176 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  19,  1897. 
■stance,  and  a  Rose  that  will  be  certain  to  grow  in  favour  when  better 
known.  It  is  a  free  grower  and  bloomer,  lasting  fresh  a  long  time  on 
the  plant  and  when  cut.  In  Ellen  Drew  we  have  a  beautiful  rosy 
cerise  form  of  Duchesse  de  Morny.  One  of  the  greatest  improvements 
in  Roses  is  Mrs.  Pierpont  Morgan,  a  deeper  coloured,  larger,  and  better 
habited  form  of  Madame  Ousin.  Ceres  gives  a  new  shade  in  climbing 
Roses,  a  very  creamy  white  with  a  yellow  and  blush  centre. 
Antoine  Rivoire  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  Hybrid  Teas  ;  so,  too, 
are  Souvenir  de  Madame  Eagene  Verdier,  Alice  Furon,  and  Charlotte 
Gillemot.  Countess  of  Caledon  is  one  of  our  best  carmine  rose  shaded 
blooms,  large,  free,  and  a  thoroughly  perpetual  bloomer,  a  grand  new 
H.  Tea.  Rev.  Alan  Cheales  is  novel  in  colour,  a  pure  lake  with 
silvery  reflex  to  the  petals,  very  taking  and  a  good  grower.  Bat  the 
most  uniquely  coloured  Rose  I  have  seen  this  season  is  Messrs.  W.  Paul 
and  Son’s  Empress  Alexandra  of  Russia.  On  more  than  one  occasion  at 
the  Drill  Hall,  but  especially  at  the  last  Temple  Show,  this  was  in  grand 
form.  I  cannot  describe  it  better  than  as  a  rich  lake  red,  orange, 
apricot,  and  a  fiery  crimson  mingled  together  throughout  the  whole 
flower.  Ceftainly  one  of  the  most  charming  Tea  Roses  we  have,  and  not 
approached  by  any  other  variety  as  regards  colour. 
We  have  seen  how  very  useful  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  is,  and  now 
we  have  a  climbing  variety,  which,  if  true  to  its  parent  in  form  and 
floriferousness,  will  become  a  prime  favourite  at  once.  Mrs.  Harkness 
and  Paul’s  Early  Blush  are  synonymous  ;  they  are  really  fixed  sports 
from  Heinrich  Schultheis,  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  Merrie  England, 
another  sport  from  H.  Schultheis,  is  not  fixed.  It  is  very  attractive, 
and  if  constant  would  become  our  most  popular  striped  Rose  on  account 
of  its  sweet  scent,  clear  colouring,  and  freedom  in  growth  and  bloom. 
Plants,  which  I  am  positive  were  worked  from  the  same  shoot,  have  pro¬ 
duced  the  Mrs.  Harkness  shade,  and  also  the  deep  rosy  crimson  so 
prettily  striped  and  flaked  in  Merrie  England.  Self-coloured  flowers 
however  good  are  apt  to  cause  disappointment  where  one  expected  a 
striped  bloom.  _ 
A  few  words  upon  the  Roses  not  yet  in  commerce  and  I  must  close 
these  rambling  notes.  Lady  Clanmorris  is  a  good  Hybrid  Tea,  of 
Ernest  Metz  form  and  colour,  Eileen,  Bessie  Brown,  and  First  Cross  are 
also  H.  Teas  of  great  promise.  The  last  named  is  supposed  to  be  touched 
with  other  blood,  but  is  a  seedling  from  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  fertilised 
with  pollen  from  another  bloom  of  the  same  variety.  Killarney  is  one 
of  the  most  promising  H.  Teas  we  have.  It  is  grand  in  form  and  size, 
a  soft  salmony  peach  shade,  with  silvery  edges.  Of  course  it  is  difficult 
to  give  a  decided  opinion,  or  even  description  of  a  Rose  only  seen  upon 
two  occasions,  but  I  am  certain  Killarney  will  please  all  who  purchase  it 
next  spring.  Mrs.  Grahame  promises  well,  and  is  a  Tea  that  reminds 
me  of  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  and  Madame  Bravy  combined.  I  have 
seen  Mrs.  Mawley  in  better  form  than  at  the  Crystal  Palace  this  year> 
and  I  am  assured  it  will  be  much  liked.  It  has  the  merits  of  free 
growth  and  flower,  two  grand  points  in  its  favour,  while  it  is  unique  if 
rather  dull  in  colour,  and  of  good  form. 
These  are  all  to  come  from  Newtownards,  where  the  only  gold  medal 
new  Rose  of  the  season  was  raised.  This  is  a  H.P.  named  Ulster,  a 
charmingly  deep  salmon  and  pink  shaded  flower  of  immense  substance 
and  size.  Other  promising  new  Roses  were  Mrs.  Frank  Cant,  a  paler 
form  of  Madame  G.  Luizet,  but  quite  distinct.  B.  R.  Cater  is  a  H.P. 
•  of  the  Helen  Keller  shade  and  form,  but  more  capped,  and  distinct  in 
growth.  It  will,  indeed,  have  to  be  good  if  it  can  in  any  way  rival 
H.  Keller,  F.  W.  Sandford  is  a  charming  pale  blush  ;  and  Royal  Scarlet 
will  probably  make  a  grand  bedding  and  decorative  variety  from  the 
section  of  single  flowers. — A.  Piper. 
TOMATO  NOTES. 
Ripe  Tomatoes. 
“  E.  D.  S.”  (pp.  149,  150)  advises  “  picking  half-coloured  Tomatoes 
as  they  become  ready,  finishing  the  ripening  on  a  warm  sunny  shelf, 
where  they  colour  as  rapidly  as  on  the  plant,  without  any  deterioration 
in  flavour.” 
Oh,  “  E.  D.  S.  !  ”  have  you  really  compared  such,  for  flavour,  with 
fruits  gathered  absolutely  ripe  from  the  plant,  and  eaten  quite  fresh  1 
If  you  have  I  have  no  more  to  say,  for  I  do  not  want  to  be  involved  in 
any  more  comparisons,  I  simply  give  it  as  my  opinion  that  fruits 
ripened  on  a  shelf  have  not  anything  like  the  flavour  of  those  thoroughly 
ripened  on  the  plant,  and  eaten  very  soon  after  being  gathered. 
You  cannot  buy  them.  No  grower  for  sale  is  so  foolish  as  to  let  his 
fruits  of  any  sort  thoroughly  ripen  on  the  plant,  with  the  result  that 
they  will  neither  travel  nor  keep,  while  the  public  will  cheerfully  buy 
Strawberries,  for  instance,  that  do  not  even  look  ripe. 
Let  the  private  grower  test  really  quite  ripe  Tomatoes  from  his  own 
plants,  freshly  gathered,  and  I  am  afraid  he  will  hardly  be  able  to 
appreciate  those  ripened  on  a  shelf,  however  warm  and  sunny,  after¬ 
wards. — W.  R,  Raillem. 
Tomato  Roots. 
Doubtless,  like  many  other  readers  of  “  our  Journal,”  I  was  much 
interested  in  the  above  article  by  “  E.  D,  S.”  in  this  week’s  Journal. 
Will  he  kindly  say  what  are  the  proper  means  of  “inducing  a  constant 
multiplication  of  healthy  rootlets”  in  the  early  and  other  stages  of 
.growth?— 8.  S.  6 
SOWING  PARSLEY. 
Fresh,  good,  and  healthy  Parsley  is  a  standard  everyday  necessity 
in  the  majority  of  households.  Should  this  crop  from  any  reason  fail, 
and  a  long  blank  occur  in  the  supply,  the  importance  of  a  constant 
supply  is  at  once  seen.  Resolutions  are  then  made  by  cultivators  to 
avert  the  inconvenience  in  future  by  more  frequent  sowings  made  in 
several  positions,  where  it  is  thought  likely  Parsley  may  succeed. 
Spring  sowings  of  Parsley  are  not  calculated  to  give  the  unbroken 
supply  demanded,  because  it  begins  early  the  following  season  to  run  to 
seed.  The  tufts  of  green,  healthy  leaves  so  suitable  for  culinary 
purposes  then  rapidly  lose  their  colour  and  substance,  which  are 
transferred  to  the  flower  stem,  and  employed  for  perfecting  the  seed. 
Instead  of  making  frequent  sowings  at  various  periods  of  the  year  I 
adopt  the  plan  of  sowing  in  August.  The  plants  from  this  sowing 
attain  to  a  size  sufficiently  strong  for  them  to  pass  the  winter  without 
succumbing  to  damp,  which  is  a  great  enemy  to  Parsley  in  some  climates 
in  winter.  It  is  possible  in  a  dry,  hot  soil,  and  having  to  experience  a 
long  period  of  drought  in  summer,  that  a  majority  of  plants  from  even 
this  sowing  may  run  to  seed,  and  lessen  the  chances  of  securing  good 
pickings. 
Here  it  will  be  seen  that  a  spring  sowing  may  come  in  useful  by 
providing  a  supply  during  the  autumn  and  winter.  Under  ordinary 
circumstances,  however,  the  previous  August  sowing  should  remain  in 
good  condition  the  whole  of  the  year  succeeding,  or  until  the  next 
sowing  is  fit  for  use. 
The  sowing  made  now  may  be  regarded  as  constituting  the  main 
crop.  The  position  assigned  for  it  ought  to  be  an  open  one,  the  soil  not 
too  rich,  but  well  drained  and  fertile.  Dig  deeply,  and  well  break  up 
the  particles,  leaving  the  surface  smooth  and  level  according  to  the 
inclination  of  the  ground.  Dry,  parching  weather  will  render  watering 
necessary,  giving  a  good  soaking  with  a  rosed  water  can  before  sowing 
the  seed.  Broadcast  sowing  is  the  best.  Do  not  sow  too  thickly.  Carry 
out  the  sowing  while  the  surface  of  the  soil  is  moist  from  the  watering. 
Immediately  cover  the  seed  with  a  thin  coating  of  finely  sifted  soil 
obtained  from  under  the  potting  bench,  or  any  place  where  tolerably 
dry.  A  little  shade  in  hot  sunshine  will  prevent  rapid  evaporation,  and 
insure  a  steady,  even  germination  of  the  seed.  Following  this  little 
attention  will  be  needed  beyond  an  occasional  watering,  thinning  out 
any  rank  patches,  and  keeping  the  bed  clear  of  weeds. 
Some  cultivators  find  it  necessary  to  protect  in  winter,  but  this  must 
be  distinguished  from  closely  confining  the  plants  by  surrounding  with  a 
frame,  and  keeping  on  the  lights.  The  protection  may  be  more  of  a 
simple  character.  A  few  lights  supported  on  bricks  serve  to  maintain 
the  plants  dry,  while  a  free  supply  of  air  is  always  circulating  about 
them.  Parsley  is  hardy  enough  when  it  has  attained  a  fair  size,  but 
liable  to  damp  when  small  in  winter,  more  especially  near  large  towns. 
Nearly  all  seedsmen  possess  good  strains  of  Parsley,  and  such  selected 
stock  ought  only  to  be  employed,  as  it  is  quite  as  easy  to  cultivate  good 
stock  as  inferior.  Sutton’s  Selected  Garnishing  and  Giant  Curled  have 
proved  excellent  in  every  way  with  me,  and  beds  of  them  are  not  only 
useful  but  ornamental. — E.  D.  S. 
GROWING  CAMELLIAS. 
Havino  referred  (page  150)  to  a  healthy  plant,  and  noted  how 
it  may  be  made  to  fail  or  to  flourish,  it  cannot  but  be  useful 
to  commence  with  an  unhealthy  plant  and  suggest  how  it 
may  be  improved.  The  stems  have  a  black,  wiry,  hide-bound 
appearance  ;  the  leaves  are  greenish-yellow  ;  the  flowers  few,  because 
the  majority  of  what  buds  there  were  fell  off  like  nuts  in  the 
autumn.  Let  us  turn  such  a  plant  out  of  the  pot  and  examine  the 
roots.  What  do  we  find?  Au  inert  mass  of  soil,  possibly  black 
sour  peat,  and  something  like  a  root  or  two  trying  to  escape 
through  the  drainage,  yet  arrested  by  worms.  This  is  no  imaginative 
case.  There  are  thousands  of  plants  in  that  state — dying  by  degrees 
for  the  want  of  a  fair  chance  to  grow.  They  cannot  get  out  of  the  pots 
and  shake  off  the  soil  that  is  killing  them ;  therefore  we  must  help  them. 
This  must  be  done  carefully.  Every  fresh  root  must  be  preserved.  If 
the  case  is ,  a  bad  one,  there  being  a  few  white  roots,  but  the  majority 
black  and  dead,  not  only  should  all  the  soil  be  picked  or  shaken  out,  but 
the  roots  should  be  washed,  as  if  washing  a  mop.  Cut  off  the  dead 
portions — indeed,  cut  until  life  is  found  ;  then,  while  still  wet,  dust  the 
roots  heavily  with  silver  sand  and  repot  in  as  small  a  pot  as  possible. 
Drain  it  well,  and  protect  the  drainage  from  the  soil  with  clean  turf 
fibre,  which  dust  with  soot.  For  a  plant  of  the  kind  under  notice  this 
is  the  compost :  Half  rather  light  but  decidedly  turfy  loam  containing 
no  lime,  the  remaining  half  very  fibrous  Heath  or  Azalea  peat — not 
bog — and  leaf  soil  from  leaves  that  have  not  fermented  ;  mark  the  con¬ 
dition.  To  this  add  crushed  charcoal  and  silver  sand  liberally,  say 
together,  so  as  to  form  an  eighth  part  of  the  bulk.  Mix  the  whole 
thoroughly.  If  this  compost  will  not  incite  the  production  of  roots 
nothing  will. 
When  should  this  be  done  ?  is  the  next  question.  It  is  best  done  in 
early  spring,  just  as  the  plants  are  commencing  growth,  or  trying  to  do 
so,  by  those  who  have  a  stove  or  other  structure  where  the  temperature 
ranges  from  56°  to  85°,  and  where  syringing  can  be  done  freely  and  a 
moist  atmosphere  maintained.  Those  who  have  not  such  convenience, 
but  possess  a  vinery  in  which  the  Vines  start  in  a  natural  manner,  may 
repot  their  Camellias  when  the  Vine  leaves  fairly  cover  the  roof,  as  the 
temperature  suitable  for  Vines  at  that  stage  and  onwards  will  be  also 
