  the  section.  Of  the  Barri  family,  N.  Barri  conspicuus  truly  justifies 
its  name,  and  as  proof  of  its  popularity  we  learnt  that  though  very  largely 
grown  at  Ditton  the  end  of  each  season  finds  the  stock  sold  out.  Flora 
Wilson  is  a  charming  flower  with  white  perianth  and  cup,  edged  with 
orange  scarlet-.  Siddington  is  a  recent  novelty,  with  yellow  petals  and 
a  large  open  cup,  besides  which  it  is  very  floriferous. 
The  Leedsi  section,  popular  for  beauty  and  fragrance,  contains 
numerous  gems.  There  is  Duchess  of  Westminster,  one  of  the  many 
recipients  of  a  first-class  certificate,  very  distinct  and  handsomely 
striking  ;  Katherine  Spurrell,  broad  and  substantial,  with  canary  yellow 
cup  ;  and  Minnie  Hume,  with  its  large  white  perianth  and  cup,  passing 
from  canary  to  white.  N.  Nelsoni  major  is  one  of  the  most  striking  of 
Nelson’s  Daffodils,  though  there  is  much  to  admire  in  aurantius  and 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Backhouse.  In  the  Burbidgei  section  one  is  struck  with  the 
elegance  of  Ellen  Barr,  a  most  refined  flower  with  snow  white  perianth. 
Falstaff  is  also  a  telling  flower  ;  and  Mrs.  C.  Bowley,  a  novelty  of  last 
year,  has  characteristics  that  render  it  equally  striking.  John  Bain  is  a 
useful  variety,  and  admirable  for  planting  in  grass,  and  though  these  are 
but  a  few  of  the  forms  of  the  lovely  Poet’s  Daffodil,  the  remainder  of 
the  section  is  equally  charming. 
These  scanty  recollections  give  but  a  brief  outline  of  what  the  firm 
has  done  to  popularise  the  flower.  The  work  is  going  on  with  increasing 
vigour.  Each  season  sees  the  list  of  varieties  longer  and  the  area  of 
Daffodils  broader.  With  the  growing  popularity  of  the  flower  what  a 
future  there  seems  to  lie  before  the  Long  Ditton  Nurseries  and  the  firm 
that  controls  them  ! — Monocle. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Raspberry  Culture. 
I  was  recently  surprised  while  looking  through  some  gardens  in  this 
district  (Manchester)  to  see  so  many  Raspberries  trained  in  the  birch- 
broom  style — that  is,  bundling  them  round  a  pole  and  tying  in  that 
position  with  a  cord.  A  better  plan  is  the  following,  as  proved  by  long 
practice.  The  rows  should  be  from  4  to  6  feet  apart  according  to  the 
kind  grown.  Then  have  ready  some  stout  poles  about  7  feet  long — 
young  Larches  out  of  a  thinned  plantation  are  the  best,  as  they  are  neat 
and  keep  in  good  condition  a  long  time;  Failing  these  common  deal 
posts  3  inches  square  will  answer  the  purpose.  These  are  placed  firmly 
about  every  7  yards  in  the  rows,  stretching  two  wires  from  end  to  end, 
one  3  and  the  other  5  feet  from  the  ground.  To  these  wires  tie  the 
canes  8  inches  apart.  Then  give  a  surface  mulching  of  half-decayed 
manure  18  inches  each  side  of  the  rows.  Fork  down  the  centre  lightly, 
then  all  will  be  neat.  When  the  new  canes  appear  remove  the  weaker, 
leaving  just  as  many  as  will  cover  the  wires  the  following  year,  and  as 
soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered  cut  out  the  old  canes  to  make  room  for  the 
young  ones  so  as  to  get  well  ripened.  I  think  if  growers  generally 
were  to  .adopt  this  simple  method  they  would  have  more  and  finer  fruit. 
— J.  C.,  Lancashire. 
The  Gloxinia. 
The  original  species  of  Gloxinia  was  imported  from  South  America 
about  1815.  It  derives  its  name  from  P.  B.  Gloxin,  a  botanist  of 
Colmar,  and  the  flowers  were  deflexed  or  drooping.  The  erect-flowered 
section  originated  in  a  garden  sport,  but  where  and  with  whom  this  new 
departure  occurred  there  are  no  data  to  show. 
For  late  plants  seeds  may  still  be  sown,  using  a  very  fine  mixture  of 
leaf  soil,  loam,  and  sand.  Immerse  the  pot  in  a  tank  of  tepid  water 
before  Bowing.  Sow  thinly.  Cover  the  pot  with  glass,  and  keep  dark. 
When  the  seedlings  appear  remove  the  covering,  and  admit  all  the  light 
possible,  but  shade  from  direct  sun. 
As  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  large  enough  to  handle  place  them 
singly  into  small  60’s,  using  similar  compost  as  before,  but  do  not  press 
the  soil  firmly,  a  gentle  rap  of  the  pots  on  the  bench  being  sufficient. 
When  freely  rooted  shift  the  plants  into  their  flowering  pots,  5-inch. 
The  compost  this  time  should  be  leaf  soil  two  parts,  loam  one  part,  sand 
one  part,  and  a  slight  sprinkling  of  soot.  Never  allow  the  plants  to  get 
dry,  and  keep  the  syringe  playing  amongst  the  pots.  If  all  last  season’s 
bulbs  are  not  potted,  I  advise  that  all  the  old  soil  be  not  shaken  off,  for 
the  following  reason  : — The  last  Gloxinias  I  had  to  do  with,  I  found 
