42S 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  29,  1896 
too.  There  could  be  no  mistake  about  it.  The  lime  was  spread  on  in 
lumps  in  February,  left  just  long  enough  to  slake  in  the  showery 
weather,  and  then  “^hen  the  land  was  dry  enough  dug  in  with  strong 
iteel  forks,  taking  very  small  slices  for  the  better  mixing,  and  the 
Potatoes  were  planted  early  in  May. 
I  hope  these  answers  are  plain.  Of  course,  there  are  plenty  of  soils 
to  which  it  would  be  foolish  to  apply  lime  half  so  freely  ;  at  the  same 
time,  I  well  remember  an  old  master — a  gardener,  who  still  reads  the 
Journal,  spreading  lime  an  inch  thick  on  a  Vine  border,  also  bush  fruit 
quarters,  where  the  soil  was  soft  and  black  with  manure,  and  the  good  it 
did  was  clear  to  all  concerned. 
I  cannot  tell  Mr.  D.  why  Tomatoes  failed  to  thrive  in  soil  treated 
with  only  5  bushels  of  quicklime  per  rod,  except  it  contained 
enough  lime  before,  and  that  the  dressing  “  only  ”  at  the  rate  of  800 
bushels  per  acre  was  so  far  excessive  as  to  be  injurious.  Nor  do  I  know 
why  his  sprinkling  of  chalk  (1  per  cent.)  did  harm  rather  than  good  to 
Tomato  plants  in  pots.  They  had,  perhaps,  something  else  that  disagreed 
with  them,  or  needed  something  they  ought  to  have  had.  Super¬ 
phosphate  of  lime  always  does  my  Tomatoes  good. 
Having  done  what  I  could  to  answer  Mr.  D.  in  good  faith,  I  now 
turn  to  Mr.  A.,  who  is  a  more  difficult  customer  to  deal  with.  He  starts  by 
saying  clearly  that  I  got  my  hot  water  idea  from  “  Phenyle  Adviser  ”  in ' 
the  Journal  in  June,  189(1.  How  then  could  I  have  used  it  for  years  ? ! 
Next  I  am  charged  with  having  “cribbed"  the  “lime"  from  Mr.  A.! 
this  very  month.  My  answer  to  Mr.  D.  is  sufficient.  If  “Phenyle 
Adviser”  and  Mr.  A.  were  rolled  into  one  it  would  be  hard  to  believe 
that  even  this  double-barrelled  man  originated  all  the  good  ideas  in  the 
Journal. 
When  I  pay  for  the  paper  for  the  information  that  is  in  it,  do  I  buy 
or  do  I  “  crib  "  that  information  ?  But  it  may  be  said  if  I  make  public 
use  of  what  someone  else  has  found  out  that  I  ought  to  say  who  he  is. 
Perhaps  I  ought,  and  if  so  should  not  Mr.  A.  do  the  same  ?  That  is  what 
I  want  to  know.  Very  well,  this  Mr.  A.  pretends  he  does  not  know 
whether  I  meant  ground  mustard  for  mixing  in  water,  or  “  whether  it  is 
seed  for  sowing,"  yet  he  can  tell  us  in  figures  exactly  how  much  potash, 
soda,  lime,  magnesia,  iron,  phosphoric  acid,  sulphuric  acid,  and  silica 
mustard  contains.  It  is  wonderful  is  this  “  analysis  of  ash  of 
first-class  mustard.”  But  who  got  it  out,  measured,  and  weighed  the 
little  items  1  Did  Mr.  A;  ?  If  not,  whence  did  he  get  the  figures  ?  He 
mentions  no  one.  Could  he  possibly  have  “  cribbed  ”  them  ?  If  so  is  he 
not  at  least  as  bad  as  I  am,  who  did  not  crib  from  him  as  he  has  stated  ? 
After  all,  however,  perhaps  he  meant  nothing,  but  the  tickling  of  the 
mustard  made  him  hnmoursome.  Very  well,  let  it  be  so,  and  he  can 
then,  if  he  likes,  consider  he  is  met  in  his  own  mood. 
One  thing  this  talented  author  does,  and  it  is  this — He  confirms  my 
supposition,  and  stamps  my  hot-water  temperature  with  his  seal  of 
authority;  for  he  says,  “Water  at  a  temperature  of  125°  is  just  the 
exact  thing  to  kill  eel  worm.”  Why,  then,  did  he  say  I  “spoiled  it  by 
not  having  the  water  boiling  ?  ”  Let  him  answer  that,  also  about  the 
mustard  figures,  before  he  runs  away,  if  that  is  what  he  means  by 
“  leaving  the  arena.” 
But  Mr.  A.  and  Mr.  D.  seem  to  think  that  nothing  will  enter 
the  tissues  to  reach  the  eelworm  in  them.  If  that  is  so  the  pest  seems 
to  be  master  of  the  position.  Well,  let  me  make  another  suggestion 
— add  paraffin  oil  to  the  mustard  and  water.  Paraffin  will  enter  the 
“  tissues  ”  of  deal  boards  very  well,  and  there  is  just  a  chance  of  its 
entering  root  nodules,  though  I  hardly  suppose  the  idea  will  enter  the 
noddle  of  Mr.  A. ;  but  his  solution  is  expected  to  “  enter  the  tissues 
where  the  eel  worms  are,  as  it  has  to  be  imbibed.”  I  hope  it  will  enter 
them,  and  clear  out  the  little  pests.  I  like  to  see  Mr.  A.  looking  for 
solutions  for  that  purpose.  I  must  say  he  is  about  the  only  one  who 
has  recommended  any,  but  I  hope  he  does  not  object  to  anyone  trying 
to  help  him  ;  in  fact  he  now  says  he  doesn’t,  for  he  talks  about  victory, 
and  “sharing  the  laurels.”  I  have  more  Laurels  than  I  know  what 
to  do  with,  they  seem  to  grow  wild  in  our  cheese,  and  he  would  find  it 
no  joke  keeping  them  in  order  if  he  had  all  the  work  to  do  himself. 
I  wonder  if  he  ever  boiled  any  Laurels  and  used  the  liquor  for  killing 
insects.  It  is  splendid  stuff  for  green  fly  and  all  that  tribe.  Perhaps 
eelworms  might  not  like  it.  I  never  thought  of  it  before,  and  almost 
wish  I  had  some.  I  am  sure  Mr.  A.  is  right  in  one  thing,  and  that  is 
in  going  at  plant  pests  in  good  time.  When  they  get  well  fixed  and 
nicely  covered  up  it  is  about  as  easy  to  get  them  out  and  settled  as  it 
seems  to  get  Kaffirs  out  of  their  caves  in  the  Matoppo  hills.  My  master 
has  a  brother  there,  and  he  has  sent  me  an  assegai,  so  Mr.  A.  must 
look  out  if  he  charges  me  with  “  cribbing  ”  from  him  again. — 
A  SlJJGLE-HANDED  GARDENEE. 
DIPLADENIA  AMABILIS. 
Dipladenias  are  grown  to  perfection  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Folkard,  gardener  to  Sir  J.  Walker,  Bart.,  Sand  Hutton  Hall,  Yorks. 
Dipladenia  amabilis  covers  the  roof  of  a  span-roofed  house  30  feet  long. 
There  are  two  plants  in  14  and  10-inch  pots  in  a  mixed  stove  house. 
The  first  flowers,  Mr.  Folkard  informs  me,  were  cut  on  May  15th,  and 
at  the  time  of  my  visit  (October  3rd)  there  were  on  these  two  plants 
over  200  blooms  fully  opened.  From  May  15th  to  October  1st  over 
1800  had  been  cut  and  sent  to  London  and  elsewhere. 
The  flowering  spikes  (many  of  them  are  over  2  feet  long)  have  had 
over  three  dozen  blooms  cut  from  them.  I  have  often  wondered  that 
this  plant  is  not  more  extensively  grown,  as  it  has  so  many  qualities  that 
recommend  it.  It  is  one  of  Lady  Walker’s  favourite  flowers  when  in 
London.  It  travels  well,  and  keeps  fresh  almost  longer  than  any  other 
flower  of  the  same  colour.  I  am  sure  it  would  be  interesting  to  the 
readers  of  the  Journal  if  Mr.  Folkard  would  give  his  mode  of  treatment, 
including  potting,  pruning,  and  other  routine. 
DipUdenias  are  not  the  only  plants  that  flourish  in  these  beautiful 
gardens  ;  Chrysanthemums  are  a  leading  feature,  as  well  as  fine-foiiaged 
plants,  and  Ferns,  Peaches,  and  Vines  are  extensively  grown,  and  all 
do  credit  to  their  cultivator. — C.  Colebrook. 
f  It 
THE  FLORISTS’  TULIP. 
[By  J;iS.  W.  Bentlky,  Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Royal  National  Tulip  Society.] 
Descriptive  Catalogue  (,  Concluded  from  page 
Talisman  (Hardy),  —  Bybloemen,  Tall;  shape  rather  too  long; 
base  very  pure  ;  petals  wide,  but  rather  thin  at  the  tips,  and  apt  to 
reflex  a  little  when  the  flower  is  old.  As  a  breeder  it  is  good  when  the 
flower  is  young,  the  fine  wide  base  and  bold  black  anthers  counter¬ 
balancing  the  dull  slaty  purple  colour.  When  rectified  it  is  generally 
flamed,  and  in  that  state  is  one  of  the  finest  byblcemens  in  cultivation, 
the  markings  of  purple  black  being  bold  and  brilliant.  It  is  a  very 
constant  flower,  although  a  good  strain  is  indispensable.  Occasionally 
seen  in  the  feathered  state,  and  when  correct  is  a  beautiful  flower.  A 
good  grower,  increasing  well,  it  is  cheap  and  abundant.  Raised  over 
thirty  years  ago  by  Dr,  Hardy  of  Warrington. 
Target  (Yates). — Bizarre.  Shape  fair  ;  base  pure.  An  inconstant, 
feathered  variety,  rather  small  in  size,  feathered  with  brown,  on  a  some¬ 
what  pale  yellow  ground.  Of  little  value,  and  not  much  grown. 
Thalia  (Clark). — Bybloemen.  Tall  ;  shape  rather  long  ;  base  pure  ; 
anthers  bold  and  black  ;  petals  of  good  substance.  A  late  blooming  flamed 
variety,  very  popular  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago,  the  marking  colour  being 
rich  purple  on  a  good  white  ground.  Not  often  seen  in  good  condition, 
and  increasing  slowly  is  but  little  grown.  Raised  in  the  early  years  of 
this  century  from  Holmes’  King  by  Mr.  W,  Clark  of  Croydon,  who  was, 
undoubtedly,  the  father  of  the  English  Tulip. 
Thomas  Parker  (Parker) — Rose.  Shape  longish  ;  base  pure.  A 
pale  and  dull  coloured  rose  breeder  of  no  particular  value  as  an  exhibi¬ 
tion  flower.  It  is  quite  worthless  when  broken. 
Tiny  Tim  (Horner). — Bizarre,  Shape  good  ;  base  pure.  A  prettily 
peccilled  feathered  variety  with  a  good  yellow  ground.  It  is,  however, 
too  small  to  rank  high  as  an  exhibitioa  flower.  Raised  by  the  late  Dr. 
Horner  of  Hull, 
TiPPOO  Saib  (H.  Goldham) — Bizarre.  Shape  fair;  base  pure.  A 
very  distinct  flamed  variety,  having  a  broad  dark  chocolate  beam  on  a 
pale  yellow  grounf.  More  valuable  as  a  bed  flower  than  for  exhibition. 
A  seedling  from  Cse’ar  X  Toxophilite. 
Tom  Leech  (Leech). — Bizarre,  Dwarf  ;  shape  good  ;  base  pure.  A 
most  constant  and  correct  lightly  feathered  variety.  The  feathering  is 
light  reddish  brown  in  colour,  beautifully  pencilled  on  a  pale  yellow 
ground.  It  is  a  useful  exhibition  flower,  although  its  small  size  and 
pale  ground  prevent  its  being  classed  as  first-rate.  Broken  by  myself 
from  an  unnamed  seedling  breeder  of  Mr.  Leech’s. 
Tom  Storer  (Storer).— Bizarre.  Dwarf;  shape  good;  filaments 
often  stained,  and  base  greasy.  A  constant  and  beautifully  marked 
flamed  variety,  rather  dull  in  colour,  broken  by  the  late  Mr.  Wm.  Wardle 
of  Winshill,  near  Burton-on-Trent,  that  from  its  sins  against  the  law  of 
purity  is  unworthy  of  the  famous  name  it  bears. 
Toxophilite  (Dunn). — Bizarre.  Shape  fair;  base  pure,  A  some¬ 
what  dingy  looking  dark  flamed  bizarre,  which  is  not  much  grown, 
although  it  occasionally  turns  up  at  exhibitions. 
Trafalgar  (Chadwick). — Bizarre.  Shape  long  ;  base  stained.  An 
old-time  scarlet  feathered  variety,  with  a  good  yellow  ground.  A 
constant  sort,  and  a  great  favoarite  fifty  years  ago  as  an  exhibition 
flower.  Not  grown  now,  and  only  worthy  of  notice  as  being  the  female 
parent  of  Sir  Joseph  Paxton. 
Trafalgar  (Davey). — Bybloemen.  Shape  longish  ;  base  pure.  An 
obsolete,  heavily  marked,  dark  feathered,  and  flamed  variety,  much  used 
by  the  early  English  seedling  raisers. 
Triomphe  de  Lisle  (Dutch). — Bybloemen.  Shape  longish  ;  base 
pure.  An  obsolete,  large  flowered,  feathered,  and  flamed  variety  ;  the 
marking  colour  is  a  pleasing  shade  of  violet.  Much  esteemed  as  an 
exhibition  flower  in  the  early  part  of  this  century. 
Triomphe  Royale  (Dutch). — Rose.  Shape  longish ;  base  pure. 
k  correctly  marked  flamed  variety,  the  beam  being  deep  rose  and  the 
feathering  crimson.  This  kind  is  generally  supposed  to  be  merely 
Heroine  in  the  flamed  state,  and  certainly  Heroine  flamed  is  called 
Triomphe  Royale ;  but  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  true  Triomphe  Royale 
is  a  distinct  variety  with  a  broader  petal  and  far  more  constant  in  its 
markings.  Although  it  is  over  100  years  old  it  is  still  a  valuable 
exhibition  variety,  growing  well  and  increasing  freely. 
Trip  to  Stockport  (Hep worth). — Bybloemen.  Shape  fair  ;  base 
pure.  A  very  useful  and  constant  early  blooming  feathered  variety 
with  a  good  white  ground.  The  feathering  is  lilac  in  colour,  and  when 
properly  grown  it  is  a  good  exhibition  sort.  If  overgrown  the  cup 
becomes  long  and  loose,  and  the  feathering  heavy  and  flushed.  It  must 
be  protected  from  sunlight  and  heat,  and  is  at  its  best  in  a  cool  blooming 
season.  Of  no  value  when  flamed.  Syn.,  Hepworth’s  104/63. 
Tryphena  (Thurstan). — Rose.  Shape  good;  base  pure;  petals  of 
great  substance.  As  a  breeder  it  is  very  good,  resembling  Mabel  in 
