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JOURNAL  OF  NOllTTOULTURE  AND  COTTAGJ]  GARDENER. 
August  22,  1895. 
Eoses  in  Pots. 
Eoses  are  generally  admitted  to  be  the  most  beautiful  flowering 
shrubs  of  our  gardens,  and  for  a  number  of  years  both  in  England  and 
on  the  Continent  they  have  occupied  a  large  share  of  attention.  Who 
is  there  that  will  come  forward  and  deny  that  they  have  not  a  slight 
weakness,  if  I  may  term  it  so,  for  Eoses  ?  At  all  times  Eoses  are  strikingly 
beautiful,  bat  more  particularly  so  during  the  spring  and  the  early 
summer  months.  They  are  especially  valuable  for  the  ornamentation 
of  the  conservatory,  and  I  know  of  no  more  pleasing  sight  than  that  of 
a  house  furnished  with  well-grown  specimen?  bearing  luxuriant  foliage 
and  well  formed  flowers.  So  well  do  they  harmonise  and  associate  with 
other  spring  flowers  that  it  is  of  their  culture  in  pots  for  this  purpose,  as 
well  as  for  exhibition,  that  I  describe  the  method  that  I  have  adopted 
with  a  fair  amount  of  success. 
As  soon  as  possible  after  receiving  the  plants  examine  their  roots, 
for  it  may  be  found  that  many  of  them  will  be  benefited  by  a  shift  into 
10-inch  pots.  This  operation  will  also  enable  you  to  ascertain  whether 
the  drainage  is  in  good  order  or  not — a  point  that  is  most  essential,  for 
the  Eose  is  very  impatient  of  stagnant  water  at  the  roots.  The  follow¬ 
ing  soil  will  be  found  suitable  to  them  : — Good  strong  turfy  loam  the  top 
spit  from  an  old  pasture  three  parts,  the  other  part  of  well-decomposed 
cow  manure  ;  a  little  leaf  mould  and  a  sprinkling  of  bone  dust  may  be 
added  with  advantage.  Chop  and  mix  the  compost  well  together  and 
pot  firmly,  taking  care  that  the  plants  are  moist  at  the  roots  before 
potting  them.  After  potting  place  the  plants  in  a  cold  frame,  admitting 
plenty  of  air  by  tilting  the  lights,  and  on  all  favourable  occasions  draw 
them  entirely  off.  It  is  not  warmth  that  is  required,  but  a  place  of 
shelter  from  the  heavy  autumnal  rains  and  very  severe  frosts.  In  these 
quarters  the  plants  may  remain  until  they  are  started  into  growth. 
It  takes,  as  a  rule,  from  eight  to  eleven  or  twelve  weeks  to  bring 
Eoses  in  full  bloom  from  the  time  they  are  started  ;  and  if  wanted  to 
flower  during  May,  which  is  the  month  in  which  pot  Eoses  are  usually 
exhibited,  the  first  week  in  March  will  be  found  early  enough  to  start 
them.  Soon  after  the  turn  of  the  new  year,  say  early  in  January,  prune 
away  all  weak  or  watery-growing  shoots,  and  shorten  the  points  of  all 
the  shoots,  more  especially  all  such  as  are  not  well  ripened  ;  it  is  not, 
however,  necessary  to  prune  as  hard  as  you  would  for  a  plant  growing 
out  of  doors.  Have  a  ball  of  cord  or  some  other  tying  material  in 
readiness  for  training  the  plants,  begin  by  placing  a  string  around  the 
rim  of  each  pot,  then  bring  gently  down  the  point  of  each  shoot  to  the 
string  ;  this  to  be  continued  until  all  the  branches  or  twigs  are  bent 
back,  so  that  they  may  be  likened  to  an  umbrella  turned  inside  out. 
This  severe  training  or  bringing  down  of  the  branches  is  indispensable, 
as  it  regulates  the  sap  and  causes  each  shoot  to  break  right  back,  which 
otherwise  would  not  be  the  caie. 
If  plants  are  not  wanted  to  bloom  until  May  they  can  be  started 
about  the  first  week  in  March  in  a  cold  pit  or  in  a  house  set  apart  for 
them,  and  must  be  encouraged  into  growth  by  keeping  them  close  and 
syringing  them  two  or  three  times  a  day  with  tepid  water.  If  rain  water 
is  not  procurable,  always  place  some  pots  of  water  in  the  sun  to  prevent 
that  sediment  which  is  so  often  found  on  the  foliage  of  plants  after 
using  hard  water.  Keep  the  plants  as  near  to  the  glass  as  possible, 
and  close  until  the  buds  begin  to  burst  strongly.  As  the  buds  begin 
to  gain  strength  air  must  be  given  as  weather  permits.  This  simple 
work  requires  more  than  ordinary  caution,  as  cold  currents  must  be 
carefully  avoided,  and  often  during  March  we  have  strong  bursts  of 
sunshine  with  very  keen  cutting  winds.  The  young  and  tender  foliage 
is  unable  to  bear  these  cold  draughts,  which  are  often  the  cause  of  the 
mildew. 
As  soon  as  the  buds  appear  well  above  the  foliage  the  plants  should 
be  trained  into  a  somewhat  flattened  bush-like  form,  which  form 
enables  the  grower  to  make  a  better  display  of  his  flowers,  besides 
encouraging  a  more  even  habit  of  growth,  taking  care  to  distribute 
the  flower  buds  regularly  all  over  the  plants.  For  this  purpose  neat 
sticks  are  suitable,  choosing  those  that  have  been  cut  and  laid  by  for 
some  time.  Place  some  of  these  sticks  in  a  slanting  position  resting 
on  the  rim  of  the  pot,  and  bring  the  lowest  and  most  forward  shoots 
down  to  the  sticks,  securing  them  neatly,  carefully  cutting  away  all 
the  ties  made  when  the  plants  were  first  pruned.  Secure  each  of  the 
growing  shoots  to  the  sticks,  placing  them  equally  over  the  plant  until 
the  desired  shape  is  attained.  From  the  time  the  buds  first  appear 
manure  water  may  be  given  freely,  for  when  well  established  the  Eose 
is  able  to  absorb  strong  stimulants. 
Wuen  the  plants  have  done  blooming  and  the  weather  has  become 
warmer,  say  by  the  middle  of  May,  plunge  them  out  of  doors  in  a  bed 
of  coal  ashes  or  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse,  cut  off  all  dead  flowers,  and 
give  copious  supplies  of  manure  water,  or  a  mulching  of  decayed 
manure  around  them  will  answer  the  same  purpose,  as  the  watering 
and  rains  will  wash  its  virtues  in.  It  is  on  the  summer  growth  that 
success  mainly  depends,  and  attention  must  therefore  be  given  to 
produce  it.  Watering  and  frequent  dampings  after  a  hot  day  will  help 
to  keep  the  plants  fresh  and  healthy. 
Most  of  the  plants  if  they  have  made  good  growth  will  require  a 
shift.  This  operation  is  best  done  from  June  to  September — the  earlier 
the  better,  as  it  gives  a  longer  time  for  fresh  roots  being  made,  and  the 
more  a  plant  has  filled  its  pot  with  roots  the  better  will  it  be  able  to 
stand  forcing  and  stimulants.  If  it  is  required  to  have  flowers  earlier 
in  the  season  it  will  be  necessary  to  prune  the  plants  sooner  than  already 
stated,  also  to  introduce  them  into  a  genial  temperature  of  45°  or  50°, 
and  if  convenient  a  slight  bottom  heat  of  10°  more  will  materially 
assist.  As  the  plants  gain  strength,  if  thought  desirable  they  may  be 
subjected  to  a  temperature  of  G0° ;  but  hard  forcing  should  be  avoided 
at  all  times,  for  it  will  be  found  detrimental  to  good  blooms.  The  harder 
the  plants  are  driven  the  smaller  will  be  the  flowers,  as  well  as  being 
devoid  of  colour. 
In  conclusion,  let  me  say  to  those  who  propose  specimen-growing 
that  they  must  have  great  patience  and  be  exceedingly  watchful,  for  a 
specimen  pot  Eose  requires  a  great  amount  of  attention  to  grow  it  in 
perfection,  and  many  details  must  be  attended  to  which  cannot  be  well 
taught  by  writing,— Grower, 
Eose  Muriel  Grahame. 
This  is  a  new  Tea-scented  Eose,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  Messrs. 
A.  Dickson  &  Sons,  Newtownards,  Ireland,  who  have  placed  so  many 
excellent  Eoses  on  the  market,  of  which  we  may  quote  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant 
as  an  example.  A  few  days  ago  Messrs.  Dickson  &  Sons  forwarded  to 
us  blooms  of  this  variety,  and  also  specimens  of  the  parent,  Catherine 
Mermet,  and  the  sister.  The  Bride,  All  Eose  growers  know  the  two 
latter,  and  it  is  probable  that  ere  long  all  will  know  Muriel  Grahame  as 
a  Eose  of  singular  beauty,  perfect  form,  and  chastely  beautiful  coloura¬ 
tion.  It  is  entirely  distinct  from  The  Bride  in  colour,  as  also  is  it  from 
its  parent.  With  the  blooms  came  the  following  note  from  the  growers  :  — 
‘‘  The  Eose  in  question  is  a  sport  from  Catherine  Mermet,  and  is 
quite  distinct  from  anything  extant  so  far  as  colour.  In  growth  and 
general  character  it  is  similar  to  the  variety  from  which  it  sported.  It 
is  very  constant  in  colour,  and  is  now  thoroughly  fixed.” 
The  colour  is  a  pale  cream  faintly  flushed  with  rcse.  We  regard 
this  Eose  as  a  decided  acquisition  to  this  already  very  large  section,  and 
are  of  the  opinion  that  when  put  in  commerce  it  will  rapidly  attain  to 
a  great  popularity. 
BENTINCKIA  NICOBARICA. 
Durino  June  at  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  Eoyal  Horticultural 
Society  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster,  Messrs.  Sander  &  Co.,  St, 
Albans,  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Bentinckia  nicobarica,  of  which  the 
woodcut  (fig.  26)  is  a  faithful  pourtrayal.  This  Palm  was  brought 
from  Central  Asia,  and  is  of  very  handsome  appearance,  and  should 
prove  of  value  for  decorative  purposes,  providing,  of  course,  it  is  found 
to  stand  well.  The  habit,  as  a  glance  at  the  illustration  will  prove, 
is  distinctly  that  of  a  Kentia,  but  it  is  sufficiently  distinct  to  permit 
of  its  being  grown  in  conjunction  with  these  old  favourites.  The  colour 
of  the  leafage  is  a  pleasing  pale  green.  The  Floral  Committee  agreed 
that  a  first-class  certificate  should  be  accorded  to  it. 
FROM  THE  GREEN  I3LE  TO  SUNNY  KENT. 
The  experience  of  those  who  have  of  late  been  doing  Ireland  on  a 
bicycle  has  not  apparently  been  a  happy  one.  Such,  at  least,  is  the- 
impression  I  derive  when  boarding  the  “Banshee”  and  find  myself  in 
the  company  of  wheelmen  who  have  been  making  their  first  trip  to  the 
Green  Isle,  and  are  emphatically  asserting  that  it  shall  be  their  last. 
But  small  consolation  is  afforded  by  telling  them  of  the  two  months  of 
tropical  weather  they  came  all  too  late  for,  and  being  possessed  of  that 
feeling,  which  I  think  is  a  very  common  and  a  very  proper  one.  that 
visitors  should  receive  a  good  impression,  an  endeavour  is  made  at  the 
eleventh  hour  to  set  matters  right.  One  prolonged  wail  from  the 
“Banshee’s”  steam  whistle,  and  but  a  few  minutes  elapse  ere  I  am 
calling  attention  to  the  charming  scenery  on  each  side  of  the  Bay,  and  as 
my  young  friends  are  now  dry,  and  comforted  to  boot  by  something  from 
the  Steward’s  department,  I  trust  they  will  forgive  and  forget  past 
unpleasantness.  Abreast  of  Kingstown  the  mail  boat  glides  out  of  the 
harbour,  with  which  for  some  few  miles  we  run  neck  and  neck,  and 
eventually  leave  behind.  Bravo,  “  Banshee  1  ”  we — all  of  us — are  proud 
of  your  performance  this  night.  What  matter  that  we  have  to  cool  our 
heels  at  Holyhead  for  some  two  hours  until  Her  Majesty’s  mail  arrives 
and  is  despatched,  the  most  pessimistic  passenger  aboard  is  cheered  by 
results. 
At  Crewe  a  cruel  disappointment  awaits  those  who  seek  refreshment 
in  the  “  wee  sma’  hours  ;  ”  one  solitary  maiden  ;  a  crowd  clamorous  for 
meat  and  drink  (mostly  the  latter)  ;  some  have  paid  and  cannot  get 
what  they  want,  one  has  it  without  paying,  and  all,  save  one  who  is  left 
behind,  are  off  with  a  rush  in  the  grey  of  the  breaking  morning,  revealing 
a  country  saturated  with  rain. 
Burned  patches  in  the  hedges  along  the  railway  banks  tell  their  tale 
of  the  drought  that  has  been.  The  quickening  daylight  reveals  broad 
stretches  of  undulating  country,  and  mental  note-taking  commences. 
Uadoubtedly  the  balance,  by  comparison  amongst  the  crops,  is  in  favour 
of  the  Irish  farmer — that  is,  so  far  as  Co.  Dublin  is  concerned,  for  grain 
and  roots  are  there  far  more  promising  than  anything  we  note  en  roide. 
Clouds  of  sparrows  rise  from  the  akimpy-looking  Oat  stooks,  all  too  few 
and  far  between  ;  whilst  roots,  chiefly  of  the  Turnip  tribe,  are  but  just 
