324 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  15,  1897. 
third,  fourth,  and  fifth.  Mr.  Walker  had  the  beet  single  specimen  of 
.Alpine  with  gold  centre,  showing  Ormonde  ;  second,  Mr.  A.  Fisk  with 
Hotspur ;  third,  Mr.  J.  Gilbert  with  Mingo  McGeorge  ;  fourth,  Mr. 
J.  J.  Keen,  with  a  seedling;  fifth,  Mr.  Charles  Phillips  with  Evelyn 
Phillips.  Mr.  Walker  was  first  with  a  single  specimen  with  cream 
centre,  showing  Thetis;  second,  Mr.  Walker  with  Defiance  ;  third,  Mr. 
A.  J.  Sanders  with  John  Gilbert  ;  fourth,  Mr.  Charles  Phillips  with  Per¬ 
fection  ;  and  fifth,  Mr.  J.  Gilbert  with  Bessie.  The  Guildford  Hardy 
Plant  Co.  bad  the  best  twelve  Fancy  Auriculas,  showing  Bronze, 
Innocence,  Bolts’  Green,  Khartoum,  Belle,  Old  Gold,  and  several 
seedlings.  The  second  place  was  taken  by  Mr.  James  Douglas. 
Mr.  A.  J.  Sanders  took  highest  honours  with  twelve  Polyanthuses, 
exhibiting  well  flowered  plants.  Mr.  Jas.  Douglas  was  a  good  second, 
and  Mr.  George  Dixon,  Chelford,  third.  Mr.  Jas.  DouglaB  had  the  best 
dozen  single  Primrjses,  the  plants  being  well  bloomed.  The  second 
prize  was  creditably  won  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Sanders.  Mr.  J.  Douglas  was 
first  with  six  double  Primroses,  The  Guildford  Hardy  Plant  Company 
second,  and  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Cheshunt,  third. 
Mr.  Jas.  Douglas  obtained  first  prize  with  twelve  Primulas  of  distinct 
species  or  well  marked  varieties,  the  exhibit  being  very  effective. 
Messrs.  Paul  &  Son  took  the  highest  award  with  six  Primulas,  subject 
to  the  same  conditions  as  the  above.  Mr.  Jas.  Douglas  had  the  b?st 
basket  of  Polyanthuses  and  Primroses  arranged  for  effect,  the  Guildford 
Hardy  Plant  Co.  being  second,  and  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son  third.  Mr. 
Jas.  Douglas  also  showed  a  most  effective  collection  of  Primulas  and 
Auriculas,  which  took  first  prize,  the  Hardy  Plant  Co.  following  a  good 
second.  Mr.  Jas.  Douglas  was  granted  a  first-class  certificate  for  Alpine 
Auricula  Duke  of  York,  and  also  for  a  green-edged  Auricula  Greenfinch, 
also  for  a  gold-centred  Alpine,  Mrs.  Markham.  Mr.  Walker  obtained 
first-class  certificate  for  gold-centred  Alpine  Ormonde  and  cream-centred 
Alpine  Olivia. 
Presentation  to  Mr.  Jas.  Douglas. 
A  pleasant  feature  in  connection  with  the  above  Show  was  the 
presentation  to  Mr.  Jas.  Douglas  of  a  testimonial  on  his  retirement  from 
active  connection  from  the  Carnation,  and  Auricula,  and  Primula 
Societies.  In  the  unavoidable  absence  of  Sir  John  Llewelyn,  the 
presentation  was  made  by  Martin  R.  Smith,  Esq.,  at  the  annual  dinner, 
at  the  Hotel  Windsor.  The  Chairman  spoke  in  eulogistic  terms  of  the 
service  rendered  in  the  past  by  Mr.  Douglas  in  the  interest  of  the  two 
Societies  named,  and  added  that  it  ga*ve  him  great  pleasure  to  make  the 
presentation,  which  took  the  form  of  a  handsome  clock,  value  £14  10s., 
and  a  cheque  for  £3S,  making  a  total  of  £52  10s. 
Mr.  Douglas  made  a  suitable  reply,  in  which  he  tendered  his  thanks 
to  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr,  Henwood,  for  the  assistance  he  had  received 
from  him  in  the  past,  and  for  the  efforts  he  had  taken  in  getting  together 
the  testimonial.  He  further  thanked  those  present  and  others  who  had 
subscribed  for  the  honour  they  had  done  him.  Mr.  Douglas  spoke 
further  of  the  able  florists  who  had  been  the  first  pioneers  of  the  Societies, 
i  and  hoped  that  they  would  still  flourish  under  the  auspices  of  the 
younger  men,  on  whom  now  fell  the  responsibility  of  their  welfare. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
The  Double  White  Primula. 
For  yielding  a  supply  of  bloom  for  cutting  through  the  autumn  and 
winter  months,  this  Primula  cannot  be  too  highly  commended.  Our 
method  of  cultivation  is  as  follows  : — At  the  commencement  of  April, 
old  plants  which  have  finished  flowering  receive  a  top-dressing  of  light 
sandy  soil,  bringing  it  well  up  round  the  stems.  In  a  short  time  fresh 
roots  are  emitted  freely  from  the  base  of  each  ;  these  are  then  severed 
from  the  old  plants,  and  placed  singly  in  3-inch  pots,  using  a  compost 
of  two  parts  good  fibry  loam,  one  of  leaf  soil,  one  of  well  decayed  cow 
manure,  and  one  of  silver  sand.  They  are  placed  in  a  cold  frame,  and 
kept  close  till  the  roots  take  possession  of  the  fresh  soil  ;  air  is  then 
admitted,  and  gradually  increased  as  the  plants  make  progress.  When 
well  established  they  are  shifted  into  5-inch  pots,  and  given  the  same 
treatment  as  before.  For  the  final  shift  7-inch  pots  are  employed,  and 
a  little  crushed  charcoal  added  to  the  comport.  Water  must  be  given 
judiciously,  as  an  over-supply  is  fatal  to  the  well-being  of  the  plants. 
During  the  month  of  September  the  plants  are  removed  to  their  winter 
quarters — a  low  span-roofed  house,  in  which  a  night  temperature  of  50° 
is  maintained,  and  assigned  a  position  close  to  the  glass.  In  a  week  or 
two  they  commence  flowering,  and  continue  to  produce  spikes  of  flowers 
in  great  abundance  till  the  end  of  the  following  February.  Whilst 
flowering  a  chink  for  air  is  left  open  constantly,  and  the  temperature 
kept  steady  by  the  aid  of  fire  heat. — W.  P.  S. 
The  Hortus  Siccus,  or  Herbarium. 
Next  to  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  growing  plants  is  that 
which  is  to  be  obtained  from  the  collection  and  preservation  of  plants 
for,  and  in  the  Hortus  Siccus — anglice,  dry  garden  or  herbarium.  As 
an  adjunct  or  supplementary  pursuit  to  that  of  gardening  it  is  most 
useful,  for  it  acts  as  an  incentive  to  the  study  of  botany,  without  a 
knowledge  of  which  we  cannot  fully  comprehend  the  classification, 
habit,  and  uses  of  plants.  From  this  point  of  view  it  is  invaluable  to 
us.  for  it  enables  us  to  turn  our  country  rambles  to  good  account- in 
gathering  and  storing  a  collection.  This  is  not  only  desirable  from  a 
botanical  point  of  view,  but  also  as  forming  in  all  probability  a  string 
of  reminiscences  of  places  we  know  and  visited  in  times  that  are  ever 
being  pressed  more  remotely  into  the  shadow  of  the  past. 
Plants  intended  for  the  herbarium  should  be  gathered  in  flower,  and 
when  small.  They  should  be  taken  with  the  root.  The  plants  in  this 
state  are  placed  between  leaves  of  paper  prepared  for  the  purpose,  and 
between  two  boards,  or  under  one,  from  which  they  are  not  removed 
until  they  have  become  perfectly  flat.  When  dry  change  the  paper. 
Some  plants,  such  as  Orchids  and  bulbs,  will  sometimes  veeetate  for 
months  in  the  herbarium  after  they  have  been  placed  there.  If  plunged 
in  boiling  water  for  a  minute,  and  immediately  afterwards  placed 
between  paper,  their  drying  will  be  more  rapid.  If  the  plants  are 
unknown  or  Dew,  indicate  their  popular  names,  the  altitude  at  which 
they  were  procured,  and  their  habit,  also  their  height,  as  well  as  their 
odour. 
In  order  to  be  prepared  for  collecting,  provide  some  sheets  of  paper 
of  a  suitable  size  (16  inches  by  12  is  a  good  size)  and  several  boards  of 
the  same  proportion.  These  should  be  formed  of  two  thin  boards  glued 
together,  the  grain  of  the  one  transverse  to  the  other.  These  may  be 
connected  together  by  means  of  straps,  so  as  to  communicate  consider¬ 
able  pressure.  A  large  book  of  blotting  paper  between  two  other 
similar  boards  will  complete  this  temporary  herbarium. 
Insects  are  the  bane  of  all  collections,  also  of  the  herbarium,  and  it 
requires  incessant  care  in  order  to  preserve  the  plants  and  enable  them 
to  bear  exposure  to  the  air.  The  following  is  a  good  wash — namely, 
corrosive  sublimate  two  drachms,  spirits  of  wine  one  pint,  in  which 
dissolve  a  small  piece  of  camphor.  This  wash  should  be  lightly  applied, 
but  so  that  all  the  raphides  of  the  flowers  and  the  fleshy  parts  of  the 
plant  are  saturated  with  it. 
Beautiful  specimens  are  prepared  by  an  apparatus  to  which  the  name 
of  M.  Le  Coq.,  Professor  of  Natural  History  at  Clermont  Ferrand,  has 
been  given.  This  apparatus  consists  of  two  open  covers,  made  of  strong 
iron  wire  network,  having  an  iron  frame  round  them,  in  which  the  plants 
are  placed  between  thin  blotting  paper.  After  they  have  been  kept 
under  pressure  for  a  few  hours  the  covers  are  compressed  by  means  of 
straps,  and  the  open  network  of  the  frames  allows  the  moisture  to  escape 
freely,  while  the  plants  are  gradually  dried. — C.  W.  M. 
(To  be  continued.) 
A  Well-kept  Garden. 
A  visit  to  a  well-kept  garden  is  both  interesting  and  instructive, 
and  having  recently  paid  a  visit  to  the  gardens  of  Major  the  Hon.  H.  C. 
Legge,  Fulmer,  Slough,  perhaps  a  brief  description  of  the  plants  grown 
there  may  be  acceptable  to  the  young  readers  of  your  Journal. 
Mr.  Mowbray,  the  head  gardener,  is  well  known  as  a  first-class  culti¬ 
vator  of  Cyclamen,  Freesias,  Primulas,  and  Calceolarias  ;  not  that  the 
other  departments  are  neglected  at  the  expense  of  these,  as  both  the  fruit 
and  plant  houses  testify  to  the  good  treatment  bestowed  upon  their 
occupants. 
At  present  the  Primulas  and  Cyclamen,  arranged  in  two  span-roofed 
houses,  are  making  a  splendid  show,  these  alone  being  well  worth  a 
visit,  and  show  what  can  be  accomplished  by  cultural  skill.  Since 
my  visit  Mr.  Mowbray  has  secured  the  first  prize  for  his  Primulas  at  the 
Royal  Botanic  Show.  The  plants  were  grown  as  cool  and  hardy  as 
possible,  all  coddling  being  especially  avoided.  The  healthy  and  vigorous 
Calceolarias  promise  a  fine  show  of  bloom  in  their  season.  The  Freesias, 
which  secured  a  bronze  medal  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
were  over,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  what  a  grand  display  they  had  made. 
The  stove  contains  fine  plants  of  Crotons,  Asparagus  plumosus, 
Dracaenas,  Caladiums,  Anthuriums,  Alocasias,  and  Gardenias,  the  latter 
carrying  large  blooms  and  very  clean  foliage.  A  walk  through  the  fruit 
houses  brought  the  visit  to  an  end,  and  I  felt  well  repaid  for  the  journey. 
— Young  Ponica. 
Primula  Culture. 
A  few  remarks  concerning  Primula  culture  may  be  acceptable  and 
as  I  have  in  charge  a  very  fine  lot  of  plants  it  may  be  useful  to  ’other 
young  men,  and  perhaps  a  few  who  are  not  very  young,  to  know  how 
they  were  grown.  The  seeds  were  sown  the  first  week  in  March  very 
thinly  in  large  pans.  Encouraged  by  gentle  bottom  heat  plants  soon 
made  their  appearance.  When  the  first  rough  leaf  was  formed  they 
were  placed  near  the  glass,  and  exposed  as  much  as  possible  to  the  sun — 
and  it  is  surprising  the  amount  of  direct  sunshine  they  will  endure 
with  impunity  when  accustomed  to  it  from  their  earliest  stages.  This 
exposure  results  in  short,  stout  petioles,  giving  the  plants  a  stocky 
appearance. 
The  second  week  in  May  they  were  potted  singly  in  large  60’s,  again 
placed  near  the  glass,  and  shaded  the  first  week,  then  exposed  as 
previously  mentioned.  The  first  week  in  June  they  were  placed  in  a 
cold  frame  attached  to  the  west  side  of  a  span-roof  greenhouse,  and  for 
the  first  ten  days  were  kept  rather  close,  then  gradually  hardened,  only 
a  light  shading  of  muslin  being  employed  for  about  two  hours  during 
the  hottest  part  of  the  day — the  order  was  to  shade  as  little  as  possible. 
The  second  week  in  July  they  were  potted  in  the  floweriDg  size — 
namely  32’s — soon  established  themselves,  and  by  the  fourth  week  in 
September  they  were  fine  sturdy  plants.  At  this  time  they  were  placed 
in  the  greenhouse,  just  sufficient  fire  heat  being  afforded  to  expel  super¬ 
fluous  moisture.  This  treatment  soon  induced  the  flower  spikes  to 
develop,  and  for  a  long  time  the  plants  hleomed  profusely. 
The  compost  for  the  intermediate  and  final  pottings  was  made  up  of 
equal  parts  loam,  leaf  mould,  and  old  mortar  rubbish,  with  a  liberal 
addition  of  silver  sand.  This  makes  a  porous  mixture  which  the  Primula 
apparently  delights  in. — A  Yorkshireman. 
[If  paper  is  not  very  scarce  and  dear  in  Yorkshire  perhaps  a  little 
moie  may  be  found  another  time,  ao  as  to  allow  about  twice  the  space 
for  revision.] 
