May  14,  1903. 
425. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
Etna  (J.  Strodwick  and  Son). — Somewhat  nnique  in  colour, 
Avhich  might  best  be  described  as  a. light  lilac.  Very  good  form. 
Winsome. — White,  incurved  in  form,  and  carried  on  particu¬ 
larly  upright  stems. 
W.  F.  Balding. — Large  flowers,  pure  yellow  in  centre,  but 
shading  to  chrome  at  petal  points. 
Ianthe. — Narrowest  of  narrow  petals,  old  gold,  suffused  with 
rose  in  colour,  and  a  large  flower. 
H.  J.  Jones. — Very  large  flower,  and  finest  of  petals.  Colour  : 
primrose  in  centre,  shaded  at  tips  with  pink. 
Taking  into  consideration  the  ver>.  bad  time  for  growing 
Dahlias  that  had  been  experienced  up  till  the  first  National  Dahlia 
Show  last  year,  the  fact  of  these  nine  varieties  being  of  a  suffi¬ 
ciently  high  standard  to  merit  first-class  certificates  is  a  pretty 
good  guarantee  that  they  are  good  things. 
Coming  to  the  London  Dahlia  Cnion  exhibition  of  Dahlias  a 
little  later,  a  show  at  which  very  few  certificate.s  were  awarded 
considering  the  material  at  hand,  we  find  that  out  of  thirteen 
certificates  to  Cactus  varieties,  four  of  the  above  nine  again 
received  the  coveted  award. 
These  were  Etna,  Vesuvius,  Eva,  and  H.  J.  Jones,  and  in 
addition  to  these  the  following  fi'esh  flowers  were  certified  :: — 
Albion. — White,  with  faint  creamy  tinge,  more  particularly 
near  centre.  Very  long  florets,  and  full  flower. 
Enchantment. — A  variety,  we  believe,  not  being  offered  for 
sale  this  spring,  but  very  fine  as  shown. 
Manxman. — Crimson,  with  decided  puiqilish  tinge,  large 
flower  of  bold  and  telling  appearance; 
Mb.  Seagbave. — Crimson  blended  purple,  fine  addition  for 
colour,  and  good  form  of  flower. 
Minnie  West. — Pure  yellow  at  base  of  petal,  tipped  white. 
Large  flowers  of  fine  form. 
Chabm, — Unique  in  colouring.  Yellow  shaded  deep  orange, 
and  tipped  with  white. 
Pbince  of  Orange, — Yellow  shading  to  chrome.  Very  large 
and  striking,  though  somewhat  heavy  flowers. 
Redcap.— Small  flower  of  vivid  crimson  colour,  and  excep¬ 
tionally  finely  pointed  petals. 
Miss  T.  Cherby. — Rosy  pink  suffused  with  yellow,  slightly 
incuxwed  petals,  and  good  centre. 
We  now  come  to  the  last  great  show  of  the  Dahlia,  that  at 
the  Drill  Hall  on  September  23,  when  the  committees  of  both 
the  N.D.S.  and  R.H.S.  awarded  certificates  to  Dahlias.  A  con¬ 
siderable  number  of  varieties  yrere  honoured  at  this  time,  partly 
owing  to  the  dual  societies,  and  in  a  good  measure  owing  to  the 
fact  that  it  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  an  award  could  be 
gained  under  the  R.H.S.,  as  at  the  fii*st  N.D.S.  show  the  R.H.S. 
decided  not  to  let  flowers  take  the  awards  of  both  societies. 
Altogether  we  have  recorded  the  awarding  of  no  less  than  twenty- 
nine  certificates  on  this  day.  Of  these  flowers  we  have  already 
described  they  were  responsible  for  the  following Manxman, 
Albion,  Minnie  West,  taking  both  F.C.C.  (N.D.S.)  and  A.M. 
(R.H.S.);  Etna,  Eva,  Vesuvius.  H.  J.  Jones,  F.  A.  Wellesley, 
Winsome,  W.  F.  Balding,  Miss  T.  Cherry,  securing  A.M.  (R.H.S) ; 
and  Mr.  Seagrave  and  Charm  F.C.C.  (N.D.S.)  only ;  in  addition 
to  which  some  varieties,  not  hitherto  certified  at  all,  come  in. 
These  were : — 
F.  H.  C’HAPMAN.— F.C.C.  (N.D.S.)  and  A.M.  (R.H.S.).  Huge 
flowers  of  dark  orange  colour,  and  formed  of  the  narrowest  in¬ 
curved  petals. 
Mabel  Telloch.—F.C.C.  (N.D.S.)  and  A.M.  (R.H.S.). 
Beautiful  rosy  pink  narrow  petals,  claw  shaped,  very  pretty. 
Mbs.  Cuthbebtson. — F.CltC'.  (N.D.S.).  Maroon,  fine  form  and 
petals,  looked  promising. 
Pbincess. — F.C.C.  (N.D.S.).  Distinct  in  colour,  being  pale 
rose,  finely  twisted  petals. 
Ella. — F.C.Ct  (N.D.S.).  Salmon  shaded  orange,  straight 
narrow  petals  of  great  length. 
H.  F.  Robebtson. — F.C.C2  (N.D.S.).  Pure  deep  yellow 
petals,  very  narrow  their  entire  length. 
Decima. — F.C.C.  (N.D.S.).  Yellow  and  orange.  Full  flower, 
fine  form. 
Clarence  Webb. — A.M.  (R.H.S.).  Yellow  at  base,  shading 
to  bronze,  very  incurved  in  form. 
Lucifer. — A.M.  (R.H.S.).  A  large  flower  of  orange  red 
colour  and  vei*>'  narrow  florets,  but  weak  stem. 
Raymond  Parks. — A.M.  (R.H.S.).  Deep  crimson,  large,  of 
incurved  form,  and  deep. 
Coronation.- — Bright  crimson,  small  flowers  of  refined  form, 
cirtified  as  a  garden  variety  (N.D.S.). 
We  have  now  followed  the  new  Cactus  Dahlias  of  1903  all 
through  the  principal  shows,  and  as  the  above  is  perhaps  difficnlt 
to  follow,  we  give  them  in  order  as  they  received  certificates,  the 
following  receiving  F.C.C.  (N.D.S.  and  L.D.U.)  and  A.M. 
(R.H.S.): — Minnie  West,  H.  J.  .Jones,  Manxman,  Eva,  Etna, 
Albion,  and  Vesuvius.  The  following  taking  two  of  the  three 
awards  above  mentioned: — Miss  T.  Cherry,  F.  H.  Chapman,  F.  A. 
Wellesley,  Mr.  Seagrave.  Winsome.  W.  F.  Balding,  Mabel 
Tulloch,  and  Charm.  And  the  remainder,  namely.  Coronation, 
C'larenee  Webb,  Ella,  Ianthe,  Mrs.  Cuthbert.son,  Mabel  Needs, 
Princess^  Prince  of  Orange,  Decima,  H.  F.  Robertson,  Raymond 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Parks.  Enchantment,  Lucifer,  and  Redcap,  receiving  one  certifi¬ 
cate  only. 
As  constancy  in  a  Dahlia  is  a  great  feature,  it  is  interesting  to 
note  the  progress  of  the  above  varieties  through  the  season  of 
showing,  and  by  looking  into  the  different  flowers  and  their 
successes  a  very  good  idea  can  be  gained  as  to  their  worth  by  the 
number  of  times  they  nmst  have  been  in  good  form,  or  vice  versa. 
— C.  D.,  Kent. 
Stove  Plants:  Crotons. 
The  Crotons  (or  Codiseums)  are  among  our  most  beautiful  and 
popular  variegated  stove  plants.  The  genus  is  one  which  the 
decorator  could  .scarcely  di.spense  with,  for,  whether  used  in  a 
small  state  or  in  large  vases,  the  plants  always  look  well.  They 
are  not  difficult  tO'  grow  providing  there  is  sufficient  heat  given. 
Crotons  delight  in  a  warm,  humid  atmosphere  with  plenty  of 
sun,  no  .shading  being  required  except  in  the  hottest  part  of  a  very 
warm  day.  The  sun  will  not  harm  them  so  long  as  they  have 
sufficient  moisture  in  the  house.  A  temperature  of  GOdeg.  Fah., 
with  a  rise  of  lOdeg  during  the  day.  is  a  nice  warmth  for  them  in 
winter  ;  but  in  the  spring  and  summer  the  plants  Avill  benefit  with 
a  rise  to  Godeg  at  night  and  a  comparative  increase  of  the  tem¬ 
perature  in  the  daytime. 
Crotons  require'  very  little  air  except  in  spring  and  summer, 
when  the  Aveather  is  nice  and  genial,  giving  a  little  top  ventilation  ; 
close  early  so  as  to  retain  sun  heat  as  far  into  the  night  as  po.s- 
sible.  The  thermometer  may  rise  to  upAvard.s  of  lOOdeg  Avithout 
injury.  A  good  compost  for  Crotons  Avill  be  found  in  the  folloAA'- 
ing  mixture:  one  part  fibrous  loam,  one  part  peat,  sifting  it  so  as 
to  shake  out  all  loose  soil,  and  one  part  leaf  moidd,  passed  through 
rin  sieve,  Avith  sufficient  sand,  charcoal,  and  broken  crocks  to 
make  the  Avhole  porous-.  The  plants  should  alAAays  be  potted 
firmly  and  Avatered  moderately  until  the  roots  have  taken  hold  of 
the  neAV  soil.  When  the  plants  are  in  full  groAvth,  and  drainage 
is  perfect,  they  can  scarcely  be  oveiuvatered. 
Tavo  A^ery  good  time.s  for  propagating  arc  the  latter  part  of 
February  and  March,  and  again  in  Augmst.  The  cuttings  should 
be  kept  shaded,  even  from  the  strong  daylight,  Avhen  the  sun  is 
not  shining,  as  they  should  never  be  alloAved  to  flag  if  good  plants 
are  desired,  as  flagging  not  only  causes  delay  in  rooting,  but  also 
causes  them  to  lo.se  their  loAver  leaA^es.  No  air  must  be  admitted 
into  the  propagating  case  (except  Avhen  the  cuttings  are  .sprayed 
OA^er  in  the  afternoon)  until  they  are  rooted  ;  and  then  air  must 
be  admitted  to  them  gradually.  To  keep  up  a  good  stock  it  is 
advisable  to  ahvay.s  use  Avell-furnished  and  nicely  coloured  tops, 
even  sacrifice  a  feAV  good  plants  rather  than  take  poor  cuttings. 
Those  propagated  early  in  the  year  make  excellent  table  plants 
for  thei  folloAving  Avinter,  if  potted  on  about  July;  Avhilst  those 
propagated  in  August  may  be  used  in  3in  pots  for  table  Avork 
during  the  Avinter,  and  if  taken  care  of,  and  potted-on  in  Feb- 
ruaryT  Avill  make  good  plants  for  the  summer.  Another,  good 
method,  and  quicker  than  propagating  by  cuttings,  is  to  cut  a 
Ijiece  of  the  bark  off  all  around  the  stem  for  about  lin.  and  tie 
some  sand  and  moss  over  the  cut  part,  keeping  the  material  damp 
until  the  roots  show  through.  This,  of  course,  is  commonly 
called  “  ringing.”  They  may  then  be  potted  into  Jjin  pots.  If 
the  tops  are  rung  be'nea'th  a  good  Avhorl  of  leaA-es  they  make  better 
table  plants  even  than  those  propagated  from  cuttings.  A  dozen 
and  a  half  good  varieties  Avill  be  found  in  the  folloAving  selection, 
taking  the  narroAA'-leaved  ones  first :  -  Aigburthensis,  Mrs.  Dorman, 
Countess,  Osterezi,  Her  Majesty,  Heathi  elegans,  Ruberrimus, 
Sinitfeanus,  Picturatu.s,  and  Interruptus  aurea  :  and  of  the 
broader  leaA-ed  section,  Mn.saica.  Flamingo,  Queen  \  ictoria,  T  n- 
dulatum,  Weismanni,  Mortfontainensis,  NeAvmanni,  and  Baroness 
Jas.  de  Rothschild.  Reidi  also  inakes  fine  plants  Avhere  large 
single-stemmed  specimens  are  required. — A.  S.,  Rugby. 
- »  *1^  ■ - 
Vegetable  Culture:  April  Savoys. 
It  may  be  said,  Avhat  need  of  Savoys  at  such  a  period  of  the 
year  as  April,  and  possibly  the  Avriter  Avovdd  have  joined  in  a 
similar  chorus  had  the  convenience  and  an  appreciative 
acceptance  of  such  a  crop  been  an  unknoAvn  experience.  True, 
there  is  no  certainty  of  their  being  forthcoming  at  such  a  time, 
because  seasons,  circumstances,  and  AA’eather  play  each  their  part, 
tending  favourably  or  unfavourably  toAvards  tlie  attainment  of 
the  object  in  vieAA'. 
With  me,  however.  Savoys,  fresh  and  full-hearted,  Avere  cut 
in  March  and  April  this  year  as  good  as  .similar  C’abbages  in  the 
NoA-ember  previous.  The  seed^  Avere  soavu  in  the  first  or  second 
Aveek  of  June,  the  resultant  plants  being  co-occupiers  of  a  StraAv- 
berry  site  cleared  of  the  latest  StraAvberry  plants  at  the  end  of 
July  or  beginning  of  August.  Old  StraAvberry  plantations  are 
religiously  reserved  for  planting  Broccoli,  the  firmness  of  riie 
ground  being  alAA’ays  considered  so  faA’ourable  in  promoting 
sturdiness  of  g»’OAvth.  calculated  to  resist  Avinter’s  influences. 
