January  31,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
101 
of  any  other  colour,  no  matter  how  long  it  remains  in  flower.  The 
graceful  manner  in  which  the  large  trusses  appear  to  rest  on  the 
Fern-like  leaves  enhances  its  value  for  decorative  purposes.  Royal 
White,  with  its  dark  stems  and  handsome  trusses  of  pure  white 
blossoms,  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  of  white-flowered  sorts,  and 
certainly  as  seen  here  it  would  be  difficult  to  excel.  Of  Crimson  King 
it  is  difficult  to  speak  too  highly  ;  its  intense  deep  crimson  colour 
renders  it  such  a  conspicuous  object ;  even  a  dozen  plants  make  quite 
a  warm  glow  of  colour  during  the  dull  days  of  winter.  An  early 
and  tree-flowering  sort  is  Reading  Scarlet,  and  one  that  does  much 
to  enliven  a  dwelling  house  or  greenhouse  during  the  month  of 
December. 
Much  attention  has  of  late  been  paid  to  blue  flowered  sorts' 
Sutton’s  Cambridge  Blue,  introduced  by  the  firm  last  year,  is 
unique  in  point  of  colour.  The  blossoms  are  large  and  elegantly 
spots.  For  decoration  this  type  is  valuable.  General  French  carries 
quite  a  glow  of  scarlet  in  its  colouring.  As  was  to  be  expected,  the 
stellata  or  star  section  has  received  considerable  attention  at  the  hanos 
of  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  recognising,  as  they  do,  the  great  decorative 
value  for  cutting  of  this  tvpe.  Mont  Blanc,  Fern-leaf,  with  dark 
stems,  carries  immense  trusses  of  pure  white  flowers  ;  one  form  I  noted 
had  extra  large  white  flowers  with  a  distinct  yellow  centre.  The  pink 
form,  too,  is  desirable. 
I  had  almost  forgotten  to  name  the  charming  batch  of  plants  in 
flower  of  the  new  variety  Duchess,  to  be  sent  out  shortly.  If 
anything  it  grows  in  favour  by  yearly  selection  and  cultivation. 
In  Primulas  the  colour  is  quite  unique,  being  white  with  a  deep  rose 
circle  around  the  yellow  eye.  The  blooms  are  fringed  and  freely 
produced.  One  remark  about  the  culture  of  Primulas  might  be  of 
some  service.  Many  cultivators  sow  much  too  early.  At  Reading  all 
THE  QUEEN’S  TEA  ROOMS  AND  EVERGREEN  OAKS  AT  FROGMORE. 
fringed.  Reading  Blue  still  maintains  its  hold  upon  cultivators  for  its 
exquisite  tint  of  colouring.  Brilliant  Rose  and  Reading  Pink  are  very 
free  in  flower  production,  offering  no  difficulties  in  cultivation  whatever, 
and  for  the  amateur’s  greenhouse  they  are  especially  valuable. 
Cultivators  of  Primulas  would  do  well  to  pay  greater  attention  to  the 
giant  type,  as  they  prolong  the  season,  coming  into  flower  later  than 
the  ordinary  forms  of  sinensis.  Giaut  Royal  White,  with  its  dark 
stems  and  blooms  which  measure  2\  inches  in  diameter,  is  exceedingly 
effective.  Giant  White,  cf  ordinary  form  with  green  leaves,  have  even 
larger  blooms.  Giant  Pink  is  perhaps  the  finest  in  this  section, 
the  blooms,  2\  inches  across,  are  freely  borne  on  stiff  stems,  and 
remarkably  true  in  colour.  Giant  Terra  Cotta  is  so  handsome  in  its 
colouring  that  the  name  does  not  do  full  justice  to  the  flower,  which 
has  certainly  more  rose  than  can  be  found  in  a  true  shade  of  terra 
cotta.  In  any  case  it  is  a  handsome  variety.  The  blooms  are 
heavily  fringed. 
Then,  too,  the  various  forms  of  seedling  double  flowering  sorts 
have  been  systematically  dealt  with.  Many  are  now  carrying 
Carnation-like  flakes  with  salmon,  purple,  crimson,  and  rose  coloured 
[  the  varieties  are  sown  at  the  same  time — about  the  middle  of  June. 
Thus  It  will  be  seen  that  only  a  short  time  is  required  to  grow  the 
plants  to  a  full  flowering  size. 
I  fear  a  brief  mention  only  can  be  made  of  the  Cyclamens  for 
which  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  are  famous.  Of  all  the  varieties  to  be 
!  seen,  and  they  are  numerous,  none  impresses  one  more  than  Suttons* 
Giant  White,  the  immense  blossoms — with  single  petals  inches 
1  loDg,  and  as  much  as  1^-  inch  wide — contra-t  so  well  with  the  deeply 
marbled  foliaje  below.  The  giant  pink,  purple,  and  crimson  and 
white  are  alike  beautiful.  The  ordinary  form  of  persicum  is  admirably 
illustrated  by  such  varieties  as  Suttons’  White  Butterfly,  Salmon 
Queen,  and  Vulcan.  The  former  has  extra  fine  petals  of  the  purest 
white,  while  the  latter  produces  that  rich  crimson  colour  so 
I  conspicuous  wherever  seen.  The  papilio  or  fringed  type  is  a  novelty 
more  curious  than  pretty  ;  the  petals  are  fringed  and  curled.  In 
the  near  future  we  may  see  even  a  giant  form  of  Vulcan,  as  one 
plant  exhibited  a  distinct  trace  of  that  character,  and  certainly  it  is 
not  too  much  to  expect  to  see  from  here  stellata  fcor  “Star” 
Cyclamens  in  various  colour  forms. — E.  Molyneux. 
