March  2,  1899. 
171 
JOURNAL 
0 
F 
horticulture  and  cottage 
GARDENER. 
Classification  of  Incurved. 
If  I  read  correctly,  Mr.  Godfrey,  page  142,  says  in  several  schedule* 
he  has  received  only  the  varieties  classed  as  incurved  can  be  shown  in 
that  section.  The  presumption  is  this,  then,  that  those  Societies 
alluded  to  will  not  allow  any  variety  not  included  in  the  N.C.S. 
•catalogue  or  list  to  be  shown  at  their  show.  Surely  this  is  somewhat 
a  high-handed  stipulation.  Suppose  during  the  current  year  a  culti¬ 
vator  brings  out  an  excellent  Chinese  incurved  variety  and  desires  to 
stage  blooms  in  competition  at  the  shows  in  question,  cannot  he  do  so 
because  of  some  rule  such  as  is  outlined  above  ? — Sadoc. 
Late  Chrysanthemums. 
From  remarks  made  in  a  letter  recently  received  from  a  friend  who 
successfully  cultivates  late  Chrysanthemums  it  does  not  appear  there 
is  any  sign  of  this  section  waning,  whatever  may  happen  to  the  large 
bloom  method  of  culture.  Personally  I  think  enthusiasm  is  increasing 
«ven  in  the  latter  section.  Because  one  society  (Watford)  finds  it 
necessary,  or  advisable,  to  wind  up  its  affairs,  that  surely  is  no  proof 
of  a  general  decline  in  interest  taken  in  the  autumn  queen.  I  know 
at  least  three  new  societies  that  are  making  a  strong  bid  for  jmblic 
patronage  in  their  initial  attempt  at  establishing  an  autumn  show. 
Such  evidence  is  ample  proof  that  the  Chrysanthemum  has  not  seen 
its  last  days  yet  awhile. 
My  friend  writes: — “  I  am  growing  this  season  35,000  plants  made 
wp  in  the  following  order:  Elaine,  Souvenir  de  Petite  Amie,  Nivens, 
and  L.  Canning  7000  each ;  W.  H.  Lincoln  and  Mons.  Panckoncke 
5500  each.  Last  season  I  had  fourteen  houses  of  Elaine  alone  !  ”  Even 
such  a  collection  as  this  gives  but  a  faint  notion  of  the  number  of 
plants  cultivated  by  market  men  alone. — E.  M. 
■SEASONABLE  NOTES  ON  FORCING  FIGS. 
Earliest  Forced  Trees  in  Pots. 
The  fruits  will  soon  have  completed  their  first  swelling,  and  they  then 
remain  apparently  stationary  for  some  time.  This  is  the  most  critical 
stage  in  their  culture,  and  every  care  must  be  taken  not  to  give  a  check, 
whether  caused  by  excessive  heat  or  want  of  moisture.  In  mild  weather 
the  temperature  may  be  kept  at  60°  to  65°  at  night,  but  if  cold  5°  less  will 
be  safer.  Progress  is  best  made  in  the  daytime  by  closing  with  plenty  of 
beat  and  moisture,  a  rise  being  indulged  in  of  10°  to  15°  without  producing 
a  weak  or  elongated'growth,  keeping  through  the  dav  with  gleams  of  sun 
at  70°  to  75°.  Red  spider  must  be  kept  under  by  copious  syringing  on 
all  favourable  occasions.  Afford  a  steady  supply  of  liquivl  manure  to  the 
roots,  as  Figs  in  full  growth  require  generous  support,  and  can  hardly  be 
overwatered  provided  the  drainage  is  thorough. 
Planted-out  Fig  Trees. 
When  these  were  started  early  in  the  year  they  will  now  require 
disbudding  and  stopping.  Crowded  growths  must  be  thinned,  but  they 
are  better  prevented  by  disbudding,  leaving  no  more  shoots  than  space 
permits.  Where  extension  or  successional  growth  cannot  be  allowed  the 
shoots  may  be  pinched  at  the  fourth  or  fifth  leaf  to  form  spurs,  these 
giving  good  results  in  the  second  crop,  but  avoid  crowding  as  the  greatest 
of  evils.  In  order  to  secure  free  and  certain  swelling  in  the  first  crop 
Figs  it  is  advisable  to  keep  the  growths  closely  pinched  for  a  time,  as 
these  are  apt  to  appropriate  the  sap,  and  the  first  fruits  suffer  and  fall 
in  consequence  when  they  are  allowed  to  grow  unchecked.  Water  the 
border  freely  when  necessary  at  the  temperature  of  the  house  or  supply 
liquid  manure,  not  too  strong,  and  mulch  with  rich  compost,  which  will 
attract  the  roots  to  the  surface,  where  they  can  be  fed  by  sprinkling  with 
some  appropriate  fertiliser. 
AVhere  the  trees  are  confined  to  narrow  and  shallow  borders  encourage 
the  emission  of  roots  from  the  collar  or  stem  by  placing  pieces  of  fibrous 
turf  and  partially  decayed  manure  in  contact  with  it,  and  by  extending 
the  material  outwards  a  number  of  feeders  will  be  secured.  If  these  are 
supplied  with  water  or  liquid  manure,  or  top-dressings  of  artificial 
manures,  they  will  greatly  assist  the  second  crop  of  fruit  as  well  as  the 
first.  Keep  the  night  temperature  at  55°  to  60°.  When  it  reaches  65°  by 
artificial  means  in  the  day  admit  a  little  air,  increasing  the  ventilation 
with  the  temperature  and  reducing  it  in  like  manner,  closing  at  70°, 
syringing  twice  a  day,  and  otherwise  maintaining  a  genial  atmosphere. 
Young  Trees  in  Pots. 
Those  intended  for  next  year’s  forcing  should  be  shifted  into  larger 
ptds,  and  be  placed  in  or  over  bottom  heat.  The  compost  may  consist  of 
good  yellow  loam,  with  a  fifth  of  well-deca^’cd  manure  and  a  sixth  of  old 
mortar  rubbish,  adding  a  sprinkling  of  crushed  bones,  say  a  6-inch  potful 
to  a  bushel  of  loam.  Provide  good  drainage,  pot  firmly,  and  do  not  let 
the  shift  exceed  3  inches  in  diameter  that  of  the  previous  pot.  Shade 
slightly  from  bright  sunshine  for  a  few  days  until  the  roots  have  taken  to 
the  new  soil,  when  the  trees  should  be  fully  exposed  to  light  and  sun. 
Pinch  the  growths  at  about  four  leaves  to  induce  a  bushy  habit.  The 
trees  must  be  grown  in  all  the  light  possible,  so  as  to  insure  sturdy, 
short-jointed,  fhoroughly  solidified  growth. — Grower. 
NOTES  FROM  IRELAND. 
One  night’s  frost  and  two  days’  rain,  then  repeat  the  same  again, 
seems  to  sum  up  the  peculiar  character  of  the  passing  winter.  It  is 
decidedly  unpleasant ;  but  vegetation  does  not  appear  to  dislike  the  cold 
drenchings,  for  in  spite  of  the  chilling  influence  activity  is  apparent  in 
the  kingdom  of  silent  life.  In  the  garden  knots  of  green  have  lately 
studded  the  Roses,  and  pale  spear-points  spring  through  the  protective 
dead  foliage  of  a  goodly  patch  of  Montbrelia.  What  a  progressive  plant 
this  Montbretia  is,  surely  !  Only  six  years  since  we  planted  a  hundred 
of  the  Crocus-like  corms  ;  now  one  ventures  to  assert  that  a  hundred 
thousand  would  be  nearer  the  quantity  in  evidence. 
The  Doronicums,  too — how  glorious  are  these  great,  golden  Daisies 
when  well  fed  1  Already  a  few  buds  are  bursting  into  bloom,  appreciated 
the  more  perhaps  that,  despite  an  open  season,  not  many  flowers  have 
brightened  up  the  dark  days  of  winter.  True,  the  proverbial  Frimrose 
has  not  been  wanting.  Primroses,  like  the  poor,  seem  to  be  always 
with  Us.  At  present  two  long  lines  of  hybrid  seedlings  display,  in  a 
mea-iure,  all  the  hues  they  are  capable  of  so  far  as  the  bespattering  down¬ 
pour  will  allow  ;  but  we  would,  I  think,  rather  have  them  ‘‘coming  in  the 
springtime  to  tell  of  sunny  hours.” 
Lately  we  wandered  to  the  rocky  slopes  of  Killiney  Hill,  a  portion  of 
which  has  been  reserved  to  the  public  forever  in  commemoration  of  our  good 
Queen’s  Jubilee.  Grand  banks  of  a  sturdy  Veronica  embellish  some  of 
the  marine  residences  en  route,  and  blooming  profusely  in  mid -February 
as  they  were,  left  no  question  as  to  local  suitability.  Looking  down  from 
the  dizzy  heights  of  Victoria  Hill  the  “Loch  Fergus,”  a  barque-rigged 
stately  looking  ship  driven  in  shore  and  wrecked  a  few  days  previous,  was 
a  speaking  witness  of  the  wind-swept  position.  In  the  near  distance,  but 
comparatively  sheltered,  is  St.  Brigid’s  garden,  that  mullun  m  parvo  so 
tenderly  cared  for  by  the  lady’  of  the  Anemones.  Fine  bits  ot  natural 
rockwork  are  in  evidence  on  the  ascent  to  the  hill,  on  the  summit  of 
which  stands  a  puerile  looking  obelisk,  which  even  150  years  of  existence 
have  failed  to  tone  into  harmony  with  the  surroundings.  With  the 
exception  of  a  couple  of  lesser  monstrosities  of  the  same  crude  concep¬ 
tion  Victoria  Hill  is  left — and  rightly  lelt — to  Nature  and  the  citizens 
of  the  “  cardrivingest  city.”  On  the  sunny  side  sheets  of  golden  Furze 
brighten  the  scene.  The  dedication  of  this  fine  bit  of  Nature’s  handiwork 
to  the  public  was  a  fit  offering  to  Freedom’s  shrine. 
Below  lies  Dalkey,  where  a  little  coterie  of  sturdy  “mum”  growers 
abide  ;  whom,  jud;;ing  by  what  one  has  seen  and  heard,  are  still  as  fever- 
smitten  as  when  Mr.  Molyneux  and  the  writer  discussed  a  tasty - 
together  in  one  of  their  hospitable  homes.  Despite  the  above  good 
examples,  and  some  advantages  of  position,  the  Dalkeyites  do  not  seem 
horticulturally  inclined.  So  many  of  the  humbRr  homes,  which  are 
naked,  might  be  beautified  by  such  plants  as  Escallonia  macrantha. 
Fuchsia  gracilis,  and  others  which  love  the  breath  of  the  sea.  A 
little  inland,  at  the  Alpine-like  village  of  Enniskerry,  we  saw,  some  years 
since,  charming  masses  of  Lobelia  tulgens  in  the  tiny  cottage  gardens. 
However,  note-taking,  probably,  should  only  include  what  is  seen,  but, 
possibly,  is  not  purposeless  in  relating  what  is  felt  to  be  wanting.  M  ith 
this  brief  apology,  Victoria  Hill,  and  its  environs,  are  lelt  for  higher 
ground  in  the  gardening  world. 
As  these  notes  are  penned  comes  the  intelligence  of  a  home,  whose 
name  and  fame  are  written  high  in  the  annals  of  gardening  in  the  Green 
Isle,  bereaved  of  its  master.  Few  keenly  interested  in  gardening  have 
visited  these  shores  without  a  run  round  picturesque  Straflan  in  the  plains 
of  Kildare,  and  most  will,  I  am  sure,  sympathise  with  the  Hon,  Mrs. 
Barton  and  her  estimable  head  gardener,  Mr.  Bedford,  who  has  ruled 
the  horticultural  department  so  ably  and  so  long.  Visits  to  Straffan  have 
always  made  the  pen  run  smoothly  in  depicting  its  glories  ;  one  can  but 
dare  to  hope  that  no  change  may  occur  to  leave  them  only  memories  of 
the  past.  _ 
The  retirement,  lately,  of  G.  M.  Ross,  Esq.,  M.A.,  from  the  secretary - 
soip  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  ot  Ireland,  led  to  some  200 
good  men  and  tiue  (including  a  new  woman,  1  heard),  applying  for 
the  post,  which  is  now  filled  by  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Hilliard.  Wo 
trust  he  may  be  favoured  by  those  fickle  circumstances  surrounding  the 
field  days,  in  order  to  carry  on  the  good  work  of  his  predecessor,  who  , 
figuratively,  pulled  the  old  Society  out  of  low  water,  and  lelt  it  standing 
high  and  dry,  well  propped  by  a  bank  balance.— K.,  Dublin. 
