September  12, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
247 
“  Y.  B.  A.  Z.”  80  critically  takes  exception,  I  thought  everyone  knew 
that  the  employing  of  this  herb,  for  it  really  does  not  come  into  the 
ordinary  category  of  show  vegetables,  for  the  decoration  of  the  exhibits 
was  universally  allowed.  Surely  it  would  be  absurd  to  take  exception 
to  a  collection  of  vegetables  because  to  render  the  exhibit  tasteful 
Parsley  dressing  was  used.  The  objection  comes  a  long  way  too  latei 
—A.  D. 
Eose  Cleopatra. 
How  well  this  Tea-scented  Bose  has  succeeded  this  year.  I  have 
invariably  seen  it  in  many  leading  stands,  where  its  perfect  form  and 
pleasing  tint  of  colour — pale  pink,  edged  bright  rose — has  always  found 
admirers.  Mr.  Flight,  of  Twyford,  near  Winchester,  who  grows  Tea 
Eosee  well,  holds  Cleopatra  in  high  esteem,  and  has  good  reason  to  do 
so. — E.  M. 
Book  on  Eoses. 
We  have  recently  received  a  copy  of  the  eighth  edition  of  Mr.  William 
Paul’s  little  book,  entitled  “  Eoses  and  Eose  Culture,”  published  by 
Simpkin,  Marshall,  Hamilton,  Kent  &  Co.  In  the  preface  the  author 
states  that  the  substance  of  the  book  originally  appeared  in  another 
work,  and  it  has  been  rewritten  and  published  in  a  separate  form  by 
request.  The  book  possesses  the  virtue  of  containing  a  large  amount  of 
knowledge  in  a  limited  space,  and  cannot  fail  to  prove  of  value  to 
enthusiastic  growers  and  showers  of  Eoses.  The  author  deals  lucidly 
with  the  culture  of  Eoses  of  all  kinds,  soils,  and  climate,  pruning,  pro¬ 
pagating,  hybridising,  and  raising  seedlings,  and  growing,  gathering, 
and  arranging  for  exhibition.  The  book  closes  by  giving  an  exhaustive 
and  varied  selection  of  Eoses  suitable  for  various  purposes,  and  through¬ 
out  the  work  is  full  of  useful  and  interesting  information. 
Preparing  Stocks, 
The  majority  of  amateur  growers  find  greater  pleasure  when  their 
plants  are  of  own  raising  from  the  initial  stage,  so  that  a  few  practical 
hints  may  be  of  service  now  that  the  season  for  striking  stocks 
is  so  near.  Early  in  October  and  until  the  middle  of  November, 
according  to  the  season,  are  the  most  suitable  times  for  raising  Eose 
stocks.  This  applies  to  Briars,  the  Manetti,  de  la  GrifEeraie,  and  Poly- 
anthas  of  strong  growth.  If  the  wood  is  almost  ripe  and  the  cuttings 
inserted  early,  they  callus  at  once,  and  generally  put  forth  a  few  roots 
before  winter  arrives.  This  is  a  great  advantage,  as  they  are  thus  able 
to  withstand  the  drying  influences  of  frost  and  wind,  which  are  often 
very  trying  to  late  cuttings  minus  any  roots  to  draw  moisture  from 
the  soil.  The  roots  also  keep  the  cutting  in  its  place  and  have  a  great 
check  upon  frost  lifting  them.  An  unrooted  cutting  is  frequently  lifted 
by  frost  and  “  hung,  i.e.,  the  base  does  not  touch  the  soil,  and  it  becomes 
necessary  to  press  the  cutting  down  again  in  the  spring.  Where 
a  few  are  wanted  only,  and  space  is  a  great  object,  it  is  worth  while  to 
take  a  little  extra  trouble  and  place  some  sandy  compost  at  the  bottom 
of  the  cutting.  I  will  describe  the  routine. 
Choose  wood  that  is  at  least  three  parts  ripened,  and  cut  this  into 
lengths  of  9  to  12  inches.  We  do  not  make  such  long  cuttings  when 
striking  Eoses  proper,  but  the  advantage  of  doing  so  with  stocks  will  be 
found  when  the  budding  season  arrives,  as  we  thus  get  a  more  roomy 
stem  to  operate  upon.  Let  the  bottom  cut  be  close  below  an  eye,  and 
always  cut  out  the  lower  buds  before  inserting  the  cutting.  Two,  or  at 
most  three,  on  the  top  are  ample  buds  to  leave.  Do  not  let  the  cutting 
lie  exposed  to  the  air  for  any  time,  but  insert  with  reasonable  speed.  In 
making  quantities  we  always  set  them  in  sand,  cocoa-nut  fibre,  or  some 
other  light  material  until  ready  to  insert. 
The  cutting  bed  pays  for  preparation.  Light  soil  should  be  made, 
and  if  at  all  heavy  or  stiff  place  a  little  old  potting  mould  or  sandy 
compost  at  the  bottom  of  the  trench.  We  never  had  better  success  than 
when  the  stale  potting  mould  was  sifted  and  mixed  with  a  little  cocoa- 
nut  fibre.  In  ordinary  garden  loams  this  is  not  necessary,  but  none  the 
less  it  tends  towards  a  better  take.  Dig  over  a  portion  of  the  bed, 
stretch  a  line  across,  and  cut  down  straight  with  a  spade.  Now  put 
some  of  the  prepared  compost  in  the  bottom,  and  set  the  cuttings  firmly 
against  the  back  wall  of  soil,  pressing  the  bottom  slightly  into  the  sandy 
compost  to  form  a  more  solid  base,  and  also  retain  the  cutting  in 
position  until  more  soil  can  be  placed  around  it. 
Three  inches  apart  is  ample  for  each  cutting  in  the  row,  while  the 
depth  of  the  trench  must  be  regulated  according  to  the  lengtn  of 
cutting,  taking  care  that  about  an  inch  of  this  is  above  the  soil.  As 
the  soil  settles  down  there  will  be  an  additional  inch  above  the  surface. 
When  the  row  is  complete  place  a  little  of  the  finest  soil  around  the 
bottoms  of  the  cuttings  and  tread  it  up  to.  them  firmly,  afterwards 
turning  over  more  soil  until  sufficient  space  is  obtained  for  a  second 
row. 
Eighteen  or  fifteen  inches  is  a  fair  distance  for  the  rows,  and  if  we 
turn  over  the  first  width  and  set  the  line  at  the  last  it  will  allow  of  our 
cutting  down  the  other  3  inches,  drawing  it  towards  the  slight  trench 
at  the  same  time,  and  leaving  a  back  ready  for  the  second  row  of  cut¬ 
tings.  Follow  this  routine  until  the  bed  is  filled.  When  sharp  weather 
sets  in  a  slight  sprinkle  of  light  stable  manure,  gorse,  or  any  other 
material  to  keep  away  the  sharpest  of  the  frost,  will  be  a  great  protec¬ 
tion  against  lifting  and  injury.  Never  choose  those  short  side  growths 
generally  selected  for  cuttings  of  Eoses.  We  want  suckers  in  the  case 
of  Eoses  on  their  own  roots,  but  must  avoid  them  upon  stocks.j  i^Cut  the 
long  rods  of  growth  into  several  slips. 
Let  the  bed  of  cuttings  remain  until  the  second  succeeding  spring, 
then  lift  them,  trim  off  any  roots  growing  up  the  stem,  and  at  the  same 
search  very  closely  for  any  eyes  that  may  have  formed.  Shorten  back 
the  branches  at  the  top  of  the  stock,  and  it  is  ready  for  planting  to 
bud  upon  during  the  ensuing  summer.  I  am  aware  that  many  insert 
the  cuttings  at  a  greater  distance  apart,  and  then  bud  them  the  first 
summer ;  but  we  cannot  steer  so  clear  of  suckers  in  this  way,  nor  can 
we  possibly  get  the  Eose  worked  so  closely  upon  the  base  or  crown  of 
roots.  With  stocks  we  insure  an  even  bed,  can  work  them  more 
efficiently,  and  provided  we  put  in  a  few  annually  there  is  no  loss  of 
time.  I  will  refer  to  the  planting  of  stocks  in  another  issue, 
— Practice. 
THE  BOTANICAL  GARDENS,  EDGBASTON, 
BIEMINGHAM. 
A  VISIT  to  these  gardens  is  always  full  of  interest  to  all  who  take  a 
delight  in  floriculture.  Mr.  Latham,  evidently,  is  ever  striving  to  render 
the  various  plant  houses  as  attractive  as  possible  all  the  year  yound  by 
the  cultivation  of  a  variety  of  flowers  suitable  for  all  seasons.  At  the 
present  time  amongst  the  most  conspicuous  plants  in  the  aquatic  house  are 
several  of  the  good  old  Clerodendron  fallax  with  its  brilliant  scarlet 
large  corymbs  of  inflorescence  which  make  it  one  of  the  most  useful 
autumn  flowering  hothouse  plants.  In  association  with  this  plant  are 
also  a  few  well-bloomed  specimens  of  Ixora  Fraseri,  and  several  tall- 
growing  Gannas  in  a  group  near  the  edge  of  the  circular  Lily  tank, 
which  is  now  very  gay  with  pink  and  blue  Nymphfeas.  Adjoining  is  a 
fine  plant  of  Cycas  revoluta,  which  since  fruiting  (the  female  variety) 
some  few  months  ago  has  thrown  up  quite  a  forest  of  new  fronds.  On 
entering  the  Palm  house  from  the  aquarium  one  is  attracted  by  a  thriving 
plant  of  Lapageria  rosea  in  full  flower,  which  lends  a  bit  of  bright  colour¬ 
ing  to  the  fine,  tall,  and  healthy  assemblage  of  Palms  and  Tree  Ferns 
growing  chiefly  in  pots  and  tubs  ;  but  last  season  several  of  the  tallest 
were  either  lowered  into  the  beds  on  which  they  stood,  or  merely  turned 
out  of  the  pots  into  mounds  of  suitable  soil  enclosed  by  rockery,  the 
interstices  being  planted  with  dwarf  Ferns  and  Selaginella  denticulata, 
thus  much  adding  to  the  scenic  effect  of  the  whole. 
At  the  entrance  of  the  large  show  conservatory  an  object  of  much 
admiration  at  the  present  time  is  a  fine  plant  of  the  beautiful  Bougain¬ 
villea  glabra  in  full  splendour  hanging  from  the  roof.  In  close 
proximity  is  a  tall  old  Fuchsia  corymbiflora,  which  has  been  in 
bloom  for  nearly  three  months  past ;  it  is  a  plant  worthy  of  more 
extended  cultivation,  and  not  beaten  by  any  other  of  the  genus  extant 
for  elegance  and  brightness.  The  secret  of  success  in  its  culture  is  to 
well  ripen  the  wood,  and  not  to  prune  too  closely.  'Ve  imagine  it 
would  be  a  fitting  subject  for  the  hybridist,  and  we  are  not  cognisant  of 
its  ever  having  been  tried.  Healthy  plants  of  Datura  (Brugmansia) 
Knighti  were  on  the  eve  of  opening  their  white  trumpet-shaped  flowers. 
In  charming  rivalry  with  the  Bougainvillea  mentioned,  “  growing  an’ 
blowin’  ”  all  over  that  portion  of  the  roof  adjoining  Mr.  Latham’s 
residence  and  the  library,  are  two  vigorous  Lapagerias,  rosea  and  alba, 
teeming  with  hundreds  of  pendent  blooms.  Evidently  the  phrase 
“Eureka  ”  readily  applies  to  the  required  treatment  of  its  culture  here, 
apparently  simple  though  it  be.  In  further  regard  to  Fuchsias  it  was 
refreshing  to  find  in  one  of  the  cool  greenhouses  a  host  of  that  original 
species  triphylla,  with  its  elegant,  slender,  bright  scarlet  flowers,  and 
dark-coloured  foliage.  What  a  charming  subject  for  introduction  into 
“  groups  for  effect !  ”  The  habit  of  the  plant,  however,  is  somewhat 
scraggy,  but  no  doubt  that  could  be  improved  by  special  treatment  from 
the  cutting  state.  In  the  same  house  Gloxinias  and  seedling  Tuberous 
Begonias  continue  to  make  a  striking  effect.  A  plant  of  the  neat  and 
elegant  flowering  Passiflora  kermesina  claimed  attention,  as  also  did  an 
adjoining  plant  of  the  queer-looking  Asclepiad  Ceropegia  Sandersoni 
from  South  Africa. 
In  the  Orchid  house  the  piece  de  resistance  at  the  present  time  is  a 
thriving  plant  of  the  Guatemalian  Birth  wort,  Aristolochia  gigas,  exhibit¬ 
ing  several  of  its  immense  and  strange  looking  flowers,  somewhat 
resembling  babies’  linen  sun-hoods.  We  believe  that  this  is  as  yet  com¬ 
paratively  rare  in  this  country ;  there  is  a  large  plant  of  it  at  Kew,  which 
was  taken  from  the  Edgbaston  plant  as  a  cutting  about  two  years  ago;. 
Orchids  in  bloom  were  not  particularly  in  evidence,  as  might  be  expected 
at  this  season  of  the  year.  A  small  piece,  however,  of  Lycaste 
Skinneri,  with  two  racemes  of  its  rich  lemon  coloured  blooms,  was  very 
attractive.  A  comparatively  small  plant  each  of  Lselia  crispa  and 
Cattleya  Gaskelliana,  also  courted  notice.  In  the  adjoining  house, 
reserved  for  “foliage”  plants,  such  as  Dracmnas,  dwart  Palms, 
and  Acalyphas,  a  vigorous  plant  of  the  somewhat  rare  climber 
Odontadenia  speciosa  trained  along  a  wire  overhead  presented  several 
trusses  of  its  beautiful  rich,  orange-yellow  coloured  vase-shaped  flowers  ^ 
