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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  10,  190-1. 
Camellias. 
Some  of  the  best  varieties  of  Camellias  staged  by  Messrs. 
Win.  Paul  and  Son  at  an  exhibition  some  time  ago  comprise 
the  following,  which  they  describe: — Marchioness  of  Exeter, 
Exquisite,  Fimbriata,  Mine.  Cachet,  Consiiicua,  Madonna, 
Mathotiana,  Duchess  of  Teck,  Princess  Marie  Amelia  d’Orleans, 
and  C.  M.  Hovey. 
Cestrum  aupantiacum. 
Though  the  pink-flowered  Cestrums  (or  Habrothamnus)  are 
very  generally  cultivated  in  greenhouses  and  conservatories  as 
pillar  or  wall  plants,  the  orange-yellow  Cestrum  is  but  seldom 
seen.  And  why?  For  it  is  as  robust,  as  free,  and  quite  as 
continuous  in  its  flowering  as.  the  others  are.  Given  a  rich 
loam  and  fairly  liberal  root-space,  there  need  be  little  fear  of 
non-flowering  or  imperfect  growth.  Aphides,  of  course,  are 
very  partial  to  the  Cestrums,  but  persistent  syringings  ought 
to  preserve  the  cleanliness  of  the  foliage. 
Preparing-  Flower  Beds  for  Summer  Bedding-. 
All  beds  miLSt  be  thoroughly  dug.  This  will  suSice  for 
Geraniunis,  or  any  plants  that  are  likely  to  make  too  much  leaf 
growth  in  rich  soil.  Tuberous  Begonias,  Stocks.  Asters,  and 
other  half-hardy  annuals  will  require  the  addition  of  some 
enriching  and  moisture-holding  material.  Leaf  mould  or  old 
hotbed  manure  forms  a  suitable  dressing,  spreading  a  layer  on 
the  surface,  and  working  it  in.  Some  of  the  spring  flowering 
plants  abstract  a  considerable  amount  of  moisture  from  the 
.'.oil,  so  the  preparation  of  the  beds  should  be  carried  out  several 
days  before  required  to  plant  them,  in  order  that  very  dry  soil 
can  be  moi.stened  thoroughly.— D. 
Apple  Blossom. 
Tho.se  who  have  been  in  the  country  recently  mirst  have 
been  sti-iick  by  the  immense  amount  of  blo.ssom  the  Apple 
trees  are  bearing,  and  now  glowers  are  holding  their  breath, 
ftguratively  speaking,  fearing  that  a  frost  may  come  and  nip 
the  fruit  in  the  bud,  for  i\lay  is  a  very  fickle  month.  As  with 
Apples,  .so  other  fruit  gives  great  promise,  and  one  already 
h.eais  ojiinions  that  there  is  a  good  time  coming  this  year. 
However,  as  the  days  go  by,  and  the  clerk  of  the  weather, 
although  varialile,  does  not  serve  up  that  dangerous  combina¬ 
tion  of  a  cold  snap  following  lain,  anxiety  is  gradually  being 
allayed,  although,  of  course,  anything  may  happen  yet,  as 
unfortunate  experiences  of  past  years  prove.' 
H.T.  Rose,  Killanney. 
“American  Gardening,”  for  May  7*  figures  this  Rose,  and 
says:— “  Kdlarney  has  been  a  much-talked  of  Rose  among  the 
florists.  It  is  a  H.l.  raised  by  A.  Dickson  and  Co.',  the  well- 
known  Irish  Rose  growers,  who  have  given  us  several  fine 
varieties,  and  was  introduced  about  five  years  ago.  Very 
.seldom  does  a  Rose  receive  .so  many  names  as  has  been  the  case 
uith  this  one.  Our  picture  is  taken  from  blooms  grown  by 
Siebrecht  and  Son,  New  Hocheile,  X.Y.,  who  hold  a  very  large 
stock  and  grow  both  for  cut  flowers  and  for  plants— po.ssi'bly  the 
largest  dealer.  Ihe  delicate  pink,  deeper  on  the  inside,  lights 
as  glonousiy,  and  can  be  seen  at  be.st  when  the  flower  is  fullv 
expanded.  The  long  form  of  the  bud  is  very  distinct,  and 
makes  it  u.seful  for  decorative  work.  The  Ro.se' will  fill  a  place 
between  Bridesmaid  and  Bride  in  colour,  and  is  of  a  fascinating, 
lively  pink  The  parentage  is  given  as  Belle  Siebrecht  aiS 
Lilierty.  As  No.  19,  Kdlarney  has  been  sold  in  New  York  and 
Ihiladelphia  for  some  time  past.  Robert  Craig  and  B.  Dorrance 
were  concerned  in  the  introduction.  In  Washington,  D.C., 
the  name  of  Mrs.  G.  \V e.stinghou.se  was  applied  to  a  favourite 
new  Rose,  which  turns  out  to  be  Killarney.  It  became  Winnie 
Davis  .somewhei-e  el.se,  and  in  New  England  a  private  gardener- 
thought  he  had  a  new  thing  in  Fair  Maid.  Of  all  its  names 
iviilanrey  is  the  prettiest  and  most  appropriate,  and  as  such  it 
v.ill  in  future  be  known.” 
Abutilon  Pink  Beauty. 
This  new  Abutilon  has  been  highly  i-ecommended  for  growing 
into  pot  specimens  for  Easter  sales.  The  vai’iety  was  imported 
from  England  some  years  ago  (says  an  American  paper)  by  the 
proprietor  of  a  private  place  in  Massachusetts,  whei'e  it  was 
noticed  by  C.  B.  Knickman,  manager  of  the  Ozone  Park  Nur¬ 
series,  Ozone  Park,  N.Y.  Mr.  Knickman  at  once  saw  its  merits, 
and  has  since  made  a  specialty  of  it.  It  is  a  very  compact  gi-ower 
and  profuse  bloomer.  The  flower  is  large  and  the  colour  a  soft 
*  shell  pink.  The  plant  is  alike  useful  for  pots  and  bedding. 
Aster  Kate  Lock. 
A  recent  issue  of  the  “  Florists’  Exchange,”  New  York, 
gives  an  illustration  of  a  vase  of  blooms  of  this  new  white  Aster 
— and  the  porti-ait  of  the  originator,  John  H.  Lock,  Toronto, 
Out.  Mr.  liock  says  the  new-comer  “  oi-iginated  fi-oin  the 
AYashington  and  branching  Asters.  It  gi-ows  fi-oin  38in  to  4Iin 
in  height,  each  plant  producing  about  fifteen  lai-ge  flowers,  on 
.stiff  stems.  On  account  of  the  rigidity  of  the  stems,  the  blooms 
can  be  easily  and  arti.stically  arranged.  The  flower  resembles 
that  of  the  Truffaut  in  form,  and  the  plants  are  very  robust.” 
Fritillaria  Kieleagpis. 
Though  the  beautiful  blos.soms  of  this  species  are  now 
fading  away  for  another  year,  it  is  still  seasonable  to  remark 
upon  their  merits  for  the  spring  garden.  Quaint  in  form  and  of 
lovely  colour,  they  come  without  any  real  special  care  in  culture, 
and  present  an  unsurpassedly  beautiful  effect  when  seen  peering 
up  among  the  shafts  of  long  green  grass  when  naturalised  in 
sward.  The  drooping,  chequered  flowers  are  always  graceful. 
A  number  of  distinct  varieties  in  a  bed  make  a  pretty  show, 
.some  being  pink,  others  white,  and  a  few  of  darker  colours. 
This  Eritillary  enjoys  a  cool,  moist  soil,  and  where  the  land  is 
naturally  hot  and  dry  it  is  advisable  to  prepare  a  medium  to 
meet  their  needs.  AA'e  would  recommend  that  a  trial  of  the 
Snake’.s-head  Lily  in  grass  be  made. 
Croton  Sinitzianus. 
Crotons  (or  Codiieums)  represent  a  genus  of  plants  who.se 
culture  is,  as  a  rule,  more  carefully  undertaken  than  that 
of  nearly  any  other  tropical  subject.  A"ery  many  gardens 
po.ssess  a  special  Croton  house,  and  the  “  stove  ”  in  the 
generality  of  iirivate  places  contains  a  goodly  selection  of  these 
richly-coloured,  ornamental-leaved  subjects.  They  enjoy  a 
somewhat  heavy  loam  and  firm  potting,  with  as  much  summer 
sunshine  as  iiossible,  provided  the  atmosphere  of  the  house  is 
kept  well  charged  with  moisture.  The  plants  must  be  closely 
watched  again.st  the  attacks  of  mealy-bug,  and  a  vigorous,  per¬ 
sistent  use  of  the  syringe  (sometimes  using  an  insecticide)  will 
maintain  clean  plants.  For  exhibition  purpo.ses  it  is  necessary 
to  harden  off  the  plants  by  a  gradual  lowering  of  the  tenip-era- 
ture  of  the  house,  and  allowing  some  amount  of  exposure  from 
about  a  fortnight  before  the  date  of  the  show.  Shapeliness  aud 
brilliancy  of  colour  is  aimed  at  by  gi'owers.  C.  Sinitzianus  with 
green  and  yellow  leaves  may  not  be  known  to  some  of  our 
readers. 
Stpawbenries  in  Pots. 
The  latest  plants  will  now  be  commencing  to  swell  the  fruit, 
and  as  the  stems  are  usually  long,  the  berries  should  be  supported 
clear  of  the  pots  with  forked  sticks,  pointed  at  the  stem  end 
and  pushed  into  the  soil,  the  stem  of  the  truss  resting  in  the 
fork  or  a  little  below  the  fruit.  Then,  the  flowers  and  the 
fruit.  The  centre  fruit  is  always  the  largest,  and  to  encourage 
these  and  others  of  the  most  iiromising,  early  thinning  should 
be  practised.  Grand  fruits  are  obtained  by  this  process  in  the 
case  of  such  varieties  as  Royal  Sovereign,  President,  Sir  Joseph 
Paxton,  Auguste  Nicai.se,  James  A'eitch,  and  British  Queen  or 
Dr.  Hogg.  The  plants  should  have  frequent  supplies  of  liquid 
manure  for  swelling  their  fruit,  giving  it  from  the  time  the  fruit 
commences  to  swell  freely  until  it  changes  colour  for  ripening, 
when  clear  water,  and  not  too  much  of  it  (only  the  plants  must 
not  flag),  will  be  more  suitable.  AYhen  ripening,  the  atmosphere 
must  be  kept  rather  drier  and  cooler  than  when  the  fruit  is 
swelling,  and  it  will  then  be  less  liable  to  spotting,  the  flavmur 
will  be  higher,  and  the  aroma,  not  an  insignificant  matter,  more 
pronounced. — G.  A. 
