78 
January  23,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
more  across  than  many  people  think.  I  took  the  guard  petals  to-day 
of  only  a  second  sized  bloom  of  Stanstead  White,  and  they  measured 
3J  inches  and  on  the  opposite  side  3J  inches,  making  7\  inches.  Without 
the  guard  petals  the  blooms  would  not  have  measured  more  than 
4J  inches,  or  the  size  of  an  ordinary  incurved. — W.  B. 
WINTER  FLOWERS. 
JUSTICIA  FLAVICOMA. 
This  is  an  old  inhabitant  of  our  plant  houses,  and  yet  rarely  found 
grown  in  any  quantity.  For  years  its  claims  have  been  advocated  as  a 
decorative  plant,  and  few  when  well  grown  are  more  effective.  I  shall 
not  attempt  to  urge  any  claims  for  it  for  cutting  purposes  ;  but  if  placed 
in  suitable  glasses  it  would  make  a  telling  and  effective  display  on  the 
dinner-table.  The  plumes  of  pleasing  yellow  are  light  in  appearance, 
and  contrast  admirably  with  its  dark  green  foliage.  It  is  nevertheless  a 
pity  to  use  it  in  a  cut  state  when  the  flowers  first  develop,  in  fact  we 
regard  it  as  a  waste  of  material.  When  the  first  flowers  fail  others  are 
quickly  produced  from  the  same  truss,  and  are  finer.  Where  an  attempt 
is  made  to  provide  flowers  for  cutting,  and  also  to  keep  some  of  the 
houses  attractive,  this  plant  should  be  grown  in  fair  numbers,  because 
bv  judicious  treatment  its  first  flo  wers  will  be  in  full  beauty  at  Christmas. 
Nothing  can  well  excel  a  small  warm  or  intermediate  span-roofed  house 
fil led  with  this  plant,  and  rising  gracefully  from  amongst  it  the  light  spikes 
of  Calanthe  Veitchi,  a  fewPoinsettias,  and  Euphorbias  adding  to  the  effect. 
The  Justicia  is  also  accommodating,  for  it  can  be  used  most  effectively  in 
the  conservatory  where  a  little  warmth  is  maintained. 
The  cultivation  is  simple,  provided  plants  are  grown  annually  from 
seeds  or  cuttings.  The  seedlings  should  be  placed  in  boxes  until  they  are 
ready  for  3-inch  pots  ;  they  may  then  be  transferred  to  5-inch  and  6-inch, 
in  which  they  will  flower.  If  larger  bushes  are  needed  three  may  be 
placed  into  each  pot.  For  some  time  they  can  be  grown  under  the 
shade  of  Cucumbers  and  Melons,  but  when  established  in  their  flowering 
pots  they  should  be  fully  exposed  to  the  sun  to  thoroughly  ripen  the 
wood.  When  given  liberal  treatment  they  branch  freely  without 
pinching.  When  a  stock  is  raised  from  cuttings,  the  plants  after 
flowering  should  be  cut  well  back  to  induce  clean  growths  from  the 
base.  This  plant  flowers  so  freely  that  every  little  growth  at  the  top 
terminates  with  a  small  truss  of  flowers,  and  some  time  must  naturally 
elapse  before  good  cuttings  can  be  obtained.  These  root  freely  when 
inserted  in  thumb  pots  singly  and  placed  iu  hand-lights  in  a  warm  close 
house.  Any  fairly  good  compost  will  grow  the  plants  well. 
When  this  plant  is  crown,  the  old  Linum  trigynum  may  be  dispensed 
with  altogether,  or  only  a  few  grown  for  the  sake  of  variety.  It  is  by  no 
means  so  useful,  and  takes  equally  as  much  room  and  care  in  growing. 
It  is  a  home  for  red  spider,  and  without  great  care  and  attention  is 
certain  to  be  attacked. 
Centropogon  Lucyanus. 
This  useful  plant  for  winter  flowering  can  be  increased  rapidly. 
Young  shoots  after  flowering  issue  from  every  joint,  and  these  when 
3  inches  long  should  be  taken  with  a  heel  and  inserted  in  very  sandy  soil. 
They  root  best  when  placed  round  the  edge  of  the  pot  and  plunged  in 
brisk  heat,  say  65°  to  70°,  in  the  propagating  frame  or  under  hand-lights. 
These  plants  may  be  grown  on  year  after  year  by  cutting  them  close 
back,  reducing  the  old  ball  after  they  start  into  growth,  placing  them 
again  in  the  same  size  pots.  There  can  be  no  question  that  this  plant 
looks  best  when  one  or  two  stems  are  allowed  to  grow  and  arch  in  a 
natural  manner.  Once  twisting  irs  slender  growths  round  stakes  is 
attempted  the  plant  loses  its  effectiveness  for  decoration.  Well-grown 
specimens  when  in  flower  are  most  attractive  in  the  conservatory.  In  this 
position  they  should  be  elevated  on  a  pot  above  other  plants,  and  then 
they  show  themselves  to  advantage.  When  the  terminal  truss  is  over  all 
the  branchlets  along  the  stem  flower  freely,  so  that  they  last  in  good 
condition  over  a  fair  space  of  time. 
Deutzia  gracilis. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  useful  hardy  plants  that  can  be  grown. 
The  position,  whether  in  a  cut  state  or  as  pot  plants,  need  not  be 
referred  to,  because  well-grown  and  well-flowered  specimens  are  useful 
everywhere.  To  have  plants  in  good  condition  for  Christmas  they 
must  after  flowering  be  pruned  close  back  and  pushed  forward  into 
growth  in  either  a  vinery  or  Peach  house.  Their  growth  at  any  rate 
should  be  made  early  under  glass,  well  ripened,  and  then  the  plants 
stood  outside  until  the  foliage  falls.  A  good  frost  will  assist  those  who 
want  plants  in  flower  at  Christmas.  After  being  frozen  they  start  into 
growth  at  once  if  placed  in  the  forcing  house.  Plants  with  clean  growths 
made  from  the  base  are  most  effective,  as  they  flower  profusely  from  the 
top  to  the  bottom.  One  peculiar  feature  is  that  plants  will  bear  hard 
forcing  without  injury,  provided  they  are  well  established.  It  will  start 
and  come  forward  in  a  temperature  of  70°.  It  should,  however,  be 
allowed  to  open  its  flowers  under  cooler  conditions  if  they  are  to  last.  It 
is  useless  to  grow  the  plants  outside,  lift,  and  then  try  to  force  them 
into  bloom  for  Christmas  and  the  new  year. 
Lily  of  the  Valley. 
How  incomplete  would  any  list  of  winter  flowers  be  without  this. 
Will  it  always  remain  so  popular  ?  is  a  question,  now  that  it  can  be  had 
any  time  under  the  freezing  process.  It  was  something  to  boast  of  a 
few  years  ago  to  have  this  favourite  flower  the  first  days  of  November. 
To  do  this  the  plants  must  be  grown  under  glass.  For  Christmas  and 
the  New  Year  imported  Berlin  crowns  answer  purpose  admirably,  as 
there  is  no  difficulty  where  brisk  heat  can  be  maintained  in  having  them 
in  flower  then.  Where  a  close  propagating  frame  and  brigs  bottom 
heat  cannot  be  maintained  the  pots  can  be  plunged  in  a  box  and  stood 
on  the  pipes.  Keep  them  moist.  Cover  the  crowns  with  moss,  and  they 
will  soon  come  forward.  The  crowns  start  as  quickly  again  after  they 
have  been  exposed  to  frost,  a  practice  we  have  followed  for  years. — 
Wm.  Bardney. 
(To  be  continued.) 
Mr.  E.  Mawley. 
Though  the  name  of  Mr.  E.  Mawley  is  known  and  respected  by  the 
majority  of  gardeners  as  an  enthusiastic  rosarian  and  co-Secretary  of 
the  National  Rose  Society,  he  does  not  direct  all  »his  talents  in  that 
connection.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  welcome  member  of  the 
Royal  Meteorological  Society,  before  whose  members  he  ha3  frequently 
read  papers  of  much  value  and  interest.  Evidently  Mr.  Mawley  is  as 
popular  there  as  amongst  the  Roses,  as  at  the  recently  held  annual 
meeting  he  was  appointed  President  for  the  year  1896.  In  tendering 
our  congratulations  to  this  gentleman  on  the  honour  he  has  received, 
we  are  sure  we  only  do  what  all  our  readers  would  desire. 
ROSES  AND  THEIR  CULTIVATION. 
The  Rose  as  the  queen  of  all  flowers  and  our  national  emblem  has 
been  immortalised  from  the  most  ancient  times  by  authors  and  poeLs  of 
all  countries.  It  gives  employment  to  thousands  in  various  ways,  and 
the  simplicity  of  its  propagation  brings  it  within  the  reach  of  all.  As  a 
cut  flower  it  has  no  equal.  So  easy  of  cultivation  are  Roses  that  no  one 
with  a  taste  for  horticulture  can  possibly  fail  to  bring  about  good  results. 
Roses  will  grow  anywhere  provided  the  soil  is  suitable  and  the  situation 
open.  Soil  that  will  grow  the  best  crops  of  Wheat  will  grow  Roses -to 
perfection.  They  are  well  adapted  for  covering  walls,  rockeries,  pillars 
and  many  unsightly  places,  whilst  those  who  have  the  convenience  can 
grow  them  in  pots  with  great  success. 
Propagation— Seedlings. 
Roses  may  be  propagated  in  many  ways — viz,  from  seeds,  cuttings, 
layers,  suckers,  budding,  grafting,  and  in  some  cases  by  division.  The 
seed  must  be  left  on  the  tree  until  perfectly  ripe,  then  gathered,  dried,  and 
sown  either  in  the  open  ground  or  a  cold  frame.  As  a  rule  the  seeds 
germinate  and  the  seedlings  get  strong  enough  to  be  planted  out  the  first 
autumn.  The  beds  should  be  protected  during  the  winter  with  straw  to 
prevent  the  frost  injuring  the  young  plants.  The  first  flowers  will  not 
come  to  perfection,  but  when  the  plants  are  strong  enough  to  produce 
good  flowers  it  will  be  the  time  to  decide  which  are  worth  keeping. 
Cuttings. 
These  may  be  taken  at  almost  any  time,  cuttings  of  Hybrid  Perpetuals, 
Hybrid  Teas,  Bourbons  and  Hybrid  Bourbons,  and  some  of  the  hardiest 
Teas  rooting  well  in  the  open  about  the  first  week  in  October.  Take  a 
shoot  of  the  current  year’s  growth  from  9  to  12  inches  in  length  with  a 
heel,  choose  a  warm  sheltered  position,  well  prepare  the  ground,  take  out 
a  trench  6  inches  deep,  put  an  inch  of  rough  red  sand  in  the  bottom,  place 
the  cuttings  on  this  about  6  inches  asunder  and  the  rows  a  foot  apart, 
making  the  soil  firm  about  the  cuttings,  and  many  of  them  will  be  ready 
to  transplant  the  following  autumn.  Roses  on  their  own  roots  are  to  be 
relied  on,  and  I  myself  prefer  them  to  those  worked  otherwise.  Many 
Tea  varieties  are  tender,  and  these  growing  in  the  open  should  have  their 
cuttings  placed  thickly  in  pots  in  a  cold  frame  until  about  March,  by 
which  time  they  will  be  callused,  and  will  if  placed  in  heat  emit  roots 
at  once. 
Cuttings  of  Roses  growing  under  glass  are  easily  rooted  in  late  spring 
if  placed  in  a  propagating  frame,  and  will  make  excelleni  plants  in  a 
few  months.  When  rooted  they  should  be  placed  singly  in  small  pots, 
using  a  sandy  loam,  and  when  these  are  filled  with  roots  they  may  be 
placed  in  6-inch  pots.  Keep  in  a  close  frame  for  a  few  days,  gradually 
hardening  to  the  open  air  and  continually  pick  off  the  flower  buds. 
When  taken  inside  in  the  autumn  they  will  not  require  to  be  pruned, 
nearly  all  the  wood  being  full  of  vigour,  and  should  produce  a  dozen 
blooms  to  a  plant. 
Layering  is  adopted  if  plants  are  required  quickly.  Select  a  shoot 
of  firm  wood  in  June,  bend  it  down,  cut  a  slit  or  a  tongue  in  the  part 
that  touches  the  ground,  pegging  it  down  firmly.  It  should  be  rooted 
ready  to  plant  out  in  the  autumn. 
Budding  and  Grafting. 
These  are  the  chief  modes  of  propagating  the  Rose.  The  operations 
are  so  simple  that  anyone  may  learn  them.  I  know  a  young  lady,  the 
daughter  of  a  nurseryman,  who  buds  10,000  Roses  every  year.  Many 
kinds  of  stocks  are  used  for  budding,  the  chief  being  the  Briar  or  Dog 
Rose,  which  may  be  obtained  from  hedges.  Or  seedlings  may  be  raised, 
and  with  these  one  may  bud  close  to  the  ground,  or  run  them  up  8  or 
