238 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
March  23,  189!>. 
CAMELLIAS. 
IlJ  reference  to  Mr.  W.  Paul's  interesting  paper  on  these  plants,  on 
page  197,  may  I  be  allowed  to  mention  that  Camellias  are  much  hardier 
than  most  people  imagine  ;  and  with  half  the  care  expended  on  their  culture 
in  pots,  they  would  do  well  outside  in  the  majority  of  gardens  south  of  the 
Trent?  There  are  many  plants  growing  outside  here  in  rude  health,  the 
majority  of  which  have  been  in  their  present  positions  from  twelve  to 
twenty  years.  In  most  seasons  they  flower  well,  and  when  a  frost  does 
cut  the  expanded  flowers  (as  sometimes  happens  in  April  and  May)  they 
soon  recover  their  beauty,  because  there  are  plenty  of  unexpanded  buds 
which  afterwards  open.  Even  in  the  severe  winter  of  1895,  when  we 
had  the  thermometer  on  the  grass  8“  below  zero,  the  Camellia  plants  were 
not  injured.  There  are  several  varieties,  including  corallina,  elegans,  alba 
plena,  and  imbricata.  21.  corallina  opened  its  first  flowers  on  Wednesday, 
March  15tli,  and  is  generally  the  earliest. 
I  find  they  succeed  best  in  a  moist  soil,  and  dry  banks,  which  many 
might  consider  favourable  on  account  of  the  warmth  and  shelter,  are  not 
suitable  ;  while  ip  soils  containing  much  lime  provision  should  be  made 
to  prevent  absorption  from  the  surrounding  soil.  In  such  circumstances 
beds  of  peat  or  vegetable  mould  will  be  necessary.  The  soil  here  is  on 
the  middle  lias  formation,  and  many  plants  which  object  to  lime  thrive  in 
our  stiff  clay  without  any  admixture,  but  require  care — until  they  get 
established  in  the  clay — in  regard  to  watering  and  mulching,  because  the 
dry  air  of  summer  is  liable  to  penetrate  the  clay  too  freely  for  the  first 
year  or  two  after  it  has  been  moved.  '  In  addition,  we  have  the  benefit  of 
shelter  from  large  timber  trees  which  shield  the  smaller  plants  from  the 
lull  force  of  cold  winds. — W.  H.  Divers,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardens,  Grantham. 
When  'Messrs  William  Paul  &  Son  of  Waltham  Cross,  send  up  to 
the  Drill  Hall  one  of  their  really  superb  collections  of  Camellias, 
knowing  ones  toss  their  "heads  as  with  disdain  and  say,  “They  are  now 
out  of  fashion!"  I  do  not  care  a  rap 'for  fashion,  for  if  there  is 
one  thing  in  horticulture  that  is  detestable  it  is  fashion.  But  fashion 
apart,  if  what  is  thus  said  be  correct,  so  much  the  worse  for  gardening. 
But  whether  in  or  out  of  fashion,, is  the  Camellia  really  a  less  kindly 
regarded  greenhouse  shrub  now  in  gardens  generally  than  it  has  been  in 
the  past  ?  .  If  .  there  be  any  lovers  of  gardening  who  would  deride  the 
plant,  an  occasional  dose  of. one  of  Mr.  Pauls  beautiful  exhibits  or 
ii  visit  to'Waltham  Cross,  should  soon  work  a  cure.  What  intensely 
green,  lustrous  leafage  ;  what  massive,  pure,  and  withal  beautiful  flowers  ; 
w  hat  enduring  plants ;  how  easily  grown  ;  how  readily  they  bloom  in  the 
winter  ;  and  what  superb  objects  are  fine  specimens  when  in  full  bloom 
snd  in  rude  health.  How  is  it  possible,  then,  not  to  treat  with  contempt 
the  assertion  that  Camellias  are  “out  of  fashion  — A,  D. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
March  14th.. 
Scientific  Committee.— Present :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the 
chair)  ;  .  Dr.  iMulier,  Mr.  E.  E.  in  Thurm,  and  Rev.  G.  -  Henslow, 
Hon.  Sec, 
Daldias  diseased. —  Some  roots  -were  received  from  Messrs.  A.  Lister 
and  Son,  Rothesay,  with  the  following  communication: — “Pirst,  we 
started  our  roots  in  the  manner  we  have  clone  for  years  with  the  best 
results — namely,  on  a  hot  bench,  taking  cuttings  within  three  weeks  of 
their  insertion,  and  gradually  lessening  the  heat  as  time  went  on. 
Secondly,  the  first  batch  this  season  was  somewhat  soft,  and  all  failed  ; 
not,  however,  by  damping  off.  Out  from  the  effects  of  the  disease. 
Thirdly,  last  season  we  had  magnificent  strikes,  but  near  the  close  of 
the  season,  the  “spot” — as  on  the  specimen  sent — made  its  appearance, 
but  was  very  limited.  Fourthly,  the  bottom  heat  was  maintained  at 
about  70°,  while  the  top  was  about  15°  less.  Fifthly,  Can  the  Tomato 
disease  have  become  incorporated  with  the  soil,  as  Tomatoes  had  been 
grown  there  ;  and  has  this  any  relation  to  the  disease  or  cause  of  the 
trouble?  fSi.vthlyq  all  the  roots  were  placed  in  comparati' cly  new  soil, 
although  some  ot  the  old  may  have  been  mixed  with  it.  Seventhly,  the 
house  is  well  aired,  and  the  cuttings  were  firm  when  taken  off.  As  to 
remedies,  we  have  applied  sulphur  with  satisfactory  results  ;  so  far  as  it 
killed  the  fungus  at  the  root  And  allowed  fresh  clean  growth  to  be  made, 
but  it  had  no  apparent  ei&f!|j|n  the  cuttings.  They  went  off  by  the  score. 
We  have  hitherto  been  most'  successful  in  Dahlia  cultivation,  and  have 
had  misfortunes,  too,  but  this  disease  completely  baffles  us.  The  result  is 
the  8ime,  both  with  hard-grown  forced  exhibition  roots,  and  those  grown 
without  forcing.” 
The  following  valuable  report  on  the  preceding  was  received  from 
Dr.  W.  G.  Smith,  Yorkshire  College,  Leeds,  to  whom  a  vote  of  thanks 
was  unanimously  accorded. 
“The  iJahlia  cuttings  when  received  showed  various  stages  of 
blackened  discolouration,  where  they  had  been  in  contact  with  the  soil, 
and  also  on  the  older  leaves,  especially  where  they  joined  the  stem. 
Where  the  blackening  was  worst  the  tissues  were  tilled  with  bacteria, 
and  fungus  filaments  were  present.  After  a  few  days  in  a  moist  chamber 
the  cuttings  became  black  and  rotten,  the  bacteria  were  more  abundant, 
and  the  fungus  bore  colourless  spores  of  two  kinds.  Your  correspondent 
suggests  infection  from  Tomato  disease,  previously  present  in  the  same 
house.  We  find  that  the  two  forms  of  fungus  couidia  (and  only  two 
are  present)  occurring  on  this  Dahlia  material  are  almost  (but  not 
exactly)  identical  in  form  with  those  figured  by  Mr.  Massee  (“  Gardeners’ 
Cnronicle,”  June  8th,  3  895)  in  connection  with  the  Tomato  ‘slcepy 
disease.’  Whether  this  is  a  coincidence  or  a  connection,  it  is  as  yet  too 
early  to  say.  There  is,  however,  little  doubt  that  this  Dahlia  disease 
affects  the  cuttings  in  the  same  way  as  the  above  Tomato  disease.  It 
has  its  origin  in  the  soil. 
“Remedies. — Your  correspondent  has  tried  .sulphur  m  the  soil  with 
some  good  effect.  No  fungicide,  however,  will  be  so  beneficial  as  — 
“1,  Fresh  clean  soil. 
“2,  Ventilation,  as  fur  as  it  can  be  given. 
“3,  To  water  the  freshly  struck  cuttings  as  little  as  possible  till  they 
form  roots. 
“4,  To  use  boxes  or  pans  which  have  been  thoroughly  disinfected, 
and  to  have  houses  and  benches  washed  down  with  a  limewash. 
“In  addition  to  these  Mr.  Massee  recommends  for  the  Tomato  disease, 
to  mix  as  much  lime  in  the  soil  as  the  plant  will  stand.  How  tar  these 
measures  can  be  carried  out  must  lie  with  the  discretion  of  the  grower.  ” 
Dr.  Muller  suggested  sterilising  it,  by  baking  the  soil. 
Hybrid  Narcissi. — Some  specimens  were  received  from  Rev.  C.  Wolley 
Dod  with  the  following  remarks: — “I  send  a  spontaneous  hybrid  whicn 
has  come  in  one  of  my  flower  beds.  It  is  presumably  N.  pseudo-Narcissus 
var.  minimus  x  N.  cyclamineus.  I  also  enclose  the  parents.  I  consider 
N.  cyclamineus  one  of  the  best  marked  species  of  the  genus.  It  is  the 
only  one  which  has  the  perianth  almost  sessile  on  the  fruit.  Mr.  G.  Maw 
once  suggested  to  mo  that  it  might  be  produced  by  N.  minimus  X 
N.  triandrus,  but  he  overlooked  this  character— the  tube  of  N.  triandrus 
being  very  long.  In  the  hybrid  sent  the  tube  is  intermediate  between 
the  parents.  The  trunk  of  the  perianth  follows  neither  parent,  being 
cylindrical,  while  that  of  N.  p.  minimus  tends  to  be  funnel-shaped,  and 
I  that  of  N.  cyclamineus  is  always  veniricose  and  contiacted  towards  the 
mouth.  N.  cyclamineus  is  a  profuse  pollen  bearer  and  seed  bearer,  but 
the  bulb,  with  me  at  least,  is  short  lived,  and  requires  constant  renewal 
from  seed.  I  have  also  observed  in  another  bed  a  hybrid,  N.  cyclamineus 
I  X  N.  pseudo-Narcissus,  of  some  larger  variety.  The  developed  tube  and 
glaucous  broad  leaf  belong  with  certainty  to  pseudo-Narcissus,  though 
the  perianth  is  completely  reflexed,  as  in  cyclamineus.” 
RIPLEY  CASTLE. 
This  ancient  home  of  the  Ingilbys  is  prettily  situated  on  the  edge  of 
the  Nidd  Valley,  close  to  the  model  village  of  Ripley,  and  three  and  a  half 
miles  north  of  Harrogate,  on  the  main  road  from  Leeds  to  Ripon.  The 
undulating  park  is  extensive,  and  has  been  judiciously  planted  with  timber 
many  years  since,  which  now  contributes  largely  to  the  picturesque  effect 
of  the  country  on  the  west  side  of  the  Castle.  There  is  a  lake  ot  35  acres, 
into  which  flows  a  stream  at  one  end,  the  water  afterwards  finding  its  way 
into  the  river  Nidd.  The  whole  piece  has  been  successfully  dealt  with  to 
secure  a  natural  appearance,  with  nicely  broken  margins  and  some  well 
clothed  islands,  and  is  far  prettier  than  many  lakes  in  similar  positions. 
One  is  much  surprised  to  hear  that  it  was  the  work  of  a  Lincolnshire  farmer 
— Mr.  Mark  Favrill — many  years  ago  ;  he  came  and  dammed  up  the  stream 
until  it  flooded  the  ground  to  the  desired  extent,  and  then  took  the 
necessary  steps  to  make  it  a! permanent  feature. 
The  Castle  is  a  substantial  but  plain  building,  and  is  approached  from 
the  village  by  a  gateway  and  tower.  The  latter  dates  from  the  early  part 
of  the  fiftenth  century,  and  appears  to  be  the  oldest  portion  ot  the  building 
now  remaining  ;  but  ancestors  of  the  present  Sir  Henry  Ingilby  resided 
here  a  century  before  that  date.  Among  the  many  old  family  records  and 
curios  preserved  in  the  Castle,  mention  may  here  be  made  of  one  in  the 
form  of  a  penance  inflicted  upon  Sir  William  Ingilby  for  renouncing 
popery.  It  consisted  of  a  large  amount  of  walking  every  night,  but  was 
only  to  continue  to  the  end  ot  the  world  I  A  pig  of  lead  stamped  with 
Julius  Caesar’s  inscription  and  date  87  may  also  be  seen,  with  a  leathern 
jacket  which  belonged  to  Oliver  Cromwell,  who  slept  here  after  the  famous 
battle  of  Marston  Moor,  in  1644.  The  grounds  close  to  the  Castle  contain 
no  flowers,  and  thereby  are  more  in  character  with  the  building  ;  but  the 
well  kept  grass  lawns  and  walks  are  worthy  of  note,  and  so  is  the  Ivy  on 
the  Castle  walls.  A  fine  specimen  of  Salisburia  adiantifolia  occupies  a 
large  space  on  a  southern  aspect,  and  is  trained  like  a  horizontal  Pear  tree, 
but  doe  t  not  fruit. 
A  large  oblong  enclosure,  a  short  distance  from  the  Castle,  surrounded 
by  a  fine  range  ot  hothouses  on  the  north  side,  and  by  walls  which  are 
hidden  by  shrubs  and  creepers  on  the  other  sides,  contains  all  the  flower 
beds  and  herbaceous  borders,  with  enough  grass  and  shrubs  to  tone  down 
the  colours  and  form  a  very  pleasant  picture.  Both  Sir  Henry 
and  Lady  Ingilby  take  great  interest  in  the  gardens,  and  the  demand  for 
flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables  is  large  and  continuous.  At  the  end 
of  August  a  large  collection  of  Eckford’s  Sweet  Peas  was  in  full  flower. 
The  seeds  are  sown  in  pots  early  in  March,  and  planted  a  month  later  ; 
each  potful  forms  a  column  of  plaiits  8  to  10  leet  high,  and  continual 
gathering  of  the  faded  blooms  induces  a  succession  throughout  the  season. 
A  Dorder  of  Salvia  patens  in  full  flower  with  a  tall  variegated  Grass  dotted 
in  at  intervals  was  very  effective  ;  another  close  by  contained  finely  coloured 
examples  of  Lavatera  arborea  variegata  mixed  with  Ricinus  Gibsoni  and 
other  fine-foliage  plants.  _ 
Annuals  are  grown  extensively  and  make  a  great  feature  in  the  summer, 
Malope  grandiflora,  Lavatera  trimestris,  Schizanthus  retusus.  Sweet  Sultan 
in  three  colours,  Coreopsis  Drummondi,  Gypsophila  elegans,  G.  e  rosea 
Bartonia  aurea,  Cosmos  bipinnata,  and  Sweet  Scabious  were  noted  as  th’ 
