M« PLANT'S SEED1JNG C1LCEOLARIAS. Flimniltural tabiin't. : THE FLORICUL L CABINET FLORISTS' MAGAZINE. JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1846. VOLUME XIV CONDUCTED BY JOSEPH HARRISON. LONDON WHITTAKER AND CO., AVE MARIA LANE. 1846. : LONDON ?ar"1 »»d ' Printed by Wiluam Clow" Stamford Street. ; PREFACE. Time, which, amidst the various projects and occupations of man, pursues its course without interruption or delay, has at length brought our labours, as Conductor of the Floricultural Cabinet, to the conclusion of another volume, and it again becomes our duty to present to our readers those observations, which, in the nature of a preface to the present volume, they have a right to claim from us. The close of our seventh volume (in 1839) was the termination of our First Series of this Magazine. We then stated that the next seven volumes would form a Second Series, and the present volume (the fourteenth) is the concluding one. Our annual obser- vations and engagements relative to the past volumes, have statedly been recorded in each, and when we now review the materials with which, by the aid of our respected correspondents we have been enabled to furnish our readers in the present volume, we cannot suppress a feeling of humble, but grateful satisfaction. For useful, instructive, and varied interesting information,—for the choice of the newest, ornamental and beautiful subjects in its coloured figures of plants,—for the accuracy and effect of the execu- tion, we are persuaded that this volume exceeds every predecessor To enable us to accomplish this, we are deeply indebted, as in former years, to our esteemed correspondents, and it now is our pleasing duty again to tender our grateful acknowledgments. Our next number will be the first of a Third Series, in which we shall attempt successively further improvements, and in the prosecution thereof we shall use our utmost exertions to merit the entire approval of those whom it will be our anxious aim to please and all means that may be suggested to us, or which may occur to our own thoughts, for maintaining the unequalled eminence, to JV PREFACE. which, as a floral publication, the Cabinet has attained, we shall promptly avail ourselves of. We look back through the Two Series of our Magazine, com- prising the period of fourteen years, with considerable pleasure on those substantial and unwavering tokens of approval which we have been so signally and generously favoured with, and we wish them to have their legitimate influence, and to give a new impulse to our endeavours, conscious, as we are, that the right use of encourage- ment is to excite onward, and for us to go on increasingly demon- strating that our gratitude is felt, deep, and abiding. We again most respectfully solicit the continued assistance of our friends to enable us fully to accomplish our purposes, and realize our promises. Downham, December 2]st, 1846. THE FLORICULTURAL CABINET, JANUARY 1st, 1846. PART I. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS AND EMBELLISHMENTS. ARTICLE I. CALCEOLARIAS, SEEDLING VARIETIES, RAISED BY MR. JOSEPH PLANT, FLORIST, CHEADLE, STAFFORDSHIRE. In former volumes we have figured several of the fine seedling Cal- ceolarias, raised hy Mr. Plant, and remarked too upon his great per- severance and success in raising some of the hest kinds which have heen produced. We have now the pleasure to introduce an entire new section of these lovely flowers, viz., a striped class. Specimens were sent us during the past summer, consisting of several varieties, from which we selected those now figured ; and we have no douht the great beauty and novelty they possess will soon conduct them into every good collection. They are, we believe, shrubby kinds, which renders them more valuable. An intermixture of these with some of the large self-coloured varieties, will, no doubt, furnish additional beauties. We hope Mr. Plant will meet with that encouragement his industry entitles him to, in an extensive sale of the varieties we now figure. Some judicious remarks upon the culture of Calceolarias was given in our last volume, p. 132, to which we beg to refer our readers ; also to p. 118 in the same volume, and to several other communications inserted in previous volumes, giving ample particulars of the entire routine of treatment. Vol. XIV. No. 155. k — — . 2 ON THE TREATMENT OF THE POLYANTHUS. ARTICLE II. ON THE NORTHERN FLORISTS' TREATMENT OF THE POLYANTHUS. BY MR. JOHN SLATER, VLORIST, CHEETHAM-HILI., MANCHESTER. No flower can more justly lay claim to the title of being beautiful than the Polyanthus. Its varied tints, the richness of its colouring, the grace and elegance of its form, agreeable fragrance, easy propa- gation, hardy nature, and being one of Flora's earliest visitors, it is welcomed with no ordinary feelings of satisfaction by every one who possesses the least taste for flowers. To the industry and zealous attention of the northern florists we are much indebted for the rapid and progressive improvement it has made during the last few years. It is supposed to owe its origin from both the Primrose and the Oxlip. The Polyanthus is grown to the greatest perfection in an airy situation, yet sheltered from the rays of the sun, as its excessive heat has a tendency to impair its strength. In the spring it is necessary to examine the plants and pots minutely early in the morning, as well as in the evening, to destroy all slugs and snails which may he found upon them, as they are very great enemies to this plant. The Polyanthus has also another formidable enemy, though small; this is the acarus, or red spider. When the plants are infected with this destructive insect the leaves become yellow and spotted. The best remedy is to remove the infected plant immediately from your collec- tion, and place it in a more distant situation, and soak it in a strong infusion of tobacco-water. A sprinkling of quick-lime upon the plants has been found beneficial and effectual. The young florist is recommended to select his plants in bloom. The Polyanthus grows best in a light sandy soil, and some florists add peat when a yellow sandy soil cannot be got. The following compost will grow them well : 1 peck light yellow loam. 1 „ sand. ' * ; lh cow duns;, . , ,, B } , , , ' > to he at least two years old. li „ horse ditto, ' 1J „ leaf mould. The properties of a fine Polyanthus are as follow : ON THE TREATMENT OF THE POLYANTHUS. O The stem ought to he strong, elastic, and erect, of such a height that the truss may be ahove the grass or leaves of the plant. The foot-stalks should be stiff, and of a proportionable length to the size and quantity of the pips, and not less than five or more in number, that the truss may be close and complete. The pipe, tube, or neck of the petal should rise above the impalement, be short, and finish fluted in the eye ; the antherse should cover the neck of the tube : this is what the florists call a thrum eye. When the style perforates and shows its stigma above the anthene, this is called & pin eye, from its resembling a pin head. Such a flower is rejected by all modern florists, let its other properties be what they may. The tube should be round, of a bright yellow colour, well filled with anthers, bold and distinct. The eye should be round, of a bright clear yellow, and distinct from the ground or body colour. The ground or body colour should be a dark rich crimson, resembling velvet, quite free from speck or blemish of any kind. The pips should be large, and of rich and lively colours, and nearly all of one size, and lie quite flat and smooth, as free as possible from ridges or fluting, and as round as they well can be to preserve their peculiarly beautiful figure, which is circular, excepting those small indentions between each division of the limb, which divide it into five or six heart-shaped segments. The edging should resemble a bright gold lace, exactly the same colour as the eye, and go perfectly round each petal, also down the centre of each division of the limb to the eye, and the lacing or edging to be all of one breadth. The best period for potting plants is after blooming, which will be in June, when especial care should be taken to make a good drainage. The plants must be dressed, and all offsets or heads which have roots should be detached. After potting, water well, that the soil may be the better settled to the ruots, and place them in a shady yet airy situation, and water them only when it is actually necessary, else there is a probability of their perishing by the rot. They will require protection during the winter months ; a frame is the best, taking care to let them have the advantage of all fine weather. In March you may give them the benefit of all gentle showers of rain that may fall. Top dress them with a strong compost. The compost generally used is cow-dung and horse-dung, very old, and a very small quantity of coarse sand. If you intend to exhibit, you must a 2 4 ON THE DISPOSITION OF FLOWERS IN MASSES. thin out all superfluous buds ; those in the centre are the best to be taken away. New varieties are raised from seed ; and, if you wish to be suc- cessful, take seed only from those kinds which possess good properties. When the seed-vessels begin to open the seed is nearly ripe, and every day you must gather such heads as are brown, or else you will in all probability lose the best of your seed.