JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Apiil  14,  19C4. 
:;18 
ci  iislior,  and  the  potsherds  are  sifted  into  three  sizes  l)y  means 
ot  wire  netting— the  small  mesdied  nearest  the  ont-pnt  slot,  the 
largest  meshed  at  the  hottom,  and  the  medium-sized  in  the 
centre  ;  the  netting,  of  course,  heing  fixed  at  an  incline  from  the 
machine.  The  levolving  pot-cleaning  brush  I  thought  parti¬ 
cularly  good,  and  an  admirable  time  savei’.  There  are  other  in- 
t(U'('sting  mechanical  devices  w  Inch  one  might  notice,  hut  some 
riMiiarks  must  be  awarded  to  the  iilant  collections. 
In  the  notes  of  last  year  I  remarked  that  this  nursery  was 
like  a  botanic  gaiden  in  the  variety  of  its  subjects.  It  is, 
indeed,  mo.st  complete.  The  floral  and  decorative  side  of  the 
firm’s  iiusine.ss  is  a  very  large  one,  as  the  result  of  their  shop  in 
Market  Street,  Mancliester.  The  purely  market  gardening 
element  also  furni.shes  another  large  share  of  the  business  done; 
for  saleable  market  stuff  is  grown  liberally  for  the  Manchester 
market.  In  the  height  of  the  season  the  demolition  of  Lily  of 
the  Valley  crowns  numbers  80,000  to  40,000  weekly,  and  Callas. 
Pelargoniums,  iMargueiites,  and  Chrysanthemums  demand  much 
time  and  space. 
Vines  and  Some  Greenhouse  Plants. 
Our  notes  must,  however,  he  confined  to  a  few  prominent 
subjects  of  special  interest  to  private  gardeners.  The  Vines  we 
mentioned,  and  the  stock  of  them  are  in  a  very  promising  con¬ 
dition,  in  all  sizes,  and  of  ages  to  suit  present  or  autumn 
planters.  Vines  purely  for  pot  culture  are  somewhat  of  a 
speciality.  Carnations,  as  we  have  seen,  form  a  department  by 
thein.selves,  which  is  proof  of  their  numbers,  and  also,  ive  may 
say,  pioof  of  special  care.  The  plants  were  evidently  in  rude 
heajth  and  vigour,  hut  the  use  of  XL  All  Vapouriser  at  the 
moment  of  our  visit  precluded  a  detailed  inspection.  Such  season¬ 
able  plants  as  Cinerai  ias,  Cyclamens,  and  even  Calceolarias,  were 
seen  and  disciussed,  for  with  these  three  genera  Messrs.  Clibran 
have  a  fame,  particularly  with  Calceolai  ias ;  and  it  will  be  con¬ 
ceded  that  an  Eastei'  hatcli  in  full  flower  is  early.  The  size  of 
the  trusses,  as  well  as  of  the  individual  flowers,  and  the  remark¬ 
able  spotting  of  some,  and  the  lich  colour-tones  of  the  seifs  were 
such  as  compelled  admiration.  The  character  and  appearance 
of  the  iilants,  too,  were  good.  So  manv  as  200  varieties  of 
decorative  Pelargoniums  are  grown,  and  it  may  be  recalled  that 
we  made  a  pica  for  this  plant  in  a  recent  issue  of  the  Journal. 
Primula  Ivewensis  is  a  plant  that  will  win  its  way,  whether  it  he 
slowly  or  swiftly  ;  and  another  yellow-flowered  greenhouse  com¬ 
panion,  of  a  very  different  natnie  however,  is  Oxalis  cernua. 
This  plant  is  perhaps  generallv  known,  hut  where  not,  it  is  one 
that  is  well  worth  a  jilace.  Some  growers  are  exceedingly  suc- 
cc'ssful  with  it  either  in  baskets  (foi’  which  it  is  admirably  suited) 
or  in  ])ots.  A  useful  cultural  article  will  he  found  in  J.  of  H., 
Aiuil  18.  1001. 
Rhododendrons  and  Hardwoods. 
'file  javanico-jasminiflorum  Rhododendrons  make  far  slower 
inogiess  into  gardens  than  one  could  desire,  or  than  their  merits 
deserve.  ^Ve  know  of  no  flowering  plants  that  remain  so  peren¬ 
nially  in  flower  as  do  the.se  beautiful  sub-tropical  Rhododendrons, 
so  diveise  and  rich  in  their  floraison.  Some  are  yellow,  some 
piidi,  others  orange,  anon  scarlet  and  crimson— all  shades  of 
colour,  and  such  as  are  nof  found  every  day.  An  intermediate 
house  they  must  have,  foi-  the  stove  is  too  warm  and  the  green¬ 
house  too  cold  for  their  accommodation,  and  po.ssibly  herein  lies 
a  reason  why  they  remain  unknown  to  so  many  lovers  of  indoor 
plants.  Pruning  they  object  to,  but  their  straggly  shoots  can 
he  tied-in,  and  a  shapely  plant  I’esults.  At  Hale  there  is  a  goodly 
stock.  The  same  applies  to  the  Himalayan  Rhododendrons  and 
their  hybrids,  of  which  some  fine  specimen  plants  were  noticed. 
Luculia  gratis, sima,  which  pioduces  trus.ses  of  mo.st  fragrant 
piidv  flowers,  together  with  the  unsnrpa.ssahle  Camellia  reti¬ 
culata  and  the  new  .lasminum  primulinnm  were  seen  in  health; 
while  in  a  large  hou.se  were  .siflendid  plants  of  Acacia  pubescens 
and  Daphne  indica.  4'he  stock  of  the  latter  is  in  oin  and  tun 
pots,  and  healthier  or  more  bushy  plants  I  have  not  seen. 
Foliage  and  Flowering  Plants. 
C'oleiis  thyi’soideus  is  lu're ;  a  dwarf,  large  flowered  very 
vliite  Calla,  named  ’Hie  Godfrey,  as  well  as  C.  Elliottiana 
attract  attention  in  their  several  jilaces.  And  when  one  con¬ 
siders  the  slow  rate  of  growth  of  Dracaena  Doucetti,  with  its 
arching,  symmetrical,  leathery,  gi-een,  gold,  and  creamy  leaves, 
one  marvels  at  the  fine  stock  of  even  plants  included  in  one  of 
the  hou.ses,  and  it  is  at  once  apjiarent  that  this  is  what  it  is 
claimed  to  be — “the  largest  stock  in  the  country.”  Other 
foliage  subjects  are  seen  in  Pandanns  ntilis,  the  Vacona,  with 
reddish  leaves  :  and  Kentia  Sanderiana,  that  graceful  species  like 
a  Geonoma.  leims  are  a  host  in  themselves,  and  not  only  are 
•“xotics  somewhat  largely  giown,  Imt  Bi  itish  species  also  have  a 
lilace,  and  no  less  important  ari'  the  Selagiuellas — S.  Emiliana, 
8,  Martini  v'ariegata,  S.  gneca,  Ac.  The  American  novelty  in 
ferns  is  Xephrolepis  Piedsoni,  and  though  America  and  the 
■Americans  are  greatly  ‘over-rated,  no  one  is  ill-advised  who 
accepts  this  as  an  acqui'-if Ion.  It  and  the  Lawson  CaiTiation  are 
.a  .good  pair. 
A  string  of  other  foliage  plants  may  he  mentioned  in  a  sen¬ 
tence,  and  all  are  beautiful  and  of  merit :  Ficus  Parcelli,  Panax 
A'ictorise,  Reidia  glauce.scen.s,  Clerodendron  fallax,  Phyilanthus 
nivosus,  Dracpena  Victoria,  Hoffmannia,  Ghieshreghti  varie- 
gata,  Rex  Begonias  (a  specially  fine  collection),  Sanschezia 
nobilis  (with  prominent  yellow  veins),  and  Maranta  Alassan- 
geana.  Some  of  these  are  old  ;  some  much  more  recent  :  hut  all 
are  highly  desirable. 
Medinilia  Curtisi  with  its  white  flowers,  purple  stamens,  and 
coral-red  flowei-  .stems  is  chaste  and  very  interesting ;  Pavonia 
intermedia,  which  bears  crimson  heads  of  bloom  all  through  the 
winter,  also  deserves  a  place  in  any  selection  ;  and  Jasminum 
ligustrifolium  has  charming  white  blos.soms.  Ardisias  are  cul¬ 
tivated,  and  when  well-berried  they  meet  a  demand  in  the 
market.  Saxifraga  sarmentosa  variegata,  Kalanchoe  flammea, 
Frceocharis  x  Clibrani  (with  flowers  intermediate  between 
Encharis  and  Urceolina)  are  now  invaluable,  the  latter  heing  a 
good  grower  and  flowers  freely.  Anthuriuni  Andreanum 
Fletcheriannm,  with  huge  criimson  spathes,  is  the  finest  variety 
yet  produced. 
Tliese  few  notes  mu.st  now,  however,  be  concluded,  though  one 
feels  how  little  can  be  done  to  de.scribe  a  gieat  establishment 
such  as  this  in  two  short  columns  of  print. 
Amaryllis  at  Chelsea. 
Once  again  the  collection  of  Amaryllis  (Hippeastrmns)  grown 
by  i\le,ssr.s.  J.  A‘eitch  and  Sons  at  their  Royal  Exotic  Nursery, 
Chelsea,  is  in  flower,  and  a  bright  display  is  exhibited.  The 
house  in  which  the  plants  are  shown  this  year  is  one  of  the  new 
smaller  span-roofed  structures,  without  a' central  bed,  and  con¬ 
sequently  the  same  imposing  effect  secured  in  the  old  house  is 
not  to  he  expected.  The  novelties  this  year  according  to  those 
.seen  at  our  visit  this  week,  are  not  superior  to  what  we  have 
seen  in  former  years,  but  there  are  ahnudance  of  shapely  flowers 
having  sub.stance,  vigour,  and  fine  colouring.  As  heVetofore, 
the  pots  are  all  plunged  to  the  brim  in  tan  baik  in  order  to 
secure  a  cool  bottom  for  the  roots.  The  size  of  the  pots  is  5in 
and  bin  mostly,  each  with  one  stout  bulb,  and  the  nnniher  of 
scaqies  per  bulb  is  one,  and  in  a  great  many  cases,  two,  with 
thi’ee  and  four  flowers. 
Taking  the  lighter  coloured  varieties  first,  becan.se  they  ai-e 
fewer,  we  would  name  Eos,  with  pretty  carmine  veins  and  broad 
white  beams  in  the  centre  of  the  perianth  segments:  a  firm 
flower.  Titan,  a  remarkably  fine  and  distinct  bios.som,  also  witli 
white  beams  down  the  segments,  and  rosy-crini.son  netting 
toward  the  edges.  This  is  a  very  telling  and  pleasing  flower. 
Garames  was  hardly  at  its  be.st,  hut  promi.ses  well,  having  a 
good  white  ground,  and  pale  crimson  veins,  the  ha.se  of  the  tube 
green.  Sirius  also  comes  into  this  light  coloured  selection,  and 
furni.shes  a  decidedly  pleasing  flower  with  rounded  periantli 
segments  nicely  recurving  at  the  tijis,  with  wliite  ground,  deep 
ro.sy  Picotee  edge,  veined  and  streaked  with  carmine-i-ed.  The 
flowers  .seen  by  ns  had  been  expanded  for  eighteen  days,  and 
were  still  fre.sh  and  good.  Cyrus  po.sse.s.ses  a  very  good  .shape, 
and  is  distinctive.  The  larger  part  of  the  segments  are  of  a 
good  clear  white,  having  a  bi'oad  uncoloured  central  beam  and 
laterally  curved  crimson  veins  in  the  middle  of  the  petals. 
Linden  I'esembles  the  beautiful  Ajiple  Blo.s.som  of  last  year,  only 
that  it  is  less  crisped  than  that  famous  variety  :  and  la.stly 
Averunicns  has  pure  white  broad  bands  in  the  centre  of  each 
segment  and  at  the  ha.se,  the  rest  being  bright  .scarlet. 
And  then  we  come  to  varieties  of  crimson,  port,  scailet,  and 
orange  shades,  which  are  also  numerous.  The  five  best  are  iiro- 
bably  Rupert,  a  glowing  ci-im.son-.scarlet  ;  Rodney,  crimson- 
apricot,  with  a  white  beam  in  the  centre  of  the  petals;  Mesona, 
orange-scarlet  with  white  edges:  Eloides,  very  rich  dark  crimson 
and  glo.ssy  surface;  and  Phoedon,  rich  glowing  crimson-scarlet 
with  a  dash  of  orange,  and  satiny  surface,  me  centre  very  dai-k 
— one  of  the  veiy  best.  Others  of  merit  include  Eglamour, 
bright  crimson,  lOin  across,  vigorous:  Alinterne,  wim  dark, 
poi't-coloured,  glo.ssy  centre,  veins  same  colour,  the  interv^as- 
cnlar  tissue  of  a  crimson  hue  toned  with  mauve.  Brahanto  is 
a  monster  in  size,  llin  across,  good  form  and  substance,  rich 
crimson,  ivith  white  beams.  Tarbat  is  intense  crimson,  and 
almost  black  at  bast.  Khaki  is  greenish  yellow,  veined  and 
flushed  dark  crimson.  Euterpe,  of  immense  size,  has  good  suli- 
stance,  and  is  coloured  a  glowing  clai’et  crimson ;  and  lastly 
Sains,  a  hig,  showy  flower,  with  fine  strong  .segments  of  a'  bright 
.scai'let  colour. 
It  is  a  remarkahle  fact  that  even  now  batches  of  seedlings 
from  the.se  greatly  improved  forms  will  occasionallv  revert  to 
the  type  of  variety  prevalent  twentv  years  ago.  For  many  years 
the  Chelsea  firni  (as  n  ell  as  others)  jiave  striven  for  a  ])ure  v  hitc 
Amaryllis,  and  though  varieties  almo.st  white  have  been  secured 
on  one  or  two  occasions,  they  do  not  seem  to  be  stable. 
The  other  show  hou.ses  at  Chelsea  contain  many  choice  sub¬ 
jects,  and  the  orchid  ranges  are  bright  with  Odontoglossnnis, 
Dendrohiums,  and  other  subjects.  The  collection  of  Caladiums 
is  heing  finally  potted  for  the  Temple  Show,  and  we  think  that 
one  or  two  of  the  novelties  then  to  he  brought  to  public  notice 
will  compel  admiration.  —  Wa.vderinc;  Willie. 
