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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  2,  1899. 
gardeners  as  the  past  is  open  to  doubt  and  debate,  and  the  old  men 
will  say  positively,  No  !  in  this  respect  gardening  is  not  advancing. 
Still,  the  world  moves  and  the  rising  generation,  with  the  splendid 
advantages  they  have  in  the  matter  of  education,  with  the  abounding 
and  resistless  energy  of  their  youth  and  the  go-ahead  spirit  of  the  day, 
will  carry  the  avocation  onward  and  upward,  so  that  facts  will  show 
that  we  must  say,  as  the  world  will  say,  that  “gardening  is 
advancing.”  _ 
I  am  sensible  that  this  is  a  very  imperfect  as  well  as  a  belated 
contribution  to  this  very  interesting  subject,  but  then  we  in  the 
country  are  slow,  and  I  am  not  only — N.  II.  P.,  but  also  “An  Old 
Provincial.” 
TANSIES  AND  VIOLAS. 
For  the  decoration  of  the  garden  in  spring  there  are  few  plants 
which  are  more  valuable  than  a  good  selection  of  Pansies  or  Violas. 
Planted  separately  or  in  mixture  they  make  most  distinctive  and 
effective  displays,  and  the  blooms  are  useful  lor  cutting.  Sometimes 
gardeners  are  at  a  loss  to  know  what  plants  to  grow  to  enable  them  to 
have  something  which  will  afford  a  liberal  supply  of  attractive  blooms 
to  associate  with  other  material.  Pansies  and  Violas  are  amongst  the 
most  useful  for  affording  a  prolonged  supply,  and  endeavours  ought  to 
be  made  annually  to  provide  a  number  of  the  best  varieties  which  can 
be  drawn  upon  for  this  purpose.  With  special  attention  of  a  simple 
character,  in  the  form  of  supplying  moisture  and  rich  top-dressings, 
the  plants  may  be  kept  growing  and  blooming  during  the  hot  weather. 
The  best  season  for  them  is  early  spring,  or  from  March  to  June. 
Alter  this  extra  attention  must  be  given  to  prolong  the  blooming. 
Pansies  and  Violas — the  latter  are  frequently  called  tufted  Pansies 
because  of  their  compact  growth — are  propagated  by  seeds,  cuttings, 
and  divisions.  The  best  time  for  sowing  seeds  is  early  in  July,  but 
they  may  be  sown  in  heat  in  spring  for  an  autumn  display.  On  the 
whole,  however,  summer  sowing  is  the  better,  as  the  seedlings  require 
less  attention  in  the  various  stages,  providing  a  moist  and  shady 
position  is  selected  for  their  cultivation.  When  raising  Pansies  and 
Violas  from  seed  the  first  essential  is  to  procure  a  good  strain  from  a 
reliable  seedsman.  Seed  is  usually  offered  at  prices  varying  from  Is. 
to  5s.  per  packet,  and  where  a  fair  number  of  plants  are  wanted  the 
larger  packets  will  give  them  Seed  might  be  sown  now,  but  the 
seedlings  will  naturally  move  very  slowly,  requiring  a  little  heat  and 
a  very  light  position.  They  must  be  kept  in  the  see  1  pots  throughout 
the  winter,  and  be  pricked  out  in  fine  light  soil  in  boxes' in  February. 
In  raising  plants  early  in  the  year  seed  must  be  sown  in  February 
or  March.  The  preparation  of  the  seed  pots  or  pans  may  be  the  same, 
whatever  season  the  seed  is  sown.  Good  drainage  ought  to  be  pro¬ 
vided,  and  this  protected  from  choking  with  soil  by  laying  upon  it 
some  moist  moss,  or  the  rougher  parts  of  tde  compost.  The  latter 
may  consist  of  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand  in  equal  parts.  Fill  the 
pots  or  pans,  and  make  firm  and  level ;  water  slightly  with  a  fine- 
rosed  can,  and  after  draining  sow  the  seed  thinly,  covering  with  a 
dusting  of  fine  soil  or  sand. 
In  spring  heat  will  be  necessary  to  induce  germination,  but  the  pot 
or  pan  should  be  plunged  in  a  moist  medium,  and  the  surface  prevented 
drying  by  shading  with  moss  or  paper  until  the  seedlings  appear. 
A  temperature  of  55°  to  60°  will  be  suitable.  Prevent  the  seedlings 
becoming  drawn  by  affording  plenty  of  light  to  them,  but  shading 
from  powerful  sunshine.  As  they  increase  in  size  give  cooler  treat¬ 
ment  and  more  air.  Prick  out  the  plants  to  still  further  strengthen 
in  boxes,  where  they  may  remain  until  the. time  arrives  for  planting, 
gradually  inuring  them,  of  course,  to  outside  treatment.  With  the 
exception  of  raising  in  heat,  the  treatment  may  be  the  same  for  the 
summer  sowing. 
A  frame  is  a  good  place  to  stand  the  pots  or  pans  at  that  time. 
Should  a  spent  hotbed  be  available,  a  few  inches  of  soil  placed  upon  it, 
and  made  fine  and  smooth  on  the  surface,  will  afford  an  excellent 
place  to  sow  the  seed,  an.!  also  to  prick  out  the  young  seedlings. 
They  seem  to  grow  more  vigorously  in  the  well-drained  moist  position 
a  frame  provides.  Seed-sowing  is  the  only  way  of  raising  a  stock  if 
plants  are  not  at  hand  or  have  to  be  purchased. 
A  more  seasonable  method  of  propagation,  as  it  can  be  carried  out 
now  if  the  old  plants  are  available  and  are  furnished  with  the  right 
material,  is  by  cuttings.  The  best  cuttings  are  not  obtained  from  the 
strongest  looking  shoots.  The  reverse  is  the  case.  If  a  Pansy  or 
Viola  has  had  its  flowering  growths  cut  back  a  few  weeks  preceding 
the  present  time,  young  growths  will  bo  springing  from  the  centre. 
These  are  of  a  wiry  character,  and  each  can  readily  be  detached  with 
a  little  root  adhering  or  attached  to  its  base.  It  is  best  to  obtain  them 
with  the  small  portion  of  root. 
A  position  to  receive  the  cuttings  must  be  prepared  in  a  frame, 
either  choosing  one  where  they  can  have  the  whole  space  or  share 
it  in  association  with  cuttmgs  of  Calceolarias,  which  need  a  similar 
position  and  treatment.  Growths  2  inches  in  length  form  the  best 
cuttings,  and  they  may  be  inserted  2  inches  apart  on  a  bed  of  sandy 
soil  over  a  layer  of  decomposed  manure  in  a  cold  frame.  The  end  of 
each  cutting  should  rest  on  a  firm  sandy  base,  and  if  the  surface  of 
the  bed  has  a  layer  of  sand  upon  it,  in  making  the  hole  for  the  cutting 
some  of  it  will  run  down  and  be  of  benefit  in  inducing  roots  to  form. 
After  insertion  water-in  the  cuttings  with  water  Irom  a  fine-rosed  can. 
Then  place  on  the  lights  and  give  a  little  air  until  the  cuttings  have 
formed  a  callus  at  their  base,  from  which  in  time  roots  will  originate. 
Cuttings  inserted  with  roots,  however  scanty,  will  soon  commence  to 
grow,  when  air  ought  ro  be  frtely  giveD,  but  only  on  favourable 
occasions. 
In  March  the  present  cuttings  will  be  plants  fully  eafablished  and 
commencing  to  flower.  That  is  the  time  to  place  than  in  their 
permanent  quarters.  By  planting  in  March  they  have  a  longer  time 
in  which  to  become  established  before  hot  weather  comes.  Late 
planted  Pansies  never  seem  to  succeed  as  well  as  earlier  established, 
and  sometimes  the  plants  succumb  entirely  if  soil  does  not  adhere  to 
the  roots,  and  the  latter  are  not  plentiful  and  fibrous. 
Division  is  another  method  of  proragation,  and  well  adapted  for 
increasing  the  number  of  ordinary  flowering  varieties  where  old  plants 
are  plentiful  and  well  furnished  with  young  growths.  Lift  the  plants 
and  cut  off  all  flowering  shoots,  then  with  a  knife  divide  the  compact 
cluster  of  growths  into  conveni  nt  pieces  for  planting,  each  with  roots 
attached.  Plant  these  4  inches  apart  in  rows  a  foot  asunder,  providing 
a  piece  of  well  worked,  enriched  ground  to  receive  them.  Decomposed 
manure,  leaf  soil,  and  wood  ashes,  well  incorporated  with  the  staple, 
seem  to  suit  these  plants,  and  just  previous  to  the  advent  of  hot 
weather  surface  dress  with  leaf  soil,  loam,  and  manure  passed  through 
a  riddle.  All  the  plants,  including  seedlings,  rooted  cuttings,  anti- 
divisions  may  be  treated  to  this  top-dressing  in  summer. — E.  D.  S. 
THE  NANNY  APPLE. 
I  am  sending  you  by  this  post  a  sample  of  the  Nanny  Apple,  a  > 
variety  which  appears  to  have  well  nigh  gone  out  of  cultivation,  as  I 
never  see  it  now  in  any  nurserymen’s  lists. 
The  frails  seat  are  only  ordmary  samples,  githerel  from  old 
standard  trees,  probably  irom  sixty  to  seventy  years  old,  but  still 
vigorous  and  fruitful.  For  the  pa-t  twenty-three  years  we  have  never 
missed  a  crop  from  these  trees,  though  some  seasons  it  has  been 
heavier  than  others  ;  generally,  however,  the  crop  is  heavy. 
I  consider  it  a  good  dessert  Apple,  and  its  season  is  from  the  end  of 
September  till  Christmas.  The  iruits  sent  have  been  gathered  some 
five  or  six  weeks  and  stored  thickly  together,  almost  in  a  heap,  which 
has  doubtless  somewhat  prejudiced  their  flavour. 
I  should  be  glad  to  see  your  opinion  of  them  in  the  t Journal  of 
Horticulture.  I  consider  this  Apple  is  at  least  equal  to  some  varieties 
ot  far  greater  fame,  and  altogether  too  good  to  be  lost  in  obscurity. — 
A.  E„  Devon. 
[We  are  much  obliged  to  our  correspondent  for  the  samples,  and 
fully  agree  that  this  old  Apple  is  altogether  too  good  to  be  lost.  The 
fruits  before  us  exactly  coi  respond  externally  and  internally  with  the  late 
Dr.  Hogg’sdescription  of  the  variety  in  the“  Fruit  Manual,”  which  wecite 
as  follows : — “  Fruit,  medium  sized,  2f  inches  wide,  and  2£  inches  high 
roundish,  narrowing  towards  the  apex,  and  somewhat  angular  on  the 
sides.  Skin,  smooth,  greenish  yellow,  with  broken  streaks  of  red,  on 
the  shaded  side,  but  bright  red,  streaked  with  dark  crimson,  on  the 
side  next  the  sun;  the  whole  strewed  with  russety  dots.  Eye,  open, 
with  divergent  segments,  placed  in  an  angular  basin,  which  is  marked 
with  linear  marks  of  russet.  Stamens,  marginal;  tube,  long,  conical. 
Stalk,  short,  inserted  in  a  rather  deep,  round  cavity,  thickly  lined  with 
rough  russet,  which  extends  in  ramifications  over  the  base.  Flesh, 
yellow,  rather  soft  and  tender,  juicy,  sugary,  and  highly  flavoured. 
Cells,  roundish  ovate;  axile,  slit.  A  dessert  Apple  of  excellent  quality, 
and  when  in  perfection  a  first  rate  fruit ;  it  is  in  use  during  October, 
but  soon  becomes  mealy.  The  tree  attains  the  middle  size  and  is  a 
good  bearer,  much  more  so  than  the  Ribston  Pippin,  to  which  the 
fruit  bears  some  resemblance  in  flavour.” 
The  fruits  before  us,  even  if  slightly  angular,  are  attractive  by 
their  brightness  in  colour.  The  quality  is  decidedly  above  the  average. 
The  flesh  is  not  hard  and  crisp,  but  tender  and  melting,  juicy,  sweet, 
with  a  delicate  aroma.  Though  not  equal  in  the  last  named  respect 
(aroma)  to  Ribston  Pippin,  Cox’s  OraDge,  Allington  Pippin,  Margil,  and 
Charles  Ross,  the  texture  of  the  Nanny  would  be  preferred  by  many 
persons  as  more  toothsome  and  enjoyable.  It  will  be  observed  that 
Dr.  Hogg  observed  the  fruits  “soon  became  mealy.’’  There  was  a 
suspicion  of  mealiness  in  the  fruits  examined,  but  only  faint,  though 
they  would  not  kpep  in  condition  till  Christmas ;  this  may,  however, 
be  in  part  the  consequence  of  their  haviug  been  “  thickly  stored, 
almost  in  a  heap.”  Do  trees  of  the  Nanny  bear  in  a  comparatively- 
young  state  ?] 
