June  2  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
463 
-  Broccoli. — Sutton’s  Large  Protecting  is  one  of  the  best  of 
Broccoli  for  spring  use.  A  glance  at  the  plants  growing  in  May  would 
lead  one  to  think  they  were  so  many  Cabbages,  as  the  heads  first  form  in 
that  way.  A  close  inspection,  however,  reveals  charming  white  heads 
carefully  protected  by  several  leaf  coverings,  which  render  the  heads  of 
unusual  purity  in  colour. — E.  Molyneux. 
-  Marrowfat  Peas. — At  the  Temple  Show  the  exhibit  of  Messrs 
Sutton’s  new  Marrowfat  Peas  caused  quite  a  sensation.  As  noted  in  our 
list  of  awards  last  week  it  received  the  highest  honours  in  the  vegetable 
division  from  the  judges,  and  subsequently  two  large  baskets  of  the  Peas 
(Sutton’s  Early  Giant)  were  by  command  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  sent 
to  Marlborough  House  in  time  to  be  served  at  the  Derby  dinner  given  by 
his  Royal  Highness. 
-  Presentation  to  Mr.  J.  Gray. — Mr.  Gray  having  resigned 
his  position  of  head  gardener  to  Sir  George  Meyrick,  Bart.,  Bodorgan, 
the  under  gardeners  took  the  occasion  to  present  to  him  before  leaving  a 
case  of  handsome  carvers,  bearing  the  following  inscription  : — “  Presented 
to  Mr.  J.  Gray  as  a  token  of  respect  by  the  assistant  gardeners  of 
Bodorgan,  upon  his  leaving  the  charge  of  Bodorgan  Gardens,  Anglesea, 
North  Wales,  May.  1898.”  Those  who  have  visited  these^  gardens  will 
know  how  much  they  have  been  improved  whilst  under  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Gray,  whose  departure  from  the  district  was  much  regretted  by  all. 
-  Coleuses  from  Seed. — A  splendid  selection  of  handsomely 
coloured  and  marked  Coleuses  may  be  raised  from  seed.  Reliable  strains 
are  offered  by  all  the  leading  seed  firms.  To  successfully  raise  plants, 
however,  and  grow  them  on  to  a  useful  size,  heat  is  required.  For 
germination  bottom  heat  is  desirable,  so  that  there  may  be  a  quick  and 
rapid  growth  from  the  first.  Sow  the  seed  in  a  light  sandy  mixture  of 
loam,  peat,  and  leaf  soil,  and  when  the  seedlings  can  be  well  handled 
place  them  in  small  pots.  Give  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture  at  this  stage. 
Shift  as  required  into  larger  pots,  5-inch  size  being  suitable  for  plants 
for  ordinary  decoration.  In  summer  grow  close  to  the  glass  in  a  sunny 
greenhouse,  or  one  of  intermediate  temperature. — E. 
-  Those  Terrible  Women. — 1  have  no  doubt  very  many  of 
your  reader-s,  in  common  with  myself,  were  greatly  amused  over  the 
East  Cowes  gardeners’  manifesto  and  the  horticultural  ladies.  Talk 
about  not  meeting  trouble  half  way,  our  Island  friends  seem  anxious  to 
rush  all  the  way  they  can  to  meet  the  trouble,  of  which  after  all  there  is 
no  earthly  danger.  It  is  so  obvious  that  no  woman  who  is  not  prepared 
to  assume  man’s  attire,  his  responsibilities  and  his  labours,  can  ever 
hope  to  displace  him.  I  gravely  doubt  whether  any  woman,  however 
clever  she  may  be,  contemplates  anj’thing  of  the  kind.  She  may  hope  to 
find  some  employment  of  an  horticultural  niture  suitable  to  her  physical 
capacities  ;  and  she  has  the  most  perfect  right  to  do  so.  I  cannot  under¬ 
stand  the  action  of  men  who  enjoy  freedom  denying  it  to  the  opposite 
sex.  Is  it  not  about  time  more  sensible  views  as  to  woman’s  position 
in  the  world  were  held  ? — A.  D. 
-  White  Commemorative  Flowers. — Many  admirers  of  the 
late  Mr.  Gladstone  have  expressed  strong  desire  that  the  anniversary 
of  his  death  should  be  commemorated  by  the  wearing  of  some  white 
flower,  Roses,  Lilies  of  the  Valley,  and  various  others  having  been 
specially  mentioned.  As  this  is  a  proposal,  if  adopted,  likely  to  have 
great  interest  f  r  market  growers  of  flowers,  because  nothing  wild  and 
common  will  suit  the  case,  I  have  ventured  to  make  a  list  of  various  white 
riowers,  forced  and  otherwise,  that  can  be  had  in  considerable  abundance 
on  the  19th  of  May.  White  Roses  have  been  specially  indicated,  but  it 
is  suggested  that  not  enough  could  be  produced  to  satisfy  popular 
demands.  That  may  be  so,  but  capacities  to  meet  such  demands  seem 
to  be  illimitable.  No  doubt  the  wiser  proposal  would  be  to  require 
white  flowers  of  any  kind,  and  that  would  insure  the  provision  of 
abundance.  Specially  reliable  are  white  Roses,  double  Narcissi,  Carna¬ 
tions,  Lily  of  the  Valiev,  Gardenias,  Gladioli  The  Bride,  Anthericum 
liliastrum.  Orchids,  Stephanotis,  Bouvardia  Humboldti,  double  Begonias, 
Eucharis  amazonica,  Lilium  Harrisi,  Pansies,  Violas,  Marguerites, 
Saxifraga  granulata  flore-pleno,  white  Scilla  campanulata,  Spirtea  double 
white,  Gloxinias,  Irises,  Pelargoniums,  Stocks,  and  many  others. 
This  list  shows  that  white  flowers  may  be  had  in  plenty,  if  desired,  to 
suit  the  pockets  of  even  the  poorest.  Whenever  floral  emblems  are 
utilised  it  is  rather  important  they  should  be  of  a  cultivated  order, 
because  that  means  trade  for  the  grower  and  an  encouragement  of  home 
industry.  It  is  a  double  satisfaction  to  lovers  of  buttonhole  flowers  if 
they  can  feel  that  whilst  administering  to  their  own  pleasure  they  are 
encouraging  labour,  and  thus  making  their  gratification  doubly 
reproductive. — A.  D» 
-  Pyrus  floribunda  atro-sanuuinea. — The  typical  P.  flori- 
bunda  is  very  popular  among  gardeners,  being  one  of  the  best  decorative 
species.  The  variety  under  notice  has  also  attracted  a  considerable 
amount  of  attention  during  the  last  few  years  on  account  of  its  richly 
coloured  flowers.  In  habit  it  does  not  differ  materially  from  the  type, 
making  a  dense  bush  8  to  10  feet  high,  and  producing  its  flowers  with 
great  freedom.  The  usefulness  of  the  plant  is  apparent,  as  it  grows  and 
flowers  well  in  almost  any  position  if  given  a  little  good  soil  to  begin 
with.  For  shrubberies,  groups  in  parks,  or  other  places,  it  is  equally 
suitable,  while  small  plants  potted  in  autumn  and  forced  gently,  make  a 
pleasing  addition  to  the  occupants  of  greenhouse  or  conservatory  in 
February  and  March. — G.  K. 
-  Sulphate  of  Iron  for  Vine  Diseases. — According  to 
French  investigations  the  use  is  recommended  of  sulphate  of  iron  as  a 
winter  treatment  for  the  prevention  of  black  rot,  o'idium,  mildew,  and 
anthracnose  of  the  Grape.  The  method  of  application  recommended  is 
to  bathe  or  sprinkle  the  Vines  with  a  10  per  cent,  solution  of  sulphate 
of  iron,  and  place  the  powdered  sulphate  about  the  Vines  at  the  rate 
of  400  to  800  lbs.  per  acre,  the  quantity  depending  on  the  porosity  of 
the  soil.  The  use  of  sulphate  of  iron  solution,  as  mentioned  above,  has 
been  made  in  America  for  some  years  past  for  the  prevention  of 
anthracnose.  The  best  method  of  making  the  application  is  with  a  brush, 
after  the  pruning  has  been  done. 
-  The  Perennial  Peas. — Occasionally  in  old-fashioned  gardens 
one  meets  with  masses  of  the  perennial  Sweet  Pea,  Lathyrus  latifolius, 
and  charming  flowers  they  are  in  the  early  summer.  Year  after  year, 
with  scarcely  any  attention,  they  make  their  appearance,  and  their 
bright  flowers  are  extremely  useful  for  decoration.  Once  there,  always 
there,  may  be  said  of  the  perennial  Pea,  and  I  know  of  a  wild  spot  “  where 
once  a  garden  smiled,”  and  there,  with  unfailing  regularity,  the  Lathyrus 
latifolius  produces  nosegays  for  the  school  children  to  pick.  In  addition 
to  the  variety  mentioned  with  its  bunches  of  red  flowers,  there  are 
L.  latifolius  splendens,  a  fine  dark  variety  ;  L.  latifolius  albus,  which 
produces  large  white  flowers  extremely  useful  for  cutting,  and  L.  grandi- 
fiorus,  with  large  blossoms  of  a  crimson  scarlet  tint. — H. 
-  Bedding-  Pelargonium  West  Brighton  Gem. — The  time 
has  not  yet  come  when  Zonal  Pelargoniums  can  be  dispensed  with  for 
bedding  purposes.  The  above  variety  recommends  itself  by  its  dwarf 
habit  and  the  brightness  of  its  scarlet  trusses.  The  majority  of  these 
plants  have  the  unfortunate  habit,  particularly  in  damp  seasons,  of  making 
a  superabundance  of  foliage  at  the  expense  of  flowers.  West  Brighton 
Gem  is  far  superior  to  many  of  its  compeers  in  this  respect.  The  wood 
is  short  jointed  and  hard,  even  in  wet  seasons,  and  the  output  of  flower 
continual,  while  in  average  summers  the  beds  are  a  mass  of  brilliancy  till 
late  in  the  autumn  if  the  old  trusses  are  continually  kept  picked  off.  As 
with  other  varieties,  the  best  results  are  obtained  when  the  ground  is  not 
made  too  rich  with  manure,  either  natural  or  chemical. — G. 
-  Japanese  Maples. — It  was  to  me  strange,  that  having  such 
singularly  beautiful  dwarf  trees  and  bushes  of  these  lovely  Acers  at  the 
Temple  Show,  only  about  one  exhibitor  made  any  really  decorative  use 
of  them.  When  looking  at  the  flat,  though  richly  coloured,  Caladiums  in 
a  few  large  groups,  I  could  but  think  how  much  more  beautiful  would 
these  leaf  plants  have  appeared  could  they  have  been  set  under  the 
overhanging  leafage  of  the  cut-leaved  Maples.  Oh,  for  the  touch  of  a 
vanished  hand,  such  as  was  that  of  the  late  John  Wills,  who  would,  out 
of  the  superb  materials  that  some  of  our  nurserymen  possess,  have  created 
marvellous  groups  of  exquisite  charm  and  beauty.  Why  numerous 
collections  of  Maples  should  have  been  crowded  into  tents,  rather  than 
have  been  fully  and  effectively  displayed  outdoors,  especially  with  a 
carpet  of  moss,  in  the  same  way  Messrs.  Fisher,  Son,  &  Sibray  did  their 
fine  groups,  was  inexplicable.  This  method  of  showing  these  plants  in 
tents  misleads  the  public  somewhat,  as  they  get  to  regard  them  as  tender, 
needing  greenhouse  culture,  whereas  they  do  finely  outdoors  in  the 
summer  ;  some,  indeed,  well  all  through  the  winter.  Then  I  marvel  no 
one  yet  seems  to  have  utilised  them  for  bedding  purposes  in  the  summer. 
How  charming  would  a  dozen  or  so  of  nice  heads  look  on  a  carpet  of 
white,  blue,  or  pink.  I  noted  as  very  pleasing  for  this  purpose  Acer 
palmatum  dissectum  (green),  and  A.  purpureum  (red).  These  have 
lovely  cut  leafage.  A.  reticulatum,  foliage  pallid  green  veined  dark 
green,  and  free  growing,  is  a  beautiful  variety.  Acer  rufifolium  has  rich 
red  leafage.  Less  red,  but  very  pleasing,  and  dwarfer,  is  Acer  lineari- 
folium  atro-purpureum.  A.  polymorphum  purpureum  is  good  also. 
Charming,  too,  is  A.  septemlobum  elegans,  A.  sanguineum.  A,  japonicum 
aureum,  and  A.  niskikigasane — a  horrid  name,  but  a  beautiful  variety  all 
the  same. — A.  D. 
