September  15,  18S8. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
205 
Rich  and  stimulating  lood  applied  to  Cabbages  during  winter  may 
prove  harmful,  but  after  severe  frosts  are  past  the  crop  cannot  be  too 
much  encouraged  to  have  Cabbage  of  the  highest  excellence. 
Dressings  of  soot,  nitrate  of  soda,  applications  of  liquid  manure,  guano, 
and  other  stimulants  are  excellent,  with  plenty  of  hoeing  to  render  the 
surface  soil  loose,  promote  rapid  growth. — E.  D.  S. 
GUIDANCE  FOR  AMATEURS— TUBEROUS 
BEGONIAS. 
“Would  you  get  some  of  your  correspondents  who  are  Begonia 
growers  for  exhibition  to  give  us  struggling  amateurs  some  hints  as  to 
the  production  of  large  double  blooms,  potting  soil  manure,  propagating 
from  cuttings,  and  keeping  tubers  through  the  winter  ?  They  are  largely 
grown  in  this  district,  and  advice  would  be  the  greatest  boon.”  Thus 
writes  a  correspondent  from  Ireland,  where  Begonias  ought  to  luxuriate, 
and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  endeavour  to  supply  the  desired  information. 
The  large  double  blooms  of  tuberous  Begonias  are  the  result  of 
growing  plants  which  have  been  raised  from  a  high-class  strain  of  seeds. 
Any  of  the  leading  firms  of  seedsmen  can  supply  reliable  stocks,  either 
double  or  single,  and  from  the  former  a  large  percentage  of  double 
flowering  varieties  will  be  raised.  By  carefully  selecting  the  best 
annually  excellent  varieties  will  ultimately  be  secured.  A  quicker  but 
a  more  expensive  method  is  to  purchase  tubers  of  the  double  varieties  in 
spring,  start  them  into  growth,  and  pot  as  required. 
Much,  however,  depends  on  good  cultivation  of  the  tubers  from  the 
first  start  into  growth  in  spring.  They  ought  to  be  grown  without 
too  much  heat,  but  with  plenty  of  light  and  air.  To  grow  them  for 
exhibition,  strong  healthy  tubers  may  be  started  early  in  March. 
Place  the  tubers  first  in  small  pots,  giving  them  the  assistance  of  slight 
bottom  heat,  and  immediately  they  commence  growth  stand  the 
pots  as  closely  as  possible  to  the  glass  for  receiving  the  benefit  of  light. 
The  most  suitable  temperature  is  55°  to  60°,  which  will  keep  them  steadily 
growing.  Before  the  small  pots  are  crowded  with  roots  transfer  the 
plants  into  a  size  larger,  clean,  well  drained,  and  dry  pots,  so  that  the 
plants  will  turn  out  without  injuring  the  roots  at  the  next  shift.  Starting 
the  plants  too  early  and  drawing  them  up  tall  and  spindly  in  too  much 
heat  is  the  cause  of  many  failures.  They  succeed  admirably  on  damp 
ashes  in  cool  frames  during  the  summer. 
The  best  soil  or  compost  for  potting  is  well-decayed  turfy  loam  broken 
up  moderately  small,  two  parts  ;  decomposed  manure,  dried  and  crumbled 
cow  manure  being  suitable,  one  part ;  leaf  soil  of  a  sweet  character,  one 
part ;  a  little  crushed  charcoal,  and  a  liberal  addition  of  sand.  Mix  the 
whole  thoroughly,  using  it  in  a  moist  but  not  wet  condition.  Do  not  pot 
too  firmly  and  always  afford  the  plants  plenty  of  light,  but  shade  from  the 
brightest  sun.  Water  carefully,  especially  just  after  potting,  and  avoid 
letting  the  plants  become  root-bound  before  giving  them  a  shift  until  the 
flowering  size  is  reached.  When  they  have  filled  these  with  roots 
weak  liquid  manure  may  be  given,  varying  with  small  sprinklings  of 
artificial  manures.  The  plants  must  not  be  crowded  together  at  any 
stage.  The  growths  may  require  to  be  lightly  supported  to  prevent 
injury  and  to  form  neat  and  symmetrical  specimens.  Attacks  of  green 
fly  must  be  guarded  against,  but  if  cultivated  and  managed  on  the  lines 
indicated  these  insects  will  scarcely  be  seen. 
The  propagation  of  tuberous  Begonias  by  cuttings  is  not  so  general 
because  of  the  ease  with  which  plants  may  be  raised  from  seed.  The 
growths  most  suitable  for  cuttings  are  sturdy  young  flowerless  side  shoots. 
These  can  be  taken  off  with  a  heel  and  inserted  in  small  thumb  pots  filled 
with  light  sandy  compost,  kept  close  and  moderately  moist  in  a  frame 
until  rooted.  The  rooted  cuttings  ought  then  to  be  kept  steadily  growing 
until  the  leaves  die  down.  July  and  August  are  the  best  months  to 
propagate  by  cuttings. 
Tubers  are  frequently  lost  in  winter  either  through  being  kept  too  dry 
and  warm  or  too  wet  and  cold.  They  winter  the  best  when  kept  in  the  pots 
in  which  the  plants  flowered.  When  the  leaves  show  signs  of  ripening 
the  supply  of  water  must  be  gradually  diminished.  Store  the  pots  in  a 
position  where  they  are  not  affected  directly  by  artificial  heat,  also  where 
they  are  safe  from  drip.  A  greenhouse  temperature  of  50°  is  the  most 
suitable  for  wintering  the  tubers,  and  if  the  pots  are  surrounded  with 
cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse  the  tubers  will  be  kept  in  a  more  uniform  condition 
of  moisture  and  temperature.  Water  must  not  be  applied  to  the  soil  on 
any  condition  between  the  period  of  the  leaves  dying  down  and  the 
tubers  starting  into  growth  the  next  season. — An  Exhibitor. 
NEW  CACTUS  DAHLIAS. 
The  present  season  has  been  somewhat  prolific  of  new  Cactus  Dahlias. 
By  these  I  mean  varieties  good  enough,  if  put  into  commerce,  to  be 
brought  into  the  National  Dahlia  Society’s  select  list.  But  all  are  not 
equally  good,  and  it  i3  hoped  that  only  the  very  best  will  come  into  the 
market.  The  standard  of  excellence  for  these  Dahlias  is  sharper  each 
year,  for  no  sooner  is  any  variety  of  special  or  peculiar  excellence 
presented,  but  it  at  once  expels  some  other  variety  of  similar  shade,  and 
even  increases  the  general  excellence  of  the  whole.  There  is  an  admirable 
illustration  of  this  seen  in  the  new  dark  maroon  Ranjitsinhji,  one  of  Mr. 
Humphreys’  seedlings. 
A  year  or  two  ago  the  best  of  this  dark  colour  was  Matchless.  This 
year  it  is  excelled  by  Night.  That  variety’s  petals  are  somewhat 
broad  and  coarse.  Those  of  the  namesake  of  the  famous  cricketer  with 
the  hard-to-spell  name  are  narrow,  pointed,  ami  of  ihe  ver}'  best  Cactus 
form,  quite  a  Charles  Woodbriclge  in  type.  Then  of  scarlets  the  original 
best  was  Juarezi.  Next  came  Gloriosa,  and  both  were  superseded  by  the 
superior  A.  J.  Deal,  a  seedling  of  last  year.  True  scarlets  come  less  free 
than  do  salmon  and  carmine  shades,  however.  Mr.  Burrell  of  Cambridge 
is  one  of  the  most  fertile  raisers.  His  Lucius,  which  was  the  premier 
new  variety  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Show,  is  of  the  incurved  Fantasy  form, 
but  is  much  better,  and  in  colour  rich  salmon  carmine.  Mimosa  is  of 
similar  form,  but  is  slightly  redder,  and  a  very  pleasing  variety.  Another 
good  one  is  Acis,  colour  rich  ruddy  carmine.  Zampa  is  a  fiery  carmine 
Charles  Woodbridge.  Antelope,  a  greatly  improved  Fantasy,  colour  rosy 
scarlet.  Madge  Wildfire,  though  not  a  large  flower,  is  remarkably  good. 
Its  colour  is  reddish  salmon.  Orient  is  rosy  scarlet,  and  Auburn  a  rich 
salmon,  after  Britannia. 
Amongst  the  best  from  Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams  &  Co.,  Salisbury,  were 
Viscountess  Sherbrooke,  salmon  carmine,  a  beautiful  flower.  There  were 
several  others  of  this  set,  but  rather  lighter  ;  the  one  named  was  the  best 
This  firm  also  showed  at  the  Royal  Aquarium  Midget,  pure  white 
and  fairly  good  Cactus  form,  but  rather  too  small  perhaps  ;  whites,  how¬ 
ever,  come  very  seldom.  A  very  remarkable  flower  is  their  Progenitor, 
colour  reddish  crimson,  the  points  of  the  petals  being  laciniated,  resembling 
stag’s  horns.  It  may  not  be  a  first-class  Cactus,  but  it  looks  like  originating 
a  new  type.  Esmeralda,  very  rich  ruddy  carmine,  is  yet  another  of  this 
firm’s  seedlings. 
One  of  the  finest  seedlings  is  Mr.  Stredwick’s  Magnificent,  cream, 
shaded  rosy  buff.  This  is  a  variety  that  cannot  be  too  highly  commended. 
Also  very  good  is  Mrs.  Bever  Barker,  crimson,  shaded  rose.  This  raiser 
also  has  a  seedling,  pale  primrose  yellow,  as  shown  at  the  Palace,  even 
better  than  his  Daffodil  of  last  year.  A  few  others  were  J.  F.  Hudson, 
from  Messrs.  Cheal  &  Sons,  quite  a  rosy  magenta  coloured  Fantasy.  Ebony, 
from  Mr.  Mortimer,  was,  as  its  name  implies,  a  rich  dark,  and  an  improved 
Night.  Lady  Lonsdale,  terra  cotta  flushed  rose,  was  a  charming  flower. 
This  list  suffices  to  show  how  rapidly  new  Cactus  Dahlias  are  being  raised. 
The  loveliest  coloured  seedling,  but  not  a  true  Cactus,  though  beautifully 
decorative,  was  Humphreys’  Mrs.  Dickson,  colour  rosy  pink.  There  is  no 
true  Cactus  of  this  charming  colour  yet. — A.  D. 
BULB-FARMING  IN  IRELAND. 
While  in  Ireland  in  June  last  I  obtained  some  particulars  of  an 
interesting  experiment  in  bulb-farming  at  present  being  engaged  in  by  the 
enterprising  firm  of  Messrs.  Hogg  &  Robertson,  seedsmen  and  nurserymen, 
Dublin.  For  some  time  Mr.  W.  Baylor  Hartland  of  Cork  and  Mr.  T. 
Smith  of  Newry  have  been  growing  considerable  quantities  of  Narcissi 
and  Tulips,  but  the  enterprise  of  the  Dublin  firm  is  on  a  larger  scale,  and 
in  view  of  the  interesting  article  on  “  Flower  Farming  in  England”  in  the 
Journal  of  July  28th  (pp.  59-60)  a  brief  account  of  what  is  being  done  by 
them  at  Rush,  a  few  miles  from  Dublin,  may  be  of  interest. 
The  firm  has  7  acres  in  its  own  occupation,  besides  plots  from  time  to 
time  rented  in  the  locality.  The  soil  is  almost  pure  sand,  and  is  heavily 
manured  with  dairy-yard  manure,  but  in  order  to  avoid  danger  to  the 
bulbs  each  time  the  manure  is  applied  (every  three  years)  a  strong 
growing  crop  is  taken  off  as  a  preparation  for  these.  The  experiment 
was  begun  in  1892,  so  that  ample  time  has  now  elapsed  for  proving 
whether  the  treatment  was  satisfactory  or  not.  As  will  be  seen  from  the 
particulars  kindly  furnished  to  me  at  my  request  by  Mr.  James  Robertson, 
the  stock  of  bulbs  is  a  varied  one.  Only  small  stoexs  were  procured  at 
first,  so  that  the  present  one  may  practically  be  considered  as  home¬ 
grown.  A  large  number  of  Narcissi  of  standard  varieties  are  grown 
successfully,  and  the  results  of  the  several  years  show  that  the  treatment 
given  produces  healthy  bulbs  in  plenty. 
The  Tulips  are  very  largely  grown,  and  it  is  interesting  and  very 
satisfactory  to  see  that  so  many  of  the  Tulip  species  succeed  at  Rush. 
Such  choice  Tulips  as  T.  Kolpakowskiana,  T.  Kaufmanniana,  vitellina, 
linifolia  (a  very  beautiful  little  plant),  Sprengeri,  Batalini,  Didieri,  and 
many  others  are  successfully  cultivated.  No  fewer  than  thirty  choice 
varieties  of  the  “  Darwin  ”  Tulips  are  grown.  Included  in  these  are  the 
Sultan,  Herschell,  Medusa,  and  others. 
The  late-flowering  florists’  Tulips  are  also  representad  by  a  large  stock 
of  byblcemens  and  bizarres,  while  such  popular  late  garden  Tulips  as 
Golden  Crown,  Golden  Eagle,  Picotee,  and  White  Swan  do  very  well 
and  form  large  bulbs.  Parrot  Tulips  do  splendidly,  and  either  the 
excellent  stock  or  the  method  of  cultivation  enables  it  to  be  said  with 
truth  that  they  never  have  any  “  blind  ”  ones  at  Rush.  Many  growers 
would  like  to  be  able  to  say  this.  The  best  of  these  showy  varieties  are 
included  in  the  collection.  Early  single  Tulips  are  represented  by  about 
forty  varieties  well  selected  as  among  the  best  of  an  ever  popular  and 
beautiful  class  of  flowers.  The  Pottebakker  sorts,  Cottage  Maid,  Chryao- 
lora,  Wapen  van  Leiden,  and  Rosa  Mundi,  may  be  named.  About  thirty 
sorts  of  early  and  late  double  Tulips  are  grown  also.  English  and  Spanish 
Irises  have  also  been  taken  in  hand  with  good  results,  and  Anemones, 
Ranunculuses,  Gladioli,  and  miscellaneous  bulbs  have  received  attention. 
It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  so  interesting  an  experiment,  and  one, 
too,  which  must  have  involved  the  use  of  a  considerable  amount  of 
capital,  is  proving  satisfactory  to  the  growers  so  far  as  increase  of  bulbs 
and  the  quality  of  the  produce  is  concerned.  Mr.  James  Robertson  is,  as 
may  be  expected,  keenly  interested  in  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  All 
who  have  at  heart  the  furthering  of  industries  which  will  give  employ¬ 
ment  to  a  number  of  Irish  workers  will  hope  that  the  returns  will  prove 
so  satisfactory  as  to  lead  to  a  large  extension  of  the  bulb-growing  industry 
at  Rush.— S.  Arxott. 
