September  23,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
2S7 
varieties  are  legion,  almost  every  seedsman  claiming  to  have  his  own 
strain.  For  the  first  sowings  Early  Milan  and  Early  Snowball  are 
good  white  varieties,  and  the  white  Strap-leaf  is  excellent  as  a  succes¬ 
sion;  while  among  the  coloured  kinds  Eed  Globe,  Orange  Jelly,  and 
All  the  Year  Eound  will  provide  variety  sufficient  for  ordinary 
rerpiirements. 
The  Turnip  crop  is  subject  to  attacks  from  various  enemies, 
perhaps  the  worst  of  which  is  the  Turnip  flea,  Ilaltica  nemorum. 
Disastrous  effects  of  this  pest  have  been  seen  this  summer,  thus 
proving  the  statement  that  favourable  conditions  of  culture  are  the 
best  preventive  against  insect  and  other  pests.  The  exceptional 
drought  stopped  the  growth  of  the  plants  and  encouraged  the  spread 
of  the  insects,  with  the  result  that  Turnip  beds  presented  a  pitiable 
appearance.  As  a  preventive  it  is  a  good  plan  to  sprinkle  the  plants 
with  dry  lime,  wood  ashes,  or  soot  in  the  morning,  when  they  are  wet 
with  dew,  as  anything  of  a  dusty  nature  is  distasteful  to  the  pest. 
Attacks  of  the  slime  fungus,  known  as  “  finger-and-toes,”  are 
frequent  in  light  and  sandy  soil ;  and  here,  again,  nothing  serves  so 
well  as  favourable  conditions  of  culture,  thereby  insuring  free  and 
rapid  growth.  Where  a  crop  is  affected  by  finger-and-toes  a  complete 
change  of  ground  is  the  first  consideration,  and  no  infested  roots 
should  be  left  on  the  ground,  otherwise  the  spores  are  washed  into  the 
soil,  and  the  remainder  of  the  crop  suffers  in  consequence.  All  infested 
roots  should  be  gathered  and  burnt,  and  the  ground  either  trenched, 
so  as  to  completely  bury  all  traces  of  the  disease,  or  be  subjected  to  a 
dressing  of  gas  lime,  at  the  rate  of  about  1  lb.  to  the  square  yard,  in 
the  winter,  leaving  it  on  the  surface  for  about  a  month  before  forking 
it  in.  Though  good  cultivation  is  the  best  preventive  against  all  ills 
to  which  vegetables  are  heir,  we  cannot  always  insure  them,  as  the 
capriciousness  of  climate  often  proves  an  incentive  even  after  our 
most  strenuous  efforts.  If  anything  is  worth  doing,  however,  it  is 
worth  doing  well,  and  the  lesson  is  thoroughly  applicable  in  the 
cultivation  of  this  useful  vegetable,  whether  for  home  or  exhibition. — 
Guower  and  Judge. 
NOTES  ON  BULBS. 
Putting  the  many  distinct  bulbous  plants  into  one  large  gi'oup 
we  should  probably  find  that  it  comprised  the  most  popular  plants  in 
cultivation,  for  one  or  more  representatives  of  it  will  be  found  in 
almost  every  garden  or  greenhouse  throughout  the  country.  Especi¬ 
ally  is  this  the  case  during  the  spring  months,  when  so-called  Dutch 
bulbs  are  malting  such  beautiful  displays.  The  expression  “so-called  ” 
is  used  advisedly,  for  it  is  somewhat  of  a  misnomer  now  that  so  many 
thousands  of  Daffodils  and  Snowdrops  particularly,  which  were  some 
time  back  lavgeU  procured  from  Holland,  are  grown  in  the  British 
Isles.  However,  as  the  time  is  with  us  when  this  section  of  the 
bulbous  flowers  is  being  dealt  with,  it  is  proposed  in  a  few  notes  to 
mention  cultural  details  and  give  selections  of  varieties  for  various 
purposes  that  may  be  of  assistance  to  some  readers  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture. 
It  will  be  thought  by  many  persons  that  the  culture  of  plants  so 
widely  grown  must  be  thoroughly  understood,  but  this  is  not  the 
case,  as  can  easily  be  proved  by  the  failures  that  are  constantly 
occurring  both  in  large  and  small  establishments.  Two  of  these  come 
to  mind  at  this  moment,  and  will  be  cited  here  as  warnings  to  others 
who  may  feel  disposed  to  adopt  similar  tactics.  Let  us  take  the  case 
of  a  so-called  professional  grower  first.  It  was  only  this  spifing  that  his 
failure  Avith  Hyacinths  Avas  observed,  and  for  Avhich  he  blamed  the 
bulbs,  the  bulb  merchant,  the  soil,  the  pots,  the  houses — everything 
and  everybody  in  fact  but  himself,  Avho  was  entirely  in  fault.  In 
September  excellent  bulbs  were  procured,  but  potting  Avas  postponed 
from  time  to  time  until  the  end  of  December,  of  course  owing  to  the 
pressure  of  other  work.  Then  all  Avas  bustle  and  hurry.  The  already 
weakened  bulbs  AA’ere  potted  and  placed,  covered  Avith  brown  paper,  in 
a  very  Avarm  house  to  make  up  for  lost  time.  The  results  were 
interesting,  hut  not  beautiful,  as  every  good  groAver  may  imagine — in¬ 
deed,  it  was  the  most  extraordinary  collection  of  Hyacinths  the  writer  has 
seen.  Despite  the  efforts  that  Avere  made  to  convince  him  to  the 
contrary  this  professional  gardener  (?)  i^ersisted  in  changing  the 
bulb  merchant,  and  was  quite  decided  to  place  his  order  in  another 
quarter  this  season,  and  it  is  probable  the  bulb  merchant  who  supplied 
them  will  be  thankful  if  he  does  so. 
Noav  for  the  amateur,  aaJio  was  a  man  of  quite  another  calibre. 
Everything  that  could  be  thought  of  was  done  to  insure  a  superb 
display,  and  the  result  Avas  looked  for  by  the  writer  and  friends,  as  Avell 
as  the  OAvner,  with  great  interest.  All  Avent  well  (apparently)  unti 
a  AA'eek  or  two  after  the  removal  of  the  pots  from  the  cocoa-nut  fibre 
refuse  in  which  they  had  been  plunged.  There  were  the  stout 
growths,  but,  wonderful  to  relate,  scarcely  a  movement  Avas  made  by 
any  single  shoot,  though  one  or  two  did  attempt  to  throAv  up  a  floAver, 
but  failed.  Sf)eculations  as  to  the  cause  were  abundant,  and  during 
the  owner’s  momentary  absence  one  day  an  inquisitive  visitor  took 
hold  of  a  shoot  to  feel  if  it  were  firm,  Avhen  the  bulb  came  easily  out 
of  the  soil.  It  Avas  immediately  replaced,  but  not  before  it  Avas  seen 
that  there  was  not  one  root,  and  it  AA^as  the  same  AA'ith  the  many 
others  that  were  tested.  By  dint  of  persistent  persuasion  it  was 
eventually  learned  that  a  heavy  dose  of  artificial  manure  had  been 
added  to  the  compost,  and  with  really  lamentable  results. 
These  tAvo  cases  will  perhaps  bring  a  smile  to  the  faces  of  some 
growers  who  have  not  made  such  mistakes,  but  they  serve  to  illustrate 
what  may  follow  negligence  or  ignorance  in  ^bulb  culture.  If  such 
things  have  been  done,  they  may  be  again,  though  not  by  the  same 
men,  and  it  is  to  aid  in  their  prevention  that  these  notes  are  being 
penned.  Though  the  cultural  details  to  be  given  have  been  proved 
over  many  seasons,  it  is  not  to  be  suggested  that  they  are  the 
best ;  others  may  do  just  as  well  by  different  methods  of  procedure 
and  Avill  not  feel  disposed  to  change.  Let  them  not  do  so,  such  is  not 
desired.  For  the  unfortunate  and  the  inexperienced  this  writing  is 
done,  and  if  these  and  the  skilled  groAvers  .should  gather  some  useful 
hints  the  object  in  vieAv  Avill  have  been  achieved.  After  this  rather 
lengthy  preamble  we  must  settle  doAvn  to  business  and  give  pride 
of  place  to  the  always  admired 
Hyacinths, 
The  first  essential  toAA'ards  success  in  groAving  Hyacinths  either  in 
pots,  glasses,  or  in  the  open  ground,  is  the  purchase  of  sound  bulbs. 
These,  be  it  understood,  need  not  necessarily  be  very  large.  The 
main  thing  to  look  for  is  solidity.  To  secure  this  the  earlier  the 
orders  are  placed  in  the  dealer’s  hands  the  better,  as  it  cannot  be 
doubted  that  the  best  go  first,  despite  the  fact  that  it  is  ahvays 
affirmed  that  no  picking  is  done.  Plav  ng  secured  the  bulbs  requisite, 
potting  (it  is  with  pot  culture  that  Ave  shall  deal  for  a  time)  must 
commence  at  once,  and  Avhere  many  are  groAvn  some  may  be  placed  in 
pots  immediately,  the  remainder  waiting  about  a  fortnight.  The 
<luestion  of  compost  is  an  extremely  debateable  one,  but  it  has  been 
found  that  three  parts  of  sound  loam,  one  part  of  decomposed  leaf 
mould,  with  a  goodly  amount  of  coarse  sand  and  small  pieces  of  char¬ 
coal,  suits  them  admirably  if  thoroughly  incorporated.  iSorne  excellent 
cultivators  advocate  decayed  manure  in  preference  to  leaf  mould,  but 
my  practice  has  been  to  feed  Avhen  the  plants  are  advancing  in  groAvth, 
as  Avill  be  referred  to  later. 
Priority  might  perhaps  have  been  given  to  pots  and  crocks  over 
soil,  but  it  does  not  matter  particularly,  so  long  as  they  are  referred 
to.  No  need  to  tell  the  intelligent  cultwator  that  everything  ought 
to  be  scrupulously  clean  to  commence  Avith ;  but  there  are  others, 
and  one  of  them  Avas  heard  to  say  recently,  Avho  ought  to 
have  known  better,  that  he  could  not  see  the  use  of  Avashing 
soil  off  pots  and  putting  more  in  -them  directly.  As  to  size  of 
pot,  much  latitude  is  permissible,  for  given  good  soil  and  proper- 
attention  excellent  results  may  be  had  by  the  utilisation  of  either 
4,  4i,  or  5-inch  pots,  these  being  one  bulb  for  each,  or  say  three  of 
medium  size  for  a  6-inch  pot.  For  choice  I  would  take  the  4^  size, 
and  should  expect  satisfactory  blooms  if  a  start  bad  been  made  AAfith 
first  grade  Itulbs  and  proper  compost.  After  carefully  placing  the 
crocks  in  the  pots  in  the  customary  Avajq  the  soil  must  l>e  preA-’ented 
getting  amongst  them  by  having  a  layer  of  moss  or  the  rougher 
portions  of  the  compost  put  on,  and  if  this  can  in  turn  be  dusted  over 
Avith  soot  so  much  the  better. 
The  stage  at  Avhich  potting  is  commenced  in  earnest  may  noAv 
be  considered  as  reached,  and  if  the  soil  be  in  proper  condition,  that 
is  to  say,  neither  wet  nor  dr)^  it  is  an  ojieration  that  does  not  call 
for  much  difficulty — indeed,  it  is  much  easier  to  do  than  to  describe. 
When  comifieted,  the  apex  of  the  bulb  may  just  protrude  through 
the  soil,  therefore  the  amount  of  soil  that  is  placed  in  the  pot  and 
on  Avhich  the  bulb  Avill  rest  must  be  governed  by  its  size.  Do  not 
make  this  mould  ver}^  hard  or  the  roots  cannot  enter  freely  ;  have 
it  firm  and  no  more.  Then  place  in  the  bulb,  surrounding  it  Avith 
soil  to  the  level  mentioned,  Avhich  should  be  about  f  of  an  inch 
from  the  top  of  the  receptacle.  Let  the  soil  be  firm  and  finished 
off  smoothly  for  the  sake  of  appearance.  Water  ought  not  to  be 
required,  but  if  the  soil  is  very  dry  it  is  advisable  to  apply  some 
before  plunging  the  pots.  Some  groAvers  always  have  a  cushion  of 
sand  for  the  base  of  the  bulb  to  rest  upon,  but  I  have  found  no 
particular  advantage  arise  therefrom. 
One  of  three  things  may  be  used  of  which  to  make  the  plunging- 
bed.  These  are  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse,  leaf  mould,  or  coal  ashes,  and 
the  fii'st  named  is  certainly  the  best  and  the  cleanest.  Whatever  it  is 
let  the  pots  be  completely  coA^ered  to  the  depth  of  about  4  inches,  and 
if,  as  is  best,  the  bed  is  outside,  put  any  rough  material  over  the  whole 
to  throw  off  the  heavy  rains.  If  the  soil  were  in  proper  condition  no 
water  will  be  needed  until  the  bulbs  are  ready  to  be  brought  from  the 
bed,  Avhen,  soon  after,  a  thorough  soaking  may  be  applied.  From  four 
to  seven  weeks  are  usually  long  enough  for  several  healthy  roots  with 
a  stout  top  shoot  to  have  been  emitted,  and  when  this  stage  is  reached 
they  must  immediately  be  taken  from  their  resting  place. 
At  this  period  the  attention  must  be  of  the  closest  so  as  to  prevent 
