230 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
September  22,  1898. 
kinds,  and  all  of  them  are  in  the  best  of  health.  The  Crotons,  Dracaenas, 
with  other  foliage  and  flowering  kinds  are  numerous,  and  a  speciality  is 
made  of  those  that  are  desirable  for  decorative  purpose,  both  in  pots  and 
as  cut  flowers  or  foliage.  Of  course  Ferns  are  largely  grown  in  addition 
to  scores  that  might  be  mentioned  if  it  were  advantageous  to  do  so. 
But  we  must  leave  Stoneleigh  Gardens  in  the  capable  hands  of  Mr. 
Martin,  and  in  thanking  him  for  his  kindness  commend  to  “  Journalites,” 
who  journey  that  way,  the  beauties  of  the  “  Hvde  Park  of  the  Midlands.” 
— H,  J.  Weight. 
NOTES  ON  BULBS. 
The  present  is  the  time  of  the  year  when  it  behoves  every  culti¬ 
vator  of  flowers,  either  for  indoor  or  outdoor  decoration,  to  decide  on 
a  selection  of  bulbs  which  will  provide  sweet-scented  and  lovely 
blooms  from  late  autumn  to  advanced  spring.  The  provision  of  neat, 
well  flowered  plants  is  a  matter  of  considerable  importance  in  many 
establishments,  and  though  bulbs  do  not  meet  every  demand  in  this 
respect,  there  is  no  season  of  the  year  when  some  species  are  not 
available.  The  same  may  be  said  with  regard  to  cut  blooms. 
Naturally,  however,  the  spring  is  the  most  prolific  season  for  bulbous 
plants,  but  to  have  them  in  flower  at  that  time,  as  well  as  earlier,  the 
bulbs  must  in  most  cases  be  procured  in  September  and  October  either 
for  potting  or  planting  out. 
The  Roman  Hyacinth  is  the  most  popular  of  any  bulb  for  pro¬ 
viding  early  white  sweet-scented  flowers.  Its  culture  is  comparatively 
easy.  Good,  firm,  selected  bulbs,  if  procured  in  September  and  placed 
five  or  six  together  in  5  or  6-iuch  pots,  using  a  light  mixture  of  soil, 
may  be  had  in  bloom  easily  by  December — a  period  when  such  flowers 
are  specially  acceptable.  A  pot  of  well-flowered  bulbs  of  Roman 
Hyacinths  is  one  of  the  chastest  ornaments  for  room  or  conservatory 
decoration.  If  wanted  for  cutting  no  flower  is  better  adapted.  So 
much  are  they  appreciated  that  where  the  demand  is  large  numbers 
of  bulbs  may  be  grown  closely  together  in  boxes  for  providing 
abundance  of  cut  flowers.  The  bulbs  do  not  resent  being  lifted  from 
the  boxes  when  coming  into  flower  and  potted.  By  this  means 
evenly  flowered  specimens  may  be  secured. 
Freesias  make  very  attractive  plants  when  in  full  bloom.  The 
bulbs  require  to  be  potted  early,  and  grown  close  to  the  glass  in  a  cool 
frame,  and  previous  to  flowering  in  a  similar  position  in  a  greenhouse. 
The  bulbs  are  small.  They  may  be  placed  an  inch  apart  in  pots 
varying  in  size  from  4\  to  7  inches  diameter.  The  pots  do  not  need 
plunging  like  Hyacinths.  The  growth  is  slender,  and  invariably  needs 
a  little  light  support  previous  to  the  bulbs  flowering.  Freesias  should 
be  allowed  to  grow  and  flower  naturally,  hard  forcing  not  being 
conducive  to  their  welfare. 
Single  Due  Van  Thol  Tulips  are  suitable  for  growing  early  for 
forcing.  There  is  a  brilliant  variety  of  colour  among  them,  including 
yellow,  scarlet,  crimson,  rose  and  white.  These  are  usually  among  the 
earliest  Tulips  to  be  seen  in  Covent  Garden.  They  are  also  good  for 
successional  blooming.  There  is  also  a  double  Due  Van  Thol,  red  and 
yellow,  suitable  for  early  flowering.  Second  early  flowering  Tulips 
are  numerous,  and  comprise  every  possible  colour  and  shade.  Some 
of  the  best  are  Cottage  Maid,  white,  tinted  with  pink,  which  is 
especially  prominent  when  forced.  Crimson  Beauty  is  crimson  scarlet, 
Fire  King  vivid  scarlet,  Montresor  yellow,  Chrysolora  yellow,  Joost 
Van  Vondel  white,  Pottebakker  in  four  varieties  scarlet,  striped,  white 
and  yellow. 
The  early  Due  Van  Thol  Tulips  will  endure  the  rougher  treatment 
of  being  grown  in  boxes  and  transferred  to  pots  when  the  flowers  show 
colour,  but  the  choicer  varieties  ought  to  be  grown  solely  in  pots. 
Five  and  6-inch  pots  are  the  best  for  Tulips,  placing  in  four  or  five 
bulbs  as  they  may  accommodate.  Plunge  in  ashes  or  cocoa-nut  fibre 
until  growth  commences. 
Whether  for  forcing  early  into  bloom  in  pots  and  boxes,  or  to 
expand  their  flowers  naturally  at  their  own  time  in  a  greenhouse 
temperature,  the  Polyanthus  type  of  Narcissus  occupies  a  prominent 
position.  The  earliest  is  the  Double  Roman,  closely  followed  by 
Paper-white,  which  is  largely  grown,  because  of  the  ease  with  which 
it  may  be  forced  into  flower  and  the  value  of  the  cut  blooms  for 
decorat:on.  As  many  bulbs  as  the  pots  will  hold  ,  should  be  placed 
therein,  6-inch  pots  being  the  most  useful.  Boxes  3  inches  deep  may 
be  employed  to  accommodate  bulbs  in  quantity,  for  giving  flowers 
simply  for  cutting.  They  ought  to  be  portable  in  size,  so  that  they 
are  easily  moved  to  positions  near  the  glass  after  the  bulbs  have 
become  well  rooted  under  the  plunging  material,  in  which  they  are 
placed  after  boxing. 
There  are  numerous  other  excellent  varieties  of  Polyanthus 
Narcissi.  They  are,  however,  less  adapted  for  strong  forcing  than  for 
general  culture.  They  form  a  good  succession,  and  excellent  flowering 
specimens  in  pots.  The  majority  of  the  bulbs  are  large,  some  requir¬ 
ing  a  5  or  6-inch  pot  to  themselves  ;  but  as  a  rule  three  bulbs  may  be 
placed  in  a  7-inch  pot.  These  varieties  invariably  throw  up  strong 
foliage,  and  stout  flower  stems  surmounted  by  large  bunches  of  flowers. 
Some  of  the  best  are  Bathurst,  Grootvorst,  Grand  Monarque,  Her 
Majesty,  States  General,  White  Pearl,  and  La  Noblesse. 
Among  the  Trumpet  and  other  Daffodils  there  are  many  which 
may  be  grown  to  produce  a  good  display  in  early  spring.  Ard-Righ 
or  Irish  King  is  an  early  Trumpet  variety,  that  may  be  gently 
forced.  Cernuus,  the  Spanish  Daffodil,  is  also  an  early  Trumpet  variety 
responding  to  forcing.  Belonging  to  the  same  section,  and  readily 
bearing  judicious  forcing,  are  Emperor,  Empress,  Golden  Spur, 
Henry  Irving,  moschatus,  and  Mrs.  Langtry.  The  last  named  has  a 
broad  white  perianth,  large  white  crown,  edged  with  golden  yellow, 
Princeps  and  Queen  of  Spain  should  also  be  included.  The  Hocp 
Petticoat  Daffodil,  both  yellow  and  sulphur  varieties,  are  favourites 
for  pot  culture.  To  produce  the  latest  flowers,  poeticus  or  Poet’s 
Daffodil  should  be  grown  in  quantity. 
Included  among  the  general  selection  the  double  English  Daffodil 
ought  to  be  largely  grown  in  pots.  Sir  Watkin,  the  giant  Welsh 
Daffodil,  is  popular  on  account  of  its  size,  being  the  largest  of  the 
chalice  cup  section. 
Dutch  Hyacinths  begin  to  flower  in  February  and  continue  throueh 
March  and  April  if  a  portion  are  kept  cool  and  potted  later  than  the 
majority.  The  proper  method  to  grow  the  best  bulbs  is  to  place  one 
in  a  5  or  6-inch  pot.  Smaller,  and  the  least  choice  bulbs,  may  be 
placed  several  in  one  pot.  There  are  some  few  varieties  which  respond 
to  a  little  forcing  better  than  others ;  but  the  main  thing,  to  secure 
plants  which  will  bloom  before  the  usual  time,  is  to  pot  them  early  in 
autumn,  so  that  abundance  of  roots  occupy  the  pots,  producing  strong 
growths.  The  single  Dutch  Hyacinths  give  the  best  display,  but 
some  of  the  double  varieties  are  effective  in  pots,  though  seldom 
grown  outdoors.  Those  who  desire  a  good  selection  ot  named  varie¬ 
ties  for  pot  culture  or  exhibition  may  easily  obtain  them  from 
the  leading  bulb  catalogues.  Selections  of  special  colours  of 
unnamed  varieties  give  excellent  results  in  pots  for  general  decoration 
and  for  planting  in  masses  outdoors  in  beds  or  borders.  Beds  of 
separate  colours  of  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  and  Daffodils  ought  to  be 
freely  planted. 
Campernelle  Jonquils  are  found  very  useful  for  blooming  with  the 
general  display  of  bulbs.  The  bulbs  are  comparatively  small,  and 
may  be  grown  in  pots  4^  inches  diameter,  also  in  5-inch  pots,  using  as 
many  bulbs  as  the  pots  will  hold.  A  few  pots  might  also  be  forced, 
the  bulbs  responding  well  to  gentle  heat.  Jonquils  ought  to  be 
planted  freely  in  borders  and  spaces  among  shrubs,  where  they  bloom 
abundantly  and  furnish  useful  flowers  for  cutting. 
Pots  of  Crocuses  in  flower  are  extremely  useful  for  decoration,  and 
a  number  of  the  best  named  sorts  are  worthy  of  cultivation  in  this 
manner.  For  planting  close  to  the  edges  of  beds  and  borders  Crocuses, 
either  in  separate  colours  or  mixed,  are  admirably  adapted.  The  bulbs 
should  be  placed  close  to  the  verges  of  beds,  so  that  the  soil  may  be 
dug  without  disturbing  the  Crocuses.  In  all  parts  of  the  garden  and 
shrubbery,  or  by  the  side  of  woodland  walks,  wherever  there  is  no 
necessity  to  stir  the  soil  by  digging,  Crocuses  may  be  planted 
in  abundance,  massing  them  together  in  fair-sized  clumps.  They 
can  remain  for  years,  and  will  grow  and  flower  superbly  each 
season. 
Snowdrops  and  Winter  Aconites  may  also  be  freely  planted  in 
borders  and  under  trees,  where  they  can  remain  undisturbed. 
Chionodoxa  Lucilise  and  Scilla  sibirica  ought  also  to  be  grown  in 
clumps  in  borders,  but  they  are  equally  adapted  for  pot  culture ;  the 
white  and  blue  flowers  of  the  former,  and  the  blue  of  the  latter 
contrasting  well  with  other  flowering  bulbs  in  the  conservatory  in 
spring.  Larger  pots  than  5-inch  need  not  be  employed,  or  wide 
shallow  pans  may  be  filled  with  bulbs. 
Flowering  bulbs  of  Callas  or  Arum  Lilies  may  also  be  procured 
and  potted  now.  They  will  bloom  in  spring,  and  are  indispensable 
for  Easter  decoration,  the  pure  spathes  being  so  imposing,  whether  cut 
and  placed  in  vases  with  their  own  foliage,  or  the  plants  used  for 
decoration  in  pots.  Lilium  Harrisi,  the  Bermuda  or  Easter  Lily, 
forms  a  fine  companion  to  the  Calla.  It  may  be  had  in  bloom  by 
Christmas  if  forced,  but  Easter  is  the  period  when  it  is  more  general. 
Good-sized  bulbs  should  be  procured,  and  planted  singly  in  7  or  8-inch 
pots.  Place  the  bulbs  half-way  down  in  the  pots,  using  loam,  leaf 
soil,  sand,  and  decayed  manure.  Use  the  compost  moist,  place  the 
pots  in  a  cool  position,  safe  from  frost,  and  water  but  little  until 
growth  appears. 
To  give  beautiful  white  flowers  in  summer  in  the  open  borders 
Lilium  candidum  must  be  planted  now.  These  bulbs  commence 
growth  early,  but  do  not  throw  up  flower  stems  until  spring,  and 
flower  in  July.  The  bulbs  should  be  planted  in  clumps  of  several 
bulRs  in  good  deep  soil.  When  in  flower  they  make  an  imposing 
display. — E.  D.  S. 
