296 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  2,  1903. 
astic  and  able  gardener,  a  few  members  of  the  Scottish  Horti¬ 
cultural  Association,  headed  by  Mr.  McHattie,  the  popular 
president,  visited  the  gardens  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday 
last,  to  inspect  the  well-known  plant,  and  were  delighted,  their 
high  expectations  being  much  more  than  realised.  The  plant 
is  in  the  most  perfect  health,  and  at  the  present  moment  is 
covered  with  its  handsome  flowers,  there  being  no  fewer  than 
220  trusses,  and  over  1,100  expanded  blooms.  The  plant  is 
fully  oft  high  and  Oft  in  diameter,  and  is  well  worth  a  long 
journey  to  see. 
Mr.  Johnstone  has  had  it  under  his  care  for  fully  nine  years, 
and  ifTs  present  beauty  is  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  his 
eanployers  and  their  friends,  as  well  as  to  himself.  This  Rhodo¬ 
dendron  is  a  cross  between  ciliatum  and  Dalhousianum ;  was 
raised  in  the  old  Edinburgh  Experimental  Gardens  by  Mr. 
Evans,  and  pas.sed  into  the  hands  of  the  late  Mr.  Lees,  who  was 
long  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Haddington  at  Tynninghame,  and 
first  sent  out  to  the  public  by  Messrs.  Parker  and  Williams,. 
Though  the  principal  object  at  present  in  bloom,  the  gardens 
at  Hay  Lodge  contain  many  interesting  subjects,  among  other 
things  a  beautiful  specimen  of  Rhododendron  Gibsoni,  not  yet 
in  flower,  but  covered  with  buds. 
There  are  a.  few  Orchids,  many  Ferns,  a  number  of  rare  and 
beautiful  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  all  in  fine  condition  and 
reflecting  great  credit  on  the  cultural  skill  of  Mr.  Johnstone, 
whose  enthusiasm  in  all  things  horticultural,  as  Avell  as  his 
poetic  gifts,  render  him  one  of  the  most  popular  members  of 
the  S.H.A.  After  partaking  of  “Sandy’s”  hospitality,  cheerily 
di.spensed  by  his  amiable  partner,  and  wi, slung  “  more  power 
to  his  elbow,”  the  visitors  had  a  look  in  at  the  beautiful  neigh¬ 
bouring  garden  of  Trinity  Grove,  under  the  charge  of  Sir. 
Mackenzie:  but  that  is  a  story  for  another  day. — T.  M.  E. 
- - 
Hardy  Plants:  Primula  rosea. 
To  those  of  us  who  are  acquainted  with  the  charming  little 
Primula  rosea  it  is  a  matter  for  surprise  that  it  is  unknown  to 
the  average  grower  of  flowers,  unless  he  happens  to  have  a 
penchant  for  the  lovely  race  to  which  it  belongs,  or  the  other 
flowers  which  attract  to  them  the  affections  of  the  alpinist. 
Although  the  date  of  its  introduction  from  the  Himalayas  is  not 
remote,  being  only  1879,  that  is  yet  long  enough  to  have  given 
it. time  to  make  its  way  far  and  near  throughout  the  United 
Kingdom.  There  is,  however,  a  reason  for  this  lack  of  knowledge, 
and  this  consists  in  the  fact  that  Primula  rosea  is  not  a  plant 
wliich  submits  to  being  planted  anywhere  and  anyhow,  and  that 
it  has  pronounced  foibles  which  keep  it  from  being  “  everybody’s  ” 
plant.  It  is  a  moisture  lover,  and  it  is  thus  not  readily  supplied 
with  its  requirements  in  the  average  garden.  In  the  rock  garden, 
however,  as  well  as  by  the  side  of  the  natural  dr  artificial  bog,  it 
may  find  itself  at  home,  and  those  who  have  failed  with  it  in  the 
border  may  have  better  fortune  if  they  t^’  it  in  a  low,  .shady, 
moist  part  of  the  rock  garden,  preferably  in  a  rather  peaty  soil. 
Here,  with  a  little  cultural  care,  it  ought  to  do  well. 
Without  some  attention  it  is  not  likely  to  be  a  long  liver, 
and  some  growers  find  it  desirable  to  sow  seeds  annually,  and  then 
to  grow  on  the  plants  in  a  reserve  bed  until  the  year  before  thej' 
are  likely  to  bloom.  This  is  not  essential  in  many  gardens,  but, 
on  the  other  hand,  I  find  it  needful  to  top-dress  the  plants  rather 
frequently  so  a.s  to  secure  that  the  soil  is  up  to  about  the  level 
of  the  lower  leaves,  while  it  is  also  an  advantage  to  divide  a  plant 
occasionally  as  it  becomes  of  some  size. 
I  may  observe  that  in  my  own  case  I  find  it  more  successful 
on  the  moist  margin  of  a  little  Water  Lily  pool  than  anywhere 
else.  By  the  arrangement  of  the  margin  of  the  pool  the  moisture 
ri.ses  to  the  roots  of  the  Primula,  which  is  thus  continually  wet 
at  the  roots.  Here  it  thrives  better  than  anywhere  else  I  have 
tried  it.  As  this  is  written  there  are  a  number  of  the  lovely 
rosy-carmine  flowers  just  opening  in  this  shaded  nook  on  the 
shady  side  of  the  jjooh  It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  anything  more 
delightful  in  its  way  than  this  Rosy  Primrose  with  heads  4in  or 
Sin  in  height,  each  having  from  six  to  ten  bright  carmine  flowers 
with  a  yellow  eye,  and  rising  from  the  pale  but  not  dull  green 
crimped  and  serrated  leaves.  It  is  a  gem  of  the  first  water,  and 
draws  forth  expressions  of  pleasure  from  all  flower  lovers  who 
see  it. 
There  are  a  few  varieties  of  superior  size  or  colouring,  passing 
under  various  names.  Where  a  flower  is  so  easily  raised  from 
seeds  as  this  these  variations  may  be  expected  to  occur.  Some 
are  sold  under  .special  names,  and  of  these  grandiflora,  superba, 
and  splendems  are  all  good  and  certain  to  give  satisfaction  if 
obtained  true.  Primula  rosea  is  easily  increased  by  division. 
This  I  prefer  to  practise  immediately  after  the  blooming  period 
is  over.  It  is  also  readily  raised  from  seeds,  which  are  procur¬ 
able  from  many  seedsmen.  The  seeds  should  not  be  put  into 
much  heat,  and  I  find  them  germinate  best  when  sown  in  pans 
or  pots  in  a  frame  or  cold  greenhouse,  in  a  soil  of  finely  sifted 
peat,  leaf  mould,  and  sand.  Unless  quite  fresh  the  seeds  do  not 
germinate  for  a  long  time,  and  they  may  not  appear  until  the 
year  after  sowing.. — S.  Arnott. 
The  Horticultural  Hall. 
The  Council  liave  now  accepted  a  tender  fi’om  Me.ssrs. 
Mowlem  and  Co.  for  £2,340  for  the  excavation  and  foundations 
of  the  Hall.  The  contract  has  been  signed  and  sealed. — 
W.  W’iLKS,  Secretary. 
Sir  John  T.  D.  Llewelyn  has  given  £105  ;  the  Lady  Wantage, 
£100;  and  AY.  E.  Gumbleton,  Esq.,  £50,  towards  the  building 
fund. 
Exhibition  of  British  Grown  Fruits  and  Vegetables. 
The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  hold  an  exhibition  of 
British  grown  fruits  and  vegetables  at  ChLswick  on  Septem¬ 
ber  29,  30.  and  October  1.  The  prize  .schedule  is  now  ready, 
and  contains,  in  addition'  to  the  li.st  of  prizes,  an  authoritative 
list  of  dessert  and  cooking  Apples,  Pears,  and  Plums.  Special 
prizes  are  offered  for  preserved  and  bottled  fruits.  Copies  of 
the  schedule  can  be  obtained  on  application  to  the  Secretary, 
R.H..S.,  117,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster.  Applicants  .should 
enclose  a  penn3'  stamp. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
The  next  fruit  and  flower  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesdajq  April  7,  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
Buckingham  Gate,  AVestminst er,  1  p.m.  to  5  p.m.  A  lecture 
on  “New  or  Little  Known  Shrubs  and  Trees”  will  be  given  by 
Mr.  George  Nicholson,  A.L.S.,  A'.M.H.,  at  three  o’clock.  *  * 
At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Society  held  on  Tuesdajq 
March  24,  sixty-three  new  Fellows  were  elected,  among  them 
being  Lady  Knutsford,  Lady  Meysey-Thomson,  Lady  Mary 
Currie,  and  the  Hon.  Kenelm  P.  Bouverie,  making  a  total  of 
468  elected  since  the  beginning  of  the  present  year. 
Report  of  the  Scientific  Committee. 
It  will  be  noticed  by  many  of  our  readers  that  the  report  of 
the  Scientific  Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is 
exceptionally  brief  on  this  occasion.  The  honorarj'  secretary  and 
the  chairman  of  that  committee  have  agreed  to  publish  only  a 
brief  summaiy  rei>ort  of  the  fortnightly  proceedings  through  the 
gardening  Press  hereafter,  but  the  full  text  of  all  correspondence 
and  business  brought  before  the  committee,  and  dealt  with  by 
them,  will  be  incorporated  in  the  Journals  of  the  society.  This 
may  be  an  additional  inducement  to  gardeners  and  scientists 
to  become  Fellows,  that  they  maj’  obtain  these  useful  reports. 
Prizes  for  Auriculas,  Primulas,  and  Daffodils. 
At  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  fortnightly  meeting, 
to  be  held  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  on  Tuesday, 
April  21,  special  prizes  will  be  offered  for  Auriculas  and 
Primulas  bj'  the  National  Auricula  and  Primula  Society. 
These  are  open  to  members  of  that  .society  and  to  Fellows  of  the 
R.H.S.  (For  .schedule  of  prizes  see  R.H.S.  Book  of  Arrange¬ 
ments  for  1903,  pages  61  and  62.  Copies  sent  free  on  applica¬ 
tion  to  the  Secretarj’,  R.H.S.,  117,  Arictoria  Sti’eet,  S.W.,  or 
.separate  schedules  can  be  obtained  from  Mr.  Henwood,  hon. 
sec.  N.A.  and  P.S.,  16,  Hamilton  Road,  Reading,  to  whom 
notice  of  intention  to  exhibit  must  be  sent  four  clear  days 
before  the  .show.)  Special  prizes  will  also  be  offered  for  Daffo¬ 
dils,  open  to  amateurs  and  gentlemen’s  gardeners  only ;  first 
prize,  a  £7  7s.  silver  cup  (presented  to  the  Society  bj'  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons);  second  prize,  R.H.S.  Silver  Flora  Medal. 
Group  of  Daffodil  blossoms  grown  entirely  outdoors  (Polyanthus 
varieties  excluded)  must  include  some  of  each  .section,  Magni, 
Medi,  and  Parvi-Coronati ;  must  contain  at  least  thirty  varieties 
distinct ;  at  least  three  blooms  of  each  must  be  shown.  Not 
more  than  nine  blooms  of  any  one  variety  may  be  put  up.  To 
be  staged  in  bottles,  va.ses,  or  tubes,  not  exceeding  3in  in 
diameter  at  the  top  (inside  mea.surement),  and  all  the  stems 
mu.st  touch  the  water.  Quality  of  flower  will  count  more  than 
quantity,  and  correct  naming  and  tasteful  arrangement  will  be 
duly  considered.  Any  hardy  foliage  may  be  used.  Daffodil  or 
otherwise.  No  prize  will  be  awarded  unless  there  are  three 
competitors  at  least. 
