286 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  26,  1901. 
Outdoor  Varieties. 
To  the  raisers  and  introducers  of  the  many  varieties  of  early 
flowering  Chrysanthemums  all  garden  lovers  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude, 
for  by  planting  them  freely  we  are  able  to  have  hosts  of  delightful 
flowers  in  the  open  air  during  the  autumn  months.  In  large 
establishments  such  flowers  are  highly  prized,  not  only  for  the 
brightness  they  contribute  to  the  outdoor  garden,  but  also  for  their  value 
in  a  cut  state  for  various  decorative  purposes.  Last  year  the  weather 
was  so  favourable  during  the  autumn  months  that  late  varieties,  such 
as  W.  H.  Lincoln,  Princess  Teck,  and  Rose  Trevenna,  flowered 
splendidly  in  the  open  air  almost  up  to  the  end  of  the  year,  and  for 
the  sake  of  prolonging  the  supply  of  blooms  during  favourable  seasons 
it  is  always  wise  to  have  a  few  late  sorts  in  the  open  air,  but  they 
should  always  be  planted  in  sheltered  positions,  so  that  when  a  little 
artificial  protection  is  given  they  will  be  uninjured  by  6°  or  7°  of  frost. 
The  front  of  a  south  or  west  wall  or  building  is,  therefore,  an  excellent 
position  for  late  varieties. 
The  bulk  of  plants  intended  for  flowering  in  the  open  air  should, 
however,  be  early  flowering  varieties,  because  during  the  majority  of 
seasons  we  may  usually  rely  upon  their  having  completed  their 
flowering  before  sharp  frosts  cccur  ;  but  even  in  the  case  of  early 
flowering  varieties  it  is  always  wise  to  provide  against  contingencies. 
Sometimes  we  get  one  or  two  sharp  frosts  early  in  October,  which  ruin 
the  buds  when  no  protection  is  given.  Such  frosts  may  be  followed 
by  weeks  of  mild  pleasant  weather,  and  the  cultivator  who  neglects  to 
give  the  timely  attention  during  those  two  critical  nights  loses  the 
reward  of  a  year’s  labour,  while  those  who  protect  at  the  right  time 
enjoy  alundance  of  flowers  tor  weeks.  When  Chrysanthemums  are 
planted  in  bed,  or  quarter  to  themselves,  a  neat  framework  should,  if 
possible,  be  erected  over  them  at  this  season.  It  is  then  but  the  work 
of  a  few  minutes  to  enclose  them  with  thin  canvas  whenever  frosts  are 
likely  to  occur,  or  when  the  dews  are  very  heavy ;  and  by  such  means 
the  flowers  are  safely  preserved  from  injury  by  frost  or  damp. 
Plants  grown  against  walls  or  fences  are  easily  protected  by  placing 
poles  against  such  boundaries,  and  then  by  the  aid  of  a  few  naile  or 
hooks  tas’ening  canvas  over  them.  When  isolated  plants  are 
distributed  over  various  parts  of  the  garden,  a  simple  and  effectual 
method  of  protecting  them  is  the  following : — Drive  a  strong  stake  in 
the  centre  of  each  plant,  letting  the  top  of  the  stake  stand  a  toot  above 
the  top  of  the  shoots;  to  the  stake  fasten  a  strong  ring  of  wire,  over 
which  thin  canvas  can  he  placed,  so  as  to  hang  over  the  sides  of  the 
plants. 
Plant  Protector  Wanted. 
It  seems  to  me  that  a  cheap  plant  protector  is  wanted,  and  that 
there  is  at  the  present  time  a  splendid  opening  for  the  manufacturer 
who  will  come  forward  with  cheap,  light,  plant  protectors.  A  light 
wire  frame  covered  with  glazed  paper  would  form  a  sufficient  protection 
for  Chrysanthemums  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  for  hosts  of  other 
plants  during  the  spring  months. 
Nearly  all  the  early  flowering  varieties  are  worthy  of  being  grown 
in  the  open  air,  but  I  will  enumerate  a  few,  which  I  know  from 
experience  to  be  particularly  good.  Ambrose  Thomas,  reddish 
chestnut  ;  Admiral  Avellan,  pure  yellow  ;  Aurore,  bright  red  ; 
Bouquet  de  Feu,  terra  cotta  ;  Comtesse  Foucher  de  Cariel,  orange  bronze  ; 
Coral  Queen,  Crimson  Marie  Masse,  broLze ;  Queen  of  the  Earlies,  a 
grand  white  ;  Harvest  Home,  bronzy  red  ;  Ivy  Stark,  orange  yellow  ; 
Lady  Selborne,  white ;  Mrs.  Hawkins,  yellow  ;  Mytchett,  white  ; 
Mytchett  Beauty,  a  grand  yellow;  0.  J.  Quintus,  mauve  pink; 
Ryecroft  Glory,  yellow  ;  Thos.  Ball,  deep  orange ;  and  Yellow 
Selborne.  All  the  above  are  large  flowering  varieties.  The 
Pompons  are  also  a  delightful  class  to  grow  in  the  open  air,  and  their 
flowers  are  not  so  easily  injured  by  rain  as  those  having  large  flowers. 
All  the  pompons  given  below  are  free  flowering  and  attractive  in 
appearance.  Alice  Butcher,  orange  and  red;  Bronze  Bride,  Canari, 
yellow  ;  Flora,  golden  yellow  ;  L’Ami  Conderchet,  primrose  ;  La 
Petite  Marie,  white;  La  Yierge,  white;  Madame  E.  Lefort,  orange 
and  amber;  Mignon,  golden  yellow;  Miss  Davis,  pink;  Mr.  Selby, 
blush ;  Piercy’s  Seedling,  orange  yellow  ;  White  St.  Crouts,  Frederick 
Pele,  crimson  red  tipped  gold  ;  Jacintha,  pinkish  lilac  ;  Mr. 
Gullingford,  white ;  Strathmeath,  rose  pink,  and  M.  A.  Herlaut, 
claret  red  tipped  yellow. 
I  have  given  a  somewhat  extensive  list  of  varieties  in  order  to,  if 
possible,  induce  numbers  of  cultivators  to  obtain  at  least  some  of  them, 
because  so  many  continue  to  grow  old,  dull  coloured  sorts,  which  are 
now  quite  out  of  date.  With  tbe  new  varieties  we  have  at  command 
collections  of  Chrysanthemums  in  the  open  air  ought  to  be  brilliant 
and  varied  in  colour,  instead  of  a  repetition  of  dull  shades,  with  which 
we  have  teen  too  lot.g  familiar.  If  plants  are  ordered  now  it  will 
insure  their  delivery  in  good  condition  next  spring.  The  second  year 
after  planting  Chrysanthemums  are  usually  better  than  during  the 
first  season,  and  it  they  are  lifted  and  divided  every  three  years  they 
are  kept  vigorous.  During  recent  years  I  have  induced  many 
gardeners  to  pay  special  attention  to  these  lovely  “  Mums,”  and  all 
have  been  delighted  with  them. — Onward. 
Notes  from  Ireland. 
Mushrooms. — The  season  for  this  edible  fungus  has  been  an 
abnormal  one ;  in  fact  several  years  have  elapsed  since  we  have  had 
such  a  crop.  Our  local  markets  were  kept  constantly  fed,  but  the  keen 
demand  kept  the  markets  from  being  overstocked,  and  likewise  retained 
a  fairly  high  prioe,  for  the  ruling  prioes  at  the  opening  ranged  from 
6d.  to  Is.  per  lb.,  perhaps  a  shade  higher  was  reached,  whilst  at  the 
present  time  8d.  per  lb.  can  be  freely  secured  for  “  buttons.” 
Torenias. — My  favourable  impression  of  these  little  flowering  stove 
plants  has  been  retained.  I  recently  noted  an  extensive  array  of  bushy 
plants  with  an  abundance  of  their  Gloxinia  shaped  flowers.  Torenia 
speciosa  The  Bride  is  an  improved  form  of  Fournieri,  which  is  a  native 
of  Cochin  China.  The  flowers  are  larger,  the  upper  petals  white,  the 
lower  ones  a  shade  of  pale  pink,  and  it  has  the  advantage  of  size. 
Perhaps  the  bold,  blue  colour  of  other  better  known  varieties  gives 
them  an  impression  of  substance,  and  they  more  easily  attract  attention, 
so  that  for  massing  or  for  edging  in  a  conservatory  The  Bride  would 
not  be  so  effective. 
A  Good  Tree  Carnation. — To  gardeners  whose  taste  lies  in 
cultivating  Tree  Carnations  for  winter  flowering,  I  would  recommend  a 
variety  that  has  been  known  to  me  for  the  past  twelve  months  or  longer 
— namely,  Princess  Alexis  de  Monaco.  The  calyx  does  not  split,  and, 
therefore,  ensuring  a  compact  bloom.  In  colour  the  centre  petals  are 
light  rosy  pink,  while  outwards  the  hue  gradually  becomes  fainter.  The 
flower  is  oompaot,  and  the  plants  are  floriferous ;  the  stems,  too,  are 
long,  strong,  and  tough. — A.  O’N. 
Bulbs  as  Edging. 
Bulbs  growing  in  isolated  patches  or  in  masses  in  borders  produce 
a  remarkably  good  display  when  in  flower,  but  in  a  prominently  placfed 
border  there  is  a  gap  in  summer  when  the  bulbs  have  died  down  and 
are  at  rest.  If  the  border  is  judiciously  planted,  however,  with 
herbaceous  plants,  which  will  to  some  extent  spread  over  the  vacant 
places,  this  apparent  bareness  need  not  be  a  great  eyesore.  In  such 
borders,  where  the  ground  must  be  fairly  well  occupied  in  summer,  the 
masses  of  bulbs  ought  not  to  be  planted  so  large,  so  as  to  give  room  for 
the  insertion  of  plants  which  will  meet,  or  neatly  so,  in  summer. 
Bulbs  may,  however,  be  grown  as  narrow  edgings  to  borders,  and  also 
beds,  where,  if  properly  placed,  they  may  remain  permanently.  The 
small  flowering  bulbs  are  the  best  for  this  purpose,  such  including 
Winter  Aconites,  Sjilla  sibirica,  Chionodoxas,  Crocuses,  and  Snowdrops. 
These  are  all  the  better  if  they  can  be  planted  permanently.  This 
may  be  effected  by  planting  close  to  the  edge  of  the  bed  or  border,  and 
when  digging  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  leave  the  space  containing  the 
bulbs  untouched.  The  only  objection  to  this  plan  is  the  rather  untidy 
appearance  the  foliage  has  after  the  flowering  is  over,  and  some  are 
tempted  to  cut  it  off,  but  this  is  ruinous  to  future  flowering,  and  must 
be  avoided.  The  foliage  must  be  retained  for  the  benefit  of  the  bulbs. 
It  will  die  down  in  time,  and  may  then  be  cleared  away,  the  border  or 
bed  then  resuming  its  ordinary  appeaance,  and  may  be  kept  trim  and 
neat  for  the  season.  The  earliest  of  the  bulbs  mentioned  to  bloom  are 
the  Winter  Aconites,  with  bright  yellow  Buttercup-like  blossoms,  which 
open  in  January.  The  roots  should  be  planted  now,  or  as  early  as 
possible,  placing  them  close  together  to  produce  a  good  effect. 
Following  closely  upon  these  will  be  the  Snowdrops.  Both  the 
double  and  single  are  pretty,  and  may  be  planted  in  mixture,  but  the 
singles  are  usually  most  in  favour.  Snowdrops  improve  by  remaining 
permanently  in  the  ground.  Crocuses  will  follow  next.  For  gorgeous 
effect  nothing  beats  these  ;  they  look  best  planted  in  lines  of  separate 
colours,  blue,  striped,  white,  and  jellow.  As  an  edging  to  a  bed  use 
one  colour  to  each  bed.  A  rich,  subdued,  and  brilliant  display  is  made 
by  Scillas  when  they  come  into  bloom,  the  colour  of  the  flowers  being 
bright  blue  ;  they  are  produced  in  March,  and  last  a  considerable  time 
in  good  condition.  Very  similar  in  growth  and  flowering  is  Chionodoxa 
LuciliaB  ;  the  blossoms  are  star-like,  blue  petals,  with  a  white  eye. 
Plant  these  thickly,  as  well  as  all  other  small  bulbs,  otherwise  the 
effect  is  not  striking. — E.  D.  S* 
