January  30,  1902. 
107 
■l()Ui:XAL  UF  HOliTICULTURE  AND 
COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
pots  well,  dust  soot  or  dry  wood  ashes  over  the  crocks  to  exclude 
worms,  and  ram  the  soil  firmly  round  the  plants,  keeping  them 
well  down  in  the  pots  to  admit  of  copious  supplies  of  water  being 
given  when  necessary.  Ten-inch  pots  are  suitable  for  Queens, 
and  llin  or  12in  for  those  of  more  robust  growth.  A  tempera¬ 
ture  of  GOdeg  to  65deg  will  be  sufficient  for  these  plants,  also 
those  potted  last  autumn,  and  about  85deg  bottom  heat.  Plants 
in  beds  about  te  be  started  into  fruit  must  not  have  the  heat  at 
the  base  of  the  pots  over  90deg  or  95deg,  or  their  roots  will  be 
injured.  If  sufficient  fruit  be  started  to  meet  the  requirements, 
late  successional  plants  that  have  not  been  subjected  to  a  high 
temperature  may  be  advanced  slowly,  those  with  autumn  rooted 
suckers  requiring  careful  watering,  especially  where  the  heat  at 
the  roots  is  sui3plied  by  fermenting  materials.- — Pkactice. 
- •  9 - 
Gadding  and  Gathering. 
“Here  awa’.  There  awa’.” 
One  can  name  five  fairly  well-defined  “  sections  ”  of  Primula.s 
as  grown  at  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons’  nursery,  on  the  London 
Hoad,  at  Heading,  in  Berkshire.  These  five  sections  comprise: 
(1),  the  Giaut-fiowered  ;  (2),  the  lesser-flowered;  (3),  the  doubles; 
(4).  the  Speckled  and  Carnation-sti'iped  ;  and  (lastly),  the  stellate 
or  Star  Primulas.  No.  1  clearly  differs  from  tiie  second,  for  the 
flowers  of  the  Giants  are  truly  enormous  in  size.  While  visit¬ 
ing  the  collection  at  Suttons’  a  week  ago,  one  of  the  individual 
flowers  was  measizred,  and  spanned  2|in  across  from  edge  to 
edge  of  the  corolla.  That  is  no  mean  stretch.  These  Giants  are 
represented  in  varieties  with  distinctive  colours.  Simple  names 
are  adopted :  thus,  there  are  Giant  Pink,  Giant  White,  Giant 
Crimson,  Giant  Terra-Cotta,  and  mixtures  of  these  are  also 
offered.  Naturally,  Giant  White  and  Giant  Crimson  are  both 
greatly  prized  wherever  grown,  and  to  those  who  have  not  added 
Giant  Pink  the  variety  can  be  urgently  commended  for  a  trial 
in  the  coming  season.  Giant  Terra  Cotta  in  colour  approximates 
to  the  hue  that  gives  it  its  name  ;  but  the  flowers  are  not  perfect 
terra-cotta  colour,  having  much  of  the  salmon-pink  shade.  Royal 
White  is  endozved  with  a  compact  habit  like  the  others,  and  the 
typical  large  flower  erectly  held  on  stout  trusses.  Another  of 
these,  and  this  one  much  more  novel,  is  Giant  Lilac,  whose  name 
is  a  good  guide  to  its  tint.  It  shozild  be  pointed  out  that  some 
of  the  varieties  have  two  kinds  of  foliage.  There  is  the  palmate- 
leaved  Giant  Piizk  and  the  Fern-leaved  Giant  Pink.  Many 
growers  have  a  preference  for  one.  or  other  of  these  distinctive 
forms  of  leafage,  and  it  would  be  well  to  make  special  reference  to 
the  point  in  the  order  list.  The  foregoing  is  representative  of 
the  varieties  there  are  to  select  from,  and  by  the  wise  adoption 
of  such  popular  names  the  need  for  a  description  of  the  colours  is 
almost  entirely  abolished. 
Sutton’s  Primulas. 
The  lesser-floAvered  section,  which  one  finds  catalogued  as 
“  single  Primulas,”  in  all  respects,  except  in  a  lesser  size  of 
flower,  resemble  the  Giants.  Hei'e  one  might  introduce  the 
Duchess,  one  of  the  loveliest  varieties  that  surely  could  be  chosen, 
even  from  such  a  varied  collection  as  are  at  Suttons’.  It  has  an 
orange-coloured  eye,  round  which  is  a  broad  out-spreading  band 
of  bright  mauve,  and  shading  off  to  izale  pink  or  almost  pure 
white  at  the  fimbriated  edge.  ’The  wavy  edges,  by  the  way,  are 
exceedingly  attractive.*  In  the  same  group  comes  Pearl,  which 
has  stood  the  test  of  time  for  twenty  years,  and  still  maintains 
its  place  as  one  of  the  best  Primulas  for  greenhouse  culture.  The 
colour  is  white.  Brilliant  Rose  carries  its  splendid  trusses  well 
above  the  foliage.  Linder  artificial  light  the  flowers  appear  almost 
scarlet.  It  is  a  good  variety.  Reading  Blue  is  a  great  favourite. 
There  are  many  shades  of  blue,  and  personally  I  would  describe 
the  colour  a  very  decided  bright  lavender,  which  tint  is  com¬ 
paratively  rare  among.st  flowers  of  this  class.  In  the  Ro3’al 
Gardens  at  Kew  a  magnificently  fine.batch  of  the  Reading  Blue 
Primula  is  now,  and  has  been  since  Christmas,  on  show'.  This  and 
Reading  Pink  are  staged  side  bj’  side  at  Kewq  and  are  a  pleasure 
to  the  eyes  of  all  who  are  privileged  to  see  them. 
Besides  the  blue  just  named,  another  comes  to  mind.  This  is 
Sutton’s  Blue,  Fern-leaved.  Tlie  foliage,  indeed,  is  the  chief 
featzire  that  distinguishes  the  two  varieties.  Cambridge  Blue  is 
much  lighter  coloured  than  any  of  the  others ;  it  is  true  Cam¬ 
bridge  blue  w'hen  at  its  best.  Fern-leaved  Rosy  Queen  is  very 
pretty,  and  certainly  may  be  named  as  one  of  the  best.  Reading 
Scarlet,  I  trust,  is  know'ii  and  grow'n  in  every  garden.  It  w’ould 
be  chosen  amongst  the  brightest  half  dozen.  The  two  forms  of 
Crimson  King  (the  palmate  and  the  Fern-leaved)  are  splendid 
subjects,  a  special  point  with  them  being  their  intensely  deep 
and  rich  colour.  Before  leaving  the  blues  it  would  have  been 
apposite  to  refer  to  an  unnamed  seedling  with  flowers  of  a  ver^' 
pretty  form  and  deeper  in  colour  than  any  of  the  other  blues. 
Purple-violet  would  somewhat  describe  it,  or  it  might  be  likened 
*  Since  this  w, as  written,  the  Duchcs.s  Primula  has  been  special! n 
honoured  witli  an  Award  of  Merit,  which,  to  varieties  of  this  class 
of  plant,  is  dccidedlj'  unifjue. — Ed. 
in  colour  to 
I  iDoucmna  macrantlia,  ttiat  excellent  and  beautiful 
greenhouse  climbing  plant.  But  more  will  be  said  of  this  new¬ 
comer  another  j’car.  And  lastly,  in  this  place  must  be  mentioned 
hnowdrift.  This  is  one  of  the  earlie.st  of  all,  and  maintains  the 
purity  of  w'hitone.ss  all  through  its  period  of  flowering.  Even  if 
Snowdrift  is  sown  last,  it  seems  to  come  into  flower  first.  The 
flowers  are  beautifully  fimbriated,  of  good  substance,  and  are 
well  held.  With  a  selection  from  those  here  named  our  green- 
liou.se  w'ill  be  ensured  for  brightnes.s — a  brightiie.ss  not  vulgarly 
glaring  but  varied  and  highly  pleasing.  It  is  nece.ssary  to  call 
a  halt  here  for  the  nonce,  but  1  would  like  shortly  to  comjilete 
an  enumeration  of  the  choicer  varieties  in  the  remaining  three 
sections. 
Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Son,  Highgate. 
Limitations  of  space  caused  me  to  break  off  before  I  had 
mentioned  the  Ivies  noted  by  me  when  on  a  visit  to  Messrs. 
Lutbush  and  Sons  Highgate  Nurseries  recently.  These  are 
grow  n  in  pots,  and  the  long  growths  are  trained  to  erect  supports. 
immediate  planting,  and  ranging  from  2ft  to 
lort  higlij  aiG  tlius  always  on  liaiid,  Soiuo  of  the  iiior©  ornaiiiontal 
varieties  include  caenwmodiana,  chry.socarpa,  dentata,  digitata 
lobata  major  (one  of  the  best  for  covering  old  tree  stumps,  walls’ 
and  banks),  lucida,  palniata,  and  donerailensis,  while  the 
variegated  varieties  are  maderiensis  folds  variegatis,  maculata 
lucida  aurea,  aurea  spectabilis,  digitata  aurea,  and  others.  The 
various  Cj’tisus  (Broom),  especially  the  handsome  C.  Andreaiius 
Aere  finely  represented.  The  xlmpelopsis  in  beds,  potted  up  like 
the  Ivies,  also  engaged  attention,  and  out  in  the  opener  part 
of  the  grounds  there  were  ^pital  growths  of  Mulberries, 
Chestnut,  and  Beech  trees.  Hollies,  and  Birches.  Of  course 
riiese  are  only  groun  in  quantity  at  the  Barnet  Nurseries  hi 
Herts,  some  niiles  out  in  the  country,  but  representatives  of  them 
flourish  at  Highgate.  The  Messrs.  Cutbush  have  been  forming 
another  branch  nursei-y  at  Finchley,  so  that  this  old  firm  is  still 
forging  ahead.” 
Some  scores  of  Calla  Elliottiana,  just  ready  to  start  growth 
and  in  various  siz^  of  pots,  were  pointed  to,  under  a  cool  house 
stage.  The  pink  Calla  (Richardia  Rehmanni)  is  also  at  the  High¬ 
gate  Nurseries.  Lily  of  the  Valley,  in  ash  beds,  and  a 
wondrously  vigorous  collection  of  Nerine  Fothergilli  major  in 
cold  pits,  claimed  consideration,  the  latter,  along  with  a  nuniber 
of  finely  berried  Aucubas,  appearing  to  me  as  deserv'ing  special 
notice  in  virtue  of  their  grand  condition.  Ghent  and  mollis 
Azaleas,  together  with  a  very  large  selection  of  clipped  trees 
mostly  Box,  Yew,  and  Sweet  Bay,  are  at  Highgate  to  choose 
from.  The  trained  Sw’eet  Bays,  standing  12ft  to  l4ft.  high,  with 
large  dome-head,  narrow  middle,  and  bulging  base,  would  add 
imposing  features  to  any  stately,  formal  terrace  or  garden.  There 
are  also  standard  Bays  w'ith  rounded  heads. 
Waltham  Cross. 
It  was  interesting  to  see  the  Roses  that  will  be  so  admired 
soon  at  the  forthcoming  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
in  the  Inner  Temple  Gardens,  grouped  in  a  state  stark  and  bare’ 
early  in  January,  at  the  Waltham  Cro.ss  Nurseries  of  Messrs. 
William  Paul  and  Son.  I  was  there  ju.st  a  day  or  two  previous 
to  the  time  when  they  w'cre  to  be  placed  under  charge  of  the 
primer,  thence  to  be  grown-oii  for  the  auspicious  date  in  May, 
whence  the  noblest  in  the  land  will  be  pleased  to  view'  their 
beautiful  flowers.  In  an  adjoining  house  to  that  in  wffiich  the 
Temple  Show'  Roses  (.so  to  name  them)  were  grouped,  there  were 
splendid  .samples  of  Marechal  Niel  variety,  mostly  in  Tin  pots,  in 
height  12ft  to  15fb,  having  clean,  firm  .stems,  w'ell  studded  with 
prominent  buds,  and  in  thickness  double  that  of  an  ordinary  lead 
pencil.  I’liese  are  not  grown  on  their  own  roots,  as  man.v  recom¬ 
mend,  but  budded  on  seedling  Briars.  Few  finer  stocks  of  this 
favourite  varietj^  will  be  found  anyw'here.  A  veiy  large  and 
handsome  span-roofed  house,  containing  the  newer  varieties  of 
pot  Roses,  had  already’  been  stocked  and  set  in  working  order. 
The  vigour  of  the  young  shoots  starting  from  the  stout  and 
ripened  w'ood,  promised  an  ample  return  of  flowers  at  an  early 
period  of  the  j’car. 
In  the  open  air  large  “  breaks  ”  were  devoted  to  seedling 
Roses,  these  being  protected  by  spruce  branches,  and  others  by 
rough  litter  loosely  scattered  over  them.  Again  to  the  gla.s.s 
houses,  and  here  w’as  noticed  that  large-leaved  Tobacco  plant 
W’ith  vellow  variegation,  and  properly  named  Nicotiana  affinis 
variegatis.  ]Me.ssrs.  Paul  staged  a  large  group  of  this  plant — not 
quite  a  novelty,  having  been  grown  now  for  ten  years  or  so-— 
about  two  years  ago  in  the  Drill  Hall,  wdieii  au  .Award  of  Merit 
was  bestowed  upon  it.  As  an  imposing  and  highly  ornamental 
rubject  for  the  flow'er  garden  or  ornamental  grounds  during 
summer  the  plant  has  much  to  recommend  it.  As  it  can  be 
induced'to  'u-ow  throughout  the  winter,  given  a  little  heat,  its 
use  in  the  larger  tvpes  of  winter  conservatones  might  be  corn- 
mended,  and  the  plants  would  again  be  ready  for  the  open  air 
when  the  time  arrived.  A  tall  standard  could  be  formed  of  it. 
though  doubtless  this  would  not  be  advisable.  By  heading  the 
„mnts— that  is.  taking  off  the  tons  ami  rooting  Hem  afre.sh— a 
dwarf  size  could  always  be  ensured. -Wanhering  Wielie. 
