FLOWERS IN WINTER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1939, 12 May 1880, Page 3

FLOWERS IN WINTER.

[“ North British Agriculturist.”] The demand for flowers at all seasons is greatly on the increase, but in winter especially it appears to be increasing in excess of the supply. The difficulties that stand in the way of obtaining flowers in abundance during the winter months are great. The absence of light and natural heat, which cannot be fully compensated for in any adequate degree by means of artificial appliances, such as glasshouses and heating apparatus, however perfect and helpful they may bo in their way, is the great bar to the plentiful production of flowers during those dullest months ot the year. Much is done by forcing hardy plants. Indeed, without resorting to this expedient hq : continuous or plentiful supply can be depended upon. The fact is, there are very few plants which naturally flower during the winter months, but there are many which by management can be forced or induced to flower much earlier. Thus with azaleas and camellias (we speak of the Indian or greenhouse azalea, not the hardy ones in the present instance), we may, by starting the plants into growth earlier than usual, have them in such an advanced state before midsummer that they will bloom late in the autumn. It should bo known that these plants, especially the latter, will not force successfully except they are prepared in the way indicated. Most promising plants, laden it may be with flower buds, may bo utterly ruined if placed in a high temperature to induce the flowers to open long before their natural time, that is, the time when in the natural course they would have had an ample rest period, and bo prepared to move under an imitation of natural conditions. The azalea yields more facilely to the influence of heat and moral urc, but at the same time the best results can only be obtained by the use of the means above hinted at. Then, many hardy trees and shrubs may be forced. Lilacs, especially that variety called “Charles the Tenth,” and the Siberian and Persian forms, are specially prepared and grown in pots by nurserymen for the purpose of forcing. Many thousands of them are annually disposed in pots of five inches or six inches diameter—neat, shapely plants, densely branched, and bristling with flower-buds, which have a vary pleasing effect in the greenhouse or conservatory when in flower, and are very elegant components in the bouquet or flower vase. But this annual growth in pots beforehand must be made in order to have perfect success. Indeed, it is quite impossible to get young plants of the size alluded to (one and a half or two feet high) to flower if merely lifted from the open ground and introduced into heat. It is a practice on the Continent, and also to a limited extent in ti-is country, to lift old plants of the common purple lilac, plants that have perhaps not been disturbed for many years, and which have therefore very largo balls of earth enclosed by their matted roots, and placing them in dark, heated sheds or oellars to force. But while the practice, when well managed, is attended with success, it bespeaks the possession of unusual facilities, and is, besides, attended with much labour and trouble. Rhododendrons, and the whole tribe to which they belong, including the splendidly coloured Ghent or Pontic azaleas, cun, however, be lifted at once from the open ground and be introduced into heat, either with or without potting. They naturally have dense, massive balls of earth attached to their roots, which prevents them from being injured by the transplanting process to any considerable extent, so that they may be introduced into heat at once from the open air, be planted in the borders or beds of any warm glass structure, and, if carefully supplied with water, will slowly but surely develop their buds with all their loveliness enhanced by the greater delicacy imparted to them by the warmth and more subdued light to which they are subjected. Nearly every spring or early summer-flowering shrub is being tried and experimented upon to ascertain to what extent they may bo useful in forcing during winter, for the supply of the constantly increasing demand for flowers. Duntzia gracilis has long been known as a thoroughly reliable shrub for the purpose, its pure white orange-like blossoms in graceful clusters being especially admired, and in demand for brides’ bouquets and hair ornaments. Duntzia crenata florepleno is another of the same family, with faintly rose coloured blossoms, which has within the last few years been steadily coming into favour ; but it is not so reliable and abundant in its supply ns the first named. The several species of mock orange also, both on account of their odour and the rich profusion of their flowers, have been drawn upon, especially for conservatories of considerable size. To havo them fine, large plants must be used, young ones being but sparse bloomers. The guelder rose, also, has hem lately employed with some success; but as it, unlike most other hardy flowers when forced, comes somewhat short of its natural purity of colour, it has nob obtained the favor that was anticipated f-r it. Like the lilac and the duntzia, the guelder rose must be established in pots to be effective and satisfactory as a forced plant. The double and single forms ot the hawthorn—scarlet, pink, and white—are also being drafted into the ranks of forcing plants, and with much advantage where the facilities are good, or rather where they arc ample. They are simply beautiful in the extreme. When established in pots twelve months beforehand, they literally clothe thom-elvss in their gay blossoms. From these and such like shrubs much of the supply for the immense demand for put flowers during the winter months is procured. Spircca japonica, lily of the valley, dielytra; Christmas roses, tea, hybrid, perpetual, and other roses; hyacinths, tulips, and many other bulbous plants are also employed in contributing to the general supply, v.'hich, even when eked out by contributions from the stoves in the shape of flowers naturally blooming in them during winter, is far short of the demand ; for flowers in winter are even yet one of the moat expansive of luxuries.

EAST BELT WESLEYAN CHUROHr

The anniversary tea meeting took place in the church last evening. About 300 persons sat down to an excellent tea. After tea, which was kindly provided by the ladies, the chair was taken by Mr N. Harris. The trustees’ treasurer, Mr Cannon, read the financial report, showing that the entire income of the church was £2931 10s sd, leaving an excess of expenditure of £2O 6s 2d, which the proceeds of the present meeting fully covered. Ho also referred to the steps about to be taken as to the erection of a large and commodious church, to cost about £2500, which the trustees hoped to see accomplished during the present year. The Revs. Rish worth Richardson, and Reid, gave very profitableand instructive addresses. During the evening a number of anthems were very satisfactorily rendered by a choir under the direction of Mr Free, who also gave an account of the cost of the new organ. Ho gave the meeting to understand that through a series of entertainments and a sewing bee, the instrument was handed over to the trustees free of debt. After singing the Doxology the Benediction was pronounced, and a most successful meeting was brought to a close.