December  28,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
567 
sincerely  to  be  hoped  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  they  will  be 
universally  grown  successfully  in  this  country.  The  flowers,  when 
well  developed,  have  a  charm  entirely  their  own,  and  meet  with  an 
appreciation  that  is  accorded  to  few  other  kinds  in  general  use.  Then 
they  have  the  further  most  desirable  attribute  of  flowering  practically 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  though  the  months  of  April,  May,  and  J une 
show  perhaps  the  greatest  abundance. 
One  of  the  best  examples  of  success  with  Malmaison  Carnations 
to  be  found  within  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  metropolis 
is  that  in  the  gardens  of  Sundridge  Park,  where  Mr.  Tapper 
grows  them  for  Sir  Samuel  and  Lady  Scott.  There  may  be  seen  a 
collection  approaching  to  2000  plants,  young  and  old,  and  in  the  most 
excellent  condition.  During  the  zenith  of  the  beauty  of  the  plants 
Mr.  W.  Codings  of  West  Street,  Bromley,  an  amateur,  took  a  photo¬ 
graph  of  the  house,  and  this  we  are  now  enabled  to  reproduce  (fig.  100). 
As  may  be  seen  in  the  excellent  picture  flowers  are  numerous,  and 
buds  of  various  stages  abundant.  As  it  was  impossible  for  a  visit  to 
be  paid  to  see  the  flowers  themselves,  it  was  decided  to  make  a  journey 
to  inspect  the  plants  that  had  produced  them,  and  those  which  were 
atmosphere  is  demonstrated  by  the  stems  at  the  base,  which  in  a  dry 
air  would  become  hard,  remaining  rather  softer,  and  pushing  strong 
breaks  from  every  joint. 
One  of  the  commonest  troubles  experienced  by  Malmaison  growers 
almost  everywhere  comes  in  the  form  of  a  rusty  fungus  which,  allowed 
to  have  its  run,  completely  spoils  the  plants.  To  guard  against  such 
a  disaster,  Mr.  Tapper  resorts  to  hand-picking,  and  by  taking  every 
diseased  leaf  and  consigning  it  immediately  to  the  flames  the  pest  is 
kept  well  in  hand.  Of  course  if  the  disease  reached  a  very  bad  stage, 
this  would  become  a  tedious  operation,  but  this  is  never  permitted. 
The  enemy  is  usually  at  its  worst  during  November  and  December, 
but  we  only  found  one  leaf  affected  a  week  ago.  The  compost 
employed  for  the  plants  consists  of  seven  parts  of  loam,  three  each  of 
leaf  mould,  Mushroom  bed  refuse  and  coarse  sand,  with  a  few  small 
pieces  of  charcoal  and  a  little  Clay’s  fertiliser.  In  this  the  plants 
make  sturdy  growth,  better  than  which  no  one  need  desire,  as  it 
invariably  produces  blooms  of  excellent  size,  substance,  and  colour. 
The  two-year-old  plants  are  now  daily  producing  a  few  flowers, 
which,  though  they  have  not  the  size  of  those  coming  in  the  spring, 
being  brought  along  to  form  the  groundwork  of  next  season’s  display. 
To  some  persons,  perhaps,  the  flowers  only  appeal  ;  but  to  others 
healthy  plants  provide  a  theme  for  conversation  and  abundant  material 
for  admiration. 
The  major  portion  of  the  present  stock  is  housed  in  the  structure  j 
shown  in  the  photograph,  the  whole  of  the  central  tiered-stage  and 
the  flat  side  stages  being  occupied.  Some  of  the  plants  are  in  8  and 
10-inch  pots,  but  the  vast  majority  are  in  32’s,  in  which  they  were 
placed  direct  from  the  layers.  Most  growers  recommend  the  employment 
of  smaller  pots,  in  fact  Mr.  Tapper  strongly  advocates  the  system, 
though  he  finds  it  impossible  to  adopt  it.  Time  and  space  must  be 
considered,  and  they  necessitate  the  use  of  large  pots, -and  cultivators 
will  understand  how  careful  must  be  the  watering  when  there  is  such 
an  amount  of  soil  destitute  of  roots,  or  it  will  become  sour.  For  a 
week  after  potting  the  plants  are  lightly  dewed  daily,  but  afterwards 
syringing  among  the  pots  only  is  advocated.  Mr.  Tapper  largely 
ascribes  his  success  to  allowing  the  plants  to  practically  reach  the 
flagging  point  at  this  period  of  the  year  before  giving  water.  Instead 
of  soil  watering  being  constantly  resorted  to  the  atmosphere  is  kept 
slightly  moist  by  damping  the  paths  and  other  surfaces  at  intervals 
varying  with  the  external  conditions.  The  desirability  of  the  moist 
are  yet  very  good  and  immensely  appreciated  when  choice  flowers  are 
scarce.  These  Carnations  are  great  favourites  with  Sir  Samuel  and 
Lady  Scott,  indeed  their  greatest  desire  is  to  have  a  splendid  collection. 
They  want  the  flowers  before  all  others,  and  it  is  fortunate  that  their 
grower  is  so  well  able  to  meet  these  requirements. 
In  addition  to  the  Malmaisons  Mr.  Tapper  grows  some  hundreds  of 
tree  and  border  varieties,  and  many  of  the  former  are  now  flowering 
beautifully.  These  are  from  cuttings  rooted  in  January  in  a  tempe¬ 
rature  of  60°.  These  eventually  find  their  way  through  the  various 
sizes  of  pots  and  cold  frame  with  subsequent  outdoor  treatment, 
and  are  at  present  handsome  plants  that  reflect  the  utmost  credit  on 
the  grower.  Mr.  Tapper  is  most  careful  in  the  use  of  manure  for  all 
Carnations,  but  has  this  year  tried  Mr.  Willis’s  Carnation  mixture 
with  marked  success,  fihe  following  varieties  are  most  strongly 
recommended — J.  P.  Rugus,  Whipper  In,  Mrs.  Leopold  de  Rothschild, 
Miss  M.  Godfrey,  President  Carnot,  Irma,  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  Mrs. 
Llewellyn,  and  Sir  Rivers  Wilson. 
Of  the  general  stock  of  plants,  the  hardy  and  indoor  fruits,  the 
pleasure  grounds,  and  the  splendid  park  in  which  Sundridge  lies, 
nothing  can  now  be  written,  though  it  is  hoped  that  at  some  future 
time  notes  and  illustrations  may  be  given. — H.  J.  Weight. 
