384 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  5,  18i(8. 
tribe  of  anything  in  the  nature  of  forcing.  But  Primroses — “  Oh, 
they  are  too  common  to  talk  about.”  Common,  I  grant  you,  but  is 
it  generally  known  how  charming  they  are  transplanted,  making  a 
line  or  patch  of  them  in  some  cool,  shady  part  of  the  kitchen  garden  ? 
“  Kitchen  garden  and  Primroses !  Potatoes  are  more  practical.” 
Certainly ;  and  Sutton’s  Abundance  is  beyond  compare,  even  so  late 
in  the  season,  with  any  other  variety  of  the  “  noble  tuber  ”  we  have 
tried,  too  many  of  which  in  our  stiff  soil  have  been  found  wanting. 
Our  cook  finds  them  hard  to  boil,  or  sofr,  rather,  coming  away  in 
flaky  shreds  ere  the  process  is  complete ;  so  their  character  has  been 
studied,  to  the  end  that  they  are  now  parboiled  in  their  jackets, 
after  removing  which  they  are  roasted  or  toasted,  w'hich  you  will, 
to  a  light  brown,  making  quite  a  feature  in  Potato  cookery. 
Our  cook  has  never  been  short  of  a  “  Cauliflower,”  or  rather 
Broccoli,  the  winter  through.  The  latter  name  she  repudiates  — 
“  whatever  difference  there  is  they  are  both  alike;”  Ave  nearly  agree 
with  her.  All  the  members  of  the  Brassica  family  have  been 
abundant,  if  a  little  sportive  in  character.  Ellam’s  Early  Spring 
Cabbage  has  been  to  the  fore.  A  few  days  since  we  passed  a  dozen 
loads  of  this  good-hearted  little  friend  destined  for  GlasgoAV.  Last 
year’s  crop  of  the  Jerusalem  Artichoke  Avas  exceedingly  good,  resulting 
in  a  little  disappointment  to  market  groAvers  anent  prices.  We  cannot 
say  that  the  market  Avas  glutted  with  them,  but  the  demand  a  few 
years  since  led  some  to  infer  that  here  there  was  an  opening  in  a 
comparatively  new  direction.  Our  neighbour  now  says,  “  ’Chokes 
don’t  pay.”  The  high  character  awarded  to  Loyal  Sovereign  Straw¬ 
berry  for  forcing  purposes  has  been  more  than  maintained.  One  of 
the  best  examples  of  Strawberry  forcing  ever  met  Avith  was  that 
lately  seen  of  a  number  of  this  variety  in  5-inch  po*s,  it  being  also 
remarked  that  the  plants  invariably  consisted  of  single  croAvns,  hence 
the  reason,  probably,  of  such  unqualified  success  Avith  a  comparatively 
limited  root  space.  The  thanks  of  all  growers  are  undoubtedly  due  to 
the  raiser  of  this  fine  variety. 
One  has  been  a  little  exercised  as  to  Avhether  this  is  an  early  or  late 
season ;  but  after  halting  between  two  opinions  the  balance  now  turns 
in  favour  of  earliness,  for  April  the  capricious  left  us  wreathed  in 
warm-tinted  Apple  blossom,  striking  a  deeper  note  in  the  galaxy  of 
the  Avhite  of  Pear  and  Plum  and  Cherry.  Through  the  woods  tower 
up  huge  bouquets  of  the  Avild  Cherry,  so  beautiful,  so  fleetiog.  How 
profusely  and  persistently  the  Cherries  floAver  each  year,  particularly 
the  Avild  one,  which  has  no  heavy  tax  of  fruit  to  sap  its  energies. 
Lately,  in  a  neighbouring  garden,  attention  was  called  to  a  novelty 
in  Nectarine  culture.  This  Avas  a  tree  of  Elruge,  planted  in  a  late 
house  on  the  back  wall,  half  of  the  branches  having  been  carried 
through  the  partition  into  an  early  house  on  which  the  fruit  Avas 
stoning,  whilst  in  the  cold  division  the  branches  Avere  in  blossom- 
The  early  portion  gives  ripe  fruit  early  in  June,  the  remainder 
being  deferred  till  August.  All  the  fruit  from  this  tree  Avas  under¬ 
stood  to  be  of  high  quality ;  but  a  little  discussion  on  the  matter  still 
left  it,  so  far  as  root  action  was  concerned,  involved  in  mystery.  A 
long  unheated  Peach  range  flowering  in  March  met  with  hard  times, 
10°  to  12°  degrees  of  frost  being  registered  outside  on  several  nights. 
Inside  the  thermometer  went  below  freezing  point  concurrently ;  but 
a  good  set  is  now  happily  in  evidence.  A  dry  atmosphere  possibly 
counteracted  the  malignant  influence,  and  possibly,  too,  points  a  moral 
in  the  utility  of  a  little  protection  for  outside  trees  to  prevent  the 
night  deAvs  from  settling  on  the  blossom. 
How  glorious  is  now  the  Italian  garden  with  the  flowers  of  spring  ! 
Lines  and  groups  of  Aubrietia  deltoidea,  A.  d.  grandiflora,  and 
A.  Leichtlini  are  tbe  most  imposing  tints  imaginable  among  masses 
of  Alyssum  saxatile  and  beds  of  the  best  Wallflowers.  Primrose  Dame. 
Eastern  Queen,  Veitch’s  Selected  Yellow  leave  nothing  to  be  desired 
so  far  as  those  varieties  are  concerned ;  but  a  brighter  red  Wallflower 
than  anything  yet  obtained  is  most  desirable.  In  the  shrubberies 
Persian  Lilacs  are  fast  opening ;  but  the  fragrant  old  type,  called  by 
our  cottagers  “  Old-fashioned  Laylocks,”  Ave  have  still  a  Aveakness  for. 
The  month  passes  with  all  things  bursting  into  life  and  beauty.  Small 
wonder  that  the  absent  poet  pined  for  his  native  land  ;  but  there  is, 
Avithal,  that  spice  of  danger  Avhich  gives  a  piquancy  to  its  charms. — 
Invicta. 
DIPLADENIAS  AND  THEIR  CULTURE. 
The  genus  Dipladenia  comprises  several  species  and  a  large 
number  of  varieties,  the  latter  superseding  the  former  by  their  larger, 
more  highly  coloured,  and  showier  flowers.  All  are  so-called  stove 
evergreen  twining  plants,  very  ornamental,  with  floAvers  ranging 
from  Avhite  to  pink,  and  from  rose  to  rosy  purple.  Fcav  stove  twiners 
are  more  deserving  of  general  cultivation,  as  the  large  flowers  of 
some  of  the  species  and  hybrids  are  unrivalled  for  gorgeous  colour, 
and  when  in  flower  must  be  regarded  as  amongst  the  most  beautiful 
of  stove  plants. 
Dipladenias,  however,  are  not  by  any  means  commonly  cultivated 
in  stoves,  but  rather  specially  grown  for  exhibition  purposes,  the 
plants  having  an  ill  repute  as  being  liable  to  attacks  of  insect  pests, 
such  as  mealy  bug  and  scale,  and  in  not  a  few  cases  they  are  anything 
but  free  in  growth.  This  usually  arises  from  the  plants  not  having 
sufficient  light  and  heat  for  their  sturdy  groAvth  and  free,  floriferous 
development.  Indeed,  they  can  hardly  be  considered  suitable  for 
ordinary  stove  treatment  and  training  to  rafter  wures,  as  this  implies 
too  much  shade  and  too  great  distance  from  the  glass.  Besides, 
Dipladenias  are  of  moderate  growth,  attaining  to  a  height  of  10  feet 
or  thereabouts,  hence  very  suitable  for  comparatively  small  houses;  and 
in  narrow  borders  along  the  front  of  a  lean-to  or  three-quarter  span-roof, 
preferably  over  the  hot  Avater  pipes,  attain  great  perfection.  The 
growths  can  be  trained  to  roof  wires  in  such  cases  similar  to  Vines, 
but  as  near  the  glass  as  may  be  without  the  leaves  touching. 
Propagation  is  generally  effected  by  cuttings  of  the  young  shoots 
Avhen  the  plants  commence  new  growths  in  the  spring,  these  being 
taken  off  close  to  the  branch,  made  smooth,  and  inserted  in  small  pots 
in  a  compost  of  equal  parts  crystal  sand  and  peat,  covered  with  a  bell- 
gliss,  and  placed  in  brisk  bottom  heat.  Single  eyes  are  also  taken, 
s'milar  to  Vine  buds,  and  inserted  just  beneath  the  soil  in  small  pots, 
plunging  in  bottom  heat.  I  consider  the  former  preferable.  Boots  in 
either  case  Avill  soon  be  emitted,  the  eyes  pushing  shoots  and  the. 
cuttings  commencing  growth.  They  can,  if  several  are  placed  in  a 
pot,  be  potted  s.ngly,  doing  this  carefully  Avhen  rooted  and  returning 
to  the  hotbed,  keeping  them  close  till  re-established.  When  the 
young  plants  have  well  hold  of  the  soil  gradually  inure  to  the  air  of 
the  house,  and  grow  in  ample  light,  heat,  and  moisture. 
If  plants  are  intended  for  planting  out  train  to  an  upright  stick 
until  the  required  stem  has  been  secured,  keeping  side-groAvths  in 
close  subjection,  and  when  sufficiently  advanced  plant  out.  Plants  for 
trellis-training  also  should  be  grown  without  stopping,  supporting 
by  a  stake  until  of  sufficient  size  to  be  placed  on  the  trellis.  Give 
larger  pots  as  necessary ;  but  let  the  pots  be  full  of  roots,  without  very 
tightly  binding  before  moving.  Late  shifting  of  young  plants  cannot 
be  advised,  as  even  these  are  better  for  a  rest  in  winter. 
Planting  Out. 
I  must  confess  to  entire  failure  with  these  plants  in  the  ordinary 
side  borders  of  a  stove  and  training  the  groAvths  to  the  rafter  Avires. 
The  border  may  have  been  too  large,  too  shaded,  and  too  wet ;  the 
plants  did  not  thrive.  In  a  narroAv  border  OA^er  the  hot-water  pipes, 
and  the  groAvths  trained  to  wires  affixed  lengthwise  of  the  house  to 
the  under  side  of  the  rafters,  they  did  splendidly.  Over  the  path  the 
floAA'ers  are  seen  to  great  advantage,  and  for  cutting  in  trayfuls  are 
simply  unique.  No  table  makes  such  a  sensation  as  one  of  Dipla¬ 
denias.  The  gorgeous  flowers  tell  a  tale  of  unsurpassed  brilliancy. 
Sprays  look  best ;  and  though  that  may  be  extravagant,  it  pays  at 
times  to  make  a  great  effort  and  bring  “  down  the  house.” 
The  plants  like  bottom  heat — the  warmth  from  hot-water  pipes. 
They  must  also  have  thorough  drainage,  for  no  plants  sooner  go 
wrong  when  the  soil  gets  and  remains  wet.  Too  much  soil  and  too 
much  water  usually  bring  disaster.  Good  rough,  fibrous,  sandy  peat, 
Avith  some  “  nuts  ”  of  charcoal  and  crystal  sand  in  about  equal  parts 
(this  mixture  constituting  about  one-sixth  of  the  soil)  suits 
Dipladenias.  I  have  trigd  additions  of  leaf  mould,  old  cow  manure, 
and  turfy  loam,  but  the  peat  regime  best  favoured  the  groAvth  of  the 
plants.  A  space  of  border  2  feet  square  and  as  much  deep,  9  inches  of 
this  being  drainage,  will  grow  a  large  plant. 
Geowing  in  Pots. 
Tbe  young  plants  for  trellises  should  be  grown  without  stopping, 
supporting  by  a  stake  until  of  sufficient  size  to  be  placed  on  the 
trellis.  This  is  best  made  of  small  galvanised  Avire,  and  in  a  conical 
or  globular  form.  If  balloon  ought  to  be  painted  green,  as  some 
galvanised  Avire  kills  the  shoots,  or  at  least  injures  them  when  new. 
When  oxidised  or  old  the  wire  appears  not  to  do  any  harm.  The 
plants  like  a  little  bottom  heat.  They  root  better  after  the  potting, 
which  should  be  done  in  the  spring;  and  young  plants  may  be  given 
a  shift  later,  but  not  after  July.  The  same  soil  answers  for  pots 
as  for  borders — namely,  fibrous  peat  broken  up  roughly  for  use,  adding 
sufficient  sand  to  keep  the  soil  open.  Some  charcoal  also  is  an 
advantage,  and  about  a  pound  of  basic  slag  phosphate  to  a  bushel  of 
