GLADIOLUS OUR LITTLE LUCY. WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. THIS is one of the beautiful varieties of Gladiolus which have been raised by Mr. Standish, of Ascot. It is due to the successful efforts of Mr. Standish to state that he has contributed very largely to the improvement manifested among these showy popular flowers. He has, indeed, as respects the status of English-raised varieties, placed them quite on an equality with those of continental origin, and what M. Souchet's Gladioli are amongst those raised in France, Mr. Standish's novelties are amongst those of English parentage. Indeed, we question if some of his flowers-that named John Standish, for example, now unfortunately lost to cultivators-have ever been equalled in those characteristics which mark high quality in the flowers. The variety we now figure, by a process which scarcely does it justice, has already won a position for itself in the ranks of floriculture. It was shown at a meeting of the Floral Committee on the 27th of September, 1864, and on that occasion won a first-class certificate. In the report of the meeting referred to, it is spoken of in the following terms:-"A very fine and novel variety, of a rosy magenta colour, striped and splashed with white; the lip segments feathered with purple. It will be quite an acquisition among these showy autumn flowers.' This brief description we endorse. So much has lately been written respecting the diseases and culture of Gladioli, both in our own pages and those of our contemporaries, that we need not enlarge on these points. We would, however, refer inquiring readers to several communications relating to the choice of varieties, which have recently appeared in the pages of the Gardeners' Chronicle, and we quite concur in the remark made by one of the writers referred to-himself a well-known grower and exhibitor—namely, that a great and manifest advance has of late years been made in the varieties submitted to the approval of the public. M. THE CHINESE PRIMULA. I MAY supplement to what I stated last month under this heading, that at the meeting of the Floral Committee at South Kensington on the 20th ult., a group of flowers was produced by Messrs. Windebank & Kingsbury, of Southampton. One thing was very apparent-that with depth of colour in the double flowers, there was also combined great strength of constitution, judging from the robustness and vigour of the plants. I note this fact, because in the previous paper I hazarded a doubt as to whether such was the case. I find, also, that Messrs. Windebank & Kingsbury have not as yet succeeded in producing double flowers from the Fern-leaved varieties. When preparing the previous paper, I laboured under the impression that they had done so. That they are on the high road to this desired end there can be no doubt, as they have already semi-double flowers that are highly promising. At this meeting, however, there was produced from the garden of W. S. Roots, Esq., of Kingston-on-Thames, a double variety of P. filicifolia, the flowers of which were a light pinkish rose, quite double, but the petals were edged with white, which detracted from its effectiveness. However, it denotes that double varieties of the Fern-leaved plants are to be obtained. Not only is it true of the plants of P. filicifolia, that the colour of the leafstalks affords no clue to the colour of the flowers, but it is also characteristic of the strain of the older kind in the hands of Messrs. Windebank & Kingsbury. VOL. V. E A description of some of the varieties shown at South Kensington on the occasion referred to will no doubt be acceptable. The Fern-leaved varieties were represented by P. filicifolia rubra.-Very deep purplish crimson; flowers very large, bold, and stout, well fimbriated; foliage stout and strong. Very fine. P. filicifolia kermesina.-A very fine form; of the Primula kermesina colour, and of greater depth and richness than is usually seen. Stiff and vigorous habit. P. filicifolia alba.-Large bold flowers; pure white, changing to delicate flesh with age; centre lemon, with brownish orange ring. Very free bloomer, and good habit. Of their old strain there was P. striata lilacina.-Light flowers, suffused and slightly flaked with lilac. This is a very pretty flower; the blooms were large, and the foliage stout and strong. Of double varieties there were the following :Purity.-Pure white; large and very double flowers. Remarkably free bloomer; habit good. A fine variety. Rubra.-Good double flowers of a deep lilac rose. Very free; and of good habit. Delicata.-Pale blush flowers; large and very double. Strong and vigorous habit. Magnifica.-Rosy pink. Large and very double flowers, and good habit. A FEW WORDS ON THE APPLE. QUO. THE Apple is one of the most widely diffused and valuable of fruit trees, and it would be idle to enumerate the many uses of its fruit-a fruit which may be enjoyed by rich and poor, and from January to December. Although by some it has been neglected in favour of more showy and luscious fruits, yet the number of those who justly appreciate its value is very great; but owing to the multitude of varieties which now exist, they find it very difficult to make a judicious selection. As, however, experience must count for something, I trust that the result of my observations on about sixty varieties will not be unacceptable to the readers of the FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. As the season for grafting is approaching, those who have old or worthless sorts, and from various reasons cannot get a supply of young trees, should now be on the look-out to secure grafts of the best of the newer varieties. I have found the following exceedingly good and useful, and such as must please the most fastidious-viz. : DESSERT. 1. Early Harvest. 2. Cox's Orange Pippin. 3. American Mother Apple. 4. Fearn's Pippin. 5. Ribston Pippin. 6. Cockle Pippin. 7. Scarlet Nonpareil. 12. Boston Russet. The above sorts are well worth growing. KITCHEN. 13. Lord Suffield. *14. Cellini Pippin. 15. Cox's Pomona. 16. Golden Noble. 18. Mère de Ménage. 19. Hoary Morning. *20. Waltham Abbey Seedling. 21. Yorkshire Greening. 22. Beauty of Kent. *23. Dumelow's Seedling. *24. Royal Russet. More especially can I speak of those numbered 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 16, 20, as being much superior to most of the older kinds. I should state that those marked with an asterisk are sometimes used for the table, though more properly adapted for the kitchen. In providing for a supply of the newer sorts for the future, I do not find it advisable to cut down all the old trees in one year, thus destroying the present supply; but by introducing fresh kinds gradually the crop is not materially diminished. Apples, I may observe, were very abundant in the south; and I think they coloured better than they have done for some years. They ripened very quickly, and I think this induced some of us to gather them too soon, for they have not kept so well generally as in former years when they have hung longer. Crabwood, near Southampton. J. C. HIGGS. ROSES-THE MANETTI STOCK. I AM never desirous of obtruding my observations on Roses, or on any other commodity; but, as I am in a great measure responsible for the Manetti stock, or rather for Roses on it, I will ask leave to stand up once more in its defence. I may say, I believe with truth, that there is no private individual in England who has had such long and extensive experience of Roses on the Manetti as I have had. The more I know of it, the more I like it. Nurserymen propagate Roses on this stock, and sell out annually; and they cannot propagate it sufficiently to meet the yearly increasing demand for Roses on this stock. Few of them, I believe, have any "continued experience" of Roses on this stock; but I can speak of it from continued experience as an admirable stock, whether you view it per se, or as an easy and certain introduction of Roses on their own roots. I have given away this year between seven and eight hundred Roses, chiefly on the Manetti stock, most of which have been here in my home, dry, chalky soil for eight or ten years-some for a longer period. I bought some of these of Mr. Davis, of Newbury, and of Mr. Gill, of Blandford, many years ago. They went through the terrible winter of 1860 unscathed. The Briar Hybrid Perpetuals, almost to a totality, died out, or died afterwards. Of the summer Briar Roses, I lost hardly any. As "A. D.," in the last Number of the FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST, Solicits information, I beg to subscribe this. I have read his article attentively. I cannot conceal from myself that he has wrongly treated Roses on this stock. He has given the reasons of his failure. I must observe that the last summer was quite an exceptional one; the earth was as hot as a fryingpan-in fact, without abundance of water, nothing could live. That was supplied here; and I never had a more prolonged and glorious Rose season-from the 14th of May to the frosts of winter, six months. I ask, in passing, what other flower will do that? "A. D." speaks of his land being a yellow loam, 2 feet deep. I suppose it is either clay or sandy loam; in either case, he had no business to fail with Manetti Roses, or Briar Roses. I have no such soil. My home garden, with a west aspect, is chalky, shallow, dry, and resting on a dense chalk, that reaches probably to New Zealand. My north-east garden, on the other side of the valley-where I have about 1200 Roses, chiefly on Manetti, some of which have been transferred from my home garden, and some of which have been there from all ages up to ten years-is rich, friable, blackish soil, but shallow, and resting on a gravel substratum, so hard that you could not move it without a pickaxe. Indeed, as Manetti Roses require to be covered over the point of union, and as the soil is so shallow, I am obliged to put a covering of black dung over the gravel, then a little earth, and then the radius of the Manetti |