198 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  26,  1897. 
aud  I  came  to  the  conclusion  it  was  better  to  continue  the  old  ways 
and  not  have  anytliing  to  do  with  them,  however  varied  and  pretty  they 
might  be. 
Carnations  and  Picotkks. 
The  exertions  of  Mr.  Martin  R.  Smith  have  led  to  a  groat  change  in 
the  cultivation  of  these  plants.  The  success  of  his  cross  fertilisation  has 
been  very  manifest.  Though  it  has  somewhat  tended  to  lessen  the  estima¬ 
tion  in  which  the  old  florist  varieties  were  held,  they  have  never  lost 
their  oharm  to  me,  although  I  (juite  agree  that  as  far  as  the  decoration 
of  the  garden  is  concerned  these  new  and  varied  forms  with  their 
wonderful  shades  of  colouring  are  more  effective.  The  autumn  of  1896 
was  an  unfavourable  one  for  them,  and  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  good 
layers.  Many,  perhaps,  are  independent  of  these  and  raise  their  seedlings 
year  by  year,  while  others  have  probably  by  this  time  completed  their 
layering.  As  soon  as  they  are  rooted  they  should  be  potted  off,  if  possible, 
singly  in  small  pots,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  put  in  the  frames  for  the  winter, 
for  I  do  not  advocate  the  plan  of  planting  them  out  in  the  autumn.  It  maj' 
succeed,  but  a  severe  or  very  wet  winter  is  likely  to  do  them  much  injury, 
and  I  would  always  advise  they  should  be  kept  under  cover  for  the 
winter.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  things  about  the  new  race  is  the 
number  of  yellow  varieties  which  are  produced.  Formerly  we  had  only 
two  or  three  worth  growing,  hut  now  with  every  collection  of  seedlings 
we  get  some.  Since  the  rains  which  we  have  lately  had  I  find  the  grass 
much  better  fitted  for  layering  ;  it  was  very  harsh  and  wiry  before,  but  it 
is  now  soft  and  pliable,  and  I  do  not  think  any  time  has  been  lost  by 
putting  the  operation  off. 
Gladiolus. 
There  is  not  much  to  be  done  now  beyond  securing  the  blooms  and 
enjoying  their  beauty,  but  those  who  wish  to  grow  from  seeds  should 
take  the  opportunity  of  cross  fertilising  the  blooms,  selecting  for  that 
purpose  the  best  flowers  that  they  have,  but  also  those  that  form  the 
greatest  contrast.  There  is  no  flower  more  easy  to  hybridise,  and  I  may 
add  there  is  no  flower  the  humble  bee  delights  more  in  rolling  in,  there¬ 
fore  a  careful  hybridiser  will  strive  to  be  beforehand  with  him.  At  the 
same  time  he  must  remember  that  some  of  the  finest  flowers  that  we  have 
have  come  from  natural  and  not  artificial  fertilisation.  On  the  whole  I 
think  the  season  has  been  a  favourable  one  for  these  flowers. 
Pansies, 
The  droughty  seasons  which  we  have  lately  experienced  in  the 
south  have  not  been  favourable  to  the  growth  of  these  plants,  for  they 
much  delight  in  moisture  apd  cloudy  skies.  The  few  that  I  can  grow  are 
in  pots  ;  the  plants  have  been  cut  down,  and  have  now  to  he  divided  and 
placed  in  small  pots  for  the  winter.  I  know  that  it  will  be  said  this  is  a 
lazy  plan,  and  I  plead  guilty  to  the  charge  ;  but  then  I  do  not  grow  for 
exhibition,  nor  can  I  house  a  large  number,  so  that  this  is  sufficient  for 
my  wants. 
Roses. 
I  think  that  it  is  a  very  good  plan,  instead  of  leaving  all  the  pruning 
for  the  spring,  to  cut  out  those  growths  which  have  flowered,  and  from 
which  nothing  is  to  be  expected  next  year,  as  it  gives  freer  scope  for  light 
and  air,  and  the  plants  are  not  so  liable  to  be  injured  by  high  winds,  and 
for  this  reason  very  long  shoots  ought  to  he  partially  shortened  and 
have  a  stake  put  to  them. — D,,  Deal. 
IXORA  NOTES. 
Pew  stove  plants  are  more  valuable  both  for  exhibition  and  decorative 
purposes  than  Ixoras.  As  large  specimens  with  rich  deep  green  foliage 
and  noble  heads  of  flowers  they  have  an  imposing  effect,  while  as  smaller 
plants  with  from  one  to  half  a  dozen  trusses  few  plants  can  excel  them 
during  their  period  of  flowering.  Ixoras  are  purely  tropical  plants,  and 
the  imported  species  are  almost  exclusively  from  tropical  Asia.  An 
Asiatic  name  has,  therefore,  been  appropriately  given  to  the  genus, 
Ixora  being  a  Malabar  idol,  to  which  the  flowers  of  Ixora  stricta  (as 
it  was  originally  named,  but  now  known  as  coccinea)  are  offered  by  the 
natives. 
Ixoras  can  be  easily  propagated  by  cuttings.  Take  a  short-jointed 
half-ripened  cutting  about  6  inches  long  and  insert  it  firmly  in  a  small 
thumb  pot  in  a  compost  of  peat,  leaf  soil,  a  little  fibrous  loam,  and  a 
good  admixture  of  silver  sand.  Plunge  the  cutting  pots  in  bottom  heat 
in  a  moist  well-heated  stove  or  propagating  house,  and  not  many  days 
will  elapse  before  roots  are  emitted.  When  these  reach  the  sides  of  the 
pots  transfer  them  to  pots  a  little  larger,  and  eventually  into  .'i-inch  pots, 
using  the  same  sort  of  soil  as  described  for  the  euttings.  Healthy  plants 
in  5-inch  pots  are  of  great  use  for  table  decoration  while  medium- sized 
plants  with  six  or  seven  trusses  of  flowers  on  them  are  very  valuable  for 
many  purposes  of  decoration.  The  next  shift  should  be  into  a  6-inch 
pot.  Future  shifts  must  be  at  the  discretion  of  the  grower,  according  to 
what  size  plants  are  reipiired,  but  large  shifts  should  never  be  given, 
which  often  result  in  sour  soil  and  unhealthy  plants.  A  little  liquid 
manure  may  be  given  occasionally  when  the  plants  are  established.  Do 
iiot  give  the  plants  too  mueh  water  in  the  winter  time,  and  avoid  drip 
from  the  roof,  which  is  fatal  to  good  foliage.  During  the  growing  season 
afford  plenty  of  heat  and  syringe  twice  a  day,  the  pots  if  possible  being 
half  plunged  in  a  hotbed.  Any  shoots  threatening  to  steal  strength  from 
the  others  should  also  be  stopped  to  give  two  or  three  shoots  instead  of 
one.  If  fly,  or  thrips,  or  mealy  bug  appear  there  must  be  smoking  and 
sponging  at  once. 
This  treatment  should  continue,  with  a  little  shade  from  very  bright 
sun,  until  Septemher.  The  pots  should  then  be  raised  out  of  the  hothed, 
the  plants  placed  near  the  glass  and  in  full  light ;  and  though  syringing 
may  be  resorted  to  at  times,  it  should  gradually  be  discontinued,  and 
water  at  the  roots  also  lessened,  but  never  so  as  to  cause  the  plants  to  flag. 
The  object  is  to  ripen  the  shoots  formed.  During  October  and  November 
the  water  must  be  lessoned,  and  the  temperature  may  fall  then  and  on  to 
February  to  60°  and  55°,  the  roots  just  kept  healthy  and  no  more,  and 
care  taken  of  the  leaves  by  syringing  and  sponging  on  a  fine  bright  day. 
The  rest  is  thus  given  at  the  dull  season,  as  the  flowers  are  much  more 
pale  when  produced  in  winter.  About  March,  or  eai’lier,  the  plants  may 
be  moved  into  a  higher  temperature  by  degrees,  and  at  first  the  pots 
partially  and  ultimately  three-parts  plunged  in  a  sweet  hotbed,  with 
openings  below  the  pot  to  secure  drainage.  The  temperature  may  be 
gradually  raised  to  75°  and  80  with  air,  and  of  course  waterings  at  the 
root  will  be  more  needed  as  the  temperature  rises,  and  the  syringe  must 
be  pretty  well  used  before  the  bloom  trusses  show.  Then  a  drier 
atmosphere  should  he  given  and  the  plants  be  lifted  out  of  the  hed  as  the 
flowers  open  and  kept  cooler  and  drier  to  preserve  the  bloom. 
Ixoras  cannot  be  grown  in  a  low  temperature.  On  this  point  a  good 
authority  has  written  as  follows  : — “  I  would  particularly  allude  to  this 
high  temperature  and  moist  atmosphere  in  summer  as  essential  to  success, 
as  I  have  had  several  complaints  that  the  Ixoras  cannot  be  managed  in  a 
warm  greenhouse  temperature — about  50°  in  winter,  and  very  airy  in 
summer.  It  is  waste  of  time  attempting  such  plants  under  such  circum¬ 
stances.  I  have  given  them  up  for  a  time  because  I  have  not  enough  heat 
for  them.  Those  who  can  command  a  rather  dry  atmosphere  of  from  55°  to 
65’ in  winter  and  a  fermenting  bed  in  spring  and  summer,  securing  a 
bottom  heat  of  from  80°  to  85°  and  90°,  and  a  top  temperature  of  from 
70°  to  85’’,  and  5’  to  10°  more  in  sunshine,  with  abundance  of  atmo¬ 
spheric  moisture,  will  no  doubt  succeed  with  the.se  lovely  plants,  which 
are  well  deserving  all  such  attention.” — L. 
LSLE  OF  WIGHT. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improvement 
Association  was  held  at  Ventnor  on  August  7th.  Dr.  Groves  presided 
over  a  fair  attendance  of  members  and  friends.  Mr.  C.  Orchard,  F.R.H.S., 
read  an  excelient  paper  on  “  The  Frogi'ess  of  Horticulture  in  EnglamJ 
During  her  Majesty’s  Reign.”  The  subsequent  discussion  proved 
interesting  and  profitable.  Mr.  W.  W.  Sheath,  Macrocarpa  Gardens, 
Ventnor,  was  awarded  the  Association  certificate  for  an  excellent  group  of 
miscellaneous  plants.  Ten  new  members  were  enrolled. 
Shanklin. 
The  eighteenth  annual  summer  Show  of  the  Shanklin  Horticultural 
Society  was  held  by  permission  of  Mr.  Spartali  in  the  beautiful  grounds 
of  Hylstone,  which  overlook  the  far-famed  Shanklin  Chine,  on 
August  1 8th.  The  quantity  and  (juality  of  exhibits  exceeded  and 
surpassed  those  of  any  previous  year.  The  meteorological  conditions 
were  favourable,  and  the  attendance  was  very  large.  This  is  unquestion¬ 
ably  the  largest  and  best  Show  in  the  Garden  Isle.  The  Judges  had  a 
difficult  task  to  perform,  the  competition  being  very  keen.  Dr.  Dobbs 
judged  the  honey,  and  expressed  a  wish  that  it  were  possible  to  give 
every  exhibitor  a  prize,  as  all  were  really  worthy  of  something.  There 
was  an  excellent  show  of  Lord  Suffield  Apples.  The  Shanklin  Society 
again  won  the  sash  and  counties’  championship,  offered  by  Messrs. 
Canncll,  for  an  exhibit  of  fruit,  flowers,  and  vegetables. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Geddes  secured  the  I.W,  Horticultural  Improvement 
Association  certificate  for  a  good  collection  of  Sweet  Peas.  The  floral 
decorations  were  very  fine.  The  principal  exhibitors  at  the  Show  were 
Messrs.  F.  .\.  Hill,  S.  Banks,  A.  Richards,  C.  H.  Snook,  W.  A.  Kent, 
F.  Bastiani,  B.  Roach,  G.  H.  Kent,  and  G.  Witty. 
Niton. 
The  third  annual  summer  Show  of  the  Niton  Society  was  held  on 
August  18th,  in  the  charming  grounds  of  The  Grchard,  by  permission  of 
Lady  ^lary  Gordon.  Many  of  the  exhibits  staged  showed  high-class 
culture.  'I'he  I.W.  Horticultural  Improvement  Association  certificate 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  II.  .Jacobs  for  a  collection  of  vegetables.  The 
principal  exhibitors  were  Messrs.  G.  W.  (.  reeth,  M'.  Cotton,  H.  .Jacobs, 
A.  Humber,  F.  Niblett,  A.  Salter,  (\  Long,  W.  Hayles,  and  .1.  Niblett. 
Freshwater. 
This  show  was  held  on  August  18th  in  Farringford  Park  by  permis¬ 
sion  of  Lord  Tennyson.  The  exhibits  were  not  so  numerous  as  in 
previous  years  ;  but  all  round  the  standard  of  excellence  had  improved, 
and  with  care  in  staging  and  labelling  the  Show  could  be  made  still 
more  interesting  and  profitable  to  those  attending.  The  I.W.  Horticul- 
tiu’al  Improvement  Association’s  certificate  was  awarded  Mr.  A.  W.  Kime, 
F. R.H.S.,  gardener  to  Colonel  ('rozier,  .J.P.,  IVesthill,  Freshwater, 
for  three  bunches  of  Grapes.  Amongst  the  principal  exhibitors  were 
Messrs.  .1.  .Martin,  F.  Banham,  B.' Grist,  W.  Morey,  .1.  Covey,  H.  Fry, 
G.  Wheeler,  J.  (  ollis,  and  W.  Stephens.  The  bee  tent  proved  a  great 
acquisition  to  the  Show,  and  much  interest  was  taken  in  the  lectures  and 
practical  demonstrations  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Medlicott,  Swanmore 
Vicarage.  Bishop’s  Waltham,  and  his  assistants.  It  is  certainly  greatly 
to  be  regretted  that  in  a  small  place  like  the  Isle  of  Wight  there  should 
be  three  shows  held  on  the  same  day.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  next  year 
this  will  be  avoided.  -  S.  H. 
