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LIBRARY 


OF  THE 


MASSACHUSETTS 

AGRICULTURAL 

COLLEGE 

No.^E.4_3..7_S__teATE._s.r;j_q_Q3. 

s  o  u  R  c  E  _C:a  J_^^£.„  „  .^_u  Tids 


The   Garden.  [JUiNE  28,  1902 


The  GAnuEN., 


[JcNE  28,  1902. 


JoHx    T.    Bennett  Poe,   M.A. 


AN 


Illustrated    Weekly    Journal 


Horticulture  in  all  its   Branches. 


Founded  by  W.  Robinson  in    iS7i. 


VOL.     LXL— MIDSUMMER,     1902. 


LO0XDOU\. 

Office  :   20,  TAVISTOCK  STREET,  COVENT  GARDEN,  W.C, 


Published  by  HUDSON  &  KEARNS,  20,  Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C,  and  by 
Messrs.  GEO.  NEWNES,  Ltd.,  7-12,  Southampton  Street,  Strand. 


c. 

The  Garden.]  -tV  "^^^^   '^'  ^''^- 


Sifc 


i,t 


JOHN    T.    BENNETT-POE,    M.A. 


THE       SIXTY-FIRST       VOLUME       OF       "THE       GARDEN" 


Is  dedicated. 


B 


OKN  in  Count)'  Tippemrv,  in  the  year  1S46,  Mr.  Bennett-Poe  received  his  earlier  education  from  tutors  at  home  and 
at  a  pri\-ate  school;  afterwards  at  Trinity  College,  Dtd)liii,  there  graduating  successively  B.A.  and  .M.A. 


He  was  almost  a  ))orn  gardener,  inheriting  a  love  of  plants,  which  liecame  and  has  continued  to  l)e  the 
greatest  of  his  life's  interests.  Never  very  robust  in  health,  the  open  air  life  of  a  practical  hurtieulturist  has  been  of 
great  liencfit,  and  has  enaliled  him  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  plants  and  of  their  ways  and  treatment  that  is  probaljly 
.surpassed  by  that  of  few  other  living  amateurs. 

On  settling  in  London  in  1889  Mr.  Bennett-Poe  was  pressed  into  the  active  service  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society 
on  the  Floral  Committee  and  on  the  Board  of  the  Chiswick  Gardens  ;  serving  also  for  ten  years  on  the  Council,  for  some 
time  as  Vice-President.  Among  his  other  offices  in  connexion  with  the  Society,  he  is  a  Trustee  of  the  Lindley  Library, 
Trustee  of  the  Veitch  Memorial,  and  was  formerly  Chairman  of  the  Narcissus  Committee. 

Mr.  Benuett-Poe's  services  have  also  lieen  gi\'en  as  judge  at  the  shows  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  and  Royal  Botanic 
Societies,  and  in  the  same  capacity  at  shows  at  Dublin,  Cork,  and  Scarboiougli .  His  exhibits  of  rare  and  beautiful  plants 
have  received  many  honour.?,  and  he  is  well  known  as  a  prize  wiiuiing  exhil>itor  of  Narcissi,  Tulips,  Auriculas,  and  Orchids. 

Mr.  Bennett-Poe  has  been  a  contributor  to  the  pages  of   The   Garden  from  its  beginning. 


Vol.  LXI.] 


["  The  Garden,"  June  SS,  1902. 


INDEX 


A. 

Acacia  acinacea,  1S7  ;  cultriformis,  255,  328  ; 

liastulata,  2G7  ;  urophylla,  18 
Acanthus  mollis  latifolius,  109 
Achimenes,  80,  2U 
Adiantum  pedatum,  167,  264 
Adonis  amureiisis,  64,  136  ;  perennial,  190 
African,  South,  fruit  culture,  369 ;   Lily  in 

tubs,  41 
Agapanthus    umbellatus    in    tubs,    41  ;    u. 
albus,  127,   179,  180,    228,    311,  302  ;   the 
white,  351,  352 
Agapanthuses  in  the  open,  79 
Agaricus,  the  Cylindrical,  187 
Agathffia  ccelestis,  35 
Agave  americana,  86,  283  ;  Bakeri,  240 
Ageratums,  69,  104 
Alberta  magna,  69 
Allamandas,  10,  198 
Allium  pederaontanum,  409 
Almanac,  THE  Gakuen,  9 
Alocasias,  198 

Alpine  flowers  at  home,  307 ;   house,  217  ; 
house    at    Kew,    the,    115,    136 ;    plants, 
naming,  349 
Alyssum  saxatile  flore-pleno,  394 
Amateur  Gardeners'  Association,  National, 

390,  406 
American  blight,  89  ;   notes,  39,  58,  138,  304, 

322,  354 
Anchusa,  the,  95 ;  italica,  262 
Androsace  lanuginosa,  171 
Anemone     apennina,    301  ;    Fanninii,    350 ; 
hortensis  in  grass,  352 ;  intermedia,  236  ; 
japonica  (^ueen  Charlotte,  22 ;  syivestris, 
375;    the  Poppy,  275;    vernalis  in  a  Ba- 
varian rock  garden,  258 
Anemones,  Aldborough,  53  ;  St.  Brigid,  3G0 
Angrjccura  eburneum,  63 
Annuals,  44,  133,  246;  for  pots,  hardy  and 
half-hardy,  44  ;  for  summer  bedding,  some, 
209  ;  hardy,  the  cultivation  of,  240  ;  select, 
177 ;  the  elfective  use  of,  197 
Anthuriums,  80 
Antirrhinum  glutinosum,  205 
Antirrhinums,  142,  202 
Ants  and  aphides,  312 
Apple    and    Pear    hybrid,    199,    251  ;    the 

assumed,  235 
Apple  Beauty  of  Stuke,  192  ;  Bess  Pool,  310  ; 
blossom  in  Kent,  350  ;  Braraley's  Seedling, 
228  ;  Brownlee's  Russet,  145,  245  ;  culture, 
120 ;  Flower  of  Kent,  332 ;  Golden  Harvey, 
145;  Golden  Noble,  179;  Houblon,  the, 
11;  Hubbard's  Pearmain,  145,  154;  H.  P. 
in  the  North,  52  ;  Lane's  Prince  Albert  in 
spring,  344  ;  Nancy  Jackson,  296  ;  NewLon 
Wonder,  179 ;  Norfolk  Beauty,  34  ;  Kein- 
ette  du  Canada  in  spring,  344  ;  Sturnier 
Pippin,  52  ;  trade  of  Nova  Scotia,  the,  47  ; 
trees,  espalier,  374 ;  trees  in  Yorkshire, 
growing  cordon,  276  ;  trees,  pruning  young, 
196  ;  trees,  spraying,  278  ;  Winter  Queen- 
ing, 296 

pples  and  Pears,  61 ;  new,  38 
Apples,  Custard,  68 ;   from  Gloucestershire, 
311 ;  late,  121, 102  ;  late,  in  the  North,  374  ; 
little  known,  174 ;   piekiug,  51  ;   the  best, 
for  cooking,  178  ;  two  good  North  Country, 
260 ;  well-kept,  260 
Apricots,  24U 
Aqnilegia  Stuarti,  400 
Aquilegias,  135  ;  hybrid,  174,  202 
Arabis  albida  fl.-pl.,  318,  375 
Aralia,  52 

Arbor  Day  for  India,  an,  409 
Arches,  fruit,  163 
Aristolochia,  53 
Artichoke,  the  Globe,  13S 
Artichokes,  Globe,  181,  312 ;  and  frost,  235 
Artist's  note-book,  au,  57,  75,  93,  160,  241, 

257 
Arum  pahestinum,  187 
Aruudinaria  bambusa* folia,  62 
Asparagus,    53,   364 ;  beds,    62,    229 ;   beds, 
feeding,    275  ;     beds,     permanent,     321  ; 
growths,  protecting,  235 
Aspidistras,  148 

Association  from  a  garden  point  of  view,  356 
Asters,  China,  55,  263;  new  Ostrich  Feather, 

32  ;  two  good,  23 
Atriplex  canescens,  260 
Aubrietias  as  rock  plants,  352 
Aucuba  sprays,  berried,  31S 
Aucubas,  304 
Auricula,  introduction  of  the  florist's,  20 ; 

the  early  days  of  the  florist's,  111 
Auriculas  as  town  plants,  235  ;   border,  282  ; 

open  ground,  2  ;  yellow,  398 
Australia,  fruit  to,  154 


Australian  Raspberries,  423 

Azalea  balsamineeflora,  373  ;  culture  at 
Messrs.  Sander's  Belgian  nursery,  14 ; 
mollis,  50 

Azaleas,  181  ;  Ghent  or  mollis,  346;  small- 
flowered,  35 


Baden-Baden,  notes  from,  192,  234,  266,  334, 

407 
Balsams,  214,  313 
Bamboo  garden  at  Kew,  the,  73 
Bamboos  in  the  North,  300  ;  twelve  best,  for 

sheltered  place,  210 
Bananas,  148,  326 
Bath  and  West  of  England  show,  flowers  at, 

402 
Bavaria,  notes  from,  383 
Beale,  Mr.  E.  J.,  J.P.,  V.M.H.,  48 
Bean,  a  new  Sugar,  103 ;  French,  Syon  House, 

69 
Beans,  Broad,  139,  199,  364  ;  French,  29,  213, 

294,  364  ;   French,  unprofitable  in  winter, 

18  ;  Runner,  312  ;  under  glass,  early  Broad, 

104 
Bedding,  carpet,  280  ;  plants  for,  166,  230 ; 

summer,  220,  346 
Beedingwood,  near  Horsham,  158 
Bees  in  the  garden,  35 
Beet,  156,  214,262,278;   Cheltenham  Green 

Top,  313  ;  early.  Crimson  Ball,  135 
Begonia   corallina,    251  ;    cristata    bicolor, 

tuberous,    125 ;    dichotoma,    69 ;    glauco- 

phylla,  353;  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  90,  294; 

L.   and  its  varieties,  181  ;    L.  as  a  basket 

plant,  251;  L.  sporting,  119;    Ideala,  13; 

nianicata    aureo-macnlata,    2  ;    Turnford 

Hall,  09 
Begonias,    129  ;    Crested,  171 ;  new  fibrous- 
rooted,  243;   tuberous,  for  bedding,  2U9 ; 

tuberous-rooted,  112  ;  winter-flowering,  at 

Messrs.  Veitch  and  Sons',  31 
Belvoir  iri  springtime,  340 
Benthamia  fragifera,  47 
Berberidopsis  corallina.  34 
Berberis  Darwinii  at  Streatham  Hill,  320; 

nepalensis,  287,  362,  398  ;  stenophylla,  305 
Bergman,  the  late  M.  Ernest,  34 
Bertolonias,  140 
Bignonia,  140, 197  ;  tweed iana,  282  ;  venusta, 

219 
Bignonias,  412 

Bird  and  tree  day,  a,  167,  169 
Blackberries,  Australian,  395 
Bletia  hyacinthina,  406 
Blinds,  wood  roller,  267 
Blossoms,  protecting,  182 
Blue  fiowers,  a  border  of,  262 
Books,  14,  30,   59,  66,  98,  121,  164,  178,  199, 

264,  291,  309,  347,  380  ;  gardening,  331,  353  ; 

sales  of,  68 
Border,    a    shrubby,    258  ;    a    spring,    320 ; 

flower,  with  informal  edges,  225 ;  of  frag- 
rant flowers,  a,  295 
Borders,  flower,  bold  eft'ects  in,  144 
Borecoles  in  spring,  the  late,  242 
Boronias,  346 

Botanic  Garden  Syndicate  report,  the  Cam- 
bridge, 423 
Bothy,  the,  65,  117,  145,  163,  179,  196,  212 
Bougainvilleas,  10 
Bouvardias,  181,  294  ;   the    culture  of,  for 

autumn  and  winter  flowering,  58 
Box  edging,  198 

Bridges  in  Japanese  gardens,  329 
British  homes  and  gardens,  79,  88,  158,  175, 

310  ;  plants,  uses  of,  375 
Broccoli,  214;   Backhouse's  Winter  White, 

34  ;  late,  efl'ects  of  fog  on,  69  ;  supply  and 

the  severe  weather,  154;  Sutton's  Chrisi- 

mas  White,  18 
Bromeliads,  139 

Broom,  varieties  of  the  common,  299 
Brooms,  the,  344  ;  variegated,  373 
Brussels  Sprout,  a  valuable,  407 
Brussels  Sprouts,  156,  247,  330 
Buckthorn,  Silver-lc:aved,  135 
Buddleia  globosa,  219 
Bulb,  the  vanishing,  190,  228 
Bulbophylluras,  364 
Bulbs,  early  spring,  175  ;   in  grass,  362  ;   in 

stove,  10 ;  spring-rlowering,  219  ;  the  rarer, 

198 
Bull,  Mr.  W.,  the  late,  386 
Burbank,  Mr.  Luther,  35 ;  and  his  work,  361 
Bush  fruits,  cultivation  of,  118 
Butter  Beans,  135,  154  ;  or  Sugar  Beans,  171 
Butterflies  and  Caterpillars,  4U4 


Cabbage,  Red  or  Pickling,  112 ;  spring, 
Wheeler's  Imperial.  356 

Cabbages,  bolting,  218,  404  ;  spring,  275 

Cacti  at  Carton,  211 ;  hardy,  32  ;  hardy,  and 
otherwise,  161 

Ca3salpinia  japonica,  81 

Caladiums,  96 

Calanthe  Veitchii  at  Sunninghill,  50 

Calceolaria  amplexicaulis,  391 ;  chelidoni- 
oides,  320 

Calceolarias,  263  ;  herbaceous,  96 

Caliloriiia,  notes  from,  13 

Califorjiian  Iruit  farms,  335 

Callas,  364 

Calochorti  and  their  culture,  185,  203,  220 

Calochortus,  the,  198 

Calypso  borealis,  353 

Camassia  Leichtlini  seedlings,  393 

Camellias,  outdoor,  at  Claremout,  267 

Campanula,  doubtful  species  of,  276 ;  iso- 
phylla  alba,  104;  lactiflora,  29;  pyra- 
midalis,  229,  278 

Campanulas,  dwarf,  207,  225 

Cannas,  89,  330 ;  winter-blooming,  103 

Canterbury  Bell,  the,  331 

Canterbury  Bells  as  put  plants,  208 

Capsicums,  331 

Cardamine  rotundifolia,  326 

Cardoons,  312 

Carnation  Grenadin,  72;  seed,  sowing,  72; 
show  at  Nice,  143  ;  Souvenir  de  la  Mal- 
maison,  62 

Carnations,  Malniaison,  312 ;  Marguerite, 
166  ;  tree,  129,  312  ;  tree,  propagating,  44, 
113 

Carpenteria  californica,  47 

Carrion  Plants,  195 

Carrots,  156,  199,  230 

Catasetums,  364 

Caterpillars  and  Pajonies,  292 

Cattleya  Trian:c,  199 

Cattleyas,  repotting,  215 

Caulifiowers,  80,  173,  198,  330;  early,  210; 
forcing,  98,  162 

Ceanothus  azureus,  223 

Celeriac,  84 

Celery,  80,  173,  247,  278,  331 

Centropogon  hicyanus,  278 

Chamajrops  Fortunei  and  fungus,  84 

Chapman,  Mr.  H.  J.,  154 

Cherry,  a  valuable  late,  iu  the  North,  266  ; 
house,  the,  230,  330  ;  orchards,  the  Kentish, 
302;  the  Bird,  350  ;  the  dessert,  on  walls, 
15 

Cherries,  148  ;  in  pots,  2S6  ;  Morello,  60 ;  on 
walls,  disbudding,  in  spring,  308 

Chicory,  247,  338 

Chillies,  331 

CUimonanthus  fragrans,  47,  64 

Chinese  Sacred  Narcissus,  67 

Chionodoxa  Luciliie,  201 

Choisya  ternata  in  pots,  135 

Chrysanthemum  Blush  Canning,  68  ;  Horace 
Martin,  early  -  flowering,  320;  Matthew 
Hodgson,  134;  Mr.  Selby  and  its  sport 
Mrs.  E.  Stacey,  early-flowering,  363  ;  Mrs. 
Wm.  Filkins,  2  ;  R.  Hooper  Pearson,  203 

Chrysanthemums,  29,  96,  213,  247,  330  ;  at 
Christmas,  47  ;  at  Totteridge  Park,  352  ; 
dwarf  Japanese,  of  the  past  five  years, 
209 ;  early-flowering,  128,  192 ;  for  the 
garden,  377  ;  in  China,  189  ;  iu  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Windsor,  23  ;  late,  19  ;  new 
incurved,  17;  new  Japanese,  37,  76,  143; 
planting  out  early-flowering,  293;  repot- 
ting, 109  ;  specimen  plants,  109  ;  the 
spidery,  11 

Churchyard,  a  City,  119 

Cineraria,  the  florist's,  284 

Cinerarias,  247,  364  ;  Messrs.  Carter's,  334 

Cirrhopetalums,  364 

Cistuses  and  Ruses  in  the  rock  garden,  149 

Clematis  Jackmani,  262  ;  montana,  307  ; 
pauiculata,  91 

Clerodendron  splendens,  118 

Cierodendrons,  10 

Clianthus  Dampieri,  119  ;  puniceus  in  Devon, 
15  ;  in  winter,  372 

Climbers,  63  ;  on  trees,  62  ;  stove,  278 

Clivia  miniata,  251 

Club,  the  Horticultural,  282,  405 

Cob  Nut  and  Filbert,  the,  199 

Cob  Nuts  and  Filberts,  130 

Ccelia  macrostachya,  62 

Ctclogyne  dayana,  364 

Colchicum  autuninale  roseum  plenum,  37 

Colchicums,  8 

Coleus  thyrsoideus,  2,  48,  346 

Cullett,  Sir  Henry,  K.C.B.,  16 


Competition  or  Fellowship,  17 

Conifers,  the  winter  beauty  of,  32 

Conservatory,  the,  63,  230,  313 

Continental  notes,  122,  204,  221 

Coralilla,  white,  323 

Coreopsis,  annual,  375 

Cornus  Mas,  202,  219 

Coronation  flower,  the,  116 

Cox,  Mr.  H.  G.,  presentation  to,  154 

Crab,  the  Siberian,  181 

Crawford,  Mr.  J.,  316 

Crocus  Fleischeri,  105  ;  Sieberi,  108 

Crocuses  indoors,  1S6 ;  spring-flowering,  222 

Crown  Imperial  in  pots,  319 

Crown  Imperials  under  trees,  319 

Crops,  neglected,  and  untidy  corners,  210  ; 

rotation  of,  11 ;  thinning  the,  312 
Crotons,  10 
Cruise  amongst  the  West  Indian  Islands, 

impressions  of  a,  385 
Crump,  Mr.  Wm.,  V.M.H.,  122 
Cryptomeria  japonica,  239 
Cucumber,  a  good  winter,  251 
Cucumbers,  29,  112,  330  ;  in  pits  and  frames 

294  ;  outdoor,  404;  ridge.  294 
Cupressus  lawsoniana,  320 
Currants  in  China,  5 
Custard  Apple,  the,  288 
Cyclamen  corms,  old,  32S  ;   Couni,  77,  136; 

ibericum,   136 ;    Persian,  the  fertilisation 

of,  238  ;  P.,  old  corms  of,  263 
Cyclamens,  diseased,  84  ;  of  Dresden,  Frilled, 

139;  Persian,  10,  230,  278 
Cycnoches,  364 

Cydonia  Knaphill  Scarlet,  281 ;  Maulei  seed- 
lings, 281  ;  pygmrea,  335 
Cymbidium  rhodochilura,  339 
Cymbidiums,  62 
Cyphomandra  betacea,  187 
Cyphomattia  lanata,  335,  372 
Cypripedium  JMorganijc,  75,  135  ;  spectabile, 

191 
Cypripediunis,  hardy,  409 
Cyrtauthus  Macowani,  252 


Daflfodil  show  at  Truro,  266 ;   in  the  ilid- 

lands,  381 
Daftodils  at  Messrs    Barr  and  Sons',  279 ; 

from  grass  land,  318  ;  grouped  with  slirubs, 

142  ;   in  New  Zealand,  25  ;   special  prizes 

for,  250 
Dahlia  imperialis,  40  ;   Union,  the  London 

329,  351,  390,  398 
Dahlias,  112;   Cactus,  282  ;    new  Cactus,    19 

391 
Dandelion,  247 
Daphne  blagayana  at    Glasnevin,  119;  tol- 

lina,  353 
Daphnes,  hardy,  39 
Date  Plums  or  Persimmons,  289 
Davies,  Mr.  Thomas,  332 
Dean,  Mr.  R.,  testimonial  to,  33,  69 
Delphinhims,  tall,  290 
Dendrobiums,  261 

Deutzias,  Lemoine's  new  hybrid,  350,  407 
"  Diary,  Garden,  My,"  51 
Dielytra  spectabilis  at  Hackwood  Park,  319 
D'ombrain,    the    F^ev.    H.,    116  ;     and    the 

National  Rose  Society,  132 
Drymoglossum  carnosum,  25 
Dugmore,  Mr.  H.  R.,  the  late,  387 


Economy,  411 

Editor's  table,  15,  31,  47,  63,  67,  130.  134,  199, 

201,  231,  234,  281,  297,  317,  333,  349,  390,  405 
Eilwanger,  George,  106 
Endive,  312,  337 
Epacris  and  Ericas,  148 
Eranthemum  pulchellum,  69 
Etanthis  cilicica,  136 
Erica  carnea,  399 ;    mediterranea  hybrida, 

10,  35  ;  pe'-soluta  alba,  251 
Ericas,  346  ;  and  Epacris,  148 
Erigeron  raiicronatus,  107,  312,  319 
Krinus    alpir.us,    intntducliou    of,    52  ;    in 

Northumberland,  110 
Eryngium  pandanifolium,  37;   tripartitum, 

47,  63 
Erythroniums,  126,  237 
Eucalypti,  hardy,  145 
Eucalyptus  Gunnii,  57,  110 
Eugenia  Ugni,  340 
Euphorbia  jaccj.uini:cflora,  35,  230 


^^?,1  ^ 


INDEX. 


[*'  The  Garden,  June  :7S,  190:^' 


Evergreens,  our  native,  260;  the  beauty  of 

native,  153 
Exhibition,  a  vegetable,  318  ;  International, 

at  Lille.  51 
Exhibitions,  Continental  horticultural,  "jl 
Exhibits,  naming,  135 


Fahiana  imbricata,  29 

"  Familiar  Wild  Flowers,"  1S6 

Fellowship  or  competition,  17 

Fern-balls,  Japanese,  264 

Fern  garden,  the,  187,  193 

Ferns,  112,  294  ;  for  shady  gardens  and  sun- 
less windows,  137 ;  hardy,  1!)3 ;  two  good 
new,  302 

Fig  culture  out  of  doors  and  under  glass,  414 

Figs,  44,  214,  294  ;  early,  230  ;  trees,  succes- 
sional,  230 

Filberts  and  Cob  Nuts,  130,  199 

Fisher,  Mr.  Charles,  231 

Flower  garden,  the,  10,  12,  28,  41,  44,  62,  72, 
81,  95,  112,  125,  130,  148,  150,  167,  166,  177, 
182,  190,  197,  208,  214,  220,  230,  246,  262, 
280,  283,  295,  298,  312,  331,  343,  346,  360, 
364 ;  pictures,  exhibition  of,  250 ;  walk, 
Kensington  Gardens,  352 

Flowers  at  Christmas,  1  ;  for  the  creen- 
house,  hardy,  415  ;  in  Park  Lane,  283,  301, 
351  ;  out  of  doors,  51 

Forcing,  29  ;  house,  the,  28 

Foreign  notes,  32 

Foi-ests,  Chinese,  amidst,  3 

Forsythia  intermedia,  267;  suspensa,  320 

Fuxglove,  the,  95 

Foxgloves,  decaying,  119  ;  the,  331 

Frame,  a  garden,  in  winter,  114 

Francoas,  330 

Freesia  aurea,  391 

Fremontia  californica,  71 

Fritillaria,  a  new,  257  ;  askhabadenais,  241  ; 
imperialis  in  pots,  319 ;  Meleagris,  237, 
274;  M.,  seedling,  317  ;  Tuntasia,  335 

Fritillarias  and  their  culture,  305,  323,  336 

Frost  and  fruit  crops,  403 

Fruit  and  vegetable  drying,  45  ;  arches,  78  ; 
culture,  mistakes  in,  39;  culture  in  South 
Africa,  369  ;  culture.  South  African, 
410  ;  evaporating,  a  note  on,  34  ; 
evaporation,  54;  evaporation  and  drying, 
6  ;  farming,  South  African,  51 ;  garden, 
the,  6,  12,  2f;,  3S,  44,  59,  60,  78,  80,  95,  99, 
112,  120,  130,  14S,  105,  174,  181,  198,  206. 
214,  226,  230,  235,  246,  252,  262,  269,  278, 
291,  294,  308,  312,  330,  346,  365  ;  pros- 
pects in  Wales,  the,  300 ;  prospects, 
the,  407;  show.  Crystal  Palace,  334; 
storage  for,  135  ;  to  Australia,  154  ; 
trees  and  green  fly,  154  ;  trees,  mulchiiiL', 
246 ;  trees,  pruning  or  not  pruning,  292  ; 
trees,  spraying,  96  ;  trees,  summer  pruninL; 
of,  235,  344  ;  trees,  winter  feeding  of,  174  ; 
trees,  young,  346 
Fruits,  bottling,  97;  hardy,  in  season,  63, 
67,  113,  145,  178,  192,  213,  228,  245,  296,  310, 
344;  the  wild,  in  China,  4;  tropical,  for 
English  gardens,  268,  288,  305,  326,  339 
Fuchsias,  112 
Funkia  subcordata  grandiflora,  107 


G. 

GaiUardias,  209 

Gala,  grand  Yorkshire,  100 

Galanthus  Alleni,  157  ;  Elwesii,  67  ;  E  var 
Whittallii,  77;  Ikariae,  266;  Scharloki,  258 

Galeandras,  12 

Garden  designs  competition,  the  Scotch, 
334  ;  in  the  shade,  a,  30  ;  Indian,  in 
summer,  3^2 ;  landscape,  green  paint  in 
the,  185 ;  .Scottish,  a,  8 ;  the  children's, 
310 ;  "  the  season  "  in  the,  247  ;  v.  the  new 
hall,  195  ;  West  Ross-shire,  a,  376,  394 

Gardener,  a  fortunate,  219  ;  Irish,  present  to 
an,  219  ;  presentation  to  a,  251 

Gardener's  success,  a  young  Irish,  319 

Gardeners,  young,  127  ;  and  their  improve- 
ment, 97 

Gardeners'  competition,  under,  390;  Edin- 
burgh—judges' report,  400  ;  feathered 
friends,  51  ;  Royal  Benevolent  Institu- 
tion, IS,  234,  245,  387 

Gardening  in  India,  19  ;  practical,  for 
teachers,  202 

Gardenia  Fortune!  flowers,  234 

Gardenias,  294 

Gentiana  acaulis,  67  ;  verna,  407 

Gentil,  M.  Louis,  187 

Gesnera  hybrids,  29 

Gesneras,  230 

Gibraltar,  flowers  at,  257 

Gilbert,  Sir  Henry,  K.R.S.,  16 

Gill,  Mr.  Norman,  170 

Gladioli,  230;  culture  of,  222;  failing,  352- 
planting,  189 

Gladiolus  Childsi,  274 

GloHosa  superba,  15  ;  for  winter  flowering, 
155 

Gloriosas,  148 


Gloxinias,  214,  346 

Gooseberries,  English,  in  Michigan,  302 

Gooseberry,  the,  269,  308 

Grafting,  182 

Grahame.  ilr.  Charles  J.,  387 

Grammatophyllum  speciosum,  357 

Grapes,  packing,  37s  ;  thinning,  211 

Grass,  improving  the,  112  ;  walks  and  hardy 

flowers,  150 
Grasses,  ornamental,  60 
Greenhouse  in    midwinter,    the,   131  ;    Ihe, 

27S  ;  the  unheated,  114,  285,  381,  392 
Gregory,  Mr.,  presentation  to,  68 
Ground,  preparation  of,  11 
Guava.  the,  340 
Gypsophila  paniculata,  propagating,  174 


H. 

Habenaria  carnea,  9 

Hailstorms  with  cannon,  fighting.  GS 

Hall,  horticultural,  the  proposed,  65,  S6,  217, 

281,  282 
Hardy  flowers,  the  improvement  of,  49,  70, 

101  ;   and  grass  walks,  150  ;    plants  from 

seed  and  cuttings,  343 ;  plants,  notes  on, 

22,  37,  53,  77,  90,  107,  126,  141,  157, 174,  190. 

205,  222,  236,  258,  273,  288,  325,  357 
Harris,  Mr.  George  St.  Pierre,  30 
Hartless,  Mr.  A.  C,  218 
Heaths,  hardy,  430  ;  in  flower  at  Kew,  273 
Hedges,  a  capital  plant  for,  14 
Helichrysums,  three  new  African,  255 
Heliconias,  198 
Heliotrope,  the  Winter,   218 ;    as  a  garden 

plant,  126 
Hellebores,  63  ;  Lenten,  134 
Herb  border,  the,  ISl 
Herbals,  old,  116;  reprints  of,  195 
Herbs,  338 

Hesperocallis  undulata,  325 
Hippeastrums.  SO  ;   at  Chelsea,  250 ;   at  the 

Temple  show,  407 
Holland  House,  407,  423  ;  how  to  get  to,  406 
Hollyhock,  the,  112 
Horticultural  Club,  34,   116,   118,   170,  316 ; 

East    Anglian,    152,    348;    exhibition,   an 

international,  131 
Horticulture,    County    School    of,    202 ;    in 

1901,  1  ;  in  Monmouthshire,  301;  railroad, 

353;  writers  on,  310 
Hovea  Ceisi,  281 
Humea  elegans,  62,  246 
Huseey,  Major  Wm.  Clive,  187 
Hyacinth  culture  in  the  British  Isles,  297  ; 

Grand  Maitre,  blue,  320 
Hyacinths,  28 
Hyacinthus  azureus,  136;   var.  jimphibolis, 

358 
Hybridising,  experiments  in,  102,  318 
Hydrangeas  in  the  garden,  13 


Idle  folk,  to,  19 

Iniantophyllum  miniatum,  202 

Imantophyllums,  262 

Incarvillea,  a  new,  334  ;  grandiflora,  349 

Indoor  garden,  the,  10,  28,  44,  58,  62,  76,  80, 
96,  112,  129,  139,  148,  166,  181,  197,  198,  214, 
229,  230,  237,  246,  262,  278,  294,  312,  330,  346 

Insect  feeding  birds,  encouraging,  187  ; 
pests,  398 ;  pests  and  friends,  89 ;  pests, 
destroying,  149 

Insects,  injurious,  312 

Institution,  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevo- 
lent, 34,  200;  special  meeting,  S2 

lonopsidium  acaule,  262 

Ipomjea,  263 ;  aurea,  2 ;  a.  and  its  correct 
name,  32  ;  rubro-ccerulea,  69 

Ireland,  flowers  from,  334 

Iris  alata,  31,  266;  Aschersoni,  288;  assyri- 
aca,  357 ;  attica,  335  ;  germanica  by  river- 
side, 351  ;  Heldreichii,  136,  258  ;  iberica, 
298  ;  kolpakowskiana,  119  ;  lacustris,  408  ; 
new  hybrid  alpine,  52 ;  persica  Heldreichi, 
50  ;  pumila,  281,  318  ;  reticulata,  growing, 
335 ;  r.  major,  199  ;  Spanish,  177  ;  Tauri, 
93  ;  the  Algerian,  48 ;  the  Snake's-head, 
134  ;  tingitana,  298  ;  warleyensis,  241  ; 
willmottiana,  325 

Irises  at  Kew,  115 ;  from  Winchniore  Hill, 

130  ;   German,  forced,  234  ;  hybrid  alpine, 

131  ;  new  alpine,  197;  new  Cushion,  393  ; 
new  intermediate,  333  ;  Oncocyclus,  a  test 
record,  408 ;  Oncocyclus,  on  the  cultiva- 
tion of,  19,  36 

"  Italian  delight,"  48,  103 

Ivy  and  its  uses,  71 ;  on  trees,  62 

Ixiolirions,  91,  157 


Jam,  home-made  and  imported,  155 
Jamaica  garden,  a  day  in  a,  123,  137,  172  193 
Japan  in  April,  S7 

Japanese    and    gardening,    the,    69:    dwarf 
trees,  sale  of,  351 


Jasminum  nudiflorum,  69;  among  Ivy,  87 
Jeffersonia  diphylla,  90 
Judas  Tree,  the,  319 


K. 

Krempferia  Ethelre,  84 

Kalanchoe  flammea,  346  ;  kewensis,  338 

Kalmia  latifolia,  9 

Kent,  notes  from,  33 

Kew  a  public  park?  Is,  297,  333:  Gardens 
and  the  smoke  nuisance,  263  ;  Guild,  32C, 
351  ;  Guild  Journal,  the,  1  ;  notes,  9,  32, 
63,  115,  131,  161,  175,  238,  253,  293 

King,  Mr.  Thomas,  297 

Kitaibelia  vitifolia,  284 

Kitchen  garden,  the,  11,  29,  36,  45,  61,  80, 
95,  98.  104,  129,  138,  162,  166.  181,  198,  210, 
213,  218,  229,  242,  247,  259,  262,  275,  278, 
294,  312,  313,  321,  330,  337,  356,  3G4 

Kniphofia  Lemon  Queen,  157  ;  primulina,  35 


La  Mortola.  358 

Labels,  garden,  134 

Lagerstrfemiaindica  in  tubs,  32 

Laird,  Mr.  D.  P..  2 

Landscape  photography,  103 

Lathyrus  latifolius  grandiflorus  albus,  372 

Law,  202 

Lawns,  154 

Lecture  in  North  Wales,  186 

Leek  Musselburgh  Improved,  275 

Leeks,  29,  188,  262 

Leonard,  Mr.  H.  Selfe,  151 

Letter  astray,  a,  342 

Lettuce,   312,   337 ;    a  useful   early,   250 ;    a 

valuable  early,  1S6;  Alexander  (Cos),  162; 

Continuity,  210  ;  Little  Gem,  356 
Lettuces  in  frames  in  spring,  275 
Leucocrinum  montanum,  S25 
Leucojura,  22 
Leucojums,  the,  91,  141 
Lily  notes,  93,  176;  ponds,  149  ;  (luery,  a,  3 
Lilies  at  the  Temple  show,  382  ;  in  Northern 

Scotland.  274  ;  Mr.  Burbank's  hybrid,  54 
Lilium  giganteura,  220;  in  America,  146;  in 

China,  4  ;    seed  of,    353,   416 ;   Henryi  in 

China,  4 
Liliums.  313 

Limpsrteld,  a  Surrey  garden,  175 
Lippia  repens,  13 
Lithospermum  canescens,  274 
Little  Dorritt's  playground,  68 
Liverpool  Botanic  Gardens,  235 
Lobelia,  new  bedding,  Mrs.  Clibran,  350 
Lonicera  fragrantissima,  64,  218 
Lotjuat,  or  Japanese  Medlar,  340 
Lotus  peliorhyncus,  103,  134 
Luculia  gratissima,  2,  10 
Lupinus  arboreus  Snrpw  Queen,  267 
Lycoris  scjuamigera,  51 


M. 

Magnolia  soulangeann,  267 

Magnolias  at  Versailles,  352 

Mallow,  the  Tree,  180 

Malva  crispa,  37 

Manettia  bicolor,  135 

Mangrove  swamps  in  China,  0 

Manures,  applying,  96 ;  artificial,  in  the 
garden,  206,  373 

Maples,  Japanese,  401 

^aranthas,  198 

Margyricarpus  setosus,  23 

Marrow,  a  new,  135 

Marrows  in  pots.  166  ;  the  Custard,  as  orna- 
mental plants,  353;  vegetable.  262;  vege- 
table, in  frames  in  spring,  266 

Martin,  Mrs.  James,  132 

Meconopsis  cambrica  fl.-pl.,  350 

Medals,  Veitch  Memorial,  390 

iledlar,  Japanese,  or  Locjuat,  340 

Melons,  262  ;  early,  12,  19S 

Mentha  Requieni,  214 

Meyer,  Mr.,  presentation  to,  2 

Mice  and  paraffin,  250 

]\Iichauxia  campanuloides,  312 

Mistakes,  other  people's,  265 

Mole  cricket,  the,  219,  250,  352 

Monstera  deliciosa,  340 

Moschosma  riparium,  121 

Mulberry,  the  Nettle,  71 

Muscari  Heldreichii,  325 

Mushrooms,  61 

"  Must  all  be  workers. "  119,  180 

Myosotis  dissitiflora  at  Sherborne  Castle,  319 


N. 

Narcissus  Bennett-Poe,  2S1 ;  coronata,  314  ; 
Dorothy  Kingsraill,  281;  Emperor,  350; 
Leedsi  Elaine,  317  ;  maxinuis,  416;  m.  and 
other  Daftodils,  3.51,  372;  poeticus,  158; 
Sulphur  Phtcnix,  92 


Narcissus    triandrus,    seedling,    298  •    Vic- 
toria, 237,  266  ;  Weardale  Perfection  '^37 
Nasturtium,  the  Flame  "74 

Nectarines  and  Peaches,  44,  95,  148,  -^78  365 
Nelson,  Mr.,  251  >      »      -    ■'■^,  -to,  doa 

Nelumbium     pekinense     rubrum     and     N 

luteum  in  the  open   1S7 
Nelnmbiuras,  hardy,  103 
Nemesia  struraosa  Suttoni  "14 
Nerines,  late-flowering  19'  " 

^°\f  i°I,";L"'^^-'''  1'  IS,  33,  60.  67.  86,  102, 
lis,  134,  153,  170,  1S6,  202,  218,  234  -'aO 
266,  2S1,  300,  334,  361  '         '       ^ 

Nursery  gardens,  14, 31,  99,  isi,  182,  279,  295,, 


Oak?  Will  you  plant  an,  18 

Oaks,  the  hammock  under  the,  345 

Oakwood,  Wisley,  390 

Obituary,  16,  30,  48,  81,  116,  132,  150,  170 

231,  280,  296,  316,  332,  347,  386 
Odontoglossums,  12;  repotting,  165;  propa- 
gation of,  165 
Olearia  insignis,  360 
Olive,  an  ancient,  363 
Olives  in  North  Cornwall,  234 
Union,  the  IJueen  type  of,  36 
Onions,  29,  129,  188,  230,  278 ;  Potato,  138  • 

raising  summer,  203  ;  winter,  331 
Onychium  auratum,  376;  japonicura,  370 
Opinion,  a  difference  of,  320 
■Orchard  house,  the,  198 
Orchid  growing  in  Belgian  leaf -soil.  243 
Orchids,  12,  62,  214,  330 ;  at  Olebelands,  425  ; 

from  seed,  raising,  96 ;    in   London,   365  ; 

medals    offered    for   seedling,    86;    some 

little-known  hardy,  107 
Ornithogalum  kewense,  339 
Orobanche  speciosa,  31,  34,  68 
Orphan  Fund,  Royal  Gardener's,    132.  195 

218,  277  .  ■         ,. 

Osmunda  palustris,  376 
'tthonnopsis  cheirifolia,  375 
otton  Hall,  Tadcaster,  88 
Oxalis  rosea,  ;J00 


Preonia  lutea,  267 

Pfconies  and  caterpillars,  292 ;  Tree,  propa- 
gating, 55,  86,  102, 143,  212  ;  Tree,  grafting 
251,  260,  293 

Palms,  112 

Pancratiums,  129 

Pansies,  148 

Pansy,  Tufted,  Cottage  Maid,  353;  Molly 
Pope,  301 ;  Mrs.  E.  A.  Cade,  362,  372 

Parslej ,  130,  312 

Parsnips,  95,  166,  278 

Passion  Flower  fruits,  339 

Paths,  garden,  265;  sweeping,  and  other 
matters,  29 

Patio  at  the  Convent,  Gibraltar,  24 

Paul,  Mr.  William,  206 

Payne,  Mr.  Harman,  154 

Pea.  a  valuable  early.  Bountiful,  87  ;  Carters 
Daisy,  70  ;  new,  Edwin  Beckett,  86 ;  Par- 
rott's  Prolific  Marrow,  79 

Peace,  369 

Peach  Bellegarde,  19 ;  blossom,  293 ;  bud 
dropping,  2C6  ;  house,  the  early.  295  • 
houses,  late,  198;  leaf  blister,  346 ;  Royal 
Ascot,  174 

Peaches  and  Nectarines,  44,  95, 148,  278,  365  ; 
South  African,  in  England,  218 

Pear,  a  good  and  useful  winter,  104  ;  Beurrfr 
Bachelier,  146 ;  B.  B.  in  winter,  146 ;  B. 
d'Anjou,  45  ;  B.  Diel,  105  ;  Directeur  Al- 
phand,  213 ;  Corate  de  Flandre,  164 ; 
General  Wauchope,  10  ;  Le  Lectier,  103  ; 
Marie  Guise,  269 ;  midge,  the,  313 ; 
Nouvelle  Fiilvie,  67  ;  Passe  Colmar,  winter, 
97,  121  ;  trees,  espalier  ■  trained,  361 ; 
Winter  Nelia,  63,  110,  146 

Pears  and  Apples,  61 ;  new,  38 ;  on  walls, 
the  newer,  59  ;  spring  protection  for,  301 : 
stewing,  113,  ISO ;  winter,  18,  87,  206,  261 

Peas,  45,  95,  199,  204,  279,  331  ;  failure  of 
autumn -sown,  187;  in  pots,  80;  the 
scarcity  of  early,  36  ;  two  good,  86 

Pelargonium  F.  V.  Raspail  for  beds,  283; 
Snowdrop,  zonal,  407 

Pelargoniums,  scented-leaved,  and  their  cul- 
ture, 76, ;  two  new  bedding.  407  ;  zonal, 
44,  262,  330 

Pentland,  Mr.  James,  280 

Pentstemon,  the,  73  ;  barhatus  coccineus, 
160  ;  gloxinioides,  90  ;  propagation  of,  45 

Perenni.als.  hardy,  for  spring,  381  ;  the 
propagation  of,  283 

Persimmons,  or  Date  Plums,  289 
Phillyrea  vilmoriniana,  320 
PhIo.\  Drummondi,  148 
Phygelius  capensis,  37 
Pine-apples,  12.  112,  330 
Pink  Lord  Lyon,  10,  110 


'  The  Garden,"  June  38,  1903.] 


INDEX. 


Pinks  in  general,  10  ;  white,  42 

Plant,  a  carpeting,  13  ;  diseases  hereditary, 
are,  317  ;  names,  change  of,  S5  ;  portraits, 
recent,  31,  115,  194,  240,  254,  290,  341,  3SC 

Plants,  British,  uses  of,  269,  313  ;  by  Foreign 
Parcels'  Post,  31S  ;  in  frames,  12  ;  in  small 
pots,  372;  mimicing  one  another,  154: 
new  and  interesting,  33S ;  overgrown,  what 
to  do  with,  186  ;  retarding,  84 

Planting,  late,  28 

Plum  Reine  Claude  Violette,  292 ;  Weaver, 
the,  377 

Plumbago  rosea  coccinea,  230 

Plums,  23  ;  in  pots,  81 ;  Japanese,  221 

Poinsettia  bracts,  treatment  of,  69 ;  pul- 
cherrima,  35 

Poinsettias,  330;  for  decoration,  2 

Poisons,  the  sale  of,  for  industrial  purposes, 
146 

Polyanthus  Middleton  Favourite,  267;  the 
gold-laced,  177 

Polyanthuses  at  Rowledge,  282  ;  from  Somer- 
set, 318 ;  in  the  West,  29S ;  notes  about, 
297  ;  the  rarer  double,  297 

Polygala  dalmaisiaua,  234 

Pomegranate  in  England,  the,  51 ;  the,  32G 

Porana  paniculata,  323 

Portuguese  garden,  a,  S9 

Portulaca,  the,  214 

Potato  Carltonian,  new,  130  ;  early,  Ninety- 
fold,  135 

Potatoes,  45,  181,  230,  247,  364;  early— a 
warning,  IS ;  for  planting,  84 ;  on  stiff 
soils,  104 

Prickly  Pear,  eradication  of,  219  ;  in  Aus- 
tralia, the,  104 

Primrose  Evelyn  Arkwright,  318 

Primroses  and  Ladies'  Smocks,  320 

Primula  AUioni,  218,  409;  cashmeriana  pur- 
purea, 251 ;  Double  Duchess,  103 ;  frondosa, 
2S2;  megasetefolia,  126,  136,  157;  obconica 
as  a  bedding  plant,  150 ;  rosea,  273  ;  sinen- 
sis in  China,  4  ;  verticillata,  225 

Primulas,  Chinese,  246,  364 ;  Chinese,  at 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.'s,  131;  hardy,  53; 
the  mountain,  271,  327,  358,  396,  429 

Propagation ,  13 

Prune-growing  in  California,  353 

Pruning  wall  trees,  28 

Prunus  davidiana,  87,  171  ;  Pissardi  as  an 
early-flowering  plant,  202  ;  pseudoCerasus 
under  glass,  155  ;  serrulata,  143 

Pueraria  thunbergiana.  161 

Pychnostachys  urticifolia,  IS 

Pyrus  arbutifolia,  104  ;  floribunda,  319 


R. 

Haffia,  green,  34,  87 

Rain,  lacking,  316 

Raiser  and  winner,  349 

Ranunculus  cortusa^folius,  353  ;  flaccida, 
375  ;  the  culture  of  the,  72 

Raspberries,  130,  346 

Eavenscourt  Park,  Hammersmith,  407 

Regent's  Park,  hardy  flowers  and  pigmy 
trees  at,  406 

Reinwardtia  tetragyna,  108 

Reserve  garden,  planting  a,  311 

Rhamnus  alaternus  variegatus,  135 

Rhododendron  barbatum,  187  ;  Daviesi,  52  ; 
exhibition,  Messrs.  John  Waterer's,  390 ; 
Little  Beauty,  391 ;  Vaseyi,  353 

Rhododendrons,  deciduous  (Azaleas),  416 ; 
early-flowering,  at  Kew,  202 ;  greenhouse, 
246  ;  Malayan,  at  Kew,  155 ;  sweet-scented 
greenhouse,  251 

Rhubarb,  SO;  Prince  Albert,  87;  simple 
methods  of  forcing,  302 

Richardia  elliottiana,  346 

Richmond  Hill,  116;  to  Kingston,  a  park 
from,  1 

Riviera  notes,  21,  SS,  143,  225,  249 

Robinia  pseudacacia,  60 

Rochford  Memorial,  the  Thomas,  171 

Rock  garden  at  Kew,  in  the,  116  ;  picture,  a, 
267 ;  the  better,  249 

Rockfoil,  the  great  alpine,  393 

Roots,  fibre  and  tap,  46,  212 

Rosa  Banksia;  grandiflora,  94 ;  Polyantha, 
the  d wan-growing  hybrids  of,  331 ;  rugosa 
Conrad  Meyer,  390,  391 

Rosary,  in  the,  148  , 

Rose  American  Beauty,  225  ;  analysis,  1S95- 
1901,  42;  arches,  39;  Augustine  Guinois- 
seau,  128  ;  Bennett's  Seedling,  344  ;  Celes- 
tial, 105  ;  conference,  the  forthcoming,  51  : 
Dr.  Grill,  94 ;  Ducher,  China,  103  ;  Duke  of 
Albany  (H.P.),  19U ;  Euphrosyne  under 
glass,  190 ;  Felicity  Perp^tue,  27  ;  Flora, 
245  ;  garden,  27,  42,  lOS,  119,  172,  190,  254, 
331 ;  Gloire  Lyonnaise  (H.T.),  147  ;  Golden 
Gate,  250;  growing  near  London,  394; 
Harrison  Weir,  331 ;  hedges,  pruning, 
190  ;  house,  the,  294 ;  Provincialis  Pom- 
ponia,  103 ;  show,  Calcutta,  135 ;  show, 
Canterbury,  132  ;  show.  Coronation,  the, 
390,  406  ;  show  in  Melbourne,  16 ; 
show,  Sidcup,  1 ;  show  fixtures  in  1902, 
155;  Tea,  Queen  of  Sweden  and  Norway, 
281 ;  the  Macartney,  164 ;  the  Seven  Sis- 
ters, 30,  33,  296 ;  W.  A.  Richardson,  254 


Roses,  28;  and  Cistuses  in  the  rock  garden, 
149 ;  autumn-flowering  Hybrid  Perpetuals, 
27 ;  covering  roots  of  trees,  119,  135 ; 
Hybrid  Teas  under  glass,  303  ;  in  Southern 
California,  301  ;  Mar^chal  Niel,  31S  ;  on 
trees,  259;  over  a  hedge,  163;  Polyantha, 
62  ;  pot,  96  ;  pruning,  172  ;  rambling,  62  ; 
spring  planting  of,  'Joi  ;  Tea  and  Noisette 
for  arching,  27  ;  under  glass,  lOS 

Rowland,  M.  Louis,  297 

Rubus  deliciosus,  277,  344 

Rudbeckia  conspicua,  154,  170,  219,  267 

Rudbeckias,  22 

Rudgea  macrophylla,  372 

Rural  industries,  203  ;  conference  about,  267 


Salads,  337 

Salsafy  as    a    winter   vegetable,  136 ;    and 

Scorzonera,  279 
Salvia  azurea  grandiflora,  309;  Heeri,  119; 

Sclarea,  150 
Salvias,  148,  330 
Sanguinaria  canadensis,  91 
Saunders,  F.L.S.,  Mr.  T.  W.,  132  ;  Sir  Edmn, 

memorial  to,  67 
Saxifraga  apiculata,  136 ;  Boydii,  236 ;  bur- 

seriana  var.  major,  63, 136  ;  cordifolia  alba, 

288 ;  oppositifolia,  205 
Schizanthuses  at  Totteridge  Park,  351 
Schizocodon  soldanelloides,  358 
Schizostylis  coccinea,  41 
School     of     Horticulture,     the     Middlesex 

County  Council,  64 
Scilla  bifolia,  no  grey,  219  ;   sibirica  alba, 

seedlings  of,  21S 
Scoliopus  Bigelovii.  136  , 

Scorzonera  and  Salsafy.  279 
Scotland,  notes  from,  66,  120,  189,  252,  278 ; 

weather  in,  86  ;  notes  from  North-Eastern, 

390 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association,  dinner 

of.  218 
Seakale,  130,  262  ;   forcing,  322  ;  late,  259  ; 

outdoors,  blanching,  319 
Seed  order,  12  ;  sowing,  too  early,  170 
Senecio  macrophyllus,  325 
Shallots,  36  ;  about,  104 
Shrub,  a  beautiful  berry,  40 
Shrubs  and  trees,  71,  105,  123,  162,  223,  239, 

272,   287,  304,   320  ;    for  English  gardens. 

323,  354  ;  grouping  of,  153  ;   in  poor  soils, 

281 ;  regulating  growth  of,  33 
Shrubs,  deciduous,  early-flowering,  74;   for 

pillars  and  arches,  320  ;  hardiness  of  cer- 
tain, 13,  52,88;   moving  small,  162;  new 

flowering,   154  ;  pruning  hardy,  389,   405, 

427;  pruning  of,  130.  162,  223;   two  good, 

379  ;  under  trees,  lt)5 
Sisyrinchium  striatum,  90,  141 
Skimmia  Koremani,  160 
Skimmias,  240,  277,  287 
Sloe,  the  double-flowered,  363 
Snow  and  protection,  114 
Snowdrops,  arranging,  103 ;  in  New  Zealand, 

256  ;  seeds  of  yellow,  218 
Snowfiakes,  22 
Societies— 

Beckenham  Horticultural,  48,  68,  216 

Bristol  Gardeners',  100,  183,  216 

Cardiff  Gardeners',  100 

Chiswick  Gardeners',  100 

Croydon  Horticultural,  99 

Ealing  Gardeners',  32,  99 

East  Anglian  Horticultural,  200 

Gardeners"  Friendly  Benefit,  16S 

Harapstead  Heath  Protection,  68,  406 

Highgate  and  District  Chrysanthemum, 
84,  216 

Irish  Gardeners',  132 

Kidderminster  Horticultural,  116 

Kingston  Chrysanthemum.  200 

Liverpool  Horticultural,  99,  200 

Manchester  Royal  Botanical  and  Horti- 
cultural. 348 

Midland  Carnation  and  Picotee,  132,  151 ; 
Daffodil,  316 

National  Amateur  Gardeners', 200;  Auricula 
and  Primula,  132,  280,  314;  Carnation 
and  Picotee,  183 ;  Chrysanthemum,  67, 
280 ;  Dahlia,  300  ;  Rose,  arrangements 
for  1902,  335  ;  Sweet  Pea,  100 

Proposed  amalgamation  of  Royal  Horti- 
cultural and  Botanic,  34 

Reading  Gardeners',  100,  168,  216,  316 

Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural,  302 

Royal  Horticultural,  1.  51,  85,  12S,  132, 
152,  168,  184,  200,  231,  248,  314,  347  ; 
and  its  centenary,  169 ;  and  the  proposed 
hall,  200,  201,  215,  217,  22S,  233,  259  ;  its 
finances  and  the  proposed  hall,  118 ; 
membership  of,  277;  remarkable  increase, 
406 

Scottish  Hortieultural,  302 

Sevenoaks  Gardeners',  200 

Sheffield  Chrysanthemum,  200 

Truro  Daffodil,  279 

United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provi- 
dent, 183,  200 

Weybridge  Horticultural,  152 

Wimbledon  Gardeners',  48 


Societies— 

Windsor,    Eton,    and    District    Rose  and 
Horticultuial,  200 

Woking  Horticultural,  168 

Woodbridge  Horticultural,  132 

Woolton  Chrysanthemum,  99;  Gardeners', 
1S3 
Soils,  preparing,  24 
Solanums,  330,  364 
Soldanellas,  90 
Sorrel  as  a  vegetable,  357 
South  Devon,  flowers  from,  67 
Sparmannia  africana,  237 
Spinach,  62,  365  ;    New  Zealand,  247  ;  Per- 
petual or  Beet,  243;   The  Carter,  forced, 

357 
Spiraea  arguta,  408 ;  Thunbergi,  391 
Spirseas  for  forcing,  237 
"  Sports,"  399 
Spring  in  a  Cumberland  garden,  235 ;  of  1902, 

the,  373 
Squirrels  and  Horse  Chestnuts,  319 
Stangeria  paradoxa,  32 
Stapelias,  195 
Stephanotis  floribunda,  SO 
Steps  in  the  rock  or  wild  garden,  277 
Sternbergia  fischeriana,  64,  91 
Stocks,  the  East  Lothian,  246 
Stonecrops  as  lightning  conductors,  391 
Stove,  in  the,  10  ;  plants,  52,  140,  19S  ;   soil 

for,  52 
Strawberries,    112,    181.    278,    294  ;    forcing 

houses  for,  343 ;  in  pots,  44  ;   manuring, 

292  ;    mulching     or    feeding,    266  ;    the 

earliest,  426 
Strawberry  Black    Prince,   372 ;   crop,  the, 

407  ;   St.  Antoine,  352  ;   the,  226,  236,  252, 

295,  298,  321 
Strelitzia  Regina?,  2  ;  var.  citrina,  170, 187 
Streptocarpuses.  a  note  on,  253 
Streptosolen  Jamesoni,  372 
Stuart,  Dr.  Charles,  132 
Sub-tropical  effects,  364 
Suburban  garden,  the,  133  ;  gardening,  161 
Sugar  Bean,  a  new,  132 
Sussex  garden,  in  a.  111 
Sutton  and  Sons'  Calceolarias  and  Gloxinias, 

403 
Swede  as  a  vegetable,  the,  110 
Swedes,  cooking,  189 
Sweet  Corn  as  a  vegetable,  335 
Sweet  Pea,  the,  150,  159 
Sweet  Peas,  64, 182  ;  autumn-sown,  171 ;  late 

in  flowering,  406  ;  finest  new,  69 
Sweet  William,  the,  331 
Swiss  holiday,  a,  148 


Tacsonia  moUissima,  416 

Tamarisks,  the,  272 

'Tank  in  a  kitchen  garden,  a  dipping,  77 

Tegg,  Mr.  James,  170 

Temple  flower  show,  the,  300,  349,  365 

Temple,  Mr.,  280,  282 

Teucrium  pyrenaicum,  22 

Thermometers,  155  ;  the  use  of,  106 

Tigridias,  their  culture,  174 

Tobattcos,  S4 

Toogood,  Mr.  E.  Kemp,  390 

Tomato,  new  early.  Winter  Beauty,  87  ;  the 
tree,  110,  155.  187,  326 

Tomatoes,  29,  112,  214,  294,  364 ;  salad,  84 

Tree  planting.  Coronation,  186,  219,  234 

Trees  and  shrubs,  71,  105,  123,  162,  223.  239, 
272,  287,  304,  320 ;  for  English  g:ardens, 
323,  354,  380 ;  grouping  of,  153  ;  in  poor 
soils,  281 ;  old,  beautifying,  158 ;  regu- 
lating growth  of,  33  ;  weeping,  the  use  of, 
249 

Tresco  Abbey  Gardens,  Scilly,  227 

Trollius  Fortunei  plenus,  390 

Troparolum  Isola  Bella,  32 ;  speciosum,  23, 
78,  274  ;  s.  at  AJdershot,  203  ;  s.  in  the 
south-west,  53 

Tuberoses,  166,  230 

Tulip,  an  old,  350  ;  La  Merveille,  390 

Tulipa  Eichleri  (Kegel),  320 ;  galatica,  35S ; 
Korolkowi  bicolor,  219  ;  micheliana,  357 ; 
m.  and  T.  galatica,  393  ;  saxatilis,  52 

Tulips,  28 ;  early  single,  298;  florist's,  the, 
383;  from  Ireland,  317,  350  ;  late,  at  Long 
Ditton,  351 ;  May-flowering,  377 ;  notes, 
372 ;  Parrot,  353  ;  two  good  late  white,  390 

Turfing  new  ground,  95 

Turnip  Carter's  Forcing,  139 

Turnips,  112,  331 ;  forcing,  162 

Tussilago  fragrans,  47  ;  the  white,  201 


Vandas,  330 

Vanilla,  339 

Vegetable,  a  valuable  winter,  52  ;  exhibiting, 
212 

Vegetables  at  the  Drill  Hall,  250  ;  exhibition, 
142,  156,  173,  188,  203,  210,  248  ;  for  exhi- 
bition, 404  ;  sowing,  45 

Ventilation,  96 

Veronica,  40,  56,  65,  92  ;  corymbosa,  108 ; 
cupressoides,  63 


Veronicas.  New  Zealand,  in  Midlothian,  186 

Viburnum  plicatum,  261 

Victoria  Regia  at  Regent's  Park,  the,  406 ; 
Trickeri,  58 

Vine  borders,  new,  113,  252 ;  growing,  rapid, 
396 ;  history  of  the,  363  ;  the,  206 

Vineries,  late,  12,  262 

A'ines,  165  ;  early  Muscat,  365  ;  early  perma- 
nent, 80  ;  grown  as  annuals,  291  ;  planting, 
214;  planting  spring- raised,  365 ;  pot,  SO, 
262  ;  upon  walls,  130 

Viola  biflora,  37;  Blanche,  350;  Blue  Bell, 
87,  102,  lis,  135,  171 ;  pedata  and  V.  p. 
bicolor,  407 

Violet  culture,  157 ;  Marie  Louise,  267 

Violets  from  Devonshire,  199 ;  of  Virginia, 
more  wild,  354;  the  cultivation  of,  233, 
264,  360 


Wales,  notes  from,  261 

Wall  garden,  a  self-sown,  1S8  ;  gardening  at 

the  English  Lakes,  125  ;  gardening  at  Gun- 

nersbury,  140 
Wallflowers,  297,  331 
Wasps,  queen,  destruction  of,  302 
Water  gardens,  a  plea  for  moie,  138 
Water  Lilies  from  seed,  growing,  322 ;  grow- 
ing the  blue,  362  ;  in  galvanised  tank,  84 
Watercress,  a  new  method  of  growing,  407 
AVatering,  28 
Waterlow  Park,  301 
Weather  and  crops,  135 ;  notes,  32 ;  severe, 

preparing  for,  12 
Webb  and  Sons,  Messrs.,  182 
Weldenia  Candida,  334 
West  Indian  Islands,  impressions  of  a  cruise 

amongst  the,  385,  391 
Wild  plants  in  America,  preserving,  52 
Wilder,  Mr.  John,  347 
AVillow,  the  White,  7 

Wilson, ilr.  E.  H.,19;  Mr.  G.  F.,  231,233,267 
Windfiower,  the  Snowdrop,  407 
Window  gardening,  182 
Winner  and  raiser,  349 
Winter  greens,  247 
Wisley,  in  the  garden  at,  238 ;  notes  from, 

103  ;  scraps  from,  51 
Wistaria,  the,  293 
Witch  Hazels  (Hamamelis),  123 
Woburn  Fruit  Farm,  219 
Wood  preservatives,  69 
Woodland  gardening,  natural  and  artificial, 

400 
Wootton  Court,  79 
Worcestershire,  notes  from,  427 
Workers  among  the  flowers,  106, 122 
Wrexham,  notes  from,  153 
Wright,  Mr.  John,  presentation  to  67 


Xanthoceras  sorbifolia,  34,  322 


Y. 

Yangtse  Valley,  a  botanist  in  the,  247 
Yucca  filamentosa,  241 


ILLUSTRATED    ARTICLES. 


A. 


Acacia  cultriformis,  255 

Acanthus  mollis  latifolius,  109 

Adiantum  pedatum  out  of  doors  in  Surrey, 
167 

Agapanthus  umbellatus  as  a  tub  plant,  41 

Agathfea  coelestis  in  a  suburban  garden,  35 

Agave  americana,  2S3  ;  Bakeri  at  Kew,  240 ; 
B.,  flowers  of,  240 

Alpine  house  at  Kew,  the,  136 

Androsace  lanuginosa  on  the  rock  garden, 
171 

Anemone  apennina,  301 ;  coronaria  at  La 
Mortola,  275  ;  stellata  in  the  grass,  352 

Antirrhinum  glutinosum,  205 

Apple  and  Pear,  supposed  hybrid  between 
aM,  199 ;  Beauty  of  Stoke,  192 ;  Bess  Pool, 
311 ;  Bramley's  Seedling,  228 ;  tree,  427  ; 
Brownlee's  Russet,  246  ;  Flower  of  Kent, 
332  ;  Golden  Noble,  179  ;  Hubbard's  Pear- 
main,  145  ;  Newton  Wonder,  178 ;  supposed 
hybrid,  showing  fruitfulness,  230 ;  the 
Houblon,  new  winter,  11 

Aquilegia  Stuarti,  a  colony  of,  409 

Asparagus  bed  aiwut  twelve  years  old,  321 

Auricula,  grey -edged  garden,  272  ;  light 
purple,  21 ;  seedling,  a  curious,  21  ;  the 
old.  Grand  Paisant,  20 

Azalea  garden  at  Kew,  in  the,  417 


Bamboo  garden  at  Kew,  the,  73 
Bank,  a  flowery,  at  Wisley,  238 


INDEX. 


[''The  Garden,"  June  ;y<S',  J90t' 


Beedingwood,  Sussex,  150 

Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  a  houseful  of, 

90;    Ideala,  the  new,   13;    new,    Buisson 

Rose,  ■24-2  ;  new,  Perle  Lorraine,  248 
Belvoir  Castle,  beds  of  spring  flowers  at, 

341  ;  from  the  woods,  340 
Berberis  stenophylla,  304 
Bluebell    time    in    the     Queen's     Cottage 

Grounds,  Kew,  291 
Border,  a  flower,  with  plants  boldly  grouped, 

144  ;    and  wall  at  Gunnersbury  House  in 
,    March  and  September,  140,  141  ;  shrubby, 

a,  25S 
Borders,  flower,  without  formal  edging,  224 
Bridge,  the  Round,  at  Kameido,  Japan,  329 
Broom,  the  Moonlight,  299 
Bull,  the  late  Mr.  W.,  3S7 


Cactus  corner,  a,  at  Carton,  Kildare,  211 
Ctcsalpinia  japonica  at  Kyde,  SI 
Calceolaria  aniplexicaulis,  a  group  of,  391 
Calceolarias,  Webb  and  Sons",  Messrs.,  371 
Callistephus  sinensis,  56 
Campanula   abietina,    207,    209 ;    Burghalti 

pallida,  208 ;  G.  F.  Wilson.  22ti ;  lactiflora, 

29;  muralis,  225,  227 ;  pulla,  207;  pusilla, 

227  ;  pyramidalis  at  Hadsor,  229 
Cattleyas,  a  house  of,  at  Cambridge  Lodge, 

355 
Ceanothus  azureus  at  Kew,  223 
Cherries,  pot,  in  bloom,  287 
Cherry,  pot,  Governor  Wood,  2S6 
Cliildren's  garden  at  Melford  Park,  310 
Chrvsanthemum  show  at  Foochow,  a,  189 ; 

White  Thread,  47 
Chrysanthemums    in    tlie    Royal    Gardens, 

Windsor,  23 
Chrysalidocarpus   lutescens    in    a   Jamaica 

garden. 193 
Cinerarias,  dwarf  large-flowered,  at  Farnham 

Royal,  2S5 
Cistuses  and  Roses  in  the  rock  garden,  149 
Clematis  montana,  307,  410;  paniculata,  91 
Colchicum  Sibthorpii  (coiowrcri  supphment) 
Coralilla,  white,  323 
Cotton  trees  in  a  Jamaica  garden,  137 
Crab,  the  Siberian,  ISl 
Crinum  giganteumin  a  Jamaica  wild  garden, 

172 
Crump,  Mr.  Wm.,  V.M.H.,  122 
Cryptomeria  japonica  in  Japan,  230 
Custard  Apple,  the,  289 
Cutbush's,    Messrs.,  group  at    the   Temple 

show,  370 
Cyclamen  persicum,  263 
Cyclamens,  Persian,  in  Messrs.   Webb  and 

Sons'  nursery,  1S3 ;  the  new  frilled  Persian, 

139 
Cymbidium  rhodochilum,  3S3 
Cypripedium   Morganiic,   75  ;    Olenus,    355 ; 

spectabile.  191 


D. 

Daffodils  grouped  with  shrubs,  142 
Dahlia  imperialis  in  a  Riviera  garden,  40 
Delphiniums,  a  group  of,  290 


E. 


EUwanger,  Mr.  George,  107 
Erica  carnea,  309:  mediterranea,  431 
Eryngium  pandanifolium,  37 
Erythroniums  in  the  rock  garden,  237 
Eucalyptus  Gunnii  in  flower,  57 
Eucharis   amazonica    in    a    Jamaica   wild 
garden,  125 


F. 

Ficus  sp.  near  Szemas,  China,  3 

Fig  tree,  fan-trained,  414 

Figs  out  of  doors  at  Tarring,  415 

Flower  garden  at  Beedingwuod,  in  the,  158 

Fritillaria  askhabadeusis,  256;  aurea,  306; 

citrina,  337  ;  pudica,  337  ;  recurva,  336 
Fritillary,  a  group  of  the  Meadow,  306 
Fruit  walk  at  Milton  Court,  78  ;  wall  and 

mixed  border  at  Beedingwood,  158 


Galanthus  Alleni  at  Kew,  157 

Gibraltar  garden,  a  corner  of  a,  257 

Gloriosa  superba,  15 

Grammatophyllum  speciosum  in  the  Singa- 
pore Botanic  Gardens,  357 

Grape  Fruit,  269 

Grapes,  Alicante,  in  baskets,  370 

Grass  path  with  bordering  of  hardy  flowers, 
150 

H. 

Holland  House,  423 ;   flower  garden  at,  425; 

shrubby  climbers  at,  wall  of,  424 ;    the 

Rose  walk,  423 
Horticultural  hall,  plan  of  site,  216 


Iris  Aschersoni,  288  ;  Tauri,93;  warleyensis, 

the  new,  241 
Irises,  the  new  hybrid,  107 


J. 

Jamaica,  a  quiet  home  in  the  Port  Royal 
Mountains,  123;  garden,  view  in  a,  173 


K. 

KaUnia  latifolia,  a  group  of,  9 


La  Mortola,  Sir  Thomas  Hanbury's  residence 
and  the  village  of,  358  ;  Aloe  supralievis  in 
flower  at,  413  ;  the  Palazzo  Orengo  at,  412 

Libocedrus  macrolepis(Bth.  et  Hook),  5 

Lilium  washingtonianum,  Northern  Califor- 
nia and  Coast  range  form,  55;  Sierran 
form  and  type,  54 

Limpsfield,  a  house  and  garden  at,  177 


M. 

Magnolia  stellata,  370 

Mallow,  the  Tree,  a  hedge  of,  180 

itangoes,  a  bunch  of,  305 

Maple,  a  Japanese,  401 

Maples  in  autumn  :  A  scene  in  Japan,  400 

Marica  in  a  Jamaica  wild  garden,  124 

Miscanthus  sinensis  in  the  Bamboo  garden 

at  Kew,  74 
Moccasin  Flower,  the,  101 
Moschosma  riparium,  the  new,  121 
Mulberry,  the  Nettle,  71 


N. 

Narcissus  coronata,  314  ;  Sulphur  Phuenix.  92 


Odontoglossura  crispum  Lady  Jane,  411 
Olive,  ancient,  at  Cap  Martin,  375 
Orange,  Navel,  268 
Orchis  longibracteata  and  Anemone  blanda 

in  wood,  395 
Orobanche  tuber,  31 


Patio  at  the  Convent,  Gibraltar,  24 

Pear  Beurr^  d'Anjou,  45  ;  Beurr6  Diel,  165; 
Conference  on  a  wall,  59;  Directeur  Al- 
phand,  213  ;  General  Wauchope,  the  new 
winter,  10 ;  Josephine  de  Malines,  129 ; 
Marie  Guise,  259  ;  Nouvelle  Fulvie,  67  ; 
Passe  Colmar,  97;  tree,  espalier,  in  flower 
at  Windsor,  361 ;  tree  on  pillar  in  Belvoir 
Castle  Gardens,  396  ;  Tvedale's  St.  Ger- 
main, 113 

Phaius  grown  in  Belgian  leaf-aoil,  a,  244 

Pink,  the  common  white,  and  a  smooth- 
edged  Pink,  4-2 

Pitcairnia  crerulea,  382 

Plum,  the  Kelsey,  221 ;  the  Weaver,  377 

Pomegranate,  the,  339 

Porana  paniculata,  323 

Potato  Carltonian,  new,  130 

Primula  AUionii,  326 ;  Auricula,  271 ;  car- 
niolica,  327  ;  Chinese,  Double  Duchess, 
103  ;  Chinese,  Princess  May,  131  ;  clusiana, 
326;  commutata,  328;  denticulata,  P.  d. 
alba,  and  P.  farinosa  in  a  suburban  garden, 
13;  floribunda,  270  ;  glaucescens,  360  ; 
glutinosa,  359  ;  hirsuta  (All.  non.  Vill.), 
var.  alba,  359 ;  imperialis,  272  ;  marginata, 
398  ;  minima,  397 ;  ucnensis,  398 ;  pede- 
montana,  307  ;  spectabilis,  430 ;  villosa, 
420;  viscosa,  430;  wulfeniana,  429 

Prunus  serrulata  in  flower  at  Kew,  143 

Pueraria  thunbergiana  in  France,  161 


Rain  gauge,  106 

Redlands,  Glasgow,  in  the  conservatory  at,  s 

Reinwardtia  tetragyna,  lOS 

Rhododendron  prfecox,  42S 

Rhubarb  forcing,  302,  303 

Robinia  pseudacacia,  61 


Rock  and  water  garden,  part  view  of  a,  402 
Rose  arches  on  levelled  space,  a  connected 
range  of,  39  ;  Augustine  Guinoisseau,  128  ; 
Bennett's  Seedling  as  an  arbour  Rose,  345  ; 
Bennett's  Seedling  over  a  house  front,  344  ; 
Celestial,  105 ;  Dr.  Grill  with  Tufted  Pan- 
sies,  94  ;   F^licit6  Perpetue,  27  ;  Flora  on 
wall  at    Warley,  245  ;    Gloire    Lyonnaise 
(H.T.)  as  a  pillar,  147  ;  pergola  at  Limps- 
field,  176  ;  the  large-flowered  Bankaian  in 
France,  95 ;  the  Seven  Sisters  over  drive 
and  shrubs,  294;  W.  A.  Richardson,  254 
Roses  and  Cistuses  in  the  rock  garden,  1-ifl  ; 
garlands  of,  on  pergola  at  LimpsHeld,  175 
over  a  hedge,  163 


S. 

Salix  alba  (White  Willow)  at  Kew,  7 

Salvia  azurea  grandiflora.  309 

Saxifraga  macnabiana,  226  ;  pyramidalis,  393 

Sea  Holly,  a  noble,  37 

Seakale  forced  in  Mushroom  house,  322 

Sedgwick  Park,  view  in  the  gardens  of.  111 

Senecio  macrophyllus,  325 

Skimraia  Foreman!,  100 

Sloe,  the  double-flowered.  363 

Soldanella  alpina,  127  ;  montana,  127  ;  pusilla 

and  S.  minima,  126 
Spir.'ea  flagelliformis  at  Kew,  380 
Springtime  in  the  Duchess'  garden,  341 
Stapelia  variegata,  105 
Steps,  stone,  at  Hitherbury,  Guildford,  277 
Stillingia  sebifera,  with   Drymoglossum  on 

the  stems,  25 
Strawberry  growing  for  market,  343 
Streptocarpuses,  hybrid,  in   New  Zealand, 

253 


Tamarisk,  the  Taurian,  273 

Tank  in  a  kitchen  garden,  dipping,  77 

Temple  show,  Lily  of  tlie  Valley  at  the,  385 

Roses  at  the,  3SG 
Thermometers,  106 
Tropnjolum  speciosum  in  Surrey,  274 


V. 

Viburnum  Lantana  in  flower,  324  ;  plicatum 
at  Kew,  261 


AV. 

Wall  garden,  a  natural,  188 

Watsonia  Ardernei   alba  in    a    Portuguese 

garden,  89 
Wayfaring  Tree,  the,  in  flo\ver,  324 
Wilson,  the  late  Mr.  G.  F.,  F.R.S.,  V.M.H 

231 
Wistaria  sinensis,  293 ;  wonderful  growth  of, 

in  Japan,  329 
Wootton  Court,  in  the  garden  at,  79 


Y. 

Yuccas,    Pampas   Grass,    and    Bamboos   at 
Kew,  73 


'Sjfey- 


GARDEN 


—^^- 


■k^^^^S 


.=^<J^3S>^^ 


No.  1572,— Vol.  LXI.J 


[January  4,  190i 


M 


HORTICULTURE    IN   liiOl. 

'ANY  events  of  horticultural  and 
botanical  interest  have  occurred 
in  the  year  that  has  gone — a  year 
of  remarkable  activity,  and  the 
forerunner,  we  hope,  of  continued 
enthusiasm  in  matters  concerning  the  garden 
and  orchard.  The  pursuit  of  gardening  is  do 
mere  sentiment,  a  craze  of  the  hour,  but  the 
outcome  of  many  years  of  slow  but  certain 
appreciation  of  the  restfulness  and  refreshing 
influence  of  the  flower  and  tree  lil'e  that  gives 
grace  and  beauty  to  the  English  home. 

The  tremendous  progress  of  the  Koyal  Horti- 
cultural Society  is  evidence  of  this  deepening 
love  for  gardening  as  well  as  of  admirable 
management  on  the  part  of  its  officers,  whose 
efforts  have  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of 
nearly  1,000  new  members  during  the  past 
year.  No  society  offers  a  more  liberal  fare  for 
the  subscription  desired,  one  guinea  enabling 
the  member  to  receive  the  important  quarterly 
Journal,  admittance  to  the  delightful  fort- 
nightly displays  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster, 
to  the  Chiswick  Gardens,  and  to  the  large 
exhibitions,  such  as  the  Temple  show  and  the 
fruit  exhibition  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  The 
benefits  conferred  are  more  than  adequate  to 
the  yearly  subscription. 

Early  in  the  year  the  question  of  obtaining 
a  site  for  a  new  garden  to  displace  Chiswick, 
as  a  fitting  means  of  celebrating  the  centenary  of 
the  society,  was  considered  at  a  largely  attended 
gathering.  It  was  a  turbulent  meeting,  but  the 
opposition  were  calmed  by  the  tact  of  the 
president,  who  assured  the  Fellows  that  it  was 
the  desire  of  the  council  to  carry  out  their 
wishes  as  to  the  method  of  celebrating  the 
auspicious  event.  Of  this  we  are  certain,  and 
so  all  ended  happily.  We  are  sure  everything 
will  work  out  pleasantly  for  the  good  of  horti- 
culture and  the  society  in  the  future.  A  hall 
of  horticulture  we  shall  welcome,  but  not  a 
hall  at  the  expense  of  that  practical  garden 
work  which  we  must  associate  always  with  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  An  experimental 
garden  is  a  necessity,  and  if  the  two  can  be 
obtained  we  shall  rejoice  that  horticulture  has 
made  itself  so  abundantly  manifest. 

The  Lily  conference  was  a  complete  success. 
The  day  was  hot  and  sultry,  and  in  a  stuffy 
tent  it  is  a  severe  physical  tax  to  listen  to  a 
series  of  lectures  and  papers,  but  the  whole  of 
the  proceedings  are  given  in  full  in  the 
recently  published  Journal. 

While  writing  of  societies  we  must  congra- 


tulate the  secretaries  and  officers  of  the 
National  Rose  Society  upon  the  success  of 
their  bold  departure  to  the  Inner  Temple 
Gardens,  where  a  feast  of  Roses  was  provided 
in  July  that  charmed  the  keen  ro-sarian  and 
converted  many  visitors  to  a  fascinating 
pastime,  as  the  increased  list  of  members 
records. 

Our  obituary  list  is  a  sorrowful  reminder  of 
the  frailty  of  mankind.  Many  great  and 
revered  men  in  the  world  of  horticulture  have 
crossed  the  bar— the  Rev.  Henry  Ewbank,  a 
lovable  and  earnest  gardener ;  the  famous 
American  horticulturist,  Thomas  Meehan  ; 
Cypher,  of  Cheltenham  ;  Thomas  Rochford, 
prince  of  market  gardeners  ;  Martin  Sutton,  a 
leader  in  horticulture  and  one  of  the  last 
century's  most  conspicuous  figures  ;  A.  H. 
Smee,  Sir  Henry  Gilbert,  Eleanor  Ormerod,  and 
many  good  gardeners,  not  least  among  them 
being  D.  T.  Fish.  Our  Continental  neighbours 
have  to  deplore  the  loss  of  Mr.  E.  H.  Krelage, 
a  pioneer  of  horticulture  in  Holland,  and 
Maxime  Cornu,  the  French  horticulturist 
attached  to  the  Jardin  des  Plantes. 

We  again  heartily  thank  the  friends  of  The 
G.\EDEN,  both  old  and  new,  and  as  we  wrote 
last  year  we  set  forth  with  renewed  courage  for 
the  congenial  field  of  labour  in  the  cause  of 
gardening  in  its  many  ways,  from  the  simple 
utility  of  the  production  of  wholesome  food  to 
the  ministration  to  the  higher  human  nature 
through  the  Divine  gift  of  happiness  in  the 
beauty  of  flowers.  Without  our  contributors 
progress  would  be  impossible,  and  ^vhilst 
thanking  those  who  relate  their  practical 
experience  in  our  columns,  we  are  ever 
mindful  of  those  who  give  occasional  notes 
to  interest  and  instruct  our  readers. 

Horticulture  has  become  a  decided  power  in 
promoting  the  nation's  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness. As  we  have  before  written,  side  by  side 
with  the  bettering  of  the  old  gardens  is  the 
making  of  countless  new  ones,  gardens  made 
not  only  to  ensure  their  definite  end,  but  also 
leading  to  an  appreciable  augmentation  of 
national  piosperity  in  the  increased  employ- 
ment of  well-paid  labour  and  the  advancement 
of  the  trades  whose  existence  is  the  outcome 
of  the  needs  of  horticulture.  . 

The  year  that  has  now  dawned  points  to 
increased  activity,  and  assuredly  the  prospects 
of  horticultural  endeavour  were  never  brighter 
than  on  the  thresheld  of  1902,  and  this  in  spite 
of  severe  competition  and  a  general  slackness 
in  the  country.  Many  and  important  are  the 
events  to  be  celebrated  in  the  present  year. 


NOTES    OF    THE   WEEK. 


Royal   Hoptieultupal  Society.— Tlie 

first  meeting  of  the  committees  of  the  Ro3"al 
Horticultural  Society  in  1902  will  be  held,  as 
usual,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  West- 
minster, on  Tuesday,  January  14.  An  election  of 
new  Fellows  will  take  place  at  three  o'clock.  'i\> 
prevent  misunderstanding,  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  the  committees  of  1901  do  not  vacate  office 
until  the  date  of  the  annual  meeting  1902,  and  in 
like  manner  all  Fellows"  tickets  of  1901  are  avail- 
able until  the  end  of  January,  1902. 

The  Kew  Guild  Journal.— The  ninth 

volume  of  this  annual  publication  will  be  wel- 
comed by  all  past  and  present  Kewites.  The 
frontispiece  this  year  is  an  excellent  portrait  of 
Mr.  George  Nicholson,  curator  of  the  Royal 
Gardens  from  1886  to  1901.  An  illustration  is 
given  of  the  Nepenthes  house  at  Kew,  and 
portraits  appear  also  of  Mr.  Thomas  Meehan  and 
Mr.  G.  J.  Bean,  both  of  whom  died  last  year.  The 
notes  from  old  Kewites  resident  abroad  are  even 
more  interesting  than  usual,  and  comprise  letters 
from  many  quarters  of  the  globe.  Several  who 
went  to  South  Africa  have  taken  part  in  the  Boer 
War.  The  list  of  appointments  of  Kew  men  to 
responsible  positions  in  various  parts  of  the  worl<] 
is  satisfactory  reading,  as  is  also  the  statement 
that  the  cricket  club  was  never  stronger,  both 
financially  and  numerically.  Through  the  kindly 
interest  of  the  Director  and  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  of 
H.M.  Otiice  of  Works,  a  piece  of  ground  in  the 
Old  Deer  Park  has  been  rented  for  the  exclusive 
use  of  the  gardens'  club.  With  reference  to  tlie 
British  Botany  Club,  it  has  been  decided  in  future 
to  limit  the  number  nf  specimens  to  be  submitted 
in  competition  for  the  prizes  to  200.  This,  we 
think,  is  commendable,  as  it  will  ensure  a  far 
better  knowledge  of  the  plants  collected  than 
was  possible  when  600  or  700  were  brought 
together,  as  has  been  the  ease  in  recent  years. 
The  annual  meeting  and  dinner  is  now  an  established 
success  ;  at  the  gathering  in  Maj'  last  no  less  than 
l-tl  Kewites  were  present.  The  debating  society 
continues  to  do  good  work,  several  lectures  by 
members  of  the  herbarium  staff  having  been  given 
during  the  past  j'ear,  in  addition  to  those  con- 
tributed by  the  young  gardeners.  Mr.  W.  Watson 
is  the  editor  of  the  Journal,  and  is  to  be  con- 
gratulated upon  the  success  of  his  efforts  as 
represented  by  the  ninth  volume. 

A  papkfpom  Richmond  to  King- 
ston. —  Lord  Dysart  is  promoting  a  Bill  in 
Parliament  in  connection  with  his  riverside  pro- 
pert}'  at  Petersham.  His  proposition  is  to  make 
over  to  the  public  for  ever  three  miles  of  land 
(width  150  feet),  viz.,  from  Richmond  to  Kingston, 
for  the  purpose  of  a  riverside  park.  Compensation 
is  desired  in  the  shape  of  considerable  enclosures 
of  lamnias  land  south  of  Ham  village. 

SidCUp  Rose  show. — We  are  informed 
by  the  secretary  (Mr.  Tyson  Crawford,  Arundel 
Lodge,  Sidcup)  that  the  Sidcup  (Coronation)  Rose 
show  will  be  held  on  Thursday,  July  3.  At  least 
two  silver  cups  will  be  given,  in  addition  to  money 
prizes. 

Flowers  at  Christmas  in  Mr. 
Sprenger's  garden   near  Naples.— 

The  finest  thing  now  in  flower  is  Gerbera  Jamesomi, 
especially  the  var.  illustris,   which  is  deeper  in 


THE    GARDEIM 


fJANUARY    4,    1902. 


colour  than  the  type,  and  has  longer  and  broader 
petals.  Another  fine  plant  from  Natal  is  Cj'rtan- 
thus  Mackenii.  with  stems  bearing  six  to  seven 
long-tubed  white  flowers.  This  Amaryllid  should 
be  more  cultivated  by  amateurs.  The  pretty  dark 
blue  Bellevalia  Heldreichi  and  the  light  blue 
Musoari  azureum  are  beginning  to  open  their 
flowers.  Primula  megase:vfolia,  crimson  -  purple, 
with  yellow  ej'e,  is  already  in  bloom  in  quantity  ; 
in  a  few  years  this  jewel  among  flowers  must  be 
in  every  garden.  It  does  well  in  pots,  and  is 
hardy  here  at  the  Castel  St.  Elmo  at  an  elevation 
of  nearlj'  1,800  feet  in  a  mixture  of  peat,  leaf- 
mould,  and  grit.  The  Natal  Laburnum  (Calpiirnia 
lasiogyne),  with  long  racemes  of  yellow  bloom,  is 
in  fruit  and  flower.  Clematis  brachiata,  also 
from  Natal,  is  covered  with  the  white  seed-heads 
of  its  second  flowering.  Yuccas  are  favourites 
with  Mr.  Sprenger,  and  are  made  a  speciality  in 
his  garden.  His  hybrids  of  filamentosa  and 
gloriosa  are  remarkable  for  their  abundance  of 
bloom.  After  the  main  flowering  in  the  spring, 
the  young  growths  from  the  base  will,  in  the  case 
of  some  varieties,  also  flower  in  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year.  There  is  now  a  plant  which  has  one 
stem  in  fruit  and  four  other  stems  in  flower.  The 
hybrid  Yucca  vomerensis  (aloefolia  :<  recurvata 
pendula)  is  a  giant  and  now  in  bloom.  The  leaves 
are  2  feet  9  inches  long  and  nearlj'  2J  inches  broad, 
the  flower-stem  0  feet  .S  inches  in  height.  The 
stem,  peduncles,  and  buds  are  red,  and  the  flowers 
snow-white,  with  the  outside  of  the  outer  segments 
tinted  with  red.  The  entire  plant  in  flower  has  a 
height  of  11  feet  8  inches.  I  believe  that  both 
these  hybrid  Yuccas  will  prove  hardy  in  England, 
the  first-named  without  doubt.  On  a  terrace  a 
beautiful  object  is  the  fine  well-known  Asparagus 
Sprengeri,  with  its  long  branches  covered  with  red 
berries.  A  well-known  horticulturist  at  Erfurt 
describes  this  plant  as  Asparagus  falcatus.  This 
is  clearly  an  error,  as  anyone  can  see  that  the 
two  species  are  quite  distinct.  I  take  it  that  this 
gentleman  has  not  met  with  the  true  A.  falcatus, 
which  is  a  climbing  species  with  long  and  broad 
leaves,  or,  more  properly,  phyllocladiunis  ;  more- 
over, it  is  one-flowered,  while  A.  Sprengeri  has 
drooping  branches,  small  narrow  leaves,  and 
racemes  of  ten  to  fifteen  flowers.  A  large  number 
of  other  plants  are  in  bloom,  but  those  specially 
named  are  among  the  most  interesting  ;  still, 
among  the  others  may  be  mentioned  Iris  alala, 
I.  stylosa  speciosa,  I.  stylosa  alba,  Paper-white 
Narcissus,  N.  Tazetta  (the  Sacred  Narcissus  of 
Japan),  Salvia  splendens,  Cannas,  Agathteaco-lestis, 
and  Carnations.  The  Strawberry  St.  Antoine  de 
Padoue  is  also  in  flower  and  ripe  fruit. — William 
MuLLER,  Vomero,  vear  Naplea. 

Stpelltzia    "  Reginae."— I  think  that  ;• 

mislake  has  been  made  hy  some  one  in  the  name 
of  the  stately  tall  Strelitzia  figured  in  the  first  of 
the  two  pictures  of  Mr.  Arderne's  garden  in  The 
Garden  of  December  '21,  page  412,  as  they  are 
certainly  not  S.  Regin:v.  This  beautiful  and 
brilliant  flowered  species  makes  no  tall  stems  like 
those  in  the  picture.  I  have  now  in  my  stove 
house  a  plant  over  fifty  years  old,  and  it  has  no 
trace  of  any  stem.  I  should  say  that  tlie  tall 
plants  shown  must  be  S.  augusta,  figured  in  the 
Botanical  Magazine  71,  tables  41(i7,  41(i8,  a  much 
less  beautiful  flower  than  8.  Regina',  as  the  large 
blooms  are  white  and  brown  instead  of  blue  and 
orange. — W.  E.  Gumbleton,  Be/r/rrtre,  (^laeeiisloirn, 
Ireland.  [We  have  also  had  a  nole  from  Kew 
confirming  Mr.  Gumbleton's  opinion  as  to  the 
identity  of  the  tall-stemmed  Strelitzia. — Eds.  J 

Mp.  D.  p.  L>aird. — The  members  of  the 
Royal  Scottish  Arboricultural  Societv  will  be 
interested  to  learn  that  Mr.  D.  P.  Laird,  the 
director-general  of  the  annual  excursions  of  that 
society,  has  been  invested  with  the  rank  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  has  also  been  unanimouslj' 
appointed  chairman  of  the  Corstorphine  Parish 
Council. 

Ipomsea.  aurea. —  Distance  belates  my 
reply  to  Mr.  Gumbleton's  C|uery  of  November  2. 
From  his  excellent  description  I  think  there  is 
little  doubt  that  his  Iponiifa  aurea  is  I.  tuberosa. 
It  climbs  to  the  top  of  the  highest  trees  and 
showers  down  the  seeds  which  follow  the  bright 


yellow  flowers.  These  seeds,  which  are  enclosed 
in  conspicuous  bladder-like  vessels,  are  black  and 
twice  the  size  of  Cherry  stones.  I  planted  one  of 
these  Iponueas  on  a  Mango,  and  it  has  killed  it. 
Another  threatens  to  overwhelm  a  Sweetwood. 
Fine  as  it  is  with  its  sheet  of  bloom  I  am  thinking 
of  doing  away  with  it — it  is  so  rampant  in  growth, 
and  so  much  time  is  taken  up  in  the  necessary 
work  of  destroying  the  many  seedlings.  It  is 
called  Seven-year  Vine  in  English,  but  I  never 
heard  its  Spanish  name.  The  Vines  are  nearly 
as  thick  as  my  wrist,  and  a  single  plant  will  cover 
an  enormous  space.  I  should  not  let  it  grow  big 
in  a  hothouse. — W.  .J.,  Port  Royal  JHonntaivi, 
Jamaica. 

Chpysanthemum     Mrs.     W^iUiam 

FilkinS. — Chrysanohemums  which  flower  in 
December  and  later  always  possess  a  special 
value,  and  it  woukl  be  difficult  to  find  a  more 
interesting  and  pleasing  decorative  plant  than  this 
variety.  The  earliest  batch  of  plants  made  a 
welcome  display  during  the  latter  part  of 
November  and  the  earlier  half  of  December. 
The  charming  spidery  blossoms  are  so  elegant 
and  dainty  that  they  were  always  welcomed  as 
good  flowers  for  indoor  decoration.  The  later 
batch  of  plants,  however,  are  more  highly  prized. 
The  flowers  are  of  bright  yellow  colour  and  last 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  The  habit  of 
the  plant  is  not  all  one  would  desire,  yet  of  the 
spidery  sorts  this  is  one  of  the  best.  It  is  rarely 
more  than  4  feet  high,  and  the  glass  structure  in 
which  the  plants  are  housed  has  been  absolutely 
cold,  no  heat  whatever  being  turned  on  since  the 
plants  were  housed  in  the  earlj'  days  of  November. 
During  periods  of  severe  frost,  the  house  has  been 
completely  closed,  ventilators  and  doors  never 
being  opened  until  milder  weather  has  ensued. 
So  far  none  of  the  blossoms  have  shown  any  signs 
of  damping,  and  this  is  a  peculiarity  noticeable  in 
most  Chrysanthemums  flowered  on  terminal  buds. 
For  vase  decoration  it  is  ditiicult  to  conceive  a 
more  pleasing  and  striking  example  of  decorative 
work  at  this  season,  the  display  being  most 
effective. — D.  B.  C. 

Presentation   to   Mr.  Meyer.  — Mr. 

F.  W.  Meyer  was  recently  entertained  by  the 
employes  of  Messrs.  Robert  Veitch  and  Son  at 
dinner  to  commemorate  the  completion  of  his 
twenty-fifth  j'ear  of  service  with  the  firm.  Mr. 
Meyer  was  presented  with  a  smoker's  cabinet 
and  a  case  of  Peterson's  pipes,  together  with  an 
illuminated  address,  subscribed  for  by  his  fellow 
colleagues,  as  "  token  of  the  high  esteem  in  which 
he  is  held  by  one  and  all  of  them.  Mr.  Meyer  was 
also  the  recipient  from  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  and 
Son  of  a  cheqne,  accompanied  by  a  solid  silver 
salver. 

Open  ground  Auriculas.  —  Just  now 

the.se  plants,  whether  in  pots  in  a  housed  frame, 
or  in  borders,  or  on  rockwork  outdoors,  do  not 
cut  ver\-  attractive  figures.  During  so  much  of  the 
winter  as  has  passed  the  outer  leaves  have  died 
away,  and  generally  there  is  little  left  but  green, 
round,  slightly  conical  buds  of  hard  leafage,  singly 
or  in  clusters.  It  is  all  well  when  that  is  so,  for 
witliin  those  modest  and  unobtrusive  crowns  lie 
hidden  beauty,  colour,  form,  and  loveliness  of  the 
most  delightful  description.  These  dormant  buds 
are  but  awaiting  the  approach  of  spring  to  open, 
expand  their  leaves,  then  blossoms,  and  once  more 
to  resume  their  place  in  the  world  of  life  and  of 
beaut}'.  It  is  then  they  in  common  with  all  Nature 
respond  to  the  power  of  warmth  and  of  light.  Let 
the  sun  shine,  let  the  soil  be  gently  healed,  let 
light  become  abundant  and  they  can  no  longer 
resist.  Neither  need  they.  The  season  of  recupe- 
ration has  come,  and  its  demands  must  be  met  by 
immediate  consent.  But  whilst  this  season  of  rest 
prevails  the  gardener  may  do  something  to  help 
his  plants  when  growth  does  commence.  He  can 
lightly  stir  the  surface  of  the  soil  about  them,  even 
if  in  pots,  remove  some  that  may  seem  poor  or 
exhausted,  and  replace  with  a  compost  of  sifted 
loam,  old  hot-bed  manure,  well-rotted  leaf  soil, 
sifted  old  lime  refuse,  and  some  sand.  A  mulch 
of  this  mixture  should  be  laid  about  the  crown. 
The  soil  partially  washes  into  the  roots  and 
invites  to  surface  root  action  quickly,  for  whilst 


the  crowns  are  at  rest  the  roots  are  not  neces- 
sarily so.  In  any  case  new  spring  leafage  soon 
creates  new  roots  near  the  base  of  the  leaves, 
and  these  revel  in  the  new  dressing  thus  applied, 
rendering  foliage  more  robust  and  flowers  finer  and 
of  brighter'  hues.  We  may  treat  Polyanthuses  and 
Primroses  in  the  same  way  with  good  results,  as  the 
spring  bloom  will  show. — A.  D. 

ColeUS  thyrsoideus.— I  have  now  a  fine 
display  of  good  spikes  of  the  lovely  winter 
blooming  Coleus  thyrsoideus  in  my  conservatory, 
which  is  most  valuable  at  this  dull  flowerless  time 
of  year.  A  fine  lot  of  the  free  blooming  vanill.i- 
soented  Eupatorium  petiolare  is  also  coming  into 
flower.  No  winter  greenhouse  should  be  without 
this  new  variety,  which  came  to  me  from  Darmsta<lt 
as  E.  Purpusi,  but  was  pronounced  at  Kew  to  be 
correctly  named  petiolare.  I  have  also  now  in  full 
bloom  a  fine  pot  of  the  late  Nerine  Manselli  with 
nineteen  spikes  of  flower.  —  W.  E.  Gttmbleton, 
Belgrove,  (^hieensloum,  Ireland. 

Poinsettias   for  decoration.  —  Since 

the  forcing  of  imported  bulbs  has  become  so 
common  for  the  supply  of  decorative  material 
through  the  winter  less  attention  is  paid  to  the 
cultivation  of  other  plants  suitable  for  the  purpose, 
and  of  these  none  is  better  than  the  old  Poinsettia 
pulcherrima.  The  brilliant  scarlet  bracts  are 
welcome  about  Christmas  time,  and  nothing  else 
gives  such  colouring  under  artificial  light ;  but  the 
value  of  Poinsettias  depends  very  largely  on  their 
treatment.  The  long,  lanky  plants  that  are  grown 
in  the  stove  are  of  little  use,  because  they  quickly 
flag  when  they  leave  their  warm  quarters,  and  the 
foliage  soon  curls  up  under  the  altered  conditions. 
Valuable,  on  the  other  hand,  at  this  season  are 
the  sturdy  dwarf  plants  that  were  raised  from 
cuttings  in  the  spring,  and  have  been  grown  in  a 
cool  pit  through  the  summer.  The  stems  are 
stout,  the  leaves  leathery,  and,  being  dwarf,  the 
plants  may  be  used  in  many  ways. — H. 

Luculia  gratissima.  —  This   beautiful 

shrub,  first  introduced  from  the  Himalayas  in 
1823,  forms  just  now  one  of  the  most  notable 
features  in  No.  4  house  at  Kew,  being  laden  with 
its  large  clusters  of  pink  sweet-scented  blossoms. 
It  is  by  no  means  invariably  met  with  in  such  good 
condition  as  at  Kew  ;  indeed,  complaints  as  to  the 
absence  of  bloom  are  made  frequently.  This  is 
often  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  it  is 
generally  referred  to  as  a  greenhouse  plant,  and 
this  term  being  a  very  elastic  one,  a  structure 
from  which  frost  is  just  excluded  and  nothing 
more  is  by  some  considered  sufficient  for  its 
requirements.  Though  it  may  exist  under  such 
conditions,  it  needs  a  structure  with  a  minimum 
temperature  of  iri"  during  the  winter  to  bloom 
well.  The  light  buoyant  atmosphere  which  is 
always  maintained  in  the  greenhouse  at  Kew  is 
such  as  it  delights  in.  This  Luculia  should,  if 
possible,  be  planted  in  a  well-drained  border,  as 
under  such  conditions  it  does  much  better  as  a 
large  plant  than  in  pots  or  tubs.  A  second  species, 
L.  pinceana,  is  also  in  cultivation,  but  as  far  as 
my  experience  extends  it  is  inferior  to  the 
older  and  better  known  species  as  a  garden  plant. 
— H.  P. 
Begonia    manicata    aureo-macu- 

lata. — Most  of  the  Begonias  grown  for  their 
ornamental  foliage  consist  of  forms  of  Begonia  Rex 
or  of  nearly  allied  species.  B.  manicata  aureo- 
maculata,  however,  is  quite  different,  as  though  it 
forms  a  short  stout  stem  B.  manicata  itself  has 
long  leaf  stalks,  which  towards  the  upper  part 
bear  whorls  of  reddish  fleshy  scale-like  hairs, 
while  the  blade  of  the  leaf  is  of  a  smooth  shining 
green.  The  pink  flowers,  which  are  disposed  in 
upright  branching  panicles,  are  individually  small, 
but  from  their  numbers  produce  a  pleasing  effect 
during  the  early  months  of  the  year.  From  the 
typical  kind  tlie  varietj'  aureo-maculata  differs  in 
the  leaves  being  irregularly  blotched  and  marbled 
with  golden  yellow,  sometimes  to  such  an  extent 
that  the  major  portion  of  the  leaf  is  of  the  last- 
named  hue.  Well  furnished  specimens  are  par- 
ticularly effective  during  the  dull  days  of  autumn 
and  winter,  the  contrast  between  the  golden 
blotches  and  the  bright  shining  green  of  the  rest  of 
the  leaf  being  very  marked. — H.  P. 


January  4,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


A  Lily  query. —In  an  old  book  entitled 
'  ■  A  Complete  Florilege,  furnished  with  all  requisites 
belonging  to  a  Florist,"  by  .John  Rea,  Gentleman, 
Ili7(i,  qutte  a  long  list  of  Lilies  with  their  descrip- 
tions is  given,  and  some  of  it  has  furnished  con- 
siderable food  for  reflection.  Most  of  the  European 
species  can  be  recognised,  though  many  of  the 
names  are  unfamiliar.  The  principal  difficulty  is 
with  the  following  :  "  Lilium  Martagon  canadense 
maculatum.  The  spotted  Martagon  of  Canada 
may  serve  to  bring  up  the  rear,  and  follow  the 
Mountain  Lilies  (L.  Martagon),  for  that  the  green 
leaves  grow  on  the  stalk  in  rundles,  the  root  of 
this  stranger  is  smaller,  and  tlie  stalk  lower  than 
any  of  the  former,  bearing  four  or  five  flowers  on 
long  foot  stalks,  in  form  like  a  red  Lil}',  hanging 
down  their  heads,  of  a  fair  yellow  colour  with 
many  black  spots  on  the  inside."  This,  of  course, 
is  Lilium  canadense,  which  was  introduced  in  the 
year  1029,  or  earlier.  "Later  on  comes  L.  Mar- 
tagon Virginicum.  The  Virginian  Martagon  has  a 
close  compact  scaly  pale  yellow  root,  from  the 
sides  whereof,  more  frequently'  than  from  the  top, 
(•onie  forth  the  stalks,  about  .3  feet  high,  set  with 
small  sharp  pointed  whitish  green  leaves  in  rundles, 
bearing  at  the  head  three,  four,  or  more  something 
large  flowers,  turning  back  like  those  of  the  Con- 
stantinople Lilj',  of  a  gold  yellow  colour,  with 
man}'  brown  spots  about  the  bottoms  of  the  flowers, 
with  the  points  of  the  leaves  (petals)  that  turn  up 
of  a  red  or  scarlet  colour,  and  without  spots.  This 
is  a  tender  plant  and  must  be  defended  from  frost 
in  winter.  There  is  another  of  this  kind  that 
beareth  more  flowers  on  one  stalk,  difi'ering  from 
the  former  in  that  these  are  of  pale  colours  but 
spotted  as  the  other."  Perhaps  this  stands  for 
L.  superbum,  which  is  decidedly  v.ariable  in  colour, 
if  .so  it  must  have  been  introduced  before  1727,  the 
date  given  by  most  autliorilies.  Some  instructions 
for  the  cultivation  of  Lilies  in  general  are  given, 
the  writer  concluding  thus:  "As  for  these  tender 
Martagons  of  Canada  and  Virginia  they  will  not 
endure  to  stand  abroa<l,  but  must  be  planted  in  the 
richest  and  hottest  earth  that  can  be  gotten,  in 
l>oxes  or  large  pots,  and  set  in  some  cellar  in  the 
winter  where  the}'  may  not  freeze."  Like  many 
other  e.votic  plants  these  Lilies  have  proved  to  be 
hardiei-  than  was  at  first  supposed.    -H.  P. 


MIDST  CHINESE  FORESTS. 

[To   THE   Editor  or   "The  Gabde.v."] 

Sir, — Before  going  to  China  in  1881  1  had  no 
training  in  botany,  and  was  quite  ignorant  of 
gardening.  I  had  always  been  fond  of  walking 
and  of  long,  excursions,  and  cared  little  for 
game.s.  Shooting  has  never  stirred  my  blood.  I 
prefer  to  keep  still  and  listen  to  the  birds  and 
the  drowsy  hum  of  the  bees.  I  love  to  watch 
the  antelope  as  he  lies  asleep  on  the  ledge  of 
the  cliff  far  below,  the  leopard  crawling  in  the 
dusk  over  the  rocks,  and  the  wolf  as  he  trots 
in  the  moonlight  along  the  path  by  the  maize 
field.  I  have  heard  the  lark  sing  high  oxer  the 
grassy  downs  in  South  Formosa,  and  my  heart 
throbbed  in  glee.  Often  seated  on  the  mountain 
top,  gazing  through  the  lattice  made  by  the 
thick  growth  of  the  small  bamboos,  I  saw  far 
off  the  square  fields  of  man  in  the  valley,  and 
wished  that  he  had  never  spoiled  the  planet. 
Yet,  when  in  Yunnan  1  escaped  from  the 
civilised  Chinese  and  reached  the  log  huts  of 
the  Yao  hunters  and  the  villages  of  the  Lolos, 
I  was  glad,  for  these  were  primitive  people  and 
seemed  part  of  the  forest  itself.  So  much  of 
personal  details,  to  explain  how  my  liking  for 
wild  places  naturally  led  to  my  becoming  a 
collector  of  plants. 

After  some  months  in  Shanghai,  I  was 
appointed  in  1882  to  Ichang,  then  the  end 
of  navigation  by  steam  on  the  Yangtze, 
a  port  a  thousand  miles  from  the  sea. 
Opposite  the  town  the  great  river  is 
already  nearly  a  mile  wide,  and  is  beginning 
its  course  in  the  great  plain.    It  has  just  made 


(■//, 


KirilS    SI'. — LARCE   TREE    NEAR    SZEMAO. 
.'  j)/iali>;rrap/i  .y/(rM'\s-  refif  v'fU  l/ir  scanty  Joliatje  oj  many  ft/ the  lat'je  sperien  ttf  r'ici')<  in  Ytnuian. 


its  exit,  a  few  miles  further  up,  from  the 
mountains,  tlii-ough  which  it  cuts  its  way 
and  tumbles  along  in  wild  rapids  or  glides 
through  dark  silent  gorges.  These  mountains 
and  gorges  were  my  playing  ground,  and  1 
began  to  collect  plants  there  in  188").  On  the 
sides  of  the  river  are  countless  glen.s,  often 
narr'jw  as  a  house,  and  witli  vertical  walls,  a 
thousand  feet  or  more,  reaching  to  the  sky. 
Each  ravine  has  some  peculiar  plant,  and  this 
is  the  feature  of  Western  China,  the  astonishing 
richness  of  the  flora  ;  each  new  valley  and 
range  yields  .some  new  species.  When  on  the 
march  I  always  reckoned  on  meeting  a  different 
species  of  liubus  each  ten  miles  of  travel,  and 
was  never  disappointed.  Western  China  is 
the  back  of  the  Himsilayas.  This  great  chain 
presents  its  steep  face  as  a  wall  to  India  ;  its 
sloping  side  descends  by  successive  terraces 
through  Tibet,  Yunnan,  and  Szechuan,  to  sink 
at  Ichang  into  the  great  plain,  which  is  there 
not  a  himdred  feet  above  sea  level.  No  such 
deeply-cut-up  region  exists  elsewhere  on  the 
earth,  hence  the  diversity  of  its  plants,  which 
are  all  the  more  interesting  in  that  most  of 
them  can  be  grown  in  the  open  air  in  Britain. 

I  ought  to  explain  that  my  botanising  began 
accidentally  ;  and  as  I  had  had  no  previous 
training  or  knowledge,  it  was  mainly  successful 
because  I  was  the  first  comer,  a  pioneer 
digger  in  a  glorious  gold-field.  The  first  plant 
which  I  collected  and  dried  was  Clematis 
Henryi  (Oliver),  a  species  with  large  simple 
ovate-acuminate  leaves  and  white  waxen 
flowers,  which  peep  out  of  the  snow  in 
February.  Luck  has  kept  with  me  from  the 
start,  and  many  new  genera  and  hundreds  of 
new  species  have  fallen  to  my  trowel  and 
knife  since  that  day.  If  I  were  asked  what 
were  the 

MOST  BEAUTIFUL   PLANTS  THAT  1  HAVE  SEEN, 

I  should  answer  :  Amongst  trees,  Paulownia 
Fortunei,  which  in  Yunnan   ravishes  the  eye 


with  its  myriads  of  violet  Foxglove  flowers, 
and  the  new  siiecies  or  variety  of  Rhodoleia,  a 
giant  tree  in  the  great  forests  south  of  the  lied 
River.  Yet  there  are  Rhododendron  trees, 
several  species,  which  are  perhaps  more  lovely 
than  the.se.  Of  shrubs  one  may  mention 
Lonirerd  HUch'brandiana^  many  new  Rhodo- 
dendrons and  Azaleas,  //<v  Perni/i.  Of  the 
great  climbers  there  are  Rosa  (jujantea,  the 
wild  forms  of  the  Rosa  Jlanhsiif  and  Ros  i 
indica,  and  a  certain  Forana,  which  covers 
the  barren  rocks  with  a  mass  of  tiowers  shining 
,  with  metallic  bluish-grey  lustre.  I  ]irefer 
amongst  herbs  some  of  the  Cyrtandraceie,  of 
which  there  are  now  perhaps  a  hundred  species 
known  from  China  ;  the.se  have  a  delicate 
j  beauty,  and  recall  the  beautiful  spots  where 
they  grow  under  the  waterfalls  in  the  dark 
recesses  of  the  mountain  forests.  Of  showy 
plants  there  comes  to  my  mind  the  tall 
Gentian  found  in  a  deep  ravine  north  of  the 
gorges,  which  has  been  named  <Tentiana  veuosa. 
It  lias  the  port  of  a  Lily,  is  six  feet  high,  and 
bears  ten  or  more  large  white  flowers  (they 
are  three  inches  in  diameter)  spotted  with  grem. 
Many  useful  plants  are  also  found,  as  Eucommin 
ulmoides,  a  tree  which  has  gutta-percha  in 
.every  part  of  it  ;  break  bark  or  leaf  or  fruit 
and  draw  the  parts  asunder,  they  are  held 
together  by  a  delicate  film  of  .silvery  threads 
of  gutta. 

During  the  years  188.5,  1886,  and  1887  I 
myself  had  scarcely  gone  away  thirty  miles 
in  any  direction  from  Ichang,  as  I  was 
continually  finding  close  at  hand  new  and 
interesting  plants  ;  and,  moreover,  I  had  begun 
to  employ  natives  living  in  the  distant  moun- 
tains, who  collected  for  me.  I  used  to  sail  up 
the  first  gorge  of  the  Yangtze,  landing  at  the 
mouths  of  the  ravines.  The  water  rises  in 
summer,  often  in  two  or  three  days,  sixty  feet  in 
the  wider  part  of  the  river,  and  over  a  hundred 
feet  in  the  narrow  defiles,  burying  many  plants 
in  red  mud.    Under  such  conditions  one  finds 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  4,  1902. 


T 


growing  Myricaria  germanica,  Wendlandia 
Henrjii,  a  dwarf  variety  of  Distylmm  race- 
■mosum:  a  narrow  leaved  form  of  Cinnamonuin 
pendunculntum,  Salix  variegata  (a  willow 
six  inches  or  so  high),  etc.,  all  shrubs  of  no  great 
size  confined  to  the  banks  of  the  great  river. 

By  the  mountain  streams 
there  is  another  special  flora  of  which  Cornus 
paucmeri'is,   a   pretty   Dogwood,   is   represen- 
tative.    These  iluviatile  shrubs  deserve  further 
study. 

On  the  rocky  walls  of  the  gorges  and  glens, 
along  the  ledges  of  the  clift's, 

PpaMULA   .SINENSIS 

is  seen.  This  is  the  only  situation  and  the 
sole  place  where  this  commonly  cultivated 
plant  occurs  in  the  wild  state.  It  grows  where 
there  is  not  a  particle  of  soil  on  the  dry  ledge.s, 
amidst  the  decayed  leaves  of  former  genera- 
tions. Following  the  line  of  these  ledges,  often 
several  hundred  feet  horizontally,  in  January 
there  are  festoons  of  the  plant  in  flower,  scent- 
ing the  ravine  with  the  odour  of  the  primrose. 
Primula  obconica  is  another  ]3lant  which  we 
have  obtained  from  Ichang,  where  it  is  a 
comnnn  weed  growing  by  the  side  of  every 
ditch.  Higher  up,  on  the  grassy  slopes  of  the 
cliffs,  is 

LiLiuM  Henryi, 
which  loves  the  wild  open  heights  and  scorns 
the  shelter  of  the  glens.  1  do  not  know 
whether  to  say  it  with  joy  or  sadness,  but  this 
plant  is  more  glorious  in  cultivation  than  in 
the  wild  state.  On  the  cliti's  it  rarely  grows 
taller  than  three  feet,  bt  aring  one  or  two  flowers 
at  the  most.  What  it  is  in  cultivation  was 
best  seen  last  summer  in  the  Temperate  house 
at  Kew,  where  its  tall  curving  Bamboo-like 
habit  made  it  wonderful  even  amongst  Lilies. 
Lilitini  Brownii  and  its  splendid  variety 
leucanthiuii  always  occurs  in  the  glens,  in 
.shelter  but  not  in  shade.  One  of  the  prettiest 
shi'ubs  in  the  Ichang  glens  is  Itea  iiicifolia, 
which  has  leaves  like  yet  not  the  same  as  the 
common  Holly,  and  racemes  of  white  flowers 
six  inches  long.  On  the  tops  of  the  glens  the 
common  Holly  itself  is  common.  It  is  only 
far  inland  in  the  higher  mountains  that  the 
gem  of  Hollie.=,  Ilex  Pernyi,  is  met  with.  It 
has  prickly  small  leaves,  scarce  three-quarters 
of  an  inch  long,  and  deep  red  berries.  The 
non-prickly  leaved  Hollies  around  Ichang  are 
legion  ;  many  of  them  are  beautiful,  as  they 
excel  in  gloss  of  leaf.  One  of  these.  Ilex 
corallina  (Franchet),  is  used  by  the  poorer 
natives  as  a  substitute  for  tea.    Of 

THE    MANY    FINE    SHRUBS 

in  cultivation  at  home,  China  and  Japan  surely 
supply  the  greater  share,  and  the  history 
of  some  of  these  is  not  at  all  clear.  Many 
species  named  japonica  are  not  known  in  the 
wild  state  in  Japan  ;  but  wore  brought  into 
that  country  from  China.  Apparently  also 
Chinese  gardeners  of  Nankin,  Soochow,  Hang- 
chow,  and  other  great  cities  of  refinement  and 
luxury  must  have  hunted  in  early  days  in  the 
mountains  about  Ichang  for  plants.  It  was 
from  there  that  Primula  sinensis,  Chirao- 
nanthus  fragrans,  Rosa  indica,  the  Banksia 
Rose,  and  the  Chrysanthemum,  to  mention 
only  a  few  ordinary  cultivated  plants,  must 
have  come.  The  wild  forms  of  these  plants 
do  occur  at  Ichang,  and  scarcely  anywhere 
else.  This  town  has  always  been  accessible  to 
the  Chinese  from  a  remote  period.  There  they 
have  ever  kept  watch  on  the  great  river  even 
when  long  ago  the  mountains  were  inhabited 
by  fierce  savages. 

There  are  no  forests  near  to  Ichang.     The 
charcoal-burner    and    the    wood-cutter,   with 


easy  access  to  markets  by  the  river,  have 
left  little  of  the  arborescent  ve.getation,  save 
in  the  depths  of  the  ravines  and  on  the  faces 
of  the  almost  vertical  cliffs  ;  yet  these  kcalities 
have  treasured  for  us  many  interesting  species, 
such  as  Chimonanthus  iiite/is,  an  evergreen 
shrub  of  which  I  never  saw  aught  but  a  single 
specimen  in  an  out-of-the  way  ravine.  Woods, 
however,  are  to  be  seen  at  Ichang.  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  temples  and  villages.  In  the 
wider  glens  there  are  beautiful  copses  of 
Cujjressiis  fiinehris,  a  tree  apparently  to  be 
met  with  wild  only  in  Hupeh.  Through  its 
densely  growing  narrow  stems  and  branches, 
the  Reeves'  phea.sant  with  his  six  foot  tail 
and  heavy  turkey-like  body  .steers  his  way. 
Peacocks  and  ]iheasants  of  all  kinds,  birds  with 
troublesomejy  large  and  long  tails,  (tre  gene- 
rally wont  in  China  to  live  in  the  thickest 
parts  of  the  woods  and  forests.  I  cannot 
refrain  from  alluding  here  to  a  jay,  which 
puzzled  us  at  Ichang  for  several  years.  This 
jay  is  like  the  pin  and  thrum-eyed  Primroses: 
there  is  one  female  form,  a  little  brown  bird 
with  a  short  brown  tail ;  but  she  has  two  mates, 
one  white  with  a  long  white  tail,  the  other 
brown  with  a  long  brown  tail.  Many  were  the 
arguments  as  to  the  number  of  species  of  jay 
here  involved  ;  but  there  was  only  one. 

The  coolies  whom  I  employed  to  collect  in 
the  distant  mountains  brought  me  so  many 
plants  unknown  in  the  immediate  neighbour- 
hood of  Ichang  that  I  made  up  my  mind  to 
take  a  long  trip.  I  obtained  six  months'  leave 
of  absence,  and  from  April  till  October,  1888, 
I  wandered  amongst  the  high  mountains  of 
the  interior,  south-west  and  north-west  of 
Ichang.  I  twice  reached  the  province  of 
Szechwan,  and  returned  eventually  down  the 
hundred  miles  of  wild  scenery  of  the  gorges 
and  i;apids.  I  hardly  enjoyed  this  trip,  which 
only  took  ten  hours  of  actual  sailing  time,  as 
the  river  was  in  high  flood.  I  was  in  a  small 
boat,  with  twenty  of  my  men  and  a  precious 
freight  of  a  dozen  or  more  boxes  of  dried 
plants,  and  I  knew  that  the  slightest  accident, 
a  wrong  turn  of  the  sweep,  might  involve  the 
loss  of  these  Ijoxes. 

This  trip  was  even  to  me  a  revelation, 
especially  in  its  northern  half,  when  I  reached 
the  grand  chain  which  separates  the  Yangtze 
and  the  Han  River  basins.  There  the  moun- 
tains rose  to  10,00(j  feet  altitude,  and  were 
clothed  in  their  upper  parts  (from  7,(Hit)  feet 
to  10,000  feet)  with 

liREAT   («NIFEROrs    KOEESl  S, 

made  up  of  various  species  of  Abiex  and 
Tsm/it.  The  average  height  of  the  trees 
was  two  hundred  feet,  with  trunks  of  about 
four  feet  in  diameter,  straight  as  needles, 
the  upper  branches  often  broken  by  the 
weight  of  the  winter  snows.  In  the  depths 
of  these  forests  scarce  a  ray  of  light  could 
penetrate,  and  there  was  a  thick  growth  of 
small  bamboos,  rendering  progress  impossible. 
Here  and  there  were  great  tracts  covered  by 
huge  Birch  trees,  the  species  being  Betula 
utilis  (Don).  Its  bark  is  distinctly  red,  and 
it  grows  to  an  immense  size.  I  had  a  good 
ojiportunity  of  judi^ing,  as  I  once  came  across 
about  two  acres  of  these  trees,  which  had  been 
blown  down  by  some  tornado  not  long  before. 
Their  great  roots  had  been  torn  up  out  of  the 
ground  by  the  fierce  wind  and  lay  on  the 
ground  like  ships  in  a  dockyard.  Another 
Birch,  Betula  Fargesii,  with  blackish  bark 
occurs  at  high  levels.  The  Birch  of  the  lower 
mountains  has  a  white  bark,  and  is  Betula 
alnoides  (Ham.)  var.  jiyrifolia.  On  the 
summit  of  the  mountains,  at  9,000  feet  to  10,000 
feet,  copses  of  Rose  trees  are  met  with,  often  a 


mile  or  more  long.  I  did  not  .see  these  in  flovcer, 
only  in  fruit,  and  so  missed  a  glorious  sight. 
This  siie.'ies  is  Rosa  sericea  (Lindley).  It  is 
quite  erect,  forming  a  tall  shrub  or  small  tree. 
On  the  grassy  parts  of  the  high  ranges 
numerous  herbs  were  to  be  seen,  turning  the 
mountain  meadows  into  flower  gardens.  I  " 
remember  of  these  the  many  beautiful  Gentians 
and  Swertias  and  the  numerous  species  of 
Saussurea  with  captivating  foliage.  ,SaiissHre(( 
//e/nv// (Hemsley),  which  occurs  on  very  high 
cliffs,  is  pretty  indeed.  In  the  dark  depths  of 
the  coniferous  forests,  which  were  impassable, 
except  where  ravines  made  a  way  and  burns 
glided  down  in  the  shade,  it  was  too  cold  for 
most  flowering  jilants  ;  but  Anilia  lii/iiunati- 
nda,  a  small  herb  with  half  black,  half  red 
fruits,  and  Pubus  Foc/i-eauux  (Kurz),  a 
herbaceous  Bramble,  creeping  like  a  Straw- 
beiry  with  a  few  red  fruits,  thiove  well  along- 
side of  a  pretty  alpine  Fern  Cr>/ji(ogram/iie 
brunoniana. 

Lower  down  the  forests  are  nearly  always 
mixed,  made  up  of  numerous  species  of  trees 
and  intergrouped  with  shrubs,  climbers,  herbs, 
grasses,  ferns,  and  mosses.  In  a  wood  of  two 
or  three  acres  in  extent,  behind  some  village 
in  Yunnan,  one  can  easily  find  more  species 
of  trees  than  occur  in  all  Europe.  Occasionally 
there  are  uniform  forests  at  lower  levels,  made 
up  of  Pinus  densiflora  or  Pinus  massoniana, 
or  of  certain  evergreen  Oaks,  or  in  Yunnan  of 
Alnus  tiepalensis.  These  uniform  forests  are 
never  of  great  extent  and  are  uninteresting  as 
regards  variety  ;  they  are  too  open,  and  the 
sunlight  prevents  the  growth  of  the  many 
shrubs  and  herbs,  which  only  thrive  in  deep 
shade.  In  the  mixed  forests  one  may  find 
anything.    In  open  glades  rather  high  uji 

LlLIUM   GIGANTEDM 

may  be  spied  miles  away  across  the  valley 
with  its  gorgeous  turret  of  flowers.  At  still 
higher  elevations  and  in  eomjilete  shade  in  the 
mountains  to  the  north  I  met  with  noble 
specimens  of  Rheum  oflii-iiiale  (Baillon),  the 
plant  from  which  a  considerable  part  of  the 
Rhubarb  of  commerce  is  obtained.  This  is  a> 
glorious  plant,  having  a  remarkable  rhizome 
three  feet  or  four  feet  long,  with  a  bright  red 
cortex  but  golden-yellow  interiorly.  Lower 
down  in  a  dark  wood  we  discovered,  in  one  spot 
only,  a  few  specimens  of  Dieentra  inacrantha,  a 
plant  much  to  be  desired  in  cultivation.  It  grew 
with  such  plants  as  Podopki/lluin  ivrsipelle 
and  C'lulophj/lliiDi  robust u)ii,  but  these  were 
common  everywhere  in  certain  sites.  In  an 
exceedingly  dark  mountain  forest  in  Fang 
district  in  Hupeh,  at  7,(iiiO  feet  elevation,  I 
found  Dijihiilleiii  ci/uioxa  (Michx.),  an  American 
plant,  astonishing  to  meet  with  in  Central 
China.  In  this  connection,  as  illustrating 
the  peculiarities  of  plant  dist-ibution,  I  may 
state  that  the  Tulip  Tree  (Liriodendrou)  is 
common  wild  in  certain  parts  of  Hupeh. 
Neither  of  these  American  plants  is  met  with 
in  the  intermediate  station  of  Japan. 

It  would  be  ini])ossible  to  name  all  the  trees 
of  the  mixed  forest  ;  many  of  my  .specimens 
are  as  yet  undetermined.  Of  well-known 
genera,  (Jvercus,  Caipiuus,  Pra.ii7iu.i,-And  ^Irer 
have  numerous  species.  There  is  a  new  Beech 
with  five  kinds  of  Linden,  fourof  these  being  new 
.species.  It  was  in  .sandals  made  of  their  bark 
that  1  used  to  do  my  climbing.  Some  of  the 
new  genera  arc  worth  noticing,  e.g.,  Dijiteronia, 
a  very  common  tree,  which  is  the  only  close  : 
ally  of  the  Maple  known  :  it  differs  from  Acer 
in  having  pinnate  leaves  and  fruits  which  are 
winged  all  round  the  margin.  Tetracentrou  is 
very  remarkable  ;  it  has  short  lateral  branches, 
on  which  are  borne  a  leaf  and  an  inflorescence 


January  4,  1902] 


THE    GAKDEN 


of  many  small  flowers.  This  tree  grows  to  an 
enormous  size  and  is  very  widely  distributed 
in  China.  I  discovered  it  in  Hupeh,  and  years 
at'terwardd  found  it  again  south  of  the  lied 
1  liver  close  to  Indo-China,  where  it  is  common 
in  the  forests.  KiAreuttria  Ijijiinnnta  is  another 
striking  tree,  with  great  panicles  of  yellow 
flowers  and  peculiar  capsules.  It  is  also  widely 
sjiread,  as  it  has  been  found  by  me  in  Hupeh, 
l'^)rmosa,  and  Yunnan.  Emmenopti'ri/s  Ilctirjii, 
l)elonging  to  the  Eubiacete,  and  with  leaves 
rather  like  certain  Cinchona  shrubs,  is  a  tree 
with  one  lobe  of  the  caly.x  modified  into  a 
white  bract,  as  m  Mu<s;enda.  This  ]>ersists 
till  the  fruit  is  ripe,  and  serves  not  only  as  an 
attractive  organ  at  the  time  of  flowering,  but 
iis  a  sail  to  waft  the  fruit  through  the  air. 
IliUiinmelU  matlix  is  a  tall  shrub  of  the 
mountains  of  medium  altitude. 

It  is  of  course  impossible  in-a  paper  such  as 
this  to  do  more  than  glance  at  a  fevv  of  the 
iiitei'esting  species  that  hapjien  to  come  into 
one's  head  at  the  moment  of  writing.  This  will 
account  for  the  desultory  nature  of  my  remarks. 
I  will  now  speak  about 


LIllOCEDRnS    MACxiOLEl'IS    (l5TH.    ET 

(A  Conifer  peculiar  to  Yunnan — a  tail  pi/rauiiilal  ti 

The  Wild  Fp.uits 
which  we,  myself  and  my  coolies,  used  to  enjoy 
ontheseexcursions.an  i  whichcoulddoubtlessbe 
improved  by  s -lection  and  crossing.  Everyone 
in  China  and  [ndia  knows  the  very  deceptive 
Strawberry  called  Fra</nri(i  indirn,  which  has  ' 
delicious-looking  red  fruits,  absolutely  without ' 
flavour.  This  species  has  yellow  flowers,  and 
is  always  met  with  in  the  lower  levels,  at  least 
in  the  latitude  of  Ichang.  Hiah  up  in  the 
mountain,s,  both  in  Hupeh  and  Yunnan,  wo 
met  Ffiiiinrid  elntior  (Ehr.),  a  Strawberry  with 
white  flowers  and  whitish  fruit  of  good  flavour. 
It  always  occurs  on  barren  or  grassy  ground 
in  the  open,  often  in  great  ([uantities,  and  1 
never  in  the  forest3  or  on  cliffs.  In  the  dark 
depths  of  the  forests  at  9,000  feet,  north  of 
Ichang,  Frui/an'a  roUinn  (Ehr)  is  seen  with 
liink  eclible  fruit.  I  have  collected  of  Rubus 
jirobably  .sixty  or  seventy'distinct  species  ;  not 
meaning  by  xpccieg  the  trivial  distinction 
which  is  imported  into  the  word  when  British 
Brambles  are  concerned,  but  meaning  really 
different  i)lants  which  no  one  would  unite 
together.  Many  of  these  Brambles  have  fruit 
of  cxi|uisite  flavour  in  the  wild  state.      One 


could  write  a  long  chapter  on  Chinese  Rubi, 
but  I  will  content  myself  here  with  referring 
to  those  remarkable  for  their  fruit. 

It  is  very  curious,  but  1  have  come  across 
amongst  these  many  species  only  one  Bramble 
with  a  positively  disagreeable  taste.  This  is 
liulms  Swinhoci  (Hance).  It  is  a  simple 
leaved  climber,  with  fruit  black  when  ripe 
and  exceedingly  bitter.  There  is  a  variety 
of  Ruhus  rottihfolins  (Smith),  common  in 
the  mountains  of  Ichang,  with  beautiful 
large  white  flowers.  The  fruit,  when  ripe, 
assumes  a  hemispherical  form,  with  the 
centre  quite  hollow,  easily  separating  from  the 
calyx,  and  with  a  most  excellent  flavour. 
Jiu/jiis  (asio>:tih<!s  (Focke)  occurs  on  the  high 
grassy  mountains,  and  bears  fruit  first  white 
and  hairy  but  becoming  pink,  excellent  to  eat, 
in  Hupeh.  I  sent  seeds  of  this  species  to  Kew, 
where  it  flowered  and  fruited  and  prov,  d 
perfectly  hardy.  However  at  Kew  the  carjiels 
were  dry  and  not  fle.shy,  differing  evidently 
from  the  lu.scious  jiroduct  in  the  wild  s'ate. 
This  iilant  is  ornamental,  and  is  figured  in  the 
JJotittu'ca/  Miii/ii:iiie,t.  7426.  Jlalrna  (Truj/dHUs 
(Maxim)  has  large 
conical  red  fruit, 
good  to  eat.  It  is 
common  in  the  moun- 
tains South  of  Ichang 
I!  II  li  II  s  p  e  1 1 II  t  II  >■ 
(Maxim)  is  an  erect 
shrub,  about  four 
feet  high,  with  very 
strange  fruit,  liipe 
they  are  the  size  and 
shape  of  a  man's 
thunili,  and  have  a 
delicate,  somewhat 
acid  flavour.  Of  this 
Hubus  apparently 
very  little  is  known. 
It  was  first  found  in 
Japan,  where  it  is 
very  rare.  I'lilnis 
niiii/i/t.i-  ( Focke)  is 
herliaceous,  creeping 
by  roots,  an  inhabi- 
tant of  the  higher 
mountains,  with  red 
edible  fruit.  Its 
neare.st  of  kin  is  com- 
mon Rubus  saxatilis. 
linbux  jjinii/fiis 
(Cambess)  has  large 
i-ed  fruit,  somewhat 
sour  in  flavour.  A'ii/,iix  niivnx  (\V:ill.)  occurs 
in  several  forms.  The  tri-leaHet  variety  has 
bluish  black  fruit,  not  very  good  to  eat.  The 
five  leaflet  form,  only  met  with  at  a  very 
high  elevation,  has  fruit  of  a  leaden  black 
colour,  extremely  pleasant  in  flavour.  RuIjiik 
/it/pKiyi/nis  (Edgw.)  is  perhaps  a  variety  of 
this  species  ;  it  has  fruit  remarkable  in  colour, 
a  peculiar  drab,  like  the  colour  of  wood-ashes. 
Rulius  pilentuK  (Focke),  a  new  species, 
is  a  large  climber  with  most  peculiar  fruit, 
exactly  the  shai)e  of  a  mushroom.  The  fruit 
is  red  and  good  to  eat 

As  I  am  here  touching  upon  the  subject 
of  Rubi,  I  may  include  the  common  ones  of 
Yunnan.  Everywhere  in  South  China  one 
meets  Ihtlms  molnrdiniis :  it  has  a  variety 
iri  the  high  mountains,  with  somewhat 
differently  shajied  leaves  and  bearing  flowers 
and  fruits  underneath  the  branches,  so  that 
they  are  practically  invisible  to  all  except 
small  animals  and  insects  keeping  close  to  the 
ground.  Ilulius  I'ltijitimx  (Smith)  is  very 
common  in  two  well-marked  lorms  ;  the  forest 
form  has  large,  broadly-ovate,  soft,  acuminate 
leaflets,   and    bears   fruit    scantily  ;    the  form 


HOOK.). 

ee  with  white  bark.) 


of  the  open  barren  dry  plains  and  rocky 
mountains  has  small,  broadly-obcordate,  hard 
leaflets  and  numerous  fruit.  The  fruit  is 
yellow  and  decidedly  agreeable.  If  anyone 
wishes  to  cultivate  a  Raspberry  in  barren,  dry, 
rocky  deserts,  let  him  try  this  obcordnte  fori'n 
of  Yunnan.  I  saw  this  species  in  Ceylon,  and 
there  its  leaflets  were  intermediate  in 
character.  This  species  is  a  very  good  examjile 
of  varieties  which  have  been  develojied  in 
direct  response  to  environment. 

CUER.\NT.S 

were  common  wild  in  the  higher  forests  of 
Hupeh  in  the  northern  mountains,  and  were 
splendid  to  eat.  One  species  akin  to  Jliln'x 
japoniriiiii  has  very  lung  racemes  of  black  fruit, 
I  do  not  wish  to  say  how  long,  but  there  are 
doubtless  specimens  at  Kew  to  see.  This 
shrub  should  be  introduced.  Another  species 
high  up  is  marked  at  Kew  as  being  doubtful 
Rilirs  H/i/iiDii.  Sear  this  localitj'  I  came 
across  a  .solitary  specimen  of  the  common 
Gooseberry.  It  was  sour  enough  to  eat,  but 
the  find  was  very  interesting  and  gave  me  great 
pleasure  at  the  moment ;  it  is  the  most  easterly 
record  for  the  species.  Before,  the  Gooseberry 
was  known  to  extend  as  far  east  as  Cashmere 
only. 

Aftinidin  is  a  genus  little  known  in 
England.  It  has  a  good  many  Chinese 
species,  all  great  climbers,  simulating  the 
Grape  Vine  rather  in  habit  and  appearance, 
and  belonging  to  Ternstroemiace;e  :  the  flowers 
are  snowy  white.  Artinidia  sincnaia  (Planchon) 
lii-oduces  in  the  wild  state  excellent  fruit  about 
the  size  of  a  big  ]>lum,  somewhat  ellipsoidal  in 
form,  with  a  papery  epicarp,  and  full  of  eclible 
pulp  containing  minute  seeds  arranged  in  a 
circle.  This  climber  would  be  perfectly  hardy 
in  this  country,  and  the  fruit  would  be  a  great 
aciiuisition  I  think. 

There  are  a  great  many  othei-  fruits  of  course, 
as  the  various  species  of  Beiithamin,  and  I  was 
almost  going  to  forget  the  wild  sinny  Vitin, 
whicli  has  excellent  fruit  of  a  large  .size,  an(l 
seems  to  me  the  sort  of  ]ilant  that  would  put 
life  and  vigour  into  the  exhausted  common 
\'ine.  I  will,  however,  further  only  mention 
the  curious  J'l/rn.i  Delnnii/i  (Franchet)  ot 
Yunnan.  This  produces  large  fruits,  fairly 
edible,  like  an  apple  in  shape.  Ordinary 
Pyriis  has  two  ovules  in  each  cell,  and  the 
Quince  has  numerous  ovult-s.  This  Yunnan 
species  is  intermediate,  having  four  ovules  ; 
it  is  a  large  tree,  and  its  fruits  are  big  enough 
to  suggest  that  under  cultivation  they  might 
develop  into  something  good  and  new. 

I  shall  conclude  my  leniarks  concerning 
Ichang  with  a  few  notes  about  some  jilants. 

Davidiit,  a  large  tree,  bears  thousands  of 
flowers,  which  are  most  peculiar.  Inside  a 
pair  of  white  bracts,  about  the  size  of  the  hand, 
is  a  head  of  numerous  red  anthered  stamens, 
out  of  which  projects  a  champagne  bottle- 
shaped  gyinecium.  This  tree,  in  full  flowcr,  is  a 
marvellous  sight,  owing  to  the  alternate  white 
and  green,  c.insed  by  these  large  white  bracts 
intermingling  with  the  leaves.  Numerous  seeds 
of  it  have  Lieen  sent  home  by  .Messrs.  Veitch's 
collector,  Mr.  Wil.son,  and  they  are  germinating, 
so  that  we  may  expect  this  new  and  striking 
tree  to  get  into  cultivation  very  soon. 

Ihipi'i-iciim  loiKjisfi/liim  is  an  elegant  shrub, 
with  small  leaves  and  flowers  two  inches 
across. 

Ipisopt/rum  llenri/i,  a  mountain  herb,  is 
pretty,  with  blue  flowers  one  inch  in  diameter. 

Oligoliiitrija  Ilenijyi  is  a  common  Liliaceous 
j)lant  of  the  higher  forests,  with  white  flowers 
in  a  terminal  inflorescence,  thus  ditt'ering  from 
Polygonatum,    which     in    other    resjiects     it 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[January  4,  1902. 


resembles.      The    flowers    are     white,    gamo- 
phyllous  and  hypocrateriform. 

Petrocosmea  sinensis  is  a  lovely  little  Cyr- 
tandraceous  plant  with  violet  flowers  and 
pilose  leaves,  which  cling  closely  to  the  rocks 
on  which  the  plant  grows. 

Abutilon  sinense  is  a  tall  and  striking  shrub, 
with  flowers  two  inches  to  tour  inches  across. 
It  is  of  wide  distribution,  as  it  has  been  found 
not  only  at  Jcbang,  but  in  Yunnan,  south  of 
the  Red  River. 

I  left  Ichang  in  March,  1889,  and  then  spent 
a  few  months  in  Hainan.  I  became  there  very 
ill  with  malaria — the  people  all  around  me, 
including  my  own  servants,  were  djdng  of 
cholera.  I  went  about  as  long  as  I  could,  but 
had  to  lie  down  one  afterooon  when  the  heat 
seemed  greater  than  usual ;  it  was,  as  my  own 
temperature  showed,  104°  I  was  sent  away  to 
Hong  Kong,  and  from  there  went  home  for  a 
time.  I  did  not  collect  much  on  this  account 
in  Hainan  ;  still  there  were  interesting  species 
in  my  collection  from  that  island.  I  much 
regretted  this  illness,  as  I  had  hopes  of  pene- 
trating into  the  mountains  of  the  interior  of  the 
island,  which  are  unexplored  as  yet.  The  island 
has  curious  aboriginal  people,  much  dense 
forest  in  the  mountains,  a  great  number  of  wild 
animals,  and  I  often  wonder  why  yachting 
expeditions  never  explore  it.  After  returning 
to  China  from  my  first  home  leave,  I  spent  some 
time  in  Shanghai ;  but  had  subsequently  two 
years  in  Formosa,  1893  and  1S94.  I  collected 
there  about  2,(X)0  numbers,  and  made  some 
interesting  trips  into  the  mountains  which  are 
inhabited  by  savages  of  Malay  origin.  Never 
shall  I  forget  my  first  sight  there  of  savages — 
one  morning  that  1  visited  the  neutral  ground 
whither  they  came  armed  to  barter  with  the 
Chinese.  They  were  a  band  of  forty,  led  by 
two  chiefs,  the  younger  of  whom  wore  a 
coronet  of  boar's  teeth.  A  few  women  accom- 
panied them,  wild  creatures,  dressed  for  the 
occasion  in  longish  robes.  I  noticed  that  they 
were  tattooed  transversely  across  the  wrists. 
The  men  were  longitudinally  tattooed  on  the 
wrists,  and  wore  only  an  apron  Their  hair 
hung  down  unkempt  in  wild  disorder,  and 
their  rolling  eyes  were  never  steady  for  a 
moment.  Dwarf  in  stature,  they  scarce  looked 
like  human  beings,  and  the  old  Spanish  priest 
of  the  mission,  where  I  had  stayed  the  night 
before,  assured  me  that  for  all  practical 
purposes  they  had  no  souls.  They  warred 
continually  with  the  Chinese  of  the  plain, 
chiefly  to  decorate  their  huts  with  the  skulls 
of  the  latter,  and  no  young  savage  was 
allowed  to  wed  until  he  had  brought  home 
one  skull.  It  was  impossible  for  me  to  enter 
their  territory  here,  and  a  slight  excursion, 
wjiich  I  made  up  a  ravine  for  two  or  three 
miles  into  the  mountains,  wa-s  most  uncom- 
fortable, as  my  Chinese  coolies  were  in  abject 
terror.  I  succeeded  later  in  penetrating  savage 
territory  from  the  South  Cape,  much  to 
the  south  of  the  tribe  just  referred  to.  My 
botanical  collections  in  Formosa  were  fairly 
interesting,  but  I  was  unable  to  touch  the 
higher  mountains,  which  will  yield  a  great  deal 
of  charming  novelties  I  am  sure.  The  flora 
of  these  mountains  should  be  very  like  that  of 
Central  China 

It  was  in  Formosa  that  I  first  made  aci(uaint- 
ance  with 

Mangrove  Sw.vmps, 
and  I  used  to  visit  those  very  insalubrious,  hot, 
steamy  sulphuretted-hydrogen  odorous  places 
about  once  a  month,  in  the  hope  of  finding 
some  novelty,  but  only  succeeded  in  getting  the 
very  interesting  shrub  Myoporurn  hontioides, 
one  species  of  a  small  Australian  and  Pacific 
family.     It  is  a  littoral  shrub,  and  is  rather 


pretty  with  purple  flowers.  The  finest  and 
biggest  tree  in  Formosa  is  Avacin  Bichei, 
which  has  no  true  leaves,  the  enlarged  leaf- 
stalks serving  as  leaves. 

I  have  given  a  popular  account  of  the 
Formosa  Flora  in  the  Kew  Bulletin  for  March 
and  April,  1896  :  and  to  this  I  would  refer  any- 
one interested,  as  nothing  special  about  the 
plants  of  Formosa  has  since  been  published, 
save  my  own  paper  in  the  Transactions  of  the 
Asiatic  Society  of  .Japan,  vol.  xxiv.,  entitled 
"  A  Li.st  of  Plants  from  Formosa."  The  latter 
paper  is  not  very  accessible,  but  it  is  much 
fuller  of  information  than  the  one  in  the  Kew 
Bulletin. 

I  left  Formosa  at  the  end  of  1894,  was  in 
England  all  1895,  and,  returning  to  China 
in  1896,  was  appointed  to  Mengtse  and  Szemao 
successively  in  the  province  of  Yunnan.  I  had 
once  deemed  Ichang  in  Central  China  lonely 
and  out-of-the-way,  but  Szemao  totally  eclipsed 
Ichang  in  these  respects.  It  is  farther  ofl",  I 
imagine,  in  point  of  postal  time  and  facility  of 
getting  stores,  than  any  other  station  on  the 
globe  where  white  men  do  reside.  I  stayed  in 
Yunnan  till  the  end  of  last  year,  and  collected 
with  great  vigour.  I  found  the  native  non- 
Chinese  races  there  full  of  interest.  !My 
plants  from  Yunnan  are  labelled  with  numbers 
running  from  9,i:h:i1  to  1.3,8:26.  I  intend,  I  hope, 
very  shortly  to  publish  some  connected  account 
of  my  experiences,  touching  mainly  on  wild 
plants  and  primitive  people. 

^Meanwhile,  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  few 
notes  on  the  Fl  ra  of  Yunnan,  and  other  things 
incidentall}-,  to  the  Kew  Bulletin  for  1897,  pages 
99  and  407,  1898,  page  289,  and  1899,  page  46. 
ily  greatest  find  in  Vunnan  was  probably  the 
remarkable  new  genus  of  Ferns,  An-hnn- 
qiopteris.  the  sort  of  thing,  I  believe,  that 
concerts  with  the  Myolodon  and  other  dead 
and  gone  fossils  rather  than  with  the  living 
things  of  to-day.  The  tract  of  mountains 
extending  on  either  side  of  the  frontier,  which 
separates  Yunnan  from  Burma  and  Indo-China, 
is  the  richest  in  Ferns  now  known.  Many  of 
these  are  lovely  new  species. 

While  the  mention  of  these  recalls  to  me 
tho.se  wonderful  mountains,  dark  forests, 
ravishing  ravines,  and  those  delightful  people, 
the  Lolo  farmers  and  Yao  hunters,  allow  me  to 
sign  myself,  yours  very  truly 

AuGiSTiSE  Henry. 


THE      FRUIT      GARDEN. 


FRUIT  EVAPORATION  AND 
DRYING. 

UNDER  the  auspices  of  the  I  >evon 
County  Council  a  lecture  was  delivered 
in  Paignton  Public  Hall  recently  by 
Mr.  .lames  Harper,  of  Ebley,  on 
"Fruit  Kvaporalion  and  Drying." 
Mr.  W.  M.  (;.  Singer,  C.C,  presided 
over  a  good  attendance,  and  the  proceedings  were 
most  interesting 

The  Chairman  said  the  question  before  them  was 
a  very  important  one,  as  giving  the  means  to  fruit 
growers  throughout  the  country  of  preserving  their 
produce  when  they  had  not  got  a  ready  market. 
A  few  years  ago,  »  hen  he  was  in  British  Columbia, 
a  fruit  seUing  industry  was  just  started,  and  the 
producers  had  great  difficulty  at  times  in  getting 
rid  of  their  produce,  the  loss  one  year  being  very 
serious,  as  the  middlemen  offered  such  low  prices, 
and  the  railways  asked  such  big  freight,  that  the 
fruit  was  left  to  rot  in  the  orchards  because  they 
could  not  find  an  outlet  for  it.  The  growers 
combined  to  find  means  of  getting  rid  of  the 
produce,  and  the  result  was  that  a  factory  was 
stirtel,  wheru  ever  since  they  had  been  able   (o 


dry  and  evaporate  all  their  fruit  and  made  a  great 
success.  In  many  cases  in  this  country  the  dith- 
culty  would  be  overcome  if  people  were  able  to 
evaporate  and  dry  their  fruit  and  wait  until  such 
time  as  thej-  could  find  a  better  price  for  it.  He 
then  introduced  the  lecturer. 

Mr.  Harper  said  he  had  come  to  tell  them  of  the 
method  of  dealing  with  surplus  produce,  which 
was  not  treated  with  that  amoxint  of  business 
acumen  in  England  as  it  weis  in  other  parts  of  the 
world.  The  County  Council  had  felt  that  something 
might  be  learnt  from  a  wider  knowledge  of  the 
methods  adopted  in  other  parts  of  the  country  for 
dealing  with  fruit.«  and  vegetables,  and  after 
having  appeared  on  several  platforms  in  other  parts 
of  the  country  it  was  his  peculiar  good  fortune  to 
come  and  deliver  a  lecture  here,  than  which  there 
was  no  district  in  Devonshire  or  England  which 
grew  finer  or  better  fruit  and  vegetables.  In  this 
immediate  district  some  of  the  finest  cider  in 
England  was  made.  Few  growers  could  make  a 
living  out  of  Apples,  and  the  wretchedl}'  bad  prices 
that  they  got  in  Devonshire  generally  for  fruit  was 
a  disgrace  to  them  as  business  men.  He  found 
there  was  not  that  amount  of  cla.ssing  of  fruit 
which  should  be  done.  When  he  got  fruit  brought 
to  him  to  be  dried  it  was  a  most  extraordinary 
thing  that  all  the  large,  best  fruit  was  on  the  top 
of  the  basket,  and  the  small  and  bruised  at  the 
bottom.  That  was  a  most  serious  matter,  and  was 
the  reason  whj-  crops  of  fruit  did  not  paj'  as  they 
should.  In  (iloucester  market  he  bought  Apples  at 
less  than  a  halfpennj-  per  pound,  of  all  sorts  and 
sizes.  He  took  them  home  and  classed  them, 
and  before  the  ne.\t  market  sold  them  at  :W.  per 
pound,  because  he  gave  a  written  guarantee  that 
nothing  but  really  sound  and  even  fruit  was  in  the 
basket.  It  was  always  belter  to  send  onl}'  the 
good  fruit  and  keep  the  other  back.  As  to  that 
kept  back,  he  admitted  that  in  the  past  there  was 
a  great  deal  of  difficulty  in  dealing  with  this  side 
of  the  question,  because  in  this  country  there  was 
no  attempt  to  do  anything  in  the  waj'  of  grading. 
At  Covent  Garden  market  American,  Tasmanian, 
French,  and  other  fruit  was  graded  very  correctly, 
because  it  paid  the  foreigner  better  to  send  only 
the  best  to  market  and  to  dry  the  remainder,  and 
tradesmen  supplied  customers  with  these  Apples. 
He  would  show  them  what  Apples  to  pack,  and 
ask  them  as  business  men  to  set  about  making 
better  prices.  During  the  last  twentj*  jears  his  firm 
had  bought  something  like  1.5, (KIO  tons  of  Apples  in 
Devonshire,  and  he  told  them  that  some  of  the 
finest  and  cheapest  Apples  were  sold  in  Devon 
shire.  A  little  more  knowledge  would  enable  them 
to  make  a  better  return  for  the  fruit  they  grew. 

There  was  the  difficulty  of  being  a  long  way 
from  the  markets  and  the  fruit  was  softer  than 
that  in  the  Midlands,  and  consequently  it  did  not 
travel  so  well.  To  dry,  therefore,  was  of  more 
importance  than  to  those  in  the  Midlands,  and  if 
it  paid  them  there  it  would  pa3'  them  in  Devon- 
shire very  much  better.  When  dried  much  of  the 
moisture  of  the  fruit  was  taken  awaj-,  and  this 
made  the  carriage  of  produce  ver^-  much  less.  The 
fruit  grown  in  Devonshire  was,  in  his  opinion, 
superior  to  anything  else  grown  in  England,  and 
if  thej'  were  to  pay  more  attention  to  their 
orchards  than  thej'  did  they  would  be  able  to 
grow  infinitely  much  better  fruit.  All  .Apples 
were  divided  into  three  sorts — the  sweet,  acid, 
and  bitter-sweet,  which  were  good  for  cider.  He 
believed  in  cider  being  made  from  the  very  best 
fruit.  Taking  the  average  of  the  last  ten  years' 
prices  in  Devonshire  were  SI  Is.  per  ton.  .Some  Apples 
were  not  good  for  cider,  and  were  better  kept  out, 
because  the  public  preferred  sweet  and  not  acid 
cider.  In  order  to  dry  a  ton  of  .\pples  at  30s. 
per  ton  thej'  had  to  get  through  the  operation  of 
paring  .ind  coring.  He  had  a  machine  which  was 
capable  of  paring  and  coring  15  cwt.  of  Apples  a 
day.  This  was  supplied  at  f2,  with  10  per  cent, 
on  account  of  increase  of  manufacture,  making 
£•1  4s.  English  firms  would  want  tl.j  for  a  similar 
machine,  but  they  could  get  it  at  the  price  named 
because  over  l,fKK)  were  in  the  hands  of  American 
farmers.  Therefore  it  was  placed  well  within  the 
reach  of  those  who  liked  to  undertake  the  work 
now.      He  would  allow   12s.  a  day  for  labour,  and 


Janvary  4,  1902.] 


THE   GAEDEN. 


4s.  fid.  for  coal  per  ton  of  Apples.  One  ton 
yielded  about  'ij  cwt.  dried  rings,  3i  ewt.  cored 
Apples,  or  3A  cwt.  of  Pippins.  They  were  packed 
usually  in  .lOlb.  boxes,  wliicli  could  be  had  at  say 
Is.  each,  coming  to  05.  in  the  whole.  When  they 
had  done  that  he  assured  them  it  was  all  that  was 
nece8sar3'  in  the  way  of  drying  Apples.  No 
particular  intelligence  was  required  ;  they  had  to 
use  a  certain  amount  of  judgment  in  the  fires.  It 
worked  out  at  30s.  for  the  fruit,  123.  labour, 
45.  coal,  OS.  boxes — £2  lis.,  and  he  sold  all  his 
rings  out  of  some  of  the  commonest  Apples  this 
year  wholesaleat  4Ad.  per  lb.  ;  2-^  cwt.  at  4  jd.  per  lb. 
was  £5  OS.  Some  people  used  lots  of  argument 
against  it. 

One  man  told  him  that  rents  were  too  dear, 
another  that  rates  and  taxes  were  high,  though  he 
did  not  know  what  that  had  to  do  with  it.  He 
had  been  drying  fruit  for  the  last  three  years.  It 
was  a  very  paying  hobby,  and  of  much  advantage 
in  clearing  off  surplus  and  windfalls.  The  answer 
to  the  question  "Where  is  your  market'"  was 
in  Devonshire.  He  had  not  been  to  a  town  in 
Devonshire  yet  but  what  the  grocers  were  selling 
-Apple  rings  and  Pippins  from  America.  He 
undersiood  that  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood 
they  grew  a  large  number  of  Plums,  and  he  had 
bought  them  at  Is.  per  cwt.  In  a  plentiful  season  a 
large  number  of  Plums  were  practically  wasted. 
He  made  an  awful  hash  of  the  first  lot  of  Plums 
he  dried,  but  in  six  weeks  his  wife  dried  enough 
to  pay  for  a  small  evaporator,  as  the\'  did  not  need 
to  buy  foreign  Prunes.  Then  he  bought  a  larger 
one,  and  it  was  now  doing  well,  and  it  they  would 
dry  Plums  he  would  pay  them  a  decent  price  for 
them.  He  made  the  mistake  at  first  of  putting 
Plums  into  the  great  heat  first,  but  now  he  tilled 
them  from  the  top,  where  there  was  the  least  heat, 
and  brought  them  down  to  the  greatest,  and  that 
made  all  the  difference  between  success  and 
failure.  In  Austria  and  Hungary  scores  of 
thousands  of  tons  of  Plums  were  dried  every  year. 
In  France  the  crop  was  over  000,00(1  cwt.,  and  in 
America  they  were  planting  thousands  of  acres  to 
supply  the  English  market.  When  Plums  were  so 
ripe  that  they  were  no  longer  fit  to  travel  thej' 
were  put  into  a  machine  such  as  he  had  on  view, 
and  the  trays  were  gradually  filled  from  the  top 
until  all  were  full.  They  were  turned  about 
several  times,  for  twelve  or  sixteen  hours,  according 
to  the  quality  of  the  Plums.  As  to  the  return,  he 
would  pay  4^d.  per  lb.  for  as  many  good  Plums  as 
they  liked  to  dr}'.  Allowing  the  cost  much  as 
before,  it  worked  out  at  423.  per  cwt. ,  which  was 
better  than  letting  it  waste  on  the  ground.  He 
had  that  morning  paid  Hid.  per  lb.  for  foreign  Plums 
in  Paignton.  Now  he  had  bought  some  Damsons 
in  Ireland  at  .Is.  per  cwt. ,  these  cost  very  little  to 
dry,  and  he  sold  them  to  a  firm  in  Birmingham  for 
4Ja.  per  lb.  These  were  simple  plain  facts,  and 
it  was  time  something  should  be  attempted  in 
Paignton. 

They  had  a  splendid  climate  and  soil  ;  if  they 
had  not  some  of  them  might  be  better  farmers,  tor 
they  would  clean  some  of  the  lichen  off  the  trees, 
manure  them,  and  make  them  look  as  if  they 
belonged  to  business  men.  (Applause. )  He  had 
with  him  samples  of  foreign  Pears,  but  as  tliey  did 
not  grow  Pears  here  he  would  not  discuss  it. 
There  was  already  a  market  for  produce  grown  in 
England,  because  he  had  never  in  any  country 
tasted  better  Apples  and  Plums  than  those  which 
grew  in  his  own  country.  (Applause.)  It  would 
be  asked  if  the  public  said  so.  Why  not  try  to 
supply  the  home  market  in  Devonshire  at  least/ 
From  a  business  point  of  view  this  industry  was  of 
very  great  importance.  If  prices  were  bad  and 
they  could  not  sell  stock  at  a  reasonable  figure 
they  could  bring  it  home,  but  fruit  was  perishable, 
and  the  alternative  was  to  dry  it  and  put  it  on  one 
side  until  the}'  could  get  better  prices. 

The  whole  question  simply  required  one  or  two 
people  to  start  it.  He  did  not  believe  in  a  syndicate, 
because  it  made  it  exclusive.  The  idea  'of  the 
County  Council  was  to  enable  e\ery  farmer  to  make 
a  profit  for  himself,  and  he  would  suggest  that 
they  start  amongst  themselves.  A  clerical  friend  of 
his  had  started  such  a  concern  in  Staffordshire. 
He  called  twenty  men  together  and  formed  a  little 


agricultural  co  -  operative  society.  They  got 
between  them  200  acres  of  fruit  farms,  and  for 
each  acre  taken  up  they  paid  about  £1,  the  result 
biing  that  there  was  ,£200  of  capital,  the  bulk  of 
which  was  not  called,  and  Ihej' could  borrow  money 
at  4  per  cent.,  because  they  were  formally  and 
severally  responsible  fur  the  money.  He  suggested 
that  within  two  years  they  would  pay  off  the  cost 
of  the  machinery  by  working  together.  In  Ireland 
46,000  farmers  were  co-operating  to  make  the  best 
use  of  their  produce,  with  the  result  that  they 
produced  the  finest  butter  and  milk,  and  if  it  was 
done  there  it  could  be  done  in  Devonshiie,  where 
the  soil  was  infinitely  better.     Turning  to 

Dried  Vegetables, 

he  said  Paignton  was  one  of  the  finest  climates  for 
growing   vegetables    in    England.       In    Evesham, 
where    the   climate   was   not   so   good,   men  were 
making  large  fortunes  out  of  small  holdings— one 
was   paid    £3,900   for   the   unexpired    term    of   a 
holding  of  40  acres.   That  day  he  saw  about  twenty 
rows  of  French  Beans  still  standing,  but  a  German 
would  have  gathered  them  when  at  their  highest 
pitch  of    perfection,   and  dried   them,  and    those 
French  Beans  were  selling  at  226s.  per  cwt.  dried. 
The  (ierraans  were  supplying  the  British  Govern- 
ment  with   £20,000  worth   of   dried  vegetables  a 
week  to  go   to   the   troops  in  South   Africa,   and 
English  people  were  supplying  hardly  any,  whereas 
it  could  all  be  supplied  from  Devonshire.   The  same 
drier  who  dried  Plums  would  dry  vegetables,  and 
whether  the}'  liked  it  or  not  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  there  is  a  very  large  increase  in  the  quantity 
of     vegetables     being    eaten.       He     referred     to 
.Julienne  soup,  which  cost  2.UI.    for  less  than   an 
ounce  packet,  and  which  cost  less  than  a  farthing 
to  produce.     There  was  a  demand  for  them  here. 
It  was  made  out  of  unconsidered  trifles,  which  the 
English     pig     got    the 
benefit  of.    Potato  flour, 
which    would    fetch    at 
least  £25  per  ton  whole- 
sale price,  was  made  out 
of      all      the     smallest 
Potatoes,  and   the    lec- 
turer went  on  to  refer 
to  dried  Peas,  for  which 
there  was  an  enormous 
dem.and.      When    he 
coulil  get  it  he  preferred 
a  driid  vegetable  to  a 
fresh  one.      A'egetables 
must  be  dried  when  in 
the  pink  of  perfection, 
and  he  mentioned  that 
he    did    not    eat    meat, 
poultrj',  fish.  Potatoes, 
or  any  starchy  food,  and 
had   enjoj'ed   life   more 
since.     He  looked  upon 
the  question  as  of  the 
very    greatest    import- 
ance   to    Kngland  as   a 
nation,    and    it    was    a 
serious  blot  upon  their 
business    acumen     that 
they  should    feed   their 
soldiers    upon     foreign 
grown    stuff.       He' 
admitted    they    had   to 
buy  Wheat  from  abroad, 
but  vegetables  they 
should    produce   for 
themselves,     and      this 
drying  meant  the  differ- 
ence in  the  case  of  the 
grower   between    profit 
and  loss.     If  it  could  be 
shown  that  a  man  could 
live  a  healthier  life  in 
the  country'  than  in  tlie 
city   this    thing    would 
be     a    great     boon    to 
England.    There  was  no 
better  place  for  getting 
good   men    and    women 
from  than  the  country, 
and   if   they  could  ~get 


people  to  come  back  to  the  country  and  make 
a  decent  honest  livelihood  with  a  few  acres 
of  land  it  would  be  a  great  service  to  them 
and  the  countrj'.  Mr.  Harper  quoted  the  case 
of  a  man  near  Paris  who  made  a  huge  sum 
out  of  three  acres  of  ground  which  was  most 
scientifically  prepared  for  cropping  with  hot 
water  pipes  and  other  heating  apparatus,  and  he 
defied  frost  with  movable  greenhouses.  If  they 
could  make  more  money  out  of  a  small  area  and 
supply  their  own  markets  instead  of  sending  the 
money  out  of  the  country  he  ventured  to  say  that 
the  matter  demanded  most  serious  consideration. 
In  conclusion,  he  would  say  that  he  had  come  across 
a  great  many  men  who  had  got  all  sorts  of  ideas  of 
making  the  world  better  ;  but  some  of  them  had  a 
vision  of  that  time  when  the  world  was  more  or 
less  a  place  of  perpetual  spring,  and  today  it  was 
possible  with  the  advance  of  science  to  be  able  to 
make  Devonshire  practically  a  perpetual  spring. 


THE    AVHITE    AVILLOAV. 

There  are  many  trees  and  shrubs  that  will 
prosper  exceedingly  near  the  banks  of  lakes 
and  streams  provided  they  are  not  planted 
in  the  water.  But,  for  positions  where 
the  roots  have  to  be  partially  or  almost  wholly 
submerged,  there  are  few  so  well  adapted  as 
the  Willow.s.  The  illustration  is  of  one  of  the 
best  of  them— Sali.x  alba  or  the  "  White 
Willow."  The  tree  is  a  comparatively  young 
one,  and  its  branches  have  not  acquired  the 
more  pendant  character  that  comes  with  age. 
P>ut  even  young  specimens,  especially  when 
clothed  with  summer  verdure,  are  amongst  the 
most  beautiful  of  our  native  trees.    The  grey 


S.VI.IX    ALBA    (WHITE    WILLOW)    I'.V    THE    LAKE    AT    KEW. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  4.  VJOJ. 


IN    THK    CUNSEIlVATdRV    AT   RKDI.AXDS,    CLASCdW    (THE    RESfDKXCK    OF    Ml!.     MIRRLEI^). 


uiidersurfaco  of  the  leiivos  gives  a  pcculiaily 
attriietive  lieauty  ti>  the  tree  wlien  its  liranchcs 
aie  swayed  by  wind,  and  the  iiiovintj  shades  of 
its  grey  and  green  foliave  make  it  at  tliose 
times  one  of  the  most  "  living  "  of  garden  trees. 
In  association  with  water  it  is  almost  as 
ett'cctive  as  the  Baliylonian  Willow,  and  there 
is  not  the  same  danger  of  its  being  overplanted 
as  there  is  with  the  letter.  Several  varieties 
are  cultivated,  and  probable  hybrids  between 
this  and  other  species  exist.  One  of  the  best 
varieties  is  Cieruiea  pendula,  which  has  not 
only  a  more  conspicuous  pendulous  growth  but 
the  undersurface  of  the  leaves  is  more  vividly 
glaucous.  At  the  iiresent  time  the  timber  of 
tlie  true  White  Willow  is  of  greit  value  owing 
to  its  com]iarative  scarcity  and  the  demand 
there  is  f(jr  it  in  the  manufacture  of  cricket 
bats,  &c.  W.  J.  Bkan. 


A      SCOTTISH     GARDEN. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  liow  varied  are  the  ways 
in  whicli  the  comparatively  small  acreage  of  land 
around  town  houses  is  managed,  and  tlic  use  to 
which  il  is  put.  Some  have  the  idea  that  a  stretch 
of  green  lawn  is  preferable  to  beds  and  borders  of 
hard}'  flowers,  and  so  arrange  tlieir  garden  to  the 
ahiiost  complete  exilusion  of  the  latter.  Others, 
again,  t;row  hardy  flowers  so  abundantly  that  there 
is  liut  Httle  space  left  for  a  lawn,  and  many  are 
devotc<l  to  the  culture  of  fruits  or  prefer  to  obtain 
their  flowers  from  plants  grown  under  glass  rather 
than  from  out  of  doors.  Perhaps  the  best  method 
of  all,  however,  is  to  endeavour  to  use  one's  ground 
so  as  to  include  something  of  each  of  the  phases  of 
gardening  above  mentioned.  It  undoubtedly  is  the 
most  useful  method,  and  certainly  cannot  be  said 
to  be  the  least  interesting. 

Such  a  garden  is  the  one  at  Redlands,  Kelvin.side, 
(Glasgow,  the  residence  of  Mr.  Mirrlees.  It 
has  also  the  additional  charm  of  a  special  feature, 
as  all  good  gardens  possess,  whether  large  or  small. 
In  this  case  the  feature  may  not  be  J,  one  that 
appeals  to  so  wide  a  circle  of  gardeners  (the  word 
is  used  in  its  widest  sense)  as  do  other  branches  of 
horticulture,  but  in  the  interest  it  gives  to  those 
immediately   concerned    is   second    to   none.     We 


refer  to  the  plants  grown  under  glass.  Ilesides 
the  delightfully  arranged  conservatory  shown  in  the 
accompanying  illustration,  there  are  several  other 
houses  filled  with  bright  hued  Crotons  (several 
of  the  varieties  having  been  raised  by  Mr.  (ieorge 
Russell,  the  head  gardener),  Lapagerias  rosea  and 
alba  growing  as  though  (Masgow  smoke  and  fog 
were  unknown  :  Callicarpa  purpurea,  a  charming 
old  plant  bearing  axillary  bunches  of  violet  berries 
which  succeed  in  conspicuous  flowers,  and  that 
few  visitors  to  Redlands  seem  to  know  :  and  a 
variety  of  other  things. 

We  were  nnich  interested  in  L\copodinni  scario- 
sum,  an  extremely  rare  plant  that  Mr.  Rufsell  has 
succeeded  in  growing  well.  Of  the  Crotons, 
perhaps  the  most  striking  were  Thjnei,  the  leaves 
a  beautiful  blending  of  orange,  green,  ami  red  ; 
RusselUv  (the  result  of  crossing  Disraeli  with  Evan- 
sianus,  and  awarded  a  first-class  certificate  by  the 
Roval  Horticultural  Societ}'  some  years  ago),  a  rich 
yellow  :  and  Russelli,  crimson. 

Orchids  are  not  neglected  at  Redlands  ;  indeed, 
the  collection  of  Odontoglossums  contains  some 
remarkably  fine  specimens.  One  plant  of  (). 
Pescatore  had  eariied  no  less  than  IHd'floweis 
on  one  raceme.  Surely  this  is  a  record  I  Such 
is  a  brief  note  of  a  few  points  of  interest  in  a 
northern  to\\'n  garden,  and  although  others  are  not 
mentioned  it  is  not  because  they  would  be  ditficult 
to  find,  for  one  nn'ght  journey  far  before  discovering 
a  garden  more  brimful  of  tender  plants  worthv  of 
record.  T. 


The  fol 
bearin" 


COLOURED     PLATE. 


PLATE    1259. 


Hower.  In 
synonyms 


COLCHICUMS.* 

K  Meadow  Satfrons  which  are  some- 
times erroneously  termed  autumn 
Crocuses,  form  a  large  genus  of 
hardy  bulbous  plants,  closely  re- 
sembling each  other  in  habit  and 
•the"Inde.x  Kewensis''  1:^0  sjieciesand 
are  enumerated,  of  which  fort.y  are 
ific  rank.      The  various  species  com- 


given  siiei 

*  Prawn  hi/  II .  ir.  Mvon  in  thr  Jit'i/at  (jardcjlfi,  Kr 


posing  this  family  have  a  wide 
geogra|ihical  range,  for  whilst  the 
majority  come  from  Central  and 
Southern  Eurojie,  others  are  found 
in  Northern  Africa,  Persia,  and  the 
Himalayas.  Flowering  in  autumn 
as  most  of  them  do,  and  being 
devoid  of  foliage  at  the  time,  they 
recpiive  a  groundwork  of  grass  or 
iither  dwarf  growing  ]ilants  to  set 
them  oft'  to  advantage  and  save  the 
flowers  from  being  destroyed  by  soil 
s|>lashes  during  heavy  rainfall,  to 
which  they  would  be  sufjcct  in  aljare 
border.  Therefore  they  are  peculiarly 
adapted  for  planting  in  masses  in 
grassy  ]ilaces  near  shrubberies,  in 
the  wild  garden,  or  by  the  margins  of 
(londs  or  streams,  '^riic  soil  should  be 
rich,  fairly  moist,  and  well  drained, 
with  full  exposure  to  the  sun,  thus 
ensuring  a  thorough  ripening  of  the 
corm  during  the  summer.  I'nder 
such  conditions  they  thrive,  and  many 
of  them  increase  rapidly,  soon  foiiil- 
ing  a  cluster  of  cornis  and  ]iroducing 
large  (juantities  of  charming  (lowers. 

In  the  rock  garden  also  they  may 
be  used  for  eft'ect  in  the  autumn  when 
little  else  is  in  Hower,  jilaiited  amongst 
Sedums  and  other  similar  dwarf  grow- 
ing jilants.  Though  the  individual 
flowers  do  not  last  long,  they  are 
produced  in  succession  in  great 
abundance,  extending  the  flowering 
season  over  a  good  length  of  time, 
iage,  which  is  developed  in  early  spring, 
;  with  it  the  seed  vessels,  varies  con- 
siderably in  the  diti'ereiit  species,  the  leaves 
in  some  being  over  1  foot  long  and  4  inches 
broad,  whilst  in  others  they  are  only  a  few 
inches  long  and  very  narrow. 

In  classifying  the  genus  Mr.  Baker  divided 
the  known  si'ccies  into  four  jn-incipal  group.s, 
the  members  of  which  closely  resemble  each 
other. 

Group  I. 
Flowers  are  more  or  less  distinctly  tessellated, 
produced  in  autumn,  whilst  the  leaves  are  not 
developed  till  spring. 

C.  I'arirf/'ifiiiii- — A  very  old  and  well  known 
inhabitant  of  our  gardens,  having  been  culti- 
vated by  Parkinson  in  the  year  Ifi^!).  Flowers 
rose  colour,  chei|uered  with  i)urple  -  violet. 
This  species  is  also  grown  under  the  name 
(_'.  chionense.     Greece. 

C.  I'nrkiiisdn.i  is  closely  allied  to  the  fore- 
going, of  which  it  may  be  a  variety,  and  from 
which  it  diti'ers  by  its  more  undulated  leaves, 
which  are  disjiosed  horizontally  instead  of 
being  sub-erect,  and  its  clearer  colouring  an<l 
more  distinct  tessellation.  Synonyms  of  thi.'- 
jilant  are  C.  Aggripinuni  and  C.  tessellatum. 
Greek  Archipelago,  whence  it  was  introduced 
in  1874. 

C.  Jih'onii-. — A  fairly  vigorous  species,  with 
rose-coloured  slightly  tessellated  floweis  and 
linear  leaves.     South  Europe. 

C  ama/ii'le. — A  handsome  and  rare  jJant, 
very  close  to  C.  variegatum,  with  rose- 
coloured  Howers  faintly  or  not  at  all  tessellated. 
Greece. 

C  Si/it/mr/ui. — This  species,  the  worthy 
suljject  of  the  acconijianying  plate,  is  un- 
doubtedly the  finest  of  all  the  Colchicums 
in  cultivation.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the 
mountains  of  (ireece  and  Macedonia,  ascend- 
ing to  a  height  of  ."),iiOO  feet  above  sea 
level.  Like  C.  variegatum  and  C.  Parkinsoni, 
its  flowers  arc  distinctly  tessellated,  but  the 
segments  of  the  perianth  are  much  broader, 
and  the  leaves  are  not  at  all  undulated.     It  is 


.Tanuarv  -i   10O2  J 


THE    GAKDEN. 


of  comparatively   recent   introduction,  and  is 
still  rare  in  gardens. 

Other  species  belonging  to  this  group  are 
C.  pulchruni, Greece:  C.  lusitanicum,  Portugal ; 
C.  Levieri,  Italy;  and  C.  Tenorii,  Italy. 

gkoui'  n. 

Flowers  large,  not  tessellated,  and  produced 
in  autunni,  whilst  the  loaves  arc  not  developed 
till  spring. 

(_'.  x/ieci(jxuiji.  -This  is  one  of  the  most 
distinct  and  largest  flowered  members  of  the 
genus,  and  is  a  very  beautiful  plant.  In  colour 
the  flowers  vary,  some  being  rose-jiurplc  whilst 
others  have  a  deep  purple  .shade.  It  is  a 
native  of  the  countries  bordering  the  Caucasian 
range  on  the  .south,  extending  thence  into 
Per.sia. 

(_'.  //i/:.initi'iuiin  .v//».  (_'.  httifolintii  liii:^(tntiiiam. 
—  Close  to  the  above,  but  with  broader  leaves 
and  smaller  paler  coloured  fiower.-J.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  vigorous  growers,  with  a  good 
sized  conn.     ]()29.     South  Europe. 

('.  cHicicnin  is  a  form  of  the  foregoing,  from 
which  it  can  scarcely  be  distinguished. 

C.  cniinniHide  is  the  only  representative  of 
the  genus  found  wild  in  Britain,  there  being 
two  forms,  one  the  ordinary  well-known  form, 
with  bright )  airple  long-tubed  flowers  appearing 
in  the  autumn,  and  another  with  longer  and 
narrower  light-coloured  .segments  flowering  in 
spi'ing    called    C.   vernum.      The    leaves    are 
unrow   and   erect,   G   inches   to    1    foot   long. 
Several    varieties   are   cultiva'cd    in   .gardens, 
namely,  C.  a.  album,  C.  a.  atro- 
jiurpurenm,   double    ]iurple   and 
double  white.     Native  of  Central 
and   Western    luirope.     Syn.    C.       ^    .    , 
crocitlorum. 

('.  H(i iis^knet-Iilii  is  a  rare  form 
from  Persia,  with  flowers  at  first 
white,  afterwards  changing  to  a 
deep  purple. 

C.  Deniixnei  is  an  early-flower- 
ing form,  with  pale  rose-coloured 
flowers.    Palestine. 

Other  species  belonging  to  this 
group  are  C.  turcicum,  Constan- 
tinople :  C.  lietum,  Crimea,  Asia 
Elinor,  &.C. ;  C.  persicum,  Persia  ; 
C.  polyanthos,  Transylvania. 

Group  III. 

Flowers  small,  not  tessellated, 
liroduced  in  autumn,  whilst  the 
leaves  are  not  developed  till 
SI  iring. 

(J.  Trvodi. — A  native  of 
Cyprus  ;  it  was  discovered  by 
Kotchy  on  the  mountains  of 
I'rodromum  and  Troodos.  He 
describes  the  flowers  as  being 
]iuri>lish  lilac,  whilst  tho.-e  .shown 
in  the  Bfitiinicul  Mniiir-iiK'  figure 
are  wliite.  It  is  near  C.  neapo- 
litanum,  diflering  only  in  its  more 
robust  habit,  more  numerous 
flowers,  and  broader  leaves,  with 
rounded  tips. 

(.'.  uiiihroifiim. — A  shade-loving 
species  with  violet-purple,  long- 
tubed  flowers,  and  narrow  fleshy 
leaves, also  known  as  C.  arenarium 
var.  umbrosum.     Crimea. 

('.  neapolitawuiii  is  a  small 
growing  plant  with  rose-coloured 
flowers.     South  Europe. 

Other  species  belonging  to 
this  group  are  C.  polyphylluni, 
Asia  Minor ;  C.  parnassicum, 
Greece  ;  C.  corsicum,  Corsica  ; 
C.    alpinum,    Switzerland; 


C.    arenarium,     Hungary  ;     C.     lingulatum, 
Greece. 

Group  IV. 

Flowers  are  not  tessellated,  and  developed 
in  winter  or  spring  at  the  same  time  as  the 
leave  , 

C.  inoiit<ininn.—\  pretty  dwarf  species, 
suitable  for  the  rockery.  It  has  a  wide  distri- 
bution, and  closely  allied  to  it  are  many  forms 
which  have  been  given  specific  rank  by  various 
authors.  The  flowers  are  ])urple  or  nearly 
white,  appearing  in  February  or  M'lreh  ;  syn. 
C.  bulbooodioides  and  C.  crocifolium.  South 
Euro])e,  Orient,  and  Caucasus. 

C.  /vteiiiii  is  the  only  bright  yellow  flowered 
sjiecies  known.  It  is  a  native  of  the  moun- 
tains in  the  e.xtreme  west  of  India,  being 
found  at  an  elevation  of  7,00ti  feet.  Other 
species  are  C.  Steveni,  Orient,  and  C  Szovit.sii, 
Armenia.  \V.  IrviN(;. 


"THE    GARDEN"    ALMANAC. 

We  venture  to  hope  that  the  almanac— jirc- 
sented  as  a  supiilcinent  with  this  issue  of  Thk 
G.VRUEN — of  urany  of  the  most  important 
events  of  \i>Oi  in  the  horticultural  world 
will  be  found  useful  and  interesting  to 
our  readers.  Our  best  thanks  are  due  to 
the  secretaries  of  the  various  institutions 
and  societies  who  have  so  promptly  su]iplied 
us  with  the  information  nece.ssary  to  its 
compilation. 


'Wi^-Vr^ 


KALMIA    LATIFOLIA. 

Few  flowering  shrubs  can  surpass  this  Kalmia 
for  beauty  when  at  the  zenith  of  its  loveliness. 
Each  delicately  fashioned,  cupped  1  ilossom,  of 
which  liuskin  wrote  so  appreciatively,  is  a 
marvel  of  perfect  form,  and  the  large  clusters, 
ranging  in  colour  from  white  to  soft  pink, 
almost  hide  the  shining,  lance-shaped  leafage 
in  their  profusion.  Bushes  from  (i  feet  to  S  feet 
in  height,  standing  in  a  fairly  ojien  position, 
form  a  charming  picture  in  the  month  of  .lune, 
and  retain  their  beauty  for  a  comparatively 
lengthened  period.  While  partial  to  a  peaty 
soil,  such  as  that  in  which  Khododendrons  and 
Azaleas  flourish  best,  the  Kalmia  is  often  to 
be  found  growing  in  healthy  vigour  in  leaf- 
uioulJ  and  loam,  provided  that  the  latter  does 
not  contain  lime.  This  latter  constituent  is 
fatal  to  the  well-being  of  the  Kalmia,  and  the 
attempt  to  cultivate  it  in  a  limestone  .soil  is 
foredoomed  to  failure.  A]:iart  trom  the  beauty 
of  its  flowers,  Kalmia  latifolia  is  valuable  as  an 
evergreen  shrub,  its  foliage  being  distinct  and 
handsome. 

There  is  a  variety  of  K.  latifolia  named 
K.  myrtifolia,  bearing  small  Myrtle  like 
leaves.  K.  latifolia  is  sometimes  grown  in  pots 
and  forced  into  early  bloom,  when  it  forms  an 
attractive  object  in  the  conservatory.  There 
are  several  other  species  of  Kalmia,  or  Moun- 
tain Laurel  as  they  are  termed  in  their  North 
American  home,  but  these  are  far  dwarfer  than 
K.  latifolia,  and  cannot  compare  with  it  for 
decorative  eft'ect.  Kalmias  may 
be  propagated  liy  cuttings  of  the 
young  shoots  placed  under  a 
bell-gla.ss  in  the  spring  or  by 
seed.  S.  W.  Fitzherijki;t. 


t^? 


'm>^:. 


,:•'(;? 


^J>'?t<S,': 


^^mfn 


Sd^.Zl   '  ■    -    ^ 


.^_-'*^-'^'^ 


':^,.^ 


A    liKOUr    or    K.\OII.\    LATiruLI.i. 


KEAV     NOTES. 

Hahknaria  carnea. 
In  March,  18!)."),  a  coloured  plate 
was  given  in  The  (!akden  of 
Habenaria  carnea  and  its  wliite 
variety.  Tliis  beautiful  East  Indian 
Orchid  is  now  flowering  in  the 
Cj'pripedium  house.  The  spikes 
of  delicate  shell-pink  flowers,  with 
long  spurs  of  a  deeper  shade  nf 
red,  rising  from  silver  green  leaves 
mottled  with  white,  do  not  recall 
our  native  Butterfl}'  Orchis  (H. 
bifolia),  and  still  less  the  dingj' 
colouring  of  the  less  frequent  Frog 
Orchis  (H.  viridis),  but  it  belongs 
nevertheless  to  the  same  genus.  It 
is  conspicuous  rather  for  ((ualit\' 
than  (juantity,  though  larger  in 
every  way  than  its  lU'itish  relative.", 
the  individual  flowers  resembling  in 
.size  and  form  those  of  a  Calanthe, 
but  there  is  an  ex(|uisite  daintiness 
about  the  leaf  and  blossom  that 
leads  one  to  jiass  by  more  showy 
species  in  its  favour.  Coming  from 
I'enang,  it  must  be  grown  in  the 
temperature  which  suits  other  Ka.st 
Indian  Orchids,  and  as  it  is  a  tuberous 
rooted  deciduous  species  reijuires 
special  care  during  the  resting 
period,  when  it  is  apt  to  be  over- 
looked. The  tubers  must  on  no 
account  be  allowed  to  shrivel  during 
this  time,  tliough  water  must  be 
given  with  great  judgment.  As  with 
many  other  tubers,  it  has  been 
found  advisable  to  repot  as  soon 
as  the  growth  begins  to  die  down,  so 
that  root  disturbance  later  on  may 
be  avoided,  a  practice  likely  to  come 
into  more  general  use  for  many 
plants  when  its  advantages  have 
once  been  tested  by  experience. 


10 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  4,  1902. 


Ln  TLIA    CRATISSIMA. 

One  of  the  most  notable  shrubs  at 
present  in  flower  in  the  greenhouse 
(No.  i)  is  Luculia  gratissima.  It  is  a 
peculiarity  nf  this  fine  plant  that  it  is 
very  shy  of  flowering  under  ton  much 
root  restriction,  and  is  seldom  satis- 
lactorj' unless  planted  out  in  a  greenhouse 
border  as  it  is  at  Kew.  By  no  means 
new,  it  is  j-et  one  of  those  good  plants 
which  can  never  pass  unnoticed,  bolh  for 
its  large  heads  of  pink  flowers  and  the 
delicious  aromatic  scent  which  belongs  to 
them.  A  delightful  shrub  at  this  season 
for  a  glass  corridor,  where  a  pit  ;^  feel 
square  and  lined  with  flags  or  slate  can 
be  provided  for  its  accommodation.  In 
its  native  haunts  in  the  temperate 
Himalayas  it  grows  into  a  small  tree, 
and  is  scarcely  ever  out  of  flower,  but 
for  English  gardens  its  value  is  largely 
increased  bj'  its  blooming  under  glass 
during  November  and  December,  when 
flowers  are  scarce.  A  buoj'ant  atmosphere 
of  .iO'-"  to  tjl)''  is  essential  to  its  well 
doing  at  this  season. 

Erica  meditekranea  hvbriha,  ; 

A  large  oblong  bed,  immediately  oppo- 
site to  the  Economic  house,  is  filled  with 
this  invaluable    hardy  Heath,   which    is 
iust   coming    into    flower    ami    showing 
colour.     It  is  some  \ears  since  this  seed- 
ling variety — Erica   mediterranea    x    E. 
carnea— was  sent  out   by  Messrs.   Smith 
and     Sons,     Darley     Dale,     Derbyshire, 
from   whom  so  many  of  our  best  garden 
Heaths  have  come,  and  many  who  know 
the  alpine   species    w'ell    are    even    now 
unaci|uainted      with      this      still      more 
desirable  seedling.      K.  hybrida   may  be  describi-d 
as  a  strong  growing    E.   carnea,   which  generally 
comes  into  bloom  at  the  beginning  of  December, 
several  -weeks  in  ad\ance  of  its  parent.     Rather  : 
later   this   year,    it    is   oulj'   now   putting   on    its  ] 
rosy   flush,   but   will   last   in    beauty  for  months, 
through     all     the     worst     of      winter     weather. 
To-day  every  tiny  bell  was  encrusted   with  rime, 
V)ut  cold   and    frost,   snow  and  wind    matter   not. 
It    liolds   on    its   way  without  flinching  whatever 
happcn.s.     K.  carnea,   if   it  lags  behind  now,  will 
last  longer  into  spring.     Both  kinds  are  welcome, 
as  well  as  the  rather  more  delicate  growing  white 
varieties  of  both. 


THE    NEW    WINTEK    I'EAK   i:KNERAL    WAli  HOPE    (SLIOIITLV    KEUUCEl)). 


THE     INDOOR     GARDEN. 

IN    THE    STOVE. 

WITH  the  advent  of  the  New  Year 
every  endeavour  should  be  made 
to  forward,  as  far  as  possible,  all 
cleaning,  potting,  and  propagat- 
ing of  all  plants  in  tliis  depart- 
ment. Light  being  very  important 
in  the  successful  cultivation  of  plants  in  winter  the 
interior  of  the  house  should  be  thoroughly  scnibbed 
and  the  glass  washed  outside. 
C'kotcins. 
Take  oH'  the  tops  of  strong  leading  shoots  of 
plants  not  wanted  for  potting  on,  insert  single- 
in  .3-inch  pots,  using  a  compost  of  three  parts  loam 
and  one  part  consisting  of  leaf  soil,  sand,  and 
charcoal.  Plunge  the  pots  in  fibre  in  the  propa- 
gating case,  never  allowing  the  temperature  inside 
the  case  to  go  lower  than  7.~>'''  1)3-  night  and  Sll^  by 
day.  It  is  advisable  to  tie  up  the  leaves  of  the 
longer  leaved  varieties  loosely.  Ringing  is  another 
method  of  propagation,  and  in  establishments 
where  room  is  limited  and  no  propagating  case 
available  with  the  necessarj'  bottom  heat,  it  is 
preferable  to  the  bell-glasses,  under  which  they  are 
sometimes  rooted.  The  bai'k  should  be  removed 
from  around  the  stem  to  the  width  of  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  at  a  point  where  the  leaves  are  intact.  In 
about  tTiree  weeks'  time  from  the  date  of  removal 
a  slight    swelling    will    bo    noticed    on    the    upper 


edge  of  the  wound  :  then  place  a  mixture  of  cocoa- 
nut  fibre,  leaf  soil,  and  sand,  encasing  the  lot  in 
moss.  Roots  will  be  found  to  appear  in  about  a 
fortnight.  When  strong  enough  take  away  the 
covering  of  moss,  potting  up  the  plants  into 
.3-inch  pots,  and  keeping  close  for  a  few  days. 

Allamandas,  Bougaixvili.eas,  and 
Clerodendro.ns 
required  for  earl}'  flowering  should  now  be  pruned, 
withholding  water  until  signs  of  growth  appear. 
Ixoras  to  flower  in  .June  may  be  cut  back  slightly, 
but  do  not  allow  the  plants  to  get  dry.  The  tem- 
perature for  the  present  month  should  be  0.5"  bj' 
night  and  70"  by  day,  except  in  windy  and  severe 
weather,  when  a  drop  of  .l'^  is  adxisable. 

Plants  required  for  decoration  should  never  be 
taken  direct  to  the  house,  but  should  be  prepared 
for  the  change  by  a  gradual  transfer  to  lower 
temperatures. 

Persian  Cvi  la.meN!> 
in  flower  should  be  kept  well  supplied  with  water, 
and  occasionally  with  liquid  manure.  Flowers, 
when  taken  from  the  corm,  want  to  be  given  a 
smart  pull — if  they  are  cut  the  steins  bleed  and 
exhaust  the  plant. 

As  the  autumn  sowings  become  ready  transfer 
the  seedlings  into  3-inch  pots,  keeping  the  crown 
of  the  corm  free  from  soil.  When  a  succession  of 
flower  is  wanteil  a  sowing  should  be  made  now. 
Dibble  the  seeds  1  inch  apart  and  a  ijuarter  of  an 
inch  deep  in  seed-pans,  firmly  filled  with  loam, 
with  a  liberal  addition  of  leaf  soil  and  sand. 
Cover  the  surface  with  finely-sifted  cocoanut  fibre. 

Bi'LBS  IN  .Store, 
such  as  Begonias,  (Jladioli,  Gloxinias,  ,an<l   Dahlias 
should  be  examined  once  a  fortnight,     t'aladiums 
should  be  given    water  occasionally  or  the   bulbs 
are  apt  to  suffer  from  the  dry  rot. 

.John    Fi.kmino. 
}\'i:j/iam  Park  (larrlfUH,  Sloit'i/i. 


to  (.'aptain  (.'arstairs,  Welford  Park,  Newbury. 
As  our  illustration  shows  this  new_  Pear  may 
be  classed  among  those  of  medium  size,  and  is 
the  outcome  of  crossing  Ne  Plus  INIeuris  and 
Duchesse  d'AngoulOme.  It  reminds  one  of 
Glou  Morceau  in  shape,  and  is  a  Pear  of 
pleasant  flavour.  Those  we  tasted  were  with- 
out grit,  sweet,  but  not  too  much  so,  and 
melting. 


PEAR    GENERAL  AVAUCHOPE. 

There  are  few  good  winter  Pears,  and  there- 
fore we  are  greatly  interested  in  tliis  ne* 
variety,  raised  by  Mr.  Charles  Ross,  gardener 


THE     FLOWER    GARDEN. 

PINK    LORD     LYON    AND 
PINKS    IN    GENERAL. 

IT  is  pleasant  when  we  are  suffering  from 
a  surfeit  of  the  Chrysanthemum  in  late 
autumn  to  find  the  Pink  a  subject  of  notice. 
It  is  a  seasonable  enquiry,  because  the 
autumn  is  the  time  when  Pinks  are  planted' 
out  to  flower  the  following  summer,  and 
there  is  no  more  sweetly  fragrant  subject  grown  in 
the  open. 

I  have  been  on  the  track  of  Pink  Lord  Lyon — 
not  Lord  Lyons—  for  some  time  past,  but  without 
success.  I  put  an  enquiry  for  it  in  one  of  your 
contemporaries,  and  got  plants  sent  to  me  from 
two  or  three  sources,  which  the  senders  supposed 
to  be  the  variety  I  wanted,  but  I  have  grave 
doubts  as  to  their  identitj'.  The  Pink  Lord 
Lyon,  named  after  Mr.  Sutton's  Derby  horse, 
and  not  after  the  famous  Admiral  Lord  Lyons, 
was  raised  in  the  early  sixties  by  the  late 
.James  Clarke,  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  and  on  the 
occasion  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  .Society  holding 
its  first  provincial  exhibition  in  tliat  town  I  called 
upon  Mr.  Clarke,  who  was  a  most  painstaking 
florist,  w  hen  he  informed  me  that  Lord  Lyon  was 
raised  from  one  of  his  '  seedling  Pinks  named 
Oaribaldi.  A  variety  named  Claude  was  the  seed 
parent  of  (iaribaldi,  and  Claude  was  the  ofl^pring 
of  Anne  Boleyn.  The  pollen  parent  was  a  laced 
Pink.  Here,  then,  was  a  line  of  authenticated 
pedigree.  There  was  one  plant  of  Lord  Lj'on  in 
Mr.  Clarke's  garden  which  had  110  buds  upon  it  '. 
Lord  Lyon  in  course  of  time  came  to  be  known  as 


January  4,  1902.J 


THE    GARDEN. 


11 


weakly  in  constitution,  perhaps  the  result  of  over 
propagation.  It  was  an  excellent  forcing  Pink, 
and  I  should  think  there  is  stock  of  it  somewhere 
about  the  country  if  only  it  could  be  traced,  for 
it  would  be  a  pity  if  such  a  tine  varietj'  were 
whoUj'  lost. 

It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  there  are  several 
raisers  of  Pinks  about  the  country  who  are  adding 
to  our  lists  new  and  useful  sorts.  Mr.  B.  Ladhams, 
Shirley,  Southampton,  has  raised  and  is  still  raising 
some  of  his  newer  productions,  which  he  terms 
perpetual-flowering  Pinks,  and  which  appear  to  be 
of  ver3'  strong  growth  ;  they  were  recently  shown 
at  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  Ro}'al  Hortieultliral 
Society.  Mr.  James  Douglas,  of  Great  Bookhani, 
is  also  a  raiser  of  Pinks,  but  he  appears  to  favour 
the  laced  varieties,  and  good  culture  is  needed  to 
bring  out  a  perfect  lacing.  One  of  the  latest  of 
raisers  is  Mr.  H.  Young,  of  Cheshunt,  who  has 
secured  a  few  fine  border  varieties,  though  they 
seem  to  run  on  pale  ground  flowers. 

The  named  laced  Pinks  are  fairly  numerous, 
and  they  are  divided  into  two  groups,  according 
to  the  colour  of  the  lacing  on  the  petal  edges 
whether  red  or  purple.  Some  of  tlie  finest  of  the 
red  laced  flowers  are  Bertha,  Bertram,  Boiard, 
Captivation,  Duke  of  York,  Laura,  Minerva, 
Princess  Louise,  and  Zoe.  The  leading  purple 
laeed  flowers  are  Bessie,  Captain  Kennedy,  Device, 
(ieorge  White,  Harry  Hooper,  Jeanette,  Modesty, 
The  Rector,  and  John  Ball.  .John  Ball,  Modesty, 
and  Mrs.  Dark  are  good  varieties  for  the  border, 
as  they  are  of  dwarf  and  compact  growth,  and 
have  stift' erect  stems.  R.  Dean. 

THE    SPIDERY    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

The  December  show  of  the  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Society  has  justified  its  e.xistence  if  for  no 
other  reason  than  that  of  having  given  prominence 
to  the  spider3' Chrysanthemums.  Varieties  coming 
within  the  description  of  "spidery"  comprise  the 
thread-petalled  sorts,  with  their  pleasing  silken 
thread-like  florets  of  varying  lengths  and  interesting 
colourings,  the  plumed  sorts,  and  otliers  ot  quaint 
and  curious  forms,  with  notched  and  liorned  florets, 
also  others  of  Endive-like  characters.  The  plants 
bloom,  too,  when  the  majority  of  the  giant  Japanese 
blooms  have  long  passed  their  best.  Unfortunately, 
the  growth  of  the  majority  of  catalogued  sorts  is 
not  good,  but  in  most  gardens  plants  nf  a  decora- 
tive character  rarely  receive  sufficient  attention, 
and  this  is  true  of  the  spidery  sorl  s.  Ip  ni^'  own  ease 
plants  have  been  grown  in  quite  a  free  way,  and 
only  in  one  or  two  instances  have  even  been  slightly 
disbudded. 

The  class  provided  for  at  the  National  Chrysan- 
themum Societ}'  Aquarium  show  was  for  "six 
bunches  of  decorative,  spidery,  thread-petalled  or 
plumed  Chrysanthemums  in  not  less  than  three 
varieties.''  I  think  this  is  the  third,  or  it  may  be 
only  the  second,  occasion  in  which  a  competition 
of  the  kind  has  been  attempted,  and  the  display 
made  on  the  last  occasion  was  distinctly  good. 
The  bunches  were  of  good  proportions,  and  the 
varieties  embraced  a  pleasing  variation  of  forms. 
It  has  been  said  that  the  flowers  do  not  stand  well 
in  an  exhibition  of  three  days.  What  could  reason- 
ably be  expected  of  decorative  flowers  exposed  to 
the  heat  of  such  a  building  for  three  davs  ?  On 
the  occasion  referred  to  the  flowers  of  Mrs.  William 
Filkins  were  the  most  frequent:  it  has  bright 
yellow  blossoms,  with  prettily  horned  and  forked 
florets.  King  of  Plumes  is  probably  the  largest 
of  the  type,  this  having  Kndive-like  rich  yellow 
florets.  A  white  form  of  Mrs.  Filkins,  and  sent 
out  two  years  since  as  Cannell's  Favourite,  is  an 
acquisition.  Cheveux  d'Or  is  also  an  effective 
flower  with  narrow  florets  of  good  length,  the 
colour  being  a  rich  golden-3'ellow,  the  plant  in  this 
instance  attaining  a  height  of  about  4  feet. 
Jitsujetui,  a  pink  and  white  thread-petalled 
variet}',  and  White  Jitsujetui,  a  pure  white  sort 
with  very  fine  thread-petals,  which  should  have 
been  described  as  White  Thread,  were  in  the 
leading  stand.  The  last-named  is  said  to  be  a 
seedling  from  .Jitsujetui,  wliich  probablv  accounts 
for  the  name  attached  to  the  exhibit.  Golden 
Faden,  which  is  really  a  large-flowered  single  of 


spidery  form  with  long  narrow  tubular  florets 
opening  out  flat  at  the  ends,  is  unique.  The  colour 
is  a  shade  of  bright  fawn,  tipped  reddish  chestnut. 

A  distinct  flower  is  Golden  Thread,  rather  larger 
than  the  majority,  and  of  a  deep  golden-j'ellow 
colour.  Other  good  sorts  are  Silk  Twist,  tinted 
mauve  on  a  cream  ground  ;  Miss  Harvey,  in  the 
way  of  White  Mrs.  Filkins  when  finished  and 
much  plumed  ;  and  Mrs.  James  Carter,  a  variety 
which  is  also  known  under  the  name  of  Thistle- 
head.  This  sort  should  be  grown  verj'  freely,  in 
which  case  long  sprays  of  elegant  and  refined 
thread-petalled  pale  3-ellow  flowers  which  deepen 
in  colour  towards  the  centre  of  each  bloom  can  be 
obtained.  This  variety  is  one  of  the  strongest 
growing  of  the  spiderj'  sorts.  A  rival  to  the  last- 
named  has  come  into  notice  under  the  name  of 
Little  Jewel.  It  is  dwarf,  and  the  colour,  although 
somewhat  similar  to  that  of  Thistlehead,  is  better. 
A  deep  pink  spidery  sort  should  be  welcomed,  and 
this  we  have  in  Samuel  Caswell.  In  form  it  is  a 
good  companion  to  Mrs.  Filkins,  and  is  distinctly 
pleasing.  Centaurea  is  a  deep  rich  yellow  thread- 
petalled  sort,  the  petals  twisting"  and  curling 
prettily.  (iolden  Shower  was  distributed  two 
years  ago,  but,  strange  to  say,  is  little  seen.  It  is 
the  most  curious  of  the  wnole  of  these  flowers, 
having  very  long  drooping  florets  resembling  silken 
threads.  The  colour  is  deep  golden-yellow,  shading 
oS'  to  chestnut-red  at  the  ends.  The  list  may 
conclude  with  Houppc  Fleuri,  a  curious  mixture 
of  red  and  yellow,  with  thread  petals  :  Heroine,  a 
charming  old  rose-coloured  flower,  shaded  gold  in 
the  centre  and  of  curious  formation  ;  and  Crimson 
Tangle,  a  semi-double  flower,  with  a  crimson  zone 
and  ends  of  petals  a  golden-yellow.  The  two  last 
sorts  are  quite  new. 

Higlujate.  I).  B.  Crane. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


APPLE     THE    HOUBLON. 

Thi.s  fruit  was  raised  by  Mr.  Charles  Ros.s,  and 
received  an  award  of  merit  from  the  fruit  com- 
miitee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
It  re.sulted  from  a  cro.ss  made  between  Cox's 
Orange  Pippin  and  Peasgood's  Nonsuch, 
reminding  one  of  the  former  parent,  especially 
round  the  eye.  It  is  brisk  and  good  in  flavour, 
and  a  good  winter  Apple  in  every  way. 


KITCHEN     GARDEN. 

WITH  the  beginning  of  the  New 
Year  the  work  in  this  depart- 
ment will  have  to  be  proceeded 
with  in  earnest  if  the  best 
results  are  to  be  obtained.  A 
rough  plan  of  the  kitchen 
garden  should  be  made.  This  can  easilj'  be  done 
during  the  long  winter  evenings,  marking  down 
where  each  of  the  principal  crops  are  to  be  grown, 
when  each  plot  maj*  be  separately  treated  to  suit 
their  various  requirements. 

Prepar.vtion  of  the  Grousd 
is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  more  depends  on 
this  than  manj'  people  imagine.  As  most  of  mj- 
readers  are  awave,  I  am  a  strong  advocate  of  deep 
trenching,  and  each  year  I  am  more  fully  con- 
vinced as  to  its  value  ;  conseqiienth'  I  strongly 
advise  a  thorough  S3'Stem  of  Z  feet  trenching,  and 
what  are  termed  old  and  worn  out  gardens  can  be 
iramenselj'  improved  and  quite  new  life  imparted 
into  the  land  113'  bringing  up  the  bottom  to  the 
surface  and  working  in  suitable  ingredients.  I 
much  prefer  trenching  all  heavy  ground  in  the 
New  Year,  but  that  of  a  lighter  textuie  ma3'  be 
worked  any  time  during  winter  l)ut  the  earlier  the 
better. 

R0T.\TI0N'    OF   CrOI'S. 

Except  in  a  very  few  instances  it  is  necessary 
to  change  the  site  each  year,  and  on  no  account 
should  an3-  of  the  Brassica  family  be  allowed  to 
occup3'  the  same  ground  two  years  in  succession. 
.Jerusalem  Artichokes  and  Hor.se-radish  will  do 
quite  well  on  the  same  spot  for  a  number  of  years, 
providing  the  ground  is  trenched  in  the  first 
instance  annuall3-  and  work  in  plentv  of  farm- 
yard manure.  Horse-radish  should  be  allowed 
to  grow  for  two  3'ears  on  the  same  spot  and  treated 
likewise.  If  half  the  bed  is  taken  up  annually, 
selecting  all  the  best  roots  for  use,  which  ma3'  be 
laid  in  ashes  in  some  convenient  spot  for  a  year's 
suppl3',  it  will  save  a  lot  of  time,  besides  damage 
to  the  growing  crops,  and  the  earlier  in  the  year 
this  is  practisjd  the  better.  Kver3'  inducemenl 
should  be  given  to  promote  a  quick  growth,  the 
difference    between    that    which     has    been    well 


THE    NEW    WINTER  APPLE   THE    HUUBLON    (Si.ICUTI.V    KEDfCEn). 


12 


THE    GAKDEJN. 


[January  4,  1902. 


cultivated  and  that  treated  in  a  hapliazard  fashion 
being  moat  apparent.  Onions  are  anotlier  ex- 
ception as  to  change  of  ground.  I  have  found 
no  ill  effects  from  keeping  them  to  the  same  plot 
year  after  year;  indeed,  for  .some  reason  they  seem 
to  appreciate  it. 

fSEKD  Ordkks. 
No  time  should  he  lost  in  making  out  the  list 
for  a  twelve  montlis  supply.  This  cannot  be  done 
in  haste,  and  i.s  another  little  task  which  can  be 
accomplished  by  one's  own  fireside  in  the  evening, 
and  should  prove  an  interesting  and  pleasant 
pastime.  Avoid  collections  offered  Ijy  many  of 
the  seedmen.  I  do  not  for  one  moment  suggest 
that  there  isan3thingbut  good  money's-worth,  but 
sureU' every  gardener  should  be  competent  and  know 
best  the  re((uirements  of  the  establishment  he  is 
responsible  for  supplying.  Do  not  pin  too  much 
faith  on  these  at  the  expense  of  old  and  well-tried 
kinds  ;  nevertheless,  it  is  well  to  try  a  few  of  the 
most  likely  on  a  small  scale.  The  improved 
strains  of  manj'  of  our  vegetables  warrant  one  in 
selecting  these,  the  slight  cost  above  the  ordinary 
stocks  not  Ijeing  worth  consideration.  Always 
bear  in  mind  that  it  is  just  as  much  trouble  to 
cultivate  a  bad  variety  as  a  good  one. 

Prei'arini;   for  Severk   Weather. 

It  is  an  old  saying,  aiid  often  a  true  one,  "tlial  as 
the  days  lengthen  the  cold  strengthens,"  and  it  is 
always  well  to  prepare  for  this.  Winter  Broccoli  : 
Varieties  which  are  expected  to  give  heads  at  this 
season  should  be  examined  frer[uenlly,  and  any 
showing  ought  to  be  well  protected,  as  small  lieads 
of  these  are  much  appreciated  at  this  season. 

Straw  or  long  litter  should  be  placed  round 
(ilobe  Artichokes  whenever  sharp  weather  is 
expected,  but  this  must  be  removed  during  mihl 
open  intervals.  Celery  likewise.  Common  Bracken 
should  be  used  where  plentiful  in  preference  to 
anything  else,  but  it  .should  not  be  allowed  to 
remain  except  when  quite  necessary.  Late  sow- 
ings of  Turnips  have  done  remarkably  well,  but 
all  the  most  forward  bulbs  should  be  pulled  ami 
stored.  Sufhcient  Parsnips  and  Jerusalem  Arti- 
chokes should  be  lifted  for  immediate  use  only,  as 
the  ijuality  of  these  is  mucli  better  when  cooked 
direct  from  the  ground.  K.  Beckett. 

Alilmhnin  ffnii.sf.  (!ariltii.i,  E/ilri-r,  Hfrli. 


KIIUIT  GARDEN. 
I'Ukia'  Melons. 
Seems  for  an  early  crop  should  be  sown  without 
further  dela}'.  A  simple  method  of  tieatment, 
which  answers  well,  is  to  carefully  drain  sufficient 
•2;Vinch  pots,  till  them  with  fine  moist  loam  lightly 
mixed  with  leaf  soil  and  embed  a  seed  in  each. 
The  pots  .should  be  placed  in  a  pit  or  house, 
having  a  night  temperature  of  about  70",  be 
plunged  in  a  warm  bed  eovere<l  with  a  sheet  of 
glass,  and  not  watered  until  the  plants  appear. 
They  should  then  be  replunged  in  a  shallow  tray 
tilled  with  Moss  or  other  similar  material,  and  put 
up(jn  a  shelf  near  the  glass.  By  careful  atten- 
tion to  watering,  daily  syringing,  &c.  the  plants 
will  make  sturdy  progress.  Provision  for  i)lantiiig 
is  best  made  in  a  light  structure  containing  a  bed 
of  properly  prepared  fermenting  material  or  hot- 
water  pipes,  upon  which  a  thoroughly  firm  ridge  of 
compost  formed  of  sound  Inam,  lightly  mixed  with 
soot  and  leaf  soil,  should  be  placed.  (Jnce  the 
plants  liave  well  tilled  their  soil  with  roots  and 
the  ridge  of  compost  is  warmed  through  they 
may  be  planted  at  about  2i  feet  apart,  and  subse- 
(|uenlly  treated  upon  the  single  cordon  princijile. 

I^ATE  \'inekies. 
The  keepiug  of  (Jrapes  hanging  a  lengthened 
time  after  they  are  ripe  upon  Vines  has,  without 
doulit,  a  weakening  effect  upon  tlie  latter,  and  for 
this  and  otlier  obvious  reasons  the  latest  varieties, 
such  as  Lady  Downe's  Seedling,  Alicante,  kc, 
should  now  be  relieved  of  their  bunches,  with  a 
suitable  portion,  for  bottling  purposes,  of  their 
wood  attached,  and  carefully  stored  in  the  usual 
way  in  the  Grape  room.  The  houses  should  be 
then  thrown  open  to  aft'ord  the  Vines  perfect  rest, 
and  the  inside  lioi-ders,  which,  having  been  kept 
tolerably  ilry  for  the  sake  of  the  better  keeping  of 


the  Grapes,  should  be  well  watered.  There  should 
be  no  del.ay  in  pruning  the  Vines,  and  in  doing  su 
each  lateral  should  be  cleanlj'  cut  back  to  two 
prominent  buds.  This  should  be  followed  by 
cleaning  the  woodwork,  &c. ,  of  the  houses  and 
carefully  freeing  the  rods  and  spurs  of  loose  bark, 
at  the  .same  time  avoiding  the  erroneous  system 
sometimes  followed  of  severely  scraping  them. 
Sulisequently  the  Vines  should  be  thoroughly 
washed  to  destroy  red  spider  with  a  tolerably 
strong  solution  of  Gishurst  compound,  used  in  a 
hot  condition,  and  applied  bj'  perfectlj'  saturating 
the  rods,  ■.tc  with  the  aid  of  a  suitable  brush. 
The  top  li  inches  or  so  of  the  borders,  accoi'ding  to 
the  condition  of  the  roots,  should  be  removed  and 
replaced  with  fresh  compost. 

PiNE-.iPPLES. 

To  supply  ripe  fruit  in  .June  a  house  of  (,lueen 
Pines  should  now  be  started  by  raising  the 
night  temperature  from  65"  to  TH'^,  with  an 
increase  of  .'i^'  liy  tire  heat  during  the  day  and  that 
of  the  plunging  material  to  about  S.")*-'.  The  plants 
should  not  be  replunged  unless  for  some  absolutely 
necessary  cau.se,  as  this  cannot  be  done  n(JW  with- 
out considerable  injur}'.  Other  |iresent  wants  will 
be  met  by  keeping  the  soil  moist  liy  periodical 
applications  of  tepid  a)id  weak  liquid  manure 
derived  from  Peruvian  guano  or  some  similar 
fertiliser,  moderately  increasing  the  atmospheric 
moisture  and  slightly  ventilating  the  structure 
when  its  temperature  by  sun  heat  reaches  S(i", 
but  it  ma}'  be  added  that  moislure  In  any  form 
must  be  very  discreetly  given  at  this  early  season. 
In  order  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  nnuh  tiring,  the 
glass  should  be  suitably  covered  at  night  In  severe 
weather.  'I'hos.   Coo.mi'.ek. 

TItt:   lltiiih-r  ij'ardeu^y   Moitnioiif/t. 


OECHIDS. 

Oncidh'm  VARicosi'-M  RocERsii  and  0.  tigrinum 
are  two  handsome  and  showy  Orchids  for  late 
autumn  and  winter,  and  both  are  useful  for 
exhibition.  The  plants  of  O.  varicosum,  though 
small,  produce  large  branching  spikes  of  bloom. 
As  these  are  a  great  strain  upon  them  they  should 
be  removeil  as  .soon  as  possible  after  the  flowers 
have  expanded.  O.  tigrinum  does  not  suffer  so 
much  in  consequence  and  may  be  allowed  to  carry 
the  flowers  for  a  longer  period.  When  the  spikes 
are  taken  from  the  plants  much  less  water  is 
neeiled  until  growth  connneuci's.  ().  tigrlmim 
reciuires  little  to  keep  the  bulbs  plump.  0.  vari- 
cosum thrives  in  the  cool  part  of  the  Cattlcya  house 
or  in  a  shaded  position  in  the  Mexican  house.  It 
needs  less  heat  and  may  be  grown  with  the 
Odontoglossums  for  a  greater  part  of  the  year, 
but  is  benefited  by  more  heat  in  late  autumn  ami 
winter,  the  (^'attleya  or  Mexican  house  then  being 
suitable. 

Oucidium  sphaeelatum  is  a  strong  -  growing, 
free-flowering  species,  that  produces  long  branching 
panicles  of  flowers  in  spring.  This  is  now 
developing  its  new  growth,  and  the  spikes  are  seen 
pushing  up  from  the  base  of  the  bulbs.  Though 
the  plants  must  not  be  kept  too  wet  at  this  season 
a  moderate  supply  of  water  is  needed  to  properly 
develop  the  bulbs  and  flower  spikes.  The  plants 
thrive  well  in  the  Cattleya  house,  and  should  only 
be  repotted  at  long  intervals,  for  they  love  to  creep 
over  the  sides  of  their  receptacle  and  send  torth 
roots  in  the  air  in  abundance.  I),  sarcodes,  (). 
phymatochilum,  0.  bifolium,  O.  sessile,  ().  dlvari- 
catum,  O.  pulchellum,  ().  Carthaglnense,  and 
0.  cavendishlanum  also  thrive  well  in  the  Cattleya 
house. 

Many  species  also  grow  w  ell  in  the  cool  inter- 
mediate house,  such  as  O.  Forbesii,  O.  excavatum, 
O.  crispum,  O.  longipes,  O.  puhes,  O.  went- 
worthianum,  and  O.  LImminghei ;  the  latter  is  best 
grown  on  a  block  of  wood. 

The  cool  house  is  suitable  for  such  species  as 
O.  concolor,  O.  dasystyle,  ().  incurvum,  O.  ser- 
ratum,  O.  loxense,  and  (").  niacranthuni.  As  the 
long  trailing  spikes  of  the  latter  species  are  well 
advanced  they  need  support.  Three  or  four  stakes 
should  be  i)laced  in  the  pot,  and  their  spikes 
traini'd  around  them,  ortlie  flowers  mav  be  .seen  to 


better   advantage   along    the   roof    some   distance 
from  the  glass. 

Galeandras. 

This  group,  though  neither  numerous  nor  showy, 
is  very  interesting  and  distinct,  having  slender, 
erect,  fleshy-jointed  stems,  from  the  tops  of  which 
the  flower  spikes  are  produced  just  alter  growth 
has  finished.  Galeandras  require  a  stove  tempera- 
ture, a  moist  atmosphere,  and  a  plentiful  supply 
of  water  should  be  given  when  groM  ing,  but  when 
resting  less  heat  is  needed,  a  light  position  in  the 
Cattlej'a  house  then  being  suitable,  and  suthcient 
water  onlj'  given  to  prevent  the  stems  Irom 
shrivelling.  They  are  best  cultivated  In  pots,  in  a 
compost  consisting  of  equal  proportions  of  peat 
and  sphagnum  moss.  Being  subject  to  the  attack 
of  red  spider  and  thrip  they  should  be  s}'ringed  on 
bright  days  and  frequently  sponged  with  some 
insecticide. 

tialeandra  devonlana  is  the  one  most  worthy  of 
cultivation  ;  the  flowers  are  white,  pencilled  with 
pink,  .'^  Inches  to  4  Indies  across,  and  produced  in 
pendant  spikes.  This  species  makes  its  growth 
in  autumn  and  winter,  and  should  then  be  in  the 
hottest  part  of  the  stove.  When  growth  has 
fini.shed  place  it  in  the  warm  part  of  the  Cattleya 
house  until  growth  again  commences. 

Odontoolossii.ms. 

Many  of  these  are  now  pushing  up  tlieir  flower 
spikes  where  slugs  are  troublesome.  Cotton  wool 
shouM  be  placed  loosely  and  neatly  round  the  base 
of  the  spike.  Valuable  specimens  shimld  be  stood 
on  inverted  pots  In  pans  of  water,  and  see  that  no 
part  of  the  plant  touches  anything  by  which  slugs 
can  gain  access  to  the  spikes. 

Ciclogyne  cristata  and  its  varieties  are  also 
sending  up  their  spikes,  'i'hese  should  now  have  a 
light  position  in  the  Cattleya  house,  and,  though 
more  water  is  needed,  this  must  by  no  means  be 
carried  to  excess,  as  too  much  moisture  at  the 
root  or  in  the  atmosphere  will  cause  the  spikes 
to  turn  black  and  deea}'. 

F.  W.  TiniR(!ooi). 

/i'o\s/i/;/  UnnJeti-^^  S/ctnifortf  Hill,  X. 


THE  FLOWER  GAHDKN. 

OwiNii  to  the  open  and  comparatively  dry  weather 
experienced  during  the  last  two  or  three  months 
work  in  this  department  has  necessarily  been  much 
advanced.  Borders  and  beds  of  herbacous  peren- 
nials will  in  most  instances  ha\e  long  ago  been 
rearranged  to  improve  upon  last  year's  designs  and 
colour  ett'ects,  and  in  most  cases  the  ground  for 
annuals  and  summer  bediling  plants  will  have  been 
alread}'  manured  and  dug.  Where  there  are  beds 
and  borders  of  the  latter  description  in  a  con- 
spicuous position  their  embellishment,  by  what  is 
known  as  winter  gardening,  is  almost  essential,  and 
for  this  purpose  there  is  nothing  better  than 
shrubs  of  a  dwarf  showy  character  growing  in 
pots,  such  as  Retinospora,  Euonymus,  Hollies, 
Aucuba,  Box,  &c.  When  the  time  arrives  for 
putting  out  the  summer  bedding  plants  these  can 
easily  be  removed.     If  there  are  any  replanting  or 

New  Desicxs 
still  contemplated,  and  not  done  last  September,  it 
is  now  better  to  leave  this  until  the  spring,  but  any 
improvements  in  repairing  edges,  relaying  turf, 
and  making  good  gravel  walks  can  be  done  when- 
ever the  weather  permits.  During  bad  weather, 
when  it  is  impossible  to  be  doing  anything  out  of 
doors,  the  opportunity  should  be  taken  to  look 
over  the  whole  stock  of  bedding  plants,  keeping 
them  clean,  free  from  decaying  leaves,  and  the 
surface  of  the  soil  from  lichen.  Care  shoulcl  be  taken 
that  hardy  and  half-hardy 

Pi.axts  in  Frames 
have  abundance  of  air  when  the  weather  permits 
to  prevent  dampness,  and  a  watch  should  be  main- 
tained for  slugs  and  other  vermin.  Now  is  a  gooil 
time  to  prepare  for  propagating  by  cuttings  and 
seed  sowing.  A  large  quantity  of  light  soil,  with 
plenty  of  leaf-mould,  ought  to  be  sifted  and  placed 
under  cover  to  keep  it  dry,  and  the  boxes,  pans, 
and  pots  prepared  rcaily  for  use.  If  hot  beds  are 
to  be  usrrl  a  quantity  of  fermenting  material,  such 


January  4,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


as  leaves  and  long  stable  litter,  must  be  got 
together  and  well  mixed,  but  where  there  is  a  well 
heated  pit  or  propagating  house  this  is  unneces- 
sar3'.     The 

Propagation 
by  cuttings  of  Heliotrope,  Trop;eolum,  Verbena, 
Ageratuni,  and  such  like  things  can  be  commenced 
as  soon  as  the  house  is  ready.  The  lovely  strain  of 
East  Lothian  Intermediate  Stock,  wliich  emanates 
from  Scotland,  and  is  so  ornamental,  either  as  a 
summer  or  autumn  plant  in  formal  beds  or  in  the 
natural  borders  anti  so  useful  to  cut  from  for  vase 
decoration,  should  be  sown  now.  It  is  often  sown 
in  March,  when  it  comes  into  flower  in  the 
months  of  August  and  September,  but  by  sowing 
it  now  it  commences  to  flower  towards  the  end  of 
May  and  early  June  and  blooms  on  to  September. 
Here  a  large  quantity  is  grown,  more  especiallj-  of 
the  rose-coloured  variety,  which  I  find  the  most 
profuse  and  show}'.  The  purple  one  is  inclined  to 
be  a  shy  bloomer.  Seed  is  sown  lightly  in  boxes 
in  the  middle  of  December  in  gentle  heat.  When 
large  enough  the  seedlings  are  pricked  out  into 
fresh  boxes,  and  when  they  become  crowded  are 
potted  up  into  large  4-inch  pots,  in  which,  when 
they  become  established,  they  are  removed  to  cool 
frames.  By  April  they  are  strong,  hardy,  well- 
rooted  plants,  fit  at  any  time  for  bedding  out 
without  fear  of  check. 

SK  Pagan's,  Cardifl'.        HiicH   A.   Pettkjrew  . 


BEGONIA    IDEALA. 

This  is  an  acquisition  to  the  winter-flowering 
section  of  the  Begonia.  In  these  daj's,  when  there 
is  an  ever-increasing  supply  of  novelties  among 
flowering  plants,  this  is  saying  much,  3-et  not  one 
word  more  than  is  deserving  to  this  latest  addition 
which  Messrs.  Veiteh  have  given  to  the  flower- 
loring  public.  It  is  raised  from  the  well  known 
B.  socotrana  and  a  variety  of  the  tuberous-rooted 
section,  to  which  latter  the  present  novelty  has  a 
great  tendency.  Nothing  so  far  as  we"  could 
momentarily  determine  is  traceable  of  the  large 
fleshy  orbicular  leafage  of  B.  soiotrana  or  even 
of  the  flowers.  In  truth,  all  the  influence  apparent 
on  the  surface  and  to  the  casual  observer  is  in  the 
winter  flowering ;  and  here,  indeed,  centres  all 
the  merit  of  the  new  comer.  When  the  latest 
tuberous-rooted  varieties  are  over  then  is  B.  Ideala 
expanding  its  brilliant  rose-carmine  flowers.  The 
flowers  are  large  and  semi-double.  Like  that 
small-flowered  kind  Mrs.  .John  Heal,  that  was  one 
of  the  earliest  of  a  similar  cross,  the  flowers  of  the 
present  novelty  never  fall  away  but  perish  on  the 
plant.  The  plants  are  about  ti  inches  high,  and 
very  freely  flowered.  Messrs.  Veiteh  and  Sons, 
Limited,  Royal  Exotic  Nurseries,  Chelsea,  were 
the  exhibitors  of  it  on  November  20,  and  given  an 
award  of  merit. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not   respomihle  for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  J 

HARDINESS    OF    CERTAIN 
SHRUBS. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden. '"J 

SIR,— In  The  Garden  of  December  14  I  saw 
some  notes  by  "Nemo"  on  tlie  above 
subject,  in  which  he  mentions  a  Camellia 
withstanding  a  temperature  of  17°  but 
succumbing  to  one  of  ;r  Fahrenheit, 
but  he  does  not  say  whether  this  was  the 
temperature  registered  in  the  orthodox  "screen' 
or  on  the  ground  exposed  to  the  sky.  Temperatures 
ai-e  absolutely  valueless  for  comparison  unless  this 
is  stated,  as  one  of  I"'-"'  in  the  screen  may  fre- 
quently mean  one  of  zero  if  exposed  to  a  cloudless 
sky.  Many  persons  seem  surprised  to  learn  that  in 
Dorset,  within  a  mile  or  so  from  the  sea,  we  had  a 
temperature'  of  a  fraction  below  zero  on  one 
occasion  last  Januarj',  though,  if  my  memory  is 
correct,  the  screen  temperature  did  not  fall  below 


\'>"    or    thereabout    on 
the  night  in  question. 

It  is  this  ambiguity 
in  recording  meteoro- 
logiealobservations  that 
makes  the  experience  of 
different  gardeners 
appear  so  contradictory. 
The  night  in  question 
had  hardlj'  any  effect 
on  vegetation,  the 
Camellias  in  the  open 
not  showing  damage  to 
a  single  leaf,  though  the 
Benthamia  fragifera 
was  slightly  cut.  With 
regard  to  the  latter 
shrub  my  experience  is 
very  different  from  that 
of  "Nemo,"  as  during 
the  past  thirty  years 
I  have  had  it  several 
times  destroyed  to  the 
ground  by  hard  winters, 
when  the  Laurustinus 
was  scarcely  hurt.  Of 
course  there  is  no  defi- 
nite minimum  of  tem- 
perature which  any  par- 
ticularplant  can  endure, 
as  much  depends  upon 
(1)  the  soil,  {■>)  the 
amount  of  humidity 
both  in  the  soil  and  in 
the  atmosphere,  (3) 
whether  the  plant  is 
exposed  to  the  early 
raj's  of  the  sun  wliile 
yet  frozen,  (4)  wbethei 
it  is  e  X  p  fi  s  e  d  to 
draughts,  and  to  a 
minor  extent  on  other 
conditions  under  which 
it  is  grown.  Then  the 
duration  of  a  frost  is  a 
most  serious  item  in 
damage    to    vegetation, 

even  in  the  case  of  shrubs,  but  still  more  in  that 
of  bulbs  and  other  dormant  roots  of  herbaceous 
plants.  In  one  long  continued  frost  — I  think  it 
was  in  ISSO— I  lost  large  numbers  of  (iladioli  and 
other  bulbs  «hich  had  never  been  aftected  by 
frost  before,  but  in  this  case  the  frost  continued 
so  long  that  it  had  reached  3(1  inches  under 
ground  before  it  finally  broke  up. 

About  the  same  time  I  remember  seeing  many 
Bay  trees  in  Bournemouth  killed  nearly  or  quite  to 
the  ground,  but  of  this  Laurus  nobilis  there  are 
many  varieties  from  the  stiff  and  leathery-foliaged 
type  which  is  most  commonly  met  with  to  the 
rank-growing  and  more  sappj'  -  foliaged  type 
represented  by  the  L.  n.  var.  undulatus,  and 
these  different  types  are  variously  affected  bj'  tem- 
perature. Even  Cupressus  macrocarpa,  which 
"Nemo"  mentions,  I  have  seen  damaged  by  frost, 
though  not  in  mj'  own  garden,  and  C.  sempervirens 
has  several  times  been  seriously  cut,  generally  by 
snow  freezing  among  the  foliage.  There  are  two 
trees  more  or  less  allied  to  the  Bay,  but  more 
delicate,  which  here  at  least  I  should  rank  as 
about  of  the  same  hardiness  as  Benthamia  fragifera, 
namely,  the  Camphor  tree,  Laurus  Camphora,  and 
the  Oreodaphne,  or  as  it  is  sometimes  called 
Laurus  regalis.  They  are  both  pungent  and 
rather  pleasant  in  perfume,  but  the  latter  is  some- 
what dangerous,  as  if  smelt  continuousl}'  for  a 
minute  or  two  it  causes  very  severe  pain  at  the 
base  of  the  skull,  and  is  said  even  to  cause  insensi- 
bility, after  the  manner  of  chloroform. 

"Nemo"  further  mentions  Cacti  as  having  with- 
stood 2o°  of  frost,  but  he  does  not  tell  us  to  what 
species  he  alludes.  Some,  like  Opuntia  Rafinesquii, 
are  extremely  hardj-  ;  in  fact,  I  have  never  lost  a 
plant  of  that  species  from  frost  for  thirty  years, 
but  most  of  the  Cacti  will  not  even  stand  an 
ordinary  winter  in  the  open.  If  the  Aloe  to 
which  he  also  refers  is  the  common  American 
Agave,  I  have  seen  it  almost  invariably  killed  in 
this  country  in  an  ordinary  winter,  if  standing  in 


the   .S'EW    1!Kc:ONIA    idkala. 

I  the  open  and  upright,  but    if  turned  on  its  side  or 

I  nearly  upside  down,  as  it  niaj'  be  when  planted  in 

I  the   side   of   a   perpendicular   clifl',    it    is    usually 

unhurt  bj'  frost  or  snow,  as  snow  and  rain  cannot 

gather  between  tlie  leaves  and  freeze  there,  as  is 

the  case  in  its  natural  position. 

Parkstone,  Dorset.  H.  R.  Du(iM0RE. 

HYDKANCiEAS  IN   THE  GARDEN. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — The  beautiful  illustration  on  page  41." 
(vol.  Ix.),  showing  how  Hydrangeas  grow  in  South 
Africa,  reminds  me  that  an  etteot  somewhat  similar 
might  be  obtained  at  home  by  growing  these  showy 
plants  in  large  quantities.  I  am  induced  to  think 
so  by  the  way  in  which  solitar}'  specimens  grow 
and  flower  year  after  year  in  certain  gardens  with 
little  attention.  Last  summer  I  observed  a  large 
plant  of  Hydrangea  Hortensia  growing  in  a  border 
underneath  a  cottage  window  and  covered  with 
large  trusses  of  bloom.  The  owner  was  not  sure 
how  long  it  had  been  there,  but  for  many  years. 
The  onl}'  attention  given  is  to  cut  away  the  dead 
shoots  and  scatter  a  little  manure  round  the  roots 
in  the  winter.  If  one  plant  will  do  so  much  one 
can  easily  imagine  the  effect  of  an  entire  border  of 
them.  H. 


NOTES    FROM    CALIFORNIA. 

LippiA  REPENS. — A  Carpeting  Plant. 
Something  that  will  carpet  the  ground  quickly, 
that  will  make  a  thick  matting  very  pleasant  to 
walk  over  and  roll  upon,  that  will  keep  green 
winter  and  summer,  and  that  will  need  very  little 
watering  to  keep  in  good  shape  :  this  is  Lippia 
repens.  Is  it  a  grass?  No,  it  is  a  trailing  perennial, 
which  does  not  die  in  patches,  like  some  of  the 
Mesembryanthemums  do,  but  grows  thicker  and 
thicker  as  it  becomes  older.  Will  it  become  a 
pest,  like  the  Bermuda  grass  ?     No,  because  it  has 


14 


THE   GARDEN. 


Manuary  4,  1902. 


no  underground  runners,  but  runs  only  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  ;  the  rootlets  that  start  from 
every  joint  go  down  perpendicularly,  but  have  no 
reproductive  buds  themselves  ;  consequently,  a^ 
spade  inserted  a  few  inches  under  the  surface  of 
the  ground  will  take  up  the  whole  massif  needed. 
Will  Lippia  need  mowing'.'  Yes,  and  no  :  that  is, 
it  can  very  well  do  without  mowing,  as  it  will 
never  grow  over  (J  inches  high  :  but,  if  it  is  not 
much  walked  over,  and  if  you  want  a  very  even 
surface,  mowing  and  rolling  will  improve  its  looks. 
Will  it  grow  in  the  shade  and  under  trees  and 
shrubs ':  Yes  ;  but  not  quite  as  compact  and  dense 
as  it  will  do  in  the  sun.  Will  it  stand  frost? 
1(1'-'  Fahr.  will  not  hurt  it.  This  is  sutticient 
abiiut  Lijipia  I'epens,  though  if  you  want  to  know 
how  ii  has  behaved  on  this  coast,  it  car.  be  stated 
that  at  Coronado  lieach  it  has  proved  a  great 
success  for  golf  links  and  other  purposes.  ( )n  the 
opposite  side  of  the  . continent,  at  Riverton,  New 
Jersey,  where  the  Henrj'  A.  iJreer  Nurseries  are 
located,  Lippia  has  proved  to  be  the  verj'  best 
plant  to  stand  the  heavy  tread  of  the  Sunday 
crowds  attracted  there  by  the  dazzling  beauty 
(if  tlie  water  lilies. 

A  Cai'it.m.  Pi,.\nt  I'oK  Hkdce.s. 

Visitors  at  Santa  Barbara  arc  always  admiring 
the  silvery  grey,  neat-looking  hedges,  which  are  to 
be  seen  in  various  part  of  town.  They  are  made 
with  a  native  plant,  Atriplex  I5reweri.  which  grows 
on  our  coast,  from  Point  Conception  southwards, 
and  is  now  popularly  known  as  the  "Santa  Barbara 
Salt  Bush."  Hedges  can  be  made  with  it  from  1  foot 
to  ti  feet  high,  and  even  more,  if  properly  trained, 
and  their  neutral  colour  forms  the  very  best  back- 
ground for  flowering  plants  of  anj'  description. 
From  the  location  where  it  naturally  grows  it  is 
easily  understood  that  this  "  Salt  Bush  "  is  hardy, 
and  tough  as  tough  can  be.  Moreover,  it  presents 
the  advantages  that  it  can  he  grown  without  any 
w  ater,  at  least  right  on  the  coast  where  fogs  are 
frequent  during  summer,  that  it  is  nut  atleetcd  by 
parasites  of  any  kind,  and  that  horses  and  cattle 
will  not  tcmch  it.  Like  other  hedge  plants  it  will 
need  clipping  quite  often  during  the  growing  season. 
Althougli  growing  so  quickly,  it  will  never  die  off' 
and  leave  unsightly  gaps,  as  is  often  the  ease  with 
the  Montere}'  Cypress.  In  ever}'  respect  it  is  well 
worth  recommending  for  this  special  purpose,  and 
for  all  places  where  a  grey  effect  in  masses  is 
needed.  —  Caiiforiiia  I'lorieullurisl. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 

AZALEA     CITLTUKE     AT     MESSKS. 
SANDEirS    BELGIAN    NUKSERY. 

Cr  L  E  more  than  a  stone's  throw  from 
the  Porte  Marechal,  one  of  the  pic- 
turesque Flemish  gateways  yet  remain- 
ing to  the  ancient  town  of  Bruges, 
Messrs.  Sanders,  of  St.  Albans,  have 
established  a  foreign  branch  of  their 
well  -  known  nurseries.  Horticultural  gardens 
abroad  present  some  features  which  are  very 
distinct  from  those  in  England.  One  cannot 
but  be  impressed  Ijy  the  enormous  number  of 
Bay  trees  under  cultivation,  both  in  the  open 
ground  and  in  tubs.  The  latter  are  cut  and 
trimmed,  some  into  pyramids,  some,  more  popular 
still,  into  rounded  heads,  and  these  formal  trees 
are  in  great  vogue  on  the  Continent  for  public 
buiUlings,  quadrangles,  and  courtyards,  as  well  as 
for  private  gardens,  from  which  we  ma,\'  conclude 
that  the  demand  creates  what  appears,  at  first 
sight,  to  be  an  inexhaustible  supply. 

In  October,  when  eiur  visit  was  paid,  the  special 
business  of  the  hour  was  the  lifting,  housing,  and 
packing  of  Azali'as  of  all  kinds.  Azalea  culture  on 
a  large  scale  is  scarcely  attempted  in  England, 
almost  all  the  plants  which  flower  with  us  having 
been  originally  grown  in  Belgium  and  imported.  It 
was  extremely  interesting,  therefore,  to  be  per- 
mitted to  see  the  process,  from  first  to  last,  of  the 
system  of  cultivation  there  adopted.  To  begin  at 
the    beginning  —  when    the    growing    plants    are 


pruned — every  available  cutting  is  secured,  and 
these  strike  readily  in  the  propagating  frames. 
The  cuttings  are  mostly  taken  fiom  varieties  of  A. 
indica,  which  is  found  to  answer  well  as  a  stuck 
for  grafting  upon,  thougli  the  hardier  A.  pontica  is 
also  largely  used.  Probably'  the  raising  of  seedlings 
for  the  same  purpose  is  not  neglected,  but  cuttings 
seem  to  be  preferred.  When  thoroughly  rooted 
and  strong  enough,  the  grafting,  which  is  to  form 
the  foundation  of  the  future  standard,  is  proceeded 
with.  Grafting  is  a  simple  matter  to  the  expert, 
but  it  requires  some  practice  to  perf(jrm  the 
operation  deftly  and  well.  The  cutting  is  first  of 
all  beheaded,  then  the  top  is  cleft  with  a  sharp 
knife,  and  the  scinn,  with  its  wedge-shaped  end,  is 
neatlj'  inserted,  and,  lastly,  it  is  gently  yet  firmly 
bound  in  position  .so  that  it  shall  not  slip.  The 
plants  thus  worked  are  returned  to  the  propagating 
house  until  the  union  is  effected,  when  the}'  are 
gradually  hardened  otf. 

Another  plan  is  to  allow  the  cuttings  to  grow  on 
their  own  roots,  in  wliich  case  they  are  well 
pinched  back  and  encouraged  to  break  low  down 
into  many  shoots.  These  form,  in  due  time,  dwarf 
spreading  plants,  which  are  espcciall}'  suitable  for 
baskets  or  jardinieres.  During  winter  the  plants 
are  grown  under  glass,  but  the  summer  culture  is 
entirely  in  the  open  air,  and  the  compact  little 
bushes  are  planted  out  ever}'  .season  in  well- 
prepared  beds,  where  the}'  take  up  womlerfully 
small  space  and  look  the  picture  of  health.  When 
late  autumn  arrives  they  are  lifted,  with  little 
disturbance  of  the  close  firm  balls  of  roots  to  which 
the  sandy  soil  clings,  and  those  which  are  too 
small  or  are  not  required  as  yet  for  export  or  sale, 
are  placed  closely  together  on  shallow  benches  in 
cool  glass  houses  and  packed  in  with  fresh  soil. 
Here  they  remain,  growing  slowly,  \nitil  the 
planting  season  comes  round  once  more.  I  he  rest 
are  carried  to  the  sheds,  roofed  in -in  many  cases 
with  the  wooden  blinds  so  much  in  use  abroad^ 
and  are  tliere  packed  into  the  ventilated  wooden 
cases  in  which  they  are  to  be  despatclied  to  their 
several  destinatinns.  'J'he  good  results  of  this  open 
air  culture  and  yearly  transplanting  are  clearly 
manifest  in  the  uniform  compactness  and  vigorous 
growth  of  the  entire  output  of  Azaleas,  every 
nurture  plant  being,  at  this  season,  set  with  flower 
buds  on  each  little  branchlet. 

It  is  evident  that  three  years'  culture  at  least 
goes  to  the  making  of  each  saleable  plant.  In 
Messrs.  Sander's  nursery  Azaleas  of  all  ages  may 
be  seen,  from  newly  struck  and  grafted  cuttings  to 
veteran  specimens  in  perfect  health  and  promise  of 
flower,  with  stems. as  thick  as  a  man's  wrist,  which 
were  pointed  out  as  being  no  less  than  forty  years 
old.  There  is  absolutely  no  mystery  in  the  growing 
of  Azaleas,  nor  any  reason  why  they  should  lie 
kept  starving  in  pots,  as  they  often  are  in  oi'(.linary 
gardens,  when  room  can  be  found  for  summer 
planting-out:  but  successful  cultivation  is  assuredly 
a  question  of  constant  care  and  attention.  These 
old  Belgian  towns  certainly  possess  one  advantage 
denied  to  most  English  gardens.  They  are  inter- 
sected by  canals,  which  supply  plentiful  irrigation 
without  difficulty  and  with  little  expense,  when- 
ever and  v\herever  water  may  be  needed  for 
growing  crops.  Rhododendrons  are  grown  on  very 
much  the  same  system,  and  a  white  variety  named 
Winter  Cheer  should  be  noted  on  account  of  its 
very  early  flowering. 

A  great  number  of  fruiting  Orange  trees,  chiefly 
used  as  room  and  window  plants,  and  of  the  New 
Holland  shrubs  are  to  be  found  in  this  admirably- 
appointed  nursery.  Acacias  of  many  species  were 
coming  into  bloom,  amongst  them  A.  riceana  and 
A.  vertieillata  ;  and  other  large-growing  kinds  in 
pots  or  small  tubs  of  unusually  moderate  size,  and 
looking  very  flourishing.  Boronia,  Chorozema, 
Sollya,  and  Polygala,  with  several  more  of  the 
Australasian  genera  were  worthily  represented, 
and  it  was  good  to  find  that  a  speciality  was  made 
of  single  and  semi  -  double  Camellias.  Such 
interesting  and  beautiful  species  as  the  Chine.se  C. 
reticulata  and  the  Japanese  C.  Sasanqua  in  its  pink 
and  white  forms  are  not  always  easy  to  obtain. 

A  number  of  houses  were  devoted  to  Palms-  and 
foliage  plants  ;  and  last,  but  not  least,  Orchids 
occupied    a    large    proportion   of    the    120    glass 


structures  belonging  to  the  establishment,  which 
will  amply  repay  a  visit  from  a  plant  lover  in 
search  of  rare  an<l  well-grown  specimens  of  many 
distinct  groups.  K.  L.  1). 


BOOKS. 


The  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society.— The  twenty  -sixth  volume 
of  the  .fournal,  parts  2  and  .'),  is  an  excellent  pro- 
duction, and  everyone  interested  in  horticulture 
should  purchase  it,  or,  better  still,  liecome  a  sub- 
scriber to  the  society  in  tlie  New  >'ear.  A  few  of 
the  papers  we  hope  to  reproduce  in  Thk  (J.arden, 
and  we  cannot  do  more  now  than  refer  to  the 
contents,  which  include,  besides  reports  of  the 
fortnightly  meetings  in  the  Drill  Hall,  a  complete 
report,  with  papers,  of  the  Lily  conference  hehl  in 
the  Chiswick  (iardens  last  July,  and  the  lectures 
at  Chiswick  by  the  Rev.  Professor  (J.  Henslow, 
]\LA.,  V.M.H  Colonel  Wheatley'.s  lecture  upon 
"The  Riiyal  Parks"  is  interesting,  and  of  the 
utmost  importance  is  the  late  Rev.  H.  Ewhank's 
"Oncocyclus  Irises."  The  editor  of  the  Journal, 
the  Rev.  W.  Witks,  makes  tlie  follo\\ing  reference 
to  our  late  never  forgotten  friend:  "The  paper 
was  written  during  Mr.  I^'wbank's  illness,  and  was 
corrected  for  the  Press  as  he  lay  upon  his  death- 
bed, and  less  than  a  week  btfort  he  died.  He  was 
a  true  and  ardent  lover  of  flowers  and  i)f  all  p'ant 
life,  always  seeking  to  know  them  and  their  ways 
better  and  still  better — ever  learning  even  to  the 
end — and  always  willing  to  communicate  his 
knowledge,  but  so  lunulile  that  he  thought  he  had 
little  to  bestow,  whereas  in  reality  his  mind  was 
wonderfully  furnished  with  unfailing  stores  of 
knowledge  drawn  from  the  deep  wells  of  personal 
experience  and  constant  observation.  He  will  be 
a  great,  almost  irreparalile,  loss  to  amateur  gar- 
deners here.  He  surel}-  will  be  welcomed  in  those 
other  gardens  where  neither  plants  nor  those  who 
tend  them  experience  disease  or  ill.  "  The  Lily 
repoits  are  interesting,  as  some  of  the  most  impor- 
tant papers  were  unfortunately  "taken  as  read" 
at  the  conference,  among  others  the  notes  of  that 
famous  Lily  authority,  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson,  of 
\\'eybridge.  Mr.  Arthur  Paul's  notes  about 
''Autumn  Roses"  are  excellent,  and  to  show  the 
wide  range  of  subjects  there  are  reports  of  the 
lectures  delivered:  "Vines  and  Wine  Making  at 
the  Paris  Exhibition,"  by  Sir  James  Blyth,  Bart.  ; 
"  Iris  Leaf-blotch,"  by  Dr.  Cooke,  M.A.  ;  "  Tendei' 
Plants  for  Outdoors,"  by  Mr.  William  Townsend  ; 
"(iarden  Manures,"  by  Mr.  F.  L.  Baker,  A.R.C.S. ; 
"  (Queensland  Flowers  and  Fruits"  ;  "Violet 
Disease,"  by  Dr.  Cooke  and  Dr.  W.  (i.  Smith  : 
and  "Commonplace  Notes,"  by  the  editor  and 
superintendent,  which  comprise  such  instructive 
information  as  "How  to  Keep  Apples,"  &c.  The 
volume  is  freely  illustrated,  well  printed,  and,  we 
need  scarcely  add,  well  edited. 

The  Favourite  Flowers  of  Japan. 

—A  dainty,  plea.sant  liook,  by  Mary  E.  Unger  ; 
illustrated  and  painted  liy  T.  Hasegawa,  Tokyo. 
The  favourite  flowers  include  the  Chrysanthemum, 
Plum  Blossom,  Peach  Blossom,  Cherry  Blossom, 
Camellia,  Magnolia,  Wistaria,  Tree  Paiony,  Iris, 
Azalea,  Lily,  Hydrangea,  Morning  Glory,  Lotus, 
and  Maple.  The  drawings  possess  much  charm,  and 
the  whole  production  is  in  good  taste  and  useful. 
The  following  hints  about  the  way  to  grow  the 
Japanese  Iris  are  given  on  page  '21  :  "The  most 
perfect  flowers  are  grown  in  a  swamp}'  clay  soil, 
which  should  be  irrigate<l  during  the  growing 
season,  that  is,  from  the  time  the  first  leaves  appear 
until  the  plants  have  finished  flowering.  A  good 
position  would  be  along  the  side  of  a  river,  a  lake, 
or  a  pond,  so  that  the  roots  can  find  all  the 
moisture  that  the  plants  re(|uire.  The  site  should 
also  be  f\dly  exposed  to  the  sun.  In  onler  to 
obtain  the  largest  flowers  the  plant  shouhl  receive 
a  weak  manuring  once  or  even  twice  a  week, 
especially  when  the  buds  begin  to  show.  The  first 
flower  of  each  plant  is  generally  the  largest,  and 
here  they  often  measure  S  inches  to  10  inches 
across.  After  the  flowering  season  the  irrigation 
shouki  be  stopped,  the  bulbs  allowed  to  ripen,  and 


January  4,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


15 


■during  the  winter  a  little  protection  should  be 
•afforded.  In  any  ordinary  garden  the  Iris  will 
grow  and  produce  good,  though  smaller  flowers, 
but  it  should  be  given  plenty  of  water  during  the 
growing  season.'' 

The   Book   of  Old-fashioned 

Flowers.*-  In  the  fourth  volume  of  "  Hand- 
books of  Practical  Gardening,"  Mr.  Harry  Roberts 
not  only  gives  good  practical  information  con- 
cerning the  culture  of  old-fashioned  flowers,  but 
o-ives  it  in  a  very  readable  manner.  Mr.  Roberts 
thus  explains  the  title  of  his  book  :  "  By  old- 
fashioned  flowering  plants  are  meant  those  which 
we  may  class  with  the  herbaceous,  bulbous,  and 
■other  hardy  plants  wlich  one  always  expects  to 
•find  in  the  old  cottage  gardens,  old  vicarage 
gardens,  and  old  farmhouse  gardens  of  romance, 
and  occasionally  in  those  of  reality."  The  scope 
of  this  volume  is  therefore  a  wide  one.  For 
"  colour  schemes"  the  author  professes  no  regard, 
for  we  read  :  "I  have  never  seen  colour  schemes 
which  surpass  those  chance  effects  of  the  hedgerow 
and  the  meadow,  or  of  those  pleasant  gardens 
where  the  gardener's  sole  aim  is  to  grow  plants 
healthily  and  well.  Indeed,  there  is  some  small  risk 
at  the  present  moQjent  that  the  individuality  of 
beautiful  plants  and  flowers  may  be  too  frequently 
sacrificed  to  the  production  of  efi'ects."  There 
may  be  a  danger  of  this,  but  surel}'  it  is  better  to 
.arrange  one's  plants  so  that  the  effect  of  the  whole 
border  may  be  a  harmonious  blending  of  colour 
rather  than  a  succession  of  unpleasing  con- 
trasts. Mr.  Roberts  is  equally  severe  upon 
those  who  have  gardens  to 
provide  themselves  with  cut 
flowers  onlj'.  He  says:  "I 
hold  that  a  flower  cut  from 
uts  plant  and  placed  in  a 
vase  is  as  a  scalp  on  the 
walls  of  a  wigwam,  a  trophy 
showing  how  one  more 
beautiful  plant  has  been 
defeated  and  victimised  by 
its  powerful  and  tasteless 
owner."  There  are  chapters 
«pon  a  garden  by  the  sea,  cottage 
gardens,  the  garden  in  winter, 
spring,  autumn,  and  summer, 
shelter  and  shade,  light  in  the 
garden,  how  to  grow  Roses,  &c. ,  each  of  which  is 
pleasantly  written  and  full  of  useful  information. 
Indeed,  this  may  well  be  said  of  the  book  itself. 

The  Book  of  Bultas.t— This,  the  fifth 
volume  of  the  "  Handbooks  of  Practical  Garden- 
ing," is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  S.  Arnott,  a  frequent 
contributor  to  current  horticultural  literature.  If 
Mr.  Arnott  has  erred  in  the  compilation  of  "  The 
Book  of  Bulbs,"  it  is,  we  think,  because  he  has 
included  descriptions  of  so  many  genera,  consider- 
ably over  100  being  enumerated.  These  are  not 
all  hardy  bulbs,  those  suitable  for  the  stove  and 
greenhouse  being  also  included.  A  comprehensive 
book,  as  this  may  undoubtedly  lay  claim  to  be, 
has,  however,  its  advantages.  It  brings  before  one 
many  little  known  and  meritorious  plants  that  the 
true  garden  lover  will  welcome  the  opportunity  of 
becoming  acquainted  with.  Each  genus  is  described 
in  alphabetical  order  in  a  separate  paragraph  ; 
■descriptions  are  given  of  the  best  species,  together 
with  brief  cultural  notes  Mr.  Arnott  gives 
valuable  information  in  such  a  simple  and  concise 
manner  that  the  amateur  gardener  cannot  fail  to 
find  "The  Book  of  Bulbs"  a  most  useful  addition 
to  his  garden  library.  The  professional  gardener, 
too,  will  doubtless  find  descriptions  of  bulbous 
plants  he  probably  has  but  little  if  any  knowledge 
of.  We  could  have  wished  that  Mr.  Arnott  had 
devoted  more  space  to  the  genus  Lilium,  the  most 
interesting  of  all  bulbous  plants.  The  Editor,  Mr. 
Harry  Roberts,  has  contributed  a  chapter  upon 
the  botany  of  bulbs,  and  there  are  several  illustra- 
tions showing  the  effect  of  massing. 


Profitable  Fruit  Growing.^— We  have 

received  the  sixth  edition  of  this  useful  little  work, 
by  Mr.  John  Wright,  V.M.H.,  which  is  a  reprint  in 
book  form  of  the  gold  medal  essay  written  for  the 
Worshipful  Company  of  Gardeners.  That  it  should 
have  reached  a  sixth  edition  is  sufficient  testimony 
to  its  value.  In  its  present  form  we  notice  addi- 
tions have  been  made  to  several  chapters,  as  well 
as  a  supplement  of  thirty-two  pages.  It  is  addressed 
especially  to  cottage  gardeners  and  small  holders 
of  land,  and  the  sound  information  is  given  in 
simple  language,  and  its  value  increased  by 
numerous  photographic  illustrations  and  sketches. 
Intending  candidates  for  the  Royal  Horticultural 
.Society's  examination  might  consult  this  book  with 
advantage.  His  Majesty  the  King  has  been  pleased 
to  accept  a  copy  of  this  edition, 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


sends   flowers   of    Clianthus 


CLI.iNTHtJS   PUNICEUS   IN    DeVON. 

Mr.  S.  W.  Fitzherbert,  Kings  wear,  South  Devon, 
puniceus  picked  on 
Christmas  Day  from  a 
totally  unprotected 
plant  on  a  south  wall. 
Although  not  vivid  in 
their  colouring  they  are 
very  interesting  as  mid- 
winter    flowers.      Mr. 


•  "The  Book  o£  Old-fashioned  Flowers,"  by  Harry  Eoberts. 
Published  by  John  Lane,  Vigo  Street,  London,  W.  Price 
-23.  (id. 

t  "The  Book  of  Bulbs,"  by  S.  Arnott.  Published  by  .John 
Lane.    Price  28.  6d. 

J  "  Profitable  Fruit  Growing,"  by  John  Wright,  V.M.H. 
Published  by  W.  H.  and  L.  Collingridge,  148  and  149,  Alders- 
gate  Street,  B.C. 


OLOKIOSA    SITPEKEA. 


Fitzherbert  also  sends  a  small  truss  of  Ivy-leaved 
Pelargonium  Mme.  Crousse  from  the  same  wall. 


Gloriosa  supekba. 
Mr.  Crook,  of  the  Forde  Abbey  Gardens,  Chard, 
Somerset,  sends  flowers  of  an  exceptionally  good 
variety  of  this  bright  flowered  climber. 


THE    DESSERT    CHERRY    ON 
ViTALLS. 

A  FAVOURITE  fruit  among  young  and  old,  rich 
and  poor,  is  the  Cherry.  In  estimating  the 
merits  and  popularity  of  different  kinds  of 
fruit,  one  comes  across  various  and  often 
conflicting  opinions ;  but  no  one,  as  far 
as  my  experience  goes,  objects  to  a  good 
ripe  red  or  goldea  Cherry.  The  Cherry  has 
always  had  a  great  fascination  for  the  young. 


and  if  you  want  to  give  a  boy  or  a  girl  one 
of  the  most  enjoyable  of  life's  pleasures  turn 
them  under  a  well-netted  Cherry  wall  or 
quarter  when  the  fruit  is  plentiful  and  ripe. 

Outside  the  professional  fraternity  few  are 
aware  how  long  a  season  the  sweet  Cherry  can 
be  enjoyed  as  dessert  when  the  best  system 
of  culture  has  been  adopted.  As  generally 
understood,  the  season  of  ripe  English  Cherries 
lasts  from  the  middle  of  .June  until  about  the 
middle  of  .July,  whereas,  if  the  most  suitable 
and  best  varieties  are  selected  and  planted 
against  walls  with  different  aspects,  this  sweet 
and  refreshing  fruit  may  be  enjoyed  from  the 
end  of  May  to  well  into  the  month  of  September. 

Aspect. 

The  Cherry  is  the  most  accommodating  of 
fruits  as  regards  aspect.  It  is  as  happy  and 
flourishes  as  well  planted  against  a  north  wall 
where  a  glimmer  of  sunshine  scarcely  reaches 
it  throughout  the  year  as  when  against  a 
south  wall,  where  it  enjoys  the  full  advantage 
of  the  warmth  of  the  sun,  and  what  is  more 
surprising  perhaps  is  the  fact  that  size  and 
flavour  are  equally  well  developed  and  secured 
(if  not  more  so)  on  the  cold  and  shady  side  of 
the  wall  than  on  the  warm  one. 

To  grow  the  Cherry  to  perfection  a  deep 
loamy  soil,  inclining  to  niarliness,  and  resting 
on  gravel  or  chalk,  or  otherwise  well  drained, 
is  necessary,  and  should  it  be  naturally  deficient 
in  lime  some  must  be  added  and  dug  into  the 
soil  before  the  trees  are  planted.  This  state- 
ment must  not  be  interpreted  to  mean  that 
Cherries  cannot  be  grown  successfully  in 
ordinary  good  garden  soil  (for  they  can),  but 
only  as  indicating  that  if  the  best  r]uality  fruit 
must  be  had,  so  must  also  the  soil  be  suitable. 
For  a  few  years  after  the  young  trees  are 
planted  there  is  a  danger  of  over  luxuriance, 
resulting  in  coarse,  soft,  and  barren  growth, 
which  falls  an  easy  victim  to  gumming  and 
canker,  diseases  to  which  the  Cherry  tree  is 
especially  subject.  On  the  slightest  indication 
of  this  trouble  the  grower  must  not 
hesitate  to  lift  the  young  trees 
bodily,  when  the  cause  of  the  mis- 
chief will  be  found  in  some  strong 
roots  which  will  have  been  formed 
(duplicates  in  a  sense  of  the  coarse 
growths),  and  these  must  be  cut 
back  to  the  length  of  about 
9  inches,  from  which  useful  fibrous  roots  will 
emanate  in  due  time,  and  the  tree  replanted. 
It  is  seldom  that  this  operation  has  to  be 
repeated,  as  the  Cherry  tree  is  so  free  and 
persistent  a  fruit  bearer  that  the  heavy  crops 
it  carries  and  matures  effectively  neutralise 
grossness  through  the  severe  drain  imposed 
upon  the  tree's  energies.  Where  a  branch 
happens  to  be  badly  gummed  or  cankered,  and 
is  more  or  less  partially  paralysed  in  conse- 
quence, the  best  way  is  to  cut  it  out  to  a  point 
near  the  stem  not  affected,  when  a  new  growth, 
providing  another  healthy  branch  to  take  its 
place,  will  result.     The  form  of 

Training 
the  Cherry  tree  that  I  favour  is  the  fan  shape, 
although  almost  equally  as  good  results  are 
obtained  from  horizontally-trained  trees,  and 
as  this  form  of  training  is  better  liked  by  some 
than  the  other,  the  grower  may  follow  his  fancy 
by  adopting  the  form  he  likes  best. 

Pruning. 
The  same  cause,  namely,  the  heavy  fruiting 
property  which  the  Cherry  possesses  operates 
in  restricting  an  overabundance  of  ordinary 
growths  (as  it  does  the  coarser  growths 
before  -  mentioned),  so  that  not  overmuch 
pruning  is  ever  wanted.  This  consists  in  dis- 
budding in  spring,  stopping  the  foreright  and 


36 


THE    GAJaJt.N 


[January  4,  I90i. 


side  shoots  where  not  required  for  layi)ig  in 
to  furnish  the  tree  with  branches.  These 
shoots  should  be  thinned  out,  but  not  severely, 
just  as  the  fruit  commences  to  colour  by  cutting 
a  portion  of  tlieni  back  to  within  six  or  seven 
leaves  of  their  base.  The  remainder  should  be 
left  until  the  fruit  has  been  gathered,  as  in  my 
opinion  they  answer  a  useful  purpose,  not  only 
in  the  shade  they  afford  against  the  hot  sun, 
but  also  in  helping  a  better  development  of 
size,  as  well  as  assisting  the  tree  to  retain  the 
ripe  fruit  in  good  condition  for  a  much  longer 
time  than  would  be  the  case  were  they  cut  off 
earlier. 

Watering 

plays  an  important  part  in  the  successful  cul- 
ture of  all  fruit   trees,  those  planted  against 
the  sunny  sides  of  walls  more  esjiecially.     It 
is  so   with   the   Cherry.     Vigilant    attention 
must  be  given  to  this  point,  and  the  trees  must 
never  be  allowed  to  suffer  from  dryness  at  the 
root.     No   one   operation   in   connection  with 
the  successful  growth  of  this  fruit  is  more 
necessary  than  a  liberal  irrigation  of  the  roots 
with  manure  water  from  the  stable  yard,  not 
too  strong,  immediately  after  the  fruit  has  been 
gathered,  and  to  make  sure  that  it  is  effectual 
two  successive  waterings  are  better  than  one 
mulching.      It    is    not   needful    to   draw   the 
attentiin    of   the   experienced   grower  to    the 
important   part    this  operation    plays   in    the 
successful   culture  of   hardy  fruits,  especially 
when   in   hot   and  sunny  positions.     It  is   as 
important   to   the    Cherry    as    it    is    to   any 
other,  and   therefore   must  not   be  neglected. 
The  best  material  is  well-rotted  stable  manure 
laid  on   the  roots  for  a  distance  of  3  feet  or 
4  feet  round  the  stem  of  the  tree,  more  or  less 
according  t(3  its  size  and  age.     A  mistake  is 
often  made  by  the  inexperienced  in  permitting 
this  mulch  to  remain  for  more  than  one  year  ; 
indeed,  adding  mulch  after  mulch  until  a  large 
heap  has  accumulated.     The  old  nuilch  should 
be  carefully  cleared  away  pretty  well  down  to 
the  roi;ts  before  the  new  is  applied,  and  the 
best   time    to    apply   it    is   from    the   end   of 
October   to    the    middle    of    November.      To 
prevent  evaporation  of   any  of  the  virtues  of 
the  manure  it  should  be  covered  over  to  the 
depth  of  an  inch  with  soil. 
In.-^kcts. 
Black  fly  is  the  greatest  enemy  of  the  Cherry 
tree  when  once  it  has  effected  a  strong  lodgment 
in  the  branches.    The  best  way  to  get  rid  of  it 
is  to  serai-prune  the  affected  branches,  as  the 
points    of    the    shoots    are   always   the    most 
severely   attacked   and    the    most   ditticult  to 
cleanse.    Then  go  over    the    trees   with   the 
garden   engine,  giving   them   a  good  washing 
with   an  emulsion  of   paraffin,  soft  soap,  and 
tobacco  juice,  in  the  proportion  of  a  pint  of 
]iaraffin  to  three  gallons  of  water,  a  pound  of 
soft  soap,  and   half   a   pint  of  tobacco  juice 
added,  all    well   mixed  together  with   water 
as  warm  as  the  hand  can  bear.     This  should 
be  done  in  the  evening,  and  the  same  washed 
off'  early   in   the   nw  rning   with   clean    water. 
The  better  way  is  by  extra  diligence  in  looking 
out   for   its   first   appearance  early  in   spring, 
to  nip  it  in  the   bud  by  an  application   of   a 
weak  solution  of  the  same  mixture  whenever 
perceived. 

Selection. 
The  earliest  dessert  varieties  are  the  following, 
and  they  should  be  planted  against  a  south 
wall  :  Bigarreau  Jaboulay,  Black  Heart,  sweet 
and  delicious,  Guigne  de  Louvain,  Early 
Rivers',  one  of  the  handsomest  in  appearance 
and  richest  in  flavour  of  any  of  the  Cherries, 
Frogmore  Bigarreau,  one  of  the  sweetest  and 
best  known,  and    the   following  well-known 


sorts  :  May  Duke,  Goverii'ir  Wood,  lielle  de 
Choissy,  and  Elton  Heart.  Al  id-season  varieties 
should  be  planted  against  a  wall  with  a  we  t  or 
east  aspect,  when  they  will  succeed  the  earlv 
varieties  in  sure  rotation.  Royal  Dake,  reddish 
black,  large  in  size,  and  of  excellent  flavour,  is 
one  of  the  best  for  exhibition  ;  Waterloo  • '  cart, 
prolific  bearer,  delicious  flavour,  one  of  the 
most  certain  cropjiers  ;  Black  l-'aglc,  one  of  tlie 
sweete.st  :  Amber  Heart,  golden  colour-,  still 
the  finest  and  best  fla\ourcd,  large,  sweet, 
and  prolific  ;  Bigarreau  Monstreuse,  large  and 
handsome,  rich  flavour,  and  ])riilific  ;  Bigarreau 
Napoleon,  a  well-known  late  standard  tort, 
and  indispensable. 

Latest  Varieties. 
A  few  of  these  should  be  planted  against  a 
wall  with  northern  aspect  in  order  to  prolong 
the  season  as  much  as  possible.  Florence,  one 
of  the  sweetest  and  best,  of  lai-ge  size,  and  sure 
bearer  ;  Black  Tartarian,  a  handsome  black 
Cherry,  excellent  for  exhibition  when  grown 
on  a  wall  ;  Nouvelle  Itoyale,  delicious  flavour, 
and  melting  flesh  ;  Cleveland  Bigarreau,  hand- 
some appearance,  and  of  excellent  flavour  ; 
Noire  de  Guben,  grand  variety  in  every  respect ; 
St.  Margarets,  is  one  of  the  latest  and  best,  and 
will  fittingly  close  the  Cherry  season. 

Owen  Thomas. 


ROSE    SHO^V    IN    MELBOURNE. 

Mk.  Wm.  Rumsey,  of  Wallham  Cross,  kindly 
sends  the  following  report  of  a  Rose  show  in 
Melbourne,  with  this  note:  "The  enclosed 
cutting  is  from  Australian  friends,  and  I  thought 
it  would  interest  readers  of  The  Garden.  There 
is  no  date  on  it,  but  the  show  was  held  last  summer, 
and  it  appears  that  Rose  shows  are  commanding 
attention  in  that  part  of  the  world."  The  variety 
Mrs.  George  Dickson  referred  to  is  the  parent  of 
Mrs.  Rumsey.  I  presume  the  latter  has  not  leached 
Melbourne  yet.  The  report  is;  "Although  it  is 
only  two  years  since  a  few  Rose  enthusiasts  met  in 
Melbourne  and  agreed  to  form  an  association  to  be 
devoted  exclusively  to  the  interest  of  their  favourite 
flower,  yet  the  National  Rose  Society  of  Victoria, 
affiliated  with  the  representative  body  in  England, 
is  now  established  on  a  thorough]}-  sound  founda- 
tion. Considerable  interest,  therefore,  was  centred 
in  the  first  exhibition  of  the  'Natior.al,'  and  it  is 
gratifying  to  record  that  yesterday's  display  of 
Roses  in  the  Athenaeum  Hall,  both  as  regards 
number  and  (juality,  formed  the  finest  collection 
ever  staged  in  Victoria.  The  Lieutenant-Ciovernor, 
Sir  .J.  Madden,  in  formally  opening  the  show, 
congratulated  the  society  on  the  success  attained. 
"Though  lacking  the  decorative  assistance  of 
foliage  plants,  the  exhibition  comprised  special 
featui-es  of  its  own,  and  the  relative  merits  of  the 
many  beautiful  varieties  were  keenly  discussed  by 
a  large  number  of  critical  visitors.  The  form, 
colour,  and  perfume  of  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals,  the 
extjuisite  tints  and  shades  of  the  more  broken  Teas, 
and  the  seemingly  endless  variety  of  the  decorative 
Roses,  were  features  pronounced  enough  to  satisfy 
the  most  fastidious  rosarian.  In  arranging  the 
exhibits,  a  mistake  was  made  in  placing  the  best 
Roses  near  the  side  walls,  where,  owing  to  the 
shadows  during  the  afternoon,  the  lustre  of  many 
of  the  blooms  was  missed.  Exhibitors  were 
favoured  with  tine  weather  during  the  two  days 
preceding  the  show,  but  early  in  the  week  the 
conditions  were  not  so  satisfactory,  and  .some  of 
the  lighter  Tea  varieties  sufl'ered  injury.  Notwith- 
standing this  handicap,  the  society  may  fairly 
claim  that  its  first  exhibition  is  ahead  of  any  Rose 
show  held  in  the  past  by  local  horticultural 
as.sociations. 

"Chief  interest  was  centred  in  the  stands 
competing  for  the  society's  champion  gold  medal 
for  twenty-four  distinct  varieties  in  the  open  class, 
the  winner  being  Mr.  A.  Clarke,  of  (ilenara.  Bulla 
(gardener,  Mr.  E.  T.  Peers).  Mr.  Clarke's 
collection  attracted  universal  admiration  for  the 
colouring  and  form  of  his  blooms,  the  Tea  varieties 


prt-dominating.  Mr.  J.  Oliver,  curator  of  Quesn's 
Purk,  Moonee  Ponds,  was  placed  second,  only  one 
point  behind  Mr.  Clarke,  and  his  collection  may 
ju'<lly  be  classed  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
features  of  the  show.  Ample  evidence  of  the- 
excjuisite  colours  and  the  variety  of  form  obtainable 
in  the  different  types  of  the  Rose  was  shown  in  a 
.-tagin;,'  of  thiity-six  distinct  varieties,  for  which 
Mr.  R.  Ardagh,  of  Auburn,  received  a  first  award. 
A  perfectly  formed  specimen  of  A.  K.  Williams, 
in  the  liittet-  exhihiimV  stand,  was  awarded  the- 
liiesident's  (Mr.  W.  H.  Moule)  prize  for  "the  best 
Ro-c  in  the  show,  selected  from  any  stand."  A 
well  merited  first  award  went  to  Messrs.  G. 
Brunning  and  (Sons,  of  the  St.  Kilda  Nurseries,  for 
twelve  Teas  and  Noisettes,  and  an  equally  attractive 
collection  of  decorative  Roses,  staged  by  Mr.  R.. 
Cheesman,  of  the  Brighton  Nurseries,  was  also- 
placed  first  in  its  section.  In  the  amateur  class, 
Mr.  .1.  H.  Simpson,  of  Surrey  Hills,  was  the  most 
successful  competitor,  carrying  oil  the  amateur 
champion  gold  medal  for  twelve  blooms  and  first 
awards  in  several  other  sections,  while  the  same- 
grower's  specimen  of  Marcjuise  Litta  won  th& 
special  prize  offered  for  the  best  red  Tea  Rose  in 
the  show.  The  Rev.  Canon  Godby,  a  successful 
competitor  in  some  of  the  amateur  sections,  and 
placed  second  for  the  championship,  staged  a  superb- 
ijloom  of  Mrs.  George  Dickson,  and  with  it  won 
the  award  for  the  best  Rose  in  the  amateur  class. 
Other  successful  competitors  were  Mr.  H.  Hitch- 
cock, of  (ieelong,  Mr.  H.  W.  M'Kiernan,  and 
Mr.  W.  Annear,  all  of  whom  were  first  prize 
winners." 

Mr.  Rumsey  mentions  also  that  Marqv.ias  Litta. 
Rose  was  finer  with  him  last  year  than  it  has  ever 
been  before. 


OBITUARY. 


SIR  HENRY  COLLETT,   K.C.B. 

The  death  occurred,  on  December  21,  at  hi» 
residence,  Cranley  Gardens,  S.-W.,  of  Colonel  Sir 
Henry  Collett,  K.C.B. ,  who  was  for  more  than 
thirty  years  in  India,  and  served  in  the  Abyssinian,. 
Afghan,  and  Burmese  wars.  Colonel  Collett  was 
greatly  interested  in  botany  and  plant  collecting,, 
and  was  instrumental  in  introducing  several  new 
plants,  chiefly  from  Upper  Burmah  and  the  Shim- 
States.  In  the  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Society , 
vol.  xxviii  ,  appears  a  paper  prepared  by  Colon>  I 
Collett  and  Mr.  W.  Betting  Hemsley,  which  givi  s 
an  account  of  his  botanical  rambles  in  Upper 
Burmah  and  the  Shan  States,  together  with  cu 
description  of  the  new  plants  found  by  him.  Of 
these,  Lonicera  Hildebrandiana  and  Rosa  gigantia 
are  the  most  familiar.  Although  Sir  Henry  was 
the  first  to  describe  and  to  introduce  this  Rose  lo 
England,  it  had  previously  been  discovered  by  Dr. 
Watt  in  188'2  in  Munneypore.  Dr.  Henry  and  Mr. 
Hancock  have  since  found  it  in  Yunnan.  Of  the 
Lonicera,  Sir  Henry  wrote:  "I  found  it  in  only 
one  locality.  It  is  a  conspicuous  shrub,  with  large, 
dark,  glossy  leaves,  and  fine  crimson  flower.-* 
7  inches  long,  and  by  far  the  largest  of  any  known 
species  of  Honeysuckle."  Two  Orchids  were  also 
introduced  by  him,  namely,  Cirrhopetalum  Collettiii 
and  Bulbophyllura  comosum.  Rhododendron  col- 
lettianum  was  discovered  by  Colonel  Collett  and 
Mr.  Aitchison  in  IS79,  and  Rosa  Collettii  by  the 
former.  Sir  Henry  Collett  was  elected  a  Fellow  06 
the  Linnean  Society  in  1879.  At  the  time  of  hi.s. 
death  he  was  engaged  upon  a  handbook  of  tli& 
Simla  Flora,  and  this,  we  believe,  is  almost  ready 
for  publication. 

SIR   HEiNRY  GILBERT,   F.R.S. 

This  distinguished  agricultural  chemist  died,  we- 
regret  lo  hear,  at  his  home  at  Harpenden,  at  the- 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four,  early  last  week.  Sir 
Henry  Gilbert  was  director  of  the  Rothamsled 
laboratories,  in  conjunction  with  Sir  J.  B.  Lawes,. 
for  very  many  years.  In  1893  he  was  knighted, 
this  being  the  jiubilee  year  of  the  Rothamsled. 
experiments  in  agricultural  chemistin. 


.tiip/>ifmini  hi   nih    i,At<IJIi.\. 
yniltinry  Ith.  1902. 


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GARDEN 


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No.  1573.— Vol.  LXL] 


[.January   11,  1902. 


FELLOWSHIP     OR     COM- 
PETITION. 

THOSE  who  from  experience  have  the 
best  right  to  judge  are  watching 
somewhat  anxiously  the  .strenuous 
endeavours  that  are  being  uiade  by 
women  of  education  to  enibarli:  in 
various  branches  of  market  garden  work  and 
trade.  Nor  is  this  feeling  of  anxiety  prompted, 
in  any  sense,  by  unworthy  jealousy,  as  some 
would  have  it  to  be,  or  mean  desire  to  hinder 
the  laudable  efforts  after  self-help  which  are 
so  admirable  in  all  ranks  of  women  at  the 
present  day.  It  is  due  rather  to  a  well-founded 
misgiving  lest  aims,  in  themselves  so  praise- 
worthy, should  end  in  disappointment  and  even 
worse.  It  is  strange  enough  when  one  comes 
to  think  of  it,  thit  efforts  equally  strenuous 
were  made  not  so'  many  years  ago,  and  not 
without  good  reason,  to  withdraw  women  of 
the  agricultural  working  class  from  outdoor 
labour  on  the  true  plea  of  the  many  evils 
which  followed  in  the  wake  of  such  employ- 
ment. With  the  exception  of  hay  making  and 
occasionally  in  harvest,  it  is  now  rare  to  see 
women  working  in  the  fields.  So  much  is  this 
the  case  that  it  is  impo.ssible  nowadays  to 
obtain  the  services  of  a  weeding  woman,  even 
in  some  parts  of  Wales,  where,  less  than  twenty 
years  ago,  the  roughest  parts  of  garden  and 
farm  work  were  done,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
by  women. 

There  is  no  manner  of  doubt  that  most  kinds 
of  garden  work  are  well  within  the  scope  of  a 
woman's  powers,  but  it  is  not  herein  that  the 
gist  of  the  question  lies.  It  is  too  soon  as  yet 
to  form  an  absolute  judgment  on  the  new 
departure  of  training  educated  women  as 
gardeners -the  experiment  will  stand  or  fall 
on  its  own  merits.  But  with  regard  to 
business  speculations  in  nursery  and  market 
gardens  this  much  may  be  said.  Given  the 
necessary  (jualitioations  of  good  business 
capacity  and  training,  a  fair  amount  of 
knowledge  and  indomitable  perseverance, 
whether  in  man  or  woman,  it  may  and  jiro- 
bably  will  answer  in  cases — and  this  is  the 
point— where  there  is  sufficient  capital  to 
embark  on  a  grand  scale.  Or,  on  the  other 
hand,  if  the  object  be  to  make  a  modest 
addition  to  an  already  existing  income,  it  is 
possible  for  any  practical  gardener  to  cultivate 
some  speciality  in  fruit  or  flowers  ''or  which, 
if  it  be  of  first-rate  quality,  a  ready  market 
may  be  found.  It  is  between  these  two 
extremes,  however;  that   the  prospect  of  real 


success,  owing  to  the  keen  competition  which 
prevails,  is  poor  indeed,  hard  and  hopeless 
enough  for  a  man  with  insufficient  capital,  still 
more  hopeless  for  a  woman.  The  smaller  are 
swallowed  up  of  the  greater,  and  no  amount 
of  energy  or  diligence  will  avail  to  do  more 
than  to  earn  a  scanty  living  or,  in  too  many 
instance.s,  to  avert  the  final  ruin.  This  is 
unpilatable  doctrine,  but  it  is  true,  as  many  a 
one  can  testify  from  hitter  experience.  It  is 
time,  therefore,  that  a  word  of  warning  should 
be  left  not  unsaid  to  the  ever-increasing  number 
of  those  who  are  turning  to  gardening  as  a 
means,  and  in  many  cases  thoughtlessly  and 
ignorantly,  as  an  easy  and  delightful  means  of 
livelihood.     No  greater  mistake  can  be  made. 

Let  us  turn  to  another  and  more  hopeful 
view  of  the  situation.  Less  ambitious,  but 
how  much  more  practically  u.seful  is  the  help 
that  can  be  given  by  wife,  or  daughter,  or 
sister  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  legitimate 
bread-winner  of  the  familj'.  The  more  highly 
trained  and  skilful  the  help  can  be  the  better. 
Who  knows  what  disasters  might  have  been 
averted,  notably  in  farming  and  agricultural 
pursuits,  in  years  gone  by,  if  women  had  but 
recognised  more  fully  their  true  position  of  the 
help-meet,  instead  of  drifting,  by  reason  of 
unwonted  and  transient  prosperity,  into  the 
dangerous  luxury  of  idleness. 

With  all  our  strictures  on  continental 
manners  and  customs,  there  is  one  fine 
feature  of  family  life  abroad  which  is  seldom 
estimated  at  its  true  value,  their  co-operation 
and  good  fellow.sliip  in  profes.sional  and  busi- 
ness affairs.  A  case  in  point  occurs  to  mind, 
though  it  is  no  new  story.  The  late  Louis 
A^an  Houtte,  the  remarkable  man  who  has 
been  called  the  father  of  Belgian  horticulture, 
possessed  in  his  accomplisbed  wife  and 
daughters  an  inestimable  treasure.  Mine.  \'a.w 
Houtte,  who  united  great  business  capacity 
with  a  kind  and  womanly  disposition,  took 
her  full  share,  together  with  her  daughters,  in 
the  management  of  the  vast  nursery  establish- 
ment fouuded  by  her  husband  at  Ghent,  with  all 
its  ramifications  of  literary  work  and  direction 
of  the  annexed  National  Schoolof  Horticulture. 
It  has  been  said  that  she  was  accustomed  to 
work  on  an  avernge  twelve  hours  a  day, 
attending  to  foreign  correspondence  as  well 
as  giving  unceasing  personal  supervision  to 
the  multifarious  details  of  the  various  depart- 
ments which  came  under  her  control.  After 
her  husband's  death  she  was  able  to  carry  on 
the  business  with  conspicuous  ability  as  hereto- 
fore, her  son  taking  the  practical  management 


of  the  plant  growing  with  a  staff  of  competent 
assistants,  and,  in  fact,  at  the  end  of  her  life 
of  seventy-one  years  she  had  relinquished 
none  of  her  ordinary  duties.  There  can  be 
no  divided  opinion  as  to  the  beneficence  of  a 
partnership  such  as  this,  where  it  is  practicable. 
What  man  would  not  welcome  and  be  blessed 
by  the  skilful  and  unassuming  help  of  his 
women  folk  in  the  inevitable  struggles  of  early 
days  J  May  we  not,  therefore,  without  risk 
of  contradiction,  earnestly  commend  to  tho.se 
women  whose  circumstances  render  it  needful, 
fellowship  in  labour  in  family  concerns — 
possibly  even  in  distant  parts  of  Greater 
Britain  —  rather  than  competition,  in  these 
over-stocked  times,  in  the  many  walks  of  life, 
horticultural  and  otherwise,  which  are  now 
equally  open  to  men  and  to  women. 


NEVkT    INCURVED    CHRYSAN- 
THEMUMS. 

Very  few  new  incurved  Chrysanthemum.'!  were 
submitted  to  the  floral  committee  of  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  and  Royal  Horticultural  .Societies 
during  the  past  season,  but  some  excellent 
examples  were  met  with  in  different  trade  displays, 
which  for  very  good  reasons  were  not  staged  for 
adjudication.  It  is  sate  to  predict  a  brilliant 
future  for  several  of  them,  and  there  is  good 
reason  to  suppose  that  next  season  will  fiiid  most 
of  the  new  sorts  in  the  leading  exhibitors'  stands. 
Those  calling  for  special  notice  are  : — 

Mrs.  John  Penford. — A  large,  massive  flower, 
having  broad  florets  of  good  substance.  Colour 
silvery  rose,  with  rosy  purple  colouring  inside. 

General  French. — This  is  another  large,  deep, 
and  massive  incurved  bloom  with  broad  florets. 
Tlie  colour  is  a  deep  rosy  lilac. 

Mrs.  F.  Jitdxon. — This  variety  has  been  de- 
scribed as  White  Curtis,  which  it  resembles  very 
much  in  form.  It  is  pure  white,  and  in  conse- 
quence may  prove  a  decided  acquisition. 

William  Hiijija. — In  this  variety  we  have  the 
best  incurved  novelty  of  the  past  season,  and  one 
which  will  be  a  giant  among  the  big  blooms  now 
so  popular.  It  is  a  very  large  deep  bloom  of 
massive  build,  having  long,  slightly  pointed 
florets  of  medium  width  and  splendid  substance, 
building  up  a  globular  flower  of  good  form  and 
great  solidity.  The  colour  is  a  bright  buff'  with  a 
faint  golden  tint,  which  deepens  towards  the  base 
of  the  florets.  The  plant  is  dwaif  and  sturdy,  and 
is  by  no  means  of  ditHcult  culture.  First-class 
certificate  awarded  by  the  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Society,  November  IS  last. 

Five  other  varieties  which  are  almost  absolutely 
unknown  were  seen  in  promising  form  in  Mr.  H. 
J.  Jones's  collection  of  plants,  and  to  refrain  from 
mentioning  them  would  be  an  injustice  to  the 
general  body  of  incurved  growers.     They  are  : — 

Charles  Blick. — A  large  massi\-e  bloom  of  broarl 
and  deep  build,  %»ith  long,  broad,  neatly  arranged 
florets,  developing  a  bloom  of  good  form  and 
splendid  substance.  The  colour  is  white,  tinted 
rosy  violet,  and  the  plant  is  of  medium  height. 
Miss  E.    S':iixtrd. — This   is   a    lovely   flower   of 


18 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  11,  1902. 


remarkable  depth.  The  florets  are  fairly  broad, 
neatly  arranged,  building  up  a  bloom  of  a  beautiful 
symmetrical  form  and  good  substance.  The  colour 
is  deep  yellow,  tinted  reddish  bronze.  Plant  of 
medium  height. 

G.  Hunt. — A  worthy  variety  to  perpetuate  the 
name  of  the  grower,  in  whose  honour  it  is  being 
distributed.  It  is  a  large  incurved  of  splendid 
substance,  reminding  one  somewhat  of  a  well- 
finished  bloom  of  Lady  Isabel.  This  new  sort, 
however,  promises  to  be  more  constant  than  the 
variety  referred  to,  and  has  long,  broad  florets  of 
good  substance,  making  a  deep  flower.  The 
colour  is  rosy  violet  on  a  white  ground,  with  a 
whitish  centre.  On  second  crown  buds  it  is  rather 
late  for  the  November  shows. 

ir.  Neville. — Another  large  incurved  with  fairly 
broad  florets  of  good  substance,  and  slightlj' 
pointed,  building  up  a  full  flower  of  massive 
proportions.  Colour,  a  pleasing  shade  of  golden 
bronze. 

.John  Lt/ne. — In  this  variety  we  have  another 
bloom  of  considerable  promise,  a  brief  description 
of  the  flower  being  an  impro\ed  form  of  Jeanne 
d'Arc,  which  it  resembles  in  colour,  though  wilh  a 
better  petal.  The  latter  are  rather  broader  and 
make  a  bloom  of  better  shape. 

Two  sorts  staged  before  the  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Society's  floral  committee  deserve  mention, 
although  there  appears  to  be  just  a  little  uncer- 
tainty as  to  their  classification.  The}'  are  cata- 
logued in  Mr.  H.  Week's  list,  and  are  worthy  of  a 
trial.  One  is  Mri.  C.  .1.  Mee,  a  large,  massive 
incurveil  with  long,  broad,  pointed  florets;  colour, 
rosy  amaranth,  with  silvery  rose  reverse.  The 
other  is  J/cv.  C.  Croohs,  a  large  white  of  some- 
what doubtful  form.  It  is  only  fair  to  the  growers 
to  say  that  if  these  two  sorts  be  grown  on  and 
late  crown  buds  retained  blooms  quite  equal  to 
many  which  now  find  favour  are  most  likely  to 
result.  D.  E.  Craxe. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 

Fopthcoming-    events.  —  R^yal  Horti 

cultural  Society  Committees'  meeting,  Drill  Hall, 
'R'^estminster,  Januarj'  14.  United  Horticultural 
Benefit  and  Provident  Society  Committee  meeting, 
.January  13.  Annual  Dinner  of  the  Society 
Franyaise  d'Horticulture  de  Londres,  at  the  Imperial 
Restaurant,  Strand,  .January  18. 

The  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 

Institution. — A  general  meeting  of  the  above 
societ}'  will  be  held  at  Simpson's,  101,  Strand, 
■V\'.C.,  on  Thursday,  the  23rd  inst. ,  at  1  p.m., 
for  the  purpose  of  making  certain  alterations  in 
the  existing  rules,  as  recommended  by  the  com- 
mittee of  management.  And  the  sixty-tliird  annual 
general  meeting  of  the  members  of  this  institution 
will  be  held  at  the  same  place  and  on  the  same 
date  at  3  p.m.,  to  receive  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee and  the  accounts  of  the  institution  (as 
audited)  for  the  year  UtOl  ;  to  elect  officers  for  the 
year  UI02,  and  other  affairs  ;  and  also  for  the 
purpose  of  placing  twenty  pensioners  on  the  funds. 
The  chair  will  be  taken  by  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq., 
treasurer  and  chairman  of  committee,  at  3  p.m. 
The  poll  will  open  at  3. l.T  p.m.  and  close  at  4.3  i 
p.m.  precisely,  after  which  hour  no  voting  papers 
can  be  received.  All  the  voting  papers  have  been 
issued.  If  any  subscriber  has  not  received  a  copy, 
it  is  particularly  requested  that  intimation  be  sent 
at  once  to  the  secretary,  G.  .J.  Ingram,  at  the 
offices,  175,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  S.W. 
The  annual  friendly  supper  will  take  place  on  the 
same  date,  also  at  Simpson's,  after  the  annual 
general  meeting,  at  G  p.m.,  when  Alderman  Robert 
Piper  (of  Worthing)  will  preside.  Friends  desiring 
to  be  present  are  asked  to  kindly  notify  the 
secretary  at  17.5,  'Victoria  Street,  S.W. 

'Will  you  plant  an  Oak  ?— Would  you 

like  to  plant  an  Oak  tree  to  celebrate  the  new 
century ''  The  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Shirley  Vicarage, 
Croydon,  has  collected  a  large  number  of  Acorns 
of  a  magnificently  foliaged  Oak  (Quercus  rubra), 
and  he  will  be  very  happy  to  send  four  or  six 
Acorns  of  it  to  any  fellow  of  the  society  who  likes 


I 
to  send  him  a  small  cotton  bag  about  4  inches  by  I 
3  inches,  together  with  a  ready-strung  and  directed 
and  fetaniptd  Id.  label.  There  niuot  be  lioLhiug 
left  for  him  to  do  but  to  put  the  Acorns  in  and 
tie  round  the  neck  of  the  bag  with  the  string 
attached  to  the  label.  He  cannot  reply  to 
communications  which  do  not  compl}'  with  this 
direction.  N.  B. — In  planting  the  Acorns,  do  not 
plant  too  deep,  half  an  inch  below  the  surface  is 
ample ;  lay  the  Acorn  on  its  side,  not  on  any 
account  upon  its  base ;  guard  from  mice ;  remember, 
in  choosing  a  spot,  that  it  will  in  time  grow  into  a 
very  large  tree,  larger,  or  at  least  taller,  than  our 
common  Oak,  although  the  Acorns  are  so  much 
smaller. — .Journal  of  the  Jtoyal  HoHic^iltnral  Society. 

Early    Potatoes— a    warning-.— No 

doubt  many  amateur  gardeners  who  for  want  of 
something  to  do  at  the  present  time  spend  some 
time  looking  through  their  gardening  guides  and 
annuals,  have  come  across  directions  for  the 
planting  of  seed  Potatoes  about  this  time  of  the 
year.  They  are  told  to  place  the  tubers  somewhere 
in  the  light,  and  when  the  eyes  have  sent  out 
sprouts  a  couple  of  inches  in  length  to  plant  them 
in  freshly  dug  soil,  so  as  to  ensure  a  good  crop  of 
early  Potatoes.  Now,  I  have  had  considerable 
experience  in  the  growing  of  Potatoes,  and  I  would 
warn  anybody  who  does  not  wish  to  court  dis- 
appointment against  following  these  directions, 
more  particularly  if  the  soil  of  the  garden  be  at  all 
heavy.  No  matter  how  well  drained  the  garden 
or  loose  the  soil,  seed  Potatoes  planted  now  will 
not  thrive.  The  earth  is  necessarily  at  this  time 
of  the  year  cold  and  wet,  the  atmosphere  is  damp 
and  chill}',  and  tubers  planted  now  cannot,  for 
these  reasons,  produce  good  results.  The  coldness 
and  dampness  of  the  surroundings  check  the 
growth  the  eyes  have  already  made,  they  are 
weakened,  and  fibrous  roots  cannot  be  formed 
because  of  the  lack  of  the  conditions  necessary,  for 
there  must  be  a  certain  amount  of  warmth  to 
enable  life  to  continue.  The  heavy  rains  of 
February  and  the  sharp  frost  we  invariably  get  in 
the  earl}'  part  of  the  year  prevent  the  seeil  tuber'^ 
from  making  satisfactory  progress,  and  if  they  do 
live  one  cannot  hope  for  more  than  a  couple  or  at 
the  outside  three  eatable  Potatoes  when  they  are 
lifted,  whereas  the  yield  from  seed  pUnted  at  the 
beginning  of  March,  and  carefully  attended  to 
afterwards — sown  so  as  to  get  some  protection 
from  frost,  and  earthed  up  by  having  soil  loosely 
brought  around  the  stems  and  not  the  earth 
merely  banked  up  in  clods — will  be  two  or  three 
times  as  great,  of  better  quality,  and  not  one  week 
later. — P.  Lonchdkst. 

Pychnostachys    urticifolia.  —  Dark 

blue  tiowers  are  somewhat  rare  at  any  time,  much 
more  so  in  midwinter,  the  plant  under  notice  being 
one  of  the  few  winter-flowering  plants  to  produce 
flowers  of  this  colour.  It  can  hardly  be  said  to  be 
everybody's  plant,  being  too  coarse  for  establish- 
ments where  neat  subjects  suitable  for  house 
decoration  only  are  considered.  It  is  a  native  of 
Tropical  Africa,  and  is  of  Salvia-like  appearance. 
The  leaves  are  Nettle-like  and  on  strong  plants, 
S  inches  to  9  inches  long  and  7  inches  wide  in 
the  widest  part.  The  flowers  are  in  dense,  conical, 
terminal  racemes,  and  commence  to  open  in  Decem- 
ber, continuing  until  February.  If  treated  in  a 
similar  manner  to  Salvias  no  difficulty  need  be 
experienced  in  its  culture. — W.  Dalli.more. 

Broccoli   Sutton's    Christmas 

^Vhite. — Unquestionably  thi.s  is  one  of  the  most 
useful  Broccoli  in  cultivation.  The  only  other  sort 
that  I  am  acquainted  with  that  will  furnish  good 
white  heads  in  midwinter  is  Snow's,  a  very  old 
variety,  as  is  well  known,  but  still  good  when  a 
true  stock  can  be  got,  but  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say 
that  Christmas  White  is  a  distinct  improvement. 
We  have  it  growing  side  by  side  here  with  Snow's, 
and  now  (the  last  day  of  December)  nearly  every 
plant  is  turning  in,  while  only  a  small  percentage  of 
Snow's  is  showing,  and  another  great  point  in  its 
favour  is  that  it  appears  to  be  more  hardy.  This 
variety  should  be  cultivated  in  all  gardens  where 
Broccoli  of  high  quality  is  esteemed. — E.  Beckett. 
New  Potato  Carltonian.— The  raiser 
of  this  new  variety,  Mr.  Taylor,  sent  a  few  tubers 
last  spring,  asking  me  to  give  it  a  trial,  which  I 


did,  with  many  other  well-known  varieties,  and  I 

am  glad  to  say  that  it  proved  to  be  all  that  he 
claimed  for  it.  It  is  extremely  handsome,  evidently 
an  ideal  exhibition  variety  and  quite  distinct  from 
any  other  varieties  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  A 
heavy  cropper,  and  with  us  quite  free  from  disease. 
I  am  fully  convinced  that  it  will  become  a  popular 
mid-season  variety,  as  the  quality  is  excellent.  It 
appears  to  have  been  well  thought  of  at  Chiswick, 
as  it  was  selected  and  given  an  award  of  merit  with 
a  few  others.  The  award  was  confirmed  by  the 
committee  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  December  17.  I 
understand  that  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  have  secured 
the  stock,  which  will  be  distributed  in  due  course, 
and  all  that  are  on  the  look-out  for  good  novelties 
should  secure  it. — E.  Beckett. 
French     Beans    unprofitable     in 

■winter. — Few  vegetables  force  more  readily 
than  the  Dwarf  Bean,  but  in  this  note  I  do  not 
intend  to  advise  about  varieties  or  culture,  but 
simply  to  point  out  how  unprofitable  this  crop  is 
when  sown  for  supplies  at  Christmas.  I  have 
never  yet  succeeded  in  growing  this  vegetable,  as 
I  should  wish,  say,  from  October  to  January  ; 
neither  have  I  ever  seen  what  may  be  termed  a 
profitable  crop  of  forced  Beans  at  the  season  named. 
Though  good  plants  may  be  raised  by  sowing  in 
frames  in  October,  the  flowers  usually  fail  to  set 
in  December  and  all  the  labour  is  in  vain.  It  may 
be  asked  why  note  a  common  failure,  and  the  reason 
is  to  prevent  failures  in  future.  There  is  now  a 
better  prospect  of  success,  as  seed  sown  now 
will  produce  plants  to  bloom  when  the  days  are 
lengthening  :  I  would  not  advise  a  large  sowing 
until  a  month  later.  In  the  southern  part  of  the 
kingdom  growers  who  force  may  have  had  greater 
success  than  I  have,  but  even  then  I  do  not  think 
this  vegetable  pays  for  outlay  at  the  season  named, 
as  in  the  south  large  growers  tell  me  the  crop  does 
not  pay  in  midwinter,  as  the  plants  are  not  reliable. 
— (;.  Wythes. 

■Winter  Pears.— I  am  aware  that  the 
above  Iruits  have  been  noticed  before  in  The 
G-\RDE.\,  but  would  like  to  allude  to  their  excellence 
at  this  season,  viz.,  from  now  until  March,  as 
by  growing  several  trees  in  different  positions  the 
fruits  may  be  had  at  the  season  named.  In  our 
light  soil  we  have  no  Pear  to  equal  Nouvelle  Fulvie 
at  this  time  of  year.  Easter  Beurre  is  useless  ;  it 
spots  and  cracks  badly  at  times,  whereas  the  one 
named  above  does  well  in  the  open  or  on  a  wall, 
but  our  latest  fruits  are  from  pyramid  trees  in  the 
open.  President  Barrabe  promises  well,  but  we 
have  been  unable  yet  to  test  its  cropping  qualities 
in  all  positions.  What  makes  the  older  variety  so 
useful  is  its  free  cropping.  It  crops  regularly,  and 
when  others  fail  this  bears  freely.  It  is  a  delicious 
fruit  when  ripe,  but  needs  care  in  gathering  and 
storage.  If  gathered  early  it  shrivels  badly,  and 
this  should  be  avoided.  The  flesh  is  melting,  very 
juicy,  and  the  flavour  delicious  for  a  late  fruit.  I 
have  been  obliged  to  thin  freely  as  the  trees  crop 
so  heavily. — G.  W. 

Acacia  Urophylla.— Of  the  many  Austra- 
lian Acacias  suitable  for  greenhouse  culture,  the 
one  under  notice  is  both  distinct  and  rare.  It 
flowers  naturally  in  midwinter,  being  several 
weeks  in  advance  of  most  of  the  other  species.  By 
careful  attention  to  pruning  when  young  it  grows 
into  a  shapely  symmetrical  and  graceful  plant,  the 
branches  being  light  and  pendulous.  The  leaves, 
or  phyllodes,  are  2 J  inches  to  3  inches  long  by 
half  an  inch  wide,  pale  green,  and  rather  sparingly 
produced.  The  flowers  are  in  small  spherical  heads, 
and  borne  freely  all  along  last  year's  shoots.  They 
are  paler  in  colour  than  those  of  most  Acacias, 
being  almost  white.  It  succeeds  well  whether 
grown  as  a  pot  plant  or  in  a  border,  but  makes  a 
much  finer  specimen  grown  in  the  latter  way. 
However  grown  pruning  should  receive  attention 
as  soon  as  the  flowers  are  over.  This  should 
consist  of  thinning  the  shoots  and  shortening  back 
those  left  to  within  a  few  eyes  of  the  old  wood.  If, 
when  planted  out,  growth  becomes  too  rank  at  the 
expense  of  flowers,  a  little  root  pruning  may  be  done, 
but  with  care,  as  all  Acacias  are  impatient  of  inter- 
ference at  the  roots  if  done  in  an  unskilful  manner. 
In  the  Temperate  house  at  Kew  a  fine  specimen  of 
this  species  may  uow  be  seen  in  flower. — W.  D. 


Januauy  11,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


19 


To  idle  folk. — By    "idle"    we    only   mean 
"not  quite  so  busy  as  ourselves."    And  should 
this  catch  the  eye  of  any  such,  we  ask  them  :  Why 
do  you  not  set  to  work  to  hybridise  something — to 
raise  some  new  varieties  or  some  new  and  improved 
strain,  for   the   benefit   of    future   generations   of 
garden-lovers  ?      There    is    a    wonderful    opening 
nowadays   for    anyone   who    really    loves    plants. 
Let  them  only  take  up  one,  or  at  most  two  genera, 
and   work — aye,   work  at   them  ;    turn   them  and 
twist  them   this  way  and   that  way ;  hybridise, 
■cross,    select,    in   all    directions,    backwards    and 
forwards,  and  cease  not  till  something  good,  some- 
thing well   worth   having,    rewards   their   labour. 
And  for  choice  take  hardy  plants  in  hand,  because 
the  number  of  people  j'ou  can  benefit  with  them 
is  so   much  greater  than  with  glasshouse  plants. 
What   shall    you    take?      Well,    really,    everyone 
must  choose  for  himself ;  but  that  you   may  not 
say  you  can  think  of  nothing  we  suggest — Why 
not  seek  to  raise  up  a  whole  race  of  brilliantly' - 
coloured  and  perfectly  hardy  Anemones  by  crossing 
the  common   wood  Anemone  with  Anemone  coro- 
naria,   in  all  its   glorious  colours,    and   also   with 
Anemone   stellata?      True   A.    coronaria    and   A. 
stellata  are  both  of  them  hardy  in  a  sense  and  in 
some   places,  but   nothing   like  A.   uemorosa,   the 
common  Windflower  of  our  woods  in  spring.    Think 
how  generations  yet  unborn  would  bless  you  if  you 
could  present  them  with  a  strain  of  nemorosa  with 
all  the  colours  of  coronaria  and  stellata,  still  pre- 
ser\'ing  the  lovely  form  and  free-flowering  habit  of 
nemorosa.     An<l  this  is  but  one  example  ;  there  are 
abundance  of   others  as  easy — or,   it   may  be,   as 
dithcult,  for  till  it  is  tried  no  one  can  tell  whether 
such    a    cross    would   be   easy    or   difficult ;   but 
ditiiculties  should  not  discourage  us— only  inspire 
us  to  overcome  them. — Journal  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cullural  Soi-iely,  December,  1901. 

Late  flowering  Nepines,— While  the 

bulk  of  the  Guernsey  Lily  family  have  long 
finished  flowering  two  of  them  frequently  bloom 
into  the  New  Year.  They  are  N.  undulata,  often 
known  by  the  specific  name  of  crispa,  and 
N.  Manselli,  a  hybrid  form.  The  first  named 
— N.  undulata — has  narrow  grassy  leaves,  which 
are  well  overtopped  by  the  flower  stem,  reaching 
as  it  does  a  height  of  15  inches  or  thereabouts. 
The  flowers,  which  are  arranged  in  an  open  head, 
have  e.xtremely  narrow  segments,  so  wavy  in 
outline  as  to  suggest  the  two  specific  names 
prexiously  mentioned.  They  are  mostly  of  a 
pleasing  shade  of  light  pink,  but  vary  somewhat  in 
this  respect.  Owing  to  its  frail  appearance,  both 
in  leaves  and  blossoms,  this  Nerine  is  seen  to  far 
greater  advantage  when  grown  in  clumps,  say  in 
pots  6  inches  in  diameter,  than  when  grown 
singl}'.  Like  all  the  rest  it  is  a  native  of  South 
Africa,  and  was  introduced  therefrom  under  the 
name  of  Amarj'Uis  undulata  in  1767.  The  second 
to  mention — N.  Manselli — is  a  seedling  raised  in 
the  one  time  celebrated  nursery  of  Messrs. 
Henderson,  St.  John's  Wood.  It  was  purchased  in 
11S80  by  Mr.  iSIansell,  of  Guernsey,  under  the  name 
of  N.  cinnabarina,  but  on  flowering  proved  so 
distinct  and  valuable,  owing  to  its  late  flowering, 
that  it  was  named  in  honour  of  that  gentleman, 
who  has  before  now  in  The  Garden'  given  us  its 
early  history.  Since  then  it  has  graduall3'  made 
its  way  into  the  dift'erent  collections  of  this 
charming  class  of  plants.  In  the  Kew  Hand  List 
its  parentage  is  given  as  fle.xuosa  x  Fothergilli, 
but  on  this  point  there  seems  to  be  a  certain 
amount  of  doubt.  Nerines,  in  common  with 
several  other  South  African  bulbs,  require  a 
compost  consisting  principally  of  good  sandy  loam, 
in  which  they  will  remain  undisturbed  for  years, 
and  a  period  of  absolute  rest  during  the  summer 
months. — T. 

Late  Chpysanthemums.— In  addition 

to  the  varieties  named  by  Mr.  Beckett  (page  422) 
add  The  Queen  and  Golden  (iate  ;  the  former  is  an 
exceptionally  fine  white-flowered  variety  sent  over 
to  this  country  by  Mr.  Nathan  Smith  a  few  years 
since.  I  tried  it  then  as  an  exhibition  variety, 
but  it  has  such  a  habit  of  losing  its  best  buds  by 
immaturity  that  it  was  rendered  quite  useless  tor 
show,  and,  seeing  how  strongly  the  terminal  shoots 
grew  afterwards,  I  determined  to  test  it  thoroughly 


as  a  late-flowering  sort,  and  right  well  it  has 
succeeded  ever  since.  The  flowers  are  of  the 
purest  white,  quite  shapely,  with  long,  reflexing 
florets.  This  is  the  variety  which  is,  I  believe, 
largely  grown  in  Germany  and  highl}'  prized  in 
the  Emperor's  garden  at  Potsdam.  Golden  Gate, 
as  is  well  known,  is  a  really  good  yellow-flowered 
varietj'  when  grown  to  produce  large  blooms,  but  in 
this  respect  is  tinged  with  bronze. — E.  MoLVNKtix. 

Rose  Mme.  Lamtaard.— I  agree  with 

Mr.  Crook  that  this  Rose  is  one  of  the  best  we 
have  for  a  wall  in  a  cool  house.  In  the  garden  at 
Corhampton  House,  close  to  where  I  write,  it  can 
be  seen  in  perfection  in  a  cool  Peach  house  cover- 
ing the  back  wall,  and  giving  huge  quantities  of 
grandiy-coloureil  blossoms  in  March  and  April 
especially.  Here  in  a  warm  greenhouse  for  j-ears 
we  have  had  very  fine  flowers  from  a  plant  on  a 
back  wall  14  feet  high  quite  early  in  the  year,  and 
through  the  summer  also.  As  an  outdoor  variety 
it  is  difficult  to  suggest  a  better  Tea  Rose  for 
continuity  of  flower,  while  its  form,  colour,  and 
perfume  are  delightful. — E.  M.,  Bishop'.^  Wallham. 
Peach  Bellegarde.— I  regard  this  Peach 
as  one  of  the  best  outdoor  midseason  varieties  we 
have  ;  it  is  hardy,  grows  freely,  and  with  ordinarj' 
care  crops  heavily.  The  highly -coloured  fruits 
are  of  excellent  flavour.  The  same  virtues  are 
apparent  when  this  varietj'  is  grown  under  glass.— 

Gapdening*    in    India.  —  Mr.   Norman 

Gill,  who  left  Kew  for  Calcutta  in  1900,  writes  as 
follows  to  the  Kew  Guild  Journal  :  "  Horticulture 
in  India  does  not  come  up  to  my  expectations,  but 
considering  the  climate,  the  ignorance  and  laziness 
of  the  natives,  the  insects,  and  the  weeds,  it  is 
little  to  be  wondered  at.  The  land  is  scorched  in 
the  dry  season,  and  deluged  -with  rains  in  the  wet 
season.  Even  water  gardening  is  carried  on  under 
great  difficulties  ;  if  the  lakes  arc  to  be  kept  anj'- 
thing  like  clean,  it  is  necessary  to  draw  a  grass 
rope  over  their  surface  once  a  week,  and  an 
occasional  dredging  to  the  bottom  to  prevent  the 
overgrowth  of  Chara,  Azolla,  Lemna,  Marsilia, 
Aponogeton,  Salvinia,  &c.  Should  this  dredging 
be  neglected  such  aquatics  as  Victoria,  Euryale, 
Nj-niphita,  &c. ,  would  be  choked  in  a  short  time. 
The  tortoises  here  are  a  nuisance.  I  have  known 
them  destroy  A''ictoria  regia.  Good  experienced 
gardeners  are  scarcely  obtainable,  and  the  labour 
required  to  keep  a  garden  in  India  may,  without 
exaggeration,  be  estimated  at  more  than  double 
that  necessary  at  home." 

Mp.  E.  H.  "Wilson,  who  during  the  past 
three  years  has  been  in  China  collecting  plants  for 
Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  in  an 
interesting  letter  to  the  Journal  of  the  Kew  Guild, 
says  :  "  The  Manclioos,  and  not  the  Chinese,  are 
the  cause  of  nearly  all  the  trouble  in  China.  The 
average  Chinaman  is  a  peace-loving,  law-abiding 
person,  quite  willing,  nay  anxious,  to  trade  with 
the  foreigner.  The  Mancliu,  on  the  contrary,  is 
jealous  of  the  foreigner.  Nearly  all  the  highest 
officials  are  Manchoos,  and  these  are  all  more  or 
less  anti  -  foreign.  The  Chinese  are  a  peculiar 
people,  and  their  temper  is  most  uncertain.  My 
collecting  goes  on  apace  ;  everj'  day  adds  some- 
thing to  my  stock,  either  interesting,  valuable,  or 
both.  On  a  recent  trip  I  met  with  Davidia  in 
quantity.  I  saw  upwards  of  100  trees  of  all  sizes 
up  to  50  feet  high,  the  majority  in  flower.  On  the 
same  trip  I  came  across  an  Abies  forest  ;  some 
specimens  were  16  feet  in  girth  and  fully  150  feet 
high  ! " 


ON    THE    CULTIVATION    OF 
ONCOCYCLUS    IRISES. 

By  THE  L-\TE  Rev.  H.  Eweaxk,  M.A. 

The  secretary  will  bear  me  witness,  I  know,  ihat 
I  have  never  had  any  thought  of  instructing  the 
members  of  the  Roj-al  Horticultural  Society  on 
this  rather  diflicult  subject,  and  if  he  had  not 
urged  me  to  retail  my  experience  I  should  never  have 
done  it.  I  confess  to  being  excessively  interested 
in  it,  and  I  have  been  so  for  a  long  time  ;  and  it 
does  happen  that  there  is  one  point  about  which, 
according   to   my   present   ideas,    some   very  con- 


siderable light  has  been  vouchsafed  to  me  of  late, 
and  this  I  am  ready  to  lay  before  the  society  now; 
or,  to  put  the  same  thing  in  a  ratlier  different  way, 
I  will  explain  the  point  at  which  several  of  us  have 
arrived.  M3'  readers  must  kindly  understand  that 
Sir  Michael  Foster  and  Herr  Max  Leichtlin  have 
been  my  special  instructors,  and  I  do  not  think  I 
have  deviated  in  principle  from  what  the  former  laid 
down  in  his  article  in  The  Garden,  November  28, 
1891,  and  also  in  visits  which  I  have  paid  to  him, 
or  from  what  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  latter  on 
difl'erent  occasions  at  Baden-Baden.  My  own 
article  in  The  G.arden,  September  1,  1894,  was 
little  more,  and  it  certainly  never  laid  claim  to 
being  anything  more,  than  the  application  of  their 
theories  to  my  own  practice  in  the  Isle  of  Wighti 

And  nov/  for  results.  They  have  been  of  a  very 
varied  description.  I  do  not  think  that  I  have 
ever  been  without  a  fair  number  of  blossoms  ;  it 
has  been  sometimes  more  and  sometimes  less :  in 
some  years  I  have  been  greatly  delighted  with 
success  and  I  imagined  that  the  whole  thing  had 
been  done,  and  then  my  expectations  were  dashed 
and  I  have  not  met  with  the  improvements  I 
desired.  It  is,  however,  only  right  to  say  that 
mv  garden  is  a  sort  of  horticultural  trial  ground, 
and  I  should  occasionally  have  done  better  than 
was  the  case  if  I  had  been  content  to  let  well  alone  ; 
but  I  have  constantly  gone  in  for  improvement, 
and  improvement  has  not  always  come  off.  One 
year  I  severely  injured  my  whole  collection,  and 
I  lost  a  great  many  Irises  through  an  experiment, 
for  which  I  thought  there  was  justification,  but  the 
event  showed  plainly  enough  it  was  not  so. 
Results,  therefore,  have  often  been  of  a  rather 
mixed  description. 

There  has  been  quite  enough  of  good  about  them 
to  make  me  feel  sure  I  was  on  the  right  track. 
I  have  frequentlj'  had  some  very  splendid  blossoms, 
and  yet  enough  of   uncertainty  and   imperfection 
remained   to  make    me   long   for   a   more  decided 
advance.     This  decided  advance  has  come  at  last, 
I  think,  and  it  is  that  which  I  venture  to  describe 
to  you  now.     I  can  only  tell  you  how  things  are 
witli  me  on  this  head  up  to  date.      It   is  a  very 
odd  thing,  as  I  dare  say  you   have  noticed,  how, 
with   discoveries   of    a    magnifical    and    universal 
importance,  and  also  with   those  of  a  trivial  and 
very  insignificant  value,  precisely  the  same  thing 
seems  to  strike  different  persons  at  the  self-same 
time.     There  is  no  claim,  of  course,  made  for  the 
subject  of   these  remarks   that    it   belongs  to  the 
first  of  these  two  classes.     But   small  and  trivial 
as  it  is,  it  illustrates  a  sort  of  general  law  so  far 
as  it  can  do  it.      Not  a   few   of    those  who  were 
anxious  to  know  what  these  Oncocj'clus  Irises  most 
desire  to  have  given  to  them  altered  their  opinions 
at  about  the  same  time.     It  was  verj'  odd  indeed 
that  we  all  seemed  to  come  last  autumn  to  think 
that  lime  in  some  shape  must  be  given   to   them 
so  as  to  do  well,  whereas  no  one,  so  far  as  I  know 
anj'thing  about  the  business,  liad  ever  empha^iseil 
or  said  very  much  about  it   before.     This  is  the 
singularity  of   the  whole  att'air.      Whatever  Herr 
Jlax  Leichtlin  says  to  me  about  any  horticultural 
matter,  I  accept  it  without  asking  anj'  question  at 
all.     Now,  I  perfectly  remember  his  saj'ing  to  me 
at  an  early  date  when  the  modes  of  cultivation  for 
tliese   Irises   were   discussed:    "I    do    not    think 
that   the    question   of    soil    has    anything    to   do 
with    success    in    this    matter.      It     depends    on 
other   considerations   altogether."     So    after    this 
piece   of    instruction   I   gave    myself    up   to   find 
out  what  "the  other  conditions"  demanded,  and 
I  fondly  imagined    that   good    loam   and   perhaps 
some  road  grit  would  supply  everything  that  was 
required  in  the  way  of  soil.     I  thought  I  might 
leave  soil  alone  and  that  it  had  been  sufficiently 
considered.     It  was  also  noticeable  in  Sir  Michael 
Foster's  instructions  in  The  Garden,  November  28, 
1891,  to  which  I  have  referred  above,  how  very 
little  he  says  on  this  head.     He  only  incidentally 
notices  the  fact  that  he  lives  upon  chalk,  and  his 
words  run  thus:    "On  my  own  bleak  chalk  hill, 
where,  in  seasons  other  than  the  present  one,  the 
soil,  speciallj-  the  subsoil,"  &c. ,  but  he  does  not  at 
all  emphasise  what  follows  from  it,  viz.,  that  a 
good  deal  may  be  owing  to  this,  and  a  little  lower 
down  in  his  communication  he  even  raises  a  doubt 


20 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  11,  i902. 


as  to  whether  there  is  any  eheniieal  efficacy  about 
chalk  with  regard  to  these  Irises,  for  he  says  about 
a  place  which  is  near  his  own,  and  where  Iris 
susiana  does  w-ell ;  "  Yet  there  must  be  something 
in  the  place  in  question,  something  in  the  con- 
ditions, something  pet-haps  in  tlie  toil,  avd  if  so 
■lomethiii;/  probably  in  the  physical  rather  than  in 
the  chemical  nature  of  the  soil  n-hich  determines 
success."'  &c.  But  this  is  the  very  point  on  which 
1  should  now  respectfully  join  issue  with  him. 

I  venture  to  submit,  though  this  is  rather  ante- 
dating what  has  to  follow,  that  the  great  reasons 
why  Oncocyclu.s  Irises  like  Sir  M.  Foster  so  much 
are,  fir.st  of  all.  because  they  naturally  take  to  one 
who  knows  so  much  about  them  :  but  secondl}', 
an<l  principall}',  because  they  do  ajlect  the  chemical 
nature  uf  the  soil  with  which  they  are  certainly 
provided  in  his  place,  and,  not  as  he  in  this  passage 
suggests,  because  of  its  physical  properties,  whioh 
are  of  less  account  with  them.  It  is  chalk  or  lime 
in  .some  shape  or  other  which  I  believe  is,  with 
many  of  them,  a  kind  uf  neces.sity  for  their  well- 
being — a  downright  food— and  the  whole  purport 
of  this  paper  is  to  make  it  evident  that  such  is  the 
case.  But,  as  showing  how  far  some  good  horti- 
culturists have  gone  on  the  wrong  tack  about  this, 
I  may  be  allowed  to  mention  that  Mr.  Amos  Perry, 
who  is  one  of  our  best  nurserymen,  said  to  lue  that 
he  considered  it  good  practice 
if  "4  inches  or  .">  inches  of  soil 
are  taken  off  the  bed  where  f¥"^ 
Oncocyclus  Irises  are  grown  ^itiii-a\-  »  /"■  ' 
and   they  have  a  heavy  dress-         ,  /i    ''/""   7"_" 


An. 


ing  of  manure  to  that  amoiuit. ' 

This   I   should   now   esteem  to        ^ 

be  rjuile  out  of  the  question,  but        Jcrnr:-'^"^^  - 

ilr.  Amos  Perry  is  by  no  means        'V/iti  • 

singular    in     the    opiniuns    he 

held.     I  have  been  over  the  fine        "  ■ 

girdens    of   Messrs.   Herb   ami 

WuUe     at    Naples,     and     we 

discoursed   about   Irises   for    a  '  r..':.'r  iirL 

long  time,  but  I  never  heard  a        ■ »  ~  .       / 


"  pegging  away  "  at  this  point  and  that,  but  they 
have  all  the  while  completely  overlooked  the  most 
important  factor  in  the  waj'  of  commanding  success 
which  can  be  anyhow  named.  It  has  not  held  the 
right  place,  in  our  estimation,  at  all,  and  has  often 
been  obscured  and  sometimes  quite  forgotten  in 
the  practice  we  follow.  I  would  assert  with  all 
the  strength  and  emphasis  I  can  command  that 
Oncocyclus  Irises  not  only  jntt  up  with,  and  are 
benefited  by,  the  presence  ol  lime  in  the  soil,  but 
that  it  is  imperatively  required  by  them  in  some 
shape,  and  they  must  have  it  if  they  are  to  do 
really  well  and  also  continuously.  From  what  I 
have  seen  in  my  own  garden,  and  the  difference 
between  this  year  and  all  the  other  years  that 
have  gone  before  it,  I  have  come  to  think  that  lime 
is  the  missing  link,  so  to  say — the  sine  (jmi  uou — 
the  imperatively  needed  factor  in  the  cultivation 
of  these  beautiful  flowers,  and  it  should  not  be 
spoken  of  as  a  thing  which  may  or  may  not  be 
sujipllcd,  but  as  a  prime  necessity  without  which 
success  can  be  only  very  comparative,  but  with 
which  (other  things  being  right)  good  results  will 
ensue  ;  and  I  feel  so  certain  that  this  is  very  often 
left  out  of  sight  and  not  at  all  understood  that  I 
venture  to  add  words  to  words  so  as  to  bring  it 
quite  clearly  to  the  front. 

Now  it  is  a  fact  that  light  came  to  me  and  to 


?'),-'rf//<!^t  4l!':l.'irijt>  ,'«;.->/>,/.,  J-'J.^lt  f-'A-'* 


quite  correct,  that  Mr.  Potter,  the  foreman  of 
Messrs.  Backhouse,  at  York,  has  to  do  with  two 
gardens — one  in  (Oxfordshire  and  the  other  in 
York.  In  the  former  of  these  two  gardens  (at 
Witney,  I  think)  Iris  iberica  grows  like  a  weed, 
in  the  other  it  will  not  groAv  at  all ;  and  he  can 
only  account  for  it  by  saying  that  in  the  one  place 
it  meets  with  plenty  of  lime,  in  the  other  it  has 
none  at  all.  And  when  my  suspicions  had  been 
awakened  by  one  thing  and  another,  and  I  was 
musing  over  the  matter,  I  received  a  letter  from 
abroad  in  which  the  following  words  occur  :  — 
"  From  what  I  can  see  of  my  Oncocyclus  Irises 
this  year  and  the  past  season,  I  get  more  and  more 
convinced  that  the  want  of  lime  in  our  soils  is  one 
of  the  chief  sources  of  failure,''  &c.  It  all  seemed 
to  be  tending  the  same  way,  and  tallied  exactly 
with  the  ideas  that  were  then  in  my  mind. — 
Ileproduced  by  permission  from  the  Journal  of  the 
Koyal  Horticultural  Society. 

(  To  tie  contiuueiL  ) 


"^ 


./..., ,4"'  V-tk  .<•-■' 


Ifttcf-^ 


word    from     them     about    tli 
advisability  of  having  a  chalky  „,,/       0 

soil,   nor  do  1    remember  any-  '    "    ■ 

thing  pointing  to  it.  With  M. 
Dammann,  of  Naples,  it  was 
different ;  he  also  grows  Onco- 
cyclus Irises  near  the  slopes 
of  Vesuvius,  and  he  did  tell 
me  that  Iris  Galesii,  Iris  Lor- 
teti,  Iris  susiana,  and  Iris 
iberica  have  a  mild  inclination  f 
for  some  chalky  soil,  but  he 
mixed  it  U]i  with  so  many  other 
things — e.(j.,  sandj'  loam,  black- 
rad  loam,  mould,  old  manured 
Cucumber  soil — that  its  value 
was  obscured,  and  I  had  very  the  oi.o  Ari;m 
confused  instructions  to  go  u))on, 
and  I  found  it  rather  hard  to  comply  with  them. 
and  so  gave  them  u])  ;  but  it  is  true  that  he  did 
say  soniething  about  chalk}'  soil  inter  alia.  Mr. 
F.  Moore,  the  well-known  director  of  the  Royal 
•  lardens  at  Glasnevin.  has  written  to  me  that  "  he 
always  used  lime  rubbish  from  old  walls  in  making 
up  the  beds  for  Oncocyclus  Irises,  and  then  he  gave 
them  weak  manure  water  in  April  to  counteract 
the  poorness  of  the  soil." 

Mr.  F.  Burbidge,  whose  experience  in  these 
things  is  so  great,  has  written  to  me:  "That  is  a 
most  valuable  observation  of  yours,  /.'■.,  lime  or 
chalk  for  the  Cushion  Irise.s.  May  not  this  account 
for  tlie  unique  success  of  Sir  Michael  Foster, 
F.R.S.,  who,  as  you  well  know,  grows  these 
flowers  on  the  breezy  crest  of  a  chalk  hill  up 
among  singing  larks  in  the  flinty  Barley  fields  at 
Great  Shelford  ? "  This  would  tend  to  show  that 
Mr.  Burbidge  had  not  before  this  year  come  tu  any 
definite  conclusion  about  the  advisability,  or  rather 
the  necessity,  of  lime  being  used,  and  so  also  with 
several  others.  I  am  far  from  saying  that  lime 
has  not  been  used  at  all  in  the  cultivation  of  these 
splendid  flowers.  Mr.  F.  Moore,  for  instance,  tells 
us  that  he  used  lime  rubbish  from  old  walls  in 
making  up  his  beds,  but  no  great  stress  has  ever 
been  laid  upon  it  so  far  as  1  know  anything  about 
the  matter.     Many  have  gone  on,  year  after  year, 


f 


LA    ■•OKANO 


(/•V,. 


Others  simultaneously  last  year,  and,  as  we  think, 
in  rather  odd  ways.  We  put  two  and  two  together, 
and  there  was  onl}'  one  conclusion  to  be  derived 
from  it  all,  which  is,  that  most  of  these  Oncocyclus 
Irises,  if  not  all,  are  essentially  lime-loving  plants  ; 
they  may,  perhaps,  get  on  without  it  for  a  time, 
but  they  will  get  on  much  better  with  it,  and  all 
who  want  to  succeed  with  them  should  bear  this 
consideration  in  mind.  Our  discovery  came  about 
in  this  wise  : — My  friend  here,  Mr.  Blair  Cochrane, 
of  Oakleigh,  St  John's  Park,  is  fond  of  his  garden, 
and  he  took  it  into  his  head  that  he  would  grow 
Oncocyclus  Irises  ;  he  accordingly  bought  a  good 
lot  of  them,  and  he  proceeded  to  plant  them  forth- 
with. It  so  happened  that  an  addition  was  being 
made  to  his  hmise,  and  without  more  ado  he  used 
a  grc  at  deal  of  the  rubble  or  old  mortar  which  was 
lying  about  the  place  and  he  put  his  Irises  in  it  : 
be  alMi  used  the  other  measures  which  seemed  to 
be  ncces.sary  to  success.  The  winter  before  last 
was  1  ot  an  especially  easy  one,  but  the  plants,  so 
to  say,  .sailed  through  it,  and  he  had  a  great  deal 
of  blossom  the  next  spring  with  very  little  trouble 
about  it.  This  was  his  first  attempt,  and  he  was 
led  to  suppose  that  the  difficulty  of  growing 
Oncoc\  lus  Irises  had  been  very  much  exaggerated. 
Also  1  was  told  a  short  time  ago,  and  it  was  a 
very  curious  circumstance,  which  I   believe  to  be 


INTRODUCTION      OF      THE 
FLORIST'S    AURICULA. 

The  Eev.  F.  1).  Horner,  writing  in  Tub 
Gaedkn  of  June,  ;lt<8l  (vol.  xix.,  page  (iiil), 
makes  the  following  .state- 
ment regarding  the  fii\st  in- 
troduction of  the  Auricula  to 
England  :  "  When  is  perhaps 
not  so  e.xactly  Icnown  a.s 
where,  on  which  point  there 
i.s  the  evidence  of  well-kept, 
.   .  unshaken  tradition,  corrobo- 

/  J  rated  by  local  evidence,  that 

its  early  English  home  was 
especially    Lancashire.       In 
172."i  we  have  evident  proof 
\  Ui .  that  the  Auricula  was  estab- 

lished in  Lancashire." 

We  have,  however,  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Spalding  Gentle- 
men's Society  written  records 
that  the  Auricula  was  equally 
at  home  in  this  district,  for 
in  the  minutes  of  the  Spald- 
ing Gentlemen's  Society  we 
have  an  entry  on  April  22, 
172.'). 

April   ;/;,  li.'.'i. — The  secre- 
tary comnuniicated  to  ye  society 
a   peep    ol    an    Auricula    Ursi 
°  called  "  Grand  Paisaut "  of  this 

size  of  a  deep  crimson  and 
like  V.  W.  H.  with  a  yellow- 
eye.  There  were  seven  upon 
ye  truss,  the  largest  was  laid  upon  this  paper, 
and  the  size  and  shape  marked  exactly. 

Apjril  ;,  Ji.'t;. — Mr.  Mills  brought  with  him  a 
very  curious  and  large  Auricula,  green  striped, 
with  dark  red  and  jellow  and  a  fi]ie  white  eye  ; 
and  the  peeps  of  a  great  many  other  Auriculas 
very  beautiful  and  now  in  blew  in  his  potts. 

N.B. — This  fine  flower  thrives  best  in  pots  in  a 
light  earth  mixed  with  sharp  sea  sand  and  not 
exposed  either  to  the  sun  or  rain  from  the  time 
it  begins  to  blew. 

From  ye  observations  of  Mr.  Everard,  secretary 
Gentlemen's  Society,  a  curious  florist. 

March  .'S,  /;  .',s'. — Dr.  (ireen  brought  an  Auricula 
Ursi  with  a  truss  of  forty-five  peeps  or  flowers  of 
a  deep  crimson  colour,  with  a  white  eye  well 
powidered. 

May  1,  l'..'!!. — Mr.  Rowland  shewd  the  society 
a  truss  of  an  Auricula  bearing  thereon  107  peeps 
or  flowers,  the  stalk  very  flat  and  broad. 

April ,.'..',  17,10. — Dr.  Green,  secretarj',  shewd  the 
societj'  a  pullett's  egg,  &c. ,  also  several  peeps  of 
Auricula  Ursi  limmed  b}'  him  very  neatly,  and  a 
stalk  bearing  six  of  the  double  yellow  Auricula 
Ursi  growing  not  on  the  topp  together  in  a  truss 
as  usual  but  three  one  over  against  the  other,  and 
the  largest  at  the  summitt  or  end  of  ye  stalk  in 
the  manner  of  spiked  flower.s. 


rtis  n/  Uii-  Spalding  GenHcnien  .s'  Socict!/.} 


January  11,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


21 


.(}, 


,/ 

4IU 


!'i^. 


I'V/'-' 


aM 


/Mf  //i)w6  /^  ^-*    '-!;;  v'fe, 


'■'''-'/F.I'^  l>/ 


'//  >/i  fj.'tit-  iff  0Ui,i  ti/6 


/r'puJiuf-^-^'tJiaijLn^t 


y^^fi 


M 


:%u 


J.- 


fj.y.-, 


//V, 


■<-//./-■ 


Ki^Ji'' 


A.^ 


'A;>>, 


dening, " 
published 
1724,  it 
states  that 
"  some  few 
years  ago 
that  I  have 
known  one 
root  of  it 
sold  for 
twenty 
guineas, 
but  that 
was  indeed 
when  they 
began  first 
to  appear 
in  our 
climates." 
This  Mr. 
Bradley 
was  an 
excellent 
gardener,  a 
scientific 
and  a  keen 
observer. 
He  was  a 
Fellow  of 
who  made 
that  greatest  of  all  botanical  discoveries,  the 
polleiiisation  of  flowers.  A  man  of  his 
stamp  can  be  absolutely  relied  on  when  he 
states  a  simple  and  easily  ascertained  fact  and 
brings  such  proof  for  his  statement. 

Therefore  we  may  be  certain  that  within 
twenty  years  of  17i'4  the  Auricula  as  a  florist's 
flower  was  first  introduced  into  England. 

Mr.  Bradley  also  jiublishes  the  first  known 
code  of  rules  for  a  florist's  Auricula.  They  are 
as  follows  :— "  A  good  Auricula  onght  to  have 
the  following  excellencies  —  First,  that  the 
flower  stem  be  strong  and  substantial  ;  secondly, 
the  foot-stalks  of  the  flowers  must  be  short,  and 
capable  of  supporting  the  blossoms  upright ; 
thirdly,  that  tht  pipe  or  neck  of  each  flower  be 
short  ;  fourthly,  that  the  flower  be  large  and 
of  a  regular  form  ;  fifthly,  their  colours  should 
be  bright  and  well  mixed  ;  sixthly,  that  the 
eye  be  large,  round,  and  of  a  good  white  ; 
seventhly,  that  the  flowers  spread  themselves 
flat,  and  be  no   ways  inclinable  to  cup  :  and. 


LIGHT  PURPLE  AURICULA.     (Fiom  the  records  of  the  Spalding  (  ent'.einen's  Societij.) 

April  S,  17 JO. — Dr.  Green,  a  secretary  of  this  the  Royal  Society,  and  he  it  was 
society,  shewd  the  society  a  tight  purple  velvet 
coloured  Auricula  CJrsi  of  his  own  raising  from 
seed,  having  a  very  large  white  ej'e  ;  one  peep  of 
tliree  which  were  on  tlie  same  stalk  was  of  the  cir- 
cumference iiere  under  drawn  round  the  e-xtremitie 
of  the  same  as  laid  down  flat  upon  this  paper 
2  inches  diameter. 

Of  this  flower  the  learned  Dr.  John  Rea  in  his 
"Ffora"  says:  "Auricula  Ursi  (Beares  Ears)  are 
nobler  kinds  of  Cowslips,  bearing  several  flowers 
like  them  in  form  on  the  sumniitt  of  their  stalk  in 
what  wee  commonly  call  a  truss." 

Rapin  has  overlooked  this  beautiful  flower,  but 
our  own  Cowley  lias  done  it  justice  in  his  third 
book  of  plants  thus  translated  by  N.  Tat,  Poet 
Laureate. 

"Impudent  fool!   tliat  first   stil'd   beauteous 
flowers 
Bv  a  detested  name  the  ears  of  bears  ; 
^Vorthy  himself  of  asses  ears  a  pair 
F.urer  than  Midas  once  was  said  to  wear." 

J/a//  Jli,  17 JO. — Dr.  Green,  secretary,  shewd  the 
society  a  curious  lusus  in  a  peep  or  flower  of  an 
Auricula  called  Potter's  Glory 
of  England,  having  from  the 
middle  of  it  another  peep  rising 
up,  but  reversed  so  that  tlie 
stripes  of  that  peep  were  on 
tlie  outside  of  the  leaves  as 
those  of  the  main  peep  were 
as  usual  on  Auricula  Ursis  on 
the  inside. 

Note. — This  peep  or  flower 
being  dissected  has  two  dis- 
tinct seed  -  vessels  standing 
laterally. 

May  J4,  17-30.  —  (A  dried 
flower  of  an  Auricula  is  here 
pasted  in  the  minute  book. 
8.  H.  P.). — This  is  tlie  lusus  or 
peep  of  an  Auricula  Ursi,  one 
within  the  other  produced  by 
Dr.  Green,  secretary  of  this 
soeiet}',  the  10th  of  this  month, 
commented  on  in  the  minutes. 

These  entries  put  Spalding 
on  a  level  with  Lancashire  as 
regards  claims  for  first  culti- 
vating the  Auricula. 

As  regards  Mr.  Horner's 
i|uestion  as  to  -ivhev  the  Au- 
ricula was  introduced,  in 
Bradley's  "  New  Improve- 
ments of  Planting  and  Gar- 


las  tly,  that  there  be  a  good  truss  of  flowers 
equally  spread  upon  the  stalk."  Sd  you  will  see 
there  was  already  a  set  of  laws  framed  for  this 
plant  so  early  in  its  history  as  1724. 

S.  H.  Perey,  M.R.C.S.,  etc.,  .S^Kilding. 

The  prototypes  of  the  florist  section  of  Auri- 
culas, I  believe,  came  to  England  with  the  intro- 
duction of  the  weaving  of  woollens,  and  were 
favourites  that  the  immigrant  weavers  brought 
into  co-exile  with  them  from  the  Continent.  I 
can  quite  understand  that  some  would  land  on 
the  eastern  seaboard  county  of  Lincolnshire, 
but  ^  that  more  was  seen  and  grown  of  the 
Auricula  in  the  industrial  centres  of  counties 
York  and  Lancaster.  When  cotton  appeared 
as  a  textile  fabric,  it  was  somewhat  a  puzzle 
for  the  "  woollens  hands "  to  name  !  And, 
holding  still  to  familiar  names,  the  raw  cotton 
fibre  was  but  a  form  of  their  old  staple — and 
they  called  it  "cotton  wool." 

The  old  minutes  of  the  Spalding  Gentlemen's 
Society  are  very  quaint  and  interesting. 

The  fasciated  truss  of  "  107  peeps  "  reminds 
me  that  at  the  old  Middleton  Lancashire  show 
there  was  ever  a  prize  for  "  biggest  bunch." 
It  was  a  sort  of  "frolic  home," and  never  taken 
seriously  as  mere  bigness  (megalomania)  is  in 
London.  "  To  my  sinful  sorrow  "  (Mrs.  Gamp), 
I  once  won  the  "  big  bunch  "  prize  at  Middleton, 
with  an  unruly  contumaceous  bunch  of  Duke 
of  Argyll  (crimson  self). 

The  scathing  poet  of  the  period  did  not  notice 
that,  do  as  he  would,  he  could  not  eradicate  the 
idea  of  "Eares"out  of  the  botanical  name  "  Auri- 
cula,'' and  that  it  applied  after  all,  and  not  dis- 
paragingly, to  the  innocent  foliage  of  the  plant. 

"The  first  known  code  of  rules"  for  a 
florist's  Auricula  is  according  to  the  lights  of 
the  time;  and  "the  Excellencies"  to  the 
attainments  thereof.  The  blossoms  cannot  all 
"be  upright,'' and  the  length  of  the  "pipe  or 
neck,"  i.e.,  of  the  tube,  is  immaterial,  through 
no  faultiness  occurring  either  way,  edged  flowers 
generally  being  shorter  in  tube  than  the  sells. 

Colours  "to  be  bright  and  well  mixed"is  a  rule 
now  indistinct  and  out  of  date. 

F.  D.  HOENEE. 


is  difficult  to 


/7,")-,  ■•'177 


■  frr7i     ,    /   /^^\ 


'  ISiUi'  fi  • 


.0  .;../^ 


^Jt'J^'ilC^M*^o~£ye4/d£lttiia  iJu  \^nj^lt.  ^^S'uitcyU'UA'fU^ 


iJrr 


i\ 


U.(i 


'liOn 


,^.. 


■^yuM' 


,x^c/a,j  m^ciij^  ^r^r7^%i,  fl^A 


A  ODBIOUS   AURICULA   .SEEDLING, 


(Froin  the  records  of  the  S2>a'dinr/  t^'entlemen' s  Society.) 


RIVIERA    NOTES. 

I  NOTICE  in  this  land  of  wild  Tulips,  where  it 
suppress  them  rather  than  to 
make  them  grow,  that  Tulipa 
saxatilis  is  year  by  year  split- 
ting up  into  ofl'sets  which  are 
too  weak  to  bloom.  Each 
year  the  growth  is  earlier 
and  weaker,  the  foliage  being 
now  fully  developed  without 
any  sign  of  flower  buds.  Is 
it  a  dweller  in  igneous  rocks, 
I  wonder,  for  these  limestone 
crags  and  mortar-like  soil  do 
not  suit  it  evidently? 

Another  failure  apparently 
is  the  lovely  Tecophyliea 
cyanocrocus,  but  perhaps  it 
needs  more  .shade  and  shelter 
in  this  fierce  climate,  which 
tries  its  delicate  constitution 
even  when  petted  with  mix- 
ture of  light  and  fairly  rich 
soils.  It  likewise  resents  the 
autumn  heated  ground  and 
makes  a  weak  and  spindly 
growth  far  too  soon  in  Octo- 
ber. Do  both  these  bulbs 
come  from  a  considerable 
elevation  1 

Iris  Vartani  is  so  exqui- 
site in  colour  and  so  careless 
of    soil  or   position    that    I 


22 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  11,  1902. 


greatly  wonder  that  it  has  not  attained  the 
popularity  its  pale  sky  blue  Howers  deserve. 
Save  that  it  has  no  scent,  I  should  always 
prefer  it  to  1.  reticulata,  so  well  known  and 
so  commonly  grown. 

Gardens  in  England  have  discarded  the  old- 
fashioned  tall-growing  Ageratum.  Just  now 
the  contrast  between  the  weakling  masses  of 
the  dwarf,  so-called  bedding,  Ageratum,  and 
the  luxuriant  masses  of  the  original  A.  me.xi- 
canum  is  very  striking,  and  .satisfies  me  that 
the  original  form  is  far  the  most  to  be  depended 
on.  Grown  in  pots  for  the  conservatory  in 
winter  it  de.serves  every  attention,  for  after 
the  first  forced  bulbs  come  in  a  good  bush}' 
mass  of  its  lavender  -  blue  flowers  is  most 
effective.  I  tried  the  new  and  lovely  Coleus 
thysoideus,  which  gives  the  same  colour,  and 
flowers  at  the  same  time  ;  but  here,  at  any 
rate,  "the  old  is  better,"  and  needs  less  warmth 
and  .shelter.  After  ten  days  of  deluging  rains 
one  prizes  the  flowers  that  survive,  so  the 
Ageratum,  with  Linum  trigynum,  and  the  host 
of  brilliant  Salvias  now  in  beauty,  are  the 
liowers  of  the  day.  It  is  curious  to  see  how 
indifferent  .some  flowers  are  to  even  the 
heaviest  rains.  The  New  Year  will  greet  us 
brightly  under  present  conditions. 

E.    H.  WOOD.\LL. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

LEUCOJUiM   (SNOWFLAKES). 

BEIN<i,  generally  speaking,  of  easy 
culture,  SnowHakes,  like  the  alliecl 
Galanthus,  or  iSnowdrops,  are  great 
favourites  in  gardens,  and  will  become 
still  more  so  when  their  great  value  as 
winter  and  spring-flowering  plants  is 
better  understood.  Take,  for  instance,  the  best  of 
all,  L.  carpaticum.  Collected  bulbs  recjuire  to  be 
cultivated  in  a  suitable  spot  for  about  a  year,  or 
when  small  perhaps  for  two  years.  When  lifted  and 
boxed  up— without,  however,  letting  the  roots  or 
bulbs  get  dry  previous  to  the  boxing  up  —they  must 
be  well  watered,  plunged  in  some  light  material, 
moss  litter,  old  rotten  manure,  or  fibre,  and  about 
November  put  the  boxes  in  a  cold  frame  under 
glass  ;  during  severe  frost  keep  the  boxes  from 
being  frozen.  Frost  would  not  hurt  the  bulbs,  as 
they  are  perfectly  hardy,  but  would  retard  the 
flowering.  On  no  account  allow  them  to  want  for 
sufficient  moisture.  Thus  treated,  they  will  not 
only  flower  about  Christmas  time,  but  produce  line 
long-stalked  flowers  most  valuable  at  that  time  of 
the  year.  L.  vernum  can  be  treated  in  a  similar 
way,  but  it  is  usually  not  quite  as  early  as  L.  car- 
paticum. The  later  flowering  L.  pulchellum  and 
L.  testivuni,  if  well-matured  large-flowering  bnlbs 
can  be  had,  flower  much  earlier  than  the  usual 
time  by  boxing  them  up  and  treating  the  same  as 
the  former.  .Snowflakes  do  not  really  force  as  well, 
for  instance,  as  the  Narcissus,  and  as  bulbs  grown 
in  a  slightly  warmer  climate  and  consequent  earlier 
season  flower  often  naturally  quite  as  early,  the 
extra  trouble  hardly  pays. 

Apart  from  their  usefulness  as  cut  flowers, 
Snowflakes  are  charming  in  tlie  wild  garden — in 
fact,  they  are  better  adapted  for  this  than  even  the 
Snowdrops,  especiall}'  in  a  stiff  soil  with  plenty  of 
moisture,  and  partiallj'  shaded  and  sheltered.  In 
many  parts  of  the  continent  L.  vernum,  the  most 
common  of  Snowflakes,  and  next  to  L.  carpaticum 
the  best,  is  grown  in  a  half-wild  state  in  orchards 
among  grass,  on  the  banks  of  rivers,  and  in  meadows. 
When  in  bloom  during  the  early  spring  the  flowers 
are  picked  and  sold  at  good  prices  on  market  days, 
often,  however,  under  the  wrong  name — in  France 
often  as  Pei-cc  neige,  wliile  in  the  Clerman  speaking 
countries  under  the  name  of  Seheegliickchen,  the 
name  for  Snowdrop  (or  (ialanthus).  The  neatest 
way  of  offering  them  was  in  the  city  of  Geneva. 
Several  bulbs  (about  ten  to  twelve)  were  packed 
careful!}'  in  green  moss  and  put  in  flowei'  pots  ;  with 


their  half-grown  green  leaves  and  barely  developed 
flowers  they  used  to  fetch  a  good  price.  With  the 
exception  of  L.  ;estivuni  (flowers  imported  to  this 
country  from  France),  I  have  rarely  seen  Snow- 
flakes  in  the  market,  and  those  were  invariably 
short  stalked. 

Under  the  name  of  Leueojum  are  now  included, 
besides  L.  vernum  and  L.  carpaticum  (the  real 
Snowflakes),  which  Mr.  Baker  classifies  under 
Krinosnia  (1),  L.  testivum  and  pulchellum  ;  the 
Euleucorium  (2) ;  also  tlie  autumnal,  winter,  or 
spring- flowering  species,  formerly  kinds  known 
under  Acis  (o),  which  Mr.  Baker  gives  as  Acis  and 
liuminia  (4).  The  bulbs  of  the  first  grou])  are 
globose,  with  a  silky  whitish  or  greenish  tunic, 
tliree  to  five  light  green  leaves  6  inches  to  12  inches 
long  and  about  half  an  inch  broad  ;  the  peduncle 
is  from  !)  inches  to  18  inches  long  ;  one,  rarely  two- 
flowered,  in  L.  vernum,  but  usually  two,  or  even 
three-flowered,  in  L.  carpaticum  ;  the  flowers  in 
both  are  pendulous,  bell-shaped,  creamy  white, 
tipped  with  bright  green  and  tinged  yellow,  while 
tlie  anthers  are  golden  yellow,  rarely  orange.  L. 
carpaticum,  when  well  grown,  being  much  stronger 
in  growth,  is  also  the  more  easily  grown  of  the 
two,  and  flowers  earlier  than  fj.  vernum.  It  is  a 
beautiful  plant,  and  easily  grown  to  perfection. 
A  few  years  ago,  at  the  Hale  I'^arm  Nurseries,  Mr. 
Ware  liad  some  beds  with  several  thousands  of 
bulbs  grown  on  the  north  side  of  a  Privet  hedge, 
and,  except  in  severe  winters,  the  first  flowers 
appeared  invariably  as  early  as  the  middle  of 
January.  Though  grown  in  the  unfavourable 
London  climate,  these  beds  were  the  best  I  have 
seen  under  culture. 

The  first  lime  I  got  ae(purinted  with  the  beautiful 
L.  car()aticnm  (I.,.  Wagneri  Stapf. )  was  in  the 
spring  of  1S77,  when  I  saw  a  fairly  large  forest  on 
the  slope  of  a  hill  in  Tran.s3'lvania  literally  carpeted 
with  this  species  in  bloom.  Not  far  away  the 
pretty  large  blue  -  flowering  Hepatica  angulosa 
Inxurialed.  Both  were  at  that  time  but  little 
known  in  England,  and  a  few  years  later  Mr.  Ware 
acquired  large  stocks  of  both  plants. 

The  second  group  of  Leueojum  is  quite  distinct 
in  every  respect  trom  the  former.  Tlie  bulbs 
resemble  more  those  of  the  Narcissus,  with  a  black 
or  brown  tunic  and  a  peculiar  large  base,  and 
bright  green  leaves  1  foot  to  2  feet  long  and  one- 
half  to  one-third  of  an  inch  broad.  'J'he  flowers 
are  several  on  a  long  peduncle,  umbellate,  bell- 
shaped,  white  tipped  green,  the  individual  flowers 
being  mucli  smaller,  as  in  both  the  former.  L. 
;estivuni  is  the  dwarfer  and  sturdier  species,  with 
larger  but  fewer  flowers,  while  L.  pulchellum  (syn. 
Hernandezii)  is  taller  and  more  robust  in  growth, 
and  bearing  a  larger  quantity  of  smaller  flowers. 
Their  usual  time  of  flowering  is  in  May,  but  in  the 
milder  climate  of  Cornwall  or  Scilly  they  flower  as 
earl}-  as  March  or  April. 

The  third  group,  or  Acis,  are  all  small-flowering 
though  very  pretty  species,  but  on  account  of  their 
smallness  not  adapted  for  cut  flowers,  as  in  the 
former  lAici  groups.  The  bulbs  of  these  are  ovoid, 
black  or  white  skinned,  the  foliage  being  either 
linear  or  filiform  ;  the  flowers  are  from  two  to 
■several  on  a  peduncle,  and  either  pure  white  or 
rose  coloured.  'J'he  best  kn()wn  among  these  is 
L.  autumnale.  The  pretty  flowers  are  small  but 
rather  long,  bell-shaped,  jiure  white,  with  a  pinkish 
ovary,  from  three  to  several  flowered,  and  appear 
from  Septendier  till  November.  L.  tingitanum 
difl'ers  but  little  from  the  former,  except  that  it 
flowers  in  February  or  March  ;  ic  is  much  rarer 
than  the  former,  and  is,  as  far  as  I  know,  in  the 
wild  st.ite  very  local,  while  L.  autumnale  is  found 
every«herc  in  the  Mediterranean  district,  from 
Spiin  to  Palestine. 

CJlosely  allied  to  L.  tingitanum  is  L.  tricho- 
phyllum,  al.so  a  spring-flowering  plant  with  filiform 
leaves  and  white  flowers.  The  form  grandiflorum 
from  the  Portuguese  coast,  with  larger  flowers,  has 
the  bad  habit  of  degenerating,  imported  bulbs 
usually  flowering  once,  s<mietimes  twice,  and  after 
that  dwindling  awaj'.  L.  roseum  is  a  tiny  but 
prettj'  species.  The  bulbs  are  barely  larger  than 
a  small  Pea,  with  recumbent  linear  leaves  about 
2  inches  long,  the  peduncle  being  about  1  inch  to 
2  inches  long,  one  to  three  flowered  (rarely  more)  : 


the  flowers  are  bell-shaped  and  rose  coloured ;  it 
blooms  ill  September  or  October.  A  very  rare 
form  of  these  (I  say  rare  because  I  do  not  believe 
I  have  seen  it  for  over  ten  years)  is  L.  longifolium, 
or  better  perhaps  if  it  were  called  h.  roseum  var.  I 
longifolium  ditt'ering  from  the  former  in  the  longer  j 
leaf,  which  is  6  inches  to  !l  inches  long,  longer  j 
necked  bulb,  and  also  longer  rose-coloured  flowers  ; 
it  blooms  in  November  and  December.  At  the  last 
meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  on 
December  17,  19Ul,  a  gentleman  was  kind  enough 
to  show  me  a  dried  specimen  of  a  Leueojum,  which 
I  felt  sure  I  recognised  as  L.  roseum  longifolium, 
coming,  I  understood,  from  Asia  Jlinor.  Although 
our  supply  came  from  Sardinia,  there  are  doubtless 
other  localities  where  this  rare  plant  may  be  found 
growing. 

The  solitary  species  of  the  fourth  group  — 
Ruminia.  Although  I  have  often  grown  a  plant 
under  the  name  of  L.  hyemale,  it  has  always 
turned  out  one  of  the  former  of  the  Acis, 
usually  L.  autumnale,  and  the  plant  is  only 
known  to  me  from  botanical  specimen  and  a  figure 
in  "The  Flora  of  Mentone" — by  Moggridge,  I 
believe. — G.  Reuthe. 


IIUDBECKIAS. 

These  North  American  plants  are  very  showy  in 
autuuHJ,  and  form  pleasing  contiasts  to  other 
hardy  flowering  plants  in  beds  and  borders  from 
July  to  October  and  even  later  in  mild  seasons. 
R.  speciosa  (syn.  Newmani)  is  the  best  species  of 
all ;  the  flowers  are  bright  j'ellow  with  very  dark 
maroon  centres,  showing  up  conspicuously  late  in 
summer.  Other  kinds  worthy  of  a  place  where 
room  can  be  found  for  them  are  R.  laciniata, 
R.  purpurea,  and  Ia.  subtoinentosa.  Rudbeckias 
are  compact,  and  the  flower-stems  are  thrown 
erect  well  above  the  dark  green  leafage.  They  are 
not  fastidious  as  to  soil,  any  fairly  good  garden 
soil  appearing  to  grow  the  plants  well.  Increase 
is  readily  effected  bj'  dividing  the  root-stocks  soon 
after  flowering  is  past,  or,  indeed,  anj'  time  during 
the  resting  period.  All  the  species  above  men- 
tioned are  perennials,  but  an  annual  well  worthy 
of  a  place  in  borders  is  R.  bicolor.  'J'his  rarely 
exceeds  1  foot  in  height,  and  the  individual  flowers 
resemble  those  of  R.  speciosa. — H.  T.  Martin, 
Stondclyh. 


ANEMONE    JAPONICA    QUEEN 
CHAKLOTTE. 

This  new  form  of  an  old  garden  favourite  gives 
promise  of  proving  the  best  of  its  kind  yet  raised  ; 
certainly  it  is  the  most  vigorous  and  hardy.  The 
leafage  is  unusually  broad  and  robust,  and  of  a 
rich  green  colour  ;  it  is  a  plant  that  has  come  to 
stay.  The  flower-stems  are  twice  the  usual  thick- 
ness and  are  much  branched,  bearing  flowers  which 
average  .'?  inches  to  4  inches  across,  the  broad  over- 
lapping petals  of  which  are  arranged  in  two  rows 
and  are  deep  pink.  The  inner  row  of  petals  are 
slightl}'  crimped  on  the  margins,  giving  the  flower 
a  full,  semi-double  appearance.  The  flowers  have 
somewhat  the  characteristics  of  the  var.  Mont 
Rose,  but  they  are  not  so  double.  The  colour  of 
Queen  Charlotte,  however,  is  richer,  and  the  plant 
is  a  veritable  giant  com2Jared  with  Mont  Rose. 
Two  year  old  plants  form  a  tuft  2i  feet  high  and 
nearly  2  feet  through,  bearing  scores  of  perfectly- 
shaped  flowers  throughout  late  autumn  and  until 
frosts  cut  the  plants  down.  It  excels  all  other 
Anemones  of  the  japonica  group  in  freedom  and 
value  as  a  border  plant.  A  white  form  of  this 
would  be  invaluable. — Geo.  B.  Mallett. 

TEUCHIUM    PYREXAICUM. 

The  lover  of  alpines  is  not  necessarily  wedded  to 
brilliant  colouring,  so  that  he  can  general!}'  find 
room  in  his  garden  for  such  an  unassuming  little 
plant  as  Tcucrium  p}renaicuni,  whose  creamy 
white  and  purple  flowers  are  attractive  to  the 
close  observer.  Tlie  wliole  plant,  indeed,  is  unob- 
trusive in  the  extreme,  seeing  that  it  often  grows 
only  about  a  couple  of  inches  high,  and  seldom 
attains  the  extreme  limit  of  7  inches  given  to  it 


January  U,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN, 


23 


:^ 


fClIEYSANTHE.MUmS    I.N    THE    ROYAL    GARDENS,    WINDSOR. 


by  some  writers.  It  is  just  such  a  plant  as  wr 
prize  because  of  its  low,  carpeting  growth.  This 
Pyrenean  Germander  is,  of  course  a  labiate  flower, 
and  possesses  the  characteristic  form  of  the  family. 
It  is  as  a  carpeting  plant  for  the  decoration  of 
some  rooky  crevice  that  it  is  niosl  u.seful,  but  it 
seems  to  object  to  much  winter  moisture,  and  is 
also  one  of  which  slugs  seem  inordinately  fond. 
Time  after  time  have  I  lost  plants  from  the  latter 
cause,  despite  all  the  care  I  gave  in  the  way  of 
searching  for  these  enemies.  -Nothing  but  a  zinc 
ring  seems  to  be  effectual  in  keeping  away  tliese 
pe.sts.  I  have  never  seen  seeds  on  my  flowers. 
It  is  also  increased  by  division  or  by  cuttings.  I 
have  seen  it  do  well  on  a  somewhat  stiffer  soil 
than  the  sandy  peat  sometimes  recommended.— S. 
Arnott,  Car-selhorn,  by  Dumfries,  N.B. 


MAEGYRIGAKPUS    SETOSUS. 

BERRY-iiEABiN(i  plants  are  alwaj'S  welcome  in  the 
garden,  especially  when  they  are  neat  and  preltj' 
like  the  Peruvian  Margyriearpus  setosus,  so  well 
named  the  Pearl  Berrj'.  It.s  berries  are  truly 
pearl-like  in  their  colour,  though  of  a  size  rare 
among  these  gems.  Tliey  are  produced  pretty 
freely  in  summer  and  autumn  after  the  incon- 
spicuous flowers.  But  the  berries  are  not  the  sole 
attractions  of  the  Margyriearpus,  for  its  foliage 
which  is  narrow  and  sharply  pointed,  as  may  be 
conceived  from  the  specific  name,  is  of  a  beautiful 
shining  green.  The  Pearl  Berry  is  a  charming 
thing  for  the  shady  side  of  a  bog  or  the  north  .side 
of  a  rockery,  especially  wliere  it  can  trail  over 
some  dark  stone,  to  which  its  green  foliage  and 
white  berries  make  a  pleasing  contrast.  It  grows 
well  in  loam,  leaf-soil,  and  sand,  and  is  propagated 
by  seeds.  Although  hardy  enough  for  the  most  of 
our  winters,  it  dies  off  in  unusually  severe  ones, 
but  is  so  readily  raised  from  the  berries  that  its 
loss  is  of  lessconsecjuence.— S.  Arnott,  Carselhorn, 
hy  Dumfrie-f,  X.  B. 


TWO   GOOD  ASTEliS. 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  note  with  what  keen 
interest  owners  of  gardens  and  their  gardeners 
are  taking  up  the  cultivation  of  the  perennial 
Asters.  A  fairly  representative  collection  only 
needs  to  be  once  seen  when  in  flower  to  warrant 
the  observer  in  setting  about  forming  a  collection 


himself.  Many  notes  have  appeared  recently  in 
Tub  (  Garden  about  these  beautiful  autumn  flowers, 
and  it  is  not  my  intention  to  dwell  upon  the  merits 
of  them  as  garden  pi  mts  generally,  as  this  is  well 
Icnown,  but  to  brielly  note  two  e.xcellent  sorts, 
Ihey  are  A.  aoris  and  A.  Tradescantii.  The  first 
named  is  the  earliest  to  flower  in  my  collection 
and  the  btter  is  the  last ;  indeed,  so  late  is  Trade- 
scantii in  showing  its  pretty  small  white  flowers 
that  the  weatlier  if  severe  early  in  winter  so 
damages  them  as  to  render  them  useless.  This  is 
my  experience  of  the  variety  in  these  gardens  in 
the  open.  A.  Tradescantii  is  best  adapted  for  pots 
in  the  conservatorj'  in  early  winter.  They  may  be 
treated  similarly  to  the  enrly-flowering  Chrysan- 
themums, viz.,  struck  from  cuttings  in  spring, 
three  in  a  small  .S-inch  pot,  then  potted  on  as 
reijuired  until  finally  they  occupy  Si-inch,  in  which 
they  may  be  allowed  to  bloom.  Copious  supplies 
of  water  are,  of  course,  essential  during  active 
growth,  and  il  is  good  practice  to  plunge  the  pots 
in  an  open  situation  out  of  doors  as  soon  as  the 
plants  receive  their  final  shift.  \\'ell  grown  plants 
in  flower  are  well  adapted  for  arranging  with  other 
flowering  plants,  such  as  Chrysantliumums,  as  well 
as  for  cutting  for  arranging  in  v.ises  in  rooms. 
A.  acris  is  one  of  the  most  compact  Asters.  The 
flowers  are  of  a  pretty  star-like  form  and  blue. — 
H.  T.  Marti  V,  Stoneievjh. 

TROP.EOLU.\[    SPEOIOSUM. 

I  WA.s  pleased  to  read  the  interesting  article  by 
Margaret  Rich,  on  page  362,  and  all  lovers  of  hardy 
flowers,  and  more  especially  those  interested  in  the 
culture  of  this,  tlie  finest  hardy  twining  plant, 
should  read  it  v/ith  ple.isure  and  profit.  Nothing 
can  be  more  beautiful  than  a  mass  of  this  when 
in  full  bloom.  So  fine  is  it  that  wherever  it  is 
known  to  thrive  well  in  tlie  South,  many  will  ask 
to  -see  it.  Those  who  have  failed  with  it  should 
read  carefullj'  the  instructions  given  on  page  'AQ'l, 
and  trj'  again.  In  om-  garden  this  Tropa;olum 
thrives  most  satisfactorily,  and  I  am  induced  to 
give  my  experience  for  tlie  guidance  of  others. 
It  would  be  most  helpful  if  others  would  give  their 
experience,  too,  confining  themselves  to  their  own 
observations.  The  gardens  here  are  close  to  the 
River  Axe,  which  often  overflows,  but  notwith- 
standing we  have  been  most  successful  with  this 
Tropieolum  ;   in  fact,  I  have  never  seen  it  thrive 


better,  and  this  is  the  opinion  of  many 
who  have  seen  it  doing  so  well  in  Scot, 
land.    vSome  sixteen  years  ago  one  strong 
plant  from  a  pot,  obtained  from  a  Scotch 
nursery,  was    planted  at  the  foot  of  a 
north    wall,    the    border    being   raised 
about  a  toot,    and  soil  placed  on  hard 
ground  to  make  it.     The  soil  is  sandy 
loam,  and  at  the  time  of  planting  a  Pear 
tree  was  planted  beside  the  Tropfeolum 
as   a  support.     In  this  position  it  soon 
attained  a  good  height,  the  tree  grow- 
ing fast  also,  and  in  about  six  years  it 
had  reached  to  the  top  of  a  14  feet  wall. 
It    sprtad    rapidly    on    all  sides,    soon 
covering  a  space  of   211  feet,  and  inter- 
twined itself  amongst  the  branches  and 
roots    of    a   Victoria  Plum.     For  years 
we  allowed  these  trees  to  go  unpruned, 
and  the  strong  shoots  of  the  Tropieolum, 
many  feet  long,  hanging  from  shoot  to 
shoot,   made    a    charming    picture.      I 
observed  for  years  that  the  shoots  did 
not  die  down  to  the  ground,  only  part 
of    the  way,  and  they  broke  into  new 
growth  from  that  point.    The  border  is 
never  dug  or  hoed.     So  rapidly  did  the 
roots  spread  that  at  the  end  of  the  wall 
— some  24  feet — was  a  corner  we  used 
for  rotting  leaf  soil ;    here  they  found   a 
home,  growing  and    pushing  up  strong 
shoots,  12  feet  to  15  feet  long,  and  hanging 
on   to   rough    branches   close  by.     This 
corner  was  sunless  and   very  cold   ancl 
damp.     From  this  position  I  have  often 
taken    up    strong   roots   in    winter   and 
given  them  to  ladies  visiting  here,  and 
every  year  potted  up  roots  into  pots  to 
make  welcomepresents  of,  so  many  people  wishing  to 
try  to  grow  it.    From  this  I  am  convinced  that  it  is 
more  a  question  of  shade  and  moisture  than  the 
character  of  the  soil  it  grows  in.   We  tried  growing 
it  on  a  west  border,  within  twenty  3-ards,  planting 
and  treating  it  in  the  same  w.ay,  but  it  refused  to 
grow.     This  arose  from  having  too  much  light  and 
insufficient  moisture.     I   tried  it  in  several  other 
positions  without   success,  but    it   will  grow  well 
enough  on  the  other  side  of  the  garden  on  a  north 
aspect.    Like  your  correspondent,  we  find  the  birds 
carry  the  seeds  about,  and  young  plants  establi.sh 
themselves.     So  fine  did  this  grow  for  years  that 
I   often   used   the   long   strings  of   the  shoots   for 
laying  on  the  dinner  table  and  hanging  from  the 
lamps,    &c.,   on   the   table,  a   use   they  are   most 
valuable   for    in   autumn    in    country' houses   for 
shooting  parties,  &c.     Some  four  years  ago  I  was 
obliged  to  take  up  a  portion  of  the  border,  owing 
to    the   common   Bindweed    getting   amongst   the 
roots.     When  lifted  we  put  new  soil  to  plant  it  in, 
using   every   effort   to   keep   the   roots   unbroken, 
returning  all   the  straightest,  and  in  spite  of  all 
this  they  have  yet  refused  to  grow  satisfactorily, 
showing     how    much     they     resent     disturbance. 
I  doubt  if  a  high  position  has  anything  to  do  with 
the  success  of  T.  speciosum,  although  I  know  some 
things  thrive  on  the  high  positions,  and  die  close 
by  the  abbey.     Many  times  I  have  tried  to  raise 
plants  from  seed  taken  from  these  plants,  but  have 
never  succeeded,  although  I  have  tried  them  under 
glass  and  otherwise. — .John  Crook,   Fordr'  Ahliey 
Oi(ri/enn,  Chard. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS    IN   THK 
ROYAL  GARDENS,  WINDSOR, 

No  flower.?  are  so  much  appreciated  as  flowers 
in  season.  Despite  the  beauty  and  brilliant 
colouring  of  forced  blooms,  such  as  are  plentiful 
enough  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  these  do  not 
possess  half  the  charm  of  the  hardy  ones,  then 
struggling  bravely  against  the  bitter  winds 
and  cold  weather.  So  it  is  in  the  autumn  and 
early  winter  when  the  Chrysanthemum  is 
essentially  the  seasonable  flower.  By  reason 
of  the  great  iinprovements  in,  and  addition  to 
the  list  of  varieties  during  the  pa.'t  few  years, 
the  season  of  the  Chrysanthemum   has' been 


THE  GARDEN. 


[January  11,  1902. 


I'AIUI    AT    THE    I'ONVENT,    (illUlALTAK. 


greatly  extended,  and  with  great  advantage 
to  flower  lovers,  for  no  period  of  the  year 
does  less  credit  to  the  gardener  than  that 
immediately  preceding  Christmas.  Such  a 
collection  of  Chrysanthemums  as  we  have  the 
pleasure  of  vwrtraying  in  the  accompanying 
illu.stration  consists,  as  may  be  seen,  of  a  great 
variety  of  forms  of  the  i(ueen  of  autumn 
flowers,  a  variety  that  is  quite  essential  in  the 
lloyal  Gardens,  where  the  demand  for  Hewers 
is  at  times  altogether  excel  itional.  The  picture 
also  conveys  a  good  idea  of  how  a  house  filled 
with  Chrysanthemums  should  be  arranged,  for 
perhaps  with  no  other  plant  in  flower  can  an 
arrangement  be  so  easily  made  stiff',  formal,  and 
unpleasing  as  with  the  Chrysanthemum.  The 
display  here  figured  gives  one  the  impression 
of  having  been  set  up  informally  yet  carefully, 
and  the  judicious  insertion  of  a  .suitable 
number  of  smaller  flowering  kinds  has  helped 
considerably  to  achieve  this  object.  T. 


PATIO    AT    THE    CONVENT, 
GIBRALTAR. 

CoNslDERiN<:  the  great  advantages  afforded  for 
the  culture  of  flowering  plants  in  Sjtain  it 
cannot  be  said  that  the  inhabitants  of  that 
country  make  the  most  of  their  opportunities 
in  the  matter  of  flower  gardens.  Cottage 
gardens  such  as  are  to  be  met  with  on  all  sides 
in  England,  bright  with  a  charming  variety  of 
old-fashioned  and  for  the  nrost  part  sweetly- 
.scented  blossoms,  are  practically  unknown, 
while  even  public  gardens,  on  which  consider- 
able time  and  labour  are  expended,  fall  far 
short  of  their  possibilities  of  artistic  expression. 
It  must  not,  however,  be  hastily  concluded 
that  because  the  flower  garden  as  we  know  it 
is  held  but  in  scant  esteem  flowei's  are  not 
appreciated,  for  this  is  far  from  being  the  case, 
the  Spaniards  loving  to  brighten  their  dwellings 
with  flowering  plants,  and  the  traveller  in 
passing  through  small  towns  often  views  with 
pleasurable  surprise  the  tones  of  living  colour 
that  enliven  the  grey  walks.  Here  a  vivid 
Carnation,  a  sheet  of  bloom,  hangs  from  a 
narrow  balcony,  here  a  Cactus  glories  in  its 
blaze  of  scarlet,  here  a  whole  house  wall  glows 


with  the  richly  tinted  flower  trails  of .  the 
Bougainvillea,  while  on  pas.sing  the  doorways 
which  give  access  to  the  patios,  or  open  spaces 
round  which  Ijhe  houses  are  built,  a  glimpse 
of  wiute  Arum  Lilies,  rosy  Oleanders,  Stre- 
litzias,  and  other  handsome  flowering  jilants  is 
almost  invariably  afforded.  Where  the  English 
have  been  in  residence  for  any  length  of  time 
gardens  are  naturally  to  be  found  around  the 
houses,  as  at  Gibraltar,  where  such  poss-ibilities 
of  floral  culture  as  exist  have  been  made  the 
most  of.  The  gardens  of  the  old  Franciscan 
Monastery,  now  used  as  Government  House  at 
Gibraltar,  and  styled  the  Convent,  are  flllcd 
with  hosts  of  lovely  flowers,  and  the  spacious 
central  iiatio  here  illustrated,  a  cool  retreat 
half  in  shade  and  half  in  sunshine,  is  beautifled 
by  foliage  and  flowering  plants,  the  tints  of 
the  latter  ranging  from  the  intense  scarlet  of 
Pelargoniums  to  the  ivory  white  of  the  Arums' 
spathes,  while  above  the  pillars  of  the  wide 
surrounding  arcade  graceful  creepers  twine  in 
tender  contrast  to  the  grim  frescoes  in  black 
and  white  depicting  the  memorable  siege  of 
Gibraltw,  which  adorn  the  walls  and  to  the 
colossal  figure  carved  out  of  the  bowsprit  of  a 
captured  Spanish  man-of  war  which  stands  in 
one  of  the  entrances.  S.  W.  F. 


PREPARING    SOILS. 

We  find  in  different  countries  and  in  parts  of  one 
country  tliat  soils  differ  so  materially  that  it  is 
necessary  to  classify  them  as  follows:  (f)  Alluvial 
soils,  (2)  clay  soils,  (3)  clay  loams,  (4)  loams, 
(•"i)  peaty  soils,  (0)  sandy  soils,  (7)  sandy  loams. 
Having  one  or  the  other  of  these  soils  to  grow 
garden  produce  in  it  is  necessary  to  consider 
their  chemical  and  mechanical  conditions  before 
cropping.  If  the  soil  is  wet,  and  lacking  some  or 
all  of  the  necessary  constituents,  the  results  from  it 
will  be  very  unfavourable.  When  preparing  the 
soil,  draining  is  the  foundation  of  all  success, 
especially  it  the  subsoil  is  of  a  wet  and  stiff  nature. 
Few  operations  carried  out  by  a  gardener  exercise 
a  more  decided  influence  upon  all  branches  of  his 
work  than  the  drainage  of  the  land,  ^\'hen  an 
excess  of  water  is  kept  in  the  soil  the  land  becomes 
sour,  and  acrid  acids  form  which  render  the  .soil 
unfit  for  plant  life,  labour  is  made  more  difficult, 
and  the  growth  of  the  crops,  hardy  fruit' trees,  &c. 


M  is  greatly  reduced.  Drainage  dries  the 
ground,  and  immediately  air  is  drawn 
into  the  soil  to  take  the  place  of  stagnant 
water. 

We  will  now   consider    the    different 
soils.     Alluvial  soil  is  a  combination  of 
all  soils,  which  we  find  in  our  valleys 
#  and  glens,  and  i.s  reckoneil  to  be  one  of 

the  best,  as  the  subsoil  is  of  a  porous 
nature,  of  much  the  same  material  as 
the  surface,  and  under  ordinary  cultiva- 
tion it  will  produce  good  results. 

Clay  soil  contains  2(1  per  cent,  of 
sand,  and  is  therefore  very  stiff  and 
hard  to  labour  ;  but  when  on  a  good 
porous  subsoil  and  properly  cultivated 
will  yield  a  good  return. 

Clay  loams  are  made  up  of  20  percent. 
to  40  per  cent,  of  sand,  and  consef|uently 
are  more  pliable  than  the  forms  of  stift' 
clay,  and  require  less  labour.  Loams  are 
intermediate,  and  contain  40  per  cent, 
to  GO  per  cent,  of  sand.  They  are  rich 
in  organic  matter,  which  renders  them 
more  fertile  from  a  less  amount  of  laboi  r 
-^         than  the  stiff  clays. 

Peaty  soils  consist  of  vegetable  matter 

which  has  grown  and  decayed,  generally 

in    the   places   where   these   are   found. 

They   differ   materially  from  our   other 

soils  which  have  been  prcduccd  by  the 

pulverifatiju  of  rocks  by  the  action  of 

the   air,   frost,  and   water   through   the 

ages  of  time,  assisted  only  by  the  decay 

of  the  sraaUer  torn  s  of  vegetation,  this 

adding     organic    matter.        Peaty    soils    contain 

nearly  (17  per  cent,  of  vegetable  matter,  while  the 

amount  of  mineral  matter  is  very  small.     We  find 

other  sods  to  be  chiefly  composed  of  mineral  matter, 

but  in  well  cultivated  soil  we  find  a  larger  amount. 

Sandy  soil  contains  .SO  per  cent,  to  100  per  cent. 

of  sand,  which  makes  it  very  imperfect  for  retaining 

plant  food,   while   a   sandy   loam    is   made   up   of 

(iO  per  cent,  to  SO  per  cent,  of  sand,  and  is  also 

weak  in  its  retentive  powers. 

Having  named  the  different  soils,  we  will  now 
consider  the  best  methods  of  preparing  and 
manuring  them.  A  stiff  cla}'  is  greatly  improved 
by  being  turned  up  in  the  autumn  as  eajly  as 
circumstances  may  permit,  so  that  the  surfaces  of 
the  soil  may  be  acted  upon  bj'  tlie  air,  rain,  and 
frost.  Ridging  is  the  best  method  for  improving 
stiff  clays.  A  certain  number  of  plots  lequire  to 
be  ridged  in  every  garden  yearly  where  the  earth 
is  of  a  stiff  nature,  taking  them  in  rotation  to 
ensure  a  thorough  loosening  of  the  soil  throughout 
the  garden.  The  plot  to  be  ridged  should  get  a 
heavy  coating  of  fresh  farmyard  manure  to  keep 
the  stiff  clay  open.  Road  scrapings  and  partly- 
decayed  leaves  or  any  other  half-decajed  material 
from  the  rubbish  heap  will  all  help  in  varying 
quantity  according  to  the  operator's  judgment ; 
these  are  scattered  evenly  over  the  ground. 

Ridging  is  digging  the  soil  into  parallel  ridges 
21  inches  broad.  Measure  olf  the  plot  of  ground 
with  pegs  at  both  ends.  Lay  the  line  and  cut  with 
the  spade  along  both  sides  of  the  first  ridge.  Dig 
out  the  first  ridge  and  wheel  the  soil  to  tlie  opposite 
site  of  the  plot  for  filling  in  or  making  the  last 
ridge.  Lay  the  line  to  the  pegs,  indicating  the 
second  ridge  along  the  line  with  the  spade,  so  that 
the  second  ridge  may  easily  be  turned  over  to  take 
the  place  of  the  first.  Take  the  top  spit  and  turn 
it  over  into  theplace  left  vacant  by  the  first,  mixing 
the  .soil  and  manure  well  together.  Having  com- 
pleted the  first  spit  the  .second  is  dug  over  on  to 
the  first  in  the  form  of  a  sharp  pointed  ridge.  It 
is  essential  to  laj'  up  every  spit  carefully  so  that 
the  agencies  of  the  atmosphere  may  act  fully  on 
the  surfaces  of  the  soil.  The  remaining  ridges  are 
done  in  the  same  way  till  the  plot  is  complete. 

The  depth  of  the  ridge  greatly  depends  on  the 
nature  of  the  subsoil.  Should  tlie  subsoil  be  of  a 
poor  and  stiff  nature,  which  is  often  the  case  under 
clay,  the  subsoil  should  be  stirred  (if  circumstances 
allow  the  addition  of  manure  so  much  the  better) 
and  not  brought  to  the  surface  in  great  quantities, 
as  it  often  contains  harsh  and  acrid  matter  which 
would  be  injurious  to  the  crops.     About  2  inches 


January  11,  1902. 


THE    GAEDEN. 


25 


of  new  soil  brought  up  to  the  surface  in  one  year 
is  safe  ;  this,  when  acted  upon  by  the  agencies 
already  mentioned,  will  yield  fresh  mineral  matter 
to  our  crops.  Owing  to  the  closeness  and  firmness 
of  clay  soils  they  may  safely  be  given  manure 
a  long  time  before  cropping,  as  there  is  little 
danger  of  much  of  the  soluble  constituents  of 
the  manure  escaping.  Light  soils  being  porous 
have  little  power  of  retaining  soluble  matter  for 
any  length  of  time,  especially  in  wet  climates  such 
as  we  experience  in  County  Waterford.  Light 
soils  should  be  prepared  immediately  before 
cropping.  Cow  manure  is  the  best  for  light  or 
sand3'  land,  dug  in  one  spit  deep.  Cow  manure 
has  a  tendenc3'  towards  making  sandy  soils  firm, 
and  helps  them  to  retain  moisture  in  dr}'  weather. 
The  texture  of  light  soils  is  also  greatly  improved 
bj'  applying  marl  and  small  stones  to  the  ground. 

Loams  are  good  retainers  of  plant  food,  and  may 
with  safety  be  prepared  in  autumn.  Ridging  is  a 
good  method  of  preparing  loams  as  well  as  stiff 
clays  and  clay  loams,  for  not  only  do  we  derive 
the  benefits  already  mentioned,  but  the  ridged 
ground  is  much  dryer  in  the  spring  than  ordinary 
fiat  dug  land,  enabling  us  to  crop  much  earlier. 
Ridging  does  not  apply  to  wall  borders  or  such 
like  places  where  fruit  trees  are  grown  ;  here  the 
ordinar}'  method  may  be  practised.  In  large 
gardens  such  as  we  have  here  there  is  a  4  feet 
way  along  the  wall  and  a  12  feet  border  for 
cropping.  Established  trees  on  the  wails  extend 
their  roots  well  into  the  border,  while  the  younger 
tree  roots  do  not  extend  so  far.  (ireat  care  should 
be  exercised  when  preparing  wall  Ijorders  so  as  not 
to  injure  the  fibrous  roots  of  the  wall  trees. 

Experiment  has  taught  us  that  lime  is  necessary 
for  the  development  of  all  plants.  It  is,  therefore, 
valuable  as  a  manure,  while  its  chemical  and 
mechanical  effects  upon  the  soil  enhance  its  value. 
Lime  may  be  employed  to  soils 
deficient  in  it,  stifi'  clays,  peaty  land 
or  soils  rich  in  organic  matter, 
(^reat  care  should  be  taken  not  to 
apply  lime  to  poor  soils  or  those 
weak  in  organic  matter,  becau.se 
the  lime  uses  up  a  certain  amount 
of  the  latter,  which  would  therefore 
become  exhausted  unless  a  fresh 
supply  was  added  in  the  way  of 
farmyard  manure.  Lime  and 
manure  should  be  added  to  the 
soil  at  different  times,  because  if 
both  were  used  at  once  the  lime 
would  cause  the  ammonia  of  the 
manvu'e  to  escape,  thus  creating  a 
great  loss,  as  ammonia  is  a  most 
valuable  constituent  of  manure. 
To  avoid  this  danger,  the  lime 
may  be  applied  to  the  surface 
some  weeks  after  the  ground  is 
prepared,  or  as  circumstances 
may  permit,  although  the  spring 
is  a  good  time  when  weather  is 
favourable,  and  the  natural 
agencies  have  acted  on  the  prepared 
ground.  Newly-slaked  lime  is  the 
best  for  stiff  cla^'S,  and  should  be 
slightly  forked  or  worked  into 
the  surface  immediately  after  its 
application  to  the  ground,  for  if 
left  exposed  to  the  air  the  carbonic 
acid  gas  of  the  atmosphere  will 
unite  with  the  lime,  thus  making  it 
less  active  and  reducing  its  jiower 
of  liberating  dormant  plant  food. 
Lime  has  a  tendency  to  work  down- 
wards, and  therefore  should  never 
be  dug  or  trenched  into  the  land. 
Caustic  or  newly-slaked  lime  may 
be  applied  to  alluvial  and  loam}' 
soils  with  good  effect,  though  when 
used  in  the  milder  form  of  marl  it 
is  better  for  sandy  soils. 

Earth  worms  are  great  helpers  in 
the  production  and  improvement  of 
the  mould.  An  immense  quantity 
of  earth  passes  through  their  bodies 
in    the    processes   of    feeding  and 


burrowing ;  this  forms  the  best  of  soil.  The 
dry  castings  of  worms  have  been  estimated 
to  amount  to  several  tons  per  acre.  Their 
burrows  go  a  great  depth  into  the  earth,  thus 
making  a  free  passage  for  roots,  air,  and  rain. 
Stones  are  useful.  In  many  gardens  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  remove  all  small  stones  off  the  ground  : 
my  experience  leads  me  to  believe  that  stones  are 
useful  in  soils,  because,  firstly,  they  strengthen  it 
or  give  it  a  greater  body  ;  secondly,  they  regulate 
the  supply  of  moisture  ;  porous  stones  yield 
moisture  in  dry  weather,  and  help  to  retain 
moisture  :  tliirdly,  they  improve  the  texture, 
keep  slift'  soils  loose,  and  make  sandy  soils  firm  ; 
and,  fourthly,  they  yield  plant  food  when  acted 
upon  bj'  roots  and  natural  agencies.  When  pre- 
paring the  ground  for  fine  seeds  the  stones  must 
Ije  raked  oft'  to  get  the  ground  fine  and  level,  but 
instead  of  wheeling  them  outside  the  garden,  thej' 
should  be  scattered  over  the  ground  that  will 
presently  be  cropped  with  Cabbage,  Potatoes,  &c. 
When  forking  the  ground  the  stones  may  be  worked 
into  it.  Geo.  Macdoxai.d. 

Dromana  Gardens,  County  Waterford. 


DRYMOGLOSSUM   CARNOSUM. 

The  accompanying  illustiution  is  that  of 
Stillingia  sebifera  covered  with  the  little 
Fern  Drymoglossuin  carnosum.  This  Fern  is 
I  often  found  growing  on  tree.s  in  a  manner 
'  similar  to  that  shown  in  the  photograph.  The 
Stillingia  is  a  deciduous  tree,  and  advantage 
•vvas  taken  of  this  in  order  to  show  as  much  of 
the  Drymoglossuni  as  possible.  The  Fern  at 
the  base  of  the  tree  is  Polypodium  conjugatuni. 

W.  .J.  TOTL'HER. 

Bofdiiic  Gnnlem,  Hong  Koivj. 


:mi^iimsmmmBmmsm 


STILLINGIA    SEBIFERA    WITH    DKYMOGLOSSU.M    C^ARNOSUM    ON    THE    STEMS 


DAFFODILS      IN      NEW 
ZEALAND. 

THE  great  interest  taken  in  Daffodils  in 
the   Colonies  is  shown  by  this   letter, 
from  Mr.  Wilson,  M.A.,  a  resident  ot 
Dunedin.      This  accomplished  amateur 
had    already    been   for   many   years   a 
grower   of    good    Daffodils,    while   the 
recent  visit  and  advice  of  Mr.  Peter  Barr  will  no 
doubt  have  done  much  to  spread  a  knowledge  of 
their  beauties  and  to  increase  their  popularity. 

Mr.  Wilson  saj's  :  "Speaking  for  mj-self,  I  do 
not  find  it  an  unmixed  good  that  the  Daffodil  has 
become  the  flower  of  fashion,  though  no  doubt 
this  is  gooil  for  trade.  As  soon  as  a  flower  gets  to 
be  a  subject  of  competition  it  becomes  vulgarised, 
so  that  I  find  myself  sometimes  thinking  regret- 
fully of  the  time  when  the  Daffodil  was  not  such  a 
favourite  as  it  is  now,  when  I  was  myself  the  only 
grower  within  a  respectable  radius  of  my  own 
garden,  and  was  thought  to  possess  an  extensive 
collection  because  I  could  muster  between  thirty 
and  forty  varieties.  Time  is  on  the  wing,  as  I  am 
reminded  by  coming  across  an  old  account  for 
Daffodil  bulbs  from  Barr  and  Sons,  of  Covent 
Garden,  or,  rather,  Barr  and  Sugden,  as  the  firm 
was  then,  the  said  bill  dating  some  eighteen  years 
back.  The  list  includes  thirty-one  varieties,  and 
is  in  the  handwriting  of  .\lr.  Peter  Barr,  who  has 
done  more  than  any  man  living  perhaps  to 
popularise  the  Daffodil.  It  is  interesting  and 
amusing  to  go  through  the  list.  In  no  case  is  the 
order  for  more  than  one  bulb  of  each  variety.  The 
list  includes  such  kinds  as  Cernuus,  Empress, 
Albicans,  Maxiraus,  Poetieus  recurvus,  Poeticus  ol 
Haworth,  Poeticus  poetarum,  and  Leedsi  amabilis. 
Some  of  these  single  bulbs  have  peopled  my  own 
and  other  gardens  with  a  numerous 
progeny.  P^mpress,  once  .solitary  in 
her  state,  and  regarded  as  some- 
thing rare  and  imperial,  has  grown 
to  a  multitude  of  Empresses,  whilst 
Poeticus  recurvus  is  now  but  a 
beautiful  weed.  Poeticus  poetarum, 
ort  the  other  hand,  of  which  I  got 
one  bulb  at  the  same  time,  is  little 
more  tlian  a  single  bulb  still.  Each 
season  as  it  shows  its  wan  face  and 
brilliant  hectic  eye  I  think  that 
season  is  going  to  be  its  last ;  but 
if  it  does  not  thrive  it  continues 
at  least  to  live.  The  whole  consign- 
ment of  thirty-one  varieties,  includ- 
ing packing  and  postage,  amounted 
to  the  modest  total  of  fl,  a  sum 
which  a  Daffodil  sj'ndicate  would 
probably  consider  a  moderate  price 
for  a  single  bulb.  Emperor,  strange 
to  say,  is  not  on  the  list,  so  that 
I  am  unable  to  saj'  whence  comes 
my  stock  of  that  varietj'. 

"  The  Daffodil,  I  fear,  is  fast 
becoming  a  florist's  flower,  which 
means  that  it  is  on  the  waj'  to  being 
judged  by  arbitrary  and  exacting 
standards,  a  thing  that  is  pretty  sure 
to  happen  when  a  flower  is  largely 
hybridised.  The  hybridiser  sets 
himself  certain  things  to  strive  for 
— size,  strength  of  constitution, 
depth  and  purity  of  colour,  propor- 
tion of  the  relative  parts,  and  so 
on,  and  any  flowers  that;  do  not 
reach  the  required  standard  are 
thrown  to  the  rubbish  heap.  The 
time  will  come,  and  is  probably 
not  far  awa}',  when  the  natural 
forms  of  the  flower,  as  it  is  found 
on  tlie  mountain  slopes  of  France 
and  Spain,  will  be  entirely  super- 
seded by  finer  forms,  produced  by 
artificial  cross-fertilisation.  Yet  for 
the  possessors  of  certain  gardens  the 
natural  species  of  plants  have  a 
charm  of  their  own,  though  they 
may  be  distanced   in  splendour  by 


26 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  11,  19C2 


the  florist's  artificial  varieties.  The  small  and 
fugarious  single  Rose  of  the  Pyrenees,  for 
instance,  appeals  to  some  more  strongly  than 
the  flower  that  is  regarded  as  the  supreme 
triumph  of  the  Rose  grower,  the  splendid 
Marerhal  Niel.  Again,  as  to  the  Crocus,  though  I 
much  aftect  the  whole  Crocus  tribe,  a  minute 
species  from  the  mountains  of  (ireece  or  Asia 
Minor  has  for  me  a  greater  value  than  the  largest 
and  finest  variety  produced  by  the  Dutch  florist. 
This  partiality  for  species  is  probably  the  instinct 
of  the  botanist— or  botanist  maHguf— triumphing 
over  that  of  the  gardener  ;  partly  that,  and  partly 
also  that  one  has  schooled  one's  self  to  such  a 
faith  in  Nature  as  to  believe  that  whatever  Nature 
does  is  done  in  the  best  possible  way.  There  can 
be  no  doubt,  however,  that  Nature,  if  sure  and 
faultless  in  the  long  run,  is  slow  in  her  processes. 
She  trusts  too  much  to  chance.  Man,  being  the 
impatient  creature  he  is,  and  not  altogether 
unintelligent,  hurries  the  old  mother  up,  and 
expedites  her  processes.  Perhaps  no  better 
instance  could  be  cited  of  the  results  of  man's 
interference  with  the  processes  of  Nature  than 
the  evolution  of  the  Pansy.  Less  than  a  cen- 
tury ago  the  I'ansy,  as  we  know  it,  did  not 
exist.  No  doubt  there  was  a  stereotyped  weed, 
"freakecl  with  jet,"  that  did  duty  as  a  Pansy  in 
the  time  of  Shakespeare  and  of  Milton,  but  no 
more  like  the  splendid  flowers  of  to-day  tlian  a 
Iiedge  Crab  is  like  a  Ribston  Pip]iui.  <  Ine  has  only 
to  take  up  an  old  illustrated  book  of  gardening, 
say,  of  the  thirties,  to  see  that  the  most  prized 
Pansies  of  that  time,  though  a  great  advance  on 
the  Viola  tricolor,  would  now  be  regarded  as 
beneath  contempt.  So  it  will  be  some  day  with 
the  Daft'odil.  Thus  far,  a  Daflbdil  is  a  Daffodil  ; 
presently  no  flower  will  be  worthy  of  the  name 
that  cannot  meet  the  exacting  conditions  of  the 
florist. 

"  I  do  not  profess  to  speak  of  plants  with  any  but 
the  most  superficial  knowledge  of  their  botany, 
but  no  one  can  have  much  to  do  with  the  Narcissus 
without  becoming  interested  in  its  plan  of  struc- 
ture, if  for  no  other  reason,  because  it  is  in  certain 
respects  perplexing.  Plants  grouped  under  one 
order  ought  to  have  a  common  scheme  of  construc- 
tion ;  yet  what  other  Amaryllid  genus  presents 
homologues  to  certain  salient  parts  of  the  Nar- 
cis.sus.  Stj'le,  stamens,  and  all  that  apparatus  of 
reproduction  are,  1  dare  say,  simple  enough,  but  1 
should  be  glad  if  some  botanist  woulil  give  an 
intelligible  explanation  of  the  mutual  relation  of 
the  parts  known  to  the  growers  as  crown  and 
perianth.  The  main  part  of  every  Narcissus 
flower  is  an  elongated  tube,  more  or  less  funnel- 
shaped — that  is,  expanded  towards  the  mouth. 
The  object  of  this  tube  is  apparent  enough — it  is 
the  sheath  to  protect  the  delicate  reproductive 
organs  within.  But  from  this  ornamental  tube, 
sometimes  at  its  mouth,  as  in  N.  poeticus,  some- 
times half-way  up  its  length,  as  in  N.  Pseiulo- 
narcissus,  there  projects  a  flounce  of  ornamental 
scollops,  six  in  number,  which  flounce  growers 
call  the  perianth,  a  term  that  explains  its  position 
but  not  its  purpose.  These  scollops  are  not  in  any 
way  articulated  to  the  tube  ;  they  grow  out  of  it 
and  form  part  of  it.  What  one  would  like  the 
liiitanist  to  explain  is  the  function  of  the  flounce. 
What  purpose  does  it  serve  in  the  economy  of  the 
jilant,  and  what  is  its  homologue  in  other 
Aniaryllids';' 

"As  to  the  species  of  Narcissi,  he  would  be  a 
rasli  Ijotanist  wh)  would  venture  to  aflirm  what 
and  how  many  they  are.  If  any  species  is  deter- 
riiin3d  '  by  the  greater  stability  of  its  characters, 
ami  the  absence  of  individuals  intermediate 
between  the  related  groups ' — that  is,  if  it  is  held 
that  two  plants  of  a  genus  sliould  be  considered 
species,  which  will  orixs  and  produce  forms  inter- 
mediate between  the  other  two,  then  there  are 
very  few  species  of  Narcissi  ;  half-a-dozen  at  the 
outside,  if,  indeed,  the  genus  does  not  consist  of  a 
single  species.  To  the  mere  grower,  however, 
this  is  a  matter  of  little  importance,  inasmuch  as 
lie  has  a  hand^',  if  inaccurate,  classification, 
depending  on  the  relative  prominence  and  develop- 
ment of  the  crown  and  perianth. 

"Natural    species   are    not    attractive    to    the 


ordinary  gardener  ;  they  are  not  showy  enough, 
and  they  do  not  present  double  forms,  for  which 
the  gardener  pure  and  simple  has  an  aft'ection. 
The  so-called  species  of  Narcissi  will,  therefore, 
have  the  necessary  room  and  attention  given 
them  only  in  the  garden  of  the  horticulturist,  who 
is  compounded  in  equal  parts  of  botanist,  gardener, 
and  collector — not  much,  perhaps,  of  any  one  of 
the  three,  but  a  little  of  all.  Thus,  1  find  myself 
treasuring  a  Daffodil  called  Narcissus  Pseudo- 
narcissus,  and  taking  some  trouble  to  make  it 
grow  ;  but  if  I  were  asked  why  I  value  it,  I 
should  find  it  diflicult  to  give  any  better  reason 
than  that  it  is  reputed  a  species  indigenolis  to 
Kngland,  is  not  easy  to  grow,  and  is  called  the 
Lent  Lil}',  a  pretty  sentimental  name  with  a  sub- 
ecclesiastical  flavour.  I  am  obliged  to  confess 
that  as  a  flower  the  Lent  Lilj'  is  a  failure.  1  have 
myself  produced  from  seed  much  Vjetter  things 
even  in  its  own  style,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  if  Nature  had  kept  pace  with  the 
modern  spirit  of  progress  she  would  long  ere  this 
have  swept  the  Lent  Lily  into  her  limbo  of 
apprentice  ettbrts. 

"Though  Nature  is  not  rapidly  progressive  her- 
self, it  is  astonishing  how  submissive  the  old 
grandmother  is  to  those  of  her  progeny  who  would 
teach  her  to  suck  eggs.  Some  six  or  seven  j'ears 
ago  I  ventured  myself,  with  some  diffidence,  to 
suggest  an  improvement  in  her  way  of  reproducing 
Daffodils.  I  jiroposed  that  instead  of  trusting  to 
the  uncertain  agency  of  stray  breezes  and  humble 
bees  she  should  allow  me  to  ensure  the  neces.sary 
combinations  with  a  camel's  hair  brush.  The 
mode  of  operation  is  simplicity  itself.  Vou  decide 
that  the  virtues  of  one  Daffodil  miglit  be  advan- 
tageously combined  with  those  of  another  to 
produce  a  terlhim  iinid  that  shall  be  dirt'erent  from 
either,  and  possibly  possess  the  virtues  of  both. 
Take,  as  an  extreme  instance,  the  two  Daffodils 
called  Emperor  and  Cyclamineus.  The  first  is  a 
large,  bold,  stately  flower ;  the  other  is  a  quaint 
miniature  form,  with  its  segments  reflexed  like  the 
petals  of  a  Cyclamen.  You  transfer  the  pollen  of 
the  one  Daffodil  to  the  stigma  of  the  other,  and  if 
good  seed  results  the  offspring  will  probably  be  a 
combination  of  the  two  forms — a  smaller  Emperor 
with  reflexed  petals  and  a  larger  Cyclamineus, 
witli  segments  less  recurved  ;  something,  perhaps, 
in  the  way  of  (^>iieen  of  Spain.  Or  if  you  should 
think  that  Emjjeror,  fine  flower  as  it  is,  is  a  little 
washed  out  in  the  colour  of  its  segments,  which  is 
my  own  doubtful  criticism  of  this  beautiful  flower, 
you  may  hope  by  crossing  it  with  maximus  to  get 
a  flower  with  the  fine  form  of  the  one  Daffodil  and 
the  rich  colour  of  the  other. 

"Those  who  have  much  experience  with  the 
Dart'odil  will  probably  have  oliserved  that  the 
natural  forms — that  is,  those  collected  in  their 
natural  habitat — are,  generally  speaking,  more 
difficult  to  manage  than  varieties  ai'titicially  pro- 
duced by  gardeners,  or  if  not  actually  difficult  to 
grow,  yet  are  not  readily  increased  hy  offsets  of 
the  bulbs,  which  means  that  with  these  wildlings 
of  Nature  you  must  take  Nature's  methods.  She 
cannot  go,  spade  in  hand,  over  hei  mountain  sides 
and  meadows,  digging  up  her  buliis  and  dibbling 
them  out  for  increase.  Her  wa}'  is  by  seeding. 
To  make  sure  that  one  seed  will  grow  she  sows  a 
hundred,  and  whoever  would  grow  these  interesting 
wild  forms  mu.st  follow  her  example,  with  the 
certain  hope,  however,  of  getting  a  much  larger 
return  than  Nature's  one  per  cent.  The  jmr  contra 
of  all  this  is  that  many  of  the  artificial  blends 
produced  bj'  the  gardener  do  not  seed  at  all. 
Some  produce  seed  in  fair  abumlance,  but  some,  at 
least  in  my  experience,  absolutely  decline  to  form 
seed,  the  seed  organs  in  these  being  probably  in 
some  fatal  way  defective. 

"  Another  consideration  that  enters  largely  into 
hybridising  is  the  matter  of  constitution.  Many 
Daffodils,  as  every  gmwer  knows,  though  beautiful 
a,nd  desirable  forms  in  themselves,  are  so  weak  in 
constitution  that  they  die  away  in  course  of  time, 
or  perhaps  contrive  merely  to  exist,  without 
increasing.  Now  by  seeding  varieties  of  this 
kind  there  is  every  hope  of  raising  varieties 
possessing  all  the  attractions  of  the  parent,  with  a 
robust    constitution    into    the    bargain,    and'  this 


becomes  more  likely  if  the  variety  in  question  is 
cross-fertilised  with  pollen  from  one  stronger  than 
itself.  As  an  instance  of  what  may  lie  done  in 
this  waj  I  might  mention  the  beautiful  Daffodil 
known  as  Pallidus  piiccox.  Everyone  would 
gladly  possess  an  abundance  of  such  a  flower  as 
this.  English  growers  find  it  a  difficult  subject, 
and  to  supply  the  annual  demand  dealers  have  to 
obtain  supplies  each  season  from  Spain,  which 
probalilj'  means  that  within  a  measurable  space  of 
time  the  plant  will  be  extinct.  My  own  experienf  e 
of  this  Daffodil  is  that  it  will  live  and  bloom  from 
year  to  year,  but  will  give  no  bulb  increase.  It  is 
satisfactory,  therefore,  to  find  among  my  seedlings 
several  Dafl'odils  of  this  variety,  replicas  of  the 
parent  in  all  their  features  except  that  they  ate 
even  prettier  and  apparently  more  robust.  It  may 
be  that  the  Daffodil  of  the  future  will  eclipse  in 
splendour  the  Daflbdil  of  the  present,  though  it 
requires  a  little  imagination  to  conceive  how  some 
of  our  present  flov;ers  could  be  bettered.  I  have 
not  imagination  enough  to  picture  anything  more 
charming  in  its  quaint,  high-shouldered  fashion 
than  Colleen  Bawn,  sturdier  and  bolder  than  Sir 
Watkin,  more  imperial  than  Emperor  and  Empress, 
or  neater  and  sweeter  than  the  .Jonquil,  N. 
minimus,  N.  nanus,  N.  triandius,  iind  thu  N. 
moschatus  of  Haworth,  which,  unfoi  tunately,  I 
cannot  grow. 

"I  find  that  in  some  eyes  it  is  a  virtue  in  a  flower 
that  it  should  be  scarce,  and,  if  possible,  dear. 
When  Sir  Watkin  made  its  first  appearance  in 
public,  emerging  suddenly  from  the  privacy  of 
some  Welsh  garden,  where  it  had  probably  wasted 
its  sweetness  unregarded  for  countless  generations, 
it  was  thought  to  be  a_  miracle  of  beauty,  and  as 
long  as  it  was  scarce  and  dear  it  niainlained  its 
reputation  ;  but  now  that  it  is  cheap  and  plentiful 
you  are  told  at  flower  shows  that  it  is  coarse,  and 
are  bidden  withdraw  your  eyes  from  Sir  Watkin 
to  contemplate  the  charms  of  Mme.  Plemp.  When 
I  saw  the  last-named  flower  for  the  first  time  a 
year  or  two  ago  in  Barr's  collection  at  Ijong  Ditton 
1  thought  it  a  very  fine  Daffodil,  being,  I  fiar,  too 
much  impressed  by  its  mere  size.  After  growing 
Mme.  Plemp  for  m3'self  I  have  come  near  to 
thinking  the  Dutchwoman  positively  plain.  I 
])resume  she  is  Dutch  from  her  name.  At  anj' 
rate  she  has  the  Dutch  virtues — vigour,  boldness, 
and  a  certain  generous  amplitude  and  rotundity  of 
build,  but  it  is  a  coarse  kind  of  comeliness,  some- 
thing of  the  Flemish  quality  that  Henry  found  in 
Anne  of  Cleves.  Except  as  having  an  eye  to  a 
commercial  transaction  with  a  Daflbdil  syndicate, 
I  would  not  give  Sir  Watkin  or  Horsfieldi  for  a 
wilderness  of  I'lemps.  Yet  let  it  not  be  forgotten 
that  a  Daffodil  may  be  beautiful,  even  tliough  it  is 
dear.  As  prices  go.  Victoria  is  dear  (though  not  a 
quarter  the  price  of  the  ungainlj-  Plemp),  but  it  is 
a  ((ueenly  flower,  well  worth  a  crown,  and  worth}' 
of  the  lady  after  whom  it  is  named. 

"Of  the  Narcissus  now  in  the  garden  I  could 
mention  a  good  dozen  which  are  as  cheap  as 
Onions,  yet  which  I  defy  custom  to  stale  or  age  to 
wither — Emperor,  Empress,  (4randis,  Maximus, 
Henry  Irving,  Minimus,  Nanus,  Cernuus,  Culleen 
Bawn,  Minnie  Hume,  Sir  Watkin,  Barri  con- 
spicuus,  <,|ueen  of  Spain,  the  Jonquil,  and  others. 
For  what  will  happen  when  time  tries  to  improve 
these  exquisite  flowers'?  Maximus,  for  instance, 
leaves  little  room  for  improvement.  Anyone  who 
thinks  it  requires  improving  cannot  have  seen  the 
flower  at  its  best.  I  am  told  by  some  growers 
that  this  flower  is  capricious — a  serious  fault  of 
course.  But  when  Maximus  seems  capricious 
either  it  is  no  true  Maximus  (there  is,  in  fact,  a 
spurious  Richard  in  the  field)  or  all  is  not  well 
with  the  commissariat,  for  this  Dart'odil  likes  a 
generous  regimen,  and  is  in  every  w'ay  entitled  to 
it.  M.  .7.  Berkeley  is  thought  by  some  to  be  an 
improvement  on  Maximus.  Mr.  Titheradge,  the 
distinguished  actor,  and  an  enthusiastic  Daffodil 
grower,  sent  me  bulbs  of  this  Dart'odil  a  few  years 
ago  thinking  it  better  than  Maximus.  So  think 
not  I.  Apart  from  its  inferiority  in  colour, 
the  larger  trumpet  in  Berkeley  is  quite  out,  of 
proportion  to  the  perianth.  Again,  how  ma}' 
Empress  be  improved  ':  Mme.  Plemp  is  larger  and 
fifty  times  as  dear,  but  that  does  not  make  this 


January  11,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


27 


Dartjdil  a  finer  flower.  To  be  .sure  an  Empress 
with  a  perianth  of  lustrous  white,  flashing  in 
points  of  light  like  hoar-frost,  the  white  that  is  so 
beautiful  a  feature  in  all  the  I'oeticns  tribe,  would 
be  a  desirable  flower  :  or  an  Empress  with  an 
orange  trumpet,  or  a  trumpet  edged  with  orange. 
I  do  not  know  whether  these  combinations  really 
lie  within  the  nature  of  things,  but  even  if  we 
possessed  these  forms  they  would  not  make  the 
jjresent  flower  in  any  way  less  desirable.  Again, 
how  are  the  various  Spanish  sulphur  Datt'jdils — 
Cjrnuus,  Moschatus,  and  others  of  that  tribe — to 
be  superseded '/  We  have  some  charming  varieties 
of  these,  but  if  you  change  to  any  great  degree  the 
size,  colour,  texture,  and  proportion,  though  you 
may  get  something  that  is  well  worth  having, 
what  you  get  will  be  no  substitute  for  the  original 
flowers. 

"It  will  be  noted  that  I  have  put  no  Poeticus 
Narcissi  among  the  unsupersedable.  The  fact  is 
that  I  have  seen  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart's 
seedlings,  and  I  rather  think  that  he  is  on  the  way 
to  making  all  our  present  Poeticus  forms  (except, 
perhaps,  the  double)  unnecessary.  One  April 
morning  a  few  years  ago  I  strolled  into  the  Drill 
Hall,  Westminster,  as  various  exhibitors— Barr, 
■\\'are,  and  others— were  stacking  (that  is  the  only 
word  that  cm  give  an  idea  of  the  quantities)  their 
exliibits  of  Daflodils.  In  my  walk  round  the  hall 
I  saw  little  that  we  could  not  grow  just  as  well 
here,  or  better,  till  I  came  to  a  stand  where  a 
person  was  arranging  flowers  that  made  me  pause 
and  revise  my  previous  notions  of  Daffodils.  The 
varieties  on  the  stand  may  have  numbered  some 
score  or  so,  but  all  were  new,  distinct  and  lovely 
flowers.  I  cannot  pretend  to  remember  otherwise 
than  indistinctly  Mr.  Engleheart's  new  Daftbdils 
and  their  names.  His  collection  is  in  my  mind 
now  a  confusion  of  splendour.  There  was  a  white 
Sir  Watkin,  called,  I  think.  White  (^Uieen  ; 
Southern  Star,  with  a  heart  as  red  as  Mars  : 
Torch,  also  orange-centred,  a  loose  flower  in  the 
way  of  Erank  Miles  ;  Flamingo  and  Oriflamme, 
flamboyant  both  ;  a  fine  trumpet  Daffodil  in  the 
style  of  Maximus,  and  called  The  Cid  ;  and  two 
large  Poeticus  varieties,  exquisite  in  shape  and 
texture,  named,  if  I  remember.  Homer  and  Sir 
Walter  Scott.  My  impression  is  lliat  the  trumpet 
Daffodils  were  less  fully  represented  in  Mr. 
Engleheart's  collection  than  the  other  sections. 
Same  day  no  doubt  these  fine  Daffodils  will  be 
distributed,  and  there  will  be  a  flutter  among 
connoisseurs.  A  friend,  who  is  an  excellent  judge 
of  the  flower,  informs  me  that  he  saw  some  of  the 
Engleheart  seedlings  on  exhibition  last  .spring  at 
Christchurch,  and  that  he  found  them  poor  and 
disappointing.  I  take  leave  to  think  that  the 
flowers  were  not  well  growji,  or  that  they  were 
not  genuine  Engleheart  seedlings." 


THE     ROSE    GARDEN. 

TEA     AND     NOISETTE 
ROSES  FOR  ARCHING. 

A   LTHOUGH  the  bending  over  of  the  long 
/\  growths  of   some  Roses  is  no  new  in- 

/   %         vention,  one  may  visit  many  a  garden 
/      \        and     find     no    attempt     at    such    an 
j[  j^     excellent    method    of    treatment.      In 

moving  a'oout  the  country  useful  hints 
are  obtainable  for  those  who  care  to  search  for 
them,  and  often  in  most  unlooked-for  places.  In 
a  cemetery  recently  I  came  across  some  good 
examples  of  what  may  be  done  in  training  the  fine 
climbing  Tea  and  Noisette  Roses,  which  are  so 
plentiful  and  which  comprise  so  many  most  useful 
yellow  kinds.  Rcve  d'Or  was  the  variety  most 
largely  grown.  ^Ve  have  been  treating  this  Rose 
quite  wrongly.  It  must  not  be  cut  awaj'  each 
season.  Let  it  grow  as  wild  as  possible,  merely 
reducing  the  number  of  its  growths  instead  of 
their  length,  and  then  it  will  flower  as  freel3'  as 
one  eould  wish.  In  the  cemetery  I  visited  there 
was  this  fine  old  Rose  bent  over  some  of  the 
graves  as  a  handle  over  a  basket,  and  each  handle 


had  evidently  borne  numerous  blossoms.  Many 
complain  that  they  have  no  wall  space  available 
when  climbing  Roses  are  mentioned  to  them.  But 
one  does  not  need  walls.  Give  them  a  trial  in  the 
manner  indicated,  try  some  on  trellises  trained  as 
one  would  an  Apple  or  a  Pear  tree,  and  I  can 
promise  them  a  rich  gathering  of  beautiful 
buds  and  blossoms,  and  of  many  of  the  valuable 
yellow  kinds  which  these  climbing  Roses  are  very 
ricli  in.  Philomel. 

AUTUMN-FLOWEPaNG    HYBRID 
PERPETUALS. 

E\-EN  the  most  enthusiastic  advocate  of  decorative 
Roses  will  experience  a  thrill  of  pleasure  at  the 
sight  of  a  really  first-class  flower  which  will  now 
and  then  appear  upon  one  of  the  few  Hybrid 
Perpetuals  that  are  good 
in  autumn.  How  rich 
and  glowing  is 

Loiiti  Van  Houtte  in 
the  beautiful  September 
days.  One  could  wish 
it  were  a  better  "doer," 
and  no  doubt  it  succeeds 
best,  as  does  A.  Iv. 
Williams,  Xavier  Olibo, 
Horace  Vernet,  and  one 
or  two  others,  when 
budded  where  they  are 
to  remain.  Such  a  lovely 
Rose  is  wortii  any 
amount  of  trouble  in 
order  to  make  it  a  suc- 
cess. A  pair  of  really 
excellent  crimson 
autumnals  are 

i\[me.  Victor  Vurdier 
and  Ella  Gordon.  The 
relationship  of  the  latter 
to  the  former  is  evident 
by  the  growtli,  but  Ella 
(Jordon  is  by  far  the 
stronger,  making 
splendid  bushes  well 
fitted  for  a  pillar  or  the 
back  row  of  a  border. 

Skir  of  Waltham  is 
another  good  late  red 
Rose.  Last  season  it 
was  particularly  hand- 
some, the  colour  deepen- 
ing as  the  autumn 
ad  vances. 

.1.  A'.  Williami  is 
always  good  late  in  the 
season.  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  this  Rose 
is  not  nearly  so  poor  a 
grower  as  some  would 
have  us  believe.  In  a 
noted  amateur's  garden 
last  year  I  was  struck 
with  its  vigorous 
growth. 

Lord  Macaulay  is  a 
Rose  much  too  good  to 
be  lost.  If  it  were  intro- 
duced now  as  a  novelty 

great  things  would  be  said  of  it,  both  for  its  glowing 
crimson  colour  and  regularly  shaped  flowers.  This 
fine  kind,  together  with  Fisher  Holmes  and  Duke 
of  Connaught,  with  an  outer  row  of  Victor  Hugo, 
would  form  a  delightful  quartette  for  a  large-sized 
bed,  and  all  would  flower  very  satisfactorily  in 
the  autumn  months. 

Charles  Lefebvre  gave  a  few  splendid  flowers 
last  autumn.  To  mj'  mind  there  is  no  crimson 
Rose  to  equal  it  for  beauty  of  form  and  colour. 

Duke  of  Albanii  should  be  grown  in  every  collec- 
tion. I  think  its  merits  are  scarcely  recognised 
by  the  majority  of  Rose  lovers,  and 

Comie  Raimbaud  and  Lord  Bacon  provide  us 
with  several  very  good  flowers  in  September  and 
October. 

Alfred  Colomb  and  Ulrich  Brunner  among. the 
lighter  reds  are  always  good  late  in  the  year.  We 
are  promised  a  more  brilliant  flower  of  the  latter  in 


Mme.  Jinient  Levarasseur,  which  we  hope  may 
be  verified.     The 

Victor  rci'd/cr  I  ace  are  always  certain  autumnals, 
the  type  itself  being  one  of  the  best.  I  could 
have  cut  a  flower  the  second  week  in  October 
equal  to  the  blooms  one  obtains  in  summer. 
^Vhat  we  owe  to  this  Rose  for  its  glorious  progenj', 
directly  or  indirectlj',  will  probably  never  be 
known,  and  if  their  want  of  fragrance  can  be 
overlooked  they  must  be  placed  in  the  front  rank 
as  autumnals. 

Pride  of  Waltham,  Countess  of  Oxford,  Mme. 
Bois,  Marie  Finger,  and  others  blossom  most  freely 
late  in  the  year,  and,  as  most  growers  are  aware, 
the  colour  becomes  very  much  intensified,  so  much 
so  that  one  scarcely  can  recognise  them.  Among 
the  lighter  shades 

Mrs.  John  Laing  and   Mrs.'  Sharman-Crawford 


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Rose  felicite  peki-etue. 

are  unsurpassed,  the  former  proudly  maintaining 
the  premier  position  as  the  best  autumnal  Hybrid 
Pepetual. 

Heinrich  Schiillheis,  Marquise  de  Ca-itellane,  and 
Paul  Neyron  among  rose-pinks  come  well  to  the 
front  in  their  respective  colours. 

For  thorough  hardiness  such  Roses  as  I  have 
named  may  be  relied  upon,  and  this  is  a  weighty 
matter  with  those  who  dwell  in  cold  districts,  espe- 
cially if  one  is  desirous  of  growing  some  as  standards, 
for  no  class  of  Rose  can  be  more  fitting  than  these 
for  such  a  purpose.  Piiilobiel. 


ROSE    FELICITE    PERPETUE. 
Oi?  all  the  beautiful  rambler  Roses  that  have 
appeared  during  the  last  few  years  it  is  ques- 
tionable whether  any  variety  h3,s  been  raised 
to    suri)ass  the    old    and  ,  well-tried  Felicite 


28 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[January  11,  1902. 


Perpetue,  which  was  introduced  as  far  back 
as  1828.  It  is  a  worthy  CDinpanion  to  CVimson 
Rambler,  the  grand  trusses  of  pinkish  white 
rosette-shaped  blossoms  toning  down  the  some- 
what garish  effect  of  the  popular  rambler. 
Perhaps  Felicite  Periietue  is  best  seen  as  an 
arch  Hose  gracefully  spanning  .some  wide  walk 
or  drive,  but  it  is  also  most  attractive  as  a 
well-developed  pillar,  for  it  quickly  rises  to 
a  height  of  10  feet  to  1-2  feet,  and  is  then  a 
glorious  column  of  dazzling  white  blossom. 
This  Rose  is  also  excellent  for  covering 
mounds,  banks,  tree  stumps,  &c.,  and  as  it  is 
possible  to  obtain  it  upon  its  own  roots  no  one 
need  hesitate  to  plant  it  where  it  will  receive 
little  or  no  attention.  The  small  flowers  .so 
perfectly  formed  and  produced  in  such  fine 
corymbs  last  quite  a  long  time  before  they 
fall.  This  is  important  when  effect  in  the 
garden  is  considered.  Perhaps  some  prefer 
the  simple  beauty  of  single  Roses  of  the 
Carmine  Pillar  type.  It  is  impossible  to  e.xag- 
gerate  the  beauty  of  this  Rose,  but  how  forlorn 
is  its  appearance  after  a  storm,  whereas  the 
double  kinds  quickly  revive.  Felicite  Perpetue 
is  only  half  an  evergreen,  and  the  name  of  the 
tribe  from  which  it  springs,  namely,  R.  sem- 
pervirens,  is  somewhat  a  misnomer.  It  will, 
however,  retain  its  glossy  foliage  well  through 
the  winter  months,  and  is  perhaps  as  much 
evergreen  as  any  Rose,  except  the  lovely  Jersey 
Beauty  and  Aimee  Vibert.  Of  course  in 
southern  counties  Rosafortuneana,  R.  kevigata, 
and  others  are  almost  if  not  entirely  ever- 
green. I  think  it  is  very  probable  that 
Felicite  PerixHue,  Flora,  and  a  few  other 
varieties  of  R.  sempervirens  and  R.  arvensis, 
together  with  varieties  of  R.  multitiora,  will  be 
extensively  grown  as  standards  in  the  near 
future.  We  know  they  make  glorious  weeping 
Ro.ses  on  tall  stems,  but  why  should  they  not 
be  budded  upon  ordinary  standards,  and  thus 
be  more  in  harmony  with  surrounding  trees 
and  shrubs  ?  The  very  tall  weepers  are  excel- 
lent for  large  grounds,  but  the  villa  garden 
■  is  not  quite  the  place  for  them.  It  is  now 
almost  generally  known  that  to  prune  this 
Rose  is  to  cut  away  the  flowers,  but  the  jilants 
must  be  overhauled  in  September  at  latest, 
and  dead  or  decrepit  growths  removed,  spread- 
ing out  the  remainder  as  much  as  possible. 
During  the  winter  and  also  in  May  and  June 
the  ]ilants  are  much  helped  by  good  soakings 
of  liquid  manure.  P. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

FRUIT    GARDEN. 

L.ATE  PlANTIN-O." 

UNDER  good  managenieiit  and  favour- 
able circum.stances  fruit  tree  jilaiiting 
will  have  been  completed,  but  un- 
avoidable conditions  sometimes  arise 
that  late  planting  cannot  be  helped, 
and  no  opportunity  should  now  be 
lost  in  completing  this  operation.  On  receiving 
trees  from  a  distance  steep  their  roots  in  water, 
and  at  once  lay  them  in  damp  soil  if  the  planting 
cannot  be  immediately  attended  to.  In  planting 
the  chief  points  of  importance  are  to  remove  the 
broken  and  othei-wise  damaged  portions  of  roots 
by  a  clean  upward  out,  regularly  spread  them  out 
in  shallow  holes  so  that  the  stems  of  the  trees  are 
covered  the  same  depth  as  they  were  in  the 
nursery  lines,  make  the  soil  quite  firm  both 
beneath  and  above  the  roots,  and  place  fine 
particles  immediately  around  them.  Complete 
the  work  by  mulching  with  short  litter  and 
securely  staking  in  necessary  cases.  In  the  case 
of  planting  against  walls  the  stems  of  the  trees 
should,  in  order  to  atford  space  for  development, 


be  kept  a  few  inches  clear  of  them,  and  the 
branches  only  loosely  scoured  until  the  soil  has 
set.  With  respect  to  planting  in  grass  orchards, 
a  bare  space  several  feel  in  diameter  should  be  left 
around  each  tree. 

Prunini:  Wall  Trees. 

Pears  upon  walls  are  usuall}' horizontally  trained, 
and  both  summer  and  winter  pruned.  As  we 
presume  that  the  former  was  duly  executed,  the 
requisite  work  now  will  consist  in  cutting  back 
late  growths  and  manipulating  crowded  and  strong 
overgrown  spurs.  A  superabundance  of  spurs 
means  an  excessive  profusion  of  foliage  and  unsatis- 
factory crops,  while  extra  strong  spurs  produce 
gross,  unfruitful  wood.  The  remedy  for  the 
former  ilefect  is  skilful  thinning  by  cutting  clean 
away  the  most  unsatisfactory  portions,  and  the 
latter  evil  is  overcome  bj'  a  combination  of  root 
pruning  and  the  cutting  out  of  the  largest  spurs. 
The  time  for  root  lifting  and  root  pruning  is  in 
October.  Although  young  trees  may  be  safely 
attended  to  in  favourable  weather  even  later  than 
the  present  time,  neglected  established  ones  would 
be  better  left  over  until  ne.xt  autumn.  Espalier 
and  cordon  trees  need  similar  treatment  with 
respect  to  pruning  as  the  above,  and  in  each  case 
extending  shoots,  in  order  to  ensure  the  production 
of  sutticient  spurs,  should  be  shortened  to  about 
two-thirds  of  their  length. 

Aprioots  are  impatient  of  moisture,  and  damp 
sites  should  as  far  as  practicable  be  avoided 
for  their  culture,  and  likewise,  owing  to  their 
early  season  of  flowering,  those  where  severe 
spring  frosts  prevail.  They  are  accommodating 
in  so  far  as  they  blossom  freely  both  upon  spurs 
and  young  shoots.  It  is  possible  to  secure  the 
young  growths  closely  to  walls,  and  oonse(|uently 
the  flowers  are  comparatively  safe  from  frosts.  It 
is  advisable  to  train  the  principal  branches 
sutKoiently  far  apart  for  the  fruitful  wood  to  be 
properly  trained  between  them.  At  the  same 
time  the  chief  branches  may  be  kept  well  furnished 
with  fruitful  spurs.  Owing  to  the  ease  with  which 
defective  branches  (the  Apricot  is  very  prone  to 
have  some)  can  be  replaced  by  young  ones  upon 
fan-shaped  trees,  it  is  desirable  to  train  young 
trees  upon  that  system. 

Plums. 

In  training  young  trees  care  should  be  taken  bj' 
autumn  root  lifting  and  stopping  strong  shoots 
during  the  growing  season  to  equally  balance  the 
growth  and  thereby  form  symmetrical  specimens. 
Where  this  has  been  attended  to  all  that  will  now 
be  re(iuired  is  to  cut  in  late  growths  to  within 
tliree  eyes  of  the  base,  and  shorten  any  leading 
shoot  from  which  a  supply  of  subsidiary  branches 
is  desired.  Moderately-sized  growths  will  furnish 
a  regular  and  sufficient  sup])ly  of  spurs  without 
being  shortened.  Established  trees,  with  regard 
to  pruning,  should  be  treated  in  a  similar  way  to 
Fears.  Tuos.  Coomhek. 

The  Hendrc  Garden.i,  Monmoutlt. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

The  present  is  naturally  a  dull  and  uninteresting 
time  of  the  year  so  far  as  the  appearance  of  the 
flower  garden  itself  is  concerned,  but  yet  much  can 
be  done  by  attention  to  neatness  and  order  to  make 
it  inviting  and  cheerful  even  now.  Where  winter 
decoration  of  beds  by  the  use  of  dwarf  shrubs  has 
been  practised  care  should  be  taken  to  keep  them 
clean  and  to  remove  any  leaves  or  unsightly  objects 
that  may  have  been  blown  by  the  wind  amongst 
them  ;  while,  if  the  weather  is  open,  lawns  and 
grass  paths  should  be  frequently  brushed  to  remove 
worm-casts,  and  lightly  rolled  ;  this  not  only  im- 
proves the  turf  but  at  the  same  time  greatly 
enhances  its  appearance.  If  there  are  still  beds 
and  borders  unprepared  for  the  sowing  of  annuals, 
or  the  occupation  of  the  summer  bedding  plants, 
the  work  should  be  got  on  with  whenever  the 
opportunity  permits,  not  only  to  allow  the  ground 
to  be  influenced  by  the  ameliorating  effects  of 
weather,  but  also  to  get  it  done  before  the  stress 
of  work  commences  which  the  approach  of  spring 
time  entails.  In  cases  where  the  beds  and  borders 
have  been  used  for  many   years  it  is  a  wise  pro- 


ceeding to  remove  a  little  of  the  old  soil  and 
substitute  fresh  loam  and  well  decayed  manure  to 
prepare  them  for  the  summer  planting  ;  for  though 
there  are  some  plants,  such  as  Convolvulus,  Tagetes, 
&c. ,  that  bloom  more  freel3'  in  an  impoverished  piece 
of  ground,  most  flowering  plants  respond  to  a  good 
rich  soil. 

Hyacintus,  Tclii's, 

and  other  bulbs  in  beds  if  threatened  with  any 
severe  weather  may  easilj'  be  protected  with 
Ferns  or  ashes,  while  branches  of  Firs  could  be 
utilised  for  the  safety  of  the  more  delicate  roots. 

Roses 

recently  planted  should,  if  not  already  done,  be 
protected  at  the  roots  with  long  stable  litter, 
and  any  which  are  yet  to  be  planted  should  be 
got  in  the  first  favourable  opportunity  when  the 
weather  is  mild.  Every  care  must  be  taken  to 
ensure  their  success ;  deep  trenching,  removing 
poor  soil,  and  the  addition  of  stiff  loam  and  manure 
are  of  primary  importance  in  connection  with  Rose 
planting.  Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 

SI.  Faijaii'i,  Cardiff'. 

INDOOR  GARDEN. 

Watering. 

Tins  is  the  most  important  operation  in  the  culti- 
vation of  plants  in  pots.  It  requires  much  care 
and  judgment.  Every  young  gardener  should  know 
the  needs  of  various  plants  under  his  care.  Plants 
too  wet  or  too  drj'  at  the  roots  never  flourish. 
Water  should  never  be  applied  to  plants  at  fixed 
periods,  but  given  when  they  are  becoming  dry. 
Those  that  are  rooted  and  have  good  drainage 
should  be  soaked.  Avoid  giving  water  in  driblets, 
and  the  water  should  always  be  of  the  same  tem- 
perature as  the  house,  rain-water  being  the  best 
that  can  be  used  for  plants.  Evergreen  plants, 
such  as  Crotons,  Azaleas,  Carnations,  &c. ,  are 
often  injured  during  the  winter  months  through 
receiving  insufficient  water  at  the  roots.  Red 
spider  and  thrips  more  often  infest  plants  through 
dryness  at  the  roots  than  in  the  atmosphere.  I 
believe  red  spider  and  thrip  will  not  attack  plants 
that  receive  sufficient  water  and  are  well  nourished. 
Many  complain  of  Crotons  losing  their  leaves 
during  the  winter  through  insutticient  heat,  but 
I  believe  the  cause  is  often  through  too  much  fire- 
heat,  dryness,  and  starvation  at  the  roots.  It  is 
best  always,  especially  in  winter,  to  maintain  the 
lowest  temperature  that  plants  will  thrive  in.  A 
Croton  on  the  table  before  me  while  writing, 
Croton  Disraeli,  has  been  in  the  room  since  last 
June.  It  is  standing  in  a  window  facing  south. 
The  leaves  of  the  plant  are  hanging  over  the  pot 
and  are  a  good  colour  ;  in  fact,  the  plant  is  making 
young  leaves  at  the  present  time. 

The  Forcing  House. 
In  order  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  flowering 
plants,  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Narcissi,  and  other 
iDulbs,  also  Spineas,  Deutzias,  Azalea  mollis,  Rhodo- 
dendrons, .Staphyleas,  &c. ,  may  be  brought  into 
warmth.  Begonia  (iloire  de  Lorraine  that  has 
done  flowering  may  be  cut  slightly  back  (if  cut  back 
hard  at  once  it  islikely  to  die),  placed  into  an  inter- 
mediate house,  and  kept  ratlier  dry.  Poinsettias 
that  have  been  cut  may  be  placed  under  the  stage 
in  the  same  house.  Such  plants  as  Gardenias, 
Cinerarias,  and  Mignonette  that  are  coming  into 
flower  should  be  given  an  occasional  watering  with 
li(|uid  manure.  Gloxinias  which  show  signs  of 
active  growth  must  now  be  potted  in  a  light 
porous  compost  of  rich  fibrous  loam,  peat,  leaf- 
mould,  and  sand,  but  avoid  covering  the  hearts. 
From  four  or  five  sowings  it  is  easy  to  have  this 
most  useful  and  beautiful  plant  in  flower  every 
month  of  the  j'ear.  Seed  sown  now  will  flower  in 
.lune  if  kept  in  a  moist,  warm  atmosphere,  wliich 
is  essential  to  a  luxuriant  growth.  Seeds  should 
be  sown  in  well-drained  pans,  using  a  finel3'  sifted 
compost  of  leaf-soil  and  peat  in  ecpial  parts,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  charcoal  and  sand.  Sow  very  thinly 
and  only  slightly  cover  with  tine  soil.  If  sown 
thickly  seedlings  are  apt  to  damp  off.  Place  the 
pans  in  a  temperature  of  about  65°  and  carefully 
shade  from  the  sun. 


January  11,  1902] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


29 


Gesxera   Hybrids. 
These  are  also  valuable  plants  for  the  stove  con- 
servatory in  summer  and  autumn,  and  require  the 
same  treatment  as  the  Gloxinia. 

Chrysanthemdms. 
The  cuttings  inserted  last  month  are  now  forming 
roots  ;  the  strong-growing  varieties  are  tlie  quickest 
to  strike,  and  should  be  removed  to  a  frame  by 
themselves  where  they  can  have  more  air  to  pre- 
vent a  weak  growth.  Cuttings  of  the  varieties 
that  could  not  be  taken  last  month  should  be 
inserted  as  soon  as  ready.  John  Fleming. 

]Ve.iham  Park  Gardens,  Slonyh. 

KITCHEN  GARDEN. 

Forcing. 
JIucH  will  depend  upon  facilities  as  to  what 
extent  this  can  be  practised.  The  forwarding 
of  many  kinds  of  vegetables  is  easily  accom- 
plished where  proper  means  are  provided,  such 
as  small  forcing  houses,  heated  pits,  and 
good  Mushroom  houses,  but  much  can  be  done 
in  a  smaller  way  with  ordinary  frames  and 
hot-beds,  and  now  is  a  capital  time  to  begin. 
Hot-beds  must  be  made  in  a  workmanlike  wa}'. 
The  best  material  for  the  purpose  is  good  Oak, 
Beech,  or  Spanish  Chestnut  leaves,  and  long  stable 
litter,  suthcient  only  of  the  latter  to  hold  the 
leaves  together.  This  should  be  built  to  a  height 
to  ensure  a  gentle  heat,  allowing  from  IS  inches  to 


CAMPAKULA  LACTIFLORA. 


"2  feet  over  and  above  the  size  of  the  frames  for 
lining.  Do  not  be  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  place 
the  soil  in  tlie  frames.  Many  crops  become  spoilt 
through  the  soil  being  overheated.  Only  when  the 
heat  is  well  on  the  decline  should  this  be  done.  It 
is  eas3'  to  test  matters  by  thrusting  in  stakes  and 
examining  each  morning,  but  at  the  same  time  the 
compost  should  be  prepared  and  placed  under 
cover  in  readiness.  Asparagus,  Potatoes,  Carrots, 
Radishes,  Mint,  and  Tarragon  are  easily  forced  in 
this  way  at  this  season,  and  later  on  Spinach, 
Lettuce,  Turnips,  Cucumbers,  and  Marrows.  The 
frames  should  face  full  south,  and  be  sheltered  as 
much  as  possible  from  the  north  and  east  winds. 
The  frames  which  are  used  for  Asparagus  after  the 
crop  is  over  come  in  well  for  succession  Potatoes, 
but  the  soil  should  be  renewed.  The  soil,  except 
for  Carrots,  should  not  be  too  fine,  and  a  suitable 
mixture  is  two  parts  good  fibrous  loam  and  one 
each  leaf -soil,  old  Mushroom  Ijed  manure,  and  roatl 
sand.  Add  a  fresh  lining  of  stable  manure  v/hen 
necessary,  and  protect  the  glass  against  frost. 
Watch  for  the  appearance  of  the  young  growth, 
and  give  air  freely  whenever  safe  to  do  so,  especially 
in  the  morning,  but  shut  up  early  to  conserve  as 
much  sun  heat  as  possible  at  this  season. 

TOJIATOES 
which  were  sown  early  last  month  should  now  be 
good  strong  sturdy  plants  ready  for  sliiftiog  on 
into  (D-inch  pots.  'J'hese  shoulil  produce  good  crops 
of  fruit  during  May  and  .June.  The  soil  should  be 
moderately  light  and 
porous,  the  pots  well 
drained,  and  do  not  pot 
too  rirmly.  'ilie  com- 
post should  be  nicely 
warmed,  and  great  care 
be  taken  not  to  give  the 
)>lants  a  chill,  Ijut  pot 
them  in  the  Inuse  in 
which  they  are  grow- 
ing. Do  not  overwater 
— rather  err  on  the  side 
of  allowing  them  to 
become  dry  at  this  time 
of  the  j-ear.  Keep  them 
in  a  temperature  of 
about  (iO'',  and  as 
close  to  tile  glass  as 
possible. 

Cl^ctmbeks. 

Those  in  bearing  will 
require  a  brisk  tem- 
perature night  and  day, 
and  do  not  overcrcjp 
them.  The  plants  must 
be  sj'ringed  morning 
and  early  afternoon,  and 
a  moist  atmosphere 
maintained  by  fre- 
cjuently  damping  down 
the  paths  and  walls,  or 
red  spider  and  thrip  arc 
sure  to  cause  much 
trouble.  Thesuccsiion 
house  ought  now  to  be 
planted,  and  another 
sowing  made  in  3-inch 
pots  in  a  brisk  bottom 
heat. 

Onions. 

To  obtain  large  bulbs 
seed  of  the  best  kinds 
should  now  be  sown  in 
boxes  and  raised  under 
glass.  The  most  suit- 
able structure  is  an 
early  vinery  or  Peach 
house  which  is  just 
being  started.  The 
boxes  should  be  well 
drained,  and  a  suitable 
compost  is  light  loam, 
leaf-soil,  and  road  grit. 
Use  it  in  a  moderately 
fine,  dry  condition,  and 
make  very  firm. 


LeeIvS. 
The  first  sowing  of  these  should  also  be  made 
now  either  in  boxes  or  3-inch  pots  :  the  same  kind 
of  compost  and  temperature  will  suit  these  also. 

French  Beans. 

A  small  sowing  should  be  made  in  7-inch  or 
S-inch  pots  every  ten  days  (I  prefer  Canadian 
Wonder  to  any  other)  to  keep  up  a  supply.  Those 
which  are  bearing  should  be  given  manure  water 
at  everj'  other  watering,  and  the  growths  sj'ringed 
freely  twice  daily  with  tepid  wafer  to  ward  oS' 
attacks  of  red  spider.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  House  Oardem,  Elitree,  Herts. 


CAMPANULA    LACTIFLORA. 

The  subject  of  the  illustration  is  one  of  the 
best  of  the  border  Campanulas,  tliough  it  is 
not  by  any  means  often  seen  in  gardens.  Its 
handsome  upriglit  growth  and  masses  of  milk- 
wliite  flowers  only  faintly  tinged  with  lavender 
are  of  remarkable  beauty.  It  is  a  plant  from 
the  Caucasus,  that  mountainous  home  of  so 
many  of  the  family.  In  this  case  it  is  the 
lavender-blue  flower  that  is  the  garden  variety, 
tlie  type  being  nearly  white. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not  responsible  for   the   opinionK 
expressed  by  their  correspondents. ) 

FABIANA     IMBRICATA. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR,— Here  in  Southern  Hants  this  sluub 
is  not  hardy,  except  with  some  protec- 
tion against  a  wall.  Not  far  from  here  ' 
is  growing  an  exceedingly  fine  specimen 
at  the  foot  of  a  south  wall  with  an  addi- 
tion of  a  glass-covered  verandah  over  it. 
This  slight  protection  seems  to  afford  the  neces.sary 
warmth  during  sharp  weather,  as  well  as  assist  in 
the  ripening  of  the  wood  in  tlie  autumn.  This 
h.ns  mucli  to  do  with  the  freedom  of  flowering, 
which  is  an  annual  occurrence.  I  find  cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  shoots  taken  ofl'  early  in 
September  and  inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  a  cold 
frame  root  readily,  and  grow  into  sturdy  plants. 
Bishojj's  Waltham.  E.  JIolyneux. 


SWEEPIN(!  PATHS  AND  OTHEU 
MATTERS. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir,— May  I  suggest  that  one  of  your  correspon- 
dents, who  does  not  consider  that  the  kind  of 
broom  lately  recommend^  can  be  better  than  his 
old  one,  should  give  it  a  fair  trial  before  coming 
to  tliis  conclusion.  I  should  like  to  open  up 
another  important  matter,  namelj',  the  question 
as  to  the  advantage  of  labour-saving  appliances  of 
the  best  kind  in  private  gardens.  Many,  perliaps 
most,  agree  that  it  is  "  all  in  the  day's  work,"  and 
that  any  arrangement  for  simplifying  and  reducing 
work  is  a  useless  expense,  giving  the  garilener 
more  time  to  idle  about.  A  long  experience  shows 
this  to  be  a  serious  blunder.  If  the  employer 
shows  no  appreciation  of  the  value  of  time,  and  no 
objection  to  wasting  it  with  inferior  tools  and 
appliances,  the  man  naturally  follows  his  eniploj'er's 
lead,  and  sets  little  va'ue  on  his  own  time,  which 
can  be  easilj'  wasted  in  a  g  irden.  We  keep  always 
the  best  labour-saving  appliances,  and  see  they  are 
used  ;  a  poor  tool  is  cleared  out  of  the  way,  and 
the  men  spend  the  time  which  would  otherwise  be 
wasted  on  improving  all  round.  Work  is  lietter 
done,  and  many  things  are  done  whiih  would  be 
impossible  if  we  went  on  the  principle  of  using 
old,  bad,  or  indifferent  toils  without  consideration 
as  to  the  time  they  waste.  One  of  the  occupations 
in  wliich  a  very  large  amount  of  time  is  wasted  is 
watering  ;  instead  of  tlie  water  coming  to  the  man, 
he  has   to  carry  it  in   most  private  gardens  ;  tho 


30 


THE    GAEDEN. 


[January  11,  1902. 


watering  cans  are  clumsy,  unhandy,  an<l  slow  in 
delivery.  This  is  a  point  on  wliieh  we  might  well 
take  a  lesson  from  the  French  market  gardener, 
who  as  a  rule  will,  compared  with  us,  do  the  same 
amount  of  watering  in  less  than  half  the  time  and 
with  very  much  less  labour.  He  arranges  his  beds 
so  that  he  can  use  two  cans,  one  in  each  hand. 
The  same  thing  occurs  in  tree  pruning  ;  one  man 
will  spend  more  time  in  climbing  up  and  down  a 
ladder  than  another  requires  to  du  the  whole  with 
proper  tools,  and  so  on  through  the  garden  work. 
I  have  seen  the  entire  staff  of  one  large  garden, 
where  the  glass  covered  about  an  acre,  spending 
three  hours  daily  in  watering,  carrying  all  the 
water  over  an  average  of  25  yards  to  3U  yards.  An 
expenditure  of  i!.j  would  have  saved  at  least  2'n. 
per  week  in  wages,  but  it  was  "all  in  the  day's 
work,"  and  the  owner  of  the  pl-ace  could  not  be 
ma<le  to  see  that  it  cost  him  anything.  Heavy 
rakes,  badly-shaped  spades,  hedge  clippers  which 
only  cut  for  about  half  the  length  of  the  blade, 
heavy  and  stitt'  lawn-mcjwers,  coke  stores  away 
from  tlie  boiler  pit,  and  many  other  things  tell, 
and  make  up  a  total,  which  becomes  a  heavy  tax 
or  reduces  the  standard  of  etHciency  and  the  degree 
of  pleasure  a  garden  might  otherwise  attain  and 
give.  Money  devoted  to  good  labour-saving 
appliances  is  alwaj's  well  spent,  and  a  good 
gardener  takes  a  pride  both  in  having  and  in  using 
them.  J.  F. 


THE  SEVEN  SISTERS  ROSE. 
[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Can  anyone  tell  me  the  name  of  the  true 
Seven  Sisters  Rose  ?  I  have  seen  various  Roses 
named  thus,  and  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
there  must  be  some  slight  misunderstanding,  as  it 
is  not  possible  for  more  than  one  variety  to  bear 
that  name.  I  have  a  Rose  which  is  known  locally 
as  the  Se\-en  Sisters  Rose,  and  has  received  three 
other  names  from  experts.  The  first  said  it  is 
Myrianthe  renoncule,  the  .second  called  it  Ranun- 
culoides,  and  the  third  called  it  Felicite  Perpctue. 
It  is  an  evergreen  variety,  making  j'early  growths 
of  S  feet,  and  flowers  nidst  abundantly,  producing 
huge  clusters  in  June.  The  flowers  are  quite 
small,  cup-shaped,  with  neatly  arranged  petals, 
pure  white  at  first,  with  age  tinged  with  pink, 
deliciciusly  sweet  and  long  lasting.  Perhaps  someone 
can  tell  me  the  correct  name.  It  is  quite  an  old 
variety,  having  grown  here  for  the  last  thirty 
years.  The  plants  are  quite  easily  raised  from 
cuttings,  and  succeed  admirably.  For  arches, 
pergolas,  walls,  or  fences  it  has  no  superior  in  its 
way,  and  should  have  a  place  in  anj'  garden  where 
quick  growth  and  freedom  of  flowering  are  desired. 
Binliop'^  Watlham.  E.  Molyneux. 


BOOKS. 


The  Hoptieultupal  Direetopy.*— The 

forty-third  volume  of  this  useful  work  is  published. 
The  editor  endeavours,  as  far  as  is  possible,  to 
bring  up  to  date  the  changes  that  have  occurred  in 
the  addresses  of  private  gardeners  and  nurserymen 
during  the  past  year,  and  it  is  owing  to  this  that 
the  "Horticultural  Directory"  is  welcomed  now 
as  heartily  as  ever.  A  list  of  plants  certificated 
by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  from  October, 
19(Jtl,  to  September,  1901,  and  many  useful  garden 
recipes,  are  also  included  in  this  publication.  As 
a  book  of  reference  it  is  indispensable  to  the 
horticulturist. 

The    Rosarian's    Year    Book    for 

1902.t — This  is  an  annual  friend,  and  edited  by 
the  veteran  hon.  secretary  of  the  National  Rose 
Society,  the  Rev.  H.  Honywood  D'ombrain.  It 
opens  with  a  portrait  of  Mr.  0.  (J.  Orpen,  and  an 
account  of  this  famous  Rose  exhibitor  by  the  Rev. 
A.  Foster-Melliar,  who  writes:  "All  Rose  exhi- 
bitors   know   the    very    strong    position    he    has 


*  "The  Horticultural  Directory.'"  Puljlislied  from  the 
"Journal  of  Horticulture"  ottice,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  .SUeet,  E.C.     Price  Is. 

t  "  'I'he  Rosarian's  Year  Book  for  l:)ivj,"  edited  by  the  Rev. 
H.  H.  D'ombrain.  Published  by  Bemrose  and  Sons,  Limited, 
4,  8now  Hill,  and  Derby.    Price  Is. 


attained  in  the  last  few  years — that  he  has  won 
the  Tea  Challenge  Trophy  five  times  (once  more 
than  Mr.  Hill  (!ray,  with  his  much  larger  garden) 
and  that  he  is  probably  as  invincible  in  the  season 
with  twelve  Roses  as  ^Ir.  Lindsell  apparently  is 
with  thirty-six.  ...  It  is  in  Tea  Roses 
especially  that  Mr.  Orpen  is  so  strong.  On 
some  occasions  of  late  \-ears  his  Teas  have  been 
obviously  as  good,  and  perhaps  better,  than 
those  of  the  leading  professionals.  .  .  .  Until 
1S!>7  he  had  less  than  1,000  plants  of  exhibition 
varieties,  and  his  plants  now  number  SOfS  of 
garden  varieties,  SI  4  of  Teas  (of  which  m5 
are  standards),  and  .S(i9  of  Hybrid  Perpetuals  and 
Hybrid  Teas  (of  which  41  are  standards).  His 
plants  are  not  pruned  very  hard,  and  each  would, 
I  think,  carry  two  exhibition  blooms  to  one  that 
my  plants  could  bring  to  perfection.  With  tliese 
he  has  won,  in  the  last  ten  years,  KiS  first  prizes, 
27  medals,  and  101  second  and  third  prizes.  These 
first  prizes  include  the  National  Rose  Society's 
Tea  Trophy  five  times,  the  principal  prize  for  Teas 
at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  shows  six 
times,  Harkness  Challenge  Cup  three  times.  Diss 
Challenge  Cup  five  times,  Ramsey  Cup  twice, 
and  the  Brentwood  Challenge  Cup  this  year, 
which  has  been  his  most  successful  season,  his 
prizes  at  seven  shows  consisting  of  twenty-five 
firsts,  five  medals,  eight  seconds,  and  two  thirds." 
"The  (Jlory  of  the  Rose,"  extracted  by  permis- 
sion from  "  Fortunatus,''  by  the  Poet  Laureate; 
"Some  Garden  Ro.ses  and  their  Uses,'"  by  Miss 
Jekyll ;  "  The  Rose  and  the  National  Rose  Society," 
by  the  Editor  :  "  Observations  on  some  of  the  New 
Roses  of  mOO-lilOl,"  by  the  Rev.  J. '  H.  Pem- 
berton ;  "  Stocks  and  their  Influence,"  Ijy  Mr. 
B.  E.  Cant;  "The  Development  of  New  Types  of 
Roses,"  by  Mr.  George  Paul  ;  and  "  The  Weather 
of  the  Past  Rose  Year,"  by  Mr.  Edward  Mawley, 
comprise  the  other  features. 


OBITUARY. 


MK.  (JEOKGE  ST.  PIERRE  HARRIS. 

NOT  a  few  Dahlia  enthusiasts  are  to-day 
mourning  the  loss  by  death  of  Mr. 
(ieorge  St.  Pierre  Harris  a  few  days 
since  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-four 
years.  When  his  widow  apjjrised  me 
of  his  death  she  added,  as  a  kind 
of  postscript  to  her  letter,  "  No  more  seedling 
Dahlias  1 ''  The  show  Dahlia  was  the  one  flower 
upon  which  he  doted  ;  he  had  a  grasp  of  the  true 
properties  of  a  florist's  Dahlia  he  had  gathered 
up  in  his  intercourse  with  the  great  Dahlia  culti- 
vators and  raisers  of  the  past — Glenn}',  Keynes, 
Turner,  Fellowes,  and  others.  Born  atGoddinglon, 
Chelsfield,  early  in  the  past  century,  he  came  to 
live  at  Orpington,  and  built  himself  a  charming 
mansion  on  Leeds  Hill,  and  formed  a  garden  in 
which  he  ever  took  great  delight;  but  the  show 
Dahlia  dominated  in  his  regard  for  flowers.  To 
him  a  perfectly  formed  show  Dahlia  was  an  ideal 
flower,  and,  caring  not  what  others  said  and 
thought,  ho  devoted  the  latter  years  of  his  life  to 
endeavouring  to  improve  it  along  the  lines  laid 
down  bj'  (Jlennj'  and  others.  In  easy  circum- 
stances all  his  life,  being  the  owner  of  a  good  deal 
of  property  in  the  neighbourhood,  he  had  a  passion 
for  outdoor  pursuits.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
\\'est  Kent  Yeomanry',  and  he  had  lived  to  be  the 
sole  sur\'ivor  of  the  corps.  As  a  cricketer  he 
gained  much  renown,  taking  part  in  many  matches, 
and  always  in  a  high  hat  and  braces,  as  I  remember 
the  old  s<:hool  of  cricketers  did  sixty  years  ago. 
He  was  a  keen  sportsman,  and  clung  to  old- 
fashioned  methods  «ith  great  tenacity.  He  shot 
with  the  same  single-barrelled  muzzle-loading  gun 
for  upwards  of  sixty  years. 

I  visited  him  in  1900  at  the  time  his  Dahlias 
were  in  bloom,  and  .spent  a  very  pleasant  time 
with  him  among  them.  He  grew  a  select  collection 
of  named  varieties  in  order  to  have  the  highest 
cjuality  of  seed  for  sowing,  and  I  noted  among  the 
seedlings  then  in  bloom  a  few  of  a  highly  promising 
character.      During  the  past  season  he  exhibited 


several  new  varieties,  and  gained  awards  for  two 
of  them.  One  was  a  fancy  named  Mariner,  which 
at  the  exhibition  of  the  National  Dahlia  Society, 
held  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  not  only  obtained  a 
certificate  of  merit,  but  was  also  awarded  the 
special  prize  I  ottered  for  the  best  seedling  fancy 
Dahlia  of  tlie  year.  It  is  a  flower  having  a  bright 
lilac  ground,  splashed  and  flaked  with  maroon- 
crimson.  A  deep  chestnut-red  .self  named  Standard 
also  received  an  award  of  merit  from  the  floral 
committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Other  new  flowers  raised  and  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Harris  during  the  summer  were  Flower  of  Kent, 
Brilliant,  Queen  of  the  Primroses,  and  Sunset,  all 
show  varieties. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  George  Rawlings  named  a 
fine  crim.sonself  after  him,  which  is  still  grown  and 
exhibited,  and  one  of  the  leading  selfs  of  the 
present  day  is  Ruby  Gem,  raised  by  Mr.  Harris. 
He  was  a  member  both  of  the  National  Dahlia 
Society  and  also  of  the  London  Dahlia  Union,  and 
he  always  made  a  point  of  attending  their  exhi- 
bitions, and  was  always  to  be  found  at  the  meetings 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  in  the  Dahlia 
season.  A  son,  bearing  his  father's  Christian 
names,  survives  him.  R.  Dean. 


A    GARDEN    IN    THE    SHADE. 

A  i:aruen  in  the  shade  is  very  often  not  a  garden 
at  all.  How  few  understand  the  gardening  possi- 
bilities of  shade,  how  many  and  how  delightful 
are  the  plants  that  will  grow  therein,  and  how 
innumerable  are  the  advantages  it  offers  to  the 
gardener  in  providing  a  succession  of  even  those 
flowers  that  love  the  sunlight !  It  is  but  rarely 
that  these  conditions  and  possibilities  are  utilised 
to  their  full  extent,  or,  indeed,  utilised  at  all,  and 
I  think  this  is  owing  chiefly  to  the  fact  that  many 
are  unaware  such  possibilities  exist.  I  form  an 
opinion  from  the  aspect  of  the  shaded  portion  of 
the  majority  of  gardens  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  visit,  where  Laurels,  Aucubas,  Mahonias,  and  a 
few  other  evergreens,  more  or  less  attractive  it 
may  be,  but  still  excessively  monotonous  are  the  - 
chief  components  of  the  borders  from  one  year  to 
another.  It  is  true  my  experience  may  have  been 
a  jjarticularly  unfortunate  one  ;  it  has,  however, 
the  merit  of  being  an  extensive  one. 

My  object  in  writing  is  not  to  suggest  that  one 
may  have  the  garden  in  the  shade  of  the  same 
brilliant  splendour,  varied  hues,  and  profusion  of 
blossoms  as  the  more  advantageously  situated 
portion,  yet  I  think  for  originality  and  distinct- 
ness, soft  and  pleasing  colours,  and  lasting  flowers, 
the  shaded  garden  has  a  charm  all  its  own. 
Doubtless  most  of  the  neglect  of  and  ignorance 
concerning  the  gardening  capabilities  of  shade  are 
due  to  the  fact  that  one  can  usuall}'  obtain  (juite 
sutiicient  enjoyment  from  that  part  of  the  garden 
more  favourablj'  placed,  a  greater  variety  of  flowers 
of  more  brilliant  colouring,  and  an  eft'ect  altogether 
more  splendid.  Those,  however,  who  are  thus 
content  miss  much.  There  are  some  flowers  whose 
colours  are  never  more  beautiful  than  in  the  deep 
shade— in  fact,  unless  seen  in  the  shade  are  never 
seen  at  their  best — such,  for  instance,  as  whites, 
pinks,  pale  blues,  and  mauves.  Flowers  grown  in 
the  shade  are  more  lasting  when  cut  than  are 
those  gathered  from  a  border  fully  exposed  to  the 
sun  ;  they  are  in  some  cases  also  of  a  deeper  hue. 
The  dift'erence  between  the  southern  and  northern 
aspect  of  most  well-kept  gardens  is  as  a  bright 
.June  morning  to  a  foggy  day  in  November.  The 
contrast  is  so  complete  that  the  sudden  transition 
(nothing  more  than  a  brick  M'all  may  divide)  from 
all  that  is  symbolic  of  life  and  beauty,  and 
warmth  and  brightness  to  all  that  denotes  neglect, 
cold,  and  barrenness,  gives  one  a  mental  chill.  On 
the  one  side  is  all  that  is  most  delightful  amongst 
flowers,  the  richest  of  hues,  the  sweetest  of 
fragrance,  and  on  the  other  there  ma^'  be  no 
flowers  at  all.  This  is  no  dream  of  imagination, 
but  a  bare  statement  of  what  may  be  seen  in  far 
too  many  of  our  gardens. 

Herein  lies  one  of  the  greatest  diS'erences  between 
gardens  cultivated  and  gardens  wild.  Where  will 
you   find   the  most   beautiful   and   chaste  of   our 


Januakv  II,  lyu2.J 


THE    GAiiDEK. 


31 


indigenous  flowers  ?  Is  it  not  by  the  moist  and 
shady  hedgerow,  or  in  the  secluded  woodland  or 
almost  impenetrable  dell — places  where  the  sun 
but  rarely  reaches  ?  Yet  in  our  made  gardens  how 
entirely  otherwise ;  those  spots  in  almost  perpetual 
shade  are  as  bare  and  lifeless  as  the}'  well  can  be. 
^Tis  strange  that  nothing  of  more  interest  and 
beauty  can  be  thought  of  to  embellish  the  approach 
to  the  northern  side  of  a  house  than  the 
-commonest  of  evergreens,  as  those  already  men- 
tioned. But  little  observation  is  necessary  to 
learn  that  the  Rhododendron  will  thrive  at  least 
equally  well  in  the  shade  as  in  the  sun,  if,  indeed, 
aiot  better,  and  almost  the  same  lua}'  be  said  of 
the  Azalea  also,  and  the  Camellia  can  without  a 
doubt  be  included  in  the  same  category.  It  is 
hardly  necessar}' to  state  that  the  Camellia  is  quite 
hard}'  (it  has  been  proved  repeatedly  to  be  hardier 
than  the  common  Laurel),  for  readers  of  The 
Gardkx  will  remember  the  interesting  letters  upon 
the  subject  of  "Camellias  in  the  Open"  that 
appeared  but  a  few  months  ago.  The  Hypericums 
are  shade-loving  plants,  and  these  have  a  quaint 
beauty  all  their  own.  Several  of  the  species  are 
good  garden  subjects,  and  H.  calj'cinum  (St.  .John's 
Wort)  is  the  most  accommodating  of  them  all, 
though  not  the  most  graceful.  One  need  not  con- 
fine one's  self  to  planting  Berberis  vulgaris  (though 
I  would  be  the  last  to  say  this  is  not  most  accept- 
able in  the  shrubbery)  when  B.  Darwinii  and  B. 
stenophylla,  two  beautiful  sorts,  will  do  equally  as 
well.  Why  also  not  relieve  the  monotony  of  3'our 
northern  border  with  a  few  flowering  Currants, 
such  as  Ribes  sanguineum,  R.  aureum,  R.  specio- 
sum,  and  others  ?  Again,  are  the  curious  winter- 
flowering  Witch  Hazels,  Hamamelis  arborea,  and 
H.  virginica,  Forsythia  suspensa,  F.  viridissima,  the 
best  of  the  variegated  and  berried  Hollies,  the 
deciduous  Hone3'suckles,  Lonicera  Standishii  and 
L.  fragrantissima,  both  of  which  flower  in  mid- 
winter, and  the  New  Zealand  Daisy,  Olearia 
Haasti,  all  to  be  despised  ? 

How  manj'  have  cultivated  Roses  on  a  north 
border  ?  I  know  a  wall  facing  due  north  that  is 
covered  with  Roses,  the  plants  being  planted  in  a 
narrow  made  border  at  the  foot,  and  those  who 
have  never  tried  to  grow  the  queen  of  flowers 
in  a  garden  in  the  shade  would  be  surprised  to  find 
how  accommodating  she  is.  But  my  list  migiit 
with  ease  be  prolonged  till  it  were  wearisome.  I 
have  not  told  of  the  Japanese  Anemones  (which, 
bj'  the  by,  covered  the  north  border,  wherein  the 
Roses  were  planted),  pink  and  white  and  blush, 
the  Da}'  Lilies,  the  blue  Aquilegias,  various 
Liliums,  Solomon's  Seal,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Violets, 
Forget-me-nots,  Violas,  Primroses,  Meadowsweet, 
Wood  Anemones,  and  numerous  small  bulbous 
plants.  Surely  the  material  is  not  lacking  for 
such  a  purpose  as  the  one  under  consideration. 
I  do  not  pretend  to  have  given  a  full  list  of  plants 
suitable  for  shaded  ground  ;  it  is  possible,  indeed, 
that  I  have  made  important  omissions.  I  have  at 
least  indicated  some  I  know  to  be  capable  of  adding 
life  and  brightness  to  this  usually  neglected  portion 
of  the  garden,  and  perhaps  other  of  your  readers 
will  still  further  assist  to  increase  the  list  of  plants 
lihat  go  to  make  beautiful  the  garden  in  the  shade. 

T.  F.  W. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 


WINTER  FLOWERING  BEGONIAS  AT 
MESSRS.  J.  VEITCH  AND  SONS. 

WITH  the  winter  season,  and  also 
with  the  fogs,  which  appear  to 
be  part  and  parcel  of  it,  the 
production  of  flowers  grown  in  a 
natural  way  seems  to  come  to  a 
St  mdstill.  The  Chrysanthemums 
a.re  practically  over,  and  very  few  are  the  plants 
which  make  our  greenhouses  and  conservatories 
gay  at  this  time  of  the  year.  The  tuberous-rooted 
Begonias  are  over,  but  those  belonging  to  the  new 
series,  for  which  the  horticultural  world  is  greatly 
indebted  to  the  labours  of  Mr.  .John  Heal,  are 
intended  to  fill  a  gap  and  be  of  greatest  service  as 


decorative  winter-flowering  plants.  They  all  are  the 
results  of  crosses  in  which  the  lovely  B.  socotraua, 
a  species  introduced  to  our  gardens  some  twenty 
years  ago,  has  played  a  most  important  part,  in 
some  cases  as  seed-bearing  parent,  but  more 
often  as  male  parent.  In  either  instance,  the 
influence  of  this  winter-flowering  species  is  very 
noticeable,  as  it  also  is  in  the  disposition  of  the 
flowers  of  the  progeny.  The  first  of  this  series  of 
hybrids,  all  of  which  were  raised  at  the  Chelsea 
nurseries,  was  the  one  named  .John  Heal,  a  very 
pretty  plant  of  slender  habit,  and  without  doubt 
one  of  the  most  free-flowering  varieties  obtained 
up  to  the  present  by  jSIr.  Heal.  It  is  the  result  of 
a  cross  between  B.  socotrana  as  female  plant  and 
a  crimson  coloured  tuberous  variety  called  Vis- 
countess Donacaile  ;  the  flowers,  small  and  single, 
are  produced  in  great  profusion,  borne  on  long  and 
slender  stems  ;  they  are  of  a  bright  crimson  colour, 
and  remain  a  long  time  on  the  plant.  Winter  Gem, 
with  large  flowers  of  a  deep  crimson  colour  and  with 
distinct  socotrana  foliage,  also  came  from  a  cross 
in  which  socotrana  was  the  seed  parent.  In  most, 
if  indeed  not  in  all  other  cases,  B.  socotrana  was 
used  as  the  pollen  parent,  the  seed-bearing  plant 
being  invariably  one  of  the  numerous  forms  of  the 
justly  popular  tuberous  section.  It  is  from  one  of 
these  crosses  %\ith  an  orange-scarlet  form  that  the 
beautiful  variety  Jlrs.  Heal  was  obtained.  Its 
flowers,  like  those  of  .John  Heal,  are  single,  but 
they  are  of  a  much  larger  size,  many  of  them 
measuring  fully  3  inches  in  diameter  ;  they  are 
produced  well  above  the  foliage,  and  of  a  bright 
orange-scarlet  colour.  Myra,  also  a  single-flowered 
variety  of  somewhat  loose  habit,  but  with  large 
pink  blooms  produced  in  great  (luantities  and 
disposed  in  long  racemes,  came  from  the  same 
cross,  as  did  also  Winter  Cheer,  a  robust  grower 
of  excellent  constitution,  with  very  bright  semi- 
double  flowers  of  a  rich  red  and  most  pleasing 
colour.  In  Ensign  we  have  a  Begonia  of  special 
value,  inasmuch  as  it  is  perhaps  the  one  combining 
together  the  most  valuable  i|ualities  for  a  decora- 
tive or  market  plant.  It  is  of  robust  habit,  with 
well-shaped  and  large  double  flowers  of  a  particu- 
larly bright  pink  and  pleasing  colour,  and  these 
are  so  abundantly  produced  that  it  is  not  unusual 
to  find  from  sixty  to  eighty  flowers  and  buds  on  a 
plant  IS  inches  or  "20  inches  high.  This  was  the 
result  of  a  cross  in  which  a  semi-double  flowered 
tuberous  rose-coloured  variety  was  used  as  the 
seed  parent. 

It  is  from  this  same  or  from  a  similar  cross  that 
Winter  Perfection,  a  variety  of  somewhat  dwarf 
habit,  with  double  pink  flowers  disposed  on  well- 
branched  racemes  standing  well  above  a  fine  dark 
green  and  shining  foliage,  was  raised,  and  the 
same  cross  also  produced  Ideala,  the  lovely  variety 
sliown  at  the  Drill  Hall  meeting  of  November  26, 
where  it  attracted  great  attention,  and  most 
deserveilly  received  an  award  of  merit  (figured 
in  The  Garden  for  .January  4).  This  is  by  far 
the  dwarfest  of  all  varieties  raised  up  to'  the 
present,  but  its  perfectly  shaped  and  large  flowers, 
of  a  most  pleasing  bright  rose  colour  and  fairly 
double,  are  well  shown  above  the  foliage,  and  the 
whole  plant  has  a  particularly  neat  appearance. 
Venus  is  a  brilliant  variety  with  semi -double 
flowers  of  a  peculiarly  bright  red,  and  is  the 
result  of  a  cross  between  a  crimson  coloured  form 
of  the  tuberous-rooted  section  and  B.  socotrana. 
Perhaps  the  most  distinct  of  all  the  varieties 
raised,  but  not  in  commerce  yet,  is  .Julius,  the 
result  of  a  cross  between  a  white  form  of  the 
tuberous-rooted  section  and  socotrana.  Its  beau- 
tiful flowers,  of  large  size  and  fine  substance, 
greatly  resemble  those  of  the  double  pink  Oleander, 
and  are  of  exactly  the  same  colour.  It  is  also  a 
plant  of  good  habit  and  is  free  flowering.  The 
only  variety  in  commerce  yet  which  is  a  hybrid  of  the 
second  degree  from  socotrana  is  Adonis,  as  in  this 
case  John  Heal  was  the  pollen  parent  plant,  while 
the  seed  bearer  was  an  orange-scarlet  form  of  the 
tuberous  section.  It  is  a  variety  of  medium  height, 
with  large  single  flowers  of  a  particularly  bright 
red-currant  colour,  free  flowering,  but  of  a  some- 
what straggling  habit.  It  is  also  worthy  of  record 
that  a  plant  in  every  respect  similar  to  the  justly 
popular  B.   Gloire  de  Lorraine — raised  by  M.  V. 


Lemoine,  of  Nancy,  many  years  ago — has  been 
produced  by  crossing  B.  socotrana  as  the  seed- 
bearing  plant  with  the  old-fashioned  B.  Moonlight 
as  pollen  parent. 

To  the  above  descriptions  we  may  add  that  these 
plants,  being  of  easy  culture,  never  requiring  stove 
temperature,  and  flowering  as  they  do  at  a  time  of 
the  year  when  bright-coloured  flowers  are  particu- 
larly scarce,  should  receive  at  the  hands  of  all 
lovers  of  horticultural  productions  a  great  deal 
more  attention  than  is  actually  bestowed  upon 
them.  With  the  exception  of  Ideala,  which  is  of 
quite  a  dwarf  habit,  most  of  the  other  varieties 
make  what  may  be  termed  very  good  decorative 
plants,  averaging  from  16  inches  to  20  inches  in 
height,  and  becoming  loaded  with  their  beautiful 
flowers,  which  usually  last  from  October  until 
Februar}'.  Even  young  cuttings  rooted  only  last 
August  are  now  covered  with  flowers,  and  are 
about  9  inches  in  height.  A  porous,  rather  sandy 
soil  suits  them  best,  and  they  should  be  grown 
only  in  an  intermediate  temperature,  or  they  are 
likely  to  develop  a  greater  quantity  of  wood  than 
is  needed,  and  at  the  expense  of  their  flowers, 
which  only  require  to  be  seen  to  be  appreciated  by 
all  lovers  of  the  beautiful.         S.  G.  Schneider. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


OKOBAXCHE  TCEER. 


Orobani;he  speciosa. 
I  have  thought  it  may  interest  your  readers 
to  hear  of  what  is,  to  me,  a  discovery  about  our 
old  friend  Orobanche  speciosa,  namely,  that  it  is 
perennial  if  not  exposed  to  frost.  Some  plants  of 
it,    which   appeared    in  one  of    our    cool   houses, 

left  behind 
them,  when 
I  drew  out 
the  flower 
stems,  an 
apparatus 
like  a  rest- 
ing tuber, 
evi  den  tly 
full  of  life. 
The  claws 
are  not  so 
strong  as 
those  of  Ranunculus  tubers,  and  yet  too  strong 
for  the  legs  of  the  biggest  house  spider.  Here 
is  a  rough  life-size  sketch.  The  little  triangle 
in  the  middle  represents  the  tuber  eye.  The 
whole  looks  like  a  small  edition  of  the  Bird's 
Nest  Orchis.  A  further  delightful  revelation 
is  the  appearance  of  a  fine  young  flower- 
stem  from  one  of  these  plants,  now  about  an 
inch  high.  The  tubers  were  quite  loose  while 
resting,  afterwards  laying  parasitic  hold  upon 
Linaria  Cymbalaria  alba  that  was  wandering  upon 
a  covering  of  damp  coke  siftings.  — F.  D.  Horner. 

Iris  alata. 
Mr.  Bowerman  (gardener  to  the  Rev.  Canon 
Bernard,  The  Close,  Salisbury)  sends  flowers  of  this 
delicately  beautiful  winter  Iris  with  these  words  : 
"The  flowers  open  with  us  annually  out  of 
doors,  and  we  often  get  two  Irom  a  bulb."  These 
winter -flowering  Irises  are  amongst  the  most 
treasured  of  winter's  gifts,  and  I.  alata,  with  its 
distinct  leek-like  leaf  arrangement,  is  one  of  the 
most  welcome  of  all. 


RECENT   PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The  Botanical  Magazine  for  December  contains 
portraits  of  Cyrtopodium  pa/mifron.i,  a  native  of 
Brazil.  It  is  a  large-growing  Orchid,  witli  foliage 
resembling  that  of  an  Arecoid  Palm,  and  tall 
branching  flower-spikes  bearing  numerous  bunches 
of  greenish  yellow  flowers,  three  out  of  whose  five 
petals  are  spotted  with  red. 

Eucalyptiiss  Gunnii  i:ar.  montana,  a  native  of 
Tasmania  and  Victoria.  This  is  a  small  tree 
growing  in  swampy  soil,  with  greenish  white 
flowers. 

Spiriea  JUnefolium,  3,  nsitive  oi  California.  This 
is   also    known   as   Chamjebatiaria  Millefolia   and 


32 


THE    GAKJJKN. 


[January  11,  1902^ 


Chani;ebatia  foliolosa.  It  is  a  verj'  j-iretty  Spiraea, 
with  bunches  ot  relatively  large  pure  white  flowers. 
Its  foliage  emits  an  odour  of  creosote.  It  was 
first  discovered  in  Arizona  in  18.53  bj'  Dr.  Bigelow. 
It  has  also  been  found  on  the  Sierra  Nevada  of 
California  at  an  elevation  of  1,000  feet.  It 
flowered  in  the  open  air  at  Kew  in  1901. 

ImpatieiiA  psit/acina,  a  native  of  Burma.  This  is 
a  ver}'  beautiful  Balsam,  with  large  rosy  purple 
flowers  and  white  centres. 

Meijarlinium  leucorhachif,  a  native  of  Lagos.  A 
curious  Orchid  of  no  beauty,  and  of  merely  botanical 
interest. 

The  December  number  of  the  Revue  de  I'horli- 
cnltnre  Brli/e  gives  a  fine  double  plate  of  a  huge 
pure  white  Chrysanthemum  named  Mme.  Georges 
Mazuyer. 

The  second  part  of  the  Revue  Horticole  for 
November  contains  a  portrait  of  an  American  red 
Apple  named  Hoover. 

The  first  part  for  December  has  a  very  prettj' 
plate  giving  portraits  of  two  single  Roses  named 
respectively  R.  laviijata  rar.  Anemone  (pink)  and 
R.  macrantha  (pure  white). 

The  second  part  for  December  figures  Pitcairiwa 
miclntiana.  a  bronieliaceous  plant,  with  bunches 
of  tubular  red  flowers. 

The  ninth  part  of  the  sixteenth  volume  of 
Litidenia  figures  Cypripediiim  ylonerianum,  a  fine 
large-flowered  handsome  bright-coloured  variety. 

Lii/io-Cal'Jei/a  u/eihiana,  a  beautiful  pale  rosy 
purple  flower,  with  deep  purple  lip  faintly  white 
edged. 

Lycaiile  Deppei  var.  jjunctalimima,  a  pretty 
white-grounded  flower,  closely  and  densely  covered 
with  minute  rosy  purple  .spots,  and  with  a  yellow 
lip  spotted  with  chocolate. 

Sarchoi:M/ut  uiiyuirufalu-:,  a  plant  with  long 
pendulous  racemes  of  medium-sized  pure  white 
flowers,  with  a  yellow  tip  to  the  central  tube. 

W.  E.  GOMBLETON. 

Behfrore,  Queenntowii,  Ireland. 


AVEATHER      NOTES. 

Rainfall  at  Hampton  Manor,  Wakwickshire, 

DURING    1901. 
No.  of  Days  on  which        Total  fur  each 

Rmnfell.  ilonth. 

January 13     1-31 

February       n     1-35 

March     14      1-Sl 

April      14     1-1)3 

May S 102 

.Tune       lu     1-03 

July 7  3-S» 

August l:i       2  20 

September    . .  . .     10 ri2 

October 13     1-70 

Novembei-  S     0*83 

Deceiubei  14     .,    ^.     ,.     ..  3-91 

Total..     ..  22  16 
On   July   19    13()'    were   registered   in   the  sun  ; 
1-50  inches  of  rain  fell  on  .July  1,  and   \Zi  inches 
on  December  13. 


KEW^    NOTES. 

The  Wi.nter  Beauty  of  Conifers. 
At  this  season,  when  there  is  not  much  in  flower 
out  of  doors  to  distract  the  attention,  we  may  do 
well  to  take  the  opportunity  of  studying  the 
relative  value  of  the  smaller  Conifers,  for  Spruce, 
Cypress,  Juniper,  and  even  Pines  are  represented 
in  various  miniature  forms  in  the  rock  garden  at 
Kew,  and  supply  a  good  object-lesson.  Of  these, 
perhaps, 

Juniper  may  be  placed  first.  The  common 
Juniper  with  its  grey-green  colouring  and  blue- 
black  berries,  is  always  beautiful,  whether  used  as 
a  hedge  or  screen,  as  it  sometimes  is  in  the  uplands 
of  Tuscany,  and  might  well  be  so  used  in  suitable 
districts  in  England,  or  as  an  ornamental  shrub, 
either  tall  or  low  growing,  according  to  the  position 
it  is  destined  to  fill.  In  the  rock  garden  nothing 
can  beat  the  well-known  prostrate  form  of  Savin 
(J.  Sabina  procumbens),  which  is  a  native  of  North 
America,  and  thoroughly  hardy,  and  which,  though 
it  can  be  used  in  many  ways,  as,  for  instance,  to 
break  the  formal  edge  of  a  wide  border  on  grass  ur 


gravel,  yet  never  looks  better  than  when  it 
scrambles  over  and  half  conceals  a  ledge  of  rock  or 
Vjig  boulder  with  its  trailing  sea-green  branches. 
E.\amples  of  this  and  of  a  dwarf  form  of  the  Red 
Cedar  (J.  virgiuiana  cempaeta),  which  has,  how- 
ever, none  of  the  characteristic  colouring  of  the 
.Juniper,  are  established  in  the  rock  garden.  Next 
to  .Junipers — though  some  would  probably  give  them 
the  foremost  place — come  the  various  dwarf  forms  of 

Cypresi,  better  known  in  the  gardens  as  Retino- 
sporas.  It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind,  however,  in 
selecting  new  Conifers  that  these  are  now  classed 
under  the  sectional  name  of  Cham;ec}'paris,  lest  we 
find  ourselves  encumbered  with  more  duplicates  of 
the  same  .sort  than  we  want.  Amongst  the 
smallest  and  most  elegant  of  these  Chaniiecyparis 
or  Retinosporas  are  the  varieties  of  C.  pisifera, 
so  called  from  tiieir  small  Pea-like  fruits.  This 
graceful  Conifer  is  a  native  of  Japan.  The  type 
may  be  found  in  English  gardens,  sometimes 
growing  to  a  height  of  20  leet,  but  there  are 
several  dwarf  varieties,  green,  as  well  as  so-called 
gold  and  silver  forms,  .such  as  C.  p.  squarrosa 
sulphurea,  a  comparatively  recent  introduction, 
and  C.  p.  plumosa  aurea.  The  variations  of  form 
which  occur,  however,  are  considered  b\'  botanists 
rather  as  gradations  of  growth,  more  or  less 
enduring,  than  as  permanent  attributes,  and  the 
garden  names  attached  to  them,  such  as  C.  p. 
nlifera,  in  reference  to  its  thread-like  branches, 
and  C.  p.  plumosa,  to  a  certain  feathery  appearance 
reached  by  the  t3'pical  tree  with  the  lapse  of  time, 
indicate  fairly  well  their  distinctive  features. 

C.  obtusa  is  another  delightful  Japanese  Cypress, 
taller  and  altogether  more  robust  in  habit  than 
C.  pisifera,  in  whose  companj'  it  is  found  growing 
in  its  native  haunts.  This  also  breaks  into  man}' 
sub-varieties,  some  of  which  are  quite  dwarf  and 
give  plenty  of  contrast,  both  of  shape  and  shade 
of  colour.  A  remarkably  fine  specimen  of  this 
Cypress,  in  its  stunted  form,  said  to  be  2U0  years 
old,  may  be  seen  growing  in  its  original  Japanese 
pot  in  the  Cape  house. 

Belonging  to  this  division  is  Cupressus  tliyoides, 
known  in  the  United  States  as  the  White  Cedar, 
one  form  of  which  is  familiar  by  the  name  of 
Retinospora  leptoclada.  But  C.  lawsoniana,  in  its 
many  diverse  forms,  is  one  of  the  best  known  of 
all  the  Cypresses  in  our  English  gardens.  All  the 
dwarf  forms  are  suitable  as  well  as  ver}'  ornamental, 
some  for  rock  gardens  of  the  bolder  type,  some 
small  enough  to  furnish  miniature  alpineries  with 
fresh  winter  greener}'  of  peculiar  fitness.     The 

Spruce  Fir  is  represented  by  several  dwarf 
forms,  among  which  may  be  named  Picea  excelsa 
pygma?a,  which  grows  in  pyramidal  form,  and 
seldom  exceeds  a  foot  or  so  in  height  ;  P.  ex. 
orientalis  nana,  a  dense  rounded  bush  ;  and  P.  ex. 
dumosa.  Tliese  are  all  much  crowded  in  their 
manner  of  growth,  and  are  not  so  elegant  as  the 
familiar  Norway  Spruce,  of  which  they  are  forms, 
but  their  vivid  green  is  very  agreeable  in  contrast 
with  the  blue-grey  of  the  Junipers  and  the  more 
sombre  hues  ot  the  Abor-vila'.  In  the  background 
of  one  of  the  interesting  bays  of  the  rock  garden 
there  is  a  pretty  and  etiective  variety,  P.  excelsa 
pendula,  the  prostrate  boughs  of  which  drape  the 
upright  face  of  the  rock  in  a  drooping,  clinging 
fashion,  very  unlike  the  usual  upstanding  habit  of 
the  Spruce  Firs.  Nearly  opposite  to  it  in  the 
same  bay  is  an  example  of  the  prostrate  form  of 
Pinus  vStrobus,  the  well -known  Weymouth  Pine, 
which  scarcely  lends  itself  so  eft'ectivel}'  to  the 
drooping  habit.  Elsewhere  a  miniature  Scotch 
Fir  (Pinus  sylvestris  nana)  is  quite  at  home 
amongst  the  low  -  growing  alpine  plants  which 
hug  the  ground  about  it  ;  and  a  specimen,  equally 
dwarf,  of  the  golden  variety  of  the  Corsicau  Pine 
(P.  Laricio  nana  aurea),  but  perhaps  a  little  sickl}' 
in  hue,  finds  a  place  not  far  oft'.  Pines,  however, 
are  so  essentially  grand  in  character  that  it  seems 
a  pity  to  rol)  them  of  their  stateliness. 

The  smaller  Conifers  nevertheless  deserve  a  little 
stud}',  for  they  fill  a  distinct  and  useful  place  in 
the  garden  at  all  times,  while  in  winter  they  serve 
not  only  for  shelter,  but  to  break  the  monotony  of 
the  rock  garden  at  a  season  when  Nature,  though 
secretly  at  work  in  her  laboratory,  is  scarcely  yet 
ready  to  spread  her  carpet  of  fair  spring  flowers. 


FOREIGN     NOTES. 

STANGERIA    PARADOXA. 

A  MOST  puzzling  plant,  Kunze  describing 
it,  through  not  having  sufficient  and 
trustworthy  material,  as  Loniaria  cori- 
acea  ;  also  Th.  Moore  described  it  as 
^  the  Tamia-like  Fern.  It  flowered  in 
1854,  and  it  was  at  once  evident  that 
it  belonged  not  to  the  Fern  family,  but  to  the 
Cycadea;.  In  foliage  it  resembles  the  Cycas  less, 
but  can  easily  be  confounded  with  Ferns,  the 
inflorescence  resembling  that  of  the  Taraia.  A 
pretty  South  African  plant. — Die  Gartenwelt. 


HARDY  CACTI. 

In  Die  Gartenire/I  the  culture  of  tliis  class  of 
plants  is  strongh'  recommended.  Cacti  will  stand 
a  frost  sufficiently  severe  to  kill  Pteris  aquilina 
(the  Bracken).  Those  recommended  for  the  severe 
climate  of  Germany  are,  among  others,  the  fol- 
lowing  :  Opuntia  camanchia  and  varieties,  0. 
Rafinesquii,  0.  vulgaris,  0.  Horei,  0.  barbata 
var.  gracillima,  0.  polyacantha  var.  trichophora, 
and  0.  horizontalis. 

LAGEESTEtEMIA  INDICA   IN   TUBS. 

Not  being  hardy  in  the  colder  climate  of  the 
Continent,  this  plant  is  grown  in  tubs  or  large 
pots  wintered  in  a  cellar  or  shed,  and  put  in  the 
garden  during  the  summer.  It  flowers  freely  from' 
July  till  September.  The  flowers  are  either  rose 
or  violet  -  rose,  rarely  white,  and  produced  in 
terminal  racemes  at  the  end  of  long  branches.  A 
good  plant  for  cutting.     (With  illustration). 

TROP.EOLUAI  ISOLA  BELLA. 
This  is  the  result  of  a  natural  cross  between  the 
summer  -  flowering  T.  peregrinum  and  the  well- 
known  winter-flowering  T.  lobbianum.  In  foliage 
and  flower  T  Isola  Bella  is  quite  intermediate 
between  the  two  parent  plants  ;  the  petals  are 
bright  scarlet,  and  towards  the  margin  golden- 
yellow.  It  is  exceedingly  floriferous,  and  like 
T.  lobbianum  is  a  useful  winter-blooming  plant 
when  grown  in  a  light,  not  too  warm  greenhouse. 
Propagation  by  cuttings. 


OSTRICH  FEATHER  ASTERS   (NEW). 

The  form  in  question  has  long  ribbon-like  petals, 
which  are  slightly  curled,  pale  lilac  in  colour,  and 
white  edged,  a  colour  which  has  not  hitherto 
existed  in  this  class  nor  in  the  allied  Hohenzollern 
Aster.  Another  dark  lilac  -  coloured  form  has 
perfect  double  flowers,  w  ith  long  ribbon-like  petals. 
A  third  new  form  has  violet-red  flowers.  Some- 
times, however,  especially  in  larger  flov,-ers,  the 
centre  is  of  quilled  petals.  (With  illustration). — 
Gartenwelt. 


Ipomaea   aurea    and    its    coppeet 

name. — Un  reading  the  belated  letter  of  your 
.Jamaica  correspondent  "  W.  J.,"  in  answer  to  my 
query  of  November  2,  as  to  the  above-named  plant, 
I  immediately  sought  in  ray  Pritzel's  "Index  "  for 
Ipomaja  tuberosa,  which  he  .says  is  its  correct  name. 
I  found  that  it  was  figured  in  the  nintlf  volume  of 
Edwards'  "Botanical  Register"  on  plate  768.  On 
looking  out  this  plate,  I  found  that  the  plant 
figured  thereon  had  pure  white  flowers,  and  there- 
fore could  not  be  I.  aurea  as  your  correspondent 
asserts.  On  further  search  I  found  that  in  Vol.  I. 
of  the  same  work,  on  plate  8(1.  Has  ficured  I. 
tuberosa,  and  on  looking  this  out  I  found  it  had 
pale  yellow  flowers.  I  therefore  think  that  I.  tuber- 
culata,  and  not  tuberosa,  is  the  name  of  my  plant. 
— W.  E.  (^umbleton,  Bel(/rorc,  tjuetustown. 

Ealing-    Gapdenieps'    Society.  —  On 

Monday  last  Mr.  Richard  Dean  gave  a  most 
interesting  lecture  before  this  society,  entitled 
"Horticulture  and  Floriculture  during  the  past 
fifty  years,'"  which  we  hope  to  again  refer  to- more 
fully. 


GARDEN 


-y^- 


No.  1574.— Vol.  LXL] 


[January   18,  1902. 


REGULATING  GROWTH  OF 
TREES  AND  SHRUBS. 

SO!ME  mild  winter  day  a  quiet  stroll  in 
the  garden  is  a  means  of  noting 
many  bits  of  work  that  need  doing, 
especially  in  the  way  of  observing 
what  wants  to  be  done  to  relieve 
garden  trees  and  shrubs  from  overcrowding. 

The  tour  begins  at  the  nut  walk.  It  was 
cut  out  a  year  ago,  but  there  are  still  some 
branches  that  hang  too  much  over  the  path 
that  must  be  removed.  At  the  edge  of  the 
lawn  is  a  pretty  little  Oak  that  looks  well 
from  all  around.  Last  summer  the  lower 
branches,  weighted  with  leaves,  bent  down 
and  got  in  the  way.  A  tour  all  round  it, 
viewing  it  from  every  point,  shows,  now  that 
the  leaves  are  off,  that  it  can  quite  well  have 
'  the  two  lower  limbs  cut  without  harming  the 
balance  of  the  tree.  The  next  branches  will 
•come  down  a  little  when  the  leaves  are  on,  and 
the  whole  aspect  of  the  tree  will  be  just  as 
good. 

That  big  bush  of  Halesia  tetraptera  is  being 
encroached  upon  by  Bambusa  Metake.  It  is 
too  old  to  move,  and  we  do  not  wish  to  disturb 
the  Bamboos.  It  has  a  strong  leading  shoot. 
It  shall  be  converted  from  a  bush  to  a  standard 
I)y  cutting  off  all  the  side  branches  and  letting 
it  go  clear  up  through  the  Bamboos. 

Then  there  is  that  fountain-shaped  bush  of 
-Garland  Rose  at  the  edge  of  the  copse,  with 
Pernettyas  in  front  of  it.  The  old  wood  of  the 
Eose  has  not  been  cut  out  since  it  was  planted 
six  years  ago.  It  now  makes  a  heavy  mass,  a 
great  part  of  which  is  rubbish,  that  bends 
down  and  weighs  upon  the  Pernettyas.  All  but 
the  youngest  shoots  shall  be  cut  out.  This 
will  leave  all  the  best  blooming  wood  for  the 
next  season  ;  it  will  arch  over  the  Pernettyas 
and  scarcely  touch  them,  while  the  warm  white 
flowers  of  the  ivose  will  be  seen  to  great 
advantage  on  the  ground  of  the  Pernettya's 
dusky  foliage  mass. 

A  rather  large  clump  of  shrubs  looks 
crowded.  It  is  not  really  crowded,  for  the 
individual  shrubs  were  planted  at  a  good 
distance  apart,  but  it  is  two  years  since 
they  were  overhauled,  and  they  have  grown 
much.  The  flowering  C!urrant  is  a  huge  bush, 
and  can  spare  quite  half  its  wood.  Spirtea 
arisefolia  is  much  too  full,  so  are  some  of  the 
Lilacs,  and  all  tlie  old  branches  of  the  Weigelas 
must  come  out.  The  Exoohorda  will  bear  a 
lot  of  thinning.  That  white  Broom  is  asserting 
itself  too  much  and  threatens  to    hide    the 


Japan  Snowball  (Viburnum  plicatum).  The 
Broom  shall  be  loosened  at  the  root  and 
pegged  down  at  the  foot  of  the  Viburnum. 
The  same  thing  must  be  tried  a  little  further 
along  where  a  Cistus  cyprius  threatens  to 
extinguish  the  lovely  Styrax  japonica.  It 
must  come  down,  at  first  by  degrees,  and  make 
a  low  trailing  bush  instead  of  a  rather  tall 
spreading  one. 

Those  old  Lavender  bushes  are  beginning  to 
open  out  and  lose  their  rounded  shape,  and 
show  untidy  hollows.  But  we  like  them  there, 
and  they  are  encroaching  on  nothing,  and  as 
there  are  plenty  of  young  Lavenders  in  other 
places  they  shall  stay  ;  but  some  China  Roses 
shall  be  planted  among  them  whose  branches 
shall  be  made  to  occupy  the  empty  spaces. 
The  colour  harmony  they  will  make  together 
will  be  a  quite  delightful  one. 

So  one  goes  on,  observing  and  noting,  each 
year  with  judgment  somewhat  ripened,  for 
one  perceives  with  pleasure  that  some  awkward 
or  unsatisfactory  corners  that  last  year  pre- 
sented as  yet  unsolved  problems  are  now 
matters  of  no  difficulty,  some  happy  treatment 
coming  easily  to  mind. 


RECENT   PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The  Botanical  Matjazine  for  .January  contains 
portraits  of  C'rinum  JohnMoni,  native  of  British 
Central  Africa.  This  is  a  handsome  large  growing 
species,  intermediate  between  C.  latifolium,  which 
it  resembles  in  the  flowers,  and  C.  longifolium 
which  it  is  hke  in  its  long  narrow  leaves. 

Ani/rtfcuvi  cidiltriaiaun  is  a  native  of  Calabar, 
an  Orchid  with  green  and  while  flowers  of  only 
botanical  interest. 

Bauhinia  i/unnanensis:,  a  native  of  China.  This 
is  a  very  graceful  greenhouse  climber  with  bunches 
of  pale  rose-coloured  flowers.  It  is  one  of  the 
many  discoveries  of  the  well  -  knoM'n  French 
missionary  collector  the  Abbe  Delavay. 

Schomhurtjlda  thoni-^oniana  oar.  ??i//ior  is  a  native 
of  the  Cayman  Islands  in  the  West  Indies.  A 
beautiful  and  bright  flowered  Orchid  with  bunches 
of  yellow  flowers  with  a  purple  lip. 

Hibiscus  Scotti,  a  native  of  the  Island  of  Socotra, 
is  a  very  beautiful  species  with  large  golden  yellow 
flowers  with  a  deep  carmine  throat.  It  was  dis- 
covered by  Mr.  Scott  in  1879.  Seeds  of  it  were 
sent  in  1899  to  the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Garden, 
where  it  bloomed  in  1901  in  a  stove. 

The  January  number  of  the  Heme  de  Vhorticidliire 
Beige  has  portraits  of  Vilis  ( .')  voineriana,  of  which 
only  the  leaf  is  shown,  the  whole  reduced  in  black 
and  white  and  one  lobe  coloured.  It  is  said  to 
be  of  extreraelj^  quick  growth,  and  being  evergreen 
is  most  valuable  for  covering  large  glass  houses.  It 
is  a  native  of  China,  and  was  sent  from  High  Laos 
by  the  French  veterinary  surgeon  il.  Voinier. 

Hremaiitlms  diadema. — This  is  an  extremely 
handsome  species  sent  from  the  Congo  region  to 
JJessrs.  Linden,  of  Brussels,  who  exhibited  a  fine 
lot  of  it  at  the  last  Temple  show  in  London,  where 


it  and  soriie  other  fine  companions  attracted  much 
admiration. 

The  first  part  of  the  Paris  Revue  Moriicole  for 
.Januarj'  has  a  plate  showing  four  good  varieties  of 
the  well  known  annual  Xeraesia  strumosa. 

W.   E.  GUMELETON. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


Forthcoming'  events.— Annual  general 
meeting  of  the  Gardeners'  P>,oyal  Benevolent 
Institution  at  Simpson's,  Strand,  on  Thursday 
next,  January  23,  at  3  p.m. ;  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society's  committees  at  the  Drill 
Hall,  Westminster,  .January  28. 

The  Seven  Sisters  Rose.— Mr.  Moly- 

neux  will  find  a  capital  coloured  figure  of  the 
Seven  Sisters  Rose  in  the  Botanical  Register, 
tab.  1,372,  and  a  small  but  characteristic  woodcut 
in  Loudon's  Arboretum,  fig.  513.  It  is  one  of  the 
finest  forms  of  the  Japanese  Rosa  multiflora  of 
Thunberg.  Lindley  calls  it  R.  multiflora  var. 
platyphylla,  and  Donn,  in  the  twelfth  edition  of  his 
"  Hortus  Cantabrigiensis,"  Ro.sa  Roxburghii  and 
Rosa  Grevillei.  Lindley  writes  in  1830: — "The 
Chinese  call  it  the  Seven  Sisters  Rose,  because 
about  seven  flowers  open  at  the  same  time,  each 
varying  from  the  other  from  a  pale  rose  colour 
through  several  gradations  to  a  deep  rich  crimson." 
It  blooms  from  May  to  September. — J.  G.  Baker. 
The  variety  grown  by  Jlr.  Molyneux  under  this 
name  is  clearly  not  correct.  Seven  Sisters  Rose, 
as  cultivated  seventy  years  ago,  being  of  a  purplish 
colour,  and  producing  annual  stems  in  length  from 
IS  feel  upwards.  It  was  introduced  in  1821  from 
China,  and  was  known  as  Rosa  Roxburghii,  R. 
platyphylla,  and  R.  Grevillei.  A  good  descrip- 
tion of  the  Rose  will  be  found  in  Loudon's  "  Arb. 
el  Fruct.  Brit.,"  where  it  is  called  R.  multiflora 
Grevillei,  or  "  Seven  Sisters  Rose." — B. 

Mr.  R.  Dean's  Testimonial.— A  meet- 
ing of  the  subscribers  to  this  inte'resting  object 
was  held,  by  permission,  in  the  Board  Pvoom  of  the 
Westminster  Aquarium  on  Tuesday  last.  In  tlie 
absence,  through  severe  indisposition,  of  Mr. 
N.  N.  Sherwood,  the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  W. 
Marshall.  It  was  agreed  tliat  the  presentation 
take  place  on  February  4  next,  that  being  the 
most  convenient  day  succeeding  Mr.  Dean's 
seventy-second  birthday  —  February  1 — that  it 
take  the  form  of  a  cheque  and  a  handsome  framed 
address  on  vellum,  the  latter  at  a  cost  not  to 
exceed  £5.  It  was  also  very  heartily  agreed  that 
the  presentation  be  made  by  Mr.  Sherwood  ;  also 
that  a  public  dinner  be  arranged  for  that  purpose, 
the  place  to  be  determined  after  enquirj'  b^'  the 
executive  committee.  Mr.  .J.  H.  .Jones,  secretarj', 
reported  the  receipt  up  to  date  of  the  sum  of 
£290  Is.  6d.,  and  trusted  that  theie  would  yet  be 
a  material  increase. 

Notes  from  Kent.— After  the  unusual 
wealth  of  flowers  in  the  outdoor  garden  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  1900,  it  was  rather  sad  to  walk  round  on 
that  festive  occasion  a  fortnight  since,  and,  after 
diligent  search,  compile  a  list  of  only  thirteen 
plants  and  shrubs  in  bloom.  I  give  the  names, 
though  I  fear  there  is  nothing  interesting  or  out 
of  the  waj'  among  them  :  Laurustinus,  Winter 
.Jasmine,  white  Stock  (double),  Pansies,  Violets, 
Primroses,    Wallflowers  (two   species),   Christmas 


34 


THE    GARDEN. 


r  January  18,  190  2. 


Roses,  Lenten  Roses,  Erica  carnea  alba,  Lini- 
nanthes  Douglasi,  and  lonopsidiuni  acaule.  The 
onlj'  bloom  of  Iris  stylnsa  that  has  yet  appeared 
did  not  expand  until  January  2.  The  Winter 
Aconites  are  barely  showing  their  green  shoots 
above  ground  now  (January  8),  and  Snowdrops 
seem  inclined  to  be  late  also.  In  the  greenhouse 
there  is,  of  course,  more  to  be  seen.  I  have  at  last 
a  nice  few  flowers  on  my  Canarina  campanulata. 
Last  summer  it  was  well  baked  on  a  sunny  shelf, 
and  this  treatment  apjiears  to  have  suited  it. 
It  has  seldom  bloomed  with  me  before.  Coleus 
thyrsoideus  is  a  beautiful  plant ;  the  Hower  is 
really  blue  and  very  lasting,  but  the  lower  leaves 
have  a  trick  of  falling  off  and  leaving  the  stems 
bare. — S.  G.  R. ,  Yaklin;/. 

Proposed  Amalg'amation  of 
Royal    Horticultural  and    Botanic 

Societies. — It  is  satisfactory  to  learn  that  the 
([uestion  of  amalgamatic'n  is  under  consideration 
by  the  Royal  Horticultural  and  the  Royal  Botanic 
Societies.  Both  associations  can  claim  a  large 
measure  of  public  utility  and  support,  and  all 
lovers  of  horticulture  owe  them  a  deep  debt  of 
gratitude  for  the  floral  displays  which  are  held  from 
time  to  time.  For  a  long  while  the  feeling  has 
been  entertained  that  still  better  results  might  be 
obtained  if  they  worked  in  co-operation  :  and  in 
regard  to  the  place  of  holding  the  shows,  it  is 
obvious  that  no  better  place  for  all  the  exhibitors 
could  possibly  be  found  than  the  Botanical  (iardens 
in  Regent's  Park,  which  were  re.nlly  leased  by  the 
Crown  tor  the  purpose.  —  T/h-  Globe. 

A  note  on  fruit  evaporating.  —  In 

the  iro)/(OH".s'  Aijrk-ullural  Timen  for  January  there 
appears  a  tabulated  statement  of  the  result  of  the 
experiment  in  fruit  evaporating  carried  out  at 
Ladj-  Warwick's  Hostel,  Reading.  The  jirobable 
market  value  of  the  dried  fruit  is  set  down  at 
£2  10s.  Sd.,  and  the  cost  when  fresh  was  £2  lis. 
Add  to  this  the  expenditure  of  £1  9s.  3d.  for  coal 
and  £19  10s.  for  the  evapoiator,  and  the  deficit  on 
the  working  is  £21  7s.  7d.  In  reply  to  a  letter 
from  Miss  Bradley  chronicling  the  failure,  Mr. 
James  Harper,  Ebley,  Gloucestershire,  states  that 
the  price  paid  for  the  fruit  when  fresh  is  exceed- 
ingly high,  most  of  this  having  been  bought  in  a 
retail  fruiterer's  shop,  and  early  in  the  season. 
The  coal  charges  also  he  thinks  to  be  very  exces- 
sive. Mr.  Harper  declines  to  believe  that  better 
results  cannot  be  achieved  with  the  machine  by 
the  students.  Miss  Bradley,  in  a  concluding  note, 
says :  "  The  machinery  must  be  considerably 
cheapened  and  smaller  appliances  made  more 
complete  liefore  we  can  ever  hope  to  see  the  great 
results  which  are  suggested  by  Mr.  Harper,  the 
indefatigable  advocate  of  evaporated  fruit." 

Green  raflia.— One  of  the  most  useful  of 
recent  introductions  in  florists'  supplies  is  light 
green  coloured  ratha.  Gloire  de  Lorraine  Begonias 
and  other  plants  with  bright  green  foliage  can  be 
tied  with  it  without  the  lying  material  showing  in 
anv  way.  —  Amerkan  Florixl. 

Berberidopsis    corallina. -I   noticed 

that  under  the  heading  "  New  and  Rare  Plants  " 
on  September  21  Berberidopsis  corallina  was  in- 
cluded. This  beautiful  Chilian  trailer,  though  still 
comparatively  rare,  can  hardly  be  styled  a  novelty, 
since  it  was  introduced  into  this  country  in  1862. 
The  note  in  question  recommends  its  trial  against  a 
wall  in  the  open  in  favoured  localities.  In  the 
south-west  it  succeeds  admirably  in  the  open,  but 
is  seen  at  its  best  not  when  stittly  trained  against 
a  wall  but  when  allowed  to  ramble  at  will  over 
rough  Ivy-covered  rocks.  In  such  a  position  its 
racemes  of  crimson  flowers,  in  the  early  autumn, 
form  an  exquisite  contrast  to  the  dark  green  foliage 
of  the  Ivy.  It  succeeds  best  when  grown  in  partial 
sliade.  When  associated  with  such  a  rampant 
gro>ver  as  the  Ivy  care  must  be  taken  that  its 
root-run  is  kept  distinct  from  that  of  the  latter.— 
S.  W.  Fitzhereekt. 
Xanthoceras  sorbifolia.— A  short  note 

on  the  above  flowering  shrub  appeared  on  November 
2."},  the  writer  of  which  remarks  on  its  comparative 
rarity  in  Englisli  gardens.  Its  hardiness  and 
beauty  certainly  merit  a  wider  appreciation  than 
it  has  as  yet  gained,  for  sufficient  time  has  elapsed 
since  its  introduction  into  this  country,  more  than 


thirty  years  ago,  for  it  to  have  become  fairly 
common  b}'  this  time.  The  flowers,  which  are 
borne  in  racemes,  are,  in  the  best  form,  pure  white, 
about  1  inch  in  diameter,  with  a  band  of  carmine 
at  the  base  of  the  petals,  and  are  produced  in  the 
early  summer.  The  foliage,  which  somewhat 
resembles  that  of  Spiraea  lindleyana,  is  decidedly 
graceful,  and  renders  the  Xanthoceras  ornamental 
even  when  not  in  bloom.  The  largest  specimen  I 
know'  of  is  growing  in  an  isolated  position  on  a 
lawn,  and  is  about  S  feet  in  height  and  almost  as 
much  in  diameter.  This  example,  in  addition  to 
bearing  flowers,  also  perfects  fruits,  which  arc  much 
like  those  of  the  Horse  Chestnut.  As  these  ripen 
the  husk  splits  into  three  portions,  disclosing  the 
brown  seeds  within,  by  which  the  plant  is  easily 
propagated.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  the 
colouring  of  the  flowers,  the  tints  of  some  being  of 
a  less  pure  white  than  others,  wdiile  the  basal  liand 
on  the  petals  often  varies  in  hue.  In  exposed 
situations  both  flowers  and  foliage  sometimes  suffer 
from  late  spring  frosts,  which  injure  them  while 
tender  and  undeveloped. — S.  W.  F. 

The  late   M.   Ernest  Bergman.— 

Although  the  doctors  for  several  weeks  past  had 
given  up  all  hope  of  saving  Ernest  Bergman,  the 
friends  of  this  excellent  man  could  not  reconcile 
themselves  to  the  fact  that  he  was  so  soon  to  leave 
them.  It  was  ^^•ilh  great  sorrow  that  I  heard  of 
his  death  whilst  I  was  far  away  from  Paris,  and, 
consequently,  unable  to  be  present  at  his  funeral. 
Ernest  Bergman,  son  and  grandson  of  eminent 
gardeners  who  have  done  so  much  to  make 
Ferrieres  the  wonderful  property  one  knows  it  to 
be,  did  not  as  a  youth  commence  his  career  as  a 
horticulturist.  After  his  school  days  were  over  he 
entered  commercial  life,  but  his  natural  instincts 
soon  asserted  themselves,  and  he  returned  to  the 
paternal  home  after  having  passed  some  time  in 
various  large  establishments  in  England  and 
Germany.  It  is  thus  that  he  became  his  father's 
assistant  in  the  management  of  the  gardens  of 
M.  Alphonse  de  Rothschild  at  Ferrieres,  a  situa- 
tion he  occupied  during  many  long  years,  and 
which  he  resigned  when  his  father  retired  in  1S97. 
It  is  especially  as  a  writer  that  Ernest  Bergman 
sought  to  render  service  to  horticulture.  He 
published  numerous  works  on  horticulture,  as  well 
as  treatises  on  various  species  of  plants  represented 
at  Ferrieres  —  Anthuriums,  Dieff'enbachias,  Alo- 
casias,  &c.  Neither  must  we  forget  the  active 
part  he  played  in  contributing  to  Lt  Jardin. 
From  the  third  number,  page  31  of  the  first  year 
(April  .5,  1887),  we  find  his  signature  attached  to 
an  article  on  the  destruction  of  the  Phylloxera,  a 
(juestion  which  at  that  time  was  of  grave  import- 
ance. Shortly  after  he  commenced  a  numerous 
and  interesting  series  of  articles  on  the  position  of 
gardeners  in  France  and  abroad,  articles  full  of 
judicious  observations  and  often  of  good  advice. 
It  is  principally,  however,  as  an  energetic  member 
of  the  Soeietc  Nationale  d'Horticulture  de  France 
that  il.  Bergman  rendered  the  greatest  service  to 
the  cause  of  horticulture.  In  turn  secretary, 
member  of  the  council,  many  years  secretary  of 
the  annual  and  international  horticultural  con- 
gresses, and,  finally,  for  the  past  two  years 
assistant  general  .secretary  of  our  great  society, 
Ernest  Bergman  invariably  carried  out  his  many 
duties  with  intelligence,  zeal,  and  punctuality, 
good  cjualities  which  M.  Viger  has  not  forgotten. 
In  manner  affable  and  courteous,  Bergman  was 
loved  by  every  member  of  the  society.  Although 
only  fifty  years  of  age  (he  was  born  on  August  8, 
18.")1),  he  was  always  among  the  younger  members 
and  full  of  animation  and  good  humour.  He 
was  present  at  every  horticultural  gathering, 
whether  held  at  Paris,  St.  Petersburg,  Vienna, 
London,  Dresden.  Ghent,  or  Berlin.  Speaking 
admirably  several  languages,  he  was  as  w-ell  known 
and  appreciated  abroad  as  in  France.  M.  Bergman 
leaves  a  great  blank  amongst  us.  He  was  a  loyal 
and  sincere  man.  To  his  wife,  his  little  daughter, 
and  his  aged  mother  I  teuder  the  respectful  and 
S3  mpathetic  condolences  of  the  stall' of  Lr  Jardin. 
—  H.  M.,  in  Li  .lardii). 

Orobanche  speciosa  — Is  not  what  Mr. 

Horner  calls  a  resting  tuber,  which  he  has  show'n 
bursting    into    life,   a   seed   which   has   begun   to 


germinate  ?  According  to  Kerner,  the  seed  sends 
down  into  the  earth  a  filament,  which,  as  soon  as 
it  touches  a  root  suitable  as  a  host,  adheres  to  it, 
and  at  the  point  of  junction  begins  to  swell, 
"  becomes  nodulated  and  papillose,  some  of  the 
papilla"  develop  into  elongated  conical  pegs,  one  of 
which  pierces  the  root  of  its  host.''  At  the  point 
of  union  between  host  and  parasite  a  bud  is  formed 
clothed  with  abundant  scales,  which  may  be  best 
likened  to  the  bulb  of  the  Martagon  Lily.  Lastly, 
out  of  the  bud  grows  a  strong  thick  stem  which 
breaks  through  the  earth  and  lifts  a  spike  of 
flowers  into  the  sunlight.  "We  must  leave  un- 
decided the  question  whether  the  other  fibres, 
which  terminate  freely  in  the  earth,  are  capable  of 
taking  up  food  materials  from  that  .source."  This 
description  seems  to  agree  with  the  drawing,  but 
not  with  Mr.  Horner's  observation:  "Tubers  quite 
loose  while,  resting  ;  afterwards  laying  parasitic 
hold  on  Linaria." — (J.  S.  S. 

Horticultural  Club.— A  most  interesting 
meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday  evening  last  at 
the  Hotel  Windsor,  when  Mr.  Amos  Perry,  of 
Winchmore  Hill,  gave  a  paper  on  the  "Improve- 
ment of  Hardy  Plants."  It  was  one  of  the  most 
original  and  interesting  papers  we  have  listened 
to,  and  we  shall  publish  it  as  soon  as  possible. 
Mr.  (Jeorge  Monro  was  in  the  chair,  thoroughly 
restored  to  health  we  were  pleased  to  see,  and 
others  present  were  the  Revs.  H.  D'ombrain, 
Pemberton,  and  Burnside ;  and  Messrs.  J.  H. 
■^eitch,  George  Bunvard,  Rudolph  Barr,  —  Pinches 
C.  T.  Druery,  and  E.  T.  Cook. 

The  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 

Institution.— A  general  meeting  of  the  above 
society  will  be  held  at  Simpson's,  101,  Strand, 
W.C. ,  on  Thursday  next,  at  1  p.m.,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  certain  alterations  in  the  existino- 
rules,  as  recommended  by  the  committee  of  manage- 
ment. And  the  sixty'-third  annual  general  meeting 
of  the  members  of  this  institution  will  be  held  at 
the  same  place  and  on  the  same  date  at  3  p.m.,  to 
receive  the  report  of  the  committee  and  the 
accounts  of  the  institution  (as  audited)  for  the 
year  1901  ;  to  elect  officers  for  the  year  1902,  and 
other  atl'airs  ;  and  also  for  the  purpose  of  placing 
twenty  pensioners  on  the  funds.  The  chair  will 
be  taken  by  Harry  J.  'Veitch,  Esq.,  treasurer 
and  chairman  of  committee,  at  3  p.m.  The  poll 
will  open  at  3.1.')  p.m.,  and  close  at  -1.30  p.m. 
precisely,  after  which  hour  no  voting  papers  can 
be  received.  All  the  voting  papers  have  been 
issued.  If  any  subscriber  has  not  received  a  copy, 
it  is  particularly  requested  that  intimation  be  sent 
at  once  to  the  secretary,  G.  J.  Ingram,  at  the 
offices,  175,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  S.W. 
The  annual  friendly  supper  will  take  place  on  the 
same  date,  also  at  Simpson's,  after  the  annual 
general  meeting,  at  6  p.m.,  when  Alderman  Robert 
Piper  (of  Worthing)  will  preside.  Friends  desiring 
to  be  present  are  asked  to  kindly  notify  the 
secretary  at  175,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 

Broccoli  Backhouse's  ^Vinter 

'White. — For  many  years  Snow's  AVinter  White 
Broccoli  was  universally  growni  and  most  reliable, 
but  of  late  it  has  lost  favour,  having  apparently 
deteriorated  in  quality.  Those  who  have  failed 
with  it  should  give  Backhouse's  Winter  White  a 
trial.  It  is  of  dwarf,  sturdy  growth,  and  both  the 
stems  and  heads  are  well  protected  by  the  foliage. 
It  is  of  medium  size,  pure  white,  tender,  and  of 
excellent  flavour.  It  possesses  a  hardy  constitution 
and  does  well  in  the  North. — C. 

Apple    Norfolk   Beauty.  —  This  new 

Apple,  of  which  an  illustration  recently  appeared 
in  The  Garden,  has,  I  feel  sure,  a  great  future 
before  it.  I  have  tasted  it  and  think  it  delicious. 
It  is  quite  equal  when  baked  to  Blenheim  Orange 
or  Emperor  Alexander,  which  is  saying  a  great 
deal.  In  size  and  shape  it  resembles  Warner's 
King,  and  when  quite  ripe  is  of  a  beautiful  yellow 
colour.  Its  value  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the  fact 
that  it  carries  its  own  sugar.  Many  of  the  best 
Apples  lose  much  of  their  weight  by  the  time  they 
are  fully  ripe,  but  Norfolk  Beauty  retains  its 
weight  till  the  last.  It  crops  heavily  even  in  a 
young  state,  and  this  fact,  together  with  its  good 
all  round  qualities,  will  doubtless  make  it  valuable 
for  market  as  well  as  home  use. — J.  Crawford. 


January   18,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


35 


Epica  meditepranea  hybpida.— One 

who  prizes  the  earliest  flowers  cannot  but  be  inte- 
rested in  the  note  on  Erica  mediterranea  hybrida, 
which  occurs  in  "  Kew  Notes,"  on  page  10  of  The 
(Garden  this  3'ear.  Since  1  first  heard  of  this  new 
Erica,  a  few  years  ago,  I  endeavoured  to  get  it, 
but  did  not  succeed  until  about  two  years  ago. 
The  result  has  been  that  here  it  is  not  quite  so 
early  as  E.  carnea,  and  I  have  heard  tliat  this  is 
the  case  in  northern  gardens,  although  it  appears 
to  precede  E.  carnea  at  Kew  and  elsewhere  in  the 
south.  This  has  been  rather  a  disappointment,  as 
one  prizes  E.  carnea  so  much  that  one  would  have 
liked  a  winter  Heath  which  was  even  earlier,  if 
such  could  be  had.  Last  year  and  this  the  first 
Heath  has  been  the  white  form  of  E.  carnea,  which 
is  known  also  as  E.  herbaoea.  This  usually  pre- 
cedes any  of  my  plants  of  tlie  typical  flesh-coloured 
carnea,  though  these  vary  slightly  in  their  bloom- 
ing period  also.  At  present  even  the  type  is 
flushed  with  pink,  while  the  hybrid  is  considerably 
later.  I  maj'  say  that  I  obtained  my  plants  direct 
from  i\Iessrs.  Smith  and  Sons,  of  Darlej'  Dale,  so 
that  there  is  hardl}'  likely  to  be  any  mistake,  espe- 
cially as  I  have  compared  notes  with  some  others 
in  the  North  about  the  plant. — S.  Ak.n'OTT,  Car.si  - 
I  horn,  by  Dumfries,  X.B. 

Small-floweped  Azaleas.— The  small 

flowered  Azaleas  form  a  pleasing  feature  in  the 
greenhouse  at  the  present  time.  Thej'  bloom 
earlier  when  brought  on  in  a  little  heat  than  most 
of  the  large-flowered  Indian  varieties.  An  illus- 
tration of  their  usefulness  just  now  may  be  seen  in 
No.  4  greenhouse  at  Kew,  the  following  kinds 
being  there  represented  : — A.  calyciflora,  a  small 
salmon-red  flower,  with  the  hose-in-hose  character 
common  to  a  greater  or  lesser  extent  in  A.  amtena  ; 
A.  obtusa,  with  blossoms  of  much  the  same  size, 
but  not  duple-x  as  in  A.  cal3'cifiora.  The  flowers 
of  A.  obtusa  are  more  of  a  bright  orange-red. 
There  is  a  variety  alba,  most  of  whose  blossoms 
are  white,  though  occasionall}'  they  are  striped 
with  red.  The  last  is  A.  Illuminator,  a  cross 
between  A.  amiena  and  one  of  the  large-flowered 
class.  The  blossoms  of  this  are  of  a  pleasing  shade 
of  rosy  carmine,  and,  as  in  the  others,  borne  in 
great  profusion  even  on  small  plants.  Those 
Azaleas  are  far  more  pleasing  when  grown  as  neat 
little  bushes  than  they  are  if  grafted  on  to  a 
naked  stem,  as  prevails  on  the  Continent  for  the 
increase  of  the  different  Indian  Azaleas.  Speaking 
strictly  from  a  botanical  point  of  view,  all  of  the 
above  are  Rhododendrons,  being  but  varieties  of 
R.  indieum.  The  name  Azalea  is,  however,  far 
too  firmly  fixed  to  be  readily  superseded  in 
gardens. — T. 

The  seapeity  of  eaply  Peas.— This  is 

one  of  the  features  of  the  seed  business  in  the 
present  year.  In  order  to  maintain  precocity  in 
earh'  Peas  they  are  sown  on  light  land,  and  during 
the  persistent  drought  of  Maj',  June,  and  July 
they  suffered  severely,  not  only  from  lack  of 
moisture  in  the  soil,  but  also  from  the  heated 
atmosphere,  which  dried  up  the  blossoms  to  a 
large  extent,  so  that  no  pods  were  set.  So  much 
was  the  yield  affected  that  two  and  three  acres  of 
ground  scarcelj'  afforded  the  average  produce  of 
half  an  acre  in  an  ordinar)'  season.  The  wholesale 
seedsmen  are  at  their  wit's  end  to  supply  orders, 
they  have  to  considerably  curtail  them,  and  prices 
are  exceedingly  high.  Early  Peas  for  seed 
purposes,  if  sown  on  heavj'  ground,  become  in  con- 
secjuence  taller  in  growth  and  later  in  blooming, 
and  deterioration  of  stock  is  an  inevitable  con- 
sequence. Early  Peas,  and  especially  the  early 
wrinkled  varieties,  are  becoming  more  and  more  in 
demand  ;  and  a  shortage  of  crop  and  supply  like 
that  being  experienced  this  season  is  a  fact  to  be 
deplored  all  round. — R.  D. 

KniphOfla  ppimulina.— The  advantages 
gained  by  possessing  a  greenhouse  from  which  frost 
is  just  excluded  are  many,  for  several  beautiful 
plants  are  hardy  in  themselves,  but  from  their 
late  or  very  early-flowering  season  are  never  seen 
to  advantage  out  of  doors.  Other  plants,  again, 
need  a  little  protection  from  the  most  severe 
frosts,  yet  do  not  like  any  great  amount  of  fire- 
heat,  and  all  find  a  congenial  home  in  the  cold 
greenhouse.     Of  the  many  suitable   occupants   of 


such  a  house  the  above  plant  is  one  of  the  most 
showy  in  midwinter.  It  was  introduced  into 
English  gardens  by  Herr  Max  Leichtlin,  who  sent 
a  plant  to  Kew  in  November,  1894.  About  fifteen 
months  later  it  flo«  ered,  and  was  named  as  above 
by  Mr.  Baker.  Since  that  time  its  flowering  has 
been  an  annual  occurrence.  It  is  a  native  of  Natal 
and  is  as  strong-growing  as  the  common  K.  aloides, 
the  leaves  often  ijeing  5  feet  long  and  the  flower- 
scapes  4  feet  high,  terminated  with  a  conical 
inflorescence,  9  inches  long,  of  clear  yellow  flowers. 
It  begins  to  bloom  naturally  in  December,  and 
lasts  in  good  condition  for  six  or  eight  weeks.  An 
additional  item  in  its  favour  is  the  fact  that  the 
flowers  are  not  injured  b}'  fog.  Grown  in  pots  it 
may  be  plunged  out  of  doors  during  the  summer 
months,  but,  if  it  can  be  planted  in  a  border  of 
rich  deep  soil  much  finer  results  can  be  obtained. 
— W.  Dallimore. 

Mp.  LutheP  BUPbank.— In  the  monthly 
magazine  Suiiiet  appears  a  lengthy  illustrated 
article  appreciative  of  Mr.  Luther  Burbank  and 
his  work.  It  was  in  1893,  we  learn,  that  Mr. 
Burbank  published  the  first  of  a 
notable  series  of  announcements 
to  which  he  gave  the  title  "New 
Creations  in  Fruits  and  Flowers." 
OtherissuesfoUowedin  1894,1898, 
1899,  and  1901.  They  contain 
descriptions  and  pictures  of  his 
most  striking  achievements,  and 
various  other  interesting  details. 
Accompanying  the  notes  is  a 
full  page  portrait  of  Mr.  Bur- 
bank. The  same  number  of 
the  Siii>-'<et  J}[a(/azitie  also  con- 
tains an  account  of  a  Japanese 
garden  in  Golden  Gate  Park, 
San  Francisco. 

Ag-athsea    ccelestis.  — 

This  charming  little  blue  Daisy  is 
one  of  those  old-fashioned  flowers 
that  are  gradually'  becoming  better 
known  and  appreciated.  1  he 
plants  shown  in  the  illustration 
were  grown  in  a  bed  of  standard 
Rose  trees,  but  the  plant  is  cjuite 
deserving  of  more  ambitious  treat- 
ment, and  if  a  grey  foliage  car- 
peter  is  used  a  delightful  effect 
may  be  produced.  It  is  half 
hardy,  but  is  easilj'  propagated 
by  cuttings.  In  good  loamy  soil, 
with  sand  added,  thej'  form 
shrubbj-  bushes  S  feet  high,  but  I 
think  the  best  effect  is  gained 
by  pegging  down  the  shoots  Ver- 
bena fashion.  Its  pretty  blooms 
are  produced  singly  on  long  foot- 
stalks. It  is  very  free  flowering, 
growing  and  blooming  until  cut 
down  by  se\'ere  frost.  Its  delight- 
ful colour  is  quite  lost  in  the 
illustration,  but  when  lightly 
aiTanged  the  flowers  form  a  deli- 
cate table  decoration.  It  was  introduced  into 
this  country  as  long  ago  as  1753,  and  came 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  is  figured 
in  Curtis's  Bolaniraf  Magazine,  December  1,  1793. 
There  is  no  mistaking  our  blue  Daisy,  although  it  is 
hidden  away  under  the  name  of  Cineraria  amel- 
loides,  or  the  blue-flowered  Cape  Aster.  Its 
modern  name  is  much  more  fitting  in  every  way. 
The  letterpress  (of  Curtis)  describes  the  flower  as 
"well  known  and  common  in  every  greenhouse," 
which  would,  I  venture  to  think,  scarcely  be  con- 
sidered an  accurate  description  of  the  plant  in 
1902. — Herbert  E.  Molysbux. 

Polnsettia    puleheppima    and 
Euphopbia  jaequiniseflopa.— Few  plants 

attract  so  much  notice  as  these,  and  they  flower 
during  the  dullest  months  in  the  3-ear.  The  scarlet 
bracts  of  the  Poinsettia  and  the  long  sprays  of 
the  Euphorbia  are  greatly  appreciated  after  the 
Chrysanthemum  season  is  over,  and  if  proper  pro- 
vision has  not  been  made  there  may  be  an 
unpleasant  blank  until  the  forcing  season  is  at 
hand.  I  know  of  nothing  more  suitable  to  fill  this 
gap  than  the  above.     Some  people  advocate  cool 


treatment  for  these  plants  with  the  object  of 
keeping  them  dwarf,  but  those  who  have  large 
conservatories  and  corridors  to  furnish  know  the 
value  of  tall  plants.  Great  difficulty  is  often 
experienced  in  striking  the  cuttings,  and  I  think 
one  of  the  causes  of  failure  in  this  direction  is  the 
lateness  in  starting.  Plenty  of  cuttings  should  be 
at  hand  early  in  May,  and  these  will  readily  strike 
when  placed  singly  in  2i-inch  pots  in  pure  sand 
and  kept  close  in  the  propagating  case.  If  a  batch 
of  cuttings  can  be  struck  later  they  make  good 
plants  for  furnishing  the  base  of  groups  and  for 
cutting  for  decorations.  I  have  found  them  succeed 
well  in  an  intermediate  temperature,  often  attaining 
a  height  of  8  feet.  When  they  are  forming  their 
flowers  a  cooler  and  drier  atmosphere  should  be 
given  to  fit  them  for  the  change  of  conditions 
when  placed  in  the  conservatory.  These  two 
plants  do  well  under  the  same  treatment,  except 
that  the  cuttings  of  the  Euphorbia  should  be 
struck  round  the  sides  of  larger  pots. — E.  Harriss. 

Bees   in   the  g^apden.  —  One  or  more 

hives   of   bees   should   be    in   every   garden,    both 


AGATH.KA   CIELE.STIS   IN   A   SUBURBAN   (JARDEN. 


large  or  small,  for,  apart  from  the  advantage 
of  always  having  a  supplj'  of  wholesome  honey 
for  home  use,  much  interest  and  benefit  may 
be  derived  in  various  wa3'S.  In  the  first  place, 
they  are  profitable  when  well  managed.  In  this 
neighbourhood  honey  is  readily  disposed  of  to  the 
retailer  at  9s.  per  dozen  lib.  sections,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  that  a  remunerative  price  niaj'  be  obtained 
in  other  localities,  provided  that  the  sections  are 
full  of  light-coloured  honey  and  are  presented  to 
the  purchaser  in  an  attractive  manner.  During 
summer  bees  do  a  vast  amount  of  good  in  the 
fertilisation  of  fruit  blossoms,  besides  visiting  daily 
other  flowering  vegetable  and  fruit  crops.  Even 
in  glass  structures  containing  various  fruit  trees, 
besides  Cucumbers  and  Melons,  the  bees  will  enter 
when  they  are  opened  in  sunny  weather,  and  carry 
on  their  good  work,  which  would  otherwise  need 
to  be  done  by  hand.  There  are  manj'  kinds  of 
hardy  flowering  plants  that  the  bees  abstract  large 
quantities  of  honey  from,  and  such  plants  may  be 
sown  or  planted  in  the  vicinity  of  the  hives  as 
well  as  further  afield.— H.  T.  Martin,  Stonel  ' 
Abhey. 


3(3 


THE   GABDEN. 


[January  18,  1902, 


ON    THE    CULTIVATION     OF 
ONCOCYCLUS    IRISES, 

By  the  late  Rev.  H.  Eweank,  M.A. 
(Continued  from  page  ::n.) 

I    1)0    not    know  that  the  story  about  Mr.  Potter 
would    have    been   sufficient   to   move   me   alone : 
there    might   be   some    explanation    which    would 
deprive    it   of   all   value   at  once  :   and  Mr.   Blair 
Cochrane'.s   experience   might   only   be   accidental 
after  all;  but  it  was  impossible  to  miss  the  con- 
clusion that  several  things  which  were  converging 
to  the  same  point  could  only  be  explained  in  the 
same  way,  and  it  was  likelj-  that  there  was  some- 
thing here  which   ought  to   be  followed   up.     At 
any  rate,  I  could  not  get  it  out  of  my  mind  that  it 
was  not  well  to  take  too  much  for  granteil,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  the  question  of  soil  had  a  great 
deal  more  to  do  with  the  cultivation  of  Oncocyclus 
Irises  than  anyone   had   been   willing  to  suppose, 
and  of  course  when  this  stage  had  been  reached  all 
the  rest  followed  upon  it.     I  determined  to  put  it 
all  to  the   test  and   to  be  guided  for   the  future 
entirely  by  the  results  which  might  be  arrived  at: 
and  just  then  M.  Van  Tubergen,  jun.,  through  his 
representative,  M.  Hoog,  proposed  to  me  that  we 
should  make  a  series  of  experiments,  of  which  the 
real  purport  was  no  more  and  no  less  than  that  of 
finding  out  if  these  particular  plants  are  influenced 
or  not  by  the  soil  in  which  the\'  are  planted.     It 
was  precisely  the  very   thing  which  I  desired  to 
know  myself,  and  I  agreed  with  him  at  once  that 
I  would   act   by   them   in   two   or  three  ditl'erenl 
ways  and   would  note  the  results  that  might  be 
forthcoming. 

I  leave  M.   Hoog  to  tell  his  own  stor_\-  to  you 
liere,  which  is  of  the  greatest  possible  value.     He 
has,   on   behalf  of    >I.    Van  Tubergen,   spared    no 
trouble  and  no  expense  in  the  work,  and  it  is  very 
satisfactory  to  feel  that  he  is  well  pleaded  with  the 
conclusion  to   which   he   has  come,  and   we    both 
think  ver3'  much  alike  about  it.     Indeed,  there  is 
no  gainsaying  the  fact  that  analj'sis  with  him  has 
shown  that  there  is  a  large  percentage  of  lime  in 
the  soil  where  these  plants  grow  naturally,  and 
very   little   indeed    in    Holland   and   other   places 
where  so  many  failures  occur,     il.  Van  Tubergen's 
way  of  treating  the  Irises  to  lime  has  been  verj' 
different  from  mine,  but  that  is  of  inferior  import; 
he  joins  hands  with  me  altogether  in  the  idea  that 
lime  must  in  some  way  be  administered  to  them  if 
they  are   to  do  well,  and  it  may  take  a  little  time 
perhaps  before  it  is  absolutely    discovered  which 
method  is  the  best.     As  I  understood  M.  Hoog  to 
say  when  he  paid  a  visit  to   me  in  the  spring,  he 
was   not  quite   sure   if    magnesia   should   also    be 
employed  or  not.     He  had  used  it,  as  it  was  dis- 
closed by  the  analysis  he  had  made  ;  but,  turning 
to  my  Irises,  he  said  :   "  If  I  were  in  your  place  I 
should  leave  it  alone,  as  they  seem   to  do  so  well 
without    it."      I,    therefore,    have    not    troubled 
myself  about   magnesia   or   anything   else,  except 
that   I   have   treated   these   Irises   as   lime-loving 
plants,  and  I  believe  that  this  one  consideration 
will  cover  ever\-thing  else  so  far  as  the  ingredients 
of  soil  are  concerned.     I  mean,  that  good  ordinary 
loam  will  do  for  these  with  a  little  sand  if  it  be 
thoroughly  impregnated  with  lime.     My  practice 
was  as  follows  :  It  seemed  to  me  that  bone-meal 
would  be  as  good  a  food  as  an}'  which  I  could  get 
for  my  plants,  and  if  they  like  lime  at  all  they 
would  respond  to  its  use.     I  accordingly  sent  for  a 
large  sackful  of  it  to  Messrs.  Claj',  of  Stratford, 
near  London,  and    I   distributed    1121b.   of    bone- 
meal  between   four   large   frames,  giving   to  each 
one  2.Slb.  or  thereabouts.     These  frames,  I  should 
say,  are    12  feet  long,  3  feet  or  oi  feet  wide,  and 
have  a  Jepth  of   lA  feet  or  2  feet  above  a  foot  or 
more  of  drainage,  over  which  inverted  sods  have 
been  put. 

The  bone-meal  was  thoroughly  mixed  and  incor- 
porated with  the  loam  which  was  put  into  the 
frames,  and  the  Irises  were  planted  in  September 
last  towards  the  end  of  the  month,  and- now  what 
is  the  condition  of  some  300  or  40U  Irises  in  the 
middle  of  March  ?  So  far  as  I  know,  the}'  have 
got  through  the  winter  with  the  loss  of  only  one 
or,  at  most,  two  plants.     It  is  quite  true  to  say 


that  I  have  not  noticed  more  than  two  "  miffy  " 
plants,  and  instead  of  first  one  and  then  another 
"going  home,"  according  to  gardeners'   slang,   in 
very  mysterious  ways,  I  ha\-e  had  no  losses  worth 
speaking  of  at  all.     This  is  an  immense  alteration, 
and  an  alteration  for  the  better,  from  anything   1 
have  ever  known  before,  and  this  is  not  the  whole 
of  the  case.     The  plants  look  now,  in  the  middle 
of   March,    in    the   rudest   health,  and    are   doing 
exceptionally   well  ;    the   colour  of    the   foliage    is 
very  good,  and  the  outlook  is  as  favourable  as  it 
could  possibly  be  at  this  season  of  the  year.     Iris 
susiana  is  quite  tall  already,  and,  unless  appear- 
ances are  wrong,  it  will  soon  be  in  blossom.     It  is 
quite  true  that  I  have  only  made  this  experiment 
once  ;  there  may  be  drawbacks  and  disadvantages 
lurking  in  the  whole  thing  which  will  be  found  to 
declare  themselves,  but  I  cannot  see  why  it  should 
be  so.     A  lime-hating  plant  would  never  begin  its 
course  by  simulating  the  greatest  prosperity.     And 
it  does  not  look  now  as  if  these  (Jncocyclus  Irises 
had  the  smallest  objection  to  the  treatment  they 
have  received.     On  the  contrary,  they  seem  to  be 
greatly    benefited    by    it.      The  following,    among 
others,  are  in  my  frames  :  Iris  (ratesii,  I.  Lorteti, 
I.  susiana,  1.  bismarokiana,  I.  lupina,  I.  urmiensis, 
I.  iberica,  &c.  ;  and  those  about  which  at  present 
success   is   least   marked   are   I.   paradoxa  and   I. 
urmiensis,  but  this  may,  perhaps,  come  from  the 
fact  that  they  naturally  succeed  the  former,  and 
a  little  time   may   show  that    they  are  all    doing 
equally  well. 

It  should,  perhaps,  be  said  here— as  this  is 
supposed  to  be  a  paper  about  the  cultivation  of 
Oncocyclus  Irises— that  while  so  great  an  emphasis 
has  been  laid  on  the  use  of  lime  in  the  beds  where 
the}'  are  growing,  it  is  not  meant  at  all  that  this 
can  do  away  with  all  the  other  and  oidinar}-  pre- 
cautions to  which  we  have  been  accustomed  until 
now.  It  is  not  right  to  say  that  lime  is  per  -si- 
•'  the  secret  of  success,"  but  only  that  lime  is 
indispensable  to  it  if  other  things  be  right,  and, 
if  it  be  wanting,  no  other  measures,  liowcver  good 
they  may  be,  will  do.  To  this  extent,  but  no 
more,  it  is  "the  secret  of  success."  Let  other 
things,  then,  be  duly  remembered  ;  they  are,  as  it 
seems  to  me,  very  briefly  the  following  :  1 1 )  Onco- 
cyclus Iri.ses  are  only  likely  to  do  well  in  a  sunshiny 
place ;  a  shady  locality,  or  one  overhung  with 
trees,  would  not  suit  tlieni  at  all.  (2)  They  must 
have  a  shelter  or  covering  over  their  heads  in 
summer  months,  or  else  they  will  start  off  into 
growth  much  too  soon  and  will  not  blossemi  the 
next  year.  (3)  Drainage  must  be  perfect  ;  they 
would  not  endure  to  be  waterlogged  in  any  degree. 
(4)  They  like  firm  planting.  I  put  boards  over 
my  beds  and  my  gardener  stamps  upon  them  till 
the  soil  beneath  becomes  as  hard  as  a  rock.  (.")) 
The  rhizomes  should  be  lightly  covered  over— just 
enough  to  protect  them  from  frost.  (0)  The  borders 
should  be  kept  very  free  of  weeds  or  anything 
which  can  intercept  the  agency  of  the  light. 

I  believe  that  if  these  rules  be  attended  to,  and 
tlie  plants  be  grown  in  soil  which  is  impregnated 
with  lime,  very  good  results  may  be  expected  to 
follow.  One  thing  is  certain,  which  is  this  :  Onco- 
cyclus Irises  hate  to  be  disturbed.  They  send 
down  their  great  thong-like  roots  deep  into  the 
soil  and  anchor  themselves  very  firmly  in  it,  and 
because  of  this  it  may  also  be  very  confidently  said 
that  what  is  called  the  "taking-up  system"— 
which  implies  that  the  plants  should  be  taken  up 
out  of  the  ground  and  kept  on  a  greenhouse  shelf 
for  a  few  weeks  or  months  every  year — cannot, 
from  the  very  nature  of  the  case,  do  so  well  as  if 
they  remained  in  sitn  and  undisturbed. 

It  is  believed  that  no  one  in  England  has  any 
adequate  idea  of  what  these  Irises  can  really  do, 
because  they  have  been  worried  so  much  and 
treated  after  a  fashion  which  they  are  prompt  to 
resent.  So  far  as  I  know  Oncocyclus  Irises  have 
never  yet  remained  in  this  country  perfectly 
undisturbed  for  long  years  together,  and  only  when 
this  comes  off  shall  we  really  understand  what  their 
suprising  beauty  is  like.  It  is  noticeable  about 
them  that  when  they  do  well  they  do  very  well 
indeed  ;  it  is  all  neck  or  nothing,  so  to  say,  on 
their  part.  Let  us  hope  that  their  secrets  are  now 
sufficiently  disclosed,  and  that  after  many  years  of 


great  trouble  which  they  have  given,  they  will 
now  at  last  be  quite  contented  with  their  lot,  and 
will  graciously  and  liberally  reward  us  for  our 
pains. — Reproduced  by  permifxion  from  the  Journal 
of  the  Royal  Horticuttnnil  Society. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 


WATERCRESS 
FRAMES     IN 


IN     COLD 
WINTER. 


W 


ATERCRESS    may    be     had    all 
through   the  winter  for  salad  if 
given     timely     shelter     in    cold 
frames.      In   many   parts  of  the 
country  it  may  be  had  good  with- 
out frame  culture,  but  even  then 
it  is  not  always  such  a  success  as  when  given  shelter 
as  advised.   Near  large  towns,  where  good  material 
is   scarce  for  winter  salads,  sow  seed  in  boxes  in 
spring  and   plant  out  in  rich  light  soil;  give  ample 
moisture  through  the  summer,  stopping  the  growth, 
and  in  November  cover  with  frames.      This  will 
give   a   winter  supply.       Another  excellent  plan, 
and    one    that    gives    very    little    trouble,    is   to 
secure  some  good   sturdy  shoots  with  small  roots 
attached   and    plant   out    in    frames   or    in   boxes 
early   in   autumn.     There  will   then   be  a  supply 
when  it  is  most  valuable.     The  plants  do  not  need 
warmth,  but  should  be    kept  frost  proof  and  not 
allowed  to  get  dry.     (.Treen   tl\'    soon   attacks  the 
new  growth.    In  fine  weather  the  plants  should  be 
damped  o\  erhead  daily  and  not  allowed  to  produce 
flowers,  but  be  kept  closely  cut.      This  promotes 
new  side  growths.  (1.  W.  S. 


THE  QUEEN  TYPE  OF  ONION. 

This,  a  greatly  improved  form  of  Silverskin,  was 
distributed  some  years  ago  by  one  of  the  London 
wholesale  seed  warehouses,  and  at  once  became 
popular,  because  such  a  greatly  improved  and 
precocious  form  of  the  old  silver  skinned  type.  By 
nieans  of  selection  the  (,*uceii  has  become  even 
earlier  than  it  was  when  distributed.  Few  forms  of 
the  Onion  have  developed  so  rapidly  and  success- 
fully as  the  Queen  type,  and  it  is  now  being 
largely  employed  for  pickling  purposes,  taking  the 
place  of  the  old  pickling  type.  When  first  used 
for  pickling  purposes  it  was  found  that  the  act  of 
immersion  in  the  brine  changed  the  silver  skin 
to  a  dull  brown,  robbing  it  of  its  otherwise 
pleasing  appearance.  But  experiments  with  the 
brine  have  at  last  resulted  in  developing  one  that 
does  not  in  the  least  disfigure  the  glistening  silvery 
surface  of  the  skin  ;  it  comes  out  of  the  brine  as 
perfect  as  when  placed  in  it :  and  its  appearance, 
added  to  its  mild  flavour,  finds  acceptance  with 
those  who  use  Onions  for  dietetic  purposes,  and  it 
is  now  pickled  to  a  considerable  extent.      R.  D. 

SHALLOTS. 

The  rule  to  plant  Shallots  in  February,  or  not  later 
than  early  in  March,  now  generally  holds  good. 
Practically  nothing  is  gained  by  planting  earlier, 
for  frost  so  often  dislodges  the  tiny  bulbs,  however 
firmly  planted,  that  the  actual  work  of  planting 
has  often  to  be  done  over  again.  Not  being  very 
deep  rooters  the  bulbs  need  not  necessarily  have 
deeply  worked  soil,  but  all  the  same  well  trenched 
ground  suits  them  best  n  hen  the  summer  is  hot  and 
dry,  as  then  the  moisture  attracted  from  below  is 
so  much  more  helpful  to  the  roots.  It  is  often 
interesting  to  note  in  cottage  gardens  and  allot- 
ments what  fine  crops  and  capital  clean  samples  are 
produceil  on  ground  that  has  been  dressed  freely 
with  road  manure,  as  that  invariably  contains  much 
grit,  and  such  sharp  substance  seems  to  render  the 
skins  bright  and  clean.  Why  the  Shallot  should  be 
relatively  so  much  more  widely  grown  by  cottagers 
than  it  is  by  gentlemen's  gardeners  it  is  not  easy  to 
understand  ;  but  it  is  so.  Seeing  every  summer 
several  hundreds  of  cottage  gardens  and  allotments 
I  rarely  find  Shallots  absent.  That  is  to  me  con- 
clusive that  these  bulbs  are  profitable  to  grow,  as 


Januarv  18,  1902. J 


THE    GARDEN. 


37 


Probably,  however,  this 
will  be  better  deferred 
until  nearer  the  plant- 
ing time.  I  do  not 
observe  any  mention 
made  by  Mr.  Irving  of 
the  double  form  of  C. 
autumnale  which  bears 
in  the  trade  the  name 
of  C.  a.  roseum  plenum, 
and  which  I  look  upon 
as  the  most  valuable  of 
all  the  doubles  for  con- 
tinuous bloom  for  a  few 
months  at  a  time.  I 
am  not  aware  whether 
all  the  Colchicums 
offered  under  this  name 
possess  this  virtue,  but 
the  plant  1  have  bad 
several  times  from 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons 
has  always  been  the 
most  continuous 
bloomer  of  the  collec- 
tion I  grow  here.  It 
is  dwarfer  than  the 
ordinary  double  0.  au- 
tumnale, and  also  than 
C.  a.  album  plenum, 
the  more  expensive 
white  variety.  It  flowers 
more  or  less  constantly 
from  the  beginning  of 
September,  and  even 
after  the  New  Year 
shows  a  few  blooms. 
This  note  was  written 
on  .January  G,  and  I  see 
one  little  clump  is  push- 
ing up  a  flower  or  two, 
as  if  to  clieat  us  into 
thinking  it  is  autumn 
again.  It  is  a  Meadow 
Saffron  worthy  of 
greater  esteem  than  it 
at  present  enjoys. — 
S.  Arnott,  Carselhorii, 
by  Dumfries,  N.B. 


A    XOELE    SEA    HOLLY    (ERYNGIUM    PANDANIFOLIUM)    IN    MK.    (JAPNTLETt's 
NURSERY,    REDRDTH. 


also  they  are  largely  consumed.  Mere  size  in  the 
bulbs  is  "not  a  matter  for  approval;  were  that  other- 
wise no  Shallots  could  excel  the  large  Red  Jersey, 
or  as  sometimes  called  Russian.  Much  better, 
however,  is  a  good  stock  of  the  true  old  Shallot, 
with  its  brown  shiny  coat,  firm  crisp  flesh,  and  nice 
nutty  flavour.  Properly  Shallots  should  be  always 
exhibited  in  clusters,  and  prizes  for  the  best  six  or 
nine  of  those  in  a  dish  would  result  in  producing 
much  sounder  examples  of  good  culture  than  are 
found  in  a  few  bulbs  selected  from  hi\ndreds. 
Where  road  grit  is  not  available,  top-dress  well 
manured  ground  before  planting  with  sand,  wood 
ashes,  and  soot,  which  are  excellent  substitutes. 

A.  1). 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


COLCHICUM 
ROSEUM 


AUTUMNALE 
PLENUM. 


ONE  is  very  hopeful  that  the  illustra- 
.  tion  of  Colchicum  Sibthorpii  in  The 
I  Garden  of  .January  4,  together  with 
'  the  valuable  notes  which  accom- 
panied the  plate,  and  those  from  the 
pen  of  Mr.  Reuthe,  which  appeared 
at  the  end  of  1901,  will  draw  the  attention  of  many 
readers  to  this  unappreciated  class  of  plants,  of 
which  the  writer  has  been  an  admirer  for  mahy 
years,  despite  some  defects  they  undoubtedly  have. 
There  are  a  good  many  interesting  things  about 
the  nomenclature  in  gardens  and  the  ways  of  the 
plants  themselves  of  which  one  would  like  to  speak. 


MALVA  CKISPA. 
This  Mallow  is  a 
vigorous  annual,  attain- 
ing in  fairly  rich  soil  a  height  of  7  feet  or  8  feet. 
Single  plants  form  dense  pyramidal  bushes,  and  are 
highly  ornamental  when  planted  in  tlie  sub-tropical 
garden.  The  leaves  are  of  noble  appearance,  with 
beautifully  curled  margins.  When  wanted  for  the 
above  purpose  seed  may  be  sown  in  heat  in  Februar}', 
either  in  pans  and  afterwards  potted  off  singly,  or 
a  pinch  may  be  dropped  in  the  centre  of  a  S-inch 
pot,  and  the  weakest  seedlings  pulled  out  when 
through  the  soil,  leaving  one  plant  only.  It  may 
not  be  generally  known  that  the  leaves  of  this 
Mallow  may  be  used  in  the  packing  of  various  soft 
fruits  during  summer,  such  as  Strawberries,- Figs, 
and  fruits  generally.  I  know  of  nothing  to  equal 
these  leaves  for  the  purpose,  as  they  are  soft  as 
silk.  I  usually  grow  a  batch  of  plants  near  the 
packing  shed  purposely,  and  as  the  young  plants 
appear  each  year  they  are  thinned  slightly  to 
allow  fair  development,  but  not  so  as  to  induce 
robust  growth,  the  small  and  medium-sized  leaves 
being  most  useful. — H.  T.  Martin. 


ERYNGIUM    PANDANIFOLIUM. 

This  noble  Sea  Holly  has  been  grown  here  for 
many  years,  standing  the  severest  of  winters  and 
gales  in  a  most  exposed  situation.  In  the  winter 
of  lS94-lS9o  we  had  six  weeks  severe  frost,  but 
none  of  the  plants  were  in  the  least  affected.  We 
believe  it  to  be  perfectly  hardy  anywhere.  The 
subject  of  the  photograph  measures  12  feet  high 
and  12  feet  through,  and  was  an  ordinary  single 
crown  split  from  another  plant  three  years  ago, 
planted  in  the  nurser}'  border,  and  has  never 
received  any  attention  whatever.  It  is  a  remark- 
ably rapid  grower,  small  crowrs  forming  an  effective 


plant  in  one  summer.  It  seems  quite  indifferent  as 
to  soil,  thriving  freely  in  dry  or  wet  situations. 
In  openings  in  woods  under  trees  we  have  seen  it 
doing  remarkably  well,  also  as  a  specimen  in  a  bed 
or  on  a  lawn.  It  starts  to  send  up  its  flower  spikes 
about  July,  and  they  reach  their  full  height  in 
September.  The  spikes  of  the  plant  in  the  photo- 
graph were  10  feet  and  12  feet  high.  The  flowers  are 
inconspicuous,  being  small  round-shaped  balls.  The 
plant  is  not  affected  by  wind,  although  it  is  not 
advisable  to  plant  it  in  a  very  wild  spot,  as  the 
flower  spikes  would  snap  in  a  gale.  Where  the 
flower  spikes  are  removed  from  the  plants  when 
they  first  appear  the  foliage  necessarily  becomes 
much  larger.  There  is  another  Sea  Holly  which 
has  erect  leaves,  but  this  does  not  seem  so  hardy  as 
the  one  we  mention  in  which  the  foliage  droops.  The 
leaves  are  bright  green  armed  with  sharp  spines. — 
V.  N.  Gauntlett,  Green  Lane  Nurseries,  Eedriith. 

VIOLA  BIFLOEA. 
Worshippers  of  size  in  flowers  appear  to  despise 
such  tiny  flowers  as  this,  and  look  with  more  than 
a  little  contempt  upon  its  small  yellow  blooms  as 
they  come  upon  them  in  the  crevices  of  a  rocky 
path  or  of  the  shadj-  parts  of  the  rockeries.  Yet 
there  are  man}'  who  would  appreciate  this  little 
flower,  whose  unassuming  character  is  even  a 
passport  to  the  affections  of  many  an  alpine  lover. 
Although  it  does  not  form  the  masses  of  flower 
given  by  Saxifraga  Cymbalaria,  it  reminds  one 
somewhat  of  that  plant,  with  its  small,  golden- 
yellow  flowers  and  its  neat  leaves.  It  has  the 
same  power  of  brightening  up  a  shady  place,  and 
is,  moreover,  better  for  growing  in  a  crevice  than 
the  Saxifrage,  which  prefers  the  level  soil.  It  has 
been  said  of  it  in  "The  English  Flower  Garden" 
that  it  "is  a  lovelj'  ornament  on  the  Alps,  and  in 
many  parts  it  densely  clothes  every  chink  between 
the  moist  rocks.  It  even  crawls  under  great 
boulders  and  rocks,  and  lines  shallow  caves  with 
its  fresh  verdure  and  its  little  golden  stars."  This 
quotation  is  surely  sufficient  to  suggest  to  many 
who  grow  rock  plants  how  best  they  may  utilise 
this  little  Violet,  and  how  much  these  rockeries 
might  be  improved  by  its  use.  As  remarked  in 
the  work  referred  to,  it  may  seem  difficult  to 
establish,  and  this  is,  indeed,  often  the  case  when 
it  is  planted  in  a  dry  position  instead  of  the  moist, 
shady  one  it  prefers.  Although  it  grows  on  the 
European  Alps,  it  is  more  widely  spread  than 
that,  and  at  least  two  other  continents  can  claim 
it  as  a  native.  Were  it  more  plentiful  in  gardens 
its  charms  would  hardly  require  to  be  brought  to 
the  notice  of  flower  growers. — S.  Aenott. 


PHYGELIUS  CAPENSIS. 
Some  plants  of  this  Phygelius  ranked  among  the 
most  ornamental  of  hardy  plants  in  these  gardens 
last  summer.  Our  soil  evidently  suits  it,  for  the 
plants  grew  and  flowered  with  great  vigour  the 
whole  summer  through,  viz.,  from  June  until  early 
in  November.  They  are  in  mixed  herbaceous 
borders  in  an  open  part  of  the  garden,  and  received 
no  special  attention.  The  soil  is  fairly  rich  and 
light,  and  becomes  extremely  dry  and  dusty  during 
drought.  This  Phygelius  appears  to  be  allied  to 
the  Pentstemons,  and  they  are  surpassed  by  few 
things  for  beautifying  the  garden  in  summer. 
Increase  of  stock  of  the  species  is  readily  effected 
by  dividing  the  root-stock  at  this  lime,  or  by 
cuttings  or  seeds  in  early  spring.  Beds  or  masses 
of  this  pretty  plant  would  be  very  effective  in 
certain  parts  of  the  garden,  and,  like  many  of  our 
hardy  plants  of  an  herbaceous  character,  their  true 
beauty  would  thus  be  displayed  to  the  best 
advantage. — H.  T.  Martin,  Stoneleigh. 


NEW^  JAPANESE  CHRYSAN- 
THEMUMS. 

It  is  some  years  since  there  was  such  a  pletliora  of 
sterling  novelties,  and  this  fact  is  so  incontestable 
that  tlie  past  season  maybe  regarded  as  quite  a  red 
letter  period  in  the  history  of  the  flower.  Not  the 
least  noliciable  feature  is  the  increasing  list  of 
new   raisers,    new   names    being    associated    witli 


38 


THE    GAEDEN. 


[January  18,  1902. 


many  of  the  novelties.  It  seems  hardly  a  decade 
since  some  of  our  best  known  Chrysanthemum 
specialists  were  bemoaning  the  fact  that  new 
varieties  were  only  procurable  from  the  Continent 
and  America,  with  an  occasional  introduction 
from  Japan.  All  this  is  now  changed,  Knglish 
gardeners  and  others  having  successfully  overcome 
the  dithculties  of  seed  saving,  and  raising  each 
season  novelties  which  vie  with  those  raised  in 
other  countries  for  popular  favour.  One  has  only 
to  look  through  the  list  of  varieties  staged  in  the 
winning  stands  to  see  what  progress  has  been 
made  in  English-raised  plants,  and  Continental, 
American,  and  Antipodean  raisers  will  have  to 
look  to  their  laurels  unless  the}'  want  to  be 
eclipsed  by  our  English  raisers. 

The  following  varieties  are  singled  out  for  notice, 
chiefly  because  thej'  have  achieved  notorietj-  in 
gaining  some  distinction  at  the  hands  of  the 
respective  floral  committees  of  the  National  Chry- 
santhemum Society  or  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society.  The  inclusion  of  a  few  additional  sorts 
has  been  made,  for  the  leason  that  they  have 
missed  recognition  for  some  trifling  cause,  and, 
possessing  points  of  merit,  they  are  destined  to  be 
shown  another  season  in  the  leading  stands. 

Eakly-flowerinc  Decorative  Surt.s. 

Harmon}/. — A  decided  acquisition  to  the  early- 
flowering  decorative  sorts,  developing  ijuite  freelj', 
even  when  disbudded,  charming  reflexed  .lapanese 
blossoms,  with  florets  of  medium  width  and  pleasing 
form.  The  colour  should  enhance  its  value,  this 
being  a  delightful  shade  of  terracotta  suff'iised  with 
red,  and  with  a  golden  reverse.  The  habit  is  all 
that  could  be  desired,  this  being  dwarf  and  bushy, 
and  also  sturdj'.  The  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society's  floral  committee  awarded  this  variety 
eleven  out  of  twelve  points,  thus  gaining  a  first- 
class  certiticate.     E.xhibited  September  i'A. 

Horace  Martin. — This  is  the  finest  addition  to 
the  early-flowering  border  sorts  of  tlie  past  season, 
and  for  the  next  few  years  will  probabl}'  be  more 
often  seen  than  any  other  sort  of  th&same  colour. 
To  say  it  is  a  sport  from  the  well-known  crimson 
Mnie.  Marie  Masse,  which  is  regarded  as  a  typical 
border  variety,  is  to  ensure  for  the  newcomer  a  warm 
reception.  Its  colour,  however,  is  its  chief  value, 
this  being  a  rich  golden-yellow,  becoming  richer 
towards  the  centre.  This  family  of  plants  is  also 
valued  for  a  sturdy,  branching  habit  of  growth, 
together  with  a  most  profuse  flowering  tendency. 
On  October  S  last  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  awarded  a  first-class  certificate  (full  points), 
and  on  September  24  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  gave  it  an  award  of  merit. 

Godfrey'!!  Pet.  — A  charming  addition  to  the  earl}'- 
flowering  sorts,  being  valued  for  pot  culture  when 
disbudded,  and  when  naturally  grown,  without 
disbudding,  is  well  adapted  for  the  border. 
The  colour  is  a  bright  canary  yellow,  and  the 
blossoms,  wlien  disbudded,  are  of  a  useful  size, 
having  fairly  long  drooping  florets.  It  is  an 
English-raised  seedling,  is  a  sturdy  plant,  also 
bushy,  attaining  a  height  of  about  IS  inches.  The 
honours  so  far  accorded  to  it  arefirst-class  certificate 
maximum  points)  by  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society,  September  23,  and  an  award  of  merit  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  September  24. 

Mi/chett  Pink. — The  lists  of  early  soits  are  by  no 
means  overdone  with  Japanese  of  a  pleasing  soft 
pink  colour,  the  majority  of  existing  kinds  having 
a  preponderance  of  lilac  or  mauve  blossoms.  The 
pink  colour  in  this  instance  is  verj'  beautiful,  and 
IS  enhanced  by  a  golden  tint  in  the  centre  of  the 
flower.  The  blossoms  are  nice  and  full,  and  are 
developed  on  a  stout  erect  foot-stalk  of  good  length. 
The  plant  exhibited  before  the  National  Chrysan- 
themum Societ/  floral  committee  on  September  23 
had  been  lifted  from  the  open,  and  was  convincing 
proof  of  its  sturdy  character.  The  plant  attains  a 
height  of  about  lis  inches,  and  is  bushy.  Awarded 
full  points,  carr3ing  first-class  certificate. 

L'automne.  — This  is  an  early-flowering  decora- 
tive sort  which  may  fairly  lay  claim  to  distinction. 
Numerous  blooms  were  in  evidence  at  the  October 
show  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society, 
where  their  warm  tones  of  colour  were  very  effective. 
The  blooms  are  of  ideal  size  for  use  for  cutting. 


the  plant  being  disbudded  to  some  extent  to  achieve 
this  purpose.  "Reflexed  Japanese" aptl}'  describes 
the  form  of  the  flowers,  tlie  florets  being  of  medium 
width  and  pointed.  The  colour  is  ditiicult  to 
accurately  describe,  but  rich  deep  terra  -  cotta 
bronze  will  give  some  idea  of  its  loveliness.  The 
plant  is  of  medium  height  and  free  flowering. 

Pi/ecro/t  Crinuon. — Early-flowering  border  sorts 
of  a  deep  rich  crimson  colour  are  by  no  means 
plentiful,  and  for  this  reason  this  new  variety  will 
be  regarded  by  many  with  special  favour.  It  is  an 
English-raised  seedling.  The  plant  possesses  a 
splendid  constitution,  has  a  good  sturdy  habit 
of  growth,  and  is  profuselj'  flowered.  Partial 
disbudding  is  an  immense  advantage.  Awarded 
a  first-class  certificate  by  the  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Society  October  S  last. 

Septeml'er  Beauty.  —  An  excellent  September- 
flowering  sort,  of  a  rich  deep  yellow  colour,  with 
the  faintest  suspicion  of  bronze  on  the  rather 
narrow  florets.  It  is  said  to  be  a  seedling  from 
the  popular  Mme.  Marie  Masse.  Either  as  a  pot 
plant,  disbudded,  or  as  a  freely-flowered  sort  for 
the  hardy  border  it  is  equally  well  adapted.  The 
plant  has  not  yet  been  exhibited,  but  there  is 
sufheienl  promise  in  it  to  merit  a  trial. 

Decorative  Japanfsk  Sorts. 

Broir.r  Soliel  d'Octohre. — Soliel  d'Octobre,  from 
which  tliis  new  sort  is  a  sport,  is  better  known  as 
a  large  exhibition  flower,  thougli  developing  rather 
too  early  for  the  November  shows.  In  this  instance, 
however,  the  sport  was  adjudged  purely  as  a  decora- 
tive variety ,  and  as  such  gained  nine  out  of  a  possible 
twelve  points,  obtaining  the  coveted  award  of  a  first- 
class  certificate  from  the  National  Chrj^santhemuni 
Society  on  October  21  last.  As  a  decorative  flower 
it  is  rather  larger  than  most  others,  although  it  is 
distinctly  pretty.  The  colour  may  be  desiiibed  as 
a  pleasing  fawn,  which  deepens  in  the  centre  of 
the  bloom.  During  the  past  season  blossoms 
were  freely  displayed  in  the  florists'  windows,  the 
raisei'  of  this  new  sort  being  a  well-known  market 
grower. 

yVi(i<  d'(.)r. — Although  this  variety  was  fortunate 
enough  to  gain  the  first-class  certificate  of  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  on  October  21 
last,  the  plants  will  have  to  be  better  grow  n  to  be 
appreciated.  It  is  essentially  a  decorative  sort, 
but  disbud  scmiewhat  freely  as  the  foot-stalks 
otherwise  will  be  too  short  to  be  highly  valued  for 
use  as  cut  flowers.  The  form  is  also  prettier  and 
more  interesting  when  the  plant  is  disbudded.  The 
colour  is  a  rich  golden  yellow,  and  the  plant  is 
fairly  dwarf  and  branching. 

Blii'^Ji  Caniiiit'j. — For  many  years  L.  Canning 
has  been  regarded  as  an  indispensable  late  white 
Japanese  variety  in  many  quarters,  so  that  a  pleas- 
ing blush  sport  from  that  variety  will  indeed  be 
welcome.  In  every  respect  but  colour  the  sport  is 
identical  with  the  parent  variet}',  and  although 
there  are  growers  who  say  that,  having  the  lovely 
pink  blossoms  of  Mme.  Felix  Perrin  for  late  work, 
the  new  sport  is  not  wanted,  I  am  bound  to  saj' 
there  is  room  for  them  both.  The  greater  the 
variety  obtainable  in  the  latter  part  of  the  season 
Ihe  more  popular  is  the  Chrysanthemum  likely  to 
be.  The  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  made 
an  award  of  a  first-class  certificate  in  its  favour 
December  3  last. 

Little  .Jen-el. — This  is  one  of  a  series  of  new 
spidery  or  miniature-flowered  Japanese  distributed 
last  spring,  several  of  which  have  something  pleasing 
associated  with  their  blossoms.  It  is  a  flower 
which  reminds  one  of  the' thistle-like  blossoms  of 
Mrs.  James  Carter,  .sent  out  many  years  ago,  but 
in  this  instance  the  dainty  little  flowers  are  more 
refined  in  appearance,  and  the  colour  is  also  rather 
prettier.  The  latter  may  be  described  as  clear, 
soft  yellow,  and  the  thread-like  florets  are  free 
from  loarseness.  Comparing  the  new  plant  with 
the  older  one  referred  to,  the  former  has  the 
advantage  of  being  dwarfer,  and  it  is  also  sturdy. 
Award  of  merit.  National  Chrysanthemum  Society, 
December  3-last. 

t.lohlen  Princess  Victoria. — Another  useful  late- 
flowering  variety,  being  a  sport  from  the  well- 
known  late-flowering  sort  Princess  Victoria.  The 
.sport  will  be  valued  for  its  colour,  which  is  a  rich 


deep  shade  of  yellow,  and  is  refined  and  pleasing. 
When  disbudded  the  blooms  are  borne  on  a  useful 
length  of  foot-stalk,  which  for  plants  grown  for  cut 
flowers  is  of  the  highest  importance.  Award  of 
merit,  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  December  17. 

Mary  McBeaii. — This  plant  also  gained  an 
award  of  merit  at  the  Rojal  Horticultural  Society's 
meeting,  December  17  last.  It  is  a  bronze  sport 
from  Tuxedo.  Long,  stout,  erect  foot-stalks  are 
associated  wilh  the  parent  plant,  and  as  such  are 
invaluable  for  vase  decorations.  The  florets  are 
notched  or  forked  at  the  ends. 

D.  B.  Crane. 
(  To  he  continued.  J 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


NEW   PEARS  AND   APPLES. 

WHEN  new  Apples  and  Pears  are 
exhibited  for  the  first  time  many 
growers  express  a  doubt  as  to 
their  usefulness,  and  point  out 
that  unless  the  new  varieties  can 
equal  the  well  -  known  Cox's 
Orange  Apple  or  Doyenne  du  Cornice  Pear  they 
are  not  wanted.  My  contention  is  that  we  should 
not  be  too  critical  until  the  new  varieties  have 
been  grown  in  diverse  soils  and  situations,  and, 
though  they  may  not  equal  our  older  favourites, 
there  is  room  for  them  if  fairly  good.  Although 
we  have  a  great  number  of  fruits,  of  Apples  in 
particular,  it  is  unnecessary  to  grow  the  poor  ones 
so  that  the  latter  do  not  count.  Bolh  Apples  and 
Pears,  as  regards  mere  variety,  could  with  advan- 
tage be  weeded  out,  but  there  is  this  difficulty, 
i.e.,  some  kinds  that  thrive  in  one  county  fail  in 
another.  I  have  found  the  fruit  committee  very 
conservative  in  their  awards  concerning  new  fruits, 
and  I  think  the}'  are  quite  right  in  their  endeavours 
to  ascertain  if  any  new  fruit  is  likely  to  prove  a 
useful  addition.  I  do  not  think  I  shall  be  wrong 
in  stating  that  a  new  fruit  is  given  a  severe  test, - 
and  often  a  higher  award  would  be  given  if  their 
cropping,  growth,  and  other  points  were  better 
known. 

These  notes  regaiding  new  fruits  apply  to  Mr. 
Ross's  new  Apple  and  Pear  shown  at  the  last 
meeting  of  the  Ro3'al  Horticultural  Society,  and  I 
am  more  interested  in  the  Pear  than  the  Apple, 
for  this  reason,  that  we  want  good  Pears.  In 
October  and  early  November  we  have  a  good 
choice,  but  there  is  ri  om  for  such  novelties  as  the 
new  General  Wauchope.  Mr.  Ross  has  made 
splendid  additions  to  our  hardy  fruits,  and  I 
think  the  new  Pear,  as  regards  quality,  will 
compare  favourably  with  the  Charles  Ross  Apple. 
The  raiser  says  it  can  be  relied  upon  for  cropping, 
as  the  new  variety,  though  only  a  small  tree,  was 
burdened  with  fruit  and  without  any  special 
attention  as  to  culture.  As  the  fruits  were  illus- 
trated in  The  (Jardex  of  January  4  I  need  not 
dwell  upon  their  size  or  shapes,  (ieneral  Wauchope 
is  a  shapely  fruit  of  splendid  quality.  With 
regard  to  flavour  it  is  superior  to  Ne  Plus  Meuris, 
one  of  its  parents,  and  much  better  in  size  and 
appearance,  the  other  parent  being  the  Duchesse 
d'Angouleme,  which  with  us  cannot  be  trusted,  as, 
though  large,  it  is  at  times  gritty,  whereas  the 
new  fruit  is  the  reverse.  It  is  soft,  melting,  and 
very  juicy  ;  indeed,  it  may  be  classed  as  a  first- 
rate  midwinter  Pear.  I  wish  Mr.  Ross  would 
intioduce  one  equal  in  qualitj'  for  a  later  supply, 
as  there  are  so  few  good  Pears  after  the  New 
Year. 

The  new  Apple,  the  Houblon,  is  the  result  of 
crossing  Cox's  Orange  and  Peasgood's  Nonsuch, 
and  fruit  lovers  will  be  aware  that  this  cross  has 
been  made  before  by  Mr.  Ross.  Although  the 
Houblon  does  not  eijual  the  Cox's,  at  least  such 
is  my  opinion,  it  is  little  inferior.  It  is  stated 
to  be  a  later  fruit,  and,  if  so,  this  will  be  a  great 
gain.  It  is  pretty  to  look  at,  not  unlike  the  older 
favourite,  and  beautifully  coloured. 

The  fruits  staged  were  not  too  large,  just  the 
right  size  for  the  dessert,  and  in  this  way  I  hope 


JjiNUAUY   18,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


no 


it  will  more  resemble  the  variety  alluded  to. 
Large  dessert  Apjjles  are  not  needed,  at  least  not 
in  private  gardens.  <t.  Wvthes. 

MISTAKES  IN  FRUIT  CULTUKE. 

Le<:ion  is  the  name  of  the  errors  committed  by 
fruit  growers,  but  my  attention  was  recently 
directed  to  a  mistake  which  is  commonly  made, 
and  yet  might  be  easily  avoided  by  the  exercise  of 
a  little  discretion  on  part  of  the  planter.  The 
instance  is  an  Apple  orchard,  planted  in  grass 
some  dozen  j'ears  ago,  and  now  in  a  state  of 
proBtable  bearing.  Overcrowding  is  the  trouble, 
and  the  present  owner,  who  has  lately  come  into 
possession,  is  puzzled  to  know  what  to  do.  The 
trees  are  splendidly  grown  specimens  of  good 
varieties  that  sell  well  in  the  market,  and 
naturally  there  is  a  disinclination  to  cut  away  trees 
and  wood  that  are  a  source  of  profit.  Yet  the 
grower  is  fully  aware  that  something  must  be  done 
and  a  sacrifice  be  made  in  the  near  future  in  the 
interest  of  the  trees,  and  to  remedy'  so  far  as 
possible  the  mistake  made  bj'  the  planter  at  the 
outset. 

It  does  not  need  a  second  glance  at  the  orchard 
to  observe  that  the  error  was  not  that  of  planting 
too  many  trees  so  much  as  arranging  them  wrongly, 
and  this  is  the  point  I  would  impress  nn  anyone  who 
may  now  be  engaged  in  establishing  an  orchard. 
Blenheim  Orange  is  largely  represented,  and  the 
value  of  the  trees  to-day  proves  that  the  planter's 
judgment  was  not  at  fault  in  regard  to  the  varietj'  : 
but  the  fatal  error  was  in  planting  them  all  together 
in  one  part  of  the  orchard.  The  spreading  trees 
have  filled  up  the  space  and  are  growing  into  each 
other  in  a  distressing  way,  and  valuable  fruiting 
wood  must  be  cut  back  to  admit  the  necessary  air 
and  sunshine.  There  is  no  alternative,  and  yet  in 
the  other  part  of  the  orchard,  though  the  trees  are 
planted  at  the  same  distance,  there  is  ample  room, 
because  the  varieties  are  of  a  more  upright  growth 
and  less  robust.  Had  the  planter  thought  of  this, 
and  placed  the  trees  of  vigorous  habit  and  other- 
wise alternately,  the  present  trouble  might  have 
been  avoided.  Perhaps  he  did  it  for  the  sake  of 
order,  but  this  rule  does  not  stand  good  where 
Apple  trees  are  concerned,  and  the  man  who  plants 
an  orchard  should  not  think  alone  of  to-day  but 
also  twenty  3'ears  hence.    Valuable  bevoml  measure 


are  vigorous  Apple  trees  such  as  Blenheim  Orange 
and  Bramley's  Seedling,  but  even  30  feet  apart 
is  little  enough  space  for  them  when  they  are  fully 
established,  and  it  is  better  for  the  trees,  as  well  as 
economy  of  space,  to  intersperse  them  with  less 
vigorous  varieties. 

More  often  than  not  crowded  orchards  are  the 
fault  of  the  planter,  because  it  is  only  natural  that 
a  man  who  grows  for  profit  should  hesitate  to  cut 
down  a  tree,  and  the  hacking  back  of  the  branches 
to  give  more  room  only  means  a  mass  of  rank 
growth  and  o\'ercrowding  again  in  the  near  future. 
As  in  the  instance  quoted,  it  is  notalwaj's  a  case  of 
too  many  trees,  but  more  often  the  fatal  error  of 
not  studying  the  growth  of  the  varieties  planted, 
nor  thinking  of  what  the  state  of  afluirs  will  be 
a  dozen  3'eara  hence. 

Another  mistake  is  that  of  planting  twice  the 
number  of  trees  required  in  a  permanent  orchard, 
with  the  idea  of  thinning  out  half  the  quantity 
before  they  overcrowd  each  other.  Doubtless  the 
intention  is  good  while  the  trees  are  young,  but 
when  they  commence  bearing  the  heart  fails  and 
they  remain,  with  the  result  that  a  good  orchard  is 
ruined.  Last  summer  I  saw  a  row  of  Plum  trees — 
specimens  of  good  bearing  age — cut  to  the  ground 
to  allow  room  for  the  Apples  on  either  side.  The 
grower  was  loth  to  do  it,  but  he  had  no  alternative, 
and  I  ask  what  was  the  good  of  planting  them  at 
the  outset?  ^^'hilst  the\'  were  young  they  pro- 
duced little  or  nothing,  and  as  soon  as  they  came 
into  bearing  thej'  liad  to  be  cut  down  or  be  left  to 
ruin  the  orchard. 

These  are  common  errors  that  are  responsible  for 
the  congested  orchards  about  which  we  hear  so 
much,  and  growers  would  do  well  to  remember 
that  when  planting  standard  fruit  trees  there  is 
the  future  to  be  thought  of,  and  the  evils  of  too 
many  trees  and  lack  of  judgment  in  arranging 
them  will  become  apparent  as  the  j'ears  roll  on. 

G.  H.  H. 


ROSE    ARCHES. 

Many  are  the  ways  in  which  Rose  arclie.s  may 
be  u.sed  in  gardens  :  indeed,  it  may  safely  be 
said  that  there  is  hardly  a  garden  that  may 
not  be  made  the  better  for  their  use.  A 
ransfe  of  arohes  soannina  a  flower   border   is 


alway.s  delightful.  In  the  case  of  a  long  border, 
especially  one  whose  length  is  rather  overmuch 
for  its  width,  such  an  arrangement  is  admirable, 
breaking  up  the  too  great  length,  and  at  the 
same  time  introducing  something  that  is  of 
much  beauty  in  itself  and  that  corrects  the 
over-long  line  by  its  transverse  treatment. 

The  illustration  shows  a  connected  range  of 
Rose  arches  on  a  levelled  space.  It  is  taken 
from  above,  so  that  a  part  of  its  purpose  is  not 
shown,  namely,  that  of  making  a  series  of 
flower-framed  pictures  of  the  pleasant  land- 
scape of  wooded  hill  and  upland  pasture  and 
deep  valley.  The  Roses  for  this  use  are  the 
old  Ayrshires  and  the  newer  rambling  Roses 
derived  from  R.  multiflora. 


A    CON.XECTED    KANKE    OF    RUSi;_  AKi  LIIS    ON    LEVKLLH)    SCACE. 


AMERICAN     NOTES. 

HARDY     DAPHNES. 

A  M0N(4ST  the  choicest  of  ornamental  small 
/%  shrubs   are    the   liardy   Daphnes.      In 

/    %         the     vast      number     of      ornamental 

L »        shrubs    in    cultivation  adapted   to   all 

y  \_  kinds  of  soils,  conditions,  exposures, 
highly  ornamental  environments,  or 
plain,  unpretentious  surroundings,  the  hardy 
Daphnes  should  be  given  a  place  where  nothing 
but  the  most  chaste  and  choice  shrubs  should  be 
planted.  Hardly  any  of  the  Daphnes  will  succeed 
and  be  satisfactory  unless  they  are  given  the 
conditions  that  exactly  suit  them.  As  a  general 
rule  they  should  be  planted  in  sheltered  situations, 
with  an  eastern  or  southern  exposure,  and  in  light, 
moist  soil,  but  always  well  drained. 

Daphne  Mezereum,  the  species  most  commonly 
in  cultivation,  is  a  native  of  Kurope.  It  has  lance- 
shaped  leaves  from  •!  inches  to  'A  inches  long,  and 
the  pinkish  fragrant  flowers  are  distributed  thickly 
over  the  naked  branches  in  threes  and  fours  in 
early  spring.  There  are  varieties  with  red  and 
white  flowers.  I  was  much  surprised  some  years 
since  when  Mr.  Roderick  Cameron,  the  assistant 
superintendent  of  Victoria  Park,  at  Niagara  Falls, 
showed  me  thousands  of  Daphne  Mezereum  growing 
luxuriantly  in  the  Duft'erin  Islands,  and  literally 
forming  the  main  part  of  the  underbrush 
in  some  parts  of  these  small  islands. 
How  it  happened  to  get  there  and  "take 
to  the  woods"  Mr.  Cameron  said  he 
could  never  find  out. 

Daphne  Cneorum,  known  under  the 
common  name  of  (Garland  Flower,  is  a 
native  of  most  of  the  mountain  chains 
of  Kurope.  The  small  evergreen,  lance- 
shaped  leaves  are  thickly  distributed  on 
the  trailing  stems,  and  it  rarety  exceeds 
1  foot  in  height.  The  fragrant  pinkish 
red  blossoms  are  borne  in  numerous 
clusters,  and  are  produced  abundantly 
in  May  and  September.  To  do  well  it 
prefers  moist,  sandy  soil.  If  we  remem- 
ber correctly,  .loseph  Meehan  wrote 
some  time  since  recommending  the  grow- 
ing of  Daphne  Cneorum  in  almost  pure 
sand.  We  have  seen  large,  handsome 
clumps  of  this  lovely  plant  on  various 
estates  on  Long  Island,  where  it  appears 
to  grow  with  'greater  vigour  than  we 
have  seen  elsewhere. 

Daphne  blagayana,  known  sometimes 
under  the  name  of  King's  Bloom,  is  a 
choice  and  beautiful  flowering  plant,  and 
one  of  the  rarest  of  the  genus  in  culti- 
vation. The  white,  tubular,  fragrant 
flowers  are  borne  on  terminal  bunches, 
and  it  usually  comes  into  bloom  here 
about  the  end  of  April.  The  smooth, 
lance-shaped  leaves  are  evergreen.  We 
alwa\'S  place  a  few  evergreen  branches 
over  it  in  winter. 

According  to  the  late  Professor  Ker- 
ner,  in  his  excellent  work  "The  Natural 
History  of  Plants,''  this  Daphne  may 
soon  be  extinct  in    a  wild  state.     It  is 


40 


THE   GARDEN. 


[January  18,  1902. 


known  by  only  a  few  thousand  plants  in  the 
Balkan  Peninsula,  and  a  very  severe  winter  might 
wipe  it  out  of  existence.  It  is  said  it  was  called 
King's  Bloom  because  in  1830  King  Augustus  of 
Saxony  travelled  several  hundred  miles  to  see  it  in 
flower  in  its  native  habitat.  We  feel  like  dotting 
our  hat  to  the  memory  of  this  king  for  being  such 
an  ardent  plant  admirer. 

Daphne  alpioa,  a  low,  bushy,  deciduous  shrub 
from  the  European  Alps,  which  does  not  exceed 
2  feet  in  height,  has  white  fragrant  sessile  flowers 
in  May,  aud  a  scattering  of  blossoms  throughout 
the  autumn.  With  us  this  Daphne  forms  a  very 
compact  habit  of  growth  and  is  a  very  desirable 
species. 

Daphne  (Jenkwa,  introduced  from  Japan  about 

twenty-five  years  since,  and  is  still  uncommon  in 

cultivation,  has  beautiful  rosy  lilac  blossoms  about 

the  first  to  the  middle  of  May.     In  severe  winters 

this  species  suffers  considerably  with  us,  but  tlie 

flowers  are   so   richly  tinted    that 

any    special    care     spent    in    pro- 
tecting it  is  well  worth  the  trouble 

of  enjoying  it. 

Daphne    Laureola,     the    Spurge 

Laurel,   a  native  of  Europe,    has 

not  been  tried  here,  but  the  late 

William    McMillan,    when    super- 
intendent   of    the    Buflalo  Parks, 

showed   me,   a   good    many  years 

since,    a    fine     specimen    of     this 

Daphne  in  a  corner  of   Delaware 

Park    devoted    to    choice     plants. 

The    yellowish-green     flowers    are 

not  particularly  showy,  but  it  is  a 

pretty  evergreen  shrub. 

Daphnes  are  mostly  propagated 

by     seed     and     layers.       Daphne 

Mezereum,     D.     alpina,     and     D. 

Laureola    usually    produce     abun- 
dance  of   seeds,  and   if   the   seeds 

are    sown    as    soon    as   ripe    they 

will  germinate  the  following  year, 

but   if   allowed    to   get   dry    they 

will     not     germinate    before     two 

years.       Daphne      blagayana,      D. 

Cneorum,     and     D.     Genkwa     are 

best    propagated     by     layers,     as 

they    do    not    produce    seeds,    at 

least  they  never   have   under    our 

experience      and      observation.   — 

John    Dunbar   in  American   Gar- 


DAHLIA    IMPERIALIS. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  thi.s  grand 
Mexican  plant  flowers  so  late  that  it  cannot  lie 
enjoyed  out  of  doors  in  English  gardens,  for 
its  stature  of  10  feet  and  spread  of  .'i  feet  only 
allows  of  its  use  in  spacious  greenhouses.  The 
many  flowers  are  white  slightly  tinted  with 
lilac,  the  individual  blooms  being  of  a  wide 
bell  shape  slightly  recurved.  The  photograph 
from  which  our  illustration  was  prepared  was 
sent  early  in  December  by  Mr.  Edward 
Woodall,  of  one  of  the  plants  in  his  garden  at 
Brancolar,  near  Nice. 


VERONICA.-I. 

The  thousand  names  of  flowers  and  plants 
which    are  found    in  the  Greek    and    Latin 


A  BEAUTIFUL   BERRY 
SHRUB. 

At  this   season  of  the   year  ever- 
green   foliage   and    bright    berries 
come  to  mind  in  connection  with 
the  festivities  of  Christmas.     Ever- 
green   foliage   is    not    dirtioult    to 
get,   but  bright   berries  are.     The 
pretty  little   shrub   Pj'rus   arbuti- 
folia  is  well  worthy   of  considera- 
tion as   fitted  for    use,   because  of 
its     bright     red     berries.       They 
are    in     little     clusters     of     from 
four     to     si.K     together,     usually' 
ripening   in   autumn,   and  keeping 
in   good    condition    well    into    the 
New   Year.      Birds    do  not   eat   them,  and   little 
bushes  full  of  berries  are  a  sight  to  behold  when 
one's  grounds  are  bare  of    Sowers  and    fruits,  as 
winter   usuall}'   finds   them.      Though   deciduous, 
this    native    shrub     holds     its    foliage    till    very 
late    in   autumn,   and    if    in  pots   and    kept  from 
freezing  it  might  hold  it  still   later,  perhaps  till 
Christmas. 

At  any  rate,  with  or  without  leaves,  the 
bright  appearance  of  its  scarlet  berries  would  be 
much  in  its  favour.  This  shrub  is  a  native,  and 
is  not  hard  to  {jrocure,  and,  ualike  the  Hollies, 
every  plant  bears  berries.  I  am  sure  that  Pj'rus 
arbutifolia  is  worth  considering  for  use  at 
Christmas,  to  say  nothing  of  its  lovely  sprays 
of  white  flowers  in  May.— Joseph  Meehas  in 
fioristn'  Erchanqe. 


DAULIA    lllPERIAI.IS    T.S"    A    RIVIERA    CAKDEN. 

classical  writings  are  nearly  all  adopted  and 
retained  in  modern  botany.  How  many  of  them 
keep  their  original  application  we  will  not  now 
inquire  :  certainly  .some  of  them  do  not  claim 
this,  being  now  given  to  genera  exclusively 
American.  But  be.sides  these  classical  names, 
there  are  many  which  cauie  into  use  after  the 
close  of  what  may  be  called  the  chissical  age, 
but  before  herbal  literature  became  general  in 
Europe,  say  between  A.ii.  .")00  and  a.d  l.'iOp. 
We  know  that  some  of  these  are  of  Arabic 
origin,  having  been  given  by  the  Arabian 
herbalists,  -and  having  been  brought  into 
Europe  through  Africa  and  Spain,  or  intro- 
duced by  the  Crusaders  from  Palestine.  But 
other  Jii^mes  occur  in  the  writings  of  such 


authors  as[^Gesner,  Fuchs,  Clusius,  and  a  little 
later  of  our  own  Gerard  and  Parkinson,  which 
those  writers  found  traditional  amongst  the 
herbalists  of  their  day,  though  we  do  not  know 
within  a  century  the  date  of  their  invention  ; 
it  is,  however,  most  likely  that  they  were 
coined  in  the  early  religious  houses. 

Names  so  irreproachably  classical  in  form  as 
Aquilegia,  Campanula,  Primula,  Pulsatilla,  and 
others  with  an  ecclesiastical  or  saintly  ring, 
like  Barbarea,  Mariana,  JacobiBa,  Angelica, 
and  Veronica  were  probably  invented  or  first 
adopted  in  monasteries,  in  the  precincts  of 
which  all  kinds  of  plants  used  for  medicine 
were  cultivated,  an  "officina"  or  still  for  the 
preparation  of  herbal  remedies  being  generally 
included  in  the  building,  while  amongst 
the  learned  monks  classical  Latin  continued 
to  be  spoken  and  written  after 
it  had  become  a  dead  or  a  cor- 
rupt language  outside.  Of  this 
class  of  names  none  is  more 
interesting  than  Veronica,  of 
which  it  is  here  propo.sed  to 
examine  the  history. 

Those  who  are  used  to  the 
changes  of  letters  in  naines  when 
transferred  from  Greek  to  Latin, 
or  the  converse,  will  easily  recog- 
nise that  Veronica  is  the  same 
word  as  Berenice,  which  in  later 
Greek  and  Latin  is  often  spelt 
Beronice.  This  ancient  and 
royal  name,  derived  from  a 
Greek  word,  "  Pherenikes  "  — 
that  is,  "  bringing  victory " — 
a  word  found  in  Pindar's  Odes, 
occurs  in  the  Macedonian 
dynasty  of  Egypt  and  in  the 
Jewish  royal  family  of  the 
Herods,  and  may  easily  be  sup- 
posed, like  many  other  Greek  . 
names,  to  have  become  a  fa.shion- 
able  name  amongst  the  Greek- 
speaking  Jews  at  the  Christian 
era.  Tradition  says  that  it  was 
the  name  of  the  woman  who 
was  healed  of  an  inveterate  issue 
of  blood,  as  recorded  in  the 
gospels,  and  the  same  tradition 
identifies  her  with  the  woman 
who  wiped  with  a  napkin  the 
face  of  the  Saviour  when  being 
led  to  execution,  on  which 
napkin  the  miraculous  portrait 
became  imprinted,  which  is  still 
preserved  as  a  relic  in  St.  Peter's 
at  Rome.  This  woman  was  intro- 
duced into  the  complicated 
theology  of  the  Gnostics  by  the 
name  I'rounike,  a  contracted 
form  of  Beronike  ;  but  in  the 
Romish  Church  the  name 
Veronica  became  attached  to  the 
relic  and  not  to  the  person,  who 
does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  made  a  saint. 
The  powerof  healing posse.-sedbytherelic  seems 
to  have  been  especially  efficacious  in  cases  of 
open  wounds  and  ulcers  of  long  standing.  It 
is  probable,  however,  that  the  Christian  name 
Veronica  has  continued  in  use  from  the 
earliest  Christian  times  to  this  day.  Alban 
Butler,  in  his  "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  published 
about  A.D.  lyyo,  records  a  St.  Veronica— the 
only  saint  of  that  name-  a  nun  of  Milan,  who 
died  A  D.  1497,  her  day  in  the  calendar  being 
January  13. 

But  the  name  was  ajiiilied  to  a  plant  before 
the  time  of  the  nun  of  Milan.  The  earliest 
record  of  it  is  in  a  tine  illustrated  folio, 
published  in  1542  by  Fuchs,  a  physician  of 


January  18,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


41 


Bavaria.  In  this  "  History  of  Plants "  we 
have  portraits  of  a  male  and  female  Veronica, 
perhaps  representing  V.  Beccabunga  and  V. 
Anagallis.  Fuchs  tells  us  that  the  name 
Veronica  was  universal  in  the  "  world  of 
herbalists  "  (valgus  herbariorum)  in  his  day. 
He  gives  an  old  tradition  of  the  origin  of  the 
name.  He  says  that  a  hunter  of  an  ancient 
king  of  France — he  does  not  tell  us  which 
king — observed  a  stag  which  had  been  attacked 
and  torn  by  a  wolf  rubbing  its  wounds  against 
and  eating  this  herb,  that  the  king  was  cured 
by  it  of  an  inveterate  disease,  and  that  the 
name  Veronica  was  given  to  it  "  on  account 
of  its  miraculous  efficacy  in  healing  bloody 
wounds  and  ulcers."  This  seems  to  connect  it 
with  the  old  Christian  legend.  Half  a  century 
later  we  find  Veronica  used  by  Clusius  as  a 
generic  name,  and  he  describes  and  figures 
several  species  which  are  still  included  in  it. 

The  names  Betonica,  Vetonica,  or  Vettonica, 
and  Britannica,  all  found  in  Pliny  and  his 
successors,  have  been  confused  by  some  with 
Veronica  through  their  similarity  ;  but  it  will 
be  observed  that  the  early  herbalists  were 
careful  to  distinguish  both  in  the  characters 
and  the  virtues  of  the  plants  between  Betonica 
and  Veronica,  and  that  the  latter  name  never 
occurs  in  classical  Latin  or  Greek.  It  is 
proposed  in  a  future  number  to  describe  britfly 
a  few  select  species  of  the  genus  as  cultivated 
in  the  garden  at  Edge  Hall. 

Edf/e  Hall,  Malpan.  C.  Wolley  Dod. 


AGAPANTHUS      UMBELLATUS 
(AFRICAN    LILY)    IN    TUBS. 

There  are  indications  of  a  revival  in  the 
cultivation  of  this  and  kindred  plants  for  the 
ornamentation  of  terrace  and  gardens  and  the 
like,  as  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration. 
It  is  a  good  sign  when  inquiries  are  made  for 
plants  of  specimen  size  ;  these  are  even  now 
none  too  plentiful,  but  more  are  seen  in 
gardens  than  formerly.  The  culture  of  the 
Agapanthus  is  of  the  simplest  description. 
Like  the  majority  of  the  Cape 
bulbous  and  tuberous  rooted  plants 
it  needs  a  dry  season,  as  well  as. 
the  opposite.  It  may  be  noted  that 
it  is  not  a  plant  of  the  Nile,  as  is 
often  supposed.  There  is  no  reason 
why  it  should  not  be  planted  out 
more  often  than  it  is  in  the  more 
favoured  parts  of  the  country  ;  in 
the  south  and  west  or  in  quite 
sheltered  spots  elsewhere.  In  the 
Isle  of  Wight  it  withstands  all  but 
the  severest  winters.  We  contem- 
plate giving  it  a  trial  this  coming 
season,  and  for  that  purpose  shall 
select  a  spot  near  to  the  margin  of 
a  lake,  but  a  foot  or  so  above  the 
water  line.  After  planting,  protec- 
tion will  be  given  in  the  form  of 
Oak  or  Beech  leaves,  with  wire  net- 
ting placed  around  to  prevent  them 
from  blowing  away.  It  is  notorious 
to  what  an  extent  the  Agapanthus 
will  burst  the  pot  in  which  it  is 
grown,  hence  it  is  better  to  use  tubs 
with  strong  iron  bands  if  they  be 
round  ones.  In  these  they  will  last 
for  years,  and  flower  even  more  freely 
when  thoroughly  established  therein. 
Square  tubs,  as  suggested  in  the  illus- 
tration, are  even  better  than  round 
ones  in  point  of  appearance,  whilst 
they  are  as  strong  if  not  stronger 
when  well  made.  When  the  plants 
become  too  mi^oh  cvowded,  ajid  it  i^ 


not  convenient  to  have  either  tubs  or  pots  of 
larger  size,  then  recourse  can  safely  be  had  to 
division.  This  is  easily  performed  in  most 
instances  by  the  use  of  a  sharp  edged  chopper. 
After  remaking  up,  it  will  be  advisable  to  keep 
the  plants  in  a  slightly  moister  atmosphere, 
or  at  any  rate  somewhat  shaded  for  a  little 
time.  As  regards  soil,  nothing  is  better  than  a 
fibrous  or  turfy  loam,  not  broken  up  too  finely  : 
with  this  coarse  road  grit  and  small  pieces 
of  sandstone  or  mortar  rubble  will  assist  in 
keeping  the  soil  porous  or  open.  Firm  potting 
is  most  desirable  and  should  always  be  prac- 
tised, the  spring  being  the  better  season  for 
this  work.  In  growing  on  young  stock  so  as  to 
encourage  a  rapid  growth,  some  leaf-mould 
will  be  an  assistance  for  freshly  divided  plants. 
Assuming  that  the  plants  are  housed,  or  in 
some  other  way  sheltered  from  the  frost,  it 
will  be  well  to  abstain  from  watering  until 
again  stood  out  of  doors  or  until  fresh  indi- 
cations of  growth  are  apparent  in  the  spring. 
To  hasten  the  flowering  under  glass  is  scarcely 
expedient  ;  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be 
advisable  to  retard  them,  but  in  adopting  this 
method  we  have  found  that  the  plants  do 
not  put  forth  as  many  flower  trusses.  The 
examples  shown  in  the  illustration  denote  the 
best  po.ssible  culture,  and  clearly  demonstrate 
the  value  of  the  Agapanthus  when  well  cared 
for.  When  in  this  fine  condition  the  plants 
require  a  liberal  amount  of  water  ;  this  should 
be  increased  when  the  trusses  first  show  them- 
selves, and  when  it  is  found  that  additional 
assistance  is  needed  an  occasional  application 
of  liquid  manure  will  be  found  beneficial. 

Varieties.— The  type  A.  umbellatus  is  tlie 
best  known  and  the  most  frequent  in  culti- 
vation ;  but  there  is  one  other  fine  form  at 
least,  viz.,  A.  u.  maximus,  which  is  larger  in 
every  sense  than  the  type.  Of  both  there  are 
also  white  varieties,  whilst  there  is  at  least 
one  double  variety  of  the  blue.  Others  are 
catalogued,  such  for  instance  as  A.  u  maximus 
giganteus  ;  this  we  know  to  be  a  better  form 
than  the  type,  but  whether  it  is  distinct  enough 
from  maximus  has  to  be  proved.     The  varie- 


gated, golden  and  silver,  call  for  little  comment, 
and  the  same  applies  to  A.  u.  minor.  A.  u. 
mooreanus  has  the  reputation  of  being  jwr/ertli/ 
hardy ;  perhaps  someone  can  confirm  this. 

J.  Hudson. 
[Agapanthus  mooreanus   is   quite   hardy   in 
the  open  border,  without  any  protection,  in  a 
well-drained  garden  in  high   ground   in  west 
Surrey. — Eds.] 


THE   FLOWER   GARDEN. 

SCHIZOSTYLIS  COCCINEA. 

A   T   this    season    a    few    words    about    this 
/\  charming   flower   may   not    be   out   of 

/    \         place,  and  a  few  cultural  hints  may  be 
/L—jk        of   value,   particularly  with   reference 
J^  ^     to  locality  and  climate.     Locality  and 

climate  are  seldom  taken  into  sutHcient 
account,  either  bj'  nurserymen  in  giving  directions 
along  with  the  plants  they  send  out,  or  bj'  books 
written  for  the  guidance  of  amateurs.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  climate  and  localit}'  are  two  of  the  most 
important  considerations  in  the  treatment  of 
Schizostylis,  as  will  be  shown  ;  and  what  may  be 
sauce  for  the  northern  goose  is  by  no  means  sauce 
for  the  southern  gander.  The  roots  can  be  obtained 
at  a  fairly  cheap  rate  from  most  nurserymen,  and 
the}'  should  be  bought  in  the  early  spring  wlien 
they  are  in  a  dormant  state.  If  tlie  localit}' 
where  it  is  to  be  grown  is  in  a  hot  rlry  climate, 
where  the  summer  begins  in  May,  and  rain  is 
scarce  throughout  the  summer  months,  then  the 
roots  should  be  planted  in  the  most  moist  ])art  of 
the  garden  Not  in  the  border,  among  olher 
herbaceous  plants,  for,  as  it  flowers  in  October  and 
November,  or  even  in  December,  it  is  not  a  plant 
that  should  bo  used  to  adorn  gardens,  but  as  a 
out  flower  to  decorate  the  house.  A  special  place 
should  be  prepared  for  it.  Nothing  could  be 
better  than  a  trench,  such  a  trench  as  is  made  lor 
Celerj',  only  without  the  walls  on  the  .side.  Plenty 
of  good  manure  should  be  dug  into  the  soil,  .and 
abundance  of  water  should  be  given  throughout 
the  summer  months.  The  trenches  shoulil  be 
short  and  near  together,  so  that  overhead  pro- 
tection can  be  given  in  the  late  autumn  and  early 
winter  during  ho.a\'v  r.iin  or  ?now. 


AGAPANTHUS  UMBBLLATPS  AS   A  TUB  PLANT, 


42 


THE    GAHDE^'. 


[January  18,  1902. 


Occasional  flowers  will  appear  at  almost  any 
time  during  the  summer,  but  the  real  crop  of 
blossom  begins  in  the  dry  warm  locality  about 
October.  The  brilliant  scarlet  of  the  bloom  is  a 
rarity  for  the  season,  an<t  can  hardly  be  over- 
valued. We  have  many  white  and  yellow  and 
purple  and  blue  shades,  but  hardlj'  a  single  scarlet 
hardy  flower  in  October  and  November,  with  the 
exception  of  tliis  little-known  plant.  As  soon  as 
the  flower  heads  appear  it  is  as  well  to  have  a 
light  or  two  at  hand  in  case  of  bail  weather.  The 
frames  in  most  gardens  are  not  in  full  use  at  this 
time,  and  therefore  the  lights  from  them  can  be 
utilised  to  protect  the  blooms  from  rain  or  snow. 
Rain  washes  the  colour  out,  and  snow  breaks  the 
flower  stalk  as  well  as  the  foliage.  With  a  little 
care  blooms  can  he  olittiinod  up  till  Christmas.     As 


THE    COMMON    WHITE    I'lNK 


nv  AN 


SMOOTH-EDCED 
AMATEUR. 


the  season  advances  it  is  well  to  gather  the  flower 
stalks  when  one  or  two  only  of  the  indiviilual 
blossoms  are  out.  It  begins  to  flower  at  the 
bottom,  and  after  being  gathered  others  will 
continue  to  open  up  tlie  stalk  for  several  days, 
gradually  becoming  lighter  in  colour,  according  to 
the  length  of  time  it  is  kept  in  water. 

In  damp  climates,  such  as  the  West  of  England 
and  Sootland,  where  the  impact  of  the  gulf  stream 
upon  the  coast  so  greatly  modifies  the  severity  of 
the  winter,  ilshoulii  be  grown  in  the  driest  corners 
of  the  garden,  otherwise  an  immense  amount  of 
root  and  foliage  will  be  produced  and  hardly  any 
flowers.  Not  only  should  it  be  planted  in  the 
driest,  but  tl  e  sunniest  corner  in  the  garden  in  the 
West  of  Scotland,  so  as  to  enable  it  to  produce  a 
good  crop  of  bloom.     Shade  in  such  a  locality  is  as 


detrimental  as  moisture.  There  is  plenty  of  both 
naturally,  and  the  climate  must  be  "  dodged,"  as 
it  were.  In  such  climates  make  no  trench,  give 
little  manure,  and  no  water.  Merely  plant  the 
roots,  a  few  together,  about  a  foot  apart  in  a  level 
bed.  These  tieds  are  best  made  just  a  trifle 
smaller  than  the  glazed  light  that  is  intended  to 
protect  them.  Stakes  driven  in  at  each  lorner 
will  sustain  the  light,  which  should  be  firmly 
fastened  to  thera  wlienever  the  weather  becomes 
threatening.  The  gales  of  early  winter  are  apt  to 
play  havoc  with  coverings  that  are  not  properly 
secured.  The  covering  should  be  about  '2  feet 
above  the  bed,  but  on  no  account  close  the  .sides. 
Not  only  does  the  want  of  air  spoil  the  plants,  but 
the  colour  of  the  flower  will  also  be  lowered  in 
brilliancy.  The  protection  should  be  merely  a 
head  covering  from  lash- 
ing rain  or  driving  sleet. 
For  the  latter  a  tem- 
porary protection  on  the 
side  from  which  the 
gale  comes  is  a  useful 
shelter.  In  Ayrshire 
Mooms  have  been 
(ilitained  as  late  as  the 
.second  week  in  January 
ill  a  mild  winter  when 
tlie  bed  has  been  care- 
I idly  protected  from  the 
snow  and  heavy  rain. 

A  charming  combina- 
tion can  be  obtained  for 
the  decoration  of  the 
house  if  bulbs  of  (ila- 
diolus  The  Bride  be 
planted  in  May.  These 
will  liegin  to  flower  in 
I  )ctober,  and  the  pure 
white  of  this  delightful 
bulbous  flower  is  a  deli- 
cious contrast  to  the 
flaming  scarlet  of  the 
Schizostylis.  The  bulbs 
will  not  suffer,  in  a  mild 
I'limate  at  any  rate,  if 
left  in  the  ground  ;  for 
the  writer  has  experi- 
mented with  them,  and 
found  that  in  the  suc- 
ceeding year  they  grew 
and  flowered  in  June, 
just  as  if  they  had  been 
allowed  to  grow  in  the 
ordinary  way  in  the 
pre\ious3'ear.  Nor  was 
there  anj'  diminution  in 
the  number  of  extra 
bulbs  formed,  nor  in  the 
size  of  the  flowers  pro- 
duced. 

Some  extremes  of  cli- 
mate and  locality  have 
been  taken  to  give  an 
idea  of  the  difference 
that  should  be  observed 
in  the  treatment. 
Keaders  will  understand 
that  they  must  modify- 
the  treatment  according 
to  the  peculiarities  of 
their  owncounty,  should 
they  give  the  Schizostylis  a  trial.  Yeais  ago, 
when  the  writer  first  became  acquainted  with  the 
Schizostylit',  he  carefully  followed  the  directions 
for  culture  as  recommended  in  this  article  for  a 
dry  climate.  His  garden  was  in  the  West  of 
Scotland.  Verily  he  had  his  reward  in  one  sense, 
for  his  plants  multiplied  amazingly.  But  hardly 
a  flower  appeared,  and  he  took  the  hint  that 
Nature  gave  him. 

It  is  worth  remarking  that  it  is  a  great  mistake 
to  ])lant  the  roots  closely.  They  increase  so 
rapidlj'  in  a  genial  locality  that  it  is  difhcult  to 
keep  them  from  strangling  each  other.  When  a 
bed  that  had  only  been  in  existence  for  two  years 
was  lately  lifted  it  was  found  that  the  whole  of 
the  ground  was  completel}'  occupied  by  the  roots, 
although   the   original  clumps  of  about  ten  heads 


WHITE    PINK    RAISED 


each  had  been  planted  a  foot  apart.  It  remains 
to  be  said  that  the  Schizostylis  is  an  excellent  pot 
plant.  If  a  clump  is  carefully  lifted  in  August 
and  potted  with  the  usual  precautions,  it  will 
bloom,  in  the  cool  greenhouse,  almost  continuously 
throughout  thewinter.  In.selectingasuitableclump, 
the  heads  that  are  going  to  produce  bloom  can  easily 
be  recognised  by  their  thicker  base.  K.  P.  F. 


W^HITE    PINKS. 

There  is  no  more  welcome  Hower  throughout 
the  year  than  the  delicioti.sly  sweet  white  Pink. 
Though  it  is  in  most  gardens,  it  is  not  nearly 
enough  used.  Because  it  is  a  useful  border 
]i]ant  is  no  rea.son  why  it  should  not  be  ahso  in 
the  rock  garden  or  rock  wall,  where  it  is  ab.so- 
lutely  in  place.  In  rocky  rifts  or  crowning 
stony  masses,  or  nestling  at  the  rock  foot,  its 
neat  tufts  are  always  delightful,  while  its 
sun-baked  fragrance,  here  and  elsewhere,  is 
one  of  the  many  charm.s  of  eirly  June.  No 
flowering  plant  is  better  as  a  garden  edging, 
and  it  should  not  be  forgotten  how  excellent 
are  its  tufts  of  foliage  in  winter,  for  then 
does  it  appear  to  be  in  perfection. 

The  other  Pink  shown  in  the  illustration  is 
a  seedling  raised  by  an  amateur,  and,  unfoi'- 
tunatejy,  lost  during  a  change  of  wardens.  But 
as  we  have  heard  of  ju>t  such  a  Pink  occurring 
elsewhere,  it  is  probable  that  it  inay  come 
again.  It  wa.s  .stout  of  stem  and  thick  of  petal, 
more  like  a  little  Carnation,  and  bloomed  just 
after  the  white  Pink. 


THE     ROS^   GARDEN. 

ROSE  ANALYSIS   1895-1901. 

ROSE  lovers,  and  more  particularly  if 
they  be  also  Rose  exhibitors,  are 
ver\'  much  indebted  to  Mr.  Edward 
Mawley,  the  hon.  secretary  of  the 
,_  National  Rose  Society,  for  the  trouble 
he  always  takes  year  b3'  year  to 
arrive  at  exactlj'  what  particular  Roses  produce 
the  best  exhibition  blooms.  The  means  that  he 
has  adopted  to  arrive  at  this  often  encjuired  for 
information  are  best  explained  in  his  own  words: — 
"  Since  ISSli  the  name  of  every  Rose  in  all  the 
prize  stands  at  the  National  Rose  Society's  metro- 
politan exhibition  has  been  taken  down,  and  the 
residts  afterwards  tabulated.  The  average  number 
of  blooms  thus  dealt  with  annually  has  been  about 
1,.S00.  In  the  complete  table  for  the  whole  sixteen 
years  can  be  found  the  number  of  times  any 
variety  was  staged  at  all  or  any  of  those  sixteen 
exhibitions.  This  table  is  often  of  great  service 
for  reference,  but  in  the  present  analysis  the 
positions  of  the  different  varieties  which  will 
allow  of  this  being  done — and  they  form  more  than 
SO  per  cent,  of  the  varieties  appearing  in  the  table 
of  Hybrid  Perpetuals  and  Hybrid  Teas,  and  that 
of  Teas  and  Noisettes — are  made  dependent  upon 
their  average  records  for  the  last  eight  years  only, 
it  having  been  found  in  practice  that  a  period  of 
seven  or  eight  years  gives  the  most  trustworthy 
and  comparable  results." 

The  anal3'sis  follows  the  lines  of  the  schedule — 
that  is  to  sa^',  there  is  a  table  for  the  Hybrid 
Perpetuals  and  the  Hj'brid  Teas,  and  another  table 
for  the  Teas  and  Noisettes.  Taking  them  in  this 
order  I  will  deal  with  the  Hybrid  Perpetual  and 
Hybrid  Tea  first. 

I  propose  giving  only  a  portion  of  this  table, 
namely,  the  first  twentj'-five  names  that  appear 
thereon.  If  any  of  your  readers  desire  to  see  the 
whole  table  of  sixty-six  varieties,  showing  their 
relative  merit  from  the  point  of  view  of  the 
production  of  show  blooms  and  to  read  Mr. 
Mawley's  most  interesting  comments  and  his 
article  generally,  I  would  refer  them  to  the  ■lonrnnl 
of  Hortirnltnre  of  October  .31  last,  in  which  paper 
it  appeared,  and  fiom  which  these  exliacts  have 
been  taken  with  the  permission  of  Mr.  Mawley. 


January  18,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


43 


HYBRID    PERPETUAL8    AND    HYBRID    TEAS. 


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Name. 


Mrs.  .John  Laiiii;         

Hdssie  Brown  (H.T.) 

riiiuh  Bi'unner 

Caroline  Testout  (U.T.)  ..     .. 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant(H.T.) 

A.  K.  Williams  

Her  Majesty        

Mrs.  E..  G.  Sliarman-Crawford 
Marquise  Litta(H.T.)      ..     .. 


1887 

1899 

18S1 

1890 

1895 

1877 

1885 

1S94   , 

1893   , 

1&91   , 

1867 


Raise7-'!i  or 

Introducer's 

Name. 


Colour. 


La  France  (H.T.)        . .      . . 

Gustave  Piganeau      1SS9 

Suzanne  M.  RoUocanaclii  . .  1S83  . . 

Captain  Hayward     . .     1893  . . 

Mme.  Gabriel  Luizet       1877  . . 

Alfred  Colomb 1865  .. 

Marie  Baumann        1863  . . 

Marchioness  of  Londonderry        . .  1893  . . 

Horace  Vernet 1866  . . 

Earl  of  Dufferin    , 1837  . . 

Francois  Michelon 1871  . . 

Helen  Keller       1895  . . 

Prince  Arthur     1875  . . 

Dupuy  Jamain ..      ..  1868  .. 

Charles  Lefebvre       1861   . . 


Bennett Kesy  pink 

A.  Dickson  and  Sons  . .  Creamy  white 

Levet       Clierry  red 

Pernet  and  Ducher     . .  Light  salmon  pink 

A.  Dickson  and  Sons  . .  Bright  rosy  pink 

Schwartz        Bright  carmine  red 

Bennett Pale  rose 

A.  Dickson  and  Son T  ..  Clear  rosy  pink 

Pernet  and  Ducher     . ,  Carmine  rose,  brighter  centre 

Lambert  and  Reiter  . .  Creara,  shaded  lemon 

Guillot     Silvery  rose,  shaded  lilac 

Pernet  and  Ducher     . .  Shaded  carmine 

L^vfique Glowing  rose 

Bennett Scarlet  crimson 

Liabaud Light  silvery  pink 

Lacharme       Bright  carmine  red 

Baumann        Soft  carmine  red 

A.  Dickson  and  Sous  . .  Ivory  white 

Guillot     Scarlet  crimson,  dark  shaded 

A.  Dickson  and  Sons  . .  Dark  crimson,  shaded  maroon 

Levet       Deep  rose,  reverse  silvery 

A.  Dickson  and  Sons    .  Rosy  cerise 

B.  R.  Cant      Bright  crimson 

•lamain     Bright  eerise 

Lacharme        Purplish  crimson 


A  new  variety,  whose  position  is  dependent  on  the  record  for  the  1901  show  only. 


The  above  result  contains  a  good  many  surprises, 
ribtably,  perhaps,  from  the  point  of  \  iew  of  well 
known  names  that  find  no  place  (namely,  omissions 
rather  than  content^).  One  would  naturally  e.\pect 
Mrs.  John  Laing  to  head  the  list,  but  Mr.  Mawley 
draws  attention  to  the  probability,  amounting 
almost  to  a  certainty,  that  in  a  few  years  time,  if 
not  next  year,  it  will  be  deposed  from  its  proud 
position,  that  it  has  held  practically  unchallenged 
for  nine  consecutive  years,  for  "in  the  pre.sent 
analysis  the  splendid  record  of  a  new  H.T. , 
Bessie  Brown,  makes  it  highly  probable  that  that 
variety  will  shortly  take  its  place.  This  year, 
Bessie  Brown,  although  onlj'  now  beginning  to  be 
grown  by  many  exhiliitors,  was  to  be  met  with  in 
only  two  fewer  stands  than  Mrs.  .John  Laing, 
which  has  been  in  general  cultivation  for  the  last 
tea  years." 

For  a  new  variety  introduced  in  1890,  which  for 
the  first  time  appears  in  the  table  in  1901,  should 
then  occupy  at  a  bound  the  second  place  is 
absolutelj'  a  record,  and  one  on  which  the  raisers, 
Messrs.  Dickson  and  Sons,  are  heartily  to  be  con- 
gratulated. Whde  referring  to  them  one  may  nete 
that  for  "the  third  year  in  succession  all  the 
Roses  in  the  table  of  H.P.'s  and  H.T.'s  which  are 
five  or  less  years  old — that  is  to  say,  the  newer 
Roses — are  of  British  origin,  and  raised  exclusively 
by  this  firm,  Messrs.  A.  Dickson  and  Sons, 
of  Newlownards,  Ireland,"  a  fine  and  unique 
record. 

Among  established  varieties  which  were  staged 
less  frequently  last  year  at  the  Temple  than  at 
anj'  other  previous  metropolitan  exhiliition  of  the 
National  Rose  Society  since  the3'  were  first  gene- 
rally shown  by  exhibitors,  are  such  well  known 
varieties  as  "  Caroline  Testout,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant, 
Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman-Crawfofd,  Marquise  Litta, 
Suzanne  M.  Rodocanachi,  Captain  Hayward,  and 
Helen  Keller,"  while  Marie  Baumann  has  only  once 
before  appeared  on  as  few  stands.  This  no  doubt 
in  some  cases  is  largely  accounted  for  by  the  nature 
of  the  season. 

"On  the  other  hand.  Her  Majesty  (very  appro- 
priately, considering  the  visit  paid  to  the  show 
last  year  by  the  society's  patroness.  Her  Majesty 
the  Queen)  was  staged  no  fewer  than  forty-six 
times,  or  a  greater  number  than  any  other  Rose  in 
the  exhibition,  except  Maman  Cochet.  It  was 
also  a  record  year  for  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria 
and  Comte  de  Raimbaud.  Marchioness  of  London- 
deiry  and  Duke  of  Teck  were  also  exceptionally 
well  represented.  That  the  past  Rose  season  was 
an  unusually  early  one  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
such  late  flowering  varieties  as  Her  Majesty  and 
Marchioness  of  Londonderry  were  so  numerously 
staged." 

Mr.  Mawley  concludes  his  remarks  on  this 
section  of  the  analysis  as  follows  : — 

"  The  progress  that  is  being  made  in  this  section 


is  shown  in  two  ways  :  (1)  By  the  smaller  records 
in  recent  years  made  by  such  well  established 
favourites  as  Marie  Baumann,  Charles  Lefebvre, 
Etienne  Levet,  and  Merveille  de  Lyon  ;  (-i)  By 
the  high  positions  taken  by  the  comparatively 
new  varieties.  For  instance,  the  average  age  of 
the  first  twelve  Roses  in  the  table  five  3^ears  ago 
was  twenty-four  years,  whereas  in  the  present 
analysis  the  leading  twelve  sorts  only  average 
fourteen  years.  Another  striking  feature  is  the 
prominent  position  taken  by  that  comparatively 
new  race,  the  Hybrid  Teas,  six  of  the  first  twelve 
Roses  on  the  list  belonging  to  that  now  popular 
section.  Taking  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals  alone, 
the  advance  is  by  no  means  as  encouraging.  This 
is,  I  think,  to  be  regretted,  for  after  all  there  are 
no  crimson  Roses  in  any  other  section  which  can 
for  a  moment  be  placed  on  the  same  level  with 
such  grand  creations  as  A.  K.  Williams,  Suzanne 
M.  Rodocanachi,  Alfred  Colomb,  Horace  Vernet, 
Charles  Lefebvre,  Victor  Hugo,  and  the  like. 
Then,  again,  such  pinks  as  Mrs.  John  Laing,  Mrs. 
R.  G.  Sharman-Crawford,  and  Mme.  Gabriel 
Luizet  are  still  unsurpassed  in  their  difi'erent 
shades." 

Turning  now  to  the  table  of  Teas  and  Noisettes, 
of  which  I  only  here  give  the  first  twenty-five  names 
(the  whole  table  contains  thirty  -  two  varieties), 
it  may  be  mentioned  in  passing  that  the  hot  and  dry 
weather  of  the  past  summer,  which  proved  so 
trying  to  many  of  the  H.P.'s  and  H.T.'s,  appeared 
to  be  rather  welcomed  than  otherwise  by  the  Teas. 


At  all  events,  the  quality  of  the  latter  at  the 
Temple  Rose  show  was  much  in  advance  of  that 
shown  in  the  classes  devoted  more  particularly'  to 
Hybrid  Perpetuals  and  Hybrid  Teas.  "In  glancing 
at  the  table  it  will  be  noticed  that  Catherine 
Merraet  and  its  white  sport.  The  Bride,  no  longer 
head  the  list,  and  that  the  places  they  have 
occupied  for  so  many  years  past  have  been  taken 
by  iVIaman  Cochet  and  its  white  sport,  White 
Maman  Cochet.  At  the  last  exhibition  The  Bride 
was  staged  an  average  number  of  times,  but  not  so 
Catherine  Mermet,  which  only  once  before  in  the 
last  fifteen  years  has  been  as  poorly  represented. 
Among  other  sorts  which  were  to  be  found  in  an 
exceptionally  small  number  of  stands  last  year 
were  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince,  Souvenir  d'un  Ami, 
Marie  Van  Houtte,  Hon.  Edith  Gifford,  and  Anna 
Olivier,  which  have  never  before  been  as  seldom 
staged,  while  Mme.  Hoste  and  Niphetos  have  only 
once  before  appeared  in  as  few  boxes.  On  the 
other  hand,  Comtesse  de  Nadaillac  and  Innocente 
Pirola  have  seldom  before  in  the  same  fifteen  years 
been  as  numerously  represented." 

"  The  present  year  (1901)  has  been  described  as  a 
'Maman  Cochet  year.'  Be  that  as  it  may,  the 
record  of  that  splendid  variety  at  the  last  metro- 
politan exhibition  of  the  National  Rose  Society 
has  never  before  been  even  approached  by  any 
other  Rose  whatever.  That  any  variety  should 
appear  in  more  than  sixt}'  different  stands  is  a 
feat  I  should  have  regarded  only  last  year  as 
almost  an  impossibility.  Considering  the  ages  of 
the  two  varieties,  Maman  Cochet  and  White 
Maman  Cochet — the  one  eight  and  the  other  four 
years  old — the  performance  of  the  latter  is  ec|ually, 
if  not  still  more,  surprising.  That  any  new  Tea 
should  four  years  after  its  introduction  succeed  in 
rising  to  the  second  place  on  the  list,  as  White 
Jlaman  Cochet  did  last  year,  appears  almost 
incredible.  With  these  two  varieties  we  enter 
upon  a  new  type  of  Tea  Rose,  the  want  of  which 
has  evidently  been  long  felt— a  type  in  which,  not 
only  is  the  plant  more  vigorous,  but  the  flowers 
larger  than  in  the  ordinary  run  of  exhibition  Roses 
in  this  section. 

"  The  newer  Teas — those  which  are  six  or  less 
years  old — next  demand  our  attention.  In  the 
present  analysis,  although  only  three  in  number, 
they  arc  all  of  exceptional  merit.  Muriel 
(irahame,  a  pale  cream  member  of  the  Catherine 
Mermet  family,  was  sent  out  in  1896,  and  since 
last  year  has  risen  from  No.  17  to  No.  11.  White 
Maman  Cochet  is  a  superb  white  version  of  Maman 
Cochet,  and  was  first  distributed  in  1897.  Last 
3'ear  it  stood  at  No.  "23,  and  now  occupies  the 
second  place  in  the  table,  and  it  requires  no  great 
foresight  to  predict  that  it  will  shortly  be  at  the 
top  of  the  list.  The  other  new  variety  is 
Mrs.  Etlward  Mawley,  which  both  in  form  and 
tint  is  quite  distinct  from  all  the  other  pink  Tea 
Roses.     Since  last  j'car  it  has  risen  from  No.  23  to 


TEAS    AND    NOISETTES. 


;a 

.S5; 

.s 

Is 

Slioum 
in  Pro 
to 
Am 

1  . 

47-7 

61      . 

*2 

43-0 

43     . 

3   . 

39-5 

39     . 

4   . 

.    38-5 

33     . 

S   . 

.    33-8 

40     . 

6   . 

.    32-9 

40     . 

7 

.    28-9 

22 

8   . 

.    28-5 

31     . 

9   . 

.    2S-3 

24     . 

10 

.    26  5 

20     . 

11 

.    25-5 

i'7 

12   . 

.    24-9 

18     . 

13   . 

.    23-4 

23     . 

14   . 

.    22 -S 

16     . 

16 

.    22-0 

22 

16   . 

.    2U-0 

26     . 

17   . 

.    20-3 

18     . 

IS   . 

.    20-2 

18     . 

19   , 

.    19-8 

8     . 

20 

.    16'4 

10     . 

21    . 

.    15-4 

5     . 

22   . 

.    15-3 

15     . 

23   . 

.    13-0 

12     . 

24   . 

.    12-9 

12     . 

26   . 

.    12-5 

0     . 

Nama. 


Aliiiiian  Cocliet 1893 

White  Maiuan  GucheL     1SJ)7 

'I'he  Bride 1SS5 

Calheriiie  Mermet ISO!) 

t'onitesae  de  Nadaillac 1S71 

Iiiuocente  Pirula       lS7t) 

Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince        . .      . .  188!) 

Mme.  Cusin        188] 

Bridesmaid  1893 

Mme.  Hoste        1887 

Muriel  Grahame       189U 

Souvenir  dun  Ami 1840 

Souvenir  d'Elise  Vardun  ..  1854 

Mme.  de  Watteviile        1883 

Mrs.  Edward  Mawley      1899 

Mar6clial  Niel  (N.) 18G4 

Ernest  Metz        1S88 

Medea 1891 

Marie  Van  Houtte 1871 


JRaiser's  or 

Introducer's 

Name. 


Colour. 


Guchet Deep  tlesh,  suffused  light  rose 


t^jok 

May 

Guillot 

Guillot  ... 

Mme.  Ducher 

Prince      

Guillot      

May 

Guillot       

A.  DickSLMi  and  Suns 
Belot-Defuugfere  .. 

Marest     (Jream 

Guillot     Cream 


White,  tinged  lemon 

White,  tinged  lemon 

Light  rosy  tiesh 

Peach,  shaded  apricot 

Creamy  white 

Pure  white 

Violet  rose,  yellow  base 

Bright  pink 

Pale  lemon  jellow 

Pale  cream,  flushed  rose 

Pale  rose 

tinted  rose 
bordered  rose 


A.  Dickson  and  Sons  . .  Pink,  tinted  carmine 

Pradel      Deep  bright  golden  yellow 

Guillot     Salmon,  tinted  rose 

W.  Paul  and  Suns       . .  Lemon  yellow 

Ducher Lemon  yellow,  edged  rose 

Niphetos       ,      . .  184-1  . .     Bougere White 

Honourable  Edith  Gittord       .     . .  1682  . .     Guillot White,  centre  flesli 

Caroline  Ii.uster(N.)        187:i  ..     Pernet Lemon  yellow 

Cleopatra      1889  ..     Bennett Creamy  flesh,  shaded  ruse 

Princess  of  Wales      1882  -.     Bennett Rosy  yellow 

Anna  Olivier        1872  . .     Ducher Pale  buff,  flushed 

Two  new  varieties,  whose  position  is  dependent  on  the  record  for  the  1901  show  only. 


44 


THE  GARDEN. 


[January  18,  1902. 


No.  15,  and  when  more  generally  grown  is  certain 
shortly  to  occupy  a  still  higher  position." 

This  concludes  the  extracts  from  Mr.  Mawley's 
article.  In  addition  to  the  above  tables,  however, 
he  gives  us  an  analysis  (for  the  first  time)  of  the 
garden  and  decorative  Roses  shown  at  the  Temple, 
which  I  hope  to  allude  to  at  some  future  date. 

Taking  the  fifty  Roses  that  appear  in  the  above 
lists,  one  notices  that  a  new  Rose  has  to  be 
something  very  much  above  the  average  to  be 
found  worthy  of  exhibition  ;  the  standard  is  a  very 
high  one,  so  much  so  that  notwithstanding  the 
numbers  of  new  Roses  that  are  introduced  ever3' 
year  when  they  are  put  to  the  test  of  this 
analysis  what  do  we  find '!  (Take  the  last  six  years, 
that  is,  from  lsi).>  to  )i)01  both  inclusive.) 

Among  the  fifty  mentioned  there  is  not  a  single 
new  H.P.,  only  one  H.T.,  Bessie  Brown,  three 
Teas,  White  Maman  Cochet,  Muriel  Grahame,  and 
Mrs.  Edward  Mawley,  and  there  are  no  Noisettes 
— a  total  of  five,  not  a  new  Rotse  per  annum.  (It  is 
only  right  to  state  that,  taking  the  complete 
analysis,  these  figures  would  not  be  strictly 
accurate,  though  m}'  remarks  would  not  b';  affected 
by  so  doing. ) 

It  might  be  advanced  that  six  years  is  no  time 
for  a  good  Rose  to  come  to  the  front.  I  would  ask 
in  reply  when  were  Mrs.  Edward  Mawley  and 
Bessie  Brown  introduced  ? 

The  long-felt  want  amongst  exhibition  Roses  is 
the  introduction  of  one  or  two  new  dark  reds  or 
criniiions  of  the  colour  of,  say,  Victor  Hugo, 
the  growth  of  Mrs.  .John  Laing,  and  the  form 
of  Marquise  Litta. 

How  much  longer  shall  we  have  to  wait  for 
them  '! 

Braiil ii-ood,  S.  I)'.        Herbkrt  E.   Moi.vxeux. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


FRUIT     GARDEN. 

Strawberries  in  Pots. 

QUANTITIES  of  these  should,  as  they 
are  required,  be  top-dressed,  and 
placed  near  the  glass,  upon  thin 
turves  in  a  pit  or  house,  with  a 
iiight  temperature  of  .iO°,  and  5° 
or  so  more  by  day,  with  a  mode- 
ritel}'  luimid  atmosphere.  This  is 
best  promoted  by  a  bed  of  fermenting  leaves 
placed  beneath  the  shelves,  and,  provided  the 
stage  \i  not  a  fixture,  it  can  be  replaced  later 
by  a  temporary  trellis  for  supporting  mid-se;'.son 
or  late  crops  of  Melons,  for  which  the  leaves  will 
aS'ord  the  necessary  bottom  heat.  The  plants 
should  be  spraj-ed  overhead  with  tepid  soft  water 
eirly  in  the  afternoon  on  fine  days,  and  at  no  time 
allowed  to  suffer  from  want  of  water,  and  be 
occasionallj'  given  weak  liquid  manure.  Earlier 
plants  in  blossom  shciuld  have  a  comparatively  dry 
atmosphere,  a  night  temperature  of  about  .">.")'-',  with 
the  usual  rise  by  sun  heat,  while  a  moilerate 
motion  in  the  atmosphere  must  be  maintained,  and 
fertilisation  assisted  by  distributing  tlie  pollen 
with  a  camel  hair  brush  on  favourable  occasions 
when  it  is  perfectly  dry.  Once  sufficient  fruit  is 
properly  set  for  the  crop  the  late  flowers  should  be 
carefully  removed,  the  fruit  supported  and  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun,  and  more  free  treatment  with 
respect  both  to  heat  and  licjuid  manure,  or  top- 
dressings  of  suitable  artificial  manures  used. 
Diluted  liquids  from  stables  or  cow  byres  are  highlj' 
valuable  for  this  purpose,  but  for  obvious  reasons 
they  must  be  kept  from  coming  into  contact  with 
the  fruit. 

Peaches  and  Nectarines. 
Early  houses  that  were  properly  started  will 
have  made  good  progress,  and  to  prevent  an  early 
attack  of  aphis  the  trees  should  be  fumigatecl 
immediately  before  flowering.  During  the  flower- 
ing stage  a  night  temperature  of  ."lO'^  to  .5.1 ",  with  a 
rise  of  1(1''  or  l.)"-'  by  sun  heat  will  be  suitable, 
together  with  a  continuous  mild  circulatioji  of  air 
and  a  moderate  amount  of  atmospheric  moisture 
derived  by  damping  the  floors  early  in  the  after- 
noon on  fine  days.     These  are  indispensable  aids  to 


fertilisation,  and  should  be  assisted  by  the  pollen 
being  distributed  when  it  is  dry  by  the  help  of  a 
lightly  used  soft  brush.  As  soon  as  the  flowering 
period  is  past  resume  overhead  syringing,  but 
sufficiently  early  in  the  afternoon  to  enable  the 
trees  to  become  quite  dry  by  night.  Assuming  that 
successional  houses  have  received  correct  resting 
treatment  they  should  be  closed,  and  started  into 
growth  as  required,  in  a  steady  night  temperature 
of  4."i'^  to  ."lU",  and  a  rise  of  a  few  degrees  by  day. 
Syringe  the  trees  daily  in  favourable  weather,  but 
avoid  keeping  them  very  wet.  Admit  air  early  in 
order  to  regulate  the  temperature  on  bright  days, 
and  promote  safe  progress  by  early  closing. 

Figs. 

A  house  furnished  with  permanent  trees  may 
now  be  started  to  succeed  trees  in  pots.  Trees  of 
this  description  are  most  fruitful  and  more  easily 
managed  when  their  roots  are  confined  to  small 
borders,  otherwise  it  is  necessary  to  periodically 
root-prune  them,  and  this  is  best  done  in  the 
autumn.  Tlie  house  and  trees  having  been 
cleansed,  the  borders  should  be  top-dressed  with 
loam  freely  mixed  with  crushed  old  mortar.  A 
satisfactory  way  of  giving  Figs  a  start  is  to 
make  a  sweet  and  mild  hot- bed  of  tree  leaves  and 
stable  manure  under  the  trees.  This  promotes 
a  desirable  humid  atmosphere,  and  being  aided 
by  gentle  warmth  from  the  pipes,  together  with  a 
discreet  use  of  the  syringe,  foliage  and  fruit  are 
readily  developed.  Carefullj'  ventilate  the 
structure  to  prevent  weak  growth.  When  externa) 
conditions  are  favourable  disbud  early  superfluous 
shoots,  and  after  growth  becomes  active  keep  the 
borders  well  supplied  with  tepid  water.  Allow 
ample  space  for  tlie  leaves  to  fully  develop  and 
stop  side  shoots  beyond  the  fifth  or  sixth  leaf, 
with  a  view  to  getting  a  good  second  crop  of  fruit, 
which,  with  some  varieties,  notably  Negro  Largo, 
is  often  better  than  the  first. 

Thomas  Coomber. 

TIiK  Hendre  Garilenn,  Monmotith. 

JNDOOi;    (iARDEN. 

Zonal  Pelargoniums. 

Plants  having  finished  flowering  should  be 
cut  down  to  three  or  four  eyes.  Place  them 
in  a  heated  pit,  and  keep  rather  dry  until 
they  start  growing.  These  will  make  a  showy 
mixed  bed  in  the  flower  garden  in  summer.  Select 
the  strongest  and  most  vigorous  growths  as 
cuttings  for  piopagation.  Insert  them  singh'  in 
8-inch  pots  filled  with  a  mixture  of  loam,  leaf-soil, 
and  sand  ;  water  and  place  in  a  temperature  of 
about  50°,  where  they  will  soon  form  roots.  The 
plants  that  were  placed  in  their  flowering  pots  in 
the  autumn  may  now  be  brought  into  the  house. 
A  light  airy  house,  with  a  warm  and  rather  dry 
atmosphere,  is  the  structure  zouals  flourish  in. 
Those  in  3-inch  pots  may  be  potted  on  into  -ti-inch 
or  b-inch  pots,  well  drained,  using  a  compost  of 
fibrous  loam,  leaf-mould,  wood  ash,  and  sand, 
adding  bone-meal,  and  potting  rather  firmly. 
Zonals  do  best  in  small  pots,  and  require  plenty  of 
manure  water  when  they  become  pot-bound. 
Young  plants  should  be  stopped  several  times  to 
encourage  a  compact  habit,  always  pinching  to  a 
bud  that  will  produce  a  shoot. 

1'kopag.\ting  Tree  Carnations. 
Select  the  side  shoots,  insert  them  in  large 
3-inch  pots,  five  or  six  in  a  pot,  using  a  fine,  light, 
sandy  soil.  Plunge  in  a  bottom  heat  of  about  7.j^' 
or  SO"  in  a  propagating  frame.  Drac:enas  that 
have  lost  their  bottom  leaves  should  be  cut  down, 
inserting  the  tops  in  large  3-inch  pots  :  the  stems 
may  be  cut  into  lengths,  "2  inches  or  3  inches  long, 
and  placed  in  pans  filled  with  sand  and  cocoanut 
fibre.  Dieffenbachias  may  be  treated  in  the  same 
way.  Panax,  Ficus,  Pandanus,  &c. ,  ma}'  be  taken 
and  placed  in  the  same  propagating  frame  as  above. 

Hardy  and  Half-iiardy  Annuals  for  Pots. 

Gypsophila  elegans  alba  is  a  useful  pot  plant  for 
conservator}'  or  h<mse  decoration  ;  it  is  also  useful 
in  a  cut  state,  and  can  be  had  in  flower  every 
month  of  the  year  by  a  succession  of  sowings. 
Sow  the  seed  thinly  in  4i-inch  pots,  using  a  light 


porous  compost.  Thin  out  the  seedlings,  leaving 
five  in  a  pot,  and  always  keep  them  in  a  light,  cool 
position.     Stake  and  train  as  necessary. 

SCHIZANTHI'S. 

These  are  very  pretty  and  make  good  pot  plants, 
and  are  very  useful  for  vases  in  a  cut  state.  The 
varieties  of  S.  pinnatus  and  retusus  all  deserve  to 
be  grown  in  pots. 

CoREorsis. 

The  tinctoria  and  the  dwarf  varieties  are  also 
valuable  in  pots. 

Sweet  Peas. 

The  dwarf  Cupid  sorts  are  all  useful  for  house 
decoration,  especially  where  baskets  have  to  be 
filled  with  plants.  They  are  also  useful  for  border- 
ing the  stages  of  flowering  houses,  if  one  seed  is 
sown  in  a  3-inch  pot,  and  the  plant  is  allowed  to 
hang  down.  The  culture  advised  for  Gypsophila 
will  suit  all  the  above. 

Mignonette 
may  be  sown  in  4J-inch  pots,  using  a  compost  of 
fibrous   loam,  leaf-mould,  sand,  and  cow  manure, 
adding  a  little  lime  rubble,  placing  the  pots  in  a 
warm  pit. 

Seeds. 
The  following  may  be  sown  in  pots  and  pr.ns, 
filled  with  a  finel3'-sifted  mixture  of  loam,  leaf- 
mould,  and  sand: — Clerodendron  fallax,  Solanuni 
hybrids,  Streptocarpus  hybrid  var.,  Saintpaulia 
ionantha.  Begonias,  and  Grevillea  robusta. 

BonVAKDIAS 
that  have  done  flowering  and  had  a  rest  and 
hardened  off  should  be  cut  back,  placed  in  a 
temperature  of  60"  or  bo",  and  freely  syringed, 
which  will  cause  them  to  break,  and  produce  a 
good  supply  of  cuttings.  If  not  already  done, 
loam,  leaf-mould,  peat,  &c. ,  for  potting  should  be 
put  under  cover,  so  that  it  may  be  in  a  suitable 
condition  for  use.  Flower-pots  should  be  washed, 
sized,  and  stacked  away  ready  for  use.  Crocks 
should  be  washed,  and  sized  by  passirig  through 
three  different  sized  sieves.  -John  Fleming. 

We.rham  Park  G'ardtns,  Sloiiffh. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 
Annuals. 

Ouu  annual  flower  garden  is  so-called  becau.se   it 
is  maiidy  devoted  to  hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals. 
It  should  be  annual  in   every  sense  of  the  word, 
and  quite  a  contrast  to  the  formal  French  or  Dutch 
gardens,  which  are  always  permanent  features  in 
most  places,  because  of  their  containing  so  much       J 
topiary  work  and  statuar}'.     In  the  annual  flower      I 
garden    the   walks   should   be    turf,   with   no  per-       ' 
manent  trees  or  edgings,  thereby  facilitating  the 
changing  of  its  design  and  formation  every  year  to 
a  greater  or  lesser  extent  without  incurring  much 
labour  or  expense.      By  thus  altering  the   details 
of  this  garden  monoton_y  is  avoided,  and  the  inte- 
rest and  pleasure  renewed  and  increased  annually. 

The  remodelling  of  the  outline,  or  the  alteration 
of  beds  and  borders,  is  suitable  work  for  the 
present  moment,  and  should  be  got  on  with  at 
once,  not  only  to  give  time  for  the  soil  to  mellow 
and  settle  by  the  planting  and  sowing  season,  but 
also  to  have  it  off  one's  hands  before  spring  work 
is  in  full  swing.  In  the  formation  or  the  altering 
of  such  a  garden  a  simple  design  is  essential — 
intricate  geometrical  designed  plans  are  entirely 
out  of  place. 

The  beds  and  borders  should  be  made  with  the 
knowledge  of  what  is  going  to  be  their  contents, 
and  the  requirements  of  the  latter  studied  both  as 
to  size  and  shape  rather  than  to  the  carrying  out 
of  an  elaborately  conceived  plan,  which,  though  it 
may  happily  appeal  to  one  when  on  paper,  is  not 
adapted  for  the  plants  desired.  Small  beds  3  feet 
or  4  feet  through  are  the  best  for  the  dwarfer 
annuals,  especially  when  each  bed  is  devoted 
entirely  to  the  one  kind,  and  larger  beds  for  larger 
subjects,  so  that  the}'  be  not  cramped  or  their 
individual  beauty  impaired. 

( iood  long  wide  borders  might  be  made,  in  which 
scope  be  given  for  the  exercise  of  good  taste  in 
bringing  together  annuals  of  different  colours, 
shades  of  colour,  and  growth. 


January  IS,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


45 


Beds  for  Sweet  Peas,  either  circular  or  length- 
wise, should  be  remembered,  while  a  border 
should  be  formed  to  contain  anj' unknown  plant  on 
trial  or  novelties,  so  that  one  might  get  acquainted 
with  tlieir  wortii  and  usefulness  for  another  j'ear. 

Not  only  is  the  present  a  good  time  to  make 
alterations  in  the  annual  garden,  but  also  to 
consider  displays  and  effects  for  the  coming  season, 
and  the  opportunitj-  should  be  taken  to  inspect 
the  collection  of  seeds  saved  last  autumn,  and  note 
the  requirements  for  proposed  new  combinations, 
so  that,  if  necessary,  seeds  may  be  ordered  without 
loss  of  time.  There  is  a  wide  choice  of  beautiful 
hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals  to  select  from,  so 
that  it  is  not  difficult  to  make  a  feature  of  a 
few  particular  genera  every  year.     The 

Propagation  of  the  Pentstemon, 

which  personally  I  prefer  to  treat  as  an  annual 
by  sowing  every  year,  can  be  done  now.  Of 
course,  if  one  has  a  particular  variety'  which  it  is 
desired  to  perpetuate,  then  the  safest  method  is  to 
take  cuttings  in  the  autumn.  A  few  plants 
propagated  by  cuttings  in  conjunction  with  seed- 
lings are  an  advantage,  as  the  former  come  into 
bloom  a  little  sooner  than  those  raised  from  seed, 
so  that  the  season  of  this  tine  and  useful  flower  i.'* 
lengthened.  Although  it  is  not  possible  to  get 
seed  of  particular  varieties  true,  yet  when  good 
strains  of  particular  colours  can  be  obtained  there 
is  not  much  to  complain  of,  and  the  trouble  of 
housing  and  attending  to  them  during  the  winter 
months  is  obviated.  Sow  thinly-  in  boxes  of  light 
soil,  and  place  in  a  gentle  heat,  either  in  a  propa- 
gating house  or  on  the  hot-water  pipes  of  a  vinery 
that  has  just  been  started  into  growth.  They 
soon  germinate,  and  the  seedlings,  when  large 
enough,  should  be  pricked  off  into  fresh  boxes, 
giving  plenty  of  space  between  the  individual 
plants  to  allow  full  development.  Wlieii  ihe 
plants  become  stocky  in  growth  the  first  favour- 
able occasion  during  mild  weather  should  be  takiii 
advantage  of  to  remove  them  to  cool  frames,  where 
they  can  remain  until  the  beginning  of  April, 
when  they  can  be  planted  out  into  their  flowering 
quarters.  HnuH  A.  PKTTKiREw. 

Thi:  Gardiiiii,  St.  Factmit  Castle. 


THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 

Peas. 
The  old  plan  of  sowing  Peas  in  the  open  ground 
during  the  autumn  for  the  earliest  supplies  is  now 
little  practised,  as  more  satisfactory  results  are 
obtained  by  raising  them  under  glass  in  early 
spring  and  planting  them  out  when  they  have  been 
thoroughly  hardened  off  on  well-prepared  ground. 
People  have  their  own  way  of  bringing  them 
forward  by  starting  them  in  pots,  turves,  narrow 
wooden  troughs,  which  can  be  taken  to  pieces,  and 
shallow  wooden  boxes,  which  are  all  good  in  their 
way  ;  but  I  much  prefer  the  latter  plan,  being  the 
simplest  and  at  the  same  time  taking  up  much  less 
room,  a  matter  of  no  small  importance  in  many 
places  during  spring.  If  carefully  handled  when 
planting  no  perceptible  check  will  be  given.  We 
alwa3's  treat  our  first  three  sowings  in  this  way,  as 
by  so  doing  we  have  them  under  control  from  the 
ravages  of  vermin  such  as  rats,  mice,  birds,  and 
slugs,  and  they  are  easih-  protected  during  severe 
weather.  If  staked  and"  netted  at  the  same  time 
the  crop  is  practically  insured. 

The  first  sowing  should  be  made  at  once  in  cold 
frames  or  cool  houses.  Vast  strides  have  been 
made  in  improving  Peas  generally  during  the  last 
few  years,  many  of  the  best  wrinkled  kinds  being 
almost  as  early  as  the  old  white  seeded  varieties,  con- 
sequently few  of  the  latter  should  be  grown  where 
good  Peas  are  valued  as  they  are  in  many  places. 

Carter's  Early  Morn,  no  doubt  selected  from 
Gradus,  is  one  of  the  very  best  we  have  grown,  and 
has  never  failed  to  produce  splendid  crops  almost 
as  early  as  William  I.,  probably  the  best  of  the 
round  seeded  kinds. 

Broad  Beans 
should  be  treated  precisely  the  same,  and  I  venture 
to  say  much  better  crops  are  produced  in  this  way 
than  when  sown  in  the  open  ground.     The  large 


long  podded  varieties  are  quite  as  earlj'  and  far 
better  in  quality  than  the  old  Magazan. 

SOWINI:   OTHER  VeiJETAELES. 

Lettuce,  both  Cos  and  Cabbage,  Cauliflowers  of 
sorts,  Brussels  Sprouts,  and  Red  Cabbage  should 
be  sown  in  small  quantities  in  boxes  ;and  raised 
under  glass.  Prick  out  into  other  boxes  imme- 
diately the  young  seedlings  can  be  handled 
convenientl3'.  Avoid  forcing,  as  the  more  gradual 
the  growth  made  now  the  more  successful  will  the 
plants  finish  in  their  permanent  quarters. 

Cauliflowers,  Lettuce,  Parsley,  and  similar  kinds 
of  vegetables  which  are  being  wintered  in  cold 
frames  should  have  abundance  of  air  whenever  the 
weather  is  at  all  favourable.  Pick  over  and  remove 
all  decaying  leaves  and  rubbish  occasionally,  and  stir 
up  the  soil  between  the  plants  with  a  pointed  stick. 
Potatge-s. 

The  earliest  plantations  will  need  careful 
attention  at  this  season  in  airing  and  earthing  up, 
for  if  allowed  to  become  drawn  poor  returns  will 
be  the5  result.  Admit  air  whenever,' possible,  but 
in   the  opposite   direction    to  which'l  tlie''^wind    is 


espalier  in  the  open  ground,  and  is  best  worked 
on  the  Quince  stock.  This  Pear  is  in  season 
from  Christmas  to  March.      Owen  Thomas. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

FRUIT     AND     VEGETABLE 
DRYING. 

WE   liave  received  from   Mr.   .James 
Udale  his  report  on  experiments 
in    fruit   and    vegetable    drying 
at    the     Experimental    (iarden, 
Droitwich,  as   presented    to   the 
Agricultural   Sub-Committee   of 
the  Worcestershire  County  Council.     Mr.  Udale's 
remarks  are  well  worth  studying,  and  we  extract 
some  of  the  more  important  particulars  : — 

"I  have,  during  the  months  of  September  and 
October  of  the  current  year  (11101),  carried  out  cer- 
tain  experiments  in   drying  fruit,  vegetable^,  and 


r 


'VC^f^- 


PEAR   EEl-RRE   UANJOU   (SLIUUTLY  REDUCED). 
(From  a  .fruit  plwttigraplieil  in  the  Royal  HorilmUiiral  Society's  Gardens,  C/iisivick.) 


blowing.  Warm  the  soil  for  earthing  up  before 
using.  Make  further  plantings  about  once  every 
fortnight  for  successional  supplies.  All  tubers 
intended  for  outside  planting  should  be  laid  out  in 
shallow  trays  and  placed  in  the  light  so  that  the 
young  growth  made  is  stout  and  short  jointed. 

E.  Beckett. 
Aldenham  Ho-u.se  Gardeivi,  Elstree,  Herts. 


HARDY    FRUITS    IN    SEASON. 

Pear  Beurre  d'Axjou. 
This  is  a  useful,  hardy,  ])rolific,  and  handsome 
fruit,  and  is  well  worthy  of  inclusion  in  all 
good  collections  of  winter  Pears.  It  grows  to 
a  large  size,  is  even  and  regular  in  its  outline, 
which  is  roundish.  The  skin  is  a  beautiful 
yellow,  tinged  with  green  and  studded  thickly 
\vith  tiny  brown,  green,  and  crimson  dots.  Its 
flesh  is  white,  melting,  and  juicy,  of  a  very 
sweet  and  delicious  flavour,  with  a  distinct 
perfume.  The  tree  is  hardy  and  a  robust 
grower,   and   succeeds  well   as   a  pyramid   or 


herbs,  by  means  of  a  Number  0  (Dr.  Ryder's  Patent) 
Invicta  Evaporator,  supplied  by  Messrs.  Lumley 
and  Co.,  the  Minories,  London,  E.G.  Twenty 
tra3's  were  supplied  with  it,  and  the  catalogue 
price  is  £11  10s.,  plus  an  advance  of  10  per  cent. 
This  evaporator  is,  in  mj'  opinion,  too  small 
for  commercial  purposes  ;  because  it  requires  as 
much  attention- -and  in  respect  to  the  regulation 
of  temperature  more  care— as  one  with  three  or 
four  times  its  capacity.  It  is  also  very  wasteful 
with  fuel,  because  the  evaporator  consists  of  only 
one  short  flue  or  air-chamber,  through  which  the 
hot  a,ir  rushes  immediately  into  the  atmosphere 
and  is  lost.  For  those  two  reasons  the  cost  of 
labour  and  fuel  is  unnecessarily  great,  and  the 
cost  of  the  dried  article  much  higher  than  it  would 
be  with  an  evaporator  of  larger  capacity.  In  con- 
ducting the  experiments  I  sought  to  ascertain  : 
(1)  The  best  varieties  for  drying  for  commercial 
purposes  ;  (2)  the  average  time  required  to  dry 
the  respective  varieties  at  known  average  tempera- 
tures; (3)  the  average  loss  in  weight  between  the 
undried  and  the  dried  article ;  (4)  the  average 
consumption  of  fuel  during  twenty-four  hours  of 
continuous    work  ;   and    (o)    the   capacity   of    the 


46 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  18,-1902. 


evaporator  in  drying  a  sjiven  quantity  of  Damsons 
in  the  shortest  .space  of  time. 
Plums. 

Of  the  twelve  varieties  of  Plums  dried,  the 
following  gave  the  best  results  in  regard  to  the 
weight  of  the  dried  product  :  Czar  gave  83  per 
cent,  of  dried  fruit.  White  Perdrigon  27,  Victoria 
■_'.■>,  Monarch  -25,  Prince  Englebert  '2o,  Red  Magnum 
Boiuim  22,  Cox's  Emperor  i(\,  July  Green  Gage  20, 
and  Pershore  19.  The  beat  varieties  in  appearance 
are  :  Monarch,  Prince  Englebert,  Czar,  Victoria, 
and  White  Perdrigon,  in  the  order  named.  These 
are  followed  by  Red  Magnum  Bonum,  Cox's 
Emperor,  and  Pershore. 

The  average  time  and  temperature  re(iuire<l  by 
the  better  varieties  to  dry  was  as  follows  : 
-Monarch,  200"-230''  Fahr.,  1.5  hours;  Prince 
Englebert,  l(i0''-200>',  14;  Czar,  180°-210°,  12; 
White  Perdrigon,  190''-220",  16  ;  Victoria, 
l<)()°-220°,  IS:  Red  Magnum  Bonum,  180°-20(l^', 
12;  Cox's  Emperor,  220°-240'',  16;  Pershore, 
ll)(p*-'-22(^',  ]().  The  two  varieties  of  Damsons 
dried  nicely,  and  kept  their  coloiir  and  flavour. 

Farleigh  Prolific  yielded  33  per  cent,  of  dried 
fruit ;  Shropshire  Damson  2.5. 

The  average  time  required  by  the  Damsons  for 
drying  was  six  hours  tor  the  Shropshire  variety, 
and  seven  hours  for  Farleigh  Prolific,  the  tempera- 
ture in  each  case  being  Hill" -20(1'  Fahr. 

The  surplus  Plums  and  Damsons  have  been  sold 
wliolesale  and  realised  tlie  following  prices  :  Best 
Victoria  and  best  Perdrigon,  6d.  per  lb.  ;  second 
Victoria  and  second  Perdrigon,  4jd.  ;  Pershore, 
4id.  ;  Damsons,  4id. 

API'LES    AND    Pe.KRS. 

E\peiin)ents  were  made  in  drying  Apples  and 
Pears  :  tlie  former  whole  and  in  slices,  the  latter 
peeled  and  cored  and  cut  in  halves. 

Four  varieties  of  Apples  were  dried  whole,  viz., 
CelHiii,  New  Hawlhurnden,  Lane's  Prince  Albert, 
and  Red  Hawlhornden.  The  first  were  dried  as 
gathered  from  the  tree ;  the  three  latter  were 
small  fruit  only,  or  third  size.  The  results  were 
asfoilows;  8lb.  Fresh  fruit  of  Cellini  gave  lib.  12oz. 
dried  product ;  101b.  New  Hawthornden,  21b.  8oz.  ; 
lolb.  Lane's  Prince  Albert,  21b.  4oz.  ;  121b.  Red 
Hawthornden,  41b. 

The  small  fruit  dried  in  from  seven  to  twelve 
hours  ;  the  larger  fruit  of  Cellini  required  about 
eighteen  hours.  Those  dried  in  seven  hours  were 
subjected  to  a  temperature  of  220''-2j0"  Fahr.  ;  the 
others  were  in  a  temperature  of  180''-2O0°  Fahr. 

Ai'i'LE  Slices. 

Eight  varieties  of  Apples  were  peeled,  cored 
and  sliced.  They  were — Cellini,  Bramley's  Seed- 
ling, '  Ecklinville,  *Ringer,  Lord  Sutiield.  Lord 
Grosvenor,  "Lane's  Prince  Albert,  and  '*New 
Hawthornden.  Those  marked  with  an  asterisk 
were  small  Apples  only  :  the  others  were  large 
and  small  as  gathered  from  the  trees. 

The  best  results  were  obtained  from  Bramley's 
Seedling,  Lord  (Grosvenor,  Lord  Sutfield,  and 
Ringer  in  their  order  of  merit ;  followed  in  the 
same  order  by  Cellini,  New  Hawthornden,  Ecklin- 
ville, and  Lane's  Prince  Albert.  The  average 
result  obtained  from  the  eight  varieties  gave  looz. 
of  dried  product  from  111b.  of  fresh  fruit.  The 
weight  of  the  dried  article  is  misleading,  because, 
although  the  above  is  the  actual  weight  when  the 
slices,  &c.  are  removed  from  the  evaporator,  the 
dried  product  absorbs  atmospheric  moisture,  and 
in  a  few  days  the  weight  is  considerably  increased  ; 
but  I  have  not  taken  note  of  the  actual  increase, 
much  depending  upon  atmospheric  conditions. 

Peaks. 
Two  varieties  of  Pears  were  tried — Williams' 
Him  Chretien  and  Beurrc  d'Amanlis.  They  were 
peeled  by  the  peeling  machine,  and  cut  in  halves 
and  cored  by  hand.  They  dried  in  nine  liours  in  a 
temperature  of  20(l^'-24ir'.  Ten  pounds  of  fresh 
I'.eurrc  d'Amanlis  gave  21b.  of  dried  product ;  20lb. 
Williams'  Bon  Chretien,  31b.  lOoz. 

iloRELLO  Cherries. 

Six  pounds  of  Cherries  were  dried  and  gave 
lib.  14oz.  of  dried  fruit.  They  dried  in  twelve 
hours  in  a  temperature  of  160'^-200°. 


The  lessons  learned  from  the  experiments  are  : 
1.  Ripe  fruit  dries  more  quickly  than  unripe  fruit ; 
the  latter  being  several  hours  longer  in  the  process, 
and  therefore  more  costly  to  produce.  2.  Unripe 
fruit  loses  a  larger  percentage  in  weight  during  the 
drying  process,  and  is  not  a  good  colour  for  its 
kind  or  varietj'  when  dried.  3.  Large  fruit  of  the 
respective  kind  or  variety  produces  the  finest  dried 
article  of  the  same  variety  or  kind.  4.  Small 
specimens  of  the  same  variety  of  fruit  or  vegetables 
dry  more  ijuickly  than  larger  specimens.  .5.  Stone 
fruit,  such  as  Plums.  Cherries,  &c. ,  should  be 
exposed  to  a  low  temperature  at  first  for  several 
hours,  and  have  the  temperature  graduallj' increased 
as  evaporation  proceeds.  6.  Apples  and  vegetables 
may  be  exposed  at  once  to  a  moderately  high 
temperature,  and  finished  in  a  lower  temperature. 
7.  Stone  fruit  should  be  placed  on  the  traj'S  with 
the  Stalk  ends  uppermost.  8.  Fruit  of  equal  size 
should  be  placed  upon  the  same  tray,  and  not  small 
mixed  with  large  fruit.  9.  Apples  and  Pears 
should  be  immersed  in  a  weak  solution  of  salt 
and  water  immediatel}'  after  peeling  ;  one  ounce 
of  salt  to  three  quarts  of  water  ;  if  left  exposed 
to  the  air  after  being  peeled  they  quickly  go 
discoloured. 

(iENERAL    REMARKS. 

I  think  there  is  a  prospect  of  Plum-drying 
becoming  an  industry  in  this  country,  and  that  in 
years  of  great  abundance  of  fruit  and  of  very  low, 
or  no  prices,  the  fruit  may  be  dried  and  sold 
wholesale  at  remunerative  prices.  Clearly  we  have 
varieties  which  are  at  once  prolific  and  suitable  for 
drying,  notably  Monarch,  Czar,  Prince  Englebert, 
White  Perdrigon,  and  Victoria.  I  think  it  is 
tolerably  safe  to  say  that  each  of  the  varieties 
mentioned  is  worth,  for  drying  purposes,  from  Ss. 
per  bushel  upwards.  The  operation  of  preparing 
and  drying  fruit  and  vegetables  is  soon  learnt  by 
any  intelligent  man  or  woman  ;  and  I  think  it  is 
labour  well  adapted  for  women.  If  5s.  and  upwards 
can  be  obtained  per  cwl.  for  good  Apples,  I  think 
it  will  be  best  to  sell  them  in  the  undried  state. 
Perhaps  small  Apples  will  paj'  for  drying  ;  and 
they  might  also  be  remunerative  for  making  into 
jelly.  Although  we  have  made  jelly  from  the 
peelings  and  corings  of  Apples  and  Pears — that 
"nothing  be  wasted"— I  fear  that  the  balance 
would  be  on  the  wrong  side  the  ledger  if  a  strict 
debtor  and  creditor  account  had  been  kept. 

We  have  demonstrated  that  all  kinds  of  vege- 
tables may  be  dried  successfully — from  pot  herbs 
to  Cauliflowers — but  we  have  not  tested  them 
sufficiently  extensively  to  be  able  to  say  if  or  how 
far  they  could  be  dried  with  commercial  success. 

I  have  tested  the  eating  (jualities  of  the  second 
grade  Victoria  Plums  (I  thought  if  the  second 
grade  were  good  the  first  grade  would  be  better) 
after  gentle  stewing  for  thirty  minutes,  with  the 
addition  of  a  little  lump  sugar,  and  I  was  more 
than  satisfied  with  their  quality.  They  were  clean 
and  delicious,  and  superior  to  an}'  French  Plums  1 
have  bought  at  any  time  at  6d.  per  lb.  retail.  I 
selected  the  Victoria  for  the  test,  because  it  has 
been  condemned  as  unsuitable  for  drying  by  a 
certain  writer  for  the  horticultural  Press,  and 
because  I  know  the  better  varieties  can  take  care 
of  themselves. 

Although  it  may  be  admitted  that — so  far  as  our 
experiments  have  gone — the  best  varieties  for  drying 
at  home  are  Monarch,  Prince  Englebert,  and  Czar, 
and  that  they  now  realise  remunerative  prices 
when  sold  undried  ;  we  cannot  be  certain  that  they 
will  be  so  remunerative  five  years  hence,  or  even 
three  years  hence. 

Monarch  and  Czar  are  being  extensively  planted, 
and  we  may  have  such  abundant  supplies  of  those, 
and  of  others  as  good,  in  the  near  future,  that  the 
prices  realised  for  them  may  fall  to  a  comparatively 
unrenmnerative  amount  in  the  fresh  state  ;  then 
the  grower  may  dry  them  and  profit  thereby. 

Samples  of  French  and  Californian  dried  Plums 
have  been  bought  at  lOd.  and  lid.  per  lb.  respec- 
tively for  coniparison  with  the  home  grown  and 
home  dried  Plums,  and  the  following  are  the 
results :  Competent  judges  are  agreed  that  in 
appearance  the  Monarch  surpasses  the  French  at 
lOd.  per  lb.  ;  Prince  Englebert  at  6d.  ;  Victoria, 
White    Perdrigon,    and    Czar   surpasses  the  Cali- 


fornian at  6d. ,  and  that  their  c{uality  in  order  of 
merit  when  stewed  gently  for  thirty  minutes  is  as 
follows;  1,  White  Perdrigon;  2,  Victoria;  3, 
French  at  lOd.  per  lb.  ;  4,  Californian  at  6d. 
per  lb.  :  5,  French  at  (id.   per  lb.  ;  6,  Pershore. 

CACTI. 
I  WAS  pleased  to  see  in  The  Garden  .soms 
weeks  ago  somebody  saj'ing  a  good  word  for  what 
one  might  call  (in  a  sort  of  scholastic  sense)  the 
higher  Cacti.  These  are  among  my  earliest  loves, 
when  from  the  late  forties  to  the  early  sixties  my 
father  had  a  fine  collection.  They  were  lost  for  a 
time  when  I  could  not  be  enough  at  home  to  see  to 
them.  I  rejoice  to  have  got  together  a  goodly 
number  (some  2.50)  of  the  most  distinct  in  the 
groups  of  Echinocactus,  Echinopsis,  Echiiiocereus, 
Cereus,  Pilocereus,  Mamillaria,  and  a  selection  of 
the  most  distinguished  of  the  Opuntia^.  Many  of 
the  Echino  tj'pe,  especially  Echinopsis.  have  large 
and  lovely  flowers,  but  of  only  one  night's  dura- 
tion, though  they  will  make  it  two,  if  kept  from 
dayliglit,  and  two  and  a  half  if  cut  and  kept  in  a 
cupboard.  I  do  not  know  of  any  that  will  last  for 
a  week.  But  for  weeks  throughout  their  season 
they  will  give  a  charming  succession,  more  or  less 
abundant,  of  their  flowers  of  lovely  tenderness  of 
tints  and  textures. 

It  is  a  pity  to  overdraw  a  picture  or  overstate  a 
case,  and  the  true  Cacti,  if  grown  for  their 
flowers'  sake,  will  give  indeed  a  bright  but  a  brief 
and  intermittent  joy.  Hut  if  grown  for  the 
charm's  sake  of  their  wondrous  forms  and 
simplicity  of  life  they  will  be  an  exhaustless 
source  of  interest  and  delight. 

Where,  as  in  the  Mamillaria  group,  the  flowers 
are  often  small  and  not  showy,  the  plants  make 
up  for  this  by  pretty  coronals  of  coral  berries, 
which  last  a  long  time  if  there  are  no  mice  or  small 
red  ants  about.  In  the  Mamillaria  section,  as  in 
M.  elephanlidens  and  others,  the  flowers  are 
central  and  really  of  showy  size. 

F.  I).  Horner. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

( The  Editors  are  not   reipoiiriible   for  the  opittioni 
expressed  by  their  correspondents. ) 


FIBRE 


ROOTS    AND 
ROOTS. 


TAP 


[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR,  —  In  your  issue  of  December  21, 
"  R.  F.  H."  asks,  "Do  fibre  roots  and 
tap  roots  exercise  <lift'erent  functions  in 
feeding  the  tree'/"  By  "fibre  roots" 
your  correspondent  most  likely  refers  to 
roots  growing  near  the  surface  as  distin- 
guished from  those  that  strike  deeply  into  the 
subsoil.  Has  he  traced  the  latter  to  their  extremi- 
ties, and  does  he  fiuil  them  without  fibres  even- 
tually ■/  Probabl}'  not.  Is  it  not  a  question  of 
environment ':  The  surface  roots  find  themselves 
in  a  medium  containing  abundant  soluble  plant 
food,  and  consequentlj',  having  no  need  to  elongate, 
produce  abundant  fibres  to  absorb  the  nourishment 
so  close  to  them.  The  roots  growing  more  or  less 
vertically  soon  find  themselves  in  a  region  where 
the  mineral  plant  food  is  insoluble,  and  all  that  is 
lett  for  them  to  do  is  to  pump  up  water  with  any 
nitrates  it  may  contain.  Now  all  living  plants  are 
comjjosed  mainly  of  water,  and  as  all  plant  ftiod 
obtained  by  the  roots  must  be  in  solution,  we  may 
assume  that  the  functions  are  the  same  in  all  roots, 
viz.,  absorption  of  liquid,  but  the  result  to  the 
plant  is  very  ditl'erent  —  in  one  case  the  water 
absorbed  is  rich  in  food  constituents,  while  in  the 
other  it  is  not. 

Blossoms  and  fruit  require  something  more  than 
water  to  bring  them  to  perfection,  and  the  micro- 
scope reveals  to  us  that  next  year's  crop  is  practi- 
cal!}' stored  up  in  embryo  in  the  well-ripened  buds 
matured  this  season,  and  in  practice  we  find  that 
by  cutting  off  those  roots  which  can  supply  little 
else  than  water  we  secure  stronger  surface  roots, 
richer  sap,  and  consequently  more  abundant  crops 


January  18,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


47 


of  fruit.  "  Poor  food,  poor  work,"  is  as  true  with 
plants  as  with  animals. 

With  reference  to  the  question  of  pruning  newlj' 
planted  fruit  trees,  many  years  of  observation  and 
experiment  lead  me  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is 
better  to  prune,  for  the  simple  reason  that  just  at 
the  time  when  the  young  trees  are  beginning  to 
grow  in  the  spring  we  often  get  five  or  six  weeks' 
rainless  weather  with  drying  winds,  and  the  young 
roots  are  unable  to  obtain  suthcient  moisture  to 
supplj'  the  demands  of  an  unpruned  top. 

By  liberal  thorough  drenchings  of  water  at  the 
right  time  an  unpruned  tree  is  able  to  grow  right 
away  as  well  as  a  pruned  one  not  watered.  It  is 
cheaper  to  prune  the  trees  than  to  water  them. 
With  large  trees  the  watering  is  absolutely 
necessary.  Practice  with  Science. 

BENTHAMIA  FKAGIFEEA. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 
yiR, — This  beautiful  flowering  tree,  which,  on 
account  of  the  crimson  fruits  that  follow  its 
blossoms,  shares  with  Arbutus  Unedo  the  title  of 
Strawberry  Tree,  is  described  by  "H."  (page  344, 
vol.  Ix.)  as  being  rarely  met  with  in  gardens. 
This  is  certainly  not  the  case  in  southern  Cornwall, 
where  it  is  largely  grown  and  planted  out  in 
woods  as  well  as  in  the  garden  proper.  There 
trees  are  to  be  found  40  feet  and  more  in  height, 
and  numberless  seedlings  are  annually  raised,  since 
the  seeds  scarcely  ever  fail  to  germinate.  The 
Benthamia,  which,  as  your  correspondent  notes, 
is  now  known  as  Cornus  capitata,  was  introduced 
from  Nepaul  in  1825,  and  is  therefore  too  tender 
for  any  but  the  most  favoured  districts  of  the 
Bri'ish  Isles.  It  is  seen  to  best  advantage  when 
growing  in  front  of  tall  trees,  whose  verdant 
foliage  throws  into  high  relief  its  cloud  of  pale 
sulphur  when  covered  in  early  summer  with 
countless  widespread  blossoms.  It  is  almost 
equally  decorative  in  late  autumn,  when  its  fruits, 
some  of  them  1  inch  in  diameter,  have  assumed 
their  crimson  hue,  but  in  many  places  these  are 
cleared  off  by  the  birds  as  soon  as  they  commence 
to  change  colour.  S.  W.  Fitzherbert. 

CARPENTERIA  CALIFORNICA. 

[To    THE    Editor    of    "  The    Garden."] 

Sir, — Some  months  ago  two  notices  of  this  lovely 
flowering  shrub  appeared  in  the  columne  of  The 
Garden.  One  gave  proof  that  it  possesses  greater 
hardiness  than  it  is  generally  credited  with,  for  it 
is  spoken  of  as  having  withstood  20°  of  frost  in 
Oxfordshire  without  protection  and  as  having 
como  through  the  ordeal  unscathed.  I  remember 
that  in  the  hard  winter  of  1895  the  late  Rev.  H. 
Ewbank's  plant  at  Ryde  was  badly  injured,  but 
some  specimens  that  I  knew  of  in  South  Devon 
escaped  damage.  The  largest  example  that  I  have 
■  seen  is  growing  near  the  banks  of  the  River  Teign, 
and  is  about  8  feet  in  height  and  as  much  in 
diameter.  It  is  a  pretty  picture  when  bearing  its 
fragrant,  white  flowers  with  their  golden  anthers, 
which  remind  one  at  first  sight  of  Japanese 
Anemones,  and  remains  in  beauty  for  a  consider- 
able time.  The  chief  drawback  to  the  Carpenteria 
is  that  its  foliage,  when  perfect  of  a  beautiful  light 
green,  is  often  brown  and  shrivelled.  This,  I 
believe,  is  universally  attributed  to  the  effects  of 
the  frost,  but  I  confess  to  having  my  doubts  as  to 
the  correctness  of  this  diagnosis.  In  the  south- 
west the  Carpenteria  is  a  comparatively  common 
plant,  and  one  can  generally  reckon  on  finding 
specimens  in  every  fairly  large  garden  visited.  I 
have  made  particular  note  of  the  condition  of 
plants  that  I  have  met  with,  and  have  found  the 
foliage  vary  from  almost  absolute  perfection  to  a 
collection  of  brown  and  withered  leaves,  among 
which  hardly  a  trace  of  green  was  to  be  seen.  If 
frost  and  cold  winds  are  the  cause  of  the  unsightly 
appearance  presented  by  the  Carpenterias  last 
described,  it  would  be  supposed  that  those  growing 
in  open  positions  would  be  more  affected  than 
those  planted  in  sheltered  nooks,  but  I  have  on 
more  than  one  occasion  noticed  the  reverse  to  be 
the  case,  namely,  that  in  the  same  garden  the 
specimens  most  affected  were  growing  in  a  particu- 


larl}'  sheltered  site,  where  every  harsh  wind  was 
cut  off  by  protecting  evergreens,  and  where  the 
danger  from  frost  was  slight,  while  others  standing 
in  comparatively  exposed  positions  showed  but 
little  sign  of  browning  in  the  leafage.  Only  about 
a  month  ago  I  saw  in  the  gardens  at  Saltram  three 
shrubs  of  Carpenteria,  and  in  this  case  again  the 
one  which  had  the  least  protection  from  surround- 
ing subjects  showed  the  best  foliage.  I  am  in 
every  instance  writing  of  si^ecimens  grown  in  bush 
form  and  not  against  walls.  I  am  quite  ready  to 
allow  that  in  some,  perhaps  many,  cases  sheltered 
jilants  may  be  in  better  condition  than  those  not 
so  favoured  as  regards  their  site,  but  the  instances 
to  the  contrary  that  I  have  quoted  liave  led  me  to 
wonder  if  the  disfigurement  may  not  be  due  to 
some  fungoid  growth  and  not  to  the  effects  of  frost 
and  cold  winds.  S.  W.  Fitzherbert. 


THE  APPLE  TRADE  OF  NOVA 

SCOTIA. 

From  small  beginnings  in  the  early  sixr,ies,  the 
Nova  Scotia  Apple  trade  has  grown  to  be  an 
important  item  in  the  exports  of  this  province. 

In  1880  the  total  export  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
England  had  not  reached  25,000  barrels,  but  four 
years  later  records  show  the  export  to  have  doubled, 
and  in  1886  we  exported  121,000  barrels.  The 
following  season,  however,  the  croD  was  small, 
and  the  export  dropped  to  57,000.  The  next  five 
years  the  variation  in  quantity  was  not  so  great, 
averaging  about  10.3,000  per  season,  and  not 
exceeding  120,000  any  season. 

The  season  of  1893  again  gave  us  a  small  crop. 
Exports  fell  to  36,000  barrels,  the  lowest  record 
since  1883,  but  the  export  in  1894  reached  252,000, 
while  the  following  season  footed  up  140,000  only. 

The  crop  of  1896  broke  the  record  with  an  export 
of  369,000  barrels,  which  figures  have  not  since 
been  reached.  Following  the  heavy  crop  of  1896 
there  was  a  very  marked  falling  oft',  the  export 
being  less  than  82,000  barrels.  In  1898  we  shipped 
about  203,000,  followed  by  296,000  in  1899  and 
210,000  in  1900. 

Of  the  present  season's  crop  there  have  been  so 
far  shipped  about  125,000,  with  a  prospect  of  there 
being  nearly  as  many  more  to  go  before  the  season 
closes.— C.  R.  H.  Starr,  in  The  Maritime  Home- 
stead (of  Canada),  December,  1901. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


Eryngicm  tripartitum. 
A  specimen  of  a  small  -  flowered  Eryngium 
reached  us  last  September  with  the  name  E.  tri- 
partitum (postmark  Wrexham),  but  there  was 
nothing  to  show  who  was  the  sender.  It  was  put 
aside  awaiting  some  communication,  which,  how- 
ever, did  not  reach  us. 

TtlSSILAGO  traorans. 
I  am  sending  for  your  table  flowers  of  this  sweet 
smelling  Winter  Heliotrope.  I  often  wonder  why 
one  so  seldom  meets  with  ihi?  useful  and  interest- 
ing plant.  It  is  one  of  the  Coltsfoot  family,  and 
can  be  grown  in  almost  anj'  out  of  the  way  place. 
Many  of  our  gardens  would  be  the  richer' if  only 
a  corner  were  given  up  to  its  culture.  At  this 
time  of  the  year  it  is  very  ditficult,  and  in  many 
instances  impossible,  to  find  a  plant  in  flower  with 
a  sweet  smell.  This  plant  will  do  well  under  trees 
on  the  lawn  or  in  front  of  shrubbery  borders,  and 
I  have  found  it  doing  well  under  old  Apple  trees 
in  neglected  orchards.  Given  a  tolerably  good  soil 
it  is  one  of  those  plants  that  will  hold  its  own  under 
almost  any  circumstances.  From  some  reason  or 
other  this  season  the  flower-stalks  are  longer  than 
usual.  This  makes  them  useful  for  decorative 
purposes,  the  foliage  is  pretty,  and  makes  a  neat 
carpeting  under  trees  at  this  dull  season  of  the  year. 
I  have  also  another  variety,  T.  alba,  with  white 
flowers  ;  this  is  not  so  strongly  scented,  and  might 
be  preferred  by  some.  It  also  grows  very  freely 
under  the  same  treatment  as  T.  fragrans.  This 
plant  will  force   very  readily  if   not  subjected  to 


too  much  heat,  and  grown  in  5-inch  or  6-inch  pots 
it  makes  a  very  useful  plant  for  almost  any  pur- 
pose.—T.  B.  Field,  AshinelUhorpe  Hall,  Norwich. 
With  this  came  a  large  bunch  of  the  type,  the 
nutty-perfumed  Tussilago  fragrans,  with  its  quiet 
greyish  colouring  and  rich  scent.  A  bunch  of  spikes 
and  leaves  is  a  delightful  winter  posy. 

Chimonan'thus  fragrans. 
This   comes    from    Mr.    Bowerman,    The    Close 
Gardens,  Salisbury,  and  seed  pods  too,  one  of  which 


(a)  pod.     (b)  seed. 

we  had  drawn  to  show  its  wonderfully  distinct 
character  ;  it  is  drawn  life-size.  The  fragrance 
of  "Winter  Sweet"  flowers  is  peculiarly  unlike 
that  of  any  other  flower  ;  it  is  a  rich,  satisfj'ing, 
and  yet  delicate  perfume. 

Chrysanthemums  at  Christmas. 
"At  a  time  when  the  majority  of  Chrysanthe- 
mums are  long  past  their  best  the  few  recognised 
late-flowering  kinds  are  enhanced  in  value.  The 
spidery  varieties  have  much  to  commend  them  on 
this  account,  their  display  being  so  different  to 
most  others,  and  tlieir  curious  and  fantastic  forms 
are  not  the  least  of  their  charms.  The  rigid 
disbudding  which  so  many  practice  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  this  type  of  the  flower  fails  to  make  a  display 
nearly  so  interesting  and  pleasing  as  when  the 
plants  are  only  partially  disbudded  or  not  dis- 
budded at  all.  For  use  in  a  cut  state  the  naturally- 
grown  sprays  may  be  gathered  with  a  splendid 
length  of  stalk,  and  the  small  flowers  of  Mrs. 
James  Carter,  of  the  thread-petalled  type,  used  in 
conjunction  with  other  larger  blooms,  such  as 
King  of  Plumes  and  Cheveux  d'Or,  are  very  effec- 
tive when  arrange<l  in  a  large  vase  for  hall  or 
drawing-room  decoration.  For  the  numerous 
smaller  vases  and  other  receptacles  a  bunch  of 
blossoms  of  one  variety  arranged  lightly,  and  in 
such  a  way  that  each  bloom  renders  an  account  of 
itself,  will  make  a  pretty  little  decoration.  The 
two  photographs  I  send  j'ou  represent  two  sorts 
which  were  gathered  and  arranged  on  Christmas 
Eve.     The  fluff^'-looking  blossoms  with  threadlike 


chrysanthemum  white  thread. 


48 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  18,  1902. 


florets  are  White  Thread  (a  free-flowering  white 
sort  having  a  good  dwaif  sturdj'  habit)  and  the 
Pompon  sort  is  Snowdrop,  one  of  the  best  of  the 
miniature  -  flowered  Pompons,  in  this  instance 
grown  naturally,  i.i-  ,  allowed  to  develop  all  its 
buds.  The  plants  were  kept  in  a  cold  house  for 
six  weeks.  1  send  you  a  few  flowers  for  your  table. " 
— D.  B.  Crane. 

Charming  varieties.    We  are  pleased  to  illustrate 
one,  i.e..  White  'Ihreail. 

COLEUS  THYBSOIDES. 
Mr.  John  R.  Box,  nurseryman,  West  Wickham, 
Kent,  sends  several  inflorescences  of  this  beautiful 
winter-flowering  plant  ;  the  flowers  are  borne  in 
erect  racemes  and  are  of  a  deep  blue  colour.  Mr. 
Box  mentions  that  he  grows  this  plant  largely,  and 
finds  that  the  flower,  wlien  cut,  remains  fresh  for  a 
long  time  if  placed  in  water. 


"Italian  Deli<:ht." 

I  send  you  herewith  a  sample  of  coto'jimtit  (pro- 
nounced cototiiata)  made  in  Rome  from  Quinces, 
Cotogno  being  the  Italian  name  for  a  Quince  tree. 
It  is  delicious.  I  have  tried  several  confectioners, 
suggesting  to  them  to  get  up  a  factor}'  for  making 
this  "Italian  delight."  I  have  no  doubt  that  it 
would  sell  easily  all  over  the  United  Kingdom. 
One  said  there  was  no  demand  for  it  ;  as  if  there 
could  be  a  demand  for  a  thing  nobody  knows  any- 
thing about !  Another  said  that  he  could  not  get 
enough  Quinces  even  for  his  marmalade.  I  tried 
this,  and  found  it  consisted  of  hard  chips — so 
different  from  the  cotoyiiala  1  send  you.  There 
seems  to  be  two  things  to  be  done,  (a)  To  plant 
Quince  trees  extensively — they  will  thrive  on  damp 
soil,  (h)  To  manufacture  this  "Italian  delight," 
and  sell  it  all  over  the  United  Kingdom  through 
grocers  and  confectioners  When  once  tasted 
people  will  purchase  it  again  and  again.  If  this 
idea  were  suggested  to  Sir  Thomas  Lipton,  or  the 
company  which  bears  his  name,  the  orchards  and 
the  factory  might  be  realised  with  profit  to  both 
and  with  delight  to  the  people.  I  got  a  kilo  of  it 
from  Rome  ;  with  postage  and  payment  it  came  to 
8s.  for  21b.  1  fancy  it  could  be  easily  made  in  this 
country  for  -is.  per  lb.  and  leave  a  good  profit.  The 
maker  is  G.  Voarino,  Via  delle  iluratte  Nos.  14  and 
15,  A  presso  Foutana  di  Trevi,  Rome. 

E.  BONATIA,  M.D. 

The  cotogiinta  is  what  an  English  housewife 
would  call  Q>uince  cheese,  but  this  Roman  sample 
is  extremely  refined  and  delicate.  What  is  made 
occasionally  in  England,  and  more  commonly  in 
Germany,  is  rougher  and  brownish  in  colour, 
though  an  excellent  thing  of  the  stiff  jam  order, 
and  alwaj's  liked  at  dessert.  This  Roman  cotof/nala 
of  the  finest  kind  has  less  of  the  strong  Quince 
flavour,  is  without  the  dark  QKiince  colour,  and  has 
an  added  rose  flavour  and  colouring.  A  confectioner 
would  probably  make  it  with  the  Quince  juice  only, 
and  some  rice  flour  to  give  the  consistency.  This 
would  also  account  for  some  resemblance  in  the 
texture  to  the  well-known  Turkish  rahallakoum. 


The  Alcekian  Ikis. 

Mr.  Hartland,  of  Cork,  sends  a  boxful  of  Iris 
stylosa,  a  flow  er  of  beautiful  colouring  and  delicate 
fragrance.  The  buds,  cut  before  fuUj-  open, 
expand  well  in  water,  and  last  fresh  for  man_ydays. 
Man}'  are  the  gardens  in  these  isles  where  this 
sweet  winter  flower  may  be  grown.  It  is  not  at 
all  troublesome. 


OBITUARY. 


MR.  E.  J.  BEALE,  J. P.,  V  M.H. 

The  death  of  this  gentleman,  head  of  the  house 
of  Messrs.  James  Carter  and  Co.,  seed  merchants, 
took  place  on  the  8lh  inst.  in  London,  somewhat 
suddenly,  in  his  sixty-seventh  year.  Though  Mr. 
Beale  can  scarcely  be  said  to  be  prominently  known 
in  the  trade,  he  was  yet  an  important  personality 


in  London  commercial  circles,  and  especially  in  the 
seed  markets.  He  was  an  exceedingly  shrewd 
man  of  business,  and  under  his  management  the 
firm  of  which  he  was  the  head  had  grown  enor- 
mously in  extent  and  importance.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Middle- 
sex, and  a  few  years  ago  he  fought  two  contested 
political  elections  in  the  Liberal  interest  for  one  of 
the  divisions  of  St.  Pancras,  though  he  failed  to 
gain  a  seat.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
fortunes  of  the  party  he  supported,  and  was 
freijuently  at  gatherings  at  the  National  Liberal 
Club. 

Among  the  honours  he  had  gained  in  the  course 
of  his  business  life  was  the  distinction  of  the 
Merite  Agricole  from  the  French  (4overnment  for 
his  services  to  agriculture  ;  he  was  one  of  the  first 
sixty  selected  in  1897  as  recipients  of  the  Victorian 
iledal  of  Honour  from  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  for  services  to  horticulture  ;  he  was  also  a 
Fellow  of  the  Linnean  and  Royal  Horticultural 
Societies ;  a  member  of  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  of  England  ;  and  a  vice-president  of  the 
Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund. 

Entering  the  seed  business  of  James  Carter  when 
it  was  carried  on  in  some  old  premises  at  2.37, 
High  Holborn,  on  which  the  present  palatial  shop 
now  stands,  he  with  Messrs.  Ainsworth  and  White 
became  partners  in  the  business  on  the  death  of 
James  Carter.  Mr.  White  died  some  years  after- 
wards. 

In  course  of  time  Mr.  W.  H.  Dunnett,  a  seed 
grower  on  an  extensive  scale  at  Bedham,  in 
Essex,  was  taken  into  partnership,  and  the  business 
was  extensively  developed.  Mi.  Ainsworth 
retired  from  the  partnership,  though  it  is  said  he 
is  still  the  head  of  one  of  the  important  seed 
departments.  Mr.  Dunnett  pre-deceased  his 
partner  some  months  ago,  but  both  leave  sons  to 
carry  on  the  undertaking.  Jlr.  Beale  leaves  a 
widow  and  family.  R.  D. 

[We  deeply  regret  to  announce  that  the  senior 
partner  in  the  famous  firm  of  Jlessrs.  .James  Carter 
and  Co.  died  very  suddenly  on  Wednesday,  the 
Sth  inst.,  a  few  hours  before  we  went  to  press. 
Mr.  Beale  was  only  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  and 
it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  firm  owes  much 
of  its  present  prosperity  to  his  untiring  energy  and 
keen  business  capacity.  Known  to  few  outside  his 
immediate  circle,  he  pursued  a  cjuiet  and  important 
work  in  his  own  way,  but  those  to  whom  he  came 
into  contact  will  remember  him  as  a  man  of  power 
and  deep  knowledge  of  the  needs  of  the  business 
over  which  he  presided.  An  unobstrusive  but 
powerful  personality  in  the  horticultural  world 
has  been  removed  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Beale, 
whose  good  work  will  be  carried  on  by  Mr.  Gilbert 
Beale  and  Mr.  Dunnett,  now  responsible  for  the 
management.  Mr.  Beale  was  a  .Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  Middlesex,  a  Fellow  of  the  Linnean 
Society,  a  member  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  and  one  of  the  Victorian  Medallists  of 
Honour. — Ep.s.] 


The  introduction  of  Cannas  into  the  flower  garden  and 
such  plants  as  Acacia,  Eucalyptus,  \Vip:andia,  Xicotiana, 
Perilla,  the  variegated  Maize,  Hemp,  Cordylines,  Palms, 
Ricinus,  Erythrina  crista-galli,  and  Coleus  all  served  to 
change  in  a  marked  manner  the  style  of  the  beds  in  summer. 
Most  of  these  were  so  easy  to  raise  from  seed  in  a  little 
warmth  that  for  a  small  outlay  a  splendid  effect  could  be 
had. 

Again,  what  a  harvest  of  flower  and  fragrance  may  be 
obtained  from  the  forms  of  Stock,  the  Antirrhinum,  Zinnia, 
African  Marigold,  the  annual  Astei-,  ^■e^bena.  good  Celosia, 
Cockscomb,  Phlox  Drunimondi,  and  Mignonette.  Begonias, 
either  tuberous  or  flbrous-rooted  varieties,  are  valuable  in 
wet  seasons.  Amongst  the  best  and  most  easily  propagated 
plants  was  the  Viola,  which  might  be  used  as  an  edging  for 
the  groundwork  of  beds.  A  little  carpet  bedding  might  be 
used  in  large  places  with  effect,  not  keeping  them  down  flat 
as  in  the  older  days,  but  relieving  them  with  larger  succu- 
lents, Cordylines,  A'c.  The  subject  of  mixed  borders  was 
also  treated  upon. 

The  paper  was  favourably  received,  and  the  advice  given  in 
it  endorsed  by  some  of  the  members.  A  few  ((uestions  were 
asked,  amongst  them  one  on  the  uso  of  the  Sweet  Pea,  the 
beauty  of  which  in  its  present  state  the  lecturer  fully 
appreciated,  but  considered  them  rather  fleeting  for  a  dis- 
play. The  pei-fection  to  which  the  Pieony  in  single  and 
doulile  foini  had  attained,  its  usefuhies^s  in  the  garden,  and 
sweetness  in  a  cut  state  weiealso  discussed,  A  question  as 
to  how  the  fine  display  of  Carnations  in  the  London  parks 
was  obtained  was  said  to  be  due  to  early  layering.  In  some 
cases  old  plants  were  saved,  but  it  was  found  necessary  to 
pot  them  up  in  the  winter. 

\  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  Mr.  Moorman  for  his 
excellent  paper,  and  in  replying  to  this  he  expressed  the 
pleasure  it  gave  him  to  conie  to  them.  He  had  not  forgotten 
the  Gardeners"  Society,  to  which  he  belonged  in  Wimbledon 
some  years  ago,  and  to  the  influence  of  the  meetings  of  that 
society  he  attributed  some  of  the  success  he  obtained  now. 
The  rest  of  the  evening  was  devoted  to  a  discussion  of  the 
ability  of  plants  to  obtain  moisture  thiough  their  foliage, 
arising  out  of  a  paper  read  at  a  previous  meeting.  Two 
letters  on  the  subject— fiom  Profess'jr  Percevil,  of  \Vye 
College,  and  Mr.  .1.  AV right,  of  the  Surrey  County  Council — 
were  read,  and  an  interesting  discussion  followed.  The 
chairman  was  thanked  for  his  attendance,  and  in  reply 
stated  that  he  had  derived  great  pleasure  from  his  attend- 
ance and  regretted  he  had  been  debarred,  owing  to  so  many 
engagements,  from  being  with  them  before. 


SOCIETIES. 


WI.MBLEDON    GARDENERS'    SOCIETY. 

At  the  fortnightly  meeting,  held  on  >[onday,  the  6th  inst., 
the  chair  was  taken  hy  one  of  the  vice-presidents,  T.  C. 
Sunimeihays,  Esq.,  S.C.C,  and  a  paper  was  read  by  Mr. 
J.  M'.  Moorman,  the  snperintendent  of  Victoria  Park,  upon 
"  Variety  in  the  Flower  Garden." 

He  commented  upon  the  state  of  the  beds  of  the  flower 
gardens  of  a  few  years  back,  tilled  with  masses  of  yellow, 
scarlet,  pink,  and  other  colours,  and  repeated  with  but 
slight  variation  year  after  year,  when  the  first  frost  had 
cut  them  down  tiiey  were  removed,  the  beds  dug,  and  soil 
laid  up  roughly,  remaining  bare  for  six  or  seven  months. 
This  state  of  things  was  not  satisfying,  and  led  to  those  who 
wanted  more  pleasure  from  their  gardens  trying  to  remedy 
this.  The  use  of  a  number  of  the  smaller-growing  shrubs— 
Ketiuosporas,  Ivies,  Daphnes,  Euonyraus,  Ac— to  cover  the 
bare  ground  in  winter  was  spoken  of,  as  these  could  be 
n)v>ved  to  the  reserve  garden  in  summer.  A  few  early- 
rtowering  shrubs  should  be  included.  The  spring  bedding 
Aubrietias,  Myosotis,  Wallflowers,  Pansies,  Alyssum.  London 
Pride,  etc.  were  commended.  Again,  in  nooks  on  the  grass 
the  autumn-  Colchicum?,  the  yellow  Aconite,  Snow-^rops, 
Crocus,  and  Xaicissus  were  most  suitable.  Tuiips  and 
Hyacinths  for  massing,  Pansies.  and  Polyanthuses  all  assisted 
in  brightening  the  (lower  garden  in  early  spring. 


BECKEXHAM  HORTICTLTIRAL  SOCIETY. 

At  the  fo-tnightly  meeting  at  the  Church  House,  Mr.  H. 
Cannell,  sen.,  F.R'H.S.,  M.S.A..  lectured  on  the  "Canna." 
After  dealing  with  its  history,  the  lecturer  said  to  make  a 
good  start  plump  side  shoots  should  be  taken  from  well- 
rested  rhizomes  in  March  and  potted  in  small  pots,  placed 
in  heat,  and  as  soon  as  pots  were  tilled  with  roots  shifted 
into  ii-inch  pots,  using  rich  soil  sucli  as  would  grow  good 
Chrysanthemums.  Abundance  of  water  is  required  when 
growing  freely,  and  as  the  pots  get  full  of  roots  weak  liquid 
manure  should  be  given  twice  or  three  times  a  week,  shading 
from  bright  sunshine  when  under  glass.  At  Swanley  they  do 
not  syringe,  but  occasionally  sponge  the  leaves  to  keep  them 
fresh. 

Mr.  Lanford,  in  proposing  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks,  said 
he  had  known  Mr.  Cannell  for  thirty  years,  and  he  did 
not  seem  to  get  any  older.  Mr.  Burge,  in  seconding,  said 
Mr.  Cannell  was  an  example  to  young  gardeners,  he  having 
by  perseverance  and  pluck  raised  one  of  the  greatest  horti- 
cultural businesses  in  the  country.  A  very  tine  collection  of 
vegetables  and  fruit  from  Messrs.  Cannelfs  seed  farm  at 
Eynsford  was  exhibited  in  the  Libiary,  and  much  admired, 
the  Onions  being  wonderful  specimens. 


NATIONAL  AMATEUR  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION, 

On  Tuesday  evening,  the  7th  inst..  the  first  meeting  of  the 
new  session  was  held  at  Winchester  House,  Old  Broad  Street, 
E.C.,  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane  occupying  the  chair.  On  this  occasion 
the  popular  president,  Mr.  T.  W,  Sanders,  F.R.H.S.,  gave  a 
most  interesting  lecture  on  the  fascinating  subject  of 
"Gardens  of  Taste  and  Beauty,"  illustrating  his  remarks 
with  limelight  views  of  a  most  comprehensive  character. 
Mr.  Sanders,  in  his  opening  remarks,  was  careful  to  explain 
that  the  subject  he  proposed  to  deal  witli  was  a  very  large 
one,  necessitating  his  remarks  being  much  condensed  in 
order  to  come  within  the  limit  of  time  usually  occupied. 
Various  styles  of  gardening  were  illustrated  by  typical  views, 
among  them  being  the  Dutch  garden  in  its  formal  character, 
which  had  in  many  instances  been  reproduced  in  this 
country.  The  lecturer  especially  alluded  to  the  Box  edgings 
of  beds  and  borders  as  being  of  Dutch  origin,  Numerous 
illustrations  of  woodland  scenes  were  portrayed,  both  winter 
and  summer  effects.  The  gardens  of  some  of  the  stately 
homes  nf  Great  Britain  were  in  turn  dealt  with,  in  which 
pleasing  and  natural  ideas  were  contrasted  with  others  of 
formal  design.  Aquatics  and  water  gardens  appeared  to 
interest  the  audience  exceedingly,  sorae  of  the  views  being 
of  special  merit,  and  very  cunvincing  as  showing  what  could 
be  done  with  streams  and  low  lying  portions  of  the  garden. 
Naturally  the  greater  share  of  attention  was  devoted  to  the 
gaidens  uf  a  limited  area.  Very  charming  indeed  were 
many  of  the  scenes  depicted  in  this  series,  the  villa  gardens 
in  the  suburbs  showing  what  is  being  accomplished  by  those 
who  desire  to  make  a  beautiful  garden  out  of  a  very 
restricted  area.  Mr.  Sanders  strongly  advocated  the  use  of 
creepers  for  covering  fences,  walls,  and  other  blank  spaces. 
Arches  over  which  to  train  creeper's  were  considered. 
Straight  paths,  except  where  absolutely  necessary,  Mr.  Sanders 
deprecated.  In  this  brief  notice  justice  cannot  be  done  the 
lecturer.  The  subject  was  very  capably  dealt  with,  and 
listened  to  by  an  appreciative  audience.  The  show  of  various 
products  of  the  members  gardeus  was  most  interesting,  and 
the  executive  are  to  be  congratulated. 


^^ 


GARDEN 


■^^r= 


^^ 


No.  1575.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[January  25,  1902. 


THE    IMPROVEMENT    OF 
HARDY    FLOWERS. 

A  LTHOUGH  the  number -of  good  hardy 

/\         flowers  is  already  so  great  there  is 

/    \        always  room    for   their    bettering. 

/       \      It  is  one  of  the  keenest   pleasures 

of  careful  gardening  to  notice  an 

advance  in  ijuality  in  some  special  flower  and 

to  propagate  that  plant  to  its  still  greater 

improvement. 

It  is  mostly,  and  most  easily,  in  plants 
raised  from  seed  that  good  new  kinds  may  be 
grown..  What  a  pleasure.it  is  to  watch  for 
the  blooming  of  a  batch  of  young  plants  from 
carefully  selected  seed,  or  perhaps  from  seed 
specially  fertilised  in  order  to  drive  the  strain 
in  the  desired  track,  and  how  the  pleasure 
increases  as  year  alter  year  the  strain  becomes 
better  and  answers  to  the  careful  efi'ort 
directed  by  the  intelligent  observation  of  the 
plant's  capability  and  by  good  taste  in  the 
object  aimed  at. 

It  is  essentially  a  work  for  amateurs,  and 
what  good  flowers  they  have  already  given  us. 
But  more  and  more  amateurs  should  do  what 
Mr.  Wilks  has  done  with  the  Field  Poppy  and 
Lord  Penzance  with  the  Sweetbriar,  the  one 
by  selection  and  the  other  by  hybridising  and 
crossing,  what  Mr.  Engleheart  is  doing  with 
the  Datfodils,  and  Mr.  Caparne  with  the  Irises. 
Gardeners,  nurserymen,  and  seed  growers  are 
not  behindhand,  as  we  see  by  the  wonderful 
improvement  of  late  years'  in  8weet  Peas,  in 
China  Asters,  in  seedling  Carnations,  and  in 
hybrid  garden  Roses.  The  careful  watching 
and  delicate  manipulation  needed  for  hybridi- 
sation should  especially  appeal  to  the  leisured 
garden  lover  ;  indeed,  we  think  it  should  be  a 
point  of  honour  with  every  amateur  to  do  some 
one  thing  at  least  that  will  leave  gardening  a 
little  better  than  he  found  it. 

The  following  paper  was  read  Ijy  !Mr.  Amos 
Perry,  of  the  Hardy  Plant  Farm,  Winchmore 
Hill,  at  the  Horticultural  Club,  on  the  14th 
inst. : — 

It  is  now  nearly  forty  years  since  I  became 
interested  in  hardy  plants.  It  was  at  the 
period  of  the  "  flare-up  style  of  gardening," 
masses  of  brilliant  colour  for  about  three 
months,  and  the  remaining  nine  almost  bare. 
Most  collections  in  nurseries  were  destroyed, 
and  I  have  run  through  many  of  these  doomed 
collections  to  buy  up  what  I  wanted  at  a 
nominal  price,  and  to  see  these  same  collections 
reinstated  within  ton  years  from  the  time  they 
were  destroyed. 

The  only  collections  of  repute  in  those  days 


were  those  of  Backhouse  of  York,  Rollison 
of  Tooting,  the  St.  John's  Wood  Nursery, 
Youell  of  Yarmouth,  and  May  of  Bedale. 
These  collections  were  limited  in  extent  but 
unlimited  in  price.  Digitalis  purpurea  was 
priced  at  a  shilling  a  plant ;  Gentiana 
aflinis  at  the  same  figure.  One  had  taken 
five  minutes  and  the  other  five  years  to 
make.  These  were  the  sort  of  inducements 
offered  to  the  public  for  buying  hardy  plants. 
They  were  practically  ignored  by  everyone, 
and  the  trade  always  looked  upon  them  as  a 
great  nuisance,  costing  far  more  than  they 
were  worth.  To  show  how  much  they  were 
appreciated  I  will  just  give  you  my  first 
experience  at  the  old  Horticultural  Gardens 
at  South  Kensington.  I  wished  to  make  an 
exhibit  at  one  of  the  summer  exhibitions, 
and  I  believe  this  was  the  first  time  that 
anything  like  a  representative  collection  of 
hardy  stuft'  had  been  shown.  A  lot  of  prepara- 
tion had  been  made,  space  had  been  written 
for,  and  on  the  appointed  day  a  van  with 
plenty  of  assistants  appeared  at  the  great 
horticultural  exhibition.  I  saw  the  superin- 
tendent, Mr.  Eyles,  shortly  after  my  arrival, 
and  asked  him  for  the  space.  He  told  me  I 
should  have  to  wait  and  see  if  any  were  left. 

I  did  not  like  my  reception  a  bit.  After 
waiting  and  worrying  till  about  eight  or  nine 
o'clock,  he  told  me  he  would  come  and  see 
what  I  had  got.  "  Go  and  wait  in  the  yard  till 
I  come,"  and  I  was  foolish  enough  to  go.  After 
again  waiting  some  considerable  time  I  went 
and  found  him,  and  got  him  to  go  and  have  a 
look  at  the  class  of  plants  I  proposed  to  exhibit. 
He  looked  at  them  in  the  van,  laughed,  and 
said,  "  I  cannot  have  such  rubbish  here." 
However,  after  waiting  another  hour  or  so,  a 
man  was  sent  to  me  stating  they  had  got  a 
place  for  me  in  the  western  arcade  among  the 
exhibits  of  wire  stands,  pottery,  and  other 
accessories  to  the  garden. 

I  was  given  two  large  wire  stands  to  set  up 
pots,  pans,  and  boxes,  and  did  the  best  under 
the  circumstances.  Now  every  show  in  the 
country  largely  depends  upon  hardy  plants  to 
till  the  tents. 

It  is  impossible  in  a  short  time  to  go  fully 
into  such  an  important  subject  as  the  improve- 
ment of  hardy  plants,  the  capabilities  of  which 
are  immense,  but  it  is  of  vital  importance  that 
this  matter  should  be  taken  up  to  assist  in 
maintaining  an  interest  in  this  race.  It  is 
becoming  more  difficult  every  year  to  find 
novelties,  and  it  is  new  or  rare  plants  that  the 
public  want.  It  is  surprising  how  little  has 
been  done  in  this  direction.  Some  families,  it 
is  true,  have  been  thoroughly  dealt  with,  and 
these  now  form  some  of  the  chief  attractions  in 
the  gardens  of  the  present  day,  but  how  few 
have  received  the  attention  they  deserve. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  nurserymen  as  a  rule 
have  so  little  time  to  devote  to  this  important 
matter.  The  older  they  get  the  more  they 
have  to  do,  and  before  they  have  accomplished 
one  tithe  the  part  of  their  early  intentions 


they  find  their  energies  directed  to  other  phases 
of  horticulture.  What  a  vast  field  there  is  still 
for  enterprising  men  to  take  up  hardy  plants 
and  improve  them  by  hybridising  and  selec- 
tion. What  an  opportunity  many  of  our 
gardeners  have  for  this  kind  of  interesting 
work.  They  have  the  materials  and  oppor- 
tunities, and  in  hundreds  of  cases  nothing 
would  please  their  employers  more  than  to 
know  their  gardens  were  the  birthplace  of 
numbers  of  plants  which  sooner  or  later  would 
find  their  way  into  every  garden  in  the  land. 

There  is  also  a  vast  field  open  for  men  fond 
of  mountaineering,  but  this  class  of  enthusiast 
is  ditticult  to  find,  because  a  young  man  has 
not  the  knowledge  to  detect  a  new  plant  the 
moment  he  sees  it,  while  the  middle  aged  man 
having  the  knowledge  has  not  always  the 
energy  necessary  to  take  a  trip  of  two  or  three 
days'  duration  in  the  mountains,  carrying  all 
the  paraphernalia  required  for  climbing  and 
knowing  there  is  no  luxurious  hotel  in  which 
he  can  recuperate  for  the  return  journey. 

In  one  of  my  trips  to  the  Pyrenees,  in  1870,, 
I  was  successful  in  finding  many  interesting 
plants,  some  of  which  are  now  common,  while 
others  have,  unfortunately,  been  lost — Kamon- 
dia  pyrenaica  alba,  Primula  integrifolia  alba, 
Gentiana  verna  alba,  and  a  solitary  double- 
flowering  variety,  which  never  survived  the 
journey,  Anthericum  Liliastrum  major  —  not 
the  major  now  ottered,  but  one  growing  3i  feet, 
with  very  large  flowers — and  many  others. 

I  am  afraid  we  must  fall  back  upon  the 
amateur  for  the  raising  of  seedlings,  selection,, 
hybridising,  <fec.,  and  if  we  c^n  only  induce 
more  enterprising  amateurs  to  take  up  this 
matter  no  one  knows  what  may  be  accom- 
plished. Secretaries  might  greatly  assist  in 
the  work  by  ofiering  prizes  for  any  improved 
variety  of  hardy  perennials, and  honouring  them 
according  to  their  merits. 

We  want  more  gentlemen  like  the  late 
Mr.  Nelson,  Mr.  Ewbank,  and  !Mr.  Harpur- 
Crewe,  who  did  valuable  work  in  their  time  ; 
Mr.  Wolley  Dod,  Mr.  Engleheart,  Sir  Michael 
Foster,  who  has  clone  so  much  for  the  Iris  :  Mr. 
James  Salter,  the  father  of  the  Pyrethrum,  and 
many  others.  Some  families  have  received  a 
fair  share  of  attention,  and  to  the  French  florists 
we  are  principally  indebted  for  the  great 
improvement  in  the  Phlox,  which  is  still 
capable  of  further  improvements.  Many  of  them 
are  too  tall,  and  the  Americans  have  just 
started  a  new  race  only  growing  1  foot  in 
height,  which  for  many  purposes  will  be 
invaluable.  The  alpine  Phloxes  were  taken  in 
hand  by  the  Rev.  John  Nelson,  and  to  him  we 
are  indebted  for  one  or  two  of  the  best  at 
present  in  cultivation. 

The  Hollyhock  is  essentially  an  English 
flower,  and  Mr.  Chater's  name  will  always  be 
associated  with  it,  but  I  do  not  think  there  i.s 
much  room  for  iurther  improvement  in  that 
direction.  We  want  a  change,  and  I  think  the 
material  is  at  hand  in  Althaja  ficifolia  for 
producing  an  entirely  new  race  of  Hollyhocks 


50 


THE    GARDEN. 


fjANUAKY    25,   1902. 


dwarfer  in  growth,  of  pretty  branching  habit, 
and  of  far  more  value  for  many  purposes  than 
the  present  group. 

Carnations  and  Pinks  now  occupy  a 
prominent  place  in  our  gardens,  but  what  a 
change  from  the  old  school,  of  fiorists,  of 
which  the  late  Mr.  Turner  was  chief.  A 
Oarnation  with  a  fringed  edge  in  those  days 
was  considered  a  monstrosity,  no  matter  how 
free  blooming  or  beautiful  in  colour,  and  now 
we  hear  of  fringed  Carnations  realising 
thousands  of  dollars. 

In  connection  with  the  Carnation  we  must 
not  forget  Mr.  Martin  Smith,  who  has  done 
more  for  this  flower  than  any  man  living — and 
an  amateur.  Long  may  he  continue  his  work 
with  this  family  and  set  an  example  to  others 
to  try  and  do  likewise  with  some  other  race. 

Delphiniums  have  received  a  fair  share  of 
attention,  both  by  English  and  French  raisers, 
and  many  splendid  varieties  have  been  the 
result.  A  remarkable  break  has  been  obtained 
by  ilessrs.  Kelway,  but  although  the  results 
cannot  be  considered  great,  yet  it  is  possible 
that  from  these  may  be  obtained  other  varieties 
of  Greater  merit. 

The  idea  seems  to  prevail. that  a  Delphinium 
should  be  blue,  and  if  you  admit  a  white  or  a 
yellow  into  your  collection  it  must  lie  a  good 
one.  It  is,  hovpever,  a  great  achievement  to 
get  a  break  of  this  description,  and  now  we 
have  white  I  see  no  reason  why  yellows, 
scarlets,  and  every  other  intermediate  shade 
cannot  be  produced. 

The  Oriental  Poppies  deserve  mention  as 
being  one  of  the  few  recent  families  that  have 
received  .special  attention,  and  among  them  are- 
many  of  great  merit  and  still  capable  of  great 
improvement.  I  see  no  reason  why  we  cannot 
obtain  as  much  variety,  colour,  ancl  form  as  in 
the  annual  varieties.  In  Fringed  Beauty  we 
have  the  first  break  in  form.  The  flower  has  a 
deep  fringed  edge  to  the  petals,  while  in  Jlrs. 
Marsh  we  have  the  first  bi-coloured  variety, 
and  with  this  material  to  work  from  no  one  can 
form  any  conception  of  what  may  be  obtained. 

The  Tritoma  has  received  a  good  deal  of 
attention,  but  the  work  is  only  half  done.  T. 
MacOwani  .should  be  taken  .seriously  in  hand 
to.  endeavour  to  form  a  new  race  of  dwarf 
varieties  for  summer  flowering  and  adapted  for 
massing  as  well  as  for  pots. 

Lobelias,  Pentstemons,  Dahlias,  Chrysan- 
themums, and  others  we  know  all  about, 
but  they  hardly  belong  to  the  class  of  plant 
under  consideration. 

Now  I  will  hastily  run  through  some  of  the 
most  important  familie?  that  I  think  should  be 
dealt  with,  and  the  first  on  the  list  will  be  the 

Aster,  the  capabilities  of  which  are  endless, 
and  1  believe  before  many  years  they  will 
become  one  of  our  most  popular  families  and 
be  grown  by  millions,  both  in  pots  and  in  the 
open.  In  a  very  short  time  we  shall  have  as 
many  pinks  and  reds  as  we  have  blues  and 
whites,  and  Perry's  Pink  is  a  fine  one 
to  work  from,  the  colour  being  a  good 
bright  pink  and  the  first  of  this  section 
of  a  good  colour.  It  is  a  seedling  raised 
from  ]\Iiss  Stafford,  a  Winchmore  Hill  variety. 
Great  care  must  be  exercised  in  raising  Asters 
to  keep  to  the  stick-at-honie  varieties.  Do  not 
touch  those  that  run  all  over  the  border.  A 
favourite  group  of  mine  is  the  cordifolius 
section,  forming  sheaves  of  the  most  graceful 
flowers,  and  favourites  with  everyone  for 
cutting.  I  find  this  group  is  far  better  grown 
in  partial  shade. 

The  Amellus  group  will  take  a  first  place 
for  ]iots,  their  natural  habit  lending  themselves 
to  this  mode  of  treatment.  The  flowers  are 
large  and  of  every  shads,  from  the  richest 


violet  imaginable  to  very  pale  blue.s.  The 
white  we  have  is  of  no  use  horticulturally,  but 
what  the  progeny  will  be  I  do  not  know.  In 
Perry's  Favourite  we  have  the  first  good  pink 
in  the  Amellus  section,  and  one  that  must 
become  popular.  There  is  no  question  that 
from  this  may  be  obtained  varieties  brighter  in 
colour  and  invaluable  in  every  way. 

A  good  type  of  Aster  to  work  from  is  Esme, 
a  seedling  of  the  Eev.  Wolley  Dod,  3  feet  high, 
with  a  large  spreading  head,  pure  white,  and 
remarkable  for  lasting  a  very  long  time  in 
bloom.  One  can  imagine  what  a  double  white 
of  this  description  would  be  worth,  and  it  is 
coming.  We  have  already  semi-doubles,  and 
one  fully  two-thirds  double,  and  I  am  looking 
forward  to  the  coming  season  for  many  others 
of  this  character.  A  race  of  good  double 
A.sters  will  be  a  grand  addition  to  our  list  of 
decorative  jilants  and  also  for  pots,  and  it  is 
only  a  question  of  time  to  obtain  them. 

Anemone  .japonica  is  in  very  successful 
hands,  and  great  improvements  have  taken 
place,  with  many  more  to  follow.  Queen 
Charlotte,  Mont  Piose,  and  Rosea  superba  are 
grand.  I  should  like  to  see  the  Parsley-leaved 
variety  taken  in  hand.  The  foliage  is  wonder- 
fully effective,  but  the  flowers  very  poor. 

Ai-irostemma  flos-jovis  is  capable  of  great 
improvement.  It  is  a  good  all-round  plant  for 
cutting  or  decoration,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  we  should  not  get  a  double  variety. 
There  used  to  be  a  large  double  variety  of  A. 
coronaria  thirty  years  ago,  which  I  believe  is 
now  lost. 

The  Common  White  Arabis  has  made  a 
great  bid  for  jsopularity.  The  double  form  is 
splendid  for  cutting,  lasting  well  into  summer. 
We  have  several  species  with  ro.se  and  pink 
flowers.  Why  cannot  we  get  this  colour  into 
the  double  one  ? 

Asphodels  form  a  very  characteristic  group, 
and  I  think  the  Asiatic  and  European  species 
might  be  brought  together  with  very  good 
results. 

Ac'ONiTUMs  ofTer  many  oiiportunities  for 
improvement.  A  .good  yellow  A.  japonicum 
or  even  a  yellow  A.  Napellus  would  be  a  great 
acquisiti<;in.  Do  you  think  it  possible  to  obtain 
them  ?     1  say  yes. 

The  capabilities  of  the  Aubeietia  have  been 
fairly  tested,  and  we  have  now  a  good  range 
of  colour,  but  there  is  no  reason  why  they 
cannot  be  still  improved  both  in  size  and  colour. 

The  Calyste(;ia,  I  believe,  is  capable  of  a 
great  transformation,  and  I  see  no  reason  why 
flowers  of  immense  size  and  of  almost  every 
shade  of  colour  cannot  be  obtained  in  the 
]ierennial  varieties.  If  the  annual  varieties 
would  not  assist  in  producing  these  results,  we 
might  seek  the  assistance  of  its  American 
ally,  the  Iponuea,  for  hybridising  purjioses. 

Campaniilas.— We  all  know  their  capabili- 
ties, and  there  is  not  a  single  species  in  the 
whole  race  that  cannot  be  improved.  As  a 
rule  the  great  bulk  are  raised  from  seed,  no 
attempt  being  made  either  to  discard  the  bad 
forms  or  to  retain  the  good  ones,  and  many 
are  becoming  .so  poor  as  to  be  not  worth 
growing.  A  few  good  hybrids  we  have.  Van 
Houtte,  G.  F.  Wilson,  and  Hendersoni  being 
still  among  the  best.  I  should  like  to  see  this 
family  taken  up  by  two  or  three  enthusiasts, 
as  they  are  so  ea.sily  grown,  requiring  little 
attention  and  the  results  quickly  seen. 

Cheiranthus  alpinu.s,  the  alpine  Wall- 
flower, would  well  repay  a  little  attention. 
Crimsons,  red  and  yellow  varieties  would  be 
very  eflective,  and  1  think  can  be  obtained. 

Chrysanthemum  maximum  has  shown  a 
remarkable  de\elopnient,  and  some  of  the 
flowers  are  really  superb.    For  decoration  or 


for  cutting  they  are  matchless,  and  still  1 
believe  can  be  much  improved.  Some  of  the 
more  recent  .seedlings  have  shown  distinct 
signs  of  doubling,  and  I  shall  not  be  surprised 
any  day  to  hear  of  one  being  raised.  1  have 
just  read  that  American  .seedlings  are  showing 
signs  of  colouring,  but  I  am  doubtful  about  it. 

( 2'o  be  continned.) 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 


Forthcoming-   events.  —  Royal   Horti 

cultural  Society's  committees  meet  at  the  Drill 
Hall,  Buckingham  (late,  Westminster,  on  Tuesday 
next ;  Sociuti.-  Franvaise  d'horticulture  de  Londres 
monthly  meeting,  February  1  ;  National  Amateur 
Gardeners'  Association  meeting,  Winchester  House, 
February  4. 

Iris   pepsica    Heldreichi   is  now    in 

Hower  with  me,  having  opened  its  first  blossom 
on  January  16,  which  I  fancy  is  early,  especially 
as  the  plants  have  received  no  protection  what- 
ever, and  I  see  it  is  catalogued  as  a  February 
flower.  I.  persiea  Tauri  is  also  showing  fat  buds, 
and  unless  the  weather  is  against  it  it  will,  to  all 
appearances,  be  in  flower  a  month  in  advance  of 
the  date  given  by  Jlessrs.  Wallace,  from  whom  I 
obtained  the  bulbs,  viz.,  the  end  of  February.  The 
intense  blue  of  I.  Heldreichi  makes  a  pretty  con- 
trast to  the  yellow  of  the  Aconite  and  Jasminum 
nudiflorum,  about  the  only  other  tilings  in  bloom 
here  at  this  early  date,  and  I  am  anxiously  await- 
ing the  blooming  of  I.  Tauri,  which  is  described  as 
being  a  fitting  companion  to  the  former.— F.  H.  C 
Kye. 

Calanthe  Veitchii  at  Sunninghill. 

—A  short  time  ago  I  called  to  see  Mr.  .John 
(iuyett,  gardener  to  C.  D.  Kemp- Welch,  Esq., 
The  Broadlands,  iSunninghili.  His  plants  oi' 
Calanthe  Veitchii  were  a  picture  of  colour.  There 
were  about  100  G-inch  pots,  most  of  them  with 
three  enormous  bulbs  apiece,  and  grand  spikes 
with  very  large  flowers.  Some  of  the  spikes  had 
from  thirty-five  to  forty-five  flowers  open  at  one 
time.  The  plants  were  potted  in  loam  and  peat 
and  grown  in  a  moist  stove  with  C3'pripediums 
and  other  Orchids.  Many  good  Cypripedium 
hybrids  were  flourishing  in  the  same  house— C. 
arthurianuni,  C.  barbatum  Warneri,  C.  grande, 
C.  leeanum  superbiim,  C.  spicerianum  (a  grand' 
variety),  and  many  others  ;  in  another  were  about 
fifty  pots  of  C.  insigne  carrying  over  .350  large 
flowers.  These  are  grown  in  frames  all  the  summer 
and  receive  most  of  the  sun,  only  being  shaded 
during  the  early  part  of  the  season.  Mr.  (Juvett 
has  to  keep  up  a  supply  of  flowering  plants  for  a 
conservatory,  also  cut  'flowers  for  the  house,  and 
his  culture  is  most  successful. — F. 

Azalea  mollis.— The  beautiful  flowers  of 
Azalea  mollis  that  we  have  seen  for  a  long  time  in 
the  florists'  .shops  of  London  would,  a  few  j'ears 
since,  have  attracted  much  attention,  for  the  pretty 
terra-cotta  tints  are  always  admired,  liut  now, 
owing  to  the  system  of  retarding  so  much  followed, 
many  subjects  are  to  be  seen  in  flowerquite  outside 
their  usual  season.  During  the  Christmas  season 
Liliuni  auratum,  L.  speciosum  in  variety,  and 
L.  longiflorum.  Azalea  mollis.  Spiraeas,  Lily  of  the 
Valley,  and  Lilac  were  plentiful.  Though  a  few 
of  these  may  have  been  forced  the  bulk  had  been 
retarded.  Concerning  Azalea  mollis  the  neat  little 
bushes  bristling  with  flower  buds,  manv  of  which 
are  sent  here  from  the  Continent  every  season, 
forrii  delightful  specimens  for  the  greenhouse  if 
potted  up  as  soon  as  possiljle,  placed  out  of  doors 
for  a  time,  and  early  in  the  New  Year  taken  into 
the  greenhouse.  In  this  way  the  flowers  remain 
fresh  much  longer  than  those  that  have  been  har<l 
forced,  and  though  they  may  not  anticipate  their 
usual  season  of  blooming  out  of  doors  by  more 
than  a  month,  they  are  as  welcome  as  the  earlier 
ones.  One  great  advantage  of  those  that  are  so 
gently  forced  is  that  they  can  be  gradually 
hardened  off,  and    ultimately   planted  outside.— 


January  25,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


5l 


Royal  Hopticultupal  Society.— The 

next  fruit  and  flower  show  of  the  above  society 
will  be  held  on  Tuesday  next,  in  the  Drill 
Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster,  1 — 4  p.m. 
A  lecture  ou  "  The  Renovation  of  Old  Fruit  Trees  " 
will  be  given  by  Mr.  George  Bunyard,  V.M.H.,  at 
three  o'clock.  At  a  general  meeting  of  this  society, 
held  on  Tuesday,  January  14,  seventj'-one  new 
Fellows  were  elected,  amongst  them  being  Sir 
Randolf  L.  Baker,  Bart.,  Lady  Burnett,  Dr.  R.  S. 
Charsley,  and  Dr.  E.  J.  Fulk  Hart. 

Continental  hoptieultural  exhibi- 
tions.— The  dates  of  the  following  shows  \mve 
been  fixed ; — Paris  :  Spring  show  of  the  National 
Horticultural  Society  at  Cours-la-Reine,  May  '21 
to  26 ;  general  exhibition  at  Lyons,  May  28  to 
June  2 ;  horticultural  and  agricultural  exhibition 
at  Cannes,  March  6  to  10  ;  international  exhibi- 
tion at  Lille,  May  to  September. 

International  exhibition  at  Lille. 

— An  international  exhibition,  the  first  of  its  kind, 
will  be  held  at  Lille  from  May  to  September  of 
this  year.  The  buildings  and  gardens  will  cover 
150,000  square  metres  of  the  Champ  de  Mars. 
Horticulture  will  be  represented  ;  all  letters  of 
enquiry  should  be  addressed  to  I'Administration 
de  I'Exposition,  35,  Rue  Nationals,  Lille. 
"  My  Garden  Diary."— "  An  artistic  and 

most  useful  diary  for  horticulturists."  Such  is 
Messrs.  Sutton's  description  of  the  dainty  booklet 
that  annually  makes  its  appearance  at  this  season, 
and  such,  indeed,  it  proves  to  be.  For  each  month 
of  the  year  there  are  reminders  as  to  the  most 
important  work  to  be  done  in  every  department  of 
the  garden,  and  blank  pages  for  memoranda  are 
provided.  These  will  prove  its  claim  to  utility, 
and  its  tasteful  get-up  those  who  see  it  will 
readily  admit. 

The  forthcoming  Rose  conference. 

— Since  the  season  tickets  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  were  issued  the  date  of  the  Rose 
conference  at  Holland  House  has  been  altered 
from  June  25  to  June  24  (and,  if  the  police  arrange- 
ments permit,  continued  on  the  original  date, 
viz.,  June  20).  The  dates  originally  fixed  were 
June  25  and  2(3,  but  the  coronation  being  fixed 
for  the  latter  date  upset  the  first  arrangements. 
We  hope  it  will  prove  a  big  success  and  one  of  the 
events  of  the  London  season.  It  is  just  one  of 
those  fixtures  that  in  the  excitement  of  the  greater 
events  occurring  in  the  same  week  may  be  a  failure 
or  the  reverse,  and  of  course  we  hope  it  will  be 
a  triumphant  success,  botanically,  horticuitu rally, 
and  socially.  It  has  the  advantage  of  an  interesting 
setting. 

Scraps  from  W^isley.— I  fear  that  many 
gardens  have  suffered  more  than  ours  from 
shortness    of    rain.      Oakwood     being    in     parts 


soil  and  climate  open  for  selection  between  the 
southern  littoral  and  the  Zambesi,  it  should  b3  an 
easy  matter  for  experts  to  decide  the  most  suitable 
localities,  especially  in  the  new  Colonies.  .Judging, 
too,  from  what  has  latterly  occurred  in  Canada, 
there  seems  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  venture 
would  prove  highly  profitable.  The  Dominion, 
with  its  bleak  climate  and  high  wage  rate,  not 
only  produces  sufficient  fruits  of  several  sorts  for 
its  own  consumption,  but  exports  more  and  more 
largely  every  year.  The  industry  has  also  struck 
root  in  Australasia.  In  view  of  these  Colonial 
successes,  the  future  British  settler  in  South  Africa 
will  have  strong  encouragement  to  add  fruit  culti- 
vation to  his  other  farming  operations.  There 
should  be  little  difficulty  in  getting  surplus  pro- 
duce from  any  part  of  the  interior  to  the  coast 
when  the  system  of  railways  now  in  course  of 
construction  is  completed.  Trade  will  then  find 
an  exit  either  at  Beira,  Lorenzo  Marquez,  Durban, 
or  Cape  Town,  and  with  refrigerated  transport 
trains  in  use,  little  deterioration  should  occur  to 
fruit  during  the  journey.  As  fruit  farming  does 
not  require  such  long  experience  as  pastoral  farming, 
the  industry  deserves  the  attention  of  those  soldiers 
who,  with  a  little  capital  in  hand,  meditate  perma- 
nent settlement  in  the  new  colonies  of  Rhodesia 
after  the  war.  —  The  G/ohe. 

Flowers  out  of  doors.— I  have  a  Lapa 
geria  rosea  in  an  arcade  facing  south  covered  with 
flowers  and  buds  now  (.January  15).  It  has  been 
there  without  protection  for  five  or  six  years. — 
Medwav,  The  Orange,  Beiicndeii,  Cranbrook. 

Notes  from  North  AVales.- After  the 

fortnight's  snow  and  ice-cap,  about  a  week  after 
Christmas  came  a  thaw  and  a  very  strong  west 
wind,  and  I  went  round  tlie  garden  to  see  how  mj' 
pet  plants  had  fared.  Everything  looked  wonder- 
fully fresh  and  well,  and  some  Sternbergia  lutea 
flowers  looked  as  bright  as  before  the  frost.  At 
last  I  understand  how  the  wooden  labels  get  dis- 
placed. The  frost  had  loosened  the  top  of  the 
ground,  and  in  the  strong  wind  the  uplifted  labels 
were  being  shaken  backwards  and  forwards,  and 
some  were  literally  blown  out  of  the  ground  while 
I  was  watching  them,  and  carried  some  little  dis- 
tance. I  have  not  yet  found  out  what  is  the 
best  sort  of  label  for  herbaceous  borders.  One  has 
to  have  so  many,  and  they  are  not  ornamental. 
Going  on  with  my  inspection  I  found  my  patches 
of  Iris  reticulata  just  appearing  above  the  ground 
very  strong.  These  do  very  well,  and  increase 
marvellously  in  our  light  soil.  Slugs  sometimes 
destroy  a  great  manj'  in  the  spring  when  the  bud  is 
just  about  to  expand,  eating  it  oft'  close  to  the  bulb, 
which  never  recovers.  To  prevent  this  I  plant  the 
bulbs  in  ashes  sufficient  to  cover  them,  and  the 
roots  go  through  into  the  good  soil  underneath. 


naturally  moist  soil,  the  late  rains  have  done  much    This  seems  to  answer  well.     Hepatica  angulosa  is 


good,  but  the  garden  has  been  drier  than  it  has 
ever  been  before  in  the  twenty-three  years  since 
it  was  begun.  Ponds  that  were  never  very  low 
before  shrunk  so  much  that  the  loam  began  to 
sicken,  and  we  had  to  protect  the  Marliac  Water 
Lilies.  The  winter  moth  has  been  more  than 
usually  abundant  this  season,  and  is  still  showing 
itself.  We  have  now  lost  the  faint  hope  that  by 
greased  bands  annually  on  all  the  fruit  trees  we 
should  have  fewer  moths  to  contend  with  ;  the 
bands  involve  trouble  and  some  expense,  but  the 
leaves  on  the  trees  are  never  injured  by  moth. 
The  most  important  flowers  now  in  bloom  are  the 
early  Irises,  I.  Histrio,  I.  bakeriana,  and  I.  alata. 
One  flower  of  the  last  is  exceptionally  fine,  and 
would  compare  with  many  good  Orchids.  Christ- 
mas Roses  have  bloomed  well.  Crocus  Imperati 
in  small  beds  is  flowering.  In  one  of  your  con- 
temporaries I  note  that  it  is  said  that  few  Pears 
with  foreign  names  are  as  good  here  as  in  their 
own  country.  We  have  an  exception  in  Berga- 
motte  d'Esperen  ;  it  had  a  good  crop,  and  tlie  fruit 
is  of  fine  flavour. — Georcb  F.  Wilson,  Heather- 
Jiank,  Wexjhridge  Heath. 

South    African    fruit    farming-.  — 

Among  the  many  smaller  industries  which  may 
be  reasonably  expected  to  expand  largely  in  South 
Africa  when  the  unenterprising  Boer  gives  place 
to  the  more  energetic  Briton,  fruit  farming  should 
occupy  a  leading  place.     With  all  descriptions  of 


full  of  buds  this  year.  I  think  I  have  accidentally 
discovered  how  to  make  it  flower  freely.  It  came 
to  me  with  the  character  of  being  a  shy  bloomer, 
and  acted  up  to  it.  A  season  or  two  ago,  when  we 
were  dividing  our  plants,  some  were  roughly  laid 
in  in  the  kitchen  garden  to  be  given  away.  A 
clump  of  the  Hepatica,  half  out  of  the  ground, 
flowered  profusely  in  its  uncomfortable-looking 
quarters.  Taking  the  hint  I  put  a  spade  under 
a  clump  in  my  border,  hove  it  well  up,  and  let 
it  remain  so  all  the  summer.  It  is  full  of  buds  now. 
Perhaps  it  grows  on  banks  in  its  wild  state  and  the 
earth  gets  washed  away  from  the  crowns.  The 
new  blue  Primroses  insist  on  flowering  all  the 
winter  whatever  the  weather  is.  I  feared  it  would 
spoil  them  for  the  spring,  but  last  year  each  plant 
was  literally  a  mass  of  bloom.  In  some  cases  the 
leaves  were  hardly  to  be  seen  at  all.  The  pale 
blue  ones  were  the  most  floriferous.  The  Christ- 
mas Roses  are  splendid  this  year.  We  have  picked 
102  blooms  off'  one  medium  sized  plant,  and  there 
are  still  about  fiftj'  buds  on  it.  We  divided  a  large 
clump  late  last  spring,  and  each  young  plant  is  full 
of  bloom.  We  give  them  soot  water.  Many  of 
the  blooms  are  nearly  4  inches  in  diameter. — 
E.  J.  Lloyd  Edwakds. 
The   Pomegranate   in   England.— 

Punica  granatum  is,  when  in  flower,  one  of  the 
most  attractive  of  wall  shrubs,  but  unfortunately 
in  many  oases,  although  making  good  growth  and 


escaping  injury  from  frost,  it  absolutely  refuses  to 
bloom.  Instances  have  come  under  my  notice  in 
the  south-west  during  the  past  year  where  Pome- 
granates covering  a  large  expanse  of  wall  have 
been  flowerless  for  years,  although  all  expedients 
to  induce  bloom,  such  as  lifting,  root  pruning,  &c., 
have  been  resorted  to  in  order  to  bring  about  a 
floriferous  habit.  Winter  cold  can  scarcely  be  a 
factor  in  this  shyness  of  blooming,  for  I  remember 
two  cases  in  Somersetshire  where  the  Pomegranate 
flowered  many  years  ago,  one  being  a  plant  growing 
on  a  carpenter's  cottage  facing  a  village  street. 
I  often  used  to  admire  the  bright  blossoms  as  a 
child.— S.  W.  F. 

Picking  Apples.  —  The  simple  act  of 
picking  Apples  off'  the  tree  is  quite  an  art,  and 
requires  considerable  skill  and  experience.  A 
man  can  grab  an  Apple  and  pull  it  off  by  main 
strength  and  stupidness,  leaving  the  stalk  behind 
on  the  tree  and  the  Apple  broken  where  it  is 
pulled  out,  ready  to  rot  at  the  least  provocation, 
and  shaking  off  a  dozen  more  to  fall  on  the  ground 
or  limbs  and  bruise.  Or  he  can  by  taking  it  care- 
fully in  his  hand  with  his  fore  finger  against  the 
stalk  and  giving  it  a  turn  break  it  off  without  a 
jar.  Apples  should  never  be  thrown  or  pitched 
into  the  baskets  on  account  of  bruising  them,  but 
should  be  placed  carefully  in,  the  hand  turned  over 
so  that  the  Apples  are  underneath,  and  not  allowed 
to  drop  oft'  the  hand  into  the  basket.  The  baskets  of 
Apples  as  they  come  from  the  trees  are  poured 
carefully  on  the  picking  tray,  which  is  covered 
with  a  soft  rug,  and  sorted  from  there  directly 
into  the  barrels.— Arthur  C.  Starr,  in  I'he  Mari- 
line  Hommtead  (of  Canada). 

Gardeners'     feathered     friends.— 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Kidderminster  Horti- 
cultural Society,  Mr.  Percy  Bunyard,  of  Croydon, 
gave  an  interesting  and  instructive  lecture  upon 
the  above  subject.  Numerous  illustrations  were 
provided  by  means  of  lantern  slides,  showing  the 
birds  and  their  nests.  While  admitting  the  obvious 
damage  that  some  birds  may  commit,  Mr.  Bunyard 
made  out  a  strong  case  in  favour  of  many  tliat  have 
fallen  under  the  gardener's  ban.  The  chats, 
warblers,  tits,  wrens,  wagtails,  flycatchers,  finches, 
in  fact  all  the  birds  that  visit  our  gardens,  were  in 
turn  mentioned  and  thrown  on  the  screen,  and 
their  habits  explained  in  detail. 

Lycoris  squamigera  is  the  only  plant 

of  its  genus  whieli  the  amateur  can  cultivate 
with  a  certainty  of  success ;  the  others,  L. 
aurea,  sanguinea,  and  radiata,  are  very  difficult 
to  flower ;  in  fact,  one  may  grow  these  for 
twenty  years  in  all  positions  and  yet  fail  with 
them.  L.  squamigera,  a  Japanese  plant,  is 
the  best  of  all.  It  shows  a  marked  kinship  with 
Amaryllis  Belladonna,  both  in  manner  of  growth 
and  season  of  flowering.  The  leaves  are  strap- 
shaped,  of  a  glaucous  colour,  and  the  scapes  are 
produced  in  August,  long  after  the  leaves  have 
withered,  and  bear  from  six  to  eiglit  Amaryllis- 
like flowers  4  inches  in  length  and  span,  coloured  a 
soft  delicate  shade  of  rose  and  tinted  with  blue  at 
the  tips.  This  blue  tint  sulRises  the  whole  flower 
if  cold  weather  prevails  at  the  time  of  opening. 
The  long  crimson  st3'le  and  filaments  are  depressed, 
so  that  they  break  through  the  perianth,  ascending 
at  the  tips  only.  Planted  6  inches  deep  in  a  liglit, 
rich  soil,  in  a  warm,  sunny  position,  this  plant 
thrives  well  enough.  The  bulbs  increase  quickly 
by  offsets,  insomuch  that  a  single  flowering  bulb, 
producing  one  scape  only,  will,  in  three  years' 
time,  produce  four  or  five  scapes,  bearing,  in  the 
aggregate,  from  thirty  to  forty  flowers.  A  row  of 
these  plants  growing  in  Mr.  Worsley's  richly 
stocked  bulb  garden  at  Isleworth  is  a  tine  sight 
in  August,  when  a  display  of  100  or  more  spikes 
may  always  be  seen.  It  is  a  plant  well  worth 
looking  after,  as  it  is  more  dependable  than 
Amaryllis  Belladonna  in  the  matter  of  flowering 
once  it  is  established,  and  the  flowers  are  scarcely 
less  beautiful.  It  is  a  gross  feeder,  appreciating 
applications  of  liquid  manure  when  in  full  leafage 
and  just  before  the  flower  scapes  appear.  The 
resemblance  of  Lycoris  bulbs  to  those  of  Narcissus 
Tazetta  is  well  known  to  the  Japanese,  hence  the 
not  infrequent  presence  of  bulbs  of  Narcissus  in 
importations  of  Lycoris. — George  B.  M.vllett, 


o2 


THE   GAUDEN. 


[January  25,  1902, 


A  valuable   winter  vegetable.— in 

many  gardens  Turnips  at  this  time  of  year  lose 
flavour,  and  are  not  much  liked  on  that  account, 
while  in  others  the  roots,  if  at  all  large,  do  not 
keep  sound,  and  it  is  well  to  grow  a  substitute. 
For  the  past  few  seasons  both  here  and  in  the 
north  (Alnwick  Castle)  we  have  found  Sutton's 
White  Swede  a  most  valuable  winter  vegetable. 
The  name  Swede  may  not  sound  so  pleasant  as 
Turnip,  but  there  will  be  no  objection  to  the 
flavour  when  cooked  ;  indeed,  this  garden  Swede 
is  a  most  wholesome  vegetable.  There  are  two 
varieties,  the  white  and  yellow.  I  prefer  the 
white ;  it  is  remarkably  hardy,  and  the  roots 
should  not  be  too  large.  It  is  a  most  valuable 
winter  vegetable,  and  keeps  sound  until  the  early- 
sown  spring  Turnips  turn  in.  The  plants  need 
little  space.  The  tops  are  short,  the  roots  sliapely, 
and  no  matter  how  severe  the  ^^eather  the  roots 
winter  well,  the  flesh  being  equal  to  the  Turnip  : 
indeed,  superior  at  this  time  of  year. — (i.  Wvthes. 
Tulipa  SaxatiliS.  —  I  am  afraid  Mr. 
Woodall's  criticism  on  the  tendency  of  this  plant 
(see  note,  page  21)  is  of  very  general  if  not  of 
universal  application.  I  have  noticed  precisely  the 
same  thing  for  the  last  year  or  two.  The  plant, 
with  something  of  the  habit,  but  without  the 
vigour  of  tlie  common  T.  sylvestris,  seems  to  spend 
itself  in  running  about.  I  have  the  species  planted 
in  two  or  three  places,  but  I  have  not  had  flowers 
for  two  years.  I  see  it  now  (January  12)  coming 
up  all  over  the  place,  and  in  among  labels  of 
choice  species  of  the  same  genus.  This  is  much  to 
be  regretted,  for  it  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  of 
the  genuine  species  of  Tulipa. — T.  C  L.,  Kent. 

Apple  Hubbard's  Peapmain  in  the 

NoPtll. — Certain  varieties  of  fruit  in  diverse 
localities  succeed  much  better  than  others,  and 
when  recently  visiting  Northumberland  I  noted 
what  a  beautiful  fruit  the  above  variety  is.  For 
midwinter  supplies  it  is  a  great  favourite  for 
dessert,  and  as  a  table  variety  compares  favourably 
with  the  very  best  kinds  grown,  its  rich  flavour 
making  it  valuable.  Few  varieties  crop  more 
freely  thai\  the  Hubbard's,  and  the  fruit,  if  well 
grown,  is  of  medium  size,  but  on  account  of  its 
free  cropping  is  not  always  so.  I  do  not  think 
small  dessert  Apples  are  out  of  place  if,  like  this 
variety,  they  are  well  coloured,  shapely,  and  of 
good  quality.  It  is  a  very  old  variety,  and  not  so 
often  seen  in  the  south  as  in  the  eastern  and 
northern  counties.  It  is  a  neat,  compact  grower, 
very  hardy,  blooms  rather  late,  and  is  an  abundant 
bearer.  It  does  remarkably  well  in  cordon  form, 
and  in  late  districts  grown  thus  rarely  fails  to 
crop  well ;  grown  in  bush  form  it  is  a  profitable 
variety,  and  on  this  account  should  not  be  over- 
looked where  good  dessert  Apples  are  required 
from  December  to  March. — G.  W.  S. 

A    sug'gestion    for    the    National 

Rose  Society. — The  idea  has  often  occurred 
to  me  that  a  stimulus  could  be  given  to  the  more 
artistic  arrangement  of  Roses  in  the  garden  if 
some  societ}',  such  as  the  National  Rose  Society, 
ottered  medals  or  prizes  for  the  best  rosary,  say, 
in  each  county.  It  is  well  known  that  nianj'  of 
our  leading  amateurs  care  little  or  nothing  tor 
arrangement  of  their  plants  provided  they  obtain  a 
quality  of  blossom  from  them.  From  an  e.\hibitor's 
point  of  view  this  may  be  desirable,  but  surely  the 
Rose  as  a  garden  plant  is  worth\'  of  the  best 
setting  we  can  give  it,  and.  happilV,  we  are  not 
all  exhibitors.  1  do  not  wish  to  disparage  exhibi- 
tions or  exhibiting,  but  1  hold  that  the  greatest 
pleasure  is  derived  from  the  Rose  when  the  plants 
are  arranged  in  a  skilfully-designed  rosary,  where 
the  splendid  decorative  qualities  of  modern  kinds 
fittingly  blend  with  the  magnificent  show  bloom, 
or  with  the  simple  beauty  of  the  exquisite  single 
species,  and  the  varieties  which  have  attained  to 
such  remarkable  development.  I  am  fully  aware  of 
the  dirticultics  ot  the  proposition  to  award  prizes, 
for  obviously  it  would  be  unfair  to  compare  a 
l)alatial  Rose  garden  with  one  of  more  modest 
pretentions  ;  but  I  imagine  this  could  be  adjusted 
by  classifying  according  to  quality  of  plants  grown 
or  some  such  plan.  I  can  understand  how  proud 
a  gardener  would  be  to  hold  the  gold  medal  of  the 
National   Rose   Society   for   the   rosary   that   has 


grown  up  under  his  supervision ;  it  would  be 
indeed  a  grand  testimonial  for  him,  and  surely  the 
owner  would  be  equally  gratified.  As  I  said 
before,  there  must  of  necessity  be  various  limita- 
tions as  to  age  of  Rose  garden,  its  extent,  and 
locality  ;  liut  these  minor  matters  could  be  dealt 
with  by  a  suitable  committee  of  experts.  The 
main  thing  is  to  have  the  matter  discussed,  and  I 
think  this  memorable  Coronation  year  would  be  a 
suitable  one  for  the  promotion  of  such  a  scheme. 
I  am  confident  that  many  lovers  of  the  Rose  would 
spare  no  expense  or  trouble  if  thej'  could  possess 
an  ideal  Rose  garden,  and  I  am  sure  the  prize 
winners  would  lie  delighted  to  give  a  proof  of  the 
happy  brotherhood  that  exists  among  the  P^ose- 
growing  fraternity  b_v  aftbrding  opportunities  to 
would-be  planters  of  inspecting  their  Rose  gardens, 
and  that  they  would  afibrd  them  such  practical 
information  as  can  best  be  obtained  from  a  visit  to 
a  well-kept  rosary. — Philomel. 
Intpoduction  of  Erinus  alpinus.— 

Can  j'ou  tell  me  if  there  is  any  trace  of  Erinus 
alpinus  having  been  introduced  by  the  Romans? 
A  lecture  was  recently  given  in  Northumberland 
on  the  Roman  Wall.  The  lecturer  mentioned  that 
Erinus  hispanicus  was  an  introduction  by  the 
Romans.  A  brother  of  mine  used  to  carrv  some 
seeds  of  it  about  with  him  and  sow  it  on  mossy 
walls.  His  daughter  says  she  had  no  doubt  but 
that  it  was  hix  introduction.  I  have  always  known 
it  as  alpinus.  The  same  daughter  tells  me  that 
she  sowed  some  on  the  walls  of  the  Roman  baths 
at  Bath.— M.  B. 

Rhododendpon   Daviesi,— If  only  to 

perpetuate  the  memory  of  an  enthusiastic  lover  of 
plants  and  successful  hybridist — the  late  Mr.  Isaac 
Davies,  of  Ormskirk — this  Rhododendron  is  worthy 
of  note,  but  it  is,  in  addition,  very  attractive. 
Tliough  its  flowering  season  is  usually  limited 
more  or  less  to  the  spring  months,  like  most  of 
the  h3'brid3  of  R.  javanicum  it  is  not  strict!}'  con- 
fined to  that  season,  and  its  bright-coloured  flower 
clusters  are,  in  a  warm  greenhouse,  just  now  very 
attractive.  It  was  obtained  by  the  intercrossing 
of  R.  javanicum  and  the  pretty  little  R.  retusum, 
also  a  native  of  .Java,  whose  bright  red  flowers, 
somewhat  like  little  Fuchsias,  are  borne  usually  in 
late  spring  or  in  early  summer.  This  last-named 
species  has,  as  far  as  I  know,  not  been  employed 
bj'  Messrs.  Veitch  in  the  production  of  their 
numerous  and  valuable  hybrids,  hence  it  is  distinct 
from  any  of  them,  the  flowers  being  rather  small, 
partially  drooping,  and  bright  orange-red  in  colour. 
It  is  apt  to  run  up  tall  and  bare  during  its  earlier 
stages,  hence  it  is  more  adapted  for  large  speci- 
mens than  as  small  plants.  As  far  as  I  know, 
only  one  other  variety  claiming  parentage  from  R. 
retusum  has  become  at  all  popular,  and  that  was 
R.  Prince  of  Wales,  sent  out  by  the  then  promi- 
nent firm  of  RoUiason  in  the  early  sixties,  but  it 
seems  to  have  long  since  dropped  out  of  cultivation. 
— H.  P. 
New   hybpid   alpine   Ipis.— I  enclose 

two  photographs  of  a  new  hybrid  alpine  Iris  ;  the 
one  (upright)  taken  on  December  80  last  from  a 
flower  which  had  been  open  a  week  in  an  unhealed 
greenhou.se  ;  the  second  (group)  taken  from  plants 
growing  out  of  doors  in  an  open  field,  .January  7. 
11102,  the  variety  in  this  latter  case  being  Voltaire. 
The  flowers  of  the  former  are  pale  sulphur  in 
colour,  and  of  the  latter  lemon -yellow,  with 
blotched  falls,  while  the  height  of  the  plant  is 
6  inches.  One  or  two  flowers  which  had  gone  over 
were  removed  from  the  group  before  photographing. 
— W.  .J.  C.ii'ARNE.  [Unfortunately,  the  photo- 
graphs Mere  not  suitable  for  reproduction,  but 
the}'  showed  how  interesting  the  flowers  must  have 
been  in  their  full  beaut}'.  We  hope  Jlr.  Caparne 
will  continue  his  good  work  of  raising  new  Irises. 
—Ens.  J 

Hardiness  of  certain  shrubs.— .Mr. 

Dugmore  in  your  issue  of  the  4th  inst.  cijnnnents 
very  fairly  on  my  notes  of  December  14,  and  asks 
certain  questions  which  I  am  pleased  to  answer. 
The  temperatures  mentirmed  in  connection  with 
the  Camellia  were  registered  by  a  thermometer 
fully  exposed  4  feet  from  the  ground  and  fixed  to  a 
wooden  post.  The  Benthamia  I  referred  to  stood 
on  the  border  of  Exmoor  400  feet  above  sea  level, 


exposed  to  the  north,  from  which  quarter  on  the 
occasion  named  a  continuous  gale  blew  for  five 
days,  which  kept  the  mercury  of  a  thermometer 
exposed  against  a  house  wall  at  14'^  without  change. 
As  regards  Cacti  I  have  not  had  much  experience, 
and  merely  wished  for  information  ;  those  I  have 
been  successful  with  are  Opuntia,  Cereus,  Echino- 
cereus,  Echinopsis,  and  Echinocactus  of  various 
sorts  and  I  have  seen  the  Cereus  chilensis  in  several 
Swiss  gardens  and  been  told  they  are  left  out  all 
the  winter.  The  Aloes  I  had  in  my  mind  were  the 
American  and  Mexican  species,  and  with  these  I 
quite  agree  that  damp  is  an  important  factor. — 
Nemo,  JJeron. 
Preserving    wild    plants   in 

America. — In  order  that  the  desirability  of 
preserving  native  species  in  their  full  beauty  shall 
be  continuously  brought  to  the  public  attention, 
the  Misses  Olivia  and  Caroline  Phelps  Stokes 
presented  to  the  board  of  managers  of  the  New 
York  Botanical  Garden,  under  date  of  August  29, 
1901,  the  sum  of  3,000  dollars,  on  condition  that 
the  interest  of  this  fund  should  always  be  used  for 
the  investigation  and  preservation  of  native  plants, 
or  for  bringing  the  need  for  such  preservation  before 
the  public.  A  definite  course  has  now  been  decided 
upon,  and  an  offer  of  money  prizes  is  made  for 
suitable  essays. — Annrican  Gardening. 

Apple  Sturmer  Pippin.— I  am  glad  to 

find  that  this  good  Apple  is  receiving  more  atten- 
tion. I  consider  it  unsurpassed  either  for  dessert 
or  cooking  in  March  and  April,  the  flavour  of 
well-ripened  fruit  being  delicious.  Some  complain 
of  its  small  size,  but  when  grown  in  good  soil  it  is 
as  large  as  Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  which  is  (juite 
large  enough  for  a  dessert  Apple.  I  remember 
some  fine  pyramid  trees  which  grew  in  a  garden  in 
Essex  many  years  ago.  The  soil  was  deep  and 
loamy,  and  the  trees  bore  splendid  crops  of  large 
highly  coloured  fruit  almost  annually,  and  they 
kept  well  until  spring.  It  has  a  hardy  constitution, 
and  often  bears  fruit  in  unfavourable  seasons  when 
other  varieties  fail. — J.  CR.\wFORn. 


STOVE      PLANTS. 

Ar.vlia. 

Of  the  numerous  kinds  of  Aralias  some  are  hardy, 
some  are  greenhouse  i)Iants,  while  others  require 
the  temperature  of  a  stove  to  ensure  the  best 
results.  It  is  with  the  latter  that  I  would  now 
concern  myself.     The  Aralias  are  primarily 

FoLtACE  Plants, 
that  is  to  say,  they  are  cultivated  chiefly  because 
of  the  ornamental  character  of  their  leaves.  It 
cannot  be  denied,  however,  that  some,  more 
especially  the  tall  growing,  handsome  hardy 
species  are  decidedly  more  striking  wlien  in  flower 
than  otherwise.  Some  of  the  stove  Aralias  may  be 
classed  amongst  the  best  of  hothouse  plants  :  the 
leaves  are  beautifully  formed  and  of  particularly 
graceful  appearance.  They  will  not,  perhaps, 
withstand  so  much  rough  upage  as  some  stove 
plants  one  might  mention,  and  should  not,  if  one 
wishes  to  keep  them  in  good  health  and  iii 
possession  of  all  their  leaves,  be  frequently  made 
use  of  for  decorative  purposes  in  cold  rooms  or 
other  places  unsuited  to  their  well-being.  Aralias 
are  somewhat 

DlKFICLLT   TO    PrOI'AGATE, 

the  onl\-  satisfactory  method  being  that  of  grafting, 
and  they  must  at  no  time  be  subjected  to  careless 
treatment,  for  few  stove  plants  will  more  (|uickly 
.show  the  ettccts  of  neglect  than  will  Aralias,  and  a 
plant  of  this  description,  when  bereft  of  its  lower 
leaves,  and  with  some  of  the  others  far  from 
the  colour  they  ought  to  be,  is  anything  but  a 
thing  of  beauty.  Careful  watering  has  mucli  to  do 
with  keeping  them  in  the  best  health.  I'lither  an 
excess  of  moisture  at  the  roots,  or  occasional 
periods  of  drought  at  the  same  source,  will  almost 
certainly  cau.se  the  leaves  to  fall.  It  has  been 
before  mentioned  that  the 

Soil  for  Stove  Plants 
should  ha\'e  a  large  admixture  of  sand  in  its  com- 
position ;  irregular  or  careless  watering  will  then 


January  25,  1902.] 


THE     GAEDEN. 


53 


not  be  so  liable  to  ruin  the  plant  as  if  this  ingre- 
dient were  absent.  The  more  delicate  of  the  stove 
Aralias  require  a  somewhat  lighter  soil  than  do 
stronger  growing  ones  ;  for  the  former  a  compost 
consisting  of  equal  quantities  of  loam,  leaf-soil, 
and  peat,  with  a  liberal  addition  of  the  all-impor- 
tant sand,  should  produce  the  very  best  of  plants 
in  so  far  as  soil  can  ensure  that  result.  Loam  may 
preponderate  in  preparing  a  potting  compost  for 
the  strongest  growing  ones,  (iood  drainage  is,  of 
course,  essential  in  both  instances. 

For  table  decoration  some  of  the  most  graceful 
of  the  stove  kinds  are  particularly  suitable  :  their 
finely  cut  foliage,  whilst  not  obstructing  in  any 
way  one's  view,  yet  provide  a  tasteful  embellish- 
ment for  the  table.  Some  of  the  more  note- 
worthy stove  Aralias  are  A.  elegantissima,  A. 
Veitchii,  A.  V.  graeillima,  Guilfoylei,  Reginte, 
kerchoveana,  papyrifera,  and  leptophylla. 

ARTST0L0(JHIA. 
But  few  collections  of  stove  plants  contain,  if 
any,  more  than  one  plant  of  Aristolochia,  and  the 
majority  possess  none  at  all.  These  plants  have 
quaint  characteristics  of  their  own,  however, 
that  should  commend  them  to  plant  lovers.  What 
could  one  have,  for  instance,  more  remarkably 
curious  than  the  giant  flowers  of  A.  gigas  var. 
tSturtevantii?  A  few  years  ago  it  was  thought  and 
spoken  much  of,  but  the  gardeners  of  to-day  appear 
to  have  relegated  it  to  quite  a  back  place,  if  indeed 
they  have  not  dispensed  with  it  altogether.  Aris- 
tolochias  may  either  be  grown  in  pots  or  planted 
out ;  preferably  the  latter,  for  being  climbers  they 
need  to  be  attached  to  some  support,  and  grow 
more  freely  also  when  a  good  root-run  is  provided. 
Propagation  is  not  at  all  difficult ;  it  is  best  effected 
by  inserting  in  a  mixture  of  sand  and  fine  soil  (the 
former  predominating)  cuttings  made  from  young 
shoots  ;  these  should  be  about  4  inches  or  so  long, 
and  if  possible  be  taken  off  with  a  heel  of  the  old 
wood  attached.  A  warm  moist  atmosphere  is 
essential  to  their  well-being  ;  the  more  vigorous 
and  numerous  the  growths  the  more  probability  is 
there  of  a  good  display  of  flowers.  Sufficient  shade 
only  to  prevent  the  foliage  being  scorched  should 
be  given  ;  too  dense  a  shade  will  cause  the  shoots 
to  be  so  soft  that  they  may  flower  but  poorl}'. 
A.  gigas  and  A.  gigas  Sturtevantii,  with  enormous 
flowers;  A.  elegantissima,  A.  caudata,  A.  goldieana, 
A.  tricaudata,  and  A.  odoratissima  are  noteworthy. 

AsPABAdUS. 
The  several  varieties  of  Asparagus  that  are  now 
so  largely  made  use  of  in  floral  decorations  may,  I 
think,  be  fairly  included  in  a  list  of  stove  plants, 
for,  although  most  of  them  will  grow  in  a  green- 
house temperature,  they  succeed  far  better  under 
warmer  conditions.  In  a  warm  and  fairly  moist 
house  they  are  far  happier  than  in  one  that  is  quite 
cool ;  they  grow  much  better,  and  are  altogether 
more  satisfactory.  Undoubtedly  they  (or  most 
of  them)  should  be  planted  out  rather  than  be 
grown  in  pots  ;  the  results  of  the  former  practice 
thoroughly  justify  one's  following  it.  The  graceful 
green  streamers  are  produced  in  great  profusion 
when  the  plants  enjoy  a  good  and  fairly  light  soil 
in  a  well-drained  border.  Loam,  with  a  liberal 
addition  of  leaf-mould  and  silver  sand,  forms  a 
suitable  compost,  and  the  drainage  is  most  impor- 
tant. This  item  is  of  even  greater  significance 
when  dealing  with  a  border  in  a  glass  house  than 
with  plants  in  pots  ;  in  the  latter  case  the  matter 
is  not  difficult  to  remedy,  in  the  former  it  can 
scarcely  be  done 

Without  Serious  Damage 
to  the  roots  of  the  plant.  The  long  and  graceful 
growths  of  the  various  Asparaguses  are  invaluable 
for  decorative  purposes  ;  they  remain  fresh  much 
longer  when  cut  than  Fern  fronds,  and  can  be 
utilised  to  a  better  purpose.  Shade  is  essential  to  the 
production  of  the  finest  and  deepest  coloured  leaf- 
sprays.  A.  plumosus  is  the  one  most  commonly 
grown  ;  its  varieties,  nanus  and  tenuissimus,  are 
also  iiopular.  A.  Sprengeri  has  recently  been 
much  sought  after,  and  in  our  market  nurseries  is 
now  very  extensively  grown.  A.  retrofractus,  A. 
verticillatus  (bearing  red  berries),  and  A.  soandens 
are  also  most  serviceable.  A.  P.  H. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

HARDY    PRIMULAS. 


H 


ARDY  Primulas  are  not  grown  so 
much  as  their  beauty  deserves  or  as 
much  as  one  might  expect.  They 
commence  to  bloom  in  March,  and 
one  species  or  another  continues  to 
do  so  until  the  autumn.  The  photo- 
graph shows  a  group  in  my  rock  garden  of 
various   kinds    all    worth    growing.       The   larger 

I  head  to  the  right  is  Primula  denticulata  alba. 
Denticulata  (the  type)  is  in  the  centre  ;  beneath 
it  is  the  Bird's-eye  Primula  (P.  farinosa),  a 
native  plant,  I  believe  ;  then  in  the  extreme  right 

corner  is  P.   viscosa,  and   the  prett3'  white  foi-m 

P.   nivalis.      A   good   clump    of   the    Sp'der  Web 

(Sempervivum     arach- 

noideum)can  be  detected 

in    the    right-hand    top 

corner. 

Primulas   are    One    of 

the    earliest    of    spring 

flowers,  are  easy  of  cul- 
ture,  and    live   through 

the  hardest  winter  pro- 
vided   they    have    good 

drainage   and    water    is 

not    allowed    to   collect 

near  the  crowns.     They 

have  a  curious  habit  of 

raising    themselves    out 

of  tlie  ground,  and  thus 

require  a  little  atten- 
tion,   such    as   a   mulch 

of  good   soil  worked  in 

round  the   roots  in  the 

late      autumn.        Other 

Primulas  worth  growing 

are  capitata  (one  of  the 

best),  japonica  (in  three 

forms),     luteola,      mar- 

§inata  (a  gem),  rosea, 
ieboldi  (in  a  dozen 
shades),  sikkimensis, 
Stuarti,  and  villosa. 

H.    K.    MOLYNEUX. 

ALDBOEOUGH 
ANEMONES. 

These  should  find  a 
place  in  ever}'  garden, 
as  no  other  flower  makes 
such  a  brilliant  sho\i 
during  April  and  May, 
and  no  other  flower, 
except  Lachenalias,  last 
so  long  when  cut  and 
placed  in  water.  They 
originated  in  the  garden 
of  the  late  Rev.  G. 
Nelson,  of  Aldborcugh, 
and  area  great  improve- 
ment on  the  old  Ane- 
mone fulgens.  They 
were     exhibited      in 

splendid  condition  at  the  Norwich  spring  show 
last  May  by  Mr.  Allan,  of  <luntun,  who  grows 
them  to  perfection.  Gunton  being  within  a 
few  miles  of  the  sea,  the  moist  climate  seems 
to  suit  them  admirably.  Their  culture  is  easy, 
but  they  should  be  divided  and  transplanted 
every  few  years.  A  well-drained  loamy  soil,  rather 
sandy  than  otherwise,  well  enriched  with  horse  or 
cow  manure — preferably  the  latter,  as  it  is  cooler 
—suits  them  best.  If  the  soil  is  inclined  to  be 
heavy,  a  liberal  quantity  of  leaf-mould,  road  grit, 
and  wood  ashes  should"  be  incorporated.  They 
require  a  moist  root-run,  and  to  plant  them  in 
rockeries  or  on  sloping  borders  is  to  court  failure. 
In  dry  seasons  the  plants  should  be  mulched  with 
old  Mushroom-bed  manure  or  leafy  refuse,  and 
receive  one  or  two  good  waterings.  The  corms 
should  be  divided  and  replanted  at  the  end  of 
every  second  jear,  and  is  best  done  as  soon  as  the 
foliage  dies  down.     The  seed  should  be  sown  as 


soon  as  ripe  in  a  semi-shaded  position,  and  it  is  a 
good  plan  to  place  a  light  over  the  seed-bed,  letting 
it  rest  on  four  flower-pots  to  protect  the  seed  from 
heaA'y  rains.  J.  Crawtord. 


TEOP^OLUM     SPECIOSUM     IN     THE 

SOUTH-WEST. 
Mr.  J.  Crook,  writing  of  Tropfeolum  speciosum 
on.page  23,  asks  others  to  give  their  experience  of 
this  gorgeous  climber  in  the  south.  Though  a  showy 
weed  in  Scotland,  where  barrowf  uls  of  roots  may  be 
had  for  the  asking,  it  is  generally  considered  difficult 
to  establish  in  the  south.  Until  a  few  years  ago  I 
shai-ed  this  opinion,  but  have  latelj'  had  reason  to 
considerably  modify  it.  In  a  sheltered  and  low- 
lying  valley,  about  2(1  feet  above  sea  level,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Torquay,  I  planted  roots  in 
various  positions.     All  of  these  died  except  one. 


PRIMUJ.A   denticulata,    P.    D.    AI.BA,    AN'D    P.    FARINOSA   IN   A   SUBURBAN 
GARDEN     (BALHAM). 

which  was  planted  in  a  wall  angle  facing  north- 
east, where  no  suiishiii  e  fell  on  the  ground  through- 
out the  entire  jear,  though  in  the  summer  the 
upper  shoots  of  the  plant  were  exposed  to  the 
sun's  raj's.  In  a  garden  in  the  vicinity  of  Teigii- 
niouth  man}'  roots  of  Tropa'oluni  speciosum  were 
planted  some  years  ago  in  prepared  soil.  After 
the  pUuting  had  been  completed  it  was  found  that 
some  roots  remained  over,  and  these  were  hastily 
consigned  to  the  soil  in  a  Rhododendron  bed.  The 
carefully-planted  roots  made  poor  growth  and 
evenlually  died,  though  well  attended  to  in  the 
matter  of  watering  and  keeping  the  soil  free  of 
weeds,  and  the  attempt  to  cultivate  the  Tropaeolum 
was  pronounced  a  failure.  Two  years  later  a  trail 
of  vivid  scarlet  appeared  on  a  Rhododendron,  and 
it  was  found  that  the  forgotten  remnant  of  roots 
had  become  firmly  established  in  the  bed.  Year 
by  year  the  display  increased  in  splendour,  and 
now  in   the   summer,   after   the    Rhododendrons' 


54 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  25,  1902. 


LILIUiM    WASllINCTONIAN'iTUr— SIERRAN   FORM   AND   TYl'E. 


blooms  are  past,  the  bushes  support  a  billowy 
sheet  of  vermiliou.  In  another  garden,  a  few 
miles  distant  from  that  just  alluded  to,  a  hedge  of 
Berberis  stenoph}'lla,  which  bounds  one  side  of  a 
tennis  lawn,  is  interwoven  with  the  shoots  of 
Tropieolum  speciosum.  After  the  Berberis  has 
flowered  the  flowering  sprays  are  cut  back  and 
the  bright  orange  of  their  blossoms  is  replaced  by 
the  scarlet  of  the  Flame  Nasturtium.  On  a  north 
wall  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Plynipton  this 
Tropajoluni  flourishes  in  company  with  Lapagerias, 
red  and  white,  and  in  another  ganleii,  a  mile 
nearer  the  moor,  it  is  doing  well  on  the  trunk  of 
an  enormous  .Silver  Fir.  Last  spring  at  Kings- 
wear,  South  Devon,  close  to  the  mouth  of  ihe 
River  Dart,  I  planted,  without  much  hope  of 
.success,  several  roots  of  Trop;eolum  speciosum. 
The  site  is  distant  only  about  40  yards  from  the 
water's  edge,  and  is  about  .3(1  feet  above  sea  level. 
.Some  were  planted  against  a  high  north-western 
wall  which  gets  no  sun  until  noon,  others  against 
a  south  wall,  both  walls  being  faced  with  painted 
wire  netting.  Others,  again,  were  planted  in  a 
spot  where  1  felt  they  were  foredoomed  to  failure. 
The  public  road  is  faced  by  a  masonry  wall  S  feet 
in  height,  the  ground  level  inside  the  wall  lieing 
6  feet  (i  inches  higher  than  tlie  road,  tliu.s  leaving 
the  garden  a  boundary  of  IS  inches  of  wall,  above 
which  wire  netting  to  the  height  of  :{  feet  is 
stretched.  The  wall  faces  due  south,  and  the 
Tropa'olum  roots  were  planted  immediately  behind 
it,  only  receiving  such  shade  as  a  height  of  l.S 
inches  could  afford.  Much  to  my  surprise  the 
plants  grew  and  flowered  well,  although  the  spot 
is  a  veritable  sun-trap,  and  tlie  summer  was 
exceptionally  hot.     All  the  roots  were  planted  in 


saucer  -  shaped  hollows, 
and  were  copiously 
watered  in  dry  weather. 
I  have  recently  examined 
the  various  plants  and 
find  that  those  on  the 
north-west  wall,  which 
they  shaie  with  Hidalgoa 
Wercklei,  whose  blooms 
are  of  almost  precisely 
similar  colour,  are  push- 
ing out  shoots  from  the 
nodes  of  the  dead  leaves 
to  a  height  of  Itl  feet, 
tliose  on  the  soutli  wall 
to  a  heiglit  of  'A  feet, 
wlule  one  .against  the 
IS-inch  parapet  facing 
the  public  road  is  sprout- 
ing at  every  node  on  its 
lowest  1'2  inches  of  stem. 
The  others  against  this 
parapet  show  no  signs  as 
yet  ot  renewed  vitality. 
I  think  ihe  instances 
given  in  this  note,  in 
four  of  which  the  height 
above  sea  level  was  cer- 
tainly not  more  than 
."id  feet(in  two  much  less), 
conclusively  disproves 
M.  Rich's  contention 
(page  3(i2,  vol.  Ix.)  that 
"altitude  has  much  to 
do  with  the  success  of 
the  growth  "  of  Tropa^o- 
lum  speciosum.  The  best 
method  of  dealing  with 
the  roots  of  this  Tropjeo- 
lum  is  to  lay  them  in  a 
shalloAV  box  or  pan  of 
damp  eocoanut  fibre, 
and  to  start  them  under 
glass.  As  soon  as  any 
show  above  the  fibre 
they  should  be  placed  in 
a  shady  position  in  the 
open  and  carefully 
planted  with  the  fibre 
adhering  to  the  roots 
when  the  shoots  are 
:i  inches  in  height.  I 
have  invariably  u.sed  a 
compost  of  peat,  leaf-mould,  and  loam  in  equal 
proportions,  to  which  a  liberal  allowance  of  road- 
grit  is  added. 

I  may  say  that  up  to  this  summer  I  have 
always  considered  Kingswear,  with  its  almost 
precipitous  southern  slope,  its  light  shallow  soil, 
and  its  summer  drought,  about  .as  unlikelj'  a  spot 
for  the  Flame  Nasturtium  to  succeed  in  as  could 
well  be  imagined.  Mesembryanthemums  flourish, 
braving  the  winters  out  of  doors  without  pro- 
tection, and  Acacia  dealbata  is  generally  in  flower 
in  the  open  before  Februarj',  but  the  climatic 
conditions  that  render  such  things  possible  are  the 
very  ones  that  are  supposed  to  be  fatal  to  the 
successful  culture  of  Tropieolum  speciosum. 

S.   W.  FlTZHDRBEKT. 

Kiiii/sircar,  Soiilli  Derail. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not  responsible  for   the   opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  ) 

FRUIT     EVAPORATION. 

[To  THE  Editor  ok  "The  Oarden."] 
IR,— The  excellent  report  of  Mr.  Harper's 
lecture  on  "  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Evapo- 
rating" needs  no  supplementing  from 
me,  but  I  would  like  to  otl'er  a  few 
remarks  on  the  subject.  I  tliink  that 
Mr.  Harper  has  made  it  plain  that  there 
is  a  demand  for  evaporated  produce,  an.d  at  the 
same  time  explained  very  clearly  that  the  price 
obtaii  ed   for    these    is    not    such    that   it   would 


s 


displace  the  trade  in  fresh  fruit.  But  all  who  arc 
connected  with  the  land  know  only  too  well  the 
unfortunate  results  of  a  glut,  and  it  is  this  state  of 
affairs  that  evaporating  may  be  able  to  remedy. 
It  enables  the  grower  to  keep  off  the  market  either 
the  entire  crop  or  at  any  rate  the  inferior  part  of 
it.  He  must  value  what  he  keeps  back,  not  at  the 
top  price  but  at  the  bottom  price.  We  are  told 
continually  that  we  ought  not  to  market  our 
inferior  fruit  and  vegetables.  That  if  we  threw 
them  away  the  difference  in  the  price  obtained  for 
the  best  part  would  more  than  compensate  us  for 
the  loss.  It  is  thus  the  object  of  those  who 
advocate  evaporating  to  turn  this  waste  into  a 
possible  profit.  That  is  the  whole  object  of  the 
process,  and  it  is  just  this  that  people  are  apt  to 
lose  sight  of.  The  essential  condition  of  produce 
for  evaporating  is  its  state  of  ripeness,  and  not 
size  or  shape.  It  may  be  objecte<l  that  the  results 
of  a  process  worked  on  these  lines  would  not  be 
marketable  :  probably  not,  if  each  one  did  the 
work  for  himself,  but  if  farmers  combined  and 
marketed  their  dried  fruit  and  vegetables  through 
a  co-operative  society  in  large  quantities  and  in 
uniform  condition  (and  this  can  be  done  without  a 
very  large  capital  expenditure),  then  the  prospect 
is  at  any  rate  hopeful.  The  import  tr.ade  in  these 
articles  is  as  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  now  is  the 
time  for  us  to  try  and  get  hold  of  it.  It  is 
essential  that  in  making  this  attempt  we  should 
be  as  far  as  possible  united  and  work  together. 

O.  F.  Eyre. 
Ai/ricnltural  Organisation  Society,  Uacre  House, 
Dacre  Street,  Westtninster,  S.  W. 

MR.  BURBANK'S  HYBRID  LILIES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — In  his  letter  in  The  Garden  of  Septem- 
ber 2S,  1901,  Mr.  Burbank  refers  to  some  hybrid 
Lilies  now  in  my  hands,  and  also  to  the  so-called 
L.  Burbankii.  It  so  happens  that  I  have  known 
all  these  Lilies  since  they  were  in  the  seed  pans 
ten  years  ago.  In  Garden  and  Forest  of  August  14, 
189.5,  page  329,  will  be  found  a  full  description  of 
some  three  acres  of  these  hybrids  as  thej'  appeared 
on  .June  1.3,  llS9u,  the  first  year  that  they  gave  a 
full  bloom,  and  an  account  of  the  experiments 
and  crosses  which  led  up  to  them. 

Of  this  I  will  give  a  brief  resumi'.  As  early  as 
1S77  Mr.  Burbank  collected  some  bulbs  of  L. 
pardalinum  near  the  (ieysers  in  Sonoma  County, 
North-western  California.  From  these  selections 
were  made,  and  successive  generations  of  seedlings 
chosen  with  a  view  to  new  strains.  The  results 
were  remarkable.  In  1H92  Mr.  Burbank  had  five 
or  six  especially  good  strains  of  L.  pardalinum 
thoroughly  fixed.  One  very  low,  compact,  and 
free-flowering  form  was  named  and  introduced. 
There  were  other  strong  colour  variations,  and  at 
the  other  extreme  a  giant  strain  growing  as  high 
as  9  feet  in  the  garden  row  at  Sebastopol.  There 
was  one  drawljack  to  this  otherwise  excellent  work 
in  the  fact  that  his  original  plants  were  not  the 
V)est  wild  strain  of  L.  pardalinum.  There  are  wild 
strains  superinr  to  his  best  improved  L.  parda- 
linums  in  flower,  but  the  Burbanii  pardalinums  are 
splendid  growers.  With  some  of  his  best  improved 
L.  pardalinums  as  pistillate  parents  Mr.  Burbank 
then  began  to  hybridise  on  a  large  scale.  'J'he 
staminate  parents  used  were  L.  auratum  many 
varieties  ;  L.  Batemannia',  L.  Brownii,  L.  candi- 
dum,  L.  Catesbit,i,  L.  chalcedonicum.  L.  elegans, 
L.  Humboldtii,  L.  longiflorum,  L.  Martagon,  1^. 
niaritimum,  L.  Parryii,  L.  parvum,  L.  speciosum,  L. 
tigrinum,  L.  wallichianum  superbum,  L.  washiiig- 
tonianum,  and  L.  washingtonianum  purpureuni. 

Besides  these  hybridi.sations  with  L.  pardalinum 
as  the  pistillate  flower,  L.  Humboldtii  and  some 
other  Pacific  Coast  Tribes  were  used  to  a  small 
extent.  No  close  record  was  kept  of  the  seed 
produced,  but  it  was  all  sown,  and  I  saw  the 
seedlings  at  a  year  old,  some  4ll{i,(llH)  or  so. 
Four  years  later  I  saw  them  in  full  flower  near 
Sebastopol.  .Tust  how  ni,any  there  were  would  be 
hard  to  say.  Mr.  Burb,ank  estimated  1(1(1, (HIO,  and 
there  were  about  three  acres  solid  in  nursery  row 
form.  In  the  absence  of  any  segregation  of  the 
various  cros.se3  we  could  only  'judge  the  pedigree 


January  25,  1902.] 


THE  GAEDEN. 


55 


of  any  plant  by  its  peculiarities.  At  the  time  I 
thought  I  could  see  traces  of  the  influence  of  the 
old  world  and  eastern  United  States  species,  but 
my  present  opinion  is  that  all  of  those  crosses  were 
either  failures  or  reversions  to  the  pardalinum 
type.  That  all  the  Pacific  Coast  hybrids  were 
successful  there  was  ample  evidence  in  the  seed- 
lings. The  growing  of  so  many  seedlings,  begin- 
ning with  the  L.  pardalinums,  entailed  a  long 
course  of  elimination  of  weaker  forms,  and  I 
suppose  that  -2,000,01:11)  seedlings  had  been  grown. 
The  variations  were  exceedingly  numerous,  and 
many  were  very  fine.  .Judging  by  the  characters, 
the  hybrids  could  have  been  grouped  into  five  sets: 
—First,  L.  pardalinum  X  L.  washingtonianum. 
In  these  the  range  was  from  a  fragrant  parda- 
linum to  the  best  type  of  what  is  now  known  as 
L.  Burbankii.  All  of  these  were  distributed.  The 
name  L.  Burbankii  is  an  unhappy  one,  and  should 
be  dropped,  for  I  see  no  way  of  now  confining 
it  to  the  best  of  these  much  varied  forms  of  L. 
pardalinum  x  washingtonianum  ;  second,  L.  parda- 
linum X  Humboldtii ;  third,  L.  pardalinum  x 
Parryii  ;  fourth,  L.  pardalinum  x  maritimum  ; 
fifth,  some  untraceable  hybrids. 

From  the  large  number  of  plants  in  the  field 
Mr.  Burbank  selected  the  best.  Seeds  were  saved 
from  some  of  them,  especially  the  L.  pardalinum 
X  Parryii  cross,  and  probably  1,000  flowered  two 
years  ago.  These  were  better  than  the  first 
generation.  In  the  meantime  the  gopher,  most 
destructive  of  our  rodents,  had  sadly  reduced  the 
original  selection.  The  best  of  all  I  fear  is  lost. 
Two  years  ago  Mr.  Burbank  gave  into  my  care  all 


LIUUM    WASIIINIJTONIA.N'UM  —  NOKTHEKX  CALIFORNIA  A^' Ll    COAST    RAjSCE   FOKM, 


of  the  original  selections  of  groups  two,  three,  and 
four,  and  a  year  later  I  selected  the  best  of  the 
second  generation,  and  now  all  are  at  Lyons 
Valley  and  thriving.  The  conditions  there  are 
very  favourable,  and  so  far  I  do  not  think  I  have 
lost  one.  There  are  four  sets  of  them,  each  with 
strongly  marked  traits  : — 

First. — L.  Humboldtii  x  pardalinum. — Of  these 
there  are  probabl}'  100  forms  and  3(10  to  400  strong 
bulbs.  A  hj'brid  more  perfectly  combining  the 
two  parents  could  not  be  imagined.  In  every  case 
the  bulb  is  large,  with  long,  unjointed  scales,  but 
forming  clumps  like  L.  pardalinum.  They  root 
very  heavily,  and  are  splendid  growers.  The 
single  bulb  would  puzzle  one  to  name  ;  it  would 
never  be  taken  for  a  pardalinum,  but  is  more  like 
some  unusually  long,  narrow  Humboldtii.  The 
stems  are  stout,  usually  tall,  and  are  heavy  ;  some 
are  smooth  like  L.  pardalinum,  but  far  more  are 
pubescent  like  L.  Humboldtii  ;  the  greater  number 
would  be  unhesitatingly  called  L.  Humboldtii.  In 
every  case  I  think  the  flower  has  the  thick,  heavy 
petals  and  peculiar  form  of  L.  Humboldtii,  but  in 
colour  there  is  every  extreme,  from  an  almost 
typical  L.  pardalinum  to  all  but  the  clear  orange 
of  L.  Humboldtii.  One  only  lacks  a  trifle  of  that 
extreme,  having  a  few  faint  flecks  of  crimson  on 
an  orange  ground.  One  of  the  finest  is  L. 
Humboldtii  var.  magnificum  in  all  but  the  bulb. 
I  have  long  believed  that  the  latter  owed  its  origin 
to  this  same  cross. 

There  is  an  embarrassment  of  riches  among 
these  hybrids.  Every  one  is  a  good  grower, 
handsome,  and  worthy  of  perpetuation.  I  have 
selected  some  eight  or 
ten  of  the  very  best, 
from  which  a  further 
selection  of  two  or  three 
will  be  made.  It  will 
be  at  least  five  j'ears 
before  the  public  can 
have  them.  There  is 
one  thing  to  be  hoped 
for  from  this  cross,  and 
that  is  a  typical  reddish 
orange  Humboldtii 
flower  with  tlie  splendid 
constitution  of  par- 
dalinum. To  this  end 
another  generation  of 
seedlings  will  be  reared 
from  plants  showing 
that  tendency.  A  photo- 
graph sent  shows  a  fine 
flower  with  crimson 
tips,  otherwise  L.  Hum- 
boldtii. The  stalk  was 
fully  7  feet  high. 

Second. — L.  pardali- 
num X  maritimum. — 
Probably  a  single  plant 
selected  by  Mr.  Bur- 
bank :  one  of  many  on 
similar  lines  (all  now 
lost)  has  been  propa- 
gated until  there  are 
something  like  100.  The 
bulb  is  rhizomatous,  and 
it  is  a  good  grower  and 
very  floriferous.  A 
photograph  sent  shows 
its  habit  well.  The 
almost  campanulate 
flowers,  standing  hori- 
zontally, have  a  deep 
crimson  ground.  It  is 
showy  and  good. 

Third. — A  group  of 
wonderfully  heavy, 
strong  bulbs  of  the  par- 
dalinum class,  the  pro- 
duce of  a  single  section. 
The  stems  are  also  very 
stout,  the  flowers  very 
large,  of  the  pardalinum 
type,  but  spreading 
broadly  before  turning 
back.  The  main  colour 
is  a  deep  crimson  heavily 


spotted.  The  fact  that  L.  pardalinum  is  one  parent 
is  apparent  enough,  but  I  have  no  idea  what  cross 
could  so  broaden  and  flatten  the  flowers.  As  a 
whole  it  is  very  showy,  although  singly  the  flowers 
are  a  trifle  heavy. 

Fourth. — L.  Parryii  x  L.  pardalinum  in  first 
and  second  generation. — Of  these  there  is  a  clump 
each  of  perhaps  fifty,  and  of  twenty  of  them  it 
might  be  said  that  any  one  would  be  a  decided 
acquisition  to  the  garden.  They  are  no  such 
rampant  growers  as  some  of  the  other  hybrids,  but 
that  they  have  gained  considerable  vitality  through 
the  pardalinum  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  neither 
L.  Parr^'ii  nor  L.  parvum  do  well  in  the  adjacent 
ground,  while  the  hybrids  are  very  health}'  plants. 
They  have  the  slender  habit  of  L.  Parryii  and 
either  revolute  or  trumpet-shaped  flowers,  but 
faintl}'  dotted.  In  colour  they  range  from  pale 
lemon  to  the  lemon  of  the  t3'pical  L.  Parryii,  and 
they  are  fragrant.  The  two  flowers  in  the  photo- 
graph are  from  dift'erent  plants.  The  finest 
one  is  as  revolute  as  L.  pardalinum,  and  a  clear 
lemon  colour.  It  is  equal  to  any  known  Lilj'. 
Several  are  much  paler  and  trumpet-shaped.  The 
hybrids  showing  a  tendency  to  L.  pardalinum 
have,  with  a  few  exceptions,  been  eliminated  by 
selection.  These  few  I  am  giving  space  to  as 
interesting  plants,  but  what  the  gardens  need  is 
not  new  forms  of  L.  pardalinum  but  a  truly 
vigorous  plant  of  the  Parryii  type.  I  am  propa- 
gating all  the  best  of  the  L.  pardalinum  x  Parryii 
by  scales,  but  it  will  take  at  least  another  year  to 
make  a  final  selection  of  the  best,  and  years  after 
to  propagate  a  stock. 

Mr.  Burbank's  experiments  in  Lily  hybridisation 
have  been  the  most  extensive  ever  undertaken.  It 
is  really  too  bad  that  his  name  could  not  have 
been  attached  to  one  of  these  splendid  forms  which 
from  the  first  he  recognised  as  the  best,  instead  of 
to  a  nondescript  medley,  the  very  best  of  which 
would  be  to  his  credit,  but  a  great  many  of  which 
were  equalled  by  thousands  of  forms  wliich  he 
eliminated.  The  multiplicity  of  forms  in  that 
three-acre  field  in  189.")  was  amazing.  Thousands  of 
plants  could  have  been  selected  as  distinct  as  many 
recognised  species. 

The  task  of  selection  was  indeed  a  difficult  one, 
and  is  most  troublesome  in  the  last  stage,  when  the 
choice  must  be  between  forms  all  of  which  are 
unusually  good. 

Ukiah,  Catifmiiia,  U.S.A.  Carl  Pdrdy. 

[With  this  article  Mr.  Purdy  kindly  sent  several 
photographs,  tl  e  greater  pare  of  them,  however, 
could  not  have  been  reproduced.  —  Eds.] 


PROPAGATING  TREE  P.EONIES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — Will  you  kindly  tell  me  how  Tree  Pieonies 
can  be  propagated  otherwise  than  by  grafting.  If 
by  layers  or  cuttings,  please  give  as  detailed 
directions  as  your  usages  will  permit.  Can  Tree 
Pieonies  be  raised  from  seed  ?  If  so,  please  tell 
me  when  the  seed  should  be  planted,  and  how 
long  it  is  in  germinating.  I  assume  that  seedlings 
would  revert  to  the  commoner  type  of  bloom. 

Massachusetts,  U.S.A.  John  A.  Aiken. 

[We  hope  that  some  successful  growers  will  be 
so  good  as  to  give  their  experience.  It  is  always 
a  matter  of  regret,  and  no  doubt  a  source  of 
frequent  failure  in  the  growing  of  Tree  Pieonies 
that  the  soft  root  of  one  of  the  herbaceous  kinds 
should  be  used  as  the  stock  for  the  woody  scion. 
— Ed.s.] 


CHINA    ASTERS. 

Hardly  any  flower  has  been  more  improved 
of  late  years  than  the  China  Aster.  A  few 
years  ago,  although  the  varieties  were  already 
numerous,  it  was  hardly  possible  to  get  any 
that  were  not  more  or  less  spoilt  by  the 
striving  after  a  rather  unworthy  ideal,  the 
aim  appearing  to  be  to  stunt  the  plants  and  to 
crowd  the  flowers  with  too  many  petals. 

For  the  last  two  years  The  Garden  has 
frequently  appealed  to  growers  on  behalf  of 


56 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  25,  1902. 


the  thousands  of  amateurs  of  good  taste  who 
require  something  better  of  the  China  Aster. 
Whether  it  is  in  wise  as  well  as  courteou.s 
response  to  our  pleading  we  cannot  say,  but 
now  there  are  ([uite  a  good  number  of  kinds 
of  Asters  that  are  really  beautiful  garden 
flower.s,  beautiful  not  only  in  the  size  of  bloom 
but  of  whole  aspect. 

The  Comet  Asters  were  a  definite  step  in 
the  right  direction,  and,  though  the  old  tyranny 
began  to  make  itself  felt  in  the  way  of  keeping 
them  dwarf,  the  better  way  has  also  prevailed, 
and  now  we  have  them  of  free  growth.  What- 
ever may  be  wanted  for  market  purposes,  for 
gardens  we  want  the  free-growing  Asters,  such 
as  Vick's  Late,  and  the  tall  branching  kinds 
that  are  both  graceful  in  growth  and  long 
stalked  for  cutting.  We  have  known  of  more 
than  one  private  place  with  a  good  garden 
where  a  few  years  ago  Asters  were  forbidden 
because  they  were  dumped  and  stunted  out  of 


colours  if  they  can  possibly  obtain  better,  and 
now  that  the  better  things  may  be  had  they 
will  not  be  slow  in  welcoming  them. 

We  may  even  make  so  bold  as  to  say  to  the 
more  timid  amateur,  who  says  "  I  do  not  like 
China  Asters,"  that  he  cannot  know  what  the 
newer  flowers  are  like,  for  there  can  be  no  two 
opinions  as  to  their  beauty  and  desirability  for 
our  gardens. 


VERONICA.-II. 

It  is  not  intended  in  these  notes  to  attempt 
anything  like  a  monograph  of  the  200  species 
of  the  genus  Veronica,  or  even  of  all  those 
grown  in  English  gardens.  All  that  the  writer 
proposes  is  to  describe  those  which  he  has 
cultivated  in  his  garden  at  Edge,  and  has 
retained  as  worth  their  room.  It  cannot  be 
claimed  for  the  tribe  that  it  supplies  our  bor- 
ders with  many  first-class  ornaments.     Indeed, 


CiLLlSlEPIins   SINENSIS   (CHIN.\   ASTER  TYPE).        A  Uaiillfiil  lall-sU-mmcd  imrplc  llnurr  ) 


all  beauty,  and,  excepting  the  whites,  were  of 
a  range  of  rank  colours  of  the  aniline  quality. 

Now  there  are  beautiful  colours  to  be  had 
as  well  as  plants  good  in  form.  In  the  reds, 
instead  of  the  old  garish  pinks  and  crimsons, 
there  is  the  grand  blood  red  and  soft  shades  of 
rose  colour  and  lavender  purples  of  charming 
qualities,  besides  the  grand  single  Aster  sinensis 
now  well  known,  and  such  a  fine  garden  plant 
for  the  last  half  of  September. 

Let  anyone  who  does  not  know  the  newer 
and  better  Asters  grow  the  Giant  Comet,  white 
and  salmon-rose,  and  study  the  latest  seed  lists 
for  kinds  that  are  tall  and  branching,  and  ask 
for  the  newer  colourings  of  flesh  colour,  scarlet 
(so-called),  blood  red,  and  the  light  purples 
inclining  towards  blue.  The  white  colourings 
in  the  free-growing  Asters  are  always  good  for 
cutting. 

Seed  merchants  will  do  well  to  impress  upon 
their  growers  the  need  of  these  free-growing 
Asters  of  good  colouring.  Amateurs  are  no^v 
so  wide-awake  that  they  are  not  content  to 
put  up  with  the  old   dumpy  Asters  of  bad 


if  we  exclude  the  shrubs  which  come  from  our 
antipodes,  very  few  of  which  are  really  hardy, 
the  number  of  species  to  lie  mentioned  is  not 
large,  but  perhaps  some  of  them  deserve  more 
patronage  than  they  generally  meet  with. 

First,  with  regard  to  these  tender  shrubs 
from  New  Zealand  and  Australia,  they  thrive 
well  in  the  seaside  gardens  of  the  west  and 
south  coasts,  but  in  the  cold  soil  of  Cheshire 
hardly  half  a  dozen  kinds  survive  a  hard 
winter.  Twenty-five  degrees  below  freezing 
kills  nearly  all  of  them.  The  hardiest  is  V. 
Traversi,  a  spreading  bush  growing  4  feet  or 
f)  feet  high,  with  short  spikes  of  grey  flowers 
late  in  July,  and  glos.sy  green  leaves  in  decus- 
sate arrangement,  that  is,  in  opposite  pairs 
crossing  one  another  alternately,  an  arrange- 
ment which  in  this  shrub  has  an  unjileasing 
formality.  Another,  Y.  parvifiora,  nearly  as 
hardy,  is  a  great  favourite  at  Edge,  and  is 
encouraged  in  all  parts  of  the  garden.  The 
leaves  are  long  and  narrow,  and  from  their 
axils  grow  graceful  flower  spikes  in  ojiposite 
pairs,   lasting   from    early   in   .luly'late   into 


autumn.  The  same  shrubs  do  not  flower  all 
this  time,  but  the  flowering  is  in  succession 
according  to  the  age  and  situation  of  each. 
Seedlings  come  uj)  all  over  the  garden,  and  are 
easily  transplanted  in  spring  to  any  convenient 
place.  They  grow  about  a  foot  a  year,  and 
flower  freely  when  a  foot  high,  each  living  four 
or  five  years,  and  making  a  dense  bush.  The 
older  the  plants  the  more  tender  they  become. 
The  colour  of  the  flowers  is  white  with  pale 
blue  anthers.  This  species  is  not  so  common 
in  gardens  as  it  deserves  to  be  ;  it  was  culti- 
vated by  Miller  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and 
is  described  in  his  dictionary.  Several  dwarf 
kinds  of  this  class  make  good  rockery  plants. 
V.  pinguifolia  and  V.  carnosula  are  fairly 
hardy,  bearing  pale  blue  flowers  in  June,  and 
having  leaves  rather  like  those  of  Box  ;  they 
do  not  exceed  a  few  inches  in  height.  V. 
chathamica,  V.  cupressoides,  and  V.  epacridea 
are  generally  even  dwarfer,  and  have  pretty 
evergreen  foliage.  A  less  hardy 
species,  V.  hulkeana,  always  orna- 
ments my  greenhouse  as  a  pot  plant 
in  February,  and  in  warmer  gardens 
dowers  in  spring  without  protection. 
The  hardier  kinds,  commonly 
called  herbaceous,  may  be  divided 
for  convenience  into  those  which  grow 
erect,  flowering  in  a  terminal  spike, 
and  those  which  flower  from  the 
axils  of  the  leaves,  with  a  terminal 
shoot  of  leaves  often  hidden  amongst 
the  flower  spikes.  Besides  these, 
there  will  be  a  few  jjrostrate  and 
dwarf  forms  to  be  noticed.  Almost 
the  tallest  of  the  spiked  kinds  is 
V.  virginica  (syn.  verticillata),  the 
only  one  with  leaves  in  whorls.  It  is 
a  native  of  North  America,  and  grows 
4  feet  or  .^  feet  high,  with  unbranohed 
erect  stems,  well  clothed  with  broadly 
lanceolate  leaves.  At  the  top  is  a 
slender  elegant  spike,  nearly  a  foot 
long,  of  rather  dull  white  flowers. 
At  the  base  of  the  peduncle  three  or 
four  secondary  spikes  grow  in  an 
oblique  direction.  The  species  has  a 
distinct  variety  less  tall  than  the 
type,  with  the  spike  shorter  and  less 
pointed,  deflexed  from  near  the 
middle,  like  that  of  Cimicifuga  race- 
mosa ;  the  colour  is  dull  purple  ; 
the  .secnndary  spikes  are  still  more 
dt-flfxid.  These  two  forms  teem 
to  cross  spontaneou.sly,  the  ofl'spring 
being  more  robust  and  taller  than 
either  parent,  reaching  (i  feet  high, 
with  very  straight  spikes  of  lavender  colour.  All 
these  forms  are  elegant  in  habit,  and  maintain  a 
close  and  regular  growth,  a  bunch  of  twenty 
stalks  or  so  forming  a  tine  back  row  plant, 
which  continues  without  requiring  attention 
for  many  years. 

When  I  said  the  species  was  nearly  the 
tallest  herbaceous  Veronica,  I  qualified  the 
expression  because  I  had  in  mind  one  which  I 
grew  about  twenty  years  ago,  which  was  even 
taller  and  quite  distinct  from  any  other  I  ever 
saw,  bearing  a  blunt  clumsy  spike  of  dull  blue 
on  a  thick  erect  stalk  fully  6  feet  high,  with  a 
few  coarse  leaves  in  opposite  pairs.  I  quite 
forget  where  I  got  it,  but  on  sending  it  to  an 
expert  to  be  named  it  was  returned  as  V. 
pr(valta,  which  seemed  to  fit  it  well  enough. 
I  have  .since  looked  out  this  name  in  "  Index 
Kewensis,"  and  find  an  incredulous  Cj)uid  (?) 
after  it.  Two  references  are  given,  one  being 
Loddiges's  "Catalogue  of  Hardy  Perennials,"  an 
interesting  enumeration  of  nearly  2,000  of  these 
grown  in  English  gardens  about  x.v.  182.5;  the 
other  Sweet's  "  Hortus  Britannicus,"  a  work  of 


January  25,  1902.] 


THE    GAUDEN. 


57 


about  tlie  same  date,  which  I  have  never  seen. 
I  did  not  keep  the  plant,  judging  it  better 
suited  for  a  botanic  garden  than  for  an  orna- 
mental border.  V.  gentianoides,  native  of  Asia 
Jlinor  and  Greece,  may  be  mentioned  here, 
though  not  flowering,  strictly  speaking,  in  a 
spike.  The  leaves  are  supposed  to  bear  some 
resemblance  to  those  of  a  Gentianella.  It 
makes  leafy  flower  stems  more  than  a  foot 
high  from  a  spreading  breadth  of  basal  leaves. 
The  flowers  begin  at  about  half  the  height,  and 
are  large,  alternating  with  leafy  bracts  ;  they 
come  in  June.  I  have  grown  three  distinct 
forms.  The  type  has  tomentose 
leaves  and  grey  flowers 
veined  vvith  purple.  Another 
form  has  whiter  flowers,  with 
smooth  glossy  leaves,  and  there 
is  a  variety  of  this  last  with 
the  leaves  edged  with  white. 
Botanical  Magazine,  t.  1002, 
has  rather  a  flattering  portrait 
of  the  plant. 

C.  WOLLEY  DOD. 

Edge  Hall,  Mal2Xis. 

P.S. — I  omitted  to  mention 
that  the  variety  of  V.  virginica 
above  described  is  also  known 
by  the  names  of  V.  sibirica 
(Linnaeus)  or  V.  japonica 
(Steudel),  and  to  gardeners 
seems  distinct  enough  to  make 
a  species.  C.  W.  D. 


winter  of  1890-91  was  the  first  of  a  series  of 
five  which  were  exceedingly  severe,  but  long 
continued  frost  did  not  seem  to  injure  this  tree 
in  the  least,  and  it  quickly  grew  above  all 
shelter.     Even  the  tips  of  the  growing  .shoots 


forming  a  fine  bushy  tree.  But  in  the  spring 
of  1897  a  very  heavy  fall  of  snow,  which  did 
great  damage  to  both  trees  and  telegraph 
wires,  broke  ofi'  about  8  feet  or  10  feet  of 
the  leading  shoot.  This  caused  one  of  the 
lateral  branches  near  the  ground  to  increase 
and  grow  upwards,  so  that  the  tree  now 
divides  near  the  ground  and  seems  to  have 
two  stems  and  a  fine  bushy  head.  It  has 
flowered  regularly  for  the  last  five  or  six  years, 
but  more  abundantly  this  year  than  usual,  and 
as  the  flowers  were  in  perfection  at  Christmas 
they  are  very  acceptable,  though  not  either 
large  or  highly  coloured.  The  form  and  the 
delicate  glaucous  and  somewhat  reddish  tints 


AN     ARTIST'S 
NOTE-BOOK. 


EUCA  L  Y  PTUS 
GUNNII. 

THIS  species  has  rather 
a  wide  range,  being 
found    from    South 
Australia    to     New 
South    Wales,     and 
also  in  Tasmania,  but  always 
I  believe  on  the  higher  moun- 
tains, and  pro- 
bably in  a  dry 
soil,  but  I  have 
been    able     to 
find  no  details 
on  this  point  in 
anyof  the  books 
I  have  access  to. 
It  is  one  of  the 
smaller  species, 
its  height  in  its 
native    country 
being  given   as 
about  .30  feet.  It 
is  said  (in  "The 
Dictionary  of  Gardening")  to 
be  "perhaps   the  hardiest  of 
all  the  species,"  and  my  own 
experience    shows    that    it    is 
really   "hardy"   in   the  south 
of  England,  and  probably  in 
the  north  also.      The    tree  I 
now  possess  was  raised  by  me 
from  seed  in  1887  or  1888  at 
Godalming.      In   June,    1889, 
1  brought  it  to  Parkstone  in  a  pot   it  being 
then  about  1.")  inches  or  18  inches  high.   It  was 
at  once  planted  on  a  bank  of  gravelly  soil  and 
about  20  feet  from  a  deep  railway  cutting,  so 
that  its  roots  were  free  from  all  superfluous 
moisture.    Its  first  winter,  1889-90,  was  mild, 
and  it  grew  rapidly  till  the  succeeding  winter, 
when  it  was,  I  think,  6  feet  or  7  feet  high.  The 


were  only  occasionally  cut  by  the  frost, 
while  it  bore  the  strongest  gales,  which 
caused  its  leading  shoots  to  bend  and  lash 
about  like  a  slender  whip-handle,  with 
complete  impunity.  In  1896  it  had 
reached  a  height  of  about  25  feet  and 
was  of  a  fine  pyramidal  shape  with  a 
straight  stem  and  many  la,teral  bra,nches. 


EUCALYPTUS    CUNNTI     IN    ri.OWEK. 


(very  slightly  reduced.) 


(.Drawn  hy  Miss  I.  M,  Charters.) 


58 


THE    GARDEK. 


[January  25,  1902 


of  the  foliage  and  young  shoots  are  however 
very  beautiful. 

The  trunk  of  this  tree  now  measures  .'5  feet 
(i  inclies  round  at  a  foot  aliovo  the  ground,  anil 
it  is  1  think  about  .'50  feet  high,  while  there 
seems  every  probability  of  its  growing  some- 
what higher.  It  has  stood  such  severities  both 
of  frost  and  wind  that  I  doubt  if  our  very 
severest  winters  will  injure  it,  and  it  apparently 
reijuires  only  a  dry  and  gravelly  soil  to  grow 
rapidly  into  a  very  beautiful  small  tree. 

Alfrkii  R.  W.^llai'e. 

Pm-kstoite,  Doraet. 


M 


THE    INDOOR   GARDEN. 

THE  CULTUEE  OF  BOUVAEDIAS 
FOR  AUTUMN  AND  WINTER 
FLOWERING. 

["ANY  visitors  to  the  last  Chrysanthe- 
mum e.\hibition  noticed  the  fine 
e.xhibit  of  Bouvardias  shown  by 
M.  Fargetou,  nurseryman  of  Angers. 
This  circumstance  reminds  one  of 
the  value  of  these  charming  plants. 
A  few  j'ears  ago  the  white,  summer-flowering,  and 
sweet-scented  Humboldti  corymbitiora  was  practi- 
cally the  only  variety  grown.  Thi.s  was  replaced 
by  one  obtained  by  M.  Bourbon,  horticulteur  of 
Paris,  B.  H.  Bourbonei,  much  superior  to  the  old 
B.  Humboldti.  The  flowering  season  of  this 
Bouvardia  commences  at  the  end  of  .July  and  is 
not  over  till  the  end  of  September,  but  a  new  race, 
named  florifin,  is,  as  its  name  indicates,  better 
still,  both  as  regards  the  quantitj'  of  flowers  and 
particularly  the  duration  of  the  flowering  season. 
These  free-flowering  I5ouvardias  constitute  a  series 
of  charming  hybrids,  both  single  and  double- 
flowered,  pink,  red,  orange-scarlet,  pale  yellow, 
and  flesh-coloured,  with  different  tints  in  each 
colour.  Most  of  these  varieties  have  been  sent 
out  by  M.  Lemoine,  of  Nancy,  and  M.  Schmitt  fils, 
of  Lyons.  All  are  much  appreciated  in  England, 
Belgium,  and  in  the  North  of  France,  where  they 
are  grown  especially  for  their  winter  flowering. 
With  a  little  care  they  will  form  beautiful,  well- 
foliaged  pot  plants,  very  eft'ective  for  the  decora- 
tion of  conservatories  and  rooms,  but  their  great 
recomn^endation  is  the  profusion  with  which 
flowers  are  produced  from  June  to  February  or 
even  March.  The  varieties  of  hybrid  Bouvardias 
are  somewhat  numerous.  It  is  preferable,  how- 
ever, to  cultivate  only  a  certain  number  of  the 
best,  such  as  the  following  : 

Single-flowered  Varieties. 
Alba  odorata,  rosy  white,  with  large  flowers  ; 
Bride  of  Brooklyn,  pure  white  ;  Brilliant,  scarlet ; 
Coceinea,  bright  red  ;  Davisonii,  rosy  white  ; 
Da/.zler,  bright  pink  ;  Maiden  Blush,  soft  pink  : 
Mme.  (^ueen,  salmon  pink  ;  President  Cleveland, 
scarlet,  very  fine ;  and  Rosalinda,  bright  pink 
with  large  flowers. 

DuUBLE-FLOWERED    VARIETIES. 

Alfred  Neuner,  white;  Hogarthii  flore-pleno, 
crimson  ;  Schniittii  flore  -  pleno,  rose,  with  red 
reverse :  President  Garfield,  pale  rose  ;  Sang 
Lorrain,  bright  red  ;  and  Leraoinei,  red. 


Propacation. 
In  Februarj'  cut  back  the  plants  and  move  them 
to  a  warm  house  ;  keep  close  and  moist  and  they 
will  quickly  produce  shoots  which  will  form 
cuttings.  Remove  these  at  the  end  of  March, 
making  them  about  li  inches  long,  below  an  eye, 
or  secure  them  with  a  heel  wherever  possible. 
Then  they  should  be  pricked  out  in  sand  and  kept 
in  a  close  atmosphere  at  a  temperature  of  about 
00°  Fahr.     They  root  in  about  a  fortnight. 

Compost.  Potti.no,  &c. 

When  the  cuttings  are  well  rooted  they  should 

be  potted  singly  into  small  pots  in  peaty,   sandy 

soil  and  placed  in  a  temperate  house  and   kept  at 

about   ,50°,  or,  preferably,  put  upon  a  spent  hot- 


bed until  established.  At  the  other  repottings  use 
a  compost  of  thirds  of  fibrous  loam,  peat,  and  leaf- 
mould,  to  which  has  been  added  a  little  silver  sand, 
the  whole  to  be  prepared  well  in  advance.  The 
potting  should  be  firm,  and  good  drainage  is 
essential. 

SujiMER  Cultivation. 
Once  the  cuttings  are  well  established  in  small 
pots  they  should  be  pinched  slightly  in  order  to 
induce  a  bushy  habit.  When  the  ensuing  buds 
are  well  developed  the  plants  should  be  repotted 
in  4-inch  or  (5-inch  pots,  according  to  their  size. 
At  the  end  of  May  ihej'  may  be  placed  in  llie 
open  air,  to  which  they  should  have  been  gradually 
accustomed  by  placing  them  in  a  warm  sunny 
position  with  the  pots  buried  to  the  rims.  One 
month  after  repotting  the  plants  commence  to 
flower.  After  flowering  they  should  be  well 
pruned  back.  The  plants  are  capable  of  flowering 
four  times,  viz.,  at  the  end  of  .Tune,  in  August, 
at  the  end  of  October  or  commencement  of 
November,  and  from  December  to  February. 
After  September  1.5  the  plants  should  be  returned 
to  a  house  whose  temperature  is  from  5.5"  to  (5(J", 
or  placed  in  frames,  kept  as  close  to  the  glass  as 
possible,  and  well  ventilated  every  day.  It  is 
better  to  keep  them  rather  damp  than  dry  in 
order  to  avoid  the  disease  which  readily  attacks 
the  leaves  of  this  plant. 

RESTlN<i. 
After  the  final  flowering  the  plants  should  be 
allowed  to  rest  for  a  month  or  si.K  weeks.  This  is 
attained  by  ceasing  to  give  water  and  by  placing 
tliem  in  a  dry  situation  as  close  as  possible  to  the 
glass.  Great  care  must  lie  taken  to  remove  all 
lea\es  as  they  become  yellow,  as  if  allowed  to  fall 
they  cause  the  wood  to  rot.  In  March  prune  back 
the  plants,  making  them  shapely,  and  remove  all 
badly  placed  shoots.  Recommence  watering  at 
once,  and,  when  the  new  growths  have  well 
started,  repot  in  the  compost  indicated  above. 
Treat  afterwards  in  the  same  manner  as  plants 
obtained  from  cuttings. — .ToLES  RuDot.rii,  in  the 
I'l.nie  Borlico/e. 


AMERICAN     NOTES. 


VICTORIA     TRICKERI. 

VICTORIA  TRICKERI  was  introduced 
in  180-i  and  was  provisionally  named 
Victoria  regia  var.  Trickeri  until  more 
accurate  information  as  to  its  identity 
and  habitat  could  be  obtained.  It  was 
claimed  by  some  to  be  nothing  more 
than  a  garden  form  of  Victoria  regia  raised 
from  seed  of  the  original  type  grown  in  a  cooler 
climate.  Among  other  places  it  was  grown  at 
the  Royal  (iardens,  Kew,  England,  also  at 
the  Glasnevin  Gardens,  from  seed  ripened  in 
New.Iersey,  where  it  excited  no  little  comment, 
its  distinctive  features  being  very  marked.  But  no 
investigation  was  apparently  made  as  to  its 
identity.  During  the  past  six  years  it  has  been 
widely  distributed,  its  character  is  now  well 
known,  and  it  is  very  popular  wherever  aquatics 
are  cultivated.  It  is  much  more  amenable  to 
out  of  door  cultivation  than  V.  regia,  and  is 
as  easy  to  grow  as  the  tender  blue  Nymphajas. 
It  is  an  annual  occurrence  at  Riverton,  N..J.,  for 
hundreds  of  seedlings  to  appear  in  the  spring  of 
the  year  where  this  plant  has  been  grown  the 
previous  season.  Such  plants  will  produce  flowers 
the  latter  end  of  August  and  September. 

Recent  investigation  by  Dr.  Henry  S.  Cnnard,  of 
the  University  ot  Pennsylvania,  and  the  writer 
shows  that  V.  Trickeri  is  truly  the  V.  cruziana  of 
d'lEbigny,  dried  specimens  of  which  were  sent  to 
Paris  over  sixty  years  ago.  Information  was 
received  last  season  that  tlie  seed  from  which  the 
original  plant  was  raised  in  1894,  at  Clifton,  N.  J., 
came  from  Corrientes,  Argentina,  S.A.,  leading  to 
a  diligent  investigation  and  research  with  most 
gratifying  results,  confirming  tlie  statement  that  it 
was  the  Paraguayan  and  Argentine  species  once 
specifically  distinguished  as  Victoria  cruziana.     Its 


far  southern  habitat  (27'  S.)  explains  its  hardiness. 
It  produces  much  larger  seeds  than  V.  regia,  which 
are  used  as  food  in  Paraguay,  under  the  name  of 
Mais  des  aqua  (Water  Corn)." 

V.  cruziana  dd'lbigny  (known  in  cultivation  as 
V.  Trickeri)  has  leaves  densely  villose  beneath, 
upturned  margins  green,  (j  inclies  to  S  inches  high, 
flowers  becoming  deep  red-pink  the  second  evening, 
sepals  prickly  only  at  base,  smooth  above.  The 
plant  grows  abundantly  in  the  Parana  River  and 
its  tributaries. 

Seeds  of  Victorias  may  be  sown  towards  the  end 
of  January  or  early  in  February,  but  where  the 
plants  are  to  be  grown  outdoors  March  1  is  in  good 
season.  The  seeds  of  Victoria  regia  require  a 
temperature  of  about  MO"  to  germinate.  After 
germination  a  temperature  of  8.5"  is  sufficient. 
Seeds  of  V.  Trickeri  may  be  planted  any  time  after 
January  1,  but  must  not  be  subjected  to  a  higher 
temperature  than  To'-'  ;  in  fact,  a  temperature 
between  0.5"  and  7.5'''  is  about  right.  One  necessarj' 
qualification  a  person  requires  to  raise  V.  Trickeri 
is  patience.  Seeds  of  V.  regia  will  freijuently 
germinate  in  ten  days  ;  at  least  a  percentage  will 
germinate,  and  a  much  larger  percentage  will 
germinate  in  twenty-one  daj's. 

I  cannot  state  with  any  accuracy  what  per- 
centage of  seeds  of  V.  Trickeri  will  germinate  nor 
how  soon  after  sowing  seedlings  maj'  be  looked  for. 
I  have  made  sowings  and  have  never  seen  a  plant, 
and  again  have  had  seed  in  water  when  apparently 
every  seed  has  grown.  The  safest  method  is  to 
plant  the  seeds  early,  either  in  the  most  approved 
way  or  drop  them  into  a  tub  where  other  plants 
are  growing  and  where  the  temperature  ranges 
between  0.5''  and  7.5",  and  wait  patiently.  I  do  not 
know  of  an  instance  when  I  have  had  seeds 
germinate  Ijefore  March. 

After  the  seedlings  appear  they  should  be  potted 
off  singly  into  "i-inch  pots,  and  as  soon  as  the  first 
floating  leaf  appears  repot  again,  and  at  intervals 
until  the  plants  or  the  season  is  sufficiently 
advanced  to  permit  of  their  being  planted  in 
summer  (|uarters.  During  the  early  stages  the 
temperature  should  not  exceed  7.5'''.  The  plants 
should  at  all  times  receive  the  full  benefit  of 
sunlight,  and  have  free  ventilation  at  all  favour- 
able times.  The  plants  may  be  planted  out  in 
their  summer  quarters  in  May  if  protection  is 
given  and  the  water  artificially  heated,  when  the 
temperature  of  the  water  may  be  increased  to 
80"  and  8.5".  Where  these  means  are  not  at 
command  it  will  be  safest  to  defer  planting  until 
June,  when  the  weather  is  settled  and  warm  and  the 
water  temperature  is  7-5"  to  80". — Wm.  Trk'ker 
in  Atncrican  Floriif. 


BOOKS. 


The    Culture    of  Veg'etables   and 

KlOWePS.* — The  concise,  comprehensive,  and 
valuable  information  given  bj'  Messrs.  Sutton  in 
the  above  book  has  been  so  much  appreciated  that 
it  has  now  reached  a  tenth  edition.  Besides  the 
excellent  cultural  directions  given  for  vegetables, 
hardy  and  greenhouse  flowers  from  seeds  and  roots, 
there  is  a  chapter  dealing  with  lawns  and  tennis 
grounds  from  seed,  that  contains  many  valuable 
hints  upon  the  formation  and  improvement  of  the 
lawn.  The  pests  that  attack  plants  and  flowers 
are  also  considered  at  length,  and  the  notes 
made  additionally  interesting  by  the  inclusion  of 
numerous  sketches.  "  A  Year's  Work  in  the  Vege- 
table Garden"  and  "  Flowers  all  the  Year  Round  " 
are  the  titles  of  chapters  wherein  are  given  full 
directions  as  to  what  to  sow  and  plant  month  by 
month  throughout  the  year.  These  cannot  fail  to 
be  of  great  help  to  many.  It  is  an  excellent  work, 
and  should  be  in  everj'  garden  library. 

Insect  Life.t — A  very  interesting  book  has 
just  been  published  on  the  habits  of  certain  insects, 
the  author  of  which  is  the  celebrated  French  ento- 

*  "The  Culture  of  A'egetables  and  Flowers,"  by  Sutton 
and  Sons,  Reading.  Published  liy  them  and  Ijy  Simpkiu, 
Marshall,  and  Co.,  Limited,  :{i^,  Paternoster  Row,  London. 
Price  58. 

+  *'  Insect  Life  :  The  Souvenirs  of  a  Naturalist."  By  J.  H. 
Fabre.    JIacmillau  and  Co.    Price  (js, 


January  25,  1902.; 


THE    GARDEN. 


69 


mologist,  J.  H.  Fabi-e.  It  was  written  some  years 
ago,  but  it  has  recently  been  translated  into 
Knglisli,  and  a  preface  has  been  added  by  Dr. 
Sharp,  one  of  our  leading  entomologists,  in  which 
he  says  :  "  This  little  volume  introduces  the  work 
of  a  great  French  naturalist  to  the  reader  of 
English,"  and  he  quotes  a  saying  of  Darwin's,  who 
styled  him  "the  Immortal  Fabre,"  though  he 
is  by  no  means  a  staunch  disciple  of  his.  Dr. 
Sharp  e.xpresses  a  hope  that  the  perusal  of  this 
volume  may  induce  persons  to  read  Fabre's  subse- 
quent volumes.  This  volume  gives  a  most 
interesting  account  of  the  life  history  of  a  beetle 
commonly  known  as  the  "Sacred  beetle"  (Scara- 
baeus  sacer),  which,  however,  is  not  an  inhabitant 
of  this  country,  but  we  have  a  near  relative,  "  The 
common  Dung  or  Dor  beetle"  (Geotrupes  sterco- 
rarius),  which  much  resembles  it,  and  whose  manner 
of  life  is  almost  identical.  The  life  histories  are 
also  given  of  various  burrowing  bees  or  wasps,  and 
of  certain  "  Mason  bees,"  some  of  which  are 
natives  of  this  country.  M.  Fabre  is  certainly  a 
most  patient  and  indefatigable  observer.  He 
spares  neither  time  nor  trouble  to  make  his  obser- 
vations complete,  and  he  has  detailed  the  result 
of  them  in  a  most  graphic  and  interesting— not  to 
say  amusing— manner.  There  are  very  few  technical 
terms  used,  so  that  they  may  be  read  by  anyone  who 
takes  an  interest  in  the  ways  and  doings  of  insects, 
and  I  am  sure  that  most  persons  who  take  a  real 
delight  in  their  gardens,  and  who  must  therefore 
more  or  less  study  the  insects  they  see  in  it,  even 
though  they  may  do  so  unwittingly,  will  do  so  with 
greater  interest  than  they  have  ever  done  before. 
After  reading  this  book  it  must  be  admitted  that 
there  is  a  certain  amount  of  repetition  in  the 
accounts  of  the  various  insects,  and  that  some  of 
the  matter  is  not  to  the  point.  For  instance,  on 
page  115  he  apostrophises  the  Sphegida-  in  a 
way  that  no  English  writer  would,  but  we  must 
remember  that  our  more  phlegmatic  nature  does 
not  exactly,  so  to  speak,  "catch  on"  with  the  more 
exuberant  enthusiasm  of  the  French  mind.  In 
these  life  histories  there  is  abundant  food  for 
thought  for  those  who  study  the  controversy  that 
is  constantly  going  on,  as  to  the  actions  of  animals 
being  guided  by  reason  or  instinct.  The  apparent 
cleverness  of  some  of  these  burrowing  bees  in 
rendering  insensible  the  insects  which  they  have 
caught,  and  with  which  they  store  the  cells  wliich 
will  be  tenanted  by  their  grubs,  is  truly 
marvellous.  If  the  insects  were  killed 
outright  they  would  soon  decay  and  be 
unfit  for  food.  Were  they  only  maimed 
so  that  they  were  unable  to  leave  the 
cell  the  young  and  tender  grub  would 
stand  a  very  poor  chance  of  reaching 
maturity,  as  the  insects  selected  are  often 
beetles  or  grasshoppers  of  considerable 
size.  The  bee,  however,  finds  a  way 
out  of  the  ditiicully,  by  stinging  her 
victim  througli  one  or  more  of  the  nerve 
centres  so  that  the  insect,  though  motion 
less,  is  by  no  means  dead,  having  been 
only  paralysed,  and  in  this  condition  will 
live  for  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks. 
The  exact  knowledge  of  where  to  pierce 
itj  victim  cannot  have  been  gained  by 
watching  another  bee  peforni  the  opera- 
tion, for  these  insects  are  not  gregarious, 
nor  can  one  imagine  that  the  insect  could 
have  reasoned  out  where  its  prey  should 
be  stung,  or  have  had  any  opportunity 
of  experimenting,  so  that  it  can  only 
be  by  what  we  call  instinct  that  the  bee 
perforins  these  actions.  But  this  instinct 
does  not  alwaj  s  prove  of  service  to  the 
insect,  for  if  while  finally  closing  her 
cell,  which  she  does  with  the  greatest 
care,  she  be  disturbed  and  the  contents 
of  the  cell  removed,  she  will  return  and 
enter  the  now  empty  cell  and  come  out 
and  continue  to  close  it  just  as  care- 
fully as  if  it  contained  her  egg,  and  the 
supply  of  provender  for  the  future  grub, 
apparently  having  once  filled  the  cell 
and  laid  her  egg,  she  is  bound  to  close  it 
whether  it  be  full  or  empty.  Everyone 
who   is   in   any  way  interested    in    the 


manners  and  habits  of  insects  will,  I  am  sure,  read 
this  book  with  much  pleasure  and  profit.  It  is 
very  well  got  up,  the  paper  and  printing  are  all 
that  can  be  desired,  although  the  cover  would, 
perhaps,  be  better  if  the  subject  of  the  frontispiece 
was  not  portrayed  on  it.  The  book  is  illustrated 
with  several  very  fair  plates. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


THE 


NEWER   PEARS    ON 
WALLS. 

FEW  fruits  are  more  valuable  than  the 
Pear,  and  those  grown  on  walls  are 
most  useful,  as  they  provide  dessert 
during  the  winter,  and  varieties  can 
be  grown  on  a  wall  that  do  not  thrive 
in  the  open.  My  note  on  the  above  will 
also  briefly  touch  upon  a  lew  of  the  newer  intro- 
ductions, or  those  less  known  but  still  well  worth 
more  attention.  At  the  same  time,  in  dealing  with 
wall  culture  there  is  a  great  margin,  as  for  instance, 
Pears  here  (at  Syon)  can  be  grown  well  that  are  of 
less  value  some  hundreds  of  miles  further  north. 
Also  most  kinds  in  the  north  need  wall  culture,  so 
that  any  note  on  these  fruits  must  in  a  measure  deal 
with  the  grower's  observation  at  home.  Locality 
and  soils  cause  great  variation.  In  the  most 
favoured  gardens  Pears  on  walls  are  well  wortli 
special  culture  ;  I  mean  by  this  that  the  soil,  if  not 
good,  may  be  made  so  by  additions.  In  our 
own  case,  with  a  light  gravelly  soil  to  deal 
with,  we  never  think  of  planting  young  trees 
without  adding  some  good  holding  material,  with  a 
liberal  addition  of  lime  or  chalk.  If  the  trees  are 
on  the  Quince  stock  there  must  be  ample  foods  in 
the  way  of  a  good  mulch  of  decayed  manure,  and 
also  li(|uid  supplies  in  dry  seasons. 

Much  depends  upon  the  soil  and  the  aspect  or 
position.  I  am  aware  we  have  the  Pear  on  walls 
on  all  four  aspects,  that  is,  north,  east,  south,  and 
west:  only  a  very  few  on  the  soath,  and  these  are 
for  a  special  purpose.  On  the  other  hand,  the  trees 
on  east  and  noith  walls  in  cold,  late,  or  exposed 
gardens  are  not  always  a  success,  but  on  the  west 
there  is  less  ditticulty.  It  is  not  often,  with  a 
limited  wall  space,  that  south  walls  can  be  spared 


>»v;*^ 


for  the  Pear,  the  Peach,  Apricot,  and  Nectarine 
occupying  the  warmest  position.  We  have  a  large 
wall  space,  and  there  is  a  demand  for  good  dessert 
Pears  early  in  the  season,  and,  grown  thus,  we 
may  have  the  best  varieties  a  month  earlier  than 
on  a  different  aspect.  At  the  same  time,  our  light 
soil  tends  to  earliness,  but  is  bad  otherwise,  as 
one  cannot  depend  upon  the  seasons.  Frequently 
what  are  termed  October  varieties  are  ripe  a  month 
earlier.     At  Alnwick  Castle 

Glou  Movceau  is  now  ripe,  and  will  give  a 
supply  well  into  February,  but  at  Syon  the  fruits 
were  at  their  best  early  in  December,  and  both  are 
grown  on  west  walls.  This  shows  that  locality 
must  be  considered  when  selecting  varieties.  The 
Pear  illustrated, 

Conference,  is  one  of  the  late  Mr.  Rivers' seedlings, 
and  few  fruits  are  handsomer.  I  do  not  know  of 
any  variety  that  fruits  more  freely,  and  in  our  own 
case  it  rarely  fails  to  crop  ;  it  is  certainly  one  of 
the  best  of  the  newer  introductions.  We  find  it 
valuable  for  its  earliness,  as  grown  on  a  low  south 
wall  the  fruits  are  ready  early  in  October  ;  indeed, 
during  the  past  year,  with  its  verj'  hot  summer, 
the  fruits  were  earlier  than  usual,  but  as  noted 
above  we  grow  specially  for  early  supplies.  As 
regards  quality  the  variety  does  not  equal  Doyenne 
du  Cornice,  but  it  is  melting,  juicy,  and  good,  and 
the  tree  grows  very  freely  in  any  form.  Another 
very  promising  wall  Pear  is 

President  BaraJie,  and  this  variety  will  become  a 
greater  favourite  when  better  known,  as  the  fruit 
keeps  well,  is  of  medium  size,  rich  flavour,  not  a 
large  grower,  but  with  us  at  Syon  the  tree  fruits  very 
freel}'  in  a  J'oung  state.  Late  Pears  are  none  too 
plentiful,  and  any  addition  that  will  provide  a 
later  supply  will  be  most  valuable.  Recently  a 
new  fruit  shown,  and  which  was  illustrated  in 
these  pages,  was  highly  thought  of,  as  the  quality 
was  so  good.     An  earlier  variety,  the 

Neil)  Michaelmas  NeJifi  will,  I  think,  be  a 
welcome  addition  to  the  September  Pears.  On  tlie 
other  hand,  such  fruits  as  ripen  at  this  early  season 
do  not  need  a  wall  in  many  gardens,  but  in  others 
this  is  essential. 

Dr.  Jnlef  Gni/ol,  one  of  the  newer  Pears,  is  a 
beautiful  looking  fruit,  and,  though  not  unlike 
Williams'  Bon  Chretien,  it  is  most  valuable  for 
early  supplies.  This  does  well  in  the  north  on  an 
east  wall. 


rr-rw^,'^^^.M:u 


^f^#^. 


s'-f  ,■% 


'•^«ft 


CONFERENCE  PEAH  OK    A    WAIjL   AT  SYON    UOUSE   GARDEN'S,    ISLEWORTH. 


60 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  25,  1902, 


Beam'  Perraii  is  a  shapely  fruit,  and  grown  on 
a  warm  wall  is  nf  fine  flavour,  and  the  same 
remarks  apply  to  the  new 

Beurre  Fonqurray,  a  Pear  not  unlike  Baohelierin 
build  and  colour,  but  much  supei'ior  in  quality ;  it  is 
an  excellent  October  and  November  variety.  Those 
who  admire  Pears  of  the  Pitmaston  size  will  find 

Charity  Entext  a  fine  fruit,  as  it  is  later  than 
the  older  variety,  and  well  flavoured.  I  am  very 
interested  in 

Marguerite  MarrUlal. — This  is  early,  but  verj' 
good,  ihaving  a  rich  flavour,  is  remarkably  hand- 
some, and  makes  a  grand  cordon  \'ariety.  With  us 
it  ripened  in  the  middle  of  September  grown  on 
a  warm  wall. 

Of  older  varieties  very  little  can  be  said  but 
what  has  been  noted  previously,  and  of  course  as 
regards  quality  the  Doyenne  du  Cornice  heads  the 
list.  With  us  it  is  not  so  free  as  .some  varieties, 
and  I  would  advise  growers  who  have  ample  space 
to  grow  this  Pear  on  different  walls.  Some  of  our 
best  fruits  were  on  a  north  wall,  and  by  having 
trees  in  different  positions  there  is  a  better  chance 
of  a  crop.  A  grand  winter  Pear,  not  grown  nearly 
as  much  as  it  deserves,  is 

Nouvelle  Fu/rie. — This  is  our  best  Pear  at  this 
season,  and  it  crops  well  :  indeed,  it  is  much 
superior  to  the  .Josephine  de  Malines,  but  the  last- 
named  should  be  in  all  gardens  on  account  of  its 
keeping  properties.     The  well  known 

Beiirni  Did  cannot  be  omitted.  It  is  not  a 
success  everywhere  by  any  means,  but  given  a 
well  drained  soil  it  is  a  grand  Pear,  and  one  of  the 
best  on  a  wall  and  a  regular  cropper  on  theyumce 
stock  (in  the  north  near  the  coast  I  have  seen 
remarkable  crops),  and  of  good  flavour.  It  is  not 
suitable  for  heavy,  wet  soils.  Such  varieties  as 
Louise  Bonne  of  .Jersey,  Marie  Louise,  Emile 
d'Heyst,  Beurre  Superfin,  Princess,  Thompson's, 
Olivier  de  Serres,  where  it  succeeds,  are  all  excel- 
lent wall  varieties,  and  to  these  should  be  added 
President  d'Osmonville  and  Trioraphe  de  Vienne,  a 
splendid  early  autumn  variety  and  a  very  free 
bearer.  There  are  several  others  well  worth  noting, 
but  mere  variety  is  not  needed  :  indeed,  my  advice 
would  be  to  plant  fewer  varieties  and  more  trust- 
worthy ones.  U.   WvTHES. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

ORNAMENTAL     GRASSES. 

Their  Uses,  Selection  or  Varieties,  &c. 

'•^B   ^HE  increased  refinement  in  horticultural 

I  taste  has  in   recent  years  brought  into 

I  prominence    several    classes    of    plants 

I  which     were     formerly     neglected     for 

1  ornamental     purposes.       The     lack     of 

brilliancy  of   colour,  in  days  gone  by, 

usually  gave  the  verdict  against  the  Grasses,  but 

now,  when  their  beauty  of  form,  their  usefulness 

for  bouquets,  and  drying   for  winter  decorations 

are  considered,  they  are  more  sought  for. 

The  ease  with  which  (irasses  as  a  family  are 
grown  is  well  known,  but  one  point  is  often 
neglected,  viz.,  their  need  of  space  ;  they  are  too 
often  crowded  together  for  want  of  proper  thinning. 
The  most  suitable  places  for  Grasses  in  gardens 
are  the  backs  of  borders,  rockeries,  shady  nooks, 
corners,  itc. ,  according  to  the  habit  and  form  of 
the  species.  The  hardy  kinds  may  be  usualh-  sown 
in  the  open  ground,  but  unless  the  weather  is 
showery  at  the  time  it  is  well  to  place  a  bell  glass 
or  frame  over  them  until  they  germinate. 

Half-hardy  varieties  maj'  be  sown  in  pots  in  the 
early  months  of  the  year,  or  out  of  doors  in  May, 
June,  and  .July.  They  should  be  freely  watered 
in  the  absence  of  rain,  especially  on  well  drained 
soil.<.  As  soon  as  the  tops  die  down  most  <  Jrasses 
may  be  cut  down,  and  their  roots  well  mulched 
with  manure,  or  divided  if  multiplication  is 
wanted.  The  following  selections,  in  two  divisions 
of  tall  and  short,  comprise  some  of  the  best : 

Tall  Kinds  useful  eor  Background, 
Grouping,  &c. 
Anindo  coiifpicua. — A  hardy  perennial  species, 
and  a  worthy  rival  to  the  beautiful  Pampas  Grass. 


It  is  easily  grown  in  any  common  garden  soil. 
The  varieties  are  propagated  by  di\ision  or  well- 
developed  stems ;  if  cut  ofl'  and  thrown  into 
water  these  soon  produce  J'oung  plants  at  the  node. 
A.  eonspicua  blooms  a  month  earlier  than  the 
Pampas  Grass,  and  is  on  the  whole  of  a  more  statel}' 
and  graceful  contour.  A.  Donax  is  also  very 
useful  for  shadj'  nooks  and  such  places  on  lawns 
.\nd  elsewhere,  its  height  being  from  ,S  feet  to 
12  feet,  A.  eonspicua  being  from  .)  feet  to  (5  feet  in 
height.  The  variegated  variety  A.  Donax  versi- 
color is  extremely  handsome  and  useful,  with  its 
leaves  ribboned  with  creamy  white  ;  it  must  be 
well  protected  during  winter. 

Phi/lloatacliys  aurea. — For  ornamentation  there 
is  scarcely  any  plant  so  graceful  and  handsome  for 
dotting  either  iu  herbaceous  borders  or  singly  as 
specimens  on  lawns.  This  Bamboo  is  hardy,  but 
during  severe  weather  it  should  be  protected  with 
litter.  Success  depends  on  well-drained  soil  and  a 
fa\ourable  exposure.  Its  height  is  from  (i  feet  to 
II)  feet.  Besides  this  there  are  other  desirable 
species,  such  as  Barabusa  Metake  and  B.  nigra ; 
indeed,  all  are  graceful  and  beautiful. 

Erinnlhns  Banniur. — A  perennial  and  very  noble 
species  with  silvery  plumes.  It  is  tolerably  hardy 
and  easily  raised  from  seed.    Height  about  0  feet. 

Eiilalia  japonica  zehrini,. — This  .Japanese  Grass 
is  now  well  known.  The  foliage  is  banded  crosswise 
with  yellow.  It  is  of  robust  growth,  and  has 
tufted  panicles  of  brownish  bloom.  Well-drained 
soil  is  essential.     Its  height  is  about  7  feet. 

(/yiieriiim  arj/enteiiin  (the  Pampas  Grass). — The 
grandest  ornamental  plant  3'et  discovered.  With 
its  magnificent  silvery  plumes  rising  in  the  autumn 
to  a  height  of  9  feet  or  10  feet,  few  plants  present 
an  appearance  of  such  striking  beauty.  It  should 
be  grown  as  a  specimen  in  a  conspicuous  position 
on  a  lawn  or  elsewhere,  succeeding  best  in  a  well- 
drained  light  and  rich  soil.  For  immediate  effect 
two  or  three  plants  should  be  planted  together. 

Zm  japonica,. — This  useful  variety  of  Indian 
Corn  is  a  valuable  decorative  plant  from  S  feet  to 
4  feet  in  height.  It  is  well  adapted  for  eS'ective 
positions  in  clumps  or  shrubberies.  The  variation 
comes  true  from  seed,  which  is  sown  in  heat  during 
Februar}',  March,  or  April,  or  outside  in  May. 

All  these  with  the  exception  of  the  Zea,  being 
perennial  plants,  require  protection  during  winter 
by  the  application  of  litter  :  those  whose  tops 
wither  should  be  cut  down  in  autumn. 

The  following  Grasses  are  dwarf,  and  are  well 
adapted  for 

Eduino  and  Herbaceous  Bordkks. 

A(/rosti>i  7iebulom,  one  of  the  lightest  and  most 
graceful  of  all  Grasses,  is  easily  grown.  It  is 
sown  in  autumn  or  spring.  The  height  in  bloom 
is  H  feet.  The  other  variety,  A.  pulchella,  is 
dwarfer  ;  it  is  valuable  in  bouquet  making  and 
drying  for  winter  decoration.  It  is  hardy,  and 
blooms  in  .July  and  August.  Height,  1  foot  if 
sown  in  autumn,  shorter  if  sown  in  spring. 

Aveiia  sterilis  (the  Animated  Oat)  is  a  very  beau- 
tiful Grass  with  drooping  panicles  of  large  spikelets. 
These  wlien  ripe  and  dried  will,  if  placed  upon  the 
warm  hand,  often  move  by  the  contraction  of  the 
hairs  by  which  they  are  covered,  hence  the  name. 
Sow  in  autunui.     Height,  2  feet. 

Briza  gracilis  and  B.  maxima  (the  Quaking 
(brasses)  are  extremely  handsome  and  of  great  value 
in  dried  winter  bouquets.  They  are  annuals  U  feet 
high. 

Co/.f/((fA)7/»i(i  (.Job's  Tears)  derives  its  name  from 
its  peculiar  grey  pearly  seed,  which  hang  in  clusters 
out  of  the  sheaths.  The  foliage  is  thick  and 
massive.  It  is  an  annual  2  feet  to  3  feet  high.  Sow 
in  heat  during  March. 

Liii/unis  ocatii.i  (Hare's  Tail  Grass). — A  beautiful 
hardy  annual,  with  white  down3-  tufts  on  stems, 
1  foot  to  li  feet  high  ;  it  is  useful  for  bou(juet 
work. 

Lamarkia  aurea.  —  An  annual  with  pretty 
drooping  panicles,  assuming  when  mature  a 
beautiful  golden  colour,  about  9  inches  high. 

l'((ni(um  rariegatum  and  Eragro.i/i^  elegans,  or 
Panicum  xapillare,  are  decidedly  handsome 
Grasses.  The  former  is  a  trailing  kind  adapted  for 
pot  work  ;   the   leaves,   about   2   inches  long,   are 


elegantly  striped  with  pink  and  white.  The  latter 
is  a  strong  growing  hardy  annual  witli  broad 
foliage.  The  panicles  of  flower  are  much  branched 
and  of  a  rich  purplish  colour.  Sow  out  of  doors 
in  Ma}'.  When  once  sown  it  will  reproduce  itself. 
It  is  useful  for  bouquets,  &c. 

Pennifetiimlongi'ttyhnn  is  one  of  the  most  elegant 
of  the  Graminea;.  It  is  a  hardy  annual,  about 
2  feet  in  height,  with  arched  leaves,  and  graceful 
plume-like  spikes.  In  light  loamy  soil  its  growth 
is  very  rapid  ;  it  is  ornamental  either  alone  or  in 
groups.  Sow  in  heat  in  March  or  April,  and  prick 
out  in  May,  1  foot  or  2  feet  apart.  It  re<juires 
mulching  in  winter. 

Stipa  pennata.  —  'Th'\&  liardy  perennial  rises  to  a 
height  of  2A  feet,  forming  a  large  bunch  of 
undulating  feathers,  covered  with  a  silvery  down. 
A  charming  plant  in  the  mixed  border  and  for 
other  use.  It  succeeds  well  in  light,  sandy,  barren 
soil.  Sow  from  April  to  .July,  and  thin  out  to 
I  foot  apart.  The  feathers  arrive  at  their  maturity 
in  .June,  when  they  should  be  cut  and  preserved 
for  the  making  of  winter  bouquets. 

The  above  selection  will  be  found  useful  in  a 
variety  of  ways  ;  what  will  not  do  for  bouquet 
work  will  be  more  than  useful  in  the  herbaceous 
border.  Give  the  plants  enough  room  and  they 
will  do  the  rest.  John  Denman. 

Bryiibella,  Tremeirchion,  St.  Asaph. 


ROBINIA     PSEUDACACIA. 

Those  wlio  only  know  the  False  Acacia  or 
Locust  Tree  by  the  cropped,  mop-headed 
specimens  often  seen  in  suburban  gardens, 
would  fail  to  recognise  it  from  the  accom- 
panying illustration,  which  represents  it  in 
the  picturesque  garb  of  a  naturally  grown, 
mature  old  veteran.  It  is  in  the  garden  of  Sir 
F.  Tress-Barry,  Bart.,  M.P.  From  the  period 
which  has  elapsed— about  260  years— since  its 
introduction,  we  should  expect  to  see  more  of 
these  old  specimens  about,  for  it  is  handsome, 
both  by  reason  of  its  leaves  and  flowers,  and 
even  in  winter  its  bare,  twisted,  uncouth 
branches,  rough,  deeply- furrowed  bark,  and 
distinct  habit  stamp  it  as  one  of  the  most 
interesting  trees  of  the  garden.  Its  beauty 
in  summer  when  smothered  with  drooping 
racemes  of  white  blossoms  is  well  known,  for 
it  flowers  freely  even  in  a  small  state.  In 
addition  to  being  an  excellent  tree  for  park  or 
garden,  it  is  one  of  the  best  trees  for  towns, 
and  valuable  for  street  planting.  A  number 
of  varieties  are  in  cultivation  of  which  the 
following  are  a  few  of  the  most  distinct ; 
angustifolia,  with  smaller  leaves  and  leaflets 
than  the  type  ;  bella-rosea,  decaisneana,  decais-  I 
neana  rubra,  and  robusfa  Vigiiei,  with  rose-  1 
coloured  flowers  ;  fastigiata,  with  pyramidal 
habit  ;  aurea  and  variegata,  with  variegated 
leaves  ;  and  rozynskiana,  with  very  long 
pendulous  leaves.  W.  Dallimoke. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

FRUIT    GARDEN. 

MoRELLu  Cherries. 

WITH  reference  to  the  training  and 
pruning  of  Cherries,  a  common 
mistake  is  frequently  made 
in  unduly  crowding  the  trees 
with  wood,  and  thus  under  any 
circumstance  excluding  the  .sun- 
light and  air  to  an  injurious  extent,  but  in  a  most 
aggravated  way  where  the  trees  are  placed  upon 
north  walls.  'This  evil  begins  in  the  summer  when 
the  young  wood  is  laid  in,  and  in  oases  where  it 
has  been  practised  bold  measures  should  now  be 
taken  by  skilfully  thinning  out  the  weakly  and 
badly  placed  shoots  in  such  a  way  as  to  well  furnish 
the  trees  with   fruitful   wood,  placed  at  4  inches 


JANUARY    25,    1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


61 


apart  over  their  entire  surface,  and  this  irrespective 
of  older  wood,  which  having  been  kept  free  of 
spurs  will  not  produce  foliage.  In  all  cases  where 
old  branches  can  beneficially  be  whollj'  or  partially 
sacrificed  for  the  sake  of  making  room  for  j'oung 
wooil  it  should  be  done,  and  in  this  way  by 
intelligent  management  old  trees  possessed  of 
satisfactory  roots  and  borders  may  in  a  great 
measure  be  invigorated.  Young  trees  should  be 
trained  to  form  perfect  fans,  and  their  strong 
leading  growths  shortened  to  cause  enough  sub- 
sidiary growths  for  this  purpose  to  break,  while 
bush  trees  merely  lequire  to  be  freed  from  useless 
old  wood,  properly  thinned,  and  kept  within 
bounds. 

Apples  and  Pears. 

Bush  and  pyramid  trees  must  possess  various 
properties  in  order  to  make  them  satisfactory 
specimens,  and  the  way  they  are  pruned  has  an 
important  bearing  upon  this  matter.  The  branches 
of  a  perfect  tree  should  be  properly  furnished  with 
spurs,  radiate  S3'mmetricall}'  from  the  stem,  and 
be  sufficiently  thin  for  the  sun  to  reach  the  centre. 
To  attain  this  end  newly  planted  .young  trees 
should  be  furnished  with  an  adequate  number  and 
no  more  of  offshoots  emanating  from  the  stems, 
which  should  now  be  shortened  more  or  less 
according  to  their  strength,  to  about  two-thirds  of 
their  length,  and  to  a  bud  inclining  outwards. 
The  leading  stem  growth  is  similarly  treated. 
Extending  shoots  upon  older  trees,  left  at  the  time 


of  the  summer  pruning,  should  be  managed  iu 
like  manner,  superfluous  ones  where  they  exist 
being  cut  back  to  three  basal  buds,  while  old- 
established  specimens  should,  where  much  crowded, 
have  their  spurs  thinned,  as  previously  directed  for 
trees  upon  walls.  Some  varieties,  both  of  Apples 
and  Pears,  are,  with  regard  to  furnishing  spurs, 
very  different  to  others,  and  need 

Different  Treatment 
with  respect  to  pruning  to  obtain  the  desired 
object ;  for  example,  young  growths  of  Cox's 
Orange  Pippin  Apple  do  not  need  to  be  so 
severely  cut  back  as  do  those  of  fiolden  Noble 
in  order  to  cause  them  to  fully  clothe  themselves 
with  spurs. 

Standard  Trees. 
The  management  of  these  witli  reference  to 
pruning  differs  from  the  foregoing,  in  so  far  as  it  is 
not  advi.sable  to  restrict  growth  in  the  same  degree, 
but  rather  to  permit  its  freedom  in  a  more  natural 
waj-.  Periodical  thinnings  from  the  time  the  trees 
are  quite  young  are  necessary  in  order  to  keep 
them  sufficiently  thin  for  the  sun's  light  and 
warmth  to  properly  penetrate  through  them.  It 
is  impossible  for  trees  crowded  with  foliage  to 
jdeld  good  fruit  except  upon  the  exposed  ends  of 
their  branches.  Those,  however,  that  have  been 
for  years  neglected  in  this  way,  when  severely 
thinned,  usually  receive  a  check,  which  takes  them 
a  long  time  to  recover.  Such  trees  as  it  is  intended 
to  i-e-graft  maj'  now  have  their  branches  cut  back, 


and  matured  slioots  of  approved  varieties  should 
be  selected  for  scions  from  prunings  and  laid  in 
soil  under  a  north  wall  in  readiness  for  use  at  a 
later  date.  Thomas  Coomber. 

The  Hendre.  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


KITCHEN  GAEDEN. 

Mushrooms. 
Ii*  many  establishments  a  constant  supply  of  these 
is  expected,  and  to  ensure  this  the  cultivator  miist 
have  at  command  plenty  of  good  fresh  horse 
manure,  when,  if  properly  prepared,  little  diffi- 
culty should  be  experienced  in  obtaining  them. 
Fortunately,  elaborate  structures  are  not  necessary. 
Oftentimes  the  best  results  are  produced  in  some 
old  and  disused  building,  but  no  doubt  an  ideal 
place  is  a  cave  or  cellar,  where  an  even  moist 
temperature  can  always  be  maintained  without  tbe 
use  of  fire-heat.  I  venture  to  say  more  failures 
are  due  to  this  than  to  any  other  cause.  Good 
results  may  easil}'  be  obtained  from  a  lean-to  shed 
on  the  north  side  of  a  wall,  which  should  be  well 
thatched  on  the  inside,  both  roof  and  sides,  with  a 
good  thickness  of  wheat  straw,  aud  when  this  is 
well  done  good  crops  may  be  taken  at  any  season 
of  the  year,  but  during  severe  weather  in  winter 
the  beds  should  be  well  covered  with  soft  hay  and 
the  growth  will  be  much  improved.  If  the 
material  which  is  being  prepared  is  placed  inside 
and  turned  every  morning  the  heat  and  ammonia 
are  just  what  is  required. 


THE   FALSE   ACACIA   OR  LOCUST  TREE   (eOBINIA   PSEUDACACIA)   AT  ST.    LEONARDS   HILL,    WINDSOR. 


62 


THE  GARDEN 


[January  25,  1902. 


July  and  August  are,  as  a  rule,  the  two  months 
in  which  it  is  most  difficult  to  keep  up  the  supply, 
unless  beds  are  made  up  in  the  open,  choosing  the 
north  side  of  a  wall  or  the  coolest  place  available. 
And  if  the  beds  are  made  of  a  good  thickness, 
either  ridge-shaped  or  in  a  slanting  position  against 
the  wall,  large  quantities  may  be  relied  on,  and  if 
the  beds  are  properly  attended  to  these  will 
continue  to  yield  good  Mushrooms  for  months.  As 
a  rule  the  beds  are  a  long  time  coming  into  bearing, 
and  the  manure  should  be  prepared  and  the  beds 
made  up  during  February  and  March.  Preparing 
the  maierial  is  of  far  more  importance  than  many 
suppose.  Collect  .sufficient  manure  in  as  short  a 
space  as  possible,  retain  all  but  the  very  longest 
litter,  which  means  that  the  beds  will  remain  in 
bearing  for  a  much  longer  period  than  is  the  case 
when  this  is  all  removed.  Place  in  an  open  shed 
and  turn  every  other  morning  for  a  week  or  ten 
days,  after  which  it  may  be  placed  together  in  a 
smaller  compass.  After  the  heat  is  declining  the 
beds  should  be  made  up  but  not  spawned  for 
several  days.  Sticks  should  be  thrust  in  and 
tested  every  morning,  and  when  the  temperature 
is  on  the  decline  and  about  SO"'  it  will  be  safe  to 
do  so.  Defer  soiling  the  bed  for  a  week  or  ten 
days,  using  good  turfy  loam  passed  through  a 
5-inch  sieve  to  the  depth  of  2  inches. 

Asi'ABAGUs  Beds. 
These,  if  not  already  done,  should  at  once  receive 
a  thorough  dressing  of  half-rotten  farmyard  manure, 
and  sufficient  soil  should  be  taken  from  tlie  alleys 
to  cover  the  same.  This  .should  be  done  in  a  neat 
and  tidy  way,  a  matter  of  no  small  importance 
to  the  appearance  of  the  kitchen  garden  during 
spring.  Introduce  small  quantities  under  glass 
fortnightly  ;  very  little  heat  will  be  required  to 
start  it  into  growth  as  the  days  lengthen,  and  the 
quality  will  be  much  better  than  if  forced  too 
hard. 

SPIN.iCH. 

That  which  was  sown  during  autumn  has  done 
well  here  this  season.  A  slight  dressing  of  fresh 
soot  will  prove  very  beneficial  at  this  sea.son  if  the 
weather  is  open,  and  the  surface  soil  should  be 
stirred  over  with  the  Dutch  hoe  on  a  fine  day. 
Make  a  small  sowing  on  a  south  border  where  the 
winter  crop  is  at  all  short.  Trenching  and  digging 
should  be  pushed  forward  with  all  possible  speed 
in  fine  weather,  but  avoid  doing  sd,  especially  on 
heavy  land,  whenever  wet.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  House  Gardeipi,  Ehtree,  Herti. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

Ci-IMBERS  on  walls  should  be  attended  to  now 
without  delay.  It  would  be  difficult  to  lay  down 
any  hard  and  fast  rules  to  regulate  or  determine 
the  actual  manner  in  which  the  different  climbing 
plants  ought  to  be  pruned  and  trained,  because 
circumstances  and  the  position  in  which  they  are 
growing  have  much  to  do  with  this,  but  as  a 
general  principle  the  chief  consideration  is  to 
prevent  the  plants  becoming  overcrowded.  Such 
as  Jasmine  and  the  Crataegus  Pyracantha  Lelandii 
are  benefited  by  being  slightly  spurred  every 
winter,  T.'hile  others  require  the  knife  but  little — 
perhaps  only  in  removing  weak  growths.  The 
more  lender  Rose?  should  be  left  untouched  for 
another  three  or  four  weeks.     The  strong  growing 

POLYANTU.V    RO.SES 

of  the  C'rinisiin  Rambler  type  are  not  adapted  for 
walls.  This  is  plainly  demonstrated  by  the  un- 
healthy' yellow  colour  in  wood  and  foliage  assumed 
when  grown  thus,  but  for  pergolas,  pillars,  and 
chains,  where  the  air  can  pass  around  them  freely, 
they  are  eminently  suited.  My  practice  has 
always  been  with  this  class  of  Rose  to  do  all  that 
is  necessary  to  them  early  in  October,  and  this 
simply  consists  of  cutting  out  the  thin  weak  shoots 
and  tying  in  the  strong  ones.     Planting 

Climbers  on  trees 
has  latterly  become  very  popular,  and  not  without 
reason,  for  the  effects  thus  obtained  are  very 
beautiful.  I  remember  seeing  in  a  garden  not  far 
from  London  a  Laburnum  tree  completely  covered 
with  a  Wistaria,  and  their  flowering  being  simul- 


taneous the  effect  was  quite  delightful.  The 
sweet-scented  Vitus  makes  a  splendid  subject  for 
planting  on  a  large  tree,  as  it  is  a  vigorous  grower, 
and  is  never  happier  than  when  scrambling 
upwards  in  any  way.  Wlien  in  flower  its  where- 
abouts are  easily  known  by  its  sweet  odour.  In 
planting  these  climbers  the  usual  way  is  to  dig 
a  hole  near  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  avoid  the  latter's 
roots  as  much  as  possible,  and  introducing  fresh 
loam  and  manure.  This  is  often  the  only  way  in 
whicli  it  can  be  done,  but  where  practical  I  prefer 
planting  them  on  the  outside  of  the  tree  where  the 
branches  are  nearest  to  the  ground,  and  training 
them  over  the  intervening  distance  by  means  of  a 
strong  stake  well  fi.xed  in  the  ground  and  firmly 
attached  to  the  branch  to  prevent  the  latter  from 
swaying  about.  In  a  year  or  so  the  climber  will 
have  secured  such  a  hold  that  the  stake  will  be 
unnecessary. 

Ramblisii  Roses. 
Clematis,  especially  C.  Flammula  and  Polygonum 
lialdschuanicum,  are  particularly  fine  for  adorning 
old  orchard  trees.  For  a  gaunt  Pine  the  Virginian 
Creepers,  especially  Ampelopsis  Engelmanni, 
would  make  a  capital  plant.  One  can  imagine  its 
fine  colour  in  the  autumn,  making  a  brilliant  picture. 
Ampelopsis  Veitchii  on  the  stems  of  the  least 
ornamental  trees  of  the  pleasure  grounds  proves 
effective,  ami  its  use  in  this  manner  is  desirable. 
With  respect  to 

Ivy  on  trees 

I  would  like  to  give  a  word  of  warning  and  a 
reminder  that  the  present  is  a  good  time  to  strip 
ornamental  trees,  if  not  already  done,  of  this 
rapacious  climber.  Every  winter  the  trees  should 
be  gone  over  and  the  Ivy  removed.  If  this  has 
not  been  done  annually  and  the  work  is  now  com- 
menced then  caution  and  discretion  are  requisite. 
If  Iv_Y  has  once  secured  full  possession  of  a  tree 
then  by  all  means  leave  it,  but  take  every  care 
that  sound  trees  are  safeguarded. 

HufJH  A.  Pettigrew. 
The  Gardens,  St.  Fayaa's  Ca-ffle. 

ORCHIDS. 

'  C  Y  M  B  1  D  I  U  M  S  . 

These  are  a  beautiful  and  interesting  family. 
Many  of  the  species  are  showy,  free  blooming,  and 
not  difficult  to  cultivate.  The  majority  are  best 
grown  in  pots  in  the  cool  intermediate  house. 
Peat  and  sphagnum  moss  with  a  little  fibrous  loam 
intermixed  form  the  most  suitable  compost ;  a 
plentiful  supply  of  water  is  needed  when  growing, 
and  at  that  time  an  occasional  watering  with 
weak  liquid  farmyard  manure,  just  sufficient  to 
colour  the  water,  is  beneficial  to  the  strong  growing 
kinds.  When  tJie  plants  are  inactive  less  water  is 
needed,  but  should  not  be  withheld  so  as  to  cause 
shrivelling  of  the  bulbs. 

C.  lowianum  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  and 
well-flowered  specimens,  such  as  those  shown  at 
the  Temple  (Jardens  in  May,  are  remarkably  hand- 
some. The  flowers,  which  are  produced  on  long 
drooping  racemes,  twenty  or  more  in  number,  are 
large,  about  4  inches  across,  the  sepals  and  petals 
yellowish  green,  with  several  faint  sepia  brown 
lines.  The  lip  is  cream  coloured,  witli  large  erect 
yellow  side  lobes,  and  having  on  the  anterior  part 
a  large  velvety  maroon  blotch.  Margined  with 
yellow,  C.  lowianum  is  a  strong  and  vigorous 
grower,  and  produces  roots  in  abundance ;  it 
retjuires  somewhat  large  pots  according  tft  the  size 
of  tlie  plants.  The  cool  intermediate  house  is  the 
most  suitable  place  for  this  species  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  but  it  should  have  a  little  more 
heat  when  finishing  up  its  growth.  C.  eburneum 
is  also  a  handsome  species  ;  the  flowers  are  large 
and  fragrant,  pure  white,  and  produced  in  erect 
racemes  in  spring.  Althougli  less  vigorous  in  growth 
than  C.  lowianum  it  should  by  mi  means  be  con- 
fined to  small  pots,  owing  to  the  large  and  fleshy 
character  of  the  roots.  It  is  best  grown  in  the 
cool  intermediate  house,  likewise  the  following : 
C.  eburneo-lowianum  and  C.  lowio-eburneum, 
which  are  two  handsome  hybrids,  oft'spring  of  the 
two  preceding  species  ;  C.  giganteum,  C.  tracey- 
anum,     C.     hookerianuni,    C     mastersianum,    C. 


devonianum,  and  C.  tigrinum.  The  two  last- 
named,  though  not  showy,  are  worth  a  place  in 
every  collection.  C.  tigrinum  being  dwarf  and 
compact  is  best  grown  in  suspended  pans. 

CfELIA    MAL'ROSTACIIYA. 

This  is  a  very  distinct  epiphytal  Orchid.  The 
flower  stems,  which  are  produced  from  the  base  of 
the  bulbs  in  summer,  are  terminated  by  a  cylin- 
drical raceme  9  inches  or  10  inches  long  bearing 
many  flowers.  The  petals  are  blush-white,  the 
sepals  deep  rosy  red,  and  the  lip  white.  This 
plant  makes  its  growth  in  autumn  and  winter, 
and  should  then  have  a  light  position  in  the 
Cattleya  house,  and  be  moderately  supplied  with 
water.  After  growth  has  finished  place  it  in  the 
cool  intermediate  house  until  growth  again  begins, 
and  give  only  sufficient  water  to  keep  the  bulb 
plump.  It  is  best  grown  in  pots  in  equal  propor- 
tions of  peat  and  sphagnum  moss. 

ARUNniSA    EAMBUS.EFOLIA. 

This  is  a  handsome  terrestrial  Orchid  seldom 
seen  or  heard  of.  The  plant  has  slender  reed-like 
stems  3  feet  or  more  high,  from  the  top  of  which 
flowers  are  produced  in  early  summer,  and  con- 
tinue to  appear  for  a  considerable  time.  The 
flowers,  which  grow  several  together,  are  large, 
having  pale  magenta-rose  sepals  and  petals,  and  a 
rich  rose  lip,  each  side  of  the  white  throat  being 
striped  with  orange  lines.  This  should  have  a 
moist  and  shaded  position  in  the  stove  free  from 
draughts.  An  abundance  of  water  should  be  given 
to  the  roots  when  growing,  and  the  plants  should 
be  freely  syringed  two  or  three  times  a  day  iti 
summer.  At  no  time  should  they  be  allowed  to 
become  even  moderately  dry  at  the  root.  The 
plants  are  best  grown  in  pots  in  equal  proportions 
of  peat,  sphagnum  moss,  and  fibrous  loam,  the 
whole  being  well  mixed  together. 

r.  W.  Thurgood. 

Rosiily7i  Gardens,  Stamford  Hill,  N. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Carnation  SonvENiR  de  la  Malmaison. 

The  layers  of  last  .July  and  August  in  4A-inch  and 
fiinch  pots,  and  later  layers  also,  are  now  well 
rooted.  The.se  should  be  potted  up  in  6-inch 
or  8-inch  pots,  using  a  compost  of  good  turfy  loam 
(with  the  fine  particles  sifted  out)  two  parts,  peat 
and  wood  ashes  one  part,  the  other  part  consisting 
of  dry  horse  manure,  charcoal,  not  crushed  too  fine, 
and  coarse  sand.  Pot  firmly  and  give  efficient 
drainage,  (iive  water  carefully  in  about  a  week. 
We  pot  up  about  half  the  stock  in  these  large  pots 
now,  the  remaining  plants  being  kept  well  supplied 
with  soot  and  manure  water.  These,  in  the 
smaller  pots,  are  most  useful  for  conservatory 
and  house  decoration.  Malmaisons  should  be  kept 
gently  growing  all  through  the  winter  season,  that 
is  to  say,  they  must  ncjt  lie  kept  at  all  dry  at  the 
root,  and  afforded  plenty  of  air  at  all  times.  Fumi- 
gate with  .\L  All  to  keep  them  free  from  insect 
pests.  Here  we  onl,y  apply  fire-heat  sufficient  to 
keep  out  the  frost  ;  these  plants  flower  in  May. 
Border  Caniitions  in  pots  require  the  same 
treatment,  but  may  be  grown  in  smaller  pots. 
Successional  plants  plunged  in  ashes  in  unheated 
pits  must  be  given  plenty  of  air  in  favourable 
weather. 

Humea  ele<:ans. 

This  plant  requires  much  the  same  culture  a.s 
Malmaison  Carnations,  but  must  be  protected  from 
frost. 

Heliotrope  and  Fuchsias  that  were  rooted  in  the 
autumn  should  be  transferred  into  larger  pots 
before  the  roots  become  restricted  for  room.  A 
mixture  of  loam,  leaf-mould,  cow  manure,  and 
sand,  suits  them  well.  Autumn  struck  plants,  if 
kept  growing,  make  finer  pyramids  than  old  plants, 
they  will  grow  to  .">  feet  and  0  feet  by  June  and 
July.  The  leading  growth  must  be  kept  well  up 
above  the  laterals,  and  the  side  shoots  pinched  in 
order  to  keep  the  plants  a  good  shape.  Others 
required  for  standards  should  be  grown  with  a 
single  stem  until  they  reach  the  desired  height, 
when  the  points  may  be  stopped,  allowing  four  or 


January  25.  1902.J 


THE    GAKDEN 


63 


.•five  shoots  to  grow ;  when  these  are  about  a  foot 
Hong  tie  down  and  stop  them. 

The  Con'SERVatory. 

This  structure  should  be  kept  thoroughly  clean 
and  tidy.  In  arranging  the  various  plants  avoid 
■crowding,  as  each  plant  should  have  plenty  of  room. 
The  following  plants  may  be  made  use  of:  Azaleas, 
-Syringas,  Acacias,  Ueutzias,  Cinerarias,  Primulas, 
and  Cyclamens,  Dutch  bulbs,  such  as  Narcissus, 
Tulips,  Hyacinths,  Freesias,  also  Lily  of  the  Valley 
and  Lilium  Harrisii. 

Climbers, 
such  as  Plumbagos,  Clematis,  Swainsonias,  and 
Jasminums  may  be  pruned  and  kept  dry  at  the 
root  until  they  break.  Lapageria  rosea  and  its 
varieties  should  have  their  weak  straggling  shoots 
removed,  and  have  a  thorough  cleansing.  If  any 
of  these  require  potting  it  should  be  undertaken 
'forthwith.  Use  a  compost  of  two  parts  peat,  one 
•part  turfy  loam,  lumps  of  sandstone,  charcoal,  and 
■sand,  with  a  thorough  drainage,  as  they  require 
plenty  of  water  in  their  growing  season. 

Hibbertias,    Kennedyas,    and  Rhynchospermum 
■require   the   same   attention.      Plants  of   Epacris 
and   Ericas   should   be   cut 
back   after    flowering    and 
■repotted  as   soon    as   they 
•commence  to  grow. 

John  Flkming. 


[We  thank  Mr.  Sturge  for  his  good  note,  which 
rausthavegone  astray  (see  The  Garden,  January  l.S, 
page  47)]. 


We  receive  from  the  R6v.  F.  D.  Horner  a 
charming  bloom,  the  top  one  of  a  spike,  of  the 
pure  white 

Angr.ecum  eburnbum, 

a  native  of  the  Mascarene  Islands  in  the  Indian 
Ocean. 


We   receive   from    Lady  Acland   an   interesting 
gathering  of 

Flowers  from  North  Somerset, 

almost  adjoining  Devonshire.  They  include  (ialan- 
thus  Elwesii,  Cyclamen  coum,  one  of  the  tender 
Veronicas,  Andromeda  floribunda  with  expanded 
flowers,  Christmas  Rose,  Anemone  fulgons,  Coro- 
nilla,  Lonieera  Standishi,  Daphne  indica,  Laurus- 
tinus  (remarkably  strong),  Sweet  Bay  in  fruit, 
Rosemary,  Garrya  elliptioa,  Jasminum  nudiflorum, 
Pansies,  VVinter  Heliotrope,  and  Nemophila  maou- 


HARDY    FRUITS 
IN   SEASON. 

Peak  Winter  Nelis. 


This  well  -  known    Pear 
•was  one  of  a  collection  of 
winter  Pears  exhibited  by 
Messrs.    J.     Veitch     and 
.•Sons   at    the    Drill    Hall 
meeting    of    the    Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  on 
'Tuesday,   the    14th  inst., 
and  deservedly  received 
.-at  the  hands  of  the  Fruit 
Committee   a   first  -  class 
■certificate.      The     fruits 
-exhil)ited    were    from    a 
pyramid     in     the     open. 
The    belief   has    been 
hitherto     pretty    general 
'that  to  grow  this  variety 
to   perfection   the   assist- 
ance  of  a  warm  wall  is 
aiecessary.  The  case  under 
notice    confirms    my  ex- 
perience   that    in    warm 
and    favourable    seasons 
ithe   best   results    are  to 
be  obtained    from    this   variety  on  pyramid 
trees  grown   in    the    open.     Gro-wers  should 
auake  a  note    of    this    fact,  and    hasten    to 
plant  this,  certainly  one  of  the  best  and  most 
'indispensable  winter  Pears  in   cultivation,  in 
•some  warm  corner  or  other  of  their  garden. 
It  will  be  well  to  qualify  the  above  by  saying 
ithat  in  cold   and   unfavourable   seasons    this 
•variety  is  a  disappointment  in  the  open,  and 
therefore  a  reserve  of  trees  on  a  warm  wall 
■should  be  provided   where  possible. — Owen 
Thom..^s. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


ErYNGIUM   TRIPARTITnSI. 

I  find  that  my  note  about  Eryngium  tripartitum 
must  have  miscarried.  I  wish  to  recommend  it 
'to  all  lovers  of  hardy  plants  who  do  not  grow  it. 
All  the  Eryngiums  are  effective,  but  this  one  is  so 
•distinct  and  (juaint  as  to  be,  I  think,  singularly 
.attractive.  —  F.  A.  Sturge,  Coed  Efa,  neat 
•Wrexham. 


I'KAR    WINTER    XELIS    (NATURAL   SIZE). 

lata.  A  remarkable  gathering  for  the  season,  and 
very  pleasant  to  receive  at  a  time  when  the  last 
mild  spell  has  been  succeeded  by  weather  of  some 
severity. 


KEW    NOTES. 

Veronica    cupressoides. 

Amongst  the  smallest  conifers  in  the  rock  garden 
are  one  or  two  species  of  New  Zealand  Veronicas, 
not  easily  to  be  distinguished  from  them  at  a  mere 
glance.  V.  cupressoides  is  a  small  evergreen  shrub 
not  more  than  12  inches  to  15  inches  high,  whose 
minute  scale-like  leaves  are  so  closely  pressed 
against  the  branches  that  the  entire  plant,  as  its 
name  implies,  curiously  and  almost  exactly  mimics 
some  form  of  C3'press.  It  is  an  elegant  little  shrub, 
and  where  conifers  are  not  desired  can  be  used  to 
suppljf  greenery  with  advantage  on  the  smallest 
alpinery.  The  violet  flowers  are  produced  in 
small  clusters  at  the  tips  of  the  slender  branches 
in  summer,  but  it  has  a  distinct  use  and  value 
as  well  in  the  winter  garden.  V.  cupressoides 
variabilis,  though  very  similar,  is  still  more  dwarf, 
scarcely  rising  above  a  dense  spreading  tuft.     This 


form  is  sometimes  met  with  as  V.  salicornoides,  a 
name  to  which  it  has  no  claim. 

V.  Hectori  is  of  somewhat  taller  growth,  almost 
suggestive  of  some  upright  form  of  Club  Moss,  and 
is  very  distinct.  It  has  pretty  terminal  clusters 
of  small  white  flowers  in  summer.  There  are  some 
eight  or  nine  species,  nearly  allied,  which  are  all 
alpine,  growing  at  a  height  of  from  7,000  feet  to 
S,OUO  feet,  and  therefore  to  be  reckoned  hardy  in 
our  climate.  These  Veronicas  are  interesting  for 
another  reason  besides  that  of  mimicry,  for  they 
have  a  trick  of  spreading  out  their  tiny  leaves  at 
certain  periods  of  life,  and  by  this  means  assume 
an  entirely  different  character. 

But  the  days  are  already  lengthening  and  life  is 
beginning  to  stir  in  the  outdoor  garden.  We  may 
turn  our  thoughts  to  flowering  instead  of  foliage 
plants.  The  leafless  branches  of  a  Witch-Hazel 
(Hamamelis  arborea)  are  hung  from  top  to  toe  with 
tassels  of  twisted  gold.  We  catch  a  glimpse  of  a 
group  of  it  through  the  branches  of.  the  big  Pine 
which  gives  shade  and  shelter  on  the  left  of  the  rock 
garden. 

It  is  an  invaluable  winter  -  flowering  shrub, 
gay  and  bright  as  a  gleam  of  sunshine,  and  charm- 
ing to  look  closely  into, 
with  its  spiral  petals  and 
chocolate-brown  calices.  It 
came  to  us  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago,  by  way  of 
Holland,  having  been  sent 
from  .Japan  by  Van  Siebold, 
whose  name  we  associate 
with  so  many  fine  plants, 
yet  how  seldom  are  our 
larger  gardens  lighted  up 
in  dark  .Januar}'  days  with 
a  good  clump  of  this  precious 
low-growing  tree. 

.Saxifraga  burseriana 

JIAJOR. 
A  cumbersome  name  for 
so  small  a  plant.  It  is  the 
lirst  alpine  to  bloom  in  the 
open  in  the  new  j'ear.  A 
fair  sized  clump  had  many 
pearly  buds  and  some  full- 
blown flovv-ers  as  early  as 
January  -12.  8o  fair  and 
fragile  a  child  of  the  moun- 
tains, so  tempting  a  morsel 
for  browsing  slugs,  seems  to 
deserve  shelter,  even  if  it 
does  not  ask  for  it,  and  in 
truth  it  is  one  of  the  gems 
in  winter's  crown  for  a  cold 
greenhouse  as  may  be  seen 
at  Kew  in  the  Alpine  house, 
which  is  just  now  being 
arranged  for  the  season. 
The  snow  -  white  flowers 
upheld  so  daintily  by 
their  crinjson  stems  expand  more  freely  there, 
safe  from  all  dangers,  than  in  the  open. 

Hellebores 

are  just  now  very  much  to  the  fore  at  Kew.  Large 
breadths  of  a  good  form  of  Christmas  Rose  (H.  niger) 
have  been  planted  quite  recently  amongst  the 
Ferns  under  the  trees  not  far  from  Cumberland 
Gate,  and  when  established  in  years  to  come  will 
be  a  fine  sight.  We  cannot  be  too  grateful  for 
object-lessons  such  as  these.  A  certain  stiffness  of 
straight  lines  in  the  setting  might  have  been 
avoided,  but  time  will  probably  mend  this,  and 
the  plants  will  form  a  carpet  wherein  all  rigid 
rectangles  will  lose  themselves  in  ample  leafage. 
Bear's-foot  (H.  fcetidus),  throwing  up  its  tall  heads 
of  pale  green  flowers  well  above  the  dark,  handsome 
seven  fingered  leaves  of  last  year, .  stands  out 
vividly  against  a  sombre  background  of  Vew  and 
Ivy.  H.  angustifolius,  a  true  Christmas  Rose,  is 
over  in  the  rock  garden  ;  its  pure  starry  sepals  are 
no  longer  white  and  betray  their  real  nature,  but 
Lenten  Roses  (H.  orientalis)  are  pushing  up  their 
bloom-buds  all  too  soon.  A  very  dwarf  variety,  not 
more  than  3  inches  or  4  inches  high,  of  H.  viridis 
has  fully  opened  flowers,  tinged  with  purple.     A 


C4 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[Jan VARY  25,   1902, 


good  many  hybrids  have  been  raised  of  late  years 
lietween  this  species  and  H.  orieiitalis,  which  are 
interesting  and  well  suited  for  wilderness  planting, 
but  none  of  them  will  oust  from  our  affections  the 
dear  old  green  Hellebore  of  our  chalk  woodlands. 
This,  however,  comes  into  flower  several  weeks 
later  than  most  of  the  hybrids.  H.  abschasieus 
is  sending  up  its  purplish  flower  buds  fast  through 
its  evergreen  leaves  ;  so  also  is  its  near  ally  H.  cau- 
casicus,  neighbours  both  in  their  native  mountains 
and  here  at  the  foot  of  the  rock  work,  where  they 
can  compare  notes,  if  they  choose,  as  to  the  perfidy 
of  the  base  English  climate  which  is  making  them 
so  hang  their  heads.  H.  odorus,  a  Hungarian 
species,  with  green,  scented  flowers  is  following  fast 
in  their  steps.  We  have  here  a  good  opportunity 
of  studying  these  different  species  of  Helleborus 
with  their  varieties,  as  they  are  most  conveniently 
planted  for  comparison  of  their  distinctive  merits. 

It  is  very  pleasant  to  step  out  of  the  keen,  biting 
air  into  the  Alpine  house,  where  Narcissus  corbu- 
laria  monophyllus  and  many  another  early  flowering 
plant  besides  Burser's  [Saxifrage  are  opening  their 
buds,  happy  in  the  shelter.  Not  exempt,  however, 
from  frost,  for  there  is  ice  on  the  glass  tank  con- 
taining AzoUa  filiculoides,  and  roof  and  side  lights 
are  dense  with  frost  crj'stals. 

Cyclamen  ibericuni,  with  heart-shaped  leaves, 
marbled  with  a  faint  zone  of  white,  and  small  rosy- 
purple  flowers,  is  verj'  brisk  and  cheerful,  and  more 
forward  than  the  variety  of  C.  coum  at  its  side, 
which  diSers  from  it  but  in  its  rounder  unmottled 
leaves. 

Saxifraga  apioulata  is  just  beginning  to  open  its 
pale  primrose  buds,  well  in  advance  of  the  same 
species  out  of  doors,  and  many  other  alpine  plants 
are  making  haste  to  follow  in  their  wake. 

The  mild  weather  has  tempted  the  winter 
Honeysuckle, 

LONICEKA    FRAORANTISSIMA, 

to  open  its  first  sweet  wliite  flowers.  This  species, 
though  generally  evergreen,  has  let  fall  a  good 
many  of  its  leaves  this  year  during  the  hard  frosts 
before  Christmas,  but  is  otherwise  unhurt.  Its 
usual  place  is  against  a  wall,  but  here  it  grows  as 
a  sturdy  bush,  not  more  than  3  feet  high,  and 
is  thiclily  set  with  buds.  The  nearly  allied  L. 
iStandishii,  which  is  often  mistaken  for  this  species, 
is  not  evergreen,  having  softer  and  slightly  hairy 
leaves  and  buds,  and  will  not  open  its  flowers  just 
yet.     Another  "  Winter-sweet," 

Chimgnanthus  fragrams, 
is  very  welcome  at  this  season.  In  the  variety 
grandifiorus  the  flowers  are  larger  and  of  a  clearer 
shade  of  citron-yellow  than  in  the  type,  and  though 
the  plant  is  bare  of  leaf  the  Ijlossonis  make  a  brave 
show,  and  may  be  descried  against  a  well-toned 
brick  wall  from  some  little  distance.  It  is  just  as 
well  to  bear  in  mind  that  this  is  one  of  the  shrubs 
which  bloom  on  the  J'oung  wood,  and  any  pruning 
or  cutting  out  of  useless  branches  that  may  be 
necessary  should  be  done  in  early  spring  when  the 
flowers  are  over,  for  if  it  be  delayed  there  will  be 
no  flowers  next  year. 

Adonis  amcremsis. 
Amongst  the  herbaceous  plants  Adonis  amurensis 
bids  fair  to  be  the  first  flower  of  the  j'ear.  This  is 
one  of  tlie  more  recent  introductions,  and  though 
scarcel}'  so  fine  as  our  old  favourite  A.  vernalis,  it 
is  very  gooil,  and  possesses  the  distinct  advantage 
of  being  well  to  the  fore.  The  Japanese  have 
taken  this  plant  in  hand,  and  have  raised  varieties, 
double  as  well  as  single,  of  many  colours — scarlet, 
purple,  white,  and  yellow — and  it  has  a  book  well 
illustrated  all  to  itself  in  .Japanese  garden  literature. 
This  species  comes  from  Manchuria,  and  was  treated 
at  first  as  a  cool  house  plant  at  Kew,  but  it  seems 
perfectly  happy  without  any  protection  in  the  rock 
garden,  where  the  sturdy  growths  are  pushing  up 
and  showing  their  yellow  petals  encircled  bj'  the 
dark  brown  calyx.  The  leaves  are  finely  cut  as  in 
most  of  the  genus,  and  the  plant  is  vigorous,  but 
varies  in  growth  from  a  few  inches  to  H  feet  in 
height,  . 

Sterneeruia  fischeriaxa. 
This  fine  bulb  is  wonderful   in   its  persistence. 
Since  the  middle  of  December,  when  it  began  to 


flower,  the  plantation  of  it  has  been  getting  brighter 
and  more  bright,  until  it  is  now  at  its  best.  There 
are  two  varieties  of  this  species,  the  tj'pe,  which 
blooms  in  March,  and  the  above-mentioned,  which 
differs  from  it  very  slightly  except  in  its  season  of 
flowering.  It  waits  till  December,  and  fears  no 
weather — a  fact  to  be  noted,  as  it  makes  it  doubly 
valuable.     It  should  receive  a  distinctive  name. 


S^VEET     PEAS. 

The  Sweet  Pea  was  a  popular  flower  half  a  century 
ago,  and  to-day  is  one  of  the  flowers  that  those 
who  grow  for  cutting  during  summer  cannot  do 
without.  Certainly  from  a  florist's  point  of  view 
there  has  been  a  steady  improvement  in  the  colours 
and  the  size  of  the  flowers,  more  particularly  the 
former,  in  recent  years.  Nearly  half  a  century 
ago  the  Sweet  Pea  used  to  be  grown  by  some  in 
separate  colours,  as  they  are  done  now,  but  it  was 
considered  that  they  were  more  showy  and  efl'ec- 
live  in  mixtures.  Of  course,  as  a  showy  lot,  if  the 
colours  are  well  mixed  they  look  more  beautiful, 
but  for  those  who  grow  mainl}'  for  cutting  it  is 
mj'  opinion  that  it  is  best  to  grow  them  in  the 
separate  colours,  as  when  cut  the  varieties  can  be 
gathered  that  are  of  the  desired  shade.  Sometimes 
pale  lavender  is  the  colour  wanted,  sometimes 
white,  and  sometimes  scarlet. 

Those  who  wish  to  have  good  Sweet  Peas  will 
liave  to  give  seasonable  attention  first  to  the 

Preparation  of  the  Grouxd. 

Now  is  a  good  time  to  do  that.  We  have  just 
wheeled  a  lot  of  manure  on  to  a  piece  of  ground, 
and  are  trenching  it  two  spades  deep,  putting  a 
part  of  the  manure  in  the  hollow  of  the  trench  and 
part  on  the  top  of  the  first  spading,  so  that  this 
will  laj'  a  good  groundwork  for  future  success. 
Where  a  good  demand  for  Sweet  Peas  exists  this 
is  the  better  way,  growing  them  in  a  selected  piece 
of  ground  all  together,  though  doubtless  they  do 
well  and  are  very  efi'ective  in  clumps  in  mixed 
borders.  For  e.xample,  I  once  grew  a  lot  of  clumps 
in  a  long  mixed  border.  They  were  all  of  the 
white  variety.  At  intervals,  and  just  between 
the  clumps  of  white  Peas  nearer  the  front  of  the 
border,  were  masses  of  Gladiolus  brenchleyensis, 
which  is  a  bright  red,  and  the  contrast  of  the 
two  proved  very  eft'ective  in  autumn. 

Varieties. 

It  will  soon  be  time  to  order  seed  of  new  varie- 
ties or  a  fresh  supply  of  seed.  Last  year  I  grew 
about  forty  varieties,  an  interesting  collection. 
I  here  give  a  list  of  varieties  which,  if  properly 
grown,  cannot  fail  to  give  satisfaction.  Amongst 
blues  are  Countess  of  Cadogan,  *Emily  Eckford, 
and  *Navy  Blue  ;  blush,  *Duchess  of  Sutherland  ; 
creamy  salmon,  *Venus  :  bright  red,  'Salopian  ; 
lavender,  *Lady  Grisel  Hamilton,  *Lady  Nina 
Balfour,  and  Maid  of  Honour  ;  magenta,  *George 
Gordon ;  maroon,  Othello,  *Black  Knight,  and 
Stanley  ;  mauve,  *Dorothy  Tennant ;  orange-pink, 
*Miss  Wilmott,  'Chancellor,  Triumph,  and  *Gor- 
geous  ;  pink.  Duchess  of  Westminster,  Countess  of 
Lathom,  'Hon.  F.  Bouverie,  Prima  Donna,  and 
'Lovely  ;  red,  'Coccinea  and  'Prince  Edward  of 
York ;  rose,  'Lord  Kenyon  and  Her  Majesty  ; 
striped,  'Mikado  ;  white,  'Sadie  Burpee,  'Blanche 
Burpee,  and  'Emily  Henderson  ;  primrose,  the 
Hon.  Mrs.  E.  Kenyon,  'Lad^v  Ormsby  Gore, 
'Queen  Victoria,  and  Mrs.  Eckford.  For  twenty- 
four  sorts  out  of  the  above  I  have  marked  thus  * 
those  that  I  would  recommend. 

Sowing  Seed. 

It  is  a  matter  of  opinion  whether  the  seed  is  best 
sown  under  glass,  and  the  plants  transplanted  to 
the  open  ground  when  about  an  inch  in  height,  or 
whether  it  be  sown  in  the  open  ground.  My 
opinion  is  that  it  is  best  lo  sow  under  glass  and 
transplant.  If  sown  in  the  open,  excepting  they 
are  perfectly  protected  from  birds,  they  are  almost 
certain  to  be  disturbed  by  these  depredators  ;  and, 
besides,  they  are  not  quite  so  early  when  sown  in 
the  open.  The  seed  under  glass  has  to  be  carefully 
managed  also.     It  must  not  be  over- watered  when 


germinating  or  the  seedlings  will  go  off  wholesale.  I 
get  boxes  and  fill  with  strips  of  turf  regularly  in  the 
box.  Then  I  mark  with  a  piece  of  wood  a  groove 
in  which  to  sow  the  seed  on  the  strips  of  turf. 
This  is  given  a  gentle  watering,  then  the  seed  is- 
sown,  and  a  slight  covering  of  sifted  soil  is  given. 
The  boxes  are  then  carried  to  a  vinery  about  to 
start,  covered  over  with  a  few  papers,  and  no  more 
water  is  given  until  the  young  Peasare  "rowed"  in. 
the  boxes.  B3-  doing  this  little  chance  of  failure- 
will  result.  The  next  move  is  to  take  the  boxes- 
lo  a  cold  frame  to  harden  off  to  get  ready  for 
planting  out. 

A  few  years  ago  I  had  a  piece  of  ground,  as  I. 
thought,  thoroughlj-  well  prepared  for  Sweet  Peas. 
But  as  the  summer  advanced  I  could  see  that  in- 
trenching the  ground  too  much  of  the  subsoil  was 
brought  to  the  surface,  and  the  j'oung  Peas  did 
not  lake  kindly  to  it  in  places.  So  any  beginner 
trying  to  grow  Peas  well  might  profit  by  my  short- 
coming. To  obviate  this  at  planting  time  I  have 
a  trench  a  few  inches  deep  taken  out,  and  imme- 
diately round  the  young  plants  a  good  sprinkling 
of  old  potting  soil  is  put— pot  refuse  from  the 
potting  shed  sifted  through  an  inch  riddle  and 
used  in  this  way.  The  rows  should  not  be  closer 
than  4i  feet.  After  planting,  a  few  twigs  as  for  a 
miniature  row  are  put  in,  and  a  strip  of  net  is  put 
on  to  keep  birds  off. 

As  regards  staking,  no  doubt  the  best  method  is 
the  old  one  of  suitable  branches  from  trees  that 
are  cut  down.  After  this  operation,  little  more 
should  be  required  to  enable  one  to  gather  flowers 
in  plent}'.  But  if  we  have  a  summer  this  j'ear 
as  last  we  must  watch  carefully  for  red  spider 
and  if  it  makes  its  appearance  the  syringe  must  be 
used  freely  before  the  foliage  becomes  yellow  from 
its  efl'ects.  I  feel  sure  this  is  a  point  often  over- 
looked in  the  culture  of  Sweet  Peas.  Amateurs 
do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with  their  Peas 
when  they  go  yellow,  but  if  their  attention  is^ 
drawn  to  the  matter,  on  inspection  the  myriads  of 
these  insects  will  be  observed,  which  should  be 
driven  off  forthwith  by  the  syringe.  If  these 
points  are  attended  to  which  1  have  tried  to- 
describe,  along  with  waterings  in  dry  weather, 
there  is  every  probability  that  a  long  season  of 
flowers  will  result — from  June  till  cut  down  by 
frost.  Robert  MacKellar.  . 

Ahney  Hall  Gardens,  Cheadle. 


The    Middlesex    County    CounciL 

School  of  HOPtiCUlture.— We  are  asked 
to  publish  the  following  :  The  Technical  Education 
Committee  of  the  Middlesex  County  Council,  having 
decided  to  establish  a  school  of  practical  and  scien- 
tific horticulture,  has,  by  arrangement  with  the 
Edmonton  District  Council,  acquired  a  large  piece 
of  land  with  six  greenhouses  at  Pymmes  Park, 
Edmonton,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  thia 
idea.  The  main  object  in  view  is  to  give  a 
thorough  horticultural  training  to  those  who  are 
anxious  to  take  up  gardening  as  a  profession. 
Opportunity  will  also  be  afforded  to  schoolteachers 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  horticulture  by  means 
of  special  Saturday  morning  lessons  and  demon- 
strations in  the  gardens.  Only  the  best  and  most 
profitable  kinds  of  fruits,  flowers,  and  vegetables 
will  be  grown,  and  trials  and  experiments  of 
particular  crops  or  varieties  will  be  carried  out 
from  time  to  time  as  occasion  may  require. 
Soientific  training  will  go  hand  in  hand  with  the 
practical,  and  lectures  and  demonstrations  on  the 
theory  and  practice  ot  horticulture,  the  examina- 
tion and  classification  of  plants,  the  use  of  the 
microscope,  &c. ,  will  be  freely  given.  Student* 
will  also  have  the  privilege  of  attending  the 
lectures  on  ehemistr}'  and  other  sciences  at  the 
counciTs  well-appointed  laboratories  at  the  Totten- 
ham Polytechnic.  The  County  Council  offers  three 
scholarships  of  t'-20  to  t'30  per  annum,  according 
to  the  age  of  candidates.  The  work  in  the  gardens 
will  be  carried  out  under  the  direction  of  the 
council's  instructor  in  horticnlture,  Mr.  .John 
Weathers,  F.R.H.S.,  author  of  "A  Practical 
Guide  to  Garden  Plants."  Prospectuses  and 
further  information  relating  to  the  School  of  Horti- 
culture nia\-  Ije  obtained  from  the  organising 
.secretary.  The  Guildhall,   Westminster,  S.  W. 


p~^- 


GARDEN 


-^?:; 


^^^s^=i 


-zn^- 


No.  1576.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[February  1,  1902. 


THE     BOTHY. 

IN  large  gardens  where  a  number  of  lads 
and  young  men  are  employed  it  is  usual 
to  provide  the  lodging  accommodation 
commonly  known  as  a  bothy,  ilany, 
perhaps  most,  owners  of  large  places  are 
fully  aware  of  the  great  benefit  that  a  well- 
arranged  bothy  is  to  the  lads  and  young  men, 
to  whom  it  is  a  home  for  perhaps  a  couple  of 
years  of  their  life,  at  an  age  when  good  housing, 
away  from  temptations,  and,  in  addition,  some 
kindly  leading  and  careful  watching  may  make 
the  whole  dift'erence  in  the  bent  of  a  life. 

The  gardener  who  has  the  immediate  autho- 
rity over  these  young  lives  can  do  a  great  deal, 
and  the  influence  of  a  wise  and  kind  man  with 
a  fatherly  feeling  for  the  men  under  him  is  of 
a  value  that  cannot  be  too  highly  estimated. 
But  to  enable  him  to  exercise  it  to  the  best 
effect  the  conditions  of  the  lodging  place  must 
also  be  of  the  best.  Not  only  must  it  be 
wholesome,  in  the  way  of  proper  space  and 
sanitation,  but  it  should  also  be  distinctly 
attractive  in  a  homelike  way.  It  should  be 
properly  warmed  and  lighted,  and  should  have 
abundant  water  supply.  There  should  be 
separate  beds — in  cubicles  if  possible — a  bath, 
and  a  good  sitting-room  for  meals  and  evenings. 
It  costs  but  little  to  supply  some  standard 
books  on  horticultural  and  allied  subjects, 
while  well  organised  arrangements  for  buying 
articles  of  food,  for  cooking  and  cleaning, 
washing  and  mending  clothes,  will  leave  the 
lads  time  to  do  some  improving  work  as  well 
as  enjoy  wholesome  amusements  in  their  spare 
hours.  Many  an  employer  would  give  a 
teacher  on  two  or  more  nights  a  week, 
or  an  occasional  instructor  in  some  special 
subject. 

We  should  be  glad  to  open  our  columns  to 
the  discussion  of  this  most  important  subject, 
and  also  to  hear  of  the  systems  that  have  been 
devised  in  some  of  the  best  gardens.  We  should 
like  to  hear  of  it  from  every  point  of  view, 
from  that  of  the  owner,  the  gardener,  and  the 
young  men  who  are  its  occupants. 


THE    HORTICULTURAL    HALL. 

Various  rumours  are  afloat  about  the  proposed 
Hall  of  Horticulture  for  the  Koyal  Horticul- 
tural Society,  and  probably  when  the  society 
holds  its  annual  meeting  on  the  11th  inst. 
the  Fellows  will  hear  from  the  council  what 
progress  has  been  made  towards  its  inception. 
We  recently  printed  without  comment  k 
paragraph    from    the     Globi    suggesting    a 


possible  amalgamation  between  the  society 
and  the  Koyal  Botanic,  but  we  hope  no  wild 
scheme  will  bo  got  up  to  combine  two  at 
present  distinct  institutions. 

The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  has  sailed 
bravely  through  the  storms  of  many  years  and 
is  now  in  the  calm  waters  of  prosperity,  a 
prosperity  which,  used  aright,  will  result  in 
the  course  of  years  in  a  financially  powerful 
condition.  But  it  is  surely  no  part  of  the 
society'-s  policy  to  suffer  partial  strangulation 
by  amalgamation  with  another  of  nondescript 
aim,  which  appears  to  attach  as  much 
importance  to  the  getting  up  of  dinners  and 
other  social  meetings  that  have  nothing  to  do 
with  gardening  as  it  does  to  legitimate 
horticulture.  The  beautiful  gardens  at 
Regent's  Park  are  tempting  ;  the  grassy  glades 
and  cool  leafy  retreats  suggest  pleasurable 
environment  for  flower  shows  and  gatherings, 
but  we  would  rather  see  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  hold  its  meetings  in  a  barn  than 
amalgamate  with  a  body  that  has  publicly  sold 
its  birthright. 

The  council  must  be  thanked  heartily  for  its 
efforts  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  Fellows,  and 
we  understand  that  a  suitable  site  has  been 
procured  in  Westminster  for  a  permanent 
home.  However,  a  hall  must  not  be  built  with 
the  funds  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Scjciety, 
which  is  not  in  a  position  to  make  an 
extravagant  expenditure,  such  as  a  .site  and 
building  in  Westminster  would  entail,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  serious  after-cost  of  rates  and 
ex)ienses  of  maintenance.  If  the  hall  is  to  be 
built  by  private  subscription,  by  the  generous 
donations  of  a  few  men  whose  names  are 
worthily  reverenced  in  the  world  of  horticul- 
ture, then  all  is  well,  and  the  clearly  right 
policy  of  the  council  is  to  assist  as  far  as  they 
consider  proper  the  scheme  brought  forward 
by  those  who  thus  show  their  interest  in  its 
promotion.  Probably  it  is  illegal  for  the 
society  to  embark  in  building  speculations  at 
all,  but  no  doubt  we  shall  be  enlightened  on 
that  point  on  Tuesday  week. 

We  see  most  ]ilainly  that  a  Horticultural 
Hall  is  desirable,  but  think  its  erection  would 
be  most  unwise  if  the  society's  exchequer  is  to 
be  emptied  for  this  purpose  alone.  A  costly 
hall  must  be  maintained  at  the  society's 
expense  and  could  only  be  used  for  the 
fortnightly  meetings.  It  is  common  know- 
ledge that  at  the  big  fruit  show  held  each  year 
at  the  Crystal  Palace  the  entrance  money  pays 
but  little  of  the  expenses.  The  whole  question 
really  is  :  How  much  is  the  site  and  hall  to 
cost,  and  who  is  going  to  provide  the  funds  for 
erection  and  maintenance? 

It  seems  to  us  that  the  practical  side  of  the 
society's  work  much  more  urgently  demands 
attention,  we  mean  the  garden  for  experiments 
and  for  the  foundation  of  a  school  of  horticul- 
ture. A  plain  hall  in  London  and  a  big  garden 
in  the  country  would  happily  and  fittingly 
celebrate  the  society's  centenary,  bat  the 
1  utility  of  the  garden  rather  than  that  of  the 


hall  forces  itself  upon  us  most  strongly.  The 
less  showy  but  really  more  practical  side  of  the 
society's  work  should  have  the  careful  atten- 
tion of  the  more  thoughtful  among  the  Fellows. 
It  is  obvious  that  the  hall  should  be  a  more 
popular  idea  with  many  of  them,  as  it  provides 
a  pretty  .show  of  flowers  in  .season,  and  gives 
them  directly  somethina  for  their  money.  _  But 
we  urge  them  to  think  also  of  the  society's 
immense  educational  power,  and  of  the  crying 
want  for  just  such  an  establishment  as  it  is 
now  so  thoroughly  well  able  to  conduct  and 
control. 

The  benefit  that  would  be  the  outcome  of  a 
large  garden  in  the  country,  with  suitable 
working  buildings  and  plain  lodgings  for 
students,  could  hardly  be  over -e5tiina,ted. 
There  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  would  in  a 
few  years  repay  the  original  outlay  and  become 
self  supporting,  while  the  London  hall,  unless 
independently  endowed,  would  always  be  a 
wasteful  drain  on  the  society's  resources. 

The  hall  is  undoubtedly  d^^sirable,  but  its 
existence  should  not  be  a  hindrance  to  more 
useful  work.  If  we  can  have  both  we  shall 
indeed  rejoice.     Perhaps  we  can. 


VERONICA.-III. 

There  are  at  least  three  .species  of  Veronica 
with  terminal  spikes,  between  which  it  is 
evidently  very  difficult  for  botanists  to  draw 
a  line.  This  is  evident  if  we  examine  their 
synonyms  in  standard  works  of  botany.  They 
are  \ .  longifolia,  V.  spuria,  and  A',  spicata. 
We  shall  begin  with  the  largest  form,  which  I 
was  told  by  a  good  authority  in  Kew  Herbarium 
to  consider  the  type  of  V.  longifolia.  In  this 
damp  soil,  which  draws  up  all  plants,  it  grows 
4  feet  high  or  more.  It  flowers  in  .July  with  a 
long,  very  loos",  and  blunt  spike  of  dull  blue 
flowers.  The  leaves  which  grow  up  the  rather 
wiry  stems  in  opposite  pairs  have  rather  long 
petioles,  and,  starting  to  grow  out  horizontally, 
become  deflexed  towards  the  ends.  It  is  not 
an  attractive  plant,  and  the  best  portrait  I 
have  seen  of  it  is  in  Gerard's  "  Herbal."  He 
calls  it  Veronica  assurgens — "the  Tree  Fluellen" 
— and  tells  us,  though  other  writers  dispute  it, 
that  Fluellen  is  the  Welsh  name  of  the 
Veronica,  and  that  the  Welsh  attribute  great 
virtues  to  the  plant,  because  it  "  sodereth  and 
healeth  all  fresh  and  old  wounds."  This  type 
of  the  species  is  wild  in  Central  Europe,  but 
not  in  France.  It  comes  in  my  garden  quite 
true  from  self-sown  seed,  and  though  I  have 
tried  to  expel  it,  it  still  survives  there.  We 
now  speak  of  the  opposite  extreme  of  this 
section,  the  smallest  type  of  V.  spieata,  a  rare 
British  plant,  found  only  on  the  chalk  downs 
of  the  eastern  counties.  It  is  a  very  slender 
and  delicate-looking  plant,  rising  not  more 
than  3  inches  or  4  inches  from  the  ground, 
though  the  spike  is  always  borne  upright. 
Clusius  figures  it  on  page  347,  calling  it  V. 
recta  minima.    It  is  not  difficult  to  keep  in  a 


66 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  1,  1901^. 


dry  limy  rockery  if  care  is  taken  not  to  let  it 
be  smothered.    I  never  saw  or  heard  of  eitlier 
a  white  or  a  pink  flower  in  this  type.     On  the 
other    hand,    there    is    another    stouter,    but 
hardly  taller,  form  of  X.  spicata,  found  wild 
on  the  limestone  downs  of  North  Wales  and 
the  North  West  of   England,   which    not  un- 
frequently  occurs  with  pink  and  with  white 
flowers.     Linna'us  called  this  Y.  hybrida,  and 
it  is  still,  I  suppose  out  of  respect  for  him, 
called   by   botanists   \.   spicata  var.  liybnda, 
though  there  is  no  hybrid  character  about  it. 
It  grows  by  thousands  on  the  bare  limestone 
downs  south  of  Llandudno  where  not  grazed 
with  sheep,  so  as  to  make  them  nuite  gay  with 
the  flowers  in  August.     The  commonest  colour 
is  rich  glossy  purple,  but  it  loses  this  gloss  in 
cultivation  in  my  garden,  becoming  a  some- 
what  dull  blue.     I   have   picked  out  various 
shades  of  pink,  some  of  them  good  ;  but  that 
colour  does  not  seem  to  live  Ions  in  cultivation, 
or  to  come  true  from  seed.     The  pure  white 
variety   is    very   good    for    rockeries,   and,   if 
planted  in  liroken  limestone  or  mortar  rubbish, 
retains   its  upright   dwarf   habit,  and  flowers 
very  freely,  coming  true  from  seed.    I  consider 
it    the   best    dwarf    Veronica   for   the   aliiine 
garden  ;  but  in  a  border  of  ordinary  soil  all 
these   forms   of    spicata    become   coarse,   and 
coarser  in  every  fresh  generation  from  seed. 

Of  intermediate  forms  between  the  two 
extremes  described  there  are  many  in  gardens. 
All  old-fashioned  gardeners  probably  remember 
three  or  four  rather  stout  forms,  about  18 
inches  or  -2  feet  high,  generally  sold  in  nurseries 
as  V.  spicata.  There  is  one  with  blue  flowers, 
another  with  white  flowers,  and  a  third,  the 
stoutest  in  habit,  with  dark  pur])le  flowers  and 
variegated  leaves.  A  fourth  is  now  cultivated, 
more  straggling  in  habit,  with  longer  flower 
spikes,  which  its  weak  stalks  cannot  hold  u'l, 
and  pink  flowers.  These  are  now  referred  to 
V.  longifolia,  but  they  are  the  X.  maritima 
of  Linnaeus,  and  the  first  three  are  enumerated 
by  that  name  in  Luddiges'  "  Catalogue  _  of 
Hardy  Perennials"  already  mentioned.  Clu.sius 
probably  intends  his  figures  of  V.  erectior, 
Nos.  1  and  -2,  page  346,  for  this  form,  though 
Godron  in  his  "  Flore  de  France  "  claims  these 
for  V.  spuria. 

Besides  the  few  kinds  I  have  enumerated  in 
these  three  mixed-up  species,  I  have  a  good 
many  other  doubtful  plants  which  come  from 
self-sown  seed,  few  of  them  worth  keeping 
permanently,  though,  as  I  have  said,  they 
cannot  be  sorted. 

Perhaps  the  best  of  hardy  garden  Veronicas 
is  generally  referred  to  V.  longifolia,  called  by 
botanists  var.  subsessilis.  It  is  too  well  known 
to  want  describing.  It  is  said  to  be  .Japanese, 
but  whether  a  wild  or  a  garden  variety  I  never 
heard.  The  colour  of  the  flower,  which  is 
purple,  is  easily  surpassed  by  some  of  the 
V.  Teucrium  kinds,  and  the  sturdy  habit  and 
broad  leaves  with  short  stalks  resemble  an 
overgrown  V.  spicata  var.  hybrida  more  than 
a  typical  V.  longifolia.  Though  nearly  all  the 
hardy  Veronicas  ripen  seed  freely,  I  never 
could  find  or  hear  of  a  seed  on  this,  and  it  is 
to  me  rather  a  mysterious  plant.  V.  incana,  a 
native  of  Southern  Russia,  belongs  to  this 
section,  and  is  well  worth  a  place  in  gardens. 
The  name  describes  the  leaves,  which  are 
nearly  white,  and  contrast  well  with  the 
abundant  spikes  of  amethyst  blue,  produced  in 
August.  The  flower  stalk  does  not  rise  more 
than  a  few  inches,  but  if  the  plants  become  at 
all  straggling  they  should  be  cut  back  in 
autumn  to  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the 
ground.  I  find  it  a  very  good  plan  to  \>u\\  the 
plants  into  small  pieces  in  early  spring, 
jilanting  near  the  edge  as  recommended  for 


V.  spicata  in  very  stony  soil.  A  few  years 
ago  I  observed  near  one  of  these  plants  a 
seedling  which  has  all  the  appearance  of  a 
hybrid  Vietween  V.  incana  and  V.  spicata.  It 
exactly  corresponds  with  a  portrait  in  Sweet's 
"  British  Flower  Garden  "  named  _V.  neglecta. 
This  name  is  now  referred  to  V.  incana  ;  but 
I  may  add  that  seed  from  my  plant  reverts  in 
part  to  V.  spicata,  making  my  belief  in  its 
hybrid  origin  more  probable. 

On  looking  through  the  Veronica  names  m 
"  Index  Kewensis"  I  came  across  V.  oorymbosa. 
Quid  ?  I  have  long  had  a  plant  so  named, 
the  name  denoting  not  a  species,  but  a  habit 
of  V.  spicata.  The  first  I  had  of  it  belonged 
to  the  smallest  blue-flowered  type.  The  lower 
flowers  of  the  spike  are  replaced  by  small 
secondary  sjiikes,  so  that  the  head  assumes  the 
shape  of  a  giant  Mignonette.  I  cultivated 
carefully  and  projaagated  the  plant,  but  I  am 
not  sure  whether  it  still  survives  or  has  been 
smothered.  Since  possessing  this  plant  I  have 
noticed  the  same  habit  in  more  than  one  of  the 
larger  nondescript  seedlings  mentioned  above. 
It  is  probably  in  a  garden  form,  for  I  am  sure 
I  have  examined  many  thousands  of  V.  spicata 
var.  hybrida  on  their  native  downs  without 
ever  coming  a.cross  V.  oorymbosa. 

Efl;/e  Il-dl,  Midline.  C.  WoLLEY  DoD. 


Mr.  MolR,  ROSEHADGH,  RoSS-SHIEE, 
who  staged  at  the  late  6how  of  the  Scottish 
Horticultural  perhaps  the  finest  examples  of 
Apples  and  Peais  ever  produced  in  Scotland,  is  tn 
prepare  a  paper  for  the  society  on  "  Pears."  Mr. 
Moir  is  a  successor  worthy  of  .John  Raid,  who 
Lord  Rosebery  brackets  with  Lord  Bacon  as  a 
gardener  worth  cultivating.  Reid,  it  will  be 
remembered,  while  gardener  to  Sir  G.  Mackenzie, 
Rosehaugh,  published  in  1683  "  Tlie  Scots' 
Gardener."  It  is  of  gardening  books  (|uite  as 
original  as  Parkinson's,  and  increases  yearly  in 
value.  P' 


BOOKS. 


NOTES    FROM    SCOTLAND. 

Messrs.  Laing  and  Mather,  Kelso, 
who  purchased  the  seed  business  of  Stuart  and  Mein 
a  year  ago,  have  done  honour  to  the  old  firm  by 
publishing  "Stuart  and  Mein's  Amateur  Guide,'' 
in  the  same  form  it  has  appeared  for  so  long.  The 
firm  possessed  the  confidence  of  a  large  constituency 
in  the  North  of  England  and  on  the  Scotch  borders, 
and  brought  out  some  good  things.  Their  Marigold 
for  example  long  enjoyed  a  great  reputation,  and 
they  had  a  very  large  business  in  (iladioli,  which 
at  one  time  they  cultivated  splendidly.  In  vege- 
tables, the  Lyon  Leek  and  Mein's  No.  1  Cabbage 
have  become  standard  varieties  in  their  respective 
sorts.  I  believe  it  is  no  secret  that  the  wonderful 
new  Carnation,  Sir  R.  Waldie  (irittiths,  originated 
in  their  nursery  some  five  or  six  years  ago.  Messrs. 
Laing  and  Mather  continue  the  prizes  for  Cabbages 
and  Leeks,  which  for  many  years  had  been  offered 
to  customers  of  the  firm. 

Dr.  Andrew  Carnegie, 
who  lately  engaged  Mr.    Maclver  to   control  the 
gardens  at  Ski  bo  Castle,  will  spare  no  expense  to 
procure  the  best  of  everything  for  his  garden.    The 
annual  meeting  of  the 

Royal  Caledonian  HoRTiouLTrRAL  Society 
was  held  recently  in  Edinburgh,  when  the  accounts 
for  the  past  year  showed  a  slight  balance  on  the 
wrong  side.  Mr.  Thomson,  S.S.C,  is  the  genial 
secretary,  and  works  hard  to  benefit  the  society, 
which  at  present  seems  to  be  suffering  from  slight 
depression.  Let  us  hope,  however,  it  will  speedily 
pass  away.  I  hear  over  a  dozen  young  gardeners 
are  working  hard  at  the  garden  design,  «hich  has 
to  be  sent  in  by  April  1. 

Mr.  D.  Dew.\r, 
who  has  controlled  the  Botanic  (iardens,  Glasgow, 
during  several  years,  has  lately  resigned.  Mr. 
Whitton  has  had  the  superintendence  of  these 
added  to  his  other  work.  It  is  said  that  Glasgow's 
head  gardener  receives  by  far  the  largest  salary  of 
any  British  gardener,  but  he  has  to  work  for  it. 
Street  Flowers. 
I  sa*  bunches  of  Lily  of  the  Valley  and  other 
choice  flowers  offered  for  sale  by  lads  in  Princes 
Street,  Edinburgh,  in  the  middle  of  January.  I 
have  been  assured  by  a  wholesale  florist  that  a 
number  of  lads  make  a  very  good  thing  of  retailing 
flowers,  particularly  on  Saturday  night.  Sweet- 
scented  flowers  such  as  Violets  and  Roses  take 
best,  and  the  latter  are  sometimes  bought  at 
;5s.  per  dos'.en,  and  retailed  at  cent,  per  cent.    I  see 


Formal  Gardens  in  England  and 

Scotland.*— The   first   of   three   parts  of   this 
important    book   has   lieen   lately   published,    the 
second  is  to  follow  in  March  and  the  third  in  June. 
Mr.  Triggs  has  undertaken  to  do  for  the  gardens  of 
the  Tudor  and  Jacobean  and  later  days  what  Mr. 
Gotch  and   others  have  done  for  the  buildings  of 
those  times.  The  admirable  photographs  of  Mr.  C. 
Latham  have  been  skilfully  reproduced,  showing 
some  of  the  finest  gardens  of  England  and  Scot- 
land, sometimes  in  detail  of  important  parts  and 
sometimes  in  direct  relation  to  the  house   itself,     ^ 
while  a  still  larger  number  of  sheets  of  illustration     j 
show  whole  and  detailed  plans,  giving  abundant 
evidence  of  the 'author's  refined  taste,  as  shown  in     • 
the  selecting,  and  of  his  industry  in  rendering  what 
is  of  extreme  interest  both  to  the  student  of  garden    ' 
design  and  the  great  number  of  those  who  are  now 
seeking  inspiration  from  the  good  work  of  previous 
days.    To  all  these,  as  well  as  to  the  general  public, 
the  work  may  be  heartih'  commended.    In  addition 
to  the  pictures  of  existing  gardens  the  third  part 
will    contain    reproductions    from  engravings  and 
documents,  often  contemporary  with   the  subject 
depicted,  showing  the  original  design  of  some  of 
the  great  gardens,  many  of  which  have  suffered 
changes  through  periods  of  alteration  or  neglect. 
The  illustrations  consist  of  entire  plans  and  photo- 
graphic and  prospective  views  of  existing  gardens, 
together  with  sketches,   measured   drawings    and 
photographs   of    gate   entrances,    terraces,    baliis- 
trades,   steps,   garden   rooms   and   summerhouses, 
bridges,  pigeon-houses,  sundials,  figures  and  vasea 
in  lead  and  stone,  fountains  and   ponds,   topiary 
work,    &o.      An    introductory    historical   note    is 
issued    with   Part    I.,    and    some    historical    and 
descriptive  accounts  are  promised  with  Part  III. 
The  price  of  each  of  these  parts  is  21s. 

The  Story  of  Architecture.t— Truly 

tliese  are  days  when  knowledge  is  made  not  only 
easy  but  full  of  pleasure  in  the  acquiring.  Clear, 
pithy,  and  humanly  interesting  is  this  highly 
commendable  shillingsworth,  tracing  the  course  of 
architecture  from  the  Pyramids  to  St.  Paul's.  One 
reads  it  like  a  charming  story,  not  merely  as  a  dry 
work  of  reference.  No  better  book  could  be  among 
those  used  in  the  education  of  every  boy  and  girl  of 
the  better  classes,  or  indeed  of  any  ;  it  should  be 
on  the  shelves  of  every  private  schoolroom  ;  while 
the  young  scholars'  elders  will  keenly  appreciate  it 
on  their  own  account. 

Some  French  Horticultural  Hand- 
books.— Among  the  many  useful  handy  works 
on  technical  subjects  published  in  France,  those 
dealing  with  matters  horticultural  are  by  no  means 
the  least  instructive.  Some  that  have  reached  us 
lately  are  of  special  merit.  They  are  published  in 
Paris  by  the  Librairie  et  Imprimerie  Horticoles, 

lOOi "Agenda   Horticole,"'  by   L.   Henrj'.— A 

handy  annual,  containing  a  description,  with 
instructions  for  using,  all  kinds  of  horticultural 
rhaterial  and  appliances,  also  describing  processes 
for  their  preservation — such  as  the  treatment  with 
sulphate  of  copper  of  perishable  material  for 
shading,  staking,  &c.  ;  ways  of  constructing  trel- 
lising  of  wire  and  wood,  and  the  making  and 
maintaining   of   lawns ;   tables  of   the   best   vege- 


«  "  Formal  Gardens  in  England  and  Scotland,"  byH.  Inigo 
Triggs.     Batsford,  London  ;  inus.     Part  I.,  price  21s. 

1  "The  Story  of  Architecture,"  by  P.  Leslie  Waterhouse, 
M.A.    George  Newnes,  Limited,  London  ;  1903.    Price  la, 


February  1,  1902. 


THE     GARDEN. 


(37 


tables,  with  dates  of  sowing  ;  tables  of  spacing  foi 
tree  planting,  and  various  pieces  of  useful  informa- 
tion, including  winter  pruning  of  fruit  trees  and 
the  care  of  decaying  trees  and  the  natures  of 
artificial  manures.  The  second  part  deals  with  the 
diseases  of  plants  and  insect  pests  and  the  means 
of  cure  or  prevention.  The  third  part  contains  a 
quantity  of  useful  matter,  beginning  with  a  brief 
account  of  how  to  render  first  aid  in  case  of 
accident,  sudden  illness  and  injury  by  vegetable 
poison  or  the  bites  or  stings  of  venomous  creatures. 

"  L'Art  de  Bouturer,"  by  Adolphe  Van  den 

Heede. — This  is  a  capital  handbook  on  making 
cuttings,  layering,  and  allied  methods  of  propaga- 
tion, with  a  good  number  of  illustrations.  A 
useful  garden  book  for  anyone  who  knows  French. 

"Culture   Forcce   des   Ognons  a  Fleurs,"   by 

Jules  Rudolph.  —  Also  a  thoroughly  practical 
treatise,  with  some  illustrations,  on  the  bulbous 
plants,  including  those  with  tubers  and  rhizomes 
that  are  used  for  forcing  for  house  or  conservatory 
decoration. 


HARDY    FRUITS    IN    SEASON. 

Pear  Nouvelle  Fulvie. 

This  Pear  has  been  favourably  noticed  in  The 
Garden  on  many  occasions  during  the  past 
year  by  several  correspondents,  and  in  virtite 
of  its  great  excellence  as  a  late  winter  dessert 
variety,  no  apology  is  needed  for  giving  an 
illustration  of  the  fruit  and  again  referring  to 
its  merits.  It  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  be.st 
flavoured  winter  varieties  we  have.  The  fruit 
is  of  a  pyriform  shape,  greenish  yellow  in 
colour,  of  moderate  size,  and,  as  regards 
ijuality  and  flavour  for  this  late  season,  is  in 
piy  opinion  the  best  of  all  Pears.  It  is  in  season 
from  .January  to  March.  It  succeeds  perfectly 
when  grown  as  a  bush,  pyramid,  espalier,  or 
even  in  the  orchard.  Fruit  grown  in  the 
latter  I  have  had  in  good  condition  for  dessert 
as  late  as  the  end  of  March.  This  hardiness, 
freedom  of  growth,  good  cropping  qualities, 
and  delicious  flavour  invest  Nouvelle  Fulvie 
with  an  importance  and  value  possessed  by 
few  other  varieties.  Owen  Thomas. 


EDITORS'   TABLE. 


Flowers  from  South  Devon. 
We  receive  from  j\Irs.  Edward  Bayldon,  from 
South  Devon,  some  charming  bunches  of  large 
single  and  double  Violets  from  the  open  air.  Mrs. 
Bayldon  writes  that  she  has  "in  bloom  in  quantity 
Cyclamen  Coum,  Snowdrops,  Violets,  Winter 
Aconites,  Double  Primroses,  Winter  Jasmine, 
Laurustinus,  Rhododendron  arboreum,  and  Lent 
Hellebores  ;  and,  in  more  or  less  quantity,  Blue 
Primroses,  bunch  and  wild  Primroses,  Aubrietia, 
Arabis,  Periwinkles,  Colchieum  Parkmanii,  Crocus 
Imperati,  C.  zonatus,  and  others  ;  Christmas 
Roses,  Megaseas,  Polyanthus  Narcissus,  Roses, 
Wallflowers,  Berberis  Darwinii,  B.  japonica, 
Lonicera  fragrantissima,  Hamamelis,  and  White 
Stocks  ;  also  Anemones,  Kniphofia,  Chrysanthe- 
mums, Abutilon,  Pentstemons,  and  Schizostj'lis 
coccinea.  Iris  stylosa  is  late,  as  the  plants  have 
only  been  a  year  in  their  present  quarters. 
Clianthus  puniceus  is  also  late  ;  so  are  the  tender 
Acacias.  The  November  frosts  have  delayed  such 
things.  Camellias  are  showing  colour  at  the  tips, 
and  several  varieties  of  Peaches  and  Almonds  are 
colouring.  Magnolias  are  very  forward,  and  the 
Laurels  are  in  flower  bud.  One  of  the  .Japanese 
tree  Pceonies  is  also  showing  the  flower  bud.  The 
Kniphofias  seem  to  be  everlasting  bloomers.  There 
are  a  quantit}'  of  flower-heads  pushing  up." 


'X  1 


Galanthus  Elwesii. 
Mrs.  Edward  Bayldon  sends  from  Dawlish  some 
grand  blooms  of  Galanthus  Elwesii  and  an  unusual 
Violet  freak,  in  which  two  perfect  flowers  of  one 


PEAR  NODVELLE  FPLVIE. 


of  the  large  single  purples  are  joined  at  the  base  of 
the  calyx,  while  the  stalk  is  scarcely  thicker  than 
usual. 


Lady   Acland   sends  from   near  Taunton    some 
beautifully  coloured  blooms  of 

Gkntiana  acaulis   and   also   flowers    of   the 

Chinese  Sacred  Narcissus 
with  these  words  : — "  Some  years  ago  I  grew 
them  (the  Narcissus)  among  stones  in  bowls,  but 
they  were  not  very  satisfactory  ;  they  were 
then  planted  in  a  border  looking  west,  and 
they  always  come  into  bloom  early  in  the 
spring,  this  year  earlier  than  usual.  We  have 
also  in  bloom  Gentiana  acaulis.  Camellias, 
and  Primroses.  In  another  garden  we  have  Iris 
stylosa  both  mauve  and  white,  also  Irises  reticu- 
lata, Histrioides,  stenophylla,  and  alata.  They  are 
close  to  the  greenhouse  but  out  of  doors." 


NOTES    OF   THE    WEEK. 

Forthcoming' events.— Annual  meetingof 

the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  February  3  ; 
presentation  and  dinner  to  Mr.  Richard  Dean 
at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  7  p.m.,  February  4; 
meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association,  February  4. 

National  Sweet  Pea  Society.— The 

exhibition  of  this  society  will  be  held  at  the  Royal 
Aquarium  on  .July  15  and  l(i. 

Memorial  to  Sir  Edwin  Saunders. 

—  The  executive  committee  of  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society  have  framed  a  scheme  for 
commemorating  the  services  to  the  society  rendered 
by  the  late  president.  Sir  Edwin  Saunders.  It  is 
proposed  that  a  subscription  list  be  opened  for  the 
purpose  of  offering  for  competition  annually  at  the 
November  exhibition  the  large  gold  medal  of 
the  society,  such  medal  to  be  known  as  the  "Sir 
Edwin  Saunders  Memorial  Gold  Medal,"  to  be 
awarded  to  some  competitive  exhibit  of  the  highest 
order  of  merit,  but  not  to  the  same  subject  two 
years  in  succession;  that  the  first  "Sir  Edwin 
Saunders  Memorial  Gold  Medal "  be  offered  for 
competition  on  November  4  next  in  the  class  for  a 
floral  display  of  Chrysanthemums,  arranged  on  the 
fountains,  as  an  additional  award  to  the  first  prize 
in  that  class  ;  that  an  account  be  opened  at  the 
London  and  County  Bank,  Ealing,  to  be  known  as 


the  "Sir  Edwin  Saunders  Memorial  Fund."  In 
order  to  enable  as  many  as  possible  of  the  members 
to  join  in  establishing  such  a  memorial  the  smallest 
sums  will  be  gratefully  received  by  the  secretary, 
Mr.  Richard  Dean,  V.M.H.,  Ealing,  London,  W. 
The  subscriptions  promised  include  Messrs.  T. 
Bevan,  J.  T.  Simpson,  H.  J.  Jones,  James  Tvler, 
William  Howe,  A.  Newell,  R.  Dean,  G.  R.  Dean, 
10s.  (id.  each  ;  and  Mr.  F.  Millsom,  .5s. 
Presentation  to  Mr.  John  Wright. 

— The  annual  dinner  of  the  Worshipful  Company 
of  Fruiterers  was  held  at  the  Albion,  Aldersgate 
Street,  on  Friday,  the  24th  ult.,  Mr.  Lea  Smith, 
Master,  in  the  chair,  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs 
of  London  being  present.  Advantage  was  taken  of 
the  occasion  to  present  to  Mr.  John  Wright  the 
gold  medal  of  the  company  upon  the  completion  of 
the  sixth  revised  and  enlarged  edition  of  "Profit- 
able Fruit  Growing."  The  recipient,  who  was  for 
a  quarter  of  a  century  on  the  staff  of  the  Journal 
of  Horticulture,  the  connection  being  severed  at  the 
close  of  1000,  has  now  three  gold  medals  for 
distinguished  literary  services  to  horticulture. 
The  first  was  presented  by  Dr.  Hogg  as  an  addition 
to  the  monetary  award  made  to  Mr.  Wright  when 
"Profitable  Fruit  Growing"  was  written;  the 
second  was  the  V.M.H.  of  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  ;  and  the  third  the  just-presented 
magnificent  medal  of  the  Fruiterers'  Company. 

National     Chrysanthemum 

Society. — The  annual  general  meeting  of  the 
members  of  the  above  societv  will  take  place  at 
Carr's  Restaurant,  if)."),  Strand,  W.C,  on  Monday 
evening  next,  at  seven  o'clock.  Sir  Albert  K. 
Rollit.  M.P. ,  president,  in  the  chair.  The 
business  will  be  to  receive  the  committee's  annual 
report  and  balance  sheet  ;  to  elect  a  president, 
vice  -  presidents,  officers,  and  one-third  of  the 
committee,  for  the  year  ensuing  ;  and  to  transact 
such  business  as  pertains  to  the  annual  general 
meeting.  ThefoUowingaretheproposed  additions  to 
rules :  Rule  III.  Additions  by  Mr.  R.  Dean — after 
"  the  management  of  the  society  shall  be  vested  in 
the  officers  of  the  society — viz.,  a  president,  vice- 
presidents,  treasurer,  chairman,  and  vice-chairman 
of  the  executive  committee,"  add  "general  secre- 
tary and";  also  line  6  after  "the  president, 
treasurer,  chairman,  vice-chairman,"  add  "general 
secretary."  Addition  proposed  by  Mr.  J.  Mc- 
Kerchar  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Simpson:  Rule  XIV. 
Schedule  Revision  Committee — A  sub-committee 
of    the  executive    committee,   consisting  of  nine 


68 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  1,  1902. 


members,  with  the  otheers  ex-otticio,  shall  be  I 
appointed  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  executive  | 
committee  held  after  the  annual  general  meeting, 
to  revise  the  schedule  of  prizes  and  nominate 
judges,  and  report  the  same  to  the  executive 
committee  for  approval.— To  add  the  following 
clause :  The  officers  of  the  society  and  the  elected 
members  of  the  committee  are  disqualified  for 
nomination  or  election  as  judges. 

Custard  Apples. —  Can  any  reader  of 
The  (;ardex  inform  me  whether  these  have  been 
made  to  fruit  in  this  country,  and  what  is  the 
proper  treatment  for  them '!  I  have  three  or  four 
strong  plants  raised  from  seed  now  three  years 
old,  and  kept  in  a  greenhouse  wilh  Peaches 
for  forcing.  Will  these  bear  fruit,  or  should  they 
be  grafted,  and,  if  so,  on  what  stock  '.'— <i.  E.  P. 

Chpysanthemum  Blush  Canning. 

— I  was  interested  in  the  account  of  the  t'hrysan- 
.themum  under  the  above  name  that  recently 
obtained  a  certificate,  because  among  seedlings 
flowered  last  year  we  had  one  that  received  the 
same  name.  I  was  sorry  the  best  of  the  flowers 
were  over  or  would  have  sent  some  to  Jlessrs. 
Owen  for  comparison.  Our  flower  is  much  like 
the  type,  e.vcept  that  the  individual  petals  are 
much  broader  and  of  greater  substance,  the  colour 
closely  resembling  a  Countess  of  Paris  Carnation, 
growing  to  nearly  a  pure  white  towards  the  tip  of 
the  petal.  I  am  working  up  a  good  batch  of  it  for 
the  winter  of  1!M>2.  Besides  this,  the  only  seed- 
ling of  1!I01  worth  keeping  is  a  very  large  single, 
that,  so  far  as  colour  is  concerned,  may  best  be 
described  as  a  dark  Soleil  d'Or.  It  is  a  well- 
shaped  flower,  with  large,  solid  petals,  and,  as  it  is 
late,    should   prove   valuable   for   vase   work. — E. 

BURRELL. 

"  Little  Doprit's  "  playground.  -Lord 

Monkswell,  chairman  of  the  Parks  Committee  of 
the  London  County  Council,  presided  on  Saturday 
at  the  opening  in  Southwark  of  "  Little  Dorrit's '' 
playground.  The  open  space,  which  is  slightly 
over  a  quarter  of  an  acre  in  extent,  lies  at  the  back 
of  houses  on  the  west  side  of  Borough  High  Street, 
nearly  opposite  St.  George's  Church.  It  is  tar- 
paved,  and  is  intended  for  use  as  a  children's 
playground.  The  pla3'ground  is  a  portion  of  the 
land  which  was  cleared  in  connection  with  the 
Falcon  Court  Housing  Scheme  of  LSll.i,  and  before 
the  scheme  came  into  operation  the  district  was 
one  of  the  most  wretched  areas  of  South  London. 
Within  a  short  distance  of  the  playground  there 
are  blocks  of  dwellings  with  a  working-class  popu- 
lation of  aljout  4,5(10,  in  addition  to  many  small 
houses  let  in  tenements.  The  County  Council  paid 
£5,600  for  the  land,  and  levelled  the  area  and  tar- 
paved  and  drained  it  at  a  cost  of  about  .£450.  The 
name  of  "Little  Dorrifs"  playground  has  been 
adopted  owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  open  space 
to  the  site  of  the  old  Marshalsea  Prison,  which, 
with  its  inmates,  furnished  Dickens  with  the  theme 
for  his  story  of  '■  Little  Dorrit. " 

Presentation  to  Mr.  Gregory.— An 

interesting  presentation  was  recentU'  made  to  .\Ir. 
(iregory,  hon.  secretary  of  the  Croydon  Horticul- 
tural Mutual  Improvement  Society,  at  their 
annual  dinner.  The  chairman  said  it  had  been 
recognised  amongst  the  members  that  the  society 
owed  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  Mr.  (Gregory  for 
his  admirable  services  on  behalf  of  the  society, 
also  that  a  great  part  of  its  success  was  due 
to  hi.s  untiring  efforts,  and  the  membership 
joined  together  to  present  him  with  a  framed 
list  of  subscribers  and  a  purse  containing  fl4  5s. 
They  hoped  his  efforts  would  long  be  ilevoted  to 
the  good  of  the  society. 

Fighting  hailstorms  with  cannon. 

— The  Indian  Gnrdeiiing  and  Plaiilivij  has  an 
interesting  article  on  the  wonderful  results  of 
fighting  off  hailstorms  with  cannon.  "  Hail  is  one 
of  the  worst  enemies  of  standing  crops  of  all  kinds, 
and  in  India  tea  is  often  exposed  to  its  ravages. 
A  hailstorm  will  strip  the  flush  from  the  bushes 
and  in  half  an  hour  eft'ect  damage,  which,  besides 
the  immediate  loss  in  tea,  has  a  lasting  eft'ect  upon 
the  wood  of  the  plants  and  reduces  outturn  for 
several  months  after.  Tea  planters,  therefore, 
will  be  specially  interested  in  the  results  obtained 
by  vine  growers  in  Europe  in  fighting  oft'  hailstorms 


with  cannon.  The  guns  employed  have  very  little 
in  common  witli  warlike  artillery,  being  formed  of 
nothing  more  than  a  funnel-shaped  barrel  of  sheet 
iron  roughlj'  made,  and  looking  like  an  enormous 
blunderbuss  mounted  vertically  on  a  tripod  with 
its  muzzle  pointing  to  the  sky.  .  .  .  This  is 
the  contrivance  with  which  European  vine  growers 
now  obviate  the  disastrous  hailstorms  which  used 
to  devastate  their  vineyards.  Imagine  a  (irape 
grower  in  his  vineyard  when  the  plants  are  heavj' 
with  ripening  fruit.  Around  him  is  his  labour  for 
months  and  all  his  profits  for  the  year.  But  just 
as  he  is  thinking  of  these  things  and  is  very 
thankful  he  sees  clouds  stealing  up  on  the  horizon. 
Others  come,  and  they  grow  together  in  lowering 
banks  and  darken  the  earth.  The  calm  after  the 
sultry  daj-  is  deathly,  and  the  planter  knows  the 
signs  as  he  looks  up.  Hail  will  fall,  and  in  the 
next  few  minutes  a  year  of  toil  and  of  life  will  be 
taken  from  him.  If  he  could  onlj'  bridge  over 
those  few  minutes  of  destruction  I  By  means  of 
these  cannon  he  can  now  do  so.  In  the  South 
of  Europe  batteries  are  sj'stematically  installed, 
and  whenever  the  skies  are  threatening  a  bombard- 
ment of  the  clouds  invariably  succeeds  in  dispersing 
them  and  averting  the  dreaded  catastrophe.  .  .  . 
In  general,  the  effects  of  .shooting  are  :  Thunder 
stops,  lightning  retreats  to  a  dietance,  wind  dies 
down,  melting  sleet  or  rain  falls,  clouds  disperse, 
and  sky  clears." 

Beckenham     Horticultural 

Society. — "Some  Physiological  Considerations 
in  Plant  Culture  "  was  the  title  of  a  lecture  recently 
given  before  the  mem.bers  by  Mr.  H.  O.  Etherington, 
manager  of  the  West  Wickham  Nursery.  Mr.  J. 
R.  Box,  of  C'ro\don.  occupied  the  chair. 

Sales  of  books. — Messrs.  Sotheby,  Wilkin- 
son, and  Hodge's  sale  of  books  and  MSS.  from 
various  sources  on  Saturday  included  the  following  : 
R.  Clutterbuck,  "History  and  Antiquities  of  the 
County  of  Hertford,"  1815,  £fl  5s.  (Good)  ;  Sir  W. 
Dugdale,  "Antiquities  of  Warwickshire."  1730, 
second  edition,  revised  by  W.  Thomas,  £15 
(Edwards);  Dr.  S.  Jolinson,  "The  Rambler," 
1753,  first  edition,  £5  5s.  (Ouaritch)  ;  Edwards's 
"  Botanical  Register,"  edited  by  Professor  Lindley, 
1.83S-47,  with  750  coloured  plates,  £10  10s. 
(Quaritch)  ;  F.  Blimiefield,  "  Essa}'  towards  a 
Topographical  History  of  the  County  of  Norfolk," 
1805-10,  in  eleven  volumes,  £10 '2s.  (Edwards)  ;  and 
"  Susse.x  Archaeological  Collections,"  1853-lflOO, 
forty  -  three  volumes,  with  index,  .£13  lOs. 
(Edwards). 

At  Mr.  Stevens's  rooms.  King  Street,  Covent 

(iarden,  the  library'  of  the  late  Jlr.  G.  R.  Ryder 
was  sold  on  Tuesday  last.  Some  of  the  more 
important  prices  realised  were  as  follows  : 
"  Paxton's  Magazine  of  Botany,"  complete  set, 
sixteen  volumes,  1834-49,  £7  10s.  ;  "  Flora 
Australiensis,"  by  Bentham  and  JIueller, 
£4  17s.  6d.  ;  "  Amar3'llidace:c,"  by  W.  Herbert, 
£3  3s.;  "British  Entomolgy,"  by  John  Curtis, 
£19;  "  Curtis's  Botanical  Magazine,"  complete 
set  from  the  commencement  in  1787  to  1900,  £130  ; 
S.  Edwards's  "  Botanical  Register,"  £l(j ;  "  Icones 
Plantarum  "  (W.  .1.  Hooker),  £43  10s.  :  "  Loddige's 
Botanical  Cabinet,"  £39;  "Maund's  Botanic 
<iarden,"  £3  3s.  ;  "Sowerby's  English  Botany,"' 
£15;  John  Parkinson's  "  Paradisi  in  Sole, 
Paradisus  Terrestris,"  £"20  ;  "A  Nicwe  Herball " 
(Doedoens),  £4  ;  "  The  Herball  "  ((Jerarde),  £4  15s. 

Hampstead  Heath  Protection 

Society. — The  annual  report  of  the  committee 
fur  1901  is  interesting  reading;  "The  committee 
regret  the  loss  of  an  honorary  member,  Sir  Walter 
Besant,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  society,  who 
was  a  devoted  lover  of  the  Heath,  and  gave 
valuable  help  to  the  movement  for  securing 
Golder's  Hill  for  the  public.  The  fourth  annual 
general  meeting  was  held  in  the  Drill  Hall  on 
March  19,  1901  (Lord  Mansfield  presiding),  at 
which  resolutions  were  passed  in  condemnation  of 
any  tunnelling  under  the  Heath  for  the  purposes 
of  the  proposed  Tube  Railway  Extension,  and  in 
opposition  to  the  pnjposal  to  make  a  further  horse 
ride  on  the  Heath.  The  committee  are  glad  to 
report  that  the  London  County  Council  have 
declined  to  make  this  ride.  The  society  have 
been  verj'  active  throughout  the  3'ear  in  resisting 


the  attempts  of  the  promoters  of  the  Charing  Cross, 
Euston,  and  Hampstead  Railway  Extension  No.  1 
Bill,  to  obtain  Parliamentary  powers  to  tunnel 
under  the  Heath.  They  have  co-operated  with  the 
committee  of  private  residents  formed  to  oppose 
this  railway  scheme,  and  deputations  from  both 
bodies  were  received  by  the  Hampstead  Borough 
Council  and  by  the  London  County  Council,  and 
a  joint  petition  was  presented  to  Parliament  in 
opposition  to  the  Bill.  A  letter  in  explanation  of 
the  views  of  the  society  was  largelj'  circulated  in 
the  London  Press.  A  proposal  for  another  railwaj' 
under  the  Heath  —  the  Edgware  and  Hampstead 
Railway — has  intensified  the  objections  felt  by  the 
committee,  and  further  steps  are  being  taken  by 
the  society,  in  conjunction  with  the  Resiilents' 
Tube  Opposition  Committee,  to  oppose  both  Bills. 
A  resolution  having  been  passed  in  the  Hampstead 
Borough  Council  that  the  path  on  the  Spaniards' 
Road  ehould  be  tar-paved,  the  committee  took 
steps  at  once  to  protest.  A  petition  was  sent  in 
and  the  resolution  was  rescinded.  This  path  has 
since  been  re-made  with  gravel,  and  the  result  is 
excellent.  ...  In  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation made  by  the  committee  last  year, 
the  London  County  Council  have  planted  and 
temporarilj'  enclosed  the  north  bank  of  the  Leg  of 
Mutton  Pond.  The  plants  are  already  becoming 
established,  and  the  natural  aspect  is  to  a  great 
extent  restored.  It  is  hoped  that  the  south  bank 
of  this  pond,  and  the  banks  of  other  ponds,  will  be 
treated  in  the  same  way.  A  sid>-committee  was 
appointed  to  report  on  a  proposal  for  making  a 
shelter  for  birds.  Their  report  recommending  the 
planting  and  temporary  enclosure  of  two  small 
plots  in  a  secluded  situation,  was  adopted  bj'  the 
committee  and  forwarded  to  the  London  County 
Council  with  a  plan.  The  committee  regret  that 
the  much-disliked  trees  planted  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Spaniards'  Road  have  not  yet  been  removed, 
but  they  feel  confident  that  before  these  trees  have 
grown  much  larger  the  pressure  of  public  opinion, 
already  warml}'  expressed,  will  bring  about  their 
removal.  The  committee  desire  to  record  their 
appreciation  of  the  care  bestowed  on  the  Heath 
by  the  London  County  Cotincil,  and  to  state  their 
opinion  that  its  condition  shows  marked  improve- 
ment. They  think,  however,  that  there  is  urgent 
need  of  further  supervision  throughout  the  night 
and  in  the  early  morning.  The  chairman  of  the 
coumiittee  is  Mr.  Ernest  E.  Lake,  and  the  joint 
secretaries.  Miss  Emily  Field  and  Mr.  H.  F.  Pooley. 
Orobanche  SlJeciOSa.- With  reference 
to  the  interesting  note  of  jour  correspondent 
"G.  S.  S."  (The  Garden,  January  IS,  page  34),  I 
can  only  say  that,  in  my  twilight  knowledge  of 
the  waj's  of  Orobanche  speciosa,  I  would  not  be 
dogmatic.  I  merely  tell  what  I  have,  so  far,  been 
able  to  notice  about  this  curious  jmrasitic  plant. 
For  some  years  my  main  crop  of  it  has  been  from 
seei's  sown  in  pots  with  a  few  common  broad  Beans 
when  tlie  Bean  plants  were  in  their  second  or  third 
leaf.  In  the  balls  of  soil  I  have  often  seen  the 
white  filamentarj'  roots  of  the  young  Orobanches, 
very  distinct  from  Bean  fibres,  but  I  have  never 
found  the  "resting  tuber"  produced  until  the 
Orobanche  flower  stems  had  finished  their  Mork, 
and  so  I  am  without  evidence  to  support  your 
correspondent's  suggestion  that  the  "  resting 
tuber"  nuxj'  be  a  phase  of  young  seedling  life. 
This  tuber  is  easily  detachable  from  the  bulb-like 
scaly  base  of  the  old  spent  flower  stem,  and  has 
always  been  destroyed  by  any  frost  that  cotdd 
reach  it  It  was  only  in  1901  that  I  found  living 
tubers  of  this  Orobanche,  which  had  been  secure 
from  a  lower  temperature  than  45°  to  42°.  I 
thought  Linaria  Cymbalaria  a  curious  "  host"  for 
a  parasitic  jjlant  that  attects  leguniinosa?,  but 
de  ;/iiitihiis  von  dispulaiidum.  Also  I  have  noticed 
that  a  resting  tuber  was  throwing  out  lateral 
fibres  from  its  claws  ;  and  perhaps  hastilj'  or 
prematurely  wrote  of  it  as  thus  "  laj'ing  parasitic 
hold.''  It  cannot  support  itself  through  life,  and 
I  had  concluded  it  was  seeking  again  the  hospitality 
of  the  Linaria.  To  mj*  delight  Orobanche  speciosa 
has  escaped  from  cultivation  here,  and  appeared 
last  summer  upon  wild  vetches  on  the  banks  of  the 
lively  trout  stream  that  flows  close  past  our  garden. 
— Francis  D.  Hokner,  V.M.H. 


February  I,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


6^ 


The  Japanese  and  gardening— In 

a  most  interesting  lecture  given  by  Chozo  Koiku, 
M.J.S.,  Attache.  Imperial  Japanese  Legation, 
before  the  Japan  Society,  reprinted  in  the  Journal, 
reference  is  made  to  Japanese  gardening.  "The 
Japanese  take  a  great  interest  in  gardening. 
Japanese  residences  have  their  own  gardens  around 
the  houses.  Unlike  English  gardens,  those  in 
.Japan  are  generally  an  imitation  of  Nature  in 
miniature.  While  it  lacks  the  green  lawns  cover- 
ing a  gooJ-sized  ^space  of  ground,  which  forms  tlie 
principal  part  of  an  English  garden,  a  .Japanese 
garden  has  mountains,  rivers,  lakes,  and  waterfalls 
just  as  they  are  found  in  Nature,  differing  from 
the  real  ones  only  by  tlieir  being  on  a  much  smaller 
.scale.  Gardens  are  often  laid  out  after  the  model 
of  some  place  famous  for  its  scenery.  It  is  also 
often  the  case  that  people  spend  more  money  on 
their  gardens  than  on  their  residences." 

AgePatumS. — The  mention  of  these  bedding 
plants  in  "  Riviera  Notes,"  by  your  correspondent 
E.  H.  Woodall,  reminds  me  of  a  fine  tall  growing 
variety  I  saw  used  in  the  bedding  arrangements  on 
the  sea  front  at  Eastbourne  some  three  seasons  ago. 
If  I  remember  rightly  I  was  inforined  that  the 
variety  was  Purley  Gem.  The  plants  were  from 
18  inches  to  '20  inches  high,  bushy,  and  full  of 
rtower,  the  colour  being  the  nearest  approach  to 
a  true  blue  I  have  yet  seen  in  an  Ageratum.  Some 
little  time  after  I  was  able  to  secure  a  stock  of  it, 
but  which  I  have  unfortunately  since  lost.  As  I 
saw  it  growing  and  flowering,  and  afterwards  grew 
it  myself,  I  looked  upon  it  as  being  quite  the  best 
Ageratum  that  had  ever  come  under  my  notice. 
With  regard  to  the  dwarf  kinds  alluded  to  by  your 
correspondent  I  consider  them  to  be  hardl3'  worth 
growing. — A.  W. 

Treatment  of  Poinsettia  bracts.^ 
I  am  in  a  position  to  endorse  all  that  Mr.  T.  W. 
TroUope  relates  with  regard  to  the  plunging  of  the 
ends  of  the  cut  stems  of  Poinsettia  bracts  in  boiling 
water  to  keep  them  fresh  and  prevent  their  droop- 
ing when  cut.  The  loss  of  the  milky  juice  or  sap 
is,  I  think,  the  cause  of  their  flagging  so  quickly, 
and  the  action  of  the  boiling  water  is  to  seal  up 
the  pores  of  the  wood.  Plunging  the  ends  of  the 
stems  in  cold  water,  or  such  as  is  used  for  watering 
the  plants  in  the  house  in  which  they  have  been 
grown,  also  answers  the  same  purpose,  but  this 
must  be  done  at  least  twelve  hours  in  advance  of 
the  time  the  bracts  are  required  for  use.  The  use 
of  boiling  water  has  this  advantage — the  bracts 
can  be  used  directlj'  after,  as  bleeding  ceases  quickly, 
and  when  the  Poinseltias  are  called  for  at  short 
notice  this  is  a  great  consideration. — A.  W. 

Eranthemum  pulchellum.— It  is  but 

rarely  one  meets  with  this  old  winter-flowering 
stove  plant,  which  is  now  at  its  best.  Its  beautiful 
dark  blue  flowers  are  very  attractive  in  the  con- 
servatory during  the  dull  winter  months,  when 
flowers  of  this  colour  are  so  scarce.  It  is  easily 
raised  from  cuttings  struck  early  in  the  year  ;  these 
should  be  stopped  when  about  6  inches  high  to 
produce  a  bushy  habit.  The  old  plants  may  be  cut 
back  and  repotted  ;  they  then  develop  into  large 
and  more  showy  specimens.  It  is  very  easily 
accommodated,  and  its  colour  alone  should  ensure 
its  extended  cultivation. — E.  Haeriss. 

Effects  of  fog  on  late  Broecoli.— 

The  heavy  fogs  we  had  in  this  district  early  in 
November,  closely  followed  by  frosts  of  12",  14°, 
and  16°,  have  proved  quite  as  disastrous  to  the 
quarters  of  late  winter  and  spring  Broccoli  as 
exceptionally  severe  weather.  Just  about  the 
time  of  the  November  Aquarium  show  we  had 
seventy-two  hours  of  thick  continuous  fog,  never 
once  lifting.  It  suddenly  cleared  and  the  frost 
followed,  when  vegetation  was  thoroughly  satu- 
rated, with  the  result  above  noted.  I  hope  to 
note  later  varieties  that  have  come  through  the 
ordeal  best,  as  there  is  no  doubt  some  are  much 
hardier  than  others. — E.  B. ,  Eaher. 

Richard  Dean  testimonial.    At  the 

meeting  of  subscribers  held  on  the  14th  ult. ,  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium,  Westminster,  it  was  resolved  to 
entertain  Mr.  Dean  to  dinner  at  the  Royal , 
Aquarium  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  4th  inst., 
at  seven  p.m.,  and  to  present  the  testimonial 
there.     This  is  to  take  the  form  of  an  address  on 


vellum  and  a  cheque  for,  it  is  expected,  £300. 
The  committee  would  like  as  many  subscribers  as 
possible  to  be  present,  and  anyone  wishing  to 
attend  is  asked  to  write  to  the  joint  secretar3', 
Mr.  H.  .J.  .Jones,  Ryecroft,  Lewisham,  London. 
The  dinner  tickets  are  .5s.  each. 

Wood    preservatives.  -Specimens    of 

wood  impregnated  with  a  3  per  cent,  solution 
of  blue  vitriol  were  exhibited  and  reported  as 
lasting  for  ten  3'ears,  recommended  for  Bean  sticks 
and  Hop  poles,  but  obviously  applicable  with 
advantage  to  flower  sticks  generally,  and  also 
perhaps  to  sash  bars,  although  it  is  stated  that 
wood  so  treated  does  not  take  oil  paints  well.  It 
is,  moreover,  difficult  to  work,  hence  in  this  direc- 
tion further  experiments  are  requisite. — Gartenflora. 

Begonia    Turnford    Hall.— An  inde 

pendent  sport  remarkably  like  this  was  exhibited 
by  the  raiser,  Herr  H.  Kohlmannslehner-Britz, 
who  reported  that  the  white  variety  of  the  same 
was  very  variable,  flowers  sometimes  small,  some- 
times large,  the  large  flowers  being  scented  like 
Apple  blossom.  The  same  raiser  referred  to 
his  light  rose  sport  of  Gloire  de  Lorraine  Begonia 
as  a  great  improvement  on  the  type.  Warm  culture 
reported  as  detrimental  to  the  strain  both  as  regards 
beauty  and  permanence  of  bloom. — Gartenflora. 

Ipomsea  rutaro-coerulea.— This  is  one 

of  the  most  useful  of  our  stove  climljers,  not  only 
from  an  ornamental  point  of  view  as  a  climber,  but 
also  for  cutting  for  table  decoration,  for  which  it  is 
admirably  adapted.  By  sowing  seeds  about  July 
or  August  it  will  come  into  flower  early  in 
November,  lasting  till  the  end  of  .Januarj',  a 
season  when  its  flowers  are  greatly  appreciated. 
The  seeds  should  be  sown  singly  in  3-inch  pots,  and 
subsequently  transferred  to  8-inch  or  10-inch  pots 
at  suitable  intervals.  The  plants  may  be  trained 
up  wires  or  strings,  and  the  growths  must  be  kept 
constantly  regulated  or  they  will  soon  grow  into  a 
dense  mass.  Constantly  syringe  the  plants  to 
ward  off  the  attacks  of  red  spider,  which  if  allowed 
to  get  a  footing  will  quickly  strip  it  of  its  foliage. — 
E.  Harkiss. 
French  Bean  Syon  House.— This  Bean 

has  stood  the  test  of  time,  and  is  still  a  favourite 
with  many.  For  growing  on  a  warm  border  to 
succeed  the  first  early  varieties  few  sorts  equal  it. 
It  is  a  good  grower,  and  the  handsome  pale  green 
pods  are  produced  in  great  profusion  ;  added  to 
this  it  is  of  excellent  quality.  Syon  House  Bean 
was  the  sheet  anchor  of  the  older  gardeners,  and 
what  grand  crops  used  to  be  secured  both  from 
plants  in  pots  and  from  the  open  garden.  There 
are  other  varieties  better  adapted  for  very  earlj' 
forcing,  but  for  pot  culture  from  January  to  May 
Syon  House  still  holds  its  own. — .J.  Crawford. 
Jasminum  nudiflorum.— At  this  season 

there  are  practicallj'  no  hardy  climbing  plants  in 
flower  except  the  above,  and  the  recent  mild  weather 
has  brought  it  out  in  its  full  beauty,  and  it  is  now  a 
perfect  blaze  of  yellow  star-like  blooms.  Although, 
strictly  speaking,  it  is  not  a  climbing  plant,  yet  it 
fulfils  all  the  purposes  of  one,  but  on  no  account 
should  all  its  growths  be  fastened  to  the  wall  or 
trellis  on  which  it  is  grown,  the  main  stems  only 
being  nailed  or  tied  up,  and  the  younger  shoots 
allowed  to  hang  in  a  semi-pendent  fashion  awaj' 
from  the  support.  When  the  space  allotted  to  it 
has  been  filled,  this  young  wood  should  be  cut 
back  to  about  two  buds  from  the  base  after  the 
flowering  period  is  o\er  and  before  growth 
commences.  By  this  means  the  plant  is  kept  in 
the  best  flowering  condition  with  very  little 
trouble.  This  Jasmine  is  also  a  capital  plant  for 
filling  a  sunny  recess  at  the  side  of  a  house,  some 
of  the  growths  being  nailed  up  the  walls  and  the 
remainder  allowed  to  develop  at  will.  In  the 
course  of  two  or  three  j'ears  it  will  fill  the  corner 
completely  with  a  mass  of  long,  arching  shoots 
which  will  be  covered  with  flowers  at  the  dullest 
time  of  the  year.  Many  of  these  growths  will  form 
roots  where  they  touch  the  ground,  and  the 
extension  of  the  plant  need  only  be  restricted  by 
considerations  of  space.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
accommodating  of  plants  in  the  matter  of  soil  to 
grow  in.  I  have  seen  it  in  almost  pure  yellow 
gravel,  in  stiff  clayey  loam,  and  in  dry  sandy  soil, 
and  it  seems  to  do  equally  well  in  all.     It,  how- 


ever, requires  an  ample  supply  of  water  in  the 
summer,  and  it  is  astonishing  to  see  how  it  repays 
a  few  good  soakings  during  dry  weather.  The  best 
plant  of  it  I  have  ever  seen  is  close  to  a  water-butt 
that  is  regularly  filled  and  emptied  during  the 
summer  months,  the  waste  water  from  which  runs 
around  the  roots  of  the  plant.  It  is  practically  a 
surface-rooting  subject,  and  in  addition  to  plentj' 
of  water  in  dry  weather,  should  not  be  disturbed 
by  anj'  digging  near  it  at  anj'  season  of  the  j'ear. 
J.  n.  var.  foliis  aureis  has  leaves  and  wood  that 
are  strongly  variegated  with  bright  yellow,  which 
renders  it  conspicuous  in  the  summer,  and  it  is  also 
quite  as  free-flowering  as  the  type,  though  hardly 
so  vigorous. — J.  C. ,  Bagshot,  Surrey. 

Alberta  magna. — In  the  Mexican  house 
at  Kew  a  fine  specimen  of  this  rare  Rubiaceous 
shrub  is  at  present  flowering  finely.  It  is  a  native 
of  Natal,  and  seeds  were  first  received  at  Kew  in 
1890,  Mr.  W.  Bull,  of  Chelsea,  describing  it  the 
following  J'ear  in  his  catalogue.  It  is  ornamental 
in  character,  being  of  good  habit  and  well  clothed 
with  large,  deep  green,  Laurel-like  leaves,  and 
bearing  large,  flattened,  terminal  panicles  of  red 
tubular  flowei-s  1  j  inches  long.  Although  discovered 
twelve  years  ago  it  is  still  very  rare  and  little 
known.  At  Kew  it  has  been  tried  both  as  a 
pot  and  border  plant,  and  it  has  succeeded  best 
under  the  latter  treatment.  It  is  planted  in 
sandy  peat  and  loam  in  a  well-drained  border  in  a 
position  exposed  only  to  the  afternoon  sun. 
Throughout  the  summer  it  receives  copious 
supplies  of  water,  both  at  the  roots  and  overhead, 
being  kept  rather  dry  in  winter.  These  conditions 
appear  to  suit  it  admirably,  for  in  four  years  it 
has  grown  from  a  tiny  plant  to  a  specimen  9  feet 
high  and  5  feet  in  diameter. — W.  Ballimore. 

Begonia  dichotoma.— No  idea  can  be 
had  of  the  full  beauty  of  this  Venezuelan  Begonia 
from  plants  grown  in  pots  ;  it  is  only  when  planted 
out  in  a  border  of  good  soil  that  its  true  character 
is  developed.  Under  the  most  advantageous  con- 
ditions it  cannot  be  said  to  be  everybody's  plant, 
there  being  other  shrubbj'  species  far  ahead  of  it 
as  flowering  plants  ;  it  is,  however,  well  worth 
including  in  collections  of  indoor  plants.  In  the 
Mexican  house  at  Kew  a  plant  three  years  old  is 
now  flowering  well.  It  is  12  feet  high,  and 
consists  of  a  few  stout  stems  clothed  with  hand- 
some leaves.  The  stoutest  stems  are  6  inches  in 
circumference  at  a  foot  from  the  ground,  and  bear 
leaves  from  12  inches  to  lo  inches  across.  A 
peculiarity  about  the  leaf  of  this  species  is  the 
curious  rose-coloured  fleshy  end  of  the  leaf  stalk 
at  the  point  where  it  joins  the  blade.  The  flowers 
are  white  and  borne  in  large  heads  15  inches 
across.  Unlike  most  shrubby  Begonias  this  should 
never  have  the  shoots  stopped,  the  beauty  of  the 
plant  being  in  the  tall,  thick.  Bamboo-like  shoots, 
clothed  with  large  handsome  leaves.  The  advan- 
tage of  planting  out  for  indoor  plants  is  well  shown 
in  the  case  of  shrubby  Begonias  ;  plants  grow  more 
quickly,  flower  more  continuously,  and  are  not  so 
affected  by  bad  weather  in  winter  as  are  those  in 
pots.— W.  D. 

Six   finest   new  Sweet   Peas.— The 

season  has  arrived  when  most  growers  of  Sweet 
Peas  will  begin  to  order  seed  of  the  kinds  they 
wish  to  grow.  With  such  a  multitude  of  sorts  to 
select  from,  and  at  a  price  within  the  reach  of 
everyone,  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  make  a  small 
selection.  Every  year  there  are  some  new  comers, 
and  those  who  have  not  the  opportunity  of  seeing 
them  in  flower  must  be  content  with  either  cata- 
logue descriptions  or  information  given  through 
the  Press.  During  the  last  few  years  I  have  grown 
a  great  many  sorts.  Last  year  I  had  all  the  new 
ones,  and  I  consider  the  year  was  remarkable  for 
the  number  of  really  good  new  varieties.  I  doubt 
if  this  year  will  bring  to  light  nearly  as  many 
sterling  kinds.  It  can  hardly  be  expected.  Last 
year  I  obtained  a  good  many  packets  of  each  of 
Eckford's  newer  kinds,  growing  them  on  highly 
cultivated  land,  chiefly  in  large  clumps.  The  seed 
was  sown  in  turf  or  4-inch  pots  early  in  February, 
and  the  seedlings  grown  strongly  from  the  first, 
being  planted  out  in  due  course.  When  in  bloom 
we  manured  them  well,  and  it  was  astonishing  how 
vigorously  they  grew,  from  12  feet  to  14  feet  high, 


70 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  1,  1902. 


and  blooming  from  Midsummer  Day  until  destroj'ed 
by  frost.  The  flowers  were  magnificent,  many  of 
them  with  stems  from  15  inches  to  18  inches  long. 
Out  of  about  twenty  of  the  newest  kinds  I  consider 
the  following  the  best; — C'oecinea :  I  like  this 
better  than  any  highly-coloured  sort,  and  had  I  to 
only  gro^\-  one  it  would  be  this  ;  the  Hon.  Mrs.  E. 
Kenyon,  creamy  white ;  Miss  Willmott,  orange 
pink  ;  Sadie  Burpee,  white  ;  George  Gordon  ;  and 
last,  but  not  least.  Lady  Grisel  Hamilton,  blue. 
The  last-named  produces  very  poor-looking  seed, 
which,  however,  should  not  deter  anyone  from 
growing  it.  It  is  much  better  to  sow  these  choice 
sorts  in  pots  or  bo.ices  and  plant  them  out. — J. 
Crook. 

Pea  CaPtep'S  Daisy.— Any  variety  that 
is  found  in  the  seed  catalogues  of  our  leading  seed 
houses  may  be  trusted,  and  few  vegetables  have 
found  more  favour  than  Daisy  Pea.  My  only 
complaint  is  that  it  is  not  plentiful  enough,  and 
rather  costly  if  large  quantities  are  grown.  On 
the  other  hand,  its  splendid  qualities  make  it  a 
general  favourite  in  all  gardens,  and  as  it  gets 
more  widely  distributed  it  will  be  the  standard 
variety  for  early  supplies.  I  know  that  Messrs. 
Carter  recommend  it  as  a  second  early  Pea,  and 
doubtless  in  wet  or  heavj'  soils  that  is  its  season  ; 
but  I  have  for  }'ears  grown  it  for  first  crop  by 
sowing  under  glass  and  planting  out.  It  is  also 
most  valuable  for  frame  culture  or  pots,  as  grown 
thus  it  pods  grandlj-,  and  the  flavour  of  this  variety 
is  equal  to  that  of  the  best  Marrow  Pea  in  cultiva- 
tion. On  two  occasions  the  fruit  and  vegetable 
committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Societ}'  at 
Chiswick  have  given  it  special  notice,  and  for 
gardens  where  early  Peas  are  wanted  in  qu.mtilies 
I  do  not  know  any  variety  superior  to  Dais}'. 
Many  years  ago  the  older  Stratagem,  one  of  the 
parents  of  Daisy,  was  a  great  advance  on  the  Peas 
then  in  commerce,  and  the  same  progress  is  main- 
tained, as  the  newer  Daisy  is  undoubtedly  one  of 
the  finest  dwarf  early  ilarrow  varieties  in  cultiva- 
tion.— G.  Wytues. 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  HARDY 
FLOAVERS. 

(Continued  from  page  -'iti.) 
The  Shasta  Daisy,  which  has  been  hurled  at 
us  from  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  is 
described  as  being  a  marvellous  production, 
but  whether  the  plates  are  overdrawn  or  not, 
I  cannot  see  that  it  will  bear  any  comparison 
with  what  we  have  already  got.  I  like  the 
name  Shasta  Daisy  and  shall  certainly  use  it. 

Coreopsis  l.4.nceolata  I  think  would  pay 
well  for  a  little  attention,  seeing  we  have  some 
perennial  species  with  rose  coloured  flowers, 
which  we  could  fall  back  upon,  providing  the 
annual  ones  could  not  be  induced  to  assist  us 
in  obtaining  difl'erent  .shades  from  those  already 
in  cultivation.  A  red  or  rose  coloured  variety 
of  Coreopsis  lanceolata  would  find  many 
admirers  ;  a  great  deal  might  be  done  in 
selection,  as  I  do  not  consider  the  present 
one  anything  like  so  good  as  the  one  I  knew 
twenty  years  ago. 

Echinacea  purpurea  has  degenerated  con- 
siderably during  the  last  twenty  years,  and 
many  of  the  strains  now  oflered  are  not  worth 
growing,  whilst  the  good  ones  are  among  the 
best  of  our  autumn  perennials.  The  colour  is 
being  improved  upon  each  year,  and  reds  and 
purples  will  soon  take  the  place  of  the  poor 
varieties  so  often  seen. 

The  Erigeron  contains  some  good  material 
for  further  developments,  and  in  E.  speciosus 
we  have  a  very  useful  plant  for  all  purposes 
and  a  great  favourite,  as  it  lasts  so  long  in 
bloom.  Among  the  ]ierennial  species  we  have 
white,  orange,  and  flesh,  and  among  the  annual 
varieties  yellows.  Transfer  either  of  these 
shades  to  the  speciosus,  and  the  result  would 
be  very  pleasing.  I  find  the  "  Composit;e  "  as  a 


rule,  especially  after  the  first  break,  very  easy 
to  cross. 

Eremurus. — White,  lemon,  and  apricot 
varieties  of  robustus  are  in  existence,  and 
many  other  shades  of  colour  will,  no  doubt, 
follow,  Imt  a  man  wants  to  start  very  young 
if  he  wi.shes  to  see  the  result  of  his  labour  in 
hybridising  this  family. 

The  species  of  Gerakiums  are,  as  a  rule, 
somewhat  weedy,  but  there  aie  some  among 
them  remarkably  showy,  and  could  very  easily 
be  improved  upon.  The  white  variety  of 
G.  sanguineum  is  one  of  the  very  few  varieties 
we  have  in  this  family. 

The  Geum8  are  somewhat  important  as  they 
last  a  longtime  in  bloom,  are  easily  grown  and 
veiy  variable.  There  are  now  several  good 
varieties  of  Heldreichi,  montanum,  and 
coccineum  plenum,  but  these  can  be  imiiroved 
upon  very  considerably. 

Gypsophila  paniculata.  —  The  doulile 
variety  which  was  shown  before  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  during  the  past  .season 
I  think  will  become  a  very  good  plant,  pro- 
viding it  can  be  propagated,  but  I  have  never 
been  very  successful  in  raising  it  by  cuttings, 
and  I  am  somewhat  afraid  of  the  double. 

In  the  Heleniums  we  have  two  or  three 
good  varieties,  the  best  of  all  without  question 
is  H.  pumilum  magnificum,  and  this,  I  con- 
sider, is  one  of  the  best  twelve  hardy  perennials 
in  cultivation.  It  is  in  flower  well  for  at  least 
four  months,  and  during  the  drought  of  the 
past  season  was  a  mass  of  bloom.  H.  striatum 
is  a  plant  that  will  well  repay  a  little  attention, 
and  I  can  see  no  reason  why  a  crimson  could 
not  be  obtained  with  care  by  selection.  I 
have  raised  many,  all  striped  more  or  less,  but 
no  .self-coloured  flowers. 

Helianthus  has  been  worked  upon  for 
some  years  past,  and  the  new  Helianthus 
tomentosus  (certificated  under  the  name  of 
mollis)  is  excellent  for  crossing  purposes.  It 
is  certainly  the  most  characteristic  in  the 
family,  distinct  in  foliage  and  formation  from 
any  of  the  others,  and  one  that  does  not  run 
about. 

Heliopsis  L.KVIS  is  still  capable  of  further 
improvement.  The  colour  is  unique  at  that 
season  of  the  year,  and  for  cutting  invaluable, 
but  it  is  not  a  good  habit.  A  variety  i  feet  or 
3  feet  high  covered  with  rich  orange  flowers 
would  find  many  admirers. 

The  Oriental  Christmas  Roses  are  very 
useful,  but  I  do  not  think  can  be  much  im- 
proved u]:ion  ;  they  are  no  good  for  cutting, 
and  never  will  be,  but  in  a  shrubbery  border 
they  are  very  useful. 

It  is  possible  to  get  some  fine  varieties  of 
Hemeeocallis,  but  they  will  have  to  be 
remarkably  distinct  to  find  favour  with  the 
public.  Commercially  there  is  not  much  value 
in  them,  I  suppose  from  the  fact  that  they 
cannot  be  killed. 

Among  the  Heucheeas  there  is  a  possi- 
bility of  very  great  improvement.  A  crimson 
H.  erubescens  would  make  a  charming  plant, 
and  as  these  are  easily  crossed  and  the  results 
quickly  seen  would  be  a  nice  family  for  some 
impatient  enthusiast  to  take  up.  H.  zabelliana, 
a  Continental  introduction,  is  one  of  the  first 
hybrids  we  have,  and  a  very  good  ])lant  it 
is.  H.  sanguinea  appears  to  be  degenerating. 
Even  the  variety  splendens  does  not  come  up 
to  the  standard  of  what  I  grew  in  my  private 
garden  at  Tottenham.  Originally  there  were 
six  plants — one  died  on  the  road— brought  by 
Dr.  Murray  from  Lower  Mexico,  which  he  gave 
to  me.  The  description  he  gave  of  this  species 
growing  wild  was  of  a  plant  3  feet  or  4  feet 
high,  with  fiowers  more  than  double  the  size, 
and  scores  of  branching  spikes  emanating  from 


quite  small  clumps,  and  when  he  saw  them  at 
Tottenham  for  the  first  time  he  was  more  than 
disappointed,  and  did  not  consider  the  plant 
worth  the  trouble  he  had  bestowed  upon  it. 
The  spikes  he  saw  at  Tottenham  were  far  more 
beautiful  than  those  usually  seen  in  English 
gardens. 

The  Iris  present  a  fine  field  for  the 
hybridiser,  although  they  are  not  so  easily 
managed  as  one  might  suppose.  We  have 
had  a  few  new  varieties  of  Germanica,  a  good 
many  new  varieties  of  the  olbien.sis,  and  a  few 
hybrids  of  Max  Leichtlin  and  Sir  Michael 
Foster,  and  a  few  others  are  the  nett  proceeds 
of  the  last  twenty  years.  There  has  never 
been  much  done  in  the  way  of  hybridising, 
]\[ax  Leichtlin  being  one  of  the  first.  One  of  the 
best  of  his  was  Warei,  a  cross  between  I.  susiana 
and  one  of  the  Germanica  sections,  but  he  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  very  successful  with 
them.  Sir  Michael  Foster  has  many  hybrids, 
some  most  charming,  and  he  appears  to  be 
crossing  everything.  His  monspur  sections  are 
good,  the  result  of  crossing  Monnieri  and  spuria. 
Parsam,  a  cross  between  paradoxa  and  sam- 
bucina,  is  very  jiretty,  and  there  are  many 
others  that  we  know  little  about.  I  had  almost 
forgotten  the  Iris  Ka?mpferi.  A  marvellous 
change  has  taken  place  in  these  since  the  late 
Baron  von  Siebold  introduced  his  first  .set 
from  Japan.  These  had  quite  small  flowers, 
and  were  not  worth  growing  by  the  side  of 
those  now  in  cultivation.  1  believe  the  first 
information  we  had  of  these  large  ones  was  at 
Tokenhouse  Yard,  when  Messrs.  Protheroe  and 
Morris  oflered  some  thirty  or  forty  clumps,  one 
or  two  )ilants  of  each  variety,  accompanied  with 
the  usual  Japanese  drawings.  These  caused 
quite  a  sensation,  and  realised  several  pounds 
a  clump.  The  Japanese  were  not  slow  in 
sending  over  many  more,  and  for  the  last 
twenty  years  a  regular  trade  has  been  done  in 
them,  but  I  do  not  think  we  have  any  more 
varieties  now  than  then.  Iberis,  Inulas, 
Lathyrus,  Linums,  and  Linarias  we  must  pass. 
All  are  good  popular  families,  from  which 
improved  varieties  could  be  obtained. 

The  Meoasea  has  received  a  fair  share  of 
attention,  Mr.  Smith  having  raised  a  great 
number  of  seedlings,  some  \ery  interesting, 
but  there  are  not  enough  whites  and  light 
shades  of  colour.  Unfortunately,  this  family 
has  never  been  very  popular  with  the  public. 

The  Evening  Primroses  present  many 
opportunities  for  hybridising  and  selection. 
Sooner  or  later  we  shall  have  some  one  finding 
a  white  macrocarpa  or  fruticosa,  both  of  which 
would  be  eagerly  sought  after,  and  if  whites, 
why  not  roses  and  reds  ]  Has  anyone  seriously 
attempted  to  cross  this  family  ?  I  have  never 
heard  of  one,  and  I  feel  sure  they  would  pay 
well  for  a  little  attention. 

I  must  not  pass  the  Pentstemons  without 
mentioning  P.  heterophylla,  a  lovely  Californian 
species  of  a  beautiful  blue  colour.  I  see  no 
reason  why  we  could  not  get  blue  ones  among 
the  hybrids,  seeing  both  are  very  similar  in 
growth. 

Potentillas. — What  a  wealth  of  colour  we 
have  in  the  hybrid  Potentillas.  The  combina- 
tions are  marvellous,  but  all  are  spoilt  by  the 
lazy  habit  of  the  plant.  Could  we  not  olstain 
anew  set,  less  rampant  in  growth  and  erect? 
If  we  could  it  would  be  a  great  boon,  for  we 
have  no  other  family  possessing  so  much 
brilliancy  of  colour. 

ScABio.SA  CAUCASICA  is  uow  pi'oducing  a  good 
range  of  colour,  and,  as  they  can  be  propagated 
by  division,  will  become  very  useful.  Unfor- 
tunately, they  are  slow  in  increasing,  and  it 
will  be  some  years  before  we  see  much  of 
them.    Some  of  the  new  shades  are  delightful. 


February  1,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


71 


could  be  mentioned,  all  of 
more  or  less  interest,  and 
from  past  experience  with 
other  families  feel  sure 
similar  results  could  be 
obtained.  It  will  be  useless 
for  anyone  to  take  up  this 
mutter  unless  it  is  done 
systematically,  keeping  to 
the  object  in  view  and 
working  to  obtain  it. 

There  must  be  nothing 
left  to  chance,  as  the  cost 
of  planting  out,  say,  1,000 
Aster  chance  seedling>-,  is 
great,  especially  if  you 
get  no  results  :  whereas 
twenty  carefully  selected 
might  produce  one  or  two 
worth  keeping,  if  only  for 
further  trial.  One  is  not 
going  to  get  novelties  the 
first  time  of  asking.  It  is 
a  question  of  close  watch- 
ing and  perseverance. 
Amos  Peeey. 


THE     NETTLE 
MULBERRY. 


THE    NliTTI.K    11ULJ;EKRV    (LArOETEA    JIORIOIDES) 
COLLECIE   BOTANIC   CARDBN'S,    DrilL 

The  Si'iRHAS  are  an  important  family  and 
great  favourites,  and  there  is  no  ({uestion  that 
many  improvements  can  be  made  in  them, 
especially  in  point  of  colour.  A  coloured 
variety  of  S.  japonica  or  S.  Aruncus  would 
cause  quite  a  sensation.  1  would  not  say  they 
can  be  obtained,  but  1  know  they  arc  well 
worth  trying  to  get. 

We  have  a  good  pink  variety  of  Spira'a 
gigantea,  and  I  rememlter  having  ottered  to 
me  a  bright  pink  variety  of  S.  Filipendula,  but 
such  a  fabulous  price  was  asked  that  it  was 
impossible  to  secure  it.  Twenty-five  years 
ago  this  class  of  plant  was  at  a  very  low  ebb. 
What  became  of  it  I  newer  knew,  but  I  can  see 
it  in  my  mind's  eye  now,  and  should  like  an 
opportunity  of  obtaining  it. 

Sedum  sfec'Tabile  contains  many  points  of 
great  merit,  and  if  we  could  get  a  batch  of 
seedlings,  improvement  only  in  colour  would 
be  a  great  commercial  success. 

The  ST.\Tiui5s  are  becoming  more  jjopular 
now  attention  has  been  given  to  .selection,  &c. 
In  S.  Limonium  we  have  a  very  variable  species, 
varying  from  the  purest  white  to  all  shades 
of  blue  and  pink,  with  dense  flower  heads 
■2  feet  across.  The  individual  flowers  are  smaller 
than  those  of  S.  latifolia,  but  far  more  graceful 
for  cutting.  These  are  much  sought  after  for 
this  purpose. 

There  are  hundreds  of  other  families  that 


(Lvl'OETEA    MOEIOIDES.) 

The  Nettle  Mulberries  or 
Laporteas  are  stout-grow- 
ing trees  or  shrubs,  with 
hairy  leaves  that  sting 
virulently.  They  bear 
heavy  clusters  of  bright 
ruby-coloured  fruits  on 
the  stem  below  the  leaves. 
It  is  a  plant  to  be  placed 
well  out  of  the  reach  of 
children.  The  plant  was 
introduced  from  Queens- 
land in  18S7,  and  is  grown 
in  gardens  as  a  curiosity. 
The  genus  consists  of 
several  species  distributed 
throughout  the  wanner 
IN  Ti[E  TivuMTv  parts    of    the    east    from 

IN.  India    to    Australia.      L. 

crenulata  and  L.  gigas  are 
really  large  trees,  the  latter  attaining  a  height 
of  80  feet.  L.  Schomburghii  versicolor  from 
Polynesia  is  a  very  handsome  variegated  kind 
not  often  seen  in  gardens.  There  are  in  all 
about  twenty-five  species,  a  few  inhabiting 
extra  tropical  North  America  and  Mexico, 
none  being  found  in  South  America.  The 
illustration,  taken  )jy  Mr.  George  E.  Low  in 
'  Trinity  College  Botanical  Gardens,  Dublin, 
shows  the  port  and  aspect  of  a  small-fruiting 
plant  grown  under  ordinary  stove  or  hot 
house  treatment.  The  fruit  lasts  fresh  nearly  a 
year.  F.  W.  Burbidgk. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 


IVY    AND    ITS    USES. 

t   LTHOUGH  already  appreciated  as  an  orna- 

/\  mental    plant,  Ivy    is    not    nearlj-   so 

/  %         nnich  eniT)loyed  or  in  such  a  variety  of 

/      \        ways,  especially  in  small  gardens,  as  it 

2  \^      might  be.     It    is,   indeed,   but   rarely 

seen  in  its  highest  development.     Its 

chief  employment  is  to  drape  old  walls  and  fences, 

or    to    cover    unsightly   buildings,    and    for   that 

purpose   it   is    eminently    adapted.       There    are, 

however,   several   other  methods  of  putting  it  to 

good  use  in  gardens  to   which  attentio  i  may  be 

directed.     Indeed,    there   is    no    evergreen    plant 

which  can  be  put  to  so  many  uses,  and  none  which 


will  thrive  with   less   attention   and   under  more 
adverse  circumstances. 

Under  trees  where  nothing  else  will  flourish  the 
Ivy  is  quite  at  home,  and  forms  an  evergreen 
carpet  of  leafage.  When  Ivy  can  climb  no  higher, 
it  branches  out  and  forms  irregular  masses — assumes 
in  fact  a  shrubby  character.  In  this  state  it  is  seen 
to  great  advantage,  as  it  then  flowers  and  becomes 
covered  in  winter  w'th  rich  purple-black  berries. 
Those  who  n.ay  find  it  needful  to  cut  the  tops  of 
trees  in  their  gardens  should  leave  here  and  there 
a  stem,  merely  lopping  away  the  boughs,  and  plant 
Ivy  against  it.  It  may  also  be  used  to  clothe  the 
large  pots,  tubs,  and  vases  (unless  these  are  well 
designed)  that  hold  flowering  plants  during  the 
summer.  Quite  recently  I  noticed  on  a  grassy- 
slope  by  the  edge  of  ornamental  water  dense  masses 
of  Ivy  with  no  visible  support.  I  was  inclined  to 
think  that  they  had  overgrown  and  smothered  some 
low  bushes,  but  on  inquiry  I  found  that  each  was 
only  a  single  plant  that  in  the  first  instance  had 
been  tied  to  a  stout  stake  and  afterwards  allowed 
to  train  itself.  This  they  had  done  effectually,  and 
some  beautiful  symmetrical  heads  of  glossy  foliage, 
thickly  set  with  black  berries,  formed  very  pleasing 
objects,  presentable  at  all  seasons.  One  can  fancy 
nothing  more  beautiful  than  a  group  of  distinct 
varieties  of  Ivy  trained  up  stout  pieces  of  branches 
anil  grouped  in  a  quiet  corner  of  the  lawn  or 
pleasure  ground.  Such  a  method  has  various 
advantages  over  training  on  walls — the  varieties  one 
to  each  stump,  are  more  easily  kept  distinct,  while 
the  Ivy  seems  to  thrive  and  look  better  than  it 
does  on  walls.  Ivj'  may  also  be  used  to  form 
screens  to  protect  tender  plants  from  cold  winds 
or  hot  suns.  The  small-leaved  wood  or  wild  form 
is  also  useful  with  flowers  in  vases. 

It  has  often  been  said  that  Ivy  has  a  tendency 
to  make  buildings  damp,  but,  wherever  that  has 
been  the  case,  it  arises  from  neglect  in  not  having 
it  properly  trimmed,  or  in  ixUowing  it — and  this 
it  soon  does  if  neglected — to  take  possession  of  the 
water  gutters  or  pipes,  and  thus  cause  overflow. 
Tu  have  Ivy  in  good  condition  it  should  be  cut  in 
close,  taking  off  all  the  old  leaves  every  spring  ; 
about  the  end  of  April  is  the  best  time.  Of  late 
years  a  very  considerable  use  has  been  made  of  it 
in  ornamental  gardening  as  edgings  to  beds  and 
borders,  and  sometimes  for  forming  patterns  of 
dwarf  dark  green  foliage  that  look  fresh  and 
beautiful  at  all  seasons,  but  especially  so  in  hot 
weather  when  the  grass  is  scorched  up. 

It  is  also  one  of  the  very  best  plants  for  forming 
a  green  carpet  under  close  growing  evergreen 
trees,  where  nothing  else  will  grow,  but  occasional 
watchfulness  will  be  necessary  to  prevent  it 
climbing  up  the  trees  and  taking  possession  of 
the  main  branches.  The  small-leaved  variegated 
Ivies  may  with  advantage  be  introduced  here  and 
there  amongst  rock  and  root  work.  Being  of  com- 
paratively slow  growth  and  of  smaller  dimensions 
than  the  green  ones  they  are  easily  kept  in 
bounds.  If  trained  along  the  lo^^er  part  of  rock 
work  they  form  a  neat  and  pretty  edging,  affording 
a  charming  contrast  to  Ferns  and  other  dark 
foliaged  plants.  In  a  north  or  shady  aspect  the 
variegation  is  much  purer  and  better  defined  than 
when  they  grow  in  full  sunshine. 

Kippni:  Wm.  Chrystae. 


FREMONTIA  CALIFORNICA. 

This  handsome  deciduous  Californian  shrub,  about 
which  a  note  appeared  in  these  columns  a  few 
months  ago,  presents  a  charming  sight  when  in 
vigorous  health  and  flowering  freely.  One  of  the 
most  valuable  characteristics  of  this  shrub  is  its 
lengthened  blooming  period,  its  saucer  -  shaped, 
bright  yellow  blossoms,  from  1  inch  to  3  inches  in 
diameter,  being  often  in  evidence  for  two  or  three 
months.  It  can  scarcely  be  deemed  hardy,  although 
it  has  been  successfully  cultivated  in  the  open  as 
far  north  as  Cheshire,  and  is  usually  treated  as  a 
wall  shrub,  in  such  a  position  sometimes  attaining 
a  height  of  20  feet.  In  the  south-west  wall  pro- 
tection is  not  absolutely  essential,  for  I  have  seen 
healthy  specimens  growing  in  bush  form.  One 
that  I  saw  during  last  summer  was  about  (S  feet  in 
height  and  almost  as  much  in  diameter,  and  was 


72 


THE   GARDEN. 


[FEBRyARY    1,    1902. 


IN    TUB    BAMBOO    GARDEN    AT    KEW    (JANUARY,    It;02.) 

{S/iou'in^  hi  centre  Bambifm  palmata,  nn  left  hand  Pbiilhftae.hifs  Qxnlioi,  and  on  riyht  hand  Bamhiisa  tessellata.) 


covered  with  bloom.  The  great  fault  of  Fremontia 
califorriica  is  its  unaccountable  liability  to  die  off 
suddenl}',  although  apparently  in  the  best  of  health 
up  to  the  time  that  the  first  symptom  of  loss  of 
vitality  is  noted.  The  owner  of  the  example  I 
have  just  mentioned  informed  me  tliat  he  had  had 
a  much  larger  specimen  growing  against  a  wall 
which  had  died  off  in  this  manner,  and  I  have 
known  other  instances  of  similar  occurrences. 
.Some  advocate  growing  the  Fremontia  in  partial 
shade,  but  I  have  seen  plants  whose  condition  left 
nothing  to  be  desired  exposed  to  the  full  sunshine, 
and  it  is  improbable  that  in  its  native  Californian 
habitat  the  Fremontia  is  capable  of  obtaining 
much  protection  from  the  rays  of  the  sun.  We 
are  told  that  for  several  years  after  the  first 
specimen  raised  from  seed  in  this  country  flowered 
(in  the  year  1S.34)  all  attempts  to  propagate  it 
proved  fruitless.  Now,  however,  healthy  young 
plants  maj'  be  procured  for  .is. ,  a  price  that  puts 
their  purchase  within  the  reach  of  even  limited 
incomes.  S.  W.  Fitzherbekt. 


THE     FLOWER    GARDEN, 


CARNATION    GRENADIN. 

IT  is  somewhat  strange  that  this  beautiful  and 
useful  Carnation,  of  which  there  are  two 
forms— the  red  and  the  white — is  not  more 
generally  grown,  especially  by  florists,  as  it 
is  invaluable  for  bouquets,  button-holes,  and 
dinner  table  decoration  during  June.  It  is 
astonishing  what  a  quantity  of  bloom  even  a  single 
plant  will  produce.  It  should  be  treated  as  an 
annual,  for  it  makes  little  or  no  grass  and  cannot 
be  increased  by  cuttings.  The  seed  should  be 
sown  in  April  in  fine  loamy  and  leafy  soil,  and 
placed  in  a  temperature  of  00°.  Place  a  pane  of 
glass  over  it,  and  water  sparingly  till  the  seed- 
lings appear.  Keep  them  near  the  glass,  and 
when  the  second  pair  of  leaves  has  formed  prick 
them  off  and  keep  the  plants  in  an  intermediate 
temperature  till  established,  shading  them  from 
bright  sun.  About  the  middle  of  May  remove 
them  to  a  sunny  frame  and  gradually  harden  them 
off,  finally  planting  them  out  on  an  open  sunny 
border  in  .Tune.     Thus  treated   tliey   will  produce 


their  brilliant  flowers  the  following  summer  quite 
a  month  earlier  than  the  ordinary  border  Car- 
nations. .T.  Crawford. 


THE    UULTTEE    OF    THE   RANUN- 
CULUS. 

The  Ranunculu.s  family  is  a  large  and  widely 
distributed  one,  being  represented  in  most  parts 
of  the  Old  World  and  in  the  Southern  Seas,  and 
includes  our  English  Buttercups  (R.  bulbosus,  acris, 
and  others),  the  Water  Crowfoot  (R.  aquatilis), 
whidi  is  only  less  common  than  they  ;  Fair  Maids 
of  France  (R.  aconitifolius  fl.  -pi. ),  and  many  others, 
including  the  subject  of  this  article.  It  is,  in  fact, 
the  principal  familj-  of  that  important  natural 
order  the  Ranunculace.'v  wliich  gives  us  our 
Clematis,  Delphiniums,  Lenten  and  Christmas 
Roses,  Aquilegias,  Hepatieas,  Anemones,  and 
other  favourite  garden  flowers.  In  this  article  we 
are  going  to  consider  the  flower  which  in  common 
parlance  is  spoken  of  as  t)ie  Ranunculus  par  e.ccel- 
teiice,  R.  asiaticus  (the  Turban  Buttercup).  There 
are  several  varieties  of  this,  the  two  most  generally 
grown  being  the  Persian  and  tlie  Turkish,  or 
Turban.  The  former  is  generally  considered  the 
finer  variety  of  the  two  as  regards  colour  and  fine 
form  of  flower,  though  tlie  latter  runs  it  pretty 
close  and  is  of  larger  and  hardier  growth,  and 
therefore  better  suited  for  general  culture.  The 
brilliant  colours  of  both  are  too  well  known  to 
need  description.  Other  varieties  are  Dutch, 
Scotch,  Italian,  French,  and  a  cross  between  the 
Turkish  and  Persian  known  as  the  (iiant  Turco- 
Persian,  which  is  of  stronfv  growth  and  very  free- 
flowering.  The  French  variety  is  the  most  popular 
next  to  the  Persian  and  Turkish. 

The  culture  of  these  gorgeous  late  spring  and 
early  summer  flowers  is  fairly  simple  where  the 
natural  conditions  are  suited  to  them,  but  where 
this  is  not  the  case  they  need  some  little  care. 
Florists'  catalogues  say  that  they  will  grow  in  any 
ordinary  flower  border  enriched  with  manure,  but 
this  is  not  strictly  true,  as  the  writer  has  more 
than  once  proved  to  his  cost.  The  conditions  best 
suited  to  them  are  a  rich,  moist  sandy  loam  in  an 
open  position,  where  they  will  not  be  too  much 
exposed  to  the  cutting  m  inda  and  night  frosts  of 
April  and  sometimes  May.  The  soil,  where  not 
already   perfectly  suited  to  them,   should  be  well  I 


dug  in  the  early  part  of  the  winter  and 
dressed  with  about  a  third  of  its  bulk  of 
decayed  leaf-mould  and  rotted  manure. 
This  should  be  allowed  to  settle  for  a 
month  or  six  weeks,  and  then  as  soon 
as  a  little  fairly  dry  weather  comes 
in  February — not  later  than  the  third 
week  if  possible,  nor  earlier  than  the 
first,  though  never  when  the  ground  is 
stiiky — the  roots  sliould  be  planted  in 
the  following  manner  :  The  '2  inches  of 
the  top  soil  should  be  taken  oft',  and 
then  the  roots  or  tubers  gently  pressed 
into  the  soil,  claws  downwards,  3  inches 
or  4  inches  apart.  They  should  then  be 
covered  with  sand.  Cover  the  whole  bed  if 
there  is  a  plentiful  supply,  and  there  i.s 
nothing  better  for  this,  where  they  can  be 
got  of  good  quality,  than  road  sweepings, 
three  parts  sand  and  one  part  manure, 
which  have  been  laid  up  for  a  year ;  or,  if 
this  cannot  be  done,  a  little  s^nd  should 
be  put  over  the  crown  of  each  tuber. 
.  Then  the  original  soil  should  be  put 
T  back,  .so  that  it  is  about  2  inches  deep 
over  the  crowns.  If  the  soil  lies  very 
light  it  should  be  beaten  down  a  little 
with  a  spade,  though  not  so  as  to  make 
it  cake  together.  It  is  a  safe  plan  to 
lif^^^H  cover  the  ground  with  some  strawy 
manure  or  other  light  material  to  give 
)irotection  from  frost,  and  this  should  be 
removed  in  the  middle  or  latter  part  of 
March,  or  as  soon  as  the  leaves  begin  to 
appear. 

The   Ranunculus  cannot  stand   having 

its  roots  at  all  dry,  so  that  if  there  is  a 

dry  May  they  should  be  watered,  and  if 

some  guano  or  other  soluble  plant  food 

is    first    sprinkled     on    the    surface     it    will     be 

beneficial.     Indeed,  it  is  a  good  thing  to  do  this 

in  any  case  as  soon  as  the  plants  are  up,  as  it  will 

strengthen  the  flower-stems,  improve  the  foliage, 

and  give   substance   to   the   blossoms,  as   well  as 

heighten  their  colour. 

The  tubers  should  not  be  left  in  the  soil  all  the 
year  round,  as  they  are  almost  certain  to  get 
injured  by  the  continued  dampness  when  they  are 
not  in  active  growth,  sometimes  getting  rotten 
altogether  if  the  soil  is  a  damp  one,  and  almost 
always  coming  up  weaker  the  second  season.  They 
should  be  taken  up"  as  soon  as  the  leaves  have 
died  off,  and,  after  being  harvested,  should  be  put 
in  sand  and  stored  away  in  a  cool  place  till  the 
following  February.  Tubers  should  always  be 
bought  of  a  reliable  firm,  as  if  stored  carelessly 
and  allowed  to  get  too  dried  up  they  are  very 
unlikely  to  do  much  good.  Salesmen  with  a  stock 
of  tubers  on  hand  will  often  persuade  the  unwary 
to  buy  as  late  as  April  and  Maj',  but  it  is  almost 
sure  to  mean  disappointment,  as  the  tul)ers  which 
have  been  kept  in  the  shop  till  then  have  got  most 
of  the  vitality  dried  out  of  them. 

.Alger  Pettjs. 

SOWING   CARNATION    SEED. 

It  is  so  easy  to  raise  a  good  batch  of  Carnations 
from  seed  now,  getting  in  that  way  really  capital 
varieties,  that  it  is  a  matter  for  surprise  the  method 
is  not  more  largely  availed  of.  Anyone  having  a 
greenhouse  or  frame  may  at  once  get  and  sow  seed 
of  the  beautiful  Marguerite,  a  practically  annual 
strain,  and  thus  with  very  little  trouble  have 
plants  to  flower  Ireelyiri'the  autumn.  Some  of  the 
plants  may  be  put  out  on  a  garden  border,  where 
in  time  they  will  bloom.  Others  may  be  grown  on 
first  in  3-inch  pots,  then  in  ti-inch  pots,  to  bloom  in 
a  warm  greenhouse  through  the  winter,  being  kept 
outdoors  all  the  summer  to  make  them  sturdy. 
Or  the  plants  may  all  be-  planted  out,  some  being 
lifted  and  potted  at  'the  end  of  August  and  got 
well  established  in  0-inch  pots  before  the  winter 
sets  in.  Still,  in  either  case  their  blooming  would 
depend  largely  on  the  maintenance  of  comparative 
warmth  in  the  greenhouse  during  the  winter. 
Many  of  the  seedlings  thus  obtained  are  so  good 
that  they  merit  perpetuation  by  means  of  cuttings. 
Still,    seed  is   fairly    cheap    and    stocks    seem    to 


Fbbruaky  1,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEJS. 


73 


improve  in  qualit}'  every  year.  CtOocI  border  Car- 
nations in  variety  may  be  raised  from  seed  sown  in 
April  or  May  in  a  cool  house  or  frame,  the  chief 
thing  in  this  case  is  to  get  seed  of  some  good  stock. 
There  will  always  be  in  the  best  of  stock  some 
singles  and  plants  that  have  rather  straggling 
or  tree  habits  ;  but  if  the  proportion  of  really 
good  varieties  thus  obtained  be  but  small,  say, 
•20  per  cent,  at  least,  when  these  are  increased  by 
la3'ering,  as  they  can  be,  there  is  a  capital  return 
for  the  original  cost  and  labour  obtained.  From 
such  sowing  in  the  late  spring  plants  should  readily 
be  strong  enough  to  bear  putting  out  in  the  late 
summer  into  good  ground,  and  they  will  carry 
flowers  the  following  year.  C4enerall3'  it  is  a  good 
plan  to  plant  out  into  a  nursery  bed  where 
the  best  can  be  laj'ered  later,  and  then  transfer 
the  young  plants  to  the  flower  beds  or  borders. 


THE  PENTSTEMON. 

Pkouablv  no  other  hardy  plant  has  been  so  much 
improved  upon  during  recent  years  as  the  Pent- 
stemon.  When  we  consider  and  see  the  beautiful 
hybrids  now  in  e.xistence,  and  contrast  these  with 
the  species  and  the  progenitors  of  the  present  day 
hybrids,  such  as  P.  Hartwegii,  P.  gentianoides, 
P.  Cobaaa,  &c.,  we  may  thoroughly  appreciate 
what  the  hybridist  has  done  for  us. 

The  Pentstemon  is  propagated  in  two  distinct 
ways,  viz.,  from  seed  and  from  cuttings.  Sow  the 
seed  in  March,  in  shallow  boxes  filled  with  a 
compost  of  light  soil,  or  if  e.\tra  strong  plants  are 
required  early  in  the  year,  the  seed  may  be  sown 
in  August,  and  the  plants  grown  on  through  the 
winter.  Place  the  March-sown  seeds  in  a  slight 
bottom  heat  to  germinate,  which  they  usuallj'  do  in 
a  fortnight.  As  soon  as  the  plants  are  large 
enough  to  handle,  prick  them  olf  into  other  boxes, 
place  them  in  a  warm  structure  for  a  time,  and 
gradually'  harden  them  off  in  a  cold  frame  ready  to 
plant  out  in  May  or  the  beginning  of  .June. 

Cuttings  are  best  struck  in  the  autumn.  tSelect 
the  young  growths  that  may  be  found  on  the 
lower  stems,  slip  oft'  with  a  heel,  or  take  4  inches 
or  .5  inches  of  the  points  of  the  leafy  shoots  and 
cut  clean  across  below  a  joint.  In  the  meantime 
prepare  a  cold  frame,  by  making  in  it  a  bed  of 
light  sandy  soil,  and  in  this  insert  the  cuttings 
firmly.  Shade  and  keep  close  until 
they  have  struck,  when  air  must 
be  liberally  applied   in  open  weather.  i. 

Do  not  allow  the  plants  to  get  .^^ 
too  dry,  but  water  sparinglj'  in  dull  — ^ 
weather. 

The  Pentstemon  succeeds  well  in  a 
deep  and  rather  moist  sandy  loam.  As 
a  border  plant  it  is  unequalled,  because 
when  carefuUj'  attended  to  enormous 
spikes  of  beautiful  and  brilliantly- 
coloured  flowers  are  produced  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  as  long  as  the 
weather  keeps  open.  The  plants  may 
be  either  grown  singly,  in  groups  of 
three  or  more,  or  in  beds.  Preferably 
the  second  method  succeeds  best.  Plant 
three  roots  of  one  colour  here  and  there 
about  a  herbaceous  border,  and  the 
effect  will  be  verj'  charming  ;  or  they 
may  be  used  as  a  centre  to  large  beds, 
in  which  case  well-formed  plants  should 
be  employed.  When  severe  weather 
sets  in,  if  it  is  desirable  to  retain  the 
old  plants  for  another  year,  cut  the 
tops  down  and  mulch  the  roots  well 
with  decaying  manure.  Cxenerall}' 
speaking,  young  plants  are  preferred  to 
old  ones,  as  they  produce  finer  spikes 
of  flowers,  and  are  in  many  ways 
superior  to  two  or  three  3'ear  old 
plants. 

There  are  so  many  fine  forma  and 
colours  to  be  obtained  from  seedlings 
that  named  varieties  are  hardly  neces- 
sary. Of  the  latter  the  following  is 
a  good  selection  :  —  A.  C.  Maxwell, 
Atlantide,  Bertha  Koch,  Candidate, 
Claude     ftellf^e,     Diane,     Di.      Tuke, 


General  Nansouty,  H.  Canuell,  Her  Majesty,  John 
Pearson,  Miss  Arnot,  Miss  Salteau,  Paul  Bert, 
Princess,  R.  Dean,  and  The  Lady. 

J.  Den  MAN. 

BryitbtUa,  Tremeirchion,  St.  Asaph. 


THK 


BAMBOO     GARDEN 
AT     KEAV. 


Within  the  last  ten  years  much  has  been 
done  in  our  National  Botanic  Garden  to  bring 
every  branch  of  gardening  practised  there  up 
to  date,  and  in  so  doing  to  make  the  gardens 
attractive  and  interesting  by  the  introduction 
of  many  new  and  distinct  features,  by  the 
grouping  and  massing  of  some  particular  class 
of  plants,  or  by  planting  in  quantity  good 
shrubs  and  hardy  plants. 

To  the  professional  or  ardent  amateur 
gardener  these  improvements  are  of  great 
value,  as  a  visit  to  Kew  is  all  that  is  required 
to  enable  him  to  see  at  a  glance  the  merits  of 
the  plants  and  the  places  they  are  best  adapted 
to  fill  before  a  purchase  is  made.  Nor  is  it 
altogether  to  the  gardener  that  these  additional 
attractions  appeal.  The  ordinary  visitor  taking 
his  Sunday  outing  cannot  but  be  impressed  by 
the  distinctness  of  many  of  these  new  features 
after  the  monotony  of  many  of  the  parks  and 
gardens  within  his  round  of  visits. 

Among  these  special  features  the  Bamboo 
garden  stands  out  conspicuously  as  one  of  the 
most  interesting,  valuable,  and  beautiful,  and 
particularly  is  it  so  in  midwinter  when  most 
outdoor  plants  are  seen  at  their  worst.  Ken- 
was  one  of  the  first  gardens  in  which  hardy 
Bamboos  were  grown,  and  it  is  to  a  great 
extent  due  to  the  Kew  collection  and  the 
collections  of  Mr.  Freeman  Mitford,  Messrs. 
Veitch,  and  a  few  other  pioneers  that  the 
planting  of  hardy  Bamboos  has  assumed  its 
present  proportions. 

The  creation  of  the  Kew  Bamboo  garden 
dates  back  to  189i.  Previous  to  that  the  culti- 
vation of  hardy  Bamboos  had  been  practised 
under  great  difticulties.     The  collection  con- 


tained only  a  few  species  planted  in  poor  soil 
in    an    exposed    position,    and    were    always 
unsatisfactory,     in  addition  to  Bamboos  there 
were   other    monocotyledonous  plants   in   the 
same  plight,  hence  the  happy  idea  was   con- 
ceived of  forming  the  present  Bamboo  garden. 
This  garden  is  situated  on  the  eastern  side 
of    the  Rhododendron   dell,   near   the   north 
or  Sion  Vista  end.    It  was  originally  a  shallow 
gravel  pit,  and  is  peculiarly  adapted  for  the 
requirements    of    Bamboos.      The    depression 
in    the  ground   and    the   high    bank    of    the 
Bhododendron  dell  afford  considerable  shelter, 
whilst  a  wide  belt  of  large  forest  trees  which 
surrounds    the   north,    east,   and   south   sides 
ensures  complete  protection  from  cold  winds. 
The  garden  is  Pear-shaped,  and  can  be  entered 
by  three  gravel  paths  on  the  south-east,  west, 
and  north  sides.    The  banks  round  the  sides 
are  terraced  and  held  up  by  large  tree  roots 
placed    roots    outwards,    the    roots    forming 
numerous  bays  and  cosy  corners,  each  of  which 
is  given  over  to  one  species.    Separated  from 
these  bays  by  a  gravel  path  9  feet  wide  is  a 
central  bed  of  about  a  quarter   of  an  acre. 
This  is  filled   with  large  clumps  of  various 
species  and  tine  single  specimens  arranged  in 
such  a  way  as  to  open  a  vista  right  through 
the  bed  here  and  there  or  into  the  centre. 
These  vistas  and  openings,  together  mth  the 
paths,  add  greatly  to  the  general  effect,  the 
plants  and  groups  being  well  separated  and 
showing  to  advantage,  while  the  beauty  of  the 
stately   upright  stems  of    some  and  arching' 
plumes  of  others  lining  or  bending  over  and 
almost  meeting  across  the  openings  is  at  once 
seen.  Intermixed  with  the  Bamboos  are  Yuccas, , 
Miscanthus,  Pampas  Grass,  and  other  things,  all . 
!  of  which  help  to  give  pleasing  variety.  Between 
the  back  of  the  garden  and  the  belt  of  trees  a 
screen  is  formed  of  Eosa  multiflora,  Rhodo- 
dendrons, Spir;eas,  and  other  shrubs,  inter- ; 
spersed  with  clumps  of  Pampas  Grass,  Yuccas, 
and  some  of  the  strongest  and  hardiest  of  the 
Bamboos. 
When  first  formed  stifl'  loam  to  a  depth  of 


GROUPING    OF    YUCCAS,    PAMPAS    GRASS,    AND    BAMBOOS    AT    KEW    (.JANUARV,     I902.) 


74 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  1,  1902. 


:i  feet  was  .spread  all  over  the  garden,  and  into 
this  large  (juantities  of  decayed  leaves  were 
mixed  ;  in  this  soil  the  plants  have  thriven 
well.  A  water  main  runs  through  the  garden, 
so  that  copious  supplies  of  water  can  be  given 
in  dry  weather  with  little  trouble. 

Altogether  some  forty -one  species  and  i  fine  mass 
varieties  of  Bamboos  are  cultivated.  These 
are  composed  of  seventeen  Arundinarias,  nine 
Bambusas,  and  fifteen  Phyllostachys.  The 
majority  belong  to  China  and  Japan,  one, 
however,  belonging  to  North  America,  and  one 

to   India.     The   Indian   species,    Arundinaria  j  ,,       .  ^       .     . 

(Thamnocalamus)    Falconeri,    which    does    so  i  are  some  of  the  most  conspicuous 
well  in  the  south-west  countie.s  and  in  Ireland,  '  a  i   ot 

is  the  mo.st  ditKcult  to  manage,  and  is  killed  to  Aku>dinari.\. 

the  ground  every  winter,  while  A.  falcata  and  i      A.  Simoni  — A  fine  irregular  nias; 
A.  nobilis,  which  are  two  of  the  most  common  I  high  and  50  feet  acro.ss. 

species  in  the  famous  Cornish  gardens,  refuse  |      A.  nitida,  several  fine  clumps,   1 1   feet  high 
to  thrive.  I  and  1  -2  feet  across. 

The  arrangement  of  the  plants  has  under-.      A.  japonica,  several   large  clum|)s,   11 
gone  considerable  modification  since  the  first   high  and  -20  feet  across. 


good  idea  is  given  of  the  effect  produced  by  j  happy.  In  both  summer  and  winter  the  group 
Bamboos  in  the  garden.  In  the  foreground  is  forms  a  delightful  i)icture.  The  groundwork 
seen  a  clump  of  Bambusa  tessellata  with  leaves  j  is  composed  of  the  elegant  glaucous-leaved 
!l  inches  to  1  foot  in  length  and  nearly  :i  inches  Y.  angustifolia,  while  here  and  there  a  plant 
wide.  This  is  the  largest  leaved  of  the  hardy  of  Y.  tilamentosa  has  crept  in.  Height  is 
sjiecies.  In  the  background  will  be  .seen  a  given  to  the  group  by  dot  plants  of  Y.  gloriosa 
f  B.  palmata  with  considerably  and  Y.  recurvifolia,  while  a  plant  of  Coton- 
taller  stems  and  rather  smaller  leaves  than  easter  thymifolia  growing  between  the  roots  in 
tessellata.  The  tall  plant  on  the  left  is  front  adds  a  little  in  the  way  of  variety.  The 
Phyllostachys  Quilioi,  while  others  shown  are  whole  picture  is  set  in  an  irregular  framing  of 
Arundinaria  auricnma  and  A.  Simoni  and  Phyl-  Bamboos  and  other  plants,  some  of  the  most 
lostachys  mitis  and  P.  boryana.  conspicuous  of  which  are  Miscanthus  .sinensis 

Of  groups  and  single  specimens  the  following  '  in  front,  Arundinaria  japonica,  A.  Hindsii  var. 

'  graminea,  Phyllostachys  aurea  and  P.  Castil- 

lonis,  and  Pampas  Grass  at  the  back  and  sides. 

.\  collection  of  hardy  si)ecies  of  Smilax  is 


1(1  feet 


.MISCANTHUS    SINENSIS    IN    THE    liAMBOO    c:AKI>EN     (SHOWING    THE    UEAUTV    OF    THE    DEAD    FOLIAGE    IN     WINTER). 


planting,  owing  to  natural  development  and 
the  introduction  of  more  species.  This  has 
resulted  in  the  removal  of  many  duplicates 
which  have  been  used  with  large  Khododen- 
drons  as  an  undergrowth  to  the  wood  adjoining 
the  entrances,  thus  considerably  enhancing  the 
beauty  of  the  place. 

The  period  of  the  year  at  which  the  garden 
is-at  its  best  extends  from  the  early  weeks  of 
•Tuly  until  the  cold  east  winds  in  February  and 
March,  for,  although  severe  frost  has  little 
effect  on  the  leaves  of  many,  cold  winds  from 
tast  or  north  quickly  turn  them  brown.     That 


A.  Hindsii  var.  graininea,  '■)  feet  high  by 
12  feet  in  diameter. 

Bamiu'sa. 

B.  palmata,  7  feet  high  and  l'>  feet  across  ; 
this  is  very  distinct  and  handsome,  and  should 
be  in  every  collection. 

PHYLLOSTAt'HYS. 

P.  aurea,  1:^  feet  high  by  16  feet  through. 

P.  Henonis,  1.")  feet  high  by  li'  feet. 

P.  Castillonis,  1:2  feet  high  by  10  feet. 

P.  nigra,  1-")  feet  high  ;  several  tine  masses. 

P  viridi-glaucescens,  l-'i  feet  high  and  6  feet 


alio  seed  to  ramble  at  will  o\er  the  tree  roots 
which  form  the  bays,  each  species  having  its 
own  particular  place.  The  species  cultivated 
are  S.  asjiera  and  its  varieties,  S.  maculata  and 
feet  S.  mauritanica,  S.  Bona-nox  var.  hastata,  S. 
hispida,  S.  rotundifolia,  and  S.  tamnoides. 

In  addition  to  the  plants  named 
others  given  places  in  the  garden 
are  Kniphofias,  Funkias,  Eremuri, 
Physalis  (grown  for  winter  effect), 
Ruscus,  Asparagus,  it'c,  the  whole 
forming  an  interesting  collection, 
and  one  which  must  be  seen  to  be 
fully  appreciated. 

Below  are  given  the  collections  as 
seen  in  liS!J2  and  the  present  time 
(1811:;  from"Kew  Bulletin," page  l.i2). 

Arundinarias. 
A.   Fortunei,  A  japonica,  and    A. 
Falconeri  (Thamnocalamus). 

Bambusas. 
IS.  albo-striata,  B. gracilis,  B.  nana, 
B    palmata,    B.  jilicata,   B.    pumila, 
B.  te.ssellata,  and  B,  Veitchii. 

Phyllostachys. 
P.  baiiibusoides,  P.  nigra,  and  P. 
viridi-glaucescens.    (Since  18i)2many 
of  the  names  have  been  corrected). 

Collection  at  Present  Time. 
Arundinarias. 

A.  anceps,  A.  auricoma,  A.  chry- 
santha,  A.  Falconeri,  A.  Fortunei,  A. 
F.  compacta,  A.  Hindsii,  A.  H.  gra- 
minea, A.  humilis,  A.  japonica,  A. 
macrosperma,  A.  in.  tecta,  A.  nitida, 
A.  pumila,  A.  Simoni,  A.  S.  variegata, 
and  A.  Veitchii. 

Bambusas. 

B.  agrestis,  B.  angustifolia,  B. 
disticha,  B.  marmorea,  B.  Nagashinia, 

B.  palmata,  B.  pygnuea,  B.  nuadrangularis,  and 
B.  tessellata. 

Phyllostachys. 
P.  aurea,  P.  bambnsoides,  P.  boryana,  P. 
Castillonis,  P.  flexuosa,  P.  fulva,  P.  Henonis, 
P.  marliacea,  P.  mitis,  P.  nigra,  P.  n.  punctata, 
P.  Quilioi,  P.  ruscifolia,  P.  sulphurea,  and  P. 
viridi-glaucescens.  W.  Dallimoee. 


Bamboos  should  continue   in   good   condition  I  through   at    the   base,   the   top   spreading    to 


and  practically  be  at  their  best  through  the 
worst  of  the  winter  months  is  a  strong  recom- 
mendation in  their  favour,  and  by  leaving,  as 
is  done  at  Kew,  the  tall  dead  stems  and  leaves 
of  Miscanthus  (see  illustration)  and  the  plumes 
of  the  Pampas  (irass  touches  of  colour  are 
given  to  relieve  the  greenery,  and  add  greatly 
to  the  general  effect. 

In  one  of  the  accompanying  illustrations  a 


EARLY -FLOAVERING    SHRUBS, 

The  mild  weather  of  the  last  few  weeks  has  been 
very  fixvcmrivblo  for  the  flowering  of  the  earliest 
shrubs,  and  now  (.January  10)  there  are  in  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew,  upwards  of  a  dozen  species  and 
varieties  in  or  approaching  full  flower.  Possibly 
the  most  striking  are  the  Hamamelis,  ot  which 
four  species  and  varieties  are  now  at  their  best. 
The.se  alone  make  a  charming  display,  the  light, 
spidery-looking  yellow  blossoms  with  their  curiouslj' 
twisted  or  hooked  petals  .smothering  the  leafless 
branches,  and  being  particularly  fasrinatiii^  when 


20  feet.  There  is  also  a  fine  specimen  of  this 
in  another  part  of  the  garden. 

Besides  these  there  are  many  other  fine 
masses. 

Among  plants  other  than  Bamboos  found  in 
the  garden  the  Yuccas  are  possibly  next  in 
im]iortance.  One  group  is  on  a  bank  on  the 
north  side  having  a  slope  to  the  south.  It  is 
thus  exposed   to  full   sun  and  the  vilants  are   see-i  on  a  sunny  ilay.     Of  the  four  H.  .irborea  i.s 


February  1,  1902.  J 


THE    GARDEN 


75 


represented  by  several  fine  specimens,  and  is  known 
by  nieans  of  its  tree-like  habit  and  deep  yellow 
flowers,  with  narrow  twisted  petals  and  reddish 
brown  sepals  and  anthers 


the 


Easily  distinguished  from  this  by  its  dwarf,  ,  6  inches  or  more  long,  pale  greenish  yellow, 
bushy  habit,  rather  paler,  less  twisted  petals,  marked  with  large  blackish  piu'iile  dots,  which 
smaller  anthers,  and  green 
and  dull  brown  sepals  if 
H.  japonica,  while  the 
variety  of  this  known  as 
zuccariniana  clearly  shows 
its  distinguishing  points, 
pale  lemon  -  coloured 
petals  and  reddish  brown 


purple  veins   extending  from   the  base  out-  |  it  received   a   first-clas.s  certificate  from 
wards,  alternated  with  light  greenish  thinner   Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
veins  ;  the   lower  sepal   is   similar,  but    with       C.  Morgani,-e  is  of  robust  habit,  for  no  plant 
fewer    purple    markings.       The    petals    are   can  be  more  easily  grown.    It  is  not,  however, 

free  flowering,  for  it  is  a  most  erratic  plant  in 


this  respect.  It  has  no  particular  season  of 
flowering  when  in  a  small  state,  in  which 
condition  it  blooms  very  well.  As  a  large 
specimen  it  is  altogether  most  unsatis- 
factory, even  when  kept  in  restricted  quarters 
and  every  inducement  used  to  assist  it  to 
flower.      , 

It  is  a  constant   complaint,   and  one  that 
it    is    difficult    to   account    for.       I    know   of 


The  new  Chinese 
species  (H.  mollis)  is  repre- 
sented by  several  plants 
which  are  flowering  well. 
It  is  peculiar  by  reason 
of  its  young  stems,  leaves, 
buds,  and  sepals  being 
covered  with  a  dense  felt- 
like covering  of  silky 
hairs.  The  flowers,  too, 
are  larger  than  those  of 
the  others  mentioned, 
while  the  petals  are 
straight,  except  for  a 
curved  point.  It  is  also 
more  fragrant  than  the 
others. 

In  a  sheltered  nook 
not  far  from  the 
Temperate  house  some 
well  -  flowered  plants  of 
Rhododendron  damicum 
make  a  charming  picture, 
the  rosy  purple  flowers 
having  a  pleasing  efiect 
at     this     time     of     year. 

Hard  by  Erica  mediterranea  var.  hybrida  — 
which  is  the  best  of  the  hardy  Heaths — though 
less  conspicuous  than  the  Rhododendron,  is 
quite  as  pretty,  and  in  the  event  of  a  sharp 
frost  or  two  will  continue  to  flower  after  the 
Rhododendron  blossoms  have  been  killed.  In  other 
places  a  delightful  perfume  denotes  the  presence 
of  Daphne  Mezereum,  and  on  turning  corners  the 
bright  coloured  blossoms  do  not  take  us  by 
surprise. 

Lonicera  Standishii,  though  not  in  full  blossom, 
adds  fragrance  to  the  air,  and  bids  fair  to  be  a  mass 
of  white  flowers  at  no  distant  date.  Chinionanthus  j 
fragrans  var.  grandiflora  has  been  flowering  for  i 
weeks,  and  has  still  many  unopened  buds,  while 
belated  Arbutus  blossoms  may  still  be  seen.  A 
few  flowers  are  open  on  Erica  carnea,  and  each 
raild  day  will  add  many  more.  Flowers  are  to  be 
found  on  Osraanthus  Aquifolium,  while  pillars, 
walls,  and  other  places  are  made  bright  by  the 
countless  blossoms  of  Jasminum  nuditlorum. 

W.  Dalli.more, 


AN    ARTIST'S    NOTE-BOOK. 

CYPRIPEDIUM  MORGANIyE 

FOR  this  superb  Cypripedium  we  are 
indebted  to  Mr.  .John  Seden.  It  is  the 
result  of  intercrossing  Cypripedium 
superbiens  (veitchianum)  and  C. 
Stonei,  and  was  named  in  compli- 
ment to  the  late  Mrs.  Morgan, 
who,  in  the  early  eighties  of  the  last  century, 
the     most    prominent     Orchid 


are 

the 


more 
tips. 


prominent  towards 
The  lip  is  purple 
shading  to  green,  and  has  pro 
minent  purple  reticulations  and 
veins. 
The  sub  varieties  are  0.  M. 
urfordiense,  which  was  raised 
by  the  late  ^Ir.  Spires  in  Sir 
T.  Lawrence's  collection  at 
Burford,  Dorking.  This,  when 
exhibited  in  1892,  had 
undoubtedly  finer  markings  than 
the  typical  C.  Morganiie,  but  I 
have  since  seen  many  under  the 
Burford  name  in  cultivation 
which  would  be  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish from  the  original. 

C.  Morganiiii  langlsyense,  also 
Seden  from   the 


CVI'RirEDIDJI 


MORGANI.E, 


(NATURAL   SIZK.  I 


(/•Vf.j/I 
II. 


was    one    of     the     most    prominent 

enthusiasts  in  America.     Although  this  hj'brid  |  raised  by^  Mr. 

has    been    in    commerce    considerably    over  1  intercrossing    of    C.   superbiens 

twenty  years,  and  has  been   raised   in   other  |  (veitchianum)    with    the    pollen 

establishments,   it   is   by  no   nieans   conmron,  \  of    the   rare  C.  Stonei   platytienium,   has  the 


a    drawlnij  bi/ 
G.  Monn.) 


and  when   ottered    for   sale    commands  good 
prices. 

The  scape  is  two  or  more  flowered,  the  upper 
sepal  wliite  with  a  flush  of  pale  rose  on  the 
inargins,  while  there  are  numerous  prominent 


longer  petals  with  the  characteristic  prominent 
spotting  of  the  last-mentioned  parent.  Full 
particulars  of  this  wonderful  variety  will  be 
found  in  The  Garden  report  of  the  Drill 
Hall  meeting  held  on  January  Ifi,  1S94,  when 


instances  where  plants  have 
been  grown  well  for  years 
without  producing  a  single 
flower  scape.  What  is  still 
more  perplexing  they 
used  to  flower  in  a  smaller 
state  grown  under  precisely 
similar  conditions.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  C.  Stonei  is 
responsible  for  this,  as  it  is 
shy  floviering. 

C.  Morganice  grows  well  in 
the  warm  intermediate  or 
stove  house,  jilaced  in  a 
light  position  within  reason- 
able distance  of  the  roof 
glass.  The  pots  should  bo 
sufficiently  large  to  contain  the  plants  comfort- 
ably, and  filled  to  two-thirds  their  depth  with 
clean  broken  crocks,  the  compost  consisting  of 
about  equal  portions  of  fibrous  peat  and 
sphagnum  moss  pressed  moderately  firm  about 
their  roots.  H.  J.  Chapman. 


76 


THE    GARDEN, 


[February  1,  1902. 


THE     INDOOR     GARDEN. 

SCENTED-LEAVED  PELARGONIUMS 
AND  THEIR  CULTURE. 

SECOND,  if  not  equal,  to  the  zonal  Pelar- 
gonium itself  come.s  tlie  .Scented-leaf 
Pelargonium,  whioh,  after  a  period  of 
romparative  neglect,  has  again  come  into 
favour.  It  is  unsurpassed  as  an  addition 
to  plants  ftir  the  house  and  window,  but 
how  .seldom  do  we  see  them  well  grown.  They 
are  either  all  stem  and  no  leaves,  or,  on  the  other 
hand,  stunted,  with  the  few  remaining  leaves  all 
yellow  and  sickly.  Such  a  state  of  affairs  should 
not  be,  for,  provided  the  plants  are  looked  after 
when  young,  they  seldom  fail  to  make  good 
specimens. 

Failure  in  the  growth  is  attributed  to  three 
causes,  namely,  the  choosing  of  weak,  insufficiently 
ripened  cuttings,  instead  of  stout,  strong,  well- 
ripened  shoots,  want  of  enough  sun  to  thoroughly 
ripen  the  growths,  and  too  great  heat  and  drought 
during  summer. 

As  to  the  propagation,  it  is  much  the  same  as 
in  the  case  of  zonals.  The\'  are  best  struck  from 
cuttings  procured  about  February.  Select  well- 
ripened  tips,  cut  off  the  base  below  a  leaf,  and 
insert  the  cuttings  in  a  .')-inch  pot  filled  with 
a  compost  of  sandy  loam.  Place  them  in  a  slight 
bottom  heat  until  they  root ;  when  well  rooted 
turn  them  out  of  the  pots  and  repot  singly  in 
."i-inch  pots,  using  a  compost  of  loam,  leaf-soil,  and 
sand  in  equal  proportions.  After  potting,  place 
them  on  a  shelf  in  a  cooler  house,  and  do  not  make 
the  soil  sour  by  over  watering. 

Ill  two  or  three  weeks,  provided  the  plants  are 
growing  and  well  rooted,  pinch  out  the  growing 
point  so  as  to  form  the  future  base  of  the  plant ; 
this,  if  neglected,  would  result  in  an  unsightly 
bare  stem  and  an  ill-balanced  top.  When  the 
plants  start  into  growth  once  more  repot  them 
into  6-inch  and  7-inch  pots.  If  there  is  one  thing 
more  than  another  that  tends  to  kill  these  plants 
it  is  over  coddling  them,  therefore  put  them  at 
once  in  their  Uowering  pots,  using  a  compost  of 
fibrous  loam,  leaf-soil,  sharp  clean  sand,  and  a 
small  quantity  of  well-decayed  cow  manure,  in 
the  proportion  of  two-thirds  loam  to  one-third  of 
the  manure.  Do  not  forget  to  pot  firml}',  as  a 
good  deal  of  future  success  depends  upon  it. 

About  the  middle  of  .lune  remove  the  plants  into 
a  cold  frame,  and  keep  on  the  lights  for  a  time  to 
ward  off  heavy  rains.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  these  Pelargoniums  are  grown  more  for  their 
fragrant  leaves  than  for  the  flowers,  therefore  pinch 
out  the  points  of  the  shoots  when  they  have  made 
two  leaves,  and  let  this  be  repeated,  but  if  one 
part  of  the  plant  does  not  attain  the  size  of  the 
rest  leave  it  untouched  in  order  to  obtain  a  well- 
proportioned  head. 

Watering  must  be  carefully  looked  to.  If  well 
rooted  the  plants  may  require  water  more  than 
once  a  day  ;  be  careful  not  to  let  them  flag,  which 
destroys  their  vitality.  Twice  a  week  supply  them 
with  weak  liquid  manure,  once  with  a  mi.xture  of 
Clay's  manure,  once  with  a  weak  solution  of  soot : 
this  will  tend  to  keep  the  leaves  from  turning 
yellow  and  falling,  l^et  the  plants  have  an  abun- 
dance of  light  and  air. 

They  prefer  a  light,  airy  house — facing  south 
if  possible — in  order  to  enable  the  heat  of  the  sun 
to  dry  up  superfluous  moisture,  &c.,  during  winter. 
Put  the  plants  inside  about  the  end  of  October  if 
the  weather  allows  their  being  left  out  so  long. 
Avoid  pouring  any  extra  water  about  the  house, 
as  it  causes  the  foliage  to  damp  off.  When  the 
weather  is  very  cold  give  a  little  fire-heat ;  give 
air  whenever  possible,  as  it  tends  to  keep  the 
atmosphere  sweet,  without  which  the  grower's 
chief  enemy,  greenfly,  will  appear.  For  the 
destruction  of  this  pest  frequent  syringings  with 
soapy  water  are  best,  failing  which  fumigation  must 
be  resorted  to,  for  once  greenfly  is  established  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  check  it  without  destroying 
the  plants. 

To  obtain  specimens,  cut  the  plants  down  to  an 


eye,  pointing  outwards,  when  the  season  is  over, 
and  put  them  in  a  warm  place,  syringing  them 
occasionally  with  tepid  water.  When  they  have 
started  into  growth  shake  out  the  old  soil,  trim 
the  roots,  and  repot  the  plants  in  suitable  pots, 
giving  them  the  same  treatment  as  one  year  old 
plants.  Varieties:  Capitatum,  rose-soented foliage  ; 
Prett}' Polly,  almond  scented:  Tomentosum.  foliage 
scented  peppermint  :  Lady  Mary  Fox,  nutmeg 
scented  ;  Shottersham  Pet,  filbert  scented  ;  Radula 
major,  citron  scented  ;  Fragrans.  very  fragrant ;  La 
Cygne,  splendid  variety  :  Crispum,  citron  scented  ; 
Pheasant's  Foot,  fragrant,  fine  for  bouquets. 

.loDN  Dknman. 
BryitUiVa,  Tremtireliion,  Si.  Asapli. 


NEW    JAPANESE    CHRYSAN- 
THEMUMS. 

(Continued  from   piiije   .IS.) 

These  notes  on  new  Chrysanthemums  are  a  con- 
tinuation of  a  series  which  began  in  The  G.^rden 
of  Januarj-  11  last  and  continued  in  the  succeeding 
issue.  In  this  instance  prominence  is  given  to  large 
exhibition  varieties,  and  with  very  few  exceptions 
those  named  received  an  award  of  merit  or  a  first- 
class  certificate.  The  respective  floral  committees 
of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  and  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Societies  were  by  no  means  overlavish  in 
their  awards,  and  on  this  account  one  is  assured 
that  the  novelties  submitted  were  of  first-rate 
quality. 

Queen  Alexandra. — A  striking  novelty  of  a  bright 
fawn  colour,  pleasingly  suffused  rosy  salmon  and 
with  a  pale  straw-yellow  reverse.  The  florets 
are  long,  very  broad,  and  build  up  a  large  and 
handsome  exhibition  flower.  The  raiser  says  let 
the  plant  make  a  natural  break,  or  pinch  out  the 
point  of  the  growth  in  late  March.  Any  buds 
developing  towards  the  third  or  last  week  in 
August  should  give  good  results.  Awarded  first- 
class  certificate  by  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society,  October  8  last. 

Edirard  VII.  —Another  distinct  Japanese  bloom 
and  splendidly  exhibited  at  the  October  show  of 
the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society.  The  colour 
is  a  shade  of  rosy  crimson  with  light  bronze  reverse. 
The  florets  are  broad,  long,  and  are  also  slightly 
curled  and  incurved  at  the  tips.  This  is  another 
instance  in  which  the  raiser  suggests  stopping  the 
plant  at  the  end  of  March,  and  subsetiuently 
retaining  second  crown  buds.  Award  of  merit, 
National  Chrysanthemum  Societj',  October  S. 

Star  of  Afrira. — This  is  a  variety  that  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  floral  committee 
desired  to  see  again.  It  is  a  flower  of  considerable 
promise,  having  long  tubular  florets  of  good  width, 
which  make  a  bloom  of  exhibition  proportions, 
reminding  one  of  well-grown  specimens  of  Vicar  of 
Leatherhead.  The  exhibitor  said  this  plant  was  a 
seedling  from  the  invaluable  Mrs.  W.  Mease  (the 
primrose  Mme.  Carnot).  Colour  clear  j'ellow,  with 
a  deeper  shade  of  the  same  in  the  centre. 

S(-'it.ialion.  —  Undoubtedly  one  of  the  most 
promising  Japanese  novelties  of  the  season.  The 
flowers  are  very  large,  of  massive  build,  developing 
very  broad  florets  of  good  length  and  splendid 
substance,  and  when  finished,  slightly  incurved  at 
the  ends.  The  colour  may  be  described  as  deep 
yellow,  freely  suffused  with  reddish  crimson.  As 
an  exhibition  flower  it  should  occupy  a  prominent 
position  in  the  succeeding  November  shows.  Crown 
buds  towards  the  third  week  in  August  are  likely 
to  prove  satisfactorj'.  First  -  class  certificate. 
National  Chrysanthemum  .Society,  October  8. 

Uodfriys  Triumph. — This  is  a  handsome  flower 
of  good  form,  the  colour,  rich  deep  glowing 
crimson,  with  a  golden-bronze  reverse.  It  is 
said  to  be  a  seedling  from  the  well-known  M. 
Chenon  de  Leche,  and  with  such  a  good  parentage 
may  be  considered  an  exhibition  bloom  of  great 
promise.  The  florets  are  of  good  length  and 
medium  width,  and  are  also  slightly  twisted  and 
curled,  and  finish  a  flower  of  good  substance. 
First-class  certificate.  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society,  October  21  ;  also  award  of  merit.  Royal 
Horticultural  Society. 


Mrs.  C.  Griffcn.  —  When  placed  before  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  floral  com- 
mittee the  flowers  of  this  variety  were  not  nearly 
''finished,"  and  in  consequence  could  not  be  dealt 
with.  A  request  to  see  the  variety  again  was, 
however,  made,  and  another  season  will  probably' 
see  this  variety  rivalling  many  existing  popular 
yellow  exhibition  sorts  for  favour.  The  flower  is 
verj'  large  and  spreading,  having  very  long  florets 
pleasingly  drooping,  and  the  colour  may  be 
described  as  a  pretty  soft  yellow.  Exhibited 
October  21. 

Bessie  Godfrey. — This  is  a  much-talked-about 
variety.  It  is  a  large  handsome  spreading  flower, 
and  a  welcome  addition  to  the  pale  yellow  .Japanese 
varieties  for  exhibition.  Florets  long  and  of 
medium  width,  charmingly  curling  and  incurving  at 
the  ends,  building  up  a  flower  of  good  substance. 
When  placed  before  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  on  October  21  last  the  flowers  gained  full 
points,  and  in  consequence  secured  a  first-class 
certificate.  The  raiser  suggests  stopping  the 
plants  in  mid-April,  and  also  volunteers  the 
information  that  blooms  from  a  second  crown 
selection  are  sometimes  tinted  rose-pink  colour  at 
the  base. 

il/ay  Vallis. — This  is  a  lovely  clear  rose-coloured 
.Japanese  flower  with  a  silver3'  reverse.  It  should 
be  included  in  all  collections  on  account  of  its 
beautifuU}'  even  form  and  distinct  shade  of  colour. 
The  raiser  saj's  the  colour  is  rosj'  amaranth,  but 
as  exhibited,  the  former  description  is  more  c(irrect. 
The  florets  are  of  good  length,  medium  width,  and 
also  slightly  twisted,  and  develop  a  large  bloom  of 
drooping  form.  The  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  wished  to  see  this  variety  again.  Staged 
October  21. 

Godfrey's  3Iastcr/iiere.  —  Few  flowers  secured  the 
maximum  award  in  points  when  jjlaced  before  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  committee  last 
season,  and  this  variety  was  one  of  the  small 
number.  The  form  may  be  described  as  superb, 
the  florets  being  long  and  broad,  neatly  and  evenly 
recurving,  and  slightly  indented  and  incurving  at 
the  ends.  The  colour  is  a  telling  shade  of  reddish 
crimson  with  golden-bronze  reverse.  For  exhibi- 
tion this  variety  is  sure  to  take  a  leading  position. 
First-class  certificate.  National  Chrysanthemum 
Societ}',  October  21,  and  award  of  merit.  Royal 
Horticultural  Society. 

E.I  mouth  Crimson. — .Japanese  varieties  of  warm 
colours  were  more  plentiful  in  the  past  season  than 
I  hey  have  been  for  some  years,  and  this  is  another 
decided  acquisition.  For  exhibition  this  new 
variety  has  much  to  commend  it.  It  is  large  and 
of  good  form,  developing  long  florets  of  good 
breadth  and  splendid  substance,  incurving  at  the 
ends.  When  finished  the  flowers  are  of  good 
depth.  The  colour  in  this  instance  is  a  lovelj' 
crimson-lake  on  the  inside  and  a  golden-bronze 
reverse.  Full  jioints  secured.  First-class  certificate 
from  the  National  Chr^'santhemum  Society, 
October  21.  It  is  said  to  be  of  easy  culture,  crown 
buds  from  natural  break  developing  well. 

The  Baron.  —  This  variety  has  since  been 
catalogued  under  the  name  of  Charles  Mclnroy. 
When  submitted  to  the  National  Chr3'santhemum 
Society  on  October  21  last  it  was  a  fairly  large 
bloom  of  chestnut-crimson  colour  suffused  with 
gold,  and  with  a  rich  gold  reverse.  The  florets  are 
broad  and  massive-looking,  incurving  at  the  ends, 
and  develop  a  spreading  flower  of  great  substance. 
This  plant  also  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of 
easy  culture. 

(.'.  I'enford. — An  incurved  Japanese  bloom  of 
great  solidity,  having  rather  short  and  fairly  broad 
florets  of  good  substance,  incurving  at  the  ends. 
The  colour  is  not  altogether  pleasing,  and  may  be 
described  as  rosy  red  with  pale  bronze  reverse. 
Award  of  merit.  National  Chrysanthemum  Society, 
October  28. 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Hummell. — For  grace  and  beauty 
this  flower  stands  pre-eminent.  It  is  an  undoubted 
gem  of  which,  so  far  as  one  has  been  able  tt)  trace, 
little  has  been  heard.  Some  beautiful  blooms  were 
placed  before  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society's  floral  committee  on  October  28  last,  and 
received  the  distinction  of  a  first-class  certificate. 
It  is  a  large  Japanese   flower  of  drooping  form, 


Februaey  1,  1903.] 


THE   GAEDEN. 


77 


having  very  long — tlie  raiser  says  9  inches — florets 
of  good  breadth,  and  twisting  and  curling  in  a 
most  charming  way.  The  colour  is  a  soft  rose  tint 
on  a  cream  ground.  Mr.  H.  Weeks  says  this 
variety  should  be  grown  in  10-inch  pots,  and  the 
plants  should  be  stopped  in  March  for  second 
crown  buds.     Height  about  4f  feet. 

H.  E.  Hayman. — A  very  large  and  broadly  built 
incurved  Japanese  bloom  of  splendid  substance,  i 
developing  broad  florets,  which  are  slightly  curled 
and  incurved  at  the  ends.  This  flower  is  of 
massive  proportions,  and  of  a  bright  rosy  crimson 
colour  inside  and  a  golden  reverse.  First-class 
certificate,  National  Chr\'santhemum  Society, 
October  28. 

Exmotilh  Rind. — This  is  another  variety  which 
the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  floral  com- 
mittee wished  to  see  again.  It  was  placed  before 
them  on  October  28  last,  and  was  represented  by 
beautiful  reflexed  .Japanese  blooms  of  a  very  rich 
deep  crimson  colour.  The  florets  are  of  good 
breadth  and  rather  short  and  pointed.  There  is  a 
doubt  about  this  novelty  being  distributed  in  the 
spring. 

Hon.  Mri.  Tennaiit.  —  This  is  a  beautiful 
example  of  an  incurved  Japanese  bloom,  some- 
what resembling  in  form  that  of  Mrs.  W. 
Cursham.  The  florets  are  broad,  curled  and 
incurved,  and  possess  plenty  of  substance.  The 
colour  inside  is  a  pretty  shade  of  rosy  amaranth, 
with  silvery  white  reverse,  and  should  prove 
welcome  on  the  show-board.  Second  crown  buds 
answer  better  in  this  case,  and  the  height  is  about 
.")  feet.  Of  easy  culture.  The  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Societj'  wished  to  see  this  variety  again. 

D.  B.  Crane. 
(To  he  conliimed.J 


A    DIPPING    TANK    IN    A 
KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

The  middle  of  the  kitchen  garden,  where  the 
four  main  paths  meet,  offers  a  good  opportunity 
for  some  treatment  that  shall  be  of  simple 
utility  as  well  as  of  considerable  decorative 
value  ;  moreover,  as  dipping  for  water  is  hot 
work  it  is  pleasant  to  do  it  in  the  shade  of 
Vines  or  of  masses  of  cluster  Eoses.  The 
example  illustrated  is  in  a  new  garden,  where 
the  main  cross  walk  is  already  well  filled  with 
fiower.s,  though  the  climbing  plants  that  will 
one  day  shade  the  tank  are  not  yet  fully  grown. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


CYCLAMEN    COUM. 

ONE  has  many  a  look  at  the  beginning 
L  of  the  year  for  the  opening  of  the 
I  exquisite  little  round-leaved  orCoum 
f  Cj'clamen,  wliose  bloom  may  be  ex- 
pected to  be  in  perfection  with  us 
in  January  or  early  February  in  an 
average  season,  though  frost  may  delay  it  still 
longer.  This  season  a  number  of  flowers  could  be 
seen  in  December,  but  cowering  close  to  the  soil, 
and  closely  curled  up  so  as  to  preserve  the  seg- 
ments from  pollution  until  the  stalk  was  ready  to 
uplift  itself.  In  the  second  week  in  January  a 
few  have  opened,  but  the  greater  number  are  still 
to  come.  The  bright  little  crimson  flowers  are 
always   so    attractive    and    so    cheerful   in    their 


colouring  at  a  time  when  there  is  often  white 
hoar  frost  or  a  slight  covering  of  snow  upon  the 
ground.  We  have  no  prettier  flower  in  its  season 
than  this  small  Cyclamen,  with  its  drooping, 
recurved  blooms  and  its  round  leaves,  though  the 
latter  are  not  so  prettily  marbled  as  some  of  the 
other  hardy  Cyclamens.  There  is  a  pretty  variety 
with  a  light-coloured  zone  on  the  leaf,  and,  though 
some  would  not  consider  it  a  varietj'  of  C.  Coum, 
it  is  difficult  to  think  it  anything  else.  There  are 
also  at  least  three  other  varieties,  all  of  which  I 
grow  here — one  with  white  flowers,  a  pretty  little 
bloom  ;  one  with  rose-coloured  flowers  ;  and  one 
which,  for  convenience  sake,  is  called  lilac.  It  is 
hardly  lilac,  but  those  who  have  experienced  the 
diificulty  of  colour  names  will  find  it  a  puzzle  to 
improve  upon  this.  The  time  at  which  these 
Cyclamens  bloom  points  to  the  desirability  of 
giving  them  a  sheltered  corner,  hardy  though  they 
are,  and  the  rockeries  present  about  the  best 
places,  as  they  can  there  have  a  sheltered,  shady 
place  in  light  soil.  They  do  well  here  with  an 
east  exposure,  but  protected  from  the  winds  from 
that  quarter,  which  are  such  a  bane  to  our  gardens 
in  spring.  I  have  been  trying  the  effect  of  mortar 
rubbish  on  these  plants,  and  so  far  I  think  that 
these  Cyclamens  thrive  well  in  it,  though  not 
absolutely  preferring  it.  No  one  who  has  once 
established  C.  Coum  will  regret  the  little  trouble 
and  expense  involved  in  so  doing. — S.  Arsott, 
Carsethorn,  hi/  Dumfries,  X.B. 


GALANTHUS    ELWESII 
WHITTALLII. 


\'AR. 


Althouou  a  severe  frost  on  the  night  of  January  12, 
which,  as  I  write,  looks  as  if  it  would  stand  for 


niT'l'TNC    TANK    IN    THK    KlTl.'HEN    GARDEN    AT    ORCHARD^,    SrRKEV    (THE    RESIDENCE    OF    MR.    WILLIAM    CHAXCE) 


78 


THE    GARDEN 


[February  1,  1902. 


some  clays,  will  letai-d  the  flowering  of 

the  greater  number  of  my  plants  of  this 

fine  Snowdrop,  a  few  are  iu   bloom,  so 

that  it  proves  the  earliest  of  the  forms 

iif  (1.  Elwesii  in  my  garden.     This  has 

bei'n  the   case   ever    since   it    was   sent 

over  by  Mr.   Whittall,  and  one  is  glad 

to  oliserve  tliat  it  retains  this  early  habit, 

wliich,  with  its  broad  leaves,  tall  stature, 

and  large   flowers   seive   to  distinguish 

it  from  the  other  rather  numerous  forms 

of   the    pretty   and    valued   (i.    Elwesii 

which  have   "been  longer  known.     Like 

most  other   Snowdrops,   Mr.   WhiltalPs 

variety  prefers  a  rather  moist  soil  to  a 

li'^ht   and    dry   one,    and    experimental 

plantings   in   diSerent   parts  show  how 

much    its    reputation    in    gardens    will 

de|)end  upon   wliere  it  is  planted.     On 

dry  rockeries  it  is  comparatively  small, 

while   in   moist,   peaty   nooks   it    is    so 

mucli     finer     that     one    would     hardly 

suppose  it  to  be  the  same  plant.     It  is, 

of  course,   as  we   night  e.xpect  from  a 

wild   form,  varied  in  its  character,  and 

some    of     the     plants    might    well     be 

discarded,  so  inferior  are  the}'  to  others. 

The    best   f-">rnis,    if    seed   were   saved, 

might  be  the  parents  of  varieties  of  even 

greater  size  and   beauty,  although  these 

do  not  always  go  together.     The  leaves 

also    vary    much  :    some    are    narrow, 

while   others    are    liroad    and    massive 

and    of   great   length.       Their    size    is, 

indeed,  in  some  cases  their  misfortune, 

as  I  have   liad   some    of    them    twisted 

off  at    the  level  of   the   soil   by  severe 

gales  when  in  an  exposed  position,  to  the 

weakening  of  the  bulbs  for  the  following 

year.      The   net   result  of   my  trials  of  soil,  &c. , 

with  this    Snowdrop   is    that   it  prefers   a    moist 

peat,  and,  failing  that,  it  ought  to  have  one  inclining 

to  clay  rather  than  one  which  is  liglit  and  exposed 

to  drought  in  summer. — S.  Arnott. 


:  Rl   IT    WAT.K    .\T    :\IILTON    I'OI'KT,    rioRKlN( 


THE      FRUIT      GARDEN. 


FRUIT     ARCHES. 


M 


ANY  and  varied  are  the  possible 
ways  of  growing  fruit  trees, 
although  tliose  actually  put  into 
practice  are  but  few.  The  planter 
of  fruit  trees  ordinarily  fails  to 
consider  their  ]iossibilities  other 
than  from  an  utilitarian  point  of  view,  with 
the  result  that  our  fruit  gardens  usually 
contain  a  monotony  of  the  bush,  pyramid,  and 
standard  fotnis.  One  would  not  vvisli,  of  course, 
to  disparage  these,  undoubtedly  the  most 
serviceable  of  all  fruit  trees,  but  there  is  no 
reason  whatever  why  the  fruit  garden  should 
not  be  varied  as  far  as  may  be  consistent  with 
usefulness,  and  this  can  be  attained  largely  by 
introducing  other  than  the  usual  styles  of 
training  above  named.  In  this  age  of  advanced 
ideas  one  hears  much  of  the  uninteresting, 
monotonous,  and  even  ugly  appearance  of  the 
fruit  and  kitchen  garden,  these  being  as  a 
rule  both  in  one.  And  one  also  may  read  various 
schemes  and  recommendations  that  are  from 
time  to  time  ymt  forth  for  its  improvement. 
The  accompanying  illustration  affords,  1  think, 
a  suggestion  not  unworthy  of  being  carried 
out.  There  are  few  features  in  a  fruit  garden 
more  delightful  than  arches  effectively  and 
ettectually  covered  with  fruit  tree?,  and  there 
surely  must  be  one  if  not  more  walks  that 
would  easily  lend  themselves  to  this  in  every 
garden. 

Such  a  structure  is  at  all  times  of  the  year 
of  interest.  Tho.se  to  whom  leafless  branches 
and  the  study  of  the  iiroblem  of  fruit  buds 
and  wood  buds  are  not  altogether  matters  of 


indifference  will  find  the  fruit  arches  a  source 
of  jileasure  during  the  winter  months,  for  they 
are  easily  arrived  at  and  without  the  incon- 
venience of  tramping  over  damp  or  muddy 
ground.  Those  who  cannot  apjireciate  the 
beauty  of  the  fruit  garden  when  the  trees  are 
in  full  blossom  during  April  and  May  must 
indeed  he  hard  to  please.  It  is  no  exaggeration 
to  say  that  the  best  of  our  hardy  ornamental 
trees  and  shrubs  can  neither  equal  them  in 
profusion  of  flowering  nor  surpass  them  in 
beauty  of  blossom.  Even  in  the  autumn  the 
leaves  of  some  varieties  are  so  beautifully 
tinted  as  to  vie  with  trees  and  shrubs  remark- 
able for  the  lovely  colouring  of  their  foliage. 

To  those  interested  in  the  beautifying  of 
what  undoubtedly  is  usually  a  dull  and  unin- 
viting spot  I  would  otferasu.ggestion.  Having 
erected  an  arch,  cover  it  with  Pear  trees  noted 
for  their  autumn-tinted  foliage.  This  is  not 
such  an  extravagant  idea  as  it  may  perhaps  at 
first  seem  to  lie,  for  it  will  be  found  generally 
speaking  that  it  is  the  best  and  mo.st  delicious 
varieties  whose  foliage  takes  on  the  most 
beautiful  tints.  I  have  mentioned  Pears 
because  they  are  well  adapted  for  training  in 
this  manner.  Cherries  however,  do  ei|ually 
well,  and  Plums  ]irobably  would  also.  This  I 
would  not  care  to  positively  assert  however. 
One  can  greatly  assist  in  improving  the 
appearance  of  the  fruit  garden  other  than 
by  making  fruit  arches,  although  the.se  can  be 
erected  in  a  variety  of  ways,  of  which  that 
shown  in  the  illustration  is  perhaps  the  most 
convenient  and  effective.  Variations  will 
suggest  themselves  in  individual  cases.  In 
some  notable  French  gardens  the  art  of  training 
fruit  trees  has  been  carried  to  excess.  Instead 
of  being,  as  they  should,  objects  of  beauty, 
they  are  trained  and  twisted  into  such 
grotesque  shapes  as  to  make  one  feel  cjuite 
sorry  for  them.  One  would  think  their  fruit 
beai'ing  capacities  could  neither  be  improved 
by  so  much  cutting  and  unnatural  treatment. 
In  covering  arches  the  trees  are  of  course 
grown  in  quite  as  natural  a  manner  as  upon 


walls.  The-  forms  most  profitably  used  are 
either  cordon  or  fan-shaped  trees.  If  it  is 
wished  to  cover  the  trellis  quickly  then  the 
former  should  be  planted,  but  a  more  per- 
manent effect  would  be  obtained  by  planting 
good  fan-trained  specimens  ;  the  arches  would 
not,  however,  be  covered  so  quickly.  The 
accompanying  illustration  is  from  a  photograph 
taken  in  the  garden  at  Milton  Court,  1  )orking, 
i  the  residence  of  Mr.  Lachlan  Mackintosh  Rate. 

A.  P.  H. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(  Til'    Editoyi  arc  not  responsilile  for  Ike  ophiiowi 
i-.rpressecl  hi/  their  rorntpomlentx.  j 

TROP^OLUM    SPECIOSUM. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR, — I   was   glad    to   find   Mr.   Crook    (on 


was  glad  to  hnd  Mr. 
I'M,  vol.  Ix.)  calling  attention  to 
this  charming  hardy  twining  plant, 
and  in  response  to  his  request  will  give 
my  experience  cjf  it.  It  grows  freelj'  in 
Scotland,  and  in  some  parts  of  England 
we  find  it  growing  most  luxuriantly.  Some  twining 
plants  will  do  almost  anywhere  and  flourish  under 
almost  any  circumstances,  but  this  cannot  be  said 
of  T.  speciosum.  (jiven  a  suitable  soil  and  con- 
genial cjuarters,  a  little  care  and  forethought  in 
planting,  then  success  may  be  assured.  I  have 
tried  it  in  warm  sunny  aspects,  and  also  in  damp 
quarters,  but  my  efforts  to  induce  it  to  grow  were 
an  utter  failure.  Seeing  it  doing  well  against  a 
north  wall,  I  was  tempted  to  try  it  in  this  position, 
with  the  following  results.  First  of  all  I  procured 
several  pots  of  nice  healthy  roots,  and  then  made  a 
narrow  border  against  a  north  wall  at  the  back  of 
a  Peach  house.  The  natural  soil  was  light  and 
very  sandy  ;  with  thi.s  I  mixed  some  good  loam, 
peat,  and  leaf-mould.  Early  in  April  I  put  out 
my  plants,  kept  them  free  from  weeds,  and  gave 
water  when  required.  The  plants  soon  started 
into  growth.  1  then  placed  some  ordinary  Pea 
sticks  against  the  wall  for  them  to  climb.  This 
j  they  did  with  great  rapidity,  and  in  the  autumn  1 
was  rewarded  with  a  good  display  of  colour,  draping 


February  1,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


79 


what  would  otherwise  have  been  an  unsightly  spot. 
The  year  following  I  had  occasion  to  plant  a  large 
Holly  and  a  common  Yew  tree  in  close  proximity 
to  the  border  which  contained  the  Tropajolum,  and 
no  sooner  had  it  began  to  grow  than  it  made  its 
way  towards  the  newly  planted  trees,  began  to 
climb  about  the  branches,  and  bj'  the  autumn 
partly  covered  them.  I  mulched  the  trees  to 
induce  quick  growth,  and  I  also  manured  the 
border.  The  next  year  the  result  was  marvellous, 
the  colour  hiding  the  boughs  of  tlie  Holly  and  Yew. 
The  colour  picture  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 
Well  might  Mr.  Crook  say  that  he  often  used  the 
long  strings  of  shoots  for  the  deporation  of  the 
dirmer  table,  &c.,  and  I  know  of  nothing  more 
beautiful  for  this  purpose.  When  once  this  plant 
is  well  established  leave  well  alone.  It  dislikes 
removal,  and  if  only  given  a  little  help  in  the  way 
of  surface  dressing  it  will  "go  on  for  ever."  In 
planting  be  careful  not  to  plant  when  the  soil  is 
cold.  I  i3nd  the  best  time  for  planting  is  either 
early  autumn  or  in  the  spring,  when  the  soil  is 
warm  and  genial.  Do  not  put  out  small  bits  of 
roots  and  expect  grand  results  the  same  year. 
Rather  procure  pots  full  of  healthy  roots  and  plant 
SIS  directed,  and  I  am  sure  success  will  result. 
Afihwellthorpe  Hall,  Norwich.        T.  B.  Field. 


BRITISH     HOMES 
GARDENS. 


AND 


AGAPANTHUSES  IN  THE*  OPEN. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  GaiJdbn."] 

Sib, — Referring  to  Mr.  J.  Hudson's  query  about 
the  hardiness  of  Agapanthus  mooreanus,  I  may 
say  that  I  know  it  is  perfectly  hardy  in  a  good 
many  Scottish  gardens  besides  my  own,  and  that  I 
have  not  been  able  to  hear  of  its  being  tender  in 
any  garden  in  which  it  has  been  tried.  Even  in 
low-lying,  mossy  neighbourhoods  in  Scotland,  where 
late  frosts  are  often  troublesome,  it  is  hardy.  Of 
course,  those  who  do  not  know  it  ought  to  bear  in 
mind  that  it  has  not  the  bold  appearance  of  the 
typical  imibellatus  (I  believe  it  is  considered  only 
a  variety),  but  it  is  withal  a  pretty  and  desirable 
plant,  which  should  be  more  widely  grown,  espe- 
cially as  it  is  cheap,  and  can  therefore  be  planted 
in  some  quantity. 

I  was  much  interested  last  autumn  in  the  large 
bunches  of  iJowers  of  A.  ximbellatus  and  A.  u.  albus 
shown  bj'  Messrs.  Cocker,  of  Aberdeen,  at  the 
Edinburgh  show,  and  even  more  interested  to  learn 
from  the  exhibitors  that  the  plants  had 
been  grown  in  the  open  in  their  Aberdeen 
nursery.  It  seems  that  this  firm  is  now 
raising  these  Agapanthuses  largely  from 
seed,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  some 
varieties  hardy  generally  may  be  obtained 
in  this  way.  My  own  experiments  in 
establishing  the  fine  A.  u.  maximus  in 
the  open  have  so  far  been  unsuccessful, 
but  I  have  not  given  up  hope  yet,  and 
the  success  of  the  Messrs.  Cocker  will 
encoui'age  me  to  try  again.  I  fear,  how- 
ever, that  it  is  largely  owing  to  the  dryer 
climate  of  the  north-east  of  Scotland 
that  this  success  is  due.  I  believe  that 
this  operates  with  other  things  as  well, 
for  I  was  much  struck  when  I  visited 
this  Aberdeen  nursery  a  few  years  ago 
to  see  several  Alstrremerias  doing  well  in 
the  open  with  which  we  should  fail  in 
the  south-west.  S.  Arnott. 


WOOTTON     COURT. 

WOOTTON  COURT  is  about 
midway  between  Warwicl? 
and  Kenilwortli,  both  of  which 
towns  are  world  famed  on 
account  of  their  historical 
interest.  The  mansion  is  a 
substantially  built  and  climber-clad  structure 
of  extreme  beauty,  and  stands  in  grounds  of 
about  70  acres.  The  owner,  F.  Berestord 
Wright,  Esq.,  J. P.,  is  a  keen  horticulturist, 
and  evidence  of  the  lavish  care  he  bestows 
on  his  garden  and  grounds  abounds  on  every 
hand.  No  part  of  Warwickshire  is  better 
timbered  than  this  neighbourhood,  and  one 
would  have  to  ti-avel  some  miles  before  they 
saw  a  finer  collection  of  coniferas  than  are  to 
be  seen  at  Wootton  Court.  The  majority  of 
the  specimens  are  of  large  dimensions,  many 
attaining  a  height  of  from  40  feet  to  70  feet. 

On  entering  the  grounds  from  the  main  road 
by  the  bridge,  one  is  at  once  struck  with  the 
grandeur  and  rude  health  of  the  coniferie,  and 
it  is  evident  that  the  soil,  a  stiffish  clay,  suits 
the  trees  admirably.  I  believe  the  main  por- 
tion were  planted  by  a  former  owner,  and, 
unfortunately,  many  that  should  have  been 
transplanted  to  allow  of  proper  development 
in  years  gone  by  have  now  become  somewhat 
crowded,  although  the  present  owner  has 
transplanted  a  great  many  into  more  open 
positions,  and  added  several  choice  young 
specimens  of  newer  introduction  to  the  collec- 
tion. The  most  perfect  coniferous  trees  noted 
were :  Abies  Douglasii,  A.  cephalonica,  A.  Engle- 
manni,  A.  nobilis,  A.  n.  glauca,  A.  magnifica, 
A.  nordmanniana,  A.  Pinsapo,  A.  lasiocarpa,  A. 
grandis,  Cupressus  lawsoniana,  Pinus  Cembra, 
P.  macrocariia,  P.  ponderosa,  P.  Laricio,  P. 
Strobus,  Thuiopsis  borealis,  T.  dolabrata, 
Wellingtonia  gigantea,  Ketinospora  in  variety, 


and  Araucaria  imbricata.  There  is  a  very 
beautiful  vista  about  2:i0  yards  in  length  of 
healthy  and  large  coniferse,  extending  from 
the  main  road  to  the  mansion.  The  mansion 
is  completely  covered  with  Honeysuckles, 
Magnolias,  Jasmines,  Ampelopsis,  Banksian 
and  other  climbing  Roses,  and  at  the  time  of 
my  visit  (July)  was  presenting  a  beautiful 
picture. 

Disposed  judiciously  in  beds  in  the  Pinetitm 
or  wilderness  garden  are  many  very  choice 
hardy  trees  and  ornamental  plants.  I  was 
particularly  struck  with  the  fine  masses  of 
Spiraja  ariiefolia  towering  above  their  smaller 
growing  neighbours.  Then  there  were  clumps 
of  Silphium  trifoliatum  and  Cimicifuga  race- 
niosa  (Black  Snake-root),  both  of  which  are 
seen  to  excellent  advantage  in  such  a  garden. 
The  Spanish  Gorse  is  also  freely  planted,  as 
are  the  choicer  Brooms,  Azaleas,  Kalmias, 
Rhododendrons,  and  other  American  plants 
are  tastefully  arranged,  and  appear  to  thrive 
remarkably  well. 

Immense  trees  of  Philadelphus  grandiflorus 
were  flowering  profusely ;  indeed,  so  full  were 
they  with  their  large  pure  white  flowers  that 
little  foliage  could  be  seen.  At  the  upper  part 
of  this  garden  near  the  mansion  a  rock  garden 
has  been  made  of  tufa,  and  as  it  was  com- 
pleted two  years  ago  the  plants  are  now  well 
established  and  effective.  No  expense  has 
been  spared  in  the  construction  of  this  rock 
garden  or  in  furnishing  it  with  choice  subjects. 
The  enjoyment  that  the  owner  obtains  from 
his  rock  garden  will  increase  as  time  goes  on. 
From  a  niche  in  the  rocks  the  clear  water 
trickles  into  well-constructed  shallow  tanks, 
which  form  a  streamlet  of  good  length,  with 
the  velvety  turf  gently  sloping  to  the  waterside. 
Many  of  our  most  loeautiful  and  interesting 
aquatic  plants  find  a  home  here,  and  considering 
the  short  time  they  have  been  planted  they 
have  done  remarkably  well.  The  Nymphasas 
are  well  represented,  and  at  the  time  of  my 
visit  were  grovs-ing  and  flowering  freely. 

Near  the  margin  and  on  the  banks  of   tlie 


Pea  Parrot's  Prolifle  Mar- 
row.— This  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
Peas  of  recent  introduction,  and  when 
better  known  will  doubtless  be  generally 
grown.  It  is  a  wrinkled  Marrow  of  the 
Veitch's  Perfection  type,  but  of  some- 
what shorter  growth.  It  is  wonderfully 
prolific,  the  rich  green  pods  being  filled 
with  large  Peas  of  delicious  flavour.  At 
Guuton  two  years  ago  Mr.  Allan  sowed 
it  and  Veitch's  Perfection  on  March  21, 
and  to  his  astonishment  Parrot's  Prolific 
Marrow  was  ready  for  use  three  weeks 
before  Veitch's  Perfection,  and  quite  equal 
to  it  in  quality.  It  will  doubtless  prove 
an  excellent  Pea  for  amateurs. — J. 


IN   THE   GARDEN    AT   WOOTTON   COURT,    WARWICKSHIRE. 


80 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[February  1,  1902. 


streamlet  some  healthy  plants  of  the  Koyal 
Fern  (Osmimda  regalis)  were  nottd.  The 
Lady's  Slipper  Orchid  (Cypripediuai  acaule) 
has  been  planted  near  the  water  in  a  partially 
shaded  position,  and  looks  as  if  it  will  thrive. 
Solomon's  Seal  appears  quite  at  home  here, 
also  masses  of  Bambusa  Metake  and  B.  Simoni. 
VVootton  Court  gardens  contain  many  hardy 
climbing  plants,  and  one  rarely  .sees  them 
grown  in  such  a  natural  manner.  In  too 
many  instances  the  best  of  our  hardy  climbing 
plants  are  trained  too  stiffly,  and  their  real 
Iseauty  is  lost.  Near  the  rockery  stands  an 
old  arbour  of  Yew,  and  rambling  at  will  over 
this  is  the  common  Honeysuckle  of  our  hedge- 
rows ;  this  was  a  picture  in  itself,  but  there 
are  others.  A  covered  Kose  walk  extends 
from  this  natural  arbour  to  the  parterre 
immediately  in  front  of  the  mansion,  and  this 
was  resplendent  with  wreaths  of  blossoms  of 
such  beautiful  climbing  Roses  as  Paul's  Carmine 
Pillar,  Turner's  Crimson  Piambler,  Keved'Or, 
the  Banksian,  and  the  Ayrshire.  A  few  of  the 
hardy  Vines  have  been  recently  planted  on 
these  l>owers,  and  without  doubt  will  enhance 
the  beauty  of  the  Roses  with  their  richly- 
tinted  leafage  in  autumn.  A  low  wall  near 
the  carriage  drive  is  clothed  with  Vines,  which 
in  autumn  make  a  beautiful  garden  picture, 
for  they  have  been  planted  a  number  of  years, 
and  have  been  allowed  to  trail  at  will.  Near 
by  is  a  Yew  hedge,  with  Wistaria  chinensis 
rambling  freely  over  it,  and  by  its  appearance 
had  flowered  profusely  earlier  in  the  summer. 

I  was  particularly  struck  with  the  number 
of  these  pictures  at  Wootton  Court  and  the 
entire  absence  of  the  formal  style  of  gardening, 
and  this  speaks  well  for  Mr.  F.  Beresford 
Wright's  taste  in  what  constitutes  a  beautiful 
garden.  "The  lake  is  situated  well  away  from 
the  mansion,  and  is  -li  acres  in  extent.  Quite 
recently  the  side  banks  have  been  piled  with 
Larch  posts  to  prevent  the  wash  of  water 
making  inroads  on  the  banks.  At  intervals 
along  the  margin  are  planted  clumps  of 
moisture  -  loving  plants  —  Guunera  scabra, 
Spir«a  palmata,  Bamboos,  Iris,  t^-c.  The 
herbaceous  border,  \-20  yards  in  length,  extends 
from  the  mansion  to  the  lake,  and  here  may 
be  seen  some  of  the  newest  as  well  as  many 
old-fashioned  herbaceous  plants.  At  the  back 
of  this  border  is  the  wall  bounding  one  side 
of  the  kitchen  garden,  and  this  is  clad  with 
beautiful  flowering  and  foliage  climbing  plants 
adapted  for  such  a  position. 

■The  glass  Louses  are  not  numerous,  but  well 
constructed  on  modern  principles,  and  are 
sutticient  for  the  needs  of  the  establishment. 
The  conservatory  is  kept  bright  and  eflective 
at  all  seasons,  and  at  the  time  of  my  visit  was 
looking  extremely  well.  Gloxinias  were  good, 
as  were  Cannas  and  Begonias.  The  plants 
showed  the  skill  of  Mr.  Hackvale  (the  gardener) 
as  a  plant  grower.  In  the  stove  house  were 
many  well  grown  and  brightly  -  coloured 
Crolons.  The  garden  is  thoroughly  English  in 
that  all  departments  are  well  represented. 

H.  T.  Martin. 


of  the  old  soil,  well  filling  in  the  new  amongst  the 
roots,  and  make  it  firm.  A  eompo.st  of  good  fibrous 
loam,  with  about  one  quarter  leaf-mould,  some 
crushed  bones,  charcoal,  and  sharp  sand  added, 
suits  them.  The  pots  should  be  well  drained, 
for  the  plants  require  plent\-  of  nourishmeut  in  the 
growing  season.  Those  bulbs  not  requiring  to  be 
potted  should  have  a  liberal  top-dressing. 

ANTHURirMS 

that  require  potting  may  be  taken  in  hand  forth- 
with, using  a  compost  of  fibrous  peat  and  loam 
broken  up  into  small  lumps,  allowing  the  finer 
particles  to  pass  through  a  sieve.  Add  sphagnum 
moss,  broken  crocks,  charcoal,  and  sharp  sand.  In 
potting  spread  out  the  roots  and  keep  the  plants 
well  up.  When  finished  they  should  be  several 
inches  above  the  rim  of  the  pot,  and  have  efficient 
drainage,  freelj'  syringing  and  watering. 

.Stephanotis  floribpnda, 
if  not  potted,  should  be  top-dressed  with  fibrous 
loam,  leaf-mould,  well  decomposed  manure,  and 
sand,  all  well  mixed.  Cut  away  any  weakly  growths, 
and  see  that  the  foliage  is  thoroughly  cleaned 
before  growth  commences.  Sonerilas,  Fittonias, 
and  (Eschynanthus  arc  useful  plants  for  an  edging 
in  the  stove  ;  they  should  be  grown  in  a  mixture  of 
fibrous  peat,  sphagnum  moss,  charcoal,  and  sand  ; 
give  good  drainage.  To  increase  them,  place 
cuttings  in  small  pots  in  the  propagating  frame. 
Cuttings  of  Abutilons,  Acalyphas,  Coleus,  and 
Salvia  splendens  may  be  inserted  in  the  same 
frame.  Marguerites  struck  in  the  autumn  should 
be  placed  into  their  flowering  pots  :  the}'  will  be 
in  bloom  during  May.  A  mixture  of  loam,  leaf- 
mould,  and  sand  will  suit  them  :  pot  firmly, 
pinching  several  times  after  growth  has  com- 
menced. When  flower  buds  show  give  the  plants 
plenty  of  manure  water. 

ACHI.MEXES. 
A  batch  of  these  should  be  started  in  heat. 
Shake  each  variety  out  of  the  old  soil,  and  insert 
separately  in  a  light  sand\'  compost,  watering 
sparingly  until  growth  commences.  When  they 
have  made  shoots  an  inch  or  two  long  the  tubercles 
may  be  transplanted  into  the  pots  or  baskets  in 
which  they  are  intended  to  flower,  using  a  compost 
of  fibrous  peat  and  leaf-mould  in  equal  parts,  with 
a  little  dry  cow  or  sheep  manure,  and  suflicient 
sand  to  make  the  whole  porous.  Achimenes  should 
not  lie  repotted,  but  may  be  given  occasional  doses 
of  liquid  manure. 

C.\X>AS. 

A  batch  of  these  maj-  be  started.  l>ivide  the 
root ;  each  portion  should  have  a  bud  and  root 
attached.  They  require  a  very  rich  and  rather 
heavy  soil,  but  porous.  Jonx  Fr.EMixc. 

H'eiliani  Pail-  Gardens,  Slomjh. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

HlPPEASTRFMS. 

Bl'LBS  that  are  starting  should  be  intro- 
duced into  a  temperature  of  60".  At 
this  stage  weak  manure  water  maj'  be 
given  them.  Some  growers  repot  their 
bulbs ,  before  flowering,  but  I  have 
achieved  the  best  results  from  those 
repotted  after  flowering  is  over,  and  without  the 
aid  of  bottom  heat.     In  repotting  shake  out  some 


CArLIFLOWERS. 

There  are  now  many  varieties  well  adapted  for 
forcing,  and  few  things  are  more  highly  appreciated 
during  the  whole  of  May  than  small  snow-white 
heads  of  these.  A'eitch's  Early  Forcing  and 
Carter's  First  Crop  have  never  yet  failed  us. 
Those  which  were  sown  last  autumn  should  now 
be  potted  up  into  .3-inch  pots  and  grown  on  in 
a  temperature  of  from  .jC  to  .").!'■'  as  near  the  glass 
as  possible.  At  no  time  must  these  be  allowed  to 
suffer  for  want  of  water  at  the  root  or  premature 
turning  in  will  in  all  probability  be  the  result.  As 
soon  as  the  pots  are  well  filled  with  roots  pot  on 
into  S-inch  pots,  using  good  coarse  fibrous  loam 
three  parts  and  well-rotted  cow  manure  one  part : 
keep  in  a  growing  temperature  until  the  plants 
have  made  a  good  growth,  after  which  they  may 
be  moved  to  cooler  structures,  such  as  late  orchard 
houses  or  cold  frames.  The}'  should  be  liberally 
fed  with  farmyard  manure  water  and  mulched 
thoroughly  «ith  half-decayed  manure,  when  in 
April  they  may  be  safely  plunged  under  a  south 
wall  to  finish  perfecting  their  heads. 

Peas  in  Pots. 
It  is  now  bj'  no  means  an  uncommon  practice  to 
procure  the  first  few  pickings  of  Peas  from  those 
which  have  been  grown  in  pots  or  bo.xes.  Several 
varieties  now  lend  themselves  easily  to  this  mode 
of  treatment.  The  great  thing  is  not  to  force  or 
coddle  the  plants  in  anj'  way,  but  encourage  them 
to  make  a  stout,  sturdy  growth  in  all  their  stages. 
Those  sown  during  December  should  now  be 
making  good  headwaj',  and  unless  already  done 
will  require  thinning,  surface  dressing,  and 
supporting  with  short  brushy  sticks. 

Celery. 

This  first  sowing  of  this  should  now  be  made. 
Use  well-drained  pots  or  pans  and  a  mixture  of 
light  porous  soil,  always  bearing  in  mind  thai 
Celery  must  not  be  neglected  in  the  early  stages  of 
growth,  and  if  once  allowed  to  become  thoroughly 
dry  probablj'  much  of  the  crop  will  run  to  seed. 

Capsicums  and  Chilies  should  be  sown  for  earl}' 
supplies.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Hoii-se  Gardens,  EJlstree,  Herts. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

RUUEARB. 

OwiNt;  to  the  s=arcity  of  the  Apple  crop  in  many 
parts,  and  the  unsatisfactory  way  in  which  this 
fruit  has  been  keeping,  there  is  sure  to  be  an  extra 
demand  for  forced  Rhubarb  this  season,  con- 
sequently provision  should  be  made  accordingly. 
Many  of  the  varieties  do  not  force  well  early,  but 
from  now  no  difficulty  should  be  found  in  keeping 
up  the  supply.  For  some  few  weeks  yet  the  roots 
should  be  lifted  and  brought  forward  in  the 
Mushroom  house  or  some  such  structure,  keeping 
it  at  about  the  same  temperature  as  the  latter. 
The  best  results  are  obtained  from  those  roots 
brought  forward  in  the  open  ground,  and  which  if 
not  forced  too  hard  and  the  protecting  material 
removed  in  good  time  will  be  little  the  worse  by 
the  autumn,  but  it  is  well  as  far  as  possible  not  to 
force  the  same  roots  two  years  in  succession.  The 
old  Victoria  is  hard  to  beat  for  general  purposes, 
but  Daws  Champion  and  the  Sutton  are  both 
excellent  varieties,  and  deserve  to  be  included  in 
all  collections. 

Plantations  in  the  open  can  now  be  made  ;  the 
ground  should  be  thoroughly  drenched  and 
manured,  allowing  a  distance  of  from  3  feet  to 
5  feet  according  to  the  variety  to  be  grown. 
Mulch  the  ground  and  leave  the  growth  un- 
disturbed for  the  first  season. 


THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Pot  Vixes. 

WiiEX  the  fruit  upon  these  is  formed,  a  sufficient 
number  of  bunches  for  the  crop  should  be  selected 
and  the  surplus  ones  removed,  bearing  in  mind  in 
doing  so  that  excessive  cropping  courts  failure. 
The  berries  should  likewise  be  thinned  early. 
With  the  fruit  freely  swelling  and  active  root 
action  liberal  supplies  of  tepid  water  will  be 
necessary,  every  alternate  application  being  of 
diluted  "liquid  manure.  Where  the  pots  are 
placed  upon  a  bed  of  rich  soil  into  which  the  roots 
have  penetrated  great  benefit  will  accrue.  A 
buoyant  atmosphere  should  now  be  maintained 
accompanied  by  a  night  temperature  of  63"  and 
75"  by  day  by  artificial  means. 

Early  Permanent  Vines. 

These  having  their  roots  confined  to  in.side 
borders  are  advantageously  placed  compared  to 
those  that  are  rooting  outside,  but  they  demand 
painstaking  management  with  respect  to  watering, 
and  the  supply  must  be  discreetly  increased,  both 
with  regard  to  quantity  and  its  nourishing  elements, 
as  growth  advances.  Lateral  growths  should  be 
thinned  early,  leaving  enough  to  cover  the  trellis 
without  crowding  it  with  foliage,  and  stopping 
them  at  two  or  more  leaves  beyond  the  best  bunch 
of  fruit,  ^\hile  sublaterals  should  be  stopped  at  one 
leaf  and  all  superfluous  bunches  removed.  During 
the  flowering  period  a  tolerably  dry  atmosphere 
and  a  fair  amount  of  fresh  air  should  be  aft'orded 
with  a  view  to  assist  fertilisation,  and  this  may 
be  furthered  by  gently  shaking  the  rods  at  about 
midday,  when  the  pollen  is  dry,  or  in  the  case  of 
bad  setting  varieties  a  rabbit's  tail  may  be  used. 
There  should  be  no  delay  in  thinning  the  berries  ; 
do  this  soon  after  they  commence  to  swell.  Other 
essential  duties  now  are  the  careful  management 
of   the   fires,  moisture,   and   ventilation,  so   that 


February  1,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


81 


extreme  atmospheric  conditions 
are  avoided.  Close  the  houses 
early  on  bright  daj's  to  obtain 
the  full  benefit  of  solar  warmth. 
Plums  ix  Pots. 
Tlie  most  satisfactoi-y  way  of 
advancing  the  season  of  the 
Plum  is  to  cultivate  trees  in 
pots,  and  afford  them  the  benefit 
of  alight  and  adequately  venti- 
lated glass  structure.  Trees  that 
are  thoroughly  established  in 
pots,  and  have  been  properly 
rested  by  their  pots  having  been 
plunged  in  a  bed  of  ashes  out- 
doors, should,  after  being 
sprayed  in  the  ordinary  way 
with  a  solution  of  caustic  sod - 
and  potash,  be  placed  under 
glass.  This  fruit,  like  the 
Peach'  and  Cherry,  will  not 
during  its  earlj*  stages  of  de- 
velopment withstand  high  tem- 
peratures, and  a  steady  warmth 
ijf  from  45"  to  .jO"  should  not 
be  exceeded  by  artificial  means. 
A  gently  moving  air  must  be 
continually  kept  up  in  favour- 
able weather  and  the  trees 
syringed  early  in  the  afternoon 
of  bright  days,  except  while 
they  are'  in  blossom,  when  fer- 
tilisation should  be  aided  bj' 
increasing  the  ventilation  and 
gently  tapping  the  branches. 
Until  root  growth  has  become 
active  great  care  should  be 
taken  not  to  over  water,  but 
when  the  fruit  is  swelling  more 
water  and  the  assistance  of  clear 
liquid  manure  will  be  necessary. 
The  house  should  be  thoroughly 
fumigated  immediately  before 
the  blossoms  expand. 

Thomas  Coombbr. 


^: 


.^m^ 


CESALPI.VIA    .lAPOXICA    IN    THE    G.4.RDEX    UF    CAPTAI.N    DAUBPZ,    RYDE,    ISLE    OY    WIGHT. 


THE     FLOWER     GARDEN. 

Now  is  the  time  for  making  the  final  arrangements 
as  to  the  way  in  which  it  is  intended  to  fill  the 
beds  and  borders  for  the  coming  season,  so  that  one 
may  know  exactlj'  what  plants  and  the  quantity  it 
is  necessary  to  propagate.  Although  the  formal 
bedding-out  sj'stem  has  given  wa}'  largely  to  a 
natural  and  consequently  more  baautiful  way  of 
using  hardy  perennials  and  hardy  and  half-hardy 
annuals  in  our  beds  and  borders,  j'et  in  certain 
positions  "formal  bedding''  is  thoroughly  in 
keeping  with  the  surroundings. 

In  anj'  plan  of  bedding-out  much  forethought  and 
study  are  essential,  for  if  anything  different  to  last 
year's  display  is  desired,  having  made  one's  plans, 
preparations  should  at  once  be  made  to  carry  them 
out.  The  required  quantities  of  the  different  kinds 
of  plants  to  be  employed  must  be  ascertained,  and 
if  there  are  an}'  deficiencies  in  the  quantity  of  any 
particular  sorts  that  can  be  increased  by  cuttings 
they  should  be  made  good  at  once. 

Spring-struck  Geraniums  are  quite  as  satisfactor}' 
bedders  as  those  from  autumn  cuttings,  proA'ided 
they  are  rooted  early  and  grown  on  well.  Unlike 
autumn  ones  they  should  be  inserted  singly  into 
small  2^-inch  pots,  in  a  compost  of  light  sandj' 
soil  pressed  firmlj',  when  if  placed  in  a  mild  stove 
temperature  they  emit  roots  in  a  comparativelj' 
short  time.  Iresine,  Alternanthera,  Heliotrope, 
Fuchsia,  Tropasolum,  Ageratum,  Verbena,  etc., 
can  all  be  increased  now  by  cuttings,  but  in  the 
case  of  the  last  mentioned  propagate  bj'  seedlings, 
unless  it  is  desired  to  preserve  a  particularly  fine 
variety.  Verbenas  are  so  easily  raised  from  seed 
and  can  be  had  so  true  to  colour  that  old  plants 
are  not  worth  keeping  as  stock  plants  during  the 
winter.  Now  is  a  good  time  to  sow  in  boxes  and 
place  in  gentle  heat. 

If  a  stock  of  the  hardy  Verbena  venosa  is  desi^'ed 
it  can  easily  be  raised  from  seed,  which  should  be 
sown  immediately  to  ensure  good-sized  plants  for 
planting   out   this   year.     The  Lobelia  is  another 


plant  which  is  far  better  treated  as  an  annual  in 
preference  to  holding  a  stock  through  the  winter, 
so  often  an  incon\'enience  to  man}-.  With  very 
few  exceptions  the  seedlings  come  perfectly  true, 
and  if  a  small  surplus  is  kept  in  boxes  those  not  up 
to  the  required  standard  can  be  made  good  when 
tliey  flower.  Sowings  can  be  made  now  and  even 
later  to  obtain  sturdy  plants  for  bedding-out  in 
Maj'.  I  use  boxes  of  light  soil  in  which  to  sow 
them  and  start  them  in  a  gentle  heat  of  about  liD". 
When  large  enough  thej'  are  pricked  out  into  other 
boxes  again,  giving  them  plentj'  of  room  to  develop 
into  sturdy  plants,  and  as  soon  as  circumstances 
permit  harden  them  ofl'  by  placing  in  cool  frames. 
The  Petunia  is  another  example  of  a  plant  that 
there  is  no  necessity  to  keep  through  the  winter, 
as  seedlings  come  so  true  and  are  so  easily  raised. 
Two  or  three  weeks  time  hence  is  early  enough  to 
sow  the  bedding-out  Petunia,  as  it  grows  fairly 
fast  and  flowers  quickh'. 

There  are  several  handsome  foliage  plants  of 
great  value  and  suitable  for  certain  positions.  To 
get  them  of  effective  size  for  the  coming  summer 
sow  the  seed  as  soon  as  possible.  The  Wigandia 
is  a  plant  of  this  character,  and  if  put  out  in  good 
soil  grows  very  rapidly.  Acacia  lophantha  is 
another,  and  so  is  Charaiepeuce  diacantha  ;  the 
latter,  however,  will  not  assume  its  best  form  until 
next  year.  Cannabis  sativa  is  also  well  worth 
trouble  to  bring  it  to  early  perfection. 

Hugh  A.  Pettigrew 

The  Gardens,  St.  Pagan's  Castle. 


flexible  shoots  are  plentifully  furnished  with 
hooked  prickles  of  a  red  colour,  which  are  very 
conspicuous  against  the  light  green  bark.  The 
leaves  are  bi-pinnate,  and,  in  the  case  of 
vigorous  examples,  a  foot  long,  while  their 
light,  yet  bright  green  tint,  is  very  pleasing. 
The  flowers,  which  are  rather  thinly  disposed 
in  partially  erect  racemes,  are  about  an  incli 
across,  of  a  bright  canary -yellow  colour,  against 
which  the  clusters  of  reddish  anthers  in  the 
centre  stand  out  conspicuously.  In  planting 
this  Cresalpinia  its  vigorous  rambling  character 
should  be  borne  in  mind,  for  when  small  the 
neat  Acacia-like  foliage  is  so  pretty  that 
anyone  unacquainted  with  its  behaviour  in  a 
mature  state  might  well  be  pardoned  planting 
it  in  association  with  more  delicate  subjects, 
which  it  would  soon  smother.  This  Csesalpinia 
is  a  native  of  Japan,  from  where  it  was  intro- 
duced by  Messrs.  Veitch. 


C^ESALPINIA    JAPONICA. 

This  is  a  very  interesting  shrub,  from  the  fact 
of  its  being  one  of  the  very  few  hardy  members 
of  the  sub-order  Ceesalpiniai  (a  division  of  the 
LeguminosM),  the  others  being  the  Gleditschias, 
Gymnocladus,  and  Cercis.  The  Cajsalpinia  is, 
however,  very  distinct  from  either  of  them,  as 
it  forms  a  loose,  rambling  shrub,  whose  long 


OBITUARY. 

MR.    A.    VV.    BENNETT. 

Mr.  Alfred  William  Benxett,  M.A.,  B.Sc,  an 
able  and  well-known  botanist,  died  on  the  23rd 
ult.  He  was  born  at  Clapham  in  1833,  and  was 
educated  at  University  College,  London.  The  first 
of  his  more  important  contributions  to  scientific 
literature  was  editing,  with  Mr.  Thiselton  Dyer, 
the  English  edition  of  Sachs's  "Textbook  of 
Botany,"  1S75;  in  1899  he  published,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Mr.  G.  Murray,  a  valuable  "Handbook 
of  Cryptogamio  Botany "  ;  but  his  most  popular 
work  was  the  "  Flora  of  the  Alps,"  which  appeared 
about  seven  years  ago.  He  was  a  Fellow  and 
ex-vice-president  of  the  Linnean  Society,  and  a 
Fellow   and   former   vice-president   of   the   Royal 


82 


THE    GARDEN 


[February  l,  1902 


Miuroscupical  .Suuiety,  the  Journal  of  which  society 
was  edited  by  him.  Mr.  Bennett  was  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  journals  and  proceedings  of 
several  scientific  societies,  and  was  a  popular 
lecturer  on  botanical  subjects,  as  well  as  an 
examiner  in  botany  to  the  University  of  Wales. — 
Tinier. 


ME.    DAVID    SYME. 

We  regret  to  hear  of  the  death  of  Mr.  David 
Sj'me,  the  managing  director  of  Messrs.  Peter 
Lawson  and  Son,  Limited,  seedsmen,  1a,  George  IV. 
Bridge,  Kdinburgh,  which  took  place  at  New  York, 
Lincolnshire,  suddenly'  on  Saturday  last. 


SOCIETIES. 


GARDENERS'  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT  INSTITVTION. 
Si'EriAl,  MEKTING. 
A  SPECIAL  Keiieral  raeetinj;  (if  this  itistitution  was  held  at 
Simpson's,  uii  Thursday,  the  li.iid  ult.,  at  I  p.m.,  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  imporlaiit  alterations  of  rules.  Mr. 
Harry  J.  \'eitch  was  in  the  chair,  and  there  was  a  good 
attendance.  The  secietary  read  the  notice  convening  the 
nieetinir. 

ilr  Veitch  then  offered  a  few  words  in  explanation  of  the 
object  of  altering  the  rules.  He  said  that  the  number  of 
those  qualifying  under  Rule  III.,  suh-section  fi,  was  in- 
creasing. Life  nienihers  Ironi  the  auxiliaries  would  in  a  few 
years  also  have  to  be  considered.  At  the  jiresent  rate  of 
increase,  if  the  rule  was  to  remain,  in  a  few  years  there 
would  be  no  eleciion  at  all,  because  even  more  than  a 
surticient  number  of  candidates  would  have  (lualitied  for  the 
annual  vacancies.  This  matter  had  been  discussed  by  the 
committee  and  a  sub-cumniittee  for  a  very  long  time ;  it  was 
in  no  sense  a  hurried  matter.  The  fact  of  there  being  no 
election  would  be  very  unfair  t(j  those  who  had  subscribed 
under  fifteen  years. 

Sir.  Arthur  Sutton  tlien  moved  the  followinc  iiile,  in 
substitution  for  sub-sections  5  and  lU  of  Rule  111.:  "For 
each  guinea  subscribed  for  each  year  ino  vutes,  and  in  like 
manner  the  votes  to  be  increased  for  each  additional  guinea 
per  year  subscribed.  All  candidates  who  are  or  may  become 
ife  members  by  payment  of  ten  guineas,  and  wlio  are 
eligible  under  the  same  rule  and  sub-section,  or  the  widows 
of  such,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  100  votes  for  each  year  of 
life  membership,  ijut  sut:h  loo  votes  per  year  shall  not 
continue  to  be  given  for  more  than  10  years,  being  l,niio 
votes  for  the  ten  guineas,  and  by  payment  of  twenty  guineas 
be  entiried  in  lino  votes  per  year  not  exceeding  10  years, 
being  2,0oo  votes  for  the  twenty  guineas,  and  so  on  in 
proportion,  but  subject  nevertheless  to  such  other  rules  as 
apply  to  the  election  of  pensioners.  " 

Mr.  Sutton,  in  the  <;ourfee  of  his  remarks,  said  that 
undoubtedly  many  gardeners  around  Reading  had  joined 
the  Reading  auxiliary  on  the  understanding  that,  subject  to 
their  qualifying  in  other  respects,  they  woidd  almost  be 
entitled  to  a  pension.  He  had  at  first  opposed  the  idea  of 
altering  the  rule,  but  after  much  discussion  in  committee  it 
had  been  decided  to  bring  it  before  the  meeting  that  day. 
He  proposed  the  motion  with  reluctance,  although  he  now 
believed  it  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  society.  Allowing 
for  each  guinea  subscribed  for  each  year  lOO  votes  world 
materially  help  a  candidate  were  he  to  offer  himself  for 
election. 

Mr.  George  Monro  seconded  tliis  resolution.  He  said  the 
matter  now  under  consideration  had  been  in  the  minds  of 
some  of  the  committee  for  ten  or  twelve  years.  Some 
gardeners  thought  this  institution  a  benefit  society.  Such  is 
not  the  case  ;  most  of  the  income  is  received  from  friends 
who  derive  no  benefit  from  the  funds,  and  persons  who  have 
not  subscribed  do. 

Mr.  Owen  Thomas  said  he  was  one  of  those  who  fought 
against  the  alteration  of  the  rule,  and  still  thought  it  a  good 
thing  that  the  committee  should  have  the  power  of  placing 
a  deserving  case  on  the  funds,  although  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  select  from  so  many.  He  now  hoped  the 
alteration  of  rules  would  be  adopted.  Mr.  White  (of  Wor- 
cester) thought  it  hard  on  those  who  had  subscribed  under 
the  rule  as  it  was. 

Mr.  Robert  Piper  remarked  that  if  a  man  subscribed  a 
guinea  a  year  for  fourteen  years  he  would  have  1,400  votes  to 
his  credit,  and  this  would  doubtless  secure  his  election  with 
other  help  he  might  have.  The  institution  had  outgrown 
such  a  rule.  Persons  having  iiualifled  under  that  rule  would 
be  so  numerous  that  they  would  be  placed  on  the  funds 
automatically.  Subscribers  should  have  votes  in  proportion 
to  their  subsciiptiun,  but  their  votes  would  soon  be  of  no 
valuf'  if  the  rule  were  not  altered,  and  they  would  lose 
interest  in  the  institution.  ^Ir.  Wythes  hoped  the  new  rule 
would  be  passed.  Mr.  Arthur  .Sutton  mentioned  that  no 
expression  of  adverse  feelings  had  been  received  by  the 
secretary.  The  Reading  auxiliary  now  approved  of  the  new 
rule.  After  some  further  discussion  Mr.  Sutton's  resolution 
was  carried,  two  only  voting  contrary. 

The  following  alterations  of  rules  and  the  undermentioned 
new  rule  were  afterwards  adopted  :  Rule  IIL,  sub-section  3. 
-After  "total  incapacity  '  in  second  line,  insert  the  words 
*' through  accident  or  incurable  disease."  After  "incapacity  " 
in  fith  line,  insert  the  words  "  from  work  at  any  age.  "  After 
the  word  "  certificate  "  in  sixth  line,  insert  the  words  '*  such 
certificate  to  be  given  when  required  by  the  committee  of 
the  institution  by  a  medical  ofiicer  to  be  appointed  by 
them."  Rule  TIL,  sub-section  11.— Substitute  the  words 
*' List  of  Candidates  "  for  "Pension  List"  in  the  sixth  line. 


Rule  I\'.,  sub-section  2.-  Strike  out  the  words  "  one  vote  for 
each  vacancy"  in  third,  fourth,  and  seventh  lines,  and  insert 
the  words  "  five  votes.  "  Rule  IV.,  sub-section  3.— Strikeout 
the  words  "one  vote  for  each  pensioner  to  be  elected  "  in 
fourth  and  fifth  lines,  and  insert  the  words  "five  votes  at 
all  elections  of  pensioners.  "  Rule  XIII. ,  sub-section  1.— 
Strike  out  the  words  "  AU  life  subscriptions  received  from 
those  memliers  who  may  become  eligible  as  pensioners  under 
Rule  III.,  sub-section  -  and."  New  Rule.-^-Rule  III.,  sub- 
section 10.  — "After  each  election,  the  committee  may,  if 
they  think  fit,  award  pensions  to  not  more  than  two  of  the 
remaining  unsuccessful  candidates." 

Votes  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  and  Mr.  Peacock, 
honorary  solicitor  to  the  institution,  closed  the  meeting. 

Annual  Geneiial  Meeting. 

Mr.  H.  J.  Veitch  presided  at  this  meeting,  held  at  three 
o'clock,  and  there  were  present  Messrs.  J.  Hudson,  George 
Paul,  Cullibert,  Peter  Veitch,  J.  H.  Veitch,  G.  Norman, 
R.  Dean,  W.  Iceton,  White,  George  Monro,  G.  Wythes, 
J.  Rochford,  -f.  Fraser,  Watkins,  Denning,  and  others.  The 
secretary  read  the  minutes  of  the  last  general  meeting,  and 
afterwaids  the  report  and  balance  sheet  for  the  past  year. 

Mr.  H.  .T.  Veitch,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
mentioned  that  the  King  and  tjueen  had  craciously  con- 
sented to  become  patrons  and  the  Prince  of  Wales  president 
of  the  institution.  There  were  now  100  pensioners  on  the 
books.  The  formation  of  another  auxiliary  had  been  con- 
sideied.  The  Victorian  Era  Fund  and  the  Good  Samaritan 
Fund  were  doing  much  good  ;  €1  ns.  is  given  from  the  first- 
named  fund  to  the  unsuccesslul  candidates  for  each  year 
they  have  suliscribed  whilst  waiting  for  the  pension.  Mr. 
George  Monro  seconded,  mentioning  that  the  income  of  the 
Good  Samaritan  Fund  goes  to  non-subscribers.  The  resolu- 
tion to  adopt  the  report  and  balance-sheet  was  unanimous. 

Mr.  George  Monro  proposed  the  re-election  of  Mr.  H.  .1. 
Veituh  as  treasurer,  and  also  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  services. 
All  who  knew  the  Gardeners'  Benevolent  Institution  during 
the  past  thirty  years  would  testify  to  the  valuable  aid  given 
them  by  Mr.  Veitch.  Mr.  Osborne  seconded  this  proposition, 
which  was  unanimously  carried. 

Mr.  G.  Wythes  proposed  that  Mr  0.  .1.  Ingram  here-elected 
secretary.  'I'hey  coxUd  not  have  one  who  worked  harder  for 
the  good  of  the  institution.  Mr.  Watkins  seconded,  and  the 
motion  was  passed  unanimously. 

Mr.  Oeorge  Paul  proposed  that  Mr.  P.  R.  Barr  be  elected 
on  the  committee  in  place  of  Mr.  Ranger  Johnson  who 
retires,  and  that  Messrs.  W.  Denning,  J.  Douglas,  George* 
Monro,  J.  H.  Veitch,  G.  Wythes,  W.  Atkinson.  P.  Blair,  and 
N.  F.  Barnes  be  re-elected.  Mr.  Cuthbert  seconded,  and 
the  proposition  was  carried.  Mr.  White  moved  that  Messrs. 
Manning,  Swift,  and  Willard  be  re-elected  auditors.  Passed 
without  dissent.  Mr.  J.  Hudson  proposed  and  Mr.  Monro 
seconded  that  the  arbitrators  be  again  appointed.     Carried. 

It  was  also  resolved  that  the  following  twelve  candidates 
be  placed  on  the  funds  of  the  institution  without  election  :— 
Barnard,  John,  Cheltenham,  aged  04;  Briggs,  Alfred  tJ., 
Reigate,  aged  OS;  Collins,  John,  Bristol,  aged  .Ml;  Dean, 
Emily  E.,  Oxted,  aged  01  ;  Derricutt,  John,  Penrith,  aged  00; 
Grav.  ifary  A.,  Dorking,  aged  or. ;  Harris,  William,  Bromley, 
aged  7;i ;  Long,  William,  Bristol,  aged  07;  Morris,  Samuel, 
Hurley,  aged  07  ;  Mundell,  John  C.,  Ryde,  aged  07  ;  Sandford, 
Charles,  Luton,  aged  70  ;  and  Taylor,  Matilda,  Worcester, 
aged  7u. 

Alessrs.  E.  C.  Mott  and  B.  Monro  were  appointed  scrutineers 
of  the  ballot. 

Result  of  the  Poll  for  Eight  Vacancies. 

Atkins.  Edwin,  4,735  ;  Wilder,  John,  4.4S0  ;  Hunt,  Richard, 
3,i)17  ;  Hicks,  Samuel,  3,077;  Harrington,  William,  3,".in'2  ; 
Marlow,  George,  2,022  ;  Wighton,  Eliza,  2,S72 ;  Baxter, 
Elizabeth.  2,744 ;  Cullum,  Mary  A., 'in  ;  Davies,  John,  700; 
Dite,  Thomas,  1,707;  Fraser,  .Tohn,  370;  Gould,  William, 
1,000;  Ismav,  Samuel,  1,923;  Kirkby,  Thomas,  708;  Lovell, 
Samuel,  1,141;  Pollard,  W'illiam,  .^45;  Porter,  Bird,  2,431; 
Prentice,  Sarah,  1,231  ;  Webber,  Richard,  l.^SO;  Bates,  John, 
1,520;  Bracebridge,  Stephen,  2,012:  Btadberry,  John,  205; 
Cridland,  Thomas,  1,517;  Darvel,  William,  1,S32 ;  Donnan, 
^lary  A.,  817  ;  Draper,  Edward,  108  ;  Gower,  Elizabeth,  2,085  ; 
Mills,  Mark,  133;  Price,  John.  372;  Rabbits,  Henry,  1,550; 
Smith,  John,  582  ;  Woods.  Joseph,  204.  Thirty-three  papers 
(330  votes)  were  unsigned  and  therefore  wasted. 

Mr.  Melady  proposed  and  Mr.  Iceton  seconded  that  votes 
of  thanks  be  given  to  the  chairman  and  scrutineers. 

Frienkly  Sri'l'EK. 

This  was  held  at  6  p.m.  at  Simpson's,  .\ldernian  Robert 
Piper  presided,  and  was  supported  by  a  large  and  repre- 
sentative body  of  horticulturists  and  others,  amongst  whom 
were  Messrs.  H.  J.  Veitch,  C.  E.  Osman,  Harry  Turner, 
Peter  Veitch,  Arnold  Mose,  Peacock,  J.  H.  Veitch,  J.  G. 
Veitch,  Morgan  Veitch,  George  Paul,  W.  Iceton,  George 
Monro,  J.  Rochford,  Peter  Kay.  H.  J.  Cutbush.  \V.  Cutbush, 
Walker.  E.  T.  Cook.  S.  T.  M' right,  H.  B.  May,  G.  Norman, 
Laing,  G.  Wythes,  W.  Tayler,  J.  F.  McLeod,  G.  J.  Ingram 
(secretary),  and  many  others.  After  the  loyal  toasts  were 
honoured  the  chairman  gave  "The  Imperial  Forces,"  to 
which  Lieutenant  Morgan  \'eitch  i-eplied. 

Alderman  Piper,  '  i  proposing  "Continued  Success  and 
Prosperity  to  our  Ii/  .itution,  mentioned  that  this  was  the 
si.\ty-fourtb  year  of  the  life  of  the  Institution.  It  began  in  a 
modest  way,  but  had  made  sure  and  gradual  progress,  until, 
as  the  treasurer  said  at  the  meeting,  they  had  been  able 
this  year  to  place  a  larger  numlier  of  i)ensioners  on  the 
funds  than  in  any  one  year  befoie.  Economy  in  the  manage- 
ment has  been  a  great  factor  in  this  progress.  I  have  seen 
from  time  to  time  the  care,  attention,  and  anxiety  shown 
by  the  committee  in  endeavouring  to  support  the  most 
deserving  of  the  cases  submitted.  One  of  the  saddest 
things  to  contemplate  is  the  case  of  a  man  who  has  worked 
hard  to  see  nothing  before  him  (through  stress  of  circum- 
stances) but  the  workhouse,  and  it  is  to  help  and  make 
happy  such  persons  that  this  institution  exists.  The  letters 
received  by  the  secretary  show  how  much  the  recipients 
appreciate  the  benevolence  extended  to  them.  I  would  like 
to  couple  with  this  toast  the  name  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Veitch.  one 


we  have  known  for  many  years,  and  the  more  we  know  him 
the  more  we  admire  him.  May  he  be  in  the  future,  as  in  the 
past,  the  mainstay  of  this  institution. 

Mr.  Harry  Veitch,  in  responding,  said  that  he  rose  with 
mingled  feelings  of  regret  and  thankfulness- deep  regret  at 
the  absence  of  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood  through  serious  illness, 
and  at  the  thought  that  Mr.  Cathie  (of  Simpson's)  was 
no  longer  with  them.  They  were  glad  to  welcome  Mr. 
George  Monro  back  again  after  his  long  illness.  He  was  glad 
they  had  to-day  passed  the  alterations  in  the  rules,  for  he 
was  quite  sure  they  had  dune  the  best  for  the  institution. 

Mr.  Arnold  Moss  proposed  "Our  Countiy  Friends."  and 
coupled  with  it  the  name  of  Mr.  Peter  Veitch.  Mr.  P.  Veitch 
having  replied,  Mr.  Monro  gave  the  toast  of  "  The  Chairman. 

"The  Committee  and  Honorary  Officers"  was  proposed  by 
Mr.  (ieorge  Paul,  to  which  toast  Messrs.  Peacock  and 
Wythes  replied.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  G.  J. 
Ingram  (the  secretary)  terminated  a  most  enjctyable  evening. 

Annual  Report. 

The  committee  have  much  pleasure  in  submitting  their 
annual  report  and  statement  of  accounts,  as  audited,  for 
the  year  lODl.  and  in  doing  so  desire  to  congratulate  the 
subscribers  and  friends  of  the  institution  on  its  continued 
prosperity  and  the  success  which  has  attended  its  efiorts  on 
behalf  of  the  aged,  disabled,  and  distressed  people  who  have 
been  obliged  through  misfortune  and  necessity,  occasioned 
by  no  fault  of  their  own,  to  seek  its  benefits,  and  the  aid 
thus  afforded,  it  is  encouraging  to  know,  is  most  gratefully 
appreciated  by  the  recipients  in  their  days  of  need. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  181  persons— 08  men  and 
S3  widows— were  receiving  life  annuities  of  t20  and  tlO 
respectively.  Of  this  number,  during  the  year  thirteen  had 
passed  away  ^  ten  men  and  three  widows —  whilst  two 
widows  have  been  removed  from  the  list,  one  having  been 
sent  to  an  asylum  owing  to  her  mental  condition,  and  the 
other  to  an  infirmary  on  account  of  advanced  age  and 
illness,  and  consequent  inability  to  pay  for  the  medical 
attendance  and  imrsing  she  now  retiuires.  Of  the  men 
deceased,  four  left  widows,  and  their  circumstances  being  of 
a  deserving  and  necessitous  nature  the  committee  have 
been  enabled  under  their  rules  to  award  them  the  widows' 
allowance  of  tlO  a  year.  There  were,  therefore,  at  the  close 
of  the  year  17o  recipients  of  permanent  relief;  and  the 
committee,  notwithstanding  that  they  have  eleven  vacancies 
only,  recommend  an  addition  of  twenty  pensioners  to  be 
elected,  making  a  total  of  li)0  persons  on  the  funds, 
being  nine  more  than  at  the  corresponding  period  of  last 
year,  and  the  largest  number  of  bentficiares  receiving  life 
annuities  fn)m  the  institution  in  any  year  since  its  founda- 
tion. Whilst  the  committee  are  keenly  alive  to  the  increased 
liability  thus  entailed,  they  have  been  infiuenced  in  their 
action  by  the  generous  financial  support  hitheito  accorded 
to  the  institution,  which  they  are  enctniraged  to  hope  will 
be  continued  and  increased  in  the  future,  so  that  there  will 
be  no  necessity  for  the  work  to  be  in  any  way  curtailed. 

The  committee  are  nmuh  gratified  to  be  able  to  report 
that  the  anniversary  festival  dinner,  which  took  place  in 
May  iHSt  under  the  presidency  of  the  Right  Hon.  Lord 
Llangattock,  was  most  successful,  a  substantial  amount 
being  realised  in  aid  of  the  funds.  For  this  pleasing  result 
the  committee  are  deeply  thankful,  and  desire  to  place  on 
record  their  great  indebtedness  to  Lord  Llangattock  for  his 
kindness  in  presiding,  his  able  and  warm  advocacy  of  the 
institution's  claims,  and  for  his  lordships  generous  contri- 
bution to  the  funds.  The  committee  take  this  opportunity 
of  offering  their  sincere  thanks  to  the  stewaids,  collectors, 
donors  of  flowei-s,  the  horticultural  Press,  and  to  other 
helpers  who  contributed  in  any  way  to  make  the  festival  a 
success. 

The  committee  have  mucli  pleasure  also  in  drawing  atten- 
tion to  the  continued  progress  of  the  valuable  auxiliaries, 
from  which  the  following  amounts  have  been  received  during 
the  past  year:  Bristol  and  Bath  (hon.  sec,  Mr.  (J.  Harris), 
£80  17s.  ;  Devon  and  Exeter  (hon.  sec,  Mr.  W.  Mackay), 
£31);  Reading  and  District  (hon.  sec,  Mr.  H.  G,  Cox), 
£70  7s.  ;  Wolverhampton  (hon.  sec,  Mr.  Richard  Lowe),  £20; 
Worcester  (hon.  sec,  Mr.  Percy  G.  White),  £85.  The  hon. 
secretaries  are  most  cordially  thanked  for  their  valued 
services  so  ungrudgingly  given  to  the  cause,  as  are  also 
other  friends  in  various  parts  of  the  country  who,  either  by 
arranging  concerts,  opening  of  gardens,  holding  flower  stalls, 
or  in  other  ways  so  generously  furthered  the  interests  of  the 
institution. 

The  committee  are  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  the 
special  funds  have  proved  a  source  of  incalculable  benefit. 
From  the  "  Victorian  Era  Fund  '  nearly  £100  was  disti  it)Uted 
during  the  past  year  amongst  the  unsuccessful  candidates  at 
the  last  election  who  weie  formerly  subscribers  to  the  insti- 
tution, whilst  a  sum  of  £4S  has  been  given  from  the  "Good 
Samaritan  Fund  '  as  a  temporary  help  to  several  cases  of  a 
particularly  distressing  nature.  This  latter  fund  has  been 
augmented  in  the  past  year,  and  the  committee  rejoice  that 
the  increased  income  from  that  source  will  enable  them  to 
respond  favourably  to  mote  of  the  many  pathetic  appeals 
which  so  fre(iuentiy  come  before  them.  They  would,  how- 
ever, again  point  out  that  only  the  interest  derived  from 
this  fund  is  available,  and  they  therefore  very  earnestly 
commend  its  object  to  those  friends  who  have  it  in  their 
power  to  increase  its  usefulness. 

The  committee  have  to  make  the  very  gratifying  announce- 
ment that  His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales  has 
graciously  consented  to  succeed  His  Majesty  the  King  (now 
jiatron)  as  president  of  the  institution,  for  which  mark  of 
Royal  favour  and  recognition  they  are  deeply  grateful,  and 
they  feel  sure  that  every  friend  of  the  institution  will  unite 
with  them  in  tendering  His  Royal  Highness  their  most 
humble  and  respectful  thanks. 

The  committee  congratulate  the  members  on  the  altera- 
tions in  the  rules  which  have  been  decided  upon  at 
the  special  meeting,  feeling  convinced  that  they  will  very 
largely  conduce  to  the  still  greater  success  and  well-being  of 
the  institution  in  the  future. 

The  committee  cannot  conclude  their  report  without 
referring  with  great  regret  to  the  many  losses  tliat  have 


February  1,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


88 


occurred  through  death  in  the  past  year  among:st  the  valued 
friends  and  supporters  of  the  institution.  These  losses  will 
be  severely  felt,  and  the  committe  therefore  plead  most 
earnestly  for  renewed  effort  to  All  the  places  of  those 
subscribers  who  have  passed  away,  that  the  work  may  be 
not  only  maintained,  but  that  further  help  maybe  forth- 
coming to  such  an  extent  as  to  warrant  an  enlargement  of 
its  beneficent  agency  on  behalf  of  a  class  who  in  their  day 
have  done  so  much  to  brighten  the  lives  and  minister  to  the 
necessities  of  others. 


Balance   Sheet,   1901. 

Dr.  i:      s.    d.      £.      3.  d. 

To  balance        1,028    :i    :? 

,,  amount  on  deposit  3,315  10    ii 

,,  annual  subscriptions  l,.i33  lli    4 

„  donations    at    and     in     conse- 
quence   of    festival    dinner, 
including  collecting  cards   ..     1,636    7    3 
,.  return  of  income  tax  42  19    3 

,,  advertisements  in  annual   list 

of  subscribers  . .  51    6    0 

,,  dividends  and  interest   ..  903    3    7 

4,167  12     5 


Total . 


£8,511     5 


Cr. 


By  pensions  and  gratuities. . 
,,  expenses,  annual  meeting  and 

election 

,,  secretary's  salary 

,,  office  assistance     .. 

,,  rent,  cleaning,  tiring,  light,  &c. 

,,  printing,  including  annual 

reports,    appeals,  voting 

papers,  Ac. 

,,  stationery,  &c 

,,  chequebooks 

,,  festival  expenses,  £191  4s.  7d.  ; 

less  dinner  charges,  £119  14s. 
,,  wreath,  address,  &c.,  Her  late 

Majesty  (Jueen  Victoria 
,,  postages,  including  reports, 

voting  papers,  appeals,  &c. 
,,  travelling  expenses 
,,  carriage,  telegrams,  repairs,  and 

incidental  expenses    . . 
,,  bank  charges        


,  amount  transferred  to  "Good 

Samaritan  Fund  "  . .     1,000    0    0 

,  amount  placed  on  deposit        . .     2,715  10    0 


.t     s.    d.      £      s.  d. 
..      3,155  11    S 


275  0  0 
29  12  3 
88  17  11 


119  n  6 
20  14  3 
6    14 


6  19    6 


53    0    0 
5  13    9 


balance  with  treasurer  . . 
,,  „     secretary  .. 


3,715  10    0 


940  13     1 
4    5    0 


Total . . 


£8,511     5    S 


Victorian    Era    Fund. 


Balance  Sheet,  inoi. 


Dr. 
To  balance 
,,  dividends    . . 
,,  return  of  income  tax 


s.    d. 


124  14    0 
6    0    7 


£    s.  d. 
72  16    7 


•     Total £203  11 


Cr. 

By  gratuities, 

,,  balance,  December  31,  1001 


Total 


£203 

11 

2 

£ 

ni 
111' 

s. 
6 
() 

d. 

0 

£20.-! 

11 

- 

Good    Samaritan     Fund. 
Balance  Sheet,  1901. 

£     3.   d.    ^  £    s.  d. 

561  15     1 


Dr. 

To  balance        

,,  donations,  1901     ,. 

,,  dividends 

,,  return  of  income  tax 

,,  amount  from  deposit  account  of 
general  fund 

Total   . 


/ 


222    3  .0 

38  10    0 

IS    1 


261  11    1 
1,000    (I    0 


£1,823     6     2 


520    II    0 


Cr. 
By  gratuities 
,,  purchase  of  £5:>6  19s.  9d.  '2^ 

Consols    . . 
,,  purchase  of  £610  Great  Western 

Railways     Debentures       ..     1,001    8    0 

,,  balance  in  hand,  December  31, 

1001  


.£      s.    d.        £    s.  d. 
48    U    0 


1,521    8    0 
253  18     2 


Total..  ,.  ..    .£1,823    6    2 


Having  audited  the  accounts,  we  certify  the  same  coriect 
and  the  books  in  good  order.  We  also  certify  that  tlie 
securities  of  the  invested  funds  are  in  the  hands  of  the 
hankers,  by  whom  the  dividends  are  received  on  behalf,  of 
the  institution  ."Thomas  Manning,  Thomas  Swift,  Jessie 

WiLLARD, 


ROVAL    HORTICl'LTTRAL    SOCIETY. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  Primulas  from  Messrs.  Sutton's  and 
the  several  displays  of  Orchids,  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday 
last  would  have  presented  a  very  dull  appearance,  although 
the  haidy  plants  were  choice  and  interesting.  Messrs. 
Sutton  tilled  more  than  one  long  table  with  Primulas, 
prettily  arranged,  and  proving  a  great  attraction.  Eight 
certificates  (two  first-class  certificates,  five  awards  oi  merit, 
and  one  botanical  ceriiticate)  were  awarded  by  the  Orcliid 
Committee. 

Orchid  Committee. 

Present :  Messrs.  Harry  J.  Veitch  (chairman),  James 
O'Brien,  Jeremiah  Colman,  J.  G.  Fowler,  de  B.  Crawshay, 
H.  M.  PoUett,  H.  Ballantine,  Norman  C.  Cookson,  R. 
Brooman  White,  Jas.  Douglas,  E.  Hill,  Frank  A.  Rehder, 
H.  S.  Pitt,  G.  F.  ,Ariore,  T.  W.  Bond,  N.  F.  Bilney,  H.  J. 
Chapman,  W.  Boxall,  W.  H.  Young,  H.  A.  Tracy,  and  J. 
Wilson  Potter. 

Jeremiah  Colman,  Esq.,  Gatton  Park,  Reigate  (gardener, 
Mr.  W.  P.  Bound)  exhibited  a  beautiful  display  of  Orchids 
in  flower.  In  the  centre  were  Ljelia  anceps  var.  Stella, 
Zygopetahim  Mackayi,  ttc,  on  either  side  of  themMDeing 
Calanthes,  Dendrobium  iielanodiscus  aurora,  D.  nobile 
nobilius,  D.  Juno,  D.  Ainsworthii,  and  others,  as  well  as 
several  Odontoglossums.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Sir  Frederick  Wigan,  Bart.,  East  Sheen  (Orchid  grower, 
Mr.  W.  H.  Young),  sent  a  very  choice  group,  consisting 
chiefly  of  Phahfnopsis.  Included  were  P.  amal>ilis,  P. 
schilleriana,  P.  s.  vestalis,  P.  casta,  P.  grandiflora,  O. 
spectabile  (crispo-harryanum),  Dendrobium  \\'iganitL\  La-lia 
anceps  and  varieties.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Charles  worth  and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  Yorkshire, 
sent  a  very  bright  group  of  Orchids,  including  such  highly- 
coloured  flowers  as  Liclio-Cattleya  Charlesworthii,  L.  C.  C. 
var,  princeps,  Oncidium  splendidum,  Cypripedium  aureum 
var.  hyeanum,  Lycaste  Mary  Gratrix(L.  Skinneri  x  L.  plana), 
LycasiR  lasioglossa.  itc     Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Odontoglossum  pardinum,  with  yellow,  thin-petalled 
(lowers,  marked  with  chocolate,  was  given  a  botanical  cer- 
tilicale.  Exhibited  by  H.  S.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,  N. 
(gaidener,  Mr.  F.  N.  Thurgood). 

A  cultural  commendation  was  given  to  A.  Seth  Smith, 
Esq.,  Silvermere,  Cobham,  Surrey  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  (^uartei- 
man),  for  a  fine  plant  of  Angia-cum  sesquipeilale. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park  Nurseries, 
Enfield,  exhibited  Cattleya  Triana^  Mrs.  de  Barri  Crawshay, 
and  Cypripedium  Thompsonii. 

Lielio-Cattleya  Luminosa  (Hessle  variety)  was  exhibited 
by  W.  P.  Burkinsbavv,  Esq.,  The  West  Hill,  Hessle,  near 
Hull. 

De  Barri  Crawshay,  Esq..  was  given  a  cultural  commenda- 
tion for  Odontoglossum  Pescalorei  rosefleldiense,  the  raceme 
carrying  three  dozen  flowers. 

Certificated  Orchids. 

Lfplia  aiiceps  hallidanana  var.  crawnhayana. — A  beau- 
tiful variety,  with  broad  petals,  both  these  and  the  sepals 
pure  while ;  the  interior  of  the  lip  is  heavily  veined  with 
pale  crimson-purple  upon  a  white  ground  :  the  front  of  the 
lip  is  white  with  faint  markings  of  pale  purple.  Exhibited 
by  de  B.  Crawshay,  Esq.,  Rosefleld,  Sevenoaks  (gardener, 
Mr.  W.  J.  Stables).     First-class  certificate. 

Cyi)>ipedinm  Venus  Oakwcod  rar. — A  delicately  beautiful 
flower ;  the  ground  colour  of  the  dorsal  sepal  and  the  rather 
long  drooping  petals  is  very  pale  yellow,  marked  with 
pale  crimson  dots;  the  dorsal  sepal  has,  however,  a  rather 
broad  margin  of  white ;  the  lip  is  of  a  deeper  tint  than 
the  ground  colour  of  the  petals  and  sepals.  C.  niveum  and 
C.  insigne  Sanderie  are  the  parents  of  this  hybrid.  Exhibited 
by  Norman  Cookson,  Esq.,  Oakwood,  Wylam  (gardener,  Mr. 
William  Murray).     First-class  certificate. 

Lijcaaie  Skinneri  var.  Lady  Gladys. — A  very  delicately- 
coloured  variety  of  L.  Skinneri.  The  sepals  and  petals  are 
pure  white,  the  upper  lobes  of  the  lip  being  tinged  with 
faint  rose.  This  new  variety  arose,  we  understand,  in  an 
importation  of  Lycaste  Skinneri.  The  Orchid  committee 
honoured  it  with  an  award  of  merit  when  exhibited  by 
^Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co,  Heaton,  Bradford,  York. 

Dendrubium  uardianuin  Foicleri.—X  most  interesting 
variety  of  D.  wardianum.  The  lower  sepals,  in  that  portion 
immediately  behind  the  lip,  are  beautifully  coloured  and 
marked  almost  exactly  as  is  the  lip.  These  sepals  are  also 
much  broader  than  usual.  The  petals  and  sepals  are  also 
prettily  twisted  at  the  [ip.  Exhibited  by  J.  Gurney 
Fowler,  Esq.,  Glebelands,  S.  Woodford  (gardener,  Mr.  J. 
Davis).     Award  of  merit. 

Cypripedium  ruhekcens  Jianjitsinjhii. — This  hybrid  Cypri- 
pedium owes  its  origin  to  the  intercrossing  of  C.  villosum 
var.  Boxalli  and  C.  cenanthum  superbum.  The  dorsal  sepal 
is  very  heavily  marked  with  dark  crimson-black,  a  green 
ground  colour  showing  towards  the  edges,  although  there  is 
a  narrow  margin  of  white  all  around.  The  petals  are  green, 
heavily  suffused  with  red-brown.  Exhibited  by  F.  Wellesley, 
Esq.,  Westfield  Common,  Woking  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  Gilbert). 
Award  of  merit. 

Cypripedium  insigne  foicleriannm. ~Th\s  is  a  prettily- 
marked  and  well-formed  fl<jwer,  the  dorsal  sepal  being 
marked  with  blotches  of  broun,  those  at  the  apex  beingrose- 
jiurple.  A  margin  of  white  runs  around  these  markings,  the 
jietals  and  lip  brown  tinged  with  red.  Shown  by  J.  Gurney 
Fowler,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  Davis).  Award  of  merit.  A 
natural  coloured  photograph  (an  excellent  reproduction)  was 
ibown  of  this  fiower. 

Ltetio-Caitleya  Ca^^^ei.— Cattleya  Gigas  and  Lselio  ciuna- 
barina  are  the  parents  of  this  new  hybrid.  The  petals  and 
sepals  are  of  a  good  but  not  rich  yellow,  and  the  lip  a  rich 
crimson.  Exhibited  by  Sir  F.  Wigan,  Bart.,  Clare  Lawn,  East 
Shejen  (Orchid  grower,  Mr.  ^Y.  H.  Y'oung).     Award  of  merit. 

Fruit  Committee. 

Present :  Messrs.  George  Bunyard  (chairman).  Henry 
Esling,  Joseph  Cheal,  S.  Mortimer,  Alexander  Dean,  C. 
Herrin,  ^M,  Gleeson,   H.   Markham,    George  Kell,  Edwin 


Beckett,  G.  Norman,  J.  Willard,  James  H.  Veitch,  H. 
Balderson,  E.  Shaw-Baker,  and  Rev.  W.  Wilks. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Vivian  Rood,  Ashton,  Trowbridge, 
exhibited  twelve  varieties  of  Apples,  which  included  good 
specimens  of  King  of  Tompkins  County,  Hoary  Morning, 
Annie  Elizabeth,  Fearn's  Pippin,  and  others.  Silver  Bank- 
sian medal. 

Cultural  commendations  were  awarded  to  Pear  Beurre 
Ranee  from  the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  Holland  House  (gardener, 
ilr.  W.  Dixon),  and  Pear  President  Barabe  from  Lord 
Suffield,  Gunton  Park,  Norwich  (gardener,  Mr.  Allan). 

Mr.  John  Watkins,  Pomona  Kami,  Witherington,  Hereford, 
sent  Apples  Gidleys  Pearmain,  raised  from  Cornish  Gilli- 
flower,  by  the  late  Mr.  John  Gidley,  Exeter,  and  also  Apple 
Pomona's  Dessert,  a  cross  between  Cox's  Orange  Pippin  and 
ting  of  the  Pippins,  a  handsome  highly  coloured  fruit,  said 
to  be  a  good  keeper. 

Mr.  James  Harris,  Blackpill  Nurseries,  Swansea,  exhibited 
Potato  "  Sir  John  Llewellyn,"  grown  in  the  open  field  and  in 
the  garden.    Cultural  commendation. 

Floral  Committee. 

Present :  Mr.  Charles  E.  Shea  (chairman),  Messrs.  C.  T, 
Druery,  H.  B.  May,  James  Walker,  G.  Reuthe,  R.  Dean. 
J.  F.  McLeod,  James  Hudson,  J.  Jennings,  C.  R.  Fielder, 
Charles  Dixon,  Charles  Jeffries,  W.  Howe,  C.  E.  Pearson, 
H  J.  .Tones.  W.  P.  Thomson,  C.  Blick,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  George 
Paul,  W,  .r.  James,  and  Rev.  F.  Page  Ronerts. 

(.Quality  rather  than  quantity  may  be  said  to  be  the 
characteristics  of  the  exhibits  on  this  occasion,  not  a  little 
of  the  interest  being  obviously  centred  on  the  earliest  of 
the  hardy  flowers,  among  which  the  bulbous  Irises  reigned 
supreme.  In  this  particular  branch  quite  a  notable  lot  of 
things  were  set  up  by  Messrs.  Wallace,  of  Colchester-- 
firstly,  the  golden  flowers  of  I.  Danfordia\  a  perfectly 
miniature  yet  showy  kind,  and  around  were  grouped  such 
as  the  unsurpassed  I.  Heldreichi,  bold  and  very  telling  in 
effect ;  I.  Tauri,  a  fine  and  fitting  companion,  in  which  weie 
some  extremely  variable  and  distinct  forms ;  I.  Histrio, 
I.  histrioides,  and  a  fine  plant  of  the  last,  named  Major, 
that  well  merited  the  distinction.  It  is,  indeed,  a  hand- 
some form.  Then  came  I.  bakeriana  and  some  beautiful 
flowers  of  I.  stylosa,  several  good  Snowdrops,  as  G.  Ikariiu, 
Whittalli,  Ac,  with  Crocus  Tauri,  a  nicely  striped  kind,  and 
two  early  Colchicums,  viz.,  C.  hydrophilum  and  C.  libanoti- 
cum  ;  in  short,  a  pretty  and  interesting  gathering.  Bronze 
Banksian  medal. 

From  Messrs.  George  Jackraan  and  Son,  Woking,  came 
nicely  flowered  pans  of  Iris  tubergeniana,  a  pale  yellow  sort 
very  profuse  in  its  flowering,  and  I.  Tauri :  while  in  the  lot 
from  ilessrs.  Ware,  Limited,  Feltham,  were  several  of  the 
Irises  already  noted  and  an  interesting  assembly  of  mostly 
hardy  Cacti,  a  group  not  sufficiently  known  for  their 
enduring  capabilities.  In  tliese  we  noted  several  species  of 
Echinocactus,  as  Simpsoni,  phtcnicus,  spinosa,  &c.,  while 
of  Opuntias  0.  bicolor,  O.  polyacantha,  and  0.  arborescens 
were  remarked.  Mammillaria  aiizonica  is  also  distinct.  All 
these  are  of  considerable  interest,  and  excite  some  attention 
by  their  ([uaint,  pictures([ue  forms.  Hessia  spiralis  is  a 
dainty  white  pink-tinged  bulbous-flowering  plant  on  frail 
pedicels,  while  Anemone  blanda  gave  pleasure  by  its  earliest 
buds.  Saxifraga  burseriana  major  was  full  of  flowers  and 
very  pretty,  and  not  less  so  the  frilled  cups  of  Narcissus 
Cluaii,  pure  and  spotless  in  their  wiiiteness.  Some  few 
Clematises  were  in  this  group,  the  most  distinct  being  the 
red-barred  Marcel  Moser,  which  is  quite  an  acquisition  to 
these  fine  climbing  plants.     Vote  of  tnanks. 

Another  compact  yet  highly  interesting  group  of  the 
earliest  flowers  were  from  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  (Movent 
Garden.  Here  the  well-known  Iris  Heldreichi  made  quite  a 
sumptuous  display  of  its  large,  handsome  flowers,  and, 
judging  by  the  interest  displayed  in  this  kind,  it  is  destined 
to  become  most  popular.  Other  Irises  already  mentioned 
were  in  less  <iuantity,  but  all  fresh  and  charming.  Galan- 
thus  Elwesii  pra?cox  is  good,  and  so,  too,  G.  Ikari;o,  &c. 
Then,  in  an  assortment  of  Hellebores,  we  noted  as  most 
distinct  H.  niger  scoticus  and  H.  niger  Juvernis,  both 
having  large,  handsome  flowers.  In  the  Lenten  Roses,  H. 
colchicus  magniflcus  is  a  grand  form,  very  deep  in  colour, 
while  H.  caucasicus  lutescens  is  the  nearest  approach  as 
yet  to  yellow.  The  committee  awarded  a  bronze  Flora 
medal. 

Begonia  alba  grandiflora  is  one  of  the  Lorraine  set,  a  white 
kind  with  large  flowers  and  very  free.  In  some  ways  it  is 
distinct  from  all  the  others,  and  may  best  Ije  described  as 
a  much  improved  "Caledonia,'  inasmuch  as  the  variety 
more  nearly  represents  the  last-named  kind.  Of  its  freedom 
to  bloom  there  is  no  doubt,  the  whole  of  the  plants  being 
exceedingly  well  flowered.  This  came  from  Mr.  G.  Lange, 
Hanworth  Nursery,  Hampton.  A'ote  of  thanks.  Begonia 
manicata  variegata  from  Sir  Lawrence  Alma  Tadema,  Grove 
Road,  N.  W.  (Mr.  C.  Willingham,  gardener),  was  well  coloured 
and  rather  good  and  distinct.  We  imagine  a  much-improved 
colour  would  followsomewhat  cooler  treatment,  and  doubtless 
in  the  conservatory  it  would  make  a  good  plant. 

Some  cut  blooms  of  Primula  sinensis  Island  Gem  came 
from  the  Isle  of  Wight  Conservative  Club,  Newport  (Mr.  C. 
ilartin,  gardener),  the  colour  being  a  nice  tone  of  pink  ;  and 
the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  Holland  House,  Kensington  (gardener, 
Mr.  Dixon),  sent  a  nicely-flowered  example  of  Loropetaluui 
chinense,  having  thread-like  or  linear  white  segments  in 
considerable  quantity.  The  arrangement,  too,  of  the  petals 
is  both  curious  and  interesting.     Vote  of  thanks. 

The  largest  exhibit  of  the  day  came  from  Messrs.  Sutton 
and  Sons,  Reading,  and  was  composed  entirely  of  Primula 
sinensis.  The  gruup  occupied  a  full  table  through  the  centre 
of  the  hall,  and  in  plants  uf  medium  size  displayed  the  best 
shades  of  colour  and  the  newest  forms  and  types  to  signal 
advantage.  The  kind  that  attracted  the  most  attention  is 
an  entirely  new  break,  and  is  called  *'The  Duchess."  The 
blossoms  are  of  good  size  and  form,  white  with  a  centre  of 
rose-carmine,  encompassing  a  golden-yellow  eye.  In  each 
the  colour  is  well  deflued,  and  in  the  case  of  the  two  former 
about  equally  divided.  So  distinct  is  this  kind  from  all  else 
thai  the  committee  departed  from  their  usual  course  and 


84 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[February  1,  1902. 


made  a  separate  award  to  the  variety,  a  signal  honour  in 
any  group  such  as  the  Primula,  which  isso  readily  reproduced 
from  seed.  Other  good  kinds  were  Pearl  White,  extra  tine  ; 
Crimson  King,  a  very  rich  intense  shade  ;  Reading  Blue,  very 
good  ;  Royal  White,  very  line  and  handsome  flowers  ;  Pink 
Beauty,  serai-double ;  (iiant  Pink  and  Giant  White  are 
also  noteworthy  kinds.  In  the  stellata  group  was  a 
pretty  pale  blue  kind,  very  charming  and  graceful,  with 
medium-sized  flowers.  These  stellata  kinds  are  much  appre- 
ciated by  gardeners,  who  find  them  so  useful  in  the  cut  state 
by  reason  of  the  longer  stems  characteristic  of  this  type. 
Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Hill  and  Son,  Edmonton,  had  a  capital  group  of 
Kerns,  mostly  of  showy  and  useful  kinds.  Of  those  noted 
Oymnogramma  peruviana,  Blechnum  latifolium,  the  young 
fronds  well  coloured ;  Aspleniuni  inequale,  many  of  the  older 
fronds  being  densely  set  with  a  multitude  of  small  plants  ; 
JSlechnum  braziliense,  Asplenium  lucidum,  with  glossy  fronds ; 
I'heilanthes  elegans,  very  beautiful  ;  Onychium  japonicum, 
one  of  the  most  elegant  of  Kerns  ;  several  good  Lastreas  ; 
Davallia  tijiensis  major,  a  large  spreading  plant,  together 
with  Adiantums  and  a  few  choice  Oymnogrammas.  A  basket 
of  Saxifraga  sarnientosa  variegata  was  particularly  well 
coloured  and  very  attractive.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  \'eitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  again  had  a 
display  of  the  tine  Coleus  thyrsoides,  the  plants  this  time 
beiner  in  '.)-inch  pots,  and  having  some  six  or  eight  irusses  of 
bloom  each.  These  old  plants,  it  appears,  are  the  parents 
of  the  younger  batch  shown  at  the  last  meeting,  and  the 
fact  is  both  interesting  and  instructive,  as  it  proves  the 
plant  is  capable  in  good  hands  of  producing  a  long  succes- 
sion of  flowers  when  its  cultivation  is  understood.  The 
spikes  of  bloom  were  perhaps  more  densely  formed  than  the 
earlier  batch  of  a  fortnight  ago.  Vote  of  thanks.  An 
epergne  of  flowers  came  from  Mr.  J.  Williams,  4A.  Oxford 
Roa(J,  Ealing,  W.,  the  arrangement  I'eing  tastefully  carried 
out.  M.  L.  Linden,  Brussels,  sent  H;emanthus  imperialis,  a 
very  fine  form,  to  which  we  refer  under  awards. 

AWAKbti. 

The  following  received  a  first-class  certificate  : 

Hieinanthus  imperialin. — This  is  another  of  those  remark- 
able and  almost  indescribable  novelties  of  the  genus 
Hiemanthus  to  which  greater  attention  has  been  drawn  of 
late  by  the  recent  additions  from  the  Belgian  *.'ongo,  thanks 
to  the  energies  of  M.  Duchesne,  who  first  discovered  these 
unique  plants.  Hardly  a  year  ago,  in  fact  at  the  last 
Temple  show,  M.  Lucien  Linden  brought  over  from  Brussels 
a  set  of  these  plants,  of  whicli  one  or  two  were  admittedly 
species,  and  others  liybrids  or  crossbreds.  All  were 
meritorirms,  showy,  and  far  away  distinct  from  anything 
previously  known.  The  present  plant  is  said  also  to  be  a 
species;  the  flowers  are  rich  orange-salmon  coloured,  and 
may  well  be  compared  to  a  finely-developed  H.  mirabilis, 
which  attained  to  some  notoriety  last  season,  obviously 
these  plants  represent  a  most  distinguished  race,  that  pro- 
duce their  flowers  and  foliage  at  the  same  time,  a  fact 
that  greatly  enhances  their  vulue.  The  entire  globular 
head  is  of  enormous  size,  well  calculated  to  attract  the 
attention  of  any  interested  in  flowering  plants.  From 
M.  L.  Linden,  Brussels. 

Awards  of  merit  to— 

Begonia  alba  o ''and iilora.-  This  may  briefly  be  described 
as  a  much  improved  Caledonia,  and  like  this  belongs  to  the 
Lorraine  section  of  these  plants.  The  present  plant  is  not 
quite  pure  white,  there  is  a  touch  of  green  shade  in  the 
fiowers.  The  latter,  however,  are  large  and  abundant,  the 
plant  being  (jbviously  as  freely  ttowered  as  is  typical 
Lorraine,  than  which  we  can  hardly  grant  it  more  praise. 
Froni_  Messrs.  G.  Lange,  Hampton,  Middlesex 

Primula  xinensis  The  Duchess. ~\  decidedly  new  break 
in  Chinese  Primulas,  the  flowers  being  of  good  size,  white, 
with  rose-carmine  centre  surrounding  a  golden  eye.  The 
colours  are  remarkable  and  well  defined,  and  is  generally 
regarded  as  the  most  distinct  break  for  a  long  time.  Shown 
by  Messrs.  SuLton  and  Sons,  Reading. 


for  twelve  .Tapanese  incurved  blooms ;  medals  from  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones,  Messrs.  Wood  and  Son,  and  Mr.  Wells,  and  other 
prizes  from  several  trade  firms.  The  meeting  closed  with  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Cory-Wright  for  presiding. 


HIGHGATE    AND    DISTRICT    CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 

The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  above  society  was  held 
on  Wednesday  evening,  the  "i'ind  ult.,  the  president,  Mr. 
(.'.  F.  Cory- Wright.  J. P.,  D.L.,  presiding,  and  was  supported 
by  a  good  attendance  of  members.  The  minutes  of  the  last 
general  meeting  having  been  confirmed,  the  treasurer  (Mr. 
J.  McKerchar)  submitted  the  financial  statement  for  I'.tni, 
which  shnwed  the  society  in  a  solvent  condition.  The 
secretary  (Mr.  W.  E.  Boyce)  read  the  annual  report,  and  the 
balance-sheet  and  report  were  adopted.  The  treasurer 
moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Cury-Wright  for  his  services 
to  the  society,  which  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Bevan,  and 
carried  by  acclamation.  Mr.  Cory-Wright,  in  responding, 
stated  that  in  addition  to  the  prizes  he  gave  last  year  to 
the  occupiers  of  the  Hornsey  District  Councils  Workmen's 
Dwellings  he  would  offer  a  silver  cup.  The  election  of 
officers  then  took  place,  and  resulted  as  follows  :— President, 
the  Right  Hon.  the  Eail  of  Mansfield,  proposed  by  Mr. 
Cory-Wright,  who  stated  that  Lord  Mansfield  had  intimated 
his  intention  of  attending  the  Alexandra  Palace  on 
October  29  to  open  the  society's  exhibition,  and  preside  at 
the  annual  dinner  of  the  s'lciety  to  be  held  there  the  same 
evening.  He  would  also  give  £20  towards  the  prize  fnnd, 
Mr.  J.  McKerchar,  Mr.  W.  E.  Boyce,  and  Messrs.  E.  W. 
Smyth  and  G.  Attkins  were  re-elected  treasurer,  secretary, 
and  auditors  respectively,  and  the  following  were  elected  to 
serve  on  the  committee :  — Messrs.  T.  Bevan,  J.  H.  Witty, 
T.  L.  Turk,  A.  Taylor,  Stonebridge,  Saunders,  Adams, 
Webber,  Pannell,  Bone,  Mathews,  Rundell,  Harris,  Bass, 
Rand,  Sedgwick,  \Vo(jds,  and  Bignell  The  secretary 
announced  that  the  schedule  of  prizes  was  nearly  ccmi- 
pleted  for  the  committee  to  settle,  and  he  had  received 
numerous  fresh  special  prizes,  ammigst  which  will  be  found 
Mr.  H.  Burt,  J.P.,  .€10  lUs.,  and  Mr.  Ronald  £3  33.  for  two 
classes  of  Grapes ;  Mr.  E.  P-  Sells  Kt  is.  and  Mr.  Bely  £:!  Js. 


ANSWERS 
TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

RULES  FOR  CORRESPONDENTS. 

Questions  and  Answers.— 7'A*  Editors  intend  to 
make  TUK  Gakdkn  helpful  to  all  readers  who  desire  assU-tance, 
no  matter  what  the  branch  of  gardening  may  be,  and  icith  that 
object  will  make  a  apecml  feature  of  the  "  Answers  to  Corre- 
spondents" column.  All  commxtnications  should  be  clearly 
and  conciselii  v^-itten  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only,  and 
addressed  to  the  EDITORS  o/ The  (iARDEH,  SO,  Tavistock  street, 
Covent  Garden,  London.  Letters  on  biisiness  shoxild  be  sent 
to  the  Publisher.  The  name  and  address  of  the  sender  are 
required  in  addition  to  any  designation  he  may  desire  to  be 
used  in  the  paper.  Whtn  more  than  one  query  is  sent,  each 
should  be  on  a  separate  piece  of  paper. 

Name  of  plant.  —  A.  Eagl'.'.  —  Justicia  chrysos- 
tepbana. 

Culture  of  Kaempferia  Kthelse  (Tysok).— We 
fail  to  see  the  weak  point  in  your  culture  of  Ktempferia 
Ethelic,  for  though  it  will  succeed  with  rather  less  heat 
than  Caladiums,  this  should  not  prevent  its  flowering.  The 
fact  that  it  is  a  comparatively  new  plant  may  have  led  to  it 
having  been  propagated  as  freely  as  possible,  and  on  this 
account  its  period  of  rest  shortened.  Such  treatment  would, 
of  course,  mtliti*te  against  its  flowering  the  first  .'ieason,  but 
we  have  little  doubt,  if  potted  about  the  end  of  February  in 
a  mixture  of  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  sand,  and  placed  in  the 
cool  end  of  the  stove,  that  your  plants  will  bloom  this  year. 
Of  course,  the  tubers  are  now  totally  dormant  and  given 
only  suflicient  water  to  keep  them  from  being  quite 
parched  up. 

Water  Lilies  in  galvanised  tank(Mis.>i  c.  M.). 
—A  Water  Lily  could  be  grown  in  the  galvanised  tank,  but 
it  would  be  as  well  to  give  the  tank  a  coating  of  Portland 
cement  made  thin  like  paint,  and  painted  or  slopped  on 
with  a  whitewashing  brush. 

Celeriac  (Londoner).- We  have  noticed  in  one  of  the 
daily  papers  the  complaint  to  which  you  refer  with  respect 
to  the  dirticulty  in  securing  roots  of  this  Celery.  Whether  it 
be  as  maintained  a  real  remedy  for  rheumatism  or  not,  at 
least  the  roots  are  very  nice  peeled,  cooked,  and  served  up 
with  gravy  or  melted  butter.  They  are  also  very  nice  when 
peeled  and  sliced  with  salading.  We  have  previously  heard 
Celery  of  the  ordinary  type  being  highly  recommended  as  an 
antidote  to  rheumatism,  even  the  waste  stems  and  leafage 
well  washed  and  scalded  with  boiling  water  making  a  good 
anti-rheumatic  tea.  We  have,  however,  no  experience  of 
the  fitness  of  any  Celery  for  such  purpose.  Seed  of  tleleriac 
can  be  freely  purchased,  and  may  be  sown  in  shallow  pans 
under  glass  thinly  in  March,  the  plants  being  treated  as 
ordinary  Celery,  then  planted  out  on  to  good  well-manured 
soil  in  rows  2 "feet  apart,  where  by  the  autumn  good  roots 
will  result.     Liberal  waterings  are.  of  course,  helpful. 

Potatoes  fOP  planting-  (F.  M.  H.  S  ).— Any  experi- 
ments you  may  make  with  respect  to  the  best  sizes  of  sets  of 
Potatoes  for  planting,  and  whether  whole  sets  are  bet'er  or 
otherwise  than  large  tuliers  cut  into  two  or  more  sets,  will 
but  give  the  same  results  that  have  been  obtained  by  others, 
not  only  here  but  al>road,  for  expeiiments  or  trials  of  a 
similar  nature  have  lieen  made  from  time  to  time  for  many 
years,  and  always  with  one  result-  that  is,  that  whole  sets 
always  give  better  crops  than  cut  sets  do,  and  further  that 
whole  sets  ranging  from  2\oz.  to  3oz.  in  weight  give  the 
best  average  results,  as  compared  with  other  sizes  lesser  or 
greater.  That  being  so  it  is  waste  of  consumable  tubers  to 
use  for  seed  purposes  large  ones  when  smaller  ones  are 
better.  But  it  is  unwise  to  use  tubers  that  run  below  2oz. 
in  weight  in  tlie  bulk,  as  those  are  too  small,  and  are  best 
utilised  cooked  for  poultry. 

Salad  Tomatoes  (Ei'IAcke)— We  do  not  quarrel 
with  your  taste  in  relation  to  the  consumption  of  Tomatoes 
with  salading.  There  seems  to  be  no  other  garden  product 
which  is  used  stewed  or  for  the  making  of  sauce  that  is 
used  as  you  desire  largely  as  a  salad,  and  still  further  is  used 
in  the  dessert  as  fruit.  In  either  form  the  fruits  are  most 
acceptable,  but  both  for  salading  and  for  dessert  we  prefer 
the  sinall-fruited  varieties  in  preference  to  large  fruits, 
which,  however,  handsome,  have  to  be  sliced  up  to  be  eaten. 
But  our  taste  may  not  be  everyoues.  For  slicing  there  are 
scores  under  name  that  are  good.  Winter  Beauty,  Frogmore 
Selected,  Polegate,  Perfection,  Duke  of  York.  Comet,  and 
literally  hosts  of  others  all  red  and  good.  Of  yellows, 
Golden  tjueen,  Golden  .lubilee,  Blenheim  Orange,  and 
Sunbeam  are  excellent.  But  of  smaller  fruiters  Red  Dessert, 
Red  Cherry,  Cluster,  anri  Glory  of  Italy,  reds,  and  yellows 
Golden  Nugget  and  Chiswick  Peach  are  the  best. 

Retarding  plants  (W.  J.  M,). -If  you  have  a 
specially  cool  or  indeed  cold  place,  such  as  the  shed  over  an 
ice  house  or  any  deep  cellar  or  cavern  or  any  place  where 
the  temperature  is  during  warm  weather  externally 
abnormally  low,  you  may  hope  by  storing  bulbs,  roots,  or 
even  plants  that  will  bear  such  cold  exposure  to  retard 
them,  and  thus  to  have  them  flowering  or  fruiting  out  of 
their  natural  seasons.  But  the  practice  of  retardation  on 
any  considerable  scale  is  yet  a  limited  one,  and  so  far  h*is 
been  utilised  almost  exclusively  for  market  purposes.  We 
are  not  sure  that  the  practice  is  one  to  be  greatly  admired, 
for  in  gardening  plants  succeed  to  plants  so  rapidly,  each 
one  in  its  season,  and  bringing  with  it  its  special  t)eauty, 
that  Nature  seems  best  when  helped  rather  than  when 
retarded.  Of  course  forcing  with  the  aid  of  warmth  is 
simple  enough,  and  may  be  applied  to  almost  anything,  but 


retardation  is  a  much  more  difficult  process.  You  may  try 
with  Lily  of  the  Valley  roots  and  Lil  um  bulbs  to  begin 
with. 

Tobaccos  (St.  Albans).— The  three  varieties  grown  in 
gardens  chiefly  are  the  tall  red-flowered  Nicotiana  grandi- 
fiora,  the  tall  white-flowered  Nicotiana  sylvestris,  and  ihe 
older,  better  known,  and  dwarfer  white  variety  Nicotiana 
atfinis.  The  first-named  is  chiefly  used  to  assist  in  creating 
fine  leafage  eftects  with  what  are  called  sub-tropical  plants 
in  the  summer.  It  will  reach  to  the  height  of  from  ti  feet 
to  7  feet  in  rich  soil.  N.  sylvestris  is  of  comparatively 
recent  production,  but  still  is  tall.  Its  merit  is  chiefly 
found  in  its  capacity  to  keep  its  flowers  expanded  in  the 
sunshine,  whilst  those  of  the  older  altinis,  though  so 
deliciously  perfumed,  close  up.  But  still  the  flowers  of 
the  former  hang  duwn  in  the  sunshine,  and  much  of  the 
eftect  they  would  otherwise  give  is  lost.  N.  atfinis,  if  flowers 
be  closed  during  the  day,  amply  compensates  for  that  by 
their  rich  perfume  later.  This  variety  should  be  planted 
where  the  sun  goes  ofi  about  8  p.m.,  as  then  the  blooms 
re  expand  quickly. 

Diseased  Cyclamens  (J.).— The  Cyclamen  plant 
you  send  is  attacked  by  one  of  the  eel-worms,  probably 
Heterodera  radicola,  which  causes  the  clubbing  of  tlie  roots, 
and  their  appearance  at  times  like  a  row  of  elongated  beads. 
I  can  suggest  no  remedy.  Possibly  cutting  ofi"  all  the  roots 
might  save  the  corm  if  it  were  thoroughly  washed  with  some 
insecticide  afterwards,  and  planted  in  soil  that  was  not 
infested,  but  I  should  think  that  the  I)e8t  thing  to  do  would 
be  to  burn  the  plants  and  the  soil  in  which  they  are  growing. 
I  should  certainly  be  careful  not  to  turn  the  plants  out  of 
their  pots  on  the  potting  bench,  for  fear  that  any  of  the 
infested  soil  should  get  mixed  with  soil  that  is  not.~G.  S.  S. 

Fungus  and  Chamsepops  Foptunei  (C.)  — 
Sulphur  is  in  many  cases  an  active  agent  in  the  destruction 
of  fungus  life,  and  I  should  not  hesitate  to  use  it.  The 
crumpled  leaves  of  Peach  trees  are  sometimes  caused  by 
insects,  at  other  times  by  fungi.  If  caused  by  the  former, 
on  uncurling  the  leaf  the  aphides,  which  are  the  culprits, 
will  be  found  inside,  and  the  best  remedy  is  to  dip  the  ends 
of  the  shoots,  as  soon  as  the  attack  is  noticed,  in  tobacco 
water  or  a  solution  of  paratfin  emulsion.  Sulphur  has  not 
much  eftect  on  the  fungus,  as  the  more  vital  part  of  the 
latter  is  within  the  leaf.  The  dryness  of  the  ground  has  very 
probably  caused  a  want  of  vigour  in  your  Chama;rops,  for 
these  plants  should  never  be  allowed  to  suffer  from  drought. 
I  believe  a  good  loamy  soil  suits  them  as  well  as  any  other, 
and  most  fungi  are  more  likely  to  attack  plants  that  are  not 
in  vigorous  growth  than  those  that  are.  It  is  (luite  a  mistake 
to  think  that  excess  of  moisture  is  necessary  to  the  growth 
of  fungi,  and  1  imagine  that  the  unhealthiness  of  one  plant 
rendered  it  liable  to  sutter  from  the  attack  of  the  fungus 
while  its  more  healthy  companion  escaped,  just  as  a  person 
in  good  health  is  less  liable  to  catch  a  disease  than  one  that 
is  delicate  and  sickly.  How  the  spores  of  the  fungus  reached 
the  roots  is  a  dirticult  question  to  answer.  They  may  have 
fallen  on  the  ground  and  have  been  washed  down  by  the 
rain,  or  carried  down  by  worms  or  insects,  or  in  various 
other  ways.  It  may  have  been  introduced  by  the  leaf-soil 
you  mention,  but  a  fungus  that  would  live  on  decayed 
vegetable  matter  would  not  probably  do  so  on  living.  If  the 
leaf-mould  be  well  rotted,  I  cannot  see  that  it  can  matter 
what  kind  of  leaves  and  twigs  it  is  composed  of.  It  is 
impossible  to  know  which  of  the  roots  may  have  the  spores 
of  the  fungus  on  them,  but  any  roots  that  are  decayed 
should  be  cut  away.  I'nder  the  circumstances  I  should 
prefer  a  chemical  manure,  such  as  nitrate  of  soda  or  a 
mixture  of  saltpetre  and  phosphate  of  potash,  half  an  ounce 
of  each  dissolved  in  a  gallon  of  water.— G.  S.  S. 

*'  Scpaps  fpom  "Wisley."  -Please  read  on  page  51 
in  ilr.  G.  !•'.  Wilson's  note,  "  Scraps  from  Wisley,"  line  8, 
for  loam  "coarse  fish."  The  sentence  should  read  thus: 
"  Ponds  that  were  never  very  low  before  shrunk  so  much 
that  the  coarse  fish  began  to  sicken,"  which  to  anyone  with 
ponds  says  much. 


Book  Received 


'A  Revision  of  the  genus  Calochortus."    By  Carl  Purdy 
Ian  Francisco,  19U1. 


Catalogues    Received. 

Bulbs  and  flants.—B..  Wallace  and  Co.,  Kilnfleld  Gardens, 
Colchester. 

Hardy  Planin  and  Fruit  Trres. —Goos  and  Koenemann, 
Nieder  Walluf,  Rheingau,  Germany. 

Flower  and  Veyeiable  Seeds.— Rubert  Veitch  and  Sons,  High 
Street,  Exeter  ;  William  Baylor  Hartland,  Cork,  Ireland. 

General  Seed  List.  —Gew^e  Bunyard  and  Co.,  Royal 
Nurseries,  Maidstone  ;  Laxton  Brothers,  Bedford  ;  Barr  and 
Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London  ;  Pope  and  Sons, 
Birminnham  ;  Chr.  Lorenz,  Erfurt,  Germany  ;  Oscar  Knopft" 
and  Co.,  Erfurt,  Germany. 

Flower  Seeds. — Ryder  and  Sons,  St  Albans. 

Sweet  /*eas.— Leggatt,  Blake,  and  Tye,  Guildford. 

Spring  Bulbs,  Vegetable  and  Flower  Seeds. — Ant.  Roozen 
and  Son,  Overveen,  Haarlem,  Holland. 

i'«erfs.— John  Forbes,  Bnccleuch  Nurseries,  Hawick,  Scot 
land. 

Hoses.— P.  Guillot,  Lyons,  France  ;  G.  W.  Piper,  the 
Nurseries,  Uckfield,  Sussex. 


TRADE       NOTE. 

In  the  catalogue  of  seeds  issued  by  Messrs.  Richard  Smith  and 
Co.,  Worcester,  for  1902  there  are  several  novel  features.  We 
notice  remarks  upon  vegetables  in  regard  to  health,  prepara- 
tion of  vegetables  lur  the  table,  alist  of  decorative  vegetables, 
culinary  notes  and  uses  under  each  heading,  together  with 
a  list  of  prizes  offered  by  ^[essrs.  Richard  Smith. 


^^L. 


GARDEN 


-y^= 


^;^li^&=i 


No.  1577.— Vol.  LXL] 


[February  8,  1902. 


CHANGE     OF     PLANT 

NAMES. 

A  FERTILE  source  of  confusion  is  the 
continual  cliange.s  that  take  place 
in  the  naming  of  plants,  so  that  it 
is  really  impossible  to  follow  them 
all,  and  no  end  of  trouble  is  thu-* 
caused.  An  illustration  of  the  differences  of 
opinion  occurs  in  a  late  issue  of  The  Garden, 
where  on  page  .32  there  is  a  most  interesting 
article  on  "The  Winter  Beauty  of  Conifers," 
and  that  by  one  who  deals  with  the  subject  in 
a  masterly  way.  Still,  when  sjieakiog  of 
Retinosporas  the  writer  goes  on  to  s^y  they 
are  now  classed  with  the  Chamiecyparis,  but 
in  this  he  is  behindhand,  for  though  a  few 
years  since  sach  was  the  case,  now  both  in  the 
"  Kew  Hand  List "  and  in  the  last  edition  of 
Veitch's  "  Manual  of  Conifer<)e "  most  of  the 
Retinosporas,  as  well  as  the  plant  .so  long 
known  as  Chaniajcyparis  sphteroidea,  are  now 
included  in  the  genus  Cupressus,  the  generic 
name  of  Chamajcyparis  being  thus  eliminated 
altogether.  These  changes  would  not  be  so  bad 
if  the  recognised  authorities  were  all  agreed, 
but  to  the  mail  whose  library  is  somewhat 
limited  the  name  Abietia  Douglasii  may  prove 
to  be  a  puzzle,  yet  as  the  Douglas  Fir  (Abies 
Douglasii)  it  is  known  to  everyone.  This 
by  no  means  exhausts  its  names,  for  it  is 
Pseudotsuga  Douglasii  of  Carriere  and  the 
"  Kew  Hand  List,"  and  is  also  known  as  Picea 
Douglasii,  Pinus  Douglasii,  as  well  as  other 
names. 

Again,  leaving  this  class,  another  puzzle  is 
furnished  by  the  plant  known  for  years  as 
Lasiandra  macrantha,  but  which  at  Kew  bears 
two  names,  viz.,  Tibouchina  macrantha  and 
Tibouchina  semi-decandra.  Though  innumer- 
able instances  might  be  quoted  1  will  confine 
myself  to  one  more,  and  that  is  the  pretty  little 
warm  house  climber  long  known  as  Manettia 
bicolor.  This  is  Manettia  rubro-lutea  at  Kew, 
yet  strange  to  say  it  was  figured  not  long  since 
in  the  Botanical  Magadne  as  Manettia  bicolor, 
so  that  when  doctors  differ  in  this  way — wlio  is 
to  decide  1-T. 

— "quii' 
Imberbes  didicere,  senes  perdenda  futjri.'' 

Few  people  like  to  unlearn  what  they  have 
taken  some  trouble  to  learn.  Sixty  years  ago 
I  knew  the  scientific  names'  of  a  large  propor- 
tion of  our  native  fauna  and  flora  and 
still  remember  them,  and  it  is  vexing  to 
find  how  many  of  them  have  become  obsolete, 


and  are  changed.  To  some  changes  in  botanical 
names  one  becomes  easily  reconciled  :  as  when 
for  example  such  hard  generic  names  as 
Retinospora  and  Chamajcyparis  are  changed 
for  Thuya,  or  even  for  Cupressus  :  but  to  put 
the  Douglas  Spruce  in  a  genus  by  itself  and 
call  it  Pseudo-tsuga  is  intolerable,  as  your 
correspondent  "  T."  remarks.  However  it  is 
not  fair  to  accuse  botanists  of  changing  names 
wantonly  or  without  cause.  As  science  pro- 
gresses we  must  be  prepared  for  new  scientific 
classifications.  Perhaps  recent  di.scoveries 
supply  missing  links  and  obliterate  the  line  of 
.separation  between  two  genera,  so  they  are 
joined  in  one.  This  calls  for  some  modification 
in  specific  names  ;  for  example  when  the  genus 
Orobus  was  absorbed  in  Lathyrus  it  was  found 
that  such  names  as  hirsutus  and  tuberosus 
occurred  in  both,  so  they  must  be  altered. 
Again  Lathyrus  lathyroides,  "the  lathyrus-like 
Lathyrus "  was  absurd,  and  this  old  garden 
favourite,  figured  eiglity  years  ago  in  the 
Botanical  Magazine  was  renamed  Vicia 
unijuga,  a  change  by  no  means  yet  generally 
recognised. 

No  universal  botanical  catalogue  can  attain 
finality  :  these  are  not  like  dictionaries  of  the 
words  of  a  dead  language  such  as  classical 
Latin  or  Greek,  l>ut  may  more  aptly  be  com- 
pared to  a  London  Directory  or  to  a  Peerage 
which  has  to  be  kept  up  to  date  by  a  new 
edition  every  year.  Perhajjs  the  "  London 
Directory"  contains  as  much  matter  as  "  Index 
Kewensis,"  and  requires  as  much  labour, 
though  less  skilled  labour,  as  that  botanical 
work  would  do  to  keep  it  corrected  year  by 
year,  but  then  there  is  a  far  greater  demand 
for  it. 

But  a  short  notice  of  "Index  Kewensis"  will 
show  that  the  occasional  changes  noticed 
above  are  by  no  means  the  greatest  difficulties 
which  botanists  as  well  as  gardeners  have  to 
contend  with  in  establishing  the  correct  names 
of  plants.  This  wonderful  botanical  work 
contains  a  list  of  about  half  a  million  names. 
These  are  printed  in  two  distinct  types,  up- 
right and  italic.  The  former,  which  are  not 
more  than  one-third  of  the  whole  number,  are 
the  accepted  names  of  true  species  ;  those  in 
italics  are  obsolete  or  rejected  names.  Be^ides 
the  enumeration  of  all  the  species  in  obsolete 
genera,  the  names  in  italics  may  be  divided 
into  two  classes  :  (1)  Those  in  which  different 
names  have  been  given  by  difterent  botanists 
to  the  same  species,  and  (2)  tho.se  in  which  the 
same  name  has  been  given  by  diftVrent  botanists 
to  difterent  species— and  in  these  latter  we 


frequently  find  the  same  name  repeated  three 
or  four  times.  Each  disallowed  name  is 
referred  to  some  true  species  which  is  printed 
after  it  in  upright  type. 

The  labour  of  adjusting  correctly  all  this 
cross-naming  may  be  understood,  when  it  is 
stated  that  in  such  well  known  genera  as 
Campanula  and  Aster  there  are  about  a 
thousand  enumerated  in  each,  not  more  than 
one-third  being  accepted  as  belonging  to  true 
species.  In  deciding  the  claims  of  difterent 
plants  to  the  same  name  or  of  different  names 
to  the  same  plant  the  question  of  priority  is 
generally  considered  to  be  paramount,  though 
not  always  easy  to  determine.  Of  course 
"  Index  Kewensis"  is  a  work  not  within  reach 
of  everyone,  but  the  Hand  Lists  of  the  different 
botanical  classes  cultivated  at  Kew  may  be 
bought  on  the  spot  at  a  trifling  cost,  and  are 
most  carefully  compiled  and  revised,  and 
intended  to  supersede  all  other  authorities, 
even  the  "  Index  Kewensis."  Your  corre- 
spondent "  T."  asks,  if  he  finds  at  Kew  two 
difterent  names  to  the  same  plant,  or  the  same 
plant  named  differently  in  the  Botanical 
Magazine  and  in  the  garden  at  Kew,  which  is 
he  to  believe :  for  my  part  I  hold  that  unifor- 
mity in  naming  will  never  be  attained  amongst 
gardeners  unless  we  agree  to  follow  one 
authority,  and  that  authority  should  be  the 
Hand  Lists  of  the  Royal  Gardens  of  Kew. 
The  discrepancies  which  may  sometimes  be 
found  on  the  labels  will  not  be  found  in  the 
Hand  Lists,  and  if  pointed  out  will  be  at  once 
corrected.  C.  W.'  D. 

(I  add  an  extract  as  a  specimen  of  the  plan 
of  "  Index  Kewensis.") 

Lasiandra  macrantha  Linden  &  Seem,  in 
.Tourn.  Bot.  II.  (1864)  .361  =  Tibouchina 
semidecandra. 

L.  macrantha  Rich,  ex  Triana  in  Trans. 
Linn.  Soc.  XXVIII.  (1871)  44  =  T.  Candolleana. 

L.  macrantha  Vukot  in  Rad.  .lugos  Akad. 
Zagreb  XXVII.  (1874)  212    (Quid  ?)    Habitat  ? 

Manettia  bicolor  Paxt.  Mag.  Bot.  X.  (1843) 
27  =  luteo-rubra. 

M.  luteo-rubra  Benth.  in  Linncea  XXIII. 
(18.50)  44.5.     Brazil. 


ROYAL    HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

A  viGOEOOS  and  completely  satisfactory  report 
of  the  past  year  is  to  be  presented  to  the 
Fellows  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  at 
the  annual  meeting  on  'Juesday  next,  evidence 
of  the  wisdom  of  adopting  a  purely  horticul- 
tural policy,  without   any  attempt  to  rejoice 


86 


THE    GARDEIN. 


[February  8,  1902. 


in  the  possession  of  moderate  wealth  by  an 
expensive  expenditure.  Here  are  a  few 
pleasant  extracts  to  show  the  firm  foundation 
upon  which  the  society  hapjiily  rests. 

Increase  of  Fellows. — "It  is  very  gratifying 
to  the  council  to  be  able  to  record  that  in  the  first 
year  of  the  new  century  a  larger  number  of  new 
Fellows  have  joined  the  society  than  in  any  year 
since  its  establishment  in  1.S04.  The  exact  number 
of  new  Fellows  elected  this  year  (1901)  has  been  930, 
which,  if  contrasted  with  the  1,108  who  formed 
the  whole  number  of  the  society  in  January,  1888, 
of  whom  only  5.52  were  subscribing  Fellows,  indi- 
cates the  development  which  has  taken  place  in 
the  socielj'  recently.  The  council  hope  that 
everyone  who  has  the  societ}''s  welfare  at  heart 
will  continue  to  endeavour  to  promote  it  by 
enrolling  new  Fellows." 

The  Society's  Awards. — "A  corrected  list  of 
the  awards  made  by  the  society  to  plants,  flowers, 
fruits,  vegetables,  &c. ,  to  the  end  of  1899  has  been 
issued.  It  has  involved  a  great  deal  of  labour  and 
research,  and  the  thanks  of  the  society  are  due  to 
those  gentlemen  who  assisted  in  the  work,  e.'ipecially 
to  those  who  prepared  the  section  which  deals  with 
Orchids.  The  price  of  the  entire  volume  has  been 
fixed  at  5s.  (or  the  Orchid  section  can  be  obtained 
separately,  interleafed,  at  5s.),  and  the  council 
hope  that  many  Fellows  will  take  advantage  of 
the  information  it  contains  in  order  to  meet  the 
unavoidably  heavy  expense  incurred  in  its  publi- 
cation." 

Students  at  Chiswick. — "  The  council  wish  to 
call  attention  again  to  the  good  work  done  at 
Chiswick  under  Mr.  Wright's  superintendence,  not 
only  in  the  garden,  but  among  the  students.  During 
the  last  three  years  one  of  our  Chiswick  students 
has  taken  a  first  class  in  honours  in  science  and  art, 
one  a  first  in  advanced  botany,  two  a  first  in 
elementary  botany,  at  South  Kensington  ;  one  has 
been  appointed  curator  of  the  Botanic  (hardens  at 
Antigua  ;  one  is  a  botanical  collector  for  the  London 
School  Board  ;  one  has  been  appointed  to  conduct 
an  important  series  of  experiments  with  land  and 
crops ;  thirteen  have  taken  a  first  class  in  the 
Koyal  Horticultural  Society's  examination  in  horti- 
culture ;  four  have  obtained  positions  at  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew  ;  one  is  a  botanical  demonstrator  at 
Owen's  College,  Manchester  ;  one  is  editor  of  a 
garden  paper  ;  one  is  fruit  growing  and  farming  in 
Ireland,  and  another  in  Canada.  Mr.  Wright 
reports  to  the  council :  '  The  demand  for  energetic 
trustworthy  young  men  from  Chiswick  is  rapidly 
increasing  ;  there  is  no  difficulty  in  placing  such  in 
good  situations,  our  supply  being  unequal  to  the 
demand,  but  they  miisl  all  he  irorkerx.  During  the 
past  year  applications  were  received  for  thirty- 
four  head  gardeners,  nine  single-handed  gardeners, 
six  foremen,  eight  journeymen,  and  several  miscel- 
laneous men,  such  as  landscape  gardeners,  propa- 
gators, &c.' " 

Feuit  Exhibition  at  the  Crystal  Palace. — 
"The  exhibition  of  British-grown  fruit  held  by 
the  society  at  the  Crystal  Palace  on  October  10, 
11,  and  12  was,  from  an  educational  point  of  view, 
most  satisfactory.  As  an  object-lesson  in  British 
fruit  cultivation  this  annual  show  stands  unrivalled, 
and  is  of  national  importance.  Those  who  have 
visited  it  from  year  to  year  cannot  fail  to  have 
been  impressed  by  the  wonderful  advance  which 
has  been  made  in  the  quality  of  the  hardy  fruits 
■exhibited.  And  as  the  importance  of  fruit-growing 
in  this  country  cannot  well  be  over-estimated  the 
council  invite  Fellows  and  their  friends  to  support 
them  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  and  improve  this 
exhibition  by  visiting  it,  and  by  subscribing  to  its 
funds,  for  it  cannot  be  too  widely  known  that  the 
continuance  of  the  show  is  absolutely  dependent 
on  at  least  £100  being  raised  by  subscription  each 
year  towards  the  prize  fund.  The  show  involves 
the  society  in  a  very  large  expenditure  without  the 
possibility  of  any  financial  return.  The  council 
cannot  therefore  continue  it  unless  sufficient 
interest  in  it  is  taken  by  Fellows  and  their  friends 
to  provide  £100  towards  the  prize  fund.  And  this 
will  in  coming  years  be  even  more  important  than 
heretofore,  as  the  directors  of  the  Palace  have 
cignified  to  the  council  that  they  feel  compelled  to 


still  further  decrease  their  contribution  for  1902 
by  yet  another  £50.  A  glance  at  the  list  of 
subscribers  will  show  how  small  has  been  the 
interest  taken  by  the  bulk  of  the  Fellows.  The 
council  would  point  out  that  this  is  not  a  local 
show  with  a  few  large  prizes,  but  that  a  large 
number  of  small  prizes  have  been  provided  in  order 
to  secure  the  best  fruits  in  each  section  ;  special 
prizes  have  been  allotted  to  market  growers  ;  and 
counties  have  been  grouped  in  such  a  way  that 
growers  should  not  have  to  compete  with  exhibitors 
from  localities  more  favoured  by  climatic  conditions. 
These  points  will  be  still  further  extended  should 
sufficient  financial  support  be  forthcoming.  Sub- 
scriptions should  be  sent  at  once  to  the  Secretary, 
117,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  and  if  the  list 
prove  satisfactory  the  schedule  will  be  issued  in 
April,  and  the  show  held  on  September  IS,  19,  and 
20,  1902." 

The  Coming  Rose  Conference. — "  On  the  kind 
invitation  of  the  Earl  and  Countess  Ilchester  the 
council  have  decided  to  hold  a  conference  on  and 
exhibition  of  Roses  at  Holland  House,  Kensington, 
in  connection  with  one  of  the  ordinary  fortnightly 
meetings  of  the  society.  This  conference  and  show 
will  take  place  on  Tuesday,  June  24.  The  exhi- 
bition of  flowers  will  be  continued  on  Wednesday, 
June  25,  unless  it  should  be  found  impracticable  on 
account  of  the  arrangements  for  His  Majesty's 
Coronation,  in  which  case  due  notice  will  be  given. 
A  special  schedule  of  prizes  has  been  prepared  with 
the  kind  co-operation  of  the  National  Rose  Society, 
and  will  be  found  incorporated  with  the  'Arrange- 
ments, 1902.'  Fellows  are  particularly  requested 
to  correct  the  dates  given  for  this  conference  on 
their  tickets,  most  of  which  had  been  printed  before 
the  date  of  the  Coronation  was  announced." 

We  merely  quote  these  extracts  to  indicate 
the  strong  position  of  the  society,  and  the 
balance-sheet  is  as  satisfactory  as  its  present 
straightforward  and  earnest  endeavours  to 
advance  horticulture  in  the  best  ways. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 

The  proposed  hoptieultural  hall. 

—  Seeing  how  much  interest  has  of  late  been 
created  in  relation  to  the  proposed  horticultural 
hall,  and  having  heard  it  stated  that  the  council 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  in  conjunction 
with  certain  Fellows,  were  seeking  to  find  a  suitable 
site  for  such  hall  in  Loudon,  I  turned  to  the  report 
of  the  council  to  be  presented  to  the  Fellows  at 
the  annual  general  meeting  on  Tuesday  next,  and 
failed  to  find  any  reference  whatever  to  the  matter. 
That  is  disappointing.  Has  general  report  proved 
false  after  all,  or  if  not  so,  have  the  council  nothing 
to  report,  hence  the  reticence  observed,  or  may  it 
be  that  the  promoters  of  the  movement  are  outside 
the  council  entirely  ■?  No  doubt  some  information 
will  be  gained  at  the  meeting,  but  it  is  evident  that 
at  present  there  is  no  prospect  of  any  substitute 
for  the  Drill  Hall  being  supplied. — A  Fellow. 

Two  g'OOd  Peas. -I  noticed  in  The  Garden 
of  February  1  a  note  on  Carter's  Daisy  Pea.  May 
I  advocate  as  well  one  which  I  have  tried  most 
successfully  for  the  past  two  years,  and  have 
recommended  with  likewise  success  Veitch's  early 
and  most  prolific  Chelsea  Gem.  Also  as  a  middle 
or  late  Pea,  Alderman  I  consider  ranks  very  high, 
bearing  profusely  fine,  long,  and  well-formed  pods, 
and  considering  last  year's  bad  season  was  remark- 
able.—Chas.  Wji.  Crosby,  Broome  Hurst,  Dorkmg. 

Ppopagating    Tree    Pseonies.  —  In 

reply  to  this  (juestion  I  beg  to  state  that  the 
Chinese  propagated  Tree  Peonies  perhaps  200 
years  before  it  was  done  by  Europeans,  and  that 
most  likely  we  have  learnt  the  method  from  them  ; 
the  roots  of  albiflora  maintain  the  life  of  the  scion 
for  a  year  or  two,  when  the  latter  will  have  taken 
root  for  itself  and  the  stock  will  die  away.  Pro- 
pagation from  seed  is  seldom  resorted  to,  because 
it  takes  five  to  eight  years  before  the  seedlings 
show  flowers  in  proper  condition,  but  our  most 
perfect  varieties  have  been  raised  from  seed,  and 
it  is  of  rare  occurrence  that  seedlings  revert  to 
single  forms,  especially  if  during  flowering  time  a 


soft  brush  is  used  to  fertilise  and  hybridise  the 
flowers.  Seed  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  it  is  taken 
from  the  pod  ;  if  sown  at  once  most  of  the  kernels 
will  germinate  the  following  spring,  but  if  the  seed 
be  left  for  some  time  before  sowing  it  may  take  a 
year  longer  to  germinate.  —  Max  Leichtlin, 
Baden-Baden. 

Ag-ave  amepieana.— Mr.  Ddgmore  states 

(page  13)  that  the  American  Aloe  "is  almost 
invariably  killed  in  this  country  in  an  ordinary 
winter.''  This  may  be  the  case  in  Dorsetshire, 
but  it  certainly  does  not  hold  true  of  South  Devon, 
where  fine  examples  of  the  type  and  of  the  varie- 
gated form  have  remained  unprotected  in  the  open 
ground  for  many  years  and  still  enjoy  the  best  of 
health,  though  they  are  not  planted  as  recom- 
mended by  your  correspondent  "  in  the  side  of  a 
perpendicular  cliff,"  but  on  level  or  slightly  sloping 
ground.  I  know  of  three  cases  where  these  Aloes 
have  flowered,  and  doubtless  there  have  been  many 
more  unknown  to  me.  One  of  the  plants  that  I 
am  acquainted  with  is  a  prodigious  specimen 
exceeding  in  size  any  of  the  many  thousands  1 
have  seen  growing  wild  in  the  Southern  Hemi- 
sphere. Its  dimensions,  which  I  took  last  week, 
are  as  follows  :— Height  from  ground  to  point  of 
highest  leaf,  1 1  feet ;  length  of  leaf,  9  feet  4  inches ; 
breadth  of  leaf  at  base,  1  foot  7  inches  ;  circum- 
ference of  plant,  41  feet.  Every  year  I  have 
expected  its  flowering  and  subsequent  death.  It 
has  increased  slowly  in  size  during  the  ten  years 
that  I  have  known  it,  and  remains  the  embodiment 
of  noble  immobility  and  the  most  striking  feature 
of  the  little  garden  in  which  it  stands.  The 
plants  which  I  have  alluded  to  as  flowering  were 
tar  inferior  in  size  to  this  giant,  whose  prospective 
towering  bloom-spire  should  be  worth  a  journey  to 
see. — S.  W.  FiTZHERBKiiT. 

New  Pea  Edwin  Beckett.— There  can 

be  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  new  Pea  Edwin 
Beckett,  given  both  an  award  of  merit  and  a  first- 
class  certificate  in  1900  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Societ}',  and  this  season  being  sent  out  by  the 
Messrs.  Culbush,  Highgate,  was  one  of  the  sur- 
prises of  that  year.  It  is  a  splendid  introduction, 
as  when  on  trial  at  Chiswick  it  stood  a  severe  test, 
the  season  being  a  trying  one.  Edwin  Beckett  is 
well  named,  and  it  is  appropriate  that  such  a  good 
grower's  name  should  be  given  to  such  a  fine 
variety.  It  shows  that  Mr.  Beckett  not  only 
produces  good  vegetables,  but  takes  an  interest  in 
raising  and  improving  them  also.  I  consider  this 
Pea  a  mid-season  variety,  although  the  raiser  has 
shown  it  early.  It  is  a  delicious  Marrow  variety, 
and  will  doubtless  become  a  great  favourite  with 
exhibitors,  but  I  note  its  good  qualities  for  home 
supplies  on  account  of  its  grand  cropping  qualities, 
and  I  regard  it  as  greatly  superior  to  the  Duke  of 
Albany  ;  it  crops  longer  and  the  quality  is  better. 
It  is  a  strong  grower — 4  feet  to  5  feet — and  the 
large  pods  contain  nine  to  eleven  Peas  of  a  deep 
green  colour,  with  the  true  Marrowfat  flavour  so 
much  liked. — G.  Wythes. 

W^eathep  in  Scotland.— The  week  ending 
February  1  was  very  remarkable,  not  only  for  the 
deepest  depression  of  the  thermometer  during  the 
winter,  on  January  31  falling  from  20°  to  24°  of 
frost  in  various  localities,  but  also  for  an  abnormally 
high  barometer.  In  the  south-east  it  ranged  from 
30  70  inches,  while  at  Aberdeen  it  was  as  high  as 
31-10  inches.  In  some  places  the  readings  have 
been  the  highest  recorded  for  forty  years,  but  as 
late  as  1896  readings  equally  high  were  noted. 
Quite  a  snowstorm  opened  the  week,  and  we  await 
with  much  suspense  its  disappearance  to  see  how 
the  many  spring  flowers,  Snowdrops,  Aconites, 
Hepatica,  Iris  stylosa.  Hellebores,  &c.,  have  fared. 

Medals    offeped    fop    seedling 

OPChidS.— We  notice  in  the  schedule  for  1902  of 
the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society  that  three 
prizes,  the  society's  gold,  silver,  and  bronze 
medals,  will  be  given  for  the  best  American 
seedling  Orchid,  other  than  Cypripedium,  exhibited 
by  the  originator,  to  be  accompanied  by  a  coloured 
picture  of  the  same  for  the  use  of  the  committee. 
Might  not  some  of  our  societies  at  home  do  like- 
wise ?  The  Orchid  is  paid  but  scant  attention  in 
the  prize  schedules  of  most  provincial  horticul- 
tural societies. 


S'ebruary  S,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


87 


Japa^n  in  April.  — While  England  endures 
very    uncertain    and    treacherous    weather,    with 
occasional  showers,  during  April,  in   Japan   it   is 
the   most   delightful   and  the   best  month  of   the 
year  (I  believe  there  is  a  difference  of  just  about 
one   month   between   the    English    and    Japanese 
■climate).     We  have,  in  Japan,  "February  winds, 
March   showers,   and  April   flowers."     Of  all  the 
dower.s  that   adorn  the  season   in   .Japan,  Cherry 
blossom    is    the    prettiest    and    most    attractive. 
Tokio,  the  capital  of  Japan,  and  often  called  "the 
Elowery  City,"  presents  during  the  month  of  April 
a  glorious  sight  as  of  one  immense  cluster  of  those 
light   pink    blossoms.     If  you  ascend  a   hill   that 
stands  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  city,  and  which 
t'ornis  a  part  of  the  famous  park  of  Uyeno,  you 
have    a    commanding    view    of    the    city,    thinly 
covered  with    clouds  of  Cherry  blossoms  swaying 
to  and  fro  amidst  the  pleasant  breezes  of  the  flower- 
ing spring.    The  chief  flowers  of  the  season,  besides 
the  Ciierry  blossoms,  are  Plum  blossoms,  the  Kaido 
<Pyrus  spectabilis),  the  Yamabuki  (Kerria  japonica), 
and,  later  on.  Azaleas,  AVistarias,  Irises,  l':eonies, 
and  the  Lotus.     At  this  time  of  j'ear  the  weather 
is  generally  very  fine,  and  several  garden  parties 
are  given  by  society  people,  the  greatest  event  of 
the  season  being  the  garden  party   given  at   one 
■of  the  imperial  palaces  at  Tokio,  to  which  only 
privileged  people  are  invited.     [This  is  an  extract 
from    a   charming   paper  upon    ".Japanese   Home 
Life,"  by  Chozo  Koike,  M..J.S.,  Attache,  Imperial 
'Japanese  Legation,  and  printed  in  the   recently- 
published  "  Transactions  of  the  .Japan  Societj'. "] 

New  early  Tomato  "Winter  Beauty. 

— To  those  who  frequently  attend  the  meetings  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  and  have  seen  this 
variety  it  may  be  quite  familiar,  but  many  are 
■unable  to  do  so.  Most  growers  are  anxious  to 
■obtain  early  Tomatoes,  and  they  should  give  the 
mew  Winter  Beauty  a  trial.  I  am  aware  it  is 
•called  a  winter  variety,  and  it  is  certainl3'  the 
best  for  that  season  I  have  grown  ;  but  mj'  note 
■more  concerns  its  value  as  a  first  cropper  under 
glass.  When  sown  in  the  late  autumn  or  in  mid- 
winter the  fruit  may  be  had  ripe  in  May  and  in 
■quantity.  This  is  a  great  gain  at  that  season,  as 
'both  choice  vegetables  a.nd  salads  are  then  scarce. 
I  first  saw  this  remarkable  free-fruiting  Tomato 
grown  by  Mr.  Mortimer,  who  is  such  a  good 
'Cultivator,  and  he  thought  it  one  of  the  heaviest 
•croppers  he  ever  had,  and  at  a  season  when  many 
varieties  fail  to  set  freely.  It  is  also  quite  as 
valuable  for  a  first  crop  in  the  open.  Last  season 
we  gave  it  a  trial,  and  it  was  quite  ten  days  earlier 
'than  others  planted  specially  for  early  supplies. 
The  quality,  an  important  point  in  all  fruits  or 
•vegetables,  is  very  gooil,  and  the  fruits  are  of  the 
'right  size,  not  coarse,  and  a  beautiful  colour. — G. 
Wythes. 

A  valuable  early  Pea— Bountiful.— 

Por  the  past  few  3'ears  our  favourite  early  Pea  has 
■been  Bountiful,  and,  though  a  round  blue-seeded 
variety,  it  is  much  superior  to  the  small  round  ■white 
iPeas  often  grown  for  the  first  crop.  This  variety 
sown  in  .lanuary  under  glass  and  planted  out  in 
■early  March  will  give  good  pods  late  in  May,  and 
if  sown  in  the  open  early  in  February  matures 
early  in  June.  It  is  rightly  named  Bountiful,  as 
it  is  a  remarkable  cropper.  I  first  noticed  it  in  the 
-Royal  Horticultural  Society's  gardens  at  Chiswick 
in  June,  1896,  and  it  was  given  an  award.  It  is 
termed  a  3  feet  to  4  feet  variety,  but  with  us  rarely 
•exceeds  8  feet,  and  sown  under  glass  is  even 
shorter.  The  pods  are  long,  slightly  curved,  of  a 
•rich  dark  green  colour,  large  for  an  early  Pea, 
and  the  flavour  is  first-rate.  I  am  aware  we  have 
-no  lack  of  excellent  early  Peas,  and  some  of  the 
Tecen't  introductions  are  most  valuable;  but  in 
heavy  or  wet  soils  it  is  not  advisable  to  sow  the 
Marrow  varieties  too  early.  The  seed  at  times 
germinates  badly,  and  such  varieties  as  Bountiful 
are  more  trustworthy  for  a  first  crop,  and,  being  a 
distinct  advance  on  the  other  round  -  seeded 
varieties,  and  having  a  larger  pod  with  its 
'heavy  cropping  (pialities,  it  is  an  acquisition. — 
'G.  Wythes. 
Winter  Nelis  Pear.— It  will  doubtless 

come  as  a  surprise  to  many  growers  of  Pears  to 
•learn  that  the  fruit  committee  of  the  Royal  Horti- 


cultural  Society    did,    at   the   Drill   Hall   on   the 
14th  ult. ,  award  this  old  and  very  richly  flavoured 
Pear  a  first-class  certificate  almost  unanimously. 
The  only  objector  was  not  in  a  minority  because  he 
was  opposed  to  the  Pear,  but  on  principle  objected 
to  tlie  giving  of  such  awards  to  old  varieties.     In 
that  objection  he  is  not  alone ;   but  it  seemed   to 
have  been  answered  when  it  was   said   that   the 
passing  ovei'  of  such  a  delicious  Pear  as  Winter 
Nelis  by  the  committee  in  the  past  reflected  on  the 
judgment  of  previous  committees.     Certainly  it  did 
seem  strange  that  whilst  so  excellent  a  Pear,  one 
raised  so  early  in  the  last  centurj',  that  as  Dr.  Hogg 
tells  us,  it  was  introduced  here  from  France  so  long 
since  as  1818,  first-class  certificates  and  awards  of 
merit  have  been  somewhat  freely  given  to  varieties 
that  had  the  merit  of  being  new,   but  otherwise 
have  attained  to    very   little   popularity.      It   is 
interesting  to  note  in  "The  Fruit  Manual"  that  the 
late  Mr.  R.  D.  Blackmore,  in  whose  judgment  the 
late  Dr.  Hogg  seemed  to  place  somewhat  excessive 
confidence,  said  of  Winter  Nelis  that  at  Teddiugton 
it  had  rather  a  flat  flavour.   That  is  such  an  unusual 
condition  of  the  fruit  that  it  is  difficult  to  under- 
stand.    Certainly  it  is  a  Pear  that  does  best  on 
a  wall,  but  I  have  seen  it  fruit  freely  on  a  north- 
east wall  at  Forde  Abbey,   and    the  fruits  when 
ripe  possessed  delicious  flavour.     The  fruits  placed 
before  the  fruit  committee  on  the  14th  ult.  were 
grown  on  nursery  trees  at  Langley,  thus  showing 
that  there  are  soils  and  positions  in  which  it  will 
do  well  as  a  pyramid.     One  wonders  why  it  should 
not  in  the  past  never  have  been  anyone's  business 
to  present  Winter  Nelis  to  the  fruit  committee  for 
an  award.     In  any  case  it  has  one  now  and  deserves 
it,  for  it  will  be  grown  long  after  many  other  Pears 
are  forgotten. — A.  D. 

Jasminum      nudiflorum      among* 

Ivy. — Seldom  has  the  winter  .Jasmine  been  so  fine 
in  bloom  through  the  first  half  of  January  as  this 
year.  For  the  last  three  or  four  weeks  it  has  been 
a  glorious  mass  of  yellow.  The  warm  days  during 
the  beginning  of  the  month  developed  the  flowers 
astonishingly.  To  see  it  at  its  best  it  should  be 
planted  in  large  masses,  and  if  intertwined  amongst 
Ivy  or  Cotoneaster  the  efl'ect  is  very  pretty.  The 
Ivy,  with  its  green  leaves,  and  the  Cotoneaster, 
bearing  numbers  of  red  berries,  make  an  excellent 
setting.  We  have  them  growing  between  these 
two  plants  on  the  walls  of  the  Abbe_v,  and  we 
allow  both  to  grow  freelj'  during  the  summer.  In 
this  way  they  produce  long  shoots  reaching  quite 
a-way  from  the  wall.  When  out  of  bloom  in' 
spring  they  are  cut  in  close  with  garden  shears. 
Some  .Jasmine  plants  are  growing  cm  a  rough  stone 
wall,  the  Ivy  being  very  old,  and  some  eighteen 
years  ago  the  .Jasmine  was  planted  out  a  foot  from 
the  wall.  Now  it  has  grown  from  IS  feet  to  20 feet 
liigh,  and  has  covered  a  space  (jU  feet  in  length.  As 
I  looked  on  this  on  several  occasions  during  early 
January  I  could  not  help  thinking  how  many  dull 
spots  might  be  made  bright  in  winter  by  using  such 
plants. —.J.  Ckook,  Forde  Ahhty. 

Rhubarb  Prince  Albert.— This,  in  my 

opinion,  is  still  the  earliest  Rhubarb,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  obtain  true.  Roj'al  Albert,  or  Scotch 
Mammoth  as  it  is  .sometimes  called,  is  distinct 
from  it,  and  neither  so  good  nor  so  early.  Prince 
Albert  is  rather  small,  the  colojir  when  cooked, 
being  deep  red,  and  the  flavour  delicious.  I  forced 
it  for  a  number  of  years,  and  by  placing  the  roots 
in  a  little  leaf-mould  in  the  Mushroojn  house  a 
fortnight  or  three  weeks  before  Christmas  always 
ensured  good  produce.  The  least  warmth  starts 
it  into  growth,  and  I  have  seen  it  pushing  through 
small  mounds  of  leaves  and  straw  early  in  the  New 
Year.  The  late  Mr.  .John  Fraser  made  a  speciality 
of  it  at  the  Lea  Bridge  Nurseries  many  yearsi 
ago,  but  I  am  afraid  the  true  variety  has  nearly 
died  out. — .J.  Cbawfokd. 

^Winter  Pears. — I  am  in  full  accord  with 
all  that  your  correspondent  "  G.  W."  has  to  say 
concerning  Nouvelle  Fulvie.  With  regard  to  Easter 
Beurre,  this  variety  is  unreliable  both  as  to  the 
time  when  fit  for  table  and  its  behaviour  in  certain 
soils.  It  is  then,  as  "  G.  W."  describes  it,  useless. 
On  a  warm,  deep,  rich  loam  the  fruits  attain  a 
large  size,  are  quite  free  from  blemish,  and  good 
in  flavour,  but  they  are  just  as  likely  to  ripen  at. 


Christmas,  when  other  varieties  are  generally 
plentiful,  as  at  their  proper  season.  Glou  Morceau 
has  been  extremely  good  this  season,  the  supply 
having  just  finished.  This  is  another  Pear  that 
does  not  succeed  well  in  all  gardens  alike,  but 
where  it  is  a  success  there  is  no  better  variety  for 
use  at  Christmas  and  in  early  .January.  Where 
the  soil  suits  it  it  may  be  cultivated  as  an  espalier 
in  the  open  in  warm  districts,  otherwise  the  pro- 
tection of  a  wall  is  needed.  "With  me  the  supply 
of  winter  Pears  will  be  prolonged  for  some  weeks 
to  come,  as  we  yet  have  Josephine  de  Malines, 
Bergamotte  d'Esperen,  and  Easter  Beurre  to  fall 
back  upon.  The  fruits  of  the  latter  are  as  yet 
quite  firm.  Whether  they  will  keep  until  the 
festival  after  which  this  Pear  is  named  is  extremely 
doubtful.— A.  Ward. 

Prunus  davidiana.— Some  of  the  many 
readers  of  The  Gakden  who  take  pleasure  in 
early  flowers  may  be  interested  to  know  that  the 
white  form  of  I'runus  davidiana  opened  its  first 
flower  fully  on  .January  18,  though  this  winter  is 
not  what  I  consider  a  good  one  for  early  subjects. 
The  next  day  several  other  blooms  opened.  Up  to 
to-day  ("iOth  ult.)  the  rose-coloured  one  has  not 
opened,  though  it  will  be  in  bloom  shortl3'.  The 
white  one  I  have  here  is  the  fastigiate  or  erect- 
growing  one,  and  is  much  prettier  in  every  way 
than  the  other,  which  is  apt  to  assume  an  untidy 
appearance  if  left  unpruned,  while  the  fastigiate 
one  always  looks  neat,  and  is  exceedingly  pretty 
when  wreathed  with  its  pure  white  flowers  all 
along  its  leafless  branches.  Of  course  the  weather 
may  yet  prove  unkindly  and  destroy  the  open 
flowers,  but  there  are  generally  plenty  of  buds 
left  to  open  when  a  more  congenial  time  comes 
round  again. — S.  Aknott,  Car,ielhorn,  hi/  Dumjriex, 

y.B. 

Green  raffia. — The  green  raflia  referred  to 
in  the  note  on  page  34  of  The  Gaeden  can  be 
procured  in  this  country,  and  I  have  been  using  it 
tor  some  months.  It  is  much  better  than  the 
uncoloured  for  most  flowers,  and  if  we  could  have 
it  in  a  few  other  shades  of  green  it  would  be  even 
more  useful.  It  seems  to  stand  the  weather  well 
outside,  although  it  loses  colour  slightly.  With 
this  I  am  sending  two  short  pieces  ;  one  has  not 
been  used,  and  the  other  has'  been  exposed  to  all 
weathers  since  August.  It  is  more  expensive 
than  the  white,  but  is  a  great  improvement  either 
for  use  outside  or  under  glass.— S.  Aknott,  Carse- 
thorn,  hi/  Dumfries,  SV.B.  [It  is  a  great  advantage 
to  be  able  to  have  green  raffia,  especially  for  tj'ing 
up  pot  plants,  but,  as  Mr.  Arnott  remarks,  it  would 
be  better  if  there  were  a  choice  of  colouring, 
though  we  think  it  would  be  better  still  if  some 
general  standard  colouring  were  adopted  of  a  moie 
neutral  tint.  The  new  raffia,  as  in  the  sample 
sent,  is  of  a  particularly  disagreeable,  hard,  rather 
bright,  although  deep  tone  :  the  colour  is  so  strong 
that  it  woulil  quarrel  with  that  of  most  leaves. 
When  a  little  faded,  as  in  the  other  sample, 
though  not  so  harsh,  the  colour  is  still  unpleasant. 
What  is  wanted  is  a  much  more  neutral  colour, 
not  one  that  asserts  itself  in  competition  with  that 
of  leaves.  Something  just  a  tone  yellower  oi' 
browner  than  a  l^age  leaf  gives  some  idea  of  what 
is  desired.  If  the  colour  were  .more  inofl'ensive  we 
feel  sure  the  sale  of  green  raffia  would  be  greatly 
increased.  If  makers  would  care  to  communicate 
with  us  we  should  be  glad  to  advise  them  as  to  a 
suitable  colouring. — Kds.] 

Viola  Blue  Bell, — When  lecturing  at  Ealing 
a  few  evenings  ago  on  "  Floriculture  and  Florists 
in  thelast  Fifty  Years,"  in  dealing  with  the  develop- 
ments of  the  Pansy  and  Viola,  I  alluded  to  the  origin 
of  Viola  Blue  Bell,  which,  as  I  have  frequently 
stated,  came  as  a  chance  seedling  in  my  little  garden 
at  West  Ealing  in  1S71,  where  I  do  not  think  any 
form  of  Viola  had  been  previously  grown.  I 
noticed  a  plant  of  close-tufted  growth  spreading 
itself  ;  it  flowered  ;  I  named  it  Blue  Bell  on  account 
of  its  violet-blue  shade,  and  it  was  distributed  in 
the  autumn  of  1872.  A  florist  of  Isleworth,  who 
was  one  of  the  audience  at  the  above  lecture,  said 
there  was  one  market  grower  near  him  who,  at 
the  present  time,  had  from  1(),OUO  to  1.3,000 
plants  of  Blue  Bell,  which  he  grew  for  the  trade 
and  also  sent  to  the  markets,  Awhere  it  is  in  sireat 


88 


THE  GARDEN. 


[February  8,  1902. 


demand.  I  had  feared  that  the  lu-sh  of  doubtful 
new  varieties  of  late  3ears  had  thrust  my  bantling 
out  of  cultivation  ;  but  when  I  heard  it  was  being 
grown  by  the  thousand  I  wondered  if  any  other 
variety  of  Viola  i.s  .so  extensively  propagated.  A 
few  years  ago  Mr.  (ieorge  Wythes  was  using  it 
freely  as  an  edging  to  his  flower  beds  at  .Syon,  and 
may  be  doing  so  still.  Three  years  after  I  had 
distributed  Blue  Bell  I  spent  a  "couple  of  days  at 
Chattiworth  when  Mr.  Thomas  Speed  liad  charge 
of  the  gardens  there,  and  in  one  coiner  of  the 
grounds  he  showed  me  a  large  patch  of  Blue  Bell  in 
tine  bloom,  and  informed  me  that  it  gave  as  much 
pleasure  to  the  then  Duke  of  Devonshire  as  did  tlie 
choicest  plant  to  be  found  in  an}'  of  the  conserva- 
tories. Since  then  many  new  varieties  of  Violas 
have  been  announced  ;  but  where  are  they  1 
Exhibition  Violas,  as  they  are  termed,  are  in  the 
main  of  little  value  for  bedding  purposes  in  so  far 
as  I  have  tested  tlieni  and  seen  them  tested  liy 
others.  Some  old  varieties  like  Blue  Bell  are  still 
grown  for  bedding  and  boi-der  purposes,  and  when 
one  sees  them  employed,  as  in  the  <i)ueen's  Park  at 
Wolverhampton,  as  edgings  to  huge  beds  of  shrubs, 
their  floral  service  is  unique  and  past  describing.  I 
have  read  in  the  pages  of  Tun  (Iarhen  flowery 
descriptions  of  new  varieties  of  Violas,  too  otten, 
it  is  to  be  feared,  written  up  in  the  interests  of  one 
or  two  raisers,  yet  when  I  go  into  garden.s  I  find 
Countess  of  Hopetoun,  True  Blue,  Duchess  of  Fife, 
J.  B.  Riding,  Ardwell  (!em.  Bullion,  Blue  Gown, 
Countess  of  Kintore,  and  other  old  standard  sorts 
in  use  for  the  summer  display.  A  hot,  dry  summer 
destroys  not  a  few  of  the  delicate  new  varieties. — 
R.  Dean. 
Hardiness  of  eertain  shrubs.— Mr. 

H.  R.  Dugmore,  in  his  interesting  note  on  the 
above  subject  (page  13),  does  well  to  emphasise 
the  fact  that  "  there  is  no  definite  minimum  of 
temperature  whicli  any  particular  plant  can 
endure."  One  often  hears  it  said  that  such  and 
such  a  plant  will  not  stand  more  than  .1"  of  frost, 
but  a  plant  may  withstand  1,")"  of  frost  with 
impunity  on  one  occasion  only  to  succumb  at  a 
later  date  to  a  temperature  lij-'  higiier,  so  much 
depends  upon  the  atmospheric  conditions  prevailing 
both  immediately  before  and  immediately  after  the 
occurrence  of  frost.  When  a  winter  day's  heavy 
rain  is  followed  by  a  clearing  sky  and  a  sharp 
frost  the  foliage  becomes  encased  in  ice,  and  if  the 
sun  rises  on  the  following  morning  in  a  cloudless 
sky  the  frozen  leaves  are  seared  as  with  a  hot  iron. 
On  such  an  occasion  somewhat  tender  evergreen 
shrubs  are  often  hopelessly  ruined  liy  a  few  degrees 
of  frost,  wliereas  when  the  weather' is  dry  and  the 
sun  is  hidden  it  is  astonisliing  the  amount  of  cold 
they  will  endure  with  equanimity.  A  striking 
instance  of  the  latter  case  occurred  during  the 
past  November,  when  South  Devon  was  visited  by 
a  frost  whose  severity  was  almost  unexampled  in 
the  locality  so  early  in  the  winter.  In  a  garden 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Plympton  two  ther- 
mometers placed  1  foot  above  the  open  ground, 
about  'itlU  yards  apart,  showed  respectively  •20'^ 
and  21^'  of  frost,  but  the  damage  done  was  infini- 
tesimal. The  foliage  of  a  few  shrubby  Veronicas 
showed  the  greatest  amount  of  injury, 'flagging  for 
a  week  or  so,  but  eventually  recovering  almost 
entirely.  Bush  Loquats  in  the  open  were  abso- 
lutely unharmed,  as  were  Camellias,  which  by  the 
way  are  hardier  than  Laurels,  and  the  youngest 
leaves  of  Clethra  arborea  growing  against  a  wall 
were  only  a  little  lirowned,  while  a  large  plant  of 
Solarium  jasminoides  growing  over  a  dome-shaped 
trellis  on  a  lawn  only  evidenced  the  eS'ects  of  the 
frost  in  the  blackening  of  the  tips  of  its  new 
growth.  This  frost  lasted  for  five  nights  in  a 
lesser  degree  of  intensity,  but  the  foliage  was 
absolutely  dry  and  the  days  were  sunless  during 
its  contiiuiauce.  In  another  garden  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood W)"  of  frost  were  registered.  These 
readings  were  taken  with  carefully  tested  ther- 
mometers.—S.  W.  FiTZIIEEEERT. 

New  Potato  Carltonian.    There  can 

be  no  (juestion  that  any  new  Potato  that  comes 
through  tlie  severe  trials  at  Cliiswick  is  worth  a 
note.  Although  we  liave  no  lack  of  varieties,  it  is 
well  to  point  out  the  merits  of  the  new  ones.  The 
new     Carltonian    was    raised    in     the    North     of 


England,  near  Penrith,  and  certainly  will  become 
a  great  favourite  when  known.  The  raiser  kindlj' 
gave  me  a  few  sets  for  trial,  and  I  was  much 
pleased  Avith  its  superior  i|ua1ity.  The  vegetable 
committee  at  Chiswick  during  the  last  season 
adopted  a  new  plan,  and  I  think  a  good  one,  that 
was  to  test  late  Potatoes  (in  winter)  by  cooking, 
and  Carltonian  came  out  with  high  honours.  It 
had  previously  received  three  marks  for  cropping, 
and  was  free  from  disease.  The  Messrs.  Cutbush, 
who  are  introducing  this  variety,  are  to  be  con- 
gratulated in  having  sucli  a  good  cooking  Potato 
to  add  to  their  list.  The  tubers  keep  a  long 
time,  are  not  coarse,  but  shapely,  with  few  eyes, 
nearly  pebble-shaped,  a  few  inclined  to  be  more 
like  the  fluke,  and  the  flavour — the  cardinal  point — 
is  all  one  can  desire,  whilst  the  flesh  is  floury. — 
G.  W. 


BRITISH     HOMES 
GARDENS. 


AND 


OTTON  HALL,  TADCASTER 

UN  T I L  quite  recently  this  had  long 
been  the  residence  of  the  Misses 
Harris.  Ja  consequence  of  the  death 
of  one  of  them  the  estate  has  changed 
hands,  the  new  owner  being  Mrs. 
Oliver,  late  of  Bolton  Lodge,  Bolton 
Percy,  Yorks,  a  member  of  tlie  Yorkshire  family 
of  Ramsdens,  who,  as  is  well  known,  have  for  a 
long  time  taken  a  keen  interest  in  horticulture 
generally.  Mr.  Croft,  gardener  for  the  Misses 
Harris  and  their  parents  for  over  forty-five  years, 
has  retired  on  a  well-earned  annuity.  The  glass 
erections  at  Otton  are  fairly  extensive  for  tlie  size 
of  tlie  place.  There  are  three  vineries,  two  Peach 
houses,  a  large  leanto  greenhouse,  a  good-sized 
plant  stove,  Cucumber  and  Melon  house,  and  a 
small  span  used  for  growing  Orchids.  Amongst 
the  small  collection  of  the  latter  are  several  plants 
of  Catllej'as  in  variety,  which  Mr.  Croft  has  had 
under  his  care  for  fully  thirty-five  years.  I  well 
remember  in  November,  about  twenty  years  ago, 
seeing  for  the  first  time  two  large  plants  of 
Cattleya  labiata  (true)  in  full  flower.  There  were 
fifteen  flowers  open ;  this  was  when  C.  labiata 
(true)  was  very  scarce  in  the  countiy. 

The  treatment  given  to  the  Orchids  fully  bears 
out  what  some  modern  Orchid  growers  assert,  viz., 
the  desirability  of  annually  cutting  away  the  back 
leafless  pseudo-bulbs  when" the  plants  are  repotted. 
The  long  vinery  is  somewhat  unusual  in  its  struc- 
ture. It  is  a  lean-to,  with  a  steep  pitch,  the 
height  at  the  back  being  fully  12  feet  with  a 
width  of  i)  feet,  and  .'5  feet  from"  the  ground  level 
at  the  front.  The  Vines  are  trained  against  the 
liack  wall,  and  until  a  few  years  ago  three  Vines 
filled  the  whole  house,  which  is  00  feet  long. 
I  have  seen  some  crops  of  really  good  fruit  in  this 
house  from  time  to  time.  Along  the  front  were 
plunged  a  fine  lot  of  pot  Plums  in  variety,  which 
usually  carried  fine  crops  of  fruit.  Tomatoes 
grown  as  cordons  here  and  there  were  perhaps 
the  most  fruitful  I  ha\-e  yet  seen.  I  have  often 
remarked  that  for  amateurs  who  have  a  bare  wall 
this  is  the  most  useful  form  of  structure  they 
could  have  if  they  wished  to  grow  fruit  and 
flowers  in  one  house.  The  Peach  houses  are 
lean-to  structures,  with  a  curvilinear  trellis  on  the 
front  and  standard-trained  trees  on  the  back  wall. 
A  variety  named  Early  Victoria  nearly  fills  the 
front  trellis  in  the  early  division.  It  is  a  very  fine 
early  Peach,  but  is  not  grown  so  much  as  its  merits 
deserve.  I  believe  it  was  sent  out  by  the  late 
Mr.  T.  Rivers.  It  is  not  catalogued  by  many 
fruit  tice  growers.  The  true  variety  is  worth 
having.  Bellegarde  and  Grosse  Mignonne  were 
the  best  in  the  later  division. 

I  ought  to  mention  that,  like  most  of  the  older 
gardeneis,  Mr.  Croft  was  firm  in  his  belief  that 
for  Grapes  ripening  from  June  onwards  well- 
drained  outside  borders  raised  somewhat  above 
the  surface  of  the  surrounding  soil  were  far  the 
best  in  the  long  run.  The  kitchen  garden  was  a 
model  of  neatness  and  good  culture.   The  surround- 


ing walls  are  well  furnished  with  good  bearing 
trees  of  Pears,  Plums,  and  Apricots.  Peaches  are 
not  largely  grown  outside. 

The  enclosed  grounds  of  some  six  or  eight  acres 
are  particularly  interesting  to  all  lovers  of  outdoor 
gardening  whose  tastes  are  of  catholic  character. 
There  are  fine  specimens  of  indigenous  trees  and 
shrubs,  some  very  good  conifers,  including  a  fine 
LeVjanon  Cedar  and  a  massive  spreading  Yew  with 
a  circumference  of  over  7(j  yards.  There  are  many 
beds  bright  both  in  spring  and  autumn.  Begonias 
in  particular  were  very  well  grown  for  this  purpose. 
There  are  two  small  rock  gardens,  one  well  fur- 
nished with  a  select  collection  of  alpine  plants,  and 
the  other  with  the  choicer  hardy  Ferns  and  other 
shade-loving  plants. 

Otton  is  a  fair  type  of  a  well-arranged  moderate- 
sized  English  garden.  There  may  be  a  difference 
of  opinion  as  to  the  ultimate  success  or  otherwise 
of  ladies  taking  up  horticulture  as  a  livelihood, 
but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  amongst  the  most 
interesting  gardens  in  the  country  are  those  owned 
by  ladies  who  take  a  per.sonal  interest  in  them. 
Mrs.  Oliver's  gardens  at  Bolton  Lodge,  while 
comparatively  small,  contain  a  most  interesting 
collection  of  hardy  plants.  Mr.  T.  Marsh,  who 
has  long  assisted  at  Otton,  is  engaged  to  succeed 
ilr.  Croft  as  head  gardener.  Besides  his  duties  as 
gardener  Mr.  Croft  managed  the  estate  generally. 

Urimaton,  Tadcasler.  H.  J.  Clayton. 


RIVIERA    NOTES. 

This  ideally  fine  season  has  brought  out 
several  good  things,  notably  Bignonia  venusta, 
whose  long  sjirays  with  clustering  orange 
flowers  of  most  brilliant  hue  remind  one  of 
Madeira  or  Algiers,  where  the  Bougainvillea 
contrasts  .so  audaciously  with  it.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  gardeners  on  this  coast  will  plant  it 
freely.  The  Japanese  Musa  Ba.sjoo,  which  the 
French  simply  call  M.  japoni'ca,  shows  its 
superior  hardiness  for  winter  gardening  by  not 
only  blo.ssoming  in  winter,  but  by  setting  its 
fruits  freely  as  if  there  were  no  long  winter 
nights  to  check  its  growth.  The  tenderer  M. 
Cavcndishii  is  content  if  it  escapes  being 
injured  liy  cold,  and  does  not  make  any  growth 
ditring  midwinter. 

Centaurea  depre.s.sa  is  so  good  a  winter 
bloomer,  and  its  blue  so  rich  in  tone,  that  I 
wonder  it  has  not  superseded  the  more  strag- 
gling C.  Cyanus  in  England.  Its  blooms  are 
so  like  the  common  blue  Cornflowers  that  a 
casual  observer  would  only  remark  what 
ca])ital  blue  Cornflowers  those  are  ;  but  it  is 
really  a  better  and  more  lasting  flower  of  a 
dwarfer  habit. 

St.  Antoine  Strawberry  has  shown  it.self  a 
step  in  advance  this  season,  for  its  fruits  in 
December  were  of  good  size  and  flavour,  but 
the  secondary  berries  are  small,  so  that  to 
make  a  dish  of  even  sized  fruit  a  large  number 
of  plants  is  required.  As  its  spring  flower 
buds  are  .showing  white  by  mid-January  in 
the  open  air  it  would  prove  a  very  early 
cropper  in  spring,  with  a  little  protection  in 
ca.se  of  a  cold  night  or  severe  rainfall. 

That  unfortunately  named  Rose  La  France 
de  1889  is  in  great  beauty  this  winter.  I 
suppose  it  must  have  been  discarded  in 
England  on  account  of  its  tenderness,  but 
under  glass  I  should  think  it  might  be  superior 
to  General  Jacqueminot  for  winter  flowering. 
At  aiiy  rate  it  is  worth  a  trial,  for  its  lilooras 
at  this  .season  are  most  brilliant,  of  large  size, 
and  delicious  perfume  ;  in  fact,  it  stands  alone 
as  a  red  winter  Rose  and  yet  not  a  Tea  Rose. 
One  great  peculiarity  shown  here  is  that  it 
gives  a  big  flower  at  the  end  of  its  long  autumn 
shoots,  and  then  proceeds  to  flower  down  the 
stem  by  degrees  so  that  there  is  a  steady 
sequence  of  blos.soni.  There  are  two  Carnation 
shows  announced  shortly,  one  will  take  place 


1 


I 


February  8,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


89 


at  Nice  on  February  14,  15,  and  16,  the  later 
one  will  be  held  at  Cannes  in  March,  on  the 
6th  to  the  ]  0th  I  understand.  The  cultivation 
of  the  tree  Carnation  at  Antibes,  Villefranche, 
and  Nice  is  constantly  extending,  and  the 
practise  of  raising  the  plants  from  seed 
has  resulted  in  greatly  improved  strains. 
When  one  sees  a  breadth  of  some  old  and 
well  known  variety,  such  as  Alegatierc,  its 
inferiority  to  the  seedlings,  which  are  so 
constant  to  type  and  yet  so  vigorous,  is  most 
convincing. 

There  are  some  happy  eomliinations  to  be 
seen  now  and  then  this  year.  A  group  of  tall 
white  Callas,  golden  Linum  trigynum  weighed 
down  with  blossom,  and  a  good  breadth  of  the 
pretty  grey-blue  Primula  sinensis  now  so  much 
grown,  is  just  the  thing  for  a  shaded  and 
sheltered  corner  where  the  sun  cannot  scorch 
the  delicate  colours.  The  more  recent  develop- 
ments of  P.  sinensis  stellata  also  are  very  good 
garden  plants  ;  they  are  so  free  and  so  hardy, 
but  the  pride  of  the  .January  garden  this  year 


WATSONIA   ARDERNEI  ALBA   IN   A   PORTUtiUESE   GARDEN. 
{Ffoiii  a  photograph  by  Mr.  Roger  dc  Covcrleif.) 


in  my  eyes  is  the  combination  of  the  big 
bushes  of  scarlet  Salvia  gesnerajflora,  and  the 
still  more  luxuriant  and  tall  bushes  of  the 
yellow  Cassia  tomentosa  at  their  feet,  with 
some  bold  clumps  of  the  fine  purple  flowered 
Iris  germanica,  whose  flowers  last  for  days  at 
this  season,  even  on  the  sunny  banks. 

E.  H.  WOODALL. 


A    PORTUGUESE     GARDEN.-III. 

The  soil  and  climate  of  Oporto  are  admirably 
adapted  for  bulbous  plants,  especially  for  the 
South  African  species.  Ixias,  Sparaxis,  Tri- 
tomas,  Freesias,  and  Gladioli  seed  freely  and 
soon  choke  up  a  garden,  so  we  have  constantly 
to  dig  up  the  beds  in  summer,  replant  the  best 
bulbs,  and  liurn  the  rest.  Amaryllis  Belladonna 
is  naturalised,  and  as  soon  as  the  first  autumn 
rains  fall,  about  the  end  of  September,  my 
wood  is  brilliant  with  thousands  of  their  pink 
blooms  ;  they  seed  well,  but  increase  chiefly  by 
oti'sets.    Nerine  sarniensis  also  thrives  in  sunny 


situations.  Anigozanthus,  Antholyza,  and 
Watsonia  spread  themselves  among  the  grass 
in  places  which  are  not  often  disturbed,  and 
form  colonies  of  bulbs.  The  finest  variety  of 
Watsonia  is  W.  Ardernei  alba,  a  vei-y  beautiful 
plant.  I  received  a  few  bulbs  from  South 
Africa  a  few  years  ago  ;  they  increased  rapidly 
and  seeded  so  that  I  have  a  large  (luantity  of 
them.  The  photograph  represents  a  plant  whicli 
bloomed  last  year  bearing  about  300  flowers. 

Bulbous  Irises  do  well  ;  one  of  the  finest  is 
Iris  tingitana  from  North  Africa,  flowering  in 
.January  and  February,  but  only  about  one 
Ijulb  blooms  out  of  five.  I  have  raised 
quantities  of  seedlings,  but  two  or  three  years 
must  elapse  before  the  question  can  be  settled 
as  to  whether  the  European  seedlings  are  an 
improvement  as  regards  flowering.  Iris  Boissieri 
is  a  beautiful  little  Iris  discovered  by  me  in  18S6 
in  the  mountains  of  Northern  Portugal,  but  it 
does  not  seem  to  flourish  near  the  sea  coast. 
Professor  Sir  Michael  Foster  appears  to  have 
had  the  same  experience  with  it  at  Shelford ; 
it  grows  naturally  in 
a  mixture  of  decayed 
Heather  and  granite 
sand  at  an  altitude  of 
3,000  feet  to  4, 000  feet. 
Iris  filifolia,  I.  lusita- 
nica,  I.  Sisyrinchium, 
the  Spanish  Iris,  and 
others  grow  wild  in 
the  country,  and  some 
of  them  are  grown  in 
gardens.  Iris  stylosa 
also  flourishes,  but  a 
field  of  the  Japanese 
Iris  Kajmpferi  grown 
in  sunk  beds  and  well 
Hooded  in  summer  is 
a  sight  to  be  remem- 
bered. Leucojum 
trichophyllum  in 
April  and  Acis  autum- 
nalis  in  October  are 
delicate-looking  little 
gems,  a  field  of  the 
former  with  occa- 
sional scarlet  Poppies 
formed  one  of  the 
prettiest  sights  I  ever 
saw ;  they  were  grow- 
ing in  a  very  sandy 
soil  surrounded  by 
Pine  trees  (Pinus 
maritimus),  and  near 
them  were  some  Tri- 
chonema  clusianum, 
with  their  pale  purple 
cups,  yellow  at  the  base,  and  in  a  damp  corner 
seveial  species  of  ground  Orchids,  principally 
the  Bee  Orchis.  Baron  de  Soutellinho. 
Entre  (Juinias,  Portugal. 


ROSA  BRACTEATA. 

(The  Macaetney  Eose.) 
Introduced  from  China  in  170.')  by  Lord 
Macartney — from  whom  it  derived  its  ]jopular 
name— this  Rose  has  never  become  common  in 
gardens.  This  is  owing  mainly  to  its  tender- 
ness, for  in  most  parts  of  this  country  it  will 
not  thrive  unless  it  has  the  protection  of  a 
wall.  Nor  have  a  great  number  of  varieties 
been  raised  from  it,  as  has  been  the  case  with 
R.  indica,  which,  although  a  tender  plant  in 
itself,  is  the  parent  of  hundreds  of  varieties 
that  beautify  our  gardens.  Of  the  Macartney 
Roses  only  two  or  three  are  ofl'ered  in  cata- 
logues, and  only  one  of  them — Maria  Leonida 
— has  acquired  any  degree  of  popularity. 
Rosa  bracteata  itself  is  a  free-growing  bush 


of  rambling  habit ;  the  branches,  however,  are 
stout  and  furnished  with  an  abundance  of 
evergreen  foliage,  which  is  not  only  beautiful 
because  of  its  luxuriance,  but  also  because  of 
its  rich  green  colour  and  exceedingly  lustrous 
surface.  Each  leaf  consists  of  five  or  seven 
leaflets,  the  lowest  pair  being  very  close  to 
the  base  of  the  stalk,  which,  like  the  young 
wood,  is  covered  with  a  brown  wool.  The 
specific  name  refers  to  the  large  bracts  that 
surround  the  base  of  the  calyx.  The  sweet- 
scented  flowers  are  single,  pure  white,  and 
4  inches  across,  the  five  petals  being  Ijroad 
and  full  and  notched  at  the  outer  margin. 
The  stamens  are  very  numerous,  and  form  a 
conspicuous  yellow  cluster  in  the  centre  of  the 
flower.  The  variety  Maria  Leonida  is  a 
vigorous  rambling  Rose,  with  creamy  white 
moderately  double  flowers,  the  inner  petals 
having  a  rosy  tinge.  W.  .J.  Bean. 


INSECT    PESTS 
FRIENDS. 


AND 


AMERICAN    BLIGHT. 

(SCHI/.ONEUBA    LANIGERA.) 

A  MERICAN     BLIGHT     belongs     to     the 
/\  destructive  family  of  aphides,   and  is 

/  %         one  uf  the  worst  pests  that  attack  oar 
/      \        Apple  trees.    Fortunately,  its  presence 
y  %      i^    generally   very   apparent,    for    the 

insects  are  clothed  with  a  quantity  of 
cotton-like  substance,  so  that  when,  as  is  usually 
the  case,  a  number  of  these  aphides  are  con- 
"recated  together  they  seem  to  be  covered  with 
cotton-wool  and  are  easily  detected.  This  white 
fibrous  material  was  supposed  to  be  of  a  waxy 
nature,  but  it  has  recently  been  proved  to  be  more 
of  the  nature  of  silk.  Like  other  aphides  they 
increase  with  great  rapidity,  so  that  it  is  very 
important  as  soon  as  any  are  seen  on  a  tree  to 
take  steps  to  eradicate  them  as  quickly  as  possible. 
The  female  usually  chooses  some  crack  or  other 
inequality  in  the  bark  in  which  to  bring  up  her 
family.  As  soon  as  the  young  begin  to  feed, 
which  they  do  by  thrusting  their  probosces  into 
the  bough  or  shoot  and  sucking  out  the  sap,  an 
luihealthy  growth  of  the  part  results,  the  bark 
swells  and  forms  knob-like  projections  or  warts, 
and  the  flow  of  sap  to  other  parts  of  the  shoot  is 
much  interfered  with  and  the  latter  does  not 
arovf  properly.  Young  trees  when  badly  attacked 
are  sometimes  (juite  unable  to  bear  this  strain  on 
their  system  and  die.  When  this  is  the  ease  it 
shows  great  carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  grower, 
for  it  is  by  no  means  a  difficult  pest  to  deal  with 
on  young  trees  if  taken  in  hand  at  once.  Before 
the  colonies  have  had  time  to  increase  or  to  do 
much  damage  to  the  bark  they  may  easily  be 
destroyed  by  dipping  a  good-sized  camel's  hair 
brush  into  methylated  spirits  of  wine  and  dabbing 
the  insects  with  it  until  they  are  thoroughly 
wetted.  This  kills  them  almost  immediately. 
Paraffin  oil,  if  used  in  the  same  way,  would  have 
the  same  effect,  but  if  the  shoots  are  very  tender 
might  injure  them.  When  the  insects  have  got  a 
good  hold  on  older  branches  thej'  are  much  more 
difficult  to  destroy,  as  the  rough  bark  in  places 
shelters  them,  and  when  this  is  the  case  some 
sacks  or  cloths  of  some  kiud  should  be  laid  round 
the  base  of  the  stems  on  the  ground,  and  the  trees 
should  be  scraped  to  remove  the  bark  which  may 
shelter  the  insects.  What  is  scraped  off  will  be 
caught  on  the  sacks,  &e.,  and  should  be  burnt  or 
otherwise  destroyed.  It  is  well  to  wet  the  part 
that  is  to  be  scraped  with  soapsuds  before  com- 
mencing the  operation,  so  that  nothing  that  is 
removed  may  be  blown  away.  The  part  where 
tlie  insects  are  should  then  be  scrubbed  with  a 
stiffish  brush  dipped  in  a  thickish  solution  of 
paraffin  emulsion,  or  a  mi.tture  of  quassia  extract, 
tobacco  water,  and  soft  soap.  These  insecticides 
should  be  well  worked  into  any  cracks  or  crevices 
in  which  the  insects  may  be  harbouring.     A  good 


90 


THE    GAliDEN. 


[February  8,  1902. 


remedy  when  parts  of  a  tree  are  attacked  which 
cannot  be  easily  reached  is  spraying  the  boughs, 
&c.  thoroughly  with  a  caustic  wash,  which 
will  kill  all  insect  life  with  which  it  comes  in 
contact. 

The  wash  may  be  made  as  follows:  Dissolve  lib. 
of  caustic  soda  in  eight  gallons  of  water,  then  add 
Jib.  of  carbonate  of  potash  (pearlash)  ;  stir  until  all 
is  dissolved,  then  add  nine  gallons  of  water,  and 
last  of  all  add  lOoz.  of  soft  soap  that  has  been 
dissolved  in  a  little  hot  water.  When  all  is 
thoroughly  mi.xed  it  is  ready  for  use.  This  mix- 
ture is  very  caustic,  and  should  not  be  allowed  to 
get  on  the  clothes  or  skin  if  possible  ;  it  is  as  well 
when  using  it  to  wear  very  old  clothes,  and  if  any 
gets  on  the  skin  to  wipe  it  oft'  at  once.  A  calm 
day  should  be  chosen  to  prevent  the  nii.xture  being 
blown  about.  There  is  no  fear  of  the  trees  being 
in  any  way  injured  if  it  is  used  before  the  buds 
begin  to  open  in  the  spring,  and  it  will  destroy  all 
moss  or  lichen  on  the  trees.  These  aphides  at 
times  attack  the  roots  of  the  trees.  When  this  is 
the  case  the  roots  for  a  few  inches  below  the 
surface  should  be  painted  with  one  of  the  insec- 
ticides mentioned  above,  and  covered  in  again  with 
fresh  earth. 

The  American  blight  when  full  grov.n  are  some- 
times a  ([uarter  of  an  inch  in  length.  Some  are 
winged,  but  the  majority  are  not  ;  they  are  of 
a  slaty  leaden  black  or  dark  brown  in  colour ; 
they  have  very  long  probosces  with  which  they 
draw  off' the  juices  of  the  trees.  The  white  woolly 
substance  with  which  their  bodies  are  partiall3' 
covered  is  principallj'  secreted  by  the  posterior 
half.  The  young  very  much  resemljle  their  mothers 
e.xcept  in  size,  and  they  are  never  winged. 

G.  S.  S. 


grown  this  ■way  they  form  most  beautiful 
specimen.s,  and  .show  the  nature  of  the  plant  to 
advantage.  William  Beale. 

Ilin/es  Place  Oarde/is,  lldijes,  Kent. 


B.    GLOIRE    DE    LORRAINE. 

I  AM  sending  a  photograph  of  our  Begonia 
Gloire  de  Lorraine  of  which  we  make  a 
speciality.  A  group  at  the  Drill  Hall  on 
November  20  gained  a  silver-gilt  Banksian 
medal.  Mo.st  of  the  plants  were  tied  out 
speeimen.s,  but  one  of  our  favourite  methods 
of  growing  them  is  by  suspending  the  plants 
from  the  roof  of  the  house,  allowing  them 
to  fall  naturally  over  the  sides  of  the  pots  ; 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

WHITE    PINKS. 

ON  page  42  is  an  illustration  of  the 
,  common  and  smooth-edged  white 
I  Pink,  and  the  appended  note  says 
'  that  it  was  raised  by  an  amateur, 
but  was  lost  during  a  change  of 
gardens.  It  appears  to  me  iden- 
tical with  Albino,  sent  out,  1  believe,  by  Messrs. 
Clibran  some  few  years  ago,  but  not  as  yet  so  well 
known  as  it  deserves  to  be.  This  is  a  trifle  later 
than  the  old  white,  a  flower  very  pure  and  regular 
in  outline  and  does  not  split,  but  holds  out  well. 
I  have  grown  it  for  some  years,  and  used  it  in 
several  ways  in  the  flower  garden,  a  favourite 
device  being  a  groundwork  of  the  Pink  associated 
with  clumps  of  Geun)  coccineum  fl.-pl.  or  scarlet 
Pentstemons. 


SIS VRINCHIUM  STl! lATUM. 
When  one  considers  how  easily  raised  this  plant 
is,  and  that  it  will  adapt  itself  to  almost  any  soil 
and  situation,  it  maj'  safely  be  regarded  as  ex- 
tremely useful.  It  is  a  plant  for  odd  corners  and 
poor  bits  of  border  and  slopes  where  the  majority 
of  things  simply  e.xist.  It  will  thrive,  Hower 
freely,  and  last  out  well,  and  although  individual 
blooms  are  not  very  striking,  the  quantity  and 
length  of  the  flower  spikes  and  the  profusion  of 
flowers  are  such  as  to  make  it  well  worth  a  place  in 
the  situations  named.  It  forms  a  good  companion 
to  some  of  the  common  Verbascums  and  Linarias. 

PENTSTEMON  GLOXINIOIDES. 

A  PACivET  of  seed  of  the  Pentstemon  known  under 
tliis  name  should  be  sown  immediately,  and  if 
the  seedlings  are  grown  on  quicklj'  from  llie  time 
they  are  large  enough  to  handle  good  plants  will 
be  available  in  Maj'  that  will  flower  early  and 
continue  in  bloom  the  greater  part  of  the  summer. 


HOUSEFUL   W   UE(iONI.4    (JU)IRK   DE   LORRAINE   IN    HAYES   PLACE   GARDENS,    KiSNT. 


It  is  best  treated  as  an  annual,  although  if  anything 
exceptionally  good  is  noticeable  in  the  seedlings  a 
batch  of  cuttings  may  be  put  in  late  in  the  season 
for  another  year's  display.  In  this  way  distinct 
shades  are,  of  course,  obtained,  and  the  plants 
when  in  bold  clumps  on  a  carpet  of  Violas  make  a 
charming  bed.  K.  Duruell." 

JEFEERSONIA   DIPHYLLA. 

This  rare  hardy  spring-flowering  plant  is  seldom 
seen,  although  not  many  years  ago  it  was  quite 
plentiful.  The  cause  of  ils  scarcity  is  no  doubt  its 
slow  increase  and  it  is  also  very  particular  as  to 
position.  One  may  grow  it  well  in  certain  positions 
and  without  the  slightest  trouble,  while  when 
removed  elsewhere  it  will  refuse  to  thrive.  I  well 
remember  some  fine  specimens  in  the  Hale  Farm 
Nur.'^cry  Rockery,  Tottenham,  which  whenever 
taken  up  and  divided  seemed  to  dwindle  away. 
Some  of  the  plants  referred  to  were  grown  in  a 
fairly  moist  but  well-diained,  half-shady  position, 
near  overhanging  shrubs,  in  peat,  and  some  in  loam, 
and  during  the  winter  they  had  a  natural  cover 
of  leaves  that  fell  from  trees  growing  near. 
Jeft'ersonia  diphylla  is  a  monot3'pic  plant  of  the 
natural  order  Berberidea-.  It  is  perennial, 
having  a  flbshy,  fibrous  root-stock,  and  producing 
in  the  early  spring  several  very  handsome  long- 
stalked  leaves,  divided  into  two  ovate  glaucous 
green  leaflets.  The  scapes  are  about  9  inches  long 
and  naked,  one  flowered  with  very  pretty  white 
flowers.     It  usually  blooms  in  April.  R. 

SOLDAXELLAS. 

These  delightful  little  alpines  can  often  be  seen  in 
higher  altitudes  when  in  May  or  June  through  the 
slowly  disappearing  snow  they  push  their  heads 
of  flowers,  while  in  places  where  the  snow  is  still 
too  thick  for  vegetation  they  are  perfectly 
dormant,  and  one  has  to  look  very  closely  to  notice 
the  tiny  flower  buds,  but  once  summer  sets  in 
the  flowers  develop  rapidly.  Soldanellas  usually 
grow  in  boggy  places,  amongst  grass  on  alpine 
meadows,  but  that  does  not  say  they  cannot  be 
acclimatised  and  grown  in  less  damp  positions  ;  in 
fact,  my  best  plants  were  in  pots.  The  larger- 
growing  kinds,  such  as  S.  alpina  and  the  taller- 
growing  large-leaved  S.  montana  are  best  grown 
at  the  foot  of  the  rock  garden  in  peaty  soil  from 
mountainous  districts.  In  England, 
with  its  moist  mild  winters,  Solda- 
nellas, which  flower  on  the  Alps  in 
Ma3'  or  .June,  in  less  sunny  snow- 
covered  positions  sometinjcs  not 
liefore  the  end  ot  July,  bloom  as 
early  as  March,  or,  with  a  preceding 
hot  dry  summer  an'.l  damp  autumn, 
■^  as  early  as  February.  Soldanellas 
easily  intercross  in  tlie  wild  state, 
,  and    by    taking    the    more    distinct 

types,  such  asS.  alpina,  S.  montana, 
S.  minima,  and   S.  pusilla  one  may 
easily  pick  out  a  number  of  inler- 
, .___       mediate  forms.    The  largest  growing 
^Vj       .        and  the  one  most  difficult  to  procure 
■  '■  -    ■'•^        ''''"^  '^  '^-  montana  ;    it  is  perennial, 
t  with  fibry  roots,  evergreen,  leathery, 

i?<  round  or  kidney-shaped  leaves,  and 
grows  in  tufts  not  over  U  inches  to 
12  inches  in  height.  The  lovely 
bell  -  shaped  beautifully  -  fringed 
flowers  are  produced  in  slender 
scapes,  sometimes  solitary,  of  a  dis- 
tinct lilac-purple  colour.  S.  alpina 
is  slightly  dwarfer,  has  smaller 
leaves  and  slightly  smaller  flowers. 
S.  pusilla  is  a  handsome  compact 
species,  the  leaves  heart  or  kidney- 
shaped,  and  few  flowered  with  lilac- 
blue  or  lilac  flowers.  A  verj'  rare 
form  is  S.  pusilla  alba.  Although 
usually  considered  rare,  I  found  it 
somej-earsagoon  mj'  first  expedition 
in  the  Dolcmiites.  It  commenced 
raining  the  morning  I  started 
with  a  guide  from  an  inn  where  I 
spent  the  previous  night,  and  never 


February  8,   1902.1 


THE   GARDEN. 


01 


left  off  till  midday,  snowing,  of  course,  higher 
up.  However,  we  pushed  on,  snow  laying  thickly 
on  the  ground  everywhere,  and,  although  it  was  the 
end  of  June,  no  plants  could  be  seen.  Among 
others  I  was,  however,  able  to  collect,  on  the  slopes 
w^iere  snow  had  uat  accumulated,  8oIdanella 
pusilla  alba  growing  in  batches  of  more  than  lOO 
at  a  time,  evidently  seedlings,  and  I  took  onl3' 
the  smaller  plants,  leaving  the  larger  ones  undis- 
turbed. The  same  day  I  found  also  the  rare 
Anemone  vernalis  rosea,  with  beautiful  bright  rosy 
flowers.  S.  minima  is  the  smallest,  growing  only 
about  1  inch  to  li  inches  in  height,  -with  small 
roundish  leaves  and  numerous  small  lilac,  rarely 
white,  flowers.  It  is  the  highest  alpine  form,  and 
grows  on  the   margin  of  glaciers  and  near  eternal 

snow.  G.    PvEUTUE. 


CLEMATIS    PANIC U LATA. 

Tuis  is  so  important  a  garden  plant  that  it  is  a 
matter  for  wonder  that  it  is  not  more  generally 
known.  Its  merits  may  be  best  described  by 
saying  that  it  does  even  better  for  October  what 
C.  Flammula  does  for  September. 

It  much  resembles  C.  Flammula,  but  is  in  every 
way  a  stouter  and  more  vigorous  grower.  It  may 
not  be  a  plant  for  the  cold  Midlands,  but  anywhere 
south  of  London  it  is  admirable.  When  once 
established  the  only  trouble  is  its  extreme  vigour 
of  growth.  Unless  it  is  somewhere  where  it  may 
spread  all  round,  as  over  an  arbour  or  a  mass  of 
stout  branching  spray,  it  must  be  severely  thinned 
in  early  spring  or  its  multitude  of  branches  become 
almost  unmanageable.     It  is  a  native  of  .Japan. 


HTERNBERGIA  FISCHERIANA. 

The  early-flowering  form  of  this  plant,  origin.ally 
sent  by  M.  Siehe  to  this  country,  has  excited  a 
good  deal  of  interest  lately.  It  was  first  sent  as  a 
"species  near  fisoheriana,"  but  a  close  analysis  of 
the  flower  reveals  no  specific  or  even  varietal 
character  distinct  from  the  type  plant.  It  is 
slightly  narrower  in  the  petal,  an  undesirable 
characteristic  in  the  poorest  of  all  Sternbergias 
known  to  gardeners.  The  one  trait  in  its  character 
one  could  welcome  is  that  of  flowering  In  the  depth 
of  winter;  its  powers  of  endurance  are  leally 
wonderful,  12°  of  frost  and  keen  cutting  winds 
having  no  eff'ect  upon  It.  I  do  not  think  the  plant 
sufficient!}'  distinct  from  fischeriana  to  deserve  a 
name,  unless  one  called  it  var.  pnccox,  thus 
indicating  its  only  apparent  oharaoterlslic. 

Georce  B.  Mallett. 


SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

The  Blood-root  is  one  of  the  most  Interesting  as 
well  as  pretty  and  distinct  of  the  Papaveracea^ 
with  every  single  part  of  the  plant  singular  or 
uncommon.  Its  rhizomatous  root-stock  is  fleshy, 
full  of  acrid  orange-coloured  juice,  the  colour  of 
the  root  deep  or  coral  red,  and  on  this  account  It 
is  commonly  called  Blood-root.  As  early  as 
February  the  plant  is  very  active,  producing  one 
or  more  short  petioled,  palraate-lobed  leaves,  but 
almost  before  their  unfolding  the  flowers  are  ready 
to  expand,  the  sepals  falling  with  theopenlngof  the 
flower,  which  is  supported  on  short,  naked  scapes  ; 
they  are  pure  white  or  flesh-coloured.  There  are 
Oiily  two  forms  of  S.  canadensis — the  type  and 
another  called  S.  canadensis  var.  stellata,  the 
ditt'erence  being  that  the  latter  has  many  more 
petals,  which  are  also  slightly  narrower,  giving  the 
flower  a  fuller  semi-double  appearance,  and  lasting 
longer  in  bloom.  Both  forms  are  easily  grown  in  a 
light  sandy,  loamy,  or  peaty  soil,  partially  shaded 
from  hot  sun  and  sheltered  from  cold,  dry  winds. 
The  best  time  for  planting  is  from  October  until 
February,  and  the  roots  being  inexpensive  and 
easily  procurable  the  Blood-root  ought  to  be  much 
used  in  the  wild  garden  or  for  spring  bedding. 

G.  R. 

IXIOLIRIONS. 

The  daint)'  Ixlolirlons,  a  race  of  slender-growing, 
blue-flowered  bulbous  plants  from  the  mountains 
of  Asia  illnor,  are  just  the  type  of  plant  one  can 


recommend  for  plant- 
ing in  the  rockgarden, 
either  in  patches  con- 
taining several  or 
Inserted  here  and 
theie,  but  with  a 
lavish  hand,  among 
the  low  -  growing 
alplnes  and  other 
plants  at  home  there. 
The  oldest  species,  I. 
montanum  (syn.  I. 
Pallasi),  grows  Ih  ' 
feet  high,  and  Ijears 
four  to  six  flowers  In 
a  verj'  loose  umbel,  or 
.sometimes  distinctly 
panicled.  They  are 
much  like  a  giant 
Hyacinth  in  shape, 
but  are  of  thinner 
texture  ;  they  span 
li  inches  across,  and 
their  colour  is  that 
bright  tint  of  blue 
peculiar  to  the  Chio- 
nodoxas.  The  var. 
tataricum  has  smaller 
and  more  slender 
flowers,  coloured  true 
blue,  whilst  kolpa- 
kowskj'anum,  a  Tur- 
kestan species  from 
high  elevations,  Is 
smaller  still,  the 
flowers  scarcely  ex- 
ceeding 1  Inch  in 
length  and  span,  and 
are  arranged  closely 
together  as  In 
Brodii\;a.  The  best 
of  all  is,  doubJess, 
montanum,  a  plant 
whose  graceful  habit 
and  handsome, 
nodding,  bright  blue 
Bowers  of  compara- 
tive large  size  please 
everyone.  Itls(|ulto 
easy  to  grow  and  will 
thrive  in  any  sunny 
situation.  The  l)ulbs 
reifuire  to  be  planted 
fully  4  inches  deep, 
and    the    soil    aljove 

them  should  be  made  cpiite  firm,  for  these  small 
bulbs  emit  powerful  Iiis-like  roots  In  great  numbers, 
and  it  is  no  uncommon  thlnt;  to  find  the  bulbs  thrust 
several  Inches  out  of  the  soil  by  their  roots  If  planted 
shallow.  The  plants  show  a  natural  tendency  to 
bury  their  bulbs  deeply  by  means  of  "droppers" 
or  by  contractile  roots,  a  freak  more  or  less 
characteristic  of  bulbs  from  the  East,  rendered 
necessary,  doubtless,  as  a  means  of  protection  from 
the  influence  of  the  clinjatic  extremes  they  have  to 
endure  in  a  wild  state.  .Some  doubts  have  gained 
currency  as  to  the  hardihood  of  this  plant,  but  it  is 
really  as  hardy  as  a  Snowdrop  and  can  be  raised 
from  seeds  in  the  open  ;  in  fact,  they  will  come  up 
of  their  own  accord  around  adult  plants.  If  the 
inflorescence  is  cut  to  the  ground  level  the  bulbs 
will  perish,  and  I  think  the  loss  on  this  account 
has  been  attributed  to  lack  of  hardihood.  As  pot 
plants  for  the  cool  greenhouse  Ixlolirlons  are  of  the 
greatest  possible  use  ;  they  may  be  treate<l  like 
Freesias,  and  are  capable  of  being  forced  into 
flower  months  before  the  proper  season  of  flowering 
(iNIay  and  .Tune),  and  the  plants  grow  taller  and 
produce  much  finer  flowers  under  glass. 

George  B.  M.allett. 


THE  LEUCO.JUMS. 

Some  years  ago  when  living  in  a  sheltered  valley  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Torquay,  where  the  soil  was 
a  heavy  red  loam  inclining  to  clay,  I  possessed 
several  clumps  of  the  Summer  Snowflake  (Leucojum 
ajstivum)  which  persistently  refused  to  flower. 
L.  vernum   in  the  same  garden  flowered  freely.    I 


CLEr.HTIS   I'.iNlCULATA. 

mentioned  this  fact  in  the  pages  of  TiiK  (  !ardkn  at 
the  time,  and  received  some  welcome  liinls  from 
iSIr.  S.  Arnott  and  Mr.  E.  H.  .Jenkins.  However-, 
In  .spite  of  replanting  the  bulbs  in  light  compost  in 
the  sunniest  position  available,  not  more  than  a 
stray  flower-scape  here  and  there  was  thrown  up. 
I  was  at  that  time  under  the  impression  that  the 
damp  retentive  soil  was  responsible  for  their 
failure  to  bloom,  hut  since  then  I  have  had 
occasion  to  reject  this  theory,  as  I  have  met  with 
plants  flowering  well  In  danij)  meadows  and  In 
heavy  soil  on  river  banks,  where  they  were  often 
covered  by  the  water,  and  conser|uently  arrived  at 
the  conclusion  that  I  had  got  hold  of  a  shy-blooming 
strain.  Mr.  Arnott  kindly  made  me  a  present  of  some 
bulbs,  and  I  sent  him  a  few  of  mine  to  try,  but  I 
cannot  remember  to  have  heard  whether  they 
eventually  proved  more  florlferous  with  him  than 
with  me.  The  bulbs  I  received  from  him  flowered 
fairly  the  second  season  after  planting.  In  the 
course  of  my  visits  to  gardens  In  the  south-west  I 
met  with  an  earl^'-flowering  form  of  L.  .-e^tivum 
which  bloomed  at  the  same  time  as  L.  vernum,  the 
two  in  the  same  garden  always  flowering  together. 
This  fact  Idrewattention  to  in  TheGaruen  at  the 
time.  When  I  deciiled  to  leave  Torfpiaj'  I  sent 
some  of  my  original  Snowflakes  and  Mr.  Arnott's 
to  a  garden  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  where 
they  were  planted  In  alternate  rows.  In  the 
opening  week  of  the  present  jear  I  visited  this 
garden,  and  found  to  nry  surprise  that  my 
hitherto  flowerless  plants  were  in  full  leaf  and 
bloom,  wdiile  Mr.  Arnott's  by  their  side  were  only 
showing  about  i  inches  of  leafage  above  the  soil. 


92 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[February  8,  1902. 


I  am  (juite  at  a  loss  to  account  for  this  extra- 
(/rdinary  behaviour.  If  all  the  bulbs  had  exhilnted 
this  early  growth  and  flowering  one  would  have 
been  inrlined  to  attribute  it  to  the  past  hot 
summer,  but  only  one  strain,  nanielj',  that  which 
for  years  refused"  to  flower,  was  affected.  I  shall 
remove  both  to  my  new  garden  during  the  current 
year  and  shall  watch  their  future  with  interest. 

S.   W.  FlTZHEUr.ERT. 


NARCISSUS    SULPHUR 
PHCENIX. 

Of  the  three  well-known  varieties  of  Double 
Incomparabilis  Datt'odils,  the  Sulphur  Phcenix 
is  by  far  the  best.  Tlie  douliling  is  generally 
more  evenly  dii^- 
tributed,  making 
a  better  shaped 
flower,  and  the 
colour,  .something 
between  cream 
and  sulphur,  has 
a  delightful  ijua- 
lity.  It  is  also 
one  of  the  hand- 
somest Daffodils 
for  cutting;  a  few 
blooms  are 
excellent 
arranged  with 
red  -  tinted  Ber- 
beris  branches  or 
something  stift' 
that  will  help  to 
support  them,  for 
the  stems  are  long 
and  none  too  stiff', 
and  the  heads 
heavy.  For  the 
same  reason  it  is 
a  good  plan  to 
grow  them,  as 
shown  in  the 
illustration, 
between  rows  of 
Pieonies,  that  not 
only  help  to  sup- 
port them,  but 
whose  young 
reddi.sh  -  tinted 
foliage  makes  a 
beautiful  colour 
harmony  with 
the  delicate 
warmth  of  the 
Daffodil  flowers. 


taining  abundance  of  lime,  gravel,  and  old 
mortar  ;  but  the  colour  (jf  the  Hower  varies 
somewhat  in  the  same  soil,  and  as  a  hundred 
seedlings  may  easily  be  raised  in  a  sijuare  yard 
of  waste  yround,  and  Hower  within  a  year  of 
coming  uji,  a  selection  miy  soon  be  made,  and 
the  best  of  them  easily  increised  by  division. 
The  plants  vary  much  in  stature,  but  varieties 
with  white  or  pink  flowers,  so  common  in  some 
species  of  the  genus,  I  have  never  .seen  or  heard 
of  in  this.  The  largest  form  now  generally 
included  in  V.  Teucrium  was  formerly  made 
a  distinct  species  called  V.  latifolia.  The 
colour  of  its  flowers  is  generally  first-rate,  but 
its  habit  rather  untidy,  the  stems  growing 
2  feet  long,  and  being   doubtful   whether   to 


VERONICA. 
IV. 

Some  of  the 
hardy  species 
with  axillary 
flower  spikes 
next  claim  our 
notice.  Of  these 
V.  Teucrium  is  the  most  important  and  .shows 
the  widest  variations.  Whatever  the  Teucrium 
of  the  ancients  may  have  been,  the  name  was 
adopted  by  Clusius  for  a  genus  including 
several  of  the  species  we  are  about  to  describe. 
Of  these  he  fioures  three  varieties  on  pages 
.•?49  and  3.^0  of  his  "  History  of  Rare  Plants." 
The  type  of  V.  Teucrium  is  about  18  inches 
high  with  stiff  wiry  stems  s]ireading  into  a 
dense  upright  bush.  Though  the  spikes  of 
flowers  on  this  are  not,  botanicaljy  s]ieaking, 
terminal,  they  .stand  out  far  beyond  the  leaves 
and  produce  a  profusion  of  bright  blue  flowers 
lasting  all  through  .luly.  Like  most  Veronicas 
they  do  best  in  a  dry  chalky  soil  or  one  con- 


NARCISSUS    INCOMl'.4R.\BIUS    SULPIIl'K    PHIENI.X. 
( Photofiraphcd  by  Miss  Willmntt.) 


grow  erect  or  prostrate.  The  leaves  are  broad 
and  large  and  deeply  indented.  A  variety 
smaller  than  the  type,  but  generally  included 
in  the  species,  is  called  var.  pro^trata,  often 
sold  in  nurseries  by  the  unauthorised  name  of 
V.  rupestris.  Godron,  in  his  "  Flore  dc  France," 
describes  both  this  and  latifolia  as  distinct 
species,  siying  that  it  often  varies  with  white 
or  pink  flowers,  though  the  two  others  never 
do.  Rut  I  wish  I  could  see  or  hear  of  a  pink 
Howered  Y.  prostrata.  A  white  one  I  have 
seen,  and  only  once,  and  that  I  found  on  the 
mountain  .side  about  a  mile  from  (iavarnie 
in  the  Pyrenees.  I  brought  it  home  and  tried 
to  raise  a  stock,  but  though  I  still  keep  it,  it  is 


far  more  delicate  than  the  normal  blue.  Like 
the  type  of  Teucrium  var.  i)rostrata  scatters 
its  seedlings  freely,  out  of  which  the  best  must 
be  selected  for  the  rockery.  They  vary  not 
only  in  the  brightness  of  their  blue,  but  in 
their  free  habit  of  flowering.  There  would  be 
no  difficulty  in  af:i'epting  these  three  species  of 
Teucrium  were  it  not  that  in  gardens  so  many 
intermediate  forms  come.  Twenty  years  ago  I 
was  at  Kew  in  .Tuly  and  1  saw  in  one  bed  about 
twenty  named  varieties  of  V.  Teucrium  con- 
necting the  largest  and  the  smallest  forms.  I 
have  had  a  very  pretty  little  dwarf  not  unlike 
var.  prostrata  but  more  upright  and  botanically 
distinct,  named  ^'.  taurica,  a  variety  of 
\.  orientalis.     It  was  worth  keeping  as  a  rock 

plant,  but   I  am 

afraid  it  has  died 

from     neglect. 

Another  name  we 

often   see    is   V. 

austriaca.   I  took 

some     pains    to 

verify  this  name 

and  apply  it  to  a 

small  very  bu^hy 

kind,    not    more 

than  n  inches  or 

S   inches   high, 

with    abundance 

of     dark     blue 

flowers     and 

smaller  leaves 

than  V. Teucrium. 

V.  officinalis  with 

grey    floweis    in 

.July  is  a  common 

wild  native.   The 

name    officinalis, 

which  occurs  in 

several    genera,    but     not     earlier    I 

think  than    Linnieus,  is  intended   to 

denote    the    genuine    species    which 

was  used  in  the  officina,  the  factory  of 

medicines,  or  the  shop  in  which  they 

were  sold  ;    for  the  word  bears  both 

senses  in  classical  Latin,  and  is  often 

found    in    herbals   of    the    sixteenth 

century.      The   species    is   mentioned 

here  because  a  dwarf  form  witli  ]iink 

flowers  is  much  grown  at  Kdge  on  the 

margins  of  the   gravel  walks.      It   is 

not    more    than   3   inches    high    and 

flowers   profusely  in   June.      V.   cha- 

m»drys,    the   Germander    S|ieedwe]l, 

is   too  poetical  a  flower  to   omit.     It 

has  been  recommended  sometimes  as 

a  carpeting  surface   for   bulbs  which 

flower    without    leaves,   but    I    have 

found  it  grow   too   coarse  in   garden 

soil,  and  the  heavenly  blue  which  is 

so    attractive    in    dry    funny    banks 

deteriorates  in   gardens.      It   may  be 

remarked   that  the  name  Germander 

which   came  into   England  from   the 

French    Gcrniandree,    is     a     corruji- 

tion   of    the   Greek  and   Latin   word 

('hania?drys,      which     means     ground     Oak. 

Another  native   species  is   called   in   Engli.sh 

works   on    bot.any   V.   saxatilis,    but    "  Index 

Kewensis  "   gives    jireference     to    the     name 

V.  fruticulosa,  which  that  authority  says  is  a 

synonym.       It    has    a    neat    dwarf    shi-ubbj' 

growth,  3  inches  or  4  inches  high,  and  large 

l^lue  flowers  in  July  :  a  variety  with  clear  pink 

Howers  is  called  var.  Grievi,  and  another  with 

a  dark  purple  centre  is  named  var.  balfouriana. 

All   three  deserve  a  good  place  amongst  the 

choicest   al  pines   and  must  be  guardecl   from 

smothering.      V.  caucasica  is   worth  growing, 

is  about  (J  inches  high,  s)ireading  moderately 

underground.     Its  large  flowers,  which  ccxns 


February  8,  1902.] 


THE     GAKDEN. 


93 


early  in  June,  are  like  those  of  V.  gentianoides  ; 
they  are  borne  on  short  axillary  branches 
covered  with  pinnately  cut  leaves.  V.  pectinata, 
a  native  of  South-Eastern  Europe,  also  flowers 
early  in  June.  It  has  large  long  prostrate 
stems,  less  leafy  than  those  of  Y.  Chamajdrys 
and  bears  flowers  as  large  as  that  species,  but  of 
a  darker  blue.  There  is  a  variety  with  dark 
rose-coloured  flowers.  This  species  is  not 
common  in  gardens  but  is  worth  growing. 

V.  satureioides  should  be  in  every  garden 
and  on  every  rockery.  It  is  a  species  from 
Dalmatia,  covered  all  winter  with  abundant 
shoots  of  bright  evergreen  nearly  round  leaves  ; 
the  plant  does  not  rise  more  than  3  inches  from 
the  ground,  and  flowers  in  April  with  neat 
tufts  of  lavender-blue.  It  spreads  moderately, 
rooting  as  it  runs,  but  it  is  most 
easily  confined  within  prescribed 
limits. 

The  minute  V.  repens  with 
large  flowers  on  the  ground  and 
leaves  like  those  of  Houstonia 
would  be  excellent  on  the  side 
of  a  damp  gravel  walk  if  it  did 
not  get  so  full  of  tiny  weeds, 
especially  attracting  its  near 
relation  V.  serpyllifolia,  which  is 
possibly  sown  by  it.  I  never 
could  keep  it  in  proper  form  for 
long.  I  have  omitted  in  these 
notes  two  or  three  kinds  which 
I  like,  but  do  not  know  their 
names,  especially  two  flowering 
in  ]\Iay  with  lavender-coloured 
flowers.  If  I  could  get  them  named  they 
would  deserve  a  note  to  themselves. 

Edge  Hall,  Malpax.         C.  Wolley  Dod. 


best.  All  Irises  of  the  Persica  group  (well 
characterised  by  their  two  ranked  leaves) 
produce  thick,  fleshy,  permanent  roots,  which 
serve  as  storehouses  of  food.  These  penetrate 
unusually  deep— in  some  instances  quite  1  foot 
— hence  the  need  of  an  open,  well-drained  soil 
likely  to  carry  away  water  freely  during  the 
resting  period  and  in  late  winter  when  they 
start  to  grow.  Geoege  B.  Mallett. 


LILY    NOTES. 

The  recently  i.ssued  number  of  the  Joiimal  of  the 
Royal  HorticuUnral  Society,  containing  as  it  does 
a  full  report  of  the  papers  read  at  the  Lily  con- 
ference at  Chiswiek  on  July  16,  is  of  particular 
interest  to  the  many  admirers  of  this  lovely  class 


AN    ARTIST'S   NOTE-BOOK. 


IRIS    TAURI. 

IRIS  TAUEI  of  Siehe,  a  new  Iris  of  the 
Persica  group  introduced  last  year,  and 
which  received  an  award  of  merit  from 
the  Floral  Committee  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  recently, shows  a  surpris- 
ing variation  in  form,  colour,  and  degree 
of  fragrance,  insomuch  that  this  name  must  be 
used  to  designate  a  series  of  forms,  some  ol 
which  run  close  to  I.  Heldreichi  in  colour  and 
form,  whilst  others  show  a  distinct  leaning  to 
I.  persica  in  the  very  close  connivance  of  tlio 
style  branches  and  falls,  and  in  the  rigidly 
triangular  outline  of  the  flower.  They  are  a" 
distinct  from  other  species,  in  being  of  some 
shade  of  violet  or  violet-purple  ;  the  under 
surface  of  the  falls — most  conspicuous  in  a  bud 
state — is  coloured  bronze  or  old  gold  as  in 
I.  bakeriana,  a  marked  feathering  of  gold 
appearing  on  tbe  somewhat  compressed  side 
lobes  of  the  falls,  whilst  in  a  few  gloriously 
coloured  flowers  a  broad  margin  of  gold 
surrounds  the  violet  patch  on  the  blade.  I 
can  distinguish  eight  distinct  forms  in  the 
batch  of  flowers  now  before  me,  some  of  which 
show  the  exquisite  blend  of  colour  so  charac- 
teristic of  I.  persica,  but  in  a  oombination  of 
violet  and  gold,  whilst  others  approach  the 
bolder  I.  Heldreichi  in  breadth  of  petal  and 
the  deflexed  blades  of  the  falls,  also  in  a  pale 
pur]ile  or  blue  colouration  at  the  fork  of  the 
style  branches.  In  the  matter  of  culture, 
I.  Tauri  is  just  as  easily  suited  as  the  now 
well-known  I.  Heldreichi.  A  warm  position 
on  a  rockery  or  raised  border,  at  some  distan'ce 
from  strong-growing  plants  likely  to  overtop 
them,  and  a  root  run  of  light  soil  freely  charged 
with  broken   bricks  or  sandstone  will  prove 


IRIS   TAnRI    (natural  SIZE). 
(From  a  drauhifj  by  H.   G.  Moon.) 

of  plants.  To  thoroughly  digest  the  valuable  mass 
of  matter  contained  in  the  report  requires  a  eon- 
siilerable  amount  of  time,  but  evenahurrie<l  glance 
reveals  many  noteworthy  facts,  some  of  which  at 
least  furnish  considerable  ground  for  reflection. 

Among  other  items  the  following  are  particularly 
interesting: — Lilium  Brownii. — In  the  paper  read 
by  Dr.  Augustine  Henry  he  speaks  of  this  Lily  in 
the  following  terms: — "Branching  off  from  the 
gorges  of  the  Yangtse  there  are  many  beautiful 
glens  walled  in  by  high  cliffs,  and  in  these  Lilium 
Brownii  (Xliellez)  is  common.  It  grows  in  rocky 
places  in  shelter,  but  not  in  shade.  It  is  very 
variable  in  foliage  and  in  the  colour  of  the  flowers. 
I  sent  some  bulbs  to  Kew  from  Ich.ang  which 
turned  out  to  be  a  new  variety,  Lilium  leuoanthum, 
characterised  by  bulbils  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves 
and  by  short  ovate  leaves  belov/  the  floM-ers.     The 


colour  of  this  variety  is  never  so  yellow  in  tlie 
wild  state  as  it  seems  to  become  when  cultivated 
in  England." 

Mr.  Baker  in  liis  paper  also  refers  to  several 
varieties  of  L.  Brownii,  but  what  is  of  special 
interest  to  me  is  the  fact  that  as  far  as  m\'  observa- 
tion goes  all  the  imported  forms  (and  I  have  seen  a 
good  many)  are  quite  distinct  from  the  L.  Brownii 
of  the  Dutch  growers.  The  origin  of  the  last- 
named  is  to  a  great  e.\tent  unknown.  It  .appears 
to  have  been  introduced  into  England,  and  first 
flowered  with  Brown,  a  nurserj'man  at  Slough,  in 
1837.  Three  bulbs  wore  sold  to  M.  Miellez, 
nurseryman  at  Esgnermes,  near  Lille,  and  from 
thence  it  gradually  made  its  way  on  the  Continent. 
The  sandy  soils  of  Holland  seem  to  have  just 
fulfilled  its  requirements,  and  splendid  bulbs  are 
sent  therefrom  to  this  country  in  considerable 
I  numbers  every  year.  It  certainly  shows  no  sign 
of  dying  out  (in  Holland,  at  least), 
a  charge  which  is  often  brought 
against  many  Lilies.  This,  then, 
must  be  regarded  as  the  true  L. 
Brownii,  which  I  have  never  seen 
imported  from  China  or  Japan. 
A  characteristic  little  woodcut  of 
the  old  L.  Brownii  is  shown  on 
page  400  of  the  jorirnal  above 
referred  to.  Concerning  the  state- 
ment that  I  have  never  seen  the 
true  L.  Brownii  either  from  China 
or  .lapan,  exception  niaj'  perhaps 
be  taken  on  the  ground  that  the 
bulbs  therefrom  are  often  sold 
at  the  London  auction  rooms. 
True,  they  are  frequentl}'  offered 
under  the  name  of  L.  Bro\vnii, 
but  they  are  reall}'  L.  odorum, 
that  differs  therefrom  in  several 
well-marked  particulars. 
Mr.  Baker  in  his  valuable  paper  says  concerning 
L.  Lowii  : — "After  studying  the  fine  series  of 
specimens  collected  by  Dr.  Henry  and  Mr.  W. 
Hancock,  F.L.S.,  in  the  province  of  Yunnan, 
Western  China,  I  do  not  think  this  can  be  kept 
up  as  distinct  from  L.  bakerianum." 

Dr.  Henry's  notes,  however,  put  a  somewhat 
difterent  complexion  on  the  matter,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  following  extracts  : — 

"  On  the  bare  grassy  mountains  near  Mengtse, 
at  elevations  of  5,<.ino  feet  to  7,<lO(l  feet  above  the 
sea,  a  Lil3'  is  very  common,  occurring  in  great 
quantities.  This  Lily  is  from  1  foot  to  3  feet  in 
height,  and  the  flowers  are  pink  or  purple-pink, 
with  much  speckling  of  a  browner  tint  in  the 
lower  half  of  the  perianth  interiorly.  This  is 
represented  at  Kew  by  my  No.  10,774,  and 
has  been  'identified  as  L.  Lowii  (Baker),' which 
was  found  in  the  British  Shan  States  much  further 
south,  and  was  described  as  being  a  white  Lil3' with 
claret  markings.  The  Mengtse  Ijily  is  never  white. 
Its  leaves  are  very  variable,  but  are  generally 
narrow  and  coriaceous,  and  very  numerous.  Tliis 
Lily  only  occurs  in  exposed  situations  on  the 
mountains  amidst  grass. 

"Closely  resembling  the  preceding  Lily  is  mj- 
10,774  B,  which  has  also  pink  flowers.  'This  has 
been  identified  at  Kew  as  Lilium  Pseudo  tigrinum 
(Carr).  It  was  collected  by  me  on  grassy  mountains 
.south  of  Mengtse  at  (i, 0(111  feet  elevation.  My 
No.  10,743  is  a  much  smaller  Lily,  with  pinkish 
purple  flowers  occurring  in  similar  situations  in  the 
mountains  near  Mengtse.  It  has  been  identified  at 
Kew  as  Lilium  yunnanense  (Franchet).  "Whether 
these  last  three  Lilies  are  mere  varieties  of  one 
species  is  worth  considering. 

"  Near  Szeniao  I  found  a  Lil3'  at  about  6,00(1  feet 
elevation,  my  No.  13,(r26,  with  white  flowers  and 
reddish  markings.  It  has  been  identified  as  L. 
bakerianum  (JoUet  and  Hemsle^').  It  differs  from 
the  last  Lily,  not  onlj'  in  the  colour  of  the  flowers, 
but  in  the  leaves,  which  are  much  fewer  on  the 
stem,  larger,  wider,  and  not  coriaceous.  This  Lily 
occurs  in  grass}'  exposed  mountain  spots." 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  Dr.  Henry,  who 
has  had   an  opportunity   to  study  these  Lilies  in 
their  native  habitats,  does  not  regard  the  Mengtse 
Lily  (identified  at  Kew  as  L.  Lowii)  as  synonyniou 
with   L.  bakerianum.      Certainlj'  the  description 


94 


THE     GAKDEN. 


[February  8,  1902. 


given  of  the  species  which  was  named  at  Kew 
L.  Lowii  differs  markedly  from  that  kind,  particu- 
larly in  the  colour  of  the  blossoms,  while  that  of 
L.  bakevianura  points  deridedly  to  the  Lily  grown 
at  Kew  and  generall}-  in  this  country  as  L.  Lowii. 
Such  being  the  case  there  must  be  at  least  a 
certain  amount  of  doubt  whether  L.  bakerianum 
and  L.  Lowii  are  identical. 

The  Lilies  of  the  Western  LTnited  States  and 
British  Columbia  are  exhaustively  dealt  with  bj' 
Mr.  Carl  Purdy,  of  California.  L'nfortunately, 
very  few  of  these  Lilies  give  satisfaction  in  this 
country,  but  perhaps  if  their  natural  conditions 
were  more  closely  studied  failures  would  be  less 
frequent.  In  speaking  of  L.  pardalinum  the  writer 
says :  There  seems  to  be  a  misconception  generally 
as" to  the  habitat  of  L.  pardalinum,  the  idea  being 
that  it  is  a  bog  Lily.  This  is  by  no  means  the 
case.  Moisture  it  loves,  and  it  sometimes  grows 
in  very  wet  places,  but  in  bog.s  never,  and  the 
finest  developed  plants  are  not  in  wet  places.  Mr. 
I'urdy  concludes  his  valuable  piper  with  some  good 
general  advice  regarding  the  planting  of  Californian 
Lilies  in  the  following  terms  :  — 

"  To  resume,  I  would  say  that  the  best  results 
with  no  Cilifornian  Lily  can  be  obtained  without 
oood  sharp  drainage.  No  matter  if  they  are 
thoroufhl}'  wet  at  times,  there  must  be  no  stagnajit 
moisture  or  sour  soil.  All  are  at  their  best  among 
low  shrubs  or  perennial  plants  which  shade  the 
ground,  but  which  thcv  overtop  in  flower. 

•'All  like  a  porous  soil,  and  to  all  charcoal 
especially  is  grateful. 

"All  like  trees  and  wind  breaks,  but  none  are 
at  their  best  in  shade." 

The  success  attending  the  culture  of  L.  Parryii 
(a  near  relative  of  L.  pardalinum)  under  much 
drj'er  conditions  than  it  is  usually  considered  to 
require  is  well  told  by  Captain  Saville  Reid,  in 
whose  garden  at  Yaldiiig,  in  Kent,  a  peat  bog  was 
prepared  for  the  reception  of  the  bulbs,  but  owing 
to  the  supply  pipe  becoming  choked  no  water 
passed  through,  the  rainfall  only  being  occasionally 
assisted  by  a  potful  or  two  of  water.  Lender  such 
conditions  this  Lily  grew  wonderfully,  one  spike 
attaining  a  height  of  7  feet  and  bearing  thirty-nine 
flowers. 

Before  leaving   these   North   American   Lilies  a 
protest   must  be  entered  against  the  name  of  L. 
Bakeri,  which  is  nearly  allied  to  L.  columbianum, 
as  we  already   have   L.   bakerianum   in 
cultivation.     Such  a   fruitful  source  of 
error  should  if  possible  be  avoided. 

The  contribution  by  Mr.  Ernest 
Krelage  is,  as  might  be  expected  from 
the  writer's  vast  knowledge  of  the 
subject,  l>oth  from  a  botanical  and  a 
commercial  standpoint,  a  particularly 
valuable  one.  The  upright  flowered 
Lilies  (section  Isolirion  of  Mr.  Baker) 
are  largely  grown  by  the  Dutch, 
particularly  the  numerous  forms  of  L. 
eletrans,  or  thunbergianum  as  it  is  often 
called,  and  L.  umbellatum  ordavuricum, 
which  last  is  represented  by  fewer 
varieties,  embracing  a  lesser  range  of 
colour  than  in  the  case  with  L.  elegans. 
A  wood  selection  of  varieties  of  each  of 
the  two  Lilies  is  also  given. 

Considering  the  vast  nunibersof  Liliuni 
speciosum  imported  yearly  into  this 
country  and  the  amount  of  capital 
invested  in  its  cultivation,  the  following 
extract  from  Mr.  Krelages  paper  con- 
cerning its  introduction  will  be  of 
especial  interest  : — 

"  Lilium  speciosum  was  found  as  a 
cultivated  plant,  first  by  Kiempfer  and 
afterwards  by  Thunberg,  in  the  gardens 
of  Japan,  its  native  country.  Thunberg 
called  it  speciosum,  by  which  name  it  is 
also  at  present  best  known,  though  it 
used  to  be  generally  called  lancifolium, 
a  name  given  by  Mussche,  the  curator 
of  the  Botanic  (iardens  at  Ghent 
(Belgium),  where  it  flowered  for  the  first 
time  in  Europe  in  the  summer  of  1S3-2. 

"Two  years  before  Von  Siebold,  a 
surgeon  attached    to    the    Netherlands 


Embassy  in  Japan,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for 
the  importation  of  many  beautiful  Japanese  plants, 
had  introduced  it  for  the  first  time  in  living  bulbs 
into  Europe,  where  it  had  only  formerly  been 
known  from  an  unsatisfactory  description  by 
Thunberg,  and  from  a  drawing  b}'  K^mpfer, 
published  by  Banks. 

"  When  Lilium  speciosum  flowered  in  (ihent  for 
the  first  time  it  created  such  a  sensation  that  a 
well  known  Belgian  amateur  at  once  offered 
2,000  francs  lor  the  mother  bulb,  which  offer, 
-liowever,  was  declined.  Mussche  presented  a  very 
few  oft'sets  to  horticultural  friends,  and  so  the 
Lily  came  into  other  hands.  The  prices  for 
small  bulbs  were  in  1834,  'iOO  francs  each  ;  in 
lS.3(i,  l"iil  francs;  and  in  IS.'W  the  stock  was 
entirely  sold  out.  No  bulbs  could  be  offered 
before  the  next  year,  when  the  price  went  back  to 
■200  francs  each.'' 

Any  attempt  to  extend  these  notes  \vould  carry 
them  beyond  the  limits  of  a  single  article,  but 
enough  has  been  given  to  show  the  variety  of  the 
valuable  information  contained  in  the  different 
papers,  whose  production  we  owe  to  the  Lil^' 
conference,  and  to  those  gentlemen  who  helped  to 
make  it  such  a  success. 

rhe  following  are  the  papers  printed  in  the 
Journal  nj'  /he  Royal  Ilorticidliiral  Socie/i/:  — 

"Descriptions  of  the  New  Species  and  Principal 
Varieties  of  Lil}'  Discovered  since  the  Publication 
of  the  Monograph  of  Elwes  (1880),"  by  J.  G. 
Baker,  F.R.,S.,  V.M.H. 

"  Notes  on  Chinese  Lilies,"  by  Dr.  Augustine 
Henry. 

"  The  Lilies  of  the  Western  United  States  and 
British  Columbia,  "  hy  Carl  Purdy,  U.S.A. 

"  Dutch  Lilies,"  by  Ernst  H.  Krelage, 
Haarlem. 

"  Lilium  speciosum,''  by  F.  W.  Seers,  Naimi 
Tal,  N.W.P.,  India. 

"Extract  from  a  Letter  to  the  Chairman  on 
L.  medeoloides,"  by  Alfred  Unger,  Yokohama. 

"Lilv  Disease,''  by  (ieorge  Massee,  F.L.S., 
F.R.H.S. 

"Notes  of  my  Exjjerience  with  Lilies,"  by 
George  F.  Wilson,  F.R.S.,  V.M.H. 

"  Lilies  from  .Seed,"  by  F.  W.  Burbidge,  M.A., 
V.M.H. 

"Lilies  in  a  Town  Garden  in  the  North,"  by 
George  Veld,  M.A.,  F.R.H  S. 


"Lilies  in  the  Open-air  (Jarden  and  Woodland,  " 
by  W.  Goldring,  F.R.H.S. 

"Lilies,"  by  J.  Carrington  Ley,  M.A. 

"  Lilies  at  Yalding  in  Kent,"  by  Captain  Saville 
Reid. 

"  Lilies  in  Devonshire,"  by  (i.  S.  Patey. 

"Expenences  in  Growing  Lilies,"  bv  Dr.  Bonavia, 
F.R.H.S. 

"An  Amateur's  Attempt  to  Grow  Lilies  on 
Chalky  Clay,"  by  Henry  Jones,  F.R.H.S. 

"  Lilv  Culture  L'nder  ( dass,"  bv  R.  W.  Wallace 
F.R.H.S. 

"Extract  from  a  Letter  to  the  Chairman  on 
a  supposed  Hybrid  between  L.  pardalinum  and 
L.  Parryii,"  by  James  Snow  Whall.  H.  P. 


ROSE    DR.    GRILL. 

Thls  delightful  Tex  Rose  was  hardly  known 
in  England  till  it  wi.s  brought  forward  and  its 
merits  were  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Robinson.  Jt 
has  a  charming  and  quite  remarkably  refined 
quality  of  growth  and  foliage,  and  the  rosy 
bloom  shaded  with  copper  gives  the  same 
impression  of  distinction  with  d-iintiness. 
Hence  it  is  one  of  tlie  prettiest  of  Roses  for 
a  bed  by  itself.  The  undergrowth  of  pale 
tufted  Paniies  fills  the  under  space,  and  when 
rightly  assorted  for  colour  enhances  the  beauty 
of  the  Rose. 


ROSA    BANKSI^E    GRANDI- 
FLORA. 

The  large-flowered  Hank-ian  Rose  is  one  of 
the  three  kinds  in  general  cultivation  that  is 
most  unwillin.g  to  Hower  in  England.  The 
illustration  show.s  it  blooming  freely  in  a 
garden  in  France,  and  illustrates  the  beauty 
of  Roses  grown  on  a  teries  of  arches  over  a 
path. 

For  the  same  effect  or  one  of  even  fuller 
bloom  in  England,  it  would  be  better  to  use 
such  Roses  as  Climbing  Aimee  Vibert  or 
Mme.  Alfred  C.irriere. 


'^'^l 


V\  *•:■■' 


TE.V   ROSE -DE.    OUILf,   CAKfETKp    WITH   TUFTEU    PANSIES.      (AVi/i/i  «  jihutoyraijl,  by  Miss   WUlmoll.) 


February  8,   1902. 


THE    GAEDEN. 


95 


M 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

THE   FLOWER  GARDEN. 

[ILU  open  weather  should  uow  be  taken 
advantage  of  to  complete  all  planting 
operations  that  may  have  been  left 
over  from  the  early  winter.  The 
days  are  lengthening  and  the  sun  gets 
more  powerful,  so  every  opportunity 
should  be  taken  advantage  of.  When  planting 
trees  and  shrubs  make  much  wider  holes  than  the 
roots  actuallj'  reijuire,  and  the  soil  at  the  bottom 
of  the  hole  should  be  broken  up  to  allow  water  to 
drain  easily  away.  Good  surface  soil  should  be 
put  iu  immetliate  contact  with  the  roots,  and  give 
a  mulching  of  manure  to  prevent  the  effects  of 
after  drought.  Planting  Yew  and  Hollies,  if  not 
done  last  September,  should  be  left  until  April. 
All  work  in  the  way  of  renovation  and  improve- 
ments should  be  forsvarded  before  the  busy  season 
comes  on. 

TljKFING  SEW  GROUND 
or  any  relaying  should  be  done  as  soon  as  possible, 
for  though  one  can  do  this  work  as  late  as  April 
and  May,  the  result  is  more .  satisfactory  and 
entails  less  labour  with  regard  to  after  attention 
it  done  earl3'.  Now  is  a  good  time  to  prepare 
diB'erent  parts  of  the  wild  garden  for  naturalising 
some  of  the  most  appropriate  annuals  and  perennials 
either  bj'  sowing  or  planting. 

The  results  thus  obtained  are  very  effective, 
enhance  the  pleasure  of  this  part  of  the  garden 
during  the  summer  months,  and  make  a  most 
worthy  continuation  of  the  displaj'  achieved 
by  the  naturalisation  of  bulbs  in  the  grass  during 
the  spring.  A  very  simple  yet  excellent  etfect  is 
easily  obtained  by  sowing  a  piece  of  ground  with 
Shirley  Popjnes  in  March  or  April.  In  the  course 
of  a  week  or  so  the  ground  becomes  green  with 
the  seedlings,  and  during  the  summer  months  it 
becomes  a  sheet  of  colour  that  can  never  fail  to 
elicit  the  admiration  of  everyone.  When  pre- 
paring the  ground  great  care  should  be  taken  to 
fork  out  the  roots  of  any  coarse-growing  grasses  or 
herbs  which  would  be  likely  to  grow  stronger 
than  the  Poppies. 

TuE  Foxglove 
is  another  very  appropriate  subject  for  naturalising 
in  this  manner,  as  it  is  undoubtedly  one  ut  the 
most  beautiful  and  stately  of  our  native  flowers. 
Not  only  in  large  masses  does  it  look  well,  but  in 
isolated  clurtips  in  out-of-the-waj-  places  by  the 
woodland  walks  and  the  sides  of  streamlets. 
It  can  be  grown  as  an  annual,  but  is  best  treated 
as  a  biennial,  as  it  then  flowers  much  more 
freely.  All  tliat  is  required  is  to  sow  a  few 
seeds  wliere  they  are  intended  to  flower  in  spring, 
and  they  will  look  after  themselves,  and  in  most 
instances  perpetuate  themselves  readily.  It  is  a 
good  plan  to  raise  and  plant  into  nursery  rows  a 
few  hundreds  ever^  year,  transplanting  tliem  into 
their  flowering  places  at  this  season.  Many  an 
unattractive  spot  in  the  pleasure  ground  can  be 
made  beautiful  by  means  of  the  Foxglove. 

The  Anchusa, 
especially  the  large  one  italioa,  is  splendid  for 
planting  out  in  wild  places.  It  is  perennial,  but  by 
sowing  now  in  boxes  can  be  had  in  flower  before 
the  end  of  the  summer.  The  bright  blue  flowers 
and  borage-like  foliage  are  well  suited  for  wild 
gardening.  Where  the  common  Primrose  is  not 
naturally  abundant  a  beautiful  effect  can  be 
obtained  bj'  clearing  a  piece  of  ground  on  a  slope 
or  in  a  dell  and  sowing  it  in  sutKcient  quantity  to 
ensure  in  future  a  carpet  of  these  lovely  "and 
delicate  flowers.  The  sowing  should  be  done 
in  Ajjril.  Violets  and  Delphiniums  are  other 
plants  that  should  be  encouraged  in  the  wild 
garden.  Hugh  A.  Petiigrew. 

CciKtle  Gardens,  Si.  Fagan's. 


"^f- 


THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 

Seed  Sowing. 
Should  the  weather  be  favourable  small  sowings 
may   now    be    made   in   warm    districts   on   south 
borders  or  sheltered  positions  on  ground  which  lias 


been  previously  pre- 
pared, but  it  is  well  to 
bear  in  mind  that  win- 
terly weather  may  yet 
be  in  store  for  us,  and 
it  is  extremely  risky  to 
sow  to  any  extent.  On 
no  account  venture  on 
the  ground  unless  dry 
and  iu  workable  condi- 
tion and  when  the  sur- 
face can  be  raked  down 
to  a  fine  tilth. 

Peas. 
It  will  be  quite  safe 
to  make  sowings  of  the 
earliest  varieties,  but, 
as  I  pointed  out  in  a 
previous  calendar,  much 
better  results  maj'  be 
obtained  by  raising  them 
under  glass  and  planting 
out  later  on.  In  case 
circumstances  do  not 
allow  and  outside  sow- 
ings have  to  be  depended 
on,  be  on  the  safe  side 
and  guard  against 
ground  vermin,  such  as 
rats  and  mice,  by  setting 
traps  when  the  seed  is 
sown.  It  is  surprising 
what  serious  damage 
these  will  do  to  the  crop 
in  a  few  nights,  and 
where  rooks  abound 
wire-guards  or  netting 
should  be  placed  over 
them.  Broad  Beans  of 
the  long  podded  varieties 
may  also  be  sown  and 
the  same  precaution 
taken  for  their  safety. 

Parsnips. 

Along  season  of  growth 
is  necessary  to  ensure 
fine  roots,  and  as  the 
plants  are  perfectly 
hard}'  early  sowing 
should  be  resorted  to, 
and  any  time  during 
February  the  seed  ma}' 
be  sown,  providing  the  land  is  in  a  workable 
condition.  Unless  it  is  so  it  will  be  far  better 
to  defer  doing  so  until  March,  or  ugly  ill- 
shapen  specimens  will  result.  When  these  are 
required  for  exhibition  extra  care  and  attention 
must  be  given,  as  only  in  the  most  favourable 
soil  will  these  develop  into  typical  specimens 
unless  means  are  taken  to  assist  them.  Never- 
theless, it  is  possible  by  so  doing  to  produce 
these  in  their  best  form  on  the  most  unkind  land 
by  what  is  generally  known  as  the  boring  process. 
The  holes  should  be  made  with  an  iron  bar  to  the 
desired  depth  and  filled  in  fairly  firm  with  a 
suitable  mixture.  Nothing  is  better  for  this 
purpose  than  the  old  soil  saved  from  the  potting 
shed,  which  should  be  kept  dry  and  passed  through 
a  fine  mesh  sieve,  or,  failing"  this,  a  light  sandy 
mi.Kture  may  be  prepared,  when  a  ver}'  large 
percentage  may  be  relied  on  for  the  exhibition 
table. 

<-iENBRAL  Work. 

Sow  also  short  breadths  of  Shorthorn  Carrot, 
early  Milan  Turnip,  Spinach,  and  Radishes.  Make 
further  sowings  under  glass  of  Carrots,  Cauli- 
flowers of  sorts,  self-protecting  Broccoli,  and  long 
forcing  Turnip  in  cold  frames.  Potatoes  may  also 
be  planted  in  cold  pits  or  frames,  and  Radishes 
sown  in  shallow  drills  between  tliem.  Much  care 
and  attention  will  be  necessary  by  waj'  of  airing, 
watering,  and  protecting  against  frost  to  make  the 
earlier  sowings  successful.  Maintain  as  often  as 
possible  a  gentle  growing  temperature,  excessive 
heat  or  cold  draughts  must  be  guarded  against, 
and  the  outside  temperature  will  have  to  deter- 
mine to  a  great  extent  the  amount  of  ventilation 
necessary.      Asparagus    forced     on     hot-beds    or 


THE   LARGE   FLOWERED   BANKSIAN   ROSE   IN  FRANCE. 
(From  a  photograph  by  Miss  Willmott.) 


heated  pits  will  now  give  little  trouble,  and  can 
be  brought  forward  with  the  greatest  ease,  and 
if  good  strong  plants  are  used  heads  almost  equal 
to  those  cut  in  the  open  in  spring  should  bo 
produced.  Introduce  Seakale  and  Chicorj'  to  the 
Mushroom  house  to  keep  up  a  regular  supply. 
Box  up  Mint  and  Tarragon  and  bring  on  in  a  cool 
house  or  pit.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Hoxist  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 


FEUIT    GARDEN. 

Peaches    and    Nect.arines. 

These,  even  in  cases  where  their  branches  have 
been  released  and  drawn  from  the  walls  with  a 
view  to  retarding  the  blossoms  and  thus  help 
them  to  escape  the  damaging  spring  frosts, 
must  at  an  earl}'  date  be  re-trained.  The  work 
involved  in  attending  to  this,  provided  the  pruning 
was  properly  done,  as  it  should  have  been  in  the 
autumn  as  soon  as  the  fruit  was  gathered,  will 
simply  be  in  readjusting  the  branches  and  young 
wood  in  a  neat  and  regular  way.  In  doing  this 
the  object,  as  far  as  possible,  should  be  to  secure  a 
supply  of  fruit-bearing  wood  at  about  5  inches 
apart  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  wall.  These 
desirable  conditions,  however,  can  only  be  attained 
by  general  and  skilful  management,  and  this 
remark  applies  especially  to  disbudding  and  the 
la}'ing  in  of  young  shoots  during  the  growing 
sea-son.  Great  care  should  be  taken  in  training 
young  trees  to  arrange  their  principal  branches  so 
as  to  form  a  perfect  fan,  and  the  points  of 
extending  shoots  should  be  shortened  when  neces- 
sary to   ensure   a   sufficient   supply  of   subsidiary 


96 


THE    GABDEN. 


[February  8,  1902. 


branches.  Any  unripened  portions  of  young  wood 
should  be  removed. 

Spravinu  Fruit  Trees. 

The  importance  of  this  is  now  so  widely  acknow- 
ledged that  perhaps  an  apology  should  be  made 
for  referring  to  it.  However,  cultivators  may  be 
reminded  that  a  solution  composed  of  crude  com- 
mercial potash  and  caustic  soda,  lib.  of  each,  in 
10  gallons  of  water,  used  in  a  hot  state,  when  the 
trees  are  dry  and  before  .the  buds  burst,  destroys 
l)oth  lichen  and  the  eggs  of  insects.  This  solution 
of  the  above-named  strength  may  be  safely  used 
upon  Apples,  Pears,  and  Plums,  but  for  Peaches, 
Apricots,  and  Cherries,  owing  to  their  buds  being 
more  sensitive,  16  gallons  of  water  should  be  used 
to  each  pound  of  the  other  ingredients.  Care 
must  be  exercised  in  spra3'ing  that  the  compound 
does  not  come  into  contact  with  plants  having 
foliage  or  the  bulbs  of  Lilies,  &c.,  and  the  hands 
must  be  protected. 

Applying  Manures. 

There  is  no  question  but  that  manures  and  their 
application  are  matters  that  many  of  us  know  far 
too  little  about.  We  are  consetiuently  more  or  less 
dependent  for  instruction  upon  the  horticultural 
chemists,  whose  views  upon  the  suliject,  however, 
do  not  always  agree.  The  iniliscriminate  use  of 
manures  may  work  much  mischief,  and  therefore 
before  applying  them  to  fruit  trees  or  plants  of 
any  description  it  should  not  only  be  ascertained 
that  they  are  chemically  suitable  for  the  subjects, 
but  also  that  the  trees.  &c.  are  really  in  need  of 
them.  Young  trees  planted  upon  suitable  soil 
usuallj'  form  sufficiently  strong  wood  to  be  satis- 
factory for  some  years  after  being  planted  without 
being  afforded  manurial  aid,  and  should  not  be 
assisted  until  their  needs  become  apparent. 
Matuied  trees,  on  the  other  hand,  that  show 
indications  of  having  pavtiall3'  exhausted  the 
natural  supply  of  food  should  have  3'early  assist- 
ance equivalent  to  their  wants.  Slow  acting 
manures,  such  as  derived  from  the  farmjard, 
kainit,  and  bone-meal  are  best  applied  in  the 
autumn,  \\hile  superphosphates,  muriate  of  potash, 
nitrate  of  soda,  and  other  quick  acting  soluble 
fertilisers  should  be  applied  early  in  the  spring. 
The  drainage  from  stables,  &c. ,  is  a  valuable 
manure  for  fruit  trees,  Strawberries,  &'c.,  which,  if 
at  command,  can  be  used  at  the  present  time, 
in  a  diluted  form,  and  in  quantity  sufficient  to 
thoroughly  permeate  the  soil  occupied  by  roots. 
Charred  garden  refuse,  wood  ashes,  &c. ,  maj'  also 
be  applied  as  top-dressings  at  this  season  with 
much  benefit.  Thos.  Coomher. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Ventilation. 

The  greatest  care  is  needful  during  February  and 
March  regarding  the  admission  of  air.  Cold  winds 
and  bright  sunshine  often  come  together  and  cause 
the  temperature  of  the  houses  to  rise  higher  than 
necessary.  .Sudden  changes  of  temperature  caused 
by  improper  ventilation  very  soon  show  tlieir  e\-il 
ctl'ects  on  j'oung  and  tender  foliage.  The  ven- 
tilators should  be  opened  gradually  as  soon  as  the 
temperature  begins  to  rise  in  the  morning  on  the 
leeward  side  of  the  house,  as  draughts  should 
always  be  avoided.  The  house  should  Ije  closed 
early  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  sun-heat  may  add 
to  the  warmth  during  the  night.  In  bright  and 
sunny  weather  stop  tires  early  in  the  morning,  and 
do  not  start  them  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  The 
temperature  of  the  stove  should  be  from  (io^'  to 
li.5^'  by  night,  Tti'-'  to  7.">^'  by  day,  allowing  the 
thermometer  to  rise  higher  with  sun-heat.  The 
cool  greenhouse  should  be  4"i''  to  50"  by  night  and 
5o-'  to  UO'^  by  day. 

Herbaceous  Calceolarias 
should  be  placed  in  the  pots  in  which  they  will 
flower.  Use  a  compost  consisting  of  half  turfj' 
loam,  (juarter  leaf-mould,  and  quarter  sheep  or 
cow  manure,  with  sufficient  sharp  sand  to  keep  the 
whole  porous.  I'ot  tirml3',  but  not  too  firm,  or  the 
roi->ts  will  not  run  freel3'.  If  the  plants  are  kept 
in  a  dry  atmosphere  and  a  high   temperature  red 


spider  will  soon  disfigure  them,  therefore  they 
must  be  given  a  cool,  damp,  aiiy  situation.  They 
are  also  subject  to  attacks  of  green  flv.  Fumigate 
as  a  preventive  ratlier  than  a  remedy  against  this 
pest. 

Chrtsanthe.mums 
that  were  prcjpagated  in  December  should  not 
remain  in  small  pots  too  long.  They  must  not 
be  checked,  but  kept  in  vigorous  growth  from 
first  to  last.  The  soil  used  for  the  first  potting 
should  consist  of  turfy  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  sharp 
sand.  The  pots  must  be  cleaned  and  carefull3 
drained.  Keep  the  frame  close  for  a  day  or  two, 
after  which  the  more  air  that  can  safely  be  given 
the  better. 

Pot  Roses 
that  were  pruned  and  top-dressed  last  autumn  may 
be  brought  into  the  forcing-house.  Keep  a  .sharp 
look  out  for  aphis,  to  which  Roses  are  subject.  Pot 
Roses  in  a  forward  state  may  have  manure  water 
given  them  occasionally. 

Caladiujis 
which  show  signs  of  growth  must  now  be  potted 
into  a  mixture  of  turfy  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  a 
little  well-decomposed  manure,  in  about  equal 
parts,  adding  enough  sharp  .=and  to  keep  the  whole 
open.  Thoroughly  drain  the  pots,  as  these  plants 
require  abundance  of  water.  The  size  of  the  pots 
must  be  regulated  by  the  specimens  required. 
After  potting  place  in  stove  temperature  and 
syringe  daily,  but  withhold  water  until  growth  and 
roots  have  been  made,  then  increase  the  supply. 
If  given  bottom  heat  at  this  early  time  the\-  will 
make  more  vigorous  growth,  as  they  delight  in 
strong  heat  when  growing. 

The  following  seeds  may  be  sown  in  pans  filled 
with  a  finely-sifted  compost  of  loam,  leaf-mould, 
and  sand— placed  in  a  hot-bed  frame  or  in  a  house 
with  a  temperature  of  about  ti.>' — viz.,  Richardia 
elliottiana,  Asparagus  Sprengeri,  Francoa  ramosa, 
Celosia  plumosa,  Primula  obconica,  Phormiuni 
tenax.  Mimosa  pudica,  Celsia  arcturus,  Clianthus 
Dampieri,  C.  puniceus,  and  Tonsnias. 

John  Fleming. 

ire.r/i«m  Park  Oarden.-i,  Sloiiijli, 


ORCHIDS. 

RAISING    ORCHIDS     FROM 
SEED. 

FOR  man3'  years  this  has  been  extensively 
practised  by  a  number  of  our  leading 
firms,  and  the  result  is  seen  in  a  vast 
number  of  rare  and  beautiful  liybrids, 
many  of  which  surpass  the  species 
that  have  hitherto  been  introduced. 
Amateurs,  too,  have  also  been  successful,  and  have 
added  many  noteworthy  hybrids  to  the  alread3' 
extensive  list.  The  plants  so  raised  being  accus- 
tomed to  the  artificial  conditions  of  our  Orchid 
houses  are  far  more  easily  cultivated  than  imported 
plants.  There  are  few  phases  of  gardening  that 
give  more  pleasure  than  that  of  raising  Orchids 
from  seed  ;  it  is  highly  interesting  to  watch  the 
gradual  development  from  the  tiny  germ  to  the 
small  globules,  from  the  apex  of  which  the  first 
leaf  appears,  and  from  the  base  of  which  the  first 
root  is  emitted,  and  so  on  up  to  the  flowering 
stage.  Many  cultivators,  even  in  small  collections, 
are  exercising  their  talents  in  this  direction,  and 
to  those  commencing  with  little  knowledge  of  the 
subject  a  note  ma\'  not  be  out  of  place. 

Hyisrtuisini:. 
It  is  naturaU3'  the  object  of  the  hybridist  to 
bring  about  something  new  and  meritorious  that 
will,  when  the  flowering  time  arrives,  well  repay 
the  care  expended,  and  to  aim  at  this  one  must 
select  the  finest  species  and  varieties  for  experiment. 
When  two  Orchids  are  selected  for  this  purpose 
the  first  simple  operation  is  to  transfer  the  pollen 
masses  from  the  flowers  of  one  plant  to  those  of 
another.  Wlien  this  is  done  a  neat  label  should 
1)6  attached  bearing  tlie  date  of  crossing  and  tlie 
names  of  tire  plants,  or  a  still  smaller  label  may  be 


used  to  show  a  number  referring  to  the  record 
kept  in  a  book.  If  the  plants  hybridised  are  light- 
loving  subjects,  as  C'attle3'as,  Lielias,  and  l)en- 
drobes,  they  should  be  placed  near  the  light  at  a 
reasonable  distance  from  the  glass,  and  should 
never  be  allowed  to  sufl'er  for  want  of  water  at  the 
root.  Such  plants  as  Dendrobium  wardiannm, 
D.  nobile,  and  others  that  are  generally 
removed  to  cooler  quarters  as  soon  as  growth  has 
finished,  instead  of  being  removed  thus  it  is  best 
that  they  should  remain  in  a  temperature  not 
lower  than  that  of  the  Cattlc3'a  house  during 
the  development  of  the  seed  pod.  It  must  always 
be  borne  in  mind  that  tlie  production  of  seed  is  a 
great  strain  upon  the  plants  (with  the  exception  of 
C3'pripediums,  which  suffer  but  little  in  conse- 
quence), therefore  the  one  intended  for  the  seed 
parent  must  be  a  plant  perfect  in  health,  with 
plenty  of  routs,  and  one  that  will  not  need 
disturbing  until  the  seed  has  ripened  and  is  taken 
from  the  plants.  The  time  necessary  for  the  seed 
to  ripen  varies  from  seven  to  twelve  months,  and 
when  the  seed  is  ripe  the  pods  open.  In  most  cases 
it  is  best  sown  at  once,  especially  of  the  Cj'pri- 
pedium,  for  if  kept  too  long  it  loses  vitality. 

The  .Seed  or  Cattleyas, 
Lalias  and  Uendrobiums  may  be  kept  for  a  longer 
period  ;  it  is  therefore  best  to  sow  but  little  of 
the  latter  seed  during  October,  November,  and 
December.  An3'  pod  tliat  opens  in  these  months 
may  remain  on  the  plants  and  be  tied  up  with 
tissue  paper  to  prevent  the  seed  being  lost,  or  be 
removed  and  liung  up  in  the  house  where  the 
plants  are  grown  until  .Januar3'  or  February. 
Then  sow  the  seed  ;  some  pods  when  opened  may 
appear  to  contain  nothing  but  chaff,  but  these 
should  by  no  means  be  thrown  away,  for  in  most 
cases  the  end  of  the  pod  contains  a  few  good  seeds. 

Preparation  for  Sowinc;. 

The  seed  nia3'  be  sown  in  soil  in  which  pot 
plants  are  growing  or  in  specially  prepared  pots. 
In  preparing  for  tire  former  select  plants  that  will 
not  need  to  be  disturbed  for  at  least  twelve  months, 
pick  awa3'  tlie  surface,  and  top-dress  with  peat, 
pressing  the  same  moderalel3'  firm  and  trim  off 
closel3'.  .Specially  prepared  pots  should  be  filled 
to  within  1  inch  of  their  rims  with  crocks,  and  the 
remaining  space  firml3' filled  with  peat  and  finished 
off  as  above  mentioned.  Pols  may  be  filled  to  - 
within  '2  inches  of  their  rims  with  crocks,  and 
the  remaining  space  filled  with  Bracken  roots 
thoroughl3'  dried  before  being  placed  in  the  pots, 
and  again  well  moistened  before  the  seed  is  sown 
upon  them.  The  seed  of  Cattleyas,  Lajlias,  and 
Dendrobes  ma3'  also  be  sown  on  wood,  and  on  this 
the  seed  germinates  freely  and  is  well  under 
observation  ;  the  wood  used  for  this  purpose  must 
contain  no  substance  likely  to  injure  plant  life.  A 
ver3'  suitable  wood  and  one  easily  obtained  is 
that  of  old  scaffold  poles,  cut  across  with  a  rough 
.saw  about  A  inch  or  1  inch  thick  :  these  being 
round  need  little  preparation  other  than  making  a 
hole  through  the  centre  of  each  piece.  Before 
being  used  they  should  be  thoroughly  dried,  and 
again  well  soaked,  after  which  the3'  should  be 
placed  in  pots  filled  about  two-thirds  with  crocks. 
(Jver  the  latter  place  a  la3'er  of  mo.ss,  and  on  this 
la3'  the  pieces  of  wood,  so  that  the  upper  side  is 
just  below  the  rim  of  the  pot,  and  any  intervening 
space  between  pot  and  wood  may  be  filled  with 
peat. 

Sowing  the  Seed. 

Where  no  seedling  house  proper  exists  the  plants, 
puts,  &c.,  intended  to  receive  the  seed  of  warmth- 
loving  plants,  such  as  Cattle3'as,  Lalias,  I  )endro- 
biums,  Cvpripediums,  &c.,  .should  be  placed  in  the 
warmest  house,  and  well  moistened  a  da3'  or  so 
previous  to  sowing  the  seed.  The  latter  should 
be  sown  thinly  on  the  surface,  carefull3'  labelled, 
the  date  of  crossing,  sowing,  and  names  of  plants 
recorded,  so  that  when  the  hybrids  flower  there 
nia3'  be  no  mistake  in  the  parentage.  The  seed 
should  be  carefully  watered  in  b3'  delicate  spra3ing, 
and  from  then  should  never  be  allowed  to  become 
too  diy,  especiall3'  the  seed  of  Cypripediunis  ;  if 
this  becomes  diy  a  few  times  it  will  inevitabl3' 
perish. 


February  8,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


97 


PrICKIKG    Ol'F   THE    SEEDLINGS. 

8onie  time  elapses  before  the  seedlings  make 
their  appearance,  in  some  cases  they  are  visible  in 
a  few  months,  in  others  the  seeds  sink  in  the  peat 
and  it  may  be  twelve  months  before  they  appear. 
It  is  therefore  advisable  not  to  dispose  of  the  seed 
beds  too  soon  or  valuable  seed  may  be  destroyed, 
except  that  sown  on  wood,  which  is  always  visible, 
and  one  can  easily'  tell  when  it  has  perished.  The 
seedlings  that  come  up  on  peat  may  remain  until 
they  are  nice  little  plants  with  one  or  two  leaves 
and  a  few  roots,  and  then  be  transferred  singly  to 
1-inch  pots,  or  tliej'  may  be  undisturbed  until  thej' 
are  good  sized  plants,  and  be  moved  later  to 
2-inch  pots.  Those  sown  on  wood  should  be 
transferred  to  prepared  pots  of  peat  as  soon  as  the 
little  globules  have  fully  developed  before  any 
roots  have  taken  hold  of  the  wood,  four  or  five 
being  placed  iu  1-inch  pots,  or  proportionately  in 
larger  ones.  There  they  remain  until  they  begin 
to  root,  and  then  must  be  placed  singly  iu  1-inch 
pots.  This  Mork  should  be  performed  with  great 
care,  for  if  the  little  globules  are  bruised  in  the 
slightest  degree  they  will  perish.     In  preparing 

The  Compost 

cut  the  peat  and  moss  finely,  using  but  little  of  the 
latter,  and  be  careful  not  to  press  the  same  too 
firmly  in  the  pots  or  the  little  roots  will  be  unable 
to  penetrate  it.  The  house  in  which  the  seed  is 
sown  should  be  well  shaded  from  the  direct  raj's  of 
the  sun,  a  temperature  of  63"  to  70°  by  night  and 
70°  to  7.)"  by  day  ought  to  be  maintained  through- 
out the  3'ear,  the  atmosphere  kept  well  charged 
with  moisture,  and  air  admitted  only  on  very 
favourable  occasions.  F.  W.  THtiKGOOD. 


AVINTER      PEARS. 

Passe   Colmae. 

If  one  may  judge  of  the  favour  with  which  a 
Pear  is  regarded  by  the  frequency  or  otherwise 
of  notes  concerning  it  in  tlie  horticultural 
press,  tlien  Passe  Colmar  may  be  said  to  be  an 
unpopular  variety.  Karely  is  it  referred  to, 
either  in  terms  of  praise  or  disapproval.  It  is, 
however,  a  \ery  good  Pear  for  orchard  culture, 
particalarly  if  it  can  be  given  a  warm  and 
rich  soil.  The  fruit  is  of  medium  .size,  well 
flavoured,  and  melting.  It  is  in  season  from 
early  November  to  Christmas. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

( The  Editors  are  not  responsible  for   the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents. ) 


BOTTLING     FRUITS. 

[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 

SIR,— C.  Macquarie's  instructions  for 
bottling  fruit  are  good  ;  but  I  can 
improve  upon  them.  "  Canned  "  fruit  is 
the  American  housewife's  staple  dessert 
in  winter,  and  I  put  mine  up  as  follows  : 
Make  a  light  syrup  by  dissolving  lAlb.  of 
granulated  sugar  (is  that  your  castor  sugar  ?)  "in  one 
quart  of  water,  putting  it  in  a  jar  or  kettle  at  the 
back  of  the  stove,  where  the  syrup  becomes  warm 
but  not  hot.  Peel  Peaches  or  Pears,  halve  them, 
and  put  neatly  in  the  jars  until  full ;  then  fill  the 
jars  up  with  the  syrup,  pouring  in  carefully  to 
drive  out  air-bubbles.  Put  some  flat  pieces  of 
wood  on  the  bottom  of  a  wash-boiler  or  large 
saucepan,  stand  the  jars  of  fruit  upon  these,  with 
a  wisp  of  straw  or  tough  paper  around  each  jar 
to  prevent  risk  of  breaking  by  jolting  together. 
Lay  the  lids  upon  the  jars  (but  not  fastened)  and 
pour  cold  water  into  the  boiler  until  it  comes  two- 
thirds  the  height  of  the  jars.  Put  the  boiler  on 
the  front  of  the  stove,  and  notice  when  it  comes  to 
a  boil.  About  three  minutes  after  the  water  in 
the  saucepan  boils.  Peaches  and  Plums  (which  are 
put  in  the  jars  without  peeling)  are  cooked  ;  small 


fruits  less ;  Pears  five  to  seven  minutes.  Then 
draw  the  saucepan  back,  lift  out  the  jars,  and,  if 
not  quite  full,  pour  in  a  drop  of  boiling  water  to 
fill.  Seal  at  once.  There  is  no  labour  of  filling, 
with  accompanj'ing  scalded  fingers,  no  mashed 
fruit,  and  it  keeps  perfectly.  Cherries  and  Straw- 
lierries  are  delicious  thus  canned.  Our  Cherry  and 
Strawberry  jam,  unlike  this,  is  cooked  in  the  sun, 
with  surpassing  results.  I  should  be  glad  to  offer 
any  information  concerning  American  modes  of 
cooking  fruits  and  vegetables  if  desired.  They 
often  involve  less  labour  than  English  methods, 
with  e(|ually  good  results. 

Mat/wood,  N.J.  Emily  Taplin  Royle. 

[The  sugar  indicated  is  not  exactlj'  castor  sugar, 
which  is  the  best  cane  sugar  in  finest  powder;  but 
no  doubt  the  ordinarj'  white  preserving  sugar,  as 
used  in  England,  would  give  the  desired  result. 
—Eds.  J 

YOUNG  GARDENERS  AND  THEIR 

IMPROVEMENT. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — At  first  reading  this  may  seem  to  be  a 
somewhat  unnecessary  title,  and  doubtless  will  to 


His  practice  will  be  made  much  more  interesting 
by  the  addition  of  a  certain  amount  of  theory,  and 
this  will  enable  him  to  understand  the  why  and 
wherefore  of  much  that  he  now  does  by  rule  of 
thumb.  His  mental  horizon  will  become  consider- 
ably enlarged,  and  he  will  find  points  of  great 
interest  in  things  that  before  were  entirely 
commonplace  to  him.  When  a  man  knows  some- 
tliing  of  the  life-history  of  a  plant  he  cannot 
help  but  tend  it  with  an  increased  interest  and 
love  than  were  it  but  just  one  plant  amongst 
man}'.  A  knowledge  of  the  mysterious  changes 
which  occur  during  seed  germination,  grafting, 
the  rooting  of  cuttings,  &c. ,  should  bring  a 
greater  intelligence  to  bear  in  practising  these 
operations.  The  gardener  should,  above  all,  culti- 
vate keenly  his  powers  of  observation,  for  there 
are  few  who  have  the  opportunities  for  observa- 
tion of  nature  that  a  gardener  has  by  reason  of  his 
surroundings  and  daily  work.  And  how  compara- 
tively seldom  do  gardeners — professional  gardeners 
particularly — make  use  of  them  ! 

It  will  not  be  denied,  I  think,  that  amateur 
gardeners  note  far  more  keenly  the  details  of 
their  own  small  gardens  than  the  jjrofessional 
often  does  in  the  larger  garden  under  his  care. 
Possibly  the  explanation  of  this  lies  in   the   fact 


pear  passe  colmab. 


many  young  gardeners  considering  themselves  to 
possess  a  fairly  good  knowledge  of  their  profession. 
There  are  few  of  us,  however,  it  matters  not  what 
our  position  in  life  is,  whose  knowledge  does  not 
stand  in  need  of  improvement,  and  it  is  in  taking 
this  broad  view  that  I  would  otter  my  remarks. 
Some  few  months  ago  the  subject  of  "  The  Incom- 
petence of  Young  Gardeners"  was  discussed  in 
your  columns,  but  I  am  not  of  those  who  would 
accuse  young  gardeners  in  general  of  being  incom- 
petent. Neither  in  writing  under  the  present 
heading  to  my  notes  do  I  lay  raj'self  open  to  this 
charge,  for  to  endeavour  to  lead  a  man  to  improve 
himself  does  not  for  a  moment  imply  that  he  is 
incompetent.  Very  far  from  it ;  it  is  often  the 
most  competent  who  pay  the  greatest  heed  to  their 
self-improvement ;  indeed,  one  may  go  so  far  as  to 
say  that  competent  men  generallj'  are  so  because 
they  have  never  been  so  foolish  as  to  think  them- 
selves in  need  of  no  further  improvement,  an<l 
consequently  have  taken  advantage  of  oppor- 
tunities. I  think  the  gardener  is  a  man  who  can 
very  largely  profit  by  the  results  that  self- 
improvement  brings  about,  and  all  will  admit  that 
the  earlier  this  is  commenced  the  better. 


that  the  professional  concerns  himself  more  par- 
ticularlj'  with  results,  and  so  often,  therefore, 
leaves  the  details  to  others.  He  does  not  give  the 
personal  attention  that  counts  for  so  much  in  the 
acquiring  of  knowledge.  To  the  young  gardener 
desirous  of  improving  himself  with  a  view  to 
advancement  in  his  profession  I  would  suggest  that 
he  commence  bj'  studying  a  course  of  elementary 
botany.  If  he  has  a  love  for  flowers  it  cannot 
but  be  increased  by  even  an  elementary  know- 
ledge of  their  formation,  classification,  &c.  And 
this  knowledge  should  be  gained  by  means  of 
the  actual  flowers  themselves,  with,  of  course,  the 
help  of  a  text-book. 

The  young  gardener  will  soon  find  that  he 
cannot  do  better  than  commence  the  study  of 
botany  by  the  careful  examination  of  wild  flowers, 
and  this  fact  should  in  time  lead  to  a  study  of  the 
British  flora.  Even  the  severely  practical  gardener 
might  do  worse  than  acquaint  himself  with  some  of 
the  most  handsome  of  our  wild  flowers,  for  they  are 
not  to  be  despised  in  that  style  of  gardening  that  at 
the  present  day  tends  more  and  more  to  become 
popular.  In  the  wild  garden  they  are  of  great  value. 
Perhaps,   however,    the    highest   recommendation 


98 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  S,  1902. 


that  the  search  tor  and  after  study  of  British 
plants  is  that  it  makes  one  observant.  He  who 
commences  to  make  a  collection  of  wild  plants, 
properly  named  and  classified,  will  find  that 
involuntarily  during  his  country  walks  his  eyes 
are  constantly  on  the  look  out  for  something  new 
to  add  to  his  collection.  And  this  keen  observa- 
tion will  also  assert  itself  during  the  day's  work 
in  the  cultivated  garden. 

That  a  man  may  have  an  intelligent  conception 
of  the  reason  for  doing  this  or  that  work  it 
is  necessary  that  he  read  books  upon  the  theory 
and  principles  that  govern  the  practice  of  horti- 
culture, and  as  an  incentive  to  this  he  could 
nut  do  better  than  endeavour  to  pass  the 
examination  that  is  held  by  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  in  April  of  each  year.  The 
gardeners"  improvement  societies  that,  it  is  grati- 
fying to  see,  are  still  being  formed  throughout  the 
country,  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  doing  excellent 
work.  Those  who  have  read  essays  before  such 
.societies  will  know  how  much  time,  labour,  and 
thought  are  required  in  their  compilation.  To  write 
an  essay  upon  any  subject  one  has  to  think,  and  one 
very  often  then  thinks  of  things  that  otherwise 
would  never  have  been  noticed. 

I  think  there  is  a  danger,  h(jwever,  of  the  good 
that  gardeners'  improvement  societies  are  capable 
of  doing  being  minimi.sed  ;  and  for  the  reason  that 
members  are  too  content  to  run  in  the  same  groove 
year  after  year.  There  is  a  lack  of  initiative. 
Instead  of  continually  reading  and  discussing 
the  cultivation  of  ordinary  well-known  plants 
that  probably  everyone  knows  how  to  grow, 
although  he  may  differ  on  certain  minor  points 
from  his  neighbour,  how  much  better  would  it  be 
were  thej'  to  trj'  and  lireak  awa}'  from  such  a 
routine  and  introduce  subjects  likely  to  make  them 
study  and  learn  something  fresh.  The  British 
gardener  is  conservative,  and  this  conservatism  is 
to  a  great  extent  preventing  his  advancement  and 
enlightenment  ;  he  is  only  too  content  to  follow  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  predecessors.  The  great  change 
that  has  come  ever  gardening  in  England  during 
the  past  few  years  should  not  be  without  its  efl'ect 
upon  the  gardener,  and  he  who  is  best  able  to  intel- 
ligently put  into  practice  the  entirely  different 
ideas  that  are  making  such  progress  will  be 
the  gardener  in  demand  in  years  to  come.  But 
such  gardeners  will  be  those  men  who  in  their 
youth  did  not  neglect  the  many  advantages  offered 
for  their  self  improvement  in  these  early  days  of 
the  twentieth  century.  A.  P.  H. 


THE    KITChlEN    GARDEN. 

FORCING  CAULIFLOWERS. 

FORCING  as  a  term  applied  to  Cauliflowers 
may  be  somewhat  misleading,  as  much 
warmth  at  any  time  will  end  in  failure  ; 
but  of  course  there  are  different  grades 
of  forcing.  The  Cauliflowers  need  much 
glass  protection  for  a  time.  I  do  not 
advise  sowing  in  strong  heat,  but  just  enough 
warmth  to  effect  (juick  germination  is  sufficient,  as 
much  warmth  means  a  weakly  growth.  Once  tlie 
plants  are  weak  the  best  after  management  is  of 
little  account.  Some  cultivators  sow  the  forcing 
varieties  in  the  early  autumn,  and  though  I  have 
rarely  seen  this  practice  advocated  in  The  Garden 
there  is  much  in  its  favour,  providing  the  seedlings 
are  grown  thinly  and  not  sown  too  early.  Sep- 
tember is  quite  earlj-  enough,  and  there  is  no  delay 
in  growing  on  early  in  the  spring.  The  danger  of 
autunni  sowings  is  that  the  least  check  causes  these 
early  varieties  to  button  prematurely,  and  they  are 
then  useless.  The  season  for  sowing,  as  noted  above, 
is  past.  My  article  refers  to  sowing  at  this  season, 
and  the  great  value  of  the  forcing  Cauliflowers  of 
which  Veitch's  Early  Forcing,  Sutton's  First 
Crop,  and  Carter's  Defiance  Forcing  are  all 
valuable  types.  To  these  may  be  added  the  small 
but  useful  Snowball,  a  verj'  compact  and  early 
variety.  Any  of  the  varieties  named  may  be  grown 
in  frames  or  pots  from  the  start ;  but  as  many 
cannot  devote  space  to  the  Cauliflower  \xnder  glass 
from  the  start  to  the  finish,   they  can,   however. 


prepare  the  crop  at  the  start,  and  doubtless  the 
heads  grown  thus  are  more  welcome,  as  they  come 
in  just  at  a  season  when  the  late  Broccoli  are  past, 
and  few  choice  vegetables  are  available. 

I  have  referred  to  varieties,  so  that  I  need  not 
dwell  upon  this  point,  but  I  would  add,  no  matter 
what  variety  is  grown,  the  plants  should  have  good 
soil  and  rare  at  the  start.  I  am  aware  many 
object  to  forced  vegetables,  but  so  much  depends 
upon  the  treatment.  The  Cauliflower  in  its  native 
habitat  does  not  get  such  varied  weather  as  in  this 
country,  and  the  plant  will  not  stand  severe  cold, 
so  that  glass  protection  is  beneficial.  We  secure 
our  earliest  heads  by  growing  in  frames  from  the 
start,  the  seed  being  sown  in  autumn,  and  tlie 
plants  planted  under  the  glass  when  large  enough. 
These  forcing  varieties,  especially  First  Crop,  are 
of  very  compact  growth,  and  may  be  always  grown 
12  inches  apart.  We  grow  them  thus,  as  in  the 
spring  the  Cauliflowers  are  cleared  away  and 
French  Beans  planted.  With  regard  to  the  time 
of  cutting  there  is  a  little  gain  over  seed  sown  in 
December  or  January  and  pricked  out  in  frames 
on  a  warm  bed,  but,  as  stated  previously,  there  is 
also  a  danger  of  the  plants  turning  in  prematurely. 
I  think  the  best  system  to  get  early  supplies  in  the 
open,  and  at  less  labour  than  when  heat  is  given, 
is  to  sow  a  box  of  seed  in  Jaimary  in  frames,  prick 
out  the  seedlings  in  boxes  when  larger  and  give 
frame  shelter  for  a  time,  then  plant  out  with  a 
trowel,  preserving  the  Viall  of  eaith  and  roots.  On 
a  warm  south  border  we  plant  between  early  Peas, 
that  is.  Peas  raised  under  glass  and  planted  out 
and  sheltered  from  cold  winds.  The  crojj  grown 
thus  is  most  useful,  as  though  the  Cauliflowers  are 
small,  being  about  the  size  of  cricket  balls,  they 
are  much  liked,  and  as  they  take  up  so  little  space 
it  is  easy  to  grow  a  single  row  of  Cauliflowers 
between  Peas,  only  given  3  feet  space  between  the 
rows.  I  have  not  gone  into  pot  culture.  I  do  not 
think  the  return  equal  to  the  labour  entailed,  and 
that  is  an  important  point  in  most  gardens.  Another 
great  feature  with  these  early  f(jrcing  Cauliflowers 
is  that  in  certain  seasons  the  spring  Broccoli  is  not 
always  plentiful  owing  to  losses,  and  the  loss  can 
be  remedied  in  a  great  measure  by  sowing  the  small 
early  Cauliflowers  at  this  season.       (i.  Wvthes. 


BOOKS. 


The  W^oodlands  Orchids.*— This  is  an 

interesting  and  dainty  volume  about  one  of  the 
most  comprehensive  collections  of  Orchids  ever 
brought  together,  that  of  Mr.  R.  H.  Measures,  of 
Ihe  Woodlands,  Streatham.  It  was  formed  as  a 
source  of  recreation  in  the  first  place  ;  in  truth,  as 
Mr.  Boyle,  the  author,  .says,  "  under  compulsion." 
The  doctor  believed  in  the  wholesomeness  of 
gardening,  whether  of  the  glass  house  or  the  mixed 
border.  "Take  a  house  in  the  suburbs  with  a  large 
garden,"  was  his  advice  to  his  patient.  "Culti- 
vate some  special  variety  of  plant  and  make  a 
study  of  it";  and  to  (juote  the  author:  "Forth- 
with a  house,  with  seven  acres  of  land  about  it, 
was  purchased  at  Streatham — The  Woodlands — 
destined  t(j  win  renown  in  the  aimals  of  Orchid- 
ology.''  In  forming  his  wonderful  eollection  he  has 
had  the  good  advice  of  Mr.  Godseff',  and  a  warm 
tribute  of  praise  is  paid  to  Mr.  J.  Coles,  wlio  has 
charge  of  the  thirty-one  houses,  with  thirteen 
subordinates  in  regular  employment. 

There  are  many  chapters.  One  concerns  the 
glorious  Cattleya  house,  187  feet  long,  24  feet  wide, 
divided  by  glass  screens  into  seven  compartments. 
Here  is  the  eollection  of  La;lia  elegans,  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  world.  "In  this  house,  where  only 
the  large  plants  are  stored,  we  count  oOO  ;  700 
more  are  scattered  up  and  down.  Nowhere  in  the 
World  can  be  seen  so  many  examples  of  this 
ex(juisite  variety — certainly  not  in  its  Ijirthplace, 
for  there  it  is  very  nearly  exterminated.  In  such 
a  multitude  rare  developments  of  form  and  colour 
must  need  abound,  for  no  Orchid  is  so  variable. " 
Then  follows   a   list   of   the   species   and   hybrids 


""The  ^yoodlands  Orchids."  By  Kredevick  Jioyle. 
Coloured  places  by  J.  L.  ilacfarlane.  Lundun  :  Macmillaii 
and  Cu.,  Limited.    Price  £1  Is.  uett. 


under  cultivation,  comprising  many  of  the  most 
precious  in  existence.  Mr.  Boyle  writes  in  a 
pleasant,  chatty  way,  interspersing  his  descriptions 
with  stories  about  intrepid  collectors  and  botanists. 
The  chapter  about  Pvoezl,  the  famous  collector,  is 
full  of  interesting,  not  to  say  thrilling,  tales. 
Cypripedium  insigne  forms  the  subject  of  several 
pages  of  practical  information,  and  there  is  a  story 
of  Cattleya  Skinneri  alba,  but  too  lengthy  to 
repeat  in  are\'iew.  The  PliaUenopsis  house,  Vanda 
house,  hybrid  Cattleyas  and  Ladias,  "a  legend 
of  Madagascar,"  Calanthe  house,  Cymbidium 
house,  Cattleya  labiata  house,  Cypripedium  house, 
and  many  other  phases  of  Orchid  life  are  described 
in  the  book.  The  following  notes  from  the  chapter 
about  Dendrobium  schrccderiauum  will  show  how 
agreeably  written  is  this  history  of  a  famous 
collection  :  "  The  variety  of  Dendrobium  Phahc- 
nopsis,  hereafter  to  bear  Baron  Schnuder's  name, 
was  sent  to  Kew  by  Forbes  about  18.37.  This 
single  plant  remained  a  special  trophy  of  the 
Royal  Gardens  for  many  years.  It  throve  and 
multiplied.  In  course  of  lime  Sir  Joseph  Hooker 
was  able  to  give  a  small  piece,  in  exchange  for 
other  varieties,  to  Mr.  Day,  of  Tottenham,  to 
Baron  Schncder,  and  to  Messrs.  Veitch.  The 
latter  sold  their  specimen  to  Baron  Schncder,  Mr. 
Day's  collection  was  dispersed,  and  the  same 
greatest  of  amateurs  bought  his  fragment.  Thus 
all  three  plants  known  to  exist  in  private  hands 
came  into  Baron  Schncder's  possession,  and  the 
variety  took  his  name.  This  state  of  things  lasted 
for  ten  years.  Mr.  Sanders  then  resolved  to  wait  no 
longer  upon  chance.  He  studied  the  route  of 
Forbes's  travels,  consulted  the  authorities  at 
Kew,  and,  with  their  aid,  came  to  a  conclusion. 
In  ISitO  my  friend  iMr.  Micholitz  went  out  to 
seek  Iiendrobium  schr'cderianum  in  its  native 
wilds.  ...  It  is  universally  understood  that 
Micholitz  discovered  the  object  of  his  quest  in 
New  (iuinea.  If  that  error  encouraged  tlie  explora- 
tion of  a  most  interesting  island,  as  I  hear,  it 
has  done  a  public  service.  .  .  .  Very  shortly 
now  the  true  habitat  will  be  declared.  Mean- 
time, I  must  only  saj'  that  it  is  one  of  the 
wildest  of  those  many  'Summer  Isles  of  Eden' 
which  stud  the  Australasian  Sea."  Then  follows 
an  account  of  the  landing,  and  after  some  days 
spent  in  making  arrangements,  Micholitz  "received 
an  intimation  that  the  chiefs  were  going  to  a  feast 
and  he  might  accompany  them.  .  .  .  The 
chance  of  making  a  trip  beyond  the  narrow  friendly 
area  in  safety  was  welcome,  and  at  daylight  he 
started  with  the  chiefs.  It  was  but  a  few  hours 
paddling  to  the  next  bay.  The  feast  was  given,  as 
is  usual,  to  celebrate  the  launch  of  a  war-piau.  In 
martial  panoply  the  guests  embarked,  paint  and 
feathers,  spears  and  clubs.  Thej'  were  met  by  their 
hosts  in  the  same  guise  upon  the  beach.  After 
ceremonies  probably — but  I  have  no  description — 
all  squatted  down  in  a  circle,  and  a  personage, 
assumed  to  be  the  priest,  howled  for  a  while.  Then 
the  warriors  began  to  dance,  two  by  two.  It  was 
very  wearisome  and,  besides,  very  hot.  Micholitz 
asked  at  length  whether  he  might  leave.  The 
interpreter  said  there  was  no  objection.  He  walked 
towards  the  forest  which  stood  some  distance  back, 
even  as  a  wall  skirting  the  snowj'  beach.  The  grey 
huts  of  the  village  glimmered  among  Palms  and 
fruit  trees  on  one  hand. 

"A  sunbeam  \\ay  had  been  dug  from  the  edge  of 
the  surf  to  a  long  low  building  a  hundred  yards- 
back  ;  within  it  lay  the  prau,  doubtless  ready  to 
be  launched.  Micholitr.  skirted  this  channel.  He 
noticed  a  curious  group  of  persons  sitting  apart — 
an  old  man,  two  women,  a  boy,  and  a  girl.  The 
elders  were  squatting  motionless  upon  the  sand 
so  bowed  that  the  long  wool  drooping  hid  their 
faces  ;  the  children  lay  with  their  heads  in  the 
women's  laps.  None  looked  up.  In  jiassing  he 
observed  that  these  latter  were  bound. 

"The  boat-house — so  to  call  it — spanning  the 
channel,  was  a  hundred  feet  long,  built  of  Palm| 
th.atch,  with  substantial  posts  at  due  distance.  As 
he  walked  along  it  Micholitz  became  aware  of  anl 
unpleasant  smell.  It  was  not  strong.  But  inl 
turning  the  further  corner  he  marked  a  greatl 
purple  stain  upon  the  sand.  Flies  clustered  thick f 
there.     It  was  blood.     And  then,   upon   the   walV 


February  8,  1902] 


THE    GARDEN. 


99 


of  thatch  above  and  the  corner  post,  he  traced  the 
stream  running  broadly  down.  He  looked  to  the 
other  angle.  The  horrid  mark  was  there  also. 
They  could  not  see  him  from  the  beach.  Easily  he 
parted  the  crackling  Palm  leaves  and  thrust  in  his 
head.  At  a  few  feet  distance  rose  the  lofty  stern 
post,  carved  and  painted,  with  two  broad  shells 
glistening  like  eyes  in  the  twilight.  No  more  could 
he  see,  dazzled  by  the  glare  outside.  That  passed, 
he  turned  to  the  right  hand,  and  drew  back 
with  a  cry.  A  naked  corpse,  with  head  hanging  on 
its  chest,  was  bound  to  the  corner  post,  the  same 
to  left.  .  .  .  These  horrors  had  so  disconcerted 
him  that  for  an  instant  he  saw  long  green  stems  of 
Orchids  perched  upon  the  boughs  without  regarding 
them.  But  here  was  one  from  the  top  ol  which 
depended  a  cluster  of  rosy  garlands,  four  or  five, 
bearing  a  dozen  or  twenty  or  thirty  great  flowers, 
all  open ;  and  there  a  cluster  snow-white,  a 
■crimson  one  beyond,  darkening  almost  to  purple. 
Dendrobium  sohrceJerianum  was  rediscovered." 

With  such  stories  of  Orchid  hunting  experience  is 
this  book  interlarded,  and,  needless  to  say,  there  is 
much  cultural  information  of  value.  It  is  an 
interesting  contribution  to  Orchid  literature,  and 
tells  the  story  of  how  one  of  the  most  famous 
■collections  of  the  present  day  was  formed.  The 
■coloured  plates  are  excellent  life-like  portraits,  and 
comprise  representations  of  the  following  species  : 
Zygo-oolax  x  woodlandsense,  as  a  frontispiece ; 
Lselia  elegans  Eyanthas,  L.  e.  Macfarlanei,  Catlleya 
Trianie  Measuresiae,  C.  Schroderie,  Miss  Mary 
-Measures,  Cypripedium  insigne  Sandera^,  Lselia 
tenebrosa  Walton  Grange  var. ,  Cattleya  labiata 
measuresiana,  Lycaste  Skinneri  R.  H.  Measures, 
'Cypripedium  William  Lloyd,  C.  rothwellianum, 
C  reticulatum  var.  Bungerothi,  C.  Dr.  Ryan, 
■Odontoglossum  Rossii,  Woodlands  variet}', 
■0.    X   harryano-crispum,  and  0.  coronarium. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 


MESSRS.    SUTTONS'    PRIMULAS. 

READING  does  not  differ  from  the 
majority  of  towns  at  the  present 
season,  in  that  its  external  aspect  lays 
itself  open  to  be  truthfuUj'  classed  as 
uninviting,  and,  to  the  casual  visitor, 
it  may  be  added  uninteresting.  The 
•visitor  interested  in  flowers,  their  improve- 
ment, and  production,  having  specially  journeyed 
to  the  town  of  biscuits  and  seeds,  in  order,  meta- 
iphorically,  to  take  a  fill  of  his  favourite  dish,  may 
te  on  such  an  occasion  safely  classed  as  one  to 
■whom  bricks  and  mortar  would  appeal  but  little, 
although  perhaps  he  would  be  the  first  to  disclaim 
■any  disinterestedness  in  building  design.  Never- 
theless, chacun  a  son  metier.  To  dismiss  from 
■one's  thoughts,  for  a  short  space  of  time,  the  cold 
and  now  desolate  Middlesex,  Bucks,  and  Berkshire 
fields,  through  which  one  passes  on  the  journey 
from  Paddington,  and  the  unsympathetic  streets 
and  houses  of  Reading,  to  be  chaperoned  through 
house  after  house  of  Primulas  in  fl'-'wer  (and 
Cyclamens  also)  in  all  the  freshness  of  their  spring 
beauty,  particularly  as  it  appealed  to  one  essentially 
interested,  could  hardly  fail  to  raise  an  enthusiasm 
in  the  minds  of  the  most  apathetic  of  amateur  flower 
gardeners. 

Of  the  beautiful,  one  can  hardly  say  brilliant, 
■picture,  for  the  great  charm  of  the  Primula  flower 
lies  not  so  much  in  brilliancy  as  in  its  rich,  soft, 
■and  pleasing  colouring,  the  best  of  pen  pictures 
■would  convey  but  a  poor  idea.  Each  variety,  and 
they  are  very  numerous,  is,  of  course,  kept  to 
itself,  for  all  the  thousands  of  plants  that  one  may 
see  here  are  cultivated  for  the  purpose  of  producing 
seed,  and  the  result  is  that  one  house  may  be 
"filled  with  a  mass  of  either  one  or  two  colours, 
whilst  in  another  house  the  onlooker  will  be 
confronted  with  a  feast  of  colour  in  as  many 
as  a  dozen  different  shades.  The  reason  there 
are  comparatively  few  plants  of  some  varieties 
is  accounted  for  either  by  the  fact  that  they 
produce  but  little  seed,  or  these  sorts  may 
ibe  new  and  a  large  stock  of  them  has  not  yet  been 


obtained  ;  or  again  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the 
demand  for  a  few  sorts  is  limited,  and  while  it  is 
essential  to  be  able  to  supply  them,  to  possess  them 
in  such  numbers  as  is  necessary  with  the  more 
popular  sorts,  would  obviously  be  inadvisable. 
•  For  elegant  beauty  there  is  nothing  in  the  world 
of  half-hardy  Primulas  to  surpass  or  even  equal 
the  Star  Primulas,  and  of  these  alone  there  are 
now  to  be  obtained  no  less  than  seven  varieties, 
those  including  White  Queen,  Mont  Blanc,  Pink 
Star,  Giant  White  Star,  Carmine  Star,  and  last, 
but  worthy  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
list,  so  far  as  quality  is  reckoned,  Sutton's  Star 
Blue.  I  believe  I  am  correct  in  saying  that 
never  before  in  the  history  ot  the  Primula  has 
there  been  a  Blue  Star  Primula  placed  before  the 
public,  and  it  will  assuredly  be  hailed  with  delight 
by  the  many  who  grow  these  charming  plants  as  a 
most  welcome  colour  addition  to  this  family.  No 
apology  I  am  sure  is  needed  for  quoting  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons'  description  of  this  novelty. 
"  Delicate  porcelain-blue  floweis,  which  harmonise 
rather  than  contrast  with  the  pale  green  foliage. 
This  new  variety  enhances  the  decorative  value  of 
all  the  stellate  Primulas." 

There  are  cynics  in  the  world,  however,  who 
would  not  hesitate  to  scoff'  at  the  numerous  addi- 
tions that  are  annually  made  to  florists'  flowers, 
which,  for  the  moment,  we  will  consider  to  be 
represented  by  the  Primula,  and  enquire  "  Where- 
fore the  continual  raising  of  new  varieties  ? "  And 
I  think  I  am  not  open  to  correction  it  I  make 
answer  that  it  is  only  by  continually  endeavouring 
to  effect  an  improvement  by  selection  and  hybridi- 
sation that  the  high  standard  of  beauty  and 
usefulness  in  the  Primula  (and  other  flowers)  is 
maintained.  In  the  course  of  some  years  a  strain 
will  deteriorate,  and  unless  it  is  replaced  by  an 
improved  type  the  flowers  eventually  would  become 
so  poor  in  both  form  and  colour  as  to  be  unworthy 
of  production.  To  our  seedsmen  then  we  owe  the 
continued  high  standard  of  beauty  that  is  main- 
tained in  these  flowers,  so  invaluable  for  the 
decoration  of  home  and  conservatory  during  the 
late  winter  and  early  spring.  It  might  be 
deemed  a  fairy  tale  did  one  not  know  it  to  be  a 
real  fact  that  many  years  of  patient  and  often 
unrewarded  labour  have  been  expended  in  obtaining 
the  splendid  strains  of  Primulas  that  Messrs. 
Sutton  now  display  in  their  nursery  grounds  at 
Reading.  And  the  number  of  seedlings  that  are 
despatched  to  the  rubbish  heap  every  year  ! 
seedlings  that  to  the  man  in  the  street  are  by  no 
means  unpleasing,  yet  to  the  expert  lack 
essential  qualities  of  either  form  or  colour  of  flower 
or  habit  of  growth. 

Nothing  is  more  noticeable  in  the  greatly  im- 
proved forms  of  Primulas  in  Messrs.  Sultons' 
establishment  than  the  altogether  altered  habit 
of  growth  of  the  plants.  For  many  years  the 
long  leaves  hanging  over  the  sides  of  flower 
pots  have  been  the  bane  of  those  who  have 
anything  to  do  with  Primula  culture ;  hardly 
could  one  move  a  plant  without  breaking  a 
leaf,  yet  a  glance  through  the  collections 
at  Reading  to-day  will  reveal  a  majority  of 
plants  of  conipact  habit  with  leaves  whose 
petioles  are  but  an  inch  or  two  long.  The  cynic 
may  be  told  also  that  the  scientist  in  his  study  of 
hereditary  characteristics  in  the  vegetable  kingdom 
derives  no  inconsiderable  help  from  observations 
recorded  by  Messrs.  Sutton  in  their  continued  and 
complex  experiments  in  hybridisation.  One  or  two 
instances  were  pointed  out  in  which  a  batch  ot 
seedlings,  whose  parents  were  entirely  distinct 
from  their  parents,  showed  plainly  both  parents 
and  grandparents  as  well  as  other  new  variations. 

It  might  perhaps  seem  advisable  that  one  should 
not  omit  to  mention  those  varieties  of  Primulas 
that  Messrs.  Sutton  prize  the  most  and  recommend 
most  strongly,  but  one  must  bear  in  mind  that 
space  is  not  unlimited,  and  further  may  they  not 
all  be  found  fully  described  in  the  beautifully 
illustrated  guide  annually  issued  by  the  Reading 
firm.  One  cannot,  however,  neglect  to  note  two 
particularly  worthy  ones,  The  Duchess  and  The 
Double  Duchess.  The  former,  which  obtained  an 
award   of    merit    from    the    Royal    Horticultural 


Society  on  Tuesday,  the  28th  ult.,  is  of  good  size, 
white,  with  rose  ■  carmine  centre  surrounding  a 
golden  eye,  and  the  latter  (which  we  hope  shortly 
to  illustrate)  is  a  double  form  of  it,  retaining  all 
the  qualities  and  characteristics  that  gained  for 
The  Duchess  the  honour  recently  awarded.  The 
enthusiast,  it  matters  not  what  his  subject  may 
be,  in  recording  his  experiences  is  often  apt,  as  it 
were,  to  outstay  his  welcome  with  his  readers  ; 
the  piesent  writer,  bearing  this  in  mind,  would 
be  free  from  a  similar  accusation,  and  acts  there- 
fore upon  the  self-conveyed  suggestion.        H.  T. 


SOCIETIES. 


EALIJfG  GARDENERS'  SOCIETY. 
On  last  Monday  week  the  gardeners  of  this  district  met  at  the 
Municipal  Buildings  to  hear  a  paper  by  one  of  their  own 
members  on  "  Lilium  anratum  and  L.  speciosum,"  both  of 
which  Lilies  were  originally  introduced  from  Japan.  Mr.  C.  B. 
Green  occupied  the  chair,  and  stated  that  it  was  a  wise 
decision  on  the  part  of  the  lecturer,  Mr.  A.  Holloway 
(gardener  to  Mr.  E.  Hyde,  of  Castle  Bar),  to  confine  himself 
to  a  definite  title,  inasmuch  as  there  were  about  170  species 
of  Lilies  known  to  cultivators.  Mr.  Holloway  then  gave 
some  very  practical  hints  concerning  Lily  culture,  all  of 
which  were  culled  from  his  own  experience.  Of  Lilium 
auraLum,  the  "  gulden  rayed  Lily  of  Japan,"  he  spoke  in  the 
highest  terras.  For  pot  culture  he  recommended  a  com- 
position of  three  parts  loam,  one  part  leaf -soil,  one  part  peat, 
and  a  good  sprinkling  of  sand.  The  drainage,  too,  must  be 
attended  to.  for  anything  like  a  water-logged  soil  was  fatal 
to  the  well-being  of  this  highly  fragrant  and  beautiful 
Lily.  Lilium  speciosum,  although  not  so  showy  or  so  highly 
perfumed  as  the  other,  was  equally  useful,  and  if  treated  in 
much  the  same  manner  it  would  develop  into  a  noble 
specimen,  and  would  be  most  valuable  for  the  decoration  of 
the  conservatory.  The  cullivation  of  these  Liiles  outside 
was  also  dealt  with,  and  much  practical  matter  afforded  in 
a  variety  of  ways.  Messrs.  Burgess,  Wait,  Stiles,  Chatter, 
Knightley,  Dack,  Beasley,  and  others  testified  to  the  sound 
sense  of  the  paper,  and  otherwise  concuired  in  the  lecturei's 
remarks.  Mr,  Burgess  proposed  and  Mr.  Frost  supported  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks. 

An  exhibition  of  six  Chinese  Primulas  beautified  the 
tables,  Mr.  Holloway  receiving  the  premier  pi  jze  for  a  group 
remarkable  for  size,  quality,  and  colour  Mr.  Woods, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Willey,  was  an  excellent  second. 

WOOLTON  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY. 
The  annual  meeting  was  held  on  Friday,  the  24th  ult.,  under 
the  presidency  of  Mr.  Joseph  SLoney.  The  secretary  read 
the  third  annual  report,  which  shows  tliat  the  society 
continues  to  make  headway  in  usefulness  and  popularity. 
The  number  of  entries  at  the  last  exhibition  was  366,  or  an 
increase  of  15S  over  that  of  the  p"evious  year,  the  cottagers 
by  their  increased  entries  helping  materially  in  this  way. 
It  may  be  noted  to  show  the  all  round  success  of  the  society 
that  the  total  entries  for  Chrysanthemums  were  102,  the 
remainder  being  plants,  fruits,  and  vegetables.  The  number 
of  subscribers  is  progressive,  although  the  total  value  of 
subsciiptions  remains  about  stationary.  Payment  for 
admission  shows  a  healthy  increase,  the  total  number  of 
visitors  being  about  900.  These  items  were  fully  appreciated 
by  those  present,  but  remarks  weie  made  to  the  effect  that 
the  committee  would  have  to  take  into  consideration  some 
way  of  increasing  the  exhibits  and  attendance,  for  although 
the  schoolroom  was  utilised  for  cut  blooms  and  fruit,  further 
space  was  needed  for  subscribers  and  patrons.  The 
treasurer's  statement  shows  a  balance  in  hand  of  over  £36. 
The  otticeis  appointed  fur  the  present  year  were  :  Treasurer, 
Mr.  Neil  Gossage ;  sub-treasurer,  Mr.  R.  G.  Waterman ; 
secretary,  Mr.  J.  G.  Learoyd.  A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was 
tendered  to  the  workers  for  their  services  during  the  past 
year,  and  to  XLr.  Stouey  for  presiding. 

LIVERPOOL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
The  annual  meeting  was  held  at  the  society's  oflice  on 
Saturday,  the  25th  ult.,  Mr.  Thomas  Foster  in  the  chair. 
The  twenty-third  report  read  by  the  secretary  was  of  a 
cheering  character,  the  number  attending  the  spring  show 
being:  Subsc  ibers,  1,840;  by  payment.  326.  Autumn  show  : 
Subscribers,  2,005;  by  payment,  2,578;  total,  6,749.  The 
number  of  entries  at  the  autumn  show  was  the  laigest  for 
ten  years.  Thanks  were  tendered  to  the  donors  of  special 
prizes  at  both  exhibitions.  The  statement  of  accounts 
showed  subscriptions,  £356  13s.  7d.  ;  cash  taken  at  duor, 
£164  4s.  lid.;  Payments:  Prize  money,  £230  16s.  ;  hall  and 
staging,  £80  15s.  ;  general  expenses,  £84  13s.  lid.,  leaving  a 
balance  in  favour  of  the  association  of  £2U8  2s.  9d.,  of  which 
£57  143.  9d.  was  on  the  present  year's  working.  The  usual 
donations  were  voted,  viz.,  £3  to  the  Gardeners'  Royal 
Benevolent  Institution  and  £2  to  the  Gardeners'  Orphan 
Fund.  The  chairman  announced  that  spring  and  autumn 
shows  would  be  held  during  the  ensuing  year.  Votes  of 
thanks  were  tendered  to  the  chairman,  vice-chairman,  and 
committee  for  their  services.  Mr.  Harold  Sadler  was 
re-elected  secretary. 


CROYDON  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
The    secon*^    annual   dinner    and   social    evening   of    the 
Croydon  and  District  Horticultural  Mutual  Improvement 
Society  was   held  with    great  success    at   the  Greyhound 
Hotel,  on  Wednesday  the  29th  ult.    The  room  was  beauti- 


100 


THE    GARDEN 


I  February  8  1902. 


fully  decorated,  an  abundance  of  plants,  Palms,  and  spring 
flowers  makinp  effective  decoration.  Mr.  Frank  Lluyd,  the 
president  of  the  society,  was  in  the  chair,  ilr.  Ueorge 
Gordon  occupied  the  vice-chair,  and  the  chairman's  sup- 
porters included  the  ilayor  of  Croydon  (Councillor  N.  Page), 
ilr.  J.  J-  Reid,  Mr.  W.  J.  Simpson,  Mr.  W.  Gunner,  Mr.  J. 
Gregory  (hon.  secretary),  Mr.  Belclier,  Mr.  P.  F.  Bunyard, 
Sir.  C.  F.  V.  Hutchings,  Mr.  W.  Turney,  &c.  There  was  a 
large  attendance  of  members  and  friends,  105  sitting  down 
to  dinner. 

The  Chairman  proposed  the  principal  toast  of  the  even- 
ing, and  congratulated  the  othc-ers  of  the  society  on  the  great 
success  attending  their  efforts  during  the  past  year  and  the 
individual  members  of  the  society  on  the  admirable  series  of 
lectures  delivered  for  their  benefit  and  encouragement.  He 
did  not  think  it  was  possible  to  over-estimate  the  value  of  a 
society  like  that,  affording  as  it  did  a  means  of  good-fellow- 
ship amongst  all  those  engaged  in  what  he  looked  upon  as  a 
very  delightful  profession,  and  offering  encouragement  to 
the  members  to  perfect  their  knowledge  of  gardening  by  the 
exchange  of  opinions  on  all  the  varied  problems  which 
occurred  to  them  during  their  work.  He  thought  he  might 
safely  aftirni  that  the  majority  of  employers  had  even 
greater  satisfaction  in  seeing  their  gardeners  showing  a 
great  amount  of  interest  in  their  work  than  pi-oduce  a 
bigger  Melon  or  a  larger  Cucumber  than  their  neighbours. 
He  rejoiced  to  know  that  their  finances  were  in  a  fiourishiug 
condition,  that  the  members  were  increasing,  and  also 
seeing  an  abundant  vitality  in  the  constitution  of  the 
society.  A  certain  amount  of  -surprise  had  been  expressed 
that  their  membership  had  not  increased  more  than  it  had 
durinj;  the  past  year,  liut  this  was  explained  by  the  fact  that 
neighbouring  places  had  followed  their  example  and  formed 
societies  on  similar  lines  to  theirs,  causing  a  natural  cheek 
in  the  membership  of  the  parent  society.  Tlie  thanks  of  the 
society  weie  due  to  the  lectureis,  and  more  especially  to  the 
otticeis  who  worked  hard  on  their  behalf,  notaoly  and 
especially  Lheir  fiiend  Mr.  Gregory,  the  hon.  secretary. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Simpson,  in  responding,  said  that  the  member- 
ship was  now  somewhere  abur.t  15U,  and  a  gieat  many  others 
were  waiting  to  be  elected,  so  he  thought  ihat  there  was 
every  prospect  of  their  incieasing  in  the  future.  It  was  the 
desire  uf  every  member  to  benefit  tlie  others,  and  make  the 
society  simply  and  purely  a  mutual  improvement  society. 

Mr.  J.  Gregoiy  proposed  "Kindred  Societies."  It  was 
through  mixing  with  kindred  societies,  and  enjoying  their 
papers,  their  readings,  ancf  their  discussions,  and  getting  the 
benefit  of  theii  knowledge  and  experience,  that  he  was 
encouraged  to  take  up  the  matter  of  mutual  improvement 
societies  in  Croydon 

Mr.  .Tay,  in  responding,  said  that  the  Sutton  Society  was 
indebted  to  those  at  Croydon  for  invaluable  help,  and  it  was 
greatly  through  that  help  that  tlieir  society  had  done 
so  well  of  late.  He  had  a  suggestion  to  give  them  at 
Cri>ydon.  He  had  been  to  their  Polytechnic  to  see  if  there 
was  any  class  in  hnrticulture,  botany,  &c.,  but  could  find 
none.  It  seemed  to  him  some  ot  the  nmney  devoted  to 
technical  education  ought  to  be  devoted  to  such  a  useful 
subject  as  horticulture.  Mr.  Webster,  who  also  responded, 
thanked  the  Croydon  Society  for  the  help  rendered  to  that 
at  Beckenham. 

A  presentation  was  made  to  the  honorary  secretary,  Mr. 
Gregory,  an  account  of  which  was  given  n  our  "Notes  of  the 
Week."  Mr.  George  Gordon  proposed  the  "Horticultural 
Trades,"  and  the  "Visitors"  was  proposed  by  Mr.  H. 
Boshier,  and  responded  to  by  the  Mayor  of  Croydon. 
Other  speakers  were  Mr.  W.  J.  Simpson,  who  proposed  the 
health  of  "The  Chairman,"  and  Mr.  W.  E.  Humphries 
"  The  Vice-chairman  "  (Mr.  Gerirtre  Gordon).  Flowers, 
plants,  ifcc,  were  kindly  contributed  by  Messrs.  P.  F.  Bun- 
yard,  Bentley,  J.  R.  Box,  J.  Keed  and  Sons,  Masters, 
and  Hyde. 

CARDIFF    GARDENERS'    ASSOCIATION. 

A  MEETING  was  held  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  Tuesday,  the 
21st  ult.,  Mr.  F.  G.  Treseder  in  the  chair.  Mr.  Lee  (repre- 
senting the  Bristol  Gardeners'  Association)  read  his  first 
prize  essay  on  "Orchids.""  He  dealt  with  the  subject 
in  a  very  interesting  and  able  manner,  and  gave  evidence  <»f 
a  practical  knowledge  of  a  branch  of  horticulture  which  is 
of  engrossing  and  increasing  interest.  A  good  discussion 
followed,  which  was  enthusiastically  taken  up  by  the 
members.  The  best  thanks  of  the  association  were  accorded 
Mr.  Lee  for  his  splendid  and  instructive  esssay,  and  a  similar 
vote  to  Mr.  Treseder  for  presiding.  A  first-class  certificate 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Graham  for  a  splendid  plant  of 
Cyclamen  persicum  giganteum  album,  and  a  secund-class 
certificate  to  Mr.  Bath  lor  a  well-grown  plant  of  Epiphylluni 
truncatum. 


GRAND   YORKSHIRE   GALA. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  guarantors  and  life  members  of 
the  Grand  Yorkbhire  Gala  was  held  recently  in  Harker"s  Hotel, 
York.  Aldeiman  Sir  C  Milward  took  the  chair,  and  there  were 
also  present  tlie  Lord  Mayor,  the  Sheriff  nf  York  (Mr.  Putter- 
Kirby),  Aldermen  McKay,  Border,  and  Dale  ;  Councillors  A. 
Jones,  .1.  B.  Sampson,  and  .1.  S.  Gray;  Messrs.  Scott. 
M.  Cooper,  Kendall,  E.  Robinson,  T.  M.  Lambert,  J. 
Biscomb,  G.  Garbutt,  E.  Bushell,  T.  G.  Hodgson,  and  C.  W. 
Simmons  (secretary). 

The  Chairuian  said  that  the  gala  last  year  was  the  first  of 
the  new  century,  and  although  it  was  not  as  brilliant  a 
success  as  might  have  been  expected,  they  held  their  own,  a 
fact  upon  which  they  might  congratulate  themselves.  He 
said  that  the  year  had  not  passed  away  without  calamities 
befalling  them,  and  he  alluded  in  feeling  terms  to  the  deaths 
of  Mr.  J.  Cypl,er  and  Mr.  W.  Jackson,  exhibitors  for  many 
years,  and  Mr.  Brock.  He  said  that  the  committee  of  the 
Boothani  Asylum  had  again  agreed  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  Council,  and  the  Lord  Mayor  of  York  (Alderman  Fuster) 
had  agreed  to  accept  the  position  of  president  for  the  ensuing 
year.    He  was  an  old  member  of  the  committee,  and  had 


rendered  many  valuable  and  important  services  to  the  gala. 
He  proposed  that  the  Lord  Mayor  be  elected  president  for 
the  ensuing  year. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  in  acknowledging  his  election,  said  that 
it  was  true  that  he  had  been  associated  with  the  gala  for  a 
great  many  years— he  did  not  know  exactly  whether  it  was 
twenty  or  twenty-five— and  he  had  always  taken  a  great 
interest  in  it.  It  was  a  pleasing  circumstance  tliAL  this  year 
they  had  the  Lord  Mayor  and  the  Sheriff  as  chairmen  of  the 
two  important  committees,  the  Finance  and  Entertainment 
Committees.  He  hoped  that  the  forthcoming  (.'oronation 
would  nfit  detract  from  the  popularity  and  success  of  the 
gala.  AVith  regard  to  other  shows,  financially  they  stood  at 
the  top  of  the  tree,  and  in  money  prizes  and  in  antiquity  it 
was  the  premier  show  in  the  country,  so  that  it  was  a  very 
honourable  position  to  be  its  president. 

The  Lord  Mayor  pointed  out  that  it  was  an  absolute  neces- 
sity for  them  to  have  a  new  entertainment  stage,  and  said 
that  they  had  received  an  estimate  for  one  at  t2n(i.  He 
proposed  that  the  sum  be  granted  to  the  Entertainment 
Committee  for  the  purpose,  and  added  that  the  committee 
were  hoping  to  be  able  to  arrange  with  the  Asylum  Com- 
mittee for  the  erection  of  a  building  in  which  to  keep  their 
properties. 

NATIONAL  SWEET  PEA  SOCIETY. 
The  first  annual  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at  the 
Hotel  Windsor  on  Tuesday,  the  2Slh  ult,  Mr.  George  Gordon 
presiding.     The  following  is  the  report  and  balance  sheet 
for  the  past  year  :— 

The  committee  is  gratified  in  being  able  to  place  before 
the  members  of  the  society  a  report  and  balance  sheet 
which  are  eminently  satisfactory.  The  report  speaks  of  a 
most  successful  exhibition,  and  the  financial  statement 
shows  a  rubstantial  balance  in  the  bank. 

The  society  is  the  outcome  of  the  bi-centenary  celebration  ■ 
of  the  introduction  of  the  Sweet  Pea  into  Great  Britain 
held  in  lOOU.  The  active  members  of  the  celebration  com- 
mittee, in  deference  to  the  wishes  of  cultivators  and 
admirers  of  the  Sweet  Pea,  decided  upon  the  foundation  of  a 
permanent  body,  and,  with  this  object,  a  special  meeting 
was  held  at  the  Hotel  Windsor  under  the  chairmanship  of 
Mr.  George  Gordon.  It  was  then  unanimously  resolved  to 
establish  a  society,  and  some  forty  members  joined  at  once. 
A  committee  was  then  elected. 

Arrangements  were  made  to  hold  an  exhibition  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium  on  July  25  and  26,  ana  the  executive  com- 
mittee immediately  prepared  the  schedule,  as  the  season  of 
the  yeai'  was  ah'eady  late.  Twenty-two  clas-es  were 
provided,  which  bi'ought  2f)U  entries  from  49  exhibitors. 
Every  entry  was  not  fill*  d.  but  there  were  sufficient  to  make 
a  magnificent  exhibition,  occupying  the  whole  uf  the 
available  space  on  the  ground  Hoor  and  in  the  western 
gallery  t»f  the  Royal  Atiuarium.  The  competitors  in  several 
of  the  classes  would  have  been  mure  numerous  but  for  the 
exceptifiual  drought  of  the  summer,  which  placed  the 
Southern  growers  at  a  disadvantage. 

Though  the  general  effect  of  the  show  was  so  satisfactory, 
the  individual  flowers  were  not  quite  so  fine  as  they  would 
have  been  had  the  show  been  held  a  week  earlier.  The 
classes  for  table  decoiations  were  an  unqualified  success. 
The  competition  was  remarkably  keen,  no  less  than  nineteen 
tables  being  arranged. 

A  classification  committee  was  formed  to  draw  up  some 
I'egulations  regarding  the  T)i"'  perties  of  Sweet  Peas.  Sever'al 
new  varieties  of  Sweet  Peas  came  lefoie  the  committee 
and  first-class  certificates  were  awarded  to  Countess 
Spencer,  exhibiterl  by  Mr.  Silas  Cule,  The  Gardens,  Althorp 
Park,  Northanii)ton  ;  and  to  Jeannie  Guidon,  exhibited  by 
Mr.  Henry  Eckford,  ^V  em.  Shropshire.  A  variety  named 
Mrs.  Knights  Smith,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Hern-y  Eckfurd  was 
commended.  Owing  to  a  terrific  thunderstorm  which  raged 
over  London  on  the  opening  day  of  the  show,  the  attendance 
was  not  so  large  as  the  committee  anticipated. 

At  the  invitation  of  Mr.  Sherwood,  the  society's  treasurer, 
the  members  of  the  committee  with  several  friendu  visited 
Messrs.  Hurst  and  Sons'  seed  trial  grounds  at  Kelvedon  on 
July  IS  The  firm"s  splendid  collection  of  ^Sweet  Peas  was 
carefully  inspected,  and  the  conclusions  arrived  at  by  the 
bi-centenary  celebration  committee  in  ISIOU  were  Cfmflrmed. 
The  visitors  were  generously  entertained,  and  a  most 
admirable  day  was  spent. 

The  balance  sheet  shows:  Receipts,  iii>5  3s.  4d.,  and 
expenditure,  HHi  lOs.  lid  ,  thus  leaving  a  credit  balance  of 
£111  Os.  .^d. 

It  was  resolved  that  Mr.  Gilbert  Beale  be  asked  to  become 
a  vice-i)iesident  of  the  society  in  the  place  of  the  late 
Mr.  E-  J.  Beale,  and  a  vote  of  condolence  was  passed  with 
the  family  of  the  latter.  The  question  of  electing  a  presi- 
dent was,  after  some  discussion,  left  to  the  comnnttee. 

It  was  resolved  that  all  subscribers  of  not  less  than  one 
guinea  be  placed  upon  the  list  of  vice-presidents.  Mr.  N. 
N.  Sherwood  was  re-elected  treasurer,  and  sincere  hopes 
were  expressed  by  the  meeting  for  his  speedy  recovery. 
Mr.  Georgp  Gordon  was  re-elected  chairman  of  committees, 
and  tlie  honorary  secretaries,  Messrs.  H.  J.  Wright  and 
Richard  Dean,  were  also  re-elected.  Messrs.  W.  Simpson, 
Whitpaine  Nutting,  and  C.  W.  Greenwood  were  elected  on 
the  committee.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  William 
Sherwood  for  his  services  as  auditor. 


three  bulbs  in  a  tj-inch  or  one  in  a  5-incn  pot,  and  pottiug^ 
as  soon  as  the  bulbs  arrive,  and  at  different  periods  in  order 
to  have  a  succession  of  blooms,  plunging  the  pots  in  gentle 
bottom  heat  until  started.  The  best  variety  was  the  Double 
Pearl,  which  arrive  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year. 
Regular  syringing  with  clean  water  was  advised  to  keep 
down  red  spider  and  thrip,  which  at  times  was  somewhat 
troublesome.  His  paper,  which  was  an  exhaustive  one,  was 
much  appreciated,  and  he  was  accorded  the  hearty  thanks 
of  the  meeting  for  his  effort.  The  prizes  for  the  evening, 
which  were  for  two  pots  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  were  well 
competed  for,  the  first  being  kindly  given  by  Mr.  V.  Ballen,. 
of  Westbury  Park,  was  won  by  Mr  G,  Price;  the  second 
going  to  Mrs.  Charles  Fuller  (gardener,  Mr.Beazer);  Alderman 
W.  HowtU  Davis,  J. P.  (gardener,  Mr.  Curtis),  obtaining  third. 
Certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  to  Mr.  Jennings  for  two 
Cypripediums  ;  to  Mr.  N.  C.  Dobson  (gardener,  Mr.  Thod> 
for  a  pot  of  Freesias.  Mrs.  A.  Hall  (gardener,  Mr.  Ware) 
obtained  one  for  Odontoglussuni  pulchellum.  Mr.  (iaruish. 
gaining  one  for  three  pots  of  cut  Tulips  and  one  was  awarded 
to  Lady  Cave  (gardener,  ^Ir.  Poole)  for  a  curious  Fungus^ 
growth.  The  next  paper  will  be  an  interesting  one  by  Mr.  A. 
Moore-Sara,  Stoke  Bisliop,  on  "  The  Rosaceic.  " 


READING  AND  DISTRICT  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION., 
Pkogkamme  of  meetings  for  1902  :— February  10,  "Salient 
Points  of  Fruit  Culture. "  Mr.  E.  Mulyneux,  Swanmore  Park  ; 
February  24,  ''Impromptu  Speaking.  '  Subjects  to  be  named 
at  the  meeting;  Alarch  10,  "A  Beikshire  Garden:  How  it 
was  laid  out  and  planted,"  ihustrated,  Mr.  A.  Wright, 
Bucklebnry  Place  Gardens;  March  24,  "Flowering  Shrubs  for 
Forcing,"  Mr.  W.  Townsend,  Sandhurst  Lodge  Gardens; 
April  7,  "Carnations,"  Mr.  G.  Stanton,  Park  Place  Gardens; 
April  21,  "The  Rock  Garden,"  Mr.  E.  H.  Jenkins,  Hampton 
Hill  ;  Apt  il  2S,  visit  to  Reading  College. 

Prize  Essays.— Class  I.  :  Members  over  23  years  of  age  are 
invited  to  write  an  essay  on  "  All  phases  of  pruning  in 
connection  with  hardy  fruit  culture  "  Prizes— 1st,  4U3.  : 
2nd.  30s. ;  3rd,  2us.  Class  II.  :  Members  under  23  years  ol  age 
are  invited  to  write  an  essay  on  "  The  best  means  of  keeping 
up  a  supply  of  vegetables  all  the  year  round."  Prizes— 1st, 
30s.  ;  2nd,  20s.  ;  3rd,  10s. 

Conditions:  The  Essays  in  Class  I.  must  not  exceed  2,.^0G 
words,  and  in  Class  II.  not  more  than  2,noo  words,  and  must 
be  written  on  foolscap,  and  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only. 
No  actual  copying  from  authors  allowed,  but  if  quotations 
from  works  are  made,  theauthor should  be  mentioned.  Each 
essay  must  be  signed  byanw/f  dcplmae,  and  must  be  sent  to 
the  secretary  not  later  than  September  1, 1002,  and  the  writer 
of  each  essay  must  at  the  same  time  send  his  nom  de  plinnr, 
together  Willi  his  name  and  address,  to  the  president,  Mr. 
Leonard  G.  Sutton,  Hillside,  Reading;  hun.  secretary, 
H.  G.  Cox. 


CHISWICK  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

A  GOOD  attendance  of  members  assembled  on  ihe  23rd  ult. 
to  hear  Mr.  Osborn,  of  Kew  Gardens,  read  a  most  irrteresting 
and  instructive  paper  on  "Ferns  ;  their  general  cidtivation 
and  the  better  known  genera.'  The  paper  was  based  on 
thoroughly  practical  experience,  and  dealt  with  Ferns  from 
a  very  remote  period,  and  from  the  introduction  of  exotic 
species  by  Mr.  Tradescant  in  1028  to  those  now  in  general 
cultivation.  Suitable  soils  were  noted  and  special  attention 
drawn  to  the  fact  that  experience  has  proved  that  more  light 
and  less  heat,  with  proper  ventilation,  suit  this  class  of 
plants  better  than  the  closer  darker  conditions  prevalent  a 
few  decades  since,  when  the  subject  was  not  so  well  under- 
stood. Methods  of  reproduction  mentioned  were  by  spores, 
division  of  root  stocks,  rhizomes,  and  by  bulbils.  It  wa» 
recommended  that  spores  should  be  started  as  soon  as  dry, 
after  being  gathered,  f<u'  keeping  generally  proves  un- 
satisfactory as  regards  subsequent  germination.  After 
mentioning  many  interesting  species  worth  cultivation  a 
discussion  was  opened  by  Mr.  M.  T.  Dawe,  who  classed  his 
remarks  into  two  headings  —  (1)  Botanical;  (2)  Horti- 
cultural ;  arrd  spoke  at  some  length  on  both,  giving  some 
interesting  cultural  experiences.  Messrs.  Mallinson,  Sillitoe, 
Ball,  and  Prince  also  spoke.  Mr.  T.  Humphreys  was  in  the 
chair.  At  the  close  very  hearty  votes  of  thanks  were 
unanimously  accorded  the  reader  of  the  paper  and  the 
opener  of  the  discussion. 


BRISTOL  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 
The  usual  meeting  of  this  association  was  held  on  Thursday, 
the  30th  uit.,  when  Mr.  Garnish  of  Stapleton  read  a  paper 
on  "Tuberoses,"  Mr.  A.  J.  Hancock  presiding  over  a  good 
attendance.  The  subject  was  well  discussed,  and  Mr. 
Garnish  gave  many  useful  hints  as  to  the  cultivation  of 
this  favourite  flower,  remarking  that  it  was  not  gr-own  as 
much  as  it  deserves  to  be.  The  best  method  of  potting,  the 
most  suitable  compost,  and  the  after  treatment  were  carefully 
described,  and  anyone  following  Mr.  Garnish's  directions 
need  not  be  afraid  of  failure.     He  recommended  putting 


READING  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

During  the  past  month  three  meetings  have  been  held  in 
coirneciion  wiih  the  above  association.  The  annual  meetings 
on  the  (jth  ult.,  when  the  report  and  balance  sheet  presented 
to  the  members  proved  that  the  association  during  Iflirl  had 
experienced  a  record  year  with  regard  to  the  attendarrce, 
number  of  members,  and  financially.  Over  sixty  new  mem- 
bers weie  elected  during  the  year-.  On  the  20th  ult.  the 
annual  lea  and  entertainment  took  place,  when  over  120  sat 
down  to  tea,  and  about  000  members  and  friends  were 
present  at  the  enteitainment.  The  first  ordinary  meeting  of 
the  new  year  took  place  on  the  27th  ult.,  when  Mr.  E.  Fry, 
of  the  Gardens,  Greenlands,  Reading,  road  a  piactical  paper, 
entitled  "  A  Chat  on  the  Kitchen  Garden."  In  introducing 
his  subject,  he  asked  the  question,  "  Are  we  doing  sufficient 
deep  digiiing  or  trenching,  and  do  we  maiuire  enough?"  He 
irnpi-essed  upon  the  younger  members  the  fact  that  it  is  a 
duty  of  every  gardener  to  be  able  to  supply  vegetables  for  the 
table  all  the  year  round,  and  therefore  they  should  not  give 
all  their  thoughts  to  tho.se  things  that  grow  rmder  glass,  but 
give  a  little  to  the  kitchen  garden  if  they  wish  to  succeed  in 
their  vocation  in  the  future.  Cultured  directions  and 
varieties  were  given  on  those  vegetables  the  lecturer  had 
fimnd  to  do  well  with  him.  His  remarks  were  made  far 
more  interesting  by  the  aid  of  an  excellent  series  of  lantern 
slides.  A  good  discussion  followed,  in  which  Messrs.  Stanton^ 
Neve,  Judd,  Wicks,  Exler-,  Townsend,  Wilson,  Prince,  and 
Chamberlain  look  part.  Mr.  Townsend,  of  Sandhurst  Lodce. 
exhibited  some  splendid  blooms  of  Primula  obconica.  Two- 
new  members  were  elected. 


GARDEN 


—^^- 


i^X^^i 


No.  1578.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[February   15,  1902. 


THE    IMPROVEMENT    OF 

HARDY    FLOWERS. 
Hints  on  Selection  and  Hybeidisation. 

A  BUGLE-NOTE  has  been  sounded  to 
call  more  amateur  gardeners  who 
have  time  on  their  hands  to  take  the 
field  in  the  useful  and  important 
cause  of  experiment.  Being  con- 
fident that  it  is  a  course  which  opens  out 
endless  pleasure  as  well  a.s  of  possibility,  it  is 
hoped  that  a  few  words  on  the  subject  may  be 
of  help  to  beginners.  Certain  qualifications 
are  essential,  without  which  attempts  are 
likely  to  end  in  failure.  A  strong  love  of 
plants  and  of  working  amongst  them  is  pre- 
supposed, but  this  is  not  enough.  There 
must  l:ie  infinite  patience  to  endure  repeated 
disappointments— there  must  be  method  and 
careful  noting  down  of  all  experiments, 
Ijecause  haphazard  work  is  mere  waste  of 
time  and  trouble,  and  there  must  be  the  quick 
eye  to  observe  the  subtle  diti'erences  l>etween 
the  variations  which  occur  in  the  same  species 
of  plant,  as  well  as  the  wider  differences 
between  two  species  belonging  to  the  same 
genus. 

To  the  scientist  accustomed  to  the  chances 
of  testing  and  trying  there  ought  to  be  no 
disappointment  and  no  failure.  His  horizon 
is  bounded  by  fact,  and  facts  are  proved  as 
much  by  failure  as  by  success.  The  goal  of 
the  gardener,  on  the  other  hand,  is  perfection, 
and  here  success  is  only  arrived  at  through 
many  failures  and  by  slow  degrees  ;  hence  the 
need  of  unwearied  patience.  But  we  have 
only  to  step  into  the  smallest  garden  to  be 
convinced  that  the  work  of  the  improver  and 
of  the  hybridist  is  far  from  being  all  failure, 
for  we  ourselves  have  entered  into  the  inherit- 
ance of  his  success.  Why  then  should  not 
we,  in  our  turn,  by  worthy  effort,  leave  some 
legacy  of  impro^  ement  or  discovery,  be  it  ever 
so  fragmentary,  to  help  to  build  up  the  fabric 
of  our  neighbour's  good? 

The  appeal  to  idle  folk,  which  is  to  be 
translated,  so  we  are  told,  into  leisured  folk, 
will  meet  the  eye  and  rouse  the  dormant 
enthusiasm  of  some  who  sca<rcely  know  how 
to  set  about  such  a  task.  The  question  will  at 
once  arise — How  is  this  work  of  change  and 
improvement  to  be  carried  on  ?  Taking  the 
negative  side  first,  we  must  conclude  that  it  is 
not  witiiin  the  scope  of  even  the  highest 
cultivation  to  effect  the  sort  of  progress  that 
is    wanted.         Turning    over    old-fashioned 


gardening  books  it  is  surprising  to  find  how 
little  advance  has  been  made  to  day  upon  the 
cultural  methods  of  our  forefathers.  It  is 
altogether  in  another  direction  that  gardening 
skill  and  enterpi-ise  have  taken  such  remark- 
able strides  during  the  last  half  century,  and 
the  two  arms  of  the  sign-post  that  point 
along  the  roads  towards  progress  are  writ  large 
with  the  directions — Selection  and  Hybridi- 
sation. Two  paths  therefore  lie  before  us  ; 
but  for  the  beginner  that  of  selection  is  by  far 
the  easiest  to  follow. 

There  is  in  the  garden  some  favourite  hardy 
plant,  say  a  Pansy  of  a  particularly  fine  strain, 
an  Anemone,  or  a  Primrose.  The  flower  in 
colour  and  shape  is  a  delight,  but  it  is 
deficient  in  some  point  of  habit — the  leaves 
perhaps  are  scant,  or  the  stalk  weak  and  bends 
under  the  weight  of  the  flower ;  while  other 
varieties  by  its  side  have  good  foliage  and 
sturdy  growth  though  the  flowers  leave  a  good 
deal  to  be  desired.  Hybridisation  is  as  yet  a 
sealed  inysterj',  even  in  its  simplest  form  ; 
but  seed  can  be  saved  of  the  flower  to  be 
improved  upon,  sown  as  soon  as  it  "is  ripe,  and 
the  seedlings  carefully  watched,  without  any 
great  difficulty,  through  all  their  stages  until 
flowering  time  arrives.  Perhaps  there  are 
fifty  young  plants — out  of  these,  and  in  all 
probability  the  earliest  to  bloom,  there  are 
thirty  which  may  be  seen  at  a  .single  glance  to 
be  no  improvement  upon  the  plant  fixed  upon 
to  be  bettered.  Every  one  of  the.se  thirty 
must  be  pulled  up  from  the  seedling  bed  at 
once,  otherwise  the  next  batch  of  seed  will  be 
hopelessly  spoilt.  Of  the  twenty  plants  which 
remain,  some  may  be  fairly  pretty,  and  two  or 
three  may  even  be  almost  e<iual  to  the  parent, 
and  it  is  a  question  whether  these  are  not  too 
good  to  destroy.  But  the  road  to  perfection 
allows  of  no  turning  back,  and  sternly  and 
without  flinching  they  must  be  cast  out.  Two, 
however,  remain  the  best  of  the  whole  batch. 
They  are  far  from  being  iierfect,  but  it  is  clear 
that  they  may  be  kept — the  tonfi  of  colour  in 
one  is  new  or  good — the  stalk  of  the  other 
carries  its  head  well— the  leaves,  without  being 
coarse,  are  robust.  On  the  whole,  each  of 
them  scores  as  to  points,  therefore  these  two 
may  be  allowed  to  ripen  a  pod  or  two  each  of 
seed,  to  be  placed  in  separate  packets,  and 
numbered  to  correspond  with  an  entry  of  full 
particulars  of  parentage,  etc.,  in  the  note-book 
devoted  to  the  purpose.  This  new  seed  should 
be  sown  within  a  week  of  gathering,  which 
will  allow  time  to  dispel  all  damp  that  might 
hinder  free  germination.    The  same  process  as 


before  has  then  to  be  repeated,  and  in  the 
following  season  the  fresh  batch  of  seedlings 
will  be  ready  to  compare  carefully  with  the 
parent  plants  and  with  each  other,  and  possibly 
the  worker  may  now  begin  to  feel  the  way 
towards  some  tangible  improvement.  One 
single  seedling— no  more  may  be— shows  such 
decided  advance  that  all  others  are  discarded 
and  the  work  of  selection  is  raised  to  a  higher 
level.  All  this  time  the  entry  of  dates  and 
particulars  of  every  kind  into  the  register 
must  not  be  neglected,  to  which  reference  can 
be  made  for  the  solution  of  any  question  that 
may  arise,  and  these  entries  must  be  made  on 
the  spot,  and  never  from  memory,  for  memory, 
even  of  the  best,  is  not  to  be  trusted.  The 
result  of  painstaking  work  such  as  this, 
season  after  season,  ma^'  be  seen  in  the 
splendid  strain  of  Munstead  Hybrid  Primroses, 
and  in  the  gorgeous  colouring  and  size  of  the 
St.  Brigid  Anemones,  to  mention  only  two 
amongst  the  many  invaluable  improvements 
by  selection  which  have  been  effected  by  the 
untiring  labours  of  distinguished  amateurs. 

It  is  seldom,  however,  that  the  road  of 
selection  is  long  trodden  before  some  by-path 
leads  the  way  to  hybridisation.  A  chance 
seedling  perhaps  in  the  border  betrays  mixed 
origin,  and  the  earnest  gardener  at  once  sets  to 
work  to  fathom  the  mystery.  Plants,  let  us 
say,  of  two  different  species  of  -Jacob's  Ladder 
—the  tall  Polemonium  ci.eruleum  and  the 
dwarf  P.  reptans  have  been  growing  side  by 
side.  Bees  have  carried  the  pollen  of  one  to 
the  stigmas  of  the  other,  and  in  seed  so  ferti- 
lised has  produced  a  cross,  intermediate 
Isetween  the  parents.  This  is  an  example  of 
a  natural  hybrid,  and  the  track  so  pointed  out 
may  be  followed  by  planting  close  together 
two  varieties  of  one  species  or  two  species  of 
the  same  genus,  so  tempting  the  bees  to  do 
the  work  of  hybridising  for  us.  The  seed 
resulting  may  or  may  not  be  thus  crossed— 
the  chances  are  as  many  or  more  against  as  in 
favour  of  it.  It  may  be  besides  a  slovenly 
way  of  doing  the  work  at  best.  Yet  strange 
to  say  some  of  the  fairest  of  our  garden  flowers 
have  been  chance  hybrids,  when  all  artificial 
efforts  in  the  same  direction  have  failed,  so  it 
is  quite  open  to  the  veriest  beginner  to  try 
such  a  plan. 

The  real  work  of  hybridisation,  however, 
involves  a  certain  amount  of  botanical  know- 
ledge, though  it  may  be  of  the  most  elementary 
kind.  Some  idea  of  the  orders  of  plants, 
because  it  is  useless  to  try  to  hybridise  where 
there  is  no  natural  affinity— some  notion  of 


102 


THE    GARDEIS. 


fFEBllUARY    15,    1902. 


the  organs  of  plants  and  their  uses,  so  that  we 
may  understand  how  to  handle  them — this 
much,  at  any  rate,  is  indisiiensalile.  A  Labur- 
num will  not  hybridise  with  a  Hazel,  nor — when 
that  delicate  operation  has  to  be  performed  — 
must  the  stigmas  of  a  plant  be  removed 
instead  of  the  stamens.  Add  to  this  primary 
knowledge  a  practical  lesson  or  two  from  an 
expert  in  the  art  of  transferring  the  ripe  pollen 
from  the  stamens  of  one  plant  to  the  stigmas 
of  another,  and  the  novice  may  start,  fairly 
enough  eijuipped,  on  his  first  journey  of 
experiment.  Sometimes  it  is  needful  to 
remove  the  unripe  .stamens  in  the  bud  from 
the  mother  plant  to  avoid  self-fertilisation, 
leaving  the  styles  uatouched  to  mature  their 
stigmas  for  the  reception  of  the  foreign  pollen. 
Sometimes  it  is  advisable  to  enclose  a  flower 
to  be  treated  in  a  muslin  or  waterproof  paper 
bag,  lest  some  outside  influence  come  to  spoil 
the  cross.  In  all  cases  the  fertilised  flower 
should  be  distinctly  marked  and  labelled  with 
the  parentage  of  the  hybrid  that  is  hoped  for 
.should  all  go  well.  We  need  not  per]  ilex 
ourselves  with  many  scientific  terms,  but  it 
will  be  well  to  bear  in  mind  some  of  the 
principles  laid  down  for  the  guidance  of 
hybridisers  by  Herr  Ma.\  Leichtlin,  a  veteran 
in  this  work.  He  tells  us  that  form  and  shape 
of  flower  in  the  hybrid  come  from  the  seed- 
bearer  and  colour  from  the  jioUen-bearer. 
Again,  hybrids  often  give  larger  flowers  and 
are  sometimes  more  vigorous  than  theirparents. 
Once  more,  that  crossing  becomes  harder  to 
eS'ect  if  the  flowers  of  the  parents  difl'er  widely 
in  form.  And,  lastly,  that  plants  of  the  same 
genera  which  exist  in  countries  far  apart  take 
each  other's  pollea  with  greater  difficulty  than 
those  whose  habitat  is  in  the  same  district. 
There  are,  doubtless,  many  hindrances  in  this 
work  of  improvement,  I  mt  it  is  one  of  absorl  ling 
interest  and  well  suited  to  those  who,  for  any 
reason,  move  but  little  from  home.  Otherwise, 
to  ensure  care  and  accuracy,  it  is  essential  to 
have  the  aid  of  an  intelligent  and  zealous 
gardener.  If  failure  come,  the  advice  of  the 
greatest  experts  is  not  to  lie  discouraged,  but 
to  jisrsevere  always,  trying  again  and  yet  again, 
crossing  and  recrossing,  until  in  the  end  some 
real  success  crowns  the  unremitting  ett'ort. 


We  enclose  a  copy  of  a  letter  received  recently 
1)3'  us.  On  referring  to  the  article  mentioned  we 
find  the  following  words  used  ;"  Delphiniums.  .  .  . 
A  remarkable  break  has  been  obtained  b^^  Messrs. 
Kelway,  but  although  tlie  results  cannot  he  con- 
sidered great,  yet  it  is  possible  that  from  these  may 
be  obtained  otlier  varieties  of  greater  merit.  The 
idea  seems  to  prevail  that  a  Delphinium  should  be 
blue,  and  if  you  admit  a  white  or  a  yellow  intoj'Our 
collection  it  must  be  a  good  one.  It  is,  however, 
a  great  achievement  to  get  a  break  of  this  descrip- 
tion.    .     .     ." 

We  presume  that  our  correspondent  takes  e.xcep- 
tion  to  the  remark  that  Delphinium  Beauty  of 
Langport  is  not  of  fine  quality  in  itself  apart  from 
being  a  new  break.  We  can  only  say  that  we  agree 
with  liim.  The  habit  of  the  plant  is  good,  the 
flower  spikes  shapely  and  nicely  covered  with 
flowers,  and  the  individual  blooms  are  most  hand- 
some in  outline  and  well  open,  like  all  up-to-date 
Delphiniums,  and  of  a  pleasing  soft  white,  which 
may  be  called  ivory  or  milk  white  ;  it  is  not  a  cold 
white  or  a  snow  white,  and,  moreover,  has  no  sus- 
picion of  blue.  We  will  gladly  lend  a  block  showing 
a  portion  of  the  flower  spike  photographed  if  you 
would  like  to  use  it  for  the  benefit  of  readers  of 
The  Garden'.  There  is  no  doubt  whatever  about 
it  being  a  really  good  plant,  and  why  Delphiniums 
should  be  recognised  only  when  they  look  blue  we 
cannot  understand. 

The  letter  referred  to  is  as  follows  :  "  I  see  in 
TuE  Garden'  leading  article  of  January  2.")  words 
indicating  some  disparagement  of  your  white  and 


cream  coloured  Larkspurs.  I  think  it  may  interest 
you  to  hear  that  last  summer  a  plant  which  I  bought 
from  you  of  Beauty  of  Langport  only  in  its  second 
year  had  sixteen  large  heads  of  flower,  nearly  all 
of  which  were  as  long,  solid,  compact  masses  of 
blossom  as  anyone  could  wish  to  see.  In  my 
opinion  this  and  the  otlier  white  varieties  are  of 
the  greatest  value,  especially  as  a  contrast  to  the 
other  lovely  kinds." — Kelway  and  Sons. 

fWe  sliould  have  been  pleased  to  figure  Del- 
phinium Beauty  of  Langport  if  we  had  not  already 
done  so  in  The  Garden  of  October  .'{l,  IS!)(i,  and 
it  is  also  represented  in  Messrs.  Kelway's  manual 
of  this  year,  page  -17. — Eds.] 

This  subject,  being  in  such  able  hands  as  those  of 
Mr.  Perry,  I  sliould  not  have  taken  any  part  in  its 
discussion,  but  that  he  has,  I  think,  treated  the 
Lenten  Hellebores  with  scant  justice.  If  Mr. 
Perry  could  look  back  to  the  very  few  species— not 
more  than  four  or  five— procurable  in  England 
fifty  or  sixty  years  ago,  and  to  the  total  absence  of 
cro.s.ses  (at  least  I  never  saw  any  in  those  days), 
and  woidd  compare  them  with  the  flowers  which 
have  been  since  obtained  by  careful  and  systematic 
crossing,  he  could  scarcely  class  them  with  plants 
"which  cannot  be  much  improved  upon."  I  really 
know  of  none  more  readily  and  easily  amenable 
to  treatment  by  amateurs  ;  none  more  certain  to 
show  good  results  from  careful  selection  within 
certain  limits.  You  know  beforehand  how 
to  adapt  the  crossing  to  the  production  of  new 
colour  in  a  good  shape,  or  new  shape  in  a  good 
colour,  as  well  as  how  to  impro\'e  the  general  habit 
of  growth. 

As  to  the  value  of  the  flowers  for  their  hardi- 
ness, time  of  blooming,  and  variety  of  colour,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  thev  have  been  the  admira- 
tion of  first-rate  authorities,  and  I  confess  Mr. 
Perry  astonishes  me  when  he  says  "they  are  no 
good  for  cutting,  and  never  will  be."  Why? 
The  displaj'  of  realh'  well-arranged  jars  or  bowls 
of  suitable  colours  and  forms  has,  to  my  know- 
ledge, excited  constant  admiration,  the  more  so 
that  even  a  very  few  years  ago  they  were  new  to 
people  in  general.  Then  if  Mr.  Perry  means 
further  that  the_v  "are  no  good  for  cutting"  by 
reason  of  not  keeping  fresli  in  water — formerly  it 
was  so,  unless,  like  fainting  persons,  they  were 
laid  on  their  backs  in  flat  bowls — but  under 
modern  practice  everyone  knows  that  when  the 
stalks  are  split  up  (and  the  further  the  better) 
Hellebore  flowers  will  keep  good  and  fresh  for  a 
week  or  even  ten  daj's. 

I   trust   that    no    discouragement    will   prevent 
young  amateurs  from  endeavouring  still  further  to 
develop  the  capabilities  of  these  lovely  flowers. 
T.  H.  Archer-HiivD. 

Coombtfiiiharre,  South  Deron. 


Coloured  Hellebores. 
I  venture  to  think  that  Mr.  Amos  Perry  (page  70) 
is  not  quite  accurate  in  saying  that  Oriental 
Christmas  Roses,  by  which  he  means,  I  presume, 
the  various  hybrids  of  Hellebores  orientalis,  H. 
abchasious,  &e. ,  are  quite  useless  for  cutting. 
Certainly  if  placed  in  water  straight  away  they  will 
fade  in  a  very  short  time,  but  if  the  stem  is  split 
up  for  a  couple  of  inches  and  the  whole  soaked  in 
a  basin  for  a  while  before  placing  in  the  vase  the 
result  is  verj'  difterent.  Thus  treated  they  will 
last  quite  ten  days  or  even  more  in  perfection, 
which  is  as  long  or  longer  than  most  other  cut 
flowers  last,  and,  as  they  flower  fi'eely  in  the  open 
ground  in  January  and  February,  need  no  care  or 
protection  of  any  kind,  and  annually  increase  in 
size  and  amount  of  flower  produced,  they  are  in 
mj'  opinion  one  of  the  most  valuable  flowers  for 
cutting  we  have.  Their  blossoms  being  more  or 
less  pendulous,  their  beauty  cannot  be  seen  at  all 
in  the  border,  and  it  is  as  cut  flowers  that  the 
charm  of  their  peculiar  soft  colouring  can  be 
properly  appreciated.  They  are  often  called  Lent 
Roses,  but  here  (Dublin)  they  usuall}'  are  in 
perfection  in  .lanuary,  and  are  over  before  Lent. 
They  will  be  almost  all  gone  this  year  before 
Shrove  Tuesday,  although  Lent  is  unusually  early. 

Greenwood  Pim. 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 

Tree  and  shpub  photographs.- We 

shall  be  grateful  for  any  photographs  of  trees  and 
shrubs  that  may  be  sent  to  us  showing  the  beauty 
of  grouping,  individual  examples,  and  their  value 
in  the  garden  and  pleasure  ground.  The  ganlens 
of  England  are  full  of  beautiful  trees  and  shrubs, 
sometimes  of  an  age  that  renders  them  more 
picturesque  and  interesting  than  in  the  earlier 
stages  of  growth,  and  if  possible  we  wish  to  get 
pliotogiaphs  of  these. 

Violets   and   their  culture.  —  Many 

letters  have  been  received  asking  for  a  series  of 
articles  on  the  cultivation  of  Violets.  We  shall 
publish  these  as  soon  as  possible. 

Viola  Bluebell.  —  I  notice  Mr.  Dean's 
remarks  in  your  paper  about  Bluebell  ^'iola.  One 
would  suppose  from  his  remarks  that  the  variety 
is  the  best  one,  but  I  wonder  if  he  knows  or  has 
seen  a  bed  of  Councillor  Waters,  a  deep  purple- 
blue.  Jlr.  Dean  says  he  has  read  in  The  Garden 
pages  of  flowery  descriptions  of  Violas,  too  often 
written  up  in  the  interest  of  one  or  two  raisers. 
Mr.  Dean  is  quite  wrong,  and  I  challenge  him  to 
produce  or  name  three  more  useful  or  beautiful 
Violas  than  Councillor  Waters,  purple-blue;  Nellie 
Riding,  deep  yellow  :  and  White  Beauty,  white. 
They  are  considerably  dwarfer  than  those  he 
mentions,  quite  as  free  flowering,  and  considerably 
finer  flowers,  and  have  often  been  mentioned  by 
the  writer  Mr.  Dean  speaks  of. — W.  Sydenham, 
Tam/roiih,  S/aflvnhhin. 

Experiments  in  hybridising-.— In  an 

article  in  the  Staiir/a,'/  of  February  3,  dealing  with 
natural  crossing  among  plants,  some  interesting 
remarks  are  made  upon  experiments  carried  out  in 
Jlessrs.  Sutton's  grounds  at  Reading.  We  read 
that  ' '  aVjout  two  years  ago  Mr.  Sutton  was  sur- 
prised to  see  in  a  public  print  statements,  by  an 
agricultural  authority  who  had  had  some  expe- 
rience in  seed  growing,  to  the  effect  that  all  the 
trouble  he  had  taken  to  isolate  various  cruciferous 
seed-crops  in  the  past  Mas,  probably,  unnecessary, 
because  "it  now  appeared  that  they  would  not  cross- 
fertilise  naturally.  Apparently,  he  based  this 
conclusion  upon  the  statements  of  some  experi- 
menters in  artificial  crossing,  to  which  he  was 
referring.  Mr.  Sutton  knew  that  cruciferous  plants 
would  be  particularly  liable  to  cross,  and  to  spoil 
each  other,  if  the  care  thus  pronounced  unnecessarv 
ceased  to  be  taken,  and,  therefore,  he  determined 
to  carry  out  a  demonstration,  not  to  satisfy  him- 
self, but  to  prove  to  doubters  that  plants  of  the 
Cabbage  tribe  would  cross  naturally  with  the 
utmost  freedom  when  grown  for  seed  side  by  side. 
Accordingly,  at  the  beginning  of  1900  he  planted 
in  a  seed-bed  one  plant  each  of  Dwarf  Green 
Curled  Kale,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Broccoli,  Red 
Variegated  Kale,  Purple  Curled  Kale,  Thousand- 
headed  Kale,  Portugal  Cabbage,  Giant  Drumhead 
Cabbage,  Sutton's  Favourite  Cabbage,  Dwarf  Blood- 
red  Cabbage,  and  Drumhead  Savoy.  The  seed  of 
the  plants  was  saved  separately,  and  carefully 
sown  in  the  spring  of  1001.  From  the  plants  thus 
raised  two  transplantings  were  made,  each  of  about 
forty  plants.  In  one  transplanting  the  plants  were 
taken  without  any  selection,  while  in  the  other  as 
many  diverse  forms  as  could  be  picked  out  from 
the  appearance  of  the  leaves  were  chosen.  The 
results,  now  that  the  plants  are  mature,  are  so 
remarkable  that  they  could  hardly  be  imagined  by 
anyone  who  has  not  seen  them.  It  is  no  exaggera- 
tion to  say  that  the  crossing  among  these  several 
varieties  of  cruciferous  plants,  by  natural  agency, 
has  been  as  profuse  and  intricate  as  it  could  have 
been  rendered  by  tlie  most  ingenious  human 
manipulation.  The  results  of  the  interesting 
experiments  are  still  to  be  seen  in  Messrs.  Sutton's 
trial  grounds,  within  a  mile  of  Reading." 

Propagating-  Tree  Paeonies  (pageSG). 

— The  Rev.  Canon  EUacombe  writes;  "I  should 
like  to  know  something  more  about  this.  Herr 
Max  Leichtlin  is  undoubtedly  right  in  saying  they 
are  grafted  on  P.  albiflora,  but  the  .Japanese  must 
have  some  way  of  grafting  on  P.  arborea,  for  I  am 
often  troubled  with  suckers  from  the  stock  whichare 
clearl}'  P.  arborea  and  very  different  to  the  scion." 


FebkuAry  15,  1902.] 


THE   GAEDEN. 


103 


Lotus  peliophyncus.  — This   is  a 

peculiar  and  most  desirable  greenhouse — or  perhaps 
semi-hardy  —  plant,  and  one  seldom  seen  and 
apparently  but  little  known,  if  one  may  judge  by 
the  very  few  allusions  to  it  in  a  journal  like  The 
Gakden.  It  has  been  well  described  as  a  grey- 
green  Asparagus,  and  hangs,  if  grown  in  a  sus- 
pended pot  or  basket,  from  5  feet  to  6  feet,  in 
delicate  sprays  of  bluisla-grey  needle-shaped  leaves, 
most,  graceful  and  pretty  if  it  never  flowered.  But 
it  does  flower,  and  seemingly  very  profusely,  and 
the  blooms  are  very  like  the  lobster-claw  plant 
Clianthus,  not  so  big,  but  very  large  in  proportion 
to  the  plant  and  as  compared  wilh  other  species 
of  Lotus.  They  are  a  deep  rich  Indian  red,  and 
contrast  charmingly  with  the  grey  foliage.  It 
would  probably  be  hardy  on  a  dry  sunny  rockery 
where  its  roots  could  be  moist,  as  from  its  grey 
colour  it  is  evidently  a  native  of  hot  dry  regions, 
and  yet  it  is  impatient  of  drought  at  the  roots.  It 
is  now  in  flower  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse  and 
has   multitudes  of  buds   to  follow.— Greenwood 

PlM. 

"  Italian  Delight."— Apropos  ot  cotoiinata 
I  wish  to  point  out  that  your  correspondent  seems 
to  have  had  it  in  the  most  expensive  way  possible, 
as  the  half  kilo  can  be  sent 
from  Italy  to  England  for  the 
same  price  for  packing  and 
postage  as  for  1  kilo.  Here  in 
Florence  I  am  accustomed  to 
pay  3  francs  per  kilo  for  very 
e.'ccellent  cotognala.  We  prefer 
it  without  the  rose  flavour  and 
colouring,  but  it  can  be  had 
wilh  these  for  the  same  price. 
For  4i  kilos,  equal  to  10  Eug- 
lish  pounds,  the  price  is 
13  francs  "lO  centimes  ;  adding 
the  price  for  packing  and  send- 
ing in  a  small  wooden  box  the 
whole  amounts  to  18  francs  for 
10  English  pounds. — TnscAN. 

Primula  Double 

Duchess. — The  accompany- 
ing illustration  is  of  a  new 
Trimula  raised  by  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading  ;  it 
is  a  double  form  of  the  Duchess, 
to  which  an  award  of  merit  was 
given  by  the  floral  committee 
of  the  Boyal  Horticultural 
Society  on  January  2S.  One 
cannot  say  more  in  its  favour 
than  to  state  that  it  possessi.  s 
all  the  good  characteristics  of 
the  Duchess — a  single  variety. 

Notes  from  W^isley. 

— We  have  had  in  the  drawing- 
room  here  for  more  than  two 
months  in  a  tall  green  glass 
vase  about  2  feet  high  a  (juan- 
tity  of  sprays  of  the  flowers  and  seeds  of 
Polygonum  compactum,  the  only  one  of  its  family 
which  I  know  keeps  itself  at  all  within  bounds. 
This  has  been  admired  by  visitors,  and  as  the 
only  attention  it  has  required  is  an  occasional 
change  of  water  I  think  it  is  perhaps  worth  a 
note.  There  must  be  many  places  where  a  pretty 
and  lasting  shrub  requiring  no  care  would  be  useful. 
I  have  sent  you  a  few  sprays  to  show  how  well  it 
lasts,  but  fear  that  many  of  the  seeds  will  be  shed 
on  the  way.  Iris  Histrioides  has  now  joined  the 
other  early  Irises,  most  of  them  are  grown  in  a 
cold  frame,  but  others  in  the  open  border  protected 
by  Fir  boughs  or  a  coop  in  frost.  A  large  bank  of 
early-flowering  Cyclamens  is  now  very  prett}',  and 
a  plant  of  Daphne  Mezereum  grandifloruni  is 
covered  with  bloom. — George  F.  Wilson.  [The 
sprays  of  Polygonum  compactum  in  seed,  kindly 
sent  by  Mr.  Wilson,  show  how  good  and  lasting  a 
room  ornament  they  are.  — Eds.  ] 

Rose     Ppovineialis     Pomponia.  — 

A  charming  bed  of  Roses  labelled  thus  was  a 
feature  at  Kew  Gardens  last  summer.  It  is 
doubtless  an  old  Rose,  but  it  was  new  to  me,  and 
to  all  appearance  decidedly  worth  growing,  even 
if  only  for  its  tiny  little  rosy  pink  blossoms  no  larger 
than  a  sixpence.     It  may  be  that  this  Hose  is  a 


selected  form  of  the  miniature  Provence  de  Meaux, 
certainly  as  seen  it  was  much  smaller  than  the  last 
named.  What  an  excellent  thing  it  would  be  if 
the  Kew  authorities  sought  out  more  of  these 
delightful  if  somewhat  old  varieties.  Might  I 
suggest  a  group  of  the  best  varieties  that  were 
cultivated  in  the  early  years  of  the  Victorian  era. 
To  many  this  would  be  a  source  of  pleasure  and 
instruction,  especially  if  some  of  these  old  Roses 
were  cultivated  as  they  were  in  those  days. — P. 

China    Rose     Dueher.- Good    white 

bedding  Roses  are  somewhat  scarce,  and  a  white 
monthly  Rose  should  find  much  favour  on  that 
account.  Dueher  is  really  a  charming  variety 
without  the  usual  blush  shading  that  many  white 
Roses  possess.  It  is  a  first-rate  grower,  throwing 
up  successional  shoots  with  great  freedom.  Is  it 
not  remarkable  that  the  value  of  the  Bengal  or 
Chinese  as  bedding  Roses  has  not  been  discovered 
until  now ';  Probably  they  were  never  so  largely 
planted  as  they  are  to-day.  The  beautiful  tints 
of  Mme.  Laurette  Messimy  and  Mme.  Eugene 
Resal  and  the  brilliancy  of  Cramoisie  Supcrieure 
and  Fabvier  help  not  a  little  in  the  revival  of 
the  group.  These  Roses  when  potted  up  into 
(j-inch  pots  early  in  autumn  and  plunged  outdoors 


CHINESE    PRI.MULA   DOUBLE   DnCIlES.S. 

ai-e  useful  the  following  summer  and  autumn,  and 
may  afterwards  be  used  to  beautify  the  con- 
servatory with  their  daintj'  blossoms.  — P. 

APPanging  SnOWdPOpS.— Everyone  has 

their  own  way  of  arranging  flowers,  but  my  way  of 
setting  up  Snowdrops  may  be  a  useful  hint  to  some 
who  have  not  thought  of  it.  I  use  a  deep  dish  or 
shallow  bowl  about  4  inches  deep.  An  inch  of 
small  stones  is  put  at  the  bottom,  then  tufts  with 
roots  of  wild  Snowdrops  showing  flower  -  bud  are 
packed  in  with  sandy  earth  to  within  half  an  inch 
of  the  top,  and  water  is  poured  in  till  the  earth 
is  semi-fluid.  A  carpet  of  moss  is  then  laid,  and 
the  large  gathered  Snowdrops  (Elwesii)  are  dibbled 
in  amongst  the  growing  ones  in  as  natural  a  way 
as  possible.  My  panful  has  been  an  indoor  scrap 
of  woodland  for  over  a  week.  Now  the  wild 
Snowdrops  are  coming  out  and  the  soft  blue  foliage 
is  quite  long.  What  I  use  is  an  old  dish  of  Spode 
ware  some  11  inches  to  12  inches  long  by  (j  inches 
wide  and  about  4  inches  deep.  —  A.  Bayldon, 
Daviish,  Devon. 

A     new     Sugap     Bean     Sutton's 

Dwapf. — Sugar  Beans  are  not  much  grown  in 
this  country,  but  why  not  I  fail  to  see,  as  small 
pods  are  far  preferable  to  the  sliced  string}'  Beans 
one  often  sees  in  restaurants  in  this  country.     In 


private  gardens,  too,  we  can  well  do  with  more 
variety,  especially  when  the  addition  is  so  excel- 
lent. As  its  name  implies,  the  new  Sugar  Bean 
belongs  to  the  dwarf  section,  and,  though  the 
plant  is  dwarf,  the  pods  are  long,  roundish,  or 
verj'  fleshy  and  succulent,  and  the  flavour  distinct 
from  that  of  the  ordinary  dwarf  French  variety. 
The  colour  is  a  deep  green,  and  when  full  grown 
the  Bean  is  remarkably  tender,  being  much  softer 
and  more  succulent  than  others.  On  the  Continent 
the  Sugar  Beans  are  much  appreciated,  and  as 
they  produce  abundantly  if  given  ample  space 
their  introduction  into  this  countiy  should  meet 
with  favour.  This  kind  of  Dwarf  Bean  ages 
quickly,  but  resists  drought  better  than  some  of 
the  older  ones.  This  new  variety  difl'ers  from 
others  in  being  so  much  earlier  and  such  a  free 
bearer.  Of  course  they  may  be  cooked  in  the 
same  way  as  the  older  varieties,  but  I  think  they 
are  better  gathered  young  and  cooked  whole.— 
G.  W.  S. 

PeaP  Le  LeetieP. — This  Pear  was  staged 
in  good  condition  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  by  Messrs.  Veitch, 
Limited,  of  Chelsea.  The  fruits  diad  been  grown 
on  pj-ramid  trees  at  their  Langley  Nursery, 
Slough,  and  though  not  put  up 
for  an  award  would  no  doubt 
have  received  one,  as  the  flavour 
was  excellent  and  the  fruit  was 
large  and  handsome,  and,  of 
course,  most  valuable  during 
the  winter.  My  object  in  send- 
ing this  note  is  to  point  out 
that  Le  Lectier  has  not  been 
introduced  many  years,  and 
one  nurseryman,  who  has  grown 
it  in  various  ways,  thinks 
highly  of  its  good  qualities. 
It  is  a  variety  llioroughly 
worth  growing,  as  it  may  be 
kept  sound  until  February  ; 
indeed,  I  have  seen  it  shown  in 
March,  but  I  have  never  kept 
it  good  so  long.  I  do  not 
know  any  variety  that  fruits 
better  in  cordon  form  on  the 
(ituince  stock.  We  have  also 
got  it  trained  on  walls,  but 
doubtless  in  most  gardens  it 
will  do  well  in  the  open. — 
G.  W.  S. 
Hapdy  Nelumbiums. 

— Several  ver)'  striking  illus- 
trations are  given  in  "  Miiller's 
Deutsche  (Jartner  Zeitung"  of 
N.  pekinense  rubrum  and  N. 
luteum  growing  in  the  open  in 
ponds  in  Croatia,  where  they 
have  withstood  several  winters, 
although  the  temperature 
often  falls  to  20'-^  Reaumur  or 
to  45«  of  frost  Fahrenheit.  The  only  precau- 
tion taken  appears  to  be  a  sufficient  flooding  in 
winter  to  prevent  the  ice  reaching  the  rhizomes. 
One  of  the  illustrations  depicts  leaves  and  flowers 
9  feet  to  10  feet  high,  from  which  of  course  the 
depth  of  the  water  has  to  be  deducted  in  considering 
the  actual  effect  among  other  water  vegetation. 
Growth  only  starts  in  June,  but  is  then  very  rapid 
and  strong.    The  first-named  species  is  the  stronger. 

AVintep-blooming  Cannas — In  order 

to  obtain  flowers  through  the  winter  outdoor  plants 
should  be  carefully  lifted  in  the  autumn,  when 
many  flower  stems  are  usually  thrown  up  only  to 
be  checked  by  the  fro^t.  After  removing  the  lower 
leaves  to  prevent  decay,  pack  them  tightly  together 
and  place  in  a  warm  house  ;  they  will  then  grow 
and  flower  freely.  Drip  must  be  avoided,  as  the  chief 
risk  is  damping-off  of  the  flowers  and  spotting. 

Landscape    photogpaphy.  —  In    Dw 

Gartenwelt  of  January  25  is  a  very  interesting 
article  on  the  use  of  photography  as  an  aid  to  the 
constructive  landscape  gardener;  it  points  out  that 
the  focus  of  most  lenses  gives  a  different  perspec- 
tive eft'eot  to  that  visible  to  the  eye,  and  that 
consequently  sketching  in  skilled  hands  affords  in 
many  cases  a  far  better  guide  where  it  is  desired 
to  imit-t-e  natura'  ■^frnnpings.     The  photograph  in 


104 


THlE    GAilt)E]Sf. 


[February  15,  190^. 


fact  gives  quality  of  detail  in  place  of  general  quality 
of  effect,  which  the  draughtsman  can  better  appre- 
ciate and  reproduce  without  the  foreshortening  and 
exaggeration  of  foreground  details  which  the  use 
of  the  camera  involves,  and  maj'  easily  lead  to 
failures  in  effect  when  imitative  work  is  based 
thereupon.  Both  methods  have  their  virtues,  and 
the  general  gist  of  the  article  is  the  advocacy  of 
both  on  judicious  lines. 

The  Priekly  Pear  in  Australia.— 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  in  (^lueensland 
offers  £o,00ll  for  the  discover}'  of  some  means  to 
eradicate  the  Pricklj'  Pear.  It  stipulates,  however, 
that  the  cost  per  acre  shall  not  exceed  a  reasonable 
sum.  This  is  a  necessary  condition,  for  humourists 
or  dullards  might  suggest  digging  it  up  and  claim 
the  reward  on  the  strength  of  that  happy  thought. 
Certainly,  it  is  time  something  was  done,  not  in 
Queensland  only.  The  spread  of  Aloes  and  Yuccas 
is  astonishing  enough,  but  they  bear  seeds  which 
the  wind  might  carry  to  a  great  distance.  One 
would  think  that  the  seeds  of  the  Prickly  Pear 
enveloped  in  dense  pulp  would  lie  where  they  fell, 
unless  transported  bj'  birds,  whose  flight  would  not 
be  verj'long.  But  the  terrible  Cactus  is  travelling 
over  the  world  with  unaccountable  speed.  It  is  a 
nuisance  in  India,  a  pest  in  .South  Africa.  There 
are  complaints  in  the  Soudan,  and  we  hear  of  it  in 
Uganda.  The  thing  is  not  altogether  without 
virtue.  Thrown  upon  the  tire  for  a  moment  to 
burn  oft' the  spines,  it  ma}'  be  mashed  into  a  food 
for  horses  or  cattle,  very  valuable  in  times  of 
drought.  But  this  service  is  not  required  every 
day,  whilst  the  mischief  it  does  is  incalculable.  In 
thinl}'  peopled  districts  it  has  entirely  stopped 
the  roads,  compelling  travellers  to  circle  around 
the  growing  mass. — Ecf.ninij  Standard. 

About  Shallots. — I  can  fully  bear  out  the 
statement  made  b}' "  A.  D."  on  page  30  that  the 
Shallot  is  a  highl}'  prized  vegetable  in  cottage 
gardens.  I  visited  some  hundreds  of  such  gardens 
and  allotments  last  summer,  and  in  the  majority  of 
them  this  crop  was  represented.  Xot  always  in 
good  form,  however;  and  I  think  the  mistake  of 
growing  from  the  same  stock  too  long  is  very 
often  made.  The  common  practice  is  to  save  a 
portion  of  the  bulbs  for  planting  in  the  spring,  but 
unless  a  change  is  made  occasionally  the  size  of  the 
bulb  and  weight  of  the  crop  grow  less  in  a  few 
years.  I  am  surprised  that  more  Shallots  are  not 
raised  from  seed.  In  the  spring  of  1900  I  sowed  a 
packet  of  the  variety  Jerse}'  Lilj'  and  got  an 
excellent  crop  of  bulbs,  firm  and  quite  large 
enough  for  pickling.  From  these  I  obtained  a 
number  of  bulbs  for  planting  last  March  and  got  a 
capital  return.  I  am  therefore  disposed  to  think 
that  if  growers  would  make  a  change  sometimes,  in 
favour  of  raising  their  .Shallots  from  seeds  and 
planting  the  bulbs  the  following  spring  better 
results  would  be  obtained. — (4.  H.  H. 

The  vast  business  of  flower  grow- 
ing forms  the  subject  of  a  long  and  profusely 
illustrated  article  by  Edith  Da  vies  in  Ei-eryhodi/'.< 
Magazine  (New  York).  It  is  an  account  of  the 
flower  trade  of  that  cil}'.  In  a  prefator}'  note  it 
is  mentioned  that  New  Y'ork  is  the  world's  greatest 
flower  market ;  twelve  years  ago  the  trade  in 
plants  and  cut  flowers  was  inconsiderable,  to-day 
it  is  estimated  to  exceed  in  value  •5,0iJ0,O(Xl  dols. 
annually. 

A  g'ood  and  useful  winter  Pear.— 

I  have  ventured  to  give  this  double  title  to  a  Pear 
not  as  well  known  as  many  others,  viz.,  Beurre 
Bachelier.  It  is  fairlj'  large,  handsome  in 
appearance,  clear  skin,  green  at  first,  changing  as  it 
ripens  to  lemon-yellow,  sweet,  butter}',  and  melting 
flavour.  It  has  been  in  use  here  during  the  whole 
of  January,  a  period  of  the  year  when  good  Pears 
are  scarce,  the  December  varieties  being  over,  and 
the  late  ones,  such  as  Easter  Beurre,  Olivier  de 
Serres,  and  Beurre  Ranee,  not  yet  ripe.  It  is  a  free 
bearer  both  on  walls  and  as  a  pyramid.  Had  it 
not  been  for  this  and  another  old-fashioned  Pear, 
Passe  Colmar,  I  should  have  been  almost  without 
this  useful  fruit  during  January,  .Tosephine  de 
JIalines,  a  very  reliable  Pear  for  January  and 
February,  having  failed  to  produce  any  fruit  last 
year.  I  have  nearly  fifty  kinds  of  Pears  here,  and 
for  flavour   this  season   and   last   I   should   place 


Beurr^  Bachelier  in  the  first  dozen,  if  not  in  the  first 
half  dozen.  Unlike  some  other  Pears,  it  does  not 
go  suddenly  sleepy  or  rotten  as  was  the  case  with 
Glou  Morceau,  a  Pear  very  like  it  in  flavour,  of 
which  this  winter  I  lost  half  through  trying  to 
keep  them  into  January.  Jlr.  Bunyard,  Maidstone 
Nurseries,  does  not  put  it  in  his  catalogue,  so  I 
ventured  to  send  him  a  ripe  one  to  taste,  and  in 
reply  he  says:  "I  never  tasted  this  Pear  better 
than  theone  you  .sent"  ;  "but,"  he  adds,  "it  is  of  no 
use  in  a  wet  and  cold  season."  On  this  latter 
point  I  should  like  to  have  the  opinion  of  some  of 
your  readers  who  have  grown  it,  perhaps  Mr. 
Thomas  or  Mr.  Wythes  would  state  their  opinion. 
It  should  be  placed  in  a  little  warmth  for  a  few 
da}s  before  eating,  and  also  the  skin  peeled  off, 
as  this  has  a  bitter  taste.  The  trees  are  on  the 
Pear  stock  in  good  holding  loam. — B.  Addv. 

Ageratums.  —  I  observe  that  "  A.  W.  " 
does  nut  seem  to  approve  of  dwarf  Ageratums  for 
bedding  purposes.  Certainly  some  have  always 
been  very  unsatisfactory.  I  do  not  know  whether 
he  has  ever  grown  the  dwarf  and  free-blooming 
varietx'  known  as  Perle  Blue.  Mr.  Turton  used  to 
employ  this  variety  at  Maiden  Erleigh  with  remark- 
able success,  never  having  a  single  failure.  The 
plant  in  full  bloom  does  not  exceed  (i  inches  in 
height.  I  think  Mr.  Turton  still  has  a  stock  of  it  at 
Sherborne  Castle,  Dorset.  His  method  of  propa- 
gation is  to  cut  off  the  flower  stems  in  the  autumn, 
to  lift  such  plants  into  pots  and  winter  them, 
then  putting  them  into  gentle  warmth  in  the 
spring  to  obtain  plenty  of  cuttings,  and,  of  course, 
very  soon  plants.  The  flowers  are  of  a  charming 
soft  blue,  and  make  singularly  effective  edgings  or 
lines. — A.  D. 

PyrUS  arbutifolia.— I  was  m-jch  in- 
terested in  the  article  on  ''A  Beautiful  Berry 
Shrub"  in  TiiE  <  i.vKDEN  of  January  bS,  page  411,  but 
while  thoroughly  endorsing  all  the  writer  says  with 
regard  to  Pyrus  arbutifolia,  I  have  never  seen  the 
birds  leave  the  fruits  alone  in  this  country,  whatever 
they  may  do  in  America.  I  have  always  found  the 
fruits  of  this  plant  and  of  P.  nigra,  a  closely  allied 
species,  are  invariably  attacked  as  soon  as  they  are 
ripe,  which  is  to  be  regretted,  as  otherwise  they 
would  be  two  of  the  most  charming  of  our  smaller 
berry-bearing  shrubs.  Perhaps  in  some  district 
where  the  sparrow  does  not  exist — if  such  an  ideal 
spot  could  be  found — the  berries  of  P.  arbutifolia 
anil  probably  of  other  plants  might  be  left  alone, 
as  I  have  noticed  on  several  occasions  that  the 
sparrow  leads  the  way  in  attacking  any  new  or 
strange  fruit,  and,  if  it  is  found  palatable,  the 
other  birds  .juiokly  follow  suit. — J.  C,  Bagthot, 
Surrey. 

Campanula    isophylla    alba.— Few 

plants  do  so  well  in  a  window  as  this  pretty  Bell- 
flower.  It  is  also  a  good  plant  for  the  cool 
conservatory,  as  when  suspended  the  long  drooping 
racemes  of  pure  white  flowers  completely  cover  the 
pot  or  basket,  whichever  it  is  grown  in.  Though 
more  suitable  for  suspending,  it  may  be  tied  up 
and  grown  on  the  stage.  It  is  a  very  free  growing 
plant,  but  requires  a  little  care  in  propagating. 
The  present  is  a  good  time  to  get  cuttings.  I  find 
when  put  in  the  close  propagating  pit  they  are 
inclined  to  damp  off,  and  have  succeeded  best  on 
the  open  stage  in  a  warm  house,  but  they  must  not 
be  exposed  to  too  much  air.  The  cuttings  may 
wither  a  little  at  first,  but  they  will  revive  again 
after  they  are  callused.  If  three  cuttings  are 
rooted  in  a  small  pot  they  may  be  potted  on  into 
5-inch  pots  without  disturbing  them,  and  if  stopped 
once  will  make  good  plants  for  flowering  the  same 
season,  but  there  is  hardly  time  to  make  good 
plants  in  one  season  when  grown  singly.  It 
succeeds  best  in  a  shady  position,  and  the  finest 
specimens  I  have  ever  seen  base  been  in  a  cottage 
window  facing  north,  and  in  such  a  position  they 
continue  in  flower  much  longer  than  in  a  sunny 
warm  one.  As  an  outdoor  plant  it  also  does  well, 
and  may  be  recommended  for  window  boxes,  or  in 
suitable  positions  on  the  rockery.  The  pale  blue 
flowered  C.  Jlayii  is  a  suitable  companion  to  the 
above,  and  succeeds  well  under  the  same  cjnditions. 
C.  balchiniana  is  a  very  pretty  variegated  variety, 
the  leaves  having  a  silvery  white  margin.  I  do  not 
know  the  origin  of   this   Campanula,  but   it   was 


introduced  several  years  before  Mayii.  Last  year  a 
plant  .sported  or  reverted  to  the  green  form,  and 
when  it  flowered  it  proved  to  be  identical  with 
Mayii,  and  this  season  I  have  found  a  good  many 
green  shoots  which  cannot  be  distinguished  from 
those  of  Mayii. — A.  Hemsley. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 


EARLY     BROAD     BEANS 


UNDER    GLASS. 


m 


ANY'  growers  may  get  dishes  of  Broad 
Beans  some  time  in  advance  of  the 
outdoor  crop  if  seed  is  sown  in  pots 
or  boxes  under  glass,  and  then  planted 
out  in  rich  soil  some  time  later  on. 
1  am  aware  many  growers  have  of 
late  years  sown  few  er  Broad  Beans  in  the  autumn 
in  the  open  ground  than  formerly.  This  is  readily  j 
explained,  as  with  more  glass  erections  it  is  easy  I 
to  raise  an  early  crop  of  this  vegetable  under  glass  • 
and  plant  out  "in  March.  I  prefer  plants  raised 
thus,  as  there  are  no  losses,  the  labour  is  small, 
and  the  results  are  good.  I  have  named  pots  or 
boxes  as  suitable.  I  think  the  former  should  be 
preferred,  as  the  roots  are  not  disturbed  when 
planting,  though  I  have  had  very  good  crops  from 
box  plants.  The  seed  should  not  be  crowded, 
and,  when  planting,  take  out  the  roots  carefully 
with  a  trowel  to  prevent  injury.  If  small  Beans 
are  liked,  the  old  Mazagan  should  not  be  despised, 
but  I  find  the  Early  Green  Longpod  quite  as  early 
and  crops  splendidly.  There  is  a  gain  in  starting 
Broad  Beans  under  glass,  as  they  show  flowers  so 
quickly  and  are  much  dwarf er,  so  that  they  may 
be  planted  closer  together.  S.  H.  M. 


POTATOES  ON  STIFF  SOILS. 

It  is  not  possible  to  forecast  weather  conditions 
for  a  season.  Could  we  but  do  so  how  very 
diverse  often  might  be  our  procedure.  I  once  was 
fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  splendid  crop — 
probably  the  finest  crop  I  ever  lifted — of  Potatoes 
on  stitt',  retentive  land  by  burying  down  under  the 
rows  in  the  spring  a  fairly  heavy  dressing  of  half- 
decayed  manure.  The  result  was  that  this  dressing,  ' 
lying  quite  beneath  the  tubers,  acted  as  a  drain, 
allowing  surplus  moisture  to  pass  away  from  the 
roots  rapidly,  yet  leaving  ample  for  fertilisation. 
Should  the  season  prove  to  be  a  hot,  dry  one,  the 
plan  might  not  result  so  satisfactorily,  but  the 
chances  are  generally  that  it  will  turn  out  well. 
The  planting  of  Potatoes  is  commonly  done  early, 
and  habitually  early,  the  soil  being  far  too  cold 
for  the  reception  of  tubers  that  are  to  produce 
warmth-loving  plants.  It  is  best  to  have  ground — 
and  especially  stiff',  cold  ground — in  a  condition 
of  semi-preparation,  so  that  when  the  season  for 
planting  comes  the  work  can  be  proceeded  with 
rapidly.  When,  further,  seed  tubers  have  been 
prepared  by  being  sprouted  properly,  and  can  be 
taken  in  shallow  boxes  to  the  place  for  planting 
and  be  there  deposited  in  the  ground  without 
breaking  oft' the  shoots,  there  is  as  much  forward- 
ing of  growth  accomplished  out  of  the  ground  as 
could  well  have  been  had  the  planting  been  done 
fully  a  month  earlier.  The  preparation  of  the 
ground  should  be  done  in  tlie  winter,  throwing  it 
up  into  sharp,  rough  ridges  3  feet  wide.  If  that 
enables  the  soil  to  become  more  readily  dried, 
aerated,  or  pulverised  by  frost,  it  also  exposes  a 
larger  surface  to  the  influence  of  the  sun  in  the 
spring  than  can  be  the  case  when  the  soil  lies  flat. 
Then,  if  planting  be  deferred  till  late  in  April — a 
good  time  for  strong-growing  or  main-crop  Pota- 
toes— so  much  the  longer  is  the  ground  thus 
exposed  to  the  benign  influence  of  the  spring 
sunshine. 

Taking  advantage  of  dry  March  winds  or  frosts, 
it  is  a  good  plan  to  place  a  dressing  of  animal 
manure  in  a  half-decayed  condition  along  the 
furrows.  That  should  be  a  liberal  one.  Then, 
using  a  long,  fiat-tined  steel  fork,  the  manure 
should  be  dug  in  and  well  buried.     The  result  is 


February  15.  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


105 


that  beneath  the  tubers  when  planted 
there  is  ample  food  for  the  roots,  ample 
drainage,  and  a  good  depth  of  well- 
broken  soil.  At  planting  time  drills  as 
for  Peas  may  be  drawn  with  a  hoe 
■2  inches  deep,  and  into  these  carefully 
place  the  seed  tubers  at  intervals  of  not 
less  than  1.5  inches.  Where  practicable, 
a  mixture  of  wood  ashes,  kainit,  bone- 
flour,  and  soot  should  be  liberally  dusted 
along  over  the  sets,  then  the  sides  of  the 
ridges  forked  clown,  covering  the  tubers 
4  inches  thick  with  -soil.  It  is  difficult 
to  get  through  the  work  of  planting 
in  such  stiff  soil  more  rapidly  than 
thus  can  be  done,  and  it  is  well  done 
also. 

By  the  time  the  plant  growths  are  well 
through,  some  five  weeks  later,  the  soil 
will  ha\e  become  warmer  and  drier, 
and  then  that  which  remains  of  the 
former  ridges  and  has  been  trodden 
upon  can  now  be  well  forked  up  and 
broken  to  pieces  preparatory  to  being 
used  for  moulding  up.  This  forking  also 
greatly  stimulates  top-growth,  and  is 
thus  doubly  beneficial.  When  Potatoes 
are  so  treated,  how  rarely  are  there 
breaks  in  the  rows,  and  how  free  and 
vigorous  the  growth.  When,  too,  the 
rows  are  as  wide  apart  as  3  feet  there 
is  both  ample  room  for  the  forking  and 
for  the  following  moulding  up,  and  that 
should  always  be  done  well.  When 
good  width  between  rows  is  furnished, 
plants  and  leafage  have  abundant  room 
for  development,  and  as  a  result  the  crop  is 
greater.  Thus  seed  tubers  are  saved  and  the 
produce  of  those  planted  increased.        A.  Dean. 


ROSE  OELESTI.^L.      (FroHl  a  photograph  by  Miss  Willmott.) 


ROSE    CELESTIAL. 

This  charming  garden  Rose,  commonly  known 
as  Celestial  or  Celeste,  is  classed  with  the 
albas,  to  which  its  relation  may  clearly  be 
seen  in  the  broad  bluish  foliage.  It  is  much 
like  the  old  garden  Rose  Maiden's  Blush,  but 
even  prettier,  the  half-opened  bud  being 
specially  lovely. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 


SHRUBS   UNDER    TREES. 

7*  /WANY  people  are  often  puzzled  what  to 
t\  /■  plant  under  or  near  large  trees  to 
/  %  /  1  hide  the  bareness  of  the  ground  or 
I  »/  1  to  shut  out  some  undesirable  view 
I  y  J  that  can  be  seen  beneath  the  lower 
spread  of  branches.  For  this  pur- 
pose evergreens  are  mainly  desired,  though  a  few 
of  the  deciduous  flowering  shrubs  can  be  worked 
in  to  relieve  the  sombreness  of  the  evergreens. 
The  kind  of  tree  under  which  the  planting  is  to 
be  done  must  be  taken  into  account,  as  trees  vary 
to  a  certain  extent  in  rooting  as  well  as  in  the 
shade  they  give  in  summer.  This  affects  to  a  great 
extent  the  well-being  of  the  plants  grown  under 
them.  Such  trees  as  Oak,  Ash,  Plane,  Birch,  Horse 
Chestnut,  &;o.  are  inclined  to  root  deeply  when 
they  have  attained  a  fair  size,  and  do  not  interfere 
directly  with  anything  under  them,  although  they 
naturally  take  a  great  deal  of  moisture  from  the 
ground.  On  the  other  hand.  Beech,  Elm,  Lime, 
Sycamore,  &c.  are  more  surface-rooting,  and  their 
roots  may  often  be  found  entangled  with  and 
gradually  killing  any  plant  growing  near  to  them. 
The  first  two  are  the  greatest  offenders  in  this 
respect,  grass  often  refusing  to  grow  under  old 
Beeches  or  Elms.  A  few  good  soakings  of  water  in 
dry  weather  are  very  beneficial  to  shrubs  or  any- 
thing else  under  trees,  and  care  should  be  taken 
that  they  are  thorough  soakings,  as  mere  surface 
watering  is  worse  than  useless.  Th"!  spread  of 
the  branches  of  large  trees  should  also  be  noted  in 


the  summer  time,  as  it  may  be  desirable  to  remove 
some  of  the  lower  ones  to  allow  a  certain  amount  of 
light  and  air  to  whatever  is  growing  beneath.  It 
is  important  to  note  the  branches  while  the  leaves 
are  on,  as  the  end  of  a  large  limb  may  be  2  feet  or 
3  feet  lower  in  summer  than  in  winter,  the  weight 
of  the  leaves  making  a  perceptible  difference  to 
large  branches.  In  cutting  away  a  large  limb 
saw  it  upwards  from  beneath  for  at  least  a  quarter 
of  the  distance  through  before  cutting  it  down  from 
above,  as  otherwise  it  breaks  from  its  own  weight 
when  partlj'  sawn  through,  and  will  probably  tear 
a  large  piece  away  from  the  main  stem.  The  cut 
should  be  neatly  trimmed  if  at  all  rough,  and  be 
well  tarred  over  to  keep  out  the  wet. 

The  best  of  the  larger  growing  evergreens  to 
use  under  trees  are  Laurels,  both  common  and 
Portugal,  Yews,  Box,  Osmanthus,  Aucubas, 
Phillyrasas,  common  and  oval-leaved  Privet, 
Ligustrum  sinense,  and  Rhododendron  ponticum. 
Of  these  Yews,  Box,  and  Osmanthus  do  perhaps 
the  best  of  an}'.  The  Osmanthus  is  not  usually 
considered  suitable  for  this  purpose,  but  it  succeeds 
well  in  the  shade,  and  keeps  a  good  dark  green 
colour.  Hollies  are  sometimes  recommended,  but, 
though  they  ma}'  occasionally  be  a  success  under 
trees,  it  is  not  advisable  to  use  manj'  of  them, 
as  they  are  more  often  a  failure,  becoming  thin 
and  straggling  in  the  course  of  a  year  or  two.  Of 
dwarf-growing  evergreens  Berberis  Aquifolium, 
Butcher's  Broom  (Ruscus  aculeatus),  Ootoneaster 
microphylla,  Euonynius  japonicus  and  E.  I'adicans, 
with  their  respective  varieties,  Skimmias,  C4aul- 
theria  Shallon,  Ivies,  Pernettj'a  mucronata, 
St.  John's  Wort  (Hypericum  calycinum),  and 
Vincas  can  all  be  recommended,  as  they  all  do  well 
in  the  shade,  and  most  of  them  will  flower  freely. 

For  a  very  dry  sjjot  where  nothing  else  will  grow 
the  Butcher's  Broom  and  St.  .John's  Wort  should 
be  planted,  as  both  will  grow  and  thrive  where 
other  plants  die.  With  deciduous  shrubs  under 
trees  the  difliculty  lies  not  so  much  in  getting 
them  to  live  as  in  inducing  them  to  flower,  but  a 
few  of  them  will  do  well  in  the  shade,  and,  as  a 
rule,  bloom  freely.  <_)f  these  the  best  are  the  com- 
mon and  White  Brooms,  Azalea  pontica.  Genista 
virgata,  Philadelphus,  Forsythias,  and  Daphne 
Mezereum.  The  shrubby  Spirasas  may  also  be 
used  sparingly  in  a  fairly  light  and  open  place, 
though  plenty  of  sun  is  required  as  a  rule  to  enable 
them  to  flower  properly.  In  addition,  though  their 
flowers  are  insignificant,  Cornus  alba,  with  its 
red  stems  in  winter,  the    Snowberry  (Symphori- 


carpus  racemosus),  which  is  laden  every  year  with 
white  berries  long  after  the  leaves  have  fallen, 
and  the  Golden  Elder  are  all  worthy  of  a  place  and 
will  give  satisfaction. 

BagsJtol,  Surrey.  J.  C. 


CROCUS     FLEISCHERI. 

SoBiE  Crocuses  produce  both  flowers  and  leaves 
together,  and  in  others  the  leaves  follow  the  former. 
Each  of  these  broad  classes  has  a  beauty  of  its  own. 
In  the  one  case  there  is  the  charm  of  the  graceful 
grass}'  leaves  appearing  among  the  flowers;  in  the 
other  there  is  a  greater  mass  of  unbroken  colour. 
Each  has  its  own  admirers,  but  I  confess  to  a  special 
liking  for  those  species  which  give  us  their  leaves 
and  flowers  together.  Among  these  one  of  my 
favourites  is  Crocus  Fleischeri,  a  small  species  not 
half  so  well  known  as  it  ought  to  be.  It  is  not  fair 
to  judge  this  little  plant  by  the  standard  of  the 
great  Dutch  Crocuses  which  glow  in  our  gardens  in 
the  later  months.  In  size  it  is  inferior  to  them  ; 
in  breadth  and  in  roundness  of  segments  it  is 
wanting,  while  it  cannot  give  us  the  great  masses 
of  colour  that  they  yield.  It  gives  no  "cohorts  of 
purple  and  gold,"  for  its  colouring  is  pleasing 
rather  than  showy.  Instead  of  the  great  massive 
blooms  of  the  Dutch  Crocuses  we  have  small 
pointed  segments,  yet  so  beautiful  and  so  chaste 
are  they  as  they  open  to  the  earliest  sunshine  of 
the  new-born  year  that  they  delight  us  more  than 
the  others.  A  clump  here  which  opened  on 
January  i'i  was  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing 
glance  with  its  warm,  creamy  white  blooms  peeping 
smilingly  through  the  narrow  leaves.  As  usual, 
Mr.  George  Maw  gives  a  full  description  of  this 
Crocus  in  precise  terms.  Briefly  summarised,  these 
tell  us  that  it  belongs  to  the  Intertexti  section,  i.e., 
that  its  corm  tunic  is  composed  of  plaited  or 
stranded  fibres.  Its  leaves  appear  before,  and 
reach  above,  the  flowers  finally  attaining  a  length 
of  about  a  foot.  They  are  very  narrow,  from  l-30th 
to  l-'24th  of  an  inch  broad.  The  throat  is  unbearded, 
yellow  ;  the  segments  are  white,  acute,  the  outer 
being  marked  with  three  purple  lines  at  the  base, 
the  central  one  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  segment. 
The  anthers  are  orange,  and  the  longer  stigmata 
are  brick-red,  while  the  seeds  are  a  rosy  red, 
deepening  to  dark  chocolate.  The  botanical 
descriptions — abbreviated  though  they  are — are  a 
little  tedious  to  those  who  love  the  Crocus  for  its 
beauty  alone.     It  is  quite  hardy  here,  where  it  has 


106 


THE     GAJfDEN. 


[February  15,  1902. 


now  been  grown  for  a  good  many  years,  and  it 
increases  well,  though  there  have  been  a  good 
number  of  calls  uijon  it  for  the  gardens  of  friends. 
Year  hy  year  this  Syrian  Croons  seems  to  grow 
more  acceptable. 

CarsetJiorn,  htj  Diimfrltx,  X.B.         S.  Ak.nott. 


THE    WEATHER. 

The  T^se  oi-  Thekmometkiis,   ^tc. 

Nothing  in  a  fickle  climate  like  that  of  the 
British  Isles  has  ,so  great  an  influeniM'  on 
garden  plants  as  the  weather.  Acc(jrdiiig  to 
an  old  proverb,  " 'Tis  not  the  husbanduum 
but  the  weather  that  makes  tlie' corn  .ffrow." 


*  t:  * 


I'ieic  iakfii  in  the  Meteurologicat  Kncloi^ni-e,  limjal  liorttcnl- 

tural  Society's  Gardeiia,  Cliiswick,  showhiij  the  Stevenson 

Thcrmometcr-screen  and  the  Six'ti  Thennometer 

mounted  on  a  post. 

Sometimes  the  conditions  are  favourable,  Init 
more  frequently  the  reverse.  Knowing  this 
the  cultivator  of  a  garden  should  be  prepared 
for  all  emergencies.  On  the  one  hand,  to 
take  advantage  immediately  of  any  favourable 
weather  that  may  occur,  for  he  never  knows 
the  length  of  time  the  favourable  spell  may 
last.  On  the  other  hand,  he  must  be  equally 
keen  to  note  the  approach  of  any  exceptionally 
adverse  conditions.  For  instance,  a  severe 
gale  will  show  him  the  necessity  of  really  firm 
staking,  a  severe  frost  how  advisable  it  is  to 
afford  protection  to  delicate  plants  whenever 
exceptionally  cold  weather  threatens,  a  dry 
spell   in   summer   the   necessity   of    a   timely 


Watering,  mulching,  or  hoeing.  Open  weather 
in  the  autumn  or  winter  should  remind  him 
of  the  importance  of  seizing  that  occasion  to 
do  any  planting,  digging,  or  trenching  that 
may  then  be  required,  for  if  at  that  time  of 
year  the  o))portunity  be  neglected  the  soil  may 
afterwards  remain  unworkable  either  through 
wet  or  frost  for  weeks  together. 

Now  scarcely  anything  will  keep  any 
lover  of  his  garden  more  fully  alive  to 
these  favourable  and  unfavourable  weather 
changes  as  taking  daily  a  few  meteorological 
observations.  The  otitfit  in  the  way  of  instru- 
ments need  be  but  small  and  inexpensive. 
The  two  most  important  instruments  are  a 
self-registering  maximum  and  minimum  ther- 
mometer and  a  rain-gauge. 

Temperature. 
Of  all  the  influences  brought  to  bear  upon 
vegetable  life  by  the  atmosphere,  that  of 
temperature  is  the  most  powerful  and  far- 
reaching.  If  in  this  country  there  were  a 
gradual  rise  in  temperature  Ironi  the  middle 
of  January  to  the  iniddle  of  July,  and  as 
gradual  a  decline  after  the  hottest  part  of  the 
year  had  been  reached,  no  thermometer  obser- 
vations would  be  needed  ;  but,  as  every 
gardener  knows,  this  is  far  from  being  the 
case,  the  tendency  being  nearly  always  towards 
too  great  or  too  little  warmth.  There  are 
many 

Forms  of  Thermometehs, 

Ijut  for  gardening  purposes  the  most  simple 
and  suitable  is  that  known  as  a  Six's  Ther- 
mometer. It  is  an  upright  thermometer,  which 
registers  on  one  side  the  greatest  heat 
experienced  during  the  day  time,  and  on  the 
other  the  greatest  cold  at  night.  A  post 
.■)  inches  square  and  painted  white  should  be 
driven  firmly  into  the  ground  until  the  top  of  the 
post  is  ;i  feet  (j  inches  above  the  lawn  or  grass 
plot  over  which  the  thermometer  is  intended  to 
be  suspended.  A  position  well  away  from  trees 
or  buildings  is  the  best  for  the  exposure  of  the 
instrument.  The  sides  of  the  post  must  face 
north,  south,  east,  and  west,  and  from  near 
the  top  on  the  north  side  should  be  suspended 
the  thermometer.  To  protect  the  instrument 
from  the  early  morning  and  late  afternoon  sun 
some  strips  of  wood  painted  white  and  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  thick  should  be  screwed  to 
the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  jiost.  These 
flanges  should  project  3  inches  beyond  the 
north  face  ;  and  secured  to  them  and  also  to 
the  top  of  the  post  should  be  a  jiiece  of  zinc  to 
keep  ofl'  the  rain  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
thermometer.  For  this  piu-pose  both  the  post 
and  the  flanges  must  be  made  sloping  at  the 
top  on  the  north  side.  A  thermometer  mounted 
after  this  sim[)le  and  excellent  fashion  can  be 
seen  in  the  meteorological  enclosure  in  the 
gardens  of  the  Hoyal  Horticultural  Society  at 
Chiswick.  Two  words  of  caution  :  In  buying 
a  Six's  Thermometer  it  will  be  well  to  select 
one  which  reads  exactly  alike  on  each  side  ; 
and  until  the  instrument  is  suspended  on  the 
post  it  must  always  be  kept  in  an  upright 
position. 

At  the  same  hour  each  morning  the  readings 
should  be  made.  The  minimum  temperature 
should  be  entered  in  a  note-book  ruled  for  the 
purpose  against  the  date  on  which  the  reading 
is  made,  but  the  maximum  temperature  must 
be  put  ilown  to  the  previous  day.  After  the 
temiieratures  have  been  entered  in  the  obser- 
vation book,  the  magnet  supplied  with  the 
instrument  should  be  used  to  draw  down  the 
index  on  each  side  to  the  top  of  the  cushion  of 
mercury,  for  this  thermometer  is  not,  as  is 
generally  supposed,  a  mercurial,  but  a  spirit 
therni"meter.       When     suspended     all     that 


A   ''-inch  Rain  tjautfe. 
{Snowdun  pattern.) 


remains  is  to  insert  two  small  screws  into  the 
post  sufficiently  close  to  the  lower  part  of  the 
instrument  to  prevent  it  from  being  shaken 
by  the  wind.  A  sufficiently  large  Six's  Ther- 
mometer for  the 
purpose  can  be 
obtained  through  an 
optician  for  about 
10s.  or  li^s. 

IvAlXl'ALL. 

This  is  easily 
measured,  and  the 
records  will  be  found 
of  considerable  in- 
terest and  value,  as 
the  welfare  of  our 
garden  crops 
depends  so  much 
upon  the  supply  of 
rain  being  at  all 
times  proportionate 
to  their  i-equire- 
ments.  No  artificial 
watering  in  summer 
can  ever  take  the 
place  of  rain,  as  the 
latter  invariably 
brings  with  it  a 
moister,  cooler,  and 
consequently,  as 
regards  plant  iife,  a 
more  genial  atmos- 
phere. A  .'j-inch  Snowdon  pattern  rain-gauge 
made  of  galvanised  iron  can  be  obtained  of 
Messrs.  Negretti  and  Zambra,  Holborn  Viaduct, 
London,  E.G.,  for  lis.  fid.,  measure  included. 
It  should  be  set  up  in  an  open  space  at  least 
as  many  feet  away  from  buildings,  trees,  c^'c, 
as  they  are  in  height.  It  must  be  securely 
fixed  in  position  by  means  of  three  small  stakes 
firmly  driven  into  the  ground  closely  round 
the  gauge,  but  the  stakes  should  not  rise  higher 
than  where  the  funnel  fits  on  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  gauge.  When  fixed 
the  rim  of  the  gauge  must 
be  perfectly  level  and  be 
exactly  1  foot  above  the 
grass  plot  on  which  it  is 
jilaced. 

Each  morning  the  gauge 
should  be  examined 
at  the  same  hour,  and  any 
rain  found  in  the  receiver 
emptied  into  the  measuiing 
glass,  and  the  amount 
entered  in  the  observation 
book.  It  should  be  heie 
stated  that  the  amount 
should  not  be  entered 
against  the  day  on  which 
the  measurement  is  made, 
but  against  the  jirevious 
day,  as  a  "rainfall  day'' 
ends  at  9  a.m. 

In  times  of  snow  the 
snow  collected  in  the  funnel 
of  the  gauge  should  lie 
melted  by  poiu-ing  upon  it 
a  measured  (juantity  of 
warm  water,  and  this 
piantity   be    aftervv-ards   deducted    from    the 


-4  Six's  gclf'-rejjidciin<j 
maxiwinn  andmint- 
vuan  Thetmonicter 


total  measurement. 


Edward  Mawley. 


AVORKERS    AMONG    THE 
FLOWERS. 

George    Ellwancjer. 
Few    American    horticulturists    are    held    in 
higher  esteem  than  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
Mr.  George  Ellwanger,  of  Rochester,  who,  as 
long  ago  as  1835,  left  Europe  to   seek  fame 


Febru.vry  15,  1902.] 


THE    GALiDEI^. 


107 


and  fortune  elsewhere.  His  son,  Mr.  G.  H. 
Ellwanger,  writes  to  us  as  follows:  "My 
father  was  originally  a  vineyardist,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  February,  183.5, 
when,  after  spending  two  years  in  the  seed 
establishment  and  greenhouses  of  Messrs. 
Reynolds  and  Bateham  in  this  city  (Rochester), 
he  purchased  the  business,  and  in  1838  founded 
the  Mount  Hope  Nurseries.  In  1840  Patrick 
Barry  became  my  father's  partner,  the  partner- 
ship continuing  until  Mr.  Barry's  death  in  1890." 
Mr.  EUwanger's  activity  is  remarkable. 
Although  of  advanced  age,  he  is  still  engaged 
in  his  nursery  as  well  as  in  other  directions, 
and  throughout  the  States  his  name  is  widely 
known  and  honoured.  We  take  the  follow- 
ing appreciative  extracts  from  an  American 
journal  :  "In  locating  in  Rochester  he  showed 
the  wise  judgment  characteristic  of  his  life. 
It  was  the  place,  before  all  others,  for 
success  in  the  cultivation  of  trees,  for 
which  there  was  already  an  increa.sing 
demand  in  the  rapidly  developing 
country.  ...  Of  Rochester's  many 
great  special  industries,  each  contri- 
buting to  the  distinctive  individuality 
of  the  town,  none  has  done  more  to 
make  the  flower  city  what  it  is  than 
the  Ellwanger  and  Barry  nurseries. 
A  leading  speciality  of  the  house, 
before  a  railroad  had  been  built  to 
California,  was  created  by  the  demand 
for  trees  there.  The  selection  and 
packing  for  the  long  voyage,  with  the 
possibility  of  a  detention  on  the 
isthmus,  meant  great  risk,  demanding 
careful  oversight  and  scientific  pre- 
caution. The  Ellwanger  and  Barry 
trees  soon  had  a  wonderful  reputa- 
tion on  the  coast,  and  when  George 
Ellwanger  first  visited  California  some 
forty  years  ago  he  was  given  the 
honours  of  a  public  benefactor.  .  .  . 
That  he  is  beloved  and  honoured 
as  a  representative  citizen  is  too  well 
known  for  repeating  now."  And  we 
may  add  also  that  philanthropy  and 
kindly  deeds  are  among  the  traits  of 
a  fine  character,  while  we  must  not 
omit  to  mention  the  many  good 
horticultural  works  which  have  been 
written  by  Mr.  Ellwanger  and  his  sons. 


growing.  In  late  summer  or  early  autumn  it 
produces  a  rather  large  growth  for  such  a  small 
bulb,  the  leaf  is  ox'ate  or  lanceolate,  nerved  and 
distinctly  plaited,  usually  purplish  green.  It 
decays  about  the  end  of  April  or  May,  when  a 
scape  about  a  foot  or  18  inches  in  height  is  thrown 
up,  bearing  a  raceme  of  brownisli  flowers  with  a 
white  lip  spotted  deep  purple.  Only  a  single 
species  is  known.  A  native  of  North  America,  and 
though  local  is  said  to  be  plentiful. 

.-1  reth  iisa  bnlhosa.  — This  rare  and  beautiful  Orchid 
has  a  small  greenish  bulb  which  produces  during 
the  early  spring  a  solitary  linear  leaf  3  inches  to 
4  inches  long,  and  in  May  a  scape  bearing  a  single 
flower.  The  flower  is  from  1  inch  to  3  inches  long, 
having  a  large  dilated  lip  of  bright  rose  or  rosj' 
purple  with  equall}"  handsome  and  coloured  sepals 
and  petals.  A  pot  or  pan  full  of  Arethusa  bidbosa 
when  in  flower  is  verj'  showy.  I  find  the  best  wa}' 
to  grow  it  is  to  fill  a  pan  or  pot  with  pieces  of 
peat  and  half-decayed  .sphagnum,  lay  the  bulbs  on, 
and  then  cover  with  a  layer  of  sph.agnum  and  grow 


NOTES    ON    HARDY 
PLANTS. 


SOME  LITTLE  KNOWN  HAEDY 
ORCHIDS. 

A    M0N(4  hardj'perennials  theOrchid 

/%  family  undoubtedly   contains 

/   %         some  of  the  most  interesting  and  beauti- 

/      ^       ful,  foremost  being  the  Cypripediums, 

y         %      which     are     consequently     the     best 

known.    Less  known,  however,  though 

nearly  as  pretty,  are  Aplectrum,  Arethusa,  Bletia, 

Calopognn,    Calypso,    and    several    of    the   genus 

Habenaria.       As  a  rule   they   are   of   fairly   easy 

culture,    growing     well    in    leaf  -  mould    or    peat 

mixed  with   sphagnum    moss   and   well   protected 

by   shrubs   and    trees,    or    if    these    are    wanting 

they   will    also    grow    iu    a   shady   bed   sheltered 

from  cold  dry  winds  as  well  as   the  hot  sun,  and 

though    preferring  a   fair   amount   of   moisture  it 

should    not    be   stagnant,    especially    during    the 

winter  months. 

Apltctrmn  hyemale. — This  exceedingly  interest- 
ing plant  has  a  peculiar  rhizoraatous  or  bulbous 
rootstook,  the  new  bulbs  being  formed  annually 
almost  on  the  top  of  the  old  one,  which  remains 
quite  fresh  and  green  for  two  or  three  years,  the 
plant  showing  therefore  quite  a  series  of  bulbs,  of 
\Yhich,    however,    only    the   upper  one  is  really 


GEORGE    ELUWANGEK. 

in  a  shady,  cool  frame.    The  best  time  for  planting 
is  during  February  or  March. 

Calyi^o  horea/i'i. — Like  the  now  almost  extinct 
British  Cypripedium  Calceolus  or  English  Lady's 
Slipper,  this  is  a  British  plant,  but  evidently  quite 
extinct.  On  the  Continent,  especially  in  Central 
Germany,  it  is  very  rarely  seen  ;  in  fact,  it  is 
everywhere  fast  disappearing.  This  is  a  great  pity, 
as  it  is,  like  Arethusa  bulbosa,  a  gem  among  flower- 
ing plants.  It  is  usually  found  in  partially  sliaded 
boggy  places  in  peat,  the  small."greenisli  and  solid 
bulb  resting  in  moss.  Like  the  former,  it  produces 
a  single  leaf,  ovale  or  heart-shaped,  light  gieen  in 
colour,  and  on  a  short  scape.  The  floner  has 
spreading  sepa'.i  and  petals  and  a  large  sack-shaped 
lip,  hairy  and  woolly  inside,  the  colour  of  the 
Ilowers  being  a  beautiful  pink,  tinged  purple, 
and  sometimes  orange  or  j'ellow  with  white  veins. 
Rarely  does  it  produce  more  than  one  flower  on  a 
scape  from  2  inches  to  (i  inches  high.  It  is  best  to 
grow  this  lit  lie  plant  either  in  a  selected  corner  in 
the  shady  part  of  the  rockery  or  in  pots  or  pans  in 


a  cool  frame.     The   best  time   for   planting  is  in 
February  or  March. 

Calopogon  pukltMui. — The  rootstock,  as  in  the 
last,  consists  of  a  small  greenish  solid  bulb,  usually 
spherical,  producing  in  the  spring  one  or  more 
leaves,  linear  or  lanceolate,  and  about  a  foot  or 
18  inches  long.  During  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  several  showj'  flowers  are  produced  in  a 
loose  raceme.  The  rather  large  flowers,  varying 
from  pink  and  purple  to  deep  purple  in  colour, 
are  furnished  with  white  and  yellow  hairs.  To 
see  this  Orchid  at  its  best  it  should  be  planted  in 
masses  not  less  than  twenty-five  bulbs  in  a  clump, 
but  more  the  better.  It  is  easily  grown  on  the 
shady  sheltered  part  of  the  rockery  in  peaty  soil  or 
leaf-mould  with  a  covering  of  leaves  during  the 
winter  months.  Mr.  Ware  used  to  show  it  at  the 
various  horticultural  shiiws  grown  in  pans  with 
often  more  than  lUD  flowers,  and  the  plants  used 
to  increase  and  rather  improve  than  degenerate. 
There  is  also  a  very  rare  pure  white  form. 

BleJia  hyaciiithhta  in  general  character  resembles 
somewhat  the  last  named,  having,  how- 
ever, a  rhizomatous  solid  rootstock,  from 
which  come  several  lanceolate  leaves 
about  a  foot  long,  and,  scapes  from  1  foot 
to  2  feet  high,  bearing  in  a  loose  raceme 
several  large  purple  flowers ;  it  blooms 
in  May  or  .June,  and  can  be  grown  in  pots 
or  pans  under  glass  or  out  of  doors  in  a 
sheltered  shady  position  in  leaf-mould  or 
peat.  B.  hj-acinthina  alba  is  a  pretty 
white  flowering  form.  B.  aphylla  has 
brownish  purple  flowers,  and  though  not 
quite  so  showy  as  the  former  is  well  worth 
growing.  G.  R. 


FUNKIA    SUBCORDATA   GRAN- 
]:)IFLORA. 

The  majoritj'  of  Funkias  are  valued  more 
for   their   broad   ample   foliage   than    for 
their  flowers,  but  the  plant  under  notice 
is  entitled   to   first  rank  ;    it  is,   in   fact, 
the   only    Funkia  worth  growing  for  its 
flowers.     The  leaves  are  also  ornamental, 
being  of  the  size  of  a  man's  hand,  robust, 
pale  emerald  green  in  colour,  and  borne  on 
long  arching  petioles.      The   flowers   are 
produced     in     autumn     and     are      very 
striking,  reminding  one  of  the  New  World 
Pancratiums  in  the  purity  of  their  white- 
ness and  sweet  fragrance.   They  are  funnel- 
shaped,   average  4   inches  in   length  and 
2!y  inches  in  span,  and  are  borne  on  stout 
shafts  nearly  -2  feet  high.      Each  flower 
is  surrounded  by  a  broad  leafy  bract,  a 
number  of   which    form    a   leafy   tuft  on 
the  top  of  the  spike.     A  well-established 
plant  carrying  ten  to  twenty  spikes  and 
from   twelve   to    twenty  flowers  on  each 
spike  is  quite  a  revelation   to  those  who 
have   not   seen    this    Funkia    before.     It 
succeeds  best  in    a    warm  situatio;},  and 
may  require  a  year  or  even  two  to  estab- 
lish itself   thoroughly    before  it    flowers. 
Moreover,  the  plants  need  plenty  of  high 
feeding  when  once  established  to  build  up  strong 
flowering   crowns — the   general   tendency   in  poor 
soils   being    to    split    up    into   numerous   smaller 
crowns — useful    as   a  light  green  groundwork  for 
taller  plants,  but  incapable  of  flowering.    A  strong 
tuft  of  this  splendid  Funkia  in  flower  really  rivals 
the   Eucharis,    and   is    well    worthy   of    the   best 
attention  that  can  be  given  to  it. 

GeOKGE    B.    M.4LEETT. 


ERIGERON  MUCRONATUS. 

This  little  plant,  known  also  as  the  Mexican 
Daisy,  was  deservedly  praised  by  a  correspondent 
a  few  weeks  ago.  I  do  not  know  any  plant  that 
flowers  as  continuously  as  this  in  the  south-west, 
for  it  is  often  in  bloom  for  nine  or  ten  months 
consecutively.  At  the  end  of  December  I  picked 
expanded  flowers,  and  I  have  also  done  so  as  early 
in  the  year  as  March.  In  manj-  places,  however, 
it  is  a  perfect  weed,  self-sown  seedlings  springing 
up   everywhere.      In   a  garden   close   to  where  % 


108 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  15,  1902. 


write  the  ooping  and  face  of  an  old  brick  wall  is 
literally  covered  with  hundreds  of  tiny  plants  of 
this  Erigeron  that  have  sprung  from  seed  which 
has  lodged  in  the  mortar  between  the  bricks. 
Some  of  these  plants  are  merely  an  inch  or  so  in 
diameter,  and  bear  diminutive  flowers  about  the 
size  of  those  of  Aster  ericoides.  Where  it  flourishes 
self-sown  on  a  wall  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to 
devote  tilled  ground  to  its  culture. 

S.  W.  FlTZUKKBERT. 

CROCUS  SIEBERI. 
Years  ago  I  remember  being  drawn  towards 
Crocus  Sieberi  b}-  reading  in  a  catalogue  a  quota- 
tion, from  whose  pen  I  know  not,  which  called 
Crocus  Sieberi  "a  hardy  little  mountaineer, 
anticipating  all  others.''  The  passage  is,  perhaps, 
hardly  literally  correct,  as  there  are  some  other 
Crocus  species  which  are  in  the  field  even  earlier 
in  the  New  Vear  ;  yet  C.  Sieberi  is  among  the 
first  of  those  which  open  in  the  earliest  months 
but  which  cannot  be  looked  upon  as  legacies  of  the 
old'year,  as  several  others  really  are.  This  season, 
from  established  bulbs,  ray  first  flower  ox)ened  on 
January  ■2'2,'but  the  bulk  of  the  plants  will  not  be 


the  variety  versicolor,  which  is,  indeed,  so  varied 
as  to  be  capable  of  being  classed  into  fjuite  a 
number  of  varieties,  if  Mr.  Mawe  is  correct  in  his 
accounts  of  it.  There  is  only  one  form  of  versicolor 
in  ni}'  garden,  but  it  is  beautiful  enough  to  make 
one  long  for  an  opportunity  of  growing  more. 

S.  A. 


\'ERONICA  CORYMBOSA. 

The  little  Veronica  known  in  gardens  by  this 
name,  and  mentioned  by  Rev.  C.  VVoUey-Dod  in 
his  article  on  the  Veronica  on  page  lid,  is  one  which 
has  many  good  points  for  the  alpine  grower,  and, 
despite  the  difficulties  in  arriving  at  a  conclusion  as 
to  its  origin,  ought  to  be  grown  in  many  gardens. 
1  have  lijng  known  it,  and  have  had  reason 
from  growing  it  myself  to  appreciate  one  merit  in 
particular  that  it  possesses.  This  is  the  late  date 
at  which  it  usuallj'  comes  into  bloom.  This  is 
well  into  autumn,  when  alpines  are  generally 
scarce  and  a  rock  garden  grows  dull,  because  of 
the  want  of  bloom  too  apparent  at  that  season.  It 
is  then  that  this  little  deep  purple-blue  flower 
comes  in.  If  a  garden  plant,  as  Mr.  Wolley-Dod 
supposes,  it  has  two  points   which   distinguish  it 


much  admired.  Both  this  species  and  its  first 
cousin,  R.  trigynum,  or  Linum  trigynum,  as 
it  used  to  be  called,  are  capital  warm  green- 
house or  conservatory  plants  at  this  dull 
season  of  the  yeai-,  the  flowers  of  the  last- 
named  being  of  a  rich  glowing  orange-yellow 
colour.  Both  are  easily  grown  on  as  bush  iilants 
in  pots  by  cutting  them  back  after  flower- 
ing every  year,  and  repotting  when  they  have 
broken  out  into  growth  again.  Or,  as  is  u.sual, 
a  fresh  batch  of  cuttings  may  be  rooted  every 
spring  and  potted  on  either  singly  or  three  in 
a  pot.  By  stopping  the  points  of  the  shoot 
once  or  twice  dwarf  bushy  plants  are  obtained, 
which  ilower  freely  at  every  jioint,  and  are 
very  gay  from  November  till  February  or  even 
later.  The  illustration  is  from  a  )ihotograph 
taken  in  Trinity  College  Botanical  Gardens, 
Dublin,  by  ilr.  Oeorge  E.  Low  of  Kingstown, 
who  makes  his  camera  and  his  garden  special 
hobbies  during  his  rather  limitecl  lei-sure  hours. 
It  may  be  as  well  to  note  here  that  there  are 
at  least  three  botanical  authors  who  have  used 
the  generic  name  Reinwardtia  for  very  different 
plants.  Thus  our  plant  is  a  shrubby 
kind  of  Indian  Flax,  and  was  named 
after  Reinwardt,  director  of  the  Botani- 
cal Garden  at  Leyden  (1773-1822).  The 
Reinwardtia  of  Blume  is  .synonymous 
with  Saurauja,  and  that  of  Karthals 
is  also  a  Ternstroeinia,  and  not  in  any 
way  related  to  the  Reinwardtias  of 
Dumortier  or  the  Macrolinums  as  they 
have  been  called,  to  which  we  have 
above  referred.        F.  W.  Burbidue. 


THE   ROSE   GARDEN. 


REINWARDTIA    TETRAGTNA    I.N'    TRINITY    COLLEGE    BOTANIC   GARDENS,    DUBLIN. 


in  bloom  until  well  into  February.  It  was  pleasant, 
indeed,  to  see  how  this  flower  opened  one  sunny 
day,  even  although  the  frost  was  so  severe  as  to 
resist  the  power  of  the  sunshine  to  soften  the 
surface  of  the  hardened  soil.  To  those  who  can 
only  appreciate  the  massive  flowers  of  the  Dutch 
Crocuses  it  may  seem  small  and  insignificant  with 
its  bright  lilac  flowers,  but  there  are  many  who 
can  realise  the  beauty  of  its  liny  flowers,  which 
come  at  such  a  welcome  time. 

One  thinks  that  a  good  deal  may  be  do  le  in  the 
way  of  selecting  the  earliest  flowering  forms— for 
it  seems  to  be  very  variable  in  its  blooming  time— 
and  propagating  from  these  so  as  to  secure  a 
succession.  In  colour,  too,  it  is  varied,  and  some 
have  been  selected  on  account  of  their  variation 
from  the  typical  lilac.  One  of  the  most  charming 
here  is  C.  S.  versicolor,  but  it  comes  verj'  late  and 
seems  slow  of  increase.  The  forms  purpureus  and 
lilacinus  are,  however,  more  free,  the  first  of  them 
showing  colour  to-day  (February  3).  It  is  con- 
siderably darker  than  the  type  and  makes  an 
acceptable  change.  Although  as  yet  expensive,  it 
may  come  in  time  to  be  cheap  enough  to  purchase 
by  the  dozen  or  two  to  associate  with  the  typical 
U'ac,      One  would  gladly  secure   more   plants   of 


from  most  others — this  late-blooming  habit,  and  the 
curiously  formed  heads,  like  those  of  Mignonette, 
as  Mr.  Wolley-Dod  remarks.  There  is  a  taller 
form,  which  passes  under  the  name  of  corymbi- 
flora,  but  it  is  not  honoured  with  recognition  in 
the  "  Index  Kewensis''  at  all,  and  is  by  no  means 
such  a  good  plant.  Tlie  genus  Veronica  is  a  very 
pu/.zling  one,  and  I  have  often  been  indebted  to 
Mr.  Wolle3--I)od  for  elucidation  of  doubtful  points 
in  connection  with  the  genus,  which  he  knows  so 
well.  I  have  also  been  indebted  to  him  for  the 
Llandudno  varieties,  which  are  all  he  saj's  of  them 
if  planted  in  the  poor  soil  mixed  with  limestone 
which  he  recommends.  They  did  very  well  here 
last  season,  and  were  much  appreciated. 

S.  Arnott. 
Car-iel/iom,  by  Dumfriei,  X.B. 


REINWARDTIA    TETRAGYNA. 

For  a  month  or  six  weeks  past  this  pretty 
little  Indian  shrub  has  been  very  showy  in  a 
warm  greenhouse,  where  its  pale  primrose 
yellow  flowers  with  darker  centres,  produced 
successionaljy  in  great  abundance,  have  been 


ROSES    UXDER    GLASS. 

PROBABLY     no    flower     sufl'ers 
more  from  absence  of  sunlight 
at  this  season  of  the  year  than 
the  Rose   grown  under   glass. 
Unfortunately,  manj'  growers 
resort  to  the  practice  of  giving 
extra  fire-heat  to    make  up   for  the   sua 
deficiency.     This  is  a  great  mistake.     If 
quality  of  flower  be  desired   the  steadier 
the  temperature  the  better  will  it  be  for 
the  plants  and  flowers.       Roses  that  are 
now  about  to  bloom  will  be  much  benefited 
by   liquid    manure   about    once    a   week. 
It  should  be,  however,  of  a  mild  nature 
and  somewhat  varied.      Weak  and  often 
is  a  safe  plan  to  adopt  in  feeding  Roses.    I 
have  obtained  the  best  results  from   Ih*" 
use  of  Ichthemic  (Juano,  given  at  the  rate 
of  a  tablespoonful  to  one  gallon  of  water. 
This  about  once  in  three  or  four  weeks,  with  inter- 
vening waterings  of  liquid  cow  manure,  sup|)ly  all 
the  necessary  food  healthy  Roses  require.    With  the 
means   at   our   disposal    to   give  the   Rose  almost 
perfect  treatment  as  regards  temperature  and  soil, 
beautiful    flowers   should    bo   possible   under    this 
s^'stem  of  culture. 

Ventilation  is  a  very  important  aid  to  successful 
Rose  growing  in  winter.  The  atmosphere  must  be 
sweet  and  buoyant  and  charged  with  suttieient 
moisture.  Manj'  imagine  it  is  not  safe  to  open  a 
Rose  house  in  winter.  On  a  bright  sunnj'  day  the 
temperature  quickly  rises  to  80"  or  110'^,  and  unlefs 
a  little  ventilation  is  given  the  atmosphere  is  very 
uncomfortable.  As  soon  as  70"-"  is  reached  air  m.ay 
be  given  with  caution,  and  of  course  the  house 
must  be  closed  again  early.  I  would  open  venti- 
I  lators  every  day  if  only  for  a  few  minutes,  but  do 
not  open  them  a  foot  or  so  wide.  This  would  be 
dangerous.  Just  open  about  an  inch,  which  would 
tend  to  freshen  the  atmosphere. 

Syringing  the  foliage  is  of  extreme  importance. 
When  neglected  red  spider  will  quickly  follow.  The 
employe  should  be  compelled  to  do  this  work 
thoroughly,  not  merely  syiinging  the  few  plants  in 
the  front,  but  endeavour  to  get  at  the  back  rows, 


Febrttary  15,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


109 


The  water  must  also  be  forcibly  directed  to  the 
underside  of  the  foliage.  When  the  weather  is  dull 
tlie  paths  and  pipes  should  he  sprinkled  morning 
and  evening  instead  of  syringing. 

Blind  wood  on  Tea  Roses  often  appears,  and  to 
some  is  unaccountable,  but  as  it  is  the  nature  of 
the  plants  the  shoots,  if  not  crowded,  should  be 
allowed  to  remain.  If  clothed  with  healthy  foliage 
such  slioots  must  be  of  advantage  to  the  plants. 
Where  Roses  of  the  Catherine  Mermet  race  are 
used  for  midwinter  work,  I  would  recommend  that 
a  trial  be  made  with  some  on  the  Manetti  stock. 
Not  only  are  larger  plants  produced,  but  this  stock 
is  more  amenable  to  forcing  than  the  Briar.  It 
must  be  understood,  however,  that  the  plants  will 
be  short-lived.  Niphetos  flourishes  well  on  the 
Manetti,  and  flowers  of  greater  purity  are  pro- 
duced. This  question  of  stocks  is  an  important 
one  to  the  florist  where  earliness  often  means 
increased  prices.  The  Briar  is  without  doubt  the 
stock  for  outdoor  culture,  but  whether  anything 
better  can  be  found  is,  I  think,  worth  careful 
attention.  I  have  an  idea  that  R.  Polyantha 
would  be  a  good  slock  for  Teas  under  glass.  When 
in  (Tuernsey  last  autunni  I  saw  some  remarkable 
plants  upon  the  Polyantha  stock  outdoors.  The 
same  stock  was  also  employed  for  dwarf  and  half 
standards,  the  buds  being  inserted  in  the  barrel, 
and  marvellous  heads  they  made  although  on 
slender  stems. 

-  Many  gardeners  have  doubtless  potted  up  a 
quantity  of  Crimson  Rambler  Rose  for  pots.  If 
these  were  cut  back  to  about  12  inches  from  where 
budded  they  will  this  season  give  several  fine 
growths  some  18  inches  long,  each  crowned  with  a 
fine  panicle  of  blossom.  That  they  make  grand 
conservatory  plants  need  not  be  mentioned  here, 
and  they  would  be  of  untold  value  for  decoration 
in  various  wa3'S.  The  temperature  afforded  should 
be  very  gentle  at  first,  say  about  50"  at  night, 
advancing  if  needful  as  the  roots  lay  hold  of  the 
soil.  This  Rose,  so  much  addicted  to  red  spider, 
will  need  careful  attention  to  keep  the  pest  in 
abeyance.  P. 


ACANTHUS    MOLLIS     LATI- 
FOLIUS. 

This  Bear's  Breech  belongs  to  a  valuable  group  of 
stately-growing  ornamental  flowering  plants,  and 
is  worthy  of  more  attention,  being  worth  space 
for  its  handsome  foliage  alone.  The  leaves  are,  in 
a  well  grown  plant,  3  feet  to  4  feet  Ipng,  9  inches 
wide,  and  of  a  deep  shining  green.  They  art 
bright  in  winter,  and  form  an  effective  background 
to  the  border  or  an  imposing  group  on  the 
turf.  This  Acanthus  is  not  particular  as  to  soil  oi 
situation,  spreading  freely  on  rocky  banks.  Thi 
flower  spikes,  which  are  at  their  best  in  September, 
are  very  fine,  often  measuring  ti  feet  high.  The 
subject  of  tlie  illustration  was  planted  on  a  rocks 
bank  four  j'ears  ago,  and  is  now  15  feet  across 
The  foliage  may  suffer  now  and  then  in  a  seven 
frost,  but  quickly  recovers. 
Redruth.  V.  Gauntlett  and  Co. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 


REPOTTING. 

IN  most  cases  Chrysanthemums  of  all  sections 
and  for  nearly  all  purposes  should  now  be 
well  rooted,  and  will  require  shifting  on. 
but  extreme  care  should  be  exercised  b\ 
not  giving  too  much  pot  room  at  thi,- 
season.  It  is  unwise,  for  the  sake  oi 
saving  time,  to  make  one  or  two  pottings  suthce, 
but  it  will  be  far  better  to  have  everything  in 
readiness,  and  not  repot  before  they  are  quite  ready. 
However,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that 
the  young  plants  be  not  allowed  to  suffer  through 
becoming  pot-bound  in  their  early  stages  of  growth, 
but  it  is  far  more  dangerous  to  overpot  them. 
Some  varieties  need  a  much  longer  period  to  take 
root  than  others,  and  the  stronger  growing  varieties 
are  also  much  more  impatient  than  the  weaker  ones. 
Assuming  the  principal  batch  of  cuttings  to  have 


been  struck  in  "ij-inch  pots,  most  of  them  will  be 
read}'  for  3-incli  or  4-inch  sizes,  using  a  moderately 
light  sandy  compost,  which  should  consist  of  two 
parts  light  fibrous  loam,  one  part  leaf-soil,  and  one 
of  old  JIushroon)  bed  manure,  passing  the  two 
latter  through  a  quarter  of  an  inch  mesh  sieve. 
Add  a  small  quantity  of  finely  broken  charcoal  and 
crocks,  and  sufficient  road  or  silver  sand  to  keep  it 
in  an  open  condition.  Tlie  pots  should  be  well 
drained,  and  by  this  I  mean  not  so  much  the 
quantity  as  the  way  it  is  arranged  and  kept  intact 
from  the  compost.  One  large  crock  placed  in  an 
inverted  position,  with  a  ver}'  few  of  a  smaller  size 
placed  about  it,  and  on  the  top  of  these  a  few 
pounded  quite  fine,  with  the  dust  only  excluded, 
should  be  used.  Over  this  should  be  placed  a  verj- 
thin  laj'er  of  fibre  taken  from  the  loam  heap,  when 
if  worms  are  excluded  from  the  potting  mixture, 
as  they  should  be,  it  will  be  quite  safe  to  assume 
that  the  drainage  will  be  as  perfect  when  the  plant 
is  turned  out  for  the  next  repotting  as  it  is  thb  day 
it  is  arranged. 

Use  the  soil  in  a  moderately  dr}'  condition  after 
it  has  been  thoroughlj'  mixed,  and  press  it  firmly 
about   the   roots.      This   will   naturally   give    the 


plants  a  slight  check,  and  every  inducement  should 
be  given  them  to  recover  from  this  as  speedily  as 
possible.  If  a  slightly  heated  pit  can  be  afforded 
for  a  few  days,  arranging  them  on  a  bed  of  finely 
sifted  cinder  ashes  (|uite  close  to  the  glass,  all  the 
better ;  but  immediately  the  plants  commence  to 
grow  remove  them  to  a  sheltered  open  position 
iii  cold  frames  and  as  near  the  glass  as  possible. 
Strong,  sturdy  growth  must  be  encouraged  ;  con- 
sequently, whenever  the  weather  is  favourable, 
give  air  freely.  Cold  northerly  or  north-easterly 
winds  are  not  favourable  to  good  growth,  so  that 
very  little  air  will  suffice  when  the  wind  is  in  this 
quarter,  and  the  lights  should  be  tilted  in  the 
opposite  direction.  Examine  the  plants  each 
morning  and  give  water  when  necessarv. 

All  late  struck  cuttings,  and  anj-  which  may  be 
in  a  backward  condition  from  any  other  cause, 
should  be  carefully  nursed  along  in  a  more  genial 
temperature,  potting  them  on  as  soon  as  it  is  safe 
to  do  so,  so  that  the  whole  of  the  plants  may  be 
got  together  as  early  as  possible. 

Specimen  Plants. 

It  is  essential,  to  obtain  large  plants  with 
flowers  of  high  quality  during  November,  that  the 


ACUNTUIIS    MOLLIS    LATIKOLIUS   AT   REDRnTlI, 


110 


THE   GARDEN. 


[February   i5,  1902 


growtli  and  foundation  of  the  plants  be  made  as 
early  in  the  season  as  possible.  These  may  with 
advantage  be  still  grown  and  nursed  along  in  a 
growing  temperature  in  a  light  house  or  heated  pit 
where  the  growths  can  be  freely  syringed  and  air 
admitted  abundantly.  The  plants  by  this  time 
should  be  quite  read}'  for  potting  on  into  6-incli 
pots,  using  a  similar  compost  to  that  advised  for 
a  previous  potting,  with  the  addition  of  a  fair 
sprinkling  of  bone-meal,  a  safe  and  lasting  manure. 
At  this  time  they  should  be  potted  more  firmly. 
Continue  to  pinch  out  the  points  of  the  young 
growth  until  the  desired  number  of  shoots  is 
obtained.  Fumigate  occasionally  to  ward  off 
attacks  of  green  and  black  fly,  and  dust  the  under- 
side of  the  foliage  with  sulphur  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  mildew.  Unfortunately,  the  Chrysan- 
themum rust  has  made  serious  headway  during  the 
past  two  3-ears,  and  few  collections  are  entirely 
free  from  it.  I  would  strongly  advise  all  who 
are  fortunate  enough  to  have  a  clean  stock  to 
guard  against  importing  it,  for  when  the  collection 
becomes  badly  infested,  as  it  generally  does  during 
the  development  of  the  flowers,  the  sight  is  a 
pitiable  one.  I  belie^■e  paraffin,  when  carefully 
used  and  thoroughly  mixed  at  the  rate  of  one 
wineglassful  to  every  four  gallons  of  water,  which 
should  be  used  in  a  tepid  state,  is  a  sure  preventive 
so  long  as  it  can  be  used,  but  unfortunately  it  has 
to  be  discontinued  just  at  that  season  when  the 
sjiores  spread  most  rapidl}'.  Nevertheless,  great 
pains  should  be  taken  to  stamp  it  out  as  much  as 
possible.  An  Exhibitor. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not  responMhle  for  the  op/iiioni 
expressed  hy  their  corre.<<pondent.i. ) 

PINK     LORD     LYON     AND 
PINKS    IN    GENERAL. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR, — I    am   very  grateful    to    Mr.   R. 
Dean    for  hi.?   interesting    reply   in 
your    issue    of    .January    4    to     my 
enquiry  for  Pink  Lord  Lyon,  whicli, 
through  the  kindness  of  one  of  your 
readers   in   the   North,  I   have   now 
procured  from  Messrs.  M.  Campbell  and  Son, 
Auchinraith      Nurseries,      High      Blantyre, 
Glasgow. 

While  it  is  remarkable  that  so  much  diffi- 
culty has  been  e.xperienced  in  tracing  this 
variety,  which  I\Ir.  Dean  tells  me  is  iirobably 
the  finest  rose-coloured  Pink  ever  raised,  it 
seems  to  ine  still  more  remarkable  that  the 
Pink,  which  as  a  class  once  rivalled  the 
Auricula  in  the  affections  of  the  hand-loom 
weavers  of  Lancashire  and  Paisley,  should 
have  been  allowed  to  sink  into  comparative 
obscurity,  for  no  plant  is  more  easily  culti- 
vated nor  more  lavish  in  its  return  of  fragrant 
bloom  for  any  care  and  attention  bestowed 
upon  it,  and  even  when  not  flowering  its  neat 
and  cheerful  grey  foliage  is  always  refreshing 
to  the  eye.  Itisy/ac  excellence  a  town  plant, 
for  smoke  and  fog  do  not  injuriously  affect  it 
to  any  appreciable  extent— at  any  rate  in  the 
in  the  adult  state. 

Happily,  there  are  evidences  of  an  awaken- 
ing interest  in  border  Pinks,  and  some  of  the 
newer  white  selfs,  such  as  Albino,  Snowflake, 
and  Mrs.  Lakin  are  not  inferior  to  Carnations. 
One  wonders,  indeed,  how  these  varieties,  the 
two  former  of  which  have  smooth-edged 
petals,  and  none  of  which  are  calyx-bursters 
like  those  older  favourites  Her  Majesty  and 
Mrs.  Sinkins,  can  be  improved  upon,  although 
I  have  since  last  season  added  to  my  collec- 
tion The  Bridesmaid,  which  is  said  to  be  more 
robust  than  Albino.  Unfortunately,  there  is 
ample  room  for  improvement  in  the  coloured 
.'self  class,  for,  so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends. 


it  embraces  no  rich  reds,  scarlets,  or  crimsons 
such  as  are  found  amongst  Carnations,  Sweet 
Williams,  and  Indian  Pinks.  Perhaps  I  ought 
to  except  Rubens,  which  I  am  told  is  red,  but 
which  has  not  yet  flowered  with  me.  If, 
however,  there  be  another  which  can  claim  to 
be  anything  richer  in  colour  than  rosy 
magenta  I  shall  be  equally  surprised  and 
delighted. 

It  will,  I  think,  be  admitted  that  such  a 
state  of  things  is  regrettable,  and  it  may  very 
naturally  be  asked  why  other  branches  of  the 
Dianthus  family  should  have  a  monopoly  of 
rich  colouring.  There  is  undoubtedly  a  diffi- 
culty in  the  way  of  deepening  and  enriching 
the  colour  of  these  selfs,  as  I  have  jwoved  by 
personal  experience,  for  after  nearly  ten  years 
of  most  careful  cross-fertilisation  I  have  found 
most  of  the  resulting  seedlings  disappointing. 
I  was  at  first  inclined  to  attribute  this  to  lack 
of  jiignient,  but  it  can  scarcely  be  the  reason, 
as  in  the  Laced  and  Pheasant-eye  Pinks  the 
markings  are  highly  coloured.  Whatever  the 
reason  may  be,  the  ditKculty  is  one  which, 
judging  from  existing  varieties,  the  old  raisers 
evidently  failed  to  overcome.  Possibly  a 
solution  may  be  found  in  an  infusion  of  blood 
from  one  of  the  sections  of  the  Dianthus 
family  before  referred  to.  At  all  events  it  is 
earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  the  difficulty  is  not 
insurmountable,  and  that  more  experienced 
devotees  of  the  Pink  than  I  am  may  be  able 
and  willing  to  throw  light  on  the  subject. 

Sheffield.  Sidney  H.vll.\m. 

[We  thank  Mr.  Hallam  for  his  interesting 
note.  It  has  been  our  desire,  as  our  many 
notes  will  show,  to  encourage  as  much  as 
possible  an  interest  not  merely  in  the  Pinks 
at  present  in  our  gardens,  but  also  the  raising 
of  new  varieties.  Those  who  have  not  read 
our  previous  articles  about  garden  Pinks  .should 
refer  to  them.— Ed.s.] 


THE  TREE  TOMATO. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garde-\."] 
Sir,- Could  you  or  some  kind  brother  gardener 
give  me  any  information  as  to  the  Tree  Tomato? 
1  received  some  seed  under  that  name  which  duly 
came  up  and  grew,  and,  I  presume,  is  the  Cypho- 
mandra  betacea  which  goes  under  that  name,  but 
I  am  rather  puzzled  bv  a  description  of  it  given  in 
The  Garde.n  for  December  l.i,  1900,  which 
describes  it  as  "a  small  bushy-headed  tree  with 
large  cordate  leaves,  11  inches  to  12  inches  across 
on  vigorous  plants,"  while  m}'  plants  grew  with  a 
straight  stem  right  up  to  the  glass  roof  some 
10  feet  or  12  feet,  with  leaves  20  inches  by  Ki  inches, 
and  no  branches.  It  showed  no  signs  of  flower  or 
fruit,  and  I  now  await  directions  from  anyone 
having  e.xperience  with  this  too  vigorous  baby,  as 
to  what  steps  to  take  to  reduce  it  to  some  sort 
of  moderation  in  growth  and  some  sense  of  its 
responsibilities  as  to  fruiting.  For  any  information 
I  shall  be  duly  grateful.  H.  R.  Ddcmore. 

The  itomil,  Parkstone,  Dorset. 


EUCALYPTUS  GUNNIL 
[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garde?;."] 
Sir, — Like  your  correspondent  Professor  Wallace, 
my  experience  of  E.  Gunnii  began  in  1887  with  seed 
sent  me  by  a  friend  from  the  extreme  south  of 
Tasmania.  I  planted  out  some  sixty  seedlings  in 
the  autumn  of  that  year  on  a  gravelly  knoll, 
unprotected  from  either  east  or  north.  The  soil 
was  thin  and  poor,  but  in  five  years'  time  they  had 
grown  to  about  15  feet,  flowered,  and  seeded. 
From  this  seed  I  have  now  some  900  trees,  and  have 
given  seed  or  young  plants  to  friends  in  Cheshire, 
Dorset,  Lincoln,  Suffolk,  Fife,  and  County  Tyrone 
in  Ireland,  besides  about  100  plants  to  neighbours 
in  Essex.  My  biggest  tree  girths  3  feet  3  inches  at 
1  foot  from  the  ground;  but  itsheightisgreater  than 
Professor  Wallaces  specimen.  In  thinning  them  I 
have  measured  one  43  feet  .S  inches,  and  have  many 


taller,  probably  47  feet  to  50  feet  high.  I  consider 
the  tree  quite  hardy,  though  in  some  severe 
winters  they  are  apt  to  lose  a  foot  or  so  of  their 
leading  shoots. 

The  trees  vary  much  in  habit— some  being 
straight  poles  with  a  bushy  head,  others  pyramidal ; 
they  vary  also  in  lime  of  flowering,  seldom  a  month 
passes,  never  a  summer,  without  some  blossom, 
which  bees  love  and  throng  to.  I  have  purposely 
planted  in  all  sorts  of  soils,  sand,  peat,  loam,  clay, 
and  even  on  a  flat  marsh  reclaimed  from  the  sea. 
Some  have  done  fairly  well  in  each  of  these ' 
situations,  but  one  thing  I  am  convinced  of,  which 
is  that  they  do  better  singly  in  an  open  spot  than 
planted  as  a  group  or  wood.  Lord  Ancaster,  to 
whom  I  gave  some  seed  about  1894,  tells  me  they 
flourish  in  a  swampy  wood  on  his  Lincolnshire 
estate.  I  have  seen  the  tree  thriving  in  Fife.  But 
I  hear  that  far  the  finest  and  tallest  tree  in  Great 
Britain  is  to  be  found  at  Whittinghame,  Mr.  A. 
Balfour's  place  in  Berwickshire.  I  use  the  wood 
for  posts  and  rails. 

Briijht/ingsea,  Essex.  Joux  Bate.max. 

THE  SWEDE  AS  A  VEGETABLE. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden'."] 
Sir, — I  was  pleased  with  Mr.  Wythes'  note  on  the 
Swede  as  a  vegetable  (page  52).  I  have  long  known 
its  value  for  culinary  purposes,  and  in  one 
establishment  where  I  was  employed  Swedes  were 
sent  to  the  dining-room  twice  a  week.  They  are 
a  great  boon  where  the  garden  is  small,  especially 
in  severe  winters,  as  they  eke  out  the  supply  of 
other  vegetables.  When  mashed  and  fla\oured 
with  butter  they  are  delicious.  Mr.  Wythes 
mentions  the  white  variety,  which  is  no  doubt 
preferable  for  the  table.  It  is  a  good  plan 
to  lift  a  quantity  of  them  in  November  and  lay 
them  in  some  sheltered  corner,  covering  them  first 
with  bracken  or  litter,  and  then  with  soil  or  ashes. 
Treated  thus  they  keep  plump  and  retain  their 
flavour,  and  are  easily  got  at  even  in  the  severest 
weather.  Medium-sized,  good-shaped  roots  are 
always  the  best  flavoured.  J.  Crawford. 


ERINITS  ALPINUS  IN  NORTHUMBER- 
LAND. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garde.v."] 
Sir, — The  name  of  the  plant  growing  on  the 
Roman  walls  at  Chesters,  Northumberland, -is 
Erinus  alpinus  var.  hispanicus.  It  seems  (juito 
impossible  that  it  can  have  sprung  from  anv 
modirn  seed,  as  I  have  the  word  of  the  old  man 
who  has  done  nearly  all  the  digging  there  that  as 
soon  as  ever  a  piece  of  wall  was  uncovered  the 
plant  sprang  up  in  abundance.  The  excavations 
havi!  gone  on  for  man_\'  years,  and  the  Erinus  was 
well  known  to  the  greatest  authority  on  the  Roman 
wall,  Dr.  Bruce.  It  is  not  the  E.  alpinus  to  be 
found  in  Switzerland,  but  is  identical  with  the 
variety  which  is  abundant  in  the  P3'renees.  I  have 
collected  plants  in  both  places,  so  am  certain  of 
this.  In  his  "Handbook  to  the  Roman  Wall," 
Or.  Bruce  wrote:  "Cilurnum  (Chesters)  was 
garrisoned — as  numerous  inscriptions  prove — by 
the  second  ala  of  Astures,  a  people  from  the 
modern  Asturia  in  Spain."  The  mountains  of  that 
province  are  simply  a  continuation  of  the  Pyrenees. 
The  inference  is  obvious,  especially  as  the  Erinus 
grows  nowhere  else  on  the  wall.  1  may  add  that 
to  my  knowledge  no  one  has  ever  cast  a  doubt  on 
the  Roman  origin  of  this  little  plant.  There  is 
another  plant  growing  at  the  Chesters  and  credited 
with  the  same  origin  as  the  Erinus  by  North- 
umbrians. Were  any  other  seeds  dropped  about 
the  wall  in  modern  times ':  M.  P.  Forster. 

Fairfield,  Warkworth,  Northumberland. 

PEAR  WINTER  NELIS. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir,  -I  was  pleased  to  see  so  excellent  an  illus- 
tration in  The  Garden,  page  ()3,  of  this  old  Pear, 
which  was  given  an  award  at  a  recent  meeting  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Although  the 
Fruit  Committee  have  been  long  in  recognisijig 
its  merits,  they  did  so  handsomely  at  last,  nearly 


February  15,  1902.1 


THE    GARDEN. 


Ill 


every  one  voting  in  favour  of  a  first-class  certifi- 
cate. Tliougli  suggesting  to  fruit  growers  our 
past  neglect  in  having  overlooked  these  good 
things,  no  one  will  dispute  tlie  value  of  such 
an  award  to  this  first-class  Pear.  It  was  intro- 
duced nearly  a  century  ago,  and  although  it  is 
not  a  success  in  some  gardens  in  many  others  it 
crops  well,  and  what  malies  it  additionally  valuable 
is  the  fact  tliat  it  keeps  good  until  midwinter, 
when  we  have  few  really  good  Pears.  Few  varieties 
are  more  suitable  for  gardens  of  limited  size  ;  it  is 
not  a  coarse  grower,  and  very  good  when  grown 
on  the  Quince  stock,  and  best  when  given  wall 
culture  in  exposed  positions.  The  fruit  should  be 
left  as  late  as  possible  before  storing,  as  if 
gathered  at  all  early  it  ripens  in  November  and 
sometimes  shrivels  badly.  In  the  southern  counties 
I  have  seen  this  variety  do  well  as  an  espalier. 

6.  W.  S. 


THE  EARLY  DAYS  OF  THE  FLORIST'S 

AURICULA. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — The  interesting  photograph  of  Auriculas 
from  the  records  of  the  Spalding  Society,  especially 
that  of  "Grand  Paisant,"  indicate  very  exactly 
the  stage  that  plant  had  reached  in -1725.  At  the 
same  time  the  writer  of  the  accompanying  notes 
errs  in  supposing  that  the  florist's  Auricula,  either 
that  with  a  well-defined  yellow  or  white  eye,  was 
anj'  novelty.  Samuel  Gilbert,  son-in-law  to  John 
Rea,  published  his  "  Vade  Mecum"  in  1683,  and 
therein  includes  dozens  of  sorts  of  Auriculas. 
From  white  they  ranged  through  all  the  usual 
colours  and  shades  to  "  the  Black  Imperial  and  the 
Black  Emperor — such  dark  purples  that  little 
differences  them  from  black,  with  delicate  snow- 


white  eyes."  Here  is  another  description : — 
"  Blazing  Star  just  now  appears  in  view,  the 
largest  leaf  flower  of  them  all  by  much,  of  a  very 
deep  murrish  liver  colour,  with  a  snowy  white 
eye  as  big  as  the  whole  of  another  flower."  At 
this  period  there  was  a  run  on  varieties  with 
flowers  striped,  or  as  one  authority  has  it,  "  the 
more  ennobled  Auriculas  inriched  \>y  their 
stripes."  Among  these  there  was  the  greatest 
possible  diversity,  as  '  ■  deep  purple  and  straw 
colour,  white  e3'e,  fine  flowerer ;  blood  colour 
streak'd  with  yellow,  good  eye  ;  fine  violet  and 
white,  sky  colour  and  white,"  and  manj'  more. 
But  more  desirable  than  these  were  the  double 
self-coloured  and  tho.se  with  striped  flowers  which 
before  the  Revolution  were  held  in  the  greatest 
esteem.  Of  the  latter  "crimson  and  white  and 
purple  and  j'ellow"  are  declared  to  be  the  two 
choicest  varieties  in  "  Flora's  Cabinet."  The  last- 
named  sold  at  from  £5  to  £20  a  plant.  A 
curious  catalogue  of  varieties  for  sale  is  appended 
to  the  book.  Rea's  "Florilege"  treats  of  the 
Auricula  also  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  florist. 
This  book  was  published  in  1665,  eighteen  3'ears 
before  the  "  Vade  Mecum."  His  list  of  varieties 
is  not  so  extensive  as  that  of  his  son-in-law, 
though  it  contains  many  of  the  varieties  named  in 
both.  Rea  is,  however,  much  more  interesting 
in  giving  the  names  and  dwelling  places  of  the 
raisers  of  many  varieties,  from  which  we  are  led  to 
infer  that  neither  Lancashire  nor  Lincolnshire 
possessed  an  exclusive  right  to  the  Auricula.  The 
unabridged  description  of  "  The  Fair  Downham  " 
is  too  lengthy  to  copy.  Suffice  it  to  say,  it  was 
the  finest  purple  with  white  eye  then  known,  and 
that  it  "  takes  the  name  from  the  first  owner,  my 
ver3'  good  friend  Mr.  .Tohn  Downham,  from  whom 
man}'   j-ears   since     I   had  this  and    divers   other 


flowers."  This  variety,  it  may  be  added,  was 
considered  the  earliest  of  the  florist  tj-pe.  Mr. 
Good's  Purple  possessed  the  good  quality  that  its 
"  snow-white  eyes  will  not  wash  yellow  with  rain, 
as  some  do."  Mr.  Austen,  Oxford,  was  the  raiser. 
"  The  Black  Imperial  "  was  also  raised  at  Oxford. 
"  Mistris  Buggs,  Battersey,  near  London,"  was 
responsible  for  some  good  sorts,  and  Mr.  William 
Whitmore  was  another  London  raiser  of  repute. 
Mr.  Rickets,  of  Hogsden,  "  the  best  and  most 
faithful  florist  now  about  London,"  raised  good 
sorts  ;  the  well-known  ilr.  .Jacob  Bobarts, 
"keeper  of  the  publicke  garden,"  Oxford,  also 
raised  good  sorts,  and  the  younger  Tradescant  and 
JSIr.  Tuggie,  of  Westminster,  also  worked  among 
Auriculas.  The  first  indication  of  the  double  sorts 
which  so  quickly  became  popular  is  mentioned  by 
Rea,  a  kind  which  bore  flowers  with  three  rows  of 
leaves  (petals)  in  each  flower. 

An  examination  of  Parkinson's  figures  of 
Auriculas  shows  the  white  eye  in  various  stages  of 
development,  and  it  is  even  to  be  found  in 
Gerarde.  "The  finer  sorts  of  Bears-ears"  were 
cultivated  in  pots  or  cases  in  the  North  of  Scot- 
land in  1683,  and  they  could  be  purchased  in 
Edinburgh  at  the  same  date.  '  B. 


IN    A    SUSSEX    GARDEN. 

Uxu-suALLY  compreliensive  and  full  of  giod 
feitures  i.s  the  accompanying  illustration. 
The  house,  lake,  flower  garden,  and  wall 
garden  are  all  well  represented.  The  character 
and  beauty  of  the  foreground  are  greatly  added 
to  by  the  Yuccas  in  flower,  and  the  adornment 
of  the  sides  of  the  lake  in  itself  teaches  much. 


H 


tJ 


VIEW   IN   THE   GARDENS   ui    SLDGW'ICK   PARiC. 


112 


THE    GARDEN 


[February  15  1902. 


We  see  here  an  example  of  a  pond  margin 
made  beautiful  by  the  planting  of  a  shrub 
(Cotoneaster)  most  suitable  for  this  pur))0se. 
By  its  close,  creeping  habit  of  growth  it  has 
almost  completely  hidden  the  hard  stone 
margin.  In  fact,  the  characteristic  feature  of 
this  garden  picture  is  undoubtedly  the  effective 
way  in  which  the  hard,  unpleasing  stone- 
work is  covered  with  greenery.  Structures, 
although  they  may  perhaps  in  themselves 
not  be  objects  of  beauty,  can  be  often  so 
transformed  by  suitable  planting  as  to  add 
materially  to  the  interest  and  variety  of  a 
garden.  T. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

FLOWER  GARDEN. 

WHERE  the  turf  on  lawns  has 
become  mossy  and  full  of  weeds 
no  time  should  be  lost  in  trying 
to  improve  it.  First  remove  all 
the  weeds  ;  this  in  a  large  lawn 
entails  no  end  of  tedious  labour, 
but  the  improved  appearance  of  the  turf  in  the 
summer  following  fully  justifies  its  being  done.  A 
rough  rake  run  heavily  over  the  grass  removes  the 
moss  to  a  great  extent,  and  prepares  it  for  a  fairly 
heavy  dressing  of  good  rich  soil,  which  by  the  end  of 
March  or  beginning  of  April  will  have  been  washed 
well  into  the  roots  of  the  grass,  when  it  can  all  be 
neatly  raked  over  and  sown  thinly  with  a  mixture 
of  grass  seeds.  After  the  sowing  the  turf  should 
be  lightly  raked  over  again  and  thoroughly  rolled. 
For  simply  strengthening  and 

Improvixg  the  Grass 
an  application  of  some  reliable  chemical  manure  is 
the  best  thing  possible.  I  use  for  this  purpose 
basic  slag  and  kainit,  mixed  with  a  little  finely 
sifted  soil,  in  the  proportion  of  141b.  of  the  former 
to  01b.  of  kainit  for  a  lawn  surface  of  100  square 
yards.  In  four  or  five  weeks  after  applying  the 
mixture  I  add  a  dressing  of  olb.  of  nitrate  of  soda. 
The  result  has  always  proved  eminently  satisfac- 
tory. In  the  propagating  department  work  is 
increasing  rapidly. 

Dahlias 
should  now  be  removed  from  their  winter  quarters 
and  placed  in  heat  that  cuttings  may  soon  be 
obtained.  These  should  be  taken  with  a  heel,  and 
inserted  singly  in  sandy  light  soil  in  small  pots  and 
placed  in  bottom-heat  to  strike,  but  once  rooted 
should  be  rapidly  hardened  oft'.  I  growall  my  Dahlias 
from  cuttings,  as  I  find  they  are  much  better  plants 
than  any  grown  from  the  old  tubers,  and  they  have 
also  the  advantage  that  in  the  early  summer  when 
in  pots  they  take  up  so  much  less  room.  I  am 
sowing  at  present  a  new  strain  of  dwarf  single 
Dahlias  from  which  I  hope  to  secure  one  or  two 
good  colours  worth  retaining.  It  is  recommended 
as  being  early  and  extremely  free  flowering,  growing 
only  from  18  inches  to  '24  inches,  and  should  prove 
an  excellent  adjunct  to  the  dwarf  border. 

The  Hou,yhock. 

Through  the  almost  universal  prevalence  of  the 
disease  to  which  this  beautiful  flowering  plant  is 
subject,  it  is  now  generally  recognised  that  the 
only  way  to  enjoy  the  colour  of  its  splendid  spikes, 
so  essential  to  the  boldness  of  a  mixed  border,  is 
to  raise  fresh  stock  every  year  from  seed.  The 
sexllings,  though  not  exempt  from  the  fungus,  still 
in  comparison  to  old  plants  and  plants  raised  from 
old  stock  enjoy  an  appreciable  immunity  from  it 
for  a  few  years.  It  is  almost  hopeless  for  indi- 
viduals to  try  to  eradicate  this  disease  entirely. 
When  the  seeds  have  been  saved  from  fine  flowers 
a  large  percentage  of  good  varieties  may  be  relied 
upon.  Many  prefer  the  autunm  for  sowing,  and 
then  growing  them  through  the  winter  in  cold 
frames,  but  I  find  sowing  them  now  and  growing 
them  on  quickly  far  belter  than  keeping  them 
throughout  the  winter  the  prey  of  damp  anil  sings. 


The  Best  Plan- 
Is  to  sow  in  boxes  of  fairly  rich  soil,  placing  the 
seed    separately,    allowing    a    space    of    an    inch 
between  each  plant  and  starting  them  in  a  gentle 
heat.       When    the    seedlings    appear,    ventilation 
should   be    increased   until   they   are   fit   for   cool 
frames.     When  large  enough  and  well  rooted  they 
should  be  potted.     In  a  very  short  time  they  will 
be  ready  for  planting  out.     Treated  thus   Holly- 
hocks flower  the  first  year,  though  the  spikes  are 
much  stronger  and  finer  in  the  autumn  following. 
Hutiii  A.  Pettigrew. 
Caille  Gardeii.'i,  St.  Fayann. 

INDOOK    GARDEN. 

Ferns. 
Many  of  these  are  now  commencing  to  grow,  and 
those  requiring  to  be  repotted  should  have  some  of 
the  old  soil  removed.  Others  may  be  divided, 
taking  care  not  to  damage  the  young  growth. 
Those  with  creeping  rhizomes,  as  Davallia,  are 
easily  increased,  either  by  layering  the  points  or 
removing  portions  that  have  formed  roots.  The 
majority  of  Ferns  for  general  decorative  purposes 
will  succeed  in  a  mixture  of  fibrous  loam,  leaf- 
mould,  charcoal,  and  sand  :  pot  firmly,  giving 
efficient  drainage.  Although  most  Ferns  are 
water-loving  plants,  they  will  not  endure  stagnant 
moisture  ;  great  care  is  therefore  necessary  not  to 
give  much  water  until  the  roots  have  obtained  a 
firm  hold  of  the  soil.  Adiantum  Farleyense  I  have 
always  found  does  best  when  potted  in  July,  using 
a  porous  compost  of  turfy  loam,  leaf-soil,  charcoal, 
sand,  and  oroken  crocks.  Specimen  plants  of 
Davallia  mooreana  should  have  a  good  top-dressing 
of  sphagnum  moss,  peat,  and  sand. 

Palms. 
These  should  be  overhauled  now  and  all  neces 
sary  repotting  done.  They  succeed  better  when 
restricted  at  the  root  than  when  over-potted.  The 
roots  of  Palms  should,  if  possible,  never  be  cut. 
Such  varieties  as  Cocos  weddeliana  must  be  very 
carefully  handled  in  potting.  Should  their  tender 
roots  get  bruised  in  shifting  it  will  prove  most 
disastrous  ;  pot  firmly,  using  a  compost  of  fibrous 
loam,  charcoal,  and  sand,  with  ample  drainage,  as 
they  require  plenty  of  water.  Plants  that  do  not 
require  repotting  should  be  given  a  liberal  top- 
dressing,  and  see  that  the  drainage  is  good. 
Manure  water  made  from  sheep  manure  and  soot 
will  greatly  assist  them  when  in  active  growth. 

Tuberous-rooted  Begonias 
that  show  signs  of  life  should  be  potted  into  small 
sized  pots  almost  on  the  surface  of  the  soil.  As 
the  pots  become  full  of  roots  shift  into  larger  sizes, 
inserting  the  bulbs  deeper  each  time  until  the 
crowns  are  covered.  Use  a  compost  of  fibrous 
loam,  leaf-soil,  and  sharp  sand.  Place  the  pots  in 
a  house  having  a  temperature  of  about  50"  and  a 
humid  atmosphere,  and  water  sparingly  until  root 
action  takes  place  :  when  the  young  growth  is 
perceptible  water  may  be  given  more  freely. 
Richardia  elliottiana  and  its  varieties  .should  now 
have  the  old  soil  shaken  from  the  tubers,  and 
placed  in  pots  according  to  the  size  of  the  tubers. 
They  require  a  rich  open  compost  of  fibrous  loam, 
leaf-mould,  cow  manure,  and  sand.  In  potting 
sprinkle  sand  over  the  crown  of  the  tubers,  place 
in  a  temperature  of  about  60'-\  syringe  freely,  but 
water  carefully  until  growth  commences. 

Fuchsias 
that  have  been  at  rest  should  now  be  pruned  and 
shaken  out  of  their  pots,  potted  into  others  of  a 
smaller  size,  and  placed  in  a  forcing  house,  where 
they  can  be  syringed  freely  morning  and  afternoon. 
Fuchsias  require  the  same  compost  as  recommended 
for  Richardias.  To  Violets  in  frames  give  plenty 
of  ventilation  every  day  in  mild  weather. 

John  Fleming. 
We.rlmm  Park  Gardens,  Hlougli. 

KITCHEN  GARDEN. 

Turnips. 

All  the  best  bulbs  ought  now  to  be  taken  up  and 

stored  away  in  pits,  or  in  a  short  time  they  will 

commence  a  new  growth.     The  most  satisfactory 


way  to  pre.serve  them  is  to  place  them  in  clamps 
under  a  north  wall,  but  care  should  be  taken  in 
doing  this  not  to  put  too  many  together.  Arrange 
a  layerof  Turnips  and  a  layer  of  finely-sifted  cinder 
ashes,  place  a  few  drain  pipes  or  bunches  of  Wheat 
Straw  through  the  centre  to  afford  ventilation,  and 
finally  cover  with  ashes  or  light  soil.  The  roots 
will  keep  in  good  condition  for  many  weeks  long 
after  those  in  the  open  are  worthless  except  as 
greens. 

Cabbage.  ■ 

The  earliest  plantations  of  these,  owing  to  the  fl 
early  growth  made  in  the  autumn,  have  suffered 
considerably  here,  and  also  in  many  other  places, 
and  more  especially  where  the  plants  were  not 
moulded  up.  I  always  advise  and  practise  planting 
just  twice  as  thickly  as  is  necessary  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  crop,  so  that  in  the  event  of  failures 
we  have  more  than  sufficient  for  replacing  them. 
Any  not  required  for  this  purpose  may  be  cut  for 
greens.  Those  growing  on  a  south  border  or  in 
sheltered  positions  should  have  the  soil  stirred  up 
deeply  about  the  roots  with  the  hoe,  at  the  same 
time  leaving  the  stems  well  protected  with  freshly 
stirred  earth,  and  all  vacancies  made  good.  Early 
spring  Cabbage  is  generally  appreciaied  in  every 
household,  and  it  behoves  the  cultivator  to  produce 
them  as  early  as  possible.  I  much  prefer  autumn- 
sown  plants  to  those  raised  in  spring,  but  at  the 
same  time  where  there  is  a  scarcity  a  small  sowing 
may  now  be  made  also. 

Red  or  Pickling  Cabbage. 

Seed  will  germinate  freely  on  a  very  mild  hot- 
bed, and  if  drilled  between  sowings  of  Carrots  and 
pricked  out  into  boxes  before  the  rough  leaf  is 
made  these  will  form  good  plants  for  putting  out 
in  spring  and  no  harm  will  be  done  to  the  Carrot 
crop. 

Cucumbers. 

Little  dilficulty  will  now  be  found  in  producing 
these,  providing  suitable  structures  are  allowed 
and  reliable  kinds  cultivated.  As  the  days 
lengthen  and  the  sun  gains  more  power  the 
growths  made  will  be  much  more  vigorous,  and 
fruit  will  be  produced  freely  ;  avoid  over-cropping, 
keep  the  growths  well  thinned,  maintain  a 
brisk  temperature,  and  surface-dress  the  borders 
often  with  fresh  material  which  has  been  previously 
warmed. 

Tomatoes. 

Winter  fruiting  plants  will  require  strong  heat 
and  all  the  light  possible  to  enable  the  fruits  to 
become  well  flavoured.  The  plants  should  be  kept 
moderately  dry  at  the  roots,  and  the  atmosphere  of 
the  house  should  be  dry  and  buoyant.  Each  flower 
must  be  carefully  fertilised  about  midday  to  ensure 
a  free  .^et.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 

THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Strawberries. 
In  order  to  hasten  the  ripening  of  the  fruit  upon 
early  forced  plants  t'lc  temperature  of  the  house 
should  be  gradually  increased  after  the  fruit  is  set 
until  it  reaches  from  (io''  to  70"  by  night,  with 
about  .">"  more  by  day.  The  fruits  should  be  early 
thinned  to  about  six  upon  each  plant,  according  to 
variety,  and  supj)orted  so  as  to  derive  the  full 
benefit  of  the  sun.  The  plants  should  be  kept  free 
of  runners,  on  no  account  be  permitted  to  suffer 
for  want  of  water,  and  until  the  fruit  commences 
to  colour  have  liberal  supplies  of  diluted  liquid 
manure,  when,  with  a  view  to  enhance  the  flavour 
of  their  fruit,  they  should  be  subjected  to  cooler 
and  more  airy  conditions.  Red  spider  will  not 
give  much  trouble  provided  the  watering  and 
syringing  of  the  plants  is  properly  executed,  and 
green  fly  can  be  easily  killed  by  lightly  vapourising 
with  XL  All  liquid. 

Pise-apples. 

A  compost  should  now  be  prepared  for  successional 
plants  of  the  Queen.  This  may  be  suitably  formed 
of  tolerably  dry  fibrous  light  loam,  roughly  broken 
up,  separated  from  fine  particles,  and  thoroughly 
mixed   with   dry  soot   and  bone-meal  .at  the  rate 


February  15,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


Il3 


of  an  S-inch  pot  full  of  each  to  a  barrow  load 
of  soil.  Supposing  the  plants  to  be  in  7-inch 
pots,  and  properlj^  possessed  of  active  roots, 
ihej'  should  he  at  once  shifted  into  clean 
eliicientl3'  drained  ones  of  1'2  inches  in  diameter. 
Previous  to  being  turned  out  the  plants  must 
be  freed  of  some  of  their  basal  leaves,  and 
when  potted  the  compost  should  be  made 
firm  about  them  «ith  a  rammer.  A  bed  of 
suitable  plunging  material,  with  a  tempera- 
lure  of  about  S.3'-^  having  been  prepared,  the 
plants  should  be  firmlj'  replunged  at  '2  feet 
apart.  Provided  that  the  soil  around  the 
roots  was  fairly  moist  when  the  plants  were 
potted,  and  they  are  daily  lightly  S3'ringed, 
there  will  be  no  need  of  watering  for  a  iew 
\^•<-'eliS,  and  until  the  roots  have  taken  well 
hold  of  the  fresh  compost  special  care  must 
be  taken  to  avoid  overwatering. 

FRUiTiNr;  PjjANt.s. 

Queen  Pines  started  quite  earlj'  this  year  are 
now    showing    fruit,    and    once  their  flowers 
expand  the  atmosphere  must  be  kept  mode- 
rately dry  and  a  steady  night  temperature  of 
about    70°    maintained,    otherwise    imperfect 
fruits  may   result  through  defective  .fertilisa- 
tion.    As  soon  as  the  flowering  season  is  past 
the  ordinary  mode  of  treatment  with  respect 
te  atmospheric   conditions   may   be  resumed, 
while  other   requirements  should  be  afforded 
as  previously  advised.    Suckers  as  thej'  appear 
should    be    removed.       Keep    plants    of   the 
smooth -leaved  Cayenne,  Charlotte  Rothschild, 
and  others  that  have  been  prepared  for  winter  fruit- 
ing steadily  progressing  at  the  present  time  in  a 
night  temperature  of  about  65".  Clear  diluted  liquid 
manure  should  be  afforded  each  time  the  plants  are 
watered,   and   as   the   sun    increases   in   power   it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Cayenne  is  very 
impatient  of  direct  powerful  sunlight,  which  must 
be  subdued  in  order  to  prevent  its  doing  injury. 

New  Vine  Borders. 
These  can  be  either  made  wholly  indoors  or 
outdoors,  or  the  roots  can  have  the  run  of  both 
inside  and  outside  borders,  but  personally  I  prefer 
those  formed  entirely  inside.  In  anj'  ease  thej' 
should  be  about  3  feet  S)  inches  in  depth,  made  on 
the  piecemeal  sj'Stem,  be  provided  with  adequate 
tile  drains,  and  1  foot  of  brick  or  stone  rubble. 
This  will  admit  of  "2  feet  9  inches  of  compost, 
which  may  consist  of  sound  calcareous  loam, 
obtained  from  the  surface  of  an  old  pasture,  stacked 
long  enougii  for  its  herbage  to  decay,  roughly 
broken,  and  according  to  its  character  incorporated 
with  more  or  less  crushed  old  mortar  and  wood 
ashes,  so  that  its  porosity  is  ensured. 

T.  COOMBEE. 
The  Henclre  Garden-i,  Monmouth. 


I-E.\R    UVEll.ll.E'S    .ST.    CERMAIN.        ( REUUCEU.  ) 


HARDY    FRUITS     IN    SEASON. 

Stewing  Pears. 

Many  and  various  are  the  uses  to  which  the 
Pear  lends  itself  (apart  from  its  value  as  a 
dessert  fruit),  in  the  making  of  compotes,  jellies, 
and  sweetmeats,  and,  regiirded  from  this  point 
of  view,  the  fntit  is  almost  as  important  as  a 
preserve  as  it  is  for  dessert.  The  varieties  of 
Pears  useful  for  this  purpose  are  somewhat 
distinct  from  ordinary  dessert  sorts,  insomuch 
that  the  texture  of  the  flesh  is  more  solid  and 
the  flavour  not  too  rich  or  sweet,  and,  generally 
speaking,  the  fruit  is  much  larger.  Some  of 
them,  especially  when  grown  against  a  wall, 
attain  an  enormous  size,  and  take  on  a  hand- 
some and  rich  colouring,  vieing  in  this  respect 
with  the  finest  dessert  sorts.  The  following 
varieties  are  amongst  the  best,  and  any  of  the 
dessert  sorts  which  may  not  ripen  satisfactorily 
will  also  be  found  useful  for  stewing. 

Bellissime  d'Hivee. 
This  is  one  of  the  best.     It  is  large,  with 
white  flesh,  crisp,  and  sweet.      The  tree    is 
hardy  and   succeeds   well   in   the    garden    or 


orchaj'd.  Stewing  Pears  remain  in  season  for 
so  long  that  it  is  difficult  to  fix  any  par-  j 
ticiilar  date  when  it  can  be  said  they  should 
he,  ri]je  ;  this  variety,  for  instance,  may  be  had 
in  condition  for  stewing  any  time  from  De- 
cember to  March. 

Vicar  of  Winkfield. 

A   valuable    variety,   and   esteemed    highly ; 

for^  stewitig    purposes.      It    is    a   long,   large ' 

fruit,  and  in  quality  one  of  the  best.     It  is  one  j 

of  the  most  prolific  bearers  we  have.  ' 

Catillac 
when  grown  against  a  wall  becomes  of  great 
size,  the  tree  being  a  robust  grower.    The  fruit 
is  in  season  from  February  to  May.  I 

Genebal  Todtleben. 
This  is  a  large,  richly  flavoured  variety, 
possessing  a  distinct  and  pleasant  perfume. 
The  tree  forms  a  handsome  pyramid,  and  bears 
freely — one  of  the  very  best.  In  season  from 
November  to  January. 

Geosse  Calebasse. 

This  is  distinguished  for  its  great  size  and  its 

purplish  grey  colour,  and  also  for  its  hardiness 

and  vigour  of  growth.    The  quality  is  second 

rate.    In  season  from  November  to  Christmas. 

DlEECTETJE   AlPHAND. 

This  is  one  of  the  latest,  ripening  any  time 
between  March  and  the  end  of  May,  and  for 
this  season  is  one  of  the  best.  The  flesh  is 
slightly  rough,  but  is  sweet,  with  a  pleasant 
aroma  and  pure  white  in  colour. 

A'erulam  (oe  Black  Woecestee). 

^  A  hardy  and  distinct  sort,  the  colour  of  the 

skin  almost  black.    The  tree  is  an  abundant 

bearer,  and  the  fruit  remains  in  season  a  long 

time. 

Uvedale's  Sr.  Geemain. 
One  of  the  best  known  and  most  commonly 
cultivated.  When  grown  against  a  wall  it 
attains  a  great  size.  It  is  a  handsome  variety 
as  maybe  seen  by  the  accompanying  illustration. 
In  season  from  February  to  May. 

BEaEEE  Claiegbau. 
When  grown  to  perfection  against  a  wall, 
either  as  a  cordon  or  a  fan-trained  tree,  this 
is  the  most  handsome  of  all  Pears.    It  is  of 


good  size,  and  as  regards  flavour  I  think  it  is 
to  be  preferred  to  any  of  the  stewing  sorts  ; 
indeed,  in  favourable  seasons  it  is  good  for 
dessert.  A  tree  or  two  should  be  grown  if  only 
for  the  beautiful  appearance  and  colouring  of 
the  fruit.  It  succeeds  as  a  bush  or  pyramid, 
but  should  be  double  grafted.  The  stewing  Pear 
possesses  enormous  possibilities  regarded  as  a 
preserved  fruit  for  winter  and  spring  consump- 
tion for  our  teeming  population  at  home,  and 
when  other  fruit  is  scarce.      Owkn  Thomas. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

PROPAGATING      TREE 
CARNATION  S. 

FEBRUARY  and  March  are  the  principal 
months  for  propagating  Tree  Carnations, 
those  struck  in  February  flowering  from 
October  to  .January,  and  the  March 
struck  batches  from  Februar}'  onward. 
Early  propagation  is  advisable,  as  then 
the  plants,  if  duly  pinclied  and  potted  on,  make 
large  specimens  by  autumn,  and  furnish  a  wealth 
of  bloom  in  winter.  Many  grow  their  Tree  Carna- 
tions in  a  temperature  of  60",  and  doubtless  a 
genial  warmth  induces  the  flowers  to  open  in  quick 
succession  ;  but  cuttings  taken  from  plants  grown 
in  heat  are  not  reliable,  being  invariably  weak  and 
apt  to  damp  off.  They  should  be  obtained  from 
plants  grown  under  cool  conditions,  and  sturdy, 
short  -  jointed  side  growths  should  always  be 
selected,  and  if  possible  detached  with  a  heel  or 
portion  of  the  older  wood.  A  slight  incision  should 
be  made  in  the  base  of  the  cuttings,  and  the  latter 
inserted  firmly  and  not  too  thickly  in  small  pots 
in  fine  loamy  and  leaf}'  soil,  containing  a  large 
percentage  of  grit.  Manj'  strike  the  cuttings  in 
Cucumber  or  Melon  houses,  but  such  structures, 
being  usually  too  hot  and  moist,  the  cuttings 
damp  off  badly.  I  find  a  frame  on  a  gentle  hot-bed 
the  best  place  for  them,  as  what  is  wanted  is  a 
moderate  top-heat— 60"  to  65"  is  a  suitable  one — 
and  a  bottom-heat  of  75"  or  80".  A  bed  of  leaves 
is  best,  and  it  should  be  covered  with  a  layer  of 
cocoanut-fibre,  leaf-mould,  or  even  ashes,  6  inches 
in  depth,  and  the  cutting  pots  plunged  in  it.  The 
cuttings  should  receive  a  gentle  watering  as  soon 
as  inserted,  after  which  moisture  should  be  supplied 
by  the  syringe  only.  Beware  of  keeping  the  cut- 
tings too  wet,  as  it  is  surprising  how  a  frame  will 


114 


THE    GARDEN. 


[J^BBRUARY    l5,    1902. 


retain  moisture.  Shade  from  bright  sunshine, 
and  admit  a  little  air  occasionally  to  allow  of  super- 
fluous moisture  escaping.  When  tlie  cuttings  are 
rooted  stand  the  pots  on  the  surface  of  the  bed, 
and  gradually  harden  oft'  the  plants  by  increasing 
the  supply  cf  air  preparatory  to  removing  them  to 
a  light  airy  greenhouse.  J.  Cr.vwkokd. 

SNOW  AND  PROTECTION. 

Snow  is  often  regarded  as  a  nuisance  in  the  garden, 
and  yet  it  is  nine  times  out  of  ten  a  blessing. 
We  are  apt  to  look  too  much  to  our  own 
comfort  ill  getting  about  outside,  and  do  not 
take  heed  of  the  benefit  from  a  foot  or  so  of 
snow  to  many  plants,  more  especially  low-growing 
and  tender  subjects.  In  the  Alps  and  other  moun- 
tainous regions  those  beautiful  little  plants,  grown 
in  gardens  under  the  collective  name  of  alpine 
plants,  are  protected  from  severe  frosts  and  cold 
cutting  winds  by  a  layer  of  snow,  under  which 
they  rest  perfectly  secure  until  spring  melts  it, 
when,  with  bright  sunny  weather,  the}'  soon 
burst  forth  into  Hower  and  leaf.  If  the  same  con- 
ditions could  be  obtained  in  our  gardens,  what  a 
tremendous  lot  of  worry  and  anxiety  it  would  save 
the  grower  of  rare  or  choice  plants  !  To  secure 
many  alpines  against  the  eS'ects  of  dull,  damp 
weather,  and  yet  allow  them  a  proper  amount  of 
light  and  air,  is  no  easj'  matter,  and  the  best  means 
of  doing  so  are  only  makeshift  when  compared 
with  the  ideal  covering  of  a  few  inches  of  snow. 
Through  this  liglit  and  air  penetrate  freely,  and  an 
even,  low  temperature  is  maintained,  which,  while 
keeping  the  plant  quiet,  is  not  suHiciently  low  to 
injure  it. 

Besides  alpine  plants,  however,  there  are  many 
others  that  receive  benefit  from  a  covering  of  snow. 
Dwarf  Roses  which  have  been  budded  the  previous 
season  are  better  protected  by  it  than  anything 
else,  and  so  are  j'oung  Rhododendrons,  Conifers, 
Hollies,  &c. ,  which  are  just  passing  through  their 
first  winter  out  of  doors.  Under  the  snow  they 
are  perfectly  safe  ;  cold,  drying  winds  may  blow, 
and  the  thermometer  descend  to  zero,  but  tliey  do 
not  feel  it,  the  snow  attbrding  a  protection  impos- 
sible to  give  by  other  means. 

A  foot  of  snow  is  said  to  be  equal  to  an  inch  of 
rain  in  the  amount  of  moisture  it  contains,  but 
here,  on  the  Surrey  lulls,  we  find  it  worth  more, 
provideil  the  ground  is  not  frozen  beneath  it. 
Many  of  the  rains  we  get  are  heavy  rather  than 
continuous,  and  a  great  deal  of  the  water  runs  off  to 
fill  the  ditclies  and  drains.  With  snow  the  case 
is  different,  as  on  melting  practically  every  drop  of 
water  soaks  into  the  ground,  and  makes  it  far 
moister  than  the  same  amount  of  water  falling  in 
the  form  of  rain.  Against  the  good,  however,  must 
be  set  the  harm  snow  does  in  breaking  branches  off 
large  evergreens  by  its  weight,  but  this  can  be 
avoided  to  a  great  extent  by  shaking  it  off,  so 
that  mow  after  all  is  a  greater  friend  to  the 
gardener  than  he  often  considers  it. 

Bagiliot,  Surrey.  J.  C. 


A  GARDEN  FRAME  IN  WINTER. 

It  is  surprising  how  many  flowers  and  how  much 
pleasure  can  be  obtained  from  the  possession  of  a 
simple  garden  frame  if  rightly  managed.  It  is  an 
entirely  unheated  one  that  is  referred  to,  simply  a 
wooden  framework,  with  no  bottom,  and  a  glass 
light  for  the  top.  The  amateur  wlio  has  not  tried 
what  can  be  achieved  witli  a  cold  frame  in  the 
early  months  of  the  year,  when  there  is  but  little 
in  flower  out  of  doors,  would  be  astonished  at  the 
quantity  of  blossoms  he  can  with  little  trouble 
produce.  So  far  as  my  own  frame  is  concerned  I 
have  relied  upon  bulbs  to  produce  the  floral  display, 
and  these  are  undoubtedly  the  most  satisfactory, 
for  they  are  practically  dormant  (or  at  any  rate 
what  progress  is  made  goes  on  beneatli  the  soil) 
during  the  dull,  sunless,  and  often  foggy  days  of 
early  winter. 

I  shall  just  mention  some  of  the  simplest  and  best 
known  spring  flowers,  because  those  succeed  best 
under  the  somewhat  crude  conditions  of  a  small 
unheated  garden  frame.  I  refer  to  such  things  as 
winter  Aconites,  the  scarlet  Anemone  (Anemone 


fulgens),  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  and  Narcissi  in 
variety.  Crocuses,  Scillas,  Chionodoxas,  Snow- 
drops, &c. 

Many  of  these  charming  spring  plants  can  be 
had  in  flower  in  .January,  and  all  of  them  some 
considerable  time  before  they  make  their  appear- 
ance out  of  doors.  The  great  secret  in  growing 
them  successfully  is  to  pot  them  up  early,  certainly 
not  later  than  October,  but  better  still  in  September. 
With  the  amateur  it  is  often  a  difficult  matter  to 
obtain  soil  whose  quality  even  approaches  medioc- 
rity, yet  it  is  not  impossible  or  even  difficult  to 
bring  about  its  improvement. 

If  the  soil  is  heavy  and  close,  as  it  often  is,  mix 
some  ashes  with  it  and  sand  also.  Place  sufficient 
pieces  of  broken  pot  at  the  base  of  the  flower  pot 
to  provide  thorough  drainage,  and  take  care  that 
this  is  not  choked  when  putting  in  the  soil.  Place 
either  pieces  of  turf  or  a  few  leaves  over  the 
crocks  to  prevent  the  finer  soil  falling  down.  The 
provision  of  good  drainage,  the  inclusion  of  a  fair 
amount  of  sand  and  ashes  with  the  soil,  and  a  few 
sprinklings  of  Canary  guano  on  the  surface  of  the 
soil  when  the  plants  are  growing  freely  will  go  far 
towards  improving  even  suburban  soil  when  used 
for  the  culture  of  pot  plants.  Having  potted  the 
bulbs  early,  place  the  pots  closely  together  in  the 
frame,  and  cover  them  completely  over  with  ashes, 
filling  carefully  between  the  pots. 

The  ground  (preferably  gravel)  upon  which  the 
frame  is  placed  should  first  be  covered  about 
'2  inches  deep  with  ashes,  the  pots  stood  upon  them 
in  rows  across  the  frame,  and  the  interstices  well 
filled  with  ashes  also  before  the  next  layer  of  pots 
is  brought  in.  By  th:s  means  the  pots  will  be 
completely  surrounded  by  ashes  when  all  are  in. 
Cover  the  tops  of  the  pots  with  ashes  to  the  depth 
of  '2  inches  or  .'1  inches  also.  Ashes  are  easily 
procurable,  and  a  good  heap  should  be  obtained 
beforehand,  they  have  but  to  be  saved  and  passed 
through  a  sieve.  When,  in  the  course  of  some 
weeks,  the  young  shoots  make  their  appearance 
through  the  ashes  take  them  out  and  expose  them 
to  the  light,  although  not  to  the  sun,  for  a  few 
days.  Do  not  water  until  growth  is  well  advanced, 
and  then  most  carefully,  for  an  excess  of  moisture 
in  a  quite  cold  frame  is  not  easily  got  rid  of,  and 
the  tender  shoots  quickly  decay.  Such  are  a  few 
of  the  most  essential  points  to  be  observed  in 
attempting  to  anticipate  the  season  of  early  spring 
flowers  by  means  of  an  unheated  garden  frame. 

A.  P.  H. 


THE  UNHEATED  GREENHOUSE. 

I.\. — Flowering  Shrubs. 

In  considering  suitable  plants  for  the  unheated 
greenhouse,  it  is  better — partly  tor  the  sake  of 
easy  reference  and  partly  because  their  cultural 
treatment  is,  in  most  cases,  likely  to  run  on  the 
same  lines — to  group  them  under  specific  headings. 
Flowering  shrubs,  both  hardy  and  half-hardy,  form 
a  most  important  decorative  class,  whether  from 
the  standpoint  of  the  winter  garden,  devoted  to 
the  somewhat  tender  denizens  of  more  southerly 
climes  which  demand  wide  space,  or  of  the  modest 
conservatory  for  which  plants  in  o-inch  to  Ill-inch 
pots  are  the  most  suitable  and  convenient  The 
winter  garden  is  pre-eminently  fitted  for  the 
permanent  planting  of  some  of  the  countless  grand 
shrubs  and  rafter  plants,  such  as  the  Himalayan 
Rhododendrons,  Acacias,  Magnolias,  and  others, 
which  flower  naturally  during  the  earliest  part  of 
the  year,  for  it  is  likely  enough  to  stand  idle,  as 
far  as  show  purposes  are  concerned,  during  the 
summer  months.  For  late  autumn,  a  season  when 
the  winter  garden  begins  once  more  to  be  attractive, 
such  fine  things  as  the  deep  purple-flowered 
Desmodium  penduliflorum  and  Asparagus  umbel- 
latus,  which  is  charming  in  flower  as  well  as 
graceful  in  greenery,  may  be  cited  as  examples  less 
familiar  than  they  might  be.  The  glass  corridor, 
on  the  contrary,  being  often  a  passage  way  from 
the  house  to  a  billiard -room  or  to  the  gardens, 
might  give  suitable  place  to  such  mid-season 
sulijects  as,  for  example,  Carpenteria  californica, 
so  impatient  of  fire  heat,  but  so  lovely  with  its 
L'reat  heads  of  wax-white  flowers.     I  can  claim  the 


credit  of  being  one  of  the  first  in  this  country  to 
raise  this  fine  shrub  from  seed  and  of  sending  it  to 
Kew,  where  my  nurselings  were  at  first  received 
with  polite  doubts  as  to  their  identitj',  though 
later  on,  after  due  trial,  they  were  installed  as 
being  perfectl}'  true  to  name.  I  had  the  pleasure 
subsequently  of  being  taken  to  see  them  by  the 
then  curator  of  the  gardens,  Mr.  Nicholson, 
when  they  had  grown  into  blooming  size.  This 
happened  a  good  many  years  ago,  but  this  fine 
Californian  shrub  is,  even  now,  not  very  well 
known.  The  finest  plant  I  ha\'e  ever  seen  was 
one  which  had  to  be  planted,  for  want  of  a  better 
place  at  the  moment,  at  the  end  of  a  centre  border 
in  a  large  Rose  house,  and  there  it  remained  till  it 
had  to  be  removed  for  want  of  room.  It  was  a 
wonderful  sight  when  in  bloom,  with  every  branch 
weighed  down  with  lustrous  flowers.  It  is  easy 
enough,  however,  to  keep  it  within  due  bounds 
by  judicious  pruning,  therefore  it  can  be  safely 
recommended. 

There  are  many  shrubs  of  this  almost  hardy 
class  which  refuse  to  flower  in  pots,  because  they 
require  a  certain  amount  of  undisturbed,  it  some- 
what restricted,  root-room.  They  are  so  eminently 
beautiful  that  a  wide  corridor  devoted  to  their 
culture  would  be  a  grand  feature.  To  name  a  tew, 
there  is  Freniontia  californica,  with  its  Fig-like 
leaves,  and  3'cllow,  red  anthered  flowers,  craving 
shade  during  the  hottest  sunshine.  Another  is 
the  South  American  Puinciana  Gilliesi,  graceful  in 
its  pinnate  foliage,  and  with  golden  hued  flowers 
glorified  by  their  flowing  crimson  stamen^.  There 
is  Abulilon  vitifolium,  with  its  grey-green  mealy- 
looking  leaves  and  bunches  ot  exquisite  pale  mauve 
(or  white)  recurved  flowers,  .so  distinct  in  every 
way  from  other  Abutilons  that  it  would  scarcely 
be  recognised  as  such  ;  it  is  quite  intractable  tor 
pot  culture.  Buddleia  Colvillei,  too,  said  by  Sir 
Joseph  Hooker  to  be  one  ot  the  handsomest  ot 
Himalayan  shrubs,  would  be  suitable  tor  such  a 
position.  Its  flowers  are  not  rolled  up  into  Orange 
balls  like  the  Buddleia  globosa  of  our  gardens,  but 
hang  in  clusters  ot  white-throated  crimson  Pent- 
slemon-like  flowers  from  the  ends  of  the  branches, 
At  Kew  this  fine  plant  is  found  to  be  better  filtei 
for  the  cold  house  than  for  any  other  method  o\ 
culture.  To  these  may  be  added  Veronica 
hulkeana,  scarcely  hardy  in  the  open,  but  one  of 
the  very  best  of  the  New  Zealand  Veronicas, 
growing  from  :i  feet  to  4  feet  high,  and  giving  a 
mass  of  its  pretty  light  mauve  spikes  during 
late  April  and  May.  Another  suitable  shrub  is 
Weigela  hortensis  nivea,  somewhat  unsatisfactory 
out  of  doors  in  most  gardens,  but  worthy  to  take 
high  rank  both  for  its  pretty  netted  leafage  and  its 
bouquets  of  delicate  white  flowers.  For  winter  and 
early  spring  flowering  Daphne  indica  is  a  noble 
shrub,  content  with  a  back  wall  so  long  as  it  can 
be  undisturbed  at  the  root  and  can  have  room  to 
develop.  Luculiagratissima  may  also  be  mentioned 
with  its  pretty  pink  heads,  and  Leouotis  Leonurus, 
which  makes  such  a  capital  pillar  or  wall  plant 
with  its  long  soft  tutts  ot  orange-scarlet.  All 
these  and  many  others  will  thrive  in  a  light  airy 
glass  shelter  in  a  good  aspect  with  a  minimum 
winter  temperature  kept  just  above  freezing  point. 
Most  of  them  are  hardy  enough  to  live  out  of  doors 
in  favourable  positions,  but  the  severe  strain  upon 
their  endurance  prevents  such  tree-flowering  as  we 
may  fully  expect  under  glass. 

It  is  impossible  to  do  more  than  suggest  plants 
likely  to  succeed  under  cool  treatment,  but  there 
are  enough  ot  all  kinds  to  suit  any  and  every 
purpose — the  choice  must  be  in  accordance  with 
individual  tastes  and  re(|uirements.  Three  shrubs, 
to  use  a  comprehensive  term,  which  may  be  found 
in  flower  in  many  a  Devonshire  garden  in  Novem- 
ber and  December,  occur  to  mind  as  being  well 
worth  growing  in  less  propitious  climates  tor  the 
absolutely  cold  greenhouse.  Young  plants  ot  the 
Box-leaved  Myrile  flower  at  a  very  small  size,  and 
though  they  will  grow  into  big  bushes  are  neat  and 
compact  at  all  times.  Beginning  to  flower  in 
September,  they  go  on  continuously,  often  till 
Christmas,  mitil  compelled  to  give  up  by  stress  of 
weather.  Their  creanu'-white  flowers  and  pearly 
buds  are  welcome  indeed  at  that  dull  season. 
About  a  month  later  the   homely   little  Coronilla 


February  15,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


115 


glauca,  brave  and  bright,  begins  to  set  about  its 
winter  work,  and  though  it  cannot  boast  tlie 
beauty  of  the  less  known  South  European  species, 
■C.  Emerus,  which  blooms  in  the  spring,  yet  its 
fresh,  blue-green  leaves  and  numerous  heads  of 
pale  yellow  flowers  are  not  to  be  despised.  To 
complete  the  trio,  we  have  the  winter-flowering 
Jasmine  (J.  nudiflorum),  so  often  cut  off  by  unkind 
frosts  in  the  midst  of  its  bloom.  Grown  in  a 
lU-inch  pot  and  fastened  not  too  strictly  to  a  pillai 
or  rafter  to  allow  scope  for  its  pendent  branches 
it  is  very  effective  under  glass.  It  may  be  used 
also  as  a  trailing  plant  for  a  corner  and  made  to 
droop  over  a  low  trellis-like  contrivance,  which 
suits  its  habit  better  than  being  treated  as  an 
upright  semi-climber.  It  must  be  carefully  cut 
back,  however,  soon  after  flowering.  A  curiosity 
may  be  grown  in  the  (Glastonbury  Thorn  (Gra- 
tjegus  monogyna  priecox),  for  though  it  might  be 
risky  to  predict  that  it  would  actually  open  its 
blossoms  on  Christmas  Eve,  according  to  tradition, 
yet  it  is  in  truth  a  winter-flowering  Hawthorn, 
and  might  very  probably  keep  up  its  reputation. 
Early  in  the  New  Year  the  leafless  branches  of 
Daphne  Mezereum  will  be  covered  with  rosy 
purple  flowers ;  of  this  the  variety  called  grandi- 
florum  is  considered  the  earliest  and  best.  The 
slender  growing  Persian  Lilac,  also,  may  very  well 
be  grown  in  a  pot,  and  with  a  moderate  amount  of 
shelter  will  come  early  into  flower.  Amongst 
spring-flowering  shrubs  none,  however,  are  more 
beautiful  than  the  various  kinds  of  Prunus,  which, 
botanically,  comprise  not  only  Plums,  but  also 
Almonds,  Peaches,  Apricots,  and  Cherries.  Of 
these  may  be  mentioned  the  very  early  Prunus 
davidiana,  which  in  mild  weather  will  flower  even 
out  of  doors  during  February.  This  species  has 
both  pink  and  white  varieties,  of  which  the  white 
form  with  crimson-tinged  buds  is  perhaps  the 
better.  The  double-flowered  P.  triloba  belongs  to 
the  Apricot  group,  while  P.  japoniea  fl.-pl.  is  a 
most  beautiful  pink  or  white-flowered  Cherry,  for 
there  is  more  than  one  variety.  Like  other  fruit 
trees  (though  these  are  only  cultivated  for  their 
flowers)  they  may  be  grown  in  pots,  and  require  to 
be  carefully  spurred  back  soon  after  flowering  to 
keep  them  within  due  limits.  P.  japoniea,  which 
is  naturally  of  low  growing  bushy  habit,  will,  after 
pruning,  send  up  many  strong  shoots  from  the 
base  during  the  summer  ;  these  will  flower  their 
whole  length  the  following  season  to  a  height  of 
from  2  feet  to  3  feet.  Being  perfeetlj'  hardy, 
flowering  shrubs  of  this  latter  class  take  up  no 
room  under  glass  when  their  purpose  is  accom- 
plished, but  they  must  receive  kindlj'  shelter  in 
good  time  to  bring  them  into  bloom  before  their 
normal  season. 

Amongst  smaller  growing  shrubs,  Deutzia 
gracilis  is  an  old  favourite  which  we  cannot  do 
without.  One  of  the  most  graceful  of  any  when 
in  flower,  blooming  well  in  a  4i-inch  pot  if  desired, 
and  only  asking  to  be  cut  back  immediately  after 
flowering  to  do  better  every  spring — how  it  would 
be  prized  did  we  not  know  it  so  well !  A  new 
variety,  amongst  the  many  raised  by  M.  Lemoine 
■of  Nancy,  called  D.  kalmia^flora,  from  a  fancied 
resemblance  in  the  shape  of  the  flowers,  was 
■exhibited  last  spring  at  the  Temple  show.  The 
flowers  are  pale  pink,  edged  with  a  deeper  blush, 
-and  it  will  probably  become  more  popular  a.s  time 
goes  on. 

Hardy  Rhododendrons  of  the  very  early  flowering 
section  deserve  the  protection  of  flass,  for  in  two 
seasons  out  of  three  their  flowers  are  apt  to  be 
spoilt  by  snow  and  inclement  weather.  One  of  the 
first  to  bloom  is  R.  nobleanum,  but  the  varieties 
called  R.  pra^cox,  R.  ignescens,  and  Early  Gem  are 
not  far  behind.  Another  early  species  is  R. 
■dahuricum.  It  is  astonishing  how  spreading  plants 
like  these  can  flower  and  flourish  in  so  small  a 
space,  but  they  may  often  be  seen  with  several  fine 
trusses  quite  happy  in  5-inoh  pots.  In  choosing 
Rhododendrons  for  pot  work  it  is  always  safe  to 
rely  upon  the  judgment  of  experienced  growers  for 
good  varieties  suitable  for  the  purpose.  Amongst 
other  plants  of  shrubby  nature  Moutan  P;t<onies 
are  much  recommended  for  pots,  and  are  found  very 
useful  to  bring  into  large  conservatories  in  flowering 
■•time. 


Of  miscellaneous  shrubs  coming  under  no  special 
class  there  are  many  which  might  be  suggested. 
Choisya  ternata,  though  found  in  most  good 
gardens  out  of  doors,  may  3'et  be  given  a  place  for 
early  flowering  under  glass.  The  hardy  Abelia 
rupestris,  with  its  pendulous  mauve-wbite  flower? 
imbedded  in  red-brown  bracts,  is  charming  either 
in  a  large  basket,  or,  if  planted  out,  it  will  make  a 
handsome  autumn-flowering  shrub,  good  enough  to 
join  the  choicest  company.  Nerium  Oleander, 
though  more  tender,  is  v/orth  growing,  especially 
in  some  of  its  less  common  single  white  or  pale 
yellow  and  buff  forms.  It  flowers  freely  whether 
in  small  pots  or  in  large  tubs,  but  requires 
protection  from  actual  frost  and  abundance  of 
water  in  the  growing  season.  Both  the  Brug- 
mansias  are  good  and  not  very  commonplace  half- 
hardy  plants,  either  for  a  greenhouse  border  or. for 
large  pots  or  tubs.  In  fact,  B.  sanguinea,  with 
long  orange-mouthed  tubes,  treated  as  a  herbaceous 
plant,  succeeds  well  out  of  doors  up  to  a  point, 
but  beyond  that  it  will  not  go.  It  springs  up 
strongly  from  the  stool  in  the  spring,  and  in  the 
course  of  the  summer  the  robust  branchlels  cover 
themselves  with  fine  buds,  which  just  begin  to 
open  when  frost  cuts  them  oft'.  LTnder  glass  they 
are  safe,  but  the  same  plan  of  cutting  down  ruth-, 
lessly  to  the  ground  level  after  blooming,  even  for 
pot  plants,  may  be  recommended,  as  it  keeps  them 
in  better  shape.  The  flowers  of  B.  suaveolens  are 
white  and  trumpet-shaped,  and  though  it  is 
perhaps  a  trifle  more  tender,  it  requires  much  the 
same  cultural  treatment. 

Two  little  grown  plants  must  close  the  list, 
which  might  be  much  prolonged.  How  seldom  do 
we  see  the  Pomegranate  (Punica  granata)  in 
English  gardens,  except  occasionally  on  a  warm 
wall  in  the  southern  counties,  yet  there  is  no 
shrub  more  worthy  of  planting  out,  if  there  be  a 
fitting  position  for  it  in  corridor  or  glass-covered 
verandah,  or  for  growing  in  a  tub,  as  we  may  see 
it  so  frequently  abroad.  The  brilliant  scarlet 
flowers,  whether  single  or  double,  more  than 
anything  else  are  suggestive  of  warmth  and 
sunshine,  while  the  shining  foliage,  red  tinted  in 
the  young  spring  shoots,  is  always  beautiful. 

The  other  plant  of  very  different  character  is 
Echium  fastuosum,  little  known  and  less  grown. 
It  may  be  called  a  shrub  by  courtesy,  since  it  is 
not  herbaceous.  This  remarkable  bushy  Bugloss 
was  figured  in  a  coloured  plate  in  one  of  the 
earlier  volumes  of  Ti[E  Gardex.  Falling  in  love 
with  its  portrait,  I  obtained  seed  and  raised  it, 
and  in  due  time  reaped  a  rich  reward  for  my  pains 
in  its  magnificent  heads,  some  .S  inches  or  9  inches 
long,  of  deep  gentian  blue  flowers.  A  very  similar 
species,  E.  callithyrsum,  is  equallj'  handsome,  and 
only  a  trifle  paler  in  hue.  They  come  from  the 
Canary  Islands,  and  are  by  no  means  hard  to  grow. 
The  foliage,  as  in  all  Eehiunis,  is  rough  and  shaggy, 
and  the  bush  grows  large  and  spreading,  but  any 
one  who  has  seen  its  uncommon  beauty  would 
consider  it  worthy  of  some  trouble  to  grow  well. 
Whether  as  a  fine  specimen  in  a  lU-inch  pot,  or 
planted  out  in  a  wide  border,  few  things  are  more 
striking  in  their  way  than  these  two  species  of 
half-hardy  Bugloss  for  the  decoration  in  April  and 
May  of  the  unheated  greenhouse. 

K.  L.  U. 


The  second  part  of  the  Revue  HoHicole.  for 
.January  contains  a  coloured  plate  representing 
three  varieties  of  hybrid  Syringa  or  Lilac  named 
Brtilxrhfideri,  Breilscheideri  hybrids,  and  Jonihi'a; 
of  little  beauty  or  interest. 

W.  E.  GnMBLETON'. 


RECENT    PLANT     PORTRAITS. 

The  tenth  part  of  the  sixteenth  volume  of  Lindenia 
contains  portraits  of  the  following  four  Orchids  : — 

Vanda  terea  var.  Candida. — This  is  a  lovely  pure 
white  flower,  with  a  little  pale  yellow  in  the  throat 
and  a  faint  shading  of  rosy  purple  lines  on  the  lip. 

Odontoglossum  crispum  va>:  la  Heine. — A  very 
fine  form,  with  white  ground  and  deep,  large  rosy 
purple  blotches  on  all  the  four  petals  and  the  lip 
of  the  flower. 

Calanthe  Myle4. — A  fine  pure  white-flowered 
form ,  with  pale  yellow  shading  in  the  throat  of  the 
flower. 

Cymhidiam  tigrinam. — A  curious,  but  not  very 
beautiful  variety,  with  long  racemes  of  greenish 
brown  flowers,  with  a  white  lip  and  spotted  with 
brown. 


KEW^    NOTES. 

Irises. 

Iris  stylosa,  both  in  its  blue  and  in  its  more 
delicate  white  form,  has  been  in  flower  more  or 
less  since  the  autumn  under  warm  walls  in  vai-ious 
parts  of  Kew  <Jardens,  but  it  was  a  surprise  and  a 
delight,  in  midwinter,  to  come  upon  a  colony  of 
some  of  the  new  and  rare  Taurian  species,  dis- 
covered in  recent  years  by  Herr  W.  Siehe  in  Asia 
Minor,  growing  and  flowering  happily  in  a  similar 
position.  I.  Heldreiohi,  to  which  he  gives  the 
palm,  was  in  flower  in  the  open  border  on 
.January  "2.5.  Its  tone  of  colour  —bright  blue- 
purple,  with  an  under  note  of  grey — is  most 
delicately  beautiful,  and  deepens  at  the  points  of 
the  outer  petals  into  dark  velvet}'  blotches,  with 
pencilled  featherings  below.  Tlie  flowers  have 
great  substance,  lasting  well,  which  is  a  strong 
point  in  their  favour,  as  those  of  many  of  their 
tribe  are  verj'  fleeting,  and  a  planting  1  foot  or 
■2  feet  square  is  most  attractive.  By  its  side, 
I.  Tauri,  of  much  the  same  shade  of  red-purple, 
is  probably  still  more  hardy,  as  it  is  found  in 
the  high  alpine  pastures  of  the  Eastern  Taurus 
Mountains  at  a  height  of  more  than  (>,000  feet. 
I.  Heldreichi  seldom  reaches  beyond  the  lower 
level  of  the  upper  belt  of  forest  laud,  where,  we 
are  told  by  Herr  Siehe,  it  grows  under  the  shelter 
of  the  fine  variety  of  the  Corsican  Pine,  which 
inhabits  those  regions,  and  this  species  naturally 
flowers  earlier  than  I.  Tauri.  At  Kew,  under 
cultivation  and  under  identical  conditions  of 
climate,  we  find  them  blooming  side  bj'  side  in 
January  and  early  February.  Both  these  Irises, 
though  much  more  vigorous  in  constitution,  stand 
in  close  relation  to  I.  persica,  a  variety  of  which 
I.  persica  Magna,  a  capricious  beauty  by  all 
accounts,  had  opened  three  of  its  somewhat  dusky 
blossoms.  The  bright  3'ellow  flowers  of  I.  Dan- 
fordi;ii  (syn.  I.  Bornmiilleri)  catch  the  eye  from  a 
considerable  distance  and  are  very  effective,  though 
at  close  quarters  they  are  scarcely  so  shapely  in 
form  as  their  associates.  A  single  flower,  hard  b}-, 
of  I.  Vartani,  whose  habitat  is  the  neighbourhood 
of  Nazareth,  and  which  usually  blooms  in  October, 
came  in  very  handily  for  comparison  with  its  con- 
geners from  Asia  Minor.  It  is  not  reckoned  so 
good  or  so  useful  from  a  garden  point  of  view  as 
either  of  the  above-named  species,  but  its  remark- 
able grey-blue  flower,  freckled  with  dark  spots,  is 
very  striking,  and,  even  though  its  character  be 
doubtful,  seems  well  worthy  of  further  effort.  It 
is  good  to  think  that  want  of  hardiness  is  not 
likely  to  bar  the  culture  of  these  beautiful  bulbous 
Irises  out  of  English  gardens,  and  that  new  dis- 
coveries are  still  adding  to  their  number.  Their 
value  is  much  increased  bj'  their  flowering  at  this 
early  season.  Beyond  the  shelter  of  a  wall  and  of 
a  Fir  bough  or  two,  no  extra  precaution  seems  to 
have  been  taken  in  the  way  of  giving  protection. 
Probably  our  damp  climate,  with  its  manifold 
alterations,  will  prove  the  worst  enemy  to  be  con- 
tended with  in  their  cultivation. 

The  Alpine  House. 
In  the  alpine  house  a  charming  little  Californian 
bulb,  Scoliopus  Bigelovii,  with  flowers  of  quaint 
colouring  and  form,  cannot  be  passed  by.  The 
mottled  leaves  and  small  Lily -like  flowers  suggest 
an  Erythronium,  but  their  structure,  on  closer 
view,  is  entirely  distinct,  and  their  pink-brown 
tint,  with  dainty  pencillings  of  deep  chocolate,  is 
rare  amongst  hardy  plants.  It  is  a  bulb  to  deligiit 
the  heart  of  a  keen  plant  lover,  though  better 
suited,  perhaps,  for  a  cold  greenhouse  in  a  position 
near  the  eye  than  for  the  open  border  or  rock 
garden,  where  its  peculiar  charms  might  be  over- 
looked. Primula  megasejefolia,  a  pretty  purple 
Primrose  from  the  Caucasus,  is  also  in  flower  here. 
Its  habit  of  throwing  up  folded  and  polished  pale 


116 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  15,  1902. 


brown  leaves  from  the  crown,  which  afterwards 
turn  to  a  dark  green  with  a  dull  surface,  is  very 
characteristic.  Amongst  the  more  unusual  plants, 
besides  Iris  Heldreichi.  pans  of  which  are  very 
ornamental  in  the  alpine  house,  ma}'  be  named 
Leontice  Alberti,  with  clusters  of  drooping  3-ellow 
flo^vers  tinged  with  red -brown,  and  glaucous, 
much-divided  foliage  ;  and  also  a  form  of  Winter 
Aconite  (Eranthis  cilicica),  with  a  finely  frilled 
calyx,  from  Asia  Minor. 

In  the  Rock  Garden 
nothing  is  moving  much,  except  the  Snowdrops,  of 
which  there  are  clumps  of  several  fine  species,  but, 
after  all,  none  of  them  can  beat  the  time-long 
friend  which  spreads  its  white  carpet  so  bounti- 
fully under  some  of  the  grand  old  Chestnuts  and 
Beeches  of  the  wilder  parts  of  the  garden. 


fragrant.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  held  in  the  spring  of  lS(i3  this  variety 
received  a  commendation  as  "  a  beautiful,  briglit- 
colonred,  hardy,  spring  flower." 


OBITUARY. 

ME.    T.EONAED    KELWAY. 

We  are  grieved  to  announce  the  death,  at  the 
earl}^  age  of  twenty-one,  of  Mr.  Leonard  Kelway, 
second  son  of  Mr.  William  Kelway,  of  Brooklands. 
The  Latiyporl  and  ISomerton  Herald  saj's  :  "Only 
three  weeks  since  Mr.  Leonard  Kelway  was  taking 
part  in  a  concert  at  the  Town  Hall  in  aid  of  the 
Langport  Institute,  and  appeared  to  be  in  his  usual 
health.  On  the  Sunday  evening  following  the 
concert  Mr.  Kelwaj',  who  was  a  valued  member 
of  the  choir  of  St.  Marty's,  Huish  Episcopi,  after 
service  complained  of  severe  pain  in  the  head. 
This  (juicklj'  developed,  followed  by  other  com- 
plications, and  he  passed  away  on  Wednesday 
morning,  the  .")th  inst. ,  after  many  daj's  of  uncon- 
seiousness.  Death  was  attributed  to  influenza, 
complicated  with  meningitis  and  pneumonia.  Mr. 
Leonard  Kelway  was  born  at  Riverslea,  Langport, 
in  1S80.  He  was  educated  at  Sherborne  School 
(Wilson's  House),  which  he  entered  in  1M94.  He 
always  took  the  keenest  interest  in  athletics,  and 
was  probablj'  the  best  gymnast  Sherborne  has 
produced  ."ince  the  erection  of  the  gymnasium. 
He  was  one  of  two  to  represent  the  school,  for 
three  years  in  succession,  at  Aldershot  in  the 
Public  Schools  Gymnasium  Competition,  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Cadet  Corps,  captain  of  the 
"Gym.,"  captain  of  his  House,  and  member  of  the 
School  Games  Committee  for  some  terms  previous 
to  his  leaving  Sherborne  in  1S9S  to  join  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  Kelway  and  Son.  Mr.  Leonard  Kelway 
took  a  great  interest  in  music,  was  a  member  of 
the  choir  of  Huish  Episcopi  Church,  and  an  ardent 
supporter  and  leading  spirit  in  anything  that  made 
for  the  cheerfulness  and  anuisenient  of  the  parish  ; 
and  much  sympathy  is  felt  for  the  family  in  the 
loss  of  a  promising  ynung  life."  The  funeral  took 
place  on  Saturday  last. 

MR.  F.  J.  GRAHAM. 

The  light  of  a  life  which  linked  the  present  to  the 
•  past  went  out  at  Cranford,  Middlesex,  a  few  days 
ago,  by  the  death  of  Mr.  F.  .J.  Graham  at  a  great 
age.  He  had  lived  in  retirement  for  a  number  of 
years  and  had  outlived  his  contemporaries  of  fifty 
years  ago.  Mr.  Graham  was  at  that  time  an 
extensive  cultivator  of  fruit  for  Covent  Garden 
Market,  and  on  the  formation  of  the  British 
Pomologieal  Society  in  185-t  he  became  one  of  its 
active  members ;  and  when  the  Fruit  and  Vegetable 
Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  was 
formed  in  I  HOI  Mr,  Graham  was  appointed  one  of 
its  vice-chairmen,  and  he  remained  a  member  of 
that  body  for  several  years,  and  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  late  Dr.  Hogg,  and  afforded  him 
considerable  assistance  in  the  compilation  of  his 
"Fruit  Manual."  Mr.  Graham's  name  is  handed 
down  to  us  as  the  raiser  of  Graham's  Yellow 
Perfection  Wallflower,  which  was  produced  as  the 
result  of  careful  seeding  and  selecting  through 
many  generations.  The  object  set  out  to  be 
attained  was  to  produce  a  variety  in  which  the 
flowers  should  he  of  a  pure  j'ellow  colour — yellow 
in  the  bud  as  well  as  in  the  expanded  corolla,  of 
large   size,    and    of    good    form,    and    also   richly 


MRS.  BRIGdS-BUKY'. 

We  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Mrs.  Briggs-Bury, 
of  Bank  House,  Acerington.  The  deceased  lady 
was  one  of  the  chief  supporters  of  horticulture  in 
the  North  of  P^ngland  for  many  years.  For  some 
time  past  Mrs.  Briggs-Bury  had  devoted  lier 
attention  to  Orchid  culture,  and  had  formed  one  of 
the  finest  collections  in  the  North.  LTnderstanding 
thoroughl}'  the  characteristics  of  the  different 
sections  of  the  Orchid  family,  she  was  able  to 
collect  and  secure  many  of  the  best  species  and 
h^-brids  of  Cattlej-as,  La;lias,  L;elio-C'attle}'as, 
Cypripediums,  and  Odontoglossums,  which  have 
found  a  home  in  her  collection.  She  was  a  constant 
exhibitor  at  and  supporter  of  the  North  of  England 
shows  and  meetings,  and  oecasionall3'  at  the  Roj-al 
Horticultural  Society's  meetings.  The  plants  sub- 
mitted to  the  Orchid  committee  of  the  latter  society 
rarely  passed  withoutreceivingrecognition, and  illus- 
trated sufficiently  the  keen  judgment  of  the  deceased 
as  to  the  merits  of  the  subjects  submitted.  Her 
kindly  disposition  to  all  she  came  in  contact  with 
will  long  keep  her  in  memory.  H.  J.  C, 


PATRICK   R0SE-INNE8  DAVIDSON. 

On  Monday,  the  3rd  inst,,  at  "  Grej'thorne," 
89,  St.  James's  Road,  Wandsworth  Common,  S.W., 
Patrick  Rose-Itmes  Davidson,  formerly  of  Iwerue 
Minster,  Blandford,  Dorset,  in  his  7(Jth  year. 

Mi;.  F.  W.  FLIGHT. 

We  are  very  sorrj'  to  hear  of  ihe  death  of  this  well- 
known  Chrysanthemum  raiser  and  rosarian.  His 
garden  at  Cornstiles,  Twyford,  Winchester,  is  one 
of  the  prettiest  in  the  county,  and  all  interested 
in  gardening  were  always  welcome  to  see  the 
flowers  there  grown  with  such  success.  Several 
varieties  of  Chrysanthemums  are  named  after  Mr, 
Flight  and  members  of  his  famil3'. 


Flower   photographs.  —  At   the    first 

annual  conversazione  of  the  Catford  and  Forest 
Hill  Photographic  Society,  Mr.  G.  H.  Bard,  of 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Sons,  nigh  Holborn,  exhibited 
a  series  of  most  interesting  lantern  slides  depicting 
many  delightful  arrangements  of  flowers  as  well  as 
individvial  plants  of  Primulas,  Cinerarias,  and  Cal- 
ceolarias, all  of  which  were  from  photographs  taken 
in  the  nurserj'  of  the  firm  at  Forest  Hill. 

The    Coronation    flo'wep.  —  So    many 

letters  have  reached  us  on  this  subject,  nearly  all 
suggesting  some  difi'erent  flower,  that  %\e  desire  to 
give  our  opinion  ;  in  the  first  place  that  there  is  no 
speeial  Coronation  flower  ;  and  in  the  second  place, 
that  as  the  Coronation  is  to  take  place  at  the  time 
of  Roses,  and  that  as  the  Rose  has  for  many 
centuries  been  a  royal  badge  in  England,  that  if 
one  flower  more  than  another  may  be  called  the 
Coronation  flower  it  should  be  the  Rose.  Among 
the  claimants  are  Lilj'  of  the  Valley  (out  of  season 
in  .lune).  Irises,  Paonies,  and  Carnations,  all 
beautiful  and  delightful  flowers,  but  no  one  of 
them  can  show  grounds  for  any  individual  claim  to 
be  called  the  Coronation  flower  rather  than  any 
other.  We  do  not  invite  further  correspondence 
on  tliis  subject. 

HoPtiCUltUPal  Club.— A  most  enjoyable 
evening  was  spent  at  the  Horticultural  Club  on 
Tuesday  when  the  chair  was  taken  by  Sir  J.  T. 
Llewelyn,  Bart.,  who  was  supported  by  the  Revs, 
W,  Wilks,  J.  H.  Pemberton,  and  J.  C.  Eyro 
Kidson,  Messrs.  J.  H.  Veitch,  A.  H.  Pearson, 
George  Paul,  Peter  Kay,  W.  J.  Grant,  P.  Ker, 
C.  T.  Druery,  George  Bun3'ard,  G.  J.  Ingram, 
and  others.  The  annual  meeting  was  held  in  the 
afternoon.  Wc  must  leave  over  a  full  report  until 
next  week. 

The  Rev.  H.  D'omtapaln.— We  are  very 
sorry  to  hear  of  the  P^ev.  H.  D'ombrain's  serious 
illness,  but  recent  reports  happily  show  he  is  in 
some  degree  recovering.     We  have  for  man3'  years 


admired  his  pluck  in  attending  nieetnigs  in  London 
in  the  face  of  severe  physical  infirmities.  Feeling 
allusions  were  made  to"  his  illness  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Club  on  Tuesday,  ami 
at  the  committee  meeting  of  the  National  Rose 
society.  Mr.  D'ombrain  has  been  compelled  to 
resign  the  secretaryship  of  the  club  and  the  co- 
secretarysliip  of  the  society'. 

Kiddepminstep    HopticultupaL 

Society  is  progressive.  We  have  just  received 
a  strong  handy  member's  card  of  fixtures  for  the 
present  year,  similar  to  the  card  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  The  following  lectures  will 
be  given  :  March  \->.  Mr.  Ed.  Kromer,  upon 
"  An  Orchid  Collector's  Travels  through  British 
Guiana  to  Brazil"  (illustrated  with  lantern  slides) ; 
April  9,  Mr.  F.  E,  Shrivell,  "Chemical  Manures 
as  Supplied  to  Garden  Crops  "  ;  May  14,  Mr,  .1. 
Udale,  "The  Culture  of  Vegetables";  Septem- 
ber 1(1,  Mr.  1).  B.  Crane,  "Outdoor  Chrysanthe- 
mums," with  a  small  exhibition  also  :  October  .s, 
Mr.  F.  tJ.  Treseder,  "Dahlias":  November  12^. 
Mr.  W.  Crump,  "The  Management  of  Fruit 
'i'rees  on  Walls."  Besides  this  excellent  list  of 
lectures  there  will  be,  on  ^  date  not  yet  fixed,  an 
excursion  to  the  Midland  Daffodil  Show  at 
Birmingham  ;  July  .')  (by  kind  permission  of  Mr. 
Udale),  an  excursion  to  Droitwich  Experimental 
(iarden;  July  9  (by  kind  permission  of  Mr.  "W. 
Adam),  a  conference  on  Sweet  Peas  at  Lyndholm;. 
and  on  October  1.5  takes  place  the  general  meeting. 
The  chairman  of  the  committee  dealing  with  the 
lectures  is  a  valued  correspondent,  Mr.  A. 
Goodwin.  The  secretaries  of  the  society  are 
Messrs.  H.  Linecar  and  W.  H.  Linecar.  We  are- 
pleased  to  notice  that  the  Kidderminster  Free 
Library  is  getting  quite  a  horticultural  library 
together,  and  the  society  has  printed  a  list  of 
such  books  that  may  be  lent  and  referred  to.  This 
is  a  step  in  the  right  direction.  It  would  be  well 
if  all  horticultural  societies  within  touch  of  a  free- 
library  did  the  same.  The  cost  ia  not  great,  but 
the  benefit  conferi-ed  is  far-reaching.  In  the 
leaflet  sent  is  this  paragraph  :  "Should  there  be,  as 
a  consct|uence  of  the  issue  of  this  special  catalogue, 
an  increased  demand  for  works  of  such  a  character,, 
other  books  will  doubtless  be  added,  as  the  free 
library  committee  will  be  pleased  to  render  us- 
whatever  assistance  they  can." 

Oxton  Hall  GaPden.— In  the  description- 
ot  this  well-known  Yorkshire  garden  in  our'Jast 
number,  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Clayton,  a  slight  error  crept 
into  the  writing  of  the  name.  This  should,  instead 
of  Otton,  have  read  (.)xton  Hall. 

Richmond  Hill.— A  public  meeting  of 
owners  and  ratepayers  was  held  at  Ham  last 
Saturday  to  consider  the  q\iestion  of  the  opposition- 
to  the  Richmond  Hill  Preservation  of  ^'iew  Bill,. 
by  which  power  is  sought,  in  exchange  for  the 
grant  of  certain  privileges  to  the  public  of  Peter- 
sham and  Ham  Commons  and  the  lands  adjoining 
the  Tliames  towing-path,  to  enable  the  trustees  oi 
Lord  Dysart's  estate  to  enclose  about  200  acres  of 
lammas  land  at  Ham  adjoining  the  river.  The  chair-' 
man  (Mr.  W.  Walker)  said  that  when  the  trustees 
introduced  a  similar  Bill  in  1896  they  offered  Ham 
compensation  equivalent  in  value  to  £14,000  or 
£15,000.  Now  they  oflered  them  nothing,  for  the 
rights  which  the  trustees  offered  to  concede  in 
respect  to  Ham  Common  were  already  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  village.  Ham  was  willing  that 
the  view  from  Richmond  Hill  should  be  preserved, 
but  not  that  all  the  advantage  of  the  transaction, 
should  go  to  Riclnnond  and  Kingston,  and  that 
Ham  should  give  everything  and  receive  nothing,  A 
resolution  instructing  the  District  Council  to  oppose 
the  Bill  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Old  HePbalS.  —  Will  not  some  one  with 
literary  taste  and  a  love  of  flowers  prepare  a  new- 
edition  of  both  Parkinson's  books  on  flowers  and 
Gerarde's  "  Herbal  ■'.  ''  This  idea  will,  I  am  afraid,. 
■be  looked  on  as  a  sort  of  desecration  by  those  who 
are  fortunate  enough  to  possess  copies  of  the 
originals,  but  there  is  such  a  keen  sale  for  any  that 
come  into  the  market  that  there  must  be  many 
flower  loVers  who  would  gladly  welcome  even  a 
modern  edition  of  either,  provided  it  was  a  faithful 
copy  of  the  original  and  not  spoilt  by  modernising 
its  old-time  quaintness, — E.  C,  Surreii. 


GARDEN 


-^=^^' 


^^^5# 


No.  1579.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[February  22,  1902. 


A 


THE    BOTHY. 

N  interesting  discussion  is  promised 
upon  the  subject  of  "  Tlie  Bothy," 
and  we  publish  a  few  of  the  letters 
received,  with,  in  one  instance,  some 
necessary  remarks. 

Thk  question,  opened  in  The  Garden,  February  1, 
of  bothy  accommodation  for  the  younger  gar- 
deners employed  in  large  establishments  is  a  most 
important  and  useful  subject  of  discussion,  but, 
practicallj',  it  is  not  altogether  an  easy  matter  of 
arrangement.  The  original  Scotch  both}'  was 
rough  in  the  extreme — a  mere  shelter  in  most 
cases,  where  the  farm  lads,  \\'ith  national  frugality 
and  independence,  fared  for  themselves  as  be.it 
they  might  and  endured  hardships  without  a 
grumble  which  to  their  southern  brethren  would 
be  intolerable.  There  was,  perhaps,  but  little  to 
recommend  the  system,  save  that  it  helped  to 
build  up  a  rugged,  self-reliant  character,  unaccus- 
tomed to  even  the  most  simple  liL^uries,  not  to 
speak  of  necessities,  of  ordinary  civilised  life. 
Hardiness  of  this  kind  is  not  altogether  to  be 
despised,  but  it  is  an  extreme  into  which  the 
present  generation  is  not  likely  to  be  betrayed, 
for  the  tendency  of  the  day  is  all  in  the  opposite 
direction.  A  bothy  nowadays  means  something 
very  diflierent,  and  very  rightly  so,  and,  well 
managed,  is  an  admirable  institution.  The  chief 
drawback,  perhaps,  setting  aside  the  question  of 
expense,  is  the  fear  of  making  things  too  easy  at 
the  outset  of  life,  which  must  needs  be  difficult  in 
the  long  run,  at  the  risk  of  weakening  individual 
character  and  effort. 

Of  late  years,  unhappily,  many  landowners, 
perhaps  the  majority,  have  been  obliged,  owing  to 
agricultural  depression,  to  reduce  their  outlay, 
and  a  suitable  building  simply  but  adequately 
equipped  is,  of  course,  a  costly  addition  to  the 
working  expenses  of  the  garden  ;  but,  once  pro- 
vided, the  yearly  cost  need  not  be  very  great  beyond 
the  necessary  repairs  on  account  of  wear  and  tear. 
Quite  as  important  as  the  building  is  a  suitable 
housekeeper — a  personage  not  always  easj'  to  find, 
but  who  might  very  well  be,  where  possible,  a 
capable,  middle-aged  married  woman  from  some 
neighbouring  cottage,  well  acquainted  with  the 
needs  of  working  men,  who  could  come  in  daily 
to  attend  to  the  necessary  details  of  cleaning  and 
cooking.  Other  arrangements  as  to  food,  washing 
and  mending,  &c. ,  are  better  left,  as  a  rule,  to  the 
men  themselves,  who  can  club  together  or  other- 
wise, according  to  their  own  proper  wants  and 
wishes.  A  look-up  cupboard  provided  for  each 
man  is  a  boon  very  much  appreciated. 

Luxury  of  accommodation  close  to  work  such  as 
this  is,  however,  not  alwaj'S  possible  even  in  large 
gardens,  and  it  is  not  indispensable  when  decent 
lodgings  are  to  be  found  within  reasonable  distance. 
In  many  cases  the  gardeners  themselves  prefer  a 
more  independent  life  to  that  of  a  community, 
even  though  it  offers  advantages  of  economy  not 
otherwise  to  be  attained.  Where  the  larger  bothy 
for  board  and  lodging  is  not  expedient,  a  modified 
building,  to  le  used  at  meal  times  when  the 
quarters  are  at  some  distance  and  as  a  reading  and 
recreation  room  in  the  long  winter  evenings,  is  an 
advantage  which  can  scarcely  be  over-estimated. 
The  addition  of  a  bathroom  here  would  be  a  great 


boon,  since  such  conveniences  are  not  usuallj' 
found  as  yet  in  country  cottages. 

In  one  case,  well  known  to  the  writer,  where  a 
large  number  of  men  were  employed  in  garden 
work,  the  parson  made  a  point  of  keeping  in  touch 
with  these  j'ounger  members  of  his  flock,  who  were 
mostly  units  gathered  from  distant  parts  of  the 
country,  by  going  every  now  and  again  to  the 
reading-room  provided  and  joining  them  in  baga- 
telle and  other  games,  while  a  musical  daughter  of 
the  parsonage  got  together  a  successful  brass  band, 
and  did  much,  by  training  and  practising  for  an 
occasional  village  concert,  to  keep  the  lads  out  of 
the  way  of  the  temptations  that  beset  them. 
Thus,  on  the  occurrence  of  some  private  trouble  or 
ditticulty,  any  one  amongst  the  number  were  sure 
of  a  friend  well  known,  to  whom  application  for 
help  or  advice  might  be  made.  In  summer  nothing 
can  be  better  than  the  privilege  of  a  cricket  pitch 
for  practice,  which  can  often  be  granted  without 
any  great  difficulty.  A  free  discussion  of  the 
question,  with  practical  suggestions,  is  much  to  be 
desired,  and  the  editors  of  The  Garden  are  greatly 
to  be  thanked  for  taking  tlie  initiative. 

Scotland.  R.  B. 


Seeinc;  that  in  an  article  on  bothy  life  (The 
Garden,  February  1)  head  gardeners  and  young 
men  are  invited  to  give  their  views,  and  having 
been  a  bothy  man  myself  for  a  few  years,  1  should 
like  to  saj'  what  1  have  gone  through. 

I  was  never  lucky  enough  to  drop  into  one  of 
those  well-arranged,  home-like  bothies,  neither 
have  I  ever  heard  of  one,  and,  from  what  my 
bachelor  friends  have  told  me,  who  have  travelled 
in  different  directions  to  m3'self,  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  thej'  are,  like  high  wages  in  gardens, 
few  and  far  between.  The  only  thing  home-like  I 
have  seen  in  a  bothy  is  when  you  see  3'our  friends 
tr3'ing  to  patch  up  the  "  seats  of  the  mighty,"  or 
when  they  are  struggling  to  put  a  housewifelj'  darn 
in  their  socks,  after  which,  if  a  fellow  is  blessed 
with  small  feet,  he  maj'  be  able  to  walk  in  his 
foot-gear  cobbled  up  with  whalebone  stitches.  If 
not  he  has  to  fall  back  on  the  everlasting  ones  of 
Nature's  providing  ;  I  do  not  suppose  a  sock 
merchant  would  know  of  the  article,  but  a  bothy 
chap  would  tell  you  all  about  it. 

I  quite  believe  there  are  some  wise  gardeners 
about.  I  know  some  of  them  try  to  make  the 
bothy  home-like  by  putting  a  bit  of  paper  on  the 
walls  and  keeping  3'ou  well  supplied  with  bits  of 
rag  with  which  to  keep  the  dut3'  lamp  clean,  and 
who  give  a  6-foot  plank  and  two  seed  boxes  to 
make  a  kind  of  seat  to  get  your  meals  comfortable, 
but  if  3'ou  should  mention  bath-room  you  get  the 
fatherly  repl}'  that  you  can  use  the  stove  tank 
with  perhaps  enough  water  in  it  to  cover  3'our 
ankles,  if  it  is  filled  b}'  what  falls  on  the  roof. 

As  to  well-organised  arrangements  for  buying 
food.  It  is  eas3'  to  bu3-  good  food  for  read3'  mone3', 
but  not  so  eas3'  to  get  it  decentlj'  cooked  by  the 
bothy  domestic,  generally  some  poor  old  body  that 
has  served  her  time  sweeping  up  leaves  and  pulling 
weeds  in  the  garden,  and  has  got  too  old  for  the 
job  and  is  sent  into  the  both3'  to  clean  up  in  a 
sort  of  way  and  spoil  the  food.  No  matter  how 
tender  a  joint  the  butcher  brings,  by  the  time  the 
active  bothy  cook  has  done  what  she  calls  roasted 
it  and  decked  it  with  Parsley,  like  verges  round  a 
gravel  walk,  when  you  come  to  put  j'our  teeth 
into  it  you  think  it  must  be  a  joint  off  the  horns. 


When  the3'  are  supplied  b3'  such  food-spoilers,  is 
it  to  be  wondered  at  that  young  gardeners  wear 
a  worried  and  hungr3' appearance?  As  to  having 
separate  beds,  it  is  not  known  in  some  bothies. 
I  have  seen  three  in  a  bed,  two  at  the  top  and 
duty  chap  at  the  foot,  so  that  he  can  be  kicked  out 
in  good  time,  unless  he  wants  some  good  fatherl3' 
advice  rubbed  into  him  before  breakfast.  As  to 
the  wholesome  amusement  we  get  in  the  bothies 
at  night  we  mostl}'  turn  the  light  low  and  wait  for 
the  blackbeetles,  with  slipper  in  hand  ready  for 
the  order  to  fire. 

I  dare  say  if  this  is  published  in  The  Garden  I 
shall  be  thought  an  out-of-date  scholar  by  a  good 
many  fatherty  men,  but  I  hope  some  of  the  both}- 
occupants  will  help  me  through  who  are  dail}'  being 
killed  with  the  badl3'  cooked  food  and  worries. 

Herts.  S.  P. 

[We  are  glad  to  print  our  correspondent's  letter, 
as  we  fear  that  the  discomforts  prevailing  in  man}' 
bothies  are  fairly  represented  in  this  example,  and 
we  hope  to  bring  the  fact  to  the  notice  of  owners 
of  large  gardens.  Such  conditions  cannot  fit  a 
3-oung  fellow  for  his  work,  and  must  be  a  bad 
influence  in  the  formation  of  his  character  and 
habits.  We  cannot  complain  of  the  "grousling" 
tone  of  the  letter,  and  can  only  commend  a 
certain  quality  of  humour  of  a  grim  kind  which 
shows  that  this  3'oung  man,  and  no  doubt  his 
fellows  in  general,  would  respond  with  keen 
appreciation  to  bettered  conditions.  Overcrowded, 
in  a  wretched  place  not  clean  of  vermin,  and  with 
good  food  spoilt,  who  shall  condemn  the  lads  for 
ill-humour  ?  It  is  just  in  the  hope  of  showing 
that  such  conditions  exist,  and  are  even  common, 
that  we  have  opened  our  columns  to  the  discussion 
of  this  important  subject.  Happily,. there  is  also 
a  bright  side  to  the  dark  cloud,  and  we  shall  hope 
to  show  shortl}'  that  the  fatherly  and  even 
motherly  influence  is  practically  at  work  for  the 
bettering  of  bothy  life,  and  is  not  merely  a  word 
to  be  used  in  sneering  quotation. — Eds.] 

It  is,  I  am  sure,  with  feelings  of  thankfulness  to 
the  editors  of  The  (tarden  that  many  gardeners, 
both  young  and  old,  will  note  and  accept  the 
invitation  to  discuss  the  bothy,  with  a  view  to 
making  its  often  entirely  unsuitable  conditions  more 
generally  known,  and  in  the  hope  that  something 
may  be  done  to  effect  an  improvement  in  them.  I 
will  leave  it  to  others  to  say  how  urgently  needed 
are  these  improvements  in  our  bothies  at  home — 
although  I  could  describe  them  sufficiently  well 
— and  give  your  readers  a  description  of  life  in 
a  bothy  in  France,  which  may  be  interesting  as  a 
comparison.  It  is  only  of  one  bothy  that  I  shall 
speak,  and  there  are  probabl}'  others  that  differ 
entirel3'  from  this  one — and  for  the  better.  Such  is 
also  the  case  in  this  country,  although  I  am  afraid 
the  bothies  that  are  as  they  should  be  are  very 
much  in  the  minorit}'. 

The  garden  to  which  the  bothy  that  I  am  about 
to  describe  is  attached  is,  however,  one  of,  if  not 
the  most,  important,  both  as  regards  size  and 
repute,  in  France.  As  such,  therefore,  it  should  have 
been  a  model  to  others  of  less  importance.  When 
I  say  that  there  were  usually  about  twenty-six  or 
twenty-seven  young  gardeners,  sometimes  thirty  or 
more — the  numbers  fluctuated — living  together  it 
will  be  recognised  that  the  housing  of  them  was  no 
small  matter.  And,  as  is  often  the  case  in  Con- 
tinental gardens,  the  company  consisted  of  repre- 


118 


THE    GAKDEN. 


iFebruary  22,  1902. 


sentatives  of  many  European  nations — Austrians, 
Swedes,  Swiss,  French,  Belgians,  English,  &c. 
That  a  certain  amount  of  grumbling  was  inevitable 
must  be  admitted,  for  all  had  to  conform  to  the 
customs  of  the  countrj-,  and  this  naturally  took 
some  little  time.  The  worst  feature  of  this  bothy 
was  that  it  was  situated  over  stables.  The  house 
was  a  three-storied  one,  the  stables  taking  up  most 
of  the  ground  floor,  whilst  the  tirst  and  second 
floors  were  given  over  to  bedrooms.  That  portion 
of  the  ground  floor  not  occupied  by  the  staljles — 
about  one  •  third — consisted  of  the  kitchen  and 
dining-room.  One  can  hardh-  imagine  anything 
more  deplorable  than  this,  even  in  an  English  bothy. 
True,  we  had  only  two  meals  per  day — df'jeuner 
at  eleven,  and  dinner  at  six.  For  six  days  out 
of  the  seven  a  very  old  lady  did  the  cooking,  and 
on  Sunday  we  did  our  own.  How  the  wind  used  to 
whistle  under  the  doors  of  that  dining-room, 
which,  by  the  b}',  served  also  as  library,  sitting 
room,  &c.  Chairs  there  were  none,  the  benches 
around  the  table  served  also  when  the  meal  was 
over  for  seats. 

Imagine  the  crush  to  get  near  the  Sre  on  a 
winter's,  night  when  the  thermometer  registered 
20"  or  30°  of  frost  out  of  doors  !  And  for  those 
who  were  unfortunate  enough  to  be  on  duty  and 
obliged  to  sta}'  up  the  whole  night  (every  four 
hours  the  temperatures  fif  the  various  houses  had 
to  be  registered  on  a  specially  printed  form,  and  i» 
needed  about  an  hour  to  do  this,  so  far  apart  were 
some  of  the  houses)  what  a  comfortable  and  cosy 
room  to  turn  into  !  One  dared  not  lie  down  on  the 
bed  in  case  one  should  drop  off  soundly  to  sleep,  so 
the  tables  had  to  serve  for  a  bed,  and  this  certainly 
had  the  advantage  of  preventing  one  from  sleeping 
comfortably.     Carpets  were  a  thing  unheard  of. 

It  must  be  allowed  that  the  bedrooms  did  not 
give  much  cause  for  complaint,  except  it  was  that 
one  had  to  attend  to  them  entirely  oneself.  And, 
as  if  this  were  not  bad  enough  unexpected  in- 
spections were  periodically  made  by  the  head 
gardener  to  see  that  the  rooms  were  kept  clean  and 
tidy.  In  default  of  this  fines  were  imposed.  In 
order  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  being  fined  the 
room  must  be  tidied  during  the  hour  of  dejeuner, 
for  it  was  then  that  the  inspection  was  always 
held.  This  precaution  was,  however,  often 
neglected.  To  avoid  the  toil  of  carrying  the  water 
for  washing  downstairs — and  there  was  a  strict  rule 
for  this  to  be  done — some  would  wait,  and  often 
in  the  dead  of  the  night  could  be  heard  a  loud 
splash,  and  all  knew  its  meaning.  Woe  be  to  any 
late  arrival  who  should  happen  to  b3  passing  at  that 
moment.  Each  bedroom  was  provided  with  an  ex- 
cellent stove,  and  this  was  much  appreciated.  Life 
in  the  bothj'  then  has  its  humorous  side,  but  this  is 
lost  sight  of  when  one  contemplates  for  a  moment 
the  neglect  and  discomfort  that  dwellers  in  the 
bothy  are  subjected  to.  It  is  much  to  be  deplored 
that  young  gardeners,  striving  hard  to  make 
progress  and  to  perfect  themselves  in  their  work, 
should  so  frequently  not  be  provided  with  even 
irspectable  accommodation  ;  it  is  also  to  be  hoped 
that  good  will  emanate  from  the  discussion  now 
promoted,  and  that  something  may  be  done  to 
rsmove  what  undoubtedly  is  a  disgrace  to  many 
gardens  throughout  the  country.  A.  G.  C. 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 


Foptheoming"    events.  —  Tuesday, 

February  "2.5,  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  com- 
mittees meet.  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  tiale,  West- 
minster; .Saturday,  March  1,  meeting  of  the 
Societ(5  Nationale  d'Horticulture  de  Londres  ; 
Tuesday,  March  4,  meeting  of  the  National 
Amateur  Gardeners'  Association. 

"The   Garden"  of  March   1.  —  Next 

week  we  shall  publish  articles  of  special  interest 
and  importance  at  this  season,  including  "The 
Sweet  Pea  and  its  Newer  A^arieties,"  by  Mr.  R. 
Dean;  "Vegetables  for  fixhibilion,"  by  Mr.  E. 
Beckett,  and  illustrations  of  Cotton  trees  in  a 
.lamaica  garden,  the  hard^'  alpine  house  in  the 
Royal   (iardens,    Kew,   the   value   of   annuals   for 


quick  effects,  Hubbard's  Pearmain  Apple,  the  new 
Frilled  Persian  Cyclamens,  H.  T.  Rose  Gloire 
Lyonnaise,  a  shrubby  border,  Prunus  serrulata  in 
flower,  &c.  The  usual  features  of  the  paper  will 
not  be  interfered  with. 

The  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Its  finances  and  the  proposed  hall. 

— We  have  more  than  once  expressed  the  opinion 
that  to  drain  the  finances  of  the  society  by  a  costly 
building  scheme  would  be  the  quickest  way  to 
bring  it  to  ruin.  The  excellent  committee 
appointed  probably  has  some  sound  and  reasonable 
scheme,  of  which  we  know  nothing,  to  lay  before 
ihe  Fellows,  but  we  desire  to  say  emphatically 
that  no  hall  can  be  built  and  maintained,  and  no 
site  can  be  purchased  with  the  society's  present 
funds  without  grave  danger  for  the  future.  We 
feel  it  only  a  duty  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  dis- 
courage so  dangerous  and  hollow  a  scheme.  We 
speak  thus  strongly  because  no  general  appeal  has 
so  far  been  made  for  funds.  The  society  can  help, 
but  it  is  not  rich  enough  to  aft'ord  luxuries. 

Tree  and  shrub  photographs.— We 

shall  be  grateful  for  any  pliotograplis  of  trees  and 
shrubs  that  may  be  sent  to  us  showing  the  beauty 
of  grouping,  individual  examples,  and  their  value 
in  the  garden  and  pleasure  ground.  The  gardens 
of  England  are  full  of  beautiful  trees  and  shrubs, 
sometimes  of  an  age  that  renders  them  more 
picturesque  and  interesting  than  in  the  earlier 
stages  of  growth,  and  if  possible  we  wish  to  get 
photographs  of  these. 

Viola  Blue  Bell. — The  remarks  respecting 
this  Viola  in  The  Garden  of  February  8  last 
appear  to  me  only  historically  interesting.  I  am 
quite  convinced  that  they  will  never  induce 
growers  to  refrain  from  cultivating  the  newer 
varieties,  which  are  more  satisfactory  in  every  way. 
I  saw  the  display  of  Viola  Blue  Bell  i  i  the 
gardens  at  Syon  House,  to  which  reference  is  made, 
and  Mr.  Wythes  used  the  plant  most  effectively. 
But  at  that  time  I  expressed  the  opinion  that 
there  were  many  other  prettier  and  better 
varieties  which  would  make  even  a  more  pleasing 
display.  Although  I  have  visited  many  gardens 
in  which  Violas  have  been  largely  used,  I  cannot 
at  the  moment  call  to  mind  one  where  this 
particular  variety  was  used,  save  at  Syon.  Mr. 
W.  H.  Lees  when  in  charge  of  the  gardens  at 
Trent  Park  planted  A'iolas  or  tufted  Pansies  freelj' 
and  with  splendid  effect.  Among  those  he  liked 
were  Blue  Gown,  Ethel  Hancock,  Pembroke,  Sir 
Puobert  Peel,  William  Niel,  Duchess  of  Fife, 
Florizel,  and  White  Empress.  Several  of  these 
have  been  raised  within  the  last  eight  years,  and 
not  only  are  they  free-flowering,  but  the  habit  ot 
growth  is  excellent.  The  writer  is  quite  in 
error  in  suggesting  that  the  newer  varieties  are 
simply  considered  exhibition  flowers.  About 
eight  years  ago,  Violas  were  much  exhibited  in 
sprays,  particularly  in  the  south  of  England, 
but  this  feature  of  our  exhibitions  has  in  a  large 
degree  disappeared.  The  Scottish  growers,  how- 
ever, still  regard  the  exhibition  Viola  with  favour. 
The  sole  idea  of  the  raisers  has  been  to  make  the 
garden  more  beautiful  and  attractive  by  their  use, 
and  in  this  they  have  been  singularly  successful.  We 
are  indebted  to  the  late  Dr.  Charles  Stuart,  of  Chirn- 
side,  for  man}'  charming  varieties,  both  in  habit 
and  colour.  Mr.  William  Sydenham,  of  Tamworth, 
than  whom  there  is  no  greater  enthusiast,  and 
certainly  no  more  successful  raiser  of  new  Violas, 
was  most  opportune  in  his  protest  last  week.  Mr. 
Sydenham  grows  these  plants  by  the  hundred 
thousand,  and  in  consequence  is  well  qualified  to 
express  an  opinion. — D.  B.  Crane. 

Clerodendron    splendens.  —  Though 

introduced  upwards  of  twenty  3'ears  in  advance  of 
C.  Thomson;e,  the  species  under  notice  is  not  so 
well  known,  although  in  its  way  it  is  quite  as  well 
worthy  of  attention.  It  is  a  native  of  Tropical 
Africa,  was  introduced  about  1S.'59,  and  makes 
fairly  strong,  rambling  branches,  with  oblong, 
pointed  leaves  having  undulated  margins.  The 
flowering  period  is  variable,  inflorescences  some- 
times being  borne  in  summer  and  sometimes  in 
winter.  The  flowers  are  scarlet,  and  in  large, 
terminal  corj'mbs,  which  hang  gracefully  from  the 
branches.     Stove  cj'ture  is  required,  and  although 


it  succeeds  best  planted  in  a  well-drained  border 
it  does  well  as  a  pot  plant.     At  the  present  time  a 
fine  plant  is  smothered  with  flowers  in  the  stove  at 
Kew. — I).  K. 
Cultivation    of   bush    fruits.  — Mr. 

Alfred  II.  Pearson,  of  Chilwell  Nurseries,  Lowd- 
ham,  Notts,  recently  gave  a  lecture  on  the  above 
subject  before  the  members  of  the  Kidderminster 
Horticultural  Societj-.  The  lecturer's  remarks 
upon  Gooseberries,  Raspberries,  and  Currants  were 
listened  to  with  great  interest.  Mr.  Pearson 
included  bush  Apples  in  his  remarks,  and  gave 
the  audience  valuable  instructions  with  reference 
to  their  culture.  A  hearty  vote  of  tlianks  was 
accorded  Mr.  Pearson,  on  the  motion  of  Dr. 
t»ibbins,  who  presided. 

The  Horticultural  Club.— As  recorded 
last  week,  this  famous  club  has  begun  a  new  lease 
of  life,  and  strong  efforts  are  being  made  to  make 
it  a  centre  of  influence  in  all  that  concerns  horticul- 
tural progress.     The  stirring  address  of  the  Rev. 
W.  Wilks  at  the  annual  dinner  will  have  the  eft'ect 
of  making  the  value  of  the  club  more  known,  and 
we  are  pleased   to  know  that   several   influential 
horticulturists   have   joined   within    the   past  few 
days.     Mr.   Wilks  referred   to  the  excellent  rela- 
tions existing  between  the  society  and   the  club, 
which,  when    the   society  was   passing  through  a 
time  of  extreme  anxiety  as  to  its  future,  formed  a 
strong  support.     It  was  the  duty  of  the  Fellows 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  to  support  the 
club.     Mr.   Wilks   remarked   incidentall}'  that   it 
was  through  the  club  be  became  secretary  of  the 
society.     In  The  Garden  of  August  24,  page  1,30, 
a    history   of  the  club  is   given    by  the   Rev.    H. 
D'ombrain,   its  founder,  who  has   been  compelled 
to   resign   through    increasing    infirmities,    to  the 
regret   of   every  horticulturist,  and  a   portrait  of 
the   president.   Sir    John    Llewelyn,    Bart.      The 
following  are  a  few  extracts  from  Mr.  D'ombrain's 
article:    In   the   year   1889   the   club    established 
itself   at   the   Hotel    Windsor,    close  to  the   Drill 
Hall  and    the   offices  of   the  Royal    Horticultural 
Society.     "  Our  chairman  daring  this  period  was 
the  late  Mr.  .John  Lee,  than  whom  there  was  no 
more  respected  horticulturist  in  the  kingdom,  but 
the  weight  of  many  years  at  last  told  on  him.     His 
attendance  at  the  meetings  became  irksome  to  him 
and  eventually  led  to  his  resignation,  but  Sir  .John 
D.    T.   Llewelyn,  Bart.,  was  elected   chairman  to 
succeed  him,  while  Mr.  Harry  .J.  Veitch  was  elected 
vice-chairman,  and   it  would  be  very  difiicult   to 
find  in  the  whole  range  of  horticulturists  two  more 
popular  men,  genial  and  kind.    They  are  ever  ready 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  club.     What,  then, 
were  the  objects  sought  to  be  obtained  by  the  club? 
In  the  first  place,  it  was  designed  to  bring  together 
in  social  intercourse  all  those  horticulturists  who 
might  wish  to  join  its  ranks  ;  then  it  was  enabled 
to  open  its  doors  to  the  various  special  societies  who 
required  a  place  of  meeting  for  their  committees, 
and    so  the  National   Rose  Society,  the  National 
Dahlia  Society,  the  National  Auricula  Societ}',  and 
the  National  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society  were 
all  glad  to  avail  themselves  of   its  rooms.     Here 
also  the  Gardeners"  Roval  Orphan  Fund   found  a 
place  of  meeting.     At  first  the  monthly  meetings 
of  the  club  were  only  regarded  as  pleasant  places 
to  have  a  chat  on  horticultural  things,  but  some 
years  ago  one  of  its  members,  Mr.CharlesT.  Druery, 
proposed    that   it   would   be    more   profitable  and 
equally  agreeable   if   some   subject   were   brought 
forward  by  one  of   the  members  at  our   monthly 
conversazione,    which    might   open   the  waj'    to  a 
pleasant  discussion  on  the  subject  thus  introduced. 
These   discussions    have    been   much   enjoyed    by 
members,  and  have  been  both  pleasant  and  useful. 
Another  object  had  in  view  was  that  of  returning 
the  hosjiitalit}'  aftbrded  to  many  of  our  horticul- 
turists who  go  abroad,   by  inviting  foreigners  to 
partake  ot  the  hospitalitj'  of  the  club.     They  have 
from  time  to  time   been   invited  to   join  us,   and 
especially  when    the  conference   on  hybridisation 
was   held,    a   considerable  number   of   those   who 
had  shared  in  its  deliberations  met  together  in  its 
rooms,    and    expressed    them.selves   very   gratified 
at  the  welcome  accorded  to  them.     Another  object 
was  the  annual  excursion   to  various  noteworthy 
gardens  within  reasonable  distance  of  London." 


February  22,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


119 


Climate  of  New  South  W^ales.— Mr. 

John  Plunimer,  of  South  New  Wales,  writes  :  — 
"The  climate,  both  as  regards  rainfall  and 
temperature,  is  an  ideal  one,  and,  combined  with 
the  dark  red  volcanic  soil,  explains  the  remarkable 
fertility  of  the  district,  also  the  immense  variety 
of  crops  successfully  grown.  Plants,  fruits,  and 
grasses  peculiar  to  tropical  or  semi-tropical  locali- 
ties are  here  found  growing  side  by  side  with  those 
of  the  temperate  climates,  and  both  flourishing 
in  an  equal  degree.  At  Wollongbar,  for  example. 
Banana  groves  are  to  be  seen  luxuriating  within 
half  a  mile  of  healthy  and  prosperous-looking 
fields  of  Wheat,  Oats,  and  Barley,  while  the 
Queensland  sweet  Potato  is  found  growing  along- 
side '  Brown  Rivers '  from  Tasmania,  Maize 
adjoining  Sugar  Cane,  Pine-apples,  Arrowroot, 
and  Tapioca,  with  Carrots,  Turnips,  and  Mangels, 
Melons,  Pumpkins,  and  Squashes  with  Sunflowers, 
Pawpaws,  and  Yams,  Lucerne,  Clover,  and 
Paspalum  with  Ramie,  Manilla,  Hemp,  and  the 
Coffee  plant,  Grapes,  Oranges,  and  Lemons,  with 
Passion  Fruit,  Mangoes,  and  Peanuts,  while  in  what 
is  called  the  'grass  garden,'  there  is  to  be  seen 
probably  the  finest  and  most  numerous  collection 
of  grass  and  fodder  plants  at  present  growing 
together  on  one  farm  in  Australia." 

A  City  churchyard  (St.  Andrew- 

by-the-Wardrobe). — The  alterations  in 
connection  with  the  church3'ard  at  the  above,  which 
is  situated  next  to  the  Bible  Society  in  Queen 
Victoria  Street,  have  now  been  completed.  In 
place  of  the  high  and  ugly  blank  wall  new  wrought 
iron  railings  and  stone  piers  with  carved  vases 
have  been  erected.  The  wrought  iron  gates  were 
given  by  Mrs.  Banister  Fletcher  in  memory  of  her 
late  husband,  who  was  churchwarden.  Tlie  church- 
yard has  been  laid  out  in  terraces  and  covered  with 
turf,  exposing  one  of  the  best  samples  of  Wren's 
churches  to  public  view  and  adding  another  green 
spot  to  London's  dingy  exterior.  The  whole  work 
may  be  reckoned  one  of  the  public  improvements 
of  the  City  of  London.  The  work  has  been  designed 
and  carried  out  under  the  superintendence  of  the 
architects,  Messrs.  Banister  Fletcher  and  Sons. 
The  keys,  if  required,  are  to  be  obtained  from 
Thomas  J.  Whiffen,  Esq.,  30  and  31,  Si.  Andrew'^ 
mil  (adjoining).  Queen  Victoria  Street,  E.C. 

Iris  kolpakowskyana.— I  send  a  few 

flowers  of  Iris  kolpakowskyana.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  Raratan  Mountains,  Turkestan,  and  is  without 
doubt  one  of  the  very  finest  of  the  reticulata  group. 
It  is  somewhat  difiicult  to  successfully  cultivate, 
but  will  repay  all  the  trouble  taken  on  its  behalf. 
We  find  that  a  little  coddling  is  very  beneficial, 
and  have  been  growing  it  under  a  handlight  on  a 
warm,  dry,  protected  corner,  and  I  have  every  hope 
of  this  charming  little  Iris  becoming  established. 
The  thin,  tapering  standards  are  rosy  lilac,  whilst 
the  falls  present  a  very  striking  contrast,  the  lip 
being  a  rich  crimson-purple  with  a  distinct  yellow 
background.  On  a  warnj  day  it  has  a  most 
delicious  perfume,  but  on  cold,  wet  days  it  is 
almost  odourless.  I.  Danfordiaj,  I.  persica,  I. 
reticulata  purpurea,  and  I.  palaestina  are  also  in 
flower,  but  of  course  well  protected.— Amos  Perry, 
jun.,  Winchmore  Hill,  London,  N.  [This  is  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  bulbous  Irises  we  have  seen, 
and  should  be  taken  note  of  by  all  interested  in 
this  fascinating  group.  Mr.  Perry  has  described 
the  colour,  but  no  description  can  convey  any  idea 
whatever  of  its  wonderful  richness  and  distinct- 
ness, while  the  subtle  perfume  is  as  strong  as  in 
I.  reticulata.  It  is  a  perfect  gem  amongst  bulbous 
Irises. — Eds.] 

Clianthus  Dampieri.— The  Glory  Pea 
of  Australia  is  a  peculiarly  distinct  and  beautiful 
flowering  plant,  not  so  often  met  with  as  it  deserves 
to  be.  This  is,  no  doubt,  owing  to  its  difficult 
cultivation,  for  though  seeds  may  be  had  at  a  little 
cost,  and  germinate  freely,  seedlings  require  great 
care  in  after  treatment  or  they  will  die  off  before 
they  reach  the  flowering  stage.  I  have  several 
times  raised  seedlings  and  flowered  them  the  same 
season,  but  have  lost  a  good  many  plants  at 
different  times.  The  most  critical  time  is  during 
repotting,  the  tap  root  is  exceedingly  tender  and 
apt  to  snap  off,  or  the  slightest  pressure  may  bruise 
it.     Some  recommend  sowing  seed  in  the  pots  the 


seedlings  are  to  flower  in,  but  there  are  disadvan- 
tages in  this,  and  I  have  found  it  better  to  sow  in 
small  pots  and  pot  on  as  required,  or  after  they 
are  well  established  they  may  be  put  into  large 
pots,  using  plenty  of  drainage,  and  the  pots  may  be 
nearly  filled  with  the  rough  siftings  of  any  good 
light  compost.  With  care  they  may  be  repotted 
without  damaging  the  roots.  Each  plant  should 
have  a  stick,  and  be  tied  to  prevent  any  movement 
which  might  loosen  the  stem  or  snap  the  root  off 
just  below  the  soil.  Once  get  plants  Mell  started 
they  succeed  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  Watering 
must  be  carefully  attended  to.  It  is  curious  that 
so  many  Australian  plants  are  so  easily  damaged 
by  excess  of  moisture  or  from  drought.  This  was 
one  of  the  first  plants  to  receive  a  first-class 
certificate  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
being  shown  by  Messrs.  Veitoh  and  Sons  in  May, 
1859,  and  it  well  deserves  that  distinction.  — 
A.  Hemsley. 

Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  sport- 
ing".— Although  this  beautiful  Begonia  seems  to 
defy  all  attempts  to  fertilise  it  even  when  female 
flowers  do  occur,  we  seem  likely  to  get  a  number 
of  distinct  shades  of  colour  from  sports,  the 
finest  and  most  distinct  of  these  at  present  being 
the  Turnford  Hall  variety.  Though  not  quite  a 
pure  white  it  has  a  clean  pleasing  shade,  and  the 
slight  tinge  of  pink  does  not  detract  from  its  value. 
The  plant  is  vigorous,  the  flowers  standing  well 
above  the  foliage.  Caledonia  has  not  proved  quite 
so  vigorous  at  present,  but  it  may  improve.  It 
flowers  most  persistently,  and  produces  more 
female  flowers  than  the  other  varieties.  A  curious 
sport  from  this  occurred  on  a  plant  at  Mr.  H.  .J. 
Jones's  nursery,  Lewisham,  one  side  shoot  producing 
pink  flowers  of  about  the  same  shade  as  the  original 
Gloire  de  Lorraine,  shoots  below  and  above  having 
all  white  flowers,  but  the  one  shoot,  though  it  has 
continued  to  flower  for  fully  two  months,  has  kept 
to  the  same  shade  of  pink. — A.  H. 

Foxgloves  decaying.— For  the  last  two 

years  I  have  been  troubled  at  finding  so  many  of 
my  autumn-planted  Foxgloves  dying  from  decay  at 
the  heart.  This  year  I  tried  placing  the  plant  on 
its  side  with  the  roots  in  a  small  groove  and  piling 
up  the  earth  over  the  roots  and  the  outside  leaves. 
This  has  been  a  great  success  ;  the  plants  treated  in 
this  way  have  the  hearts  protected  and  the  rain 
water  does  not  settle  on  them.  They  have  taken 
root  and  are  growing  well,  while  others  planted  in 
the  usual  way  in  a  flat  bed  are  rotting  in  the  centre. 
— E.  C. ,  Surrey,  fit  should  be  more  generally 
known  that  Foxgloves,  as  well  as  Mulleins,  are 
excellent  wall  plants  ;  in  such  a  place  they  would 
naturally  have  the  position  that  "  E.  C."  finds  so 
salutary. — Eds.] 

Daphne  blagayana  at  Glasnevin. 
— Walking  through  Glasnevin  Botanic  Gardens  a 
few  days  ago  I  was  much  struck  with  a  bed  of  this 
plant,  so  much  so  that  I  felt  compelled  to  let  others 
know  what  may  be  done  with  this  beautiful  plant. 
The  mass  was  about  10  feet  by  6  feet  10  inches, 
1"2  inches  high,  every  leaf  perfect,  and  forming 
a  dense  mass  covered  with  flowers.  Sixteen 
hundred  and  sixty-three  of  the  lovely  snow-white 
flowers  are  at  the  present  moment  waiting  to 
develop,  the  fragrance  of  which  must  fill  the 
gardens  of  Glasnevin.  Mr.  Moore,  the  genial 
curator,  tells  me  it  originated  from  one  layer  taken 
from  his  first  plant.  Each  j'ear  after  flowering  the 
young  growths  are  laid  down  and  stones  placed 
over  at  their  bases,  leaving  the  tops  free  to  curve 
upwards.  This,  he  believes,  is  the  true  secret  of 
growing  it.  It  is  growing  in  the  full  sun,  in  pure 
loam,  without  any  special  care  or  protection  what- 
ever, and  not  in  peat. — Amos  Pkrry,  Winchmore 
Hill. 

Salvia  Heeri. — This  is  one  of  the  most 
useful  of  greenhouse  Salvias,  and  it  is  surprising 
that  it  is  not  more  extensively  grown,  its  sprays 
of  pretty  scarlet  flowers  making  a  pleasing  addition 
to  the  attractions  of  the  conservatory  during  this 
dull  season.  It  forms  a  large  plant  when  well 
grown,  attaining  a  height  of  5  feet,  but  unless  its 
shoots  are  thinned  in  the  autumn  and  each  staked 
clear  of  its  neighbour  it  grows  into  a  dense  bush 
and  its  true  character  is  not  seen.  It  is  usually 
grown  from  cuttings  rooted  late  in  the  spring,  and 


eventually  planted  outdoors  on  a  west  border. 
Late  in  the  autumn  it  should  be  potted  into  10-inch 
pots  and  placed  in  a  close  house  for  a  few  days 
until  it  becomes  established,  after  which  it  may  be 
wintered  in  a  cool  vinery.  The  fact  of  its  late 
flowering  and  its  requirements  being  so  easily  met 
should  ensure  more  attention  for  this  beautiful 
Salvia. —E.  Harriss. 
"Must  all  be  workers."— How  much 

there  is  in  this  phrase,  taken  from  Mr.  S.  T. 
Wright's  report  on  the  Chiswick  students  to  the 
Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Societj'.  It 
matters  not  whether  trained  youths  be  wanted  in 
gardens  under  a  head,  or  whether  to  take  charge  of 
a  place  themselves,  it  is  absolutely  certain  that  all 
must  be  workers.  In  gardening  there  is  no  room 
for  drones,  for  dreamers,  for  mere  theorists,  or 
for  any  that  are  above  actual  labour.  Gardening 
is  a  vocation  in  which  not  only  labour,  but  hard 
and  persistent  labour,  is  absolutely  essential.  No 
one  can  be  a  gardener  whose  mind  is  absolutely 
absorbed  in  theoretical  study.  Such  a  person  may 
become  a  high  class  professor  or  scientific  student, 
but  all  the  brain  work  in  the  world  cannot 
accomplish  much  for  gardening  without  physical 
work,  and  a  pair  of  hands  guided  by  sound 
practical  knowledge  is  by  far  the  most  useful. 
Many  of  our  ablest  gardeners  have  never  been 
scientific  students.  Had  they  been  how  possible 
that  the  practical  work  of  these  men  might 
have  been  lost  in  their  scientific  studies.  It  is 
very  difficult  to  be  both  a  theorist  and  a  prac- 
tical man.  The  fact  is,  gardening  as  it  is  found 
to-day  is  not  only  an  absorbing  vocation  but  it 
demands  all  the  gardener's  time  and  attention. 
What  scientific  knowledge  he  can  pick  up  as  he 
goes  along  he  does,  and  he  makes  use  of  such 
science  as  is  essentially  helpful  to  him  in  his  work  ; 
but  the  gardening  practice  obtained  by  severe 
labour  and  physical  application  so  much  the  more 
enables  him  to  realise  what  by  scientific  leaching 
will  be  to  him  helpful  and  what  otherwise.  It  may 
seem  putting  the  matter  in  a  narrow  light,  but 
whatever  may  be  the  gardener's  recreations  he 
must  be  the  practical  gardener  first.  It  is  just 
this  which  young  men  students  who  propose  to 
become  gardeners  should  aim  to  be.  If  gardening 
is  regarded  as  beneath  them,  and  they  prefer 
science,  their  gardening  knowledge  must  at  the 
best  be  superficial. — A.  D. 


THE     ROSE     GARDEN. 

ROSES     FOR     COVERING 
ROOTS    OF    TREES. 

ANY    artificial  assistance   that   affords   the 

J\  nearest  approach  to  nature  is  eagerly 

/  \         sought  after  at  the  present  day.     Thus 

/     %        we  find  an  old  tree  stump  standing  on 

/        \       the  lawn  giving  support  to  a  climbing 

or    half  -  climbing    Rose,    the    shoots 

bending  elegantly  over  the  stump.    For 

profusion  of  bloom  I  do  not  know  of  a  better  Rose 

for  this  purpose  than  the  Dawson.     I  have  in  mind 

a   beautiful   mass  of   this  Rose  at  Kew  ;   in  fact, 

there  are  several  masses  in  these  gardens,  but  some 

plants  grouped  in  the  way  described  above  against 

some  tree  stumps  are  in  June  a  perfect  picture,  their 

beauty  still  further  enhanced  by  the  tangled  hedge 

of  Dundee  Rambler  edging  one  of   the  lakes.     A 

lovely  Ayrshire  Rose  (Virginian  Rambler)  would 

be  another  most  useful  Rose  for  these  tree  stumps. 

It  is  one  of  the  prettiest,  although  perhaps  least 

known   of    this   interesting    group.     The    Copper 

Austrian  and  the   Yellow  Briar  (R.  lutea).  Lady 

Penzance  Sweet  Briar,  the  hybrid  of  R.  wichuriana 

Ruby   Queen,    the   showy   Calypso,    an    excellent 

variety  of  R.  alpina  and  much  larger  tlian  Morletti, 

its   semi  -  double   flowers    being    quite    5     inches 

across,  the  delicately  tinted  R.  macrantha  and  R. 

moschata  nivea,  and  the  large  flowered  hybrid  R. 

sinica   Anemone.       All  of   these  and    many  more 

could  be  used  for  the  purpose  mentioned.     It  pays 

to  give  such  Roses  attention  at  the  beginning,  that 

is  to  say,  if  the  soil  be  not  good  make  it  so  by 


I2d 


THE    GARDEISI. 


[February  22,  1902.  j 


adding  a  little  cjood  loam  and  well  rotted  manure, 
then  leave  the  Roses  to  go  their  own  way.  Do  not 
have  the  tree  stumps  too  tall.  About  4  feet  or 
5  feet  would  be  ample.  Probably  they  could  be  so 
arranged  that  one  plant  is  put  in  tlie  centre  and 
two  or  three  around.  Should  an  autumn  etfect  be 
desired,  Gloire  des  Rosomanes,  R.  Pissardii,  (iriiss 
an  Teplitz,  and  iStanwell  Perpetual  Scotch  would 
make  a  delightful  group. 

PROTECTION  FOR  TEA  ROSE  GARDENS. 
The     little     pamphlet     recently    issued     by    the 
National   Rose  Society,  entitled  "How   to  (Jrow 
and  Show  Tea  Roses,"'  is  full  of  useful  information 
about     the    successful    culture    of    this   beautiful 
flower.      Perhaps    one    of    the    most     suggestive 
remarks  is  the  one  relating  to  artificial  protection 
where  none  naturally  exists.     Screens  of   netting 
made  of  cocoanut  fibre  and  stretched  on  galvanised 
wire  rope  are  recommended,  a  probably  excellent 
protection,   but  surely  somewhat  ursightly.     Ex- 
hibitors do   not  pay  much    heed   to  appearances, 
some   of    our    noted   amateurs'    Rose    beds    being 
strewn  with  old  umbrellas  and  the  like,  used,  of 
course,  for   shading  the  blooms.     I  would   rather 
suggest  hedges  of  Roses  as  being  the  most  suitable 
protection  to  the  Tea  Rose  garden,  and  what  could 
be  more  beautiful  than  a  10-feet  hedge  or  wall  of 
the   hybrid  Sweet   Briars,   or  some  of   the   man}' 
free-growing  hardy  varieties  that  happily  are  now  so 
readily  obtainable.     It  is  a  well  known  fact  that 
Tea  Roses  prefer  shelter  from  the  afternoon  sun, 
and  high  walls  are  advised  for  the  western  side  of 
a  Tea  Rose  garden.     One  cannot  always  provide  a 
wall  of  bricks,  but  a  wall  of  Roses  would  afford 
just  that  partial  shade  that  the  delicate  Tea  Rose 
so  much  enjoys.     It  must  be  remembered  that  our 
strongest  winds  come  from  the    west,  so  that   it 
would  be  necessary  to  give  the  wall  of  Roses  sub- 
stantial support,  auch  as  Oak  posts,  with  stout  iron 
wire  stretched  to  the  necessary  height.     If  there 
be  no  natural  protection  to  the  north  some  of  tlie 
strong-growing  Roses  would  also  be  suitable  here. 
It  is  useless  planting  Roses  that  are  not  thoroughly 
hardy.     One   might  be   tempted  to  use    the  free- 
growing  Tea  and  Noisette  Roses,  and  doubtless  in 
some  districts    they  would  succeed  admirably.     I 
have  seen  pillars   of   W.   A.    Richardson   planted 
close  together,  their  growths  interwoven  in  such  a 
way  as  to  make  a  very  nice  shelter  wall,  but  this 
would  not  do  in  a  bleak  position.     Reine  Olga  de 
VVurtemburg,  with  its  handsome  foliage  ;  Climbing 
Souvenir  de  Wootton,  a  splendid  climber  and  as 
hardy  as  it  is  good  ;  Mme.  Alfred  Carriere,  vigorous 
and   beautiful ;   and  Paul's  Single  White.     All  of 
these    would    be    suitable    for    providing    shelter 
walls,  but  for  genuine  rampant  vigour  none  would 
surpass  kinds  like  Flora,  Felicite  Perpetue,  Dundee 
Rambler,     Aglaia,     Euphrosyne,     Thalia,     Mme. 
d'Arblay,  The  Garland,  Carmine   Pillar,  Crimson 
Rambler,     &c.       Two    interesting     forms    of     R. 
wichuriana,  namely.  May  Queen  and  Ruby  Queen, 
are   as   vigorous   as   the   preceding   kinds.      This, 
then,   would   provide  shelter  on    the  north    and 
west.      There    remains,     however,    the     east     to 
consider.     I   am    not   in   favour  of   high  walls  or 
hedges  for  this  aspect,  believing  that  the  morning 
sun  is  of   the  utmost  importance  to  the  Tea  and 
indeed  to  all  Roses.     But  we  experience  very  cold 
winds  from  that  quarter,  and  they  cannot  be  less 
objectionable  to  the  Roses  than  to  ourselves.   What, 
then,  shall  we  plant  on  this  eastern  side  ?  Rugosa 
(Japanese)  Pvoses,  Scotch  Roses,  or  Austrian  Briar 
Roses  would  serve  the  purpose  to  temper  the  cold 
wind  to  the  plants,  but  one  need  not  stop  at  these 
kinds  if  variety  would  be  preferred.    Rosa  Ander- 
sonii,   Moschata   nivea,    Macrantha,    Lucida,    The 
Dawson,  how  lovely  low  hedges  of  these  would  be. 
Unlike    the     rambler    section    they    will     flower 
although  severely  pruned,  and  may  be  kept  low  if 
desired.  Philomel. 


NOTES    FROM    SCOTLAND. 

Saxifrages  at  Edinburgh. 
For  many  years  the  Saxifrages  have  been  among 
the  leading  features  in  the  collection  of  alpines  in 
the   Edinburgh   Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  and  the 


interest  at  present  being  taken  in  the  genus  by 
Professor  Bayley  Balfour  has  led  to  a   great  im- 
provement being  made  in  the  collection.     Professor 
Balfour  takes  a  special  interest  in  the  genus,  and 
has   devoted    much   attention    to   unravelling    the 
mysteries    of     their    nomenclature,    although     lie 
admits  that,  so  far,  the  difficulties  in  the  way  are 
not  nearly  overcome.     It  is  no  slight  task  for  one 
already  so  fully  occupied   to  undertake,  but  with 
the  help  he  hopes  to  secure,  and   his  own  skill  in 
botany,  we  may  hope  some  day  to  have  a  handbook 
more  useful  than  anything  yet  existing.     It  appears 
to  the  writer  that  growers  must  sacrifice  something 
if   they  are   ever   to   arrive   at   some  standard  of 
Saxifrage  nomenclature,  and  one  thus  hopes  that 
Professor  Bayley  Balfour's  idea  of  a  handbook  of 
the  Edinburgh  collection,  with  illustrations  of  the 
most  typical  plants,  may  be  carried  out.    Professor 
Balfour  would  be  the  last  to  claim  that  such  a  work 
can  be  perfect,  but  the  annoyance  caused  to  growers 
of  this  attractive  genus  would  be  minimised  were 
we   to   have   such   a   handbook,    together   with    a 
standard   collection   with  which   plants   could   be 
compared.     The   confusion   is   almost   intolerable, 
and  one  welcomes  the  prospect  of  a  study  of  the 
genus   by   a   competent    British    botanist   with    a 
collection  at  hand  open  to  the  public  for  comparison. 
The  Saxifrages  have  always  had  much  attention 
at  Edinburgh,  and   the  writer,  who  is  an  ardent 
admirer  of  the  genus,  was  looking  forward  to  an 
opportunity  of  looking  through  the  collection  under 
the  tutorship  of  Professor  Balfour,  who  had  kindly 
promised  to  afford  him  that  pleasure.     This  was  in 
the  course  of  the  late  autumn,  and  a  most  enjoyable 
time  it  was,  though  he  fears  that  it  was  a  tax  upon 
that  of  his  tutor.     A  good  deal  of   time  was  spent 
among  the  frames,  where  many  of  the  plants  are 
kept    in   pots   for   purposes   of   comparison.     The 
collection  is  rich  in  all  the  sections,  and  one  might 
have   spent   hours  in   studying   the   great   or   the 
minute  distinctions  noticeable  in  the  plants  grown 
together.     Another  thing  in  whicli  the  collection 
is   specially  rich   is   the   forms    of   the   handsome 
Megasea    section.       They    are    grown    in    frames 
as   a   rule,  as    the   flowers   and   often    the  foliage 
sufter    so    much    from    spring   frosts   that    this    is 
really  necessary  to  obtain   the  full  beauty  of  the 
section,  though  some  are  potted  for  the  conserva- 
tory,  where   they  are   very  attractive   in   spring. 
These  were  admirably  grown  and  showed  how  much 
they   appreciate   the   shelter   of    the   glass.     This 
treatment  brought  out  the  many  lovely  lints  shown 
on  the  leaves  of  some.      It  would  be  anticipatory 
of  Professor  Balfour's  work  to  tell  of  his  conclusions, 
but  it  may  be  sufficient  and  pardonable  to  say  that 
he  has  practically  satisfied  himself  that  the  collec- 
tion of  this  group  may  be  reduced  to  two  species. 
Among  the  prettiest  of  the  Saxifrages,  and  one  of 
those  most  highly  thought  of  by  the  Professor,  was 
arguta,    referred    by    the    ' '  Index    Kewensis "    to 
punctata.    Mertensiana  was  another  which  had  been 
found  to  be  one  of  the  best.   Two  forms  of  S.  umbrosa 
were  specially  noted  as  of  great  merit.    These  were 
.9ilgilops  and  the  variety  ogilvieana,  a  very  attrac- 
tive   little  plant  with  dark  red   stems.     Then  S. 
pedatifida,    the   charming    cochlearis,    the    pretty 
Caucasian  and  Persian  cartalaginea,  and  Bucklandi, 
a  form  of  cuneifolia,  were  all  taken  note  of  as  worth 
growing.     In  the  Geura  series   another   of   worth 
was   noted   in   serratifolia,    known    sometimes    as 
acanthifolia,  while  the  perfect  health  of  the  true 
S.  burseriana  major  was  pleasant  to  see,  and  pro- 
mised  abundance   of    flowers   in   the   early   year. 
Diapensioides  and  primulina  were  doing  well,  and 
quite   a   host   of   others   showed  which  were   and 
which  were  not  to  be  easily  grown. 

An  adjournment  to  the  rock  garden  gave  another 
illustration  of  the  difficulty  of  identifying  the 
Saxifrages,  even  in  a  growing  state  and  planted 
out.  An  examination  of  the  many  mounds  showed 
what  reveals  itself  to  those  who  study  the  genus, 
how  much  the  same  plant  varies  from  some  slight 
difference  of  soil,  exposure,  or  quantity  of  moisture. 
In  many  cases  a  rosette  taken  from  one  part  of  a, 
"  pocket "  looked  quite  distinct  from  a  portion  of 
the  same  plant  from  another  part.  This  was  not 
to  be  seen  in  the  size  of  the  foliage  alone,  but  also 
in  the  different  degree  of  pilose  or  glandular 
character  of  the  leaves.     To  the  casual  eye   the 


tufts  would  have  appeared  distinct,  though  they 
were  in  reality  of  the  same  species. 

Seldom    does    one   see   the   various   sections   of 
Saxifrages  grown  so  well  as  on  the  rock  garden  at  j 
Edinburgh,    and    their   beauty   is   all    the    better  | 
realised    because    the    plants    are     quite     large.. 
When  one  sees  such  as   Salomoni,   burseriana,  o^ 
apiculata    in   such   masses    one   understands   hofl 
needful   it   is   that   the  Saxifrages  should  not 
planted   in  the  mere  tufts  so  often  got  from  nurl 
series,  but  in  masses,  among  the  stones  as  in  thig 
northern  garden.     If  one  might  venture  to  make  a1 
remark  of  criticism  it  is  that  some  do  not  show  to 
advantage  against  the  white  quartz,  of  which  some 
of  the  rockwork  is  composed.  S.  Arxott. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


APPLE   CULTURE. 

1  SHOULD  be  very  much  obliged  if  you  would 
give  me  the  following  information.  I  want 
to  know  how  soon  I  could  get  sufficient 
fruit  from  Apple  trees  to  make  a  profit 
without  injuring  the  trees  by  over-cropping. 
I  planted  the  following  nine  varieties  last 
October,  putting  in  two  year  old  plants  (bush):  Cox's 
Orange  Pippin,  Lord  SufEeld,  Bismarck,  Lane's 
Prince  Albert,  Lord  Grosvenor,  Newtown  Wonder, 
Worcester  Pearmain,  Irish  Peach,  and  Early  Rivers. 
How  soon  would  it  be  safe  to  let  them  bear  one 
bushel  of  fruit  each  ?  I  presume  some  would  take 
much  longer  than  othets.  Also,  supposing  I 
planted  Lord  Suffield  alternately  with  other  kinds 
with  the  intention  of  getting  fruit  from  them  as 
soon  as  possible  and  grubbing  up  the  Lord 
Suffields  when  worn  out  or  the  others  had  come 
into  good  bearing,  how  much  fruit  might  I 
expect  from  the  Lord  Suffields  the  first,  second, 
and  third  years  respectively  ?  Is  there  any  other 
variety  which  would  be  profitable  for  market  and 
would  come  into  bearing  quicker '/ 

iSoulhsea.  A.  P. 

[In  reply  to  the  above  interesting  enquirj',  we 
give  the  answer  prominence,  believing  that  our 
correspondent  has  given  expression  to  a  desire  for 
information  that  is  shared  by  many  more  of  our 
readers.  A  vein  of  thought  runs  through  this 
communication  pointing  to  a  desire  to  grow  Apples 
both  for  pleasure  and  profit.  This  is  a  practical 
and  commendable  way  of  looking  at  the  subject, 
and  a  point  o;  view  from  which  those  of  us  who 
advocate  the  more  general  cultivation  of  hardy 
fruits  not  only  on  a  large  scale  by  the  grower  for 
market  but  also  everj'  householder  in  rural  Britain 
regard  the  question.  It  is  b}'  this  means  that  the 
usefulness  or  failure  of  the  movement  on  anything 
like  an  important  scale  must  be  demonstrated,  as 
Apples  are  not  grown  to  be  looked  at,  but  as  food 
and  as  a  means  of  livelihood  to  those  who  engage 
in  the  industry,  or  as  an  important  adjunct  to  the 
food  supply  of  the  amateur's  household.  Until  it  is 
clearly  proved  that  Apples  can  be  grown  at  a  good 
profit  it  is  hopeless  to  expect  the  movement  to 
assume  those  proportions  which  its  importance 
justly  entitles  it  to. 

Unfortunately,  Apple  trees  are  not  like  Jonah's 
Gourds — they  do  not  rush  to  maturity  and  fruit- 
fulness  in  a  day,  but  must  have  time  to  develop 
root  and  branch  and  build  up  a  frame  capable  of 
carrying  heavy  crops  of  first  quality  fruit  without 
subsequent  injury  to  their  constitutions.  It  would 
be  misleading  to  say  that  two  year  old  trees  the 
first  or  second  year  after  planting  would  produce 
heavy  and  remunerative  crops.  Some  varieties  are 
far  more  likely  to  bear  fruit  quicklj-  after  planting 
than  others,  but  it  is  contrary  to  sound  and  good 
practice  to  allow  them  to  carry  more  than  a  dozen 
or  so  for  the  first  two  year.s,  for  the  reason  that  if 
you  do  you  will  assuredly  cripple  the  growth  of 
the  tree,  and  it  will  take  years  to  recover,  if 
ever  it  does.  Rather  be  satisfied  with  little,  if 
any,  fruit  until  the  third  year,  when,  if  the  proper 
varieties  have  been  planted  in  well-trenched  and 
prepared  soil,  you  will  then  have  strong,  healthy 
trees,  and  if  the  season  is  favourable  an  abundant 
crop   of    good   quality   fruit,   with   a   prospect   of 


February  22,  1902.] 


THE  GAEDEN. 


121 


permanent  healthy  growth  and  satisfactory  crops. 
This  will,  we  think,  dispose  of  "A.  P.'s"  first 
question,  and  also  the  second  more  or  less. 

As  he  correctly  assumes,  some  varieties  come 
into  bearing  much  earlier  than  others,  and  in  this 
respect  the  new  Apple  recently  sent  out  by  Mr. 
Bunyard,  AUington  Pippin,  is  perhaps  the  most 
fruitful  in  a  young  state  of  any  ;  Lane's  Prince 
Albert  is  another,  so  is  Lord  Derbj'  and  Bismarck. 
These,  no  doubt,  would  carrj'  a  good  crop  accord- 
ing to  their  size  the  first  and  second  year,  but  it 
would  be  at  the  expense  of  future  healthy  growth 
and  development.  All  the  varieties  mentioned  by 
our  correspondent  are  good,  and  would  in  due 
time  give  satisfactory  returns.  As  regards  his 
third  question,  of  planting  Lord  Sutiield  alter- 
nately with  other  varieties  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  early  returns,  and  grubbing  them  up  when 
they  obstructed  the  development  of  the  more 
permanent   trees,    this    could    be    done,   and   the 


Wellington  (kitchen),  James  Grieve  (table  or 
dessert),  Mr.  Gladstone  (table  or  dessert),  and 
Winter  Quarrenden  (table  or  dessert).— Eds.] 


WINTER  PEAR  PASSE  COLMAR. 

I  DO  not  think  your  remarks  rt  the  above  Pear 
were  any  too  strong  in  its  favour.  My  experience 
of  it  is  that  no  other  Pear  surpasses  it  in  flavour  at 
the  season  it  is  in  use,  viz. ,  from  Christmas  to  the  end 
of  January,  provided  it  is  grown  in  a  suitable  aspect 
and  soil,  on  the  Quince  stock,  and  as  a  cordon. 
It  is  a  most  delicious  honey-like  fruit.  It  has 
also  other  qualities  to  recommend  it.  It  is  a 
prodigious  cropper,  a  really  good  grower,  and,  so 
far  as  my  experience  of  it  goes,  not  subject  to 
fungus  disease  or  cracking  as  is  the  case  with  many 
other  Pears.  I  am  unable  to  say  how  it  behaves  as 
a  standard,  pyramid,  or  bush,  but  as  a  cordon  it  is 
first-rate  on  a  south  wall  here  (Cirencester).  Your 
illustration  is  most  faithful,  so  I  need 
not  describe  size,  &c.        T.  Arnold. 


LATE  KEEPING  APPLES. 
Apple  trees  ought  to  have  been  planted 
long  ago,  but  as  many  amateurs  have 
not  reached  sinless  perfection  and  are 
addicted  to  procrastination,  I  do  not 
doubt  but  that  many  are  intending  to 
plant  in  March.  I  therefore  wish  to 
emphasise  an  opinion  I  expressed  four 
years  ago,  that  New  Northern  Greening, 
which  many  nurserymen  are  getting 
into  the  habit  of  substituting  (in  their 
lists,  at  least)  for  the  Old  Northern 
Greening,  is  worthless  as  a  late  keeper. 
I  have  now  had  four  years'  experience 
of  this  newer  variet}',  and  I  therefore 
speak  with  confidence.  It  has  never 
kept  with  me  beyond  the  middle  of 
•January ;  this  year  it  began  to  spot 
about  Christmas  time.  Now  contrast 
the  old  variety  under  precisely  similar 
treatment  ;  it  often  lasts  with  me 
into  August.  Last  year  I  used  the  end 
of  the  crop  very  late  in  July,  and  I 
shall  not  begin  to  use  my  present  store 
till  well  into  March.  The  "  New"  is  a 
nicer  Apple  to  look  at,  and  is  not  at 
all  a  bad  eating  Apple  in  December, 
but  the  extreme  importance  of  a  very 
late  keeper,  when  American  Apples 
have  ceased  to  come  in,  places  the 
"Old,"  along  with  fStanwell  Souring, 
at  the  top  of  the  list  of  valuable  selling 
kinds.  A  better  Apple  than  the  New 
Northern  Greening,  in  mj'  opinion,  is 
Clarke's  Seedling,  very  beautiful  in 
appearance,  and  keeping  a  month  or 
six  weeks  later.  D.  K. 

County  Cavan,  Ireland  (a  cold,  wet 
climate). 


THE    NEW    MOSCHOSMA    EIPARIFM. 

(The  fiowers  arc  almost  white  with  purple  anthers.) 

idea  is  not  a  bad  one,  provided  that  after  they 
were  grubbed  up  the  ground  in  which  they  grew 
is  enriched  bj  a  good  dressing  of  manure.  With 
reference  to  the  returns  the  Lord  Sutiield  would 
give  the  first,  second,  and  third  year,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say,  so  much  depending  on  the  strength  of 
the  trees,  the  condition  of  the  ground,  and  whether 
the  seasons  were  favourable  or  otherwise.  Taking 
these  for  granted,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  "A.  P." 
would  be  rewarded  by  a  moderate  and  even  a 
generous  return  for  his  outlay  and  labour.  Very 
much  depends  on  the  healthiness  and  strengtli 
of  the  young  trees  and  whether  the  ground  has 
been  well  trenched  and  manured  previous  to 
planting. 

For  a  limited  collection  the  varieties  selected  are 
good,  and,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned  above, 
"A.  P."  must  add  the  following  as  being  good 
bearers  and  excellent  for  market :  Duchess  of 
Oldenburg  (kitchen),  Golden  Spire  (kitchen,  table 
or  dessert),  Christmas  Pearmain  (table  or  dessert), 


MOSCHOSMA  RIPARIUM 

During  recent  years  the  indoor 
garden  has  been  enriched  by  the 
introduction  of  several  Labiates,  all  of  which 
are  of  considerable  decorative  worth.  The 
Moschosma  under  notice  is  one  of  them,  and  a 
plant  which  should  in  the  near  future  be 
found  in  every  garden.  It  is  a  South  African 
perennial,  much  like,  when  out  of  flower,  a 
green-leaved  Coleus  or  Salvia.  The  leaves  are 
about  2  inches  long  and  roundly  ovate,  the 
margins  being  deeply  toothed.  The  flowers 
are  small  and  white,  with  purple  anthers,  and 
are  borne  in  large,  elegant,  terminal  panicles 
often  from  2  feet  or  3  feet  in  length.  The 
flowering  period  commences  early  in  December, 
and  continues  until  the  middle  of  February. 
Although  naturally  a  perennial,  like  the  Salvias, 
it  is  better  treated  as  an  annual,  growing  it 
each  year  from  cuttings.  To  do  this,  directly 
the  flowers  are  over  the  plants  should  be  cut 
back  and  placed  in  a  warm,  moist  house  to 


start  them  into  growth.  When  the  young 
shoots  are  3  inches  long  they  are  ready  for 
removal  and  insertion  as  cuttings.  Both  at 
this  stage  and  at  future  stages  of  growth 
similar  treatment  to  that  accorded  Salvia 
splendens  wUl  suit  admirably.  For  conserva- 
tory decoration  in  midwinter  it  will  be  found 
an  admirable  plant,  and  when  grouped  with 
other  plants  it  is  particularly  effective.  In 
the  greenhouse  at  Kew  a  very  pretty  group  is 
composed  of  this  plant  intermixed  with  plants 
of  Pyrus  floribunda  smothered  with  pretty 
pink  blossoms.  A  delightful  group  of  it  was 
shown  at  a  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
meeting  recently  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and 
Sons,  Chelsea.  W.  Dallimorb. 


BOOKS. 


The  Coecidse  of  the  British  Isles.* 

— There  is  a  family  of  insects  commonlj'  called 
"scale  insects,"  but  by  scientists  "Coecidse," 
which,  though  well  known,  and  indeed  often  too 
well  known  to  horticulturists,  particularly  to  those 
who  have  to  do  with  plants  grown  under  glass, 
have  until  comparatively  recently  hardly  been 
noticed  by  entomologists,  although  their  forms  and 
life  histories  are  so  unlike  those  of  other  insects 
and  exhibit  such  interesting  peculiarities,  for 
example,  the  extraordinary  dilference  between  the 
males  and  females,  that  one  would  have  thought 
that  long  ago  they  would  have  been  carefully 
studied.  The  literature  on  this  subject,  however, 
is  somewhat  scanty  in  consequence.  Several  papers 
on  these  insects  have  from  time  to  time  appeared 
in  our  entomological  periodicals,  and  in  those  of 
our  Colonies,  and  in  America ;  but  hitherto  the  only 
work  which  treated  of  these  pests  generally  was  one 
by  a  French  entomologist,  V.  Signoret.  It  was  pub- 
lished in  a  French  scientific  periodical,  and  a  few 
copies  were  issued  separately,  and  it  is  a  difficult 
book  to  obtain.  It  contains  descriptions  of  all  the 
known  species  up  to  1876,  and  several  most  excel- 
lent plates.  No  doubt  this  difficulty  in  obtaining 
information  about  these  insects  prevented  many 
persons  who  would  otherwise  have  done  so  from 
collecting  them.  The  Ray  Society,  whose  publica- 
tions are  always  of  the  highest  value,  have  just 
issued  the  first  volume  of  a  work  on  this  family  by 
Mr.  R.  Newstead,  who  has  for  several  years 
devoted  much  attention  to  this  group,  in  which 
the  various  species  which  have  been  found  living  in 
this  country  are  described,  so  that  many  species 
which  are  only  found  in  greenhouses  are  included, 
as  well  as  those  which  are  indigenous.  To  use 
the  words  of  the  author  in  his  preface:  "It  has 
been  thought  advisable  to  make  this  monograph 
representative  of  all  the  species  found  livingin  this 
country,  so  that  the  work  may  not  only  appeal  to 
the  naturalist,  but  to  all  those  who  are  interested 
in  horticultural  pursuits.  With  this  object  in  view 
instructions  are  given  on  the  methods  of  prevention 
and  remedies,  to  which  have  been  added  from 
foreign  sources  the  most  approved  modern  systems 
of  combating  these  insects  on  a  larger  scale  than  is 
usually  employed  in  this  country." 

The  introduction  deals  with  the  life-history  of 
the  Coccidie,  their  metamorphoses,  natural  pro- 
ducts— which  include  cochineal,  lac,  and  a  kind  of 

wax their  distribution,  natural  enemies,  the  best 

means  of  collecting  and  preserving  them  in  collec- 
tions, the  best  methods  of  prevention,  and  remedies, 
their  characters,  and  classification.  Scale  insects 
may  be  roughly  divided  into  three  divisions— those 
in  which  the  insect  when  in  its  adult  stage  is 
covered  by  a  scale  formed  of  its  previously-cast 
skins,  and  a  secretion  from  its  body,  beneath 
which  the  insect  lives  :  those  in  which  the  actual 
skin  of  the  insect  hardens  and  becomes  more 
globose,  so  that  it  assumes  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  a  small  tortoise  ;  and  those  which, 
like  the  mealy  bugs,  have  no  scale-like  cover- 
ing.    The   volume   now    published    only   includes 


*  "Monograph  of  the  Coccid.-i;  of  the  Britisli  Isles,"  by 
R.  Newstead.    Published  by  the  Ray  Society. 


122 


THE  GARDEN. 


[February  22,  1902. 


those  which  are  included  in  the  first  division,  of 
which  some  thirty-eight  species  are  described  and 
figured.     The   plates   are   mostly   coloured    litho- 
graphs, and  are  exceedingly  good,  the  insects  being 
shown  of  their  natural  size  on  their  food  plants,  as 
well  as  magnified,  often  with  dissections,  some  of 
the  plates  showing  simpl}'  in  outline  the  last  joint 
of  the  body  of  the  female,   in  which  are  certain 
important  characters  that  distinguish  one  species 
from  another.     The  descriptions  are  very  full,  but 
decidedly  technical,  and  for  the  most  part  would 
not  be  understood  b_v  those  wlio  were  not  accus- 
tomed to  entomological  phraseolog3'.     However,  it 
would   lie   almost    impossible   to   have   given   the 
descriptions  in  popular  language.     The  difference 
between  the  sexes  before  alluded  to  in  these  insects 
is  very  extraordinary,  the  adult  females  in  most 
cases  are  immovable,  inanimate-looking  creatures, 
very    unlike     other     insects     in     every    outward 
appearance,  while  the  males  are  active  two- winged 
little  flies  which  anyone  would  at  once  recognise 
as  insects  ;    in  some   species   the   males   are   verj' 
common,  in  others  they  are  very  seldom  met  with, 
and  in  some  they  are  unknown.      The 
most  interesting   part   of   this  work  to 
horticulturists  is  no  doubt  the  chapter 
on      "  Methods     of      Prevention      and 
Remedies."    The  author  goes  very  fully 
into  the   subject,   but  does  not  suggest 
anj'thing  but  what  is  well  known  in  the 
way  of   insecticides.     Fumigating   with 
hydrocyanic  acid  gas  for  the  wholesale 
destruction  of   scale  is   strongly  recom- 
mended, but  it  can  only  be  used  with 
specially-constructed   fumigation   cham- 
bers or  some    other   form    of    air-tight 
covering    over    the    plants.        Kerosine 
emulsion    of   a   strength   suited    to    the 
plant    operated  on  is  mentioned  as  one 
of  the  best    insecticides.      This  volume 
will  be  consulted   by  those  who  are  to 
some  extent  interested  in  entomology  as 
well  as  horticulture  with  much  pleasure 
and  profit,  and  to  all  entomologists  who 
wish  to  study   this  group  of  insects  it 
is  almost  indispensable.  We  look  forward 
to  the  next  volume  with  some  impatience. 


Mr.  Wildamith  at  Heckfield  Place,  Hants,  a 
noted  place  from  which  so  many  good 
gardeners  have  proceeded  and  now  hold  good 
appointments.  After  staying  here  three  years 
or  so,  he  became  head  gardener  to  Mr.  F. 
Harris,  Lamberhurst,  Kent,  and  from  there 
went  to  Blenheim  Palace,  Woodstock. 

In  due  course  Mr.  Crump  exhibited  success- 
fully at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  South 
Kensington,  Crystal  Palace,  Eoyal  Botanic, 
Manchester,  Oxford,  and  other  shows,  silver 
cups  and  gold  medals  being  awarded,  including 
the  blue  riband  at  the  International  Potato 
show.  Crystal  Palace,  and  what  was  the  most 
appreciated  of  all  awards  was  Messrs.  Webber's 
£10  10s.  prize  for  the  be.st  packed  three  boxes 
of  fruit  delivered  by  the  railway  companies  at 
South  Kensington  intact,  in  the  way  of 
ordinary  parcels,  consigned  and  signed  for  as 
customary.  This  was  twice  competed  for  in 
succession,  a  first  prize  won  each  time  against 


W^ORKERS    AMONGST 
THE     FLOWERS. 

WILLIAM  CRUMP,  V.M.H. 

THE  subject  of  our  illustra- 
tion is  a  gardener  who 
thoroughly  loves  his  pro- 
fession, and  who  by  his 
perseverance  and  indo- 
mitable energy  has  raised 
himself  to  the  front  rank  of 
horticulturists. 

Mr.  Crump  was  born  in  Shrop- 
shire in  the  year  184.3.  Throughout 
his  school  days  it  appears  he  spent 
most  of  his  playtime  hours  amongst 
flowers  and  vegetables.  After  receiv- 
ing a  fairly  good  e  lunation  for  that  period 
in  the  National  school,  various  occupations 
were  offered  and  strongly  advised,  but 
none  was  liked  so  well  as  gardening.  For  a 
considerable  time  every  possible  obstacle  was 
placed  in  his  way,  but  his  parents  ultimately 
gave  way,  and  after  a  course  of  probation 
Mr.  Crump  was  duly  apprenticed  in  a 
model ately  well  managed  garden.  His  first 
responsible  charge  was  that  of  foreman  of  the 
glass  department  at  Powis  Castle,  Welshpool, 
under  the  late  .Mr.  G.  Brown,  a  famous  Scotch 
gardener  of  the  old  school.  There  was  a  good 
home  nursery  there  at  that  time,  also  .some 
splendid  specimens  and  collections  of  choice 
coniferte.  The  cultivation  of  Pine-apples  was 
then  a  feature,  and  so  were  the  terraces  of 
herbaceous  flowers.  Mr.  Crump  then  took  an 
apparently  downward  step  by  accepting  the 
ajipointment  of  general  foreman  under  the  late 


f      - 


jMR.     \V.    CKDMI-,    V.-M.II. 

such  competitors  as  Mr.  Coleman  of  Eastnor,and 
other  first-class  fruit  growers  and  fruit  packers. 
Blenheim  Orange  Melon,  which  still  holds 
its  own  as  one  of  the  best  scarlet  fl»sh  Melons, 
was  raised  by  Mr.  Crump,  and  exhibited  suc- 
cessfully in  open  competilion  with  upwards  of 
thirty  others,  and  obtained  a  first-class  certifi- 
cate of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  the  same 
year.  In  the  year  188.3  Mr.  Crump  removed 
to  Madresfield  Court,  a  place  noted  for  its 
excellent  .soil  for  fruit  growing.  Large 
numbers  of  hardy  fruit  trees  are  worked  up 
annually  for  tenants  and  distributed  gra- 
tuitously. Many  experiments  in  grafting  and 
double  grafting  with  a  view  to  the  fusing  of 
new  blood  and  the  improvement  of  existing 
choice  varieties  have  been  made  in  the  hope 
that  the  subtle  influences  of  stock  and  scion 
would  produce  something  worthy  of  the 
experiments. 


Partial    success    at    times    rewarded    Mrj 

Crump's    efforts,    but    further    trials    proved 

disappointing,   and    were   abandoned.      Therl 

is  an  interesting  experimental  plot,  where  somi 

2.')0  varieties  of  Apples,  eighty  of  Pears,  and 

fifty  of  Plums,  all  bush  trees,  are  on  trial  ;  anq 

when   any  new  variety  is  found  to   suit   th 

locality  a  stock  is  worked  up.     There  are  als 

a  good    many   seedlings    and    local    varieti^ 

added  to  the  above   Apples,  a  large  numbe 

being  annually  discarded.     Visitors  to  Madred 

field  Court   gardens   vfill   have   observed   thl 

encouragement  given  by  their  owner,  and  thj 

additional    improvements    carried    out    fro! 

time  to  time  with  the  object  of  making  th 

gardens   thoroughly  interesting,  especially  i| 

the  naturalising  of  hardy  .shrubs  and  flower 

Mr.  Crump  has  also  been  partly  in.strumenta 

in  working  up  for  the  county  an  auxiliary  of 

the  Gardener.s'  Royal  Benevolent  In.stitution, 

and  through  the  generosity  of  his  master.  Earl 

Beauchamp,  allowing  the  gardens  to 

be  open  to   the   public   once  a  year 

several   hundred    pounds  have   been 

added  to  that  excellent  institution. 

One    of    the    Victoria     Medals     of 

Honour  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Crump 

in  1897. 


CONTINENTAL    NOTES. 

The  following  novelties  appear  in  6'a)- 
tenflora,  February  1,  1902  : —  > 

New  Pelargoniums. — A  coloured  plate 
illustrates  five  very  fine  forms  raised  by 
Max  Burger  Halberstadt,  one  of  which. 
Die  Braut  (The  Bride),  is  an  exceedingly 
fine  pure  white  semi-double  form,  with 
large,  frilly  petals  and  a  compact,  hand- 
some truss.  The  others,  though  very 
fine,  are  on  more  familiar  lines  of  scarlet 
and  rose-pink,  more  or  less  flamed  with 
scarlet. 

^-l  Cultural  Report  of  the  Union  for  the 
Encouragement  of  Horticulture  (Verein 
zur  Beforderung  des  Gartenbanes)  in 
Berlin  gives  an  impartial  report  rega-rd- 
ing  numerous  flowering  plants  and  vege- 
tables tested  in  their  gardens,  giving 
full  descriptions — in  many  cases  correct- 
ing those  of  the  raisers — and  opinions  as 
to  success  or  failure  (a  practical  step 
worthy  of  adoption  on  this  side). 
Amongst  these  is  mentioned 

Petunia  hybr.  grand,  comp.  fl.-pl- 
rosea  perfecta  (!!!),  which  is  highly 
recommended  with  the  remark  that  the 
name  is  longer  than  the  plant  is  high. 
It  is,  at  anj'  rate,  a  charming  example  of 
nomenclature. 

Comet  Astern. — Ernst  Benary,  Erfurt, 

describes  and  illustrates  some  novelties 

of    this  strain,  amongst   them    Kaiseriu 

Friedrich,  a   dwarf  grower,   with    very 

large    flowers    like    reflexed    Chr3'santhemums   as 

much  as  6  inches  in  diameter,  pure  white ;  and 

Daririn  Asters  (Lady  Asters),  light  blue,  pure 
white,  innumerable  narrow  petals  curving  out- 
wards, forming  neat,  almost  hemispherical  flowers 
of  a  huge  double  Daisy  type. 

Antirrhinum  majus  grandiflorum  Queen  Victoria. 
— A  very  bold,  broad-tipped,  pure  white  form  ; 
very  long  stalks  to  individual  flowers,  hence  suit- 
able for  cutting. 

Celo.tia  .ipicata  (argentea  linearis). — This  appears 
to  be  a  truly  handsome  novelty  introduced  from 
the  East  Indies.  It  is  an  annual,  forming  tall, 
upright,  pyramidal  plants  about  'Ih  feet  high, 
bearing  a  great  number  of  awulike  spikes  of  bloom, 
rosy  red,  which  turn  to  a  silvery  white,  the  spikes 
thus  becoming  beautifully  particoloured  ;  suitable 
for  pots  or  the  open. 

Phlo.v  Drummondii  cu.spidata  fol.  alho-maryi- 
natis  (Benary). — A  beautiful  varietj'  with  long, 
crisped,  and  caudate  petals,  sometimes  fimbriate. 


February  22,   1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


123 


the  foliage  deeply  margined  with  white.  It  comes 
true  from  seed,  and  appears  to  be  well  worthy  of 
culture  by  the  illustration  given. 

CypriiMdium  insigne  rar.  mooreanum  x  spiceri- 
aniim  giganteum  (C.  Ansorge  Klein  Flokbeck). — 
The  Gartenwelt  figures  and  describes  this.  The 
upper  sepal  is  remarkably  broad,  light  green  at 
the  base,  the  rest  being  pure  white,  thickly  spotted 
with  rosy  lilac.  The  petals  are  brownish  yellow, 
spotted  with  brown,  and  the  labellum  shining  light 
chestnut. 

Wallfloicers  for  forcing.  — "M-oller's  Deutsche 
Gartner  Zeitung  "  illustrates  a  new  single  variety, 
Goliath,  but  it  is  a  remarkably  dwarf,  stocky,  and 
free-flowering  form,  which,  if  forcing  be  started  at 
the  end  of  January,  gives  good  flowering  plants 
within  a  mouth.  Sowing  is  effected  at  the  end  of 
March  or  beginning  of  April,  planting  out  in 
good  open  soil  in  May,  care  being  taken  not  to 
over-water.  In  September  they  are  potted  up  in 
a  good  rich  loamy  compost  and  placed  in  dry 
frames,  damp  being  prejudicial.  Kept  dry  and 
lightly  covered  they  will  also  do  in  the  open. 
Such  plants  treated  as  above  rapidly  form  good 
plants  as  described. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

WITCH     HAZELS    (HAMAMELIS), 

FOR  considerably  more  than  a  century  the 
only  Haraamelis  grown  in  this  country 
was  H.  virginica,  a  native  of  North 
America.  It  usually  forms  a  somewhat 
open  bush,  with  small  yellowish,  starry 
flowers  plentifully  borne  towards  the 
end  of  autumn  and  in  early  winter.  This  can 
only  be  considered  as  an  interesting  but  by  no 
means  highly  ornamental  shrub,  while  the  .Japanese 
species  stand  out  conspicuously  from  all  other 
trees  or  shrubs  in  our  gardens.  Even  in  .January, 
should  the  weather  be  mild,  the  still  leafless 
branches  are  thickly  studded  with  flowers,  which, 
in  the  case  of  H.  arborea,  a  writer  in  a  recent 
number  of  The  Garden  aptly  describes  as  tassels 
of  twisted  gold.  The  Japanese  forms  of  Witch 
Hazels  consist  of  the  following  : — 

Hamamelis  arhorea.—Hhis  is  the  largest  grower 
of  the  family,  and  specimens  may  be  met  with  that 
have   already  attained  the  dimen- 
sions of  small  trees.    Its  usual  habit 
is  to    produce  a    decided  leading 
shoot,  while  numerous  side  branches 
are  pushed  out  more  or  less  irre- 
gularly.      The   flowers,   which   are  'N.,,^ 
borne  in  such  profusion  that  every  \ 
shoot  is   wreathed,   are  of   a  clear  \ 
orange-yellow  tint.      Given  favour- 
able weather  they  remain  in  perfec- 
tion   a    long     time,    while,    when 
specimens    are   large    enough    (but 
at  present  they  are  too  precious),                ---^ 
the  flowering  sprays  form  a  delight- 
ful feature  indoors  if  arranged  in  a 
vase  with  a  few  pieces  of  evergreen 
foliage. 

H.  japonica. — This  is  dwarf er 
than  the  preceding,  and,  allowed  to 
assume  its  natural  character,  forms 
an  open  bush,  all  the  branches  of 
which  have  an  upward  tendency. 
The  flowers  are  somewhat  lighter 
in  colour  than  those  of  H.  arborea, 
and,  though  both  are  beautiful,  this 
last-named  is  the  better  of  the  two. 
H.  arborea  zuccarmiatia.  —  A 
counterpart  of  H.  japonica,  except 
in  the  colour  of  the  flowers,  which 
is  of  a  clear  citron-yellow,  and 
thus  forms  a  pleasing  variety. 
When  in  conjunction  with  the 
others  the  flowers  of  this  seen  in 
the  sunshine  of  a  winter's  day  serve 
as  a  foil  to  H.  arborea.  The  above 
names  are  in  general  use  in  many 
nurseries,  and  also  at  Kew,  and 
though  differences  of  opinion  pre- 
vail among  botanical  authorities  as 


to  the  correct  nomenclature  of  the  members  of  this 
genus,  the  Hamamelis  described  are,  from  a  garden 
point  of  view,  quite  distinct  and  beautiful. 

H.  mollis.  — The  latest  addition  to  the  genus  is  this 
species,  which  is  a  native  of  Western  China,  where 
it  was  first  discovered  by  Dr.  Henry,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  Lilum  Henryi,  and  numerous 
other  good  things.  This  new-comer,  of  which  at 
present  only  small  plants  are  in  cultivation, 
promises  to  attain  the  dimensions  of  a  good-sized 
shrub.  It  is  very  distinct  in  foliage  from  any  of 
the  others,  the  leaves  being  much  larger  than  in 
the  Japanese  kinds,  while  they  are  clothed  on  the 
under  surface  with  a  soft,  felt-like  material,  from 
whence  the  specific  name  of  mollis  is  derived.  The 
flowers  are  clear  yellow,  with  slightly  wider  and 
much  less  undulated  segments  than  those  of 
H.  arborea.  Though  at  present  little  known,  its 
future  is  very  promising. 

The  requirements  of  the  Witch  Hazels  are  not 
e.xacting,  though  they  succeed  best  in  a  fairly  good 
well-drained  loam,  that  is,  however,  not  dried  up 
at  any  time.  They  are  quite  hardy,  the  principal 
consideration  in  planting  being  to  bear  in  mind 
that  the  flowers  are  seen  to  the  best  advantage 
against  a  dark  background,  but,  if  possible,  they 
should  be  so  situated  as  to  allow  of  close  inspection, 
as  this  will  reveal  additional  charms  to  those  that 
can  be  detected  at  a  distance. 

All  of  the  above  can  be  justly  regarded  as  select 
shrubs,  for  they  command  a  good  price  in  nurseries. 
This  fact  is  principally  to  be  accounted  for  by 
their  slow  rate  of  propagation  and  growth  during 
the  earlier  stages.  Cuttings  strike  root  only  with 
difficulty,  and  the  means  of  increase  usually 
adopted  is  to  graft  the  better  flowering  kinds  ou  to 
seedlings  of  the  American  Hamamelis  virginica, 
which,  though  so  free-flowering,  seldom  produces  a 
corresponding  quantity  of  good  seeds. — T. 


A  DAY  IN  A  JAMAICA  GARDEN. 

Tea,  breakfast,  dinner.  This,  in  Jamaica,  is  the 
order  which  corresponds  to  the  English  breakfast, 
luncheon,  dinner.  Obadiah,  the  boy  who  cooks, 
and  I  have  a  difference  of  opinion  about  the  morning 
tea.  He  thinks  seven  is  a  good  time.  I  maintain 
that  by  seven  it  should  be  all  over.  The  sun  should 
not  be  up  when  I  sit  down,  is  my  view.     He  thinks 


it  does  not  matter.  Sometimes  I  go  out  watering 
before  tea,  but  not  now,  for  these  are  the  months 
that  do  our  watering  for  us.  It  is  one  of  the  last 
days  of  November,  Obadiah  not  over  zealous  as 
usual,  and  I  have  to  get  up  after  my  first  piece  of 
toast  to  register  the  seven  o'clock  reading  of  the 
thermometer.  It  is  72°.  Tea  over,  the  first  thing 
is  to  get  flowers  for  the  house.  One  fresh  glass  a 
day  is  the  rule  for  the  little  hall,  in  .Jamaica 
parlance,  which  does  double  duty  as  a  sitting-room 
and  dining-room.  If  yesterday's  glass  looks  well, 
and  it  generally  does,  for  Roses  and  Carnations  are 
chiefly  drawn  upon  for  house  use,  it  is  left,  only 
third  days  are  never  allowed.  This  morning  a  visit 
to  the  Rose  garden  supplies  me  with  what  is 
wanted  at  once.  There  jump  to  my  eye  some 
upright  sprays  of  the  shell-like  Henrj'  Bennett, 
which,  cut  long  with  sufficiency  of  good  leaves 
upon  each  spray,  arrange  themselves  in  the  hand 
to  ra3'  satisfaction,  a  sure  sign  that  they  will  be 
acceptable  in  their  glass. 

In  the  Rose  garden  are  some  Figs.  The  autumn 
crop  is  over,  and  one  of  the  trees  is  well  covered 
with  young  fruit  which  will  ripen  in  March. 
Spring  Figs  are  best  because  the  season  is  dry. 
The  October  rains  often  spoil  the  autumn  ones. 
The  sweetness  seems  to  be  washed  out  of  them, 
while  sun  fills  them  with  lusciousness. 

The  JIarica  is  flowering  to-da}'.  There  are 
clumps  of  it  on  the  way  up  to  the  house,  purple- 
blue  and  sweet,  five,  six,  and  even  seven  flowers  to 
each  spike,  and  on  the  old  plants  many  spikes.  I 
put  in  the  Roses  and  go  in  quest  of  the  fingerful  of 
Violets  which  is  the  daily  portion  of  the  bedroom. 
These,  for  convenience  of  watering,  for  they  are 
thirsty  things,  grow  bj'  the  big  tank,  whose  long 
edge  is  the  place  for  cuttings.  There  are  only  a 
few  there  now.  Almost  everything  has  been  put 
out,  and  there  is  but  a  remnant  of  old  stock,  a  few 
thrifty  Lavenders,  of  which  there  has  been  con- 
siderable planting  this  year,  some  Carnations, ' 
and  Begonias.  These  will  soon  find  their  places 
and  the  cutting  bed  will  be  remade.  It  must  be 
done  at  once,  for  December  to  March  is  the  best 
striking  time. 

At  one  end  of  the  tank  is  a  bed  of  Freesias 
looking  well,  leaves  a  foot  high  and  standing 
sturdily.  So  often  they  are  weak  and  fall  limply 
down.  They  want  plenty  of  water  when  growing, 
and  that  is  why  they  are  here.     They  do  not  h."ve 


A    QUIET    HOME    IN    THE    PORT    ROYAL    MOUNTAINS,    JAMAICA, 


124 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  22,  1902. 


MARICA    IN    A    .JAMAICA    WILD    (lARDEN. 


to  be  taken  up.  Our  dry  summers  give  them  the 
needful  rest.  Ashelving  bank  below  is  the  onl}'  place 
that  grows  Irises  of  the  Florentine  type.  It  com- 
bines the  necessary  conditions,  being  well  drained, 
inclining  to  dryness,  and  partially  shaded.  The  last 
condition  maybe  tliought  unnecessary,  but  we  are 
in  the  tropics. 

Just  as  I  get  in  with  the  Violets,  Ledhu,  the 
gardener,  calls  me  to  look  at  some  soil.  When  he 
came  as  usual  to  the  window  at  tea  time  for  orders 
I  told  him  to  find  me  some  stiff  clay,  and  here  it  is. 
Yesterday,  in  the  course  of  a  twenty  mile  walk 
across  the  mountains,  I  happened  on  two  ground 
Orchids  of  a  kind  new  to  me.  Digging  them  up 
with  an  improvised  instrument  of  Bamboo  showed 
the  soil  they  grew  in,  and  this  clay  which  Ledhu 
brings  seems  a  fair  match.  So  we  carry  it  down  to 
the  shady  corner  most  like  its  native  habitat.  This 
is  a  favourite  place.  A  Grevillea,  repeatedij- 
pollarded  to  keep  it  low  and  branching,  for  it  is  a 
quick  thing  to  run  up,  is  the  chief  shade  giver. 
From  it  stretches  an  irregular  structure  of  strong 
uprights  and  Bamboo  framework,  supporting  two 
Roses,  Rt'ved'Orononeside  making  in  combination 
with  another  climber  perpetual  heavy  shade,  and  on 
the  other  Cloth  of  (iold,  whose  more  open  growth 
allows  the  sunlight  to  chequer  through.  TheRcve 
d'Or's  companion  is  called  by  American  florists 
Coccineaindica.a  name  almost  obviouslyioaccurate. 
It  has  Ivy  leaves,  Bryony-like  tendrils,  and  white 
flowers,  which  should  be  followed  by  scarlet  fruits, 
but  here  they  never  set.  Poinsettias  further 
increase  the  shade  on  the  side  of  the  morning  sun. 
The  place  is  known  as  "  Begonia  corner,''  from  the 
Rexes  and  other  foliage  kinds  which  shun  bright 
light  and  scorching  heat.  The  most  beautiful,  if 
it  is  possible  to  discriminate  between  members  of 
this  perfect  family,  is  B.  olbia,  which  varies  in 
every  light,  green  and  lustrous  brown  one  waj', 
blazing  red  when  looked  at  against  the  sun.  The 
reddened  under  side  of  the  leaves  of  B.  conchifolia 
give  something  of  the  same  effect,  only  it  lacks  the 
variety  of  colouring  above,  the  foliage  being 
leathery  and  more  uniform  in  surface  tint.  B. 
metallica  finds  a  place  here  too.  and  .several  others. 
The  ground  carpet  is  of  Saxifraga  sarmentosa, 
Mother  of  Thousands  as  we  call  it,  with  Episciasof 
two  kinds,  E.  fulgida  rich  in  leaf  and  splendid 
with  crimson-red  flowers,  and  another  species 
whose  leaves  are  less  well  marked,  and  which  is 
more   chary  of   producing  its   tender  blossoms  of 


palest  violet.  The  two  groups  are  kept  distinct, 
and  are  separated  by  foliage  plants  which  repeat 
green  and  white  in  endless  variety.  Flat  Fittonia 
is  there  netted  and  veined,  easil3'  increasing; 
Aglaonema  picta,  cherry-berried  at  times,  and 
another  species  of  Aglaonema  striped  with  white. 
Selaginellas  are  prominent,  a  wild  one  from  the 
hills  growing  low  in  thick  mats  very  much  like  8. 
helvetica,  but  probabh'  not  it,  S.  Martensi  standing 
higher  in  graceful  growths  of  green  coral,  while 
S.  Wildenovi  flashes  its  peacock  tints  as  it  climbs 
among  the  bare  Rose  branches  and  clothes  them 
anew  with  the  leafage  they  have  lost  for  want  of 
sun.  There  is  a  doubt  whether  this  is  the  right 
name.  An  American  horticulturist  of  the  highest 
repute  amends  it  to  Lycopodium  ca'sium  arboreum. 
It  must  be  caught  with  just  the  right  slant  of  light, 
and  in  the  proper  position  is  as  strangely  beautiful 
as  Labrador  spar.  With  it  twines  Cissus  discolor. 
These  form  a  bower  sacred  to  a  long-tailed  hum- 
ming bird,  who  sits  here  with  his  little  wife  for 
short  intervals  between  dashing  excursions  among 
the  flowers.  Torenia  enjoys  this  well  watered  spot 
and  is  pleasant  to  look  upon  with  its  porcelain 
blue,  and  Sinningia  major  in  these  winter  months 
hangs  out  its  pursy  flowers  much  like  Campanula 
barbata  in  shape  and  exactly  like  it  in  colour. 

But  we  must  not  too  long  delay  at  this  fascinating 
corner.  More  general  impressions  must  be  noted. 
For  glory  of  colour  the  garden  is  at  its  richest  in 
November  and  December.  The  Poinsettias  are 
then  most  heavily  laden  with  their  drooping  whorls 
of  fiame,  and  the  gigantic  Tithonia  diversifolia,  that 
peerless  Sunflower  of  deeply  incised  leaves  and 
long  scented  blossom,  towers  up  in  waving  rods  of 
yellow. 

Yet  must  not  the  gardener  gi\e  himself  up  solely 
to  the  pleasure  of  contemplation.  He  must  go 
round  critically  examining,  reviewing  what  has 
been  lately  planted  to  catch  the  settling  in  of  the 
showery  days,  noting  gaps  to  be  filled,  projecting 
changes  and  improvements.  "Wall  and  Water 
Gardens  "  has  been  a  help  of  late,  and  suggested  the 
planting  of  Indian  Pinks  in  hastily  improvised 
walls  where  were  formerly  somewhat  meaningless 
slopes.  They  thrive  well  and  in  various  shades  of 
salmon  from  a  packet  of  Salmon  t^tueen,  make  fair 
substitutes  for  the  kinds  which  defy  F^nglish  frosts 
and  heats,  but  are  unwilling  to  bear  the  fiercer 
blaze  of  .southern  sun. 

Hard   bv  nne  of  these  new  walls,  which  is  so 


little  perpendicular  that  it  is  rather 
a  wall  laid  flat,  is  an  imposing  group 
of  Costus  speciosus.  The  flowers  are 
just  over  after  going  on  for  some 
months  and  the  outflowered  thyrsus 
stands  erect,  claret-red,  at  the  end  of 
each  rod,  and  will  be  ornamental  for 
some  weeks  n?ore.  Peculiar  and 
beautiful  is  the  arrangement  of 
leaves  upon  the  rods,  and  besides 
appealing  to  the  eye  they  gratify  the 
sense  of  touch,  cool  and  shiny  above, 
wonderfully  soft  below,  with  downi- 
ness so  fine  as  to  be  almost  invisible. 
While  stroking  one  of  them  I  look 
upon  my  last  remaining  plant  of 
Plumbago  rosea,  surely  unmatchable 
in  tint  except  by  one  of  our  bulbs,  a 
species  of  Lycoris.  The  most  difficult 
of  plants  is  Plumbago  rosea,  and  one 
knows  not  why.  Deep-rooted  it  can- 
not mind  the  sun,  in  which  its  bigger 
brother  P.  capensis  so  revels  that  it 
has  constantly  to  be  restrained  with 
fierce  onslaught  of  the  cutlass. 

A  group  of  double  French  Mari- 
golds gives  me  great  pleasure.  It  is 
of  stature  low  enough  to  withstand 
wind  and  rain  yet  not  unduly 
dwarfed,  colour  of  a  Horse  Chestnut 
fresh  from  its  shell,  gold-laced  at 
the  edges  of  its  puckered  petals  and 
glorious  exceedingly  with  central 
fluffy  boss  of  gold.  Why,  when 
common  things  are  so  infinitely 
beautiful,  do  we  spend  time  over 
rarer  ?  Rarity  is  so  often  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  plant  does  not  suit 
its  environment.  If  you  value  your  peace  of  mind, 
and  do  not  find  pleasure  merely  in  the  surmounting 
of  dithculties,  do  away  with  it  and  grow  something 
which  does  suit,  which  looks  and  feels  at  home  and 
is  always  well  and  thriving.  After  which  good 
piece  of  advice  I  turn  regretfully  to  my  peccant 
Plumbago  and  promise  it  some  help  to  try  and 
induce  it  to  stay  with  me.  Yet  in  a  general  way  I 
keep  to  my  opinion,  and  when  anybody  shows  me 
a  rare  plant  and  says  it  is  very  difficult,  as  I  look 
upon  the  poor  struggling  thing  the  comment  of  the 
surly  doctor  on  the  performance  of  the  J'oung  la'dy 
at  the  pianoforte  comes  to  my  mind.  "It  is  very 
diiiicult,  "  said  the  fond  mother.  "  Would  God  it 
had  been  impossible,"  rejoined  the  bear.  Except 
that  one  Plumbago,  in  my  garden  there  is  no  rare 
plant,  not  one  that  struggles  and  strives.  Such  are 
sent  to  the  rubbish  heap.  Many  of  my  best  doers 
are  rare  enough  at  home,  some,  like  the  Mountain 
Pride  (Spathelia  simplex)  probably  unknown.  But 
all  are  common  here.  They  riot  and  seed  them- 
selves. 

A  post  with  Honeysuckle  upon  it  came  down 
yesterday  with  a  gust  of  wind.  We  have  just  been 
making  it  good  with  one  of  bully  (bullet)  tree  which 
will  last  my  time  and  somebody  else's.  The  first 
weak  one  was  the  result  of  that  stupid  but  some- 
times almost  unavoidable  thing  a  scratch  job.  . 

As  we  pass  the  rill  we  see  that  water  is  not  at  its 
full  flow.  It  has  been  getting  less  for  some  days 
past  and  we  know  what  is  the  matter,  and  this 
seems  a  fitting  time  to  attend  to  it.  So  I  take 
Headlam,  who  carries  a  pickaxe,  crowbar,  and  the 
inevitable  cutlass,  and  we  follow  the  water  up  past 
the  bathing-place  where  we  come  to  the  seat  of 
mischief.  The  rill  is  led  ofl'  from  the  parent 
stream  by  a  board  gutter  as  it  is  termed,  a  square- 
sided  trough.  The  water  being  full  of  lime,  which 
it  deposits  as  it  runs,  gradually  fills  the  gutter 
with  "  canker,''  and  this  we  have  to  remove.  It  is 
a  lovely  spot  in  the  heart  of  the  bush,  trees  over- 
head and  below  Ferns  and  Orchids.  The  commonest 
of  these  is  a  Habenaria  not  unlike  the  wild  English 
Garlic,  but  growing  less  thickly,  showing  brown 
earth  strewed  with  dead  leaves  between.  On  rocks 
and  mouldering  tree  stumps  are  clumps  of  the  fine 
Oneidiura  luridum.  The  sun  oiily  enters  in  quivering 
spots  and  it  is  deliciously  cool.  There  are  two 
sections  of  board  gutter.  At  the  lop  where  we 
begin  work  the  wooden  trough  has  disappeared, 
and   the   little  dip  over  which  it  was  originally 


February  22,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


125 


carried  is  now  bestridden  by  a  canker  gutter  strong 
as  cement.  The  deposit  of  sinter  has  filled  it  to 
the  top  in  several  places  and  a  channel  has  to  be 
out  out  with  the  pickaxe.  Headlam  stands  on  it, 
"chipsing  it,"  as  he  says,  with  strong  strokes, 
widening  and  deepening  to  the  necessary  size, 
which,  as  we  have  a  copious  supply  of  water,  is 
less  than  that  of  the  original  gutter,  ensuring 
stability. 

As  Headlam  works  I  wander  up  the  stream 
reproaching  myself  for  wasted  opportunities.  Here 
is  just  an  English  copse  by  the  banks  of  a  rocky 
torrent  and  I  have  done  nothing  with  it,  not  made 
so  much  as  a  rough  path  to  save  me  from  Cockspur, 
ihe  thorny  climber,  one  branch  of  which  has  caught 
me  by  the  legs  while  another  brushes  my  face. 
And  the  ground  is  lovely,  steeply  sloping  to  the 
rushing  stream,  still  more  steeply  rising  on  the 
further  side.  Here  is  a  great  clump  of  Phaius 
grandifolius  perfectly  placed  by  nature  near  a  grey 
rock,  and  again  I  find  myself  admiring  the  very 
earth  itself  with  its  right  proportion  of  fallen  leaves 
decayed  and  decaying.  There  is  no  rough  grass  or 
rubbish,  but  brown  soil,  a  few  Habenarias,  this 
Phaius  which  will  be  out  next  month,  and  Ferns 
plenty  but  not  too  thick,  more  than  I  can  name 
though  I  know  a  few.  There  is  Adiantum  tenerum 
always  my  favourite,  Blechnuni  occidentale  whose 
young  fronds  are  brown-pink  ;  on  the  rocks  and 
tree-stubs  Polypodium  incanum  rather  smaller  than 
our  home  one,  and  on  the  ground  Amemia  adian- 
tifolia  which  is  just  French  Fern  bearing  twin 
flowers.  Gold  and  Silver  Ferns  are  very  common 
in  the  district,  but  I  do  not  see  them  here.  They 
like  to  come  down  to  opener  places,  edges  of  paths 
and  so  on.  Nor  do  I  see  the  splendid  Uavallia 
dissecta  which  has  almost  taken  possession  of  the 
fernery.  Several  unknowns  reproach  me  for  ignor- 
ance. What  is  apparently  a  Hart's-tongue  is  one. 
It  is  called  Cow-tongue  here,  and,  unlikely  as  it 
appears,  1  have  been  told,  I  think,  that  it  is  a 
Polypody.  That  is  perhaps  a  Nephrodium,  but  do 
not  take  my  word  for  it,  and  there  is  something 
just  like  Holly  Fern. 

About  every  two  years  I  make  a  pilgrimage  this 
way  to  a  glorious  tree,  a  wild  Tamarind,  Board- 
tamarind  they  usually  call  it  for  its  handsome 
wood  (Pithecolobium  filicifolium),  great  in  girth, 
noble  in  height,  magnificiently  towering  over  the 
puny  undergrowth  of  coppice.  Yes,  the  next  or 
nearly  next   job,   tor  quite  the  next  is  a  playing 


with  water  down  by  the  house,  the  result  of  the 
"  chipsing''  now  going  on  which  will  give  us  more 
water  than  we  have  ever  had  before.  The  next 
job  but  one,  I  say,  will  be  to  make  a  path  to  the 
Tamarind  and  to  free  it  from  the  unmannerly 
pushing  of  sonTe  of  its  low-born  neighbours.  A 
Sweetwood  (Nectandra  exaltata)  has  had  the 
audacity  to  throw  itself  up  fort}'  feet  into  its  very 
arms.  The  a.xe  shall  be  laid  to  its  trunk. 
(To  he.  continued. j 


THE     FLOWER    GARDEN. 


WALL     GARDENING     AT 
THE    ENGLISH   LAKES. 

IT  has  often  been  my  pleasure  during  the  last 
twenty  years  to  visit  our  English  lakes 
during  the  midwinter  months.  Those  who 
have  only  visited  the  Lake  country  in  mid- 
summer or  autumn  can  have  but  a  faint 
idea  of  their  beauty  in  winter  or  earlj- 
spring.  During  the  winter  months  the  walls 
and  hedgerows  and  even  the  rocks  are  covered 
with  Mosses,  Lichens,  and  Ferns,  which  varj'  in 
colour  from  deepest  green  of  the  Mosses,  many  of 
which  are  in  fruit  and  covered  with  little  brown 
capsules,  to  the  many  colours  of  the  Lichen,  now 
at  their  best,  hanging  and  covering  the  rock  with 
golden  yellow,  lovely  grey,  and  emerald  green. 
Nothing  is  naked  or  bare. 

Visitors  to  our  English  Lake  country  will  often 
have  been  charmed  with  the  rich  vegetation  which 
garnishes  the  walls  of  this  lovely  district.  In 
early  spring,  and  while  the  Mosses  are  still  in  their 
full  beauty,  they  are  covered  with  various  spring 
Howering  plants,  chiefly  annuals,  such  as  Saxifraga 
tridactylites,  Draba  verna,  Arenaria  serpyllifolia, 
Poa  rigida,  Aira  prajcox,  and  Cardamine  hirsuta, 
plants  which  favour  a  drj'  sunny  position.  On  the 
walls  which  are  built  abutting  upon  the  mountain 
sides  we  have  still  another  class  of  plant  of  a  more 
perennial  character,  such  as  the  common  small- 
leaved  Ivy,  which  takes  on  various  shades  of 
colouring  according  to  position  and  aspect.  If 
much  exposed  to  the  sun  it  assumes  bright 
colouring  in  autumn.  On  these  walls  the  soil, 
even  in  the  height  of  summer,  is  mo.e  or  less  damp 


EUCUARIS   AMAZONICA   IN   A   JAMAICA   WILDOAKPEN, 


and  filled  with  moisture,  sustaining  a  much  better 
and  greater  variety  of  plant  life.  Here  also  we 
fiml  Geranium  robertianuni,  Thymus  Serpyllum, 
Solidago  Virgaurea,  Digitalis  purpurea  and 
Hieraciums  of  various  species,  Sedum  anglicum, 
S.  acre,  Glechoma  hederacea,  Veronica  otiicinalis, 
and  V.  Charafedrys,  perhaps  the  prettiest  of  all 
our  British  Veronicas  for  wall  culture.  The  foot 
of  the  walls  is  generally  filled  with  stronger 
growing  plants,  such  as  Ath3'rium  Filix-fo^mina, 
Lastrea  Filix-raas,  Lastrea  dilatata,  and  in  the 
mountainous  district  Lastrea  montana  and  Allo- 
sorus  crispus.  In  fact,  wall  gardening  in  the  Lake 
country  is  a  very  easj'  matter,  as  Nature  here  is 
ever  ready  with  a  helping  hand.  When  this  is 
supplemented  by  the  aid  of  the  skilful  gardener 
wall  gardening  becomes  a  pleasure  indeed. 

In  no  part  of  the  country  have  I  seen  such  a 
splendid  piece  of  wall  gardening  as  is  to  be  found 
at  Church  Style,  Grasmere.  Here  Mr.  Robert 
Hayes  has  fur  years  been  aiding  Nature,  woiking 
hand  in  hand  with  the  "  grand  old  nurse  ;''  together 
the}'  have  done  wonders.  Indeed,  like  the  village 
church,  Mr.  Hayes's  wall  garc^en  is  one  of  the 
attractions  of  the  quiet  and  classic  village  of 
(Jrasmere.  The  last  time  I  was  there — last 
October — I  counted  upward  of  100  species  of  plants 
growing  chieSy  from  the  top  of  the  wall.  Some 
of  the  best  plants  included  at  least  twenty  s-pecies 
of  the  Saxifrages,  among  which  must  be  meiiliuned 
Saxifraga  longifolia,  S.  Cotyledon,  and  a  number 
of  the  aizoou  section,  all  of  which  are  admirably 
adapted  for  such  work.  Some  large  clumps  of  the 
Megasea  group  looked  extremely  beautiful,  the  hot 
dry  summer  having  already  given  a  splendid 
crimson  lustre  to  the  big  glossy  leaves.  Saxi- 
frages of  the  mossy  section  were  in  plenty,  but  had 
suflered  somewhat  from  the  prolonged  dry  season. 
Now  they  are  looking  at  their  best,  and  give  a  most 
beautiful  effect  as  they  overrun  and  overhang  the 
wall. 

I  was  a  little  surprised  to  see  some  nice  plants 
of  Gnaphalium  Leontopodium  quite  at  home,  and 
on  ^  the  north  side  of  the  wall  were  a  few  of 
Ramondia,  which  does  well  in  the  Lake  country 
provided  it  can  secure  a  place  in  a  suitable  position 
facing  north.  Aubrielia  deltoidea  was  in  all  its 
various  forms,  along  with  alpine  Phloxes  such  as 
P.  G.  F.  Wilson,  P.  Nelsoni,  P.  atropurpurea  and 
grandiflora,  Sedums,  Cerastiunis,  Dianlhus 
ch'sIup,  finibriatus  and  Caryophyllus ;  Alyssum 
argenteum,  and  A.  saxatilis  ;  Sapo- 
naria  ocymoides,  gemperviNiims, 
Thymus  Serpyllum  and  T.  lanu- 
ginosus,  with  the  white  and  crimson 
varieties:;  Drabas  in  several  species ; 
Onosma  tauricum,  a  fine  plant  evi- 
dently at  home  ;  Campanulas  gar- 
ganica,  hirsuta,  rotundifolia  alba, 
pusilla,  Hostii,  isophylla  alba ; 
Erodiums,  Iberis,  Veronicas,  Cistus, 
Carnations,  and  Pinks  ;  indeed,  the 
list  could  be  considerably  extended, 
but  the  plants  named  will  suffice  to 
show  what  can  be  done  under  such 
favourable  conditions  as  are  not 
always  to  be  found  elsewhere.  But 
wherever  the  walls  are  naturally 
covered  with  vegetation  there  will 
be  found  the  suitable  conditions  for 
wall  gardening. 

W.  H.  Stansfield. 
Southport. 

TUBEKOUS    BEGONIA 

CRISTATA  BICOLOE. 
The  Begonia  is  one  of  the  first  in 
the  list  of  plants  which  have  been 
greatly  improved  thanks  to  its 
prolific  variability,  and  especially 
to  the  numerous  hybridiangs  ai.d 
selections  of  which  the  various 
species  have  been  the  object.  One 
of  the  most  interesting  productions 
is  that  of  M.  M.  Vallerand  freres, 
the  hybrid  B.  cristata  so  named  on 
account  of  the  outgrowths  in  the 
form  of  crests  which  are  developed 


126 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  22,  1902. 


in  the  centre  of  the  petals,  giving  to  the  plant 
a  distinct  and  pleasing  appearance.  This  charac- 
teristic has  been  fixed  by  successive  selections  and 
is  reproduced  freely  from  seed.  This  brilliant 
production  has  recently  been  augmented  by  a  new 
variety  produced  by  M.  Arthur  Billard.  M.  Billard 
has,  after  numerous  trials,  succeeded  in  obtaining 
a  flower  whose  petals,  properly  called  the  crested 
outgrowth,  are  of  two  quite  distinct  .shades,  and  has 
named  it  B.  t.  h.  cristata  bicolor.  The  crest  is  of 
a  darker  shade  than  the  petals  ;  the  pale  pink 
flower  has  a  deep  pink  crest,  and  the  crest  of  the 
salmon  coloured  flower  is  of  a  coppery  tint.  This 
new  race  appears  to  us  to  be  very  meritorious,  an<l 


Your  correspondent  says  that  the  plant  holds  its 
own  in  a  tolerably  good  soil.  In  this  part  of 
Devonshire  it  apparently  cares  neither  for  soil  nor 
position,  for  it  grows  and  flowers  upon  heaps  of 
stones  by  the  roadside,  even  under  the  shade  of  a 
high  wall  and  exposed  to  the  east  wind.  In  my 
own  garden  it  seems  to  have  flourished  best  on  the 
north  side  of  the  house,  where  sun  seldom  or 
never  reaches  it.  As  your  correspondent  suggests, 
the  flowers  and  a  few  leaves  are  valuable  at 
Christmas  and  through  January  for  mixing  with 
the  other  few  outdoor  plants  available,  and  the 
flowers  so  arranged  are  by  no  means  without 
attraction,  notwithstanding  the  absence  of  any 
what  may  be  called  definite  colour. 

While  writing  it  may  be  worth  mentioning  that, 
in  spite  of  the  .=evere   frosts  we  are  again  expe- 
riencing,   the    liedgebanks    are    beginning    to    be 
clothed   with   fresh   green   foliage   of    many   wild 
plants,  that  of  the  Arum  being  conspicuous  by  its 
bright,  shiny  green.     Periwinkles  have  not  really 
ceased  flowering  all  the  winter,   and   as  I  write  I 
have   a   small   posy   of   them    on   my  table.     The 
golden-yellow  of  the  Oorse  reflected  in  the  sunlight 
has    brightened     up    the   tops   of    the 
hedgerows  for  some  weeks  past.   These, 
together  with  Primroses,  Violets,  and 
Wallflowers  in   the    gardens,  and  the 
occasional  appearance  of  a  few  Daisies 
in  the  grass,  indicate  the  approach  of 
spring,  though  there  is  probably  still 
some  weeks  of  wintry  weather  before 
us. — Jonx    R.    Jackson,    Claremont, 
Lympulone,  Devon. 


SOLDANELLA    I'USILLA    .\ND    S.    MINIMA. 

such  was  also  the  opinion  of  the  committee  of  the 
Societe  Nationale  d'Horticulture  who  thought  very 
highly  of  the  types  exhibited  before  them.  Lovers 
of  Begonias  will  certainly  be  interested  in  this 
curious  and  charming  novelty. 

Albert  Manmene  in  Le  Jardin. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

THE    WINTER     HELIOTROPE     AS    A 
GARDEN     PL.^NT. 

IN  The  Garden  of  January  18,  page  47,  Mr. 
T.  B.  Field  advocates  the  growth  of  the 
winter  Heliotrope  (Petasites  fragrans)  as  a 
garden  plant.  I  fully  endor.se  all  that  he 
says  about  its  value  in  "the  winter  .season,  and, 
notwithstanding  its  abundance  as  a  road'iide 
weed  in  this  neighbourhood,  I  have  allowed  it  to 
grow  on  a  waste  piece  of  ground  in  my  garden, 
and  was  rewarded  from  about  the  middle  of 
December  almost  to  the  present  time  with  an 
abundance  of  its  sweet-smelling  flowers,  which, 
tinder  the  influence  of  sun,  quite  perfume  the  air. 


EKYTHRONIUMS. 

Mr.  Mali.ett's  article  on  Erythro- 
niums  is  a  most  excellent  one.  A  few 
notes  in  addition  may  be  of  interest. 
We  owe  none  of  the  American  Ery  thro- 
niums  to  garden  variation,  but  every 
one  in  cultivation  is  a  wild  local 
variation.  There  is  quite  a  difference 
f^  in  the  native  natural  habitat  of  the 
Pacific  Coast  varieties.  1.  E.  revo- 
lutum  and  its  variations  of  var.  .lohu- 
sonii,  Watsonii,  Bolanderii  (Smithii), 
and  Pink  Beauty  grow  naturally  a 
short  distance  (twelve  to  twenty  miles) 
from  the  Pacific  Ocean,  in  rather 
heavy  soil,  in  cool  moist  flats  on  the 
border  of  forest,  usually  in  the  under- 
brush. Nevertheless,  it  is  at  its  very 
best  where  the  timber  has  been  cut 
and  the  underbrush  cut  or  burned 
over.  There  for  two  or  three  years 
it  will  grow  two  or  three  times  its 
normal  height  and  size.  2.  E.  gigan- 
teum,  E.  Hendersonii,  E.  Howellii, 
and  E.  citrinum  begin  where  the  E. 
revolutums  leave  oS'.  Sometimes  thej' 
are  found  on  the  slopes  of  hills,  on 
the  sunny  side,  in  timber,  while  the  revolutums 
are  in  the  heavy  flat  land  at  the  base.  From 
there  they  are  found  farther  inward  on  the  cool 
slopes  in  open  timber  or  underbrush,  and  at  their 
very  best  in  rich  drhrii  of  broken  rock  mingled 
with  vegetable  matter.  They  may  be  found  in 
clay,  loam,  sandy  loam,  or  grit  as  well,  and  are 
best  in  recently  burned-over  soils.  3.  E.  Hartwegii 
is  distinct  in  its  distribution.  It  is  native  of  the 
foothill  belt  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  a  hot  dry  region, 
very  free  from  frost,  at  an  elevation  of  1,200  feet 
to  2,000  feet.  There  it  thrives  in  situations  on 
rock  and  beneath  low  bushes,  where  it  is  exceed- 
ingly hot  and  dry  in  summer.  In  consequence 
E.  Hartwegii  will  stand  sun,  drought,  and  heat 
as  no  other  Erythroniam  will.  4.  E.  montanum, 
E.  purpurascens,  and  some  forms  of  E.  grandi- 
florum  grow  at  a  high  altitude,  from  4,000  feet  to 
8,000  feet,  and  are  often  sub-alpine.  They  more 
often  grow  in  the  open,  but  the  open  season  is  very 
short,  often  only  two  months  between  snows. 
They  are  difficult  garden  subjects  to  manage. 
E.  grandiflorum  var.  album  grows  at  about  1,400 
feet  altitude  in  Eastern  Washington.  There  it  is 
found  in  open  Pine  forests  in  a  sandy  soil,  and 
flowers  in  April.      One  form   of  E.    grandiflorum 


(var.  robusta)  grows  on  the  Columbia  River,  very 
little  above  the  sea  level,  in  open  Pine  woods.  It 
flowers  early. 

I'kiah,  California.  Carl  Pprdy. 


PRIMULA   MEGASE,^iFOLTA. 

In  the  Rev.  C.  WoUey  Dod's  interesting  note  on 
the  above  in  the  Gardener's  Chronicle  of  February  1 
he  refers  to  the  uncertainty  of  its  season 
of  flowering  as  being  a  drawback  to  its 
open  air  cultivation  in  England.  I  have  it 
flowering  well  in  a  cold  frame  and  also  out  in  the 
open,  and  of  the  two  the  plants  in  the  rock  garden 
are  the  better.  The}'  have  withstood  lo"  of  frost 
uninjured,  and  are  looking  thoroughly  at  home. 
Carl  Sprenger  gives  the  flowering  seasons  as  May, 
autumn,  and  winter.  I  can  speak  for  its  winter 
flowering  capacity,  but  it  remains  to  be  seen  if  the 
same  plants  will  flower  again  in  May  and  autumn. 
The  plants  for  which  I  was  given  an  award  last 
April  at  the  Drill  Hall  set  their  seeds  well  and  are 
strong  plants  in  fine  flower  now. — E.  Willmott, 
Wnrleij  Place. 


THE    SOLDANELLAS. 

The  genus  Soldanella  i.s  essentially  alpine  and 
European,  not  being  found  anywhere  but  in 
the  mountains  and  alpine  regions  of  the  middle 
and  south  of  Europe. 

Only  one  species,  S.  alpina,  was  known  to 
Linn;eus.  Since  his  time  a  certain  number 
have  been  determined,  and  Wildenow  espe- 
cially has  separated  the  older  type  into  two 
species,  which  are  admitted  by  the  "Index 
Kewensis,"  namely,  S.  alpina  and  S.  montana. 
Baumgarten  established  the  species  S.  pusilla, 
and  Hoppe  S.  minima.  Further,  Schott  and 
Kotschy  discovered  S.  pyrohefolia  in  the 
Atistrian  Alps,  and  especially  in  those  of  Tran- 
sylvania. Finally,  Kerner  found  a  hybrid  of 
S.  alpina  and  pusilla,  and  Huter  another  of 
alpina  and  minima,  which  he  named  C4auderi. 
This  makes  seven  Soldanellas,  five  being  species 
(though  in  the  "Index  Kewensis"  they  are 
reduced  to  four,  S.  pyrolitfolia  not  being 
detached  from  S.  alpina)  and  two  hybrids. 

The  several  species  group  themselves  under 
two  types,  namely,  the  old  S.  alpina  of  Linn;eus 
and  S.  pusilla.  The  distinctive  character  that 
separates  them  is  that  in  the  alpina  group  the 
style  is  either  of  e(iual  length  with  the  corolla 
or  longer,  and  the  flowers  are  set  two  or  three 
upon  the  same  stem,  while  in  the  .second  group 
the  .style  is  shorter  than  the  corolla  and  the 
flowers  are  solitary. 

Soldanelhi  (djtiiia  (Willd.)  grows  in  moun- 
tain regions  at  from  4,000  feet  to  8,0(.k_)  feet 
throughout  the  Alpine  chain,  in  the  Southern 
Jura,  the  Cantal  Range,  the  Pyrenees,  the 
mountains  of  Aragon,  and  the  Apennine.s.  It 
is  distinguished  by  its  reniform,  entire  leave.", 
very  sparsely  toothed,  with  two  ear -like 
drooping  lobes  at  the  base,  and  by  its  flower- 
stem  of  a  height  of  3  inches  to  .A  inches  ;  the 
pedicels  are  a  little  roughened  by  the  presence 
of  sessile  glands  ;  the  scales  of  the  corolla 
(abortive  stamens  alternating  with  the  lobes 
of  the  corolla)  are  attached  to  the  filaments. 

.S'.  inontanii  (Willd.)  grows  in  the  mountain 
regions  at  .■?,000  feet  to  4,000  feet,  in  the 
Alps  of  Austria,  of  Transylvania,  of  Lombardy, 
and  in  the  Lower  Pyrenees.  In  this  species 
the  leaves  are  rounded  instead  of  being  kidney 
shaped,  more  or  less  crenatc,  the  underside 
often  of  a  strong  purple  colour  ;  the  fiower- 
stem  has  a  height  of  12  inches  to  14  inches; 
the  scales  of  the  corolla  aic  free  ;  the  leaves 
are  indented  (pitted)  and  with  nntoothed  lobes ; 
the  pedicel,  calyx,  and  petiole  are  furnished 
with  glandular  hairs. 

S.  pyrokffolia  (Schott  and  Kotschy).  — 
Eastern  and  Transylvanian  Alps,  within  th 


February  22,  1902.] 


THE   GAEDEN. 


127 


alpine  zone.  Leaves  orbicular,  thick,  and 
bright  green  ;  undersides  strongly  ribbed  and 
regularly  pitted  above  ;  flower-stem  very  long, 
glandular  at  the  base. 

S.  pusilla  (Baumg.)  syn.  S.  Clusii  (Gaud.)— 
Granitic  Alps  of  Central  and  Eastern  Switzer- 
land, of  Lombardy,  and  the  Carpathians  (at 
5,000  feet  to  7,000  feet,  always  on  tUe  granite) ; 
plant  very  small,  leaves  minute  cordi-reni- 
form,  very  slightly  crenate,  and  a  little  pitted 
towards  their  liase  ;  flower-stalk  3  inches  to 
6  inches  high,  set  with  small  glands  ;  flower 
always  solitary  ;  corolla  narrow,  long-shaped, 
reddish  violet,  fringed  for  nearly  one-third  of 
the  length,  the  fringe  recurved  outwards 

S.  minima  (Hoppe).  —  Limestone  Alps  of 
Eastern  Switzerland  (Grisons),  of  the  Tyrol, 
Croatia,  and  the  Carpathians,  at  6,000  feet  to 
7,000  feet ;  the  smallest  of  the  Soldanellas— 
absolutely  liliputian  ;  leaves  very  small,  quite 
round,  and  never  indented  at  the  base  ;  flower- 
stem  from  3}  inches  to  -t  inches  high,  slightly 
downy,  and  invariably  one-flowered  ;  flower 
lilac  -  white,  with  fringing 
barely  a  quarter  of  the 
length.  V 

.S'.  Gaiideri  {E.nt.)  is  inter- 
mediate lietween'  S.  aljjina 
and  S.  minima,  but  rather 
nearer  the  former ;  and  ,S'. 
hybrida  syn.  Medid  (Brii,  _ 
is  half-way  lietween  S.  alpina 
and  S.  pusilla. 


As  for  the  culture  of  the  Soldanellas,  it  is 
obviously  the  same  for  all  species.  They  do 
not  so  much  require  a  dan'p  soil  (as  is  so 
generally  supposed)  as  a  moisture-laden  atmos- 
phere, plenty  of  light,  and  very  little  heat. 
In  the  Alps  the  first  fine  days  bring  them  ihtj 
bloom.  They  do  not  even  wait  for  the  spring 
for  the  expansion  of  their  corollas,  and  1  have 
often  found  them  flowering  under  the  snow 
in  little  cavities  made  by  themselves.*  Dr. 
Christ  has  often  observed  the  same  thing,  and 
has  made  many  examinations  in  the  hope  of 
finding  out  the  reason  of  this  habit.t 

For  many  years  I  tried  to  acclimatise  the 
Soldanellas,  but  could  never  get  them  to  flower  • 
but  one  day  in  February,  under  a  glass  doche 
that  had  accidentally  been  left  over  a  tuft, 
there  was  a  fine  mass  of  bloom  of  S.  alpina. 
Hurrah  !  I  had  discovered  the  secret  1  The 
doche  had  warmed  the  earth,  and  con'/erted 
the  moisture  into  vapour,  and  had  retained  it 
around  the  buds  and  flowers.  Since  then  I 
tried  growing  them  in  sphagnum,  which,  as  is 

well  known, 
holds  moisture 
like  a  sponge, 
and  gives  it  oft" 
by  degrees  to 
the  atmos- 
phere,  so  that 
the  ).ltnt  is 
surrounded  by 
vapour  with- 
out being  too 
wet  at  the  root. 
The  results 
were  excellent, 
and  since  I 
have  adopted 
this  plan  1 
have  had 
Soldanellas  in 
bloom  from 
February*  to 
April. 

in  those 
parts  of  Eng- 
land where  the 
moisture  of  the 
air  does  not 
need  the  aid  of 
the  sphagnum, 
the  plant 
flowers  well, 
though      it 


'^^'f^. 


SOLDANBLLA  ALPINA   (XATORAL  SIZE). 


S.    MONTANA   (NATURAL  SIZE). 


misses  somewhat  of  light  and  sun.  It  shoidd 
be  planted  in  a  southern  exposure  in  well- 
drained  rockwork  in  light  soil.  Probalily  it 
would  do  well  in  Jadoo  fibre.  In  any  case,  it 
must  have  full  sunlight  and  moist  air. 
Geneva.  Henry  Coeeevon. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editorn  are  vot  responsible  for   the   opinions 
expresaed  by  their  correnpondentx.  ) 

YOUNG  GARDENERS. 

[To    THE    Editor    of    "  The    Garden."] 

SIR, — I  read  the  remarks  of  your  able  corre- 
spondent recently  with  much  interest. 
Read,  as  they  will  be,  by  those 
who  are  in  the  future  to  maintain 
the  supremacy  of  British  horticulture, 
such  expressions  of  opinion  will  receive, 
as  they  richly  merit,  the  most  serious  attention. 
I  was  much  struck  with  one  remark — "  It  is  often 
the  most  competent  who  pay  the'  greatest  heed  to 
their  self-improvement."  I  was  glad  to  read  the  high 
opinion  formed  on  gardeners'  mutual  improvement 
associations,  these  very  practical  evidences  of 
horticultural  aotivit}'.  They  are  capable  of  still 
greater  development,  from  an  educational  point  of 
view,  by  reason  of  the  facilities  which  they  afford 
for  original  observation  and  as  a  means  of  giving 
expression  to  such  by  committing  these  observations 
and  ideas  to  writing  in  the  form  of  notes  and  essays 
or  joining  in  the  discussions  usual  at  these  meet- 
ings, both  laudable  forms  of  endeavour  tending  to 
the  proper  development  of  that  important  faculty, 
language,  a  correct  exercise  of  which  is  so  essential 
to  the  private  gardener,  specially  brought  as  he  is 
in  constant  contact  with  his  employer.  It  may  be 
a  little  removed  from  the  subject  under  discussion, 
but  I  have  long  thought  if  a  federation  of  these 
excellent  gardeners'  mutual  improvement  associa- 
tions could  be  formed — and  I  see  nothing  visionary 
in  the  idea— much  good  to  gardening  would  result. 
An  annual  meeting  might  be  held,  each  association 
being  represented  by  a  delegate  at  this  gathering, 
where  matters  of  urgent  inipoitance  to  the  garden- 
ing fraternity  could  be  piolilably  discussed  and 
means  devised  for  the  amelioration  of  those  belong- 
ing to  a  body  whose  very  isolation  is  the  present 
great  stumbling- block  to  its  advancement  in  many 
ways,  rendering  combined  action  for  common 
interests  impossible. 

In  an  excellent  address  to  Irish  gardeners  given 
only  recently  by  my  very  old  friend  Mr.  F.  W. 
Burbidge,  I  was  pleased  to  see  he  recommended  to 
young  gardeners  the  study  of  Professor  Jevou's 
"  Primer  of  Logic  "  and  his  companion  volume  on 
"  Political  Economy,"  both  of  which  are  invaluable 
to  young  men,  and  he  very  wisely  added  to  these 
Mr.  John  Wright's  "Primer  of  Horticulture," 
which  deals  with  the  principles  of  gardening  in  a 
clear  and  efficient  manner,  typical,  indeed,  of 
all  Mr.  Wright's  contributions  to  horticultural 
literature.  In  the  matter  of  gardeners'  examinations 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  doing  much  to 
advance  the  best  interests  of  the  coming  race  of 
gardeners,  and  by  your  courtesy  I  would  like  to 
suggest  that  the  council  of  the  society,  in  order  to 
further  encourage  gardeners'  mutual  improvement 
associations,  should  oIT.t  medals  for  the  three 
best  essays  delivered  in  the  sessions  of  the  whole 
body  of  such  associations,  with  the  further  honour 
that  they  should  be  published  in  the  journal  of 
the  society.  I  venture  to  affirm  that  action  and 
recognition  of  this  welcome  kind  by  the  national 
exponent  of  practical  horticulture  in  this  country 
would  produce  the  most  beneficial  results.     Quo. 


AGAPANTHUS  UMBELLATUS  ALBUS. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."]' 
Sir,  —  I    should    like    to  offer  a  few  additional 
remarks  to  those  given  by  you   in  your  issue  of 

*  H.  Correvon,  "  Les  plants  des  Alpes,"  page  83  (Geneva, 
1886). 

t  Dr.  H.  Christ,  "  La  Flore  de  la  Suisse  et  ses  origines, 
page  377. 


128 


THE    GAKDEN 


[February  22,  1902. 


the  8th  iust.  re  the  abuve  plant.  I  have  grown 
it  for  many  years  with  varying  success.  Of  course, 
like  so  many  new  plants — or,  at  least,  as  is  the 
case  with  new  plants— it  was  bought  while  flower- 
ing, and  was  treated  in  a  similar  way  to  the 
ordinary  variety,  but  I  soon  discovered  that  this 
treatment  produced  very  few  flower-heads  ;  conse- 
quently I  had  to  modify  the  treatment.  At  first  I 
grew  the  plants  on  freely  dining  the  spring  and 
early  summer,  and  gradually  brought  them  to  rest 
at  the  end  ot  summer  and  autumn.  They  were 
then  treated  similarly  to  the  ordinary  form,  viz.,  a 
few  thorough  soikings  of  water  were  given  during 
the  winter.  This,  however,  did  not  bring  about 
the  desired  efleet,  but  it  certainly  caused  the 
plants  to  grow  more  vigorously  the  following 
spring.  I  then  tried  a  far  more  drastic  measure, 
viz. ,  I  threw  them  under  a  close  stage  near  the 
hot-water  pipes,  where  it  was  impossible  for  any 
water  to  reach  them  the  whole  of  the  winter— a 
"  kill  or  cure''  sort  of  remedy,  rather  than  with  a 
view  of  inducing  them  to  flower.  It,  however, 
proved  to  be  the  correct  remedy,  for  they  have 
never  disappointed  me  since  I  adopted  it,  for  plants 
in  7-inch  pots  will  produce  three  really  good 
umbels  of  flower  of  the  purest  white,  and  when 
seen  in  this  way  they  are  worth  growing.  Last 
summer  I  had  plants  in  S-ineh  pots  with  seven 
flower-heads— a  really  fine  sight.  I  think  if  your 
enquirer  will  try  this  he  will  not  be  disappointed. 
Ouly  begin  in  time  early  in  autumn  after  a  thorough 
summer's  growth.  Thoma.s  .Aknoi.u. 

T/ie  Ganleiif:,  CirtnceMer. 


[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Gakdes."] 
Sir,- I  see  in  the  page  devoted  to  "Answers  to 
Cjrres^pondents,"  on  February  S,  a  note  from  Mr. 
H.  R  Dugmore  respecting  the  above  plant,  which 
for  the  last  dozen  years  he  has  endeavoured  unsuc- 
CB3sfuUy  to  flower  in  varied  exposures  and  sites 
both  in  the  open  and  under  glass.  My  experience 
with  this  subject  has  been  the  direct  opposite  of 
your  correspondent's.  About  twelve  years  ago  I 
gave  away  a  small  clump  which  was  planted  on  a 
steep  bank  of  light  soil  overhanging  the  salt  water 
at  Kingswear,  South  Devon.  It  was  given  some 
good  soil  at  planting,  since  when  it  has  been 
undisturbed,  and  for  the  last  half-dozen  years  has 
flijwered  well.  Three  large  clumps  of  the  blue 
Agapmihus  umbellatus,  about  4  feet  in  diameter, 
are  growing  on  the  same  slope  and  bloom 
profusely.  The  white  form  that  I  refer 
to  is  so  distinct  from  the  common  blue 
Agapanlhus  umbellatus  that  I  cannot  but 
agree  with  Mr.  Dugmore  as  to  its  being 
a~  species  and  not  a  variety.  Its  leaves 
are  far  shorter  than  those  of  the  blue 
Agapinthus,  and  are  less  than  half 
their  width.  They  die  naturally  in  the 
winter,  whereas  those  of  the  blue  Aga- 
pinthus remain  intact  unless  damaged 
by  frost. 

The  flowers  of  the  white  form  are 
produced  much  earlier  than  are  those 
of  the  blue,  the  former  being  invariably 
past  before  the  latter  are  expanded, 
while  the  bloom-spikes  of  the  white  are 
considerably  taller  and  the  individual 
flowers  less  densely  clustered.  There 
are,  I  believe,  two  forms  of  the  white 
Agapanthus,  one  of  which  is  far  inferior 
to  the  other.  My  only  experience  has 
been  with  what  is  probably  the  best  of 
these,  as  it  is  a  highly  ornamental  plant, 
which  in  favoured  spots  in  the  south- 
west flowers  well  and  regularly  and 
proves  hardy  in  the  open  without  the 
slightest  winter  protection.  As  to  the 
recommendation  that  it  should  be  dried 
off  during  the  winter,  given  in  Nicholson's 
Dictionary  and  referred  to  in  the  editorial 
note,  I  can  only  say  that  the  clump  in 
question  is  fully  exposed  to  the  winter 
rains,  which  in  South  Devon  are  usually 
heavy  —  for  instance,  last  December's 
rainfall  was  74  inches— but  remains  the 
picture  of  health.  The  drainage  of  the 
spot  where    it  is   planted   is    naturally 


rapid,  and  po-ssibly  in  heavy,  damp  soil  drying  oft' 
would  prove  beneficial,  but  in  light,  porous  staple 
in  the  south-west  it  is  evidently  unnecessary. 

S.    W.  FlTZHERBERT. 


[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden"] 
Sir, — The  same  treatment  as  for  the  common  blue 
Agapanthus  should  suit  the  above.  It  may  be  a 
shv  or  alternate  bloomer.  My  plant  had  six  spikes 
in'lS'H),  ;ione  in  1900,  and  ten  in  1901.  This  year 
it  may  fail.  It  looks  well,  however,  in  a  green- 
house from  which  frost  is  excluded,  40'^  at  night, 
sometimes  less,  and  is  kept  just  moist.  It  is  not 
deciduous.  I  think  that  drying  off  would  be  fatal, 
as  the  flower-spikes  are  doubtless  ready  to  start  at 
their  appointed  time,  and  would  be  crippled  by 
dryness  of  the  Leek-like  stems  which  contain 
them. 
SI.  John'n  IVood.  E.  Allen. 

THE    ROYAL    HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Gakde.s."] 
Sir, — Some  misconception  appears  to  have  arisen 
from  the  remarks  made  by  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  at 
the  late  annual  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
.Society  with  reference  to  the  contemplated  horti- 
cultural hall  and  othces.    The  question   has   been 
asked — Has  the  council  forgotten  the  pleilge  given, 
more  than  once,    that,    before  final  decision,   the 
whole  matter  shall  be  referred  to  the  general  body 
of    the   Fellows    of    the   society    throughout    the 
country  'i     The  answer  is  distinctly.  No. 

The  matter  stands  thus.  At  the  instance  of 
Baron  Schneder  the  council  appointed  the  "  Baron 
Schrii'der  Committee"  to  consider  the  question  of 
a  hall,  the  need  for  which,  even  those  who  think 
that  a  new  garden  is  still  more  necessary,  must 
certainly  admit.  It  was  felt  that  not  only  should 
no  obstacle  be  raised,  but  that  the  warmest 
welcome  should  be  extended  to  an}'  effort  in  this 
direction  initiated  by  so  enthusiastic  and  liberal  a 
patron  and  supporter  of  horticulture  as  Baron 
Schrccder,  for  it  is  recognised  that  only  by  the 
generous  assistance  of  such  men  can  there  be  any 
possibility  of  realising  the  hoped-for  result.  Hence 
the  committee.  But  iis  report  has  not  yet  been 
presented  to  the  council,  the  majority  of  the 
members  being,  so  far,  in  as  complete  ignorance  of 


even  the  outlines  of  the  coming  scheme  as  can  be 
the  least  informed  Fellow  of  the  society.  We  are 
prepared  to  "  possess  our  souls  in  patience,"  and 
to  look  for  the  presentation  of  a  scheme  which  will 
give  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  a  hall 
worthy  of  its  reputation,  while  effectually  safe- 
guarding the  financial  position  ot  the  society 
having  regard  to  its  other  and  more  purely  horti- 
cultural objects. 

Should  this  be  so,  it  may  well  recommend  itself 
to  the  Fellows  of  the  society,  that,  having  regard 
to  all  the  circumstances,  the  present  resolution 
that  a  "  New  Chiswick  "  shall  be  the  society's 
formal  recognition  of  its  "centenary"  may  be 
reconsidered.  However,  it  is  clear,  in  view  of 
the  pledge  given,  indeed,  in  recognition  to  an 
obvious  right,  that  the  ultimate  decision  must  be 
referred  to  the  Fellows  of  the  society  throughout 
the  countrj'.  This  is  not  merely  a  question  for  the 
metropolitan  section  of  the  Fellows,  but  concerns 
all.  A  Member  of  Council. 


ROSE    AUGUSTINE    GUINOIS- 
SEAU. 

This  hybrid  Tea  Rose,  of  which  an  illus- 
tration is  given,  flowers  most  persistently, 
producing  its  blossoms  far  into  the  autumn, 
and  thus  establishing  itself  as  a  most  useful 
variety  tor  tho.se  whose  limited  space  permits 
them  to  grow  but  few  sort.s.  In  any  but 
exceptionally  unfavourable  seasons  one  may 
gather  this  Rose  freely  until  well  into  Novem- 
ber. Later  than  this  the  almost  white  deliciously 
fragrant  flowers  very  often  refuse  to  develop, 
and  the  buds  decay  without  opening  ;  one  can, 
however,  overlook  such  a  failing  so  late  in  the 
season.  If  the  buds  are  cut  and  placed  in 
warm  water  in  the  dwelling-house  many  of 
them  will  e.xpand  beautifully.  T. 


EARLY  -  FLOW^ERING      CHRY- 
SANTHEMUMS. 

ADVAXTACiES   OF   EaRLY   Si'RING   PROPAGATION. 

I  HAVE  never  appreciated  the  advice  of  some 
writers  when  they  have  advocated  the  autumn 
propagation    of    the    early-flowering   Chrysanthe-' 


HYBRID    TEA    ROSE   ACGDSTINE   CUIXOISSEAU. 


February  22.  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


129 


mums.      Cuttings  available  in    the  autumn  and 
early  winter  always   appear  to  lack  that   vigour 
which   should  characterise  stock  destined  to  per- 
petuate the  beautiful  varieties  now  in  commerce. 
I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  if  the  old  stools 
be   lifted   from    tlie  open   and   replanted   in   cold 
frames   or   in   any  cool   glass   structure   infinitely 
better  results  will  accrue  and  a  prosperous  season 
in  consequence  may  be  anticipated.     The  same  rule 
applies  to  plants  flowered  in  pots,  and  these,  if  the 
ball  of  soil  and  roots  be  reduced  and  planted  out 
in   some   light    gritty    compost,    will    ultimately 
develop  satisfactory  growth.     A  single  root  of  each 
of  the  varieties  it"  is  proposed  to  perpetuate  will 
usually  suffice,  the  old  stools  simply  bristling  with 
shoots   of    recent   growth   when    treated    to    this 
considerate  handling.      It   is  astonishing   what   a 
quantity  of   cuttings   may   be  obtained   from   old 
stools  in  this  way,  and  if  they  can  be  placed  in  a 
house   where  a  genial   temperature  prevails  there 
seems  no  limit  to  the  number  produced.     Lifting 
the  old  stools  and  treating   them  as  I  have  just 
described  creates  an  interval  of  something  like  t^vo 
months,  during  which  period  they  are  gaining  in 
vigour  and  developing  healthy  stock.     By  the  time 
the  days  are  lengthening  considerably  an  abundant 
supply  of  healtliy  cuttings  is  available.     Shallow 
boxes  are  preferred  for  cuttings  to  all  other  recep- 
tacles at  this  season,  the  depth  of  soil  minimising 
the  risk  of  it  becoming  too  moist  and  sour.     Wh^n 
the  cuttings  are  inserted  about  2  inches  apart  and 
the  same  distance  between  the  rows  they  are  easily 
placed  in  position. .    When  the  time  arrives  for  the 
young  plants  to  be  potted  up  singly  this  may  be 
carried   out  quite  comfortably.       Experience   has 
taught  one  to  make  the  cuttings  about  'Zh  inches 
lo  3  inches  in  length,  this  being  the  happy  medium, 
and  it  answers  admirably.     If  cuttings  have  to  be 
bought  in  procure  the  better  sorts.     There  are  so 
many  excellent  varieties  now  in   commerce    that 
many  of   the  older  ones  may  be  dispensed  with. 
Typical  early  sorts  are  represented  by  Mme.  Marie 
Masse  and  "its  sport  Ralph  Curtis,  Crimson  Marie 
Masse,  Orange  Masse,  and  another  member  of  the 
same  family  being  distributed  in  the  ensuing  spring 
and  known  as  Horace  Martin.     I  had  quite  for- 
gotten   the    pretty    cerise    sport    named    Robbie 
Burns,  the  plants  rarely  exceeding  3  feet  in  height 
and  flower  profusely. 

At  this  early  period  of  the  year  the  cuttings  root 
verj'  quickly,  and  if  the  temperature  be  maintained 
at  about  45"  to  30"  rooting  process  will  soon  take 
place,  and  be  denoted  by  fresh  growth  at  the  apex 
of  each  one.  If  there  should  be  a  difficulty  in 
providing  a  sufficient  supply  of  plants  in  the  early 
spring,  cuttings  may  be  propagated  well  into  May, 
and  the  resulting  plants  will  soon  develop  in  the 
open  border.  The  late  Mr.  W.  Piercy,  of  Forest 
Hill,  S.E.,  an  enthusiastic  advocate  of  the  early 
Chrysanthemums  for  border  culture,  would  often 
Speak  in  praise  of  the  quick  results  obtainable  from 
these  plants.  I  have  often  seen  plants  in  his 
collection  which  were  jiropagated  in  May  and  June 
bearing  a  charming  display  of  blossoms  in  the 
following  early  September.  This  was  in  days  long 
ago,  but  with  increased  variety  and  a  long  list  of 
sorts  of  undoubted  merit  the  results  are  better 
in  every  way.  It  is  as  border  plants  that  the  early 
Chrysanthemums  are  becoming  increasingtypopular, 
and  on  looking  through  the  list  of  other  hardy 
flowers  to  be  found  in  the  garden  in  the  early  and 
late  autumn,  there  is  no  other  group  capable  of 
making  such  a  glorious  and  prolonged  display. 

D.  B.  C. 


a  pyramid  in  the  open  or  as  a  standard  in 
the  orchard,  providing  that  the  ground  is  of 
ordinary  quality  and  depth.  It  also  succeeds 
well  as  a  cordon,  and  grown  in  this  manner  on 
a  wall  the  fruit  is  larger,  and  in  cold  s-easons  is 
of  much  better  quality.  The  tree  should  be 
double-grafted.  Owen  Thomas. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 


A 


they  root  into  the  fresh  soil,  when  they  may  be 
transferred  to  a  cold  frame.  Cuttings  of  Crotons 
may  still  be  put  in  before  they  commence  to  make 
new  growth.  Dracienas  may  also  be  increased. 
Cuttings  of  Ficus  elastica  may  also  be  inserted, 
using  the  half  ripened  shoots,  or  it  can  also  be 
increased  from  buds.  Prick  out  seedling  Gloxinias 
and  tuberous-rooted  Begonias  as  soon  as  they  can 
be  handled  into  pans  filled  with  loam,  peat,  leaf 
soil,  and  sand,  keeping  them  near  the  glass. 

John  Fleming. 
Wexhani  Pari'  Gardetis,  Slough. 


HARDY    FRUITS     IN    SEASON. 

Pear  Josephine  de  Malines. 
One  of  the  most  valuable  of  our  late  Pears, 
in  season  from  February  to  May.  It  is  of 
medium  size,  the  skin  is  of  a  yellow  colour, 
shaded  with  red  on  the  sunny  side,  and  the 
surface  covered  with  russety  spots.  The  flesh 
is  yellowish  with  a  tinge  of  red,  juicy  and 
melting,  and  of  a  rich  sugary  flavour, 
possessing  a  pleasant  aroma.  This  variety  is 
of  free  growth  and  hardy,  succeeding  well  ,as 


LLAMANDAS,    Bougainvilleas,    Cleroden- 
drons,    and     Dipladenias     should     be 
potted     when     they     show     signs     of 
growth.      AUamandas    and    Bougain- 
villeas should  be  potted  in  a  compost 
of   three  parts  fibrous  loam,  one  part 
part   leaf-mould  and   dry  cow   manure,  with   the 
addition  of  charcoal  and  sharp  sand.      Plants    in 
tubs   or   large    pots    may   have    the    surface    soil 
removed    and    given    a    liberal    top-dressing.       If 
given  manure  water  when  in  active  growth   they 
may   be   kept   in   good   health  for   several   3'ears. 
Clerodendrons   do  well  in  a   mixture  of  peat  and 
loam  in  equal  parts,  adding  a  little  cow  manure 
and  sand ;  the  shrubby 
sorts      need     a      much 
richer  compost.    Dipla- 
denias   should    have   a 
mixture  of   peat,  with 
sufficient  sand  to  keep 
it  porous;  give  efficient 
drainage,    and   let    the 
plants    be    syringed 
twice  daily,  but  water 
must     be     carefully 
applied  until  growth  at 
the  root  becomes  active. 
Euoharises  should  have 
their  drainage  exa- 
mined and  given  a  top- 
dressing.    They  do  not 
require  repotting  unless 
the     bulbs     get     over- 
crowded.   I  advise  July 
as  the  best  time  for  the 
latter  operation. 

Pancratiums. 
The  less  repotting 
that  is  given  to  these  the 
better  while  the  plants 
remain  healthy.  Give 
them  an  occasional 
dose  of  liquid  manure 
water.  1  have  found 
Peruvian  Guano  and 
soot  water  used  alter- 
nately suits  them  well.  When  a  shift  is  necessary 
carefully  shake  the  exhausted  soil  from  the  roots 
and  pot  in  a  mixture  of  three  parts  fibrous  loam, 
one  part  leaf  soil,  adding  charcoal  and  silver  sand. 
We  do  not  practise  drying  ofi',  but  the  water 
supply  is  somewhat  lessened  for  a  time  after  the 
flowering  is  over. 

Begonias, 
Corallina,  President  Carnot,  maculata,  undulata, 
and  many  other  shrubby  ones  are  excellent  for 
covering  pillars  and  training  up  the  rafters  in  the 
stove  ;  if  kept  growing  they  will  continue  to  flower 
through  the  whole  year.  They  flourish  in  a  soil 
composed  of  equal  parts  of  fibrous  loam,  peat,  leaf- 
mould,  and  dried  cow  manure,  with  a  sprinkling  of 
sand,  and  may  be  easily  increased  by  inserting 
cuttings.  Begonia  fuchsioides  is  a  most  beautiful 
and  elegant  plant  for  covering  walls  or  pillars  in  a 
greenhouse.  If  planted  out  it  is  a  continual  and 
profuse  bloomer.      Rooted  cuttings  of 

Tree  Carsatioss 
should  be  removed  from  the  propagating  frame  and 
placed  near  the  glass  in  an  intermediate  house.  In 
about  a  fortnight  they  should  be  potted  into  3-inch 
pots,  in  a  mixture  of  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  enough 
sand  to  keep  the  soil  porous.  After  potting  they 
should  be  placed  in   the  same  temperature  until 


KITCHEN    GAEDEN. 

0  S  I  O  N  S  . 

Those  which  were  sown  in  boxes  last  month  ought 
by  now  to  be  quite  ready  for  pricking  off  into 
others  at  a  distance  of  3  inches  apart  all  ways.  A 
suitable  compost  will  be  two  parts  fibrous  loam, 
one  part  well  decayed  leaf-soil,  and  one  part  half 
rotten  horse  droppings,  adding  sufficient  road 
scrapings  to  render  it  porous.  The  whole  should 
be  passed  through  a  quarter-inch  mesh  sieve  and 
well  mixed.  Use  in  a  moderately  dry  condition 
and  make  thoroughly  firm.  The  work  is  best 
accomplished  in  the  structure  in  which  the  plants 
are  growing,  if  possible,  as  it  is  most  important 


PEAR  .lOSEHHINE    DE    MALINES    (SLIGHTLY    REDUCED). 


that  the  young  plants  should  not  suff'er  from  any 
check.  Thoroughly  water  in  immediately  after- 
wards. 

Spray  the  plants  frequently  during  the  day,  and 
shade  during  intervals  of  bright  sunshine  to  pre- 
vent them  flagging.  Sufficient  air  must  be  admitted 
to  keep  them  sturdy,  maintain  a  temperature  of 
50°  or  55",  and  bear  in  mind  that  any  undue  forcing 
must  be  strictly  guarded  against.  Unquestionably 
the  plan  of  raising  Onions  under  glass  is  every 
year  finding  more  favour,  and,  whether  one  wishes 
to  excel  in  obtaining  large  exhibition  bulbs  or  not, 
part  if  not  the  whole  of  the  crop  should  be  treated 
in  this  way.  Seldom,  indeed,  are  they  damaged 
to  any  extent  by  the  Onion  fly,  and  much  better 
results  are  obtained  generally.  But,  in  any  case, 
successful  Onion  culture  depends  very  much  on 
the  proper  preparation  of  the  ground  and  sowing 
the  seed  early  ;  consequently,  those  which  still 
relj-  on  the  old  method  of  sowing  in  the  open 
should  not  miss  the  first  favourable  opportunity 
when  the  land  is  in  a  nice  workable  condition  to 
get  in  the  seed.  Choose  a  fine,  drying  morning, 
strew  the  surfice  with  a  mixture  of  soot  and  wood 
ashes,  point  it  over  2  inches  or  3  inches  deep,  and 
in  a  few  hours  it  may  be  raked  down  with  a 
wooden  rake  and  the  drills  drawn  1  foot  apart. 
The  seed  sown,  alleys  15  inches  should  be  thrown 


130 


THE    GARDEN. 


[Februaey  22,  1902. 


out  all  round  the  bed,  and  the  whole  raked  down 
in  a  neat  and  tidy  manner. 

Parsley. 

Besides  being  one  of  the  most  useful  items 
cultivated  in  the  kitchen  garden,  it  is  also  very 
attractive  when  well  grown  and  a  good  strain  can 
be  depended  upon.  I  have  for  many  years  relied 
principally  on  Veitch's  Extra  Curled,  which  is 
perfectly  hardy,  has  a  splendid  habit,  and  is  always 
true.  The  most  successful  way  to  grow  good 
Parsley  is  to  sow  in  bo.xes  under  glass  in  a  slight 
heat,  distribute  the  seed  thinly,  carefull}'  harden 
oflf,  and  plant  out  in  rows  1  foot  apart  all  ways. 
This  will  give  splendid  returns  in  summer  and 
autumn,  and  is  much  in  advance  of  that  raised 
in  the  open  ground. 

Seakale. 

Where  this  is  grown  at  home  for  forcing,  the 
best  mode  of  raising  it  is  from  cuttings,  and  no 
time  should  now  be  lost  in  preparing  them.  All 
the  small  rootlets  trimmed  off  when  lifted  for 
forcing  will  make  excellent  sets  for  the  purpose. 
These  should  be  cut  in  lengths  of  (i  inches  and 
tied  in  bundles  of  twenty-five,  standing  them  in  an 


otherwise  useless  wood,  it  should  be  done.  Young 
bushes  should  be  trained  in  the  shape  of  a  basin, 
upon  a  short  single  stem,  their  branches  being 
adjusted  by  being  secured  to  a  hoop.  Commence 
with  a  foundation  of  young  shoots,  cut  down  to 
half  their  length  to  an  outside  bud,  so  that  both 
fruitful  sprays,  and  subsidiarj'  and  leading  shoots 
to  properly  furnish  the  Ijushes  may  be  plentifully 
supplied,  this  mode  of  procedure  being  yearly 
followed  until  the  desired  height  is  attained. 
Remove  suckers  as  they  appear. 

Raspbekbies. 

These,  like  all  other  fruits,  sutler  if  too  closely 
trained,  and  for  this  reason  alone  they  can  be 
more  successfully  groMn  with  their  canes  properly 
spread  upon  trellises  than  when  collected  together 
and  secured  to  stakes.  In  cases  where  the  old 
canes  were  removed  as  soon  as  the  fruit  was 
gathered,  and  the  3'oung  ones  carefully  thinned 
during  tbe  growing  season,  all  that  now  remains  to 
be  done  is  to  tie  thr  -selected  ones,  about  9  inches 
apart,  to  the  trellises,  and  shorten  them  according 
to  their  condition.  Strong,  well-matured  ones 
may   merely  have  a   foot    or  so  of   their  points 


top-dressings  of  suitable  manurial  compounds  will 
be  beneficial,  especially  to  established  Vines. 

T.   COOMBER. 
The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 

THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

The  propagation  of  bedding  plants,  such  as  Helio- 
trope, Ageratum,  Verbena,  Alternanthera,  Iresine, 
&c. ,  should  now  be  proceeded  with  rapidly,  as  the 
cuttings  being  young  and  growing  soon  take  root 
if  they  are  inserted  in  light  .soil  and  placed  in  a 
fairly  brisk  heat.  Pricking  off  seedlings  that  are 
ready  of  any  early  sowings  should  be  attended  to, 
and  all  the  half-hardy  plants  in  pits  and  frames 
should  be  thoroughly  looked  over,  while  at  the 
same  time  care  should  be  taken  to  avoid  damping 
by  giving  plenty  of  air  on  all  favourable  occasions. 
The 

Pruning  of  Shrubs 

and  trees  and  clipping  hedges  are  matters  that 
maybe  finished  on  the  first  favourable  opportunity, 
namely,  in  mild  weather.  Clearing  out  under- 
growth and  cutting  away  branches  or  removing 
and  grubbing  out  unsightly  trees  and  shrubs  are 
matters   that    can    be   now 

1       taken     in     hand      if      not 

already  done.  Roses  on 
walls  for  giving  an  early 
supply  of  flowers  should  be 
pruned,  and  if  necessary  a 
little  protection  provided 
for  them  in  case  of  late 
frosts.  Climbers  on  walls 
should  have  all  the  pruning 
and  training  that  it  is 
intended  to  give  them 
finished  at  once. 

Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 


-.,vw^gj^|||^ 


THE   NEW    IMTATO   CARLTONIAM. 


upright  position  in  boxes,  and  place  a  little  fine 
soil  about  them.  Stand  them  under  the  green- 
house stage,  when  they  will  (juicklj'  form  ej-es, 
after  which  they  should  be  removed  to  a  lighter 
position,  such  as  a  cold  frame,  planting  them  out 
early  in  April  on  well  prepared  and  heavily 
manured  ground.  These  should  make  fine  crowns 
for  next  season's  supplies.  All  vacant  plots  of 
ground  should  now  be  turned  over  to  a  good 
depth  as  quickly  as  possible,  but  keep  off  stiff  land 
in  wet  weather.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Hoit-ie  Oardem,  Elstree,  Herts. 


FRUIT   GARDEN. 

CoE    Nuts    and    Filberts. 

In  pruning  established  bushes  the  strong  shoots 
should  be  entirely  removed,  except  where  rec|uired 
to  form  permanent  branches  to  fill  vacancies, 
when  they  should  be  shortened  to  about  half  tlieir 
length,  and  the  twiggy  branches,  which  usually 
produce  fruit  freely,  should  be  sufficientlj-  thinned 
to  prevent  crowding.  At  the  same  time  sufficient 
catkins  must  be  ratained,  and  if  for  this  purpose  it 
is  expedient,   for   the    lime  being,   to  leave   some 


removed,  while  tliose  less  robust  or  imperfectly 
matured,  in  order  to  benefit  the  new  growths, 
should  be  more  severely  shortened.  October  Red, 
Belle  de  Fontenaj',  and  other  autumn-fruiting 
kinds,  which  afford  a  useful  late  supply  of  fruit 
from  the  current  year's  growths,  should  be  entirely 
cut  down,  while  recently  planted  canes  of  any 
variety  should  be  shortened  to  within  a  foot  of 
the  soil. 

Vines  upon  Walls. 
These  deserve  better  treatment  than  is  usually 
bestowed  upon  them.  They  should  now  be  pruned 
by  cutting  back  to  three  buds  the  lateral  growths 
upon  spurs,  Ijut  young  wood  that  has  been  trained 
in  for  the  purpose  of  extension  or  to  replace  old 
rods,  which,  by  the  by,  is  sound  practice,  should 
be  shortened  to  about  4  feet.  In  cases  where 
red  spider  has  been  troublesome  the  rods  should 
be  relieved  of  loose  bark,  thoroughly  washed  with 
a  hot  solution  of  Gishurst  Compound,  and  subse- 
tjuentl3'  secured  in  position.  As  a  means  of 
affording  nourishment  a  few  inches  of  the  surface 
of  the  borders  may  be  removed  and  be  supplemented 
with  fresh  rich  compost,  or  should  this  be  impracti- 
cable, a  copious  supply  of  diluted  liquid  manure  or 


NEAV      POTATO 
CARL.TONIAN. 

!      When  well   known,  this 
new  Potato,  which   was 
I      raised  in  the    north    of 
England,    near    Penrith, 
!     is  sure  to  become  popular. 
It  came  out  of  the  tests 
conducted    by  the  vege- 
S      table  committee   of    the 
j     Royal    Horticultural 
I      Society  at  Chiswick  very 
(      creditalily  indeed.   It  had 
previously  received  three 
marks  for  its  heavy  crop- 
.  ;        '     ping,  and  was  also  free 
BBO^^^B^WHl     from     disease.      Messrs. 
Cutbush  and  Son,     The 
Nurseries,  Highgate,  N., 
have  obtained  the  stock 
of  this  e.xcellent  Potato,  and  are  sending  it  out. 
The  flavour  of  Potato  Carltonian  is  all  that  one 
could  wish,   the  tuliers  keep  well,  and    are 
shapely,  -^'th  few  eyes.  The  accompanying  illus- 
tration (for   ivhich  we  are  indebted  to  Jlessrs. 
Cutbush)  shows  well  its  general  appearance. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

Irises  from  Winchmorb  Hill. 
Mr.  Perry,  the  well-known  plant  cultivator  of 
Winchmore  Hill,  sends  some  charming  flowers  of 
the  little  early  dwarf  Irises,  amongst  the  most 
welcome  of  all  early-flowering  things,  so  bright  in 
colour  and  sweet  scented.  These  winter-blooming 
Irises  should  be  grown  by  the  million.  They  are 
quite  easy  to  grow,  and  as  beautiful  in  colouring 
as  any  Orchid.  Included  in  his  gathering  were  the 
little  yellow  Iris  Danfordisc,  I  reticulata  purpurea, 
I.  kolpokowskiana,  and  the  lovely  J.  histrioides. 
I.  kolpokowskiana  is  a  gem  ;  the  standards  are 
bright  purple,  and  the  falls  white  Avith  yellow 
blotch  and  deep  velvety  purple  lip,  so  to  speak. 


February  22,   1902. 


THE     GAUDEN. 


131 


/HINESE    I'KIMnLA    PKINCKSS    MAY. 


From    Mr.    W.    I.    Caparne    we    receive    some 
.charming  bloom.s  of  his  strain  of 

Hybrid  Alpine  Irises 
from  the  greenhouse,  showing  what  delightful 
flowers  these  are  for  cold  greenhouse  treatment. 
We  shall  hope  to  publish  shortly  a  description  of 
the  manner  in  which  they  are  arranged  for  this 
very  successful  culture. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 

PRIMULAS     AT      MESSRS. 
CARTER   AND  CO.S. 

BY  reason  of  its  free  production  of  flowers 
of  many  beautiful  shades,  at  so  un- 
favourable a  season  of  the  year,  by  its 
comparatively  easy  culture,  and  also 
because  other  tender  flowers  a''e  now 
wanting  in  quantity  for  the  biig'itening 
■of  our  greenhouses,  the  Primula  may  be  siid  to  be 
-everybody's  flower,  and  everyone  therefore,  it  may 
be  presumed,  has  an  interest  in  it.  Should  anyone 
wish  to  see  how  the  Primula  withstands  the 
London  atmosphere  he  has  but  to  journey  to 
Forest  Hill  and  there  to  inspect  the  houses  in 
Messrs.  Carter's  nursery  that  are  devoted  to  the 
K;ulture  of  the  Primula  for  seed  production. 
He  will  learn  that,  although  the  flowers  do  not 
remain  in  full  beautj'  so  long  as  they  do  in  a  more 
favourable  neighbourhood,  3'et  by  following  the 
,plan  adopted  b}'  Messrs.  Carter,  and  so  growing 
them  as  to  have  the  plants  in  flower  rather  late  in 
the  season,  the  disadvantages  inseparable  from  a 
Xondon  atmosphere  will  be  greatly  minimised. 

The  colours  of  Messrs.  Carter's  Primulas  are 
very  good  and  distinct,  and  shew  well  that  their 
efforts  in  the  improvement  of  the  Primula  have 
not  been  without  good  results.  Amongst  several 
new  varieties  Princess  May  (a  photograph  of 
"which  we  herewith  reproduce)  is  a  striking  flower, 
large,  of  a  rich,  soft  pink,  and  very  free  blooming. 
Princess  of  Wales  is  a  beautiful  double  flower, 
salmon  rose  in  colour,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
Lilac  Queen,  very  deep  lilac,  and  Carmine  Empress, 
-deep  carmine,  both  double  varieties.  Queen 
Alexandra,  pure  white  double,  Elaine  Improved, 
.and  King  Edward  are  three  new  Primulas  all  well 
worthy  of  note. 

Messrs.  Carter  have  succeeded  in  obtaining  a 
giant  flowered  Primula,  with  massive  rose  lilac 
flowers,  which  they  have  named  Hercules,  and  this 


varietj'  has  proved  most 
useful  for  h3'bridising 
purposes.  Ruby  (red, 
with  tiny  marks  of  white 
on  the  petals)  crossed 
with  Hercules  has  pro- 
duced a  charming  flov/er, 
large,  and  in  which  the 
pretty  scattered  while 
markings  of  Ruby  become 
definite.  Hercules  x 
Scarlet,  Hercules  x  Ver- 
milion, and  Hercules  x  a 
blue  Primula  have  also 
produced  blooms  that 
show  the  selection  to 
have  been  a  good  one. 
In  Holborn  Carmine 
crossed  with  Hercules 
the  white  circle  around 
the  ej^e  of  the  flower 
becomes  dark,  and  the 
latter  is  large  and  bold. 
Holborn  Blue  is  of  the 
best  amongst  its  parti- 
cular colour,  and  this, 
when  crossed  with  the 
blue  Primrose,  gives  a 
flower  of  intense  blue 
colouring. 

In  the  numerous  crosses 
that  have  been  efleoted 
between  Primula  stellata 
and  the  Giant  Chinese 
Primula  one  may  see  a  great  variety  of  forms  and 
shades,  many  of  which  will  have  to  be  discarded, 
because  not  superior  to  their  parents,  although  the 
few  good  ones  obtained  will  easily  repa)'  all  the 
care  and  trouble  expended  upon  hybridising — work 
that  requires  the  exercise  of  mufh  skill  and 
patience  to  be  successful. 

Such  are  a  few  of  the  more  remarkable  and 
striking  of  Messrs.  Carter's  Primulas,  both  new 
and  old,  that  one  cannot  fail  to  notice  during  an 
inspection  of  the  collection  at  Forest  Hill,  where 
several  houses  are  filled  with  varieties,  notable  for 
their  good  and  distinct  colouring. 


KEW^    NOTES. 

The  Geeenhouse  ix  Midwinter. 

Both  for  amateurs  and  professional  gardeners 
whose  aim  is  plant  decoration  the  educational 
value  of  the  fine  greenhouse  range  (No.  4)  is 
incalculable.  Just  now,  the  middle  of  Februarj', 
with  a  severely  low  temperature  out  of  doors, 
holding  vegetation  in  check,  it  is  a  marvel  of  flower 
and  fragrance.  Not  only  so,  but  the  plant  lover, 
as  distinguished  from  the  practical  gardener,  may 
here  find  a  vast  deal  to  interest  him  in  his  own 
line.  A  soft  flush  of  fruit  blossom  greets  the 
visitor  at  the  entrance.  Cherries,  Crab  Apples, 
and  Plums,  pink  and  white,  with  flowers  both 
double  and  single,  stand  well  against  the  permanent 
greenery  of  the  shrubs  in  the  central  borders. 
Standard  AVistarias,  about  3  feet  in  height,  are 
full  of  bloom.  It  is  evident  enough  that  the  white 
variety  is  less  robust  than  the  older  lilac  type,  but 
both  are  fine.  W.  chinensis  (for  there  are  other 
species  not  so  good)  is  well  worth  growing  in  this 
form,  first,  for  conservatories  at  this  early  season  ; 
and  later,  when  the  plants  threaten  to  become 
unwieldy,  to  make  garden  standards,  which  have 
only  to  be  seen  in  perfection,  as  in  Italy,  to  be 
much  more  grow'n  in  English  gardens  than  they 
are  at  present. 

The  air  is  sweet  with  the  fragrance  of  Cytisus 
and  of  Acacia  fragrans,  a  slender-growing  elegant 
species,  with  pale  sulphur  spikes  of  bloom. 
Further  on  a  dwarf  specimen  of  A.  Druramondi 
might  almost  be  mistaken  for  a  Cj^tisus  but  for 
its  short  pale  cylinders  of  flower.  Everywhere 
Azaleas  give  a  great  show  of  delicate  colour.  It  is  a 
lesson  hard  for  gardeners  to  learn  that  the  Azaleas 
are  henceforth  to  be  classed  with  Rhododendrons. 
Botanicall}',  it  is  ruled  that  they  cannot  be 
sepiraled,  because  there  is  no  absolutely  distin- 
guishing character  belonging  to  one  or  the  other  ; 


but  for  the  public  Rhododendrons  will  he  Rliodo- 
dendrons  and  Azaleas  will  be  Azaleas  still  for 
man  J'  a  long  day.  Nevertheless,  it  is  just  as 
well  to  note  that  by  rights  we  should  speak  of 
these  two  genera.  Azalea  indica  and  A.  mollis,  as 
Rhododendron  indica  and  R.  sinensis. 

(grouped  on  the  side  stages  at  either  main  door  are 
Hippeastrums.  Spring  bulbs — Narcissi  of  all  the 
best  older  sorts,  Hyacinths,  and  Tulips  are  in 
great  profusion,  and  the  purple  of  Iris  reticulata 
mingles  with  the  white  bells  of  Lilj'  of  the  Valley. 
Epacris  of  many  lovelj'  shades,  ranging  from 
crimson  to  purest  white,  are  disposed  in  breadths, 
for  here  we  have  the  opportunity,  seldom  available, 
of  seeing  groups  of  plants  rather  than  single 
specimens,  a  plan  which  i?  as  instructive  as  it  is 
ornamental.  Primulas  of  many  kinds  are  well 
represented,  amongst  them  a  pretty  form  of 
P.  floribunda,  of  pale  creamy  yellow  tint — P.  flor. 
isabellina — is  quite  as  free  flowering  as  the  typical 
species.  P.  obconica  occupies  a  large  space,  looking 
as  innocent  as  can  be  in  its  modest  lilao  colouring. 
The  Kew  strain,  due  to  most  careful  selection,  is  a 
remarkably  fine  one,  scarcely  to  be  recognised, 
indeed,  as  identical  with  the  type,  but  it  still 
asserts  its  wicked  propensities  on  occasion.  Two 
long-lasting  plants  of  more  shrubby  character  may 
be  referred  to  again.  Centropogon  Lucyanus,  with 
tubular  flowers  of  soft  carmine-rose,  and  Coleus 
thyrsoideus,  valuable  for  its  bright  blue  spikes, 
both  of  which  have  been  noted  more  fully,  as 
especially  decorative,  in  recent  issues  of  The 
Garden. 

A  stage  of  peculiar  interest  at  one  end  of  the 
house  is  filled  for  the  most  part  with  New  Holland 
plants  grown  in  small  pots.  Here  we  find  Acacia 
obliqua.  a  charming  miniature  species,  studded 
with  its  little  golden  balls,  side  by  side  with 
A.  arniata  and  others  of  the  genus.  Chorozemas, 
too,  much  alike  in  their  queer  orange  and  crimson 
Pea  flowers  and  Holly-like  leaves,  but  of  different 
habit  and  with  distinct  names.  Small  specimens  of 
Eriostemon  cuspidatum  are  covered  with  their 
prett}'  white  bloom,  comforting  to  the  heart  of  the 
ambitious  amateur  who  has  but  limited  space. 
Grevillea  thelemanniana,  which  has  been  charming 
all  the  winter,  still  hangs  some  of  its  jewel-like 
pedants  from  the  tips  of  its  grey-leaved  branches. 
Many  other  plants  are  here  that  are  not  commonly 
met  with  and  that  deserve  study,  and  these,  in 
some  cases,  may  be  compared  with  other  specimens 
of  the  same  shrub  planted  out  in  the  central 
borders,  an  object  -  lesson  of  great  value  to  the 
grower.  These  borders  are  in  themselves  full  of 
interest,  but  space  fails  to  tell  of  all  the  treasures 
growing  in  them,  or  of  the  roof  and  pillars  with 
their  many  climbers,  some  of  which,  like  Clianthus 
puniceus,  Habrothammus,  and  the  lovely  Hibbertia 
dentata  are  now  in  flower.  But  visit  the  green- 
house range  when  you  will  there  is  always 
something  new — for,  like  a  kaleidoscope,  there  is 
no  end  to  its  infinite  changefulness. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

AN    INTERNATIONAL    HORTICUL- 
TUR\L   EXHIBITION. 

1PUT  to  the  President  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  at  the  recent  general  meet- 
ing of  the  Fellows  a  question  with  respect 
to  the  holding  by  the  society  of  a  great 
international  flower  show  in  London  as 
a  fitting  celebration  of  the  society's 
centenary  in  1004,  but  the  replj'  was  not  at  all 
encouraging.  Yet  it  is  difficult  to  believe  that 
such  a  method  of  celebrating  the  100th  ainiiver- 
sary  of  the  birth  of  the  society  would  not  be 
immensely  popular,  and  present  a  means  of 
arousing  interest  in  the  society's  welfare  and  in 
horticulture  generally  such  as  no  hall,  however 
fine,  or  garden,  however  extensive,  could  be  ex- 
pected to  create.  When  it  is  remembered  that 
the  great  international  show  of  1866 — no  less  than 
thirtv-six  years  ago — was  a  great  financial  success 
after"  being  open  two  weeks,  and  that  no  less  a 
sum  than  £.3,000  profit  result.-d,  it  cannot  be 
assumed   that  an  analogous  exhibition  two  years 


132 


THE    GARDEN 


[February  22,  1902. 


hence  would  not  attract  a  vast  bodj'  of  visitors 
and  prove  to  be  a  great  pecuniary  success.  (Ireat 
as  was  that  show,  it  could  be  vastly  outshone  in 
extent  and  beauty  as  well  as  interest  to-da)',  and 
most  certainly  easily  so  two  years  hence.  For 
were  it  known  that  such  a  magnificent  show 
would  be  held— one  of  unexampled  extent  and 
beauty — growers  would  at  once  begin  to  prepare 
plants,  and  the  finest  display  the  world  can  pro- 
duce would  be  seen.  But  there  is  more  to  be  said 
in  favour  of  the  proposal,  and  that  specially  is 
found  in  the  international  chai-acter  of  horticul- 
ture. How  would  a  mere  hall  or  garden  appeal  to 
the  horticulturist  of  the  Continent  or  of  our 
Colonies,  or  of  the  United  States  of  America  r 
Certainly,  not  at  all. 

But  to  them  a  grand  show  would  be  an  immense 
attraction.  It  would  be  the  very  thing  of  all 
others  to  bring  them  here  from  all  parts  of  the 
globe.  Has  not  the  Royal  Horticultural  Societ3- 
long  since  recognised  the  cosmopolitan  character 
of  horticulture  by  having  corresponding  members 
all  the  world  over?  Does  not  the  Briti.sh  nur.=ery- 
man  and  seedsman  correspond  and  trade  with 
horticulturists  universally  ?  And  is  there  not  in 
horticulture  the  most  complete  evidence  of  the 
universal  brotherhood  of  gardeners?  Why,  then, 
not  attract  them  to  London  two  years  hence  ?  Is 
it  possible  to  conceive  the  society  better  employed 
than  in  seeking  to  bring  about  such  a  great 
reunion?  Are  not  British  horticulturists  univer- 
sally welcomed  and  entertained  when  they  go 
abroad  ?  Wh}',  then,  not  for  once  have  a  great 
congress  of  the  world's  horticulturists  here  ?  When 
it  is  said  that  the  provision  of  a  hall  in  London 
will  be  a  fitting  centenary  celebration,  it  must  not 
be  forgotten  that  in  such  wa^■  the  providing  of 
what  is  so  generally  recognised  as  a  great  need  is 
thus  postponed  for  two  years  longer.  Why  should 
that  be  so,  if,  as  we  were  told  at  the  annual 
meeting,  a  site  for  a  new  hall  was  practically 
selected,  and  only  needed  the  consent  of  the 
Fellows  for  its  purchase?  If  that  be  so,  is  the  site 
to  remain  unused  and  unproductive  for  two  years? 
Surely,  if  it  can  be  had  so  soon  as  is  suggested, 
the  hall  might  be  erected  and  open  for  use  by 
next  winter.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  site  should 
not  be  secured,  the  chance  of  getting  one  at  all 
seems  remote,  and  even  the  hall  maj"  not  prove  to 
be  a  means  of  celebrating  the  centenarj-.  What  a 
humiliation  will  it  be  to  us  all  if  nothing  should 
be  done  to  create  a  fitting  celebration.  It  is  now- 
known  that  the  council  can  legally  both  purchase 
land  and  build.  That  is  so  far  acknowledged.  It 
is  also  known  that  the  committee  seeking  for  a  site 
is  ofhcially  appointed  by  the  council.  How  the 
cost  of  site  and  building  is  to  be  met  no  informa- 
tion is  afforded,  but  it  is  certain  a  big  sum  of 
money  will  be  i-equired.  Without  doubt  the  pro- 
vision of  such  a  hall  is  a  great  and  an  uncertain 
venture.  A.  De.^n. 


of  Blue  King  Pansy,  at  that  time  a  very  popular 
bedding  variety.  He  secured  one  pod  of  seed 
which  produced  a  dozen  plants,  and  they  all 
bloomed  of  a  blue  colour.  A  pink  garden  Pansy 
was  crossed  on  to  these,  but  only  with  limited 
success.  There  was  certainly  the  gain  of  more 
variety  of  colour,  and  the  close  tutted  habit  of 
growth  was  maintained.  Several  of  these  seedlings 
were  sent  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
gardens  to  be  tested,  and  Dr.  Stuart  invited  others 
who  were  engaged  in  a  similar  work  to  send  their 
seedlings  also,  and  a  considerable  number  were 
planted  out.  Dr.  Stuart  records  that  in  IST.')  he  was 
awarded  six  first-class  certificates  for  his  seedlings, 
though  the  annals  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  record  but  one  onl}  — viz. ,  Williams — 
but  three  in  1876,  Hillside  Beauty,  Lady 
S.  (t.  Suttie,  and  Ormiston.  Dr.  Stuart 
states:  "A  floral  ally,  seeing  one  of  these 
certificated  plants,  a  fine  white  self,  remarked, 
'  If  you  could  only  get  that  flower  without  rays  in 
the  centre  I  think  j-ou  would  find  it  to  be  a  great 
improvement.'"  But  it  was  ten  j'ears  before  Dr. 
Stuart  found  in  one  of  his  seed-beds  the  variety 
subsequently  named  Violetta,  the  first  of  a  race  of 
ray  less  Violas,  a  pure  white  self.  "The  plant 
was  then  and  there  pulled  to  pieces,  and  every  bit 
propagated.  It  was  a  warm  summer's  night,  and 
the  perfume  from  the  blooms  at  once  attracted  my 
attention.  The  next  season  I  had  a  little  planta- 
tion of  the  rayless  self  and  a  wealth  of  bloom." 
One  of  the  distinguishing  features  of  Violetta  is 
its  perfume,  approaching  that  of  Viola  odorata. 
Violetta  proved  in  Dr.  Stuart's  hands  the  mother 
of  thousands  of  a  rayless  race.  A  cross  between 
Violetta  and  a  white  self  gave  Sylvia  ;  Sylvia 
crossed  with  a  Peacock  Pansy  gave  Border  Witch. 
Other  prominent  varieties  raised  at  Chirnside  were 
Bridal  Wreath,  Blu.sh  Queen,  Florizel,  Rosea 
pallida,  and  others  of  value  some  years  ago. 
When  on  a  tour  in  Ireland  Dr.  Stuart  found  in 
Conneniara  a  new  species  of  Heath,  which  the 
Botanical  Societj'  of  Edinburgh  named  in  his 
honour  Erica  tetralix  Stuarti.  R.  D. 

[Volume  XLV.  of  The  Garden  was  dedicated  to 
Dr.  Stuart.  — Eds.] 

MRS.  JAMES  MARTIN. 

We  are  sorry  to  hear  of  the  death,  at  Carnarvon 
Road,  Reading,  of  Mrs.  .James  Martin,  wife  of  the 
late  Mr.  .James  ilartin,  so  well  known  at  the 
London  Road  nurseries  of  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons. 


OBITUARY. 

DR.  CHARLES    STUART 

The  daily  papers  of  the  14th  inst.  announced  the 
death  of  this  popular  and  enthusiastic  northern 
florist,  at  Chirnside,  Berwickshire.  The  date  of 
his  death  and  his  age  were  not  stated,  but  as  it  is 
on  record  that  as  far  back  as  184(1  he  and  Mr. 
James  Dobbie  were  competitors  at  a  Pana3-  shoM' 
held  at  Berwick-on-Tweed  in  that  vear,  Dr.  Stuart 
must  have  reached  an  advanced  age.  He  was  both 
an  ardent  naturalist  and  an  enthusiastic  florist. 
It  is  to  him  we  owe  Aijuilegia  Stuarti,  which 
fittingly  hands  his  name  down  to  posterity.  It  is 
a  dwarf-growing  blue-flowered  hj-brid,  which  is, 
unfortunately,  somewhat  difficult  to  cultivate. 
Other  hardy  flowers  were  also  cultivated  by  him, 
and  he  laboured  zealoush-  to  improve  some  of 
them.  But  his  name  is  mainly  associated  with  the 
creation  of  a  distinct  race  f  bedding  Pansies.  It 
was  in  1874  that  he  commenced  that  series  of 
experiments  which  were  to  produce  such  valuable 
additions  to  our  hardy  Violas.  He  commenced  bj' 
crossing  Viola  cornuta,  which  was  then  being 
much  employed  as  a  bedding  plant,  with  the  pollen 


The    Rev.  H.  D'ombrain    and   the 
National    Rose    Society.— Mr.    Edward 

Mawley  writes:  —  "We  regret  to  announce  that 
the  Rev.  H.  Honywood  D'ombrain,  the  original 
founder  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  and  for 
mure  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  its  senior  secre- 
tary, has  been  compelled  through  ill-health  to 
resign  the  secretaryship  of  that  society.  The 
announcement  of  this  decision  was  received  with 
much  regret  and  sympatln'  by  all  present  at  the 
committee  meeting  on  Tuesday,  the  11th  inst. 

Royal  Horticultural  Society.- The 

next  fruit  and  flower  show  of  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesdaj'  next,  in 
the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster, 
1 — 4  p.m.  A  lecture  on  "The  use  and  value  of 
Nicotine  in  Horticulture''  will  be  given  by  Mr. 
G.  E.  Williams  at  three  o'clock.  At  the  annual 
general  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
held  on  Tuesdaj',  February  1 1 ,  sixty  new  Fellows 
were  elected,  amongst  them  being  Lady  Boston, 
Colonel  J.  Heap,  George  H.  Baxter,  F.Z.S. ,  and 
the  Rev.  H.  M.  Wells,  M.A.,  making  a  total  of  183 
elected  since  the  beginning  of  the  present  year. 
Examination  in  horticnlliire. — Candidates  wishing 
to  sit  for  the  Ro3'al  Horticultural  Society's  exami- 
nation in  horticulture  on  Wednesdaj',  April  23,  are 
requested  to  send  in  their  names,  with  that  of 
their  supervisor,  as  early  as  possible.  Entry  forms 
maj'  be  obtained  on  application  to  the  secretarj- 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  117,  Victoria  Street, 
London,  S.  W.  Applicants  should  enclose  a  stamp. 
The  society  will  also  in  future  continue  to  hold  its 
examination  in  April  and  not  in  February  as  was  at 
one  time  intended. 


National  Auricula  and  Primula- 
Society. — The  twenty-sixth  annual  exhibition 
of  this  society  will  be  held  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  on  Tuesda}', 
April  -l-l. 

Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund.— 

It  is  with  the  liveliest  satisfaction  that  the  com- 
mittee makes  the  announcement  that  Leopold  de 
Rothschild,  Esq.,  has  most  kindly  consented  to 
preside  at  the  next  festival,  which  will  take  place 
at  the  Hotel  Cecil  on  Thursday,  May  8,  and  they 
trust  that  all  friends  of  the  charity  will  assist  them 
in  making  the  presidency  of  this  princely  patron 
of  horticulture  in  Coronation  j'ear  a  memorable- 
one  in  the  annals  of  the  fund. 

Midland    Carnation    and   Picotee 

Society. — Mr.  Robert  Sydenham  has  under- 
taken the  management  of  this  societ}',  as  Mr. 
R.  C.  Cartwright  finds  himself  unable  to  continue 
the  work,  on  the  understanding  that  Mr.  Parton, 
jun.,  of  King's  Heath,  Birmingham,  will  take  over- 
the  management  for  11103.  Mr.  Sydenham  appeals 
to  all  those  interested  in  these  lovely  flowers- 
to  persuade  others  to  become  members  of  the 
society. 

Garden    Notes    for    the    Colonies- 

and  Abroad. — We  have  received  the  sixth 
edition  of  this  useful  publication,  issued  by 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.,  seedsmen.  High  Holborn. 
A  short  description  of  many  countries  in  all  parts 
of  the  world  is  given,  with  special  reference  to- 
soils,  climate,  &c.  Vegetables  and  flowers  for 
abroad  are  amongst  other  items  of  interest. 

Canterbury    Rose    Show.  -  It    was 

decided  at  the  annual  meeting  on  the  1.5th  inst. 
that  the  date  of  the  above  show  shall  be  Mondaj', 
.June  30. — E.  (i.  SxE.An,  Hon.  Sec. 

Mr.  T.  "W,  Sanders,  F.L.S.,  has  recently 
been  elected  an  honorary  Fellow  of  the  Linnean 
Society.  He  has  for  many  3'ears  been  closely 
identified  with  horticulture  generally,  and  has  by 
perseverence  and  zeal  risen  to  his  present  position. 
After  a  period  of  some  twenty  3'ears  of  practical 
experience  in  the  garden,  he  became  in  1887  editor 
of  Amateur  (lardeiii/nj,  and  as  recently  as  1809 
editor  of  the  Protilahle  Farm  and  Garden,  while 
early  in  the  present  month  he  was  re-elected  for 
the  tenth  consecutive  time  president  of  the  National 
Amateur  Gardeners'  Association. 

W^oodbridg-e   Horticultural 

Society. — This  famous  society  will  hold  its 
annual  show  on  July  10  next.  Mr.  .J.  Andrews, 
(iordon  House,  Cumberland  Street,  Woodbridge, 
is  the  honorary  secretary.  Last  year's  exhibition 
(.Jubilee)  will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  finest 
displays  of  1001. 

Irish   Gardeners'  Association.— In 

the  presence  ot  a  large  and  representative  audience 
of  horticulturists  the  ordinary  monthly  meeting  of 
the  above  society  took  place  recentl3'.  Mr.  F.  W. 
Burbidge,  M.A.,  the  president,  read  an  address  on 
"  Gardeners  and  their  Employers."  Mr.  Burbidge 
concluded  his  interesting  remarks  b3'  giving  it  as 
his  opinion  that  "  the  revival  of  village  industries- 
and  the  cheapening  of  railwa3'  and  other  transit 
charges  for  raw  materials  and  finished  products 
might  not  onl3'  relieve  the  congestion  of  half  the 
totally  uneniplo3-ed  labourers  in  our  towns,  but  it 
would  restrict  the  exodus  from  this  beautiful  and 
fertile  land  of  the  best  and  strongest  of  the 
population,  who  at  present  become  down-hearted, 
and  leave  us  in  desperation  for  the  United  States 
of  America  or  for  other  and  often  far  less  hospit- 
able and  kindly  shores." 

A  ne'W  Sugar  Bean.— We  do  not  find 

that  either  the  Sugar  or  the  Butter  Beans  are  at 
all  liked  as  a  general  rule.  Sometimes  a  visitor 
would  fanc3-  them,  but  the  rule  was  that  they  left 
the  table  uneaten,  and  we  discontinued  growing 
them.  The  "sliced  stringy  Beans  one  often  sees 
in  restaurants"  are  nothing  to  judge  by.  Sugar 
Beans  with  the  same  treatment  and  cooking  would 
be  much  worse,  if  such  a  thing  is  possible.  We 
know  many  who  have  tried  these,  but  at  the 
present  time  do  not  know  one  who  thinks  them 
worth  growing.  They  are  no  doubt  better  than 
nothing,  and  that  is  about  the  best  we  can  say  for 
them.— F.  F. 


^fey- 


GARDEN 


-^^'- 


M^^^ ^ 


No.  1580.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[March  1,  1902. 


ANNUAL    FLOWERS. 

A  T  this  season  of  seed  sowing  the  follow- 
/\  ing  notes  from  one  of  our  best 
/  \  flower  gardeners  are  interesting  : — 
/  Y  "It  would  be  quite  possible  to 
have  a  beautiful  summer  flower 
garden  without  the  aid  of  any  stock  of  plants 
if  one  made  a  careful  selection  of  the  good 
things  that  can  be  annually  raised  from  seed, 
starting  early  in  the  year  with  those  that 
require  early  raising  in  heat  to  have  them  in  a 
forward  state  for  planting  out,  and  following 
on  with  those  that  require  little  or  no  heat^ 
and  later  with  those  that  might  be  sown  in 
the  open  air  where  they  were  intended  to 
flower.  Although  we  have  long  since  regarded 
some  choice  annuals  as  altogether  indispen- 
sable—as, for  example,  Stocks— yet  as  a  class 
annuals  have  been  unfairly  tried.  Some  are 
fleeting,  but  the  majority  if  grown  in  a  proper 
way  are  quite  as  long-lasting,  and  some  are  far 
more  useful  than  the  average  summer  bedding 
plants.  Grown  as  annuals  often  are  upon  pooit 
hungry  soil,  and  the  contents  of  a  packet  of 
seed  sown  upon  a  little  spot  that  would  only 
suffice  for  one  fully-developed  plant,  they  can 
never  be  satisfactory  nor  have  a  chance  to  show 
their  value.  The  overcrowding  results  in  a 
stunted  growth,  premature  flowering,  and  early 
death.  But  with  proper  culture  we  may  strongly 
rely  upon  seed  and  seedling  plants  for  all  pur- 
poses and  uses,  from  the  noble  and  portly 
Castor-oil  plant  down  to  the  brilliant  little 
Portulaca,  which  upon  suitable  soil  spreads  out 
and  covers  the  ground  with  a  gorgeous  carpet. 
If  we  -would  have  plants  of  noble  stature  w^ 
can  easily  raise  from  seed  such  things  as  Castor;- 
oil  plants,  Wigandias,  Solanums,  Hemp,  Maize, 
Lavatera,  Melianthus,  Tobacco,  Acacia  lopban- 
tha,  and  others.  These  sown  in  heat  early  iA 
the  year  can  be  had  quite  large  enough  for 
planting  out  when  the  season  comes  roundj. 
Moreover,  they  associate  ivell  with  the  lowliej- 
types  of  flowering  plants,  many  of  which  are 
our  best  annuals.  Of  these  none  are  sweeter 
nor  more  valuable  than  Stocks,  and  so  greatly 
have  they  been  improved  and  £0  varied  arp 
the  strains,  that  one  is  almost  bewildered  in 
attempting  to  choose  from  such  variety.  They 
start  with  the  German  Ten-week  and  follow 
on  with  the  Intermediate  and  East  Lothian 
forms,  which,  though  considered  biennials,  can 
be  treated  as  annuals,  as  if  raised  early  in  the 
year  they  follow  on  flowering  after  the  Ten- 
week  kinds,  and  thus  keep  up  an  unbroken 
succession.    Certainly  we  have  not  yet  fully 


realised  all  that  the  Stocks  are  capable  of,  for 
although  we  find  them  in  most  gardens  during 
a  few  weeks  of  each  summer,  it  is  rare  to  see 
them,  though  quite  and  easily  possible  to  have 
them  in  perfection  and  succession  for  six 
months  of  the  year.  Asters,  too,  are  good,  but 
perhaps  not  quite  so  useful  as  Stocks,  as  they 
do  not  flower  so  continuously  ;  still,  in  certain 
positions,  a  bed  of  good  Asters,  especially  the 
tall  purple  A.  sinensis,  forms  a  charming 
feature.  The  Sweet  Scaljious,  Sweet  Sultan, 
Cornflower,  but  of  this  last  the  old  blue  form 
is  as  yet  far  superior  to  most  of  the  so-called 
improved  forms,  many  of  which  are  dull  and 
dirty  in  colour  ;  the  annual  Chrysanthemums 
and  Sweet  Peas  should  be  found  in  every 
garden.  We  are  now  aisle  to  obtain  seed  of 
many  plants  which  we  formerly  used  to  preserve 
through  the  winter,  such  things  as  Lobelias, 
Ageratums,  Verbenas,  &c.,  and  the  advantage 
of  this  is  great,  if  only  for  the  sake  of  the 
healthier  growth  characteristic  of  plants  from 
seed.  Of  course,  special  varieties  cannot  be 
trusted  to  come  absolutely  true,  but  good 
selections  give  a  large  percentage.  In  the  case 
of  Verl)enas  it  is  possible  to  obtain  seed  in 
separate  colours,  such  as  the  red,  white,  and 
purple.  These  come  very  true,  and  they  have 
a  vigour  almost  unknown  in  the  old  type  of 
over-jiropagated  and  often  diseased  bedding 
Verbenas." 


THE    SUBURBAN    GARDEN. 

"  Not  wholly  in  the  busy  world  nor  quite 

Beyond  it,  blooms  the  garden  that  I  love.  ■ 

News  from  the  humming  city  comes  to  it,  [ 

In  sound  of  funeral  or  of  marriage  bells."  ; 

"What  are  the  suburbs?  I  never  come  acros$ 
them,"  said  a  "  smart "  young  lady  froni 
Mayfair.  Now  this  was  foolish,  for  it  ife 
impossible  to  either  enter  or  leave  Londoij 
without  passing  through  its  suburbs,  and 
having  an  excellent  opportunity  of  vieising 
the  surburban  garden  in  all  its  squalor,  pathos, 
and  beauty.  Gardens  on  the  outskirts  of  any 
large  town  are  many-sided,  and  they  play  so 
large  a  part  in  the  social  life  of  to-day  that 
they  are  worth  a  moment's  thought. 

Suburban  ;  the  very  word  has  something 
about  it  which  to  many  people  is  like  a  red 
rag  to  a  bull ;  even  to  mention  it  seems 
enough  to  set  anybody  against  anything.  But 
why  ?  "  It  is  so  half  and  half,"  that  is  what 
people  say  ;  "do  let  us  have  one  thing  or  the 
other,  either  real  country  or  real  town,  not  an 
unsatisfactory  mixture  of  both."  Suburban 
gardens  come  in  for  an  even  larger  share  of 
plain  speaking  than  suburban  houses— aii 
extraordinary  number  of  faults  are  found  with 
them.  "  They  are  never  made  the  most  o'," 
"they  are  vulgar,"  "they  are  neglected,  ill- 


planted,  and  generally  disappointing."  The 
first  time  I  ever  heard  a  good  word  for  the 
suburban  garden  was  at  a  table  d'hote  in 
Germany,  where  a  very  intelligent  Swiss  lady, 
who  had  spent  the  spring  and  early  summer  in 
England,  said  the  thing  that  had  struck  her 
most  was  the  small  gardens  aboi,it  the  environs 
of  London.  Her  favourite  amusement  was  to 
take  a  carriage  and  drive  out  in  any  direction, 
it  mattered  not  which,  it  was  always  the 
same.  Pretty  flowering  trees,  Almond,  Acacia, 
Guelder  Rose,  Lilac,  Syringa,  Laburnum, 
double  Hawthorn,  and  a  host  of  others,  with 
handsome  shrubs  and  charming  beds  and 
window  boxes  full  of  flowers,  both  gay  and 
scented,  all  these  she  was  sure  to  find  on  either 
hand  and  in  front  of  every  little  house.  Here 
was  a  surprise  !  Was  this,  indeed,  to  see  our- 
selves as  others  see  us  ? 

On  returning  to  England  I  did  my  best  to 
view  everything  I  met,  with  unprejudiced  eyes, 
and  came  to  the  conclusion  there  was  much  to 
be  said  even  for  the  gardens  of  the  suburbs. 
Indeed,  I  doubt  whether  the  same  amount  of 
pleasure  is  got  out  of  any  part  of  the  King's 
dominions  as  is  found  in  these  despised  plots 
and  patches.  Let  us  think  who  they  belong 
to  For  the  most  part  to  the  toilers  and 
moilers  in  life's  army—  our  merchants,  lawyers, 
stock  brokers,  clerks,  and  all  sorts  and  kinds 
of  people  who  occupy  their  business  in  the 
deep  waters  of  London.  Imagine  what  gardens 
are  to  such  as  these  ;  what  it  must  be  to  leave 
the  heat  and  worry  of  town,  say  at  four  o'clock 
OQ  a  summer's  afternoon,  and  by  five  or  half -past 
to  be  sitting  under  shady  trees,  green  grass 
beneath  their  feet,  and  the  scent  of  Jasmine 
and  Roses  in  the  air.  Even  for  the  jjoor  man 
to  whom  a  garden  means  work,  it  is  a  change 
of  work,  and  that  is  the  best  way  of  resting. 

Suburban  gardens  are  of  many  kinds  ;  there 
are  all  manner  of  notes  in  the  scale.  The 
squalid  ones — alas !  some  are  squalid — are  most 
familiar  to  the  district  visitor  or  may  be  seen 
from  railway  carriage  windows.  They  often 
belong  to  houses  filled  with  many  diflerent 
families  and  are  a  kind  of  no  man's  land. 
Hardly  can  they  be  called  gardens.  There  are 
sometimes  a  few  stunted  Cabbages  in  them, 
often  a  rabbit-hutch,  invariably  a  summer- 
house  (pathetic  sight !  What  poor  man's  garden 
is  ever  without  its  summer-house?),  a  dilapi- 
dated fowl  or  two,  sometimes  happily  some 
Scarlet  Runners,  and  occasionally,  oh  joy  !  a 
tree,  a  beautiful  spreading  tree  like  a  green- 
winged  angel.  Then  there  are  the  tidy  patches 
of  the  fairly  well-to-do  workman,  some  made 
hideous  by  erections  of  shells  and  grottoes, 
others  filled  with  useful  and  pretty  plants. 
So  we  go  upwards,  step  by  step,  to  the  good- 
sized  strip  or  more  ambitious  villa  garden. 
Wonders  are  done  in  these.  Many  a  busy 
city  man  knows  all  about  Roses,  and  could 
give  lessons  in  Grape  growing  and  Orchid 
forcing  to  his  relations  in  the  real  country. 

Country  gardens  have  the  best  chances,  of 


134 


THE     GAllUEJS 


[March  1,  1902. 


course,  but  there  are  one  or  two  points  about 
Suburban  gardens  that  may  be  envied.  One  is 
the  birds,  it  is  not  tuat  there  are  more  of 
them,  but  those  there  are,  are  such  a  pleasure. 
When  a  new  bird  of  a  rarer  iiind  than  ordinary 
is  coaxed  into  the  precincts  of  one's  own  domain, 
what  an  exciting  moment ;  a  garden  warbler, 
or  a  tree  creeper,  or  a  fly-catcher.  What  friendly 
iraps  are  laitl  for  them  in  the  way  of  food  and 
water  and  material  for  Ijuilding.  And  wild 
flowers  ;  when  unfamiliar  seedliugs  come  up, 
either  wind  blown  or  bird  sown,  here  is 
another  joy.  i'ew  people  in  real  country 
gardens  know  every  leat  and  blade  by  heart 
as  do  the  owners  of  the  small  suburban  garden, 
so  carefully  watched,  so  tenderly  made  the 
most  of. 

There  is  many  a  quaint  touch,  too,  about 
these  gardens  of  the  suburbs.  They  are  often, 
like  blouses  and  children's  frocks  after  sale 
time,  made  of  remnants.  Some  large  old 
holdmg  is  cut  up  into  blocks.  Block  A  gets 
bits  of  orchard  ;  Block  B  a  piece  of  garden 
ground  with  Roses  and  blossoming  trees,  Block 
O  may  have  nothing  but  Briars  and  Black- 
berries, or  in  another  place  a  stately  avenue 
has  been  cut  down  for  building  and  some 
magnificent  Elm  or  Oak  or  Cedar  has  been 
spared,  and  is  stranded,  a  forlorn  looking 
prisoner  in  the  back  garden  of  some  modern 
villa.  Well,  he  is  a  blessing  to  someliody  ; 
little  children  may  still  play  about  under  his 
sheltering  arms,  where  the  rooks  yet  cling  to 
their  old  haunts,  croaking  cheerfully  as  ever. 

Nor  is  it  wholly  unpleasing  to  have  a  garden 
near  the  busy  haunts  of  men  ;  the  roar  and 
rattle  of  the  streets  tounding  like  the  far-off 
humming  of  bees,  the  strange  glow  of  lights 
in  the  distance,  the  pealing  ol  bells  and  the 
striking  of  innumerable  clocks,  the  thunder 
and  whistle  tif  trains  that  link  us  with  friends 
far  ott',  the  stir  and  throli  of  human  life,  that 
chimei  in,  nut  inharmoniously,  with  the  calmer 
life  of  nature.  All  the.se  things  combine  in 
making  up  the  unexpressed  enjoyments  of  the 
dwellers  in  gardens  that  lie  close  to  the  heait 
of  towns.  Should  these  words  by  chance  be 
read  by  any  who  are  hesitating  between  life 
in  a  London  flit,  where  there  is  no  getting  out 
without  gloves,  hat,  and  all  the  para])hernalia 
of  the  street,  or  living  in  a  small  house  with  a 
small  garden  not  far  from  town,  let  them 
pause,  and  not  be  frightened  by  the  suburban 
bogey.  in  spite  of  all  its  drawbacks,  its 
awkward  shape,  its  insignificant  size,  its 
smokine=s  and  too  great  publicity,  there  are 
flickers  of  enjoyment  to  be  had  even  in  that 
much-maligned  spot,  the  suburban  garden 

F.  A.  B. 


valuable.  We  have  several  plants  at  this  date 
(February  20)  just  at  their  best,  and  I  am 
enclosing  a  few  flowers  for  you  to  see. — E. 
Beckett,  The  Gardens,  Aldenham  Home,  E/slree. 

A  very  beautiful  variety  of  a  wonderfully  bright 
chestnut  red,  with  bronzy  yellow  reverse  to  the 
florets.     It  is  the  brightest  of  its  colour  we  know. 


LENTEN      HELLEBORES. 

In  gardening  circles  much  comment  has  been  raised 
by  Mr.  Perry's  summary  manner  of  disposing  of 
that  beautiful  race  of  plants,  the  Oriental  Helle- 
bores and  their  hybrids.  It  is  scarcely  possible 
that  he  can  be  aware  to  what  beauty  they  attain 
in  many  gardens,  only  to  mention  two  instances, 
notably  Coombefishacre  and  Edge  Hall.  I  know  of 
nothing  more  beautiful  at  this  season  in  our 
gardens,  whilst  for  gathering  they  are  invaluable, 
and  a  little  care  will  keep  them  fresh  in  water  and 
in  full  beauty  for  several  days.  The  plants  can  be 
readily  obtained,  and  to  grow  them  successfully  is 
well  within  the  scope  of  all  who  garden.  Surely, 
therefore,  they  are  worthy  of  a  good  place  in  our 
gardens.  — E.  Willmott,  Warley  Place. 


I  was  glad  to  see  on  page  102  letters  from 
Mr.  T.  H.  Archer-Hind  and  Mr.  Greenwood  Pirn 
referring  to  Mr.  Amos  Perry's  remarks  that  Lenten 
Roses  are  "  no  good  for  cutting."  As  a  matter  of 
fact  they  are  most  useful  flowers  for  indoor 
decoration,  coming  at  a  time  of  the  year  when 
blossoms  from  the  open  air  are  all  too  rare  and 
remaining  fresh,  as  your  correspondents  state,  for 
ten  days  or  more  after  being  placed  in  water  if  the 
precaution  has  been  taken  of  slitting  the  stalks 
before  immersing  them.  In  proof  of  this  I  send 
herewith  a  picture  of  a  vase  of  Lenten  Hellebores 
that,  owing  to  an  accident  to  the  camera,  could 
not  be  photographed  until  a  week  after  the}'  were 
cut ;  but  in  spite  of  this  delay  they  appear  quite 
fresh.  The  stalks  of  these  flowers  were  slit  up 
into  four  portions  to  a  length  of  about  4  inches. 
Many  other  flowers  besides  Hellebores  are  benefited 
by  slitting  up  the  stalks  before  placing  them  in 
water.  Some  years  ago  I  brought  a  few  sprays  of 
a  perennial  Aster  a  long  distance  by  hand,  and 
when  I  arrived  at  home  their  petals  were  limp  and 
drooping.  Cutting  off  the  bases  of  the  stems  I 
placed  them  in  water,  but  the  following  morning 
the}'  presented  the  same  dejected  appearance.  As 
a  last  resource  I  removed  them,  slit  up  the  stems 
as  before-mentioned  and  replaced  them  in  the 
water,  and  was  rewarded  by  their  gradually  re- 
gaining their  freshness  and  remaining  in  beauty  for 
many  days. — S.  W.  Fitzherbert. 


colour  to  be  obtained  than  we  already  have.  I  was 
much  impressed  by  the  Hellebores  last  monlh 
(January)  in  Trinity  College  Gardens,  Dublin ;  they 
were  everywhere  flowering  beautifully,  and 
amongst  them  were  some  with  a  decided  tendency 
to  look  up— some  of  the  flowers  were  actiially  at 
right  angles  with  the  stems,  so  that  the  flowers 
could  be  examined  without  the  necessity  of  turning 
each  one  up.  In  this  direction  great  improvement 
can  be  made.  If  everyone  who  is  interested  in  this 
family  will  bear  this  in  mind  when  selecting  seed, 
and  try  to  obtain  varieties  with  this  upward 
tendency,  it  will  do  a  great  deal  to  make  the  family 
more  popular  than  they  are  at  present  and  of  much 
greater  value  for  decoration.  Now,  with  regard  to 
the  Delphinium  I  would  rather  have  said  nothing. 
I  do  not  like  the  colour,  and  never  did  ;  but  I  am 
only  one.  It  is  a  marvellous  break,  and  I  feel 
sure  there  are  far  better  things  to  come  — 
Amos  Perry. 

Allow  me  to  join  with  Mr.  Archer-Hind  and 
Mr.  Greenwood  Pim  in  giving  testimony  to  the 
value  of  the  Lenten  Roses  as  cut  flowers,  and  with 
the  former  in  praising  the  impiovement  effected  in 
these  plants.  As  the}  say,  the  Lenten  Roses  will 
last  in  water  for  a  long  time  if  the  stalks  are  split 
up.  This  is  not  necessary  if  the  blooms  are  to  be 
kept  for  a  tew  days  only  and  the  flowers  are 
thoroughly  immersed  in  water  for  a  couple  of  hours 
after  being  cut.  Last  spring  Mr.  Archer-Hind 
kindly  sent  me  cut  flowers  of  the  charming 
varieties  he  has  raised.  The  colours  of  many  of 
these  were  most  beautiful  and  showed  how 
capable  the  Hellebore  is  of  improvement  still. 
These  flowers,  after  a  journey  which  took  about 
two  days,  came  as  fresh  as  if  newly  cut,  and  they 
were  almost  all  fit  to  be  seen  after  being  in  water  - 
tor  quite  a  fortnight.  In  addition  to  having  the 
stalks  split,  the  bowls  with  the  flowers  were  put 
into  an  unhealed  room  at  night.  We  must  all 
thank  Mr.  Perry  for  the  way  in  which  he  treated 
his  subject  (the  improvement  of  hardy  flowers). 
No  one  is  better  able  to  do  it. — S.  Arnott. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


EDITORS'    TABLE, 


The  Snake's  Head  Iris. 
Mr.  Fitzherbert  sends  from  Kingswear,  South 
Devon,  flowers  of  this  beautiful  quietly  coloured 
Iris.  Mr.  Fitzherbert  writes:  "I  send  you 
flowers  of  the  Snake's  Head  Iris  (I.  tuberosa),  of 
which  a  number  are  out  in  this  garden.  The 
flower,  with  its  satin-black  falls,  is  quaint  rather 
than  beautiful,  but  has  a  pleasing  perfume.  It  is, 
I  believe,  a  native  of  the  Levant,  but  grows  wild 
in  some  parts  of  South  Devon.  It  does  not 
usually  bloom  as  early  as  February." 


With  refeience  to  the  notes  appearing  on 
page  102  of  The  Garden,  respecting  Helleborus 
orientahs,  allow  me  to  make  a  few  remarks.  The 
remark  that  the  Oriental  Christmas  Roses  "are 
no  good  for  cutting  and  never  will  be  "  is  perhaps 
somewhat  misleading.  An  injustice  has  apparently 
been  done  to  this  important  class  of  spring  flower- 
ing plants.  But  you  must  bear  in  mind  that 
this  paper  was  intended  solely  to  be  read  before  the 
Horticultural  Club,  which  is  not  merely  an  amateur's 
club,  and  I  spoke  from  a  nurseryman's  point  of 
To  cut  flowers  fresh  from  the  garden  and  to 


Garden  labels.— Woods'  label  is  a  useful 
one,  but  too  much  in  the  botanic  garden  style  for 
the  flower  garden.  The  flat  ones  are  not  of  much 
use,  as  they  get  pushed  into  the  ground  or  else 
worked  out.  In  writing  the  name  a  pencil  does 
well  with  a  slight  smear  of  fresh  paint.  But  it  ig 
for  the  kitchen  garden  alone  that  a  metal  label  is 
suitable.  As  to  wood  labels,  10  inches  long  and 
IJ  inches  broad  is  about  the  right  thing.  They 
should  be  home-made  so  as  to  ensure  suitable 
wood  and  a  good  thickness.  Some  years  ago  I  had 
samples  of  Boxwood  labels  sent  by  some  Midland 
firm  whose  name  I  cannot  remember.  These 
struck  me  as  useful.  How  about  the  Australian 
.Jarrah  wood  ?  This  would  be  worth  trying. 
Then  as  to  a  pencil ;  this  might  be  improved  I 
expect  so  as  to  get  a  very  durable  mark.  The 
price  is  of  no  great  consequence,  so  that  the  manu- 
facturer would  find  it  answer  his  purpose.  A 
running  water  tap  and  a  scrub  bush  would  soon 
test  its  qualities. — E.  FisoN. 

Lotus     peliorPhynCUS.  —  Attention    ia 


view.  _  _  _ 

place  them  directly  in  water  is  one  thing,  whilst    drawn  to  this  handsome  flowering  plant  ou  page  10.3 


Chrysanthemum  Matthew  Hodgson. 
Anyone  desirous  of  having  a  really  good  deep- 
coloured  Chrysanthemum  for  decoration  during 
January  and  February  should  not  fail  to  grow  the 
above  in  bush  form.  Among  a  large  number  of 
varieties  cultivated  for  supplying  cut  flowers  for 
the  new  year  this  proved  to  be  the  latest,  and 
being   of   a   very   pleasing   shade   has    been    most 


to  cut  and  pack  them  in  boxes  and  baskets 
for  market  is  another ;  and  that  is  simply  the 
difference  between  what  was  meant  by  my  state- 
ment and  the  opinions  of  the  two  gentlemen  who 
have  championed  the  cause  of  the  Lenten  Rose.  I 
do  not  wish  it  to  be  thought  that  I  meant  to 
disparage  the  value  of  this  most  beautiful  and 
useful  group,  invaluable  as  they  are  at  this  season 
of  the  year,  especially  when  seen  under  such 
favourable  conditions  as  are  to  be  found  in  Devon, 
Dublin,  and  other  favoured  spots.  Now,  as  far 
as  improvement  is  concerned,  there  is  much  to  be 
desired — and,  I  think,  accomplished— especially  in 
the  arrangement  of  the  flowers  ;  but  not  so  much 
in  colour,  to  which  my  remarks  applied.  Neither 
do  I  consider  there  is  a  much  greater   range  of 


by  Mr.  Greenwood  Pim,  who  suggests  that  it  would 
probably  be  hardy  on  a  dry  stniny  rockery.  As  far 
as  I  know  it  will  not  stand  the  winter  in  the  open 
in  such  positions,  even  in  the  south-west,  but  it  is 
one  of  those  subjects  that  well  repays  a  winter's 
culture  under  glass  and  planting  out  in  the  rockery 
in  the  spring.  I  have  seen  it  treated  in  this  manner 
in  a  well-known  South  Devon  rock  garden  with  the 
happiest  result,  the  effect  of  the  hanging,  grey- 
green,  narrow-leaved  foliage,  set  with  numerous 
large  bright  flowers,  whose  colour  I  should  style 
crimson  rather  than  "Indian  red"— a  term  that 
to  my  mind  more  accurately  describes  the  tint  of 
the  blossoms  of  Tropseolum  pentaphyllum — being 
particularly  striking.  In  this  case  several  specimens 
were   planted  at  different   elevations  in  the  rock 


Makch  1,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


135 


garden  and  hung  their  flower-studded  trails  of 
leafage  over  stony  ledges  for  a  height  of  many  feet. 
— S.  W.  FiTZHERBERT,  South  Deron. 

Cyppipedium  MopganisB— This Cypri 

pedium,  as  stated  on  page  75,  is  very  shy-flowering, 
and  various  means  have  been  resorted  to.  in  order 
to  overcome  the  difficulty.  The  most  successful  of 
those  that  have  come  under  my  notice  is  when  the 
growth  is  made  up  to  remove  the  plant  to  a  cool, 
light  house,  and  give  little  water.  This  treatment 
does  not  improve  the  foliage,  but  it  often  leads  to 
flowers.  As  soon  as  the  flower-buds  are  visible 
remove  the  plant  from  its  cool  quarters  into  a 
warmer  structure,  and  give  an  increased  quantity 
of  water. — H.  P. 

A    new    Vegetable    Mappow.  — The 

season  for  sowing  the  above  vegetable  will  soon  be 
here,  and  those  who  can  give  the  plants  frame 
culture  will  find  the  new  Sutton's  Perfection  a 
most  valuable  introduction,  as  it  is  specially  good 
for  frame  culture  or  for  earliest  supplies  in  the 
open  if  given  a  little  protection  at  planting  time. 
The  new  Perfection  is  the  most  prolific  variety  1 
have  grown,  and,  though  not  large,  is  of  excellent 
flavour.  Large  Marrows  area  mistake  in  a  private 
garden.  Such  varieties  as  the  new  Perfection  and 
the  older  Pen-y-Bj'd  should  be  cooked  whole  when 
quite  youug.  The  new  variety  is  not  unlike  a 
Melon  in  shape,  and  the  skin  is  dark  green  with 
pale  stripes,  a  very  pretty  fruit,  and  of  great  value 
for  exhibition.  It  crops  with  great  profusion. 
A"  the  plants  are  of  compact  habit  they  are  the 
more  valuable  for  frames  or  early  supplies. — G. 
Wythes. 

StOPage  fOP  fPUit.  — The  Herefordshire 
Fruit  Growers'  Association  is  considering  the  ques- 
tion of  providing  storage  for  fruit  at  Hereford. 
Mr.  C.  W.  Radclifie  Cooke  is  the  moving  spirit  in 
the  matter.  Cold  storage  should,  it  goes  without 
sa3'ing,  be  provided  for  to  ensure  the  success  of 
any  scnerae.  The  association  has  now  upwards  of 
260  members. — Cold  Storage. 

Viola  Blue  Bell. — Some  few  years  ago 
when  I  grew  Violas  and  Pansies  somewhat 
extensively  for  summer  bedding,  &c. ,  the  variety 
Blue  Bell  was  a  great  favourite  ;  in  fact,  I  had  no 
variety  that  resisted  mildew  and  stood  the  drought 
better.  Our  soil  was  light  and  not  of  the  best  for 
growing  these  flowers  well,  but  with  deep  culti- 
vation, early  planting,  and  plenty  of  manure  well 
mixed  in  I  managed  to  grow  Blue  Bell  very 
satisfactorily.  I  have  repeatedly  tried  placing  a 
very  heavy  la\  er  of  manure  at  the  bottom  of  the 
beds  at  a  good  depth  from  the  surface  and  then  a 
second  layer  about  6  inches  <leep,  but  this  plan 
failed.  The  manure  in  hot,  dry  weather  became 
somewhit  baked,  and  unless  plenty  of  water 
was  given  to  the  plants  mildew  was  more  preva- 
lent th  in  was  the  case  when  the  rotten  manure  and 
soil  were  thoroughly  mixed  together  as  previously 
mentioned.  Another  good  and  uselul  Viola, 
aUhough  the  constitution  was  not  equal  to  Blue 
Bill,  was  a  variety  named  Yellow  Boy.  These 
two  1  grew  very  extensively  .and  at  that  time  I 
had  none  better  for  bedding  purposes.  Needless 
10  say,  large  beds  filled  with  Violas  make  a  very 
effective  show  when  in  full  bloom. — H.  Markham, 
]VrotK'j,m  Park- 

WeatheP  and  ePOpS.— An  interesting 
article  appears  in  the  West  Sussex  County  Times 
under  the  above  heading  written  by  Mr.  A. 
Kemp,  Coolhurst  Gardens.  The  subject  is  care- 
fully dealt  with,  and  much  sound  information 
given.  We  notice  the  following  remarks  :  "There 
IS  one  fact  that  should  never  be  lost  sight  of,  and 
a  very  convincing  one  loo,  and  that  is  that  all 
growth  has  most  moisture  at  root  and  branch  when 
ii  is  completely  at  rest — deciduous  trees  as  well  as 
evergreen— so  that  this  fully  justifies  the  watering 
ot  fiuit  trees  of  every  kind  freelj'  in  winter  when 
root  action  is  dormant. 

Aquilegias, — These  flowers  ha vebecome  very 
popular  of  late  years,  and  are  much  valued  for 
table  decoration  and  epergnes  on  account  of  their 
graceful  beauty.  1  consider  A.  Chrysantha  one  of 
the  most  useful  varieties  It  is  very  hardy,  suc- 
ceeding as  well  on  a  north  border  as  on  a  sunny 
border,  and  producing  its  delicate  yellow  flowers 
in  great  profusion.     Moreover,  the  flowers  being 


borne  on  long,  stout  stems  are  admirably  adapted 
for  cutting  ;  arranged  in  vases  with  a  little  of  the 
foliage  they  present  a  charming  appearance.  I 
find  the  choice  hybrid  varieties  rather  tender  ; 
they  require  a  fairly  sunny  position  and  warm,  open 
soil,  also  plenty  of  moisture.  It  is  a  mistake  to 
raise  them  in  too  much  heat.  A  temperature  of 
5.5°  is  suflioient,  March  being  the  best  time  for 
sowing.  Light  loam  and  leafy  soil  form  the  best 
compost,  which  should  be  pressed  firmly  into  a  pan 
or  box,  and  the  seed  sown  thinlj'.  As  soon  as  the 
seedlings  are  established,  after  being  pricked  out 
from  the  seed  pan,  remove  them  to  a  frame,  and 
gradually  harden  them  oif,  finally  planting  them 
out  at  the  end  of  May.  If  obtainable,  dig  a  liberal 
quantity  of  leaf-mould  into  the  soil,  in  addition 
to  some  well-decayed  horse  or  cow  manure,  and 
mulch  the  plants  with  the  same  material  or  spent 
Mushroom  manure  to  prevent  undue  evaporation. 

Roses  coveplng  poots   of  trees.— 

I  am  sorry  to  see  no  reference  in  the  note  in  TuE 
Garden,  page  119,  to  the  old  dimhing  China  Rose, 
an  old  favourite  of  mine,  of  which  I  have  pleasing 
recollections  years  ago  in  old-fashioned  gardens 
in  Essex,  not  twelve  miles  from  London. — P. 
Cleme.s'TI-Smith,  St.  Andrew's  Rectory,  Doctors' 
Commo7i-f,  E.C. 

ButteP  Beans. — t  am  also  sorry  to  see  the 
depreciatory  remarks,  page  132,  regarding  Canadian 
Butter  Beans,  the  liest  Bean  groicn,  though,  unfor- 
tunately, looked  down  upon  by  some  housewives 
because  it  is  yellow  (or  golden)  coloured,  and  not 
green.  If  people  would  only  overcome  this  preju- 
dice as  to  colour  they  would  soon  learn  to  value 
this  excellent,  delic  icely-flavoured  Bean,  which  I 
soon  learned  to  appreciate  during  a  four  years' 
sojourn  in  Canada,  and  have  introduced  by  making 
small  presents  of  seeds  to  many  of  my  friends  in 
this  country. —  P.  Clementi-Smitu,  Doctors  Com- 
monJi,  E.C. 

Choisya  tepnata  in  pots.— A  batch  of 

the  Mexican  Orange  flower  in  pots  will  make  some 
interesting  little  groups  for  the  greenhouse  through 
the  dull  days,  for  it  is  an  attractive  plant  both  in 
the  way  of  flower  and  foliage,  and  very  slight 
warmth  is  sufficient  to  develop  the  flowers.  The 
Choisya  was  treated  when  first  introduced  practi- 
cally as  a  stove  plant,  and  gradually  inured  to  lower 
temperatures  until  it  became  a  choice  shrub  for 
outdoor  planting,  at  least  in  many  parts  of  England. 
My  object  in  exiling  attention  to  it  at  the  present 
time  is  to  suggest  that  where  a  stock  in  pots  is  not 
on  hand,  and  there  are  several  plants  out  of  doors, 
it  will  be  advisable  to  put  down  some  layers,  as 
flowering  stufl'  for  indoors  is  more  expeditiously 
obtained  in  this  way  than  from  cuttings.  Mix  up 
a  compost  for  layering  of  equal  parts  loam  and  leaf 
soil,  with  a  good  sprinkling  of  sand,  and  having 
loosened  the  ground,  put  some  3  inches  of  pre- 
pired  soil  on  the  surface,  and  select  pieces  about 
a  foot  long  with  nice  bushy  tops,  tongue  slit  circ- 
fully,  and  peg  down  firmly.  After  treatment 
simply  consists  in  keeping  the  soil  moist  about  the 
layers,  and  they  can  be  severed  and  potted  up  as 
soon  as  they  are  well  rooted. — E.  Burrell. 

Rhamnus  Alatepnus  vapiegatus 
(Silvep-leavedBuckthopn).— Thesilver- 

edged  Buckthorn  is  an  excellent  wall  plant,  the 
variegation  being  clear,  broad,  and  well  defined. 
It  is  a  good  companion  for  things  like  the  scarlet 
Cydonia,  Waltham  climber  Roses,  or  those  of  similar 
colour,  and  I  should  strongly  advise  its  inclusion 
in  any  planting  to  cover  walls.  It  is  by  no  means 
particular  as  to  soil;  indeed,  I  fancy  the  variegation 
is  more  pronounced  on  rather  poor,  light  ground. 
Our  plant  co\-ers  some  250  square  feet  of  wall. 
Young  plants  can  be  quickly  obtained  from  laj'ers 
which  may  be  pegged  into  a  compost  ot  sandy  loam 
and  leaf  soil  in  equal  parts. — E.  B.,  Claremont. 

Calcutta  Rose  show. — In  some  respects 
the  Rose  show  organised  by  the  Agri-Horticultural 
Society  of  India,  and  which  was  held  at  the 
society's  gardens  at  Alipore  on  January  31,  ■\\as  a 
triSe  disappointing  ;  we  refer  to  the  small  number 
of  exhibits,  and  the  absence  of  that  keen,  healthy 
competition  which  we  are  accustomed  to  associate 
with  such  functions.  This  is  not  easily  accounted 
for,    especially   as   the   number   and   value  of  the 


prizes  offered  were  well  worth  competing  for. 
The  competition  was  confined  to  nine  exhibitors, 
all  natives.  There  was  not  a  single  European 
competitor,  a  fact  which  is  eloquent  of  the  apathy 
of  our  own  community  in  a  function  so  purely 
European  as  a  Rose  show.  Under  such  depressing 
conditions  is  gardening  carried  on  in  the  capital 
of  India  !  The  native  competitors  deserve  every 
encouragement,  and  all  praise  is  duo  to  them  for 
their  enterprise  which  enabled  the  show  to  be  held 
at  all.  It  is  no  fault  of  the  Agri-Horticultural 
Society  of  India  that  there  were  so  few  competitors. 
The  society  did  all  that  was  possible  to  make  the 
show  a  success  by  providing  attractive  prizes  and 
making  all  the  necessary  arrangements,  for  which 
the  thanks  of  the  public  are  due  to  the  committee. 
The  attendance  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  was 
large,  and  all  seemed  to  enjoy  the  floral  treat 
provided.  Much  admiration  was  expressed  for 
the  exhibits  that  were  s^,a.^eA.— Indian  Gardening 
and  Planting. 

Naming-  exhibits,— In  the  schedule  of 
the  Shropshire  Horticultural  Society  we  notice  the 
following  commendable  remarks  :  "The  committee 
specially  request  that  as  far  as  possible  all  exhibits 
shall  be  named.  They  know  this  will  entail 
trouble  to  the  exhibitor  ;  it  will,  however,  be  well 
repaid  by  the  advantage  gained  to  horticulture 
and  the  pleasure  and  instruction  such  naming  will 
give  to  the  visitors  who  attend  the  spring  and 
summer  shows." 

Eaply    Beet   Cpimson   Ball.  —  Some 

vegetables  and  salads  are  so  much  better  than 
others  that  they  are  worth  special  note  on  that 
account,  and  for  earliness  Carter's  Crimson  Ball 
Beetroot  is  certainly  worthy  of  mention.  Those  who 
have  found  the  old  Egyptian  Turnip-rooted  Beet 
poor  both  in  flavour  and  colour  would  do  well  to 
give  Crimson  Ball  a  trial ;  it  is  of  better  colour  and 
finer  quality.  I  have  grown  it  both  under  glass 
and  in  the  open  for  early  salads,  and  though  Beet 
is  not  often  forced  few  plants  do  better  ;  indeed,  it 
may  be  grown  in  pots  from  the  start.  When  seed 
is  sown  under  glass  and  the  seedlings  planted 
out  it  is  ready  for  table  in  May,  and  if  sown 
on  a  warm  border  in  the  open  there  will  be 
very  early  roots.  For  shallow  soils,  where  the 
long  roots  are  not  a  success,  make  a  sowing  in 
March  and  again  in  May.  Sown  thus  the  roots 
will  keep  long,  but  later  sowings  may  be  made  if 
desired. — W. 

Eaply    Potato    Ninety-fold.  —  Few 

Potatoes  have  been  introduced  during  the  past 
few  years  so  meritorious  as  Ninety-fold.  This 
new  variety  with  me,  both  in  the  north  and  south, 
is  our  heaviest  cropper,  and  this,  combined  with 
earliness,  makes  it  most  valuable.  For  nianj-  years 
the  Ashleafs  were  the  only  early  Potatoes  grown  in 
any  quantity,  but  the  hybrids  that  Messrs.  Sulton 
have  given  us  crop  so  freely  and  are  so  dwaif  in 
growth  that  they  show  a  great  advance  on  the 
older  kinds.  With  regard  to  flavour  the  Ashleaf 
is  dilhcult  to  beat,  but  the  crop  is  not  so  large  as 
from  the  newer  varieties.  Ninety-fold  is  one  of 
the  best;  the  haulm  is  erect,  and  though  dwaif 
is  very  strong,  and  what  is  better  it  is  the  earliest 
varietj'  to  mature.  Last  year  we  lifted  the  tubers 
the  last  week  in  May  on  a  sheltered  border,  and 
very  few  sets  are  not  usable.  The  flesh  is  white 
and  the  tubers  large  for  an  early  variety,  and  when 
cooked  are  of  splendid  quality. — G.  W.  S. 

Manettia  bicolOP.  —  The  ever-increasing 
demand  for  cut  flowers  renders  it  imperative  that 
plants  to  furnish  the  same  should  be  largely  grown 
both  in  the  open  border  and  under  glass.  At  the 
same  time,  I  am  afraid  there  is  a  tendency  to 
neglect  other  things  beautiful  in  themselves,  but 
of  little  use  for  cutring.  These  remarks  apply  to 
the  stove  climber  jiamed.  It  produces  only  small 
flowers,  but  the  two  shades  of  colour  are  pure, 
clear,  and  sharply  defined.  The  duration  of 
bloom  is  well  maintained,  and  when  the  long, 
trailing  shoots  are  well  clothed  with  flower  it  is  a 
very  striking  plant.  AUhough  included  in  stove 
climbers,  it  maj'  be  grown  in  an  intermediate  house 
where  the  night  temperature  is  seldom  below  io"' 
and  is  of  easy  culture,  a  compost  of  loam,  leaf-soil, 
and  silver  sand,  with  a  dash  of  peat,  doing  it  well. 
^E.  Burrell. 


136 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


THE   COLD    ALPINE    IIUIISE    AT    KEW    (FEBRUARY    I3,     I9O2). 


A  Sta.ge  "garden." — Writing  of  a  new 
play  called  "  Memory's  Garden,"  the  Tinwn  Fays: 
"  To  be  sure,  one  of  the  scenes  passes  in  a  garden, 
a  remarkable  garden,  which  must  be  the  envy  of 
the  average  English  horticulturist,  inasmuch  as  it 
produces  the  Rose  and  the  Laburnum  together  in 
full  bloom  on  May  Day." 

Salsafy  as  a  winter  vegetable.— 

This  vegetable  is  so  easily  grown  that  any  cul- 
tural details  may  be  out  of  place,  but  I  would 
point  out  the  value  of  Salsafy  for  the  winter 
season,  as  the  choice  of  vegetables  is  restricted 
when  hard  frosts  occur.  To  get  the  best  results, 
however,  good  culture  is  needful.  I  prefer  April 
sowings.  Give  the  plants  ample  room  and  dig  the 
land  deeply.  It  should  have  been  well  enriched 
for  a  previous  crop,  as  then  the  roots  do  not  fork 
badly.  Salsafy  is  most  valuable  for  the  midivinter 
supply.  Owing  to  skilful  cooking  being  necessary, 
Salsafy  is  not  always  a  favourite  in  the  kitchen, 
but  there  can  be  no  question  that  any  good  vege- 
table is  welcome  for  the  sake  of  variety.  The 
roots  are  frequently  lifted  in  the  early  autumn, 
but  it  is  better  to  leave  them  in  the  soil  and  pro- 
tect them.     Lift  as  required  for  use. — A.  C.  N. 


THE    ALPINE   HOUSE    AT   KEAV. 

At  this  early  sea.son,  and  in  spite  of  the  severe 
spell  of  wintry  weather  recently  experienced, 
there  are  several  interesting  and  beautiful 
plants  in  flower  in  this  house,  which,  though 
unheated,  affords  a  slight  protection  from  the 
unfavourable  conditions  generally  prevailing 
out  of  doors  at  this  time  of  year.  The  first 
to  attract  attention  upon  entering  are  some 
pans  of 

Cyclamen  ibericum, 
with  an  abundance  of  rosy  purple  flowers 
which  have  a  dark  blotch  at  the  base  of  the 
recurved  segments.  The  heart-shappd  leaves 
of  this  species  vary  a  creat  deal  in  the 
marbling  of  the  upper  surface,  but  usually 
have  a  faint  light  zone.  A  little  later  in 
flowering  is 

C.    COUM, 

which  differs  from  the  above  in  having  its 
dai'k  green  round  leaves  unspotted.    The  buds 


are  in  evidence  long  before  the  bright  crimson 
flowers  are  fully  expanded,  the  flower-stalk 
reclining  on  the  surface  of  the  soil  until  such 
time  as  the  flower  opens,  when  it  .slowly  raises 
itself.  These  two  charming  plants  are  well 
suited  for  growng  in  pans,  and  well  justify 
the  shelter  of  a  cold  frame  in  winter  by 
producing  many  more  flowers  than  those 
planted  outside.  After  completing  their 
growth  the  corms  should  be  thoroughly 
ripened  off  by  exposing  the  pans  to  the  sun. 
Narcissus  Bulboccdium  var.  monophylla,  with 
exquisite  snowy  white  flowers,  is  a  charming 
member  of  the  .section  known  as  the  Hooped 
Petticoat  Daffodils.  _  A  native  of  Algiers,  it 
requires  protection  in  order  to  preserve  the 
delicate  flowers  from  injury. 

SaXIFRAIJA    BURSERIANA    var.    MAJOR 

is  one  of  the  earliest  of  our  spring  flowers  to 
unfold  its  buds,  and  though  not  requiring 
shelter,  it  is  only  under  glass  that  the  flowers, 
which  are  unsurpassed  by  any  other  rockfoil, 
attain  their  full  beauty.  Of  tufted  habit, 
with  glaucous  foliage,  above  which  the  flower.-- 
are  borne  singly  on  slender  red  stalks,  this  is 
certainly  a  gem  amongst  alpine  plants.  The 
type  has  rather  smaller  flowers,  and  is  later 
in  coming  into  bloom.  Another  member  of 
this  genus  is 

S.   APIt'ULATA, 

which  is  just  opening  its  pale  primrose  buds. 
Of  doubtful  origin,  this  plant  has  been  known 
by  several  names,  amongst  others  being  S. 
luteo-purpurea,  S.  Malyi,  and  S.  Frederici- 
Augnsti.  It  is  of  very  easy  culture,  and  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  and  valuable  of  early- 
flowering  plants  ;  its  tufts  of  dark  grei  n 
foliage  are  surmounted  liy  a  profusion  of 
primrose-yellow  flowers,  borne  on  branched 
stems  2  inches  or  3  inches  high. 

ScoLiOPUs  Bkjelovii 
is  an   interesting   bulbous    plant   from    Cali- 
fornia.    The  mottled  leaves  are  in  appearance 
similar  to  the  Erythroniuni,  whilst  the  flowers 
are  borne  singly  on  stems,  several  of  which 


are  produced  by  each  bulb.  The 
colour  of  the  rather  unpleasantly- 
scented  flower  is  brown  with 
chocolate  markings.  It  is  not  a 
showy  plant  by  any  means,  but  is 
well  worth  a  place  on  account  of  its 
earliness  and  singular  appearance. 

Eranthis  cilicica 

is  similar  to  the  well-known  Winter 
Aconite  :  it  differs  chiefly  by  the 
more  divided  leaf  fiill.  Leontice 
Alberti  is  a  member  of  the  Barberry 
family  from  Turkestan  ;  its  large, 
depressed  roots tock  resembles  the 
corm  of  a  Cyclamen.  The  much- 
divided  foliage  is  glaucous,  and  the 
clusters  of  drooping  yellow  flowers 
are  tinged  with  a  reddish  brown. 

Primula  me(;ase_kfolia. 
This  recent  addition  to  our  spring- 
flowering  plants  from  the  Caucasus 
is  a  very  welcome  one.  It  has  proved 
to  be  perfectly  hardy,  and  is  now 
pushing  up  its  leaves  and  flowers  in 
a  fully  expo.sed  part  of  the  rock 
garden.  The  plants  in  the  house, 
however, are  in  full  flower  with  several 
strong  hairy  scapes  bearing  umbels 
of  crim.son-purple  flowers  with  an 
orange-yellow  blotch  at  the  base  of 
each  petal. 

Adonis  AMUEENfis 
is  also  an  acquisition  of  recent  years, 
andthiscbarmingplantisfastliecomingageneral 
favourite  with  its  finely  cut  Iripinnate  foliage 
and  yellow  flowers  flushed  with  brown  along 
the  nerves  of  the  under  surface.  Although 
not  so  large  as  the  well-known  A.  vernal  is,  it 
blooms  much  earlier,  a  point  decidedly  in  its 
favour.  Merendera  caucasicais  an  old  inhabi- 
tant of  our  garden.s,  having  been  introduced 
from  the  Caucasus  in  1823.  It  is  closely  allied 
to  the  Colchicum,  and  each  corm  produces  three 
narrow  diverging  leaves  and  two  to  three 
delicate  rose-coloured  flowers  tinged  with 
purple. 

Hyacinthcs  azukeus. 

This  is  beyond  a  doubt  the  most  beautiful 
representative  of  hardy  bulbs  of  the  Hyacinth 
class  in  cultivation  at  the  present  time.  It  is 
perfectly  hardy  and  of  easy  culture.  Haying 
the  habit  and  appearance  of  a  Muscari  it  is 
often  found  under  the  name  of  Mu.scari 
azureus,  but  the  campanulate  flowers  proclaim 
it  to  be  a  true  Hyacinth.  The  leaves  arc 
strap-shaped,  glaucous,  and  deeply  channelled, 
about  six  to  a  bulb  ;  the  dense  conical  flower 
heads  are  deep  a/ure  blue  in  colour  on  the 
lower  part,  the  upper  flowers  being  of  a  lighter 
shade.  The  Iris  family  is  represented  by 
I.  stenophylla,  or,  as  it  is  more  generally 
called. 

Iris  Heldreichit, 

and  I.  Tauri,  two  nev/  species  from  the  Taurus, 
closely  allied  to  the  better  known  I.  per.sica. 
The  former  has  been  in  flower  on  a  south 
border  since  the  third  week  in  January.  It 
bears  a  charming  flower  of  good  substance, 
lasting  a  considerable  time  in  full  beauty, 
the  colour  being  bright  blue-purple  with  dark 
velvety  blotch*  son  the  fall.  I.  Tauri  is  rather 
later  in  opening  its  flowers  than  the  above,  and 
has  flowers  of  a  much  deeper  red-purple  shade. 
With  the  well  known  Primula  denticulata  and 
its  white  variety,  the  above  are  some  of  the 
more  noteworthy  plants,  all  grown  in  pots  or 
pans,  that  make  the  alpine  house  at  Kew  so 
Interesting  during  the  wiiitcr  months. 

W.  Irving. 


Marcs  1,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEK. 


187 


A  DAY  IN  A  JAMAICA  GARDEN. 

(  Continued  from  page  l.?5.) 
BoT  I  must  be  getting  back  to  the  garden,  which 
is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away.  What  !  the  sun  nearly 
in  the  south,  when  after  the  curls  and  twists  of  the 
little  valley  I  get  a  good  sight  of  it  again.  Impos- 
sible !  Well,  that  is  happiness  when  the  time  flies.  A 
glance  at  Ledhu,  who  is  tidying,  trimming  a  green 
cut-leaved  Lavender,  a  tiresome  plant  which  falls 
down  when  it  gets  at  all  big,  and  I  only  cling  to  it 
because  this  flowers  and  the  much  more  beautiful 
common  one  never  does.  "And  Ledhu  !  look  here, 
this  Silver  plant"  (Cineraria  raaritima) — for  so  have 
we  to  recast  the  latinities  into  something  compre- 
hensible— "see,  white-white  catch  him."  This 
"  white- white"  is  a  scurfy  scale  which  covers  the 
stalks  of  certain  plants  as  with  a  mat.  This  Cine- 
raria always  gets  it  at  about  two  years  old,  and 
never  looks  healthy  again.  I  keep  a  succession  of 
seedlings  from  imported  seed  for  it  never  seeds 
here. 

Obadiah  announces  breakfast,  which  sends  me  for 
a  towel  and  back  to  the  bathing-place  which  is 
halfway  to  the  Tamarind.  Nearer  one  than  twelve 
by  the  time  I  get  back.  How  did  the  morning  go  ? 
I  must  have  been  longer  among  the  Roses  than  I 
thought.  Yes,  and  there  were  some  Zinnia  beds 
down  there  that  took  time,  for  doubtful  colours 
had  to  be  pulled  out  and  some  of  the  plants  were 
too  crowded.  And  Ipomrea  Heavenly-blue  was 
out,  the  milk-white  one  twining  with  it  and  both 
at  their  best  for  flowers,  and  they  are  things  that 
have  their  season.  They  must  be  looked  at  while 
you  have  them  and  that  is  not  always,  twice  a  year 
and  only  twice.  And  I  did  just  run  down  to  the 
pond  to  look  at  the  great  white  Water  Lilies  before 
they  closed  against  the  sun,  and  the  goldfish  kept 
me  a  few  minutes.  They  were  playing  about  so 
prettily  and  running  up  to  meet  the  inflowing 
water.  And  Dripping  Rock  could  not  be  missed. 
It  wants  weeding.  That  Guinea  Grass  has  no 
business  on  the  face  of  the  rock.  And  there  were 
Loquats  on  the  way  up.  They  had  to  be  sampled, 
and — in  fact,  there  were  several  things  done  after 
getting  the  Roses  and  before  picking  the  Violets. 
Oh,  (tarden,  delightful  thief  of  time  !  Continue  to 
thrive.  Willingly  I  give  you  all  the  hours  you 
steal.     Gould  I  spend  them  better  ? 

The  thermometer  is  glanced  at  several  times 
during  the  day  to  catch  the  hottest  of 
it.  That  is  78'^  to-day.  So  it  was 
yesterday.  72"  at  seven  this  morning, 
78"  at  one  o'clock.  To-night  at  bed-time 
it  will  be  halfway  between  these  read- 
ings, 75'^.  It  will  fall  to  70°  perhaps  in 
the  course  of  the  night.  In  January  it 
may  touch  63*  at  7  a.m.  That  is  the 
lowest  I  ever  saw  it  in  this  the  coldest 
mouth.  In  July,  the  hottest,  I  have 
twice  seen  it  at  87'-"  in  the  middle  of 
the  day,  never  more.  A  more  careful 
record  than  usual  has  been  kept  this 
year  and  is  being  sent  to  The  Garden 
for  publication.  No  words  can  do  justice 
to  this  wonderful  climate,  but  a  few 
figures  may.  As  I  sit  at  breakfast  with 
the  summer  air  playing  about  me  in 
this  winter  month  I  wonder  that  English 
people  do  not  come  and  settle  in  this 
charming  land.  I  believe  I  am  the  only 
person  who  lives  in  Jamaica  for  pleasure. 
Round  me  are  thousands  of  acres  to  be 
bought  for  a  song.  One  estate  of  900 
acres  is  ofl'ered  for  £500.  It  has  no 
house,  only  the  walls  of  an  old  one,  but 
it  has  that  most  precious  of  all  things, 
a  constant  and  uncontaminated  supply 
of  running  water.  And  what  a  place 
for  a  garden  !  If  I  were  not  already 
satisfied  and  more  than  satisfied  that 
is  the  place  I  would  have.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  high  hills  up  to  4,000  feet, 
yet  lies  open  to  the  morning  sun, 
sheltered  from  that  of  the  afternoon. 
And  this  is  only  one  place.  Another 
with  100  acres  and  a  really  good  house 
goes  begging  for  £800.  Nobody  has  got 
any   money   in  this    poor    sugar-ruined 


island.  And  the  drawbacks.  Not  health,  for 
it  is  the  healthiest  place  in  the  world.  No, 
the  drawbacks  are  all  comprised  in  one  word, 
dull.  I  observe  that  when  people  are  choosing  a 
place  to  put  a  house,  their  first  idea  is  how  to  get 
away  from  it.  My  idea,  on  the  contrary,  is  whether 
I  shall  like  to  live  in  it.  The  Jamaica  hills,  it  is 
true,  are  bad  to  get  into  and  bad  to  get  out  of.  Of 
driving  roads  there  are  next  to  none,  in  my  own 
district,  where  the  Blue  Mountains  and  Port  Royal 
Mountains  join,  none  at  all.  Nothing  but  mule 
tracks.  You  must  walk  or  ride.  Assuredly  a  bad 
place  to  get  away  from.  And  no  amusements. 
Neighbours  are  few  and  there  is  no  sport.  But  to 
a  gardener  who  for  amusement  is  sufficient  to  him- 
self, who  does  not  want  to  go  away,  who  enjoys 
the  free  life  at  home  and  an  occasional  ramble  over 
the  hills  to  see  one  or  two  good  friends,  the  one 
word  is  not  dull  but  Paradise. 

Such  are  his  thoughts  as  he  sits  at  his  break- 
fast with  sharpened  mountain  appetite  this  fair 
November  afternoon.  Ledhu  has  come  back  from 
his  breakfast  and  is  rallj'ing  the  Negro  boys  on  a 
subject  which  never  fails  to  amuse,  contrasting  his 
straight  hair  with  their  curly  wool.  We  do  not 
suffer  from  dignity  and  the  jests  go  on  under  the 
master's  nose.  In  free  England  the  outdoor 
servants  have  to  be  mute  as  they  approach  the 
house,  nature  smothered  by  manners  with  its 
natural  consequence  of  service  rather  sullen  than 
joyous. 

(To  he  continued.) 


THE     FERN     GARDEN. 

FERNS  FOR  SHADY  GARDENS  AND 
SUNLESS  WINDOWS. 

N    very   many   gardens    of    moderate   extent 


I 


there  are  places  at  the  foot  of  walls  facing 
north  or  east,  or  within  the  shadow  of  trees 
or  masses  of  shrubs,  which,  owing  to  the 
paucity  of  sunshine,  are  unfitted  for  flower- 
ing plants,  which  consequently  in  such 
positions  lose  all  attractiveness.  In  the  dwelling- 
house,  too,  there  are  frequently  windows  of  similar 
aspect,  and  in  all  these  cases  opportunities  are 
aftbrded  for  the  introduction  of  Ferns  which  Nature 


has  constructed  on  precisely  the  lines  which  fit 
such  conditions,  inasmuch  as  thej'  are  essentially 
shade-loving  plants.  That  they  do  not  furnish  an 
annual  crop  of  brightly  tinted  and  conspicuous 
flowers  is  certainly  a  popular  drawback,  but  it 
must  not  be  forgotten  that  a  very  large  percentage 
of  plant  beauty  exists  in  the  foliage,  and  hence  in 
many  conservatories  we  find  that  so-called  foliage 
plants  hold  a  high  position,  altogether  irrespective 
of  their  flowers,  which  are  frequently  inconspicuous 
in  proportion  to  the  charm  of  the  leaves.  Nature, 
indeed,  is  chary  of  overloading  her  creations  with 
attractive  gifts,  and  just  as  she  endows  the  sad- 
coated  nightingale  with  heavenly  melody,  and  the 
gorgeously  plumaged  peacock  with  a  hideously 
strident  scream,  so  she  has  balanced  matters  in 
the  Fern  world  by  imparting  marvellous  beauty  to 
the  fronds  as  a  recompense  for  flowers  which  are 
practically  microscopic.  We  maj',  indeed,  ransack 
the  flowering  plants  proper  from  the  Equator  to 
the  Poles  and  fail  entirely  to  find  examples  which 
in  the  delicacy  and  diversity  of  their  foliage  can 
compete  even  distantly  with  Ferns.  Even  where 
an  approach  is  made  to  similarity  of  type,  such  as 
in  some  Palms  and  some  Tree  Ferns,  no  one  can 
dispute  that  the  latter  are  far  and  away  more 
beautifully  cut  and  of  a  more  graceful  habit  than 
the  former.  What  prospect  can  excel  that  aff'orded 
by  one  of  our  Devonian  Ferny  dells  clad  in  all  con- 
ceivable shades  of  verdure,  and  on  closer  inspec- 
tion displaying  a  really  mar\ellous  diversity  of 
frondage  !  Not  a  flower  is  visible,  and  yet  what  a 
"  harvest  for  a  quick  eye  "  is  thus  afforded  !  Then 
glance  at  the  glimpses  of  Antipodean  Fern  glens 
attbrded  by  Miss  North's  wonderful  pictures  in  the 
North  gallery  at  Kew,  or  even  by  imported  photo- 
graphs, and  it  is  at  once  abundantly  evident  that, 
given  proper  conditions  of  growth,  the  Ferns  of 
the  world  need  yield  no  jot  of  charm  to  their  beau- 
tiful floral  descendants.  Nor  is  this  all ;  for  while 
these  glimpses  of  Ferny  Nature  are  marvellously 
beautiful  as  a  whole,  the  more  we  examine  into  the 
material  composing  them,  the  more  the  intelligent 
observer  must  be  struck  by  the  delicacy  of  detail. 
Nature,  however,  is  not  content  even  with  this,  but 
just  as  at  our  grand  horticultural  shows  we  may 
behold  hundreds,  and  even  thousands,  of  gorgeous 
flowers  which  have  been  elaborated  by  human 
selection  from  comparative  weeds,  so  in  our  best 
Fern  collections  we  may  behold  innumerable  types 


COTTON  TREES  IN  A  JAMAICA  GARDEN. 


138 


THE  GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


which  are  far  more  beautiful  than  the  wild  ones. 
Here,  however,  comes  in  an  additional  marvel  with 
respect  to  Ferns,  since  most  of  these  improved 
forms  have  been  fashioned  by  Nature  from  the 
common  material  without  man's  aid  at  all,  and 
many  of  them  cannot  even  be  regarded  as  the 
results  of  any  selection  whatever,  since  they  have 
been  found  wild,  usually  as  solitary  specimens, 
just  as  fully  developed  and  differentiated  from  the 
common  type  as  one  of  our  finest  Roses  is  compared 
with  a  wild  Briar.  In  Great  Britain  especially 
Nature  appears  to  have  been  most  generous  in  this 
respect  to  the  Fern  tribe,  since  considerably  over  a 
thousand  distinct  finds  are  recorded  for  our  forty 
odd  species,  several  of  which,  such  as  our  Lady 
Fern,  Buckler  Ferns,  Hart's-tongue,  Spleenworts, 
and  Hard  Fern,  have  yielded  the  large  majority, 
while  scarcely  any  have  failed  to  sport  in  some 
way. 

As  all  these  (with  two  unimportant  excep- 
tions) are  as  hardy  as  grass,  we  have  obviously  a 
good  choice  of  material  for  those  shady  positions 
to  which  we  alluded  at  the  outset  of  our  paper,  for 
although  many,  of  course,  are  curious  rather  than 
beautiful,  the  really  charming  ones  run  in  to  hundreds 
and  even  the  curious  ones  are  interesting.  What, 
then,  must  we  say  of  those  who,  having  suitable 
positions  such  as  we  have  described,  utilise  the 
space  in  thousands  of  cases  by  filling  it  with  two 
or  three  species  repeated  ad  nauseam,  and  repre- 
sented solely  by  the  common  or  weed  forms  bought 
from  the  costermonger's  barrow,  or  the  vandal 
who  depletes  the  Ferny  lanes  and  combes  of 
Devon  or  elsewhere,  and  finds  an  outlet  through 
the  post. 

There  is,  indeed,  such  a  curious  ignorance  even 
of  the  existence  of  these  beautiful  native  sports, 
the  like  of  which  no  country  on  earth  can 
parallel,  that  probably  hardly  one  person  in  ten 
thousand  is  cognisant  of  it,  despite  the  fact  that 
half  a  century  ago  they  were  the  rage,  though 
most  of  the  best  were  then  unknown,  and  that  at 
Kew  there  is  a  magnificent  representative  collec- 
tion obtained  by  bequest  and  gift  from  the  best 
sources.  An  idea  of  the  popular  estimate  of  our 
British  Ferns  may  be  formed  by  the  fact  that  one 
Fern  dealer  has  the  audacity  to  insert  "  no  British 
trash  "  in  his  advertisement  of  exotics.  Trash  is 
no  fit  word  at  all  for  Nature's  productions,  but 
applied  to  British  Ferns  as  a  whole  simply  betrays 
a  pitiable  ignorance. 

Space  precludes  a  list  of  desirable  varieties, 
which,  moreover,  we  have  already  given  in  these 
columns,  but  we  cannot  too  strongly  advise  those 
who  have  congenial  positions  available  lo  obtain 
lists  from  respectable  firms,  and  try  the  experi- 
ment of  introducing  a  number  of  good  forms  in 
lieu  of  the  merely  common  ones.  This  done,  each 
plant  will  have  its  individual  charm,  while  the 
total  p.fFect  of  the  fernery  will  undoubtedly  be 
enhanced  by  the  addition  of  frills,  tassels,  and 
feathery  plumes  lo  its  occupants.  For  windows 
well-grown  single  specimens,  if  carefully  attended 
to  as  regards  watering  and  kept  rigidly  in  one 
position,  i.e.,  so  that  they  face  always  to  the 
light,  well  repay  the  trouble,  and  will  certainly 
evoke  the  wonderment  of  many  a  visitor.  We 
have  a  vivid  recollection  of  even  a  common  Hart's- 
tongue  so  treated  which  completely  filled  a  window 
with  huge  fronds,  and  formed  not  only  a  "thing 
of  beauty,"  but  also  "a  joy  for  ever,"  owing  to  its 
thoroughly  evergreen  character  ;  but  we  also  have 
in  our  mind's  eye  a  thoroughbred  crispum,  or 
frilled  variety  of  same  species  (S.  v.  Drunimondiic), 
in  a  north  window  in  Guernsey  which  completely 
took  our  breath  away,  and  formed  an  ideal  which 
we  have  never  seen  excelled. 

Chas.  T.  Drpery,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H. 


AMERICAN    NOTES. 

A   Plea    kok   More   Water   Gardens. 
The  following  are  extracts  from  a  paper  by  Jackson 
Dawson,  superintendent  Arnold  Arboretum,  read 
before    the    New    England    Association    of    Park 
Superintendents. 

"  One  of  the  great  needs  in  our  parks  is  some 
natural  bits  of  planting  near  our  ponds  or  lakes. 


While  I  would  not  like  the  whole  pond  or  shore 
covered  with  shrubs  or  aquatics,  I  would  like  some 
little  bits  of  Nature  left.     What  looks  more  un- 
natural than  a  beautiful  pond  or  lake  divested  of 
all  natural  beauty,  leaving  the  trees  trimmed  up 
like  so  many  sentinels  and  every  vestige  of  shrub 
and  flowering  plant  cleaned   to  the  water's  edge? 
On  the  other  hand,  what  is  more  beautiful  than 
the  trees  or  shrubbery  hanging  over  a  river's  bank 
or  giacefully  grouped  at  intervals  along  the  edge 
of  a  pond'/     We  have  so  many  plants  that  love 
this    moist    situation.        Imagine    a    planting    of 
groups  of  Azaleas,  Clethra,  Viburnums,  Cornus  and 
Myrica,  and  with  Irises,  Hibiscus,  Forget-me-nots, 
Eupatorium,  &c.      Can  we  not  have  more  water 
gardens   in  our  parks  and   make    those   we   have 
more  ornamental  instead   of  the  unsightly  things 
edged  with  stone  walls  that  we  call  ponds?  "Neither 
pond   nor    brook   should   be   planked    with   stone 
unless  actually  necessary  to  hold  the  soil  in  place, 
and  even  then  they  should  not  be  laid  like  a  wall, 
but  as  near  on  a  natural  slope  as  possible  to  the 
water's  edge,  with  plenty  of  pockets  left  to  plant, 
so  that  eventually  the  stones  will  not  be  seen,  but 
would    have   the   appearance   of   a   natural   bank. 
What  we  need  most  is  some  natural  bits  of  planting 
near  our  ponds  or  lakes.     As  a  rule  we  have  too 
much  trimming  and  cleaning  up  around  them,  often 
destroying  the  shrubs  which  were  really  beautiful 
and  turning  what  was  a  beautiful  bit  of  Nature 
into   desolation.      I    have   seen   ponds    and    bays 
where     all    the     natural    shrubbery    and     native 
planting  were  cleared  up  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
the   trees  in  the  park   trimmed   up  like  so  many 
sentinels,  thus   destroj'ing   all    the   charm    of   the 
once  natural  woods  and  river  banks.    We  know,  of 
course,  that  in  public  places  we  cannot  have  all 
such  places   decorated,   but  we   could  have   more 
than  we  do.     We  surely  have  material  enough  to 
plant  such  places  with  perfectly  hardy  plants,  and 
when   once   planted    I   am    sure    the   public   will 
appreciate  them.     A  lake  or  pond  properly  planted 
can   be   made   a   thing  of    beauty  from  spring  to 
autumn,  and  even  into  the  winter.     These  places 
need  not  all  be  planted,  mossy  openings  can  be  left, 
but  when   it  is   planted   the   planting   should   be 
massive,  and  so  planted  that  a  continuance  of  bloom 
could  be  had  from  spring  until  the  middle  of  autumn. 
Trees   and   shrubs   gracefully   grouped    with    her- 
baceous plants  on  edges  and  aquatics  in  the  water 
present  at  once  a  beautiful  contrast   with    water 
not  so  decorated.     I  have  seen  many  fine  natural 
effects  which  might  well  be  copied,  for  instance  a 
group   of    Flag,   with   cardinal   flower   and   white 
water   Lilies  along   the   Hudson.      A   river   with 
overhanging     trees    and    shrubs.       A    swamp    of 
cardinal  flowers,  red  weed  and  bidens,  &c.     I  could 
enumerate   groups  without   number,   all  beautiful 
and  offering  you  object-lessons  so  that  you  might 
make   hundreds   of   combinations    out    of    chiefly 
native  plants.     Add  to  these  many  fine  herbaceous 
plants  and  aquatics  that  are  hardy  and  a  water 
garden  could  be  made,  the  finest  feature  in  many  of 
our  gardens  and  parks." 

Mr.  J.  C.  Olmsted  writes  in  Gardeniny 
(America)  : 

"I  cordially  agree  with  Mr.  Dawson's  vigorous 
handling  of  the  subject  of  park  ponds.  I  think 
many  of  the  park  ponds  have  been  made  unneces- 
sarily ugly  by  engineers  or  by  gardeners  who  are 
over-fond  of  formality  and  have  little  love  of 
natural  effects.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  if  a  pond  is 
intended  to  be  natural  and  informal,  it  is  never 
necessary  to  use  either  riprap  walls  or  curbing 
around  the  water  edge.  A  shore  can  always  be 
of  earth  protected  by  natural  vegetation,  or  of  a 
gentle  slope  covered  with  coarse  sand  or  gravel. 
Nine  times  out  of  ten  the  diflSculty  of  properly 
treating  the  shore  of  a  pond  arises  from  the  slope 
above  and  below  water  being  continuous  with  each 
other  and  too  steep,  and  there  should  be  a  beach 
rising  a  few  inches  above  the  water  on  a  slope  of 
1  in  5  or  1  in  10,  and  continuing  to  the  depth  of 
3  inches  to  6  inches  below  the  water,  with  the 
same  gentle  slope.  Such  a  beach  made  of  gravel 
of  suitable  size  will  stand  very  heavy  wave  action. 
Another  dithculty  arises  where  water  birds  are 
kept  in  the  park  pond,  in  that  they  destroy  the 
turf  or  plants  which  would  otherwise  beautify  and 


protect  the  shore.  In  that  case  a  gravel  beach 
with  appropriate  waterside  bushes  and  trees, 
where  there  is  no  objection  to  obstructing  the 
view,  is  the  best  treatment." 


THE    KITCHEN   GARDEN. 

THE    GLOBE    ARTICHOKE. 

IT  is  highly  important  to  maintain  a  supply  of 
this  delicate  vegetable  for  as  long  a  time  as 
possible,  and  the  cultural  details  that  should 
be  adopted  to  extend  the  season  of  bearing 
may  well  be  considered  at  this  period  of  the 
year.  In  the  first  place,  the  Globe  Arti- 
chokes are  often  allowed  to  remain  too  long 
without  division  and  in  one  spot,  consequently  the 
heads  will  be  produced  in  abundance  in  .July,  and 
later  on  there  will  probably  be  a  scarcity.  To 
avoid  this  state  of  affairs  it  is  well  to  take  up  a 
part  of  the  plot,  say,  a  third  of  the  total  number 
of  plants  each  year,  divide  them  carefully  into 
pieces  having  two  strong  crowns,  and  replant 
these,  three  or  five  in  a  clump,  thus  : 
4  feet  apart  either  way.  Of  course  the 
ground  should  be  well  and  deeply  dug 
or  trenched,  working  in  plenty  of  good 
farmyard  manure  ;  the  present  is  a  good  time  to 
do  this  work.  Transplanting  should  be  performed 
in  the  month  of  March,  choosing  a  mild,  dull  day 
for  the  operation,  as  if  sunny  or  windy  the  roots 
soon  become  dry,  and  harm  will  result.  Do  the 
work  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  give  a  good 
soaking  of  clear  water  to  settle  the  soil  about 
them. 

There  are  but  few  spots  in  this  country  where 
Globe  Arlichokes  will  withstand  the  winter  without 
some  kind  of  protection,  and  we  in  the  Midlands 
find  It  absolutely  necessary  to  protect  the  plants 
well  with  Bracken  or  other  rough  litter.  This  may 
be  removed  at  the  time  of  replanting,  and  a  mulch 
of  decomposed  manure  forked  in  round  about  the 
remaining  established  plants,  thus  making  the 
whole  plot  neat  and  in  order  for  the  summer.  The 
Globe  Artichoke  is  a  gross  feeder,  and  is  much 
benefited  by  being  mulched  with  some  half-rollen 
manure  on  the  approach  of  hot  dry  weather,  with 
occasional  copious  waterings  of  clear  water  alter- 
nately with  manure  water  from  the  farmyard. 

As  the  heads  are  cut  for  use  the  stems  on  which 
they  grew  should  be  at  once  cut  away  to  avoid 
weakening  the  plant.  By  this  system  of  annually 
dividing  part  of  the  bed  and  replanting  the  crop 
will  occupy  entirely  fresh  ground  every  third  year, 
and  a  desirable  succession  from  the  divided  plants 
be  ensured.  In  gardens  where  the  soil  is  of  a  cold 
clayey  nature  I  would  advise  splitting  up  some  old 
plants  during  winter,  and  place  some  of  the  best 
pieces  in  pots  of  soil  ;  they  may  be  kept  in  any 
cool  structure  until  the  weather  is  favourable  for 
transplanting  to  the  open  quarters.  This  nursing 
Will  be  amply  repaid  in  the  resulting  crop,  and 
especially  so  in  cold  parts  of  the  country.  Golden 
rules  to  observe  are  to  protect  the  plants  efficiently 
in  winter,  and  to  encourage  a  quick  robust  growth 
in  summer  so  that  the  heads  may  be  fleshy  and  well 
developed.  H.  T.  Martin. 

l^toneleiyh  Abbey  Gardem,  Kenil worth. 

POTATO  ONIONS. 

This  variety  of  Onion,  familiar  to  some  people  as 
the  underground  Onion,  is  not  as  well  known  to  the 
amateui   gardener  as   it   deserves   to  be,   and   for 
those   who    are   fond   of   this   vegetable   I    would 
recommend  a  trial  of  this  variety.     It  is  easy  of 
culture,  is  cheap,   it  furnishes  a  "large   supply  of 
well    flavoured    bulbs    three    months    before    the 
ordinary  Onion  crop  can  be  gathered,  and  it  has 
the   further   recommendation    of    producing   large 
sized    Onions,   a   point   which   with   the   ordinary; 
varieties  is  the  frequent  cause  of  keen  disappoint- 1 
nicnt.     The  growth  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  I 
the  Shallot,  but  the  growth  is  not  as  much  above  ! 
the    ground    as   with    Shallots,   and    the    Onions  ■ 
themselves   are   considerably  larger,    the    average 
individual  size  being  (I  do  not  mean  that  perhaps 
one  out  of  a  dozen  will  reach  this  size)  24  inches 


Makch  1,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


139 


in  diameter.  A  good,  well-manured  loam  is  perhaps 
the  best  soil  for  them,  but  they  appear  to  do  well 
almost  an}  where,  providing  the  ground  be  well  dug 
and  a  top-dressing  of  wood  or  vegetable  ashes  or 
soot  be  given  them,  but  the  ground  does  not 
require  to  be  beaten  firm  as  when  sowing  ordinary 
Onions. 

Plant  as  soon  as  possible  this  month  in  rows 
2  feet  apart  and  the  bulbs  18  inches  from  each  other. 
When  the}'  have  commenced  to  grow  keep  the 
ground  open  and  free  from  weeds  b3"frequent  hoeing. 
The  Onions  will  be  ready  for  gathering  by  mid- 
summer, and  should  then  be  dried  and  put  away  in 
a  dry  place,  the  space  the}'  have  occupied  being 
used  for  a  different  crop.  After  the  first  outlay 
for  seed  bulbs  there  need  be  no  other  expenditure, 
as  any  sound  well  shaped  Onions  from  the  crop 
may  be  used  for  seed  the  following  year.  The 
price  of  seed  bulbs  is  about  3d.  per  lb.,  and  one 
bulb  should  produce  five  to  eight  large  Onions. 

Sutloii,  Suri-ei/.  P.  Longhurst. 


TURNIP    CARTER'S    FORCING. 

Early  Turnips  are  generally  much  appreciated  if 
they  can  be  produced  during  early  spring,  and  I 


main  crop  ;  indeed,  in  very  light  soil,  January  is 
preferable  if  the  land  be  workable,  but  crops  sown 
as  late  as  the  middle  of  March  and  afterwards  are 
very  liable  to  the  attack  of  blight.  This  terrible 
disease,  which,  unfortunately,  was  very  prevalent 
last  year  (I  saw  hundreds  of  acres  of  Beans  as 
VteW  as  garden  crops  completely  destroyed  by  this 
pest),  must  be  taken  in  hand  directly  it  makes  its 
appearance.  The  cheapest  and  most  effective  anti- 
dote is  syringing  ^\'ith  a  solution  made  of  a  packet 
of  Hudson's  Extract  of  Soap  dissolved  in  36  gallons 
of  water  (less  in  proportion).  Plant  in  rows, 
the  seeds  2  inches  deep,  6  inches  apart,  and 
3  feet — not  less — between  the  rows,  and  keep 
the  ground  well  hoed  until  the  Beans  are  in  bloom. 
Pick  the  pods  when  young ;  it  alloT^•ed  to  remain 
until  absolutely  full  grown  some  of  the  sweet  and 
juicy  flavour  will  be  lost  and  the  Beans  become 
dry. 

If  you  have  Gooseberry  bushes  in  the  garden,  and 
are  not  a  rigid  stickler  for  mechanical  regularity 
and  appearance,  sow  the  Beans  so  that  they  run 
alongside  the  Ciooseberries  ;  the  presence  of  the 
Beans  prevents  the  attacks  of  the  Gooseberry  fly. 
Why  this  pernicious  insect  should  have  a  dislike  to 
the  proximity  of  Broad  Beans  is  not  very  clear,  hut 


THE  XEW  FRILLED   PERSIAN   CYCLAMENS. 


would  strongly  advise  all  who  have  not  done  so  to 
try  this  variety.  A  few  years  ago  Messrs.  Carter 
kindly  sent  me  a  small  packet  of  seed  for  trial,  from 
which  I  obtained  the  best  possible  results,  and  I 
have  grown  it  largely  ever  since,  never  once  failing 
to  have  a  good  supply  of  young  Turnips  during 
May.  My  practice  is  to  make  small  sowings  in 
cold  frames  on  last  year's  hot-beds  at  intervals  and 
a  succession  is  thus  ensured.  The  only  forcing 
they  are  thus  subjected  to  is  that  obtained  by  the 
aid  of  the  glass  and  sun-heat.  We  give  air  freely  on 
all  favourable  occasions.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Home  Gardens,  Elitree,  Herts. 

BROAD  BEANS. 

To  get  good  crops  of  Broad  Beans  the  ground  must 
be  deeply  dug,  and  if  at  all  light  heavily  manured. 
The  man  who  has  thus  prepared  his  ground  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  previous  year  may  confidently 
look  forward  to  a  better  crop  than  one  who  turns 
over  the  soil  only  immediately  before  sowing. 
Heavy  soil  will  produce  very  fine  crops,  providing 
it  has  been  well  worked  and  the  frost  and  rain  of 
winter  allowed  to  get  into  it. 
February  is  quite  late  enough  for  sowing  the 


my  experience  has  proved  that  such  is  the  fact. 
quart  of  Beans  will  sow  about  50  yards  run. 
Suttoii.  Percy  Longhcest. 


THE    FRILLED  CYCLAMENS   OF 

DRESDEN. 

Looking  tlirougli  the  pages  of  tlie  last  volumes 
of  The  Garden  for  tb^  English  opinion  about 
the  Belgian  Paijiho  rac3,  I  tiud  more  than  one 
notice  describing  them  as  sonievvhat  unsuit- 
able for  market  culture  by  reason  of  their 
rather  ragged  and  indistinct  habit  of  growth, 
&c.  German  gardeners  a:e,  I  think,  of  the 
same  opinion  about  that  much-spoken-of 
novelty.  But  as  you  and  your  readers  are 
interested  in  new  forms  of  Cyclamens,  as  we 
were  also  at  the  first  notice,  1  send  you  here- 
with some  photographs  of  a  relatively  new 
race  of  frilled — not  fringed — Cyclamens.  Here 
we  do  not  expect  much  from  any  amelioration 
of  the  Belgian  Papilio,  for  we  think  them  to 
be  derived  from  parents  of  bad  growth  and 


habit,  such  as  should  not  be  used  for  crosses, 
and  are  unlikely  to  be  capable  of  improvement. 
But  we  think  our  specialists  on  the  right  load 
towards  an  improved  form  of  the  good 
splendens  x  giganteum  type,  as  shown  by  the 
accompanying  photograph.  The  new  race 
was  raised  and  fixed  in  the  nursery  of  Mr. 
Alwin  Richter  at  Dresden,  and  it  will  certainly 
interest  you  to  hear  that  the  one  parent  type, 
viz.,  C.  persicum  giganteum,  was  imported 
from  England  some  twenty  years  ago,  though 
I  do  not  know  from  which  nursery.  It  has 
taken  twenty  years  to  fix  the  frilling  .so  as 
to  obtain  an  average  of  60  per  cent,  of  the 
seedlings  true ;  but  I  may  say  they  are  all, 
even  the  smooth-edged,  of  a  remarkable 
strength,  and  the  size  of  the  flowers  is  always 
satisfactory  Here  we  want  the  Cyclamen, 
not  only  as  a  market  plant,  but  almost  as  much 
for  cut  flowers  ;  the  strong  peduncles  make 
this  race  most  useful  for  that  purpose.  No 
doubt  what  you  want  in  England  is  a  plant  of 
good  habit,  and  in  this  way'  I  think  there 
remains  nothing  to  wish  for.  The  leaves,  as 
strongly  stalked  as  the  flowers,  have 
not  the  silveiy  white  markings  of  the 
splendens  race,  but  remind  one  of  the 
simple  old  persicum.  There  are  some- 
times but  few  flowers  on  small,  not 
repotted  plants,  but  the  smallest  plant 
invariably  bears  flowers  of  an  extra- 
ordinary strength  and  size.  The 
flowers  are  perhaps  not  so  numerous 
as  in  the  older  types,  but,  as  the 
photograph  shows,  they  are  of  reason- 
able quality. 

Concerning  the  colours  these  are 
the  most  distinctive :  (1)  White 
with  an  eye,  (2)  many  shades  of 
a  very  fine  pink  with  the  frilling 
much  developed,  (3)  a  new  colour 
which  the  raiser  calls  "lilac-coloured," 
not  to  be  confounded  with  the  older 
so-called  blue  colour,  for  this  never 
looks  blue  at  all,  even  in  twilight,  and 
(4)  a  dark  rose-red.  All  the  darker 
colours  show  a  distinct  light  margin 
on  the  petals  which  makes  the  frill- 
ing more  conspicuous.  The  frilling 
itself  makes  the  ttowers_  look  larger 
than  they  would  do  without  it.  I 
should  be  glad  if  this  notice 
induced  some  of  the  English 
specialists  to  try  this  race  of  frilled 
Cyclamens 

Dresden.  Fkanz  Ledien. 

[This  notice  of  a  good  new  race  of 
Cyclamens,  coming  as  it  does  from 
the  Inspector  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Garden 
at  Dresden,  should  be  an  encouragement  to 
lovers  of  these  beautiful  plants  to  grow  the 
new  strain. — Eds.] 


THE     INDOOR     GARDEN. 


T 


BROMELI.ADS. 

HE  various  members  which  compose  the 
large  family  Bromeliaceaj  are  not 
popular  with  gardeners  generally,  but 
many  Bromeliads  are  well  worth  atten- 
tion, for  the  flowers  are  decidedly  showy 
and  interesting,  and  for  combinations 
of  colour  vie  with  many  Orchids.  One  of  the  most 
beautiful  exhibits  at  the  hybrid  conference  at 
Chiswick  in  July,  1899,  was  that  of  hybrid 
Vriesias,  &o.,  made  by  Messrs.  Duval  and  Sons, 
of  Versailles,  and  could  a  group  of  the  sance  or 
similar  subjects  ten  times  as  large  be  made  at  next 
year's  Temple  show  its  beauty  would  be  sufficient 
to  gain  for  Bromeliad  culture  many  new  converts. 


140 


THE     GARDEN. 


March  1,  1902. 


At  Kew  a  fairly  corapreheusive  collection  of  these 
plants  exists,  and  at  the  present  time  several 
interesting  species  are  in  flower,  among  them  a 
number  of  the  most  conspicuous  being  Billbergia 
nutanto-Moreli,  a  hybrid  with  long,  narrow,  green 
leaves  and  arching  inflorescences  15  inches  long. 
The  whole  inflorescence  is  clothed  with  large  red 
bracts  which  sheath  the  stem,  and  towards  the 
apex  with  tubular,  yellowish  green  flowers  tipped 
with  blue.  Others  of  the  same  genus  are  Leopoldii, 
with  pale  blue  flowers  and  wide  green  leaves  ; 
speciosa,  with  short  green  leaves,  rose-coloured 
bracts  and  yellow  flowers  tipped  with  blue  ;  and 
vittato-Bakeri,  with  long,  stifl',  upright  leaves, 
red  bracts,  and  cream  flowers  tipped  with  blue. 
As  a  contrast  to  these  there  are  several  Pitcairnias 
with  scarlet  or  bright  red  flowers.  Foremost 
among  them  are  fine  plants  of  niuscosa  with  dwarf 
habit  and  grass-like  leaves,  bearing  several  spikes 
of  flowers,  the  spikes  ranging  from  9  inches  to 
18  inches  in  length  ;  and  angustifolia,  with  short 
stems  surmounted  by  heads  of  arching,  grass-like 
leaves  and  inflorescences  of  showy  flowers. 
Distinct  from  these  is  P.  maidifolia  with  wide 
leaves,  red  bracts,  and  yellow  flowers.  To 
lengthen  the  list  there  are  several  plants  of 
■Echmea  fulgens  and  its  variety  discolor,  bearing 
upright  spikes  of  coral-red  blossoms,  and  several 
Tillandsias,  of  which  a  hybrid  between  carinata 
and  psittacina,  with  long  spikes  of  red  and  yellow 
flowers,  and  bulbosa,  with  a  short,  curious  bulb- 
like stem,  and  strangely  contorted,  roundish  leaves 
and  peculiar  reddish  inflorescences  are  most 
conspicuoufs.  In  addition,  there  are  others  equally 
showy  and  interesting  coming  into  flower,  whilst 
the  variegated  leaves  of  others,  again,  make  them 
worthy  of  attention  for  that  reason  alone. 

W.  Dallimore. 


STOVE  PLANTS. 

CnAKMiNG  little  hot  house  plants  are  the 

Bertolonias, 
and  indispensable  to  the  cultivator  who  takes  a 
pride  in  the  appearance  of  the  stove.  The  leaves 
are  beautifully  marked  and  coloured  ;  in  fact,  the 
chief  decorative  value  of  the  Bertolonia  lies  in  its 
possession  of  such  elegant  foliage.  The  plants  are 
quite  dwarf,  almost  creeping,  and  for  that  reason 
are  peculiarly  usciul  for  covering  unsightly  corners. 


They  are,  perhaps,  most  useful  iu  a  house 
devoted  to  the  culture  of  stove  plants,  but  in  which 
the  latter,  instead  of  being  grown  in  pots,  as  is 
generally  practised,  are  planted  out  in  beds  of 
suitable  soil.  An  excellent  example  of  the  most 
natural  and  beautiful  method  of  cultivating  stove 
plants  may  be  seen  in  the  Nepenthes  house  at 
Kew.  These  interesting  and  comparatively  little 
grown  plants  are  suspended  from  the  roof  (but 
not  in  such  numbers  as  to  appreciably  exclude  the 
light),  while  beneath  are  planted  out  in  the  most 
natural  manner  possible  a  great  variety  of  stove 
plants.  Large  pieces  of  rock  or  stone  are  placed 
irregularly  on  the  border,  sometimes  grouped 
together,  sometimes  singly.  By  this  means  a 
variety  of  situations  is  provided,  enabling  plants 
of  all  sizes  to  be  grown.  The  Bertolonias  are 
thoroughly  at  home  clambering  over  the  rocks  and 
stones,  and  display  their  appropriateness  for  such 
a  spot  in  a  most  convincing  way.  The  flowers  of 
these  plants  are  somewhat  insignificant. 

Bertolonias  are  not  at  all  difficult  of  cultivation  ; 
they  may  be  successfully  grown  in  a  peaty,  sandy 
soil ;  a  warm,  close,  and  moist  atmosphere  is  neces- 
sary also.  Faulty  ventilation,  the  dripping  of 
water  from  the  roof  on  to  their  leaves,  draughts 
or  cold  will  do  much  to  make  their  culture 
difficult.  The  leaves  arc  delicate,  and  such 
adverse  conditions  as  these  quickly  disfigure  them. 
To  be  safely'  out  of  reach  of  such  they  should  really 
be  grown  under  a  bell-glass  :  it  is  then  that  the 
full  beauty  of  their  leaves  is  seen  and  also  preserved. 
In  such  confinement,  however,  they  serve  no  useful 
purpose,  and  fortunately  it  is  not  essential  that 
ihey  should  be  given  protection  of  this  sort ,  pro- 
viding that  as  far  as  possible  the  unsuitable  sur- 
roundings above  mentioned  are  avoided.  They 
should  have  the  warmest  and  most  moist  part  of 
the  stove.  The  roots  are  tender,  so  it  goes  without 
saying  that  watering  must  be  carefully  practised. 
Propagation  by  cuttings  is  not  difficult  to  carrj' 
out,  and  is  indeed  the  best  method  to  adopt. 
Most  worthy  of  inclusion  in  a  collection  of  stove 
plants  are  B.  raaculata,  B.  marmorata,  and 
li.  Comte  de  Kerchove. 

BiGNONIA. 

There    are    perhaps    no    stove    climbers     more 

rampant   in   growth   or   more   gorgeous  in   flower 

than  the  Bignonias,  and  perhaps  the  first-mentioned 

attribute  has  not  a  little  to  do  with  the  fact  that 


they  are  grown  to  any  extent  in  a  limited  number 
of  gardens  only.  They  are  obviously  only  suitable 
for  growing  in  large  houses,  where  thej'  can  be 
allowed  to  grow  at  will  without  trespassing  upon 
valuable  space.  But  those  fortunate  enough  to 
possess  a  house  in  which  they  can  be  allowed  to 
have  their  own  sweet  way  will,  if  the  conditions 
are  favourable,  be  amply  rewarded  by  the  display 
at  the  flowering  season.  The  blossoms  of  the 
Bignonias,  of  which  there  are  numerous  species, 
range  through  a  remarkable  variety  of  colour —  M 
orange,  red,  yellow,  purple,  scarlet,  white,  &c.  I 
To  have  them  at  their  best  these  stove  climbers 
ought  to  be  planted  out  in  a  bed  of  good  soil ;  with 
the  roots  restricted  to  the  run  of  a  pot  dissatisfac- 
tion is  always  liable  to  result.  Needless  to  say, 
the  bed  must  have  thorough  drainage,  and  the  soil 
also  should  be  porous.  Rough  fibrous  loam,  and 
lumps  of  peat  in  equal  proportion,  together  with  a 
quantity  of  silver  sand,  will  provide  the  necessary 
compost.  A.  P.  H. 

(To  he  continued. ) 


A  BORDER  ANn  WALL  IN  THE  UnNNERSBURY.  HOUSE  GARDENS  (M.4R0H,  IJOl), 


W^ALL     GARDENING     AT 
GUNNERSBURY. 

The  walls  or,  more  correctly  speaking,  the 
wall  was  the  outcome  of  a  suggestion  made  by 
.Mr.  Leopold  de  Rothschild  in  the  autumn  of 
1900  after  a  visit  to  Hampton  Court  Gardens, 
where  the  old  walls  contiguous  to  the  palace 
form  a  suitable  background  to  the  beautiful 
borders.  With  the  rtquest  to  attempt  .some- 
thing in  a  similar  way  it  occurred  to  me  that 
we  could  not  do  better  than  carry  out  the 
same  ideas,  but  in  a  modified  form,  that  were 
adopted  some  years  ago  in  these  gardens,  so  that 
the  wall  would  apjiear  to  be  a  part  of  the  same 
building,  which  is,  to  all  appearances,  a  ruin  in 
various  stapes  of  collaT'se.  As  bricks  formed 
the  material  of  the  original  building  bricks 
again  were  used.  Good  bricks,  as  used  in  new 
walls,  would  not,  ho«evtr,  give  the  desired 
effect ;  hence  we  had  resort  to  all  the  old  ones 
that  could  be  found.  Fortunately  other  work 
in  hand  at  the  same  time,  the  formation  of 
the  Japanese  garden,  su|]plied  us  with  this 
material  to  a  large  e.xtent  by  exca- 
vating old  walls  which  had  been  for 
years  buried  beneath  the  surface. 
Cement  and  Thames  sand  were  used 
rather  than  lime  and  the  local  sand, 
the  former  admixture  imparting  not 
only  greater  strength  but  age  al.>.o. 
'*'"'  In  the  erection  one  difficulty  arose 
and  had  to  be  overcome.  This  was 
in  giving  two  appearances  to  the  wall 
— upon  one  side  an  ordinary  garden 
wall  in  a  good  state  of  repair  and  upon 
the  other  that  already  alluded  to. 
The  average  width  of  the  wall  is  two 
bricks  and  a  half  or  23  inches.  This 
width  was  arranged— first,  to  form  a 
solid  base  without  deep  foundations, 
and  afterwards  to  allow  the  wall  to 
be  built  hollow,  with  openings  here 
and  there  for  plants  to  be  inserted. 
On  the  rtiin  side  the  joints  were 
scratched  out  partially  with  a  pointed 
stick  instead  of  adopting  the  usual 
cour.se  of  pointing  with  a  bricklayer's 
trowel.  As  the  summit  was  reached 
the  wall  on  this  side  was  left,  as  it 
were,  in  a  broken-down  way  and  as 
irregular  as  posrsible  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, whilst  on  the  other  side 
it  was  finished  off  with  half  bricks 
on  edge  to  allow  as  much  room  as 
possible  for  soil.  This  space  for  .soil 
at  the  toji  was  14  inches  wide,  whilst 
in  the  next  and  lower  courses  it  was 
0  inches,  with   ties  across   from  one 


March  1,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


141 


side  to  the  other.  These  ties  were 
connective  from  bottom  to  top,  thus 
the  space  provided  for  soil  was  con- 
nective, too. 

This  method  of  construction  faci- 
litated the  watering  of    the    plants, 
an  all-important  matter,  more  espe- 
cially during  the  dry  weather  of  the 
summer  of  1901.     The  planting  was 
done  from  the  end  of  March  onwards. 
Climbing  Koses  and  other  climbing 
plants  were  the  first  to  be  planted, 
but  the  greater  part  of  the  planting 
was  done  in  May  —  i.e.,  in  the  holes  and 
upon  the  top.    I  should  have  done  it 
in  April,  but  other  work  then  pressed. 
April  should  certainly  be  the  better 
time   for   all   hardy   plants,  Alpines 
and   otherwise.     Seedling   plants   of 
Wallflowers  and  Antirrhinums  were 
planted  on  the   top   about  the   end 
of   .June,    whilst  the    weather    was 
both  hot  and  dry.     These,  however, 
succeeded  admirably  far  beyond  our 
expectations.       In     completing    the 
planting  upon  the  top,  as  a  precaution 
against  the  soil  being  washed  down, 
and  likewise  to  conserve  moisture  as 
well  as   to    protect  the  roots  from 
excessive  heat,  small  pieces  of  stone 
were  placed  closely  together  around 
all    the    plants.      This    contributed 
greatly  I  have  no  doubt  to  the  after 
luxuriant    growth    and    freedom    of 
flowering.     One-half  of  the  wall  was 
provided  with  water   by  the  use  of 
perforated  galvanised  iron  piping  fixed  upon 
the  brick-on-edge  alluded  to.    This  half  had 
sandstone  as  the  covering  material.    The  other 
half  was    not  provided  with  any  means  for 
watering,  but  was  attended  to  in  this  respect 
from  the  back  with  a  water-can  as  occasion  arose. 
This  part  of  the  wall  had  limestone   as   a 
covering,  hence  the  opportunity  was  afi'orded 
of  arranging   the   planting   according  to   the 
requirements   of    the    plants— sandstone    and 
more  moisture,  limestone  and  less  moisture. 
This   classification  we  found  to  answer  very 
well,  with   one   or   two  exceptions,  upon  the 
face  of  the  wall  in  the  latter  category— here 
more  moisture  was  evidently  required.     In  the 
nooks  and  recesses  which  such  a  wall  affords 
various    plants,   otherwise    too    tender,   were 
successfully    grown,    such,    for     instance,    as 
Solanum  Wendlandi,  Hibiscus  sinensis,  Ehyn- 
cospermum  jasminoides,  and  Lapageria  rosea. 
Some   of  the  Plants  Used. 
Climbers,  <fcc. ,  agaitvit  wadl. 
Thladiantha  dubia 

Passiflora  ccerulea  and  P.  c.  Constance  Elliot 
Roses,  climbing  varieties 

Bignonia  giandiflora,  B.  radieans,  B.  sanguinea 
Ceanothuses  Uloire  de  Versailles    and    Marie 

Lemoine 
Arapelopsis  Veitchi 
Aristoloohia  Sipho 
Magnolia  grandiflora 

Vitis  Thunbergii,  V.  Cuigneli;e,  and  others 
Azara  microphylla 
Tropieolum  tuberosum  and  at  top  of  wall. 

Tender  Plants  in  Recesses. 
Carpenteria  californica 
Berberidopsis  corallina 
Solanum  Wendlandi 
Fremontia  californica 
Cobiva  soandens  variegata 
Bougainvillea  sanderiana  (did  not  flower) 
Iponuea  "Heavenly  Blue"  (annual) 
Lophospermum  erubescens 
Plumbago  capensis 
Hibiscus  sinensis 
Lapageria  rosea 
Convolvulus  allhseoides 


THE    SAME    BORIiKl;     AND    W  AU.    (EAKLY    SEl'TIiMtEK,    I90I). 


Plants  upon  Top  of  Wall. 
Lupinus  arboreus 
Rosa  wichuriaiia  vars. 
Carnations  vars.  and  Dianthus  sp. 
Antirrhinums,  seedlings 
Wallflowers,  seedlings 
Arenaria  montana 
Aubrietia  Leichtlini 
Campanula  isophylla  and  others 
Cheiranthus  alpinus  and  vars. 
Cistus  florentinus,  C.  ladaniferus,  C.  lusitanieus 
Erinus  alpinus 
Geum  montanum 
Heliantliemum  vars. 
Onosma  tauricum 
Pentstenioii  sp. 
Plumbago  Larpentse 
Phlox  sp.  (alpine) 
Rosa  lueida,  R.  alpina 
Saxifrages  in  variety 
Mesembryanthemum  sp.  (for  flower) 
Yucca  filamentosa 
Agave  americana  variegata 
Statice  sp. 
Salvia  splendens  nana 

J.  Hudson. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


SISYRINCHIUM  STRIATUM 

A  S  Mr.  Burrell  says,  on  page  90,  this  plant 

/%  may  be  regarded  as  exceedingly  useful. 

/   %         It  will    thrive   almost  an3-where,   and 

L — .^       its      Iris-like      leaves      always      look 

/         ^     attractive,  even  if  there  is  not  a  flower 

on  the  plant.     Then  it  blooms  so  long 

at  a  stretch  and  gives  such  a  profusion   of  small 

flowers  that  it  is  something  to  admire  at  a  time 

when   flowers   of    its    character    are    scarce— late 

autumn —although  it  blooms  earlier  to  begin  with. 

I  should  like  to  ask  the  readers  of  The  Garden 

who  grow  it  if  any  of  them  have  observed  anything 

about  the  plants  to  justify  the  specific  name   of 

"  striatum  ? "     In  his  description,  Mr.  .J.  G.  Baker 

speaks  of  the  segments  as  "pale  yellow,  veined 

with  brown."     I  have  not  observed  this  veining, 

which  may  possibly  be  the  origin  of  the  name,  but  I 


others  may  have  noticed  it.  Anyway,  it  seems  a 
pity  that  a  name  so  little  descriotive  should  be  in 
current  use.  That  in  Loddiges's  "  Botanical 
Cabinet"  of  "  lutesceus  "  seems  to  suit  the  plant 
much  better,  so  far  as  I  have  seen  it. 

It  is  very  easily  raised  from  seeds,  and  here  it 
sows  itself  so  freely  that  young  plants  are  often 
weeded  out  when  the  borders  are  gone  over." 

THE  LEUUOJQMS. 

I  HAVE  read  with  great  interest  Mr.  Fitzherbert's 
note  on  L.  ^stivum  in  The  Garden  of  February  8, 
but  am  quite  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  blooming 
of  his  hitherto  flowerless  plants  in  their  new 
position.  Since  we  had  some  correspondence  and 
made  an  exchange  of  bulbs  for  trial  I  have  not  lost 
sight  of  the  question  raised  some  two  years  ago. 
If  I  remember  correctly,  I  sent  Mr.  Fitzherbert 
bulbs  of  some  four  lots  of  L.  vernum,  three  of 
which  are  quite  distinct  in  their  ways  here.  One 
was  a  form  which  makes  its  growth  in  late  autumn 
or  early  winter,  and  is  at  present  with  its  foliage 
fully  developed.  This  is  growing  in  a  damp  place, 
and  often  gives  flowers  as  early  as  the  later 
spring  Snowflakes,  but  not  so  early  as  the  first  of 
these.  This  is  a  shy-blooming  form,  which  comes 
nearer  to  what  appears  to  be  L.  pulchellum  than  the 
other,  but  is  much  hardier  and  earlier.  Another 
was  what  I  take  to  be  the  typical  form  of  aistivum, 
which  makes  its  foliage  in  spring,  and  is  but  little 
above  the  soil  at  present.  This  flowers  regularly 
and  freely.  I  cannot  recollect  where  either  of  the 
foregoing  came  from  originally,  but  I  had  from 
Broussa  some  bulbs  which  appear  to  be  identical 
with  that  just  mentioned.  These  two  lots  have 
lighter  green  leaves  than  the  first  named.  I  believe 
I  sent  Mr.  Fitzherbert  one  of  the  Broussa  bulbs. 

The  other  form  was  what  I  grow  as  L.  pulchellum , 
which  comes  very  near  the  ordinary  a3Stivum.  It 
is  spoken  of  in  Mr.  Robinson's  "  Hardy  Flowers  " 
as  Hernandezii,  and  is  there  described  as  flowering 
three  weeks  or  a  month  before  .'estivum.  It  has 
narrower  leaves,  fewer  flowers  in  a  spathe,  and 
smaller  blooms.  This  seems  to  be  a  more  tender 
plant  with  me  than  any  of  the  others.  It  makes 
its  growth  about  the  same  time  as  the  first  named, 
but  blooms  later,  and  often  has  its  foliage  injured 
here  by  late  froft.=,  a  thing  I  have  not  .observed 
with  the  others.  It  has  thus  increased  more 
slowly  and  does  little  more  than  hold  its  own. 


142 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


The  bulbs  I  got  from  Mr.  Fitzherbert,  again, 
resemble  in  their  growth  here  what  I  take  to  be 
the  typical  wstivuni,  the  second  form  referred  to, 
except  that  they  are  more  shy  bloom.ing.  The 
singular  thing  is  the  different  behaviour  of  these 
in  the  garden  to  which  your  correspondent  sent 
them.  I  fear  we  must  have  patience  and  experi- 
ment a  little  further  before  we  can  come  to  a 
definite  conclusion.  Whatever  the  botanical 
difference  from  a  garden  standpoint  there  at 
present  appear  to  be  two  or  three  distinct  \arieties 
of  itstivum.  If  we  can  satisfy  ourselves  upon  this 
point  we  shall  have  done  something  towards 
prolonging  the  Snowflake  season  in  gardens  other 
than  our  own  S.  Arnott. 

Bosedene,  Carsethom,  by  DnmfrieK,  N.B. 


Daffodils  in  the  grass  at  the  edge  of  a  shrub 
clump.  When  the  Daffodils  are  over,  and 
their  foliage  has  ripened  and  turned  brown,  it 
will  lie  mown  with  the  grass  up  to  the  edge  of 
the  shrubs. 


ANTIRRHINUMS. 

The  tall  forms  of  Antirrhinum  are  excellent  for 
large  beds  or  borders,  and  although  very  good 
results  are  obtained  from  mixed  seed  it  is  well 
it  they  are  to  be  made  a  speciality  for  the  summer 
flower  garden  to  bu}'  the  seed  in  named  varieties 
from  some  well-known  hardy  plant  seedsman.  The 
plants  under  these  conditions  come  very  true  to 
name,  and  may  be  grouped  in  different  shades.  The 
strong  growing  varieties  amply  repay  liberal  treat- 
ment, individual  spikes  attaining  a  height  of 
between  5  feet  and  6  feet,  whilst  the  vigour  of  the 
plant  gives  a  great  wealth  of  after  bloom  when  the 
central  spike  is  removed.  Staking  is  advisable  if 
the  situation  is  exposed  or  rough  winds  are  apt  to 
snap  off  the  heavy  spikes.  E.  BuRRELL. 


DAFFODILS    GROUPED    AVITH 
SHRUBS. 

When  flowering  plants  are  closely  associated 
with  shrubs  it  is  desirable  that  the  treatment 
should  be  bold  and  distinct.  Well  grouped 
shrub  clumps  are  all  the  better  for  the  softer 
plants  if  these  are  judiciously  chosen  and  well 
placed  and  arranged,  and  in  quantity  enough 
to  make  a  .show  in  some  sort  of  good  proportion 
to  the  firmer  shrub  masses.  The  illustration 
shows  such  a  bold  planting  of  one  of  the  good 


EXHIBITION    VEGETABLES. 

No  branch  of  gardening  deserves  more 
encouragement  than  the  culture  of 
high-class  vegetables.  CTOod  vege- 
tables are  one  of  the  necessities 
of  life,  and  it  is  profitable  and 
pleasurable  to  grow  them  to 
perfection.  During  the  past  thirty  years 
enormous  strides  have  been  made  in  their 
development,  and  I  venture  to  say  that  this 
is  greatly  due  to  the  encouragement  in  the 
shape  of  prizes  offered  at  many  of  our  large 
exhibitions,  and  also  at  our  cottage  garden 
shows  held  in  many  towns  and  villages  through- 
out the  country. 

I  hope  I  may  live  to  see  the  day  when  a 
truly  National  Vegetable  Society  is  formed,  in 
which  encouragement  is  given  to  the  trade, 
professional  gardeners,  amateurs,  and  cottagers. 
If  such  a  society  was  once  formed  I  have  not 
the  slightest  doubt,  if  properly  worked,  it 
would  prove  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
interesting  of  horticultural  organisations.  It 
is  argued  that  vegetable  exhibitions  are  not 
sufficiently  beautiful  or  interesting  to  attract 
the  general  public,  but  I  am  convinced  that 
this  is  not  so.  We  have  only  to  call  to  mind 
the  interest  centred  in  fine  collections  at 
such  shows  as  Shrewsbury,  London,  Birming- 
ham, and  Reading,  when  valuable  prizes  are 
offered  and  the  finest  types  of  vegetables 
splendidly  presented.  Almost  every  vegetable 
during  recent  years  has  been  taken  in  hand 
by  the  hybridiser,  the  result  generally  being 
better  strains.  Peas,  Potatoes,  Cauliflowers, 
Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  Brussels  Sprouts, 
Carrots,  Celery,  A'egetable  Marrows,  Cabbage, 
Onions,  Beans  of  all  kinds.  Leeks,  and  many 


PAjropiLS  GROtJPED  WITH  SHRUBS,      {nolographed  b    Miss  Willmol  j. 


others  have  been  greatly  improved  of  late 
years.  Those  who  are  thinking  and  hoping  to 
excel  in  the  production  of  high-class  vegetables 
must  remember  that  much  work  and  fore- 
thought are  needful,  but  let  it  not  be  forgotten 
that  even  when  one  has  no  good  position  or 
ideal  vegetable  soil  a  splendid  success  is  not 
impossilble.  There  is  no  .soil  or  position  in  the 
country  that  cannot  be  brought  into  a  suitable 
condition  for,  if  not  all,  the  majority  of  vege- 
tables. Those  who  persevere  are  the  ones  to 
succeed.  Success  is  not  a  matter  of  mere  luck 
as  some  imagine. 

Preparation  of  the  Land.— I  regard  this 
as  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  unless  it  can 
be  brought  into  a  good  state  of  cultivation  no 
amount  of  work  and  worry  will  ever  produce 
the  finest  vegetables.  Deep  cultivation  must 
be  persisted  in,  and  in  spite  of  what  other 
growers  may  say  I  know  from  long  ];iractical 
experience  that  when  this  is  systematically 
practised  quite  double  and  sometimes  tieble 
returns  are  as.sured.  It  is  not  so  much  a  matter 
of  size  of  garden  or  farm  as  the  way  it  is 
worked.  The  land  must  be  deeply  drained, 
and  the  trenching  practised  if  possible  annually 
at  no  less  a  depth  than  -2  feet  G  inches  or 
3  feet  Bring  the  bottom  sjiit  to  the  surface, 
and  break  up  the  soil  deeply  below  with  a  fork. 
This  will  receive  almost  any  garden  refuse  or 
manure  which  may  come  to  hand,  the  longest 
and  greenest  being  placed  in  the  bottom, 
throwing  on  the  surface  spit,  which  will  in  time 
find  its  way  to  the  top.  Instead  of  about  a 
foot  or  in  some  cases  less  of  workable  soil,  one 
will  in  a  short  time  possess  a  valuable  depth 
of  soil  capable  of  producing  good  specimens  of 
almost  any  vegetable.  Of  course  it  is  essential 
to  make  stiff  and  retentive  land  light  by 
working  into  it  suitable  material,  especially 
so  on  the  surface  after  the  trenching  is  com- 
pleted, such  as  wood  ashes,  old  mortar  rubble, 
and  road  scrapings.  Stable  manure  somewhatj 
green  should  be  used  in  preference  to  any  other 
on  heavy  land,  and  that  from  horned  stock  fori 
lighter  soils.  Light  land  .should  be  trenchedf 
during  autumn  and  winter,  but  the 
stiffer  soils  as  much  as  possible  during 
February  and  March. 

Rotation  of  Ceops.— It  is  hardlyl 
necessary  to  dwell  at  any  great  lengthl 
on  this,  as  it  is  generally  well  under-l 
stood  by  all  who  make  any  jiretencel 
at  gardening.  The  sites  for  the 
different  crops  should  be  changed 
as  far  as  possible  each  year,  except 
in  a  few  cases  such  as  Onions, 
Shallots,  Artichokes,  and  Horse- 1 
radish,  each  of  which,  providing  the! 
ground  is  well  replenished  withi 
manure  yearly,  may  be  grown  on  the| 
same  land  for  years. 
^  Quality  versus  Size.— This  ques-l 
tion  has  been  discussed  many  times.! 
It  does  not  always  follow  that  sizel 
means  bad  quality.  Good  judges! 
should  be  in  a  position  to  determine! 
this,  but  unquestionably  size  is  far 
too  often  taken  into  consideration! 
especially  in  the  case  of  such  things  as] 
Potatoes,  Cauliflowers,  CabbageJ 
Vegetable  ^Marrows,  Cucumbers,  and! 
Tomatoes.  Potatoes  particularly  are! 
shown  too  large,  and  medium-sized! 
tubers  of  the  finest  quality  should! 
certainly  be  preferred  to  large  ones,] 
even  though  they  maybe  shapely  and! 
of  good  appearance.  Onions,  Leeks.j 
and  C|elery,  however,  if  of  the  bestl 
varieties,  cannot  be  staged  too  large,! 
for  the  reason  that  size  denotes  high' 
class  culture  and  good  quality. 


March  1,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


143 


Varieties  to  Grow. — It  is  well  to 
remember  that  an  inferior  vegetable 
is  as  troublesome  to  grow  as  a  good 
one  ;  although  the  cost  of  procuring 
the  best  varieties  in  the  first  place 
may  be  somewhat  more  expensive,  it 
is  cheaper  in  theend  to  get  the  best, 
and  when  once  in  possession  of  any- 
special  strain  endeavour  to  keep  it 
by  saving  one's  own  seed  annually. 
This  applies  especially  to  Peas,  Beans, 
Onions,  Cucumbers,  Tomatoes,  and 
Marrows,  each  being  easily  selected  -'*^ 
and  saved. 

Staging  Exhibits. — Practise  alone 
can  make  one  perfect.  The  difference 
between  a  well  set  up  collection  of 
vegetables  and  one  arranged  slovenly 
is  most  apparent,  and  though  there 
may  be  little  difference  in  the  quality 
of  the  produce  in  each  case,  vegetables 
well  shown  are  certain  to  win,  and 
rightly  so,  and  the  same  applies  to 
single  dishes. 

Judges.— Too  much  care  cannot  be 
exercised  in  selecting  competent  men 
for  this  most  important  and  respon- 
sible post  When  this  is  done,  no 
exhibitor  should  complain  of  their 
decision,  although  it  may  not  always 
■agree  with  their  own  belief.  Much 
must  be  taken  into  consideration 
when  judging  vegetables,  and  nothing 
more  so  than  the  season.  When 
making,  for  instance,  awards  through 
August  and  September  during  trying 
seasons  such  as  the  two  last,  a  good 
dish  of  Turnips  perfect  in  every  respect 
should  receive  the  maximum  number  of 
points,  but  on  the  other  hand,  when  the 
season  has  been  favourable  to  their  pro- 
duction, these  shauld  not  carry  much  weight 
Nothing  is  more  easily  obtained  during  a  wet 
season,  and  nothing  more  difficult  during  a  hot 
dry  summer.  Again,  more  attention  should 
be  paid  to  quality,  especially  in  the  case  of 
Potatoes  and  Peas.  Some  varieties  are  all 
that  can  be  desired  as  far  as  ajjpearance  goes, 
but  are  of  the  poorest  quality  when  cooked.  I 
consider  this  of  the  greatest  importance.  When 
judging  fruit  quality  is  generally  the  first  thing 
considered.  E.  Beckett. 

{To  be  continued.) 


^^ 


PRUNUS  SERRULATA   IN   FLOWER.      A   SPRING    PICTURE   IN   THE^ROYAL   GARDENS,    KEW. 


RIVIERA    NOTES. 

Peopagating  the  Tbee  P.eony. 
No  one  I  see  has  mentioned  that  a  very 
favourite  and  easy  method  of  propagating  the 
Tree  Pajony  is  by  layering  into  little  pots 
tied  on  to  the  stems.  So  easy  a  mode  of 
obtaining  young  Tree  P<eonies  on  their  own 
roots  should  not  be  overlooked,  for  such  young 
plants  not  unfrequently  bloom  the  first  year. 
The  layering  should  be  done  just  after  the 
flowering  time,  and  the  rooted  layers  are  ready 
to  be  planted  out  in  October,  at  any  rate  on 
these  shores.  I  have  also  found  shoots  put 
in  sandy  soil,  and  kept  shaded  and  sufficiently 
moist  to  keep  the  foliage  alive,  will  root  if  put 
in  after  the  young  wood  is  half  ripe,  but  the 
plants  are  much  weaker  and  less  satisfactory 
than  those  layered  into  small  pots.    The 

Carnation  Show  held  at  Nice 
on  the  13th  and  14th  ult.  was  a  very  small  one, 
as  none  of  the  great  growers  outside  the  Nice 
district  exhibited,  but  there  were  some  beauti- 
ful blooms,  especially  of  Eosa  Bonheur,  a  very 
large  yellow  ground  with  rose  edged  petals, 
but  a  desperate  splitter  and  weak  in  the  stem. 
A  smaller  fiower  of  an  exquisite  shade  of  pink 


called  Comtesse  Avet  was  my  favourite,  but 
curiously  enough  the  growers  neither  gave 
their  addresses  nor  were  present  themselves 
when  the  world  was  there,  so  that  more 
English  enterprise  is  needed.  No  doubt  they 
are  satisfied  with  their  own  market,  for  prices 
of  cuttings  seemed  ridiculously  high  generally. 
The  Cannes  show — on  March  6  to  10— will 
probably  produce  a  far  finer  lot  of  bloom.  At 
least  after  last  year  one  expects  something  extra 
good.  I  am  glad  to  find  one  or  two  growers 
are  growing  exjjressly  for  seed  purposes,  and  to 
get  the  size  of  these  blooms  infused  into 
northern  strains  would  be  an  attraction  to 
those  who  do  not  demand  a  very  smooth  edged 
flower. 

Spring  Flowers. 
Spring  is  early  this  year,  and  Anemones  and 
Violets  are  in  fullest  beauty.  Every  day  some 
fresh  Iris  pops  up  a  fiower,  and  among  the 
various  forms  of  the  Iris  reticulata  and  the 
Persica  section,  I  think  I.  bakeriana  carries  off 
the  palm  here.  I.  assyriaca  is  far  superior  to 
sindjarensis  in  my  judgment,  and  the  clear 
yellow  form  of  I.  olbiensis  is  jjarticularly 
welcome  among  the  early  Van  Thol  Tulips,  its 
spiky  blue-green  foliage  and  slender  flower 
stems  are  so  distinct.  Iris  tingitana  is  nearly 
open  in  some  gardens  I  see,  and  is  very  strong 
this  year.  Of  Neapolitan  Violets,  the  trio 
Mons.  Aster,  so  dark  in  colour  and  so  large, 
Mme.  Millet,  so  very  fragrant  and  distinct  in 
its  rose  shading,  and  Lady  Hume  Campbell, 
so  free  and  hardy,  are  the  most  satisfactory 
varieties  here ;  but  Mme.  Millet  needs  atten- 
tion in  the  matter  of  removing  the  runners 
constantly  to  show  her  true  character.  One 
learns  by  experience  that  the  secret  of  success 
for  Daifodils  is  deep  planting  and  deep  culti- 
vation. The  first  keeps  the  bulbs  from  the 
summer  heat,  and  also  checks  excessive  multi- 
plication, and  the  latter  provides  the  necessary 
root  run  and  moisture.  While  the  deeper 
yellows  do  less  well  than  in  the  north,  the 
whites  and  pale  yellows  enjoy  the  conditions. 


and  I  rejoice  to  see  that  N.  pallidus  precox 
does  make  offsets  in  this  climate.  The  Almond 
trees  have  been  a  fuller  pink  than  usual.  I 
wonder  if  it  is  the  moisture  in  soil  and  atmos- 
phere that  has  caused  it  1     E.  H.  Woodall. 


PRUNUS     SERRULATA. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  April,  when  the 
majority  of  the  Plums  are  in  full  flower,  it  is 
difficult  to  single  out  one  as  prettier  or  showier 
than  at  least  half  a  dozen  others.  Of  the 
various  groups,  however,  that  which  comprises 
the  Cherries  is  by  far  the  most  showy.  To 
this  group  the  species  under  notice  belongs, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  the 
set.  It  is  by  no  means  a  new  tree,  having 
been  introduced  from  China  about  eighty  years 
ago.  It  is  naturally  a  small  tree  with  a  rather 
loose  habit,  and  is  peculiar  by  reason  of  its 
short-jointed,  stunted-looking  branches.  The 
leaves  are  fairly  large  and  very  evenly  serrated. 
The  flowers  are  borne  freely  in  large,  ioose 
heads,  which  are  white,  or  white  sufi'used  more 
or  less  deeply  with  rose  in  colour,  and  1  inch 
to  li  inches  across.  For  lawns  or  shrubberies 
it  is  excellent,  making  a  good  companion  plant 
to  its  own  countryman,  the  large  -  flowered 
pseudo-Cerasus  and  its  European  cousins, 
Cerasus  and  Avium.  In  addition  to  being  an 
excellent  outdoor  tree,  it  may  be  cultivated 
in  pots  for  forcing  for  the  conservatory  in 
winter  and  .spring.  Although  originally  intro- 
duced from  China,  it  is  also  found  in  .Japan, 
where  it  is  said  to  grow  1.5  feet  or  20  feet  in 
height.  W.  Dallimore. 


NEW^   JAPANESE   CHRYSAN- 
THEMUMS. 

(Continued  from  j^cige   77.  J 
The  following  varieties  supplement  those  described 
in  The  Garden  of  February  1  last,  and   repre- 
sent many  of  the  best  exhibited  for  the  first  time 
last  season, 


144 


THE  '  GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


A   FLOWER    BOEDER    WITH    PLANTS    BOLDLY    OROUPED.       ( riiotographed  bi/  M lu   WiVmritt.) 


Cadfre.y's  Kiikj. — Beautiful  blooms  were  exhiliiled 
before  the  National  ChrysaQtbenium  Society's  Horal 
committee  on  October  28  last,  and  were  awarded  a 
first-class  certificate.  Their  chestnut-crimson  colour 
will  make  them  highly  prized  for  exhibition, 
rendered  more  effective  by  the  golden  reverse. 
The  florets  are  of  good  length,  fairly  broad,  and 
compose  a  flower  of  reflexed  .Japanese  form,  the 
florets  incurving  at  the  ends.    A  decided  acquisition. 

Violet  Lady  fierninwH/.  — Although  the  flowers 
of  this  variety  were  not  so  large  as  those  of  many 
of  the  giants  of  to-day,  sufficient  quality  was 
represented  to  gain  a  first-class  certificate  of  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  on  October  2S 
last.  The  very  broad  florets  have  great  substance. 
Deep  rich  crimson  is  the  colour,  the  reverse  a 
golden-bronze.  It  was  staged  by  Mr.  N.  Molyneux, 
and  the  bloom  should  prove  a  worthy  successor  to 
the  popular  E.  Molyneux. 

Mi-s.  (korge  Lawrence.  —  Numerous  plants 
flowered  on  single  stems  in  6-inch  pots  were  shown 
before  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  on 
October  28  last  ;  the  flowers  are  evidently  of  great 
value  for  exhibition.  Grown  in  the  way  described 
they  were  also  useful  for  grouping.  The  flowers 
were  large,  spreading,  and  with  long,  broad,  and 
slightly-curled  florets.  Rich  yellow  describes  the 
colour.     Awarded  a  first-class  certificate. 

Elk- 1  Fitz'-oy. — This  variety  was  one  of  the 
finest  shown  last  year.  Next  year  there  should  be 
a  free  display  of  its  flowers  at  all  shows  worthy  of 
the  name.  When  placed  before  the  National 
Chrysinthemum  Society's  floral  committee  on 
November  11  last  it  gained  full  points,  and,  of 
course,  a  first-class  certificate.  The  florets  are 
long,  of  rather  more  than  medium  breadth,  and 
make  a  good  type  of  a  reflexed  Japanese  bloom. 
Its  colour  is  one  of  its  important  features,  this  being 
a  rich  golden  amber  suffused  and  tinted  crimson 
terra  colta.  Flowered  freely  from  terminal  buds, 
the  plant  will  make  a  splendid  late  decorative  sort. 

Godfrty'i  Pride.— VuW  points  were  also  awarded 
to  this  variety,  the  flowers  being  shown  before  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  on  October  28 
last.  Like  many  others  from  the  same  source  last 
season  the  colour  is  most  striking,  being  reddish 
crimson  with  a  bronzy  buff  reverse.  The  florets 
are  long,  of  good  breadth,  and  build  up  a  large, 
loosely  incurved  Japanese  flower.  First-class 
certificate. 

George  Xaicrencs.— Another  representative  of 
the  incurved  Japanese  type.  In  this  case  the 
florets  are  of  good  length,  broad,  slightly  twisted 


and  curled,  and  make  a  bloom  of  good  substance. 
The  colour  may  be  described  as  a  unique  shade  of 
bronzy  yellow.  Awarded  a  first-class  certificate 
by  the  National  Chrysanthem  um  Society ,  October  28 
last. 

H.  T.  Biirron-eK. — An  English-raised  seedling  of 
considerable  promise,  the  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Society's  committee  requesting  to  see  it  again. 
As  exhibited  on  November  18  last  it  was  a  rather 
rough  incurved  Japanese,  though  from  subsequent 
enquiries  we  hear  it  is  a  rather  late  sort,  and 
therefore  requires  special  treatment.  Mr.  H. 
Weeks  says  the  plant  requires  stopping  about  the 
first  week  in  April,  the  result  of  which  will 
ilevelop  blooms  that  will  be  appreciated.  The 
flowers  are  large,  developing  long  and  fairly 
broad  florets,  and  the  colour  is  a  rich  glowing 
crimson,  with  a  bright,  golden  reverse. 

DucheSK  of  Sutherland. — This  is  a  glorified 
edition  of  the  richly-coloured  R.  Hooper  Pearson, 
and  there  is  no  deeper  or  richer  shade  of  yellow  in 
the  .Japanese  section  than  the  latter.  The  florets 
are  long,  rather  broad,  developing  a  bloom  of 
splendid  substance,  and  well  meriting  the  full 
pDints  awarded  to  it  by  the  National  Chrysan- 
themum Society  on  November  11  last.  First-class 
certificate. 

tlineral Hutton. — A  variety  of  which  antipodean 
raisers  may  be  justly  proud.  As  exhibited  before 
the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  on  November 
IS  last,  the  flowers  were  very  large  and  handsome, 
those  from  a  late  bud  selection  particularly  so. 
The  floral  committee  gave  it  an  award  of  merit, 
but  a  subsequent  free  display  of  strikingly  hand- 
some flowers  at  the  December  show  proved  that  it 
was  deserving  of  higher  honours.  The  florets  are 
long,  fairly  broad,  and  develop  a  bloom  of  droop- 
ing form  and  of  the  largest  size.  An  early  bud 
selection  gives  deep  rich  yellow-coloured  flowers  ; 
those,  however,  from  a  later  binl  selection  being 
freely  tinted  and  edged  bronzy  crimson.  A  special 
note  should  he  made  of  this  sort. 

Arthur  Kiurjfhury. — This  is  another  variety  of 
which  a  special  note  should  be  made,  although 
there  is  a  doubt  whether  Mr.  Weeks  will  distribute 
it  in  the  ensuing  spring.  The  blooms  will  be 
valued  for  their  neat  and  even  form,  and  lovely 
deep  rosy  amaranth  colour.  Miss  Evelyn  Douglas 
resembles  this  variety  in  build,  and  is  so  charming 
for  all  purposes  that  it  seems  safe  to  predict  an 
equally  successful  future  for  the  variety  under 
notice. 

G.  J.  Mee. — A  late-flowering  Japanese  variety 


of  drooping  form,  and  represented  by 
about  a  dozen  good  flowers  at  the 
December  show  of  the  National  Chysan- 
themum  Societ}'.  On  that  occasion  the 
floral  committee  gave  this  variety  an 
award  of  merit.  The  florets  are  very 
long,  of  narrow  to  medium  width,  and 
notched  at  the  ends.  They  are  also 
neatly  arranged,  and  droop  evenly.  The 
colour  is  a  rich  shade  of  deep  yellow, 
and  the  plant  is  of  sturdy  habit, 
vigorous  growth,  and  between  3  feet 
and  4  feet  in  height. 

Walltr  Coveif. — When  exhibited  on 
October  28  last  the  National  Chrysan- 
themum Society's  floral  committee  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  see  this  variety  again, 
and  the  chances  are  that  another  season 
it  will  be  better.  It  is  a  large  drooping 
flower,  having  pleasing  twi.sting  and 
curling  florets.  The  colour  is  a  very 
rich  shade  of  yellow,  and,  although 
there  are  many  other  good  new  yellows, 
there  is  room  for  this  one. 

Dorothy  Pou'ell. — This  is  an  English- 
raised  seedling  from  the  collection  of  a 
well-known  amateur  specialist.     Unfor- 
tunately, the  flowers  were  seen  too  late 
to  achieve  the  success  they  deserve,  but 
they  are  sure  to  be  seen  another  season. 
The  florets  are  long,  broad,  pointed,  and 
incurving  at  the  ends,  and  builil  up  a 
largeexhibitir  n  blonm  of  gordsubslanci'. 
Creamy   white   is  a    description  of    its 
cnlour,  with  a  richer  shade  in  the  centre. 
Height  about  5  feet. 
Katharine  A'ct*.— Although  the  National  Chry- 
santhemum Society's  floral  committee  on  Novem- 
ber 1 1   last  expressed  a  wish  to  see   this  variety 
again,  there  was  sufficient  merit  in  the  blooms,  as 
then  exhibited,  to  encourage  one  to  give  the   plant 
a  trial.      It  is  a  large  massive  Japanese  of  good 
substance,  developing,  from  an  early  bud  selection, 
creamy  white  tinted   rose  flowers.     From  a  later 
bud  selection,  however,  they  are  a  soft,  rosy  violet 
colour. 

Kimherley.  —This  variety  was  distributed  last 
spring,  and  is  therefore  not  so  new  as  the  others 
previously  described.  The  floral  committee  of  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  on  October  28 
last,  however,  awarded  it  a  first-class  certificate, 
and  on  the  occasion  when  so  many  other  really  first- 
class  sorts  were  shown.  The  colour  in  this 
instance  is  rich  yellow,  with  a  paler  reverse. 
Florets  long  and  broad,  and  of  good  length,  twist- 
ing and  curling,  and  building  up  a  bloom  of  large 
size  and  good  substance. 

Mr.t.  G.  Golden. — Handsome  examples  of  this 
variety  were  adjudicated  upon  on  November  11 
last  by  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  floral 
committee.  It  was  the  opinion  that  they  were 
not  unlike  good  blooms  of  Australian  Gold,  and  . 
for  the  same  reason  were  probably  passed  over. 
They  were  more  refined  and  pleasing  in  their  finish 
than  the  variety  referred  to,  and  the  plant  for 
this  reason  should  be  taken  in  hand.  The  colour 
is  pale  canarv-yellow,  with  a  still  paler  reverse. 

Albert  Chandler. — This,  too,  was  charming,  and 
not  unlike  Mr.  Louis  Remy.  There  was  a  feeling, 
however,  that  the  form  was  better  and  the  colour 
a  clearer  yellow. 

0  r.  Douglas. — A  large,  deep  exhibition  bloom 
with  long,  twisting  and  curling  florets,  building 
up  a  flower  of  good  substance.  Colour  straw 
yellow,  with  a  richer  coloured  centre.  The  raiser 
says  the  form  is  very^  similar  to  Calvat's  '99. 
Commended  by  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society,  November  11  last.  A  natural  first  crown 
bud  selection  will  suit  this  variety,  which  is  an 
excellent  one  for  large  blooms  in  vases. 

D.  B.  Crane. 


BOLD 


FLO  AVER 


EFFECTS    IN 
BORDERS. 

A  MIXED  flower  border  is  often  .spoilt  by  the 
use  of  too  many  kinds  of  plants  at  a  time.  In 
a  very  small  place  there  is  every  e-\cuse  for 


March  1,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


145 


this,  for  the  owner  may  wish  to  have  all  his 
flower  friends  about  him  and  has  not  room  to 
group  them  largely  ;  but  too  often  in  long 
stretches  of  flower  border  in  quite  large  places 
one  sees  little  dabs  of  a  quantity  of  ditt'erent 
plants,  giving  perhaps  a  certain  brightness  of 
colour,  but  fatal  to  any  good  effect.  Such  a- 
laorder  as  that  in  the  illustration  shows  the 
great  advantage  of  a  large  and  quiet  treatment 
of  large  masses  of  plants.  Here  we  see  wide 
breadths  of  Flag  Iris  and  some  of  the  good 
border  Campanulas  and  Roses  in  bold  forms 
of  bush  and  pillar,  the  whole  thing  full  of 
interest  and  with  the  quiet  dignity  that  goes 
with  repi5seful  treatment. 


HARDY    FRUITS     IN    SEASON. 

Apple  Hubbard's  Pearmain. 

As  a  dessert  variety,  ripe  from  Christmas  to 
March,  this  Apple  is  distinctly  valuable.  As 
will  be  seen  from  the  accompanying  illustra- 
tion, it  is  of  the  Pearmain  shape,  of  medium 
size,  and  attractive  appearance.  The  skin  is 
usually  of  a  yellowish  green  on  the  shaded 
side,  and  of  a  reddish  brown  on  the  side 
exposed  to  the  sun.  The  flesh  Im  yellow,  firm, 
very  sweet  and  sugary  ;  one  of  the  best 
flavoured  dessert  Apples  we  have.  The  growth 
of  the  tree  is  compact,  and  therefore  suitable 
to  be  grown  in  bush  or  pjramid  form  in 
gardens  of  small  extent.  Although  an  old 
variety,  it  is  not  generally  well  known,  and 
its  cultivation  does  not  seem  to  have  extended 
to  any  appreciable  dea;ree  beyond  the  eastern 
counties,  where  it  is  higlily  valued  for  its  great 
excellence  as  a  table  fruit.  This  variety  is  a 
free  and  consistent-  cropper,  and  the  fruits 
with  care  may  be  preserved  in  good  condition 
well  into  the  month  of  April. 

BrOWNLEe's   PbtJSSET. 

This  has  the  distinct  merit  of  being  one  of 
the  hardiest  dessert  Apples  we  have,  succeeding 
well  even  in  those  counties  and  districts  where 
many  varieties  fail.  It  is  of  medium  size, 
distinct  appearance,  highly  flavoured,  sweet 
and  juicy.     Ripe  from  February  to  April. 

Golden  Harvey. 
This  is  commonly  called  the  Brandy  Apjile, 
and  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  richest  and 
best  flavoured  Apples.  The  tree  is  a  |irolific 
and  certain  bearer.  The  fruit  is  small  and  not 
of  an  attractive  appearance.        O.  Thomas. 

Pear  Beueee  Bachelief. 
Mr.  Addy  has  a  note  on  this  Pear  on  page  104 
and  asks  for  the  opinion  of  others  as  to  its 
quality  in  wet  and  cold  seasons.  Some  years 
ago,  when  living  in  Nottinghamshire,  I  had  a 
hedge  of  a  cordon  tree  growing  against  a 
south-east  wall.  It  succeeded  well  and  bore 
good  crops  of  large,  handsome  fruits,  which 
were  of  sweet  and  refreshing,  though  not  very 
rich  flavour.  So  far  as  I  remember  it  ripened 
as  well  in  a  cold,  wet  season  as  in  a  warm,  dry 
one,  and,  had  the  tree  occufiieda  sunnier  place, 
the  fruit  would  probably  tiave  been  as  richly 
flavoured  as  Mr.  Addy's.  The  soil  in  which 
the  tree  grew  was  light  and  well  drained.  It 
is  a  very  useful  variety,  and  worthy  of  a  place 
in  every  garden. 

Pear  Winter  Nelis. 
"  G.  W.  S."  is  quite  correct  in  recommending 
this  Pear  for  culture  in  small  gardens,  as  it 
bears  freely  and  is  not  a  strong  grower.  Added 
to  this  the  quality  is  first-rate,  and  it  keeps 
well  till  Christmas.  At  Coddington  Hall, 
Newark,  it  does  remarkably  well  both  on  east 
and  west  walls,  the  fruit  often  needing  much 
thinning.     I  find  that  it  requires  a  light,  warm 


soil,  as  in  a  garden  a  few  miles  from  Codding- 
ton, where  the  soil  is  heavy,  the  fruit  is  small 
and  often  badly  cracked,  especially  in  wet 
seasons.  "  G.  W.  S."  mentions  tbat  it  succeeds 
as  an  espalier  in  the  southern  counties,  and  I 
remember  seeing  a  healthy  fruitful  espalier 
tree  in  a  garden  near  Bromley,  in  Kent. 

J.  Crawford. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The   Edilort  are  not  responsible  for  the  opinion'! 
expressed  hy  their  correspondents.) 

HARDY    EUCALYPTI. 

[To    THE    Editoe,    of    "  The    Garden."] 

SIR, — If  Mr.  John  Batenian  cares  to  extend 
his  culture  of  Eucalyptus  beyond  the 
one  species — Eucalyptus  Gunnii— which 
he  names,  he  will,  I  think,  find  several 
other  species  equally  hardy.  I  have 
grown  many  species  both  in  France  and 
England,  and  grown 
them  from  seed  sent 
direct  from  Australia 
and  Tasmania  as  well  as 
from  other  sources,  and  I 
can  mention  two  at  least 
which  I  believe  from 
experience  to  be  quite  as 
hardy  as  E.  Gunnii. 
These  are  E.  cocci  fera 
and  E.  urnigera.  The 
former  is  especially  beau- 
tiful as  a  contrast  to  E. 
Gunnii,  being  perfectly 
silvery  in  stem  and 
branches  and  very  glau- 
cous in  leaf.  E.  polj'an- 
thenios  is  fairly  liaidy, 
though  not  so  much  so  as 
any  of  the  three  above 
mentioned.  Robinson,  in 
his  "  English  Flower 
Garden,"  mentions  this 
one.  only  as  hard}', 
although  it  is  really  less 
so.  I  am  not  aware 
whether  the  old  tree  of 
it  which  stood  so  many 
j'ears  at  Kew  is  still 
alive,  but  it  was 
repeatedly  killeil  to  the 
ground  hy  severe  winters. 
About  E.  amygdalina  1 
haves  miedouliis,  having 
had  seeds  sent  me  under 
this  name,  which  have 
proved  fairly  hardy  for 
twenty-five  years,  while 
the  plants  produced  by 
seed  of  E.  longifolia, 
which  Robinson  declares  to  be  sj-nonj'mous  with 
E.  amygdalina  are  by  no  means  hardy,  as  they  are 
cut  to  the  ground  by  frost  almost  every  winter. 
E.  striata  is  nearly  as  hardy  with  me  as  E.  Gunnii, 
but  not  quite,  as  the  top  twigs  often  suffer  from 
frost. 

I  have  several  others  that  have  proved 
hardy,  but  I  cannot  give  the  names,  as  they  were 
from  feed  that  had  got  mixed,  or,  in  some  cases, 
were  from  seed  sent  me  erroneouslj'  as  E.  Gunnii, 
it  being  notorious  that  two,  if  not  three,  species 
have  been  sent  to  England  under  that  name.  I 
have  relinquished  all  hope  of  acclimatising  E. 
globulus,  as  I  have  grown  seed  from  Australia  and 
also  from  parts  of  Tasmania,  where  there  is  con- 
siderable frost,  and  though  some  of  these,  especially 
the  latter,  have  grown  into  trees  of  40  feet  or 
50  feet  high,  they  have  all  ultimately  succumbed 
to  some  unusually  severe  winter.  If  Mr.  Bateman 
should  feel  inclined  to  send  me  a  few  home-grown 
seeds  of  his  E.  Gunnii,  I  should  very  much  like  to 
grow  a  few  to  see  if  they  are  identical  with  the  trees 
I  have  under  that  name.  H.  R.  Dugmobb. 

The  Mount,  Park^tone,  Dorset, 


THE   BOTHY. 

[To   THE  Editor  of   "  The  Garden."] 

.Sir, — It  must  be  with  a  feeling  of  thankfulness 
that  the  occupants  of  the  bothj'  see  the  columns  of 
The  Garden  opened  for  a  discussion  of  the  best 
means  to  procure  for  them  a  healthy,  happy  life 
during  their  time  in  the  garden  lodging.  That  the 
discussion  is  needed  must  beapparent  to  those  who 
have  visited  bothies  or  have  had  to  spend  any  time 
in  them.  For  the  bothy  would  seem  generally  to 
be  the  last  place  to  be  considered  tiiher  by  the 
gardener  or  the  employer,  and,  as  it  usually  gets 
neglected  in  the  way  of  promised  vegetables,  so 
does  it  too  in  the  waj-  of  social  pleasure  or  horti- 
cultural enlightenment.  The  sketch  of  what  a 
bothy  should  be,  in  the  leading  article  of  February  1, 
is  complete,  except  that  it  omits  any  mention  of 
the  care  for  the  sick  and  ill.  In  a  good-sized  bothy, 
if  not  in  a  small  one,  some  preparation  should  be 
made  for  any  who  may  fall  ill.  As  a  rule,  to  be  ill, 
and  have  to  be  in  the  bothy  is  the  thing  most 
dreaded  by  the  j'oung  men.  For  of  all  the 
nyserable,  lonely  experiences,  this  is  about  the 
most  wretched.     A  case  comes  to  my  mind  where. 


HCBEARD'S    PEARM.iIN    APPLE    (SLIGHTLY    REDUCED). 


in  a  bothy  of  ten,  one  member  fell  ill  with  rheu- 
matic fever  and  bronchitis,  and  all  the  attention 
that  the  sufferer  got  was  what  the  over-worked 
bothy  woman  could  give  in  the  day  time,  while  his 
fellow-workmen  had  to  attend  to  his  wants  at 
night,  and  this  in  a  place  considered  palatial.  An 
experience  like  this  one  does  not  want  to  have 
again  ;  I  think  at  least  that  an  extra  woman  or 
nurse  should  be  given  in  these  cases. 

A  well  -  lighted  room  for  evenings  is  most 
desirable,  especially  for  those  who  love  some  form 
of  studj'.  Manj'  bothies  are  at  a  disadvantage  in 
this,  the  result  being  that  all  are  crowded  into  one 
room,  some  playing,  some  talking,  and  some 
developing  their  musical  talent,  while  the  studious 
one  either  gives  it  up  or  retires  to  his  cold  bedroom 
to  ponder  shiveringly  over  the  unkind  arrange- 
ments of  fate.  A  source  of  much  pleasure  and 
interest  is  a  bothy  "  mutual,"  to  meet  onceaweek, 
especially  if  the  head  gardener  is  sympathetic  and 
the  employer  has  no  objection  to  gardening  friends 
being  invited  ;  or,  in  the  case  of  several  small 
bothies  being  near  each  other,  some  arrangement 
could  be  made  to  hold  the  meetings  at  the  different 


146 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


ones  week  by  week.  The  meetings  devoted  to 
lectures  or  discussions  could  very  well  be  relieved 
once  or  twice  during  the  winter  season  by  say  a 
smoking  concert  or  a  musical  evening,  when  the 
head-gardener  and  his  wife  and  friends,  or  head- 
gardeners,  wives,  and  friends,  as  well  as  the  friends 
of  the  young  fellows,  could  meet  and  spend  a  most 
enjoyable  time.  If  the  employer  cared  to  subscribe, 
all  the  better  ;  it  not,  well  the  outlay  would  not  be 
very  great. 

To  many  the  bothy  is  the  least  attractive  part 
of  the  garden  training,  and  many  a  spirited  fellow 
either  gets  sick  of  its  humdrum  monotony  and 
seeks  more  congenial  if  less  elevating  societj',  or 
leaves  it  altogether  for  something  brighter  ;  for 
the  "bolhyite"  ought  to  share  in  the  bettering  that 
labour  gets,  and  the  comforts  that  the  artisan  and 
tradesman  can  get  should  not  be  denied  to  him, 
and  bothy  life  should  be  made  as  homelike,  as 
comfortable,  and  as  elevating  as  it  is  possible  to  he. 
For,  after  all,  the  J'oung  men  are  lodged  there  for 
their  employer's  convenience,  being  on  the  place, 
and  therefore  more  saving  to  his  pocket  than  if  he 
had  to  pay  lodgings  for  them.  The  worrying  rules 
that  govern  many  bothies  should  be  abolished  or 
reduced — as  being  in  at  ten  at  night  or  else  to  get 
reported,  or  no  friends  from  the  neighbourhood 
allowed,  or  no  singing  or  making  a  noise.  These 
things  jar  on  young  men  and  make  them  restless 
and  dissatisfied.  Much  can  be  done  by  kindly 
tact  and  thought  both  by  the  bothy  occupants  and 
by  those  for  whom  they  work  to  make  the  time 
there  helpful  and  happj'.  .J.  H.  C. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — The  Editors'  article  on  "The  Bothy,"  page  6.5, 
opens  out  a  very  large  field  of  thought,  and,  as 
one  who  has  had  some  few  years'  experience  of 
bothy  life,  I  would  like  to  express  my  opinion.  I 
well  remember  first  leaving  home  to  go  in  the 
bothy,  rather  a  long  way  from  home,  130  miles, 
and  i  always  look  back  with  some  pleasure  on  my 
first  bothy  life  ;  there  was  always  plent_v  of  work, 
but  I  did  not  mind  that,  as  we  had  a  good  gardener 
over  us,  who  gave  us  every  encouragement.  There 
were  four  of  us  in  the  bothy,  but  onl}'  two  bedrooms 
and  three  beds ;  of  course  that  made  it  necessary 
for  two  of  us  to  sleep  in  one  bed,  which  was  none 
too  comfortable  ;  but  I  am  pleased  to  say  that 
when  it  was  brought  before  the  master  another  was 
quickly  added. 

I  would  like  to  ask — Do  gardeners  take  full 
advantage  of  the  power  they  have  of  helping  those 
under  them  ?  Not  all  of  them,  I  am  afraid.  I  find, 
as  a  foreman,  that  I  can  get  more  work  and  better 
done  by  a  word  of  encouragement  than  by  a  week's 
grumbling  ;  not  that  the  latter  is  not  a  necessary 
evil  sometimes,  but  to  be  alwa\'S  grumbling  is 
very  discouraging.  Personally  speaking  I  have 
been  very  fortunate,  having  had  the  pleasure  of 
working  for  men  with  large  ideas,  who  have 
helped  me  over  many  an  obstacle  which  disappeared 
with  their  kindl}'  help.  In  conclusion,  I  would  ask 
every  gardener  to  take  a  pleasure  in  helping  those 
under  his  care.  I  have  made  up  my  mind,  come 
what  may,  that  it  shall  always  be  my  pleasant  duty 
to  help  those  under  rae.  Foreman'. 

PEAR  BEURRE    BACHELIER  IN 
WINTER. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  cannot  give  the  above  Pear  so  good  a 
character  as  Mr.  B.  Addy  at  page  104,  as,  though 
the  last  few  seasons  have  been  favourable  for  these 
fruits  with  us,  it  is  only  second-rate,  but  crops 
well.  It  must  never  be  forgotten,  however,  that 
fruits  satisfactory  in  some  soils  or  localities  are  not 
so  in  others.  Here  is  a  case  in  point,  a»  I  should 
hesitate  to  include  this  variety  in  a  collection  of 
twenty-four  if  only  flavour  were  considered, 
whereas  the  writer  at  page  104  would  include  it  in 
the  best  half-dozen.  lam  gradually  reducing  the  trees 
of  Beurre  Bachelier  and  substituting  varieties  of 
the  type  of  Beurre  Superfin  and  Doyenne  du  Comice. 
Several  remarks  in  the  note  alluded  to  are  well 
worth  attention  ;  it  is  recommended  as  a  January 
and  February  Pear,  which  shows  the  great 
difference  in  its  keeping  cjualities.     Here  (Syon)  it 


is  certainly  at  its  best  in  November,  at  Alnwick  in 
the  north  it  may  be  had  much  later,  but  even  then 
its  cjuality  is  not  good.  I  am  obliged  to  send 
dessert  fruits  long  distances,  and  have  found  Beurre 
Bachelier  the  worst  variety  we  have  to  travel,  as 
though  presentable  when  packed  the  least  bruise 
results  in  rapid  decay.  Our  fruits  instead  of  being 
rich  are  poor  though  very  juic3'.  As  regards  size  and 
cropping  tjualities  it  is  satisfactory  ;  but  here  again 
our  trees  are  in  a  thin  light  soil  over  gravel  and 
Mr.  Addy's  on  a  good  holding  loam.  This  explains 
the  want  of  flavour  in  our  fruits  and  why  they 
mature  so  quiekl}-.  Our  best  fruit  as  regards 
flavour  are  from  pyramid  trees  on  the  Quince 
stock.  Mr.  Addy  does  not  place  Glou  Morceau  in 
the  front  rank  for  qualit}',  but  mj'  e.xperience  is 
that  it  is  better  than  Beurre  Bachelier  and  later, 
but  not  of  first-rate  qualit}'  in  the  north  of  England. 
Near  the  coast  it  is  much  better,  but  needs  a  warm 
wall.  Such  information  as  Mr.  Addy  gives  us  is 
most  interesting  and  shows  the  value  of  what  may 
be  termed  wider  information,  and  I  hope  it  may  be 
the  means  of  other  notes  appearing  in  The 
Garden  on  this  subject.  Flavour  must  always  be 
a  strong  point,  as  it  is  most  important  in  private 
gardens.  G.  Wythes. 

LILIUM    GIGANTEUM    IN    AMERICA. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

>SiR, — Perhaps  you  will  be  interested  in  the  culture 
of  Liliura  giganteum  in  America.  I  am  not  the 
only  one  who  cultivates  this  species  here,  but  so 
far  have  not  heard  of  many  who  succeed  with  it, 
and  would  be  very  glad  if  some  of  your  many  sub- 
scribers in  our  Eastern  States  would  correspond 
with  rae  about  it. 

Last  autumn  I  decided  to  try  it  here,  and  having 
selected  the  only  spot  which  I  thought  suitable, 
I  sent  for  a  small  selection  of  bulbs  of  various  sizes, 
calculated  to  give  flowering  plants  for  successive 
years  until  the  new  off-sets  should  mature 
suflSciently  to  flower.  After  that  we  set  to  work 
to  prepare  the  ground  as  follows :  The  site  was  a 
well-sheltered  hillside  sloping  south,  with  tall 
Cedars  and  a  few  shrubs  to  the  north,  and  a  belt 
of  Cedars  further  down  the  hill  to  the  south  and 
west  sufficiently  removed  to  admit  afternoon  sun — 
the  morning  sun  being  mostly  shut  out  by  my 
house. 

After  marking  out  a  space  of  several  yards  square 
and  excavating  about  a  foot  of  soil,  a  solid  bed  of 
granite  rock  was  found,  but  as  I  had  sent  the 
order  for  bulbs  I  could  not  turn  back,  so  there 
was  nothing  to  do  but  to  blast.  Some  10  cubic 
yards  of  solid  rock  were  removed,  and  the  bottom 
of  the  excavation  so  sloped  as  to  secure  perfect 
drainage,  and  then,  following  as  near  as  possible  the 
explicit  directions  in  "  Wood  and  Garden,"  I  filled 
in  with  alternate  layers  a  foot  thick  of  rich  bottom 
loam,  sand,  and  decayed  vegetable  matter  (herbage 
being  the  principal  green  manure  available  so  late 
as  November),  and  had  it  well  chopped  in  and 
tramped  down,  layer  upon  layer,  and  the  last 
S  inches  consisted  of  verj'  rich  sandy  loam. 

On  October  '2(3  I  received  notice  that  my  bulbs 
had  arrived  and  were  in  the  Custom  House.  They 
were  soon  got  home  and  found  in  excellent  con- 
dition, considering  the  early  season  at  which  they 
must  have  been  lifted.  The  largest  was  of  a  bright 
bottle-green  colour,  and  about  the  size  of  a  Cocoanut 
with  the  hull  on,  perhaps  1.5  inches  or  18  inches  in 
circumference,  while  the  others  varied  in  size — 
the  smallest  about  that  of  a  man's  fist.  These 
three  sizes  were  calculated  to  furnish  one  or  two 
blooming  stalks,  according  to  the  circumstances  of 
their  growth,  each  year  for  three  or  four  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  the  young  off-sets  were 
expected  to  be  coming  on.  They  were  planted 
immediately  from  3  feet  to  4  feet  apart  in  an 
irregular  clump,  carefuUj'  surrounding  each  bulb 
with  clear  sand  to  prevent  rot,  and,  to  quote  from 
the  author  of  "  Wood  and  Garden"  : — "  They  are 
planted  only  just  underground,  and  then  the 
whole  bed  has  a  surfacing  of  dead  leaves  .  .  . 
and  also  looks  right  with  the  surrounding  wild 
ground." 

Not  being  sure  of  success,  as  our  climate  is  very 
severe  in  winter,  and  apt  to  be  c£uite  dry  for  some 


weeks  in  midsummer,  I  was  desirous  of  making 
my  experiment  with  this  Lily  (of  which  oae  of  our 
authors  on  bulbs  and  tuberous-rooted  plants  writes 
in  very  disparaging  terms)  as  modestly  as  possible, 
and  I  think  I  economised  too  much,  as  three  of  the 
bulbs  rather  unexpectedly  bloomed  the  first  season, 
and  there  were  only  three  left  to  furnish  me  with 
a  succession  of  bloom  for  the  remaining  three  \'ears 
until  such  off-sets  as  I  should  have  had  matured. 
As  the  chances  are  slight  of  procuring  off-sets  from 
even  the  largest  and  most  robust  bulbs  planted  the 
previous  season,  and  as  j'et  not  thoroughly  estab- 
lished, I  was  pleased  to  collect  two  small  but 
healthy  off-sets,  which  are  now  growing  on — but 
I  am  ahead  of  my  story.  By  the  last  of  March  all 
the  bulbs  were  up,  but  I  found  I  had  covered  them 
up  too  heavily  with  forest  leaves,  which  with  a  wet 
spring  kept  them  too  damp  and  close.  Several  of 
the  spikes  just  appearing  were  slightly  brown 
about  the  points  in  consequence,  and  part  of  the 
covering  was  removed. 

Such  a  heavy  winter  mulch,  designed  to  protect 
the  unestablished  bulbs  from  the  severity  of  our 
winters,  and  the  frequent  freezing  and  thawing, 
which  is  worse,  forced  the  smaller  ones  along  too 
rapidly.  By  May  they  were  18  inches  high,  and 
did  pretty  well  until  about  the  first  week  in  June, 
when,  immediatelj'  after  a  prolonged  wet  season, 
the  sun  came  out  very  hot  and  scorched  them 
severely.  Notwithstanding  the  caution  in  "  Wood 
and  Garden"  to  beware  of  their  being  reached  by 
the  morning  sun,  I  had  miscalculated  its  location, 
and  through  a  small  opening  in  the  trees  and 
shrubbery,  in  the  right  (or  wrong)  place,  through 
which  the  early  morning  rays  played  upon  their 
heads,  the  damage  was  done  before  I  realised  it. 

Notwithstanding  these  several  mistakes  (recorded 
in  the  hope  of  their  being  helpful  to  those  who, 
like  mj'self,  find  the  cultural  notes  on  Lilium 
giganteum  very  scarce  in  garden  literature)  by 
the  first  week  in  Jul}-  I  had  three  stalks  carr3'ing 
seven  flowers,  and  the  tallest  stood  6  feet  5  inches 
in  his  stockings. 

Feeling  amply  repaid  for  the  not  inconsiderable 
expense  and  personal  trouble  of  the  experiment 
with  this  grand  species  of  Lily,  I  was  constrained  to 
try  again,  so  purchased  last  November  of  a  New 
York  seedsman  half  a  dozen  bulbs  advertised  to  be 
three  years  old.  On  arrival  in  this  place  they 
proved  to  be  quite  too  small  to  expect  results  in 
less  than  two  years,  so  I  was  obliged  to  send  a  late 
order  over  for  some  three  or  four  year  old  bulbs  in 
addition,  which  I  have  just  finished  planting 
(.January  10)  in  midwinter.  Had  not  the  ground 
been  well  covered  with  leavesand  wire-netting,  in  the 
autumn,  there  would  have  been  6  inches  or  7  inches 
of  frozen  earth  to  encounter  (and  more  blasting). 
As  it  is  they  are  carefully  planted  in  earth  as 
mellow  as  it  is  in  September,  surrounded  with  sand, 
and  this  time  there  are  altogether  twenty  in  various 
sizes,  and  it  remains  to  be  seen  if  they  will  furnish 
flowering  stalks  annually  for  five  years. 

Floyd  Ferris. 

Lawrtnce  Pari,  New  Yor];. 


THE  SALE  OF  POISONS  FOR 

INDUSTRIAL  PURPOSES. 

Will  you  kindly  allow  me  to  bring  under  the 
notice  of  your  numerous  readers  the  action  that  is 
being  taken  bj'and  on  behalf  of  a  number  of  impor- 
tant traders  who  are  interested  in  the  sale  of  poisons 
for  other  than  medicinal  purposes  ?  Fruit  growers, 
seedsmen,  agricultural  agents,  farmers,  and  many 
others  are  concerned,  and  to  some  of  these  the 
subject  of  this  letter  may  not  be  unfamiliar,  while 
to  others,  who  have  not  had  their  attention  directed 
specially  to  it,  it  may  be  both  new  and  interesting, 
as  well  as  important. 

To  put  it  briefly',  the  question  at  issue  is  the 
right  and  the  desirability  of  poisonous  compounds 
required  for  trading  and  industrial  purposes  being 
sold  by  other  than  dispensing  chemists  and  drug- 
gists. The  latter  possess,  under  the  Act  of  18(58, 
the  monopoly  of  all  such  sales,  and  occasionally  the 
rharmaceutical  Society,  acting  on  their  behalf, 
institutes  prosecutions  for  the  recovery  of  penalties, 
..  .th   the  object  of  asserting  this  monopoly  ;  but 


March  i,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


147 


HYBRID   TEA  ROSE  GLOIRE   LYONNAISE   AS 
(Photographed  by  Miss  lynimoltj 

as  a  matter  of  coQimon  practice,  the  law  is  not 
generally  regarded  as  having  the  effect  that  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  contends  for,  and  many 
retail  dealers  habitually  disregard  its  alleged 
intention — of  course,  at  the  risk  of  being  proceeded 
against.  It  is  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  traders 
of  this  liability,  and  thereb}'  meeting  the  con- 
venience of  the  public  at  large,  that  an  organisation 
entitled  "The  Traders  in  Poisons  or  Poisonous 
Compounds  for  Technical  or  Trade  Purposes 
Protection  Society "  has  been  formed  ;  and  the 
action  that  this  society  is  now  taking,  in  the 
interests  of  all  such  traders  throughout  the 
country  (and  not  merely  its  members),  is  what  I 
am  anxious  to  disclose  to  your  readers. 

The  society,  of  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be 
secretary,  was  formed  in  March,  1900,  since  which 
date  it  has  been  very  successful  in  organising  the 
various  traders  who  are  directly  concerned  in  the 
sale  of  poisonous  compounds  for  industrial  pur- 
poses :  upon  the  eve  of  the  last  General  Election 
it  communicated  with  most  of  the  Parliamentary 
candidates,  and  90  per  cent,  of  the  replies  received 
were  favourable  to  the  society's  objects.  Briefly 
put,  the  object  is  to  secure  an  amendment  of  the 
existing  law.  Those  traders  who  are  continuing 
the  sale  of  the  various  articles  in  which  they  have 
been  accustomed  to  deal  will  be  gratified  to  learn 
that  effectual  and  energetic  steps  are  being  taken 
to  vindicate  their  position  and  secure  their 
immunity  from  prosecutions.  This  is  largely  due 
to  the  great  and  sustained  interest  taken  in  the 
Protection  Society  by  its  treasurer   (Mr.  G.  H. 


Richards),  whose  strenu- 
ous exertions  have  done 
much  to  inspire  confidence 
in  the  classes  of  traders 
who  are  directly  con- 
cerned in  this  subject, 
and  who  may  confidently 
rely  upon  a  continuance 
of  energetic  action  on 
their  behalf  until  the 
object  is  attained. 

There  are  many  reasons 
why  the  Pharmacy  Act 
of  1868,  already  alluded 
to,  should  be  amended. 
In  the  first  place,  it  is 
evident,  from  the  pre- 
amble, that  it  was  in- 
tended more  particularly 
to  ensure  the  safety  of 
the  public,  by  insisting 
that  only  competent  per- 
sons having  practical 
knowledge  of  the  pro- 
perties of  poisons  should 
have  the  dispensing  of 
the  same.  That  is  reason- 
able enough  ;  but  in  the 
days  when  the  measure 
became  law  there  were 
not  in  existence  the 
multitudinous  packages 
and  bottles  of  prepara- 
tions, compounded  by  the 
manufacturer  ready  for 
immediate  use,  for  horti- 
cultural, agricultural,  and 
other  trade  purposes, 
which  are  now  to  be  met 
with  all  over  the  country. 
As  regards  these  the 
ordinary  chemist  and 
druggist  has  no  more 
practical  knowledge  than 
the  man  in  the  moon. 
The  manufacturer  tells 
him  and  the  public  at 
large,  by  advertisement, 
that  this  or  that  mixture, 
or  sheep  dip,  or  powder, 
is  an  excellent  remedy 
for  this  or  that  disorder, 
.    „,,,.„  and   the   purchaser,    like 

A    PILLAR.  .,  ,  F.       ,     ,  .. 

the  chemist,  takes  it  on 
trust  for  some  specific 
purpose,  the  chemist 
being  merely  the  channel  through  which  the 
manufacturer  reaches  the  customer.  There  is 
no  skilled  practical  knowledge  of  poisons  required 
to  dispose  of  a  sealed  packet  or  vessel  which  the 
chemist  receives  from  the  manufacturer,  who  alone 
undertakes  the  responsibility  of  declaring  that 
a  compound  of  poisonous  articles  of  a  certain 
strength  is  effective  for  a  certain  purpose.  The 
purchaser  might  just  as  well  buy  what  he  wants 
from  any  other  tradesman  so  far  as  the  skilled 
knowledge  of  the  chemist  is  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  article  disposed  of.  Indeed,  in  most  cases  it 
would  be  distinctly  advantageous  to  the  buyer 
if  he  went  to  some  person  who  had  practical 
experience  of  the  preparation  required.  Take,  for 
instance,  the  case  of  an  insecticide  (such  as  XL  All) 
containing  poison.  Would  not  a  seedsman  or 
horticultural  agent  be  more  likely  to  give  valuable 
advice  to  a  purchaser  based  upon  practical  expe- 
rience than  a  chemist,  whose  principal  employment 
i.s  the  dispensing  of  drugs  intended  to  cure  all  the 
ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to  ?  The  one  has  probably 
used  the  poison  himself,  and  is  in  a  position  to  say 
how  best  to  apply  it ;  but  the  chemist  would  from 
his  different  occupation  have  had  no  opportunity 
of  acquiring  such  knowledge. 

The  same  argument  applies  to  sheep  dips,  weed 
killers,  &c.  If  there  is  any  risk  to  public  safety 
involved  in  the  proposed  freer  sale,  it  is  not 
increased  by  disposal  through  a  seedsman,  not 
minimised  by  being  handed  over  a  chemist's 
counter.  Again,  how  few  pharmacists  have  the 
most  remote    knowledge    of   the    best    means    of 


destroying  aphis,  mealy  bug,  or  mildew  —  so 
destructive  to  the  fruit  grower — compared  with 
the  seedsman  or  agricultural  agent  ?  The  new 
vapourisers  and  insecticides  which  have  come 
into  such  general  use  in  recent  years  have  been 
invented  by  members  of  the  horticultural  trade, 
and  people  who  are  accustomed  to  their  application 
are  naturally  the  best  advisers  of  purchasers — not 
chemists,  who  know  nothing  of  them  beyond  the 
label  on  each  packet.  Indeed,  the  skilled  know- 
ledge of  the  pharmacist,  which  may  be  of  the 
utmost  service  in  making  up  a  bottle  of  medicine 
for  a  human  being,  is  not  brought  into  use  in  the 
sale  of  a  sealed  packet  or  vessel ;  hence  the  very 
reasonable  demand  that  the  sale  of  poisonous  com- 
pounds for  purposes  already  indicated  shall  not 
be  confined  to  chemists  and  druggists,  but  be 
legally  extended  to  other  tradesmen,  who  can 
then  meet  the  convenience  of  the  public  without 
incurring  risk  of  prosecution.  A  measure  such  as 
is  contemplated  would  also  enable  photographic 
requisites  containing  poison  to  be  sold  by  others 
than  chemists. 

It  is  to  the  benefit  of  traders  in  all  parts  of  the 
country  that  the  society  to  which  I  have  referred 
is  exerting  itself,  and  I  am  glad  to  inform  you  that 
the  reasonableness  of  its  demand  has  been  admitted 
b}'  the  Priv3'  Council,  who  last  year  appointed  a 
poisons  committee  to  investigate  the  matter  and 
report  on  the  evidence  submitted  to  them.  Already 
that  committee  has  held  three  sittings,  at  which 
witnesses  were  heard  on  behalf  of  the  Pharmaceu- 
tical Societ}'  on  the  one  hand  and  our  Protection 
Society  on  the  other,  besides  some  independent 
skilled  and  departmental  witnesses,  and  there  is 
good  reason  for  believing  that  the  committee  may 
recommend  the  adoption  of  a  third  schedule  to  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  which  will  provide  where  poisonous 
compounds  are  sold  in  sealed  packages  for  agricul- 
tural, horticultural,  disinfecting,  and  other  trade 
or  technical  purposes,  by  persons  other  than 
chemists,  who  sh.nll  be  duly  licensed,  and,  being 
respectable  and  responsible  individuals,  they  shall 
be  lawfully  entitled  to  sell  such  articles.  It  must 
be  understood,  however,  that  this  desired  result 
can  only  be  obtained  by  the  traders  concerned 
bestirring  themselves  and  bringing  pressure  to 
bear  upon  the  members  of  Parliament  in  their 
respective  districts,  pointing  out  to  them  the 
desirability  of  the  Government  being  urged  to 
bring  in  an  amendment  Bill  for  the  purposes 
above  indicated. 

For  every  fully  qualified  chemist  there  must  be 
a  large  number  of  agricultural  agents,  horticul- 
turists, seedsmen,  oil  and  colourmen,  ironmongers, 
hardware  dealers,  and  the  like  who  would  benefit 
by  an  amendment  of  the  law,  which  enabled  tliem 
to  sell,  without  fear  of  prosecution,  many  articles 
in  great  demand  in  town  and  country  alike.  I 
therefore  hope  that  this  trade  protection  society 
will  receive  their  cordial  support.  Allow  me  to 
add  that  we  in  no  sense  advocate,  or  desire  to 
bring  about,  the  indiscriminate  sale  of  poisons. 
We  urge  that  all  retailers  of  them  should  be 
registered  and  licensed,  and  that  those  who  are 
not  pharmacists  should  sell  only  in  sealed  packages 
or  vessels,  without  breaking  bulk.  By  these  pre- 
cautions being  observed  we  contend  that  the 
public  safety  would  be  safeguarded  quite  as  much 
as  it  now  is,  while  the  public  convenience  would  be 
vastly  increased.  If  other  information  is  desired  on 
this  important  subject  it  will  be  readily  furnished  by 
Thomas  G.  Dobes,  Secretary. 

;?4,  Sannome  Street,  Worce-^ter. 

P.S. — Since  writing  the  above,  according  to  the 
Chemiit  and  Drurjgist  (the  trade  organ  of  the 
pharmacists)  of  the  2.jth  ult. ,  it  is  admitted,  to 
use  their  own  words,  "That  the  report  of  the 
Poisons  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  will  be  to 
some  extent  opposed  to  the  Pharmacy  Act  view  of 
the  sale  of  poisons." 


H.T.  ROSE  GLOIRE  LYONNAISE, 

The  more  free-flowering  of  the  Hybrid  Teas 
are  among  the  best  of  Roses  for  pillars  of 
moderate  height.  The  fine  Rose  shown  in  the 
illustration  is  in  a  garden  in  France,  but  so 


148 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


many  of  the  Hybrid  Teas  are  grand  Roses 
with  us  that,  though  it  is  not  a  Rose  so  well 
known  in  England,  there  is  every  likelihood 
of  its  doing  well.  It  should  be  noted  that  in 
poor  soils,  where  the  H.P.  Roses  cannot  be 
grown,  and  where  many  of  the  Teas  are  partial 
failures,  the  greater  number  of  the  Hybrid 
Teas  do  well. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Ericas  and  Epacris. 

SPECIMENS  of  these  cut  back  after  flower- 
ing and  now  commencing  to  make  new 
growth  should  be  potted  in  good 
fibrous  peat  with  plenty  of  sand  to 
keep  the  soil  open  :  the  peat  should 
be  broken  up  into  small  lumps,  the 
roots  should  not  be  disturbed,  and  great  care  is 
necessary  in  removing  the  crocks.  The  ball  of  the 
plant  should  not  be  placed  too  low  ;  should  the 
stem  of  the  plant  get  buried,  these  subjects  are 
sure  to  sufl'er,  efficient  drainage  must  be  given,  and 
the  new  soil  very  firmly  rammed  round  the  ball. 
Water  should  not  be  given  for  a  few  days,  but  they 
should  be  lightly  syringed  overhead.  In  watering 
great  care  must  be  taken  that  only  soft  water  is 
used.  The  plants  should  never  be  allowed  to 
become  dry  at  the  root,  but  too  much  water  will 
be  found  to  be  equally  injurious.  They  dislike 
fire-heat,  and  it  should  only  be  applied  to  keep 
out  the  frost  or  dry  up  damp.  These  plants  are 
generally  considered  very  ditficult  to  grow,  but  if 
propsr  care  is  taken  in  potting  and  watering,  and 
not  too  much  fire-heat  applied,  they  will  be  found 
to  amply  repay  the  care  and  attention  bestowed 
upon  them.  Unfortunately,  one  seldom  sees  a 
collection  of  Heaths  and  Epacrises  nowadays  in  good 
condition,  although  they  are  of  the  most  attractive 
and  useful  hard-wooded  winter-flowering  plants. 
Gloriosas. 
These  bulbs  will  now  re(iuire  potting,  and  care 
is  necessary  as  the  roots  are  ver3'  brittle.  The 
most  suitable  soil  is  a  mi.\ture  of  fibrous  peat, 
loam,  lea,f-mould,  and  sand,  with  well  decomposed 
sheep  manure  added.  After  potting,  place  in  a 
stove  temperature  and  withhold  water  until  they 
show  signs  of  growth.  When  growth  has  well 
begun  we  have  found  this  climber  to  succeed  best 
in  an  intermediate  temperature,  and  they  have  also 
flowered  well  in  a  greenhouse.  "When  subjected  to 
a  stove  temperature  in  their  flowering  season  one 
often  sees  them  infested  with  thrip  and  red  spider. 

Aspidistras 
that  require  repotting  or  dividing  may  now  be 
taken  in  hand,  using  an  open  compost  of  loam, 
leaf-soil,  and  sand,  with  good  drainage.  Give 
them  stove  temperature  until  they  are  established 
in  the  fresh  soil,  after  which  transfer  to  the  green- 
house. Successional  batches  of  Hyacinths,  Tulips, 
Narcissi,  Gladioli,  Ixias,  Sparaxis,  Spiralis,  and 
Lilium  longiflorum  should  be  placed  in  a  warm 
house  to  bring  them  into  flower.  .Seedling  Solanums 
as  soon  as  ready  should  be  potted  into  .3-inch  pots 
in  a  miNlure  of  loam,  leaf-soil,  and  sand;  place 
them  near  the  glass,  and  syringe  morning  and 
evening.  When  the  plants  are  about  4  inches 
high  the  leading  shoot  should  be  taken  out ;  this 
will  cause  the  plants  to  break  freely. 

Salvias 
when  rooted  may  be  potted  and  kept  in  warmth, 
syringing  and  shading  from  the  sun.  Afterwards 
place  them  in  a  frame  and  give  plenty  of  air  and 
lull  e.vposu'-e  to  the  sun  ;  keep  them  well  stopped. 
Cuttings  should  be  inserted  from  now  until  .June, 
according  to  the  demand  for  small  decorative 
plants.  JouN  Fleming. 

W'exham  Park  Gardem,  Sloiiyli. 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Peaches  and  Nectarines. 
The  borders  of  early  forced  trees  that  have  passed 
their  flowering  stage  should  be  examined,  and,  if 


found  to  need  water,  a  thorough  supply  of  tepid 
liquid  manure  should  be  given.  That  from  the  farm- 
yard, when  discreetly  used,  suits  the  Peach  and 
assists  to  swell  its  fruit  ;  but  powerful  applications 
of  it,  and,  indeed,  of  any  manure,  are  undesirable, 
inasmuch  as  they  promote  gross  wood,  and  are 
liable  to  cause  stone  splitting  of  the  fruit.  The 
night  temperature  may  now,  except  in  severe 
weather,  stand  at  .')5°,  with  an  increase  of  .")"  by 
day  by  artificial  means.  Carefully  ventilate  early 
on  bright  days,  avoiding  cold  draughts,  and  close 
early  enough  "in  the  afternoon  for  the  thermometer 
to  rise  to  6.5"  or  70" ;  the  trees  should  then  be  well 
syringed.  Thinning  the  fruit,  especially  where 
thickly  set,  must  be  commenced  early,  allowing 
the  strongest  shoots  to  be.ar  the  most  fruit,  and 
leaving  a  surplus  until  the  latter  is  freely  swelling, 
but  finally  thinning  if  the  trees  are  satisfactory  in 
health  before  the  stone  begins  to  form. 

DiSBlIDDINO 

must  likewise  receive  early  attention  by  operating 
upon  the  weakest  wood  first,  and  after  steady 
progress,  in  order  to  avoid  a  check  to  the  trees, 
complete  it  in  a  manner  that  will  prevent  the 
crowding  of  growths,  and  yet  secure  a  suitable  one 
at  the  base  and  point  of  each  shoot.  The  routine 
work  in  successional  houses  will  be  similar  to  that 
previously  recommended  for  early  trees,  while  late 
liouses  should  still  be  kept  quite  cool. 

Bananas. 

Suckers  of  these  that  have  well  filled  the  pots 
with  roots  should  without  delay  be  transferred 
to  their  fruiting  quarters,  which  may  either  consist 
of  efficiently  drained  beds  about  2  feet  3  inches 
deep,  large  tubs,  or  some  similar  convenience.  If 
this  jjlant  is  given  a  temperature  suitable  to  ordinary 
stove  plants  it  is  easily'  managed  and  makes  rapid 
progress.  It  .succeeds  in  a  compost  of  ordinary 
loam,  decayed  manure,  leaf-soil,  or  peat,  but 
requires  stimulating  liquids  and  plenty  of  tepid 
water  after  the  compost  is  well  filled  with  roots 
in  order  to  ensure  robust  growth  and  the  production 
of  large  clusters  of  fruit.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
frequently  replenish  beds  with  fresh  compost,  and 
undisturbed  suckers  pushing  from  stools  may-  be 
satisfactorily  made  to  take  the  place  of  growths 
that  have  fruited.  On  account  of  its  dwarf  habit, 
Musa  Cavendishi  is  the  variety  usually  cultivated 
for  edible  purposes. 

Cherries. 

An  important  point  in  the  managehient  of  this 
friut  when  grown  in  pots  is  to  get  the  trees  well 
established,  and  any  treatment  that  affects  their 
roots,  such  as  repotting,  rectifying  of  drainage,  or 
top-dressing,  should  be  attended  to  early  in  the 
autumn.  In  the  case  of  trees  of  this  description, 
as  also  with  cordons  or  others  that  are  per- 
manently planted  in  borders  and  trained  to  trellises, 
all  the  light  possible  should  be  afi'orded,  and  con- 
sequently in  arranging  the  trees,  or  in  the  training 
of  branches,  crowding  must  be  guarded  against. 
The  Cherry  is  impatient  of  high  artificial  tempera- 
tures as  well  as  close  atmospheres,  50°,  and  in 
severe  weather  45"  will  suffice.  T.  Coomher. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Moumotilh. 


THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 

NoTWiTHSTANDiNfi  the  deep-seated  antipathy  to 
growing  anything  but  Roses  in  a  rosary  or  a  Rose 
bed,  it  is  now  generally  allowed  that  the  use  of 
any  light-rooting  bedder  for  the  summer  months  is 
in  no  way  inimical  to  the  Rose,  while  the  effect  is 
much  improved.  There  is  no  doubt  that  rosaries  in 
the  past  lost  much  by  the  beds  being  too  thinly 
planted  and  the  display  of  flowers  marred  by  the 
unsightly  manure  and  bare  ground  below  them, 
'fhere  is  nothing  beautiful  in  bare  earth,  and  the 
care  of  the  flower  garden— at  least,  in  the  summer 
months — should  be  to  have  every  particle  of  the 
ground  in  the  garden  hidden  from  view  by  plants 
of  some  description. 

In    THE  ROSAKY 

the  surface  of  the  beds  should  be  planted  in  April 
or  May  in  order  to  be  well  covered  when  the 
Roses  come  into  flower  ;  these  dwarf  plants  may 
be  cleared  at  the  end  of  September,  when  a  heavy 


mulching  of  manure  makes  good  the  additional 
drain  upon  the  resources  of  the  soil  during  the 
summer.  Last  year  in  the  rosary  I  used  Lobelia, 
Gazania,  and  Phlox  Drummondi  as  surface  bed- 
ders,  and  with  very  good  results.  It  is  always 
ditficult  to  harmonise  blue  with  other  colours,  but 
the  Lobelia  as  a  foundation  for  copper-coloured 
Roses  like  Ma  Capucine,  I'ldeal,  and  others  proved 
very  eflective.  The  spreading  Lobelias,  like  speeiosa 
and  paxtoniana,  are  the  best  for  this  purpose,  and 
are  easily  raised  by  thousands  from  seed.  Gazania 
splendens,  with  its  bright  orange-yellow  composite 
flowers,  is  a  capital  plant  for  placing  under  strong- 
growing  yellow  Roses.  Unfortunately,  the  tia'^ania 
is  only  half  hardy,  and  it  is  necessary  to  strike 
cuttings  every  autumn,  but  once  rooted,  which  is 
easy  to  do,  they  only  require  protection  from  frost 
to  keep  them  safely  through  the  winter. 

Phlo.x  DRnHlMONDI 
is  a  splendid  plant  for  covering  the  ground  under- 
neath Roses,  but  it  is  necessary  to  go  over  them  at 
least  twice  a  week  after  they  are  established  to 
thin  out  growths  and  peg  them  down,  otherwise 
their  vigorous  growth  would  soon  prove  delri^- 
mental  to  that  of  the  Rose  by  their  completely 
smothering  the  weaker  -  growing  ones.  If  well 
attended  to.  Phlox  Drummondi  in  its  difterenl 
shades  of  colour  is  an  excellent  plant  for  this 
purpose,  and  the  effects  I  obtained  last  year  with 
it  were  much  admired.  Seed  may  be  sown  in  a 
cold  frame  in  two  or  three  weeks'  time,  the  plants 
from  which  will  be  ready  for  planting  out  at  the 
end  of  April.     This  year  I  intend  to  make  use  of 

Pansies 
to  cover  the  Rose  bed  surface,  and  I  have  just 
raised  thousands  of  seedlings  in  many  distinct 
colours  with  that  idea  in  view.  The  seedlings, 
though  a  little  later  in  coming  into  flower  than 
plants  raised  from  cuttings,  will  be  in  full  bloom 
by  the  end  of  June,  and  in  time  to  enhance  the 
beauty  and  wealth  of  the  Rose  display.  Seed  can 
now  be  obtained  so  true  and  good  in  quality  that 
it  is  a  waste  of  labour  and  frame  room  to  strike 
cuttings  and  keep  stock  during  the  winter  unless 
it  is  for  some  special  purpose.  To  be  successful  in 
raising  seedlings,  sow  thinly  in  boxes  to  avoid 
damping  oft',  and,  when  strong  enough,  prick  the 
seedlings  out  into  a  frame  of  rich  moist  sandy  soil 
in  a  cool  part  of  the  Melon  j'ard,  giving  each  plant 
plenty  of  room  to  develop.  Seed  should  be  sown 
at  once  and  the  beds  gone  over  three  or  four  times 
during  the  summer,  all  decayed  flowers  and  seed- 
pods  being  gathered  ort'.  Give  water  during  dry 
weather,  and  the  plants  will  continue  fresh  and 
bright  throughout  the  summer. 

HudH  A.  Pettihrew. 
Caille  Gardens,  SI.  Fayans. 


I 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


A    SWISS    HOLIDAY. 

PERHAPS  the  end  of  June  may  be 
considered  the  most  enjoyable  time 
to  visit  the  flowers  on  the  Alps,  but 
I  venture  to  think  that  even  Augu.st 
and  September  give  almost  equal 
pleasure  to  the  plant  lover.  I  have 
seen  at  the  end  of  August  Silene  acaulis, 
Myosotis  rupicola,  and  Sa.xifraga  oppo?itifolia 
in  full  beauty  at  10,000  feet  elevation.  But  in 
June  every  meadow  or  grassy  sloiie  (-eems  as 
brilliant  as  any  flower  garden  with  blues  and 
yellows  and  pinks.  The  well-known  "Rigi" 
had  many  delights  for  me.  Ranunculus 
alpestris,  white  as  snow,  seemed  everywhere, 
and  multitudes  of  little  patches  of  Gentiana 
acaulis  (I  never  saw  any  large  clumps  on  my 
journey),  close  to  Primula  auricula  and  Pri- 
mula elatior  were  gorgeous.  Many  Dianthi, 
Saxifrages,  etc.,  were  also  found.  Mount 
Pilatus  was  almost  clothed  with  (luanti- 
ties  of  Myosotis  rupicola  at  its  very  best, 
Papaver  alpinum,  Linaria  alpina,  and  Solda- 


Maeoh  1,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


149 


nella    alpina.      Anemone    alpina    was    rather   noticed  on  tbe  road  from  Fayet  to  Chamounix 


scarce,  but  on  the  steep  rocky  banks  w  as  mote 
abundant.  Nothing  in  my  journey  pleased  me 
more  than  the  Giant  Anemone  sulphurea. 
Near  the  Ober  Alp  Pass  there  appeared  about 
two  acres  of  them,  so  thick  that  the  ordinary 
meadow  flowers  were  quite  weakened  through 
such  vigorous  development.  Many  of  the  stems 
were  2i  feet  high,  and  such  an  array  of  big 
sulphury  yellow  flowers  !  A  very  pretty  pink 
plant  Pimpinella  magna  var.  rosea  was  showy 
and  like  a  pink  Meadow  Sweet  in  the  higher 
pasturages  on  the  Stanserhorn. 

Soldanella  pusilla,  so  rare  and  beautiful,  was 
thick  with  its  large  solitary  nodding  bells 
nestling   in  the   melting   snows    on   the   high 


CISTUSES  AND  BOSKS  IN   THE  KOCK   GAKDEN. 

In  the  left  lower  corner  Ciihts  hirsutus;  middle,  Bosa  alha;  lo  right,  R.  rngosa  Mwe 

Georges  Bruant.    (From  a  photogiaph  by  Miss  Witimott.) 


mountains  near  Engleburg.  Going  up  from 
the  valley  the  forests  seemed  rising  out  of  a 
carpet  of  Spirasa  Aruncus,  which  on  observa- 
tion appears  a  very  variable  plant.  Then 
whole  stopes  with  broken  rocks  were  green 
with  Veratrum  viride.  I  found  Geneva  ex- 
tremely hot,  scarcely  a  place  where  Alpine 
plants  would  flourish,  but  there  is  mountain 
air  near.  M.  Correvon's  garden  had  many  rare 
plants  in  the  best  of  health,  little  wooden 
shades  being  put  up  over  the  young  plants  to 
screen  them  from  very  fierce  sun.  Eritrichium 
nanuTO,  Silene  acaulis,  fl.-pl.,  Falkia  repens, 
Mulgedium  Bourgei,  with  blue  flowers  like 
those  of  the  Chicory  in  shape  and  colour,  on 
branching  stems.  Clematis  heraclesefolia, 
Crested  Bracken,    &c.,    were    interesting.    'I 


a  very  beautiful  Equisetum,  the  fineness  and 
elegance  of  the  green  whorls  being  most 
striking.  I  failed  to  lift  a  root  of  it  well. 
Asplenium  septentrionale  clothed  the  crevices 
of  the  great  rocks,  some  of  the  tufts  being 
8  inches  or  9  inches  across.  Mont  Le  Brevin, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Mont  Blanc  range, 
was  delightful.  Gentians,  Saxifragas,  Ranun- 
culi, brilliant  blue  Pan.'ies,  Geum  raontanum, 
and  an  Anemone  which  seemed  halfway 
between  A.  suljihureaand  A.  alpina;  the  flower 
was  yellow,  with  a  faint  light  blue  reverse  to 
the  petals,  and  a  host  of  pretty  things. 

At  Zermatt  1  was  much  charmed  with  the 
great  abundance  of  the  true  Thalictrum  adian- 
tifolium  between  the 
stones  on  the  Alpine 
path  towards  the 
Matterhorn.  High  up 
near  the  great  Mont 
Eose  Glacier,  on  level 
placesin  granitic  sand, 
were  little  colonies  of 
Androsace  glacialis, 
in  full  flower,  only 
half  an  inch  high  ;  the 
little  tufts  Sfemed  not 
to  grow  to  a  large 
size,  the  largest  being 
only  i  inches  in  dia- 
meter. The>  c  must  be 
of  an  almost  annual 
nature,  as  the  larger 
tufts  seemed  ex- 
hausted by  flowering 
the  previous  season  ; 
but  1  should  not  think 
these  high  alpines  are 
above  the  snow  more 
than  four  months 
and  covered  the  other 
eight,  hence  they  can- 
not be  successfully 
cultivated.  Near  also 
was  Ranunculus  gla- 
cialis, looking  out  of 
the  rocks  on  every 
side,  with  its  large 
rosy  white  stars  ; 
lower  down,  at  7,000 
feet,  Androsace  vita- 
liana.  Anemone  bal- 
densis,  Gentiana 
bavarica,  Azalea  pro- 
cumbens,  and  Saxi- 
fraga  oppositif olia 
formed  the  flower 
covering,  with 
numerous  other  Saxi- 
fragas, &c. 

A  beautiful  blue 
and  interesting 
Orobus  was  perhaps 
the  most  beautiful 
saw  that  was  new  to  me, 
1.5  inches  high,  with  very 
narrow  and  glaucous  foliage  and  an  abun- 
dance of  flower-spikes  of  a  rich  blue.  Several 
plants  were  secured,  as  I  feel  certain  it  must 
be  rare  in  England. 

A  day  spent  in  the  Alpine  garden  ot  M. 
Correvon,  at  Bourg  St.  Pierre,  well  rewarded 
the  patience  required  to  get  there.  It  is  an 
ideal  mountain  spot  for  the  purpose.  Maiiy 
rare  alpines,  almost  unmanageable  in  the 
English  climate,  were  in  splendid  health.  The 
ordinary  alpines  were  in  no  better  health  than 
we  see  them  in  England.  An  enjoyable  trip 
was  agreeably  concluded  by  a  visit  to  Messrs. 
Frobel's  nursery  at  Zurich,  where  a  great  col- 
lection of  the  rarer  alpines  was  m  excellent 


condition,  and   finally   a  few   hours  in    Max 
Leichtlin's    famous    garden    of    treasures   of 
untold  value. 
Christchtirch.  Maurice  Peichaed. 


hardy  plant    I 
growing   about 


CISTUSES  AND  ROSES  IN  THE  ROCK 
GARDEN. 

When  a  rock  garden  is  on  a  scale  large  enough 
to  admit  of  the  use  of  bushes,  among  these 
should  be  some  of  the  Roses,  preferably  those 
either  of  neat  foliage  or  of  long-continued 
bloom.  The  Briars  are  excellent  for  such 
use,  because,  though  the  blooming  season  is 
short,  the  foliage  is  so  neat  and  the  whole 
bush  so  pretty  that  even  in  winter  it  is  a 
pleasant  thing  to  see.  The  Rugosas  and  their 
hybrids,  from  their  long  season  of  bloom  and 
their  well-sustained  foliage,  are  admirable 
rock  garden  shrubs.  As  a  rule  the  suitable 
species,  and  Roses  not  far  removed  from 
species,  such  as  have  single  or  half-double 
flowers,  are  the  best  for  such  places.  Among 
these  may  be  mentioned  R.  beggeriana,  R. 
humilis,  R.  lucida,  R.  lutea,  R.  spinosissima, 
and  R.  wichuriana.  Cistuses  are  also  among 
the  best  of  shrubs  for  a  rock  garden  in  the 
southern  parts  of  England. 


LILY  PONDS. 

Mr.  Edmdnd  D.  Sturtevant,  Los  Angeles, 
writes  in  the  California  FtoricuUurist  about  Lily 
ponds:  "The  simplest  arrangement  for  growing 
water  plants  is  a  collection  of  large  tubs  or  half 
hogsheads,  located  in  a  sunny  position  and  partly 
filled  with  soil.  A  much  better  plan  is  to  make  a 
pool  by  excavating  the  ground  2  feet  or  3  feet. 
The  walls  should  be  made  of  brick,  stone,  or 
concrete,  and  the  bottom  covered  with  concrete, 
using  cement  for  all  the  work.  There  should 
also  be  a  waste-pipe  at  the  bottom  with  a 
stand-pipe  tor  overflow.  In  a  basin  8  feet  or 
10  feet  across  quite  a  variety  of  plants  may  be 
grown,  using  wooden  boxes  or  shallow  tubs  to 
hold  the  soil. 

"Those  having  fountain  basins  in  their  grounds 
can  utilise  them  in  the  same  manner.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  there  should  be  a  continuous  flow 
ot  water,  but  during  the  growing  season  enough 
should  run  in  each  day  to  prevent  stagnation  and 
to  keep  the  plants  in  health. 

"  While  most  Water  Lilies  will  flower  freely  in 
contracted  quarters,  they  will  attain  greater 
perfection,  with  much  larger  flowers,  if  they  have 
abundance  of  room  both  for  the  roots  and  the 
leaves.  Basins  20  feet  to  30  feet  in  diameter,  or 
even  larger  than  this,  are  desirable  for  growing  a 
good  collection.  In  growing  the  Lotus  in  the 
same  basin  with  Nyniphitas  care  must  be  taken  to 
confine  the  roots  of  the  former  to  a  given  space, 
as  it  has  the  habit  of  spreading  in  all  directions. 

"  The  majority  of  water  plants  are  gross  feeders,, 
and  it  is  well  nigh  impossible  to  make  the  soil  too-; 
rich  for  them.  It  is  not  necessary  to  go  to  a 
swamp  or  a  natural  pond  to  obtain  what  is  suitable.  , 
It  can  be  prepared  upon  your  own  premises.  Any  ' 
soil  which  will  grow  good  vegetables  will,  if- 
properly  enriched,  grow  aquatics.  A  compost; 
consisting  of  two-thirds  good  loam  and  one-third 
thoroughly  decayed  manure  is  what  we  recom-  ' 
mend.  It  you  have  a  black  friable  loam,  which  is- 
intermediate  between  adobe  and  .sandy  loam,  it- 
would  be  excellent  for  the  purpose." 

DESTROYING  INSECT  PESTS. 

Eaely  spring  is  the  best  time  to  wage  war  upon 
the  many  depredators  that   infest   all   plant   life^ 
because  at  the  time  new  growth  is  pushing  forth 
insects  are.  also   becoming   active    and  increasing; 
at  an  alarming  rate.     A  small  amount  of  labour.; 
bestowed  upon  their  destruction  at  this  time  will- 
undoubtedly  save  much  later  on.  ,;•; 
Black  and- green. aphis  are  very  troublesome  oil . 
various    fruit    trees,    also    on    Roses    and    other 
flowering  plants,  and  if  they  are  not  dislodged  early 


150 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


the  season's  crop  of  fruit  or  flowers  will  be  ruined. 
Red  spider  is  a  most  noxious  pest,  upon  fruit  trees 
especially,  and  whether  the  trees  be  under  glass 
or  on  walls  in  the  open  a  thorough  syiinging  should 
be  given  whilst  the  trees  are  3'et  resting,  for  then 
the  insecticide  may  be  used  much  stronger  than 
would  be  safe  later  on  when  tender  buds  are 
bursting. 

Caterpillars  and  grubs  fre<iuently  infest  Roses, 
(tooseberries,  &c.,  and  these  should  be  caught  with 
the  hand  and  burned.  Insecticides  are  of  but  little 
use  for  exterminating  caterpillars,  theref  jre  hand 
picking  them  early  in  the  season  must  be  resorted 
to  and  followed  up  closely  before  thej-  obtain  a 
strong  hold.  The  soil  may  be  taken  away  from 
beneath  trees  infested  with  caterpillar  last  year  to 
the  depth  of  2  inches,  and  doubtless  this  will 
ensure  the  destruction  of  numberless  eggs,  and 
these  usually  remain  immediately  beneath  the 
trees  until  spring,  when  the  larva;  are  hatched 
out  and  ascend  to  the  foliage.  Other  pests  will 
be  lurking  in  sundry  hiding  places,  and  as  the 
season  advances  they  will  cause  a  great  amount  of 
trouble  to  the  gardener  if  measures  are  not  at  once 
taken  to  extirpate  them,  or,  at  any  rate,  check 
their  progress.  Some  very  simple  remedies  are 
effectual ;  for  instance,  hot  soapsuds  S3'ringed  on 
the  affected  trees  with  force  in  the  evening  or  on 
a  dull  day  will  dislodge  large  numbers,  besides 
making  the  foliage  distasteful  to  any  that  may  be 
left. 

Insecticides  there  are  in  abundance  that  may  be 
used.  An  occasional  dusting  with  soot  over  cer- 
tain trees  and  plants  when  a  slight  dew  is  on  them 
sometimes  checks  the  progress  of  certain  insects 
and  does  the  plants  good.  It  may  be  syringed  off 
with  clean  water  after  a  day  or  two.  Quassia 
Extract  is  a  capital   insecticide,   as  it  makes  the 


foliage  distasteful  for  a  long  time  after  its  appli- 
cation. A  good  syringing  with  quassia  over 
(Gooseberry  trees  will  make  the  dormant  buds  so 
distasteful  to  birds  in  winter  that  they  will  not 
touch  them  for  some  time  after  its  application.  I 
usually  dust  soot  on  the  trees  immeiliately  after- 
wards, when  it  adheres  to  the  branches,  and  I  6nd 
it  keeps  birds  to  a  great  extent  from  pecking  out 
the  buds. 

Slonelttijh.  H.  T.  M. 


GRASS   PATH    WITH   BORDERING   OF   HARDY   FI-OWERS; 


THE   FLOWER   GARDEN. 

SALVIA    SCLAREA. 

I  CAME  across  a  big  break  of  this  plant  last 
year  in  a  Buckinghamshire  cottage  garden 
where  it  was  known  under  its  old-world 
name  of  Clary,  the  owner  being  somewhat 
inclined  to  regard  my  plant  knowledge  as 
faulty  when  I  referred  to  it  as  a  Salvia.  A 
little  chat  on  gardening  matters,  and  especially 
encjuiries  as  to  the  reason  for  the  Clary 
monopolising  so  large  a  space,  led  to  the  informa- 
tion that  it  was  largely  grown  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  for  wine  making,  and,  presently, 
over  a  pipe  in  an  old-fashioned  summer-house,  I 
ta>ted  the  wine  of  lltOO.  Like  all  wines  made  from 
flowers  it  is  light  and  refreshing,  with  an  un- 
pronounceable flavour  that  is  not  unpleasant.  A 
reference  to  a  well-known  garden  dictionary  gives 
its  introduction  as  1562,  but  on  the  matter  when 
its  wine  making  properties  were  first  discovered 
the  authority  is  silent. 

PeNTSTE.MOK    BARBATnS    COITINEUS. 

This  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  small-flowered 
Penstemons,  and 
should  find  a  place  on 
'ill  hardy  plant  bor- 
ders ;  the  long  spikes 
of  coral  red  flowers 
retain  their  freshness 
both  in  the  open  and 
when  cut.  In  the  latter 
form  it  may  be  asso- 
ciated with  Gj'psophila 
or  long  sprays  of  the 
Tamarisk,  and  on  the 
open  border  it  forms 
a  good  companion  to 
clumps  of  Pinks  or 
C.ii  nations,  Veronica 
incana,  blue  Cam- 
panula, or  early  dwaif 
Starworts.  Plants  ma}' 
be  raised  from  seed  or 
by  division,  and  estab- 
li-heJ  clumps  divided 
and  renovated  any 
lime  from  November 
to  February  when  the 
weather  is  open. 

P].   B11RRELI-. 


GRASS  WALKS 
AND  HARDY 
FLOWERS. 
The  accompanying 
illustration  needs  few 
words.  It  shows  the 
happ}'  association  of 
shrub,  hardy  flowers, 
and  grass  path,  the 
shrubs  giving  just 
that  note  of  colour 
necessary  to  the 
picture.  It  is  a  garden 
scene  full  of  quiet 
charm,  and  photo- 
graphed by  Mrs.  Deane. 
It  is  possible  to  make 
such  a  feature  as  this 
in  the  garden  at  little 
cost,  but  careful  group- 
ing is  needful. 


PRIMULA  OBCONICA  AS  A  BEDDING 
PLANT. 

In  a  recent  issue  was  given  an  illustration  of  this 
Primula,  with  accompanying  notes,  and  these 
should  help  to  make  it  more  popular.  Referring 
to  the  poisonous  effects  of  this  plant,  I  may  saj'  I 
have  been  growing  it  for  more  than  twentj'  }  ears, 
handling  them  in  e\ery  way,  and  I  have  never  had 
the  slightest  cause  to  complain  of  it  in  this  respect. 
Last  year  we  had  plants  out  of  doors  all  the  winter 
without  the  least  protection  and  flowering  freely 
all  through  last  summer.  They  were  in  a  situation 
exposed  to  the  east,  but  under  the  shelter  of  an 
old  Laburnum  tree,  and  the  soil  is  of  a  dry  nature. 
I  had  tried  it  in  various  ways  in  the  open  before, 
but  not  with  such  good  results.  Undoubtedly  in 
sheltered  gardens  along  the  coast  it  would  flower 
more  or  less  throughout  the  year.  In  such  situations 
il  may  be  used  as  a  permanent  plant  in  the  open 
garden. 

In  the  notes  accompanying  the  illustration  the 
writer  sets  forth  its  claims  so  well  that  I  intend  to 
only  refer  to  his  remarks  as  to  its  capabilities  as  a 
bedding  plant.  It  was  there  stated  that  il  was 
used  on  the  continent  for  this  purpose,  and  its  use 
was  advocated  in  this  countr}'.  This  induces  me 
to  give  my  experience  of  it  during  the  last  six  or 
seven  years.  I  required  plants  for  our  ornamental 
garden  that  would  continue  to  flower  well  into  the 
autumn,  not  seriously  suffer  from  fiost  or  rain,  and 
that  would  not  need  much  attention  during  the 
summer.  This  induced  me  to  try  Primula 
obconica,  which  I  did  in  a  sniall  way  at 
first  in  the  kitchen  garden  borders.  So  pleased 
was  I  with  it  that  every  year  since  1  have 
grown  it  more  or  less.  Last  year  we  had  about 
three  hundred  planted  out  ;  mostly  used  as  a 
bordering  to  a  long  border,  with  yellow  Calceolai  ias 
immediately  behind,  and  the  background  filled 
with  Pentstemons,  autumn-blooming  Chrysanthe- 
mums, Antirrhinums  (sown  in  spring),  &o.  In 
this  way  the  display  was  kept  up  till  frost 
destrojed  the  blooms.  It  is  excellent  as  a  ground 
covering  for  large  beds  with  such  plants  as 
Pentstemons,  Scarlet  Lobelias,  3'ellow-leaved 
Abutilon,  and  other  things  planted  thinly 
amongst  them. 

As  to  raising  the  plants  to  have  them  large 
enough  by  the  middle  of  May,  we  find  it  btst  to 
sow  seed  in  October,  and  when  the  seedlings  are 
large  enough  to  handle  they  are  pricked  oft' either 
into  pans  or  shallow  boxes,  keeping  them  in  a 
temperature  of  about  50°.  By  jlarch  thry  will 
be  large  enough  to  place  in  boxes  about  3  inches 
apart  ;  when  established  thej'  should  be  placed  in 
frames  and  hardened  as  the  season  advnnces, 
planting  them  from  these  boxes  at  the  usual 
bedding-out  time.  J.  Crock. 


THE      S\VEET      PEA. 

The  Rev.  W.  T.  Ilntchins,  the  author  of  what 
is  probably  the  first  book  dealing  with  the 
improved  forms  of  the  Sweet  Pea,  entitled 
"All  About  Sweet  Peas,"  and  a  book  pub- 
lished in  New  York  in  1S93,  says  of  the  flower 
that  it  is  "  queenly  in  all  its  habits.  Its 
favours  are  unbounded  to  those  who  make  a 
conquest  of  its  culture,  and  there  are  no 
florists  secrets  to  bring  it  into  most  luxuriant 
bloom.  It  laughingly  say,s,  '  \\  in  me  if  you 
can,'  and  yet  there  is  a  sweet  condescension 
in  its  nature  that  makes  it  take  as  kind)}'  to 
the  cottage  garden  as  to  the  skilled  culture  of 
the  mansion  grounds.''  In  this  delightful  little 
book,  so  full  of  adtniration  for  the  fragrant 
flower,  we  have  the  idyll  of  the  Sweet  Pea. 

It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  the  Sweet 
Pea  should  have  been  cultivated  in  this  country 
for  nearly  200  years  before  any  attempt  was 
made  to  cross  fertilise  it  with  a  view  of  aug- 
menting the  varieties.  What  improvements 
were  made  took  the  form  of  .selections  of 
decided  co'ours,  and  it  was  not  until  1817  that 
mention  is  made  of  a  striped  variety,  ■which 


i 


March  1,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


151 


doubtless  originated  as  a  sport.  In  18.37  James 
Carter,  of  Higli  Holborn,  otfered  a  yellow  form, 
but  it  did  not  appear  to  tind  its  way  into  seed 
lists.  In  1860  came  a  distinct  advance  in  the 
form  of  a  variety  beariag  the  name  of  Blue 
Hybrid.  It  ia  said  to  have  come  from  a  cross 
made  by  the  Jate  Colonel  Trevor  Clarke 
between  a  white  Sweet  Pea  and  the  "  perennial 
bright  blue-tiowered  Lord  Anson's  Fea "  A 
form  of  it  subsequently  became  known  under 
the  name  oi  Butterliy,  the  flowers  being  wbite, 
with  a  narrow  beading  of  bright  blue  on  the 
petal  edges.  La  1865  appeared  Scarlet  Invin- 
cible, an  improved  and  enlarged  form  of  the 
common  Scarlet.  Three  years  later  Crown 
Princess  of  Prussia  was  announced  ;  it  was  of 
German  origin,  and  was  of  a  liiiht  fleshy  pink 
tint.  Five  years  later  Fairy  Queen,  a  lilac 
variety,  also  of  continental  origin,  was  dis- 
tributed. Later  appeared  Invincible  Striped, 
and  a  red  striped  variety  named  the  Queen. 
The  greatest  gain  came  in  1880  when  Violet 
Queen  appeared,  and  a  little  later  Adonis  and 
Carmine  Kose,  both  of  which  there  is  reason 
to  believe  originated  as  sports.  The  new 
Carmine  Hose  followed  soon  after,  probably  a 
selection  from  Adonis. 

The  first  cross  ft-rtilised  Sweet  Pea  obt  lined 
by  the  veteran  Heary  Eckford  was  an  epoch- 
making  flower.  It  shares  that  honour  with 
the  Fancy  Pansy,  Japanese  i>hrysanthemuni, 
Clemitis  Jackmanni,  Dahlia  -luarezii,  Begonia 
boliviensis,  and  Hippeastrum  pardinum. 
Every  one  of  these  opened  up  to  view  a  vista 
of  possibilitie.-j,  which  were  followed  up  by 
enterprising  florists,  and -they  produced  un- 
imagined  results.  Since  the  celebration  of  the 
bicentenary  of  the  introduction  of  the  Sweet 
Pea  to  Europe  an  enormous  impetus  has  been 
given  to  the  sale  of  the  leading  named  varieties. 
The  provincial  trade  were  made  acquainted 
with  the  sorts  it  is  most  desirable  to  cultivate, 
and  in.stead  of  purchasing  the  common  mixtures 
as  they  did  previously,  they  now  order  named 
varieties  and  make  their  own  mixtures,  to  the 
great  gain  of  those  who  purchase  and  cultivate. 

The  modern  large  flowered  Sweet  Peas  in 
many  fine  varieties  are  largely  due  to  the 
libours  of  Henry  Eckford.  Nearly  half  a 
century  ago  the  well-known  florist  was  at 
Coleshill,  Faringdon,  raising  Dahlias,  \'erbenas, 
zonal  I'elargoniums,  ifec.  Subsequently,  as 
gardener  to  Dr.  Sankey,  at  Sandy  well  Park, 
Cheltenham,  and  afterwards  at  Boreatton, 
Baschurch,  Salop,  he  was  ever  active  as  a 
cross  fertiliser,  and  while  at  Sandy  well  Park 
he  commenced  the  work  of  crossing  for  new 
varieties,  which  he  carried  on  afterwards  at 
Boreatton,  when  still  with  Dr.  Sankey ;  and 
in  later  years  at  Wem,  where  he  established 
himself  in  busines-i  as  a  Sweet  Pea  specialist. 
The  material  with  which  Henry  Eckford  worked 
were  the  common  forms,  and  the  white,  scarlet, 
black,  Painted  Lady,  and  Butterfly.  Subse- 
quently he  obtained  such  sorts  as  Adonis, 
Crown  Princess  of  Prussia,  Violet  Queen,  and 
Invincible  Si'arlet,  and  was  soon  producing 
and  blooming  cross-bred  seedlings.  In  1882 
Mr.  Eckford  obtained  his  first  certificate  of 
merit  for  Bronze  Prince,  a  variety  which  was 
distributed  by  Mr.  William  Bull,  but  which 
proved  variable  owing  to  its  character  not 
having  been  fully  fixed  before  it  was  sent  out. 
During  1883  and  onwards,  Mr.  Eckford  pro- 
duced varieties  in  succession,  which  it  is  not 
necessary  should  be  detailed,  as  they  can  be 
found  in  most  seed  catalogues. 

Meanwhile  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Laxton  was 
also  engaged  in  raising  new  varieties.  In  1883 
he  secured  a  certificate  of  merit  with  Invincible 
Carmine,  and  to  him  we  owe  such  varieties  as 
Etria,  Mme  Oarnofc,  Invincible  Blue,  Caririen 


Sylva,  and  Rising  Sun.  On  Mr.  Laxtdn's 
death  at  Bedford,  his  sons  and  successors  took 
up  the  work,  and  they  distributed  Princess 
May  and  Sultan. 

The  result  of  adding  to  the  varieties  has 
been  much  variation  in  shades  of  colour  and 
the  securing  of  combinations  of  colour.-^,  in 
increased  size  and  substance  of  the  bloom, 
in  secuiing  for  the  varieties  better  methods 
of  cultivation,  and  in  illustrating  not  only  the 
many  ways  by  which  the  flower  can  be  utilised 
in  the  garden,  but  in  demonstrating  its  value 
as  a  decorative  agent  in  a  cut  stute.  In 
America,  as  here,  the  Sweet  Pea  has  "caught 
on,"  and  several  new  varieties  have  been  distri- 
buted by  Messrs.  W.  Atlee,  Burpee  and  Co., 
seed  merchants,  of  Philadelphia,  and  by  other 
raisers  ;  but  a  huge  industry  has  been  developed 
in  some  of  the  states,  and  notably  in  Cali- 
fornia, where  huge  tracks  of  ranches  have  been 
employed  for  growing  Sweet  Peas  for  seed 
purposes. 

The  Cupid  Sweet  Peas— of  singularly  dwarf 
compact  growth  —  came  originally  from  the 
United  States.  The  original  form  has  now 
increased  to  quite  a  number  of  varieties,  and 
it  may  be  said  that  many  of  the  tall  growing 
varieties  have  been  reproduced  in  Cupid  form. 
The  Cupid  varieties  have  a  tendency  to  drop 
their  buds— some  varieties  more  than  others  ; 
they  seed  but  sparingly,  and  they  are  remark- 
ably sportive,  and  so  considerable  time  is 
required  to  fix  a  type.  Ettbrts  are  being  put 
forth  to  counteract  the  tendency  on  the  part 
of  the  dwarf  varieties  to  drop  their  buds,  and 
already  with  some  measure  ol  success. 

The  bush  Sweet  Pea  is  a  recent  devcloi)ment. 
The  plants  are  reduced  in  heigh  t,  but  send  out  a 
number  of  shoots  which  impart;  a  bushy  charac- 
ter to  the  plants  ;  but  it  is  doubtful  if  it  will 
become  a  pojmlar  type.  R.  Dean. 

(To  be  continued.) 


OBITUARY. 

MR.    H.    Sl-.LFE     LEONARD. 

It  is  our  painful  duty  to  put  on  record  the  death 
of  Mr.  H.  Selfe  Leonard,  which  occurred  a  few 
days  ago  in  Rome,  the  result  of  an  accidental  fall. 
A  man  of  good  social  standing,  Mr.  Leonard's  great 
interest  in  hardy  plants,  and  especially  mountain 
plants,  had  led  him  to  take  up  the  growing  of 
them  as  the  work  of  his  life.  His  remarkable 
energy  and  strong  business  capacity  enabled  him 
to  build  up  a  sound  horticultural  establishment, 
now  well  known  as  the  Guildford  Hardy  Plant 
Company.  At  shows  of  hardy  plants  his  exhibits 
stood  out  among  others,  not  only  for  the  excellent 
culture  of  alpine  plants,  but  for  the  unusual  taste 
shown  in  their  arrangement.  Marij'  a  useful  note 
and  article  on  hardy  plants  came  from  Mr. 
Leonard's  pen  and  may  be  found  in  the  former 
volumes  of  The  G.\rden  and  in  the  Journal  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Mr.  Leonard's  cheer- 
ful and  vigorous  personality  will  be  missed  at 
the  meetings  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
and  at  the  other  horticultural  gatherings  that 
he  was  wont  to  attend,  and  still  more  among 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  country  neighbours. 
One  who  knew  Mr.  Selfe  Leonard  well  writes:  — 
"The  sad  duty  of  placing  on  record  the  death  of 
this  highly-esteemed  and  well-known  gentleman 
is  rendered  doubly  sad  b}'  reason  of  its  tragic  sud- 
denness. It  would  appear  that  Mr.  Leonard, 
while  staying  at  an  hotel  at  Rome,  was  ascending 
by  one  of  the  lifts,  and,  from  some  as  >et  unex- 
plained cause,  fell  and  received  such  injury  that  he 
died  shortly  after.  Another  report,  equally  short, 
attributes  the  terribly  sad  occurrence  to  a  fall 
upon  the  stairwaj'.  Mr.  Leonard  was  in  London 
only  a  few  days  ago  in  his  usual  health  and 
vigour.  Well  read  and  widely  informed  on  many 
subjects,   Mr.   Leonard  was  naturally  at  home  in 


respect  to  alpine  and  most  hardy  plants  ;  and, 
indeed,  it  was  here  that  the  writer  came  mostly 
in  touch  with  him.  His  tiavcla  abroad,  noting  the 
different  habitats  or  rock  foimations  upon  which 
rare  plants  were  founil,  gained  for  him  much  infor- 
mation on  the  subject  of  alpine  plants,  more 
perhaps  than  his  hill  garden  at  Guildford  on  the 
chalk  would  permit  his  carrj'ing  out  in  detail.  All 
the  same,  his  cjllection  of  plants,  perhaps,  rather 
than  his  garden,  as  such,  was  always  interesting, 
particularly  in  the  spring  time,  when  s.o  man}'  alpine 
plants,  happiest  in  our  English  lowland  gardens, 
burst  into  bloom.  His  oft-repealed  "Come 
down  and  have  a  look "  w  as  accepted  now  and 
again,  and  at  such  times  he  displaced  the  keenest 
interest  in  his  plants.  Of  one  plant  alone  I  may 
now  speak,  and  having  received  and  raised  a 
unique  stock  from  the  surviving  fragments  of  a 
large  importation,  Mr.  Leonard  was  justly  proud. 
This  was  Saxifraga  hurseriana  major,  of  which,  I 
believe,  he  said  at  least  5,000  flowers  had  been 
open  at  one  time.  The  plants  alone  formed  a 
beautiful  sight,  for  the  variety  mentioned  is  no 
ordinary  one.  The  letters  Mr.  Lvonard  contri- 
buted to  the  horticultural  Press  were  full  of  in- 
terest and  characteristic  of  his  keen  insight  and 
judgment.  At  a  member  of  the  floral  committee 
of  the  Roj-al  Horticultural  Society,  his  opinion 
was  much  in  request,  and  his  services  greatly 
valued.  At  the  society's  exhibitions,  and  in  par- 
ticular the  Primula  and  Auricula  and  Inner 
Tenqile  displays,  the  Guildford  plants  were  always 
noticeable,  while  the  creations  of  alpine  rockwork 
in  miniature  at  the  tatter  place  revealed  a  true 
knowledge  of  such  things.'' 


SOCIETIES. 


MIDLAND  CARNATION  AND  PICOTEE  SOCIETY. 
Rei'ort  fur  1901. 
The  eleventh  annnal  exhlMtion  was  held  at  the  Edgbaston 
botauical  GardeiiP,  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  July  31 
and'  August  1,  and  was  considered  une  uf  the  best  ex- 
hibiiiuns  yet  held,  although  from  an  exhibitor's  point  of 
view,  tlie  P'lakes.  Bizarres,  and  White  Ground  Picotees  were 
hardly  up  to  the  usual  standard,  but  the  Selfs,  Yellow 
Ground  Picotees,  and  Fancies  were  acknowledged  by  all  to 
be  tlie  best  ever  seen .  Mr.  Mai  tin  R.  Smith  being  prevented 
from  coming  at  the  last  moment,  was  well  represented  by 
his  liead  gardener,  Mr.  C.  Blick,  and  was  a  successful 
exhibitor,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  list  of  awards.  Mr.  Douglas 
was  present  and  shnwed  a  very  nice  collection  of  the  newer 
varieties,  niustly  >>f  Mr.  Smith's  raising.  Mr.  Robert 
Sydenham,  unfortunately,  from  uver-work  in  his  various 
businesses,  was  too  indisposed  to  take  his  usual  active  part 
as  a  Competitive  exhibitor,  and  many  regretted  he  was 
unable  to  do  so. 

The  attendance  of  the  public  and  membeis  was  the  largest 
and  most  satisfactory  the  society  has  yet  had,  and  was  no 
doubt  in  a  measuie  due  to  the  very  fine  weather  which  pre- 
vailed on  both  days.  The  entries  in  nearly  all  the  classes 
were  much  more  numerous  than  usual,  particularly  in  the 
Selfs,  Yellow  Ground  Picotees,  Fancies,  and  "undressed" 
classes.  The  rule  made  two  years  ag<),  requiring  that  all 
"seedlings"  should  be  named,  has  proved  very  beneficial, 
showing  how  necessary  it  was  that  such  a  rule  should  be 
made. 

The  classification  (.f  the  Yellow  Ground  Picotees  and 
Fancies  as  arranged  by  the  paient  society  is  still  continued 
with  the  most  satisfactory  results.  Several  flowers  were 
stagfd  for  certificates,  Imt  only  a  few  leceived  awards  as 
mentioned  in  the  repuit,  the  committee  lieing  fully  deter- 
mined not  to  award  certificates  unless  the  flowers  are  of 
superiornierit.  The  best  thanks  of  the  society  are  again 
given  to  the  committee  of  the  Birmingham  Botanical  and 
Horticultural  Society  for  Iheirliberal  tieatment  in  allowing 
us  the  free  use  of  their  lovely  gardens  and  t:lass  houses,  also 
for  their  kind  support  in  evety  way,  in  addition  to  giving 
our  society  several  handsome  medals  ;  to  Piofessor  Hillhonse, 
the  honorary  secretary,  who  lias  done  all  he  could  to  advance 
the  interests  of  our  society  ;  and  to  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham,  the 
superintendent  of  the  gardens  and  his  stafl',  who  again  did 
everythhig  they  could  for  the  convenience  and  comfort  of 
the  exliibitors  and  visitors.  The  be&t  thanks  of  the  society 
are  also  given  to  the  judges,  and  to  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  who 
came  specially  to  assist  in  the  staging  and  arranging  of  the 
exhibits. 

Unfortunately,  Mr.  Cartwright  finds  he  is  unable  to  con- 
tinue the  management  of  the  society,  and  Mr.  Sydenham 
lias,  at  the  special  request  of  the  comnuttee,  again  kindly 
undertaken  this  task  for  19U2,  but  only  upon  the  considera- 
tion that  Mr.  \V.  Parton,  Jan.,  of  King's  Heath,  has 
promised  to  take  up  the  woik  in  190o. 

The  committee  have  to  regret  that  the  balance  in  hand 
with  tlie  treasurer  on  December  31  showed  a  considerable 
diminution  from  that  of  the  previous  year.  This  decrease 
was  owing  to  :  (a)  A  considerable  number  uf  membeis  resign- 
ing from  the  society,  who  liave  given  their  active  support  to 
it,  as  pei-sunal  friends  of  Mr.  Sydenham.  (/>)  A  large  number 
from  whom  no  response  could  be  olitained,  and  whose  names 
it  was  found  necessary,  therefore,  to  strike  off  the  list  of 


152 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  1,  1902. 


members,  (c)  To  the  increased  list  of  prizes  as  offered  at 
last  exhibition.  They  therefore  express  the  hope  that  each 
uidividual  member  will  do  what  he  can  in  thu  interest  of 
the  society,  and  make  a  point  of  introducing  at  least  one 
new  member  during  the  year,  so  that  the  society  will  soon 
recover  its  normal  position. 

The  committee  have  thought  it  desirable  to  withdi-aw  the 
three  classes  introduced  last  year  for  six  blnoms  <if  a  vaiiety 
on  stands,  nnd  in  their  place  have  introduced  six  classes, 
Nos.  20  to  2o,  which  they  consider  will  be  a  veiy  iulere^ling 
competition,  and  biing  a  much  larger  number  of  entries. 

EAST  ANGLIAN  HORTICrLTrRAL  CLUB. 
The  membeithip  nf  this  prugiessive  club  is  still  increasing, 
several  fiesh  uiemlieis  Iteing  proposed  at  the  Febrnaiy 
meeting.  Under  the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  J.  Powley,  sup- 
ported by  Mr.  T.  B.  Field  (Ashwelthorpe),  in  the  vice-chair, 
the  members  as-eiubled  had  a  veiy  interesting  evening. 
An  essay  competitimi,  open  to  single-handed  gardeners  only, 
upon  "The  Propagation  and  Cultivation  of  Soft-wooded 
Plants"  gave  laige  scope  for  some  useful  debatable  papers. 
The  three  prizes  were  awarded  as  follows :  First,  Mr.  W. 
Rush,  gardener  to  F.  P.  Hinde,  Esq  ,  Thorpe  ;  second, 
Mr.  C.  Matthews,  gardener  to  L.  E.  Willett,  Esq.  ;  third, 
Mr.  D.  Howleit,  gardener  to  T.  Chaplin,  Esq.,  Thorpe 
Hamlet  The  papers  were  composed  of  practical  points 
upon  the  cultivation  of  the  most  useful  of  our  greenhouse 
and  conservati'ry  plants  coming  unde-  this  head.  Mr.  Rush 
had  characterised  his  paper  by  many  pithy  points,  denoting 
careful  observation. 

A  lengthy  discussion  followed,  in  which  several  memheis 
took  part,  Mr.  T.  B.  Field  giving  some  useful  hmts,  and 
alluding  to  tlie  massive  show  Pelargoniums  eiown  in  8-inch 
pots  by  the  old  school  Df  gardeners.  Mr.  E.  Peake  explained 
the  term  soft-wooded  and  what  constituted  a  soft-wooded 
plant  in  a  very  lucid  manner.  A  letter  which  had  been 
received  fn)tn  E.  P.  Buardman,  Esq.,  offering  a  silver  flower 
bowl  for  competition  fur  flowers  and  vegetables,  open  to  i 
single-handed  and  amateur  gardeners  only,  was  received 
with  much  heartiness.  A  capital  display  tif  flowers,  fruits, 
and  vegetables  was  placed  upon  the  shciw  boards  in  the 
monthly  competition  ;  Mr.  C.  Hines,  gardener  to  Garrett 
Taylor,  Esq.,  Trowse,  taking  the  largest  number  of  points 
combined. 


WEYBRIDGE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Ox  Friday,  the  14th  inst..  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  V.il.H., 
delivered  a  lecture  to  the  members  of  the  above  society  in 
the  Public  Hall,  Mr.  James  W.  Bilney  occupying  the  chair, 
the  subject  being  "Floriculture  and  florists dui ins  the  past 
fifty  years."  Commencing  l)y  stating  that  the  subject  was  a 
very  large  one,  and  as  he  could  only  touch  upon  a  portion  of 
it  during  the  time  at  his  disposal,  Mr.  Dean  alluded  to  the 
formation  of  the  National  Fb»ricullural  Society  iu  1851,  and 
the  necessity  which  existed  for  setting  up  an  impartial  and 
authoritative  tribunal  to  deal  witli  new  florists'  flowers  on 
their  merits.  A  large  and  representative  committee  of 
leading  florists  was  formed,  methods  of  procedure  were 
drawn  up,  and  censors  appointed  to  make  awards  of  ccrtifl- 
cates  of  merit  and  commendations  to  new  varieties,  and  so 
puttina  an  end  as  far  as  possible  to  the  conflicting  estimates 
of  quality  given  by  individuals.  The  National  Floricultural 
Society  continued  in  existence  until  1S59,  when,  through  the 
creation  of  the  flnral  committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  it  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Dean  then  passed  m  review 
the  leading  florists'  flnwers  of  that  time,  and  the  men  who 
were  foremost  in  their  improvement.  L'he  Anemone  and 
Ranunculus,  Auricula,  Calceolaria,  Cineraria,  Cyclamen, 
Carnation  and  Pieotee,  Fuchsia,  Gloxinia,  Pelaigoniuni, 
Chinese  Primrose,  Tulip,  Pansy,  Verbena,  itc,  and  inter- 
spersed his  remarks  with  personal  reminiscences  of  the 
leading  men  engaged  in  the  work.  He  then  went  on  to  deal 
with  what  was  termed  "epoch-making  flowers"— the  fancy 
Pansy,  Japanese  Chrysantliemura,  Begonia  boliviensis  and 
its  allies,  with  references  to  B.  sodtrana  and  B.  Gloire 
de  Lori;aine,  Clematis  Jackmani  and  its  allies,  Hippeas- 
trum  pardinum.  Dahlia  Juarezi,  Gladiolus  pscittacinus, 
G.  gandavensis,  G.  purpureo-auratus,  and  the  improved 
Sweet  Peas.  Interesting  information  was  given  as  to  the 
origin  or  introduction  of  the  foregoing,  and  those  who  were 
instrumental  in  improving  the  flowers  stage  by  stage.  The 
interest  of  the  audience  was  well  sustained  throughout, 
and  at  the  close  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  moved  to 
the  lecturer  by  Mr.  T.  Caryer,  seconded  by  Mr  J.  Lock, 
and  carried,  with  the  expression  of  a  hope  that  the  subject 
would  be  continued  at  some  future  time.  Mr.  Bilney  was 
also  warmly  thanked  for  presiding. 

ROYAL    HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

Fruit  Comshttee. 
Present  :  Mr.  A.  H.  Pearson  (in  the  chair),  Messrs.  J.  H. 
Veitch,  W.    Poupart,   H.    Baling,   A.   Dean,  S.    Mortimer, 
G.  Wythes,  J.  \Villard,  J.  Jaques,  James  Smith,  C.  G.  Nix, 
E.  Beckett,  \V.  Pope,  M.  Gleeson,  G.  Keif,  and  H.J.  Wright. 

There  were  very  few  exhibits  before  the  committee. 
Superb  bullis  of  Cranston's  Excelsior  Onion,  grown  and 
exhibited  by  Mr.  N.  Kneller,  gardener  to  Mr.  Wyndham 
Portal,  MaUhan-^er  Park,  Basingstoke,  worthily  received  a 
cultural  commendation.  Messrs.  W.  Poupart  and  Son, 
Twickenham,  slmwed  splendid  Asparagus  and  Seakale. 

The  only  fruit  consisted  of  a  few  dishes  of  Apples.  Apple 
Golden  Russet  came  from  Mr.  ^V.  Sanderson,  Kirkly  Ley- 
thorpe,  Sleaford,  Essex ;  the  handsome  Apple  Long  Keeper 
from  Mr.  Parker,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  Good- 
wood, and  superb  fruit  of  Apple  Rowe's  Edward  VII.  from 
Messrs.  ^V.  B.  RoweandSon,  Worcester. 
Orchid  Committke. 

Messrs.  F.  Sander  and  Sous,  St.  Albans,  were  awarded  a 
silver-gilt  Flora  medal  for  a  group  of  interesting  Orchids.  In 
the  centre  were  finely  floweied  Lycaste  Skinneri  alba. 
Among  the  Cattleyas  was  a  tine  plant  of  Schroderic,  Lselio- 
Caltleya  Ernestii  (flava  x  percevaliana) ;  it  has  pale  yellow 
sepals  and  petals,  the  Up  bright  purple,  shading  to  yellow  in 


the  throat.  La*lia  jongheana,  a  fine  flower  with  a  prominent 
crest  on  the  lip.  Zygopetalum  crinito-Gautierii,  derived 
frijm  the  parentage  indicated;  the  sepals  and  petals  are  deep 
brown,  niuttled  with  green,  the  lip  white,  shading  to 
violet -purple.  Zygo-colax  wiganianum  superbeus  (C. 
jugosus  X  Z.  intermedium)— the  finest  hybrid  we  have  seen 
iu  this  section.  Cymbidium  wiganianum  (eburneum  x  tracy- 
anuni).  This  has  the  intermediate  characters  of  the  parents, 
the  sepals  and  petals  are  greenish  yellow,  faintly  spotted  and 
lined  with  brown,  the  Up  yellow,  spotted  with  bright  brown. 

C.  eburneum  was  represented  by  a  finsly  flowered  plant. 
Miltonia  bleueana,  Masdevallius,  Odontoglossunis,  and  other 
interesting  Orchids  were  included. 

Mr.  J.  Cypher,  Cheltenham,  was  awarded  a  silver  Flora 
medal  for  an  interestuig  group  of  beautiful  Dendrobriums. 
Prominent  among  these  were  D.  Cybele,  showing  the 
influence  of  the  D.  flndleyanura,  parent  D  melanodiscus 
aurora,  with  the  yellow  area  in  front  of  the  maroon  purple 
disc  in  the  centre  of  the  lip.  D.  nobile  Cooksonii,  D.  n. 
balleana,  D.  n.  nobilius,  and  others  of  this  section  were  well 
represented  ;  the  remainder  of  the  group,  consisting  ol 
finely  grown  plants  of  other  species  and  hybrids,  for  which 
this  firm  is  noted. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  sent  a 
delightful  group,  consisting  of  made  up  plants  of  Odonto- 
glossum  citrosmum  and  Lsvlia  Coronet  {cinnabarina  x  harpc- 
phylla).  showing  the  influence  of  the  two  parents,  L.  Mrs. 
M.  Gratrix  (cinnabarina  and  digbyana).  L;elio-Cattleya 
Sunray  (cinnabarina  and  superl)a),  one  of  the  best  of  this 
section  of  hybrids.  L.-C.  digbyana  mossiti:',  paler  than  the 
typical  form.     Vote  of  thanks. 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  sent  a  good  group,  which  was 
awarded  a  silver  Banksian  medal.  These  included  Den- 
drobium  nobile  bnrfordiense,  D.  xanthocentrum  pallens, 
Cypripedium  Miss  L.  Fowler  (insigne  x  chamberlaiLiianum), 
('.  hirsuto-Sallierii,  a  hybrid  showing  the  intermediate 
characters  of  the  parents,  C.  burfordiense  (bellatulum  >; 
Boxallii),  Dendiobium  treacherianum,  with  a  raceme  of  nine 
flowers;  Masdcvallia  gargantina,  and  other  plants  were 
also  included. 

Captain  Holford,  Westonbirt  (grower,  Mr.  H.  Alexander), 
was  also  awarded  a  silver  Banksian  medal  for  a  group  con 
sisting  of  good  varieties  of  Cattleya  Triame,  numerous 
Cypripediums,  Ctelogvne  cristata,  and  various  Odontoglos- 
sums. 

J.  J.  Colman,  Esq.,  Gattou  Park  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  P. 
Bound),  sent  a  large  and  interesting  group  consisting  chiefly 
of  a  general  collection  of  Cattleya  Triame  in  variety,  Den- 
drobiums,  Epiphronitis  Veitchi,  and  forms  of  Liclia  anceps 
(white  section).     A  silver  Flora  medal  was  awarded. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co  .  Busli  Hill,  Enfield,  sent 
Odontoglossutn   loochrystiense,  DeLidrobium  nobile  album, 

D.  wardianum  album,  and  a  fine  flower  of  Cypripedium 
Olivia. 

P  C.  WalKer,  E3i|.  (gardener,  Mr.  G.  Cragg),  sent  a  fine 
variety  of  Odontoglossimi  crispum. 

M.  S.  Cook,  Esq.,  Kingston  Hill  (gardener,  Mr.  Buckle), 
sent  a  fine  variety  of  Odontoglossum  Rossii  majus. 

R.  G.  Thwaites,  Esq.,  Cliristchuich  Road,  Streatham 
(gardener,  Mr.  J.  Black),  sent  Dendrobium  wiganianum 
album. 

W.  M.  Appleton,  Esq.,  Weston-super-Mare  (gardener,  Mr. 
Brooks),  sent  Cypripedium  dowlingiana  (Godefroya;  leuco- 
ebilum  and  insigne  Chantinii),  showing  the  influence  of  the 
parents  in  its  intermediate  character. 

J.  Taylor,  Est]  ,  Reigate  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Leeman),  was 
awarded  a  cultural  commendation  for  a  grand  plant  of  Den- 
drobium speciosum,  with  ten  racemes  of  flowers. 

H.  T.  Pitt,  Estj.,  Rosslyn,  Stamford  Hill  (gardener,  Mr.  R. 
I'hurgood),  sent  Cypripedium  Felicity  (tonsum  x  callosum), 
a  very  pale  colour. 

H.  F.  Symons,  Esq.,  Beckenham  (gardener,  Mr.  G.  Day), 
sent  a  pale  variety  of  Odontoglossum  Adriana'  named  Mrs. 
Simonds. 

D.  Grimshall,  Esq.,  Kent  Lodge,  Uxbridge,  sent  a  fine 
variety  of  Cypripedium  villosum. 

W.  Cookson,  Es(i.,  sent  Phaio-Calanthe  Ruby  ;  it  is  oue 
of  the  finest-coloured  of  this  section  of  hybrids. 

R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  J.  Charman),  sent 
Cypripedium  .\rgo-arthurianura,  a  secondary  hybrid,  show- 
ing the  finely-spotted  characters  of  the  Argus  parent. 

C.  J.  Lucas,  E3(i.  (gardener,  Mr.  Duncan)  sent  a  flnely- 
flowered  plant  of  Odontoglossum  coronariura  brevifoHum,  for 
which  a  cultural  commendation  was  given. 

Floral  Committee. 

Present:  Mr.  C.  E.  Shea,  chairman,  and  Messrs.  C.  T. 
Druery,  H.  B.  May,  G.  Nicholson,  J.  Walker,  R  Dean,  J.  F. 
McLeod,  John  Jeimings,  J.  Hudson,  W.  Howe,  C.  R.  Fieldei', 
C.  Dixon.  J.  Eraser,  C  Jelferies,  J.  A.  Nix,  George  Gordon", 
R.  W.  Wallace,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  R.  C.  Notcutt,  C.  Blicki 
G.  Paul,  and  E.  Mawley. 

Death  of  Mr.  Sei.fe  Leonard. 

Prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  ordinary  business  the 
chairman  remarked  upon  the  valued  strvices  to  this  com- 
mittee of  the  late  Mr.  H.  Selfe  Leonard,  and  the  loss  that 
horticulture  in  general  has  sustained  by  his  sudden  death; 
Mr.  G.  Paul  also,  spoke  endorsing  the  chairman's  words,  and 
a  vote  of  condolence  with  Mrs.  Leonard  was  unanimously 
passed.  , 

The  Exhibits. 

A  striking  and  beautiful  feature  of  this  meeting  was  the 
array  of  early  forced  deciduous  shrubs  from  Messrs.  R.  and  G. 
Cuthbert,  Southgate,  Middlesex.  No  finer  group  has  been 
seen  at  the  Diill  Hall,  and  considering  the  varied  character 
of  the  plants  all  were  well  grown.  The  Lilacs  were  notably 
good,  and  a  dark  variety  called  Souvr.  de  Louis  Spath  is 
certainly  the  best  in  this  way  for  such  early  work.  The 
Azaleas  of  the  Mollis  and  allied  sections  were  abundant  and 
good,  and  full  of  flower  withal.  Prunus  triloba  and  its 
varieties  usual  in  such  groups,  Cydonia  Maulei,  C.  japonica 
alba,  Staphylea  colchica,  Deutzia  gracilis.  Magnolias, 
Genista  preecox,  Ribes,  and  Wistarias  were  other  noticeable 


features  of  the  group.  There  was  also  a  mass  of  Cytisus 
purpureus  incarnatus  and  well  flowered.  Though  an  old 
plant  its  merits  for  early  forcing  appeared  but  little  known. 
Silver-gilt  Flora  medal. 

From  Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea 
and  Feliham,  came  a  pretty  group  of  forced  plants  of 
Amydalus  persica  magniflca,  the  flowers  red  ;  Forsythia 
suspensa,  and  a  few  specimen  plants  of  Cupressus  lawsoniana 
Stewarti,  a  well  coloured  golden  form  of  this  well-known 
type.  A  batch  of  Cineraria  Feltham  Beauty  with  purnlish 
flowers  also  came  from  the  same  firm.  Silver  Banksian 
medal. 

Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware  and  Co.,  Limited,  Feltham.  set  up  a 
small  though  interesting  lot  of  alpine  and  other  plants  and 
flowers,  of  which  Soldanella  alpina,  Prinmla  floribunda  and 
its  variety  grandiflora.  Cyclamen  Atkinsi  rubra,  Anemone 
blanda,  Iris  reticulata.  Primula  Forbesi  (very  pretty),  and 
P.  obconica  rosea  (a  very  fine  form)  were  noticeable  in  the 
general  arrangement.  <^f  more  than  ordinary  merit-  were 
Saxifraga  burseriana,  of  which  two  pans  gave  promise  of  a 
long  display  of  bloom,  the  early  yellow  S.  apiculata  and  the 
new  Primula  P.  megaseicfolia.  Such  Irises  as  I.  reticulata 
and  its  var.  purpurea,  I.  Tauri,  &c.,  were  in  good  bloom,  as 
also  Magnolia  soulangeana.  Some  interesting  t'acti  and 
forced  Daffodils  were  also  shown.     Silver  Banksian  medal. 

A  pretty  and  somewhat  distinct  Asparagus  is  A.  plumosus 
Blampiedii,  for  which  it  is  claimed  that  10'  less  heat  is 
necessary,  and  that  it  is  ntore  productive  of  sprays,  that  it  is 
lighter  and  therefore  more  elegant,  and  that  it  develops  its 
fronds  at  an  earlier  date.  The  plant  is  said  to  have  been 
raised  from  seeds  sent  from  South  Africa.  It  was  shown  by 
Messrs.  Blampied  and  Sandevin,  La  Fosse,  St.  Martin, 
Guernsey.  Asparagus  plumosus  sarmensis  sent  by  Mr.  A.  J. 
Guibert,  Rohais  Nursery,  Guernsey,  is  apparently  identical 
with  the  above  plant,  the  former  name  having  been  accepted 
by  the  committee. 

Messrs  Jackman  and  Son,  Woking,  sent  a  charming  little 
arrangement  of  the  choicer  alpines  with  a  few  dwarf  shrubs 
in  the  background,  such  as  may  well  be  used  for  rock  work. 
Of  the  former  the  yellow  Fritillarias,  e.g.,  F.  aurea  and 
F.  Moggridgei  were  very  fine  and  in  some  quantity,  many 
stems  having  two  flowers,  and  these  particularly  fine.  The 
Epigjea  repeus  with  its  pinky  white  bells  is  very  dainty, 
while  very  brilliant  is  the  Vernal  Navelwort  (Omphalodes 
verna).  There  were  excellent  plants  of  Saxifraga  burseriana. 
Iris  stylosa  atropurpurea.  Anemone  blanda,  Androsace 
pyrenaica,  a  perfect  cushion  of  green,  dotted  with  white 
flowers,  Saxifraga  Bojdii  alba,  Puschkinia  libanotica, 
and  Tulipa  kaurtmaniana  made  a  capital  display.  Of 
Raniondia  pyrenaica  there  were  some  grand  tufts.  Silver 
Banksian  medal. 

ilr.  G.  Mount,  Canterbury,  has  commenced  the  exhibition 
season  of  forced  Roses  rather  earlier  than  usual.  Such  as 
La  France,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Mrs.  Sharman  Crawford,  Captain 
Hayward,  and  others  made  tiuite  a  display  and  attracted 
much  attention.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Sons,  Higligate,  had  an  arrangement 
of  medium-sized  plants  of  Erica  melanthera,  E.  wilmoreana, 
many  well-flowered  Epacrises  in  red.  white,  and  pink 
shades,  the  ever-welcome  Boronias,  as  B.  megastigraa  and 
B.  heterophylla.  Palms,  Ferns,  and  other  eiiually  serviceable 
plants.     Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  J.  Peed  and  Sons  made  a  display  of  Primula 
obconica;  the  flowers  were  large  and  good,  and  the  plants 
well  grown.    Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  A.  Chandler,  Haslemere,  showed  several  pots  of 
Lachenalia seedlings,  mostly. however,  of  L.  aurea,  L.  luceola, 
and  other  well-known  types  of  this  flower. 

.Alessis.  William  Paul  and  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  filled  the 
centre  of  the  floor  with  specimen  Camellias.     There  were  J 
many  fine  kinds,  of  which    the  following  were  the  most  J 
conspicuous  :— Exquisite,  red  ;  Mme.  A.   Verschafl'elt,  pink  ; 
Fimbriata,   white;  Reine  des  Fleurs,  red  ;  Montironi  Vera, 
a  grand  double  white,  of  exquisite  purity  and  form  ;  Tricolor, 
semi-double,  pink  with  white  margin  ;  alba-plena,  irabricata, 
Marchioness  of  Exeter,  &c.     Then  there  was  a  single  kind  | 
named   Adeliua  Patii,  pink  in   colour,   reticulated   with  a  I 
darker  shade,   the  centre  being  a  perfect  cup  of  golden  ] 
anthers.      This    variety    was   almost    perfect.     Silver-gilt  I 
Banksian  medal.  I 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  had  a  large  array  of  j 
plants,  in  which  Azaleas,  Acacias,  Lilacs,  Epacrises,  and  f 
Ericas  were  prominent  amid  a  great  variety  of  other  useful  | 
plants.     Silver  Flora  medal.  I 

Messrs.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley,  again  somewhat 
extensively  showed  their  strain  of  Pjimulas,  the  majority  of 
which  we  referred  to  on  a  former  occasion.  In  addition  we  j 
may  now  mention  Lady  Dyke  as  a  most  useful  white.  It  is  one  ] 
of  the  plain  petalled  sorts  and  very  free,  as  it  extends  whorl  ] 
above  whorl.  Some  handsome  white  Cyclamen  were  a  mass  1 
of  flower,  perfect  and  well-grown  examples.  Silver  Flora  j 
medal.  j 

Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  had  a  good  display  j 
of  Narcissus  cyclamineus,  Muscari  azurens,  Chionodoxa  sar-  ] 
densis,  Iris  persica  Heldreichi  I.  reticulata,  Anemone  1 
blanda  tanrica,  pink  Hepaticas,  together  with  market  | 
bunches  of  forced  Dattodils  as  Horstteldi,  Golden  Spur,  Sir  j 
Watkin,  and  the  ever-welcome  old  double  yellow.  Silver  1 
Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  John  May,  nurseryman,  Summit,  New  Jersey,  U.S.A., 
sent  blooms  of  the  new  American  Rose,  Mrs.  Oliver  Ames,  _ 
the  flowers  having  been  cut  some  fourteen  days  ;  the  blooms 
are  large  and  full,  probably  to3  full  to  succeed  as  a  winter 
Rose  in  this  country,  of  a  carmine-pink  colour  in  the  centre, 
the  outer  petals  shading  to  white.  A  vote  of  thanks  with 
cultural  comniendalion  was  unanimously  given  and  a  desire 
expressed  that  it  be  seen  as  produced  on  budded  plants  in 
England  to  determine  its  merit. 

Two  Acacias  in  flower  came  from  Mrs.  Denison,  Little 
Gaddesden,  Berkhamsted,  Herts  (Mr.  A.  G.  Gentle, 
gardener) — one  called  X.  harpopbylla,  which  received  a  first- 
class  certificate,  and  to  which  we  shall  again  refer  ;  the 
other  was  A.  melanoxylon,  a  white  flowered  kind.  Some 
doubt  was  expressed  as  to  the  names  of  these  plants,  the 
former  of  which  is  more  ornamental. 


^fe^ 


GARDEN 


—^^- 


-^-^-psM^^      ff 


No.  1581.— Vol.  LXL] 


[March  8,  1902 


GROUPING    OF    SHRUBS 
AND     TREES. 

IF  tlii.s  subject  were  considered  with  only 
a  reasonable  amount  of  thought,  and  the 
practice  of  it  controlled  by  good  taste, 
there  is  nothing  that  would  do  more  for 
the  beauty  of  our  gardens  or  grounds. 
Nothing  can  .so  eft'ectually  destroy  good  effect 
as  the  usual  senseless  mixture  of  deciduous 
and  evergreen  shrubs  that,  alas  !  is  so  com- 
monly seen  in  gardens — a  mixture  of  one  each 
of  a  quantity  of,  perhaps,  excellent  things 
planted  about  3  feet  apart.  There  would  be 
nothing  to  be  said  against  this  if  it  were  the 
deliberate  intention  of  any  individual,  for,  as 
a  garden  is  for  the  owner's  happiness,  it  is 
indisputably  his  right  to  take  his  pleasure  in 
it  as  he  will,  and  if  he  says,  "  I  have  only  space 
for  one  hundred  plants,  and  I  wish  them  to  be 
all  different,"  that  is  for  him  to  decide.  But 
when  the  mixture  is  made  from  pure  ignorance 
or  helplessness,  it  is  then  that  advice  may  be 
of  use,  and  that  the  assurance  may  be  given 
that  there  are  better  ways  that  are  just  as 
easy  at  the  beginning,  and  that  with  every  year 
will  be  growing  on  towards  .some  definite 
scheme  of  beauty  instead  of  merely  growing 
up  into  a  foolish  tangle  of  horticultural  imbe- 
cility. 

If  the  intending  planter  has  no  knowledge, 
it  is  well  worth  his  while  to  take  advice  at  the 
beginning — not  to  plant  at  random,  and  to  feel 
a  few  years  later,  first  doubt,  and  then  regret, 
and  then,  as  knowledge  grows,  to  have  to  face 
the  fact  that  it  is  all  wrong  and  that  much 
precious  time  has  been  lost. 

How  to  groirp  is  a  large  question,  depending 
on  all  the  conditions  of  the  place  under  con- 
sideration. Whether  a  group  is  to  be  of  tall 
or  short-growing  shrubs  or  trees,  whether  it  is 
to  be  of  three  or  .300,  and  so  on,  the  knowledge 
that  can  answer  is  the  knowledge  of  gardening 
of  the  better  kind.  The  whole  thing  should 
be  done  carefully  on  paper  beforehand,  or 
there  will  again  be  repeated  the  error  of  the 
huddled  single  plants.  The  groups  will  have 
to  be  well  shaped,  well  sized,  and  well  related 
to  each  other  and  all  that  is  near,  or  they  may 
be  merely  a  series  of  senseless  blocks,  not 
intelligently  formed  groups  at  all.  Then  in 
proper  relation  to  the  groups,  single  plants  can 
be  used  with  the  best  possible  effect,  as,  for 
instance,  a  Snowy  Mespilus  or  a  Cherry,  or  a 
Pyrus  Malus  floribunda  against  a  dark  mass  of 
Yew  or  Ilex,  or  a  Forsythia  suspensa  castiI^g 
out  its  long-flowering  branches   from  among 


bushes  of  Berberis.  Then  the  fewer  individuals 
will  have  their  full  value,  while  the  larger 
masses  will  have  dignity  even  when  in  leaf 
only,  and  their  own  species  beauty  at  the  times 
when  they  are  in  flower  or  fruit,  for  some 
flowering  and  fruiting  bushes  aie  best  grouped, 
while  a  few  are  best  seen  standing  alone,  and 
it  is  only  knowledge  of  good  gardening  that 
can  guide  the  designer  in  his  decision.s  on 
these  points.  Still,  it  does  not  follow  that  a 
shrub  or  flowering  tree  cannot  be  used  both 
for  groups  and  single  use,  for  such  an  one  as 
the  Forsythia  just  mentioned  is  also  of  charm- 
ing effect  in  its  own  groups  with  the  red- 
tinted  Berberis  or  the  quiet-coloured  Savins 
or  whatever  be  the  lower  growing  bushy  mass 
that  is  chosen  to  accompany  it.  Everyone  can 
see  the  great  gain  i  f  such  arrangements  when 
they  are  made,  but  to  learn  to  make  them  and 
even  to  perceive  what  are  the  plants  to  group 
together,  and  why,  that  is  the  outcome  of  the 
education  of  the  garden  artist. 

iluch  has  been  done  at  Kew  in  the  judicious 
grouping  of  plants,  and  here  is  a  living  place 
of  instruction  open  to  all  where  the  best  of 
plants  may  be  seen,  and  to  a  considerable 
degree  the  best  ways  of  using  them  in  gardens. 


THE   BEAUTY  OF    NATIVE 
EVERGREENS. 

RAMBLING  about  the  country  in 
winter  one  becomes  more  and  more 
impressed  with  the  beauty  of  our 
native  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs. 
Seven  names  comprise  them 
all — Yew,  Holly,  Scotch  Fir,  Spruce,  .luniper, 
Box,  and  Ivy.  Even  of  these  the  Scotch  and 
Spruce  Firs  (commonly  so-called,  though  the 
Scotch  is  a  Pine)  are  doubtful  natives,  though 
so  long  acclimatised  that  they  may  be  classed 
with  our  own.  Those  who  are  laying  out  new 
grounds  on  a  large  scale  would  do  well  to 
plant  these  grand  things  in  plenty  ;  indeed,  in 
the  case  of  any  new  planting  that  is  taken  in 
hand,  unless  the  owner  has  a  good  knowledge 
of  shrubs  and  some  taste  in  their  choice  and 
disposition,  a  planting  of  these  alone  would 
save  him  from  many  a  regrettable  mistake  and 
from  the  prospect  of  the  usual  senseless  jumble 
of  mixed  shrubbery  that  has  hopelessly  spoilt 
such  thousands  of  gardens. 

No  foreign  shrubs  can  compare  with  or  take 
the  place  of  our  Yews  and  Hollies.  However 
large  a  collection  of  exotics  may  be  in  a  well- 
stocked  arbovptum,  a  winter  walk  among  them 


only  shows  that  there  is  nothing  more  cheer- 
fully handsome  than  our  Hollies  or  more 
solemnly  dignified  than  our  Yews.  On  dry, 
sandy  soils  no  conifer  is  better  for  England 
than  the  Scotch  Fir,  or  for  moist,  loamy 
regions  and  valley  bottoms  none  is  better  than 
the  Spruce.  Then  for  drj'  uplands  in  light 
soils  there  is  the  lovely  Juniper,  the  best  of 
all  its  kind  (though  often  m  nurseries  foreign 
ones  only  are  offered  to  its  exclusion),  and  for 
chalky  soils  and  loams  the  Box  luxuriates  and 
can  be  used  as  a  small  tree  as  well  as  in  its 
usual  bush  form.  The  use  of  common  Ivy 
should  not  be  forgotten.  How  important  it  is 
in  winter  may  be  perceived  by  anyone  during 
a  country  drive,  when  it  will  be  seen  to  be  the 
one  most  conspicuous  living  thing,  adapting 
itself  to  a  diversity  of  use  that  is  quite  extra- 
ordinary. 

It  may  safely  be  said  that  there  is  no  garden 
or  pleasure  ground  that  would  not  be  the 
better  for  the  rather  largely  proportioned  use 
of  our  native  evergreens.  For  every  place  one 
or  more  vcill  be  found  to  be  adapted. 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 


Foptheoming'     Events.  —  March    lo, 

annual  general  meeting  of  the  United  Horticultural 
Benefit  and  Provident  Society,  Caledonian  Hotel, 
Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  at  8  p.m.,  Mr.  Herbert 
•J.  Cutbush  in  the  chair.  March  11,  meeting  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  committees,  Brill 
Hall,  Westminster  ;  Horticultural  Club,'  (3  p.m. 

Notes  from  Wpexham.— What  pleasure 

there  often  is  in  a  walk  round  the  garden  in  early 
spring  after  a  long  frost.  One  meets  something  to 
gladden  the  ej'e  at  almost  every  step.  Under  the 
house  wall  is  a  large  mass  of  Iris  stylosa,  and  the 
promise  of  more  buds.  Next  we  come  to  Rhodo- 
dendron priscox  studded  with  dark  pink  buds  and 
growing  in  a  large  bed  carpeted  with  Winter 
Aconite,  which  has  been  in  full  bloom  throughout 
the  frost.  Near  by  are  many  plants  of  the 
rare  Galanthus  cilicicus  in  fresh  bloom.  The 
level}'  Crocus  tommasinianus  is  flowering  in 
abundance  amidst  Erica  caruea  now  in  bud. 
Beyond  Hepaticas  give  bright  spots — blue,  pink, 
and  white — under  the  Holly  hedge.  Under  the 
Apple  tree  the  Christmas  Rose  is  still  in  full 
beaut}'.  On  the  rockery  Narcissus  minimus  attracts 
the  eye,  but  the  species  of  Crocus  are  the  chief 
adornment,  the  delicate  beauty  of  C.  Imperati 
and  the  rich  purple  blooms  of  C.  Sieberi  deserving 
particular  mention.  Miss  Jekyll  warns  us  wisel}- 
against  steep  grass  banks  in  laying  out  gardens,  but 
even  a  steep  grass  bank  can  be  made  to  add  to  the 
beauty  of  a  garden ;  one  here,  planted  rather 
thickly  with  Snowdrops  (Galanthus  Elwesii), 
Crocuses,  Dog's-tooth  Violets,  and  Tulips,  is  a 
delight  month  after  month.  I  should  much  like  to 
know  whether  Galanthus  Elwesii  grows  and 
increases  in  your  correspondents'  gardens.     Here  1 


154 


THE    GARDEN. 


.Makch  8,  1902. 


have  been  afraid  that  some  huntiieds  of  bulbs 
planted  j'eais  ago  in  grass  became  fewer  in  number 
j'ear  by  year,  but  one  patch  of  fifty  or  so  planted 
in  the  grass  close  to  a  Sycamore  tree  is  finer  this 
year  than  ever. — F.  A.  Sturoe,  Coed  Efa,  near 
Wrexham. 

Hubbard's  Pearmain  Apple  in  the 

NoPth. — Referring  to  our  illustration  last  week 
Air.  G.  Wj'thes,  of  Syon  House  Gardens,  writes  : 
"Hubbard's  Pearmain  was  first  introduced  to 
public  notice  iu  18'20  by  Mr.  Lindley,  and  recog- 
nised by  the  Horticultural  Society-  as  a  very  good 
dessert  Apple,  very  few — wilh  the  e.xception  of 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  which  is  just  ten  years 
younger— lieing  better.  Hubbard's  Pearmain  is 
certanily  one  of  the  best  dessert  Apples  in  use  from 
December  to  April.  In  Dr.  Hogg's  '  Manual"  it  is 
mentioned  that  it  is  a  great  favourite  in  the  eastern 
counties  and  regarded  as  one  of  the  richest  flavoured 
dessert  Apples  grown.  It  is  a  worthy  companion 
to  Co.\'s  Orange  Pippin,  and  should  be  more  grown 
in  those  garilens  where  good  dessert  Apples  are 
needed  from  Christmas  to  April.  The  tree,  like 
that  of  Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  is  e.«pecially  adapted 
for  private  gardens;  it  is  not  of  large  growth, 
bearing  abundantly,  rarely  failing  to  crop,  as  it 
flowers  late.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  country 
it  is  much  valued  for  its  keeping  properties.  To 
show  its  value  in  this  respect,  some  years  ago  I 
saw  beautiful  fruits  of  it  in  a  Scotch  garden  where 
it  was  grown  for  sale  under  the  name  of  Easter 
Apple.  Of  course  this  was  a  local  name,  and  at 
first  I  thought  it  was  Cox's'  Orange  Pippin.  It 
resembles  the  last-named  in  size  and  colour,  while 
the  flesh  is  yellow  and  firm,  but  less  juic}'  than  that 
of  Cox's  Orange  ;  the  stalk  is  short,  and  in  some 
soils  the  fruits  have  more  russet  on  them  than  in 
others.  They  are  of  conical  form,  regular,  and 
brownish  red  on  the  sunny  side.  The  great  value 
of  these  well-known  old  but  good  Apples  lies  in 
their  keeping  cjualities  and  good  flavour.  I  have 
heard  objections  made  to  their  size.  They  may 
not  be  large  enough  for  sale,  but  sufficiently  so  for 
dessert.  I  was  sorry  to  note  on  two  or  three 
occasions  at  the  great  hard}'  fruit  show  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  at  the  Crystal  Palace  the 
judges  in  a  few  instances  favoured  mere  size  in 
dessert  fruits.  This  is  not  necessary,  and  I  was 
pleased  to  see  a  note  in  the  schedule  at  the  last 
show  that  those  Apples  grown  for  dessert,  such  as 
the  larger  Blejilieim  and  (iascoigne's  Scarlet 
should  be  selected  for  their  high  colour  and  not  be 
more  than  3  inches  in  size— this  is  quite  large 
enough  for  all  dessert  purposes.  Hubbard's 
Pearmain  is  one  of  the  best  dessert  Apples  at 
Alnwick  Castle  ;  indeed,  in  these  northern  gardens 
it  is  a  great  favourite,  and  as  it  fruits  in  some 
seasons  more  freely  than  Cox's  Orange  it  is 
valuable  when  the  latter  is  none  too  plentiful.  I 
have  noticed  that  Hubbard's  Pearmain  rarely  fails 
to  crop.  Another  very  fine  Apple  I  trust  will  be 
illustrated  is  the  newer  James  Grieve.  This  may 
be  called  an  early  Cox's  Orange,  and  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  country,  especially  in  Scot- 
land, it  grows  and  crops  grandly.  I  should  add,  in 
the  far  north,  the  older  favourite  does  not  always 
fruit  as  well  as  in  other  places,  and  this  makes 
.such  Apples  as  James  Grieve  and  the  one  illus- 
trated doubly  valuable.  The  G.^rdes  is  doing 
fruit  growers  a  good  service  in  illustrating  and 
describing  our  best  standard  fruits,  and  noting 
their  seasons,  as,  though  some  varieties  do  well  in 
certain  soils  and  diverse  localities,  in  others  they 
fail  more  or  less.  An}'  information  is  of  great 
value  to  intending  planters  who  need  the  best 
kinds  and  for  a  long  season."  [We  should  much 
like  to  illustrate  James  Grieve  Apple.  Will  some 
reader  kindly  send  us  a  good  fruit.  We  intend  to 
continue  this  series  of  "Hardy  Fruits  in  Season" 
throughout  the  year,  illustrating  the  fruits  as  they 
become  read}-. — Eds.] 

Presentation  to  Mr.  H.  G.  Cox.— 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Reading  and  District 
Gardeners'  Association  the  members  took  occasion 
to  show  their  appreciation  of  the  secretarial  services 
of  Mr.  H.  G.  Cox,  which  have  now  extended  over 
some  years,  by  presenting  him  with  a  hunter  gold 
watch.  To  Mrs.  Cox  was  given  a  handsome  silver 
tea   service   in   morocco   case.      These  gifts   were 


accompanied  by  a  framed  illuminated  address 
bearing  the  photographs  and  names  of  all  the 
working  members  of  the  association.  Mr.  Leonard 
G.  Sutton,  the  president,  made  the  presentation  on 
behalf  of  the  members,  expressing  their  indebted- 
ness to  Mr.  Cox  for  his  work  as  secretar}'  and 
his  services  since  he  had  been  a  member  of  the 
association. 

L>awns. — Messrs.  Sutton's  booklet  upon  this 
subject  gives  valuable  information,  and  is  indis- 
pensable to  all  who  wish  to  keep  their  lawns  in  ihe 
be^t  condition.  Messrs.  Sutton's  remarks  do  not 
extend  beyond  thirty-six  pages,  so  that  they  are 
concise  is  obvious  ;  it  is  no  less  true,  however,  that 
the}'  are  exhaustive.  Grass  slopes,  so  often  the 
gardener's  bane,  are  treated  upon,  as  also  are  weeds 
in  the  soil,  selection  of  seeds,  and  other  important 
items  connected  wilh  the  upkeep  of  the  lawn. 

Fruit  trees  and  green  fly.— After  the 

short  but  sharp  spell  ol  wintry  weather  in  the 
middle  of  February  one  would  imagine  the  green 
and  black  fly  to  be  destroyed  on  fruit  trees,  such  as 
the  Cherry  or  Peach,  but  I  regret  to  say,  on  close 
examination,  that  our  wall  trees  are  much 
infested,  especially  at  the  back  of  the  shoots 
that  are  close  to  the  wall.  There  must  be  no 
delay  in  getting  rid  of  the  pest  before  the  trees 
bloom.  Our  trees  have  been  detached  from  the 
walls,  but  the  pests  have  found  a  hiding  place  in 
the  crevices  of  the  walls.  I  have  found  cjuassia 
used  now  one  of  the  safest  and  best  insecticides. 
Before  the  buds  began  to  expand  it  was  safe  to  use 
soluble  petroleum,  but  now  I  advise  quassia. 
This  can  be  obtained  in  liquid  form  ready  for 
use.  Later  on,  when  the  fruits  are  the  size  of 
Nuts,  I  have  used  petroleum  and  quassia  in  a 
concentrated  form,  and  one  or  two  dressings  have 
destroved  that  worst  of  pests,  the  black  fly. — 
A.  C.  "N. 
Mr.  Harman  Payne.— By  decree  dated 

the  22nd  ult.  the  French  Oovernnient,  on  the  pro- 
position of  the  Minister  of  Agriculture,  has  pro- 
moted Mr.  Harman  Payne  to  the  rank  of  Officier 
du  Merite  Agricole  in  reccgnilion  of  his  services. to 
horticulture.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Mr. 
Payne  was  nominated  Chevalier  of  the  same  order 
in  isyu  on  the  occasion  of  the  .Jubilee  of  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society,  of  which  he  has  been  for 
many  years  the  foreign  corresjjonding  secretary. 

MP.  H.  J.  Chapman.— Tliis  well-known 
Orchid  grower,  who  has  been  for  many  years  with 
Mr.  R.  H.  Measures,  Cambridge  Lodge,  Camber- 
well,  is  leaving  to  take  charge  of  the  Orchids  and 
garden  generally  of  Mr.  Norman  Cookson,  Wylam- 
on-Tyne. 

The     late    sevepe     weather    and 

SpPing-  BPOCCOli  supply.— Fair  supplies 
of  Cornisii  and  Continental  Broccoli  are  coming  to 
the  market,  and  this  is  fortunate,  as  the  recent 
spell  of  severe  weather,  though  short,  has  pla}'cd 
sad  ha\oc  with  Broccoli  in  private  gardens.  The 
plants  most  aU'ected  were  those  just  forming 
heads,  or  those,  ^ay,  about  the  size  of  a  large 
Walnut.  These  are  ruined,  and,  of  course,  belong 
to  the  March  and  April  supply.  Those  more 
severely  out  were  growing  in  light  land  and  in 
soil  often  manured,  as  the  dwarfer  plants  in 
heavier  land  are  less  injured.  I  find  such  varieties 
as  Model  and  Late  Queen  have  not  sufl'ered  much, 
but  a  few  plants  here  and  there.  A  good  portion 
of  the  leafage  is  injured,  but  the  breadths  are 
fairly  good.  This  is  fortunate,  as  with  a  short 
supply  of  green  vegetables  the  late  spring  crop 
will  be  more  valuable.  The  losses  in  gardens  are 
greater  than  in  open  fields,  as  the  plants  in  the 
former  are  softer  and  often  closer  together.  Our 
best  plants  in  the  garden  are  those  on  north 
borders  in  heavy  soil  and  in  fields. — A.  C.  N. 

How  plants  mimic  one  another.— 

In  the  current  issue  of  Kiiowledije  the  Rev.  Alex. 
S.  Wilson  discourses  on  the  methods  employed  in 
the  plant  world  for  obtaining  protection  from 
enemies  by  mimicking  or  resembling  other  plants 
which  are  efficiently  protected.  ilr.  Wilson 
writes  :  "  Mimicry  is  perhaps  more  frequent  in  the 
seed  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  vegetable 
organism  ;  it  occurs,  however,  in  other  organs, 
and  even  the  entire  plant  body  may  assume  a 
deceptive  appearance.     A  well-known  example  is 


the  white  dead  Nettle,  which  so  closely  resembles 
the  Stinging  Nettle  in  size  and  in  the  shape  and 
ai  rangement  of  its  leaves.  In  systematic  position 
the  two  plants  are  widely  removed  from  each 
other,  but  they  grow  in  similar  situations  and  are 
easily  mistaken  ;  anyone  who  has  occasion  to 
collect  quantities  of  Lamium  is  almost  sure  to  get 
his  hands  stung  by  Urtica,  an  experience  calcu- 
lated to  convince  one  of  the  eflicacy  of  protective 
resemblance.  A  somewhat  analogous  case  is  the 
Yellow  Bugle  of  the  Riviera,  which  has  ils  leaves 
crowded  and  divided  into  three  linear  lobes,  some 
of  which  are  again  divided.  In  this  the  plant 
differs  very  greatly  from  its  allies  ;  it  has,  how- 
ever, acquired  a  veiy  striking  resemblance  to  a 
species  of  Euphorbia,  abundant  on  the  Riviera. 
The  acrid  juice  of  the  Euphorbias  secures  them 
imnuniity  against  a  host  of  en<-.uiies.  As  the  two 
plants  grow  together  there  is  little  room  to  doubt 
thai,  like  the  ilead  Nettle,  the  Bugle  profits  by  its 
likeness  to  its  well-protected  neiglibour. 

New  flowering  shrubs.    .M.  Lemoine, 

I'f  Nancy,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  many 
beautiful  flowering  shrubs  of  hybrid  origin,  par- 
ticularly among  the  Lilacs,  Philadelphus,  and 
Denlzias,  announces  in  his  present  catalogue  some 
more  additions.  There  are  two  Deutzias,  the 
first,  D.  discolor  floribunda,  is  described  as 
bearing  porcelain  white  flowers,  which  are  in  the 
bud  state  tinged  with  rose.  The  flowers  appear 
so  freely  as  to  almost  hide  the  foliage,  and  it  is 
referred  to  as  the  finest  that  M.  Lemoine  has  put 
into  commerce.  The  second,  D.  gracilis  exiniia, 
is,  when  fully  expanded,  almost  white,  but  tinged 
with  pink  on  the  reverse  of  the  petals,  while  in 
the  bud  state  it  is  of  a  rosy  carmine  hue.  The 
Weigelas  (precooes)  receive  two  additions,  Floreal, 
flowering  about  May  S,  and  bearing  large  clusters 
of  blossoms,  in  colour  soft  rose  with  a  carmine 
throat  ;  and  Le  Printemps,  which  has  flesh- 
coloured  flowers,  and  commences  to  bloom  about 
ilay  10.  Beside  these  there  are  three  varieties 
of  d'Uible- flowered  Lilacs,  Dr.  Troyanowsky,  Mme. 
de  Miller,  and  President  Loubet,  and  two  hybrid 
forms  of  Clematis,  between  C.  davidiana  and  C. 
stans,  named  (!erbe  Fleurie  and  Profusion.  In 
addition  to  the  above  b}  brids  M.  Lemoine  also 
announces  the  rare  .Spiraea  Aitchisoni  from 
Afghanistan,  which  as  far  as  I  am  aware  is  not 
yet  to  be  obtained  from  any  of  our  nurserymen. 
Its  nearest  relative  is  .Spinca  lindleyana,  but  'it 
dift'ers  from  that  well-known  species  in  several 
well-marked  features,  chief  among  them  being  the 
reddish  bark,  smooth  deep  green  leaves,  and 
larger  flowers. — T. 

Butter  Beans.— The  Rev.  Clementi-Sn-.ith 
is  quite  right  about  the  excellence  of  the  Canadian 
and  other  Butter  Beans.  They  are  tender  and  of 
very  good  fla\our.  The}'  are,  unfortunately,  as 
mentioned,  often  objected  to  because  of  their 
yellowish  colour — a  most  unreasonable  prejudice. 
The  golden  colour,  however,  makes  them  all  the 
better  for  their  use  in  the  salad  bowl,  where  they 
are  delicious. — T.  B. 

Rudbeckia    conspicua   is  a   valuable 

hardy  plant  to  gro\v,  especially  in  a  dry  season, 
as  it  is  not  affected  by  drought  in  the  same  way 
as  is  R.  Newmanii.  R.  conspicua  belongs  to  the 
hirsuta  type,  grows  IS  inches  high,  and  is  excep- 
tionally free  flowering  ;  it  has  long  narrow  petals 
of  an  intense  orange-yellow  colour  with  the  usual 
black  disc. — E.  M. 

Fruit  to  Australia.— The  Orient  Pacific 
Company  has  issued  a  circular  offering  to  take 
fruit  and  xegetables  to  Australia  at  a  rate  per 
box.  The  boxes  are  not  to  be  larger  than  2  feet 
10  inches  cubic  measurement,  and  half-boxes  are 
to  be  allowed  if  they  do  not  exceed  1  foot  5  inches. 
The  freight  to  Fremantle  is  to  be  .53.  per  box,  and 
2s.  9d.  per  half-box,  and  to  the  other  ports  +s.  3d. 
and  2s.  3d.  Arrangements  will  be  made  for  the 
transhipment  of  boxes  to  such  Australasian  ports  i 
as  the  company  does  not  call  at.  It  is  cjuite  likely 
that  this  may  be  the  beginning  of  an  important 
trade  with  the  colonies,  as  though  Australia  pro- 
duces a  larger  amount  of  fruit  on  her  own  account, 
the  seasons  here  and  there  are  interchanged,  and 
Italian  fruit  will  come  in  when  their  trees  are  not 
in  bearing. 


March  8,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


155 


Rose    show    fixtures    in    1902.— 

June  11  (Wednesday),  Yorkt  ;  .June  24  (Tuesday), 
Holland  Park,  London,  W.,  Rose  conference  (Royal 
Horticultural  Society)*  ;  June  28  (Saturday),  Maid- 
stone and  Windsor  ;  .June  30  (Monday),  Canter- 
bury ;  July  2  (Wednesday),  Temple  Gardens, 
London,  E.G.  (National  Rose  Society),  Croydon, 
Hanley*,  and  Richmond  (Surrey)  ;  July  3  (Thurs- 
day), Colchester  and  Norwich  ;  July  4  (Friday), 
Exeter  (National  Rose  Society)  ;  July  5  (Saturday), 
Sutton  (Surrey)  ;  July  8  (Tuesday),  Gloucester  and 
Harrow  ;  July  9  (Wednesday),  Ealing,  Farning- 
ham,  Formby,  Hereford,  and  Stevenage  ;  July  10 
(Thursday),  Bath,  Eltham,  and  Woodbridge ; 
July  17  (Thursday),  Helensburgh  and  Halifax ; 
July  19  (Saturday),  Manchester  (National  Rose 
Society)  ;  July  22  (Tuesday),  Tibshelt ;  .July  23 
(Wednesday),  Cardiff*.  tShow  lasting  three  days. 
*  Show  lasting  two  days.  The  above  are  all  the 
dates  that  have  as  yet  reached  me  of  Rose  shows 
and  other  horticultural  exhibitions  where  Roses 
form  a  leading  feature. — Edwakd  Mawlev,  Rose- 
bank;  Berkham-sled,  Hois. 

Malayan  Rhododendrons  at  Kew. 

— The  advantages  gained  by  the  indoor  planting 
out  system  of  culture  over  pot  culture  is  well  seen 
in  the  case  of  Messrs.  Veitch's  race  of  warm  house 
Rhododendrons.  As  a  whole  the  group  is  charac- 
terised by  beautiful  flowers  and  plenty  of  them, 
but  in  some  cases  their  habit  is  objected  to.  Being 
naturally  straggling,  and  not  caring  for  the  pruning 
knife,  plants  are  apt  to  become  rather  bare  and 
scraggy,  and  when  seen  with  their  ugly  pots  and 
stages  the  beauty  of  the  flowers  is  considerably 
discounted.  The  difficulty  has  been  got  over  at 
Kew  by  planting  in  a  specially  prepared  border. 
In  this  way  more  luxuriant  growth  is  made,  the 
plants  are  better  furnished  with  leaves,  and 
they  flower  almost  perpetually.  The  method 
of  culture  pursued  at  Kew  is  as  follows  :  The 
house  is  kept  at  an  intermediate  temperature,  the 
minimum  in  winter  being  50°.  A  portion  of  one 
of  the  borders,  60  feet  by  9  feet,  thoroughly  drained 
to  within  9  inches  of  the  top  with  brick  rubbish 
and  gravel,  was  filled. in  with  three  parts  good 
fibrous  peat  and  one  part  silver  sand,  the  compost 
being  raised  into  small  terraces  by  means  of  large 
tree  roots.  In  some  cases  the  soil  is  nearly  2  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  paths,  so  ensuring  thorough 
drainage.  Each  small  terrace  or  bay  between  the 
roots  is  given  up  to  a  variety,  some  being  repre- 
sented by  single  plants,  others  by  groups.  When 
first  planted  the  compost  was  thoroughly  rammed 
round  the  balls,  and  care  was  taken  that  each  ball 
was  thoroughly  moist  before  planting.  Until  the 
roots  had  penetrated  well  into  the  new  soil  a  small 
basin  was  left  round  each  plant  to  ensure  water 
passing  freely  into  the  ball  and  not  running  round 
the  sides.  During  spring  and  summer  the  plants 
are  syringed  several  times  a  day,  and  when  there 
is  abundant  drainage  watering  is  done  two  or  three 
times  a  week.  Instead  of  pruning,  strong  branches 
are  tied  down,  and  by  this  means  more  and  stronger 
shoots  are  made.  The  collection  at  Kew  is  a  good 
representative  one  of  the  varieties  in  commerce, 
and  it  is  rarely  that  no  flowers  are  to  be  found, 
whilst  in  autumn,  winter,  and  early  spring  a  con- 
tinuous display  is  made.  With  such  a  lovelj'  and 
useful  race  of  plants  as  these  Malaj'an  Rhododen- 
drons it  is  worth  going  to  a  little  trouble  to  grow 
them  well,  and  anyone  who  can  afford  a  small 
house  for  planting  out  purposes  would  do  well  to 
give  them  a  trial  if  for  no  other  purpose  than 
growing  for  out  flowers.  Coming  as  the  flowers  do 
at  a  dull  time  of  year,  their  rich  colours  and  good 
lasting  qualities  when  cut  make  them  most  useful. 
In  planting  out  no  loam  should  be  used,  and  lots  of 
sand  should  be  mi.xed  with  the  peat.  Great  care 
must  be  taken  that  the  old  balls  do  not  get  dry, 
and  plenty  of  rain-water  must  be  given  when  the 
plants  are  growing  well.  Superfluous  moisture 
must  always  drain  quickly  away. — W.  Uallimore. 
Home-made  and  imported  jam.— 

In  common  probably  with  other  readers  of  The 
Garden  I  am  in  receipt  of  a  circular  emanating 
from  a  body  called  the  Fruit  Growers'  Federa- 
tion, which  invites  co-operation  in  an  effort  to 
prevent  the  British  public  from  purchasing  jams 
made  of  "foreign  fruit"  in pi-ef erence  to  those  made 


from  fruit  grown  at  home  and  in  our  eolonies.  It 
is  specifically  stated  that  fruit  sent  here  from 
France,  Germany,  Holland,  and  Belgium,  near 
countries,  and  from  which  we  obtain  enormous 
quantities  of  dessert  fruit  in  the  best  possible 
condition,  must,  of  necessity,  when  such  fruit  is 
sent  for  jam  making,  be  in  bad  condition  when  it 
arrives  and  be  unfit  for  jam  making.  Why  that 
should  be  so  no  information  is  given.  Still  further, 
why  fruit  which  is  in  transit  one  night  only  should 
be  bad,  whilst  that  coming  from  our  colonies 
taking  weeks  to  reach  us  must,  of  necessity,  be 
good,  I  fail  to  understand.  A  similar  circular 
was  read  to  the  fruit  committee  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  at  a  recent  meeting,  and 
treated  with  the  contempt  it  deserved.  It  was 
pointed  out  that  it  prevented  our  effort  to  obtain 
some  sort  of  protection  for  British-grown  fruit  at 
the  expense  of  foreign  fruit  to  the  manifest  cost  of 
the  British  consumer.  A  further  circular  from  the 
secretary  of  this  so-called  federation  asked  that 
efforts  be  made  to  compulsorily  label  all  jams  as 
either  of  foreign  or  home-grown  fruit.  That  practice 
was  adopted  in  another  case  a  few  years  since, 
manifestly  to  the  advantage  of  the  imported  pro- 
duct. If  British  jams  are  better  than  foreign 
fruit  jams,  and  are  sold  as  cheaply,  they  need  no 
labelling  as  to  origin,  as  the  public  are  sharp  to 
favour  the  best.  If  the  foreign  fruit  should  be 
most  preferred  how  would  the  labelling  benefit  the 
British  jam  ?  The  whole  thing  is  an  insidious 
effort  to  interfere  with  and  restrict  trade,  and 
cannot  benefit  British  fruit  culture  one  atom. — 
A.  Deax. 
Prunus    pseudo  -  Cerasus    under 

g'lass. — This  .Japanese  Cherry  is  very  beautiful, 
not  only  in  the  spring  when  flowering  out  of  doors, 
but  also  at  the  present  time  in  the  greenhouse. 
To  obtain  flowers  now  gentle  forcing  is  necessary  ; 
indeed,  hard  forcing  is  a  mistake  for  rosaceous 
plants  in  general,  as  if  brought  on  rapidly  in  this 
way  the  flowers  soon  drop.  For  the  last  two  or 
three  years  these  flowering  Cherries  have  been 
finely  shown  at  the  early  meetings  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  and  have  attracted  much 
attention.  One  of  the  finest,  known  as  .James  H. 
Veitch,  was  awarded  a  first-class  certificate  three 
years  ago.  In  this  the  semi-double  blossoms  are 
of  a  pleasing  shade  of  deep  pink  and  about  a 
couple  of  inches  in  diameter,  while  the  young 
leaves  are  of  a  pretty  bronzj'  tint.  The  variety 
Watered,  with  double  blush-tinted  flowers,  is  not 
new,  but  very  beautiful.  Though  this  Cherry 
attains  the  dimensions  of  a  tree,  it  will  flower 
freely  when  not  more  than  3  feet  high,  that  is  if 
the  plants  are  grown  especially  for  such  a  purpose. 
Where  hardy  shrubs  for  forcing  are  made  a  spe- 
ciality of,  this  Cherrj'  in  its  different  forms  is 
grown  in  considerable  numbers. — H.  P. 

The  Tree  Tomato.  —  Mr.  H.  Dugmore 

asks  (on  page  110)  for  information  as  to  the  Tree 
Tomato.  From  his  description  I  should  imagine 
that  there  was  little  doubt  but  that  the  plant  he 
has  is  Cyphomandra  betacea.  In  the  winter  of 
1893  I  received  three  seeds  which  had  been  brought 
home  from  Ceylon  (the  plant  is  a  native  of 
Southern  Brazil)  and  which  in  due  time  ger- 
minated. When  about  2  feet  in  height  the  seed- 
lings were  planted  out  in  a  large  span-roofed 
Tomato  house,  where  they  grew  at  a  prodigious 
rate,  and  by  the  autumn  had  reached  a  height  of 
12  feet.  In  September  they  opened  a  few  clusters 
of  whitish,  solanaceous  flowers  at  the  extremity 
of  the  stalk,  which,  up  to  within  a  foot  of  the  top, 
was  branchless.  Some  of  the  leaves  were  fully 
24  inches  in  length  by  over  12  inches  in  breadth, 
and  possessed  a  most  unpleasant  odour,  rivalling 
that  of  the  foliage  of  Clerodendron  ftetidum. 
During  the  winter,  no  heat  being  kept  in  the 
house,  the  leaves  died,  and  the  top  of  the  stem  of 
one  plant  was  cut  off  at  a  height  of  about  6  feet, 
the  other  two  plants  being  rooted  up.  In  the 
spring  the  remaining  plant  sprouted  all  up  the 
stem,  and,  the  lower  growths  being  rubbed  off, 
eventually  formed  a  large  head  some  6  feet  in 
diameter  and  rather  over  12  feet  high.  It  flowered 
profusely  and  bore  large  clusters  of  fruit.  These 
fruits  were  smooth  and  somewhat  egg-shaped, 
more  pointed  at  the  apex  than  at  the  base,  and 


turned  a  dull  orange-red  when  ripe,  I  have  seen  it 
stated  that  the  fruit  is  palatable,  but  my  personal 
opinion  after  eating  it  both  cooked  and  raw  is  that 
it  is  distinctly  the  reverse.  The  Tree  Tomato  is  a 
plant  of  noble  appearance,  and  is  especially  striking 
when  laden  with  its  clusters  of  flowers  or  fruits, 
while  its  large  leaves  have  a  truly  tropical  look. 
Owing  to  the  size  it  attains  it  naturally  requires  a 
large  house  to  enable  it  to  display  its  form  to  the 
best  effect,  but  though  a  handsome  plant  its  owner 
will  study  his  own  comfort  if  he  refrains  from 
touching  its  leaves. — S.  W.  Fitzherbbkt,  South 
Devon. 

Though  the  description  given  of   the  Tree 

Tomato  at  Kew  in  1900  was  perfectly  accurate  the 
plant  will  naturally  grow  much  taller.  Your 
correspondent  (Mr.  Dugmore)  does  not  state  what 
soil  the  plants  are  growing  in  or  what  amount  of 
light  they  receive.  Cyphomandra  betacea  revels 
in  as  much  light  as  English  seasons  can  accord  and 
prefers  a  loamy  soil,  when  growth  is  more  compact 
than  is  the  case  in  a  lighter  mixture.  Mr.  Dugmore 
should  rsduce  the  stem  to  2  inches  from  the  glass 
and  select  three  or  four  branches  to  form  the  main 
head.  From  these  others  will  produce  fruit. 
Under  the  best  conditions  growth  is  somewhat 
rampant,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  thin  the 
growth  of  the  Kew  plant  two  or  three  times 
during  the  season. — Alice  P.  HtrTCHiiNGS,  The 
Colleije,  Swanlcy. 

Gloriosa  superba  for  winter 

flowering'. — This  is  also  known  as  the  Climbing 
Lily,  and  is  an  interesting  plant  for  growing  under 
glass.  The  petals  of  the  flowers  are  gold  and 
scarlet  in  colour  and  curiously  twisted.  For 
growing  on  the  roof  of  a  warm  house  or  training 
over  steps  or  on  a  trellis  in  a  pot  it  is  most  useful. 
In  many  instances  when  grown  in  a  pot  it  is  not 
given  sufficient  light,  and  then  the  flowers  are  of 
poor  colour  and  the  growth  weak.  One  is  apt  to 
think  then  that  the  variety  is  not  the  true  one, 
although  there  is  a  marked  difference  in  some 
compared  to  others.  This  I  have  often  seen.  A 
variety  is  growing  here  collected  by  a  lady  in  its 
native"  habitat.  The  flower  has  much  larger  and 
broader  petals  and  higher  colour.  Most  cultiva- 
tors grow  this  for  summer  blooming,  for  which  it 
is  well  suited,  but  I  regard  most  things  of  greater 
value  if  they  can  be  had  in  bloom  when  the  outside 
garden  is  less  gay  than  at  that  season,  and  it  is 
more  prized  tor  cutting  in  autumn  and  winter  than 
in  summer.  Some  may  say  we  have  Chrysanthe- 
mums in  autumn,  but  it  is  not  everyone  who  cares 
for  these  flowers,  and  liere  they  always  take 
second  place.  It  is  then  the  Gloriosa  is  useful  to 
cut  from.  Our  rule  is  to  shake  out  the  bulbs  in 
April,  potting  them  again  and  placing  at  the 
coldest  end  of  the  stove.  In  this  position  they  do 
not  show  signs  of  growth  until  after  midsummer, 
when  they  are  given  a  light  position  and  a 
stake  placed  to  the  growths.  When  tall 
enough  they  are  trained  to  a  trellis  under  the 
glass,  and  given  a  little  stimulant  frequently 
when  the  pots  are  full  of  roots.  In  this  way  they 
continue  blooming  from  September  until  the 
middle  of  January.  The  soil  we  use  is  turfy 
loam  and  peat  in  equal  parts,  with  charcoal  and 
sand  to  keep  it  open. — J.  Crook,  Fm'de  Abbey, 
Chard. 

Thermometers.— Your  correspondent,  Mr. 
Edward  Mawley,  recommends  the  use  of  a  Six's 
thermometer.  Having  for  the  last  twenty  years 
taken  meteorological  records,  I  have  had  to  do 
with  these,  and  my  experience  has  been  that  they 
are  not  only  very  expensive,  but  beyond  all  com- 
parison the  most  untrustworthy  and  most  likely 
to  get  out  of  order,  and  I  have  discontinued  their 
use  for  all  purposes  for  some  time  past.  In  our 
periodical  testing  and  comparison  of  our  ther- 
mometers with  a  Kew  standard  instrument  it  was 
a  very  rare  thing  to  find  any  of  the  Six's  pattern 
registering  correctly.  They  were  simply  an  ex- 
pensive nuisance,  and  their  readings  were  never 
taken  as  correct  without  verification.  The  ordinary 
horizontal  pattern  requires  no  magnet,  and  can  be 
trusted  with  very  rare  exceptions  for  at  least 
twelve  months.  Some  will  go  for  several  years 
within  a  small  fractional  error.  Another  utterly 
untrustworthy  form  is  the  thermograph,  or  record- 


156 


THfe   GAJRDE^. 


[March  8,  1§02. 


iug  thermometer,  driven  by  clockwork.  They  are 
costly,  pretty,  and  amusing,  but  they  are  very 
rarely  correct  in  all  parts  of  the  scale,  and  they 
vary  from  week  to  week,  and  sometimes  from  day 
to  day.  to  such  an  extent  that  they  can  only  be 
considered  as  a  scientific  toy.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  barograph,  a  recording  barometer,  is  as  steady 
and  reliable  as  a  first-rate  aneroid,  with  the  same 
fault,  i.e.,  it  usually  drops  slowly  below  standard 
and  requires  a  slight  correction  every  year  or  so. 
— Thos.  Fletcher,  F.C.8.,  GrappenhaU,  Chrxhire. 

I  have  read  with  surprise  Mr.  T.  Fletcher's 

sweeping  condemnation  of   a  thermometer  which 
has  held  its  ground  for  over  a  century  and  is  still 
very  largely  used.     Like  an  aneroid   barometer  it 
is  not  what  is  termed  an  "instrument  of  precision," 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  an  extremely  useful 
form  of  thermometer,  and  .sufficiently  accurate  for 
all  ordinary  purposes.     In  gardens  extreme  accu- 
racy  is   not   required,    because   the   difference    of 
position,  ef  exposure,  and  of  height  above  ground 
will  often  make  a  greater  difference  in  the  readings 
of  a  thermometer  than  any  ordinary  error  due  to 
the  instrument  itself.     Like  all  other  self-register- 
ing thermometers,  a  Six's  thermometer  is  liable  to 
get  out  of  order,  but  after  carefully  weighing  all 
its  adrantages  and  disadvantages  with  those  of  the 
ordinary  horizontal  self-registering  thermometers 
I   came   to    the   conclusion    that    the   Six's   were 
preferable  for  use  in  gardens  if  mounted,  as  recom- 
mended,   firmly  and    in   a    shaded    and    vertical 
position.     I  have  had  three  Six's  thermometers  in 
constant  use  for  over  twenty  years,  and  have  never 
had  the  least  trouble  with  any  of  them.     On  the 
other    hand,    the   ordinary    Rutherford_  minimum 
thermometer  used  in  gardens  is  always  getting  out 
of  order  ;  indeed,  it  is  very  seldom  on  visiting  a 
garden — and   I   have   seen   a   good    many — that  I 
have   found  this  instrument  without  some   spirit 
lodged  in  the  upper  end  of  the  tube,  and,  conse- 
quently,   to   that   extent   reading   incorrectly  ;    it 
may  be  from  1°  to  as  much  as  6^'  or  8".     It  is  for 
this    reason    that    in   times   of    severe   frost,    for 
instance,  so  little  reliance  can  be   placed  on  the 
very  low  temperatures  often  registered  by  garden 
thermometers.      Your    correspondent   appears    to 
have  been  equally   unfortunate  with  his  thermo- 
graph as  witli  his  Six's  thermometers,  whereas  I 
have  had  a  Richard  thermograph  in  use  nearly  as 
long  as  my  Six's  thermometers,  and  regard  it  as 
one  of  the  most  useful  and  interesting  instruments 
anyone  could   possess,  although   its   records   may 
not  precisely  follow  the  indications  of   a  verified 
standard   thermometer.     I   may   say   that  I  take 
several  times  daily  a  good  many  observations  with 
verified  thermometers  for  meteorological  purposes, 
but    consider    that     a     good     Six's    thermometer 
mounted   on    a   post   would   practically    give    me 
equally   as  well  all   that   I   want  to   know  as  to 
the  temperatures  to  which  the  plants  in  ray  garden 
have  been  subjected  during  the  previous  twenty- 
four  hours. — Edward  Mawley. 


for  want  of  water.    Gradually  harden  off,  and 
when  they  are  about  6  inches  high  put  out  into 
their   permanent  quarters.     Then   the  ground 
should  be  l>roken  up  and  levelled.     Lift  with 
a  good  ball  of  soil,  which  should  be  made  firm 
round    each    one    when   planted.      Give   each 
plant   plenty  of  room,  as   nothing   is   gained 
by  overcrowding  ;   3   feet  should   be  allowed 
between   the  rows   and  2  feet  6  inches  from 
plant  to  plant,  and  water  freely  with  clear 
water.      The    draw  hoe    must    be   frequently 
used,  and  copious  supplies   of  sewage   water 
given  in  hot,  dry  weather.    For  later  supiilies  a 
second  sowing  should  be  made  about  April  10. 
IJy  the  end  of  September  place  a  stick  against 
the  most  promising  plants  for  identification, 
also  stake   the  selected    ones  to  keep  them 
uiiright.    Every  ten  days  a  teaspoonful  of  a 
good  artificial  manure  should  be  washed  down 
to   the   roots   of    the   selected   plants.     When 
Brussels  Sprouts  are  exhibited  on  their  stems 
three  is  generally  the  number.    These  should 
have  clean,  firm  buttons  from  top  to  bottom. 
Remove    the    large    under    leaves,    also    any 
decaying  ones  from  the  buttons.    Syringe  the 
stems  and  roots  with  clear  water,  and  fix  them 
in  small  pots  for  staging.    Where  the  detached 
Sprouts  only  are   exhibited,  fifty  is  generally 
the   number.     Take   them   off   with   a  knife, 
leaving  a  small  part  of  the  stem  to  assist  in 
handling  them.     Splendid  exhibition  varieties 
are  Cutbush's  Giant  and  Sutton's  Exhibition. 
A  common  mistake  in  exhibiting  these  is  that 
the  buttons  are  generally  staged   much  too 
large  ;  they  should  be  of  medium  size,  quite 
firm,  and  with  a  perfectly  smooth  surface. 


EXHIBITION    VEGETABLES. 

(Continued  from  page  143.) 
Brussels  Sprouts. 
For  late  autumn  shows  a  good  dish  of 
Brussels  Sprouts  forms  a  pleasing  and  telling 
feature  in  all  collections  of  vegetables  where 
eight  varieties  and  more  are  required.  Un- 
doubtedly the  best  soil  for  Brussels  Sprouts 
is  a  good  heavy  loam,  but  properly  prepared 
almost  any  land  is  suitable.  As  a  long  season 
of  growth  is  required  the  ground  should  be 
deeply  trenched  in  winter  and  a  heavy  dressing 
of  farmyard  manure  incorporated,  leaving  the 
surface  rough  until  spring,  when  as  open  a 
position  as  possible  should  be  chosen.  Sow  the 
seeds  thinly  in  pans  or  boxes  under  glass  at 
the  end  of  February  or  early  in  March.  As 
soon  as  possible  prick  out  the  seedlings  in 
boxes  .3  inches  apart,  and  later  on  transfer  to 
a  border  outside  in  a  sheltered  position.  After 
the  first  pricking  off  damp  over  and  shade  for 
a  few  days,  and  never  allow  tlie  plants  to  suffer 


Beetroot. 
Though  not  such  an  important  vegetable  as 
many  others  for  exhibition,  every  exhibitor  of 
vegetables   should   be   prepared   with   a  good 
disb  or  two.    It  should   be  included  in  all 
large   collections,  but   not  in   any  containing 
less  than  ten.     To  obtain  first-class  specimens 
a  deep  light  loam  is  necessary,  and  the  Beet 
should  be  grown  on  land  previously  occupied 
by  Celery,   and   no   manure   used   when   pre- 
paring the  ground  for  this  croj).     As  soon  as 
the  Celery  has  been  cleared  off  commence  to 
trench,  giving  a  dressing  of  old  mortar  rubbish, 
road  scrapings,  and  wood  ashes.    The  practice 
of  boring  holes  as  advised  for  Carrots  also 
holds  good  in  this  case,  whatever  soil  one  may 
have  to  deal  with.     Bore  the  holes  4  feet  deep, 
15  inches  apart,  and  is  inches  between  the 
rows,  filling  in  firmly  with   old  potting  soil, 
road    scrapings,    old    hot-bed    manure,    well 
decayed  leaf-soil,  mortar  rubbish,  and  wood 
ashes,  passing  the  whole  through  a  quarter  inch 
mesh  sieve.    Place  four  or  five  seeds  in  the 
centre  about  2  inches  below  the  surface.     In 
the  early  morning  dust  with   soot  and  wood 
ashes  occasionally,  and  keep  the  Dutch  hoe 
busy  between  the  plants  when  they  appear  to 
be  making  headway.    Thin  out  as  advised  in 
other  instances,  and  three  or  four  times  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  growing  season  a  slight 
dressing  of  a  good  artificial  manure  may  be 
given,  choosing  a  showery  day  for  the  purpose. 
At  the  first  sign  of  frost  lift  the  roots,  twist 
off  a  few  of  the  outer  leaves,  and  store  the 
crop   in  a  cool  position,  from   which  frost  is 
excluded,  in  finely  sifted  road  sand.    For  ex- 
hibition they  should  be  of  medium  size,  evenly 
tapering,  regular,  with  a  clean  skin,  and  about 
12  inches  to  1.3  inches  long.    Soak  for  half  an 
hour  in  cold  water,  then  sponge  carefully,  a,nd 
remove  any  small  rootlets  with  a  sharp  knife. 
The  young  fresh  leaves  should  be  left  on,  and 
the  roots  syringed  just  before  leaving  them  to 
be  judged.     Good   long-rooted    varieties  are 
Bar'r's  Covent  Garden,  Pragnell's  Exhibition, 


Dell's  Dark  Bed,  and  Sutton's  Dark  Red.  For 
early  use  Carter's  Crimson  Ball  and  Sutton's 
Globe  are  good.  These  should  be  sown  about 
April  20  in  rows  1  foot  apart,  and  the  plants 
thinned  out  to  10  inches  between  each.  A  good 
soil  for  this  crop  is  that  described  in  the  first 
instance,  and  the  best  situation  a  south  border. 

Carrots. 

Select  a  deep  sandy  loam  for    this    crop, 
although   capital  roots    are   often  grown   on 
sandy  peat,  but  seldom  indeed  can  exhibition 
specimens  of  the  fine.st  ty])e  be  produced  unless 
special  means  are  taken  to  procure  them.    Few 
things  are  more  attractive  when  at  their  best 
than  Carrots  at  any  season  of  the  year,  con- 
seijuently  the   additional  trouble  incurred  to 
secure  them  is  time  well   spent.     For  early 
shows  the  seed    must  be  sown   under  glas.s 
during  .January  or  February,  or,  better  still, 
one  sowing  at  the  beginning  of  each  month. 
A  brick  pit  with  sufficient  hot  water  piping  to 
counteract  frost  is  a  distinct  advantage,  and 
failing    this  suVistitute    a    hot-bed  of  leaves. 
There  must  be  no  undue  hurry  in  placing  the 
prepared  material  in  the  frames,  for  should  this 
become  overheated  the  chances  of  good  clean 
Carrots  are  remote.    Sufficient  warmth  should 
be  maintained  to  create  a  growing  temperature. 
Get   together  a  compost   embracing  the   fol- 
lowing ingredients,  or  as  much  like  them  as 
possible :  Old  potting  soil,  road  grit,  old  mortar 
rubbish,  peat,  well-decayed  leaf-soil,  and  light 
sandy  loam  which  has  been  stacked  tor  some 
time.     Mix  in  equal  proportions,  and  to  every 
fifteen  barrowloads  of  the  former  add  one  of 
wood  ashes  and  half  a  bushel  of  bone-meal  or 
Clay's  Fertiliser,  passing  the  whole  through  a 
quarter   inch    mesh    sieve,   which    should    be 
prepared  some  days  beforehand  and  thoroughly 
incorporated.     In  the  bottom  of  the  pit  place 
a  layer  of  3  inches  of    old   Mushroom    bed 
material,  covering  this  with  the  compost  to 
the  depth  of  18  inches  or  2  feet.    Three  good 
varieties  for  these  sowings  are  New  Scarlet 
Intermediate,   Champion    Scarlet    Horn,   and 
Veitch's   Model.     On   fine   days   the   sowings 
should  be  syringed,  shutting  up  the  structure 
early  in  the  afternoon.     Thin  out  as  soon  as 
the  seedlings  are  large  enough  to  handle,  only 
partially  at   first,   but    later   on   thin   out  to 
3  inches  apart ;  ventilate  freely  as  they  get 
established,  ultimately  entirely  removing  the 
lights.    Young  Carrots  may  be  pulled  from 
time  to  time  for  immediate  use,  thus  allowing 
those  intended  for  exhibition  space  to  develop 
properly.      For    autumn    and    winter    shows 
the  second  week  in  April  is  a  suitable  time  to 
make  a  sowing.    No  manure  should  be  added 
to   the  ground,  which   should   be  thoroughly 
trenched    during   winter,   and   unless    soil    is 
available  similar  to   that  first  named   boring 
holes  must   be  resorted  to   and  filled  with  a 
mixture  similar  to  that  previously  described. 
So  certain  is  one  in  making  sure  of  a  large 
percentage    of    typical    roots    that    I    would 
strongly    advise    everyone    to     practice    this 
plan  if    only  a  row  or  two  be  done.     The 
holes  should   be  bored   with  an  iron  bar  to 
the  depth  of  3  feet  4   inches,   and  allow   a 
distance  of  13  inches  from  plant  to  plant.    The 
rows   should   be   18   inches   apart.      Use  the 
mixture  in  all  cases  moderately  dry,  and  ram 
it  firmly  with  a  stick.     Place  about  six  seeds, 
which  should  be  just  covered,  in  each  hole,  and 
neatly  rake  over  the  soil.   Thin  out  the  resulting 
seedlings,  leaving  three  of  the  most  promising 
for  a  week  or  ten  days,  after  which  thin  to 
one,   leaving,    of    course,    the    strongest    and 
healthiest  plant  as  close  as  possible  to  the 
centre  of  the  hole.    Dust  the  growths  in  early 
morning  with  fresh  soot  once  a  week.     Green- 


1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


157 


established  bulbs  but  seedlings  a  year  old, 
raised  from  seed  off  plants  which  have  been 
grown  in  the  open,  perished,  thus  destroy- 
ing a  cherished  belief  that  the  Ixiolirions 
were  hardy.  I  never  cut  down  either  the 
foliage  or  flower  spikes  of  such  things 
until  they  are  quite  ripe,  so  that  I  cannot 
attribute  the  losses  to  this  cause. 

This  one  regrets,  as  they  are  all  that 
Mr.  Mallett  says  in  their  favour,  and 
one  was  disappointed  to  find  that  their 
hardiness  was  not  pronounced  enough 
for  all  gardens  in  all  winters.  In  the 
south  they  may  do  well  enough,  but  even 
here,  where  it  is  much  milder  than  in 
the  Midlands  of  England,  they  are  too 
tender  for  outside  in  all  winters.  This, 
however,  need  not  prevent  their  more 
extended  cultivation.  They  are  ideal 
frame  plants,  and,  as  Mr.  Mallett  juslly 
remarks,  are  of  the  greatest  possible  use 
for  the  cool  greenhouse,  where  their 
pretty  blue  flowers  will  be  admired  by 
everyone.  S.  A. 


THK    RARE   liALA^vTHUS    ALLE.VI    AT    KEW. 


fly  is  often  very  troul^lesome  in  tlie  young 
stages  of  growth,  but  tliis  may  be  easily  got 
rid  of  by  a  timely  application  of  strong  soft 
soap  and  water,  whicti  should  be  distributed 
with  a  syringe.  Keep  the  hoe  constantly  plied 
between  the  plants  when  the  growth  is  of  fair 
size.  Mulch  the  whole  of  the  ground  with  old 
Mushroom  bed  manure  to  the  depth  of  1  inch, 
and  during  spells  of  dry  weather  occasionally 
water  the  crop  thoroughly.  The  whole  of 
the  crop  should  be  carefully  lifted  when  the 
growth  is  completed,  otherwise  many  of  the 
best  roots  will  split.  The  best  exhibition 
specimens  are  quite  clean,  of  moderate  size, 
symmetrical  in  form,  and  of  a  good  dark  red 
colour.  Trim  off  all  small  rootlets  with  a 
sharp  knife,  partly  reduce  the  tops,  and  store 
in  a  cool  shed  or  cellar  in  fine  sand,  placing  the 
roots  in  an  upright  position.  When  preparing 
them,  the  day  previous  to  the  exhibition,  soak 
the  specimens  for  about  an  hour,  clean  them 
with  a  soft  sponge,  and  thoroughly  rinse 
iu  clear  water.  Cracked  specimens,  those 
attacked  by  wireworm  or  have  green  tops, 
should  be  rejected.  For  all  autumn  and  late 
shows  there  is  no  variety,  in  my  opinion,  to 
beat  a  true  type  of  the  New  Red  Intermediate, 
but,  at  the  same  time,  when  first-class  speci- 
mens of  Long  Surrey  can  be  had,  it  is  a  very 
close  rival.  E.  Beckett. 

(To  be  continued.) 


as  they  age.  No  trace  of  orange  or  red  is  apparent 
in  the  flowers  at  any  time,  a  distinction  also 
enjoyed  by  the  hybrids  Stella,  Solfaterre,  and 
the  coarse  and  uninteresting  Star  of  Baden-Baden, 
a  star  of  a  buff-yellow  tint,  and  one  that  shines  as 
though  through  a  London  fog,  compared  with  the 
red  or  golden  brilliancy  of  its  fellows.  Lemon 
Queen  suggests  a  different  use  to  that  made  of 
the  majority  of  Torch  Lilies.  It  is  not  strong 
enough  in  growth  to  be  of  much  use  in  bold  displays 
calculated  to  be  effective  at  a  distance.  It  is  better 
adapted  to  the  herbaceous  border— not  too  far 
from  the  path  -where  the  unusual  but  very 
pleasing  colour  of  its  flowers  would  not  be  lost. 
It  is  neat  in  habit,  never  ragged  looking,  and  in 
the  matter  of  floriferousness  the  best  Torch  Lily 
raised  in  recent  years.  Geo.  B.  Mallett. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

KNIPHOFIA    LEMON    QUEEN. 

KNIPHOFIA  LEMON  QUEEN,  a  seed- 
ling form  of  K.  citrina,  stands  out  dis- 
tinctly from  others  of  its  race  in  the 
matter  of  stature  and  the  soft,  refined 
colour  of  its  flowers.  The  plant  is  a 
slender  grower,  though  it  soon  forms  a 
tuft  strong  enough  to  produce  several  spikes  of 
flowers.  The  leaves  average  3  feet  in  length,  the 
stems  2  feet,  terminating  in  dense  spikes  of  lemon- 
yellow  tubular  flowers,  slightly  tinted  with  green 
when  they  first  appear,  and  assuming  a  silvery  tint 


GALANTHUS  ALLENL 
This  handsome  Snowdrop  was  introduced  amongst 
a  stock  of  the  Caucasian  G.  latifolius,  sent  to  Mr. 
Allen,  the  well-known  Snowdrop  specialist,  from 
Austria  in  1883  by  Herr  Gusmus.  In  1891  it  was 
described  as  a  new  species  by  Mr.  Baker,  who  says 
that  it  is  evidently  midway  between  G.  latifolius 
and  G.  caucasicus.  It  has  the  short  broad  leaves 
of  the  former.  They  are,  however,  not  bright 
green  but  slightly  glaucescent,  and  it  has  the  large 
flowers  of  the  latter  with  their  very  convex  obovate 
outer  segments,  and  inner  segments  like  those  of 
G.  caucasicus  with  a  large  horse-shoe  shaped  green 
blotch  on  the  upper  half.  It  is  undoubtedly  one  of 
the  most  distinct  and  handsome  Snowdrops  in 
cultivation,  possessing  broad  arching  leaves  and 
large  flowers.  The  photograph  represents  a  group 
growing  in  a  warm  south  border  at  Kew  where  it 
has  been  undisturbed  for  many  3'ears.  Although 
the  plants  are  growing  and  increasing  freely  no 
mature  seed  has  ever  been  gathered.  W.  I. 


PRIMULA  MEGASE^FOLTA. 
This  pretty  Primula,  referred  to  in  "Kew 
Notes  "  on  page  1 15  of  The  Garden  o 
the  1.5  thult.,  and  by  Miss  Willmott  on  Feb- 
ruary 22,  has  been  attempting  to  flower  in 
the  open  here  for  about  three  months, 
but  it  is  rather  painful  to  see  how  often 
its  efforts  are  frustrated  by  the  weather. 
A  bloom  or  two  opened  at  a  time,  merely 
to  be  spoilt  by  a  sharp  night  or  two  of 
frost,  until  the  climax  came  in  the  blizzard 
at  the  end  of  the  first  week  of  February. 
Since  then  it  has  been  under  snow,  where  I 
hope  it  may  be  allowed  to  remain  until  a  more  season- 
able time  comes  to  us.  This  winier-flowering,  how- 
ever acceptable  for  plants  grown  in  pots  in  the  cool 
or  cold  house  or  the  frame,  is,  as  a  rule,  to  be 
regretted  except  in  one  of  the  mild  winters  we 
sometimes  have — winters  which  all  who  grow  early 
hardy  flowers  appreciate  unless  followed  by  a 
biting  spring.  Primula  megaseaefolia  is  a  distinct 
looking  plant,  and  is  attractive  when  in  flower  or 
only  showing  its  pretty  foliage.  It  looks  as  if  it 
would  be  hardy  here  in  a  shady  position  in  rather 
moist  soil.  S.  Arnott. 

Caraethorn,  by  Damfries,  N.B. 


THE  IXIOLIRIONS. 

I  AM  sorry  to  have  to  express  a  different  opinion 
about  the  hardiness  of  the  Ixiolirions  from  that 
held  by  Mr.  Mallett,  whose  contributions  to  our 
knowledge  of  bulbs  and  their  ways  are  always  so 
valuable.  For  the  first  few  years  in  which  I  grew 
them  I  held  strongly  to  the  opinion  that  I  had 
lighted  upon  a  pretty  and  distinct  hardy  bulbous 
plant.  A  severe  winter  had,  however,  the  effect 
of  forcing  me  to  alter  my  opinion,  as  not  only 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

VIOLET    CULTURE. 

VIOLETS  are  without  doubt  the  most 
eagerly  sought  after  flowers  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  year.  Every 
endeavour  should  therefore  be  made  to 
ensure  a  good  supply  and  extend  the 
season  as  long  as  possible.  They  now 
find  a  place  in  most  gardens,  but  in  very  few  do 
they  grow  well  and  flower  freely  through  the 
winter  months.  There  is  generally  little  difficulty 
in  getting  an  abundance  of  flowers  in  the  spring 
months,  even  from  poorly  grown  plants ;  but  unless 
the  plants  are  well  grown  from  the  start  and  in 
their  winter  quarters  by  the  middle  of  September 
and  well  set  with  flower  buds,  it  is  impossible  to 
get  a  good  supply  through  the  winter.  To  ensure 
an  early  and  plentiful  picking  propagate  early. 
During  February  the  plants  in  the  frames  should 
be  mulched  with  a  mixture  of  loam,  leaf-soil,  and 
cocoanut-fibre  refuse.  Press  this  firmly  round  the 
base  of  the  plants,  and  in  about  a  month  the  latter 
can  be  taken  up,  and  most  of  the  side  growths  will 
have  made  roots.  These  should  be  potted  into 
3-inch  pots  in  the  same  soil  as  advised  for  the 
mulching.  A  little  sand  may  be  added,  and  they 
should  then  be  plunged  in  fibre  in  cold  frames, 
near  the  glass,  and  kept  close  until  root-action  has 
again  commenced.  Then  admit  air  freely.  No 
coddling  must  be  allowed  in  their  cultivation  from 
start  to  finish.  As  soon  as  they  have  become  well 
rooted  stand  them  outside  in  a  sheltered  position 
where  they  can  be  protecrted  at  night.     In  the 


158 


THE    GAKDEN 


j  Makch  8,  1902, 


BEED1NC;WOOD  :    FRUIT    WALL   AND    MIXLU    DORDEK.       ( rhiil,ijjrap/,ni  III/  Mr.   N.  Oddie.) 


which  had  been  broken  by  storms  and  maltreated 
by  someone  who  had  sawed  large  limbs  from  it, 
until  it  was  an  unsightly  looking  object  as  it  stood. 
As  I  looked  at  it  I  fancied  I  saw  it  clothed  with 
Wistarias  and  Virginia  Creepers,  and  presenting 
such  a  beautiful  appearance  that  pleased  passers-by 
stopped  to  look  at  it.  It  could  easily  be  done. 
Some  strong  Virginia  Creepers  set  on  one  side  and 
some  Wistarias  on  the  other  would  accomplish  this: 
The  tree  was  large,  and  the  Wistaria  would  not 
flower  till  it  had  surmounted  it,  which  would  take 
some  years  ;  but  from  the  first  the  Virginia  Creeper 
would  give  its  cimson  coloured  foliage  in  the 
autumn  from  every  portion  it  had  embraced. 

The  nurseryman  and  the  florist  need  to  keep  a 
matter  like  this  in  mind,  and,  where  they  know  of 
the  existence  of  a  tree  or  shrub  of  this  nature, 
explain  to  the  owner  what  a  desirable  transforma- 
tion could  be  brought  about.  Vines  in  pots  are  the 
best  for  the  purpose,  as  there  is  then  no  check  to 
their  growth.  B. 


BRITISH     HOMES     AND 
GARDENS. 


meantime  the  ground  for  their  summer  quarters 
should  have  been  prepared.  Choose  a  slightly 
shaded  position  during  the  hottest  part  of  the  day. 
Dig  the  ground  deeply,  incorporating  plenty  of 
wood  ashes,  leaf-aoil,  and  spent  Mushroom  manure 
in  near  the  surface  while  digging.  About  tlie 
middle  of  May  is  a  good  time  to  plant  in  rows 
18  inches  apart.  During  tlie  summer  keep  the 
hoe  and  syringe  constantly  at  work,  and  if  the 
weather  becomes  very  hot  mulch  with  stable 
manure.  Pick  off  all  side  shoots  as  soon  as  they 
show. 

For  early  supplies  the  strongest  plants  should 
be  planted  in  frames  early  in  August,  in  soil 
as  advised  above,  with  a  little  Clay's  Fertilizer 
mixed  with  it.  Water  well  at  time  of  planting, 
and  shade  for  a  few  days.  Damp  them  every 
evening  with  a  fine  rose  after  the  sun  is  off  and 
use  rain  water  if  a\ailable.  The  lights  should  not 
be  put  on  until  there  is  sign  of  frost  or  when  heavy 
rains  occur.  These  plants  should  give  a  supply 
during  October  and  November  and  an  abundance 
during  the  spring  months.  We  now  come  to  the 
winter  supply.  Plants  for  this  should  be  grown  in 
6-inch  pots,  and  housed  in  low,  span-roofed  pits, 
where  a  little  heat  can  be  turned  on  during  severe 
weather.  Pot  them  early  in  September  and  let 
them  remain  outside  as  long  as  possible,  protect 
from  heavy  rains,  and,  after  housing,  give  plenty 
of  air  day  and  night,  and  wlien  frost  comes  let  the 
heat  pass  up  the  return  pipe.  I  have  generally 
found  this  enough,  even  in  the  hardest  weather  ; 
avoi<l  draughts,  but  always  bear  in  mind  that 
Violets  cinnot  endure  a  stuffy  atmosphere. 

M.  Taylor. 
The  Gardens,  Penbedw,  North  Walex. 

NARCISSUS  POETICUS  (MAY 
FLOWERING). 
This  is  one  of  the  best  of  Daffodils  for  naturalising, 
for  it  not  only  adapts  itself  to  nearly  all  soils 
(unless  they  are  very  poor)  and  situations,  but 
increases  in  vigour  with  age.  Some  j'ears  ago, 
after  realising  the  value  of  the  Daffodil  for  cutting, 
1  planted  a  lot  down  the  centre  of  rows  of  Goose- 
berries and  Currants  and  also  under  bush  Apples, 
not  in  any  great  variety,  but  so  that  we  should 
secure  a  long  season  from  the  first  flowers  of  N. 
obvallaris  until  the  Gardenia-flowered  Poeticus  was 
at  an  end,  a  period  of  three  months,  and  this  is 
possible  with  the  help  of  a  careful  selection  of  the 
Trumpet,  Star,  and  Pheasanfs-eye  sections.  Of 
the  different  varieties  originally  planted  some  still 
give  us  a  pleasant  lot  of  flower,  others  have 
re(iiiired  renewal,  none  are  up  to  the  form  of  the 
late  single  Poeticus.  An  average  of  some  twenty- 
five  floners  is  obtained  from  each  clump,  the  result 


of  the  bulbs  planted  ten  years  ago.  We  had  nearly 
2,0(10  flowers  last  year  from  a  couple  of  rows,  each 
about  40  feet  long. 

Clarcmont.  E.  Burrell. 

BEAUTIFYING    OLD    TPiEES. 

On  almost  all  private  grounds  of  any  extent  which 
one  may  visit  will  be  found  some  large  shrub,  or 
a  tree  entering  on  its  decay.  In  such  cases,  a  most 
satisfactory  way  is  to  look  on  the  departing  object 
as  a  support  for  vines,  by  which  means  a  picturesque 
and  beautiful  transformation  may  be  produced.  I 
have  seen  so  many  cases  of  this  kind  that  their  use- 
fulness has  impressed  nie  strongly.  Some  very  un- 
sightlj'  trees,  of  large  size,  have  been  beautified, 
and  many  a  shady  bower  formed  by  setting  vines 
to  clamber  over  large  decaying  shrubs  or  small 
trees.  But  two/lays  ago,  when  passing  a  near-by 
residence,  I  saw   a  veteran   native  Chestnut  tree, 


BEEDINGWOOD,  NEAR  HORSHAM. 
A  MONG  all  the.  lovely  districts  of  i^ic- 
j\  turesque   Sussex    none   are   better 

/  \  known  or  admired  than  the 
L — *  ancient  and  beautiful  woods  of 
1  V  St.  Leonards  Forest,  which  extend 
for  miles  in  the  vicinity  of  Horsham. 
Situated  in  the  iijidst.  ot  these  delightful 
woods,  and  surrounded  with  towering  trees, 
deep  pink  [leather  and  Bracken,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  find  a  more  fascinating  spot 
than  Beedingwood,  the  residence  of  the  Rev. 
E.  D.  L.  Harvey.  Approached  by  a  lodge 
(covered  with  a  wealth  of  purple  Clematis  in 
summer)  and  a  fine  .shady  avenue,  this  charm- 
ing property  combines  not  only  beauty  of 
position  and  surroundings  but  is  quite  famed 
for  its  garden?.  The  stately  residence 
overlooks  one  of  the  most  attractive  views  of 
the  forest,  and  in  spring  the  borders  on  the 
terrace'.'t  and]  soft  velvety  lawns  are  brilliant 


BETEUINHIUOUU  ;    l.N    Till;   riAiwlilt   liAUDE.N'.      {l'li'Au<jraphi'd  by  il r.  X.  Oddie.) 


March  8,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


159 


with  a  mass  of  Tulips  and  Hyacinths  and 
other  spring  flowers  of  the  best-known 
varieties.  In  summer  every  part  of  the 
grounds  is  of  surpassing  beauty  and  interest. 
In  all  directions  there  seems  something  to 
admire.  The  lawn  and  other  parts  are  ablaze 
with  flowers,  the  rosary  full  of  choice  varieties 
of  this  favourite  flower,  and  the  hot  houses 
well  stocked.  Nothing  can  exceed  the 
luxuriance  and  beauty  of  the  long  walks 
Ijordered  with  herbaceous  plants  ;  these  form 
quite  a  feature  of  the  place,  and  are  repre- 
sented by  masses  of  the  finest  kinds  for  colour 
and  growth.  Everything  in  the_  kitchen 
garden  is  also  admirably  arranged,  including 
the  trained  espalier  and  other  fruit  trees. 
Striking  features  of  the  grounds  are  the  magni- 
ficent croquet  lawns,  over  which  the  owner  has 
spared  neither  trouble  nor  expense.  These 
have  been  the  scene  of  most  enjoyable  tourna- 
ments. The  large  new  croquet  lawn  is  in  one 
of  the  prettiest  parts  of  the  grounds. 

H.  M.  O. 


THE    SW^EET    PEA. 

(Continued    from    2^''-9^     151.) 
The  Garden  Culture  of  the  Sweet   Pea. 

In  relation  to  the  successful  culture  of  the 
Sweet  Pea,  it  is  not  sufficiently  borne  in  mind 
that  the  plant  branches  freely,  and  in  pro- 
portion as  it  can  freely  branch  is  its  floriferous- 
ness.  The  Sweet  Pea  is  the  most  free  flowering 
of  our  garden  flowers.  To  do  it  full  justice  it 
should  have  a  fairly  firm  soil,  something 
approaching  a  loam  of  a  heavy  nature.  The 
sunniest  spot  in  the  garden  should  be  utilised 
for  the  culture  of  the  Sweet  Pea.  The  spot  to 
be  planted  should  be  treated  as  the  Dahlia 
cultivator  for  exhibition  treats  his — it  should 
be  deeply  dug,  and  in  the  act  of  digging  it  is 
well,  where  it  can  be  done,  to  take  out  the 
surface  soil  a  spit  deep  and  two  spits  wide 
along  the  line  of  ground  to  be  sown  or  planted, 
and  then  forking  up  deeply  as  far  as  it  can 
be  safely  done  the  sub  soil,  working  into  it  a 
good  dressing  of  thoroughly  decomposed  stable 
manure  in  such  a  way  that  it  can  form  a  layei 
6  inches  below  the  surface  when  the  trench  is 
filled  up.  Rank  manure  should  be  sparingly 
employed  ;  the  safest  dressing  is  what  is  well 
decomposed.  The  preparation  of  the  soil 
should  be  done  in  autumn  to  lie  fallow  until 
tliL'  spring. 

In  his  paper  on  "The  Culture  of  Sweet  Peas," 
which  appears  in  the  report  of  the  Bicentenary 
celebration,  Mr.  H.  Dunkin  states  :  "As  a  rule 
varieties  bearing  flowers  of  a  decided  colour 
are  brighter  when  grown  in  an  open  situation 
than  in  a  partially  shaded  one.  On  the  other 
hand,  delicately  tinted  flowers  show  their  true 
beauty  when  grown  in  a  cool  moist  situation, 
where  some  distant  object  affords  a  slight 
shade.  Blue  and  mauve  varieties  succeed  the 
best  under  similar  conditions."  It  may  be 
remarked  that  in  whatever  direction  the  line  of 
plants  may  run, one  side  of  the  row  is  certain  to 
be  in  partial  shade  a  portion  of  the  day. 

Sowing  the  Seed. 

Mr.  Henry  Eckford,  at  Wem,  sows  a  con- 
siderable number  of  Sweet  Peas  in  the  open  in 
the  early  autumn,  and  by  doing  so  secures  an 
early  supply  of  bloom.  A  very  severe  winter 
may  destroy  some,  but  the  main  body  survive, 
and  as  soon  as  the  genial  influence  of  spring 
abounds  growth  is  very  rapid.  Others  with 
heated  houses  at  their  command  sow  a  few 
seeds  in  pots  in  January,  securing  germination 
early ;  the  plants  are  gradually  hardened  off, 
and  planted  out  in  well  prepared  ground  early 


in  April  according  to  the  weather.  Mr.  Eckford 
says  in  reference  to  planting  out,  "  press  the 
soil  firmly  about  the  roots,  and  do  not  disturb 
them  afterwards."  Some  protection  may  be 
necessary  against  harm  from  spring  frosts. 

Sowings  in  the  open  ground  can  be  made 
early  according  to  the  warmth  of  the  position, 
in  a  favourable  spot,  and  if  the  soil  is  fairly  dry 
for  the  season  of  the  year,  a  sowing  can  be 
made  as  early  as  February,  with  successional 
ones  in  March  and  April  if  a  good  supply  of 
bloom  is  to  be  maintained.  Sowing  is  invari- 
ably done  too  thickly.  The  sower  appears  to 
be  quite  oblivious  of  the  fact  that  the  plant 
branches  freely.  The  seed  can  be  placed  in 
the  ground  to  the  depth  of  2  inches  or  .3  inches 
according  as  the  soil  is  heavy  and  light.  If  the 
great  body  of  cultivators  of  the  Sweet  Pea 
could  be  induced  to  sow  these  seeds  4  inches 
apart,  they  would  be  taught  something  of 
the  natural  habit  of  growth  of  this  fragrant 
plant.  If  they  sow  fairly  thickly  they  should 
have  the  courage  to  thin  out  the  plants  as 
required.    The  first  week  or  two  after  the  seeds 


the  roots.  This,  however,  does  not  prevent  the 
plants  from  drawing  supplies  of  nitrogen  from 
solid  or  liquid  manures  placed  within  their 
reach,  but  so  little  benefit  is  derived  from 
heavy  manuring  with  nitrogenous  manures 
that  these  may  be  wasteful,  except  when  applied 
as  a  mulch."  This  is  important  as  counter- 
acting the  indiscriminate  advice  sometimes 
given  in  reference  to  this  matter.  When  the 
plants  come  through  the  soil  an  application 
of  nitrate  of  soda  at  the  rate  of  half  an  ounce 
per  square  yard  helps  to  give  the  plants  a  good 
start  till  they  are  able  to  draw  their  own 
supplies  from  the  atmosphere. 

As  the  plants  grow  it  is  well  to  draw  up  a 
ridge  of  soil  on  either  side  ;  it  proves  a  great 
convenience  when  watering  has  to  be  resorted 
to.  Staking  can  then  be  done.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Hutchins  points  out  that  "  the  Sweet  Pea  is  a 
slow  grower.  It  has  to  be  in  order  to  go 
through  so  long  a  season.  You  will  wonder  all 
through  the  month  of  May  what  it  is  doing,  it 
grows  so  .slowly,  and  people  are  then  apt  to 
over  feed  it  in  trying  to  get  it  along  faster. 


BBEDINGWOOD,    SUSSEX.      (Pliotngmphtd  by  Mr.  X.  Oddle.) 


germinate  a  root  is  produced  out  of  all 
proportion  to  its  tiny  top.  By  the  time  the 
plant  has  a  top  an  inch  high  it  has  sent  a  long 
slender  tap-root  down  3  inches  or  4  inches. 
This  tap-root,  which  gets  to  bo  6  inches  or 
7  inches  long,  indicates  the  value  of  deep 
digging,  as  it  will  go  down  as  deep  as  the  soil 
allows,  a  fact  of  importance  during  a  time  of 
trying  drought.  The  Sweet  Pea  as  a  rule  puts 
forth  but  few  fibrous  roots. 

Some  growers  of  Sweet  Peas  sow  their  seeds 
in  small  circles,  eight  or  ten  in  a  circle,  and 
each  circle  4  feet  to  .5  feet  from  its  fellow. 
Very  fine  blooms  have  been  produced  from 
such  circles.  Where  Sweet  Peas  are  sown  in 
rows  side  by  side  they  should  be  4  feet,  apart 
at  least. 

Mulching  and  Manures. 

Under  this  heading  Mr.  Dunkin  remarks  : 
"The  Pea  being  a  leguminous  plant  has  the 
power,  after  reaching  a  certain  stage  of  de- 
velopment, of  collecting  the  necessary  amount 
of  nitrogen  from  the  atmosphere,  this  important 
work  being  performed  by  the  aid  of  minute 
organisms  located  in  the  nodules  formed  on 


For  days  it  seems  almost  at  a  standstill.  Not 
until  well  along  into  June  does  the  root  appear 
to  feed  rapidly." 

With  the  advent  of  a  time  of  drought  a 
surface  mulch  between  the  rows  should  be 
applied,  half  decayed  stable  manure  is  excellent 
for  the  purpose  ;  it  prevents  evaporation  from 
the  soil,  and  preserves  coolness  in  the  ground. 

Watering. 
The  Sweet  Pea  when  in  full  vigour  draws 
heavily  upon  the  moisture  in  the  soil,  and  with 
hot  drying  days  and  a  high  night  temperature, 
a  thorough  soaking  should  be  given  .almost 
daily.  So  long  as  the  plants  make  a  free  growth 
and  form  buds  artificial  manures  are  scarcely 
necessary,  and  the  incautious  use  of  stimu- 
lants at  certain  stages  has  operated  to  cause 
the  plant  to  break  into  abnormal  growth  and 
delay  the  formation  of  bloom.  Stimulants  are 
best  applied  as  the  buds  begin  lo  colour.  Mr. 
Dunkin  recommends  "drainings  from  stables 
and  cow  sheds,  diluted  with  from  four  to  six 
times  their  bulk  of  clean  water,  as  a  splendid 
fertiliser,  and  if  occasionally  there  be  substi- 
tuted for  it  a  liquid  formed  by  dissolving  a 


160 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  8,  1902. 


pound  of  guano  in  twenty  gallons  of  water,  the 

plants  will  benefit  by  the  change.    Sulphate  of 

potash,  used  at  the  rate  of    one   ounce  per 

gallon  of  water,  is  also 

a   valuable    stinuilant, 

which  may  be  used  at 

all  times.     Soot   tends 

to  brighten  the  colours 

of  the  flowers."    It  is 

scarcely    necessary    to 

state    that    liijuid 

manures  should  not  be 

em])loyed  when  the  soil 

is  dry  ;  an  application 

of  it  given  alternately 

with  ordinary  water  is 

excellent  )iractice. 

I'koloncing  the 

Blooai. 
This  can  be  done 
by  not  permitting  the 
plants  to  form  their 
seed-pods.  As  soon  as 
they  begin  to  mature 
their  seeds  the  bloom 
is  reduced  in  ((iiantity 
and  size. 


Culture  in  Orchard  Houses,  &c. 
The  sowing  of  seeds  in  orchard  houses  and 
other  available  borders  is  followed  by  those 
who  strive  to  have  a  supply 
of  early  bloom  ;  it  is  done  in 
some  quarters  on  a  large 
scale,  and  with  e.xcellent 
results.  To  the  same  end 
Sweet  Peas  are  also  grown 
in  pots  under  gla.ss ;  the 
seeds  are  sown  early  in 
October  in  order  that  the 
plants  be  sturdy  to  pass 
through     the     winter.      As 


SKIMMIA     FOREMANI. 


(slightly  reduced.) 


(Fninra  drau'ittfi  bii  Mifis 


Charters.) 


many  as  six  or  seven  Peas  may  be  sown 
in  a  pot  4  inches  in  diameter,  and  when  the 
jilants  are  a  few  inches  high  and  roots  are 
abundant  they  can  be  repotted  into  larger 
pots,  using  a  rich  soil,  with  which  should  be 
mixed  some  bone-meal  or  other  suitable  fer- 
tiliser. The  plants  can  be  lirought  on  in  a 
temperate  house,  attention  being  given  to 
staking  and  watering,  and  a  supply  of  bloom 
may  be  looked  forward  to  in  April. 

The  Sweet  Pea  ik  a  Cut  State. 
For  house  and  other  decorations  the  Sweet 
Pea  is  invaluable.     Soft  and  attractive  colours 
prevail    among    the    vaiieties,   and    they   are 
much  prized  by  ladies  for  table  decoration  ; 
indeed,  the  Sweet  Pea  lends  itself  to  effective 
use  in  the  whole  range  of  floral  decorations, 
and  it  should  play 
an  important  ])art 
in    the    coming 
Coronation  festivi- 
ties,  as    strenuous 
efforts    are    being 
put    forth   to  pro- 
vide a  sup|ily  of  its 
fragrant  blossoms. 

Selections. 
A  dozen  of  the 
very  best  varieties 
will   be   found    in 
Countess    of 
Lathom,     delicate 
pink  ;      ( lorgeous, 
bright     salmon- 
orange  ;  Lady  Mary 
Curric,    orange- 
pink,     a     lovely 
variety ;  Mrs.  Dug- 
dale,     rose     and 
primrose;  Oriental, 
rich    orange- 
salmon;    Pink 
Friar,  soft  carmine- 
rose    flakes    on    a 
white      ground  ; 
Duke  of  Westmin- 
ster,   rosy   maroon 
and  violet-|iurple  ; 
Lady  < )  risel  Hamil- 
ton, pale  lavender, 
a  charmi  ng  variety ; 
Lord  Kenyon,  rosy 
crimson  ;    Navy 
Blue,   rich    violet- 
blue  ;    and    Sadie 
Burpee,  white.    To 
the  foregoing  may 
be  added  three  of  Mr.  Eckford's  new  varieties  of 
f!)(il — Coccinea,  bright  ro.sy  scarlet ;  Hon.  Mrs. 
E.  Kenyon,  the  finest  prinu'ose  or  yellow  ;  and 
Miss   Willmott,  rich  orange-pink,  one  of  the 
finest  varieties  yet  raised.     Other  fine  varieties 
will  be  found  in  America,  Aurora,  Black  Knight, 
Blanche  liurpee.  Countess  of  lladnor.  Duchess 
of  Sutherland,  Gaiety,  Lottie  Hutchins,  Lovely, 
Her  Majesty,  Mrs.  Eckford,  Princess  of  Wales, 
Prima  Donna,  Salopian,  Stanley,  and  Triumph. 
R.  Dean,  V.M.H. 


summer 


ARTISrS_NOTE-BOOK. 

SKIMMIA    FOREMANI. 
KIMMIAS,  natives   of  the   Himalaya 
and    .Japan,    are    among    the    most 
useful    of    small    evergreen    shrubs, 

ooking  bright  and  cheerful  all  the 
year  with  their  full-green  polished 
leathery     foliage,     while     in     early 

they    bear    a    quantity    of    whitish 


sweet-scented,    rather    Privet-like    bloom   in 


March  8,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


161 


dense  panicles,  and  in  winter  make  a  brilliant 
show  with  their  closely  clustered  scarlet  berries. 
Skiminia  Foremani  appears  to  be  a  larger 
form  of  S.  oblata.  No  shrub  is  better  for  the 
rock  garden  in  cool  peat  or  peat  and  loam. 
The  berries  are  held  the  second  year,  and  keep 
their  colour  only  a  little  darkened,  though 
they  lose  somewhat  of  their  lustre.  The  two 
smaller  clusters  of  berries  in  the  illustration 
are  the  remains  of  last  year's  fruits. 


PUERARIA     THUNBKRGIANA. 

In  the  sunny  gardens  of  Southern  France  and 
Italy  this  ornamental-leaved  climber  is  largely 
used  out  of  doors,  and  even  in  a 
few  favoured  localities  in  Britain 
it  will  stand  through  ordinary 
winters  if  jjlanted  against  a  warm 
wall.  In  other  parts  of  Britain 
it  can  be  grown  out  of  doors  in 
summer,  but  requires  the  pro- 
tection of  a  cold  greenhouse  in 
winter.  It  is  a  very  strong 
grower,  making  annual  shoots 
upwards  of  30  feet  in  length ; 
the  greater  portion  of  the  growth 
is  completed  between  April  and 
August.  The  leaves  are  ternate, 
large,  and  handsome,  in  summer 
green,  in  autumn  yellow.  In 
England  flowers  are  rarely  seen. 
They  are  in  terminal  racemes  and 
blue  in  colour.  Occasionally  the 
stems  do  not  die  back  to  the 
ground  line,  short,  permanent 
stems  a  few  feet  long  being  left. 
As  it  is  such  a  quick  grower  it 
is  worth  treating  as  an  annual, 
sowing  seeds  in  spring  and  putting 
the  plants  out  in  May.  For  such 
purposes  as  clothing  arbours, 
fences,  walls,  old  tree  stumps,  or 
similar  things  it  will  be  found 
an  excellent  subject.  When 
planted  against  a  wall  a  covering 
of  dry  leaves  a  few  inches  deep 
will  often  keep  the  fleshy  roots 
from  injury  in  frosty  weather. 
The  home  of  this  plant  is  China 
and  .Tapan,  and  a  good  idea  of  its 
ornamental  character  may  be 
gleaned  from  the  accompanying 
photograph.       W.  Dallimoee. 


at  the  apex  being  densely  packed  with  charac- 
teristic woolly  growth  shows,  as  all  experts  know 
well,  the  perfect  health  of  the  plant,  and  is  a 
forecast,  probably,  of  coming  flowers,  which  in 
this  species  are"  red  and  yellow.  In  some  forms 
of  this  Echino'cactus  the  spines  are  golden-yellow, 
in  others  amber,  but  in  this  case  the  colour  is  that 
of  clear  light  horn. 

The  Fish-hook  Cactus,  not  far  off,  is  reckoned 
by  some  to  be  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  this 
section  and  has  hard,  cruel  spines,  the  central  one 
of  each  cluster  being  strongly  recurved.  It  might 
very  well  be  used  in  its  native  country  for  the 
purpose  betokened  by  its  popular  name.  Another 
very  fine  Echinooactus  is  E.  longihamatus,  whose 
flat  rose-coloured  prickles  cover  its  entire  surface, 


KEW    NOTES. 

Cacti,  Hardy  and  Otherwise. 

Cai.sti,  taken  as  a  whole,  are  regarded 
as  singular  rather  than  ornamental, 
though  some  remarkably  decorative 
species  are  included  in  the  Order. 
Nevertheless,  individually,  many  of 
them  possess  a  strong  fascination, 
and  the  Cactus  cult  has  of  late  years 
attracted  a  considerable  following. 
A  method,  not  generally  attempted,  of  planting  out 
various  species  on  a  rook  border  has  been  adopted 
in  the  succulent  house,  as  well  as  elsewhere  at 
Kew,  with  signal  success,  and  is  of  very  special 
interest  to  any  Cactus  grower.  Cacti,  long-suffering 
as  they  may  be,  are  very  apt  to  be  star\ed,  and 
the  exceeding  beauty  and  vigour  of  some  of  these 
planted  out  specimens  shows  beyond  dispute  how 
well  they  respond  to  a  more  generous  treatment. 
A  noble  plant  of  Echinooactus  Grusonii,  at  the  left 
hand  corner  of  the  border  in  the  succulent  house, 
would  probably  catch  the  eye  of  the  most  unlearned 
visitor,  so  conspicuous  is  it  with  its  large,  bright 
green  globe,  half  hidden  beneath  the  ridges,  closely 
set  with  clusters  of  flattened  transparent  spikes. 
By  a  rough  measurement  this  fine  specimen  is 
E^bout  ih,  feet  in  circumference.     The  hollow  crown 


starred  M.   gracilis  pulchella.     The  attraction  of 
many   of   the   smaller   Cacti,    indeed,  lies   in    the 
beautiful  filigree  work  of  their  .spines — sometimes 
like  shining  silver,  sometimes  rivalling  burnished 
gold,  or,  again,  taking  the  form  of  delicate  frost- 
feathers.     The  cylinders  of  Cereus  dasyacanthus, 
thick   set   with   such   star-like   spines   in   reddish 
horizontal  bands,  are  very  distinct  amongst  other 
species.       Three    plump    little   specimens   of    the 
curious   pale    green    spineless    Dumpling    Cactus 
(Echinocactus  Williamsii)  are  very  noticeable  from 
their  very  different  character.     The  border   con- 
tains,  besides  Cacti,  other  succulent  plants,  such 
as  Tongue  Aloe  (Gasteria  nigricans),  the  upright- 
growing   Apicris,    and    many   more,    and,    though 
none  of  them   are  in  flower  at  present,  it  is  well 
worthy  of  study  as  a  cultural  lesson 
by  connoisseurs.      At   one   corner  a 
very  beautiful  Furcraia  watsoniana, 
a  species  from  tropical  America,  is 
sure  to  claim  attention. 

Some  of  the  more  hardy  Cacti, 
such  as  Opuntia  missouriensis  and 
other  species,  Mammillarias  from 
high  latitudes,  and  Echinocacti  of 
the  type  of  E.  Simpsoni,  &c. ,  are 
planted  outside  in  sheltered  bays 
under  the  wall  of  the  Palm  house, 
where  they  are  snugly  covered  in 
with  bast  mats.  It  will  be  inte- 
resting to  learn,  by  and  b}',  how 
they  have  fared  during  the  severe 
weather,  but  the  unusually  dry 
winter  should  suit  them  well,  as 
these  hardier  succulent  plants  suffer 
more  from  excess  of  damp  than 
from  cold,  and  are  even  capable 
of  enduring  a  temperature  several 
degrees  below  zero  in  the  dry  air  of 
their  native  rocks  and  plains. 


rUERARIA    TilUNKERiaANA    IN    FK.\Nl-E.       ( I  liUoijiaiihed  bil  M  i'S    WiUiniill.) 


giving  it,  at  a  little  distance,  the  appearance  of 
some  strange  flower. 

Tall  succulent  plants,  evidently  chosen  for  their 
representative  character,  a  Cape  Aloe  (A.  super- 
kevis),  an  upstanding  column  of  the  huge  Cali- 
fornian  Cereus  giganteus,  and  a  handsoQie  plant  of 
Euphorbia  tetragona  form  a  fitting  background. 
At  the  foot  of  the  Euphorbia  a  species  of  Mistletoe 
Cactus  (Rhipsalis  rhombea),  covered  with  white 
Myrtle-like  flowers,  is  very  pretty. 

Nearer  the  front,  and  towards  the  verge  of  the 
border,  the  smaller  species  of  Cereus  and  Mam- 
millaria  find  a  suitable  position,  with  some  of  the 
cylindrical  forms  of  Opuntia,  such  as  0.  clavata. 
Here  may  be  seen  one  or  two  clusters  of  fine 
cushions  of  M.  (nogalense)  recurvata,  bristly  as  a 
hedgehog,  of  M.  compressa,  a,nd  of  the  tiny  white- 


SUBURBAN      GAR- 
DENING. 

S  p  R I  N  c  Flowers. 
One  cannot  help  thinking  when  one 
notices  the  spring  aspect  of  the 
majority  of  suburban  gardens  what 
splendid  opportunities  are  altogether 
neglected,  and  how  different  many 
of  them  might  be  were  they  but 
to  receive  a  little  more  care  and 
consideration.  Most  of  the  gardens 
in  the  suburbs  of  any  town  have 
several  distinguishing  features  com- 
mon to  all,  the  most  familiar  of 
v\hich  perhaps  are  these  —  almost 
utter  bareness  and  cheerlessness 
during  the  early  months  of  the 
year,  a  wealth  of  flowers  in  strictly 
limited  variety  throughout  summer, 
an  uninterestingautumn,  owingwhat 
bit  of  colour  there  may  be  to  the 
last  flickerings  of  the  summer  flower- 
ing plants  rather  than  to  a  display 
of  blossoms  in  season,  and  a  remark- 
able monotony  in  plant  colour  and 
arrangement.  It  will  be  opportune 
at  the  present  moment  to  endeavour 
to  explain  how  spring  may,  with  a 
minimum  of  labour  and  expense,  be 
made  to  express  a  great  deal  more  to  the  suburban 
flower  gardener  than  it  now  does.  Surely  if  the  gar- 
dener be  worthy  of  the  name  he  will  not  concentrate 
every  eftbrt  upon  having  the  borders  bright  at  the 
brightest  season  of  the  year  only,  rather  should  he 
devote  himself  to  encouraging  the  growth  of  those 
plants  that  bloom  at  a  time  when  outdoor  flowers 
are  scarce  and  precious.  The  garden  in  summer  is 
far  better  able  to  take  care  of  itself  than  is  the 
garden  in  spring. 

Probably  in  the  majority  of  suburban  gardens  in 
early  spring  one  would  see  isolated  patches  of 
Snowdrops  and  Crocuses,  but  in  what  a  large  per- 
centage of  cases  would  these  complete  the  list. 
He  who  would  decry  or  wish  to  exclude  these  from  a 
place  of  honour  in  a  display  of  spring  flowers 
deserves  not  to  be  listened  to  for  one  moment,  but 


162 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  8,  1902. 


such  is  not  my  intention.  I  would  rather  try  to 
point  out  how  the  best  results  may  be  secured  by 
an  even  extended  planting  of  these  charming  ever- 
welcome  and  earliest  ornaments  of  the  garden, 
and  also  to  supplement  the  list  that  is  all  too 
short  by  mentioning  other  spring  flowers  equally 
delightful  and  deserving  of  culture,  and  (juite  as 
easily  grown. 

The  Crocus  should  always  be  planted  in  a  position 
where  it  will  have  a  certain  amount  of  sunshine, 
for  the  Crocus  reveals  its  full  beauty  only  under 
the  influence  of  sunlight ;  in  the  shade  it  does  not 
open  satisfactorily  and  the  colour  is  apparently  less 
brilliant.  In  its  manner  of  opening  the  Crocus  is 
delightfully  disappointing,  morning  after  morning 
you  may  hope  to  see  the  erect  Ijlue  or  yellow 
trumpets  all  in  vain  ;  you  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  you  are  too  premature  in  your  expectations 
and  therefore  leave  them  alone,  only  to  receive  the 
unexpected  message  a  day  or  two  afterwards  to 
come  and  see  the  Crocuses  in  flower.  Have  you 
a  bank  in  your  garden  ?  Then  cover  it  with 
Crocuses.  You  will  be  rewarded  with  a  feast  of 
colour  in  early  spring  instead  of  a  bank  where 
grass  more  often  than  not  grows  but  indifferently, 
and  you  will  also  probably  at  the  same  time  be 
doing  the  best  thing  to  preserve  or  improve  the 
appearance  of  your  grass  bank.  For  those  who  would 
not  hesitate  to  transform  the  garden  bank  into  a 
well  worn  path  rather  than  use  the  gravel  road 
which  happens  to  go  a  little  farther  round,  would 
hardly  summon  courage  to  do  so  knowing  it  to  be 
covered  with  charming  little  flowering  plants. 
Neither  does  the  planting  of  Crocuses  do  harm  to 
the  lawn,  for  by  the  time  the  latter  retiuires  serious 
attention  so  tar  as  mowing  is  concerned  the  foliage 
of  the  Crocuses  has  matured. 

There  is  hardl}'  a  less  pleasing  part  of  the 
suburban  garden  at  this  time  of  year  than  the 
lawn,  and  yet  by  the  judicious  planting  of  Crocuses, 
Snowdrops,  Scillas,  and  Winter  Aconites  what 
a  lovely  picture  may  be  produced.  There  are, 
perhaps,  few  of  your  readers  who  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  a  lawn  completely  covered  with 
Crocuses,  yet  such  an  one  exists  in  a  Birmingham 
suburb,  and  forms  an  unique  display  when  the 
flowers  are  at  their  best.  Those  two  charming 
Scillas,  S.  bifolia  and  S.  siberica,  as  well  as 
Chionodoxa  Lucilia;  form  a  very  pretty  edging  ; 
they  increase  and  spread  rapidly.  Some  of  those 
charming  little  Irises,  as  early  almost  as  any 
flower,  everyone  should  find  room  for  in  a  partially 
sheltered  position.  I.  reticulata,  I.  persica, 
I.  Heldreichi,  and  I.  kolpakowskiana  are  some  of 
them  ;  Brodiaja  uniflora  also  is  seldom  seen.  Tliere 
is  no  reason  why  many  of  these  spring  bulbs  should 
not  be  planted  so  extensively  as  to  provide  masses 
of  colour  in  every  suburban  garden,  and  to  hide  the 
bare  soil  and  often  dirty  lawns.  They  are  very 
cheap,  and  once  well  planted  need  practically  no 
attention.  A.  P.  H. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

FORCING    TURNIPS. 

IN  gardens  Turnips  are  not  so  much  forced  as 
they  should  be,  the  labour  entailed  being 
small,  while  little  heat  is  lequired,  and  the 
plants  are  among  the  earliest  to  mature.  In 
many  gardens  every  frame  or  pit  is  required 
at  this  season  for  other  plants,  and  Turnips 
will  find  little  favour,  but  sometimes  frames  may 
be  used  for  Turnips  that  later  on  would  grow 
Marrows  or  Cucumbers.  Turnips  sown  in  February 
or  early  in  March  will  be  ready  in  less  than  three 
months.  In  any  case,  there  can  be  no  question 
whatever  that  sweet  young  Turnips  grown  under 
glass  are  a  welcome  addition  to  the  few  good  vege- 
tables in  season  at  the  date  noted.  If  frame 
culture  is  given  —  that  is,  frames  placed  on 
manure— avoid  strong  hsat  at  the  start;  indeed, 
at  no  time  does  the  plant  need  much  warmth  at 
the  roots.  Once  the  seedlings  get  weak,  it  is 
difficult  to  secure  good  bulbs.  On  the  Continent 
forced  Turnips  are  more  grown  than  in  this 
country,    and    they    are    profitable    also    to    the 


grower,  as  no  vegetable  deteriorates  more  quickly 
than  the  Turnip,  so  that  forced  roots  early  in  the 
season  are  more  useful.  If  frames  heated  with 
hot-water  pipes  are  used,  the  forcing  is  simple, 
but  always  avoid  high  temperatures,  0(.l'-'  to  70*-'  by 
day  at  the  start  being  ample,  with  10°  less  at 
night.  As  the  plants  get  strong  or  show  the  third 
leaf,  more  ventilation  is  needed;  indeed,  in  good 
weather  every  opportunit}'  should  be  taken  to 
ventilate  freely.  At  all  times  keep  the  seeillings 
moist,  and  give  a  gentle  watering  overhead  when 
the  frames  are  closed  early  in  the  afternoon. 
When  grown  with  manures,  if  leaves  also  can  be 
mixed  in,  so  much  the  better,  and  in  all  cases 
make  a  firm  bed,  well  treading  or  ramming  the 
whole,  especially  round  the  sides,  to  prevent 
shrinkage.  Beds  made  in  January  may  be  sown 
for  an  early  May  supply.  If  manures  are  not 
used  for  bottom-heat,  a  longer  time  is  required  to 
bring  the  plants  to  maturity.  Avoid  thick  sowings, 
which  are  fatal  unless  the  seedlings  are  thinned 
very  early. 

Varieties  are  important,  as  some  may  be  forced 
more  readily  than  others.  For  years  we  relied 
upon  the  Early  Paris  Market  as  a  white  variety, 
but  this  is  now  superseded  by  Early  Forcing,  a 
remarkable  quick  grower,  oblong  in  shape,  and  of 
splendid  (juality.  Another  very  fine  forcing  variety 
is  White  Gem,  a  very  shapely,  long  root,  and  one 
of  the  best  for  quality  ;  the  flesh  is  very  white. 
It  is  one  of  the  best  sorts  for  sowing  on  a  warm 
border  I  have  grown,  as  it  matures  so  quickly. 

The  Milan  varieties  are  excellent  for  frame  cul- 
ture, but  they  are  not  equal  to  the  oblong  varieties 
mentioned  above  either  for  quality  or  for  quick 
growth.  For  frame  work  the  Extra  Early  Milan, 
a  strap-leaved  variety,  is  one  of  the  earliest  of  this 
section.  The  older  Jersey  Navet  also  forces  well, 
and  is  good  for  first  supplies  in  the  open  ground. 
I  have  had  the  White  Gem  and  the  Early  Forcing 
large  enough  for  use  in  ten  weeks  from  the  time  of 
sowing.  The  plants  should  have  a  rich  soil  and  be 
grown  near  the  glass.  As  they  attain  size  they 
soon  turn  in  if  supplies  of  tepid  liquid  manure  be 
given  once  or  twice  a  week.  Many  growers  sow 
Radishes  between  the  Turnips,  but  this  is  not 
advisable,  as  the  plants  are  frequently  injured 
through  getting  drawn  and  loosened.  Given  too 
much  heat  the  plant  runs  to  seed  badly.  This 
should  be  avoided  from  the  start. 

G.  Wythes. 


LETTUCE  ALEXANDEK  (COS). 

Thi.s  is  one  of  the  best  Cos  Lettuces  in  cultivation. 
It  resists  drought  well,  grows  to  a  large  size,  and 
there  is  little  waste.  The  hearts  are  delicately 
white,  crisp,  and  juicy,  and  unsurpassed  for  the 
salad  bowl.  I  grew  it  for  many  years  in  light  soil 
and  it  always  gave  satisfaction.  It  and  the 
Cabbage  variety  Continuity  are  in  my  opinion  the 
two  best  for  small  gardens.  J.  Cr.\wford. 

FOECING  CAULIFLOWERS. 

Under  the  above  heading  Mr.  Wythes  has  an 
instructive  article  on  page  98,  and  in  it  refers  to 
the  liability  of  the  small  early  varieties  of  Cauli- 
flower to  button  in  prematurely,  especially  when 
sown  in  autumn.  In  my  opinion  buttoning  is 
greatly  encouraged  by  gi\nng  the  young  plants  too 
rich  and  too  deep  a  soil  when  they  are  transplanted 
into  frames  or  pits  in  autumn.  If  the  winter  is 
mild  they  grow  too  large,  and  invariably  button 
when  planted  in  the  open  in  spring.  Moreover, 
when  given  much  soil,  very  little  of  it  adheres  to 
the  roots  when  the  plants  are  lifted,  consequently 
the  plants  receive  a  severe  check  and  often  lose 
their  lower  leaves.  The  frame  should  be  placed  on 
a  hard  ash  or  earth  bottom,  this  being  covered 
first  with  a  thin  layer  of  well  rotted  manure,  and 
afterwards  with  4  inches  or  .")  inches  of  loamy  soil, 
free  from  manure  and  rather  strong  than  otherwise. 
Make  it  very  firm,  and  prick  out  the  plants  6  inches 
apart.  Keep  them  well  watered  and  expose  them 
to  all  the  air  possible  in  winter.  Treated  thus  the 
roots  will  permeate  the  manure,  and  the  plants  may 
be  lifted  with  good  balls  of  soil  in  spring.  If 
carefully  planted  out  and  screened  with  evergreen 


branches  from  cold  winds  they  will  not  be  liable  to 
button.  Many  sow  early  Cauliflowers  too  soon 
in  autumn,  and  the  plants  grow  too  large  for 
wintering  in  frames.  By  making  several  sowings 
medium-sized  fibrous  rooted  plants  are  ensured. 
Mr.  Wythes  grows  his  earliest  Cauliflowers  in 
frames.  This  is  a  great  advantage,  as  the  plants 
receive  no  check.  Mr.  Wythes  mentions  Snowball, 
an  excellent  early  variety  but  not  alwaj'S  obtainable 
true.  J-  C. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

MOVING    SMALL    SHRUBS. 

ONLY  those  who  have  had  experience  in 
i  transplanting  small  evergreen  shrubs 
I  are  aware  of  the  immense  labour 
I  required  to  keep  them  in  a  well- 
rooted  condition  suitable  for  re- 
moval. Soils  vary  in  texture  in 
different  districts,  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  trees 
and  shrubs  which  are  not  planted  permanently 
require  to  be  moved  at  least  every  second  year, 
while  some  are  practically  ruined  if  not  shifted  every 
season.  It  is  quite  a  mistake  that  a  plant,  which  is 
a  bad  one  to  move,  should  not  be  disturbed  very 
often,  as  these  are  the  very  ones  which  should  be 
transplanted  every  year  regularly.  If  this  is  done 
as  soon  as  growth  is  finished  in  autumn  there  will 
be  few  losses.  Even  such  plants  as  Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas,  Kalmias,  &c. ,  which  always  carry  a  good 
ball  of  soil,  are  benefited  by  an  occasional  shift  if 
not  in  permanent  quarters,  as,  though  a  plant  which 
has  stood  in  one  place  for  some  years  may  move 
with  plenty  of  roots,  yet  it  suffers  more  than  one 
which  has  been  shifted  regularly,  even  though  the 
roots  of  both  may  look  alike.  Probably  the  reason 
of  this  is  in  the  fact  that  a  plant  which  has  not 
been  moved  for  a  number  of  years  has  all  its 
feeding  roots  at  some  distance  from  it,  the  majority 
of  which  are  cut  oft'  when  the  plant  is  taken  up, 
while  those  left  are  older  and  harder  than  those  of 
a  plant  which  has  been  moved  regularly,  and  con- 
sequently do  not  start  into  fresh  growth  so 
quickly. 

Some  of  the  most  diificult  plants  to  move  in  a 
young  stale  are  Arbutus,  Hollies,  Magnolias, 
Cedars,  Sequoia  gigantea,  Libocedrus  decurrens, 
Abies  grandis,  Cupressus  nootkatensis  (Thujopsis 
borealis).  Thuya  dolabrata,  and  Thuya  giganlea 
(Lobbi).  All  these  require  to  be  shifted  every 
j-ear  for  the  first  few  years  of  their  existence,  anfl 
if  this  is  done  each  autumn  as  early  as  consistent 
with  safety,  they  will  suffer  little,  if  at  all.  It 
may  be  argued  that  growth  is  checked  by  this 
constant  removal,  and  at  first  sight  this  would 
seem  so,  but  in  the  long  run  the  plants  are  stronger 
and  better  than  those  left  for  two  or  three  years 
without  disturbance.  With  the  majority  of  the 
plants  named  above  it  will  be  found  that  a  large 
percentage  die  if  allowed  to  stand  more  than  one 
year  without  beingshif ted.  It  isduringthefirst three 
or  four  years  of  their  existence  that  most  attention 
is  required.  When  the  shrub  has  attained  a  fair  size 
it  will  be  found  to  have  a  number  of  small  fibrous 
roots  and  does  not  suffer  so  much  after  being 
moved.  The  worst  plants  of  all  to  deal  with  are 
evergreen  Oaks  and  Cratiegus  Pyracantha,  and 
there  is  a  good  excuse  for  growing  these  in  pots,  as 
the  mortality  amongst  them  is  usually  very  high 
when  moved  in  the  open  ground.  Those  which 
survive  are  usually  in  a  crippled  state  for  some 
time  afterwards.  If  grown  outdoors  they  move 
best  during  showery  weather  in  late  spring,  care 
being  taken  to  keep  them  moist  during  the 
operation. 

B'Kjxhof,  Surrey.  J.  C. 

PRUNING  SHRUBS. 
There  is  a  wrong  impression  that  winter  and  early 
spring  are  the  seasons  to  prune  all  hardy  trees  and 
shrubs,  but  this  is  a  great  mistake.  The  beautiful 
deciduous  shrubs,  such  as  Weigelas,  Deutzias, 
Philadelphus,  and  Forsythias,  which  flower  on  the 
preceding  year's  growth,  are  often  ruthlessly 
hacked  about  in  winter,  and   in  consequence  shorn 


March  8,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


163 


of  much  of  their  natural  beauty.  The 
best  time  to  prune  deciduous  shrubs  is 
after  they  have  flowered,  as  then  is  the 
new  wood  that  is  to  flower  next  year 
strengthened  and  gets  tlioroughly 
ripened,  while  the  natural  beauty  of 
the  growth  is  not  marred  when  this 
practice  is  adopted.  Lilacs,  Spirajas, 
and  shrubs  that  throw  up  numerous 
ground  suckers  should  be  looked  to 
during  the  winter.  Remove  these  suckers 
at  once,  and  cut  out  all  wood  if  too 
crowded.  Lilacs,  if  cut  hard  back  after 
flowering,  and  the  plants  encouraged 
with  applications  of  liquid  manure, 
will  flower  more  strongly  than  if  left 
unpruned,  although  there  may  be  fewer 
clusters. 

Unless  very  large  bushes  are  desired, 
such  as  for  large  gardens  or  parks,  the 
majority  of  deciduous  shrubs  would 
benefit  by  pruning  now  and  then,  and 
as  regards  those  of  value,  chiefly  for 
their  foliage,  such  as  the  Purple  Nut  and 
Golden  Elder,  I  would  strongly  advise 
severe  pruning.  This,  of  course,  would 
be  done  before  the  sap  rises. 

Evergreens  should  be  pruned  occasion- 
ally to  preserve  and  thicken  the  growth, 
hut  the  best  time  for  this  is  April  or 
May.  P. 


ROSES    OVER    A    HEDGE. 

The  accompaDyiog  illustration  shows 
a  delightful  use   of  the  Rose.      For 
running   over    hedges    and    the   like 
the  many  beautiful  rambling  varieties 
provide  an    almost  endless  choice.      Such  a 
feature  as  this  gives  pleasure  for  many  months 
when  the  varieties  are  so  chosen  as  not  to 
flower  at  one  time. 


KOSES    OVKU   A    HEDGE.       (P/wtograplied  by  MiiS  WillllluU.) 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not  responsible  for  the  opiniont 
expressed  by  their  co-respondents. ) 

THE    BOTHY. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  GtAbden,"] 

SIR, — I  am  interested  in  your  discussion 
on  the  bothy.  The  young  gardener's 
complaint  (page  117)  is,  as  far  as  1 
know,  a  very  much  overdrawn  state- 
ment. I  think  in  very  few  bothies 
would  things  be  as  uncomfortable  as 
he  makes  them  out.  I  can  only  spealc  of  what 
is  done  here— a  very  fair  average  sort  of 
bothy,  where  I  fancy  the  men  are  fairly 
comfortable,  though  probably  not  spoilt.  We 
provide  a  woman  to  attend  to  tbem  ;  she  lives 
in  the  village  adjacent,  and  comes  daily  to  the 
bothy.  We  try  always  to  get  a  widow  or  a 
person  with  no  home  ties,  and  we  provide  her 
with  a  room  in  the  village,  so  her  duties  lead 
her  only  to  attend  to  the  men.  I  believe  in  a 
general  way  they  each  have  their  own  supplies, 
and  the  woman  cooks  to  please  them  all.  Of 
one  thing  1  am  sure — if  they  were  not  comfort- 
able we  should  soon  hear  of  it,  and  as  it  is  the 
gardener  at  tiroes  reports  to  me  little  repairs 
required  or  refurnishings  to  linen  or  bedding. 
The  men  here  have  one  great  advantage — they 
are  close  to  the  village,  where  there  is  an 
excellent  and  well  -  appointed  reading  room, 
&c.,  probably  a  good  deal  better  class  of  place 
than  is  to  be  found  in  many  country  villages, 
and  here  they  can  spend  as  much  of  their 
evenings  as  they  please.  Personally  I  always 
think  a  gardener's  bothy  is  a  very  comfortable 
place  for  young  men,  for  in  most  cases  they 
nave  fire  {any  amount),  light,  attendance,  and 
vegetables  provided,  and  these  things  go  a  long 


way  to  cheapen  living  as  compared  to  lodgings. 
I  do  not  uphold  oveixloinq  the  care  of,  and 
providing  for,  the  young  working  class.  I 
think  an  overdone  bothy  would  go  far  towards 
making  the  garden  lads  uuBtted  for  their 
work,  which  of  necessity  is  at  times  exposed 
and  uncomfortable.  Our  young  fellows  make 
their  own  arrangements  with  the  bothy  woman 
as  to  washing  and  cooking  and  catering,  and  I 
think  it  is  much  better  so,  for  it  teaches  them 
to  think  of  these  things  and  become  careful 
and  provident ;  moreover,  I  believe  people  as 
a  rule  dislike  being  "  done  for  "  in  too  compre- 
hensive a  way,  and  prefer  to  develop,  even  in 
a  bothy  question,  a  certain  amount  of  identity. 
These  are  roughly  a  few  of  my  ideas  on  the 
question.  Of  course,  if  one  were  making  new 
buildings  one  would  naturally  add  a  good 
many  modern  improvements,  but  I  am  writing 
of  the  use  of  existing  accommodation  and  of 
making  the  best  of  it.  I  believe,  too,  that  an 
ambitious  young  man  will  be  far  more  par- 
ticular as  to  what  his  chances  are  of  progress 
and  improvement  in  the  garden  he  goes  to, 
and  the  gardener  he  works  under,  than  he  will 
be  about  the  minor  comforts  of  the  bothy.  I 
think  you  will  generally  find  the  answer  to  all 
questions  of  this  sort  in  the  length  of  time  men 
stay  in  any  particular  garden.  I  am  glad  to  say 
here  we  are  very  fortunate,  owing,  no  doubt,  to  an 
excellent  head  man  who  has  the  way  of  keeping 
his  men,  and  from  whom  they  know  they  are 
learning  and  making  progress,  and  who,  if  they 
do  well,  will,  when  the  time  comes,  help  them 
to  advancement.  I  feel  sure  also  that  he  sees 
they  are  comfortable  in  every  way  he  thinks 
necessary,  and,  judging  by  what  I  see  of  them  at 
their  work  and  also  when  off  duty,  I  should  say 
they  were  a  very  respectable  and  a]iparently 
happy  .set  of  young  fellows.  A.  I.  B. 


[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — As  one  who  has  had  experience  of  bothy 
life,  may  I  be  permitted  to  speak  of  the  joys  and 
sorrows  to  be  found  therein.  There  are  many 
sides  to  the  question,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a 


thorough  ventilation  of  the  subject  in  the  columns 
of  The  Garden  may  lead  to  the  redress  of  some 
of  the  legitimate  grievances  of  those  who  live  in 
bothies.  Young  gardeners  in  a  bothy  do  not  look 
for  the  comforts  of  a  home,  but  neither  do  they 
expect  to  live  in  a  cow  shed.  Something  between 
the  two,  and  inclining  to  the  former,  will  usually 
be  found  to  suit  them  well  enough.  A  man  who 
has  a  comfortable  place  to  live  and  sleep  in  will 
always  be  more  contented  and  work  better  than 
one  who  is  living  in  a  mere  hovel.  It  has  been 
well  said  that  it  is  not  merely  the  necessaries,  but 
the  little  luxuries,  that  make  life  endurable  nowa- 
days. Head  gardeners  should  always  remember — 
though  they  often  forget — that  their  young  men 
are  exposed  in  their  daily  round  to  the  most  trying 
condition.^  of  a  gardener's  life,  and  those  who  have 
worked  under  glass  will  bear  me  out  in  this.  To 
be  in  a  stove  temperature  during  the  winter  and 
early  spring,  varied  by  an  occasional  week  or  so  in 
a  cold  house,  and  looking  after  fires  in  the  generally 
ill-fitted  stokeholes,  usually  full  of  dust  and  sulphur 
fumes  while  the  fires  are  being  attended  to,  are  a 
state  of  things  likely  to  try  the  constitution  of 
the  hardiest.  I  mention  head  gardeners,  as  1 
believe  that  in  most  cases  they  are  more  respon- 
sible than  employers  for  the  state  of  things 
found  in  most  botliies.  To  keep  down  the  garden 
expenses  the  bothy  dweller  usually  has  to  put  up 
with  conditions  that  are  against  his  comfort  and 
sometimes  hurtful  to  his  health.  A  great  deal  has 
been  written  lately  about  the  self-improvement  of 
young  gaideners,  and  there  is  always  room  for 
improvement,  but  how  can  a  man  be  expected  to 
study  in  a  bothy  that  is  ill-ventilated,  ill-lighted, 
ill-heated,  or  all  three  ?  The  only  time  he  would 
be  likely  to  do  any  studying  would  be  when  he 
was  detained  by  his  turn  of  night  stoking  ;  at 
other  times  he  would  go  to  other  attractions — the- 
public-house  if  nothing  better  offers.  There  are 
some  bothies  in  this  country  which  are  a  credit  to 
their  owners  and  models  of  what  such  places  should 
be,  but  while  all  cannot  perhaps  be  perfect  there  is 
no  reason  why  they  should  not  be  made  at  least 
decently  comfortable.  J. 


FRUIT    ARCHES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 

Sir, — I  was  greatly   interested    in  the   note   and 

illustration    of    a    fruit    arch    at    Milton    Court, 


164 


THE    GAKDEN 


[March  8,  1902. 


Dorking,  and  I  agree  with  "A.  P.  H."  that 
arches  similar  to  tlie  one  illustrated  covered  with 
fruit  trees  form  a  delightful  feature,  provided 
they  are  situated  in  well-chosen  parts  of  the 
pleasure  grounds  or  wild  garden.  The  glorious 
autumn  tints  of  Pear  tree  foliage  could  then 
be  blended  with  the  \arious  colours  that  are 
to  be  seen  on  many  of  the  beautiful  things 
that  find  a  home  in  "the  above-mentioned  places. 
Looking  at  it  from  an  ornamental  point  of  view, 
it  appears  to  me  to  be  rather  out  of  place  in 
the  fruit  garden  proper,  as  very  little  fruit  can 
be  got  from  trees  on  an  arch  after  it  has  been 
planted  a  few  years.  At  first  it  is  a  source  of 
profit  and  pleasure,  but  eventually  it  develops 
into  a  shady  retreat  in  the  summer,  and  later  on 
to  a  glorious  mass  of  autumnal  tints  and  colours  : 
but  for  the  first-class,  or  even  second-class,  fruit 
you  look  in  vain.  As  "A.  P.  H."  says,  some  of 
the  best  flavoured  Pears  are  produced  on  trees 
wliose  foliage  puts  on  the  most  beautiful  tint.s  ; 
they  should  therefore  never  be  planted  on  arches 
where  they  will  have  such  a  poor  opportunity  of 
developing  their  delicious  fruits.  The  fruit  arch 
should  never  be  tolerated  in  tlie  fruit  garden  or 
orchard,  though  it  is  a  good  feature  in  other  parts 
of  the  ground  planted  with  inferior  sorts  of  Pears 
or  any  other  kind  of  fruit  trees  which  possess  good 
leaves.  To  make  the  effect  still  more  pleasing  a 
few  creepers,  such  as  Trop;eolums,  may  be  allowed 
to  ramble  at  will  among  them. 


I  have  noted,  it  continues  through  many  months. 
An  excellent  drawing  of  R.  l.^'vigata,  by  Mr.  Moon, 
appeared  in  the  Rose  number  of  The  Garden  last 
summer.  S.  W.  Fitzhekbert. 


M.  T. 


PEAR  COMTE  DE  FLAXDRE. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  do  not  remember  having  seen  this  Pear 
mentioned  in  The  Garde.v,  which  to  me  is  some- 
what strange,  as  it  is  a  grand  variety.  It  is  very 
hardy  and  a  heavy  and  constant  bearer.  In  shape 
it  is  long  and  tapering,  the  skin  being  pale  yellow 
and  the  flesh  buttery  and  delicious.  It  usually 
ripens  in  December.  It  has  one  fault,  viz. ,  that 
of  casting  its  fruit  just  before  it  is  fit  for  gathering. 
It  then  shrivels  prematurely,  and  is  useless.  To 
prevent  the  fruit  dropping  the  roots  should  be 
heavily  mulched  with  well-decayed  manure  and 
several  copious  waterings  with  liquid  manure 
given.  The  mulching  should  be  arranged  in  dish 
form  so  as  to  hold  the  water.  This  is  the  best 
waj'  of  treating  Knight's  Monarch  and  others  that 
are  liable  to  cast  their  fruit.  This  evil  is  not  so 
common  in  strong  retentive  soil  as  in  light  soils. 

J.  Crawford. 


THE  MACARTNEY  ROSE. 
[To  THE  Editor  op  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — In  writing  of  this  lovely  single  white  Rose 
(R.  bracteata),  on  page  89,  Mr.  W.  J.  Bean  says 
that  it  has  never  become  common  in  gardens.  This 
is  doubtless  true  of  English  gardens  as  a  whole, 
but  in  South  Devon  and  Cornwall  it  is  frequently 
met  with.  I  know  at  least  twenty  gardens  where 
it  is  grown,  some  of  which  contain  several  speci- 
mens. It  is  often  found  on  house  walls,  where  its 
glossy,  evergreen  foliage  is  particularly  eff'ective 
even  when  not  studded  with  white  blossoms.  In 
such  a  position  it  is  a  rapid  grower,  and  soon 
reaches  a  height  of  -2(1  feet.  It  is  also  planted 
against  verandah  pillars  and  as  a  pergola  climber. 
It  is  not  an  early  bloomer,  rarely  commencing  its 
flowering  season"  until  the  very  end  of  .Tune,  but 
from  that  time  until  the  advent  of  winter  it  is 
never  without  blossom.  In  the  middle  of  November 
I  have  seen  a  large  plant  with  over  forty  expanded 
blooms  upon  it.  The  scent,  though  not  strong,  is 
very  delicate,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  a  ripe 
Pear.  Where  the  glorious  large  single  white  Rosa 
hevigata  flourishes,  as  it  does  in  many  localities  in 
the  south-west,  it  may  with  advantage  be  asso- 
ciated with  R.  bracteata.  The  first  great  flowers 
of  R.  hevigata,  sometimes  as  much  as  5A  inches  in 
diameter,  are  often  produced  as  early  as  April  on 
a  warm  southern  wall,  increasing  in  number  as  the 
days  lengthen,  and  reaching  the  zenith  of  their 
display  towards  the  end  of  May  or  beginning  of 
June.  When  the  last  of  their  petals  has  fallen, 
Rosa  bracteata  commences  its  flowering,  which,  as 


BOOKS. 

British   "Veg-etable    Galls:   An 
Introduction   to   their  Study.*— The 

strange  growths  which  may  often  be  found  on 
plants,  generally  known  as  galls,  are  formed  by 
various  agencies,  insects,  mites,  eelworms,  or 
fungi.  They  have  attracted  the  attention  of 
naturalists  for  very  many  years,  and  much  has 
been  written  about  them  from  time  to  time,  but, 
curiously  enough,  no  one  has  ever  written  a  book 
exclusively  on  tliem,  except  on  those  which  are 
formed  by  certain  small  four-winged  insects 
belonging  to  the  family  known  to  entomologists 
as  Cynipida;  ;  this  is  classed  in  the  same  family 
(Hj'menoptera)  as  the  saw-flies  and  bees.  These 
as  a  rule  form  galls  on  the  Oak,  some  on  the  roots, 
stems,  leaves,  or  flowers,  according  to  the  species, 
some  kinds,  however,  form  their  galls  on  briars  or 
other  plants.  These  gall-flies  form  the  subject  of 
a  most  interesting  work  by  Dr.  Adler  of  Schleswig- 
Holstein,  a  well-known  entomologist,  and  the  work 
has  been  translated  into  English  by  Mr.  C.  R. 
S'.ratton.  In  this  book  the  life  history,  &c.,  of 
these  most  interesting  insects  has  been  most  fully 
gone  into,  but  until  the  quite  recent  publication 
of  "British  Vegetable  Galls,"  by  Mr.  E.  T. 
Connold,  there  was  no  work  in  the  English 
language  from  which  one  could  name  the  galls 
formed  by  other  kinds  of  insects  one  might  meet 
with.  It  is  therefore  with  great  pleasure  that 
we  welcome  this  handsome  volume,  in  which  are 
described  and  figured  some  hundred  difl'erent  kinds 
of  galls.  Those  formed  on  the  Oak,  however,  are 
not  included  in  this  volume.  Speaking  of  these, 
the  author  says  :  "  They  will  probably  appear  in  a 
volume  devoted  exclusively  to  Oak  galls,"  and,  in 
alluding  to  the  scope  of  this  book,  "  this  volume 
is  not  to  deal  exhaustively  with  the  subject,  but 
rather  to  afford  the  collector  and  student  a  medium 
of  reference,  whereby  about  two-thirds  of  the 
number  of  vegetable  galls  at  present  discovered 
may  be  determined.  Complete  lists  of  all  known 
galls  are  also  given  with  a  brief  description  of 
each."  This  last  sentence  is  misleading,  as  there 
are  many  galls  produced  by  fungi  which  are  not 
noticed  in  this  work  at  all. 

It  may  be  questioned  whetlier  the  abnormal 
growths  on  plants  caused  bj'  parasitic  fungi  should 
be  considered  as  galls  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
word,  but  the  author  evidentlj-  considers  that 
they  should  be,  for  he  asks  the  question,  "What 
is  a  vegetable  gall  ? "  and  the  answer  given  is,  "  It 
is  a  morbid  enlargement  of  the  affected  part  of  the 
plant  due  to  parasitic  agency."  If  this  be  so  all  the 
galls  caused  by  fungi  should  be  included.  Some  of 
the  abnormal  growths  caused  by  the  punctures  of 
aphides  cannot  be  considered  as  galls.  For  instance, 
the  leaves  of  Ulmus  raontana,  which  are  curled  by 
one  of  the  aphides,  Schizoneura  ulmi,  are  no  more 
galls  than  the  leaves  of  various  other  plants  which 
are  deformed  much  in  the  same  way  by  other 
aphides,  but  which  are  not  alluded  to.  Again, 
the  Pears  which  are  attacked  when  quite  young 
by  the  grubs  of  a  small  fly  (Diplosis  pyrivora), 
who  devour  the  inside  of  the  fruit,  causing  them 
soon  to  fall  (somewhat  misshapen  it  must  be 
admitted),  are  in  no  sense  galls. 

The  book  is  very  well  printed  in  large  clear  type, 
and  is  illustrated  with  130  full-paged  plates  (half- 
tone photographs  taken  by  the  author),  most  of 
which  are  excellent  and  as  good  as  could  be 
wished,  showing  the  nature  of  the  galls  to 
perfection,  but  several  are  far  from  what  they 
should  be,  and  the  uncut  edges  of  the  paper  render 
it  the  most  difficult  book  to  consult  we-  have  ever 
met  with  :  no  one  could  use  it  to  work  by,  if  their 
time  was  of  any  object,  without  having  the  edges 

*  "Britisli  Vegetable  Galls:  An  Introduction  to  their 
.Study."  By  E.  T.  Connold,  hon.  general  secretary  to  the 
St.  Leonards  and  Hastings  Natural  History  .Society,  with 
130  full-page  plates  and  27  smaller  drawings.  London  : 
Hutchinson  and  Co.,  Paternoster  Row. 


uut.  The  plates  that  are  failures  are  mostly 
those  of  small  galls  which  do  not  show  out  dis- 
tinctly enough  from  the  leaves.  One  of  the 
leaves  should  have  been  considerably  enlarged, 
and  the  galls  shown  in  profile  as  well  as  full  face. 
Three  plates  are  devoted  to  figures  of  the  imple- 
ments, apparatus,  &c. ,  used  by  the  author  in 
collecting,  photographing,  and  breeding  from  the 
gall.  To  persons  who  have  no  imagination  these 
may  be  useful,  but  to  others  a  short  description  or 
list  would  suflSce.  The  plates  and  descriptions  of 
the  different  galls  are  arranged  according  to  the 
part  of  the  plant  on  which  they  are  situated,  in 
the  following  order,  on  the  roots,  stems,  leaves, 
and  flowers.  This  is  not  a  scientific  arrangement, 
though  perhaps  the  most  useful  to  those  who 
kno^^•  nothing  about  the  subject,  but  it  is  by  no 
means  an  ideal  one  for  those  who  do.  The  des- 
criptions of  the  galls,  their  colour,  size,  form, 
when  and  where  found,  &c. ,  are  given  in  a 
particularly  clear  manner,  but  no  description  of 
the  grubs  or  parent  insect  is  vouchsafed,  only  its 
scientific  name  and  synonomy,  so  that  anyone  who 
has  not  .some  knowledge  of  the  scientific  names  of 
insects  cannot  tell  what  kind  of  insect  has  formed 
the  gall.  Though  there  are  several  very  useful 
tables  at  the  end  of  the  book,  there  is  not  one 
which  gives  a  classified  list  of  the  insects  to  which 
a  student  can  turn  to  find  out  to  what  natural 
order  an  insect  mentioned  belongs  ;  for  instance, 
a  gall  is  found  which  agrees  with  the  figure  of 
those  formed  by  Diplosis  tremuht,  how  are  the 
uninitiated  to  know  what  kind  of  insect,  whether 
beetle,  fly,  or  sawfly,  &c.,  it  may  be?  Curiously 
enough,  a  classified  list  of  the  "  Names  of  makers 
of  galls  not  illustrated  in  this  volume"  is  provided. 
One  may  hope  that  in  a  future  edition  a  table  will 
be  added  giving  the  names  of  all  the  makers  of 
galls,  with  some  mark  to  show  which  are,  or  are 
not,  illustrated  and  described.  In  spite  of  the 
shortcomings  which  have  been  pointed  out,  this 
work  is  a  most  welcome  and  valuable  addition  to 
any  naturalist's  librar\-,  and  we  can  only  hope 
that  the  volume  on  Oak  galls  already  alluded  to 
may  soon  make  its  appearance  ;  imtil  it  does  the 
student  can  make  out  tlie  galls  on  the  Oak  very 
well  from  the  book  already  alluded  to. 

Thompson's  Gardeners'  Assis- 
tant.'*— This  important  horticultural  work  pro- 
ceeds slowly  towards  completion,  the  fifth  volume, 
the  last  but  one  of  the  series,  having  recently 
appeared.  This  deals  exclusively  with  fruit,  and 
opens  with  a  charming  coloured  plate  of  Peaches 
Royal  George  and  Barrington,  while  other  subjects 
represented  by  coloured  illustrations  comprise 
Cherries  Early  Rivers,  Emperor  Francis,  and 
White  Bigarreau,  Melons  Royal  Jubilee  and 
Middlesex  Hero,  and  Tomatoes  Chiswick  Peach 
and  Frogmore  Selected.  Many  of  the  more  impor- 
tant of  garden  fruits  are  described  and  illustrated, 
and  such  subjects  as  fruit  preserving,  packing 
for  road  or  rail,  and  storing  are  full}-  dealt  with. 
We  shall  review  the  bcok  more  fully  when  com- 
pleted, but  must  again  congratulate  the  editor, 
Mr.  W.  Watson,  and  also  the  publishers  for 
volumes  not  onl}'  well  printed  but  produced  with 
much  taste. 

Greenhouse     Orchids. t  —  This    book 

should  be  welcome  to  those  who  have  a  love  for 
Orchids  restricted  to  the  growth  of  those  requiring 
only  a  greenhouse,  and  the  fact  that  the  text  has 
been  supervised  by  Mr.  Godseff,  manager  to 
Messrs.  Sander  and  Co. ,  of  St.  Albans,  and  one  of 
the  best-informed  men  about  Orchids  of  the 
present  day,  should  be  sutHcient  evidence  of  the 
trustworthiness  of  the  information.  Three  coloured 
plates  are  given,  and  there  are  fifty  illustrations 
from  photographs  by  Colonel  F.  C.  Taylor.  The 
character  of  the  book  may  be  judged  from  the 
following  remarks  in  the  preface  :  "  The  literature 
of  orchiology  is  voluminous  in  these  days.  But 
the  book  written  '  by  an  amateur  for  amateurs ' 
is  still  needed.     I  have  at  least  the  advantage  of 


*  "Thompsons  Gardeners' Assistant  "(Vol.  v.).  Edited  by 
W.  Watson.  London  :  Gresham  Publishing  Company,  34, 
Southampton  Street,  Strand. 

t  "Greenhouse  Orchids."  By  Frederick  Boyle.  Published 
by  Messrs.  Chapman  and  Hall,  11,  Henrietta  Street,  Covcnt 
Garden,  W.C.     Price  Ss. 


March  8,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


i65 


knowing  what  manner  of  work  it  should  be,  for  I 
have  suffered  from  the  want  of  it."  The  headings 
to  the  various  subjects  comprise  :  "  The  Nature  of 
Orchids,"  "  The  Orchid  House,"  "  Orchid  Names," 
"  Potting  Orchids,"  "  Orchid  Prices,"  and 
"Species,  Varieties,  and  Culture."  The  author 
makes  much  of  the  Belgian  way  of  growing 
Orchids,  a  new  system,  the  chief  point  about 
which  is  the  soil.  To  quote  the  author:  "This 
variet}'  of  terre  de  briiyire  is  leaf-mould,  but  with  a 
difference,  or,  indeed,  several.  It  is  found  only 
near  the  coast,  in  a  district  comparatively  limited, 
swept  by  the  lively  breezes  of  the  North  Sea. 
It  is  loaded  with  salt  and  fine  sand,  much 
finer  than  that  on  our  shores.  The  leaves  are  of 
Oak  alone.  It  is  alleged  that  growers  who  could 
not  easily  obtain  the  proper  sort  have  tried  Beech 
leaf-mould— with  disastrous  results.  It  persistently 
bred  fungus,"  but  we  refer  our  readers  to  the  book 
to  know  more  about  the  method.  No  book  is 
without  blemishes.  The  author  has  kept  well  to 
the  text,  but  an  occasional  slipshod  sentence 
annoys  the  reader,  evidently  the  result  of  careless 
proof  reading. 


VriNTER    PEARS. 

Peak  Beuree  Diel. 

An  illustration  of  the  above  well-known  winter 
Pear  is  herewith  given,  with  the  object  more 
particularly  of  drawing  the  attention  of  the 
amateur  and  professional  grower  to  its  merits. 
Taking  it  from  all  points  of  view,  it  is  a  variety 
that  will  bring  the  grower  as  ample  and  profit- 
able a  return  as  any  Pear  we  have.  The  tree 
is  one  of  the  strongest  growers,  and  its  foliage 
is  particularly  handsome.  It  must  be  planted 
on  warm  land,  and,  where  this  condition  is 
secured,  it  succeeds  equally  well,  whether 
planted  as  a  standard  in  the  orchard,  in  the 
garden  as  a  bush  or  espalier,  or  against  a  wall, 
but  it  does  not  seem  so  happy  as  a  pyramid. 
Grown  on  a  wall,  especially  as  a  cordon,  the 
fruit  attains  a  great  size,  and,  grown  in  this 
way,  it  is  one  of  the  best  of  exhibition  Pears. 
Of  course,  grown  as  a  bush  or  standard  the 
fruit  is  much  smaller.  When  grown  as  an 
espalier  it  also  attains  to  a  good  size,  and  1 
think  the  best  result  as  regards  flavour  is 
obtained  from  espalier  -  grown  fruits.  The 
great  merit  of  this  variety  lies  in  its  heavy  and 
consistent  cropping  property — equal  in  this 
respect  to  that  popular  market  Pear  Fertility, 
and  much  excelling  it  in  quality  and  appear- 
ance. Care  must  be  taken  not  to  gather  the 
fruit  too  soon,  as,  if  this  mistake  is  made,  the 
quality  will  deteriorate  and  its  appearance  be 
marred  by  more  or  less  shrivelling.  Pear 
Beurre  Diel  is  in  season  from  early  in  November 
to  Christmas,  and  should  be  grown  on  the 
Quince  stock.  Owen  Thomas. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


and  by  watering  with  tepid  water.  It  is  now  too 
late  to  shorten  canes  that  are  undesirably  long,  as 
it  would  cause  bleeding  and  thus  weaken  the 
Vines,  but  such  may  be  presently  disbudded  to  the 
desired  length,  and  cut  back  when  growing  freely. 
Delay  planting  in  outside  borders  by  keeping  the 
plants  quite  cool,  that  the  soil  may  become  warmed 
by  the  sun  and  the  roots  be  benefited  thereby. 
Vines  raised  from  eyes  in  spring  are  usually  fit  for 
planting  early  in  the  following  .June,  but  they 
should  not  be  planted  in  outside  borders.  The 
Vines  in 

Secon'd  Eakly  Houses 

are  now  making  appreciable  progress,  and  require 
painstaking  management.  Disbudding  and  stop- 
ping of  shoots  must  have  timely  attention,  and  be 
carried  out  on  the  lines  previously  advised  for 
early  houses,  while  the  laterals  should  be  graduallj' 
brought  down  and  secured  to  the  trellises  as  they 
become  sufficiently  firm  to  allow  of  this.  Root 
action  will  now  be  active,  and  the  demand  for 
supplies  of  tepid  water  and  nourishing  food  will  be 
increased  in  comparison,  but  this,  it  will  be  under- 
.stood,  must  be  regulated  according  to  the  con- 
dition of  both  the  borders  and  Vines.     As  the  sun 


FRUIT     GARDEN. 

Planting  Vinbs. 

BRIEF  instructions  were  recently  given 
for  the  formation  of  Vine  borders,  and 
those  inside  should  now  be  ready  to 
receive  the  Vines.  Young  canes  raised 
last  season  for  the  purpose  will  be  in 
a  favourable  condition  for  planting  in 
inside  borders  as  soon  as  the  buds  are  bursting, 
which  should  be  allowed  to  take  place  under  cool 
treatment.  In  planting,  holes  of  ample  dimensions 
to  allow  of  spreading  out  the  roots  in  layers  shoidd 
be  made.  After  turning  the  plants  out  of  their 
pots  the  soil  should  be  carefully  removed  —  if 
necessary  by  the  aid  of  the  sj'ringe — the  roots 
disentangled,  and  spread  as  above  indicated,  making 
the  soil  firm  about  them.  The  operation  should  be 
completed  by  lightly  mulching  with  short   litter 


and  others  that  are  uncertain,  should  be  left  until 
it  can  be  seen  which  have  been  perfectly  fertilised. 
Late  houses  should  be  now  closed,  so  that  their 
occupants  may  start  into  growth  without  being 
hastened,  and  have  time  to  finish  their  crops  and 
mature  their  wood  in  early  autumn. 

T.    COOMBER. 
The  Hendre  Garden.^,  Monmouth. 

OKCHIDS. 

Repotting  Odontoglossums. 
This  is  now  a  good  time  to  look  through  the 
Odontoglossum  houses  and  repot  any  plants  that 
may  need  it,  providing  these  are  in  the  right 
stage,  i.e.,  when  the  young  growths  aie  2  inches 
or  .3  inches  long,  and  bearing  no  flower  spikes. 
Plants  repotted  at  this  season  quickly  recover 
from  the  operation  and  grow  away  freely.  Place 
the  plants  in  the  pots  so  that  their  base  is  level 
with  the  rim,  and  use  equal  proportions  of  peat 
and  sphagnum  moss  as  compost  and  Fern  roots 
as  substitute  for  crocks.  The  same  compost  may 
be  used'with  an  addition  of  leaf-soil,  in  part  about 
one-fifth,  mixing  the  whole  well  together. 


PEAR  BEUREE  DIEL.       The  fruit  photographed  was  one-third  larger  than  the  illusiration.) 


increases  in  power,  so  will  it  necessitate  increased 
watchfulness  with  respect  to  ventilation,  in  order 
to  avoid  harmful  extremes  of  temperature.  Reall}' 
healthy  Vines  usually  set  their  fruit  well,  but 
Muscats  require  a  minimum  night  temperature  of 
70°,  which  is  at  least  5°  more  than  is  desirable  for 
Black  Hamburgh  and  other  free  setting  kinds,  and 
it  is  advisable  to  be  on  the  safe  side  by  applying 
artificial  means  for  distributing  the  pollen  of  this 
variety,  as  well  as  that  of  others  of  doubtful 
character.  We  find  it  necessary  in  the  case  of 
Alnwick  Seedling  to  remove  a  glutinous  matter 
that  exudes  from  the  stigma  to  ensure  perfect 
fertilisation,  and  this  is  done  by  the  aid  of  a 
syringe,  the  flowers  being  fertilised  on  the  following 
day.     Most  Vines  show  a  great 

Surplus  oe  Bukches, 
many  of  which  may  advantageously  be  removed 
before  they  blossom,  and  the  remainder  as  soon 
as  the  way  in  which  the  crop  has  set  can  be 
discerned,  sufficient  only  of  the  best  bunches  being 
selected  to  furnish  an  adequate  crop  for  the  Vines 
to  mature  without  being  distressed.  The  berries 
of  Black  Hamburghs  are  usually  fit  for  thinning 
about  twelve  days  after  the  flowers  are  set,  and 
should  be  attended  to'  without  delay,  but  Muscats, 


Regarding  Odontoglossums  being  potted  entirely 
in  leaf-mould,  I  have  not  so  far  attained  such  success 
as  will  warrant  its  recommendation  generally.  I 
therefore  only  recommend  a  few  plants  being 
placed  in  this  material  for  experiment. 

Propagation  of  Odontoglossums. 

Odontoglossums,  like  many  other  Orchids,  grow 
on  3'ear  after  year  and  rarely  produce  more  than 
one  flowering  pseudo-bulb  annually,  but  these  and 
many  other  Orchids  will,  by  severing  the  rhizome, 
produce  back  shoots,  thus  increasing  the  number 
of  flowering  growths  and  making  larger  specimens 
more  quickl}',  or  by  separating  these  increase  the 
number  of  plants.  It  is  generally  desired  by  those 
who  possess  Odontoglossums,  especially  the  more 
valuable  kinds,  to  increase  the  stock  of  these  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  there  is  no  better  or  safer 
way  to  accomplish  this  than  by  severing  the 
rhizome  at  the  proper  time  and  place.  It  must, 
however,  be  remembered  that  no  Orchid  should  be 
treated  in  this  waj'  if  not  in  excellent  health. 

Plants  to  be  treated  thus  should  possess,  say, 
five  pseudo-bulbs,  and  those  that  need  not  be 
disturbed  the  coming  season.  Sever  the  rhizome 
between  the  second  and  third  bulbs  just  before 
the   plant  commences   to   grow.     The   third  bulb 


166 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  8,  1902. 


will  generally  produce  a  young  growth  a  few 
weeks  after  the  leading  bulb  has  commenced 
growing,  aud  both  should  remain  and  grow  on 
together  for  at  least  one  season.  The  bulb 
developed  from  the  growth  produced  from  the 
third  bulb  is  always  weaker  than  the  one  developed 
from  the  lead.  If  the  former  therefore  shows  a 
flower  spike  it  should  be  pinched  out,  as  this  gives 
the  weaker  bulb  a  better  chance  of  developing,  and 
again,  when  a  flower  spike  is  taken  from  a  bulb  in 
the  early  stage  the  same  commences  to  grow  again 
sooner  than  if  the  spike  remains  and  produces 
flowers.  This  will  thereby  be  the  means  of 
inducing  both  leading  bulbs  to  commence  growing 
at  or  near  the  same  time  the  following  season, 
which  is  then  the  time  to  separate  them  and  pot 
them  in  the  usual  way,  thus  making  two  good 
plants.  Plants  may  also  be  severed  between  6rst 
and  second  bulb  with  perfect  safety,  and  beginners 
need  not  fear  the  result.  Select  plants  having 
four  or  five  bulbs  and  those  that  have  somewhat 
overgrown  their  receptacle.  After  the  plant  has 
commenced  to  grow,  and  the  young  growth  is 
about  3  inches  long,  sever  the  rhizome  between 
first  and  second  bulbs.  Owing  to  the  plant  having 
overgrown  the  pot,  the  majority  of  roots  belonging 
to  the  first  bulb  will  be  outside.  It  may  therefore 
be  easily  removed  without  disturbing  the  back 
bulbs,  and  be  transferred  to  another  pot  of 
convenient  size  and  potted  in  the  usual  way. 
Water  somewhat  sparingly  until  the  new  roots 
have  taken  to  the  fresh  material.  The  back  bulbs 
may  remain  in  the  pot  undisturbed  for  another 
season,  and  until  these  have  produced  a  young 
growth  and  the  same  is  well  advanced  very  little 
water  is  needed.  It  is  better  that  the  bulbs  should 
shrivel  slightly  than  be  given  too  much  water.  In 
the  latter  mode  of  treatment  some  might  hesitate 
in  cutting  between  the  first  and  second  bulb  in  case 
the  rhizome  might  decay  towards  the  first  bulb, 
and  so  lose  the  leading  bulb  and  growth.  This  I 
have  never  experienced.  Both  modes  of  treatment 
are  by  no  means  new,  the  same  having  been 
practised  for  many  years  by  the  majority  of 
successful  growers  of  Odontoglossums.  I  have 
followed  these  modes  of  treatment  with  some  of 
the  choicest  Odontoglossums  in  cultivation  without 
failure,  and  they  may  be  safely  practised  with  the 
entire  genus.  F.  W.  Thurgood. 

lioixf!/ii  Oartltii-1,  Sinmjord  Hill,  A. 


KITCHEN  GAKDEN. 

In  the  middle  of  February  the  weather  was 
unusually  severe,  and  at  the  time  of  writing  there 
is  every  appearance  of  a  continuation  of  it. 
Fortunately,  there  is  much  work  that  can  be 
accomplished,  and,  indeed,  is  better  for  being  done 
at  such  times.  All  kinds  of  wheeling  operations 
can  be  carried  out  without  any  damage  to  the 
walks  or  land.  Trenching  and  digging  should  be 
pushed  forward  with  all  possible  speed,  borne 
hesitate  to 

Bury  Frozen  Ground 
deeply,  but  I  distinctly  favour  doing  so.  We  have 
several  breadths  now  being  so  treated,  the  top 
crust  having  to  be  broken  with  a  pick,  and  L  find 
the  frost  has  penetrated  to  the  depth  of  fully 
9  inches.  This  is  buried  nearly  3  feet  deep,  and 
the  bottom  layer  brought  to  the  surface  ;  conse- 
(luently,  practically  the  whole  of  the  depth 
becomes  purified.  I  fear  most  vegetables,  particu- 
larly those  which  have  not  been  well  protected, 
will  be  severely  damaged,  so  that  strenuous  efforts 
should  be  put  forward  to  keep  up  the  supply  by 
bringing  on  as  speedily  as  possible  everything 
which  will  lend  itself  to  forcing  under  glass ;  many 
of  such  plants  can,  after  we  get  a  favourable  change 
in  the  weather,  be  planted  out  in  warm,  sheltered 
positions. 

Hot-beds 

made  up  some  time  ago  and  planted  with  the 
earliest  crops  will  now  need  much  attention,  such 
as  covering,  airing,  thinning,  earthing  up,  and 
surface  dressing,  and  in  some  cases  the  frames  will 
require  to  be  relined.  Every  available  chance 
should  be  made  the  most  of  to  uncover  the  lights 
as  much  as   possible   during   daylight,  admit    ^.^ 


whenever  the  weather  permits,  and  give  every 
inducement  to  the  young  plants  to  make  a  sturdy 
short-jointed  growth.  For  some  three  or  four 
weeks  yet  successional  beds  should  be  made  up  ; 
choo.se  material  that  will  create  a  gentle  heat, 
using  good  tree  leaves  as  much  as  possible.  These 
can  be  filled  with  Asparagus,  Potatoes,  Carrots, 
Spinach,  forcing  Turnips,  Globe  Beet,  and  Vege- 
table Marrows  ;  they  are  valuable  also  for  pricking 
out  Celery,  Lettuce,  Cauliflowers,  and  such  like. 

VEfJETACLE  Marrows  in  Pots. 

Where  these  are  prized  early,  as  they  are  in 
most  places,  in  addition  to  growing  them  in  frames, 
splendid  results  by  growing  them  in  largo  pots 
may  be  obtained,  providing,  of  course,  room  can 
be  found  for  them.  It  is  surprising  what  a  large 
number  of  fruits  can  be  cut  from  three  or  four 
plants  if  the  roots  are  liberally  supplied  with 
manure  water.  Moore's  Cream  is  the  best  variety 
for  this  purpose.  Make  further  sowings  under 
glass  of  Lettuce,  Cauliflowers,  Celery,  Peas,  Broad 
Beans,  Capsicums,  Leeks,  and  Cucumbers,  and  in 
the  open,  immediately  the  weather  is  favourable. 
Spinach,  Sorrel,  and  early  Turnips. 
Parsnips. 

Tlie  whole  of  these  should  now  be  lifted  and 
stored  under  a  north  wall  in  ashes  or  sand,  when 
they  will  remain  in  good  condition  till  April. 
Treat  Salsify  and  Scorzonera  in  the  same  way. 

E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Hotise  Oardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Many  greenhouse  plants  too  numerous  to  mention 
will  now  require  repotting.  Do  not  give  large 
shifts,  as  most  plants  flourish  better  if  manures 
are  given  them  instead,  but  all  pots  should  be 
thoroughly  clean  and  dry,  as  plants  never  turn 
out  properly  from  those  that  are  wet  and  dirty,  as 
the  roots  get  broken  and  injured,  because  the)' 
cling  to  the  sides.  Good  drainage  is  always  of 
great  importance,  and  all  potting  soils  should  be 
in  suitable  condition.  In  potting  hard-wooded 
plants  never  place  the  ball  lower  in  the  soil  than 
it  has  been  before,  and  take  care  that  the  roots 
are  thoroughly  moist  before  potting.  The  stems 
of  most  soft-wooded  plants  may  be  buried  in  the 
soil  without  any  fear  of  injury.  Ram  the  soil  for 
hard-wooded  plants  with  a  hand  rammer  at  the 
time  of  potting.  Soft-wooded  plants  as  a  rule  do 
not  require  too  firm  potting,  but  such  things  as 
Correas,  Uarwinas,  Eriostemons,  Diosmas,  Myrtles, 
and  Polygalas  that  have  done  flowering  and  are 
starting  into  fresh  growth  should  be  potted  into  a 
compost  of  good  fibry  peat  and  silver  sand  ;  the 
last  two  named  should  have  a  little  loam  added. 
Boronias,  Pimelias,  Chorozemas,  Leschenaultias, 
and  Azaleas  that  are  coming  into  flower  should  be 
carefully  watered.  Climbing  plants,  such  as  Cobfeas, 
Clianthus,  Tacsonias,  Passifloras,  &c.,  should  be 
well  thinned  out,  and  the  leading  shoots  neatly 
trained  where  there  is  space  to  cover. 

Daturas,  Plumbagos,  Bougainvilleas,  and  Helio- 
tropes used  for  covering  walls  should  be  pruned, 
and  Camellia  plants  that  have  done  flowering  may 
be  cut  hard  back  into  shape  where  they  have 
outgrown  their  quarters.  If  these  can  be  place<l 
in  a  warm  temperature  and  syringed  daily  they 
will  flower  early  next  season.  Should  any  require 
potting  shift  them  when  yoving  growth  appears, 
using  a  compost  of  equal  parts  of  fibry  peat  and  loam, 
with  sufiicient  sand  to  keep  the  whole  porous. 

Gardenias  that  are  coming  into  flower  should 
have  manure  water  given  to  them,  and  any  growth 
produced  at  the  base  of  the  flower-bud  removed, 
as  this  will  increase  the  size  of  the  flowers.  Take 
cuttings  of  the  strong  half-ripened  shoots  that 
have  been  cut  back  and  insert  them  singly  in 
small  pots  filled  with  peat,  loam,  and  sand. 
Plunge  them  in  a  propagating  frame  with  a 
bottom  heat  of  about  SC^,  syringing  daily.  I  never 
keep  the  old  plants  a  second  year,  as  finer  flowers 
in  greater  quantity  are  got  from  young  ones  grown 
on  rapidly.  Very  large  plants  can  be  grown  in 
one  season  if  liberal  and  proper  treatment  be 
given.  By  inserting  several  batches  of  cuttings  it 
will  prolong  the  supply  of  flowers.     Should  mealy 


bug  make  its  appearance  a  wineglassful  of  petroleum 
to  three  gallons  of  soft  water  thoroughly  mixed 
should  be  applied.  Lay  the  plants  on  their  sides, 
and  keep  stirring  the  mixture  while  applying  it. 
If  not  kept  properly  mixed  whilst  using  much 
injurj'  may  be  done  to  the  plants.  Choose  a  dull 
day  or  keep  the  plants  well  shaded  until  the 
foliage  dries.  Give  the  plants  a  good  syringing  in 
about  an  hour  afterwards. 

Blinds  should  be  got  ready  for  u.se  as  the  sun  is 
now  gaining  power,  and  many  plants  if  neglected 
will  soon  get  spoiled.  John  Fleming. 

Wi.ehaiu  Park  Clardens,  SloiK/h. 

THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

Plants  for  Bedding. 

The  present  is  a  busy  time  in  the  flower  garden, 
and  especially  so  in  the  propagating  department. 
The  quantities  of  plants  required  for  bedding 
out  will  have  been  noted,  and  every  effort  should  be 
now  made  to  secure  the  desired  number.  Those 
that  are  rooted  should  be  potted  off  and  replaced 
in  a  moderate  temperature  until  growing  freely  ; 
thej-  must  be  hardened  oEf  gradually.  This  applies 
to  Heliotrope,  Tropicolum,  Iresine,  Ageratum,  and 
Verbena.  Calceolarias  may  be  lifted  from  their 
winter  quarters  and  planted  into  frames  or  pits  to 
make  good  plants  by  the  month  of  May.  Carna- 
tions from  layers  last  summer,  Violas,  Sedums, 
Aubrietias,  Arabis,  &c.,  can  be  planted  out  now  in 
prepared  ground. 

Tuberoses 

should  now  be  potted  and  placed  in  brisk  heat  to 
start  them  into  growth  when  they  can  be  removed 
to  cool  frames  ready  for  planting  out  at  the  end  of 
June.  They  prove  very  useful  during  the 
autumn  for  filling  gaps  in  mixed  borders,  and  are 
much  appreciated  by  reason  of  their  delightful 
fragrance.  Salpiglossis  seed  sown  now  in  boxes 
is  a  better  method  of  culture  for  this  beautiful 
plant  than  if  sown  later  out  of  doors  as  advocated 
by  many  growers.  If  sown  now  the  seeiUings 
flower  in  the  warm  dr^'  weather  of  summer  and 
early  autumn  and  are  then  seen  to  the  best 
advantage.  If  sown  later  the  bloom  is  destroyed 
by  the  rain  and  bad  weather,  and  the  plant  also 
under  these  conditions  gives  off  a  most  objection- 
able odour.  The  best  plan  is  to  sow  very  thinlj' 
in  boxes  in  light  sandy  soil,  and  allow  them 
to  germinate  in  fairly  brisk  heat,  but  when  the 
seedlings  are  up  plenty  of  air  must  be  given,  as 
they  are  very  liable  to  damp  ott'.  When  strong 
enough  prick  ofi'  into  boxes,  placing  them  in  gentle 
warmth  to  induce  them  to  root  readily,  and  when 
established  harden  oft'  preparatory  to  planting  out 
at  the  end  of  April.  If  massed  in  their  difterent 
shades  the  display  is  gorgeous,  so  rich  are  the  lovely 
colours  and  markings  of  this  beautiful  flower. 

Marguerite  Carnations 
and  the  new  quick  flowering  varieties  of  this  plant, 
such  as  the  Vanguard,  should,  if  not  already  done, 
be  sown  at  once  for  flowering  in  the  autumn.  For 
vases  I  find  nothing  better  than  the  Marguerite 
Carnation ;  the  growth  is  much  more  flexible  than 
the  ordinary  border  Carnation,  and  the  plants 
adapt  themselves  to  the  drooping  position  necessary 
for  the  furnishing  of  a  vase.  Last  year  I  treated 
them  in,  I  think,  quite  a  novel  fashion  by  using 
them  in  barrels,  placing  several  on  the  top  of  each 
other.  The  Carnations  were  grown  as  Straw- 
berries are,  except  that  the  holes  were  smaller  and 
closer.  The  barrels  ^^  ere  then  placed  on  end  one 
upon  the  other  making  a  column  fully  12  feet  high. 
In  the  autumn  these  barrels,  which  were  previously 
painted  green,  were  almost  completely  hidden 
with  the  foliage  and  flowers.  The  eft'ect  was  not 
only  novel,  but  exceedingly  attractive,  and  was 
greatly  admired.  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums  and 
the  spreading  Lobelia  are  also  excellent  subjects 
for  this  work.  If  the  Marguerite  Carnations  are 
sown  now  in  pots,  as  previously  stated,  and  placed 
in  heat  the  seedlings  will  be  soon  ready  for  potting 
singly  into  2^-inch  pots.  When  rooted  sufficiently 
they  should  be  again  moved  into  a  slightly  larger 
pot,  using  a  prepared  compost  of  good  rich  gritty 
soil  They  will  then  make  sturdy  and  strong 
plants,   fit  for  planting  in    the   barrels  or  vases 


March  8,   1902.] 


THE     GAKDEN. 


167 


about  the  end  of  May.  The  barrels  for  the  columns 
should  be  made  up,  planted,  and  remain  in  the 
position  in  which  the}'  are  first  placed.  The  lowest 
barrel  is  filled  completely  with  soil,  always  using 
-a  compost  of  rich  friable  loam,  leaf-soil,  grit, 
and  cow  manure.  The  barrel  above  has  a  narrow 
drain  pipe  running  through  to  the  top  of  the  lowest 
barrel,  while  the  third  and  top  one  has  two  pipes, 
one  connecting  with  the  pipe  in  the  second  barrel, 
while  the  other  simply  leads  to  the  surface  of  the 
second  barrel.  By  means  of  these  various  drain 
pipes  water  can  be  freely  conducted  to  each,  an 
item  most  essential  to  the  success  of  this  method  of 
■culture.  H.  A.  Pettiorew. 

Castle  Gardens,  St.  Far/tinii. 


ADIANTUM     PEDATUM. 

A  CAPITAL  idea  of  this  beautiful  and  perfectly 
hardy  Maidenhair  Fern  is  given  by  the  accom- 
panying illustration,  it  is  at  once  a  bold 
grower  and  )  et  of  delicate  form.     It  is  a  native 


open  it  must  be  in  a  very  sheltered  position,  as 
it  is  essentially  a  woodland  Fern.  When  the 
fronds  die  down  in  the  autumn  bury  the  pot 
in  the  soil  for  the  winter  and  dig  it  out  again 
the  following  March,  this  saves  risk  of  drought. 
Chas.  T.  Drueey,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H. 


ADIANTDM    I'EDATUM    OCT  OF  BOOKS    I.N    SURREY. 


■of  North  America,  even  of  Canada,  so  that  we 
have  no  frosts  here  capable  of  hurting  it. 
Although  it  is  rarely  seen  in  open  air  rockeries 
probably  because  of  its  britlleness,  "w  hich  pre- 
cludes its  standing  wth  impunity  much  rough 
weather,  we  may  yet  see  a  strong  specimen  in 
the  rock  walk  at  Kew.  The  fronds  grow  2  feet 
high,  having  long  perpendicular  shining  black 
stalks,  characteristic  of  the  genus  generally  ; 
the  fronds  proper  are  borne  at  the  tops  in 
the  shape  of  a  bird's  foot,  whence  the  name 
■of  pedatum.  It  has  a  blackish  travelling 
rhizome  or  rootstock  which  keeps  very  near 
the  surface,  and  throws  up  the  fronds  singly  at 
short  intervals  It  is  admirably  adapted  for 
pot  culture  indoors  in  well  lighted  windows 
not  too  much  exposed  to  the  sunshine,  or  in 
■conservatories  facing  north.  An  ordinary 
Fern  compost  of  leaf-mould  or  peat  and  loam 
in  equal  parts,  with  a  little  coarse  silver  or 
road  sand,  suits  it  admirably.  Drain  well  and 
keep  moist,  but  not  sodden.    If  grown  in  the 


A    BIRD    AND    TREE    DAY. 

At  the  annual  general  meeting  of  the  Society  for 
the  Protection  of  Birds,  held  on  the  26th  ult.  at  the 
Westminster  Palace  Hotel,  and  presided  over  by 
Sir  George  Kekewich,  K.C. B. ,  the  most  important 
point  for  discussion  was  the  "Consideration  of  the 
proposal  to  establish  a  Bird  and  Arbor  Day  in  the 
British  Isles."  Sir  George  Kekewich  remarked 
upon  the  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  birds  and  the 
practice  that  still  went  on  of  birds"  nesting, 
pointing  out  that  there  were  very  few  birds 
de.'.tructive  to  crops  that  were  not  destructive  to 
insects  also.  With  reference  to  fruit  and  the 
birds,  it  was  far  better  to  protect  the  fruit  by 
netting    than    to   destroj'    the    birds, 

which    were  so   material   a   factor   in 

producing  the  crop.  Mr.  Montagu 
Sharpe  -  spoke  at  length  upon  the 
proposal  to  establish  a  Bird  and 
Arbor  Daj',  saying  that  Nature  study 
should  be  largely  introduced  into 
schools  At  the  present  time  country 
children  live  in  a  fairyland  but  do 
not  know  it.  Sir  .John  Cockburn  made 
■some  interesting  remarks  upon  the 
observance  of  this  custom  in  Australia. 
Archdeacon  Sinclair  and  Mr.  Cuning- 
liam  Graham  also  spoke.  It  was  sug- 
gested that  instead  of  Bird  and  Arhor 
Day,  Bird  and  Tret  Day  should  be  the 
designation  adopted,  and  this  seemed 
to  meet  with  general  approval. 

The  Society  for  the  Protection  of 
Birds  is  doing  a  good  work  in  its 
effort  to  establish  a  Bird  and  Tree 
Day  in  Britain,  for  the  objects  of 
such  a  custom  would  lie  tn  instil  in 
liie  minds  of  school  children  a  love 
fur  both  plants  and  birds.  Last  year 
the  sipciety  offered  prizes  for  an  essay 
up. Ill  this  subject,  and  that  written 
liy  Ml-.  E.  D.  Till  was  awarded  the 
first  i)ri/.e.  Prom  this  interesting  essay 
we  make  the  following  extracts  :  — 

"The  waste  of  hird  life  is  as  con- 
stant as  that  of  tret  life,  and  unless 
natural  or  artificial  means  of  protec- 
tion be  adopted,  birds,  like  trees,  are 
liable  to  extermination.  Early  settlers 
in  America  destroyed  the  forests  and 
rapidly  spent  their  suljstantial  heii- 
tage,  but  many  awoke  to  thB<laiiger 
and  ttevised  measures  of  protection 
which  ultimatelj'  led  to  an  Arbor  or 
Tree-planting  l)a\'.  Nebraska  was 
the  first  Slate  in  which  the  day  was 
observed  in  1872,  leading  to  the  popular  name  of 
the  '  Tree-planters'  State.'  On  April  o,  1.S9.3,  the 
Senate  declared  that  the  Golden  Rod  (Solidago 
serotina)  should  henceforth  be  their  floral  emblem. 
Other  States  have  adopted  floral  or  arboreal 
emblems.  Nearly  a  thousand  million  of  trees  have 
been  planted  in  Nebraska  alone,  and  the  arbour 
plantings  throughout  the  States  are  beyond  com- 
putation. Canada,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  and 
the  Cape  have  all  imitated  more  or  less  the 
example,  but  next  to  nothing  has  been  done  in 
England.  The  observance  of  Arbor  Day  at 
Eynsford,  in  Kent,  seems  to  be  the  only  instance — 
first  in  commemoration  of  our  late  beloved  <j)neen's 
Diamond  Jubilee,  when  Sir  George  Birdwood, 
KC.I.E.,  M.D.,LL.l).,aadtheM.P.  for  Hereford, 
Mr.  C.  W.  Radcliffe  Cooke,  assisted. 

"  On  an  Arbor  Day  in  1900,  Eynsford  planted  in 
the  village  street  a  Weeping  Lime,  a  Plane,  and  a 
Sj'camore  to  commemorate  the  relief  of  Mafeking, 
Ladysmith,  and  Kimberley  respectively. 

"  It  is  of  vital  importance  in  establishing  a  Bird 
and  Arbor  Daj'  in  this  country  to  secure  the 
interest  of  the  public  and  the  support  of  societies 


and  public  bodies.  To  effectually  awaken  puljlie 
interest,  the  prize  essays  should  be  widely  dis- 
tributed to  the  Press,  followed  up  by  a  well- 
illustrated  and  thoroughly  descriptive  publication 
giving  the  whole  history  of  the  Arbor  Day  move- 
ment and  its  advantages  to  the  country'.  Nursery- 
men throughout  the  kingdom  ought,  of  course,  to 
support  the  movement,  as  its  adoption  would 
create  an  enormous  demand  for  trees.  The  funds 
granted  for  technical  education  are  applicable  for 
the  objects  comprised  in  the  idea  of  Bird  and 
Arbour  Day,  while  Urban  and  Rural  District 
Councils  can  also  expend  funds  for  planting  trees 
in  public  thoroughfares.  Lectures  of  a  practical 
character  on  fririt-growing,  tree-planting  and 
pruning,  the  establishment  uf  gardens  in  connection 
with  day  and  evening  continuation  schools,  and  the 
enlistment  of  the  s^'mpathy  and  active  support  of 
teachers  throughout  tlie  country,  are  amongst  the 
methods  of  promoting  the  adoption  of  a  Bird  and 
Arbor  Day.  Correct  information  on  the  subject 
of  bird  life  should  be  placed  before  the  public  in 
order  to  dispel  prevailing  ignorance  and  prejudice, 
and  facts  such  as  the  following  should  be  made 
known  through  the  Press  :  First,  the  multipljang 
of  trees  improves  the  landscape,  and  gives  a 
S3'lvan  character  even  in  cities  ;  it  also  affords 
food,  protection,  and  increased  nesting  facilities  for 
our  song-birds  of  the  country  and  town. 

"  Trees  not  only  encourage  the  breeding  of  birds, 
but  assist  to  shelter  them  from  the  attacks  of  their 
natural  enemies.  The  reason  why  certain  birds, 
such  as  the  sparrow,  increase  abnormally  is  that 
game  protection  promotes  the  wholesale  destruction 
of  their  natural  enemies,  hawks,  ja3's,  owls, 
magpies,  and  the  like.  This  wholesale  destruction 
disturbs  the  balance  of  nature.  Were  owls,  hawks, 
and  other  common  birds  of  pre}'  allowed  to  exist, 
undue  increase  of  certain  birds  would  be  prevented, 
and  a  corresponding  increase  of  migratory  birds 
would  follow.  Wiiere  .sparrows  increase  the 
swallows  decline.  A  sparrowhawk  eats,  on  an 
average,  three  sparrows  per  day,  and  a  sparrow 
will  eat  an  average  of  one  hundred  grains  of  wheat 
daily.  An  easy  calculation  will  show  the  service 
rendered  b}'  the  hawk  in  this  respect  alone  during 
a  .\  ear. 

"  Post-mortem  examinations  of  the  crops  of 
birds,  extending  over  several  years,  prove  that  they 
confer  more  benefit  than  harm.  A  farmer,  near 
Wilhani,  on  examining  the  contents  of  the  crop  of 
a  rook,  found,  to  his  surprise,  the  bulk  consisted 
of  irlrev-'orms !  He  never  shot  a  rook  again  I  Birds, 
of  necessity,  take  toll  of  our  crops,  but  it  is  in  the 
shape  of  wages  for  service  rendered.  Think  how 
the}'  work  for  us  in  diminishing  our  weeds  by  eating 
up  Ihe  weed  seeds  in  winter  ! 

"  Museums,  strictly  for  objects  of  local  interest, 
should  be  established  in  every  town  and  village, 
where  the  fauna  and  the  flora  of  the  neighbourhood 
should  be  represented  for  general  in.itruction. 
Lectures  on  Gilbert  White's  '  Natural  History  of 
Selborne'  should  be  encouraged,  and  his  classic 
book  awarded  as  a  prize  to  further  the  observance 
of  Arbor  Day  and  Bird  Protection.  Arbor  Day 
should  be  a  movable  holiday,  not  one  fixed  date 
for  the  whole  Kingdom.  In  the  United  States 
each  State  has  its  own  day,  and  dates  in  the 
several  States  differ.  Local  con\'enience  should 
determine  this.  The  importance  of  inducing 
children  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  observance  of 
Bird  and  Arbor  Day  can  hardly  be  over-estimated. 
To  accomplish  anything  of  real  value  the  collabo- 
ration of  teachers  is  absolutely  necessary.  Unfortu- 
nately there  are  many  teachers  anxious  to  take  up  the 
study  of  Natural  History,  but  without  opportunities 
of  having  the  subject  placed  before  them  in  an 
attractive  form.  Their  knowledge  of  Natural 
History  is  chiefly  derived  from  text  books  and 
object-lesson  books,  instead  of  from  Nature,  and 
enthusiasm  is  lacking.  Several  county  councils, 
of  which  that  of  Essex  aS'ords  an  excellent 
example,  have  instituted  normal  classes  for  tearhers 
desirous  of  studying  Nature  knowledge  and 
kindred  subjects. 

"The  Board  of  Education  have  latterly  issued 
circulars  to  schools  urging  the  adoption  of  Nature 
study  as  part  of  the  curriculum.  Object-lessons 
on  Natural  History,  more  particularly  dealing  with 


168 


THE    GAJRDEN. 


i  March  f*,  1902' 


the  life  histories  of  birds  and  trees,  afford  vahiable 
oppnrtirnities  for  biinging  before  children  the 
advantages  of  establishing  a  Bird  and  Arbor  Daj'. 

"  Nurserymen  now  keep  specimens  of  forest  and 
other  trees  in  pots  for  memorial  planting,  so  that 
the)'  ran  be  safely  transplanted  in  the  height  of 
summer  if  necessary.  For  the  inauguration  of  an 
Arbor  Day  a  committee  is  necessarj',  in  which 
should  be  included  influential  parishioners  and  the 
school  teachers.  Endeavour  to  get  contributions 
of  pence  from  children  towards  cost  of  the  trees, 
to  give  them  a  personal  interest  in  the  work. 
Explain  to  them  the  object.  Tell  off  certain 
children  to  assist  in  the  planting  of  particular 
trees.  The  holes  should  be  prepared  beforehand. 
Printed  programmes  should  be  issued.  The  village 
band  should  play,  and  children  sing  in  procession. 
A  public  meeting  should  follow,  and  addresses  on 
Bird  Protection  and  Arbor  Day. 

"  Fefitina  lenle  is  a  good  motto  to  bear  in  mind 
in  the  endeavour  to  advance  Bird  and  Arbor  Day. 
Attempt  it  first  in  one  or  two  counties.  I  suggest 
Siirrej'  and  Essex,  where  the  county  councils  are 
not  lacking  in  '  initiative.'  a  quality  so  lacking 
generallj'.  The  forces  which  operated  to  bring 
about  Arbor  Days  in  America  may  peihaps  be 
present  in  England,  but  in  nothing  like  the  same 
degree.  The  'idea"  of  Arbor  Day  should  grow 
gradually^  not  be  forced.  A  natural  growth  will 
result  if  the  idea  be  properly  ciiltintttd. 

"  As  no  greater  example  exists  of  the  principle 
of  commemorative  tree-planting  than  that  which 
Her  late  (Jracious  Majesty  affords,  I  respectfully 
urge  that  the  close  of  her  long  and  eventful  reign 
be,  for  all  time,  connnemorated  in  our  land  b}'  the 
observance  of  an  Arbor  Day,  which  will,  in  effect, 
celebrate  what  was,  after  all,  the  day  of  her 
accession  ! " 


National  Rose  Society.— A  meeting  of 

the  connnittee  will  be  held  at  the  rooms  of  the 
Horticultural  Club,  Hotel  Windsor,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  on  Tuesday,  the  11th  inst. ,  at  H  p.m. 
The  agenda  is  :  Report  of  (ieneral  Purposes  Com- 
mittee ;  Temple  schedule  ;  Manchester  schedule  ; 
refreshments  at  Temple  show  :  to  decide  on  the 
number  of  blooms  to  be  staged  in  the  Jubilee 
classes  at  Manchester  ;  local  secretaries,  and  other 
business. — Edw.krd  Mawley,  Hov.  Secretary. 

United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 

Provident  Society.  — The  annual  meeting 
of  the  above  society  will  be  held  at  the  Caledonian 
Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  on  Monday  next, 
the  10th  inst. ,  at  S  p.  m.  Mr.  Herbert  J.  Cutbush  has 
kindly  consented  to  preside. 

Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 

Institution. — A  great  gathering  of  horticul- 
turists will  beheld  on  Wednesday  next  at  the  City 
Hall,  Eberle  Street,  Dale  Street,  Liverpool,  when 
E.  J.  Harvey  (iibson,  Esq.,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  has 
kindlj'  consented  to  preside.  Harry  J.  Veitch, 
Esq.,  treasurer,  and  Cieorge  J.  Ingram,  Esq., 
secretary  of  the  institution,  have  promised  to  be 
present  to  give  some  account  of  the  objects  and 
advantages  of  this  beneficent  society.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  meeting  a  smoking  concert  will 
be  held.  The  united  support  of  gardeners  (private 
and  market),  seedsmen,  nurserymen,  and  others 
interested  in  horticulture,  is  relied  upon,  so  that 
the  result  may  prove  beneficial  to  the  institution 
and  creditable  to  the  city  of  Liverpool  and  district. 
The  ofKeers  and  committee  will  gladly  receive  the 
names  of  intended  life  members,  subscribers,  and 
donors  ;  and  will  supply  admis.sion  tickets  (Is. 
each),  and  any  information  required.  Mr.  Charles 
Young,  West  Derby,  is  chairman  ;  Mr.  A.  J. 
Crippin,  Egremont,  treasurer;  and  Mr.  R.  G. 
Waterman,  Woolton,  secretar}'.  The  committee 
consists  of  E.  Bache,  West  Derby  ;  J.  Finnigan, 
Liscard ;  T.  Foster,  Wavertree  ;  W.  Gibbons, 
Croxteth  ;  B.  Ker,  Cressington  ;  W.  Mercer; 
Claughton  ;  R.  Pinnington,  Roby ;  C.  Sherry, 
Botanic  Gardens  :  J  Stewart,  Liverpool  ;  R.  Todd, 
Woolton  ;  T.  Twist,  West  Derby  ;  and  W.  Webster, 
Wavertree. 

Royal   Horticultural  Society.— The 

next  iruit  and  flower  show  of  tlie  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday  next, 
in  the  London   Scottish  Drill   Hall,  Buckingham 


(Jate,  Westminster,  1  —  4  p.m.  The  committees 
Mill  meet  at  noon  as  usual.  A  lecture  on  "The 
New  Soil  Science"  will  be  given  at  three  o'clock  by 
Mr.  R.  Hedger  Wallace.  At  a  general  meeting  of 
the  above  society  held  on  Tuesday,  the  'i.jlb  ult. . 
sevent3'-two  new  Fellows  were  elected,  amongst 
them  being  the  Marchioness  of  Bath,  Lady  Eburj', 
Ladj'  Lewis,  Lady  Peel,  Lady  Ridley,  Hon.  Mrs. 
Parker,  Hon.  John  Wallop,  Lieut.  Colonel  J. 
Campbell,  Major  W.  D.  Garnett-Botireld,  Surgeon- 
General  A.  Eteson,  Captain  B.  J.  St.  (ieurge.  and 
A.  H.  Lyell,  M.A.,  F..S.A.,  making  a  total  of  i').") 
elected  since  the  beginning  of  the  present  year.  1  he 
prize  schedule  for  the  Crystal  Palace  fiuit  show 
will  be  issued  on  the  31st  inst.,  post  free  one  penny. 
Donations  towards  the  prize  fund  will  be  gratefully 
received  by  the  Secretary,  Ro3'al  Horticultural 
Societj',  117,  Victoria  Street,  London,  S.W. 

Horticultural  Club.— The  usual  monthly 
dinner  and  conversazione  will  take  place  at  the 
Hotel  Windsor,  Victoria  Street,  on  Tuesday  next, 
at  G  p.m.  The  subject  for  discussion  will  be 
"Birds  in  their  relation  to  Horticulture,"  to  be 
opened  by  Mr.  Charles  E.  Pearson,  postponeil  from 
December  17.  Dr.  Henry  will  be  the  guest  of  the 
Club  at  an  early  date. 

Cassell's  Dictionary  of  Gardening'. 

— The  tenth  part  of  this  publication  has  appealed 
and  well  maintains  the  interest  of  the  previous 
numbers.  A  coloured  plate  of  Michaelmas  Daisies 
forms  the  frontispiece,  and  illustrates  foui 
varieties.  Part  X.  commences  with  Hydrucharis 
and  continues  to  Law.  The  article  upon  Irises  is 
well  illustrated  from  photographs  of  various  types. 

Familiar  Wild    Flowers.  —  All    in 

terested  in  the  British  Flora  will  welcome  the  re- 
publication, by  Messrs.  Cassell  and  Co.,  in  sixpenny 
parts,  of  this  well-known  work.  A  detailed  descrip- 
tion is  superfluous.  We  have  received  Part  I., 
which  is  well  printed  upon  good  paper,  and  the 
coloured  representations  of  the  wild  flowers  are 
also  excellent. 


SOCIETIES. 

ROYAL    HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETV. 
Orchid  Coiumittee  Awards. 

Zijfjo-Colax zvifjaniamis  tuiperbus,  a  Iteautiful  hybrid  haviiio; 
the  iiiteimediate  characteristics  of  the  parents  (Z.  inter- 
medium X  C.  jugosus) ;  the  flowers  are  altogether  larger 
than  those  of  any  of  the  hybrids  of  this  class  wu  have 
previously  seen,  the  sepals  and  petals  are  green,  spotted 
with  dark  chocolate  -  purple,  furniing  bar  -  like  marldngs 
across  the  segments;  the  lip  is  broad,  flat,  white,  heavily 
marked  with  viulei-blue.  The  plant  carrying  a  two-tlowered 
raceme  was  exhii)ited  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  25lh  ult.,  from 
the  nurseries  of  Messrs.  F.  Sander  and  Sons,  the  Orchid 
committee  awarding  a  tirst-class  certificate. 

Ci/pn'jiciHinii  -1.  Dinmiock  (godseflianuiu  x  Druryi),  a 
most  distinct  and  beautiful  secoiidaiy  hybrid,  with  a  ritbust 
constitution  and  bold  flower,  in  tlie  way  of ,  but  altogether 
superior  to  C.  winnianum ;  the  dorsal  sepal  is  white,  with 
purple  maikiiigs  m  front  of  the  green  basal  area,  wliile  there 
is  the  prominent  characteristic  of  all  C.  Druryi  hybrids  in 
the  broad,  deep  purple  band  running  through  the  centre  ; 
the  petals  aie  green-yellow,  suffused  with  purple  and 
spotted  with  brown  through  the  centre,  the  lip  yellow, 
spotted  with  brown.  This  desirable  addition  was  exhibited 
liy  Messrs.  F.  Sander  and  Sons  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  25tii 
ult.    Award  of  merit. 

Ci/pri/jcdium  Felicity  (callosum  x  tonsum),  a  distinct 
tinted  variety,  showing  much  of  the  influence  of  C.  callosum  ; 
the  dorsal  sepal  is  white  at  the  top,  suffused  with  rose 
through  the  centre,  pale  green  at  the  base,  veined  pro- 
minently with  green,  the  petals  green,  suffused  with  purple, 
spotted  witli  brown  on  the  lower  halves,  lip  green,  veined 
with  a  darker  shade.  The  plant  was  exhibited  at  the  Drill 
Hall  on  the  25lh  ult.  from  the  collection  of  Mr.  H.  S.  Pitt, 
Rosslyn,  Stamford  Hill  (gardener,  Jlr.  Thurgood).  Award  of 
merit. 

Odontoglostivm  crispvni,  Mabel  M'hatelc;/,  a  small  plant 
which,  as  it  gets  strongei',  should  develop  into  a  tirst-rale 
variety,  was  exhiiuted  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  ■25th  ult.  The 
flower  is  beautifully  round,  the  sepal  white,  suffused  with 
rosy  purple  at  the  back,  spotted  with  brown  in  the  centre, 
the  petals  white,  with  large  brown  spotting  in  the  centre ; 
the  lip  is  white,  with  the  usual  yellow  disc  spotted  in  the 
centre  with  bright  brown.  From  the  collection  of 
H.  Whateley,  Esq.,  Kenilworth.    Award  of  merit. 

Odontor!lu.^siuii  looc/iviifti/eiise  enfu'ldunsc— A.  very  beauti 
ful  form  of  this  lovely  natural  hybrid,  between  O.  crispum 
and  0.  triumphans.  The  sepals  are  bright  yellow,  with 
reddish  brown  spottings  ;  the  petals  yellow  on  the  margins 
and  white  thrcugh  the  centre  ;  the  lip  white,  spotted  with 
brown.  The  plant,  carrying  a  nine-flowered  raceme,  was 
exhibited  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  25th  ult.,  from  the 
nurseries  of  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield.  Award  of 
merit. 

Phaio-Calanthe  liuby  (V.  sanderiana  x  Oalantlie  Oakwood 
Ruby).— This  is  no  doubt  the  finest  Phaio-Calanthe  we  have 


seel).  It.=  cluster  of  highly  coloured  floweis  is  very  beautiful. 
The  sepals  and  petals  iiie  jetlnw  un  the  exterior,  flesh- 
coloured  inside,  b  mad  and  spreading;  the  lip  is  large  and 
very  broad  in  front,  deep  purple,  with  darker  lines  in  front. 
The  plant  carried  a  seven-fluwertd  raceme,  and  was  exhi- 
bited by  N.  Cookson,  Eai)..  Oakwood,  Wylam-nn-Tyne 
(gardener,  Mi-.  \V.  Murray),  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  25th 
nit.     Award  c.f  merit. 

Cf/pripediinii  oouleriatnim  (insigne  punctatnm  violaceum 
X  O'jdfrojie  leuciichilum).  — This  resembles  to  a  great 
extent  ihe  hist-meiitiMned  parent.  The  flowers  are  white, 
with  a  tliick  buttu>ion  ni  spots  ovei-  all  the  segments,  and 
a  faint  trace  nf  green  at  the  i>a-e  of  the  dursal  sepal.  Tlie 
plant  Mas  exhibited  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  25th  ult. 
fioiii  the  collection  of  Mr.  W.  M.  Appleton,  of  Weston- 
super-Mare.    Award  of  mei-it. 

Floral  Committke  Awards. 
Acacia  hartnyphylla.-  Wlien  recently  exhibited  before  the- 
floral  committee  some  doulit  was  expressed  as  to  the 
correctness  of  the  name  under  which  it  was  shown,  viz., 
A.  harpraph>  Ma.  This  in  some  quarteis  was  taken  as  a 
corruption  of  A.  harpophylla,  while  another  npinion  was 
expressed  that  the  plant  was  A.  cultriformis.  Whether  this 
is  true  we  are  unable  yel  to  determine  in  a  genus  of  several 
bundled  specirs.  We  rtnd.  howevei',  A.  cultriformis  figured 
in  the  plate  in  the  Fiench  editi'ui  of  "The  Dictionary  of 
Oardening"  (Nichtilson)  t"  be  a  totally  distinct  plant,  both 
in  the  way  it  produces  the  fioweis  m(>re  decidedly 
distinct  in  the  phylhjdes,  and  particulaily  in  the  compact 
attenuated  iMtints  of  all  the  growths,  which  in  the  plant- 
shown  appear  so  characteristic  a  feature  The  blue-green 
colouring  (if  the  phyllodes  geneially  is  also  a  striking 
feature,  and  the  plant  alttigether  one  tif  the  most  elegant 
nf  this  tt'ie  class,  t'uder  the  circumstances  we  incline 
therefore  to  the  above  name  f<jr  the  present  and  until  means 
of  verificali"!!  ar-e  at  our  disposal.  Tlie  examnles  were 
shown  by  Xlrt".  Denison,  Little  Gaddesden,  litikhamsted 
I  (gardener,  Mr.  A.  G.  Gentle),  the  sprays  licing  densely  and 
I  ele;:antly  clothed  with  globular  yellow  heads  of  strongly 
Hawthorn-scented  flowers.     First-class  certificate. 

GARDENERS'  FRIENDLY  BENEFIT  SOCIETY. 
We  have  received  the  following  letter  from  the  secretary  of 
this  society  :  "  I  beg  to  forward  you  coi)y  of  annual  report 
and  balance-sheet,  also  a  copy  of  lules  of  the  above  society, 
and  should  esteem  it  as  a  favour  if  you  can  find  space  to 
give  a  notice  of  the  same  in  your  paper,  and  to  do  what  you 
can  to  draw  the  attention  of  gardeners  to  the  advantages  of 
joining  such  a  society.  The  more  friendly  relations  existing 
between  gardeners  and  their  empU»>er8,  as  well  as  the  other 
things  mentioned  in  the  report,  tend  to  reduce  our  liabilities 
considerably.  The  benettts  during  sickness  are  10s.  per 
week  for  twenty-six  weeks,  then  5s.  per  week  so  long  as  a 
member  is  certified  by  a  doctor  as  unable  to  work  through 
sickness  or  old  age.  Burial  allowance  £l()  upon  the  death  of 
a  memlter  and  £7  for  a  member's  wife.  Few  societies  can 
offer  these  benefits  for  the  small  contribution  of  4d.  per 
wtek,  and  I  feel  sure  if  it  were  better  known  many  would 
be  glad  to  join.  I  may  add  that  the  funds  of  the  society 
have  been  saved  with  a  contribution  of  ;id.  per  week,  as  it 
is  only  (luite  recently  that  tliey  have  been  raised  to  4d. 
The  present  balance-sheet  may  not  appear  to  he  a  very 
favourable  one  for  circulation  for  this  purpose,  but  it  is  quite 
exceptional,  only  four  times  in  the  history  of  the  society  has 
tlie  expenditure  exceeded  the  income.  Started  in  Leeds 
and  having  its  registered  ottice  there  it  is  by  no  means  a 
local  society,  as  its  members  reside  all  over  the  United 
Kingdom.— George  Cakver." 


READING  AND  DISTRICT  GARDENERS  ASSOCIATION,. 

TiiE  fortniglitly  meeting  of  the  above  association,  heldm 
the  Abbey  Hall  on  the  Kith  ult.,  was  presided  over  by 
Mr.  Leonard  Sutton,  the  president,  and  was  attended  by 
nearly  130  members,  one  of  the  largest  attendances  yet 
recorded.  The  subject  fur  the  evening  was  "Salient  Points 
of  Fruit  Culture,"  and  was  introduced  in  an  exceedingly 
practical  manner  by  Mr.  E.  Molyneux  of  SwanmorePark 
Bishops  Waltham,  his  demonstrations  in  the  art  of  root  and 
iiranch  pruning,  staking,  Ac  ,  making  his  lecture  easy  to 
follow  even  by  the  youngest  member  present.  He  treated 
his  subject  under  the  following  headings :  "The  Planting 
of  Fruit  Trees, "  "  Root  Pruning,"  "  Summer  Pruning," 
"Stimulating  the  Trees,"  "Staking,"  "  Peaches  out  of  doors 
and  indoors,"  "Vines  and  Melons."  At  the  close  many 
questions  were  asked  and  an  interesting  discussion  took 
place.  The  exhibits  weie  of  exceptional  quality  for  the 
season  of  the  year,  consisting  of  some  splendid  samples  of 
Apples,  Mr.  J.  Hissey.  The  Gardens,  Beenham  Grange, 
staging  six  dishes  of  Small's  Admirable ;  and  Mr.  E.  Fry,- 
The  Gardens,  Greenlands,  Reading,  a  dish  of  Annie  Elizabeth 
Apples,  whilst  Mr.  J.  Wicks,  of  The  Gardens,  Broad  Oak, 
staged  several  pots  of  well  grown  Laclienalia  luteola.  Mr. 
Hissey  had  entered  his  Apples  for  the  association's  certificate 
of  cultural  merit,  and  the  judges  had  no  difficulty  in  award- 
ing the  same.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  the 
lecturer  and  exhibitors. 

WOKING  HORTICULTURAL  ASSOCIATION. 
The  hon.  secretary  of  this  society,  Mr.  Montague  Rose^ 
sends  the  annual  leport  for  1001,  and  syllabus  and  list  of 
special  prizes  for  1!)02.  Monthly  meetings  are  held,  at 
which  lectures  are  given,  and  special  prizes  offered  for 
exhibits  of  flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables.  The  following  is 
a  list  of  lectures  announced.  March  13,  "Japanese  Chry- 
santhemums," by  Mr.  G.  Carpenter;  April  10,  "Pitcher 
Plants,"  by  Mr.  W.  Baxter  ;  May  S,  "  The  use  of  Chemical 
and  (tther  Manures,"  by  Mr.  F.  W.  E.  Shrivell,  F.L.S.,. 
F.R.H.S.  ;  June  12,  "  Ornamental  Forestry,"  by  Mr.  A.  G. 
Jackman.  F.R.H.S.  ;  September  11,  "Practical  Plant  Breed- 
ing," by  Mr.  E.  Kemp  Toogood,  Southampton;  October  9,. 
"  Border  Chrysanthemums,"  by  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane;  November 
13,  "Natural  History  of  some  Familiar  Flowers,"  by  Mrs. 
Orlando  Law;  December  11,  Bohemian  concert. 


GARDEN 


No.  1582,— Vol.  LXL] 


[March  15,  1902, 


A     BIRD    AND    TREE    DAY. 

THE  late  discussion,  at  au  influential 
meeting,  of  a  propo^*al  to  establish, 
tentatively,  a  Bird  and  Tree  Day  in 
one  or  more  of  our  English  counties 
is  a  significant  .symptom.  It  is  one 
amongst  several,  showing  that  the  mind  of  the 
nation  is  awakening  to  the  importance  of 
leading  back  the  instincts  of  the  rising  gene- 
ration to  the  old  love  of  country  life,  inborn 
formerly  in  every  true  Briton,  but  which  is 
fast  wearing  out.  Nature  study  is  being  urged 
in  the  schools,  gardens  in .  many  cases  are 
attached  to  the  playgrounds,  and  encourage- 
ments are  not  wanting  to  induce  girls  and 
boys  to  become  in  future  life  citizens  of  the 
soil  rather  than  citizens  of  the  towcs,  if  not 
at  home,  in  the  larger  sjihere  of  Greater  Britain, 
This  is  one  aspect  of  the  movement,  and,  in  so 
far  as  it  can  be  carried  out  with  judgment,  we 
cordially  welcome  it  and  wish  it  well. 

Sooner  or  later,  after  a  period  of  reckless 
waste,  whether  of  tree  or  bird  life,  the  people 
of  all  nations  are  suddenly  roused  to  a  sense 
of  loss  and  prospective  danger,  and  with  much 
ado  set  to  work  to  remedy,  too  late,  the 
mischief  which  should  never  have  been  per- 
mitted- to  occur.  This  has  happened  in  our 
colonies  ;  it  has  also  happened  in  America 
and  in  Europe,  In  Italy  and  Sardinia,  where 
summer  droughts,  attributable  in  great  degree' 
to  the  wholesale  destruction  of  timl:>er,  have 
prevailed  in  some  districts  to  a  disastrous 
extent,  the  Government  is  giving  most 
strenuous  attention  to  the  rewooding  of  the 
denuded  lands.  In  Rome  a  Planting  Day  has 
also  been  instituted,  followin.n  the  lead  of 
Switzerland  in  this  particular,  if  we  are  not 
mistaken.  On  this  annual  occasion  the 
children  of  the  municipal  schools,  numbering 
many  hundreds,  set  out  in  procession  for  the 
chosen  spot  on  the  Campagna,  with  bands 
playing  and  flags  flying,  and  all  the  joyous 
accessories  of  a  public  ./e^e,  to  plant  the  trees 
grown  for  the  purpo.se  in  the  Government 
nurseries.  The  late  King  Humbert  and 
Queen  Margharita  used  to  testify  then- 
interest  in  this  national  undertaking  by  their 
personal  attendance— an  interest  which  is, 
doubtless,  still  kept  up  by  the  present  King. 
Unhajipily,  Italy  is  not  so  conservative  in  the 
matter  of  bird  life.  It  is  a  pitiful  .sight  to  see 
strings  of  robins  and  tits  offered  for  food,  but 
it  will  be  long  before  Italians  are  induced  to 
give  up  the  dainty  morsels— -mere  mouthfuls 
of  bones — which  take  the  place  with  them  of 


larger  game  liirds.  Nevertheless,  even  now 
they  begin  to  discover  that  their  crops  are 
suffering  to  so  great  an  extent  from  the 
ravages  of  insects  that  a  close  time  will 
shortly,  if  it  has  not  already,  become  a 
necessity.  We  may,  perhaps,  think  that  in 
our  own  more  enlightened  land  we  have  no 
parallel  to  such  facts  as  theee,  but  let  an 
example  be  given.  The  wholesale  clearance 
of  timber  in  a  district  well  known  to  us 
during  the  last  twenty-five  years,  while  no 
steps  have  been  taken  to  restore  the  balance 
by  rejjlanting,  has  resulted  in  an  entire  change 
of  climatic  conditions.  The  rainfall  has  been 
seriou.sly  diminished,  and  summer  drought  is 
not  unfrequent.  Moreover,  this  diminution, 
in  its  turn,  has  so  affected  the  rising  of  the 
springs  in  that  locality  that  .scarcity  of  water, 
in  what  was  formerly  a  land  of  brooks  and 
rivers,  is  becoming  a  threatening  evil,  and 
tends  gravely  t9  diminish  the  fertility  of  the 
soil.    This  is  in  all  probability  no  isolated  case. 

With  regard  to  the  waste  of  bird  life,  a 
paragraph  which  has  appeared  lately  in  the 
daily  papers  that  during  the  present  season 
thousands  of  seagulls'  wings  have  been  in 
demand  as  an  article  of  ladies'  dress  is  a 
sufficient  comment.  In  countrj'  districts  the 
gamekeeper's  pole  with  the  cruel  hawk  trap, 
often  with  a  maimed  and  fluttering  victim,  is 
no  uncommon  sight,  and  even  the  harmless, 
vermin-killing  owl  is  still  nailed  against  the 
barn  door.  We  may  well  blush  as  we  set  our 
own  delinquencies  in  this  respect  beside  those 
of  our  Continental  neighbours. 

The  apathy  of  our  Government  in  contrast 
to  those  of  other  countries  in  regard  to  re- 
aflbrestation  is  often  made  a  subject  of 
comment.  This  blot  may  now  be  .viped  ofi^ 
the  British  slate.  We  rejoice  to  see  that  the 
President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  has 
appointed  an  influential  committee  to  report 
upon  the  position  and  pro.spects  of  forestry  in 
this  country.  So  far  the  renewal  of  plantations 
has  been  very  much  a  matter  of  individual 
concern,  to  be  done  or  left  undone  as  incli- 
nation or  circumstance  may  dictate.  We  trust 
that  there  is  now  good  reason  for  believing 
that  measures  will  in  future  be  taken  under 
Government  auspices  for  the  better  manage- 
ment and  control  of  our  home  forests  and 
woodlands. 

We  hope  those  interested  in  the  protection 
of  birds  and  in  tree  planting  will  refer  to  the 
report  of  the  recent  annual  meeting  of  the 
Society  for  the  Protection  of  Birds  in  The 
Garden  last  week  (page  167), 


THE  ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY  AND  ITS  CEN- 
TENARY. 

The  following  is  the  report  presented  by  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  new  hall  com- 
mittee to  the  council,  February  25,  1902  : — 

"Gentlemen, — Your  committee  was  appointed 
on  June  4,  lIXll,  It  consisted  of  Baron  Sir  Henry 
Schroder,  Bart,,  chairman  ;  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence; 
Bart,,  V,M.H.  ;  Harry  J,  Veitch,  Esq.,  F.L.S.  , 
Dr,  Masters,  F.R.S.  ;  N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq., 
V.M.H.  :  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  M.A.,  secretary.  It 
has  since  been  enlarged  Ijy  the  addition  of  the 
Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  and  Henry  B. 
May,  Esq.  The  committee  was  appointed  '  to 
consider  the  question  of  a  horticultural  hall,  and 
to  report  thereupon  to  the  council.  Your  com- 
mittee has  held  fourteen  formal  meetings,  besides 
several  informal,  for  the  inspection  of  sites  by 
various  members  of  the  committee. 

"At  the  first  meeting  Baron  Schroder  made  a 
statement  in  regard  to  finance,  concluding  with 
the  words,  '  the  financial  part  of  the  question 
need  not  cause  any  insuperable  ditficulty.'  It  was 
therefore  decided  that  the  first  matter  for  the 
committee  to  engage  upon  should  be  the  finding 
of  a  suitable  site.  Five  different  sites  have  been 
very  carefully  inspected  and  enquired  into, 
with  the  result  that  four  have  been  dismissed 
as  unsuitable  for  one  reason  or  another.  Your 
committee  strongly  advise  the  adoption  of  the 
fifth  site,  which  the}'  regard  as  suitable  tor  the 
society's  purposes,  all  circumstances  considered. 
They  do  not  believe  that  any  better  site  can  be 
obtained  which  would  not  prove  to  be  altogether 
be3'ond  the  financial  resources  likely  to  be 
available. 

"  The  first  site  investigated  was  that  known  as 
Niagara,  covering  nearly  an  acre  of  land  (about 
40,000  square  feet)  and  with  a  large  circular 
building.  The  price  of  the  freehold  was  fi.xed  at 
a  little  over  £100,000.  Probably  at  least  -ta.OUO 
would  have  been  required  for  adapting  the  building 
for  the  society's  purposes,  and  another  £5,000  or 
more  for  building  suitable  offices.  The  rates  and 
ta.xes  would  also  have  been  exceedingly  heavy. 
Long  and  careful  consideration  was  given  to  this 
site,  but  after  the  fullest  enquiry  with  regard  to 
borrowing  upon  the  freehold  and  the  rate  of 
interest  required.  Baron  Schroder  announced  at 
the  fourth  formal  meeting  of  the  committee  that 
the  rate  of  interest  required  for  borrowing  on 
Niagara  is  so  high  that,  considering  the  large 
initial  outlay  required,  he  had  reluctantly,  but 
decidedly,  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  property 
was  too  large  and  too  costly  to  be  further  enter- 
tained. 

"  The  second  site  was  one  in  the  Buckingham 
Palace  Road  containing  15,190  square  feet.  This 
site  also  received  careful  consideration,  but  was 
eventuall}'  dismissed  on  the  ground  that  a  rent  of 
£700  a  year,  coupled  with  an  obligation  to  expend 
at  least  £20,000  on  buildings,  was  too  high  a  price 
for  the  society  to  pay  for  a  lease  of  eighty  years 
only. 

"The  third  site  was  bounded  by  Vauxhall  Bridge 
Road,  Francis  Street,  and  Carlisle  Place,  and  in- 
cluded the  fine  building,  suitable  for  offices,  &c., 
known  as  the  Old  Cardinal's  House,  The  whole 
site  proposed  contained  22,500  square  feet.  This 
property  commended  itself  strongly  to  the  com- 


170 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[March  15,  1902, 


mittee,  but  it  had  the  disadvantage  of  belonging  to 
three  different  owners  and  also  of  involving  the 
necessity  of  obtaining  certain  permissions  from  the 
London  County  Council.  As  soon  as  definite 
negotiations  were  entered  into  with  the  various 
owners  it  was  apparent  that  an  agreement  at  the 
price  could  not  be  arrived  at  and  this  site  was  most 
regretfully  dismissed. 

"  The  fourth  site  was  in  Francis  Street,  consisting 
of  15,000  square  feet,  but  the  rent  asked — viz., 
£  1 ,  400  a-j'ear  for  a  long  lease — was  considered  to  be 
beyond  the  society's  means. 

"  The  fifth  site  is  in  Vincent  Square  at  the 
corner  of  Bell  Street.  It  has  an  area  of  17,'>0''> 
square  feet  and  the  rent  asked  is  £G90  a-year  for  a 
lease  of  909  years.  (The  present  Drill  Hall  contains 
7, "200  square  feet).  Your  committee  recommend 
the  adoption  of  this  site. 

"The  Ecclesiastical  Commissioners,  the  owners 
of  the  land,  stipulate  that  a  sum  of  not  less  than 
£1.5,000  should  be  spent  on  a  building  and  offices, 
and  your  committee  are  advised  that  the  rates 
would  not  exceed  t'400 a-year  which,  with  the  rent, 
would  make  an  annual  expenditure  of  £1,100,  or, 
after  deducting  the  present  cost  of  hall  and  offices, 
£320  a-year,  it  would  involve  an  increase  of  expen- 
diture of  £780  a-year. 

"  The  approaches  to  Vincent  Square  are  not  at 
present  all  that  could  be  desirecf,  but  two  new 
roads  are  already  decided  upon,  one  direct  from 
Francis  Street,  starting  from  exactly  opposite  the 
New  Cardinal's  House  and  the  other  from  Horse- 
ferry  Road  to  the  corner  of  the  site  in  question  in 
Bell  Street. 

"In  considering  the  extra  annual  cost  your 
committee  have  not  made  any  calculation  of  either 
the  additional  expense  of  caretaker,  light  and  feul, 
nor  for  the  possible  income  from  letting  part  of  the 
buildings  to  horticultural  societies  or  the  great 
hall  for  meetings,  &c.  Your  committee  believe 
that  a  sufficient  sum  to  cover  the  erection  of  the 
necessary  buildings  may  be  raised  by  public  sub- 
scription towards  which  promises  amounting  to 
.£8,000  have  already  been  received.  Signed,  on 
behalf  of  the  committee,      Tkevok  L.^wrence." 

The  following  is  the  memorandum:  —  "The 
council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  consider 
it  desirable  at  the  present  juncture  to  make  to  the 
Fellows  a  general  statement  of  the  policy  they 
intend  to  pursue.  The  council  are  fully  aware 
that  a  considerable  number  of  Fellows  desire  that 
a  garden  better  situated  than  C'hiswick  should  be 
secured  as  a  memorial  of  the  centenary  of  the 
society.  It  was  also  shown  unmistakably  at  the 
late  general  meeting  that  a  widely-felt  desire 
exists  that  a  better  hall  and  offices  should  be 
provided,  which  the  society  would  have  completely 
under  its  own  control.  The  council  desire  to  carry 
both  these  objects  to  a  successful  issue,  and 
looking  at  the  history  of  the  society  during  recent 
years,  they  see  no  reason  why  this  should  not  be 
done.  The  practical  question  of  the  moment  is — 
which  of  the  two  shall  have  precedence,  as  they 
certainly  cannot  both  be  proceeded  with  at  the 
same  time.  The  policy  of  the  existing  council  is 
to  endeavour  to  secure,  first,  a  suitable  hall  and 
offices  near  those  now  occupied  at  Westminster, 
and,  when  that  is  done,  to  devote  their  attention 
at  once  to  the  acquisition  of  a  site  for  a  new 
garden. 

"  The  reasons  which  actuate  the  council  in 
adopting  this  order  are  man}',  and  among  the  more 
important  are  the  following:  1.  They  consider  it 
to  be  the  more  generall}'  acceptable  to  those 
Fellows  who  take  an  active  part  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  the  society.  2.  They  have  already 
received  promises  of  financial  support  to  the 
extent  of  £8,000  towards  the  building,  whereas 
no  such  support  has  at  present  been  tendered 
towards  securing  a  garden.  3.  A  site  for  a  hall 
400  yards  from  Victoria  Street  and  in  a  rapidly- 
improving  neighbourhood  as  good  as  can  ever  be 
expected  to  be  within  the  means  of  the  societj'  is 
at  our  disposal.  4.  The  council  are  of  opinion,  and 
have  been  professionally  advised  that  the  rent 
asked  is  a  moderate  one,  and  is  within  the  means 
of  the  society.  The  proposed  lease  is  for  999 
years,  which  is  equivalent  to  a  freehold.  5.  They 
are  also  of  an  opinion  that  the  provision  of  a  good 


hall  and  offices  would  in  itself  attract  a  large 
number  of  new  Fellows,  and  would  in  that  respect 
help  the  subsequent  acquisition  of  a  garden. 

"  It  should  be  noted  that  it  has  been  found 
necessary  to  take  the  decision  of  the  Fellows 
without  any  delay,  owing  to  the  obligation  of 
terminating  certain  leases  at  Lady  Da}'.  The 
council  confidently  appeal  to  the  Fellows,  of  whom 
they  hope  to  see  a  full  attendance  at  the  Drill  Hall 
on  the  21st  at  3  p.m.,  to  support  the  policy  briefl\' 
outlined  in  this  memorandum.  They  trust  that 
the  Fellows  will  not  allow  the  society  to  be  placed 
in  the  undignified  position  of  doing  nothing  to 
celebrate  so  memorable  an  occasion  as  its  centenary, 
which  would  be  the  probable  result  of  the  rejection 
of  this  proposal.  The  council  hope  to  be  in  a 
position  to  place  preliminary  plans  and  estimates 
before  the  Fellows  on  the  21st.  Having  regard  to 
the  unbroken  continuance  of  large  additions  to  the 
Fellowship  roll,  and  to  the  ever-increasing  interest 
taken  throughout  the  Empire  in  every  branch  of 
horticulture,  the  council  feel  that  they  will  not 
appeal  in  vain  for  the  funds  necessary  to  provide  a 
satisfactory  hall  and  offices  without  serious 
encroachment  on  the  invested  funds  of  the 
societ}'. — By  order  of  the  Council. 

"March  11,  1902.  W.  Wilks,  Secretary." 


OBITUARY. 


MR.    JAMES    TEGG. 

TH  E  death  of  ilr.  .James  Tegg  at  Woking- 
ham,  on   the   5th   inst  ,  removes   from 
horticultural  circles  one  who  had  been 
before  the  gardening  community  for  a 
number  of  3'ears,  and  who,  back  in  the 
somewhat  remote  past,  took  a  leading 
position    as    a     fruit    cultivator    when    gardener 
to  Baron    Hambro  at  Roehampton,  exhibiting  at 
the  Royal  Botanic  Society  and  other  exhibitions. 

James  Tegg,  who  was  seventy  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  was  born  at  Midgham,  South 
Berks,  on  March  29,  1832,  and  he  gained  his  early 
experience  of  gardening  while  in  the  once  celebrated 
nursery  of  Mr.  Henry  (Jroom,  Clapham  P^ise, 
Clapham.  From  thence  he  went  as  journeyman  to 
a  place  at  Driffield,  Yorkshire,  and  later  on  Avas 
foreman  at  Messrs.  Maudesley  and  Sons,  at 
Norwood. 

After  leaving  there  he  filled  the  post  of 
foreman  under  his  father  at  Dover  House,  Roe- 
hampton, where  he  remained  until  he  accepted  the 
appointment  of  head  gardener  to  Baron  Hambro, 
Roehampton,  where  he  remained  for  about  ten  and 
a  half  years,  and  while  there  made  a  considerable 
reputation  as  a  cultivator  and  exhibitor  of  fruit. 
From  Roehampton  he  went  to  Clumber,  Worksop, 
Notts,  about  1865,  as  head  gardener  to  the  late 
Duke  of  Newcastle,  and  was  there  for  about  the 
space  of  five  years.  In  July,  1870,  the  post  of 
gardener  to  the  late  Mr.  .John  Walter,  at  Bearwood, 
Wokingham,  became  vacant,  and  Mr,  Tegg  was 
appointed,  and  foi-  the  space  of  thirty-one  years 
held  the  positions  of  gardener  and  forester,  and 
during  that  time  he  worked  out  many  improve- 
ments which  added  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the 
grounds  surrounding  the  mansion.  Of  the  many 
new  features  added  during  Mr,  Tegg's  charge  was 
the  planting  of  the  Wellingtonia  Avenue,  the 
laying  out  of  a  new  kitchen  garden,  the  sunken 
hardy  plant  garden  near  the  mansion,  and  the 
gradual  extension  of  the  pleasure  grounds  in  various 
directions,  A  new  palatial  mansion  was  also 
built,  and  this  aSbrded  Mr,  Tegg  opportunities 
for  introducing  features  of  a  highly  \'aluable  and 
artistic  character.  Few  men  took  greater  pride  in 
their  work  than  did  Mr,  Tegg.  Every  part  of  the 
grounds  was  kept  in  admirable  order.  He  was  a 
man  of  amazing  active  habits,  and  his  merits  as  a 
fruit  and  vegetable  cultivator  were  widely  known. 
He  retired  from  the  charge  of  Bearwood  about  two 
years  ago  through  failing  health,  and  lived  at 
Wokingham.  He  was  buried  in  Bearwood  Church- 
yard. 

Mr.  Tegg  had  the  honour  of  making  the  first 
bouquet  presented  to  Her  Majesty  tjueen  Alexandra 


on  her  first  arrival  in  Englaml.  It  was  made  to  the 
order  of  Baron  Hambro,  and  was  presented  to  the 
then  Prfncess  Alexandra  by  the  Danish  Ambassador. 

R.  D. 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 

Rudbeckia  conspieua.— Can  "E.  M." 

tell  me  where  this  plant,  recommended  on  page  154, 
is  described  and  by  whom  it  was  named?  No  such 
name  is  enumerated  in  "  Index  Kewensis,"  or  by 
Asa  Cxray,  who  is  the  chief  authority  for  the  genus 
Rudbeckia.  We  have  far  too  many  unauthorised 
names  amongst  hard}'  plants,  and  the  more  of  them 
that  are  eliminated  the  better  for  gardeners. — C. 
W.  DoDD,  Edi/e  Hall,  Malpnx. 

Mr.  NOPman  Gill,  Assistant  Curator, 
Royal  Botanic  Oardens,  Calcutta,  has  been 
appointed  Superintendent  of  the  Government 
Memorial  Gardens,  Cawnpore,  nice  Meyer,  retired, 
and  left  Calcutta  last  week  to  join  his  appointment. 
He  will  be  succeeded,  we  understand,  by  Mr. 
H.  F.  Green,  from  Mungpoo.  Mr.  Gill  went  to 
India  from  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew. 

HOPtiCUltUPal  Club.  —  A  delightful 
evening  was  spent  at  the  club  on  Tuesday  last, 
the  occasion  of  the  monthly  dinner.  In  the  absence 
of  the  chairman,  Sir  .J.  T.  D.  Llewelyn,  Bart.,  the 
<-hair  was  occupied  by  the  vice-chairman,  H.  J. 
Veitch,  Esq.  Amongst  those  present  were  the 
Revs.  W.  Wilks  and  F.  R.  Burnside,  Messrs. 
C.  E.  Shea,  (i.  Monro,  G.  Paul,  J.  Assbee,  J. 
Walker,  E.  T.  Cook,  W.  J.  Jefferies,  R.  P.  Barr, 
R.  W.  Wallace,  H.  E.  Molyneux,  R.  Sydenham, 
J.  Hudson,  R.  C.  Notcutt,  A.  Perry,  and  .J.  Pinches. 
Mr.  C.  E.  Pearson  opened  the  usual  informal  after- 
dinner  proceedings  with  most  interesting  notes 
about  "  Birds  in  their  relation  to  Horticulture," 
which  Mr.  Wilks  has  promised  to  publish  in  the 
.Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Dr. 
Henry  will  be  the  guest  of  the  club  on  April  8 
next.  A  vote  of  sympathy  was  unanimously 
passed  with  Mrs.  Selfe  Leonard  in  her  bereave- 
ment. 

Too  eaply  seed  sowing.— The  present 

season  will  have  shown  the  evils  of  premature  seed 
sowing,  as,  with  severe  frost  in  all  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  the  early  sown  seed,  even  should  it 
germinate,  is  often  much  weakened.  Fleshy  seeds 
decay  and  the  seedlings  fail  to  grow.  Take  the 
Marrow  varieties  sown  before  the  frost.  These  I 
find  in  heavy  soils  are  in  a  poor  condition  ;  indeed,  I 
would  not  advise  sowing  this  kind  of  Peas  until  the 
soil  is  sufficiently  warmed  by  the  sun  to  assist 
germination.  I  recently  saw  a  very  good  lot  of 
seed  Potatoes  that  had  been  planted  in  light  soil — 
the  variety  being  Ashleafs — ruined,  as  the  frost  had 
quite  killed  the  eyes,  and  when  the  seed  is  costly 
this  is  a  great  loss.  At  times  the  seed  or  tuber  is 
condemned,  and  not  the  grower  or  the  weather. 
There  is  no  gain  in  sowing  too  early  as  the  crop 
does  not  repay  the  cultivator,  and  often  the  losses 
are  too  great.  If  a  small  percentage  of  seeds  grow 
the  others  are  lost.  Far  better  sow  when  the  land 
is  in  suitable  condition  to  assist  growth,  as  with 
weak  seed  there  is  no  saving  of  time  but  the  reverse. 
— A.  C. 

Stpelitzia  Reginse  vap.  citpina.— In 

the  Mexican  house  at  Kew  the  various  groups  of 
Strelitzias  always  attract  much  attention  from  the 
visitors  in  earlj'  spring,  the  curiously-shaped  flowers 
with  the  striking  contrast  of  colour  making  them 
most  conspicuous.  The  typical  Reginae  with  its 
orange  and  deep  blue  flowers  is  far  better  known 
than  is  the  lemon-coloured  variety,  for  while  the 
t3'pe  has  been  known  in  English  gardens  for  about 
130  years,  this  variety  has  not  been  long  grown. 
It  was  brought  to  Kew  in  1887  from  South  Africa 
by  Mr.  W.  Watson,  and  was  planted  in  its  present 
position  five  years  ago.  It  is  now  in  flower  and 
may  be  compared  with  the  type  which  is  in  flower 
a  few  feet  away.  Its  flowers  are  lemon  and  pale 
blue,  and  in  habit  it  is  much  dwarfer  in  every  way 
— though  the  flowers  are  about  the  same  size — than 
the  type.  Planted  out  in  a  thoroughly  drained 
border  of  loamy  soil  in  an  intermediate  temperature 
these  Strelitzias  are  perfectly  at  home,  and  succeed 
much  better  than  when  grown  in  pots. — W.  D. 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN; 


1^1 


Butter  OP  Sugar  Beans.— The  remarks 
on  page  132  concerning  the  new  Butter  Beans  I 
advised  growers  who  like  vegetables  of  good  quality 
to  grow  are  misleading,  as  "F.  F."  cannot  have 
grown  the  variety  in  question,  and  because  that 
writer  has  failed  with  one  variety  it  is  not  fair  to 
condemn  all.  I  am  pleased  to  note  that  others 
appreciate  these  vegetables.  The  Rev.  P.  Clementi- 
Smith,  on  page  135,  gives  a  very  different  account 
of  these  vegetables,  and  says  these  Beans  are 
delicately  flavoured.  This  is  ray  experience.  With 
regard  to  cooking.  Butter  Beans  are  often  badly 
managed.  They  should  not  be  stringy,  as  "  F.  F." 
implies,  and  the  one  I  advised,  Sutton's  New 
Dwarf,  is  not  so.  I  advised  the  new  Bean  because 
it  is  so  tender,  succulent,  and  worthy  of  a  place  in 
all  gardens.  I  also  advised  cooking  these  varieties 
whole,  as  on  the  continent.  I  did  not  condemn 
restaurants  in  this  country,  but  "F.  F."  will  notice 
I  said  the  Beans  served  in  these  places  in  this 
country  were  sliced,  whereas  they  should  be 
served  whole  and  when  quite  young.— G.  W.  S. 

Androsace  lanuginosa.— Few  ai  pines 

form  such  a  charming  picture  as  Androsace 
lanuginosa  when  at  its  best  and  grown 
in  sufficient  quantity  to  provide  a  dis- 
tinct feature  in  the  rock  garden,  as  in 
the  accompanying  illustration.  Here 
the  Androsace,  rooted  in  deep  pockets 
of  the  rock  work,  falls  from  ledge  to 
ledge  in  a  very  cataract  of  blossom  fully 
6  feet  in  length,  and  from  2  feet  to 
3  feet  in  breadth,  a  sight  worth  going 
miles  to  see,  but  rarely  to  be  met  with 
in  the  British  Isles.  Propagated  easily 
by  means  of  cuttings  of  the  current 
year's  growth  in  the  autumn,  which 
should  be  inserted  in  very  sandy  com- 
post, plantations  may  be  made  in  the 
early  spring,  when,  if  the  young  plants 
are  placed  3  inches  or  so  from  one 
another,  a  good  effect  is  obtained  the 
first  season.  A  compost  of  fibrous  loam 
and  leaf-mould  in  equal  proportion.s 
mixed  with  grit  and  limestone  chip- 
pings  proves  well  adapted  to  its  wants, 
while  a  depth  of  at  least  18  inches  of 
soil  should  be  provided,  as  in  a  shallow 
pocket  one cannotexpect  vigorous  health. 
It  is  advisable  to  plant  so  that  the 
growths  may  hang  over  a  perpendicular 
stone  rather  than  lie  upon  a  flat  bed  of 
soil.  In  the  latter  case  the  surface  should 
be  covered  with  stone  chips,  which  will 
prove  useful  both  in  retaining  moisture 
and  in  preventing  the  silvery  foliage 
being  soiled  by  the  earth.  This  An- 
drosace is  perfectly  hardy  as  regards 
frost,  having  been  known  in  English 
gardens  to  withstand  unprotected  a 
temperature  some  degrees  below  zero 
without  being  harmed,  but  our  damp 
winters  often  work  havoc  with  it,  and 
it  is  therefore  advisable  to  protect  it 
from  becoming  sodden  with  rain  by  fixing  panes  of 
glass  horizontally  over  it,  which,  while  allowing 
the  air  free  access  to  the  plants,  prevent  their  being 
affected  by  excess  of  moisture.  The  old  shoots 
should  be  cut  away  at  least  every  other  year,  as  if 
this  is  neglected  the  plants  become  straggling  and 
cease  to  be  ornamental.  Androsace  lanuginosa  is 
considered  by  some  to  be  difficult  of  culture,  but 
where  the  precautions  mentioned  are  taken  it  will 
generally  be  found  one  of  the  easiest  to  grow  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  alpines. 
Its  period  of  bloom  is  a  very  lengthened  one,  com- 
mencing in  May  and  often  extending  until  October. 
— S.  W.  FiTZ.HERBEBT. 

Crested  Begonias.— The  crested  Begonias 
referred  to  on  page  125  are  certainly  distinct,  but 
as  far  as  my  experience  of  them  extends  they  have 
usually  a  more  or  less  unhappy  look.  The  crest 
seems  to  be  the  outcome  of  a  certain  congested 
state  of  the  petals,  and  when  as  sometimes  happens 
this  congestion  extends  also  to  the  leaves,  the 
plant  is  then  rendered  (to  my  mind)  even  less 
attractive,  but  still,  everyone  to  his  taste.  The 
varieties  in  cultivation  belonging  to  this  class  may 
be  but  forerunners  of  a  quite  distinct  section,  for 


when  one  remembers  the  few  Andean  species  from 
whence  all  these  garden  forms  of  the  tuberous 
rooted  Begonia  have  sprung,  the  great  changes  that 
have  been  already  etfeoted  are  most  apparent. — 
H.  P. 

Viola  Blue  Bell. — What  wonderful  vitality 
there  must  be  in  this  old  Viola  that  it  should 
become  the  subject  of  discussion  in  The  G.^rden 
some  thirty  j'oars  after  it  originated.  As  one  of 
its  sponsors  I  have  watched  its  career  with  great 
interest.  There  is  no  Viola  in  commerce  grown 
so  extensively  for  the  market  trade,  and  the  reason 
is  obvious — it  has  a  better  constitution  and  far  more 
enduring  qualities  than  any  other.  That  is  no 
doubt  due  to  its  comparatively  natural  origin, 
whereas  the  great  bulk  of  Violas  liave  been  ihe 
product  of  much  hybridisation,  hence  thej'  make  a 
fine  show  for  a  short  time,  then  give  out.  For 
many  years  Blue  Bell  has  been  used  in  great 
quantities  at  Hampton  Court,  and  no  plant  can 
excel  it  for  beauty  or  permanence  when  it  is 
associated  with  the  variegated  Dactylis  as  an 
edging.  I  am  pleased  to  learn  that  the  practice 
of  exhibiting  Violas  in  sprays,  grown  only  for  that 


There  is  a  variety  in  cultivation  with  red  flowers 
known  as  rubra. — W.  Dallimore. 
Autumn  -  sown   Sweet  Peas.  —  A 

correspondent  living  at  Richmond  writes  to  enquire 
about  autumn-sown  Sweet  Peas.  This  treatment  is 
much  to  be  advised  in  places  where  success  is  usual, 
as,  like  all  autumn-sown  annuals,  they  are  more 
vigorous,  and  the  flowers  are  larger  and  of  better 
quality  and  substance  than  are  yielded  by  spring- 
sown  plants.  We  know  of  them  now  doing  well 
in  a  garden,  on  very  poor  soil,  within  an  hour 
south-west  of  London,  but  the  garden  stands  high 
and  dry,  and  though  they  have  had  no  protection 
other  than  that  of  a  shallow  trench,  have  endured  a 
long  spell  of  frost  (some  nights  as  much  as  20°), 
chey  are  in  perfect  health  and  of  excellent  promise. 
No  doubt  the  greater  damp  of  the  Thames 
valley,  and  perhaps  more  wet  at  the  root,  accounts 
for  their  failure  there.  Sometimes  if  September 
is  warm  and  damp,  the  plants  get  unduly  pushed 
on  and  are  cut  off  by  frost.  Sowing  in  October 
may  be  a  safer  rule,  especially  in  damp  or 
valley  land.  In  a  sheltered  kitchen  garden 
on   high  ground  in  a  dry  soil  we  have  had  them 


/(NDROSAOK   I.ANUIUNOSA    ON    THE   KOC'IC    HARDEN'. 


purpose,  is  dying  out.  In  no  waj'  lias  greater 
fictitious  interest  been  aroused  in  these  plants  than 
in  such  a  way.  How  many  such  prize  Violas  have 
been  usele.ss  bedders. — A.  1). 

PrunUS  davidiana.— The  severe  weather 
experienced  during  the  first  three  weeks  of  February 
has  made  this  plant  open  its  blossoms  several 
weeks  later  than  usual.  In  .January  plants  in 
sheltered  positions  were  coming  into  blossom,  and 
had  the  weather  kept  mild  many  trees  would  have 
been  in  full  flower  before  the  middle  of  February. 
It  is  the  first  to  flower  of  all  the  species  of  Prunus, 
being  several  weeks  in  advance  of  any  other.  It 
belongs  to  the  section  which  includes  the  Almond 
and  Peach,  and  closely  resembles  them  in  leaf.  In 
habit  it  is  rather  looser,  and  the  branches  are  more 
slender  than  in  either  of  the  others.  The  flowers 
are  white  or  flushed  with  pink,  and  are  borne  along 
the  whole  of  last  year's  wood.  At  Kew  a  number 
of  trees  may  now  be  seen  in  Sower,  of  which  the 
best  flowered  specimen — a  fine  young  tree  14  feet 
high — is  near  the  south  end  of  the  Rhododendron 
dell.  For  planting.in  gardens  as  isolated  specimens 
or  in  shrubberies,  this  Chinese  species  is  an  excellent 
subject,  its  earliness  making  it  particularly  welcome. 


s|jlendid  in  size,  and  in  flower  in  the  last  days  of 
May,  from  seed  sown  in  the  middle  of  September. 

The  Thomas  Rochford  Memorial. 

— The  members  of  the  Turnford  Hall  Working 
Men's  Institute,  founded  in  1896  by  the  late 
Mr.  Thomas  Rochford,  who  died  on  October  12, 
1001,  have  placed  in  their  club  room  a  permanent 
memorial  of  their  late  beloved  president.  It  is  a 
beautiful  oil  painting,  executed  by  Mr.  Fi'y  of 
Camden  Square,  and  bears  the  inscription  "Thomas 
Rochford.  Born  1849.  Died  1901.  Founder  and 
first  President  of  the  Turnford  Hall  Nurseries 
Institute.  Subscribed  for  and  presented  to  the 
Institute  by  the  members."  The  unveiling  cere- 
mony was  performed  on  Thursday  evening  last  by 
Mr.  Joseph  Rochford.  Mr.  H.  Kelsall,  general 
manager,  presided,  and  Mr.  T.  P.  Trounce, 
manager  of  the  London  and  County  Bank,  delivered 
an  interesting  address  on  the  life  work  of  the 
deceased  gentleman.  He  was  no  ordinary  man, 
he  said,  whom  they  had  met  to  honour,  but  a  man 
endowed  with  exceptional  attainments,  and  one 
who,  in  whatever  path  of  life  he  trod,  was  bound  to 
be  followed  by  success.  He  was  frank  and  ever 
ready  to  assist  by  advice  or  otherwise  those  who 


172 


teE    GAfeDEK. 


[March  IB,  1902. 


came  openly  to  him,  but  he  denied  any  who  tried 
by  subterfuge  or  deceit  to  secure  his  favour.  His 
energy  was  not  devoted  to  the  accumulation  of 
personal  wealth  alone,  for  he  took  in  more  land 
as  it  were,  and  scattered  more  seed,  thus  making 
more  employment  for  reapers  and  gleaners.  No 
man  better  deserved  the  fruits  of  his  labour,  and 
he  was  wont  to  mingle  in  the  pastimes  and  the 
pleasures  of  his  men.  His  entire  sympathy  was 
with  those  who  worked  for  him.  It  was  the 
man  who  came  nearest  to  true  '.lumanity  who 
would  dwell  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  men  ;  the 
man  who  was  loving  to  his  family,  faithful  to  h'S 
friends,  generous  to  his  eraployi'S,  and  true  to  his 
God.  Such  a  man  was  Thomas  Rochford.  Mr. 
E.  B.  Barnard,  Sawbridgeworth,  who  also 
addressed  the  meeting,  said  the  late  Mr.  Rochford 
was  an  idealist,  who  secured  success  in  many 
business  and  material  affairs,  but  more  than  that 
he  secured  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 
Other  gentlemen  addressed  the  meeting,  and  an 
enlarged  photograph  by  Mr.  H.  Clements  was 
gratefully  accepted  by  the  members,  as  were  also 
one  or  two  other  gifts  reminiscent  of  the  late 
Mr.  Thomas  Rochford. 


THE     ROSE    GARDEN. 

PRUNING    ROSES. 

AVERY  suggestive  remark  from  a 
gardener  was  made  to  the  writer 
recently  regarding  pruning.  Speaking 
of  various  climbing  Roses,  and  of 
Reine  Marie  Henriette  in  particular, 
he  said  some  arches  covered  with  this 
tiiie  Rose  were  a  perfect  mass  of  bloom  last  summer, 
and  a  further  beautiful  display  was  again  given  in 
the  autumn,  but  the  plants  that  year  had  no 
pruning  whatever :  in  fact,  he  said  we  simply 
"had  not  time  to  prune  them."  It  occurred  to 
me,  not  for  the  first  time,  that  the  many  beautiful 
climbing  Roses  receive  far  more  pruning  than  they 
require.  Thin  out  freely  after  the  first  display  of 
flowers  the  old  and  exhausted  wood,  jealously 
preserving  the  new  growths  of  the  current  season, 
and  there  will  be  fewer  complaints  of  blossomless 
Roses.  It  is  possible  that  the  tender  shoots  will 
in  various  localities  be  somewhat  injured  by  the 
spring   frosts  ;    but  the   injury   is   not   always   so 


great  as  it  appears.  A  good  syringing  with  cold 
water,  applied  before  sunrise,  will  do  much 
towards  removing  the  frost  from  these  tender 
growths.  Where  climbing  Roses  upon  walls  have 
become  rather  bare  towards  the  base,  cut  back  one 
or  two  of  the  oldest  growths  to  the  ground.  This 
will  usually  result  in  the  case  of  vigorous  plants 
of  a  new  set  of  shoots  from  the  base.  But  where  I 
plants  are  of  considerable  age  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
unfasten  them  from  the  wall  and  replace  the  main 
shoots  in  zigzag  fashion.  The  check  to  the  flow 
of  sap  will  in  time  compel  new  wood  to  break  out 
at  each  bend,  so  that  by  bending  the  main  shoots 
as  low  down  as  possible  the  desired  growths  will 
be  produced. 

I  am  convinced  we  do  not  pay  sufficient  atten- 
tion to  new  wood,  and  too  much  to  the  old 
growths.  Take  an  ordinary  Hybrid  Perpetual  as 
an  example.  One  strong  well-ripened  growth  of 
last  summer,  1  inch  to  H  inch  in  circumference, 
will  produce  three  and  four  shoots  this  season. 
Now  why,  if  such  growths  be  present  on  a  plant, 
is  it  necessary  also  to  retain  a  number  of  thin 
twiggy  shoots  that  can  only  rob  the  better  growth 
of  its  sustenance  and  will  also  produce  thin  and 
undersized  blossoms  V  What  I  always  advise  is  to 
severely  cut  away  the  three  year  old  growths 
and  cut  back  the  one  year  wood  according  to  the 
vigour  of  the  variety.  Roses,  such  as  Her  Majesty, 
Clio,  &c. ,  should  have  last  season's  wood  retained 
as  much  as  2  feet  in  length,  and  other  varieties  in 
like  proportion.  Decorative  or  bedding  Roses 
should  be  less  rig(jrously  dealt  with  in  the  matter 
of  reducing  shoots,  but  even  these  pay  for 
encouraging  new  wood  from  the  base,  and  to  secure 
tliese  a  growth  or  two  should  be  cut  back  hard 
each  year. 

Free  the  centres  of  superfluous  shoots,  only 
shortening  the  main  growths  a  little.  If  these 
decorative  Roses  are  to  be  a  success  as  garden 
plants  the  wholesale  cutting  of  the  flowers  must 
be  strenuously  forbidden.  A  vase  of  long-stemmed 
Rose  blooms  is  a  very  beautiful  object  in  a  room, 
but  the  plants  quickly  deteriorate  under  the  severe 
treatment  too  much  in  vogue.  It  is  very  well  to 
say  our  American  friends  can  produce  Roses  with 
stems  3  feet  long,  but  one  must  remember  that 
the  plants  are  rarely  kept  more  than  one  season. 
They  find  it  necessary  to  raise  up  fresh  stock  every 
year.  Where  cut  flowers  are  in  much  demand  a  set 
of  plants  should  be  planted  in  the  reserve  garden  for 
cutting  from,  replacing  them  every  other  year  if 
re(|uired.  I'huaimel. 


(JRINUM    <ai;ANTErM    IN    A    .lAMAlCA    WILD    tiARDEN. 


A  DAY  IN  A  JAMAICA  GARDEN. 

(  Continued  from  page  137. ) 

Hardlv  have  I  taken  up  my  after  breakfast  paper 
as  it  seems  (and  let  no  one  suspect  forty  winks, 
daylight  is  too  precious),  than  I  am  called  to  see 
the  gutter  with  the   water   released   and   flowing 
freely.    A  good  job  well  done,  which  gains  its  meed 
of  praise,  and  a  deepening  of  other  parts  of  the  rill, 
running   on   now  as   a   natural   miniature   stream 
round   the   curves   of   the   hillside  till  it   meets  a 
cemented   conduit  which    carries   it   do%\'n   to  the 
house,  is  suggested.     For  we  have  to  provide  for 
yet  more  water  for  the  new  stream  which  is  to  be 
created  and  will  leap  down  in  great  jumps  from  the 
hill   opposite   the   house.     In   its   first   stretch,    a 
length  of  60  feet  measured  along  the  ground,  it  falls 
40   feet,    which   means    opportunities.     One    such 
leaping  stream  runs  through  the  garden  and  is  a 
never-failing  source  of  pleasure.     Only  last  week 
did  it  occur  to  me  to  double  the  pleasure  by  having 
two.     The  afternoon  is  taken  up  in  superintending 
the  course  cf  the  new  channel.     Here  shall  be  a 
fall,  there  a  blide,  this  way  must  it  wind  and  that, 
here  as  it  meets  the  first  level  by  the  Rose  garden 
shall   be  a  spout   whereat   to  fill   watering-pots. 
Hitherto  we  have  had  to  carry  from  the  house  a 
hundred  paces  away.     The  stream  will  flow  evenly 
here  after  its  breakneck  descent,  but  not  for  long. 
It  follows  the  path  through  the  Cofiee  and  plunges 
down  again,  this  time  for  a  greater  rush  of  80  feet 
in  height  and  little  more  than  80  feet  by  the  slope. 
But   that   is    to-morrow's   work.     It    is    time    to 
:  "knock  off"  and  my  time  for   the  evening  round. 
The  Primrose  Four-o'clocks  (Mirabilis  Jalapa  fiava) 
have  long  been  out,  and  there  is  but  a  short  hour  to 
six  o'clock  and  darkness.     Very  successful   these 
I  Four-o'clocks — better  known  as  Marvel  of  Peru — 
i  have  been,   and  they  fill  up  gaps   in   the   border 
j  against  the  house  where  the  afternoon  sun  beats 
hard.    They  are  very  sweet  and  mix  their  perfume, 
!  which  is  quite  their  own,  with  the  vanille  scent  of 
I  those    Pancratiums    (P.    cariba;um  -  Hymenocallis 
;  cariba^a)  that  we  call  Spider  Lilies.     Begonia  rubra 
and  Acalypha   wilkesiana  supplj'  colour.     White 
stars  cover  the  bush  of  Jasrainum  pubescens  at  the 
front  door.     It  rests  on  a  Seville  Orange  and  would 
kill  a  less  sturdy  tree.     But  a  Seville  Orange  is  not 
to  be  killed.     I  did  my  best  with  this  one,  thinking 
it  would  tear  down  the  wall  in  which  it  grows,  the 
wall  supporting  the  platform  on  which  the  house 
stands.     I   hacked   and   battered    it,   tore  off  the 
young  shoots  as  soon  as  they  sprung.     It  was  a 
hopeless  struggle  and  I  gave  it  up,  and 
am   glad   now  of   the  living  prop  which 
keeps    the     Jasmine's    head     from     the 
window.     And  the  wall  still  stands.     A 
fiery  archway  of  Combretum  purpureum 
now  burning  itself  out  leads  to  the  Square 
(iardeu,  the  only  level  piece  of  ground  in 
the  place.     It  is  eighteen  paces  long  and 
actually  nine  paces  wide.     Nowhere  else 
on  the  hillside  is  there  room  for  anything 
more  than  a  narrow  border  and  a  path. 

Lilies,  Begonias,  Roses,  Aloe  socotrina 
with  6  feet  branched  spikes  of  pleasant 
low-toned  pink.  Heliotrope  of  the  lightest 
shade,  Balsams  blood  pink  and  warm 
white,  that  is  what  I  see  in  the  Square 
(Jardeu  this  November  evening.  And  in 
the  border  towards  the  house,  raised 
knee-high  from  the  level,  are  Carnations 
and  Salmon  (^tueen  Indian  Pinks,  the 
latter  doing  duty  as  Alpines  in  chinks  of 
the  wall.  Passing  down  some  winding 
stone  steps  we  leave  the  region  of  red 
and  enter  the  domain  of  blue,  tenanted 
by  two  of  the  bluest  of  the  Michaelmas 
Daisies,  one  of  them  being  Aster  cordi- 
folius  elegans,  a  much  prized  recent 
addition  from  home.  White  Petunias 
hold  an  important  place  here,  some  pure 
white,  others  veined  with  grey ;  and 
there  are  a  few  palest  yellow  Zinnias 
and  .Jamaica  Forget-me-nots  (Browallia) 
of  two  kinds,  the  small  wild  B.  deniissa, 
among  which  here  and  there  a  white  one, 
and  the  larger  B.  speciosa  major,  an 
excellent  plant  of    a  good   purple    but 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


17;3 


VIi:\V    FROM    THE    IU-N(IA1,I1\V    IX    A    .lA.MAIlA    CARDRN. 


lacking  something  of  the  quality  of  the  other  <■  s 
they  grow  together.  It  holds  itself  less  well  and 
often  wants  supporting,  rather  a  greenhouse  plant 
than  an  out-of-door  one.  W.  .J. 

(To  he  continued.) 


EXHIBITION    VEGETABLES. 


(Continued  from  page  157.) 
Cauliflowers. 
Cauliflowers  when  well  shown  form  an 
attractive  and  valuable  feature  of  all  vege- 
table competitions.  No  matter  what  the  season 
of  the  year  may  be  and  the  size  of  the  collec- 
tions, neither  Cauliflowers  nor  Broccoli  must 
be  excluded,  but,  whenever  possible,  of  the 
two  give  preference  to  the  Cauliflower.  Conse- 
quently, strenuous  eftbrts  should  be  made  to 
get  medium-sized,  close,  pearly  white  heads  in 
the  freshest  possible  condition,  and  to  obtain 
these  make  frequent  small  sowings  of  suitable 
varieties.  Liberal  culture  is  necessary.  For 
early  supplies  in  the  spring  the  sowings  should 
be  made  in  the  autumn,  one  during  the  first 
week  in  September  and  another  about  the  2.5th 
of  the  month,  on  a  south  border  in  the  open. 
The  seed  should  be  sown  thinly  in  beds  as 
advised  for  other  sowings  of  the  Brassica  tribe, 
and  securely  netted.  When  large  enough  to 
handle,  prick  the  seedlings  out  in  cold  frames 
4  inches  apart  each  way  in  soil  not  over  rich, 
otherwise  too  much  growth  will  be  made. 
Give  air  freely  on  all  favourable  occasions, 
but  never  allow  the  plants  to  become  dust 
dry.  In  severe  weather  protect  the  lights  with 
some  covering  material.  Two  good  varieties 
for  this  sowing  are  Walcheren,  an  old  favourite, 
but  still  good,  and  Veitch's  Autumn  Giant. 
Many  of  the  latter  will  become  blind  from  this 
sowing  after  they  are  planted  out,  but  it  is 
important  to  grow  this  variety,  as  it  produces 
heads  of  the  finest  quality  after  the  Walcheren 
and  when  Cauliflowers  are  scarce.  It  is  a  good 
practice  to  plant  for  this  crop  just  as  thick 
again  as  required  ;    then  a    good  supply  is' 


ensured.  For  the  main  crop  plantations  should 
be  made  at  the  end  of  March  or  beginning  of 
April,  putting  out  the  best  plants  on  a  south 
border,  -2  feet  (i  inches  between  Ihe  rows  and 
■2  feet  from  plant  to  plant.  Lift  with  a  good 
ball  of  soil,  and  plant  with  a  trowel.  To  pro- 
long the  supply,  plant  a  batch  in  an  open 
situation  and  a  third  on  a  north  border.  Early 
in  February  and  again  in  March  sowings 
should  be  made  for  later  supplies,  growing  on 
freely  and  planting  out  as  soon  as  hardened 
off'.  Make  a  sowing  about  April  10  for  late 
autumn  use,  suitable  varieties  being  .Magnum 
Bonum,  Walcheren,  and  Autumn  Giant.  VVhen 
planting  out  the  rows  should  be  3  feet  apart, 
with  a  distance  of  -2  feet  from  plant  to  plant. 
Almost  any  soil  will  grow  Cauliflowers  when  it 
is  thoroughly  trenched  and  well  manured. 
This  crop  revels  in  copious  supplies  of  liquid 
manure,  and,  if  good  heads  are  wished  for, 
this  generous  treatment  is  most  essential. 
Hoe  constantly  all  through  the  growing  season 
to  keep  weeds  in  check  ;  this  also  contri- 
butes towards  successfid  culture.  Cauliflowers 
may  be  kept  in  fresh  and  good  condition  for  at 
least  a  fortnight  if  lifted  before  they  are  fully 
developed  and  hung  up  head  downwards  in  a 
cellar  or  some  other  cool  place.  A  common 
mistake  in  exhibiting  Cauliflowers  in  the 
majority  of  cases  is  that  they  are  staged  too 
large,  and  why  judges  so  often  favour  these 
I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand. 

Celery. 
Celery  is  frequently  not  so  well  .shown  on 
the  exhibition  stage  as  it  should  be,  but  when 
well-grown  specimens  free  from  blemishes  are 
staged  it  is  highly  attractive  and  shows  the 
skill  of  the  cultivator.  Some  object  to  large 
specimens,  but  in  my  opinion  this  is  a  mistake, 
providing  of  course  they  are  solid,  and  when 
cut  with  a  knife  the  heart  is  close  to  the  root. 
Two  sowings  of  seed  at  least  should  be  made, 
the  first  not  later  than  the  middle  of  February, 
and  the  second  the  first  week  in  March. 
Soil  of  a  moderately  light  texture  should  be 
used,    but   not  rich ;    a  mixture  of   half   leaf 


soil  and  half  light  loam  finely  sifted, 
with  a  moderate  addition  of  either 
road  or  coarse  silver  sand,  forming  a 
suitable  compost. 

The  pots  or  pans  should  be  well 
drained  and  raise  the  seedlings  in  a 
gentle  heat,  taking  care  that  at  no 
stage  of  growth  any  check  whatever 
is  experienced,  the  most  serious  of  all 
being  an  absence  of  moisture  at  the 
roots,  especially  when  in  the  seed 
pans.  When  this  is  the  case  a  large 
proportion  frequently  run  prematurely 
to  seed.  When  the  seedlings  are  large 
enough  to  handle  prick  them  oft' 
3  inches  apart  in  boxes,  using  a  light 
sandy  soil.  Keturn  the  boxes  to  a 
gentle  heat,  gradually  hardening  the 
seedlings  as  they  get  established 
before  planting  out.  This  applies  to 
the  first  sowing.  From  the  second 
sowing  the  seedlings  may  be  pricked 
out  in  any  warm  sheltered  part  of  the 
garden  where  a  rough  framework 
can  be  placed  round  them  for  protec- 
tion. Shade  from  hot  sun  and  give 
shelter  from  cold  drying  winds  for 
a  time,  also  covering  them  up  in  some 
way  during  cold  nights.  A  large 
number  of  varieties  are  in  commerce, 
many  of  which  are  excellent  and  many 
practically  worthless,  either  for  exhi- 
bition or  home  consumption.  I  have 
made  repeated  trials  on  a  large  scale 
of  most  of  the  known  kinds  and 
arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  two 
best  red  varieties  are  Standard  Bearer  and 
Major  Clarkes;  and  of  white,  White  Gem, 
Sutton's  Solid  White,  and  Wright's  Giant 
White.  White  Gem  is  especially  adapted  for 
early  use. 

Celery  is  often  required  for  shows  during 
August  and  September,  and  in  large  collections 
of  vegetables  it  is  essential.  No  time  should 
therefore  be  lost  in  getting  plants  put  out 
into  well  prepared  trenches  immediately  they 
are  sufficiently  large  enough,  and  if  well 
hardened  beforehand  they  will  be  practically 
safe  against  all  weathers.  For  the  earliesf 
supplies  the  trenches  should  be  15  inches  wide 
1  foot  deep,  and  below  this  the  soil  broken  up 
to  the  depth  of  10  inches  with  the  forkja 
distance  of  3  feet  between  the  trenches  will 
suflice.  Fill  in  to  within  3  inches  of  the  top 
of  the  trench  with  the  best  manure  available, 
which  must  be  made  as  firm  as  possible  by 
well  treading  it.  Cover  this  with  3  inches  of 
the  soil  previously  taken  out  of  the  trench, 
level  down  before  planting,  and  if  possible  this 
should  be  accomplished  a  week  or  two  before 
the  plants  are  put  out.  Plant  in  single  rows, 
leaving  a  spxce  of  10  inches  between  each 
plant.  Each  should  be  lifted  carefully  with  a 
garden  trowel,  disturbing  the  roots  as  little  as 
possible.  When  planting,  commence  at  one 
end,  walking  backwards  and  pressing  the  soil 
firmly  round  the  roots. 

The  next  batch  will  include  the  larger 
varieties,  such  as  Standard  Bearer.  Plant 
these  1  foot  apart,  allowing  a  distance  of 
3  feet  6  inches  between  each  trench,  and 
give  copious  supplies  of  water  all  through  the 
growing  season  ;  indeed,  during  spells  of  dry 
weather  it  is  almost  impossible  to  supply  too 
much.  Being  a  gross  feeder  manure  water 
may  be  added  quite  freely.  I  prefer  sewage 
water  to  any  other.  Soot  should  be  dusted 
over  the  plants  in  the  early  morning  once  a 
week  at  least,  and  this  will  help  to  keep  the 
Celery  fly  in  check  as  well  as  prove  an  excellent 
stimulant.  Should  the  Celery  fly  at  any  time 
prove  troublesome,  pick  ofi'  all  atiected  leaves. 


174 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  15,  190^ 


burn  them,  and  at  the  same  time  give  extra 
dustings  of  soot.  Blanching  may  be  satis- 
factorily carried  out  in  from  six  to  eight  weeks, 
but  before  doing  so  carefully  remove  all  side 
growths  and  split  and  decayed  leaves.  Give  a 
thorough  drenching  of  water  before  commenc- 
ing. When  the  growths  are  thoroughly  dry, 
stout  brown  paper  bands  5  inches  in  width  and 
long  enough  to  go  round  the  plant  should  be 
placed  in  position  and  tied  moderately  tight 
with  raffia  in  three  places.  Work  sufficient  soil 
round  them  to  exclude  all  light  and  air.  Water- 
ing must  not  be  discontinued,  but  be  given  at 
the  roots,  both  clear  and  liquid  manure,  about 
every  eight  days.  Immediately  the  heart  shows 
above  the  brown  paper  band  add  another  strip 
and  work  up  the  soil  as  before  until  a  sufficient 
length  is  being  blanched.  When  completed, 
6  inches  at  least  of  the  leaves  must  be  left 
unpapered.  It  is  well  during  the  blanching 
process  to  undo  the  material  and  carefully 
examine  it  to  make  sure  that  no  decayed 
leaves,  slugs,  or  worms  are  spoiling  the  speci- 
mens. Ill  warm,  dry  weather,  damp  over  the 
plants  with  clean  water  from  a  fine  rose  can 
morning  and  afternoon.  This  is  most  beneficial 
and  promotes  a  ijuick  and  free  growth.  Lift 
the  specimens  the  day  before  they  are  wanted, 
removing  only  the  worst  of  the  outside  leaves 
and  washing  off  all  dirt.  Stand  them  head 
downwards  and  give  a  thorough  syringing 
■with  clean  water.  Finally  reverse  their 
position  and  give  the  last  rinsing.  It  is  usual 
to  stage  either  three  or  six  sticks,  arranging 
them  in  triangular  fashion.  At  the  last 
moment  when  staging,  trim  off  the  bottom 
with  a  sliarp  knife,  and  wipe  the  sticks  with  a 
damp  clean  sponge.  Slightly  spray  them  over 
and  keep  covered  with  white  jiaper. 

E.  Beckett. 
{To  be  cmitinued.) 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


HYBRID    AOUILEGIAS. 

I  AM  surprised  to  read  that  hybrid  Aquilegias 
have  been  found  rather  tender.  That  is  far 
from  being  general  experience.  The  writer 
of  that  remark  would  not  think  so  could  he 
see  the  great  masses  of  these  truly  beautiful 
Columbines  such  as  many  of  our  seed  growers 
have.  The  display  every  year  at  Eynsford,  or 
Langley,  or  Reading,  out  of  many,  is  worth  going 
many  miles  for.  When  some  years  since  I  crossed 
A.  chrysantha  with  A.  ctcrulea,  and  raised  a  batch 
of  so-called  hybrids,  I  had  a  row  of  the  latter 
growing  beside  rows  of  the  parents,  and  the  children 
quite  beat  the  parents  for  strength,  freedom,  and 
beauty.  Practically  the  fusion  of  the  two  species 
created  a  race  of  greater  robustness.  That  is 
universal  experience.  Aquilegias  need  ample 
room,  good  holding  soil,  and  some  manure,  but 
they  need  nothing  that  is  exceptional  in  treatment. 
We  have  no  perennials  more  beautiful,  more  easily 
raised  and  grown  than  are  these  hybrid  Aquilegias. 
What  would  readers  say  to  see  a  breadth  of  from 
5,000  to  6,000  strong  plants  in  the  open  field 
flowering  gloriously  at  once  ?  Verily  a  sight  for  the 
gods  !  —A.  D. 


PROPAGATING    GYPSOPHILA 
PANICULATA. 

Among  the  many  suggestive  things  in  Mr.  Amos 
Perry's  paper  on  the  improvement  of  hardy 
flowers  was  a  remark  made  about  the  double 
variety  of  Gypsophila  paniculata,  a  plant  in  which 
I  have  taken  a  great  ileal  of  interest,  especially  as 
I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  flowers  soon  after 
it  was  raised.  At  that  time  I  put  the  question, 
"How  was  it  to  be  propagated?"  I  asked  it 
because  I  had  found  it  impossible  to  strike  cuttings 


of  a  superior  form  of  the  single  G.  paniculata, 
which  1  have  had  here  for  a  good  few  years,  and 
which  some  of  my  friends  have  coveted.  With  a 
single  form  one  can  possibly  raise  one  like  it  from 
seed,  but  this  cannot  be  done  with  this  double 
variety.  I  have  asked  several  propagators,  but  up 
till  now  know  of  none  who  can  strike  this  plant 
satisfactorily.  From  what  Mr.  Perry  tell  us, 
there  is  not  much  hope  of  striking  cuttings  of  this 
tiypsophila  in  the  ordinary  way,  and  I  should  be 
glad  to  hear  from  anj'one  who  has  been  successful 
in  raising  G.  paniculata  from  cuttings. 

S.  Arsott. 

TIGRIDIAS— THEIR  CULTURE. 

Of  the  manj'  bulbous  Irids  indigenous  to  North 
America  that  have  been  introduced  to  our  gardens 
from  time  to  time,  none  have  been  so  useful  as  the 
Tigridias.  Their  massive  flowers,  which  breeders 
have  lately  striven  to  improve,  are  as  striking  and 
varied  in  colour  as  one  could  desire.  Thej'  are  all 
brilliant,  even  the  pure  white  immaculata  glistens 
as  though  frosted,  whilst  the  others  are  gorgeous. 
The  fleeting  character  of  the  flowers  is  a  great 
disadvantage,  but  it  is  in  part  compensated  for  by 
the  quantity  each  plant  produces,  insomuch  that  as 
soon  as  one  flower  has  lived  its  day  another  is  ready 
to  take  its  place  on  the  morrow,  if  not  from  the 
same  sheath  at  least  from  a  sister  spike  produced 
by  the  same  bulb  stock.  There  are  about  eight 
distinct  plants,  all  of  which  are  much  alike  in 
form  and  habit,  differing  only  in  size  and  colouring. 

T.  J'avonia,  the  species,  has  scarlet  flowers  with 
an  orange-yellow  basin,  also  spotted  scarlet,  and  of 
a  smaller  size  than  any  of  the  following,  save 
Conchiflora,  rarely  exceeding  r>  inches  in  diameter. 
Grandiflora  is  a  big-flowered  form,  with  wide 
rounded  petals,  which  give  the  flower  a  fuller  and 
more  finished  appearance.  It  has  often  been  called 
speciosa,  a  name  also  used  for  T.  pavonia  on  the 
continent.  Alba  has  white  petal  lobes,  the  basin 
of  the  flower  being  greenish  white,  heavily  spotted 
and  blotched  crimson.  It  averages  6  inches  in  full 
diameter,  and  has  elegantly  rounded  petal  lobes  of 
stout  suhstance.  Immaculata  is  pure  white,  and 
averages  (i  inches  to  7  inches  in  diameter.  It  is 
devoid  of  any  spotting  whatever.  The  free  lobes 
of  the  petals  are  as  broad  as  they  are  long.  Though 
normally  pure  white,  under  certain  cultural  con- 
ditions it  shows  a  slight  greenish  tint  in  the  basin 
of  the  flower  occasionally  ;  it  is  also  tinted  that 
pale  shade  of  sulphur-j'ellow  known  to  artists  as 
"chrome  No.  1,"  well  illustrated  in  Chrysan- 
themum Mrs.  Mease,  a  bit  of  sportive  colouring 
that  improves  the  flower  very  much. 

T.  /i/aeea,  the  grand  form,  of  which  a  coloured 
plate  was  issued  with  The  Gabden,  March  31, 
1894,  has  a  white  basin,  heavily  blotched  with  rich 
dark  red,  the  free  lobes  of  the  petals  are  coloured 
a  rich  glowing  red,  lilac  tinted  on  the  reverse,  and 
showing  also  a  lilac  sheen  on  the  upper  surface, 
which  intensifies  as  the  flower  approaches  the  end 
of  its  day.  This  is  an  exceptionally  fine  form  of  a 
showy  race,  now,  unfortunately,  becoming  very 
scarce.  In  size  and  vigour  it  is  the  counterpart  of 
Immaculata. 

T.  aurea  =  Watkinsoni  of  Continental  growers, 
has  flowers  of  medium  size,  the  outer  petal  lobes 
of  which  are  coloured  old  gold,  the  basin  of  the 
flower  being  heavily  spotted  and  blotched  purple. 

T.  conchiflora. — This  pretty  Mexican  shell  flower 
has  pale  yellow  flowers  of  small  size,  the  basins  of 
which  are  almost  entii'ely  covered  with  crimson 
blotches.  There  is  a  quiet  charm  in  their  perfect 
shape,  colouring,  and  finish  ;  it  is,  however,  of 
weakly  constitution,  and  too  apt  to  rot  at  the 
base  of  the  bulb. 

T.  roaea,  a  slender  plant  with  soft  rose-coloured 
flowers  of  small  size  and  lutea  immaculata,  another 
small- flowered  form  sufficiently  described  by  its 
name,  are  two  forms  better  known  on  the  Con- 
tinent than  here. 

The  Cultivation  of  Tigridias 

is  an  easy  matter.  A  warm  border  with  shelter 
from  cold  winds  should  be  chosen  for  them.  They 
are  not  particular  as  to  soil,  provided  it  is  well 
worked  and  in  tolerably  good  condition.     Planting 


may  be  done  in  ilarch,  or  earlier  if  the  brunt  of 
the  winter  is  over,  inserting  the  bulbs  4  inches 
deep,  giving  them  a  slight  mulch  of  stable  manure 
to  ward  off'  any  sharp  frosts  that  may  occur 
subsequent  to  planting.  In  warm  districts  having 
a  well-drained  subsoil  of  gravel,  the  bulbs  may  be 
left  out  all  the  winter  if  protected,  but  generally  it 
is  best  to  lift  them  and  store — either  by  puddling 
them  in  a  box  of  mud,  allowing  the  mud  to  dry 
gradually  (the  best  method),  or  by  inserting  the 
bulbs  closely  together  in  soil  or  sand  in  a  frost- 
proof place.  I  am  indebted  to  an  American 
horticulturist  for  valuable  advice  given  to  me 
years  ago  as  to  the  best  way  of  growing  Tigridias. 
His  practice  in  America  was  to  plant  in  depressed 
beds  and  to  flood  the  plants  as  soon  as  the  leafage 
was  well  advanced,  and  again  several  times  during 
June  and  July.  I  have  followed  this  practice  now 
for  several  years,  and  have  frequently  been 
astonished  at  the  vigorous  growth  the  plants  made 
and  the  profusion  of  fine  flowers  they  yielded,  far 
exceeding  anything  I  have  ever  obtained  or  seen 
before.  Geo.  B.  Mallett. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


PEACH     ROYAL    ASCOT. 

JUDGING  from  the  fact  that  it  is  seldom 
met  with  this  Peach,  though  an  old 
variety,  does  not  seem  to  be  very  well 
known.  This  is  to  be  regretted,  as  it  ia 
a  good  and  constant  cropper  and  of 
excellent  quality.  Added  to  this  it  is 
hardy  and  not  subject  to  mildew.  A  friend  has  it 
growing  on  the  back  wall  of  an  unhealed  house. 
Royal  George  occupying  the  front  trellis.  The 
situation  is  damp,  being  close  to  the  river,  and 
Royal  George  is  almost  annually  attacked  by 
mildew,  while  Royal  Ascot  escapes.  It  was  sent 
out  by  the  late  Mr.  Standish,  of  the  Royal  Nur- 
series, Ascot,  and  is  also  known  by  the  name  of 
Marquis  of  Downshire.  Those  whose  gardens 
occupy  low  positions  and  whose  Peach  trees  are 
consequently  affected  by  mildew  should  give  Royal 
Ascot  a  trial. 


WINTER  FEEDING  OF  FRUIT  TREES. 

If  much  of  the  liquid  manure  that  is  allowed  to 
run  to  waste  during  the  winter  months  were  given 
to  the  roots  of  fruit  trees  any  time  after  the  leaves 
fall  and  before  the  buds  again  burst  into  growth  in 
the  spring  beneficial  results  would  folloM-.  No 
stimulant  that  I  am  acquainted  with  will  give 
such  a  filip  to  growth  as  will  liquid  manure, 
especially  to  large  orchard  trees  upon  grass,  where 
the  roots  are  so  tar  away  as  to  be  practically  out 
of  the  reach  of  surface  dressings  of  solid  manure. 
Select  dry  weather  for  the  application,  and  give  to 
each  tree  a  thorough  soaking  for  yards  away  from 
the  stem,  as  it  is  not  the  large  branch-like  roots 
that  are  benefited  but  the  small  fibrous  ones. — 
E.  M. 


LITTLE   KNOWN  APPLES. 

There  are  certain  varieties  of  Apples  that  are 
little  known  to  Apple  growers  generally,  and 
unfortunately  so.  I  do  not  allude  to  varieties 
that  are  peculiar  to  certain  localities,  although 
some  of  these  are  valuable  and  deserve  to  be  more 
generally  cultivated.  For  instance,  Nanny  or 
Sussex  Apple,  so  well  known  in  Sussex  and  parts 
of  Hampshire,  is  quite  one  of  the  best  of  dessert 
Apples,  ripening  in  (Jctober  before  such  varieties  as 
King  of  the  Pippins  are  in,  and  after  Worcester 
Pearmaiji  is  over.  It  is  of  medium  size,  a  heavy 
cropper,  and  bright  in  colour,  which  is  a  point  in 
its  favour  as  a  market  Apple. 

Chatley's  Kernel  produces  medium  sized  shapelj' 
fruit,  deep  red  on  the  sunny  side,  and  thickly 
covered  with  white  spots  ;  it  keeps  sound  a  long 
time,  is  a  good  grower,  and  crops  heavil3'.  As  a 
late  kitchen  Apple  it  is  valuable,  succeeding  well 
as  an  espalier. 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


175 


Cockpit  is  not  generally  known  outside  York- 
shire, where  it  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best 
of  free-bearing  kitchen  Apples  of  medium  size. 
Briskly  yet  pleasantly  flavoured,  the  fruit  when 
upon  the  tree  is  dark  green  in  colour,  changing 
when  stored  to  a  golden  yellow. 

French  Crab  or  Easter  Pippin  is  an  Apple  not 
nearly  enough  grown.  When  harvested  in  proper 
condition  and  with  ordinary  storage  it  is  certain  to 
keep  well  until  May.  Although  this  Apple  is 
known  under  nine  different  names,  it  is  still  far 
from  common. 

Kirk's  Fame,  ripening  at  the  end  of  October,  is 
a  richly  flavoured  dessert  Apple.  The  medium 
sized  fruit  is  quite  shapely,  with  patches  of  bright 
red  where  exposed  to  the  sun,  it  also  has  a  russety 
appearance.  In  growth  it  is  upright  and  quite 
vigorous. 

Lord  Burleigh. — Where  this  Apple  succeeds  it 
should  be  freely  planted,  as  it  is  one  of  the  finest 
late  dessert  varieties  we  have,  possessing  a  peculiar 
but  agreeable  flavour.  The  medium  sized  fruit  is 
dull  red  in  colour,  with  a  russety  side. 

Malster  is  a  useful  Apple,  either  for  the  kitchen 
or  dessert.  The  fruit  is  handsome  in  appearance, 
with  bright  red  stripes  on  a  yellow  base.  Royal 
George  is  not  mentioned  in  an}'  catalogue.  I 
originally  obtained  a  tree  of  it  from  Messrs.  "R. 
Smith  and  Co.,  Worcester.  It  is  fairly  vigorous, 
bears  freely,  and  the  fruit  is  brightly  coloured. 
It  is  a  really  good  cooking  variety,  ripening  in 
November. 

Five  Crown  or  London  Pippin  is  quite  one  of  the 
best  of  early  kitchen  varieties;  it  is  very  hardy 
and  crops  freely  and  regularlj'.  Its  semi-drooping 
habit  recommends  it  as  suitable  for  standards  or 
half  standards. 

Wealthy,  in  sandy  loam,  should  make  a  capital 
market  Apple,  possessing  as  it  does  all  the 
necessary  characteristics.  The  growth  is  upright 
and  vigorous  ;  the  bright  skinned,  full  sized  fruits 
are  freely  produced.  White  Transparent  is 
becoming  better  known,  it  ripens  early,  and,  as  a 
dessert  variety,  is  valuable. 

Wormsley  Pippin  is  one  of  the  best  of  orchard 
trees.  No  variety  that  I  know  crops  with  greater 
regularity,  its  cooking  qualities  being  of  the 
best ;  as  a  half  standard  it  succeeds  admirably. 

Belle  de  Pontoise  is  seldom  met  with  in  an 
ordinary  garden.  To  an  exhibilor  it  cannot  be 
other  than  valuable,  its  richly  coloured  skin  brings 
it  into  great  request  for  exhibition. 
Heavy  crops  of  shapely  fruit  are  annually 
produced.  In  habit  of  growth  it  is  desir- 
able, vigorous  yet  compact.  vSchoolmaster 
is  a  free  bearing  variety  of  medium  size 
and  growth,  just  the  sort  for  a  pyramid 
where  space  is  limited. 

Benoni  deserves  to  be  much  better 
known  than  it  is  ;  it  ripens  in  October, 
at  a  time  when  dessert  Apples  are  scarce. 
In  size  and  appearance  the  fruit  resembles 
King  of  the  Pippins,  but  is  of  superior 
quality ;  the  habit  of  growth  is  quite 
erect.  E.  Molyneux. 


dering  on  the  Chestnut  woods,  clumps  of  these 
same  Scillas  nestle  in  the  moss,  where  blue 
Hepaticas  make  a  carpet  for  the  Hellebores,  and 
the  grass  is  spread  with  the  purple  and  buff 
of  Crocus  Imperati  or  the  silver  sheen  of  C. 
vernus.  We  grumble  a  good  deal  more  than  we 
need  when  we  find,  as  we  may  by  the  example  of 
Kew,  how  much  can  be  done  to  acclimate  South 
European  plants  such  as  these.  What  can  be  more 
lovely,  even  without  flowers,  than  these  marbled 
leaf -tufts  of  Cyclamen  europfeum,  while  C.  ibericum, 
scarcely  less  beautiful,  is  every  day  opening  more 
of  its  crimson  flowers,  and  the  pink  buds  of  C.  Coum, 
not  to  be  left  behind  in  the  race,  are  beginning  to 
light  up  the  more  sober  hues  of  its  dark  round 
leaves.  These  hardj'  Cyclamens  may  be  naturalised 
on  almost  any  shady  hedge  bank  or  bit  of  bordering 
coppice  or  by  a  wilderness  path  with  the  smallest 
amount  of  pains  and  trouble.  A  few  pinches  of 
seed  sown  with  judgment  in  likely  spots  might 
almost  suffice  and  time  would  do  the  rest ;  once  set 
going  they  will  take  care  of  themselves  by  seeding 
and  spreading.  There  are  two  places — one  in  Corn- 
wall and  one  in  Wales — where  the  Cyclamens  gro-n- 
ing  wild  in  this  way  have  become  the  pride  of  the 
neighbourhood,  but  instances  of  this  kind  are  as  yet 
few  and  far  between. 

Many  are  the  early  bulbs  brought  to  mind,  as 
well  as  introduced  for  the  first  time  to  the  notice  of 
the  earnest  student  at  Kew.  Leucojum  vernura — 
like  a  Snowdrop  making  a  "  cheese  "  in  the  old-time 
fashion  of  maidens,  from  sheer  joy  of  liberty.  Nar- 
cissus minor  scarce  lifting  its  modest  head  above 
the  brown  soil — Corbularia  monophylla,  shivering  a 
little  in  her  frail  hoop-petticoat,  are  old  friends,  and 
Chionodoxas  amongst  the  Snowdrops.  But  some  of 
the  new-comers  hold  their  own  sturdily,  and  first  of 
them  all  may  be  set  down  Iris  Heldreichi.  This 
species  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  fairest  gems 
of  early  spring,  if  indeed  we  may  not  say  of  winter, 
outlasting  bravely  many  of  its  kin.  f.  reticulata 
seldom  lives  more  than  four  years,  a  liberal  allow- 
ance. I.  histrioides  follows  the  example  of  its  mate. 
I.  Danfordiie  does  rather  better,  its  stout  little 
yellow  flowers  having  more  substance,  but  it  is 
almost  over.  Looking  back  at  notes  made  on  the 
spot,  a  plantation  of  I.  Heldreichi  was  sapphire- 
blue  with  flowers  on  January  25,  five  weeks  ago, 
and  still  more  so  is  it  now.  This  is  a  splendid 
record  for  an  Iris,  and  that  a  winter-flowering  one. 
May  no  sinister  fate  show  itself  in  the  shape  of  the 


dreaded  black  spot  which  so  often  wrecks  our  hopes 
with  the  reticulata  breed. 

So  wedded  are  we  to  the  idea  that  Colchicums 
are  autumn  blooming  that  it  is  a  surprise  to  find 
several  species  in  or  only  lately  past  out  of  flower 
at  this  season.  One  of  these  last  is  C.  hydrophilum, 
a  beautiful  species  which  produces  its  clusters  of 
lilac  flowers  with  its  leaves,  as  do  most  of  the 
spring-blooming  kinds.  As  its  name  would  imply, 
it  thrives  only  in  wet  places,  a  preference  common 
to  Colchicums  in  general,  but  in  this  case  strongly 
marked.  It  does  not  fear  cold,  however,  as  it  is  an 
inhabitant  of  high  regions  in  Asia  Minor.  Meren- 
dera  caucasica,  which  is  to  all  garden  intents  and 
purposes  a  Colchicum,  and  fairly  well  known  where 
the  rarer  bulbs  are  appreciated  J  is  now  beginning  to 
flower  in  the  open.  It  has  been  very  happy  this 
month  past  in  the  alpine  house.  A  near  relative, 
C.  monlanum  Ritehii,  is  also  showing  its  pure  white 
flowers,  a  form  which  is  rather  rare  in  this  species, 
as  they  are  usually  lilac  or  pink.  It  is  distinctly 
pretty,  and  the  pointed  flower-buds  are  charac- 
teristic. There  are  several  other  species,  and,  as 
time  goes  on,  we  shall  probably  learn  to  know 
these  spring-flowering  Colchicums  better. 


BRITISH     HOMES 
GARDENS. 


AND 


A     SURREY    GARDEN 
(LIMPSFIELD). 

IT  is  always  pleasant  to  see  evidences  of 
good  gardening  such  as  that  shown  by 
the  illustrations  from  photographs  by 
Mrs.  Barry  of  her  pretty  garden  at 
Limpsfield,  Surrey.  From  the  level  of 
the  terrace  on  which  the  house  stands 
the  ground  slopes  away  somewhat  steeply.  It 
has  been  treated  most  judiciously,  with  two 
lower  terraces  and  flights  of  steps  of  good 
width.  Then  comes  a  space  of  garden  ground 
on  an  easy  slope.  The  walk  straight  away 
from  the  house  cuts  right  across  this  garden, 
passing  under  a  pergola  of  Roses  backed  by 
Yew  hedges.    The  pergola  ends  with  a  short 


KEW^  NOTES. 

Early  Spring   Bulbs. 

After  a  spell  of  cold  weather,  during 
which  the  thermometer  fell  to  22°  of 
frost,  it  is  mild  again,  and  the  early  bulbs 
are  pushing  up,  eager  to  leave  the  warmth 
and  safety  of  Mother  Earth  for  the 
uncertain  mercies  of  spring-tide.  Fore- 
most amongst  them  is  Scilla  bifolia,  which 
is  opening  its  blue  eyes  everywhere — 
peeping  out  of  the  grass,  sheltering  under 
the  ledges  of  the  rock  garden,  or  helping 
to  hide  the  bare  mould  of  the  Rose  beds. 
These,  with  the  Crocuses  and  Daffodils, 
the  Hepaticas  and  Cyclamens  which  are 
coming,  seemingly  as  they  will,  in  the 
wild  garden  of  the  mound,  carry  one  back 
on  a  bright  morning  to  spring  dajs  in 
Italy — not  always  sunny,  however,  and 
sometimes  with  a  fierce  tramontana  blow- 
ing keen — where,,  in  the  rough  banks  b.or' 


(;arl.\wds  or  roses  on  the  pergol.4  at  lijipsfibld. 


176 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  15,  1902. 


flight  of  steps,  and  the  Yew  hedges  go  away 
right  and  left  at  a  right  angle  for  some  30  feet 
on  each  side,  and  then  return  again  forward 
in  their  original  direction,  enclosing  a  wide 
turf  walk  and  a  large  tank.  The  Roses  are  not 
only  trained  across  and  along  but  are  carried 
in  garlands  from  pier  to  pier  with  charming 
effect.  A  garden  like  this,  well  planned  at  the 
first,  and  carefully  watched  and  tended,  must 
indeed  be  a  joy  to  its  owners.  Perhaps  a  little 
more  (in  the  way  of  interesting 
detail)  might  have  been  made  of 
the  tank,  but  possibly  this  may 
follow. 


can  reach.  The  result  is  that  season  after  season, 
even  in  the  most  unfavourable  ones,  hardly  a  Lily 
is  injured,  and  their  flowers,  on  stems  from  (i  feet 
to  11  feet  in  height,  surpass  any  I  have  seen 
elsev.'!-"re. 

In  Lancashire,  not  far  from  Rochdale,  a  friend 
has  long  grown  L.  speciosum,  blooming  it  well  in 
an  exposed  border  without  taking  up  the  bulbs. 
•  Most  gardens  have  a  north  border  where  there 
are  spaces  between  small  shrubs  ;  if  a  little  peat 
and  sandy  loam  is  dug  in.  and   the   bulbs  jjlanted 


LILY    NOTES. 

Notes  of  My  Experience  witu 
Lilies. 


LiLiUM  rubellum. — Being  a  great 
admirer  of  this  recently  introduce  1 
Lily,  and  believing  that  it  will 
become  a  garden  favourite  soon,  1 
begin  with  a  short  note  upon  it. 
As  we  were  desirous  to  ascertain 
the  best  way  to  grow  Ijilium  rubel- 
lum, I  got  a  number  of  imported 
bulbs  and  planted  them  in  lots  of 
ten  or  more,  in  very  many  situations 
and  under  verv  different  conditions, 
in  (Jctober,  1890.  The  result  is  that 
we  found  a  mi.xture  of  vegetable  soil 
and  loam,  and  a  partially  shaded 
situation,  were  what  suited  them 
best.  I  send  you  a  photograph  of  a 
clump  in  flower  in  partial  shade  at 
the  side  of  a  bed  of  hybrid  Azaleas, 
one  of  the  Lily  stems  carrying  three 
flowers.  Both  this  clump  anil 
another  planted  in  the  deep  shade 
of  a  wood  bloomed  thoroughly  well, 
but  the  one  with  more  light  had 
the  higher  colour. 

General  ntltiire.  —  Though  my 
experience  in  Lily  growing  dates 
back  to  a  time  when  cultivators  in 
general  had  not  been  awakened  to 
the  charms  of  this  most  beautiful 
family,  I  must  still  confess  that  we 
have  many  things  yet  left  to  learn, 
and  perhaps  some  to  unlearn.  In 
some  seasons,  notably  when  cold  and 
wet  follow  after  drought,  even 
practised  cultivator.s,  except  in 
most  favoured  situations,  find  that 
"blight  and  spot"  greatly  injure 
the  growth  and  flowering  of  some 
species,  even  though  the  bulbs  may 
be  unhurt. 

The  best  situation  for  planting 
Lilies — at  least  in  the  southern 
counties — is  a  cool  sheltered  one  ; 
a  very  safe  place  is  near  the  edge  of 
a  Rhododendron  bed  ;  soil  that 
will  grow  Rhododendrons  will  also 
answer  for  most  kinds  of  Lilies.  I  can  give  two 
examples  where  Lilies  succeeded  when  left  almost 
to  themselves  ;  one  was  in  an  old-fashioned  garden 
with  a  small  lawn  inside  the  main  lawn,  and 
sheltered  and  partly  shaded  by  shrubs  and  trees. 
In  the  centre  bed,  among  some  dwarf  Rhododen- 
drons, I  planted  many  kinds  of  Lilies,  all  of  which 
succeeded  perfectly.  Blooms  of  Lilium  auratum, 
gathered  afteraweek  of  unusually  stormy  weather, 
were  taken  up  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
to  show  how  little  they  had  suffered.  In  the  same 
garden  L.  auratum  and  L.  longifloruni  bloomed 
well  in  a  peat  Rhododendron  bed,  sheltered  by  the 
house,  in  a  full  southern  exposure;  but  in  this 
case  watering  was  almost  essential.  The  other 
situation  is  in  the  garden  of  a  friend  ;  his  L. 
auratum  are  planted  near  the  edges  of  large 
Rhododendron  beds,  and  arc  partially  sheltered 
by  a  high  bank,  and  by  belts  of  trees  at  some 
little  distance  ;  his  Rhododendron  soil  suits  the 
Lilies  arlmirably,  and  there  appears  to  be  moisture 
in  the  soil  some  little  way  down  which  the   roots 


ROSE    TEKGOLA    AT    LIMPSFIELD. 

.")  inches  or  IJ  inches  deep,  Lilies  are  almost  sure  to 
thrive.  Some  Lilies,  however,  such  as  L.  candidum, 
L.  Martagon,  L.  szovitsianum,  and  L.  chalcedoni- 
cuni,  reijuire  a  stronger  soil  and  like  loam. 

All  the  Tiger  Lilies  grow  well  in  ordinary  soil ; 
the  old  L.  tigrinum  sinense  is  well  known  in 
gardens,  but  L.  tigrinum  splendcns,  whiili  richly 
deserves  its  name,  is  but  little  known.  Very 
many  bulbs  of  L.  tigrinum  Fortune!,  whirh  has  a 
very  woolly  stem,  aie  sent  out  in  mistake  for 
L.  tigrinum  splendens,  the  original  error  having 
been  widely  extended  b^'  means  of  stem  bulbs. 
L.  tigrinum  splendens  has  more  the  character  of 
the  old  fj.  tigrinum  sinense,  only  magnified  in 
height,  size  of  flowers,  and  especially  size  of  spots. 
It  shows  beautifully  in  Rhododendron  beds,  in  the 
centre  of  other  beds  :  indeed,  in  any  situation  in 
which  its  height— 7  feet  or  S  feet,  or,  with  large 
bulbs,  probably  0  feet  or  more— does  not  disqualify 
it.  L.  tigrinum  flore-pleno  is  a  showy  Lily  which 
lasts  long  in  flower.  I  think  L.  tigrinum  erectum 
a  desirable  variety,  but  with  this  opinion  the  floral 


committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  used 
not  to  agree. 

Lilium  longiflorum,  with  its  varieties  eximium, 
Takesima,  &c. ,  sometimes  blooms  very  well  in 
borders,  but  care  should  be  taken  that  it  is  not 
injured  by  spring  frosts.  This  Lily  is  such  an 
early  one  that,  unless  protected  by  the  leaves  of 
Rhododendrons  or  otherwise,  its  growth  is  apt  to 
be  checked. 

This  season  I  have  one  clump  of  L.  giganteum 
with  no  fewer  than  fifteen  stems  and  a  multitude 
of  expanding  flowers.  The  compara- 
tively recently- introduced  North 
American  Lilies,  such  as  L.  Hum- 
boldti,washingtonianuni,puberulum, 
pardalinum,  Robinsoni,  californicum, 
&c.,  no  doubt  will  soon  be  grown 
perfectly  in  borders  ;  but  here,  at 
least,  though  some  thrive  well, 
others,  in  places  where  they  ought 
to  succeed  perfectly,  have  not  always 
done  so,  the  foliage  of  L.  Hum- 
boUIti  especially  not  keeping  its 
healthy  colour.  Cultivators  must 
not  be  discouraged  when  newly- 
imported  bulbs  do  not  show  up  the 
first  season.  I  have  just  been 
examining  two  small  beds,  in  each  of 
which  twelve  fine  bulbs  of  L.  Huni- 
boldti  were  planted.  The  soil  of 
one  bed  consists  of  two  parts  peat 
and  one  of  loam,  the  other  of  loam 
with  a  little  sharp  sand  mixed  ;  in 
neither  bed  the  bulbs  made  upward 
growth,  but,  on  examination,  seem 
healthy,  and  have  made  roots.  In 
adjoining  beds,  with  the  same  two 
soils,  a  dozen  L.  szovitsianum  in 
the  peat  and  loam  made  miserable 
growth,  while  the  dozen  in  the  loam 
and  sand  bed  have,  many  of  them, 
flowered  well  and  seeded.  In  other 
two  beds  with  six  L.  auratum  all 
came  up  fairly,  but  in  the  loam  and 
sand  bed  the  six  were  rather  the 
stronger ;  all  the  bulbs  were  newly- 
iniporled  ones.  The  above,  I  think, 
shows  that  imported  bulbs  of 
ditl'erent  Lilies  take  different  times 
in  establishing  themselves,  and  that 
with  cold  and  wet  in  the  early  part 
of  the  season  the  soil  which  suits 
Lilies  best  in  normal  seasons  may 
not  then  give  the  best  results. 

Many  of  the  varieties  of  L.  super- 
bum  are  very  beautiful ;  they  like 
shade  and  rather  moist  soil.  Some 
years  back — I  do  not  know  whether 
it  still  exists — there  was  a  grand 
undisturbed  bed  of  L.  superbum  at 
Messrs.  Walerer's  at  Woking  ;  the 
Lily  was  at  home  in  the  moist  peat ; 
the  great  tall  stems,  with  nchly- 
coloure<l  flowers,  had  a  very  fine 
effect. 

L.  canadense,  in  all  its  varieties, 
grows  easily  and  is  very  beautiful. 
It  is  usually  said,  "Find  the  native  habitat 
of  a  plant,  and  reproduce  it  as  nearly  as  jou 
can;  if  a  Lily  be  found  in  shady  places,  grow 
it  in  shade"  ;  but  a  distinguished  Dutch  chemitt. 
botanist,  who  has  himself  done  great  things  as 
regards  the  introduction  of  different  plants,  espe- 
cially into  Java,  once  showed  me  that  this  was  not 
a  universal  law,  or  rather  that  what  appears  to  be 
the  reproduction  of  the  habitat  is  really  not  so, 
and  that  one  unattainable  condition  sometimes 
changes  the  whole  circumstances  so  completely 
that  he  had  known  plants  which,  in  their  own 
country,  flourished  in  shade,  when  transported, 
throve  best  in  sun.  The  moral  is,  I  think,  where 
possible,  try  experiments  for  yourself,  plant  a  few 
bulbs  in  very  different  situations — the  first  year 
will  tell  you  in  which  direction  to  steer. 

One  thing  which  I  have  learnt  of  recent  years  is 
that  in  situations  and  soil  where  Rhododendrons 
grow  very  luxuriantly,  after  a  time  they  too  much 
overshadow  Lilies  planted  among  them,  and  now 
that  there  are  so  many  beautiful  forms  of  hardy 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


177 


Azaleas,  especially  hybrids  of  A.  mollis,  we  have 
used  these  as  shelter  for  Lilies,  and  in  several  beds 
where  the  experiment  has  been  tried  it  has  proved 
eminently  successful. 

Pol  ailtiiri'. — I  must  end  with  a  few  words  on 
pot  cultivation.  We  have  some  thousands  of 
bulbs,  both  little  and  big,  planted  in  the  open, 
but  I  think  there  are  some  species  which  cannot 
be  brought  to  their  full  beauty  except  under  a 
roof.  Perhaps  the  simplest  way  is  to  mention 
how  our  Lilies  are  treated  ;  which  species  succeed 
well  here,  and  which  do  not.  Till  lately  the  Lily 
house  was  an  orchard  house,  60  feet  by  -20  feet. 
In  this  Lilies  answered  very  well  except  in  very 
hot  weather,  and  then  some  of  them,  when  in 
bloom,  were  moved  to  a  rough  shed,  open  at  the 
front  and  facing  nortli.  Last  year  a  house  was 
put  up,  giving  as  much  air  as  possible,  in  our 
shadiest  corner  ;  it  gets  only  the  east  sun.  The 
Lilies  succeed  very  well,  and  the  blossoms  last 
longer  than  in  the  orchard  house.  Had  we  the 
situation,  a  house  should  be  placed  in  complete 
shade,  for  I  feel  sure  that  some  Lilies  would  thrive 
best  there.  The  soil  we  use  for  most  Lilies  con- 
sists of  two  parts  fibrous  peat,  one  part  loam,  and, 
if  the  last  is  at  all  stiff,  some  sharp  sand  is  added. 
In  this  L.  speciosum,  longifloruni,  canadense, 
ealifornicum,  pardalinum,  parvum,  puberulum, 
thunbergianum,  Coridion,  Hansoni,  tigrinum, 
giganteum,  and  some  others  flourish  and  increase  ; 
L.  auratum,  Kraraeri,  superbum,  and  Leichtlinii 
in  some  seasons.  The  last,  from  its  distinctness, 
is  a  favourite  here  ;  we  are  trying  it  with  more 
loam.  Chalcedonieum,  tenuifolium,  buschianum, 
white  Martagon,  &C. ,  bloom  for  a  time,  but  the 
bulbs  waste  and  we  lose  them.  L.  Brownii 
occasionally  succeeds  splendidly,  but  is  uncertain  ; 
we  continue  trying  different  soils  and  earlier 
removal  to  the  cooler  house.  I  will  not  speak 
of  some  of  the  rarer  Lilies,  such  as  polyphyllum, 
neilgherrense,  and  wallichiauum,  for  we  have  not 
yet  quite  mastered  their  treatment. — G.  F.  Wilson, 
F.R.S.,  V.M.H.,  in  Journal  of  the  Itoynl  Hor- 
ticnltural  Society.     (Reprinted  by  permission. ) 


THE     FLOWER     GARDEN. 

THE  GOLD-LA.CED  POLYANTHUS. 

HO  W  very  difficult  it  is  to  raise  a  really 
fine  variety  of  the  Gold -laced 
section  from  seeds  is  well 
known  to  those  who  are  in 
the  habit  of  raising  seedlings. 
Although  it  is  possible  to 
raise  a  thousand  seedlings  from  the  best 
blood,  not  one  may  be  up  to  the  mark  of 
quality  of  say  Cheshire  Favourite.  There 
is  a  good  deal  of  misconception  abroad  as 
to  the  real  merits  of  a  ({old-laced  Poly- 
anthus. It  is  a  very  difficult  task  indeed 
to  obtain  a  seedling  in  which  the  dark 
ground  colour  is  a  uniform  shade  of  red 
or  black  and  the  lacing  absolutely  free 
from  taint  ;  moreover,  it  must  be  uni- 
formly of  the  same  tint  in  the  centre  of 
the  flower  as  on  the  petal  edges,  and  be 
evenly  laid  on  round  the  edges  of  the 
segments,  and  it  must  also  cut  down 
through  the  centre  of  the  segments  and 
strike  the  golden  centre.  I  have  raised 
thousands  of  seedlings  and  find  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  get  one  in  a  season 
good  enough  to  stand  the  test  of  a 
second  year.  But  the  very  difficulty  of 
the  test  should  be  an  incentive  to  under- 
take the  trial  ;  labour,  patience,  and 
enthusiasm  are  absolutely  necessary.  To 
me  a  perfect  Gold-laced  Polj'anthus  is  an 
object-lesson  in  artistic  beauty,  and  there 
is  a  quiet  fascination  about  such  a 
flower.  Our  forefathers  raised  glorious 
varieties  —  Lord  Lincoln,  George  IV. , 
Pearson's  Alexander,  Cheshire  Favourite, 
and  others.  Lord  Lincoln  and  Pearson's 
Alexander  are,  I  fear,  utterly  lost  to 
cultivation.  I  hope  there  are  yet  some 
plants   of    that    very    fine    and    distinct 


variety  George  IV.  about  the  country.  Cheshire 
Favourite  is,  I  am  happy  to  state,  still  pro- 
curable ;  it  is  one  of  the  best — perhaps  at  its 
best  the  most  refined  black  ground  now  in  culti- 
vation. Exile,  which  has  a  uniform  deep  gold 
lacing,  is  also  procurable,  and  with  it  can  also  be  had 
Miss  Turner,  a  black  ground  variety  I  exhibited  at 
the  National  Auricula  Society's  exhibition  in  the 
Drill  Hall  in  April  last.  Mrs.  Brownhill  and 
Middleton  Favourite  can  only  be  termed  second 
rate — that  is  my  estimate  of  them  after  growing 
them  two  or  three  seasons  ;  and  red  ground  Sidney 
Smith  is  also  to  be  had.  The  National  Auricula 
Societj'  still  encourages  the  production  of  the  Gold- 
laced  section  at  their  shows,  as  there  is  a  class  for 
three  varieties,  and  also  for  one,  and  certificates  are 
awarded  to  any  new  varieties  of  first-class  merit. 

If  the  named  varieties  could  but  reproduce 
themselves  from  seed  perfectly  true  to  character 
the  gems  of  the  section  would  of  course  be  much 
more  plentiful.  But  they  do  not ;  in  fact,  they 
seed  vary  sparingly  indeed,  and  the  only  way  to 
secure  the  possession  of  some  good  seed  is  to 
fertilise  the  flowers  bj'  their  own  pollen,  at  the 
same  time  taking  care  there  is  no  impregnation 
from  any  harmful  source.  It  is  to  be  earnestly 
desired  that  some  one  will  be  enterprising  enough 
to  take  in  hand  this  section,  and  endeavour  to  add 
to  the  standard  varieties. 

There  is  no  lack  of  seed  of  Gold-laced  Polyan- 
thus, but  much  of  it  is  of  a  very  doubtful  character. 
If  it  be  possible  to  get  some  seed  from  a  promising 
strain,  now  is  a  good  time  to  sow  it,  doing  so  in  a 
box  of  fairly  light  sandy  soil,  so  as  to  have  strong 
plants  to  put  out  in  the  open  at  the  end  of  the 
summer.  It  is  desirable  to  prick  off  the  plants 
into  a  well  prepared  nursery  bed  for  the  summer, 
and  plant  out  in  early  autumn,  taking  care  that 
there  be  as  much  soil  about  the  roots  as  possible  at 
the  time  transplanting  is  done.  R.   Deav. 

SPANISH  IRIS. 

So  much  has  been  written  of  this  particular  section 
of  the  Iris  family,  alike  as  to  its  value  on  the  open 
border  and  for  cutting,  that  little  remains  to  be 
said.  I  should  like,  however,  to  note  the  advisa- 
bility of  planting  them  in  different  situations  to 
ensure  a  prolonged  flowering  season.  Finding  how 
acceptable  they  were  in  a  cut  state  I  planted  a 
large  batch  on  a  narrow  north-west  border  some 


few  years  ago,  and  here  they  have  done  well,  grow- 
ing stronger  with  each  succeeding  year,  and  have 
given  a  fine  lot  of  bloom  when  those  on  the 
open  border  are  over.  The  only  drawback  i'i  that 
instead  of  coming  true  to  colour  nine-tenths  of 
them  are  yellow.  The  remarks  as  to  variety  in  the 
way  of  situations  for  plants  to  furnish  cut  bloom 
are  equally  applicable  to  many  things.  Among 
others  on  a  similar  border  are  Aquilegias,  Pyre- 
thrums,  the  double  Peach-leaved  Campanula, 
and  the  Gardenia-flowered  Poeticus. 

Claremont.  E.  B. 

SELECT  ANNUALS. 

In"  summer  lime  the  garden  of  the  amateur  owes  not 
a  little  of  its  brightness,  its  display  of  beauty  and 
colour  to  the  careful  selection  and  arrangement  of 
the  best  annuals.  Whether  of  a  hardy  or  half- 
hardy  nature,  the  cultural  requirements  of  these 
plants  are  so  simple  as  to  render  the  best  kinds  in- 
creasingly popular  year  by  year.  As  the  subject  is 
now  opportune,  and  many  will  be  considering  what 
to  sow  and  plant,  a  few  remarks  bearing  on  the 
matter  may  be  of  assistance. 

In  the  first  place,  let  us  take  a  glance  at  the 
important  item  of  culture,  which,  if  simple,  will 
require  a  certain  share  of  attention.  In  this  matter 
the  most  that  can  be  now  done  is  to  prepare  the 
soil.  There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  ultimate 
growth  and  flowering  of  plants  grown  in  good  soil. 
The  deep  digging  and  manuring  of  the  soil  are  the 
primitive  and  crude  measures  that  all  who  wish  for 
success  will  adopt.  But  there  is  something  more, 
a  something  that  is  worthy  of  greater  attention 
than  it  yet  receives  :  it  may,  perhaps,  be  best 
explained  in  the  following  sentences.  Not  a  few 
of  the  annuals  that  furnish  large  supplies  of  flowers 
to  our  gardens  come  to  us  from  warmer  climes  than 
our  own,  not  only  warmer  as  affecting  the  mean 
temperature,  but  more  sunny,  and  therefore  more 
invigorating  to  this  particular  class  of  plants. 
Heavy  soils,  therefore,  may  receive  some  attention 
in  the  way  of  assisting  porositj'  and  free  drainage, 
which  in  turn  tend  to  warm  the  soil  materially, 
and  a  quicker  growth  ensues.  All  heavy  moisture- 
holding  soils  may  be  assisted  now  by  a  good  dress- 
ing of  old  or  air-slaked  lime,  or,  again,  by  the 
addition  of  road  sweepings  and  sharp  grit.  All 
these  are  aids  in  one  and  the  same  direction.  Soils 
that  are   very  rich    may  be  greatly   benefited    by 


A    HOUSE    .VND    GARDEN    AT    Ll.Ml'.SFI  El,Li, 


178 


THE  GARDEN 


[March  15,  1902- 


a  heavy  dressing  of  lime.  Soils  generally  may  be 
ameliorated  by  applying  a  dressing  of  old  mortar  or 
lime  in  some  form  or  other  when  it  is  known  the 
ground  is  to  be  occupied  by  such  things  as  Iberis, 
Dianthus,  or  indeed  any  of  the  Carnation  family, 
Lupines,  Sweet  Peas,  and  many  others  ;  the  entire 
Aster  family  also  are  verj'  partial  to  such  an  admix- 
ture in  the  soil.  A  very  convenient  method  of 
applying  lime,  and  within  the  reach  of  all,  is  either 
by  bone-meal  or  in  the  form  of  superphosphate. 
A  little  more  attention  to  these  matters,  and 
perhaps  a  little  less  of  the  crude  manures,  will 
make  its  mark  on  the  crop  to  follow. 

The  time  of  planting  or  of  sowing  is  of  some 
moment,  and  to  some  extent  must  be  governed  by 
the  desired  time  of  flowering.  Usually,  however, 
the  middle  of  March  will  be  early  enough  in  most 
districts  for  the  hardiest  kinds,  such  as  are  usually 
sown  in  the  open,  and  a  week  or  two  later  for  the 
half-hardy  sorts,  or  even  longer  where  slight 
warmth  is  available.  In  the  matter  of  seeds, 
the  amateur,  and  perhaps  others,  all  suffer  because 
of  that  plague — the  cheapness  of  seeds.  This 
undoubtedly  is  the  precursor  of  many  of  the  ills 
and  errors  of  culture  that  follow  in  the  wake  of 
the  seed  sowing.  Were  the  seeds  more  costly  fewer 
would  be  bought,  whereas  now  they  are  cheap,  and 
large  quantities  often  obtainable  for  a  few  pence. 
The  result  of  all  this  is  thick  sowing,  and  the 
seedlings  coming  up  as  thick  as  Mustard  and  Cress 
in  a  box  often  ruin  each  other  long  before  any  idea 
of  thinning  is  thought  of.  Thin  sowing  in  the  first 
place,  and  timely  and  rigid  thinning  of  the  seedlings, 
are  items  of  the  greatest  possible  importance.  As 
an, example  of  thin  sowing  one  has  but  to  closely 
watch  the  development  of  a  single  seedling  of 
Mignonette  and  contrast  it  with  possibly  a  dozen 
plants'  in  an  equal  space.  There  is  not  the  least 
doubt  but  the  single  specimen  will  yield  a  higher 
percentage  of  finer  flowers  than  the  dozen.  Chance 
seedlings  of  such  things  now  and  again  afford  much 
valuable  information  in  this  direction. 

All  the  half-hardy  kinds,  such,  for  instance,  as 
Asters,  Zinnias,  and  many  others,  are  not  likely  to 
suff'er  from  the  same  cause,  as  transplanting  is  then 
essential  to  success.  All  these  should  be  earlj'  trans- 
planted, however,  so  that  at  planting  time  a  good 
ball  of  earth  may  be  secured  to  each  plant.  Parti- 
cularly should  it  be  urged  in  respect  to  the  Aster 
that  a  soil  free  of  manure  be  used  in  the  raising  of 
the  seedlings   with  a  view   to  promote  as  firm  a 


growth  as  possible.  This  and  the  additional  pre- 
caution of  growing  the  plants  as  hardily  as  possible 
will  be  helpful  generally.  A  soil  of  sandy  loam 
with  a  sprinkling  of  soot  and  some  finely  sifted  old 
mortar  rubbish  will  do  quite  well.  Such  are  the 
chief  items  to  be  borne  in  mind  in  growing  these 
extremely  useful  free-flowering  plants. 

There  is  now  so  great  a  wealth  of  annuals  that  it 
is  all  the  more  ditticult  to  make  even  a  selection, 
as  so  much  depends  upon  circumstances,  such  as 
the  size  of  the  garden,  the  time  of  year  the  flowers 
are  most  needed,  and  other  things.  No  garden, 
however,  can  afford  to  be  without  such  things  as  Bar- 
tonia  aurea,  which  is  adapted  for  spring  or  autumn 
sowing,  as  is  also  the  pretty  Limnanthes  Douglasi, 
with  white  and  yellow  blossoms  that  are  also  most 
attractive  to  bees.  A  good  selection  of  Candy- 
tuft, particularly  the  dark  crimson  and  the  near 
shades,  make  most  effective  masses,  while  the  Mar- 
guerite Carnations  will  be  ever3'where  popular. 
Cornflowers  in  many  shades,  the  varieties  of  Chrysan- 
themum tricoloras  also  the  double  white  and  yellow 
sorts  are  simply  indispensable.  The  Clarkias, 
Convolvuli,  the  many  beautiful  Dianthi,  especially 
1).  Heddewigi  vars. ,  are  everywhere  esteemed. 
Eschscholtzia  provides  a  rich  array  of  gold  and 
orange,  and  is  generally  well  suited  to  the  hottest 
and  poorest  soils.  The  Golden  Erj'simuni  perofl- 
skianum  is  very  fine,  while  among  rich  intense  blue 
flowers  Eutoca  viscida  must  be  given  a  place,  and 
the  Phacelias  may  well  bear  companj'.  Of  the  last 
P.  tanaceti folia,  P.  eongesta,  and  P.  Parryi,  the 
latter  being  distinct,  are  all  worthy  of  good  culture. 
The  Sunflowers  of  the  dwarf  class  and  the  Heli- 
chrysums  (will  be  welcome  in  their  way,  and  not 
less  so  the  Rockets,  Larkspurs,  Lupines,  Nastur- 
tiums, the  Nemophilas,  the  Shirley  and  other 
Poppies,  Mignonette,  Stocks,  Sweet  Sultans,  and 
Tagetes  signata  pumila.  Such  are  among  the 
indispensable  things  that  may  be  sown  in  the  open 
garden  border.  E.  .T. 


BOOKS. 

The  Book  of  the  Apple.*— This  little 

handbook  is  full  of  practical  matter,  condensed 
into  readable  form,  and  should  find  its  way  into 
the  hands  of  every  Apple  grower,  especially 
amateurs  seeking  sound  practical  information  easy 


to  understand  and  free  from  technicalities.  We 
observe  one  or  two  trifling  details  which  we  are 
not  quite  in  accordance  with  ;  for  example,  in  the 
planting  of  trees,  instead  of  shaping  the  centre  of 
the  hole  higher  than  the  outsides  of  the  hole,  we 
prefer  the  opposite  shape,  i.e.,  the  shape  of  the 
hole  to  be  that  of  a  tea  saucer,  viz.,  the  centre 
lowest  and  the  outer  parts  of  the  hole  more 
shallow,  so  that  when  the  roots  are  spread  out 
horizontally  the  extremities  of  the  roots  slightlj' 
incline  upwards  and  not  downwards.  The  advan- 
tages are  important.  Fruitful  roots  are  encouraged 
near  to  the  surface,  within  reach  of  beneficial 
solar  warmth,  and  the  necessary  nourishment  from 
judicious  surface  mulchings,  ensuring  ripeness  of 
wood  and  the  perfect  development  and  maturation 
of  the  embryo  fruit  buds.  As  applied  to  properly 
managed  trees — we  object  to  that  misnomer  root 
pruning,  "root  lifting"  is  a  more  correct  and 
appropriate  term — when  a  young  tree  "  begins"  to 
make  gross  unfruitful  growths  it  becomes  neces- 
sary for  the  cultivator  to  divert  this  really  wasted 
power  into  fruitful  channels  by  the  careful 
process  of  root  lifting,  removing  the  earth  and 
digging  down  after  the  deeply  penetrating  refrac- 
tory roots,  preserving  and  bringing  them  up,  all 
intact  as  far  as  possible,  and  relaying  them  hori- 
zontally near  to  the  surface  in  a  newly-shaped  tea 
saucer  hole. 

Such  an  operation  thus  carried  out  in  the 
months  of  October  or  November  would  be 
certain  to  produce  an  abundance  of  fibrous  or 
fruitful  roots,  and  secure  profitable  results  for 
years  to  come,  whilst  the  cutting  away  of  strong 
roots  is  apt  to  give  so  severe  a  check  as  to 
probably  throw  the  tree  tlms  operated  upon  into  a 
a  state  of  chronic  debility.  Recipes  are  given  by  Dr. 
Roberts  for  the  cookery  of  Apples,  but  the  valuable 
dietetic  properties  of  some  varieties  over  others 
appear  to  be  overlooked  ;  for  instance,  the  old 
Flanders  Pippin  when  cooked  contains  a  large 
percentage  of  its  own  sugar,  or  rather  saccha- 
rine, as  to  be  of  special  value  to  dyspeptics  and 
others.  W.  Crump,  V.M.H. 


APl'LE  NEWTUN   WONDER,     (Tin'  fruit  ///io(uiji, lathed  was  :i\  inches  hi<jh  and  3}  inches  in  diameter.) 


HARDY    FRUITS     IN    SEASON. 

The  Be.st  Apples  foe  Cooking. 
The  Apple  as  an  important  item  in  the 
nation's  food  .supply  has  been,  I  think,  some- 
what unduly  over-shadowed  by  its  popularity 
as  a  dessert  fruit.  Its  great  usefulness  in  this 
way  has  not  received  the  recognition  which  the 
Apple  is  entitled  to,  looking  at  it  from  this 
point  of  view  alone.  That  the  supply  of 
English-grown  cooking  Apples  is  totally 
inadequate  to  meet  the  supply  everyone 
interested  in  fruit  knows.  Neither  so  far  as  I 
know  is  any  well-organised  plan  or  systematic 
effort  on  a  large  scale  put  forth  by  private  or 
public  bodies  to  improve  the  supply,  or  to 
anticipate  the  much  larger  demand  which  will 
be  made  on  this  frait  in  the  near  future  by 
our  rapidly  increasing  population.  Indifterent 
cooking  Apples  in  the  suburbs  are  sold  at  from 
3d.  to  ."id.  per  lb,,  which  works  out  for  an 
ordinary  bushel  of  60lb.  (charging  them  at 
4d.  per  lb.)  to  i0.s.  per  bushel.  Surely  at  half 
this  jirice  they  would  return  a  handsome 
profit  to  the  grower.  The  reason  more  are  not 
grown  cannot  be  that  we  have  not  suitable 
land  in  abundance,  or  that  the  art  of  growing 
them  is  not  well  understood,  neither  is  it 
because  we  have  not  the  best  sorts  in  the 
world  at  our  hands  to  grow.  It  seems,  to  be 
one  of  those  neglected  home  industries  which 
it  is  nobody's  business  to  take  in  hand  and 
organise  on  a  large  scale  on  commercial  lines, 
the  same  as  is  done  in  America  and  some  of 
our  colonies. 

The  season  is  rather  far  advancedfor  planting, 
.'itill,  to  tho.se  who  arf  anxious  to  make  a  small 
start,  and  whose  land  is  ready  and  in  proper 


•  "The  Hook  of  tlie  Apple.  "  By  H.  H .  Thomas.  With  Notes 
on  Cider-making,  &c.,  by  Or,  Roberts.    I^ane,    Price  2s,  (id, 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


179 


condition,  planting  may  be  successfully 
undertaken  until  late  in  ilarch,  although 
unquestionably  autumn  planting  is  much 
to  be  preferred.  Amongst  the  many 
varieties  now  in  season  are  the  following  : 

Newton  Wonder. 

It  is  difficult  to  speak  in  too  high 
terms  of  this  grand  new  Apple.  When 
it  is  better  known  I  venture  to  say  that 
no  garden  in  the  kingdom  of  any  note  will 
be  without  it.  It  is  of  the  largest  .size, 
and  of  handsome  appearance  and  colour. 
It  is  said  to  be  a  cross  between  Blenheim 
Orange  and  Wellington,  and  is  larger  and 
handsomer  than  the  former,  its  keeping 
and  co(3king  qualities  being  equal  to 
the  latter.  The  tree  is  a  strong  and 
.sturdy  grower,  with  large  leathery  dark 
leaves.  It  is  a  consistent  and  heavy 
bearer  either  in  the  garden  or  the  orchard. 
I  anticipate  a  great  future  for  it,  espe- 
cially as  a  market  fruit.  It  has  received 
the  first-class  certificate  of  the  Rojal 
Horticultural  Society.  Its  season  is 
from  January  to  early  May.  As  The 
Garden  has  a  large  circulation  in 
America  and  Canada  i  predict  it  will  not 
be  long  before  the  great  merits  of  this 
variety  will  be  well  known  and  appre- 
ciated by  the  fruit  growers  of  both 
countries,  and  the  result  in  consequence 
in  due  course  will  be  evident  by 
enormous  sujjplies  of  this  variety  being 
imported  from  these  countries  to  the 
detriment  of  the  half-hearted  grower  in 
Britain,  but  to  the  advantage  of  the  con- 
sumer by  the  consequent  reduction  in  price  of 
certainly  one  of  the  best  late  culinary  Apples 
in  existence  at  the  present  time. 
Golden  Noble. 

A  well-known  cooking  Apple  of  great  merit. 
It  is  of  beautiful  .shape  and  outline,  and,  as  its 
name  indicates,  is  of  a  pure  golden  colour  and 
large  size.  Its  best  season  is  from  November 
to  Christmas ;  still,  I  have  some  specimens 
before  me  in  excellent  condition  at  this  date 
(March  4).  It  is  a  prolific  and  certain  bearer, 
and  much  esteemed  as  a  good  market  sort. 

Owen  Thomas. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editoi't  are  not  responsible  for  the  opinions 
expressed  hy  their  correspondents,  j 

AGAPANTHUS      UMBEL- 
LATUS     ALBUS. 

[To    THE    Editor    of    "The    Garden."] 

SIR, — When  I  ask  advice  on  treatment  of 
plants  with  wliich  I  have  been  uq- 
successful — and  I  never  a«A' advice  unless 
I  mean  to  tal;e  it — I  often  find  myself  in 
the  position  of  the  old  man  in  .l^^sop's 
fable  of  "The  old  man,  his  son,  and  his 
ass," as  it  generally  results  in  a  complete  change  of 
treatment  with  the  advent  of  each  new  adviser. 
In  the  present  case  I  am  sincerely  grateful  for  the 
kind  advice  given  me  by  you  and  your  three 
correspondents  on  the  subject  of  the  Agapanthus 
umbellatus  albus,  but  it  would  liave  been  even  more 
valuable,  if  that  is  possible,  had  the  information  not 
been  irreconcilably  contradictory,  and  the  pieces  of 
advice  diametrically  opposite  the  one  to  tlie  other. 
Information. — Mr.  Fitzherbert  says  its  leaves 
.  .  .  die  naturally  in  the  winter.  Mr.  Allen : 
It  is  not  deciduous.  (N.B. — With  me  it  is  very 
much  deciduous  both  indoors  and  out. ) 

Past  experience. — Mr.  Arnold:  First,  I  brought 
them  to  rest  at  the  end  of  summer  ;  second,  I 
treated  them  to  a  tew  thorough  soakings  during 
the  winter.  (N.B. — Neither  treatment  brougtit 
about  the  desired  eflfect. ) 


APPLE  GOLDEN    NUULE. 


(7he  J'ruil  photiMjraiila'd  uas  : 


inc/n'S  lii'j]i  and  o\  Inches  in  diamcUi') 


Mr.  Fitzherbert  always  found  it  flower  well. 
Mr.  Allen  has  found  it  an  alternate  bloomer. 
(N.B. — With  me  it  has  never  bloomed  at  all.) 

Present  successful  treatment. — Mr.  Arnold  took 
them  out  of  the  ground  and  threw  them  under  a 
close  stage  near  hot  water  pipes  where  it  was 
impos.sible  for  water  to  reach  them  the  whole 
winter.  Mr.  Fitzherbert  keeps  them  in  open 
ground  the  whole  year  in  light  porous  soil  fully 
exposed  to  the  winter  rains,  which  in  South  Devon 
are  usually  heavy.  Mr.  Allen  keeps  them  in  a 
greenhouse  from  which  frost  is  excluded  and  keeps 
them  just  moist  and  thinks  that  drying  off  would 
be  fatal.  (N.B. — I  have  done  all  three.  Result: 
(iood  foliage  but  no  flower.) 

Now,  sir,  it  often  falls  to  mj'  lot  in  the  county 
police  court  to  listen  to  verj'  conflicting  evidence, 
especially  when  two  old  women,  being  neighbours, 
take  out  cross  summonses  against  each  other  for 
assault,  but  it  is  rarely  my  lot  to  come  across  more 
conflicting  evidence  than  the  above,  although  the 
veracity  of  my  advisers,  if  not  on  oath,  is  never- 
theless above  suspicion. 

Are  there  two  species  or  varieties  of  A.  albus  as 
Mr.  Fitzherbert  suggests  ?  Is  one  onlj'  a  variety 
of  the  blue  A.  umbellatus  and  the  other  a  distinct 
species  and  decidxious  ?  Is  it  possible  to  reconcile 
the  opposite  experience  of  these  three  corres- 
pondents? Is  it  possible  that  after  all  the 
Agapanthus  umbellatus  albus  bears  almost  everj' 
treatment  with  equanimit}',  provided  it  likes  the 
soil,  and  that  my  Bagshot  sands,  composed  of 
white  sand,  gravel,  and  heather  peat  are  the 
aggravating  cause  of  mine  not  flowering  ?  Yet  if 
so,  why  should  they  fail  under  pot  treatment  with 
the  accompaniment  of  leaf- mould  and  loam  ?  Can 
you,  Mr.  Editor,  suggest  a  solution? 

Parlcstone,  Dorset.  H.  R.  Dugmore. 

[The  white  Agapanthus  is  deciduous,  or  only 
partially  so,  according  to  the.  amount  of  moisture 
and  warmth  it  receives.  The  accommodating 
nature  of  the  plant  itself  afl'ords  a  "solution,"  in 
which  respect  it  resembles  many  other  garden 
plants.  The  only  surprise  is  supplied  by  our 
correspondent  in  his  failure  to  flower  it. — Eds.] 

THE    BOTHY. 

[To  THE  Editor  or  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Many  young  gardeners  will,  I  am  sure,  be 
glad  of  the  opportunity  now  afforded  them  hy  the 


Editors  of  The  Garden  to  give  their  views  and 
express  their  opinions  concerning  the  bothy.  But 
I  am  afraid  a  good  many  of  their  letters  on  that 
subject  will  have  a  tone  of  dissatisfaction  and 
complaint  running  through  them.  I  dare  say  there 
will  be  more  "airing  of  grievances"  than  con- 
tented expressions,  because  from  my  own  ex- 
perience, and  I  have  now  had  several  years  of 
bothy  life,  I  have  found  that  good  and  comfortable 
bothies  are  few  and  far  between ;  indeed,  some 
bothies  are  little  better  than  hovels.  In  many 
cases  it  is  doubtful  if  owners  of  establishments 
are  aware  of  the  state  of  that  dwelling  called  the 
bothy,  in  which  their  young  gardeners  live.  As  a 
rule,  we  will  put  up  with  much  discomfort  and 
inconvenience  rather  than  complain,  but  if  one 
does  complain  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the 
head  gardener  will  "pooh-pooh"  their  grievances, 
and  then  begin  to  explain  how  he,  in  his  younger 
days,  had  to  rough  it.  The  young  men  then 
complain  no  more,  but  resolve  to  stay  for  a  year, 
or  perhaps  two,  striving  to  deserve  a  good  character 
from,  their  master. 

Allow  me  to  try  to  describe  briefly  a  bothy  I 
once  lived  in.  It  was  situated  on  the  bank  of  a 
large  river,  close  by  where  the  sea  and  river  met. 
It  was  built  of  wood,  and  to  all  outward  appearance 
was  like  a  bungalow,  suitable  for  anyone  who 
wished  to  enjoy  a  few  weeks  there  during  the 
hottest  summer  weather.  There  was  a  wall  3  feet 
high  in  front  as  a  protection  from  the  waves,  but 
when  a  strong  gale  blew  from  the  east,  as  it  did 
once  or  twice  a  year,  the  waves  came  over  the  wall 
and  across  the  floor  of  the  bothy,  leaving  a  deposit 
of  mud,  which  had  to  be  removed  by  means  of 
wheelbarrows.  There  was  no  fireplace — two  badly- 
cracked  stoves,  which  smoked  terribly,  served  the 
purpose.  Many  other  inconveniences  there  also 
were,  which  I  need  not  detail  here.  The  drinking 
water  had  to  be  carried  from  a  spring  about  300 
yards  away.  I  did  not  remain  there  many  weeks. 
The  bothy  of  the  next  garden  I  went  to  was  rather 
better,  although  situated  above  a  stable.  To  reach 
my  room,  which  served  both  as  a  kitchen  and 
bedroom,  I  was  obliged  to  enter  the  stable  and 
climb  a  ladder  to  a  trap-door  above. 

I  have  also  lived  in  one  of  those  large,  airy, 
comfortable  bothies.  It  had  every  modern  con- 
venience save  electric  light,  but  that  class  of  bothy, 
as  a  rule,  has  certain  disadvantages,  if  one  may 


180 


THE^l  GARDEN. 


[March  15,  1902. 


IIKDIiB    or    LAVATERA    TRIMKSTRIS    (TJIK   TREE    MALLOW). 


here  use  the  term.  The  long  working  liours  during 
the  spring  and  summer  months  allow  the  young 
gardener  to  have  practically  no  leisure.  There  are 
certain  unwritten  laws  in  the  workaday  life  of 
the  young  gardener  which  compel  those  who 
wish  to  get  on  to  work  a  great  deal  of  overtime 
without  payment.  He  does  not  care  to  com- 
plain, knowing  that  his  bothy  life  is  comfortable. 
Under  these  conditions,  which  obtain  in  most 
gardens,  it  is  impossible  for  one  to  become  a 
member  of  a  cricket  club  or  to  join  any  athletic 
association,  as  most  young  men  would  like  to. 
£trfo.  G.  C.  J. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden." 
Sir,— The  thanks  of  the  young  gardeners  of 
Britain  are  due  to  the  editors  of  The  Garden  for 
opening  their  columns  to  the  friendly  discussion  of 
this  subject.  The  bothy  and  its  environments, 
whether  of  an  elevating  or  of  a  demoralising 
character,  e.xercise  a  potent  influence  on  the  after 
life  of  the  young  gardener,  affecting  him  as  it  does 
at  a  time  when  he  is  most  susceptible  to  good  or 
evil  influences. 

To  many  of  your  readers  the  experience  of  your 
correspondent  "  S.  P."  given  so  graphically  in  your 
issue  of  the  i'ind  ult.,  will  come  as  an  incredible 
and  certainly  a  painful  surprise.  That  the  case  he 
relates  is  by  no  means  an  isolated  one  I  can  well 
believe,  and,  moreover,  can  attest  to  in  my  own 
experience,  which,  however,  is  now  of  remote  date. 

As  a  youth  I  left  a  delightful  garden  situated 
among  the  mountains  of  my  home,  where  not  only 
every  department  of  the  garden  was  well  looked 
after  and  cared  for,  but  where  the  bothies  were 
the  special  care  of  the  proprietor,  and  where  an 
experienced  woman  was  engaged  to  look  after  the 
cleanliness  and  comforts  of  the  men.  From  thence 
I  was  transferred  by  the  agency  of  a  nurseryman 
in  the  usual  way  to  a  garden  in  the  Midlands  of 
England  for  further  improvement  and  experience 
in  gardening.  Whether  I  obtained  much  of  the 
former  or  not  I  will  not  pretend  to  say  ;  of  the 
latter  I  certainly  had  an  "eye-opener"  as  to  bothy 
accommodation  and  comforts. 

My  first  introduction  to  the  bothy  (which  was 
situated  at  the  extreme  end  of  a  long  row  of  sheds 
abutting  against  the  vinery  walls,  and,  as  usual, 
having  a  north  aspect)  was  through  a  stoke-hole 
centrally  situated  in  these  sheds.     Before  I  could 


reach  the  bothy  I  had  to  grope  through  a  Mush- 
room house,  a  tool  place,  and  another  shed,  and, 
although  it  was  broad  daylight  at  the  time,  a 
candle  had  to  be  provided  to  illumine  the  way 
before  my  new  home  could  be  reached.  To  talk 
of  a  horse-stall  or  a  dog-kennel  in  a  respectable 
establishment  as  compared  to  the  hovel  into  which 
I  was  introduced  would  be  an  insult  to  the  former. 
A  corner  room  not  large  enough  to  swing  a  cat  in, 
w-ith  a  low  lean-to  roof,  one  small  window  in  the 
end  wall,  a  miserable  bed  with  a  conglomeration 
of  clothes — the  sheets  as  black  as  the  black  cover- 
let, a  sink  in  one  corner,  in  another  saucepans  and 
a  few  other  cooking  utensils,  as  well  as  a  mixed 
collection  of  cracked  and  broken  earthenware.  A 
couple  of  benches,  a  fireplace,  and  a  table  com- 
pleted the  outfit  of  this  begrimed,  cramped,  and 
horrible  place.  This  was  the  only  accommodation 
provided  for  two  of  us,  in  which  we  had  to  do  our 
own  cooking,  cleaning,  and  bed  making.  A  woman 
had  not  darkened  the  door  of  that  room  for  years. 

I  will  not  pain  your  readers  by  dwelling  longer 
on  this  sordid  scene.  A  great  improvement  has, 
however,  been  effected  in  this  way  of  late  years, 
the  lead  having  been  given  by  many  of  our  nobility, 
and  notably  so  by  their  Majesties  the  King  and 
Queen  at  Sandringham. 

There  is  always  a  danger  of  leaping  from  one 
extreme  to  another  in  considering  and  deciding  on 
a  remedy  for  such  a  state  of  affairs  as  I  have 
described.  For  my  part,  remembering  as  we  must 
the  humble  homes  from  which  the  ranks  of  the 
garden  army  have  been  and  are  being  recruited,  and 
also  the  comparatively  humble  homes  they  are 
destined  to  occupy  in  service  during  their  future 
lives,  I  think  it  would  be  a  mistake  to  surround 
them  with  too  many  luxuries  and  fancy  conifortsv 
the  influence  of  which  would  certainly  tend  more 
to  indolence  than  to  industry,  self-denial,  and 
study.  Let  their  home  be  situated  in  a  bright 
and  sunny  situation,  let  each  one  if  possible  have  a 
bedroom  to  himself,  a  good-sized  sitting  and 
reading-room  combined,  with  a  good  collection  of 
gardening  books  and  journals,  a  comfortable  room 
in  which  to  have  their  meals,  a  bathroom,  lavatory, 
&c. ,  a  good  kitchen,  and  a  useful,  clean,  and 
motherly  woman  who  can  do  plain  cooking, 
who  will  keep  their  homes  clean  and  tidy  ;  she 
should  enter  on  her  duties  at  seven  in  the  morning, 
clean  up,  cook,  and  lay  dinner,  wash  up,  clear 
dinner  things  away,  lay  tea  ready,  at  the  end  of 


which  time  her  day's  work  should  be 
completed  ;  let  the  young  fellows  clear 
away  and  wash  the  tea  things  them- 
selves, and  also  lay  their  own  supper 
in  turns,  and  clear  away,  but  not  wash 
up  unless  they  like.  The  foreman  gar- 
dener should  have  a  private  room  to 
himself,  as,  being  in  authority  over  his 
subordinates,  it  is  not  well  for  him  to 
be  always  in  contact  with  them.  The 
foreman  should  be  held  responsible  for 
the  way  in  which  the  woman  carries  out 
her  duties,  as  well  as  to  see  that  proper 
order  and  decency  are  observed  by  the 
men.  As  regards  recreation,  a  cricket 
pitch  in  summer  is  much  enjoyed,  and 
in  winter,  if  far  away  from  a  town  and 
from  opportunities  of  study  and  im- 
provement, the  provision  of  a  teacher 
one  evening  a  week  to  give  lessons  in 
drawing,  chemistry,  botany,  land  survey- 
ing, or  such  other  kindred  subjects  likely 
to  be  of  service  to  them  in  after  life  is  a 
kindly  boon  fraught  with  great  possibi- 
lities in  the  future  life  of  the  young 
gardener.  Experientia  Docet. 


STEWING  PEARS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Mr.  Owen  Thomas  in  his  interest-  M 
ing  list  (The  Garden,  February  15)  ^ 
omits  two  excellent  varieties.  These 
two  varieties  deserve  much  attention, 
one  for  earliest  supplies  and  a  new 
late  one,  little  known  but  a  valuable 
introduction.  The  early  variety  is 
CJilogil,  which  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
count  y  is  called  Giles  o"  Gilies,  one  of  the 
earliest  stewing  Pears  grown,  being  in  season  in 
October  and  November.  The  later  one  is  the 
Winter  Orange,  a  variety  recently  given  an  award 
by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  It  was  sent 
out  a  few  seasons  ago  by  Mr.  Notcutt.  It  is  a 
valuable  addition  to  our  late  Pears,  not  unlike 
Verulam  in  appearance,  but  later,  sweeter,  and 
not  at  all  bad  for  dessert  in  March  and  April ;  it 
succeeds  well  in  bush  form,  the  fruits  being  large 
and  very  handsome.  G.  Wythes. 

AGAPANTHUS  UMBELLATUS  ALBUS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — The  correspondence  that  has  appeared  seems 
to  point  to  there  being  two  forms  under  one  name. 
I  give  both  the  blue  and  white  the  same  treatment 
during  summer,  viz.,  stand  them  outdoors  and 
keep  well  supplied  with  water,  but  whereas  the 
blue  form  keeps  perfectly  green  and  remains  so  all 
through  the  winter,  the  white  one  will  die  oft', 
that  is,  the  leaves  turn  yellow  and  die  right  down. 
Then  I  take  it  in  and  keep  it  dry  until  spring. 
I  am  certain,  from  its  different  appearance  and 
behaviour,  that  it  is  not  a  mere  variety  of  the  blue 
form,  but  a  distinct  species  altogether.  If  there  is, 
as  there  appears  to  be,  a  white  variety  of  the-blue 
form,  one  would  expect  it  to  behave  as  Mr.  Allen 
says  it  does  with  him — keep  green  through  the 
winter.  It  would  be  interesting  to  compare  the 
forms  and  note  the  difference  when  in  full  growth 
and  flower.  I  should  say  mine  is  the  white  form 
of  A.  raooreanus. 

Woodaide  Park;  N.  T.  J.  Weaver. 


THE    TREE    MALLOV/. 

Amongst  the  taller  annual  flowers  this  is  one  of 
the  most  beautiful.  The  accompanying  illustration 
represents  a  hedge  of  it  in  full  beauty,  smothered 
with  those  big  pure  rose-coloured  flowers  that  give 
colour  and  beauty  to  the  garden  through  the 
summer  montlis  and  far  into  the  autumn.  It  is  a 
noble  annual  in  ever}'  way,  bold  and  vigorous  in 
growth,  making  a  beautiful  rounded  bush  laden 
with  flowers.  The  most  telling  variety  is  splendens, 
and  there  is  a  white  variety  named  alba.  A 
mixture  of  the  two  is  delightful,  though  some  may 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE    (iAKDEN. 


181 


prefer  each  form  to  show  its  individual  beauty. 
It  is  simply  necessary  to  sow  seed  in  spring  and 
to  thin  out  unsparingly.  The  Tree  JIallow  is 
easily  ruined  by  overcrowding  the  seedlings. 


THE    SIBERIAN    CRAB. 

Pyrus  malus  baccata. 
This  is  a  beautiful  tree,  as  the  accompanying 
illustration  of  one  of  the  specimens  at  Kew 
reveals.  It  is  shapely,  and  in  spring  smothered 
with  white  flowers,  which  give  place  in  autumn 
to  ruddy  fruits.  No  better  lawn  tree  exists, 
and  such  specimens  as  the  one  illustrated  are 
a  delight  tine  whole  year. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Begonia  Gloire  de  Lokraine  and  its  Varieties 
ARE  the  most  desirable  and  charming 
/\  of  winter  flowering  Begonias.    Plants 

/   %         that  were  slightlj'  pruned,  as  previously 
/      %        recommended,  may  have  the  remaining 
y  j^     portions  of  the  old  stem  cut  hard  back 

and  be  placed  in  a  stove  temperature. 
Water  them  sparingly  at  first,  but  gradually  in- 
crease the  supply  as  the  growth  demands,  keeping 
the  plants  syringed  twice  daily.  Cuttings  from  the 
stems  should  not  be  used  for  propagating,  as  they 
never  grow  with  the  same  vigour  as  those  from  the 
base  of  the  old  plant.  This  season  I  shook  out 
and  repotted  half  the  old  stools  kept  for  stock. 
These  are  now  making  the  most  vigorous  growth 
and  will  furnish  the  strongest  and  healthiest  out- 
tnigs.  When  shoots  can  be  obtained  about  3  inches 
or  4  inches  long  they  should  be  inserted  singly  in 
small  pots  filled  with  loam  and  leaf-mould  in  equal 
proportions,  with  plenty  of  silver  sand,  care  being 
taken  that  the  soil  is  made  quite  firm  round  the 
cuttings.  Water  and  place  them  in  a  propagating 
frame  with  a  bottom  heat  of  about  SO",  plunging  the 
pots  to  the  rim  in  coooanut  fibre  and  shading  from 
sunshine.     On  receiving  plants  of  the 

ToRNFORD  Hall  Variety 
I  inserted  three  or  four  dozen  of  the  best  leaves. 
These  1  dibbled  in  with  about  1  inch  of 
stem  in  the  cocoanut  fibre  covering  a 
stage  where  seedling  Cyclamens  are  stand- 
ing. Each  leaf  has  rooted  and  is  now 
making  two  growths  ;  these  I  will  insert 
when  large  enough,  as  they  are  equal  to 
root  cuttings.  This  variety  is  a  splendid 
acquisition,  a  robust  grower  and  profuse 
bloomer.  The  growths  should  never  be 
pinched  at  any  time.  .Should  any  of  the 
plants  be  grown  the  second  year  they 
must  be  repotted  and  the  old  soil  shaken 
from  their  roots,  using  a  compost  ot 
fibrous  loam  three  parts,  leaf-mould  one 
pait,  and  a  quantity  of  sand.  Do  not  pot 
too  firmly  or  the  growth  will  be  stunted. 
Syringe  twice  daily  and  afford  a  little 
shade  on  bright  days  until  the  plants  have 
made  fresh  roots. 

Bouvardias 
that  were  cut  back  are  now  starting  into 
growth  and  producing  shoots  that  will 
form  cuttings.  When  about  2  inches  long 
they  should  be  placed  in  5-inch  pots  in  a 
mi.xture  of  loam,  leaf-soil,  and  sand  in 
equal  parts,  standing  them  in  the  pro- 
pagating frame  as  advised  for  Begonias. 
B.  Humboldtii  corynibiflora  and  B.  jasmi- 
niBora  (sweet-scented)  should  be  shaken 
out  of  the  old  soil  and  repotted,  as  the^- 
flower  more  freely  the  second  year  ;  by 
pinching  at  intervals  I  have  had  them 
in  flower  from  .June  until  Christmas. 

Azaleas. 
When    the    flowers    are    over   remove 
the  seed  vessels  and  thoroughly  sj'ringe 
the  plants  with  a  solution  of  Gishurst's 


Compound  or  some  other  reliable  insecticide 
in  order  to  destroy  thrips  or  red  spider. 
Plants  that  are  getting  thin  and  shabby, 
if  cut  into  shape,  placed  in  warmth  and  kept 
thoroughly  syringed,  will  soon  start  growing  again. 
Large  plants  will  thrive  in  the  same  pots  for  several 
years  if  weak  liquid  manure  is  given  to  them 
occasionally.  Seeds  of  Celosias,  Cockscombs,  and 
Campanula  pyramidalis  may  be  sown  in  pans  filled 
with  light  sandy  soil.  .JoHif  FLEMlNr;. 

Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Slmtgh. 

KITCHEN    GAEDEN. 

Unquestionably  March  is  the  most  important 
month  in  the  whole  year  to  the  kitchen  gardener, 
and  much  depends  on  the  care  and  management 
afibrded  the  vegetables  at  this  season  as  to  the 
ultimate  success  of  the  various  crops. 

Arrears  of  Work. 

If  from  any  cause  work  which  should  have  been 
accomplished  last  month  has  been  delayed,  do  it  at 
once,  whether  it  relates  to  the  preparation  of  the 
ground  or  nursing  on  the  early  crops.  My  advice 
is  never  put  off  till  to- morrow  what  can  and  should 
be  done  to-day,  if  possible. 

The  Here  Border. 

Every  garden  should  contain  a  well-grown  and 
arranged  herb  border.  A  narrow  strip  facing  west 
is  the  most  suitable,  and  so  arrange  it  that  the 
taller  kinds  are  together  at  one  end  and  likewise 
the  perennials  and  annuals.  To  be  successful  in 
their  culture,  replant  about  every  third  year  ;  but 
if  the  ground  is  well  replenished  with  mannre  and 
thoroughly  trenched,  the  same  spot  may  be  utilised 
for  many  years;  the  work  can  safely  be  done  now. 

3Imt  is  the  herb  most  in  demand.  Though  it  will 
in  many  gardens  last  a  number  of  years  without 
being  disturbed  if  a  good  surface  dressing  of  well 
decayed  fine  leaf  soil  and  horse  manure  is  applied,  it 
will  succeed  much  better  when  transplanted  every 
third  or  fourth  year,  but  the  roots  should  never 
become  dry.  The  young  tops,  if  taken  ofl^justas 
they  are  pushing  up,  will  strike  readily  either 
under  a  hand-light  or  in  a  cold  frame,  keeping  it 
close  for  a  few  days. 

Lemon  Thyme. — In  many  places  this  is  not  at  all 
satisfactory,  but  it  is  often  much  in  request.  It 
revels  in  a  well-drained,  porous  soil,  and  will  cause 


little  trouble  if  a  good  dressing  of  road  sand  is  given 
it  annually  ;   it  will  root  freely  into  this. 

Tarragon  does  best  when  taken  up  and  divided 
annually. 

Pot  Marjoram  thrives  in  almost  any  soil,  but 
requires  dividing  to  keep  it  within  bounds. 

Winter  Savory  often  sufiiers  severely  during 
winter,  and  to  maintain  a  supply  it  is  well  to  sow 
a  small  quantity  of  seed  about  every  second  spring 
and  transplant  in  rows. 

Chives  are  much  better  divided  annually. 

Balm  may  be  raised  either  from  cuttings  in  spring 
or  autumn  or  by  sowing  seed. 

Chervil  should  be  sown  at  intervals  during  early 
spring,  summer,  and  autumn  to  secure  a  regular 
supply,  often  much  prized  for  salads. 

Sorrel. — The  large-leaved  variety  is  now  much  in 
demand  in  many  establishments.  This  pays  for  good 
cultivation  ;  it  enjoys  a  deeply-tilled  and  enriched 
soil  and  plenty  of  room.  Sow  in  shallow  drills 
1  foot  apart  and  thin  to  6  inches  between  the 
plants.  It  is  best  sown  during  spring  or  summer 
for  supplies  the  following  year,  but  if  sown  early 
and  well  treated  good  pickings  may  be  made  the 
same  autumn. 

Globe  Artichokes 
which  have  been  well  protected  should  be  relieved 
of  their  material  in  mild  weather,  replacing  it  at 
night  when  frost  is  certain,  so  that  no  undue 
forcing  of  the  growth  is  made.  Suckers  which 
were  potted  up  in  autumn  and  wintered  in  cold 
frames  should  be  hardened  ofl^gradually  by  plunging 
them  under  a  south  wall  preparatory  to  planting 
them  out  early  in  April. 

Potatoes 
may  be  planted  in  small  quantities  in  warm, 
sheltered  parts  of  the  garden,  as  many  as  can 
be  protected  thoroughly  when  the  growth  is  above 
ground,  but  it  will  be  far  better  to  wait  another 
fortnight.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Hovse  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 

FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Strawberries. 
Plantations  of  these  cannot  be  profitably 
retained  after  the  second  year,  the  very  best 
fruit  is  yielded  by  skilfully  managed  plants  the 
first  season  after  being  planted,  whilst  it  is 
also     the     earliest    to    ripen.      An     opportunity 


./.-..wA""'   K 


THE    SIBERIAN    CRAB    (PYRUS    MALtJS    EACOATA). 


THE    GAUDEN. 


[March  15,  1902, 


when  the  soil  is  sufficiently  dry  should  now  be 
taken  to  clear  the  soil  of  weeds  and  the  plants  of 
useless  foliage,  then  make  the  plants  firm  if  they 
were  loosened  by  frost.  Stir  the  surface  soil  and 
top-dress  with  suitable  fertilisers,  such  as  decayed 
manure,  charred  garden  refuse,  enriched  with  soot 
— nrovided  a  dressing  of  bone-meal,  kainit,  or 
something  similar  was  not  afforded  in  the  autumn 
— or  a  quick  acting  artificial  compound.  Liquid 
manures  from  the  farmyard  or  stables  are  valuable 
for  the  Strawberry,  and  may  be  applied  at  the  pre- 
sent time.  We  depend  chiefly  upon  such  manures 
as  stimulants  for  this  fruit  by. giving  periodical 
copious  supplies  of  them  both  during  the  autumn 
and  spring  months.  If  not  already  done  seeds  of 

Alpine  Strawberries 
should  be  now  sown  in  carefully  prepared  pans  of 
fine  soil  placed  in  a  warm  temperature.  Harden 
the  plants  once  they  are  large  enough  to  handle, 
prick  them  out  in  a  cool  frame,  and  subsequently 
plant  them  about  15  inches  apart  in  permanent 
quarters.  Plants  raised  thus  are  much  more  satis- 
factory than  are  those  obtained  from  runners. 

PROTECTiNt:  Blossoms. 

Except  in  very  favourable  situations  it  is  not 
safe  to  risk  leaving  the  blossoms  of  Apricots, 
Nectarines,  and  Peaches  without  protection,  and 
under  many  conditions  it  is  necessary  to  protect 
those  even  of  Pears,  Plums,  Earl3'  Strawberries, 
&c.,  from  frost.  The  first-named,  however,  will 
need  the  first  attention,  and  where  movable 
cojjings  of  any  description  are  employed  (and  these 
it  may  be  remarked  are  admirable  appliances,  in 
that  they  keep  the  flowers  dr^',  and  consequently 
less  likely  to  be  damaged  by  frost)  tliey  should  be 
fixed  in  position  as  soon  as  the  blossoms  begin  to 
open.  Nevertheless,  in  low  l3'ing  situations  these 
are  not  entirely  efficient  protectors.  Frigi  Domo, 
woollen,  or  fish  nettings  should  be  stretched  from 
them  by  means  of  rollers  or  otherwise  to  within 
a  foot  or  so  of  the  soil,  and  kept,  by  the  aid  of  laths 
or  some  other  means,  clear  of  the  trees.  Remove 
these  by  day  if  they  are  made  of  close  material, 
otherwise  air  and  light  will  be  excluded  to  an 
injurious  degree,  and  for  this  reason  alone  loose 
textured  material  is  preferable.  Substitutes  for 
the  above  in  the  form  of  branches  of  evergreen 
trees  or  shrubs  are  sometimes  recommended,  but 
it  is  practically  impossible  to  make  them  secure 
because  of  the  wind. 

Grafting. 

Gardeners  gain  nothing  by  raising  their  own 
trees,  and  may  profitably  leave  this  in  the  hands  of 
nurserymen ;  they,  however,  sometimes  find  it 
desirable  to  regraft  inferior  kinds  of  Apples, 
Pears,  &c. ,  with  approved  varieties,  and  this,  pro- 
vided the  trees  are  young  and  in  other  respects 
satisfactory,  may  often  be  done  with  advan- 
tage, although  it  is  not  advisable  in  this  way 
to  attempt  the  renovation  of  such  trees  as  are 
declining  in  vigour ;  far  better  is  it  to  grub  them  up, 
properly  prepare  the  soil,  and  plant  young  trees. 
The  proper  time  for  grafting  is  when  the  buds 
begin  to  expand  and  the  sap  is  in  motion.  What- 
ever mode  of  grafting  is  adopted  it  should  be 
quickly  done  and  the  air  be  completely  excluded 
from  the  union.  T.  Coomeer. 

The  Haidre.  Gardeim,  Monmouth. 


THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
Sweet  Peas. 
It  is  now  a  good  time  to  sow  these  beautiful  and 
deservedly  popular  flowers.  I  do  not  intend  to 
attempt  an  enumeration  of  the  best  varieties  in 
this  short  note,  but  I  would  advise  the  cultivator 
to  purchase  few  varieties,  and  those  of  the  very 
beat  and  most  distinct  colouring.  I  prefer  growing 
my  seeds  singly  in  "2A-inch  pots,  placing  the  pots 
in  boxes  to  facilitate  moving  them  about.  If 
germinated  in  a  little  heat  they  can  be  immediately 
removed  to  cold  frames,  and  before  the  plants  are 
anything  like  root  -  bound  or  drawn  they  are 
planted  out  in  the  ground  previously  prepared  for 
them  ;  4  inches  to  (i  inches  apart  in  single  line  is 
quite  near  enough  to  plant  them.  In  doing  this 
they  should  be  put  well  into  the  soil,  covering 
the  stem  and  pressing  with  the  feet  all  round  to 


make  them  perfectly  firm.  When  3  inches  or 
4  inches  high  they  are  supported  with  stakes  in 
the  manner  preferred  by  the  cultivator.  By 
removing  the  newly  formed  seed  pods  continually, 
and  at  the  same  time  giving  plenty  of  water  during 
dry  weather,  the  flowering  period  of  the  Sweet 
Pea  is  much  extended.     The  advantage  of 

Sowing  in  Pots 
is  that  the  plants  being  raised  in  frames  are  to  a 
great  extent  exempt  from  the  attacks  of  birds  and 
slugs,  and  a  more  satisfactory  growth  and  an 
absence  of  gaps  in  the  border  are  obtained  with  a 
minimum  of  seeds.  In  a  garden  devoted  exclusively 
to  the  Sweet  Pea  I  have  some  varieties  growing  in 
straight  rows  of  8  feet  to  10  feet  in  length  with 
grass  paths  around  them  allowing  at  least  0  feet 
between  the  rows.  Each  row  is  devoted  exclusively 
to  one  variety.  I  have  also  circular  beds  about 
4  feet  through,  cut  out  in  the  turf,  filled  with 
clumps  which  are  most  effective  both  here  and  in 
the  herbaceous  borders. 

Phlox  Drummondii, 
Scabious,  Antirrhinums,  ten  week  Stocks,  and 
Asters  should  now  be  sown  in  cold  frames.  The 
best  plan  is  to  prepare  beds  of  light  soil  4  inches  or 
.5  inches  deep  in  frames,  make  firm,  and  then  sow 
lightly  in  rows  1  inch  apart.  Atone  time  I  used  to 
make  these  frames  on  hot-beds  of  some  fermenting 
material,  but  I  found  the  residts  not  nearly  so 
satisfactory  as  when  only  ordinary  cold  frames  are 
used.  Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 

Castle  Gardens,  St.  Fagan-s. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


WINDOW    GARDENING. 

IT  may  not  be  inopportune  at  this  time  of 
3'ear  to  call  attention  to  an  aspect  of 
gardening  that  is  in  danger  of  being  greatly 
neglected,  if,  indeed,  not  lost  sight  of 
altogether.  I  refer  to  that  denoted  by  the 
heading  of  these  notes.  The  more  elaborate 
forms  of  gardening  now  occupy  so  much  attention 
that  this  minor,  although  to  many  an  important 
phase,  is  overlooked.  To  those  debarred  by  lack  of 
space  from  arranging  and  planting  those  elaborate 
and  often  remarkably  beautiful  borders  of  her- 
baceous perennials  and  annuals,  window  gardening 
offers  many  attractions.  It  does  not,  by  reason  of 
the  restricted  space  at  command,  lend  itself  to  the 
production  of  those  gorgeous  and  varied  effects 
that  the  extensive  flower  border  does,  yet 
those  with  limited  time  for  gardening  will  find 
in  window  gardening  much  to  interest,  please, 
and  instruct. 

The  window  gardener,  equally  with  the  possessor 
of  extensive  flower  borders,  may  enjoy  the  early 
spring  flowers,  and  in  almost  as  great  variety  as 
his  more  fortunate  neighbour.  Bulbous  plants 
will  grow  equally  well  in  well-drained  boxes  filled 
with  soil  that  is  fairlj'  good  as  in  the  open  border. 
They  may,  indeed,  grow  better,  for  window  boxes 
are  invariably  sheltered  to  a  great  extent,  and  bulbs 
in  the  border  have  sometimes  much  to  contend 
with — insufficient  drainage,  insect  enemies,  in- 
clement weather,  to  which  thej'  are  fully  exposed, 
&c.  The  boxes  should  be  prepared  early,  say,  in 
September,  and  the  bulbs  planted  towards  the 
end  of  that  month.  Such  as  Crocuses,  Snowdrops, 
Winter  Aconite,  Scillas,  Anemones,  and  Irises  are 
best  placed  near  the  edges,  for  they  are  dwarf 
growing.  Tulips  and  Hyacinths  cannot  be  dis- 
pensed with  for  this  purpose,  bat  do  not  plant 
them  in  lines.  .lonquils  and  Daffodils  also  must 
be  made  use  of. 

One  should  endeavour  to  keep  up  a  succession  of 
flowers,  always  have  something  or  other  to  look 
forward  to,  that  is  one  of  the  great  secrets  of  the 
engrossing  nature  of  gardening.  It  is  full  of 
surprises,  and  one  is  kept  on  the  tip-toe  of  expec- 
tation practically  the  whole  year  round.  A  few 
spring  flowers,  such  as  Aubrietias,  Myosotis,  Prim- 
roses, and  Alyssum  should  be  made  use  of,  for 
they  flower  with  the  Tulips  and  Hyacinths,  and 
takeaway  muchof  the  stiffness  and  hardness  that 


witli  some  persons  bring  these  two  bulbous  plants 
into  disfavour.  When  appearing  through  a  carpet 
of  Aubrietia,  Alyssum,  or  Forget-me-not  the  effect 
is  greatly  enhanced. 

The  wealth  of  material  to  choose  from  for 
embellishing  the  window  box  in  summer  is  un- 
bounded, almost  bewildering,  j'et  when  I  say  that 
generally  speaking  three  plants  only  are  made  use 
of,  everyone  will  know  to  which  I  refer — they  are 
Ivy-leaved  and  zonal  Pelargoniums,  Marguerites, 
with  often  an  edging  of  Lobelia.  That  they  are 
extremely  prettj'and  particularly  effective  is  quite 
true,  but  why  endure  the  monotonj'  of  having  all 
your  window  boxes  filled  with  these  three  or  four 
plants  when  j'ou  may  get  equall}'  good  effects  with 
so  many  others.  How  many  of  your  readers  have 
tried  the  culture  of  Carnations  in  window  boxes? 
They  succeed  admirably  well,  flowering  very  freely 
if  they  are  given  stimulants  occasionally.  To 
mention  but  a  few  of  the  dwarf-growing  herbaceous 
plants,  one  could  with  great  advantage  use  Calceo- 
larias, miniature  Sunflowers,  some  of  the  Liliums, 
Heucheras,  Polemoniums,  (4eums,  Michaelmas 
Daisies,  Spanish  Irises,  &c.,  while  of  annuals  one 
might  have  Linums,  Mignonette,  Iceland  Poppies, 
Alyssum,  Anlherais,  Calliopsis,  Candytuft, 
Eschscholtzia,  Larkspur  Malope,  Nemophila, 
Virginian  Stock,  and  a  host  of  others.  Ver- 
bena Ellen  Willmott  is  a  beautiful  flower,  and 
might  with  advantage  be  made  use  of,  and  Violas 
also. 

My  plan,  in  order  to  cause  as  little  labour  as 
possible,  is  to  so  arrange  the  plants  in  the  box 
that  they  may  need  little  disturbance.  The  dwarf- 
growing  bulbs  planted  around  the  edging  may 
remain,  for  they  can  easily  be  covered  with  annuals. 
Put  the  strongest  growing  herbaceous  plants  in 
the  centre  of  the  box  when  the  bulbs  are  planted. 
They  will  commence  to  grow  as  the  bulbs  die 
down  ;  the  spaces  between  the  former  can  be  filled 
with  annuals.  It  is  advisable  to  sow  these  in 
pots  and  plant  the  seedlings  out  afterwards  rather 
than  to  sow  them  directl}'  in  the  boxes.  Those 
who  care  to  have  evergreens  may  plant  a  few 
small  conifers,  Aucubas,  Box,  &c.,  leaving  plenty 
of  room  for  flowering  plants  between. 

A.  P.  H. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 

MESSRS    WEBB  \-  SONS,  WOKDSLEY, 
STOURBRIDGE. 

PRIMULAS,  Cyclamens,  Calceolarias, 
Cinerarias,  Gloxinias,  and  Bsgouias 
during  spring  and  earlj'  summer  make 
a  brave  show  in  the  several  ranges  of 
glass  houses  devoted  to  their  culture 
tor  the  production  of  seed  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  Messrs.  Webb  and  Sons,  Wordsley, 
Stourbridge.  Visitors  to  the  Temple  show  of  the 
Roj'al  Horticultural  Society  and  the  principal 
provincial  exhibitions  will  remember  to  often 
have  seen  the  floral  displays  arranged  by  Messrs. 
Webb,  and  it  is  by  reason  of  the  quantities  of 
plants  grown  in  the  houses  at  Wordsley  that  these 
are  made  possible. 

The  first  of  the  houses  that  one  enters  in  Messrs. 
Webb's  nursery  is  de%oted  to  herbaceous  Calceo- 
larias, and  their  present  appearance  augurs  well 
for  the  flowering  season  in  May.  Many  hundreds 
of  these  are  grown,  and  chiefly  for  the  production 
of  seed.  The  second  glass  house  is  filled  with 
Cinerarias  of  Webb's  strain,  a  strain  that  is  known 
far  and  wide  for  its  excellence.  Undoubtedly  the 
chief  reason  of  the  popularity  of  the  Cineraria  is 
that  its  flowers  range  through  such  wonderful 
shades  of  colour,  and  these  are  splendidly  shown 
in  Messrs.  Webb's  collection.  Even  at  this  early 
season  the  plants  are  making  a  good  display,  while 
the  suecessiijnal  batches  will  provide  flowers  yet 
for  weeks  to  come. 

In  the  third  range  of  houses  we  see  Primulas  in 
great  variety,  and  notice  amongst  them  some  kinds 
raised  by  Messrs.  Webb,  notably  Modesty, 
Purity,  Rosy  Morn,  Eclipse,  and  a  seedling  yet 
unnamed,  in  colour  a  carmine-rose.  A  new  pure 
white  with  Fern-leaved  foliage  undoubtedlj'  has  a 


March  15,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


183 


future.  Gloxinias  fill  the  house  that  next  we 
reach.  Many  of  these  are  now  in  an  early  stage 
of  growth,  while  thousands  are  still  resting.  The 
variety  New  Stanley  sent  out  by  Messrs.  Webb 
was  noticeable  in  large  numbers. 

Cyclamens,  both  of  the  giganteum  type  and 
Webb's  Perfection  strain,  are  accommodated  in  yet 
another  structure,  a  portion  of  which,  devoted  to 
the  new  variety  Webb's  Mont  Blanc,  is  shown  in 
the  accompanying  illustration.  Webb's  Perfection 
strain  of  Cyclamen  has  the  valuable  propertj'  of 
flowering  very  freely.  In  colour  the  blooms  vary 
through  carmine-crimson  and  rub}'  to  pure  white. 
So  great  is  the  demand  for  Glo.xinias  and  also  for 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  build  another  house  for  their  culti- 
vation, this  being  completed  last  year.  The 
numerous  pits  and  frames  near  by  are  devoted  to 
a  great  extent  to  Carnations  and  tuberous-rooted 
Begonias. 

No  less  interesting  than  the  flowers  is  a  brief 
visit  to  Messrs.  Webb's  seed  warehouses  to  see  the 
preparations  for  the  farm  seed  trade  and  the 
vegetable  and  flower  seed  departments,  where  all 
■were  busily  engaged. 


SOCIETIES. 

BRISTOL  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 
Lectdke  on  "Violets." 
The  association  "of  the  Bristol  and  District  Gardeners,  under 
the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  Binlleld,  held  a  record  meeting  at 
St.  John's  Rooms,  on  Thursday  evening,  the  27th  ult.,  when 
Mr.  J.  C.  House,  of  Westbury-on-Trym,  delivered  his  lecture 
on  the  Violet ;  it  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  enjoyable 
evenings  this  society  has  ever  held.  For  this  lecture  the 
Bristol  amateurs  were  invited  to  attend,  and  received  a 
cordial  welcome  from  their  professional  brothers,  and  it  need 
hardly  be  said  the  lecture  given  by  Mr.  House  was  worthy  of 
the  occasion.  That  ilr.  House  has  made  a  special  study  of 
our  Sweet  Violet  cannot  be  denied,  and  it  was  with  manifest 
pleasure  thai  such  a  goodly  number  availed  themselves 
of  the  opportunity  of  listening  to  this  most  practical 
lecture.  The  Violet,  Mr.  House  remarked,  was  deservedly 
one  of  the  popular  flowers  of  the  age,  not  only  for  its 
delicious  perfume,  but  also  because  it  comes  into  bloom 
during  the  dullest  time  of  the  year.  Slany  people,  the 
lecturer  remarked,  were  under  the  impression  that  there 
was  a  deep  secret  concerning  the  cultivation  of  this  gem 
of  the  garden,  which  he  admitted,  but  which  he  said  was 
that  of  attention  to  every  detail  and  in  doing  everything 
needful  well.  A  clear  atmosphere,  suitable  soil  (which  Mr. 
House  described),  and  a  moist  position  were  the  essential 
conditions,  and  providing  all  these  were  complied  with  no 
one  need  hesitate  to  grow  the  Violet,  which  at 
all  times  was  so  much  appreciated.  He  recom- 
mended propagation  by  runners  put  in  during 
the  autumn  in  sandy  soil,  covered  with  a  frame, 
partly  shaded  during  the  first  few  days,  and  if 
possible  facing  south.  Plant  the  roots  out  about 
the  third  week  of  April,  making  the  soil  rtrm 
round  them,  and  keep  them  well  watered  during 
the  summer  months.  The  best  varieties  were 
La  France,  Princess  of  Wales,  California,  and 
Marie  Louise.  The  best  time  for  gathering  the 
flowers  was  in  the  early  morning  or  late  in  the 
evening.  The  lecturer  also  described  several  of 
the  insect  pests  and  diseases  which  the  Violet 
is  subject  to,  also  means  for  prevention  and 
eradication.  A  good  discussion  followed,  and 
Mr.  House  was  asked  several  questions,  to  which 
he  carefully  replied.  On  the  motion  of  Mr. 
Meehan,  president  of  the  Amateur  Association, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Groves,  secretary  of  the 
.Gardeners'  Association,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  to  Mr.  House  for  his  most  able 
and  interesting  lecture.  Prizes  for  two  gentle- 
men's buttonholes  and  a  ladies'  spray  were 
awarded  :  First,  Mr.  Arthur  Baker  (gardener, 
Mr.  Orchard) ;  second,  Mr.  J.  C.  Orodwin 
(gardener,  Mr.  McCuUoch),  the  prizes  being 
given  by  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Winslade.  Cer- 
tificates of  merit  went  to  Mr.  Gilbert  Howes 
(gardener,  Mr.  White),  for  Platyclinis  glumacea : 
Mr.  E.  B.  James  (gardener,  Mr.  Clarke),  for  two 
Cyclamen  ;  Mr.  C.  Bruce  Coles  (gardener,  Mr. 
Lee),  for  Dendrobium  nobile  ;  Lady  Cane  (gar- 
dener, Mr.  Poole),  for  a  collection  of  cut 
specimens  of  evergreen  shrubs  and  conifers, 
and  to  Messrs.  Garaway  and  Co.,  for  a  new 
double-flowering  Peach. 


the  various  reriHirements  hints  were  given  how  to  help  so 
that  the  highest  results  would  be  derived.  The  subject 
was  one  that  was  strongly  recommended  to  the  younger 
members  of  the  society,  for  to  have  a  sound  knowledge  of  the 
structure  and  component  parts  of  the  plant  was  greatly  in 
favour  of  more  successful  cultivation.  As  usual,  a  capital 
discussion  followed  the  admirable  lecture,  in  which  Messrs. 
R.  Todd,  John  Stoney,  T.  Carling,  .Josejih  .Stoney,  H.  Skinner, 
and  R.  G.  Waterman  took  part.  In  reply  to  a  cordial  vote 
of  thanks,  the  lecturer  admitted  that  he  had  some  mis- 
givings in  submitting  his  paper  to  a  society  which  had  a 
library  of  ISC'  volumes;  this  was  a  matter  that  should  he 
highly  prized  by  gardeners  in  the  district.  A  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  chairman  concluded  the  proceedings. 


NATIONAL  CARNATION  AND  PICOTEE  SOCIETY. 
(SocTHERs  Section.) 

ANSU.iL   REPOKT    for    1901. 

We  make  the  following  extracts  ;—  "  Your  committee  have 
much  pleasure  in  submitting  the  twenty-flfth  annual  report, 
and  in  doing  so  congratulate  the  members  upon  the  satis- 
factory position  of  the  society.  It  will  be  within  the 
recollection  of  members  that  the  show  for  the  current  year 
was  held  under  very  unfavourable  circumstances.  The 
great  heat  experienced  for  some  time  previous,  and  on 
the  day  of  the  show,  very  materially  affected  the  flowers, 
bringing  them  into  bloom  before  proper  development  had 
taken  place,  with  the  usual  result  that  many  blooms  col- 
lapsed in  the  course  of  preparation  for  the  exhibition  tables. 
Hcjwever,  in  spite  of  these  rtifliculties  e.xhibitors  did  their 
best  and  succeeded  in  makiug  the  exhibition  a  very  success- 
ful one.  New  flowers  were  not  so  much  in  evidence  as  on 
many  former  occasions. 

"  Your  committee  desire  to  draw  the  attention  of  members 
to  the  fact  that  thee.xhibitionfor  19IJ2  will  take  place,  under 
"■-    auspices    of     the    Royal    Horticultural     Society 


the 


the 
Tuesday,  July  -22,  19ij2,  in  the  Drill  Hall  of  the  London 
Scottish  Volunteers,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street,  West- 
minster. The  council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
contribute  £10  towards  the  prize  fund  and  free  passes  to  the 
members.  For  the  past  four  years  the  exhibitions  have 
taken  place  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  .Sydenham,  the  Crystal 
Palace  Company  very  generously  contributing  each  year 
£60  to  the  prize  fund.  This  liberal  donation  they  are  unable 
to  continue,  but  most  kindly  offered  twenty  guineas. 
However,  considering  the  difficulties  experienced  by  mem- 
bers in  getting  to  the  Crystal  Palace,  your  committee 
decided  to  accept  the  offer  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society. 

"  Your  committee  desire  to  call  the  attention  of  members 
to  the  report  of  the  president  of  the  society  upon  the 
lesult  of  the  experiments  so  ably  carried  out  by  him 
in  his  gardens  at  Hayes,  Kent.  These  experiments 
must  have  entailed  very  considerable  personal  labour, 
and  the  care  and  attention  bestowed  upon  it  by  the  president 
deserve  the  warmest  thanks  of  every  member  of  the  society. 
These  reports  are  very  valuable  and  of  great  assistance  to 
the  members.  To  Mr.  H.  H.  Cousins,  late  of  the  Wye 
.Agricultural  College,  who  very  kindly  arranged  the  course  of 
these  experiments,  your  committee  offer  their  best  thanks. 
Your  committee  have  deemed  it  necessary  to  somewhat 
curtail  the  number  of  prizes  offered  in  the  schedule  for  1902. 


This  was  rendered  necessary  by  the  loss  of  the  £50  from  the 
Crystal  P.ilace  Company  and  more  members  than  usual 
leaving  the  society  during  the  past  year. 

"  Your  committee  would  earnestly  call  upon  members  of  the 
society  to  recognise  the  onerous  duties  of  the  hon.  treasurer, 
and  to  lighten  them  as  far  as  it  lies  in  their  power,  by 
replyuig  promptly  to  Mr.  Henwood's  application  for  sub- 
scriptions to  tlie  society  when  due,  if  only  by  an  intimation 
of  their  desire  to  resign  membership." 


UNITED  HORTICULTURAL  BENEFIT  AND  PROVIDENT 

SOCIETY. 
The  annual  geuerol  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  on 
Monday  evening  last  at  the  Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi 
Terrace,  Strand.  Mr.  Herbert  J.  Cutbush  presided  over  an 
attendance  of  thirty-one.  The  minutes  of  the  last  general 
meeting  havmg  been  read  and  conflrmed,  the  secretary  read 

'^  Report  for  1901. 

"  In  presenting  its  report  for  the  year  ending  January  13, 
1902,  the  committee  is  gratified  to  be  able  to  announce  that 
the  society  is  in  a  thoroughly  sound  position  tinaiicially.  The 
investments  have  increased  materially  during  the  year,  and 
the  number  of  members  is  far  larger  than  on  aov  previous 
occasion.  .At  the  meeting  following  the  annual  general  meet- 
ing, the  committee  resolved  to  elect  a  chairnran  and  vice- 
chairman  of  committee  annually,  instead  of  voting  a 
member  to  the  chair  at  eaeh  meeting.  Putting  this  resolu- 
tion into  effect,  the  committee  unanimously  elected  Mr. 
Charles  H.  Curtis  as  its  first  chairman,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Winter  as  its  first  vice-chairman.  A  new  edition  of  the 
society's  rules  became  necessaiy  during  the  year,  and  has 
been  published. 

"For  the  fourth  successive  year  eighty-three  new  members 
have  been  admitted  to  the  society,  a  number  that  has  not 
hitherto  been  exceeded.  The  committee  hopes,  however, 
that  during  the  ensuing  year  members  will  do  their  utmost 
to  place  1  lefore  the  young  gardeners  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  the  many  advantages  and  benefits  of  the  society,  and 
thereby  secure  a  still  larger  increase  of  membership.  It  was 
the  painful  duty  of  the  committee  to  refuse  admission  to  two 
candidates  at  i*s  last  meeting  of  the  year,  as  Ijuth  were  a 
few  days  over  the  age  limit.  During  the  year,  twenty-four 
members  have  lapsed,  and  two  have  died,  so  that  now  the 
number  of  subscribing  members  is  904,  an  advance  of  fifty- 
three  for  the  year.  Subscriptions  and  arrears  to  benefit 
fund  amounted  to  tl,440  12s.  lOd.,  and  the  total  disbursed 
as  sick  pay  was  £307  IBs.,  a  shght  advance  on  the  amount 
paid  out  in  1900,  but  met  by  deductions  of  ss.  4d.  and  Ss.  Gd. 
respectively  on  the  two  scales.  Only  seventy-seven  members 
received  sick  pay ;  but  the  average  duration  of  illness  was 
greater  than  in  the  previous  year.  The  total  balance  standing 
to  the  account  of  the  benefit  fund  is  now  .£l4,7ti4  Os.  Id. 

"The  benevolent  fund  has  afforded  assistance  to  eight 
members,  the  total  amount  paid  out  being  £107  7s.,  an 
increase  of  £25  7s.  on  the  sum  paid  in  1910,  but  not  nearly 
So  large  an  increase  as  was  the  amount  paid  out  in  190U 
(£S2)  upon  the  sum  disbursed  in  1S99  (£35  ,5s.  «d.)  The 
committee  has  had  the  whole  subject  of  the  benevolent 
fund  under  consideration,  but  at  present  it  has  no  proposition 
to  make  to  the  members  regarding  it.  From  the  convalescent 
fund  the  sum  of  £0  lOs.  has  been  paid,  divided  among  five 
members.  For  donations  to  this  fund  the  committee  desire 
to  thank  both  honorary  and  benefit  members. 


WOOLTON  GARDENERS'  SOCIETY'. 
The  concluding  meeting  of  this  winter's  series 
of  the  above  was  held  on  Thurday,  the  6th 
inst.,  at  the  Mechanics'  Institute,  Mr.  G.  Haigh 
occupying  the  chair.  The  subject  for  considera- 
tion was  "Plant  Life,"  and  was  introduced  by 
Mr.  J.  Benson,  of  Bebington,  in  a  very  able 
manner,  commencing  with  the  seed.  The  various 
details  of  the  structure  of  the  plant  were  fully 
described,  with  the  functions  appertaining  to 
the  root,  stem,  buds,  leaves,  and  flowers.    Wiih 


PERSIAN   CYCLAMEXS  IN   MESSRS.    WEEE   AND   SONS'   NURSERY 


184 


THE    GAllDEN. 


[Makch  15,  1902. 


■Mill  C)ciuliei  ',' ihe  suuieiy  lieUI  its  uiiiuial  iliiiiiei-  at  the 
Hnlljorn  Restauiant,  when  l(i5  members  and  friends  attended. 
The  chairman  on  this  occasion  was  Peter  Kay,  Es(!.,  V.M.H., 
who  not  only  made  an  able  president,  but  also  liberally 
assisted  the  committee  in  carrying  out  the  arrangements  for 
this  function.  To  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  and  Son,  J.  Laing  and 
Sons,  H.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Wm.  Thomson  and  Son,  P.  Kay, 
Kiley  Snott,  Robinson,  and  others  the  thanks  of  the  com- 
mittee are  due,  and  hereby  tendered  for  their  gifts  of 
flowers  and  fiuits.  The  committee  has  much  pleasure  in 
stating  that  Arthur  W.  Sutton,  Esq.,  V.M.H.,  has  kindly 
promised  to  preside  at  the  annual  dinner  of  li^)ii2. 

"The  committee  also  wish  to  express  their  gratitude  to  the 
htirticultural  press  for  services  so  ably  rendered  the  society 
in  various  ways  during  the  year. 

"In  conclusion,  the  committee  would  urge  each  member  to 
take  a  deeper  active  interest  in  the  advancement  of  the 
society,  and  by  the  exertion  of  personal  inlluenee  to  secure 
new  members,  so  that  the  record  of  the  Coronation  year 
may  surpass  that  of  all  previous  years,  and  the  membership 
of  the  society  be  raised  to  at  leastone  thousand.  " 

The  Chairman  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report  and 
balance-sheet.  In  doing  so  he  referred  to  the  advantages 
of  the  society,  which  were  more  than  those  of  any  similar 
society  in  the  kingdom,  and  enumerated  them  at  some  length. 
He  would  urge  young  men  to  join,  and  hoped  all  would  try 
and  obtain  fresh  members.  Theie  were  only  fifty  honorary 
memljers  of  the  society,  a  number  the  chairman  thought 
ought  to  be  increased  ;  be  would  certainly  do  his  best  to 
bring  this  about. 

Jlr.  .1-  F.  Heal  seconded  the  adoption,  which  was  carried 
unanimously.  Three  thousand  copies  were  circulated,  ilr. 
Humphreys  proposed  that  Messrs.  Peerless,  Hurge,  Taylor, 
and  Stanbridge  lie  re-elected  members  of  committee.  This 
was  seconded  by  Mr.  .1.  Hudson,  who  referred  tothe  excellent 
average  attendance,  and  carried  unanimously. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  J.  Hudson,  ■\rho  has  lieen  treasurer 
of  the  society  for  tuenty-une  years,  was  proposed,  seconded, 
ami  heartily  supported  by  several  speakers.  Mr.  Hudson, 
in  replying,  said  he  would  much  like  to  complete  the  twenty- 
live  years  treasurership,  but  thought  then  that  someone  else 
should  take  over  the  duties. 

Mr.  H,  J.  Cutbush  proposed  the  re-election  of  Mr.  Colhns  as 
secretary,  and  testified  to  the  thorough  manner  in  which  he 
worked.  Mr.  Wheeler  seconded  this  proposition,  which  was 
carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Dick  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  trustees, 
Messrs.  J.  and  (_i.  Wheeler  and  Riley  Scott  ;  Mr.  A.  Hemsley 
seconded  this  motion,  whicli  all  supported. 

5Ir,  C.  U.  Curtis  proposed  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Sir. 
Cutbush  for  presiding. 


ROYAL   HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  exhibition  of  plants,  flowers,  and  fruit  at  the  Drill  Hall 
on  Tuesday  last  was  a  delightful  one,  but  it  could  hardly 
have  been  held  under  more  unfavourable  conditions.  A 
dense  fog  prevailed  outside,  which  necessitated  the  hall 
being  lighted  to  enable  one  to  distinguish  the  flowers  at  all. 
Forced  plants,  hardy  flowers  in  great  variety,  Cyclamens, 
Primulas,  Ort^hids,  and  fruit  were  shown  in  i|uantity ; 
in  fact,  the  display  was  a  lepresentative  one. 

Oncmii  CuM-MlTTKE. 

Present  :  Messrs.  Harry  J.  Veitch  (chairman),  James 
O  Brien,  de  R  Crawshay,  H.  M.  Pnllett,  H.  Ballantine, 
James  Douglas.  John  Cypher,  Frank  A.  itehder,  X.  F. 
Bilnev,  H.  t.  Pitt.  W.  H.  Young,  H.  .1.  Chapman,  F.  \Y. 
Ashton,  W.  H.  White,  W.  P.oxall,  Thos.  Bond,  W.  Thompson, 
C.  Wilson  Potter,  H.  A.  Tracy,  H.  Little,  and  J.  G.  Fowler. 

Messrs.  F.  Sander  and  Sous,  St.  Albans,  displayed  a  group 
of  plants  of  Phaius,  all  of  which  were  grown  in  Belgian 
leaf-mould,  and  a  year  ago  were  all  small  plants  in  3-inch 
pots.  Now  they  are  well-developed  specimens  in  S-inch  and 
l(i-inch  pots,  each  bearing  a  strong  raceme  of  flowers- 
excellent  testimony  to  this  fresh  compost.  Besides  the 
Phaius  were  Cymbidiunis  and  several  La?lio-(-'attleyas.  Silver 
Flora  medal. 

Jlessrs.  Stanlej,  Ashton  and  Co.,  Southgate,  N.,  exhibiteda 
miscellaneous  and  interesting  group  of  Orchids.  In  the 
centre  was  a  splendid  plant  of  Cymbidium  lowiannm,  wliilst 
those  on  either  side  of  it  included  Cymbidium  ebuineo- 
lowianum  var.  inversum,  Ladia  harpophylla,  Lycaste 
Skinnerialba,  Odontoglossum  tri umphans,0, Rossi  rubescens, 
.0.  Insleayi,  Dendrobium  Ainsworthi,  Osidge  variety,  and  0. 
liisleaji.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

Mr.  James  Cypher,  t^'ueen's  Road,  Cheltenham,  showed  an 
excellent  lot  of  Dendrobiums,  together  with  a  few  Cypri- 
pediums.  Particularly  fine  were  D.  nobile  majus,  D  n. 
noliilius,  D.  rubens  magnifica,  D.  Ainsworthi,  Cyphers 
variety,  D.  Euryalus  Apollo  album,  D.  nobile  Fischerii,  D.  n. 
murrhinianuni.  ttc.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

Frank  A.  Rehdei",  Esq.,  The  Avenue,  Gipsy  Hill  (gardener, 
Mr.  R.  Noi'ris),  displayed  a  small  group  of  Dendrobiums,  con- 
sisting of  plants  bearing  a  remarkable  <|uantity  of  bloom. 
Silver  Flo  a  medal, 

Messrs.  James  Yeitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  exhibited 
several  remai-kably  fine  hybrids.  One,  Lidiadigbyano  pnrpu- 
rata  King  Edward  \TI.,  a  remarkable  flower,  obtained  a 
first  -  class  certificate,  and  will  be  described  elsewhere. 
L.clia  digbyano  purpurata,  L.-C.  Pallas,  L.-C.  Antimacbus 
Cicnea,  L;clia-Cattleya  Myra  var.,  Cypripedium  Euryades 
splendens,  Dendrobium  wiganianum  were  included  in  this 
exhibit.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford,  Dorking  (Orchid 
grower,  Mr.  White),  exhibited  several  Dendrobiums,  includ- 
ing linely-rtowered  plants  of  D.  barbatulum,  D,  nobile 
elegans,  D.  niclanodiscus  Rainbow,  D.  n.  ballianum,  D. 
Rolfic,  tfcc.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

F.  AYellesley,  Esq.,  Westfleld  Common,  AVoking  (gardener, 
Mr.  F.  Gill)ert),  showed  Lrelio-Cattleya  gottoiana  Westfield 
Tar.,  LtL'lia  jongheana  rosea,  &c. 

Odontoglossum  crisjium  Lindeni  was  shown  by  A.  War- 
hentin,  Esq.,  Dine  House,  Harlingden. 

Lrclio-Cattleya  lucasiana,   a  fine  deeply-coloured   flower, 


was  sent  by  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  aud  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park, 
Enfield.  Cattleya  lahiata  flammea  and  Liclia  tenebrosa 
were  the  parents. 

Masdevallia  minuta,  exhibited  by  R.  J.  Measures,  Esq., 
Cambridge  Lodge,  S.E.  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman),  was 
given  a  botanical  certificate. 

Baron  Schrteder,  The  Dell  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  Ballantine), 
sent  Odontoglossum  crispum  truttautianum. 

Dendrobium  wiganianum  Gatton  Park  var.  was  sent  Ipy 
Jeremiah  Colman,^Esq.,  Gatton  Park,  Reigate. 

H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill  (gardener,  Mr.  F.  W. 
Thurgood),  showed  Odontoglossum  excellens  Rosslyn  var. 

G.  Singer,  Esij.,  Goundou  »_'ourt,  Coventry  (gardener.  Jlr. 
J.  Collier),  exhibited  a  small  group  of  Orchids  that  included 
Cattleya  Triana^  alba  lioundon  Court  var.,  Cattleya  Triauic 
Theodora,  Cypripedium  Olivia,  &c.     Vote  of  thanks. 

Cattleya  Triamc  rulna  Coundon  Court  var..  from  G. 
Singer,  Esq.  ;  odontoglossum  Halli  leucoglossum  Rosslyn 
variety,  from  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.  ;  Dendrobium  Aspasia  var. 
superba  and  I>.  splendidissimum  var.  Mrs.  Haywood,  from 
ilrs.  Haywood,  Woodhatch  Lodge,  Reigate  (gardener,  Mr. 
C.  J.  Salter),  were  also  shown. 

Fruit  Committee. 

Present :  Messrs.  Joseph  Cheal  (chairman),  W.  Bates,  S. 
Mortimer,  A.  Dean,  H.  J.  Wright,  E.  Beckett,  Wm.  Fyfe,  H. 
Markham,  J  Willard,  James  H.  \'eitch.  W.  H.  Divers,  W. 
Poupart,  M.  Gleeson,  and  G.  T.  Miles. 

Mr.  W.  Taylor,  Osborn  Nursery,  Hampton,  Middlesex, 
exhibited  a  small  collection  of  Apples  and  Pears.  The  fruits 
were  of  good  size,  and  very  highly  coloured.  Annie  Elizabetli, 
Bismarck,  Blenheim  Orange,  Pears  Uvedale  St.  Germain  and 
Catillac  were  of  the  best.  "  Silver  Knightian  medal. 

Mr.  Wm.  Fyfe,  Lockinge  Park  Gardens,  \Vantage,  exhibited 
a  collection  of  splendid  Onions  in  six  varieties— Aristocrat, 
Veitchs  Main  Crop,  Ailsa  Craig,  Tankard,  Cranston's 
Excelsior,  and  Opponent.     Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  Ward,  shodon,  Hereford,  exhibited  a  fruit  supposed 
to  be  a  hybrid  between  an  Apple  and  a  Pear.  In  colour, 
taste,  and  appearance  of  the  eye,  and  that  part  around  the 
latter,  it  resembles  an  Apple,  yet  the  general  shape  of  the 
fruit  and  the  shoots  proclaim  the  Pear. 

Dr.  Broughton  Addy,  Pexubury  Court.  Kent,  sent  a  dish  of 
Pears  for  name,  but  the  committee  were  unable  to  identify 
the  fruits. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Divers,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardens  sent  dishes  of 
Pears  Court  Queue,  Nee  Plus  ileuris,  and  Apple  Scarlet 
Nonpareil. 

Mr.  Wm.  Fyfe,  Lockinge  Gardens,  Berks,  sent  a  dish  of 
Apples  for  name  ;  bright,  clean,  firm  fruits,  but  no  name  was 
given. 

W.  Boyes,  Esq.,  .iti,  Durtield  Road,  Derby,  sent  Apple  Kirk 
Langley  Pippin. 

Floral  committee. 

Present :  ilr.  W.  Marshall  (chairman),  Messrs.  George 
Nicholson,  H.  B.  May,  James  AValker,  R.  Dean,  J.  W.  Barr, 
G.  Reuthe,  J.  F.  McLeod,  Chas.  E.  Pearson,  R.  C.  Notcutt, 
E.  T.  Cook,  W.  Howe,  J.  Fraser,  Chas.  Dixon,  H.  J.  Cutbush, 
C  J.  SalLbr,  Charles  Jetferies,  J.  A.  Nix,  Charles  E.  Shea, 
R.  W.  Wallace,  ^V.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  W.  J. 
James.  H.  J.  Jones,  George  Paul,  and  Harry  Turner. 

The  groups  of  forced  shrubs  wei  e  worth  going  a  long  journey 
to  see.  The  most  striking  was  that  from  Messrs.  William 
Paul  and  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  and,  composed  of-  highly 
effective,  well-flowered  examples  thioughout,  made  a  most 
striking  display.  The  most  conspicuous  were  the  bush- 
grown  as  opposed  to  the  standard,  and,  thertt'orc,  more 
restricted  examples  of  the  former,  such  as  the  double- 
flowered  Almond,  the  double  white  and  double  crimson 
Peaches  were  beautiful  in  ilie  extreme,  the  long  rods  so 
profusely  laden  with  flowers  rendered  the  plants  (]uite 
ideal  objects  for  decoration.  Indeed,  it  is  not  easy  to 
describe  the  exceeding  beauty  of  these  things  so  light  and 
delicate  in  the  solter  touches  of  colour  and  so  strikingly 
eftective  in  the  bolder  self  tones.  Prunus  triloba  was  very 
abundant,  and  not  less  so  Pyrus  myrobalana  rosea  plena, 
which  has  deep  pink  flowers  in  profusion.  The  ever-welcome 
Foisytbia  suspensa,  overtrading  other  things,  was  good,  and 
we  were  also  charmed  with  the  white  Clematis  inuivisa 
lobala  and  Magnolia  conspicua.    Silver-gilt  FhUM  medal. 

Beside  this  was  another  beautiful  group  from  Messrs. 
Cutbush  and  Sons,  Highgate.  Here,  in  addition  to  many 
things  named  in  the  first  group,  we  noted  Pyrus  Mains 
Scheideckeri,  a  full  pmk  flower,  and  many  other  things.  The 
group  was  margined  with  the  variegated  Ophiopogon. 
Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal. 

Yet  another  display  came  from  Messrs.  R.  and  G. 
Cuthbert,  Southgate,  and  here  again  were  many  Azalea 
mollis,  handsome  bushes  nearly  :J  feet  across  and  loaded 
with  flowers,  the  well  known  ^■iburnum  f)pulus,  single  and 
double  Lilacs,  Laburnum  Vossii,  and  Kalniia  latifoiia  full 
of  buds  and  blossoms  of  a  most  extiuisite  kind,  many  Palms 
forming  a  background,  and  Acers  and  Sandiucus  racemosa 
plumosa  auiea  were  grouped  amongst  the  taller  flowering 
plants  to  good  ettccl.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  filled  one  corner 
with  giant  Palms,  forming  a  canopy  to  masses  of  the  Rose 
Crimson  Rambler,  Genista,  and  other  things:  while  in 
another  position  a  large  piece  of  tabling  was  filled  with  well 
grown  Cyclamens  of  the  Papilio  group  in  colours,  Acacia 
Druramondi,  Boronias,  Schizanthus  wisetonensis,  aud  Mal- 
maison  Carnations.    Sdver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Veitch  had  an  excellent  collection  of  Imanto- 
phyllums,  mostly  seedling  forms,  and  all  of  much  merit  and 
finely  grown.  \'ery  beautiful  was  the  somewhat  new  Loro- 
petalura  chinense,  a  plant  of  shrubby  growth,  bearing  pro- 
fusely axillary  clusters  of  white  flowers,  the  segments  dis- 
tinctly immerous,  about  lA  inches  long,  and  tiuite  linear. 

Two  Azaleas  apparently  of  the  araiena  type  were  named 
Carminata  splendens  and  Illuminator,  the  last  a  large 
and  showy  kind  A  nice  group  of  Shortia  galacifolia  was 
also  shown.  In  another  direction  a  group  of  Cinerarias  was 
of  two  kinds,  Feltham  Beauty  and  Ramosa  ;  both  are  single, 
and  have  purple  shaded  flowers  of  difi'erent  tones.  Silver 
Flora  medal. 


An  exhibit  that  attracted  no  little  attention  was  com- 
posed of  Rose  Fortune's  Y'ellow,  arranged  in  a  pyramidal 
setting  on  a  frame  or  stand  of  'd  feet  high  or  so.  The 
beautiful  colouring  of  this  Rose  was  more  intense  than 
usual.  The  group  was  shown  by  Lady  Wantage,  Lockinge 
Park  (gardener,  5Ir.  Fyfe). 

Messrs.  J.  Laing  and  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  had  a  gi'oup  of 
useful  plants,  such  as  Dracronas.  Cyclamens,  Pandanus, 
Azaleas,  Anthuriums,  well  fruited  Orange  trees,  the  yellow 
Calla,  and  small  plants  of  well-flowered  Camellias.  One  of 
these,  a  single  pure  white  kind,  was  noteworthy  by  reason  of 
its  purity  and  good  petal. 

F.  A.  Bevan,  Esci.,  Trent  Park,  Barnet  (gardener,  Mr.  H. 
Parr),  had  a  displny  of  seedling  Amaryllis  in  a  setting  of 
Primula  stellata,  the  former  of  the  red  shades  and  very 
showy.  Near  by  was  arranged  a  notable  lot  of  Cyclamen, 
planis  that  were  masterpieces  of  fine  culture.  The  varieties 
consisted  of  pure  white  selfs,  white  with  crimson  base,  pink 
in  two  shades,  distinct  from  each  other,  and  by  no  means 
least  a  remarkable  flower  of  an  intense  yet  dusky  glow  of 
crimson-lake,  a  wonderful  shade.  The  plants  were  all  large 
and  old,  some  indeed  four  years,  others  seven  years,  and 
some  more  yet  with  flowers  2  inches  long  at  least.  Some 
of  the  plants  were  shown  at  the  Birmingham  Chrysanthemum 
show  in  November,  and  now  they  carry  8ii  or  IdO  blooms 
each,  fully  open  and  perfect  in  every  way.  The  dark  variety 
alluded  to  above  had  at  least  150  flowers  open,  and  tliere 
were  many  still  to  follow.  The  plants  were  in  7-inch  pots, 
but  had  a  spread  of  leafage  to  quite  18  inches  diameter. 
These  fine  plants  came  from  Colonel  Rogers,  Burgess  Hill, 
Sussex  (gardener,  51r.  C.  Murrell),  and  deservedly  obtained  a 
silver  Flora  medal. 

■Messrs.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley,  had  a  large  dis- 
display  of  Cinerarias  in  great  variety  of  colour  and  well 
grown.  The  flowers,  too,  in  their  several  shades  were  highly 
meritorious  and  well  defined.  Cyclamens,  also,  of  which 
there  were  some  100  fine  plants,  were  in  excellent  condition. 
Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Paul  and  Son,  Old  Nurseries,  Clieshunt,  had  a 
charndng  display  of  white  Camellias,  mostly  of  the  variety 
alba  plena,  the  fine  double  Cherry  J.  H.  Veitch,  and  many 
rots  of  Lachenalia,  such  as  luteola,  aurea  chrysantha, 
Nelsoni,  and  Little  Beauty.     Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Hardy  plants  were  again  numerous,  though  novelties  were 
not  abundant. 

Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Colchester,  had  many  beautiful 
Irises,  sucli  as  I.  reticulata,  I.  histrioides,  Krelagei. 
Danfordiie,  a  pretty  yellow  kind,  together  with  Leucojums, 
Bulbocodium  vernum,  Fritillaria  aurea,  white  Siberian 
Scilla,  and  such  Narcissi  as  Cernuus,  Horsfieldi,  and  others. 
The  plants  were  much  adiuired.     Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  Barr  and  S<.n  had  beautiful  masses  of  Saxifraga 
oppo&itifolia,  S.  apiculata,  S.  Boydi,  quite  a  display  of 
Narcissi,  Cyclamens,  and  such  good  things  as  N.  calathemis, 
N.  triandrus  pulchellus,  &c.  There  were  fine  masses,  too, 
of  all  the  Hepaticas,  these  being  shown  in  baskets  2  feet 
across.  Iris  orchioides  and  I.  persica  Hansknacti,  a  dusky 
looking  flower,  were  also  noteworthy.  Beside  these  theie 
were  many  bunches  of  forced  Narcissus.  The  very  rare 
Tulipa  clusiana  alba  was  also  shown.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

ilessrs.  Cutbush  also  had  baskets  filled  with  Hepaticaa 
in  flower,  pink,  red,  white,  blue,  and  all  very  beautiful. 

Messrs.  Jackman  and  Sons,  Woking,  had  a  very  pretty 
lot  tastefully  arranged,  and  including  not  a  few  choice 
Alpines.  In  these  we  noted  a  new  Fritillaria,  F,  Zagriga,  a 
cuiious  and  distinct  kind.  Polygala  chamicbuxus  purpurea, 
Lithospeinnnu  canescehs,  golden-orange  ;  Saxifraga  Boydi 
alba,  S.  ojjpositifolia.  Primula denticulata alba.  P.vertieillata, 
P.  frondosii,  Epigiearepens,  some  giant  rosettes  of  Ramondia, 
and  Cypripedium  Calceolus.      Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  John  ^Vatere^,  Bagshol,  Surrey,  showed  a  group  of 
medium  size  shrubs  and  conifers,  such  as  Retincsporas, 
Junipers,  and  a  splendid  group  of  Andromeda  japonica  in 
full  bloom.     Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Limited,  Feltham,  had  many  fine 
masses  of  Hepatica  and  Saxifraga  burseriana  in  baskets. 
Shortia  galacifolia  was  very  pleasing,  and  so  too  the  Primulas 
in  vaiiely,  and  other  spring  flowers.  Bronze  Banksian 
medal. 

A  very  distinct  Fritillaiia  sp.  wassiiown  by  Miss  Willraott, 
and  an  Iris  sp.,  which  in  all  probability  is  a  form  of  I. 
orchioides.  The  former  plant  is  i  feet  high,  and  bears  seven 
to  ten  greenish  yellow  flowers  in  a  drooping  undiel.  By  its 
vigour  of  growth"  it  promises  to  make  a  good  garden  plant. 
We  shall  describe  these  later. 

Violets  were  also  shown  in  considerable  number  by  Lady 
Ancaster,  Normanton,  Stamford. 


Royal    Hoptieultupal    Society.  —  A 

general  meeting  of  the  above  society'  will  be  held 
at  3  p.m.  oil  Friday,  March  21,  at  the  Drill  Hall, 
London  Scottish,  Buckingham  Gate,  S. W.,  to 
receive  from  the  council  and,  if  approved,  to  adopt 
a  report  recommending  a  proposed  site  for  a  horti- 
cultural hall  and  othces.  Fellows  are  rei|uested 
to  .show  their  tickets  at  the  door.  None  but 
Fellows  will  be  admitted.  It  is  important  that  all 
Fellows  should  endeavour  to  attend  this  meeting. 

National  Rose  Society.— At  a  committee 

meeting  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Horticultural 
Club,  by  permission,  the  schedule  of  the  forth- 
coming show  at  the  Temple  Gardens  was  approved. 
Several  new  members  were  elected,  including 
Viscountess  Falmouth,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Corbet,  and 
Messrs.  K.  H.  Dring,  W.  Foord-Kelsey,  H. 
Graham,  S.  Patey,  jun.,  H.  G.  Wood,  G.  Speight, 
and  (i.  Egerton-Warburton.  There  was  a  large 
attendance. 


<iafey- 


GARDEN 


-y^- 


j^^m^. n 


No.  1583.— Vol.  LXL] 


[March  22,  1902 


GREEN     PAINT    IN    THE 
GARDEN     LANDSCAPE. 

AEECENT  applicant  for  advice  wrote 
in  a  tone  of  regret,  that  seemed  to 
admit  of  no  hope  of  bettering,  about 
t  some  green  -  painted  posts  in  his 
garden  "  which  are  unsightly." 
Alas  !  it  is  only  too  often,  indeed  it  is  generally 
the  rule,  that  articles  that  have  to  be  painted 
in  gardens  are  painted — what  is  simply  called 
green,  and  are,  in  consequence,  unsightly. 
Green  paint,  to  the  ordinary  workman,  means 
a  hard,  bright,  crude  colour,  the  harder  and 
brighter  the  better.  Such  a  colour  is  not  only 
unpleasant  in  its  own  vulgar  garishness,  but  is 
painfully  unbecoming  to  any  foliage  that  is 
brought  near  it.  It  may  have  a  certain  smart- 
ness on  the  body  of  a  railway  engine  in 
connexion  with  bright  brass  or  ironwork,  and 
possibly  the  brightest  green  paint  may  please 
East  End  trippers  on  the  seats  and  appur- 
tenances of  their  holiday  resorts,  but  it  cannot 
fail  to  be  offensive  to  people  who  have  the 
least  refinement  of  taste,  and  it  must  be  of 
harmful  colour  effect  in  close  connexion  with 
vegetation. 

Even  in  the  very  best  places  nothing  is  more 
frequent  than  to  see  the  tubs  containing 
magnificently  grown  Oranges,  Oleanders, 
Palms,  and  other  fine  plants  for  terrace 
decoration  disfigured  by  the  worst  possible 
hard  green  colour,  the  crudity  of  the  green 
being  made  all  the  more  painful  and  con- 
spicuous by  the  hoops  being  painted  black  ; 
and  then  perhaps  the  whole  thing  is  varnished 
into  a  kind  of  aggressive  vulgarity  of 
smartness. 

We  venture  to  speak  most  strongly  on  this 
matter  of  green  paint,  and  even  to  say  that 
green  paint  of  this  class  should  never  come 
into  a  garden  at  all.  But  we  do  not  condemn 
it  without  cflfering  a  useful  solution  to  the 
paint  problem.  We  well  know  that  the  frequent 
painting  of  tubs,  garden  seats,  and  other 
appliances  is  necessary,  and  that  the  careful 
gardener  takes  a  just  pride  in  seting  that  it  is 
not  neglected.  It  is  only  a  question  of  choice 
of  colour.  If,  instead  of  the  Brunswick  greens 
or  other  bright  greens  of  the  oilman's  stock, 
the  better  choice  were  made,  it  would  be 
immensely  for  the  good  of  the  garden  land- 
scape. A  whole  range  of  beautiful  greens  is 
made  with  chrome  yellow  No.  1  or  pale  chrome 
and  black.  Anyone  who  has  not  seen  these 
two  colours  mixed  up  on  the  paint  stone  woixld 
hardly  believe  how  good  a  green  they  make.  It 


is  amply  bright  enough  for  any  garden  use,  it 
keeps  its  colour  better  than  the  other,  it  gives 
the  articles  painted  a  look  of  refinement 
instead  of  vulgarity,  and  it  accords  most 
pleasantly  with  all  foliage.  Let  any  gardener 
who  mixes  his  own  paints  try  a  mixture  of 
paints  "  ground  in  oil "  of  one  part  black,  two 
parts  light  chrome,  and  four  parts  white  lead, 
suitably  thinned,  and  he  will  have  a  very  good 
colour  for  all  garden  work.  As  for  tubs  they 
look  much  better  painted  the  same  all  over. 
Why  the  custom  of  painting  ironwork  black 
became,  established  it  would  be  hard  to  say. 

In  France  and  Italy  the  tubs  are  nearly 
always  of  a  pleasant  quiet  colour  ;  even  when 
at  their  brightest  the  colour,  instead  of  being 
crude  and  harsh  as  in  England,  has  an  element 
of  refinement,  approaching  the  colour  called 
malachite  green  in  paints  which  is  very  far 
away  from  the  much  brighter  colour  of  the 
mineral  substance  malachite,  and  more  like  a 
low-toned  or  washed-out  turquoise  ;  but  this 
class  of  colour,  though  quite  admissible  in 
extremely  dressed  work  at  home,  is  more 
generally  suited  to  the  sunnier  southern  lands. 


CALOCHORTI    AND     THEIR 
CULTURE. 

(Continued  from  Vol.  LX.,  page  J/IS.) 

Geoup  II.— Star  Tulips. 

A  GEorr  of  ten  species,  mostly  inhabitants  of 
woodland,  producing  slender  stems  bearing 
erect,  saucer-shaped  flowers  almost  entirely 
covered  on  the  inside  with  long  silky  hairs. 
They  rarely  exce(  d  G  inches  in  height,  and  aie 
only  suitable  for  planting  on  rockeries  and 
other  places  where  some  attention  can  be  readily 
given  to  them.  A  few  are  strong  growers, 
but  the  majority  are  fragile-looking  but  very 
interesting  little  plants  with  flowersof  wondrous 
structure  and  tints  of  colour.  All  flower  in 
May  and  June  -with  the  Cyclobothras.  The 
plants  thrive  better  and  the  flowers  appear  to 
greater  advantage  if  some  mossy  Saxifrage  is 
planted  as  a  carpet  over  the  bulbs. 

C.  Benthanii  (Baker)  is  a  delicate  little  plant 
producing  four  to  five  golden  yellow  flowers 
lolotched  with  chocolate  at  the  base  of  each 
petal.  It  flowers  freely  enough,  but  does  not 
last  many  years  under  cultivation. 

C.  cceruleus  (S.  Wats)  and  its  varieties  are 
the  earliest  to  flower  of  all  Calochorti.  The 
type  plant  bears  pretty  bluish,  very  hairy, 
saucer-shaped  flowers  on  tiny  stems  a  few 
inches  high ;  each  flower  spans  less  than  1  inch. 

C.  major  (Hort.)  is  a  strong-growing  form, 
and  a  better  garden  plant  in  many  respects. 
It  grows  6  inches  high,  and  bears  several 
flowers,  each  an  inch  across  of  a  pale  blue  tint, 
the  inside  being  covered  with  a  multitude  of 


silky  blue  hairs  which  stand  erect  and  project 
from  the  face  of  the  petals. 

C.  roseus  differs  only  in  its  red  or  rose-tinted 
petals. 

C.  collinus  is  a  rare  plant  most  resembling 
C.  cceruleus  in  form,  with  solitary  flat  flowers 
each  of  a  pale  lavender  tint,  borne  on  stiffly 
erect  stems  a  few  inches  high.  The  C.  uniflorus 
oi  Botanical  Magazine,  t.  304,  much  resembles 
this  plant. 

C.  elegans  (Pur.sh)  =  apiculatus  (Hort.),  a, 
comparatively  well  known  plant,  is  of  easy 
cultivation  ;  each  bulb  produces  six  to  eight 
flowers,  each  an  inch  across,  coloured  white, 
and  clothed  on  the  inside  of  the  petals  with 
long,  glistening,  silky  yellow  hairs ;  a  very 
fascinating  little  plant  indeed. 

C.  niacin  us  (Kellogg),  a  strong  grower,  pro- 
duces several  stems  from  each  bulb  and  fully 
a  dozen  lai-ge  purplish  flowers  li  inches  across. 
It  is  of  .strong  constitution,  and  makes  a  good 
rockery  plant. 

The  foregoing  Star  Tulips,  though  of  very 
dwarf  stature  compared  with  many  Calo- 
chorti, are  none  the  less  interesting  on  that 
account ;  their  beauty  is  only  revealed  by  close 
inspection.  They  occupy  a  similar  position  in 
relation  to  other  Calochorti  to  that  enjoyed 
bjr  the  lesser  Narcissi  such  as  cyclamineus, 
minimus,  and  the  varieties  of  bulbocodium  in 
relation  to  the  stronger  gro\ving  Narcissi. 

Group  III.— Giant  Star  Tulips. 

A  small  group  of  large-flowered  Star  Tulips 
of  very  easy  cultivation,  of  which  the  lovely 
C.  Purdyi,  now  well  known,  is  the  best. ,  It 
grows  fully  a  foot  in  height,  and  bears  six  to 
eight  white  flowers  covered  with  silky  white 
hairs.  Each  flower  spans  li  inches,  and  is  of 
stout  texture,  opening  very  flat.  The  hairs 
stand  out  stiffly  erect  from  the  face  of  the 
petals,  and  fringe  the  edges  in  a  delightful 
manner.  The  plant  was  deservedly  awarded  a 
first-class  certificate  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  in  1898. 

C.  Howelli  is  a  similar  plant  with  large 
creamy  white  flowers  with  a  heavy  fringe  of 
golden  yellow  hairs  proceeding  from  the  lower 
half  of  each  petal.  It  is  a  very  rare  species 
both  in  cultivation  anel  in  its  native  habitats. 

C.  Tolniei,  a  comparatively  fine  plant,  bears 
several  white  flowers,  tubular  in  outline,  and 
entirely  covered  on  the  inside  with  purplish 
hairs.  The  three  plants  in  this  group  thrive 
best  in  a  cool,  damp  situation  ;  they  need 
not  necessarily  be  lifted  as  they  .start  into 
growth  late  in  the  season,  and  rest  cjuietly 
through  our  winters.  Their  bulbs  are  usually 
stout,  and  they  flower  with  the  greatest  profu- 
sion. They  are  derived  from  cold  wet  climates 
very  similar  to  our  own. 

Group  IV. — Calochortus  venustus. 

The  many  varieties  of  C.  venustus  are  the 
most  popular  of  all  Calochorti.  Their  flowers 
vary  in  colour  from  pure  white,  through  all 
shades  of  pink,  yellow,  deep  red,  and  purple, 


186 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[March  22,  1902. 


and  their  throats  are  won ierf ally  bearded, 
Hushed,  zoned,  blotehed  and  tigered  with  red, 
lirown,  crimson,  and  gold,  either  blended 
together  or  in  sharp  relief,  in  a  manner  no 
brush  can  portray  or  pen  describe.  Their 
oater  petals  are  small  and  rolled,  nevertheless 
l»rettily  nurked  at  the  b a ?e,  whilst  the  inner 
])3tals  are  very  broad  and  perfectly  shaped, 
giving  the  flowers  that  beauty  and  grace  that 
have  won  the  good  opinions  of  all  who  cultivate 
them.  If  the  extent  of  the  garden  will  not 
admit  of  a  bed  bsing  specially  devoted  to  them 
they  may  be  planted  in  colonies  where  the 
cultural  conditions  noted  in  the  first  few 
paragraphs  can  be  provided. 

C.  venustus  citrinus,  a  free-flowering  plant, 
bearing  fully  twenty  to  thirty  large  lemon- 
yellow  flowers,  is  a  general  favourite.  It  grows 
18  inches  high  and  branches  freely.  The  flowers 
are  wonderfully  marked  at  the  throat  with  rich 
chocolate  blotches  and  delicat"  pencilling,  and 
their  shape  is  perfect.  The  plant  was  awarded 
a  first-class  certificate  by  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society. 

C.  V.  oculatus  has  large  white  flowers  over 
2  inches  in  length  and  span,  the  petals  are 
blotched  about  the  middle  with  a  glowing 
black  eye,  which  is  surrounded  by  a  zone  of 
golden  yellow.  The  entire  base  of  the  flower  is 
delicately  pencilled  and  shaded  with  chocolate, 
yellow,  and  black,  blended  together  in  many 
intermediate  tints  :  a  very  beautiful  form. 

C.  V.  purpurascens  resembles  oculatus  in  size, 
shape,  and  markings,  save  that  the  outline 
of  the  flower  is  of  a  rich  purple  tint.  It  flowers 
later  than  most  varieties  of  C.  venustus. 

C.  V.  robustus,  a  very  strong-growing, 
vigorous  plant  of  oculatus  type  was  obtained 
from  a  wet,  cold  district,  and  proves  to  be 
exceptionally  easy  to  grow.  The  flowers  span 
2|  inches,  vary  in  colour  from  white  to  rosy 
pmk,  and  are  marked  at  the  base  with  a  blend- 
ing of  nearly  all  imaginable  colours.  It  grows 
fully  2  feet  high,  and  produces  stiffly  erect 
stems  and  large  flowers  of  much  substance, 
surpassed  only  by  the  variety  vesta  in  this 
group. 

C.  v.  roseus,  a  very  elegant  variety,  coloured 
a  faint  .shade  of  pink,  marked  with  a  distinct 
peacock-eye  near  the  base  of  the  pstals,  which 
are  also  elegantly  mottled,  striped,  and 
zoned.  A  characteristic  feature  of  this 
flower  is  the  triangular  rose-coloured  blotch 
near  the  tip  of  each  petal,  a  new  and  charming 
feature. 

C.  v.  sulphureus,  a  selection  from  C  v.  roseus, 
of  a  true  sulphur-yellow  colour,  is  marked 
•with  scarlet  eyes  at  the  base  of  each  petal, 
surrounded  l:iy  a  zone  of  golden  yellow  and  a 
groundwork  of  chocolate,  with  slight  tints  of 
scarlet  showing  in  a  few  places. 

C.  V.  vesta  is  a  very  strong  growing  selection, 
with  white  or  rose-tinted  flowers  fully  4  inches 
across,  and  borne  on  long,  wiry  stems  2  feet 
high.  The  lower  half  of  each  petal  is  zoned 
with  golden  yellow  and  chocolate  bands  just 
below  the  usual  peacock  eye,  whilst  the  base 
of  the  flower  is  coloured  brown,  pencilled  and 
dotted  with  yellow.  This  selection  is  the 
finest  so  far  obtained ;  the  flowers  are 
wonderfully  marked,  whilst  the  plants  are 
robust  ;  in  fact,  they  are  as  strong  as  the 
ma,jority  of  garden  Tulips,  and  eiiually  as 
hardy. 

Group  V.— The  Elddea.do  Strain. 

A  grouji  of  e.Yquisite  forms  of  C.  venustus, 
which  appears  to  have  followed  in  the  footsteps 
of  the  Shirley  Poppies,  m  that  it  has  sported 
a  number  of  colour  forms  to  which  the 
collective  name  of  "  Eldorado  strain  "  has  been 
given  on  account  of  the  great  richness  and 


variety  of  colour  presented  in  the  group. 
It  is  not  possible  to  give  an  adequate  descrip- 
tion of  this  group,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
the  plants  have  not  stopped  sporting  anl  new 
and  more  wondrous  forms  appear  yeir  after 
year. 

They  may  bj  generally  described  as 
C.  venustus  sports  ranging  in  colour  through 
all  shades  of  pink,  rose,  purple,  and  deep  red, 
and  marked  with  gold,  scarlet,  red,  chocolate 
or  black  eyes,  which  are  zoned  with  other 
brilliant  colours  as  a  contrast,  the  bases  of  the 
flowers  are  marked  in  every  possible  fashion, 
never  glaringly,  but  in  soft  blends  and  artistic 
pencillings,  never  irregular  or  disproportionate, 
but  in  perfect  order  throughout.  The  flowers 
are  freely  borne  on  long,  wiry  stems  of  consi- 
derable stoutness,  rendering  them  very  valuable 
as  cut  Howers,  whilst  the  plants  grow  with  a 
minimum  of  attention. 

One  choice  selection,  which  is,  unfortunately, 
scarce,  has  a  vivid  gold  blotch  at  the  tip  of 
each  petal,  and  another  at  the  base.  This 
"Eldorado  strain"  received  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society's  award  of  merit  when  shown 
by  Messrs.  Wallace  of  Colchester  in  1806, 
about  which  time  it  was  introduced. 

{To  he  continued.) 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 


Examination  in  hoptieultupe.— The 

Royal  H  irtieultural  Society's  annual  examination 
in  the  principles  and  practice  of  horticulture  will 
be  held  on  Wednesday,  April  -IZ.  Intending 
candidates  are  requested  to  send  in  their  names  to 
the  secretary,  Roj'al  Horticultural  Society,  117, 
Victoria  Street,  London,  S.W.,  as  early  as  possible. 
A  stamperl  and  directed  envelope  must  bs  enclosed 
with  all  communications  requiring  a  reply. 

Coronation  trees.  —  A  correspondent 
writes:  "  As  very  few  subjects  can  be  planted  in 
.June,  I  advise  planters  to  do  so  now.  The 
dedication  can  follow  in  .June,  and  the  labels  not 
be  fi^ced  to  the  tree  or  trees  until  that  month." 

Crocuses  indoors. — How  seldom  one  sees 
the  Crocus  used  as  a  decoration  in  the  house 
grown  in  small  fancy  bowls  in  eocoanut  fibre  and 
the  bulbs  rather  crowded.  They  bloom  wall  just 
before  the  outdoor  display,  and  look  well  on  a 
dinner  table,  as,  being  short  of  growth,  you  look 
down  on  them  and  see  the  full  beauty  of  the  open 
flower.  They  do  not  close  at  night  in  a  warm 
room.  Some  I  have  now  in  small  bowls  4  inches 
across  have  fourteen  or  sixteen  flowers  on  each. 
They  must  be  grown  in  a  cold  house,  as  they 
will  not  bloom  well  if  at  all  forced. — E.  C, 
Surrey. 

Lestupe  in  Nopth  Wales.— On  Tuesday, 

the  I'.h  inst..  Professor  Phillips,  of  the  Bingor 
University  College,  delivered  an  interesting 
address,  illustrated  by  lantern  slide?,  on  "  The 
Origin  of  the  British  Flora,"  at  the  Town  Hall, 
Dsnbigh,  the  chair  being  taken  by  his  Worship  the 
Mayor.  The  lecturer's  remarks  embraced  the 
foUowinc  topics :  The  flowering  plants  of  the 
British  Isles  ;  the  British  flora  contrasted  with 
that  of  Switzerland  and  oceanic  islands;  the 
groups  into  which  ovir  native  plants  may  be 
divided  ;  the  northern  and  southern  elements  in 
our  flora,  and  how  their  existence  maj'  be  accounted 
for ;  the  geological  history  of  these  islands ; 
the  glacial  period,  &c.  A  most  enjoyable  evening 
was  spent,  and  the  lecturer  was  accorded  a  hearty 
vole  of  thanks  by  the  ilayor,  which  was  suitably 
seconded  bv  Mr.  J.  Denman. 

A    valuable    early  Lettuce.  —  The 

well-known  Lettuce  Commodore  Nutt  has  been 
catalogued  many  years,  but  I  do  not  at  the  present 
moment  know  of  a  better  variety  for  first  crop  in 
frames,  boxes,  early  borders  in  the  open,  or  at 
the  foot  of  a  south  wall.  For  many  years  previous 
to  its  introduction,  and  the  larger  but  equally  good 


Golden  Qaeen,  we  sowed  large  breadths  of  what 
are  termed  autumn  Lettuces  for  a  spring  supply, 
and  that  supply  was  rarely  a  profitable  one,  as 
only  in  the  most  favoured  localities  are  the 
la^t-named  a  success,  but  if  the  Commodore  Nutt 
is  sown  under  glass  early  in  .January  or  in  boxes 
and  grown  on  there  will  be  good  salading  in  three 
months  from  the  time  of  sowing.  These  plants 
turn  in  so  quickly  once  the  rough  leaf  is  growing 
freely,  and  though  smill  they  have  compact  hearts, 
and  are  just  the  thing  tor  the  salad  bowl.  They 
ni  ly  be  grown  in  boxes  and  do  well  when  only 
4  inches  to  6  inches  apart ;  they  can  be  grown  well 
in  frames  or  on  shelves  in  fruit  houses.  I  have 
cut  good  heads  in  ten  weeks  from  seed  sewn  on 
a  slight  hot  bsd,  and  the  plants  pricked  out,  or  a 
portion  thinned  and  left  to  mature  where  sown.  I 
do  not  advise  this  variety  for  summsr  work  as  it 
does  not  keep  long  but  bolts  at  the  later  season. — 
A.  C.  N. 

Must  be  WOPkePS.— Thenoteby  "A.  D.," 
page  119,  is  oni  that  all  young  gardeners  should 
read,  and  I  am  sure  those  who  have  made  their 
way  in  horticultur.il  pursuits  will  agree  with  me 
that  mere  study  without  practice  is  useless. 
Miny  of  our  leading  growers  who  supply  our 
markets  worked  hard  at  the  start.  Many  began 
in  a  small  way,  but  hard  work,  studj',  and  good 
practical  knowledge  have  resulted  in  success.  I 
fear  some  young  men  do  not  think  this  hard  work 
necessary.  I  am  aware  that  gardening  is  not  inviting 
at  the  start,  and  to  be  successful  there  must  be  no 
half  measures.  I  am  reading  the  notes  that 
appear  in  The  Garden'  on  "  The  Bothy,"  and 
certainly  some  of  the  writers  are  not  too  engrossed 
in  their  work,  and  think  more  of  amusements. 
.Such  notes  as  "A.  D.'s"  on  workers  in  the  garden 
should  be  read  and  pondered  over  by  your 
correspondents. — A.  C. 

New  Zealand  Veronicas  in  Mid- 
lothian.— As  a  great  admirer  of  New  Zealand 
Veronicas,  I  was  much  interested  in  re.ading  Mr. 
VVolley-Dod's  experience  of  them  at  Edge.  In  my 
garden,  600  feet  above  sea-level,  I  find  V.  Traversi 
anything  but  hardy,  and  parviflora  is  killed  out- 
right every  winter,  and  nearly  every  one  of  what 
I  may  call  the  green-leaved  section,  excepting 
mnnticola,  appear  to  suffer  more  or  less.  On  the 
other  hand,  no  amount  of  frost  hurts  Heetori, 
Ij'copodioides,  eupressoides,  and  what  I  got  as  sali- 
cornioides,  and  Mr.  Robert  Lindsay  assures  'me 
that  Armstrongi  is  equally  hardy  ;  the  same  may 
be  said  of  the  glaucous-leaved  section,  such  as 
decumbens,  Colensoi,  glauoa,  &e.  I  may  add  that 
in  addition  to  suffering  from  very  severe  frost,  my 
garden  is  fully  exposed  to  coldest  winds.  ^Alex:. 
CoWAX,  Penicuik,  Midlothian. 

"  Familiar    AVild    Flowers."  —  The 

second  part  of  this  publication  contains  descrip- 
tions and  coloured  plates  of  Gmynadenia  conopsea 
(the  Fragrant  Orchis),  Trolling  europaius,  Seraper- 
vivum  tectorum,  Spergularia  marina,  and  others. 
Fall  particulars  of  a  wild  flower  collecting  com- 
petition are  announced  with  this  number. 

What    to   do    with    overgrown 

plants. — When  the  various  plant  houses  are 
being  overhauled,  as  at  the  present  time,  many 
plants  are  found  to  have  outgrown  their  accommo- 
dation. Unfortunately,  these  plants  are  invariably 
thrown  away.  This  is  a  matter  for  regret,  as  the 
majority  of  them,  if  hardened  off  before  the  bed- 
ding season,  may  be  used  in  various  ways  in  the 
flower  garden  during  summer  to  great  advantage. 
The  last  few  j-ears  have  brought  about  many 
changes  in  summer  gardening.  It  is  now  not 
uncommon  to  see  tender  exotic  plants  embellishing 
our  gardens  and  parks,  and  each  year  brings  some 
innovation.  There  are  many  stove  plants  admir- 
ably suited  for  bedding  out,  especially  for  the  sub- 
tropical garden,  where  they  add  considerably  to 
the  general  effect.  The  many  beautiful  varieties 
of  Dracienas,  Pandanus  Veitchi,  and  some  of  the 
stronger-growing  Crotons  make  charming  plants 
for  the  centres  of  small  beds.  They  also  add  variety 
and  effect  when  associated  with  flowering  plants 
in  mixed  borders.  There  are  many  other  good 
foliage  plants  too  numerous  to  mention  here  which 
may  do  good  service  in  the  flower  garden  before 
being  consigned  to  the  rubbish  heap. — E.  Habriss. 


March  22,  1902.] 


Titfi    GAKDEl^. 


187 


Stpelitzia    Reglnse    eitrina.  —  The 

typical  Strelitzia  Regina?,  is  quite  an  old  plant  in 
gardens,  having  been  introduced  from  South  Africa 
as  long  ago  as  1773,  and  though  seldom  seen  it  is 
fairly  well  known.  It  is  very  useful  for  a  warm 
sunn}'  greenhouse,  for  its  stout  leathery  Canna-like 
leaves  are  ornamental  at  all  seasons,  while  its 
showy  flowers  stand  out  quite  distinct  from  those 
of  any  other  plant  in  cultivation.  The  flower- 
scape,  which  in  vigorous  examples  will  reach  a 
heifht  of  4  feet  or  .3  feet,  well  overtopping  the 
foliage,  sometimes  branches  at  the  apex,  and  bears 
a  succession  of  brightly  coloured  and  curiously 
shaped  blossoms.  They  have  been  likened  to  a 
bird's  head,  while  the  colour  is  a  combination  of 
viviil  orange  and  purple.  In  the  variety  citrina 
above  noted,  which  is  quite  rare  in  this  country, 
the  orange  is  replaced  by  citron-yellow.  For  the 
introduction  of  this  charming  variety  we  are,  I 
believe,  indebted  to  Mr.  W.  Watson  of  Kew,  who 
was  the  means  of  introducing  it  during  his  South 
African  tour.  Both  the  type  and  the  variety 
citrina  are  now  flowering  in  the  Mexican  house  at 
Kew,  where,  planted  out  in  one  of  the  borders,  thej' 
are  just  at  home..  Where  there  is  no  convenience 
for  treating  them  in  this  way,  they  need  large  pots 
or  tubs  as  the  roots  are  vigorous.  The  soil,  too, 
should  be  of  a  fairly  holding  nature,  say,  two- 
thirds  loam  to  one-third  leaf  -  mould  and  well 
decayed  manure,  with  a  good  dash  of  sand. — T. 

Acacia  acinacea. — This    is    one   of    a 

number  of  ornamental  species  of  Acacia  which  are 
rarely  seen  in  cultivation,  but  which  are  all  worthy 
of  inclusion  in  collections  of  greenhouse  plants  by 
reason  of  their  free  flowering  and  comparatively  easy 
culture.  Like  the  others,  this  is  Australian,  and 
may  be  grown  in  a  cool  greenhouse  as  a  small  pot 
plant  a  foot  or  two  high  ;  planted  out  it  will  grow 
C  feet  or  more  high,  with  a  good  bushy  habit.  The 
branches  are  long  and  slender,  and  from  every  node 
on  last  3'ear's  wood  a  small  globular  head  of  yellow 
flowers  is  borne  on  a  slender  stalk  a  third  of  an  inch 
long.  The  leaves  or  phjdlodes  are  small  and  narrow, 
rarely  exceeding  half  an  inch  in  length.  After 
flowering  it  should  be  well  cut  back  to  ensure  a 
bushy  habit  and  to  encourage  long  shoots  for  next 
year's  flowering.  It  thrives  in  a  mixture  of  sandy 
peat  and  loam,  and  is  readily  increased  by  means  of 
cuttings.  Another  species,  A.  verniciflua,  some- 
what resembles  the  above,  but  is  stiffer  in  habit, 
has  longer  leaves,  and  larger  heads  of  flowers.  In 
the  temperate  house  at  Kew  fine  plants  of  both 
species  are  to  be  seen  in  full  flower,  and  anyone 
who  sees  them  cannot  but  be  convinced  of  their 
value.— W.  D. 

APUm  palaestinum. — This  appears  to  be 
hard}'  only  in  particularly  favoured  districts,  and 
even  where  it  stands  the  winter  it  does  not  always 
flower  ;  still,  a  considerable  number  of  large,  well- 
ripened  tubers  wilh  a  strong  central  crown  are 
sent  to  this  country,  mostly  from  Italy,  about  the 
mouth  of  August,  and,  if  potted  at  that  time  or 
soon  after,  the}'  will  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse 
push  up  their  leaves  gradually  and  flower,  as  a 
rule,  in  February  or  March.  It  is  a  most  interest- 
ing and,  at  the  same  time,  handsome  plant,  the 
deep  green  leaves  being  triangular  hastate  in 
shape,  more  or  less  undulate  at  the  margins,  and 
wilh  the  sunken  veins  particularly  noticeable.  The 
largest  leaves  are  8  inches  or  9  inches  across  the 
blade,  and  are  borne  on  stalks  about  18  inches 
high.  The  flower  scape,  which  is  usually  rather 
shorter  than  the  tallest  leaves,  bears  a  spathe 
about  5  inches  wide  and  longer  in  proportion  to  its 
width  than  the  common  Arum  Lily.  The  colour 
of  the  spathe  is  green  on  the  outside  and  blackish 
purple-maroon  within,  while  the  erect  spadix  is 
ahuost  dead  black.  In  depth  of  colouring  there  is, 
however,  much  variation,  some  being  of  a  uniform 
blackish  velvety  tint,  while  others  are  tinged  with 
green  towards  the  apex.  After  being  expanded 
for  three  or  four  days  the  flower  becomes  paler. 
From  its  resemblance,  except  in  colour,  to  the 
common  Richardia,  it  is  popularly  known  as  the 
black  Calla,  while  botanically  it  also  bears  the 
name  of  Arum  sanctum  as  well  as  A.  paliestinum. 
The  time  of  flowering  above  mentioned  refers  to 
plants  in  the  greenhouse,  as  of  course  it  is  later 
out  of  doors.     I   have  read  somewhere  in   The 


Garden  that  the  flowers  are  without  the  dis- 
agreeable odour  common  to  many  members  of  the 
genus,  but  this  is  by  no  means  the  case,  for  the 
whole  of  the  first  day  after  expansion  they  are  on 
this  account  most  objectionable,  but  by  the  second 
morning  it  has  passed  away,  thus  resembling  in 
this  respect  some  other  Aroid^.  The  cultural 
requirements  of  these  large  imported  tubers  are 
very  simple,  all  they  need  being  to  be  potted  in 
6-inch  pots  and  in  some  good  compost,  at  such  a 
depth  that  the  upper  part  of  the  tuber  is  nearly 
an  inch  below  the  surface  of  the  soil,  as  the  new 
roots  of  this  Arum  are  pushed  out  just  at  the  base 
of  the  leaf  stalks.  After  flowering  these  plants 
should  be  watered  till  the  leaves  turn  yellow,  when 
it  must  be  discontinued,  and  the  pots  stood  on 
a  shelf  or  some  similar  position  where  they  have 
full  exposure  to  the  sun.  Then,  about  July  or 
August,  shake  them  entirely  free  of  the  old  soil 
and  repot. — H.  P. 

Major  ■William  Clive  Hussey,  late 

Royal  F.ngioeers,  has  been  promoted  from  the 
Assistant  Bailiffship  to  be  Bailifi'  of  the  Royal 
Parks  and  Gardens,  in  succession  to  Colonel 
M.  J.  Wheatley,  who  has  retired  under  the  age 
limit. 

Failure  of  autumn-sown   Peas.— 

For  several  years  I  have  noticed  that  many  of  our 
best  growers  do  not  advise  the  sowing  of  early 
varieties  of  Peas  in  the  autumn,  and  I  think  this 
advice  excellent  in  every  waj'.  I  am  aware  in 
many  gardens  there  is  very  little  glass,  and  none 
can  be  spared  to  raise  early  vegetables.  In  this 
case  some  cultivators  sow  the  round  white  or  blue 
Peas  in  October  or  November  for  a  first  supply, 
and  few  crops  are  more  disappointing,  as  onl}' 
now  and  again,  and  this  very  rarely,  does  the  erop 
stand  our  variable  winters,  and  often,  should  it 
pass  through  February,  the  plant  dies  in  March 
after  severe  frost  and  trying  north-east  winds. 
This  year  the  same  thing  occurs.  We  thought  we 
had  got  over  the  winter,  and  looked  forward  to  a 
fair  return,  but  not  one  plant  in  a  dozen  is  left 
the  first  week  in  March,  so  that  both  time  and 
seed  are  lost.  It  may  be  asked  why  note  such 
failures.  Because  I  have  seen  others  advise  autumn 
sowing,  and  no  matter  what  weather  we  have  there 
are  other  troubles,  such  as  mice,  birds,  and  slugs  ; 
the  plants  have  a  sorry  time  of  it.  I  would  advise 
February  sowings  in  preference,  sowing  such  kinds 
as  germinate  freely. — A.  C.  N. 

Rhododendron  barbatum.— A  large 

bush  of  this  richly  coloured  Rhododendron  is  at 
present  in  flower  in  the  Himalayan  house  at  Kew. 
in  Cornish  gardens  it  is  a  well-known  plant,  but 
in  places  not  favoured  with  such  a  mild  climate 
and  where  sharp  spring  frosts  are  experienced  it 
is  not  often  seen,  for  it  does  not  succeed  well  out 
of  doors,  and  it  can  onh'  be  accommodated  in  ver}' 
large  houses.  The  principal  objection  to  its  out- 
door culture  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  flowers  open 
very  early  and  growth  commences  early,  both 
being  liable  to  injury  from  cold  weather.  The 
mature  wood  is  able  to  stand  a  considerable  amount 
of  frost.  It  is  a  Himalayan  species,  and  is  said 
to  assume  the  proportions  of  a  tree  30  feet  to 
40  feet  or  more  in  height.  Under  cultivation, 
however,  it  is  seen  as  a  large  bush.  In  Cornish 
gardens  many  hybrids  exist  which  claim  this 
species  as  one  of  the  parents  ;  of  the  number, 
that  raised  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  Shilson,  and 
called  Shilsoni,  is  probably  the  best.  It  bears 
handsome,  compact  trusses  of  deep  blood  -  red 
flowers  of  a  thick,  waxj'  texture.  The  other 
parent  is  the  dwarf-growing,  large-flowered  Thora- 
soni.— W.  D. 

M.  Louis  Gen  til.  —  After  having  filled 
for  three  years  the  important  post  of  superinten- 
dent of  the  plantations  of  the  Haut  Congo, 
Coc[uilhatville,  M.  Gentil,  who  is  now  on  a 
mission  as  inspector  of  the  forests  of  the  Indepen- 
dent State  of  the  Congo,  has  recently  been 
appointed  by  the  Belgian  Government  as  Chef  des 
Cultures  Coloniales  et  des  Serres  at  the  Botanic 
Gardens,  Brussels.  His  first  start  in  horticulture 
was  made  in  one  of  the  Government  schools  of 
horticulture  in  Belgium,  after  which  he  came  over 
to  England  and  spent  some  time  in  Messrs. 
Veitch's  nurseries  at  Chelsea,  which  he  left  to 


make  a  stay  at  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew.  While 
there  he  was  most  attentive  to  his  duties,  and 
we  offer  our  hearty  congratulations  and  best 
wishes  to  the  new  Chef  de  Cultures,  who  is  well 
known  and  enjoys  a  wide  friendship  in  England. — 

Encouraging  insect-feeding 

birds.  —  In  spite  of  constant  complaints  of  the 
ravages  by  insect  pests  in  our  orchards  and 
gardens,  little  or  nothing  is  done  to  encourage  our 
insect-feeding  birds.  On  the  contrary,  all  our  care 
seems  to  be  misdirected  in  feeding  up  the  mis- 
chievous house  sparrow  and  other  seed  or  fruit- 
eating  birds.  For  many  years  I  have  encouraged 
the  nesting  of  titmice,  wrens,  robins,  and  hedge- 
sparrows  in  my  garden,  with  the  result  that  my  fruit 
trees  are  always  clean  and  free  from  maggots, 
&c.  During  the  winter  I  feed  these  birds  with 
suet  scraps  or  other  meat  fat,  suspended  from  the 
branches  of  trees  or  placed  in  some  other  cat-proof 
position.  This  food  is  always  put  near  suitable 
nesting  boxes,  also  cat-proof,  so  that  in  the  spring 
these  charming  little  birds  build  their  nests  in  the 
places  provided  for  them,  and  in  return  for  their 
winter  food  they  keep  my  trees  free  from  insect 
pests.  Last  year  I  had  six  nests  of  these  useful  birds 
in  my  garden,  and  I  am  sure  that  if  my  plan  be 
generally  adopted  we  shall  hear  a  great  deal  less 
of  the  ravages  by  insects  and  of  the  damage  done 
to  flowers  and  Peas  and  other  seeds  by  the  common 
house  sparrow,  which  bird  at  present  enjoys  so 
much  misplaced  consideration.  Further  details, 
particulars  of  measurement,  &c. ,  will  be  given  with 
pleasure.  The  London  County  Council  has,  as  an 
experiment,  given  instructions  for  my  suggestion 
to  be  adopted  in  their  parks  and  gardens. — Edward 
LovETT,  ifl,  Outrum  Roxd,  Croydon. 

Cyphomandra  betacea  (the  Tree 

Tomato). — Perhaps  my  experience  in  dealing 
with  this  too  vigorous  plant  may  be  of  interest  to 
Mr.  Dugmore.  I  sowed  the  seeds  in  March, 
transplanting  the  resulting  seedlings  to  large 
Chr}'santhemum  pots  and  grew  them  with  a  batch 
of  Capebulbous  plants  outside  for  the  whole  summer. 
The  plants  attained  a  height  of  Cih  feet,  growth 
being  terminated  by  an  abortive  inflorescence. 
The  bare  stems  were  wintered  in  a  cool  house  and 
planted  out  in  the  following  Aprih  They  branched 
freely,  eight  to  twenty  branches  being  the 
average  for  each  tree.  Each  plant  fruited  in 
June-.July,  and  as  the  situation  was  hot  and  dry 
the  fruits  were  of  much  better  flavour  than  those 
produced  by  the  Kew  specimen  figured  in  The 
Garden.  The  plants  were  thrown  away  after 
fruiting  once,  as  others  were  available  to  take 
their  place.  I  think  if  the  tree  is  grown  on  the 
lines  I  have  indicated  it  is  not  only  easily  managed 
but  the  fruits  have  a  better  flavour.  So  far  as  my 
experiments  show  the  plant  will  not  cross  with  the 
garden  Tomato  or  rice  rersi'i.  — G.  B.  Mallett. 

Nelumbium     pekinense     rubrum 
and  N.  luteum  in  the  open.— In  No.  4 

of  MOllers  Deutsche  Gartnerziitiiiig  is  an  exhaus- 
tive article  with  illustrations  on  the  culture  of 
the  Nelumbiums  grown  to  the  highest  perfection 
in  a  pond  in  the  gardens  of  Count  Bombelle, 
Castle  Opeca,  near  Vinica  Croatia  (Lower  Austria), 
a  climate  colder  even  than  that  of  the 
North  of  Scotland,  with  the  summer  heat, 
however,  slightly  higher,  and  less  variable.  The 
head  gardener,  Mr.  Schendel,  says  :  "About  seven 
years  ago  I  sunk  two  rhizomes  of  N.  pekinense 
rubrum  in  a  basket  in  the  mud  of  the  shallow  part  of 
the  pond.  The  first  year  the  growth  was  weak,  and 
the  early  frost  destroyed  the  few  leaves  before  the 
plants  had  time  to  get  established.  In  the  winter, 
to  prevent  freezing  of  the  rhizomes,  the  water  was 
raised  18  inches  higher.  Next  spring,  no  leaves 
making  their  appearance,  I  was  afraid  the}-  had 
been  killed.  However,  the  leaves  appeared  at  last, 
and  before  the  autumn  I  had  over  100  finely 
developed  leaves.  I  planted  a  few  more  roots  also 
of  N.  luteum,  and  last  summer  I  had  over  1,000 
splendid  flowers  with  stems  8  feet  high." 

The   Cylindrical    Agaricus.— I  was 

doubtful  for  some  time  as  to  the  correct  name  of  an 
edible  fungus  that  has  been  eaten  when  :n  season 
for  many  years,  but  a  reperusal  of  that  useful 
old  work,  Rhine's  "Vegetable  Kingdom,"  left  no 


188 


THE  GARDEN. 


[March  22,  1902. 


doubt  as  to  its  identity,  as  it  is  remarkably  well 
pourtrayedat  ditferent  stages  of  growth.  Although 
regarded  generally  with  suspicion,  and,  in  fact,  as 
being  poisonous,  it  really  forms  a  wholesome  dish. 
It  also  possesses  the  merit  when  well  cooked  of 
being  thoroughly  digestible,  and  may  be  eaten  with 
impunity  by  those  to  whom  the  Mushroom  is  an 
impossible  article  of  food.  With  well  cured  bacon 
it  is  an  excellent  breakfast  dish.  Although  occa- 
sionally found  in  dry  spots  it  is  most  at  liome  in 
damp,  low-lying  places  under  partial  shade,  and 
should  be  picked  for  eating  whilst  the  cylindrical 
form  is  maintained  and  before  the  lower  pan 
expands.  By  the  transfer  of  rather  deeply  cul 
turves  where  it  is  found  to  other  situations  I  have 
endeavoured  to  secure  its  extension,  and  hope  to 
be  able  to  chronicle  the  success  of  the  experiment. 
— E.  BuRRELL,   Claremonl. 


A  SELF-SOW^N  "WALL  GARDEN. 

Now  that  wall  gardening  i.s  so  rapidly  growing 
in  favour,  it  is  well  to  remind  our  readers  thai 
now  is  the  tiine  to  sow  .seeds  in  chinks  and  in 
the  little  pads  of  moss  that  gather  about  the 
joints  of  old  walls.  How  willing  even  ([uite 
large  plants  are  to  grow  in  i-uch  jilaees  i.- 
shown  by  the  illustration  of  a  wall,  by  no 
means  dilapidated,  where  some  Foxglove  seed 
had  settled  by  some  natural  agency  (for  it  was 
never  sown  there)  and  made  this  pretty  picture 
of  excellent  wall  gardening.  Foxgloves  and 
Mulleins  are  some  of  the  best  of  wall  plants. 
In  a  wall  like  this,  where  the  roots  have  no 
chance  of  spreading  backwards,  the  plants  are, 
of  course,  stunted,  though  they  tiower  abun 
dantly.  In  a  dry  wall — that  is  to  say,  a  wall 
built  without  mortar  to  support  a  bank— they 
will  grow  to  their  largest  dimensions. 


EXHIBITION    VEGETABLES 


{Continued  from  jmge  174.) 
Leeks. 
It  must  not  be  assumed  that  the  magnificent 
.specimens  sometimes  staged  are  brought 
to  such  perfection  without  a  considerable 
amount  of  troulile  and  forethought.  Indeed, 
few  vegetables  cultivated  for  exhibition  require 
more  attention  to  bring  them  to  such  a  high 
standard  of  excellence.  For  some  reason  or 
another,  our  northern  friends  generally  excel 
in  their  culture,  this  being  no  doubt  due  to 
their  bstter  knowledge  of  the  Leek's  require- 
ments, but  at  the  same  time  when  valuable 
prizes  are  otfered  in  open  competition  the 
southern  growers  of  late  years  have  not  been 
far  behind,  and  in  one  or  two  notable  instances 
have  proved  victorious. 

Leeks  are  generally  shown  six  together,  and 
these  should  be  as  alike  both  in  length  of 
blanched  stem  and  circumference  as  it  is 
possible  to  get  them.  The  blanched  part  should 
be  of  the  same  thickness  throushout,  with  no 
sign  of  bulbing  at  the  bottom.  Many  growers 
attach  too  much  importance  to  the  length  the 
Leek  is  blanched.  I  consider  this  is  a  mistake, 
it  does  not  denote  any  special  culture.  A  fair 
length  is  from  l.'i  inches  to  18  inches,  and  each 
should  measure  from  8  inches  to  9  inches  round. 
Reject  any  that  show  the  .slightest  indie  ition 
to  throw  a  flower  spike.  All  the  rootlets  and 
flag  should  be  left  on,  and  the  blanched  part 
be  as  white  as  is  possible  to  get  it.  For  early 
shows  make  the  first  sowing  of  seed  early  in 
January  m  a  compost  similar  to  that  advised 
for  Onions.  In  this  case  it  is  better  to  sow  the 
seed  in  well  drained  3-inch  pots,  the  soil  being 
made  only  moderately  firm.  Place  a  few  seeds 
in  the  centre  of  the  pots,  cover  to  the  depth  of 
about  half  an  inch,  and  thoroughly  water  in. 


Place  the  pots  in  a 

gentle  heat,  from  50° 
to  •").")'-\  keeping  them 
near  the  glass,  and 
carefully  avoid  over- 
watering.  Remove 
all  except  the 
strongest  and  most 
vigorous  plant  in 
each  pot,  while  fre- 
quent dampings  over- 
head are  very  bene- 
ricial  at  this  stage  of 
their  culture.  Im- 
mediately the  pots 
are  well  filled  with 
roots,  shift  on  into 
li-ineh  pots,  adding 
a  G-inch  potful  of 
bone-meal  to  every 
tialf  bushel  of  com- 
iiost  made  up  in  the 
first  instance.  Pot 
fairly  deep  and  press 
the  soil  lightly  about 
the  roots.  Grow  on 
in  a  genial  tempera- 
ture, and  shorten 
back  the  tips  of  the 
leaves  once  a  fort- 
night. Gradually 
harden  off  in  a  cold 
frame,  and  by  the 
middle  of  April  they 
should  be  ready  for 
lilanting  out. 

The  trenches  should 
be  18  inches  wide, 
■2  feet  deep,  and  the 
bottom  well  broken 
up  with  a  fork.  On 
this    place    4   inches 

of  half-rotted  cow  manure,  filling  up  the 
remainder  of  the  trench  with  a  mixture  of 
good  fibrous  loam,  leaf  soil,  old  ilushroom 
bed  manure  and  road  scrapings  in  eriual 
parts,  with  a  free  sprinkling  of  finely  sifted 
mortar  rubbi.sli  and  bone-meal.  This  will 
make  an  ideal  mixture  for  them.  Put  out 
the  plants  1.5  inches  apart  in  single  lines, 
di'.turbing  the  roots  as  little  as  possible  and 
pressing  the  soil  only  moderately  firm.  Give 
a  good  watering  afterwards,  and  if  the  weather 
is  rough  and  stormy  shelter  must  be  provided. 
Damp  over  frequently  in  dry  weather,  and  do 
everything  possible  to  give  the  plants  a  good 
start. 

Unlike  Celery  and  most  other  things  which 
require  lilanching,  the  Leek  must  be  drawn  up 
and  blanched  in  its  early  stages  of  growth,  as 
it  is  i]uite  impossible  to  do  so  with  any  success 
after  the  growth  is  mijde  Ten  days  after 
planting  commence  the  operation  and  use 
brown  piaper  collars  or  stiff  brown  paper,  the 
former  for  preference.  They  can  generally  be 
purchased  at  a  cheip  rate  from  the  various 
seed  houses.  A  small  stick  should  be  placed 
on  each  side  of  the  collars  to  prevent  their 
blowing  about.  Water  freely  once  a  week,  and 
apply  a  small  quantity  of  some  good  artificial 
manure,  say,  about  a  dessertspoonful  to  each 
plant. 

As  the  heart  appears  above  the  i^aper  collar 
this  may  be  drawn  up  until  the  desired  height 
is  reached,  placing  a  little  fine  soil  round  the 
base  of  the  plant.  A  month  later  zinc  collars 
9  inches  long,  and  sufficiently  large  to  avoid 
injuring  the  plant,  and  soldered  together,  should 
be  placed  over  the  paper  collars,  and  the.se 
secured  in  position  by  a  small  quantity  of  earth. 
Later  on  add  similar  pieces  of  zinc,  placing 


A   X  \TOR.\L   WAIX   GARDEN,    FOXGLOVES,    FERNS,    AND   OTUER  PLANTS. 


more  soil.  Keep  the  plants  well  watered  still, 
and  at  every  third  application  apply  liquid 
manure.  Gradually  earth  up  imtil  the  top  of 
the  zinc  collar  is  almost  reached,  but  extreme 
care  should  be  taken  that  not  even  the  slightest 
particle  of  soil  finds  its  way  to  the  heart  of  the 
plant  or  this  will  wash  down  and  do  much  to 
mar  the  appearance  of  the  specimens.  When 
lifting  Leeks  first  with  great  care  removethe 
soil  with  a  spade,  so  that  they  are  not  bruised 
or  injured.  Withdraw  the  pieces  of  zinc  by 
holding  the  leaves  with  one  hand  and  drawing 
the  cylinders  over  the  top  with  the  other. 
Then  shift  with  a  fork  with  as  many  roots  as 
p(3ssible.  Tie  the  foliage  in  two  or  three  places 
with  raffia  to  prevent  the  leaves  splitting,  and 
wash  thoroughly,  carefully  removing  only  the 
outer  skins.  Let  them  drain  head  downwards 
and  keep  covered  with  a  clean  linen  cloth  until 
ready  for  packing.  Tie  a  narrow  piece  of  white 
tape  round  at  the  top  of  the  blanched  part, 
when  they  should  be  carefully  wrapped  up  in 
soft  white  paper.  Leeks  are  presented  on  the 
exhibition  stage  in  many  ways,  but  I  prefer  to 
see  them  arranged  on  a  black  varnished  board 
and  in  an  almost  upright  position. 

Osioss. 
Few   vegetables,  especially 
bition    point 


from  an  exhi- 
^ of  view,  have  been  more  im- 
proved upon  during  the  last  few  years  than 
the  Onion.  It  now  forms  one  of  the  most 
important  and  interesting  sitbjects  at  all  our 
vegetable  exhibitions,  and  no  collection  of 
vegetables  at  any  season  of  the  year  is  com- 
plete unless  a  dish  u  incluled.  Consequently 
all  interested  in  the  production  of  high-class 
vegetalsles  must  endeavour  to  produce  the 
finest  specimens.     Fortunately  Onions  are  not 


jjauer    on   auu   aiimiai    piece;)    ui    t.iu'-,  picvuiug    ""^r,.   ' ; —   -,  •  .    "         a  „:tU 

them  on  the  top  of  the  first  one  and  adding  |  fastidious  as  to  soil  or  position.     Anyone  witn 


Makch  22,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


189 


a  garden    and  who   is   prepared   to   take    tlie 
necessary  trouble  can  excel  in  their  culture. 

Preparation  of  the  land  is  unquestionably 
the  first  and  most  important  part  of  Onion 
culture,  and  without  it  first-class  specimens 
are  impossible.  Select  an  open  sunny  position 
for  the  site,  bearing  in  mind  that,  unlike  most 
other  crops,  it  is  not  at  all  necessary  to  change 
the  ground,  but  on  the  contrary,  as  far  as  my 
experience  goes,  better  results  will  be  got  by 
utilising  the  same  ground  annually.  The  liest 
bulbs  I  have  yet  produced  were  those  of  last 
year  (1901)  on  ground  upon  which  our  large 
Onions  had  been  grown  for  the  last  seventeen 
years.  The  ground  must  be  thoroughly 
trenched  to  the  depth  of  at  least  3  feet,  the 
subsoil  well  broken  up,  and  the  bottom  spit 
brought  to  the  surface  each  year.  I  regard 
this  of  the  utmost  importance.  The  time  at 
which  the  trenching  should  take  place  depends 
on  the  soil  one  has  to  deal  with.  A  light  soil 
should  be  so  treated  as  early  in  the  autumn  as 
circumstances  will  permit,  but  that  of  a  stiff 
retentive  nature  will  be  better  left  alone  until 
February. 

It  is  quite  safe  to  say  that  hardly  too  much 
farmyard  manure  can  be  given  when  trenching. 
The  longest  should  be  placed  quite  at  the 
bottom  of  the  trench,  and  the  shorter  and 
more  decayed  in  the  centre.  In  the  course  of 
trenching,  no  matter  at  what  season,  always 
leave  the  sui  face  rough  so  that  as  much  of  the 
soil  as  possible  will  receive  the  full  benefit  of 
the  weather.  Immediately  it  is  finished  apply 
a  good  dressing  of  soot,  and  in  the  case  of  stitf 
wet  soil  strew  the  surface  with  fine  mortar 
rubbish,  road  grit,  and  burnt  garden  refuse, 
all  of  which  will  prove  beneficial.  It  may 
be  thus  left  until  the  early  days  of  April.  It 
should  then  be  forked  over  to  the  depth  of 
8  inches  and  made  very  fine -choosing  good 
weather  for  the  purpose  —when  another  dressing 
of  soot  and  some  approved  patent  manure 
should  be  given.  Afterwards  rake  over,  leaving 
the  surface  quite  fine  and  level. 

The  beds  should  be  marked  out  10  feet  in 
width,  allowing  a  good  broad  alley,  suSiciently 
wide  to  walk  between  comfortably  for 
watering  and  giving  the  necessary 
attention.  Mark  out  the  rows  about 
15  inches  apart,  and  allow  a  distance 
of  1  foot  from  jilant  to  plant.  The 
plants  should  have  been  brought 
forward  properly  hardened  off  and 
ready  for  transplanting  to  their  per- 
manent positions  as  early  in  the 
month  of  April  as  the  weather  will 
jiermit  ;  lift  with  a  garden  trowel, 
plant  firmly,  and  always  use  light 
boards  for  walking  on. 

E.  Beckett. 
(To  he  continued. ) 


come  under  my  notice  in  recent  years  was  some 
matter  collected  by  a  friend  in  1889  who  was 
engaged  in  the  work  of  the  China  Inland  Mission, 
much  of  which  appeared  at  that  time  in  the 
columns  of  a  contemporary.  Quite  recently 
we  have  seen  here  in  England  the  original 
Chrysanthemum  indicum  from  which  the  Chinese 
varieties  have  sprung.  It  is  a  small  Daisy-like 
flower,  and  many  people  appear  to  think  that  this 
was  the  species  originally  imported  into  Europe, 
and  that  it  has  been  improved  by  European  florists 
into  something  like  what  we  possess  to-day.  This, 
however,  is  not  the  case,  for  the  flower  had  been 
long  cultivated  in  Chinese  gardens  before  its  intro- 
duction into  Europe  by  M.  Blancard  of  Marseilles 
in  1789.  The  forerunner  of  our  popular  autumn 
favourite  was  a  cultivated  variety  of  good  size,  and 
was  known  as  the  old  purple  Chrysanthemum  by 
growers  of  the  period.  Od  looking  at  the  illustra- 
tion one  cannot  fail  to  notice  the  extreme  regularity 
of  the  plants,  a  feature  also  to  be  observed  in  many 
of  the  Japanese  collections,  and  the  evident  dis- 
budding, a  practice  long  since  adopted  by  Oriental 
gardeners,  and  borrowed  by  us  at  an  early  stage  in 
our  cultivation  of  the  Chrysanth'^mum. 

The  tickets  attached  to  the  plants  show  that  the 
Chinaman,  equally  with  liis  Western  conjn'/re,  pays 
some  attention  to  nomenclature.  We  do  not  learn 
that  they  ever  honour  their  friends  by  personal 
names  as  we  do  sometimes  unfortunately  here.  The 
sj'stem  adopted  by  Oriental  gardeners  is  rather  a 
mixture  of  the  descriptive  and  poetical  style,  and 
many  of  their  names  are  at  once  curious  and 
fanciful.  Hence  we  find  such  appellations  as  the 
Crj'stal  White,  the  Yellow  Tiger's-claw,  the  White 
Waves  of  Autumn,  the  Purple  Butterfly,  the  Yellow 
Gold  Thread,  Purple  Pheasant's-tail,  and  many 
similar.  In  an  English  translation  of  an  old 
Chinese  book  on  the  Chrysanthemum,  published 
considerably  more  than  a  century  ago,  I  find  a 
large  number  of  these  curious  names  together  with 
other  descriptive  matter.  Yellow  appears  to  be 
the  most  highly  appreciated  colour  by  the  Chinese, 
and  great  care  is  bestowed  upon  the  growth  of  the 
foliage  according  to  this  old  writer.  A  glance  at 
our  picture  will  show  that  the  modern  Chinaman  has 
not  departed  from  this  standard  of  excellence.  To 
ensure  the  best  results,  Chinese  gardeners  are 
believers  in  what  our  Continental  friends  call 
culture  inknsice,  and  Mr.  Fortune  tells  us  that  the 
compost   for   potting  is  generallj'  composed  of  the 


mud  from  ponds  where  the  Water  Lily  grows. 
This  is  allowed  to  dry  and  is  then  reduced  to  a 
powdered  state.  A  strong  manure,  not  usually 
used  in  this  country,  is  incorporated  with  it,  and 
the  whole  is  frequently  turned,  and  in  course  of 
time  is  fit  for  use.  During  the  whole  period  of 
growth  the  plants  are  watered  with  liquid  manure, 
a  practice  which  one  of  our  earliest  cultivators,  Mr. 
Wells,  of  P>edleaf,  said  that  he  borrowed  from  a 
Chinese  gardener.  C.  H.  Payne. 

COOKING  SWEDES. 

I  HAVE  read  two  or  three  paragraphs  in  The  (iARDE>f 
lately  about  this  plant  as  a  table  vegetable,  and  I 
wonder  very  much  it  is  not  more  used.  A  few 
years  ago  it  was  scarce,  but  now  it  can  be  bought 
at  all  good  greengrocers.  I  give  four  good  recipes 
for  cooking  this  root,  and  have  no  doubt  some  of 
your  readers  will  contribute  others.  The  tops  of 
this  Turnip  are  generally  cut  up  like  those  of 
the  white  Turnip  or  Cabbage,  but  if  rubbed  or 
pressed  through  a  wire  sieve  like  Spinach,  and  a 
little  butter  and  pepper  put  through  and  served 
very  hot,  it  is  quite  a  different  vegetable.  Mashed 
is  the  common  term,  but  again  there  is  all  the 
difference  when  put  through  an  American  presser. 
Another  waj-  is  to  serve  the  Turnip  cut  in  slices 
about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  one  slice  laid 
over  the  other,  fresh  butter  put  on  lightly  between 
with  a  dash  of  white  pepper,  pile  one  la3'er  on  top 
of  the  other  so  as  to  form  the  shape  of  a  large 
Turnip,  then  cut  down  through  in  four  pieces,  and 
serve  very  hot  with  fried  Parsley  as  a  garnish. 
They  are  also  good  if,  like  Parsnips,  they  are  three- 
parts  boiled,  cut  in  slices,  and  again  cut  into 
squares  and  fried.  This  is  verj'  nice  in  butter  or 
with  boiled  beef,  or  in  any  of  tlie  many  ways  for 
which  white  Turnips  are  used.  Years  ago  when 
Swedes  were  not  as  much  used  as  thej'  are  now,  in 
our  garden  at  Newry  we  alvva3-&  grew  Honey 
Turnips  for  table  use,  but  I  have  not  seen  this 
variety  for  many  years.  It  was  a  small  yellow 
Turnip.  A.  H.  Tyrkell. 


NOTES    FROM  SCOTLAND. 

Planting   Gladioli. 
At  one  time  a  not  uncommon  addition  by  horti- 
cultural advisers  was  the  formida,  "  It  may  be  a 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
IN   CHINA. 

FROM  a  correspondent  in  Chiua 
we  have  received  two  inter- 
esting photographs,  one  of 
which  we  here  reproduce. 
It  shows  a  collection  of 
the  popular  flower  in  its 
native  home,  and  is  therefore  interesting 
because  of  the  comparative  rarity  nowa- 
days of  anything  we  receive  concerning 
the  Chrysauthemum  as  grown  in  China. 
With  the  exception  of  what  we  know 
from  Robert  Fortune's  works,  the  only 
information  about   this  flower  that  has 


a   OUKVSANTHEJIU.M    SHOW    ON    THE   KACE-COUBSK   AT   EOOCHOW,    CHINA      (  Fiaiii  a  lihotuijraph  sent  bi/ JIi:  IVulijceJ 


190 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  22,  1901 


fortnight  later  in  .Sjotland."  Most  commonly  the 
reverse  would  have  been  correct,  for  many  things 
must  be  planted  or  sown  in  Scotland  earlier  than 
in  England  in  order  to  make  up  for  climatic  draw- 
backs. The  treatment  of  Gladioli  of  the  Ganda- 
vensis  section  as  well  as  most  of  the  Lemoinei  and 
Nanceianus  sections  is  a  case  in  point.  These  can 
be  planted  in  England  out  of  doors,  and  their  date 
of  flowering  somewhat  loosely  determined  according 
to  the  time  of  planting,  but  in  (Scotland  it  is  not 
so.  Shakespeare,  Penelope,  Marie  Lemoine,  and 
M.  de  la  Devansaye  are  varieties  that  in  most 
seasons  cauld  be  planted  where  they  are  to  flower, 
and  the}'  ^\"ould  do  so,  but  the  seasons  are  too 
short  for  the  majority  to  be  depended  on  either  to 
flower  or  to  form  new  corms.  Accordingly  it  has  for 
a  very  long  period  been  the  practice  of  those  who 
have  studied  the  requirements  of  these  autumn 
flowers  to  start  them  into  growth  under  glass,  and 
to  plant  when  danger  of  severe  frost  is  past. 
Many  err  in  starting  the  corms  too  early  in  the 
season,  so  weakening  the  spikes.  I  find  the  end  of 
March  or  beginning  of  April  quite  early  enough 
to  secure  a  sturdy  growth  and  abundance  of  roots 
for  planting  in  the  first  half  of  May,  for  even  if 
the  growths  are  caught  in  a  late  frost,  like  many 
other  plants  that  succumb  to  an  autumn  frost, 
these  do  not  suSer  from  an  ordinary  one  at  the 
beginning  of  the  season.  The  method  of  for- 
warding need  not  entail  much  labour,  and  as  a 
matter  of  fact  they  succeed  perfectly  well  placed 
almost  touching  in  ordinary  cutting  boxes,  rough  leaf 
soil  being  a  suitable  rooting  medium.  The  corms  do 
not  require  to  be  covered,  nor  is  an  abundant 
supply  of  water  to  be  commended.  When  ready  to 
plant  the  soil  should  be  somewhat  dry,  when  each 
corm  will  lift  with  all  its  roots  intact,  and  carefully 
planted  the}'  do  not  appear  to  suffer  any  bad  effects. 
These  Gladioli  are  all  capricious,  and  it  is  only 
possible  on  certain  soils  to  preserve  a  collection 
intact.  No  doubt  the  corms  become  worn  out, 
and  if  it  could  possibly  be  effected  a  succession 
raised  from  the  spawn  would  be  the  proper  method, 
but  many  kinds  fail  to  produce  spawn,  and  of  those 
that  doit  is  seldom  sufficiently  perfected  to  be  of 
any  use. 


THE     FLOWER    GARDEN. 

THE    VANISHING    BULB. 

IF  these  dear  little  punchy  gnomes,  with 
■whose  interesting  personalities  we  are 
most  of  us  acquainted  (in  terracotta), 
were  only  folk  of  fact,  how  u.seful  they 
might  be  to  us  in  our  gardens,  and  liow 
frequent  a  .sight  would  be  a  small  notice- 
board,  erected  for  their  benefit  and  inscribed 
with  some  such  temporary  legend  as  :  "  Lost 
or  strayed,  one  dozen  Lilium  auratum,  in  their 
second  year  ; "  or,  "  Lost,  planting  of  Mont- 
bretia  rosea  and  Siiaraxis  ;  liberal  reward  on 
returning  to  the  gardener." 

The  merry  little  men  are,  however,  gone  long 
since  to  those  inner  and  secret  fastnesses  that 
have  also  invited  the  Brownie,  who,  I  believe, 
fled  finally  and  most  mournfully  when  auto- 
matic carpet-sweepers  came  in,  and  when  we 
lose  our  garden  favourites  the  loss  is  one  by 
which  we  are  bound,  willy-nilly,  to  abide. 
Sometimes  it  is  our  own  fault—  always  a  truly 
consoling  reflection  of  course — as  when  we 
forget  to  house  the  hybrid  Gladioli,  and  they 
rot  away  under  the  combined  influence  of  wet 
and  frost,  Imt  more  usually  it  is  our  pure 
misfortune. 

In  my  garden  -which,  by  the  way,  will  in  a 
very  short  time  now  be  somebody  else's— if 
any  more  of  those  strange  and  weird  resuscita- 
tions take  place  that  I  have  known  to  occur  on 
several  occa.sions,  the  somebody  else  will  have 
some  pleasing  surprises.  I  have  often  )>lanted 
hardy  Cyclamens,  to  take  a  case  in  point,  and 
they  have  as  consistently  disappeared.  Fluc- 
tuation  between   all   sorts    of   theories   about 


their  elusion  ended  in  the  belief,  in  which  I 
remained  until  la.st  autumn,  that  the  field-mice 
liked  them  as  much  as  they  do  Squills,  which 
is  giving  a  verj'  sufficient  reason  for  their 
evanishment.  When  I  returned  to  my  garden, 
however,  after  a  long  absence,  last  September 
I  found  several  healthy  colonies  of  silver-grey, 
green,  and  pink-shaded  leaves,  some  of  them 
in  places  where  I  could  swear  I  had  not  planted 
them  at  any  time,  and  others  where,  or  where- 
about, I  have  dim  recollection  of  planting 
them  long  ago.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is 
not  now,  and  never  was,  sign  or  trace  in  the 
grass  round  an  Apple  tree  root  where  I  put  in 
half  a  dozen  C.  Coum  and  C.  europseum  two 
seasons  ago. 

The  behaviour  of  the  Dog's-tooth  Violet  is 
no  less  eccentric — in  fact  they,  as  far  as  my 
small  experience  goes,  equal  Snowdrops  in  this 
respect.  I  have  a  particular  afl'ection  for  the 
Erythronium  family,  and  have  set  some 
hunckeds  of  it  all  over  the  garden,  and  more 
especially  in  groups  at  intervals  along  one  wide 
wall-l:>acked  border,  the  whole  of  which  is  in 
precisely  similar  case  as  to  soil  and  sunshine, 
and  everything  else  of  the  kind.  Yet  there  are 
three  or  four  intensely  vigorous  clumps  of  the 
pink  and  yellow  gaily  together  in  one  spot, 
yearly  enlarging  their  borders,  and  not  a  single 
Violet  (he  who  so  named  them  had,  certes,  a 
vastly  poor  eye  for  affinities,  ^ince  they  are 
miles  nearer  the  Cyclamen  than  a  Violet,  and 
are,  perhaps,  more  like  a  Mimtbretia  in  shape 
of  flower  than  either)  elsewhere  in  the  bed. 
South  African  bulbs  would,  of  course,  rather 
disajipoint  the  gardener  than  otherwise  if  they 
all  and  always  came  up.  One  (juite  expects  a 
bed  of  Lxias  or  Sparaxis  —  but  the  latter  1 
find  infinitely  less  reliable  than  the  former — to 
show  caprice,  pointing  thickly  the  first  year, 
with  scattered  spears  the  second,  and  again  in 
battalions  the  third,  while  such  little  jewels  as 
the  Zephyranthes  would  lose  part  of  their 
charm  if  they  were  not  elusive.  But  there 
seems  an  unseemly  and  unbefitting  frivolity 
about  caprice  on  the  part  of  the  great  .solid 
bulbs  like  the  hardy  Crmums  and  Amaryllises. 
Not  that  mine  have  been  capricious,  although 
I  have  heard  them  so  described  by  others  ;  mine 
have  been  quite  consistent  ;  they  have,  one 
and  all,  steadfastly  declined  to  do  more  than 
spike  one  grudging  spindle  through  the  surface, 
and  afterwards  vanish,  so  far  as  any  appear- 
ance of  life  above  ground  goes.  They  have  had 
plenty  of  choice— light  .soil,  heavier  soil,  the 
soil  the  books  prescribe,  much  of  it,  little  of  it ; 
sun  to  baking,  the  warmest  corner  of  the 
garden  ;  sun  in  moderation,  the  favoured  ends 
of  the  newest  bed  ;  all  in  vain.  I  have  always 
coveted  Crinum  Powelli,  Amaryllis  Belladonna, 
the  .Jacobean  Lily,  and,  to  .jump  to  a  difi'ei'ent 
kind  of  thing  altogether,  the  white  and  that 
lovely  scarlet  wax  Turk's  Cap  Lily  (L.  chalce- 
donicum)  and  not  one  of  them,  try  as  I  may, 
have  I  ever  been  able  to  grow  in  the  very  least. 
It  must  be  pure  caprice,  because  I  can  get 
other  things  that  are  generally  supposed  to  be 
as  diiScult  — indeed  most  people  seem  to  think 
L.  chaleedonicum  easy  to  grow — to  do  well. 
Some  day  it  may  come  right  and  they  may 
yield  if  I  persevere.  This  I  am  encouraged  to 
hope,  because  it  was  so  long  before  I  could  get 
another  thing,  always  particularly  desired,  to 
do  any  good— St.  Bernard's  and  St.  Bruno's 
Lilies  — Anthericum  Liliago  and  A.  Liliastrum. 
Over  and  over  again  I  have  bought  them,  in 
spring  and  autumn,  and  ]ilanted  them  with 
every  sort  of  care  in  all  sorts  of  places  and  they 
always  vanished  until  last  year,  and  then  two 
clum]!.?,  from  two .  separate  nursery  gardens 
planted  in  two  quite  ditt'erent  places,  not,  how- 
ever, ditt'cring  from  those  I  had  tried  them  in 


before — both  flourished  and  grew  and  spread — 
and  flowered !  I  suppose  I  must  try  all  the 
other  missing  beauties  once  more  in  our  next 
new  garden,  which  will,  I  hope,  be  a  far  more 
permanent  one  than  any  we  have  so  far  en- 
joyed, and  may  it  only  not  be  with  that  result 
that  gives  the  every -ready  onlooker  and  critic 
opportunity  to  exclaim  for  the  five-thousandth 
time,  in  the  well-worn  but  ever-in  itant  formula, 
"  I  told  you  so  1  Throwing  good  money  after 
bad!"  M.  Leslie- Williams. 


THE    ROSE    GARDEN. 


PRUNING    ROSE    HEDGES. 

WHERE  these  have  become  bare  at 
the  base  now  is  the  time  to  take 
means  to  remedy  matters.  If 
the  plants  are  well  established 
needless  growths  may  be  cut 
down  level  with  the  ground  ;  in 
fact,  the  whole  hedge  could  be  so  treated  if  desired. 
Such  a  drastic  measure,  however,  will  rarely  be 
necessary.  The  unfurnished  condition  of  the  base 
of  a  hedge  can  often  be  attributed  to  a  bad  start. 
If  the  plants  were  pruned  severely  after  they  had 
been  planted  twelve  months  there  would  be  no 
reason  for  complaint  on  the  score  of  "bushiness." 
All  Rose  hedges  would  benefit  if  one  or  more  of 
the  oldest  growths  upon  each  plant  were  cut  down 
hard  each  season,  and  thereby  secure  a  constant 
succession  of  new  wood. 

Old  or  discarded  varieties  of  Roses  if  vigorous 
and  no  longer  required  ma}'  be  rebudded  with 
modern  ones,  but  steps  should  be  taken  now  to 
promote  new  wood.  With  such  plants  I  would 
advise  cutting  them  down  to  the  ground,  and  as 
new  shoots  develop  select  four  or  five  or  more  of 
the  best  to  be  budded. 

This  would  onl}'  appl}'  to  somewhat  young  plants. 
It  very  old  undoubtedly  the  best  plan  would  be  to 
replace  them  with  young  ones.  Overgrown  bushes 
of  Rosa  rugosa,  Scotch  Roses,  or  an}'  of  the  various 
species  and  varieties  not  grouped  with  the  show 
Roses  may  be  severely  pruned  now.  Painting 
over  the  cut  part  with  "knotting"  will  prevent 
loss  of  vigour  caused  by  "bleeding." 

ROSE  DUKE  OF  ALBANY  (H.P.). 

This  is  a  very  striking  Rose  in  point  of  colour,  and 
I  am  glad  to  find  it  is  gaining  in  popularity,  for  it 
is  a  variety  one  can  honestly  recommend.  Every 
Rose  that  is  brilliant,  and  a  good  free-flowering 
variety  as  well,  is  sure  of  a  welcome,  especially 
if  it  is  fragrant,  as  this  Rose  is.  Duke  of  Albany 
is  of  a  very  vivid  crimson,  something  in  the  way 
of  Prince  Arthur,  but  more  double.  The  beautiful 
velvety  black  shading  tends  to  enhance  the  scarlet- 
crimson  which  predominates.  It  is  of  excellent 
form,  scarcely  large  enough  perhaps  for  exhibition, 
although  I  ha\e  seen  flowers  that  would  help  a  box 
in  the  front  row  merely  only  for  colour,  but  the 
Rose  has  an  excellent  high  centre  also.  For 
autumn-flowering  Duke  of  Albany  is  well  to  the 
front  among  Hybrid  Perpetuals,  and  for  this  reason 
alone  I  can  recommend  it.  The  growths  have  a 
formidable  array  of  spines,  as  much  so  as  Marie 
Baumann,  of  which  probably  it  is  a  near  relation  ; 
the  foliage,  too,  is  something  in  the  same  way,  also 
the  habit.  P. 


ROSE  EUPHROSYNE  UNDER  GLASS. 

I  THINK  we  do  not  half  appreciate  these  lovely 
Rambler  Roses.  They  are  looked  upon  as  only 
suitable  for  the  outdoor  garden,  but  let  anyone 
grow  them  as  pillars  in  pots  and  they  will  be 
charmed  with  the  exquisite  miniature  blossoms. 
Especially  is  this  true  of  Euphrosyne,  the  Pink 
Rambler  as  it  is  sometimes  named.  The  young 
opening  flowers  are  of  a  clear,  bright  pink,  with  a 
wealth  of  golden  stamens,  and  on  the  same  panicle 
the  older  flowers  pale  oft'  to  two  or  three  shades  of 
pink.  Then,  too,  the  fragrance  is  so  distinct,  with 
that  spicy  peculiarity  of  the  tribe,  also  of  many 


March  22,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


191 


THE   MOCCASIN    FLOWER    (CYPKIPEDIUM   SPECTABILE)    IN'   THE    GARDEN    OF  THE   LATE   MR.    SEU'E    LEONARD, 

HITHEREDRY,    GUILDFORD 


and  during  mild  winters  as  early  as 
January,  especially  when  in  a  sunny 
position.  The  plant  is  \ery  hardy.  The 
double  form,  A.  amurensis  fl.-pl.  is 
also  very  pretty,  and  a  fine  plant.  Both 
these  Adonises  are  far  from  common  in 
gardens,  as  they  are  of  quite  recent  in- 
troduction from  China  ;  they  are  very 
easily  grown  in  any  fairly  good  garden 
soil  in  a  not  too  dry  and  exposed  posi- 
tion.— G.  Redthe. 

CYPKIPEDIUM  SPECTABILE. 
CvPRiPEDiuM  SPECTABILE,  popularly 
known  as  the  Moccasin  Flower,  is  the 
finest  and  most  easily  grown  of  all  hardy 
Cypripediums.  The  strong  growths, 
which  are  clothed  with  broad,  ample 
hispid  leaves,  frequently  exceed  .3  feet  in 
height  in  moist,  congenial  districts,  such 
as  Devon,  Ireland,  and  the  South- West, 
where  the  plants  form  immense  clumps 
yielding  several  hundred  Bowers  each 
season.  In  drier  and  colder  districts  its 
growth  is  much  restricted  —  a  plant 
18  inches  high  around  London  is  con- 
sidered a  good  specimen.  The  bold 
striking  flowers  are  fully  H  inches 
across,  borne  in  ones  and  twos,  and  are 
equal  to  those  of  many  exotics  in  beauty 
of  form  and  colouring.  They  have  broad, 
rounded  petals,  usually  wliite,  though 
often  tinted  with  pink  ;  the  round,  pouch- 
like lip,  the  size  of  a  small  Walnut,  is  of 
rosy  colouring,  var3'ing  also  in  tint.  Some 
specimens  are  quite  purple,  others  tinted 
pink  with  a  darker  veining.  The  plant 
has    such    a  vigorous   habit    that    culti- 


vators cannot  fail  to  grow  it  well 
of  the  Noisettes,  such  as  Aimee  Vibert.  Where  intermediate  between  A.  vernalis  and,  perhaps,  provided  they  choose  a  suitable  place.  The  hardy 
a  collection  of  hardy  shrubs  is  forced  I  cannot  see  A.  pyrenaica.  The  flowers  are  bright  yellow,  and  Cypripediums,  of  which  twelve  species— acaule, 
why  Roses  of  this  type  should  be  omitted.     Surely  I  appear  in  April.  I  pubescens,    montanum,     arietinum,    californieum, 

they  would  add  much  to  the  beauty  of  a  collection  I  A.  iralziana  is  probably  a  garden  form  with  more  I  capdidum,  and  Calceolus,  among  others,  are  good 
by  their  graceful  habit  and  immense  clusters  of  feathery  foliage  than  A.  vernalis,  and  has  tall' garden  plants — are,  I  fear,  too  little  understood  by 
blossom.     It  is  not  too  late  to  pot  up  plants  for   pyramid  stems   1    foot  to  2  feet  in  height,  and    "  "        '     '"      '  --i^:— .— -      m  .,i_-;ii- jii__ 

another  season.     Cut  them  back  to  about  1  foot  of    large,  bright  yellow  flowers. 

their  base  and  tie  up  the  new  growths  in   pillar  i      A.  pyrtnaica  is  the  best  of  the  European  species, 
form.     They  will  need  no  fu'-ther   pruning   until  |  combining  with  vigour  of  growth  great  freedom  of 

flowering.      The   large,  handsome  leaves  are  of  a 

light    green    colouring,    the    radical    ones    being 

usuallj'   long   stalked   and   finely    cut,    while   the 

canline  ones  are  quite  sessile.     When  the   plants 

are  well   established  or   in   their  natural  habitat 
|\|OTES   ON    HARDY   PLANTS  i  "^®y   ^°™^    ''°®  bushes  up   to  -Ih   feet  in   height. 


after  they  have  flowered  in  the  forcing  house. 

Philomel, 


the  majority  of  cultivators.  They  are  admittedly 
a  diflicult  group  of  plants  to  grow  in  all  soils  and 
situations.  A  substrata  of  lime,  a  hot,  dry 
position,  and  drying  winds  aie  all  inimical  to  their 
welfare.  Practical^,  strong  crowns  can  be 
flowered  once  anywhere,  but  unless  the  site  and 
rooting  medium  are  of  the  right  kind  the  plants 
speedily  dwindle  and  die  away. 

The  kind  of  places  one  would  suggest  as  likely 
to  suit  Cypripediums  are  moist  rockeries  facing 


I  the  beautiful  large  bright,  sometimes  deep  yellow, 
flowers  with  large  obtuse  petals.  The  plants 
appear  to  be  very  local  on  both  the  French  and 
Spanish  side  of  the  Pyrenees,  but,  owing  to 
injudicious  collecting,  had  quite  disappeared  in 
places  where  it  was  once  verj'  plentiful.  I  am, 
however,  glad  to  say  that  I  believe  only  a  small 
number  of  plants  grown  at  the  present  time  in 
English  gardens  are  collected,  as  they  can  easily 
be  raised  from  seeds.  Seedlings  are  certain  to 
grow  when  transplanted,  but  not  collected  tufts. 
My  own  experience  is  that  collected  plants,  even 
when  the  greatest  caJ-e  is  exercised,  unless 
collected  when  dormant,  frequently  die.  The 
proper  time  for  planting  is  during  the  winter  or 
earh'  spring.  The  best  soil  is  a  well-drained  loam 
in  a  fairly  moist  position,  and  the  soil  should 
contain  both  sufficient  humus  and  lime.  The 
instance,  on  the  limestone  formation,  or  what  plants  will  take  some  time  to  get  acclimatised, 
geologists  call  muschelkalk  of  Thuringia,  in  early  not  showing  their  true  beauty  until  two  or  three 
spring  (March  until  the  end  of  April)  some  of  the  years  have  elapsed  since  transplanting.  It  flowers 
damp  but  sunny  hillsides  are  ablaze  with  later  than  all  the  other  species,  usually  from  May 
thousands  of  these  large  yellow  flowers — a  glorious  till  July,  and  will  sometimes  produce  a  second 
sight  indeed.  They  are  nearly  all  bright  yellow-  ,  crop  of  flowers  in  the  autumn  if  the  weather  is 
coloured   in  some  places,  while  in  other  districts  '  wet  and  warm. 

their  shading  is  much  paler,  although  the  foliage  A,  amuren-nf:  is  undoubtedly  the  best  of  the 
is  the  same.  Another  peculiarity  is  their  tendency  perennial  Adonis.  It  has  been  so  well  figured 
to  doubling.  A.  vernalis  has  a  fibrous  rootstock  and  described  in  The  Garden  that  it  is  need- 
with  finely  cut,  multifid  leaves,  and  stems  about '  less  to  say  much  about  it  now.  The  foliage 
12  inches  to  18  inches  in  height.  The  flowers  are  ,  is  similar  to  that  of  A.  pyrenaica,  but  rather  more 
large,  with  ten  to  twenty,  sometimes  more,  large  i  pinnate  and  of  a  deeper  green.  The  stem  grows 
oblong  petals,  the  leaves  fully  developing  after  the  j  about  1  foot  to  3  feet  in  height,  and  is  much 
flower  is  past.  ■       branched  and  very  ornamental,  while  the  flowers  are 

A,    rolgensis    is    a    pretty    species,    apparentlj'    large,  deep  yellow,  and  appear  with  great  freedom, 


much  branched,  on  the  extremities   of  which   are  '  west,  the  shady  banks  of  small  streams,  and  among 


PERENNIAL   ADONIS. 

IF  the  different  species  of  Adonis  resemble 
each  other  very  much,  they  number,  never- 
theless, without  exception,  some  of  the  most 
showy,  distinct  as  well  as  desirable,  of  the 
natural  order  Ranunculacea;,  and  there  is 
not  a  single  species  or  variety  that  does 
not  deserve  to  be  cultivated.  All  are  of  easy 
culture,  usually  delighting  in  a  fairly  moist,  sunny 
position  in  soil  which  is  not  too  light,  although 
with  a  little  care  nearly  all  might  be  grown  in  any 
soil,  even  in  pure  sand. 

A.  rernalis  is  the  most  common  but  none  the 
less  a  pretty  plant  found  in  a  few  places  in  Great 
Britain,  but  still  more  plentiful  is  it  on  the 
Continent,    especially   in    Central    Europe.       For 


Ferns  in  the  hardy  fernery  ;  in  fact,  any  place 
where  hardy  woodland  Ferns  luxuriate  will  suit 
Cypripediums  to  a  nicet}'.  They  like  a  root  run  of 
leaf-soil  and  peat,  mixed  with  a  little  meadow 
loam  to  give  the  mass  solidity.  The  plantation 
should  be  made  in  small  hollows,  so  that  any  storm 
water  that  may  accumulate  may  flow  in  their 
direction,  but  the  site  must  be  sO  well  drained  that 
the  water  may  pass  away  as  freely  as  it  came.  In 
addition  to  these  conditions,  the  importance  of  a 
moist  atmosphere  must  not  be  overlooked.  Drying 
winds  speedily  cripple  Cypripediums  ;  in  fact,  it  is 
the  cause  of  most  failures  with  these  plants  ;  a  well- 
sheltered  position  is  absolutely  essential  for  them. 
They  are  most  effective  in  large  colonies,  and 
look  best  planted  well  in  front  of  bold  Ferns 
such  as  Athyriums,  with  slender  growing  Ferns 
about  and  among  them,  such,  for  instance,  as 
Onoclea,  the  finely-cut  Aspidiums,  some  of  the 
multi-lobed  Scolopendriums,  and  the  lovely  hardy 
Jlaidenhair,  well  porcrayed  in  The  Garden  of  the 
8th  inst.  Interest  could  be  further  maintained  by 
planting  moisture  -  loving  Primulas,  Trilliums, 
Erythroniums,  and  Omphalodes  verna,  with 
patches  of  Lysimachia  Nummularia  to  hide  the 
soil.  A  representative  colonj'  of  Cypripediums, 
growing  in  association  with  a  selection  of  the 
plants  1  have  noted,  should  prove  as  attractive  as 
any  race  of  plants  one  could  mention.  Those  who 
have  no  sheltered  nook  or  corner  wherein  to  plant 
Cypripediums  may  grow  them  well  enough  in  pots 
or  pans  in  frames  or  cold  greenhouses.  The  fine 
groups  of  the  plants  annually  exhibited  at  the 
great  Temple  show  are  examples  of  what  can  be 


192 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[Makch  22,  1902. 


API'LE   BEAUTY   OF   STOKE. 


(On'gttml  2|  inches  hijh,  'yjnches  wide.) 


done  in  this  direction.  They  require  shade  and  a 
moist  atmosphere,  and  will  not  grow  without 
them. — G.  B.  Mai.lett. 

NOTES  FROM  BAHEN-BADEN. 

The  first  greeting  of  spring  was  given  me  by  the 
Howers  of  Crocus  Sieberi  var.  atticus,  which  opened 
on  Januarj'  2.  It  is  a  handsome  species,  of  a  pleasing 
form  and  outline,  with  flowers  of  a  bright  deep 
purple  colour.  After  this  came  Iris  histrioides  alba, 
which  is  quite  a  gem  ;  flowers  of  a  pure  satiny- white 
with  orange-yellow  marking.s.  Varieties  of  Iris 
reticulata  have  been  in  bloom  for  some  time.  I  may 
mention  I.  r.  alba,  a  small  but  showy  flower;  Aspasia 
with  larger  flowers  than  reticulata  major  and 
of  a  different  and  more  violet  colour  ;  Melusine  is 
a  bright  sky  blue  ;  Ariadne  might  be  called  rainbow 
coloured  ;  Negro  is  almost  black.  Scilla  bifolia 
splendens  has  brighter  coloured  flowers  than 
bifolia  tauriea,  and  is  a  fortnight  earlier.  Hepatica 
angulosa  nivea  I  value  very  much;  it  is  somewhat 
later  than  alba,  but  the  flowers  are  more  sturdy, 
better  in  shape,  and  of  a  purer  white. — Max 
Leichtltn,  Bailfit-Badeii. 


HARDY  FRUITS  IN  SEASON. 

BEA.UTy  OF  Stoke. 

This  is  an  Apple  of  large  size,  although  not 
one  of  the  largest.  It  is  of  a  greenish  russety 
colour,  not  so  handsome  as  many  others,  still  it 
is  much  liked  even  for  market  by  those  who 
understand  its  excellent  cooking  qualities,  as 
well  as  its  certain  and  heavy  bearing  pro]  jerties. 
It  succeeds  well  either  as  a  standard  in  the 
orchard  or  a  bush  or  pyramid  in  the  garden. 
It  is  in  season  from  Christmas  to  April.  First- 
class  certificate,  Eoyal  Horticultural  Society. 
The  accompanying  illustration  conveys  an 
excellent  idea  of  the  size  and  outline  of  this 
fruit.  Owen  Thomas. 

LATE  APPLES. 
As  a  keen  reader  of  the  articles  in  The  Garden 
on  Hardy  Fruit  Culture  from  time  to  time,  I  would 
like  to   make  a  comment   on  an   article  in   The 
Garden  on  the  a2ndult.,  from  "  P.  K,"  County 


Cavan.  Your  correspondent  there  remarks  that 
the  Apple  New  Northern  Greening  is  worthless  as 
a  late  keeper.  In  County  Cavan  it  may  be  so,  but 
the  variety  which  I  grow  under  that  name  I  find  to 
be  one  of  my  very  best  keepers.  Next  to  the  other 
one  he  mentions,  Hanwell  Souring.  Were  it  not 
that  I  have  seen  the  same  variety  selling  under  the 
same  name  in  London  at  the  latter  end  of  May  I 
would  have  had  some  doubts  about  my  variety 
being  correctly  named.  In  the  hope  that  you  may 
be  able  to  set  this  at  rest  I  forward  you  a  specimen 
along  with  this  forj'our  opinion.  We  are  situated 
at  an  altitude  of  300  feet,  on  a  poor  gravelly  subsoil, 
a  rainfall  above  the  average,  but  well  exposed  to 
the  sun,  and  a  fine  season  such  as  1901  just  suited 
our  locality  and  coloured  our  fruit  well. 

Perthihire.  Strathallak. 

We  sent  the  fruit  to  "  I).  K.,"  who  writes  : — "  I 
have  received  the  Apple  which  Mr.  Collins  has 
been  kind  enough  to  send  for  inspection.  It  bears 
a  certain  resemblance  to  the  New  Northern 
Greening  as  I  have  it,  but  differs  in  several 
particulars.  Mine  is  a  much  broader  and  less  high 
Apple,  has  not  the  depression  at  the  crown 
which  his  has,  and  is  without  the  twirl  at  the 
stalk  so  like  what  one  sees  in  many  of  the  Pippin 
race.  It  evidently  is  a  very  much  later  keeping 
variety  than  mine,  which  gets  quite  j'ellow  before 
Christmas.  I  got  mine  from  Merryweather,  Notts. 
It  certainly  is  a  curious  thing  if  difference  of  soil 
and  climate  should  so  entirely  alter  the  character 
of  the  same  Apple.  Mine  is  a  deep,  damp, 
retentive  soil  and  cold  clay  subsoil ;  the  situation 
of  my  garden  is  low  and  on  the  level  of  a  large 
lake,  so  the  conditions  are  very  diverse.  //"  the 
Applet  are  the  name,  differences  being  due  to  soil 
and  climate,  and  if,  as  Mr.  Collins  .'says,  //;'<  keeps 
well  into  May,  I  should  say  the  Old  Northern 
Greening  ought  to  keep  with  him  almost  for  ever." 


EARLY  FLOW^ERING     CHRY- 
SANTHEMUMS. 

Some  Octoeer-fi.owerino  Kinds. 
In  reply  to  the  request  of  "  R.  K."  for  the  names  of 
the  best  small-flowered  October  decorative  kinds, 
introduced   during   the   last   five  years,  including 
a'so  the  best  sports  from   the    popular  .Japanese 


Mme.  Marie  Masse,  a  doubt  ai;pes  as  to 
whether  the  plants  are  intended  for  border 
culture  or  otherwise.  The  early  and  semi- 
early  free  -  flowering  Chrysanthemums  are 
essentially  for  outdoors,  and  make  a  bright 
display  for  often  three  months.  When  grown 
in  pots  the  plants  do  not,  as  a  rule,  compare 
with  those  in  the  border,  their  vigorous  roots 
appearing  to  resent  restriction.  The  follow- 
ing are  all  very  beautiful : — 

Ci'imnon  Marie  Manse. — A  chestnut-crimson 
sport  from  Mme.  Marie  Masse,  the  flowers 
passing  with  age  to  a  rich  deep  bronze  colour. 
The  plant  commences  to  flower  in  August, 
and  continues  to  do  so  well  into  October. 

Horace  Martin. — This  is  the  latest  addition 
to  the  Mme.  Marie  Masse  family  of  plants, 
and  is  described  b}'  the  raiser  as  a  rich 
golden-yellow  sport.  It  may  be  regarded  as 
the  most  valuable  of  the  series.  As  exhibited 
during  the  past  season  the  plant  is  otherwise 
ioejitical  with  the  parent. 

Bohliie  Burns.  —  Still  another  sport  from 
Mme.  Marie  Masse,  the  colour  being  a  pleasing 
shade  of  salmon -pink.  Either  in  the  open 
border  or  in  large  handsome  bunches  it  is  most 
effective. 

lialjih  Curtis. — This  is  a  rich  cream  sport 
from  Mme.  Marie  Masse  ;  the  flowers  become 
almost  white  with  age.  Like  other  members 
of  the  same  family  ir,  blooms  profusely,  its 
season  being  of  long  duration,  while  the  habit 
of  growth  is  satisfactory. 

Myehett  Pink. — A  charming  plant,  with  soft 
pink  flowers,  and  not  more  than  IS  inches 
high,  with  the  flowers  developed  on  a  good, 
stout,  erect  footstalk  ;  it  blooms  quite  freely. 

Irene  Hunt. — This  is  a  pretty  flower,  chest- 
nut and  gold  in  colour,  and  most  effective  in 
the  border  ;  it  is  about  3  feet  high.    It  is  somewhat 
uncertain  in  its  growth  in    the  early  season,   but 
ultimately  develops  into  a  good  plant. 

Ryerroft  Sciirhl. — For  mid-October  this  is  very 
effective,  and  to  be  seen  at  its  best  should  be  par- 
tially di.sbudded.  The  colour  is  a  brilliant  crimson  ; 
it  is  branching  and  compact  in  growth,  and  about 
18  inches  high.  Unfortunately,  the  stock  in  com- 
merce is  much  mixed,  but  the  true  variety  is  in- 
valuable. 

Mme.  Ca.'iiitiir  Perier. — This  variety  was  dis- 
tributed in  the  spring  of  1896,  and  for  September 
and  October  flowering  is  most  valuable.  It  blooms 
profusely,  developing  beautiful  flowers,  pink,  tinted 
white  ;  its  habit  is  branching,  and  the  height  about 
2i  feet. 

Xotaire  Uro-... — A  delightful  plant,  bearing  in- 
numerable silvery-mauve  pink-coloured  flowers  of 
pleasing  form.  In  early  October  the  first  flowers 
may  be  gathered,  and  the  display  is  maintained 
until  the  frost.  The  plant  requires  plenty  of  room, 
as  it  makes  very  free  growth,  and  grows  4  feet  high. 
Franeois  Vnil/ermet. — Like  the  two  sorts  pre- 
ceding it,  this  variety  was  sent  out  in  1896.  It  is 
dwarf  and  branching  in  growth,  and  flowers  freely. 
The  colour  is  lilac-rose.  It  comes  into  flower  in 
September  and  continues  well  into  October.  Height 
about  2  feet. 

De  la  (Inille. — Little  has  been  heard  of  this 
variet}',  although  distributed  so  far  hack  as  I89(). 
Its  flowers  are  very  charming,  of  a  distinct  shade 
of  rich  apricot  and  freely  developed.  The  planti  i 
bushy  and  sturdy,  and  attains  a  height  of  about 
2J  feet.     It  is  an  ideal  ( Jctober  flowering  varietj'. 

Iry  Stark, — Those  who  know  Source  d'Or  will  be 
pleased  with  this ;  the  flowers  are  similar  in 
form,  and  the  colour  may  be  described  as  orange- 
yellow.  Its  period  of  flowering  is  September  and 
October,  and  the  plant  rarely  exceeds  2i  feet  in 
height.     Should  be  slightly  disbudded. 

Mile.  (Ininehirlean. — This  is  another  of  the  better 
September  and  October  flowering  varieties  ;  the 
flowers  are  rather  larger  than  those  of  many  other 
sorts,  the  colour  being  a  deep  silver}'  pink.  Habit 
branching  and  sturdy ;  height  about  3  feet  or 
rather  less. 

Eva  Williaiii.i. — A  sport  from  Mile.  Guindudeau  ; 
the  colour  is  a  charming  combination  of  cerise  and 
flesh-pink.  In  other  respects  the  plant  is  identical 
with  the  parent. 


March  23,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


193 


Mychett  While. — This  is  without  doubt  the  best 
of  the  early  white  Japanese  varieties.  It  is  at 
its  best  during  the  latter  part  of  September  and 
throughout  October,  and  the  flowers  are  then  very 
welcome.  Unfortunately,  its  constitution  is  not 
over  robust,  and  for  this  reason  it  would  be  wise  to 
take  special  measures  to  preserve  the  old  stools  in 
hard  weather.  It  is  free  flowering  and  branching, 
and  about  2h  feet  high. 

Market  White. — Another  excellent  pure  white 
variet}',  coming  into  flower  during  the  early  days 
of  October.  It  is  a  free-flowering  plant,  bushy  in 
growth,  and  about  24  feet  high. 

While  Qiiintus. — This  variety  has  been  included 
because  of  its  value  for  late  October  displays.  The 
flowers  are  of  purest  white,  and  the  plant  is  vigorous 
and  very  free.  It  is  named  White  Quintus,  being 
a  sport  from  0.  J.  Quintus. 

Satitifiction. — This  is  of  recent  introduction,  and 
has  pretty  little  ivory-white  flowers,  with  cream- 
coloured  centre.  The  plant  is  dwarf,  branching 
and  free-flowering.  Period  of  blossoming,  Septem- 
ber and  early  October. 

Godfrey's  Pet. — An  introduction  of  last  season, 
and  a  welcome  addition  to  the  bright  yellow 
Japanese  varieties  for  late  September  and 
October.  Each  flower,  when  the  plant  is  slightly 
disbudded,  is  useful  for  cutting.  Very  dwarf, 
bushy  habit. 

Harmony. — This  is  another  variety  for  late 
September  and  October  ;  it  has  bronzy  terra-cotta 
flowers,  and  is  of  dwarf,  bushy  habit. 

Ryecroft  Crimson. — A  useful  addition  to  the 
October  flowering  .Tapanese  sorts.  The  flowers  are 
crimson,  of  a  reddish  shade.  The  plant,  which  is 
about  3  feet  high,  should  be  disbudded.  Bushy, 
sturdy  habit.  D.  B.  Crane. 


giJKYSOLIDOCAKPIJS  LDTESCENS   IN   A  JAMAICA  GAKDBN. 


A  DAY  IN  A  JAMAICA  GARDEN. 

(Continued  from  page  173.) 
Crotons  of  simple  kinds  go  well  in  the  Aster 
quarter,  not  those  crimped,  curled,  apparently 
burnt  and  ugly  specimens  in  which  collectors  find 
consolation  because  they  are  varieties,  but  honest 
clean  greens-and-whites  and  greenf-and-yellows. 
Some  add  just  a  hint  of  brownish  red  not  unaccept- 
able. White  Zinnias  look  well  in  this  company. 
Their  white  is  beautiful,  beginning  with  a  tinge  of 
green  and  always  good  to  the  end.  On  the  other 
side  of  the  Crotons  we  take,  up  red  again  with 
Salvias.  Zinnias  in  warm  pinks  and  pale  yellows 
companion  them,  and  there  are  yellow  Plume 
Celosias. 

Hibiscuses  are  at  their  best.  Nothing  is  finer 
than  these  glorious  shrubs,  and  there  is  such  a 
variety  in  good  colouring  from  red  to  yellow  and 
white  and  all  shades  between.  Some,  too,  to  be  found 
in  bad  pinks  by  the  careless  or  collecting.  A 
salmon-bu£f  with  claret  e3'e  has  a  post  of  honour  on 
a  piece  of  turf  to  itself  and  the  old  red  is  freely 
used  for  it  is  as  handsome  as  any.  The  most 
astonishing  of  them  is  the  great  double  red.  It  is 
incredibly  large  and  so  free  flowering. 

Roses  are  not  admitted  in  large  numbers  to  the 
garden  round  the  house.  Two,  however,  are  very 
useful,  a  small  crimson  Monthly  and  William  Allen 
Richardson.  The  first  makes  patches  on  sleep, 
burning  banks  minding  nothing  in  the  way  of  heat ; 
the  second  grovvs  as  a  standard,  who^e  weeping 
habit  gives  semi-shade  to  things  below.  It  is  never 
out  of  bloom  the  whole  year  through.  The  crimfon 
Monthly  grows  about  5  feet  high,  and  is  cut  down 
to  the  roots  every  now  and  then  with  the  cutlass. 
Ill  a  few  days  there  are  young  shoots  with  copperj' 
leaves,  and  in  less  than 
a  month  it  is  in  flower 
again.  It  is  the 
readiest  to  part  with 
its  scent  of  all  the 
Roses  and  sends  its 
perfume  far.  Not  only, 
has  it  a  delicious  Rose 
smell,  but  there  is  the 
added  spicy  aroma  of 
the  almost  stick}' 
calyx.  The  combina- 
tion of  these  two 
results  in  a  perfume 
which  nobody  who  can 
have  it  would  willingly 
omit  from  his  garden. 

A  striking  winter 
plant  is  Reinwardtia 
trigyna.  It  is  massed 
at  the  foot  of  the  two 
Cotton  trees  which 
overshadow  the  lawn 
and  stretch  their  huge 
arms  almost  over  the 
house,  and  throughout 
November,  December, 
and  the  earlier  days 
of  January  displays  its 
lovely  pure  j'ellow. 
For  the  rest  of  the 
year  it  forms  an  irre- 
gular belt  of  unobtru- 
sive greenery. 

The  dry  months 
before  us  suit  the 
Geraniums.  These 
have  looked  unhappy 
at  times  during  the 
October  rains  which 
turn  their  leaves  yel- 
low. They  are  now 
restored  to  healthy 
green,  and  will  soon 
take  a  prominent  part 
in  the  beautifying  of 
the  borders.  C  o  n  - 
siderable  experience  is 
necessary  to  determine 
the  best  kinds.  Many 
are  discouraged  by 
over    much    sun,   and 


most  will  not  thrive  at  all  in  shade.  The  ten- 
dency is  here  as  with  the  Roses  to  reduce  rather 
than  to  increase  the  number  of  varieties,  keeping 
only  those  that  do  best. 

The  evening  is  closing  in  and  I  can  hardly  see  to 
make  notes  in  my  book,  fet  there  is  light  enough 
to  distinguish  the  fine  foliage  of  Begonia  ricinifolia 
against  the  stone  steps  and  trails  of  red  and  yellow 
Nasturtiums  still  show  something  of  their  "colour 
as  the}-  droop  over  the  walls,  and  as  I  stoop  I  touch 
my  old  favourite  Ivy-leaved  Toad-flax,  so  often 
referred  to  as  submitting  cheerfully  to  the  changed 
conditions  it  meets  here  and  as  adapting  itself  so 
perfectly  to  its  new  home. 

Quite  distinct  still  is  the  neat  bush  of  a  small 
Tabernasmontana  always  covered  with  white 
flowers  like  those  of  Trachelospermuni,  the  Rhyn- 
eospermum  of  former  days.  It  is  associated  with 
bushes  of  Rosemary,  so  placed  as  to  touch  the  path 
and  give  out  their  grateful  fragrance  as  we  brush 
past. 

And  now  nothing  is  to  be  seen  but  the  white 
flowers,  a  Bermuda  Lily,  which  has  mistaken  its 
time,  Arum  Lilies  bordering  the  rill,  a  white 
Meyenia,  and  looking  fkywards  tiie  grand  leaves 
of  a  Bread-fruit  and  the  heads  of  Palms.  And  so 
the  day  in  the  garden  comes  to  an  end.  It  is  past 
but  not  regretted,  for  it  has  been  a  happy  day  of 
peaceful  enjoyment,  in  which  no  unkind  word  has 
been  spoken,  no  unkind  thought  harboured.  The 
boys  and  their  master  go  to  dinner  satisfied  with 
each  other  and  with  themselves.  W.  J. 

Port  Royal  Mountains  (2,000  feet),  .Jamaica. 


THE     FERN     GARDEN. 


HARDY    FERNS. 


M 


ARCH  is  undoubtedly  the  best  month 
for  putting  the  hardy  fernery  in 
order  for  the  season,  as  after  the 
long  winter  rest  they  are  in  the  most 
vigorous  condition  to  withstand  the 
disturbance  occasioned  by  shifting  or 
dividing.  The  new  crop  of  fronds,  moreover,  is 
still  snugly  ensconced  within  the  crowns,  while  in 
the  ease  of  evergreen  ones,  if  the  fronds  are  a  little 
knocked  about  by  the  operation,  they  are  speedily 
replaced  by  fresh  ones,  and  hence  the  new  season's 
growth  repairs  the  damage.  With  such  evergreens, 
however,  the  still  green  and  living  fronds  should  be 
retained  as  far  as  possible,  since  they  undoubtedly 
contribute  a  quota  of  support  to  the  new  growth, 
besides  aftbrding  some  protection  to  outside  plants. 
If  we  examine  such  plants  as  are  in  the  open,  we 
find  the  winter  winds  and  snows  have  laid  the 
fronds  prostrate  and  possibly  damaged  them  a  good 
deal,  but  as  a  rule  we  shall  see  that  the  inside  of 
the  crown  or  growing  centre  has  been  covered  up 
by  frondage  and  leafy  debriu  which  when  lifted 
shows,  especially  in  the  Shield  Fern,  a  plump 
whitish  mass  of  incipient  fronds,  beneath  which  a 
closer  scrutiny  will  show  a  number  of  active  roots 
proceeding  fi-om  the  base  of  the  crown  into  the 
soil.  Common-sense  will  tell  us  at  once  that  to 
clear  this  protection  away,  and  expose  these  tender 
growths  of  both  kinds  to  the  almost  inevitable  keen 
dry  winds  peculiar  to  the  month  of  March,  is  a 
positive  cruelty,  and  involves  an  almost  certain 
severe  check.  Hence,  in  any  shifting  or  partial 
clearance  of  debris,  care  should  be  taken  to  mulch 
anew  with  some  loose  leafy  material  so  as  to  main- 
tain such  protection  until  the  new  roots  are  well 
established  and  the  fronds  evidence  this  by  pushing 
up  of  their  own  accord,  as  they  will  do  in  April. 
Wherever  Ferns  of  the  shuttlecock  persuasion, 
that  is,  those  which  throw  up  a  circle  of 
fronds  round  a  central  core,  have  formed 
clumps  of  numerous  crowns  by  producing 
offsets,  it  is  always  advisable  to  remove  these 
offsets  and  leave  a  single  crown  only.  Single 
crown  Ferns  are  always  far  and  away  handsomer 
and  more  robust  than  members  of  a  crowd.  Their 
particular  varietal  character  is  enhanced  and  their 
beauty  increased  by  the  fact  that  we  get  a  sym 
metrical  all-round  plant  instead  of  a  bunch  in 
which  the  fronds  are  intermingled  and  distorted. 
These  offsets  can  usually  be  easily  removed  by  a 


194 


THE    GARDEN. 


[MAKCn  22,  1902. 


blunt  instrument  being  inserted  between  them  and 
the  parent  crown,   when  they  come  away  with  a 
bunch  of   independent  roots  and   easily  establish 
themselves   when  replanted,   or    the    whole  plant 
may  be  lifted  with  a  fork  and  the  offsets  pulled 
away.      These   remarks   apply   to   Listreas   (male 
Ferns),  Polystichums  (Shield  Ferns),  and  Alhyria 
(Lady  Ferns)  or  Buckler,  all  of  which  are  strong 
growers  of  the  shuttlecock  type.     It  occasionally 
happens  that  the  plants  multiply  their  crowns  by 
division  instead  of  by  side   shoots  or  offsets,  the 
central  crown  itself  dividing   into   two.     In   this 
case  it  is  necessary  to  wait  until  each  crown  has 
grown   apart  from    the   other,   leaving   a   sort   of 
Siamese  twin   connexion  between  the  two.     This 
njnnexion    must    then    be    severed    by    a    knife, 
cutting,  however,  as  little  as  possible  and  aiding 
the   division    by   a   gentle  pull,   when,  as  in   the 
other   case,    each   one   will  come  awa}'  as  an  in- 
dependent   growth,    bearing    its    own    system   of 
roots.     Care  must  be  taken  in  this  operation  not 
to  squeeze  the  crowns  or  the  succeeding    fronds 
might  be  damaged.     Those  Ferns  which  naturally 
form  masses  by  means  of  spreading  roots,  such  as 
the  Polypodies,   are  best  left  undisturbed,  but  if 
it    be    desired    to    multiply    them    the     creeping 
rootstocks   cin   be   severed   here   and    there    and 
pulled  apart,  every  piece  with  a  growing  top,  a 
frond  or  two,   and   a  few  roots  being  capable  of 
making   a   specimen    in   time.       With    the    Poly- 
slichuras  many  of  the  finer  sorts,  that  is,  the  fine!}' 
cut  varieties,   have  a   habit    of   producing   young 
plants  by  bulbils  on  the  frond  stalks  near  the  base, 
and  when  clearing  away  the  old  fronds  it  is  well  to 
examine  them   for  these  ;  when   found,  they  may 
either  be  pegged  down,  leaving  a  few  inches  of  the 
old  frond  stalk  attached   to  the  old  plant,  or  the 
frond    base    may    be    cut   off   and    the   plantlets 
inserted   in   small   pots   or   pans,    where,    if   kept 
fairly  close  for  a  time,  they  will  root  and  establish 
themselves.    The  so-called  proliferums  or  acutilobe 
section  of  the  Shield  Fern  bear  such  bulbils  some- 
times all  the  way  up  the  frond,  which  then  only 
needs  severing  and  pegging  down  in  good  compost 
to  produce  a  batch  of  youngsters  which  later  on, 
when  rooted,  can  be  divided  and  potted  separately. 
Ferns  in  pots  should  be  treated  on  similar  lines 
as  regards  divisions,  and   if  pot-bound  should  be 
shifted  into  larger  sizes,  not,  however,  into  much 
larger  ones,   as  Ferns,    like   all   other  plants,  are 
injured  by  over-potting.     A  good    general  rule  is 
to  leave  just  room  for  the  fingers  between  the  old 
root  mass  and  the  new  pots.    It  is  also  a  good  time 
for  cleaning  pots  and  pans,  as  this  is  better  done 
before    the  Ferns    start    than    afterwards,    when 
damage   is   easily   done   to   the   new   growth.     In 
planting  fresh  divisions,  it  is  well  to  do  so  fairlj' 
firmlj',  and  to  water  well   in,  whether  in  pots  or 
out  of  doors,  and  when  potting  to  use  at  first  such 
sizes  as  will  only  just  accommod.ate  the  roots.  Good 
drainage  is  essential,  and  a  compost  of  good  leaf- 
mould  or  fibrous  peat,  one  part  yellow  loam,    and 
one  part  coarse  road  sand  or  silver-sand — half  a  part 
suits   best   for   general   use.     This   should  not   be 
sifted,  a  rather  lumpy  condition  below,  mulched 
with  a  little  finer  material  on  top  is  best.     Ferns  of 
the  Polypody  habit,  with  travelling  rootstock,  do 
not  like    being   buried,  and   under   glass  are  best 
grown   in    shallow   pans,    standing   on    a    smaller 
saucer,    which     retains     surplus     water    without 
saturating   the   soil.        Finally,    if    there   be   any 
vermin  such  as  white  fly,  thrips,  or  aphis  destroy 
all  old    fconds   which    were   discoloured    by   their 
presence  last  season,  as  these  are  sure  to  bear  the 
eggs    for    a    new    generation.      In     repotting    the 
plants   keep   a   good    look   out    for   weevil   grubs 
among  the  roots,  and  if  any  of  the  Ferns,  such  as 
Hirt's-tougues,     display    loose     fronds     detached 
altogether  from  the  crown,  it  is  certain  such  grubs 
are  busy,  and  it  is  best  to  wash  th's  roots  perfectly 
clean,  picking  out  the  grubs  as  it  is  done,  since  other- 
wise they  will  not  only  never  rest  until  the  Fern  is 
demolished,  but  will  be  succeeded  by  a  crop  of  egg- 
laying  and  frond-destroying  weevil  beetles  in  the 
season  to  come.     As  this  is  one  of  the  worst  pests 
when  once  it  gets  a  foothold,  no  trouble  must  be 
spared  to  oust  it. 

Finally,  again,  if  you  go  in  for  hardy  Ferns,  grow 
only  good  varieties,  and  do  not  waste  time  on  the 


common  ones.  What  those  varieties  are  our  columns 
have  repeatedly  taught,  and  as  they  are  incom- 
parably more  beautiful  than  the  raw  material 
vended  by  the  street  hawker,  and  yet  quite  as 
hardy  and  easy  to  grow,  it  is  obviously  nothing 
less  than  foolish  to  devote  time,  trouble,  and  space 
to  inferior  types. 

Chas.  T.  Druery,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H. 


RECENT    PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The     Botanical     Magaziw,      for     February      has 
portraits  of  the  following  : — 

Montrichardia  acideata,  a  native  of  the  West 
Indies  and  Amazon  River.  This  is  also  known 
under  the  synonyms  of  M.  arborescens,  M.  arborea, 
Caladium  arborescens,  and  Philodendron  arboreum. 
It  is  a  large,  tall,  coarse-growing  plant  with  a  big 
white  spathe  and  green  base.  It  resembles  an 
arborescent  L'alla,  and  is  only  of  botanical  interest. 

Plectranthui  Mahoiii,  a  native  of  British  Central 
Africa.  This  is  also  known  as  Coleus  Mahoni.  It 
somewhat  resembles  the  beautiful  Coleus  ihyr- 
soideus,  but  has  more  open  bunches  of  spikes  of 
flowers,  which  are  also  of  a  lilac-purple  shade  of 
colour. 

Mink-ekrsia  hiflora,  a  native  of  Mexico.  A  curious 
trailer,  bearing  dull  purple  flowers  in  pairs. 

Calathea  croca/a,  a  native  of  Brazil.  This  is  a 
fine  plant  of  the  Maranta  family,  with  handsome 
foliage,  green  above  and  purple  underneath  ;  it 
bears  show_v  inflorescence  of  a  deep  orange  shade  of 
colour. 

SolaiiKm  Xa7ili,  a  native  of  California.  This  is 
a  beautiful  species  of  slender  habit  of  growth, 
bearing  bunches  of  light  purple  flowers. 

The  first  number  of  the  Paris  Berne  Hortirole 
for  February  contains  a  portrait  with  full  descrip- 
tion by  the  editor,  M.  Andre,  of  a  new  hybrid 
Rose  raised  by  M.  Gravereau,  and  named  Rose 
a  parfum  de  L'Hay.  It  is  the  result  of  a 
first  crossing  of  the  Damask  Rose  with  the  hybrid 
perpetual  General  .Jacqueminot,  and  secondly  of  the 
product  of  this  cross  with  R.  rugosa  Germanica. 
The  final  result  is  one  of  the  sweetest  perfumed 
Roses  known,  with  medium-sized  red  flowers,  which 
are  continuously  produced  during  the  entire 
summer  and  autumn.  When  obtainable  in  quantity 
this  variety  is  likel}'  to  be  most  valuable  for  the 
manufacture  of  the  otto  of  rose  so  necessary  for 
perfumes  of  all  sorts,  which  has  now  to  be  almost 
entirel}'  imported  from  Bulgaria  and  Turkey, 
except  a  small  quantity  extracted  at  Grasse  near 
Cannes  in  the  department  of  the  Maritime  Alps. 

The  February  number  of  the  Heme  de  Vftorti- 
cn/tnre  BeJije  contains  portraits  of  a  fine  doubb- 
flowered  Indian  Azalea  Mile.  Emma  Eskhaute 
and  a  most  distinctly  variegated  trailing  foliage 
plant  named  Ficus  radicans  variegata,  which  will 
doubtless  be  useful  for  hanging  baskets.  [We 
regret  that  this  has  been  accidentally  delajed. — 
Eds.] 

The  March  number  of  the  Botanical  Matjazine 
contains  portraits  of  Passifloraambiyiia,  a  native  of 
Nicaragua.  This  is  a  fine  large  flowered  handsome 
species,  which  bloomed  in  the  Palm  house  at  Kew 
in  19(11.  It  so  closely  resembles  P.  maliformis  and 
P.  laurifolia  that  it  may  be  a  hybrid  between 
them. 

Jastminum  ilainijayi,  a  native  of  Penang.  This 
species  has  bunches  of  pure  white  flowers,  which 
closely  resemble  those  of  the  well  known  .J.  gracil- 
limum. 

Ma-tdecdUia  elephanticepf,  a  native  of  New 
Grenada.  This  is  also  known  under  the  synonym 
of  M.  gargantua.  It  is  a  handsome  large-flowered 
species,  with  bright  yellow  upper  petal  and  deep 
carmine  lower  petal  with  long  yellow  points. 

Aster  Tmdetcanii,  a  native  of  Eastern  North 
America.  This  is  also  known  as  A.  artemisiiefolius, 
A.  fragilis,  A.  leucanthemus,  A.  miser,  A.  parvi- 
florus,  A.  tenuifolius,  and  A.  virginianus.  It  has 
numerous  pure  white  flowers  not  unlike  those  of 
A.  Porter!. 

Impatieni  graiidiflorus,  a  native  of  Madagascar. 
A  most  beautiful  large-flowered  species,  but, 
unfortunately,  most  difficult  to  grow  successfully. 
It  is  by  far  the  largest  flowered  Balsam  hitherto 


discovered,  the  flowers  of  the  native  specimens 
being  quite  half  as  large  again  as  those  of  the 
cultivated  plant  here  figured.  Its  flowers  are  of  a 
light  rosy  purple  hue  with  deep  carmine  stripes 
radiating  in  fingered  bunches  from  the  centre.  It 
is  said  to  inhabit  swampy  places  to  the  north-west 
of  Tamatave  at  1,2(10  feet  elevation,  where  the 
stems  root  at  the  nodes  when  the  plant  is  thrown 
down.  It  flowered  in  the  greenhouse  at  Kew  in 
November,  19(X),  and  continued  flowering  for  some 
months. 

The  Jlarch  number  of  Heme  de  V HorticuUnre 
Behjr  contains  Bornniii  tilraiidra,  a  pretty  little 
pale  pink- flowered  New  Holland  greenhouse  sub- 
shrubby  plant  well  known  in  cultivation ;  also 
A.yjaraijns  Duche-tiiei,  an  ornamental  foliage  plant 
of  much  more  slender  and  graceful  habit  than  that 
of  A.  Sprengeri. 

The  number  of  Reme  Horticoh  for  March  1  con- 
tains portraits  of  the  exquisitely  beautiful  and  too 
seldom  seen  Papaverad  Hniniemanvia  fnmarin'- 
fo/ia,  so  well  figured  in  The  Garuen  for  June  11, 
1887,  vol.  xxxi.,  onpagcoSli.  This  is,  unfortunately, 
only  a  biennial.  W.  E.  Gui\ibleto;<. 


PROVISION  OF  OPEN  SPACES. 

The  Earl  of  Meath,  chairman  of  Ihe  Metropolitan 
Public  (hardens  Association,  83,  Lancaster  tiate, 
writes  as  follows  to  the  Tinier: — 

"  Sir, — At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Metropolitan 
(iardens  Association,  held  at  S3,  Lancaster  Gate,  it 
was  suggested  that  the  approaching  coronation 
afforded  an  opportunity,  of  which  advantage  was 
likely  to  be  taken,  to  establish  local  memorials 
throughout  the  country  of  that  important  event. 

"  As  probably  steps  are  even  now  being  taken,  or 
contemplated,  with  that  end  in  view,  either  by  in- 
dividuals or  local  authorities,  it  was  considered 
desirable  for  me,  as  chairman  of  the  association,  to 
point  out  that  the  provision  of  open  spaces  of  one 
kind  or  another  for  public  recreation  is  an  especially 
appropriate  form  of  memorial  whereby  to  com- 
memorate an  occasion  of  historic  importance  such 
as  we  are  hoping  to  celebrate  this  year. 

"It  may  be  within  the  recollection  of  some  of 
your  readers  that  this  association  at  the  end  of  ISflti 
secured  the  co-operation  of  kindred  open  space 
societies — viz.,  the  Commons  Preservation,  the 
Kyrle,  and  the  National  Trust  Societies— to  promote 
the  adoption  of  a  similar  form  of  memorial  in  con- 
nection with  the  Diamond  .Jubilee,  and  a  joint 
committee  was  formed,  under  the  able  chairmanship 
of  Lord  Hobhouse,  which  was  known  as  the  (,|ueen"3 
Commemoration  (Open  Spaces)  Committee. 

"At  the  termination  of  the  Coronation  Com- 
mittee's labours,  it  was  shown  that  some  seventy 
places  were  known  to  it  which  had  adopted  schemes 
of  the  kind  suggested  by  the  committee,  and  that 
there  was  reason  to  suppose  a  number  of  other 
places  had  also  set  on  foot  similar  schemes  without 
further  communication  with  it. 

"  Many  of  the  spaces  were  generously  given 
by  individual  donors,  whilst  others  were  secured  by 
public  subscription. 

"In  advocating  this  form  of  memorial,  alike 
suitable  to  town  or  country,  in  order  that  it  may 
receive  timely  consideration,  I  think  I  cannot  do 
better  than  quote  as  follows  from  the  letter  which 
the  committee  alluded  to  above  sent  to  local 
authorities  throughout  the  kingdom  : — 

"  'Places  dedicated  topublic recreation  afford  the 
largest  social  range  of  enjoyments  ;  young,  old,  rich, 
poor,  ailing,  well,  good  and  bad  can  enjoy  a  common 
ground.  This  is  very  fitting  for  a  national  memorial. 
Memorials  in  this  shape  al.so  afford  a  greater  chance 
of  pfermanence  in  point  of  time.  There  are  few  in- 
stitutionswhich  do  not  Ijecome  unsuitable, bychange 
of  habit  or  circumstances,  whereas  it  is  difficult  to 
look  forward  to  a  time  when  an  open  space  or  some 
feature  of  natural  beauty  will  not  be  a  valued 
possession,  and  such  element  of  permanence  is  also 
very  fitting  for  national  memorials.' 

"  Open  space  memorials  may  take  a  variety  of 
forms.  Commons  or  heaths,  hill-tops  commanding 
extensive  views,  some  pieces  of  woodland,  sea  dirt', 
earthwork,  or  other  places  of  natural  beauty  or 
historic  interest  all  fall  within  the  definition,  as  well 


March  22,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


195 


as  the  more  conventional  park,  garden,  or  play- 
ground to  which  we  are  aocustomed  in  town.  The 
definite  dedication  of  doubtful  rights  of  wa}-,  the 
formation  of  pleasant  drives  and  walks,  and  last, 
but  not  least,  the  planting  of  memorial  trees, 
whether  singly  or  in  roadside  avenues,  together 
with  the  provision  of  seats,  are  allied  to  the  main 
idea,  and  may  be  found  suitable  for  adoption, 
especially  in  those  cases  where  more  extensive 
schemes  cannot  be  carried  out. 

"In  one  or  other  of  these  ways  a  lasting  memory 
of  the  coronation  j'ear  may  be  preserved  in  a  form 
(to  quote  once  more  from  the  letter  already  referred 
to)  '  which  will  be  a  permanent  source  of  pleasure 
and  interest  to  the  inhabitants.' 

"Perhaps  Lord  Hobhouse  may  think  it  worth 
while  to  again  call  together  his  committee  ;  but  in 
any  case  I  trust  that  the  suggestions  I  have  made 
on  the  part  of  the  association  may  commend  them- 
selves to  your  readers,  and  may  lead  to  '  King 
Edward  VII.'  and  'Coronation'  spaces  springing 
up  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 

"I  need  only  add  that  the  secretary  of  our  asso- 
ciation,  Mr.   Basil  Holmes,   at   the  address  men- 


majority  of  Cacti.  They  are  too  often  killed 
in  winter  by  excess  of  water  or  artificial 
heat,  and  weakened  in  summer  by  too  much 
coddling.  Briefly,  they  grow  best  in  light, 
loamy  soil,  which  should  be  kept  in  an  ordi- 
narily moist  condition  in  summer  and  dry  in 
winter.  From  the  first  week  in  .June  to  the 
middle  of  September  they  are  happiest  when 
plunged  in  a  cinder-bed  in  a  tiame  facing 
south,  the  lights  of  which  may  be  olT  when  the 
weather  is  sunny  and  on  during  the  night. 
The  best  position  for  them  in  winter  is  on  a 
shelf  near  the  roof-glass  in  a  house  where  the 
temperature  ranges  between  .50°  and  65".  In 
November,  December,  January,  and  February 
they  re(iuire  no  water.  They  should  be  over- 
hauled, and,  if  necessary,  repotted  in  April. 
There  are  many  species  and  varieties,  the  best 
known  and  most  typical  being  S.  variegata, 
sometimes  called  S.  bufonia,  which  has  flowers 
of  leathery  substance  and  coloured  yellow  with 
dark  brown  spots.  Other  worthy  species  to  be 
obtained  from  dealers  are  S.  deflexa, 
gigantea,  mutabilis,  patula,  picta,  plani- 
flora,  revoluta,  trisulca,  and  tsomcensis. 

W.  W. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The    Editors   are    not    responsible    for   the 
opinioiis  expressed  hy  their  correspondents. ) 


STAPBLIA  VARIEGATA.     (One  half  natural  site.) 


tioncJ,  is  always  ready  to  afiford  information  on 
the  subject  of  open  spaces  and  the  powers  and 
duties  of  public  bodies  in  relation  thereto." 


STAPELIAS,    OR    CARRION 
PLANTS. 

Stapelias  do  not  find  many  admirers  ;  they 
have  an  unfortunate  name  and  a  disagreeable 
odour,  so  that  a  taste  for  them  reciuires  to  be 
cultivated.  I  know  several  enthusiastic  col- 
lectors and  growers  who  declare  that  the 
plea.snre  to  be  derived  from  Stapelias  is  only 
equalled  by  that  experienced  by  the  Durian 
eiter,  who  must  first  overcome  his  repugnance 
to  the  odour  of  the  fruit  before  he  can  expe- 
rience the  delight  of  eating  it.  No  one  eats 
Stapelias,  although  it  has  been  suggested  that 
the  Carrion-like  odour  of  their  flowers  affords 
protection  from  herbivorous  animals  and  also 
attracts  insects  to  assist  in  the  process  of 
fertilisation.  In  their  requirements  under 
cultivation  Stapelias  are  on  all  fours  with  the 


REPRINTS   OF    OLD 
HERBALS. 

To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR,— In  reply  to  "  E.  C.,''  Surrey, 
in  The  Garden,  February  15, 
page  116,  re  new  editions  of  Par- 
kinson's ' '  Paradisus  "  and  (Gerard's 
"  Herbal,"  I  should  like  to  say 
that  I  had  some  time  ago  an 
idea  of  reprinting  the  first  named,  somewhat 
in  the  style  of  the  cheap  reprint  of  the 
first  folio  of  Shakespeare,  but  found  that 
it  would  be  too  expensive  a  risk  to  take. 
The  only  way  would  be  to  obtain  subscribers 
enough  to  repay  the  cost  before  under- 
taking the  e.xpense  of  printing  and  publica- 
tion. To  reproduce  the  book  photographic- 
ally, page  by  page,  would  be  so  costly 
that  no  publisher  would  be  likely  to  take 
the  risk,  and  even  if  the  work  were 
reprinted  I  am  afraid  the  charm  and 
(juaintness  of  the  book  would  be  lost. 

The  "Paradisus"  is,  after  all,  not  so 
very  rare ;  there  are  plenty  of  copies 
existent  in  both  public  and  private 
libraries.  A  fine  copy  of  the  rare  third 
reprint  of  the  "Paradisus"  was  sold  at  the 
late  Mr.  Chas.  Stewart  Parnell's  sale  at  Avondale, 
along  with  five  other  books,  for  £8  lOs.  A  copy 
of  the  first  edition  from  the  Ryder  collection 
recently  brought  £20  at  Stevens's  Rooms,  but  it  is 
frequently  to  be  met  with  in  country  places  for  a 
quarter  of  that  price.  The  last  copy  I  bought, 
along  with  nine  of  Gervase  Markham's  quartos, 
bound  in  one  volume,  only  cost  20s. ,  but  that  was 
at  a  country  sale.  Thirty  years  ago  the  "Para- 
disus "  could  be  bought  for  a  few  shillings,  but  after 
the  late  Mrs.  J.  H.  Ewing  drew  attention  to  its 
charms,  in  her  story  of  "Mary's  Meadow,"  the 
price  of  it  went  up  by  leaps  and  bounds  both  in 
this  country  and  in  America. 

Parkinson's  "  Theatrum  "  is  not  worth  reprinting, 
Johnson's  edition  of  "Gerard's  Herbal"  (16,33) 
being  much  superior,  and  it  is  commonly  to  be  met 
with  at  country  auction  sales.  I  hope  "  E.  C." 
may  obtain  both  the  "Paradisus"  and  "Gerard's 
Herbal"  at  a  reasonable  rate,  seeing  that  their 
purchase  is  a  good  investment  rather  than  an 
expenditure.  Both  these  books  are  continually 
turning  up  at  out-of-the-waj'  country  auction  sales, 
unknown  in  many  instances  to  the  dealers  who 
are  so  constantly  on  the  look  out  for  them      The 


Parnell  copy  was  catalogued  with  five  other  works 
in  one  lot  as  "  Parkinson  on  English  Flowers  ; 
engravings,  1635"  ;  and  at  the  same  sale  a  slightly 
imperfect  third  folio  of  Shakespeare  went  for  £35, 
and  a  Chaucer's  Works  (black  letter),  1561,  for 
£4  53. ,  showing  that  book  sales  are  a  lottery  to 
some  extent,  even  when  there  are  many  dealers 
present  on  the  look  out  for  rare  books  and  cheap 
'ns.  An  Old  Collector. 


THE  NEW  HALL  v.  GARDEN. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  was  interested  in  reading  an  article  in  a 
contemporary  by  Mr.  Druery  re  new  hall  for  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  It  occurred  to  me  if 
the  new  hall  is  to  have  the  preference  over  a  new 
garden,  we  Northern  Fellows  will  have  to  give  up 
the  idea  of  ever  seeing  a  garden  established.  Now 
the  question  arises  which  will  be  the  best  method 
of  advancing  horticulture — to  have  a  new  hall  or  a 
new  garden,  for  it  seems  to  me  that  we  have, 
practically  speaking,  no  garden  at  present, 
although  Mr.  Druery  mentions  in  his  letter  that 
the  lease  of  the  Chiswick  Garden  has  still  a  few  years 
to  run.  If  the  garden  at  Chiswick  is  of  little  use 
at  present,  as  is  urged  by  many,  and  it  seeins  to  me 
with  truth,  will  it  be  of  any  use  during  the  few 
years  the  lease  has  to  run  ?  It  appears  to  me  that 
Chiswick  has  been  in  a  hopeless  condition  for  some 
time  past.  When  one  makes  a  special  journey 
from  the  North  to  visit  Chiswick  and  other  places 
in  connexion  willi  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
one  naturally  expects  to  see  something  worth 
looking  at,  both  at  the  Drill  Hall  and  Chiswick  ; 
but  at  the  Drill  Hall  I  invariably  find  almost  every 
foot  of  space  taken  up  with  what  we  term  in  the 
North  "common  stuff,"  staged  for  the  most  pan 
by  nurserymen,  and  one  has  to  look  very  hard  to 
find  new  or  rare  plants.  When  they  are  found, 
they  are  generally  crowded  together.  Why  is  this? 
I  am  sure  that  there  would  be  plenty  of  room 
for  the  new  plants  if  so  many  old  varieties  were 
not  exhibited  in  quantity.  Again,  if  we  get  a  new 
hall,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  great  expense  which 
the  society  will  be  put  to  will  mainly  benefit  a  few, 
and  those  directly  connected  with  the  society  near 
London,  who  will  find  in  the  new  hall  a  convenient 
place  for  exhibiting  their  goods.  I  hope  all  Fellows 
will  consider  this  matter  thoroughly  before  coming 
to  any  decision.  If  all  those  interested  in  horti- 
culture would  visit  the  gardens  and  judge  for 
themselves  I  am  strongly  of  opinion  that  they 
would  come  to  the  conclusion  that  a  new  garden  is 
of  the  first  importance  for  the  advancement  of 
horticulture,  and  in  justice  to  the  majority  of  the 
Fellows  it  should  be  acquired.  In  fact,  it  seems  to 
me  no  one  with  the  best  interests  of  the  society 
at  heart  can  possibly  advocate  the  building  of  a 
new  hall  until  a  new  garden  is  secured. 

F.R.H.S.  (in  a  Northern  County). 


GARDENERS'    ORPHAN    FUND. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — The   publication   of    the  annual    report  of 
this    excellent   charity   always   gives   occasion  for 
serious  reflection,  and  that  just  published  proves 
no  exception  to  the  rule. 

Looking  at  the  statement  of  accounts,  it  is  truly 
alarming  to  note  the  serious  falling  off — since  the 
establishment  of  the  fund — of  the  subscriptions 
collected  by  the  local  secretaries.  When  the 
c!  arity  was  first  instituted  the  amount  under  this 
heading  alone  exceeded  the  present  "  General 
Subscriptions  !  "  In  the  first  flush  of  enthusiasm 
it  was  natural  to  expect  that  a  good  financial  record 
would  be  made  by  the  local  secretaries,  and  that 
some  diminution  of  favours  and  zeal  would  follow 
as  time  went  on,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  the 
returns  show — namely,  about  five  or  six  times  less 
than  at  the  commencement.  This  serious  reduc- 
tion takes  place,  too,  at  a  time  when  the  claims  on 
the  fund  have  materially  increased,  every  election, 
of  course,  adding  fresh  burdens  in  this  direction. 
No  wonder  that  the  committee  still  deplores  the 
fact  that  there  are  many  gardening  centres  in  the 
country  from  which  the  fund  receives  little  or  no 
support.  This  is  certainly  not  by  any  means 
creditable  to  gardeners,  from  the  members  of  which 


196 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[March  22,  19C2. 


only  about  Id.  per  week  is  required  to  make  an 
annual  subscription  of  Ss. ,  giving  voting  power 
and  practical  interest  in  a  splendid  institution. 
Could  not  the  committee  prevail  upon  the  leading 
gardeners  to  act  as  local  secretaries  for  their  re- 
spective districts,  and  so  remove  this  well-grounded 
complaint  of  lamentable  lethargy  in  such  a  noble 
cause  as  that  of  practically  listening  to  the  orphan's 
cry  ?  It  is  very  regrettable  to  look  through  the 
list  of  subscribers  and  note  the  absence  of  many 
names  well  known  in  the  world  of  horticulture, 
men  whose  connection  with  the  gentle  art  has 
brought  them  great  pecuniary  gain,  and  who  would 
naturally  be  expected  to  give  some  fitting  support 
to  a  fund  instituted  for  the  relief  of  the  orphans 
of  their  less  fortunate  brethren. 

Will  you  please  allow  me  to  take  advantage  of 
the  opportunity  now  afforded  to  ask  you  to  give 
jjublicity  to  the  two  following  suggestions,  both  of 
which  have  in  view  the  niuch-to-be-desire<l  object 
of  increasing  the  fund's  finances.  And  Coronation 
Year  (as  this  is)  furnishes  an  appropriate  occasion 
for  doing  something  to  bring  in  funds.  As  is 
well  known.  Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  one  of  the 
patronesses,  is  passionately  fond  of  the  Rose. 
Anyone  who  has  been  to  Sandringham  and  seen  the 
extensive  plantings  there  well  know  this.  At 
every  Rose  show,  then,  throughout  the  United 
Kingdom  this  year  let  a  collection  be  made  in  aid 
of  the  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund  ;  and,  further,  if 
the  committee  of  the  various  Rose  societies  would 
also  set  aside  for  this  benevolent  purpose  a  portion 
of  the  profits  from  their  receipts  a  good  sum  would 
be  thus  ensured  :  that  from  the  National  in  the 
famous  Temple  Gardens  sliow  next  July  should 
prove  substantial. 

As  to  the  second  suggestion,  I  much  regret  that 
the  concert  scheme  of  assistance — a  valuable  asset 
in  times  past — should  have  practically  died  out. 

Now  is  the  season  for  smoking  concerts,  and 
about  this  form  of  concert  there  is  not  that 
formality  and  stiffness  which  we  usually  associate 
with  the  concert  pure  and  simple,  therefore  the 
former  entertainment  more  directly  appeals  for 
heart}'  support  amongst  those  who  would  naturally 
patronise  it. 

There  are  many  districts  in  London  and  the 
provinces  where  smoking  concerts  might  be  most 
suecessfuUj'  held  during  the  present  season.  Will 
the  Chiswiok  Gardeners'  Association  (into  which 
new  life  has  of  late  been  largelj'  infused)  set  the 
ball  rolling'^  In  former  daj's,  Chiswick  (until 
the  last  year  or  two  the  headquarters  of  the 
fund)  was  tlie  pioneer  in  the  concert  scheme  of 
assistance.  Quo. 

THE    BOTHY. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  have  read  the  correspondence  in  The 
Garden  of  February  22  upon  this  subject,  and 
tliink  there  is  a  great  deal  of  truth  in  "  8.  P.'s" 
letter.  We  know  that  there  is  always  supposed  to  be 
a  bright  side  to  everything,  but  I  fail  to  see  any 
bright  side  to  bothy  life.  "  S.  P."  says  they  have 
a  woman  to  do  their  cooking  and  cleaning  ;  we  are 
not  even  so  fortunate,  we  have  only  a  boy,  who 
knows  as  much  about  cooking  as  cooking  knows 
about  him.  He  is  allowed  one  hour  to  prepare 
dinner,  &c. ,  and  if  the  head  gardener  sees  him 
about  the  bothy  before  the  stated  time  he  seems  to 
think  that  we  are  robbing  our  emplo}  er  of  a  few 
minutes.  I  myself  do  not  hold  with  time  being 
wasted  in  a  bothy  or  elsewhere,  but  I  do  think 
that  many  head  gardeners  show  a  want  of  thought 
and  feeling  with  respect  to  the  comfort  of  the 
bothy  inmates.  One  would  think  thev  had  never 
been  in  a  botliy  when  they  were  j'ounger  men,  or 
they  would  show  a  little  more  feeling  for  others. 
I  know  many  head  gardeners  have  not  very  satis- 
factory positions,  and  cannot  do  all  they  would 
like  for  the  comfort  of  men  in  the  bothy,  but  I  do 
think  in  some  instances  they  are  much  to  blame. 

We  make  complaints  to  them,  but  do  they  make 
them  to  headquarters';  Head  gardeners  like  to 
have  trustworth}'  and  steady  men  in  the  gardens, 
but  do  they  go  the  right  way  to  keep  them  so?  I 
think  if  they  were  to  add  a  little  more  to  the 
comforts   of    the    bothy   young    gardeners   would 


probably  spend  their  time  there  instead  of  else- 
where. Beds,  so  far  as  my  experience  goes,  could 
be  greatly  improved,  for  not  one  bothy  that  I 
have  been  in  has  there  been  a  comfortable  bed. 
I  suppose  this  is  to  prevent  the  men  being  late  in  the 
morning.  I  know  many  young  fellows  are  careless 
with  things  in  the  bothy,  but  the  average  3'oung 
gardener  is  careful  and  tries  to  take  care  of  things. 
One  good  feature  of  bothy  life  is  that  it  teaches 
young  men  to  be  careful  when  they  get  homes  of 
their  own. 

Cheshire.  C.  .1.   H. 


[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — Some  typical  letters  on  this  subject  in  a 
recent  issue  deserve  thoughtful  perusal  by  reason 
of  the  very  intimate  acquaintance  of  the  writers 
with  their  subject.  Matters  were  not  all  rosy  or 
up-to-date  even  in  the  French  gardening  establish- 
ment referred  to.  If  bothy  matters  in  this  par- 
ticularly well-kept  French  establishment  left 
much  to  be  desired,  coming  nearer  home  liave  n'e 
a  better  and  brighter  picture  to  elicit  our  highest 
admiration  ?  Certainly  not.  Speaking  generally, 
I  well  know  there  are  some  notable  exceptions,  j-et 
the  bothies  in  many  an  English  garden  of  repute 
are  not  fair  to  see.  In  how  few  bothies  scattered 
throughout  the  country  do  we  see  even  a  fair 
horticultural  library  ':  And  yet  one  would  think — 
to  take  up  one  of  many  points— that  from  the 
emploj'er's  point  of  view  alone,  it  (the  library) 
would  form  a  very  essential  portion  of  bothy 
equipment.  Unfortunately,  some  of  the  best 
books  on  gardening  that  should  be  in  tlie  hands 
and  deeply  engraved  on  the  minds  of  the  young 
gardener  are,  by  reason  of  their  necessarily  high 
price,  prohibitive. 

True,  we  have  a  good  and  cheap  weekly  horti- 
cultural press,  but  the  gardener  of  ambition 
takes  higher  flights,  and  he  must  become 
acquainted  with  the  theory  and  practice  as  de- 
scribed by  the  ablest  horticultural  authors  of  the 
day.  A  hint  from  tlie  liead  gardener  to  his 
employer  occasionally  as  to  this  very  important 
matter  of  literature  would  often  produce  the  much- 
to-be-desired  results.  The  tactful  and  kindly  inter- 
vention of  the  head  gardener  is  much  wanted  in 
many  gardens  and  in  manj'  ways  to  make  bothy 
life  a  more  endurable  and  desirable  state  of 
existence.  Quo. 


[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — In  common  with  agricultural  workmen, 
young  gardeners  in  the  majority  of  places  are 
lodged  in  bothies.  In  modern  or  large  places 
these  structures  are  generally  all  that  could  be 
desired,  others  again  have  just  the  bare  necessities 
of  civilisation,  and  some  there  are  which  would  not 
pass  by  a  long  way  the  requirements  of  the  sanitary 
officer  or  county  council. 

Different  employers  have  their  own  distinct  ideas 
relating  to  the  housing  of  their  dependents  ;  some 
there  are  who  take  a  just  pride  in  the  comfort  of 
their  servants,  from  the  highest  paid  official  down 
to  the  humblest,  but  there  are  yet  a  great  many 
cases  where  the  proprietor  thinks  his  duty  is  done 
when  the  gardeners'  houses  are  made  wind  and 
water  tight.  Legally  and  morally  a  gardener  has 
just  as  much  right  to  have  his  house  made  com- 
fortable and  sanitary  as  any  other  worker.  The 
comparative  short  tenure  of  the  occupants,  and  the 
fact  of  their  abodes  being  situated  often  a  long  way 
off  the  beaten  track  of  any  public  inspector,  is  no 
excuse  whatever  for  allowing  such  places  to  fall 
behind  the  times. 

I  should  not  care  to  advocate  the  whole  pro- 
gramme mapped  out  by  the  Editor  in  the  issue  of 
February  1,  and  I  think  it  would  be  a  mistake  to 
pamper  the  young  men's  tastes  too  far,  but  there 
might  be  a  certain  standard  of  comfort  insisted 
on  in  every  bothy  in  the  land. 

Assuming,  therefore,  that  the  building  itself  is 
suitable,  the  next  most  important  point  is  eating 
and  sleeping.  I  do  not  think  it  is  at  all  neces.sary 
to  have  separate  bedrooms,  but  there  should  be 
separate  beds  for  each.  In  large  places  it  is  almost 
necessary   to  have  some  woman  to   cook,    but   in 


smaller  places  this  would  hardly  be  practicable, 
and  some  of  the  men  themselves  ought  to  be  told 
off  and  allowed  time  for  that  purpose.  Washing 
and  mending  are  usually  seen  to  and  paid  for  by  the 
men  themselves  ;  that  is,  their  own  clothes  ;  bed- 
clothes and  towels  are,  as  a  rule,  provided  and  kept 
clean  for  them.  A  bathroom  would  be  regarded 
as  a  comfort  bj'  many,  and  would  be  a  most  useful 
appliance  in  any  house,  and  where  water  could  be 
introduced  would  not  be  much  expense. 

One  other  item  is  the  making  provision  for  the 
young  gardener's  mental  improvement.  This  would 
be  a  very  inexpensive  matter  ;  a  few  standard 
works  on  gardening,  along  with  the  current 
gardening  papers  and  pictorial  magazines,  which 
have  been  read  and  passed  round,  would  make  a 
good  store  from  which  they  could  derive  much 
knowledge  as  well  as  entertainment.  The  young 
gardener  who  means  business  has  always  a  good 
store  of  books  of  his  own,  and  uses  them,  too, 
while  there  are  some  who  seek  the  assistance  of 
the  head  gardener  in  their  studies,  which  should 
be  readily  given  ;  but  nowadays,  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  the  young  men  prefer  the  gardener  to 
keep  away  from  the  bothy  as  much  as  possible, 
and  like  best  to  get  his  advice  and  instructions  in 
working  hours. 

There  is  the  other  side  of  this  matter  to  consider. 
Would  those  for  whose  comfort  all  this  was  being 
done  appi-eciate  and  value  the  efforts  made  on  their 
behalf?  In  some  cases  thej'  would,  in  others 
they  would  not ;  there  are  so  many  different  types 
of  men,  that  it  is  sometimes  a  puzzle  to  know  what 
their  ideas  are  about  other  people's  property. 
They  will  smash  windows  and  think  nothing  of 
it,  chairs  and  crockery  sharing  the  same  fate. 

I  have  lived  in  and  seen  a  good  many  bothies, 
and  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  men  can 
make  their  bothies  comfortable  or  the  reverse  as 
they  have  a  mind.  I  have  been  in  a  room  having 
an  earthen  floor,  with  its  whitewashed  fireplace, 
its  neatly-made  beds,  and  well-tilled  bookcase, 
look  far  more  inviting  than  its  more  pretentious 
neighbour  with  the  wooden  floor  and  lofty  ceiling. 

J.  M.  B. 

PKUNING    YOUNG    APPLE    TEEES. 
[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — A  few  weeks   ago  there  appeared  in  The 
Garden  several  letters  anent  the  pruning  and  non- 
pruning  of  young  newly-planted  Apple  trees,  and 
as  the  time  is  now  getting  somewhat  late  in  the 
season   for   this   kind   of   work  I  would    strongly 
advise   that   some   amount    of    shortening   of   the 
young  shoots  be  practised  where  such  trees  remain 
untouched.     I   am   no   advocate    for   hard    severe 
pruning,    but    from    many   j'ears   experience   and 
close  observations  in  the  rearing  of  young,  fruitful 
trees,  I  am  well  satisfied  that  the  let-alone  system 
is  wrong.     Some  years  ago  I  tried  the  two  methods 
on  trees  growing  side  by  side,  and  on  those  which 
were  left  unpruned   the  shoots  roped  themselves 
with  flower  buds  and  made  no  growth,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  leaves,   neither  did  the  wood 
thicken,  and  after  two  summers  I  was  obliged  to 
shorten    them    back.       Those    trees    which    were 
shortened  the  first  year  made  a  moderate  growth, 
and  the  following  year  grew  away  freely.     I  again 
tried  the  same  way,  with  exactly  the  same  results, 
a  few  years  later.     There  are  two  or  three  item? 
in  connexion  with  young,  late-planted  trees  which 
should  not  be  overlooked,  namely,  never  plant  a 
tree  when  the  roots  are  dry.     It  is  by  far  the  best 
and  safest  plan  when  trees  arrive  in  a  dry  state  to 
thoroughly  soak   them,    both    tops   and   roots,    in 
water    some    hours   previous    to    planting    them, 
and,  again,  every  care  should  be  taken  to  prevent 
the  roots   from   getting   dry  ;   a   good   mulch  and 
watering  in  dry  weather   will  be  of  the   greatest 
help  possible.     I  have  known  trees  to  be  looking 
well  and  all  at  once    die  outright,   owing  to  the 
roots   having   got   into   a   dry  state.     In  pruning 
young  trees  first  select  the  required  number  of  the 
best-placed  shoots  to  form  the  future  head— from 
three  to  five  is  about  the  usual  quantity — and  then 
cut  them  back  to  12  inches,  a  little  more  or  less 
according  to  their  strength,  and  always  just  above 
a  prominent  outside  end.     After  the  foundation  of 


March  23,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


197 


the  tree  is  laid  less  pruning  is  required 
when  there  is  plenty  of  head  room  for 
extension.  In  the  case  of  bush  trees,  I 
often  think  when  the  trees  are  strong  and 
unfruitful  the  pruning  is  done  in  a  great 
measure  at  the  wrong  end — instead  of 
using  the  knife  to  keep  the  head  within 
bounds  the  spade  is  the  implement 
which  should  be  brought  into  force. 
This  will  at  once  check  the  strong 
growth  and  make  the  trees  fruitful. 

H.  Mabkham. 
Wrothim  Par},  Middlesex. 

THE   SPRUCE    I'IR. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir,— As  to    the  Scotch  Fir  I  entirely 
agree,    but    how     you    can     recommend 
people   to    plant    the    Spruce  I    cannot 
conceive.     Short-lived,    dull    in    foliage, 
and  almost  useless  for  timber,  I  should 
say  that  there  are  at  least  twenty  varie- 
ties of  Firs  in  every  way  superior  to  it. 
Here    the    Douglas  —  I   must   own    my 
favourite    Fir — is    already   higher    than 
the  tallest  Spruce,  and  shows  no  sign  of 
having   oome   to  its    limit,   while   I   am 
sure  that  there  is   none   over  forty  five 
years     of    age,    while    the  Spruces  are, 
many   of    them,    over   one   hundred.      I 
must  say,  too,  that  in  my  opinion  there 
is  a  place  for    bold  groups  and  a  place 
for  individual  shrubs.     No  one  has  space 
or  money  to  aft'ord  to  have  masses  of  the  innumer- 
able beautiful  flowering  shrubs  that  we  have,  nor 
are  all  of  them  fit  for  such  a  purpose.      I  think 
there    should    be    many    bed-s    where   shrubs   are 
able    to      show      their     beauty     without      being 
crowded,   and  from   which  they  can  be  moved  at 
any  time  if  it  seems  desirable  to  do  so. 

C'raiihrook.  Medwav. 

[We  think  our  correspondent  is  describing  the 
Spruce  at  its  worst.  When  planted  in  other  than 
the  place  it  likes,  it  is  indeed  a  wretched  object, 
as  on  dry  or  hilly  ground  ;  but  a  mass  of  common 
Spruce  in  a  cool  alluvial  bottom  is  a  picture  of 
well-being,  and  no  one  can  deny  their  majestic 
beauty  on  alpine  hillsides.  The  Douglas  Fir  must 
still  be  regarded  as  an  experiment.  It  is  a  grand 
and  quick-growing  tree  in  the  young  state,  but 
there  is  not  as  yet  a  single  old  Douglas  Fir  in 
England,  and  there  are  some  among  our  botanical 
experts  who  are  yet  in  doubt  whether,  for  all  its 
young  vigour,  it  will  be  a  lasting  tree  for  our 
country. — Eds.] 


THE   NEW   HYBRID   IRISES   IN   MR.    CAPARNE  S   G.iRDEN    AT   ROHAIS,    GDERXSEY. 


THE     INDOOR     GARDEN. 

STOVE     PLANTS. 

BlONONIA. 

THE  propagation  of  this  plant,  whose 
general  culture  was  described  in  The 
Garden  of  March  1,  is  best  effected  by 
means  of  cuttings.  These  should  be 
taken  off  in  spring,  choosing  strong, 
short-jointed  shoots  if  possible.  It 
placed  in  a  frame  or  under  a  bell-glass  in  the  stove 
they  will  usually  root  easily  ;  this,  however,  takes 
several  weeks,  and  care  must  be  taken  that  the 
case  or  bell-glass  is  not  kept  too  moist  or  the 
cuttings  will  be  liable  to  damp  off.  A  precaution 
that  many  fail  to  observe  when  attempting  to 
strike  cuttings  of  plants  is  to  daily,  and  first  thing 
in  the  morning,  remove  the  moisture  that  accumu- 
lates during  the  night  with  a  cloth.  If  this  is  not 
done  the  moisture  falls  upon  the  cuttings  and  the 
soil,  making  the  latter  sour  and  sodden,  and 
causing  the  former  to  decay.  This  precaution  it 
is  doubly  necessary  to  observe  in  the  case  of  plants 
which  take  some  considerable  time  to  root,  as,  for 
instance,  the  Bignonias.  Some  of  the  best  sorts 
worthy  of  cultivation  are  Bignonia  Gherere 
(orange),  radicans  (reddish),  speoiosa  (pink,  marked 
with    purple),     variabilis    (white    and    greenish 


yellow),    magnifiea    (varying    mauve    to    purplish 
crimson),  and  floribunda  (purplish). 
Billeergia. 

Few  natural  orders,  so  far  as  stove  plants  are 
concerned,  are  more  neglected  than  the  Brome- 
liacefe,  and  the  genus  BiUbergia  includes  several 
plants  that  every  gardener  should  grow.  Bill- 
bergias  are  not  difficult  to  grow,  providing  their 
requirements  are  understood  and  attended  to. 
They  do  not  need  much  soil,  the  smaller  the  pots 
are  the  better,  consistent,  of  course,  with  a 
reasonable  root  run.  It  is  also  most  essential  that 
the  pots  in  which  they  are  growing  should  be 
thoroughly  well  drained,  for  the  roots  of  the 
BiUbergias  are  quickly  susceptible  to  an  excess  of 
moisture  and  soon  decay.  For  this  reason  watering 
must  be  done  carefully  and  moderately.  It  is  far 
better  to  have  these  plants  somewhat  dry  than  to 
keep  the  soil  continually  moist.  Under  the  latter 
conditions  the  plants  become  flabby  and  the  tips 
of  the  leaves  show  that  something  is  wrong  with 
the  rooting  medium. 

A  soil  suitable  to  the  culture  of  BiUbergias 
may  consist  of  rough  pieces  of  peat  and  loam, 
to  which  is  added  a  little  leaf  soil  and  a  good 
deal  of  silver  sand.  I  have  often  referred  to 
the  value  of  this  last-named  ingredient  in 
the  soil  of  stove  plants,  and  its  mechanical 
eff'ects  are  doubly  valuable  in  the  ease  of  plants 
impatient  of  much  moisture  about  their  roots. 
To  increase  the  BiUbergia  is  simple.  One  has 
merely  to  remove  the  suckers  that  form  at  the 
base  of  the  old  plant.  It  is  wise  to  allow  the 
sucker  to  attain  a  good  size  before  removing  it,  for 
then  it  will  make  much  quicker  progress  when  no 
longer  dependent  upon  the  parent  plant.  Neither 
is  any  advantage  gained  in  taking  the  sucker 
away  when  small,  rather  is  it  a  disadvantage,  for 
it  grows  much  more  quickly  when  attached  than 
when  removed  from  the  parent.  And,  as  has  been 
said,  it  will  develop  more  quickly  and  will  run 
much  less  risk  of  failing  to  establish  itself  when 
strong  than  when  small  and  weak.  The  sucker 
requires  to  be  somewhat  carefully  removed,  other- 
wise it  may  be  broken.  The  safest  plan  is  to 
twist  it  off  instead  of  simply  pulling  it  down  as 
many  do.  If  the  twisting  is  done  carefully  the 
suckers  will  invariably  be  found  to  part  easily 
from  the  old  plant.  When  detached  insert  them 
in  quite  small  pots,  say,  3 -inch,  and  make 
them  quite  firm.  Use  a  similar  compost  to  that 
previously  mentioned.  Little  will,  however,  be 
required.  If  the  pots  are  plunged  in  a  bed  of 
leaves  or  some  other  material  giving  off  a  gentle 
heatj  their  rooting  will  be  hastened.     Give  practi- 


cally no  water  until  rooted.  It  is  advisable  to 
keep  them  shaded  for  a  few  weeks.  Of  those 
worthy  of  general  culture  are  BiUbergia  marmo- 
rata,  with  blue  flowers  and  large  scarlet-coloured 
bracts,  making  a  prettj'  display  ;  B.  iridifolia, 
whose  flowers  are  red  and  yellow,  tipped  with 
blue  ;  B.  zebrina,  the  green  leaves  marked  with 
bands  of  grey,  the  flowers  of  a  greenish  tinge  ; 
and  B.  rosea-marginata,  having  rose-coloured 
bracts  and  blue  flowers.  A.  P.  H. 


NEAV     ALPINE     IRISES. 

I  SEND  a  pliotograph  of  these  Irises  which 
have  been  blooming  freely  .since  the  middle  of 
.January  in  a  greenhouse.  The  plants  were 
lifted  from  the  open  air  at  the  end  of  October, 
pulled  to  pieces  and  planted  in  boxes  2  feet 
long  by  1  foot  wide,  forty  to  fifty  in  a  box. 
These  were  placed  in  an  unheated  house  till 
the  end  of  December,  when  heat  was  put 
on.  They  immediately  responded,  and  by 
the  end  of  .January  many  had  been  cut.  The 
photograph  of  the  crop  in  this  house  at  that 
time  speaks  for  itself.  In  planting,  the  end 
bit  of  rhizome  only,  having  the  tuft  of  leaves, 
was  put  in,  the  old  bits  being  discarded  ;  each 
of  these  little  tufts  gave  one,  two,  three,  and 
as  many  as  .six  blooms,  which  are  well  thrown 
up  above  the  foliage  with  a  stem  of  from 
6  inches  to  10  inches  long.  They  make  an 
attractive  show  whilst  outside  frost,  hail,  and 
snowstorms  reign.  W.  I.  Caparne. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


THE   FLOWER  GARDEN. 

Effective  Use  or  Annuals. 

Cyear,  in  a  short  article  in  The  Garden 
upon  "  Annuals  and  their  Eflective 
Use,''  I  described  a  very  pretty  effect 
which  has  been  obtained  here  on  more 
than  one  occasion  by  planting  a  long  dry 
border — 150  feet  long  and  30  feet  wide 
— with  blue  Convolvulus,  blue  Sweet  Peas,  a 
metallic  blue-leaved  Tropasolum,  the  violet-coloured 
Maurandia,  tall  Antirrhinums,  blue  Verbenas, 
Dahlia  Rising  Sun,  and  Tagetes  signata  pumila. 
I  take  this  opportunity  of  depicting  it  again,  so 
that  any    of    my   readers   who    have  a    similar 


19S 


THE    GAEDEN. 


[March  22,  190i 


border  to  deal  with,  and  like  the  idea,  may  be 
reminded  that  the  present  is  an  appropriate  time 
for  preparing  it.  In  forming  it  no  design  is 
carried  out.  Hazel  sticks  to  support  the  climbers 
are  placed  in  the  ground,  but  not  trim.  Some  of 
these  cone-shaped  supports  are  high,  others  short, 
some  are  wide  at  the  base,  others  narrow,  and 
none  are  put  very  closely  together.  Plants  of  the 
Dahlia  Early  Sunrise,  a  splendid  early-flowering 
red  dwarf  variety,  are  planted  about  in  groups  of 
threes  and  fours,  the  Antirrhinum  and  blue 
Verbena  in  groups  of  ten  or  twelve,  while  the  rest 
of  the  intervening  ground  is  completely  carpeted 
with  the  little  light-leaved  Tagetes.  By  the  middle 
of  .June  the  ground  is  hidden  and  the  stakes  nearly 
covered,  and  during  the  succeeding  months, 
even  into  November,  the  border  is  bright  and 
beautiful.  In  August  and  September  fresh  effect 
is  given  it  by  the  Trop;eolum  covering  its 
supports,  shooting  out  its  long,  strong  growths, 
covered  with  bluish  foliage,  iu  all  directions 
through  the  yellow  flowers  of  the  Tagetes.  The 
thousands  of  Tagetes  plants  which  are  necessary 
for  this  may  now  be  sown  in  a  cold  frame  from 
which,  without  any  previous  pricking  out,  they 
can  be  lifted  and  planted  straight  into  the  border 
in  April. 

The  Calol'hortus 
is  such  an  extremely  lovely  flower  that  were  it 
difficult  to  grow  it  would  be  well  worth  taking 
pains  with  to  enjoy  the  gorgeous  colours  of  its 
flowers,  but  its  culture  is  of  the  simplest,  and 
therefore  the  more  reason  that  it  should  be 
extensivel}'  grown.  Most  of  the  species  should 
have  been  planted  before  this,  but  there  is  a  pretty 
yellow  one,  C.  rtavus,  which  never  does  better 
than  when  planted  now.  The  Caloehortus  likes  a 
sunnj',  dry  border.  I  prepare  the  ground  for  the 
different  groups  by  mixing  rough  sand  and  leaf- 
mould  freely  with  the  existing  soil,  thus  ensuring 
good  drainage,  so  essential  to  their  success.  The 
best  plan  is  to  limit  the  different  groups  to  a  space 
which  can  easily  be  covered  by  a  frame  light,  so 
that  when  wet  weather  in  the  early  part  of  the 
season  is  experienced  they  can  be  protected.  Wet 
ground  is  very  injurious  to  them.  I  have  a  long 
lean-to  frame  in  a  conspicuous  part  of  the  flower 
garden  here  which,  up  to  this  year,  has  during 
the  winter  time  been  used  for  propagating,  and 
which  in  the  summer  time  has  been,  if  not 
unsightl}',  at  least  unintej-esting.  This  year  I  am 
altering  this  by  filling  it  up  with  good  soil  and 
planting  it  with  some  of 

The  Rarer  Bulbs 
to  remain  permanently.  In  the  winter  time  they 
will  receive  every  protection  by  means  of  lights 
and  hot-water  pipes  if  necessary,  but  in  the 
summer  and  autumn  the  lights  will  be  removed 
entirely,  and  I  am  looking  forward  to  this 
particular  frame  being  a  source  of  interest  and 
beauty  during  the  early  part  of  the  summer 
season.  Late  though  it  is,  I  am  planting  some  of 
all  the  different  sections  of  Caloehortus  with  the 
intention  of  leaving  them  al\va3's  in  the  ground, 
allowing  them  to  ripen  their  seed  and  perpetuate 
themselves  bj'  self-sown  seedlings,  which,  I  believe, 
is  after  all  the  best  method  of  culture. 

The  Belladonna  Lily 
is  another   plant   that   I   have   in    masses  in   this 
frame.     Tigiidias  grouped  in  all    their  wonderful 
colours   are    also    here,    where   they   can    remain 
without  the  fear  of  winter  frosts  injuring  them. 
Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 
Castle  dardem,  S/.  Farjans. 

INDOOR  GARDEN. 
Stove  Plants. 
The  repotting  of  the  general  collection  of  stove 
plants  should  be  commenced.  Crotons  in  large 
pots  colour  best  if  somewhat  restricted  at  the 
roots  and  kept  well  supplied  with  manure  water. 
In  repotting  use  an  open  comjjost  of  three-parts 
fibrous  loam  and  one  part  leaf- mould,  with  plent3' 
of  charcoal  and  silver  sand,  adding  a  5-iuch  potful 
of  steamed  bones  to  every  peek  of  soil.  Do  not 
give  large  shifts,  but  make  the  soil  firm  round  the 
roots,   and  aff'ord  good   drai  nage.      These   plant 


require  much  atmospheric  moisture,  and  should  be 
well  syringed.  Such  plants  as  Acalyphas,  Ananassa 
sativa  variegata,  Strelitzia  regina',  and  Hibiscus 
require  the  same  compost.  Phrynium  variegatum 
when  properly  coloured  is  a  useful  stove  plant.  In 
repotting,  the  stools  should  be  divided  and  placed  in 
pots  according  to  the  size  of  plants  recjuired,  using 
a  light  compost  of  fibrous  loam,  leaf-soil,  cliarcoal, 
and  sand. 

Heliconias  and  Marantas 
maybe  increased  in  the  same  way,  using  a  mixture 
of  one  half  peat,  one  quarter  loam,  and  one  quarter 
leaf-soil,  adding  charcoal  and  sand.  Aralias, 
Dieffenbachias,  Dracaenas,  and  Franciseas  require 
the  same  soil.  Toxicophlsea  speclabilis  is  a  most 
useful  sweet-scented  plant  in  the  stove,  and  easily 
increased  by  cuttings  or  layers.  The  flowers 
somewhat  resemble  those  of  an  Ixora. 

Alocasias. 
These  should  be  potted  in  a  compost  of  peat,  a 
little  loam  broken  into  large  lumps,  with  dried 
sphagnum  moss,  chopped  lumps  of  charcoal,  and 
silver  sand.  Fill  the  pots  two-thirds  full  with 
clean  crocks,  keeping  the  bulbs  and  soil  well 
raised  above  the  rim  of  the  pots,  and  finish  off  with 
a  surfacing  of  fresh  sphagnum  moss.  They  delight 
in  a  strong  moist  heat  and  a  liberal  supply  of 
water  at  the  roots,  with  occasional  doses  of  liquid 
manure  when  in  active  growth.  Such  useful  plants 
for  furnishing  as  Panicum  variegatum,  Trades- 
cantias,  and  Lycopodiums  should  now  be  increased. 

Allamandas. 

The  shoots  of  these  should  be  tied  to  wire  placed 
within  9  inches  or  10  inches  of  the  glass ;  they 
should  be  exposed  to  the  light  as  much  as 
possible  when  in  active  growth.  Cuttings  may 
be  taken  and  placed  singly  in  small  pots  in  a 
mixture  of  peat,  loam,  and  sand,  and  plunged  in 
a  propagating  frame  with  a  bottom  heat  of  about 
SO".  Keep  them  shaded  and  watered.  When  the 
young  roots  have  filled  the  small  pots  transfer  them 
into  larger  ones.  Pinch  the  young  shoots  once  or 
twice  to  cause  them  to  throw  out  laterals,  and  thus 
make  useful  plants  in  small  pots  for  decoration. 
Allamanda  grandiflora  should  be  grafted  on  some 
of  the  more  robust-growing  varieties.  Successional 
batches  of 

Gladioli,  Ixias, 
Sparaxis,  Lilium  longiflorum,  and   Spir.-eas  should 
be  brought  into  warmth.     Late  batches  of  H3'acin- 
thus.  Tulips,  and  Polyanthus  should  be  given  plenty 
of  air  and  shaded  to  prolong  their  flowering  season. 

John  Fleming. 

Wcxham  Park  Gardenn,  Slough. 

THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Early  Melons. 
Plants  trained  as  cordons,  as  previously  advised, 
should  be  induced  to  yield  an  early  supply  of  fruit 
by  having  theii  leading  growths  stopped  when  they 
reach  about  18  inches  up  the  trellis.  Thin  the 
laterals  by  the  early  stopping  of  superfluous  ones 
beyond  their  first  leaf  in  order  to  prevent  the 
crowding  of  foliage.  Carefully  secure  the  leading 
shoots  and  retained  laterals  to  the  trellis  and  tie 
them  loosely.  .Stop  each  lateral  at  one  leaf  beyond 
its  first  female  blossom,  which  fertilise,  and  either 
stop  sub-laterals  or  rub  them  out,  as  may  be 
necessary.  During  the  flowering  time  preserve  a 
comparatively  dry  and  buoyant  atmosphere,  and 
when  three  or  four  fruits  upon  each  plant  are 
properly  set  and  swelhng  remove  all  8ubse(juent 
flowers  as  they  appear.  At  this  stage  the  ridges  of 
soil  should  be  supplemented  by  a  fresh,  previously 
warmed  layer,  which  will  be  readily  filled  with 
roots,  when  either  top-dress  with  an  approved 
fertiliser  or  periodical!}'  afford  copious  supplies  of 
liquid  manure.  The  Melon  revels  in  sunshine,  and 
to  enable  it  to  derive  full  benefit  therefrom  afford 
air  early  and  freely  at  all  times  when  external 
conditions  are  favourable.  Guard  against  low 
temperatures  and  an  excessive  amount  of  atmos- 
pheric moisture  ;  these  produce  flimsy  foliage  that 
cannot  endure  the  sun. 

Late  Peach  Houses. 
Training  the  trees,   top-dressing    borders,    and 


similar  operations  are  completed,  while  the  houses 
will  have  been  kept  quite  cool.  As  the  trees  are 
commencing  to  expand  their  blossoms  a  change  in 
the  treatment  will  be  necessary.  It  should  be  first 
fumigated  with  XL  All  to  prevent  an  early  attack 
of  aphis,  and  while  the  trees  are  in  flower  a  circula- 
tion of  air  must  be  maintained.  This,  associated 
with  a  moderately  dry  atmosphere  (although  the 
borders  and  walks  should  be  syringed  each  fine 
afternoon),  and  tapping  the  branches  of  the  trees 
to  disturb  the  pollen,  will  at  this  season  generally 
ensure  satisfactory  fertilisation.  Should  the 
weather  prove  unfavourable,  further  assistance 
-should  be  given  by  the  aid  of  a  soft  brush.  Here, 
owing  to  our  low  situation,  we  sometimes  find 
artificial  heat  for  this  house  necessary  during 
March  in  order  to  exclude  frost ;  in  ordinary  cases, 
however,  this  is  not  required.  Provided  the  borders 
are  moist,  the  trees  will  be  all  the  better  if  they  are 
not  watered  until  growth  has  become  active.  The 
disbudding  of  shoots  and  thinning  of  fruit  must  be 
proceeded  with  in  due  course  upon  the  lines  that 
have  been  recommended  for  early  houses. 

The  Orchard  House. 
Where  a  supply  of  late  fruit  is  the  object,  the 
trees  until  now  will  have  been  allowed  to  progress 
naturally  out  of  doors,  but  the  condition  of  their 
buds  now  necessitates  their  being  placed  under 
glass.  Sunlight  and  air  being  essential  elements 
to  their  satisfactory  progress,  the  glass  should  be 
kept  perfectly  clean,  and  each  tree  allowed  plenty 
of  space.  Avoid,  by  a  liberal  circulation  of  air 
and  by  a  guarded  use  of  the  syringe,  the  creation 
of  a  sluggish,  moist  state  of  the  atmosphere.  When 
the  blossoms  are  sufficiently  advanced  fertilise  them 
by  the  usual  artificial  means,  and  discontinue  the 
use  of  the  syringe,  resuming  its  use  once  the  fruit 
is  set.  Artificial  heat  is  not  desirable,  and  the 
Apple,  Pear,  Plum,  and  Cherry  do  not  readily 
respond  to  forcing,  while  warmth  sufficient  to  meet 
the  wants  of  late  fruit  can  be  commanded  bj'  care- 
fully regulating  the  ventilators. 

T.    COOMBER. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
Box  Edging. 
The  end  of  the  present  month  is  a  capital  time' 
for  replanting  this  when  it  becomes  too  large. 
Many  do  so  during  autumn,  but  if  done  speedily 
at  this  season  just  before  commencing  new  growth 
it  will  start  away  freely  and  cause  little  trouble. 
I  never  favour  or  advise  using  Box  as  a  kitchen 
garden  edging  for  the  walk.s,  owing  chiefly  to  the 
large  amount  of  labour  it  entails  to  preserve  it  in 
a  pleasing  condition,  as,  in  addition  to  keeping  it 
clipped  annually  and  replanting  often,  it  is  never 
safe  to  use  weed  killer,  this  meaning  certain  death 
to  much  of  it.  Nothing  to  my  mind  is  so  durable 
and  suitable  for  the  purpose  as  blue  Staffordshire 
edging  tiles  ;  they  will  when  properly  set  in  con- 
crete last  a  lifetime  without  giving  further  trouble. 
Box  requires  a  certain  amount  of  skill  and  judg- 
ment to  manage.  The  levels  should  first  of  all  be 
accurately  taken,  and  the  lines  put  down  and 
kept  perfectly  straight.  The  old  clumps  of  Box 
should  be  pulled  to  pieces,  and  the  bottom  part  of 
the  roots  should  be  severed  on  a  block  with  the 
hand  bill.  About  2  inches  of  root  will  be  ample 
to  leave.  As  the  work  proceeds  the  lower  ends 
should  be  kept  level  and  placed  in  boxes  or  baskets 
ready  for  using,  and  never  allow  it  to  become  dry. 
When  planting  have  a  little  fine  soil  in  readiness 
to  place  about  the  roots  for  giving  a  start,  and 
finish  off'  by  making  verj'  firm.  The  tops  should 
be  trimmed  down  to  the  desired  height  with  a 
sharp  pair  of  shears,  and  should  the  weather  be 
dry  a  few  waterings  will  be  necessary. 

Cauliflowers 
which  were  sown  during  last  autumn  and  have 
been  wintered  in  cold  frames  may  now  be  safely 
planted  out  into  their  permanent  quarters.  Lift 
with  good  balls  and  plant  firmly,  mulch  round 
with  a  little  dry  old  Mushroom  bed  manure,  and 
protect  the  foliage  with  a  few  small  Spruce,  Fir, 
or  Yew  branches  till  they  become  established,  and 
those    which    are    being   hurried  forward    under 


Makch  22,  1902.] 


THE    GAUDEN. 


199 


handlighbs  should  receive  abundance  of  air  on  all 
-favourable  occasions,  both  by  rem:)ving  the  tops  of 
the  lights  and  elevating  the  bottoms  on  bricks. 
Mulch  between  the  plants  with  good  half-rotten 
xjow  manure.  Plants  in  S-inch  pots  which  have 
been  forced  along  in  fruit  houses  will  now  need 
much  feeding.  There  is  nothing  better  than  the 
<irainings  from  the  farmyard,  and  the  most  suitable 
place  for  them  after  this  date  is  in  cold  pits  orf  rames. 
T5xcellent  C uiliflowers  for  early  supplies  may  be 
depended  upon  when  treated  in  tliis  way  if  suitable 
varieties  are  grown  and  the  plants  liberally  treated. 
Prick  out  good  batches  of  Autumn  Giant  and  Self 
Protecting  Broccoli  in  skeleton  frames  and  sow 
more  seed  of  each,  likewise  Brussels  Sprouts  on  a 
south  border. 

Peas 
raised  in  boxes  must  not  be  allowed  to  become 
-drawn  and  starved  before  planting  out.  Some 
little  care  should  be  exercised  in  doing  this,  as 
■much  of  the  ultimate  success  will  depend  upon 
the  start  the  plants  receive.  The  roots  should  be 
laid  out  straight,  and  if  the  ground  is  at  all  wet 
■and  stiff  add  a  little  fine  dry  soil  about  them. 
Stake  at  the  same  time,  and  where  birds  are 
troublesome  netting  should  be  placed  over  them, 
ivhich  will  also  act  as  a  preventive  against  frost. 

Bro.\d  Beams 
■should  also  be  planted  out  when  about  3  inches 
high.     Further  sowings  of  both  these  crops  should 
h&  made  every  ten  days  at  this  season. 

Carkots. 
Make  a  good  sowing  on  a  south  loorder  of  Eirly 
Horn  and  Intermediate  for  early  supplies. 

E.  Beckett. 
Aldenkam  House  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


THE      FRUIT      GARDEN. 


Irt3  reticulata  m\jor. 
Messrs.  Kelway  and  Sons,  Langport,  Somerset, 
send  flowers  of  this  beautiful  Iris,  which  is  quite 
distinct  from  the  species,  being  larger,  and  with  all 
the  attributes  that  make  the  ordinary  Netted  Iris 
■so  precious.  No  flower  of  this  season  is  more 
fascinating  than  the  major  form  of  I.  reticulata. 

Violets  from  Devoxshire. 
Mr.  Wegaelinsends  from  Diwiish  several  varieties 
■of  Violets,  including  Marie  Louise,  De  Parme, 
Luxonne,  a  beautiful  deep  blue  large  flowered  single 
Violet  ;  La  France,  another  single  of  wonderful 
■colour  and  very  fragrant ;  Princess  of  Wales,  which 
is  too  well  known  to  describe  ;  Mrs.  J.  Astor,  a 
reddish-flowered  double  variety,  and  Admiral 
Avellan,  reddish  purple  also,  single,  but  we  prefer 
the  full  blue  Violets  to  those  with  any  red  in  their 
■colouring. 


Cattleya  Trian.b. 

A  flower  of  a  beautiful  variety  of  Cattleya  Trian* 
comes  to  us  from  Mr.  Bixter,  the  Gardens,  Henley 
Park,  Guildford.  It  is  larg?  and  wonderfully 
bright  in  colour,  the  lip  rose-purple,  and  the  broad 
petals  of  a  softer  shade,  with  a  suft'iision  of  brighter 
colouring  towards  the  apex.  This  colouring  is 
■distinctive. 


BOOKS. 

Plain   Praetieal  Hints  on  Gpow- 
ingr  Capnations  and  Picotees,*— This 

seems  a  useful  pamphlet  about  Cirnation  and 
Picotee  culture.  It  is  severely  "plain  and  prac- 
tical,"' but  none  the  worse  for  that,  and  can  be 
considered  an  excellent  little  gaide  for  a  beginner. 
The  author  has  tad  the  advantage  of  Mr.  Robert 
Sydenham's  wide  experience  of  these  flowers,  and 
Mr.  Sydenham  contributed  the  article  on  layering. 


♦"Plain  Practical  Hints  on  Growing  Carnations  and 
Picotees."  By  Arthur  J.  Cook.  Pi'inted  and  published  by 
the  Imperial  Press,  Upp2r  Norwood,  L'>ndon,  S.E.  '  Price 
sixpence. 


THE    COB    NUT    AND 
FILBERT. 

CULTURAL  details  may  be  interesting 
at  this  season,  as  in  mmy  gardens  the 
Cob  Nut  and  Fdbert  are  much  valued, 
whilst  in  others  they  are  left  to 
chance,  and  the  result  is  a  forest  of 
shoots  and  poor  crops.  February  is  a 
good  time  to  prune  the  trees,  and  we  see  what 
splendid  results  are  secured  in  Kent  and  other 
counties  by  close  pruning  ;  indeed,  in  m  my  places 
the  Nut  is  profitable,  although  the  trees  often  grow 
in  soil  in  which  other  things  fail  to  thrive.  Taera  are 
many  varieties  on  the  C  ontinent  that  are  not  known 
or  grown  in  this  country.  I  am  not  advociting 
their  culture,  as  we  have  some  very  good  varieties 
to  select  from.  It  is  not  too  late  to  plant  Filbsrts 
at  this  season  of  the  j'ear,  but  there  must  bo  no 
delay,  as  the  Nut  is  one  of  the  earliest  trees  to  start 
into  growth,  so  that  is  why  I  advise  planting  early 
in  the  winter.  Prune  in  February,  as  then  a 
number  of  catkins  miy  be  saved,  as  it  is  important 
to  have  male  catkins  to  eS'ect  fertilisation. 

I  have  previously  referred  to  the  Filbert  succeed- 
ing in  poor  land,  I  mean 
dry  or  thin  stony  soil,  but 
they  must  not  be  planted 
on  cold,  wet,  heavy  clay. 
Although  the  growth  is 
free  enough,  it  will  most 
likely  be  gross  and  barren. 
As  regards  position,  I  do 
not  think  this  is  of  so  much 
importance  as  the  distance 
between  and  size  of 
the  trees.  There 
should  be  no  crowding, 
and  there  is  less  danger  of 
this  if  pruned  annually, 
especially  if  the  trees  are 
grown  on  a  single  leg  or 
stem.  I  have  never  seen 
better  results  than  in  the 
Kent  orchards.  Here  a 
regular  system  is  adopted. 
The  trees  are  rarely  more 
than  .0  feet  to  6  feet  in 
height,  and  often  less, 
having  a  stem  of  12  inches 
to  18  inches  ;  this  keeps  the 
bottom  branches  clear  ol 
the  soil.  The  trees  art 
pruned  so  that  a  limited 
number  of  branches  or 
leaders  form  the  head,  the  supposed  hybrid 
centre    of    the    tree    being 

kept  open.  In  private  gardens  trees  pruned 
thus  are  not  common,  and  yet  one  occasionally 
sees  heavy  crops.  On  the  other  hand,  there 
would  be  better  returns  if  they  were  not  planted 
so  close  together. 

Sucker  growths  rob  the  parent  trees,  and 
should  not  be  allowed.  I  am  aware  many 
growers  propagate  from  suckers  ;  indeed,  in  Kent 
this  is  often  done,  but  I  think  in  gardens  of  limited 
size  it  is  best  to  rely  on  layers,  as  the  last-named  are 
better  in  every  way ;  they  do  not  throw  up  suckers 
so  freely,  and  the  Nuts  have  the  true  flavour.  Trees 
from  seed,  even  when  selected  from  the  best 
varieties,  do  not  always  come  true  ;  indeed,  rarely 
resemble  the  original,  although  such  trees  are  good 
for  covert  and  for  the  production  of  Hazel  stakes 
and  other  purposes. 

ilany  years  ago  I  had  some  very  fine  Nuts  from 
Spain,  and  these  were  sown  with  the  idea  that  they 
would  be  worth  special  cultivation,  but  though 
they  made  splendid  trees  the  fruits  were  much 
inferior  to  the  Filbert  or  Kent  Cob.  This  shows 
one  cannot  depend  on  the  seed  for  garden  stock. 
On  the  other  hand,  there  is  no  difliculty  in  getting 
plants  true  to  name,  as  these  are  raised  from  layers. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  grow  pruned  trees  at  distances 
of  10  feet  apart,  and  trust  to  lateral  growths  from 
the  main  branches  or  leaders  ;  laterals  are  produced 
freely  yearly,  and  at  pruning  time  may  be  shortened 


back  close  to  the  stem.  Grown  thus  the  leaders  or 
branches  are  covered  with  lateral  shoots,  and  from 
these  the  fruits  are  obtained. 

Cultivated  trees  well  repay  food  in  the  shape  of 
manure.  A  dressing  of  it  should  be  given  at  this 
season.  As  the  trees  root  near  the  surface  the  food 
is  soon  absorbed.  Of  the  Cob  Nuts,  the  true  Kent 
Cob  is  one  of  the  best,  and  I  do  not  know  of  any 
variety  that  keeps  sound  such  a  long  time.  This 
is  the  variety  Messrs.  Bunyard,  Maidstone,  tell 
me  is  the  most  profitable  variety  grown,  being 
a  certain  bearer  and  much  liked  in  the  market. 
There  is  another,  the  Atlas  Cob,  a  larger  Nut  than 
the  Kent,  but  not  so  prolifij.  I  have  not,  however, 
grown  this  variety.  Webb's  Prizo  Cob  is  valuable 
for  general  culture.  The  Cosford  is  a  valuable 
Nat,  as  it  produces  cxtkins  so  freely,  and  planted 
with  others  assists  in  setting  the  fliwers.  The 
simo  remvrks  apply  to  a  very  useful  small-growing 
variety,  Pearson's  Prolific,  a  remirkably  free 
b;arer,and  the  Rod  Fdbort  is  noted  for  its  splendid 
fiis'our ;  it  is  also  a  good  cropper.  The  Kent 
Filbert,  though  excellent  in  i|uality,  should  have  a 
wall-drained  soil  and  a  sheltered  position.  The 
Wnite  Filbert  is  plentiful,  and  much  liked  by  many; 
the  skin  is  not  so  thick  as  the  seed.  There  is  a  very 
file  Fdbert,  the  Prolific  Filbert,  recently  given 
an   award   by   the   Royal   Horticultural    Society ; 


'      "  " 

''  "1 

1 

^. 

■ 

Hb^ 

i 

M 

1 

^^^Q.'! 

*'4imB 

1 

f 

ki',     .••    > 

BtTWEES    AN   APPLE  A.VD   A   PEAR   (NATURAL  SIZE). 

this    is     a     splendid     Nut,     and    has     a    pretty 
husk.  G.  Wythes. 


APPlLrE   AND    PEAR   HYBRID. 

A.  FRUIT  described  as  a  supposed  hybrid 
between  an  Apple  and  a  Pear  was  exhibited 
before  the  friut  committee  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  at  the  last  fortnightly 
meeting,  held  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham 
Gate,  and  created  a  good  deal  of  interest.  The 
accompanying  illustration  will  give  a  good  idea 
of  the  appearance  of  the  fruit,  which  in 
general  shape  more  resembles  a  Pear  thau  an 
Apple,  although  the  flavour  is  distinctly  that 
of  the  latter.  The  shoots  again  are  much  like 
those  of  the  Pear.  Mr.  John  V^ard,  Shobdon, 
R.S.O.,  Hereford,  who  sent  the  fruits  to  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  meeting,  writes 
us  that  "  they  are  the  result  of  an  incomplete 
experiment  by  a  deceased  hybridist.  The  tree 
is  now  added  to  my  collection  of  more  than 
two  hundred  hardy  fruit  novelties.  To  any- 
one interested  in  the  hybridisation  of  fruits,  I 
would  be  pleased  to  show  my  collection,  which 
includes  most  of  Luther  Burbank's  latest 
productions." 


200 


THE  GAKDEN. 


[March  22,  1902. 


ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY  AND  THE  PRO- 
POSED   HALL. 

Retieemem  of  Two  JIembees  of  the 
Council. 

We  understand  that  Mr.  Bennett- Poe  and 
Mr.  C.  E.  Shea  retired  froni  the  council  of  the 
Eoyal  Horticultural  Society  ultimntely  in 
consequence  ot  the  rejection  by  the  council  by 
six  to  five  of  the  following  amendment  to  the 
motion  for  the  adoption  of  the  report  of  the 
Hall  committee  : 

"  That  it  be  referred  to  a  committee  of  the 
council,  with  Barnn  Schrtcder,  to  consider  and 
report  as  to  the  approximate  cost  of  the  erection 
of  a  sufficient  hall  and  offices  for  the  purposes 
of  the  society,  the  committee  haring  power  to 
consult  expert  advisers." 

We  heartily  agree  -nith  this  resolution.  One 
Avould  have  imagined  that  it  was  a  reasonable, 
indeed  necessary,  preliminary  to  the  adoption 
of  a  scheme  certain  to  involve  the  society  in 
very  large  liabilities  to  ascertain  roughly  what 
those  liabilities  were  likely  to  amount  to. 

This  important  matter  should  also  have 
been  referred  to  the  whole  body  of  Fellows 
throughout  the  country  under  bye-law  4C. 
The  scheme  contains  no  provision  to  safeguard 
the  accumulated  "  reserve "  in  the  case  of 
insufficient  sul  iscriptions. 

Unfortunately,  through  the  custom  of  going 
to  press  on  Wednesday,  instead  as  heretofore 
on  Thursday,  we  could  make  no  comment  on 
this  scheme  in  our  last  issue,  but  we  have 
con.sistently  expressed  the  opinion  that  the 
financial  aspect  of  the  Hall  question  is  a 
serious  one,  and  without  mature  deliberation 
and  careful  forethought  will  land  the  society 
into  a  possible  future  bankruptcy. 


SOCIETIES. 


NATIONAL  AirATEtE  OARDENER.S'  ASSOCIATION. 
We  have  received  the  report  for  I'JOl  and  syllabus  and 
list  of  special  piizes  for  1002.  The  number  of  members 
is  less  than  in  previoMs  years,  but  this  is  not,  due 
to  lack  of  interest  in  the  aims  and  objects  of  the 
association,  but  to  the  increased  subscription  inaugurated 
last  year.  The  balance  sheet  submitted  is  not  (inile  so 
satisfactory  as  could  be  wished.  The  adverse  balance  is  due 
in  a  large  measure  to  your  executive  having  to  take  extra- 
ordinary steps  to  place  the  association  on  a  firmer  business 
footing  than  it  has  occupied  for  some  yeais  past.  The 
expense  incurred  in  sending  out  the  necessary  circulars  has 
been  a  serious  tax  on  the  financial  tesouues  of  the 
association.  The  monthly  exbibilions  were  a  great  improve- 
ment over  all  past  ones,  both  numerically  and  florally;  the 
lectures  delivered  constituted  an  important  feature  of  the 
year's  work.  I'he  following  lectures  are  announced  for 
19(12.  April  1,  "Sweet  Peas.'  by  D.  B.  Crane;  May  6, 
"Soils  and  Plant  I'uods,"  by  W.  Dyke;  June  3,  "Beautiful 
Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs,"  by  George  Gordon,  V.M.H.  ; 
July  1,  Conversazione  ;  August  12,  "  Bulbs  and  How  to  Grow 
Them,"  by  G.  M.  Gross;  September  2.  "  How  Plants  Grow 
and  Feed,"  by  T.  W.  Sanders,  F.L.S.  :  October  7,  "The  Lily 
Family,' by  S.  Hillman  ;  November  11,  "Fruits  for  .Small 
Gardens,"  by  A.  Ipgulden  ;  December  2,  "Gardens  of  the 
Kiviera,"  by  H.  H.  Thomas.  January  :i,  1!)U3,  "  Vegetables," 
by  G.  Hobday  ;  February  3,  Annual  General  Meeting. 

KINGSTON  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY. 
AT  the  annual  meeting  of  the  subscribers,  held  in  Kingston 
on  the  4th  inst.,  the  secretary  reported  that  owing  to  the 
dense  fogs  which  prevailed  on  the  last  show  days,  severely 
limiting  the  attendance,  there  was  a  deficiency  tinancially  of 
some  ilT  on  the  years  working.  It  was  agreed,  not  only 
that  the  show  days  be  Wednesday  and  I'hursday,  Novem- 
ber 12  and  13  next,  but  also  that  the  show  be  held  in  the 
warm  and  very  pleasing  St.  James's  Hall,  the  lesser  area 
being  met  by  a  moderate  reduction  in  the  number  of  classes 
in  the  schedule.  In  that  way  not  only  would  a  considerable 
saving  be  elfected.  but  a  far  prettier  show  would  be  pro- 
duced, and  such  as  could- be  seen  in  the  greatest  comfoit. 
As  Sir  J.  W  hittaker  Ellis,  Bart.,  the  late  president,  had  left 
the  district,  it  was  agreed  to  invite  T.  Skewes-Cox,  Esq., 


M,P..  to  fill  the  cfflce.  Mr.  W.  J.  Wells  was  re-elected  to 
the  office  of  chairman  ;  Mr.  A.  Dean,  vice-chairman  ;  Mr. 
W.  Hayward,  secretary;  and  Mr,  A,  W.  Homershaw,  J. P., 
as  treasurer.  .Several  vacancies  on  the  committee  were 
filled. 


SEVENOAKS  GARDENER,S'  SOCIETY'. 
At  the  Oddfellows'  Hall  recently  Mr.  H.  Cannell,  of 
Swanley,  gave  a  capital  lecture  on  the  history  of  the 
Chrvn  themnm  since  its  introduction  to  this  country,  and 
as  this  is  a  popular  subject  in  the  neighbourhood  it  was 
IlijUKht  by  the  executive  of  the  Sevenoaks  Gardeners' 
Society  that  it  might  prove  an  attraction  to  others  than  its 
menjbers.  They  therefore  decided  to  invite  friends,  with 
the  lesult  that  the  room  was  Blltd  with  a  large  and  appre- 
enitive  audience.  This  now  popular  tiower,  Mr,  Cannell 
said,  would  hardly  be  recognised  as  resulting  from  the  first 
Chrysanthemums  that  were  introduced  something  over  100 
years  ago,  which  were  simply  a  counterpart  of  the  common 
Ox-eye  Daisy  or  Marguerite.  A  heaity  vote  of  thanks  was 
passed  to  Mr.  Cannell  for  bis  able  lecture. 

Some  grand  exhibits  were  placed  on  the  tables,  the  judges' 
awards  being  as  follows;  First-class  certificates  to  Mr, 
Huxley,  for  three  Cyclamens;  Mr,  Huntley,  for  Primulas; 
Mr.  Westcott,  stand  of  cut  blooms  ;  very  highly  commended, 
Messrs.  Prowse,  Cowper,  and  Stevens,  for  collection  of 
vegetables,  Hyacinths,  and  Calanthe  Veitchii  respectively. 


EAST  ANGLIAN  HORTICILTVEAL  .SOCIETY. 
A  LARGE  gathering  of  members  assembled  at  the  March 
meeting  of  this  progressive  club,  wl-.en  Mr.  T.  B,  Field, 
gardener  to  Baroness  Berners,  Ashwellthorpe  Hall,  Norfolk, 
read  a  most  interesting  paper  upon  "TheEose."  Hereferred 
to  its  early  history,  the  numerous  varieties,  .and  their  natural 
habitats,  and  the  forerunners  of  the  work  of  the  latter-day 
hybridists  were  also  specified.  Some  ot  the  most  useful  of 
our  garden  Roses  were  notified.  Where  to  plant,  how  to 
plant,  when  and  how  to  prune  were  also  desciibed,  as  were 
also  the  methods  of  propagation  by  cuttings  and  budding 
upon  various  stocks.  The  subject  was  listened  to  with 
much  attention,  and  the  discussion  which  followed  was  well 
maintained.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  accoided 
to  Mr.  Field  for  his  paper.  Mr.  G.  James,  gardener  to  Mr, 
E.  T.  Boardman,  Town  Close,  brought  up  a  large  spray  of 
that  interesting  plant,  Biyophyllum  calycinum,  grown  bv 
Dr.  Beverley,  which,  with  the  remarks  upon  it,  evoked 
much  interest.  There  was  a  good  display  of  cut  flowers  and 
pot  plants,  Cinerarias  being  the  strongest  class. 


WINDSOR,  ETON,  AND  DISTRICT  ROSE  AND  HOETI- 

CULTIRAL  SOCIETY. 
WK  have  received  from  Mr,  J.  F.  Hoddinott,  Bank  House, 
AMndsor,  honoraiy  treasurer  of  the  above  society,  the 
schedule  of  the  forthcoming  e.xhibition  to  be  held  in  the 
Fellows'  Eyot,  Eton  College,  on  Saturday,  .lune  2S,  The 
(Jueen  s  Cup,  presented  by  her  late  Majesty  Queen  Victoria, 
value  ten  guineas,  is  ■  ttered,  together  with  money  prizes 
for  the  best  forty-eight  distinct  single  trusses.  If  won  by 
the  same  competitor  for  three  years  the  cup  bectiines  his 
propeily.  The  Windsor  Cup,  for  eighteen  distinct  (open  to 
amateurs  within  ten  miles  of  Windsor),  and  the  Duchess  of 
Sutherland's  cup  in  the  local  class  for  the  best  display  of 
cut  Eoses  are  also  offered  in  addition  to  the  usual  prizes. 
The  annual  report,  read  by  Mr.  Hoddinott  at  the  general 
meetir.g  in  November  last,  contains  the  following  remaiks  : 
"  To  this  society  her  late  Majesty  was  ever  a  most  munificent 
supporter  and  friend.  It  was  to  her  patronaee  and  contiimed 
countenance  that  this  society— to  a  very  barge  extent— owes 
its  present  splendid  position  and  prosperity.  It  was  in  the 
year  1S<)5  that  her  late  Majesty  first  granted  the  great 
favour  of  holding  our  show  within  the  private  grounds  of 
W  indsor  Castle,  and  this  gracious  permission  has  been  con- 
tinued for  six  successive  years,  a  favour  which  I  am  suie 
every  member  of  our  scciety  has  much  appreciated  Your 
hon.  treasurer  then  approached  her  late  Majesty  for  some 
pecuniary  assistance,  to  which  she  at  once  responded  by 
becoming  a  liberal  subscriber  to  our  funds,  and,  later  on, 
allowed  a  beautiful  challenge  cup  to  be  given  in  her  name. 
This  last  act  has  brought  to  our  shows  most  of  the  great 
rosarians  of  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  'Wales  in  com- 
petition for  it,  and  at  cmce  raised  our  society  from  a  small 
local  position  to  one  of  importance." 

LIVERPOOL  HORTICULTURAL  ASSOCIATION. 
The  last  meeting  of  the  present  session  of  the  above  was 
held  on  .Saturday  last  at  the  society  s  ofiice,  Liverpool. 
Mr.  T.  Foster  occupied  the  chair,  and  the  subject  for 
consideration  was  "Hardy  Border  Flowers,"  by  Mr.  J. 
Benson,  which  was  dealt  with  in  an  attractive  and  com- 
prehensive manner.  Trees,  shrubs,  herbaceous  plants,  and 
annuals  were  mentioned,  with  some  details  as  to  planting 
and  grouping,  preparation  of  the  beds  or  borders,  selections 
and  the  value  as  decorative  plants  and  for  house  deci>ration. 
A  discussion  followed,  in  which  Jlessrs,  R.  G.  Waterman, 
Joseph  Sloney,  John  Stoney,  J.  Skitt,  J.  Mercer,  and  the 
chanman  took  part,  after  which  the  thanks  of  the  meeting 
weie  tendered  to  the  lecturer  and  chairman  for  their 
services. 


UNITED  HORTICULTURAL  BENEFIT  AND  PROVIDENT 

.SOCIETY. 
The  usual  monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was 
held  at  the  Caledonial  Hall  on  Monday,  the  10th  inst.  Jlr. 
c.  H.  Curtis  presided.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meetingwere 
read  and  signed.  Seven  new  members  were  elected,  and  two 
others  nominated.  Ten  members  were  reported  on  the  sick 
fund,  the  amount  of  sick  pay  paid  out  for  the  month  being 
t:33  125.  The  sum  of  3(is.  was  granted  to  a  sick  member 
from  the  convalescent  fund.  The  decision  of  the  committee 
at  the  last  meeting  was  upheld  in  the  case  of  a  member  who 


wished  to  be  reinstated.  The  death  of  two  members  viz 
Mr.  John  Fairey  and  Mr.  James  Tegg  was  reported  and 
cheques  weie  drawn  for  the  amounts  standing  to  their 
credit  in  the  ledger,  being  i;32  Is.  Id.  and  £72  7s.  Id.  respec- 
tively. The  best  thanks  of  the  committee  was  accoided  to 
Mr.  George  Gordon  for  his  excellent  aiticle  in  the  issue  of 
the  Gardiners'  Magazine  of  March  8.  It  was  decided  to 
obtain  3,000  copies  of  the  article,  and  send  them  out  willv 
annual  report  and  balance-sheet.  The  treasurer  was  allowed 
to  have  a  bank  draft  of  £100  to  meet  current  liabilities 
the  secretary  was  granted  .1:5  as  oflice  rent  for  the  cu-ient 
year.  A  heaity  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  the  chairmau 
and  vice-chaiiman  for  their  services  for  the  past  year  and 
at  a  subsequent  meeting  they  were  unanimously  re-elected 
for  the  ensuing  year. 

SHEFFIELD  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY, 
THE  monthly  meeting  was  held  on  the  12th  inst.,  the  exhibits- 
being  pots  of  bulbs  from  both  professionals  and  amateuis 
and  some  excellent  examples  of  Hyacinths,  Narcissus  Lilies' 
Tulips,  and  Daffodils  weie  staged,  Mr.  C,  Scott  taking  first 
prize,    Mr,    Lucas  second,  and   Mr.  Marsden  third    in   the- 
protessional  class;  Mr.  W.  Marsden  first,  Mr.  S.  T   Binton 
second,   and   Mr.   Willeford   third  in  the  amateurs      The 
essay  for  the  evening  was  on  the  different  varieties  of  climb- 
ing plants  by  Mr.  Cook  of  Rotherham,  who  treated  his  subject 
in  a  masteriy  manner,  dealing  with  all  kinds  of  climbers 
flowers,  fruits,  and    vegetables,   their  various  methods  of 
climbing,  and  the  different  objects  they  attach  themselves  to. 
Jasminum  nudifloium,  which  requires  a  somewhat  sheltered 
position,    the    'Wistaria,     Ampelopsis    Veitchii,     Crala>gus 
Pyracantha,  with  its  bright  scarlet  berries,  and  the  Clematis 
were  especially  dealt  with.     Of  the  bit  ter  there  are  five  types 
three  of  which  bloom  on  old  ripened  wood.    He  also  dealt 
with  Ivies  and  their  aptitude  for  covering  bare  spaces  the- 
Vine  as  grown  out  of  doors  in  Southein  Europe,  the  Hop 
climbing  Eoses,  and  completed  his  remarks  by  referring  to- 
vegetable  climbers.    An  interesting  discussion  was  followed 
by  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer. 

GARDENERS'  EOYAL  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTION. 
PerhaI'S  the  largest  muster  of  gardeners  ever  held  in  the 
city  of  Liverpool  was  that  which  assembled  at  the  City  Hall 
on  the  12th  inst.  A  local  committee,  of  which  Mr.  C.  A. 
Y'oung  was  elected  chaiiman,  has  been  most  successful  in 
obtaining  the  co-operation  of  the  gardeners  throughout  the- 
district,  who  suppoited  them  to  the  number  of  300,  Mr 
Harry  J,  Veitch  and  Mr.  George  J.  Ingram,  treasurer  and 
secretary  of  the  institution  respectively,  had  willingly 
accepted  the  invitation  of  the  local  committee  to  be  present 
and  explain  the  objects  of  the  society.  Mr.  E.  .1  Harvey^ 
Gibson,  M.A,,  F.L.S.,  Professor  of  Botany  at  Liverpool 
College,  occupied  the  chair,  and  the  leading  members  of  the 
trade  and  others  were  present  to  show  their  interest  in  the- 
project.  On  the  chaiiman  calling  upon  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitciv 
to  address  them  he  was  accorded  a  very  warm  reception,  and 
then  gave  an  admirable  address  upon  the  object  of  the- 
institution,  with  some  details  of  its  history.  The  patronage- 
accorded  it  by  her  late  Majesty  Queen  Victoria  has  since  been 
extended  by  King  Edward  and  Queen  Alexandra.  Some 
account  was  given  as  to  the  amount  of  money  expended  and 
of  those  who  had  been  recipients  of  the  benevolence  of  the- 
institution.  An  appeal  was  made  to  those  present  to  become- 
life  members  or  annual  subscribers.  In  many  other  ways  it' 
also  pointed  out  ho«  help  could  be  given.  .\t  the  conclusiou 
of  an  excellent  address  the  speaker  was  heartily  applauded. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Ker  moved  and  Mr.  R.  Todd  seconded  and 
Sir.  George  J.  Ingram  supported  that  this  meeting  havin" 
heard  Jlr,  Veitch  describe  the  aimsof  the  institution,  hereby 
pledges  itself  to  further  these  and  its  best  interests.  This, 
was  carried  with  applause.  I  in  the  motion  of  Mr.  H 
Middlehuist,  seconded  by  Mr.  E.  G.  Waterman,  the  thanks 
of  the  meetings  with  musical  honours  were  accorded  to  the 
delegates  of  the  institution.  Further  thanks  were  tendered 
to  Mr.  Holmes,  Ulverston,  the  Liverpool  Horticultural 
Association,  Mr.  T.  Foster,  chairman,  and  Messrs.  Blake  and 
Mackenzie  for  doing  the  printing  free  of  cost,  to  the  musical' 
artists,  and  those  friends  who  had  contributed  to  the  florab 
display.  This  was  carried  by  acclamation,  and  a  similar 
compliment  was  passed  to  the  chairman.  Several  donations 
and  uew  subscribers  and  one  life  member  were  announced. - 
The  result  will  certainly  prove  most  gratifying  to  the 
committee,  of  benefit  to  the  funds  of  the  institution,  and 
highly  creditable  to  the  committee  who  have  worked 
throughout  with  praiseworthy  zeal.  The  other  officers  were 
Jlr.  P..  Ker,  vice-chairman,  Mr.  A.  J.  Crippin,  treasurer,  and. 
Mr,  E.  G.  "Waterman,  secretary. 

ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY". 
Orchils  CERTirioATEb,  March  11. 
Ln'lia   ditibyano-pvrpurala    ear.  Eing  Bduard   1'//,— This, 
new  hybrid  La?lia  has  a  remarkably  fine  lip  of  enormous  size. 
The  interior  is  almost  white,  and  surrounded  by  a  broad  band- 
of  shades  of  rose  veined  with  rose-purple.     The  edges  are- 
beautifully  frilled  also.    The  sepals  and  petals  are  somewhat 
loosely  disposed,  the  upper  sepal  falling  over  the  lip.    Tlie- 
parents  are  L.  digbyana  and  L.  purpurata.    From  Messrs. 
James    Veitch    and    Son,    Limited,     Chelsea.       F'irst-class. 
certificate. 

Dendrobivm  Eun/alvs  Apollo  altnm.—A  very  distinct 
flower,  the  sepals  and  petals  white,  the  centre  of  the  lip. 
being  rich  crimson-brown.  The  plant  exhibited  was  flower- 
ing very  freely.  From  Mr.  Cypher,  Orchid  grower,  Chelten- 
ham.   Award  of  merit. 

Lielio-Catllet/a  ptupuiata  x  scliillcHana  far.  Whatelei/of. 
—This  hybrid  has  been  exhibited  before,  but  not  certificated.. 
This  form  was  thought  so  highly  of  by  the  committee  that 
they  recommended  an  award  of  merit.  The  flower  is  of  good 
size,  the  lip  of  a  rich  velvety  purple,  and  the  sepals  and 
petals  deep  rose.  Exhibited  by  Harry  Whateley,  Esq.,. 
Prior  Lawn,  Kenilworth  (gardener,  Mr  Cook). 


ggfey- 


GARDEN 


No.  158 1.— Vol.  LXL] 


[March  29,  1902 


A  NEW  HALL  FOR  THE 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

ON  E  of  the  most  menioraljle  meet- 
ings ever  held  in  connexion  with 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
took  place  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
James  Street,  on  Friday  after- 
noon, the  21st  inst.,  to  determine  in  what  form 
the  centenary,  which  occurs  in  1904,  should  be 
celebrated.  There  was  a  lairge  attendance  of  those 
Fellows  who  take  more  than  a  passive  interest 
in  a  great  association,  and  not  in  recent  years 
at  any  rate  has  so  earnest  a  feeling  prevailed 
to  do  the  right  thing  in  commemorating  an 
auspicious  event.  The  president,  Sir  Trevor 
Lawrence,  Bart.,  as  our  report  (page  215)  shows, 
was  supported  by  most  of  the  council,  and 
among  others  by  Sir  W.  T.  Thisel  ton-Dyer,  Sir 
Michael  Foster,  M.P.,  and  the  Dean  of  Roches- 
ter, and  this  meeting  was  convened  to  settle 
definitely  whether  a  new  garden  or  a  new  hall 
■would  be  the  wiser  memorial  of  the  event. 

"The  policy  of  the  existing  council  is  to 
endeavour  to  secure,  first,  a  suitable  hall  and 
oflSces  near  those  now  occupied  at  West- 
minster, and,  when  thai  is  done,  to  devote 
their  attention  at  once  to  the  acquisition  of  a 
site  for  a  new  garden."  This  is  placed  on 
record  in  The  Garden  of  March  1."). 

Unfortunately,  a  serious  division  occurred 
in  the  council  as  to  the  way  the  matter  was 
being  considered,  with  the  result  that  Mr. 
Bennett-Poe  and  Mr.  C.  E.  Shea  resigned. 
We  are  sorry  to  know  that  the  council  has  no 
longer  the  benefit  of  their  advice,  for  both  are 
deeply  interested  in  horticulture,  and  have 
long  worked  earnestly  for  the  good  of  the 
society. 

But  the  meeting  was  determined  that  the 
question  of  the  hall  should  be  finally  settled, 
■  and  the  result  was  decisive.  The  meeting,  with 
few  exceptions,  voted  for  a  new  home  for  the 
society,  and  the  site  approved  of  by  the 
committee  and  Baron  Schrceder  was  considered 
in  every  way  suitable,  being  placed  about  four 
hundred  yards  from  the  Drill  Hall  and  in  an 
improving  neighbourhood.  As  the  report  in 
The  Garden  of  March  15  says,  the  site  "is 
in  Vincent  Square,  at  the  corner  of  Bell  Street. 
It  has  an  area  of  17,565  square  feet,  and  the 
rent  asked  is  £690  a  year  for  a  lease  of 
999  years."  The  New  Hall  Committee  recom- 
mended this  position,  and  the  resolution  was 
passed. 


We  have  consistently  urged  that  the  council 
should  exercise  caution  in  embarking  on  any 
scheme  likely  to  place  a  heavy  burden  upon 
the  society  in  the  days  to  come,  when  perhaps 
there  will  not  be  the  same  extraordinary  appli- 
cations for  fellowship  as  during  the  present  era 
in  its  history,  and  this  was  one  of  the  conten- 
tions of  those  who  differed  from  the  council. 
The  reserve  fund  is  too  small ;  in  truth,  utterly 
inadequate  for  any  such  scheme  as  the  erection 
of  a  hall  and  ofiices  worthy  of  a  splendid 
organisation,  bat  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that 
this  reserve  fund  will  not  be  interfered  with, 
unless  such  a  course  becomes  absolutely  neces- 
sary. And  why  was  the  meeting  t.o  hopeful 
about  the  future  ?  For  the  good  reason  that 
Baron  Schrreder  has  made  himself  practically 
responsible  for  the  site  already  decided  upon, 
and  has  contributed  £5,000  towards  the  fund. 
>Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  read  a  letter  from  the 
Baron,  who  was,  unfortunately  through  ill- 
health,  unable  to  be  present,  in  which  he  stated 
his  intense  interest  in  the  scheme,  and  several 
.speakers,  including  Sir  Michael  Foster  and  Sir 
W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer  strenuously  urged  that 
the  opportunity  be  not  allowed  to  slip  by  of 
getting  this  home,  so  necessary  and  so  excellent 
a  memorial  of  the  centenary  of  the  society. 
It  has  been  looked  forward  to  for  many  years, 
so  let  the  matter  be  settled  once  and  for  all, 
and  settled  it  was  most  emphatically,  with  the 
promise  that  the  tiuestion  of  a  new  garden 
should  be  considered  immediately  the  hall 
was  erected  and  started  as  a  going  concern. 

We  hope  the  fears  we  entertain  as  to  the 
possible  future  financial  troubles  will  not  be 
realised.  We  have  our  misgivings.  It  rests 
practically  with  the  meeting  of  Friday  to  find 
the  funds  for  the  hall  and  its  offices,  and 
support  Baron  Schrceder  and  the  three  donors 
of  £1,000  each  —  Mr.  H.  J.  Elwes,  Mr. 
Sutton,  and  Mr.  Sherwood  —in  building  a  hall 
worthy  of  the  society  and  its  splendid  tradi- 
tions, not  a  building  to  be  ashamed  of,  but 
architecturally  a  delight,  and  with  an  interior 
so  arranged  and  so  decorated  that  it  may  be 
declared  of  this  hall,  "It  is  a  model  for  all 
nations." 

The  meeting  has  declared  for  a  new  hall. 
Let  it  then  be  worthy  of  the  society  ;  but  we 
shall  ever  strive  in  the  future  to  gain  a  garden 
for  the  society  wherein  experiments  may  be 
conducted  and  a  school  of  horticulture 
founded.  We  are  mindful  of  the  good  work 
that  has  been  accomplished  at  Chiswick 
under  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron  and  Mr.  Wright. 
Although  a  hall  was  the  means  decided  on  at 


the  meeting  on  Friday,  several  speakers— Sir 
Michael  Foster,  the  Dean  of  Rochester,  and 
others — regarded  the  question  of  a  garden  as 
claiming  the  earnest  attention  of  the  Fellows. 

A  plan  is  given  on  page  216  indicating  the 
site  of  the  new  hall.  All  that  now  remains 
is  for  the  meeting  to  give  practical  expression 
to  its  wishes  and  subscribe  liberally  that  the 
hall  be  no  commonplace  erection  unworthy  of 
so  national  an  organisation  as  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  the  centre  of  horticultural 
work  and  progress  in  the  British  Empire. 

We  have  avoided  anything  tending  to  con- 
troversy on  the  present  occasion,  much  as  we 
believe  in  those  who  differed  from  the  meeting 
generally,for  the  simple  reason  that  as  so  serious 
an  undertaking  has  been  entered  upon,  it  is 
far  from  our  wish  to  hamper  the  great  work 
the  council  and  a  section  of  the  Fellows  have 
undertaken  to  carry  out,  we  hope  sincerely,  to 
a  most  successful  issue.  The  council  has  our 
hearty  co-operation. 

The  present  position  of  att'airs  is  roughly  as 
follows  : 

(1.)  The  President  said  at  the  meeting  that 
about  £25,000  would  be  required,  call  it 
£.'50,000,  as  no  building  to  our  knowledge  has 
cost  less  than  the  estimated  outlay. 

(2.)  Eight  thousand  pounds  have  been  pro- 
mised, leaving  £17,000  to  be  raised,  or,  taking 
the  cost  as  £.30,000,  then  £22,000.  Therefore 
a  splendid  opportunity  is  given  to  those  who 
voted  for  the  hall  to  show  their  practical 
interest  in  the  scheme.  We  hope,  as  the 
council  has  been  guided  by  the  wishes  of  the 
majority  of  the  Fellows  present  at  the  meetings 
that  have  been  held,  that  the  amount  will  be 
quickly  forthcoming. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

The  White  Tussilaoo. 
Mr.  Field,  The  Gardens,  Ashwellthorpe  Hall 
C4ardens,  Norwich,  sends  flowers  of  the  White  Tussi- 
lago,  a  quiet  pretty  colour,  not  exactly  dead  white, 
but  with  a  trace  of  grey.  Mr.  Field  writes  :  "  I  am 
sending  flowers  of  the  white  variety  of  Tussilago  ; 
it  is  not  quite  so  sweet  as  T.  fragrans,  but  very 
pretty  and  useful.  I  have  a  large  clump  under  the 
shade  of  some  Horse  Chestnut  trees,  and  it  has  a  very 
pretty  effect  amongst  the  Uttle  Winter  Aconite, 
Primroses,  and  other  flowers.  The  White  Tussilago 
is  well  worth  growing  where  white  flowers  are  in 
demand." 


Chionodoxa  Lucille  (Gloky  of  the  Snow). 

I  am  sending  for  your  table  flowers  of  this 
interesting  and  charming  plant.  I  was  looking 
round  a  neighbour's  garden  and  came  across  a  bed 
6  feet  long  and  3  feet  wide,  one  mass  of  bloom,  a 


202 


THE  GARDEN. 


[March  29,  19C2 


sight  not  soon  to  be  forgotten.  Tliis  delightful 
bulb  can  be  easily  grown  bj'  anj'one  with  a  garden, 
however  small.  It  is  quite  at  home  either  in  the 
rock  garden  or  in  the  border,  increases  rapidly, 
and  delights  in  a  light  soil.  The  bulbs  should  be 
planted  in  the  autumn  about  2  inches  deep. 

ImAXTOPIIYLLUM    MINIATtlM. 

I  am  also  sending  spikes  of  Imantophyllum 
miniatum.  This  is  a  plant  for  the  amateur,  as  it 
is  easy  to  grow.  The  plants  from  which  these 
spikes  were  taken  are  in  a  cool  vinerj-,  and  they 
remain  in  the  same  house  all  the  year  round.  I 
divide  and  repot  every  third  }"ear,  using  rough  loam, 
a  little  leaf-mould,  and  a  few  lumps  of  charcoal 
to  keep  the  soil  sweet.  Give  plenty  of  water 
when  the  plants  are  growing  and  manure  water 
when  the  spikes  first  make  their  appearance. 
Sponge  the  leaves  oceasionallj'  to  keep  the  plants 
clean  ;  the  result  will  be  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
spikes  from  plants  grown  in  lO-inch  or  12-inch 
pots. — T.  B.  Field,  Ashwdlthorpe  Hall  Gardenf, 
yoru'ich. 

A  charming  gathering  for  the  table.  The 
Imantophyllum  spikes  were  superb  for  size  and 
colour. 


LAW. 


BREACH  OF  AGREEMENT. 

At  Varniouth  County  Court  on  Thursday  last.  His  Honour 
■.Tudpe  Wilmot  heard  an  interesting  action  brought  by  Wiiliaru 
Hales,  market  gardener,  Flegg  Burgh,  against  John  and 
Elizabeth  Parker,  who  were  his  tenants  of  laud  at  Burgh 
St.  Margaret  and  Billuckby,  to  recover  damages  for  breach  of 
an  agreement.  Mr.  P.  Wiltshire  appeared  for  the  plaintiff, 
and  ^Ir.  G,  H.  L.  Blake  for  defendants. 

Defendants  had  occupied  the  land  from  1891.  but  the  latest 
agieeiuent  was  dated  October  lU,  1900,  fur  one  year's  hire. 
Vnder  Clause  G defendants  were  to  cultivate,  or  cause  to  be 
cultivated,  the  land  in  a  good  husbandlike  manner,  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  couuty.  Plaintiff  alleged  that  this  had 
not  been  done,  and  valuers  had  assessed  the  damage  at  £i"'2, 
but  only  .t;20  was  claimed.  The  land,  which  had  been  a  well- 
cultivated  garden,  plaintiff  said  was  left  a  wilderness.  The 
garden  was  planted  with  fruit  trees,  canes.  Rhubarb,  and 
the  Ubual  produce.  The  canes  were  left  weak  and  thin,  the 
paths  were  overgrown,  and  the  Rhubarb  was  in  a  part 
smothered  with  weeds.  Plaintiff  produced  a  big  bundle  of 
brambles  to  give  the  Court  ocular  demonstration,  and  His 
Honour  said  it  looked  something  like  Christmas  decoiations. 
Plaintiff  said  this  came  from  what  was  a  flower  garden 
where  Roses  grew,  but  now  jt  was  covered  with  Brambles, 
Stinging  Nettles,  and  Docks.  Defendant  had  to  pay  no 
valuation  in  lOOO,  and  was  to  have  none  on  going  out,  but  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  Parker  tenancy  there  was  valuation  for 
the  incoming  tenant,  which  came  to  tl4  lis.  6d.  fur  Beetand 
Hay  left  on  another  part  of  the  land,  and  from  the  amount 
claimed  credit  was  given  defendants  for  this.  Plaintiff,  a 
white-haired  man  of  seventy,  in  cross-examination  admitted 
lie  lived  in  the  house  next  the  Parkers,  and  had  not  made  any 
complaint  to  them  of  bad  husbandry,  and  that  he  would  not 
perhaps  have  brought  the  action  if  Mr.  Castle,  the  valuer 
employed,  had  not  sugcested  it. 

Mr.  Wiltshire  said  that  plaintiff,  as  an  old  man,  was  not 
aware  of  his  full  rights. 

Mr,  A.  B.  Castle,  a  member  of  the  Norfolk  Tenant  Right 
Valuers'  Association,  who  made  the  valuation  on  October  lu 
last,  said  that  the  garden  was  the  worst  place  he  had  ever 
seen.  It  was  a  perfect  wilderness.  Fritten  Woods  were 
well  kej)t  in  comparison.  The  paths  were  covered,  and  the 
Box  borders  had  grown  into  little  trees  10  inches  high,  the 
grass  was  up  to  his  knees,  the  bushes  and  canes  were 
covei-ed  with  bines  and  smothered  with  weeds,  and  there  was 
nothing  iii  what  he  called  the  old  garden  which  he  could 
value  at  a  single  halfpenny.  Of  40  dozen  bushes  that  sliould 
be  worth  4s.  to  Os.  per  dozen,  he  could  only  put  a  small  value 
on  IS  dozen.  Of  140  rods  of  canes,  only  12  rods  would  be 
valued,  and  they  had  not  been  trimmed  and  cleaned  between 
the  rows  for  three  years,  the  ground  resembling  marsh 
rather  than  a  garden.  Rhubarb  that  was  foul  with  grass, 
weeds,  and  thistles  18  inches  tall  he  could  only  value  at 
Is.  Od.  per  dozen  instead  of  3s.  6d.  to  4s.  The  land  could  not 
be  got  clear  fur  i|uite  three  years,  and  he  computed  two 
years"  labour  at  10s.  per  week  were  needed  to  get  it  right 
again.  The  valuation  as  between  the  landlord  and  incoming 
tenant  was  only  £S  lis.  ;id.,  but  had  the  land  been  properly 
cultivated  it  should  have  been  between  t;45-and  toO, 

Mr.  George  Hawes,  nursei->mau  for  forty-two  years,  said  it 
was  more  like  a  furest  than  a  garden,  and  he  never  saw 
anything  like  it  before.  The  brambles  produced  were  a  fair 
sample  of  the  kitchen -garden.  It  must  have  been  years 
since  the  ground  was  dug  up  or  anything  done  to  it.  He 
would  not  have  allowed  anything  to  valuation,  but  if  the 
garden  was  properly  cultivated  the  valuation  should  have 
come  out  at  from  tau  to  tCO. 

Mr.  John  Simentt,  valuer,  Ormesby,  with  twenty-nine  years 
experience,  said  that  the  observation  he  made  on  seeing  the 
garden  was  that  "  if  Kruger  and  De  »Vet  hid  up  in  it  a 
regiment  of  soldiers  could  hardly  lind  them."  (Laughter). 
The  garden  was  filthy. 

William  Youngs,  the  present  tenant,  said  that  the  old 
garden  when  he  took  it  was  a  plantation.     The  bushes  were 


di:ad  and  the  Raspberry  canes  no  use  at  all.     He  expected  it 
would  take  him  three  years  to  clean  it. 

His  Honour,  without  calling  upon  defendant,  said  that  it 
was  clear  plaintiff  never  made  any  complaint  though  he 
lived  upon  the  place,  and  he  would  never  have  brought  the 
action  if  he  had  not  been  put  up  to  it.  He  should  not 
encourage  litigation  in  this  way,  and  there  would  be  judg- 
ment for  defendants. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


Early-floweping'    Rhododendpons 

at  Kew. — The  severe  weather  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  February,  followed  by  the  genial 
weather  of  March,  have  contributed  largely  towards 
one  of  the  finest  displays  of  earl}'  Rhododendrons 
ever  seen  in  the  Royal  Gardens.  Too  often  the 
expanding  blo.ssoms  are  killed  by  a  sharp  night's 
frost  just  as  they  are  approaching  perfection,  but 
this  year  the  absence  of  frost  in  March,  together 
with  the  retarding  influence  of  Februar3''s  weather, 
has  given  us  an  opportunity  of  enjoying  them  at 
their  best.  Of  the  several  species  and  hybrids  the 
place  of  honour  must  be  given  to  that  grand  old 
hj'brid  nobleanuni.  In  the  Rhododendron  dell 
several  very  large  masses  may  be  seen,  all  of  which 
are  smothered  with  rosy  red  blossoms.  In  the  near 
neighbourhood  of  the  largest  group  a  good  sized 
plant  of  the  Himalaj'an  R.  fulgens  is  conspicuous 
by  reason  of  its  trusses  of  waxy,  blood-red 
blossoms,  whilst  in  still  other  places  niveuni, 
Thomsoni,  and  dauricum  are  either  in  or  coming  in 
to  flower.  In  other  parts  of  the  gardens  pretty 
patches  of  colour  are  made  by  beds  and  masses  of 
R.  pracox,  the  plants  being  smothered  with 
blossoms.  In  the  Himalayan  house  a  number  of 
the  more  tender  species  and  hybrids  are  coming 
into  blossom,  a  few"  of  the  most  conspicuous  being 
ShiUoni,  ciliatum,  arboreum  hybrids,  &c.  Such  a 
display  in  the  middle  of  March  is  rare  about 
London,  though  in  the  favoured  south  -  west 
counties  it  is  an  annual  occurrence. — W. 
Dalt.imore. 

Practical  g'ardening^  for  teachers. 

— A  course  of  lectures,  with  practical  work,  will 
be  given  in  the  Middlesex  County  School  of 
Horticulture,  Pymmes  Park,  tdmonton  (adjoining 
Silver  Street  Station,  G.E.R.),  by  Mr.  .J.  Weathers, 
F.R.H.S.  (County  Instructor  in  Horticulture), 
commencing  Saturdaj-,  April  12,  at  II  a.m. 
The  lectures  will,  as  a  rule,  be  given  in  the 
greenhouses,  the  hardy  flower  garden,  or  the  fruit 
and  vegetable  garden,  so  as  to  give  as  much 
practical  information  as  possible.  After  the 
lecture,  students  will  be  allowed  to  assist  in  what- 
ever practical  work  is  being  done  in  the  garden  at 
the  time.  All  tools  will  be  provided.  The  course 
w'ill  consist  of  sixteen  lectures  on  subjects  con- 
tained in  the  following  syllabus.  The  order  in 
which  the  subjects  will  be  taken  must  depend 
largely  upon  the  work  in  pi'ogress  in  the  gardens. 
Syllabus  :  General  survey  of  cultivated  plants 
with  special  reference  to  those  growing  in  the 
gardens.  Points  of  similarity  and  diH'erence 
betw'een  various  groups.  Annuals,  biennials, 
herbaceous  perennials,  bulbous  plants,  shrubs, 
trees.  Ferns,  Orchids,  &c.  Functions  of  the  roots, 
stems,  leaves,  and  flowers.  How  plants  are 
affected  beneficiallj'  or  otherwise  by  heat  and  cold, 
moisture  and  dryness,  unsuitable  soils,  &c.  The 
propagation  of  plants  by  seeds,  cuttings,  buds, 
grafts,  layers,  runners,  offsets,  bulbils,  rootstocks, 
division,  &c.  Germination  and  its  requirements, 
good  and  bad  methods  ;  suitable  depths  of  covering 
with  soil  ;  thick  vti-ttis  thin  sowing  :  thinning  out 
seedlings:  pricking  off' ;  transplanting.  Cuttings 
of  soft  and  hard-wooded  plants  ;  time  for  taking 
cuttings;  the  "callus";  development  of  roots; 
well-known  plants  usually  propagated  by  cuttings. 
Budding  ;  what  a  bud  is,  and  when  to  take  it ; 
dift'erence  between  leaf  buds  and  flower  buds  ;  the 
value  of  budding  as  a  means  of  propagation  ;  kinds 
of  plants  increased  by  budding.  (irafting  ;  the 
graft  (or  scion)  and  the  stock ;  necessity  for 
relationship  between  stock  and  scion  ;  onl}'  plants 
with  a  cambium  layer  {i.i.  dicotyledons)  can  be 
budded  or^rafted  ;  kinds  of  plants  usually  increased 
by  grafting. 


Hybrid  Aquilegias.— My  experience  of 
the  liybrid  Aquilegias  is  that  they  are  not  nearly 
so  long-lived  as  A.  vulgaris,  which  is  probably 
what  is  meant  by  the  writer  to  whose  remarks 
"  A.  I)."  takes  exception.  They  are  possibly 
hardier  than  A.  chrysantha  and  A.  ccerulea,  but 
for  vigour,  hardiness,  and  long  life  they  cannot 
compare  with  the  common  Columbine.  What  is 
wanted  now  is  a  little  more  infusion  of  the  blood  of 
that  old  flower  into  these  newer  hybrids,  with  the 
retention  of  the  long  spurs  which  make  the  latter 
so  charming.  I  have  here  some  natural  Inbrids  in 
which  there  seems  to  be  some  of  the  vigour  of 
A.  vulgaris,  derived  from  the  work  of  the  bees 
among  the  flowers,  and  possessing  the  long  spurred 
flowers  we  all  admire.  Had  I  lime  I  should  like 
to  follow  these  up.  So  far  as  I  have  observed 
the  lovely  hybrid  Aquilegias  want  renewing 
from  seed  rather  frequently.  This  is  not 
dithcult  to  do,  still  one  would  prefer  to  have 
them  with  a  longer  life. — S.  Arxott,  Carsethorn, 
hi/  DiimfrUx,  N.B. 

CornUS  Mas.— This  early-flowering  native 
shrub  is  too  seldom  seen  in  cultivation,  for  when 
smothered  with  its  small  heads  of  yellow  flowers  it 
is  decidedly  pleasing.  It  grows  naturally  into  a 
good-sized  bush  of  irregular  outline,  and  is  excellent 
tor  the  shrubberj'  or  for  grouping  in  parks, 
gardens,  or  plantations.  Large  bushes,  ranging 
from  VI  feet  to  1.5  feet  in  height  are  to  be  seen, 
and  plants  of  that  height,  with  a  similar  diameter, 
smothered  with  blossoms  make  a  pretty  sight. 
Its  cultivation  is  simple,  as  it  thrives  in  almost  any 
soil,  sand}'  loam  appearing  to  be  most  suitable. 
When  once  established  very  little  trouble  is  after- 
wards given. 

Prunus  Pissardi  as  an  early- 
flowering  plant.— I  think  this  species  is 
scarcely  enough  appreciated  for  flowering  in  a 
cold  house  at  the  end  of  Februar}'  and  in  Slarch. 
There  is  no  necessity  for  forcing  it,  it  is  better 
without  hastening.  I  have  at  the  present  time  a 
low  standard  with  a  branching  head  .3  feet  at  least 
in  diameter,  composed  of  shoots  averaging  '2  feet 
in  length  that  is  simply  a  mass  of  white  bloom. 
The  plant  is  in  a  10-inch  pot  that  is  full  of  roots. 
It  stood  out  of  doors  all  summer  and  winter  up 
to  the  middle  of  February,  and  as  soon  as  the  buds 
began  to  swell  it  was  brought  into  my  cold  house. 
While  in  the  open  it  was  frost-bound  on  several 
occasions,  but  took  no  harm  whatever.  Its  won- 
derfully free  blooming  comes  as  a  revelation 
to  me.  I  had  no  idea  it  could  flower  in  such 
happy  profu.sion.  I  attribute  this  result  to  starving 
it  to  some  extent.  About  twice  during  the  sunmier 
I  gave  it  a  slight  top-dressing  of  Clay's  Fertilizer, 
and  since  it  began  to  expand  its  buds  it  has  had  a 
little  weak  manure  twice  a  week.  As  soon  as  the 
plant  goes  out  of  bloom — and  it  is  so  delightful 
that  I  wish  it  could  retain  its  flowers  for  three 
months — it  will  be  placed  in  the  open,  and  during 
the  summer  the  branches  are  so  regulated  as  to 
have  by  the  end  of  the  season  a  head  of  vigorous 
young  growths,  for  it  is  these  which  produce  the 
harvest  of  blossoms.  The  buds  are  tinted  rose  on 
the  exterior,  and  as  they  expand  suocessionally 
there  is  a  very  attractive  sheen  of  colour  among 
the  matured  white  blossoms. — R.  D. 

Antirrhinums. — It  always  surprises  one 
to  see  February  recommended  as  the  best  month 
to  sow  Antirrhinum  seed  for  giving  flowering 
plants  the  same  year.  In  Februarj'  and  March 
space  is  so  crowded  with  half-hard}-  annuals  that 
if  anything  can  be  put  into  the  work  of  another 
month  it  is  an  advantage.  I  find  September  a  far 
better  time.  If  the  seed  is  sown  rather  .sparingly 
in  boxes,  the  seedlings  thinned  out  a  little  and 
wintered  in  a  cold  house,  the  young  plants  are 
;i  inches  high  by  the  middle  of  March,  and  will, 
of  course,  bloom  earlier  than  their  spring-sown 
relations,  (hitdoor  sowing  in  the  autumn  does 
not  answer  here,  as  the  fogs  kill  the  seedlings. — 
E.  C,  Surrey . 

County  School  of  Horticulture.— 

A  scholarship  at  the  above  school,  Pymmes  Park, 
Edmonton,  of  the  value  of  £i'^  for  one  year,  and 
renewable  for  a  second  year,  has  been  awarded  to 
Leonard  M.  "i'oung,  of  51,  Leicester  Road,  East 
Finchley,  N. 


March  29;  1902, 


THE    GARDEN. 


203 


Chpysanthemum    R^    Hooper 

t'eaPSOn. — it  is  regrettable  that  this  Chrysan- 
themum should  make  such  unsatisfactory  growth, 
in  all  collections  which  I  have  visited  the  basal 
shoots  were  more  or  less  fasciated.  Not  only  does 
this  apply  to  plants  which  were  used  for  exhibition 
last  year,  but  also  to  those  which  were  grown  in 
the  open  border  all  through  last  season  and  lifted 
in  November  last  for  the  sole  purpose  of  per- 
petuating the  stock.  The  flowers,  although  not  so 
large  as  many  others,  are  valued  for  their  rich, 
deep,  buttercup  yellow  colour. — C. 

Rural  industries.  —  The  Countess  of 
Warwick  writes:  "May  I  ask  you  for  space  to 
lay  the  following  suggestions  before  your  readers. 
The  great  growth  of  the  past  century  indicates 
that  co-operation  and  co-ordination  are  especially 
needed  in  things  agricultural.  Co-ordination  is 
lacking  not  because  of  the  innate  dislike  of  people 
to  co-operate,  not  because  of  jealousy  between 
societies  and  associations,  but  chiefly  because  of 
the  lack  of  opportunities  of  learning  what  others 
are  doing.  Taking  the  subject  of  village  industries, 
for  instance,  it  is  most  difficult  to  get  definite 
information  either  as  to  what  is  being  done  in 
certain  localities  or  where  special  industries 
flourish.  Again,  there  are  many  possibilities  for 
the  promotion  and  establishment  both  of  the  lighter 
branches  of  agriculture  and  of  many  of  the  rural 
industries  in  villages  and  districts,  but  the 
individuals  who  have  the  will  to  start  them  either 
have  not  the  power,  the  training,  or  the  know- 
ledge to  see  the  possibilities  within  their  reach. 
This  lack  of  training  and  knowledge  of  course 
reacts  upon  the  rural  population,  and  contri- 
butes to  the  rural  depopulation.  Then,  again, 
many  local  industries  are  cramped  through 
not  being  more  widely  known,  and  many  an 
individual  started  upon  an  independent  career 
suffers  through  lack  of  a  market  ;  thus  associations 
and  individuals  need  the  stimulus  of  friendly 
competition  and  mutual  co-operation.  It  is  pro- 
posed to  hold  a  conference  at  Warwick  Castle  on 
May  1  next,  to  provide  an  opportunity  :  1,  For 
those  directly  engaged  in  an}'  other  lighter 
branches  of  agriculture  or  rural  industries  to  make 
known  their  work  ;  2,  for  those  who  are  interested 
in  the  things  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  our 
country  districts  to  learn  what  is  being  done  to 
stay  the  rural  depopulation  ;  3,  for  an  interchange 
of  ideas  and  sympathetic  suggestions  between 
those  engaged  in  allied  industries ;  4,  for  those 
who  need  teachers  or  trained  workers  to  meet 
those  who  are  fully  trained  and  capable  of  teaching 
others  ;  5,  for  the  binding  of  all  these  in  one  strong 
organisation  for  co-operation  and  co-ordination. 
It  is  therefore  hoped  any  who  are  interested  in  the 
objects  for  which  the  conference  is  called,  and  who 
wish  to  learn  fuller  details  of  the  programme  of 
the  discussion,  as  also  of  the  hospitality  to  be 
offered  for  the  occasion,  will  write  for  particulars 
to  the  Warden,  Lady  Warwick  Hostel,  Reading, 
or  to  myself." 

Tropseolum  speciosum  at  Alder- 
shot. — If  not  too  late  to  reintroduce  the  subject, 
it  may  be  of  interest  if  I  describe  my  experience 
of  Tropa;olum  speciosum.  The  climate  of  Aldershot 
in  summer  is  apparently  the  most  unsuitable  to 
the  habits  of  this  plant  that  could  possibly  be 
found,  being  exceedingly  hot  and  dry.  The  soil  in 
this  garden  is  artificial — garden  and  meadow  soil 
and  road  scrapings  with  manure.  The  foundation 
is  a  brickfield,  from  which  a  layer  of  sand  and  a 
considerable  depth  of  clay  had  been  taken.  The 
roots  were  planted  in  April  on  a  north-east 
exposure,  having  been  sent  from  Perthshire  just 
when  they  began  to  appear.  That  summer  the 
plants  grew  about  o  feet  high  and  flowered  well. 
Last  summer  (their  second  season)  they  had 
spread  considerably  underground,  and  covered  a 
wall  space  of  probably  18  square  feet.  The  original 
quantity  of  roots  was  a  small  handful.  They  again 
flowered  luxuriantly.  We  find  the  secret  of 
growing  it  is  to  water  copiously  all  summer,  to 
plant  where  early  morning  sun  reaches  it — but  no 
noonday  sun— and  to  keep  the  roots  protected 
from  even  the  morning  sun.  We  leave  the  leaves 
on  a  Lily  of  the  Valley  bed  in  front  or  plant 
annuals  to  give  protection.     I  believe  if  the  roots 


are  covered  and  much  water  given  it  will  grow 
and  flower  on  even  a  south  exposure  in  other  parts 
of  England. — Frances  Gibson,  The  White  Bmise, 
Lanxdowne  Road,  Aldershot. 


CALOCHORTI      AND      THEIR 
CULTURE. 

(  Cmitinued  from  jyage  1S6.) 
Group  VI,— The  Clavatus  Group, 
These  are  very  strong  growing  plants, 
averaging  2  feet  in  height,  bearing  large,  stout 
flowers  aggregated  into  umbels  ;  they  have  not 
got  the  exquisite  markings  characteristic  of 
the  venusta  group,  nor  are  they  so  graceful  in 
outline,  but  they  are  the  strongest  growers, 
and  their  flowers  are  more  or  less  covered  with 
silky  hairs  ;  the  flowers  are  shaped  like  these 
of  Tulipa  retroflexa. 

C.  clavatus,  a  veritable  giant  of  its  race, 
produces  elegant  golden-yellow  flowers  fully 
5  inches  across,  borne  on  very  stout  stems 
clothed  with  strong  Tulip-like  leafage.  The 
flowers  expand  widely,  are  massive  and  of  stout 
stibstance,  lasting  several  weeks  in  a  cut  state, 
whilst  backward  buds  open  in  water  quite  as 
well  as  if  on  the  plant.  The  in.side  of  the 
flower  is  clothed  with  short  hairs  at  the  base, 
which  is  also  marked  with  a  few  chocolate 
peocillings.  This  is  a  very  handsome  form 
indeed,  and  one  to  be  strongly  recommended  to 
all  who  appreciate  choice  flowers.  It  was  first 
brought  into  general  cultivation  in  1897,  in 
which  year  it  received  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  award  of  merit. 

C.  plummerw,  an  equally  strong  growing 
plant,  produces  massive  soft  lilac  flowers  of  a 
satiny  lustre,  each  o  inches  acioss,  and  borne 
on  stout  branching  stems  2  feet  high,  clothed 
with  lanceolate  leaves  equally  long.  The  entire 
centre  of  the  flower  is  clothed  with  long  golden 
hairs,  whilst  the  base  is  tfl'ectively  marked  viith. 
chocolate.  The  ]ietals  are  very  broad  and 
fleshy,  the  flowers  lasting  a  long  time  in  a  cut 
state  on  that  account.  This  magnificent  Calo- 
chortus  must  be  seen  to  be  fully  appreciated, 
and  I  would  refer  readers  to  the  excellent 
coloured  plate  which  appeared  in  The  Garden, 
February  2,  1895.  It  received  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society's  first-class  certificate  in 
the  same  year,  a  rare  award  to  a  hardy  plant. 

(J.  macrocarpus  (Douglas),  a  plant  widely 
spread  throughout  North-Western  America, 
resembles  C.  plummeraj  in  general  outline, 
but  the  inner  petals  are  not  so  large,  whilst 
the  outer  ones  and  the  seed  vessel  are  fuUj' 
2i  inches  long,  and  are  more  conspicuous  than 
is  the  case  with  most  of  the  Calochorti.  The 
flowers  average  4  inches  across,  and  the  petals 
are  of  a  pale  lilac  tint  with  a  silvery  lustrous 
sheen,  the  centre  of  the  flower  being  much 
darker.  This  species  does  not  flower  so  freely 
as  C.  plummeraj,  bearing  five  flowers  as  an 
average — one  on  each  branched  stem.  This 
plant  has  also  received  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  hall-mark  in  the  form  of  an  award  of 
merit  in  1895. 

C.  nitidus,  a  lovely  species,  bears  a  dozen 
large  white  or  pa,le  lilac-tinted  flowers  aggre- 
gated closely  together  in  a  loose  umbel,  the 
centre  of  each  being  marked  with  rich  indigo 
blotches  or  eyes,  and  clothed  with  long  silky 
whitish  hairs.  The  flowers  are  very  striking 
indeed,  quite  equal  to  the  others  of  this  fine 
group,  whilst  the  plant  is  vigorous  and  of 
strong  constitution. 

C.  Weedii  (Wood),  a  variable  species  as  to 
colour,  completes  this  group.  Its  flovpers  vary 
from  white  to  orange,  and  are  thickly  covered 
with  hairs  in  the  manner  of  C.  plummerte.  It 
is  a  very  rare  species,  now  almost  lost  to  culti- 


vation,  a  circumstance  probably  due  to   the 
fact  that  it  has  a  poor  constitution. 

Group  VII.— C.  splendens. 

A  set  of  very  graceful  plants,  with  long 
flexuous  stems  and  numerous  flowers,  which 
are  smaller  in  size  than  those  of  the  clavatus 
or  venustus  group.     All  are  good  growers. 

C.  splendens  (Douglas)  is  a  straggling  plant, 
growing  fully  2  feet  high,  with  much  branched 
stems,  bearing  a  great  number  of  pale  lilac 
flowers,  each  2  inches  across,  furnished  on  the 
inside  with  long  white  silky  hairs.  The  long 
stalks  render  the  flowers  useful  for  cutting, 
and  they  are  popular  on  this  account.  A 
coloured  plate  of  this  specie.s  was  given  in  the 
issue  of  The  Garden  for  February  2,  1895. 

U.  s.  atroviolacea  is  a  smaller  but  even  more 
floriferous  plant,  producing  from  thirty  to  forty 
purplish  flowers  li  inches  across,  spotted  vivid 
red  at  the  base  of  each  petal.  Several  dark 
purple  forms  occur  among  these  plants,  and  it 
!,■<  at  all  times  very  variable. 

C.  .s.  rubra,  a  recent  addition  to  the  C. 
splendens  set,  shows  remarkable  vigour  and 
freedom  of  flowering.  The  stems  reach  a 
height  of  2-i  feet  to  3  teet  and  bear  fully  twenty 
rirh  rosy  lilac  flowers  of  a  lustrous  sheen 
4  inches  across  and  blotched  at  the  base  of 
each  petal  with  glowing  purple.  This  is  an 
exceptionally  strong  plant,  a  vigorous,  strong 
grower,  and  most  floriferous.  Mr.  Uarl  Purdy 
says  of  it:  — "This  splendid  variety  is  the 
largest  and  luost  beautiful  of  the  species,  and, 
coming  from  a  higher  altitude  and  further 
north  than  the  other  forms,  it  should  prove 
hardier,  as  it  is  more  vigorous.  Stems  12  inches 
to  30  inches  high  ;  fiovi'ers  large,  deep  pinkish 
lavender  ;  short  hairs  at  base  of  petals  inside, 
and  a  purple  spot."  It  will  be  noted  that  the 
planti  lose  none  of  their  vigour  in  this  country, 
for  many  exceed  3  feet  in  height. 

G.  B.  Mallett. 
(To  he  continued.) 


EXHIBmON_  VEGETABLES. 

(Continued  from  page  ISO.) 
Raising  Summer  Onions. 
It  is  first  of  all  important  to  get  a  trustworthy 
strain,  for  without  it  success  is  impossible, 
and  to  secure  this  end  it  is  well  to  always  tave 
one's  own  seed  from  a  few  selected  bulbs.  I 
do  not  for  one  moment  wish  to  infer  that  good 
seed  cannot  be  purchased,  as  many  of  our 
leading  seedsmen  take  great  care  to  select 
stocks,  and  good  results  frequently  follow,  but 
my  contention  is  that  a  bird  in  the  hand  is 
worth  two  or  three  in  the  bush. 

With  regard  to  the  variety  I  know  nothing 
to  compare  with  Ailsa  Craig,  and  my  opinion 
is  that  when  at  its  best  it  represents  a  typical 
Onion, ^  which  will  he  for  many  years  hard  to 
beat.  The  seed  should  be  sown  for  all  southern 
districts  early  in  .January,  and  for  the  more 
northern  parts  at  the  end  of  the  month  or 
early  in  February  in  boxes  2  feet  long,  1  foot 
wide,  and  43  inches  deep.  Give  proper  drain- 
age and  cover  it  with  pieces  of  fibrous  loam. 

A  suitable  compost  will  consist  of  two  parts 
good  fibrous  loam,  one  part  spent  Mushroom 
bed  material,  one  part  well-decayed  leaf  soil, 
adding  to  these  ingredients  sufficient  coarse 
sand  to  keep  the  whole  porous.  This  should 
be  well  mixed  and  passed  through  a  |-inch 
mesh  sieve,  afterwards  filling  the  boxes  to 
within  i  inch  of  the  tops.  Make  the  compost 
thoroughly  firm,  when  the  seed  may  be  sown 
thinly.  Add  sufficient  soil  to  just  cover  the 
seed,  which  should  be  pressed  down  firmly  with 
a  piece  of  board  and  well  watered  in  witii  a  fine 


204 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  29,  1902. 


rose.  The  mo3t  suitable  place  for  raising  the 
plants  is  an  early  Vinery  or  Peach  house  just 
started,  but  a  light  position  in  the  greenhouse 
will  also  answer,  or,  failing  this,  a  frame  or 
pit,  over-forcing  must  be  guarded  against 
at  all  stages  of  the  growth  under  glass- 
Immediately  the  young  plants  can  be  safely 
handled  transfer  them  to  other  boxes,  using 
the  same  kind  of  mixture,  with  the  addition  of 
a  6-inch  potful  of  bone-meal  to  every  bushel- 
Use  a  small-pointed  stick  for  lifting  the  seed- 
lings, and  dibble  them  in  3  inches  apart, 
making  them  quite  firm-  Carry  out  this  opera- 
tion in  the  same  temperature  in  which  they  are 
growing,  as  a  check  at  this  stage  will  have 
serious  effects.  Maintain  a  temperature  of 
55^  to  60",  according  to  the  weather,  place 
near  the  glass,  syringe  frequently,  and  shade 
for  a  few  days  in  bright  weather,  enc(juraging 
a  sturdy  growth  in  every  way.  After  the 
plants  have  made  a  good  start  transfer  them 
to  a  pit  near  the  glass,  syringe  morning  and 
afternoon,  and  ventilate  freely  whenever  the 
weather  is  suitable.  Finally,  harden  off  in 
cold  frames  before  planting  out,  and  by  this 
time  the  lights  may  be  entirely  removed,  except 
in  rough  and  stormy  weather. 

Man.\gement  in  the  Open. 

As  mentioned  before,  the  Onions  should  be 
ready  for  planting  out  early  in  Ajiril,  the  soil 
being  made  very  firm  about  the  base  and 
thoroughly  watered.  Until  established  the 
newly-planted  Onions  receive  much  benefit  by 
careful  syringing  for  a  few  weeks  several  times 
during  the  day  in  bright  weather.  Stir  the 
surface  slightly  between  the  rows  with  a  Dutch 
hoe,  and  afterwards  give  a  good  mulching  of 
sifted  horse  manure  to  the  depth  of  -2  inches. 
About  every  ten  days  apply  a  dusting  of  snot 
and  also  a  good  patent  manure,  choosing 
shoAfery  weather  as  far  as  po.ssible,  and  the 
best  part  of  the  day  is  late  afternoon. 

The  Onion  Hy  is  sometimes  troublesome,  but 
chiefly  affects  plants  raised  outside  ;  it  i.s,  how- 
ever, always  well  to  have  a  few  plants  in  3-inch 
pots  to  make  good  any  failures,or  theappearance 
of  the  bed  will  be  spoilt.  Mildew  should  be 
dealt  with  immediately  it  is  seen.  Cut  off, 
remove,  and  burn  every  affected  piece,  and 
to  prevent  the  disease  from  spreading  dust 
thoroughly  with  slaked  lime  and  black  sulphur 
frequently.  Keep  the  beds  free  from  weeds, 
and  in  dry  weather  give  thorough  soakings  of 
water,  while  at  every  other  watering  drainings 
from  the  farmyard  will  prove  of  much  assist- 
ance. This  may  be  continued  until  about  the 
middle  of  August  when  growth  should  be 
practically  completed.  Complaints  are  frequent 
about  the  keeping  qualities  of  these  large  speci- 
mens. When  allowed  to  remain  too  long  on 
the  ground  and  roughly  handled  during  lifting 
they  decay  quickly.  They  must  not  be  bruised. 
When  harvested  early  and  carefully  handled 
complaints  should  be  few  about  premature 
decay.  In  the  first  place,  lift  partially  with 
a  small  hand  fork  all  the  most  shapely  and 
promising  bulbs,  as  this  assists  ripening  and 
prevents  splitting  in  wet  weather,  ilany  of 
the  finest  specimens  are  spoilt  through  neglect 
of  this.  Select  a  fine  day  for  lifting  the  crop.  In 
finishing  the  ripening  off  it  is  imperative  to 
keep  the  bulbs  dry,  and  for  this  purpose  place 
them  in  boxes  to  hold  about  a  dozen,  and  half 
fill  the  boxes  with  wood  wool  for  them  to  rest 
upon.  By  so  doing  advantage  may  be  taken 
of  sunny  weather  to  expose  them,  placing  them 
safely  under  cover  at  night.  A  cool  airy  vinery 
or  even  cold  franus  are  suitable  places  on  wet 
days,  turning  the  bulbs  daily,  so  that  every  part 
is  thoroughly  exposed  and  ripened.  Finally, 
clean  them  by  removing  all  loose  skins,  paring 


oflf  the  roots  neatly,  and  shortening  the  tops, 
leaving  about  6  inches,  which  should  be  neatly 
tied  with  fine  twine.  Store  in  a  cool  dry  airy 
room,  and  allow  them  to  rest  on  a  bed  of  soft 
wood  wool. 

Autumn  Vaeieties. 

Prepare  ground  for  this  crop  in  the  same 
way  as  for  the  former.  Make  two  sowings,  the 
first  about  August  20,  and  another  ten  days 
later,  choosing  a  southern  site  for  the  latter 
sowing.  Before  sowing  give  the  bed  a  good 
dressing  of  sojt  and  wood  ashes,  and  sow 
thinly  in  shallow  drills  0  inches  apart.  Make 
thoroughly  firm,  rake  down  fine  and  level, 
hoe  frequently  to  keep  down  weeds,  and  little 
further  attention  will  be  needed  before  spring. 
Being  practically  hardy  the  earlier  the  plants 
are  transplanted  to  the  prepared  ground  the 
better.  Lift  the  strongest  and  best  plants  with 
a  garden  trowel,  i)lant  with  the  same,  and  treat 
exactly  as  advised  for  the  summer  crop. 
Autumn-sown  Onions  are  indispensable  for 
spring  and  summer  shows,  and  when  well 
grown  and  staged  stand  one  in  good  stead  in 
close  competition  in  a  collection  of  vegetables. 
No  attempt  should  be  made  to  ripen  these  oft' 
except  for  late  shows,  and  to  be  seen  at  their 
best  they  should  be  faced  up  and  neatly  gar- 
nished with  Parsley.  One  of  the  best  varieties 
for  this  purpose  is  White  Leviathan,  but  it  is 
not  a  good  keeper.  Other  good  varieties  are 
Blood  Red  and  Lemon  Rocca. 

Peas. 
Exhibition  pods  of  the  highest  excellence  can 
only  be  obtained  when  the  best  known  methods 
of  culture  are  practised.  Unquestionably  the 
most  important  of  all  is  the  preparation  of 
the  land.  Fortunately  Peas,  like  many  other 
vegetables,  are  not  over  fastidious  as  to  the 
soil,  provided,  of  course,  it  is  brought  under 
a  proper  system  of  cultivation.  Deep  tillage 
is  in^portant,  and  it  is  surprising  to  what  a 
depth  the  roots  will  penetrate  in  search  of 
food  and  moisture  during  hot  and  dry  weather, 
providing,  of  course,  the  soil  is  in  a  favourable 
condition.  The  land  should  be  thoroughly 
trenched  to  the  depth  of  3  feet  6  inches  during 
winter  and  given  heavy  dressings  of  manure. 
That  which  is  quite  green  from  the  farmyard 
should  be  placed  at  the  bottom,  and  in  the 
centre  of  the  work  that  in  a  more  advanced 
state  of  decomposition.  On  stifl'  retentive  land 
anything  with  a  tendency  to  render  it  more 
porous  should  lie  worked  in,  for  instance,  such 
as  burnt  garden  refuse,  mortar  rubble,  and 
road  scrapings,  and  immediately  the  trenching 
is  finished  a  small  surface  dressing  of  soot  and 
lime  in  equal  proportions  should  be  applied. 
The  land  should  then  be  in  splendid  condition 
for  receiving  the  seeds  or  plants  when  the 
season  comes  round.  As  a  rule  it  is  fairly  ea.sy 
to  get  good  dishes  of  Peas  during  .June  and 
the  early  part  of  .July,  but  after  that  date, 
except  in  the  northern  districts,  they  are  more 
difficult  to  obtain.  At  the  same  time  it  is 
practically  useless  to  put  up  a  collection  of 
vegetables  unless  these  are  included,  .so  that 
strenuous  eft'orts  should  be  made  to  obtain 
them,  and  deep  trenches  should  be  prejjared 
for  these  late  editions  in  the  same  way  as  for 
Celery.  Select  suitable  varieties,  sow  the  seed 
thinly  at  the  proper  dates,  and  have  the  roots 
well  under  control ;  the  trenches  are  a  means 
of  supplying  both  liquid  manure  and  clear  water 
in  sufficient  quantities  to  maintain  the  plants 
in  strong  growth.  A  good  mulching  of  half- 
decayed  manure,  however,  should  be  placed 
about  them.  Mildew  generally  plays  sad  havoc 
with  all  the  later  sowings  of  Peas,  this  result- 
ing from  dryness  at  the  root.  For  all  early 
shows  I   much  prefer  raising   the  plants  in 


boxes  and  transplanting,  and  I  have  long 
since  come  to  the  conclusion  that  much  better 
results  are  obtained  in.  this  way,  providing,  of 
course,  the  plants  receive  proper  attention 
during  their  growth  before  planting  out.  In  no 
case  must  the  plants  be  forced,  but  encouraged 
to  make  a  sturdy  and  quick  growth,  and  be 
thoroughly  hardened  before  placing  in  their 
open  ([uarters.  This  plan  I  consider  has  many 
advantages  over  sowing  in  the  open.  The 
earlier  sowings  should  be  made  under  glass 
during  February  and  March,  using  boxes  2  feet 
long,  1  foot  wide,  and  4;  inches  deep,  and 
make  provision  for  good  drainage. 

The  best  compost  consists  of  two  parts  good 
loam,  one  part  rotten  leaf  .soil,  and  one  part 
spent  Mushroom  bed  material.  Well  mix  and 
cover  the  crocks  with  the  rougher  parts  of  the 
soil.  The  boxes  should  be  three-parts  filled 
and  the  compost  made  moderately  firm.  Sow 
the  seed  evenly  all  over,  leaving  them  about 
1  inch  apart,  and  cover  with  half  an  inch  of  the 
finer  soi  I,  giving  afterwards  a  thorough  watering. 
A  gentle  heat  is  all  that  is  required,  a  vinery 
or  greenhouse  answering  admirably.  As  soon 
as  the  seedlings  are  well  above  the  soil 
remove  the  boxes  to  a  cold  frame  or  other  glass 
structure  where  a  sturdy  growth  is  possible 
Gradually  admit  air,  thus  hardening  them  off 
until  they  can  he  placed  out  of  doors  in  an 
open  yet  protected  situation  before  planting. 
Make  the  first  sowing  towards  the  middle  of 
February,  continuing  at  intervals  of  a  fortnight 
for  succession.  Each  plant  should  be  lifted 
with  a  small  hand  fork.  Plant  double  lines, 
allowing  3  inches  between  the  plants  and 
4  inches  between  the  lines.  Stake  and  protect 
the  ]ilants  with  nets  at  the  same  time,  and 
give  a  dusting  of  fine  cinder  ashes  as  a  check 
to  slug.s.  If  the  weather  be  fine  when  planting 
water  in  freely.  Later  sowings  should  be  made 
in  the  open  and  the  seed  dibbled  in  twice  as 
thickly  as  it  is  required,  thinning  out  when  the 
plants  aie  sufficiently  advanced,  and  staking  at 
a  later  period.  As  soon  as  the  third  flower 
can.  be  seen  pinch  out  the  point  of  the 
growths,  remove  the  garden  netting,  and 
apply  a  good  mulching  of  manure.  All  badly 
formed  pods  should  be  taken  away  and 
moderate  thinning  practi-sed  at  all  times. 

The  pods  of  exhibition  Peas  should  be  large, 
well  filled,  of  a  good  colour,  and  free  from 
rust,  while  the  seeds  -should  be  of  fair  size, 
fresh,  and  of  good  colour,  quality,  and  appear- 
ance. For  the  first  sowing  outdoors  commence 
the  first  week  in  April,  while  the  last  should 
not  be  made  later  than  the  first  week  in  June. 
Rows  of  dwarf  Peas  should  be  6  feet  apart,  and 
the  taller  kinds  about  8  feet. 

For  the  earlier  sowings  choose  Early  Morn, 
a  much  improved  form  of  Gradus,  for  mid- 
season  varieties  Duke  of  Albany,  Alderman, 
and  Edwin  Beckett,  the  last-named  quite  new, 
and  for  the  latest  sowings  Autocrat  is  the  best. 
Other  good  late  Peas  are  Sharpe's  Queen  and 
Mr.  Gladstone.  Edwin  Beckett. 

(To  he  continued.) 


CONTINENTAL    NOTES. 

Hybrid  Begonian  BuUaon  Bone  and  Petie  Lorraine. 
— Moller's  DeulKche  Gartner  Zeitung  gives  two 
photographs  of  tfiese  raised  by  V.  Lemoine  and  Son 
Nancy,  and  both  plants  are  very  free  flowering 
and  attractive.  The  former  springs  from  a  cross 
between  B.  diversifolia  and  B.  polyautha,  and  is 
described  as  flowering  freely  in  the  open  from  the 
end  of  August,  continuing,  when  lifted  in  the 
autumn  and  placed  in  a  cold  house,  until  .January. 
The  foliage  is  small,  dark  green,  and  sometimes 
pink  edged.  The  latter  named  plant  is  a  cross 
between  B.  polyantha  and  B.  Daedala,  with  large 
leaves  and  robust  habit,  and  bears  pretty  pendulous 


Mauch  29,  lyol] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


205 


corymbose  panicles  of  thirty  to  forty  flowers  each, 
white  with  pink  centre,  and  lasting  forty  days, 
forming  a  mass  of  bloom.  This  flowers  from  the 
beginning  of  January  until  April,  and  is  claimed  to 
rank  with  Oloire  de  Lorraine  in  permanence  of  the 
flowers,  &c. 

Hardy  Neliimhiui-m. — Farther  evidence  is  given 
of  the  hardiness  of  N.  speeiosum.  Specimens  put 
out  perforce  owing  to  re-erection  of  warm  house  in 
the  Botanical  Gardens  at  Bonn,  started  into  rapid 
growth  in  June,  and  flowered  freelj',  which  they 
had  failed  to  do  under  warm  treatment. 

Peacock ' Jtowcred  Astern  Amethy.-<t  and  Mi^s 
Rooseoett. — A  coloured  plate  in  Die  Gartenwelt 
shows  two  very  charming  varieties.  They  belong 
to  a  section,  the  flowers  of  which  are  at  first  white 
or  3'ellow,  and  then  gradually  assume  very  delicate 
tints  of  rose  and  lilac  on  the  tips  of  the  petals,  the 
gradations  having  a  very  beautiful  eSect  on  the 
permanently  lighter  ground.  Amethyst  starting 
as  a  white,  gradually  assumes  a  lighter  blue  colour, 
commencing  on  the  top  and  spreading  and  deepen- 
ing into  an  amethystine  blue  towards  the  centre, 
which,  however,  remains  pure  white  almost  to  the 
last.  Miss  Roosevelt  is  even  more  chamelion-like 
in  this  respect,  starting  pale  yellow  and  changing 
in  like  fashion  to  a  pure  flesh  tint,  comparable  in 
effect  to  that  of  the  Gloire  de  Dijon  Rose.  Both 
forms  raised  by  Otto  Putz,  Erfurt. 

Plant  feeder. — A  glass  plant  feeder  previously 
noticed  by  Die  Gartenwelt,  and  acting  by  percolation 
from  a  neck  inserted  in  the  soil  on  the  side  of  the 
pot,  is  again  reported  upon  after  very  practical 
tests,  which,  while  evidencing  its  value  under 
certain  conditions,  shows  that  the  inventor  had 
assumed  wrong  fundamental  principles,  and  hence 
overlooked  necessary  instructions  for  its  reliably 
eff'ective  use.  An  example  is  here  aS'orded  which 
might  with  advantage  be  followed  on  this  side,  since 
doubtless  many  valuable  horticultural  inventions 
are  handicapped  by  the  fact  that  we  have  no 
official  centre  for  their  trial  and  recognition,  and 
it  is  very  rare  that  any  competent  authority  takes 
the  trouble  to  test  impartially  in  this  way  and 
report  pro  or  con  as  results  determine. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


SAXIFRAGA   OPPOSITIFOLIA   AND 
ALLIED  SPECIES. 

THOSE  who  have  seen  this  group  of  Saxi- 
fragas  on  the  Alps,  and  also  flowering 
in  our  gardens,  will  agree  with  me  that 
their  beauty  is  remarkable.  They  are 
widely  distributed,  and  found  almost 
everj'where  on  the  higher  points  of 
European  and  Asiatic  mountains,  but  speciall}'  on 
the  Alps.  In  Spain,  on  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
according  to  Boissier  and  Wilkomm,  they  grow  at 
an  altitude  of  10,000  feet,  and  on  the  Alps  of 
Savoy  at  the  same  altitude  ;  in  fact,  a  friend  who 
ascended  the  Mont  Blanc  for  the  fourth  time  last 
year  brought  me  as  a  souvenir  from  the  Grand 
Mulcts  of  the  Mont  Blanc  a  plant  of  a  very  fine 
bright  coloured  and  large-flowering  variety  of 
S.  opposilifolia.  I  have  also  seen  plants .  col- 
lected on  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  North  America 
and  Greenland  and  Arctic  North  America.  In 
England  it  is  still  found  in  Yorkshire,  and  is,  I 
believe,  also  common  locally  in  some  parts  of  the 
Highlanils  of  Scotland.  According  to  Hooker,  a 
form  is  found  on  the  Himalaya,  and  we  also  know 
that  it  grows  on  the  high  points  of  the  Caucasus. 
The  forms  with  tlie  largest  and  brightest  coloured 
flowers  are  those  of  the  Western  Alps,  the 
Dolomites,  and  Pyrenees.  The  North  Americin 
and,  in  fact,  the  Arctic  forms  have  somewhat  insig- 
nificant flowers,  and  are,  moreover,  shy  blooming. 
None  of  these  are  difficult  to  manage  ;  in  fact, 
they  are  so  easily  grown  that  they  can  even  be 
flowered  in  the  smoky  neighbourhood  of  towns, 
and  are  not  at  all  particular  like  some  plants  of 
the  same  description  as  to  the  stone  or  rock  so 
long  as  they  are  fairly  moist  with  a  gritty  humus 
or  peaty  soil.  To  get  the  best  results  grow  the 
plants  in  a  partially  shady  position,  perhaps  the 


north  side  of  the  rockery,  and  let  them  overhang 
rocks  in  such  position  without  growing  too 
luxuriantly  :  they  will  flower  all  the  freer.  In 
the  Alps  I  have  always  met  them  about  mid- 
summer, or  as  soon  as  the  snow  has  disappeared. 
Those,  however,  carried  down  the  valley  either  by 
avalanches  or  by  the  action  of  rain,  &c.,  flower  in 
April  or  May.  Under  cultivation  in  England  they 
flower  often  as  early  as  February  or  March.  The 
proper  time  for  planting  is  during  spring  and 
summer  from  pot-established  plants.  Collected 
plants  being  frequently  lifted  at  the  most 
unfavourable  time  invariably  die. 

I  have  known  every  plant  collected  and  brought 
home  from  Switzerland  by  visitors  die  in  spite  of 
every  precaution.  Almost  all  of  this  section  are 
of  prostrate,  creeping  habit,  with  long  wiry  and 
leafy  stems,  evergreen, 
small,  opposite  oblong 
or  obovate  densely 
ciliated  leaves.  The 
showy  flowers  are 
about  one-third  of  an 
inch  to  half  an  inch 
across,  on  short 
branches  and  campanu- 
late,  with  five  nerved 
obovate  oblong  petals. 
The  colour  in  what  is 
considered  the  typical 
S.  oppositifolia  is  pur- 
ple, in  S.  alba  it  is 
either  creamy  white  or 
pure  white,  usually 
small  flowered  ;  S.  o. 
pyrenaica  is  a  large- 
leaved  and  large-flower- 
ing form,  with  numerous 
bright  purple  flowers, 
and  it  is  of  somewhat 
robust  growth.  S.  o. 
splendens  has  the 
brightest  coloured 
flowers ;  they  are  almost 
crimson  -  purple,  and 
produced  very  freel}'. 
S.  o.  major  is  similar  to 
S.  o.  pyrenaica ;  it  differs 
but  little.  On  the  Alps 
of  Lower  Austria  I  have 
often  found  a  form 
with  very  fine  lilac 
flowers  with  darker 
centre,  which,  to  give 
it  a  more  descriptive 
name,  would  be  S.  oppo- 
sitifolia lilacina  major. 
The  ordinary  pale 
flowering  form  of  Swit- 
zerland is  hardl3'  worth 
growing.  A  very  fine 
form  is  S.  rudolpliiana, 
which  is  easily  dis- 
tinguished from  anj'  of 
the  S.  oppositifolia  by 
the  short,  more  or  less, 
erect  stem,  and  by  its 
terminal  erect  flowers, 
besides  other  points. 
The  flowers  are  large 
(larger  than  even  those 
of  the  best  forms  of 
S.  oppositifolia)  and  of  a  bright  rosy  purple. 
This  is  the  earliest  form  of  this  section,  and 
invariably  flowers  in  the  open  in  February,  and 
during  very  mild  winters  even  in  January.  It  is 
a  very  local  plant,  rarely  seen  in  cultivation.  It 
is  as  easily  grown  as  the  former,  but  more  difljoult 
to  propagate. 

S.  retusa  is  a  minute  species,  but  very  distinct 
and  pretty,  having  the  habit  of  S.  oppositifolia, 
with  creeping,  very  slow-growing  stems,  rigid  and 
deep  crimson-purple,  very  show\'  flowers.  The 
whole  plant  is  scarcely  half  an  inch  in  height, 
and  is  easily  grown  on  any  rockwork,  and  flowers 
under  cultivation  in  April.  When  seen  in  its 
natural  habitat  it  is  very  fine  ;  it  carpets  the  bare 
rocks  with  hardly  a  vestige  of  humus.  Many  a 
plant  I  have  taken  and  tried  to  transplant,   but 


rarely  succeeded.  In  this  and  the  following  the 
recommendation  to  procure  and  plant  only  estab- 
lished plants  holds  good  more  than  ever.  S.  retusa 
goes  also  under  the  synonyms  of  S.  wulfeniana  and 
S.  imbricata. 

S.  biflora,  the  highest  Alpine  form  of  S.  oppositi- 
folia, differs  chiefly  from  S.  oppositifolia  in  the 
short  ascending  stems,  and  small,  more  fleshy  leaves, 
which  are  also  much  more  rounded.  The  bright- 
coloured,  erect  flowers  are  deep  crimson-purple.  It 
is  one  of  the  last  to  flower  in  the  Alps  (not  before 
July),  while  in  cultivation  it  flowers  in  April  or  May. 

Similar  is  also  S.  macropetala,  but  has  larger 
and  showier  deep  lilac-purple  flowers.  It  is  an 
exceedingly  rare  Alpine,  seldom  seen  in  cultivation, 
and  flowers  in  April  ;  in  the  Alps  not  before  July. 

There  are  also  several  pretty  and  very  distinct 


ANTIRRHINUM    GLnTINOSUM    IN    A   LIME.STONE    WALL   AT   THE  JAKDIN   ALPIS 

d'acclimatation,  geneva.     (P/wtograplied  by  Muss  tVillmott.; 


hj'brids,  the  result  of  natural  crosses.  I  have  seen 
two  or  three  in  gardens  of  eminent  Continental 
collectors  and  lovers  of  the  genus  Saxifraga,  and 
have  at  least  the  promise  to  have  the  first  offer 
when  the  time  for  distributing  comes.  All  of  them 
are  very  easily  propagated,  and  grow  and  flower 
freely  in  the  rock  garden,  in  a  bed  of  pieces  of 
stones,  gritty  sand,  and  humus,  and  where  for 
instance  S.  oppositifolia,  with  rank  growths,  would 
not  flower  at  all,  these  hybrids  seem  to  flower 
almost  anywhere.  G.  R. 


ANTIRRHINUM  GLIJTINOSUM. 

(Boiss.  ET  Reuter.  ) 
One  summer's  day,  while  I  was  still  a  child,  I 
was  enchanted  by  the  beauty  of  a  white  flowery 


206 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  29,  1902. 


tuft  that  grew  out  of  a  wall  in  Edmond  Boisaier's 
garden  at  Valleyres.  The  immortal  author  of  the 
"  Flora  Orientalis  "  took  pleasure  in  adding  to  my 
enthusiasm  by  telling  me  what  he  himself  had  felt 
when,  during  his  first  travels  in  Spain,  he  saw  this 
plant  in  the  great  walls  of  theAlhambra  at  Grenada, 
and  recognised  that  it  was  no  other  than  Antir- 
rhinum glutinosum.  Since  then  many  years  have 
passed,  but  I  have  always  kept  in  mind  the  pretty 
plant  of  Valleyres,  anil  as  soon  as  I  was  able  I 
obtained  it  for  the  Jardin  Alpin  d'Aoclimatation, 
where  it  adorns  the  wall  of  a  greenhouse  and 
flowers  nearly  all  the  year.  Miss  Willmott  always 
much  admired  it  and  took  it  to  Warley,  where  it 
succeeds  admirably.  It  is  a  perennial  of  slolo- 
niferous  habit,  that  quickly  covers  and  charmingly 
decorates  the  surface  of  a  wall  with  its  large 
Snapdragon  flowers  of  j'ellowish  white  colour  and 
elegant  form  and  its  pale  brown  buds.  The  flowers 
are  produced  in  abundant  succession  from  May  to 
winter. 

Geneva.  H.  Correvon. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


THE    VINE. 

Formation  or  Borders  and  Planting  of  Canes. 

NO  W  that  the  time  to  plant  Vines  is 
again  at  hand,  a  few  words  as  to  the 
method  of  preparing  borders  and  the 
planting  of  the  young  canes  will  not 
be  altogether  superfluous,  especially 
when  we  consider  how  many  mistakes 
are  annually  made  as  regards  these  two  important 
items.  As  the  subject  is  one  \ipon  which  the  ablest 
cultivators  differ,  we  can  but  scan  over  the  most 
important  points  to  be  seen  to  in  order  to  ensure 
success.  We  shall  take  the  headings  as  follows  : 
(1)  The  general  formation  of  borders ;  (2)  the 
best  soil  to  use  and  the  mixing  of  same ;  (.3) 
deep  ('.  shallow  borders  ;  (4)  the  best  course 
to  pursue,  considering  the  various  opinions  which 
prevail. 

Formation  of  Boeder.s. 

Although  autumn  is  the  best  season  for  pre- 
paring borders,  the  work  will  not  suffer  if  left 
until  the  spring;  indeed,  some  growers  firmly 
believe  that  the  latter  season  yields  the  best 
results.  Before  a  perfect  Vine  border  is  made 
the  soil  within  the  vinery  must  be  dug  out  to  a 
depth  of  3  feet  or  4  feet,  and  the  bottom  thoroughl}' 
concreted  to  ensure  perfect  drainage  and  to  prevent 
the  roots  penetrating  into  the  cold  subsoil  beyond. 
In  addition  to  this  a  drain  should  be  so  laid  as  to 
carrj'  away  any  superfluous  water.  After  the 
concrete  is  thorouglily  set  a  layer  of  brickbats, 
lime  rubbish,  i&c. ,  should  be  placed  to  further  facili- 
tate the  escape  of  superfluous  moisture.  Some 
believe  in  placing  a  layer  of  old  branches  of  trees 
on  this  base,  but  this  operation  is  dangerous, 
because  the  branches  rolling  cause  the  formation  of 
fungi,  which  may  cause  the  death  of  roots  coming 
into  contact  with  them.  For  the  first  two  or  three 
years  the  width  of  the  border  need  not  exceed 
4  feet  or  .5  feet,  until  the  roots  ramify  into  it, 
when  another  breadth  of  soil  may  be  added,  and 
so  on  until  the  whole  border  is  finished. 

Soil. 
No  two  authorities  give  the  same  description  of 
compost  for  Vine  culture,  (ienerally  speaking  the 
more  simple  a  border  is  made  up  the  better.  We 
have,  however,  to  acknowlege  that  whereas  Vines 
will  grow  in  a  border  made  without  anj'  special 
preparation  in  one  locality,  the  hesX  soil  procurable 
will  not  grow  them  to  any  degree  of  perfection 
in  another.  I  am  far  from  disparaging  the  skill  of 
the  grower  in  the  selection  of  the  proper  material 
for  growing  Vines,  but  the  selection  of  soils 
generally  must  be  made,  not  on  any  scientific  basis, 
but  determined  by  the  eye  and  hand,  and  with  a 
little  practice  it  is  wonderful  how  well  the  grower 
can  discriminate.  A  fundamental  principle  is  that 
the  compost  be  full  of  unexhausted  fibre,  and  that 
it  be  of  somewhat  tenacious  but  not  of  a  very 
close  character.     The  best  soil  consists  of  a  fibrous 


calcareous  loam  taken  from  an  old  sheep  or  deer 
pasture  if  possible  ;  failing  this,  the  best  procur- 
able must  be  employed.  This  turfy  substance 
should  be  stacked  for  at  least  six  months,  the 
proper  condition  being  arrived  at  when  the  grass 
is  ciead.  It  should  then  be  cut  roughly  with  a 
spade  and  thrown  into  a  ridge,  care  being  taken 
to  provide  means  of  warding  oft'  heavy  rains,  &c. 
To  ten  cartloads  of  this  soil  add  two  of  lime 
rubbish,  such  as  old  plaster  containing  hair,  if 
possible,  one  cartload  of  thoroughly  charred  wood, 
and  any  fine  ashes  that  may  be  amongst  it,  one  cart- 
load of  fresh  horse  manure,  4  cwt.  of  broken  bones, 
and  one  cartload  of  leaf-soil,  which  should  not  be 
used  in  a  half-decayed  state,  as  then  it  is  certain 
to  contain  small  pieces  of  deca3'ing  wood  impreg- 
nated with  the  spores  of  fungi  that  frequently 
enter  the  roots  of  Vines,  where  they  develop  and 
often  destroy  the  plants  suddenly. 

If  the  above  compost  is  not  available  a  good 
substitute  will  be  found  in  the  following  :  Take 
half  the  quantity  of  soil  required  from  the  garden, 
expose  it  to  the  winter  frost,  and  in  the  spring 
mix  with  it  road  scrapings,  parings  of  turf  edgings, 
and  other  similar  substances.  Build  all  up  in  a 
heap  with  the  turf,  &c. ,  on  the  outside,  the  centre 
being  made  of  old  hedge  trimmings,  &c.,  the 
whole  being  set  on  fire.  After  a  few  daj's  burning, 
when  the  wood  is  charred,  extinguish  the  fire  by 
pouring  on  the  mass  the  drainage  of  cow  byres 
and  other  liquid  substances.  After  the  mass  has 
dried  a  little  add  to  the  compost  a  few  loads  of 
lime  rubbish  and  bone,  and  thoroughly  mix  the 
ingredients  together  by  freque  it  turnings  during 
fine  weather.  A  rioh  compost  thus  naturally 
worked  up  will  prove  e.xcellent  for  Vine  borders. 

Deep  v.  Shallow  Borders. 

Some  cultivators  have  a  bigoted  idea  concerning 
the  depth  of  borders.  The  upholders  of  the  deep 
border  establish  their  claim  to  the  right  method, 
because  they  think  that  the  roots  have  a  larger 
scope  to  ramify  into.  True,  but  at  the  same  time 
there  is  this  danger,  that  before  the  roots  get 
established  the  lower  portions  of  the  border  will 
have  become  unfit  for  plant  roots  to  exist  in,  and 
the  result  will  be  a  waste  of  time  and  material. 
On  the  other  hand,  shallow  borders  are  equally 
unfit,  because  of  the  fact  that  thej'  dry  up  loo 
soon,  and,  further,  a  large"-  amount  of  time  and 
expense  will  be  incurred  in  top-dressing  to  supply 
the  plants  with  the  deficient  food  which  they 
would  naturally  absorb  from  a  greater  quantity  of 
material.  A  happy  medium  is  the  safest  method  to 
adopt,  the  moral  pointed  out  being  that  a  border 
should  be  neither  too  deep  nor  rice  rersa,  but  that 
utility  and  wisdom  should  be  employed  to  furnish 
the  plants  with  food,  without  harbouring  a  bigoted 
idea  that  only  one  method  is  perfect. 

Unless  a  guarantee  can  be  had  that  the  3'oung 
Vines  have  been  raised  without  the  aid  of  bottom 
heat  they  should  be  propagated  by  the  cultivator 
himself  from  cuttings  or  eyes.  Those  plants  which 
have  been  undulj'  forced  bj'  being  placed  in  hot  tan 
invariably  die  off  unexpectedly.  It  is  tar  better  to 
procure  a  well-ripened,  sturdy  cane  with  a  mass  of 
healthy  roots  than  a  plant  which  looks  healthier 
but  is  in  reality  not  so.  The  best  time  for  planting 
is  in  spring  when  growth  has  started.  The  hole 
should  be  wide  enough  to  enable  the  roots  to  be 
spread  out  evenly,  and  so  deep  that  when  it  is 
filled  in  the  plant  will  not  be  an  inch  deeper  than 
it  was  previously. 

The  plant  should  be  prepared  bj'  cutting  the  cane 
back  to  within  2  feet  of  the  pot,  and  as  the  eyes 
start  they  should  all  be  rubbed  off  except  three  or 
four  at  the  base.  When  the  Vine  is  planted  the 
strongest  shoot  is  selected  and  trained  to  the  wires, 
the  others  being  broken  oft'.  With  careful  treat- 
ment this  will  grow  and  ripen  to  a  considerable 
extent  the  first  year.  At  the  end  of  the  j'ear  cut 
the  rod  back  to  within  a  foot  of  the  year's  growth 
and  give  the  same  treatment  as  to  older  plants. 
After  planting  some  good  friable  loam  without 
manure  should  be  placed  over  the  roots  ;  manure 
tends  to  unduly  stimulate  the  plants  when  young, 
and  also  probably  has  a  bad  eff'ect  upon  the 
succulent  roots.  No  water  should  be  given  the 
plants  until  they  have  fairly  started  into  growth, 


except   by   means   of    the   syringe   to    the   young 
fohage.  John  Denman. 

Brynhella,  Tremeirchion,  St.  Asaph. 

WINTER  PEARS. 
The  diversity  of  opinion  expressed  in  recent 
numbers  of  The  Garden  as  to  the  merits  of  some 
winter  Pears  is  so  pronounced  as  to  lead  one  to 
wonder  at  the  effect  on  certain  varieties  of  different 
soils  and  situations.  My  own  experience  with 
Beurre  Bachelier  here  in  West  Surrey  on  a  light, 
dry  soil  is  almost  identical  with  that  of  Mr.  Wythes, 
distinctly  a  second  class  Pear,  and  hardly  worth  a 
wall,  a  poor  keeper  and  traveller,  always  over  by 
the  middle  of  December.  Glou  Moreeau,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  distinctly  first-class,  and  would  be 
ranked  among  the  best  half  dozen.  It  is  specially 
valuable  for  its  long  keeping  qualities,  the  fruit 
remaining  sound  and  good  for  some  time  after 
being  ripe.  We  have  trees  on  three  different 
aspects,  and,  given  fair  crops,  ripe  fruit  of  this 
variety  is  available  all  through  December  and 
.January.  E.  BuRRELL. 


PEACH  BUD  DROPPING. 

I  VISITED  an  establishment  the  other  day  where 
both  Grapes  and  Peaches  are  largely  grown  for 
market,  many  thousand  feet  run  of  wire  trellis  being 
covered  with  well-grown  trees  of  both  Peaches 
and  Nectarines,  and  found  the  same  objectionable 
characteristic  here  that  one  experiences  in  private 
gardens,  i.e.,  the  tendency  to  bud  dropping 
in  the  early  varieties,  Alexander  and  Waterloo. 
When  one  sees,  as  I  did  here,  all  other  best  known 
sorts  thickly  studded  with  blossoms  of  splendid 
size  and  substance,  and  the  two  above-named  but 
poorly  furnished  it  seemed  one  of  the  mysteries 
of  Peach  culture.  Bearing  in  mind  how  valuable 
they  are  for  early  work  I  could  not  help  thinking 
that  a  solution  of  the  mystery  would  be  a  great 
boon.  I  have  never  found  them  to  shed  their  buds 
prematurely  out  of  doors.  The  new  early  Nectarine 
Cardinal,  represented  by  a  large  number  of  fine 
young  trees,  was  highly  spoken  of.  "  We  have 
never  found  the  slightest  tendency  to  bud  dropping 
with  this  "  was  remarked,  and  the  earliest  fruits 
were  sold  last  year  at  41S<.  per  dozen.  E.  B. 


ARTIFICIAL  MANURES  IN  THE 

GARDEN. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  preach  to  the  gardener 
concerning  the  value  of  animal  manure.  Whether 
it  comes  from  the  stable,  or  from  the  cow  house,  or 
the  pig  pen,  he  is  quite  aware  of  the  advantage  of 
a  good  supply,  and  prepared  to  make  use  of  it  to 
the  fullest  extent.  Happy,  indeed,  the  man  who  is 
able  to  get  a  good  supply,  for  one  of  the  great 
helps  to  the  production  of  bountiful  crops  is  at  his 
hand.  But  we  are  not  all  in  that  fortunate  position, 
and  few  have  quite  as  nnich  as  they  could  profitably 
make  use  of.  In  these  circumstances  it  is  essential 
that  resort  should  be  had  to  artificial  manures, 
and  a  few  notes  on  these  may  be  useful.  It  is  not 
so  very  long  ago  that  nine  gardeners  out  of  ten 
when  speaking  of  artificials  meant  guano,  and  even 
in  recent  years  the  range  of  artificials  brought  into 
general  garden  use  has  been  very  limited.  Sul- 
phate of  ammonia  has  had  great  vogue,  and  its 
praises  as  an  aid  to  the  flower  grower  especially 
have  been  sung  with  great  persistence.  Its  value 
is  not  to  be  denied,  and  I  mention  it  only  to  point 
out  that  its  rival,  nitrate  of  soda,  should  not  be 
forgotten,  and  that  the  choice  of  the  two  affords 
an  advantage  not  only  in  regard  to  prices,  which 
fluctuate,  but  also  in  regard  to  different  soils  and 
climates.  Nitrate  of  soda  is  much  more  soluble 
than  sulphate  of  ammonia,  and  more  prompt  in  its 
action.  Applied  to  soil  of  loose  texture,  before  the 
crop  was  ready  to  take  it  up,  much  of  it  would  be 
washedaway  and  wasted.  Here  are  two  matters  then 
that  should  influence  the  grower  in  his  choice.  If 
theplantisinactivegrowth,  or  if  the  weather  is  dry, 
the  nitrate  would  be  a  belter  manure  to  use — we 
are  assuming  that  nitrogen  is  needed — than  sul- 
phate of    ammonia.     On   the  other  hand,  if  the 


March  29,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


207 


dressing  is  given  before  the  crop  is  ready  for  it,  or 
if  the  weather  is  wet,  the  sulphate  would  be  pre- 
ferable. Of  course  it  is  not  possible  to  foretell 
what  sort  of  weather  we  are  going  to  have,  but 
some  districts  have  a  large  average  rainfall,  while 
others  are  dry  ;  and  the  selection  can  be  made 
accordingly. 

This  suggests  a  point  on  which  a  word  or  two 
may  be  said.  It  should  be  obvious  that  even  when 
the  question  of  the  supply  of  only  one  ingredient- 
such  as  nitrogen — is  concerned,  it  is  impossible  to 
say  that  any  one  manure  is  best  under  all  conditions. 
How  much  less  is  it  possible  to  recommend  any 
particular  artificial  as  the  most  suitable  for  all 
crops  and  all  soils  ?  Yet  this  is  actually  what  some 
people  expect,  and  the  request  shows  that  they  are 
entirely  unacquainted  with  the  right  way  to  use 
these  manures,  and  that  if  they  proceed  to  use 
them,  nevertheless,  they  will  probably  waste  a 
good  deal  of  money.  For  a  very  little  careful 
experiment  will  show  a  man  who  records  results 
how  easy  it  is  to  throw  away  money  in  the  use  of 
artificials. 

Artificial  manures  are  divided  into  three  great 
sections  —  those  which  supply  mainly  or  solely 
nitrogen,  those  which  supply  phosphates,  and  those 
which  supply  potash.  These  are  the  three  sub- 
stances which  plants  require,  and  without  which 
in  varying  proportions  they  cannot  grow  ;  there 
are  other  substances  needed,  but  as  the  soil  contains 
these  in  plenty  it  is  not  necessary  to  take  them  into 
consideration.  Supplying  as  it  does  in  many  cases 
only  one  of  these  ingredients,  the  artificial  is  not 
alone  a  complete  manure.  It  is  this  which  has 
given  rise  to  the  suggestion  often  heard  even  now 
that  nitrate  of  soda  is  an  "  exhausting"  manure. 
It  is  evident  that  if  the  application  of  nitrate  of 
soda  causes  the  production  of  a  larger  crop  than 
would  otherwise  have  been  grown,  there  is  a 
greater  demand  upon  the  phosphates  and  potash 
in  the  soil,  and  as  nitrate  of  soda  supplies  neither 
phosphates  nor  potash  its  continued  use  would,  of 
course,  result  in  the  removal  from  the  soil  each 
year  of  quantities  of  these  materials.  But  this  is 
not  the  proper  way  to  use  an  artificial  manure, 
and  the  only  result  of  the  nitrate  is  to  bring  about 
the  impoverishment  of  the  soil  a  little  more  quickly 
than  would  be  the  case  were  crops  grown  year  by 
year  without  the  use  of  any  dressing  at  all,  and 
this  not  because  the  nitrate  does  anything  to  rob 
the  soil,  but  because  by  bringing  about  the  pro- 
duction of  bigger  crops  it  uses  up  the  supply 
sooner.     This  misapprehension  is  not  perhaps  so 


common  among  gardeners  as  among  farmers,  but  it 
is  as  well  that  the  real  position  should  be  made 
clear. 

The  chief  sources  of  nitrogen  have  already  been 
mentioned.  A  good  sample  of  nitrate  of  soda 
should  contain  less  than  5  per  cent,  of  impurities, 
that  is,  it  should  be  obtained  with  a  guarantee  of 
95  per  cent,  purity.  Such  a  sample  would  contain 
1.5'6  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  which  is  equivalent  to 
about  njlb.  in  each  cwt.  This  is  worth  now  on 
rail  something  over  £10  per  ton.  Sulphate  of 
ammonia  maj'  contain  as  much  as  2o  per  cent,  of 
ammonia ;  but  this  is  not  the  same  thing  as 
25  per  cent,  nitrogen,  and  in  comparing  the  prices 
this  fact  should  not  be  lost  sight  of.  One  per  cent, 
of  nitrogen  isequal  to  1 '214 ammonia  ;  if,  therefore, 
we  wish  to  see  the  ammonia  value  of  nitrate  of 
soda  we  multiply  the  nitrogen  by  r214,  and  if 
we  wish  to  find  the  nitrogen  equivalent  of  the 
ammonia  in  the  sulphate  of  ammonia  we  multiply 
the  latter  figures  by  '824.  It  follows  then  that 
25  per  cent,  of  ammonia  would  be  equivalent  to 
20'6  nitrogen,  equal  to  231b.  in  the  cwt.,  and 
this  figure  being  arrived  at  it  is  easy  to  find 
which  is  the  cheaper  of  the  two  articles 
at  any  particular  moment.  It  will  be  seen  that 
.3cwt.  of  25  per  cent,  sulphate  of  ammonia  supply 
very  nearly  as  much  ammonia  as  4cwt.  of  nitrate 
of  soda  ;  25  per  cent. ,  however,  is  a  high 
quality,  and  the  basis  four  to  five  would  more 
nearly  represent  the  respective  values  of  the  two 
manures  to  the  grower  in  cases  where  it  is  a  matter 
of  indifference  which  is  used.  At  present  prices 
the  sulphate  is  the  cheaper  of  the  two.  Nitrogen 
is  to  be  obtained  in  other  forms — blood  manure,  in 
the  shoddy  or  waste  often  largely  used  in  Hop 
gardens  and  in  other  materials — but  its  action  when 
in  these  forms  is  very  slow,  and  it  should  be  bought 
at  a  much  cheaper  rate.  As  it  is  not  so  readily 
washed  out  of  the  soil  as  in  the  case  of  the  highly 
soluble  nitrate  of  soda,  and  of  sulphate  of  ammonia, 
nitrogen  in  horn  shavings,  and  other  refuse  may  be 
profitably  used  sometimes  in  orchards  and  for 
various  crops  which  occupy  the  soil  a  long  time. 
Such  refuse  is,  however,  often  made  to  look  well 
"on  paper,"  and  it  is  well  to  know  in  what  form 
the  nitrogen  is  present  when  buying  a  manure  of 
undefined  character. 

The  uses  of  nitrogenous  manures  are  manifold. 
With  the  exception  of  one  family  of  plants  there  is 
hardly  any  crop  to  which  they  maj'  not  be  applied 
with  advantage.  Used  as  a  top-dressing  for  Leeks, 
Onions,  and  Cabbages  their  effects  are  very  manifest, 


and  they  may  be  applied  to  flowering  plants  in 
pots,  and  in  nearly  all  the  cases  in  which  what  the 
gardener  calls  "a  httle assistance"  is  needed.  It  is, 
however,  waste  of  money  to  apply  nitrogen  to  Peas, 
Beans,  or  any  plant  belonging  to  the  leguminosse, 
unless  possibly  in  the  very  earliest  stages  of  their 
growth.  It  will  not  increase  the  crop  in  the 
slightest  degree,  and  it  may  even  have  a  prejudicial 
effect.  The  excellent  effect  on  the  land  of  a  crop 
of  Peas  or  Clover  has  long  been  recognised  by 
cultivators,  but  it  is  only  of  late  years  that  it  has 
been  discovered  that  it  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
leguminous  plants  have  the  power  of  obtaining 
nitrogen  from  the  air.  Experiments  have  placed 
beyond  doubt  the  truth  of  the  statement  that 
soluble  nitrogenous  manure  might  as  well  be  thrown 
away  as  applied  to  any  of  these  plants,  for  it  will 
not  benefit  them,  and  it  will — in  great  part  at 
least — be  washed  away  before  the  succeeding  crop 
can  make  use  of  it.  W.  Y.  N. 


CAMPANULA   PULLA  AND   C.    ABIETINA   (TO   KIGUT). 


D\VARF      CAMPANULAS. 

Somewhat  tardily  I  admit,  but  none  the  less 
sincerely,  I  write  to  thank  you  for  having  so 
thoroughly  fulfilled  your  promise  to  let  us 
have  a  list  of  the  Alpine  and  Saxatile  Cam- 
panulas with  their  synonyms. 

Will  you  permit  me  to,  at  the  same  time, 
express  my  indebtedness  and  thanks  to  M. 
Correvon  for  the  care  and  thoroughness  which 
he  has  displayed  in  carrying  out  the  task  you 
placed  in  his  hands. 

I  have  been  asked  by  several  of  my  Cam- 
panula-loving friends  to  express  their  thanks 
to  M.  Correvon.  Perhaps  you  will  be  able 
to  see  your  way  to  conveying  their  sentiments 
and  my  own  to  him. 

My  experience  of  these  delightful  miniature 
Bell-fiowers  is  not  a  very  lengthy  one,  but 
they  were  among  the  first  inhabitants  of  my 
small  rock  garden,  and  I  certainly  have  had 
more  satisfaction  from  this  family  as  a  whole 
than  from  any  other  that  I  have  tried  to  induce 
to  take  up  its  abode  and  dwell  with  me  for  a 
season.  Amongst  them  are  to  be  found  species 
that  grow  as  easily  as  weeds,  even  here  in 
smoky  foggy  London,  so  that  no  one  need  be 
afraid  of  attempting  them.  Also  among  them, 
alas !  are  to  be  found  others  that  refuse  to  grow 
with  me  under  any  circumstances 
whatever,  despite  care,  proper 
soil,  and  every  attention,  and 
then  there  are  those  that  may 
be  classed  between  the  two 
extremes  above  indicated,  some 
tiourishing  with  care,  others  just 
existing,  and  yet  somehow  one 
rejoices  more  over  the  few 
blooms  that  one  may  get  from 
these  than  one  does  over  the 
other.s  that  give  their  flowers 
literally  by  the  hundred.  Fol- 
lowing on  the  lines  of  M.  Cor- 
revon's  monograph  I  will  write 
of  them  alphabetically. 

C.  abietina.  —  This  with  me 
never  exceeds  12  inches  in  height ; 
it  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  Alpines. 
Robinson  does  not  mention  it, 
and  M.  Correvon  considers  it  a 
border  variety,  and  includes  it  in 
his  first  list,  but  I  mention  it 
here  because  it  has  been  one  of 
my  successes,  easy  to  grow  ard 
keep.  It  is  very  distinct,  has 
vase-shaped  flowers  on  upright 
stalks,  and  is  a  good  colour. 
Very  floriferous,  flowering  from 
May  to  August.  I  had  a  few 
blooms  in  September  even. 

C.  AUionii. — This  I  grew,  or 
rather    attejnpted   to  grow,  for 


208 


THE     GAEDEN. 


[March  29,  1902. 


the  first  time  last" year.  The  plant  succumbed 
to  the  October  and  November  fogs.  It 
did  not  bloom,  but  made  several  rosettes. 
M.  Correvon's  remarks  on  its  culture  are  very 
interesting  and  useful.  I  shall  try  again  next 
year,  and  take  some  means  to  keep  the  fog 
away  as  much  as  possible.  A  slight  error, 
possibly  of  tran.5lalion,  has  crept  in,  in  referring 
to  this'  variety,  for  on  page  4.")2,  vol.  lix.,  we 
read  :  "It  rei)roduoes  itself  but  little  by  seed  "; 
further  on,  "  However,  as  it  yields  a  quantity  of 
good  seed  which  easily  germinates,"  &c.  ^^  I 
think  the  probable  reading  should  bo  ;— "  It 
reproduces  itself  but  little  e.rcept  by  seed,"  and 
the  second  quotation  might  stand  as  written. 

C.  aljjhia.-This  I  thought  I  had  grown,  but 
I  have  now  my  doubts  whether  it  was  true. 
The  plant  was 'sold  to  me  as  alpina  by  a  well- 
known  firm  :  it  answered  very  fairly  to  liobm- 
soii's  description,  which  differs  considerably 
from  M.  Correvon's.  Speaking  from  memory,  I 
should  say  the  flower  stalk  was 
nearly  1-2  inches  high.  Robinson 
says  .")  inches  to  10  inches,  M.  Cor- 
revon  :i  inches  to  b  inches,  so  that 
in  all  ]irobability  my  plant  was  not 
alpina.  This  seems  more  probable 
when  one  iinds  such  an  authority 
as  the  late  Mr.  Selfe  Leonard 
(to  whom  I  am  much  indebted  for 
kind  advice)  stating  that  "  this  is 
one  of  the  miniatures,"  and  goes 
on  "  to  doubt  if  the  true  variety  is 
to  be  procured  now  in  this  country." 
Has  Miss  Willmott  a  plant  of  it 
among  her  collection,  1  wonder  I 

C.  haiinta.  —  This  I  have  to 
grow  yearly  from  seed,  and  it 
always  acts  as  a  biennial  with  me. 
Its  pale  blue  bearded  flowers  have 
a  charm  all  their  own.  I  have 
never  yet  raised  the  white  form, 
although  I  have  tried  to  do  so. 
The  October  and  November  fogs 
have,  I  am  afraid,  played  havoc 
with  the  hairy  Campanulas,  of 
which  this  is  one. 

C.  Bocconi. — A  white  form  ;  this 
I  found  was  identic  il  with  pusilla 
alba  ;  at  least  I  could  not  find  any 
difference. 

C  (-(fs/iifosa. — This  is  the  tufted 
Hairbell,  and  seems  to  be  sold  by 
the  trade  under  three  names  — 
ciespitosa,  c.  pusilla,  and  c.  pumila. 
Kobiii'on  distinguishes  the  latter 
by  saying  it  is  a  dwarf  form  of 
Ciespitosa.  M.  Correvon,  however, 
says  pumila  and  Ciespitosa  are 
identical,  pumila  being  simply 
Curtis'  .synonym  for  ciBspitosa.  I  have  the  two 
varieties  pusilla  and  pumila,  which  are  distinct. 
Your  drawing  of  pusilla  on  page  \(i\  is  the 
jiusilla  I  know  and  grow  by  that  name,  and 
the  pumila  that  I  grow  is  identical  with  the 
jiumila  of  Curtis  (see  plate  .">12,  Cioiis' 
Botanicnl  Ma</aiine,  also  plate  12  of  Maund'a 
The  Botanic  Garden),  so  that  it  is  still  a  little 
confu.sing.  The  flower  of  pumila  is  about  half- 
way between  pusilla  and  pulla.  One  ought  to 
drop,  I  suppose,  pumila  and  call.it  c;e.spitosa, 
but  it  goes  against  the  grain  somehow.  C. 
ciespitosa  then  is  a  beautiful  alpine  not  so  free 
flowering  as  pusilla,  nor  so  free  growing,  but 
darker  in  colour. 

The  next  Campanula  of  M.  Correvon's  list 
that  I  have  grown  and  know  is 

C.  renuia.  -  I  never  had  more  than  two  plants 
of  it,  one  of  which  was  supiJied  to  me  as  Zoysii 
(something  quite  distinct),  and  it  is  one  that  I 
cannot  keep  throughout  the  winter.  It  is  not 
easily  transplanted  owing  to  its  tender  roots, 


and  it  has  always  succumbed  to  the  fogs.  It  is  a 
pretty  creeper  and  well  worth  growing. 

V.  Elatines  i  have  never  grown,  but  I  see 
it  is  one  of  the  downy  ones,  so  success  is  very 
unlikely  ;  your  illustration  on  page  G4  shows  it 
to  be  distinct. 

C.  e.rcim.  —  I  flowered  this  for  the  first 
time  last  year,  but  my  plant  was  only  a  very 
small  one  (of  the  kind  that  our  friends  the 
nurserymen  still  continue  to  send  us  some- 
times). There  was  a  delightful  clump  of  it  at 
Kew  in  the  rock  garden,  and  I  saw  two  small 
pots  at  the  Temple  show  that,  however,  did  not 
do  it  ju.stice.  It  is  one  of  the  most  curious  of 
the  Campanulas,  but  at  the  same  time  lieautiful. 
I  shall  try  growing  it  from  seed. 

C.  ffaijiliss. — This  is  the  well-known  green- 
house plant  that  one  sees  so  often  growing  in 
hanging  baskets.  I  generally  i)lant  this  and 
isophylla  in  June,  when  all  danger  of  frost  is 
over.     I  think  one  may  say  that  this  and  all 


Guildford  Hardy  Plant  Nursery,  showed  me  a 
hybrid  form  called  cranmoreiensis  that  was  very 
[iretty.    Does  this  come  from  the  famous  Cran- 
more  Pool,  I  wonder  ?        H.  E.  Molyneux. 
(To  he  continued.) 


CAMPANULA   EORGHALTI    PALLIDA. 

the  Italian  Campanulas  require  greenhouse 
protection  during  the  winter  months.  I  have 
not  yet  succeeded  in  wintering  any  of  them 
out  of  doors. 

C.  (lanianica. — This  is  sometimes  mixed  up 
with  fragilis,  but  it  is  tjuite  distinct.  I  am 
very  fond  of  it  and  its  variety  hirsuta.  M. 
Correvon  solves  the  mystery  of  C.  Erinus,  a 
plant  I  had  from  Messrs.  Ware— undoubtedly 
perennial,  distinct  and  diminutive ;  now  C. 
erinus  is  referred  to  in  most  botanical  diction- 
aries as  an  annual.  M.  Correvon  says  that 
Ware's  form,  called  C.  Erinus,  should  be  called 
garganica  compacta.  I  can  bear  him  out  in 
stating  that  it  is  worthy  of  acquisition.  It  is 
very  tufted  and  small,  and  increases  very  slowly. 

C.  hederacea. — This  for  some  reason  is  not 
mentioned  by  M.  Correvon.  It  is  illustrated 
in  Maund's  The  Botanic  Garden,  vol.  vi.,  plate 
124.  It  prefers  moisture  ;  my  |ilant  of  it  was 
found  on  Dartmoor,  where  I  believe  it  is  fairly 
common.    The  late  Mr.  Selfe  Leonard,  at  the 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

CANTERBURY     BELLS     AS 
POT    PLANTS. 

IT  has  often  been  a  subject  of   remark  that 
Canterbury  Bells,   with  all  their  loveliness, 
are  unsatisfactor}'  flowers  to  grow  in  borders 
in    masses.       Given    a    favourable      season 
the   display    made   by  a  good    bed   of   well 
grown  plants   may  be  delightful,  but  even 
in  a  favourable  season  a  shower  of  rain,  or  even  an 
extra   heavy  dew,   will   cause   the   destruction   of 
every  bell  that  has  shown  colour.     Of  course  it   is 
not  the  rain  that  does  the  mischief  so 
much  as  the  sun  acting  upon   the  wet 
petals.     In  continuous  wet  and  cloudy 
weather  the  flowers  do  not  sufi'er  so 
much,  although  the  plants  do,  for  the 
side  branches  i>f  the  stem  are  too  weak 
to  support  the  burden  of  the  saturated 
bells  ;  but  a  bright  sunny  day  after  a 
shower  will  turn  every  bell  brown  or 
yellow,  and  it  is  a  heavy  task,  even 
for   the   enthusiast,   to   go   round   his 
ruined   beds   removing  the  unsightly 
traces  of  the  withered  flowers. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that 
the  Canterbury  Bell  can  be  successfully 
used  as  a  pot  plant,  but  even  if  that  be 
the  case  it  is  assuredly  not  a  matter 
of  general  practice.  For  those  who 
like  living  plants  in  their  rooms  there 
is  no  more  charming  flower,  parti- 
cularly as  there  is  no  regretful  feeling 
that  the  plant  is  being  spoilt  by  the 
atmosphere  of  the  house,  a  feeling  that 
prevents  many  a  lover  of  flowers  from 
filling  the  rooms  with  his  favourites. 
Not  only  has  the  house  atmosphere 
no  deleterious  effect,  at  least,  not 
obviously,  but  the  Canterbury  Bell, 
being  a  biennial,  is  doomed  to  die  in 
any  case  after  its  flowering  and  seeding 
period  is  over.  The  Bell-flower,  to 
which  this  note  refers,  is  the  Cam- 
panula Medium,  a  true  biennial, 
although  the  name  is  loosely  applied 
t3  many  other  members  of  the  Campa- 
nula family,  including  some  pereruiial 
species  such  as  persieifolia.  Many 
years  ago  the  writer,  having  often 
seen  the  recommendation  in  books, 
but  never  in  practice,  resolved  to 
test  its  merits.  There  was  an  extra 
stock  of  plants,  and  just  before  the 
buds  began  to  show  the  plants  were  lifted  and 
placed  m  rather  small  pots  for  the  size  of 
the  roots.  They  were  kept  shaded  and  watered 
for  a  few  days  and  then  were  taken  into  the 
house,  where  for  weeks  their  beauty  was  en- 
joyed. There  was  no  rain  there  to  beat  down  the 
bells,  no  wind  to  break  the  side  branches,  no 
sun  to  tan  damp  petals,  and  the  result  was  that 
for  four  weeks  the  identical  Ijells  hung  on  the 
plants  fresh  and  lovely.  During  that  time  the 
outdoor  beds  had  been  thrashed  with  wind, 
beaten  by  rain,  and  discoloured  by  sun  ;  they  had 
been  disseeded  (an  awkward  word  but  expressive) 
and  had  bloomed  again,  and  had  suffered  a  second 
time,  and  the  beds  had  been  cleared  of  their 
remains,  yet  still  those  in  the  house  continued 
their  crop  of  flowers. 

It  was  found  by  experiments  in  succeeding  }-e3rs 
that  it  was  best  to  pot  up  the  plants  just  as  they 
showed  colour  in  the  bells,  that  it  was  more 
satisfactory  to  have  plants  with  a  single  stem,  and 
that  the  smaller  the  pot  the  better  they  flowered. 
It  is  a  good  plan  if  large  plants  be  reijuired  to 
sow  the  seed  late,   say   in   August  ;    in   this  case 


March  29,  1902.] 


THE    GAllDEN. 


209 


the  plants  do  not  flower  at  all  in  the  succeeding 
year,  and  make  enormous  bushes  for  the  third; 
but  unless  they  can  be  so  protected  from  wind  and 
rain  as  to  keep  the  bushes  (the  word  is  used 
advisedly)  intact  their  appearance  is  spoilt  by 
gaps.  "Experience  pointed  out  that  it  was 
desirable  to  keep  plants  growing  outside  and  in  the 
soil,  not  in  pots,  as  long  as  possible,  so  that  the 
large  specimens  could  rarely  be  kept  fit  for  lifting 
in  consequence  of  the  elements  There  are  two 
more  points  to  note  about  the  utility  of  the  Canter- 
bury Bell  as  a  pot  plant.  It  does  not  mind  how 
dark  a  room  may  be  provided  it  has  been  left  out 
till  the  colour  begins  to  show  in  the  earlier  flowers, 
and  it  does  not  mind  a  draught. 

Those  who  grow  these  beautiful  things  generally 
grow  far  more  in  the  nursery  bed  than  can  be  used 
in  the  borders.  Let  them  try  the  experiment 
now  advocated  with  their  surplus  plants  instead  of 
digging  them  down.  As  miny  gardeners  will  soon 
be° shifting  the  plants  to  their  floweiing  quarters 
it  mav  be  that  this  suggestion  will  come  as  a 
a  word  in  season.  E.  P.  F. 


TUBEROUS  BEGONIAS  FOR  BEDDING. 

Yeak  by  year  the  tuberous  Begonias  come  more 
into  favour  for  bedding,  and  since  they  have 
been  so  much  improved  in  growth,  with  the 
flowers  standing  up  well  above  the  foliage,  they 
make  a  grand  display,  which  is  well  maintained 
until  we  get  frost,  being  even  brighter  when  the 
nights  get  cool  than  in  hot  weather.  It  is  possible 
to  get  a  good  display  from  seeds  sown  the  same 
season,  but  it  is  better  to  rely  on  tubers  of  the 
previous  season,  which  may  be  grown  in  a  small 
space.  The  colours  can  then  be  selected,  and  any 
that  are  not  of  good  quality  discarded.  Beds  of 
mixed  colours  are  very  pretty,  but  small  beds  of 
se|iarato  colours  give  a  more  decided  effect. 
Tubers  stai  ted  early  in  March  require  very  little 
heat.  Under  cool  treatment  they  make  short 
sturdy  growth,  and  so  long  as  they  are  safe  from 
frost  the  cooler  they  are  kept  the  belter.  Before 
planting  out  the  beds  should  have  a  liberal  dressing 
of  stable  manure,  and  if  this  can  be  dug  in  sometime 
before  planting  all  the  better.  It  seems  impossible 
to  make  the  ground  too  rich  for  Begonias,  and  I 
think  if  more  attention  were  paid  to  this  fact  they 
would  be  still  more  appreciated.  When  the  ground 
is  deeply  dug  and  well  manured  they 
require  much  less  attention  in 
watering.  It  is  useless  to  plant  in 
poor  dry  ground,  for  though  the 
plants  may  live  the  flowers  will  be 
very  small  and  the  growth  unsatis- 
factory. Wilh  pot  culture  the  great 
secret  is  liberal  treatment  ;  large 
plants  may  be  grown  in  compara- 
tively small  pots  if  liberally  supplied 
with  liquid  manure,  but  care  must 
be  taken  that  the  plants  do  not 
get  too  drj'  after  manure  has  betn 
used  or  the  flowers  will  fall  prema- 
turely. H. 

GAILLARDIAS. 

The  perennial  kinds  have  of  late 
become  so  numerous  that  a  distinct 
collection  can  easily  be  obtained  ; 
when  well  grown  they  are  not  only 
useful  as  garden  plants,  but  the 
blossoms,  when  cut,  last  a  long 
time  in  water,  and  as  the  stems 
are  long  and  stout  they  can  be 
utilised  for  all  sorts  of  vase  decora- 
tion. Plants  growing  in  the  open 
border  commence  to  flower  in  May 
and  continue  quite  into  the  autumn. 
Thus  Gaillardias  are  valuable  for 
either  filling  beds  or  for  associating 
with  other  suitable  subjects.  Pro- 
pagation is  an  easy  matter  ;  divide 
the  roots  iji  spring  or  early  in  the 
autumn,  pricking  out  into  nursery 
beds  to  get  them  well  established 
before  dry  weather  fets  in  in  the 
spring,  or  before  frost  in  the  autumn. 


Where  the  soil  is  heavy,  cold,  and  retentive  of  mois- 
ture autumn  propagation  is  the  best,  wintering  the 
plants  in  a  cold  frame  and  putting  them  out  early 
in  April.  Add  to  the  roots  of  each  a  handful  of  old 
potting  soil,  decayed  vegetable  refuse,  or  wood  ' 
ashes. 

The  following  is  a  selection  of  choice  varieties 
raised  by  Mr.  B.  Ladham,  Shirley,  from  the 
variety  oculata,  who  has  devoted  much  time  and 
skill  to  this  perennial,  knowing  so  well  its  value  as 
a  bard}'  border  plant.  Primrose  Gem  produces 
medium-sized  blooms  of  a  pleasing  shade  of 
yellow  or  deep  primrose;  grown  in  a  mass  this  is 
an  extremely  showy  variety.  Rownham's  (^)ueen 
grows  to  a  full  size.  The  colour  is  a  fascinating 
one,  being  crimson  in  the  centre  with  an  outer 
margin  of  sulphur.  Brilliant  has  a  narrow  crimson 
disc  with  a  broad  outer  band  of  rich  yellow  which 
renders  it  a  striking  variety.  B.  Ladhams  is  a 
gorgeous  flower  n  ith  a  broad  marking  of  crimson 
and  a  narrow  outer  margin  of  orange-yellow. 

E.  MOLYNEUX. 


SOME  ANNUALS  FOR  SUMMER 
BEDDING. 

I  TRIED  last  year  a  combination  of  Mignonette 
Parson's  White  and  the  dwarf  annual  Toad-flax 
(Linaria  reticulata  purpurea), and  the  effect  was  both 
pleasing  and  lasting.  This  dwarf  Toad-Sax  is  some- 
what unique,  so  far  as  colour  is  concerned,  in  things 
of  this  height ;  it  is  ver}'  free,  and  lasts  remarkably 
well.  It  also  is  effective  when  associated  wilh 
the  annual  (iypsophila  elegans  ;  the  latter,  how- 
ever, is  comparatively  short-lived,  and  the  space 
which  it  occupies  requires  refilling  before  the 
summer  is  over.  Marigold  Legion  of  Honour  is 
one  of  the  best  things  in  Ihe  yellow  shades,  and 
continues  a  regular  sheet  of  bloom  until  the  fiost. 
So-called  novelties  are  not  alwaj's  a  success,  but 
exception  had  to  be  made  in  the  case  of  the  dwarf 
Delphinium  Butterfly,  a  very  attractive  plant, 
both  in  flower  and  foliage,  lasting  well,  and  also 
with  a  new  dwarf  strain  of  Lantanas.  When  to  the 
above  are  added  Ihoroughlj'good  strain  of  Verbenas, 
Petunias,  Phlox  Drummondi,  and  Neniesia  it  is 
evident  that  an  exceptional!}-  fine  show  can  be  had 
through  the  summer  months  solely  wilh  the  aid  of 
annuals  or  plants  receiving  annual  treatment. 
Chirimotil.  K.  B.  C. 


DAVARF  JAPANESE  CHRYSAN- 
THEMUMS OF  THE  PAST  FIVE 
YEARS. 

(In  Reply  to  "  R.  K.,"  St.  Peterseukg.) 
Our  space  is  unfortunately  so  limited  that  we 
cannot  give  more  than  a  brief  reply  considering  the 
nature  of  the  question.  Within  a  period  of  five 
years  a  Japanese  variety  may  become  popular  and 
quickly  drop  out  of  cultivation  ;  indeed,  the  popu- 
larity of  a  large  proportion  of  the  .Japanese 
varieties  is  very  fleeting.  For  this  reason  "  R.  K." 
will  see  how  difficult  it  is  to  name  introductions 
of  some  five  years  ago,  but  those  described  below 
are  among  those  of  late  years.  From  your  question 
we  suppose  you  mean  sturdy,  dwarf,  or  rather  dwarf 
plants,  easily  grown,  not  too  late  in  flowering,  and 
capable  of  producing  five  to  six  fairly  large  blooms, 
something  in  the  way  of  Soleil  d'Octobre. 

Western  Kiiuj  (1897). — A  plant  of  good  habit, 
snow-white,  and  will  carry  a  dozen  good  blooms. 

Emihj  Sihhury(lS^'). — A  .Japanese  variety,  very 
easily  grown,  pure  white. 

/.  M.  Upton  (1899). — This  is  a  very  handsome 
yellow  variety  of  Antipodean  origin,  sturdy,  dwarf 
habit. 

Le  Grand  Dratjon  (1898). —An  excellent  Conti- 
nental variety  ;  flowers  orange-yellow,  large,  and 
full. 

Marie  Cu/rat  (1898). — The  flowers  are  developed 
from  a  late  "crown"  bud  selection;  colour  rose 
and  while  ;  strong  grower,  dwarf. 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Prohiii  (1896-1897).— A  variety  of 
easy  culture,  ihe  flowers  neat,  of  incurved  Japanese 
form  ;  colour  silvery  pink,  good  habit. 

Lihnil  JIiimphrei/«  (1S99). — An  easily  grown 
variety  ;  flower  drooping  ;  colour  chestnut-crimson. 

i//-.<.  Greiiiiield  (1901). — Avery  handsome  flower 
in  the  way  of  Phrebus  ;  colour  rich  golden-yellow. 

Mr.  A.  Barrett  (1899).— Sport  from  Mrs.  C. 
Harman  Payne  ;  colour  dark  rose  on  a  chamois 
ground  ;  distinct  and  pretty  ;  sturdy  and  faiily 
dwarf. 

Mr/s.  J.  Bryant  (1899).— Very  large  bright  rosy 
pink  flowers  with  silvery  reverse  ;  good  habit. 

Mrs.  Coomlies  (1899. )— This  is  one  of  the  best  of 
easy  culture  ;  flowers  large,  full,  and  bright  rosy 
mauve  ;  sturdy  habit. 

J//-.0.  Bark/')/  (1899).  — Like  the  last-named,  an 
English-raised      seedling  ;      flowers     very     large, 


[■AMPAJiULA    ApiETIXA    (.VEARLY    1,IFE   SIZE). 


210 


THE    GAEDEK, 


[March  29,  1902. 


massive  ;    colour    soft    rosy   mauve,  with    bright 
silvery  reverse  :  dwarf  and  sturdy  growth. 

Henry     n'effo    (18!)!)).— A    large    rosy   crimson 
flower,  flushed   carmine,  reminding  one  somewhat 
of  G.   C.   Schwabe,   to  which    "  R.  K."  alludes 
good  habit. 

Madeline  Daru  (189!)).— This  is  not  quite  so 
large  as  the  majority,  but  the  flowers  arc  refined 
and  pleasing  ;  colour  pearly  white  tinted  violet ; 
nice  dwarf  habit. 

Mr.  Louis  Berny  (1800).— A  splendid  yellow 
sport  from  Lady  Ellen  Clarke  ;  dwarf,  sturdy,  and 
of  easy  culture. 

Mrtt.  A.  H.  Hall  (1809).— Easily  grown;  large, 
full,  and  soft  bronze  colour  ;  dwarf,  sturdy,  and 
rather  early. 

jl/f.s.  James  Beisant  (1800).— Another  variety  of 
easy  culture,  with  large  white  flowers. 

Ihqumid  Godfrey  (1899).— An  October  flowering 
variety,  with  large  Japanese  flowers  ;  colour  light 
chestnut-red,  with  a  golden  reverse  ;  dwarf,  sturdy 
habit. 

Bronze  Soleil  d'Orfohre  (1902).— A  beautiful 
bronzy  fawn  sport  from  the  popular  fSoleil 
d'Octobre,  partaking  of  the  excellent  characteristics 
of  the  parent  variety. 

^[r■•<.  dejrye  Milehiim  (1901). — This  is  an 
e.xcellent  type  of  the  loosely  incurving  Japanese  : 
colour  bright  rose-pink,  with  silvery  reverse : 
good  habit. 

Calrafs  Sun  (1001).— An  immense  canary  yellow 

flower. 

.4«ra(7  (OH  (1901). —An  October  flowering  Japanese 
variety,  of  a  distinct  soft  apricot  shade,  tinted 
carmine  ;  sturdy  grower  ;  uf  easy  culture. 

Mahel  Morgan  (1901).— A  distinct  and  refined 
flower  ;  colour  a  beautiful  soft  yellow  ;  flowers  of 
pleasing  shape  :  excellent  habit. 

J/i.vs  Alice  Byron  (191)0).— A  refined  incurved 
Japanese  ;  pure  white  ;  the  plant  is  easily  grown 
and  of  excellent  habit. 

lady  Hanham  (1807).— This  is  a  well-known 
sport  from  Viviand  Morel,  and  no  collection  should 
be  without  it.  The  colour  is  rosy  cerise  on  a  chamois 
ground. 

Mme.  roj!^4 «(/(•('  (1900).— A  sport  from  Mutual 
Friend,  and  should  be  flowered  from  first  crown 
buds.  There  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  there 
are  two  distinct  spots  in  commerce,  both  bearing 
the  same  name.  One  is  a  sulphur-yellow  colour, 
and  the  other  a  richer  shade  of  the  same  ;  strong, 
sturdy  grower. 

Calral's  (1899). — A  beautiful  loosely  incurved 
J.apanese  ;  colour  pearly  rosy  mauve,  slightly 
shaded  yellow  in  the  centre.  The  plant  is  not  so 
robust  as  one  would  desire,  but  it  is  a  variety  for 
all  collections  ;  height  about  4  feet. 

^[r.  T.  Carrinylon  (1809). — A  large  handsome 
incurved  Japanese,  somewhat  similar  in  form  to 
Australie  ;  colour  rich  carmine-rose  with  silvery 
reverse  ;  height  about  ih  feet. 

Monn.  /fos'^e  (1897). — An  easily-grown  continental 
introduction  of  good  constitution,  and  about 
3i  feet  high  ;  colour  white,  flushed  rosy  purple. 

'Mat/hen:  Hodgson  (1897). — This  variety  is  still 
valued  for  its  distinct  crimson-red  colouring. 

Mrs.  G.  W.  Palmer  (1807).— A  claret-bronze 
sport  from  Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne,  fairly  dwarf. 

Mans.  Clienon  de  Leclie  (1800). — One  of  the  most 
distinct  Japanese  flowers,  with  recurving  florets 
of  medium  width  :  colour  rosy  buff. 

Master  H.  Tucker  (1807). — A  large  exhibition 
flower  of  good  colour,  which  may  be  described  as 
rich  bronze,  flushed  with  red  ;  it  grows  vigorously. 

The  Farorite  (1901). ~A  beautiful  rich  apricul- 
bronze  flower,  tinted  carmine-crimson  ;  very  sturdy. 

7'Ae  Princess  (1001). — A  large  creamy  white 
flower,  the  plant  sturdy. 

Lord  Salishnry  (1900). — A  large  drooping  flower  ; 
colour  rich  bronzy  yellow  suffused  with  crimson. 

D.  B.  Crane. 


TWELVE    BEST    BAMBOOS    FOR 
SHELTERED    PLACE. 

I  HAVE  been  asked  to  lecomniend  the  twelve  most 
suitable  Bamboos  for  planting  in  a  fairly  sheltered 
hollow  in  this  part  of  the  world.  There  are  trees 
ftnt}  bashes  surrounding  but  not  interfering.     The 


soil  is  medium  loam,  and  plenty  of  peat  and  leaf 
mould  are  obtainable.  The  situation  is  not  a  wet 
one  ;  I  should  say  fairly  damp,  with  a  large  pond 
not  far  distant.  Is  not  April  ths  best  month  for 
planting '!  Your  help  would  be  valued. 
*^  H.  0.  W. 

[The  following  will  be  found  suitable  ;— 
Arundinarias,  Hindsii  var.  graminea,  japonica 
(syn.  Metake),  nitida  and  Simoni ;  Bambusas 
palmata  and  pygmaea:  Phyllostachys  Castillonis, 
aurea,  Henonis,  nigra  and  viridi-glaucescens.  If  a 
dwarf  one  is  not  required  replace  B.  pygma'a  with 
Phyllostachys  Quilioi.  The  latter  end  of  April 
and  first  fortnight  in  May  is  the  most  suitable 
time  to  plaiit.  If  plenty  of  decayed  leaves  can  be 
mixed  with  the  soil  so  mUch  the  better.  It  is 
better  not  to  use  peat  if  it  can  be  avoided. 
Plenty  of  water  must  be  given  during  dry  weather. 
If  the  climate  is  naturally  mild,  Arundinaria 
nobilis  and  falcata  may  be  included  in  the  list. 
Plant  in  April. — Eds.] 


THE    KITCHEN   GARDEN. 

JUDGING    EXHIBITION 
VEGETABLES 

IN  his  excellent  and  interesting  introductory 
chapter  on  the  above  subject  in  the  issue  of 
The  (iARDEN  of  March  1,  Mr.  Beckett 
makes  a  proposition  on  judging  that,  I 
think,  will  not  be  generally  agreed  to  by 
judges  of  experience — it  is  when  he  says: 
"  Much  must  be  taken  into  consideration  when 
judging  vegetables,  and  nothing  more  so  than 
the  season.  When  making  awards,  for  instance, 
through  August  and  September  during;  trying 
seasons,  such  as  the  two  last,  good  dishes  of 
Turnips,  perfect  in  every  respect,  should  receive 
the  maximum  number  of  points  ;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  when  the  season  has  been  favourable  to  their 
production,  these  should  not  carry  much  weight." 
In  theory  the  above  proposition  may  seem  reason- 
able, but  is  it  practicable?  How  will  it  work  out 
when  put  to  the  test  ?  Let  us  see.  Take  as  a  ease 
in  point  a  large  collection  of  vegetables  exhibited 
at  one  of  our  great  shows  in  the  open  class,  for 
which  valuable  prizes  are  offered,  tempting  many 
growers  from  all  over  the  country  (especially  in 
August  and  September)  to  compete  for  the  honour 
of  winning  these  coveted  prizes.  When  the  tent 
is  cleared  of  all  exhibitors  and  other  interested 
parties  and  left  in  the  hands  of  the  judges  and 
show  oflicials,  it  goes  without  saying  that  the 
judges  are  absolutely  ignorant  (or  ought  to  be)  of 
whose  collections  they  are  going  to  judge  or  in 
what  part  of  the  country  they  have  been  grown. 
It  is  well  known  that  in  this  country  the  weather 
at  the  same  season  of  the  j'ear  varies  considerably 
in  different  counties.  It  may  be  extremely  hot 
and  dry  in  one  part  for  a  long  spell,  and  therefore 
inimical  to  the  perfect  growth  of  not  only  Turnips 
but  vegetables  generally.  On  the  other  hand,  at  a 
distance  of  100  miles  or  200  miles  in  any  direction, 
the  weather  may  be  all  that  is  desired  for  vege- 
tables. 

Now  comes  the  judges'  difficulty.  We  will 
suppose  there  are  five  or  six  collections  to  be 
judged,  and  the  principle  of  judging  by  points 
adopted.  From  those  two  will  most  probably 
stand  out  conspicuously  as  being  the  best,  and, 
according  to  the  total  of  points  given  to  each, 
there  may  only  be  a  difference  of  two  or  three 
points  in  favour  of  one,  and  this  may  not  be  the 
o.ne  grown  under  adverse  conditions  ;  to  the  other, 
according  to  this  theory,  we  ought  to  add  as  many 
points  as  will  muke  it  better  than  that  which 
may  have  been  grown  under  more  favourable  con- 
ditions. The  principle  is  the  same,  whether  it  is 
a  Turnip  or  any  other  vegetable.  If  we  accept 
this  theory  which  Mr.  Beckett  recommends,  how 
are  we  going  to  give  practical  effect  to  it,  except 
by  turning  up  the  card  to  find  out  to  whom  it 
belongs  and  where  it  comes  from  (there  is  no  other 
way  of  finding  out),  and  to  then  surrender  our 
judgments  in  favour  of  this  accidental  fact? 
Surely  few  judges  are  prepared  to  do  this. 


If  the  doctrine  of  differentiating  between  vege- 
tables grown  in  one  part  of  the  country,  and 
another  according  to  whether  the  weather  may  be 
favourable  or  the  reverse  i.s  to  be  an  accepted 
creed,  where  will  the  system  lead  us  to  ?  Surely 
to  hopeless  confusion  and  unsatisfactory  judgment. 
When  judging  vegetables,  in  my  opinion  it  is  no 
part  of  the  judge's  duty  to  inform  himself  as  to 
the  conditions  under  which  they  have  been  grown. 
He  has  i|uite  enough  to  do  for  the  moment  to 
concentrate  his  attention  on  the  merits  of  each 
individual  dish  as  compared  with  others,  and  to 
give  his  judgment  on  their  merits  alone  as  they 
appear  before  him.  At  anj'  rate,  so  it  appears  to 
A  Grower  and  a  Judge. 

EARLY  CAULIFLOWERS. 

Whe.n  it  is  stated  that  the  well-known  Snowball 
Cauliflower  cannot  always  be  obtained  true  the 
statement  is  rather  a  reflection  on  our  seed  trade, 
because  it  is  to  its  interest  to  keep  every  good 
thing  true.  But  Snowball,  so  well  named,  when 
first  put  into  commerce  in  this  country  was  so 
good  a  thing  that  it  speedily  met  with  the  fate  of 
many  other  good  things,  and  when  the  stocks 
became  plentiful  was  listed  with  a  score  of 
diverse  names,  and  if  under  none  of  these  names  it 
cannot  be  found  true  then  is  there  something 
wrong  with  its  culture  and  seeding.  The  variety 
which  some  twenty-eight  j'ears  ago  came  here  from 
Denmark  was  first  grown  at  Bedfont  and  put 
into  commerce  bj'  Mr.  P.  Dean  under  its  now  well- 
known  appellation.  On  the  packet  of  seed  which 
originally  came  from  Denmark  no  name  was  given, 
hence  there  was  no  impropriety  in  giving  a  name 
that  so  well  befitted  it,  and  by  which  later  it 
became  universallj'  known.  From  its  first  intro- 
duction I  grew  the  stock  at  Bedfont  till  1871,  and 
others  did  so  after  me,  raising  seed  every  year.  In 
that  work  it  was  my  practice  to  mark  two  or  three 
heads  yearly  that  seemed  to  be  of  the  very  best 
and  earliest  form,  and  thus  the  stock  was  kept 
up  to  a  high  pilch  of  perfection.  In  Germany  the 
stock  became  known  later  as  the  Extra  Dwarf 
Earliest  Erfurt.  In  a  trial  of  Cauliflowers  which 
took  place  at  Chiswick  in  Mr.  Barron's  day  our 
stock  held  its  own  with  all  synonyms.  But  before 
then  and  long  since  the  Dwarf  Early  Snowball  had 
become  common  property,  and  the  quality  of  the 
stock  depends  absolutely  on  the  care  taken  to  keep 
it  of  the  best.  Raise  plants  each  year  by  sowing 
in  a  cold  house  in  February,  pricking  out  into 
cold  frames  later,  then  transplanting  with  balls  of 
soil  on  to  a  warm  border  early  in  May  and  getting 
beautiful  heads  from  the  middle  to  the  end  of 
June.  A.  Dean. 

LETTUCE  CONTINUITY. 

This  Lettuce  is  annually  becoming  more  popular 
on  account  of  its  drought-resisting  powers.  With 
such  a  variety  no  one  need  be  without  good 
Lettuces,  even  in  the  hottest  seasons.  Other 
characteristics  are  its  remaining  in  good  condition 
long  after  other  sorts  have  run  to  seed  and  doing 
well,  even  in  poor  soil.  It  is  essentially  an 
amateur's  Lettuce,  and  indispensable  for  small 
gardens.  It  is  of  medium  size,  of  a  bronzy  colour 
outwardly,  the  hearts  being  solid,  crisp,  and 
juicy.  If  sown  in  autumn  and  wintered  in  a  frame 
it  is  very  valuable  in  spring.  J.  Crawford. 

UNTIDY  CORNERS  AND  NEGLECTED 

CROPS. 
Gardens,  like  most  other  things,  have  a  way  of 
presenting  the  best  side  to  the  front.  Care  is 
usually  taken  that  the  beds,  borders,  walks,  and 
grass  plots  that  are  exposed  to  public  view  are 
kept  presentable,  and  while  this  is  so  there  are 
often  places  behind  the  scenes,  so  to  speak,  that 
the  gardener  would  prefer  to  be  unnoticed.  There 
may  be  every  reasonable  excuse  for  this  kind  of 
thing,  for  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  in  too  many 
cases  the  labour  is  not  sufficient  to  cope  with  the 
reijuirements  of  the  establishment  and  some 
portions  have  to  be  neglected.  If  the  gardener  is 
an  enthusiast  it  grieves  him  to  find  the  work 
getting  the  master  of   him,  and   he  struggles  on 


March  29,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


211 


against  the  overwhelming  force  of  accumulating 
work  until  it  gets  too  much  for  him,  and  he  has  to 
see  the  back  parts  neglected  if  the  front  must 
be  kept  up  to  the  mark. 

As  with  places,  so  with  crops.  There  are  some 
of  the  latter,  perhaps  not  of  great  importance,  but 
still  essential,  that  are  accommodating  enough  to 
grow  on  year  after  year  without  much  attention, 
and  in  consequence  of  this  they  suffer  neglect.  It 
is  no  part  of  my  business  to  locate  blame.  Perhaps 
the  gardener  is  the  victim  of  circumstances,  and  if 
so  he  claims  our  sympathy  ;  but  it  is  none  the  less 
pitiable  to  a  true  garden  lover  to  see  corners 
untidy  and  neglected,  crops  suffering  from  the 
want  of  timely  attention.  A  useful  vegetable  that 
often  suffers  for  the  want  of  proper  cultivation  is 
the  Jerusalem  Artichoke.  It  is  a  plant  of  few 
requirements,  is  accommodating  as  regards  soil  and 
situation,  and  is  just  one  of  those  by-crops  upon 
which  a  certain  store  is  set  on  account  of  its 
usefulness ;  it  is  often,  however,  neglected,  and 
has  its  revenge  by  spreading  all  over  the  place, 
eventually  becoming  a  nuisance,  and  in  too  many 
cases  I  am  afraid  this  is  owing 
to  the  want  of  system.  Because 
a  few  Artichokes  are  occasionally 
required  a  plantation  is  formed 
in  some  out  of  the  way  spot, 
where  nothing  else  will  grow 
satisfactorily,  and  the  crop  is  left 
to  take  care  of  itself.  When 
tubers  are  wanted  they  are  lifted 
here  and  there  in  a  haphazard 
sort  of  way,  and   the  Artichoke 


if  a  system  o£  cultivation  is  followed.  In  the  case 
of  both  these  crops  far  more  ground  is  often 
devoted  to  them  than  is  necessary  and  better 
produce  might  be  grown  on  half  the  area.  There 
is  no  great  art  in  growing  Jerusalem  Artichokes  if 
the  ground  is  deeply  dug  as  early  in  the  year  as 
possible  and  the  tubers  planted  2  feet  apart  in  rows 
3  feet  asunder.  No  further  attention  is  needed 
beyond  an  occasional  hoeing  until  the  following 
November,  when  the  stems  should  be  cut  down 
and  the  tubers  lifted.  The  largest  and  best 
examples  should  be  stored  for  use  and  the  smaller 
tubers  be  reserved  for  the  next  season's  planting. 

No  establishment  requires  more  than  a  little 
Horse  radish,  but  the  roots  should  be  straight  and 
quickly  grown.  Such  produce  is  obtained  by 
opening  a  trench  across  the  bed  in  November  and 
working  a  little  decaj'ed  manure  in  the  bottom  if 
the  soil  is  poor.  Then  select  some  straight  shoots, 
each  one  having  a  crown  about  8  inches  long  and 
the  thickness  of  one's  finger.  If  these  are  planted 
about  a  foot  apart  each  way  and  the  crowns 
covered  with  a  few  inches  of  soil,  roots^mayjbe 


Cacti  have  a  strange  fascination  for  some 
flower-lovers,  and  certainly  their  quaint  forms 
are  interesting  and  many  of  them  have  beauti- 
ful flowers.     Plants  of  great  interest  to  me  are 
those    comprising     the    Phyllocactus    group. 
These  have  flowers  of  glorious  colouring,  and 
are  of  very  easy  culture,  for  given  an  ordinary 
greenhouse  anyone  may  succeed  with  them.    A 
soil   principally  composed    of    loam   with   an 
admixture  of   sand   and  brickmakers'  ballast 
or  sandstone  rubble  will  suit  them  perfectly. 
Over-watering     must    be    specially    guarded 
against,  for  though  they  may  be  kept  pretty 
moist  during  the  summer  months,  yet  at  the 
dull  period  of  the  year   from  their  succulent 
nature  they  may  remain  a  good  while  without 
water.     A  light,  sunny  spot  m  the  greenhouse 
is  also  essential  to  their  well-doing,  for  upon 
the  thorough  ripening  of  the  growth  resulting 
from   full  exposure  to   sunshine   and   careful 
watering  during]  the  dull  season  depends  to  a 
great    extent    the    future 
display  of  bloom.    Propaga- 
tion of  this  class  of  Cacti 
is  readily  effected,  for  if  a 
piece  is  broken  off,  potted, 
placed  on  a    shelf    in  the 
greenhou.=e,     and     watered 
occasionally,     it     may    be 
depended  upon  to  root.   The 
better    class     of    flowering 
Cacti  are,  I  think,  increasing 
in    popularity,  and    to   the 
amateur  with  but  little  time 
(and  that  of  an  intermittent 
nature)  to  attend  to  them, 
they  possess  a  great  advan- 
tage over  many  other  classes 
of  plants. — H. 


THINNING 
GRAPES. 


A   CACTUS  COKNER  IK   ONE   Or  THE   HOUSES   IN   THE   GARDENS   AT   CARTON,    KIT.DAKE 


bed  presents  a  mixture  of  straggling  stalks, 
weeds,  and  accumulated  rubbish.  Nor  is  this  the 
worst,  for  the  plant  has  a  habit  of  spreading  and 
multiplying  itself,  encroaching  on  ground  wanted 
for  other  crops,  and  the  weakened  growths  only 
produce  insignificant  tubers  that  are  a  nuisance  in 
the  ground  and  useless  in  the  kitchen.  But 
eventually  something  has  to  be  done.  If  only  for 
the  sake  of  appearance  there  has  to  be  a  clearing 
out,  and  the  individual  to  whom  this  duty  falls 
realises  that  though  Artichokes  are  not  difficult  to 
establish,  they  are  by  no  means  easy  to  eradicate, 
and  after  much  time  and  trouble  have  been  spent 
in  clearing  the  ground  the  young  shoots  spring  up 
all  over  the  place  in  a  tantalising  manner. 

Another  crop,  too,  often  neglected  is  the  Horse- 
radish. These  roots  are  a  commodity  in  the 
kitchen  and  are  represented  in  every  garden  ;  but 
how  many  gardeners  have  reason  to  feel  really 
proud  of  the  Horse-radish  bed?  In  many  cases 
the  ordinary  visitor  never  sees  it,  for  it  is  located 
somewhere  in  the  background  or  on  the  outskirts, 
and  never  receives  a  professional  visit  except  when 
the  roots  are  wanted.     Yet  it  may  all  be  different 


lifted  the  following  autumn  that  will  beappreciated 
_n  the  kitchen.  To  grow  a  few  roots  in  this  way 
and  to  grow  them  well  is  far  better  than  allowing 
Horse-radish  to  monopolise  a  large  area  of  ground. 
If  any  apology  is  needed  for  dealing  with  the 
treatment  of  two  such  easily  grown  crops  in  these 
pages  I  offer  it  on  the  ground  that,  while  due 
attention  is  paid  to  more  important  plants,  the 
two  referred  to  are  neglected  as  much  in  the  Press 
as  they  are  in  the  garden. 

G.    H.  HOLLINOSWORTH. 


CACTI     AT      CARTON. 

A  CORNER  devoted  to  Cacti  in  one  of  the 
houses  at  Carton,  County  Kildare,  is  shown  in 
the  illustration.  Many  of  the  plants  were 
raised  from  seeds  supplied  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch 
and  Sons,  Chelsea.  They  include  some  of 
the  finer  sorts  of  Echinocactus,  Mamillaria, 
Echinopsis,  Opuntia,  &c.  A  collection  of  these 
plants,  though  not  often  seen,  adds  much  to  the 
interest  of  a  private  garden.— A.  Black,  Carton. 


Perhaps   more  important  to 
the  professional  gardener  than 
to  the  amateur  is  this  annual 
work,  yet  to  both  a  knowledge 
of    its    proper    execution     is 
essential.     The  time  will  now 
soon    be     here    when     Grape 
thinning  will  be  in  full  swing, 
so    that    they  who   have    not 
yet  given  the  matter  a  thought 
may  be  persuaded   to   do   so. 
The  amateur   who  is    so   un- 
fortunate as  to  be  obliged  to 
thin     his     own     bunches     of 
Grapes  rarely  it  seems  to  me 
realises     the     importance     of 
doing  it  most  carefully,  if  one 
may   judge   of   the   ill-shapen 
bunches,  containing  a  large  number  of  small  berries 
that  should  have  been  taken  out,  one  so  often  sees. 
One  most  important  point  is  to  commence  early. 
It  is  surpiisiug  how  quickly    the  berries  increase 
in  size  when  the  flowers  are  fertilised,  so  that  if 
one  does  not  begin    to    thin   the   most   advanced 
bunches  directly  they  require  doing,  by  the  time 
one  has  reached  the  last  bunches  the  berries  have 
developed  so  much  that  it  is  practically  impossible 
to   remove   those    one    ought    without    damaging 
in  some  way  the  remaining  ones.     If  the  vinery 
to  be  passed  over  is  at  all  a  large  one  this  will  be 
all  the  more  apparent.    It  is  usually  necessary  to 
go  over  the  bunches  once  again  after  they  have 
been  thinned,  because  it  is  not  always  possible  to 
distinguish   all    the    seedless     berries    when    the 
bunches   are  but   just   developing.       This  second 
thinning,  however,  is  more  in  the  way  of  a  revision. 
There  may  have  been  rather  too  many  berries  left 
the  first  time,  and  this  can  be  better  seen  when 
they  are  larger.     The  shape  of  the  bunch  can  also 
be  finally  corrected,  and  with  more  precision  at 
the  second  thinning. 

In  the  large  Grape  growing  establishments  to  the 


212 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  29,  1&(.2. 


north  of  Loiiclon,  where  hundreds  of  tons  of  fruit 
are  sent  to  market  during  the  course  of  the  year, 
the  work  of  (Jrape  thinning  is  necessarily  a  very 
important  one.  A  great  deal  of  extra  labour  has 
to  be  obtained  during  the  thinning  season,  and  those 
who  are  engaged  for  a  month  or  .six  weeks  to 
perform  this  one  particular  work  are  drawn  from 
various  classes  of  society,  forming  an  interesting 
and  motley  crowd  ;  they  are  so  numerous  that  the 
word  crowd  is  by  no  means  a  misnomer.  Under 
such  circumstances  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
the  employers  "nave  drawn  up  a  set  of  rules  or 
instructions  for  thinning  for  the  guidance  of  this 
army  of  workers.  A  copj'  or  several  copies  of  these 
instructions  are  placed  in  each  vinery,  so  that  all 
may  read  and  profit  by  them.  So  concise  and 
valuable  are  these  rules  that  I  reproduce  them  for 
the  benefit  of  those  who  have  not  had  the  advantage 
of  studying  an}'  written  remarks  upon  this  all 
important  subject : — 

Take  hold  of  the  bottom  of  bunch  with  the  left 
hand.     Do  not  touch  it  anywhere  else. 

Begin  thinning  at  the  bottom  and  work  upwards. 

Take  out  all  inside  berries,  cross  berries,  and 
small  berries  first. 

The  berries  you  le&ve  should  be  the  big  ones  that 
point  straight  out,  and  the  berries  that  stand  out 
most  are  best. 

The  berries  should  be  left  about  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  apart. 

Do  not  rub  the  bunches  with  your  head  or  any- 
thing else,  because  it  injures  the  bloom  on  the 
berry  and  makes  the  Grapes  look  shiny  when  they 
are  ripe. 

Cut  the  stalks  in  close. 

Keep  your  scissors  clean,  the}'  will  cut  better. 

Do  not  put  your  scissors  through  the  bunch  to 
thin  the  other  side,  you  should  move  round  the 
bunch. 

Always  thin  the  bunches  with  the  biggest  berries 
first.  A.  P.  H. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not  responsible  for  the  opinion^ 
expressed  by  their  correspondents. ) 


VEGETABLE    EXHIBITING. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Uariien  ''] 

SIR, — With  Mr.  Beckett's  aspirations  for  a 
wider  recognition  of  the  importance  of 
vegetables  in  horticulture  I  am  in  full 
sympathy  ;  but  I  do  not  wish  to  see 
created  a  national  vegetable  society,  as 
we  have  too  many  special  societies  now, 
and  they  become  a  very  heavy  burthen  on  horti- 
culturists. \\'hilst  the  provinces,  as  he  has 
shown,  do  so  much  for  vegetables  at  exhibitions, 
Shrewsbury  being  specially  liberal  and  producing 
a  wonderful  display,  I  should  like  to  see  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  exhibiting  more  partiality 
for  them.  A  great  vegetable  competition  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  would  enhance  the  somewhat 
monotonous  attractions  of  the  great  September  fruit 
show.  But  the  Palace  Company,  whilst  willing  to 
have  a  huge  display  of  these  products,  much  of 
dubious  quality  in  August,  will  not  have  them 
otherwise — action  which  seems  rather  inexplicable. 
However,  I  do  not  know  that  our  leading  growers, 
such  as  Mr.  Beckett,  are  anxious  to  go  to  the 
Palace,  but  they  would  I  am  sure  be  immensely 
pleased  if  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  would 
give  them  a  special  field  day  at  the  Drill  Hall 
either  on  September  23  or  October  7. 

I  fear  the  council  looks  askance  at  vegetables  ; 
indeed,  it  is  noteworthy  that  in  its  recom- 
mended list  of  books  for  examination  students, 
not  one  is  included  on  vegetable  culture.  So  far  as 
my  experience  goes  it  will  be  difficult  for  exhibitors 
to  improve  on  their  present  methods  of  staging. 
So  good  are  thej'  now  that  a  collection  of  superior 
vegetables  becomes  a  perfect  and  a  beautiful 
picture.  The  chief  defect  is  found  in  the  practice 
of  cramming  exhibits  too  closely,  and  especially  in 
not  allowing  wide  space  between  each  competing 
collection  in  a  class.  However  pleasing  as  is  gooil 
setting  up,   it  is  quality  which   wins  points,  and 


setting  up  at  the  last  moment  in  a  close  run  gives 
a  deciding  point  or  two.  There  is  far  less 
difl:erence  as  to  what  constitutes  cjuality  in  the 
estimation  of  judges  now  than  used  to  be  the  case. 
They  have  learned  to  realise  that  size  is  far  from 
being  everything.  Exhibitors  also  have  not  been 
slow  to  learn,  and  they  now  seldom  stage  coarse 
products  except  they  be  raw  hands.  As  to  pointing, 
I  fear  it  is  difficult  to  set  up  any  method  which 
shall  take  special  cognisance  of  value  of  one  kind 
of  product  over  another. 

When  a  collection  of  some  six,  nine,  or  twelve 
dishes  is  called  for  the  terms  of  the  class  practi- 
cally put  every  dish  or  kind  on  the  same  footing, 
and  I  think  it  is  fair  it  should  be  so.  A  dish  of 
Turnips  may  be  an  inferior  vegetable  relatively, 
but  it  is  only  good  culture  that  can  secure  them, 
and  in  that  respect  they  are  on  a  par  with  Peas, 
Runner  Beans,  Potatoes,  Tomatoes,  or  Caulifl'iwers. 
Were  only  six  or  nine  kinds  asked  for  no  exhibitor 
would  put  up  Turnips  or  Marrows,  but  when 
twelve  dishes  are  asked  for  then  it  is  the  quality 
of  the  minor  vegetables  which  affects  the  awards. 

As  to  the  actual  cooking  merits  of  diverse 
varieties  of  vegetables,  and  in  none  is  there  any- 
thing like  the  difference  which  exists  in  Potatoes, 
it  would  be  practically  impossible  for  judges  to 
take  into  consideration  what  cannot  be  evidenced 
there  and  then.  Soils  govern  quality  in  Potatoes 
so  much  that  even  were  all  the  dishes  shown  in  a 
competition  of  the  same  variety  the  most  perfect 
and  handsome  dish  may  be  the  worst  to  cook. 
But  it  may  be  the  other  way.  When  a  class  is  for 
so  many  dishes  of  vegetables,  distinct  kinds  with- 
out other  conditions,  then  it  is  evident  that  by  the 
framers  of  the  class  each  dish  is  held  to  be  of  equal 
relative  merit  and  as  such  awards  must  be  made. 

A.  De.vn. 


PROPAGATING  TREE  P.^ilONIES. 
To  THE  Editor  or  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  notice  that  on  page  102  Canon  EUacombe 
mentions  his  Tree  P;eonies  throwing  up  "suckers 
from  the  stock,  which  are  clearly  P.  arborea,  and 
very  different  to  the  scion."  The  same  has 
occurred  in  a  garden  I  often  visit,  where  some 
large  Tree  Piconies,  brought  from  Japan  many 
years  ago,  constantly  throw  up  suckers  of  the 
same  nature  as  the  scion  which  bear  flowers  of  a 
different  tint.  These  plants  are  evidently  grafted 
on  tree  and  not  herbaceous  stock,  and  this, 
curiously  enough,  is  not  the  well-known  type 
P.  Moutau,  but  a  variety  producing  semi-double 
flowers  of  a  rather  unpleasing  rose-purple  tint. 
All  the  bushes  are  grafted  on  the  same  stock, 
which  in  some  cases  has  entirely  supplanted  the 
scion  owing  to  its  not  being  discovered  until  too 
late  that  the  growths  emanated  from  the  stock 
and  not  from  the  scion.  Much  has  been  written 
on  the  folly  of  grafting  the  Tree  Pa-ony  on  the 
herbaceous  P.  albiflora  stock,  but  wliere  this 
censured  practice  has  been  followed,  if  any  shoots 
are  thrown  up  by  the  stock,  which  I  believe  is 
rarely  the  ease,  they  are  easily  distinguished  from 
those  of  the  scion,  whereas  when  the  Tree  P»ony 
stock  is  used  the  similarity  of  form  and  foliage 
renders  this  dilfieult.  S.  W.  FitzhEkbert. 

THE  BOTHY. 

[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — In  reference  to  the  discussion  that  has  been 
taking  place  in  your  valuable  paper,  I  would  like 
to  say  that  I  have  had  several  years  of  bothy  life, 
and  think  the  majority  of  bothies  are  much 
inferior  to  what  might  be  expected,  considering 
what  the  young  gardener  has  to  contend  with. 
In  the  first  place,  I  consider  journeyman  gardeners 
are  about  the  liardest  worked  and  poorest  paid 
young  men  in  the  country,  considering  that  most 
of  them  have  to  work  almost  every  day  in  the 
year,  and  in  several  places  that  I  could  name  from 
6  a.m.  until  G  p.m.  After  a  hard  day's  toil  they 
have  to  betake  themselves  to  the  bolhy  to  spend 
the  evening,  as  in  most  cases  residences  are  some 
distance  from  a  town.  I  quite  agree  with  "  S.  P." 
in  yoiu-  issue  of  February  22  regarding  a  bath- 
room.    I  think  it  is  one  of  the  first  essentials  in  a 


bothy,   where  very  often  in   large  establishments 

one  will  often  find  as  many  as  eight  and  ten  young 
fellows  living  together  and  sometimes  nothing  but 
a  hand  basin  about  1^  feet  in  diameter  and  (i  inches 
deep.  Such  conditions  as  these  I  think  ous;ht  to 
be  remedied,  and  doubtless  would  be  if  brought 
under  the  notice  of  the  employer.  Again,  regarding 
a  woman  to  look  after  the  young  fellows.  There 
are  not  many  men  who,  after  doing  a  day's  work, 
care  to  go  in — after  having  tea,  which  has  to 
be  prepared  by  themselves — and  wash  up  the  day's 
dishes  and  brush  the  floors  and  make  the  beds. 
By  the  time  this  is  finished  one  has  to  go  on  duty 
an'l  then  to  bed.  Life  is  therefore  merely  work 
and  sleep.  E.  J. 

FIBRE  ROOTS  AND  TAP  ROOTS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — "Do  fibre  roots  and  tap  roots  exercise 
different  functions  in  feeding  the  tree ';"  is  a  text 
given  by  "  R.  F.  H.,"  December  21,  to  which  your 
correspondent  "Practice  with  Science''  replies  on 
page  4(i.  To  one  unconversant  with  the  scientific 
aspect  of  gardening  there  is  danger  of  treading  on 
treacherous  ground  when  one  takes  upon  oneself  to 
differ  with  scientific  writers  ;  but,  though  your 
correspondent  converses  so  ably  on  the  subject, 
there  still  to  my  mind  seems  yet  a  problem 
unsolved.  It  is  quite  possible  that  "  R.  F.  H.'' 
has  not  traced  the  tap  roots  to  their  extremity  ;  it 
would  need  some  speculation  as  to  the  probable 
depths  that  would  have  to  be  probed  ere  the 
extremity  of  some  of  the  stronger  thong  roots 
would  be  found,  and  I  am  not  sure  that  any  useful 
purpose  would  be  served  b}'such  a  laborious  under- 
taking. "The  surface  roots  find  themselves,'' 
your  correspondent  says,  "in  a  medium  containing 
abundant  soluble  plant  food,  and,  consequently, 
having  no  need  to  elongate,  produce  abundant 
fibres  to  absorb  the  nourishment  so  close  to  them." 
If  this  is  true,  then  why  do  they  not  remain  near 
the  surface,  which  should  be  so  congenial  to  them  '! 
The  experience  I  have  gained  from  my  own  obser- 
vation is  that  no  matter  how  much  nourishment 
may  be  provided  on  or  near  the  surface  there  is  an 
attraction  in  some  soils  at  least,  if  not  all,  that 
tend  to  draw  the  roots  downward.  An  instance 
occurs  to  my  mind,  as  I  write,  of  a  very  good  fruit  - 
grower  who,  at  one  lime,  had  charge  of  a  moderate- 
sized  private  garden,  well  furnished  with  Cordon 
and  Pyramid  Apples  and  Pear.s.  His  practice  each 
J  ear  was  to  take  a  fourth  of  the  trees  in  hand,  the 
garden  being  intersected  by  paths  dividing  it  into 
four  quarters — these  were  taken  in  rotation.  All 
were  not,  of  course,  treated  to  a  course  of  root 
pruning,  but  there  were  each  year  a  fairly  large 
proportion  that  needed  surgical  aid.  I  have  in  that 
garden  seen  trees,  the  second  year  after  root 
pruning,  with  roots  so  thickly  malted  near  the 
surface  that  digging  with  a  fork  would  be 
impossible,  from  the  toughness  of  the  closely  inter- 
laced r'oots,  yet  these  same  trees,  in  course  of  time, 
again  changed  their  root  habit  and  probed  the  soil 
deeply  with  thongs,  then  producing  leaves  rather 
tlian  fruit.  The  fertility  of  the  surface  was  kept 
up  by  the  annual  manuring,  so  that  tlie  theory  of 
roots  (juitting  the  surface  because  the  surroundings 
were  not  congenial  could  not  apply  in  this  case. 
Many  other  like  cases  could  be  named. 

How  does  "  Practice  with  Science"  reconcile  the 
fact  that — with  trees  having  their  roots  deeply 
burrowing  in  apparently  uncongenial  surroundings, 
and  making  growth  vigorously  and  being  practically 
barren — they  can  become  transformed  into  freely- 
fruited  trees  by  simply  changing  the  course  of 
pruning,  and  without  in  any  way  interfering  wilh 
the  roots  or  their  culture';  1  have,  and  so  probably 
have  many  other  readers  of  The  Garden,  seen 
unpruned  and  vigorous  shoots  become  literally 
roped  with  fine  fruit;  so  much  so  that  supports 
had  to  be  given  to  prevent  them  breaking  under  / 
the  heavy  burden.  It  is  common  knowledge  that 
the  prospective  crop  of  this  }ear  is  already  in  an 
embryo  state,  stored  in  well-ripened  buds,  and  it  is 
yet  possible,  by  cutting  ofi'  vigorous  roots  to  cut 
off  the  crop  too,  from  lack  of  proper  support  from 
the  fewer  active  roots  remaining.  It  is  not  quite 
certain   whether    thorough    drenchings    of    water 


Makch  29.  1902.] 


would  put  right  this  extreme  change  of 
attitude,  but  certain  it  is  that  very  many 
root-pruned  trees  have  to  make  the  best  of 
circumstances  under  the  conditions  so  often 
imposed. 

Fibrous  roots  and  tap  roots  would  seem  to 
exercise  different  functions,  or,  if  they  do 
not  do  this,  they  certainly  have  different 
influences.  Roots  of  a  fibrous  nature  favour 
shorter  growths  and  an  abundance  of  fruit 
spurs ;  tap  roots  produce  a  corresponding 
vigour  of  branch,  which  is  not  allayed  in 
root  pruning  unless  all  are  severed.  Instances 
are  not  wanting  where  trees  have  been 
encircled  with  a  trench  as  deep  as  it  seemed 
necessary,  and  all  ofiending  roots  —  save 
one  —  severed,  this  one  being  accidentally 
left.  The  result,  though  not  invariable,  is 
sometimes  attended  with  an  undiminished 
vigour  the  following  year,  necessitating  the 
repetition  of  the  work  another  winter. 

It  does   not   seem    logical  that  the  water 
absorbed  by  a   fruitful   tree  should    be  rich 
in  food  constituents  while  the  vigorous  tree 
is  fed  only  on  unenriehed  water.     There  is 
evidently  a  much  greater  power  behind  the 
tree  that  is  full  of  vigour  in  branch  and  root 
than   in   one  of   less   vigorous   habit,  but  it 
does   not   appear   clear  what   the   difference 
is  that  causes  two  such  opposing  influences 
in  the  fruitful  and  the  barren  tree.     Trees 
and    shrubs   will   be  found   to  revel  in  soil 
that,  compared  with  that  of   the  cultivated 
garden,  appears  extremely  poor    and  inert, 
and  in  which,  if  vegetables  or  flowers  were 
planted,  would  probably  cause  only  failure. 
Even  grass  and  weeds  refuse  to  grow  in  some 
soils  brought  to  the  surface  from  the  lower 
laj'ers  of  the  earth  in  which  tree  roots  have, 
judging    from     their     luxuriant     condition, 
found   something    they   liked.      Perhaps,    as 
"Practice     with    Science"    remarks,     their 
function   is  "to  pump  up  water  with  what  , 
little    nitrates    it    may  contain,"    but    it    seems 
remarkable    that   when   the   vigour   of   the    trees 
is   acknowledged  it   can  be  said    that  what  they 
do  absorb  must  be  described  as  poor.    In  fruit  trees 
it  is  poor  because  it  is  unprofitable,  not  because 
there  is  an  absence  of  energy.     Bearing  on   this 
there  are  to  my  mind  problems  yet  unsolved. 

W.  Struonell. 


THE    GARDEN. 


213 


HARDY    FRUITS    IN    SEASON. 

Peae  Directeor  Alphand. 
This  fine  stewing  Pear,  which  we  have  now 
the  opportunity  of  illustrating,  was  included 
amongst  desirable  varieties  to  grow  in  the  list 
given  in  our  issue  of  February  lb  by  Mr. 
Thomas,  and  we  here  reproduce  what  was 
then  said  of  it  :  "  This  is  one  of  the  latest  of 
stewing  Pears,  ripening  any  time  between 
March  and  the  end  of  May,  and  for  this  late 
season  is  one  of  the  best.  The  flesh  is  slightly 
tough  in  texture,  but  is  sweet  with  a  pleasant 
aroma  and  pure  white  in  colour."  We  are 
indebted  to  Messrs.  James  Veitch,  Limited, 
Chelsea,  for  an  opportunity  of  figuring  most  of 
our  hardy  fruits  in  season. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

Repotting. 

NO  fixed  date  can  or  should  be  advised 
for  repotting  the  plants  into  5-inch 
or  6-inoh  pots — the  condition  of  the 
plants  should  be  the  guide  as  to  this. 
Nevertheless,  if  all  has  gone  well 
with  them  many  will  by  this  date  be 
quite  ready.  The  secret  of  success  in  the  culture 
of  high-class  Chrysanthemums  is  to  keep  a  watchful 
eye  on  them  and  attend  to  their  various  wants 
at  the  right  moment.  As  soon  as  the  pots  become 
fairly  well  filled  with  roots  no  time  should  be  lost 


PEAR  DIRECTEUR  ALPHAND.      Original  i\  incites  high,  3i  inches  wide.) 


in  making  preparations  for  potting  them  on, 
selecting  all  the  more  robust  for  the  larger  size, 
and,  of  course,  the  weaker  ones  for  the  smaller. 

Preparation  of  the  Compost. 
Too  much  care  can  hardly  be  bestowed  on  this. 
It  is  most  desirable  that  the  mixture  should  be 
prepared  several  days  before  using,  and  turned 
frequently,  so  that  each  ingredient  becomes 
thoroughly  incorporated,  (iood  fibrous  loam  of 
medium  texture  should  form  the  principal  part  for 
this  potting,  choosing  that  which  was  cut  and 
stacked  during  last  autumn.  Use  sufficient  fine 
charcoal,  fine  mortar  rubble,  and  coarse  sand  to 
make  it  porous,  and  to  eveiy  four  bushels  add  a 
6-inch  potful  of  bone-meal,  and  Clay's  or  Smyth's 
Fertilizer.  The  pots  and  drainage  should  be  of  the 
cleanest  and  the  crocks  arranged  carefull}'. 
Select  the  plants  and  the  number  that  can  be 
conveniently  grown  and  attended  to,  a  matter 
which  should  be  well  thought  out,  as  frequentlj' 
the  enthusiastic  cultivator  attempts  to  grow  more 
than  can  be  properly  attended  to  and  cared  for  in 
the  autumn.  Proceed  with  the  potting,  making 
quite  sure  before  that  each  plant  has  been  well 
watered.  It  will  be  necessary  to  remove  carefully 
just  the  largest  of  the  drainage,  doing  as  little 
damage  as  possible  to  the  roots.  Pot  firmly,  note 
that  each  is  correctlj'  labelled,  secure  the  plants  with 
a  neat  stake,  sprinkle  them  over  with  a  tine  rose 
water-can  just  sufficient  to  settle  the  surface  soil. 

Where  to  Grow  the  Plants. 
Choose,  if  possible,  a  southern  aspect,  but  a 
good  open  position,  and  arrange  the  plants  in  cold 
frames,  standing  them  on  boards  or  a  good  bed  of 
cinder  ashes.  Every  inducement  should  be  afforded 
the  plants  to  recover  from  the  slight  check  as 
speedily  as  possible  bj'  keeping  them  close  for  a 
day  or  so,  and  frequently  sprinkling  them  over 
with  tepid  water  on  bright  da3'S.  Should  the 
weather  be  very  bright  a  slight  shading  will  be 
beneficial  for  a  few  hours  during  the  middle  of  the 
day  rather  than  giving  air  too  freely  till  the 
plants  become  established.  After  three  or  four 
days  thoroughly  water  with  a  fine  rose  watering- 
can,  filling  up  the  pots  at   least   three  times  to 


ensure  every  particle  of  the  soil  becoming 
thoroughly  moistened.  Green  and  black  fly  are 
almost  certain  to  attack  the  young  leaves,  but 
these  can  be  easily  kept  in  check  by  dusting  them 
during  the  evening  and  syringing  out  the  following 
morning  ;  this  should  be  repeated  about  every  ten 
days.  Abundance  of  air  should  be  given  as  the 
plants  commence  to  make  new  growth,  especially 
in  mild,  genial  weather.  Remove  the  lights 
entirely  on  such  occasions  ;  when  east  or  north- 
east winds  are  blowing  tilt  the  lights  in  an  opposite 
direction. 

Pompons. 
These  will  not  require  repotting  for  another 
fortnight  or  three  weeks,  but  pinch  out  the  points 
to  induce  them  to  make  several  breaks,  and  the 
same  applies  to  both  early  and  late-flowering  kinds 
for  decorative  purposes. 

Specimen  Plants. 
Pot  on  as  they  require  it,  and  train  out  and 
stop  so  that  the  necessary  number  of  breaks  is 
ensured  as  soon  as  possible.  Cold  frames  will 
answer  well  for  these  now.  Border  varieties,  if 
properly  hardened,  may  now  be  safely  planted 
where  they  are  intended  to  flower.  No  one  having 
a  garden  should  fail  to  cultivate  a  collection  of 
these  charming  autumn-flowering  plants,  as  they 
are  certainly  worthy  of  a  good  position,  and  to 
see  them  at  their  best  a  fairly  wide  border  should 
be  devoted  to  them.  Considering  the  little  attention 
they  require  it  is  indeed  surprising  they  are  not 
more  generally  grown.  "  Exhibitor." 

KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
French  Beans. 
Little  difficulty  should  be  found  in  keeping  up  a 
good  supply  of  these  where  sufficient  glass  is  at 
command.  Whether  they  are  grown  in  pots  or 
planted  out  very  little  fire  ■  heat  will  now  be 
required  during  the  da}'.  Except  when  there  is 
no  sun  thoroughly  syringe  the  foliage  twice  daily 
and  maintain  a  moist  atmosphere  or  red  spider  is 
sure  to  prove  troublesome.  Good  sowings  should 
at  once  be  made  in  boxes  or  small  pots  for  planting 


214 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  29,  190li, 


out  in  cold  pits  or  frames.  These  will  give  good 
returns  until  pickings  can  be  made  from  the  open 
ground.  Canadian  Wonder  and  Ne  Plus  Ultra  are 
both  excellent  and  reliable  kinds  for  this  purpose. 

Tomatoes. 
The  earliest  plants  ought  now  to  be  well  advanced 
and  will  reijuire  to  be  top-dressed  and  liberally 
supplied  with  manure  water  to  ensure  their  finish- 
ing a  good  crop.  Expose  the  fruits  to  the  sun  and 
light  as  much  as  possible,  and  remove  all  surplus 
shoots.  Tomatoes  are  often  badly  infested  with  a 
small  white  fly,  and  when  once  it  becomes  estab- 
lished is  very  diiiicult  to  get  rid  of.  On  first 
appearing  fumigate  seveial  nights  in  succession 
with  XL  All.  One  or  two  applications  are  of  little 
use,  for  many  insects  are  merely  intoxicated  and 
rise  again  the  next  day. 

The  Diseases 
which  frequently'  give  much  trouble  both  in  relation 
to  the  fruit  and  foliage  are  caused  principally  by 
too  moist  and  stagnant  an  atmosphere,  and  as 
prevention  is  much  better  than  cure  every  care 
should  be  taken  to  prevent  its  making  an  appear- 
ance by  a  free  circulation  of  air.  Successional 
plants  should  be  potted  on  as  they  become  ready, 
and  kept  as  sturdy  as  possible.  Sow  at  once  for 
outside  culture  that  good  strong  plants  may  be 
ready  bj'  the  end  of  May. 

Beetroot. 
Small  quantities  of  the  Turnip-rooted  Beet  may 
be  sown  on  warm  borders  for  early  supplies,  but  it 
will  be  necessary  to  aSord  the  young  plants  some 
protection  from  frosts. 

Broccoli. 

The  later  kinds  which  were  layered,  such  as  Late 
Queen,  May  Queen,  and  Model,  should  have  all 
decaying  leaves  removed  and  the  ground  stirred 
deeply  about  them. 

The  earliest  sowings  of  Celery  which  have  been 
pricked  oil  into  boxes  should  be  grown  in  a  genial 
temperature,  so  that  no  check  is  given,  or  in  all 
probability  much  of  it  will  run  to  seed.  Later 
sowings  may  safely  be  pricked  ofl'  when  quite  small, 
either  in  cold  frames  or  on  sheltered  borders,  where 
they  can  be  protected  from  cold  drying  winds  and 
frosts.  The  surface  should  be  dressed  over  with  a 
fine  light  sandy  compost  to  give  the  young  seed- 
lings a  start. 

Late  sowings  of  Leeks  may  be  treated  in  the 
same  way  as  those  of  Celery,  but  those  intended 
for  early  use  should  be  kept  under  glass  another 
fortnight.  E.  Beckett. 

AldenhaiH  House  Garden.^,  Elutree,  Hei-tfi. 

FRUIT   GARDEN. 

Plantini;  Vines. 

In  the  southern  counties  at  least  suitable  varieties 
of  the  Grape  are  well  deserving  of  culture  upon 
walls  or  buildings  having  favourable  aspects.  Not 
only  are  they  useful,  but  also  ornamental,  and  the 
present  is  a  suitable  time  to  plant.  In  doing  this 
it  is  not  necessary  to  make  an  expensive  border, 
for  an  efficiently  drained  good  loamy  soil  broken 
up  about  '2  feet  in  depth,  containing  some  old 
mortar  rubble  or  broken  bricks,  will  answer.  The 
canes  may  be  planted  at  varj'iiig  distances  as  con- 
venient, but  (J  feet  apart  is  suitable  for  a  high 
wall,  which  will  permit  of  three  rods  being  verti- 
cally trained  at  2  feet  apart  from  each  Vine. 
Spread  the  roots  to  their  full  extent  in  the  surface 
soil,  which  make  firm  and  mulch.  The  old  Sweet- 
water is  an  excellent  outdoor  Grape,  and  a  new 
variety  recently  figured  in  The  Garden  named 
Reine  Olga  has  been  highly  recommended. 

Figs. 
These  may  now  be  safely  planted,  and  warm 
sites  upon  walls  that  have  either  south  or  west 
aspects  should  be  chosen  for  the  purpose.  Failure 
wilh  the  Fig  not  unfreijuently  results  from  the 
roots  being  allowed  the  run  of  too  much  space, 
which  causes  exuberant  wood  growth  at  the 
expense  of  fruit.  The  remedy  is  restriction  of 
root  growth,  either  by  pruning  or  a  limited  border. 
The  latter,  although  it  is  the  more  expensive,  is 
nevertheless  the  more  satisfactory  means  to  adopt, 


and  in  carrying  it  out  the  height  of  the  wall  must 
be  taken  into  consideration.  For  a  wall  from 
12  feet  to  15  feet  high,  a  well-drained  border  .5  feet 
in  width  and  2i  feet  in  depth,  composed  of  four 
parts  good  loam  and  one  of  crushed  old  mortar, 
with  the  addition  of  a  little  wood  ashes,  having  a 
root-proof  wall  and  a  concrete  bed,  will  be  suit- 
able. For  planting  preference  should  be  given  to 
young  trees  established  in  pots,  which  should  have 
the  soil  washed  from  their  roots,  the  latter  dis- 
entangled, regularly  spread,  firmly  covered  with 
about  3  inches  of  soil,  and  mulched  with  short 
litter.  White  Marseilles  and  Brown  Turkey  are 
good  hardy  varieties.  The  protecting  material 
should  now  be  removed  from 

Established  Fio  Trees. 
Provided  the  pruning  (which  merely  consists  in 
thinning  out  old  wood  to  afford  young  fruitful 
branches  room  to  develop  their  foliage  and  admit 
the  sun)  was  done  in  the  autumn  immediately  after 
the  leaves  had  fallen,  all  that  now  remains  is  to 
secure  the  branches  to  the  wall.  This  should  be 
neatly  done  by  regularly  distributing  the  principal 
ones  in  fan  shape,  and  as  far  as  practicable  laying 
in  the  young  wood  between  them,  leaving  unyield- 
ing short  ones  in  their  natural  positions.  A  few 
inches  of  the  surface  of  the  borders  should  be 
removed  and  be  replaced  with  fresh  compost, 
enriched  more  or  less  with  chemical  manures. 

T.    COOMBER. 
The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 

THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

Nemesia  strbmosa  Suttoni. 

with  its  profusion  of  Linaria-like  blossoms  and 
graceful  habit,  is  such  a  delightful  hardy  annual 
and  so  simple  in  its  culture  that  it  is  impossible  to 
use  it  too  Ireely.  I  find  it  singularly  well  adapted 
for  growing  in  shallow  flat  vases  or  decorated  boxes 
for  placing  on  low  walls  and  terrace  balustrades, 
where,  if  the  vases  are  filled  each  with  a  distinct 
colour,  they  are  decidedly  effective.  Nemesia 
struniosa  Suttoni  nana  compacta  is  similar  to  the 
above,  but  the  flowers  are  smaller,  and,  as  its  name 
denotes,  is  more  compact  in  habit.  So  far  it  is 
impossible  to  get  it  in  other  than  mixed  colours, 
but  thaj'  are  of  lovely  shades,  and  look  equally 
pleasing  in  vases.  The  seed  may  be  sown  almost 
any  month  of  the  year,  but  the  present  is  a  good 
time  to  sow  to  have  the  plants  in  flower  duiing 

May  and  .Iune. 
If  sown  in  light  sandy  soil  and  placed  in  gentle 
heat  they  quickly  germinate.  When  strong  enough 
after  being  hardened  by  being  removed  to  cool 
frames  the  seedlings  should  be  pricked  off  into  the 
vases  or  boxes  in  which  it  is  intended  to  flower 
them,  using  a  good  rich  compost  of  loam,  leaf- 
mould,  and  cow  manure,  and  allowing  2  inches 
between  each  plant.  They  remain  in  flower  for  a 
long  time,  and  are  exceedingly  attractive.  For 
small  beds  the  Nemesias  are  also  equally  useful. 
Another  splendid  subject  for  flat  shallow  vases  is 

The  Portulaca, 
which  can  also  be  kept  in  distinct  colours,  and  as 
some  are  very  brilliant  an  excellent  display  is 
produced.  Terra-cotta  vases,  3  inches  to  4  inches 
in  depth,  and  filled  with  very  sandy,  light  soil,  suit 
the  Portulaca,  and  the  best  plan  is  to  sow  lightly 
into  the  vases  where  the  seedlings  are  to  remain. 
Thin  out  afterwards,  though  tlie  seedlings  trans- 
plant readily  enough.  Once  placed  in  the  warm 
sun  on  the  walls  of  the  terraces  they  grow  and 
flower  very  rapidly,  and  remain  effective  through- 
out the  summer.  The  end  of  April  is  soon  enough 
to  sow  the  seed  in  the  borders,  and  even  then  it  is 
advisable  to  make  raised  beds  of  sand  for  them. 
If  this  is  done  they  will  sow  themselves  year  after 
year  without  requiring  further  attention  other  than 
thinning.  The  hotter  and  drier  the  season  the 
better  will  they  thrive  ;  for  any  dry  portion  of  a 
bank  nothing  could  be  nicer  than  the  Portulaca. 

Mentha  Reijuieni, 
a  small   creeping  plant  thickly   set   with   minute, 
dense  foliage,  with  a  delightlul  peppermint  odour, 
and  one  very  easily  propagated  by  breaking  it  up 


into  small  pieces  and  inserting  them  in  boxes  of 
leaf-mould,  is  a  plant  that  I  am  freely  using  for 
growing  in  the  chinks  of  steps  and  in  the  cracks  of 
the  stones  on  the  paved  walks  of  the  garden. 
Together  with  tufts  of  Moss,  small  Ferns,  and 
Linarias  it  gives  a  pleasing  effect  to  the  stone 
walks,  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  fill  up  the  chinks 
between  the  paving  with  leaf-mould  to  cause  it  to 
spread  rapidly.  Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 

Caj<tk'  Gardens,  Si.  Farjans. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Gloxinias. 

Tubers  started  now  should  not  be  grown  in 
too  much  heat,  but  affirded  an  intermediate 
temperature  with  a  fair  amount  of  shade.  Such 
plants  bloom  well,  and  the  flowers  are  brighter 
than  those  produced  in  a  higher  temperature. 
Dryness  at  the  root  or  in  the  air  is  most  injurious, 
therefore  a  moist  atmosphere  should  be  maintained 
during  the  time  the  plants  are  growing ;  avoid 
overhead  syringings.  Air  must  be  carefully 
admitted  without  causing  a  draught,  which  is 
very  hurtful. 

ACHIMENES. 

Successional  batches  of  these  should  be  started. 
Planted  in  baskets  Achimenes  form  lovely  and 
effective  plants.  The  baskets  should  be  lined 
inside  with  fresh  spliagnum  moss,  and  beginning 
at  the  bottom  insert  through  the  wirework  the 
little  tubers.  When  the  growth  is  1  inch  or 
2  inches  in  length  place  them  in  tiers  at  a  distance 
of  about  3  inches  apart,  filling  in  the  soil  as  the  woik 
proceeds,  and  finish  by  filling  up  the  centre  with 
strong  plants.  Aft'ord  sufficient  water  to  thoroughly 
moisten  the  soil,  and  hang  them  up  in  a  warm, 
moist  temperature,  syringing  them  daily.  When 
established,  an  occasional  watering  with  weak 
liquid  manure  will  be  found  very  beneficial. 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  is  another  beautiful 
plant  for  baskets,  and  may  be  treated  similarly  to 
the  above.  For  filling  baskets  for  the  greenhouse 
the  Ivy-leaved  Pelargonium,  Campanula  isophylla. 
Fuchsias,  Torenias,  and  Trop;eolum  Vesuvius  are 
all  useful.  Coleuses  that  are  well-rooted  in  their 
pots  should  be  transferred  to  larger  ones  ;  the 
compost  used  should  consist  of  turfy  loam  three 
parts,  leaf-mould  one  part,  with  charcoal  and  sand 
added.  Keep  the  plants  near  the  glass,  and  well 
expose  them  to  the  sun  to  produce  a  rich  colour 
in  their  leaves. 

Balsams. 

Seeds  should  be  sown  now  in  small  pots,  thinning 
out  the  seedlings  to  one  per  pot,  and  shifting 
them  on  as  the  roots  reach  the  sides  of  the 
pots,  until  placed  in  their  flowering  pots.  They 
should  be  kept  near  the  glass  whilst  growing,  and 
given  a  moist  atmosphere.  A  very  rich  compost 
should  be  given  them  and  plenty  of  drainage 
allowed,  as  they  require  a  large  amount  of  water, 
with  occasional  doses  of  liquid  manure,  when 
established  in  their  flowering  pots.  Show,  fancy, 
and  decorative  Pelargoniums  that  are  coming  into 
flower  should  be  neatly  staked  and  tied  down  and 
shaded  from  sunshine,  aftbrding  plenty  of  air. 
Give  them  Clay's  and  soot  water  oocasionallj'. 

These  Pelargoniums  are  especially  apt  in  all 
stages  of  their  grow  th  to  suffer  from  green  fly. 
Fumigation  is  a  certain  cure,  but  is  best  used  as  a 
preventive.  John  Fleming. 

Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Sloiiijh. 

ORCHIDS. 

Manv  plants  are  now  showing  signs  of  renewed 
activity,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  hurry  them 
too  quickly  through  maintaining  a  high  tem- 
perature, yet  a  rise  of  a  few  degrees  may  now 
be  given  with  advantage.  The  following  tempera- 
tures should  now  lie  maintained ;  Phala;nopsis 
house,  70°  by  night  and  7.")°  by  day  ;  stove  and 
warm  Cypripedium  houses.  Bo"  to  70'*  night  and 
70°  to  7o°  day  ;  Cattleya  house,  G5°  night  and 
70°  day ;  Dendrobium  house,  65°  to  70'^  night 
and  70°  to  75°  day  ;  Mexican  house,  60°  night 
and  70°  day  ;  cool  intermediate  house,  55°  night 
and  60°  day  ;  cool  houses,  50°  to  55°  night  and 
55°   to   60°   day,    rising    above    these   figures   by 


March  29,  1902.] 


THE    GAliDEN. 


215 


sun-heat.  Wilh  increased  temperature,  conibined 
with  a  greater  amount  of  sunlight,  more  moisture 
in  the  atmosphere  will  be  needed. 

SUADIN(!. 

This  will  now  require  careful  attention.  Never 
allow  the  blinds  to  remain  down  a  minute  longer 
than  is  really  necessary.  Such  plants  asPhahenopsis, 
BoUeas,  Batemannias,  Pescatoreas,  Oypripediuras, 
Masdevallias,  and  Odontoglossums  are  quickly 
injured  by  loo  much  sunlight,  yet  a  little  morning 
and  afternoon  sun  in  early  spring  and  late 
autumn  when  not  very  powerful  is  beneficial  even 
to  these.  Cattleyas  and  La::lias  enjoy  a  greater 
amount  of  sunlight,  but  this  must  not  be  carried  to 
excess,  for  it  soon  causes  the  leaves  to  turn  3-ellow. 
Lfelia  anceps  and  Deudrobiums  need  all  the  sunlight 
now  obtainable. 

'    Ventilating. 

On  all  favourable  occasions  air  should  be  freely 
admitted  by  the  lower  ventilators  to  the  cool 
and  cool  intermediate  houses,  but  the  cultivator 
must  not  be  templed  to  admit  air  too  freely  to  the 
warm  houses,  for  cold  winds  and  bright  sunshine 
at  this  season  often  come  together  and  cause  the 
temperatures  to  rise  far  above  those  specified. 
Sudden  changes  of  temperature  caused  by  improper 
ventilation  soon  show  their  evil  effect  on  warmth- 
loving  plants. 

Watering. 

During  the  early  spring  months  watering  needs 
great  care,  as  much  so  as  at  any  season  of  the 
year.  Many  plants  then  commence  to  grow,  but 
these  should  by  no  means  be  watered  too  freely. 
This  applies  to  bulbous  plants  generally,  and 
Dendrobiums  in  particular.  The  young  growths 
.when  2  inches  or  3  inches  long  are  very  tender,  and 
owing  to  lack  of  sunlight  very  sappy.  If,  there- 
fore, water  is  applied  to  the  roots  too  freely,  or 
the  atmosphere  around  them  kept  too  moist,  they 
are  apt  to  decay,  or,  as  it  is  generally  termed, 
"damp  off." 

REroTTiNG  Cattleyas. 

Cattleyas,  like  most  Orchids,  must  be  disturbed 
at  the  root  as  little  as  possible,  at  the  same  time 
always  keep  them  in  a  good,  sweet  compost,  and 
within  bounds  of  their  receptacles.  Cattleya 
Warneri  and  Cattleya  schilleriana  begin  to  grow 
early  in  the  year ;  the  same  are  now  growing 
freely,  and  both  should  receive  a  moderate  supply 
of  water  at  the  root.  C.  Warneri  should  remain 
at  the  warmest  end  of  the  Cattlej'a  house,  and 
0.  schilleriana  at  the  warmest  part  of  the  stove 
until  growth  has  finished. 

Cattleya  gigas,  C.  gaskelliana,  and  C.  labiata  are 
now  beginning  to  grow,  and  stiould  be  repotted 
or  top-dressed.  Those  that  need  repotting  should 
be  turned  carefully  out  of  their  pots  or  pans,  and 
in  the  case  of  valuable  varieties  it  is  best  to  break 
their  receptacle  rather  than  injure  the  roots. 
Those  grown  in  baskets  are  more  difficult  to 
liberate.  The  suspending  wire  should  be  removed, 
the  pins  of  the  baskets  cut,  and  the  bars  carefully 
removed  one  by  one.  When  this  is  done  earefuUj' 
remove  all  sour  material  and  cut  away  all  dead 
and.  decaying  roots  and  any  back  bulbs  that  are 
old  and  shrivelled  (if  the  plant  is  a  valuable 
one  these  bulbs  should  not  be  cut  away). 
Prepare  clean  pots  of  sufficient  size  to  allow  the 
plants  to  grow  on  at  least  two  years  without 
being  disturbed.  Lay  one  large  crock  at  the 
bottom  of  the  pot,  and  so  place  the  plant  that 
the  back  bulb  touches  the  side  of  the  pot  and  the 
base  of  the  plant  is  level  with  the  rim.  Carefully 
work  in  the  crocks  among  the  roots,  filling  up  to 
within  '2  inches  of  the  rim,  and  over  the  crocks 
place  a  thin  layer  of  moss,  filling  up  the  remaining 
space  level  with  the  base  of  the  plants  with  equal 
proportions  of  peat  and  sphagnum  moss,  pressing 
the  same  moderately  firm,  and  trim  off  neatlj'. 
Plants  repotted  should  be  sparingly  watered  until 
the  growths  are  well  advanced  and  the  roots 
established  in  the  fresh  material.  Cattleya  gigas 
is  best  grown  suspended  at  the  warmest  part  of 
the  Cattleya  house,  or  placed  on  a  stage  which 
will  admit  of  its  being  in  a  similar  position. 
C.  labiata  and  C.  gaskelliana  thrive  well  under 
ordinary  Cattle3'a  house  treatment. 

F.  W.  Thukgood. 

JRosslyn  Gardens,  Stamford  Hill,  N'. 


THE  ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY  AND  ITS  NEW 
HALL. 

Ox  Friday  last,  the  21st  inst. ,  a  specially  convened 
general  meeting  of  the  Fellows  of  this  society  was 
held  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Uate,  West- 
minster, for  the  purpose  of  receiving  a  report 
presented  by  the  council  (and  consisting  of  the 
report  of  a  committee  to  the  council,  and  of  a 
memorandum  of  the  council)  with  reference  to  a 
proposed  new  horticultural  hall,  and  to  consider  a 
motion  in  support  of  this.  In  our  issue  of  the 
1.1th  inst.,  page  l(i9,  the  report  and  memorandum 
were  printed  in  full,  so  that  it  is  unnecessary  to 
here  reproduce  them.  The  members  of  council 
present  weie  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart,  (presi- 
dent), the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  Captain  Holford, 
Messrs.  Harry  .J.  Veitch,  Frederick  Lloyd,  W. 
Marshall,  .J.  Hudson,  H.  B.  May,  and  Rev.  W. 
Wilks  (secretarj').  The  number  of  persons  present 
was  about  250,  and  amongst  them  were  Dean 
Hole,  Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer,  Sir  Michael 
Foster,  M.P.,  Sir  Alexander  Arbuthnot,  Sir 
Frederick  Wigan,  Bart.,  Messrs.  C.  E.  Shea  and 
Bennett-Poe. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  general  meeting  and 
the  notice  convening  the  present  meeting  having 
been  read  by  the  secretary.  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence 
rose  to  speak.  Sir  Trevor  said  that  he  had  an 
important  motion  to  propose,  a  task  that  he 
approached  with  a  proper  sense  of  responsibility, 
but  would  first  make  a  few  introductory  remarks. 
Up  to  the  present  juncture  the  action  of  the 
Fellows  of  the  society  had  been  practically 
unanimous.  It  was  impossible  in  so  large  a  society 
that  such  should  invariably  be  the  case,  but  a 
differenceof  opinion  was  not  at  all  incompatible  with 
an  earnest  desire  for  the  welfare  of  the  society.  He 
did  not  anticipate  any  heated  discussion,  and  he 
thought  they  might  perhaps  set  an  example  to 
an  august  body  that  meets  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood.  The  centenary  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  was  a  great  occasion, 
and  many  of  those  present  would  like  to  see  this 
occasion  suitably  celebrated.  As  the  society  has 
grown  in  numbers,  so  also  has  it  grown  in  repute. 
Altliough  the  general  policy  of  such  a  society  as 
theirs  must  be  submitted  to  a  general  meeting  of 
the  Fellows,  yet  the  details  must  be  left  to  the 
executive,  I.e.,  the  council.  Many  of  the  Fellows 
consider  that  either  of  the  alternative  schemes 
before  them  to-daj'  is  desirable,  but  they  cannot 
possibly  have  both  a  garden  and  a  hall.  To  which 
of  the  two  shall  prioritj'  be  given  '!  My  own  opinion 
and  also  that  of  several  olher  members  of  council, 
is  that  looking  at  the  history  of  the  society,  its 
good  reputation,  and  the  ever-increasing  interest  in 
horticulture,  it  will  possess  a  hall  and  a  garden 
before  the  present  cenlury  has  passed  its  )'outh. 
Are  there  weighty  reasons  that  priority  be  given  to 
the  hall  scheme  ?  I  venture  to  think  there  are.  It 
has  long  been  felt  that  this  Drill  Hall  is  but  a 
makeshift.  The  light  is  very  bad,  it  is  draughty, 
noisy,  and  inconvenient  for  the  holding  of  lectures, 
and  the  society  has  entirely  outgrown  the  accom- 
modation here  provided.  Now  we  have  had  offered 
to  us  a  suitable  site  within  four  hundred  yards  of 
Victoria  Street  (here  Sir  Trevor  pointed  out  on 
the  large  map  behind  him  the  exact  site  and 
approaches.  These  may  be  followed  upon  the  sketch 
plan  of  the  site  and  the  vicinity  that  we  herewith 
reproduce).  There  had  lately  been  a  great  increase 
of  Fellows,  900  last  year  and  already  over  300  this 
year.  This  had  entailed  a  great  increase  of  office 
work,  and  it  was  now  impossible  to  carry  on  the 
latter  at  the  society's  office  in  Victoria  Street. 
The  motion  lie  has  to  propose  will  be  to  provide  a 
new  hall.  This  it  is  hoped  will  attract  more 
Fellows  ;  proper  accommodation  for  the  holding  of 
the  exhibitions,  lectures,  for  council  rooms,  library, 
&c.,  will  advance  the  interests  of  the  society. 
They  had  already  received  promises  (entirely 
voluntary)  of  £8,000.  Sir  Trevor  then  proceeded 
to  detail  the  arguments  in  favour  of  a  new  garden. 
The  Chiswick  garden,  he  said,  has  practically  ceased 
to  be  suitable  for  a  garden  The  dryness  of  the 
soil  has  been  much  increased  by  the  continual 
building  operations  taking  place  around.     No  one 


disputes  the  statement  that  the  Roj'al  Horticul- 
tural Society  should  have  a  good  garden  in  which 
to  conduct  scientific,  experimental,  and  practical 
work.  Still  for  another  twenty  years  they  have 
Chiswick,  and  they  had  recently  learned  that  the 
surrender  value  of  the  lease  is  a  much  less  valuable 
asset  than  they  had  believed.  Exhaustive  enquiries 
made  had  shown  the  great  difficulty  in  obtaining 
a  convenient  and  suitable  site  for  a  garden  near 
London.  He  thought  the  balance  of  the  advantages 
was  in  favour  of  a  hall.  Sir  Trevor  then  referred 
to  Baron  Schrwderand  the  consistent  and  valuable 
support  be  had  always  given  to  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Societj'.  Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer  and 
Sir  Michael  Foster  ha3  also  worked  hard  for  the 
society  in  its  South  Kensington  days.  A  year  ago 
Baron  Schro'der  asked  for  a  committee  to  consider 
the  question  of  a  new  hall.  He  devoted  himself  to 
matters  of  finance  connected  with  it,  and  personally 
inspected  several  sites.  He  thought  so  highly  of 
that  in  Vincent  Square  that  he  acquired  it  rather 
than  it  should  be  lost.  Baron  Schr<i'der  has 
promised  £5,000  to  the  building  fund  of  the 
new  hall  if  this  site  is  accepted.  Sir  Trevor  went 
on  to  say  that  financial  and  structural  details 
could  not  be  discussed  at  a  general  meeting. 
The  plans  and  estimates  were  not  \et  ready.  The 
council  proposed  to  act  as  follows :  To  ask  for  a 
sum  of  £25,000  from  Fellows  and  their  friends. 
Messrs.  H,  J.  Elwes,  Sutton,  and  N.  N.  Sherwood 
had  each  promised  £1,000.  The  council  would 
confidently  appeal  to  the  Fellows  to  raise  this  sum. 
They  do  not  wish  to  draw  upon  the  invested  funds 
of  the  society,  and  it  was  thought  that  the 
expenses  would  be  defrayed  from  the  income. 
Some  of  the  latter  would,  it  was  hoped,  be  obtained 
by  letting  the  hall.  Sir  Trevor  read  a  letter  from 
Baron  Schr(.eder,  who  is  at  present  in  the  Riviera, 
regretting  his  inability  to  be  present,  and  trusting 
the  Fellows  would  approve  of  what  had  been  done 
and  raise  the  necessary  funds.  '■  He  had  subscribed 
towards  the  fund  from  his  great  interest  in  horti- 
culture and  love  for  the  society.  It  was  unworthy 
of  them  to  remain  longer  at  the  Drill  Hall.  They 
would  probably  have  an  opportunity  of  using 
Vincent  Square  for  their  spring  exhibitions  if  the 
Temple  Gardens  should  fail  them."  Sir  Trevor 
then  put  to  the  meeting  the  following  motion  : 
"That  the  Fellews  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  in  general  meeting  assembled  accept  the 
principle  of  building  a  new  hall  in  celebration  of 
the  centenary  of  the  society,  and  hereb3'  adopt  the 
report  laid  before  them  this  day  by  the  council. 
The}'  also  desire  to  record  their  approval  of  Baron 
Schri-vder's  public  spirited  conduct  in  securing  a 
site,  which  they  heartily  adopt,  and  hereby 
authorise  the  council  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
to  enable  the  building  to  be  opened  in  the  year 
1904.'' 

Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer,  K.C.M.G.,  seconded 
the  motion,  and  said  that  he  had  great  pleasure  in 
doing  so.  He  had  long  looked  forward  to  this  day, 
ever  since  thirteen  years  ago  when  they  were  turned 
out  of  South  Kensington.  Since  leaving  this  latter 
place  a  new  policy  had  been  adopted,  and  had 
proved  to  be  a  great  success.  To-day  they  were 
asked  to  realise  the  position  of  the  society,  and  to 
show  the  public  what  the  horticultural  community 
really  is.  The  society  has  devoted  itself  entirely 
to  the  cause  of  horticulture,  it  has  not  continuously 
needed  theHorse  Guards'  band  as  an  accompaniment 
to  the  study  and  appreciation  of  flowers.  It  has 
been  so  nobly  supported  in  its  endeavours  that  now 
it  is  in  a  position  that  even  the  most  sanguine 
never  expected  to  see  it.  Now  we  should  have 
adequate  and  suitable  accommodation  for  the  hold- 
ing of  shows,  meetings,  lectures,  for  the  official 
staff,  library,  &c.  When  the  Drill  Hall  was  first 
taken  a  temporary  agreement  onlj'  was  entered 
into.  Sir  William  then  referred  to  a  visit  paid  by 
the  King  (then  Prince  of  Wales)  to  their  first 
Temple  show,  and  the  remarks  then  made  by  His 
Majesty.  "I  sincerely  hope  that  your  labours  maybe 
successful,  for  I  feel  sure  a  hall  would  be  of  great 
advantage."  May  we  not  now  re-echo  those  words? 
The  advantages  of  a  meeting  place,  now  served  by 
the  Drill  Hall,  where  one  could  see  everything  new 
in  the  horticultural  world,  and  that  proved  such 
an  important  business  centre  were  immense.     He 


216 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  29,  1902. 


I     Westminster 


PLAX   SHOWING   SITE   OF   PROPOSED   XEW   HAI.I^  OF  THE   ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 


appealed  to  them  to  support  the  policy  of  the 
council.  Sir  William  smphasised  the  references  to 
the  support  given  by  Baron  SchriL'der,  and  went  on 
to  sa}'  that  the  reserve  fund,  at  his  instigation,  was 
instituted  with  the  object  of  using  it  for  the  pur- 
pose of  providing  a  hall.  Although  it  was  far 
better  to  leave  the  reserve  fund  alone  if  possible, 
the  above  was  the  reason  of  its  inception. 

Mr.  C.  E.  Shea  then  rose  to  propose  the  follow- 
ing amendment  to  the  motion  already  given  by 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence:  "That  this  meeting  be 
adjourned  to  this  day  fortnight,  at  the  same  time 
and  place  if  possible,  and  that  in  the  meantime  i 
copies  of  the  report  be  sent  to  all  Fellows."  Mr. 
Shea  said  that  he  supported  the  council  in  their 
previous  scheme  for  a  new  garden,  and  that  now 
he  was  not  prepared  to  agree  with  what  was  placed 
before  them  to-day.  Look  before  3'ou  leap.  It 
was  impossible  to  obtain  the  opinions  of  the  Fellows 
unless  all  were  appealed  to.  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence 
had  formerly  spoken  in  favour  of  a  new  garden 
with  equal  eloijuence  as  he  had  to-day  advocated  a 
new  hall.  He  (Mr.  Shea)  would  like  to  know  that 
the  step  being  taken  was  taken  with  the  clear 
knowledge  and  approval  of  the  Fellows.  He  had 
reluctantly  resigned  his  seat  on  the  council  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  because  he  felt  that 
he  could  consistentlj-  no  longer  retain  it.  The 
question  before  them  to-day  was  said  to  be  that 
of  the  hall  alone,  but  let  them  see  that  in  creating 
a  hall  they  did  not  destroy  the  prospect  of  the 
garden.  The  society's  position  had  been  declared 
to  be  so  flourishing  as  to  cause  them  almost  to 
ignore  financial  considerations.  The  present  Drill 
Hall  and  the  society's  Journal  had  done  much  to 
build  up  their  present  success.  Mr.  Shea  went  on 
to  point  out  that  the  annual  increased  expenditure 
would  be  about  £  1,0(10,  and  he  asked,  Can  you 
be  sure  that  you  will  not  be  compelled  to  encroach 
upon  the  investments  ?  The  matter  resolves  itself 
into  the  question  of  a  garden  or  a  hall.  A  year 
ago  the  council  said  a  garden  was  necessary.  Let 
the  Fellows  of  the  societ}'  be  consulted  and  speak 
for  themselves.  Those  not  present  ate  likely  in 
the  future  to  be  discontented.  Go  safely  forward. 
Let  the  matter  be  adjourned  and  carefuUv  con- 
sidered. He  had  discharged  what  he  thought  to 
be  his  duty  on  retiring  from  the  council  in  bringing 
this  amendment  before  the  Fellows  of  the  society. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Bennett-Poe  seconded  the  amendment. 
He  had  felt  constrained  to  resign  his  seat  on  the 
council  because  he  had  no  assurance  of  this  matter 
being  placed  Ijefore  all  the  Fellows.  The  bye-laws 
provide  that  the  whole  body  of  Fellows  should  be 
consulted  upon  important  items  of  expenditure. 

Sir  Alexander  Arbuthnot  thought  the  amendment 


a  most  reasonable  one,  and  he  should  characterise 
its  rejection  as  an  act  of  great  unwisdom.  The 
great  body  of  Fellows  have  no  practical  informa- 
tion as  to  the  details  of  this  measure — it  was  a  leap 
in  the  dark.  He  did  not  see  how  the  meeting 
could  reject  this  verv  moderate  amendment.  It 
was  very  important  that  all  should  know  more 
fully  how  matters  stand.  He  spoke  with  great 
hesitation  against  the  council,  but  thought  in  this 
case  a  pause  was  reciuired  to  weigh  facts  that 
should  be  better  known. 

Sir  Michael  Foster  hoped  the  amendment  would 
not  be  pressed.  He  thought  those  not  there  were 
entirely  responsible  for  their  absence.  The  sending 
out  of  papers  was  not  a  good  way  of  ascertaining 
the  opinions  of  Fellows.  Those  present  were  those 
most  interested.  Was  this  matter  not  3'et  ripe  for 
action?  Why  postpone  it  for  a  fortnight?  Ever 
since  leaving  South  Kensington  the  society  had 
been  looking  for  a  hall.  A  good  hall  was  the  very 
thing  to  make  the  society  more  prosperous,  and  so 
enable  them  to  have  a  garden  also.  One  of  the 
duties  of  this  society  is  to  carry  out  experiments 
in  its  own  garden.  Perhaps  even  more  important, 
however,  than  its  scientitic  aspect  was  the  oppor- 
tunity afforded  of  seeing  new  flowers,  fruits,  and 
vegetables,  for  it  is  thus  that  it  appeals  to  the 
public.  Baron  Sehrreder's  oft'er  should  undoubtedly 
be  accepted. 

Dr.  Maxwell  Masters  said  they  must  wait  for  a 
garden.  They  were  at  present  only  in  lodgings, 
and  all  lodgers  hoped  at  some  time  to  have  a  house 
of  their  own.  When  they  possessed  the  house  then 
a  garden  would  be  wanted.  He  trusted  Messrs. 
Shea  and  Bennett-Poe  would  see  their  wa}'  to 
return  to  the  council.  The  splendid  present  oppor- 
tunitj'  of  acquiring  a  site  would  not  be  likely  to 
recur,  and  the  society  should  not  miss  it.  Surgeon- 
Major  Ince  could  not  support  the  amendment. 

Mr.  George  Gordon  said  he  heartily  supported 
the  moderate  amendment.  He  thought  they 
should  have  definite  statements  with  regard  to 
the  financial  aspect  of  the  question. 

A  Member  from  the  country  (whose  name  was 
not  given)  knew  nothing  of  the  particulars,  and 
thought  the  council  would  surely  want  country 
members  to  know  all  about  the  new  scheme.  They 
should  not  consider  the  amendment  hostile. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Sutton  thought  those  who  came  to 
the  shows  were  the  best  supporters  of  the  society, 
and  considered  the  present  meeting  qualified  to 
vote.  It  would  be  a  mistake  to  refer  tlie  matter 
to  all  the  Fellows ;  many  knowing  nothing  of  the 
ins  and  outs  of  the  scheme  might  swamp  the 
motion.     He  supported  the  motion. 

Dean  Hole  hoped  that  the  Fellows  would  not  lose 


this  grand  opportunity.  He  was  sure  that  the 
acceptance  of  the  resolution  before  them  would 
tend  to  the  improvement  of  the  society.  The 
Dean  remarked  that  to  look  before  you  leap  was 
not  always  wise.  He  had  been  a  fox-hunter,  and 
knew  that  if  you  did  you  often  would  never  see  the 
hounds  again.  You  have  a  good  horse,  put  him 
to  the  fence. 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  then  put  to  the  meeting 
Mr.  Shea's  amendment,  which  was  lost  by  a  large 
majority.  The  original  motion  was  then  put,  and 
was  carried  almost  unanimously. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  closed  the 
proceedings. 


SOCIETIES. 

HIGHGATE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
On  several  occasions  within  recent  years  it  has  been 
rumoured  that  this  old  society  had  finished  its  course  of 
usefulness.  It  is  all  the  more  pleasing  therefore  to  report 
that  the  society  has  taken  a  new  lease  of  life.  Mr.  E.  Chitty, 
who  has  acted  as  secretary  for  some  years,  resigned  his  office 
at  the  last  annual  general  meeting,  but  the  executive  com- 
raittC3  have  been  fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of  a 
youuiier  man  for  the  post,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  new 
secretary,  supported  by  a  good  committee,  will  infuse  new 
life  into  this  excellent  institution.  It  is  now  reported 
that  the  forty-third  annual  exhibition  will  beheld  atParkfleld, 
Highgate,  in  July  next,  Mr,  Walter  Scrinigeour  havingkindly 
consented  to  place  his  beautiful  grounds  at  the  disposal  of 
the  society.  Like  many  other  suburban  horticultural 
societies,  the  inroads  made  by  the  modern  builder  into  the 
limited  number  of  beautiful  gardens  which  were  available  at 
onetime,  makes  it  increasingly  difficult  tutiud  proper  accom- 
modation for  an  exhibition  of  the  kind  this  society  is  in  the 
habit  of  holding. 


READING  AND  DISTRICT  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 
A  VEKV  pleasant  evening  was  provided  at  the  last  meeting 
of  the  above  association  hy  air.  A  Wright,  of  Bucklebury 
Place  Gardens,  Woolhampton,  on  "A  lierkshire  Garden; 
How  it  was  Laid  Out  and  Planted,"  which  he  illustrated  by 
over  forty  lantern  views,  prepared  from  photographs  taken 
by  himself  at  different  periods  of  the  formation  of  the 
garden.  An  interesting  discussion  followed,  in  which  the 
president  (Mr.  Leonard  Sutton),  Messrs.  Stanton,  Neve, 
Exler,  Lees,  Fry,  Powell,  and  Judd  took  part.  The  exhibits 
were  exceedingly  good,  the  honorary  ones  being  staged  by 
Mr.  Townsend,  Sandhurst  Lodge  Gardens  (a  collection  of 
twenty  -  two  varieties  of  Helleborus  and  three  varieties 
<>f  Iris  stylosa);  filr.  F.  Bright,  AVhiteknights  (a  group  of 
splendidly-grown  Freesias);  Mr.  Alexander,  The  Gardens, 
St.  Marys  Hill  (Cyclamen)  ;  whilst  Mr.  F.  Lever,  The 
Gardens,  Hillside,  staged  a  collection  of  Violets  for  the  , 
society's  certificate,  which  was  awarded  him  by  the  judges. 
Five  new  members  were  elected. 


BRISTOL  AND  DISTRICT  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 
This  association  held  its  meeting  at  St.  John's  Rooms  on 
Thursday,  the  13th  inst.,  when  Mr.  Daniels,  of  the  Newport 
Gardeners'  Association,  gave  a  paper  on  the  "Cultivation  of 
the  Cineraria, "  and,  under  the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  A.  J. 
HancocK,  a  very  instructive  and  enjoyable  evening  was  spent. 
Judging  from  the  discussion  which  followed  -Mr.  Daniels' 
address  it  was  obvious  that  the  Cineraria  is  very  much  in 
favour  with  the  gardening  fraternity  of  the  district,  and  as 
the  essayist  remarked  it  was  deservedly  popular  on  account 
of  its  free-blooming  (lualities,  making  it  an  indispensable 
plant  for  conservatory  and  house  decoration,  esprcially  the 
new  type.  Cineraria  stellata,  which  is  extremely  floriferous 
and  most  useful  for  cutting.  Since  1777  the  Cineraria  has 
undergone  many  improvements,  and,  tlianks  to  our  horti- 
culturists, has  now  reached  perfection,  both  as  regards 
colour  and  size  of  bloom,  and  no  greenhouse  is  complete 
without  a  few  plants  of  this  useful  plant.  Mr.  Daniels 
gave  his  experience  and  mode  of  culture  in  a  clear  and 
concise  manner,  the  best  composts,  feeding,  and  general 
treatment  being  described  in  a  practical  way.  Insect  pests» 
he  remarked,  did  not  forget  the  Cineraria,  and  he  gave  many 
useful  hints  for  their  eradication.  His  paper  wai  a  worthy 
one,  the  audience  appreciative,  and  the  Newport  Association 
is  to  be  cougratulated  in  having  such  a  member  as  Mr. 
Daniels.  He  was  accorded  the  best  thanks  of  the  meeting 
for  his  paper.  Prizes  for  two  Cinerarias  weie  awarded  as 
follows:  Alderman  \V.  Howell  Davis  (gardener,  Mr.  Curtis) 
taking  first  honours,  while  Mr.  A.  Cole  (gardener,  Mr.  Bird) 
ran  very  close  with,  second.  Certificates  of  merit  were  given 
to  Dr-'Heale  for  Calla  elliotiana  and  Dendrobium  atro 
violacea,  and  to  Mr.  Gilbert  Howes  (gardener,  Mr.  White) 
for  Phaius  grandiflorus. 


BECKENHAM  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETV. 

Is  lecturing  on  "  The  Improvement  of  Plants  by  Selection 
and  Hybridisation,"  Professor  J.  Percival,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  said 
sporting  takes  place  occasionally  in  plants  such  as  Chrysan- 
themums,  Roses,  Pelargoniums,  Carnations,  and  other  plants 
that  have  been  grown  for  ages, but  does  not  occur  in  plants  such 
as  Dahlias  which  have  onfy  been  under  cultivation  for  about 
a  century.  To  get  variation  or  improvements  in  such  things 
it  is  necessary  to  cross  fertilise.  Very  little  variation  takes 
place  in  the  first  cross,  is  often  increased  in  the  second,  and 
sometimes  goes  forward  with  leaps  and  bounds  in  the  third 
and  fourth.  The  lecturer  was  accorded  a  very  hearty  vote 
of  thanks.  Mr.  Webster  exhibited  some  remarkable  sticks 
of  the  Sutton  Rhubarb,  grown  at  Kelsey  Park  Gardens. 


GARDEN 


-^=^ 


■kl^^li 


No.  1585.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[Ai'RiL   5,  1902. 


THE   HALL  OF    THE    R.H.S. 

NOW  that  the  council  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  has  decided 
that  a  Horticultural  Hall  is  to  be 
built,  all  who  have  the  credit  of 
the  Society  at  heart  will  wish  to 
see  such  a  building  as  will  not  only  be 
perfectly  convenient  and  suitable  for  its  uses, 
but  that  will  have  such  dignity  as  befits  the 
home  of  a  body  whose  beneficent  work  affects 
the  happiness  and  welfare  of  so  large  a 
number  of  people. 

We  have  all  along  held  that  the  need  of  a 
hall  and  offices  of  the  Society's  own,  distinct 
though  this  want  is,  was  of  secondary  import- 
ance to  the  greater  need  of  a  new  garden  with 
enlarged  educational  opportunities.  The 
council  of  the  Society  has  decided  otherwise, 
we  trust  rightly  and  wisely,  and  we  hope  that 
the  building  in  contemplation  will  be  good 
and  beautiful  as  well  as  absolutely  fitting. 
We  hope  to  see  a  design  that  is  simple  and 
dignified,  and  trust  that  no  money  may  be 
spent  on  meritricious  ornamentation.  This  does 
not  mean  that  we  wish  to  see  another  Drill 
Hall.  Beauty  and  dignity  do  not  necessarily 
depend  on  what  is  commonly  and  often 
erroneously  called  ornament ;  it  depends  much 
more  on  good  proportion,  and  balance  and 
harmony  of  parts,  with,  perhaps,  sliglit  enrich- 
ment in  just  the  right  places.  Good  design 
and  construction  for  the  most  part  form  their 
own  ornament,  and  there  is  no  need  to  drag  in 
colossal  figures  in  high  relief  of  Flora  on  the 
one  side  and  Pomona  on  the  other,  pouring 
out  the  ample  sculptured  contents  of  their 
respective  cornucopias. 

A  matter  that  we  shall  hope  to  see  very 
carefully  considered  is  the  internal  colouring. 
For  on  a  wise  choice  of  this  the  chief  effect  of 
the  shows  will  depend.  Nothing  is  simpler 
than  to  do  it  rightly,  and  nothing  could  more 
eft'ectively  spoil  the  whole  as  a  place  for 
showing  flowers  and  foliage  than  to  make  a 
wrong  choice  of  colouring. 


THE     ALPINE     HOUSE. 

The  illustration  recently  given  in  the  pages 
of  The  Garden  of  the  Alpine  house  at  Kew  is 
of  great  interest,  and  will  help  to  emphasise 
the  value  of  simple  glass  structures  for  the 
protection  of  winter-flowering  hardy  plants. 
Our  gardens  have  been  vastly  enriched  of  late 
years,  uottbly  with  Irises  and  other  early- 
flowering  bulbs,  through  the  unremitting  exer- 


tions of  collectors  in  the  mountainous  districts 
of  Asia  Minor,  China,  and  elsewhere.  Many 
of  these  are  still  too  rare  and  scarce  to  be 
trusted  to  the  open  ground  without  further 
experience.  Others,  though  perfectly  frost- 
proof in  actual  hardiness  of  constitution,  are 
too  delicate  in  flower  to  stand  repeated  climatic 
variations  without  injury.  Others,  again, 
require  to  l)e  brought  near  the  eye  for  their 
full  beauty  to  be  understood.  Such  plants, 
until  well  established  in  public  favour,  which 
is  a  slow  process,  are,  as  a  rule,  exiled  to  cold 
frames  in  some  out-of-the-way  quarter  of  the 
garden,  where  their  fate  not  unnaturally  is  to 
be  forgotten  by  all,  save  their  growers.  If  the 
average  amateur,  however,  has  them  brought 
under  his  notice  in  flower  in  an  alpine  house 
he  cannot  fail  to  appreciate  their  beauty,  while 
the  practical  student  may  learn  a  hundred 
lessons  by  comparison  of  diflerent  modes  of 
treatment,  through  ■which  he  can  better  his 
own  gardening. 

Notes  of  the  very  different  behaviour  of  the 
same  plant  growing  in  localities  widely  sepa- 
rated, yet  still  within  the  limits  of  the  British 
Isles,  prove  the  advantage  of  giving  such 
slight  but  adequate  protection  where  it  is 
needed.  Take,  for  example,  the  new  Primula 
megase;ufolia,  recently  commented  upon  in 
these  columns.  It  has  been  a  jjleasure  to 
watch  the  gradual  unfolding  of  this  charming 
Caucasian  Primrose  in  a  cold  house  during 
this  changeable  winter.  In  the  hardest  weather 
it  has  never  once  looked  back,  as  gardeners 
express  it,  and  its  pretty  purple,  orange-eyed 
flowers  are  only  now,  in  March,  on  the  wane. 
Some  may  prefer  to  give  up  all  but  those 
plants  that  will  stand  complete  exposure  out 
of  doors  without  injury.  So  lie  it,  but  in  that 
case  they  must  banish  in  most  parts  of  the 
country  a  great  deal  that  may  make  for  the 
charm  of  the  winter  garden.  As  a  rule,  we 
plant  in  hope,  and  then,  as  a  correspondent 
forcibly  puts  it,  suffer  again  and  again  the 
pain— for  pain  it  is— of  seeing  frustrated  efforts 
to  flower  in  some  of  the  choicest  and  best  of 
our  possessions.  The  complete  happiness  and 
safety,  during  severe  weather,  of  protected 
early-flowering  plants  is  in  itself  a  joy  to  an 
ardent  gardener,  while  the  comparative  dura- 
tion in  bloom  comes  as  a  surprise,  and  may  be 
counted  in  many  cases  by  weeks.  It  is  well 
to  corroborate  statements  of  this  kind  by 
actual  dates.  Primula  megase;efolia  aforesaid 
had  opened  its  first  flower  on  January  15,  and 
on  March  12  is  not  yet  quite  over,  though  past 
its  best.     Cyclamen    ibericum,  at  the  same 


early  date,  was  well  set  with  buds  with  a  few 
full-blown  flowers,  and  lasted  in  perfection 
until  the  first  week  in  March.  C.  Coum, 
which  had  buds  as  early,  but  developed  them 
much  more  leisurely,  is  now  at  its  best.  Out 
of  doors  as  yet  only  a  few  flowers  of  either 
species  have  opened. 

Merendera  caucasica  was  in  flower  under 
glass  on  .January  23,  and  now,  six  weeks  later, 
has  just  passed  out  of  bloom.  In  the  open  it 
was  pushing  up  flowers  on  Feliruary  4,  which 
were  fully  expanded  on  February  25,  after 
which  they  soon  withered.  A  longer  list  might 
be  given,  but  these  examples  are  enough  to 
show  the  value  of  shelter,  not  from  frost 
merely,  for  it  is  not  cold  that  these  hardy 
plants  fear,  but  from  wind  and  rain  and  inter- 
mittent sunshine. 

The  glass  house  which  suffices  to  protect 
hardy  bulbs  and  alpine  plants  during  their 
flowering  season  from  stress  of  weather  may 
be  of  the  simplest  construction,  and  of  such  a 
pattern  as  to  be  generally  within  the  reach  of 
anyone  who  can  boast  of  a  garden  at  all.  It 
must  be  entirely  unheated,  with  ample  ventila- 
tion, and  the  only  indispensable  adjunct  is 
some  form  of  light  removable  shading.  Such 
a  house  is,  however,  pre-eminently  of  use  to 
the  experienced  connoisseur,  who  knows  how 
to  deal  with  his  plants  when  they  are  at  rest 
no  less  than  during  their  flowering  season,  and 
for  him  it  will  possess  the  greatest  charm.  It 
would  be  (luite  possible  to  rise  to  an  alpinery 
under  glass  of  a  higher  grade  than  the  one 
illustrated,  in  which  a  form  of  rockwort  might 
be  adopted,  with  some  permanent  planting  of 
suitable  shrubs,  allowing  at  the  same  time  for 
successive  changes  in  the  flowering  plants. 
But  a  simple  structure  with  the  usual  side 
stages  is  enough  for  all  practical  purposes,  and 
this  at  least  should  be  an  appendage  tf  all 
good  gardens.  The  staging,  moreover,  serves 
the  excellent  purpose  of  bringing  the  flowers 
into  nearer  range  of  vision.  It  is  scarcely 
possible  to  see  the  beautiful  structure  of  the 
fragile  alpine  Epimediums,  now  in  flower  in 
the  cold  greenhouse,  when  they  are  on  the 
ground  level,  and  the  exquisite  pencilling  of 
the  low  growing  Iris  flowers  is  hidden  even 
from  cltarest  eyes,  when  they  can  only  be 
looked  down  upon  from  the  height  of  a  man's 
stature. 

In  the  earliest  weeks  of  the  year,  to  pass 
from  the  most  carefully  planned  rock  garden 
into  a  well-ordered  alpine  house,  is  a  revelation 
to  anyone  who  sees  it  for  the  first  time.  The 
open  garden  has  its  own  winter  beauty,  and 


218 


THE  GARDEN. 


[Apiul  5,  19C2. 


even  when  icebound  is  full  of  promise  for  the 
future,  but  the  alpine  house  bridges  over  an 
interval  which  without  it  must  in  the  niainbe 
Howerlcss  for  the  hardy  gardener.  Here  spring 
is  already  triumphant,  and  we  may  forget  for 
a  while  that  frost  and  fog  and  relentless  winds 
have  still  to  do  their  seasonable  duty. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 


BOLTING    CABBAGES. 

IT  is  not  unlikely  tliat  we  shall  shortlj'  hear 
complaints  as  to  spring  Cabbages  bolting. 
This  undesirable  feature  is  often  attributed 
to  the  effects  of  the  winter  on  the  plants, 
though  some  have  imagined  that  the  time 
of  planting  governs  the  defect  to  some 
extent.  But  it  does  seem  as  if  it  were  more  due 
to  variety  than  to  any  other  cause.  Some  varieties 
seem  never  to  bolt  off  to  flower  preraatvirely.  Others, 
such  as  Nonpareil,  Dwarf  York,  Coleworts,  &c. ,  do 
invariably  bolt  freely  the  first  spring.  Thej'  do 
not  show  that  habit  if  from  seed  sown  in  the 
spring  :  still  it  seems  to  evidence  that  the  true 
Cabbage  -  hearting  habit  is  not  in  them  so  fully 
developed  as  is  the  case  with  others.  I  recentl3' 
had  a  conversation  with  !Mr.  Arthur  W.  Sutton, 
who  always  takes  great  interest  in  this  subject, 
respecting  the  average  habits  of  certain  varieties 
the  Reading  firm  have  secured  stocks  off,  and  which 
I  saw  last  spring  to  be  remarkably  good  in  the 
Reading  firm's  seed  grounds,  whilst  many  other 
varieties  had  from  20  to  70  per  cent,  of  bolters.  He 
kindl}'  promised  to  look  up  the  data  as  recorded 
in  their  trial  book  and  send  it  to  me,  and  that 
information  h.as  come  to  hand.  By  that  I  find  m 
four  years'  successive  trials,  1808-1001,  Sutton's 
April,  with  forty-one  stocks  or  trials,  gave  six 
bolters  only ;  Sutton's  Flower  of  Spring,  with 
fifty-two  trials,  gave  fifteen  bolters.  I  should  say 
that  as  each  trial  comprised  twenty-six  plants,  the 
total  number  of  April  was  1,066  and  of  Flower 
of  Spring  1,3.52,  so  that  the  proportitm  of  bolters 
was  hardly  noticeable.  Sutton's  Favourite,  with 
twenty-seven  trials  or  700  plants,  gave  thirty-one 
bolters,  and  Sutton's  Imperial,  with  600  plants,  gave 
but  twenty-eight  bolters.  It  is  worth}'  of  note,  as 
showing  that  season  has  some  small  connexion, 
that  the  j'ear  1800  gave  a  far  higher  percentage  of 
bolters— viz. ,  forty-eight — than  did  the  other  three 
years  with  thirty-two  only.  A.  Deax. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 

Examination  in  hopticulture.— The 

Royal  Horticultural  Society's  annual  examination 
in  the  "  Principles  and  Practice  of  Horticulture  " 
will  be  held  on  Wednesday,  the  23rd  inst. 
Intending  candidates  are  requested  to  send  in 
their  names  to  the  Secretar}',  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  117,  Victoria  Street,  London,  S.  W. ,  as 
early  as  possible.  A  stamped  and  directed 
envelope  must  be  enclosed  with  all  communications 
reiiuiring  a  reply. 

Royal   Horticultural  Society.— The 

next  fruit  and  fiower  show  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday  next, 
in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  West- 
minster, 1  to  5  p.m.  A  lecture  on  "  The  Construc- 
tion of  Pergolas,  and  on  Plants  for  them  and  for 
'Verandahs,''  will  be  given  by  Miss  Gertrude  Jekyll. 
V.M.H.,  at  three  o'clock.  Ata  general  meeting  of 
the  society  held  on  Tuesday,  the  2.3lh  ult. ,  fifty-two 
new  Fellows  were  elected,  amongst  them  being  Sir 
Edmund  Hay  Currie,  Sir  George  ileyrick,  Bart., 
the  Dowager  Lady  Pelly,  Lady  .Jessel,  Hon.  Mrs. 
M.  Glyn,  Major  N.  Pochin,  and  Major  A.  .J. 
Saunders,  making  a  total  of  .3.57  elected  since  the 
beginning  of  the  present  year. 

Primula  Allioni.  —  We  are  wondering  if 
this  pretty  little  Alpine  gem,  which  is  now  flowering 
in  the  rock  garden  here,  is  properly  understood. 
It  is  popularly  supposed  to  resent  damp  on   the 


foliage.  It  was  planted  here  last  spring  in  two 
positions,  one  where  it  was  simply  impossible  to 
give  water  without  wetting  the  leaves,  the  other 
where  we  could  water  it  from  behind,  and  where 
the  light  was  more  or  less  subdued.  In  the  former 
position  it  is  flowering  freely  and  looking  extremely 
healthy.  -  In  the  latter  position,  where  it  is  sup- 
posed to  have  the  condition  natural  to  its  native 
habitat,  it  has  made  little  or  no  progress.  Our 
impression  is  that,  if  the  watering  is  done  after 
the  sun  has  gone  down,  no  harm  will  result  to  the 
foliage,  and  the  plant  can  be  kept  in  a  growing 
condition  and  produce  its  lovely  little  blooms  in 
profusion. — A.  FiNDL.iV,  Gny  Ton-en,  Nunthorjie. 

The  Winter  Heliotrope.    In  a  recent 

number  of  The  Garden  a  correspondent   recom- 
mended   your    readers    to    cultivate   the    Winter 
Heliotrope  (Coltsfoot).     I   should  strongly  advise 
them  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  it.     A  good  many 
j-ears  ago  I  was   induced,  by  the  glowing  descrip- 
tions of  its  rich  perfume  in  the  depth  of  winter,  to 
plant  a  root  of  it  in  one  of  my  borders.     It  was 
not  long  before  I  discovered  its  wandering  charac- 
ter, and  I  determined  to  root  it  out ;  but,  in  trying 
to  do  so,  I  found  that  it  had  already  started  for 
New   Zealand,   taking   the   short  cut,  and   I   was 
unable  to  catch  it  up.    I  was  at  my  wit's  end,  when 
I  remembered  having  read  that  any  plant  could  be 
destroyed  by  continually  cutting  oft'  all  growths 
appearing  above  ground.     I  adopted  this  plan,  and 
at  last  broke  its  heart.     I  also  planted  it  on  the 
sloping  bank   of    a   road   leading  over   a   railway 
bridge.     Of  this  it  has  taken  full  possession,  and 
nothing  else  has  a  chance  of  growing  there.     Ane- 
mones, Primroses,  &c. ,  are  choked  out  of  existence. 
Another  plant  that  I  find  a  great  nuisance  is  one 
of  the  Arums  that  I  got  from  the  Continent  in  my 
green  days.     This  has,   so  far,  beaten  me,  as  has 
also  one  of  the  Alliums.     In  trying  to  root  them 
out  you  are  sure  to  leave  some  little  tuber  or  bulb 
behind,  and  all  your  labour  is  in  vain.    Chemists  are 
very  properly  obliged  to  put  a  red  "  poison  label" 
on    dangerous    drugs,   and    I    think    nurserymen 
should  be  compelled   to  attach  "poison  labels''  to 
dangerous  plants  of   this  kind. — Jay  Aye.     [We 
heartily   agree    with    our    correspondent    on    the 
danger  of   admitting  the  Winter  Heliotrope  into 
gardens,  but  surely  he  makes  a  slip  of  the  pen  in 
calling    it    Coltsfoot.      Coltsfoot    is    the    3'ellow- 
flowered  Tussilago  Farfara.     'Winter  Heliotrope  is 
Nardosmia,  sj'n.  Tussilago,  syn.  Petasites  fragrans. 
Among   these   ineradicable   pests    should   be   also 
noted  Ornithogalum  nutans. — Eds.] 

South    African    Peaches    in 

Eng^land. — The  South  African  War  has  tempo- 
rarily checked  a  formidable  rival  of  Canadian  fruit 
growers  in  the  British  markets,  especially  in  the 
line  of  tender  fruits,  such  as  Peaches  and  Plums. 
Fortunately,  however,  these  fruits  are  marketed 
at  an  entirely  different  season  from  those  grown 
in  Canada,  and  reach  Covent  Garden  in  January 
and  February,  when  we  have  no  Peaches  to  ship, 
so  that  the  rivalry  will  always  be  of  a  friendly 
nature.  So  long  ago  as  1806  Cape  Colon}'  began 
to  wake  up  to  her  great  capabilities  for  the 
production  of  Peaches  for  export  to  (4reat  Britain, 
and  in  1807  the  second  consignment  by  the 
"  Roslin  Castle"  was  sold  in  Covent  Garden  on 
.January  9  and  10.  There  were  709  cases  of 
Peaches,  and  these  were  readily  sold  at  from  7s. 
to  12s.  per  box  of  twenty  fruits,  the  higher  prices 
being  for  Freestone  Peaches  and  the  lower  for 
Clings. — Canadian  Horticnlliirist. 

Mr.  A.  C.  HartleSS,  from  the  Govern- 
ment Cinchona  Plantation,  Mungpoo,  has  taken 
over  charge  of  the  Curatorship  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  (Jardens,  Calcutta,  from  Mr.  G.  T.  Lane, 
who  has  gone  home  on  six  months'  furlough  to 
regain  his  health. 

Lonicera  fragrantissima.  —  This 

winter-flowering  Honeysuckle  is  rapidly  gaining 
in  favour  as  it  becomes  better  known,  and  is  now 
being  used  in  many  gardens  in  positions  that  are 
easily  accessible  during  the  winter,  and  where  its 
fragrance  can  be  appreciated.  It  commences  to 
bloom  at  the  latter  end  of  December,  and  continues 
until  April  or  later,  the  flowers  expanding  when- 
ever the  weather  is  at  all  favourable,  while,  in 
addition,   they  will  withstand  6°  or  8'  of  frost 


without  injury.  Their  presence  is  often  made 
known  in  the  first  place  by  their  sweet  Honey- 
suckle-like scent,  which  is  especial!}'  prominent  if 
the  sun  is  shining,  no  matter  what  the  weather  is 
otherwise,  unless  it  happens  to  be  freezing  very 
hard  indeed.  A  few  sprays  of  it  cut  and  placed 
indoors  will  last  for  a  considerable  time,  and  there 
are  very  few  persons  indeed  who  dislike  the  scent, 
which  seems  like  a  breath  of  summer,  so  different 
is  it  to  the  majority  of  scented  flowers  procurable 
in  winter.  L.  fragrantissiraa  is  a  native  of  China, 
and  i  nearly  or  quite  evergreen,  but  should  not 
be  confounded  with  L.  Standishii,  which  somewhat 
resembles  it,  but  which  is  deciduous,  while  the 
flowers  are  practically  scentless.  The  former  is 
easily  grown,  and  with  age  makes  a  spreading 
shrub  about  6  feet  high,  and  as  much  or  more  in 
diameter.  It  is  easily  propagated  by  cuttings  of 
the  half-ripened  wood  taken  in  summer,  or  pieces 
of  the  thicker  wood  cut  into  lengths  of  6  inches  or 
8  inches  root  readily  outdoors  in  October. — J.  C, 
Bai/.ihot,  Surrey. 

Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund. 

— I  cannot  help  thinking  that  all  gardeners  might 
give  a  small  sum  to  the  above  society  this  year  as  a, 
Coronation  donation,  and  that  with  other  help  we 
might  invest  the  money  to  enable  us  to  meet  one  of 
those  bad  years  that  come  to  all  societies  sooner  or 
later.  When  I  started  the  Royal  (hardeners'  Orphan 
Fund  I  thought  all  gardeners  would  subscribe  most 
willingly,  but  after  fifteen  years  I  find  them  less 
ready  than  at  first  to  do  their  share  in  helping.  I 
do  hope  I  shall  see  more  letters  written  advocating 
this  institution.  I  was  more  than  surprised  in 
reading  a  Avill  the  other  day  of  nearly  a  hundred 
thousand  pounds  obtained  entirely  from  agriculture 
and  horticulture  that  both  the  farmers'  and 
gardeners'  benevolent  institutions  were  forgotten. 
— Charlks  Penny. 
Seedling's  of  Scilla  sibirica  alba.— 

What  a  terrible  thing  it  is  for  a  bulb  to  have  blue 
blood  in  its  veins  !  Take  the  pure  white  variety 
of  Scilla  sibirica  for  instance.  I  saved  seed  from  it, 
hoping  at  least  to  get  some  light  varieties,  but 
much  to  my  disappointment  the  seedlings,  one  and 
all,  have  given  flowers  darker  than  the  type,  and  of 
a  very  dull  shade,  as  though  they  had  gone  into 
mourning  for  the  sin  of  their  mother. — .Iay  Ave. 

Seeds  of  yellow  Snowdrops.— What 

queer  ways  some  bulb  seeds  have  !  Those  of 
Galanthus  lutescens  and  G.  flavescens  lay  dormant 
in  the  ground  for  three  or  four  years :  in  fact,  they 
were  coming  through  the  ground  when  seedlings  of 
the  ordinary  variety  in  the  same  box,  sown  at  the 
same  time,  were  coming  into  flower.  And  now 
these  seedlings  are  flowering  there  is  not  a  tinge 
of  yellow  marking  in  any  one  of  them.  Why  should 
they  have  waited  in  the  ground  so  long  before  they 
made  up  their  minds  to  grow  ? — .Jay  A\'e. 

Scottish  Horticultural  Associa- 
tion.—  The  dinner  in  celebration  of  the  semi- 
jubilee  of  the  Scottish  Horticultural  Association, 
held  on  the  21st  ult.,  passed  off  most  successfully, 
no  less  than  120  members  being  present.  From  a 
detailed  report  in  the  ScoLwian  we  gather  that  the 
association  is  in  exuberant  health  and  high  spirits. 
Mr.  McDonald,  Dundee,  was  happy  in  the  ex- 
pression of  his  praise  of  the  society  on  account  of 
the  educational  benefits  it  provided,  and  in  his 
interesting  speech  referred  to  the  work  being 
overtaken  in  Dundee  among  school  children,  a  show 
held  there  recently  having  brought  out  between 
3,000  to  4,000  exhibits  from  the  children.  Mr. 
Comfort,  president  of  the  association,  thought 
something  of  the  kind  might  be  attempted  in 
Edinburgh.  Among  kindred  societies  represented 
was  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  by 
Mr.  R.  Dean,  the  Highland  and  Agricultural  by 
Mr.  MacDonald,  the  Royal  Caledonian  by  Mr. 
Murray  Thomson,  the  Royal  Arboricultural  of 
Scotland  by  Mr.  Galloway,  and  the  Sweet  Pea 
Society  by  Mr.  Cuthbertson. 

Cassell's  Dictionary  of  Gardeningr. 

— With  Part  XI.  of  this  publication  is  presented  a 
coloured  plate  of  Liliums,  viz.,  L.  speciosum 
Melpomene,  L.  s.  Krsetzeri,  and  L.  Henryi.  The 
genus  Lilium  is  also  treated  at  length  in  the 
letterpress  and  some  photographic  illustrations 
given.     Part  XL  concludes  with  Mamillaria. 


Apkil  5,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


219 


Eradication    of    Priekly    Pea.p.— 

Dwellers  in  parts  of  the  country  where  the  Prickly 
Pear  is  a  pest  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  experi- 
ments carried  out  at  the  Hawkesbury  Agricultural 
College,  New  South  Wales,  proved  that  arsenite  of 
soda,  in  solution,  81b.  to  80  gallons  of  water, 
sprayed  on  to  the  plant,  destroyed  it,  root  and 
branch.  The  best  time  to  apply  the  solution  was 
found  to  be  when  the  sap  was  active. — Indian 
Gardening  and  Planting. 

Present  to    an  Irish   gardener.— 

We  are  very  pleased  to  note  that  the  late  president 
of  the  Irish  Gardeners'  Association  and  Benevolent 
Society,  Mr.  J.  O'Kelly,  The  Gardens,  Dartry, 
Upper  Rathniines,  was  recently  the  recipient  of  a 
very  pretty  souvenir  of  his  term  of  office,  in  the  shape 
of  an  exquisitely  engraved  gold  pendant  bearing 
his  monogram  and  an  appropriate  inscription.  The 
presentation  was  made  on  behalf  of  the  society  by 
the  newly-elected  president,  Mr.  F.  W.  Burbidge, 
M.A.,  who  referred  in  suitable  terms  to  the  many 
excellent  qualities  of  Mr.  O'Kelly. — Irish  Gardener. 

Woburn  Fruit  Farm.— The  returns  from 
the  Woburn  Fruit  Farm  for  the  past  year,  which 
have  just  been  completed,  show  some  highly  in- 
teresting results.  It  is  too  large  a  question  to  go 
thoroughly  into  in  such  a  short  note  as  this,  but  in 
the  demonstration  plots,  for  instance,  the  returns 
range  from  £50  to  £80  per  acre.  When  this  farm 
was  started  it  was  predicted  by  those  who  had 
known  the  land  well  for  more  than  half  a  century 
that  fruit  growing  there  was  sure  to  fail,  and  those 
who  do  know  the  land  and  the  unfavourable  cir- 
cumstances which  there  prevail  will  agree  that 
only  the  best  possible  management  could  produce 
results  anything  approaching  it.  These  results  are 
not  "  calculated  theoretically,"  but  are  the  actual 
sales,  retail  and  wholesale,  the  average  prices  of 
all  qualities  being  taken,  so  that  there  is  no  bump- 
ing or  exaggeration.  It  is  well  known  that  with  the 
system  of  grading  some  of  the  Apples  made  very 
high  prices,  and  we  have  no  doubt  tliat  some  of 
the  fruit,  if  taken  alone,  would  amount  to  a  much 
higher  total  per  acre.  The  farm  has  only  been 
established  a  few  years,  and  has  not  yet  come 
into  full  bearing,  but  the  returns  show  what  fruit 
Bedfordshire  land  will  produce  under  the  best 
cultivation,  good  management,  and  the  needful 
outlay. 

Cornus  JVIas. — This  early-flowering  shrub 
is  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  garden,  as  it  forms  a 
spot  of  bright  colour  throughout  March,  which  is 
very  attractive,  especially  when  seen  against  a 
background  of  dark  evergreens.  I  saw  a  fine  plant 
of  it  about  8  feet  high  a  few  days  ago  amongst 
some  large  Yews,  which  were  behind  and  on  both 
sides  of  it,  and  the  effect  was  very  fine  indeed. 
The  flowers  are  very  small  and  of  a  bright  yellow 
colour,  and  are  borne  in  clusters  of  twenty  to 
thirty  all  over  the  leafless  branches.  They  are 
followed  in  the  autumn  by  oval  fruits  of  a  bright 
red  colour,  from  the  size  and  appearance  of  which 
the  plant  has  obtained  the  common  name  of 
Cornelian  Cherry.  C.  Mas  is  a  very  easy  plant  to 
grow,  as  it  will  do  well  almost  anywhere,  and  in 
any  kind  of  soil,  but  it  responds  readily  to  generous 
treatment,  and  soon  forms  a  tall,  thick  bush,  which 
is  a  pretty  sight  both  in  spring  and  autumn.  It 
can  be  propagated  by  seeds  and  by  layering. — J.  C, 
Bayaliot,  Surrey. 

Tulipa  Kopolkowi  bieolor.— This,  the 

smallest  known  Tulipa,  yet  the  most  brilliant  of 
any,  would  be  likely  to  interest  lovers  of  miniature 
rockery  plants.  It  grows  ti  inches  in  height,  has 
three  narrow  lance-shaped  leaves  of  different  sizes, 
and  bears  but  one  flower  the  size  of  a  Filbert  when 
closed  and  measuring  IJ  inches  in  span  when  fully 
open.  The  pstals  are  mainly  coloured  yellow,  the 
three  outer  ones  are  heavily  tipped  with  green, 
the  lower  two-thirds  of  each  is  entirely  coloured  a 
rich  glowing  vermilion,  richer  on  the  inside  but  very 
conspicuous  on  the  outside  also.  The  short  filaments 
are  coloured  vermilion,  and  they  support  golden 
yellow  anthers.  The  centre  of  the  flower  is  zoned 
with  black.  It  is  the  brightest  of  all  the  early 
Tulipa;  known  to  nie — a  very  fascinating  little 
flower  indeed.  A  warm  position  on  the  rockery  or 
among  kindred  plants  in  a  warm  border  suits  it 
well ;  it  is  perfectly  hardj'  and  in  no  wise  difficult 


to  grow.  It  belongs  to  the  early  flowering  set 
comprising  Lownei,  kaufmanniana,  and  the  like. 
Like  most  Oriental  Tulipa3  it  is  very  liable  to  make 
"  dropper"  bulbs,  thrusting  them  quite  below  the 
cultivated  stratum  in  shallow  soils  and  disappear- 
ing altogether  in  soils  of  a  deep  tilth.  Planted  on 
a  rockery  where  it  could  get  a  good  baking  during 
the  ripening  of  growth  it  will  lose  this  disappearing 
tendency  to  a  certain  extent,  though  it  may  reappear 
at  a  lower  level  in  the  following  season. — Geo.  B. 
Mallett. 
Rudbeckia  "eonspieua."— The  practice 

of  giving  quasi-botanical  names  to  garden  varieties 
of  a  species  is  objected  to  by  all  botanists  and  by 
most  of  the  leading  amateur  gardeners.  Such 
names  are  never  recognised  in  botanical  works 
or  botanical  collections,  and  as  no  authorised 
description  of  them  is  to  be  found  there  is  no 
standard  to  which  they  can  be  referred,  so  they 
are  confusing.  If  such  flowers  are  worth  a  distinct 
name  it  would  be  better  to  name  them  Rudbeckia 
hirta,  Ladham's  variety,  or  variety  Mars,  or  some 
other  fancy  name ;  then  everyone  knows  that 
they  are  garden  varieties  and  is  not  misled.  I  may 
observe  that  R.  hirta,  which  is  generally  biennial, 
is  of  different  habit  from  the  perennial  and  running 
R.  speciosa,  which  is  a  native  of  moist  soils,  and  in 
very  dry  gardens  requires  watering  and  top- 
dressing  in  hot  dry  weather  to  keep  it  healthy. 
R.  hirta,  which  makes  one  branching  stem,  often 
has  larger  flowers  and  is  taller  than  R.  speciosa, 
and  being  a  native  of  drier  soils  resists  drought 
better.  I  find  R.  hirta  never  becomes  finer  than 
when  a  seedling  comes  up  at  the  edge  of  a  gravel 
walk  and  is  allowed  to  flower  there,  a  privilege 
granted  to  many  plants  in  this  wet  garden. — 
C.  WOLLEY  DoD. 

This    cone    flower   was   named   by   Messrs. 

Ladhams.  It  is  a  selection  from  R.  hirta,  which 
they  have  cultivated  for  the  last  five  years  in  tlieir 
Shirley  nurseries.  The  advantage  of  this  Rud- 
beckia over  such  as  R.  speciosa  is  that  it  does  not 
suffer  so  much  from  drought.  Plants  of  R.  eon- 
spieua growing  last  year  in  Messrs.  Ladhams' 
nursery  in  nothing  but  gravel  flowered  continuously 
and  abundantly  all  through  the  hottest  and  driest 
weather,  whereas  the  type  and  R.  speciosa  were 
dried  up  immediately.  It  matters  not  who  names 
a  plant  if  it  is  worthy  of  the  name  given,  and  in 
this  instance  I  can  assure  Mr.  Wolley  Dod  no 
mistake  has  been  made  in  so  doing. — E.  M. 

The  mole  cricket.- 1  should  be  very 
glad  if  any  readers  of  The  Gardes  who  have  had 
experience  with  this  objectionable  beetle,  and 
especially  on  poor  tennis  lawns,  will  say  if  they 
have  succeeded  in  eradicating  it  without  digging 
it  out  and  thoroughly  renovating  the  soil.  In 
small  places  that  are  continually  springing  up  in 
this  neighbourhood,  so-called  tennis  courts  are 
formed  on  practically  the  natural  soil,  which  is 
very  poor,  with  the  result  that  in  a  year  or  two 
the  grass  goes  to  the  bad,  and  the  ground  is 
invaded  by  the  above  insect.  Personally  I  am 
unable  to  offer  advice  other  than  to  remove  the 
poor  soil  and  replace  with  better. — E.  B.  C. 

A    fortunate    gardener.  —  Mr.    John 

Pick,  lately  deceased,  one  of  Glasgow's  merchant 
princes,  and  who  had  amassed  a  large  fortune  as  a 
guttapercha  manufacturer,  left  his  gardener,  Mr. 
David  NichoU,  a  legacy  of  £1,000.  About  fifteen 
years  ago  Mr.  Dick  presented  a  park  to  Glasgow, 
stipulating  that  the  plants  should  be  allowed  to 
grow  naturally,  and  perhaps  few  of  the  many 
city  parks  give  more  pleasure  than  this. 

No  grey  Scilla  bifolia.— How  is  it  that 
we  have  no  grey-flowered  Scilla  bifolia  ?  Pale  blue 
or  rather  pale  purple  forms  are  verj'  frequent,  and 
white,  alabaster  white,  and  shades  from  the  palest 
pink  and  flesh  colour  up  to  rich  pink  ;  there  is  also 
light  purple-pink  of  several  shades.  One  would 
imagine  that  grey  would  be  the  natural  result  of 
mixing  the  typical  colour  with  the  albino  form. — 
Jay  Aye. 

Spring  -  flowering    bulbs.  —  I    have 

observed  that  some  of  the  spring-flowering  bulbs 
which  seed  very  freely  make  but  little  or  no 
increase  at  the  root.  With  the  Chiouodoxa  this 
feature  is  very  pronounced.  In  1885  I  selected  a 
very  fine  form  of  this,  and  although  it  has  flowered 


and  seeded  freely  from  then  till  now  there  is  but 
the  one  bulb  still.  It  seems  to  me  that  these  plants 
use  up  all  their  strength  in  producing  seed  and  are 
unable  to  do  more.  The  best  forms  of  Scilla  bifolia, 
especially  the  white  and  pink  varieties,  make  slow 
progress  at  the  root.  The  hybrid  Chionoscillas, 
although  free  seeders,  give  more  increase  at  the 
root  than  either  parent. — Jay  Aye. 

Buddleia  globosa.— This  delightful  shrub 
is  quite  hardy  in  North  Wales,  and  has  pretty 
ball-shaped  orange-coloured  blossoms,  and  lanceo- 
late leaves,  pale  green  above  and  whitish  below.  The 
plant  when  grown  on  a  wall  attains  a  height  of  8  feet 
or  9  feet,  and  sometimes  more.  The  Buddleia  is 
easily  propagated  from  cuttings  of  the  well-ripened 
shoots,  which  should  be  procured  about  September, 
if  possible  with  a  heel  of  the  older  wood,  and 
inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  a  shady  position,  a  bell- 
glass  being  placed  over  them  until  they  are  well 
rooted. — J.  Denman. 

Coronation  tree  planting.— As  there 

seems  to  be  a  great  probability  of  a  large 
number  of  trees  being  planted  as  memorials  of 
the  Coronation  of  King  Edward  VII.,  I  might 
suggest  that,  to  avoid  the  danger  of  trees  dying 
by  being  planted  at  such  an  unsuitable  time  of 
the  year,  all  those  who  intend  to  adopt  this 
mode  of  commemoration  should,  before  it  is  too 
late,  secure  trees  that  have  been  transplanted,  and 
have  them  properly  prepared  and  put  into  suitable 
boxes  or  tubs  in  a  compost  that  would  ensure  a 
large  amount  of  flbrous  roots  being  made  before 
.June,  and  by  this  means  and  careful  planting  the 
disappointment  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  trees 
would  be  avoided.  Well-shaped  trees  should  be 
selected  at  once,  standard  trees,  with  stems 
10  feet  to  12  feet,  with  good  heads  ;  coniferfe  and 
evergreen  shrubs,  3  feet  to  5  feet,  of  not  too  old 
a  growth.  Trees  of  these  dimensions  would  be  easy 
to  handle,  and  would  probably  do  better  than 
larger  specimens.  The  most  suitable  stjde  of  box 
would  be  one  with  all  the  sides  to  remove ;  these 
could  be  easily  made  by  running  an  iron  rod 
through  eyes,  with  a  nut  on  the  top  to  keep  the 
box  together ;  when  planting  remove  the  nuts 
and  lift  up  the  sides,  the  tree  could  then  be 
carefully  removed  to  its  permanent  position. — 
H.  Havelock,  Meric  Moor  Nurseries,  Doicii/ie/d, 
near  Dundee. 

Bignonia  venusta.— It  must,  I  am  sure, 

have  been  an  accidental  omission  on  the  part  of 
"A.  P.  H.,"  page  197,  not  to  mention  this,  one  of  the 
finest  of  all  Bignonias.  Like  several  of  the  others, 
it  is  a  free-growing  climber  that  needs  a  large 
structure  for  its  development,  but  when  these 
requirements  are  met,  and  the  plant,  as  generally 
happens,  is  in  the  autumn  or  winter  laden  with 
its  clusters  of  brilliant  vermilion-coloured  tubular- 
shaped  blossoms,  it  forms  a  scene  of  unparalleled 
beauty  at  that  season.  I  well  remember  my  first 
visit  to  Syon  House  Gardens,  when  Mr.  Fairbairn 
was  gardener  there,  now  over  thirty  years  ago. 
The  sight  that  made  the  most  lasting  impression 
on  my  mind  was  a  fine  old  specimen  of  this 
Bignonia  in  the  large  conservatory  there,  which 
was  just  then  at  its  best.  It  has  been  my  lot  to 
see  it  since  under  similar  conditions,  but  of  course 
without  the  great  charm  of  novelty.  A  coloured 
plate  of  Bignonia  venusta  was  given  in  the  early 
numbers  of  The  Garden  just  twenty  years  ago, 
the  specimens  being  sent  from  Pendell  Court, 
Bletchingley,  where  the  late  Sir  George  Jlacleay 
had  gathered  together  a  remarkable  collection  of 
interesting  plants.  The  only  place  it  has  been  my 
good  fortune  to  see  the  Waratah  (Telopea  specio- 
sissima)  in  flower  was  at  Pendell  Court.  Bignonia 
venusta  is  a  native  of  Brazil,  from  where  it  was 
introduced  in  1816,  so  that  it  is  quite  an  old  plant 
in  gardens.  Some  fine  bunches  of  it  were  shown  a 
few  years  ago  at  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  Of  the  other  species 
referred  to  by  "A.  P.  H.,"  Bignonia  magnifica, 
which  was  introduced  from  Columbia  b3r  Mr. 
William  Bull,  rarely  flowers  in  this  countrj',  but  I 
am  told  by  Mr.  Goldring  that  in  India  it  is  a  mag- 
nificent object.  Bignonia  radicans,  included  under 
the  heading  of  stove  plants,  is  perfectly  hardy,  and 
freely  bears  its  reddish  tubular  blossoms  cluring 
the  summer  months.— H.  P. 


220 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  5,  1902. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

LILIUM    GIGANTEUM. 

OF  the  beauty  of  this  unique  Lily  there  is 
k  perhaps  only  one  opinion,  but  the 
I  glory  of  its  flowering  is  marred  by 
I  the  fact  that  it  is  the  first  and  last 
'  time.  In  this  respect  this  fine  Lily 
differs  from  some  plants  that,  having 
reached  their  maturity,  as  we  may  conveniently 
style  their  flowering,  go  on  year  after  year  and  not 
unfrequently  increase  in  beauty.  But  with  the 
giant  Lily,  in  place  of  such  energies,  the  cultivator 
knows  full  well  that  the  flowering  is  the  preface  of 
the  collapse,  for  of  the  original  plant  there  is  not  a 
vestige  left.  True,  there  may  be  a  few  offsets,  four 
or  half  a  dozen,  or  more  according  to  the  size  of  the 
plant,  though  the  quantity  perhaps  is  influenced 
rather  by  the  number  of  years  that  have  elapsed 
between  the  time  of  planting  and  of  flowering. 
Assuredly  if  this  item  is  to  leave  its  mark  on 
the  offsets,  a  similar  effect  must  be  seen  both  in  the 
boldness  of  the  spike  produced  at  the  flowering  and 
not  less  so  in  the  size  and  the  number  of  flowers 
that  go  to  make  up  a  complete  inflorescence  in  such 
a  case.  Possibly  of  no  Lily  grown  to-day  are 
particulars  of  practical  cultivation  more  widely 
welcomed  than  of  this  fine  species,  and  such  par- 
ticulars should  be  the  more  welcome  when  obtained 
as  the  actual  outcome  of  experience  of  the  bulbs 
from  the  planting  onwards  to  the  flowering.  Having 
grown  this  handsome  plant  successfully  in  the  open 
ground,  within  half  a  dozen  miles  of  Charing  Cross, 
the  experience  so  gained  should  at  least  encourage 
others  to  attempt  to  do  likewise. 

I  have  already  hinted  that  much  of  the  success  of 
the  flowering  depends  upon  the  lapse  of  time 
between  planting  and  flowering.  In  other 
words,  the  longer  the  flowering  is  deferred, 
provided  always  that  a  good  and  sufficient 
leaf  growth  is  made  each  year,  so  much  the 
better  and  bolder  will  be  the  ultimate  spike  pro- 
duced. This  is  the  natural  outcome  of  years  of 
growth.  In  the  matter  of  growth  and  years 
deferred,  ere  flowering  ensues,  the  former  will 
undoubtedly  depend  upen  circumstances  of  soil, 
and  aspect  in  particular.  In  both  instances 
these  things  came  under  the  control  of  the  culti- 
vator. Now,  if  we  take  the  aspect  first,  I 
regard  this  as  playing  the  more  important 
part  in  the  outdoor  cultivation  of  this  species, 
infinitely  more  than  any  conditions  of  soil  and 
general  cultivation,  important  though  these  be 
alone.  In  truth  I  take  aspect  for  this  Lily  in 
much  the  same  sense  as  I  would  regard  it  if  writing 
concerning  the  Tree  Pieonies.  In  both  instances 
the  plants  are  virtually  winter-proof,  no  ordinary 
winter  frost  harming  them,  and  in  both  instances 
are  the  plants  in  their  young  freshly  formed 
leaves  susceptible  to  the  nipping  frosts  of  spring. 

In  each  instance  the  deterrent  effect  of  frosts 
upon  the  general  progress  of  these  plants  is 
very  considerable,  and  the  only  real  way  is  to 
endeavour  to  minimise  such  influence  as  much 
as  possible  by  the  choice  of  position  or  of  aspect. 
The  old  notion  of  planting  Pieonia  arborea  in  a 
south-eastern  position  where  it  catches  the  morning 
sun  is  long  since  exploded.  Equally  unsatisfactory 
is  the  idea  of  planting  among  other  shrubs  as  a 
means  of  protection,  and  worse  still  the  old  notion 
of  wrapping  the  plants  up  with  mats  and  other 
things.  In  greater  or  less  degree  all  these  asserted 
an  influence  that  was  not  for  good,  and  indeed  the 
plants  will  be  most  secure  if  given  a  different 
position  altogether.  This  fine  Lily,  if  we  would 
cultivate  it  successfully  in  the  open  garden,  must 
have  a  position  reached  by  the  morning  sun  as  late 
as  possible.  In  such  a  place  there  will  be  a  far 
greater  uniform  heat  throughout  the  year,  and  by 
a  much  later  starting  into  leaf  growth  the  plants 
will  emerge  quite  safely  from  what  otherwise 
would  have  been  a  trying  ordeal.  If  planted  in 
a  warm  south  corner,  and  further  unduly  influenced 
and  excited  into  growth  by  this  covering  or  that, 
and  the  greater  these  protections  so  much  more 
detrimental  are  they  to  the  plant,  it  is  little 
wonder  the  late  spring  frosts  overtake  this  giant 


Lily  and  leave    a  mark    not    readily   erased    or 
overcome. 

It  is  far  different  when  a  colony  of  bulbs  is  given 
a  westerly  or  even  a  north-west  by  west  position.  In 
either  of  these  the  plants  will  more  slowly  respond 
to  the  influence  of  spring  and  invariably  escape 
uninjured.  This  is  brought  about  by  the  fact  that 
plants  so  placed  obtain  their  share  of  sunlight 
and  sunheat  in  the  later  portion  of  the  day,  and 
this  saves  them.  As  a  matter  of  fact  a  slight  frost 
in  this  positionis  not  harmful  to  theplants,  inasmuch 
as  the  day  is  advanced  ere  the  sun's  rays  are  upon 
them.  It  is  quite  another  matter  when  the  Lily 
in  a  warm  south  aspect  is  injured  by  frost,  and 
the  force  of  the  early  rising  sun  is  upon  the  plants 
on  an  April  or  May  morning,  while  the  frost  is 
holding  the  tender  leafage  in  its  icy  grip. 

At  such  a  time  the  result  would  be  disastrous. 
Those  who  are  interested  in  this  Lily  may  like  to 
know  that  in  a  position  secure  from  sun  till  1 1  a.m. 
it  may  be  grown  quite  satisfactorily  in  the  London 
district,  and  in  a  soil  somewhat  heavy  and  holding 
if  attended  to  at  planting  time.  I  do  not  find, 
however,  that  the  plant  is  at  all  fastidious  as  to 
soil,  while  position  is  everything.  To  obtain  the 
best  results  quite  young  bulbs  should  be  planted, 
that  is,  bulbs  about  half  grown,  as  by  this  means  a 
long  season  elapses  before  flowering  is  expected, 
thus  giving  the  plant  every  opportunity  of  gaining 
great  strength  in  its  position. 

Dormant  bulbs  may  be  planted  as  late  as  April 
in  the  open  air,  or  if  need  be  start  them  in  pots 
and  replant  when  the  spring  frosts  are  over.  It  is 
best,  however,  to  allow  the  plant  to  get  hold  of  the 
soil  as  much  as  possible,  and  if  protection  be  needed 
give  it  in  the  early  days  of  planting.  Given  a  well- 
prepared  bed  of  deep  soil,  old  potting  soil  mingled 
with  the  staple  to  a  good  depth  will  do  quite  well, 
there  is  little  to  fear  in  the  outdoor  cultivation  of 
this  fine  Lily.  A  layer  of  fine  ashes,  litter,  or 
leaves  placed  over  the  bulbs  in  winter  will  assist 
in  keeping  Severe  frosts  from  penetrating,  and 
a  spray  here  and  there  of  Spruce  Fir  placed 
into  the  ground  is  all  the  spring  protection 
afforded,  many  of  the  plants  flowering  very 
finely  and  all  in  due  time.  It  is  important 
that  water  and  liquid  manure  be  frequently  given 
during  leaf  growth,  for  not  only  will  the  advantages 
be  seen  in  the  flowering  that  ensues,  but  it  will  be 
equally  obvious  in  the  event  of  any  offsets  that  may 
be  left  when  flowering  is  completed. 

E.  Jenkixs. 


SUMMER  FLOWER  BEDDING. 
Happily  we  have  j'et  to  see  the  spring  flower 
bedding  of  the  year  before  that  of  the  summer 
is  arranged.  Spring  bedding  endures  but  for  a 
brief  season,  and  however  simple  it  may  be  we 
do  not  tire  of  it.  Summer  bedding  endures  for 
several  months,  and  when  it  is  of  a  non-varied 
nature,  but  gives  from  its  planting  to  its  destruc- 
tion exactly  the  same  appearance  and  effects  day 
by  day  for  a  long  time,  it  becomes  intensely 
wearisome.  What  wonder  if  there  has  been 
against  it  in  its  stereotyped  form  great  revulsion 
of  feeling.  Spring  bedding  now  owes  so  much  to 
bulbs  that  its  variety  and  beauty  are  marked. 
Still,  there  are  styles  of  spring  bedding  in  which 
there  is  excessive  flatness  and  monotony.  It  is 
perhaps  because  of  the  shortness  of  the  season 
that,  excluding  bulbs,  flowering  plants  suited  for 
hardy  bedding  are  limited  and  sameness  is  some- 
what unavoidable.  But  for  the  sake  of  having  the 
hardy  spring  flowers  freely  used  much  ma,y  be 
excused.  It  is  when  tender  plants  are  utilised 
that  sameness  and  monotony  become  inexcusable. 
The  fashion  of  bedding  now  not  only  has  led  to 
the  abolition  of  the  mass,  however  florid  or 
intense  it  may  have  been,  and  has  substituted  in 
the  bed  several  diver.se  flowering  and  very  diverse 
habited  plants.  These,  too,  follow  in  succession, 
giving  to  the  garden  a  somewhat  kaleidus(  iijjic 
appearance,  and  one  of  nmch  charm.  The  special 
or  prominent  feature  of  one  week  or  two  will 
be  materially  changed  for  others  a  little  later, 
and  hence,  apart  from  the  pleasure  incidental  to 
seeing  a  bright  show  of  flowers,  there  is  so  much 
of  interest  in  noting  the  changes  that  gradually 


result.  A  mass  of  the  most  brilliant  flowers 
seen  day  after  day  presently  becomes  distasteful, 
and  no  one  having  skill  or  taste  now  plants  such 
beds.  Summer  bedding,  at  one  time  falling  into 
neglect,  has  been  literally  pulled  out  of  the  pit, 
and  greatly  exalted  by  the  higher  and  more 
artistic  tastes  in  arrangement  which  to-day 
prevail.  A.  D. 


CALOCHORTI    AND     THEIR 
CULTURE. 

(Continued  from  pafje  .MS.) 
Group  VIIL— Unci,a.ssed  Species. 
C.  GuNNi.soNi  (S.  Watson),  a  Colorado  .specie.s, 
produces  stiffly  erect  stems  1  j  feet  high,  bearing 
large  pure  white  occasionally  lilac  shaded 
rtowers  4  inches  across,  zoned  with  yellowish 
green  and  slightly  bearded  at  the  base,  with 
erect  yellowish  hairs.  The  petals  are  grace- 
fully rounded,  and  are  very  broad — a  choice, 
refined  flower — in  fact,  the  aristocrat  of  the 
genus.  The  plant  is  of  somewhat  slender 
growth,  but  healthy  and  free  flowering,  bearing 
from  eight  to  ten  flowers.  It  received  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  award  of  merit 
in  1897. 

C  Kennedyi  (Porter)  is  a  very  rare  aiid 
magnificently  flowered  species,  producing  a 
quantity  of  brilliant  orange-red  flowers  3^  inches 
across.  They  have  been  appropriately  likened 
to  a  gorgeous  Brazilian  butterfly,  and,  indeed, 
I  know  no  Calochortus,  and  but  few  other 
bulbous  plants,  that  can  compare  with  the  rich 
colours  and  ]jleasing  grace  of  C.  Kennedyi.  It 
is,  withal,  a  strong  growing  plant  of  great 
garden  value,  but  is,  unfortunately,  exceedingly 
rare,  and  is  still  practically  not  to  be  bought, 
desjiite  efl'orts  that  have  been  made  to  collect 
it  afresh  in  recent  years.  A  splendid  coloured 
plate  of  this  species  was  issued  by  The  Garden, 
February  11,  1893. 

C.  luteus  (Douglas)  is  a  slender  growing  plant 
most  resembling  C.  venustus  citrinus  in  size 
and  colour,  but  paler— a  sulphur-yellow—  the 
inside  being  spotted  and  blotched  red.  It  is  a 
very  bright  refined  flower,  borne  on  freely 
branching  stems  1  foot  high. 

U.  luteus  V.  concolor  (Baker)  is  a  strong 
growing  plant  bearing  a  dozen  bright  yellow 
flowers,  which  expand  to  the  fullest  extent. 
They  average  3?  inches  across,  and  have  glossy 
rounded  petals  which  remind  one  of  our  native 
Buttercups.  This  is  a  very  choice  plant,  one 
of  the  best  and  most  distinct.  It  received  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  award  of  merit 
in  1895,  about  which  time  it  was  introduced 
into  general  cultivation. 

C  Lyoni,  a  stiffly  erect  plant  of  C.  venustus 
type,  is  the  earliest  of  all  large-flowered 
Oalochorti  to  open.  It  bears  several  perfectly 
shaped  flowers  with  elegantly  rounded  petals, 
which  vary  in  colour  from  white  to  rose  :  the 
bases  are  heavily  and  sharply  blotched  black. 
This  plant  received  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  award  of  merit  in  1896,  about  which 
time  it  was  introduced  into  general  cidtivation. 

Several  species  and  forms,  many  of  them 
very  beautiful,  have  been  purposely  omitted 
from  this  already  lengthy  monograph ;  many  of 
them  are  natives  of  desert  land,  and  are 
practically  unsuitable  for  cultivation  in  this 
country ;  others  also  omitted  are  more  hardy 
perhaps,  but  have  poor  constitutions.  One 
phase  of  their  cultivation  may  be  mentioned 
here.  It  may  be  desirous  to  grow  these  plants 
in  pots  for  the  decoration  of  apartments, 
conservatories,  kc.  :  this  is  iiuite  an  easy 
matter.  Six  bulbs  may  be  planted  in  a  .j-inch 
pot  in  a  loo.se,  friable  compost,  and  treated 
exactly  as  one  would  treat  Freesias,  Ixias,  and 
Lachejialias,     The  chief  items  of  importance 


1 


April  5,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


221 


are  to  shade  the  plants  during  strong  sunshine, 
and  to  water  very  carefully  ;  an  overdose  of 
water  on  a  dull  day  will  kill  every  root  they 
have.  They  may  be  forced  into  flower  a 
month  or  six  weeks  in  advance  of  their  proper 
season.  The  most  suitable  for  forcing  are 
those  of  the  venustus  group.  The  interest 
centred  in  these  plants  is  of  no  ordinary  kind  ; 
their  exquisitely  soft  and  pure  colours, 
enhanced  by  vivid  and  wonderful  markings, 
place  them  in  the  front  rank  of  all  that  is 
beautiful  in  nature.  The  Garden,  when 
advocating  the  cultivation  of  these  plants 
years  ago,  said  :—"  Anything  more  perfectly 
fascinating  and  artistic  than  a  vase  full  of 
Calochorti  it  would  be  impossible  to  grow  in 
a  British  garden."  This  is  doubly  true  to-day 
when  so  many  fine  new  types  are  available. 
Geo.  B.  Mallett. 


JAPANESE      PLUMS. 

Feuits  of  these  Plums  are  now  to  be  seen  in 
the  fruiterers'  shops.  They  are  from  South 
Africa,  where  a  praiseworthy  effort  is  being 
made  to  grow  fruit  for  export  to  England  and 
other  European  countries  at  a  time  when  it 
should  find  ready  acceptance.  It  is  to  be 
feared  that  the  ridiculously  high  prices  asked 
by  dealers  in  this  country  for  these  Plums — 
from  6s.  to  10s.  per  dozen — will  throttle  this 
effort  of  the  enterprising  cultivator  in  South 
Africa,  which  really  deserves  every  encourage- 
ment. 

Japanese  Plums  have  been  brought  into 
notice  by  our  American  cousins,  who  grow  them 
largely.  Their  history  is  told  by  Professor 
L.  H.  Bailey,  of  Ithaca,  New  York,  in  a 
Bulletin  published  in  1894  by  the  University 
of  Ithaca,  from  which  the  following  is  taken  : — 

"In  1870  Mr.  Hough,  of  Vacaville,  Cali- 
fornia, secured  several  Plum  trees  from  Japan 


through  Mr.  Bridges,  a  United  States  Consul 
in  that  country,  at  a  cost  of  lOdols.  each. 
These  trees  soon  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
late  John  Kelsey,  of  Berkeley,  California,  who 
obtained  the  first  ripe  fruit  in  1876  or  1877. 
Mr.  Kelsey  became  convinced  of  the  value  of 
this  Plum  for  general  cultivation,  and  its 
propagation  on  an  extensive  scale  was  begun 
in  1883  by  W.  P.  Hammon  and  Co.,  of  Oak- 
land, who  afterwards  named  it  in  memory  of 
Mr.  Kelsey,  and  who  made  large  sales  in  the 
planting  season  of  1884.  Subsequently,  other 
parties,  particularly  Luther  Burbank,  of  Santa 
Rosa,  California,  made  importations  of  Plum 
trees  from  Japan,  and  have  disseminated  the 
varieties  widely.  For  the  past  four  or  five 
years  these  Plums  have  awakened  more  inte- 
rest throughout  the  country  than  any  other 
new  or  recent  type  of  fruits  ;  and  it  has  been 
found,  contrary  to  the  early  opinion,  that  many 
of  them  are  adapted  to  the  Northern  States- 
Whilst  they  are  often  inferior  in  quality  to  the 
best  garden  Plums  (P.  domestica),  they  possess 
various  desirable  characteristics  which  the 
others  do  not,  particularly  great  vigour  and 
productiveness  of  tree,  comparative  freedom 
from  disease,  great  beauty  and  long-keeping 
qualities,  and  the  best  of  them  compare  well 
in  quality  with  the  common  Plums." 

I  had  often  heard  of  the  merits  of  these 
new  Plums  from  American  horticulturists 
when  visiting  Kew,  including  Mr.  Bailey,  and, 
although  I  was  assured  by  English  fruit 
growers  that  they  were  of  no  value  in  this 
country,  I  included  a  chapter  on  them  in  the 
new  edition  of  "  Thompson's  Gardeners'  Assis- 
tant," vol.  iv.,  page  162,  with  figures  of  four 
varieties  and  descriptions  of  thirteen.  When 
they  were  first  tried  in  the  United  States  they 


I  were  condemned  on  account  of  the  tenderness 
of  the  tree  and  the  poor  quality  of  the  fruit. 
It  is  clear  that  the  evidence  was  insufficient, 
and,  luckily,  it  was  not  considered  conclusive. 
Probably  we  shall  find  the  objections  against 
them  in  this  country  equally  unfounded. 

The  fruits  now  ofi"ered  for  sale  in  this 
country  have  much  to  recommend  them.  They 
are  large,  handsome,  distinct  in  form,  and, 
although  lacking  the  quality  of  a  first-rate 
English  Plum  in  September,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  fruit  has  undergone  a  long 
sea  voyage  and  the  numerous  disadvantages 
attendant  on  a  passage  through  the  tropics  for 
a  fruit  of  this  character.  The  reports  from  the 
United  States  are  highly  favourable.  "  The 
best  of  them  are  nearly  equal  to  the  best  of 
the  European  kinds  "  ;  "they  are  less  seriously 
attacked  by  insects  and  fungi  than  the 
common  Plums  are";  "they  have  long-keeping 
qualities." 

;  The  origin  of  Japanese  Plums  appears  to  be 
from  a  Chinese  species  of  Prunus  named  triflora, 
by  Roxburgh,  from  a  specimen  found  in  Cal- 
cutta Gardens  over  seventy  years  ago.  It  is 
characterised  by  ha.ving  three  flower -buds  at 
each  node,  whereas  P.  domestica  has  only  one, 
rarely  two.  The  fruit  of  the  Japanese  Plums 
is  globular,  or  more  often  conical,  and  with  a 
deep  depression  at  the  base  and  a  very  promi- 

I  nent  suture,  the  flesh  clinging  to  or  free  from 
the  smooth  or  lightly  pitted  scarcely  winged 
pit. 

The  varieties  recommended  by  Bailey  are 
Abundance,  Kelsey,  Burbank,  Chabot,  Sat- 
suma,  Red  June,  Lutts,  and  Engre.  They  are 
catalogued  by  the  leading  fruit  tree  dealers  in 
the  United  States.  W.  Watson. 

[We  tried  these  Plums  on  Mr.  Watson's  recom- 
mendation, and  found  the  fruit  excel- 
lent ;  the  flesh  is  richly  flavoured, 
juicy,  and  firm.  A  delicious  Plum 
indeed. — Eds.] 


THE  KELSEY  PLUM  (NATURAL  SIZE).      (In  colour  the  fruit  is  net  imlike  an  Elruge  Nectarine.) 


CONTINENTAL    NOTES. 

Pere.xnial   Pla.n'TS  to  Sow  ix   March. 

Altuough  perennial  plants  are  iucreasec' 
principally  by  division,  or  separation  ol 
the  clumps,  sowing  has  certain  advantages. 
The  resulting  plants  flower  more  freely, 
are  more  vigorous,  and  at  times  they  difl'er 
from  the  type. 

The  seed  of  a  certain  number  of 
perennial  plants  should  be  scored  in  order 
to  enable  them  to  germinate  properly  the 
following  spring,  such  as  Aconites, 
Gentians,  Hellebores,  perennial  Plilox, 
perennial  Primroses,  and  sweet-scented 
Violets,  all  plants  of  which  the  seed  ger- 
minates slowly.  Sowings  sliould  be  made 
from  October  to  the  end  of  .Januar3'  in  a 
cold  frame  in  a  slieltered  position,  with 
an  east  exposure  for  preference.  These 
S'lwiugs  can  be  treated  in  the  same 
manner  as  those  of  biennial  plants,  and, 
in  most  cases,  thus  treated  the  plants 
will  flower  the  following  year. 

Most  perennial  plants  are  sown  from 
Jlarch  to  the  end  of  April,  either  where 
they  are  to  flower,  like  the  Gypsophilas, 
Garden  Stock,  Lupins,  &c. ,  or  in  a  cold 
frame  in  a  good  position,  either  jjlanled 
out  or  in  pots ;  Achilleas,  Alj's.sum 
Corbeille  d'Or,  Atnebia,  Asphodelus, 
Aubrietias,     Bocconia,    Italian    Bugloss, 


222 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  5,  1902- 


perennial  Campanulas,  Cerastiums,  Doronicums, 
perennial  Gaillardias,  Chrysanthemum  Leucan- 
themum,  Carnations,  Potentillas,  Sedums,  Senecio 
pulcher,  Silenes,  Statices,  Thlaspi,  and  perennial 
Veronicas.  Some  perennial  plants  should  be  sown 
on  a  hot-bed  and  wintered  in  a  frame,  such  as 
Acanthus  and  .-Ethionema.  Others  should  be  sown 
in  peat.  When  sown  in  a  cold  frame  in  March, 
Asters,  Boltonias,  Chr3'santhemums,  Lychnis, 
Larkspurs,  and  Pyrethrums  are  certain  to  succeed. 
At  the  present  time,  when  even  in  the  smallest 
gardens  the  beds  require  a  large  number  of  plants, 
it  is  often  impossible  to  winter  and  propagate  by 
means  of  cuttings  a  sufficient  (juantity  of  certain 
perennial  species.  Sowing  enables  one  to  obtain 
plants  which  will  flower  the  same  year  ;  such  is  the 
case  with  Gauras,  Carnations,  and  Stevias,  generally 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  or  indoor  plants 
such  as  Coleus,  Heliotropes,  and  Impatiens,  of 
which  the  housing  in  winter  is  often  difficult  and 
cumbersome.  Propagation  of  indoor  plants  by 
means  of  sowing  is  usually  practised  in  the  case 
of  Achimenes,  Begonias,  Coleus,  Gloxinias,  and 
Tydeas. — De  Stappaert,  in  La  Revue  de  I'  Horti- 
culture Beige. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


SPRING-FLOWERING 
CROCUSES. 

No  other  early  spring-flowering  plants 
display  such  a  variety  of  beautiful 
and  highly  interesting  forms  as  these 
Crocuses,  not  even  the  Florist  or 
Dutch  Crocuses,  which,  although 
showy,  will  not  bear  comparison  to 
such  lovely  forms  as,  for  instance,  C.  Ale.xandnv, 
C.  Sieberi  var.  versicolor,  or  even  the  typical  C. 
aureus,  C.  Balansae,  or  C.  aerius.  Almost  every  wild 
form  of  Crocus  is  distinct  and  pretty,  but  not  very 
popular,  and  in  few  gardens  are  they  generally 
grown  and  properly  tended.  Many  of  these  vernal 
Crocuses  bloom  very  early,  and  in  order  to  prevent 
the  flowers  being  spoiled  by  frost  and  snow  plant 
the  bulbs  in  slightly  sheltered  positions  in  a  not 
too  heavy  and  binding  soil,  adding  sand  wherever 
possible.  The  best  time  for  planting  is  as  soon  as 
they  are  ripe,  but  they  may  also  be  lifted  during 
the  flowering  time  if  they  can  at  once  be  replanted. 
However,  the  proper  time  will  always  be  the 
autumn.  The  following  Crocuses  are  flowering  here 
at  the  present  time  :  — 

C.  chrysaiithiii. — A  beautiful  species,  with  several 
equally  pretty  forms,  varying  in  colour  from  bright 
yellow  to  deep  orange  or  golden  yellow,  especiallj' 
"the  form  C.  chrysanthus  var.  superbus,  which  has 
unusually  long  segments  and  orange  anthers  and 
long  protruding  scarlet  stigmata.  This  plant 
produced  its  first  flowers  early  in  .January,  and  is 
still  in  bloom.  The  later-flowering  forms,  fusco- 
tinctus  and  fusco-lineatus,  and  also  albidus,  are, 
however,  more  fugitive.  C.  biflorus,  with  its 
many  variable  forms,  is  another  very  pretty  plant ; 
the  flowers  differ  generally  in  the  exterior  mark- 
ings of  the  nearly  pure  while  segments.  In  some 
of  these  the  markings  are  very  rich,  especially  in 
the  form  nubigenus,  which  has  a  tinge  of  crim.son- 
blue  and  pink  on  a  white  ground  with  orange 
anthers  ai\d  bright  orange-scarlet  stigmata.  In 
the  typical  C.  biflorus  the  leaves  are  linear  and 
light  green,  and  from  (i  inches  to  9  inches  long. 
In  C.  biflorus  perpusillus,  a  dwarf  form  with  small 
but  numerous  flowers,  the  leaves  are  almost 
filiferous. 

C.  iiriuH. — This  is  a  delicate  species,  and 
increases  slowly,  but  is  very  distinct  and  beautiful, 
with  small  globular  flowers  of  pale  bluish  purple, 
feathered  deep  purple  and  small  orange-scarlet 
stigmata. 

C.  aiiren.1. — The  true  wild  species  is  one  of  the 
most  delightful  of  all  Crocuses.  It  has  uniform 
deep  golden  yellow  or  orange  flowers  with  the 
same  coloured  anthers  and  stigmata.  For  this 
species  another  less  pretty  form  identical  with 
what  is  commonly  called  Yellow  Dutch  Crocus 
is  often  sold.     The  usually  striped  forms  known 


as  C.  sulphureus,  C.  sulphureus  striatus,  and  others 
are  less  distinct  and  pretty  than  C.  aureus  but 
more  common. 

C.  Auchiri. — A  small  growing  but  free-flowering 
species  with  orange-yellow  flowers  and  very 
distinct  deep  shiny  green  rather  broad  leaves. 

('.  Korolkoii-ii  is  a  fairly  large-flowering  species, 
golden  yellow  flowers  with  exterior  brown  stripes, 
orange  anthers,  and  orange  stigmata. 

C.  Balnii'^it'. — There  are  several  forms  of  this, 
all  of  dwarf  growth,  and  with  short  foliage  and 
small  globular  flowers.  In  the  one  the  colour  is 
golden  yellow,  the  exterior  of  the  three  outer 
segments  being  bronze  or  brown,  while  in  the 
second  the  brown  tinge  is  absent,  and  the  third  is 
probably  a  sport  with  pale  yellow  flowers,  the 
tips  being  almost  white  ;  the  anthers  in  all  are 
orange,  and  the  stigmata  orange-scarlet. 

C  miterianua  and  C.  ancyreivii''  are  two  very 
pretty  species  with  golden  yellow  flowers,  allied 
to  both  C.  chrysanthus  and  C.  Aucheri. 

C  Imperati,  a  common,  at  the  same  time  showy. 
Crocus,  has  long  leaves,  sometimes  over  a  foot  in 
length,  and  large  flowers  with  the  inner  segments 
bright  rosj-  purple,  the  exterior  of  the  outer 
segments  being  feathered  and  suffused  puri)le ; 
the  anthers  are  pale  orange  with  large  orange- 
scarlet  stigmata.  There  is  also  a  pure  white  form. 
C.  .iiiareolevs  is  allied  to  C.  Imperati,  but  shorter. 
It  has  erect  leaves,  paler  coloured  flowers,  with 
the  exterior  striped  purple  and  tinged  buff.  It 
flowers  usually  ten  days  earlier  than  the  former. 

C.  verako/or  is  a  peculiar,  rather  pretty  species, 
with  light  green  leaves,  long  and  large  flowers  of 
a  bright  purple  colour,  the  exterior  being  feathered 
and  tinged  paler  purple,  and  orange  -  scarlet 
stigmata. 

C.  Maiyi  is  a  pretty  free-flowering  vigorous 
species  with  white  flowers,  orange  anthers,  and 
stigmata  of  the  same  colour. 

('.  miiiiniH-'i  and  C.  cor.viVv/.^-. — The  former  is  a 
dwarf  species  with  small  globular  flowers  of  violet 
colouring,  the  exterior  striped  and  feathered 
purple.  C.  corsicus,  on  the  other  hand,  flowers 
later,  and  has  the  same  coloured  flowers  but  light 
orange  anthers  and  bright  scarlet  stigmata.  In 
Corsica  the  first  is  simply  called  "forme  depres" 
and  the  latter  "forme  de  montagne." 

('.  Sieheri. — A  free-flowering  plant  with  bright 
lilac  flowers,  with  orange  anthers  and  showy  orange- 
scarlet  stigmata.  The  prettiest  of  all  is  no  doubt 
C.  Sieberi  var.  versicolor,  flowering  late,  not  before 
the  middle  of  March.  The  interior  segments  are 
white,  the  base  yellow,  with  beautiful  markings 
of  the  outer  segments  varying  from  crimson  to 
red-purple,  a  very  rare  jjlant.  C.  Alexandra?  has 
similar  coloured  flowers,  but  not  quite  so  decided. 
C.  her»ioneu.<,  white  flowered,  the  exterior 
pretty,  marked  with  purple  and  grey. 

C.  alatan'di-''. — A  very  distinct  and  also  very 
rare  plant,  having  long  linear  almost  filiferous 
leaves  and  long  though  otherwise  small  flowers,  pure 
white,  the  exterior  of  the  outer  segments  being 
distinctly  feathered  and  tinged  grey,  purple-orange 
anthers,  and  small  orange-scarlet  stigmata. 

Of  Crocus  vernus,  the  cultivated  varieties  being  so 
extensively  grown  in  Holland  for  export  as  bedding 
plants,  there  are  two  very  pretty  forms,  C.  Leedsi 
and  C.  vernus  var.  leuchorhuichus,  especially  the 
latter,  which  has  rich  purple  flowers,  the  tips 
being  pale  lilac  or  white.  It  is  a  very  showy 
form. 

Middlesex.  G.  Reutiie. 


CULTURE    OF   GLADIOLI. 

I  THINK  perhaps  that  most  of  those  who  write 
on  this  teautiful  autumn  flower  have  before 
their  minds  the  grand  class  of  what  are  called 
the  Gandavensis  hybrids,  which  originated 
with  the  late  M.  Souchetof  Fontainebleau,  and 
with  which  has  been  associated  of  late  years 
another  class  of  hybrids  into  which  ha<  been 
brought  the  influence  of  Ciladiolus  purpureo- 
auratus,  a  species  which  was  introduced  many 
years  ago  by  Mr.  William  Bull  of  Chelsea  ; 
it  has  been   crossed    with    the    Gandavensis 


varieties.  There  is  also  another  section,  the 
Childsii  group,  which  originated,  I  believe,  in 
America,  and  of  one  of  which,  Princess,  we 
hear  a  good  deal  ;  but  I  have  not  grown  theni, 
and  my  observations  will  therefore  lie  only  in 
reference  to  the  Gandavensis  section,  and  as  [ 
have  for  the  last  forty-five  years  grown  them, 
and  seen  from  year  to  year  the  wonderful  im- 
provement that  has  taken  place,  and  have  been 
in  constant  communication  during  that  period 
with  M.  Souchet  and  his  successors  MM. 
Souillard  and  Brunelet,  I  ought  to  be  able  to 
speak  with  some  authority  on  the  subject. 

The  history  of  the  flower  during  that  period 
has  certainly  been  a  remarkable  one,  and  unlike 
that  of  any  other  flower,  for  its  production 
has  been  confined  to  a  very  few  growers.  In 
France  one  may  say  positively  no  other 
florist  has  ventured  to  enter  into  competiticm 
with  the  Fontainebleau  firm.  Some  years  ago 
there  were  a  few  who  ventured  to  do  so,  but 
they  did  not  produce  any  flowers  of  any  great 
merit,  and  I  have  now  before  me  the  last  pub- 
lished catalogue,  that  of  1901,  issued  by  Messrs. 
Vilmorin  Andrieux  and  Co.,  who  distributed 
the  Fontainebleau  seedlings,  and  I  find  no  other 
name  but  theirs  in  the  list.  As  far  as  our 
English  growers  are  concerned  the  production 
of  new  varieties  has  been  almost  restricted  to 
one  or  two  growers.  For  a  great  many  years 
Messrs.  Kelway  and  Son  of  Langport,  Somer- 
set, held  the  field,  and  for  some  time  used  to 
cimtribute  to  the  autumn  show  held  at  the 
Crystal  Palace,  where  I  regularly  attended,  and 
saw  from  year  to  year  the  wonderful  improve- 
ment that  had  taken  place  in  the  production  of 
new  varieties.  One  great  object  which  the 
raisers  had  in  view  was  to  produce  flowers 
whose  spike  should  face  the  visitor  and  not  be 
back  to  back,  as  it  was  felt  that  this  was  a 
great  defect.  Various  plans  were  suggested  in 
order  to  do  away  with  this.  I  remember  seeing 
the  stifl'  leaves  of  the  Yucca  itsed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supporting  the  spike,  and  various  other 
contrivances  were  suggested  for  the  same 
purpose.  I  have  seen  an  exhibitor  carefully 
tying  every  bloom  to  a  support,  with  which 
the  flowers  were  invariably  exhibited.  After 
some  years  a  very  formidable  competitor  to 
Messrs.  Kelway  arose  in  the  person  of  Mr.  .John 
Burrell,  Howe  House  Xur.series,  Cambridge. 
He  did  not  save  his  seed  at  random,  but  caie- 
fully  hybridised  each  flower.  His  care  and 
patience  were  rewarded,  and  I  question  very 
much  if  his  flowers  do  not  take  the  very 
highest  position.  It  unfortunately  happens 
that  the  flowers  of  these  two  raisers  never  come 
into  competit  on  one  with  the  other — Messr.s. 
Kelway  invariably  show  at  the  Drill  Hall  and 
Mr.  Burrell  at  the  Aquarium. 

The  cultivation  of  the  Gladiolus  is  a  puzzling 
matter.  The  bulbs  or  corms  which  you  plant 
this  year  you  will  never  see  again  ;  each  corm 
has  one  or  two  eyes,  from  which  spring  the 
flowering  stems,  and  when  these  die  down  it 
will  be  found  that  a  fresh  corm  has  been 
formed  by  each  ;  it  will  not  be  as  large  as  the 
preceding  one,  and  year  after  year  it  diminishes 
in  size  and  vigour,  and  at  the  end  of  four  or  five 
years  vanishes  altogether.  Thus  many  of  the 
statements  made  about  it  are  misleading.  It  is 
perfectly  true  that  the  bulbs  will  grow  in  any 
ordinary  garden  soil  ;  but  it  is  also  true  that 
there  are  circumstances  ucder  which  they  grow 
more  favourably  than  in  others.  These  circum- 
stances are  not  only  connected  with  the  soil, 
but  with  the  climate.  Thus  in  Camliridgeshire, 
where  the  rainfall  is  smaller  than  in  any  other 
part  of  England,  a  heavy  loam  seems  to  be 
most  suitable  for  them,  but  if  they  were  planted 
in  the  same  sort  of  soil  in  the  district  where 
the  rainfall  is  large  it  would  no  doubt  lead  to 


April  5,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


223 


the  destructioa  of  the  bulbs.  In  the 
autumn  it  is  well  to  prepare  the  beds 
for  planting  in  the  following  spring. 
They  should  be  dug  over  for  a  depth  of 
1-2  inches  or  18  inches;  a  layer  of 
well-rotted  manure  should  be  placed 
at  the  bottom  of  the  trench  which  has 
been  dug,  and  should  be  incorporated 
with  the  soil,  while  the  upper  portion 
of  the  bed  should  be  kept  free  from 
any  manure,  as  the  Gladiolus  resents 
contact  with  any  fresh  manure.  In- 
deed, some  growers  are  of  opinion  that 
the  losses  to  which  many  are  subject 
is  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  the 
quantity  of  humus  in  the  soO,  even 
though  it  may  have  been  well  incor- 
porated with  it.  Now,  touching  these 
losses  there  is  much  difference  of 
opinion,  and  1  have  been  taken  to 
task  by  some  growers  for  mentioning 
tjicm,  but  I  think  it  is  unfair  to  those 
who  wish  to  cultivate  the  flowers  not 
to  state  the  difficulties  they  have  to 
contend  with.  There  is  a  certain 
amount  of  mystery  about  the  malady 
tlie  flower  is  subjected  to  which  I  have 
never  been  able  to  explain,  nor  have  I 
seen  it  explained,  but  my  hopes  have 
been  often  terribly  disappointed  ;  not 
only  have    I    found    when  I  came   to 

lift  my  bulbs  that  many  of  them  had       

l^erished  in  a  sort  of  dry  rot,  but  that 
others  which  I  had  lifted  and  stored 
away  perished  during  the  wnter.  I  had 
noticed  there  werea  fewspots  on  thebulbswhich 
had  increased  until  the  wholebulbs  had  perished 
in  the  same  sort  of  dry  rot  that  I  had  observed 
in  other  cases.  Some  said  it  was  from  degenera- 
tion (what  that  meant  I  do  not  know),  others 
from  exhaustion  of  the  bulbs,  and  others  from 
errors  in  the  soil  in  which  they  were  planted  ; 
but  none  of  these  reasons  seemed  to  me  to  be 
the  case.  How  then  it  may  be  said  can  the 
different  varieties  be  continued  ?  That  they 
are  continued  is  plain,  for  all  the  varieties  sent 
out  by  M.  Souchet  and  his  successors  are  cata- 
logued in  Messrs.  Vilmorin  Andrieux  and  (Jo.'s 
list,  and  can  be  had  from  them.  Around  the 
base  of  the  bulbs  a  number  of  small  buiblets 
are  every  year  formed  ;  these  are  removed  in  the 
autumn,  placed  in  small  bags,  and  then  planted 
in  the  spring,  sown  in  drills  like  Onion  seed, 
and  then  lifted  up  again  in  the  autumn.  8ome 
varieties  produce  a  large  number  of  these 
bulbils,  and  some  produce  them  very  sparsely, 
and  this  is  the  reason  why  some  bulbs  which 
have  been  put  into  commerce  in  the  same  year 
differ  so  largely  in  price.  Therefore,  as  I  have 
said,  though  growers  have  to  mourn  over  the 
loss  of  their  bulbs,  they  may  with  a  little  care 
and  patience  keep  up  their  stock.  There  is 
another  point  also  to  beconsidered  with  regard  to 
these  losses,  namely,  that  the  price  of  the  bulbs 
is  so  greatly  diminished  that  for  a  few  pence 
they  may  be  easily  replaced.  I  have  often 
compared  the  Gladiolus  with  the  Hyacinth. 
We  every  year  import  a  large  quantity  of  bulbs 
of  the  latter  from  Holland.  We  grow  them  in 
pots,  and  in  many  cases  after  flowering  we 
never  expect  to  see  anything  of  them  again  ; 
they  may  perhaps  be  relegated  to  the  open 
border,  but  we  take  no  count  of  them.  At  the 
tame  time,  taking  up  and  storing  the  bulbs  is 
a  matter  of  great  importance  ;  if  lifted  too  soon 
they  will  not  have  received  the  full  supply  of 
strength  thai  they  ought  to  gain  after  flowering, 
but  if  left  too  long  strong  fleshy  roots  will  be 
produced,  which  must  be  done  away  with  before 
the  bulbs  are  replanted,  and  then  again  the 
vigour  of  the  bulbs  will  be  diminished.  Where 
the  collection  is  large  the  smaller  bulbs  may  be 


C'EANOTHUS  AZUREFS  IN  THE  ROYAL  GARDENS,    KEW. 


taken  up  first,  but  where  it  is  of  moderate 
dimensions  they  may  all  be  lifted  at  the  same 
time ;  the  period  when  this  is  to  be  done  will 
depend  materially  on  the  locality  and  the 
character  of  the  season.  I  generally  find  the 
end  of  October  or  the  beginning  of  November 
the  most  suitable  time.  Each  year  the  raisers 
send  out  a  number  of  new  varieties,  and  these 
of  course  are  more  ex)iensive  ;  a  beginner  need 
not  trouble  himself  about  these,  but  the  more 
experienced  grower  will  like  to  know  what  they 
are.  The  following  were  sent  out  last  autumn 
by  Messrs.  A^ilmorin  Andrieux  and  Co.,  and  are 
without  exception  the  produce  of  the  Fontaine- 
bleau  firm. 

Commandant  Barutier. — Full  spike,  large 
flowers,  violet,  striped,  and  shaded  with  white 
at  the  base  of  the  interior  divisions,  excellent 
early  flowering  variety. 

Gladiateur.  —  A  long  compact  spike  of 
large  flowers,  very  full,  colour  a  brilliant  red 
striped  with  darker  shades  of  red,  with  white 
spots. 

Goliath. — Large  compact  spike,  very  large 
flowers,  a  clear  vermilion-red  with  white  spots, 
the  colour  very  distinct. 

Honore.— A  large  compact  spike  of  well- 
opened,  large,  flesh  coloured  flowers,  relieved  by 
stripes  of  bright  carmine  red  and  dark  orange 
spots,  a  flower  beyond  comparison. 

Jean  Bart. —  Fine  long  spike,  with  large 
flowers  of  a  bright  crimson  shade,  vvith  spots 
of  ivor}''  white. 

La  Francaise.— Splendid  spike  of  very  large 
well-opening  flowers  of  a  fine  clear  lilac  colour 
and  pure  white  spots. 

Mme.  Alfred  Pierret. — Long  and  handsome 
compact  spike,  with  numerous  large  flowers, 
pure  red  lilac  slightly  tinted  with  red,  a 
flower  of  the  flrst  order. 

Mme.  Chollet  de  Caradon. — A  compact  long 
spike,  flowers  large  and  opening  well,  of  a  pale 
citron-yellow  colour,  pale  amaranth  spots. 

Mentor. — Fine  spike  of  large  well-opened 
flowers,  colour  a  delicate  shade  of  red,  with  a 
deep  red  spot  bordered  with  white.  ,' 

Minotaure. — A  long  compact  spike  of  well- 


opened  flowers  of  a  brilliant  dark  red  colour,  a 
magnificent  flower. 

Turenno.— An  admirable  spike  of  well-opened, 
large  flowers,  clear  carmine-red  with  pure  white 
spots,  a  very  remarkable  flower. 

H.  H.  D'oMBRAIN. 


CEANOTHUS    AZUREUS. 

In  the  desire  to  have  its  varieties  C.  azureus 
the  species  is  frequently  overlooked,  but  it  is  a 
shrub  of  much  beauty,  one  of  my  favourites, 
as  upon  a  south  wall  it  has  made  wonderful 
growth,  so  much  so  that  the  wiry  leafy  branches 
have  reached  beyond  the  bedroom  windows. 
In  the  illustration  it  is  shown  as  a  bush,  and 
in  both  ways  is  always  a  pleasure  to  see,  the 
dense  shining  green  colouring  and  purple 
flowers  making  a  rich  picture.  It  is  a  Mexican 
shrub,  and  in  some  places  gets  hurt  during 
severe  weather,  but  in  the  garden  referred  to  at 
Chiswick  it  receives  no  shelter.  When,  how- 
ever, a  hard  winter  seems  likely  rough  covering 
wth  mats  is  a  necessary  precaution.  One  of 
the  best  of  all  Ceanothuses  is  Gloire  de 
Versailles,  which  is  the  result  of  crossing  C. 
azureus  with  C.  pallidus.  C. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 


PRUNING    OF     H  ARDY 
FLOWERING   SHRUBS. 

THE  systematic  pruning  of  hardy  flowering 
shrubs  receives  scant  attention  in  mauy 
gardens,  probably  through  the  require- 
nieots  of  the  various  subjects  not  being 
well  understood.  Shrubberies  of  a  few 
years  ago  required  quite  different  treat- 
ment to  the  up-to-date  shrubbery  or  collection  of 
shrubs  of  to-day.  Then  shrubberies  were  composed 
of  a  few  things  only,  these  being  repeated  with  such 
persistence  as  to  make  them  devoid  of  interest. 
The  plants  used  were  those  which  caused  least 
trouble,  and  an  occasional  thinning  out  or  cutting 
back  was  all  the  pruning  given  or  thought  neces- 


224 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  5,  1902. 


sary.  Now  it  is  diflferent.  In  well-appointed 
gardens  good  collections  of  hardy  shrubs  are  not 
xinusual. 

In  some  places,  however,  there  is  a  tendency 
to  let  tlie  shrubs  severely  alone,  treating  them  in 
a  similar  way  to  the  old  displaced  shrubberies. 
This  will  never  do  ;  flowering  shrubs,  or  in  fact 
shrubs  of  any  kind,  must  be  "cultivated"  if  the 
best  results  are  to  be  obtained  ;  the  ground  must 
be  worked  and  kept  clean,  strong  ones  must  not  be 
allowed  to  smother  weak  ones,  and  above  all  an 
annual  pruning  should  be  given.  Here,  again, 
another  important  item  occurs — the  time  for 
pruning,  for  as  it  will  not  do  to  prune  all  shrubs 
in  the  same  way,  neither  will  it  do  to  prune  all  at 
the  same  time  of  the  year  ;  some  ret|uire  pruning 
in  late  winter  or  early  spring,  others 
which  flower  on  last  year's  wood 
being  left  until  after  the  flowers  are 
over. 

Broadly  speaking,  four  kinds  of 
pruning  should  be  practised  —  i.e., 
shortening  branches,  thinning,  dis- 
budding and  the  removal  of  seed 
heads,  ami  root  pruning.  In  all 
cases  the  object  is  the  same,  to 
encourage  shoots  which  will  produce 
the  best  flowers  with  a  minimum  loss 
of  energy  to  the  plants.  In  some 
instances  where  a  few  branches  only 
are  made  the  result  is  obtained  by 
the  first  method ;  in  other  cases, 
where  slioots  are  very  numerous,  it 
is  necessary  to  considerably  reduce 
the  number  to  allow  light  and  air 
free  access  to  thoroughly  ripen  the 
wood.  In  other  cases,  again,  such 
as  tlie  Rhododendron,  the  removal 
of  superfluous  buds  and  the  old 
flower  heads  is  essential,  whilst  in 
cases  where  rank  shoots  are  made  at 
the  expense  of  flowers  root  pruning 
must  be  practised. 

When   pruning,  a   few   important 

nis  must  be  considered.  No 
jagged  cuts  must  be  left,  all  wounds 
being  cut  perfectly  clean.  No  snags 
should  remain,  shoots  should  be  cut 
out  to  the  base  and  not  left  a 
few  inches  long.  After  pruning  all 
wounds  of  any  importance  should  be 
at  once  dressed  with  coal  tar  to 
prevent  disease  germs  settling  on 
them. 

Among  the  many  genera  of  shrubs 
in  cultivation  the  following  have 
Ijeen  selected  for  separate  notice  as 
representative  of  the  others. 

Ceanothus. 

Although  a  few  species  only  are 
grown,  pruning  is  necessary  at  very 
different  times  of  the  year.  In  the 
case  of  C.  azureus,  C.  americanus, 
and  the  numerous  fine  flowering  gar- 
den varieties,  prune  in  spring.  This 
should  consist  in  thinning  out  the 
shoots  and  well  shortening  those 
left ;  in  many  cases  it  is  desirable 
to  spur  them  back  to  two  or  three 
eyes.      As    is   well   known,    all   the  bold: 

above-mentioned  flower  in  summer 
and  autumn  on  young  wood.  As 
a  contrast,  C.  divaricatus,  C.  papillosus,  C.  rigidus, 
and  C.  veitchianus  flower  in  spring  on  tlie  previous 
years  wood,  and  require  pruning  after  the  flowers 
are  over.  These  do  not  require  spurring  back, 
thinning  and  shortening  being,  as  a  rule,  necessary. 

Cytisus  an'd  Genista. 

These  two  genera  being  so  much  alike  can  be 
easily  treated  together.  As  in  the  previous  genus, 
there  are  two  distinct  sets,  one  that  flowers  from 
old  wood  and  one  from  young.  Of  the  former  set 
C.  albus,  C.  biflorus,  C.  pra;cox,  C.  purgans,  and 
C.  scoparius  (common  Broom),  and  varieties  may 
be  taken  as  examples  ;  and  of  the  latter  good 
representatives  are  C.  nigricans  and  U.  tinctoria 
and  varieties.     After  the  flowers  are  over  the  first- 


named  should  be  thinned  and  pruned  into  shape, 
the  latter  set  being  cut  fairly  hard  back  in  spring 
just  before  growth  commences.  These  shrubs 
should  never  be  cut  back  into  wood  that  is  more 
than  two  years  old  or  they  will  not  break  well ; 
it  is  better  to  confine  pruning  to  one  year  old 
shoots.  Two  notable  exceptions  to  pruning  are 
(i.  a'thnensis  and  G.  virgata  ;  except  when  young 
these  require  little  or  none,  and  take  a  much 
longer  time  to  reach  maturity.  In  the  ease  of 
most  of  the  species  renew  the  plants  every  few 
years. 

SvRiNGA  (Lilac). 
Attention   is  seldom    given   to   the   pruning   of 
Lilacs  in  gardens,  yet  it  well  repays  the  trouble. 
Good  Lilacs  should  be  free  from  suckers,  and  have 


V  I'I.anted  flower  borders  without  formal  ED(. 
(Photographed  by  ^fiss  WUtmott.) 

well-developed  heads  of  sturdy  branches.  Several 
times  in  early  summer  the  bushes  should  be  gone 
over  and  the  shoots  reduced,  leaving  only  those 
tliat  are  well  placed  and  strong.  By  this  removal 
of  superfluous  shoots  additional  strength  is  thrown 
into  the  flower  buds  and  more  light  and  air 
admitted  to  the  branches ;  through  these  aids 
much  finer  inflorescences  are  formed  than  when 
the  plants  are  left  severely  alone. 

Philadelphus. 

A  few  years  ago  the  belief  was  very  prevalent 
that  if  these  plants  were  pruned  they  would  not 
flower.  This  is  incorrect,  the  method  of  pruning 
being  responsible  for  the  failure.  Shortening  back 
of  branches  had  been  practised,  whereas  thinning 


is  the  correct  treatment.  Particularly  is  this  the 
case  in  the  dwarf  P.  Lemoinei  set.  Here,  as  soon 
as  the  flowers  are  over,  all  old  flowering  wood  must 
be  cut  back  to  strong  young  shoots,  leavin"  onlv 
sufficient  to  form  a  shapely  plant.  During  summer 
strong  shoots  .3  feet  long  will  be  made  which  will 
ripen  well  in  autumn  and  flower  profusely  in  the 
following  .June.  By  merely  shortening  the  shoots 
without  thinning  or  by  leaving  them  alone 
plants  four  or  five  years  old  become  perfect 
thickets  and  lose  all  their  gracefulness  and  beauty. 
The  taller  growers  may  also  be  thinned  after 
flowering. 

FORSYTHIA. 
Although  good  displays  are  obtained  without 
pruning,  the  results  are  mucli  finer  when  pruning 
is  done.  Prune  as  soon  as  the 
flowers  are  over,  and  last  year's 
wood  may  be  spurred  back  to 
within  a  few  eyes  of  the  old  wood. 
In  this  way  F.  suspensa  makes  strong 
shoots  4  feet  to  5  feet  long,  which 
flower  from  base  to  summit.  F. 
viridissinia  and  F.  intermedia  should 
be  treated  in  the  same  manner. 

Prunus. 

The  metliod  of  pruning  practised 
for  fruiting  Plums  is  suitable  for 
most  of  the  purely  ornamental  flower- 
ing species.  One  or  two  are,  however, 
exceptions.  P.  japonica  fl.  pi.  is 
improved  by  an  occasional  hard 
cutting  back.  This  gets  rid  of  old 
worn-out  flowering  wood,  and  en- 
courages strong  young  shoots,  which 
flower  with  great  freedom.  After 
flowering,  spur  the  shoots  back,  a 
severe  pruning  being  given  every 
five  3ears.  Prunus  triloba,  when 
grown  on  a  wall,  should  be  spurred 
back  after  flowering,  and  long, 
strong  shoots  encouraged. 

Sl'IR.EA. 

In  this  genus  the  chief  point  to 
attend  to  is  thinning.  Most  of  the 
species  grow  naturally  into  dense 
bushes,  many  of  the  inner  slioots 
never  being  able  to  develop  for  want 
of  space  and  light.  These  shoots 
should  be  removed  to  the  ground 
line,  leaving  only  sufficient  to  form  a 
well-balanced  shrub.  In  the  japonica 
group  more  pruning  is  required. 
Flowers  are  borne  in  large  heads 
on  strong,  soft  shoots  of  the  current 
season's  growth,  consequently,  in 
addition  to  well  thinning  the  plants 
out,  the  flowering  shoots  of  last  year 
should  be  shortened  to  about  half 
their  length ,  as  by  this  means  stronger 
shoots  are  made,  which  bear  corre- 
spondingl}-  larger  heads  of  flowers 
than  if  no  shortening  is  done.  In 
this  section  it  is  advisable  to  remove 
the  flower  heads  as  soon  as  the 
flowers  are  over.  In  the  case  of  S. 
arguta  peg  some  of  the  shoots  to  the 
ground  when  thinning  out,  as  by  this 

IING.  means   a   more    effective    display   is 

made. 
The    double  -  flowered    S.    pruni- 

folia  may  after  flowering  be  pruned  to  strong  back 

shoots. 

ROEITS.' 

Whether  grown  for  their  flowers,  fruit,  or  for 
the  winter  efi'ect  produced  by  the  coloured  stems 
of  some  species,  all  Rubi  are  benefited  by  an 
annual  removal  of  the  old  wood,  the  work  being 
done  as  soon  as  flowers  or  fruit  are  over.  The 
effect  of  a  mass  of  R.  deliciosus,  for  instance,  is 
quite  spoiled  if  the  old  wood  is  left  in  year  after 
year  until  it  becomes  a  choked  up  mass  of  dead 
wood,  with  here  and  there  a  patch  of  living 
branches.  By  pruning  the  mass  is  kept  light 
and  graceful,  and  the  plants  live  for  a  much 
longer  period.  The  same  thing  applies  to  other 
species. 


April  5,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


22S 


Pykus 
require  similar  treatment  to   that  given  to  well 
cultivated  Apple  trees. 

Rhododendrons 
and  other  members  of  the  Erica  family  are  greatly 
niproved  by  the  removal  o£  all  flower  heads  as 
soon  as  the  flowers  are  over,  Rhododendrons 
being  also  helped  by  thinning  of  the  buds  when 
a  heavy  set  is  made. 

Hydrangea  paniculata 
should  be  spurred  to  within  an  eye  or  two  of  the 
old  wood  in  March,  and  the  young  shoots  which 
follow  should  be  thinned  to  ten  or  twelve  to  each 
plant  if  large  heads  of  flowers  are  wanted. 
Deutzias,  Viburnums,  Cornus,  Lonioeras,  Berberis, 
&c.,  are  all  improved  by  thinning,  and  the  same 
may  be  said  of  nearly  all  shrubs. 

By  spurring  back  Wistarias  and  Pyrus  japonica 
free  flowering  bushes  are  obtained,  although  in  the 
latter  case  fine  flowered  bushes  can  only  be  had  by 
thinning  also. 

Magnolias 
rank  among  the  few  shrubs  and  trees  which  require 
little  or  no  pruning.  They  are  very  impatient  of 
interference,  both  at  the  roots  and  branches,  con- 
sequently as  little  as  possible  must  be  done.  When 
pruning  is  required  summer  is  the  best  time  to  do  it. 

8hrubs  such  as  the  coloured-stemmed  Willows 
and  Cornus  are  improved  by  hard  pruning,  the 
colour  being  much  finer  on  one  year  old  shoots 
than  it  is  on  older  ones.  It  is,  however,  inadvisable 
to  begin  cutting  back  old  Cornus  ;  it  is  far  better  to 
plant  young  ones  and  prune  from  the  commence- 
ment. Some  coloured  foliage  shrubs,  such  as  the 
Golden  Elder,  are  improved  by  an  annual  cutting 
back,  the  colour  of  the  leaves  being  finer  on  young, 
strong  shoots  than  on  old  wood. 
Root  Pruning. 

As  in  fruit  trees,  this  should  be  practised  when 
too  much  wood  is  made  at  the  expense  of  flowers. 
Very  often  the  object  can  be  accomplished  by 
lifting  and  replanting.  If  this  cannot  be  done  a 
trench  should  be  made  round  the  plant  and  some  of 
the  strongest  roots  removed.        W.  Dallimore. 


FLO"WER     BORDER     W^ITH 
INFORMAL.    EDGES. 

The  illustration  shows  the  value  of  a  bold 
planting  of  good  hardy  plants  with- 
out a  stiff  edging  to  the  walk.  Each 
plant  that  is  next  the  edge  shows  its 
own  way  of  growth  without  hindrance, 
and  the  eye  is  not  unpleasantly 
caught  by  a  stiff  edging  line  cutting 
between  them.  The  stiffly  edged 
walk  can  be  rightly  treated  also,  as 
in  old  gardens,  or  indeed  new,  where 
there  are  bold  borders  of  Box  edging. 
But  within  this  the  plants  are 
differently  chosen  and  differently 
treated.  The  border  shown  is  a  good 
example  of  the  way  to  treat  a  flower- 
edged  path  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  house,  where  it  leads  towards 
woodland  or  wild  ground. 


truly  characteristic  answer  in  these  parts 
where  raisers  are  so  curiously  jealous  of  parting 
with  their  treasures  to  strangers.  The  Nice 
growers  were  in  great  force,  and  f  howed  the 
finest  flowers  as  a  whole.  Claude  Eevaillot, 
Octave  Gimello,  and  Marius  Ghilionda  had 
fine  collections  of  their  own  raising,  much 
refined  in  quality,  clear  in  colouring,  and 
generally  non-bursters,  so  that  their  exhibits 
were  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  would-be  buyers. 
The  great  Antibes  grower  (Carriat)  had  less 
striking  exhibits,  as  his  flowers  grown  under 
glass  were  rather  drawn  up  by  the  heat  in  con- 
sequence. There  was  no  collection  of  seed- 
lings, all  true  to  one  type,  such  as  we  saw  last 
year,  but  the  quality  of  the  flowers  generally 
speaking  was  an  advance  on  previous  years 
and  the  envy  and  admiration  of  the  amateurs 
who  thronged  the  show.  Characteristically, 
the  two  finest  flowers  shown  were  without  any 
name  or  address,  so  that  the  stranger  should 
have  no  clue  to  their  raising.  One  was  a  group 
of  Iris,  presumably  a  hybrid  between  I.  susiana 
and  I.  Lorteti.  It  was  so  magnificent  in  size 
and  colouring  I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  from 
it,  yet  it  had  neither  a  name  nor  was  there 
any  trace  of  its  raiser  or  exhibitor.  The  other 
was  a  white  hybrid  Anthurium,  of  perfect 
purity  and  grandest  size,  which,  however,  had 
a  name,  being  named  after  Mme.  Demole,  but 
had  no  other  clue  to  its  raising. 

Peimula  Veeticillata 

is  now  much  used  as  a  spring  bedder,  and  is 
very  bright  and  sunny  in  efl'ect,  especially  when 
used  as  an  edging  to  the  masses  of  Cinerarias 
so  common  here.  The  other  day  at  Nice  I  saw 
many  fine  blooms  of  the 

New  Rose  Ameeican  Beauty, 
which  is  apparently  a  better  forcer  than 
Ulrich  Brunner,  and  rather  better  in  shape. 
Its  scent  is  delicious,  and  its  colour  does  not 
fade  as  quickly  as  that  of  Ulrich  Brunner,  so  it 
seems  as  if  it  would  be  a  real  gain.  Mrs.  John 
Laing  and  Gabriel  Luizet  were,  as  hitherto,  the 
finest  pink  Roses  shown.   Others  deserve  no 


special  remark.  The  Anemones  in  big  bunches 
of  distinct  varieties  and  colours  were  brilliant 
indeed,  but  the  Daffodils  shown  were  very 
inferior.  As  yet  the  handsome  trumpet  forms 
are  practically  unknown  here,  though  they  will 
do  very  well  when  planted  deeply  and  in  moist 
ground.  This  spring  has  proved  so  genial  and 
the  ground  is  so  full  of  moisture  that  every- 
thing is  forward  and  luxuriant.  The  various 
Irises  of  the  Germanica  section  a^e  in  good 
flower,  and  the  pretty  Tulipaclusiana  dots  the 
sunny  terraces  already.  E.  H.  Woodalt. 


DWARF    CAMPANULAS. 

(Continued  from  page   JOS.) 

C.  isopkylla  I  have  already  mentioned  ;  its 
white  form  is  well  known.  The  cottage 
windows  in  Devonshire  villages  often  have 
plants  of  it,  and  I  have  seen  some  wonderful 
specimens  of  it  that  I  am  sure  would  compare 
favourably  with  the  .300  flowered  plant 
mentioned  by  M.  Correvon. 

I  have  to  pass  a  number  of  varieties  quite 
unknown  to  me  till  I  come  to 

C  muralis  or  portenschlagiana. — This  is  a 
great  grower  with  me  and  flowers  for  five 
months  (longer  than  any  other  Campanula  I 
know).  It  is  a  pretty  plant  that  can  be  strongly 
recommended  (sec  illustration).  Robinson  says 
it  blooms  in  August  and  September  only,  and 
increases  slowly  ;  this  is  not  my  experience. 
Muralis  bavarica,  I  note,  must  be  called  in 
future,  major. 

C  pelviformis  I  had,  but  I  have  not  replaced 
it,  as  it  seemed  only  a  flat  form  of  carpatica. 

C.  imlla- — 1  am  not  at  all  sure  that  if  I  was 
asked  which  dwarf  Campanula  I  liked  the 
best  I  should  not  say  C.  puUa.  The  plants  I 
had  flowered  profusely ;  it  is  the  darkest  of  all 
the  Campanulas,  and  it  threatens  to  become 
almost  a  weed  (and  a  truly  beautiful  one)  so 
rampant  was  its  growth.  It  grows  on  my 
shady  rockery  in  pure  loam  with  a  little  sand, 
and  several  plants  are  12  inches  square  at 
least.     It  practically  loses  its  foliage  and  goes 


RIVIERA    NOTES. 

Cannes  Flowee  Show. 
The  above  show,  held  on  the  12th  ult, 
was  very  interesting.  The  Carnations 
were  splendid  in  quantity  and  quality. 
There  were  one  or  two  remarkable 
novelties,  especially  one  flower  which 
had  a  clear  lemon-white  trefoil  in 
the  middle  of  each  of  its  guard  petals, 
which  were  of  a  deep  red  ground, 
the  flower  itself  being  large  and  bold 
in  character.  On  asking  the  raiser 
when  he  would  have  plants  or  cuttings 
to  sell,  the  answer  received  was 
"Perhaps  in  ten  years  I  shall  have 
enough  stock  to  send  it  out ! "     A 


CAMPANULA   MURALIS,    KNOWN   ALSO   AS   C.    PORTENSCHLAGIANA,    BUT   MURALIS   IS   THE   BETTER   NAME. 


2^6 


THE   GAEDEN. 


[April  5,  1902. 


^^^^^V^p^^ 

CAMPANULA    G.    F.    WILSON.        SAXIFRAGA    MACN'ABIANA    ON    THE   RIGHT. 


to  rest  sensibly  in  the  winter,  so  tlie  fogs  hurt 
it  not.  Its  colour  prevents  a  photograph  doing 
it  justice. 

C.  pusilla.  —  This  pale  blue  Campanula  I 
have  already  referred  to  under  crespitosa  ;  it  is 
well  known  and  deserves  to  be.  It  grows  like 
a  weed  and  is  easily  increased,  self  sown 
seedlings  coming  up  everywhere.  Its  white 
form  is  also  good,  but  I  prefer  the  type. 

C.  i?a;  »«)•».— This  I  saw  true  for  the  first 
time  at  Mr.  Selfe  Leonard's  this  summer. 
The  plant  I  have  always  grown  as  0.  Raineii 
is  a  poor  thing  compared  to  the  true  plant, 
which  is  a  gem  of  the  first  water. 

C.  rotund /'/(>/ ill  — This  I  first  raised  from 
seed  gathered  on  Tooting  Bee  Common.  As 
an  instmce  of  what  rich  soil  will  sometimes 
(not  always)  do  for  plants,  a  last  year's  seedlins 
grew  into  an  enormous  pi  mt  with  hundreds  of 
blossoms.  I  have  sown  the  seed  all  over  the 
Common,  and  it  has  germinated  well  ;  the 
plants,  however,  never  throw  up  more  than  one 
flowering  stalk,  while  those  in  my  garden 
send  them  up  by  the  dozen. 

C.  thomnsiniana. — This  is  a  handsome  dwarf 
species  that  M.  Correvon  mentions  under 
waldsteiniana.  It  is  with  me,  however,  much 
more  to  be  desired.  Its  flowers  are  long  and 
tubular,  drooping,  and  about  1  inch  in  length. 
It  is  by  no  means  a  common  variety,  and  I 
obtained  it  from  Mr.  Prichard  of  Christchurch. 
It  is  one  of  the  gems  and  likes  shade. 

C.  tiir/)iiiata.—Theve  are  a  lot  of  forms  of 
carpatica  that  are  often  sold  for  turbinata,  but 
the  true  variety  is  by  far  the  best.  M. 
Correvon  does  not  mention  this  as  a  separate 
species  or  place  it  among  the  saxatile  Cam- 
panulas at  all.  It  is,  however,  to  my  mind  a 
long  way  from  carpatica,  and  much  to  be 
preferred.  I  had  two  varieties  from  Messrs 
Ware,  pallida  and  alba,  both  good  in  their  way. 
I  have  always  understood  it  was  one  of  the 
parents  of  Campanula  var.  (i.  F.  Wilson,  but  I 
was  wrong. 

C.  vialdsteiniana. — This  is  a  free  flowering 
and  free  growing  miniature  Bell-flower  that 
prefers  the  sun  to  shade,  unlike  thomasiniana 
Its  pale  blue  flowers  are  very  pretty,  and  its 
habit  is  compact  and  good. 

C.  Wihoni. — There  are  two  forms  of  this  in 
the  trade,  one  a  miniature,  the  other  a  border 


plant.  They  are  both  good.  C.  pulla  is  easily 
recognisable  in  both  of  them,  as  one  of  the 
parents,  but  I  liave  not  seen  the  second  form 
(?  third),  mentioned  by  M.  Correvon,  with 
yellow  leaves. 

Besides  the  above-mentioned  species  there 
are  many  hybrids  that  are  worth  growing. 
M.  Correvon  falls  foul  of  the  introducers  of 
most  of  them,  or  is  it  of  the  nurserymen  who 
exploits  them  after  they  are  introduced  ?  \ 
have  no  experience  of  the  (ierman  nurserymen, 
but  the  best  houses  in  the  trade  here  in 
England  are,  speaking  generally,  to  be  relied  on, 
and  unless  a  plant  is  worth  growing  they  do 
not  recommend  it. 

Amongst  some  of  these  hybrids  that  I  have 
grown,  or  perhaps  I  should  call  th  m  garden 
forms,  are  C.  Wilsoni,  C.  Mayi,  C.  Hostei, 
Riverslea,  Venusta,  Chad  Valley  Gem,  Bowood- 
iana.  Profusion,  and  1\.  Parker.  These,  I  think 
[  may  say,  are  distinct  in  their  way,  and 
certainly  my  garden  would  have  been  the 
poorer  without  them. 

Looked  at  from  a  botanical  point  of  view, 
perhaps  !M.  Correvon  is  right ;  but  I  am  not 
a  botanist,  only  a  flower  lover. 

Once  more  thanking  both  the  Editors,  and 
the  contributor  of  (to  me)  one  of  the  most 
interesting  series  of  articles  that  has  appeared 
in  The  Garden  for  a  very  long  time,  I 
conclude  with  the  hope  that  we  may  hear  more 
on  this  subject  from  some  of  those  who  I  know 
are  interested  in  the  dwarf  Campanulas. 

Herbert  E.  Molyneux. 

B<ilham,  S.  IF. 

[The  Bell-flower,  formerly  known  as  C. 
hederacea,  was  not  included  in  M.  Correvon's 
monograph,  because  botanists  have  detached  it 
from  the  genus  Campanula  and  have  placed 
it  in  the  .separate  genus  Wahlenliergia.— Eps.] 

M.  Correvon  also  gives  us  the  following 
notes  : — 

1.  C.  Allionii.— This  gives  good  .seed  abun- 
dantly ;  the  seed  germinates  well,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  rear  the  seedlings,  as  they  are 
liable  to  rot  away  or  to  be  killed  by  a  kind 
of  rust. 

2.  C.  alpina.  —  It  is  quite  likely  that  in 
England  it  grows  taller  than  in  its  native 
places  or  in  the  garden  at  Geneva. 

3.  C.  reni'sia  does  well,  even  very  well,  in 


some  parts  of  England,  as  for  instance  at 
Warley,  in  Essex,  where  it  is  grown  in  poor 
gritty  soil. 

4  C.  hederavea  is  detached  from  Campanula 
and  included  in  Wahlenbergia,  as  in  ''Index 
Kewensis." 

.').  C.  thomasiniiDicb  is  a  synonym  of  wald- 
steiuiana.     (See  "Index  Kewensis.") 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 

THE    STRAWBERRY. 

OVER  many  hardy  fruits  the  Straw- 
berry can  claim  an  advantage. 
While  others  most  commonly  culti- 
vated in  British  gardens  yield  little 
or  no  return  until  some  considerable 
time  after  planting,  for  instance  the 
Apple,  Pear,  Plum,  Cherr^',  the  Strawberry  pro- 
duces its  best  the  next  season.  And  this  charac- 
teristic should  commend  the  culture  of  the  Straw- 
berry to  all  who  have  a  garden.  Other  advantages 
hardly  of  less  value  can  also  be  urged  in  its  favour, 
viz.,  an  enormous  number  of  plants  can  be  grown 
upon  a  comparatively  small  piece  of  ground  ;  these 
occasion  no  elaborate  cultural  practices  such  as 
pruning,  training,  &c.,  are  easily  propagated,  and 
the  returns  are  quick.  Considering  these  facts,  and 
also  how  delicious  and  refreshing  a  fruit  the  Straw- 
berry is,  it  is  not  surprising  that  it  should  be 
grown  very  largely  for  market,  both  out  of  doors 
and  under  glass.  The  favourite  county  for  Straw- 
berry cultivation  for  market  is  Kent,  acres  and 
acres  of  ground  being  there  devoted  to  them. 

The  extremely  numerous  varieties  of  the  Straw- 
berry that  are  now  in  cultivation,  and  the  number 
is  annually  increasing  by  the  addition  of  new 
sorts,  are  the  offspring  of  several  species  of  Frag- 
raria,  two  of  the  most  important  of  which  are  the 
Chilian  and  the  Virginian  Strawberries.  The 
Virginian  species  was  introduced  to  this  country 
in  1029,  while  that  from  Chili  did  not  arrive  until 
1727.  This  had,  however,  been  cultivated  in  the 
Royal  Gardens  at  Paris  and  also  in  Holland  for 
some  time  previous  to  its  being  brought  to  England 
from  Holland  by  Mr.  Miller.  Germany  is  the  home 
of  the  Alpine  Strawberry,  whence  it  was  brought  to 
England  in  1768.  Although  many  new  varieties 
have  been  raised  during  the  past  century,  it  is 
probably  doubtful  if  there  are  now  more  varieties 
in  cultivation  than  there  were  in  1820,  for  then 
Mr.  Knight,  president  of  the  Horticultural  Societj", 
had  no  less  than  400  sorts  in  his  garden.  And  the 
reason  is  not  far  to  seek — it  is  the  same  with  other 
fruits.  As  new  and  improved  varieties  are  raised 
and  placed  before  the  public,  some  of  the  older  ones 
disappear.  Although  since  then  a  great  improve- 
ment so  far  as  size,  colour  and  appearance  of 
fruit,  and  vigour  of  growth  of  the  plants  has  been 
effected,  a  corresponding  amelioration  in  the  quality 
of  the  flavour  of  the  Strawberry  can  hardly  be  said 
to  have  been  achieved.  Many  of  the  large  and 
handsome  varieties  now  grown  are  wanting  in 
flavour,  and  cannot  be  creditably  compared  with 
some  of  the  older  ones,  .so  far  as  this  important 
particular  is  concerned.  In  that  the  raisers  have 
increased  the  fruit-bearing  capacity  and  enhanced 
the  hardiiiess  and  vigour  of  the  Strawberry  they 
have,  however,  done  good  work,  and  it  will  doubt- 
less not  be  long  before  some  of  the  most  handsome 
of  the  new  varieties  have  a  better  flavour. 

Cdltivation  Odt  of  Doors. 
To  successfully  cultivate  Strawberries  in  the  open 
ground  demands,  primarily,  a  thorough  preparation 
of  the  latter.  The  plants  are  but  short-lived,  and 
the  assistance  that  can  afterwards  be  given  to  them, 
although  material,  is  not  comparable  to  that  afforded 
by  properly  preparing  the  ground  in  the  first  place. 
As  a  rule  the  Strawberry  plant  never  produces 
such  fine  fruit  as  in  the  first  two  seasons.  The  very 
best  fruit  is  obtained  the  first  year  after  planting, 
although  perhaps  not  in  such  quantity  as  from 
the  second  year's  crop.  In  many  gardens,  however, 
the  Strawberry  plantation  is  allowed  to  remain  on 
the  ground  for  three  years,  and  if  the  land  was  in  the 


Apeil  5,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


227 


first  place  well  prepared  excellent  fruits  should  be 
had  for  three  seasons ;  in  the  third  year  they  pro- 
bably will  not  be  so  large  as  the  fruits  previously 
obtained,  although  the  quantity  may  be  equal. 
One  sees,  therefore,  that  three  years  (at  the  most) 
is  the  period  during  which  the  Strawberry  plant 
produces  its  best  fruit,  and  the  necessity  for  having 
the  land  in  the  best  condition  before  planting 
should  be  obvious. 

Soil. 
No  plant  perhaps  delights  in  a  deep  rich  loamy 
soil  more  so  than  does  the  Strawberry,  and  to 
enable  it  to  produce  good  crops  of  really  first  class 
fruit  that  should  be  provided.  It  is  a  commendable 
practice  to  cultivate  Strawberries  upon  ground  that 
has  recently  been  occupied  by  Celery,  for  the 
making  of  the  trenches  for  this  vegetable  will  have 
had  practically  the  same  effect  upon  the  land  as 
if  it  had  been  trenched  in  the  orthodox  manner. 
Specially  trenching  the  ground  can  hardly  be  said 
to  be  necessary  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Straw- 
berry in  the  way  that  it  is  to  fruit  trees,  for  the 
roots  of  the  former  do  not  go  nearly  so  deeply  in 
search  of  food  as  do  those  of  the  latter. 

A.  P.  H. 
(To  he  continued.) 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


EA.RLY    MARCH   IN  TRESCO   ABBEY 
GARDENS,  ISLES  OF  SCILLY. 

THE  Reserve  Squadron  this  year  included 
the  Isles  of  Sciliy  in  the  programme  of 
their  spring  cruise,  and,  being  a  guest 
on  board  one  of  the  battleships,  I  was 
enabled  to  renew  my  acquaintance  with 
the  Tresco  Abbey  Gardens.  At  no 
time  in  the  year  can  a  visit  to  these  far-famed 
gardens  be  devoid  of  interest,  and  though  at  the 
commencement  of  March  the  brilliant  midsummer 
eiTect  of  breadths  of  glowing  Kalosanthes  and 
resplendent  masses  of  Mesembryanthemums  was 
lacking,  the  attention  was  soon  absorbed  in  making 
a  mental  note  of  the  numerous  rare  and  beautiful 
plants  that  were  flowering  on  all  sides.  Many  of 
the  Correas  were  in  fine  bloom,  these  including 
C.  cardinalis,  C.  Harrisii,  C.  virens,  C.  alba,  and 
others.  Agave  arborescens  hanging 
over  a  cliff  face  made  a  bright 
note  of  colour  with  its  orange- 
scarlet  tapering  heads  of  bloom, 
and  of  the  many  species  of  Acacias 
successfully  cultivated  in  the 
gardens  several  were  blossoming, 
amongst  these  the  most  noticeable 
were  A.  dealbata,  A.  thelastroides, 
A.  longifolia,  A.  rotundifolia,  and 
A.  nielanoxylon,  the  lastasplendid 
tree  about  .50  feet  in  height, 
literally  covered  with  pale  yellow 
flowers,  which  were  thrown  into 
high  relief  by  a  back  ground  of 
Firs.  Arctotis  arborescens  and 
A.  aspera,  though  out  of  flower, 
were  showing  a  few  scattered 
blossoms.  The  former  species  had 
made  rampant  growth,  forming  a 
mass  some  1'2  feet  in  length  and 
5  feet  high.  In  the  Scillies  it 
blooms  profusely  in  the  summer,  a 
character  that,  according  to  my 
e.xperience,  it  does  not  show  on 
the  mainland,  where  in  ordinary 
soil  it  does  not  blossom  with 
sufficient  freedom  to  be  strikingly  * 
ornamental.  Agapanthus  umbel- 
latus,  even  thus  early  in  the 
year,  held  heie  and  there  a  blue 
bloom-scape,  and  Anthol^  za  ffithio- 
piea  by  the  pathside  was  bearing 
numerous  flower  spikes  set  with 
their  long,  tubular  scarlet 
blossoms. 

A  fine  shrub  of  Anopterus  glan- 
dulosus'from  Van  Dieman's  Land, 
S,bout^;6  feet  in  height,  had  just 


expanded  the  first  of  its  white  Lily  of  the  Valley- 
like panicles,  and  in  the  lowest  of  the  rocky 
pondlets  Aponogeton  distaohyon  was  in  flower. 
Candollea  tetrandra  was  freely  set  with  its  clear 
yellow,  single  flowers,  and  great  bushes  of  Cytisus 
racemosus  were  in  good  bloom,  as  was  also  a  white 
Cytisus.  A  fine  specimen  of  Datura  sanguinea, 
some  8  feet  in  height,  which  had  been  blossoming 
more  or  less  since  the  preceding  summer,  held 
some  dozens  of  its  drooping  long-tubed  flowers, 
and  Drimys  aromatica  was  also  in  bloom,  as  were 
Edwardsia  (Sophora)  microphylla,  the  pretty 
Fuchsia  cordifolia,  with  its  handsome  scarlet  and 
green  flowers,  and  C4revillea  rosmarinifolia  a  good 
month  earlier  than  on  the  mainland.  Along  a 
rock-edged  border  Lithospermum  prostratum  was 
displaying  its  deep-blue  blossoms,  Megaseas  (Saxi 
fraga  cordifolia)  were  in  full  flower.  Paris  Daisies 
were  carrying  a  fair  scattering  of  bloom,  and  many 
of  the  seen  ted -leaved  Pelargoniums  were  thickly 
set  with  blossom.  The  Mesembryanthemum  season 
was  still  some  months  distant,  but  out  of  the  12(J 
species  grown  at  Tresco  Abbey  one,  M.  productum, 
was  a  sheet  of  rosy  purple,  and  the  brilliant  orange 
M.  aurantiacum  was  rapidly  coming  into  bloom. 
Trees  of  Sparmannia  africana,  about  1-2  feet  in 
height,  both  single  and  double  flowered,  were  in 
fine  blossom.  A  splendid  specimen  of  Rhododen- 
dron argeuteum,  seventeen  years  old  and  some 
13  feet  high,  was  in  flower,  its  trusses  of  large 
white  blooms  being  very  ornamental,  while  some 
of  the  R.  arboreum  section  were  also  in  3  iwer. 

Though  one's  interest  is,  naturally,  most  attracted 
by  subjects  that  are  in  flower  at  the  time  of  a  visit 
to  any  garden,  it  is  impossible  to  be  at  Tresco 
without  being  struck  with  the  number  of  rare 
exotics,  not  necessarily  in  bloom,  which  are  met 
with  in  every  corner  of  the  grounds.  Of  Palms  a 
specimen  of  Corypha  australis,  which,  as  far  as  I 
know,  does  not  become  established  in  the  open  on 
the  mainland,  though  I  have  met  with  a  form  of 
Chamserops  masquerading  under  this  name  in 
certain  gardens  in  the  south-west,  about  7  feet  in 
height,  was  the  picture  of  health  ;  and .  young 
plants  of  Phcenix  canariensis,  5  feet  or  so  high, 
were  doing  well.  Chaniferops  (Traehycarpus) 
Fortunei  and  C.  excelsa  were  represented  by  fine 
examples  about  1.5  feet  in  height.  Of  the  many 
Agaves,  A.  salraiana  was  conspicuous  for  ir,s  noble 
form,    and   in   the   large   collection   of    Aloes   the 


fiercely-spined  A.  ferox,  growing  in  masses  ovo 
the  rocks,  was  an  interesting  feature.  A  fine 
Dasylirion  acrotriehum  growing  near  the  abbey 
had  thrown  up  a  tall  flower-spike  during  the 
preceding  summer,  a  portion  of  which  was  still 
visible.  Puya  chilensis  had  covered  a  space  of 
some  20  feet  square  with  its  great  Aloe-like  leaves, 
and  gave  evidence  of  having  flowered  freely,  while 
P.  C(erulea  was  also  noteworthy.  Fine3-oung  trees 
of  Araucaria  excelsa,  about  20  feet  high,  showed 
\'igorous  health,  as  did  an  excellent  specimen  of 
A.  Bid  Willi,  the  Moreton  Bay  Pine.  Among  the 
numerous  representatives  of  the  Dracrena  family  a 
young  plant  of  the  Dragon  Tree  (D.  Draco)  about 
6  feet  high  was  evidently  at  home,  but  Cordyline 
indivisa,  which  flowered  in  April,  1895,  and  an 
illustration  of  which  appeared  on  page  86,  vol.  xlix. , 
of  The  Garden,  though  in  considerably  better 
health  than  at  the  time  of  my  last  visit  in  August, 
189S,  had  not  entirely  regained  its  proportions  of 
1895.  Since  that  date  it  has  on  several  occasions 
pushed  out  flower-spikes,  but  these  have  been 
removed  owing  to  the  weakening  effect  of  flower- 
bearing.  A  large  Banksia  grandis,  30  feet  in  height, 
was  still  carrying  some  of  its  bottle  brush-like 
flowers,  and  another  tree  with  somewhat  similarly 
shaped  blossoms,  Callistemonspeciosus,  had  flowered 
abundantly.  Another  genus  of  ten  confounded  with 
Callistemon,  namely,  Metrosideros,  was  well  exem- 
plified by  several  fine  trees  of  M.  robusta,  from 
25  feet  to  30  feet  in  height,  which  in  July  are 
covered  with  their  brilliant  crimson  flowers. 

A  feature  of  these  trees  is  the  aerial  roots  that 
hang  from  their  branches.  An  interesting  tree 
was  Myoporum  hutum,  bearing  lanceolate  leaves 
covered  with  countless  pale-coloured  spots,  which 
are  transparent  when  the  leaf  is  held  up  to  the 
light.  Clethra  arborea  16  feet  in  height  is  in  the 
summer  white  with  its  charming  flower  racemes, 
and  the  huge  clump  of  Iris  robinsoniana,  the 
Wedding  Flower  of  Lord  Howe's  Island,  might 
easily  have  been  mistaken  for  the  New  Zealand 
Flax  (Phormium)  with  its  great  leaves  5  feet  and 
more  in  length.  This  Iris,  or  Morfea,  is  grown  in 
one  or  two  gardens  on  the  mainland,  but  I  believe 
has  never  flowered  in  the  open  anywhere  in  the 
British  Isles  except  at  Tresco  Abbey,  where  its 
bloom-spikes  attain  a  height  of  7  feet.  Near  a 
series  of  rock-girt  pools  formed  of  late  years  a  fine 
Prickly  Pear  (Opuntia)  is  growing.     In  the?e  pools 


THE  CAMPANni..\  IN  FRONT   IS   C.    PCTSILLA  ;   NEXT   TO   IT   C.    MUBALI^. 


228 


THE  GARDEN. 


[April  5,  1902. 


are  grown  the  best  of  Marliac's  Water  Lilies,  and 
the  blue  Nymi)h;ea  stellata  has  endured  the  winter 
unprotected.  It  has,  however,  been  found  advis- 
able to  lift  this  species  and  return  it  to  the  pond  in 
the  late  spring  so  as  to  induce  earlier  flowering. 
Other  notable  trees  and  shrubs  were  Banksia 
littoralis  and  B.  serrata,  Cassia  corymbosa, 
Uesfontainia  spinosa,  Kriostemon  buxifolius, 
Escallonia  organensis,  Heliocarpus  cyaneus,  Mela- 
leuca hypericifolia,  Olea  f ragrans,  Dodonsea  excelsa, 
the  Camphor  Tree  (Dryobalanops  aromatica), 
Ecbium  callithyrsum,  Erabothrium  coccineum, 
Eurya  latifolia,  and  Psoralea  pinnata. 

In  a  sheltered  spot  in  the  lower  level  of  the 
gardens  are  some  splendid  Tree  Ferns.  On  the 
mainland,  where  Tree  Ferns  are  successfully  grown 
in  retired  nooks,  Dicksoniaantarctica  is  the  species 
most  to  be  depended  upon,  but  at  Tresco  Abbey 
other  species  are  equally  at  home.  Cyathea  medul- 
laris  has  fronds  over  7  feet  in  length,  and  C.  deal- 
bata  is  also  in  the  best  of  health,  while  Dicksonia 
antarctica  and  D.  squarrosaare  both  fully  L5feet  in 
height  and  carry  enormous  heads  of  wide-spreading 
fronds. 

A  short  visit  to  the  Tresco  Abbey  bulb  farm, 
where  the  business  of  cutting  and  bunching  many 
thousands  of  Narcissi  was  in  full  swing,  ended  a 
most  enjoyable  and  instructive  afternoon.  It  was 
the  height  of  the  season  for  the  Narcissi,  and  the 
morning  the  Reserve  Squadron  anchored  in  St. 
Mary's  Roads  a  record  had  been  made  by  the 
Penzance  steamer  loading  48  tons  of  flowers  for 
the  English  market,  while  the  two  preceding  boats 
had  carried  between  them  80  tons. 

S.   W.   FiTZHEKBERT. 


distinct  and  valuable  late  sort,  and  is  in  season 
from  Christmas  to  April.  The  variety  is  one 
of  the  strongest  grovi'ing  Apples  I  know, 
and,  like  Blenheim,  the  tree  with  age  will 
attain  enormous  size  and  proportion.  It  is 
more  fitted  for  the  orchard  than  the  garden. 
At  the  same  time,  when  worked  on  the  Para- 
dise stock  a  few  bush  or  pyramid  trees  will  be 
found  useful  in  the  garden,  for  worked  on  this 
dwarfing  stock  the  growth  of  the  tree  is  kept 
within  moderate  limits  and  its  early  fruiting 
assisted.  Owen  Thomas. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not   responsible   for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.) 


[T. 

S' 


golden  chains  of  flowers  was  quite  a  sight.  At 
one  time  I  lost  a  good  many  things  yearly  from 
injudicious  treatment,  but  experientia  docet,  and 
now  I  have  comparatively  few  failures  to  record 
except  such  as  are  unavoidable  in  very  severe 
winters  like  189.5,  when  most  of  a  large  stock 
of  Kniphofia  succumbed  to  the  intense  frost. 
Of  course,  many  things  require  renewing  from 
time  to  time,  sometimes  from  having  over- 
llowered  oi'  exhausted  the  soil  round  them. 

I  should  like  some  time,  if  you  will  allow 
me- [With  great  pleasure.— Eds.]— to  give  my 
experience  as  to  what  can  be  grown  in  a  small 
garden  of  little  more  than  an  acre  with  no 
special  advantages  of  soil  or  climate. 

Boss,  Hereford.  H.  South  all. 


HARDY  FRUITS  IN  SEASON. 

Apple  Bramley's  Seedling. 
Another  comparatively  new  and  valuable 
culinary  Apple  is  the  above.  It  was  intro- 
duced into  public  notice  about  the  same  time 
as  Newton  Wonder  (illustrated  and  noticed  in 
The  Garden  of  March  l-'i),  and  has  received 
the  first-class  certificate  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society.  As  an  orchard  tree  it  does 
not  come  into  bearing  quite  so  soon  as  many 
other  popular  culinary  sorts,  but  when  once 
the  tree  is  established  it  is  a  certain  and 
prolific  beartr.  The  fruit  must  be  classed 
among-t  the  largest  ;  it  is  of  great  weight 
and  substance,  is  of  rather  acid  flavour, 
not  unlike  Wellington  in  this  respect,  a  most 


APPLE  JJRAMLBV'S  seedling.     (Heiglit  of  original  3J  i7iches,  vridth  SJ  inches.) 


THE   VANISHING    BULB. 

[To  THE  Editor  oe  "The  Garden."] 
IR, — I  have  read  with  much  interest  in 
your  issue  of  March  22  the  excellent 
letter  of  Mrs.  Leslie  Williams  on 
"  The  Vanishing  Bulb."  I  admire  the 
persistency  with  which  your  corre- 
spondent perseveres  in  again  and 
again  endeavouring  to  grow  plants  which  she 
has  previously  been  unsuccessful  in  attempting 
to  do.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  if  the  truth 
were  known,  her  successes  are  much  greater 
than  her  failures.  As  an  old  plant  lover  and 
grower  (it  is  now  sixty-five  years  since  I  began 
to  collect),  I  may,  perhaps,  be  allowed  to  give 
shortly  my  own  experience  in  regard  to  some 
of  the  plants  spoken  of. 

First  of  all,  as  regards  Cyclamens,  there  is 
no  plant  which  gives  me  less  trouble.  The 
hardy  species  such  as  coum,  europium, 
heder;«folium,  repandum,  Atkinsii,  &c.,  grow 
like  weeds  all  over  my  garden  in  some  places 
where  nothing  else  thrives,  preferably  where 
there  is  some  shade.  They  grow  freely  from 
seed,  but  some  of  the  old  plants  have 
very  large  corms  and  increase  from  year  to 
year.  The  late  Mr.  James  Atkins,  of  Pains- 
wick,  who  was  so  celebrated  a  grower  of  these 
plants,  gave  me  my  first  roots,  and,  what  is 
more,  inspired  me  with  a  love  and  taste  for 
rock  gardening  and  for  growing  hardy  peren- 
nials which  has  been  a  source  of  continual 
pleasure  ever  since. 
He  was  by  far  the 
most  successful  cul- 
tivator of  difficult, 
rare,  and  delicate 
out  of  door  flowers 
I  have  met  with. 
His  collection  of 
Saxifrages  was,  I 
believe,  uneciualled, 
the  more  tender 
ones  being  grown  in 
6-inch  or  9-inch  pots 
and  plunged  in  sand 
in  a  cold  frame 
during  the  winter, 
forming  splendid 
specimens  full  of 
blossom  when 
turned  out  in  the 
spring. 

Such  plants  as 
Phyteuma  comosum 
and  other  alpine 
rarities  were  quite 
at  home  with  him. 
His  rockery,  too, 
with  masses  of  Tro- 
jxeolum  polyphyl- 
lum  -covered    with 


THE  PROPOSED  ROYAL  HORTICUL- 
TURAL SOCIETY'S  HALL. 
[To  the  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — It  is  most  satisfactory  to  find  that  the  site  of 
the  proposed  Horticultural  Hall,  which  abuts  or 
looks  on  to  that  fine  open  space,  Vincent  Square,  is 
in  a  much  better  position  than  was  originally  thought 
possible.  At  present,  covered  with  houses,  the 
leases  of  which  are  expiring,  it  was  a  matter  of 
absolute  necessity  that  notice  as  to  the  termination 
of  those  leases  should  be  given  at  once,  hence  the 
apparent  hurry  in  calling  the  recent  special  meeting 
of  the  Fellows.  There  are  capital,  indeed,  wide 
approaches  to  the  hall  from  Victoria  .Street, 
whilst  the  position  is  relatively  much  quieter  than 
is  that  of  the  Drill  Hall.  There  is  evidently  little 
traffic,  and  there  should  be  ample  room  for  loading 
or  unloading  vans  without  causing  any  public  incon- 
venience. The  site  is  not  more  than  four  minutes' 
walk  from  the  Victoria  end  of  .James  Street.  So 
far  all  is  satisfactory.  The  overwhelming  vote 
given  in  what  was  the  largest  meeting  of  Fellows  I 
have  ever  seen  showed  plainly  how  strongly  were 
the  minds  of  those  present  set  on  the  erection  of  a 
hall.  Still  further,  the  vote  was  one  absolutelj' 
of  confidence  in  the  council's  financial  capacity  to 
.deal  with  the  difficult  subject  of  cost.  Whilst  all 
must  respect  the  views  of  such  estimable  gentlemen 
as  Mr.  Shea  and  Mr.  Bennett-Poe,  still  there  are  on 
the  council  gentlemen  of  undoubted  financial 
ability,  and  it  can  hardly  be  doubted  but  that  they 
have  considered  the  matter  fully.  Certainly,  had 
there  been  any  wavering  on  the  part  of  the  meeting 
with  respect  to  voting,  it  would  have  been  strongly 
influenced  by  the  able  speeches  of  Sir  W.  T. 
Thiselton-Dyer,  Sir  Michael  Foster,  M.P.,  and 
Dean  Hole. 

It  is  not  now  in  any  sense  the  question  of  the 
provision  of  a  garden,  greatly  as  such  a  garden  is 
needed,  it  is  useless  for  those  who  favour  it  to  kick 
against  the  pricks.  The  great  majority  of  the 
Fellows — and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  those 
present  fairly  represented  the  views  of  the  absent 
ones — have  resolved  upon  a  Horticultural  Hall, 
and  a  hall  will  be  provided.  It  is  now  to  be  hoped 
that  amongst  the  thousands  of  Fellows,  many  of 
whom  are  wealthy,  it  will  be  comparatively  easy 
to  raise  in  voluntary  donations  the  entire  sum 
needed  to  erect  the  hall  and  offices,  and  that  it  will 
be  a  handsome,  lofty,  well-lighted,  and  warmed 
hall,  such  as  shall  make  not  only  a  splendid 
show  and  meeting  place,  but  shall  also  be  much 
sought  after  by  others  for  baziars,  concerts, 
meetings,  conferences,  and  such  other  things  as 
are  constantly  held  in  London.  Right  in  the 
centre  of  a  vastly  populated  district,  a  splendid 
hall  should  earn  to  the  society  fully  fl.tlOO  per 
year.  A.  D. 

AGAPANTHUS    UMBELLATUS    ALBUS. 

[To  the  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  observe  Mr.  Dugmore's  remarks  re  my 
advice  on  the  above  plant.  If  Mr.  Dugmore  will 
kindly  again  read  those  remarks  he  will  find  they 
had  leference  oidy  to  pot  plants.  I  have  never  tried 
this  Agapanthus  outside,  because  I  regard  it  as  of 
doubtful  hardiness;  it  would  probably  require  some 
sort  of  protection  during  winter  on  these  hills,  and 


April  5,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


229 


especially  so  in  this  garden,  where  a  considerable 
amount  of  moisture  collects  during  autumn  and 
spring,  which  I  regard  as  far  more  disastrous  than 
sharp  frost  with  less  moisture.  I  must,  however, 
confess  that  the  advice  given  is  very  contradictory, 
and  must  confuse  rather  than  clear  up  any  point  of 
culture  ;  but  so  far  as  my  own  treatment  is  con- 
cerned I  am  satisfied  that  it  will  answer  for  pot 
plants.  I  am,  however,  putting  another  little 
matter  to  test,  viz.,  dividing  a  plant  into  single 
crowns  and  potting  the  largest  singly,  and  the 
smaller  ones  by  themselves,  as  I  have  an  idea  that 
these  smaller  ones  go  a  long  way  towards  pre- 
venting the  larger  from  flowering.  With  regard  to 
the  variety  I  find  that  the  one  I  grow  has  leaves 
exactly  intermediate  between  those  of  A.  mooreanus 
and  the  ordinary  blue  form.  The  plants  are  now 
developing  their  leaves.  The  one  here  is  deciduous 
only  according  to  treatment ;  if  water  is  withheld 
it  becomes  so,  if  kept  moist  it  retains  a  certain 
amount  of  foliage.  T.  Arnold. 

The  Gardeiifi,  Cirencester  House. 


THE     INDOOR     GARDEN. 


CAMPANULA 
DALIS  IN 


PYRAMl 
POTS. 


FEW  plants  are  more  showy  in  July 
than  Campanulas,  and  few  more 
easily  cultivated  for  indoor  decora- 
tion. When  well  grown  they  are 
charming.  There  are  so  many  varied 
tints  among  tiie  Canterbury  Bell 
section  that  they  are  always  very  useful  for 
cool  conservatories.  The  Campanulas  Ijeing 
biennials  should  be  sown  early  in  the  spring, 
either  March  or  April.  It  is  necessary  to 
guard  against  damp,  as  when  sown  thickly  in 
pans  in  a  warm  house  they  soon  damp  oft".  It 
is  also  necessary  to  sow  the  seeds  evenly  to 
prevent  damping,  and  as  soon  as  the  plants 
are  well  up  remove  to  a 
shelf  or  frame,  keeping  close 
to  the  glass.  It  is  best  to 
secure  the  seed  from  a  good 
dwarf  strain.  I  have  for 
years  taken  much  interest 
in  Campanulas,  and  have 
annually  selected  the 
dwarfest  plants  with  good 
substance  in  the  bloom-*.  I 
have  tried  the  well-known 
plan  of  planting  out  the 
seedlings  in  the  summer 
and  lifting  into  puts  in  the 
autu)nn  or  early  in  the 
spring,  but  I  prefer  pot  cul- 
ture, using  7-inch  or  8-inch 
pots,  and  getting  the  pots 
well  filled  with  roots  by  the 
late  autumn.  They  will  then 
stand  our  winters  in  a  cold 
frame  or  plunged  over  the 
rims  of  the  pots  on  a  shel- 
tered, well  -  drained  border, 
as  they  sufter  more  from 
damp  than  cold.  We  usually 
sow  in  a  temperature  of  60° 
in  well  -  prepared  soil,  and 
cover  with  a  piece  of  glass 
or  a  hand-light  and  keep 
moist.  The  seedlings  are 
pricked  off  as  soon  as  ready 
to  handle  into  3-inch  pots 
and  shifted  on  as  required. 
It  is  also  a  good  plan  if  the 
plants  are  not  large  to 
winter  them  in  (3-inch  pots, 
and  to  shift  into  8-inch  ones 
early  in  March.  In  this  way 
more  plants  can  be  stored, 


and  there  is  less  loss  than  when  potted  late  in 
the  autumn.  When  planted  out,  they  should  be 
placed  in  their  quarters  as  soon  as  large  enough. 
I  have  usually  pricked  them  out  into  boxes  from 
the  pans,  they  then  lift  with  a  nice  ball  and  grow 
much  stronger  than  when  planted  out  of  the 
seed  pan.  I  find  this  the  best  system  to  adopt, 
and  though  it  entails  more  labour,  it  gives 
much  finer  heads  of  bloom  that  are  useful  for 
large  vases  when  cut.  The  Campanulas  are 
water-loving  plants  when  in  robust  health,  and 
therefore  reciuire  abundant  supplies  of  moisture 
and  feeding  when  they  commence  to  grow  in 
spring.  They  should  have  a  large  proportion 
of  loam  with  some  decayed  manure  in  the 
compost,  and  not  too  much  drainage  at  the  last 
two  shifts.  They  do  well  with  some  old 
mortar  rubble  mixed  with  the  soil,  and  if  the 
manure  is  omitted  some  bone-meal  is  a  good 
substitute. 

The  Chimney  Campanula  (C.  pyramidalis)  if 
sown  at  the  same  time  as  C.  Medium  is  a 
grand  plant  to  form  a  succession  to  the  last 
named.  It  requires  much  the  same  treatment, 
but  is  not  quite  so  strong  and  more  suitable 
for  pot  culture  than  others,  and  comes  into 
bloom  at  the  end  of  July,  lasting  for  some 
time  if  the  dead  blooms  are  removed  as  they 
go  off.  I  find  this  variety  more  subject  to 
damp  than  C.  Medium,  and  do  not  advise 
extensive  planting  out,  liut  pot  culture.  These 
plants  also  require  fifteen  or  sixteen  mouths 
from  the  time  of  sowing  the  seeds  if  large 
specimens  are  desired  ;  indeed,  they  will  not 
give  good  spikes  the  following  season  if  not 
sown  early.  Some  will  fail  to  bloom  at  all,  so 
that  early  sowing  is  necessary.  Care  should 
also  be  taken  that  the  seedlings  are  not  all 
selected  from  the  strongest  when  potting,  asthey 
are  often  all  of  one  colour,  and  in  these,  as  in 
the  first  named,  there  are  many  shades  of  colour 
in  the  blues  and  whites.     C  pyramidalis  may 


also  be  increased  from  suckers,  especially  if  any 
good  variety  is  required  to  be  kept.  These  are 
readily  propagated  if  taken  off  with  a  heel  and 
placed  in  a  cold  frame  in  small  pots  in  a  sandy 
comjiost.  Many  of  this  section  attain  a  height 
of  4  feet  to  6  feet  when  well  grown,  but  in 
these,  as  in  C.  Medium,  I  prefer  those  which 
give  strong  spikes  and  are  not  so  tall.  A  sturdy 
plant  with  numerous  spikes  of  bloom  is  very 
showy,  and  does  not  require  so  much  staking. 
There  are  also  numerous  other  varieties  all 
worth  pot  culture,  but  for  general  use  those 
named  give  the  largest  quantity  of^  bloom 
and  are  readily  grown  in  an  ordinary  frame  or 
greenhouse.  W. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

WORK  in  this  department  will  now 
be  most  pressing,  both  as  regards 
planting  the  crops  and  attend- 
ing to  those  already  planted. 
Much  will  depend  on  the  localit}-, 
the  nature  of  the  soil,  and  the 
state  of  the  weather,  but  no  opportunity  should 
now  be  missed,  especially  on  heavy  land,  when  it 
is  in  workable  condition,  of  getting  in  the  various 
seeds,  plants,  &c.  The  serious  damage  done  to 
the  ground  by  working  on  it  when  in  a  moist  and 
soft  condition  can  hardly  be  over-estimated,  but, 
as  sometimes  is  the  case,  we  have  a  number  of  wet 
day.o,  the  ditticulty  can  partly  be  got  over  by  using 
light  boards  for  walking  on.  The  ground  between 
the  rows  may  be  lightened  by  pointing  over  with 
a  fork  later  on. 

Asparagus  Beds 
should  be  neatly  raked,  and  on  light  soils  apply  a 
good    dressing    of    soot    and    also    some    reliable 
artificial    manure.       Small  -  growing   Cauliflowers, 
such   as   Karly  Forcing,  may  be  planted  between 


CAMPANULA   pyramidalis   IN   THE  CONSERVATORY   AT   HADSOK,    NEAR  DROIT WICH. 


2S0 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[April  5,  1902. 


the  beds,  but  it  is  a  bad  practice  to  attempt  to 
grow  any  other  crop,  such  as  Lettuce,  &c.,  on  the 
beds. 

Potatoes. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  ■20th  of  April  1 
consider  the  best  time  for  planting  the  main  crop 
of  these,  and  if  the  sets  have  been  properly 
prepared  by  laying  them  out  on  trays  singly  in  a 
fairly  light  place,  so  that  the  young  shoots  are 
stout  and  sturdy,  they  will  be  much  safer  than  if 
planted  at  an  earlier  date.  It  is  when  the  tubers 
are  allowed  to  lay  thickly  in  a  dark  and  too  warm 
a  building  that  they  become  damaged.  In  planting 
Potatoes  I  consider  by  far  the  best  plan  is  to  open 
small  trenches  with  the  spade  rather  than  to 
dibble  them  in,  and  if  possible  place  either  a  little 
leaf  soil  or  old  Mushroom  bed  manure  over  the 
sets,  and  then  the  finest  of  the  soil  taken  from  the 
trench.  Small  marks  should  be  made  down  the 
centre  of  the  trench  with  the  hoe,  so  that  the 
surface  soil  may  be  stirred  if  necessary  before  the 
young  growths  appear. 

Cakkots. 

The  main  sowing  should  be  made  any  time  before 
the  end  of  the  month  on  well-prepared  ground,  but, 
especially  for  this  crop,  choose  a  time  when  the 
ground  is  in  a  drj'  condition.  When  exhibition 
specimens  are  required  holes  should  be  bored  a 
good  depth  with  an  iron  bar  and  filled  up  with  a 
finely  sifted  compost,  and  there  is  nothing  better, 
when  it  can  be  had,  than  old  potting  soil  used  in  a 
moderatelj'  dry  condition. 

Onions. 

Where  large  bulbs  are  required  these  will  have 
been  brought  forward  under  glass,  as  previously 
advised,  and  they  should  now  be  thoroughly 
hardened  off  prior  to  planting  out.  The  site  on 
which  they  are  to  be  grown  will  have  been 
previously  deeply  trenched  and  manured,  but 
advantage  should  be  taken  of  fine  days  to  prick  it 
over  with  a  fork.  Scatter  over  the  surface  a  good 
dressing  of  soot  and  wood  ashes  and  a  little 
patent  manure  or  bone  dust.  The  hoe  should  be 
used  constantly  between  all  growing  crops,  such  as 
Spring  Cabbage,  Cauliflowers,  Spinach,  and  Turnips, 
and  a  piece  of  ground  ought  to  be  got  in  readiness 
for  sowing  all  kinds  of  Winter  Greens. 

E.  Beckett. 

Aldciiham  JIoiixi  Garden.},  Etntrte,  Hirts. 


THE  INDOOR  GARDEN. 

The  Conservatory. 
In  order  to  keep  up  a  bright  display  introduce 
plants  of  Azaleas,  Lilies,  (Jenistas,  Richardias, 
Cinerarias,  Imantophyllums,  Lilacs,  Djulzias, 
Dlelytras,  Roses,  and  Mignonette.  Cleanse  and 
prune  the  growth  of  climbing  plants.  Ventilation 
should  be  given  according  to  the  temperature  out 
of  doors. 

EUI'HOKBIA    JaCQUINIJCFLORA. 

Cuttings  should  now  be  taken,  choosing  those 
that  are  maturing,  and  furnished  with  a  heel  of  the 
one  year  old  wood.  Insert  three  round  the  edge  of 
small  pots  in  a  mixture  of  loam  and  peat,  with 
surticient  silver  sand,  place  in  the  propagating 
frame,  and  tilt  the  light  during  the  night  to  allow 
moisture  to  escape,  as  these  plants  are  apt  to  damp 
oil' if  kept  close. 

PLUMB.Atio  Rosea  Coccixea 
is  a  lovely  old  plant  that  one  seldom  sees  grown 
nowadays  ;  it  is  one  of  the  best  plants  for  winter 
decoration.  It  is  of  a  free  branching  habit, 
producnig  spikes  of  red  flowers  over  2  feet  in 
length  during  the  whole  winter.  It  may  be 
increased  as  advised  for  the  Kuphorbia. 
Gesneras. 

Successional  batches  should  be  started.  They 
thrive  in  a  light  compost  of  fibrous  loam,  with  a 
little  peat  and  silver  sand  added.  Thorough 
drainage  should  be  given,  and  the  compost  be 
presscil  moderately  firm  in  potting.  Cover  the 
bulbs  with  almost  an  inch  of  soil,  and  withhold 
watei'  until  growth  begins.  Keep  a  sharp  look  out 
for  thrips.  To  keep  them  in  robuet  health  they 
require  a  moist  atmosphere  ;  they  like  plenty  of 
water  at  the  roots,  but  must  not  be  syringed,  as 
they  dislike  water  on  their  leaves. 


Persian  Cvclamens. 
Plants  that  have  been  flowering  during  the  winter 
are  now  going  to  rest,  and  must  not  be  neglected, 
but  when  required  for  the  next  season  must  never 
be  allowed  to  become  actually  dry.  Water  should 
be  gradually  reduced  until  the  foliage  dies  down. 
Give  shade  from  bright  sunshine,  and  keep  them 
well  syringed,  as  dry  treatment  is  sure  to  result  in 
an  attack  of  thrips.  Personally,  I  never  grow  the 
bulbs  the  second  year,  as  one  can  get  generally  from 
1.50  to  200  blooms  on  seedling  plants  twelve  months 
old.  The  flowers  and  foliage  are  always  larger  and 
finer  than  on  old  bulbs. 

Tuberoses. 

Pot  successional  batches,  place  in  warmth,  and 
sj'ringe  them  daily.  Attention  must  be  paid  to  the 
potting  of  seedlings,  such  as  Clerodendron  fallax, 
Grevilleas,  and  Begonias.  Lantanas  that  were 
propagated  in  the  autumn  should  be  shifted  into 
larger  pots.  Most  of  the  Lantanas  grow  rapidly, 
and,  if  treated  liberall}'  and  the  laterals  kept  well 
pinched,  soon  make  fine  specimen  plants.  They 
thrive  in  a  compost  of  three  parts  fibrous 
loam  and  one  part  leaf-mould,  with  a  little 
dry  sheep  manure  and  sand,  and  require 
to  be  potted  moderately  firm.  Cuttings 
put  in  now  will  make  useful  plants  for 
autumn  flowering.  While  growing  keep 
them  well  syringed.         John  Fleming. 

Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Slough. 

THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
Beddini;  Plants 
Of  every  description  shoxdd  now  be  nearly 
ready  for  the  purpose  for  which  they  have 
been  raised.  Strong  hardy  plants  with 
good  foliage  and  plenty  of  roots  will  soon 
till  the  beds  if  other  conditions  are  satis- 
factory. If  the  stock  of  Calceolarias  is 
short  an  increase  ought  to  be  made  at 
once,  one  had  better  have  small  plants 
than  none  at  all.  (Jeraniunis,  Gazanias, 
&c. ,  might  be  placed  out  in  the  open  to 
harden,  though  means  should  be  taken 
to  protect  them  in  case  of  frost  at  night. 
The  hardy  class  of  bedders  may  be  planted 
out  at  any  time  as  soon  as  the  beds  are 
ready  for  them.  East  Lothian  Stocks,  if 
raised  in  December,  will  be  ready  for 
planting  out  now.  Carnations,  Pansies, 
Gladioli,  Montbretias,  &c. ,  should  be 
planted.      In  planting 

Gladioli 
to  any  extent  for  cutting,  it  is  wise  to 
do  so  in  two  or  three  batches,  allowing  a 
fortnight  or  so  to  intervene.  By  this  means 
a  succession  is  kept  up.  It  is  quite 
unnecessary  to  plant  them  with  a  trowel, 
for  if  drills  arc  made  with  a  spade  and  the 
bulbs  placed  in  them,  the  work  is  done 
far  more  expeditiously  and  the  result  is 
the  same.  The  beds  and  borders  for 
annuals  must  now  be  got  ready  pre- 
paratory to  sowing.  AH  turfing  should  be 
finished  as  early  as  possible.  The  present  is 
preferred  by  many  for  planting  evergreen  shrubs. 
Hedges  of  Hollies,  Yews,  and  Thujas  may  be  made 
now  with  every  pro.spect  of  their  doing  well  ;  well- 
broken  ground  and  a  good  mulching  of  half-rotten 
manure  are  two  important  items  to  provide  when 
planting.  HDt;H  A.   Pettigrew. 

Castle  Gard(;nx,  SL  Fayan.i. 

FRUIT   GARDEN. 

Early  Fkjs. 
Such  early  varieties  as  St.  John's,  Early  Violet, 
cfec. ,  grown  in  pots,  with  heavy  crops  freely  growing 
and  their  soil  full  of  roots,  should  be  top-dressed 
with  a  rich  compost,  the  turfy  portions  of  it  being 
placed  upon  the  rims  of  the  pots,  both  for  the 
purpose  of  absorbing  liquid  manures  when  given 
and  rendering  these  of  easy  application.  No  fruit 
responds  to  correct  treatment  better  than  the  Fig, 
but  the  treatment  must  accord  with  the  condition 
under  which  the  trees  are  cultivated,  and  pot  trees 
may  safely  be  much  more  liberally  supplied  with 


nutriment  than  those  planted  out  in  borders.  As 
the  fruit  approaches  maturity,  with  a  view  to 
improve  both  its  flavour  and  colour,  admit  air  more 
freely,  especially  when  the  weather  is  warm  and 
otherwise  favourable.  E.'cpose  the  fruit  to  sun  and 
air  by  removing  any  superfluous  shoots  that  have 
been  previously  overlooked,  withhold  liquid  manure, 
and  diminish  the  supply  of  clear  water.  When  the 
fruit  ripens  stop  syringing  and  maintain  a  com- 
paratively dry  atmosphere. 

Successional  Fic  Trees, 
where  planted  out  in  borders,  and  having  had  their 
shoots  thinned  and  stopped  as  advised  in  a  previous 
calendar,  should  have  the  fruits  thinned  early  to 
two  or  three  upon  each  growth.  To  the  same 
end  a  mulching  of  decayed  or  dried  cow  manure 
will  be  beneficial,  and  the  border  should  be  liberally 
supplied  with  tepid  water  and  periodical  soakings 
of  liquid  manure.  Keep  the  temperature  of  the 
house  by  artificial  means  at  60''  to  (5.')"  by  night, 
and  about  10°  more  by  day,  allowing  it  to  run  up 
to  85°  or  90*  during  sunshine,  always  taking  care 


supposed  hy'brid  apple,  showing  its  eruitfulness. 


that  proper  ventilation  is  afforded.  Close  early 
and  thoroughlj'  syringe  the  foliage,  which  will  both 
keep  red  spider  in  check  and  promote  a  desirable 
moist  night  atmosphere.  Late  trees  for  aflording 
an  autumn  supply  of  fruit  should  have  timely 
attention  to  disbudding,  thinning,  and  stopping  of 
shoots,  bearing  in  mind  that  shoots  crowded 
together  can  neither  produce  good  fruit  nor  them- 
selves ripen  perfectly. 

The  Cherry  House. 
Where  this  house  is  furnished  with  trees  planted 
out  the  borders  should  be  kept  e(|uably  moist  by 
waterings  and  a  light  mulch  of  short  litter.  The 
temperature  by  artificial  means  must  not  exceed 
50°  even  after  the  fruit  is  set,  or  failure  will 
probably  result  from  the  fruit  dropping  during  the 
stoning  period.  Keep  the  house  as  cool  as  possible 
during  hot  sunny  weather  by  syringing  the  trees 
morning  and  evening,  opening  the  ventilators  to 
their  fullest  extent,  and  not  closing  them  until  the 
sun-heat  has  diminished  and  the  temperature  fallen 
below  60°.  After  the  fruit  has  stoned  stop  the 
laterals  beyond  the  fourth  leaf,  which  will  ensure  a 
supply  of   fruitful  spurs  for   next  year.      These 


April  "5,  1902:] 


THE    GARDEN. 


2:Jr 


remarks  apply  equally  to  cordon  trees  planted  out 
and  to  bushes  in  pots  ;  in  the  case  of  the  latter, 
however,  suitable  growths  should  be  left  where 
necessary  to  fill  vacancies,  and  in  each  case  exten- 
■sion  should  be  provided.  T.  Coo Ji  BEE. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

Apple  and  Pear  Hybrid. 
Mr.  John  Ward,  Shodon,  R.S.O.,  Hereford, 
Tsindly  sends  us  a  photograph  of  a  bearing  shoot  of 
the  supposed  hybrid  between  an  Apple  and  a  Pear, 
and  of  which  we  illustrated  a  single  fruit  in  our 
issue  of  the  22nd  ult.  We  have  pleasure  in  here 
reproducing  the  photograph  sent  by  Sir.  Ward,  as 
it  gives  an  excellent  idea  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  fruits  are  borne. 


OBITUARY. 

MR.    CHARLES    FISHER. 

We  regret  to  record  the  death  on  the  21st  ult.  of 
Mr.  Charles  Fisher,  of  Oakfield  House,  Hands- 
worth,  who  was  for  nian3'  years  head  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Fisher,  Son,  and  Sibray,  nxirserymen 
and  seedsmen.  Mr.  Fisher,  who  was  in  his 
seventy  -  ninth  year,  was  in  good  health  until 
recently,  when  he  experienced  a  heart  seizure 
and  died  a  few  days  afterwards.  Deceased  was  a 
life-long  resident  in  the  parish  of  Handsworth, 
where  his  father,  grandfather,  and  great  grand- 
father had  resided  before  him.  The  firm  of  Fisher, 
Son,  and  Sibray  was  founded  by  his  great  grand- 
father, and  the  family  connexion  with  it  was 
maintained  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  was 
converted  into  a  limited  company,  ilr.  Fisher's 
interest  in  the  business  ceased  shortly  afterwards, 
and  he  has  since  been  living  in  retirement,  but 
still  occupying  him.'ielf  with  his  favourite  pursuit 
of  horticulture.  Mr.  Fisher  was  recognised  in  his 
day  as  one  of  the  leading  nurserymen  of  the 
country,  and  he  was  well-known  and  highly 
«steerae(3.  His  long  connexion  with  the  Hands- 
worth  nurseries  added  much  to  the  reputation  of 
the  business.  The  cultivation  of  the  garden, 
however,  was  to  Mr.  Fisher  more  than  a  business — 
it  was  a  hobby  of  which  he  never  wearied,  and  in 
which  he  found  a  life-long  pleasure.  His  last 
conversation  with  members  of  his  familj'  was  in 
reference  to  the  gardens  at  Oakfield.  Mr.  Fisher 
never  took  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  but 
he  was  very  highly  esteemed  in  Handsworth  and 
district,  and  his  kindly  and  genial  disposition 
made  him  plenty  of  friends.  In  Sheffield  he  was 
exceedingl3'  well  known,  although  during  the 
past  year  or  two  he  has  not  been  seen  in  the  city 
so  often  as  formerly.  Deceased  is  survived  Ijv  two 
daughters.  Mrs.  Fisher  died  some  thirteen  yearsago. 


MR.  G.  F.  WILSON. 

We  are  very  sorry  to  hear  that  Mr.  Wilson  passed 
awa}'  on  Good  Frida3'  at  his  residence,  Heatherbank, 
Weybridge  Heath,  at  the  age  of  eight}'  j'ears,  after 
many  months  of  suffering.  The  annouincement  of 
his  death  will  be  a  real  grief  to  the  hundreds  of 
earnest  amateur  horticulturists  who  had  the 
pleasure  and  privilege  of  either  corresponding  with 
ilr.  Wilson  or  visiting  his  beautiful  woodland  and 
hillside  garden  at  Wislej',  where  since  1S7S  he  has 
planted  thousands  of  plants  and  shrubs  from  all 
parts  of  the  temperate  world  in  different  soils  and 
asjjects  for  experimental  culture. 

In  the  Times  of  Tuesday  last  a  concise  account 
of  his  life  is  given,  and  in  it  is  mentioned  that  ilr. 
Wilson  was  "for  many  years  a  managing  director 
of  Price's  Patent  Candle  Company.  His  scientific 
work  included  the  discovery  of  the  means  of 
obtaining  pure  glycerine,  in  connexion  with  which 
he  read  a  paper  at  the  C41asgow  meeting  of  the 
British  Association  in  1855.  The  year  previously 
he  read  before  the  Royal  Society  a  paper  on  the 
value  of  steam  in  the  decomposition  of  neutral  fatty 
bodies." 

in  The  Gardes  of  .January  1,  1900,  page  17, 


Mr.  Wilson  tells  in  his  own  words  the  history  of 
his  gardening  life,  huw  his  first  love  was  for 
growing  pot  fruit  trees,  then  to  the  culture  of 
Lilies,  and  so  on,  until  the  gardens  at  Heather- 
bank  and  Wisley  have  become  a  store-house  of 
rare  and  interesting  flowers.  Here  the  blu3  Prim- 
roses, which  had  their  birth  at  Wisley  ;  there 
some  lovely  alpines,  perhaps  difficult  to  grow  gene- 
rally, but  growing  to  perfection  under  this  great 
gardeners  care,  and  in  the  time  of  summer  trails 
of  colouring  from  the  Japanese  Irises,  opening  in 
thousands  their  flat  heads  of  purple,  rose,  white, 
and  many  other  shades,  seedlings,  for  the  most 
part,  raised  in  the  garden. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  a  Lily  enthusiast,  and  his  notes 
about  the  family  contributed  to  the  Lily  conference 
last  year  remain  an  important  contribution  to  the 
subject,  because  they  were  the  result  of  actual 
experiments  and  observation.  His  notes  to  the 
horticultural  press  were  practical.  His  was  a 
practical  nature,  and  nothing  daunted  this  great 
gardener  in  accomplishing  his  object.  Hence 
plants  luxuriate  at  Wisley  that  are  dismal  failures 
elsewhere,  for  the  reason  that  probably  at  Wislej' 
a  dozen  spots  in  the  garden  had  been  tried  before 
just  the  right  conditions  were  discovered.  The 
rare  Lilium  rubellum,  the  little  Soldanellas, 
Shortia,  Hchizocodon,  and  other  things  were  quite 
happy,  spreading  freely  and  flowering  with  delight- 
ful regularity. 

Many  pleasant  hours  have  we  spent  with  Jlr. 
Wilson  as  our  guide,  walking  along  the  shady  grass 
paths  and  roaming  in  the  Iris  fields  of  Wisley,  every 
inch  of  ground  holding  .some  precious  favourite, 
and  with  the  pond  sides  filled  with  flowers  that 
seek  moisture  for  their  sustenance.  Readers  of 
The  Garden  know  all  this,  for  on  more  than  one 
occasion  we  have  illustrated  the  most  beautiful 
spots  of  this  woodland  retreat. 

Here  are  Mr.  Wilson's  own  words  about  the 
beginning  of  his  Lily  culture.  At  first  fruit  grow- 
ing was  his  hobby.  "I  grew  manj'  sorts  of  good 
fruit,  and  got  a  first  prize  for  early  Pears,  against 
thirty-six  competing  dishes,  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
show,''  he  wrote  in  The  Garden  of  .January  6, 
1900,  and  "the  next  move  was  at  a  sale  at 
Stevens's,  where  there  were  some  lots  of  .Japanese 
Lily  bulbs,  supposed  to  be  sea  damaged.  The  old 
stagers  looked  askance  at  them.  I  had  hopes,  and 
bought  lot  after  lot  of  fifties,  cut  down  wine  cases, 
planted,  and  put  them  in  the  orchard  house.  These 
turned  out  well ;  among  them  a  beautiful  LiK", 
allied  to  L.  elegans,  but  of  much  stronger  growth, 
and  with  a  beautiful  gold  band  in  centre  of  petals, 
was  named  L.  Wilsoni.  Another  Lily  was  a  grand 
form  of  L.  longiflorum,  which  M.  Max  Leichtlin 
named  L.  longiflorum  Wilsoni,  but  I  now  believe 
it  to  have  been  the  true  eximium.  This  success 
led  me  to  take  up  Lilj'  growing  both  in  the  house 
and  in  the  open,  and  Canon  Ellacombe  named  me 
'Lily  Wilson.'  I  received  twent^'-five  certificates 
from  the  floral  committee  for  Lilies  shown  for  the 
first  time." 

Mr.  Wilson  gave  much  of  his  time  to  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  at  one  period  of  its  history, 
and  its  success  at  this  daj'  is  due  in  no  small 
measure  to  his  ready  help  and  advice  in  the  stormy 
times  of  the  past.  It  was  at  his  suggestion  that  a 
guinea  subscription  was  started,  and  he  was  for 
years  a  member  of  the  council,  whilst  his  name 
figures  in  almost  every  list  of  horticultural  charit- 
able organisations  as  "  vice-president." 

Mr.  Wilson  will  be  sadly  missed  by  thousands  of 
groping  amateurs,  for  whom  his  helpful  ad\'ice  has 
ever  been  forthcoming,  and  we  shall  never  forget 
the  hours  spent  with  this  kindlj'  gardener,  who  was 
ever  ready  to  help  others  and  welcome  those  who 
had  horticulture  at  heart  to  his  lovely  woodland 
garden  at  Wisley. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  a  fellow  of  the  Royal  Society 
and  a  "Victorian  iledallist  of  Honour. 


SOCIETIES. 

UOYAL  HOKTICl'LXURAL  SOCIETY. 
The  exhibition  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  2.5th  ult.  was  perhaps 
the  best  yet  held  this  year.   Orchids,  forced  plants,  and  hardy 
plants  were  in  great  variety.    Hardy  fruits  were  well  repre- 
sented, and  Narcissi  also  were  very  numerous.    No  less  than 


THE    LATE    MK.    G.    F.    WILSON,    F.B.S.,    V.M.H. 

thirteen  awards  (four  first-class  certificates  and  nine  awards 
of  merit)  were  made  by  the  Orchid  Committee.  Messis.  ^. 
Veitch  and  Sons'  display  of  hardy  fruit  won  the  socieL>'d 
gold  medal. 

Orchid  Committee. 

Present:  ilessrs.  Harry  .T.  Veitch  (chairman),  James 
O'Brien,  de  B.  Crawshay,  J.  Charleawovth,  H.  Bajlantine, 
Walter  Cobb,  .Tas.  Douglas,  John  Cypher,  F.  W.  Ashton, 
H.  A.  Tracy,  H.  T.  Pitt,  H.  J.  Chapman,  Frank  A.  Rehder, 
N.  F.  Bilney,  G.  F.  Moore,  E.  Hill,  J.  W.  Odell,  F.  J.  Thome, 
W.  H.  Young.  W.  Boxall,  W.  H.  White,  W.  B.  Latham, 
J.  O.  Fowler,  H.  Little,  and  C.  J.  Lucas. 

Messrs.  Stanley,  Ashton  and  Co.,  Southgate,  N.,  exhibited 
a  group  of  LEclia  jongheana.  The  flowers  showed  considerable 
variation  in  colour  and  form,  and  some  remarkably  good  ones 
included  a  pretty  variety  of  Lycaste  Skinneri,  L.  S.  den- 
holniiana,  having  the  upper  lobes  of  a  rich  crimson  and  the 
lip  almost  white.  Cynibidiura  Lowi-eburneum  was  also  well 
shown.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  Yorks, 
displayed  a  group  of  Phaius  in  variety,  including  P.  Norman, 
P.  N.  aurea,  P.  MarthiL-,  and  P.  Norman  rosea.  There  were 
also  Caltleya  Louis  Chaton  (C.  lawrenceana  x  <!'.  Triana;), 
Cypripedium  Godiva(chamberIainianum  x  niveum),  Odonto- 
glossum  wilckeanum,  Angrfccum  sauderianum,  Odonto- 
glossura  Adrianre  Duchess  of  Cornwall,  and  other  Orchids  of 
considerable  beauty.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

W.  P.  Burkinshaw,  Esq.,  Hessle,  near  Hull,  sent  a  number 
of  Dendrobiums,  including  several  finely-coloured  varieties. 
Particularly  striking  were  D.  x  Cybele  nobilius,  D.  Ains- 
worthii  Virgil,  D.  n.  nobilius,  D.  x  chlorostele  oweuianum 
superbum  x  D.  splendidissimum  vars.  Silver  Banksian 
medal. 

H.  T.  Pitt,  Es(i.,  Stamford  Hill  (gardener,  Mr.  F.  W.  Thur- 
good),  displayed  a  charming  group  of  Orchids  in  variety ; 
Odontoglossuras  predominated,  and  there  were  also  Den- 
drobiums, Cypripediums,  Vandas,  etc.  Two  plants  in  this 
group  obtained  awards  of  merit.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  arranged 
a  number  of  hybrid  and  other  Orchids.  Lsclio-Cattleya 
Picanus  (L.-C.  Pallas  x  L.  cinnabarina),  L -C.  Clonia  var , 
L.-C.  digbyano-Schrbdenv,  Cattleya  intertexta,  Cypripedium 
Leonidas,  C.  madiotianum,  L.-C.  Myra  var.  Princess  of 
Wales,  and  L.-C.  Rosalind  var.  Prince  of  Wales  were  some  of 
the  best.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Cymbidiums,  Odontoglossums,  Phaius,  &c.,  were  well 
shown  by  Jeremiah  Colnian,  Es(i.,  Gatton  Park,  Eeigate. 
Cymbidium  Lowi-eburneum,  C.  eburneo-lowianum,  Odonto- 
glossum  triumphans,  and  Cculogyne  cristata  alba  were 
included.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  F.  Sander  and  Sons,  St.  Albans,  exhibited  a 
miscellaneous  group  of  Orchids,  including  some  very  well- 
grown  plants  of  Lycaste  Skinneri  unicolor,  Phaius  Cooksoni 
var.,  Odontoglossum  hystrix  var.  Fascinator,  Cattleya  ame- 
thystoglossa  var.  Sandera?,  Miltonia  vexillaria  x  M.  Roezlii, 
&c.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

M.  Florent  Claes,  55.  Rue  des  Champs,  Etterbeek,  Brus- 
sels, displayed  several  beautiful  Odontoglossums. 

Messrs.  Linden  and  Co.,  Brussels,  exhibited  Phala^nopsis 
amabilis  var.  rimestadiana,  Odontoglossum  x  loochrystiense 
var.  Etoile  d'Or,  0.  crispum  var.  Miss  Lucienne  Linden, 
Cypripedium  lawrenceanum,  <tc. 

Captain  Holford,  Westonbirt,  Tetbury  (Orchid  grower, 
Mr.  Alexander),  showed  Dendrobium  Sybil  magnificum, 
Sophro-Lxlia  lieta  orpetiana,  itc.  Two  awards  and  one 
first-class  certificate  were  awarded  to  plants  in  this  exhibit. 
Reference  is  made  to  them  elsewhere. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Latham,  Botanic  Gardens,  Birmingham,  showed 
Cypripedium  edgbastoniensis(C.  niteus  x  ohamberlaiuianum), 
a  pretty  flower  showing  well  the  parentage.  Mr.  Latham 
also  shi>wed  C.  deednianianum. 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Birt,,    Burford,    showed    a    small 


232 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  5,  1902. 


group  of  Orchids,  comprising  Ca?logyne  sparaa,  C.  pulchella, 
Odontoglossum  andersonianuni,  and  others. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  l;ush  Hill  Park,  Enfleld, 
exhibited  Cattleya  Regnelli  schilleriana,  Cypripedium  shilli- 
anuni  (C.  rothsehildianum  x  r.  superhiens), Cattleya  Trian<e 
Phyllis,  Liplia  lona,  &c. 

Orchids  Cektikipatei*. 

Hie  following  obtained  a  ftrst-L-iass  certificate  :— 

Ca(tte!/a  guttata  Prinz'd  rar.  Sandertv.— This  is  the  white 
form  of  C  aniethystoglossa  (guttata  Prinzii),  and  quite 
unique.  The  lip  is  prettily  frilled,  and  it  and  the  petals 
have  no  tinge  of  colour  in  them.  Exhibited  by  Messrs. 
Sander  and  Sous,  St.  Albans. 

Odcntoglossiim  Adiiamc  Mrs.  Jiobe it  Benson. —DQlicRcy 
is  tlie  impressiou  conveyed  by  the  appearance  of  this  flower. 
Somewhat  pale  chocolate-brown  blotches  are  numerous  upon 
a  ground  colour  of  pale  sulphur,  deepening  at  the  edges. 
The  raceme  is  extremely  graceful,  and  that  exhibited  bore 
fifteen  flowers.  From  Captain  Holford.  C.I.E.,  Westonblrt 
(Orchid  grower.  Sir.  Alexander). 

Lfvlio-Cattteya  digbi/ano-Schi-oiero/.— The  parents  of  this 
hybrid  are  Cattleya  Scliiodeia-  and  L.  digbyana.  It  is  a 
lovely  flower,  the  petals  and  sepals  being  blush  and  the 
delicately  frilled  lip  has  a  mass  of  yellow  in  the  throat. 
Exhibited  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Chelsea. 

Livlio-Cattleya  Rosalind  rar.  Prince  of  Wa^es.— The  petals 
and  lip  of  this  new  hybrid  (whose  parents  are  L.-C.  dominiana 
and  Cattleya  Triana*)  are  remarkable  for  their  colouring. 
The  former  are  splashed  with  shades  of  purple,  and  the  lip 
is  an  intense  purple  with  a  yellow  throat.  From  ilessrs. 
J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea. 

Awards  of  merit  were  given  to  the  following  :— 

Livlio-Cattleya  Mara  i:ar.  PrincefS  of  Wales .—Th\?,  is 
undoubtedly  the  best  of  the  plants  obtained  from  tJiis  cross 
(Ljclia  llava  and  Cattleya  Triana'),  or,  at  any  rate,  of  those 
exhibited.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  a  deep  orange-yellow, 
of  good  size  and  form,  and  the  lip  has  a  broad  margin  of 
crimson.  From  Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited, 
Chelsea. 

Odontoglossum  loochrjistiense  Lady  Victoria  Grenfell. — A 
handsome  flower,  the  ground  colour  of  rather  pale  yellow, 
being  heavily  spotted  with  chocolate-red.  The  plant  exhi- 
bited by  Captain  Holford,  CLE. ,Westonbirt(Orchid  grower, 
Mr.  Alexander),  bore  a  raceme  of  nine  splendid  blooms. 

Sophro-La'lia  Itvta  orpetiana.  —  A  beautiful  flower  of  a 
blending  of  soft  rose  and  crimson-purple  colouring.  The 
throat  is  yellow.  Tlie  plant  is  quite  dwarf.  Exhibited  by 
Captain  Holford,  CLE.,  Westonbirt. 

Odontotflossuui  rucket^ianinn  pittiamoti.  --  This  Odonto- 
glossum is  shaded  with  dull  purple  upon  a  pale  ground,  and 
is  heavily  spotted  on  the  sepals  with  chocolate,  while  the 
petals  are  less  heavily  marked.  Exhibited  by  H.  T.  Pitt, 
Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,  N.  (gardener,  Mr.  F.  W.  Thurgood). 

Cattleya  Parthenia  vernalis.~~k  pretty  flower  of  excellent 
form,  whose  parents  are  C  iMossiiu  and  C.  ftmbriata.  The 
petals  and  sepals  are  pure  white,  the  lip  prettily  marked 
with  lilac-purple,  and  towards  the  throat  with  yellow  also. 
From  Lord  Kothschild,  Tring  Park. 

Cupripedium  lawrenceannm. —Messrs.  Linden  and  Co., 
Brussels,  were  given  an  award  of  merit  for  a  splendid  form 
of  this  well-known  Cypripedium. 

Odontoglossum  criapatn  ear.  Miss  Litcienne  Linden. — A 
rather  small  flower  (as  shown  at  the  Drill  Hall),  with  a 
white  ground.  On  each  petal  is  a  broad  mass  of  reddish 
brown,  and  the  sepals  are  less  heavily  marked.  Exhibited 
by  Messrs.  Linden  and  Co.,  Brussels. 

Dendrobium  Rolnv  loneuiH.—A  delicately  pretty  flower,  a 
natural  hybrid  between  D.  nobile  (?)  and  D.  primulinum. 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  tipped  at  their  apices  with  rose- 
purple,  and  the  lip  also.  From  \V.  G.  Burkinshaw,  Esq., 
Hessle,  near  Hull  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  T.  Barker). 

Cypripedium  William  I^itt.— A  charming  flower,  fairly 
large,  the  dorsal  sepal  thickly  lined  with  grey  and  rose, 
the  petals  having  even  more  dense  and  highly  coloured 
markings.  The  lip  is  rose-coloured.  Both  parents  of  this 
flower  are  apparently  not  definitely  known.  One  is  evi- 
dently C.  dayanura.  Exhibited  by  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford 
Hill  (Orchid  grower,  Mr.  F.  \V.  Thurgood). 

Floral  CoMiiiTTEE. 

Present :  Mr.  W.  JIarshall  (chairman),  Messrs.  C  T. 
Druery,  G.  Nicholson,  John  Jennings,  J.  F.  McLeod,  \V. 
Howe,  J.  A.  Nix,  C.  Jefteries,  C  J.  Salter,  W.  Bain,  H.  J. 
Cutbush,  C.  E.  Shea,  W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  W.  J. 
James,  R.  Wilson  Ker,  C  Blick,  R.  W.  Wallace,  and  Rev.  F. 
Page  Roberts. 

One  of  the  best  collections  of  choice  alpines  and  allied 
things  was  a  nicely  staged  lot  from  Slessrs.  Jackman  and 
Son,  Wuking,  the  plants  both  in  their  variety  and  freshness 
deserving  every  praise.  Such  things  as  Primula  denticulata 
alba,  P.  viscosa  nivea,  P.  rosea,  blue  Primroses.  Phlox 
divaricata,  Saxifraga  apiculata,  Anemone  Pulsatilla  alba 
(very  choice),  Androsace  pyrenaica  (a  cushion  of  white 
flowers),  Tulipa  Greigi  (very  rich),  the  exquisite  blue  of 
Omphalodes  verna,  Megasea  ciliata,  some  enormous  rosettes 
of  Ramondia  pyrenaica,  these  and  many  more  were  arranged 
in  a  manner  distinctly  creditable,  and  above  all  interesting 
because  demonstrating  better  than  words  the  uses  and 
general  adaptability  of  a  very  charming  class  of  plants. 
Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  R.  ^^'allace  and  Co.,  Colchester,  set  up  a  nice  lot 
of  early  bulbous  plants  in  small  pans,  notably  several  kinds 
of  Muscari,  the  rich  blue  and  pure  white  of  Scilla  sibirica 
and  its  white  variety  alba,  Fritillaria  pudica,  Chionodoxas  in 
plenty,  Puschkinia  scilloides,  and  a  lovely  new  Fritillaria  of 
a  deep  glossy  maroon  nearly  black.  As  shown  it  is  about 
t)  inches  high,  though  reputed  to  come  much  stronger. 
Anemone  Pulsatilla,  A.  blanda.  Tulipa  kaufnianniana,  with 
many  pots  of  choice  Daffodils,  were  also  shown.  Silver 
Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  A.  Wade,  nurseryman,  Colchester,  showed  pots  of 
Anemone  blanda,  Chionodoxas,  Iris  reticulata,  Enlbocodium 
vernura,  and  pots  of  forced  Trumpet  Daffodils. 

Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Limited,  Felthara,  set  up  a  varied 
lot  of  hardy  plants  in  small  pots  chiefly,  comprising  such 


choice  things  as  Short ia  galacifolia,  Lithospermum  canescens, 
with  golden  flowers,  Anemone  vernalis,  exhibiting  some 
variety  of  colouring.  Primula  frondosa,  P.  veilicillata, 
Soldanella  alpina,  double  yellow  M'allflowers,  Fritillaria 
aurea.  Iris  Sindjarensis,  Androsace  carnea.  Arc,  besides 
many  interesting  Cacti  not  in  flower     Vote  of  thanks. 

Mr.  G.  Mount.  Canterbury,  had  a  fine  lot  of  Roses,  many 
with  long  sturdy  stems  of  quite  IS  inches,  and  here  we  noted 
the  richly  coloured  (.'aptain  Hayward,  Baroness  Rothschild, 
Margaret  Dickson,  and  others.  Then  in  boxes  were  such 
popular  kinds  as  Bridesmaid,  The  Bride,  NIphetos, 
Catherine  Mermet,  and  others,  all  in  the  pink  of  then- 
beauty.     Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  T.  Cripps  aitd  Son,  Tunbridge  Wells,  had  a  speci- 
men of  their  new  and  handsome  Retinospora  obtusa  (!'t  ippsi 
7  feet  high,  a  richly  golden  hued  plant,  and  by  the  side  <>f  it 
were  small  plants  of  less  than  1  foot,  but  just  as  rich  in 
colour.  A  set  <  f  Acers  included  A.  palmatum  palmatifldum 
(green  leaved),  A.  p.  flavescens,  and  A.  japonica.  In  the  midst 
was  a  fine  lot  of  Rogiera  cordata,  an  old-time  favourite,  with 
numerous  heads  of  coral  red  and  flesh-coloured  fragrant 
flowers.  It  is  unfortunate  such  good  free  flowering  things 
aie  so  much  overlooked  nowadays. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  had  a  small  group  of 
plants,  in  which  were  Crimson  Rambler  Rose,  Magnolias, 
Acacias armata and  Druniniondi,  Piunus triloba,  Chorozemas, 
Hydrangeas,  Ghent  Azaleas,  Mahnaison  Carnations,  with 
Ferns,  Ac,  as  a  groundwork.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  J.  Laing  and  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  had  a  mixed  group 
in  two  sets,  one  consisted  of  Acers,  Forsythia  suspensa, 
Staphylea  colchica,  Choisya  ternata,  Fothergilla  alnifolia, 
with  white  heads  of  flowers,  etc.,  the  other  comprising 
Dracsenas,  Genistas,  Palms,  Epacris,  Eriostemons,  the  yellow 
spotted  Arum,  Anthuriums,  and  other  plants.  Bronze 
Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  H.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley,  set  up  a  large 
group  of  the  Star  Cinerarias,  varied  in  colour  and  equally 
in  the  size  and  stellate  characters  of  the  blossoms.  The 
plants  were  well  grown  and  abimdantly  flowered.  Silver 
Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cutlibert,  Southgate,  had  a  fine  arrange- 
ment of  two  kinds  of  Ghent  Azaleas,  viz.,  A.  occidentalis, 
white,  top  petal  yellow  ;  and  Alteclarense,  deep  orange-gold. 
There  were  some  five  duzen  fine  plants  grandly  flowered. 
In  both  instances  all  the  plants  shown  were  seedlings  ol  the 
types  named,  and  a  remarkable  feature  was  the  many  beautiful 
variations,  while  retaining  much  of  the  original  character. 
The  plants  made  a  rich  display,  assisted  with  Acers  and  other 
foliage  things.    Silver-gilt  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  had  a  well- 
giown  lot  of  Imantophyllums  ;  seedlings,  apparently,  by 
the  variety  of  colour  displayed  There  were  also  such 
interesting  things  as  Corylopsis  pauciflora.  Azalea  lineari- 
folia,  and  the  very  beautiful  Atragene  austriara  of  a  nice 
shade  of  blue.  Messrs.  A'eitch  also  showed  a  varied  collec- 
tion of  Hyacinths  in  all  the  best  sorts,  though  we  think  that 
the  varying  shades  of  blue  were  the  best  on  this  occasion. 
For  example.  Lord  Derby,  Pearl  Brilliant,  Electra,  Queen  of 
Blues,  and  Enchantress  are  all  distinct  in  the  blue  shades 
and  some  very  fine.  LTnnocence  and  Mont  Blanc  were  very 
good  of  white  kinds,  with  La  Belle  and  Queen  Alexandra  of 
pink  shades,  and  Ida  and  City  of  Haarlem  good  representa- 
tives of  the  yellows.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  AVilliam  Cutbush  and  Sons,  Highgate,  staged  a 
splendid  lot  of  forced  shrubs— Ribes,  Guelder  Rose,  Sta- 
phylea, Magnolia  soulangeana,  double  white  Lilac,  Thorns, 
Wistarias,  Laburnums,  Azalea  mollis  vars.,  Cytisus  pnecox, 
and  Cerasus  luteola,  which,  bearing  nearly  pure  white 
flowers,  hardly  suggests  the  specific  name.  A  margin  of 
Ophiopogon  Jaburan  fol.  var.  completed  an  excellent 
arrangement  of  these  useful  plants.  Silver-gilt  Banksian 
medal. 

Mr.  Robert  Sydenham  showed  Daff^odils  growing  in  fibre, 
and  very  good  indeed  as  a  result  of  this  simple  mode  of 
culture.  Mr.  Sydenham  also  exhibited  a  new  vase  for  the 
arrangement  of  cut  Sweet  Peas. 

Mrs.  Patrick  H.  Maxwell,  Court  florist,  Victoria  Street, 
displayed  a  table  arrangement  of  Violets  and  Daffodils. 

Mrs.  F.  W.  Curry,  Lismore,  Ireland,  had  a  good  display  of 
Daffodils  of  many  leading  kinds.  Topaz,  very  bright; 
Lismore  and  C  J.  Backhouse  were  very  good  and  well 
coloured. 

Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  had  a  most  exten- 
sive lot  of  plants,  baskets  and  pots  being  filled  with  such 
dainties  as  Narcissus  minor,  N.  rainimu?,  N,  cyclamineus, 
and  in  company  single  and  double  Hepaticas,  Chionodoxas, 
Fritillaria  aurea.  Anemone  fulgens,  A.  blanda,  Hyacinthus 
azureus  robustus,  Narcissus  triandrus  pulchellus,  Ac.  In 
addition  were  quantities  of  the  leading  Dattodils,  including 
flne  unnamed  seedlings.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  L.  Brown,  Brentwood,  Essex,  showed  Daffodils  and 
Hyacinths  in  variety. 

Messrs.  John  Waterer  and  Sons,  Limited,  Bagshot,  dis- 
played a  splendid  group  of  Andromeda  floribunda,  smothered 
with  flowers,  though  as  yet  not  quite  open.  These  splendid 
plants,  which  must  have  been  (luite  twenty  years  old,  were 
mnch  admired.     Vole  of  thanks. 

The  Dowager  Lady  Williams-Wynn,  Oswestry  (gardener, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Squibbs),  showed  Violets  in  very  fine  form,  notably 
the  Dowager  Lady  Williams-Wynn,  fine  pale  double  blue  ; 
New  York  and  Marie  Louise,  both  double  and  dark  blue, 
but  quite  distinct;  Comte  Brazza,  double  white,  and  very 
Inrge  for  this  kind  ;  and  Lady  Hume  Campbell,  of  a  medium 
shade  of  blue.  All  were  finely  grown  examples  with  good 
stalks. 

Messrs.  Linden.  Brussels,  showed  IliL-nianthuo  maximus. 

Ka^mpferia  rotnnda,  an  iiiteitsting  iihuit,  came  from  Sir 
Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  who  also  showed  Helleborus  Stephen 
Olbricli,  a  rich  red  plum-coloured  kind. 

Captain  Holfoi-d,  CLE.,  Weslonbirt,  Tetbury  (gardener, 
Mr.  Chapman),  showed  several  Hippeastrums— Mrs.  R.  S. 
Holford,  white  and  green  ;  Cardinal  Richelieu,  scarlet, 
white  central  line,  and  netted  white  ;  Monarch,  rich 
blackish  crimson  ;  Countess  Grey,  white,  red-crimso»i  lines; 
and  Nell  Gwynne,  clear  white,   with  heavy  scarlet  lines. 


Sir  Christopher  Wren  is  a  flne  dark  kind,  to  which  we  refer 
again  under  new  plants. 

Narcissus  maximus  in  superb  form  came  from  Mr.  P.  D. 
Williams,  Lauarth,  Cornwall. 

Narcissus  Edge  Giant,  a  new  Fritillary  and  Iris  all  came 
from  Miss  Willmott,  Warley  Place    Essex,  and  to  the  two 
latter  we  refer  again  under  awards  for  new  plants. 
Floral  Awafus. 

A  flrst-class  certificate  was  given  to 

J I  is  Warleyetfsif. —This  very  beautiful  Iris  is  said  to  be  an 
entirely  new  species,  though  we  incline  to  the  view  that  it  is 
but  a  well  marked  form  of  I.  orchioides.  Indeed,  since  for 
the  colour  alone,  there  is  much  evidence  in  support  of  this— 
the  general  growth,  the  shining  leafage,  and  the  axillary 
buds  are  all  indicative  of  the  latter  species,  and  remember- 
ing, too,  the  fact  that  I.  orchioides  already  possesses  a  blue- 
toned  variety  in  I.  o.  ca-rulea,  this  at  least  would  constitute 
a  stepping-stone  to  the  well-marked  or  much  more  deeply 
coloured  flower  now  under  notice.  But  species  or  variety^ 
it  is  a  lovely  plant,  and  in  the  rich-toned  blue  and  deeper 
violet  tints  that  comprise  the  predominant  colours  is  quite 
a  welcome  addition  to  the  early  Irises  of  this  set.  Exhibited 
by  Mi&s  E.  Willmott,  Warley  Place,  Essex. 

Awards  of  merit  were  granted  to 

Hippeat^trum  Sir  On istopher  Wren,  a  very  handsome  form 
of  the  ci  imson  self  type,  the  precise  colour  being  a  very  dark 
and  glossy  crimson,  shading  almost  to  black  near  the  base  of 
the  segments,  a  flower  too  of  very  flne  proportions.  From 
Captain  Holford,  CLE.,  Westonbirt,  Tetbury,  Gloucester 
(Ml-.  A.  Chapman,  gardener). 

Fritillaria  Avabadenxi^,  a  new  species,  with  drooping,, 
bell-shaped  blossoms  of  a  greenish  hue,  in  which  a  subdued 
tone  of  pale  or  greenish  yellow  is  infused.  The  blossoms 
appear,  some  six  or  eight  in  number,  crowning  a  vigorous 
growth  nearly  2  feet  high,  the  ample  leafage  being  oblong 
lanceolate  acuminate  in  outline  and  some  4  inches  or  more 
in  length  and  1  inch  broad  or  rather  more  at  the  widest 
part.  The  vigorous  nabit  and  freedom  should  go  a  long 
way  to  making  it  a  good  garden  plant.  Exhibited  by 
Miss  Willmott,  Warley  Place,  Essex. 

Friit  Committee. 

Present  :  Messrs.  George  Bunyard  (chairman),  Joseph 
Cheal,  Henry  Esling,  S.  Mortimer,  Alex.  Dean,  Horace  J. 
Wright,  George  Keif,  H.  Markham,  Edwin  Beckett,  F.  L. 
Lane,  James  Smith,  G.  Norman,  James  H.  Veitch,  and 
A.  H.  Pearson. 

Messis.  James  Veitch  and  Son,  Limited,  Chelsea, exhibited 
a  splendid  collection  of  Apples.  The  fruits  were  in  e.xcellent 
condition  and  of  fine  appearance.  It  is  surprising  what  a 
great  number  of  Apples  are  now  in  season,  lor  the  majority 
it  not  all  those  in  Messrs.  Veitchs  collection  may  be  said  to 
be  in  season  now.  It  may  be  useful  to  mention  some  of  the 
best  of  the  eighty-eight  varieties  shown.  Two  dishes  of  Pears 
were  included.  All  dishes  were  distinct.  Some  of  the  finest 
were  :— Culinary :  Newton  Wonder,  Sandringham,  Beauty 
of  Stoke,  Flower  of  Kent,  Bramley's  Seedling,  Wellington, 
Bismarck,  Alfriston,  Hormead's  Pearmain,  and  Striped 
Beaufln.  Dessert:  Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  Christmas  Pearmain, 
Reinetle  du  Canada,  Margil,  Ribston  Pippin,  Cornish  Aro- 
matic, Mclndoes  Russet,  and  Stunner  Pippin.     Gold  medal. 

Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  Crawley,  Sussex,  exhibited 
several  Apples,  including  a  new  one,  Crawley  Reinette. 
Sturmer  Pippin,  Scarlet  Nonpareil,  Duke  of  Devonshire, 
and  Brownlees'  Russet  were  included. 

A  silver  Banksian  medal  was  awarded  to  R.  M.  Whitings 
Esq.,  Credenhill,  Herts,  for  a  display  uf  Apples. 

Mr.  E.  Beckett,  Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Elstree,  exhi- 
bited two  baskets  of  Mushrooms,  for  which  a  cultural 
commendation  was  given. 

Mr.  A.  Kay,  li,  Barrowgate  Road,  Chlswick,  W.,  showed 
Pear  Catillac. 

Apple  Red  Blenheim  was  shown  by  Messrs.  Lane  and  Son, 
Berkhamsted. 

Lecture  by   Professor  Carr. 

Originally  announced  as  on  *'  Defences  of  Plants,"  it 
proved  that  the  actual  subject  was  "Plants  in  Communi- 
ties," and  really  descriptive  of  the  various  sections  of  allied 
character  which  thrive  in  similar  situations.  Thus  there 
were  communities  of  trees,  Ac.  in  forests,  grasses  and  low- 
growing  plants  in  meadows,  aquatics  in  water,  and  aemi- 
aquatics  in  swamps,  whilst  Heaths  and  arid-loving  plants 
were  found  on  dry  sand  and  peat.  Plant  societies  were 
determined  by  the  nature  of  the  sui-roundings,  and  whilst 
species  in  each  community  would  materially  differ,  there 
were,  all  the  same,  in  the  denizens  of  each  community 
certain  identical  characteristics.  Light  was  an  essential  to 
all  plants,  though  some  preferred  a  subdued  light  such  as  is 
found  under  trees.  Thus  many  spring  flowers— Primroses, 
for  instance — bloomed  freely  when  in  spring  trees  were  yet 
leafless,  but  when  leafage  came  the  shade  furnished  waa 
most  acceptable  to  the  vegetation  beneath. 

On  the  other  hand,  many  plants  revelled  in  the  full  light 
of  the  sun,  and  would  not  live  in  shade.  Winds  exercised 
material  influence  on  vegetation,  and  generally  beneficially. 
Its  effects  were,  however,  most  seen  on  plants  near  the  sea 
coast.  Interesting  descriptions  were  given  of  the  respec- 
tive habits  of  water,  dry  soil,  and  intermediate  plants,  also 
of  that  semi-aquatic  section  found  on  the  sea  coast,  such  as 
the  Sea  Lavender,  Asparagus,  or  such  as  had  a  likirig  for 
salt.  During  the  lecture  numerous  pleasing  pictures  of 
diverse  plants  were  thrown  on  the  sheet,  the  first 
being  a  cross  section  of  the  stem  of  a  Water  Lily, 
showing  the  numerous  air  chambers  in  it,  this  making 
it  so  buoyant.  Another  picture  showed  methods  of  propa- 
gation by  detachable  shoots,  which,  falling  to  the  bottom, 
rooted  and  became  new  plants,  as  with  the  Aponogeton. 
The  Frogbit  also  exhibited  the  same  characteristic.  There 
was  also  shown  a  large  area  of  the  Golden  Nupliar  on  water. 
Other  views  were  given  (.f  fringes  of  water,  showing  how 
plants  gradually  developed  from  those  purely  aquatic  to 
others  partially  so,  then  to  others  liking  dryness,  and, 
finally,  to  a  dense  bordering  of  forest  trees.  In  one  of 
these  pictures  Lythrum  Salicaria,  the  Meadowsweet, 
Epilobium,  &c.,  were  distinctive  features.  ■    . 


GARDEN 


-^^- 


^sfel^jfczii 


No.  158(5.— Vol.  LXL] 


[April  12,  1902. 


GEORGE    F.    WILSON. 

A   N  old    friend  of    the  late  Mr.   G.   F. 

/\  Wilson    writes  :    "  With    a    heavy 

/  \  heart  I  take  pen  in  hand  to  say  the 
/  \  few  words  that  I  know  will  only 
echo— and  that  but  imperfectly— 
the  heartfelt  sorrow  caused  by  the  death 
of  this  great  gardener.  Those  who  had  the 
privilege  of  knowing  him  person.ally  know 
how  warm  a  corner  he  had  in  his  heart  for  all 
who  truly  shared  his  love  of  flowers,  and  how 
unwearied  was  his  kindness  in  helpful  in- 
struction, in  gifts  of  plants,  and  in  cordial 
ho-spitality.  It  was  a  true  pleasure  to  him  to 
gather  round  him  in  his  beautiful  experimental 
garden  at  Wisley  those  who  had  a  wish  to 
learn  more  of  the  treasures  contained  within 
his  grounds  or  even  to  see  and  rejoice  in  their 
Ijeauty.  Many  were  the  meetings  at  Wisley  of 
botanists  and  other  men  of  science,  and  those 
who,  like  the  present  writer,  were  occasionally 
permitted  to  accompany  these  gatherings  on 
that  hillside  so  rich  in  floral  treasures  and  the 
cool  lower  land  where  the  large  number  of 
plants  of  bog,  wood,  and  water  found  so  con- 
genial a  home,  will  ever  remember  the  days  of 
delightful  instruction. 

"  Often  gardeners  and  the  best  of  the 
amateurs  have  said  among  themselves  : 
'  Things  grow  at  Wisley  as  they  grow  nowhere 
else.'  The  ignorant  or  casual  observer  con- 
cluded that  it  was  some  special  merit  in  the 
place  itself  ;  but  those  who  knew  better  were 
aware  that  the  thriving  plant  was  placed  as  it 
was  either  because  of  Mr.  Wilson's  accurate 
knowledge  of  its  wants,  or  in  the  case  of  new 
plants  whose  needs  in  English  gardens  were  as 
yet  unknown,  because  he  spared  no  risk, 
expense,  or  trouble  to  obtain  the  plant  in 
quantity  and  to  test  it  in  varying  conditions. 

"No  private  garden  in  England  has  taught  so 
many  and  useful  lessons,  or  has  taught  them 
so  pleasantly.  It  was  impossible  to  pass  an 
hour  at  Wisley  and  not  to  bring  away  some 
useful  piece  of  garden  knowledge,  its  im- 
pression being  made  all  the  more  permanent 
by  the  kindly  way  in  which  the  lesson  was 
given.  I  know  not  what  is  to  be  the  future  of 
the  Wisley  garden  ;  I  only  know  to  my  certain 
and  aliiding  sorrow  that  the  man  who  made  it 
has  gone  from  among  us  and  that  we  can  never 
hear  his  kind  voice  again." 

"  A.  D."  writes  :  "  By  the  death  of  this 
most  kindly  gentleman  horticulture  loses 
one  of  its  finest  examples  of  the  true 
amateur    gardener,     ilr.   Wilson  was  a  real 


gardener.  It  was  from  no  mere  love  of 
ostentation  or  display  that  made  him  so 
devoted  to  gardening.  It  was  a  deep  and  an 
abiding  love  for  it  which  made  him  give  so 
much  of  time,  labour,  and  money  to  his 
cheri.shed  ideals.  How  ill  can  such  amateurs 
as  he  was  be  spared.  Happily  we  have  some 
others  like  him  left  to  us  yet,  and  that  the  race 
may  never  die  out  is  indeed  a  devout  wish. 
It  is  news  to  many  to  learn  that  in  the  far-off 
days  at  South  Kensington  Mr.  Wilson  was  for 
some  time  chairman  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Fruit  Committee.  In  .such  an  office 
he  was,  perhaps,  hardly  at  home,  as  he  was 
essentially  a  flower  and  shrub  gardener.  But 
those  who  remember  those  old  South  Ken- 
sington days  may  well  forget  some  of  its  worst 
and  most  lamentable  associations  when  they 
recall  the  singularly  interesting  and  in.structive 
meetings  held  in  the  old  council  chamber  there, 
when  that  band  of  amateur  brothers,  G.  F. 
Wilson,  Trevor  Clarke,  H.  Welib,  M.  J. 
Berkerley,  and  a  few  others  were  the  usual 
speakers,  and  their  descriptions  of  exhibits 
were  always  listened  to  with  such  great  satis- 
faction. The  lioyal  Horticultural  Society  is 
now  a  very  diflerent  body  from  what  it  then 
was,  and  its  range  of  work  far  greater.  But 
great  in  these  respects  as  it  may  be,  it  never 
can  aftbrd  to  ignore  the  exceeding  value  to  the 
society  that  such  Fellows  as  Mr.  Wilson  was, 
and  some  others,  happily  still  amongst  us. 
Long  may  they  be  spared  to  horticulture  ! 
Such  Fellows  as  these  constitute  horticulture's 
backbone,  and  must  rank  amongst  its  brightest 
patrons." 


of  national  rejoicing,  is  a  fitting  time  for  those 
who  have  the  interests  of  horticulture  at  heart 
to  come  forward  with  practical  proof  of  their 
willingness  to  help  on  the  good  work  ;  only  to 
be  followed,  we  trust  in  a  few  years,  by  the 
still  better  one  of  a  new  garden,  with  fully 
eiiuipped  means  of  giving  complete  horticul- 
tural education. 


THE      HALL     OF     THE      ROYAL 
HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

We  venture  to  suggest  that  to  aid  the  society 
in  their  new  enterprise  all  Fellows  should 
contribute  the  amount  of  a  year's  subscription. 
Many,  we  feel  assured,  will  freely  give  more 
without  any  prompting  on  our  part.  All  must 
be  aware  what  excellent  work  the  society  is 
doing.  Those  whose  yearly  subscription  is  of 
one  guinea  must  know  what  an  excellent 
guinea's  worth  they  already  receive — in  free 
admission  to  shows,  in  receipt  of  the  copy  of 
the  Journal,  which  has  become  one  of  the  most 
important  of  horticultural  and  botanical 
publications,  in  the  participation  in  the  dis- 
tril;)ution  of  surplus  plants  from  Chiswick,  the 
use  of  the  Lindley  Library,  and  various  other 
privileges  and  advantages. 
This  year,  which  is  in  one  great  way  a  year 


THE     CULTIVATION     OF 

VIOLETS.-I. 

Now  that  we  are  enjojing  the  Violet  in  all  its 
fragrance  the  thought  to  many  no  douht  will  come 
"I  must  have  still  more  another  j'ear."  Many, 
of  course,  can  only  secure  the  flowers  for  a  short 
time,  but  with  the  convenience  of  a  few  cold  and 
shallow  frames  not  onl}'  can  greater  quantities  and 
varieties  be  obtained,  but  what  is  perhaps  of 
greater  moment  to  most  is  to  be  able  to  get 
gatherings,  if  only  small  ones,  from  autumn  until 
spring.  Of  course  to  do  this  the  treatment  of  the 
plants  in  preparing  them  or  raising  suitable  stock 
during  the  summer  must  be  understood,  and  then 
there  will  be  no  ditfieult}'.  The  present  season, 
however,  is  most  important  in  lajing  the  founda- 
tion for  success,  and  no  time  must  be  lost  iu 
commencing  their 

Pbopag.^tion. 

There  are  several  ways  of  raising  young  stock, 
some  better  than  others,  but  we  are  inclined  to 
believe  that  the  least  satisfactorj'  one  is  the  most 
general.  This  consists  of  dividing  the  old  plants 
as  they  pass  out  of  bloom  and  planting  the  young 
off-shoots  or  the  divisions  direct  in  their  summer 
quarters,  where  they  are  expected  to  grow  away 
at  once  and  make  strong  plants  without  further 
trouble.  If  the  plants  have  not  become  thoroughly 
established  with  plenty  of  roots  before  the  heat  of 
summer  arrives  they  will  never  thrive,  unless  much 
attention  is  paid  them  in  the  way  of  watering  and 
syringing  twice  a  day. 

Treated  in  the  rough  and  ready  way  described, 
probably  the  greater  part  of  the  offsets  put  out  are 
almost  without  roots,  while  they  will  be  quite 
soft  owing  to  their  having  beeii  growing  thickly 
together.  What  chance  have  such  as  these  to 
withstand  sun  and  trying  winds  ?  None  what- 
ever, and  they  would  flag  for  some  time  unless  the 
weather  proves  dull  and  showery,  and  therefore 
much  valuable  time  is  lost.  We  do  not  favour 
this  plan,  in  fact,  condemn  it,  and  instead  resort 
to  the  following  method  :  Place  a  few  inches  of 
sandy  soil  on  a  hard  surface  and  cover  with  a 
shallow  frame,  and  prick  into  this  at  once  all  the 
strongest  cuttings  that  can  be  found  or  the  number 
required,  giving  preference  to  those  which  have 
not  become  drawn  and  weak  but  are  showing  a 
few  white  roots.  They  should  be  placed  4  inches 
apart,  watered,  and  kept  rather  close,  moist,  and 
shaded.  Under  these  conditions  roots  will  form 
very  quickly,  and  as  there  is  no  depth  of  soil  for 
them  to  strike  downwards  they  can  be  lifted  with 
a  good  ball  of  earth  attached  when  the  time  for 
planting  arrives,  no  check  whatever  will  be  given, 
and  much  time  saved  in  establishing  the  crop. 
Before  transplanting  into  the  summer  position 
they   should    be   hardened   off    by   removing    the 


234 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  12,  19C2. 


lights  gradually.  'J'here  is  yet  another  way 
of  raising  the  stock,  which  many  who  have  not 
frames  might  follow  with  advantage,  especially 
when  dealing  with  large  old  plants.  These  will 
nov;  be  a  mass  of  leaves,  and  the  old  ones  as 
well  as  the  old  crowns  should  be  cut  out,  giving 
all  the  space  to  the  young  offsets.  Even  these 
should  be  freely  thiimed  out  so  that  they  stand 
well  apart. 

This  will  enable  the  plants  to  be  surrounded 
with  tine  rich  soil  and  sand  and  induce  a  mass 
of  roots  to  emit  from  the  base  of  each.  The 
young  plants  by  having  plenty  of  room  will 
improve  greatly  in  strength  and  the  foliage  in 
texture,  and  in  about  a  month  will  be  found  grand 
material  when  divided  to  form  single  specimens, 
and  transplanting  may  be  done  under  the  most 
favourable  conditions. 

Yet  another  plan  of  raising  young  stock,  and  I 
think  the  best  of  all,  is  to  strike  the  cuttings  in 
the  autumn.  Like  the  Strawberry,  the  Violet  is 
continually  during  the  gi-owing  season  forming 
rmniers  or  offsets,  and  these,  unless  removed 
(|uickly,  rot  the  parent  plant.  In  removing  them 
from  tile  Violets  a  few  plants  might  be  reserved  with 
advantage  and  allowed  to  form  runners,  which 
could  either  be  taken  off  when  sufficiently  strong 
and  pricked  out  in  nursery  beds  in  a  shady  spot 
or  allowed  to  root  in  the  ground  and  then  be 
severed. 

These  would  be  well  rooted  before  winter,  and  no 
better  plants  could  be  obtained  for  early  planting. 
By  this  we  mean  that  it  can  be  done  with  safety 
at  the  end  of  March,  before  the  spring-rooted 
stock  would  be  ready.  This  method  of  propagating 
Violets  incurs  the  least  possible  trouble,  and  has 
advantages,  to  our  thinking,  over  any  other.  With 
double  varieties  we  advise  striking  cuttings  in 
frames  in  autumn,  so  that  winter  protection  can  be 
given,  and  the  same  may  be  said  too  about  single 
ones  when  the  district  is  a  cold  one.  Those,  however, 
who  have  not  autumn  stock  to  work  upon  have  yet 
time  to  get  the  plants  well  rooted,  and  we  would 
rather  plant  out  well-rooted  plants  somewhat  later 
than  material  not  suited  for  the  purpose  several 
weeks  earlier.  Richard  P.vekek. 

(  To  tie  continued. ) 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

Gardenia    Foktu-vei    Flowers. 

Mr.  Fleming  sends  from  Wexham  Park  Gardens, 
Slough,  a  few  flowers  o{  G.  Fortunei.  "  It  is  an 
old  kind  which  one  seldom  sees  grown  well.  It 
is  considered  a  shy  bloomer  by  many,  but  j'oung 
plants  we  find  bloom  very  freely." 

Superb  flowers  of  this  beautiful  Gardenia.  We 
have  seldom  seen  flowers  so  large  and  in  all  ways 
showing  that  the  plants  must  have  been  thoroughly 
well  grown.  Nothing  but  excellent  culture  would 
give  such  results. 


From  Mr.  Arthur  Goodwin,  Kidderminster, 
come  well-bloomed  sprays  of  the  South  African 
shrub 

POLYGALA    DALMAI.S1ANA 

with  these  words  :  "  It  blooms  with  us  nearly  all 
the  year  round,  but  is  not  at  its  best.  It  lasts 
a  very  long  time  when  cut.  The  leaves  closely 
resemble  those  of  a  Myrtle."  The  blooms  are 
borne  in  three  or  more  branched  terminal  clusters; 
they  are  of  a  bright  magenta  colour,  and  consist  of 
two  widespread  wings  and  a  keel.  The  wings  are 
prettily  veined  at  the  back  and  have  a  green  spot 
at  each  apex.  The  whitish  keel  has  a  deep  purple 
point  and  a  further  decoration  of  a  whitish  brush. 


From   Mr.    P.    D.  Williams  in   Cornwall  come 
superb  blooms  of  deep  yellow-coloured 

Bunch   Primro-ses  and   Excellent  Gold-laced 
Polyanthus 

and  other  dark  kinds,  showing  capital  strains  of 
these  delightful  spring  flowers. 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 


FORTHCOMING  E\'ENTS. 

April  14. — Committee  meeting  of  the  United 
Horticultural  Benefit  Society. 

April  1."). — Cornwall  Daffodil  Show  (two  days). 

April  16. — East  Anglian  Daffodil  Show  at 
Ipswich.  Ancient  Society  of  York  Florists" 
Exhibition. 

April  17. — Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society. 

April  10. — Meeting  of  the  German  Horticultural 
Society  of  London. 

April  i'l. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  com- 
mittees meet,  and  National  Auricula  Society's 
Show,  both  at  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate. 

April  23. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  exami- 
nation in  horticulture. 

April  24  and  2.3. — Annual  exhibition  of  the 
Midland  Daffodil  Society. 

April  2."). — Darlington  Spring  Show. 

Gardeners'    Royal    Benevolent 

Institution. — The  successful  smoking  concert 
reported  in  these  columns  recently,  and  held  at  the 
City  Hall,  Liverpool,  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the 
above  institution,  has  resulted  financially  (to 
the  credit  of  the  local  committee)  in  a  cheque  for 
forty  guineas,  which  has  been  forwarded  to  Mr. 
Veitch,  leaving  a  balance  in  hand  of  t'2  lis.  The 
income,  t'4fl  4s. ,  was  made  up  as  follows  :  One  life 
member,  £10  10s.  ;  six  annual  ditto,  t'O  Gs.  ;  dona- 
tions (Mr.  Thos.  Davies),  fo;  Messrs.  Thos.  Davies 
and  Co.,  t'2 2s.  ;  Mr.  K.  Glazebrook,  £1  Is.  ;  smaller 
sums,  7s.  (id.  :  464  concert  tickets,  £2.3  4s.  :  and 
programmes,  13s.  (id.  At  the  last  meeting  it  was 
decided  to  continue  the  movement  by  forming  an 
auxillarj'  in  Liverpool,  and  for  that  purpose  the 
committee  has  been  enlarged  and  strengthened  by 
adding  the  names  of  many  leading  gardeners, 
nurserymen,  &c. ,  in  the  locality.  The  secretar}', 
Mr.  R.  (J.  Waterman,  of  Woolton,  was  instructed 
to  call  a  meeting  in  October  to  consider  what 
action  shall  be  taken  to  carry  out  the  proposed 
movement. 

Notes    from    Baden-Baden.— Tulipa 

kaufmanniana  pulcherrima  has  been  showing  its 
flowers  to  great  advantage,  the  body  colour  of  these 
being  a  brilliant  glistening  deep  }'ellow.  The 
petals  outside  are  scarlet  with  a  j'ellow  rim,  and 
are  painted  on  the  inside  with  bright  scarlet  streaks. 
It  is,  no  doubt,  the  largest  flowered  species  in  the 
whole  genus,  for  when  fully  opened  in  bright 
sunshine  the  blooms  are  fully  2.3  centimetres,  or 
9  inches,  across.  Continued  selective  sowings  have 
produced  some  very  handsome  varieties  among 
Anemona  blanda  and  Muscari  szovitsianum. 
Friiillaria  Tuntasia  (Heldr. )  is  an  interesting  new 
species.  Although  it  may  not  be  of  the  highest 
beaut}',  yet  its  chocolate-black  flowers  and  ample 
foliage  stamp  it  as  something  distinct  and  hand- 
some.—Max  Leichtlin,  Badcn-Badin. 

Coronation  tree  planting-,— The 

general  desire  to  commemorate  the  present  Corona- 
tion year  by  the  planting  of  memorial  trees  seems 
to  be  both  natural  and  good.  But  it  is  rather 
absurd  to  assume  that  such  a  national  ceremonial 
can  only  be  properlj'  commemorated  by  planting 
on  the  Coronation  daj',  surely  the  worst  time 
almost  of  the  whole  year  for  so  doing.  Would  not 
a  tree  planted  in  the  autumn  just  as  readil}'  com- 
memorate the  Coronation  year  as  if  planted  in  .June  ? 
And  most  certainly  there  would  be  some  prospect 
that  trees  then  planted  would  live  and  thrive. 
How  many  memorial  trees  planted  in  the  summer 
have  come  to  their  death  speedily,  and  have  harl  to 
be  replaced  b}' others  that  were  then  not  commemo- 
ration trees  at  all.  It  will  be  far  wiser  to  advise 
that  all  Coronation  commemorative  trees  be  planted 
in  October,  and  if  of  proper  kinds  and  in  proper 
situations,  the  more  the  better,  rather  than  to 
severely  limit  such  planting  and  with  ever}'  prospect 
of  later  failure  by  advising  that  it  be  done  on  Coro- 
nation day. — A.  D. 

Notes    from    North    Wales.  —  Our 

Crocuses  in  the  grass  have  been  very  good  this  year, 
larger  than  I  have  ever  seen  them.  Also  the  Iris 
reticulata  have  quite  surpassed  themselves,  many 
patches  of  hardly  a  square  foot  in  extent  having 


over   a   hundred   b'.ooms   out   at    the   same   time. 
They  were  also  very  fine,  but  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  later  than  usual.     We  have  had  Iris  stylosa 
for  four  years  and  it  has  never  bloomed   till  this 
year.     As  I  thcjught  it  not  quite  hardy  I  had  it  in 
a  rather  sheltered  position.     Last  year,  being  out 
of  patience  with  it,  I   took  it  up  bodily,  witlioiit 
disturbing  the  roots  much,  and  put  it  iiito  a  fuliv 
exposed   position.     At  the  end  of  February,  in  a 
hard  frost,  I  found  it  trying  to  flower,  and  put  a 
broken  bell  -  glass  over  it,  and   during  March   we 
we  had  many  beautiful  blooms.     Its  parent  plant 
in    Devonshire   has   delicate    pale   mauve   flowers. 
I  suppose  different  soil  makes  a   variation   in  the 
colour;   ours  are  much  richer  in  colour,  and  from 
one  side  of  the  clump  we  have  several  pure  white 
flowers.     Iris  alata  flowered  well  with  us  the  first 
year  and  then    began   to   dwindle  away.     I  have 
tried  it  in  ditt'erent   positions,  and   this  j'ear  put  a 
glass  over  it.      It   has   grown    well,   but   has   not 
flowered.     I    shall    not    yet   give   up   hope.     Our 
rockery  is  now  a  thing  of   beauty,  though  it  is  the 
most  unorthodox  sort  of  rock  garden,  being  made 
on  a  dry  bank  facing  south,  with  trees  and  shrubs 
growing  on  the  top,  and  taking  all  gooilness  from 
the  soil.     Y'et  at  this  time  of  the  year  no  other 
part  of  the  garden  can  compare  with  it ;  it  is  a  mass 
of  bloom,  and  full  of  interesting   things  to  come. 
Among  the  plants  now  in  bloom  in  the  rockery  are 
Aubrietias,  improving  by  selection  every  year,  and 
this  year  very  rich  in  colour,    many   being   dark 
reddish  purple,  and  the  flowers  ver}'  large.    Masses 
of  Arabis  alpina,  clumps  of  the  Pasque  Anemone, 
which  likes  the  crumbling  limestone  rock,  and  lives 
much  longer  here  than  the  five  years  which  I  am 
told  is  its  usual  length  of  life  ;  Erica  carnea,  which 
has  been  in  bloom  for  weeks,  arid  real  old-fashioned 
Lent  Lilies,  coming  up  and  blooming  between  the 
stones  without  any   attention  ;    (iolden   Valerian, 
contrasting   specially   well   with   tlie   dark   purple 
Aubrietia  ;  Anemone  coronaria  of  several  colours, 
not  so  large  as  in  the  richer  soil  of  the  border,  but 
holding   their   own   and   appearing   and    blooming 
year  after  year  ;    Lithospermum   prostratuni,  and 
Myosotis   dissitiflora  ;    double   Furze,    which   will 
soon    bo   a  mass  of  deliciously  scented   blossoms  ; 
and   Polygala  Chanuebuxus,    so   covered    with    its 
yellow  and  white  flowers  that  its  leaves  are  hardly 
to  be  seen.     This  dry  bank  was  at  first  our  despair. 
Now  it  is  our  greatest  pleasure,  and  in  a  week  or 
two  I  will  write  again  about  it,  as  I  think  it  should 
encourage  those  who  have  such  unlikely  spots  in 
their    gardens    to    try    and    make    them    equally 
attractive. — E.  J.  Lloyd  Edwards. 
Olives    in    North    Cornwall.  —  Mr. 

Athestan  Riley  writes:  "I  am  interested  in 
Olives,  as  finding  that  they  easilj'  endure  the 
winter  in  North  Cornwall,  I  am  experiment- 
ing with  both  grafted  trees  and  trees  grown 
on  their  own  roots,  on  the  wall,  and  also  as 
standards.'' 

German  Irises  forced.— It  was  indeed 

a  pleasant  floral  surprise  to  see  recently  (March  2S)) 
this  charming  old  favourite  in  flower  in  the  garden 
attached  to  Eyot  Villa,  Chiswick,  the  residence  of 
.John  I.  Thornj'croft,  Esq.  It  may  be  remembered 
that  Mr.  F.  Mears,  the  gardener  here,  sent  a  plant 
in  flower  to  the  Ro3'al  Horticultural  Society's 
meeting  on  February  2.5,  1901.  Some  two  dozen 
plants  have  been  flowered  this  season,  the  purplish 
blue  standards  and  purple  falls  being  quite  as 
highly  coloured  as  those  grown  outdoors,  and 
forming  an  attractive  floral  feature  in  the  house. 
It  may  prove  of  practical  interest  and  benefit  to 
growers  to  briefly  put  on  record  Mr.  Mears'  system 
of  culture.  The  plants  to  be  forced  are  taken  up 
from  the  herbaceous  border  or  reserve  garden  in 
.Januar}'  or  Februar}',  selecting  the  strongest  and 
best  ripened  pieces  which  have  been  well  exposed 
to  the  sun.  Several  pieces  are  put  into  each  pot 
with  the  usual  drainage,  and  water  is  withhold  for 
a  day  or  two  after  potting.  They  are  then  placed 
in  a  temperature  of  4.")"  for  several  days,  and  then 
the  temperature  is  raised  to  (iO".  The  plants  are 
kept  close  to  the  glass,  well  .syringed,  and  water  is 
given  at  the  roots  when  the  flower  spikes  begin  to 
appear.  Treated  in  this  way  the}'  are  found  most 
useful  for  cutting,  the  flowers  lasting  for  several 
days  in  water. — Quo. 


April  12,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


235 


Spring"  in  a  Cumbepland  garden.— 

The  snow  lies  thick  on  the  high  Fells  ;  even  lower 
heights  have  powdered  heads,  yet  the  promise  of 
spring  is  in  the  air  this  Mirch  morning.  Let  us 
lake  a  turn  round  the  small  garden  l3'ing  high  in  a 
district  of  which  most  people  sa}',  "But  it  is 
always  raining  there,  is  it  not  ? "  A  mass  of 
green  Hellebore  from  the  Rhone  Valley  grouped 
round  an  ancient  stone  Piscina  attracts  us  first. 
How  pretty  pale  green  flowers  are  in  spring,  and 
how  fat  and  healthy  are  the  rosettes  of  Campanula 
thyrsoides  pricked  out  in  the  same  stony  border. 
Already  we  seem  to  see  the  wide  heads  of  sulphur- 
yellow  bells  to  come  in  May.  The  hedge  opposite 
is  lined  with  tufts  of  Daftbdil  leaves  and  Snowdrops 
now  past  their  best.  It  is  curious  that  while  the 
single  ones  refuse  to  live  here  the  double  grow  and 
multiply  like  weeds.  The  yellow  bells  of  the 
Forsythia  come  next — trained  round  a  large 
window  thej'  frame  it  in  gold.  Christmas  Roses 
are  over,  and  must  have  their  seed  ves-iels  picked 
off,  but  the  purple  Lent  Roses  are  in  full  beauty. 
It  is  many  years  since  a  kind  unknown  friend  sent 
me  through  The  Garde.v  the  pinch  of  seed  from 
which  these  plants  were  raised.  From  a  similar 
source  came  Rosa  arvensis  and  the  Irish  Rose, 
which  make  thickets  in  wild  corners  of  the  garden. 
Fritillarias  are  coming  up  strongly,  and  many 
large  clumps  of  Daffodils,  Horsfieldi,  Emperor,  and 
Empress  are  full  of  buds.  Here  is  the  Shadblow 
ready  to  blossom  with  the  next  warm  wind,  and 
Prunus  Pissardi,  al\va3's  generous  with  flowers, 
but  onlj'  once  ripening  two  brown  plums,  which 
the  robins  ate  directly.  The  garden  contains 
many  varieties  of  .Japanese  Maples,  at  present  only 
showing  pink  points  along  their  bare  branches,  but 
in  May  it  is  a  pleasure  to  sun  oneself  in  the  golden 
glory  of  a  wide-spreading  one  with  e.xquisite  little 
fan-shajied  leaves  of  brilliant  j'ellow-green.  Why 
do  we  so  seldom  see  these  lovely  shrubs?  They 
must  be  hardy,  the  two  oldest  in  mj'  collection 
having  withstood  a  temperature  of  zero  without 
losing  a  twig,  and  they  were  too  tall  for  the  snow 
to  protect  them.  Yet  people  go  on  planting 
Privet  and  Portugal  Laurels,  and  the  word 
e.vpr:rlineiif  frightens  them.  What  is  a  garden 
without  experiment  ?  Even  if  they  fail  we  shall 
have  enjoyed  the  hope  of  success. — M.  P.  F. 

Protecting-  Asparag-us  g-rowths.— 

The  earlier  we  get  Asparagus  the  more  welcome  it 
appears,  and  I  have  often  noticed  that  the  plant 
starts  freely  after  a  few  days  of  warm  suiniy  weather, 
and  is  then  retarded  for  days  b3'  a  sharp  frost, 
which  kills  or  checks  the  growths  of  the  young 
shoots  just  pushing  through  the  soil.  For  several 
seasons  we  have  given  the  plants  light  protection. 
Thatched  hurdles  placed  on  bricks,  pots,  or  boards 
are  very  suitable,  as  they  are  readily  placed  in 
position  ni^ht  and  morning.  Another  excellent 
protection  is  dry  Bracken,  but  the  latter  must  be 
cut  in  the  earlj'  autumn  when  green  and  then  dried 
as  it  is  very  brittle  if  cut  in  a  dried  state.  Dry 
straw  litter  may  also  be  used,  but  both  the  last- 
named  must  be  removed  during  bright  sunshine 
and  replaced  at  night,  as  the  sun's  warmth  must 
have  free  access  to  the  beds  during  the  day  time. 
Wet  materials  should  not  bo  employed  for  pro- 
tecting, and  if  litter  or  Bracken  is  used  it  may  be 
placed  in  large  heaps  when  not  in  use,  in  the 
alleys,  and  even  when  not  required  as  a  protection 
I  have  found  the  litter  or  Bracken  valuable  later 
on  for  newly-planted  beds  to  prevent  them  getting 
much  dried. — A.  C.  N. 

Globe  Artichokes  and  frost.— I  have 

never  seen  the  Globe  Artichoke  so  badly  injured 
as  this  year  since  the  severe  weather  we  had  in 
Februarj',  1895,  when  we  lost  all  our  roots,  and 
almost  the  same  thing  occurs  now,  as  few  have 
survived.  The  Globe  Artichoke  always  suffers 
more  when  the  frost  is  severe,  say,  some  weeks  after 
the  New  Year  than  if  it  came  before  Christmas. 
This  of  course  is  readily  explained,  as,  owing  to  a 
mild  winter,  the  new  growth  is  fairly  active  and  is 
more  susceptible  to  injury.  For  years  I  have 
detached  suckers  or  side  shoots  late  in  the  autumn 
and  placed  them  in  frames,  but  unfortunately  these 
were  injured,  as  some  26°  of  frost  reached  them. 
To  secure  entirely  new  stock  is  not  easy,  unless 
one    knows    tlie    giver,   as   there   are   some    poor 


varieties,  most  of  which  are  the  strongpr  growers 
and  look  tempting  when  planted,  but  later  on  are 
often  poor  thin  spiny  things  not  worth  the  ground 
they  occupy.  Seeds  cannot  be  trusted,  as  only  a 
small  percentage  of  the  seedlings  are  worth  keeping ; 
they  may  be  good  as  Cardoons  merely  for  the  leaf 
stalk,  but  the  heads  are  worthless.  A  thick  fleshy 
head  is  needed.  I  prefer  the  purple  to  the  green 
variety. — G.  W. 

Auriculas  as  town  plants.— In  a  little 

front  garden  abutting  on  the  busy  thoroughfare  of 
the  Richmond  P^oad,  Kingston-on-Thames,  is  a  fine 
bed  of  hardy  border  Auriculas,  of  which  the  owner, 
a  carpenter,  is  very  proud.  The  plants  have  been 
very  green  and  fresh  looking  for  some  time,  and  now 
are  thus  comparatively  early  opening  their  flowers 
rapidly.  The  aspect  is  west,  and  the  roadway,  north 
and  south,  is  often  a  very  cold  one.  Still,  in  spite 
of  cold,  of  fog,  and  of  dust,  the  plants  do  well. 
There  is,  however,  a  pathetic  cast  of  doom  hanging 
over  this  pretty  bed,  because  shortly,  perhaps 
before  another  spring  comes  round,  the  road  will 
have  to  be  widened  to  make  room  for  the  demon 
tramear,  and  when  that  is  so  away  will  go  the 
little  front  garden.  But  the  lesson  the  bed  teaches 
is  that  border  Auriculas  are  capital  town  plants,  and 
once  raised  will  endure  for  many  years.  They 
should  be  mulched  with  short  manure  in  the 
summer,  and  occasionally  well  watered.  Also 
once  in  three  years  be  lifted,  have  the  soil 
renewed,  then  replanted. — A.  D. 

The    assumed    Apple    and    Pear 

hybrid. — Whilst  the  illustration  given  of  this 
curiously-formed  Apple  on  page  230  shows  that 
it  is  of  a  fairly  prolific  character,  none  of  j'our 
readers  other  than  members  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society's  fruit  committee  probably  have 
tasted  the  fruits.  The  general  impression  made 
on  that  body  evidently  was  that  it  was  not  a 
hj'brid  at  all,  but  was  merely  an  ordinary  Apple 
of  odd  shape,  inasmuch  as  the  stem  base  had 
elongated,  as  is  partially  seen  in  the  Old  Lemon 
Pippin,  but  was  in  this  case  more  marked.  Even 
in  some  Lemon  Pippins  this  base  of  fleshj'  elongation 
is  more  marked  than  in  others.  The  fruits  were 
quite  flavourless,  and  had  no  edible  value.  There 
was  not  in  them  the  least  Pear  flavour.  It  was 
said  that  the  leafage  resembled  that  of  the  Pear, 
but  leafage  in  ordinary  Apples  differs  materially. 
Certainly'  it  would  have  been  interesting  to  learn 
what  varieties  were  the  Apple  and  Pear  parents, 
assuming  it  had  such.  If  it  were  a  real  hybrid 
then  evidently  the  less  experiment  is  made  in  such 
direction  the  better. — A.  1). 

Liverpool  Botanic  Gardens.— In  a 

recent  issue  mention  was  made  of  the  Amaryllis  at 
Sef  ton  Park,  with  an  intimation  that  those  cultivated 
at  the  Botanic  Gardens  were  somewhat  later,  so 
that  they  might  show  to  advantage  at  the  Easter 
holidays.  Mr.  Gutteridge,  the  curator,  is  superin- 
tending the  gardens  in  an  able  manner,  and  a  large 
number  of  citizens  visit  the  houses  daily,  the  chief 
attraction  being  the  Amaryllis,  which  are  staged  in 
the  form  of  a  sloping  bank  some  10  feet  long  with 
a  path  down  the  centre  ;  the  pots,  numbering  300, 
carry  from  three  to  ten  blooms  each,  varying  from 
nearly  pure  white  to  brilliant  scarlet  and  crimson. 
The  bulbs  are  chiefly  three  .years  old,  the  seed  being 
saved  by  the  raiser,  who  has  about  2,000  bulbs,  so 
that  the  season  will  last  for  some  weeks.  Amongst 
a  large  number  of  seedlings  it  cannot  be  expected 
that  all  will  be  of  the  highest  class,  but  a  good 
percentage  are  of  good  form  and  substance.  These 
will  be  marked  for  future  information,  and  the 
smaller  kinds  will  be  forced  earlj'  next  season  and 
then  probably  be  discarded.  The  Parks  and  Gardens 
Committee  liave  acted  very  wisely  in  allowing  Mr. 
Herbert,  the  superintendent  of  the  Liverpool  parks, 
to  cultivate  in  quantity  the  more  important  of  our 
flowering  plants,  and  this  has  never  been  more 
clearly  shown  than  the  collections  now  on  view. 
Bulbs,  Cinerarias,  Orchids,  and  forced  plants  are 
also  adding  to  the  attractions  of  the  gardens. 

Caterpillars  and  Paeonies.- Cater- 
pillars attack  the  roots  of  Peonies  in  certain  soils. 
When  my  grounds  were  at  Tooting  it  was  necessary 
about  once  in  three  years  to  lift  the  plants,  pick 
out  the  grubs,  wash  the  roots,  and  make  a  fresh 
propagation  ;    then  all  went  on  well  for  another 


three  years.  On  removing  to  Long  Ditton,  as  long 
as  I  was  connected  with  my  sons  I  do  not  recollect 
an}'  single  instance  connected  with  this  pest,  and 
my  theory  is  that  being  in  the  Valley  of  the  Wandle 
the  ground  was  wet  in  winter,  and  more  or  less  dry 
in  summer,  water  never  at  any  time  being  far  from 
the  surface,  whereas  at  Long  Ditton  we  suffered  from 
want  of  moisture,  but  the  Paeonies  were  always  a 
great  sight.  The  single  species  made  great  bushes 
covered  with  flowers.  The  single  varieties  of 
albiflora  grew  luxuriantly,  and  the  double  varieties 
of  albiflora  were  always  a  sight  worth  seeing,  but 
they  wanted  plenty  of  manure.  I  have  been  led  to 
make  the  above  remarks,  as  I  see  the  scientific 
committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  had 
the  subject  of  caterpillars  in  Pa;ony  roots  before 
them  on  February  11,  and  I  thought  my  experience 
might  be  of  some  use.  I  was  advised  by  the 
scientific  committee  to  watch  and  catch  the  swift 
moth,  but  I  never  could  manage  to  put  salt  on  its 
tail,  and  took  to  the  other  plan  of  destroying  the 
insect  and  propagating  stock  at  the  same  time. — 
Petkr  B.\rr,  V.M.H.,  Cajje  Tomi,  Soii/h  Africa. 


THE     FRUIT     GARDEN. 


THE    SUMMER    PINCHING 
OF    FRUIT    TREES. 

THIS  is  a  comparatively  recent  gardening 
operation,  the  practice  of  which  has 
vastl}'  increased  during  the  last  few- 
years,  owing  to  the  extended  planting  of 
dwarf  trees.  Still,  there  is  as  great  a 
divergence  of  opinion  upon  this  matter 
as  upon  other  pruning  questions,  while  it  is 
doubtful  if  many  amateurs  really  understand  the 
principles  underlying  it.  The  operation  is  physi- 
cally a  very  easy  and  pleasant  one,  and  can  be 
done  in  some  of  the  most  genial  weather  of  the 
year,  or,  if  more  convenient,  when  the  weather  is 
too  wet  to  permit  of  doing  much  else.  To  conduct 
it  to  the  best  advantage  needs  a  knowledge  of  the 
principles  upon  which  the  practice  is  based,  for  if 
it  is  merely  done  by  rule  of  thumb  mistakes  will 
be  made  and  the  bearing  of  trees  perhaps  ruined. 

Everyone  knows  that  if  a  tree  grows  too 
strongly  the  buds  will  next  season  produce 
further  strong  shoots  instead  of  blossom.  It  is 
also  a  fact  that  the  branches  of  dwarf  trees,  being 
nearer  to  the  roots,  tend  to  make  a  stronger 
growth  of  wood  than  do  the  branches  of  trees 
which  are  on  a  tall  stem  through  which  the  sap 
has  to  rise.  Hence  the  use  of  dwarfing  stocks, 
which  do  much  to  counteract  this  tendency,  by 
making  a  network  of  fibrous  roots  near  the  surface 
—fruit-producing  roots ;  instead  of  free  stocks, 
which  send  vertical  roots  down  into  the  soil — 
wood-producing  roots.  Yet,  notwithstanding  the 
use  of  dwarfing  stocks,  dwarf  trees  if  left  to  them- 
selves tend  to  make  a  deal  too  much  wood  till  a 
heavy  crop  of  fruit  has  taken  some  of  the  rampant 
nature  out  of  them.  Of  course  all  trees,  even  of 
the  same  fruit,  cannot  be  treated  alike,  as  it  would 
be  folly  to  check  the  growth  of  the  VVinter  Nelis 
Pear,  for  instance,  in  the  same  way  as  you  would 
that  of  Beurre  Hardy,  or  Coe's  Golden  Drop  Plum 
in  the  same  way  as  the  Oullin's  Golden  Gage.  In 
this  respect,  as  in  all  matters  of  pruning,  much 
must  always  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  grower. 
It  is  a  recognised  scientific  fact  that  the 
strength  of  a  shoot  is  proportionate  to  the 
amount  of  leaves  upon  it  and  the  length  of  time 
during  which  such  leaves  remain  upon  it ;  and, 
furthermore,  that  if  a  shoot  enjoys  the  use  of 
these  leaves  all  the  summer  and  autumn,  and  is 
then  shortened  back  to  four  or  five  buds,  the 
shoots  resulting  from  two  or  three  of  those  buds 
will  be  much  stronger  than  the  shoots  would  have 
been  from  the  buds  higher  up  if  the  shortening 
had  not  been  elfected.  Hence  it  is  seen  that  by 
pinching  shoots  in  the  summer  such  shoots  are 
deprived  of  some  of  their  strength,  while  by  being 
cut  back  in  the  winter  they  are  not  left  as  they 
were  but  strengthened  still  further.  This  is  the 
simple  principle  underlj'ing  the  whole  practice  of 


236 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  12,  1902. 


summer  pinching,  and  all  experience  gained  in  the 
practice  of  the  operation  is  founded  upon  it. 

To  the  would-be  successful  fruit  grower  this 
knowledge  is  indispensable,  enabling  him  as  it  does 
to  strengthen  the  trees  or  the  parts  of  the  trees 
he  wants  to  strengthen  and  to  weaken  the  trees  or 
the  parts  of  the  trees  he  wants  to  weaken.  It  is  a 
commonly  observed  fact  that  branches  which  run 
up  vertically,  or  nearly  so,  produce  much 
stronger  shoots  than  those  which  run  horizontally, 
the  terminal  shoot.s  from  a  branch  for  a  similar 
reason  being  stronger  than  the  lateral  ones.  This 
is  owing  to  the  check  to  the  flow  of  the  sap 
which  the  horizontal  branch  offers  even  when  grow- 
ing in  that  position  naturally,  and  this  difference  is 
much  increased  when  a  branch  is  made  to  grow  in 
.a  horizontal  position  by  training.  For  this  reason 
care  is  necessary  in  the  growing  of  fan-trained 
trees  of  wall  Plums,  for  instance,  that  too  much  of 
the  strength  of  the  tree  does  not  go  into  the 
central  branches,  and  especially  into  the  tops  of 
the  branches,  for  if  it  does  the  lower  branches  will 
suffer  in  strenglli,  one  of  the  first  things  to  be 
borne  in  mind  in  training  trees  being  a  well- 
balanced  growth.  Carelessly  managed  trees  are 
often  seen  where  there  is  one  very  strong  central 
branch  producing  shoots  3  feet  long  in  a  season, 
whilst  all  the  other  branches  are  weak,  the  weakest 
being  those  at  the  bottom.  This,  of  course,  can 
never  be  altered  when  once  a  tree  has  been  allowed 
to  get  into  that  state,  but  the  ill-effects  of  it  can 
be  mitigated  somewhat  by  leaving  the  shoots  on 
the  lower  branches  their  full  length  till  the  late 
summer  or  autumn,  while  those  on  the  central 
branch  are  kept  well  pinched  in.  Peach  and  Nec- 
tarine trees  are  especially  liable  to  develop  in  this 
way,  as  it  is  the  young  wood  which  bears,  and, 
consequently,  so  much  pinching  cannot  be  practised 
as  in  the  case  of  spur  bearers.  Still,  much  may  be 
done  in  their  case  by  stopping  all  rank-growing 
shoots  before  they  run  away  with  the  strength  of 
the  tree.  With  cordon  Apples  and  Pears  there  is 
a  constant  tendency  for  the  strength  of  the  tree 
to  go  into  the  upper  shoots,  whilst  the  lower  part 
of  the  tree  gets  weak,  and  this  can  be  partly 
obviated  by  letting  only  one  sjioot  at  the  top  of 
the  tree  run  its  length,  and  even  this  should  be 
stopped  once  during  the  summer  if  it  is  getting 
too  rampant,  while  some  of  the  shoots  near  the 
base  should  be  left  their  full  length  all  the 
summer.  The  pinching  of  the  top  shoots  will  send 
more  sap  down  into  the  lower  ones,  while  at  the 
same  time  the  amount  of  foliage  near  the  base  will 
give  strength  to  that  part  of  the  tree.  For  a 
similar  reason  the  spurs  on  the  lowest  branches  of 
wall  trees,  especially  Pears  and  Plums,  should 
always  be  left  a  little  longer  than  those  on  the 
upper  ones,  so  that  more  sap  may  be  diverted  to 
the  lower  branches,  and  their  tendency  to  get 
weak  may  be  counteracted. 

The  practice  usually  recommended  for  bush  and 
pyramid  trees  is  to  keep  all  side  shoots  not  required 
for  the  extension  of  the  tree  pinched  in  to  form 
spurs,  and  to  leave  the  terminal  shoots  to  grow 
their  full  length  unless  they  are  unduly  strong, 
when  they  are  recommended  to  be  pinched  back 
after  they  have  grown  a  foot  or  more.  The  reason- 
ableness of  this  in  general  practice  will  be  obvious 
from  the  above  remarks.  If  the  side  shoots  were 
allowed  to  grow  their  full  length  and  shortened  in 
the  winter  they  would  gather  so  much  strength 
that  the  buds  at  the  base  would  tend  to  produce 
shoots  next  year  instead  of  blossom,  while  by 
weakening  them  two  or  three  buds  at  the  base 
would  produce  blossom,  the  two  terminal  buds, 
possibly  only  one,  producing  shoots  to  be  similarly 
formed  into  spurs.  If,  however,  the  terminal  or 
natural  extension  shoots  were  pinched  back  in  the 
same  way — that  is,  to  four  or  five  leaves — the  buds 
at  the  base,  instead  of  making  good  shoots  next 
season,  which  under  proper  treatment  would  be 
formed  into  fruit  spurs  in  due  course,  would  push 
forth  shoots  the  same  season,  which  would  not  be 
ripened,  and  would,  therefore,  be  of  little  or  no 
use.  The  pinching  of  all  the  shoots,  too,  might 
cause  such  a  shock  to  the  tree  and  such  a  check  to 
root  action  that  it  would  become  unhealthy  owing 
to  congestion  of  sap,  for  which  there  was  no  imme- 
diate outlet,  while  it  might  cause  the  lower  buds 


on  the  future  spurs  to  push  forth  shoots  the  same 
season  instead  of  reserving  themselves  for  blossom 
next  season.  Even  with  the  side  shoots  it  is  not 
advisable  to  do  the  whole  of  the  pinching  at  once, 
as  it  gives  a  shock  to  the  tree  which  may  give  rise 
to  various  disorders,  sometimes  causing  a  splitting 
of  the  bark,  which  provides  a  home  for  canker  and 
woolly  aphis  and  other  undesirables. 

Alger  Petts. 


THE    STEAWBERRY. 

( Conthmi^d  from  page  H.i'G.J 
All  ground  should,  of  course,  be  periodically 
trenched,  but,  so  far  as  its  preparation  for  the 
Strawberry  is  concerned,  it  is  not  essential ;  a  deep 
digging  is  sufficient.  This  may  be  done  in  early 
July,  and  as  the  digging  proceeds  a  layer  of  manure 
should  be  placed  in  the  bottom  of  each  trench.  If 
the  land  be  somewhat  light  it  will  be  doubly  valu- 
able, but  in  any  case  it  is  a  practice  strongly  to  be 
recommended.  If  possible,  light  land  should  be 
avoided,  as  the  Strawberry  dislikes  any  condition 
approaching  drought,  and  light  land  during  the 
summer  is  liable  to  become  both  dry  and  hot.  The 
roots  of  the  Strawberry  plant  are  fibrous  and 
somewhat  delicate,  and  therefore  easily  injuriously 
affected  by  unfavourable  conditions. 

Situation. 

Sunlight  is  an  all-important  factor  in  producing 
good  Strawberries.  Choose  for  the  plantation  a 
piece  of  ground  that  is  fully  exposed  to  the  sun. 
Fruits  grown  upon  land  that  is  shaded  lack  size, 
colour,  and  flavour,  and  this  is  primarily  due  to 
the  fact  that  the  plants  are  wanting  in  vigour. 
While  the  choice  of  an  open,  sunny  situation  is 
very  desirable  for  the  principal  plantation  of 
Strawberries,  it  is  important  to  many  growers  to 
have  a  succession  of  fruits,  and,  to  enable  them  to 
provide  these,  a  variety  of  aspects  is  necessary. 
For  instance,  a  warm  south  border  at  the  foot  of  a 
wall  is  of  great  assistance  and  value  in  producing 
an  early  crop  of  fruits,  while  a  border  facing  north 
and  screened  from  tlie  sun  is  equally  valuable  in 
retarding  the  plants,  and  so  enabling  one  to  gather 
fruits  late  in  the  season.  From  the  south  border 
fruits  may  be  had  in  a  favourable  season,  providing 
the  proper  varieties  are  planted,  by  the  first  week 
in  June,  and  on  the  north  border  they  can  be 
gathered  for  several  weeks  after  tlie  supply  from 
the  general  plantation  has  ceased. 

Planting. 

One  of  the  greatest  aids  to  successful  Strawberry 
culture  is  early  planting.  Without  this  the  fruits 
produced  the  following  season,  which  ought  to  be 
the  best  the  plant  is  capable  of  bearing,  will 
certainly  be  disappointing.  By  planting  early — 
and  the  same  remark  holds  good  with  the  planting 
of  all  fruit  trees  —  the  roots  are  able  to  well 
establish  themselves  in  the  soil  before  the  cold 
and  generally  unfavourable  weather  of  winter  sets 
in.  During  such  weather  it  is,  of  course,  impos- 
sible for  them  to  make  any  progress,  and,  unless 
they  have  been  able  to  do  so  while  late  summer 
and  autumn  were  yet  present,  it  is  probable  that 
many  plants  will  be  lost  or  considerably  damaged 
before  spring.  When  planted  early  they  are  able 
to  take  full  advantage  of  the  encouraging  influence 
of  spring  and  start  the  season  well.  They  are 
satisfactorily  established  in  the  ground  and  able 
to  make  headway  at  once  when  the  conditions  are 
favourable.  Plants  that  are  not  planted  until  late 
are  not  in  a  position  to  do  this,  because  they  are 
not  properly  established,  and  some  portion  of  early 
spring  is  lost  before  a  vigorous  start  can  be  made. 
The  consequence  is  that  the  flowers  and  fruit  are 
produced  before  the  plant  has  fully  developed. 
August  is  the  best  month  in  which  to  plant  the 
Strawberry,  and  to  do  this  it  is  necessary  to  pre- 
pare the  young  plants,  or  runners  as  they  are 
technically  termed,  as  early  as  possible,  but  this 
will  be  treated  more  fully  in  dealing  with  the 
propagation.  For  the  moment  we  will  presume 
that  the  plants  are  quite  ready  to  be  permanently 
planted  out  in  the  month  of  August  upon  land 
that  has  been  properly  prepared  in  the  manner 
already  advised. 


There  is  a  considerable  difference  between  the 
vigour  of  growth  of  certain  varieties  of  Straw- 
berries and  in  regulating  the  distances  between 
the  plants  when  the  plantation  is  made,  this 
circumstance  must  be  taken  into  consideration. 
Obviously  the  stronger  -  growing  sorts  must  be 
placed  wider  apart  than  those  of  less  vigorous 
growth.  Strong  and  moderately  strong-growing 
varieties  should  be  planted  in  rows  '2  feet  apart, 
and  they  must  be  not  less  than  12  inches  distant 
from  each  other  in  the  row.  The  plants  are  not 
placed  directly  ojjposite  to  each  other  in  every 
row,  but  are  alternated.  By  adopting  this  method 
of  planting  overcrowding  is  not  so  likely  to  result 
as  if  the  plants  were  exactly  opposite  in  every  roWi 
For  the  smaller  and  less  vigorous-growing  sorts  a 
distance  between  the  rows  of  18  inches  or  20  inches 
would  suffice,  and  the  plants  in  the  rows  might  be 
placed  10  inches  apart.  There  are  few  more 
important  items  in  the  culture  of  the  Straw- 
berry plant  than  that  of  planting.  Whether  this 
work  is  carefully  or  carelessly  done  may  mean  just 
the  difference  between  success  and  failure,  and  the 
careful  method  takes  little,  if  any,  more  time  than 
does  the  careless  one.  In  the  first  place  it  is  well 
to  take  the  weather  into  consideration  ;  a  dull  day 
is  far  preferable  to  a  bright  one.  This  may,  how- 
ever, be  somewhat  difficult  to  experience  in  the 
month  of  August ;  one  might  have  to  wait  long 
before  a  dull  day  happened  to  occur.  To  wait 
too  long  would  not  be  advisable,  for  planting 
ought  not  to  be  delayed  bej'ond  the  middle 
of  the  month  of  August.  If  a  dull  daj'  is  not 
available  or  likely  to  be,  plant  the  Strawberry 
plants  in  the  afternoon  when  the  sun-heat  is 
waning.  It  is  most  important  that  the  roots 
be  not  exposed  to  the  sun  or  air,  for  they  are  then 
liable  to  be  dried  and  shrivelled  up  or  even 
destroyed  altogether.  Do  not,  therefore,  leave  the 
plants  lying  about  uncovered.  A.  P.  H. 

(To  he  continued.) 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

ANEMONE  INTERMEDIA., 

UNDER  this  name  our  good  friend  Max 
Leichtlin,  of  Baden-Baden,  sent  out 
in  1900  a  Wood  Anemone  which  has 
flowered  here  for  the  second  time, 
but  which  I  am  now  satisfied  is  dis- 
tinct from  A.  ranunculoides  pallida, 
a  pretty  pale  yellow  Wood  Anemone,  which  will 
be  very  attractive  in  a  day  or  two.  The  '■  Index 
Kewensis''  names  three  Anemones  intermedia,  one 
being  there  referred  to  as  nemorosa,  and  the  others 
to  montana  and  Pulsatilla.  The  one  received  from 
Baden-Baden  is  neither  of  the  two  last-named,  and 
must,  therefore,  be  A.  nemorosa,  if  it  be  referable 
to  that  species  at  all.  There  has  for  a  long  time 
been  an  occasional  reference  to  a  yellow  variety  of 
A.  nemorosa,  and  I  have  made  enquiries  in  various 
quarters  as  to  where  it  could  be  had,  but  without 
success.  It  is  possible,  therefore,  that  this  is  the 
plant  I  have  been  in  search  of  for  years.  The 
leaves  are  like  those  of  our  common  Wood 
Anemone.  They  are  also  of  the  same  shade  of 
green,  and  are  without  the  deep  chocolate-brown 
which  tinges  the  leaves  of  A.  ranunculoides  when 
they  first  appear.  The  flowers  are  smaller  than 
those  of  our  native  Wood  Anemone,  and  they  are 
of  a  clear  yellow,  which  one  would  say  comes 
intermediate  in  hue  between  the  pale  yellow  of 
A.  r.  pallida  and  the  brighter  shade  of  the  typical 
A.  ranunculoides.  A.  intermedia  blooms  before 
either  A.  ranunculoides  or  the  white  forms  of  the 
pretty  A.  nemorosa,  our  native  plant.  It  flowered 
here  about  the  beginning  of  the  third  week  of 
March,  in  a  half -shaded  position  in  light,  sandy 
peat  soil.  S.  Arnott. 

SAXIFRAGA  BOYDI. 
Me.  James   Boyd's   Saxifrage  is   well  known   to 
those  who  are  interested  in  these  pretty  Rockfoils, 
but  one  finds  that  there  are  a  good   many  hardy 
plant  growers  who  do  not  possess  this  gem  among 


April  12,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


237 


the  many  exquisite  plants  in  this  genus. 
It  seems  difficult  to  grow  and  retain  in 
some  southern  gardens,  and  its  price 
seems  in  consequence  to  be  liigh  lor  a 
flower  of  its  kind  which  has  been  in 
cultivation  for  a  good  number  of  years. 
I  was  asked  by  a  very  competent  grower 
of  the  genus  in  the  course  of  last  j'ear 
if  it  did  well  in  Scotland,  as  it  was  not 
a  free  grower  in  the  south.  I  do  not 
think  it  can  at  any  time  be  considered  a 
Saxifrage  which  can  be  planted  and 
left  alone,  and  one  of  its  principal 
requirements  is  assuredly  that  of  top- 
dressing. 

Some  would  confine  this  ioiportant 
operation  among  alpines  to  spring 
and  autumn,  but  with  S.  Bo3'di  I 
should  do  it  more  frequently;  indeed, 
as  often  as  it  seemed  to  be  showing 
any  signs  of  becoming  bare  towards  the 
base.  It  probably  owes  this  character 
to  S.  burseriana,  one  of  its  reputed 
parents.  Occasional  propagation  is  also 
desirable  in  many  soils. 

S.  Boj'di  has  at  present  just  come 
into  bloom  here,  and  one  would  be 
ditficult  to  please  if  they  could  not 
admire  its  neat  habit  and  pretty  briglit 
yellow  flowers.  The  white  S.  B.  alba  is 
of  a  different  character  and  is  easier 
to  grow,  although  it,  too,  should  be 
top  -  dres.sed  occasionally.  I  once 
possessed  a  small  piece  of  a  straw- 
coloured  variety  of  S.  Bo)di,  but, 
unfortunately,  lost  it  one  season  when 
laid  aside  by  illness.  I  do  not  think, 
however,  that  either  the  white  or  the 
straw-coloured  form  can  compaie  in  beauty  with 
the  type  itself.  S.  Arnott. 

Caricthorn,  bi/  Dnmfriix,  N. li. 

NARCISSUS  VICTORIA. 

I  DO  not  think  that  N.  Victoria  is  going  to  super- 
sede Empress  and  Hor.siieldi  for  cultivation  in  the 
open  border.  I  like  the  shape  of  the  perianth,  but 
its  colour  in  the  open  is  a  dingy  white  and  lacks 
the  purity  of  the  two  older  varieties.  In  freedom 
of  growth  it  is  all  that  could  be  desired.  A  bulb 
given  to  me  in  the  autumn  of  KS09  produced  two 
flowers  the  first  season,  and  last  j'ear  it  had  grown 
into  quite  a  clump,  with  six  fine  blooms. 

NARCISSUS  WEARDALE  PERFECTION. 

What  a  glorious  flower  N.  Weardale  Perfection 
is  !  For  a  day  or  two  after  it  opens  it  is  not 
altogether  attractive,  but,  unlike  many  Narcissi, 
it  improves  day  by  day  and  becomes  a  perfectly 
refined  flower,  both  in  form  and  colour.  In  this 
condition  it  continues  almost  to  the  time  when  the 
fabric  of  the  flower  collapses.  So  many  Daffodils 
lose  their  colour  or  form  soon  after  opening.  The 
colour  of  ( ilory  of  Leyden  becomes  streaky  and  dnll 
in  a  day  or  two,  and  the  form  of  Mme.  Plemp 
soon  becomes  c  jarse  and  vulgar.  ' 

FRITILLARIA    MELEAGRIS. 

Severat,  years  ago  I  planted  some  roots  of  Fritil- 
laria  Meleagris,  both  varieties,  in  asmallshrubberj', 
and  right  under  the  branches  of  a  deciduous  tree. 
This  was  not  done  as  an  experiment,  but  simply  to  i 
get  the  roots  out  of  the  way.  I  now  have  a  fine 
clump,  a  mass  of  flowers  every  season,  apparently 
quite  happ3'  with  the  Primroses,  Anemones  of 
various  kinds,  &c.  Fritillaria  contorta  within  a 
yard  is  also  doing  well.  I  always  thought  the 
Fritillaria  was  a  meadow  plant.  Jay  Ate. 


EEYTtlROXHJiMS  IN'  TUB  R  )CK   GARDE.V.      (From  a  [iliotoijraph  by  M Us  Willmotl.) 


Dens-canis  is  the  best  known  species,  and  there 
are  many  beautiful  varieties  —  white,  rose,  and 
other  colours,  none  poor,  and  this  Dog's-tooth 
Violet  is  as  easy  to  manage  as  any.  It  is  never 
prettier  than  wlien  planted  at  tlio  edge  of  a  bed 
filled  with  American  plants,  such  as  hardy  Azaleas 
and  the  like.  Besides  this  species  and  its  varie- 
ties there  are  many  other  beautiful  Erythroniums, 
chiefly  from  the  north-west  of  America".  E.  ameri- 
canum  is  a  graceful  species  with  a  delicately  coloured 
yellow  flower  and  mottled  leaves,  as  in  E.  Dens- 
canis  ;  indeed,  the  leaf-colouring  of  this  pretty  race 
is  as  distinct  as  are  the  subtle  hues  of  the  flowers. 
E,  giganteum,  E.  .Tohnsloni,  E.  grandiflorum,  E. 
revolutum,  H  Hartwcgii,  E.  Howellii,  and  E. 
montanum  are  all  worth  a  place  in  the  garden. 
The  way  to  increase  Erythroniums  is  by  bulb  oft'- 
sets,  also  by  seed,  but  from  four  to  five  years 
elapse  before  seedlings  bloom.  When  planting 
cover  the  bulbs  with  sand,  as  anything  approaching 
stagnation  is  fatal  to  success.  The  genus  was  fully 
described  in  The  Garden,  December  7,  1901. 


w 


ERYTHRONIUMS. 

The  Dog's-tooth  Violets  (Erythroniums)  form  a 
delightful  family  of  bulbous  plants,  flowering  in 
early  spring,  and  may  be  planted  in  the  lower 
parts  of  the  rook  garden,  at  the  margin  of  shrub 
groups,  or  even  naturalised  in  grass.  They  enjoy 
a  light  soil  composed  chiefly  of  leaf-mould,  mois- 
ture without   stagnation,  and  partial   shade.     E. 


THE     INDOOR     GARDEN. 

SPARMANNIA  AFRICANA. 

HEN  well  grown  and  flowered  this 
South  African  shrub  is  oue  of 
the  prettiest  of  spring  flowering 
greenhouse  plants,  though  if  not 
properly  managed  flowers  are 
scarce,  and  the  room  it  occupies 
would  be  better  occupied  by  some  other  plant.  It 
is  one  of  the  few  subjects  that  is  not  benefited  by 
being  planted  out ;  in  fact,  the  more  generous  the 
treatment  the  ranker  is  the  growth  and  the  fewer 
the  flowers.  In  the  Temperate  house  at  Kew  a 
couple  of  specimens  are  now  flowering  grandly, 
and  a  few  words  as  to  the  system  of  culture  adopted 
may  not  be  out  of  place.  The  plants  are  standards, 
the  stems  being  4  feet  to  .5  feet  in  height ;  the 
heads  are  globular  and  i  feet  in  diameter.  They 
are  growing  in  small  tubs,  consequently  the  root 
room  is  very  much  restricted.  This  has  resulted  in 
short,  sturdy,  somewhat  stunted  wood,  every  shoot 
of  which  is  carrying  oue  or  more  heads  of  blossoms. 
A  compost  of  loam  and  leaf-mould  is  used  and 
some    half-inch    bones   are   placed  on  top   of   the 


drainai,'e.  After  fli)wering  the  branches  are  well 
cut  back  and  the  plants  are  kept  fairly  close  until 
growth  recommences,  after  which  they  are  placed 
in  a  sunny,  airy  house  without  fire-heat,  in  which 
place  they  remain  until  flowers  appear  again.  In 
borders  in  the  Temperate  house  plants  maybe  seen 
growing  which  make  luxuriant  growth  and  large 
leaves,  but  rarely  flower:  this  gives  a  striking 
illustration  of  the  results  obtained  from  the  two 
methods  of  culture. 

In  most  gardens  it  is  a  well-known  plant,  having 
been  in  cultivation  for  upwards  of  a  century,  and 
its  large,  cordate,  hairy  leaves  and  umbels  of 
white  flowers,  with  tufts  of  j'ellow,  purple-tipped 
stamens  are  known  to  most  gardeners.  It  may  be 
easily  rooted  from  cuttings  and  flowered  in  a  small 
state  in  pots.  W.  Dalltmore. 


SHRUBBY  SPIR^AS   FOR  FORCING. 

For  some  j'ears  now  we  have  been  accustomed  to 
force  Spiraea  confusa  or  media  for  the  greenhouse 
early  in  the  year,  and  very  pretty  it  is  under  such 
conditions,  the  slender  wiry  shoots,  glaucous  green 
leaves,  and  flattened  clusters  of  white  flowers, 
plentifully  produced,  forming  a  pleasing  feature. 
Though  one  of  the  best  it  is  hy  no  means  the  only 
species  suitable  for  this  treatment,  as  Spirsea  Van 
Houttei,  a  hybrid  between  S.  media  and  S.  trilobata, 
is  as  good  ;  indeed,  during  a  recent  visit  to  Kew  I 
noted  several  examples  of  it  in  No.  4  greenhouse. 
This  Spir.ci  (Van  Houttei)  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  the  outdoor  Spirteas,  but  it  too  often 
falls  a  victim  to  spring  frosts  to  attain  a  high 
position  here,  though  in  the  United  States  of 
America  it  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  members 
of  the  genus. 

S.  prunifolia  flore-pleno  flowers  naturally  early  in 
the  season,  hence  it  may  be  readily  forced.  It  is, 
however,  of  large  growth,  and  is  only  effective  in 
the  shape  of  a  fair  sized  bush,  but  in  that  state  is 
delightful,  the  long  slender  arching  shoots  being 
studded  for  a  considerable  portion  of  their  length 
with  rounded  clusters  of  pretty  rosette  -  like 
blossoms,  which  are  of  the  purest  white,  and  in 
direct  contrast  to  the  dark  coloured  bark.  As 
there  is  only  one  other  double-flowered  Spiraja  of 
the  shrubby  section  (S.  reevesiana  flore-pleno),  the 
species  under  notice  attracts  attention  from  that 
circumstance  alone.  As  a  shrub  in  the  open 
ground,  S.  prunifolia  flore-pleno  is  delightful  when 


238 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  12,  1902. 


wreathed  with  flowers  in  the  spring,  while  the 
leaves  in  autumn  die  ofif  brightly  tinted  with 
scarlet.  Within  the  last  three  or  four  years 
S.  arguta  has  made  great  headway  in  popular 
favour  as  an  outdoor  shrub,  and  it  is  also  equally 
valuable  for  flowering  under  glass.  It  forms  a 
freely  branched  bush  from   3  feet  to  4  feet  high 


forming  these  operations  some  care  is  required,  as 
the  organs  of  fecundation  are  extremely  delicate, 
and  should  not  be  subjected  to  any  rough  usage. 
The  pollen  should  be  gently  applied  to  the  stigma, 
and  it  will  be  found  that  a  small  portion  has 
adhered  to  it,  which  is  all  that  is  required. 
Not  more  than  si.x  flowers  on  a  large  plant   should 


while  the  thin  wiry  twigs  of  the  preceding  years    be  allowed  to  seed,  for    if    a  greater    number  be 


ditches,  at  the  side  of  which  we  grow  Iris 
KiBmpleri,  the  field  being  of  good  soil.  The 
soil  dug  out  of  the  ditches  and  thrown  up  on 
banks  was  u-ed  for  herbaceous  plants.  It  is 
there  that  the  Lupines  grow  and  seed  them- 
selves about." 


growth  on  which  the  blossoms  are  borne  are 
gracefully  arched.  The  flowers  themselves  are 
pure  white,  and  arranged  in  flattened  clusters. 
The  roots  are  of  a  free  and  tufted  nature,  hence  the 
plants  can  be  lifted  and  potted  with  but  little 
check.     S.  arguta  is  of  hybrid  origin,  the  parentr- 


retained  there  is  a  danger  of  the  seed  grains  being 
small,  and  they  will  therefore  be  lacking  that 
vigour  which  is  at  all  times  so  important  in 
seedlings.  After  fertihsing  the  six  best  blooms 
all  others  should  be  at  once  removed  and  the 
plants  put  by  in  a  shady  part  of  the  greenhouse 


KE^V    NOTES. 

The   Temper.\te    Range. 
The  noble  proportions,   the  genial  temperature, 
and  the  pictorial  effect  of  the  unequalled  colleclion 
of  trees  and  flowering  shrubs  of  cool  climates  there 


Spirieas  enumerated  above  can  be  obtained  cheap 
from  most  nurseries.  H.  P. 

THE  FERTILISATION  OF  THE  PERSIAN 
CYCLAMEN. 

Mr.    C.    Mlrrei.l,   gardener   to   Colonel   Rogers, 


being  S     multiflora  and   S.    Thunbergi.      All  the    but  being  allowed  as  much  light  as  possible,  and    to  be  found   are   three   causes  which   combine   to 

■  .     .  .        1.   .    -1    .1 jjQ    place    can    be    better  than  a  shelf    protected  [  make  the  Temperate  Range  the  most  delightful  of 

from  hot  sunshine  by  means  of  a  screen,  which  can  all  plant  houses  at  Kew.  For  the  information  of 
be  maile  of  woodwork  placed  about  a  foot  or  '  readers  living  at  a  distance,  who  seldom  have  an 
18  inches  from  the  glass.  The  seeds  ripen  in  about  opportunity  of  making  acquaintance  with  the 
ten  weeks,  and  they  can  be  sown  at  once.  There  treasures  of  the  gardens,  it  may  be  well  to  give  a 
is  keen  enjoyment  in  raising  seedlings,  the  peculiar  slight  sketch  of  this  splendid  series  of  conserva- 
delight  of  which  is  known  only  to  the  enthusiastic  tories.  They  consist  of  a  central  block,  called  the 
Franklands,  Burge'88°Hill,  Sussex,  who  exhibited  |  and  painstaking  florist."  Temperate  house,  connected  by  lobbies  to  octagonal 

the  splendid  examples  of  Cyclamen  persicum  at  |  The  ample  vigorous  foliage  seen  on  the  plants  I  vestibules  on  either  side,  communicating  with  fine 
the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on  '  shown  by  Mr.  Murrell  at  the  meeting  of  the  north  and  south  wings.  Of  these,  the  north  wing 
March  II,  is  a  raiser  of  seedling  Cyclamens,  and  as  :  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on  March  11,  and  the  —which  is  the  usual  point  of  entrance— is  the 
he  finds  a' tendency  on  the  part  of  the  Cyclamen  to  !  size  and  substance  of  the  blossoms  bore  testimony  \  Himalajan  house,  and  was  only  completed  in  1899. 
deteriorate  in  quality,  he  therefore  seeks  to  j  to  the  care  with  which  he  selects  his  seed  parents.  It  is  the  coolest  of  the  entire  range,  being  practically 
maintain  a  high  character  and  improve  it  by  means  I  It  was  said  that  the  corms  which  had  produced  such  unhealed,  for  though  beat  can  be  turned  on  in 
of  artificial  fertilisation.  Mr.  Murrell  says  the  splendid  plants  were  four  and  five  years  old,  and  case  of  too  severe  frost,  the  temperature  is  never- 
best  time  to  fertilise  the  blossoms  is  as  earlj  in  it  is  evident  Mr.  Murrell  induces  them  to  break  theless  allowed  on  occasion  to  drop  even  a  degree 
March  as  possible,  but  it  may  be  done  as  late  as  into  growth  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner  ;  but  or  two  below  freezing  point,  as  artificial  heat  is 
April,  although  he  considers'tbe  later  it  is  done  he  says  that  the  best  exhibition  specimens  come  found  to  be  more  injurious  to  the  class  of  plants 
after  the  first  week  in  March   the  less  chance  is    from  corms  which  are  two  and  three  years  ol  J.    At    grown  herein   than  moderate  cold.     Here  are  to  be 

the  spring  exhibition  of  the  Brighton  Horticultural  :  found     specimens    of     many    of     the    Himalayan 
Society,  which  is  held  in  the  second  week  in  April,    Rhododendrons,  as  well  as  some  of  the  fine  hybrids 
Mr.   Murrell  is  always  first  with   Cyclamen  ;   his 
splendid  specimens  are  always  a  leading  feature. 


there  of  obtaining  the  wished-for  result,  as  insects 
at  that  season  of  the  year  are  prone  to  inteifere 
with  the  work  of  the  fertiliser  and  spoil  it. 
Advantage  should  be  taken  of  a  bright   sunshiny 


time    in   which    to   artificially   fertilise.       In   the    and  in  that  particular  line  of  plant  culture  he  may 


following  directions  Mr.  Murrell  sets  forth  his 
method  of  procedure: — "Having  selected  a  plant 
as  the  pollen  parent — and  it  should  have  well 
shaped  flowers  and  be  desirable  in  colour — take 
hold  of  the  stalk  between  the  left  forefinger  and 
thumb,  just  below  the  flower,  and  with  the  thumb 
of  the  right  hand  strike  the  side  of  it,  and  the  act 
will  cause  the  pollen  to  become  deposited  on  the 
left  thumbnail  ;  then  apply  this  pollen  bj*  means 
of  a  fine  and  dry  camels-hair  brush  to  the  blooms 
of  a  plant  of    good   habit  and  stiff',    well-marked 


be  said  to  fear  no  rival. 


R.   I). 


IN    THE    GARDEN    AT    W^ISLEY. 

The  accompanying  illustration  shows  one  of 
the  many  delightful  spots  in  the  garden  of 
the  late  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson  at  Wisley.  The 
group  is  largely  composed  of  Lupines,  about 
which  Mr.  Wilson  wrote  in  The  Garden  of 


„.  .  i.,»u.  .,1   g «...  »..  =...,    .............   February  9,  19(11,  page  lOI.     He  there  said 

foliage,  which  should  in  all  cases  be  indispensable      The  Lupines  grow  in  afield  which  we  took    which  are  now  very  conspicuous 
characteristics  of  a  seed  bearing   plant.     In   per-    into  Oakwood  Garden,  in  which  we  made  wide    worthy  species  just   now  m  bl 


A    FLOWERY    EA.NK    AT   OAKWOUl),    WIsr.EV,    THE    EXPERIME.XTAL   GARDEN    OF   THE    LATE    .MR.  r..  E.    WILSON,  F.R.S. 


which  have  been  raised  from  them,  in  company 
with  Camellias  and  other  flowering  shrubs  and 
plants  of  the  higher  Asiatic  regions.  The  earliest 
Rhodudendron,  which  has  been  in  flower  for  a 
month  past,  is  the  well-known  hardy  hybrid 
1!.  pracox,  which  may  also  be  seen  in  great  beauty 
in  ihe  open  air  in  various  parts  of  the  gardens. 
It  is  interesting  to  compare  it  with  one  of  its 
parents,  the  Himalayan  R.  ciliatum,  a  fine 
specimen  of  which  is  now  beginning  to  open  the 
while,  purple-tinted  buds  with  which  it  is  crowded. 
The  first  of  the  pure  Sikkim  species  to  open  its 
blood-red  flowers  was  R.  barbatuni,  followed  by 
R.   arboreum  and  some  of  its  numerous  varieties. 

The  most  note- 
bloom,  however,  is 
R.  grande,  with  its  trusses  of  cream- 
white,  bell-shaped  flowers,  flecked  with 
purple  at  the  base  of  the  upper  petals, 
surmounting  the  broad,  handsome 
silver-lined  foliage.  This  is  the  species 
f  irmerly  known  to  us  as  R.  argenteum. 
These  will  be  followed  by  many  others 
of  the  same  remarkable  tj'pe,  which 
can  only  be  seen  at  their  best  under 
very  favourable  conditiiona  of  climate 
or  circumstance. 

Rhododendrons,  however,  are  not 
the  only  inmates  of  the  house.  Several 
of  the  ilagnolias,  well  in  advance  of 
those  outside,  are  fast  pushing  off^  their 
hairy  sheath -scales  and  showing  their 
ivor3'-white  petals.  Camellias  are  in 
full  flower.  A  charming  Bramble 
(Rubus  incisus)  with  paper  -  white 
flowers  is  climbing  up  one  of  the 
pillars.  Daphnes  of  various  kinds  scent 
the  air,  and  one  may  make  acquaintance 
with  many  a  rare  exotic  shrub  of 
lower  growth,  several  of  which,  like 
Corylop.sis  pauciflora,  a  .Japanese 
cousin  of  the  Witch-Hazels,  and  the 
curious  yellow  and  white  Edgeworthia 
chrj-santha,  are  now  in  flower. 
Amongst  the  lesser  plants  on  the 
rockwork  overhanging  the  pools  at  the 
entrance,  fine  clumps  of  the  white- 
flowered  Himalayan  Saxifraga  ciliata 
are  very  ornamental. 

Passing  on  through  the  north  vesti- 
bule we  cannot  but  pause  a.s  we  enter 
the  central  section  —  the  Temperate 
house    proper.      This    is    the    oldest 


April  12,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


239 


part  of  the  whole  building,  having  been  completed 
in  1862,  though  practically  it  has  been  almost 
remodelled  during  recent  j'ears.  Here  the 
vegetation  is  mainly  that  of  Australia  and  New 
Zealand,  and  the  magnificent  specimens  of  the 
Moreton  Bay  and  Norfolk  Island  Pines  (Araucaria 
Bidwillii  and  A.  excelsa),  Cordylines,  Fan  and  Date 
Palms,  with  an  undergrowth  of  New  Zealand  Ferns 
— Dicksonias  and  Cyatheas — form  a  picture  not 
easily  to  be  surpassed  or  forgotten.  The  tempera- 
ture is  slightl}'  above  that  of  the  Himalayan  house, 
standing  at  from  40°  to  .30*,  and  therefore  quite 
cool.  At  the  present  time  Acacias  of  many  species 
are  in  flower,  and  form  a  most  interesting  and 
beautiful  feature.  Some  of  these  have  been 
blooming  intermittently  throughout  the  winter, 
and  one  very  tall  specimen  of  the  Silver  Wattle 
(A.  dealbata)  which  has  reached  the  roof  has  been 
very  ornamental  with  its  finely  cut  glaucous 
foliage  and  drooping  j-ellow  racemes.  We  can 
examine  more  at  our  ease  the  less  stately  species, 
some,  like  the  charming  A.  leprosa,  with  its 
globular  sulphur-hued  powder-puffs  studding  its 
pendulous  branches  wreathing  a  pillar,  others  in 
shrub  form,  but  all  very  different  from  each  other, 
as,  for  example,  A.  reticulata,  its  Primrose- 
coloured  cylinders  set  off  by  the  close  dark  green 
foliage,  or  the  graceful  A.  acinacea,  with  slender 
drooping  branches  spangled  with  flowers  amongst 
its  narrow,  needle-like  leaves;  or  again,  A.  hastu- 
lata,  with  long  spikes  of  Mignonette-like  flowers, 
clothing  the  upright  stems.  The  largest  bushes  are 
planted  out,  but  numerous  smaller  specimens  grown 
in  pots  and  quite  as  free-flowering,  go  to  prove  that 
large  space  is  not  indispensable  for  the  culture  of 
these  beautiful  and  long-lasting  plants.  Amongst 
those  sui  table  for  pots  may  be  mentioned  A.  obliqua, 
with  minute  but  innumerable  balls  of  rich  deep 
yellow,  and  A.  juniperina,  a  very  distinct  and 
pretty  verticillale  foim  with  cylindrical  heads  of 
pale  citron-coloured  flowers.  An  occasional  plant 
of  A.  armata  and  perhaps  A.  Drummondii  may  be 
found  in  our  greenhouses  ;  but  as  a  rule  the  great 
variety  and  charm  of  these  lovely  Acacias  is  over- 
looked. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  A.  longifolia,  a  very 
free-flowering  species,  was  in  precisely  the  same 
stage  of  development  in  the  open  air  in  the  Abbey 
Gardens  at  Tresco,  Isles  of  Scilly,  on  February  26, 
as  was  the  same  variety  iinder  glass  in  the  Tem- 
perate liouse  at  Kew.  Folk  who  are  fortunate 
enough  to  have  their  gardens  in  the  genial  climate 
of  Sauth  Devon  and  Cornwall  ma}'  congratulate 
themselves  on  being  able  to  grow  so  many  of 
these  desirable  half-hardy  shrubs  in  sheltered 
spots  out  of  doors. 

Of  many  other  Australasian  plants  of  great  merit 
and  more  or  less  familiar,  Correas,  Chorizemas, 
Eriostemons,  and  others  may  be  seen  in  flower  at 
present.  Amongst  them,  but  perhaps  less  well 
known,  Grevillea  punicea  with  bright  scarlet 
flowers  attracts  notice.  Tnis  and  another  beautiful 
species,  G.  thelemanniana,  are  well  worth  the 
attention  of  those  who  seek  for  unusual  and  daint}' 
pot  plants.  The  trees  of  the  Antipodes,  which  are 
mostly  evergreen,  are  somewhat  sombre  in  their 
tone  of  leafage,  but  here  this  is  relieved  by  bright 
coloured  flowers  of  other  lands.  Azaleas,  SpiriBas, 
Hawthorns,  Lilacs,  Laburnums,  Wistarias  and  the 
like,  in  pots,  are  all  pressed  into  the  service  and 
help  to  make  the  Temperate  house  a  most  popular 
resort.  A  remarkable  specimen  of  Camellia 
reticulata,  covered  with  its  large  red  semi-double 
flowers — one  of  the  best  of  its  kind — is  a  picture 
in  itself  ;  and  in  another  part  of  the  house, 
a  double  flowered  Peach  of  a  bright  carmine- 
pink,  has  been  singularly  beautiful  for  two 
or  three  weeks  past.  The  draping  of  several  of 
the  pillars  with  Cestrum  elegans — better  known 
perhaps  as  Habrotliamnus — is  another  feature  of 
note.  The  conditions  under  which  it  is  grown 
seem  to  suit  it  to  perfection,  and  it  is  seldom  that 
its  bright  cherrj'-pink  clusters  are  seen  to  greater 
advantage  than  here. 

The  south  wing,  which  is  known  as  the  Mexican 
house,  is  devoted  to  the  vegetation  of  somewhat 
warmer  latitudes,  as  its  name  implies,  but  it  is 
not  less  full  of  interest  than  the  other  divisions  of 
this  unique  range  of  buildings. 


TREES    AND^ 

CRYPTOMERIA 


SHRUBS. 

JAPONICA. 


ONE  of  the  miny  fine  spe.-imens 
of  this  tree  found  in  Japan  is 
represented  in  the  accompanying 
illustration.  The  beauty  of  the 
Cryptomeria  as  seen  in  Japan 
has  often  been  described  by 
travellers  both  when  seen  wild,  forming  large 
forests  on  the  mountain  sides,  and  also  under 
cultivation,  the  Japanese  having  used  it  to  a 
great  extent  for  avenues  along  the  sides  of  the 
public  roads.  One  of  the  finest  of  these 
avenues  is  recorded  as  leading  from  the  town 
of  Namada  to  Nikko,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles, 
every  tree  being  a  perfect  specimen,  quite 
straight,  averaging 
from  1.30  feet  to  1.50 
feet  in  height  and 
12  feet  to  15  feet  in 
circumference.  In  this 
country  it  has  proved, 
on  the  whole,  a  dis- 
appointing tree,  fine 
specimens  being 
extremely  rare. 

The  species,  or  one 
of  its  numerous  varie- 
ties, is  said  to  have 
been  first  introduced 
into  Engl  md  by  For- 
tune in  1S44,  who  sent 
it  from  Shanghai. 
Although  usually 
spoken  of  as  a 
Japanese  tree,  it  is 
also  found  widely  dis- 
tributed in  many  of 
the  mountainous  ])art3 
of  China.  Its  nearest 
allies  are  the  Taxo- 
diums  and  Sequoias, 
though  it  is  quite  dis- 
tinct from  both.  As 
previously  stated,  it 
forms  in  Japan  an 
erect  tree  150  feet 
high,  with  a  tapering 
trunk  and  numerous 
branches.  The  branch- 
lets  are  numerous  and 
smothered  with  bright 
green  angular  leaves, 
the  longest  of  which 
are  barely  an  inch  in 
length.  The  cones  are 
roundish,  little  more 
than  half  an  inch 
through,  and  bear  but 
few  seeds  each. 

The  timber  is  light, 
tough  and  durable,  red 
in  colour, and  fragrant. 
The  wood  is  said  to 
be  easily  worked,  and  is  much  in  demand  for 
all  kinds  of  purposes.  In  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society's  report  of  the  Conifer 
Conference  of  1892,  the  best  specimens  in 
Great  Britain  are  stated  to  be  at  Coollattin 
and  Fota  Island,  the  former  being  at  that  time 
67  feet  high,  with  a  girth  of  5  feet,  and  the 
latter  56  feet  high,  with  a  3i  feet  girth.  In 
England  the  finest  recorded  was  at  Boconnoe, 
64  feet  high,  with  a  7  feet  girth  ;  in  Scotland 
a  specimen  -1.3  feet  high  was  recorded  as  grow- 
ing at  lliccarton,  whilst  another  at  Keir,  in 
Perthshire,  was  nearly  as  tali,  and  had  a  girth 
of  9  feet  8  inches.  Specimens  such  as  these 
are,  however,  rare  ;  in  many  places  the  tree 
refuses  to  thrive. 


When  planting  Cryptomerias  a  sheltered 
situation  should  be  given,  and  a  moist,  rich 
soil.  Like  many  other  favourite  plants  of  the 
Jajianese  it  has  many  varieties,  a  few  of  which 
are  highly  ornamental.  The  most  noticeable 
of  these  is  elegans,  commonly  called  Crypto- 
meria elegans.  It  is  quite  distinct  from  the 
type,  and  might  readily  be  mistaken  for  a 
distinct  species.  It  forms  a  lovely  tree — in 
places  where  it  thrives— of  pyramidal  habit, 
densely  furnished  with  branches,  the  branchlets 
at  the  extreme  points  being  pendulous.  The 
leaves  are  about  the  same  length  as  those  of 
the  type,  but  are  soft  to  the  touch,  not  harsh  as 
in  the  typical  plant.  In  summer  the  leaves  are 
bright  green,  in  winter  bronzy  or  brown  with  a 
reddish  tinge.  This  colour  is  prevalent  for  four 
or  five  months, the  green  colour  being  reassumed 


CRYPTOMERIA  JAPOSICA  IN   JAPAN. 
From  a  photograph  sent  by  Messrs.  Bcehmer  and  Co.,  of  Yokohama.) 


in  early  spring.  This  fine  variety  was  introduced 
in  1861  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Veitch.  Cryptomeria 
japonic.!  var.  variegata  is  another  ornamental 
plant ;  in  this  many  of  the  branchlets  are 
white  or  pale  yellow.  It  is  more  tender  than 
the  others,  and  thrives  best  in  a  cool  green- 
house. 

Other  varieties  of  more  or  less  interest  are 
araucarioides,  with  leaves  somewhat  similar  to 
the  small-leaved  Araucarias  ;  elegans  nana,  a 
dwarf  compact  form  of  elegans  ;  Lobbi,  more 
compact  in  habit  than  the  type  with  less 
pendulous  branchlets  and  shorter  leaves, 
introduced  by  Mr.  Thomas  Lobb  in  185.3,  from 
the  Java  Botanic  Garden  ;  Lobbi  nana,  a 
dwarf  form  ;   pungens  and  spiralis,  the  latter  a 


240 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  12,  1902. 


that  it  is  worthy  of  reproduction  here  : — 
Skimmia  Fortunei  (Mast.),  China;  syns. 
S.  japonica  (Hort.),  Bot.  May.,  t.  471!t 
(not  Thunb. ),  S.  rubella  (Carr).  Skimmia 
japonica  (Thunb.),  Gard.  Chron.,  ser.  3, 
1889,  Japan;  .-syn.  S.  oblata  (Moore). 
Seedling  varietie.s  or  sexual  forms  of  this 
are  :  — S.  fragrans  (Carr.),  S.  fragrantissima 
(Hort.),  S.  Foremani  (Hort.),  Gnrd.  Chron., 
ser.  3,  1889 ;  S.  intermedia  (Carr.),  S. 
oblata  var.  ovata  (Carr.),  S.  oblata  var. 
Veitchii  (Carr.),  S.  Rogersii  (Hort.)  ; 
Skimmia  Laureola  (Hook  fil.),  Himalayas, 
syns.  Laureola  fragrans  (Roem.),  Limonia 
Laureola  (Wallich.) 

This  last-named  species  has  jellowish 
flowers  and  large  berries,  but  it  is  ijuite  a 
rare  plant,  and  even  when  met  with  is  by 
no  mean.s  invariably  in  a  flourishing  state. 

Though  .S.  Foremani  is,  as  may  be  seen 
from  the  above,  indistinguishable  botani- 
cally  from  S.  oblata,  it  is  of  great  value  to 
the  gardener,  not  only  as  a  shrub  in  the  open 
ground,  but  when  in  pots  and  laden  with  its 
bright-coloured  berries  it  may  be  used  for  decora- 
tions in  draughty  corridors  and  similar  places, 
where  tender  subjects  would  be  quickly  ruined. 
The  clusters  of  flowers  in  the  spring  months  give, 
too,  an  additional  interest  to  the  plant,  particularly 
as  an  outdoor  shrub.  H.  P. 


FMIWKRS  OF  A(;AVE  BAKERI  (NATURAL  SIZE). 

(The  r.idnur  is  pale  greenish  yellow.) 

slender  plant,  with  the  leaves  arranged  round 
the  stem  in  a  .spiral  manner. 

W.  Dallimore. 


SKIMMIAS. 

Si>'CE  that  dull  autumn  day,  on  October  10,  1882, 
when  Mr.  Davis,  of  Hillsborough,  County  Down, 
surprised  nearly  everyone  at  the  Horticultural 
Society's  meeting  in  the  old  gardens  at  Kensing- 
ton with  his  magnificent  exhibit  of  seedling 
Pernettyas,  six  of  which  were  then  awarded 
first-class  certificates,  we  have  had  nothing  among 
new  hardy  berried  shrubs  to  equal  a  group  of 
Skimmia  Foremani,  an  illustration  of  M'hich  was 
given  recently  in  The  Garden,  page  160.  It  was 
on  December  1 1,  1888,  that  a  group  of  this  Skimmia 
was  exhiliiled  at  the  Drill  Hall  Ijy  Mr.  Foreman, 
Eskbank  Nursery,  Midlothian,  and  though  the  day 
was  cold,  foggy,  and  in  every  way  cheerless,  these 
plants,  with  their  brightly-coloured  berries,  formed 
an  attractive  feature.  A  first-class  certificate  was 
the  award  given  to  tliem. 

Though  the  Skimmias,  both  original  species  and 
garden  forms,  are  few  in  number,  their  nomencla- 
ture is  in  a  very  confused  state,  principally  due  to 
the  way  in  which  the  names  have  been  changed. 
The  confusion  was  caused  in  this  way  :  In  18-t.i 
Robert  Fortune  sent  home  from  Japan  that  delight- 
ful little  shrub  with  hermaphrodite  blossoms 
which  was  supposed  to  be  Skimmia  japonica  of 
Thunberg,  and  as  such  it  was  for  many  years,  and 
is  still,  largely  grown,  being  very  popular  for  cool 
house  decoration,  the  embellishment  of  the  outdoor 
garden  in  winter,  &c.  Some  twenty  years  or  so 
later  saw  the  introduction,  also  from  .Japan,  of  a 
more  vigorous  Skimmia,  in  which  the  male  and 
female  flowers  were  borne  on  difierent  plants.  The 
male  form  of  this  became  general  in  cultivation  as 
S.  oblata  and  the  female  as  S.  fragrans.  So  far 
all  was  well  until  further  research  led  to  the  dis- 
covery that  the  plant  so  long  known  in  gardens  as 
S.  japoniui  was  not  a  native  of  Japan  at  all,  but  of 
China,  and  that  the  true  S.  japonica  of  Thunberg 
was  that  known  as  S.  oblata.  This  seemed  to  be 
conclusively  proved,  at  least  to  the  satisfaction  of 
our  botanical  authorities,  who  named  the  one-time 
S.  japonica  in  honour  of  its  discoverer,  S.  Fortunei, 
while  S.  oblata  became  the  true  S.  japonica.  As 
this  revised  nomenclature  is  adopted  in  some 
nurseries,  and  in  others  the  old  style  is  still  retained, 
the  confusion  prevailing  is  very  obvious. 

That  portion  of  the  "  Kew  Hand  List''  dealing 
with    the   Skimmias   puts    the  matter   so   clearly 


RECENT    PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The   April   number   of    the    Botanical    Magazine 
contains  portraits  of  the  following  plants  : — 

Philodendron  ra/ophi/l- 
lum,  a  native  of  Brazil 
and  Ouiana.  This  is  also 
known  under  the 
s^'nonym  of  P.  niveo- 
chermesinum,  P.  prieuri- 
anum,  and  P.  nobile.  An 
exceedingly  handsome 
plant,  conspicuous  from 
tlie  deep  brilliant  ear- 
mine  colourof  the  interior 
surface  of  the  spathe, 
which  is  edged  with 
white.  It  flowered  in 
the  Aroid  house  at  Kew 
in  A|iril,  1901. 

]'i.icitm  cniciatiim,  a 
native  of  Spain,  Norlh- 
Last  Africa,  and  .Syria. 
This  is  also  known  as 
V.  orientale  and  V. 
baccis-purpureis.  It  is 
the  red  -  berried  Mistle- 
toe, and  was  introduced 
to  this  country  by  the 
Hon.  C  Ellis,  who  ob- 
tained ssed  of  it  from 
Morocco.  He  succeeded 
in  grafting  it  on  young 
Olive  plants  from  the 
Riviera  after  two  or 
three  years  of  careful 
attention  by  daily  mois- 
tening the  surrounding 
bark  of  the  stock  till  the 
seeds  germinated  and  put 
out  roots.  Two  of  these, 
male  and  female,  he 
presented  to  Kew,  where 
they  are  now  bearing 
fruit  in  the  Heath  house. 

Ti/pi  tra  ifraiifiisj  a 
native  of  the  Malayan 
peninsula.  This  is  a 
curious  and  rather  hand- 
some Aspidistrad  from 
the  dense  forests  of 
Perak.  It  requires  the 
temperature  of  a  stove 
or  tropical  house. 

CorydalislhaHrtrifolia, 
a  native  of  China.  This 
is  one  of   the   largest  of 


the  Chinese  species  of  the  genus,  and  bears  spikes 
of  bright  golden-yellow,  trumpet-shaped  flowers. 

Ku/anehoe  loma/iensis,  a  native  of  Somaliland. 
A  pretty  species,  bearing  bunches  of  long-tubed, 
Bouvardia-like  flowers  of  a  creamy  white  colour. 
It  was  introduced  by  Sir  William  Edmond  Loder, 
Bart. 

The  second  number  of  the  Eevne  Horticole  for 
March  contains  a  portrait  of  Ruellia  lorenziana, 
a  native  of  LTruguay  ;  a  very  ornamental  species, 
bearing  bunches  of  purple-lilac  flowers. 

W.  E.  GUMBLETON. 


NEW    AND    RARE    PLANTS. 


AGAVE     BAKERI. 

THIS  is  a  new  and  .striking  Agave 
which  has  flowered  this  year  for  the 
fir.st  time  at  Kew,  where  it  has  been 
an  attraction  in  the  Mexican  house 
since  January.  It  was  purchased 
in  1889  at  the  .=ale  of  the  collection 
of  succulents  formed  by  the  late  J.  T.  Peacock 
at  Sudley  House,  Hammersmith,  but  nothing 
more  is  known  of  its  origin.  It  belongs  to  the 
Littaca  section  of  the  genus,  the  members  of 
which  have  innumerable  flowers  in  pairs, 
forming  a  dense  cylindrical  subspicate  iii- 
florescence  ;  one  of  the  best  known  of  them  is 
A.  Kerehovei,  of  which  there  are  numerous 
varieties.    The  leaves  of  A.  Bakeri  are  3  feet 


AOAVE   BAKERI    IN   THE   MEXICAN    HOUSE  AT   KEW. 


Apkil  12,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


241 


long  and  5  inches  wide,  tapering  to  the  base  to 
half  that  width,  and  to  the  apax  to  a  sharp 
point,  tipped  with  a  short  brown  spine.  The 
margin  is  spineless,  with  a  continuous  narrow 
brown  border.  The  flower  spike  is  8i  feet  high, 
and  the  flowers,  which  are  packed  as  closely  as 
those  of  a  garden  Hyacinth,  are  nearly  2  inches 
long,  with  recurved  pale  greenish  yellow 
segments  and  long  rigid  stamens  and  style. 
The  flowers  at  the  base  of  the  spike  open 
first,  and  they  continue  to  expand  gradually 
upwards.  The  plant  in  efi'ect  is  not  unlike  a 
gigantic  Eremurus.  This  plant  has  been  named 
by  Sir  Joseph  Hooker  in  compliment  to  Mr. 
J.  G.  Baker,  F.R.S.,  late  keeper  of  the  Kew 
Herbarium,  whose  monograph  of  Agaves, 
published  twenty-five  years  ago,  is  a  masterly 
arrangement  of  what  was  previously  all  con- 
fusion. A  figure  and  description  of  this 
Agave  will  shortly  be  published  in  the  Bota- 
nical Alagazine.  W.  W. 


that  I  was  about  to  have  an  opportunity  of 
examining  the  blooming  of  the  one  after  the 
other  ;  but  no,  the  most  favoured  of  the  two 
waited  for  its  companion,  and  both  of  them 
bloomed  together,  just  at  the  time  of  the  full 
moon.  This  coincidence  struck  me  at  first  as 
uncommon,  but  when  I  saw  the  flowers  by  the 
clear  light  of  the  moon  I  comprehended  it. 
This  plant  is  created  for  the  moon  as  the 
Heliotrope  is  for  the  sun.  It  is  not  acted  upon 
by  any  other  influence,  and  does  not  unfold 
its    beauties  by  any  other  light.     The  first 


AN   ARTIST'S    NOTE-BOOK. 

FRITILLAEIA   ASKHABADENSIS 

AND    IRIS   WARLEYENSIS. 
A  T  the  Drill  Hall  on  March  8,  and  again 

/%  on  the  25th,  I  exhi- 

/  \  bited  these  two 
/ — *  plants,  when  they 
L  1l  obtained  an  award 
of  merit  and  a  first- 
class  certificate  respectively. 
They  were  part  of  the  results  of 
a  botanical  expedition  initiated 
and  arranged  by  Mr.  .J.  Hoog,  of 
Haarlem.  F.  askhabadensis  is  one  of  the 
Petilium  group,  and  was  found  growing  in  a 
district  in  Persia. 

Iris  warleyensis  is  a  new  species  from 
Bokhara,  and  belongs  to  the  Juno  section.  A 
scientific  description  of  this  Iris  from  the  pen 
of  Sir  Michael  Foster  will  .shortly  appe  ir.  The 
Fritillaria  has  been  described  by  Mr.  B  iker. 

Warlej/  Plare.  E.  Willmoit. 

[The  Fritillaria  will  be  figured  next  week. — 
Eds.] 


YUCCA    FILAMENTOSA. 

In  the  old  garden  at  Ro.se  Brake  there  are 
many  Yuccas  which  have  attained  a  venerable 
age.  Just  how  many  years  have  ]iassed  since 
they  were  planted  I  am  unable  to  say,  but  the 
estate  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  family  who 
now  own  it  away  back  in  the  fifties.  When 
the  mother  of  the  present  occupant  came  to 
live  here  in  18.")9  tlje  Yuccas  had  long  been 
established  in  the  vegetable  garden,  and  they 
have  never  been  moved.  They  still  stand,  in 
stately  rank  and  file,  down  each  side  of  the 
main  path  through  this  garden.  They  never 
fail  to  throw  up  flower  stalks,  often  taller 
than  the  tallest  man,  to  lend  a  glamour  of 
mysterious  beauty  to  the  nights  of  .June.  The 
Yucca  is  the  true  "  flower  o'  the  moon." 

In  Margaret  Fuller  Ossoli's  journal  she 
speaks  of  a  Frenchman  to  whom  society  was 
no  longer  attractive,  and  who  had  given  him- 
self up  entirely  to  the  study  of  plants.  "I 
had,"  says  this  person,  "  kept  two  specimens 
of  Yucca  filanientosa  during  six  or  seven 
years  without  their  ever  having  come  to 
flower.  I  do  not  know  the  flowers  of  this 
plant,  and  had  no  idea  of  the  sentiments  which 
they  might  call  forth.  In  the  month  of  June 
last  I  discovered  a  bud  upon  the  plant  that 
had  the  best  exposure,  and  two  weeks  after- 
wards the  second  p^ant,  which  stood  moi;e  in 
the  shade,  also  began  to  bud.     I  imagined 


•^; 


\ 


\ 


I 


THE   NEW   IMS   WAELEYKXSIS 

(NATDRAT,  SIZE). 

(From  a  ^rawina  by  H.  G.  Moon.      The 

cotouring  of  tliejloiver  is  i^ery  beautijuly 

soft  azure-blue,  with  purple  on  the 

falls.) 


night  that  I  saw  it  in  flower  I  felt  a  special 
delight,  I  might  even  say.  ecstasy.  Many 
white  flowers  show  to  the  greatest  advantage 
in  broad  daylight.  The  Lily,  for  instance, 
with  its  thick,  firm  petals  of  pure  white, 
requires  daylight  to  bring  out  its  full  beauty  ; 
but  the  transparent  petals  of  the  Yucca,  of  a 
greenish   white,   and    looking   dull  ip   broad 


daylight,  gleam  with  a  silvery  lustre  in  the 
moonlight. 

"  Like  all  bell-shaped  flowers,  it  is  unable  to 
close  entirely  after  it  has  once  opened,  but  it 
contracts  and  nearly  shuts  up  at  noon,  letting 
its  petals  droop  sadly.    The  leaves  also,  which 
at  night  look  large  and  vigorous  and  stand  out 
boldly  from  the  stem  in  the  shape  of  a  fan, 
like  those  of  the  Palm,  appear   languid   and 
imperfectly  formed   during   the   day.      Their 
edges  seem  ragged  and  unequal,  as  if  Nature, 
dissatisfied  with  her  work,  had  left  them  with- 
out bestowing  the  last  and  finishing  touches. 
On  the  day  after  the  night  on  which  my  Yuccas 
first  bloomed  I  could  not  understand  my  mis- 
apprehension, for  the  flowers  seemed  to  have 
lost   all  their  Ijeauty.      But  on    the    second 
evening  I  returned  to  the  garden.     There,  in 
the  soft  light  of  the  moon,  my 
precious   flowers   expanded,  and 
were   more    lovely    than    before. 
The  stem  rose   up  into   the  air, 
straight    as     an    arrow,    all    the 
flower-bells    grouped    themselves 
around  it   in    the    most  graceful 
manner,    and    the    petals,    more 
translucent    than    crystal,   shone 
■with  a  pearly  light.     The  outlines 
were  clearly   defined  and  yet    as 
airy  as  if  they  had  been  woven  by 
the   beams    of    the   moon.      The 
leaves,  which  had  appeared  ragged 
during    the    day,    seemed    now 
bordered  with  the  finest  gossamer 
fringes.     I  gazed  at  my  beautiful 
plant  until  my  emotion  became  so 
strong   that  I  restrained  it  with 
difficulty 
Then     a 
thought 
filled  my 
soul.      It 
was  that 
this 
flower  of 
the  moon 
is    the 
most  per- 
fect sym- 
bol of  the 
beauty 
and  of  the 
purity  of 
woman. 
I  have  since  had  frequent  oppor- 
tunities  of  studying   the  Yucca, 
and    of   ascertaining  by  frequent 
observations   the    truth   of    what 
was  revealed  to  me  so  poetically — 
that  this  flower  veils  its  charms 
from  the  bright  eye  of   day  and 
reveals  them  only  to  the  divine 
eye  of  the  night." 

There  is  .something  weird  and 
phantom-like  in  the  appearance  of 
the  scattered  groups  of  Yuccas 
on  a  clear  midnight.  The  garden 
seems  a  haunted  place.  At  a 
little  distance  they  look  like  tall, 
shrouded,  mysterious  forms,  some 
proudly  erect,  some  bending  as 
though  oppressed  with  grief,  while 
others,  drooping  to  the  ground, 
seem  to  recline  languidly  upon 
the  bank,  and  all  beckoning  and  nodding 
fantastically,  in  solemn  conclave,  like  veiled 
guardians  of  the  secrets  of  the  moon. 
But  though  they  are  of  such  poetic  interest 
to  all  lovers  of  the  beautiful,  they  are  no 
less  interesting  to  the  scientist.  I  once  read 
the  Sritntific  American,  that  at  a  meeting 


of  the  American  Scientific  Association  a  good 


242 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  12,  ^902. 


NEW    BE.jONIA    BUJSiON    ROSE    (LEMOINE    ET    FILs). 


Uiley,  "  may 
therefore  be 
regarded  as  a 
marked  and 
exceptional 
one.  The 
flowers  of 
this  plant 
are  so  pecu- 
liarly con- 
structed 
that  it  is 
impossible 
for  the 
pollen  to 
reach  the 
stigma,  save 
through  the 
direct  inter- 
vention and 
assistance  of 
an  insect 
specially 
adapted  for 
the  purpose, 
a  condition 
due  to  the 
fact  that  the 
pollen  is 
ghxtinous, 
and  may  not 
be  carried 
by  the  wind, 
or  projected 
against  the 
stigma  by 
the  plant  it- 
self, as  in 
the  case  of 
certain  of 
the  Orchids. 
The  insect 
on  whose 
presence  and 
labours  thi.'s 
plant  i ." 
dependent 
for  its  fer- 
tilisation 
has  received 
the  name 
P  r  o  n  u  b  p 
Yuccasella, 
and  belongs 
to     a     new 


many  years  ago  Professor  V.  Y.  Riley  called 
the  attention  of  that  body  to  an  interesting 
discovery  relating  to  the  fructification  of 
Yuccas. 

Those  who  have  read  Darwin's  "  Fertilisa- 
tion of  Orchids "  are  familiar  with  the 
delicate  and  sensitive  contrivances  through 
which  the  bee-moth  and  other  insects  are 
made  the  unconscious  agents  by  which  the.se 
wonderfully  delicate  and  beautiful  plants  are 
rendered  fertile.  The  insect  while  in  search 
of  the  sweets  that  are  concealed  at  the  base  of 
the  long  tubular  nectary  receives  upon  its 
head  the  fine  seed-bearing  pollinium,  and  this 
is  in  turn  transferred  to  the  stigma  of  the 
flower  next  visited,  where  it  remains  to  fulfil 
its  purpose  as  a  seed  germ.  In  these  cases, 
however,  though  there  are  evidences  of  design 
or  adaptability,  yet  the  act  of  transferring  the 
pollen  is  evidently  an  unconscious  one,  being 
an  incident  merely  to  the  main  purpo.se,  that 
of  obtaining  food,  and,  though  the  transfer  is 
ofteneit  made  through  this  agency,  it  does  not 
appear  that  the  plant  is  entirely  dependent 
upon  it  for  fructification. 

"The  case  of  the  Yuccas,"  says  Professor 


genus  o  I 
moths.  This  truly  wonderful  little  insect  maj 
be  regarded  as  an  anomaly,  from  the  fact  that  the 
female  only  has  thevasel  joint  of  the  maxillary 
palpus  wonderfully  modified  into  a  long,  pre- 
hensile, spined  tentacle.  With  this  tentacle 
she  collects  the  pollen,  and  thrusts  it  into  the 
stigmatic  tube,  and,  while  thus  fertilising  the 
flower,  she  leaves  with  the  flower-egg  a  few 
eggs  of  her  own  to  subsequently  nourish  upon 
the  seeds  which  her  labours  have  rendered  pos- 
sible." Is  not  this  an  admirable  contrivance  ? 
It  is  quite  in  keeping  that  this  strange  and 
reserved  flower  should  not  reveal  her  inner- 
most heart  to  any  of  the  ordinary  wayfarers 
of  the  night,  but  possess,  as  it  were,  a  chatelaine 
of  her  own,  to  whom  alone  pertains  the  right 
of  investigating  the  arcina  of  her  hidden 
mysteries.  The  day  that  I  read  about  the 
Pronuba  Yuccasella  I  went  and  peeped  into 
a  Yucca  bell  and  found  the  pretty  occupants 
fast  asleep.  They  were  not  fairies  perhaps, 
but  they  were  as  dainty  as  fairies,  although 
they  took  the  shape  of  pure  white  moths,  less 
than  an  inch  long,  who  had  fancied  the  Yucca's 
cool,  spotless  bed-chamber  for  a  noonday  nap. 
There  were  at  least  a  dozen  of  them.    I  looked 


into  other  bells  on  other  Yuccas  and  found 
them  occupied  by  the  same  airy  visitants.  I 
wondered  if  these  were  not  the  Yucca  ninths, 
whose  mission  it  is  to  fertilise  the  beautiful 
blossoms  as  a  recomjjense  for  bed  and  board. 

A  heavy  thunderstorm  came  up,  the  Yuccas 
swayed  in  the  wind,  bent  over  until  they 
swept  the  ground,  and  the  blossoms  seemed 
too  frail  tenements  to  sustain  their  occupants. 
I  felt  afraid  that  they  would  be  dislodged  and 
blown  about  at  the  mercy  of  the  storm.  The 
rain  fell  in  sheets,  and,  when  it  was  over,  I 
peeped  again  into  the  dripping  bells.  Not  a 
moth -guest  was  discomposed  ;  all  seemed  to 
sleep  serenely,  waiting  for  the  fire- fly  signals 
to  herald  the  summer  night  and  awaken  them 
to  elf-like  revels  under  the  light  of  the  summer 
moon.  "  Thus,"  I  said  to  myself,  "  Nature 
takes  care  of  her  own."  The  lady  of  the  Asters 
thus  writes  of  my  favourite  Yuccas  : — 
THE  YUCC.4. 
The  glamour  flower  doth  bloom  again. 
The  flower  of  which  the  Moon  is  fiiin. 

Down  the  long  border,  in  the  night, 
(ilides  the  Moon-maiden  faintly  white. 
Under  the  Yuccas  I  saw  her  stand. 
Resting  a  cheek  ou  a  slender  hand. 

The  great  white  blossoms  shone  and  shone  ; 
A  moment  more — the  dream  had  flown. 

O  Yucca  I  Flower  of  mysterv  I 
How  the  Moon-maiden  loveth  thee  ! 

Long,  long  ago,  ere  the  world  was  old, 
When  the  .sad  Moon  felt  she  was  turning  cold, 

Down  to  the  earth  her  flower  she  sent ; 
Pearl-bloom  and  tear-drop  lustre  blent. 

And  now,  when  they  liloom  in  the  border  there. 
The  Moon-maid  floats  from  her  home  so  bare. 

In  the  lone  garden  a  space  to  weep, 
Wliile  yearning  fancies  invest  our  sleep. 

'Tis  the  saddest,  the  sweetest  day  o'  the  year. 
For  in  every  cup  I  have  found  a  tear — 

A  tear  that  smiles  with  a  tender  light, 
And  I  know  who  shed  them  yesternight. 

Danske  D.vndeidce. 
West  Virginia,  U.S.A. 


THE    KITCHEN   GARDEN. 


IN 


THE  LATE  BORECOLES 
SPRING. 

IN  many  parts  of  the  country  there  will,  I 
fear,  be  a  scarcity  of  good  green  vegetables 
for  use  during  April  and  May,  and  I  fear  in 
many  gardens  the  late  Broccoli  crop  sufl'ered 
badly.  This  will  cause  a  dearth  of  good 
vegetables  at  the  season  named,  as  I  note 
the  same  scarcity  exists  in  the  north  as  in  the 
south  ;  indeed,  I  fear  most  spring  vegetable  crops 
will  turn  in  later  than  usual.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  Borecoles  or  Kales,  as  they  are  usually  termed, 
are  now  doubly  valualjle.  In  my  case  a  certain 
percentage  of  the  early  Spring  Cabbage  has  run  or 
bolted.  This  is  our  own  fault  and  not  due  to  the 
variety,  as  we  are  always  anxious  to  have  very 
early  supplies,  and  invariably  too  early  sowings  or 
large  plants  do  not  winter  well,  at  least  if  they  do 
they  bolt  in  the  spring.  This  last  remark  does  not 
apply  to  the  second  sown  lot  of  plants,  as  not  one 
in  a  hundred  has  failed,  although  the  severe 
weather  in  February  checked  the  growth  badl^'. 

With  regard  to  the  Kales  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  these  are  the  most  valuable  late  winter  and 
early  spring  vegetables  we  have.  Some  kinds  are 
much  later  than  others,  and  one  of  the  best  I  have 
grown  is  Read's  Improved  Hearting,  a  very  late 
variety,  remarkably  hardj',  dwarf,  and  compact  in 
growth,  and  will  stand  severe  winters  uninjured, 
while  it  is  one  of  the  last  to  run  to  seed,  giving  a 
full  supply  of  delicate,  finely  curled  heads  till  the 


April  12,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


243 


Spring  Cabbage  turns  in.  Of  course,  to  get  this 
late  supply  it  is  necessary  to  grow  good  plants  and 
to  so%v  for  this  purpose.  It  is  useless  to  sow  in 
March,  and,  as  is  often  done,  too  closely,  leaving 
the  plants  in  the  seed  bed  till  late  in  June  after 
the  ground  is  cleared  of  Potatoes  or  other  vege- 
tables. I  would  advise  later  sowings  for  a  full 
supply  at  this  season  any  time,  say  in  April,  is 
early  enough ;  indeed,  the  end  of  the  month  in  the 
siuthern  part  of  the  kingdom.  Sow  thinly  and 
put  out  the  plants  when  large  enough,  as  the 
earlier  the  planting  the  better,  as  then  the  seed- 
lings have  a  better  chance  of  obtaining  a  good  root 
hold  before  winter. 

The  culture  of  Kales  is  very  simple.  I  need  not 
dwell  upon  it,  but  would  add  that  the  long-drawn 
weakly  seedlings  fail  to  provide  a  full  crop  of 
greens  at  this  season,  and  if  ground  is  not  available 
for  the  seedlings  at  the  time  they  are  large  enough 
for  their  permanent  quarters  prick  them  out  in 
rows  a  few  inches  apart.  Treated  thus  they  make 
sturdy  plants,  and  lift  well  into  their  permanent 
quarters  when  required.  Kales  like  a  deeply 
cultivated  soil,  and  well  repay  for  ample  space. 
There  is  no  lack  of  really  good  Kales  for  cutting 
at  this  season,  and  no  note  would  be  complete 
without  referring  to  two  recent  introductions,  the 
Arctic  Curled  varieties  (Sutton),  which  differ  very 
much  from  the  ordinary  Scotch  varieties,  the  stem 
being  much  dwarfer,  and  this  is  an  advantage,  as 
in  severe  weather  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
kingdom  I  have  seen  the  stems  of  the  tall  Green 
Curled  Scotch  Kales  killed  by  frost.  The  Arctic 
Kales  are  unusually  dwarf,,  very  compact,  and 
produce  dense  masses  of  beautifully  curled  leafage; 
they  are  of  splendid  quality  when  cooked,  with 
very  little  waste  in  their  preparation.  Even  these 
compact  growers  need  space,  as  they  produce 
leaves  of  fair  size  and  should  not  be  crippled  ; 
they  are  certainly  the  hardiest  Kales  I  have 
grown,  although  the  one  noted  above  is  very 
hardy.  I  had  some  injured  in  the  severe  February 
wealher  we  experienced  in  189.^.  So  far  the  Arctic 
has  stood  well,  and  in  the  north  is  ever  better  in 
this  respect  than  in  the  south,  as  owing  to  its 
dwarf  growth  it  is 
more  readily  pro- 
tected by  snow. 
There  are  two 
forms,  the  Green 
Arctic  and  the 
Purple,  both  equal 
as  regards  good 
quality  and  hardi- 
ness. 

Another  very  fine 
Kale  is  the  Hardy 
Sprouting,  which, 
planted  alongside 
of  the  older  Scotch 
Kales,  was  remark- 
ably hardy,  and 
one  of  the  very  few- 
green  vegetables 
that  wintered 
safely  in  1895. 
This  variety  pro- 
duces a  great 
quantity  of  sprouts 
all  along  the 
stems ;  they  are 
delicious  when 
cooked,  and  take 
up  less  room  than 
the  spreading 
varieties.  Mention 
should  be  made  of 
such  kinds  as  the 
Cottager's  Kale 
and  the  Asparagus, 
both  excellent  for 
use  at  this  season. 
The  young,  tender 
sprouts  when 
cooked  make  a 
delicious  vege- 
table Both  are  old 
kinds  but  good, 
and     well     worth 


space  in  all  gardens.  The  two  last-named  are 
valuable  for  their  hardiness,  but,  like  the 
others  noted  above,  should  be  sown  late  for  a 
spring  suppl}',  and,  though  they  need  a  deep  soil,  it 
should  not  be  too  rich.  Others  well  worth  in- 
cluding are  such  as  Carter's  Thousand  Headed  and 
the  older  Ragged  Jack.  Mere  variety  is  not 
needed,  but  hardy  kinds  that  will  give  a  supply 
when  others  fail  at  a  season  of  the  year  when 
green  vegetables  are  scarce.  G.  Wythes. 


PEKPETUAL    OK    SPINACH    BEET. 

I  CANNOT  say  that  the  Perpetual  Spinach,  or  Beet 
Spinach  as  it  is  often  called,  is  equal  in  quality 
to  the  ordinary  Spinach  that  grows  so  freely 
from  now  until  July,  but  it  is  most  useful.  Fre- 
quently the  winter  or  autumn-sown  Spinach  is 
killed  by  our  erratic  winters,  and  it  is  well  to 
have  the  Beet  Spinach  to  fall  back  upon.  Take 
the  past  season.  Our  August-sown  Spinach  was 
healthy  and  promised  well ;  indeed,  owing  to  the 
mild  weather  early  in  the  winter  it  had  begun  to 
grow  freely,  but  was  entirely  killed  by  the  frost 
]  we  had  the  third  week  in  February.  The  coarser 
Spinach  referred  to  grows  strongly  and  has  ample 
leafage.  Sow  the  seed  in  April  or  May  in  rows 
18  inches  apart,  and  with  9  inches  between  the 
plants.  This  sowing  will  give  good  leafage  from 
Christmas  to  May,  when  there  is  often  a  scarcity 
of  good  leaves  of  the  Round  or  Prickly  kind. 
Even  when  the  last-named  does  winter  well,  it  is 
desirable  to  have  an  extra  supply.  By  sowing 
a  few  rows  of  the  Perpetual  an  additional  vege- 
table may  always  be  relied  upon  for  the  winter 
months.  G.  W.  S. 


NE^V     FIBROUS-  ROOTED 
BEGONIAS. 

The  subjects  of  our  illustrations  are  two  sood 
new  forms  raised  by  ^Messrs.  Lemoine.  Perle 
Lorraine  is  a  hybrid  of  B.  polyantha  and 
B.  Diedalea,  the  latter  a  winter-floweiing  kind, 


with  handsome  foliage.  The  plant  has  a  height 
of  some  18  inches,  and  is  about  as  much  in 
width,  with  finger-thick,  fleshy  stems  branch- 
ing from  all  the  axils.  The  bright  green 
leaves  are  spotted  and  clouded  with  black  on 
the  upper  side,  and  are  of  a  lighter  green, 
spotted  with  red,  underneath.  The  flowers 
are  two-petalled  and  carried  in  lax  panicles  of 
from  thirty  to  forty  blooms  ;  they  are  white, 
a  little  rosy  to  the  centre,  and  last  for  nearly 
forty  days.  The  blooming  season  begins  in 
•January  and  continues  to  the  end  of  April. 

Messrs.  Lemoine  also  announce  another  good 
plant  in  Begonia  Buisson  Rose,  a  hybrid  of 
B.  diversifolia  and  B.  polyantha,  with  rose- 
coloured  flowers  and  small  foliage,  growing 
into  bushy  plants  over  2  feet  high.  This  is 
suited  for  outdoor  culture,  as  the  flowers 
appear  about  the  end  of  August.  The  plant 
can  be  lifted  before  frost  and  put  into  frames, 
to  be  transferred  later  to  the  cool  greenhouse, 
where  it  continues  to  bloom  till  January. 


ORCHIDS. 

ORCHID    GROWING    IN 
BELGIAN     LEAF-SOIL. 

UNDOUBTEDLY  many  Orchids  thrive 
and  flourish  much  better  in  the  above 
material  than  in  an}' other.  The  new 
hybiid  Phaius,  for  instance,  grow  in 
this  leaf-soil  in  an  extraordinary  way. 
Phaius  tuberculosus — a  rather  difhcult 
Orchid  to  keep  in  good  health  for  a  long  time — 
imparted  a  somewhat  weak  constitution  to  its 
progeny,  and  even  when  the  vigour  of  P.  Wallichii, 
P.  sanderianus,  P.  assamicus,  P.  grandifolius,  &c., 
was  added,  the  resulting  hybrids  were  not  con- 
sidered really  free  growing  plants.  Many  complaints 
were  made   that  they  «cre  much  too  difficult  to 


^  -'^I^^^^H 

^^P^^J^mS 

M 

X-- 

.     j 

NKW    BEGUM.i    I'iiULE   LORRAINE    (LEMOINE    ET    FILS). 


24+ 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  12,  1902. 


grow  and  very  disappointing  on  that  account.  The 
leave.s,  as  a  rule,  had  a  more  or  less  sickly, 
unhealthy  appearance,  hence  these  beautiful  pro- 
ductions acquired  an  indifferent  reputatio  i,  but 
when  grown  in  Belgian  leaf-soil,  which  is  naturally 
impregnated  with  sea  salt  and  sand,  a  marked 
difference  is  .seen.  The  plants  grow  luxuriantlj', 
the  leaves  maintaining  a  glossy  bright  green 
healthy  appearance,  and  to  the  immense 
number  of  roots  the  plants  develop  in  this  soil  the 
strong  inflorescences  which  are  freely  produced, 
lasting  about  seven  weeks  in  perfection,  are  no 
doubt  due. 

In  one  year  small  plants  from  3-inch  pots  grown 
on  in  Belgian  leaf-soil  made  strong  specimens, 
which  required  li-inch  pots,  many  of  them  throwing 
two  and  three  flower  spikes  to  each  plant.  To 
quote  other  species  as  examples  :  L3-caste  Skinneri 
and  Zygopetalum  intermedium,  flourish  in  the  same 
vigorous  manner  ;  Miltonia  vexillaria,  poor  plants 
in  small  pots,  potted  on  in  October  and  November, 
lilOl,  are  now  good  plants  in  4A-inch  pots  with  verj' 


A   PJAirs    (IKOWN    IN    nELCIAN    LE.AK-SUll,    IN    MKSSRS, 

SANDER  AND  SONS'    NUKSERY  AT  ST.   ALBANS. 

{\rite  the  routs  round  oi'tHidc  afpot.) 

strong  growths  ;  Oncidiunis,  such  as  varicosuni, 
splendidum,  concolor,  marshallianum,  sarcodes, 
&c.,  grow  magniticentlj-  in  this  Belgian  leaf-soil, 
the  result  being  not  only  seen  in  the  greater  size 
and  vigour  of  the  plants  and  flower  spikes,  but  in 
their  increased  longevity,  the  plants  continuing 
feason  after  season  to  produce  strong  fjower  spikes. 
The  same  with  Odontoglossums,  crispnm,  trium- 
phans,  luteo-purpureum,  Hallii,  &c. ,  all  show  a 
marked  improvement,  the  root  action  in  the  species 
mentioned  being  particularly  noticeable,  a  sure 
precursor  of  substantial  flowers  and  long  spikes. 
Even  yet  more  remarkable  is  the  manner  in  which 
many  Orchids,  particularly  hybrids,  absolutely 
revel  in  this  natural  food.  As  a  conclusive  test 
in  1900  fifty  seedlings,  Cypripedums,  Catlley.as, 
Laslias,  and  Lielio-Cattlcyas  were  potted  in  leaf- 
mould,  and  tif  ty  exactly  similar  plants  were  placed 
in  peat  and  moss.  The  hundred  plants  were  kept 
side  by  side  and  received  identical  treatment 
and  care  as  regards  air,  temperature,  &c. ,  yet  in 
less  than   nine   months  the   improvement    of   the 


batch  in  leaf-soil  was  so  abundantly  evident  as  to 
carry  conviction  to  the  most  sceptical.  I  am 
perfectlj'  satisfied  with  the  use  of  leaf-mould,  and 
cordially  invite  ever^'one  interested  in  this  culture 
to  see  for  themselves  plants  grown  in  the  Belgian 
leaf-soil.  There  are  to-day  numbers  of  plants  in 
Britain  potted  and  growing  in  it. 

There  are  certainly  several  points  connected  with 
this  culture  which  have  to  be  studied,  hence  I  do 
not  advise  every  Orchid  grower  to  at  once  place 
each  and  every  Orchid  in  Belgian  leaf-mould, 
rather  do  so  by  degrees,  when  convenient,  and  at 
the  proper  time  for  potting  or  repotting  tlie  plants, 
and  I  feel  sure  growers  will  be  satisfied  with  the 
residts.  The  main  points  to  success  are  care  in 
watering  and  a  genial  growing  atmosphere,  and 
both  are  points  on  which  firm  guiding  rules  cannot 
well  be  laid  down,  but  the  principles  governing 
them  are  easily  grasped.  The  culture  as  regards 
potting  is  very  simple.  Choose  a  suitable  pot,  a 
shallow  rather  than  a  deep  one  if  possible,  with- 
out holes  in  the  sides.  Place  one  crock  in  the 
bottom,  then  a  handful  of  leaf-mould,  hold 
the  plant  in  position,  so  that  the  rhizome  is 
just  below  the  rim  of  the  pot,  fill  in  with 
leaf-mould  pressed  firmly  but  not  heavily  to 
just  below  the  rhizome,  then  finish  ott'  with 
a  layer  of  sphagnum  moss  chopped  fine  and 
pressed  firmly  level  with  the  top  of  the 
rhizome,  using  stakes  or  not  according  to  the 
rfijuiremenls  of  the  plants.  Now  comes 
t'lie  pericid  when  the  greatest  care  is  neces- 
sary. When  peat  and  moss  were  used,  if 
the  compost  had  been  properly  nnxed  and 
drained,  overwatering  was  hardly  possible, 
as  water  parsed  through  the  pot  as  qnickl\ 
as  it  was  given.  But  with  leaf-mould  we 
have  a  larger  body  of  material  and  of  quite 
an  opposite  character,  hence  water  must  be 
very  carefullj'  given  until  the  plants  are  well 
rooted.  It  is  tar  better  to  err  on  the  dry  than 
on  the  wet  side.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
pots,  stages,  walls,  and  paths  of  the  hou.ses 
sliould  be  frequently  damped,  and  if  this  is 
thoroughly  performed  it  will  be  found  that 
watering  is  but  an  occasional  operation. 

Newly  potted  Orchids  generally  root  first 
of  all  into  the  material  on  the  surface  of  the 
pots  or  pans  they  are  placed  in,  and  this  thej' 
do  quickly  after  repotting  when  they  have 
been  potted  at  the  right  time.  We  often  see 
on  sphagnum  moss  on  the  surface  of  the  pots 
quite  a  network  of  roots  before  any  of  the 
roots  have  penetrated  the  leaf-soil.  This 
arises  from  the  fact  of  the  roots  finding  suit- 
able food  in  the  moss  and  from  the  repealed 
waterings  the  moss  receives.  If  soft  water 
is  used  the  moss  never  becomes  stagnant  or 
sour,  because  after  potting  and  the  first 
watering  or  two  it  commences  to  grow  and 
continues  to  do  so,  but  when  this  source  of 
too  1  supply  has  stopped  the  roots  then  per- 
meate the  leaf-soil,  ultimately  almost  wholly 
absorbing  it,  so  that  in  place  of  the  leaf-soil 
you  have  a  pot  full  of  roots.  Surely  this  is 
satisfactory.  Attention  to  ventilation  prac- 
tically remains  the  same,  but  in  shading, 
particularly  with  Cattleyas,  it  seems  better  to 
admit  more  light  than  is  usually  given  to  plants  in 
peat  and  moss. 

I  have  been  more  or  less  connected  with  the 
cultivation  of  Orchids  for  upwards  of  forty  3'ears, 
and  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  have  been  almost 
wholly  occupied  in  growing,  buying,  and  selling 
Orchids.  During  that  long  experience  of  Orchid 
growing  I  have  seen  many  attempts  at  their  culture 
in  leaf- mould  by  various  good  growers,  and  several 
times  in  twenty-five  years  1  have  myself  given  it  a 
good  trial,  but  not  until  I  grew  them  in  Belgian 
leaf-soil  did  I  obtain  thorough  success.  It  may  be 
possible  to  grow  Orchids  well  in  the  usual  leaf- 
mould  that  one  gets  in  Great  Britain.  I  have 
tried  it  many  times  and  never  succeeded  satis- 
factorily, but  in  that  procured  from  Belgium  I 
have  succeeded  in  a  manner  which  to  my  mind 
leaves  no  question  whatever  as  to  its  superiority. 
Apart  from  ni}'  personal  experience  I  may  say  that 
R.  H.  Measures,  Escj. ,  of  The  Woodlands,  Streat- 
ham,  has  used  Belgian  leaf  soil  for  many  years  with 


marked  success,  and  a  great  number  of  the  most 
valuable  Orchids  in  The  Woodlands  collection  are 
now  in  a  flourishing  condition  in  that  material. 
Again,  the  Orchids  at  Bushy  Down  are  thoroughly 
well  grown.  They  now  cannot  well  be  surpassed 
for  excellence  of  culture,  whereas  formerly  they 
were  not  at  all  satisfactor}'  ;  but  for  the  past  four 
or  five  years  they  have  been  grown  in  Belgian  leaf- 
soil,  and  this  is  probably  the  reason  that  they  are 
now  in  such  grand  condition. 

An  important  saving  is  made  in  labour  by  using 
leaf-mould,  for  a  man  can  pot  or  repot  certainly 
three  times  as  many  plants  per  day  in  leaf-mould 
as  he  could  do  were  he  to  use  peat  and  moss  ;  then, 
again,  his  plants  only  need  slight  and  occasional 
waterings,  for  if  the  moss  on  the  surface  of  the  pot 
is  kept  growing  the  plant  thrives.  Not  so  much 
labour  is  required  in  watering  Orchids  grown  in 
Belgian  leaf -soil  as  when  they  are  grown  in  peat 
and  moss  in  the  ordinary  manner.  G. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  vol  reapoimhle  for  the  opinionx 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  ) 


EXHIBITING  VEGETABLES 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR, — In  the  same  friendly  spirit  in  which 
your  correspondents,  "A  Grower  and  a 
.Judge,"  page  210,  and  "  Mr.  A.  Dean,'' 
page  '2\i.  criticise  some  remarks  of  mine 
on  the  above  question  in  a  previous  issue, 
I  will  endeavour  to  substantiate  more 
fully  what  I  there  stated,  as  I  am  perfectly  certain 
we  all  have  the  same  object  in  view — viz.,  that  the 
highest  state  of  excellence  should  be  the  aim  of 
exhibitors,  and  that  the  best  means  of  arriving  at 
a  just  decision  when  competition  is  keen  should  be 
ensured. 

To  take,  first,  the  remarks  of  "A  (irower  and 
a  .Judge,"  in  which  he  disagrees  with  me  that  the 
seasons  should  be  taken  into  consideration  in 
making  the  awards.  He  states  that  in  theory  the 
proposition  may  be  reasonable,  but  questions  its 
practicability.  Now,  it  is  the  latter  which  1  am. 
most  anxious  to  prove  is  correct.  In  the  first 
place,  my  remarks  were  intended  to  apply  to  all 
societies  where  prizes  are  offered  for  collections  ot 
vegetables,  whether  large  or  small,  and  not  to  the 
verj'  few  only  which  tempt  exhibitors  hundreds  of 
miles  away  to  compete,  and  of  which  I  do  not 
suppose  thei-e  are  more  than  a  dozen  all  told. 

It  has  been  my  pleasure  and  privilege  to  judge 
at  a  great  many  shows  within  a  radius  of  100  miles 
of  London  during  the  past  few  years,  and  during 
.July  and  August  last  year  I  only  came  across  two 
really  good  dishes  of  Turnips.  These  were  perfect 
in  every  respect,  and  neither  came  from  a  locality 
favoured  with  shower3'  weather.  Now,  to  obtain 
these  in  such  a  high  state  of  perfection  during 
such  trying  weather  must,  I  am  certain,  have 
entailed  a  considerable  amount  of  care  and  trouble, 
which  should,  in  my  opinion,  have  met  with 
more  than  ordinary  notice  from  the  judges.  Again, 
take  the  case  of  Cauliflowers.  I  venture  to  say 
that  ideal  dishes  of  these  were  extremely  few  any- 
where in  the  country  last  August,  and  yet,  during 
a  favourable  season,  these  are  most  readily 
obtained.  It  is  in  such  cases  that  I  consider  care- 
ful discrimination  should  be  brought  to  bear. 
Whatever  standard  of  pointing  is  set  up,  I  am 
quite  averse  to  giving  the  maximum  of  points 
unless  the  highest  state  of  perfection  is  reached. 
For  this  reason  I  can  never  agree  in  judging 
by  any  fixed  standard  of  points  for  vegetables. 
In  the  "  Rules  of  .Judging,"  issued  by  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  there  are  many 
valuable  hints  I  am  willing  to  admit ;  but  now 
take  one  or  two  instances.  The  number  of 
points  allowed  for  Turnips  is  five,  and  the  same 
for  Endive  and  Cabbage  (both  cooking  and  red) 
and  Marrows,  and  seven  for  Mushrooms,  and  yet 
I  am  sure  your  correspondent  will  be  willing  to 
admit  that  in  trying  seasons  Turnips  are  far  more 
difllcull  to  obtain  at  their  best  than  either  of  these. 


April  12,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


245 


I  trust  anything  I  have  written  will 
not  lead  anyone  to  think  I  hold  that  any 
judge  should  feel  it  his  duty  to  examine 
the  eai'ds  in  order  to  ascertain  to  whom  K- 
the  various  exhibits  belong;  nothing  is 
further  from  my  thoughts.  I  quite  agree 
that  it  is  the  bounden  duty  of  a  judge  t^  f^i 
to  carefully  compare  each  dish  of  vege- 
tables as  placed  before  him,  but  at  the 
same  time  due  justice  should  be  given  in 
such  instances  as  I  have  cited,  or  what 
encouragement  would  there  be  for  the 
extra  skill  and  judgment  required  to 
produce  them  ? 

I  am  entirely  at  one  with  Mr.  A.  Dean 
when  he  suggests  that  the  R.H.  S.  should 
give  up  one  day  and  offer  sufficient 
inducements  to  bring  together  a  good 
vegetable  display  at  the  Drill  Hall. 
What  I  desire  to  see  is  a  large  vegetable 
exhibition,  held  once  a  j'ear  somewhere 
in  London,  where  all  vegetable  enthusiasts 
can  take  part,  and  are  not  handicapped 
by  being  compelled  to  purchase  the  seed 
from  certain  firms,  grateful  as  we  all 
are  to  those  that  offer  such  liberal  prizes 
annually  at  our  large  provincial,  shows. 
I  do  think  societies  should  offer  more 
encouragement  generally  to  this  very 
important  branch  of  horticulture,  and 
that  the  R.H.S.  should  set  the  example. 
That  our  leading  exhibitors  display 
their  produce  to  the  best  advantage  I 
am  willing  to  admit,  but  in  my  opinion 
the  large  majority  have  much  to  learn 
before  they  become  efficient  in  this 
particular. 

In  deciding  on  the  selection  of,  say, 
nine  kinds  of  vegetables,  I  cannot  help  thinking  that 
too  much  dependence  is  placed  on  certain  ones.  All 
practical  exhibitors  are  pretty  well  agreed  as  to 
which  will  carry  most  weight,  but  no  hard  and  fast 
rule  should  be  practised  as  to  this,  unless,  of  course, 
all  are  in  first-rate  condition.  For  instance,  a 
first-class  dish  of  Turnips  should  be  chosen  in 
preference  to  a  second-class  dish  of  Carrots  or  even 
Tomatoes.  I  am  distinctly  at  variance  with  Mr. 
Dean  as  to  the  quantity  of  vegetables  being  taken 
into  consideration,  forcible  as  his  arguments  may 
appear  to  be,  and  few  men  have  had  a  wider 
experience  or  have  taken  a  keener  interest  in 
vegetable  culture,  especially  the  Potato,  than  he 
has,  and  as  a  sound  and  practical  judge  he  is 
second  to  none.  Quite  true,  soils  do  govern  to  a 
great  extent  the  cooking  qualities  of  the  Potato, 
but  I  venture  to  say  that  many  of  the  most  hand- 
some varieties  grown  under  the  best  conditions  are 
practically  worthless.  Possibly,  the  most  hand- 
some Potato  yet  raised  is  International,  yet 
its  quality  is  only  too  well  known  ;  on  the  other 
hand,  Windsor  Castle  is  a  general  favourite, 
grown  on  almost  any  land.  We  might  just  as  well 
say  that  a  Fearn's  Pippin  Apple  grown  under  the 
nio.^t  favourable  conditions  would  be  as  good  as  a 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin  produced  in  a  soil  and  locality 
quite  unsuited  for  Apple  culture,  yet  how  often 
would  the  first-named  variety  take  precedence 
when  placed  in  the  same  competition,  and  why  ? 

E.  B. 


ROSE  FLORA  OS  A   WALL  AT  WARLEY.      (^Photographed  by  Miss  Willmott.) 


THE  GARDENERS'  BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  was  much  pleased  to  see  the  appeal  to 
gardeners  respecting  the  Gardeners'  Benevolent 
Institution,  but  I  do  think  it  might  be  made 
more  attractive  to  young,  men.  I  think  the 
contribution  from  gardeners  should  be  £2  per 
annum,  and  this,  with  the  honorary  subscription, 
would  make  the  fund  much  stronger,  so  that  men 
who  had  subscribed  ten  years  or  more  and  were 
incapacitated  from  work  might  be  planed  on  the 
pension  fund  after  producing  proper  medical 
evidence  that  they  were  past  work.  They  might 
be  placed  on  the  pension  fund  without  wait- 
ing for  election,  as  it  often  happens  that  old 
gardeners  are  in  very  straitened  ciroum- 
st.ances   before   they  can   be   elected.      This  ■  tells 


heavily  against  this  society,  as  there  are  other 
societies  who  can  place  their  members  on  the 
pension  fund  at  once,  and  young  men  look  to  this. 
Gardeners  retiring  on  a  good  pension  from  a 
generous  employer  whom  they  have  honestly 
served  for  many  years  might  forego  their  claim  on 
this  society  in  favour  of  their  poorer  brethren. 
My  great  age  has  of  late  years  prevented  me  from 
taking  any  active  part  in  the  society,  but  this  note 
may  be  of  some  service.  Richard  Butler. 

*SV.  Duitstaii^s,  Regenf:^  Park. 


THE  NEW  HALL  v.  GARDEN. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Unfortunatel}',  I  was  not  able  to  attend  the 
general  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
called  together  on  Friday,  the  21st  ult. ,  to  consider 
the  question  of  securing  a  site  for  a  new  hall, 
which  I  have  since  learnt  has  been  decided  upon. 
No  doubt  the  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose 
of  selecting  a  site  had  given  the  matter  their  fullest 
consideration  before  recommending  the  adoption 
of  such  a  step  to  the  meeting. 

Unquestionably  a  large  majority  of  the  Fellows 
are  in  favour  of  having  a  better  and  more  con- 
venient place  for  holding  the  fortnightly  meetings 
and  for  other  purposes,  with  which  I  entirely  agree, 
providing  the  society  is  in  a  position  to  maintain  it. 
That  the  exhibitions  held  are  a  great  attraction  and 
delight,  and  responsible  for  many  of  the  new  Fellows 
who  have  joined  the  society  during  the  last  few 
years,  goes  without  saying.  I  cannot  agree  with 
your  correspondent  in  a  northern  county  (page  19.5) 
when  he  says  that  nearly  all  the  space  is  taken  up 
in  the  Drill  Hall  with  what  he  calls  common  stuff'. 
I  am  prepared  to  admit  that  on  some  occasions 
some  of  the  exhibits  are  not  of  the  highest  standard, 
but  this  can  hardly  be  prevented  any  more  than  it 
can  at  exhibitions.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is 
scarcely  a  meeting  held  but  what  something  or 
other  of  the  highest  excellence  is  shown. 

But  when  he  comes  to  the  question  of  a  garden, 
in  which  he  is  so  strongly  in  favour  of,  I  am  entirely 
at  one  with  him,  and  I  sincerely  hope  that,  in  spite 
of  a  certain  amount  of  opposition,  the  council  will 
not  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  a  garden  is  urgently 
needed.  That  the  old  Chiswick  garden  is  worn 
out  as  far  as  the  soil  is  concerned  I  cannot  admit, 
as  this  would  be  a  small  matter  to  get  over,  but  the 
surroundings  are  so  bad  that  to  my  mind  it  is  waste 


of  money  to  attempt  to  keep  these  gardens  going. 
If  a  suitable  site  could  be  procured  within  a  radius 
of  twenty  miles  of  London,  a  garden  should  be  not 
only  equally  as  interesting  as  the  fortnightly 
meetings  but  far  more  instructive  and  capable  of 
rendering  very  much  more  assistance  to  horti- 
culture by  means  of  experiments  and  trials  carried 
out  on  a  large  scale. 

It  is  all  very  well  to  argue  that  the  latter  is 
sutfieiently  done  by  some  of  our  leading  nursery- 
men, but  in  my  opinion  this  is  not  sufficient,  and  it 
could  be  much  more  fairly  and  impartially  done  by 
an  independent  body  such  as  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  and  where  plants  can  be  more 
generally  inspected.  As  they  would  be  examined 
by  the  best  experts  of  the  day,  the  relative  value 
of  the  fruits,  flowers,  and  vegetables  could  be 
determined,  and  at  the  same  time  synonymous 
kinds  be  detected,  a  matter  of  no  small  importance, 
as  the  long  list  of  varieties  catalogued  nowadays 
of  both  flower  and  vegetable  seeds  is  bewildering, 
not  onlj-  to  the  amateur  btit  to  the  professional. 
A  garden  well  managed,  as  undoubtedly  it  would 
be,  should  to  a  great  extent  produce  much  that 
would  help  to  maintain  it.  I  hope  I  may  jet  see 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  possessing  a 
garden  worthy  of  such  a  body,  beautiful  and  well 
cared  for,  and  I  am  certain  beneficial  to  horti- 
culture in  general.  E.  Beckett. 


ROSE    FLORA. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  ol  the  Rosa 
sempervirens  group,  which  contains  such  Roses 
as  Felicite  Perpetue  and  Myrianthes  Renoncule. 
Those  who  saw  the  Rose  garden  at  Kew  in  full 
beauty  last  year  will  remember  the  glorious 
masses  of  Flora,  a  wonderfully  vigorous  and 
spreading  Rose,  with  hundreds  of  flowers  of 
pretty  rose  colouring,  brighter  in  the  centre 
than  towards  the  margins  of  the  petals.  The 
sempervirens  Roses  form  a  delightful  group, 
and  Flora  is  as  beautiful  as  any. 


HARDY    FRUITS     IN    SEASON. 

Apple  Brownlee's  Russet. 
Good  late  dessert  Apples,  that  succeed  well  in 
our  cold  northern  counties,  where  many  of  our 


246 


Tttl£  GARDEN. 


[April  12,  1902, 


J'.KOWNLEE  S   KUSSET    APPLE. 
(Heiijhl  of  orlijinal  2S  Indies,  witltli  :i  inches.) 

more  tender  varieties  canker  and  fail,  are  none 
too  plentiful  this  being  one,  of  the  hardiest, 
most  jirolific,  and  best  in  this  respect.  We  are 
glad  of  an  opportunity  of  illustrating  this  Apple 
and  emphasising  the  above  facts.  Not  only  is  it 
one  of  our  best  late  dessert  sorts,  but  it  is  also 
valuable  as  a  cooking  variety.  The  tree  isa 
compact  grower,  and  succeeds  equally  well  in 
the  garden  or  orchard.  It  is  in  season  from 
February  to  May.  O.  T. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Apricots. 

KKEP  the  protectors  ready  for  use  until 
all  likelihood  of  late  frosts  are  over. 
The  disbudding  of  shoots  will  now 
require  attention,  and  by  carrying  it 
out  gradually — extending  it  over  a  few 
weeks — harmful  checks  which  would 
follow  a  wholesale  removal  of  shoots  will  be 
avoided.  In  cases  where  J'oung  growths  are 
chiefly  depended  upon  for  supplying  the  crops  of 
fruit,  proceed  by  removing  the  foreright  and 
badly-placed  ones,  and  finally  leave  sufficient 
of  those  properly  placed  to  adequately  cover, 
without  crowding,  the  available  spaces  between 
the  principal  branches.  Where  the  combined 
mode  of  furnishing  bearing  wood  (that  of  both 
shoots  and  spurs)  is  followed,  a  greater  supply  of 
growths  must  be  left,  a  considerable  number  of 
them  being  stopped  at  the  third  or  fourth  leaf. 
See  that  young  trees  are  provided  with  a  requisite 
quantity  of  young  growths  for  direct  e.xtension 
and  subsidiary  branches.  While  these  operations 
are  in  progress  keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  the 
Apricot  maggot,  which  may  be  found  enveloped  in 
the  leaves,  and  destroyed  b^'  pressure  between  the 
fingers. 

Thinning  the  Fruits 

is  not  unfrequently  left  undone  from  want  of 
courage  in  the  cultivator,  but  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind  that  over-cropping  both  impairs  the  health 
of  the  trees  and  diminislies  the  size  of  the  fruits. 
It  is  difficult  to  give  precise  directions  to  suit  all 
cases  respecting  the  distance  apart  that  the  fruit 
should  be  finally  left,  as  so  much  depends  upon  the 
variety  and  the  health  of  the  trees.  Such  kinds 
as  Hemskirk  and  Peach,  under  favourable  condi- 
tions, may,  however,  be  allowed  about  S  scpiare 
inches  of  superficial  wall  space,  while  varieties  of 


the  Breda  type  should  be  left  con- 
siderably closer  together.  During 
the  early  stages  of  development 
the  fruit  of  the  Apricot  does  not 
swell  regidarly,  and  this  fact  must 
not  be  overlooked  when  earl}' 
thinning  is  being  done.  Where 
trees  are  planted  upon  a  porous 
subsoil,  the  condition  of  borders 
with  regard  to  moisture  should 
be  examined,  and  they  must  be 
supplied  with  water  if  it  is  found 
to  be  needed. 

Mdlchino  Fruit  Tkees. 
Generally  speaking  the  mulching 
of    fruit    trees    is   best    left    until 
the    soil     has     naturally     become 
thoroughly  warmed,  and  even  then 
it     sometimes,     especially     when 
indiscriminately    performed,    does 
harm   rather    than  good.     Newly- 
planted  trees,  however,  as  well  as 
others  with  their  roots  near  to  the 
surface  of   light   porous  soils,  can 
sooner  or   later,  according  to  the 
state  of  the  weather,  be  furnished 
with  a  laj'er  of  short  stable  litter, 
which  will  do  a  great   amount  of 
good  by  assisting   in    keeping  the 
roots  near  the  surface.     Even    in 
heavy  soils,  when  warm,  mulching 
does    more   or    less   go(jd    in    dry 
seasons,    by    preventing    cracking    and    lessening 
the    need    of    artificial    watering.      Especially    is 
this   the  case  with  such  trees  as  are  worked   upon 
shallow   rooting   stocks   or   are   naturally   surface 
rooters.      In  wet  seasons,  on    the   other   hand,  it 
lowers  the  temperature  of  tenacious  soils,  and  in 
this  way  discourages  root  growth. 

Thos.  Coomber. 
The  Heiidre  Garden.^,  Monmouth. 

THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

Annuals. 
It  is  a  feature  of  present  day  flower  gardening 
that,  unlike  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  there  is  now 
no  orthodox  style  recognised  in  the  arrangement 
of  beds  and  borders.  At  that  time  to  have 
deviated  from  the  rules  of  arrangement  set  down 
b}'  the  majority  would  have  meant  incurring  the 
risk  of  being  thought  behind  the  times,  but  to-day 
the  taste  of  the  individuals  is  the  guide,  and  the 
more  original  and  more  varied  the  style  the  better 
it  is  usually  appreciated. 

It  is  quite  permissible  not  only  to  have  the  hard 
formal  lines  of  colouring  obtained  by  the  old 
school,  which  in  some  proximities  is  far  more  in 
keeping  with  the  surroundings  than  any  other 
form  of  gaidening,  but  sub-tropical  plants,  such  as 
Cannas,  Wigandias,  Castor  Oil  plants,  Musas. 
and  Tobacco  plants  may  be  employed  in  beds  and 
receive  their  due  amount  of  admiration.  BoUl 
foliage  plants,  such  as  Gunneras,  Acanthus,  Globe 
Artichokes,  and  even  Rhubarb  can  now  be  used 
without  their  being  looked  at  askance,  while  the 
use  of  annuals  in  every  part  of  the  garden  is  not 
only  considered  desirable  but  by  some  people 
indispensable.  In  fact,  there  are  gardens  where 
the  bedding  is  entirely  carried  out  with  hardy  and 
half-hardy  i.nnuals,  and  with  beautiful  results, 
especially  when  the  plants  are  at  their  best,  for 
they  are  eminently  suitable  for  massing. 

The  East  Lothian  Stocks, 
Phlox  Drummondi,  Verbenas,  Petunias,  Asters, 
Salpiglossis,  Helichrysums,  and  Scabious  in  their 
distinct  colours  are  splendid  for  formal  bedding 
purposes.  Not  only  in  masses  are  they  delightful, 
but  a  mixed  border  composed  entirely  of  annuals 
is  most  eflective  and  charming.  In  forming  a 
border  of  annuals  one  of  the  best  arrangements  is 
that  advocated  by  Miss  Jekyll  for  herbaceous 
plants  and  illustrated  in  diagram  form  on  page  .'503 
of  The  Garden,  1901.  By  substituting  annuals 
for  the  herbaceous  plants  as  much  alike  in  colour 
and  habit  as  possible  the  idea  may  be  well  carried 
out.     Thos&who  have  not  already  had  an  annual 


border  display  shouhl    lose   no  time   in  obtaining 
one.     The 

Cultivation  of  the  Hardy  Annual 
itself  is  of  the  simplest.  Take  the  opportunity 
when  the  weather  is  fairly  dry  to  make  the  ground 
firm  by  treading  and  breaking  up  the  rougher 
pieces  of  soil  with  the  feet  and  then  pulverising  by 
means  of  a  rake.  The  portions  for  the  different 
seeds  and  annual  plants  should  then  be  marked 
out  with  sticks,  care  being  taken  not  to  make 
them  too  formal.  With  the  aid  of  labels  every 
portion  should  show  the  particular  seed  that  it  is 
intended  to  receive  that  no  confusion  of  colours 
may  occur.  In  sowing,  tlie  fine  surface  soil  should 
be  drawn  back  by  the  hands,  the  seed  sown  thinly, 
and  the  soil  returned  and  equally  distributed  over 
the  surface  again  by  means  of  the  hand.  When 
the  seeiUings  are  up  great  pains  should  be  taken  to 

Thin  them  properly 
to  allow  every  individual  plant  ample  space  to 
develop.  This  and  cutting  awaj'  seeil  puds  later 
on  are  the  most  important  items  of  cultivation 
and  ensure  their  enjoying  a  continuous  flowering 
season.  Amongst  the  best  of  the  annuals  for  this 
kind  of  border  areLavatera  rosea  splendens,  one  of 
the  most  beautifulannuals  we  possess  ;  Callistephus 
sinensis,  one  of  the  China  Asters ;  Acroclinium 
roseum,  an  everlasting  flower  ;  Calandrinia  um- 
bellata,  the  Godetias,  Larkspurs,  Marigolds, 
•  Enolheras,  Linarias,  Clarkias,  Brachycome  (Swan 
River  Daisy),  Centaurias,  Lupines,  Coreopsis, 
Mignonette,  &c.  To  give  height  to  the  border 
Sweet  Peas,  Convolvulus,  Tropieolum,  and  Mina 
lobata  made  to  climb  over  stakes  are  very  eflective. 
Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 
Canlh  Gardens,  St.  Facjann. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

HUMEA    ELEGANS. 

These  plants  should  now  be  placed  in  their  flower- 
ing pots,  the  compost  consisting  of  fibrous  Icim 
three  parts,  leaf-mould  one  part,  with  dried  cow 
manure,  charcoal,  and  sand  added.  The  roots 
should  not  be  disturbed  more  than  is  absolutely 
necessary.  It  is  also  very  important  that  the  plant 
should  never  be  placed  lower  in  the  soil  than  it  has 
previously  been.  Let  the  potting  be  done  firmly, 
and  provide  proper  and  efficient  drainage.  (Treat, 
care  is  required  in  giving  water  after  repotting,  but 
the  plants  must  never  be  allowed  to  become  dry. 
Wheji  the  roots  have  filled  the  fresh  soil  manure 
water  should  be  aB'orded,  as  they  require  liberal 
treatment.  If  possible  soft  rain  water  should 
always  be  used. 

(JrEENHOUSE    R1IODODENDRON.S. 

When  rejjolting  is  necessary  it  should  be  done 
as  soon  as  flowering  is  over.  Thorough  drainage  is 
essential,  and  a  compost  of  three  parts  peat,  one 
part  turfy-loain,  charcoal,  and  silver  sand.  Pot 
firmly,  and  give  water  carefuU}'  until  the  roots 
become  active.  After  potting  the  plants  should  be 
kept  in  a  warm,  close  atmosphere,  and  freely 
syringed  until  growth  is  completed,  when  they 
may  be  hardened  off  and  placed  out  of  doors  in  a 
sheltered  position. 

Chinese  Primulas 
for  autumn  flowering  should  now  be  sown  in 
shallow  pans,  tilled  within  half  an  inch  of  the  top 
with  a  mixture  of  e<iual  parts  of  rich  sound  loam 
and  leaf-mould,  with  sufficient  sand  to  ensure 
drainage.  Press  this  mixture  firm  into  the  seed- 
pan  and  make  the  surface  perfectly  level,  sprinkling 
sufficient  sand  over  the  surface  to  cover  the  soil. 
Water  with  a  fine  rose  before  sowing.  Sow  very 
thinly  and  cover  the  seed  with  just  enough  fine 
soil  to  barely  hide  the  sand,  slightly  pressing  the 
surface.  A  piece  of  glass  covered  with  a  sheet  of 
brown  paper  and  laid  over  the  pan  will  )irevent 
rapid  evaporation.  While  the  seed  is  germinating 
the  temperature  should  never  be  allowed  to  fall 
below  50*  or  rise  above  70°.  Sudden  extremes  of 
temperature  are  fatal  to  these  plants  at  the  time 
of  germination.  Double  Primulas  may  be  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  or  the  old  plants  may  have 
leaf-soil  placed  round  the  base  of  the  stems,  into 
which   they  will  soon  root  and  be  fit  for  potting 


April  12,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


247 


into  small  pDts.  Of  late  years  the  double  forms 
that  have  been  raised  seem  to  grow  with  much 
greater  vigour  than  the  old  varieties,  and  may  be 
easily  grown  from  seed. 

ClSERAEIAS. 

An  early  sowing  of  these  should  be  made  now. 
Sow  as  advised  for  Primulas,  but  place  in  a  cooler 
temperature. 

Chrysanthemu.ms. 

As  soon  as  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots  the  plants 
should  be  transferred  to  larger  one?.  A  suitable 
■compost  is  one  consisting  of  two  parts  fibrous  loam, 
one  part  leaf-soil,  one  part  spent  Mushroom-bed 
manure,  and  a  sprinkling  of  bone-meal  and  wood 
ashes,  with  a  free  mixture  of  sharp  silver  sand. 
Too  much  care  cannot  be  bestowed  on  the  crocking 
■of  the  pots,  and  the  plants  must  be  potted  firmly. 
As  the  plants  are  repotted  return  them  to  frames 
and  keep  close  for  a  few  days.  Water  carefully 
until  growth  recommences.  During  bright  days 
the  plants  should  be  lightly  syringed  overhead. 
Take   measures   to  destroy   green-fly   on   its   first 


appearance. 


John  Fleming. 


Wexham  Park  Garden-^,  Slotiyh. 


KITCHEN   GARDEN. 

Potatoes. 
•CosiPLETE  the  planting  of  all  kinds  as  speedily 
as  possible  after  this  date,  but  choose  fine 
■weather  if  possible,  especially  so  on  wet  heavy 
land.  It  will  be  far  better  to  wait  a  few  days  or 
«veu  a  fortnight  than  to  attempt  the  work  unless 
the  ground  can  be  worked  and  left  in  good  con- 
dition, assuming  the  sets  have  been  properly 
prepared  and  a  little  extra  care  is  exercised  in 
planting.  Thise  growing  in  pits  or  frames  should 
be  well  earthed  up  before  too  much  top-growth  is 
made,  otherwise  much  damage  will  be  done  in  the 
process.  Give  air  freely  and  remove  the  lights 
entirely  whenever  the  weather  is  favourable,  as  the 
imore  sturdy  the  growth  the  better  will  be  the  yield. 
Early  plantations  made  on  warm  borders  will  have 
to  be  watched  and  the  young  growths  covered  up 
with  soil  or  some  other  protecting  material. 

Winter  Greens, 
■such  as  Broccoli,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Kales,  and 
■Savoys  should  now  be  sown.  It  is  always  a  good 
plan  to  make  two  sowings  of  these,  the  first  about 
A.pril  10  and  another  towards  the  end  of  the  month. 
I  much  prefer  raising  these  on  small  beds,  sown 
thinly  broadcast  rather  than  in  drills,  and  if  the 
young  plants  are  not  overcrowded  it  will  be  quite 
imnecessary  to  prick  out.  Choose  a  piece  of  ground 
which  has  not  been  occupied  with  any  of  the 
Brassica  family  for  at  least  twelve  months,  and 
-especially  does  this  apply  when  the  ground  is  at  all 
likely  to  produce  clubbing,  as  this  is  frequentlj' 
<:ontracted  when  the  plants  are  in  the  seed  bed. 
■Strew  the  surface  with  finelj'-sifted  cinder  and 
wood  ashes,  and  add  a  little  fine  soil  on  stiff  land. 
Securely  protect  against  small  birds,  for  where 
greenfinches  abound  the}-  are  certain  to  find  the  seed 
out  and  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  to  clear  it. 
Small  meshed  garden  netting  stretched  tightlj' 
about  a  foot  from  the  surface  is  the  most  suitable 
for  this  purpose.     Continue  to  prick  out 

Brussels  Sprouts, 
■Cauliflowers,  and  early  Broccoli  which  have  been 
raised  under  glass  on  warm  sheltered  borders  as 
they  become  ready. 

Cblerv. 
The  plants  required  for  the  main  plantation 
should  be  pricked  out  in  skeleton  frames  or  turf 
pits  from  3  inches  to  4  inches  apart.  The  soil 
should  not  be  too  rich.  Shade  tor  a  few  days 
during  bright  intervals  of  sunshine,  and  protect 
against  frost  and  cold  winds,  so  that  the  young 
plants  receive  as  little  check  as  possible  ;  success  in 
■Celery  culture  much  depends  on  this. 

New  Zealaxd  Spinach 
is  one  of  the  most  useful  vegetables,  especiallj'  so 
in  hot  drj'  seasons  %vhere  Spinach  is  in  demand, 
and  yet  for  some  reason  it  is  little  grown.  Just 
the  opposite  to  ordinary  Spinach,  it  appreciates 
such  a  year  as  last,  and  when  cooked  can  hardly  be 
■distinguished  from  the  other.     One  or  two  soVvings 


should  be  made  during  April  in  boxes  and  planted 
out  in  a  sunny  position  on  fairly  enriched  land  in 
May.  It  is  somewhat  tender,  consequently  it 
must  be  protected  against  frost,  especially  when  in 
a  3'oung  state. 

Chicory. 
No  one  should  fail  to  grow  this  when  salads  are 
in  demand  during  winter,  as  it  is  not  only  easily 
cultivated  and  blanched,  but  it  forms  a  splendid 
substitute  for  Endive,  which  is  often  none  too 
plentiful  during  midwinter.  Make  two  or  three 
sowings,  the  first  now  on  deeply-cultivated  soil. 
Sow  in  shallow  drills  1  foot  apart  and  thin  the 
plants  to  the  same  distance. 

Dandelion 
is   equally  valuable  and  requires  about  the  same 
treatment,   except   that  it   .should    be  grown  in  a 
sunny  position.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldinham  Houxt  Ortrdeii«,  Elulrzi .  Herts. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

-THE    SEASON"    IN    THE 
GARDEN. 

"  When  spring  comes 
With  sunshine  back  ajrain  like  an  old  smile." 

A  FTER  the  biting  frosts  of  February 
j\  and  the  droughts  and  gu.sty  mad- 

/  \  nesses  of  March,  how  delightful  to 
/  %  find  the  weather  that  has  behaved 
I.  V  so  badly  burst  suddenly  into  tears 
and  make  up  its  mind  to  be  good. 
We  hasten  into  the  garden  to  meet  the  tearful 
penitent  halfway  and  find  her  full  of  smiles. 
She  has  made  the  blue  and  gold  embroideries 
at  our  feet  look  fre.sh  as  rain-washed  pebble,^, 
and  everywhere  old  and  new  friends  are  push- 
ing through  the  mould.  In  Daflbdil  corner, 
under  the  bare  Willows  (faintly  blushing 
green),  and  in  the  hollow  beneath  the  Fir  trees, 
where  grass  will  not  grow,  it  is  as  cheerful  with 
Ivy,  Primroses,  and  the  "grass"  of  bulbs  as  on 
the  south  border,  where  JScillas  are  blue  and 
Tulips  fast  unfolding.  The  frost  -  bitten, 
frizzled-up  Wallflower  plants  have  recovered 
their  good  looks  ;  a  week  or  two  ago  "  nipped  " 
was  no  word  for  them. 

Now,  if  ever,  will  those  who  have  not  been 
wise  in  time  feel  all  the  pangs  of  fo<ilish 
virgins.  There  is  no  catching-up  dropped 
stitches  of  the  garden,  but  the  provident  who 
in  autumn  laid  away  those  fast-bound  little 
volumes— the  bulbs— in  Alother  Earth's  safe 
keeping  now  reap  their  rich  reward.  From 
.January  to  May  the  garden  pages  will  be  gay. 
It  is  like  a  ballet — first  one  dancer  and  then 
another,  and  all  in  different  frocks,  but  mostly 
blue  and  white  and  yellow.  There  is  not  much 
pink  until  the  Hyacinths  and  the  Tulips  come, 
unless  we  count  the  Almond  blossom  overhead. 
"  The  season "  in  English  gardens  is  so 
amusing.  It  is  a  thousand  pities  to  go  off  to 
London  or  the  Riviera  or  anywhere  else  and 
miss  it.  The  herbaceous  border  is  getting 
lively.  It,  too,  is  tilled  with  debutantes,  but 
they  do  not  join  the  dance  full  dressed.  As  yet 
they  are  but  unfledged  schoolgirls,  with  all 
sorts  of  shapes  and  complexions,  only  now  and 
then  giving  a  lovely  contrast  of  colour,  as 
when  Galega  and  Pieony  happen  to  be  grow- 
ing side  by  side. 

But  the  fernery  is  the  most  amusing  place. 
If  only  the  grown-up  summer  Ferns  could 
know  how  they  looked  in  the  hobbledehoy 
stage  of  May  they  would  ne^^-er  believe  their 
eyes !  The  Royal  Osmunda  is  one  of  the 
funniest  looking  while  growing  up.  He  shoots 
aloft  as  straight  and  lanky  as  an  overgrown 
schoolboy,  and  he  has  a  small  bullet  head  at 
the  top  (he  will  unroll  it  by  and  by)  which 
makes  him  look  almost  like  a  snake  reared  up 


on  end,  inquisitive  but  amiable,  and  very 
intelligent.  The  clustering  Hart's-tongues  are 
not  unlike  a  nest  of  viperlings  half  un- 
wjiggled,  and  the  great  big  Male  Ferns  that 
have  left  their  soft  white  woolly  fastnesses, 
where  they  were  rolled  up  so  warm  and  cosy 
like  soldiers  in  their  blankets,  are  all  uncoiling 
and  coming  back  to  life. 

Every  bird  in  the  garden  is  almost  too  much 
preocouiiied  to  enjoy  himself  ;  there  is  so  much 
house  hunting  and  housekeeping  to  do.  The 
chatter  and  gossip  of  birddom  is  even  prettier 
to  listen  to  now  than  the  songs.  Blackbirds 
are  finding  out  the  shrubs  that  have  back  doors 
to  them,  .so  as  to  go  in  and  out  to  their  nests 
unnoticed. 

Nor  are  we  without  the  excitement  of  the 
"  Vanishing  Bulb ''  or  the  "Disappearing  Seed  " 
for  that  matter,  or  the  creeping  Crocus.  The 
Crocuses  puzzle  us  most  of  all,  Mr.  Barr's 
beautiful  big  Crocus  particularly.  The  mauve 
one  with  the  striped  bell  and  a  large  golden 
clapper  inside  must  have  legs  and  go  along 
underground,  or  why  do  we  find  him  in  the 
midst  of  the  Wallflower  beds,  or  at  the  edges 
of  the  lawn  where  no  one  ever  thought  of 
planting  him  ]  It  is  not  as  if  he  had  once 
been  a  seed  ;  no  bird  under  an  eagle  could 
have  dug  up  and  replanted  that  Crocus  bulb. 
Seeds  of  course  do  disappear,  and  that  in  spite 
of  having  been  treated  to  baths  of  paraffin. 

But  these  whimsies  are  exactly  what  makes 
the  garden  so  ever  fresh  ;  there  is  something  of 
the  gambler's  joy  about  it,  for  we  have  the 
mingled  chance  and  skill  characteristic  of  the 
best  games,  and  our  cards  and  counters  are  all 
alive.  Last  autumn  we  planted  stacks  of 
Omphalodes  verna,  the  Blue-eyed  Jlary,  a  gift 
from  a  Hampshire  garden,  in  a  place  where  we 
thought  it  would  be  most  comfortable.  Not  a 
scrap  is  showing  above  ground,  but  a  tuft  has 
appeared  and  is  in  full  bloom  in  a  corner  which 
belongs  to  the  Hops  !  How  did  it  get  there  ? 
There  is  no  accounting  for  these  things. 

And  how  delicious  is  the  smell  of  the  moist 
earth.  Two  hundred  years  ago  old  Thomas 
Fuller  was  enjoying  just  such  a  spring  as  this. 
"  To  smell  to  a  tuft  of  fresh  earth,"  he  saj-s,  "  is 
wholesome  for  the  body."  It  is  pleasant  to 
think  of  all  the  hajipy  chain  of  springs,  past, 
present,  and  to  come,  that  link  the  years 
together,  and  keep  our  earth  and  us  for  ever 
young.  Nowhere  better  than  in  our  English 
gardens  can  we  enjoy 

"  The  Spring's  delicious  trouble  in  the  ground, 
Tormented  by  the  i|uickened  blood  of  roots, 
And  softly  pricked  by  golden  Crocus  sheaves." 

F.  A.  B. 


A  BOTANIST  IN  THE  YANC4TSE 
VALLEY. 

Mk.  E.  H.  Wilson,  a  London  botanist,  has  just 
completed  a  three  years'  botanical  exploration  of 
tlie  Yangtse  Valley,  and  the  Yunnan  Province 
which  joins  up  to  Burma,  two  years  being  spent 
in  the  former  place  and  a  year  in  the  latter. 
The  mission  was  undertaken  at  the  instance  of 
Messrs.  .James  Veitch  and  Sous,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  and 
in  a  public  way  Kew  Gardens  and  other  botanical 
museums  throughout  (^reat  Britain  will  be  con- 
siderably enriched  by  it.  ?ilr.  Wilson  is  an  old 
Kew  man  and  a  former  student  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Science.  He  accorded  an  interview  to 
a  representative  of  the  yorth  China  Daily  Xeifs 
and  gave  him  some  interesting  facts  about  the  flora 
and  fauna  of  the  Yangtse  Yalley  and  other  less 
known  districts  which  lie  has  visited  and  explored. 
He  said  that  he  had  collected  2,600  Herbarium 
specimens.  His  object  has  not  been  to  collect  any 
particular  species  of  plants,  but  anything  likely  to 
be  of  interest  or  value  to  the  botanical  world. 

"  I  have  everj' reason  to  believe,"  he  said,  "  that 
I   have  discovered   some   new   species   which   will 


248 


THE  GAEDEN. 


[April  12,  1902. 


materially  add  to  our  knowledge  of  the  flora  of 
Hupeh.'  He  then  proceeded  to  briefly  describe 
his  experiences  :  — 

"  Until  yon  reach  Ichang  the  country  is  flat 
and  monoioiious,  but  a  few  miles  below  Ichang 
you  begin  to  strike  a  mountainous  region.  To  the 
north-west  you  get  mountain  ranges,  with  peaks 
rising  from  h,(XMI  feet  to  10,(100  feet  higli.  It  is  in 
this  district  that  nearly  all  my  collecting  has  been 
done.  Through  the  Yangtse  gorges,  the  glens,  the 
creeks,  and  along  the  cliffs  I  have  spent  a  good 
deal  of  time.  The  country  is  rich  in  plant  life,  the 
low-lying  as  well  as  the  mountainous  part.  The 
most"  noteworthy  thing  about  these  mountainous 
regions  is  the  paucity  of  the  inhabitants.  There 
are  probably  not  three  inhabitants  to  the  S(|uare 
mile,  and  an  interesting  point  is  that  they  all 
sufl'er  from  goitre,  a  disease  of  the  throat,  which 
the}'  attribute  to  drinking  snow  water.  That  is 
one  striking  feature  about  the  people.  Now 
there  is  another.  They  live  almost  exclusively 
on  the  common  Potato,  which  thrives  luxuriantly 
here.  It  forms  their  staple  food.  It  is  too 
cold  to  grow  Rice,  Maize,  or  Wheat.  The  Potato 
was  introduced  to  the  district  by  the  Catholic 
Fathers  about  a  century  ago.  In  this  region  the 
tiger,  leopard,  wild  pig,  wild  goat,  deer  (both  long- 
horned  and  short-horned),  wolves,  and  foxes  are 
very  common.  The  common  pheasant,  Reeve's 
and"  golden  pheasant  are  also  to  be  found  here  in 
large  quantities.'' 

Describing  the  climate,  Mr.  Wilson  said  : — 
"In  the  summer  in  Ichang  the  thermometer 
often  runs  up  to  llO''^ — ;  <.,  of  course,  during  the 
hottest  season  of  the  j-ear,  while  in  the  winter  it 
falls  as  low  as  •2.")'-'.  The  average  rainfall  is  about 
30  inches  per  annum.  Ichang  is  a  healthy  place 
for  Europeans  to  live  in.  I  would  add  that  a 
pleasing  characteristic  of  the  people  of  Western 
Hupeh  is  their  extreme  friendliness  towards 
foreigners,  who  never  get  insulted.  I  was  there 
duringjthe  Boxer  troubles,  and  never  had  any  bother 
of  any  sort." — Indian  Giirdi  ning  and  Planting. 


EXHIBITION    VEGETABLES. 

(  Continued  from  page  304.) 
Tdrnips. 
8mvll  sowings  sliould  be  made  frequently 
from  the  beginning  of  Mardi  until  the  middle 
of  September  on  land  that  has  been  deeply 
broken  up  and  manured  the  previous  season. 
The  ground  should  fir.st  be  raked  down  with  a 
wooden  rake,  and  afterwards  with  an  iron  one, 
leaving  the  .surface  well  broken  up  and  friable. 

Whatever  the  ground  that  has  to  be  dealt 
with  make  drills  about  an  inch  deeper  than 
is  considered  necessary  for  the  seed  sowing, 
and  into  this  place  a  compost  of  the  old  soil 
from  the  potting  bench,  with  a  peck  each  of 
soot,  lime,  and  wood  ashes  added  to  every 
barrowload.  Mix  the  whole  thoroughly  and 
pass  through  a  fine  sieve.  When  the  seed  is 
sown  cover  it  with  the  same  material.  It 
will  be  necessary  to  protect  against  birds, 
which  are  often  very  troublesome.  Garden 
netting  .should  be  stretched  over  iron  hoops 
thus  enabling  the  crop  to  be  easily  thinned. 
This  must  be  done  as  early  as  possible. 
Copious  supplies  of  water  should  be  given 
in  dry  weather,  also  a  dusting  of  wood 
ashes  and  artificial  manure  every  week, 
and  a  dre.ssing  of  soot  once  a  fortnight. 
Perfect  Turnips  ought  to  be  of  medium  size 
with  small  tap  roots,  clean  skin,  and  crisp  and 
juicy  tlesh. 

When  yireparing  roots  for  exhibition  soak 
them  for  half  an  hour  and  remove  all  dirt  with 
a  sponge,  giving  two  or  three  more  washings 
to  make  them  ([uite  clean.  For  early  shows 
sow  seed  on  a  south  border  of  Early  Eed  and 
White  Milan  aliout  the  middle  of  February. 
For  later  use  Snowball  and  Jersey  Lily  are 


e.xcellent,  the  latter  being  very  handsome  and 
of  delicious  flavour. 

Turnips  when  in  perfect  condition  frequently 
prove  invaluable  to  the  exhibitor  of  a  collection 
of  vegetables.  They  should  always  be  included 
in  a  collection  of  twelve  dishe.s,  and  often  when 
eight  or  nine  only  are  required.  A  valuable 
Turnip  for  May  shows  is  a  greatly  improved 
form  of  .Jersey  ISTavet  named  Carter's  Forcing, 
which,  if  sown  at  intervals  during  March  in 
cold  frames,  produces  splendid  roots  of  the 
best  quality.  E.  Beckett. 


SOCIETIES. 


ROYAL   HOKTICrLTUKAL   SOCIETY. 
Ox  Tuesday  last  the  Drill  Hall  was  filleil  to  overflowins;  with 
a  great  variety  of  plants  and  flowers.    Xarcis?i  were  very 
numerous,  as  also  were  hardy  plants  and  forced  flowering; 
bhrubs  ;  these  were  quite  a  feature,  and  a  very  beautiful 
one  too.     Orchids  were  extensively  shown,  while  fruit  and 
vegetables  were  conspicuous  by  their  absence. 
OKOHih   Committee. 
Present  :    Messrs.    Harry    J.    Veitch    (chairman),  James 
OBrien,  de  B.  Crawshay.  H.  M.  PoUett,  H.  liallantine,  E. 
Hill,    James    Douglas,    X.    F.   Bilney,    F.    W.   Ashton,   ^V. 
Thompson,   H.  T.  Pitt,  J.  ^Y.  Odell,  F.  J.  Thorne,  W.  H. 
Young,  W.  Boxall,  T.  W.  Bond,  J.   M'ilson  Potter,  J.   G. 
Fowler,  and  H.  Little. 

Messrs.  F.  Sander  and  Sons,  St.  Albans,  showed  several 
plants  of  Phaius  grown  in  leaf-mould.  These  comprised 
P.  Norman  var.,  P.  Martlue  var.,  and  P.  sanderianus. 
Messrs.  Sander  also  exhibited  other  Orchids,  including 
Odontoglossum  harryano-crispum,  0.  h.-c.  var.  primulinum. 
O.  raniDsissimum,  Ljclio  -  Cattleya  schilleriana,  Anguloa 
Clowesii,  Cattleya  Schriederte,  &c.     Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  exhi- 
bited a  uroup  of  beautiful  L:elio-Cattleya  and  other  hybrids. 
L.-C.  highburyensis  was  numerously  represented,  as  also 
was  Lxlia  Latona  (L.  purpurata  x  L-  cinnabarina).  L.-C. 
Myra  var.  Princess  of  Wales,  L;i'lia  flavina  (L.  pumila  x  L. 
flava),  L.  Novelty  (L.  elegans  x  L.  pumila),  L.-C.  Vacuna, 
Chysis  Sedeni,  and  oihers  were  noticeable.  Silver  Flora 
medal. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co..  Heaton,  Bradford,  Y'orks, 
displayed  a  small  group  of  Orchids,  containing  several  very 
choice  plants.  To  one  of  them— La;lio-Cattleya  Dora  (C. 
Schra'derie  x  L.-C.  Pha'be)— an  award  of  merit  was  given. 
Particularly  good  also  were  Cattleya  Trian;e  Uplands 
variety,  Cypripedium  Colossus  (C.  villosuni  giganteum  x 
C.  Sailieri  aureiim),  Odontoglossum  Hallio  -  crispura,  O. 
wilckeanum.  0.  crispum  Dora,  and  La?lia  jongheana  alba. 
Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  B.  S.  ^Villjams  and  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  N., 
exhibited  a  gnmp  of  miscellaneous  Orchids  and  stove  plants. 
Among  the  Orchids  were  noticeable  Cattleya  Mendelii,  C. 
intermedia,  Odontoglossum  triumphan-,  O.  wilckeanum, 
O.  Coradinei.  Cypripedium  massianum,  Ada  auraiitiaca,  etc. 
Amaryllis  Crimson  King,  A.  Meteor,  and  A.  Holloway  Belle 
were  also  included  in  the  gnmp. 

H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill  (yardener,  Mr.  F.  \V. 
ThuTiiood),  exhibited  a  bright  and  varied  collection.  Odonto- 
glossiims  chietly  filled  the  back  of  the  arrangement,  while 
toward'*  the  front  were  to  be  seen  a  v^iriety  of  other  choice 
Orchids,  Cattleya  Schrcedera-,  Miltonias,  Vandas,  Cypripe- 
dium Oeorge  Llewellyn,  &c.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Hueh  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  Enfield, 
exhibited  Cattleya  Schrtudene  Phvllis,  C.  S.  aurantiaca.  C 
Trian:e  fulgens  striata,  C.  Schr<E  lerie  alba  Lows  variety,  and 
Saccolabium  ampullaceum,  bearing  an  almost  erect  small 
raceme  of  rosy  red  flowers. 

H.  F.  Simonds  Esq..  \Voodthorpe,  Beckenham  (gardener, 
Mr.  G.  E.  Day),  showed  a  plant  of  Cyrtopodium  St.  Legerea- 
num  tluwering  for  the  second  successive  year. 

J.  Gurney  Fowler,  Esq.,  South  Woodford  (gardener,  Mr.  J. 
Davis),  showed  some  plants  of  Dendrobium  devonianum 
that  were  smothered  in  flowers  the  wliole  length  of  the 
pendent  pseudo-bulbs.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Walter  Cobb,  Esq.,  sent  Cypripedium  Beatrice  (C.  bella- 
tulum  X  C.  Gowerii  magnificum).  odontoglossum  triumphans 
var.  Cobhiio,  Sophro-Cattleya  marriottiana  (Sophronitis 
grandiflora  \  Cattleya  aurea). 

A.  S.  Cook,  Esq.,  Tankerville,  Kingston  Hill  (gardener, 
ifr.  W.  Buckein,  exhibited  a  plant  of  Lycaste  Skinneri 
bearing  eight  flowers. 

Captain  Holford,  CLE.,  Westonbirt  (Orchid  grower, 
Mr.  Alexander),  showed  Odontoglossum  elegans,  Westonbirt 
variety. 

Thomas  Carruthers,  Esq.,  Gaskmore,  Reigate  (gardener, 
Mr.  CoUip),  sent  (Ulontoglossum  wilckeanum  Carruthersii. 

Sir  Frederic  Wigan,  Bart.,  Clare  Lawn,  East  Sheen  (i>rchid 
grower,  ilr.  W,  H.  Young),  sent  cut  blooms  af  Xliltonia 
vexillaria  Memoria  J.  D.  Owen,  and  ililtonia  Bleuana. 

F.  Wellesley.  Esq.,  Westtleld,  Woking.  Surrey  (gardener, 
Mr.  J.  Gilbert),  showed  Cypripedium  Chapmani,  Westfield 
variety,  and  Cypripedium  W.E.Dickson  (rolhschildsianum  x). 

Baron  Schneder,  The  Dell,  Eghani  (gardener,  i[r.  H. 
Ballantine),  displayed  some  beautiful  cut  flowers  of  Orchids, 
including  Odontoglossum  crispum  Rex,  O.  leeanum,  La?lia 
Edissa,  and  otherr-.    Silver  Hanksian  medal. 

Odontoglossum  x  crawshayanum  Theodora  (0.  Halli  x 
O.  harryanum)  was  shown  '  by  de  B.  Crawshay,  Esc]., 
Sevenoaks. 

Orchid  Awards. 

A  tirst-class  certificate  was  given  to  :— 

Odonto'jlo-<s^tnn  AtiriafW  Memoria  Victoria  Titv/ijm.— This 
is  a  beautiful  flower  of  medium  size  and  exquisitely  marked. 


The  ground  colour  is  a  creamy  white,  and  the  petals  are 
extensively  spotted  with  chocolate-red.  The  sepals  are  even 
more  heavily  blotched  with  the  same  colour.  A  yellow  tinge 
is  noticeable  towards  the  top  of  the  sepals.  The  markings 
on  the  lip  are  a  paler  red.  E-shibited  by  Barou  Schra'der, 
The  Dell,  Egham  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  Ballantine). 

The  following  obtained  awards  of  merit : — 

L(vlio-Cattlcya  Dora.  —This  new  Orchid  —  a  secondni-y 
hybrid— whose  parents  are  Cattleya  Schriederic  and  L.-C. 
Phtehe,  is  decidedly  a  beautiful  flower.  The  petals  a^e  of 
a  delicate  peach  colour  and  light  apricot,  the  sepals  having 
more  of  the  latter  and  less  of  the  former  colouring.  The  base 
of  the  lip  is  a  rich  crimson-purple,  the  interior  of  the  tlinjat 
yellow.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton, 
Bradford,  Yorks. 

Zygopetaliim  ]}iere7ioides  Cecil  Hhodea. — This  is  a  striking 
flower,  the  lip  being  of  a  rich  violet-purple  veined  with  a 
darker  shade.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  heavily  marked  with 
chocolate-brown  upin  a  green  ground.  Exhibited  by  IL  T. 
Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,  N. 

L'Vlia  ilavina. — Liclia  pumila  and  L.  flava  are  the  parents- 
of  this  new  hybrid.  The  prevailing  colour  is  a  beautiful  and 
delicate  lemon-yellow,  petals  and  sepals  are  practically  of 
the  same  colour,  the  thmat  of  the  lip  is  a  much  deeper 
yellow.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Suns,. 
Limited,  Chelsea. 

Masdevallia  Circe,-  It  is  not  often  that  new  Masdevallias- 
are  before  the  Orchid  Committee,  but  on  Tuesday  last  an 
award  of  merit  was  given  to  the  one  under  notice.  The 
prevailing  colour  may  perhaps  be  best  described  as  orange- 
brown,  spotted  upon  a  rather  lighter  ground,  and  marked 
with  thin  longitudinal  lines  of  purple.  From  Messrs.  James 
Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea. 

Fruit  Committee. 

Present :  Messrs.  George  Bunyard  (chairman),  Joseplt 
Cheal,  Henry  EsHng,  S.  Mortimer.  Alexander  Dean,  Horace 
J.  Wright,  William  Pope,  (ieorge  Keif.  J.  Jaques,  C.  G.  Nix, 
James  Smith,  F.  L.  Lane,  J.  Willard,  George  Wythes,  James 
H.  Veitch,  H.  Somers  Rivers,  and  H.  Balder8<'n. 

A.  Hargreave  Brown,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Broome  Hall,  Dorking, 
was  awarded  a  silver  Banksian  medal  for  a  box  of  excellent 
Royal  Sovereign  Strawberries. 

Apple  Edward  Vll.  was  shown  by  Mr.  H.  Kowe,  ■Bar- 
bourne  Nurseries,  Worcester. 

A  patent  weed  extractor  was  shown  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Beach, 
The  Gardens,  Hazells,  near  Gravesend,  the  patentee.  The 
object  of  this  new  garden  tool  is  to  make  easy  the  uprooting 
of  Plantains,  Daisies,  Dandelions,  &c.,  from  lawns.  This 
instrument  has  three  prongs,  each  of  which  is  again  divided, 
enabling  the  weeds  to  be  eftectually  removed.  Stooping  i& 
altogether  avoided,  for  the  extractor  has  a  long  handle,  and 
is  worked  as  easily  as  a  rake. 

Floral  Committee. 

Present :  Sir.  George  Paul  (chairman),  and  Messrs.  C.  T. 
Druery,  G.  Nicholson,  C.  E.  Pearson,  R.  C.  Notcutt,  Rev.  F. 
Page  Roberts,  John  Jennings,  W.  Howe,  J.  W.  Barr, 
C.  Dixon,  R.  W.  Wallace,  C.  JeH^eries.  H.  J.  Cutbush,  J.  A. 
Nix,  H.  J.  Jones,  W.  Cuthbertson,  W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H. 
Jenkins,  R.  Wilson  Ker,  Hurry  Tutner,  and  C.  E.  Shea. 

Messrs.  R.  Wallace  and  i'o.,  C.>lchester,  showed  many  rare 
and  beautiful  plants,  notably  Tulipa  Lowneiwith  miniature 
rose  and  white  flowers  ;  T.  saxatilis,  T.  Greigi,  T.  triphylla, 
with  golden  flowers  slightly  streaked  with  a  dark  shade. 
Some  pretty  Fritillaries  comprised  F.  pallidiflora,  a  greenish  - 
yellow  kind  with  almost  square  shoulders  ;  F.  pudica, 
iVc.  Anemones,  too,  were  very  beautiful,  as  A.  fulgens, 
A.  coronaria  Syriaca,  the  scarlet  flowers  having  a  pure  white 
ring,  reminding  one  of  A.  fulgens  annulata  ;  A.  Pulsatilla, 
very  fine  and  with  many  flowers.  Such  Irises,  too,  as  I. 
orchioides,  I.  o.cierulea,  and  I.  willmottiana.  Daffodils  in  pots- 
and  other  more  frequently  seen  things  made  up  one  of  the  best 
displays  from  this  firm  this  season.     Bronze  Flora  medal. 

Messis.  W,  CuLbnsh  and  Sons,  Highgate,  had  a  fine  group- 
of  for'-ed  shrubs.  Lilacs,  Azaleas  of  several  sections,  the 
best  being  perhaps  thedoulile  Ghent  varieties,  with  Magnolia 
soulangeana  vet  y  well  flowered,  Spira-a  confusa,  Prunus 
triloba,  Laburnums,  Cytisus  pnecox,  Ac.  Silver  Banksian 
medal. 

Messrs.  Wm  Paul  and  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  had  a  goodi 
display  of  forced  Roses,  chiefly  of  the  hybrid  Tea  section. 
We  noted  fine  flowers  of  Boadicea,  of  which  there  were,, 
perhaps,  a  dozen  plants,  Jean  Ducher,  the  richly-coloured 
Liberty,  Alexandra,  Marie  Louise,  and  other  beautiful  sorts. 
Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams.  Holloway,  filled  one  corner  with 
handsome  and  well-grown  Palms,  such  as  Kentias,  Phcenix, 
Latanias,  and  .A.recas  :  they  also  contributed  a  flue  coliection 
of  the  choice  Narcissi,  the  flowers  being  good  and  fresh. 

Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  contributed  an  extensive  bank  of  the 
choicer  Daflodils  and  a  splendid  collection  of  Tulips.  In  the 
former,  such  as  Victoria,  Excelsior,  a  rich  golden  self ; 
Empress,  Emperor,  Barri  conspicuus,  and  Mrs.  Thompson. 
Sir  Watkin  was  well  shown,  while  in  the  Tulips  were 
such  as  Thos.  iloore,  Grace  Darling,  Proserpine,  and  other 
good  sorts. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  set  up  a  group  i» 
which  Pyrus  Mains  Schiedeckeri  was  prominent  with  pink 
and  white  trusses  a  foot  louir,  Hydrangea  hortensis 
ci_erulea,  Magnolia  slellata,  Crimson  Ram  tier  Rose.  Lilacs, 
lVc.  Messrs.  Low  also  staged  a  well-grown  lot  of  Schizan- 
thus  Wisetonensis  in  full  bloom  that  attracted  a  great  deal 
of  attention.     Bronze  Flora  medul- 

From  Felthara,  Messrs.  Ware,  Limited,  sent  a  nine  lot  (»f 
hardy  things,  in  which  a  huge  mass  of  the  lovely  Shortia 
galacifolia  formed  a  splendid  centre,  the  pearly- white 
flowers  and  crimsoned  leafage  making  a  Hue  contrast. 
Other  interesting  things  weie  Iris  tuberosa,  green  and 
black ;  Adonis  amurensis  plena,  A.  vernalis,  Sileiie 
virginica,  Ramondia  Nataliic,  double  white  Araf^is,  many 
pretty  Prinuilas,  and  others  of  equal  interest  and  beauty. 
Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  J.  P.  Kendall,  Ottery  St.  Mary,  Devon,  had  a  fine  vase- 
of  his  Narcissi  King  Alfred,  and  a  new  one,  Sir  Walter  Drake,, 
that  we  shall  refer  to  again  in  the  novelties. 


GARDEN 


No.  1587.— Vol.  LXL] 


[April   19,  1902 


THE 


BETTER 
GARDEN 


ROCK 


THOSE  who  have  fairly  spacious  rock 
gardens  and  wish  them  to  be  beau- 
tiful places  and  not  merely  the 
receptacles  of  a  quantity  of  different 
plants,  can  only  secure  such  a  result 
]>y  putting  upon  themselves  severe  restraint  as 
to  the  number  of  kinds  to  be  used  at  a  time. 
In  gardening  as  in  painting  no  picture  can  be 
beautiful  whose  composition  is  crowded  and 
confused.  There  are  various  considerations 
that  influence  the  choice  of  the  plants  that  the 
rock  planter  will  put  together,  but  we  think 
that  the  following  suggestions  would  be  worthy 
of  consideration.  First,  to  determine  which 
are  the  plants  that  give  us  the  truest  pleasure. 
Then  to  consider  which  of  these  will  group 
best  together  and  flower  at  the  same  time  :  for, 
supposing  four  or  five  favourite  kinds  of  plants 
to  be  grouped  and  partly  intergrouped,  it  is 
a  great  advantage  to  let  them  be  those  that 
will  bloom  together  and  make  one  complete 
picture,  and  to  have  the  intermediate  sets  of 
groups  to  Viloom  later  in  their  turn.  This  is  a 
much  more  pictorial  arrangement  than  to  have 
the  plants  flowering  in  scattered  irrelevant 
patches  quite  unrelated  to  each  other. 

Suppose,  therefore,  that  a  spur  of  rock 
garden  is  crowned  with  bushes  of  Andromeda 
floribunda,  and  that  steep  rocks  below  it  are 
clothed  with  Aubrietia  and  Arabis,  and  that  at 
their  foot  in  cool  peaty  ground  there  is  a 
generous  planting  of  Primula  denticulata. 
Here  are  four  capital  things  of  early  April,  all 
in  full  flower  together,  making  one  complete 
picture,  and  these  four  are  quite  enough.  The 
colouring  is  of  the  simplest  possible  and 
delightfully  harmonious,  and  the  whole  thing 
is  so  good  a  picture  that  one  dwells  upon  it, 
and  comes  liack  and  back  to  it  to  enjoy  its 
lieauty  in  a  way  that  one  never  does  to  a  more 
mixed  planting  of  individual  objects. 

It  is,  of  course,  more  easy  to  do  in  large 
spaces,  but  even  in  small  ones  the  same  thing 
may  be  done  in  square  inches  in.stead  of  square 
feet  by  choosing  plants  of  smaller  dimensions. 
Such  an  arrangement  for  the  pictorial  part 
of  a  garden  by  no  means  precludes  the  enjoy- 
ment of  individual  plants,  but  we  think  it  is 
wiser  to  have  these  in  a  separate  place  in  a 
series  of  rectangular  raised  beds,  where  each 
plant  may  occupy  its  own  pocket,  and  be  as 
easily  visible  and  accessible  as  a  Viook  on  a 
shelf  or  a  specinren  in  an  economic  museum. 
Such  raised  beds  as  are'  in  Messrs.  Frobels' 


delightful  nursery  at  Zurich  could  hardly  be 
improved  upon.  They  are  perhaps  6  feet  wide 
at  the  bottom  and  ].'5  feet  long.  They  are 
steeply  rock  built,  and  accommodate  a  large 
quantity  of  plants.  If  the  beds  are  placed  east 
and  west  as  to  their  length  it  will  give  each  a 
shady  and  a  sunny  side ;  a  ridge  of  small 
shrubs  at  the  top  would  give  more  shade  on 
the  north  side.  Such  beds  also  aflbrd  the  best 
opportunity  of  suiting  plants  with  special  soils, 
for  one  may  be  built  of  limestone,  another  of 
granite,  another  of  sandstone,  and  so  on,  so 
that  plants  from  all  kinds  of  geological  forma- 
tions would  find  themselves  at  home.  The 
plants  in  these  rock  beds  would  be  grown  dis- 
tinctly as  samples  and  labelled,  then  those  that 
were  the  best  liked  and  that  showed  the  most 
aptitude  for  making  good  combinations  for  the 
rock  garden  could  be  increased  and  brought 
into  the  better  use. 

Labels  should  never  be  seen  in  the  beautiful 
rock  garden  ;  they  are  destructive  of  all 
pictorial  effect  and  damping  to  the  sentiment 
of  the  truest  enjoyment  of  plant  beauty.  You 
want  your  rock  plant  to  say  to  you  in  cheerful 
sympathy :  "  I  am  one  of  the  loveliest  of  the 
plants  that  God  has  given  you  for  purest 
pleasure  and  for  your  bettering  in  gladness 
and  thankfulness  ;  "  and  not  merely  to  inform 
you  with  cold  official  austerity,  "I  am 
Aubrietia  deltoidea  (De  Candolle)." 


THE      USE     OF      WEEPING 
TREES. 

It  is  not  at  all  easy  to  define  special  uses  for 
trees  of  weeping  habit,  but  it  is  safe  to 
use  them  nearly  singly  and  not  in  imme- 
diate connexion  with  trees  of  quite  upright 
form.  The  point  in  the  weeping  tree  is 
a  certain  grace  of  drooi>ing  line,  such  as  one 
enjoys  in  the  drooping  racemes  of  many  of 
the  papilionaceous  flowers,  such  as  Wistaria, 
Laburnum,  and  Robinia.  Nothing  is  gained 
by  accentuating  the  peculiarity  by  a  direct 
association  with  trees  of  an  oi)posite  way  of 
growth.  It  is  better  rather  to  place  the 
weeping  trees  near  rounded  masses  of  shrub 
and  small  tree  —  for  example,  a  Weeping 
Birch  would  group  well  with  a  clump  of 
Ehododendrons. 

Xear  water  weeping  trees  seem  to  be 
specially  effective.  An  instance  of  this  is 
shown  in  the  familiar  Weeping  Willow,  but 
one  at  a  time  seems  as  much  as  is  wanted. 

As    a    general   rule,  we  strongly  advocate 


planting  in  groups,  whether  in  the  case  of 
trees,  shrubs,  or  flowering  plants,  but  the 
weeping  trees  are  less  suited  for  grouping 
than  any  others.  One  Weeping  Willow  is  aU 
very  well,  but  a  whole  grove  of  them  would  be 
monotonous  and  tiresome. 

The  haljit  of  some  of  the  weeping  trees  can 
be  directly  turned  to  account  in  the  making 
of  arbeurs  and  pergolas,  for  by  planting  the 
large-leaved  Weeping  Elm  or  the  Weeping 
Ash  at  the  back  and  on  each  side  in  the  case 
of  an  arbour,  or  alternately  on  each  side  of  the 
walk  for  a  pergola,  a  living  shelter  may  be 
made  in  a  very  few  years.  The  trees  in  this 
case  are  standards  pollarded  at  about  8  feet 
from  the  ground,  the  form  in  which  they  are 
generally  sent  out  from  the  nursery. 


RIVIERA    NOTES. 

Summer  is  on  us  now  and  winter  visitors  and 
\\inter  flowers  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  other 
day  I  saw  a  striking  group  of  standard  Hydran- 
geas, quite  a  novelty  in  my  eyes,  and  all  the 
more  striking  as  the  heads  of  flowers  were  of 
the  most  lovely  Cftrulean  blue.  On  examina- 
tion it  proved  to  be  H.  cyanoclada  and  not  the 
typical  H.  hortensis,  which  never  achieves  so 
perfect  a  shade  of  blue,  and  which  does  not 
lend  itself  to  making  standards  such  as  those  I 
saw.  They  were  a  striking  instance  of  clever 
French  gardening,  and  most  beautiful. 

In  the  matter  of  climbing  Roses  there  are 
two  gains  not  to  lie  omitted  on  this  coast.  That 
delightful  hybrid  Rose  Anemone  and  the 
brilliant  Dr.  Rouges,  which  both  flower  early 
with  the  Banksian  and  E.  Fortunei  Roses, 
affording  a  splendid  contrast  of  colour  hitherto 
unattainable  so  early.  The  lovely  Rose  du 
Barri  colour  of  the  very  large  single  Rose 
Anemone  contrasts  especially  with  its  congener 
Rosa  sinica,  while  the  brilliant  light  red  of 
Dr.  Rouges  is  especially  welcome  amongst  the 
creamy  white  and  yellow  sprays  of  the  Banksian 
Roses  now  in  fullest  beauty.  Tree  Pajonies  are 
so  huge  and  so  gorgeous  that  one  regrets  more 
than  ever  that  they  are  always  checked  and 
stunted  by  an  English  spring,  which  wakes 
them  up  too  early,  and  then  punishes  them 
for  responding  so  quickly.  A  glass-roofed  .shed 
in  some  sheltered  and  partially  shaded  situation 
might  perhaps  give  them  the  protection  they 
need,  but  anything  like  close  heat  or  over 
shelter  must  be  avoided.  Xanthoceras  sorbi- 
folia  is  a  pretty  dwarf  flowering  shrub  on  this 
coast,  and  cannot  be  persuaded  to  grow  with 
the  vigour  that  it  attains  to  in  England,  but  on 
the  other  hand  it  smothers  itself  in  flowers. 
The  lovely  pink  .Japanese  Cherry  has  had  a 
short  life  this  season  ;  like  many  things  it  has 
rushed  out  and  rushed  over  only  too  quickly. 
At  this  season  the  yard-long  trails  of  Lotus 
peliorhynchus  carpet  the  sunny  banks  with 
crimson  flowers  and  silvery  leaves  ;  the  hand- 


250 


THE   GARDEN. 


[April  19,  1902. 


some  purple  heads  of  Hebeclinium  ianthinum 
rise  boldly  over  the  tangle  of  Verbenas  and 
Gazanias,  while  the  first  Orange  blossoms 
star  the  foliage  above,  a  warning  that  ere  long 
the  northerner  must  seek  for  summer  quarters 
where  such  delights  are  more  lasting  and  not 
so  fierce,  and  where  a  longer  if  less  gorgeous 
display  of  colour  is  afforded  during  the  summer 
months.  E.  W.  Woodall. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


FOETHCOMING  EVENTS. 

April  22. — Roj'al  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet,  and  National  Auricula  Society's 
Kxhibition,  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  (Jate  ; 
special  prizes  for  Daffodils  offered. 

April  23. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  E.\-anii- 
nation  in  Horticulture. 

April  24,  2.1. — Annual  Exhibition  of  the  Midland 
Daffodil  Society  at  Birmingham. 

April  25.  —  Darlington  Horticultural  Society's 
Spring  Show. 

May  3. — Meetings  of  French  and  tierman  Horti- 
cultural Societies  of  London. 

May  G.  —  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet  at  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate. 

May  7.  — R  oy al  Caledoni  an  Horticultural  Society's 
Spring  Show  at  Edinburgh  (two  days). 

May  8. — Royal  (hardeners'  Orphan  Fund  Annual 
Dinner  at  Hotel  Cecil. 

Examination  in  hopticulture.— Tiie 

Roj'al  Horticultural  Society's  examination  will 
take  place  on  Wednesday  next  at  various 
centres  throughout  Great  Britain.  Intending 
candidateiJ  are  requested  to  forward  their  entries 
at  once  to  the  secretary',  Royal  Horticultural 
Societj',  117,  Victoria  Street,  London,  S.W. 

A    useful    early   Lettuce   (Golden 

Queen). — After  such  a  severe  spell  of  weather 
in  most  parts  of  the  kingdom  I  fear  there  will  be 
very  few  .spring  Lettuces  from  the  open  ground, 
and  even  those  in  frames  have  suS'ered  badly.  By 
.sowing  the  useful  small  Golden  <iHieen  in  heat  now, 
and  then  pricking  out  the  plants  on  a  warm  bed  in 
a  frame,  good  produce  may  be  had  during  a  period 
of  about  twelve  weeks  from  the  time  of  sowing. 
Another  plan  is  to  plant  in  boxes  and  grow  in 
houses  or  to  sow  in  frames  aud  put  the  thinnings 
into  boxes.  These  form  a  succession,  is  those  left 
in  the  frame  mature  quickly.  (Jolden  Ijueen  might 
with  advantage  have  been  named  (Jolden  Gem,  as, 
though  small,  it  is  a  gem  among  the  Cabbage 
Lettuce,  and  most  valuable  for  its  quick  growth 
and  bright  colour.  It  is  much  liked  in  the 
salad  bowl.  I  do  not  know  any  variety  more 
valuable  to  sow  at  this  season  either  in  frames, 
boxes,  or  on  a  warm  border  earl}'  in  March  grown 
as  a  first  supply  from  the  open.  It  may  be  had 
earlier  than  others,  but  it  is  well  worth  sowing 
under  glass,  as  by  so  doing  there  is  great  saving  of 
time  ;  quite  a  small  quantity,  saj',  a  box  of  seed 
.sown  now  will  give  nice  heads  in  May. — G.  W.  S. 

Mole  crickets.  —  Your  correspondent 
"  E.  B.  C. ,''  in  your  issue  of  April  5,  asks  some 
questions  about  mole  crickets  which  are  destro}'- 
ing  the  grass  on  lawns  in  his  neighbourhood.  Is 
he  quite  sure  that  the  insect  in  ([uestion  is  the 
mole  cricket?  He  speaks  of  it  as  a  beetle, 
which  it  certainly  is  not.  That,  however,  to 
anyone  who  is  not  an  entomologist  is  a  very  small 
point.  He  speaks  of  the  land  being  very  poor, 
which  does  not  sound  like  the  soil  the  mole 
cricket  is  supposed  to  prefer,  as  they  generally 
infest  damp,  badly-drained  land,  the  banks  of 
streams,  ditches,  &c. ,  and  are  by  no  means  common 
nowadays.  If  "  E.  B.  C."  would  kindly  send  a 
specimen  I  could  soon  make  quite  certain.  If,  how- 
ever, he  knows  the  insect  is  what  it  is  said  to  be 
he  should  try  to  trap  them  by  laying  fresh  turves 
on  the  ground,  or  grass,  and  keep  them  well 
watered.  They  are  said  to  creep  under  them  at 
night,  and  if  the  turf  is  turned  over  in  the 
morning  they  may  easily  be  caught.  If  their  runs 
can  be  traced  boiling  water  should  be  poured  over 


them.  This,  however,  would  injure  the  grass.  I 
do  not  imagine  that  watering  with  any  insecticide 
would  be  of  any  use,  as  it  would  be  so  difficult  to 
make  it  reach  them. — (\.  S.  S. 

Special  prizes  for  Daffodils.— At  the 

Royal  Horticultural  Society's  meeting,  to  be  held 
on  Tuesday  next  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham 
•  iate,  Westminster,  special  prizes  will  be  offered 
for  Daffodils,  open  to  amateurs  and  gentlemen's 
gardener's  only.  First  prize,  a  £7  7s.  silver  cup, 
presented  to  the  society  by  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons ; 
second  prize,  R.H.S.  silver  Flora  medal.  Group  of 
Daffodil  blossoms  grown  entirely  outdoors  (Poly- 
anthus varieties  excluded)  must  include  some  of 
each  section — Magni,  Medii,  and  Parvi-Coronati  ; 
must  contain  at  least  thirty  varieties  distinct,  at 
least  three  blooms  of  each  must  be  shown.  Not 
more  than  nine  blooms  of  any  one  varietj'  may  be 
put  up.  To  be  staged  in  bottles,  vases,  or  tubes 
not  exceeding  3  inches  in  diameter  at  the  top  (in- 
side measurement),  and  all  the  stems  must  touch 
the  water.  Quality  of  flower  will  count  more  than 
quantity,  and  correct  naming  and  tasteful  arrange- 
ment will  'oe  duly  considered.  Any  hardy  foliage 
may  be  used,  Daffodil  or  otherwise.  No  prize  will 
be  awarded  unless  there  are  three  competitors  at 
least.  Entries  should  be  addressed  to  the  Secre- 
tary, Royal  Horticultural  Societj',  117,  Victoria 
Street,  London,  S.W. 

Exhibition  of  flower  pictures.— An 

exhibition  well  worth  a  visit  by  tliose  interested  in 
flower  studies  is  now  open  at  Walker's  (Waller}', 
lis.  New  Bond  Street.  The  pictures  have  been 
painted  by  Mrs.  Philip  Hensley  (Miss  Marie  Low), 
and  comprise  a  variety  of  subjects  for  the  most 
part  delightfully  treated.  We  were  charmed  with 
"Double  Blossom  Cherry,"  a  clever  and  beautiful 
study,  "  Penzance  Briar  Roses,"  and  the  series  of 
Violet  pictures,  Marie  Louise  and  others.  It  is 
impossible  to  mention  everyone  of  the  sixty-eight 
pictures  or  to  individualise  in  a  collection  so  full 
of  interesting  representations,  as  want  of  space 
forbids.  An  hour  spent  here  by  the  flower-lover 
will  we  are  sure  prove  an  enjoj'able  one.  Mrs. 
Hensley  has  also  a  collection  of  enamels  on  silver, 
designed  and  worked  by  herself,  and  these  form  a 
feature  of  much  interest. 

Hippeastrums  at  Chelsea.— At  this 

season  of  the  year  the  Hippeastrums,  more 
familiarly  known  perhaps  as  Amaryllis,  in  the 
Chelsea  nursery  of  Messrs.  .lames  Veitch  and 
Sons,  Limited,  are  always  worth  a  visit,  and 
never,  in  the  opinion  of  Mr.  .John  Heal,  the  raiser 
of  the  numerous  and  beautiful  hybrids  that 
Messrs.  Veitch  have  sent  out,  have  they  been  better 
than  this  year.  The  central  bed  of  the  large  span- 
roofed  house  in  which  they  are  arranged  holds 
1 ,01  )l  I  plants  placed  closely  together.  Ench  plant  on 
an  average  is  bearing  three  flowers,  and  we  may 
safely  say  that  of  the  3,000  flowers  there  are  at 
present  fully  2,000  at  their  best,  the  remainder 
being  not  yet  open.  It  is  remarkable  also  in  what 
a  number  of  instances  splendid  blooms  are  produced 
by  quite  small  bulbs,  a  success  that  is  undoubtedly 
to  be  attributed  to  the  cultural  methods  jiractised. 
One  notable  item  pointed  out  bj-  Mr.  Heal  may  be 
worthy  of  repetition.  In  previous  years  the  pots 
in  which  the  Hippeastrums  are  grown  have  been 
plunged  in  tan  ;  last  year  for  the  first  time  saw- 
dust was  made  use  of  as  a  plunging  material, 
although  only  a  few  dozen  plants  were  so  treated. 
That  all  were  not  plunged  in  sawdust  is 
fortunate,  for  the  few  that  were  have  proved 
almost  complete  failures.  Messrs.  Veitch  are 
doing  much  towards  popularising  the  Hippeastrum 
by  endeavouring  to  raise  varieties  that  are  quite 
distinct  in  colour  from  those  already  existing. 
One  of  the  drawbacks  of  this  plant  has  been  the 
monotony  of  colour  shades,  but  a  glance  through 
Messrs.  Veitch's  1902  collection  will  discover  not 
only  a  good  variety  of  colours  and  markings  but 
some  shades  that  are  (juite  new  to  the  Hippeastrum. 
Yellow  is  a  colour  that  Mr.  Heal  is  now  striving 
to  infuse,  and  in  some  of  the  latest  hybrids  the 
lighter  shades  of  this  colour  are  prominent.  It 
would  be  a  long  list  that  contained  all  the 
meritorious  varieties  in  so  extensive  and  varied  a 
collection,  but  the  following  are  some  of  the  most 
noteworthy  :  .Jadera,  of  beautiful  form,  vermilion, 


with  white  edge  ;  Adula,  a  choice  flower,  white, 
streaked  with  rosy  scarlet ;  Lady  BuUer,  large, 
distinct,  white,  faintly  tinged  with  sulphur, 
lightly  streaked  with  rosy  scarlet ;  Aureole,  one 
of  the  largest  flowers  in  the  collection,  rich  red- 
scarlet  ;  Rhodesia,  a  faint  sulphur  ground,  markec 
with  vermilion,  of  splendid  form  ;  Conqueror, 
orange-scarlet,  white  centre  ;  Sybaris,  almost  pure 
white,  faintly  streaked  red  ;  Orneus,  intense  red- 
scarlet  ;  Uitlander,  of  a  curious  faint  khaki-green, 
marked  with  light  red  ;  Eclipse,  of  excellent  form, 
bright  red,  marked  with  white  ;  Sunium,  perhaps 
the  deepest  coloured  of  all,  rich  red-crimson ; 
Coriolanus  may  be  said  to  be  the  finest  flower  in 
Messrs.  A'eitch's  collection,  the  upper  petal 
measured  4  inches  across,  and  the  colour  is  a  rich 
scarlet,  more  intense  in  the  centre ;  Topaz,  a 
pretty  flower,  of  fine  shape,  bright  red,  having  a 
white  band  down  each  petal,  and  white  centre. 

Rose  Golden  Gate  (Tea-scented).— 

This  is  a  variety  of  great  merit,  .and  one  that  is 
steadily  gaining  in  popularity  among  exhibitors. 
Its  flowers  are  exquisitely  coloured  and  of  beauti- 
ful form.  Its  qualitj'  is  proved  by  the  frequent 
appearance  in  prize  boxes,  the  flowers  being  some- 
what inclined  to  droop,  or,  in  other  words,  are 
"weak  at  the  neck."  The  best  way  to  grow  the 
variety  is  on  the  standard  or  half-standard  briars. 
The  colour  is  not  golden,  as  one  might  suppose, 
but  it  takes  its  somewhat  misleading  name  from 
the  (iolden  Gate  Harbour,  San  Francisco,  being 
one  of  the  few  good  varieties  our  American  friends 
have  raised.  The  flowers  are  of  a  lovely  creamy- 
white  colour,  with  a  soft  tint  of  yellow  at  the  base, 
but  it  is  the  pale  pink  flush  at  the  edges  of  the 
petals  that  seems  to  give  the  flower  such  a  distinct 
beaut}'.  The  buds  are  long  and  pointed,  and  the 
half-open  flowers  shaped  like  an  egg.  When 
grown  as  a  pot  Rose,  and  it  is  peculiarly  fitted  for 
this  purpose,  the  beautiful  tints  are  much  enhanced, 
and  the  fragrance,  too,  is  most  refreshing,  not  so 
powerful  as  Devoniensis,  but  j'et  more  so  than 
many  of  the  Teas.  — P. 

Mice  and  paraffin.— As  the  soaking  of 

Sweet  Peas  before  sowing  in  paraffin  is  still  re- 
commended as  a  preventive  against  the  attacks  of 
mice  it  may  be  as  well  to  caution  readers  not  to 
put  any  faith  in  the  recipe.  I  have  found  from 
experience  that  the  animals  will  take  the  Peas  just 
as  readily  with  paraffin  as  without.  —E.  B.  C. 

Vegetables   at  the    Drill    Hall.— I 

note  with  satisfaction  Mr.  E.  Beckett's  approval 
of  my  suggestion  that  there  should  be  annually 
held  at  the  Drill  Hall  one  special  exhibition  of 
vegetables.  I  have  no  doulst  there  are  many 
persons  interested  in  vegetables  who  would  equally 
favour  the  proposal.  There  does  seem  to  be 
something  anomalous  when  we  see  the  Dcill  Hall 
handed  over  on  several  occasions  during  the  year 
to  Auricula,  Tulip,  Carnation,  and  Dahlia 
societies,  all  of  trivial  importance  in  horticulture 
as  compared  with  vegetables,  yet  nothing  what- 
ever is  done  in  the  way  of  presenting  vegetables 
to  the  Fellows  of  the  society  in  a  select  or 
exhibition  form.  Were  vegetable  admirers  to 
form  a  vegetable  encouragement  societj' and  display 
the  energy  and  push  which  the  executives  of  the 
societies  named  do  they  could  verj'  likely  obtain 
the  Drill  Hall  for  an  annual  exhibition.  But  the 
formation  of  special  societies  has  gone  far  enough, 
and  no  sensible  person  wants  to  extend  them.  The 
formation  of  a  special  one  for  Sweet  Peas  gave  the 
coup  de  grace  to  all  other  subjects.  I  have  no 
wish  to  go  further,  but  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  should  do  for  vegetables  what  any 
special  society  established  to  encourage  their 
culture  would  do.  It  does  an  immense  deal  for 
flowers,  including  Orchids  and  for  trees  and 
shrubs,  and  it  recognises  the  great  importance  of 
fruit  yearly  by  its  Crystal  Palace  show.  Vege- 
tables, I  suppose,  are  too  vulgar  for  its  lofty 
tastes.  Does  that  arise  from  the  fact  that,  whilst 
all  other  things  are  represented  on  the  council, 
no  one  at  all  represents  vegetables '/  If  Mr. 
Beckett  is  agreed,  I  will  cheerfully  join  with  him 
in  promoting  a  memorial  from  numerous  persons 
to  the  council  asking  that  one  special  vegetable 
exhibition  be  held  in  the  Drill  Hall  each 
autunm. — Alex.  Dean. 


April  19,  1902.] 


THE   GABDEN. 


251 


Clivia  miniata.— Every  spring  the  showy 
flowers  of  this  Clivia,  which  by  the  way  is  far 
more  generally  known  as  Imantophyllum  miniatum, 
form  a  conspicuous  feature  in  many  gardens,  and 
also  at  the  various  exhibitions  held  at  this  season. 
The  large  massive  heads  of  the  better  kinds,  with 
their  broad  flower  segments  and  in  many  cases 
bright  colours,  show  the  great  improvement  that 
has  been  effected  by  judicious  crossing,  but  on  this 
point  one  is  apt  to  ask  the  question  whether  far  too 
many  names  are  not  bestowed.  I  venture  to  think 
that  without  labels  the  distinction  between  many 
of  them  would  be  difficult  to  define.  Again,  those 
bearing  the  same  name  are  not  all  of  equal  merit, 
this  being  I  think  in  some  instances  owing  to  the 
fact  that  they  have  been  raised  from  seed,  and  thus 
show  the  normal  amount  of  variation.  As  this  mode 
of  propagation  is  simple,  and  increase  by  division 
very  slow,  it  is  easy  to  understand  that  a  great 
many  are  grown  from  seed.  In  reference  to  many 
forms  being  a  good  deal  alike,  exception  must  be 
taken  with  the  variety  citriua,  which  has  for  some 
years  past  been  much  admired  at  Kew.  The  colour 
of  its  flowers  is  indicated  by  the  specific  name, 
hence  it  is  totally  distinct  from  any  of  the  others, 
and  in  addition  it  possesses  a  well  shaped  cluster, 
with  good  broad  segments. — T. , 

Epica  pepsoluta  alba.— Many  of  the 

South  African  Heaths  are  so  beautiful  that  we 
should  doubtless  see  them  oftener  if  they  were 
more  amenable  to  cultivation.  There  are,  however, 
a  few  to  which  this  last  remark  does  not  apply, 
one  of  them  being  Erica  persoluta  alba,  which  is 
just  now  at  its  best.  It  has  a  dense  twiggy  style 
of  growth,  and  is  so  floriferous  that  every  shoot 
however  small  is  profusely  studded  with  tiny  bell- 
shaped  pure  white  blossoms.  It  remains  fresh  a  con- 
siderable time,  and  for  the  decoration  of  the  green- 
house, or  for  use  in  a  cut  state  for  button-holes,  &c. , 
it  is  very  useful.  This  Heath  is  one  of  the  limited 
number  brought  into  Covent  Garden  Market, 
for  some  growers  still  make  a  speciality  of  these 
charming  plants.  Mr.  Sweet,  of  Whetstone,  is  one 
of  the  most  successful  cultivators  of  greenhouse 
Heaths,  nearly  all  of  them  being  grown  in 
4i-inch  or  5-inch  pots.  Some  examples  of 
E.  persoluta  alba  treated  in  this  way  are  models 
of  cultural  skill.  Out  of  the  vast  number  of 
different  Heaths,  those  most  generally  grown  are 
E.  caifra,  gracilis,  and  hyemalis  for  autumn  and 
winter  blooming.  After  them  come  E.  melanthera 
and  willmoreana,  succeeded  by  E.  persoluta  alba, 
Cavendishi,  candidissima,  hybrida,  spenceriana, 
and  the  several  forms  of  that  delightful  small 
growing  species — E.  ventricosa. — H.  P. 

Apple  and  Pear  hybrid.— Assuming 
that  the  fruit  figured  on  page  199  of  The  Garden 
was  the  product  of  an  actual  cross  between  Apple 
and  Pear — and  it  is  granting  a  big  "  if  " — the  product 
in  any  case,  as  presented  to  the  fruit  committee 
on  March  11,  was  a  very  indifferent  Apple,  without 
the  least  taste  of  Pear  or  its  flavour  in  it.  No 
sample  of  leafage  was  sent  with  the  fruits,  that 
being,  of  course,  out  of  the  question,  but  many 
Apples  have  long  leafage  that  bears  some  resem- 
blance to  that  of  the  Pear.  Really  the  fruits  very 
closely  resembled  in  shape  those  of  the  old  Lemon 
Pippin,  the  knob  on  the  stem  end  of  the  fruit  of 
that  variety  being  in  this  case  somewhat  elongated. 
If  it  be  possible  to  effect  a  fertile  cross  between 
Apple  and  Pear  it  is  strange  we  have  not  heard  of 
such  long  since.  The  raiser  of  this  novelty  should 
send  a  graft  or  two  at  once  to  Chiswick,  where  it 
could  be  worked  on  to  a  stock,  and  its  hybrid 
nature,  if  it  is  such,  be  thoroughly  tested.  For 
how  many  things  do  we  want  a  real  experimental 
garden? — A.  D. 

Beg'onia  Gloire  de  Loppaine  as  a 
basket  plant. — Many  growers  of  this  fine 
autumn  and  winter-blooming  Begonia  will  now  be 
considering  how  many  plants  to  grow,  and  also  how 
they  will  grow  them.  There  may  be  some  who  have 
never  grown  it  except  in  pots,  but  it  is  for  hanging 
baskets  and  drooping  over  shelves  that  I  wish  to 
recommend  it.  If  growers  will  but  look  at  the 
manner  of  growth  of  the  long  slender  shoots  it 
will  be  readily  seen  that  it  would  be  equally  as 
beautiful  in  either  of  these  positions  as  grown  in 
the  ordinary  way.     In  winter  we  have  not  many 


brightly-coloured  plants  suited  for  draping  pur- 
poses, yet  nothing  can  be  more  lovely  for  such 
work  than  a  well-grown  plant  of  this  Begonia.  In 
America  this  Begonia  is  largely  grown  for  this 
purpose  and  for  hanging  baskets,  and  there  it  has 
a  ready  sale  for  house  decoration.  Last  autumn 
I  saw  a  number  of  plants  in  Messrs.  Sutton's 
nursery  at  Reading  hanging  over  the  shelf,  and 
a  prettier  sight  could  hardly  be  wished  for.  The 
Turnford  Hall  variety  is  a  most  promising  white 
with  a  pink  tint. — J.  Crook. 

Mp.  Nelson,  for  some  years  with  the 
Marquis  of  Lansdowne  at  Bowood,  and  latterly  at 
the  Marquis's  Highland  estate,  left  TuUyallan 
some  time  ago  when  it  passed  by  sale  from  the 
Lansdowne  family.  I  am  pleased  to  hear  he  has 
quite  recently  taken  over  the  charge  of  Lord 
Inverclyde's  beautiful  gardens  at  Castle  Wemyss, 
near  Greenock.  Both  Lord  and  Lady  Inverclyde 
are  said  to  be  devoted  to  gardening  and  estate 
improvements  generally. — R.  P.  B. 

A  good  wintep  Cueumbep.— I  have 

found  Cucumber  All  the  Year  Round  far  in 
advance  of  any  other  for  winter  use.  Although 
its  fruits  are  not  of  so  good  an  appearance  as  other 
well-known  kinds,  it  makes  good  this  deficiency  by 
its  robust  constitution  and  free-cropping  qualities, 
a  fact  which  should  be  considered  when  Cucumbers 
have  to  be  supplied  during  the  winter  months.  A 
number  of  plants  that  were  planted  the  first  week 
in  October  fruited  well  at  Christmas,  and  we  have 
been  regularly  cutting  fruits  from  them  ever  since. 
With  the  lengthening  days  and  more  sunshine  the 
plants  are  growing  freely,  and  there  will  be  no 
difficulty  in  keeping  up  a  constant  supply  until 
spring-sown  plants  are  in  bearing.  Owing  to  this 
Cucumber  being  so  free  one  may  be  tempted  to 
overcrop  in  its  early  stages  of  growth,  but  bearing 
in  mind  that  the  weather  in  January  and  February 
is  often  very  adverse  to  the  culture  of  plants  under 
glass,  discretion  should  be  exercised  in  thinning 
the  fruits  so  as  to  leave  no  more  than  are  absolutely 
required. — E.  Harriss. 

Beg^onla  copallina.— This  is  one  of  the 
most  handsome  of  the  shrubby  Begonias,  and 
perhaps  the  most  seldom  seen.  This  is  to  be 
deplored,  as  it  makes  a  splendid  plant  for  growing 
against  a  pillar  or  over  the  roof  of  a  corridor, 
where  its  true  character  is  seen  to  advantage.  If 
planted  out  in  good  rich  soil  the  shoots  will  reach 
a  length  of  10  feet  or  12  feet.  It  produces  large 
pendent  racemes  of  bright  red  flowers,  which  are 
conspicuously  attractive  as  hanging  from  the  roof. 
This  Begonia  may  also  be  grown  successfully  in 
pots,  and  one  advantage  in  this  respect  is  that 
when  in  flower  it  may  be  given  prominence  in  the 
home.  The  flowering  season  is  a  long  one,  often 
lasting  through  late  winter  and  spring. — E. 
Hakriss. 

Ppimula  cashmepiana  puppupea. 

— In  the  somewhat  holding  soil  of  Messrs.  Dobbie 
and  Co.'s  nursery  at  mild  and  moist  Rothesay 
could  be  seen  during  the  third  week  in  March 
large  flowering  clumps  of  this  fine  variety,  which 
had  thrown  up  bold  and  striking  trusses  of  large 
deep-coloured  flowers.  It  was  perfectly  at  home, 
braving  the  winter  without  protection,  and 
apparently  revelling  in  the  moisture  so  prevalent 
in  this  district  of  Scotland.  Looking  upon  these 
clumps  one  could  realise  what  a  superb  early 
spring-flowering  hardy  plant  this  is  when  growing 
amid  conditions  which  suit  it.  It  is  also  an  excel- 
lent subject  for  pot  culture. — R.  D. 

Ppesentation  to  a  g-apdenep.— On 
the  recent  occasion  of  Mr.  James  Mcllwrick 
retiring  from  the  position  of  head  gardener  to 
Mr.  V.  B.  and  Lady  Emily  Van  de  Weyer,  New 
Lodge,  Windsor  Forest,  an  illuminated  address, 
together  with  a  purse  of  £25,  was  presented  to 
him,  which  had  been  subscribed  for  by  gardeners 
in  the  district  and  others.  The  presentation  took 
place  at  a  complimentary  dinner  held  at  Windsor, 
at  which  Mr.  Harry  Turner,  of  the  Royal 
Nurseries,  Slough,  took  the  chair.  The  address 
set  forth  the  regret  with  which  the  subscribers 
had  heard  that  Mr.  Mcllwrick  was  leaving  New 
Lodge  after  a  faithful  service  as  head  gardener 
for  twenty-eight  years,  and  bore  testimony  to  the 
service    he    bad    rendered    to     horticulture    by 


encouraging  rural  district  shows,  by  acting  as 
judge,  and  in  other  ways.  A  very  agreeable 
evening  was  spent  by  those  taking  part  in  the 
function. 

Wintep  Pears.  —  Mr.  Burrell's  remarks 
(page  206)  on  these  fruits,  as  affected  by  different 
soils  and  situations,  are  interesting,  but  I  think  he 
omits  one  important  point,  and  that  is  culture.  My 
Pear  trees  have  had  a  large  quantity  of  wood  ashes 
and  lime  rubble  given  them  the  last  year  or  two, 
and  I  think  these  had  a  very  good  effect  as  regards 
flavour.  Manure  alone  is  not  sufficient,  this  will 
increase  size,  but  also  tends,  unless  carefully 
regulated,  to  coarseness  in  the  fruit.  I  had  a 
marked  example  of  this  in  some  fruit  of  Duchesse 
d'Angouleme.  In  the  season  of  1900  the  tree  bore 
a  heavy  crop,  and  the  flavour  was  as  good  as 
French  Duchess  Pears,  but  in  1901  the  tree  carried 
only  six  fruits ;  these  were  very  large  but  worthless, 
they  never  ripened  properly,  remaining  hard  and 
ultimately  went  rotten.  Gansel's  Bergamot  was 
just  the  same  in  1901,  very  few  fruits,  and  these 
never  ripened  properly  ;  the  summers  of  1900  and 
1901  were  very  much  alike  here,  both  very  dry,  so 
that  could  not  be  the  explanation.  Glou  Morceau 
is  one  of  my  favourites.  My  only  complaint  about 
it  is  that  it  goes  rotten  if  kept,  whilst  Beurre 
Bachelier  with  us  is  equal  to  it,  very  similar  in 
flavour,  and  lasts  about  a  month  longer,  until  the 
end  of  January.  The  aspect  of  the  tree  also  affects 
the  flavour.  Easter  Beurre  from  a  pyramid  was 
first-rate,  but  from  a  south  wall  the  fruit  was 
"mealy,"  and  much  inferior  to  the  smaller  fruit 
from  the  pyramid.  My  Pears  are  kept  in  a  fruit 
room  made  of  wood  and  thatched  with  Heather. — 
B.  Addy,  Pembury  Court,  Kent. 

Gpafted  Tpee  Paeonies.— While  travel- 
ling in  the  United  States  I  occasionally  noticed  a 
double  and  single  flower  on  Tree  P;eony  bushes, 
and  on  examination  found  the  single  purple 
blossom  came  from  the  stock  on  which  the  double 
form  had  been  grafted.  I  also  saw  that  the  fight 
between  the  stock  and  the  graft  would  terminate 
in  favour  of  the  stock  if  left  alone,  and  owing  to 
an  American  nurseryman  asking  me  to  enquire 
why  no  large  plants  of  Tree  Pajonies  could  now  be 
had  in  .Japan  as  in  former  times,  my  attention  was 
specially  directed  to  the  Tree  Pajony.  I  was  told 
that  owing  to  the  great  demand  growers  had 
decided  to  limit  the  supply  of  plants  to  not  more 
than  three  buds  to  a  plant,  and  they  advised,  for 
the  first  season,  to  reduce  the  buds  to  one,  and 
to  secure  one  good  flower  instead  of  three  middling 
blossoms.  I  then  enquired  regarding  the  stock 
used  for  grafting,  and  was  told  it  was  the  single 
purple-flowered  variety  I  had  seen  in  the  United 
States.  Since  then,  when  I  have  seen  a  Japanese- 
made  Tree  Pseony  I  have  advised  the  owner  to 
watch  the  stock,  and  remove  all  suckers  and  side 
shoots  in  the  interest  of  the  graft.  While  in 
Australia  I  met  two  German  botanists  travelling 
at  the  expense  of  their  Government  to  study  the 
botany,  more  especially  of  Australasia,  but  not 
exclusively,  as  they  had  spent  some  time  in  South 
Africa.  In  the  course  of  a  varied  conversation 
Pieonies  were  referred  to,  and  I  expressed  a 
surprise  at  the  wild  form  of  the  Tree  Pivony  being 
unknown  in  Europe,  when  one  of  the  gentlemen 
informed  me  that  quite  recently  a  French  priest 
had  settled  the  question.  I  am  at  present  in 
correspondence  with  friends  in  Japan  to  know  if 
the  stock  used  for  grafting  is  Japanese  or  Chinese. 
— Peter  Barr,  V.M.H.,  Cape  Town. 

Sweet-seented  gpeenhouse  Rho- 
dodendpons. — There  is  no  question  that  many 
plants  owe  a  good  deal  of  their  popularity  to  the 
delicious  fragrance  of  their  flowers,  hence  the 
varieties  of  Rhododendrons  that  are  characterised 
by  a  pleasing  perfume  in  addition  to  their  showy 
flowers,  are,  when  at  their  best,  sure  to  gain  many 
admirers.  The  numerous  members  of  the  tube- 
flowered  or  Japanese  race  are  almost  scentless,  and 
most  of  the  sweet-scented  greenhouse  varieties 
owe  that  desirable  feature  to  the  crossing  and 
intercrossing  with  Rhododendron  Edgworthi,  a 
native  of  the  Himalayas,  fron\  where  it  was  intro- 
duced in  1851.  This  species  is  characterised  by  a 
somewhat  straggling  habit  of  growth,  and  the 
dense  woolly  tomentum  with  which  the  undersides 


2.^2 


mt  GA&T>m. 


[April  10,  1902. 


of  the  leaves  and  the  young  shoots  are  covered. 
The  flowers  are  large  and  pure  white,  except  for  a 
blotch  of  lemon  at  the  base  of  the  upper  segments, 
while  they  are  powerfully  yet  deliciously  scented. 
One  of  the  earliest  hybrids  of  R.  Edgeworthi  was 
Princess  Alice,  raised  about  forty  years  ago  between 
the  above  species  and  the  small  growing  R.  ciliatum. 
The  best  of  these  scented  varieties  of  Rhododen- 
drons    are :      Princess     Alice,     fragrantissimum, 
Countess   of   Derby,  Mrs.  James  Shawe,  Duchess 
of    Sutherland,   Lady   Skelmersdale,    Lady   Alice 
Fitzwilliam,  and  lesterianum.     In  all  of  these  the 
blossoms  are  white,  tinged  in  some  cases  with  pink. 
This  is  more  pronounced  in  the  bud  state  than  it 
is  after  expansion.      The  Rhododendrons   of  this 
section   need    only   protection   from    frost   during 
the  winter,    so   they  may   be   stood  out  of  doors 
throughout    the    summer ;   indeed,   the    buds    set 
better  in  the  open  air  than  under  glass,  and  also 
are  not  so  liable  to  be  attacked  by  thrips.— H.  P. 

CyrtanthUS  Maeowani.— In  an  ordi- 
nary greenhouse  a  group  of  this  Cyrtanthus  has 
for  the  last  two  months  been  a  pleasing  feature, 
and  many  of  the  bulbs  are  now  pushing  up 
secondary  spikes.  The  genus  Cyrtanthus  is  re- 
markable for  the  great  dissimilarity  that  exists 
among  its  different  species,  thus  Cyrtanthus 
obliquus  forms  a  large  bulb,  which  produces  a 
sturdy  spike  2  feet  high  or  more,  terminated  by  an 
umbel  of  drooping  Howers,  yellow,  red,  and  green 
in  colour,  about  3  inches  long,  and  of  a  waxy 
nature.  Cyrtanthus  sanguineus,  known  also  as 
Gastronema  sanguinea,  is  more  in  the  way  of  a 
miniature  Vallota,  while  there  is  a  small-growing 
group  characterised  by  bulbs  not  much  larger  than 
Snowdrops,  grassy  leaves,  and  slender  curved 
flowers.  To  this  last-named  section  C.  Maeowani 
belongs.  From  a  bulb  of  the  size  just  mentioned 
it  pushes  up  a  spike  from  1-2  inches  to  18  inches 
high,  which  is  terminated  by  a  cluster  of  flowers 
rarely  exceeding  nine  in  number.  They  are  of 
tubular  shape,  somewhat  curved,  about  U  inches 
long,  and  half  an  inch  across  the  expanded  mouth, 
in  colour  light  scarlet,  which  pales  somewhat  after 
expansion.  The  dark  green  leaves  are  about 
1  foot  long,  and  from  a  quarter  to  one-third  of  an 
inch  in  width.  There  are  several  forms  with 
coloured  blooms,  but  with  me  at  least  C.  Maeowani 
is  the  best.  Two  suitable  companions  for  it  are 
C.  Mackenii,  pure  white ;  and  C.  lutescens,  yellow. 
From  their  slender  nature  these  Cyrtanthi  are 
seen  to  the  best  advantage  when  grouped  in  pots 
or  deep  pans,  but  if  grown  singly  pots  4  inches  in 
diameter  are  sufficient.  They  quickly  increase  by 
division,  and  if  the  seeds  aie  sown  as  soon  as  ripe 
they  flower  in  about  eighteen  months  from  the 
time  of  sowing.  The  cultural  requirements  of 
these  plants  are  but  simple,  for  they  need  much 
the  same  treatment  as  a  Pelargonium.  Potting  or 
dividing  should  be  carried  out  (unless  the  plants 
are  bearing  seed-pods)  as  soon  as  the  flowers  are 
past,  a  suitable  compost  being  two-thirds  loam  to 
one-third  well-decayed  manure  and  leaf-mould, 
with  a  sprinkling  of  sand.  They  must  not  be 
dried  off  at  any  time,  though  in  winter  very  little 
water  will  be  required.  The  flowering  season  is 
not  limited  to  the  early  months  of  the  year,  for 
the  plants  bloom  more  or  less  throughout  the 
summer. — T. 


open  they  emit  a  very  delicious  aromatic  perfume. 
Another  plant  that  has  benefited  by  the  past  hot 
summer  is 

BeNTHAMIA  rRAGIFERA, 
not   one   specimen   having   been  damaged,  a  rare 
thing    after   a   spell   of    hard    frost.       But    more 
interesting  still  on  one  bush  is  quite  a  number  of 
flower-buds,  some   of  which,  unfortunately,  have 
been  killed,  but  others  are  perfect,  and  one  may 
hope  to  see  them  develop  into  bloom.     The 
White  Variety  of  Scii.la  pr.'ecox 
is    rather    disappointing.     The    plants    seem    in- 
capable of  gathering  vigour,  and  the  stems  fail  to 
lengthen  out  as  is  the  manner  of  the  type. 

Another  Scilla  at  present  in  flower  is  even  more 
disappointing  ;  it  professed  to  be  bifolia  rosea  and 
is  a  mere  dirty  lilac.  Tulipa  kaufmanniana  is,  I 
am  afraid,  one  of  those  things  that  do  not  take 
well  to  a  northern  habitat.  The  flowers  this  year 
have  dwindled  away  to  about  half  the  size  they 
ought  to  be,  and  though  they  were  open  equally 
early  they  lack  size.  One  of  the  bravest  of 
spring  flowers  is  the  old 

BPLBOCODirM    VERNUM, 

called  by  Parkinson  a  Colchicuni.  Some  of  the 
expanding  buds,  as  in  his  day,  appear  quite  white, 
and  confirm  the  exactitude  of  that  old  gardener. 
Though  the  flowers  are  but  little  damaged  by 
frost  the  plants  do  not  seem  to  thrive  so  far  north. 
The  cheapness  of  the  bulbs,  however,  permits 
those  who  like  a  good  thing  to  purchase  a  few 
annually.     Are  there  any 

Dog's-tooth  Violets 
finer  than  the  grandiflorum  type  of  white  and 
purple  ?  I  think  not.  There  is  now  a  variety  of 
kinds  to  choose  from,  but  the  shades  of  colour 
represented  are  so  generally  poor  that  one  turns 
with  pleasure  to  the  older  forms.  Of  other  Ery- 
throniums  than  Dens-canis  there  are  several,  but 
all  these  lack  the  graceful  beauty  of  the  old  sorts. 
Not  the  least  good  quality  of  the  Dog's-tooth 
Violet  is  the  happy  way  it  increases  when  left 
alone.  Nor  does  it  seem  to  retain  any  preposses- 
sion for  a  particular  soil  or  situation. 

R.  B. 


NOTES    FROM    SCOTLAND. 

There  has  been  not  a  little  damage  to  vegetation 
as  the  result  of  the  wintry  weather  in  February. 
Nurserymen  have  suffered  to  some  extent  where 
stock  was  exposed,  and  market  gardeners  have  lost 
heavily  in  Wallflowers,  Violets,  and  green  crops. 
Gardeners,  too,  have  their  losses  to  regret,  though 
thanks  to  the  abnormally  hot  and  dry  summer  of 
last  year  the  less  hardy  plants  have  come  through 
the  ordeal  comparatively  well.  For  instance.  Iris 
stylosa  has  been  yielding  a  supply  of  flowers  since 
the  last  days  of  January,  and  on  April  1  I  counted 
ten  flowers  on  one  plant.  In  England  I  dare  say 
there  is  nothing  remarkable  in  that,  but  when  one 
has  to  wait  many  years  for  its  flowering  one  feels 
the  fact  to  be  worth  recording.  Unfortunately, 
once  expanded,  the  flowers  soon  decay,  but  while 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


(Con 

w 


THE    STRAWBERRY. 

(  Continued  from  jxnje  3X. ) 

HEN  the  ground  to  receive  the 
plants  is  quite  ready  they  may  be 
taken  up  (if  not  in  pots),  placed  in 
a  wheelbarrow,  and  covered  over 
with  a  mat  until  planted.  Make 
quite  sure  that  the  mass  of  soil 
and  roots  is  not  in  the  least  dry  by  giving  each 
plant  a  good  watering  before  planting  takes  place. 
There  is  nothing  more  detrimental  to  the  success 
of  a  plant  than  to  put  it  in  the  ground  when  its 
roots  are  in  want  of  water.  It  is  probable  they 
will  remain  in  that  condition  for  some  days,  and 
by  then  it  is  more  than  likely  that  the  plant  will 
have  sufl'ered  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be  worthless. 
Water  applied  after  planting  will  almost  certainly 
make  its  way  around  the  sides  of  the  mass  of  roots 
and  soil  if  this  is  dry  ;  in  fact,  it  would  be  almost 
impossible  for  it  to  enter  the  dry  soil — it  would 
trickle  away  into  the  less  resistible  medium  around. 
If,  however,  the  mass  of  soil  and  roots  of  the  young 
plant  is  equally  as  moist  as  that  of  the  surrounding 
soil  any  water  given  would  percolate  as  freely 
through  the  one  as  through  the  other,  and  the  plant 
would  have  a  proper  start  in  its  new  position. 

The  best  tool  with  which  to  plant  the  Strawberry 
is  a  trowel ;  one  can  make  a  hole  quite  large  enough 
with  this  implement,  and  the  work  can  at  the  same 
time  be  done  expeditiously.  In  planting  it  is 
essential  to  insert  the  plant  at  such  a  depth  that 
all  the  roots  are  well  covered  (say,  with  an  inch  of 
soil),  but  the  crown,  that  is  the  point  from  where 
the  young  leaves  proceed,  is  left  entirely  uncovered. 
On  no  account  must  the  plant  be  placed  so  high  as 
not  to  be  firm  when  the  work  is  completed.     This 


error  may  almost  be  said  to  be  worse  than  that  of 
planting  too  deeply.  The  danger  in  having  the 
crown  so  low  as  to  be  covered  with  soil  is  in  the 
liability  of  this  to  decay.  When  rain  falls  the  soil 
in  the  crown  would,  of  course,  become  moist,  and 
this  could  hardlj'  fail  to  have  the  effect  of  causing 
the  young  leaves  to  decay.  The  hole  must  be  made 
large  enough  to  allow  of  the  roots  being  fully 
spread  out. 

To  ensure  the  planting  being  done  in  a  workman- 
like manner  a  line  should  be  drawn  across  the 
ground  and  the  plants  put  in  close  by.  Make  the 
hole  with  the  trowel  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  so 
that  the  roots  may  spread  on  either  side  and  the 
plant  itself  be  close  to  the  line.  It  is  important  to 
afterwards  make  the  plant  firm  by  pressing  the 
soil  around  it  with  the  feet,  taking  care  not  to 
touch  the  plant.  Firm  planting  has  much  to  do 
with  the  ultimate  successful  growth  of  the  Straw- 
berry. 

Treatment  After  Planting. 

If  the  planter  has  observed  the  all-important 
item  of  well  watering  the  young  plants  before  they 
are  placed  in  their  permanent  quarters,  it  will  not 
be  necessary  to  water  them  again  for  some  days. 
Should  the  weather,  however,  be  hot  and  dry  one 
ought  to  see  that  they  do  not  in  the  least  suffer 
from  the  want  of  water,  for  if  this  happens  at  such 
a  critical  time  their  prospects  of  becoming  quickly 
established  in  the  new  and  permanent  quarters 
may  be  seriously  affected.  An  excellent  plan,  and 
one  followed  by  all  good  Strawberry  growers, 
is  to  place  a  mulch  of  well-decayed  manure  around 
the  plants  and  between  the  rows.  This  will  prove 
invaluable  to  the  former,  for  if  the  autumn  is  at  all 
hot  and  dry  the  mulch  will  greatly  assist  the  young 
plants  to  make  roots  bj-  keeping  the  ground  moist 
and  cool.  The  sun  shining  upon  the  bare  ground 
causes  it  to  become  hard  and  eventuallj-  to  crack  ; 
through  the  cracks  much  moisture  naturally 
escapes  to  the  detriment  of  the  roots  and  the  future 
welfare  of  the  plants.  The  value  of  a  good  mulch 
is  not  only  that  it  protects  the  roots,  as  above 
described,  but  its  nianurial  properties  are  carried 
by  the  rain  down  to  the  roots,  and  prove  of  great 
benefit  to  them  in  this  manner  also. 

The  advent  of  spring  will  bring  in  its  train  much 
work,  whose  performance  is  essential  to  the  best 
culture  of  the  Strawberry.  In  the  first  place,  weeds 
will  make  their  appearance,  and  unless  checked 
they  will  eventually,  partially  if  not  wholly,  smother 
the  plants.  Weeds  should  never,  if  it  can  possibly 
be  avoided,  be  allowed  to  run  to  seed ;  the  labour  of 
eradicating  them  is,  should  this  happen,  greatly 
increased.  On  the  first  signs  of  their  appearance 
make  good  use  of  the  Dutch  hoe,  and  leaving  the 
weeds  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  one  or  two 
bright  days  will  then  effectually  dispose  of  them. 
By  attending  thoroughly  to  the  hoeing  of  weeds 
quite  early  in  the  spring,  and  thereby  preventing 
their  producing  seeds  (which  verj'  quickly  ger- 
minate and  produce  another  lot  of  weeds),  the 
necessity  for  labour  later  in  the  season  and  the 
annoyance  that  would  be  caused  are  greatly  reduced. 

Not  later  than  the  month  of  May  a  covering  of 
clean  straw  should  be  placed  around  the  plants  and 
between  the  rows.  This  is  for  the  purpose  of 
keeping  the  fruits  clean  when  ripe  and  also  to 
prevent  their  being  damaged.  Unless  this  precau- 
tion is  taken  the  crop  of  fruits  may  be  almost 
completely  spoiled  during  stormy  weather.  Heavy 
rain  beating  down  on  the  soil  causes  this  to  splash 
and  disfigure  the  Strawberry  fruits,  and  often  so 
badly  as  to  render  them  practically  worthless,  for 
it  is  impossible  to  afterwards  remove  the  marks  and 
splashes  without  damaging  the  fruits.  They  are 
as  everyone  knows  extremely  delicate  and  tender. 
To  a  certain  extent  this  covering  of  straw  serves  to 
protect  the  flowers  from  late  frosts  ;  when  there  are 
signs  of  a  sharp  frost  being  probable  the  straw 
should  be  loosely  shaken  over  the  flowers  before 
night ;  this  simple  precaution  may  perhaps  save 
the  crop  of  fruit.  A.  P.  H. 

(  To  be  continued.  J 


NEW    VINE    BOKDERS. 
An    amateur     gardener,     who     writes    that     he 
is   "a    close  reader    of    The    Garden   and    has 


April  19,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


253 


derived  much  benefit  therefrom,"  has  asked  in 
a  private  letter  if  I  inadvertently  omitted  to 
include  manures  in  the  compost  that  was  recently 
(see  page  112)  recommended  as  suitable  for  the 
Grape  Vine,  or  if  they  were  intentionally  left 
out.  I  have  replied  to  my  correspondent,  but 
since  doing  so  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  other 
readers  of  "Gardening  of  the  Week"  may  have 
doubted  the  soundness  of  my  advice,  and  that 
perhaps  space  will  not  be  altogether  sacrificed  if 
my  notes  were  supplemented.  In  the  first  place,  it 
may  be  remarked  that  all  the  Vine  borders  here 
are  made  in  the  manner  indicated,  with  the  slight 
difference  that,  owing  to  there  being  a  deficiency 
of  old  mortar  when  they  were  made,  some  brick 
rubble  was  added  to  ensure  adequate  porosity.  The 
greater  number  of  the  borders  were  formed 
twenty-three  years  ago,  when  we  replanted  five 
vineries,  in  order  to  eradicate  the  phylloxera, 
which,  by  the  way,  we  were  successful  in  accom- 
plishing, and  I  may  I  think  say,  without  being 
charged  with  self-exaltation,  that  the  Vines  them- 
selves have  amply  given,  and  are  still  giving, 
evidence  of  the  soundness  of  the  practice  that  was 
recommended.      Let  it   be  understood,  however, 


rich  enough  for  young  Vines  until  their  roots  have 
well  permeated  them,  and,  being  perfectly  porous, 
readily  admit  air  to  penetrate  them,  which  is  a 
most  important  factor  to  advance  healthy  root 
growth,  as  well  as  to  preserve  for  a  lengthened  time 
the  borders  in  a  sweet  state.  Moreover,  borders 
thus  formed  are  in  every  way  suitable  receptacles 
for  artificial  fertilisers,  liquid  manure,  &c. ,  which 
can  be  supplied  to  them  when  their  natural 
manurial  elements  are  becoming  plainly  ex- 
hausted, a  state  of  things  that  can  be  readily 
observed  from  the  Vine's  symptoms  by  any  intelli- 
gent cultivator.  Thoughtful  growers  of  fruit  feed 
their  subjects  when,  and  not  before,  they  require 
assistance,  and  it  is  needless  to  remark  that  they 
are  usually  the  most  successful  gardener.s. 
Monmouth.  T.  Coomber. 


A    NOTE    ON    STREPTOCAR- 
PUSES. 

I  SEND  you  a  photograph  of  hybrid  Strepto- 
carpuses  (Veitch's  strain)  showing  the  plants 
in  3-inch  pots.    The  varieties  include  flowers 


HYBRID  STREPTOCABPCSES  IN  NEW  ZEALAND.     (From  a  photograph  sent  from  Christchurch,  X.X.) 


that  sound  calcareous  loam  from  the  surface  of  an 
old  pasture,  stacked  long  enough  for  its  herbage  to 
decay,  was  the  kind  of  soil  used.  Light,  hungry 
soils,  which  are  invariably,  as  far  as  possible, 
shunned  when  Vine  borders  are  made  would,  of 
course,  be  benefited  by  being  discreetly  incor- 
porated with  coarse  bone-meal,  crushed  bones,  or 
some  other  suitable  long-lasting  fertiliser. 

A  most  essential  attribute  to  a  Vine  border  is  its 
constitution  of  a  perfect-rooting  medium,  and  its 
embodiment  of  sufficient  nutriment  to  ensure  satis- 
factory growth.  Good  fruit  will  follow,  but  over 
luxuriance,  even  in  the  Grape  Vine,  be  it  remem- 
bered, is  by  no  means  satisfactory,  and  in  using, 
especially  for  young  Vines,  excessively  rich  compost 
there  is  the  risk  of  the  object  in  view  being  defeated 
— viz.,  the  production  of  thoroughly  matured 
canes,  possessed  of  prominent  buds,  by  causing  the 
growth  of  gross,  sappy  wood  furnished  with  flat 
buds,  some  of  which  absolutely  refuse  to  develop 
into  growths.  Who  has  not  seen  cases  of  this 
kind,  and  their  consequent  results — viz.,  rods 
irregularly  studded  with  spurs,  accompanied  not 
infrequently  with  gross,  fasciated  laterals  ?  Borders 
founded  on  the  compost  recommended,  upon  the 
piecemeal  principle,   and  efficiently  drained,  are 


of  white,  blue,  pink,  and  lavender  shades,  but 
there-are  many  other  colours.  The  plants  are 
fourteen  months  old.  I  have  over  one  hundred 
now  in  bloom,  and  remembering  the  Strepto- 
carpuses  of  only  a  few  years  ago  one  cannot 
but  be  grateful  to  Kew  and  to  Mr.  Watson,  who 
began  the  work  of  intercrossing  the  three  or 
four  varieties  then  known  to  gardeners.  Our 
thanks  are  also  due  to  Mr.  Veitch  and  others 
for  the  further  improvement  made  in  this 
charming  plant.  .John  Button. 

Atulover  Street,  Christchurch,  N.Z. 


KEW^    NOTES. 

In  the  Month  or  April. 
Snowdrops  and  Crocuses  have  gone  by,  Scillas 
and  Chionodoxas  are  passing  quickly  away,  and 
now  the  reign  of  the  Daffodil  at  Kew  has  begun. 
As  each  phase  of  spring  glides  by  we  are  inclined 
to  think  that  nothing  can  be  lovelier  than  the 
present  one,  but  the  artists  find  out  which  is  the 
most  pictorial  and  speedily  set  up  their  easels.  It 
speaks  volumes    for  the   national  importance  of 


Kew,  outside  and  beyond  its  legitimate  functions, 
that  anyone  from  any  part  of  the  kingdom  having 
a  distinct  object  in  view,  whether  of  study  or  art, 
may  without  difficulty  obtain  earlj'  private  admis- 
sion in  furtherance  of  his  purpose  ;  while  the 
general  public — to  whom  the  gates  are  open  at  a 
later  hour — can  daily  go  where  they  will  and 
enjoy,  with  scarcely  a  restriction,  the  full  benefit 
of  the  wonderful  beauty  of  the  grounds,  which  is 
natural  as  well  as  artificial.  It  is  said  that 
80,000  visitors  thronged  the  gardens  on  Easter 
Monday,  and  it  is  good  to  think  that  so  many 
dwellers  in  thickly  populated  districts  were  able 
and  willing  to  take  advantage  of  so  great  a 
privilege. 

The  rock  garden  is  now  full  of  interest,  and 
attracts,  amongst  other  people  less  in  earnest,  a 
good  many  ..  visitors .  with  notebook  in  hand. 
Daffodils,  of  many  types  here,  as  elsewhere,  are 
very  much  to  the  fore— typical  species,  perhaps, 
rather  than  garden  varieties.  A  mass  of  white 
N.  cernuus  is  very  fine,  to  which  the  tender  little 
Portuguese  N.  cjclamineus,  with  its  bright  yellow 
reflexed  flowers,  is  in  strong  contrast,  but  both  are 
happy  in  their  allotted  positions.  There  is,  perhaps, 
as  yet  no  great  show  of  colour  here,  for  that 
we  must  go  to  the  alpine  house,  which  is  now 
at  its  best.  Amongst  the  flfty  or  more  species 
of  plants  now  in  flower  out  of  doors  it  is 
difficult  to  make  a  selection,  though  a  few  of 
the  best  must  be  mentioned.  One  of  these 
is,  undoubtedly,  Fritillaria  aurea,  a  dwarf 
Ciliciaii  species  by  no  means  new,  but  exceed- 
ingly bright  and  attractive  with  its  waxy 
j'ellow  flowers.  It  is  apparently  robust 
enough  for  any  average  garden,  for  it  may  be 
seen  as  well  in  the  long  bulb  border,  every 
stem  bearing  its  large  solitary  nodding  hell, 
daintily  freckled  with  brown.  When  grown 
in  a  mass  these  are  very  telling. 

Anemones  are  coming  forward  well.  A. 
blanda  has  been  in  bloom  for  some  time,  and 
A.  apennina  and  its  white  variety  are  fully 
open.  Colonies  of  these  are  quite  at  home  in 
the  grass  amongst  the  Daffodils.  Particularly 
happy  in  effect  are  some  groups  of  Wood 
Anemone  which  have  ensconced  themselves 
amongst  the  stones.  A  fine  European  form 
of  our  English  Pasque-flower  (A.  Pulsatilla)  is 
well  set  with  its  beautiful  silky  buds,  with 
here  and  there  an  open  puiple  flower,  showing 
its  boss  of  yellow  stamens  ;  in  a  day  or  two 
these  will  be  in  perfection.  This  species  has 
been  planted  in  quantity  in  various  positions, 
and  arrests  the  steps  of  many  a  passer-by  by 
its  silvery  sheen.  A  near  ally,  A.  Halleri,  con- 
sidered by  many  to  be  a  still  finer  species,  is 
beginning  to  push  up  its  shaggy  buds  which 
appear  before  the  leaves,  but  is  scarcely  as  yet 
more  than  an  inch  above  ground  in  the  bay 
which  it  occupies  in  the  rock  garden.  These 
charming  mountain  Wind-flowers  are  not  diffi- 
cult to  cultivate,  and  should  be  grown  in 
quantity  to  be  thoroughly  appreciated.  Besides  the 
large  blue  Austrian  A.  angulosa,  examples  of  every 
known  form  of  A.  Hepaticaareto  be  found  at  Kew, 
and  the  range  of  colour  amongst  them  would  astonish 
those  who  only  know  the  old-fashioned  varieties. 
A  very  pure  white  single  Hepatica  is  la,rgely 
grown,  as  well  as  many  others,  giving  a  series  of 
deep  and  pale  shades  of  pink,  blue,  and  mauve. 
There  is  also  a  good  plantation  of  the  somewhat 
rare  double  blue.  It  is  said,  whether  truly  or  not, 
that  no  double  white  form  is  now  in  cultivation, 
though  formerly  it  was  well  known  in  English 
gardens.  Another  very  interesting  group  is  a 
colony  of  Dog-tooth  Violet  (Erythronium  Dens- 
canis),  a  genus  which  has  evidently  been  taken  in 
hand  by  Continental  hybridists,  while  hard  by  the 
typical  European  species  invites  comparison.  There 
is  no  doubt  that  these  garden  hybrids,  both  in 
size  and  substance  of  flower  and  leafage,  are 
handsomer  than  the  type,  as  well  as  an  improve- 
ment on  the  varieties  long  since  distinguished  as 
"grandiflorum."  It  is  rather  difficult,  however, 
even  after  somewhat  minute  study  and  comparison, 
to  detect  any  very  distinctive  characteristics 
between  them,  but  taken  as  a  whole  it  is  a 
remarkably  fine  strain. 


'254 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[April  19,  1902. 


ROSE    WILLIAM    ALLEN    RICHARDSON    AT    ROSEBANK,    MR.    MAWLEY  S   RESIDENCE. 


Several  species  of  Primrose  are  beginning  to 
iiower.  P.  denticulata,  grown  in  good-sized  groups, 
is  precious  at  this  season,  as  it  stands  variations 
of  weather  fairly  well.  Two  pretty  alpine  species 
from  Tyrol — Primula  clusiana  and  P.  discolor — 
both  purple  flowered,  though  quite  distinct  from 
each  other,  are  now  in  bloom.  P.  marginata, 
with  mealj'-edged  leaves  and  delicate  lilac  flowers, 
nestles  in  comfortably  amongst  the  stones,  while 
P.  rosea  is  opening  its  bright  pink  buds  in  a  moist 
corner  where  the  water  drips  into  a  narrow  stone 
channel. 

A  little  North  American  perennial,  Synthyris 
reniformis,  about  6  inches  high,  is  worth  growing 
in  a  fair-sized  clump  for  its  blue  spikes  at 
this  early  season,  while  its  leathery  heart-shaped 
leaves,  sharply  toothed  at  the  edges,  are  distinct 
and  pretty.  Two  Saxifrages  are  specially  worth 
noting.  S.  apioulata  is  just  now  at  its  best, 
looking  very  bright  with  its  pale  sulphur-coloured 
heads  of  flower,  and  has  the  merit  of  lasting  for 
some  time  in  good  condition,  better,  for  example, 
than  S.  sancta,  which,  after  a  long  probation  in 
the  bud  state,  has  passed  over  its  flowering  season 
with  a  hop,  skip,  and  a  jump.  The  other  good 
Saxifrage  is  S.  marginata,  an  Italian  species  with 
large  white  flowers,  somewhat  resembling  S. 
burseriana  in  general  habit,  and  belonging  to  the 
same  section.  Another  charming  little  Saxifrage 
which  may  be  added  is  S.  rocheliana  with  small 
corymbs  of  white  flowers  on  stems  .3  inches  or 
4  inches  high  rising  out  of  tufts  of  encrusted 
leaves. 

Though  not  to  be  found  in  the  rock  garden,  a 
word  must  be  said  in  praise  of  the  lovely  Tulipa 
kaufmanniana.  A  large  planting  of  it  has  been 
in  bloom  for  a  week  or  more,  and  whether  in  its 
early  bud  stage  with  sepals  carmine  tinted,  or 
with  wide  open  flowers  of  creamy  yellow  with  the 
heavy  blotch  of  deep  gold  at  the  base  of  the  petals, 
it  should  be  noted  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
early  spring  bulbs. 

In  other  parts  of  the  gardens  large  beds  of 
Forsythia  suspensa  are  making  a  grand  display, 
and  may  fairly  claim  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable 
of  early-flowering  shrubs,  equally  useful  as  a 
climber  or  in  bush  form.  The  deciduous  Magnolias 
(M.  conspicua  and  M.  soulangeana)  are  also  just 
ready  to  open  their  well-developed  buds  ;  some 
large  trees  planted  in  the  Azalea  garden  being  now 


quite  conspicuous  from  a  considerable  distance, 
while  the  pretty  low-growing  M.  stellata  is  already 
covered  with  its  snow-white  flowers. 


THE    ROSE    GARDEN, 


de  Mme.  Levet,  and  Roses  of  that  class, 
but  I  am  afraid  they  do  not  give  general 
satisfaction,  being  so  tender,  whereas 
Viscountess  Folkestone,  Gustave  Regis, 
Caroline  Testout,  Laurette  Messimj', 
Mme.  Abel  Chatenay,  Griiss  an  Teplitz, 
&c.,  provide  a  never-failing  source  of 
pleasure.  Many  gardens  would  be  much 
improved  by  a  low  hedge  of  monthly 
Roses,  if  such  does  not  already  exist,  or 
a  still  lower  hedge  of  the  pretty  hybrid 
Polyantha  Roses.  One  of  the  loveliest  is 
(Jloire  des  Polyantha— so  well  adapted 
either  for  low  hedges  or  bedding.  Low 
walls  by  glass  houses  would  provide  a 
place  for  many  a  choice  Tea  Rose, 
such  as  Souvenir  d'Elise  Vardon.  They 
should  not  be  stinted  of  good  soil  ;  the 
best  plan  is  to  remove  the  existing  soil  to 
a  depth  of  3  feet.  Put  in  7  inches  or 
8  inches  of  broken  bricks,  stones,  or 
clinkers,  then  fill  up  with  good  loam  and 
well  rotted  manure,  adding  a  handful  of 
bone  dust  to  each  plant  when  planting. 
I  have  seen  Mme.  de  Watteville,  Hon. 
Edith  Giiford,  Conitesse  de  Naclaillac, 
and  others  develop  into  splendid  bushes 
planted  in  such  positions.  It  roust  be 
remembered  that  rather  more  moisture 
is  required  in  the  summer  than  for  plants 
in  the  open.  A  good  plan  is  to  leave  a 
cavity  around  the  base  of  the  plant  so 
that  liquid  manure  when  given  will  not 
run  away  to  waste. 

I   should   say  that   when    planting   in 

spring    prune    the    growths    well     back 

before   planting,   even   to   two   or    three 

eyes.     The  roots  are  the  better  able  to 

support  these  two  or  three  eyes  on  each 

shoot  than  they  are  the  long  growths.     Climbing 

Roses  would  receive  a  different  treatment.     These 

may  be  shortened    to  half   their  length  the  first 

season.  P. 


SPRING     PLANTING. 

FORMERLY  it  was  considered  risky  to 
plant  Roses  in  March  and  early  April 
unless  they  were  pot  grown,  but 
rosarians  understand  better  now. 
Unless  the  soil  is  very  light  one  need 
not  fear  as  to  the  success  of  such 
planting,  providing  the  land  be  well  trenched  or 
ridged  some  weeks  previously.  This,  to  my  mind, 
is  important.  To  dig  up  heavy  soil  and  plant 
immediately  is  courting  failure.  The  small  roots 
have  no  chance  of  laying  hold  unless  some  prepared 
compost  is  given  to  each  as  the  planting  proceeds, 
and  this  is  not  always  convenient.  But  when  the 
land  has  become  mellowed  by  wind  and  frost  then 
it  is  in  a  workable  condition.  I  would  much 
rather  plant  in  March  than  late  in  December  or 
.January,  but  I  should  not  advocate  deferring  to 
purchase  until  the  present  time.  The  plants,  if 
secured  in  the  months  named,  could  be  carefully 
heeled  in  under  a  north  wall,  and  planted  when 
the  most  favourable  opportunity  offered.  Many 
growers  of  Tea  Roses  recommend  lifting  standards 
of  this  tribe,  and  heeling  them  in  under  such  a  wall 
as  mentioned  until  March.  If  a  severe  winter  sets 
in  they  are  comforted  by  the  reflection  that  their 
Roses  are  safe.  All  the  decorative  Roses — Teas, 
Hybrid  Teas,  Chinas,  Polyanthas,  &e. — plant  well 
now.  Where  practicable  a  bed  of  a  kind  is 
preferable. 

The  beds  should  be  large  enough  to  take  from 
ten  to  twenty  plants  each  at  least,  then  the  true 
effect  of  a  decorative  Rose  is  obtained.  Many 
strive  too  much  for  colour  arrangement  and  care 
nothing  about  the  growth.  Roses  that  can  be 
depended  upon  to  "do  well"  afford  in  the  end  the 
greatest  satisfaction.  Rose  growers  will  hail  with 
delight  a  few  good  yellow  kinds  that  are  really 
yellow  or  of  orange  shading  not  cream.  We  see 
such  colours  exhibited  among  garden  Roses,  Ma 
Capucine,  Souvenir  de  Catherine  Guillot,  Souvenir 


ROSE  W.  A.  RICHAKDSON. 
This  is  one  of  my  favourite  Roses.  I  have  grown 
it  for  many  years  and  with  great  success,  although 
it  has  received  no  special  help  in  any  way.  It  is 
very  vigorous  and  every  summer  is  smothered  with 
flowers  the  shade  of  cut  Apricots,  but  unfortunately 
my  plant  is  on  a  south  wall  and  the  flowers 
quickly  lose  their  first  fresh  colouring.  When  it 
succeeds  it  is  a  treasure  indeed.  A  Rose  I  like 
almost  as  much  is  Alister  Stella  Gray.  This  was  a 
wonderful  picture  last  summer,  the  plant  being 
smothered  with  flowers ;  the  apricot-coloured  buds 
are  very  pretty.  I  always  remove  worn  out 
growths  after  flowering. 

An  Amateur  Rose  Grower. 


RECENT    PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The  last  portfolio  of  the  Dictionnaire  icono- 
ijraphique  des  Orchide'es  contains  portraits  of  the 
following  thirteen  species  and  varieties  : — 

Aeranthus  ramosus,  a  variety  with  greenish 
flowers  shaded  with  brown. 

Angra'Ciim  scotlianum,  a  variety  with  dull  white 
flowers  shaded  with  green. 

Cattleya  chamberlainiaiia,  a  fine  variety  with 
deep  rose-coloured  fringed  lip. 

Cattleya  wairriniana,  a  variety  resembling  the 
last-named,  but  with  sepals  of  a  deeper  shade  of 
brown. 

Lcelia  liruUeyana,  a  curious  variety  with  deep 
rose-coloured  lip,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  white 
and  green,  sepals  spotted  with  brown. 

Odontoglossum  yrande  rar.  pitteanum,  a  curious 
variety  with  greenish  yellow  flowers  blotched  with 
deeper  yellow  and  a  dull  white  lip. 

Platydinis  Jilifoi~mis,  a  variety  with  long, 
pendulous  racemes  of  tiny  greenish  star-shaped 
flowers  of  no  beauty  whatever. 

Platydinis  glnmacea,  a  rather  prettier  variety 
with  large  rosy  white  flowers. 

Promenaa  stapelioides,  a  curious  species  with 
green  flowers  spotted  with  brown  and  a  deep  rosy 
purple  lip,  somewhat  resembling  a  Stapelia. 


April  19,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


255 


Promenma  xanthina,  a  more  ornamental  variety 
of  the  last-named,  with  pendulous  yellow  flowers 
shaded  with  brown  and  a  red  column  in  its  centre 
tipped  with  pure  white. 

Sobraiia  virgmalis  var.  lilacina,  a  beautiful  variety 
with  pure  white  flowers  and  a  deeply  fringed  lip 
shaded  with  pale  rose  and  a  yellow  throat. 

Sfanhopea  reichenbachiana,  a  curious  variety 
with  lumpy  flowers  of  a  dull  white  faintly  spotted 
with  carmine. 

Trichopilia  crispa  var.  marginata,  a  rather 
pretty  variety  with  rosy  purple  flowers  and  narrow 
sepals  margined  with  white. 

The  first  part  of  the  Revue  Horticole  for  April 
contains  Ebenus  cre/icus,  a  low  growing  small  shrub 
from  the  Island  of  Crete,  with  elongated  bunches 
of  rosy  purple  flowers  with  hairy  calyces.  Intro- 
duced by  M.  Huber  of  Hyeres. 

The  April  number  of  the  Revue  de  P Horticulture 
Beige  contains  a  double  plate  of  a  new  hybrid 
Orchid  raised  by  the  gardener  of  the  King  of  the 
Belgians  in  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Laeken,  Lcelio- 
Cattleya  Prince  Leopold,  a  handsome  variety 
bearing  one  flower  on  each  stem,  of  a  deep  shade 
of  orange  shaded  with  yellow.  This  hybrid  is  the 
result  of  crossing  Lfelia  cinnabarina  with  Cattleya 
chocoensis  alba,  which  is  a  pure  white  variety 
with  no  trace  of  colour  in  the  lip. 

W.  E.  GUMBLETON. 


NEW  AND  RARE  PLANTS. 


S' 


/ACACIA   CULTBIFOKMIS   IN   THE  GARDEN   OF   MRS.    DENISON,   LITTLE 
fiADDESDEN,    BERKHAMSTED,   HERTS. 


THREE    NEW  AFRICAN 
HELICHRYSUMS. 

OME    three  or  four   years  ago  Herr 
Leopold  Meyer,  of  Leipzig,  collected 
on  the  slopes  of  Mount  Kilima-njaro 
the  seed  of  three  distinct  varieties  of 
shrubby   perennial    Everlastings,    of 
which  he  has  also  brought  home  care- 
fully dried  specimens.    These  specimens  were 
submitted  to  Dr.  Engler,  the  learned  Director 
of  the  Berlin  Botanic  Garden,  for  identifica- 
tion, who,  after  examination  and  comparison, 
declared  one  of   them  to  be  quite  new,  and 
named  it  after  his  Sovereign  the  Emperor  Wil- 
liam— Helichrysum  Gulielmi.    The  second  he 
said  was  H.  Newei,  having  been  so  previously 
named  after  the  Eev.  .James  Newe,  who  had 
been  one  of  the  first  Europeans  to  accomplish 
the  ascent  of  the  mountain  on  which  it  was 
found.  The  third  he  said  puzzled  him,  but,  being 
in  his   opinion  very  like  a  variety  known  as 
formosum,  he  suggested  that  it  should  be  provi- 
sionall      named    H.    affine  -  formosum.      The 
entire  stock  of  these 
seeds  was  acquired  by 
the  well  -  known  im- 
porter of  new  plants, 
Herr  Max  Leichtlin, 
of  Baden-Baden.    He 
in  due  course  raised 
and  distributed  seed- 
lings    of     all     three 
varieties,    and     from 
him  I  obtained  one  of 
each.    They  were  all 
planted  out    for  the 
summer  in  my  garden, 
and  grew  away  well 
and     healthy.      The 
first-named    flowered 
freely  the  first  year  I 
had    it    (1900)    and 
produced  bunches  of 
white  flowers  number- 
ing  from    twelve   to 
eighteen    on    each 
bunch,   first    on    the 
apex   of   each  of   its 
three    main    growths 
and  afterwards  on  a 
number  of  subsidiary 
lateral  shoots  or  side 
growths.       Most     of 
those  flowers  did  not 
expand  till  after  the 
plant  had  been  lifted 
into  a  pot  for  protec- 
tion from  frost  in  the 
greenhouse    early   in 
October.   Though  the 
flowers    when     open 
were    pure    white, 
many    of    the    buds 
before  expansion  were 
very    prettily   tinged 
with  rose  colour.   The 
foliage  was    also 
covered  with  a  thick 
white  tomentum.  The 
plant    died  suddenly 
without      apparent 
reason  before  it  had 
finished  flowering. 

The  other  two  varie- 
ties grew  and  deve- 
loped very  rapidly 
into  quite  big  bushes 
atjd  shpwed   po  sign 


of  flowering  during  last  summer,  during 
which  their  large  pots  were  plunged  in  one 
of  my  borders  in  the  open  air  to  avoid 
the  disturbance  of  lifting  such  large  plants 
as  would  occur  if  they  had  been  planted 
out  altogether.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
auturnn  the  one  bearing  the  provisional  name 
of  affine-formosum  produced  a  very  fine  bunch 
of  fifty-eight  white  flowers  showing  no  pink 
colouring  on  the  buds.  This  was  sent  to  the 
Kew  Herbarium  for  identification,  where 
it  was  pronounced  to  have  no  resemblance 
whatever  to  H.  formosum,  but  to  be  merely  a 
glabrous  or  smooth-leaved  form  of  H.  Gulielmi, 
though  for  all  horticultural  purposes  quite 
distinct  from  it,  both  in  habit  of  growth  and 
form  of  leaf.  I  propose,  therefore,  to  name 
this  H.  Gulielmi  var.  Meyeri,  after  the  gatherer 
and  introducer  of  the  seeds  of  the  plant. 

The  third  variety  only  began  to  bloom  quite 
at  the  end  of  last  year,  and  on  its  flower  head 
being  sent  to  Kew  it  was  found  on  comparison 
that  Dr.  Engler  was  mistaken  in  pronouncing 
it  to  be  H.  Newei,  which  has  straw-coloured 
flowers,  whereas  it  has  flowers  which  in  bud 
are  a  uniform  deep  rose  colour,  but  become 
pale  pink  when  expanded.  It  was  suljse- 
quently  identified  as  H.  Volkensii.  It  has 
much  fewer  flowers  on  each  bunch  than  the 
others,  the  number  being  usually  from  three  to 
six  or  seven.  It  is,  however,  in  my  opinion, 
quite  the  most  elegant  and  beautiful  of  the 
three  varieties.  H.  Gulielmi  and  H.  Volkensii 
are  easily  propagated  either  by  cuttings  or 
rooted  suckers  which  appear  round  the  base  of 
the  stem,  but  the  other  variety,  being  of  much 
coarser  growth,  will  not  strike  from  cuttings, 
and  I  have  only  been  able  to  increase  it  by 
laying_  some  of  its  lower  branches  into  the  pot 
in  which  it  grew  ;  they  then  rooted  without 
any  difl[iculty.  All  these  three  varieties  have 
been  figured  in  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle, 
and  H.  Gulielmi  has  been  figured  in  the 
twelfth  volume  of  the  Botanical  Magazine  on 
plate  7789.  W.  E.  Ghmbleton. 


ACACIA    CULTRIFORMIS. 

Of  the  large  number  of  Australian  species  of 
Acacia  that  have  been  described,  about  two 
dozen  may  be  selected  as  being  far  in  advance 
of  the  remainder  for  general  cultivation.  Of 
this  number  eight  or  ten  are  in  fairly  general 
use,  the  remainder  being  little  known.  Of  the 
better  known  ones  the  subject  of  this  note  is 
one  of  the  most  popular,  and  an  idea  of  its 
graceful  habit  and  free-flowering  qualities  may 
be  gathered  from  the  illustration.  It  is  now 
about  eighty  years  since  it  was  first  introduced 
from  New  South  Wales,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  of  the  good  flowering  species  to  find  its 
way  into  our  gardens.  It  is  distinguished  by  its 
rather  loose  habit,  glaucous,  knife-shaped  phyl- 
lodes,  and  short  racemes  of  flufl'y,  deep  yellow 
flowers.  It  succeeds  well  grown  either  as  a 
pot  plant  or  planted  out  in  a  greenhouse  in  a 
border  of  sandy  peat  or  peat  and  loam. 
Under  the  former  method  of  culture  nice 
decorative  plants  can  be  grown  in  5-inch  or 
6-inch  pots,  but  under  the  more  generous 
treatment  of  border  culture  it  assumes  much 
larger  dimensions  and  makes  a  much  hand- 
somer plant.  Like  several  other  species  of 
Acacia,  it  may  be  grown  either  as  a  bush  or 
pillar  plant,  and  if  grown  well  neither  can 
be  said  to  be  the  better  method.  After 
flowering  the  young  branches  should  be 
shortened  back  to  within  two  or  three  eyes 
of  the  old  wood  to  encourage  long,  strong, 
flowering  shoots  for  the  following  year.  When 
grown  in  pots  the  branches  must  be  stopped 
opce  Of  twice  in  early  spring  to  ensure  a  bushjr 


256 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  19,  1902. 


habit,  but  with  planted-out  specimens  this 
pinching  is  not  necessary.  At  all  times  a  cool 
house  with  plenty  of  air  and  light  is  required. 

W.  Dallimore. 
[Mrs.  Denison  of  Berkhamsted  kindly  sent 
the  photograph  from  which  the  illus- 
tration was  made.  A  first-class  certi- 
ficate was  given  to  Jlrs.  Denison 
when  it  was  exhibited  by  her  at  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  meeting 
on  February  25.— Eds.] 


gravel  stamped  hard  down.  But  though  at 
that  time  he  had  healthy  clumps  of  the  single 
and  double  Snowdrops,  I  rather  think  he  has 
none  now,  or,  if  he  has,  not  those  particular 
bulbs  or  their  progeny.  On  the  other  hand, 
a  few  years  ago  there 
was  an  amateur  florist 
not  far  from  my  place 
who  grew  the  G.  nivali.s 
with   perfect   success   in 


:\ 


SNOWDROPS    IN    NEU 
ZEALAND. 

We  are  glad  to  publish  this  interesting 
letter  from  New  Zealand,  written  by 
Mr.  A.  Wilson  to  Mr.  James  Allen  : 

"  1  picked  up  the  other  day  in  a 
secondhand  bookstall  an  old  volume  of 
The  G.\rden — that  for  the  first  half 
year  of  1886 — and  in  looking  through 
the  volume  was  much  pleased  to  come 
upon  an  article  of  yours  on  Snowdrops, 
illustrated  with  a  coloured  plate  show- 
ing eight  varieties,  and  a  woodcut  of 
Galanthus  plicatus  retiexus.  Towards 
the  end  of  your  instructive  review  of 
the  more  interest- 
ing species  I  find 
these  sentences : 
'  I  understand 
that  in  New  Zea- 
land the  Snow- 
drop will  not 
thrive  ;  in  fact, 
it  pines  and  dies 
away  in  a  year 
or  two.  What  is 
the  reason  ^of 
thisT  It  occurs 
to  me  that  you 
may  find  of  some 
interest  the  ex- 
perience of  one 
who  has  been 
attempting  for 
the  last  twenty 
years  or  so  to 
grow  Snowdrops 
in  this  country, 
and  who,  if  not 
very  successful, 
has  at  any  rate 
succeeded  in 
keeping  them  for 
more  than  a  year 
or  two.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that 
in  this  climate, 
which  grows 
most  English 
flowers  better 
than  England 
itself,  the  Snow- 
drop is  not  an 
easy  subject;  yet 
your  impression 
'  that  it  pines 
and  dies  away  in 
a  year  or  two' 
requires  revis- 
ing. Galanthus 
nivalis,  both  the 

single  and  double  forms,  if  planted  in  an 
ordinary  border  and  left  to  sink  or  swim, 
are  pretty  sure  to  vanish  in  a  short  time. 
The  bulb  becomes  attenuated  to  a  white 
thread  and  so  disappears.  A  skilful  pro- 
fessional florist  told  me  many  years  ago 
that  he  succeeded  in  keeping  his  Snowdrops 
by  covering  them    with  grit  or  small  river 


TUB    NEW 


FKITILLARIA 


ASKHABADENSI 


(NATURAL  SIZE). 


(From  a  drawing  by 


G,  Moon.) 


her  little  cottage  garden  Her  bulbs  not 
merely  lived  but  increased,  and  I  received  a 
few  from  her  on  more  than  one  occasion. 
Her  secret  was  to  lift  the  bulbs  every 
year  and  give  them  a  period  of  absolute 
rest.  Within  a  stone's  throw  of  my  garden 
fence  there  is  another  cottage  garden  where,  in 
the  lifetime  of  the  late  owner,  there  was  a 


most  flourishing  edging  of  Snowdrops,  which 
it  was  my  delight  and  humiliation  to  look  at 
in  the  springtime.     I  was  to  have  shared  his 
bulbs  and  his  secret,  but  in  the  meantime  the 
Snowdrop  grower  died,   and    his  Snowdrops 
must  have  died  with  him,   for  they  are  no 
longer  there.    As  for  his  secret,   I  have  no 
doubt  that  it  was  simply  to  lift  and  rest  the 
bulbs. 
"  In  my  own  case,  if  success  with  Snowdrops 
depended    on 
their  being  regu- 
larly  lifted   and 
rested,   I   should 
have  to  go  with- 
out them.      For 
Snowdrops      are 
not    like    Daffo- 
dils,  which    you 
may  keep  out  of 
the    ground 
pretty    well     as 
long    as     you 
please,  and  plant 
whenever   you 
have    time    and 
inclination. 
Sooner  or  later  I 
should     fail     to 
plant  my  Snow- 
drops   at     the 
proper  time  and 
s  )  lose  the  bulbs. 
As  it   happened, 
however,     the 
single  and  double 
Snowdrops  grow 
in     my     garden 
without      an 
annual  lifting. 
And    this  is   the 
way  of  it,  s(;t  out 
historically. 
Some  years  ago, 
six     or     seven 
perhaps,    I    sent 
to  a  London  firm 
for  one  hundred 
single  and  double 
Sno\vdrop.s.    The 
bulbs  came  out  in  a  package  with  other  things ; 
'  ut  they  had  been  huddled  anyhow  into  a  paper 
bag,  and  when  they  reached  me  were  apjiarently 
an    indistinguishable   mass   of    green   mould. 
Such  as   they  were,  however,  in  case  there 
might  be  some  life  in  them,  I  planted  them 
at  the  root  of  a  Lilac  tree.     Two  or  three  of 
them  came  up  the  first  season,  and  each  spring 
they  have  come  stronger  and  stronger,  and  now 
they  seem  quite  established  and  flower  well. 
Great  was  my  surprise  and  pleasure  this  year 
to  find  that  even   some  of   the  doubles  had 
survived,  and,  having  taken  about  five  years  to 
collect  the  necessary  strength,  were  blooming. 
Now,  if  half-decomposed  bulbs  such  as  those 
could  establish  themselves,  what  a  colony  I 
should  have  had  if  the  bulbs  had  reached  me 
in  a  good  condition. 

"  My  explanation  of  the  fact  is  this.  In  the 
open  ground  in  this  mild  and  moist  climate 
the  common  Snowdrop,  planted  in  the  open 
border,  is  too  constantly  under  stimulu.s.  It 
is  a  case  of  burning  the  candle  at  both  ends. 
This  may  be  prevented  in  two  ways— either  by 
lifting  the  bulbs  annually  and  keeping  them 
out  of  the  ground  for  six  weeks  or  so,  or  by 
planting  them  among  the  roots  of  a  strong- 
rooting  deciduous  tree  like  the  Lilac.  You 
know  what  a  mat  of  roots  a  Lilac  has.  At  the 
resting  time  of  the  Snowdrop  these  roots  are 
most  active  and  keep  the  .soil  within  their 
radius  practically  dr^,     Probably  the  shade  of 


April  19,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


257 


the  tree  also  furthers  the  resting  process. 
When  the  activity  of  the  Snowdrop  is  recom- 
mencing, the  Lilac  has  pretty  well  finished  its 
season's  work,  and  during  the  Snowdrop's 
period  of  full  activity  the  tree  is  leafless  and 
its  roots  quiescent.  And  so  it  is  as  a  sort  of 
parasite  to  the  Lilac  that  I  manage  to  grow  a 
few  of  the  single  and  double  Galanthus  nivalis. 
As  regards  some  other  varieties  there  is  no 
trouble  at  all.  Galanthus  plicatus  grows  with 
me  and  seeds  itself  on  the  border.  I  note, 
however,  that  the  bulb  increase  is  nil ;  the 
three  bulbs  of  this  variety  which  I  originally 
got  are  three  still.  But  there  are  a  few  seed- 
lings of  different  ages  round  about  the  parent 
plant.  G.  Elwesii  does  well  with  me  in  a  box. 
I  do  not  think  there  is  much  increase,  if  there 
is  any,  but  the  foliage  is  strong  and  the  flower.s 
beautifully  large  and  globular— far  and  away 
the  finest  Snowdrop  I  have  seen.  G.  Sharlocki 
is  very  vigorous  with  me,  and  very  floriferous. 
This  Snowdrop  also  has  increased  from  two  or 
three  bulbs toaconsiderable  clump.  G.  Imperati, 
still  in  the  box  in  which  it 
was  originally  planted,  has 
also  considerably  increased 
and  flowers  and  seeds  abun- 
dantly, I  sowed  one  har- 
vesting of  seed,  but  it  has 
been  over  a  year  in  the 
ground  without  any  sign  of 
germinating.  Of  G.  Fosteri 
I  have  but  one  bulb,  the 
survival  of  several  that  I 
received  five  years  ago.  I 
note  that  this  seems  a  good 
seed  season.  Imperati  is 
bearing  abundantly, as  usual ; 
Plicatus  has  three  beauti- 
fully plump  capsules ;  Elwesii 
has  also  several  capsules,  and 
Sharlocki,  which  is  not  a 
good  seeder,  has  one.  Such 
is  my  experience  with  Snow- 
drops in  this  colony— not 
altogether  discouraging,  I 
think.  Anyone  who  took  the 
Snowdrop  up  as  a  garden 
subject,  and  tried  all  pro- 
curable varieties,  paying  par- 
ticular attention  to  cross- 
fertilisation,  might  find  or 
create  Snowdrops  that  would 
take  as  kindly  to  this  climate 
as  the  Narcissus  and  the 
C  h  rysanthemu  m . 

"  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  find 
these  facts  of  any  interest  to 
you.      If  you   think    other 
growers  of  Snowdrops  are  likely  to  be  interested 
by  what  1  have  written,  please  make  what  use 
of  this  letter  you  think  best.         A.  Wilson. 

"  Maori  Hill,  Dunedin,  New  Zealand." 


FLOW^ERS    AT    GIBRALTAR. 

It  is  a  common  mistake  made  by  those 
unacquainted  with  Gibraltar  to  picture  it  as 
a  bare  and  arid  rock.  Its  proud  position  as 
the  strongest  fortress  in  the  world,  and  its 
popular  title  of  "The  Eock,"  have  doubtless 
much  to  do  with  this  erroneous  conception  ; 
but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is,  in  the  spring,  a 
very  paradise  of  flowers,  and,  though  it  must 
be  admitted  that  the  majority  of  these  are 
confined  to  garden  precincts,  the  uncultivated 
portions  of  Gibraltar  are  by  no  means  destitute 
of  blossom.  In  the  early  days  of  March  the 
hillside  of  South  Town,  as  seen  from  the  man- 
of-war  anchorage,  is  flushed  with  purple-pink 
by  the  blossoms  of  numerous  Judas  Trees, 
while  a  walk  ashore  will  reveal  many  wild 
flowers  and  descendants  of  garden  occupants 
blooming  on  the  stony  slopes.  Tall  Asphodels 
in  thousands,  hawked  over  unceasingly  by  the 
swallows,  clothe  a  steep  declivity  with  flesh 
white  ;  a  small,  purple,  golden-eyed  Crocus 


rock  it  is  difiicult  to  say,  but  that  its  environ- 
ment is  eminently  adapted  to  its  needs  is 
evident  from  the  fact  that  on  this  northern 
cliff-face  it  exhibits  far  greater  vigour  than  in 
the  soil  of  any  Gibraltar  garden.  The 
behaviour  of  Iberis  gibraltarica  in  this  site 
suggests  that  a  perpendicular  rock  cranny  and 
northern  exposure  such  as  is  generally  given  to 
Ramondia  pyrenaica  should  prove  the  most 
successful  method  of  culture  in  this  country. 
Scarlet  zonal  Pelargoniums  have  in  many 
places  efiected  a  lodgment  on  rugged  cliffs, 
and  grow  and  bloom  freely  with  a  minimum  of 
soil,  while  in  the  rough  ground  just  below  the 
Signal  Station,  the  highest  point  of  The  Rock, 
was,  a  few  years  ago,  a  clump  of  Lilium 
candidum,  and  hard  by  a  mass  of  crimson 
Antirrhinum,  both  presumably  the  progeny  of 
plants  grown  in  the  little  garden  of  the  station. 
Among  foliage  plants  the  great  American 
Aloes  (Agave  americana)  hold  the  pride  of  the 
place,  fringing  roads  with  their  giant,  blue-grey 
spiny  leaves,  and  throwing  up  lofty  candelabra 


A  CORNER  OF  A   filBEALTAK  GARDEN. 


AN    ARTIST'S   NOTE-BOOK. 

A     NEW    FRITILLARIA. 

THIS  beautiful  Fritillaria  was  referred 
to  by  Miss  Willmott  in  The  Garden 
of  last  week.  It  has  drooping  bell- 
shaped  flowers  of  soft  greenish 
colouring,  with  quite  a  sufiusion  of 
pale  yellow.  The  flowers,  some  six 
to  eight  in  number,  crown  a  vigorous  growth 
nearly  2  feet  high,  the  ample  leafage  being 
oblong  lanceolate  acuminate  in  outline,  and 
some  4  inches  or  more  in  length,  and  an  inch 
broad,  or  rather  more  at  the  widest  part.  It  is 
a  welcome  addition  to  an  interesting  race.  The 
genus  will  be  illustrated  and  describee}  shortly. 


grows  in  the  hard  foot-paths  ;  Sweet  Alyssum 
abounds,  and  Bladder  Campions,  Mallows  (pink 
and  sulphur),  Wild  Mignonette,  Marigolds, 
Broom  and  Gorse,  large  clumps  of  Scilla 
peruviana.  Golden  Oxalis  (single  and  double), 
5Periwinkles  (pale  blue  and  white).  Sea  Laven- 
ders, and  the  charming  little  Iris  filifolia.  Here 
and  there  the  scarlet  of  the  Poppies  glows,  the 
Honeysuckle's  scented  blossoms  are  haunted  by 
orange-tip  butterflies,  and  along  the  verge  of  a 
cliff  .50  feet  in  height,  overhanging  the  sea, 
halfway  down  which  an  osprey  has  its  nest,  a 
Mesembryanthemura  spreads  an  edging  of 
purple-pink.  From  the  port  holes  in  the  North 
Front  galleries,  looking  down  a  sheer  1,000  feet 
of  perpendicular  precipice,  Iberis  gibraltarica 
may  be  seen  in  its  glory,  for  here  it  grows 
clinging  to  the  living  rock  of  the  stupendous 
clift'  at  varying  heights,  not  in  puny  plants  as 
we  generally  know  it  in  England,  but  in 
rounded  masses  2  feet  and  more  in  diameter 
smothered  in  lavender  blossoms.  What  sub- 
stance it  car>  extract  from  appt^reutly  solid 


of  bloom  in  April.  Early  in  March  Aloe 
socotrana  is  brilliant  with  its  vivid  vermilion 
flower  heads,  followed  later  by  other  species  of 
Aloes  v.ith  orange  and  yellow  blossom-spikes. 
Palmetto  scrub  grows  freely  in  places,  as  does 
the  Prickly  Pear  (Opuntia).  In  April  the 
fortress  wall  at  the  Ragged  Stafl'  Gate  is  purple 
with  a  veil  of  Ipomjea,  and  in  the  Alameda,  or 
public  gardens,  close  by,  numberless  flowers 
are  in  bloom,  among  these  being  Australian 
Wattles  in  variety,  .lusticias  (|?htte  and  pink), 
scarlet  and  purple  Cupheas,  Plumbago  capensis, 
Strelitzia  reginas,  Bignonias,  Kennedyas,  Sal- 
vias, Habrothamnus  (crimson  and  orange),  and 
many  others,  while  around  the  gardens  are 
restful  avenues  of  old  Stone  Pines.  Govern- 
ment House,  now  known  as  the  Convent, 
formerly  a  Franciscan  monastery,  is  built 
about  a  spacious  arcaded  "  patio,"  in  whose 
centre  Arums,  Palms,  Rose  trees,  and  other 
flowering  shrubs  and  plants  are  grown,  creepers 
being  trained  to  the  surrounding  pillars. 
In    its  garden    are  many   interesting    and 


258 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  19,  1902 


beautiful  flowers  and  trees,  amongst  the  latter 
some  fine  Eucalypti,  Date  Palms,  and  an  old 
Dragon  Tree  (Draciena  Draco),  said  to  be 
1,000  years  of  age.  Florist's  Cinerarias,  fancy 
Pelargoniums,  Fuclisias  (which  have  assumed 
tree-like  proportions),  and  hosts  of  other  bright 
or  fragrant  plants  fill  the  well-stocked  beds. 
The  garden  par  e.fcellence  of  Gibraltar  is, 
however,  that  of  The  Mount,  the  residence  of 
the  senior  naval  officer,  which  is  large  in 
extent  and  laid  out  with  charming  informality. 
From  the  front  gate  the  winding  drive  rises, 
shadowed  on  either  side  by  great  Pepper  Trees, 
whose  slender,  drooping  branchlets,  fringed 
with  feathery  foliage,  tesselate  the  broad, 
gravel  sweep  with  an  ever-shifting  mosaic  of 
sunlight  and  shade,  while  close  to  the  deep- 
varandahed  houses  and  towering  high  above  it 
stands  as  sentinel  a  great  Stone  Pine.  In 
March  the  beautiful  garden,  where  flowers  rise 
in  billows  by  the  winding  paths,  hang  in 
festoons  from  archway  and  arbour  and 
wreathe  bough  and  swaying  shoot  with 
garlands  of  bright  colour,  is,  indeed,  a  garden 
of  sweet  scents.  Heliotrope  is  everywhere  in 
bloom,  not  as  we  know  it  in  England,  of  dwarf 
shrubby  growth,  but  in  hedges  8  feet  high,  and 
clambering  unrestrained  with  Banksian  Roses 
over  long  pergolas  ;  the  Wistaria  suspends  its 
scented  tassels  of  soft  Lilac ;  breadths  of 
Freesias  flood  the  air  with  fragrance  ;  Orang:^ 
trees  covered  with  golden  fruit  and  ivory 
white,  bridal  blossoms,  spread  their  luscious 
perfume  far  and  wide,  and  wandering  Honey- 
suckle trails  add  their  odour  to  the  manifold 
sweetness  held  by  the  breeze.  The  Bougain- 
villea  is  a  sheet  of  livid  carmine-lake  ;  in  pure 
array  the  countless  chalices  of  Arum  Lilies 
gleam,  and  great  Daturas  are  hung  with 
hundreds  of  drooping,  snowy  blossoms,  that  as 
evening  falls  distil  a  subtle  essence  from  their 
wide-spread  trumpets  ;  the  Tangier  Iris  displays 
its  blue  and  gold  ;  the  Hibiscus  flaunts  its  great 
crimson  blossoms,  and  Cape  bulbs  create  a 
scarlet  brilliance  in  the  borders,  while  Bamboos 
hold  aloft  their  pennoned  lances  and  fruiting 


Bananas  arch  spreading  leaves  with  their 
suggestions  of  tropic  growth,  though  in  sight 
across  the  Straits  lies  the  snow-covered  range 
of  the  Atlas  Mountains.  But  though  so  rich 
in  flowers  from  warmer  climes  than  ours,  the 
old  English  favourites  are  not  forgotten  in  this 
garden,  and  white  Madonna  Lilies,  stately 
Hollyhocks  rearing  their  tall  spires  of  bloom, 
fragrant  Cabbage  Roses,  Sunflowers,  Love  in  a 
mist,  and  heavy  headed  Poppies  stir  remem- 
brance of  far-off  cottage  gardens  in  leafy 
Devonshire  lanes.  Gazing  at  the  austere 
profile  of  The  Rock  from  the  Western  Straits 
it  is  hard  to  believe  that  within  that  grim 
exterior  lies  such  a  garden  as  that  of  The 

Mount.  S.  W.  FiTZHERBERT. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

GALANTHUS    SCHARLOKI. 

4  T    present    this   singular  -  looking   form   of 
/\  (ialanthus    nivalis    is   in    flower,    and 

/  \  draws  much  attention  to  itself  by  its 
/  %  quaint  and  distinct  appearance.  The 
/  \  most  prominent  feature  is  the  divided 
spathe,  which,  after  rising  erect,  begins 
to  curve  downwards,  and  in  its  various  positions 
is  suggestive  of  a  pair  of  horns  above  the  small 
.flowers.  Even  when  this  Snowdrop  is  just  emerging 
above  the  soil,  it  is  singular-looking,  because  of 
the  way  the  flowers  appear  in  a  ball-like  form, 
caused  by  the  division  of  the  spathe.  Another 
feature  which  distinguishes  it  from  the  typical 
(i.  nivalis  is  the  presence  of  green  markings  on  the 
exterior  of  the  outer  segments.  These  are  of 
rather  irregular  form,  and  vary  slightly  in  size  and 
shape  in  a  clump.  They  are  not  so  pretty  as  the 
green  markings  of  Leucojura  vernum,  either  in 
shape  or  in  brightness  of  colouring,  but  they  are 
of  interest  to  students  of  colour-problems  in  flowers. 
This  singular  Snowdrop  was  first  found  by  Herr 
Julius  Scharlok,  who  discovered  it  in  the  Valley 
of  the  Nahe,  one  of  the  Rhine  tributaries.  From 
it  Mr.  Allen  has  raised  some  interesting  seedlings, 
of  which  two— Alonzo  Scharlok  and  Jason  Schar- 
lok— are  in  bloom    here  at  present.       Both   these 


have  the  divided  spathes  and  green  spots  of  their 
parent,  but  neither  is  so  pretty,  a  fact  which  Mr. 
Allen  quite  admits.  Someone  with  time  to  spare 
might,  liowever,  succeed  in  raising  .something  of 
great  merit  and  interest  from  this  singular  Snow- 
drop. S.  Arnott. 

IRIS    HELDREICHI. 

It  is  seldom,  I  think,  that  flowers  in  my  garden 
are  so  much  later  than  at  Kew,  as  is  the  case  this 
season.  I  see  that  this  charming  little  Iris  flowered 
on  a  south  border  there  in  the  third  week  of 
January,  while  here  the  first  flower  is  just  showing 
colour  to-day  (March  3).  These  are,  however, 
plants  which  have  been  established  since  1900,  and 
it  may  be  that  those  at  Kew  are  recently  imported 
or  were  dried  off  last  year.  Mine  have  remained 
in  their  rockwork  pocket  since  planting  time  in 
1900,  and  have,  with  the  exception  of  glass  over- 
head in  the  spring  of  1901,  shared  in  the  common 
treatment  of  the  other  alpines  on  the  rockery, 
including  copious  waterings  and  dry  weather  in 
summer.  None  of  my  few  bulbs  seem  to  have 
been  lost,  and  the  plants  look  remarkably  healthy 
and  vigorous.  Evidently  they  do  not  object  to 
our  climate,  though  last  autumn  they  had  perhaps 
more  rain  than  they  liked.  Some  of  these  early 
bulbous  Irises  seem  to  need  ripening  well  in 
summer,  but  this  cannot  be  afforded  them  easily 
when  on  the  rockery.  I  may  observe  that  the 
position  of  these  bulbs  is  almost  due  south,  and 
that  they  have  had  no  protection  of  any  kind  this 
winter.  S.  Arxott. 

Carsethorn,  hy  Dumfries,  N.B. 


A  SHRUBBY  BORDER. 

The  accompanying  illustration  tells  its  own  tale. 
The  border,  if  such  it  may  be  called,  is  composed 
chiefly  of  bush  Roses,  and  at  the  foot  are  Funkias 
and  Irises.  In  summer  the  effect  is  very  pleasant 
with  the  dense  leafy  background  behind.  R. 


J\    gpRUBBY   BORDER  WITH   E0LD-/.E.4VED   PLANTS   AT  THE  MAJIGIN. 


ANEMONE  VERNALIS  IN  A  BAVARIAN 
ROCK  GARDEN. 

I  SEND  you  some  photographs  of  a  little  group  of 
All'  mone  vernalis,  which  was  a  lovely  sight  in  my 
rock  garden  a  week  ago.  There  were  about  100 
flowers  and  silky  buds,  the  fully  expanded 
ones  measuring  very  little  short  of 
3  inches  across.  They  were  a  delight 
to  gaze  upon  every  spare  moment  of  the 
day.  The  bees  and  butterflies  were 
equally  delighted  with  them,  the  former 
literally  smothering  the  flowers,  as  many 
as  four  of  them  sometimes  weltering 
among  the  pollen  of  a  single  flower. 
A  few  of  them  may  even  be  noticed  in 
the  photograph.  About  fifteen  miles 
from  here  there  is  a  favoured  spot  where 
these  lovely  Anemones  descend  from  the 
near  alpine  chain  on  to  the  plain  below 
(about  1,600  feet  above  Saaleval).  It 
was  here  that  I  collected  the  plants  in 
the  spring  of  1901.  They  were  planted 
in  the  rock  garden  on  a  bank  gently 
sloping  towards  the  south-east,  and  at 
once  took  kindly  to  their  new  home. 
The  subsoil  consists  of  great  depths  of 
glacial  (limestone)  moraine,  and  is 
covered  with  a  very  thin  layer  of  poor 
soil  only.  The  situation  being  there- 
fore excessively  dry,  I  added  a  little 
of  the  black  surface-soil  of  a  peat  bog, 
which  seems  to  have  suited  them  admir- 
ably, for  by  the  autumn  the  plants,  which 
were  at  first  planted  rather  closely, 
touched  each  other  and  looked  the 
picture  of  health.  Before  the  advent 
of  winter  the  light  brown,  hairy  integu- 
ments of  the  embryo  buds  could  already 
be  seen  among  the  leaves,  promising  well 
for  a  good  show  of  bloom.  When  the 
buds  began  to  push  last  month,  as  many 
as  seven  could  be  counted  on  each  of 
several  individual  plants.  I  should  not 
oniit;  to  mention  that  the  little  bed  Ij'ing 


April  19,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


259 


absence"  and  not  worthy  of  being  con- 
sidered to  take  as  much  "interest  in 
the  hall  question,"  or  to  have  opinions  of 
as  much  weight  as  those  who  have  means 
and  leisure  to  attend.  Surely  the  question 
is  one  of  vital  interest,  in  which  we  have 
a  right  to  be  given  the  opportunity  as 
provided  in  the  bye-laws. 

Therefore,  I  protest  as  a  keen  worker 
in  the  country,  and  I  know  of  others 
working  as  I  try  to  do  who  feel  with  me 
at  these  country  Fellows  being  refused  a 
voice  in  the  decision. 

I  think  it  safe  to  say  that  a  very  large 
number  of  Fellows,  gardeners  and  parsons, 
actual  workers  among  the  flowers,  have 
been  practically  boycotted  by  the  decision 
of  the  meeting. 

The  society  is  a  scientific  society.  Is 
its  great  object  that  the  list  of  Fellows 
should  be  increased,  £us  Sir  T.  Lawrence 
said,  by  "  the  provision  of  a  new  and  con- 
venient Hall  ? "  or  is  its  first  object  to  be 
the  advancement  of  scientific  horticulture  ? 
If  the  latter,  would  not  the  provision  of 
the  garden  take  the  first  place  ? 

Country  Parson,  F.R.H.S. 


PEAB,  MABIE  G0ISE.    (Reduced  about  one-third.) 


fully  exposed  to  the  sun,  and  the  past  summer 
having  well  nigh  been  rainless,  with  incessant 
easterly  winds  blowing,  the  plants  were  periodi- 
cally treated  to  a  good  soaking.       E.  Heinrich. 

[We  regret  that  the  photographs,  showing  a 
charming  group,  were  technically  unsuitable  for 
reproduction. — Eds.] 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

LATE     SEAKALE     NOT 
FORCED    IN    SPRING. 

IN  many  gardens  Seakale  of  the  best  quality 
could  be  grown  with  so  little  trouble  if  no 
forcing  were  attempted,  but  grown  thus 
there  must  be  sufficient  room  to  mould  up 
the  top  growth  to  blanch  the  latter,  other- 
wise the  Kale  soon  gets  green  or  discoloured 
if  exposed  to  the  light.  Seakale  of  the  best 
quality  can  be  had  from  April  with  little  trouble  ; 
the  old  system  of  using  pans,  pots,  or  boxes  even  is 
not  necessary.  We  merely  cover  the  crowns  with 
fine  ashes,  and  over  this  bank  up  soil  13  inches  to 
18  inches  deep  and  the  same  width,  making  the 
soil  firm  with  the  back  of  the  spade.  The  Kale  is 
cut  as  soon  as  it  lifts  up  the  soil  freely.  Of  course 
a  heavy  clay  soil  would  not  be  suitable,  and  in  this 
case  it  may  be  well  to  use  boards  first  down  each 
side  of  the  roots,  and  in  any  case  there  must  be 
at  least  3  feet  between  the  rows  to  allow  of  sufficient 
soil  being  taken  to  mould  up  the  plants  to  get  as 
late  a  supply  as  possible.  I  have  used  a  good 
covering  of  litter  over  the  soil  when  banked  up. 
This  prevents  the  sun  warming  the  earth,  and 
Kale  quite  a  fortnight  later  is  obtained.  If  needed 
earlier  a  little  warm  litter  between  the  rows  will 
soon  hasten  growth. 

For  late  Seakale  we  destroy  the  beds  after  being 
cut  over  for  three  seasons,  as  though  the  plants 
would  continue  to  yield  for  years  the  crown 
growths  split  up  and  the  growths  are  not  nearly 
so  fine.  If  the  thick  roots  are  severed  when 
destroying  an  old  bed  cut  these  into  pieces  about 
6  inches  in  length  ;  they  make  excellent  planting 
material  for  new  quarters.  Seakale  likes  deeply 
cultivated,  well  manured  laud,  as  it  is  a  gross 
feeder.  One  great  advantage  of  growing  Seakale 
in  this  way  is  the  small  labour  entailed,  as  the 
banking  over  or  moulding  up  in  Februafy  or 
March  is  a  simple  matter.     This  work  must  be  got 


through  before  the  crown  growth  begins  to  expand, 
and  when  cutting  care  must  be  taken  to  go 
carefuUj'  over  the  rows  and  secure  the  most 
advanced  growths,  as  in  the  spring  the  plant 
grows  rapidly.  It  is  far  better  to  cut  the  Kale 
with  a  portion  of  the  reot  attached,  and  place  it  in 
water  in  a  dark  place  till  required  for  use,  than  to 
allow  the  growths  to  push  through  the  soil.  Green 
Seakale  is  very  palatable,  but  it  does  not  compare 
with  the  blanched.  G.  Wythes. 


HARDY  FRUITS  IN  SEASON. 

Pear  Marie  Guise. 
This  spring  Pear  is  very  little  known,  and  is 
not  mentioned  in  any  of  the  fruit  growers' 
catalogues.  Dr.  Hogg,  in  his  "  Fruit  Manual," 
describes  it  as  being  of  continental  origin.  The 
tree  from  which  the  fruits  illustrated  were 
gathered  is  an  old  pyramid  on  the  Pear  stock. 
It  is  very  hardy,  free-bearing,  and  a  splendid 
keeper,  having  supplied  me  with  dessert  fruit 
right  through  March.  When  properly  ripened  it 
is  juicy,  but  rather  rough,  with  something  of  a 
Chaumontel  flavour,  and  refreshing.  Here  it 
compares  favourably  with  Olivier  de  Serres, 
growing  by  its  side,  and  is  distinctly  better 
flavoured  than  Bergamotte  d'Esperen,  also 
growing  near  it. 

Pembunj  Court,  Kent.  B.  Addy. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not   respoivnble   for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  J 


THE  R.H.S.  AND  ITS  HALL. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR, — I  have  read  with  regret  the  report  of 
the  meeting  on  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Hall.  Are  we  poor  country 
Fellows  of  no  account?  Many  in  my 
profession  have  neither  the  time  nor  the 
means  to  run  up  to  London  when  we  wish ; 
at  this  season  of  the  year  especially  we  are  tied  to 
our  parishes.  I  always  look  with  jealous  eyes  at 
the  dates  of  meetings  which  I  cannot  attend  and 
eagerly  look  for  the  Journal's  arrival.  Yet  Sir  M. 
Foster  says   we    are   "responsible  for    our    own 


[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

■"  *       Sir, — In  a  letter  which  appeared  in  your 

last  issue  your   correspondent  "A.   D.," 

referring    to    the    Vincent   Square   site, 

states  that  it  is  "  at  present  covered  with 

houses  the  leases  of  which  are  expiring, 

it  was  a  matter  of  absolute  necessity  that 

notice  as  to  the  termination  of  those  leases  should 

be   given   at   once,    hence   the   apparent  hurry  in 

calling  the  recent  special  meeting  of  the  Fellows." 

The  suggestion  that  the  "  hurry  in  calling  the 
recent  special  meeting  "  was  "  a  matter  of  absolute 
necessity  "  cannot  be  sustained. 

There  are  four  houses  on  the  site  under  tenancy 
agreements  as  to  three  of  them.  One  of  these  is 
subject  to  a  three  months'  and  two  others  to  six 
months'  notice  on  any  quarter  day.  The  fourth 
house  is  let  on  a  yearly  Midsummer  tenancy, 
which,  save  by  arrangement,  cannot  be  terminated 
by  notice  until  Midsummer,  1903.  Consequently,  at 
most  three  months'  delay  could  have  resulted  had 
notices  not  been  given  at  Ladyday  just  passed. 

But  a  moment's  consideration  will  show  that  not 
even  this  delay  would  really  have  occurred,  for, 
inasmuch  as  Baron  Schroeder  had  already  acquired 
the  lease,  with  its  obtifations  of  an  expenditure  of 
at  least  £15,000  on  buildings  and  an  immediate 
rental  of  £690  per  annum,  it  is  not  conceivable 
that  under  any  circumstances  the  bearer  of  such 
present  responsibilities,  whether  the  R.H.S. 
or  Baron  Schriieder,  would  have  permitted  the 
continuance  of  the  existing  tenancies  with  their 
comparatively  nominal  rentals  for  an  hour  longer 
than  was  legally  necessary.  Therefore,  had  not 
the  R.H.S.  at  the  meeting  in  question  adopted 
the  lease  of  the  site  and  given  the  notices  it  is 
inevitable  that  Baron  SehriJeder  would  have  done 
so.  This  reason  for  undue  hurry,  therefore,  com- 
pletely disappears. 

Your  correspondent  also  states  that  "  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  those  present  fairly  represented 
the  views  of  the  absent  Fellows."  But  this  is 
exactly  the  point  at  issue.  "A.  D."  doubtless 
holds  his  view  in  sincerity,  but  there  are  others 
equally  competent  to  form  an  opinion  who  enter- 
tain an  exactly  opposite  view. 

It  was  to  allow  absent  members  to  speak  for 
themselves  upon  this  point,  and  also  to  allow 
both  those  absent  and  those  present  to  know 
something  practical  and  definite  about  the  scheme 
so  suddenly  sprung  upon  the  society,  that  the 
adjournment  was  proposed,  and  could  have  been 
conceded  without  any  injury  to  the  society's 
position.  Lex. 

koses  on  teees. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — An  interesting  note  on  Roses  covering  the 
roots  of  trees  appears  on  page  119,  and  in  another 
place,  page  135,  the  old  climbing  China  Rose  is 


260 


THE   GARDEN. 


[Aprh.  19,  1902. 


recommended  for  this  work.  The  Roses  named  are 
very  beautiful,  remarkably  free,  and  make  a  charm- 
ing addition  to  the  garden.  My  note  more  concerns 
Roses  on  deciduous  trees  or  old  trees  that  are 
somewhat  past  their  best ;  the  strong  climbers 
used  for  this  purpose  are  very  charming.  At  Syon 
some  of  our  old  trees  are  covered  with  Roses  ;  they 
do  well  and  give  little  trouble.  Early  in  the  year 
a  good  portion  of  the  old  wood  is  cut  out  and 
the  new  nailed  or  tied  in.  Where  nails  are  objected 
to  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  use  copper  wire  or 
painted  dark  « ires  to  support  the  branches.  Roses 
grown  thus,  even  when  the  turf  is  close  to  the 
stems,  if  given  a  good  start  soon  cover  a  wide  space, 
and  if  allowed  will  rapidly  run  over  the  spreading 
forks  and  attain  a  great  height.  I  do  not  advise 
them  on  large  evergreen  trees  unless  the  latter  are 
decayed  and  the  branches  have  been  cut  back. 
Then  the  Rose  will  be  at  home  on  deciduous  trees, 
the  plants  get  more  moisture,  but  even  then  in  dry 
seasons  they  well  repay  copious  supplies. 

G.  Wythes. 


GRAFTING  TREE  P.EONIES. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — While  travelling  ia  the  United  States  I 
occasionally  noticed  a  double  and  single  flower  on 
Tree  Pieony  bushes,  and  on  examination  found  the 
single  purple  blossom  came  from  the  stock  on 
which  the  double  form  had  been  grafted.  I  also 
saw  the  fight  between  the  stock  and  the  graft 
would  terminate  in  favour  of  the  stock  if  left  alone. 
My  attention  was  specially  directed  to  the  Tree 
Pa?ony  in  consequence  of  an  American  nurseryman 
asking  me  to  enquire  why  no  large  plants  of  Tree 
Pfeonies  could  now  be  had  in  Japan  as  in  former 
times.  I  was  told  that  owing  to  the  great 
demand  growers  had  decided  to  limit  the  supply 
of  plants  to  not  more  than  three  buds  to  a  plant, 
and  advised  for  the  first  season  to  reduce  the  buds 
to  one  and  to  secure  one  good  flower  instead  of  three 
middling  blossoms.  I  then  enquired  regarding  the 
stock  used  for  grafting,  and  was  told  it  was  the 
single  purple-flowered  variety  I  had  seen  in  the 
United  States.  Since  then,  when  I  have  seen  a 
Japanese-made  Tree  Pieony,  I  have  advised  the 
owner  to  watch  the  stock  and  remove  all  sucker.? 
and  side  shoots  in  the  interest  of  the  graft.  While 
in  Australia  I  met  two  German  botanists  travelling 
at  the  expense  of  their  Government  to  study  the 
botany  more  especially  of  Australasia,  but  not 
exclusively,  as  they  had  spent  some  time  in  South 
Africa.  In  the  course  of  a  varied  conversation 
Pik-onies  were  referred  to,  and  I  expressed  a 
surprise  at  the  wild  form  of  the  Tree  Pieony 
being  unknown  in  Europe,  when  one  of  the  gentle- 
men informed  me  that  quite  recently  a  French 
priest  had  settled  the  question.  I  am  at  present 
in  correspondence  with  friends  in  Japan  to  know  if 
the  stock  used  for  grafting  is  Japanese  or  Chinese. 
Cajx.  Town.  Peter  Barr,  V.M.H. 

ATRIPLEX  CANESCENS. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Do  you  ever  come  across  this  shrub  in 
private  gardens?  It  grows  at  Kew  in  the  same 
bed  with  the  Box  Tliorn  (Lycium  barbarum),  and 
partakes  somewhat  of  its  habit.  There  is  another 
form,  A.  Nuttalli,  with  fine  silvery  foliage.  I 
cannot  find  either  of  these  shrubs  in  any  catalogue 
of  nursery  stock.  I  fancy  it  is  a  seaside  plant.  I 
think  ic  would  be  suitable  for  covering  porches  and 
arbours,  similar  to  the  Lyciums,  but  with  the 
advantage  of  being  evergieen.  Perhaps  a  short 
note  in  The  Gakdem  might  be  of  interest.  I 
have  known  the  plant  for  some  years  at  Kew,  and 
it  seems  quite  hardy  there. 

Richmond,  S.  W.  Walter  Price. 

It  is  extremely  doubtful  whether  the  several 
shrubby  species  of  Atriplex  are  to  be  found  out- 
side botanical  gardens  in  this  couutr}'.  Although 
two  or  three  are  distinct  in  general  appearance 
from  other  shrubs,  they  cannot  by  any  means  be 
placed  ill  a  prominent  position  and  recommended 
as  desirable  shrubs  for  general  cultivation.  True, 
several  are  evergreen  and  some  have  silvery  foliage, 
and  these  might  be  used  occasionally  as  a  change 


in  the  shrubbery,  and  one  dwarf-growing  species 
might  be  accommodated  in  the  rock  garden,  as  it 
is  of  neat  appearance  and  has  small  glaucous 
leaves.  As  flowering  plants  they  are  worthless, 
the  flowers  being  minute  and  usually  dull  in  colour. 
Ou  the  whole,  they  may  be  considered  hardy, 
though  occasionally  one  or  two  species  have  been 
injured  in  very  severe  winters.  They  show  a 
decided  preference  for  salty  ground,  and  would 
make  suitable  plants  for  the  coast  line  where 
many  other  things  would  not  grow.  They  grow 
naturally  into  good-sized,  dense  bushes,  with 
numerous  interlacing  branches  :  they  can  also  be 
used  in  the  same  way  as  the  common  Lycium — for 
covering  fences,  arbours,  tree  stumps,  or  other 
things,  and  a  point  in  their  favour  is  that  they  are 
not  at  all  fastidious  as  to  soil,  as  they  will  grow 
well  in  almost  pure  sand.  They  may  be  increased 
readilj'  by  cuttings  in  early  summer,  and  good- 
sized  plants  are  quickly  made.  They  do  not  appear 
to  be  catalogued  by  English  nurserymen,  but  Mr. 
L.  Spathe,  nurseryman,  Berlin,  supplies  several 
species.  At  Kew  the  following  species  are  grown  : 
Halimua,  with  long,  rambling  shoots,  clothed  with 
ovate,  silvery  leaves  ;  Breweri,  which  looks  almost 
identical  with  the  foregoing  ;  Canescens,  a  North- 
West  American  species,  with  very  narrow,  grey 
leaves  2  inches  long,  the  flowers  being  followed  by 
numbers  of  curious-winged  fruits  ;  Nuttalli,  a 
species  somewhat  resembling  the  last-named,  but 
with  wider  leaves ;  Muschketowi  and  spinosus, 
with  small  green  leaves  and  oonfertifolia,  <a  dwarf 
species  from  the  Western  United  States.  This 
last  species  is  a  compact  grower.  The  specimen  at 
Kew  forms  a  tufted  mass  about  9  inches  high, 
bearing  large  numbers  of  small,  oval,  fleshy  leaves, 
which,  when  mature,  are  glaucous  or  grey  in 
colour.  The  buds,  young  stems,  and  leaves  are 
rose-coloured  and  look  quite  pretty  contrasted 
with  the  silvery  leaves.  W.  Dallijiore. 


OUR  NATIVE  EVERGREENS. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir, — In  The  Garden  of  March  S  a  sound  note 
is  struck  when  you  write  in  favour  of  the  more 
extended  use  of  our  native  evergreens,  and  all  who 
take  a  pride  in  their  garden  should  consider  well 
the  words  of  praise  bestowed  upon  such  plants  as 
the  Yew,  Holly,  Scotch  Fir,  Spruce,  Juniper, 
Box,  and  Ivy.  Those  who  read  The  Garden 
cannot  have  failed  to  notice  the  grand  effect 
obtained  in  some  old  gardens  by  the  use  of  the 
majority  of  the  plants  mentioned  above,  and  more 
especially  of  the  Yew,  Holly,  Box,  and  Ivy.  It  is 
the  winter  effect  tliat  requires  careful  study  in 
ornamental  planting,  as  in  the  summer  time  there 
are  so  many  deciduous  flowering  trees  which  keep 
up  a  succession  of  bloom  that  a  good  eft'ect  can  be 
obtained  with  very  little  trouble.  But  from 
November  to  April  the  case  is  dift'erent,  deciduous 
trees  then  being  only  a  mass  of  leafless  branches, 
while  the  majority  of  hardy  evergreens  are  begin- 
ning to  look  their  best.  Of  the  seven  plants 
mentioned,  the  Yew,  Holly,  and  Box  should  be 
planted  in  every  garden  :  but  all  three  are  slow 
growing,  and,  compared  with  some  other  ever- 
greens, are  rather  expensive  to  purchase.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  they  are  obtained  in  good  condition 
and  properly  planted,  they  go  on  improving,  and 
never  get  into  a  shabby  condition,  as  so  many 
other  evergreens  do,  the  initial  cost  of  which  is 
much  less.  All  three  are  also  long-lived  and 
highly  decorative,  a  prettier  sight  than  a  large 
Holly  covered  with  berries  being  very  ditfioult 
to  find  during  the  winter  months.  The  Scotch 
Fir,  or,  more  properly,  the  Scotch  Pine,  and  the 
Spruce  can  be  procured  very  cheaply,  and  if 
planted  in  suitable  positions,  the  former  on  a 
hillside  and  the  latter  in  a  moist  lowland,  will 
amply  repay  the  small  outlay  required  to  plant 
several  acres  of  them.  The  common  Juniper  (.1. 
communis)  seems  to  have  been  ousted  from  its 
position  in  English  gardens  by  its  Chinese  relative 
(J.  chinensis),  which  is  a  pity,  as  it  is  suitable  for 
many  positions  that  the  latter  is  too  large  for. 
J.  communis  makes  a  large,  spreading  shrub, 
which  is  apt  to  get  straggly,  but  this  can  easily 
be  remedied  by  clipping  over  with  a  pair  of  shears 


while  the  plants  are  young.  If  this  is  done  for  a 
j'ear  or  two  it  will  rarely  be  found  to  get  out  of 
bounds  afterwards.  It  is  not  at  all  expensive. 
The  uses  of  Ivy  are  so  manifold  in  a  garden  that 
it  is  almost  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  them.  It 
will  be  sufficient  to  say  that  the  green  forms  are 
far  better  growers  than  the  variegated  ones,  while 
the  latter  are  also  rather  higher  in  price.  The 
common  Irish  Ivy,  which  is  largely  grown,  can  be 
obtained  in  almost  any  size  at  a  very  cheap  rate. 
Bayihot,  Surrey.  J.  C. 

WELL-KEPT  APPLES. 
[To  THE  Editor  or  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Can  one  wonder  that  when  visitors  at  the 
Drill  Hall  on  the  ioVn  ult.  saw  the  superb  collection 
of  Apples  staged  by  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Sons  they 
asked  "  Why  cannot  we  obtain  such  fruit  as  this  is 
in  the  market  ? "  It  is,  indeed,  a  grave  reflection  on 
our  poor  appreciation  of  all  that  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  and  other  bodies  have  done  to 
promote  hardy  fruit  culture  in  this  country  that 
such  questions  should  be  asked.  Well  may  lines 
of  a  once  popular  song  be  paraphrased  thus  : 
"We've  got  the  land,  we've  got  the  trees,  and 
we've  got  the  money  too."  But,  alas  !  we've  not 
got  the  fruit.  Whatever  may  be  the  general 
extension  of  Apple  culture  with  us  during  the  past 
twenty  years,  it  is  but  too  painfully  evident  that 
it  has  either  been  so  misdirected  as  to  lead  to  the 
production  mostly  of  early  maturing  Apples,  or 
else  that  it  had  been  so  piecemeal,  spasmodic,  and 
trifling  that  no  appreciable  effect  has  been  produced 
in  relation  to  an  abundant  supph'  of  late  or  well- 
kept  Apples.  Now  what  is  done  by  Messrs. 
Bunyard  and  Co.,  by  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Co.,  and 
others  in  the  keeping  of  Apples  in  splendid  condi- 
tion so  late  as  March  and  April  shows  that  the 
good  keeping  is  not  at  all  difficult.  But  it  may 
be  pleaded  that  their  fruit  stores  or  houses  are 
of  too  elaborate  or  costly  a  kind  for  ordinary 
growers  for  market  sale  to  employ.  That  may  be 
so,  although  a  good  store  is  available  for  the  object 
in  view,  not  for  one  year  only,  but  for  thirty  years. 
However,  for  all  ordinary  keeping  purposes  a  house 
of  concrete  walls  12  inches  thick,  with  doors  simply 
at  either  end,  the  roof  of  thick  thatch,  and  the  floor 
of  natural  soil,  well  fitted  in  every  part,  excepting 
alleys,  with  broad  trellis  shelves,  would  cost  little  • 
and  endure  for  a  lifetime.  Such  a  house  should  be 
18  feet  to  20  feet  wide  outside,  and  as  long  as 
needed.  If,  say,  100  feet  long  it  should  be  possible 
to  store  1,<X»0  bushels  of  first-class  fruit  in  it,  and 
if  such  samples  as  were  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Sons' 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  Prince  Albert,  Newton 
Wonder,  Sturmer  Pippin,  and  others,  the  entire 
bulk  in  March  should  be  worth  £1,000  at  least. 
Such  a  sample  of  Cox's  Orange  Pippin  as  was 
shown  on  the  25th  ult.  still  in  splendid  condition, 
firm,  crisp,  juicy,  and  fine,  would  no  doubt  fetch 
30s.  per  bushel.  It  is  such  fruit  as  this  we  need 
in  great  abundance  in  the  spring  months,  and  it 
is  a  humiliation  to  us  as  a  nation  to  have  to  admit 
that,  with  all  our  knowledge  and  all  our  resources, 
there  is  no  supply.  To  commence  the  creation 
of  such  a  supply  we  want  100,000  acres  of  land 
planted  yearly  for  the  next  ten  years  at  least,  and 
good  deeply-worked  land  too,  in  good  positions, 
planted  somewhat  closely  with  millions  of  bush 
trees  on  the  Paradise  stock  of  fine  late  keeping 
varieties.  In  no  other  way  can  we  hope  ever  to 
have  a  great  spring  supply  of  first-class  Apples 
brought  about.  A.  D. 

TWO    GOOD    NORTH    COUNTRY 
APPLES. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — May  I  draw  the  attention  of  North  country 
readers  of  The  Garden  to  the  proved  value  of 
two  Apples,  specimens  of   which  I  enclose — viz., 
Bramley's  Seedling  and  Y'orkshire  Greening.    They 
have  not  passed  the  winter  in  any  elaborate  fruit 
room,  but  on  the  shelves  of  a  disused  dairy  in  an 
old  Cumberland  farmhouse.     For  the  last  twelve 
years  I  have  been  planting  Apples,  having  during 
that  time  grown  (in  a  small  garden  and  orchard) 
fifty-five  varieties — far    too  many   for    profit,   of 


April  IS,  1902.] 


THE   GARDEK 


261 


course,  but  an  interesting  experiment,  notes  of 
crop,  &o.,  having  been  kept.  Some,  such  as 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  King  of  the  Pippins,  Cellini, 
and  Lord  Sufiield  had  to  be  quickly  discarded  ; 
others,  Keswick  Codlin,  Northern  Spy,  and 
Hawthornden  did  not  canker  so  soon ;  Gloria 
Mundi  and  King  of  Tomkins  County  are 
under  notice  to  quit  in  the  autumn.  For  late 
keeping  Apples,  Bramley's  Seedling  on  tall 
standards,  Northern  and  Yorkshire  Greening  on 
Paradise  stock  are  the  most  certain  croppers  here. 
Prince  Albert  is  good,  also  Peasgood's  Nonsuch 
and  Newton  Wonder  ;  but  these  last  will  not  fruit 
every  year. 

For  early  Apples,  Stirling  Castle,  Golden  Spire, 
and  Pott's  Seedling  are  always  good  ;  also 
Grenadier  and  Lord  Grosvenor,  but  they  take 
holiday  sometimes.  Bushes  of  the  locally-raised 
varieties  John  Peel  and  Lowther  Castle  are 
disappointing ;  they  grow  well,  but  do  not  fruit. 
I  should  not  like  to  depend  for  a  living  on  fruit 
growing  alone  in  this  part  of  the  world.  The 
garden  lies  sloping  to  the  south,  300  feet  above 
the  lake,  3'et  more  than  once  a  spring  frost  has 
destroyed  all  the  Pear  and  Cherry  blossom.  This 
year  the  pronjise  of  bloom  buds  is  great,  and  the 
crop  should  be  abundant  if  we  get  that  fine  season 
which  is  always  being  expected,  and  never  comes 
— for  everything  in  the  same  year.  But  if  the 
Pears  are  spoiled,  the  Apples  may  console  us,  or 
the  Plums  be  better  than  usual — only  in  one  season 
(1897)  did  all  fail.  The  true  gardener  always 
lives  in  hope,  especially  if  he  grows  fruit. 

Penrith.  Ullswater. 

[The  fruits  were  in  excellent  condition,  and  most 
valuable  at  this  season  of  the  year. — Eds.] 


VIBURNUM    PLICATUM. 

This  should  rank  second  to  the  commoner 
kind  (V.  Opulus  sterile),  for  though  its  flower 
clusters  are  finer  and  more  plentiful  on  the 
branches  it  is  not  so  graceful  in  growth,  neither 
is  it  so  hardy  in  all  soils  and  climates.  How- 
ever, V.  plicatum  ranks  among  the  very  choicest 
of  shrubs,  not  only  for  the  shrubbery  but  for 
covering  walls,  and  there  is  no  finer  clothing 
for  a  north  wall  or  where  the  sun  seldom 
reaches  than  this  beautiful  .Japanese    plant. 


A  group  of  it  on  a  lawn,  say  half  a  dozen  in  a 
mass,  such  as  may  be  seen  at  Kew,  displays  its 
beauty  to  perfection,  for  then  the  horizontally 
spreading  shoots  have  room  to  develop,  and  in 
the  middle  of  May  are  wreathed  with  snowy 
clusters  of  bloom.  So  far  as  I  know  the  single 
or  typical  V.  plicatum  is  not  in  cultivation 
here,  though  it  is  an  extremely  fine  shrub  as 
seen  in  Japan,  where  it  grows  into  a  tall 
spreading  bush.  The  flat  flower  clusters  were 
about  9  inches  across,  and  the  few  sterile 
flowers  were  exceptionally  large  and  pure 
white,  while  the  perfect  flowers  were  not 
inconspicuous.  V.  tomentosum  of  Thunberg 
is  now  considered  to  be  the  true  name  of 
V.  plicatum,  which,  with  cuspidatum,  is  a 
variety  of  it.  V.  plicatum  is  not  nearly  enough 
known  and  planted,  but  of  late  years  the  best 
nurseries  alaout  London  have  increased  its 
culture,  and  now  it  is  plentiful  and  as  cheap  as 
ordinary  shrubs.  Like  V.  Opulus  sterile  it 
may  be  forced  into  flower  early,  but  it  is  not 
graceful  enough  as  a  pot  plant  compared  with 
the  common  Snowball  Tree.  G. 


NOTES    FROM    WALES. 

JaSMINUM   NUDIFLOBUM. 

This  Jasmine  is  in  full  bloom  in  many  parts  of 
North  Wales,  the  yellow  blossoms,  which  appear 
before  the  leaves,  being  very  conspicuous,  especially 
when  the  plant  is  against  a  wall ;  it  is  best  not  to 
prune  this  climber  too  severely,  the  old  worthless 
branches  being  simply  disposed  of,  and  the  rest 
tied  in,  a  good  distance  apart.  It  is  easily 
propagated  from  cuttings  inserted  in  sandy  soil 
and  covered  with  a  hand  glass  until  well  rooted. 

Begonia  President  Carnot. 

Possibly  this  Begonia  occupies  a  place  of  honour 
among  our  indoor  plants  ;  its  pendulous  flowers 
of  a  rosj'  pink  colour  and  its  stately  habit  mark 
it  as  a  plant  unique  amongst  its  fellows.  It  is 
easily  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  young  growths, 
taken  about  March  or  April,  and  inserted  in  pots 
of  sandy  soil  in  a  temperature  of  65°  ;  withhold 
water  until  growth  commences. 


Leptosipkons. 
These  constitute  a  genus  of  hardy  annuals, 
natives  of  California.  AH  the  Leptosiphons  are 
well  adapted  for  rockeries,  edgings,  &c.  They  are 
characterised  by  having  their  Sowers  in  pretty 
clusters  crowded  upon  dense  tufts  of  feathery 
foliage,  about  10  inches  high,  their  colour 
being  usually  purplish  rose  with  a  blue  tint, 
although  there  also  exists  a  pure  white  variety. 
The  best  known  are  L.  androsaceus,  L.  aureus, 
and  L.  roseus. 

Obeliscakia  puloherrima. 

This  handsome  hardy  annual  is  a  very  useful 
plant  for  the  embellishment  of  mixed  borders,  &c. 
The  flowers  are  of  a  rich  brown-crimson,  golden 
edged,  produced  in  July  ;  it  stands  about  18  inches 
high. 

Bryiihella,  St.  Asaph.  John  Den  man. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


ORCHIDS. 

Dendrobiums. 
ANY  of  these  have  commenced  growing, 
and  those  requiring  more  rooting 
space  should  be  repotted,  otherwise 
a  surfacing  with  fresh  sphagnum 
moss  is  all  that  is  needed.  Great 
care  is  necessary  in  liberating  the 
from  their  receptacles,  especially  those 
in  baskets ;  all  dead  and  decaying  roots 
be  out  away,  worn  out  material  removed, 
and  the  plants  so  placed  in  the  pots  or  pans  that 
their  bases  are  level  with  the  rim.  Fill  two- 
thirds  deep  with  crocks,  and  the  remaining  space 
with  equal  proportions  of  peat  and  sphagnum 
moss,  pressing  this  moderately  firm.  Dendrobiums 
will  also  root  freely  in  moss  alone.  Take  care  that 
the  base  of  the  growth  is  not  buried  in  the  compost, 
and  water  should  be  sparingly  applied  until  the 
young  shoots  are  well  advanced  and  the  new  roots 
have  taken  to  the  fresh  material. 


M 


plants 
grown 
should 


CHINESE   GUELDER  'ROSE   (VIBDRNUM   PLICATUM)    AT   KEW. 


Propagation  or  Dendrobiums. 

It  is  advisable  to  increase  the  number  of  plants 
whenever  possible,  especially  the  more  valuable 
kinds.  The  majority  may  be  increased  by  severing 
the  rhizomes  just  before  the  plant  com- 
mences to  grow.  Take  a  plant  having, 
say,  six  bulbs,  cut  between  the  third  and 
fourth,  and  the  fourth  bulb  will  generally 
produce  a  young  growth  a  few  weeks 
after  the  lead  has  commenced  to  grow. 
This  may  remain  and  grow  on  undis- 
turbed for  one  season  ;  should  both  begin 
to  grow  about  the  same  time  they  may 
be  separated  at  once  if  required  and  potted 
up  in  the  usual  way. 

Dendrobium  nobile, 
wardianum,  crassinode.  Falconer  ii,  others 
of  similar  habit,  and  many  of  the  hybrids 
derived  therefrom  are  readily  increased  by 
cuttings.  First  remove  some  of  the  old 
pseudo-bulbs,  selecting  those  with  dormant 
eyes,  and  lay  them  on  sphagnum  moss  in 
a  warm,  moist,  and  shaded  propagating 
house.  If  they  are  kept  moderately  moist 
the  dormant  eye  will  quickly  produce  a 
young  growth,  which  should  be  severed, 
together  with  a  piece  of  the  old  bulb  as 
soon  as  new  roots  begin  to  make  their 
appearance  at  the  base,  and  be  potted  up 
in  the  usual  way.  Put  them  in  small, 
well-drained  receptacles,  using  chopped 
sphagnum  moss  as  a  compost.  Keep  in 
the  same  warm,  moist,  and  growing  tem- 
perature until  the  little  plants  have 
become  well  rooted,  after  which  they 
should  be  gradually  inured  to  more  sun- 
light and  receive  the  same  treatment  as 
other  growing  Dendrobiums. 

There  is  another  system  by  which 
numerous  young  growths  may  be  pro- 
duced  upon   many  Dendrobiums   of  the 


262 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  19,  1902. 


nobile  section  and  numerous  hybrids.  When 
the  eyes  are  first  seen  to  be  swelling  the 
usual  practice  is  to  keep  the  plants  dry  at  the 
root  and  in  a  moderately  cool  temperature 
until  tlie  flower  buds  are  visible ;  then  water 
them  and  remove  to  a  warmer  temperature  for 
the  flowers  to  expand.  Instead  of  being  treated 
thus,  as  soon  as  the  eyes  begin  to  swell  remove  the 
plants  to  a  warmer  temperature  and  keep  them 
moderately  moist.  Instead  of  the  plants  flowering 
well,  as  they  would  have  done  under  the  general 
treatment,  it  will  be  found  that  many  of  the  eyes 
will  produce  young  growths,  which  should  be 
severed  from  the  bulb  and  potted  up  in  the  usual 
way  as  soon  as  new  roots  are  visible  at  the  base. 
F.  W.  Thurgood. 
Hosslyn  Gardens,  Stamfot-d  Hill,  N. 


THE  KITCHEN  GAKDEN. 
Leeks. 
To  ensure  good  specimens  by  early  autumn  prepare 
trenches  18  inches  wide  2  feet  deep,  with  the 
bottom  well  broken  up.  Place  about  4  inches  of 
good  half-rotted  cow  manure  in  the  bottom,  and  fill 
up  level  with  the  surface  with  a  compost  of  good 
filDrous  loam,  leaf  soil,  old  Mushroom  bed  manure, 
and  road  scrapings  in  equal  proportions,  to  which 
should  be  added  a  little  finely-sifted  old  mortar 
rubble  and  bone-meal — about  half  a  peck  of  each  to 
every  barrow-load — mixing  the  whole  thoroughly. 

The  plants,  which  should  have  been  sown  as 
previously  advised  and  carefully  nursed  along, 
should  by  now  have  been  thoroughly  hardened  and 
read}'  for  planting  whenever  the  weather  is  favour- 
able. From  the  middle  to  the  end  of  the  present 
month  will  be  early  enough  providing  care  and 
attention  are  bestowed  upon  them  while  they  are 
growing  in  the  pots,  otherwise  if  from  any  cause  a 
severe  check  is  given,  especially  by  allowing  them 
to  become  dry  at  the  roots,  in  all  probability 
many  will  run  to  flower  towards  the  end  of  the 
summer.  Plant  with  a  garden  trowel,  disturbing 
the  roots  as  little  as  possible.  Every  inducement 
should  be  given  the  plants  to  start  away  into  new 
growth  as  quickly  as  possible  by  frequently 
sprinkling  in  dry  weather  and  giving  shelter  in 
frosty  and  stormy  weather. 

Beetkoot. 

Though  too  early  to  make  the  main  sowings, 
small  breadths  of  long  and  Turnip-rooted  kinds 
should  be  sown  in  a  warm  part  of  the  garden  for 
early  supplies.  Carter's  Crimson  Ball  is  an  excel- 
lent variety,  as  it  matures  quickly  and  the  flavour 
is  good. 

Seakale. 

Every  eSbrt  should  be  made  to  prolong  the 
season  of  this  delicious  vegetable  by  growing  and 
blanching  it  under  a  north  wall.  In  this  way  good 
heads  may  be  ensured  until  the  end  of  May,  and  to 
securely  blanch  at  this  season  heap  over  the  crowns 
a  good  quantity  of  fine  cinder  ashes  and  soil.  As 
soon  as  the  growth  shows  signs  of  breaking  through 
it  will  be  fit  for  cutting,  and  the  quality  will  be  all 
one  can  desire.  Make  new  plantations  for  supplying 
roots  for  next  season's  forcing ;  a  liberal  treat- 
ment is  necessary  to  procure  strong  crowns  by  early 
autumn.  The  ground  should  have  been  thoroughly 
trenched  and  well  manured  during  the  winter,  and 
should  now  be  in  good  condition  for  receiving  the 
young  plants  which  have  been  prepared  and  grown 
under  glass  in  boxes.  These  should  be  planted 
with  a  dibber,  allowing  a  distance  of  1  foot  from 
plant  to  plant  and  18  inches  between  the  rows. 
Place  a  few  ashes  round  each  and  reduce  the  shoots 
to  one,  of  course  leaving  the  strongest.  Immediately 
these  begin  to  develop  keep  the  soil  frequently 
stirred  between  the  plants,  and  good  drenchings  of 
farmyard  liquid  manure,  well  diluted,  will  be  very 
beneficial  during  the  growing  season. 

Vegetable  Marrows 
which  were  raised  early  and  planted  in  frames  will 
need  constant  care  and  attention.  Every  induce- 
ment should  be  given  them  to  make  a  sturd}',  short- 
jointed  growth.  Syringe  and  shut  up  fairly  early, 
and  cover  the  glass  at  night.  The  female  flowers 
should  be  fertilised  in  the  same  way  as  Melons  and 
Cucumbers  to  obtain  a  good  crop,  and  add  a  slight 


mulching  of  warmed  soil  after  this  has  beeu  ensured. 
Another  sowing  should  at  once  be  made  in  small 
pots  for  later  supplies,  also  Ridge  Cucumbers, 
where  these  are  likely  to  be  in  request. 

E.  Beckett. 
Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Elatree,  Herts. 


THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
A  Border  of  Blue  Flowers. 
During  late  summer  and  autumn  yellow  is  such  a 
predominating  colour  in  the  flower  garden  that  a 
border  composed  almost  entirely  of  blue  flowers 
comes  as  an  unexpected  surprise  and  gives  a 
charming  and  delightful  efiect.  If  the  border  is 
situated  in  a  partly-shaded  position  the  eflect  is 
enhanced,  as  this  colour  is  not  seen  at  its  best  in  a 
strong  light.  Last  year  I  arranged  such  a  border 
here — 160  feet  long  and  20  feet  wide — with  an 
eastern  aspect  and  backed  with  large  trees,  which, 
however,  were  some  distance  away.  Throughout 
the  whole  length  I  placed  supports  of  sticks — some 
cone  -  shaped,  others  upright,  and  some  almost 
recumbent — around  which  I  planted  blue  varieties 
of  Sweet  Peas,  blue  Convolvulus,  and  Iponuva 
rubro-cccrulea.  These  were  so  arranged  as  to 
avoid  any  formal  design,  while  in  addition  I  had 
poles  covered  with 

Clematis  Jackmani, 
which,  having  been  planted  the  previous  season, 
gave  a  profusion  of  flowers  and  greatly  added  to 
the  beauty  of  the  effect.  Then,  again,  I  placed 
informal  groups  in  various  sizes  and  shapes  of 
Delphiniums,  especially  the  blue  hybrid  ones  that 
grow  5  feet  to  0  feet  high,  and  the  small  one. 
Queen  of  the  Blues,  which  grows  only  to  the 
height  of  about  2  feet,  but  possesses  the  finest  blue 
colour  of  any  flower  I  know. 

Anchpsa  italica, 
a  very  showy  perennial,  but  if  sown  early  flowers 
the  same  year,  is  another  valuable  plant  suitable 
for  such  a  border.  Groups  of  blue  Campanulas, 
Anagallis  Phillipsi,  Catananche  cwrulea,  Comme- 
lina  crelestis — these  two,  though  perennials,  flower 
the  first  year  if  sown  early  in  boxes — Lobelia, 
Phacelia,  blue  Swan  River  Daisy,  Trachymene 
cierulea,  blue  Verbenas,  Lupines,  Cornflower, 
Heliotrope,  and  also  a  few  perennial  plants  such 
as  Echiuops,  Eryngiums,  and  Platycodon  grandi- 
florum  completed  it. 

The  Ipom.ea 
referred  to,  though  perhaps  not  hardy  enough  for 
growing  out  of  doors  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
country,  does  admirably  here.  During  .lune,  .July, 
and  August  this  particular  part  of  the  garden  was 
at  its  best,  and  elicited  much  admiration.  In 
arranging  the  groups  care  should  be  taken  to  have 
the  different  shades  blending  harmoniously. 

loNopsiDiUM  acaule  (Violet  Cress) 
is  another  charming  little  plant  eminently  suited 
for  growing  in  chinks  of  steps.  The  lonopsidium 
is  even  better  fitted  for  this  work  in  some  respects 
than  Menthas,  Linarias,  &c.,  because  it  flowers 
eight  or  nine  weeks  from  sowing,  and  afterwards 
sows  itself  freely,  reappearing  year  after  year.  If 
sown  now  it  will  flower  in  June,  and  will  last  a 
considerable  time  in  beauty,  then  seed,  and  fresh 
seedlings  will  give  a  late  autumn  display.  It  is  a 
small  Portuguese  annual,  about  2  inches  high,  with 
dense  tufts  of  violet  flowers,  and  it  is  a  most 
desirable  plant  for  various  uses  in  the  garden. 

Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 
Castle  Gardens,  St.  Pagans. 

FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Melons. 
As  the  fruits  upon  early  plants  approach  maturity 
they  must  have  a  night  temperature  of  about  70", 
accompanied  with  a  circulation  of  fresh  warm  air, 
which  will  improve  flavour.  Withhold  liquid 
manure,  and  lessen,  without  permitting  the  soil 
to  become  sufficiently  dry  to  cause  the  foliage  to 
flag,  the  supply  of  water  both  at  the  roots  and  in 
the  atmosphere.  Mismanagement  in  this  respect 
will  cause  the  fruits  to  split.  These  should  be 
gathered  as  soon  as  they  commence  to  eraok  around 


the  foot-stalk,  and  be  placed  in  a  warm,  airy  place 
to  thoroughly  mature.  When  all  the  fruit  is 
gathered  clear  away  the  plants,  cleanse  the  house, 
and  replant  when  the  compost  has  been  either 
entirely  or  partially  replenished  and  become  warm. 

Mid-season  Melons. 

Plants  to  produce  a  summer  supply  of  fruits  may 
now,  and  subsequently  in  succession,  be  safely 
planted  in  pits  or  frames  that  are  not  even  fur- 
nished with  hot-water  pipes,  provided  they  have 
a  bed  of  fermenting  material  able  to  supply  the 
necessary  amount  of  bottom  heat.  Make  the  beds 
firm  and  well  up  to  the  glass,  placing  a  ridge 
or  hillocks  of  compost,  running  from  end  to  end  of 
the  pit,  somewhat  nearer  the  back  than  the  front. 
After  the  soil  has  become  warmed  place  two  plants, 
which  should  have  been  previously  stopped,  at 
equal  distances  under  each  sash,  and  firmly  plant 
them.  Free  the  plants  from  all  leading  growths 
except  the  two  strongest,  training  one  to  the 
back  and  the  other  to  the  front  of  the  pit,  and 
subsequently  thin  and  stop  lateral  growths  as 
necessary  to  admit  of  light  and  air.  Keep  a 
moderately  dry  atmosphere  during  the  flowering 
season,  and  when  sufficient  fruits  have  been  set 
for  a  crop — say,  three  or  four  to  each  plant — add  to 
the  ridge  a  firm  layer  of  fresh  compost.  Attend 
carefully  as  required  to  watering,  supplying  weak 
tepid  liquid  manures  at  the  same  time.  Keep  the 
soil  dry  round  the  collar  of  the  plants.  Ventilate 
early  on  bright  days  and  freely  in  hot  weather, 
avoiding  cold  draughts,  and  maintain  a  warm  night 
temperature  by  closing  early,  when  the  plants 
should  be  well  syringed  with  tepid  water.  Plants 
in  pits  or  frames  not  provided  with  hot-water 
pipes  will  be  the  better  if  protected  at  night  by 
mats. 

Late  Vineries. 

Vines  in  these  are  now  making  rapid  progress, 
which  will  necessitate  disbudding  and  stopping  of 
shoots.  Not  only  is  this  sometimes  neglected,  but 
frequently  the  laterals'  are  trained  far  too  closely 
together,  and  both  the  fruit  and  wood  suffer  in 
consef|uence.  Bring  the  laterals,  once  they  are 
sufficiently  firm,  gradually  down  to  the  trellis, 
secure  them,  and  stop  sub-laterals  before  the 
flowers  expand,  so  that  the  Vines  do  not  receive  a 
check  during  the  flowering  period  by  their  having 
attention  in  this  way.  Maintain  during  the 
flowering  season  a  night  temperature  of  about  65° 
for  such  varieties  as  Alicante,  Lady  Downe's 
Seedling,  Appley  Towers,  and  other  free-setting 
varieties.  Muscats  of  all  kinds  should  have  5' 
more. 

Pot  Vines. 

Where  the  fruit  is  on  the  point  of  changing 
colour  give  weak  liquid  manure,  carefully  regulating 
the  temperature.  Should  red  spider  appear  at 
oncG  sponge  the  affected  foliage,  and  persevere  with 
this.  When  the  fruit  commences  to  change  colour 
preserve  a  moderately  dry,  warm  atmosphere  by 
damping  the  floors,  &c. ,  less  frequently,  leaving 
the  ventilators  slightly  open  at  night  and  freely 
ventilating  the  structure  in  mild  bright  weather. 

Thos.  Coombeb. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Zonal  Pelargoniums 
for  winter  flowering,  if  sufficiently  well  rooted  in 
small  pots,  may  be  transferred  to  3i-inch  pots. 
The  compost  used  should  consist  of  three  parts 
fibrous  loam  and  one  part  leaf-soil,  with  some  dried 
manure  and  coarse  silver  sand  mixed  with  the  soil. 
Pot  rather  firm,  so  that  they  will  make  short  jointed 
growth.  Place  the  plants  in  a  temperature  of  50°, 
keeping  them  near  the  glass  in  a  frame  or  low  pit. 
Give  a  little  shade  during  sunn}-  days  until  they 
have  made  fresh  roots,  when  they  may  be  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun. 

Imantophyllums 
that  have  finished  flowering  may  be  divided  or 
repotted.  These  plants  are  most  useful  in  6-inch 
and  4A-ineh  pots.  In  repotting  use  the  same 
compost  as  advised  for  Pelargoniums.  Pot  firmly, 
and  afford  them  a  temperature  of  60°,  sj'ringing 
them  freely.     Plants  that  do  not  require  repotting 


April  19,  1902,] 


THE  GAKDEN. 


263 


should  be  top-dressed,  but  the  loose  surface  soil 
should  first  be  removed  and  a  mixture  of  good 
loam,  manure,  and  bone-meal  be  well  pressed 
among  the  roots. 

China  Asters. 
Sutton's  Giant  Single  China  Aster  for  pot  culture 
is  a  most  beautiful  and  really  valuable  Aster.  Only 
those  who  have  grown  them  can  have  an  idea  of 
their  usefulness  for  greenhouse  decoration  when 
flowering  plants  are  somewhat  scarce.  Sow  thinly 
in  seed-pans  filled  with  loam  and  leaf-mould  with 
plenty  of  sand.  .Just  cover  the  seeds  with  finely- 
sifted  soil,  put  a  sheet  of  glass  over  the  pan,  and 
place  in  a  warm  frame.  When  the  plants  have 
made  three  leaves  they  should  be  pricked  ofi^  into 
frames  on  a  bed  of  ashes.  When  the  Asters  are 
about  3  inches  high  transfer  them  singly  into  their 
flowering  pots,  4i-inoh  or  6-inch.  Plunge  in  ashes 
out  of  doors  wiien  there  is  no  danger  of  frost. 
They  can  be  sown  in  separate  colours  ;  blush-white 
and  rose  are  the  best.  They  may  also  be  planted 
in  a  border,  carefully  lifted  with  balls  of  soil  just 
before  the  flowers  open,  and  then  potted.  East 
Lothian  Stocks  may  now  be  sown  and  treated  in 
the  same  way. 

Hekbaceotis  Calceolakias 
that  have  filled  their  pots  with  roots  and  are 
showing  flower  spikes  should  have  occasional 
waterings  with  weak  liquid  manure.  The  plants 
should  be  given  a  slight  syringing  on  bright  days. 
Oreen  fly  is  a  great  enemy  to  these  plants,  and  must 
be  destro3"ed  by  fumigation  as  soon  as  it  appears. 

CtEneral  Remarks. 
Plants  that  are  well  rooted  need  constant  atten- 
tion and  careful  watering,  and  those  that  are  coming 
into  flower,  such  as  Schizanthus,  Mignonette, 
and  Gladiolus,  should  be  neatly  staked  and  have 
manure  and  soot- water  given  them  occasionallj-. 

John  Flemisg. 
Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Sloiujh. 


OLD    CORMS    OF    CYCLAMEN 
PERSICUM. 

I  HAVE  often  admired  Cyclamens,  but  have 
never  succeeded  very  well  with  them,  as  my 
plan  was  either  to  sow  seed  every  year,  or,  if  I 
kept  a  corm,  to  dry  it  carefully  after  it  had  done 
flowering.  Lately,  on  a  visit  to  Dorsetshire, 
in  the  garden  at  Milton  Abbey  (!Mr.  Perkins, 
gardener),  I  found  a  different  system  followed, 
with,  to  me,  wonderful  results.  I  send  you  a 
photograph  of  one  of  the  plants  which  had 
ninety-two  blooms  out,  besides  many  buds,  and 
which  measured  22  inches  across  one  way  and 
21  inches  the  other.  The  corm  is  a  four  year 
old  one,  has  never  been  really  dried  off,  and 
has  been  grown  on  each  year.  This  system  is 
adopted  by  Mr.  Perkins  with  wonderful  results. 
Perhaps  those  of  your  readers  who  have 
suffered  as  I  have  from  only  having  small 
plants  may  find  the  information  interesting. 

E.  Hanbuey. 


KE^V    GARDENS    AND    THE 
SMOKE    NUISANCE. 

An  interesting  interview  with  Sir  W.  B.  Richmond, 
R.A.,  appeared  in  the  Daily  News  recently  ;  it  is 
as  follows : — 

"  Sir  W.  B.  Richmond,  R.A.,  talked  yesterday 
with  a  representative  of  the  Daily  News  about  the 
effect  of  Brentford  smoke  on  Kew  Gardens,  the 
two  places,  as  Londoners  at  least  know,  being  face 
to  face,  with  the  Thames  between.  The  conversa- 
tion turned  on  a  previous  one  between  the  journalist 
and  Dr.  Henry  Bott,  Medical  Officer  of  Health  for 
Brentford,  who  declared  that  his  town  did  no 
harm  to  the  gardens.  Of  course,  Brentford  was 
occasionally  smoky.  As  a  manufacturing  place  it 
could  not  help  being  so,  but  of  late  at  least  it  had 
been  inofiensive  except  during  the  brief  periods  of 
'  firing  up.'  The  damage  to  the  gardens  was  done 
by  London.     When  an  east  wind  blew  it  brought 


the  fumes  of  the  metropolis  to  Kow  and  scores  of 
other  up-river  places,  and  if  the  great  city  put  on 
a  mantel  of  fog  the  hem  at  least  of  the  garment  was 
sure  to  rest  on  Kew  and  Brentford.  Everybody 
knew  what  that  meant — a  thick  cloud  of  sulphur 
and  fine  soot.  He  was  aware  that  Sir  W.  B. 
Richmond  was  leading  a  crusade  against  Brentford 
in  respect  to  its  smoke,  but  the  tunny  thing  was 
that  the  managers  of  the  gardens  did  not  agree 
with  him.  At  any  rate,  they  had  made  no  com- 
plaint lately. 

"Sir  W.  B.  Richmond  was  found  in  his  studio  at 
Hammersmith  making  an  oil-colour  sketch  for  a 
large  painting.  As  he  went  on  with  the  work  he 
listened  to  a  repetition  of  Dr.  Botl's  statement, 
and  then  said  :  '  If  Sir  W.  Thiselton-Dyer  has  not 
latelj'  complained  to  Brentford  that  it  was  injuring 
the  gardens  that  is  because  he  was  tired  of  com- 
plaining. The  Kew  people  have  been  making 
representations  to  the  authorities  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  for  ten  j'ears,  and  always  without 
result.  The  fact  is  that  these  wretched  manu- 
facturers, not  at  Brentford  only,   but  elsewhere  as 


told  that  I  should  get  into  trouble,  but  I  don't  care 
a  hang  about  that.     We  are  going  on.' 

"  '  What  do  j'ou  think  of  the  statement  that  the 
smoke  which  damages  Kew  Gardens  comes  from 
London,  not  Brentford?  'It  is — well,  it  is  totally 
inaccurate.  You  can  see  the  track  of  the  Brentford 
smoke  in  Kew  Gardens.  About  two-thirds  of  the 
gardens  are  affected.  In  the  remaining  third  the 
trees  are  quite  green,  which  they  are  not  in  the 
part  usually  touched  by  tlie  smoke,  ^\'e  have  had 
photographs  taken  of  the  smoke  cloud.  It  is 
frightful.  It  is  a  crying  shame  that  the  finest 
horticultural  gardens  in  the  world  should  be 
blighted  by  a  manufacturing  district  which  at 
times  is  as  bad  as  Sheffield.  There  are  many 
delicate  plants  which  can  no  longer  be  grown  at 
Kew  since  Brentford  has  become  so  smoky.  You 
should  see  what  a  great  pile  of  documents  Sir  W. 
Thiselton-D^'er  has  sent  to  the  Government,  showing 
the  damage  done  by  Brentford  smoke.  The  society 
has  helped  him,  and  he  says  we  are  the  only 
people  who  have  given  him  the  slightest  assistance. 
Our  inspector  is  at  the  gardens  constantly.' 


CYCLAMEN    I'ERSlrUM    (OORM   FOUR   YEARS   OLD), 


well,  are  all  in  a  ring,  and  they  do  not  care  what 
harm  their  smoke  does.  Thej'  will  have  to  care 
though,  because  the  Office  of  Works  is  going  to 
give  instructions  for  their  prosecution.  The  Act  of 
1891  is  very  simple,  but  the  magistrates  would  not 
convict  under  it  until  I  founded  the  Coal  Smoke 
Abatement  Societ3'.  The  Dailii  News  has  taken 
a  good  deal  of  interest  in  the  subject,  and  I  am  glad 
of  it,  because  public  opinion  has  been  absolutely 
dead  with  regard  to  the  smoke  nuisance.  The 
public  hardly  seemed  aware  of  the  fact  that  there 
was  a  law  against  it.  Now,  however,  people  are 
being  roused,  and  are  saying,  "If  there  is  a  law, 
why  in  the  name  of  fate  is  it  not  enforced  ? "  Well, 
the  real  reason  is  the  enormous  amount  of  jobbery 
in  connexion  with  local  authorities.  Since  1  went 
on  the  Hammersmith  Council  I  have  had  tremendous 
difficult}',  but  1  have  hvxstled  them  up  to  such  a 
degree  that  now  we  have  not  a  bit  of  smoke  in  the 
place.  The  Twopenny  Tube  used  to  give  out  a  lot 
of  smoke,  but  it  does  not  now.  Our  society  has 
cost  that  blessed  company  one  thousand  five 
hundred  pounds.' 

"  '  How  the}'  must  love  you  ? '  '  Yes,  I  have  been 


"  '  ^'our  crusade  against  smoke  is  not  confined' 
to  Kew  and  Brentford  ? '  '  Oh ,  no.  We  act  all  over 
London.  Our  societ}',  with  only  two  inspectors, 
has  caused  the  imposition  of  more  fines  than  the 
County  Council  and  all  the  Borough  Councils 
put  together. .  We  have  never  lost  a  single  case, 
and  we  have  obtained  fines  amounting  altogether 
to  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  pounds.  I 
will  undertake  to  say  that  if  I  were  like  the 
German  Emperor  I  would  in  one  3'ear  stop  the 
issue  of  black  smoke  from  every  factory  in 
London.  Look  at  West  Ham  !  We  are  tackling 
it  now.  There  are  one  hundred  chimnej's 
belching  out  smok^  day  and  night  within  an  area 
of  half  a  mile.  Smoke  does  not  mean  dirt  alone. 
It  means  injury  to  human  health.  It  often  means 
death.  People  do  not  seem  to  realise  that.  Sir 
William  Broadbent  said  the  other  daj'  that  a 
London  fog  was  a  fatal  turning  point  in  many 
illnesses,  especially  when  there  was  a  weakness  of 
heart.     It  caused  hundreds  of  deaths.' 

"  '  Do  you  think  that  the  chimneys  of  private 
houses  do  much  harm  ? '  '  They  may  do  some 
harm,  but  to  say  that  the  evil  we  complain  of  is 


264 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  19,  1902. 


caused  by  private  chimneys  is  nonsense.  We  live 
in  an  enormous  manufacturing  district  —  the 
greatest  in  the  world.  Practically  it  e.xtends  from 
London  to  the  mouth  of  the  Thames.  Its  fumes 
overwhelm  u<;  when  an  east  wind  blows.  To  show 
you  that  the  offenders  are  not  house  chimneys,  I 
will  tell  you  a  story.  Five  years  ago  I  was  staying 
with  my  old  friend  the  late  Lord  Wantage,  at 
Wantage,  sixty-four  miles  from  London.  The 
thermometer  stood  at  over  ninety  degrees  in  the 
shade.  Is  it  likely  that  with  such  a  heat  anybody 
would  light  fires  if  they  could  avoid  it  ?  No. 
Well,  I  went  on  the  Downs,  and  saw  a  great  wall 
of  smoke  coming  from  the  direction  of  London.  In 
course  of  time  I  was  enveloped  in  it,  and  I  smelled 
all  London.  This  occurred  on  three  consecutive 
afternoons.  There  was  a  shepherd  on  the  Downs, 
and  I  said  to  him,  "  What  does  this  mean?"  He 
replied,  "We  call  it  London  dirt.  When  the 
wind  comes  south  by  oast  and  there  is  snow  on  the 
ground,  the  snow  is  turned  black."  Think  of  that. 
A  place  si.xty-four  miles  from  London.  Of  course 
Reading  lies  between,  and  it  helped,  but  London 
did  the  most.  How  much  further  the  cloud 
travelled  I  do  not  know,  but  it  did  not  stop  at 
Wantage.' 

"  Warmed  by  his  subject  the  artist  had  ceased 
painting  for  several  minutes,  and  with  palette  and 
maul-stick  in  hand  was  standing  while  he  talked 
with  much  animation.  As  the  journalist  turned 
to  go  Sir  William,  pointing  to  a  basin  of  decidedly 
dirty  water,  said,  'That  is  from  the  cleaning  of 
one  picture.  I  have  good  reason  to  know  what 
smoke  does.'  " 


extent  during  a  spell  of  drought.  Any  material 
may  be  used  for  the  purpose — decayed  manure, 
partially  decayed  leaves,  spent  Hops,  or  tliat  from 
an  old  Mushroom  bed.  We  prefer  the  latter.  By 
early  mulching  weeds  also  are  kept  in  check,  which 
is  no  small  advantage. 

The  after  treatment  will  consist  in  dewing  over- 
head after  hot  days,  and  keep  all  offsets  pinched  off' 
so  as  to  form  one  strong  central  crown.  Syringing 
each  evening  is  necessary  during  hot  weather,  as 
the  foliage  is  quickly  attacked  with  red  spider,  and 
moisture  is  the  only  sure  means  of  destroying  the 
pest.  These  remarks  bear  chiefly  on  plants  that 
are  to  be  lifted  in  September  and  placed  in  frames, 
but  many  growers  will  not  have  the  latter,  and 
then,  so  as  to  get  flowers  as  early  as  possible  in 
spring,  they  resort  to  planting  the  roots  at  the  foot 
of  a  warm  wall. 

This  is  a  very  good  plan,  but  it  has  decided 
drawbacks  unless  planting  is  done  at  the  right 
time,  that  is,  in  autumn.  Plants  situated  near 
brickwork,  where  the  sun  strikes  them,  cannot 
grow  freely  during  summer,  and  they  would 
quickly  be  eat  up  with  red  spider,  and  also  intro- 
duce it  to  the  trees  above  them.  It  is  certainly 
better,  therefore,  to  grow  the  plants  in  cooler 
quarters  and  remo\e  them  to  the  foot  of  the  wall 
in  autumn.  Richard  Parker. 

(To  he  continued.) 


THE     CULTIVATION     OF 
VIOLETS.-II 

(Continued  from  paye  ~J'/.J 
Sum.mer  Treatment. 
Havinc:  selected  and  put  in  sufficient  offsets,  the 
next  step  is  to  select  the  most  suitable  position  and 
get  it  in  readiness  by  the  time  the  plants  are  ready 
for  placing  out,  which  will  be  during  April.  As 
we  grow  large  (juantities  purposely  for  winter 
flowering  in  frames  we  arc  very  careful  about  tlieir 
summer  quarters,  especially  during  recent  seasons. 
Owing  to  the  continued  heat  and  drought  we 
have  found  the  best  positions  are  borders 
running  north  and  south,  with  a  good  slope  towards 
the  north. 

The  borders  are  about  8  feet  wide  on  either 
side  of  a  grass  path,  and  at  the  back  of  these 
there  is  a  row  of  standard  fruit  trees.  In  this 
position  we  find  that  the  plants  receive  a  certain 
amount  of  sun  and  shade,  but  as  the  ground 
slopes  from  the  south  the  sun  never  strikes  them 
with  full  force.  When  grown  behinil  a  north  wall 
where  no  sun  can  reach  them  the  plants  certainly 
grow  freely  and  do  well,  but  towards  autumn  they 
are  apt  to  become  rather  gross,  the  large  leaves  on 
long  .stalks  making  them  somewhat  less  suited 
for  shallow  frames  than  those  of  more  compact 
habit. 

Violets  delight  in  a  rich  and  rather  light  root  run, 
therefore  thoroughly  decayed  manure  should  be 
used  and  dug  deeply  into  the  ground.  This  should 
be  prepared  at  once ;  then,  just  before  planting,  the 
surface  soil  should  be  levelled  and  made  moderately 
firm,  and  all  will  be  in  readiness  to  receive  the 
plants.  In  dealing  with  cold  retentive  soil  extra 
labour  and  material  should  be  employed.  In  a 
very  cold  district  we  have  had  to  form  slightly 
raised  beds,  working  in  plenty  of  leaf-mould  and 
sand,  which  proved  better  than  crude  manure. 
We  mention  this  to  show  that  the  soil  and  situa- 
tion should  be  studied  and  then  dealt  with 
accordingl}'. 

Defer  planting  until  the  stock  is  well  rooted,  and 
put  in  each  plant  with  a  ball  of  earth.  A  thorough 
soaking  should  be  given  a  few  hours  previous  to 
lifting  when  the  ground  is  dry.  The  plants  should 
be  put  out  quite  1.5  inches  apart  to  allow  room 
for  hoeing  or  mulching  between  them.  It  is  a  wise 
plan  to  plant  and  mulch  at  the  same  time,  so  that 
the  soil  about  the  roots  remains  uniformly  moist 
and  reduces   the  labour  of   watering   to  a  great 


THE     FERN     GARDEN. 

JAPANESE    FERN -BALLS. 

IT  is  now  nearl}'  twenty  years  since  these 
were  first  imported  into  this  country,  and 
among  the  earlier  importations  were  some 
made  up  in  various  fantastic  designs,  but 
within  the  last  few  years  these  have  been 
imported  in  larger  quantities  and  in  a 
greater  variety  of  designs.  Some  of  them  are, 
perhaps,  more  curious  than  beautiful,  many  of  the 
fancy  designs  being  very  effective  ;  but  it  is  the 
round  balls  which  prove  the  most  satisfactory, 
these  being  better  suited  for  holding  moisture 
and  for  the  roots  to  penetrate.  Davallia 
Mariesi  is  used  for  making  these  designs,  but  it 
is  now  often  referred  to  as  Davallia  buUata.  The 
true  D.  buUata  has  thicker  rhizomes,  densely 
clothed  with  reddish  brown  scales,  and  in  D. 
Mariesi  the  rhizomes  are  slender,  and  on  the 
points  of  the  rhizomes  the  scales  are  sih  ery  white, 
changing  to  grej-.  The  slender  rhizomes  are 
flexible,  and  adapt  themselves  well  to  twisting 
round  and  making  the  various  designs.  They  also 
possess  much  vitality.  It  is  a  deciduous  Fern, 
and  is  imported  while  destitute  of  fronds.  It 
often  comes  to  hand  in  a  very  dry  state,  and  it  is 
surprising  how  soon  they  start  into  growth  when 
moistened  and  placed  in  a  little  warmth.  If 
properly  cared  for  they  will  make  better  growth 
the  second  year  than  when  first  imported,  and, 
although  better  known  in  the  forms  referred  to 
above,  it  makes  a  good  pot  plant.  When  raised 
from  spores  compact  little  plants  are  formed, 
which  are  useful  in  (juite  a  small  state.  Although 
deciduous  it  remains  dormant,  but  in  a  very  short 
time  under  genial  conditions  the  new  fronds  will 
start  almost  before  the  old  ones  are  off.  I  may 
add  that  when  the  fronds  ripen  the}-  change  to 
a  pretty  bronzy  yellow,  and  are  often  used  in 
various  floral  ari'angements.  A.  Hemsley. 


ADIANTUM    PEDATUM   (L.). 

In  a  communication  which  appeared  in  The 
Garden  of  the  8lh  ult.,  Mr.  Druery  refers  to  this 
species  as  being  perfectly  hardy  and  yet  of  delicate 
form,  and  says  we  may  see  a  strong  specimen  in 
the  rock  walk  at  Kew.  The  picture  shows  two 
fronds,  the  taller  overlj'ing  the  shorter.  Mr. 
Druery  says  the  plant  "is  a  native  of  North 
America,  even  of  Canada,  so  that  we  have  no 
frosts  here  capable  of  hurting  it ;  "  and  he  gives 
instructions  for  cultivating  it  both  indoors  and  in 
a  sheltered  position  in  a  garden. 


It  is  strange  that  Mr.  Druery  should  ignore  the 
fact  that  Asia  contains  many  habitats  of  this 
Fern,  but  this  is  probably  because  the  nurserymen 
here  recruit  their  stocks  of  it  solely  from  America, 
as  Mr.  Birkenhead  many  years  ago  told  me.  But 
the  books  all  mention  the  Himalayas  as  a  habitat, 
over  a  long  range  from  west  to  east  ;  and  Man- 
churia and  Japan  are  also  well-known  habitats. 
In  my  "Ferns  of  N.W.  India,  &c."  (now  being 
published  in  the  Journal  of  the  Bombay  Natural 
History  Society),  I  grouped  the  known  Indian 
localities  as  follows  (slightly  abridged)  :— 

Kiifihnni: — Ring  Nala,  8,000  feet  ;  Kishenganga 
Valley,  7,000  feet  to  8,000  feet. 

Pmijali.  —  Hazara  District  (Siran  and  Kagan 
Valleys),  12,000  feet :  Chamba  State  (Pangi,  7,000 
feet  ;  Ravi  Valley,  8,000  feet). 

Simla  Region. — Hattu  Mountain  and  vicinity, 
in  forest,  S,oOO  feet  to  10,000  feet ;  Raiengarh 
Forests,  8,000  feet. 

North- wenteni  Proriiice.i. — Garhwal,  8,000  feet  to 
1(1,000  feet  ;  Kumaun,  8,000  feet  to  9,000  feet  ; 
Nepal,  West,  9,000  feet  to  10,000  feet. 

Sik-I^im. — Scattered  :  not  plentiful. 

In  a  recent  list,  published  in  the  Proceedings  of 
the  United  States  National  Museum  in  1901,  the 
North  American  habitats  of  Adiantum  pedatum 
are  thus  given  :  Nova  Scotia  to  British  Columbia, 
south  to  Georgia,  Mississippi,  Arkansas,  Kansas, 
Utah,  and  California  ;  also  in  Alaska.  Adiantum 
pedatum  is  no  doubt  much  more  common  in 
America  than  in  Asia,  but  the  forests  of  the 
Himalayas  at  high  altitudes  are  not  easily  traversed, 
and  there  may  be  plenty  of  this  Fern  hidden  in 
them.  I  gathered  it  in  the  Simla  Region  at  about 
10,000  feet  altitude,  in  open  shade,  where  it  must 
often  be  deeply  buried  in  snow. 

Krw.  C.  W.  Hope. 


BOOKS. 


Flowering   Trees   and   Shrubs.*— 

This  is  a  revised  edition  of  a  useful  book  upon  the 
subject  it  treats  of,  but  it  will  not  satisfy  those 
who  wish  to  know  as  much  as  possible  of  the 
beautiful  things  amongst  hardy  trees  and  shrubs. 
It  is,  however,  a  good  guide,  and  the  tables  of 
shrubs  in  flower  during  each  month  of  the  year  are  - 
well  compiled.  We  notice  slips  in  spelling  that 
should  not  be  seen  in  a  revised  edition,  such  as 
Cratccgus  Carieri,  Lonicera  Ledebourri,  Desfontanea 
spinosa,  and  so  forth,  but  the  book  has  its  value. 
The  information  is  conveyed  in  a  clear  and  concise 
way.  A  few  coloured  plates  are  scattered  through 
the  pages,  but  the  artist,  Miss  Gertrude  Hamilton, 
has  our  sympathy ;  the  reproductions  are  not 
good. 

"Farm  and  Home"  Year-book.t— 

We  much  regret  that  at  the  time  this  capital 
annual  reached  us,  earlier  in  the  year,  our  notice 
of  it  was  overlooked.  It  is  quite  excellent,  full  of 
valuable  tables  and  miscellaneous  information  for 
the  farmer;  indeed,  no  country  dweller,  of  what- 
ever station,  could  fail  to  find  it  a  mine  of  useful 
information.  It  is  more  than  a  mere  annual,  a 
thing  for  one  year  only,  containing  as  it  does 
concise  information  equally  good  for  any  and  every 
year  on  stock  management  in  health  and  disease, 
milk  testing,  cheese  and  butter  making,  manure 
buying,  pastures  a:id  pasture  grasses,  land  survej'- 
ing,  compensation  on  quitting,  ground  game, 
income-tax,  rating,  local  government,  gardening, 
injurious  insects,  &c. 

Kerner's   Natural  History  of 

Plants. — Messrs.  Blackie  and  Son  contemplate 
a  reissue  of  Kerner's  "  Natural  History  of  Plants," 
a  work  which  in  its  English  form  is  identified  with 
the  name  of  I'rofessor  F.  W.  Oliver.  The  new 
edition,  which  will  be  issued  at  a  considerably 
reduced  price,  will  be  substantially  a  reprint  of 
the  original  English  edition,  with  a  few  necessary 
alterations  and  corrections. 


*  "  Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs."  By  B.  H.  Hoare.  Price 
7s.  6d.    Arthur  L.  Huniplireys,  1S7,  Piccadilly. 

t  Edited  by  D.  E.  Tlionias.  Published  by  W.  Robinson. 
17,  Furnival  Street,  Holborn.    Price  Is. 


GARDEN 


-^=^ 


^^^ 


No.  1588.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[April  26,  1902 


GARDEN    PATHS. 

CKING  round  at  various  gardens  it  is 
seldom  that  one  does  not  see  some- 
thing connected  with  the  paths  that 
is  open  to  criticism.  In  many 
gardens  there  are  too  many.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  the  paths  in  a 
dressed  garden  must  be  neatly  kept,  though 
this  does  not  mean  that  they  must  always  be 
surfaces  of  red  gravel.  Indeed,  there  are  many 
persons,  with  whom  we  entirely  sympathise, 
who  dislike  the  "  crunchiness "  of  the  best 
gravel  and  its  strong  foxy  colour  when  new^ 
and  who  much  prefer  a  path  of  quiet-coloured 
sand  of  any  kind  that  will  bind  sufficiently. 
Besides  the  sharp  crunching  sound  there  are 
other  discomforts  that  affect  many  garden 
paths.  In  holding  clay  soils,  to  avoid  proper 
under  draining,  paths  are  often  made  too 
much  curved  up  in  the  middle  for  comfort 
in  walking.  Such  a  path  is  improperly  made  ; 
it  should  be  drained  below,  and  if  of  some 
width  and  on  a  slope  it  will  want  occasional 
grated  pits  at  the  sides  leading  to  the  under 
drains. 

In  small  gardens,  where  the  flowers  are  near 
the  house,  and  even  in  larger  ones,  where  the 
soil  is  troublesome,  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to 
have  the  paths  of  stone  flags  or  of  hard  paving 
brick.  Such  paths  are  not  only  of  great  com- 
fort for  dry  walking,  but  when  once  laid  are 
saving  of  nearly  all  after  labour,  for  they  do 
not  have  to  be  rolled  or  weeded  or  re-made, 
and  if  they  come  up  to  a  lawn  edge  that  edge 
need  never  be  clipped  and  cannot  get  out  of 
shape. 

Who  does  not  know  the  discomfort  of  the 
wretched  little  paths  a  yard  wide,  so  much 
rounded  that  sometliing  akin  to  a  gymnastic 
feat  is  needed  to  keep  one's  balance,  and  in 
which  flints  the  size  of  a  fist  have  worked  up 
into  projecting  nodules  that  make  the  path  a 
way  of  pain  and  danger.  Another  worrying 
path  is  not  unfrequent  in  seaside  places,  where 
it  has  a  coating  of  fine  loose  beach  peebles 
that  crunch  and  scatter  and  are  fidgetting  and 
iinrestful.  There  is  a  delightful  repose  about 
the  flagged  or  bricked  path  besides  its  great 
merit  in  the  need  of  little  labour. 

Another  defect  may  commonly  be  seen  in 
paths  when  they  have  lost  their  original  shape 
and  intention,  and  where  the  error  has  become 
aggravated  till  their  vagaries  have  grown  into 
something  quite  absurd,  and  where  they  exist 
and  have  to  be  kept  and  trimmed  in  places 
where  they  are  no  longer  wanted.     On6  hard 


path  round  garden  and  shrubbery  is  often 
enough  in  a  moderate  garden,  a  private  winter 
walk  giving  access  to  the  chief  part  of  the 
grounds.  In  summer,  when  it  is  pleasant  to 
saunter  and  explore,  grass  under  foot  is  better 
than  gravel.  Then  it  is  seen  that  the  many 
hard  paths  are  not  wanted,  and  the  multiplica- 
tion of  them  is  only  a  source  of  extra  expense 
in  upkeep  or  a  diversion  of  labour  from  more 
useful  channels. 

Paths  also  get  out  of  level.  If  at  the  end 
of  a  terrace  there  is  a  flight  of  steps  the  path 
level  should  come  true  with  the  top  step,  not 
two  inches  below  it,  leaving  an  inner  bare 
edge  to  the  step  that  was  never  meant  to  be 
seen.  The  same  thing  should  be  watched  for 
at  the  bottom  of  the  flight,  where  the  path 
level  should  be  kept  at  the  same  height  from 
the  first  step  as  the  first  step  is  from  the 
second.  In  sweeping  paths  a  little  grit  is 
carried  away  and  rain  carries  oft"  more,  so  that 
the  tendency  is  for  the  surface  to  be  lowered. 
The  careful  gardener  will  watch  this,  and  also 
see  when  a  path  comes  at  the  edges  of  a  lawn 
that  the  right  height  of  path  level,  about  an 
inch  and  a  half,  is  maintained  between  its  own 
and  that  of  the  lawn. 

The  true  character  of  the  path  also  is  often 
misunderstood,  for  a  well-kept  and  stiflly- 
edged  garden  path  is  out  of  place  in  a  wood  or 
any  woody  place  that  is  near  the  garden,  just 
as  in  a  rock  garden  a  hard  gravelled  path  is  out 
of  character.  Here  we  want  the  paths  to  be 
something  like  a  natural  mountain  track,  with 
the  little  plants  growing  upon  the  edges. 


OTHER    PEOPLE'S    MISTAKES. 

There  is  a  deeper  depth  of  humiliation  in 
some  failures  for  the  unsuccessful  gardener 
than  can  be  paralleled  otherwise  than  by  the 
presumable  feelings  of  the  broken-down  motor- 
car being  dragged  through  a  gaping  town  by 
a  cab  horse.  What  the  circumstances  are  that 
lead  to  such  a  state  of  feeling  it  is  unnecessary 
to  state ;  most  of  us  can  generally  supply 
some  that  are  tolerably  to  the  point  from  our 
own  inner  consciousnesses.  I  do  not  wish  to 
spread  out  for  general  obloquy  that  trium- 
phantly conceived  theory,  for  example,  that 
let  to  an  absence  of  Sweet  Peas  from  this 
garden  last  year  ;  nor  do  I  intend  to  gratify 
anyone  who  was  not  in  a  position  to  look  over 
my  garden  wall  last  September  with  an  account 
of  that  parterre's  appearance  after  I  had  decided 
that  leaving  it  to  itself  for  two  months  was 
preferable  to  placing  it  in  charge  of  a  strange 
artificer.  I  desire  rather  to  seek  a  consolation 
and  some  selfish  relish  in  pointing  out  a  fevs^ 
mistakes  I  have  observed  in  other  people— all 


of  them  I  hasten  to  add  much  better  gardeners 
than  myself.  A  lady  I  know,  who  is  really  a 
most  capable  gardener,  for  example,  persists  in 
thinking  that  if  she  tells  her  gardener  (by  the 
day)  to  plant  a  certain  root  in  a  certain  place, 
all  her  ends  are  served  as  well  as  if  she  put  the 
thing  in  the  ground  herself.  I  happened  to 
see  that  man  plant  a  consignment  of  Red 
Hot  Pokers  from  Holland  on  one  occasion,  and 
this  was  the  way  he  did  it.  He  drove  his  spade 
into  the  ground— which  was  hard  and  heavy — 
in  the  ordained  spot,  threw  a  little  leverage  on 
the  handle,  and  stufl'ed  the  unhappy  Pokers 
down  the  cut  before  withdrawing  the  spade. 
Then  he  stamped  round  them,  and  was  perfectly 
satisfied  with  himself,  and  his  part  owner  has 
perfect  faith  in  him. 

Here,  again,  is  a  mistake  I  observe  in  most 
of  my  (amateur)  garden-loving  friends.  Because 
their  highly  paid  first  of  four  or  six  or  ten  as 
the  case  may  be,  produces  first-rate  early 
Strawberries  and  has  a  merry  hand  for  Peaches 
and  Melons,  he  is  allowed  to  subordinate  the 
flower  garden  completely  to  his  precious 
precocities.  Did  you  ever  know  a  gardener 
who  was  equally  good  at  flowers  and  vegetables? 
No  more  does  he  exist  than  the  cook  equally 
expert  and  enthusiastic  over  meats  and 
puddings.  On  the  other  hand,  the  autocrat 
who  shows  Roses  and  Fuchsias  is  apt  to  be 
sadly  behindhand  with  his  neAv  Potatoes, 
which  leads  me  on  to  another  vast,  glaring, 
mistake.  Why  does  nearly  everybody  with  a^ 
garden  and  stafl^  of  gardeners  want  everything 
early  ?  Forced  fruits  and  vegetables  are 
universally  allowed  to  be  rather  tasteless  and 
very  inferior  to  the  same  productions  in  their 
natural  season,  and,  although  in  a  few  cases  the 
forcing  is  for  the  less  culpable  purpose  of 
extending  the  time  during  which  greedy, 
people  can  eat  their  favourite  delicaciet^, 
in  many  the  article  when  it  comes  along  in 
its  due  season,  ripe  and  rich  with  its  own 
properly  matured  juices  and  flavours,  will  not 
beeventolerated— the  jaded  appetites  are  tired 
of  it.  I  feel  sure  there  are  many  people  who 
would  eat  Gooseberries  (raw)  if  they  could  get 
them  in  January  and  at  no  other  time.  The 
craze  for  earliness,  which  is  beautifully  exem- 
plified in  a  catalogue  of  vegetable  seeds  sent 
out  by  at  least  one  very  leading  firm,  where  in 
almost  all  cases  these  are  recommended  to  be 
sown  from  four  to  eight  weeks  earlier  than  is 
suggested  by  even  so  fashionable  a  standard 
guide  as  the  delightful  "  Century  Book,"  is  like 
the  wish  to  have  garden  flowers  like  Primroses 
and  Campanulas,  long  before  their  time,  in 
greenhouses  where  beautiful  things  that  cannot 
be  grown  in  the  garden  might  be  accommodated. 
I  know  perfectly  well  that  in  saying  so  I  am 
digging  straight  into  the  hornet's  nest  of  the 
enormous  majority  ready  to  snub  me  most 
efiectually  from  the  stinging  superiority  of  their 
high  position  and  long  experience  ;  but  such  as 
they  are  "  them's  my  sentiments,"  and  this  is  a 
country  where  the  policeman  harmlessly  passes 
the  house  of  the  free  speaker.    The  scientist 


266 


THE    GAEDEN, 


[April  26,  1902. 


however,  I  have  for  a  noble  bulwark,  since  he 
has  repeatedly  declared  that  the  immature 
juices  of  fruits  and  vegetables  ripened  other- 
wise than  by  natural  means  do  not  exert  the 
same  beneficial  influences  on  the  eater  as  if  he 
were  content  to  wait  until  the  sun  and  the 
winds  of  heaven  had  worked  their  will  on  his 
diet. 

A  mistake  that  not  only  people  with  large 
but  people  with  very  little  gardens  often  make, 
is  in  being  too  open  and  straightforward.  A 
garden  where  you  cannot  go  round  a  corner  and 
find  something  new  is  a  garden  deadly  dull,  for 
you  see  the  whole  of  it  at  one  eyeing,  and  there 
is  nothing  to  look  forward  to,  and  no  variety. 
Even  in  the  smallest  garden  it  is  easy  to  have 
a  bank  of  flowering  shrubs  or  a  Rose  trellis, 
behind  which  there  is  a  path  and  a  border  not 
visible  from  the  garden's  entrance  and  entirety. 
And  in  those  large  parterres  where  the  same 
absence  of  reticence  prevails,  as  it  frequently 
does,  nothing  can  be  easier  than  to  create  the 
charm  of  mystery,  novelty,  and  final  surprise 
that  is  one  of  a  garden's  sweetest  allurements. 
There  are  hosts  of  ([ueerly  mistaken  notions 
floating  about  that  amateurs  get  hold  of  and 
pass  on  from  one  to  another.  A  list  would  be 
wearisome,  but  the  idea  that  Roses  want  clay 
may  be  instanced.  I  have  seen  a  bed  of  Roses 
deprived,  if  not  of  life,  at  any  rate  of  any 
blooming  powers,  by  being  heavily  dressed  all 
over  its  surface  with  blue  lias  clay  in  a  more  or 
less  solid  ma«s.  Strawberries  also,  since  there 
is  an  idea  about  that  clay  suits  them.  Another 
notion  and  perhaps  the  most  mischievous  of  all, 
is  that  (1)  Rose  pruning  is  a  darkly  mysterious 
operation,  very  difficult  and  recondite,  and  (-2) 
that,  nevertheless,  the,  or  any,  gardener  by  the 
day,  week,  or  year  (as  long  as  he  be  only  a 
gardener  by  profession),  thoroughly  under- 
stands how  to  do  it.  M.  L.  W. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

May  3. — Meetings  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Societ}', 
Society.  Franyaise  d'Horticulture  de  Loudres,  and 
the  German  Gardeners'  Society. 

May  6. — Royal  Horticultural  Societ}''s  Com- 
mittees meet  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  (Jate. 
Meeting  of  the  JNational  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association. 

May  7.  — Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society's 
Spring  Show  at  Edinburgh  (two  days). 

May  8. — Royal  Gardeners'  Orplian  Fund  Annual 
Dinner  at  the  Hotel  Cecil. 

May  20. — Exhibitions  of  the  Royal  National 
Tulip  Society  (Southern  Section)  and  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  both  at  the  Drill  Hall. 

May  21. — Ancient  Society  of  York  Florists' 
Exhibition.     Royal  Botanic  Societ}''s  Meeting. 

Spring-  flowers  at  Belvoir  Castle 

Gardens. — These,  we  are  informed  by  Mr. 
Divers,  will  be  at  their  best  from  April  28  to 
May  12.  A  larger  and  more  select  collection  has 
been  got  together  during  recent  years,  and  the 
flower  gardens  and  woodland  walks  are  all  open 
to  the  public  (free)  daily.  Mr.  Divers  is  always 
pleased,  to  meet  visitors  who  are  interested  in 
gardening.     Orders  for  admission  are  not  required. 

Veg-etable  Marrows  in  frames  in 

spring-. — To  get  an  earlier  supply  of  this  useful 
vegetable  frame  culture  may  with  advantage  be 
resorted  to.  Few  plants  give  a  better  return  if  such 
varieties  as  Perfection  or  the  small  round  Pen-y- 
Byd  are  used.  When  grown  in  frames  much  heat  is 
not  required  ;  indeed,  too  much  warmth  means  a 
weakl}'  plant  and  few  fruits,  as  the  plants  grown 
thus  fail  to  set  freely.  We  have  obtaiueil  the 
best  results  from  what  are  termed  movable  frames, 
that  is,  those  placed  over  a  warm  bed  of  leaves 
or  manure,  strong  plants  in  4i-inch  pots  having 
been  raised  for  tlie  purpose.     Plants  grown  thus 


are  valuable  for  later  supplies.  The  Marrows, 
being  strong  growers,  should  not  have  too  rich 
a  root  run,  but  this  does  not  mean  the  plants 
do  not  require  food  ;  indeed,  when  fruiting  freely 
they  delight  in  liberal  supplies  of  liquid  manure. 
In  frames  the  plants  should  be  induced  to  perfect 
the  first  fruits  that  set  ;  indeed,  it  is  advisable  to 
fertilise  the  earlj'  flowers  and  stop  the  points  of 
strong  shoots.  The  varieties  mentioned  have  short 
points,  and  are  well  adapted  for  frame  culture.  — 
G.  Wythes. 
Great  Daffodil  show  at  Truro.— As 

our  report  shows,  this  show  was  in  every  way  a 
success.  So  numerous  were  the  entries — there 
being  eight  in  the  premier  class  and  from  ten  to 
thirteen  in  some  of  the  others — that  many  of  the 
exliibits  had  to  be  staged  so  close  together  that 
they  were  not  seen  to  advantage.  The  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  was  represented  by  the  Earl 
of  Ilchester,  the  Rev.  CJ.  H.  Engleheart.Mr.  A.  H. 
Pearson,  and  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks.  The  influential 
executive  committee  was  composed  of  the  most 
noted  flower-lovers  of  the  county,  and  the  arduous 
duties  of  the  hon.  secretary  were,  as  usual,  per- 
formed by  the  Hon.  John  Boscawen.  It  was  an 
interesting  exhibition,  in  which  Mr.  Shilson's 
Rhododendrons  were  a  beautiful  feature. 

A   valuable    late    Cherry   in    the 

North. — I  have  during  the  past  few  seasons 
noticed  enormous  crops  of  a  beautiful  late  Cherry 
grown  in  the  North  under  the  name  of  Late  Duke, 
but  Late  Duke,  in  Dr.  Hogg's  "Fruit  Manual,"  is  a 
different  fruit  as  regards  the  growth,  and  is  quite 
distinct  with  me,  the  growth  being  closer  and  not 
unlike  that  of  a  large  Morello.  I  think  the  late 
Cherry  referred  to  must  be  Ronald's  Late  Duke,  as 
the  fruits  are  large,  the  trees  never  fail  to  crop,  and 
are  most  valuable  for  both  dessert  and  cooking. 
This  Cherry  in  the  locality  referred  to  hangs  well 
into  September,  and  is  even  more  valuable  than 
the  Morello,  but  makes  a  stronger  growth  and 
flowers  late  ;  the  latter  is  a  great  gain  as  there  is 
less  fear  of  the  flowers  being  injured.  Ronald's 
Late  Duke  is  stated  to  be  somewhat  similar  to 
Black  Tartarian,  but  the  one  referred  to  above  is 
not  at  all  like  that  variety ;  it  is  much  later,  and  in 
the  South  I  find  that  Ronald's  Late  Duke  and  the 
one  simply  called  Late  Duke  in  the  North  are  much 
alike,  but  in  the  last-named  locality  the  fruits  ripen 
later  and  are  larger.  There  may  be  two  varieties, 
but  even  then  there  can  be  no  question  but  that 
Ronald's  Late  Duke  is  a  most  valuable  Cherry. — 
G.  W.  S. 

Mulching  or  feeding-  Straw- 
berries.— \\'hen  the  Strawberry  plants  are  in 
light  soil  and  swelling  up  their  fruits  it  is  im- 
portant to  assist  them.  There  are  various  opinions 
about  mulching  at  this  season,  but  in  poor  or  light 
soils  it  is  most  important,  and  the  work  should 
be  done  as  early  as  possible  in  spring.  At  the 
same  time  much  depends  upon  the  age  of  the 
plants,  as  young  ones  will  not  need  so  much  food 
as  those  that  have  given  a  crop.  By  giving  food 
now  it  has  time  to  reach  the  roots,  and  the  surface 
is  cleansed  by  rains  and  exposure,  and  is  then  in 
condition  for  the  fruits  to  rest  upon.  With  regard 
to  the  best  time  to  feed  the  earlier  it  is  done  now 
the  better,  and,  before  applying  the  mulch,  cleanse 
the  surface  by  hoeing  and  raking  over,  and  then 
mulch  liberall}'.  I  have  seen  feeding  advised  in 
midwinter  ;  but  this  is  not  wise,  as  the  roots  are 
kept  cold  so  much  longer.  Far  better  mulch  now, 
when  growth  is  most  active.  If  liquid  foods  are 
used  give  these  when  a  small  portion  of  the 
mulching  material  has  been  placed  in  position. 
Put  on  the  remainder  afterwards  ;  this  should  be 
of  a  strawy  nature.  — G.  W.  S. 

Mr.  'William  Paul.— In  a  recent  issue  of 
The  American  Florist  there  appears  a  portrait  of 
Mr.  William  Paul,  together  with  an  appreciative 
note,  which  says  :  "  The  story  of  the  life  work  of 
William  Paul  is  written  in  the  Rose  gardens  of  the 
world.  It  is  a  worthy  record  of  a  life  well  spent, 
for  this  venerable  rosarian  has  laboured  long  and 
well  for  the  improvement  of  the  Rose,  of  which 
there  is  at  his  place,  Waltham  Cross,  Hertford- 
shire, England,  one  of  the  grandest  collections  in 
the  world.  Mr.  Paul  has  spent  half  a  century  in 
his  Rose  garden,  coming  into  the  business  in  youth, 


succeeding  his  father,  but  in  these  later  years 
turning  over  the  details  of  the  great  nursery  to 
his  son  Arthur,  who  is  himself  skilled  in  the 
craft.  Some  of  Mr.  Paul's  introductions  are 
Medea,  Corinna,  Enchantress,  Waltham  Climber, 
Duke  of  Edinburgh,  Beauty  of  ^Valtham,  Pride  of 
Waltham,  Star  of  Waltham,  Princess  Adelaide, 
Duchess  of  Albany,  Lord  Bacon,  B.  D.  Baxter, 
Brightness  of  Cheshunt,  Brilliant,  Cheshunt 
Scarlet,  Princess  Christian,  Crimson  Globe,  Paul's 
Single  Crimson,  and  many  more.  Given  to  literary 
pursuits  and  possessing  one  of  the  finest  libraries 
of  botanical  works  in  all  England,  it  is  but  natural 
that  he  should  write  of  his  Roses,  and  his  book, 
'  The  Rose  Garden,'  published  in  1848,  has 
reached  its  ninth  edition."  Mr.  Paul  is  one  of  the 
oldest  Fellows  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 

Notes  from  Baden-Baden.— Aubrietia 

tauricola  is  the  most  floriferous  among  the  genus  ; 
it  is  a  dwarf,  compact-growing  plant,  and  when 
fully  out  no  foliage  can  be  seen  so  crowded  are 
the  flowers.  Their  colour  is  a  good  deep  purple- 
violet,  they  have  a  perfect  shape,  and  they  last 
rather  longer  than  those  of  the  deltoidea  section. 
Anemone  Alleni,  raised  by  Mr.  Allen,  of  Shepton 
Mallet,  is  very  good  ;  it  belongs  to  the  nemorosa 
section,  and  its  flowers  are  of  an  exquisitely 
delicate,  very  pale  purple  colour,  richly  and  freely 
produced.  Iris  Bludowi  is  a  rather  rare  plant,  but 
is  well  worth  having ;  it  is  dwarf,  the  flowers  large, 
and  of  a  glistening  brilliant  yellow.  Mertensia 
primuloides  is  a  welcome  first-rate  spring  flowering 
plant.  Seeds  sown  in  summer  soon  after  ripening 
make  nice  plants  to  prick  out  in  autumn,  and  are 
little  clumps  in  spring  well  furnished  with  plenty 
of  small  spikes  of  Myosotis-like  flowers ;  each 
individual  flower  coloured  indigo-white  and  yellow. 
It  is  charming  as  an  edging  or  a  little  group. — Max 
Leichtlin,  Baden-Baden. 

GalanthUS  Ikariae.— This  is  a  very  pretty 
and  distinct  Snowdrop,  with  broad,  shiny  foliage  of 
a  bright  green.  I  find  that  it  grows  best  in  full 
sun.  I  have  it  growing  in  the  grass,  in  shade, 
and  also  on  a  sunny  south  slope.  In  the  former 
case  it  is  not  good,  but  in  the  latter  appears  very 
happy  and  has  the  advantage  of  lateness,  most  of 
the  other  Snowdrops  being  over  when  this  one  is  in 
full  beauty.— N.  B. 

Narcissus   Victoria.- Just  a  line    of 

agreement  with  the  criticism  of  "Jay  Aye"  of 
Narcissus  Victoria,  as  compared  with  Empress  and 
Horsfieldi,  when  cultivated  in  the  open  border. 
The  white  of  the  perianth  segments  is  not  nearly 
so  good  as  that  of  these  two  varieties.  It  has, 
however,  a  good  sturdy  habit  for  the  garden,  and 
is  much  purer  when  under  glass  than  outside.  Is 
it  not,  however,  a  Daffodil  which  may  come  purer 
when  grown  in  turf  than  in  the  border  '?  I  think 
this  is  quite  possible. — S.  Arnott. 

1  quite  agree  with  "Jay  Aye"  (page  237) 

with  regard  to  Narcissus  Victoria.  I  consider  it 
inferior  to  Horsfieldi  or  Empress.  The  perianth  is 
wanting  in  purity  and  substance.  Like  your 
correspondent,  I  had  a  bulb  given  to  me  in  the 
autumn  of  ISilfl  which  produced  three  fine  blooms 
in  1900,  and  in  IflOl  gave  no  less  than  thirteen. 
After  it  had  ripened  its  growth  it  was  lifted,  and 
it  divided  into  ten  bulbs,  which  were  planted  in 
August  last  and  are  now  giving  me  eighty  blooms. 
It  is  most  prolific  and  floriferous. — J.  Henshaw, 
Bothamnted  Cottage,  Harpendtn. 

Iris  alata.  —  "E.  J.  Lloyd  Edwards" 
mentions  on  page  234  having  failed  to  flower  Iris 
alata  after  the  first  year.  Has  your  correspondent 
tried  taking  up  the  roots  and  baking  them  in  the 
sun  ?  My  plants  were  obtained  from  Holland  in 
the  autumn  of  1899,  flowered  fairly  in  January  and 
February,  1900,  and  not  at  all  the  following 
winter.  Last  June  we  took  up  the  roots  and  laid 
them,  partly  covered  with  sand,  in  a  box  on  a 
sunny  shelf  in  the  greenhouse.  In  the  autumn 
they  were  replanted  close  to  the  foot  of  a  brick 
wall  facing  south.  They  flowered  more  freely  than 
they  had  done  the  first  year,  and  kept  up  a 
succession  of  blooms  from  January  to  April.  If 
this  information  is  of  any  use  to  3'our  corre- 
spondent, I  wish  he  would  tell  me  in  return  how 
to  keep  Iris  reticulata,  which,  so  far,  I  have  failed 
to  flower  after  the  first  winter. — B.  M.  B.,  Bedford. 


April  ^6,  1902.] 


THS    aAKDEN. 


26? 


Violet  Marie  Louise.— Those  who  had 

none  of  the  above  Violet  under  cover  and  whose 
stock  was  simply  in  the  open  are  likely  to  have 
some  difBculty  in  securing  good  material  for  plant- 
ing out  to  lift  another  autumn.  The  severe 
weather  experienced  in  February  cut  up  the  out- 
side plants  badly.  When  plants  are  in  frames 
or  pits  they  are  left  after  flowering  until  an 
opportunity  offers  to  secure  roeted  runners  that 
may  answer  a  similar  purpose  another  year,  but 
not  having  required  anything  in  this  way  for  the  last 
three  years  our  plants  remained  outside,  with  the 
result  that  we  are  caught  napping,  and  only  sufficient 
strong  planting  pieces  are  obtainable.  I  find  a  north- 
west border  the  best  site,  as  on  a  warmer  aspect 
the  plants  get  dry  quickly  in  hot  summers  and  red 
spider  is  troublesome.  The  best  remedy  for  this 
pest  is  to  mulch  with  fresh  horse  manure  and  give 
two  or  three  good  soakings. — E.  Burrell. 
Outdoop  Camellias  at  Clapemont. 

— The  varieties  alba  plena,  .Jeffersoni,  and  japonica 
pomponia  are  flowering  well  out  of  doors  this  year, 
although  in  the  case  of  alba  plena  a  few  degrees 
of  frost  or  a  heavy  shower  are  quite  enough  to 
destroy  the  flowers.  Very  often  expanded  flowers 
are  only  at  their  best  for  one  day.  The  last  of  the 
trio  above-mentioned  is  an  interesting  flower — one 
of  the  oldest  varieties — and  only  found  in  those 
places  where  old  -  established  Camellia  houses 
exist.  From  trustworthy  evidence  I  gather  that 
our  plants  under  glass  are  quite  100  years  old. 
No  variety  gives  so  many  different  shades  from  the 
same  plant.  Blooms  are  obtained  nearly  pure 
white  and  deep  pink,  also  many  intermediate 
shades,  whilst  others  have  nearly  a  white  ground 
and  are  partially  splashed  or  veined.  The  variety 
is  well  figured  in  Mrs.  Condon's  "Lady's  Flower 
Garden,"  together  with  Chandleri,  and,  I  think, 
reticulata.  An  interesting  plant  from  its  asso- 
ciations is  conspicua,  having  been  brought  some 
twenty-five  years  ago  from  the  garden  of  the 
house  in  Corsica,  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by 
the  Bonaparte  family. — E.  Burrell. 
The   late    Mr.   G.   F.   AVilson.— Mr. 

George  Wilson,  whose  death  was  announced  in  our 
last  issue,  was  one  of  those  who  early  appreciated 
the  immense  importance  of  applying  science  to 
manufacturing  industries.  The  results  in  his  case 
were  seen  in  the  excellence  of  his  products  and  in 
the  importance  of  the  incidental  substances  which 
were  brought  to  light  in  the  course  of  the 
manufacture.  In  his  days  the  importance  of 
scientific  method  and  its  superiority  to  rule  of 
thumb  were  not  so  much  insisted  on  as  they  are 
now.  Mr.  Wilson  was  not  only  a  chemist,  but  an 
enthusiastic  horticulturist,  adopting  gardening  at 
first  as  a  recreation,  and  of  late  years  making  it 
the  occupation  of  his  life.  Although  he  published 
nothing  but  ephemeral  notes  on  his  favourite  pur- 
suit, he  constantly  insisted  on  the  necessity  of 
applying  scientific  principles  to  practical  horticul- 
ture. In  a  very  interesting  little  book,  entitled 
"The  Old  Days  of  Price's  Patent  Candle  Com- 
piny,"  in  which  the  history  of  the  manufactures 
which  resulted  in  such  vast  improvements  in 
candle  making  is  detailed,  he  says  : — "Laboratory 
training  teaches  careful  observation  and  close 
watching,  both  useful  in  gardening,  which  gives  a 
wide  field  for  experiment.  If  I  read  the  future 
aright  ten  years  hence  good  fruit  will  be  much 
more  general  than  it  is  now,  and  for  one  beauti- 
ful hardy  plant  now  common  in  our  gardens  we 
shall  have  ten."  This  forecast  was  written  in 
1876,  and  it  has  certainly  been  fulfilled,  if  not 
quite  in  the  way  that  Mr.  Wilson  had  in  his  mind. 
— Nature. 

Rudbeckia  eonspicua.— I  think  most 
gardeners  will  agree  with  the  remarks  of  Mr. 
Wolley  Dod  in  his  note  on  page  219  of  The 
Garden  respecting  the  new  Rudbeckia  named 
conspicua,  as  this  leads  one  to  think  that  it  is  a 
new  species  and  not  a  garden  variety.  If  It  is  a 
good  variety  it  should  have  received  a  popular 
name  so  that  the  public  can  understand  its  origin. 
Even  if  Messrs.  Ladhams  did  wish  to  give  the 
plant  a  botanical  name  it  should  have  been 
Rudbeckia  hirta  variety  conspicua.  Your  corres- 
pondent "  E.  M."  states  its  advantages  Over  R. 
speciosa  syn.  Newmani  in  a  droughty  season,  but 


to  say  that  this  variety  dries  up  immediately  is  an 
erroneous  statement  and  very  misleading,  as 
several  batches  which  came  under  my  notice  last 
season — one  of  the  driest  we  have  experienced  for 
some  time — did  not  sufi'er  at  all,  and  were  only 
watered  occasionally.  One  bed  replanted  in  the 
spring  of  last  year  showed  no  signs  of  flagging 
whatever,  and  this,  I  think,  is  the  treatment  it 
likes,  as  finer  flowers  are  the  result.  As  an 
instance  of  proper  plant  naming  Rudbeckia  pur- 
purea Winchmore  Hill  variety  might  be  mentioned. 
This  variety,  brought  out  by  Mr.  Amos  Perry  of 
Winchmore  Hill,  is  a  very  great  advance  on  the 
typical  R.  purpurea,  and  had  it  received  a  botanical 
name  it  would  have  been  as  misleading  as  the 
present  instance. — Interested. 
A  poek  g'apden  pietupe.— In  a  well 

arranged  rock  garden  there  should  be  at  this 
period  of  the  j'ear  very  many  beautiful  colour 
pictures.  There  is  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  rock 
garden  here  one  combination  that  has  been 
strikingly  beautiful.  On  the  top  of  a  rock  and 
overhanging  it  is  a  big  mass  of  Erica  carnea.  In 
the  centre  of  the  Erica  is  a  good  plant  of  Andro- 
meda floribunda,  a  little  to  the  left  and  sloping 
lower  down  is  a  fairly  large  sheet  of  Galanthus 
Imperati.  Still  lower  down  and  in  the  same 
connexion  is  a  large  group  of  Anemone  blanda  on 
a  groundwork  of  Sedum  glaucum.  From  the 
brilliant  colouring  of  the  Erica  the  eye  is  gradually 
led  down  in  easy  stages  over  the  cool  grey  stone 
to  the  blue  of  the  Anemone.  There  is  no  violent 
contrast,  the  different  groups  run- into  each  other 
in  the  most  natural  way,  forming  a  beautiful  vet 
simple  picture  not  readily  forgotten. — A.  F.,  Grey 
Towers. 

Lupinus  apbopeus  Snow  Queen.— 

Any  readers  who  have  not  already  acquired  this 
tree  Lupin  may  be  advised  to  sow  seed  at  once, 
placing  pans  or  boxes  on  the  pipes  of  a  warm 
vinery  or  Peach  house.  The  seed  germinates 
quickly,  and  the  young  plants  may  be  transferred 
to  small  pots  as  soon  as  possible,  grown  on  for  a 
time  in  slight  warmth,  hardened  oif,  and  planted 
out  as  soon  as  the  weather  will  permit.  For  large 
shrubbery  borders  it  is  a  distinct  acquisition,  and 
is  seen  to  great  advantage  in  connexion  with  dark 
foliage  plants,  as,  for  instance,  Prunus  Pissardi 
or  the  purple-leaved  nut. — E.  Burrell. 

Confepence  about  pupal  indus- 
tries,— Owing  to  the  accident  to  the  Countess  of 
Warwick  the  conference  on  the  co-ordination  of 
rural  industries,  which  was  to  have  been  held  at 
Warwick  Castle  on  May  1,  has  been  postponed 
until  later  in  the  year.  Details  of  the  proposed 
programme  may,  however,  be  obtained  from  the 
Warden,  Lady  Warwick  Hostel,  Reading,  and  it 
is  hoped  that  all  those  interested  in  the  subjects 
for  discussion  will  write  for  particulars. 

Pseonia  lutea. — It  may  be  of  interest  to 
learn  that  this  charming  and  distinct  Pseony,  which 
attracted  much  attention  last  summer  when  in  flower 
in  the  Himalayan  portion  of  the  Temperate  House 
at  Kew,  and  was  mentioned  in  The  Garden  for 
June  29,  page  464,  is  now  offered  in  the  recently 
issued  catalogue  of  M.  Lemoine,  the  celebrated 
hybridist  of  Nancy,,  at  the  price  of  50  francs  per 
plant,  which  is  sufficient  to  prevent  it  becoming 
common,  at  least  for  a  very  long  time.  This 
Pseony,  which  forms  a  woody  stem,  as  in  Pasonia 
Moutan,  is  principally  remarkable  for  the  colour 
of  the  flowers,  which  are  about  3J  inches  in 
diameter  and  of  a  clear  yellow  tint,  quite  unlike 
that  of  any  other  Pseony.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
mountains  of  Yunnan,  and  was  discovered  by  the 
late  I'Abbe  Delavay  in  1882,  when  acting  as  mis- 
sionary in  that  district.  To  this  gentleman,  who 
died  in  1896,  we  owe  the  introduction  of  many 
beautiful  plants,  and  the  charming  Incarvillea 
Delavayi  serves  to  perpetuate  his  memory.  — H.  P. 

Acacia  hastulata.— This  is  one  of  the 
most  distinct  of  the  smaller  growing  Acacias,  and, 
though  introduced  in  1824  from  Western  Australia, 
it  is  only  within  the  last  decade  or  thereabouts 
that  it  has  been  brought  prominently  forward  as  a 
decorative  plant,  and  even  then  not  under  the 
above  name,  but  as  Acacia  cordata.  If  stopped 
freely  during  its  earlier  stages  good  flowering  plants 
may  be  obtained  in  pots  5  inches  or  6  inches  in 


diameter.  Though  small,  it  is  by  no  means  a  twiggy 
bush,  most  of  the  shoots  being  long  and  slender 
after  the  manner  of  an  Epacris,  and,  like  them 
too,  have  an  upward  tendency.  These  shoots  are 
thickl}'  clothed  with  little  sharp-pointed  halbert- 
shaped  leaves,  in  the  axils  of  which  the  tiny  pale 
straw-coloured  blossoms  are  closely  packed  for  a 
considerable  length.  When  at  their  best  they  are 
so  numerous  as  almost  to  hide  the  leaves.  The 
distinct  habit  and  uncommon  colour  (for  an  Acacia) 
single  it  out  at  once  for  notice.  To  maintain  the 
plants  in  a  bushy  state  they  must  be  cut  back  hard 
after  flowering,  in  fact  given  much  the  same 
treatment  as  an  Epacris. — T. 

Polyanthus  Middleton  Favoupite. 

— While  this  gold-laced  variety  can  be  termed 
only  second-rate,  because  the  centre  clouds  with 
some  slight  dark  shading  as  the  flowers  mature, 
it  is  yet  an  attractive  bright  red  ground  variety, 
and  very  useful  as  a  seed  parent  along  with 
William  IV.  and  Sidney  Smith.  If  any  one  or 
all  these  varieties  could  be  isolated  and  carefully 
fertilised  with  their  own  pollen,  or  the  three  be 
crossed  one  on  to  the  other,  something  good  might 
be  expected  from  the  seed  thereby  obtained. 
There  is  much  need  for  some  one  to  take  in  hand 
the  improvement  of  the  gold-laced  Polyanthus. — 
R.  D. 
Fopsythia  intepmedia.  — This  hybrid 

Forsj'thia,  or  Golden  Bell,  is  one  of  the  most 
charming  of  our  early  shrubs,  and  a  good  bush  of 
it  has  been  very  ornamental  against  a  dark  green 
trellis  for  a  short  time,  and  is  likel}'  to  keep  in 
bloom  for  some  time  yet.  It  is,  we  are  told,  a 
hybrid  between  F.  suspensa  and  F.  viridissima, 
and  I  prefer  it  to  either  of  the  parents.  In  train- 
ing one  has  to  be  careful  not  to  make  it  too  stiff'. 
The  main  branches  are  tied  to  the  trellis,  but  the 
flowering  shoots  are  allowed  to  project  from  it, 
and  the  effect  is  charming,  especially  when  seen 
from  the  side  of  the  plant,  when  the  golden  bells 
so  plentifully  produced  on  the  branches  look  so 
pleasing.  There  seems  no  question  as  to  its  hardi- 
ness, and  I  have  never  had  the  flowers  spoiled  by 
late  frosts,  as  too  often  occurs  with  early  flowers, 
although  there  is  nothing  but  the  trellis  between 
it  and  a  strong  north-west  wind,  one  of  our  worst 
enemies  in  this  quarter. — S.  Arnott,  Carsethorn, 
by  Dumfries,  N.  B. 

W^OOd  POlleP  blinds.— I  am  pleased  to 
see  your  appreciative  note  respecting  this  valuable 
invention,  by  means  of  which  the  shade  required 
can  be  given  so  much  more  suitably  to  the  roofs  of 
Orchid  and  other  houses  than  is  possible  with 
blinds  made  of  tiffany  and  similar  materials.  The 
great  objection  to  the  latter,  however  well  they 
may  be  made,  is  that  they  leave  a  certain  portion 
of  the  roof  exposed  to  full  sunlight,  and  that  mid- 
way between  the  eaves  and  ridge.  To  overcome 
this  difficulty  recourse  has  to  be  had  either  to 
whitewash  or  to  tacking  on  a  strip  of  tiffany  inde- 
pendent of  the  blind.  I  have  on  a  few  occasions 
seen  the  blinds  made  of  such  a  length  as  to  over- 
come this,  but  the  rollers  projected  some  distance 
beyond  the  house  and  were  unsightly.  Now  with 
the  aid  of  wood  roller  blinds  there  is  no  difficulty 
whatever  about  imperfect  shading,  as  they  are 
made  to  fit  with  such  nicety  that  when  fixed  the 
roof  is  regularly  and  effectively  shaded  from  eaves 
to  ridge.  Personally,  1  cannot  speak  too  highly 
of  their  value,  not  only  for  affording  shade,  but 
also  as  a  protection  on  frosty  nights,  for  when  run 
down  at  dusk  and  allowed  to  remain  down  till 
morning  less  fire-heat  is  required.  I  have  also 
seen  them  in  use  in  other  places,  and  the  verdict 
has  always  been  in  their  favour.  The  initial  cost 
is,  of  course,  heavier  than  in  the  case  of  tiffany 
and  other  blinds,  but  then  they  outlast  a  good 
many  of  these  and  are  by  far  the  cheapest  in  the 
end.  If  the  pulley  wheels  are  occasionally  oiled 
they  roll  up  and  down  most  easily  and  quickly, 
and  need  no  other  attention  unless  it  should  be  to 
replace  a  sash-cord  now  and  then. — A.  W. 

Mag-nolia  soulangeana  in  the 
gapden  of  the  old  Casa  Annalena, 

Florence. — During  the  month  of  March  there 
has  been  in  flower  a  most  beautiful  old  Magnolia 
tree  (M.  soulangeana)  in  the  garden  of  a  villa 
known  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  as  the 


268 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  26,  1902. 


Casa  Annalena  in  the  Via  Roraana,  just  opposite 
the  entrance  gate  of  the  Boboli  Gardens.  At 
that  period  the  Casa  Annalena  belonged  to  the 
father  of  the  late  Dean  Church,  and  has  interesting 
associations  for  English  people,  inasmuch  as  several 
years  of  the  Dean's  boyhood  were  passed  there. 
Later  on  it  became  the  property  of  the  Macdonalds, 
who  intermarried  with  the  family  of  Talleyrand, 
and  in  the  sixties  Casa  Macdonald,  as  it  was  then 
called,  was  let  out  in  apartments  to  foreign  families 
wintering  in  Florence.  At  a  later  date  it  was 
occupied  by  the  nuns  of  the  Sacre  Citur,  who  have 
now  migrated  to  a  country  district,  and  the  house 
is  again  let  out  in  apartments,  the  beautiful  old 
garden  in  which  it  stands  being  leased  to  a  working 
gardener.  The  Magnolia  tree,  which  forms  its 
greatest  ornament,  is  pronounced  by  experts  to  be 
not  less  than  1.50  years  of  age,  and  is  fully 
60  feet  in  height.  When  I  visited  the  garden  in 
the  second  week  of  March  its  branches  were  com- 
pletely hidden  by  a  wealth  of  blossom,  and  the 
sun  had  coloured  them  to  a  richer  and  deeper  tint 
than  is  generally  seen  in  this  variety.  It  was 
worth  a  journey  to  see  so  beautiful  an  object,  but 
its  present  proprietor,  the  working  gardener,  has 
no  appreciation  of  its  value,  and  is  hacking  large 
branches  oft'  it  for  the  sake  of  the  few  pence  they 
represent.  Passing  one  of  the  principal  flower 
shops  in  Florence  a  few  days  later,  and  tinding  its 
doorway  wreathed  with  branches  of  this  tree,  the 
flowers  of  which  I  recognised  at  a  glance,  I  spoke 
to  the./focajo  of  the  iniijuitj'  of  thus  destroying  so 
beautiful  and  interesting  a  tree.  He  shook  his 
head  and  said  it  certainly  would  not  long  survive 
its  present  treatment.  There  could  not  be  a  better 
illustration  of  the  way  in  which  the  Tuscan  market 
gardener  regards  his  wares.  The  present  small 
profit  is  everything.  He  is  <levoid  of  any  senti- 
ment or  affection  tor  his  garden,  and  what  does 
not  sell  in  the  piazza  (market)  has  no  value  in  his 
eyes. — Tuscan.  [We  regret  the  photograph  was 
too  reduced  to  make  a  good  reproduction. — Eds.] 


TROPICAL     FRUITS     FOR 
ENGLISH   GARDENS. 

Under  tiiis  head  it  is  propo.sed  to  call  attention 
to  certain  fruits  of  recognised  value  in  tropical 
countries,  but  which  have  not  hitherto  found 
much  favour  with  cultivators  in  this  country, 
although  their  management  is  well  within  the 
means  of  the  grower  of  forced  Peaches,  Grapes, 
Melons,  Pine  apijles.  Figs,  ifec.  Such  plants 
as  the  Mangosteen  and  Durian,  two  of  the  most 
famous  of  tropical  fruit  trees,  are  omitted, 
because  they  are  practically  beyond  our  skill. 

The  expense  incurred  in  the  production  of 
fruits  and  flowers  is  not  always  a  primary  con- 
sideration. Many  of  those  we  grovv  could  be 
bought  for  less  than  it  costs  to  produce  them 
at  home.  There  is,  however,  the  satisfaction, 
one  might  say  pride,  of  accomplishing  some 
diflScult  feat  of  cultivation,  of  growing  an 
ordinary  thing  even  one's  self,  which  is  suffi- 
cient reward,  and  it  is  this  sjiirit  that  enables 
English  horticulturists  to  overcome  difficulties 
which  would  probably  deter  one  who  is  in- 
fluenced only  by  considerations  of  profit  and 
loss. 

A  well-finished  house  of  Mangoes,  Custard 
Apples,  Bananas,  or  Oranges  would  surely  be 
as  creditable  and  useful  as  some  of  the  fruits 
that  are  grown  now.  That  they  can  be  grown 
under  glass  in  this  "country  will  be  seen  from 
the  following  notes. 

The  Citrus  Family. 

The  genus  Citrus  comprises  seven  species, 
three  of  which  yield  fruits  of  commercial 
value,  namely,  C.  medica,  forms  of  which  are 
known  as  the  Citron,  tlie  Lemon,  and  the 
Lime ;  C.  decumana,  the  Shaddock,  Pumelo 
or  Clrape  fruit ;  and  C.  Aurantium,  the  type  of 
all  the  Oranges  proper. 

Although  found  either  wild  or  cultivated  in 


most  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions,  the 
various  forms  of  Citrus  had,  according  to  Sir 
Joseph  Hooker,  an  Eastern  origin,  and  the 
forefathers  of  the  Orange,  the  Lemon,  and  the 
Lime  may  be  found  in  the  hot  valleys  of  the 
Himalaya,  of  the  mountainous  districts  of 
Eastern  Bengal,  and  of  the  Deccan. 

The  cultivation  of  Oranges  and  Lemons  is 
now  an  enormous  industry  in  countries  both 
west  and  east.  It  would  therefore  be  absurd 
to  recommend  their  production  in  Britain  as  a 
source  of  profit,  although  they  can  be  grown 
to  perfection  at  no  greater  an  outlay  than  is 
required  to  grow  first-class  forced  Peaches. 

The  Lemon,  Orange,  and  less  commonly  the 
Shaddock  are  grown  sometimes  as  decorative 
plants,  their  fruits  being  allowed  to  remain 
on  the  trees  as  long  as  they  will  hang,  by 
which  time  they  are  dry  and  unpalatable. 
But  Mr.  Piivers,  of  Sawbridgeworth,  has  shown 
that  English-grown  Oranges  are  superb  as 
dessert  fruits.  He  has  cultivated  for  many 
years  a  collection  of  them  in  pots  by  the 
orchard  house  method,  invented  by  his  father, 
and  the  collections  of  fruits  exhibited  by  him 
almost  annually  in  London  are  proofs  of  its 
success. 

The  value  of  the  flowers,  which  are  always 
in  demand  for  weddings,  is  also  an  item  that 
deserves  passing  mention.  The  varieties  worth 
cultivating  for  their  fruits  are  : 

Oranges. 

Blood,  or  Malta. — Fruit  large  with  a  thin 
and  rather  smooth  skin ;  pulp  stained  with 
crimson,  very  juicy  and  sweet. 

St.  Michael's. — This  is  the  most  commonly 
cultivated  for  market,  and  it  varies  in  quality 
according  to  the  conditions  under  which  it  is 
grown  and  the  variety.  The  best  forms  are 
known  as  Exquisite,  Dulcissima,  Silver  Sustain, 
and  Egg. 

Tangerine. — Fruit  small,  compressed,  skin 
easily  removed  and  peculiarly  aromatic  ;  pulp 
juicy  and  very  sweet.  All  the  forms  of  this  are 
excellent,  one  of  the  best  being  that  known  as 
St.  Michael's. 

Navel. — Fruitlarge,  egg-shaped,  witha  nipple- 


like depression  at  one  end  ;  skin  thin,  pulp 
pale  in  colour,  very  juicy  and  sweet. 

Jafta.  —  Fruit  large,  skin  generally  thick, 
jmlp  juicy,  and  when  the  fruits  have  been  left 
long  enough  to  mature  before  being  gathered 
pleasantly  sweet. 

Seville. — Fruit  large,  skin  thick,  pulp  acid 
and  not  sweet.  Grown  for  the  manufacture  of 
marmalade.    A  free  flowering  variety. 

Lemons. 

Bijou.— Ytrnt  small,  globose,  juicy,  aromatic, 
slightly  bitter  as  well  as  acid  ;  tree  dwarf  and 
fruitful.  Seems  to  be  intermediate  between 
the  Lemon  and  the  Lime. 

Imperial. — Fruit  large,  juicy,  aromatic  ;  tree 
vigorous  and  free. 

Sweet,  or  Brazilian. — Remarkable  in  being 
almost  devoid  of  the  acidity  characteristic  of 
Lemons. 

Met/Orel's. — Fruits  as  large  as  an  ostrich's 
egg,  skin  smooth,  pale  yellow,  i)ulp  juicy  and 
superior.  An  excellent  Lemon  for  culinary 
purposes  ;  in  the  size  of  the  leaf,  flowers,  and 
fruit  it  resembles  a  Shaddock,  but  it  is  a  true 
Lemon. 

Lime. — The  characters  of  the  true  Lime  are 
a  thorny  shrub  with  ovate  leaves,  white 
flowers,  small  nearly  globose  yellow  fruit  with 
thin  skin,  and  an  abundance  of  pure  acid  juice. 
It  is  largely  grown  in  the  West  Indies,  and  is 
the  principal  source  of  citric  acid,  so  largely 
employed  for  flavouring  and  as  a  summer 
lieverage.  The  best  forms  are  known  as  Bitter, 
Sweet,  and  Persian. 

Shaddock. — This  is  also  known  as  the  For- 
bidden Fruit,  Pumalo  or  Pomalo,  and  Grape 
Fruit.  The  largest  fruited  forms  are  sturdy 
trees,  with  large  leathery  leaves,  very  thick 
petalled  flowers,  and  oblong  fruit  as  large  as 
an  ostrich's  egg,  or  nearly  globose  ;  skin  thick 
and  rather  coarse  ;  flesh  in  coarse,  bladder-like 
grains,  pale,  watery,  and  lacking  both  sweetness 
and  acidity.  The  variety  known  as  Grape 
Fruit  is  about  the  size  of  a  swan's  egg,  has 
smooth  skin,  and  the  fle.sh  is  slightly  bitter 
and  aromatic.  It  is  largely  eaten  in  the 
United  States  as  a  morning  tonic. 


NAVEL  ORASGB  (CITRDS  AUBA^T^DM  VAR.).     (Height  0/  original  2}  inches,  width  3J  inches.) 


April  26,  190^.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


269 


CuiTIVATION. 

As  in  the  case  of  Apples  and  other 
cultivated  fruits,  the  forms  of  Oranges 
and  Lemons  cannot  be  relied  upon  to 
come  true  from  seeds.  Grafted  plants 
must  therefore  be  secured.  They  may 
be  grown  in  pots  or  tubs  of  about  the 
same  proportions  in  relation  to  the  plants 
as  Camellias,  or  they  may  be  planted 
out  in  a  border  exactly  as  for  Peaches 
or  Vines.  In  either  case  they  prefer  good 
fibrous  loam,  which  should  be  periodically 
enriched  with  top-dressings  of  manure- 
preferably  sheep  or  deer  dung— applied  in 
March.  When  in  growth  they  require 
plenty  of  moisture  both  at  the  root  and 
overhead  ;  whilst  resting  in  winter  the 
soil  should  be  kept  just  moist.  Plants 
wintered  in  a  low  temperature  will  not 
require  any  water  from  about  November 
till  March. 

Where  a  house  can  be  devoted  entirely 
to  the  cultivation  of  Oranges  it  .should 
be  spacious,  well  glazed,  and  ventilated 
as  for  forced  Peaches.  The  border  should 
occupy  the  whole  area  and  be  deep,  well 
drained,  witli  about  2  feet  of  good  loamy 
soil.  In  this  the  trees  can  be  planted  at 
suitable  distances  and  treated  as  for  ordi- 
nary orchard  house  trees.  Fan-trained 
trees  may  occupy  the  sides  or  walls  of 
the  house.  ^ 

The  trees  require  careful  pruning  so 
as  to  obtain  short  sturdy  wood  and  an 
open  form  of  tree,  better  results  being 
thus  obtained  than  from  trees  allowed  to  grow 
dense.    Strong  woody  shoots,  if  not  required 
to  build  up  the  framework  of  the  tree,  should 
be   cut    out,  or,   better  still,  they  should  be 
stopped  early  to  prevent  waste. 

Oranges  require  all  the  sunshine  they  can 
get.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  start  the  house 
early,  say  the  first  week  in  March,  by  main- 
taining a  temperature  of  from  .50°  to  70°,  the 
latter  vrith  sun-heat ;  from  May  onwards  the 
temperature  may  be  10°  or  15°  higher  than 
this.  A  good  syringing  twice  a  day  should  be 
given.  The  plants  must  be  kept  free  of  insects, 
and  with  this  object  some  growers  syringe  them 
once  a  week  with  a  weak  solution  of  paraffin. 

If  the  plants  are  grown  in  pots  or  tubs  they 
require  the  same  treatment  as  those  planted 
out,  but  of  course  close  attention  must  be 
given  to  the  condition  of  the  soil.  Half-inch 
bones  and  old  mortar  mixed  with  the  soil  serve 
to  keep  the  latter  open  and  also  afford  nourish- 
ment. Plants  that  have  grown  too  large  or 
become  leggy  and  unsightly  may  be  reduced 
and  renovated  by  cutting  them  back  in  the 
spring  and  keeping  them  close  and  moist  for  a 
few  weeks.    This  induces  them  to  break  freely. 

(To  be  continued.) 


USES    OF    BRITISH    PLANTS.-I. 

In  the  following  series  of  short  papers  I  propose 
taking  the  families  in  their  usual  sequence  and 
selecting  such  plants  as  have  any  special  interest 
on  account  of  their  real  or  supposed  value  to  man. 

Ranukcblaoe^. 

It  occasionally  happens  that  while  a  number  of 
genera  are  grouped  together  by  the  common  struc- 
ture of  their  flowers  and  fruits,  some  ph3'siological 
property  is  correlated  with  many,  if  not  all,  of 
them.  Such  is  the  case  with  this  family — an  acrid, 
narcotic  juice  prevails  throughout ;  the  Water 
Crowfoot  being  perhaps  the  only  exception,  as 
it  is  greedily  eaten  by  cattle  in  some  midland 
counties. 

Traveller's  Joy  (Clematis  Vitalba). —  This  was 
so  named  by  Gerarde  in  1.597.  The  juice  is  used 
occasionally  by  tramps   to    excoriate   and   blister 


GRAPE  FRUIT  (ciTROS  DECUMANA  YAK. ).      (Original  3A  inches  high,  4J  inches  wide.) 


their  arms,  in  order  to  excite  commiseration  of  the 
generous,  but  the  young  shoots  are  sometimes 
pickled  in  vinegar.  Rough  kinds  of  baskets  are 
made  of  the  flexible  stems  in  some  counties. 

Anemone-^  (Anemone nemorosa  and  A.  Pulsatilla). 
— All  the  species  are  acrid.  Gerarde  describes 
some  half  -  dozen  uses,  which  Culpeper  (whose 
"Astrological  Herbal"  is  still  publi.shed  !)  copies 
nearlj'  verbatim  ;  but  they  are  worthless.  At 
present  the  Pasque-flower  (A.  Pulsatilla)  is  a 
favourite  drug  of  the  homwopathist. 

Hellebores  (Helleborus  fretidus  and  viridis). — 
Like  all  others  these  are  dangerous  plants,  but 
often  used  by  country  people  as  vermifuges  ; 
indeed,  they  have  been  thus  employed  since  the 
days  of  Hippocrates  (fourth  century,  B.C.).  Our 
British  Pharmacopeia  contained  them  in  1851, 
but  they  have  long  since  been  discarded  as  too 
dangerous. 

Aconite,  Monhihood,  or  Wolfsbane  (Aconitum 
Napellus). — This  is  the  only  British  plant  of  this 
family  now  included  in  the  Pharmaoopreia.  It  is 
a  most  deadly  poisonous  plant  in  all  its  parts. 
The  root  has  often  been  dug  up  and  eaten  for 
Horseradish,  with  fatal  results  ;  but  while  that  of 
the  Aconite  is  conical  and  brown  or  black,  the  root 
of  Horseradish  is  cylindrical  and  pale  -  coloured. 
Gerarde  says  of  this  plant  and  other  species:  "  All 
these  plants  are  of  a  most  venomous  quality."  He 
speaks  of  arrows  being  poisoned  with  the  juice  and 
fatal  to  those  wounded  by  them,  as  well  as  of 
several  persons  who  died  from  eating  the  leaves  as 
a  salad.  Pliny  tells  us  that  "The  barbarous 
nations  go  to  hunt  the  panther  provided  with 
meat  that  has  been  rubbed  with  Aconite.  As  the 
poison  produces  a  constriction  in  the  throat,  it  was 
called  parcaliaiiches  (i.e..  Leopard  -  strangler)." 
As  an  instance  showing  how  names  get  transferred 
from  one  plant  to  another,  he  elsewhere  called 
Doronicum  by  the  name  of  "Aconite,"  now  known 
as  "  Leopards' -bane."  "  Aconite,"  he  writes,  "has 
leaves  like  those  of  Cyclaminos."  It  appears  that 
Gerarde  describes  this  plant  as  "  Woolfesbane,"  as 
"  having  round  leaves  like  those  of  Cyclamen." 
Pliny  further  adds  rather  a  curious  idea  :  "  Such 
is  the  nature  of  this  deadly  plant  (the  true  Aco- 
nite) that  it  kills  man  unless  it  can  find  in  him 
something  else  to  kill.  When  such  is  the  case,  as 
though  it  had  discovered  in  the  body  a  fit  rival  to 
contend  with,  that  substance  is  the  sole  object  of 
its  attack."    This  looks  like  a  dim  foreshadowing 


of  the  modern  theory  of  phagocytes  in  the  blood 
contesting  with  microbes  ! 

Speaking  generally  of  all  the  members  of  this 
order,  it  must  be  carefully  borne  in  mind  that  they 
are  more  or  less  poisonous,  and  children  especially 
should  be  warned  against  putting  anj'  part  of  them 
in  their  mouths.  For  further  details,  I  must  refer 
the  reader  to  ray  little  book,  "Poisonous  Plants  in 
Field  and  Garden"  (S.P.C.K.). 

George  Hesslow. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


THE    GOOSEBERRY. 

FOR  hardiness  and  general  usefulness  the 
Gooseberry  ranks  amongst  the  most 
important  of  all  the  fruits  grown  in 
these  islands.  The  tree  is  a  native  of 
Britain,  and,  unlike  many  of  our  hardy 
fruits,  succeeds  even  better  in  the  cold 
north  than  in  the  warmer  south,  Lancashire  and 
Cheshire  being  the  counties  in  which  it  best 
succeeds.  The  former  county  is  celebrated  for  the 
encouragement  given  to  the  large  Gooseberry, 
especially  by  the  many  shows  and  liberal  prizes 
offered  for  the  heavier  specimens  for  very  many 
years  past.  May  I  suggest  that  our  Lancashire 
friends,  now  they  have  developed  the  size  of  the 
fruit,  should  turn  their  attention  and  enthusiasm 
to  improving  its  quality  and  flavour.  Some  efforts 
have  been  directed  in  this  way  in  the  south  of 
England  of  recent  years,  especially  by  Messrs. 
Veitoh  of  Chelsea,  who  have  raised  some  excellent 
new  dessert  varieties,  many  of  them  being  thought 
worthy  of  recognition  by  the  fruit  committee  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  I  believe  there 
is  still  room  for  greater  improvement  in  this 
direction,  and  I  should  rejoice  to  know  that  our 
northern  friends-  have  taken  this  aspect  of  the 
Gooseberry  question  in  hand  as  earnestly  and 
successfully  as  ihey  have  that  of  size.  We  should 
then  have  the  usefulness  of  this  important  fruit 
developed  to  its  full  extent. 

The  Gooseberry  is  one  of  those  hardy  fruits 
which,  commercially  speaking,  is  of  greater  value 
in  an  unripe  state  than  it  is  when  fully  ripe  and  in 
condition  for  dessert,  and  from  this  point  of  view 
it    is    the    earliest  hardy   available  fruit  of   the 


270 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  26,  1962'.- 


garden,  either  for  market  or 
home  use ;  and,  considered 
from  a  commercial  standpoint, 
when  picked  green  the  Goose- 
berry is  looked  upon  as  one  of 
the  most  consistent  and  pro- 
fitable crops  of  the  garden  or 
orchard. 

The  Gooseberry  is  the  most 
accommodating     of    fruit     as 

regards 

the  alti- 
tude, posi- 
tion,    or 

the  nature 

of  the  soil 

in     which 

it  will  sue-' 

ceed.       It 

is  at  home 

on     the 

coast    at 

sea    level. 


T  1   \  V» 


■s-'- 


appear  above  ground  and 
when  they  are  large  enough 
to  handle  prick  them  out 
into  beds  previously 
manured  and  dug,  and 
planted  in  lines  1  foot 
apart  at  a  distance  of 
6  inches  from  plant  to 
plant  in  the  row.  The 
next  autumn  they  should 
be  planted  in  the  experi- 
mental quarter  and  allowed 
to  remain  there  until  they 
have  fruited,  and  should 
you  be  rewarded  for  your 
labour   by   the  production 


^■fi^ 


and  flourishes  equally  well  at  a  height 
of  600  feet  or  800  feet.  It  is  to  be 
found  in  every  garden  in  the  land  ; 
even  the  smallest  and  most  neglected 
have  a  Gooseberry  bush  or  two,  and  so 
hardy  is  the  tree  that  even  in  the 
coldest  part  of  Scotland  it  yields  a 
modest  and  useful  return. 

Raising  New  Varieties. 

It  is  propagated  by  seed,  by  cuttings, 
by  layers,  and  by  grafting ;  but  for 
general  and  economical  purposes  the 
best  way  undoubtedly  is  by  cuttings. 
Seed  propagation  is  only  resorted  to 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  new  varie- 
ties, and  to  those  who  have  leisure  and  incli- 
nation this  way  is  very  fascinating.  To  those 
inexperienced  in  the  way  of  hybridising  and 
raising  new  varieties  I  will  very  briefly  give 
a  few  particulars  of  how  to  proceed.  First 
determine  in  your  mind  on  a  variety  you  msh 
to  improve  upon  in  size,  flavour,  or  appearance.  It 
may  be  a  variety  which  possesses  good  flavour,  but 
is  too  small  to  take  the  public  eye.  Then  select 
the  largest  and  best  flavoured  variety  you  know  of 
the  same  colour,  and  with  the  pollen  of  this  variety 
the  stigma  of  the  small  fruited  sort  should  be 
fertilised,  and  the  best  way  to  eS'ect  this  is  by 
carefully  touching  the  dust -like  pollen  of  the 
larger  variety  with  a  camel's  hair  pencil  and  com- 
municating the  same  to  the  pistil  or  embryo  fruit 
of  the  smaller  variety.  Two  or  three  fruits  will 
be  quite  suflicient  to  fertilise,  as  these  will  provide 
many  seeds.  As  soon  as  fertilisation  has  been 
accomplished  all  other  flowers  on  that  part  of  the 
branch  should  be  removed,  and  those  operated  on 
be  enveloped  in  a  piece  of  muslin  to  properly  locate 
them  as  well  as  to  protect  them  from  injur}'  and 
from  the  chance  of  further  cross-fertilisation  by 
the  agency  of  insects.  A  label  should  be  attached 
to  the  branch  indicating  the  nature  of  the  cross, 
and  this  should  also  be  registered  in  a  book  for 
future  reference. 

It  is  easy  to  change  the  size  and  quality  of  any 
variety  (if  not  to  improve  it)  by  means  of  hybridisa- 
tion. As  soon  as  the  fruit  is  ripe  the  pulp  should 
be  washed  away  and  the  seeds  carefully  preserved 
and  sown  in  pots  the  following  March  and  placed 
in  a  cold  frame.  They  should  only  be  lightly 
covered  with  fine  soil.      The  seedlings  will  soon 


PRIMDI.A    FLORIBtJNDA    (LIFE   SIZE). 
(The  htrunger  jtowerii  are  tier  upon  tier  in  whorln.) 


of  an  improved  variety,  and  you 
wish  to  increase  your  stock  of 
this  as  quickly  as  possible,  then 
grafting  on  a  common  stock 
should  be  resorted  to. 

Propagation  by  CnTTiNcs. 

This  is  efieoted  by  cutting  a 
medium  sized  shoot  (at   the  end 
of     October     or     any     time     in 
November)  of   the   past  season's 
growth  close  to  the  branch  from 
which    it   emerges.      Cut    off   as 
much  of  the  top  of  this  shoot  as 
will  reduce  it   to   the   length   of 
12    inches.       Cut    away    all    the 
lower   buds    and   prickles    for   a 
length  of   G    inches,    then   insert 
the  cuttings  in  the  ground  forth- 
with at  a  depth 
of  about  5  inches. 
The  best  way  to 
do  this  when  the 
ground  has  been 
previous!}'     pre- 
pared    is     to 
stretch     a     line 
across     the 
q  uarter  or  border 
and    then   cut  a 
small      trench 
6     inches      deep 
with  the  spade  ; 
at  the  bottom  of 
this  small  trench 


should  be  placed  a  thin  layer  of  sand,  half  an 
inch  deep,  into  which  the  end  of  the  cutting 
is  inserted,  6  inches  apart,  afterwards  replacing 
the  soil  in  the  trench  and  treading  firmly 
to  the  cuttings.  The  following  autumn  twelve 
months  they  will  be  ready  for  transplanting  intO' 
another  quarter  2  feet  apart.  At  this  transplanting 
be  careful  to  prune  all  shoots  from  the  base  of  the 
stem  to  the  distance  of  10  inches  from  the  ground, 
and  also  be  careful  to  notice  that  there  are  no 
suckers  on  the  stem  below  ground,  otherwise  these 
in  years  to  come  will  give  much  trouble.  To  those 
cultivators  only  wanting  a  limited  number  of  trees 
it  is  more  convenient  and  satisfactory  to  purchase 
them  from  a  nursery,  as  they  are  sold  cheap ;  but 
to  market  growers  contemplating  planting  on  a 
large  scale  by  the  acre  home  propagation  should  be 
resorted  to,  as  it  is  an  item  of  importance  in  the 
economy  of  the  farm  or  garden.  In  buying  trees 
be  careful  to  note  that  the  lower  branches  are  at 
least  10  inches  from  the  ground,  as  on  branches 
lower  than  this  the  fruit  is  so  damaged  by  rains 
beating  the  ground  and  splashing  the  fruit  with 
sloppy  soil,  making  it  practically  worthless. 

Pruning. 

This  is  a  simple  operation  and  is  easily  carried 

out,  provided  the  cultivator  will  always  bear  in 

mind  that  there  should  be  at  least  6  inches  of  space 

left  clear  between  each  main  branch  of  the  tree. 

This  rule  holds  good   whether  the  tree  is  in  the 

form  of  a  bush,  a  standard,  or  an  espalier  against 

a  trellis  or  wall,  and  the  small  shoots  or  laterals 

which   grow   from    these   main 

shoots,  and  on  which  the  fruit 

is    produced,    should    be    cut 

back  at  the  winter  pruning  to 

one  bud  on  a  weak  shoot  and 

to  two  on    the  stronger    ones. 

In    the    case   of   a   bush    tree 

many  growers  advocate  leaving 

the  centre  open  in   a  concave 

form,      arguing     that      better 

results   are    obtained    in    this 

way   by   greater    exposure    to 

sun  and  air,  forgetting  that  a 

greater  exposure  is  also  ma<le 

to  the  ravages  of  spring  frosts 

when  the  trees  are  in   bloom. 

For  my  part  I  much  prefer  the 

rounded   head   form,  provided 

the     branches     are      properly 

thinned  out  to  0  inches  apart. 

This   form    of     tree    certainly 

affords  better  protection   from 

spring    frosts    than    does    the 

concave  one.      As  regards  the 

best    time     to    prune,    where 

there     are     only      a      limited 


PRIMULA   AURICULA   (lIlE   WILD   PLANT  ;   LIFE  SIZE). 


April  26,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


271 


number  of  trees,  and  damage  to  the  buds  appre- 
hended from  the  depredations  of  birds,  the 
pruning  had  better  be  deferred  until  late  in 
February  or  early  in  March,  when  growth  is  on 
tlie  move,  otherwise  there  is  danger  of  the  tree 
being  denuded  of  all  its  buds  during  the  winter. 
When  trees  are  grown  in  larger  quantities  there 
is  not  the  same  danger  as  to  destruction  of  buds 
by  birds,  and  the  work  may  be  taken  in  hand 
immediately  after  the  turn  of  Christmas. 

The  Gooseberry  will  succeed,  as  I  said  before,  in 
any  sort  of  soil,  but  that  which  suits  it  best, 
and  from  which  the  best  results  are  obtained,  is  a 
well  drained,  deep,  rather  heavy  loam. 

Owen  Thomas. 
{ To  he  continued. ) 


THE    MOUNTAIN    PRIMULAS.-I. 

Inteodtjction. 

Of  all  the  genera  of  plants  that  grow  in  the 
mountains  of  the  world,  the  genus  Primula,  is 
the  one  that  is  the  most  homogeneous  and  that 
exhibits  the  fewest  dissimilar  characters.  The 
species  of  this  genus  are  nearly  all  perennial ; 
one  or  two  are  biennial ;  none  are  annual,  for 
even  P.  Forheui  and  P.  malacoides  of  Franchet, 
though  they  are  scarcely  perennial,  cannot  be 
classed  as  annuals. 

Dr.  Pax  has  made  an  important  study  of 
the  vegetative  system  of  the  Primulas,  the 
results  of  which  are  published  in  Engler's 
"  Botanischen  Jahrbiichern,"  vol.  x.*  The 
subject  is  too  abstruse  and  too  much  a  matter 
of  botanical  specialisation  to  interest  readers 
of  The  Garden  in  general,  but  those  who 
desire  to  penetrate  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
matter  may  consult  this  fine  work  (pages 
19-33). 

JDr.  Maxwell  Masters  has  also  made  some 
extremely  interesting  observations  on  the 
germination  of  Primuiacere  in  general  and  the 
genus  Primula  in  particular,  the  result  of 
which  he  communicated  to  the  Primula  Con- 
ference held  at  South  Kensington  on  April  20 
and  21,  1896.t  Sir  John  Lubbock  (now  Lord 
Avebury)  has  also  made  valuable  scientific 
observations  on  the  germination  and  growth 
of  Primula  elatior,  dentindata,  vulgaris,  and 
sinensis  in  his  important  work  on  seedlings.  | 

From  the  horticultural  and  cultural  point 
of  view  which  is  now  under  consideration, 
these  are  the  observations  that  I  have  myself 
made  on  the  germination  of  the  seed  and  the 
cultivation  of  the  Primulas.  All  the  species 
germinate  slowly,  even  when  quite  fresh  seed 
is  sown.  I  am  aware  that  in  horticultural 
establishments  where  kinds  of  Asiatic  origin, 
such  as  P.  chinensis,  obconica,  and  Jlorihunda 
are  raised  in  heat,  that  germination  is  quicker 
than  in  the  cold  frames  of  the  Jardin  alpin 
d'acclimatation,  where  the  way  of  raising  them 
is  nearer  that  of  Nature.  Indeed,  certain  of 
the  Auricida  and  capitata  groups  are  often  a 
year  and  a  half  before  they  appear  above 
ground,  while  the  quickest  to  germinate  seem 
to  be  those  of  the  farinosa  group,  of  which 
some  will  come  up  within  a  month  of  sowing. 
On  the  other  hand,  seed  of  the  Primulas 
retains  its  power  of  germination  for  some 
time  ;  seeds  three  or  four  years  old  may  be 
sown  ;  but  in  the  case  of  older  seed,  though  it 
may  actually  germinate,  the  young  life  has  so 
little  strength  that  it  is  likely  to  perish  as 
soon  as  it  comes  into  contact  with  the  air. 
This  is  what  happened  in  the  case  of  some 
seeds  given  me  in  1893  by  M.  Franchet,  that 

*  Monographische  Uberricht  iiber  die  Arten  der  Gattung 
Primula,  von  Dr.  F.  Pax,  Privat  Docent  der  Botanili  a.d. 
Universitat  Bresiau  ;  Leipsig,  1SS8. 

t  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  vol.  vii., 
No.  2,  pages  236-254. 

J  On  Seedlings,  vol.  ii.,  pages  179-183. 


had  been  collected  ten  years  before  by  the 
Abbe  Delavay  in  Yunnan.  They  were  of  very 
tine  species,  whose  value  was  clearly  shown  by 
the  dried  specimens  in  the  herbarium  of  the 
Paris  Museum,  and  I  had  much  hoped  to  be 
able  to  raise  them.  The  only  kinds  that 
germinated  were  P.  calliantha  (Franchet)  and 
P.  Delavai/i  (Franchet),  but  in  spite  of  all  the 
care  I  could  give  them  they  were  unable  to 
complete  the  development  of  their  cotyledons, 
and,  to  my  great  regret, 
they  died  in  an  almost 
embryonic  state. 

The  best  way  to  raise 
Primulas    from   seed    is 
to  sow  them  in  a  com- 
post  of  sand  and  loam, 
and    I     have     observed 
that  it  is  better  not  to 
sift    the    loam,    but    to 
leave  it  so  that  the  soil 
has  an  uneven  surface  of 
knobs  and   hollows  and 
cavities.     From    the 
phytogeographical  point 
of    view    the    Primulas 
are  an  extremely  inter- 
esting   study,   for,   with 
two  exceptions  only,  they 
all   belong   to  the  tem- 
perate mountain  regions 
of   the    northern    hemi- 
sphere.    How  it  is  that 
one  of  them,  P.  imperialis 
(.Jung.),    has     found     a 
home      south     of      the 
Equator 
in    Java, 
while  its 
normal 
centre  of 
disper- 
sion   ap- 
pears   to 
be     in 
Eastern 
Bengal, 
where    it 
is    found 
in    the 
K  h  a  s  i 
M  o  u  n  - 
tains,  and 
that    one 
other,  an 
antarctic 

form  of  our  P.  farinosa, 
occurs  by  the  Straits  of 
Magellan,  has  not  yet  been 
explained.  With  these 
two  exceptions  the  other 
species  belong  to  lands 
north  of  the  Equator  and 
are  found  in  cool  and 
mountainous  places,  even 
in  Abyssinia  and  Arabia. 
Thus  one  may   say  that  ,_ 

Primula  is  a  genus  essen- 
tially belonging  to  the 
mountains  and  requires  a 
cool  soil. 

The  general  centre  of  disper.sion  appears  to 
be  towards  the  south  and  east  of  Asia,  or 
rather  the  chain  of  the  Himalayas  and  its 
prolongation  into  southern  China  ending  in 
Yunnan.  The  eastern  Himalayas  of  Yunnan 
give  us  sixty-five  endemic  species — that  is  to 
say,  species  absolutely  belonging  to  the  soil 
of  the  local  formation,  while  the  western 
Himalayas  have  but  nine.  These  species  are 
classed  in  seventeen  out  of  the  twenty  sections 
into  which  Pax  divides  the  genus  Prinmla. 


Therefore  in  the  regions  just  named  only  three 
groups  of  the  whole  genus  are  absent,  namely, 
the  Fallaces,  a  group  which  comprises  thr«e 
Japanese  species,  and  one  (P.  mer/asere/olia) 
found  in  western  Asia,  especially  in  a  remote 
place  on  the  border  of  the  Black  Sea  ;  Veres, 
almost  entirely  European  and  western  Asiatic; 
and  Auricula,  which  is  the  group  of  the  essen- 
tially alpine  species. 
The  American  continent  is  poor  in  Primulas, 
depending,  with 
perhaps  one  ex- 
ception, on  the 
arctic  groups. 
Europe,  so  rich  in 
the  Auricula  and 
Veres  groups,  may 
be  considered,  as 
to  its  alpine 
regions,  as  one  of 
the  centres  of 
origin,   while    the 


PRIMULA  OBCONICA   (LIFE  SIZE). 

Levant,  Arabia,  and  Abyssinia  (the  latter  being 
the  only  portion  of  Africa  in  which  a  Primula 
is  found)  seem  to  depend  on  the  western  Hima- 
layas. In  short,  the  arctic  regions,  where  the 
groups  Nivales  and  Farinosie  alone  are  found, 
may  be  considered  the  third  centre  of  disper 
sion ;  the  Himalayas  and  the  Alps  forming  the 
two  first  and  most  important.  Still  it  is 
possible  that  the  arctic  groups  may  have  come 
from  Siberia,  and  therefore  more  remotely  from 
the  Himalayas  and  Thibet. 


272 


THE  GARDEN. 


[April  26,  1902. 


nS^??>!r'^\Vo- 


liREY-ED(-:ED    GARDEN    AURICULA    (LIFE   SIZE) 


Among  the  nearly  loO  species  admitted  by 
Pax  in  his  "  Monographie,"  without  counting 
the  large  number  of  varieties  and  hybrids— 
for  Primulas  hybridise  readily^  especially  those 
of  the  groups  Auricula  and  Veres — more  than 
half  belong  to  the  Himalayas,  Yunnan  and 
the  rest  of  China,  Japan  accounts  for  a  dozen, 
the  Caucasus  for  fifteen,  the  Alps  and  the 
mountains  of  Eastern  Europe  for  twenty-six, 
and  North  America  for  seven. 

Pax  has  classified  the  Primulas  into  twenty 
sections.  It  would  be  interesting  to  give  them 
here  with  all  their  characters,  but  a  complete 
enumeration  might  be  wearisome  to  the  general 
reader  of  The  Gaeden.  In  brief  the  sections 
are : — 

1.  Sinensis.— P.  sinensis,  oreodoxa,  blattari- 
formis,  malvacea,  Listeri,  Clarkei,  filipes, 
obconica,  mollis,  Sieboldi,  cortusoides,  kauf- 
manniana,  geraniifolia,  septemloba,  vaginata, 
and  heucherifolia  ;  in  all  sixteen  species. 

2.  Fallaces. — P.  yesoana,  kisoana,  Reidii, 
megasesefolia ;  four  species. 

3.  MoNOCARPic.E.  —  P.  malacoides  and 
Forbesii ;  two  species. 

4.  Floribdnd.h.  —  P.  floribunda,  Aucheri, 
verticillata  ;  three^  species. 

h.  Petiolares.  —  P.  petiolaris,  Hookeri, 
moupinensis  ;  three  species. 

6.  BuLLAT.E.  —  P.  ovalifolia,  bullata, 
bracteata,  Davidi  ;  four  species. 

7.  Vernales.— A  polymorphous  group  com- 
prising three  species,  P.  elatior,  acaulis,  and 
officinalis,  a  great  number  of  varieties  and  a 
yet  larger  number  of  hybrids. 


8.  SOLDA- 
NELLOIDES. 

— P.pinnati- 
fida,  Wattii, 
s  p  i  c  a  t  a, 
Reedii,  uni- 
flora,pusilla, 
so  Idanel- 
loides,  sap- 
p  h  i  r  i  n  a  ; 
eight 
species. 

9.  AuRi- 

CULACE.E. — 

P.    algida, 

auriculata, 

capitellata, 

1  u  t  e  o  1  a, 

rosea, 

farinifolia, 

elliptica, 

darialica  ; 

eight 

species,  and 

in    addition 

a     great 

number     of 

varieties 

and  hybrids. 

1(1.   Capitat.e.  —  P.  denticulata, 

erosa,    nutans,     capitata,     cernua, 

glabra,   bellidifolia  ;    seven    species 

and  several  varieties. 

11.  Farinos.e.  — P.  involucrata,  si- 
birica,  Pumilio.frondosa,  Olgw,  egal- 
liccensis,  longiflora,  scotica,  stricta, 
farinosa,  stenocalyx  ;  eight  sjiecies 
and  a  good  number  of  varieties. 

\-2.    MiNUTissiM.n.  —  P.    Heydei, 

minutissima,  reptans ;  three  species. 

1.3.    Tenelle. — P.  tenella,  bella, 

yunnanensis,  muscoides,  tenuiloba, 

stirtoniana  ;  six  species. 

14.    Nivales.  —  P.    sikkimensis, 
Stuartii,  elongata,  nivalis,  pumila, 
Rusbyi,    cusickyana,    angustifolia ; 
nine  species  and  several  varieties. 
1:").    Barbat-E.  —  P.    vinciflora,    elwesiana, 
Delavayi ;  three  species. 

16.  Macrocarp.e.— P.  macrocarpa.  Fauna?, 
cuneifolia,  sutfrutescens,  hakusanensis,  hetero- 
donta,  urticifolia  ;  seven  species. 

17.  Callianthe.— P.  dickyana,  Panthngu, 
flava,Kingii,Griffithii,obtusifolia,Fedschenkoi, 
amethystina,  calliantha,  glacialis,  dryadifolia  : 
eleven  species. 

18.  CoRDiFOLi.E,  —  P.  reticulata,  grandis, 
rotundifolia,  cordifolia  ;  six  species. 

li).  Prolifer-E.— P.  prolifera,  serratifolia, 
Maximowiczii,  japonica,  imperialis,  Parryi, 
membranifolia,  sonchifolia,  Poissoni  ;  nine 
species.  Pax  gives  prolifera  and  imperialis 
as  synonyms,  but  the  "  Index  Kewensis  "  keeps 
them  separate. 

20.  Auricula.— P.  Auricula,  ciliata,  Palmuri, 
marginata,  carniolica,  glaucescens,  clusiana, 
wulfeniana,spectabilis,integrifolia,kitaibe]iana, 
hirsuta,  (enensis,  viscosa,  pedemontana,  com- 
mutata,  villosa,  Allionii,  tyrolensis,  glutinosa, 
minima ;  twenty- one  species  and  a  great 
number  of  varieties  and  hybrids. 

From  the  cultural  point  of  view,  the  genus 
Primula,  so  rich  in  species,  varieties,  and 
hybrids,  can  be  divided  into  several  groups. 
To  begin  with,  there  are  two  categories  that 
are  perfectly  distinct,  namely,  those  that  are 
hardy  and  those  that  are  not.  Primulas 
bcnieaiM,  floribunda,  Forbesii,  imperiaiis, 
mollis,  obconica,  jyrolifera,  sinensis,  and 
verticillata  must  be  grown  under  glass,  and 
even  P.  caj/itata  which  grows  at  an  altitude  of 
14,000  feet  in    the    Himalayas  will  scarcely 


survive  a  winter  without  snow.  The  hardy 
species  may,  from  the  cultural  point  of  view, 
be  placed  in  four  sections  as  follows  : — 

1.  Saxatile  species  which  grow  naturally  in 
the  fissures  of  rocks  and  natural  stone-heaps. 

2.  Marsh-loving  species,  liking  porous  peaty 
soils  and  cool  damp  places. 

3.  Species  that  need  silica  and  special  culture. 

4.  Species  that  may  be  easily  grown  in  the 
open  in  sound,  mellow  garden  soil. 

Geneva.  H.  Coerevon. 

(To  be  continued.) 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

THE     TAMARISKS. 

A  LL  who  observe  what  grows  wild  about 
/\  them  when  visiting  our  southern 
/  \  seaside  localities,  especially  in  parts 
* — *  of  Cornwall,  where  it  is  a  wild  shrub 
1  ».  in  every  farmer's  hedge,  making  a 
grateful  shelter  for  sheep  and  beast 
in  those  wind-swept  parts,  must  be  familiar 
with  the  graceful  and  feathery  growth  of  the 
native  Tamarisk.  In  and  about  seaside  towns 
the  Tamarisk  is  plentifully  planted,  in  fact  it 
is  seen  sometimes  so  prevalent  as  to  exclude 
other  beautiful  seaside  growths.  As  an  inland 
garden  shrub  the  Tamarisk  is  not  commonly 
planted,  owing  probably  to  the  wrong  impres- 
sion people  seem  to  have  that  seaside  plants 
will  not  flourish  in  places  away  from  the  sea. 
The  same  erroneous  idea  is  prevalent  in  regard 
to  the  Sea  Buckthorn,  though  both  these 
essentially  maritime  shrubs  flourish  perfectly 
at  places  a  hundred  miles  from  the  sea,  and 
they  are  un- 
([uestionably 
two  of  the  most 
beautiful  hardy 
shrubs  one  can 
have  in  a  gar- 
den, and  parti- 
cularlyin  places 
where  the  soil 
is  inclined  to 
be  sandy  or 
gravelly. 

We  in  Eng- 
land do  not 
appreciate  the 
ornamental 
value  of  the 
Tamarisk  so 
highly  as  it  is 
on  the  Conti- 
nent, and  par- 
ticularly in  and 
about  Paris  and 
in  some  towns 
in  Germanyand 
Switzerland, 
where  one  sees 
special  features 
made  of  it  in 
masses  isolated 
or  grouped  with 
some  harmonis- 
ing  tree  or 
shrub.  While 
the  planting  of 
Tamarisk  in 
seaside  gardens 
is  common  it  is 
neglected  in 
inland  gardens, 
and  the  object 
of  the  accom- 
panying illus- 
tration  of   the 


#' 


PRIMULA     IMPERIALIS 
(HALT  LIFE  SI?E). 


April  26,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


273 


Taurian  Tamarisk  is  to  draw  attention  to 
a  shrub  beautiful  and  elegant  in  foliage 
throughout  the  summer  and  exceedinglj' 
attractive  in  flower  when  planted  in  a 
mass,  which  is  the  proper  way  to  treat 
Tamarisk,  as  there  are  very  few  shrubs  which 
harmonise  with  it  in  growth  and  foliage;  it 
never  should  be  seen  in  a  "  mixed  "  shrubbery, 
as  it  will  not  tolerate  crowding  with  broad- 
leaved  things. 

jMy  experience  is  that  it  will  grow  well  m 
any  soil  but  the  heaviest  of  clays  or  unmixed 
chalks.  The  soil  that  it  likes  best  is  a  gravelly 
loam,  on  which  it  grows  to  perfection,  though 
I  have  seen  it  flourish  in  pure  gravels  and 
sands,  especially  if  on  places  where  there  is 
constant  moisture.  It  is,  in  short,  a  very 
accommodating  shrub.  One  can  plant  it  on 
a  dry  bank  or  by  the  side  of  a  stream  and  it 
thrives  in  all  cases  if  it  has  the  benefit  of 
full  exposure,  as  it  resents  shade  and  quickly 
shows  it  in  its  growth.  As  an  isolated  lawn 
group  or  bed,  say  about  eight  paces  long  by  six 
paces  wide,  it  is  very  effective,  and 
one  might  have  three  or  four  small 
growing  flowering  trees  rising  from 
the  mass,  such  as  the  .Japanese  pink 
Cherry  or  Japanese  Crab  Apple, 
Pyrus  floribunda  or  Thorns,  which 
break  the  outline  of  the  group,  and 
as  an  undergrowth  there  might  be 
Apennine  Anemones,  Snowdrops,  and 
Chionodoxas  for  early  spring,  suc- 
ceeded by  Narcissi,  which  would  be 
past  flower  before  the  Tamarisk  bursts 
into  a  cloud  of  pink  flower  at  the 
end  of  May  or  beginning  of  -June  and 
continuing  for  some  weeks.  ^Meadow 
Saffrons  (Colchieum)  and  Autumn 
Crocuses  could  be  planted  for  late 
summer  and  autumn  bloom.  The 
light  foliage  of  the  Tamarisk  does 
not  interfere  with  the  bulbs,  in  fact 
they  are  benefited  by  the  partial 
shade.  Occasionally  pruning  back 
the  long  straggling  shoots  will  keep 
the  Tamarisk  within  bounds,  though 
unpruned  it  will  rise  in  some  places 
10  feet  or  15  feet  high.  This  is 
enough  about  the  culture  and  posi- 
tion of  the  Tamarisk,  and  now  the 
point  to  consider  is  the  best  kind  to 
plant  in  inland  gardens. 

Tamarisk  is  the  popular  name  for 
all  the  species  and  varieties  of 
Tamarix,  a  genus  which,  though  really 
very  small,  has  long  been  a  puzzle 
to  botanists,  and  consequently  the 
few  distinct  species  are  encumbered 
with  intricate  synonomy.  The  type  of  the 
gjnus  is  our  native  species, 

T.  gallica,  named  by  Linmeus,  and,  though 
it  is  commonly  called  the  French  Tamarisk,  it 
is  really  so  cosmopolitan  that  no  country  can 
claim  it  to  itself.  It  is  one  of  those  few  plants 
that  have  a  wide  range  of  habitat  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  northern  portion  of  the  Old 
World,  but  does  not  occur  in  the  New  World. 
It  is  found  in  all  countries,  from  Europe, 
through  North  Africa,  Central  Asia,  Japan, 
and  even  in  parts  of  India.  This  wide 
geographical  range  has  naturally  altered  the 
type  in  certain  characters,  but  are  not 
sufficiently  distinct  to  rank  as  species  by 
modern  botanists,  though  these  geographical 
varieties  undoubtedly  difl'er  from  a  garden 
or  ornamental  point  of  view ;  therefore  in 
botanical  works  one  finds  no  fewer  than  thirty 
names  standing  for  at  most  three  or  four 
species,  which  is  very  confusing.  In  the  Kew 
arboretum  the  only  names  recognised  are 
Tarparjx  gallica  arjd  T.  hispida  frorn  Westerrj 


Asia.  But  the  jilanter  need  not  be  concerned 
about  the  confusion  of  names,  the  point  being 
to  obtain  the  best  Tamarisk  for  the  garden. 
In  English  nursery  catalogues  there  occur 
about  half  a  dozen  names.  These  are  T. 
gallica,  germanica,  parviflora,  tetrandra 
(taurica),  japonica,  and  chinensis.  If  you  ask 
simply  for  Tamarisk  from  one  nursery  you 
will  probably  get  one  of  the  forms  of  T. 
gallica.  If  from  another  you  will  get  the 
Eastern  form  known  in  the  trade  as  T. 
japonica.  There  is  not  much  difference 
between  them,  but  I  find  that  what  is  sold  as 
T.  tetrandra,  also  called  T.  taurica,  is  the  most 
free  in  flower  and  hardiest— that  is,  the  tips 
of  the  branches  do  not  suffer  during  severe 
winters  as  do  the  Eastern  forms. 

The  French  grow  about  Paris  a  Tamarisk 
which  they  call  Marabout  or  White  Stork 
under  the  name  of  T.  plumosa,  and  this,  I 
think,  must  be  an  Eastern  form,  as  the  shoots 
are  killed  down  in  the  winter  as  in  the  case  of 
what  is  called  T.  indica,  though  this  is  not  the 


^^f^lk       '^i^-^' ''"-'■'' ^''^^mm^: 


m^.^:'^ 


>\y^.j^;  ■  ^--4 


in  masses  in  the  way  suggested,  and  autumn  or 
early  spring  is  the  best  time  to  do  it. 

Kew.  W.  GOLDEING. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


HAEDY   HEATHS   IN  FLOWER 
AT   KEW. 

SEVERAL  of  the  Heaths  in  the  collection 
at  Kew  are  just  now  flowering  freely. 
The  Winter  Heath  (Erica  camea)  is  still 
in  full  bloom,  but  its  white  variety  (alba) 
is  past,  perhaps  partially  at  least  owing 
to  the  late  spring  frosts.  The  Mediter- 
ranean Heath  (E.  mediterranea),  which  forms  a 
bush  2  feet  to  3  feet  high,  is  profusely  laden  with 
its  purplish  lilac-coloured  blossoms.  There  is  also 
a  white  variety  of  this  (alba),  which  is  of  more 
compact  habit  than  the  type,  and  reaches  a  height 
of  18  inches  or  thereabouts.  The  Heath,  which 
has  attracted  much  attention  within  the  last  two 
or  three  years,  and  of  whose  early  history  little 


THE  TAURIAN"   TAMAEISK    (T.\MARIX   TETBANDBA). 


same  as  is  common  in  Indian  gardens.  I  have 
said  enough  to  show  how  confusing  the  names 
of  Tamarisk  are  and  how  difficult  it  is  to 
specify  in  a  nursery  order  any  particular  kind. 
The  best  way  is  to  ask  either  for  Tamarix 
tetrandra  or  taurica,  T.  plumosa,  T.  japonica,  or 
T.  parviflora,  but  I  cannot  add  "  see  that  you 
get  it,"  as  I  believe  the  nurserymen  themselves 
do  not  know  the  difference.  The  German 
Tamarix  is  a  different  shrub,  and  is  botanically 
known  as  Myricaria  germanica  and  in  gardens 
T.  germanica.  It  is  of  feathery  growth,  and 
has  the  flower  spikes  at  the  ends  of  the  stems 
instead  of  axillary  spikes  all  along  the  stems 
as  in  the  Tamarisk,  and  is  therefore  not  so 
ornamental.  In  the  South  of  Europe  and  in 
the  gardens  of  the  East  the  Tamarisk  grows 
into  a  tree-like  size,  and  sometimes  pruned 
to  single  stems,  and  in  Egyptian  gardens  much 
is  made  of  their  value  as  wind  screens  for 
more  delicate  plants.  After  these  discursive 
notes  on  the  Tamarisk  let  us  hope  that  we 
ghall  ajore  frequently  see  it  plaijted  in  gardens 


seems  to  be  known,  except  that  it  was  put  into 
commerce  as  Erica  mediterranea  hybrida,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  a  hybrid  between  Ericas  camea 
and  mediterranea,  is  also  a  mass  of  flowers,  which 
are  lighter  iu  tint  than  those  of  camea,  while  the 
plant  is  of  somewhat  taller  growth.  The  largest 
of  the  Heath  family,  Erica  arborea,  represented  by 
bushes  4  feet  to  5  feet  high,  is  now  in  flower,  and 
so  is  Erica  codonodes  or  lusitanica,  though  this 
last  is  nearly  over.  Both  have  little  white 
blossoms,  which  before  expansion  are  usually  just 
touched  with  pink.  With  the  above  now  in 
flower,  succeeded  later  on  by  Erica  cinerea  and  its 
many  varieties,  E.  ciliaris,  E.  tetralix,  and  E. 
vagans,  as  well  as  the  Ling  or  Heather  (E. 
vulgaris),  the  season  of  hardy  Heaths  extends 
well  on  into  the  autumn.  H.  P. 


PEIMULA  EOSEA. 
Putting  aside  its  varieties  splendens  and  grandi- 
flora,  is  there  any  early  hardy  Primula  in  culti- 
vation which  will  give  more  gratification  to  those 
who  see  it  than  Primula  rosea  when  in  health  and 
full  bloom  t     I  think  not,      This  js  one's   refteq. 


274 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[April  26,  1902. 


tion  after  standing  and  leaking  at  a  clump  of  a 
dozen  or  so  plants  in  full  bloom  by  the  side  of  a 
pool,  where  it  has  always  plenty  of  moisture 
below,  and  where  it  is  top-dressed  twice  or  thrice 
a  year  with  peat  and  sand.  The  beautiful  colour- 
ing of  the  flowers  is  really  exquisite,  and  one 
rejoices  at  having  hit  upon  the  right  place  in 
which  to  cultivate  it  after  trying  others  and  losing 
plants  in  the  trials.  Everyone  has  to  buy  his 
experience  with  some  plants,  and  it  is  so  with  this 
Primrose,  as  some  can  succeed  with  it  by  giving  less 
root  moisture  than  others,  while  others,  again, 
have  to  raise  it  from  seed  every  year  to  keep  up 
their  stock.  S.  Abnott. 


FRITILLARIA  MELEAGRIS. 
Although  I  have  never  grown  Fritillaria  Melea- 
gris  beneath  the  branches  of  a  deciduous  tree,  as 
"Jay  Aye,"  in  his  interesting  note  on  page  '337  of 
The  Garden,  tells  us  he  has  done,  I  have  had  it 
for  years  growing  in  one  of  the  driest  parts  of  my 
garden  and  in  light  sandy  soil,  which  in  summer 
seems  as  if  without  a  particle  of  moisture,  this 
being  entirely  taken  from  it  by  the  roots  of  a 
hedge  close  by.  It  grows  through  a  tangle  of 
Saxifrages,  Stonecrops  of  the  reflexum  type,  and 
other  rough  carpeters.  In  this  position  it  has 
thriven  well,  and  has  flowered  freely  every  year. 
This  says  a  good  deal  for  the  accommodating 
nature  of  the  tSnake's-head  Lily,  and  is  all  the  more 
surprising  in  view  of  its  being  really  a  meadow 
plant.  If  your  correspondent  had  taken  these 
Fritillarias  in  hand,  along  with  certain  other 
plants  of  which  one  knows,  we  would  probably 
have  seen  some  improvements  among  them.     As  it 


is  the  improvement  in  the  Fritillarias,  at  one 
time  worked  up  by  the  Dutch  growers,  seems  at  a 
standstill.  From  seeds  some  pretty  things  result 
in  the  way  of  shades  of  colour  from  white  to  a 
deeper  purple  than  usual.  S.  A. 


TROP^OLUM  SPECIOSUM  (THE 
FLAME  NASTURTIUM). 
The  accompanying  illustration  represents  Tropseo- 
lum  speciosum  growing  in  a  dell  in  the  garden  of 
Mrs.  Buxton,  Fox  Warren,  Cobham.  The  dell  has  a 
natural  fall  to  the  north-west.  The  west  side  of 
the  dell  is  shaded  in  the  afternoon  by  tall  trees, 
and  it  is  here  that  the  Trop«?olum  is  most  happy, 
as  it  seems  absolutely  at  heme.  It  is  growing  in  a 
made,  free,  open  soil  several  feet  deep,  and 
where  the  roots  are  well  away  from  the  drying 
influence  of  summer  heat.  This  soil  is  resting 
upon  one  of  the  worst  substrata  possible,  namely, 
what  is  known  as  "London  blue  clay,"  which  is 
offensive  to  eye  and  nostril.  Of  course,  the  soil 
was  well  drained. 


TR0l',«0LUM   SPECIOSnM   IN    SURREY. 


LILIES  IN   NORTHERN  SCOTLAND. 

The  garden  in  which  the  following  observations 
were  made  lies  well  to  the  north  of  the  Grampians, 
not  on  the  favoured  west  coast,  but  on  the  harsher 
eastern  side  of  bonny  Scotland,  with  its  severe 
winters  and  cold  variable  springs.  The  soil  is  a 
good  light  sandy  loam,  in  which  such  things  as 
Rliododendrons  are  very  much  at  home.  All  the 
Lilies  mentioned  have  been  grown  in  the  natural 
soil,  enriched  only  with  half-decayed  leaves.  The 
garden  slopes  slightly  to  the  north,  a  condition 
that  seems  to  suit 
many  of  the  Liliums  ; 
this  also  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  retarding 
the  earl}'  growth.  No 
protection  has  ever 
been  given  in  the  way 
of  covering  during  the 
winter. 

L.  aurafuvi  and  its 
varieties  do  well  for 
a  season  or  two  but 
then  die  out. 

L.  candidum  is  very 
variable,  some  seasons 
good  and  some 
decidedly  bad.  The 
reasons  for  the  latter 
I  have  not  been  able  to 
determine. 

L.  chalcedonicum 
flowers  very  well  every 
year  ;  but  some  3'ears 
it  is  somewhat  dis- 
figured by  the  foliage 
turning  yellow. 

L.  crocenm  grows 
and  flowers  well  in 
almost  any  situation, 
without  any  particular 
care  or  cultivation,  and 
it  is  equally  good  in 
half  shady  places  as  in 
full  sun. 

L.  eler/ans,  in  many 
shades  of  red  and 
yellow,  answers  to  the 
same  description  as  L. 
croceum.  A  most  use- 
ful Lily. 

L.  (jii/anteuin.  —  A 
great  success  in  a 
north  -  eastern  expo- 
sure, where  it  seldom 
gets  the  sun  after  mid- 
day during  thesummer. 
When  the  flower 
spikes  appear  they  are 
helped  with  a  dose  or 
two  of  weak  liquid 
manure. 

L.  Humholdti  comes 
up   regul  arly  and 


flowers  well  on  the  north  side  of  a  clump  of 
Azaleas.  It  has  been  there  for  five  years  without 
being  disturbed  or  even  fed  in  any  way. 

L.  Haimoni  is  very  reliable  in  the  same  situation 
and  with  the  same  treatment  as  L.  giganteuni. 

L.  /ongtjforum. — I  have  only  tried  it  in  a  half 
shady  and  very  sheltered  place,  but  with  no 
success. 

L.  Martagon  grows  well  in  all  its  forms  ;  but 
does  not  care  about  being  disturbed  ;  this  applies 
more  especially  to  the  lovely  Martagon  album. 

L.  .tppciosum  does  not  do  in  half  shade.  I  have 
not  yet  tried  it  in  full  sun. 

L.  teslaceum  is  one  of  the  best,  growing  well 
anywhere,  but  seems  to  enjoy  an  open  sunny 
situation  among  herbaceous  plants. 

L.  szoi-itsiannm  (colchicum)  very  good,  and  seeds 
freely  ;  does  well  in  almost  any  situation. 

L,  pyrenaicum  grows  like  a  weed. 

L.  ruhelhivi  and  L.  Baiemannitr  are  under  trial. 
The  former  is  doubtful,  but  the  latter  will  I  think 
be  a  success  in  a  well  sheltered  corner.         N.  B. 


GLADIOLUS  CHILDSL 
The  Rev.  H.  H,  D'omerain  has  fallen  into  an 
error  in  ascribing  an  American  origin  to  Gladiolus 
Childsi.  In  Lemoine's  "  Les  Glaieuls  Hybrides,"' 
1S90,  the  early  history  as  well  as  a  highly 
appreciative  opinion  of  the  section  is  given.  The 
honour  of  raising  this,  the  finest  of  all  the 
Gladiolus,  belongs  to  M.  Max  Leichtlin,  of  Baden- 
Baden,  who  about  1882  produced  the  earliest 
varieties  from  varieties  of  G.  gandavensis  crossed 
with  the  then  new  (J.  Saundersi.  M.  Leichtlin  it 
would  appear  could  find  no  purchasers  in  Europe, 
and  finallj'  disposed  of  the  stock  to  Mr.  Childs, 
Floral  Park,  New  York,  who  named  the  species 
after  himself.  Coloured  plates  of  the  new  flower 
were  introduced  into  the  latter's  catalogue  about 
ten  years  ago,  and  since  then  its  popularity  has 
gone  on  increasing.  My  stock  has  increased  at  a 
wonderful  rate,  and  home-grown  corms  yield 
splendid  tall  spikes,  which  are  simply  invaluable 
for  the  garden  in  autumn.  Hitherto  the  copper- 
web  fungus  has  failed  to  gain  a  footing  in  the 
corms,  but  as  a  fact  it  is  in  only  some  of  the 
Gandavensis  section  that  it  works  havoc.  I  have 
stock  of  a  few  varieties  of  the  latter  purchased  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago,  and  in  Ayrshire  in  the 
garden  of  Mr.  vSmith,  Prestwick,  and  also  in  the 
nurseries  of  Messrs.  Mair  the  stock  is  increased 
annually.  B. 

[A  small  photograph  which  accompanied  this 
letter  was  unfortunately  unsuitable  for  reproduc- 
tion.— Eds.] 

LITHOSPERMUM  CANESCENS. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  of  the  Lithos- 
permums,  and  one  of  the  few  having  orange-yellow 
flowers,  most  of  the  others  being  of  pale  or  deep 
blue  colouring.  It  is  a  deep-rooted,  deciduous 
perennial,  with  several  stems  growing  about 
9  inches  to  1  foot  in  height.  The  greyish  lanceo- 
late or  linear  oblong  leaves  are  covered  with  soft 
hairs.  The  plant  flowers  exceedingly  well  in  corymbs 
of  very  showy,  erect,  funnel-shaped  flowers,  bright 
orange-yellow  in  colour.  Although  it  usually 
blooms  in  May,  when  planted  in  a  warm  sunny 
position  it  will  bloom  as  early  as  the  beginning  or 
middle  of  April.  It  is  of  easy  culture,  succeeding 
in  almost  any  kind  of  soil  or  situation,  is  well 
adapted  for  pot  culture,  and  a  capital  plant  for 
the  sunny  part  of  the  rock  garden.  Closely  allied 
to  L.  canescens  is  the  splendid  L.  hirtum.  It  is  of 
vigorous  growth,  the  stems  about  '2  feet  in  height, 
stem  and  leaves  being  furnished  with  bristly  hairs  ; 
the  leaves  are  linear  or  lanceolate,  the  upper  ones 
being  ovate  or  oblong  ;  the  corolla  is  covered 
with  long  woolly  hairs,  and  rather  showy  orange- 
yellow  flowers.  Both  are  native  of  the  Southern 
States  of  North  America,  and  are  by  some  authors 
described  under  the  generic  name  Batschia.  Like 
the  former  it  is  easily  grown  in  a  warm,  moderately 
dry  border,  or,  better  still,  on  the  sunny  part  of 
the  rockery,  and  is  well  adapted  for  pot  culture. 
L.  californicum  is  probably  the  extreme  southern 
form  of  L.  canescens  ;  it  is  about  a  foot  in  height, 
the   lanceolate  or  oblong  leaves  as  well  as    the 


April  26,  1902.] 


THE    GABDBN. 


275 


stems  being  furnished  with  soft  hairs,  and  the 
distinct  and  handsome  flowers  are  bright  or  golden 
yellow.  It  flowers  in  April  and  May.  L.  pilosum 
is  of  botanical  interest  only,  the  flowers  being  a 
dull  yellowish  green. 


THE    POPPY   ANEMONE. 

{Anemone  coronaria.) 
Onk  of  tlie  joys  of  the  Kiviera  in  the  early 
year  is  the  Anemone  coronaria.  We  need  not 
describe  its  freedom  in  the  sunny  south,  as  the 
accompanying  illustration,  reproduced  from  a 
photograph  taken  by  Miss  Willmott  in  Mr. 
Hanbury's  interesting  garden,  is  sufticient 
explanation.  The  St.  Brigid  group  is  a  selec- 
tion, and  forms  of  this  beautiful  flower  are  the 
Nice,  Caen,  Cardinal's  Hat,  and  so  forth,  a 
brilliant  variety  of  colouring  making  this 
Anemone  as  pleasant  to  see  as  almost  any 
flower  of  the  garden. 

The  plants  are  easily  raised  from  seed 
sown  as  soon  as  ripe.  Make  the  seed-bed 
of  a  fairly  porous  soil,  and  place  it  in  an 
open  part  of  the  garden.  The  surface 
before  sowing  should  be  firm  and  level  ; 
moisten  the  soil  before  the  seed  is  sown.  It  is 
a  good  plan  to  scrape  the  surface  of  the  bed 
with  a  worn-down  garden  broom  immediately 
before  sowing,  which  should  be  done  broadcast, 
the  seed  being  then  covered  with  a  thin 
sprinkling  of  sandy  soil.  After  this  make  the 
bed  smooth  and  shade  it  from  the  sun  until 
the  seedlings  begin  to  appear,  when  the  shading 
material  must  be  removed.  The  bed  must 
never  be  allowed  to  get  dry  until  the  young 
plants  have  finished  their  growth  or  they  will 
wither  prematurely. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

SPRING    CABBAGES. 

UNDER  the  Technical  Education  Com- 
mittee of  the  Surrey  County  Council 
there  is  being  conducted  now  a  trial 
of  spring  Cabbages  on  a  plot  of 
ground,  a  portion  of  the  large  area 
of  Crown  allotments  at  Englefield 
Green,  Egham.  Mr.  Sturt,  of  Round  Oak  Gar- 
dens, kindly  undertook  to  raise  plants  and  have 
them  put  out  and  oared  for.  The  position  is  very 
high  and  exposed,  the  soil  being  a  deep  sand,  not 
at  all  rich.  A  dressing  of  manure  was  applied 
when  the  ground  was  dug,  and  some  artificial 
manures  have  been  applied  since,  but  of  the  efl'ect 
of  these  it  is  too  early  to  write  yet.  The  varieties 
of  Cabbages  were  obtained  from  several  leading 
seed  firms,  each  of  wliom  were  asked  to  send  their 
earliest  spring  cutting  varieties,  the  object  being 
to  familiarise  the  allotment  holders  with  varieties 
superior  to  those  they  generally  obtained  from 
some  local  seedsman.  The  first  sowing  was 
made  on  July  "24,  when  a  fine  plant  resulted  from 
each  variety.  From  this  sowing  a  planting  cover- 
ing just  one  half  of  the  trial  ground  was  made  on 
September  25.  A  second  sowing  of  each  variety 
was  made  on  August  16  ;  just  over  three  weeks 
later,  when  another  good  plant  resulted  ;  and  a 
further  planting  of  each  variety  was  made  on 
October  16.  In  each  case  the  rows  of  the  second 
planting  were  in  line  with  those  of  tlie  first.  Up 
to  the  present  moment,  out  of  nearly  1,500  plants 
only  one  had  ' '  bolted  "  to  flower.  Whether  any  may 
yet  bolt  from  the  second  planting  remains  to  be 
seen,  but  it  seems  improbable.  But,  whilst  so  far, 
owing  to  the  cold  bleak  position,  the  plants  are 
less  forward  than  they  would  have  been  had  they 
been  grown  in  a  sheltered  garden,  it  is  still  so  easy 
to  note  how  much  gain  is  to  be  attached  to  the 
September  planting,  as,  although  got  out  only 
three  weeks  before  the  second  one,  there  is  on  the 


first  planted  half 
fully  three  times 
the  material 
that  is  seen  on  the 
second  half,  thus 
showing  how 
much  gain  attaches 
to  fairly  early  plant- 
ing of  Cabbages  in 
the  autumn.  A 
special  object  in 
having  two  distinct 
sowings  and  plant- 
ings also  was  to 
note  what  effect 
early  and  late  plant- 
ing had  upon  the 
bolting  propensities 
of  Cabbages.  I  was 
specially  pleased  to 
find  that  so  far  no 
harmful  efiects 
seemed  to  have  been 
produced.  Still, 
there  can  be  no 
doubt  also  but  that 
the  varieties 
selected  by  the  re- 
spective seed  firms 
were  proved  non- 
bolters.  Naturally, 
any  report  as  to 
earliness  or  other- 
wise, or  generally  of 

excellence  or  other- 
wise of  the  various 

varieties  cannot  be 

dealt  with  yet.  Mr. 

Sturt  mentioned  the 

other   day   that    in 

his  enclosed  garden, 

where   he   had   put 

out    plants  of   just 

a  few  of  the  varie- 
ties, that  they  were 

with  him  far  earlier 

and  larger  than  was 

the   case   with   our 

trial.     But,  as   the 

primary  object  was 

to  show  the  merits 

of  the  varieties   to 

the    allotment 

holders,       it       was 

needful     that     the 

trial       should       be 

conducted       under 

precisely  similar  conditions  to  those  furnished  to 

their  own  Cabbages.  A.  D. 

LETTUCES  IN  FRAMES  IN  SPRING. 

We  can  never  rely  upon  having  a  good  supply  of 
salading  in  this  country,  say,  from  March  to  May, 
without  giving  Lettuce  frame  protection.  Even 
in  the  most  favoured  parts  it  is  necessary  to  give 
this  tender  plant  some  protection.  There  are 
many  excellent  varieties,  but  not  one  can 
stand  between  20°  and  30*  of  frost  just  as 
growth  is  vigorous.  Another  great  evil,  and  quite 
as  difficult  to  fight  against,  is  damp  and  fog.  Only 
last  winter  I  noticed  that  strong  seedlings  collapsed, 
even  when  under  glass,  after  a  spell  of  damp, 
foggy  weather.  After  many  years'  trial  I  have 
found  that  the  best  results  are  obtained  from 
sowing  one  of  the  early  varieties,  such  as  Golden 
Ball  or  Golden  Queen,  in  December,  and  planting 
out  on  a  warm  bed  of  leaves  and  litter  when  the 
plants  are  large  enough,  frames  having  been  put 
over  the  beds  when  placing  the  soil.  Hand- 
glasses or  boxes  may  be  used.  In  boxes  the  seed- 
lings do  best  given  a  little  warmth  at  the  roots 
at  the  start.  I  find  plants  sown  in  the  open  in 
August  or  September  less  reliable  than  seed  sown 
in  heat  and  grewn  on  as  advised,  giving  glass  or 
frame  protection  from  start  to  finish.      G.  W.  S. 


FEEDING   ASPARAGUS   BEDS. 
I  DO  not  think  there  is  a  better  time  for  feeding 


ANEMONE  CORON.\EIA  AT  LA  MORTOLA.      (Photographed  lu  Miss  Willmott.) 


Asparagus  than  the  present — at  least  from,  say, 
the  middle  of  April  to  the  middle  of  Juno — and  no 
matter  what  food  is  used  at  this  season  it  is  able 
to  absorb  that  given.  Artificial  manures  are  of 
great  value,  as  they  can  be  given  so  readily,  and  I 
would  advise  giving  the  food  frequently  in  pre- 
ference to  one  heavy  dressing.  For  the  past  few 
seasons  I  have  used  a  special  Asparagus  manure 
manufactured  by  Messrs.  Willis,  of  Harpenden, 
and  it  is  most  beneficial.  We  are  now  dressing 
our  forcing  beds  with  manures  ;  I  mean  the  beds 
that  have  given  us  supplies  during  the  past  two 
months.  I  find  the  prepared  manures  referred  to 
above  of  great  value,  and  later  on  liquid  food  will 
be  given  freely.  There  is  no  better  time  than  the 
present  to  apply  it.  Soot  and  salt  dressings  given 
in  showery  weather  are  soon  taken  down  to  the 
roots.  Guano  and  fish  manures  are  best  given 
during  the  next  two  months,  but  when  the  last- 
named  is  given  early  and  the  food  lightly  raked 
the  smell  is  less  offensive.  Give  these  manures 
aids  in  showery  weather.  If  dry,  then  water 
overhead  freely.  Liquid  manure  can  be  given 
whenever  obtainable.  S.  H.  B. 

LEEK  MUSSELBURGH  IMPROVED. 
The  old  form  of  Musselburgli  Leek  is  so  well 
known  and  has  been  grown  so  many  years  that  I 
need  not  dwell  upon  its  excellence.  My  note  refers 
t©  the  newer  variet}',  a  valuable  selection  of  the 
older   type.      As   most   vegetable  growers  know, 


276 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  26,  1902. 


much  may  be  done  by  careful  selection  and  seed 
saving  from  the  best  stocks.  Messrs.  Sutton  have 
recently  given  ua  the  Improved  Musselburgh,  a 
splendid  addition,  and  certainly  one  of  the  best 
vegetables  we  have  during  the  middle  of  April, 
and,  what  is  important  to  growers,  it  retains  its 
good  qualities  well  into  May.  For  many  years  I 
have  always  grown  the  older  Musselburgh  for 
latest  supplies,  as  after  a  hard  winter  it  is  one  of 
the  few  vegetables  one  may  rely  upon.  I  find  the 
one  named  is  equally  valuable  in  this  respect,  as  it 
keeps  sound  a  long  time  before  showing  the  flower 
spikes,  and  is  not  injured  by  severe  frosts.  To 
keep  the  roots  as  late  as  possible  lift  from  their 
growing  quarters  at  this  date  and  place  the  roots 
under  a  north  wall  and  well  cover  them  with  moist 
soil  ;  this  checks  growth.  The  flavour  of  the 
variety  referred  to  is  exceedingly  mild  and  the 
plant  grows  freely.  G.  Wythes. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editom  are  not  respo-nsihle  for  the  opimo7ii 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  J 


DOUBTFUL    SPECIES    OF 
CAMPANULA. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIRj — On  page  226  of  The  Garden  I  read, 
on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Correvon, 
"Campanula  tommasiniana"  (this  is  the 
right  spelling)  "is  a  synonym  of  C. 
waldsteiniana  (see  'Index  Kewensis')." 
It  would  be  more  correct  to  say  that  it 
is  referred  to  C.  waldsteiniana  as  its  specific  type. 
It  should  be  carefully  observed  that  in  ' '  Index 
Kewensis"  neither  varieties  nor  hybrids  are 
catalogued  as  such,  the  former  being  referred  to 
the  name  of  their  type,  the  latter  to  that  parent 
with  which  they  have  the  greater  botanical  affinity, 
though  an  exception  is  made  of  a  few  old  and 
distinct  hybrids,  which  have  obtained  a  doubtful 
specific;  rank.  C.  tommasiniana  (Koch)  has  by 
some  botanists  been  considered  a  distinct  species. 
I  find  it  clearly  described,  though  not  under  that 
name,  on  page  291  of  De  Candolle's  "  Monograph 
of  the  Campanula;,"  published  in  1830.  It  had 
been  named  C.  flexuosa  by  Waldstein,  but  De 
CandoUe  does  not  see  sufficient  cause  to  separate 
it  from  C.  waldsteiniana,  though  he  adds  "an  species 
distincta ''. "  The  same  plant  under  the  name 
C.  tommasiniana  is  figured  and  described  as  a 
doubtful  species  in  the £oto7w'ca/J/a(/a;('He, tab. 0590. 
This  variety  is  far  larger  in  all  its  part  than  the 
type,  which  is  never  more  than  3  inches  or  4  inches 
high,  and  is  a  neater  and  more  flowery  plant  than 
the  variety,  which  flowers  with  a  long  cylindrical 
tube,  not  expanding  at  the  mouth  like  the  flower 
of  the  typical  C.  waldsteiniana.  I  have  cultivated 
both  forms  for  twenty  years,  but  could  never  make 
them  meet  in  a  series,  though  the  seedlings  vary  so 
as  to  approach  one  another.  The  type  is  a  native 
of  Hungar}',  the  variety  of  Italy. 

Three  other  Campanulas  may  be  here  noticed  as 
examples  of  tlie  method  adopted  in  "  Index 
Kewensis  "  of  dealing  with  distinct  and  old  hybrids  ; 
the  names  are  printed  in  upright  type  as  species, 
followed  by  "IIort."(j.c., of  garden  origin)  Habitat'; 
The  first  is  C.  Van  Houttei,  a  well-known  garden 
plant  with  long  pendent  bells  of  satiny  blue.  It  is 
printed  in  the  "  Kew  Hand-list "  as  a  variety  under 
C.  latifolia,  being  generally  believed  to  be  C.  lati- 
folia  ',-  C.  punctata.  I  observe  also  C.  nobili- 
macrantha  admitted  to  "  Index  Kewensis  "  with 
similar  rank  on  the  authority  of  Kegel  (1869);  this 
is  probably  the  original  of  the  same  plant.  We 
have  also  in  the  "  Kew  Hand-list,"  under  C.  lati- 
folia a  C.  Burghalti,  diS'ering  from  Van  Houttei 
only  in  its  paler  colour.  The  second  hybrid 
Campanula  of  the  three  I  referred  to  above  is 
C.  Hendersoni.  This,  too,  is  catalogued  in  the 
"Hand-list"  as  if  a  species,  and  described  as  C. 
alliariaefolia  -|-  carpatioa.  I  do  not  know  whether 
there  is  certain  authority  for  the  former  parent ;  if 
not  I  should  think  C.  pyramidalis  more  likely.   The 


plant  itself  is  excellent,  but  it  is  liable  to  flower 
itself  to  death. 

The  third  hybrid  is  C.  haylodgensis,  named  from 
Hay  Lodge,  the  residence  of  the  late  Mr.  Anderson 
Henry,  who  raised  this  and  several  other  hybrid 
Campanulas.  This  one  is  given  in  the  "  Kew 
Hand-list"  as  C.  pusilla  -\-  C.  pulla,  but  it  has 
nothing  of  C.  pulla  about  it,  and  for  the  second 
parent  I  should  certainly  substitute  C.  rotundifolia. 
It  is  a  distinct  and  ornamental  rock  plant,  though 
the  foliage  has  the  somewhat  sickly  yellow  tinge 
not  unfrequent  in  hybrid  Campanulas.  Many  other 
hybrids  in  the  same  genus  have  been  recently 
raised  and  exhibited. 

I  shall  take  occasion  here  to  mention  a  mysterious 
Campanula  of  which  I  have  tried  for  twenty  years 
to  discover  the  history  and  nature.  It  is  C.  nitida 
of  Alton,  C.  planiflora  of  Lamarck.  It  appears 
frequently  in  nursery  catalogues  and  works  on 
horticulture,  and  has  forms  with  blue  flowers, 
with  white  flowers,  and  with  double  flowers.  It 
is  old  in  cultivation,  being  figured  in  Uodart's 
"  History  of  Plants"  (Paris,  1676).  It  has  generally 
been  referred  to  North  America  for  its  habitat,  the 
neighbourhood  of  Hudson's  Bay  being  specified. 
De  CandoUe  in  his  "  Monograph  "  has  a  large  page  of 
references  about  it,  but  seems  sceptical,  and,  though 
he  does  not  repudiate  it,  he  notices  its  near  resem- 
blance to  C.  persicifolia.  Asa  Gray  plainly  disowns 
it  as  American,  saying  it  has  never  been  found 
wild  there  or  anywhere  else,  and  that  it  seems  to 
belong  to  C.  persicifolia.  Having  compared  plants 
of  it  from  several  nurseries  I  feel  convinced  that  it 
is  only  a  stunted  form  of  C.  persicifolia,  from  the 
type  of  which  I  have  raised  seedlings  very  nearly 
resembling  it.  It  is  certainly  an  error  in  "Index 
Kewensis  "  to  refer  C.  planiflora  to  C.  pyramidalis, 
which  it  does  not  resemble  either  in  flower  or  leaf  ; 
but  I  observe  that  neither  C.  nitida  nor  C.  plani- 
flora is  printed  in  that  work  as  a  species. 

A  question  was  recently  asked  in  The  Garden 
concerning  C.  alpina(.Jacquin),  a  very  distinct  and 
pretty  little  plant.  It  is  figured  life  size  in  the 
Botanical  Magazine,  tab.  957,  and  in  Wooster's 
"  Alpine  Plants,"  the  latter  plate  reappearing  in 
Bennett's  "Flora  of  the  Alps."  It  resembles  in 
general  outline  a  miniature  Canterbury  Bell.  I 
cultivated  it  for  several  years,  but  though  said  to 
be  perennial,  my  plants  never  flowered  more  than 
once.  It  ripened  very  few  seeds,  which  were  hard 
to  rear,  so  it  has  died  out  in  my  garden. 

Charles  Wolley  Dod. 

Edge  Hall,  Malpas. 

GROWING  CORDON  APPLE  TREES  IN 
YORKSHIRE. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  have  a  small  garden  700  feet  above  the  sea 
level  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Pennine  range  in 
Yorkshire,  where  I  want  to  put  in  some  cordon 
Apple  trees,  but  my  gardener  shakes  bis  head  and 
says,  "You  must  remember  that  we  are  not  in  a 
fruit  country."  Shall  I,  an  ignorant  amateur,  dis- 
regard that  shake  of  the  head  ?  It  seems  to  me 
that  if  everyone  shook  his  head  there  would  be  no 
fruit  anywhere  about.  The  garden  is  walled  round, 
and  the  soil  is  darkish  and  crumbly  ;  they  call  it 
"loam,"  I  think.  Pray,  sir,  what  is  loam  ?  The 
lower  part  of  the  garden,  which  slopes  south,  has 
been  recently  levelled  up  with  all  sorts  of  material, 
especially  rich  in  old  mortar  from  the  interior  of 
the  house.  This  is  not  loam  I  feel  sure,  but  are 
there  any  herbaceous  plants  or  fruit  trees  which 
might  thrive  well  in  such  a  limey  bed  ?  Would  it 
be  possible  to  grow  Sweetwater  Grapes  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  garden,  in  the  loamy  not  the  limy 
part  ?  Would  a  Magnolia  or  a  Catalpa  be  likely 
to  climb  up  the  south  side  of  the  house  ?  1  do  not 
know  if  Catalpas  ever  climb,  but  I  am  very  fond  of 
them  and  would  like  one.  If  you  tell  me  that  I 
shall  be  justified  in  trying  cordons,  please  say 
what  kinds  you  would  recommend.       Ionorans. 

[According  to  a  great  authority,  a  rich  loam  should 
consist  of  from  30  to  50  per  cent,  of  clay,  3  to 
5  per  cent,  of  lime,  and  2  to  5  per  cent,  of  humus. 
We  presume,  however,  that  our  correspondent 
does  not  wish  for  a  learned  disquisition  on  the 
classification    and     composition     of    soils.      The 


term  "loam"  has  a  wide  application  in  ordinary 
farm  .and  garden  language,  and  includes  such  as 
sandy  loam,  dark  loam,  light  loam,  and  loamy 
soils  generally.  The  well-known  term  "dark  loam," 
as  commonly  understood,  maj'  be,  we  think, 
properly  applied  to  our  correspondent's  soil  from 
his  description.  Provided  the  land  is  efficiently 
drained  and  the  loam  is  of  fair  depth,  there  is  no 
reason  why  with  good  and  careful  cultivation  the 
hardier  varieties  of  Apples  should  not  succeed. 
We  know  something  of  the  climate  of  the  Pennine 
range  in  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire,  and  if  it  is  no 
better  where  our  correspondent  is  located  than  it 
is  there  we  agree  more  or  less  with  his  "gardener's 
shake  of  the  head  ''  that  it  is  anything  but  a  fruit 
country.  Still,  moderate  success  may  be  expected, 
take  one  season  with  another.  Upright  cordons 
planted  in  the  open  garden  would  have  no  chance 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  but  we  have  no  doubt,  if 
planted  against  a  wall  with  a  west-south- west,  or  even 
north-west  aspect,  they  would  succeed,  and  a  few 
low  cordons  planted  by  the  margins  of  walks  would 
also  be  a  success,  as  these  would  be  well  sheltered. 
These  low  cordons  are  more  or  less  ornamental  by 
the  sides  of  walks,  and  the  fruit  they  bear  is 
always  of  the  best.  They  may  be  bought  ready 
trained,  either  as  single  or  double  cordons.  Some 
of  our  hardier  Pears  should  succeed  on  the  south 
wall  of  the  garden,  and  Plums  on  the  east.  The 
bush  form  of  Apple  tree  would  be  the  most  likely 
to  succeed  in  the  open  garden,  and  they  should  be 
tried.  We  give  the  names  of  a  few  of  the  hardier 
sorts  of  Apples,  Pears,  and  Plums  ;  but  in  cold 
districts,  and  where  the  rainfall  is  usually  heavy, 
it  not  infrequenly  happens  that  there  are  local 
varieties  of  fruit  which  succeed  better  than 
imported  ones ;  therefore,  it  would  be  well  to 
ascertain  whether  this  is  so  or  not,  and  plant  some 
at  least  of  these. 

Dessert  Apples,  according  to  their  order  of 
ripening  :  Early  Harvest,  Irish  Peach,  Devonshire 
(Juarrenden,  Worcester  Pearmain,  King  Harry, 
American  Mother,  King  of  the  Pippins,  Northern 
Spy,  Hubbard's  Pearmain,  Brownlee's  Russet, 
Wyken  Pippin,  and  Lord  Burghley.  Cooking 
Apples,  in  the  order  of  ripening  :  Domino,  Frog- 
more  Prolific,  Lord  Sufiield,  Cellini,  Stone's  Seed- 
ling, Betty  Geeson,  Blenheim  Orange,  Lane's 
Prince  Albert,  Winter  Hawthornden,  Alfriston,  and 
Royal.  Late  cooking  :  Newtown  Wonder  and 
Wellington.  Pears  in  order  of  ripening.  These  are 
early  and  mid-season  sorts.  It  would  be  useless 
planting  late  ones  in  your  district.  Doyenne 
d'Ete,  Jargonelle,  Williams'  Bon  Chri^tien,  Fon- 
dante  d'Autorone,  Trioraphe  de  Vienne,  Beurre 
Hardy,  Louise  Bonne  of  .lersey,  Marie  Louise, 
Doyenne  du  Comice,  and  Seckle. 

Plums,  the  harJiest  dessert  :  July  Green  Gage, 
Reine  Claude  de  Bavay,  Kirke's,  Ickworth  Impera- 
trice,  and  JeS'erson.  Cooking :  Victoria,  Prince 
Englebert,  and  Diamond. 

On  the  lower  part  of  the  garden  sloping  to  the 
south,  which  has  been  filled  up  with  old  mortar 
rubble,  &c. ,  provided  a  liberal  quantity  of  loam 
has  been  added  to  this  and  properly  mixed 
with  it,  almost  anything  would  succeed  well,  ex- 
cepting those  subjects  that  dislike  lime,  such  as 
Rhododendrons.  The  back  might  be  planted 
with  beautiful  hardy-flowering  shrubs,  such  as 
Lilacs,  Laburnums,  Almonds,  Bird  Cherry, 
Honeysuckle,  Philadelphus,  the  Plums,  with  a 
good  proportion  of  the  hardiest  varieties  of  Moss 
and  other  Roses  between  them.  The  lower  part 
of  this  border  might  be  reserved  for  herbaceous 
plants,  a  little  Alpine  rock  garden  might  be 
arranged,  or  the  whole  bank  could  be  formed 
into  a  Rose  garden.  Fruit  trees  would  also  do 
well,  as  they  delight  in  soil  in  which  lime  is 
present. 

Magnolia  grandiflora  is  amongst  the  strongest 
growing  and  most  handsome  of  the  Magnolias, 
both  in  respect  to  foliage  and  flower,  and,  being 
of  North  American  origin,  may  succeed  fairly 
well  in  this  cold  district,  planted  on  the  side  of 
a  house  facing  south.  The  roots  and  foliage  must 
be  protected  by  some  covering  during  very  severe 
frost. 

The  Catalpa  is  not  suitable  for  planting  against 
the  wall  of  a  house,  but  is  very  handsome  when  on 


Apkil  26,  1902.] 


THE  GAEDEN. 


277 


the  lawn  or  on  the  margin  of  lakes  or  banks.  The 
branches  of  the  Catalpa  should  be  pruned  back  in 
the  winter  to  three  or  four  eyes.  By  this  treatment 
much  larger  branches  and  finer  foliage  are  obtained 
than  if  lett  unpruned.  Catalpa  bignonioides  is  the 
best.  As  this  also  is  a  native  of  North  America  it 
may  succeed  with  our  correspondent  in  any  case. 
Being  such  a  handsome  tree  it  is  worth  a  trial.] 


RUBUS    DELIOIOSUS. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Gaedbn."] 
Sir, — This  plant  is  gradually  being  recognised  as 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  hardy  flowering  shrubs. 
Like  every  member  of  the  Rose  family  its  flowers 
are  delightful.  They  are  pure  white,  while  the 
brown  anthers  give  them  an  enhanced  beauty. 
When  first  introduced  some  doubt  was  expressed 
as  to  its  hardiness  ;  it  was  consequently  grown  as 
a  pot  plant  and  given  the  shelter  of  a  greenhouse. 
Even  now  it  is  more  frequently  found  growing 
against  a  south  wall,  which  shows  that  there  still 
exists  a  doubt  as  to  its  hardiness.  As  far,  how- 
ever, as  this  part  of  England  is  concerned,  there 
need  be  no  fear  whatever  about  this.  It  is  seen 
at  its  best  and  in  its  true  character  when  planted 
in  a  sunny  nook  in  front  of  taller  shrubs  and  as  an 
isolated  specimen.  In  such  a  position  it  is  now 
one  mass  of  beautiful  pure  white  flowers. 

It  is  by  no  means  a  gross  growing  plant  like  its 
relative  R.  phrenicolasius.  A  good  soil  is  quite 
essential  to  its  successful  growth.  A  sandy  loam 
of  good  quality,  with  some  leaf-soil  and  a  little 
well-decaj'ed  manure  will  provide  this.  Take  care 
to  give  the  roots  plenty  of  space  at  the  time  of  plant- 
ing.   It  is  a  shrub  quite  worth  taking  trouble  with. 

There  must  be  some  mistake  about  its  name,  for 
I  find  that  in  Nicholson's  Dictionary  it  is  described 
as  having  purple  flowers.  The  plant  growing  here 
was  supplied  bj'  Messrs.  Veitch,  and  I  noticed  it 
growing  in  the  Westonbirt  collection  under  the 
same  name  as  that  given  by  Veitch,  also  as  pot 
plants  in  another  nursery.  I  for  one  would  like 
to  see  this  discrepancy  cleared  up,  and  trust  some 
competent  authority  will  do  so  in  the  pages  of 
The  Garden.  T.  Arnold. 

The  Gat-dens,  Cwencester  Hottse. 


ROYAL  GARDENERS'  ORPHAN  FUND. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  am  sure  most  readei-s  of  The  Garden  will 
agree  with  Mr.  Penny  that  the  above  excellent 
gardening  charity  well  deserves  the  support  of  all 
who  are  interested  in  horticulture.  Although  he 
mentions  that  a  donation  this  year  should  be  given 
on  account  of  the  Coronation,  I  fear  there  will  be 
many  calls  on  gardeners  locally,  but  with  such  a 
splendid  chairman  and  thorough  horticulturist  this 
year  for  the  annual  festival  the  Orphan  Fund 
should  benefit  greatly.  I  think  if  Mr.  Penny  will 
look  back  for  fifteen  years  and  note  what  rapid 
strides  this  charity  has  made,  the  amount  of 
invested  funds,  and  the  orphans  the  charity  have 
assisted,  he  will  have  no  cause  to  complain. 
Sometimes  the  whole  of  the  candidates  are  placed 
on  the  pension  list — evidence  of  the  flourishing 
condition  of  the  organisation.  Take  the  older 
charity — the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Insti- 
tution— that  assists  men  and  women  in  their  old 
age  and  siakness,  and  whose  claims  are  nobly 
advocated  by  the  Editor  of  The  Garden  and  the 
other  horticultural  journals.  The  first  fifteen 
years  the  progress  of  this  institution  was  miserably 
slow,  and  even  now,  considering  its  age,  the  funds 
are  not  so  large  as  they  should  be  to  enable  the 
increasing  number  of  those  who  need  assistance 
receiving  benefit.  Both  societies  are  doing  a  noble 
work,  and  I  would  also  ask  help  for  the  older 
institution  when  a  trifle  can  be  spared. 

An  Old  Subscriber. 


ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY'S 

MEMBERSHIR 

[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 

Sir, — There  seem  to  be  a  few  points,  perhaps  a 

little  bald  and  sordid  when  put  into  words,. but, 

nevertheless,  probably  present  to  the  minds  of  a 


good  many  Royal  Horticultural  members  who  are 
neither  wealthy,  in  a  big  way  of  business,  or  pos- 
sessed of  natures  of  god-like  selflessness  that  might 
as  well  be  ventilated,  if  only  by  a  member  so 
insignificant  as  to  be  safe  from  suspicion  of  ulterior 
motive.  Lately  the  society  has  increased  im- 
mensely in  membership,  and  it  is  for  the  executive 
to  consider  what  was  the  attraction  inducing  -such 
membership,  since  any  falling  ofi'or  decrease  in  mem- 
bers may  in  the  future  hamper  the  society  greatly  in 
the  management  of  the  large  new  responsibility  it 
has  undertaken.  For  town  members  the  new  hall  is, 
of  course,  delightful,  and  in  return  for  their  sub- 
scriptions they  get  free  admission  practically  to  an 
unending  series  of  flower  shows.  For  members 
with  horticultural  businesses  tlie  new  hall  offers, 
of  course,  immense  ad- 
vantages from  the  exhi- 
bitor's and  advertiser's 
point  of  view.  Neither 
of  these  classes  probably 
care  at  all  about  the 
plants  which  they,  in 
common  with  other 
members,  receive  from 
the  society's  garden  ; 
but  to  the  rank  and  file 
of  country  members, 
many  of  whom  joined 
the  .society  in  the  begin- 
ning, the  Journal  and 
the  plants  they  receive 
annually  are  the  chief, 
and  in  some  cases  no 
doubt  the  only,  induce- 
ments of  membership. 
If  the  garden  is  shelved 
or  thrust  into  the  back- 
ground both  these 
branches  must  neces- 
sarily suflfer  ;  the  trans- 
actions in  loss  of  interest, 
and  the  plants  in  lack  of 
rarity  and  variety,  and 
what  will  be  offered  in 
their  stead  to  distant 
or  country  mem- 
bers either  unable  or 
unwilling  to  go  to 
London  for  the  shows  ? 
It  is  all  very  well  to 
talk  about  the  ethical 
interests  of  horticulture, 
and  the  beautiful  un- 
selfish feelings  with 
which  the  altruist  should 
seek  to  advance  the 
general  good,  but  I  fear 
the  poor,  only  human, 
country  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  be  prefer- 
ring in  the  future  to 
spend  his  annual  guinea 
in  buying  the  latest 
garden  publications  and 
the  exact  plants  he 
wants  from  the  neigh- 
bouring nursery  garden 
to  paying  to  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society's 
coffers  and  receiving  no 

particular  benefit  in  return,  except  a  glow  of 
beneficence  on  behalf  of  the  exhibiting  and  ex- 
hibition visiting  member.  In  the  old  days  the 
Botanical  Gardens  used  to  be  what  they  are  not 
now,  and  they  ran,  I  believe,  somewhat  the  same 
course  that  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  seems 
to  be  now  starting  upon.  I  do  not  enlarge  upon 
this  because  I  cannot  give  chapter  and  verse,  but 
it  is  a  pity  the  example  of  these  gardens,  as  they 
are  now,  should  be  lost.  M.  L.  W. 

(A  Member  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society). 


very  ornamental,  and,  as  they  are  at  their  best 
during  the  winter  months,  this  enhances  their 
value.  They  succeed  best  in  a  rather  shaded  posi- 
tion and  light,  well-drained  soil.  A  mixture  of 
loam,  peat,  and  leaf-mould  in  equal  quantities 
suits  them  admirably.  Skimmias  are  well  adapted 
for  conservatory  decoration  in  winter,  the  bright 
scarlet  berries,  which  are  produced  in  clusters, 
forming  a  striking  contrast  to  the  bright  green 
leathery  foliage.  When  required  for  that  purpose 
the  plants  should  be  lifted  with  good  balls  of  soil 
in  November,  potted,  and  well  watered.  A  cool 
temperature  is  essential,  as  the  least  coddling 
causes  the  leaves  to  turn  yellow  and  the  berries  to 
shrivel.  If  desirable,  they  may  be  kept  in  pots 
for  several  years,  the  pots  being  plunged  in  ashes 


STONE   steps   in   THE   LATE   MR.    SBLFE-LEONABD  S   GARDEN   AT  HITHERBURY, 

GUILDFORD. 

in  summer,  but  they  do  best  when  planted  out  in 
spring  and  allowed  to  grow  two  years  before  being 
again  potted.  S.  japouica  is  a  favourite  variety, 
the  dark  red  berries  being  very  attractive.  S. 
oblata  is  one  of  the  best,  and  the  flowers  are  very 
fragrant.  I  have  never  known  birds  to  take 
Skimraia  berries.  .J.  Crawford. 


Sir,  —  I 
Skimraia 


SKIMMIAS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 

was  pleased  to    see    an  illustration    of 
Foremani  on  page  160.     Skimmias  are 


STEPS    IN    THE    ROCK    OR 
ViriLD    GARDEN. 

In  making  steps  in  the  rock  garden  or  any  wild 
ground  it  is  important  to  keep  them  of  rather 
rugged  character.  They  may  be  none  the  less 
easy  to  go  up  and  down,  but  if  they  are  too 
exact  or  have  their  edges  squared  they  are 


278 


TH£    GABbEK. 


[April  26,  1905. 


out  of  sympathy  with  their  surroundings. 
The  pretty  steps  in  the  illustration  are  a 
good  example  of  how  such  steps  should  look, 
though  some  near  the  top  are  perhaps  a  little 
too  rudely  suggestive  of  a  possible  sprained 
ankle.  When  one  is  among  pretty  plants  one 
wants  to  look  at  them  rather  than  at  one's 
feet,  and  rock  steps  may  be  none  the  worse  to 
look  at  if  they  are  i  feet  wide  in  the  tread 
and  not  more  than  "i  inches  high  ;  indeed,  they 
are  all  the  better  for  being  broad  and  shallow. 


NOTES    FROM    SCOTLAND. 

The  Ruvai,  Caledonian  HoRTicrLTORAL  Society, 
in  conjunction  with  the  Scottish  Horticultural 
Association,  has  deeided  to  hold  a  summer  show 
in  the  Music  Hall,  Edinburgh,  on  .July  16,  when 
Roses,  Carnations,  Sweet  Peas,  Strawberries,  and 
other  fruits,  plants,  and  vegetables  will  be  shown. 
No  prizes  are  offered,  but  medals  or  other  awards 
will  be  given  to  meritorious  exhibits.  This  decision 
to  work  harmoniously  together  is  a  step  in  the 
right  direction. 

Mr.  Whytock,  of  Dalkeith,  e.xhibited  at  the 
April  monthly  meeting  of  the  Scottish  Horti- 
cultural Association  a  collection  of  thirty  -  six 
kinds  of  Apples,  to  which  a  special  cultural  certifi- 
cate was  awarded.  Apples  generally  have  not  kept 
so  well  as  usual. 

Dr.  Sto art's  Plant  Collections. — I  hear  that 
the  collection  of  rare  alpine  and  other  plants 
growing  in  the  garden  of  the  late  Dr.  Stuart,  of 
Chirnside,  N.B.,  is  to  be  sold  by  private  treaty, 
not  necessarily  in  one  lot,  so  that  people  who  wish 
to  possess  any  of  the  rarities  in  which  Dr.  Stuart 
took  a  delight  may  be  able  to  do  so. 

The  Weather. — We  have  been  experiencing 
very  cold  nights  for  some  time,  and  in  early 
localities  the  Apricot  and  Peach  crops  are  seriously 
threatened.  Fortunately,  the  weather  is  dry  and 
so  far  favourable.  Seldom,  indeed,  has  the  soil 
been  in  better  condition  for  spring  cropping  ;  it  is 
dry  and  friable,  and  work  is  consequently  well 
forward.  R.  P.  B. 


gradually  diminish  the  heat  and  give  more  air  ; 
carefully  avoid  cold  draughts.  Extreme  conditions 
of  temperature  are  injurious,  and  too  much  shading 
must  not  be  given  or  the  plants  will  suffer. 
Cyclamens  should  never  be  allowed  to  suffer  for 
want  of  water,  as  this  will  soon  render  them  a 
prey  to  red  spider,  thrips,  and  green  fly.  Should 
these  pests  make  their  appearance,  dip  the  plants 
in  a  mixture  of  soft  soap  and  tobacco  water, 
using  31b.  of  soft  soap  dissolved  in  six  gallons  of 
soft  water,  adding  one  quart  of  tobacco  water. 
Before  they  become  dry  again  dip  in  pure  soft 
water. 

Centroi'Ogon  Lucyanus. 

Cuttings  of  this  useful  autumn  and  winter- 
flowering  plant  may  be  inserted  singly  in  small 
pots  filled  with  a  light  compost  of  loam,  peat,  and 
sand,  and  placed  in  a  propagating  frame  having  a 
temperature  of  about  60". 

Campanula  pyramidalis. 

Give  the  plants  that  were  placed  in  their  flower- 
ing pots  in  the  autumn  and  are  now  beginning  to 
show  flower  frequent  applications  of  liquid  manure. 
Seedlings  grow  so  freely  that  it  is  not  necessary  to 
prick  them  off  round  the  edges  of  pots  or  pans,  but 
transfer  them  singly  int®  small  pots,  using  a  light 
soil  and  providing  good  drainage. 
Propagating. 

Cuttings  of  Eranthemums,  Libonias,  Eupato- 
riums,  Thrysacanthus  rutilans,  Pentas  carnea. 
Hibiscus,  and  Tabernifraontana  should  be  inserted 
in  small  pots  and  plunged  in  a  propagating  frame 
having  a  good  bottom  heat.  John  Fleming. 

Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Slough. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Stove  Climbers. 

DISBUD  the  weak  growths  of  Allamandas 
.  and  Bougainvilleas  and  tie  in  the 
\  strong  shoots.  Stephanotis  and  Dip- 
P  ladenias  should  be  kept  thoroughly 
clean  and  the  shoots  neatly  tied 
near  the  glass.  IponiEea  Horsfalli, 
Jasminum  gracillimum,  and  Thunbergias  that  have 
finished  flowering  should  now  be  pruned,  removing 
the  shoots  that  have  flowered  and  the  superfluous 
growths  to  encourage  vigorous  shoots  for  next 
season's  flowering. 

The  Greenhouse. 
Constant  ventilation  may  be  afforded  greenhouse 
plants  ;  the  amount  of  air  given  should  be  regulated 
by  the  temperature  out  of  doors.  Avoid  cold 
draughts.  Genistas  and  Deutzia  gracilis,  as  they 
pass  out  of  flower,  may  be  pruned  and  placed  in  a 
warm  house  and  freely  syringed  until  their  growth 
is  finished.  Tie  in  the  growing  shoots  of  Bignonias, 
LapageriaSjPassifloras,  Swainsonias,  and  Tacsonias. 

Persian  Cy'clamens. 
Those  forward  enough  should  be  potted  into 
4J-inch  or  G-inch  pots.  The  best  soil  to  use  is  a 
rich  fibrous  loam  three  parts  and  leaf-soil  one 
part,  with  a  liberal  addition  of  wood  ashes  and 
silver  sand.  Do  not  use  manure  in  the  soil. 
Nourishment  is  best  applied  in  liquid  form  when 
the  plants  have  well  filled  their  pots  with  roots. 
Take  care  to  afford  proper  and  efficient  drainage. 
Place  the  plants  in  a  warm  close  frame  near  the 
glass  on  a  bed  of  ashes,  shading,  and  syringing 
with  soft  water  morning  and  afternoon  until  they 
are  established.     In  about  a  week  after  potting 


from  mulchings  of  short  litter  and  by  the  plant 
being  kept  free  of  runners  and  weeds. 

Spraying  Apple  Trees. 

The  blossom  buds  of  Apples  will  soon  expand, 
and  the  first  spraying  with  Paris  Green — the 
utility  of  which  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the 
caterpillars  of  the  winter  moth  and  other  injurious 
insects  has  become  generally  recognised— should 
be  given  immediately  before  this  takes  place.  Con- 
tinue the  spraying  at  weekly  intervals  after  the 
flowering  period  has  passed.  Here  this  insecticide 
is  applied  with  apparent  benefit  at  the  rate  of  'ioz.  to 
twenty  gallons  of  soft  water  mixed  with  Bordeaux 
Mixture  ;  thus  a  remedy  for  the  attacks  of  cater- 
pillars and  mildew  or  other  fungi  is  at  hand  and 
labour  saved.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  this 
compound  is  poisonous.  Thos.  Coomber. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. 
The  neglect  of  timely  eradication  of  green  fly  is 
not  an  unfrequent  cause  of  failure  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  these  fruits,  and  so  quickly  is  injury  done 
to  the  young  growths  by  this  pest  that  the  trees 
should  be  sprayed  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  set,  and  at 
short  intervals  subsequently,  with  Quassia  Extract 
or  some  similar  efficient  in.secticide.  Disbudding 
of  shoots  will  call  for  early  attention,  and  it  is  best 
carried  out  at  intervals  extending  over  a  few  weeks 
by  beginning  with  foreright  shoots.  Matured  trees 
should  be  regularly  furnished  with  sufficient  young 
growths  to  ultimately  clothe  their  whole  surface 
with  young  wood  to  supply  next  year's  crop  of 
fruit.  Young  trees  must  be  provided  with  all  the 
necessary  extension  shoots,  and  in  every  case  dis- 
budding ought  to  be  completed  before  the  growths 
become  woody.  Shoots  of  this  strength  cannot 
safely  be  removed  without  the  aid  of  a  knife. 
These  operations  must  be  followed  by  the  thinning 
of  the  fruit  where  they  are  thickly  set,  but  a 
good  surplus  should  for  the  time  being  be  left.  In 
low-lying  situations  subject  to  late  frosts  there 
should  be  no  undue  haste  in  finally  removing  the 
protecting  material. 

Strawberries. 
Directions  have  previously  been  given  for  clean- 
sing and  manuring  plantations  of  this  fruit,  and 
now,  or  at  an  early  date,  they  require  to  be  mulched, 
for  the  purpose  both  of  keeping  the  soil  moist  and 
the  fruit  clean.  Nothing  is  more  suitable  for 
this  purpose  than  fresh  stable  litter,  freed  from 
droppings,  thinly  spread  over  the  soil  between 
and  close  to  the  plants.  By  doing  this  early 
the  material  is  thoroughly  cleansed  by  rain  before 
the  fruit  ripens,  and  the  plants,  especially  in  dry 
seasons  and  where  they  are  growing  upon  light 
soils,  are  materially  assisted. 

Forced  Plants. 

These  carry  excellent  crops  of  fruit  the  first 
season  after  being  planted  out,  and  some,  notably 
Vicomtesse  H.  de  Thury,  bear  good  fruits  the 
first  autumn.  The  plants  must  be  carefully  har- 
dened, and  the  ground  prepared  for  them  by  being 
heavily  manured,  and  either  trenched  or  deeply 
dug.  They  may  be  planted  in  rows  2J  feet  apart 
and  2  feet  asunder  in  the  rows,  or  a  little  closer 
if  space  for  this  cannot  be  spared.  It  is  important 
to  make  the  plants  firm.     Much  benefit  will  result 


THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
Onions. 
Complete  the  planting  of  all  raised  under  glass 
as  speedily  as  possible.  Plant  carefully  and  make 
very  firm  about  the  roots,  and,  unless  the  weather 
is  showery,  freque  it  sprinklings  overhead  will  be 
necessary  to  promote  a  quick  growth.  Those  sown 
in  the  open  early  last  month  will  now  be  coming 
through  the  ground,  and  should  receive  a  good 
dusting  of  soot  and  wood  ashes.  Keep  the  surface 
ground  constantly  stirred  with  a  Dutch  hoe. 

Parsnips 
should  be  treated  in  precisely  the  same  way. 
Soot,  besides  being  a  good  stimulant,  does  much 
to  prevent  the  foliage  from  becoming  disfigured  by 
the  fly  which  often  attacks  them  in  a  young  state. 
Beetroot. 
The  main  sowings  should  now  be  made  whenever 
the  weather  is  favourable  on  ground  deeply  worked 
and  not  manured,  that  occupied  with  Celery  last 
year  being  very  suitable.  Holes  should  be  made 
when  ideal  specimens  are  required  and  filled  up  in 
the  same  way  as  for  Carrots  with  finely  sifted  soil. 
The  larger-growing  kinds,  such  as  Pragnell's  Exhi- 
bition, will  be  better  left  for  another  ten  days  or 
a  fortnight,  or  the  roots  will  in  all  probability  be 
too  large  either  for  home  use  or  for  exhibition. 

Celery. 

Prepare  trenches  at  once  for  the  earliest  sowings. 
It  is  far  better  to  put  out  the  plants  in  a  small 
state — providing,  of  course,  they  have  been  pro- 
perly hardened — than  to  allow  them  to  become 
starved.  Early  Gem  is  a  capital  variety  for  early 
use,  as  it  matures  quickly  and  takes  \ip  little  room. 
The  trenches  should  be  taken  out  a  good  depth 
and  nearly  filled  with  good  manure.  I  prefer  that 
from  the  stable  to  any  other.  I  consider  it  a 
mistake  to  plant  too  far  away  from  the  surface, 
especially  on  wet,  heavy  ground  ;  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  have  a  channel  sufficient  to  receive  plenty 
of  water.  The  ridges  should  be  furnished  with 
Lettuce,  where  they  will  do  well  and  will  not  be 
detrimental  to  the  Celery  crop. 

Salsafy  and  Scorzoneha. 

The  first  sowing  of  these  useful  winter  crops 
should  be  made  now,  and  another  in  a  fortnight's 
time.  If  sown  too  early  many  of  the  plants  will 
run  to  flower,  and  are  then  worthless.  To  obtain 
•clean  specimens,  deep,  finely  broken  up  soil  is 
necessary. 

Peas. 

Plant  out  all  that  have  been  raised  in  boxes 
before  they  become  drawn,  and  avoid  overcrowd- 
ing, especially  in  the  case  of  all  large-podded 
varieties.  Continue  to  make  frequent  sowings  in 
the  open,  so  that  no  break  in  the  supply  is  likely 
to  occur.  Place  traps  for  mice  and  rats  where 
these  abound,  and  protect  the  young  growths 
against  birds. 

General  Work 

will  consist  in  sowing  and  planting  out  the  various 
crops  which  have  been  wintered  under  glass,  and 
give  constant  attention  to  those  already  estab- 
lished in  the  open  and  growing  in  frames,  pits, 
&c.     Severe  frosts  may  occur  at  any  time  during 


Aphil  26,  1902,] 


THE  GARDEN. 


279 


■the  next  month  to  ruin  many  of  the  more  tender 
subjects  if  left  to  chance,  whereas  a  small  amount 
■of  protection  will  make  them  safe.  The  ground 
should  be  cleared  of  all  winter  crops,  such  as 
'Turnips,  Kales,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Broccoli,  &c., 
as  they  can  be  spared  to  prevent  them  starving 
the  ground.  Well  manure  and  trench  the  various 
plots,  and  allow  the  ground  to  rest  as  long  as 
possible.  Weeds  should  be  rigorously  kept  down 
■at  this  season  and  the  ground  kept  well  hoed 
among  all  growing  crops.  The  more  often  it  is 
moved  among  such  crops  as  Cabbage,  Cauliflowers, 
Spinach,  Turnips,  and  Lettuce  the  more  rapid  will 
be  the  growth,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  ground 
will  be  freed  from  weeds.  The  walks  should  be 
kept  thoroughly  cleaned  and  rolled,  and  neatness 
throughout  the  kitchen  garden  should  be  the  order 
of  the  day,  so  that  this  department  may  be  equally 
■as  enjoyable  and  interesting  at  this  season  as  it  is 
useful.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  House  Oardens,  Elstree,  He.rts. 

THE  FLOWEE  GAKDEN. 
Bedding-out  will  now  be  the  principal  item  of 
garden  work,  and  as  early  as  possible  every  detail 
should  be  arranged,  so  that  whenever  the  weather 
is  suitable  the  beds  and  borders-  can  be  planted 
without  any  unnecessary  delay.  I  find  it  very 
■convenient,  and  the  means  of  avoiding  mistakes, 
to  mark  out  the  spaces  for  masses  and  lines,  and 
indicate  by  means  of  labels  the  contents  of  each 
prior  to  commencing  the  planting  out.     Where 

Carpet  Beddino 
is  indulged  in,  it  is  more  than  necessary  that  the 
tracing  should  be  worked  out  on  paper  before 
attempting  it  on  the  ground.  Success  in  bedding 
out  depends  upon  proper  method  and  arrangement. 
Herbaceous  borders  should  now  be  gone  over  and 
cleaned  and  all  rearrangements  completed,  leaving 
the  plants  in  bold  groups  to  show  their  colour  and 
form  to  the  best  advantage.  Hollyhocks  and  all 
tall-growing  plants,  such  as  Delphiniums,  Phloxes, 
&c.,  must  be  staked  early. 

Vacant  Spaces 
in  the  herbaceous  borders  should  be  filled  taste- 
fully with  choice  annuals,  and  care  should  be  taken 
to  thin  them  sufficiently  and  proper  attention  given 
to  ensure  the  plants  becoming  vigorous  and  free- 
flowering.  Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 
Ca!itle  Gardens,  St.  Fagans. 


OBITUARY. 

MR.    TEMPLE. 

WE  are  sorry  to  have  to  announce 
the  death  of  Mr.  Temple,  of 
Carron  House  Gardens,  on 
April  16,  after  a  long  and  very 
painful  illness.  His  career  as  a 
gardener  is  well  known  to  many 
horticulturists,  for  he  has  been  long  in  the  front 
line  of  successful  cultivators,  and  a  thorough  all- 
round  gardener.  In  his  early  years  he  had  the 
good  fortune  to  be  employed  under  some  of  the 
best  gardeners  in  Scotland  and  England. 

For  a  good  many  years  when  gardener  at 
Bilbirnie  he  held  a  foremost  place  as  an  exhibitor 
of  collections  of  fruit  at  the  Edinburgh  shows, 
where  it  is  always  difficult  to  get  a  premier  place. 
From  Bilbirnie  he  went  to  take  charge  of  the 
gardens  at  Blenheim  Palace,  and  from  there  to 
Impney  Hall,  where  he  carried  out  all  the  work 
connected  with  the  laying  out  of  the  grounds  and 
new  gardens,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the  suc- 
cessful fruit  culture  since  practised  there.  On 
leaving  Impney  he  was  engaged  by  Sir  T.  B. 
Brodie,  Bart. ,  to  make  the  entirely  new  gardens  at 
Carron  House,  where  for  twenty  years  he  has 
carried  out  a  most  successful  example  of  high 
culture  in  all  departments. 

Mr.  Temple  was  an  enthusiastic  gardener,  and 
could  not  be  easily  excelled  in  the  production  of 
sucoessional  crops  both  of  vegetables,  hardy  fruits, 
and  fruits  under  glass.  He  was  held  in  high  esti- 
mation by  his  employers  and  by  all  who  came  in 


contact  with  him.  He  will  be  much  missed  in  the 
district  of  Carron,  where  he  made  himself  useful  in 
many  ways.  He  was  a  man  of  high  moral  tone  and 
a  most  valuable  servant.  He  is  survived  by  a 
widow  and  grown  up  family. 


JAMES  PENTLAND. 
James  Pentland,  the  dean  of  Baltimore  florists, 
passed  away  very  suddenly  in  the  small  hours  of 
the  morning  of  March  19,  at  the  venerable  age  of 
eighty-one  years.  He  was  without  doubt  one  of 
the  oldest  active  florists  in  the  United  States,  and 
had  been  in  business  at  his  original  location  for 
more  than  half  a  century.  He  was  born  at  Grey 
Abbey,  County  Down,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  on 
October  28,  1821.  His  family  came  to  America 
when  the  boy  was  eleven  years  of  age,  locating  at 
Philadelphia,  but  removing  to  Baltimore  in  1837. 
In  1849  he  bought  the  property  opposite  the 
cemetery  entrance,  where  he  conducted  the 
business  until  the  day  of  his  death.  He  gave 
particular  attention  in  the  early  days  to  garden 
Roses,  and  prior  to  the  Civil  AVar  he  was  given 
credit  for  having  the  largest  collection  and 
probably  the  largest  output  of  plants  of  any 
florist  in  the  country.  Mr.  Pentland  also  grew 
the  Camellia  extensively,  and  some  of  his  seedlings 
are  still  in  the  trade.  He  was  a  man  widely 
esteemed  for  his  personal  qualities,  and  his  con- 
versation was  rich  in  reminiscences  of  the  notable 
events  of  his  long  career. — American  Florint. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 

DAFFODILS   AT    MESSRS. 
BARR   AND    SONS. 

To  the  majority  of  persons  there  are  four 
seasons  in  the  calendar  year,  spring, 
summer,  autumn,  and  winter,  but  the 
gardener  sub-divides  these  into  seasons 
all  his  own,  as  certain  flowers  annually 
make  their  appearance  at  more  or  less 
regular  periods.  Thus  there  are  the  Crocus, 
Daffodil,  Tulip,  and  Rhododendron  seasons  as  well 
as  a  host  of  others,  each  clearly  defined  to  the 
garden  lover,  although  the  date  of  each  may  vary 
according  to  the  humour  of  the  weather  clerk.  At 
present  it  is  almost  superfluous  to  say  it  is  Daffodil 
time,  and  in  the  minds  of  many  Daffodils  and 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  are  inseparably  associated, 
at  least  all  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  visiting 
the  Surbiton  nurseries  during  April  and  May  will 
not  hesitate  to  admit. 

To-day  there  are  some  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
Daffodil  flowers — amongst  them  many  of  the  most 
beautiful  varieties  known — nodding  their  dainty 
heads  to  the  breeze,  and  making  a  ripple  upon  a 
sea  of  yellow  and  green.  What  innumerable 
shades  of  these  colours  are  perceptible  when  one 
examines  the  flowers  and  foliage  more  closely  ;  an 
expert  can,  in  many  instances,  distinguish  between 
difierent  varieties  from  the  form  and  colour  of  the 
foliage  alone,  so  greatly  do  these  vary. 

Here  and  there  amongst  the  Daffodils  one  comes 
across  masses  of  Muscari,  or  of  early  Tulips,  which 
add  a  further  touch  of  brilliant  colour  to  this  nursery 
of  flowers.  In  a  few  weeks  it  will  be  Tulip  time, 
and  the  gorgeous  display  that  only  acres  of  Tulips 
can  make  is  indicated  by  the  immense  quantity  of 
buds  that  are  making  ready  to  burst.  And  to 
those  who  love  masses  of  brilliant  blazing  colour 
Tulip  time  in  Barr's  nurseries  will  be  even  more 
fascinating  than  Daffodil  time.  But  to  concern 
ourselves  with  the  latter  is  the  work  of  the 
moment,  and  although  it  would  be  impossible  to 
attempt  to  describe  or  enumerate  even  the  best  of 
the  enormous  number  of  Narcissi  grown  here,  one 
cannot  refrain  from  referring  to  a  few  of  particular 
merit. 

There  are  some  Narcissi  that  are  eagerly  sought 
after  year  by  year,  despite  the  introduction  of  so 
many  new  sorts,  and  of  such  are  Leedsii,  Mrs. 
Langtry,  bicolor  grandis,  Barri  conspiouus.  Em- 
peror, Empress,  Sir  Watkin,  Queen  of  Spain,  &c.  I 
Of  these  and  many  other  well-known  varieties  the  I 


Surbiton  nurseries  contain  enormous  quantities.  A 
flower  that  we  were  particularly  delighted  with  is 
Maggie  May,  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  of  the 
Leedsii  section.  The  flowers  have  a  spreading 
white  perianth  and  very  large  pale  citron  frilled 
cup  ;  this  variety  has  also  the  merit  of  being  a 
strong  grower.  Narcissus  Weardale  Perfection  is 
a  flower  that  will  doubtless  alwavs  be  sought 
after.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  of  Daffodils;  the 
perianth  is  large  and  white  and  the  trumpet  of 
great  size,  in  colour  a  lovely  pale  primrose-yellow. 
Lucifer,  with  a  large  white  perianth  and  an  intense 
orange-red  cup,  is  a  bold  and  handsome  flower,  and 
the  plant  is  a  vigorous  grower. 

A  Daffodil  that  has  been  prominent  lately  is 
King  Alfred,  bearing  very  large  yet  refined  flowers 
of  an  uniform  rich  golden  colour  ;  the  trumpet  is 
large  with  deeply  frilled  edges.  Sentinel  (bicolor), 
with  pure  white  perianth  and  short  clear  yellow 
trumpet,  the  flowers  just  overtopping  the  foliage 
and  well  justifying  the  varietal  name  by  their 
aspect ;  Willie  Barr,  a  trumpet  Daffodil  with  a  soft 
yellow-coloured  perianth,  the  trumpet  a  deep 
yellow;  Phyllis  (Leedsii),  a  lovely  flower,  having 
a  white  perianth  and  straight  canary-coloured  cup ; 
Monarch,  one  of  the  very  best  of  the  golden 
trumpet  Daffodils  ;  Mrae.  de  Graaff,  a  well-known 
beautiful  white  trumpet  ;  Glory  of  Leyden, 
another  giant  trumpet  flower  ;  J.  B.  M.  Camm. 
a  beautiful  variety  with  a  white  perianth,  and 
a  trumpet  of  pale  chrome-yellow,  are  a  few 
remarkable  flowers. 

Perhaps  as  delicately  beautiful  and  charming  as 
any  is  the  Narcissus  known  as  Apricot.  The 
flower  is  of  moderate  size,  but  its  colouring  is 
unique.  The  perianth  is  white,  the  long  straight 
trumpet  opening  a  soft  primrose  and  passing  to  a 
rosy  apricot  buff.  The  flowers  are  also  sweetly 
scented,  and  Messrs.  Barr  say  that  it  has  the 
merit  of  being  a  strong  grower.  Such  a  Daffodil 
as  this  needs  to  be  seen  to  be  fully  appreciated,  a 
pen  picture  can  give  but  a  poor  impression  of  its 
beauty.  And  there  are  many  other  of  Messrs. 
Barr's  Daftbdils  of  which  the  same  may  be  said. 
We  were  privileged. to  see  some  of  the  choicest 
and  best  that  the  Daffodil  world  can  show  in  that 
part  of  the  nursery  devoted  to  seedlings,  many 
yet  unnamed.  Prominent  amongst  many  most 
beautiful  flowers  it  is  not  difficult  to  distinguish 
the  magnificent  new  Narcissus  Peter  Barr,  a  pure 
white  trumpet.  Our  note  concerning  it  when  it 
was  recently  awarded  a  first-class  certificate  by 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  bear  repe- 
tition. It  cannot  be  compared  to  any  other.  It 
is  longer  in  the  crown  than  Mme.  de  Graaff  and 
rather  less  revolute  at  the  brim,  while  the  perianth 
impresses  one  with  its  greatness  snd  its  beauty. 
The  flower  Peter  Barr  has  assuredly  wrested  the 
laurels  from  Mme.  de  Graaff,  a  variety  that  has 
long  been  considered  the  finest  white  trumpet  in 
cultivation.  Narcissus  Peter  Barr  is  the  result  of 
crossing  Monarch  with  Mme.  de  Graaff. 


SOCIETIES. 


TRURO  DAFFODIL  SHOW. 
A  Beautiful  Display. 
On  April]  5  the  show  of  the  Cornwall  Daffoclil  and  Spring 
Flower  .Society  was  held  at  Truro.  In  former  years  the 
Concert  Hall  was  utilised,  but  want  of  space,  leading  to  the 
overcrowding  of  exhibits  and  discomfort  of  visitors,  the 
more  roomy  Market  Hall  was  this  year  engaged.  So 
numerous,  however,  were  the  entries,  there  being  eight  in  the 
premier  Daffodil  class  and  from  ten  to  thirteen  in  some  of 
the  others,  that  many  of  the  exhibits  had  perforce  to  be 
staged  so  closely  together  that  their  beauties  were  not  as 
apparent  as  they  would  have  been  had  greater  space  been 
available.  The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  was  represented 
by  the  Earl  of  Ilcliester,  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart,  Mr.  A. 
H.  Pearson,  and  the  Kev.  W.  Wilks.  The  influential  executive 
committee  was  composed  of  the  most  noted  flower  lovers  of 
the  county,  and  the  arduous  duties  of  hon.  sec.  were,  as 
usual,  ably  performed  by  the  Hon.  John  Boscawen.  The 
showroom  was  filled  to  overflowering  by  visitors  from  the 
counties  of  Cornwall  and  Devon,  and,  although  numbers  of 
these  reached  Truro  bv  road,  the  fact  of  every  seat  being 
filled  in  the  up  and  down  expresses  in  the  early  evening 
testified  to  the  concourse  that  made  use  of  the  rail,  while 
residents  in  many  of  the  towns  in  the  North  of  England 
were  also  present.  Ths  flowers  staged  in  the  Market  Hall 
were  indeed  worth  a  long  journey  to  see,  many  of  the  Narcissi, 
the  product  of  priceless  bulbs  not  yet  in  commerce,  being  a 


280 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  26,  1902. 


revelation  to  those  whose  knowleilge  of  the  race  was 
conttiied  to  the  commoner  varieties,  while  no  county  but 
Cornwall  could  produce  such  a  wealth  of  Rhododendrons  in 
the  open  air  as  those  which  made  up  the  magnificent 
collection  shown  by  Mr.  D.  H.  Shilson. 

The  earliness  of  southern  Cornwall  was  well  exemplified 
by  the  presence  of  specimens  of  many  flowering  shrubs  and 
plants  in  blooms  that  in  colder  districts  will  not  be  at  their 
best  for  another  month  or  more.  As  far  as  Narcissi  are  con- 
cerned one  of  the  most  attractive  exhibits  in  the  show  was 
a  collection  of  hybrid  seedlings  raised  by  the  Rev.  G.  H. 
Engleheart  and  staged  by  him,  not  for  competition.  A 
certificate  of  merit  was  awarded  to  this  collection,  and  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  bestowed  an  award  of  merit  on 
one  of  the  varieties,  Coronation  Year,  a  fine  bicolor  incom- 
parabilis.  Otlier  noteworthy  varieties  in  this  interesting 
stand  were  A'ivid,  Sparklet,  Asteroid,  Corona,  Sceptre, 
Delicata,  and  AUha-a,  all  brightly  tinted  citron 
and  peach,  with  apricot-butt"  cups ;  Syren,  a  beautiful 
drooping  white,  with  long  trumpet ;  (.'haucer,  a  fine  form  of 
poeticus,  Willi  deep  red  eye  ;  Plenipo,  a  double  between 
Sulphur  Phtenix  and  Orange  Phaniix,  Sea  Nymph,  Chloris. 
Waterwitch,  and  Loreley,  graceful  whites ;  Torch,  Spin- 
naker, Procue,  Regent,  Electra,  Sybilla,  and  Ariadne. 
Many  of  these  are  certain  to  take  a  forward  place  in  the 
near  future.  Awards  of  merit  were  given  to  Mr.  .T.  C. 
Williams  for  Weardale  Perfection,  Will  Scarlet,  Aurora,  and 
No.  226,  the  latter  an  enormous  self  yellow  trumpet 
Narcissus,  and  to  Lady  Margaret  Buscawen  for  Lucifer  and 
Lady  Margaret  Boscaiven.  Certificates  of  merit  would  un- 
doubtedly have  been  awarded  to  a  few  other  flowers  of 
striking  excellence  but  for  the  rule  that  these  should  not  be 
granted  unless  three  or  more  flowers  of  the  variety  were 
shown. 

The  twenty-five  classes  for  Narcissi  were  divided  into  two 
sections,  in  the  first  of  which  no  flowers  were  admissible 
which  were  grown  from  bulbs  above  the  value  of  lOs.  each, 
while  in  the  scond  section  no  limit  was  set  to  the  value  of 
the  bulbs.  In  the  latter  section  some  exceedingly  beautiful 
flowers  were  shown. 

The  chief  prize  in  the  Daffodil  classes,  for  the  best  collec- 
tion of  not  less  than  thirty  or  more  than  forty  varieties, 
including  ^lagni-Coronati,  Mec!ii-Coronati,  and  Parvi- 
Coronati,  five  to  seven  blooms  of  each  variety,  was  won  by 
the  Rev.  Arthur  Boscawen  with  a  bright  and  well  set-up 
collection,  evidencing  high  cultural  skill,  the  f-econd  prize 
being  taken  by  Mr.  P.  D.  Williams,  the  third  prize  by  Lady 
Margaret  Boscawen,  and  fourth  prize  by  Miss  F.  Currey  of 
Lismore,  Ireland. 

In  the  class  forsix  distinct  single  varieties  Magni-f'oronati, 
with  no  limit  to  the  price  of  bulbs,  Mr.  J.  C.  Williams  won 
first  prize  with  a  superb  stand  composed  of  Glory  of 
Leyden,  Emperor,  Mme.  de  Graaff,  Weardale  Perfection, 
Mme.  Plemp,  and  No.  -26,  already  described. 

In  six  distinct  varieties  Medii-Coronati,  and  six  distinct 
varieties  Parvi-Coronati,  Mr.  J.  C.  Williams  again  took  the 
first  prizes,  in  the  former  class  with  Will  Scarlet,  Ina, 
Gloria  Mundi,  and  three  fine  unnamed  seedlings,  and  in  the 
latter  with  Aurora  and  five  excellent  unnamed  seedlings. 

In  the  class  for  fifteen  distinct  varieties  Mr.  J.  C.  Williams, 
who  possesses  a  large  collection  of  the  best  of  the  new 
Narcissi,  won  first  prize  with  White  Lady,  Snowdrop, 
Naiad,  Dorothy  Kingsmill,  White  Queen,  and  ten  unnamed 
seedlings. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Williams  also  won  first  prize  for  the  finest 
single  bloom  of  Magni-Coronati  with  No.  154,  a  large  sulphur- 
white  flower  something  after  the  style  of  Mme.  de  Graart", 
with  slightly  pendent  head,  Mr.  P.  D.  Williams  taking 
second  prize  with  No.  S3,  a  big  flower  of  the  colour  of 
Emperor,  with  wavy  perianth. 

The  first  and  second  prizes  in  the  next  class,  for  the  finest 
single  bloom  Medii-Coronati,  were  won  respectively  by 
Messrs.  J.  C.  \\'illiam3  and  P.  D.  Williams,  the  first  with 
White  Queen  and  the  second  with  Lulworth,  while  Mr.  J.  C. 
Williams  also  took  first  prize  in  the  class  for  the  finest 
single  bloom  Parvi-Coronati  with  No.  304,  a  very  fine  seedling 
of  the  poelicus  section,  Mr.  E.  H.  Williams  being  second 
with  Blood  Orange,  primrose  perianth  and  glowing  orange- 
scarlet  cup. 

In  the  three  classes  for  single  flowers  of  English-raised 
varieties  not  in  commerce  some  remarkable  blooms  were 
staged.  For  Magni-Coronati  Mr.  J.  C.  Williams  was  first 
with  No.  34S,  a  very  large  sulphur-white  with  spreading 
trumpet,  Mr.  P.  D.  Williams  being  second  with  a  clear 
yellow  slightly  drooping  flower,  and  Mr.  C.  Williams  third 
with  a  fine  bicolor  possessing  an  enormous  spreading 
tnnnpet.  For  Medii-Coronati,  Mr.  C.  Williams  was  first 
with  a  large  bicolor  seedling,  Mr.  P.  D.  Williams  being 
second  with  White  Lady.  For  Parvi-Coronati  Mr.  P.  D. 
Williams  was  first  with  a  large  and  well-shaped  poeticus 
with  spreading  red  eye,  and  Mr.  J.  C.  Williams  second  with 
another  fine  poeticus  seedling. 

Of  spring  flowers  other  than  Narcissi,  the  Rhododen- 
drons formed  the  chief  feature.  In  Mr.  D.  H.  Shilson's 
matchless  collection,  which  won  first  prize,  and  was 
deservedly  awarded  a  Flora  medal,  were  over  200  flower 
trusses  of  rare  and  beautiful  sorts.  One  named  Beauty 
of  Tremough,  a  large  soft  pink  flower,  a  hybrid  between 
R.  Aucklandi  and  R.  Thompsoni,  was  granted  a  first-class 
certificate,  and  amongst  other  noteworthy  species  and 
varieties  represented  were  R.  Falconeri,  R.  argenteum, 
R  Dalhousi.'e,  R.  Edgeworthi,  R.  Shilsoni,  and  R.  eximium. 
For  six  trusses  of  outdoor  Rhododendrons,  distinct,  six 
trusses  of  greenhouse  Rhododendrons,  distinct,  and  for  the 
finest  truss  of  outdoor  Rhododendron,  Mr.  D.  H.  Shilson 
won  all  the  three  first  prizes. 

In  the  class  for  the  finest  truss  of  greenhouse  Rhododen- 
dron, the  first  prize  was  won  by  Jlrs.  J.  Williams  with 
magnificent  R.  Nuttalli.  The  truss  consisted  of  five  blooms, 
each  fully  5  inches  across  their  expanded  trumpets,  of  the 
purest  white  externally,  and  tinted  with  yellow  at  the  base 
of  the  cup  s  interior.  This  Avas  one  of  the  most  striking 
exhibits  in  the  show. 

In  Camellias  many  superlj  blooms  were  shown,  the  peer- 
less C.  reticulata,  by  far  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  of 


the  family,  beating  all  opposition,  some  of  the  flowers 
being  6  inches  in  diameter. 

In  the  classes  for  hardy  unforced  herbaceous  spring 
flowers  and  outdoor  flowering  shrubs  many  species  were 
exhil)ited  that  proved  the  geniality  of  the  climate  of  the 
district.  Mi'.  P.  D.  Williams,  who  took  first  prize  in  the 
former  class,  sliowed  Muscaris,  Primulas,  Erythroniums, 
Trilliums,  Fritillarias,  and  other  flowers,  while  in  the  stand 
of  the  winner  of  the  second  prize,  Mrs.  Powys  Rogers,  were 
Myosotidium  nobile  and  Sparaxis,  and  in  another  collection 
the  lovely  pale  yellow  Gladiolus  tristis,  an  April  flowerer 
and  sweet-scented  at  night.  In  the  flowering  shrub  class 
the  first  prize  was  won  by  Mr.  D.  H.  Shilson  with  a  stand 
containing  Embothrium  coccineum.  Lilacs  (Syringa),  Azaleas, 
Spir;eas,  Prunus,  &c.  Other  spring  flowers  included 
Anemone  coronaria,  A.  fulgens,  Polyanthi,  Primroses  single 
and  double,  and  Violets,  all  of  which  were  well  shown. 

Nurserymen's  exhibits  were  interesting.  Messrs.  Robert 
Veitch  and  Son,  Exeter  (silver-gilt  Flora  medal  and  certifi- 
cate of  merit)  had  a  fine  display  of  rock  plants,  including 
Saxifrages,  Androsaces,  Sedums,  Opuntias,  Shortia  galaci- 
folia,  Tiarella,  Primulas,  Sarracenias,  &c.,  and  also  a  good 
collection  of  flowering  shrubs. 

ifessrs.  Curtis,  Sandford  and  Co.,  Devon  Rosary,  Tori|uay 
(bronze  Banksian  medal  and  certificate  of  merit),  showed 
cut  and  pot  Roses,  Violets,  &c. 

Messrs.  Bart  and  Sons,  London,  staged  a  fine  assortment 
of  Narcissi,  and  were  awarded  a  silver-gilt  Banksian  medal 
and  certificate  of  merit  as  well  as  awards  of  merit  to 
Narcissus  Lucifer  and  Monarch. 

Messrs.  Gauntlett  and  Cu.,  Redruth  (silver-gilt  Flora 
medal  and  certificate  of  merit),  showed  Bamboos,  of  which 
the  firm  makes  a  speciality,  Camellia  reticulata,  Banksia 
quercifolia,  Androraedas,  Lilacs,  Rhododendrons,  Magnolias, 
M.  Osaka  being  granted  an  award  of  merit,  Senecio 
rotundifolia,  Fremontia  californica,  Grevillea  rosmarinifolia, 
and  other  flowering  shrubs. 

Messrs.  Treseder  and  Co.,  Truro  (silver  Flora  medal  and 
certificate  of  merit),  showed  a  stand  which  was  chiefly 
remarkable  for  Tree  Ferns,  of  which  the  firm  has  supplied 
numbers  to  sheltered  gardens  in  Cornwall  and  South  Devon, 
importing  them  annually  from  Australia  and  New  Zealand. 

NATIONAL  AURICULA  SOCIETY. 
At  the  beautiful  exhibition  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  last 
the  collections  of  species  and  their  varieties  of  Primulas 
were  in  excellent  form,  and  P.  obconica,  and  especially  the 
collection  from  Audley  End,  could  be  seen  in  many  charming 
varieties.  The  fine  new  form  of  P.  viscosa,  bearing  the 
name  of  Spring  Beauty,  was  shown  in  excellent  character, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  better  subject  in  its  way  for 
pot  culture  than  the  attractive  Yellow  Gem  Auricula  from 
Brighton,  shown  by  Messrs.  W.  Miles  and  Co.,  nurserymen. 
Hove,  and  which  received  an  award  of  merit  from  the 
National  Auricula  Society.  The  giant  Polyanthus  and 
coloured  Primroses  were  of  good  character,  and  it  was 
pleasant  to  see  the  double  Primroses  so  well  shown  by 
Messrs.  I.  House  and  Son,  Bristol.  They  have  evidently  hit 
upon  the  manner  of  growing  the  brilliant  double  crimson 
to  perfection,  for  they  had  it  in  remarkably  fine  character. 
The  old  late  double  yellow,  or  Cloth  of  Gold,  was  also  in 
good  bloom. 

S/iow  Aitriculas.—^^  An  excellent  show,"  was  the  generally 
expressed  opinion.  Young  and  old  growers  alike  were 
jubilant  at  witnessing  a  revival  of  interest  in  the  Auricula, 
and  the  number  of  entries  in  the  leading  classes  was  very 
encouraging  to  the  committee  and  officers  of  the  society. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  varieties,  Mr.  James  Douglas,  florist, 
Great  Bookham,  was  placed  first.  Of  green  edges  he  had 
Abraham  Barker,  a  northern-raised  flower  ;  Shirley  Hibberd, 
one  of  Ben  Simonite's  seedlings  of  seveial  years  ago ;  and 
Chloe  (Douglas),  the  last-named  a  promising  variety  not  yet 
distributed.  Of  grey  edges  there  were  George  Lightbody, 
Richard  Headly,  and  <leorge  Rudd,  each  of  which  com- 
memorates an  old-time  florist  of  repute.  White  edges : 
Vesta  (new),  Acme,  and  Mrs.  Dodwell ;  selfs,  Mrs.  Potts, 
Raven  (Simonite),  and  Ruby,  by  the  same  raiser.  Mr. 
William  Smith,  Bishop's  Stortford,  who  tries  hard  to  dis- 
place Mr.  Douglas,  but  as  yet  without  success,  was  second. 
He  had  Abraham  Barker  and  Abbt^  Liszt  as  green  edges; 
George  Lightbody  and  Rachel  as  his  best  greys;  Acme, 
Elaine,  and  Lady  Randolph  Churchill,  white  edges;  Miss 
Barnett  and  Gerald,  selfs.  These  were  his  leading  flowers. 
Mr.  Charles  Turner,  Royal  Nursery,  Sluugh,  was  third,  and 
Mr.  Purnell-Purnell,  Streatham,  fourth.  There  were  ten 
collections  of  six  show  Auriculas— quite  a  record  number— 
and  here  Mr.  Douglas  was  again  first  with  some  well  grown 
and  bloomed  plants.  Of  green  edges  there  were  Abraham 
Barker  and  Abbt^  Liszt  ;  grey  edges,  George  Lightbody  and 
Rachel ;  white  edge,  Venus  ;  and  self.  Ruby.  ilr.  J.  Sar- 
gent, Chobharo,  was  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Smith  third. 
There  were  seven  entries  of  four  varieties,  and  here  Mr.  J. 
Sargent  came  in  first  with  green  edge  Abbe  Liszt,  grey  edge 
George  Lightbody,  white  edge  Acme,  and  self  Miss  Barnett. 
Messrs.  Phillips  aud  Taylor,  florists,  Bracknell,  were  second, 
and  Mr.  J.  W.  Euston,  The  Gardens,  Great  Gearies,  third. 
In  the  class  for  two  plants  there  were  eight  entries.  Mr. 
J.  W.  Bentley,  Stakehill  House,  Castleton,  Manchester, 
came  in  first  with  white  edge  Beauty  and  self  Gerald.  Mr. 
J.  Clements,  Birmingham,  was  a  close  second,  and  Mr. 
A.  S.  Hampton,  Reading,  third. 

In  the  class  for  one  green-edged  Auricula  Messrs.  Phillips 
and  Taylor  came  in  first  with  Shirley  Hibberd,  and  Mr.  J. 
Sargent  came  next  with  Abb^  Liszt,  Mrs.  Henwood,  also 
from  Messrs.  Phillips  and  Taylor,  taking  the  third  prize. 
Grey  edges :  First,  Mr.  J.  T.  Bennett-Poe,  Cheshunt,  was  first 
with  George  Lightbody,  and  Mr.  R.  Staward  was  second 
with  the  same.  Rachel  was  placed  third  and  fourth.  White 
edges :  Acme,  the  most  perfect  of  white  edges  when  at  its 
best,  won  the  first  five  prizes,  and  in  the  class  for  selfs  the 
same  good  fortune  befell  Mrs.  Potts,  the  best  blue  self  in 
cultivation. 

The  premier  show  Auricula  had  to  be  selected  from  the 
foregoing  collections.  It  was  green  edge  Mrs.  Henwood, 
exhibited  by  Messrs.  Pnillips  and  Taylor. 


In  the  class  for  fifty  Auriculas  Mr.  J.  Douglas  had  the- 
first  prize  with  one  of  the  best  collections  we  have  seen 
staged  in  this  class  for  years.  Of  green  edges  there  were 
Dr.  Hardy,  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  Greenfinch,  Abb6  Liszt, 
and  Mrs.  Henwood.  Grey  edges:  Perseverance,  a  very 
promising  new  variety  ;  George  Rudd,  Col.  Champneys, 
and  JIabel.  White  edges :  Elaine,  a  very  chaste  new 
variety  ;  Conservative,  and  Heather  Bell.  Selfs  :  Cleopatra, 
Ruby,  Mrs.  Potts,  and  the  yellow  Buttercup.  We  unfor- 
tunately missed  the  second  and  third  prize  winners,  but  we 
think  Mr.  Purnell-Purnell  was  second. 

There  was  a  class  for  six  green-edged  Auriculas,  not  less 
than  three  varieties.  Mr.  J.  Sargent  took  the  first  prize 
with  Shirley  Hibberd,  F.  D.  Horner,  James  Hannaford, 
and  .\bbe  Liszt.  Mr.  W.  Beale,  Hayes  Place,  came  second  ; 
he  had  John  Garrett,  Abraham  Barker,  F.  D.  Horner,  and 
James  Hannaford.     Mr.  C.  Turner  was  third. 

There  was  a  maiden  class  for  four  show  Auriculas.  Mr. 
J.  Clements  took  the  leading  prize  with  Rolts  Green, 
Acme,  Conservative,  and  Heroine,  selL 

In  the  class  for  seedling  Auriculas  awards  were  made 
only  in  the  green-edged  class,  Mr.  J.  Douglas  taking  the  first 
prize  with  Lincoln  Green,  a  highly-promising  variety,  and 
he  was  second  with  Triumph.  Wild  Swan  (Douglas),  a 
variety  much  resembling  Acme,  is  a  good  variety  if 
sufficiently  distinct. 

Aljnyie  Auriculas.— These  were,  as  usual,  very  showy,  as 
they  are  allowed  to  carry  more  than  one  truss  of  bloom, 
though,  as  could  be  seen  in  the  case  of  not  a  few  of  the 
varieties,  fading  flowers  contrast  unfavourably  with  the 
fresh  ones.  It  would  be  well,  as  was  suggested  at  the  judsres' 
luncheon,  that  one  truss  only  of  bloom  should  be  on  exhi- 
bition specimens.  There  is  now  a  great  range  of  varieties  of 
this  section  ;  they  increase  with  amazing  rapidity.  Mr. 
Douglas,  especially,  has  given  us  some  brilliant  flowers  of 
fine  quality.  There  were  several  collections  of  twelve  varie- 
ties, Mr.  J.  Douglas  taking  the  first  prize  with  such  fine 
golden  centres  as  Urania,  Firefly,  Duke  of  York,  Ziska, 
J.  F.  Kew,  The  Bride  (a  charming,  soft-coloured  variety)* 
Hiawatha,  Dean  Hole,  and  Mrs.  Markham ;  white  centres, 
Ivanhoe  and  Thetis.  Mr.  J.  W.  Euston,  Great  Gearies,  was 
second  ;  he  had,  in  fine  character,  Duke  of  York,  The  Bride, 
Urania,  Julia  Lodge,  Rosy  Morn,  Hiawatha,  and  Hilda'; 
third,  Mr.  C.  Turner.  With  six  varieties,  Mr.  Douglas  was 
again  first,  having  varieties  similar  to  those  in  his  twelve; 
Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley  was  second,  and  Mr.  Euston  third.  With 
four  varieties,  Mr.  Bentley  was  first,  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Bennett-Poe 
second.— Alpines,  single  specimens,  gold  centres :  sfessrs. 
Phillips  and  Taylor  were  first  and  fourth,  with  Mrs.  Martin 
R.  Smith ;  Mr.  Douglas  second  and  third  with  Ziska.  White 
centres  :  Mr.  Euston  first  with  Hilda,  and  fourth  with 
Desdemona;  Mr.  R.  Dean.  Ealing,  Avas  second  with  Lotiie  ; 
and  Mr.  Douglas  third  with  Mrs.  H.  Turner.  The  best  six 
alpine  Auriculas  in  the  maiden  class  came  from  Mr.  J. 
Clements.  The  premier  alpine  was  Duke  of  York,  the  finest 
alpine  ever  raised,  shown  by  Mr.  J.  Douglas. 

Fancy  Auriculas.— These  are  ihe  indescribables  among 
the  show  Auriculas,  and  it  seems  a  pity  a  class  for  them  is 
retained.  Mr.  J.  Duuglas  was  first,  and  Messrs.  Beale  and 
Euston  second  and  third. 

Species  of  Primulas. — These  are  always  interesting.  Mr. 
J.  W.  Euston  was  first  with  red  and  white  forms  of  P. 
japonica,  two  of  P.  Sieboldi,  two  of  P.  obconica,  P.  verti- 
cillata,  P.  floribunda,  P.  farinosa,  P.  Forbesii,  P.  Auricula. 
!Mr.  Purnell-Purnell  was  second  ;  lie  had,  differing  from  the 
foregoing,  P.  mollis,  P.  denticulata,  P  viscosa,  and  P.  apen- 
nina.  Mr.  W.  Beale  was  the  only  exhibitor  of  six  species; 
he  had  P.  cortusoides  and  P.  Auricula  marginata,  with  very 
large,  thick,  rounded,  powdery  leaves,  and  trusses  of  small, 
deep  orange  flowers. 

Groups  of  species  and  varieties  in  box  or  basket. — In  this 
class  Mr.  Purnell-Purnell  had  several  bold  species  as  a  back- 
ground, and  a  foreground  of  charming  show  and  alpine 
Auriculas,  mingled  with  double  and  single  Primroses:  Mr. 
J. .Vert,  Audley  End,  came  second,  with  a  basket  of  charming 
varieties  of  P.  obconica. 

Poli/anthus  Giayit. --The  best  basket  of  these  came  from 
Mr.  J.  D.  Williams,  St,  Keverne;  Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Swiss 
Nursery,  Farnham,  was  second. 

Primroses. — Messrs.  House  and  Son  had  the  best  twelve 
pots  of  these,  and  Mr.  R.  Staward  was  second  ;  but  in  neither 
case  were  they  so  good  as  we  have  beeu  accustomed  to  see 
them.  The  best  six  pans  of  doubles  were  from  Messrs. 
House  and  Son  ;  they  had  the  crimson  Cloth  of  Gold,  white, 
lilac,  red,  and  Croussii,  the  two  first  very  fine.  Polyanthus 
Gold-laced  :  These  were  poor;  it  is  a  pity  someone  does  not 
attempt  their  culture,  so  that  the  public  may  see  them  in 
better  form.  Mr.  Beale  had  the  best  basket  of  Primroses, 
and  Messrs.  House  and  Son  were  second. 

At  the  luncheon,  held  in  the  Hotel  Windsor,  Mr.  Pope,  of 
Biruiingham,  was  in  the  chair,  and  was  supported  by  Messrs. 
Harry  Turner,  James  Douglas,  Richard  Dean,  Henwood, 
and  other  florists,  over  thirty  gentlemen  being  present. 


NATIONAL  CHRYSANTHEMUM  SOCIETY. 
We  have  received  the  schedule  for  the  exhibitions  for  1902, 
to  be  held  respectively  on  October  7,  S,  9  ;  November  4,  5, 6  ; 
and  December  2,  3,  4.  At  the  November  exhibition  Sir 
Albert  K.  Rollit,  M.P.,  president  of  the  society,  offers  a 
special  first  prize  for  a  floral  display  of  Chrysanthemums  and 
suitable  foliage  plants  in  pots,  with  the  addition  of  cut 
blooms  and  any  appropriate  cut  foliage.  In  the  great  vase 
class  four  money  prizes  of  an  aggregate  value  of  £50 
are  offered,  and  there  are  numerous  other  special  prizes 
offered. 

DAFFODIL  AND  SPRING  FLOWER  SHOW  AT 
IPSWICH. 

A  BE.\uTiFUL  show  was  held  at  Ipswich  last  week,  and  Mr. 
John  Andrews,  the  \vell-known  secretary  of  the  Woodbridge 
Horticultural  Society,  and  Mr.  A.  E.  Stubbs  must  be  heartily 
congratulated.  Our  report  has  got  crowded  out  this  week 
through  pressure  upon  space. 


<&^^ 


GARDEN 


—^^- 


i^J^a# 


No.  1589.— Vol.  LXL] 


[May  .3,  1902, 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS    IN 
POOR    SOILS. 

A  S  there  is  vegetation    to    .suit    nearly 

/\  all  natural  conditions,  so  those  who 

/  \  find  they  have  to  undertake  plant- 
/  \  ing  in  poor,  dry  hungry  sands  and 
gravels  will  find  that  there  are 
plenty  of  trees  and  shrubs  that  can  be  used, 
though  the  choice  is  necessarily  a  more  re- 
stricted one  than  they  might  make  on  better 
land.  The  very  fact  of  the  fewer  numbers  of 
available  kinds  may  even  be  a  benefit  in 
disguise,  as  by  obliging  the  planter  to  use 
fewer  kinds  the  planting  scheme  will  be  all 
the  more  harmonious. 

As  to  trees.  Holly,  Thorn,  Juniper,  Birch, 
Scotch  Fir,  and  Mountain  Ash  are  found  wild 
on  the  poorest  soils,  and  will  even  grow  in 
almost  pure  sand.  Oaks,  though  they  never 
grow  to  the  dimensions  of  the  Oak  of  loamy 
woodlands,  are  abundant  on  poor  soils,  where 
they  have  a  character  of  their  own  that  is  full 
of  pictorial  value.  The  lovely  Amelanchier, 
daintiest  of  small  trees,  revels  in  sandy  woods, 
as  does  also  the  Bird  Cherry,  another  good 
native  flowering  tree,  while  the  wild  Cherry 
becomes  a  forest  tree  of  large  size  and  of 
loveliest  bloom.  Ilex  and  Arbutus  are  excel- 
lent in  the  south  of  England,  enjoying  the 
warmth  and  winter  dryness  of  light  soils. 

Garden  shrubs  in  general  can  be  grown, 
though  not  so  luxuriantly  as  on  better  soils, 
but  some  classes  are  especially  successful  on 
poor  land.  These  are  the  Cistuses  and  Heaths, 
with  Lavender  and  Rosemary  in  the  drier 
parts,  and  in  the  wetter  places  Kalmias, 
Andromedas,  Rhododendrons,  Ledums,  Per- 
nettyas,  and  Vacciniums,  with  the  Candle- 
berry  Gale  and  the  native  Bog  Myrtle.  These, 
which  are  usually  classed  as  peat  shrubs,  will 
succeed  in  any  sandy  soil  with  the  addition  of 
leaf-mould,  and  are  among  the  most  interesting 
and  beautiful  of  our  garden  shrubs. 

Those  who  garden  on  poor  and  dry  soils 
should  remember  that  though  their  ground 
has  drawbacks  it  has  also  some  compensations. 
Such  soils  do  not  dry  in  cracks  and  open 
fissures  in  hot  weather,  and  do  not  present  a 
surface  of  soapy  slides  in  wet ;  they  can  be 
worked  at  all  times  of  the  year  except  in  hard 
frost  ;  they  are  easy  to  hoe  and  keep  clean  of 
weeds,  and  are  pleasant  and  easy  to  work. 
They  correct  the  tendency  of  stony  soils  to  the 
making  of  a  quantity  of  coarse  rank  growth, 
and  they  encourage  the  production  of  a  quantity 
of  flower  of  good  colour. 


"  A  Reader,"  who  does  not  wish  to  give  his 
name,  writes  reminding  us  of  the  beauty  of  big 
groups  of  Cistuses  on  the  fringe  of  woodland 
where  Heath  and  Birch  are  happy.  Plants  of 
C.  laurifolius  are  now  several  feet  high,  and  it 
is  pleasant  to  see  the  big  white  purple-stained 
flowers  open  in  the  early  morning  before  the 
midday  sun  makes  the  frail  petals  flutter  to 
the  ground.  How  much  joy  can  be  got  from 
poor  soils  when  one  knows  the  right  things 
to  plant ! 


THE    HORTICULTURAL,    HALL. 

It  is  with  no  desire  to  rush  the  horticultural 
hall  project  to  a  conclusion,  and  then  begin 
digging  a  new  garden,  that  we  ask  the  council 
whether  an  appeal  will  be  soon  issued  for 
funds  to  carry  out  the  scheme  decided  upon 
at  the  meeting  held  on  March  21  last.  We 
believe  in  the  old  adage  that  it  is  wise  to 
strike  while  the  iron's  hot,  and  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  moment  is  an  opportunity  to  take 
advantage  of  for  collecting  substantial  sub- 
scriptions, which  in  soberer  moments  are  given 
with  greater  deliberation.  There  is  probably 
a  good  reason  for  the  delay,  but  we  have  been 
asked  by  many  well-wishers  of  the  society 
whether  the  council,  after  the  trials  of  formu- 
lating the  scheme,  are  not  enjoying  a  sweet 
but  somewhat  dangerous  repose. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

Wow  that  flowers  will  shortly  be  in  plenty  we 
shall  be  glad  to  see  any  either  of  special  beauty, 
rarit}',  or  good  cultivation. 


From  Mr.  George  Paul  comes  a  superb  bunch  of 
bloom  of  his  new  seedling  Tea  Rose 

QtTEEN  or  Sweden  and  Norway, 
of  tenderest  flesh  white  deepening  to  the  centre. 
Mr.  Paul  says  it  has  a  particularly  fine  habit,  and 
is  very  free. 


We  receive  from  Mr.  Kingsmill  a  superb  bloom  of 
Narcissus  Dorothy  Kixgsmill 
(a  cross  of  triandrus  and  grandis  which  two  years 
ago  received  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
first-class  certificate),  an  even  more  beautiful 
flower  in  its  purity  of  colouring  and  stoutness  of 
perianth  than  Mnie.  de  Graaff. 


Narcissus  Bennett-Poe. 
Another  very  beautiful  bloom  of  the  same  class 
of  colouring  with  a  straight  trumpet  is  Narcissus 
Bennett-Poe.     From  Mr.  Kingsmill. 


Hovea  Celsi. 
'  I  am  sending  you  a  photograph  of  Hovea  Celsi, 


also  a  flower.  The  plant  is  growing  here  on  a  wall 
in  a  cool  conservatory  ;  it  is  apparently  rare,  as  we 
have  tried  to  get  it  from  all  the  leading  firms,  but . 
without  success.  It  has  Pea-like  flowers  of  a  deep 
blue  colour,  and  they  are  produced  very  freely  in 
March." — F.  Steadman,  Ntwark-on-Trent.  t?  :  ■'] 
A  beautiful  flower  of  an  intense  blue,  with  a  little 
white  at  the  base.  It  is  an  old  favourite  of  ours. 
The  photograph  was  unfortunately  too  indistinct 
to  get  a  good  result  from. 


From  the  garden  of  the  Rev.  Canon  Bernard  at ' 
Salisbury  come  flowers  of 

Iris  pumila 
of  a  very  fine  strong  purple  colour.  The  name  has 
been  confirmed  by  the  highest  authority,  and  this 
interesting  note  is  sent  by  Mr.  Bowerman,  the 
gardener  :  "  I  am  sending  for  the  Editors'  table 
blooms  of  Iris  pumila  (true),  which  is,  as  you  will 
see,  quite  distinct  from  the  Iris  pumila  usually 
grown.  The  plants  were  collected  by  a  friend  of 
the  Rev.  Canon  Warre  from  a  rock  on  the  Danube, 
where  they  were  said  to  form  a  brilliant  sheet  of 
colour.  Even  in  an  English  garden  the  abundance 
of  flower  completely  hiding  leaves  and  rhizome  is 
a'  very  marked  feature. " 


Cydonia  Maulei  seedlings  and  C.  Knaphill 
Scarlet. 
Mr.  Anthony  Waterer  sends  from  Knaphill  a 
delightful  bo.x  of  seedlings  of  C.  Maulei,  the  most 
interesting  series  we  have  seen,  beautiful  in  their 
varied  shades  of  scarlet,  orange-scarlet,  and  almost 
soft  apricot,  every  twig  crowded  with  blossom. 
We  can  commend  these  lovelj'  shrubs  for  the  garden 
at  this  season  and  at  other  seasons,  for  they, 
commence  to  bloom  very  early  in  the  south,  and  a 
scattered  succession  is  kept  up  until  the  autuni  ii. 
We  like  the  spreading  and  picturesque  look  of  this 
Quince.  A  group  on  the  lawn  is  a  picture  of 
colouring  and  spreading  growth.  C.  Knaphill 
Scarlet  is  now  well  known,  or  should  be,  as  it  is  the 
most  brilliant  of  its  race.  We  are  glad  to  be  again 
reminded  of  its  colouring  and  freedom.  This 
variety  of  Cydonia  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
shrubs  of  the  garden. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

May  3. — Meeting  of  the  Society  Frangaise, 
d'Horticulture  de  Londres. 

May  6. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet.  Drill '  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate. 
Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association,  Horticultural  Club,  6  p.m. 

May  7.  —  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society's  Spring  Show  at  Edinburgh  (two  days). 

May  8. — Reyal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund  Annual 
Dinner,  Hotel  Cecil,  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq., 
in  the  ehair. 

May  12. — Committee  Meeting  United  Horti- 
cultural Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 

May  20. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet.  Royal  National  Tulip  Society's 
Exhibition  (Southern  Section).  Both  at  Drill 
Hall,  Buckingham  Gate. 

May  21. — Ancient    Society    of    York    Florists 


282 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  3,  1902. 


Show.       Exhibition    of    the    Soci^t^    Nationals 

d'Horticulture  de  France  (six  days). 

I*  May    24. — Annual    Meeting    of     the    Linnean 

Society. 

^^May  27. — Annual  (General  Meeting  and  Dinner 

of   Members   of   the  Kew   Guild   at   the  Holborn 

Restaurant. 

May  28. — Temple  Show  of  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  (three  days).  Annual  Dinner  of  the 
Gardeners'  Roj'al  Benevolent  Institution  at  the 
Hotel  Metrojjole, 

Royal  Gapdeneps'  Opphan  Fund.— 

The  annual  dinner  of  this  institution  will  be  held 
on  Thursday  next,  at  C.30  for  7  p.m.,  at  the 
Hotel  Cecil.  The  chair  will  be  taken  b}'  Leopold 
de  Rothschild,  Esq. 

Ppimula  fpondosa,— This  pretty  little 
Primula  is  at  present  very  bright  on  a  ledge  in  the 
rock  garden  at  the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens. 
The  flowers  are  pink,  contrasting  well  with  the 
grey  foliage.  It  is  apparently  a  very  free  thing 
and  easi!3'  grown. — N.  15. 

Chpysanthemum    Illustpations.  — 

Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  The  Nurseries,  Exmouth, 
Devon,  has  sent  us  a  large  sheet  bearing  repro- 
ductions of  four  of  his  remarkably  fine  and  latest 
seedling  varieties  of  the  Chr3'santhemum.  By 
exhibitors  and  others  interested  these  illustra- 
tions will  be  welcomed  as  excellent  reproductions 
of  Mr.  Godfrey's  novelties,  although  those  who  had 
not  actxially  seen  the  flowers  might  be  disposed 
to  question  the  accuracy  of  the  size  and  colouring. 
That  these  are  not  exaggerated,  liowever,  all  who 
have  seen  the  original  blooms,  shown  by  Mr. 
Godfrey  for  the  first  time  last  season,  will  admit. 
The  varieties  illustrated  are  Godfrey's  Pride, 
Exmouth  Crimson,  Masterpiece,  and  Sensation. 

The  late  Mp.  Temple.— The  death  of 
Mr.  Mungo  Temple,  at  Carron  House,  Grange- 
mouth, removes  one  of  the  best  of  the  older 
Scottish  gardeners.  Mr.  Temple's  strong  point  was 
fruit-growing,  and  when  at  Mr.  Balfour's  place  at 
Balbinnie  in  the  sixties  he  adopted  the  sj'stem  of 
keeping  Lady  Downe's  Seedling  Grape  till  the 
succeeding  summer.  Samples  he  showed  at  London 
were,  I  believe,  awarded  by  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  a  medal,  which  he  declared  never 
reached  him.  For  a  few  years  he  had  cliarge  of 
the  Duke  of  Marlborough's  gardens  at  Blenheim, 
whence  he  went  to  Impney  Park,  Droitwicli, 
where  he  laid  out  the  gardens,  returning  to  Scot- 
land about  twenty  years  ago.  Mr.  Temple  was  a 
very  hard  worker,  and  up  to  a  late  date  wrote  a 
good  deal  in  gardening  periodicals.  He  also  lec- 
tured occasionally,  and  at  one  time  was  a  well 
known  judge.  Hardy  fruits  latterly  had  been  his 
hobbj',  and  the  last  paper  read  before  the  Scottish 
Horticultural  Association  was  one  by  Mr.  Temple 
on  "  Root  Management." — R.  B. 

Cactus  Dahlias. — I  saw  just  recentl}*,  in 
the  frames  of  a  well-known  grower  of  Cactus 
Dahlias,  some  500  to  fiOO  sturdy  seedlings  raised 
this  spring  of  this  Dahlia  section.  If  but  a  dozen 
other  raisers  have  so  many,  thus  running  into 
several  thousands,  it  will  be  no  matter  for  surprise 
if  quite  100  seedlings  at  least  be  presented  to 
various  bodies  for  awards  next  autumn,  as  to 
put  even  one-half  of  these  seedlings  into  commerce, 
supported  by  awards  of  merit  or  other  certificates, 
would  be  to  hoiiour  many  flowers  of  relatively 
inferior  merit.  Vi'e  have  been  far  too  liberal  in 
making  awards  to  them  as  it  is,  and  now  we  hear 
complaints  from  growers  as  to  lack  of  constitution 
and  difficulties  of  propagation.  If  in  relation  to 
constitution  it  is  not  possible  in  the  seedling  stage 
to  ofiFer  anj'  opinion,  at  least  the  requirements  as 
to  floral  quality  should  be  now  very  high,  and  only 
flowers  he  honoured  that  show  distiuctive  advance 
over  those  already  in  commerce.  I  fear  that  severe 
censorship  will  not  be  possible  so  long  as  raisers 
themselves  constitute  the  tribunal. — A.  D. 

Polyanthuses  at  Rowledg-e— What- 
ever maj'  be  the  estimate  formed  of  the  plants 
in  pots  which  Mr.  Mortimer,  of  Farnham,  showed 
at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  22nd  ult. ,  most  certainly  he 
has  a  beautiful  show  of  them  in  his  grounds  at  Row- 
ledge,  where  they  are  grown  by  thousands.  When 
I  saw  them  the  other  day,  bej'ond  seeing  the 
myriads  of  plants  in  bloom,  I  could  but  admire 


the  thousands  of  young  plants  raised  from  a  sowing 
made  in  shallow  boxes  last  August,  kept  in  cold 
frames  all  the  winter,  and  during  that  time 
dibbled  out  2  inches  apart  into  other  shallow 
boxes,  so  that  when  planted  out  towards  the  end 
of  March  the  seedlings  were  strong  plants  and 
well  rooted.  Such  plants,  now  well  established, 
will  develop  into  very  large  clumps  by  next  spring 
and  carry  fine  heads  of  bloom,  thus  making  a 
truly  splendid  show.  That  is  the  waj-  to  grow 
border  Polj'anthuses.  Were  autumn  sowings  of 
new  seed  generally  practised  and  early  spring 
planting,  border  Polyanthuses  would  soon  become 
the  most  popular  as  well  as  beautiful  of  all  early 
hardy  spring  flowers. — A.  D. 

The  New  Hoptieultupal  Hall.— Why 

do  not  the  council  rise  to  tlie  occasion,  at  once 
open  a  subscription  list,  and  publish  tlie  results 
weekly  ?  Mj'  impression  is  that  the}-  can  have  all 
the  requisite  money  if  they  will  only  set  about  it 
in  a  businesslike  way.  I  fully  expected  when  the 
resolution  was  passed  to  hear  that  the  metro- 
politan nurserymen,  who  are  about  the  only  people 
to  receive  any  substantial  good  from  the  society's 
meetings,  would  be  scrambling  over  each  other  in 
their  anxiety  to  get  in  first  with  their  big  cheques. 
Of  course  they  may  have  done  all  this,  so  far  not 
recorded.  Referring  to  published  letters,  I  think 
"Country  Parson''  has  not  so  much  grievance  as 
he  seems  to  think.  Countrj'  Fellows,  so  far  as  I 
know,  are  not  refused  any  voice  in  the  matter  ; 
they  all  knew,  and  are  at  perfect  liberty  to  sub- 
.seribe  according  to  their  means.  It  is  difficult  to 
see  how  3'our  correspondent,  being  unable  to  visit 
tlie  present  Drill  Hall,  situated  in  London,  would 
be  better  able  to  visit  a  new  garden  which  would 
probably  be  situated  thirty  or  forty  miles  farther 
off.  "  Lax  "  is  too  dilatory.  The  new  hall  scheme 
was  not  sprung  upon  anybodj'.  All  the  Fellows 
knew,  ancl  those  who  liad  an  axe  to  grind  or  an 
objection  to  raise  found  it  convenient  to  attend 
the  meeting.  I  can  scarcely  be  called  a  country 
Fellow,  being  well  outside  the  outer  fringe.  All 
the  same,  when  the  thing  is  fairly  started  I  will 
send  the  council  a  slip  of  paper  with  some  figures 
on  it. — T.  Smith,  Xen-ri/. 

HOPtiCUltUPal  Club.— Probably  the  vast 
majority  of  Fellows  of  the  society  are  unaware  of 
the  existence  of  the  Horticultural  Club,  and  yet 
it  is  a  very  pleasant  little  club,  and  does  a  vast 
amount  of  good  work  for  horticulture.  Sir  John 
Llewelyn,  Bart.,  is  the  kind  and  genial  president  ; 
Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.,  is  the  treasurer  ;  and  E.  T. 
Cook,  Esq.,  has  quite  recently  been  elected  secre- 
tary, in  the  place  of  that  veteran  octogenarian 
gardener,  the  Rev.  H.  H.  D'ombrain,  who  has 
acted  as  secretary  since  1865,  and  is  now  obliged 
to  retire  on  account  of  increasing  infirmities,  but 
who  carries  with  him  the  love  and  good  wishes  of 
every  member  of  the  club,  indeed  of  all  who  have 
ever  met  him.  The  subscription  to  the  club  is 
only  £1  Is.  a  year,  and  the  pleasant  house  dinners 
which  are  held  once  a  month  on  one  of  the  R.H.S. 
Tuesdays  form  delightful  little  reunions  of  a  small 
band  of  ardent  garden  lovers,  whose  one  wish  is 
that  others  would  come  in  and  enjoy  these  evenings 
as  much  as  thej'  themselves  do.  At  most  of  the 
house  dinners  a  short  paper  is  read  on  some  horti- 
cultural subject,  and  a  general  discussion  ensues, 
as  gentlemen  sit  over  their  nuts  and  port,  or  coffee 
and  cigars,  as  best  they  like.  All  is  very  informal, 
very  homely,  but,  as  Sir  John  said  recently,  "I 
have  spent  some  of  my  pleasantest  evenings  in 
London  at  this  club."  So  we  think  many  others 
would  find  it  if  they  would  but  join.  "  But  how 
can  we  join  ? "  Well,  write  to  E.  T.  Cook,  Esq. , 
care  of  R.H.S.,  117,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster, 
S.W.,  and  you  will  learn  how.  The  club,  too, 
serves  as  a  most  useful  adjunct  to  the  R.H.S.  For 
the  society  has  no  convenient  means  at  its  disposal 
for  offering  the  compliment  of  hospitality  to  any 
foreigner  of  horticultural  tendencies  who  visits  our 
not  too  hospitable  shores,  and  this  defect  the  club 
supplies,  for  if  any  foreigner  of  any  distinction  in 
the  gardening  world  visits  the  R.H.S.  at  any  time, 
the  club  is  always  ready  and  willing  to  sffer 
hospitality  and  give  a  heart}'  welcome.  At  present 
the  club  barely  numbers  100  members,  all  told  ; 
we  should  indeed  be  pleased  if  100  more  who  read 


this  very  commonplace  note  would  at  once  enrol 
themselves. — From  "Journal  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,"  April,  1902. 
Bignonia    t'weediana.  —  Among    the 

more  uncommon  plants  shown  at  the  Royal  Hor- 
ticultural Society's  meeting  on  the  8th  ult.  was 
this  Bignonia,  which  Mr.  Lynch  had  sent  up  from 
Cambridge.  It  is  well  worthy  of  a  place  among 
the  most  select  members  of  this  extensive  family, 
but  is  very  rarely  seen,  though  introduced  from 
South  America  over  sixty  years  ago.  Of  less 
vigorous  growth  than  many  of  its  allies,  it  may  be 
successfully  grown  within  a  more  limited  space 
than  most  of  them.  A  considerable  amount  of 
sunshine,  in  order  to  thoroughly  ripen  the  wood, 
is  essential  towards  the  successful  flowering  of 
most  Bignonias,  and  this  is  no  exception  to  the 
rule.  It  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage  when  the 
principal  branches  are  secured  to  a  rafter  in  an 
intermediate  house  or  in  a  similar  position  and  the 
slender  shoots  allowed  to  depend  therefrom  in 
their  naturally  pretty  and  graceful  manner.  Con- 
sidering that  they  are  so  thin,  the  size  of  the 
blossoms  which  they  produce  is  very  remarkable, 
while  the  golden-orange  tint  of  the  flower  is  also 
very  striking.  Like  all  the  other  members  of  the 
genus  the  flowers  of  this  are  somewhat  trumpet- 
shaped,  the  expanded  mouth  being  often  3  inches 
or  even  more  across. — T. 

BOPdeP  AuPieulaS.— The  season  has  so 
far  influenced  the  liardy  border  Auriculas  that 
they  are  this  spring  coming  into  bloom  simul- 
taneously with  the  Polyanthuses,  which  are  rather 
late.  They  are  more  May  than  April  flowers. 
However,  they  are  always  welcome  in  the  spring, 
and  because  of  their  beauty  can  hardly  flower  too 
early.  I  have  recently  been  looking  over  several 
diverse  quantities  of  these  plants,  ajid  regret  to 
find  how  very  indifferent  for  the  purposes  of 
garden  decoration  many  of  them  are.  Either  they 
have  weak,  lop-sided  stems  or  the  flowers  are  of 
poor  quality  or  deficient  in  pleasing  colours.  In 
one  ot  our  popular  public  gardens,  where  many 
Auriculas  are  grown,  the  flowers  are  generally 
verj'  dark,  some  almost  black.  It  need  hardly 
be  said  that  such  flowers  furnish  no  elements  of 
beaut}'.  One  of  the  things  which  some  florist 
amateur  might  undertake  is  the  creation  of  a 
really  fine  bedding  or  border  strain  of  Auriculas. 
It  need  not  be  necessarily  a  long  process.  A  great 
deal  could  be  accomplished  in  ten  years,  and  that 
is  not  so  much  in  the  lifetime  of  a  youngish  man. 
Auriculas  seed  freely,  and  if  seed  be  sown  in  pans 
or  shallow  boxes  very  soon  after  it  is  ripe  growth 
is  quicker  and  more  general.  It  is  but  needful  to 
keep  the  seedlings,  which  are  necessarily  small, 
in  a  cold  liouse  or  frame  for  the  winter.  Then,  in 
May,  they  are  strong  enough  to  dibble  out  into 
good  fine  soil  outdoors,  where  occasionally  water 
if  needful,  and  for  a  week  or  two  shaded,  they 
soon  become  established  and  grow  into  strong 
plants  for  the  border  by  September.  Under  such 
conditions  all  should  flower  well  the  following 
spring,  and  a  few  of  the  very  best  being  marked, 
seed  could  be  saved  and  sown  as  before.  Were 
that  process  of  selection  and  raising  conducted 
with  care  and  judgment  some  five  or  six  times, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  great  improvement 
in  the  desired  direction  would  be  secured.  The 
desired  features  in  a  good  strain  are  fair  robust- 
ness in  all  the  plants,  stout  erect  stems,  bold 
trusses  of  bloom,  good-sized,  flattish-round  pips, 
and  effective  colours  in  them.  We  have  in 
Auriculas  far  too  many  dark  or  heavy  hues,  and 
very  many  more  that  are  exceedingly  washy  or 
ineffective.  No  one  of  such  should  be  bred  from. 
It  may  even  be  desirable  to  lift  good  seedlings  and 
plant  them  where  quite  isolated  from  the  rest, 
with  the  exception  of  others  specially  found 
desirable.  When  good  form,  substance,  and 
colours  had  been  secured,  it  may  then  be  possible 
to  get  definite  colours  separate,  as  there  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  clumps  of  plants,  say  seven  or  nine 
in  borders,  would  be  far  more  effective  than  single 
plants  can  be.  It  is  much  to  the  ciedit  of  border 
Auriculas  that  not  only  are  they  so  hardy,  but 
when  fair-sized  clumps  they  can  be  lifted,  divided, 
and  replanted,  and  thus  good  defined  varieties 
would  become  plentiful. — A.  D. 


May  3,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


•283 


Flowers    In    Park     Lane,    Hyde 

PaplC. — The  recent  cold  weather  has  somewhat 
retarded  flower  expansion  in  this  park,  always 
interesting  and  instructive  in  spring  time,  but 
some  of  the  beds  are  well  forward,  and  recent 
notes  of  these  may  prove  of  practical  interest. 
in  what  may  be  called  self  beds,  viz.,  those  devoted 
to  one  colour,  amongst  Hyacinihs  may  well  be 
mentioned  Grand  Maitre,  deep  porcelain-blue, 
extra  large,  and  three  good  blues  in  Regulus, 
Orondf.  tes,  and  La  Peyroneuse.  Whites ;  Blanchard, 
pure  white,  early.  La  Grandesse,  also  a  pure  white, 
extra  large  flower.  Charles  Dickens  is  a  splendid 
rose  flower,  iarge  truss,  and  Robert  Steiger  is  a 
fine  red  and  of  extra  quality.  There  are  also  some 
good  mixtures.  The  national  colours  are  well 
represented  in  one  particularly  good  and  effective 
bed — Leonidas,  light  blue,  extra  large  truss  ;  La 
Franchise,  pure  white,  large  bells  ;  and  Queen  of 
Hyacinths,  brilliant  red.  Other  noteworthy  beds 
are  Baroness  Van  Thuyll,  pure  white  ;  Leopold  II., 
deep  porcelain-blue ;  Lord  Macaulay,  splendid 
carmine,  large  truss  ;  and  Narcissus  Sir  Watkin, 
with  its  rich  sulphur  perianth.  Hyacinth  La 
France,  white  ;  Marie,  dark  purple-blue,  immense 
spike ;  and  Von  Schiller,  red,  is  another  good 
combination.  A  very  pleasing  Joed  is  composed  of 
La  Grandesse,  white  ;  Marie,  blue  ;  and  a  band  of 
Orondates,  blue,  in  fine  condition.  An  attractive 
bed  is  that  composed  of  La  Franchise,  white  ; 
Leopold  II.,  blue;  and  Jonquil  Campernelle,  and 
the  same  remark  well  applies  to  Queen  of 
Hyacinths,  brilliant  crimson  -  carmine  ;  Charles 
Dickens,  blue ;  and  the  very  deep  yellow  and 
handsome  Narcissus  maximus.  Hyacinth  alba 
superbissima,  pure  white,  large,  and  ihe  fine  and 
well-known  Narcissus  prinoeps,  with  a  band  of 
Hyacinth  Robert  Steiger,  red,  is  a  mixture  that  at 


once  attracts  attention.  A  good  bed  is  that 
planted  with  Hyacinth  Lord  Macaulay,  red,  and 
the  Campernelle  Jonquil  with  a  band  of  Hyacinth 
Baroness  Von  Thuyll,  Hyacinth  gigantea,  delicate 
pale  rose,  fine  spike  ;  Marie,  blue  ;  and  Narcissus 
Sir  Watkin  was  a  fine  bed.  Narcissus  prinoeps 
with  a  carpet  of  Grape  Hyacinth  (Musoari 
botryoides),  with  its  lovely  deep  sky-blue  flowers 
made  a  charming  combination.  A  bed  of  Jonquils 
carpeted  with  the  beautiful  little  blue  Scilla 
sibirica  looked  most  efiisctive,  as  did  .Jonquils 
carpeted  with  Chionodoxa  Lucilia;  and  Muscari 
botryoides.  A  large  round  bed  presented  an 
attractive  appearance  planted  as  follows  : — Centre, 
Hyacinth  Baroness  Von  Thuyll,  white  ;  four  rows 
around  of  Robert  Steiger,  red  ;  and  four  rows  of 
Grand  Maitre,  blue.  Narcissus  maximus  carpeted 
with  Scilla  sibirica  made  an  efl'eclive  bit  of  colour. 
A  brave  show  is  made  in  a  border  just  to  the 
west  of  the  iSIarble  Arch  planted  with  Hyacinths, 
Narcissi,  and  Tulips  in  large  panels. — Quo. 


AGAVE   AMiiKlCANA  IN  THE   GARDEN   I  T  MR.'  LEWIS 
CLIFTON,    BKISTOL. 


AGAVE     AMERICANA. 

The  old  notion  that  the  Giant  Agave,  or 
American  Aloe,  as  this  plant  is  popularly'but 
erroneously  called,  flowered  but  once  in  a 
hundred  years  is  still  believed  in  by  some 
people,  who  when  told  that  it  is  a  myth  appear 
quite  disappointed,  and  their  interest  in  the 
plant  is  gone.  To  the  enthusiastic  gardener, 
however,^  the  plant  can  never  be  without 
interest,  its  noble  appearance,  large,  fleshy,  and 
bold  foliage,  and,  when  it  flowers,  its  'tall, 
stately  inflorescence,  terminated  with  hundreds 
of  small  tubular  flowers,  stamp  it  as  one  of 
the  most  distinct 
plants  in  the  garden. 
The  legend  about  the 
period  of  flowering 
arose  no  doubt 
through  the  fact  that 
the  plant  flowers  but 
once,  then  dies,  and 
that  it  takes  many 
years  to  gain  sufficient 
strength  to  produce 
its  great  inflorescence. 
No  particular  age  can 
be  given  as  the  most 
likely  one  for  plants 
to  flower,  everything 
depending  on  the  con- 
ditions under  which 
they  are  grown.  In- 
stances have  arisen 
of  plants  flowering 
when  little  more  than 
twenty  years  of  age, 
whilst  others  quite 
double  the  age  show 
no  sign  of  flowering 
The  species  is  figured 
in  the  Botanical 
Magazine  t.  3654,  and 
the  folio  wing  interest- 
ing particulars  are 
given  of  a  plant  which 
grew  and  flowered  in 
a  Devonshire  garden. 
It  was  grown  in  the 
open  ground  in  the 
garden  of  ilr.  James 
Yates  at  Woodville, 
near  Salcombe, 
Devon.  Itwas  planted 
in  1804,  being  then 
two  or  three  years  old 
and  6  inches  high. 
The  position  given 
was  close  to  the  sea 
TRY,  ooLDNAY  HOUSE,  shorc  and  40  feet  or 
50  feet  above   water 


level.  It  never  had  cover,  shelter,  manure,  or 
special  cultivation.  In  1812  it  was  5  feet  high, 
and  grew  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  daily.  In 
1820  it  measured  between  10  feet  and  11  feet 
in  height,  and  covered  a  space  with  a  diameter 
of  16  feet,  the  bases  of  the  leaves  being  9  inches 
thick. 

In  June  of  that  year  the  flower -stem 
appeared.  For  the  first  six  weeks  it  grew 
3  inches  daily,  afterwards  growing  more  slowly. 
The  first  flowers  opened  on  September  3,  others 
continuing  to  expand  until  December.  The 
total  height  of  the  inflorescence  was  27  feet.  It 
bore  40  flower  bunches,  which  bore  collectively 
about  16,000  yellow-green  flowers.  A  good 
idea  of  the  stately  appearance  of  the  plant  may 
be  gathered  from  this  and  the  accompanying 
illustration.  At  Kew  there  are  a  number  of 
very  large  plants  of  the  type  and  variegated 
varietie.s,  and  at  intervals  of  a  few  years  flowers 
are  to  be  seen.  W.  Dallimore. 


THE     FLOWER    GARDEN. 

THE     PROPAGATION    OF 
PERENNIALS 

PROPAGATION  of  perennials  from  seed, 
at  any  rate  on  an  extensive  scale,  has 
only  recently  been  adopted  in  the 
majority  of  private  gardens,  but  now 
that  really  first-class  things  are  secured 
in  this  way  when  seed  is  obtained  from 
those  firms  who  make  a  speciality  of  hardy  flowers, 
it  may  safely  be  recommended  as  an  easy  and 
interesting  process.  If  good  plants  are  wanted  for 
next  autumn  seed  should  be  sown  at  once.  My 
friend  Mr.  William  Barr  always  recommends 
sowing  in  boxes,  but  where  large  quantities  of 
each  species  or  variety  are  not  required  I  prefer 
some  low  two  or  three-light  frames  resting  on  an 
ash  bottom  ;  the  plants  have  more  scope  here,  and 
do  not  dry  out  so  quickly  if  transplanting  cannot 
be  promptly  attended  to;  indeed,  if  sufficient  room 
is  available,  the  plants  may  be  thinned  out  in  the 
drills,  and  those  that  remain  can  stand  until  they 
can  be  shifted  to  permanent  quarters.  If  they  show 
signs  of  deterioration  before  this  can  be  eftected 
they  can  receive  some  doses  of  liquid  manure  in  a 
weak  form.  Old  potting  soil  that  has  been  sifted 
forms  an  excellent  compost  for  seed  sowing ;  if  a 
little  on  the  stift'  side  tine  leaf-soil  and  a  dash  of 
road  sand  can  be  added.  If  any  seeds  sown  are  very 
small  it  will  be  advisable  to  sprinkle  a  little  sand 
along  the  drills  instead  of  filling  these  in.  The 
question  of  selection  of  different  species  and 
varieties  is  a  matter  for  individual  requirements  ; 
it  is,  however,  a  tolerably  safe  rule  to  go  in  for 
those  things  that  are  alike  gay  on  the  border  and 
useful  in  a  cut  state.  E.  Bdrrell. 


PELARGONIUM  F.  V.  RASPAIL  FOR 

BEDS. 
The  above  Pelargonium  has  long  been  appreciated 
at  its  true  value  for  pot  work,  and  it  holds  its  own 
among  sorts  of  recent  introduction,  whether  in  the 
doubles  or  semi-doubles,  but  it  is  not  often  seen 
out  of  doors.  Here,  however,  it  is  quite  at  its 
best,  and  having  tried  it  one  season  I  have  since 
always  set  apart  two  large  beds  on  turf  for  its 
summer  quarters.  It  is  not  advisable  to  manure 
the  beds  wiiere  it  is  to  be  planted,  as,  under  such 
conditions,  growth  is  very  strong  and  bloom 
proportionately  scarce,  but  if  the  natural  soil  is  on 
the  light  side  some  6  inches  of  it  may  be  removed 
and  a  similar  quantity  substituted  from  a  heap  of 
rather  stiff  road  sidings.  The  result  will  be  short, 
stocky  growth,  an  abundance  of  flower,  and  good 
trusses  that  are  thrown  well  above  the  foliage.  On 
the  occasions—and  they  are  not  infrequent — when 
scarlet  flowers  are  in  request  for  ordinary  vase 
work  or  table  decoration  a  gathering  of  the 
largest  and  brightest  trusses  will  be  very  acceptable. 
I  may  add   tliat  the  cultural  note  in   connexion 


•28 -t 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  3,  1902. 


vigorous  habit.  An  occasional  dot  plant  is  ad 
visable  to  relieve  the  somewhat  flat  appearance  of 
the  beds,  and  after  trying  variegated  Abutilon, 
Eucalyptus  citriodora  and  Gypsophila  I  should 
pronounce  for  the  last-named.  Small  clumps  are 
sufficient,  and  one  stem  only  should  be  allowed  on 
each  ;  these  should  be  lightly  staked  so  that  the 
spreading  panicles  are  well  above  the  foliage  of  the 
Pelargoniums.     The  trusses  of  the  latter  mingling 


appeared  covered  from  the  very  base  with  beauti 
fully  golden  mottled  leaves.  A  few-  shoots  had 
green  leaves  at  first,  but  there  soon  appeared  a 
leaf  with  symptoms  of  the  variegation,  which 
rapidl3'  increased,  and  in  most  instances  reached 
its  full  intensity  after  the  fourth  or  fifth  leaf. 

The  largest  and  most  perfect  plant  has  twelve 
shoots,  some  of  which  are  nearly  5  feet  high. 
Eight  shoots  showed  coloured  leaves  either  at  once 


give  a  very  pleasing  effect. 
C/arniionl. 


E.  BORRELL. 


with  the  light  feathery  growth  of  the  perennial    or  after  a   few  preceding  green   leaves.     On  four 

shoots,  all  standing  closely  together,  there  are  no 
signs  of  variegation  visible  as  yet,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  that  in  the  end  all  the  shoots  will  become 
equally  and  entirelj'  impregnated,  and  that  the 
plants  will  become  coloured  and  remain  so.  In 
most  cases  variegated  plants  do  not  grow  so  tall 
as  green  ones.  Although,  according  to  the  measure- 
ents  given,  the  coloured  plants  have  not  quite 


KITAIBELIA  VITIFOLIA  (WILLD.) 
WITH  GOLDEN -YELLOW  VARIE- 
GATED LEAVES. 

In  September,  189(5,  I  showed  and  described  some 

grafting  experiments  I  had  made  between  some  of    reached  the  height  of  the  green  ones,  nor  are  the 

the  Malvacea?  and  Solanacea;.     These  descriptions    coloured   leaves  so   broad   as   the   green,    yet   ^^  " 


with  the  beds  is  applicable  to  all  Pelargoniums  of   To  my  joy  this  spring  most  of  the  young  shoots  '  the    above     heading,    yet    these    have    many 
■    ■■        ■  .,,...••.  ,  1  f        ^.  1        _.;^,_  1       .;   ^({,j^i,.gj.g     Some  like  them   lieeause  they  are 

freely  branched  and  clusters  of  flowers  can  be 
cut  with  long  stems.  Others  like  their  starlike 
or  informal  Howers,  while  some  like  them 
because  tall  they  associate  in  a  pleasing  way 
with  other  plants.  Still,  one  has  but  to  see 
the  truly  superb  show  made  by  the  fine  florist's 
strain  at  Woodside,  Farnham  Royal,  Bucks, 
just  now  to  be  satisfied  as  to  the  great  diver- 
gence which  exists  between  the  two  strains, 
and  tlie  capacity  of  the  florist's  section  to  pro- 
duce very  striking  and  indeed  brilliant  effects. 
Mr.  James,  who  is  a  first-class  cultivator  of  the 
Cineraria,  grows  both  types,  but  keeps  them 
very  wide  apart.  Still,  they  afiord  an  oppor- 
tunity for  visitors  to  compare  one  with  the 
other.  The  florist's  section  is  represented  by 
over  3,U00  plants,  iirobably  the  largest  collec- 
tion in  the  kingdom.  All  are  in  7-inch  pots, 
finely  grown,  very  dwarf  and  sturdy,  and 
carrying  large  heads  of  bloom.  Few  plants 
seem  to  exceed  12  inches  in  height.  This  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  they  are  potted 
firmly,  are  kept  very  cool,  get  plenty  of  air, 
and  the  show  houses  in  which  they  grow  are 
low  and  very  light.  Possibly  another  reason 
is  that  seed  is  not  sown  until  July,  a  time 
when  gardeners  who  like  to  have  Cinerarias 
blooming  in  the  winter  usually  have  their 
plants  in  .5-ineh  pots  and  in  cold  frames.  At 
Farnham  R  lyal  the  plants  are  grown  si)ecially 
for  seed  production,  hence  it  is  be^t  to  have 
them  blooming  in  April.  At  that  time  also, 
the  houses  being  well  thrown  open,  bees  enter 
freely  and  render  useful  service  in  fertilising 
the  flowers.    As  the  plants  open  their  flowers, 


were  subsequently  published  in  the  tiarl  in  flora 
By  uniting  them  with  the  variegated  Abutilon 
Thompsoni  I  had  produced  variegated  plants  of 
Althfea  officinalis  L.  (the  Marsh  Mallow)  and  of 
Kitaibelia.  The  following  questions  arose  :  Will 
variegated  branches  of  Althaea  and   Kitaibelia,  if 


the 
former  look  healthy  and  vigorous — imposing  plants 
with  golden  glittering  foliage.  It  is  pleasant  to 
notice  that  the  coloured  plants  very  nearly  come 
up  to  the  green  ones  as  to  size,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  they  will  equal  them  by  next  year.  I  con- 
sider the  nevi  coloured  Kitaibelia  a  valuable  and 


cut  and  separated  from  the  influence  of  the  Abutilon    handsome  variegated  plant,  a  shrub  in  appearance. 


anc  then  planted  as  cuttings  and  made  indepen 
dent,  remain  coloured  ;  in  the  first  place  during 
summer,  and  further,  will  they,  after  the  winter's 
rest  in  their  leafless  condition,  produce  coloured 
.shoots  in  the  following  spring '.'  In  other  words. 
Can  one  produce  perennial  variegated  plants  by 
the  influence  of  the  scion?  Are  the  roots  or  the 
winter  shoots  likely  to  retain  variegation,  even 
after  the  loss  of  the  original  foliage  t  Last  year  I 
made  cuttings  from  branches  of  Althaea  which  had 
the}'  retained  the  colouring 


and  fit  for  many  garden  uses.  No  coloured  leaved 
Abutilon  equals  it  in  rapidity  of  growth,  beauty 
and  size  of  leaves,  or  intensity  of  colouring. 
Abutilon  recjuires  wintering  in  the  greenhouse,  or 
new  plants  must  be  produced  by  cuttings  every 
year  ;  Kitaibelia,  on  the  contrary,  lives  in  the  open 
the  winter  through,  comes  up  early  in  spri'ug,  and 
attiiins  a  considerable  height  in  a  very  short  time. 
The  more  exposed  to  the  sun  this  plant  is  the 
more  perfect  will  be  the  leaf-colouring.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  see  if  coloured  plants  produced 
mature  seed  and  if  this  will  give  coloured  seed- 


acquired  variegation 

throughout  the  summer.     Four  of  them  I  planted 

in   the   garden  and   they    have    made    handsome   lings.     It  is  easy  to  grow  Kitaibelia  from  cuttings,    they  are   got   into   blocks  of  colour,    whether 

plants,   but  so  far  they   have  green   leaves   only 

With  regard   to  Marsh  Mallow,  even  if  a   varie 

gated  form   were  obtained,  the  plant  is  not  good  !  following  year. 

enough    to   render    it   available    for    garden    use.  I  ______^_^_^_ 

Kitaibelia,  on  the  contrary,  is  a  showj-  and  beautiful  

plant,  6  feet   to  III  feet  high,  with   large  leaves       "pHK     FLORIST'S 

as   much   as    lU   inches    across,    and   large   white  .      ,     ,       ,  •  .  ,       i     ,    ,        ,       , 

blossoms  partly  hidden.    The  first  flowers  generally  ;  WHILE  it  is  not  possible  to  include  the  newer  !  from  the  dark  hued   plants 


which  should  be  planted  out  in  July  or  August. 
In  this    way  they   will   be   strong  plants   in    the 
-H.  LiNDEMUTU,  in  Oarttii flora. 


CINERARIA. 


they  be  edged  or  self  flowers.  That  is  not, 
however,  a  dittioult  matter,  as  seed  is  .sown 
in  colours,  and  the  reproductive  powers  of 
each  hue  is  very  marked.  The  pure 
whites,  of  which  there  are  several  hundreds, 
are  bloomed  in   a   house   somewhat   i-emoved 

These  all   have 


remain  imperfect  :  they  wither  and  do  not  unfold  i  starry  or   stellata   section  of  Cineraria  under    great 
even  when  nearly  full  grown.   But  in  mid- 
summer, when  the  plants  have  attained 
their  full  vitality,  the  buds  open  fully  and 
produce  a  certain  amount  of  ripe  seed. 

Last  summer  I  planted  in  the  garden 
six  plants  from  cuttings  of  Kitaibelia, 
which  had  become  coloured  through  the 
influence  of  Abutilon  Thompsoni.  One 
of  them  I  potted  in  autumn,  and  put  it 
into  the  greenhouse  in  winter.  The 
main  part  above  the  soil  died,  leaving 
only  a  few  small  shoots  with  puny  leaves, 
which,  however,  kept  alive  through  the 
whole  winter.  In  spring  eight  vigorous 
shoots  sprang  up,  closely  covered  right 
up  from  the  base  with  mottled  leaves, 
varying  in  colour  from  whitish  yellow 
to  golden-yellow.  The  longest  shoots 
measure  nearly  4  feet,  with  the  largest 
leaves  (i  inches  across. 

Even  in  the  open  air  Kitaibelia  does 
not  die  down  as  completely  as  Althiea, 
which  forms  round  the  main  root  large 
perennial  crowns,  surrounded  by  scale- 
like lower  leaves  and  petioles  with 
reduced  blades.  Kitaibelia  always  has 
very  small  leaves  at  the  base,  but  no 
such  clearly  marked  winter  crowns  as 
Altha-a.  These  small  leaves  are  probably 
better  carriers  of  the  variegation  than 
the  perennial  growths  of  Alth;ea.  The 
potted  plant  proved  that  Kitaibelia  was 
coloured  by  the  influence  of  Abutilon 
Thompsoni,  retaining  its  colour  whilst 
growing  in  the  pot.  Of  course,  the  pot 
plants  are  weaker  and  smaller  in  all 
their  parts  than  the  green  ones  growing 
in  the  garden.  Five  plants  with  varie- 
galel  le.ivcshad  reniaiucd  in  the  open  air. 


purity    of    colour.      Self    dark    hues' 


TUE  i;R.\CEFfl.   ST.IIIRV   cINEKARI.AS   AT   FAliKUAM    ROYAL. 


May  3,  1902. 


THE  GARDEN. 


285 


fill  one  long  house,  beginning  with 
brilliant  blues,  varying  in  tint,  but 
many  glorious  shades,  and  all  very 
tine.'  Then  come  the  purples  or  heavy 
blues,  followed  by  the  crimson  and 
heavy  reds,  a  really  splendid  section 
giving  a  glow  of  colour  in  the  sunlight 
that  it  is  difficult  to  describe.  Magentas 
follow,  some  of  these  showing  rose  or 
deep  carmine  tints.  Then  in  the 
next  house  are  the  rose  edges,  followed 
by  a  huge  breadth  of  crimson  edges, 
then  purple  edges,  and  finally  blue 
edges.  These  edged  or  margined 
riowcrs  are  perhaps  the  most  attrac- 
tive, as  the  white  circles  round  the 
eye  give  life  and  brightness.  Many 
of  the  blooms,  whilst  of  fine  form, 
are  of  great  size  ;  indeed,  the  dimen- 
sions generally  are  large  enough  to 
satisfy  anyone.  The  entire  collection 
makes  a  glorious  show,  and  one  that 
once  seen  cannot  soon  be  forgotten. 
Woodside  is  close  to  the  famous 
Burnham  Beeches. 


THE  UNHEATED  GREEN- 
HOUSE. 

X. — Some  Hard-wouded  Plants. 
It  is  so  generally  recognised  that  hard- 
wooded  plants  are  more  difficult  to  grow 
than  those  that  are  called,  by  way  of 
distinction,  soft-wooded,  of  which  Pelargoniums 
may  be  taken  as  a  t3'pe,  that,  with  a  few 
notable  exceptions,  they  have  well  -  nigh  dis- 
appeared from  our  greenhouses.  They  are 
slow-growing,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  under 
proper  treatment  they  are  long  lasting,  for  one 
diffeience  between  the  two  classes  is  this,  that 
while  soft-wooded  plants  seldom  flower  well  when 
they  are  old  and  have  therefore  to  be  constantly 
renewed,  the  others,  well  gro%vn,  flower  better  and 
better  in  their  age  than  in  their  immature  youth. 
Probably  many  old  gardeners  can  well  remember 
some  enormous  specimens  of  the  yellow-flowered 
Heath,  Erica  Cavendishi,  of  Hederoma  tulipifera, 
studded  all  over  with  waxy  pink  and  white  bells, 
of  Aphelexis  macrantha,  a  sort  of  pink  everlasting 
from  New  Holland,  and  others,  all  typical  hard- 
wooded  plants  and  the  pride  of  their  grower's 
heart,  which  used  to  travel  to  town  from  Staff'ord- 
shire  in  their  own  comfortable  van,  year  after 
j-ear,  to  win  their  annual  prizes  at  the  metropolitan 
shows.  Splendid  examples  they  were,  of  which 
the  like  are  seldom  seen  now,  and,  though  we  may 
not  wish  to  own  such  leviathans  of  their  race,  yet 
it  would  be  a  great  pity  to  let  such  fine  things  be 
forgotten. 

Perhaps  when  we  remember  that  Azaleas  and 
Camellias  may  both  be  included  in  the  ranks  of 
hard-wooded  plants,  the  cultivation  of  which 
most  possessors  of  a  greenhouse  have  attempted, 
an  effort  to  grow  others  niaj'  not  appear  cjuile  so 
formidable.  At  any  rate,  some  of  them  are  so 
well  adapted  to  the  cold  greenhouse  that  thej'  are 
worth  any  pains  that  can  be  taken  with  them.  To 
begin  with,  the  well-known  Azalea  indica,  which 
always  suggests  a  hut  house,  is  by  no  means  greatly 
addicted  to  heat.  Large  bushes  in  perfect  health 
and  flowering  freely  may  be  found  growing  in  the 
open  air  in  many  parts  of  the  country  ;  yet  they 
must  be  set  down — with  most  of  the  other  plants 
which  come  under  this  heading — as  belonging  to 
the  half-hardy  class  that  are  grateful  for  protection 
from  actual  frost,  chiefly  because  their  fragile 
flowers  are  easily  spoilt  by  bad  weather,  and  for 
the  greenhouse  we  want  flowers  before  their  due 
season.  To  induce  them,  therefore,  to  open  their 
buds  during  winter  or  spring,  as  the  case  may  be, 
they  must  be  specially  treated.  Azaleas  set  their 
flowers  so  early  in  the  autumn  that  we  can  safely 
predict  the  amount  of  flower  to  be  expected  from 
them.  This  process  once  accomplished,  for  which 
it  is  necessary  that  the  wood  be  well  ripened  in  the 
open  air  dining  the  summer,  it  is  mainlj'  a  question 


THK    DWARF  LARGf-FI.OWERED   CINERARIAS  AT   FARNHAM   ROYAL. 


of  bringing  the  plants  into  snugger  quarters,  earlier 
or  later,  according  to  the  time  they  will  be 
required.  The  semi-double  Deutsche  Perle,  though 
not  so  elegant  as  the  single  white  varieties,  of 
which  several  are  good,  has  one  excellent  qualitj' — 
its  flowers  do  not  drop  so  readilj'.  They  also 
possess  great  substance,  which  gives  a  peculiar 
waxy  look  to  the  petals,  and  it  may  be  recom- 
mended as  a  desirable  sort.  The  colours  of 
A.  indica  range  from  a  deep  brick  scarlet  through 
pink  to  purest  white,  differing  entirely  from  the 
more  modern  race  of  A.  mollis,  who.se  leafless 
branches  bear  clusters  of  large  wide-open  flowers 
of  manj'  tints,  from  pale  sulphur  to  bright 
salmon  -  red.  These,  perhaps,  have  not  the 
refinement  of  the  older  Ghent  hybrids,  which 
represent  again  another  section,  but  both  are 
very  beautiful  and  valuable  for  the  cold  green- 
house on  account  of  the  small  sized  pots  in 
which  they  can  be  grown,  as  well  as  for  the  showy 
character  of  their  flowera.  Camellias  come  under 
the  same  head,  and,  when  in  pots,  require  much 
the  same  treatment.  Though  in  reality  hardier  than 
the  common  Laurel,  they  are  usually  reckoned 
as  greenhouse  plants,  probably  for  the  same 
rea.son  that  their  early  flowers  do  not  stand  either 
frost  or  wet.  They  succeed  best,  undoubtedly, 
where  they  can  be  planted  out  under  glass,  for  which 
their  evergreen  habit  peculiarly  fits  them,  as  they 
are  never  unsightl}'.  The  single  an  1  semi-double 
kinds  are  by  far  the  most  interesting  as  well  as 
ornamental,  and  there  is  a  charming  little  white 
species  (C.  Sasanqua  alba)  which  is  well  worth 
growing.  The  only  difficulty  with  Camellias  in 
pots  or  tubs  is  their  trick  of  dropping  their  flower- 
buds,  which  generally  happens  when  they  are 
brought  under  glass  from  their  summer  quarters. 
After  they  have  made  their  new  leaves — not  before 
— they  should  be  plunged  out  of  doors  in  a  semi- 
shaded  position,  which  in  their  case  is  better  than 
full  exposure  to  the  summer  sun,  and  they  must 
be  carefully  attended  to  with  regard  to  watering. 
When  it  is  time  to  take  them  in,  about  October  1, 
a  gradual  transition  from  open  air  to  frame,  and 
from  frame  to  greenhouse,  will  generally  overcome 
the  dropping  tendency. 

It  is  perhaps  a  little  difficult  to  define  the  exact 
limits  of  a  hard-wooded  plant,  but,  speaking 
generally,  it  is  one  with  woody  stem  and  somewhat 
wiry  branches,  and  with  fine  hair-like  roots,  which 
delight  in  a  fibrous,  peaty  soil  mixed  with  sand. 
Of  such  plants  a  Cape  Heath,  or  for  that  matter 
our  common  Heather,  may  be  taken  as  a  type.  Thei'e 


are  a  good  man}'  .shrubby  subjects  which  may  be  said 
to  take  an  intermediate  place,  the  successful  manage- 
ment of  which  may  lead  up  to  the  more  difficult  New 
Holland  and  Cape  plants.  Amongst  these  easier 
plants  to  grow,  which  are  content  with  good  loam 
instead  of  peat,  may  be  welcomed  the  Shrubby 
Mimulus  (Uiplacus  glutinosus)  with  pretty  salmon- 
buff  blossoms  of  the  Monke3'-flower  type,  of  which 
there  is  also  a  noteworthy  crimson-red  variety. 
One  of  the  daintiest  of  the  Calceolarias  (C.  violacea) 
may  also  for  convenience  sake  be  placed  in  this 
section.  It  may  be  grown  out  of  doors  ;  in  fact, 
in  a  Dorsetshire  garden  under  the  shelter  of  a  wall 
it  grew  into  a  good  sized  bush,  2  feet  at  least  in 
height,  and  flowered  abundantly  every  season 
until  an  unusuall}'  severe  winter  killed  it.  Neitlier 
its  foliage  nor  habit  nor  its  pale  mauve  helmet- 
shaped  flowers  are  the  least  suggestive  of  any 
ordinary  form  of  Calceolaria,  and  it  is  always 
noticeable  in  a  greenhouse  as  it  is  by  no  means  well 
known.  Hypericum  chinense  is  another  twiggj', 
low-growing  shrub  which  is  almost  hardy,  and  will 
do  well  either  in  a  pot,  or  better  still  perhaps  in  a 
basket,  which  would  suit  its  somewhat  trailing 
habit.  The  large  yellow  flowers  nearly  equal  in 
size  those  of  the  well  known  St.  .Tohn's-wort 
(H.  caljcinum)  of  our  shrubberies,  but  are  much 
more  elegant  from  a  peculiar  catharine-wheel-like 
twist  of  petals  and  stamens  ;  it  may  be  reckoned 
a  specially  fine  species  of  an  interesting  genus. 
The  more  familiar  Polj'gala  dalmaisiana  with 
purple  Pea-flowers,  with  their  quaint  little  brushes 
of  protruding  stamens,  is  an  old  favourite  and 
presents  no  difficulties  of  culture,  needing  nothing 
more  than  kindly  pruning  to  keep  it  in  shape. 
Another  charming  Australian  Pea-flower  is  Swain- 
sonia  galegifolia  alba,  now  well  known  and  popular  ; 
it  has  been  found  to  be  hardy  against  a  wall  in  a 
sheltered  Cornish  garden.  This  may  be  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  as  the  seed  which  it  produces 
freely  is  apt  to  revert  to  the  purple-flowered 
type.  All  these  are  easily  grown,  and  we 
will  now  take  an  example  of  one  that  will 
give  more  trouble.  One  of  the  most  gorgeous 
of  Australasian  leguminous  plants,  Clianthus 
puniceus,  is  sometimes  called  the  Glory  Pea  of 
New  Zealand.  Those  wdio  have  seen  some  of  the 
cottages  near  Porlock,  on  the  Somersetshire  coast, 
with  plants  in  full  flower  climbing  almost  to  the 
eaves,  will  not  be  inclined  to  dispute  the  title. 
But  it  will  not  grow  everywhere  out  of  doors,  and 
in  that  case  must  needs  be  considered  a  greenhou.«i' 
«hrub.     Except  for  red  spider  there  is  no  special 


286 


THK    GAEDEN. 


[.May  3,  1902. 


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POT   CHEURY    l;OVEENOR    WOOD    I.\    BLOOM    AT    GrNNEKSECRV    HOl'SE 


ditficulty  in  its  culture,  but  for  a  long  time  a  finer 
species  still,  C.  Danipieri,  with  black  blotches  on 
its  scarlet  llowers,  puzzled  even  experienced 
growers.  The  secret,  however,  has  been  dis- 
covered, and  a  very  tine  specimen  in  a  large  basket 
hanging  in  the  Himalayan  house  at  Kew  has 
attracted  much  attention  as  well  as  admiration 
during  the  past  season.  Success  depends  upon  the 
grafting  of  the  delicate  C.  Dampieri  upon  a  more 
robust  stock,  either  C.  puniceus  or,  preferably, 
upon  the  nearly  allied  Colutea  arborescens,  a 
perfectly  hardy  shrub,  more  common  abroad  than 
in  English  gardens.  The  result  of  this  grafting 
is  to  change  the  intractable  C.  Dampieri  into  a 
sturdy  and  easily-managed  plant,  peculiarly  well 
suited  to  the  unhealed  greenhouse,  as  in  a  cool 
temperature  it  flowers  for  a  length  of  time  during 
the  early  months  of  the  year.  An  account  of  a 
most  resourceful  method,  adopted  in  some  con- 
tinental gardens,  has  been  published,  and  deserves 
to  be  quoted.  Seed  of  both  stock  and  scion  are 
sown  in  February  ;  when  the  cot3-ledons  of  the 
young  plants  are  sufficientlj'  developed  to  handle, 
the  terminal  bud  of  the  stock  is  removed  and  that 
of  C.  Dampieri — the  scion — is  inserted  instead. 
The  union  is  not  hard  to  effect,  but  it  is,  neces- 
sarily, a  delicate  operation.  The  after  culture 
is  similar  to  that  of  other  plants  of  like  nature. 
The  pot  or  basket  in  which  this  fine  specimen 
is  grown  must  be  well  drained,  however,  and  more 
than  usual  care  is  needed  in  watering,  as  it  is  stated 
that  the  foliage  must  not  be  wetted.  Probably, 
also,  as  in  the  case  of  C.  puniceus,  the  less  the 
knife  is  usjd    the   better.     This   plan  of  growing 


C.  Dampieri  is  worth 
attention,  as  anj'  gar- 
dener, amateur  or  other- 
wise, might  be  proud 
of  rearing  and  flowering 
a  good  specimen  of  so 
grand  a  plant.  It  is  not 
impossible  that  many 
cases  of  failure  may 
have  been  due  to  over- 
kindness  in  the  way  of 
coddling,  as  the  other 
species  does  so  well  in 
the  open  air  in  a  genial 
climate. 

To  come  to  hard- 
wooded  plants  more 
strictly  speaking,  some 
of  the  Heaths,  such 
as  Erica  h3'emalis  and 
E.  spenceriana,  Correa 
bicolorand  C.  cardinalis, 
Bauera  rubioides, 
Epacris  miniata  splen- 
dens,  Hovea  Celsii, 
Leschenaultia  biloba 
major,  Pimelia  decus- 
sata,  and  Tremandra 
verticillata  are  all  suit- 
able subjects,  and  likely, 
undercareful  treatment, 
to  do  well  in  the  half- 
hard^'  house.  Not  long 
ago,  in  a  somewhat 
shallow  frame  under  a 
wall,  I  saw  a  batch  of 
strong  seedlings,  looking 
like  a  forest  of  sturd}' 
young  Spruce  Firs  in 
miniature,  getting  read}- 
for  a  shift  into  their 
flowering  pots.  This  was 
in  the  garden  of  a  keen 
amateur,  who  had  only 
taken  up  gardening  a 
year  or  two  previously. 
All  such  plants  as  the 
above  require  a  compost 
of  good  fibrous  peat 
mixed  with  sharp  sand, 
and  the  potting  must 
be  very  firm— a  point 
which  amateurs  often 
overlook — as  the  hair- 
like fibres  prefer  a  hard 
soil  into  which  to  root.  Above  all  the  soil  must 
never  be  allowed  to  become  very  dry,  yet  the 
drainage  must  be  good,  as  stagnant  moisture 
is  equally  hurtful.  The  winter  atmosphere  of 
the  house  must  be  dry  and  buoyant,  for  which 
reason  a  very  modest  amount  of  w'armth  is 
necessary  in  time  of  severe  frost  or  in  continued 
damp  and  still  weather.  Another  important 
point  in  the  treatment  of  hard-wooded  plants  is  the 
judicious  cutting  Viack  of  the  main  shoots  imme- 
diately after  flowering.  After  this  has  been  done, 
and  as  soon  as  a  new  growth  has  fairly  started,  the 
plants  can  be  plunged  up  to  the  rim  of  the  pots  in 
cocoa  fibre  or  ashes  out  of  doors  to  rest  and  ripen 
their  wood  for  the  next  season's  campaign.  An 
annual  repotting  is  not  necessarj',  but  it  should  be 
given  when  required,  just  when  the  new  growth 
has  begun.  Most  of  the  plants  named  I  have  seen 
doing  well  out  of  doors  in  very  sheltered  Cornish 
gardens,  therefore  there  is  little  fear  that  they  will 
not  do  well  in  a  low  winter  temperature  under 
glass.  Good  cold  frames  or  deep  pits,  however,  as 
well  as  a  conservator}',  are  indispensable  in  most 
gardens  where  the  culture  of  plants  of  delicate 
nature  such  as  these  is  attempted. 

It  may  be  useful  to  give  the  cultural  details 
of  Hovea  Celsii,  a  very  ornamental  hard-wooded 
plant  which  has  long  been  a  favourite,  though 
now  not  often  met  with,  and  of  which  the  clusters 
of  rich  purple-blue  Pea-shaped  flowers  are  extremely 
attractive.  This  plant  is  more  easily  raised  from 
seed  than  from  cuttings,  and  the  seedlings  begin 
to  make  strong  growth  at  once.  As  soon  as  they 
are   large   enough    they   should    be   potted   singly 


in  2^-inch  pots,  and  given  a  shift  into  a  larger 
size  as  the  roots  touch  the  sides  and  require  more 
room,  care  being  taken  not  to  allow  them  to 
become  pot-bound.  Hovea  has  naturally  rather  a 
loose  habit  of  growth,  and  may  be  trained  either 
as  a  standard  or  as  a  bush.  If  the  standard  forn) 
be  preferred,  the  young  plant  ma\  be  allowed  to 
grow  as  a  single  stem  to  a  height  of  18  inches  (or 
more  if  desired)  before  the  top  is  pinched  out, 
when  it  will  break  into  many  shoots.  If  a  bush 
be  wanted  free  pinching  must  be  carefully  attended 
to  from  the  first  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a 
shapely  plant.  The  soil  and  treatment  otherwise 
are  just  the  same  as  that  of  half-hard}'  hard- 
wooded  plants  in  general,  for  which  it  will  stand 
as  a  good  object-lesson.  It  is  to  the  disadvantage 
of  this  fine  Hovea  that  it  needs  a  large  sized  pot 
before  it  comes  to  flowering  size,  but  it  is  then 
ver'y  ornamental.  Leschenaultia  biloba  major, 
M'ith  still  more  brilliant  blue  flowers,  is  another 
hard-wooded  plant,  better  known,  which  has  not 
the  same  drawback,  as  it  will  flower  in  a  com- 
paratively small  pot. 

To  sum  up  the  requirements  of  these  somewhat 
exacting  plants.  A  compost  of  sandy  fibrous  peat, 
pots  well  drained,  plants  firmly  potted,  protection 
given  from  actual  frost,  a  cool  dry  airy  house  in 
winter,  modest  cutting  back  after  flowering,  open 
air  summer  quarters  where  the  pots  can  be  plunged 
to  their  rims,  and  careful  watering  at  all  seasons. 
Where  these  directions  can  be  carried  out  the 
growing  of  the  finest  hard-wooded  half-hardy 
plants  need  present  no  insuperable  difficulty. 

K.  L.  D. 


CHERRIES    IN    POTS. 

Few  subjects  in  late  winter  are  invested  with 
greater  charm  than  are  fruit  trees  grown  under 
glass  when  in  bloom,  and  this  fact  is  especially 
emphasised  in  the  case  of  an  orchard  house,  where 
a  collection  of  many  kinds  are  brought  together, 
and  when  most  of  them  are  in  bloom  at  one 
period,  presenting  such  an  interesting  display  of 
flowers  as  would  really  compensate  for  their 
growth  alone.  How  much  more  so  then  when  we 
know  that  these  lovely  flowers  are  only  the 
harbingers  of  better  things  to  come  in  the  way  of 
a  harvest  of  rich  and  delicious  fruit.  It  is  not  too' 
much  to  say  that  the  Cherry  bloom  is  as  beautiful 
as  any,  and  the  accompanying  illustrations  show 
trees  in  the  Gunnersbury  House  Gardens,  so 
admirably  managed  by  Mr.  Jaraes  Hudson. 

The  critical  time  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Cherry 
in  pots  will  now  have  passed  by — I  mean  the 
flowering  time — and  if  a  good  set  has  been 
obtained  the  work  attending  the  growth  of  the 
fruit  to  maturity  will  be  comparatively  easy.  The 
chief  points  to  observe  in  order  to  bring  about  the 
best  results  will  be  careful  ventilation,  maintaining 
a  growing  and  a  fairly  moist  atmosphere,  with  free 
ventilation  when  the  weather  is  favourable,  and 
careful  watering,  especially  until  the  trees  attain 
to  full  Itafage.  All  stone  fruits  are  most  sensitive 
to  injury  from  careless  watering,  but  the  Cherry, 
I  think,  more  so  than  any  other,  especially  from 
the  time  of  starting  until  the  fruit  is  set  and  the 
trees  in  gncd  foliage.  Thertfore.  too  much  care 
and  thought  cannot  be  given  to  this  work  during 
this  period.  A  pot  will  want  watching  for  days 
sometimes  until  it  is  in  that  condition  of  dryness 
(not  over  dry)  when  it  will  be  safe  to  give  it  a 
good  .soaking.  Tepid  water  should  be  used  at  this 
early  season.  .\  keen  look  orrt  must  be  kept  for 
green  and  black  fly,  Both  are  very  partial  to  the 
Cherry.  The  latltr,  once  it  gets  a  lodgment  in 
the  young  leaves,  will  give  .serious  trouble.  It 
ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  go  so  far,  but  we  know 
how  work  presses  in  dift'erent  directions  at  this 
time  of  the  year,  so  that  it  is  quite  impossible  to 
see  to  everything  just  at  the  right  moment.  It  is 
most  destrirctive  to  the  young  leaves  at  the  lop  of 
the  branches,  and  where  they  are  badly  affected 
the  best  way  will  be  to  cut  those  parts  away 
and  burn  them.  To  prevent  the  appearance  of 
those  aphides  I  have  found  the  practice  of 
fumigating  the  Cherry  house  with  XL  All  as  soon 
as  the  Cherry  trees  are  taken  in  from  their  winler 


May  3,  190-2.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


•287 


quarters  out  of  doors  most  useful.  The  insecticide 
can  be  used  in  stronger  solution  at  this  time — 
growth  being  dormant— than  would  be  safe  if  the 
trees  were  in  leaf.  A  second  application  not  [so 
strong  just  before  the  blossom  buds  expand  will 
keep  the  trees  fairly  clean  at  least  for  the  first  part 
of  the  season.  Whilst  the  foliage  of  forced 
stone  fruit  trees  is  tender— Peaches  especially— I 
would  recommend  tobacco  tor  fumigating  in 
preference  to  XL  All.  Damage  to  the  foliage  not 
infrequently  follows  the  use  of  the  latter  when  the 
leaves  arc  young  and  tender.  Whilst  cultivators 
are  most  careful  in  timely  disbudding  their  under 
glass  fruit  generally,  it  is  not  always  so  with  the 
Cherry,  although  quite  as  necessary  in  its  case  as 
in  any  other  fruit  if  the  best  results  are  to  be 
obtained. 

The  Cherry  does  not  appreciate  the  attention 
given  to  it  in  the  way  of  forcing,  as  we  understand 
the  term  in  regard  to  other  forced  fruit,  such  as 
Grapes,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines,  which,  if 
occasion  requires,  can  be  pushed  on  in  fairly 
strong  heat.  The  Cherry  resents  being  hurried, 
but  by  a  little  coaxing  it  is  possible  to  considerably 
hasten  its  season  of  ripeness,  especially  after  the 
fruit  is  set.  We  must,  however,  never  forget  that 
the  Cherry  is  an  air-loving  tree,  and  therefore  on 
all  favourable  occasions  air  should  be  admitted, 
consistent  with  maintaining  a  sufficiently  warm 
and  growing  atmosphere,  to  produce  ripe  fruit 
towards  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May  from 
trees  started  on  the  1st  of  .January. 

The  growth  of  the  Cherry  can  be  best  hastened 
with  safety,  after  the  fruit  is  well  set,  until  the 
atoning  period  arrives,  and,  after  this  is  over,  until 
swelling  is  completed  and  ripeness  begins.  This 
is  best  done  bj'  closing  the  house  early  enough  in 
the  afternoon  to  raise  the  temperature  to  75°  or  SO" 
for  a  few  hours.  Little  or  no  fire-heat  will  be 
required  during  the  day  unless  the  weather  is 
inclement  and  cold,  when  some  must  be  provided 
in  order  to  maintain  a  buoyant  and  growing 
temperature  ;  but  with  plenty  of  sun-heat  the  less 
fire-heat  we  have  the  better.  It  must  be  provided 
at  night  to  prevent  the  temperature  falling  too 
low  by  the  admission  of  a  little  back  air.  Whilst 
the  Cherries  are  stoning  a  cooler  and  more  airy 
temperature  should  be  maintained,  and  the  closing 
of  the  house  in  the  afternoon  be  discontinued. 

The  trees  may  be  syringed  freely  morning  and 
afternoon,  but  care  must  be  taken  that  the  water 


used  is  rain  water  or  soft  water  from  some  other 
source,  for  if  the  water  has  lime  in  it  the  fruit  is 
tarnished  and  disfigured  and  much  of  its  beauty 
and  charm  taken  away.  Whilst  the  trees  are  in 
active  growth — that  is,  from  the  time  the  fruit  is 
set  until  it  is  full  grown — manure  water  should  be 
judiciously  applied,  but  never  too  strong.  Deer 
manure,  placed  in  a  bag  and  immer.sed  in  a  tank  of 
water  with  a  similar  but  smaller  bag  of  soot,  makes 
one  of  the  best  possible  fertilisers,  and  this  may 
be  given  at  every  other  watering. 

When  the  Cherry  shows  signs  of  ripeness,  then 
a  constant  and  free  circulation  of  air  must  be 
provided  by  day,  and  also  at  night  in  reduced 
quantity.  If  the  air  gets  too  cold  then  give  fire 
heat.  Owen  Thomas. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 


SKIMMIAS. 

SKI  JIM  I  AS  hold  an  important  position 
amongst  the  smaller  evergreen  shrubs, 
both  for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers  and 
fruits  and  the  shining  green  of  their 
leaves.  In  the  flowers  of  Skimmias  the 
two  sexes  are  usually  borne  on  separate 
plants,  and  in  S.  japonica  (S.  oblata)  there  are 
varying  sexual  forms  ditfering  to  a  certain  extent 
in  the  size  and  shape  of  their  leaves  and  habit  of 
growth.  In  one  form  known  as  S.  Rogersii  the 
two  sexes  are  to  be  found  on  the  same  plant,  and  I 
have  occasionally  noticed  a  solitary  fruit  or  two  on 
other  forms  which  are  supposed  to  be  male. 
Probabl}'  under  cultivation  the  Skimmia  is  losing 
its  natural  unisexual  habit,  and  if  raised  more 
from  seed  wovild  most  likely  become  nearly  or 
quite  hermaphrodite. 

Skimmias  can  be  propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings, 
the  latter  being  taken  from  the  half-ripened  wood 
and  inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  a  close  frame,  when 
nearly  every  one  will  form  roots  in  from  two  to 
four  weeks.  Almost  anj'  kind  of  soil  will  suit 
them  afterwards — a  good,  rather  light  loam  fairly 
enriched  with  well-rotted  manure  is  perhaps  the 
best.  Thej'  are  very  partial  to  peat  and  leaf-mould, 
but  neither  is  absolutely  necessary  to  their  well- 
being.  As  a  plant  for  town  districts  the  Skimmia 
is  not  to  be  surpassed,  as  it  withstands  both  smoke 


and  dust  well,  and  will  Sower  and  fruit  freely 
under  conditions  which  are  very  trying  to  many 
other  plants. 

S.  Fortunei  is  a  native  of  China,  and  is  a 
small,  slow-growing  and  rather  thin  shrub  with 
stout  lanceolate  leaves  2  inches  to  3  inches  long, 
and  white  scented  flowers  borne  in  .■■hort,  terminal 
panicles.  In  the  male  form  the  flowers  are  more 
conspicuous  than  in  the  female,  and  the  whole 
plant  is  also  larger  and  more  vigorous.  One  or  two 
of  the  male  plants  should  be  introduced  if  a 
quantit}-  of  this  Skimmia  is  planted,  when  a 
brilliant  crop  of  coral-red  berries  will  be  produced. 
These  will  keep  their  colour  and  last  throughout 
the  winter,  and  this  property  makes  it  a  capital 
plant  for  window  boxes  or  indoor  decoration. 
While  the  plants  are  small  the  berries  should  be 
picked  ofi'  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  colour  or  they 
will  seriously  weaken  the  plants. 

S.  japonica  (S.  oblata)  is  a  native  of  Japan, 
attaining  with  age  a  height  of  3  feet  to  4  feet  and 
upwards  of  twice  as  much  in  diameter.  The 
leaves  are  stout,  leather}'  in  texture,  ovate  or 
ovate-lanceolate  in  shape,  and  the  edges  are  entire 
and  very  often  of  a  whitish  tinge.  The  small 
white  flowers  are  in  terminal  upright  panicles,  and 
are  larger  and  more  strongly  scented  in  the  male 
than  in  the  berrj'-bearing  form.  The  fruits  are 
oval,  of  a  deep  red  colour,  and  freely  produced  if 
both  sexes  are  planted  together.  The  named 
forms  of  this  plant  are  S.  Foremani,  figured  in 
The  Garden'  of  March  S,  page  160,  which  is  of  a 
strong  growing  but  compact  habit,  and  bears  bright 
red  fruits  lasting  on  the  plant  in  good  condition 
for  a  year  or  more;  S.  Foremani  (male  variety) 
whicli  differs  but  little,  if  at  all,  from  S.  fragrans, 
under  which  name  the  male  form  of  S.  japonica  is 
usually  known  ;  and  S.  Rogersii,  which  is  of  a 
rather  dwarf,  spreading  habit,  bearing  flowers  of 
both  sexes  on  the  same  plant. 

Baijshot,  Su7-re!/.  J.  Clarke. 


POT   CHERRY   TREES   IN    PLOOM    AT   (iUM  NBRBBURV    HOt\SE. 


BERBERLS  NEPALENSIS. 

This  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  the  evergreen 
Berberis,  and  is  amongst  the  first  to  come  into 
bloom,  the  flowers  usually  opening  in  March,  or 
even  earlier  if  the  weather  is  favourable.  It  is 
known  under  several  names,  B.  Bealei  and 
B.  japonica  being  the  two  most  commonly  used, 
but  the  one  which  heads  this  note  has  the  claim  of 
priority,  and  is  the  correct  one  to  use. 
Under  favourable  conditions  B.  nepalensis 
makes  an  upright  shrub  4  feet  to  6  feet 
high,  usually  consisting  of  four  to  eight 
•"p  stout  glaucous  stems,  clothed  with 
■*"  pinnate  leaves  upwards  of  a  foot  in  length, 
which  are  of  a  dark  shining  green  above 
and  glaucous  beneath.  The  leaves  are 
composed  of  from  nine  to  thirteen 
sessile  leaflets,  each  resembling  the  leaf 
of  a  Holly  in  texture  and  shape,  though 
having  fewer  spines.  These  latter,  how- 
ever, make  up  for  lack  of  numbers  by 
their  hardness  and  sharpness.  There 
are  also  a  pair  of  leafy  bracts  at  the 
base  of  each  leaf,  which  partially  encircle 
the  stem. 

The    flowers    are    borne  in  terminal, 

upright  racemes,  from  four  to  twelve  of 

which   are  produced   on  each  stem,   the 

individual  flowers  being   about  the  size 

of  those  of    the  common   Barberry   and 

of  a  sulphur-yellow  colour.     Seen  in  the 

early  spring  against  a  dark  background 

the     plant     has     a     distinctly     pretty 

appearance,    while  if   it   never   flowered 

at    all    it    would    still    be    a    desirable 

■^       evergreen.     The  fruits  are  oval,  half  an 

't       inch  or  more  in  length,  of  a  deep  purple 

.^       colour,  and  ripening  in  July. 

B.  nepalensis  is  a  rather  difficult  plant 
to  deal  with,  as  it  is  very  impatient  of 
removal,  and  though  a  batch  of  plants 
may  be  moved  without  many  dying  yet 
jW  those  that  live  will  often  stand  for  a 
year  or  more  looking  very  sickly  and 
making  little  or  no  growth.  In  the 
matter  of  soil  it  does  not  seem  to  be  at 


288 


THE    GARDEN. 


May  3,  1902. 


all  particular,  as  I  have  seen  it  in  almost  every 
kind  to  be  found  in  an  ordinary  garden,  its 
only  fault  being  its  dislike  to  being  shifted, 
lint  once  it  his  git  over  this  it  will,  though 
rather  slow  of  growth,  soon  make  a  handsome 
and  distinct  plant  in  the  garden.  It  is  best 
raised  from  seeds,  plants  obtained  by  other  means 
rarely  succeeding  well. 

Bagsliot,  Surrey.  J-  C. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


IRIS     ASCHERSONI. 

IHA VE  received  from  Mr.  Si-'he,  of  Messina, 
a  dried  plant  and  the  accompanying 
photograph.s  of  a  new  Iris,  I.  Aschersoni. 
1  do  not  know  the  authority  for  the 
name,  and  indeed  am  unaware  whether 
the  plant  has  as  yet  been  described  or 
no.  It  cannot  be  spolcen  of  as  a  strikingly 
handsome  Iris,  since  the  colour  seems  to  be  a 
greenish  yellow  with  thin  purple  veins  ;  but, 
judging  by  the  photograph,  it  is  very  fioriferous, 
"and  so  will  perhaps  prove  a  useful  addition  to 
the  gai'den. 

It  is  interesting,  as  being  closely  allied  to  the 
strange  I.  Grant-Uuffii.  That  Iris  is  very 
remarkable  for  the  way  in  which  each  bud 
shooting  off  from  a  woody  rootstock  becomes 
wrapped  round  with  coats,  the  bases  of  old 
leaves,  composed  of  stiff  bristles,  so  that  the 
dormant  bud  has  in  autumn  the  aspect  of  a 
bulb  with  bristling  coats.    The  dornunt  bud 


in  I.  Aschersoni  has  much 
the  same  features,  except 
that  the  coats  are  netted 
and  flexible  ;  in  I.  Grant- 
Duttii  the  bristles  are  so 
stiff'  and  stout  that  ^  they 
readily  pierce  the  ttnger. 
The  leaves  of  I.  Aschersoni 
are  mitch  narrower  than 
those  of  I.  Grant-Duffii, 
almost  linear  :  but  the  two 
plants  are  obviously  closely 
allied.  It  will  probably  need 
the  same  treatment  as  I. 
Graiit-Duttii,  namely,  to  b? 
well  dried  off'  and  ripened 
in  the  summer,  though  well 
supplied  \vith  water  when 
growing  in  the  spring. 

I.  Grant-Duffii  comes  from 
the  west  of  Palestine,  but 
this  new  I  Aschersoni  was 
gathered  in  Cilicia  near 
Adana  :  and  there  are  pro- 
bably in  Asia  Minor  an  I 
Syria  yet  other  plants  of 
the  same  group.  I  have,  for 
example,  a  third  plant  which 
my  friend  Max  Leichtlin 
gave  me  some  years  ago 
under  the  name  I.  Masi;e ; 
it  came,  I  believe,  from  Asia 
Jlinor.  It  closely  resembles 
the  above  two,  but  has  deep 
purple  flowers,  and  is  really 


a  handsome  plant, 
though  a  shy  bloomer 
and  a  "  mifly  doer," 
to  use  a  gardening 
phrase. 

M.  Foster. 


IRIS    ASCUEKSONI    (TO    SHOW    ITS    WEALTH    OK    I'LOWERS). 


SAXIFltAGA   COl!- 
DI  FOLIA  ALBA. 

This  is  certainly  a  mis- 
nomer as  applied  to  the 
Saxifrageof  theMegasea 
section  sent  out  under 
this  name  a  year  or  two 
ago  from  the  Contiiient, 
.as  in  the  open  the 
flowers  are  not  white  at 
all,  but  a  delicate  blush- 
pink.  Whatever  effect 
growing  it  under  glass 
may  have  on  the  colour 
I  know  not,  but  cer- 
tainly rosea  would  have 
been  a  truer  nime  for 
it  in  the  open  than 
alb.a.  Yet  it  is  exceed- 
ingly pretty,  and  it 
makes  a  welcome 
variety  beside  the 
typical  S.  cordifolia, 
now  fully  in  bloom  near 
to  it.  This  spring  must 
have  suited  these 
Megaseas  well,  as  they 
have     been     little 


IRIS  ASCHERSOXI. 

injured  by  frosts  so  far,  and  I  can  hardly  recollect 
seeing  them  so  good  in  the  open  here  before. 
Cordifolia  is  one  of  the  hardiest  of  this  section 
here.  S.  Arnott. 

Carsethorn,  hi/  Dumfries,  N.li. 


TROPICAL   FRUITS   FOR 
ENGLISH  GARDENS. 

(  Continued  from  page  '2iiO.) 
Custard  Apple. 
The  Custard  Apiile  is  the  fruit  of  Anona 
squamosa,  a  Magnolia-like  bush  or  small  tree 
about  1.5  feet  high,  copiou.<ly  branched,  and 
clothed  with  leathery  oblong  leaves,  glaucous 
beneath,  and  in  the  axils  of  which  are  borne 
in  spring  solitary  greenish  fle.shy  flowers  about 
1  inch  across.  The  fruit  is  egg-shaped,  3  inches 
or  4  inches  long,  and  is  compo.sed  of  a  number 
of  scale-like  ovaries,  which  are  confluent  and 
form  a  fruit  suggestive  of  a  Globe  Artichoke 
or  a  Pine-cone.  When  ri]ie  it  is  fleshy,  the 
pulp  yellowish,  and  so  soft  that  it  is  difficult  to 
handle  a  ripe  fruit  without  squa.shing  it.  The 
flavoar  has  been  likened  to  that  of  Kaspberries 
and  cream. 

In  tropical  countries  the  Custard  Apple  is  a 
favourite  fruit.  Although  originally  from 
Tropical  America,  it  is  now  wild  or  cultivated 
in  both  hemispheres.  In  India  it  ranks  with 
the  Mango  as  a  cultivated  fruit,  ripening  in 
May.  Imported  fruits  must  necessarily  be 
gathered  long  before  they  are  ripe.    The  trees 


May  3,  1902.] 


THE    GATIDEN. 


289 


are  propagated  from  seeds,  and  they  grow  so 
rapidly  that  they  begin  to  fruit  when  aliout 
three  years  old. 

There  is  a  tradition  in  India  that  the  god 
Ram  and  his  wife  Sita  decided  to  each  create 
a  fruit  that  should  excel  all  others.  Ram  pro- 
duced the  Ramphal  {phal=imt),  or  Ballock's 
Heart  (Annna  reiiculata),  and  Sita  the  Sitaphal, 
or  Custard  Apple  (A.  squamosa).  The  former 
is  not  considered  palatable  by  European?, 
although  it  is  eaten  by  the  natives.  In  the 
West  Indies  another  species,  A.  reticulata,  is 
called  the  Custard  Apple,  whilst  A.  squamosa 
is  known  as  the  Sweet- sop. 

Custard  Apple  or  Sweet-sop  is  a  fruit  of 
first-rate  quality  for  dessert,  and  one  which 
can  only  \>s  obtain'^d  in  anything  like  perfec- 
tion in  this  country  from  home-grown  trees. 
It  has  been  successfully  fruited  in  a  few  gardens 
here,  but  only  casually.  There  is  therefore  an 
excellent  opportunity  for  some  enthusiast  tu 
distinguish  himself  by  devoting  a  house  to  its 
cultivation.  There  is  no  doubt  that  it  can  be 
done  successfully,  because  plants  grown  in  pots 
under  ordinary  stove  treatment,  and  without 
any  particular  attention,  flower  annually,  and 
now  and  then  ripen  fruits.  House,  soil,  and 
conditions  generally  ought  to  be  the  same  as 
for  forced  Peaches. 

Bullock's  Heart  has  long  smooth  leaves, 
flowers  two  or  three  together,  and  sulvglobose 
fruit  with  a  rough  areolate  exterior.  It  is  not 
worth  growing  except  by  the  curious,  but  care 
must  be  taken  that  it  is  not  taken  in  error  for 
the  Custard  Apple,  as  it  bears  this  name  in  the 
"West  Indie.-*. 

A.  chevimolia  (the  Cherimoya)  has  small 
ovate  fruits,  which  are  eaten  by  Creoles  ai.d 
are  good  enough  to  find  favour  with  some 
Europeans.  Fruits  produced  a  year  or  two  ago 
in  the  Palm  house  at  Kew  were  delicious  in 
flavour. 

A.  murirnla  (the  Sour-sop)  has  large  green 
prickly  fruit  of  medicinal  value  only. 

Persimmons  or  Date  Plums. 

Diospyros  Kaki,  the  Persimmon  or  Date- 
Plum,  an  Eastern  tree,  which  for  centuries  has 
been  cultivated  in  China  and  .Japan  for  its 
fruits.  It  is  scarcely  known  in  English  gardens, 
although  it  has  been  cultivated  for  many  years 
in  Southern  Europe.  It  forms  a  bushy  tree, 
very  similar  to  the  Apple,  and  is  deciduous  : 
the  leaves  are  oblong,  rather  leathery,  and 
about  5  inches  long  ;  they  assume  brilliant 
colours  in  autumn.  The  flowers  (female)  are 
green,  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  are  borne  singly 
in  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  The  fruit  ripens  in 
late  autumn,  and  remains  long  on  the  tree 
after  the  leaves  have  fallen.  They  vary  in 
size  and  flavour  almost  as  much  as  Apples  ;  in 
colour  they  are  usually  bright  scarlet. 

The  male  and  female  flowers  are  borne  on 
separate  plants,  and  the  vaiieties  are  propa- 
gated by  grafting.  Most  of,  if  not  all,  the 
cultivated  plants  we  have  are  females.  The 
ovaries  swell  to  full  size  without  having  been 
fertilised,  but  the  fruits  are  seedless.  Fruits 
matured  in  a  sunny  greenhouse  at  Kew  were 
as  large  as  a  Ribston  Pippin  Apple,  and  when 
ripe  were  as  red,  soft,  »nd  juicy  as  a  ripe 
Tomato. 

It  would  appear  that  the  conditions  most 
suitable  for  the  Persimmon  are  what  we  term 
sub-trojiical.  It  is  not  likely  to  be  hardy  any- 
where in  England,  except  in  the  warmer  parts, 
although  fruits  have  been  ripened  on  a  plant 
grown  against  a  wall  in  Canon  Ellacombe's 
garden  at  Bitton.  So  far  as  Kew  experiments 
have  gone  the  conditions  most  congenial  to 
this  plant  are  those  of  the  Agave  house.  'Here 
it  is  planted  out  in  a  border  of  loamy  soil  in  a 


position  where  it  gets  plenty  of  summer  sun- 
shine and  air,  whilst  in  winter  the  atmosphere 
is  dry  and  the  temperature  never  below  .50°. 
The  pruning  of  this  plant  is  identical  with 
that  recommended  for  Peaches.  In  .Jaiian  the 
trees  are  never  pruned  with  a  knife,  the  belief 
being  that  iron  causes  injury  to  the  branches  ; 
they  are  therefore  thinned  by  breaking  with 
the  hand.  The  soil  most  suitable  for  the 
Per.simmon  is  a  gravelly  clay  loam,  and  a  top 
dressing  of  manure  should  he  given  annually, 
say  in  March.  Night  soil  is  used  in  .Japan  for 
this  purpose. 

Professor  Sargent,  in  his  "  Forest  Flora  of 
Japm"  (189.3),  says  :—"  The  Persimmon  is 
planted  everywhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
houses,  which,  in  the  interior  of  the  main 
island,  are  often  embowered  in  small  groves 
of  this  handsome  tree.  In  .shape  it  resembles 
a  well-grown  Apple  tree,  with  a  .-straight  trunk, 
spreading  branches  which  droop  toward  the 
extremities  and  form  a  compact  round  held. 
Trees  .30  feet  to  40  feet  high  are  often  seen. 


"  Diospyros  Kaki  is  hardy  in  Pekin,  with  a 
climate  similar  to  that  of  New  England,  and 
fully  as  trying  to  plant-life ;  it  fruits  in  southern 
Yezo,  and  decorates  every  garden  in  the  elevated 
provinces  of  central  .Japan,  where  the  winter 
climate  is  intensely  cold.  There  appears, 
therefore,  to  be  no  reason  why  it  should  not 
flourifh  in  New  England,  if  plants  of  a  northern 
race  can  be  obtained  ;  and,  so  far  as  climate  is 
concerned,  the  tree,  which,  in  the  central 
mountain  districts  of  Hondo,  covers  itself 
with  fruit  year  after  year,  will  certainly 
succeed  in  all  our  Alleghany  region  from 
Pennsylvania  southward.  In  this  country 
(United  State.s)  we  have  considered  the  Kaki 
a  tender  plant,  unable  to  survive  outside_  the 
region  where  the  Orange  flourishes.  This  is 
true  of  the  southern  varieties  which  have  been 
brought  to  this  country,  and  which  may  have 
originated  in  a  milder  climate  than  Southern 
Japan,  f-r  the  Ivaki  is  a  plant  of  wide  distri- 
bution, either  natural  or  through  cultivation 
in  south-eastern  Asia.    Bat  th'i  northern  Kaki, 


COSTARD  APPLE  (anona  MURICATA).      (Original  S\  inches  high  and  Z\  inches  ivide.) 


and  in  the  autumn  when  they  are  covered  with 
fruit,  and  the  leaves  have  turned  to  the  colour 
of  old  Spanish  red  leather,  they  are  exceedingly 
handsome. 

"  Perhaps  there  is  no  tree  except  the  Orange, 
whicli  as  a  fruit  tree  is  as  beautiful  as  the  Kaki. 
In  central  and  northern  Japan  the  variety 
which  produces  large  orange-coloured,  ovate, 
thick-skinned  fruit  is  the  only  one  pl-inted, 
and  the  cultivation  of  the  red-fruited  varieties 
with  which  we  have  liecome  acquainted  in  this 
country  is  confined  to  the  south.  A  hundred 
varieties  of  Kaki  at  least  are  now  recognised 
and  named  by  Japanese  gard  ners,  but  few  of 
iliem  are  important  commercially  in  any  part 
of  the  country  which  we  visited,  and,  except 
in  Kyoto,  where  red  Kakis  appeared,  the  only 
form  I  saw  exposed  for  sale  was  the  orange- 
coloured  variety,  which,  fresh  and  dried,  is  con- 
sumed in  immense  quantities  by  the  Japanese, 
who  tat  it,  as  they  do  all  their  fruits,  before  it 
is  ripe,  and  while  it  has  the  texture  and  con- 
sistency of  a  paving-stone  ( !) 


the  tree  of  Pekin  and  the  gardens  of  central 
Japan,  has  probably  not  yet  been  tried  in  this 
country.  If  it  succeeds  in  the  northern  and 
middle  states  it  will  give  us  a  handsome  new 
fruit  of  good  quality,  easily  and  cheaply  raised, 
of  first-rate  shipping  quality  when  fresh, 
valuable  when  dried,  and  an  ornamental  tree 
of  extraordinary  interest  and  beauty." 

The  names  of  the  varieties  are  Japanese. 
The  following  is  a  selection  : — 

liuchiy a.— Produced,  at  Hachiya,  in  the 
province  of  Mino^  Fruit  very  large,  oblong, 
pointed,  a  little  flattened  at  the  base  ;  skin 
rich  red,  black  at  the  end  when  quite  ripe  ; 
flesh  when  blotted  juicy,  very  rich,  delicious  in 
flavour. 

Ko-lsiiru. — Fruit  small,  oblong,  pointed  at 
the  end,  orange-yellow.  It  begins  to  ripen 
early  in  August,  but  is  not  cpiite  ripe  till 
September.  Inferior  in  quality,  yet  is  esteemed 
for  earliness. 

Knmosn-mnru. — Fruit  medium,  skin  yellow- 
ish-orange, black  cobweb-like  mark  appearing 


290 


THE    GAKDEN 


[May  3   1902. 


A    (IROUl'    OF    DELPHINIUMS    AT    .MILT<]\'    COURT,    DORKING. 


on  the  apex  when  quite  ripe  ;  fleshy,  rich  in 
flavour.  Ri|iens  from  the  middle  to  the  end 
of  November. 

Shinio-miirv.  —  Fruit  roundish-oblong,  some- 
what four-sided.  It  loses  its  astringent  pro|ierty 
early  in  September  and  changes  to  a  yellowish 
colour,  rijiening  entirely  after  exposure  to  frost 
and  changing  to  reddish-orange.  Flesh  .juicy, 
crisp,  and  of  excellent  quality. 

Tsnno-niagari. — Fruit  roundish,  pointed, 
somewhat  four-sided  at  the  stem  ;  skin  light 
reddish  yellow  ;  seedless.  It  retains  its  astrin- 
gency  even  when  quite  ripe. 

Tsuni-no-ko. — Fruit  medium,  oblong,  pointed, 
bri.ght  red  with  lilack  marks  on  the  apex  when 
i|uite  ripe  ;  flesh  dull  red,  spotted  with 
imrplish  black  dots,  sweet,  rich  in  flavour. 
Ivipens  in  October.  W.  W. 

(To  lie  continued.) 


TALL     DELPHINIUMS. 

In  June  and  July  the  Delphiniums,  or  Larkspurs 
as  these  plants  are  popularly  called,  attract  atten- 
tioji  by  their  noble  and  stately  bearing,  and  not 
less  so  by  the  infinite  variety  of  blue  shades  in  the 
flowers.  They  produce  gorgeous  effects  when  well 
nnissed  or  grouped  in  the  garden.  There  are  not 
many  groups  of  hardy  plants  so  unique  and 
vigorous.  And  happily,  too,  while  not  a  few  of 
the  best  plants  of  the  garden  are  reeking  with 
some  new  overwhelming  disease  or  fungoid  attack, 
these  bold  and  showy  things  are,  so  far  as  I  know, 
quite  free  from  any  such  attack. 

In  what  way  can  the  best  effect  be  secured  with 
these  plants?  The  general  answer  is  by  grouping, 
but  there  are  groups  that  are  effective  and  others 


just  the  reverse.  For- 
merly, however,  the 
idea  with  these  tall 
plants  was  to  relegate 
them  one  and  all  to  the 
back  row  of  the  border 
in  single  file  or  line, 
ready  as  it  were  to  do 
guard  to  the  other  occu- 
pants of  the  bed  or  bor- 
der. There  they  stood 
in  single  line,  their 
beauty  lost  by  the 
distance  separating  the 
plants.  Now  the  single 
lino  and  the  solitary 
plant,  whether  in  those 
or  in  other  things, 
receives  but  little  atten- 
tion from  the  gardener, 
and  rightly  so.  And 
there  is  no  reason  why 
such  finely  flowered 
plants  should  not  be 
planted  where  the  good 
effect  produced  may  be 
at  once  seen.  I  saw  this 
well  exemplified  some 
years  ago  in  the  grounds 
of  the  Crystal  Palace, 
where  large  oval  beds, 
probably  12  feet  or  more 
long  and  8  feet  wide 
or  thereabouts  were 
filled  with  nothing  but 
Larkspurs  for  the  sum- 
mer, and  masses  of 
Daffodils  for  spring,  and 
these  beds  placed  on 
the  turf  were  within 
easy  distance  of  the 
pathway,  and  the  plmts, 
that  is,  every  spike, 
well  staked  out.  In  this 
way  the  plants  had  been 
trained  from  an  early 
date,  and  of  its  wisdom 
under  the  circumstances 
there  could  be  no  doubt. 
Every  spike  was  of  the 
exhibition  stamlard,  bold  and  impressive,  and 
the  fine  heads  of  bloom  above  the  ever-handsome 
leafage  were  good  in  the  extreme.  It  was  just 
the  plant  for  the  large  and  spacious  position, 
and  the  beds  of  many  shades  spread  over  a 
large  area  of  the  turf  at  least  showed  that  Lark- 
spurs were  admired  and  well  grown  by  those  in 
charge.  In  this  instance  not  less  than  3  feet 
separated  the  plants,  and  each  bed  being  of  one 
colour  made  the  entire  group  an  admirable  one. 
But  in  the  private  garden,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  on 
a  large  area,  this  way  of  planting  would  hardly  find 
favour.  A  better  way  in  such  instances  will  be  the 
free  grouping  near  belts  of  shrubs,  as,  for  example, 
any  of  the  Laurel  tribe,  whether  of  the  common  or 
Portugal,  and  again  where  the  plants  may  figure 
in  the  foregrouud  of  dark,  sombre  things,  such  as 
the  common  Yew,  though  not  near  enough  to  be 
interfered  with  by  the  many  far-reaching  hungry 
roots,  or  down  a  gentle  slope  whereon  at  slight 
distance  shrubs  or  conifers  appear,  and  with  the 
grass  lawn  in  front  of  all  these.  Larkspurs  will  be 
quite  in  keeping.  In  such  a  spot  little  or  no 
staking  should  be  done,  or  at  least  sufficient 
only  to  ensure  the  safety  of  the  towering  spikes  of 
blossoms  against  rough  winds  and  storms. 

But  there  are  many  places  in  the  garden  where 
these  plants  will  succeed  perfectly.  In  the  flower 
garden  Delphiniums  find  a  place,  and,  again,  in 
large  beds  in  separate  colours  such  plants  will 
make  a  rich  display  till  past  midsummer. 

How  can  we  best  secure  the  finest  display  ? 
Well,  naturallj'  the  answer  would  be  by  generous 
treatment ;  yet  a  fine  display  may  be  obtained 
without  necessarily  having  the  finest  spikes.  In 
all  cases,  however,  to  obtain  the  best  spikes,  the 
soil  must  be  deep  and  good  and  generously  worked 
also.  The  finest  spikes  are  obtained  usually  where 
generous   treatment   is   practised    on   a   deep  and  I 


somewhat  retentive  soil — that  is  to  say,  a  good, 
rather  heavy  loam  is  better  generally  than  a  soil 
excessively  light  and  sandy.  The  best  spikes 
rarely  come  where  a  subsoil  of  chalk  exists,  and 
the  nearer  to  the  surface  so  much  the  worse. 

In  light  or  comparatively  light  soils,  as  may  be 
found  in  this  part  of  the  Thames  Valley,  the 
Delphinium  requires  division  after  flowering  two 
years  in  one  spot.  I  have  seen  it  stated  somewhere 
in  a  contemporary  that  November  is  the  best 
month  for  dividing  and  replanting  these  subjects, 
and  the  statement  was  made  without  qualification 
of  any  kind.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  do  not 
know  a  worse  period  than  November  when  it  is 
suggested  in  a  general  way.  It  may  suit  in  the 
lightest  of  soils,  but  this  is  another  matter.  In 
cold  and  retentive  soils  the  plants  would  lie 
dormant  all  the  winter,  and  the  losses  may 
be  great  indeed,  not  so  much  of  the  entire 
root  perhaps  as  of  decay  in  the  new  crowns, 
which  is  almost  as  disastrous.  My  experience, 
after  a  score  of  years  and  having  propagated  and 
planted  many  thousands,  is  that  the  month  of 
March  is  the  best  for  the  safety  of  the  stock 
generally.  At  this  time  the  new  growth  crowns 
push  away  from  the  rootstock.  Such  plants  will 
go  on  and  flower  somewhat  in  the  same  year,  but 
infinitely  better  a  year  later,  which  may  be  styled 
the  first  flowering.  It  is  mw  too  late  to  be  breaking 
up  the  Delphiniums,  for  the  growth  is  already  a  foot 
high  ;  therefore,  I  will  not  dwell  fully  on  this  part  of 
the  subject,  but  defer  it  to  a  more  seasonable  time. 

But  it  is  still  a  good  time  ;  indeed,  no  better 
could  be  chosen  for  planting  such  as  are  established 
in  pots.  These  young,  often  single,  crowns  may 
appear  small  at  the  outset,  but  in  good  soil  the 
plants  quickly  develop.  Before  planting  the  soil 
should  be  trenched  at  least  2  feet  deep,  or,  if  I  say 
that  it  is  impossible  to  treat  these  things  too  well 
in  the  matter  of  soil  and  of  manuring,  I  shall  have 
placed  the  entire  thing  in  a  nutshell.  To  plant  in 
shallow  and  poor  soils  means  failure,  and  to  plant 
thickly  will  also  bring  about  the  same  result. 
Great  assistance  may  be  given  now  to  the  growing 
plants  by  a  good  dressing  of  manure  being  dug  in 
rather  deeply  and  not  too  close  to  the  roots,  and 
from  this  time  onward  to  the  flowering  period  there 
should  be  no  neglect  of  water  and  liquid  manure  on 
all  occasions  when  dryness  at  the  root  is  expected. 
Few  plants  more  quickly  responil  to  such  generous 
treatment,  and  where  the  plants  have  already  stood 
a  couple  of  seasons  and  flowered  some  such  help  is 
necessary  to  give  the  plants  their  usual  vigour. 

There  are  so  many  fine  things  in  this  group 
that  one  hesitates  in  making  a  selection,  and 
indeed  in  some  respects  they  appear  to  have 
reached  well  nigh  perfection,  in  other  directions 
openings  have  already  appeared  as  the  new  breaks 
shown  in  recent  years  amply  testify.  As  time  goes 
on  these  will  doubtless  be  much  improved  and 
perfected  in  their  purity  of  tone,  an  item  that  brings 
one  to  the  fact  of  seed  raising  and  all  its  attendant 
interest.     Of  this,  however,  more  anon. 

Hampton  Hilt.  E.  H.  J. 


RECENT    PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The  two  concluding  parts,  eleven  and  twelve,  of 
volume  xvi.  of  Liiideiiia  contain  portraits  of  the 
following  eight  Orchids  : — 

CufUiya  Cli/mene. — A  most  beautiful  variety 
with  pure  white  sepals  and  petals  and  a  brilliant 
rosy  purple  lip  with  deeply  undulated  border  and 
pure  white  edge. 

Vaiida  Parisliii.  —  A  handsome  species  with 
yellow  flowers  deeply  and  evenlj'  spotted  with 
brown  and  a  small  rosy  purple  lip. 

lienantliera  inatutina. — The  first  of  this  family 
figured  in  this  work.  It  has  large,  much-branched 
pendulous  racemes  of  narrow-petalled  flowers, 
which  are  deep  red  when  they  first  open  and  turn 
to  orange-brown  before  they  fade. 

Catiteya  miimnria  Blewei. — This  is  a  hybrid 
between  C.  Aclandiic  and  C.  granulosa.  It  has 
green  sepals  and  petals  spotted  with  brown,  a  pure 
white  centre,  and  large  fan-shaped  white  lip  veined 
with  rosy  purple  and  with  an  undulated  edge. 

Ci/pripediiim  S/epmaiiM'. — This  is  a  very  hand- 
Bome  hybrid  showing  some  of  the  characteristics  of 


May  3,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN 


291 


C.  villosura,  C.  insigne,  and  C.  leeanum.  Its 
dorsal  sepal  has  a  pure  white  upper  half,  the 
lower  portion  being  shaded  with  yellow  and  deeply 
veined  and  spotted  with  brown  ;  the  lateral  sepals 
and  slipper  are  yellow  shaded  with  brown. 

Cattleya  lahiala  var.  per/exla. — An  exceedingly 
handsome  variety,  showing  four  large  flowers  of  a 
brilliant  shade  of  rosy  purple  with  a  deep  purple 
lip.  This  fine  hybrid  is  considered  to  be  the 
finest  form  of  C.  labiata  yet  seen. 

Oncidium  rark'csum  var.  moortebeekiense. —  A 
most  beautiful  variety  with  gracefully  arching 
spike  of  deep  yellow  flowers  with  a  clearly  marked 
centre  of  bright  chocolate-brown. 

Di'iidrobiiim  Phalaniopn^  (Fitz  -  Gerald)  oar. 
Lindenia'. — This  is  perhaps  the  most  delicately 
beautiful  member  of  the  family  to  which  it  belongs. 
It  produces  a  pendulous  raceme  of  large  pure  white 
flowers  with  a  lip  gracefully  veined  and  pencilled 
with  violet.  The  throat  and  tube  of  the  lip  is  of 
a  delicate  sulphur-yellow. 

The  second  number  of  Rerue  Horticolt  for  April 
gives  a  pretty  group  of  three  varieties  o{  Saint- 
paulia  ionantha  or  Violet  of  Usambara.  The 
colours  are  pure  white,  reddish  pnrple,  and  violet. 

W.    E     GUMBLETON. 


BOOKS. 


The  Royal  Gardens,  Kew.*— This  is 

a  pleasant  book  about  Kew.  It  would  be  difficult 
to  write  a  book  that  was  not  pleasant  about  so 
beautiful  a  place,  especially  at  this  season,  when  the 


Daffodils  are  rivers  of  bloom  in  grassy  glades  and 
the  Bluebells  make  a  blue  carpet  everywhere.  The 
book,  if  such  it  may  be  called,  consists  of  about 
thirty  large  photographic  reproductions  of  some  of 
the  chief  features  of  interest  in  the  Royal  Gardens, 
with  brief  notes  by  the  director.  It  is  certainly  a 
delightful  souvenir  of  the  finest  botanic  gardens  in 
the  world,  well  got  up  in  every  way,  and  a  charm- 
ing present.  It  may  be  bought  at  the  gates  as  well 
as  from  the  publishers. 

We  reproduce  one  of  the  illustrations ;  it 
shows  the  Queen's  cottage  grounds  in  Bluebell 
time.  Of  course  a  photograph  gives  no  idea 
whatever  of  the  misty  sea  of  blue  in  May  in 
this  sequestered  retreat,  kept  sacred  to  bird  and 
flower  life. 

These  grounds,  with  the  Queen's  cottage, 
were  opened  to  the  public  by  direction  of  the 
late  Queen  Victoria,  May  1,  1899.  There  is  no 
more  beautiful  spot  in  the  Royal  Gardens  at  this 
time  than  these  restful  glades  of  flowers,  and  we 
hope  the  director  will  continue  to  safeguard  it 
from  the  inroads  of  visitors  ;  at  present  it  is  roped 
off,  and  wisely  too. 

Kew  becomes  more  and  more  a  resort  for  the 
thousands  of  toiling  workers  in  the  city,  brought 
hither  by  tube  and  electric  tram.  No  one 
grudges  the  visitors  full  enjoyment  of  the  sylvan 
beauties  of  Kew,  but  there  is  reason  in  all 
things.  To  roam  at  will  through  these  glades  and 
shrubberies  would  be  to  disturb  the  birds  and 
destroy  the  flowers. 


*  "  The  Eoyal  Gardens,  Kew."  With  notes  by  Sir  W. 
Thiselton-Dyer,  Director  of  Kew,  and  photographs  by 
B.  .7.  Wallis.    Price  33.  6d.    London  :  Effingham  and  Wilson. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN, 


VINES     GROWN 
ANNUALS. 


AS 


THOSE  who  require  very  early  Grapes 
and  do  not  wish  to  force  a  large  quan- 
tity may  with  advantage  plant  small 
houses  or  pits  with  young  rods,  as  this 
is  the  way  to  get  very  early  Grapes 
with  less  expense  and  trouble  than 
with  a  large  house.  Much  the  same  results  would 
follow  pot  culture  as  regards  earliness,  but  after 
many  years'  trial,  both  with  pots  and  young  Vines 
planted  out,  I  find  those  grown  as  annuals  and 
only  one  crop  t.iken  from  them  are  more  satisfac- 
tory, the  yield  is  larger  both  in  berrj'  and  bunch, 
and  there  is  less  labour  in  feeding  and  watering. 
Requiring  a  good  quantity  of  early  Grapes,  I 
usually  have  four  small  pits  of  young  Vines.  Two 
are  fruiting,  and  the  other  two  growing  on  for 
another  season.  The  Vines  being  grown  in  narrow 
borders,  the  roots  can  be  assisted  more  readily  in 
the  way  of  bottom-heat.  This  is  an  important 
point.  Double  the  weight  of  fruit  can  be  got 
from  Vines  planted  out  than  from  those  in  pots, 
and  the  labour  is  less.  Even  when  pot  Vines  are 
grown  it  is  necessary  to  give  bottom-heat  to  get  a 
good  break. 

With  regard  to  the  culture  of  Vines  as  annuals 
it  has  been  practised  at  Syon  for  many  years,  but 
formerly  a  much  larger  border  was  given,  and  at 
times  the  Vines  were  cropped  twice — that  is,  two 
years  in   succession — but  we  now   believe    there 


BLUEBELL  TIME   liN    TUB   QUEEN'S  COTIAGB   GROUNDS    liEW. 


092 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  3,  1902. 


is  no  advantage  in  keeping  Vines  a  second  season. 
I  admit  that  fruit  may  be  had  earlier,  but  the 
bunches  and  berries  are  small  and  the  crop  poor 
compared  to  the  first  one.  If  the  age  of  the 
plants  be  considered  — and  I  use  Vines  a  jear  old — 
they  can  scarcelj'  be  termed  annuals,  but  the  term 
is  applied  to  the  plant  after  being  planted.  Then 
they  are  only  one  year  in  their  permanent  quarters, 
and  even  with  Vines  grow  ii  as  annuals  there  are 
two  distinct  ways  of  culture.  One  is  to  plant 
strong  canes  as  soon  as  the  Vines  that  have  fruited 
are  cleared  out,  and  grow  on  rapidly.  I  cannot 
do  this  at  Syon,  as  the  new  wood  does  not  ripen 
suthciently  to  force  early,  so  that  I  adopt  the 
plan  of  forcing  hard  one  year,  clearing  out  the 
Vjnes,  sav,  at  the  end  of  May,  and  then  growing 
crops  of  Melons  to  fill  out  the  season.  It  will  be 
seen,  therefore,  that  our  Vines  are  longer  in  making 
their  gr()wth  than  in  more  favoured  localities  where 
there  is  more  sunlight. 

The  borders  in  which  the  Vines  are  grown 
average  2  feet  deep  and  \ih  feet  wide,  and  the  best 
results  are  olitaiiitd  in  some  old  Pine  pits.  Here 
ihn  oii.;inal  bed  for  plunging  was  <i  feet  in  width, 
'A  feet  ileep,  and  the  portion  not  converted  into  the 
narrow  Vine  border  is  filled  in  (JL-tober  with  fresh 
leaves  and  manure,  the  roots  getting  the  moist 
bottom-heat  they  like.  In  other  pits  we  have  a 
slightly  wider  bed  and  bottom-heat  underneath 
from  hot-water  pipes,  but  more  moisture  is  required 
both  when  growing  the  Vines  after  planting  and 
when  in  fruit.  As  the  borders  are  shallow  they 
ri  quire  much  moisture,  the  roots  soon  feeling  the 
effects  of  drought.  When  planting  make  the 
borders  as  firm  as  possible  by  ramming  well. 
Select  the  varieties  Black  Hamburgh  and  Foster's 
Seedling ;  the  last  named  does  not  break  so  soon 
as  the  Hamburgh,  but  when  the  berries  are  set  it 
soon  makes  up  for  lost  time.  No  white  <irape  is 
tqual  to  it  for  hard  forcing.  Many  good  Vine 
growers  differ  about  the  planting.  ,Some  advise 
planting  out  without  disturbing  the  roots,  but 
much  depends  upon  the  house  and  culture.  If  the 
ej'es  from  the  start  are  grown  on  freely  and  not 
allowed  to  becone  too  much  pot-bound,  there  is  i  o 
need  to  shake  out  the  roots  again.  If  the  Vines  to 
gain  time  had  been  potted  on  and  what  is  termed 
"  forwarded,"  then  they  may  be  planted  and  well 
rammed  round,  but  if  cut-back  Vines  are  planted, 
.saj',  early  in  the  year,  and  the  Vines  only  just 
breaking,  I  advise  spreading  out  the  roots,  making 
them  as  firm  as  possible.  I  have  also  planted  out 
voung  Vines  that  had  been  grown  from  the  start 
in  bo.'ies,  merely  destroying  the  bo.\es,  and  filling 
in  round  the  roots  after  being  placed  in  positicju. 
Whatever  plan  is  ailopted,  get  a  strong,  healthy 
p'ant  and  good  roots,  a  well-ripened  cane,  and  the 
wood  ripened  as  early  as  possible.  Much  harder 
foicing  may  be  practised  than  with  older  Vines 
needed  for  future  crops,  and  a  much  heavier  crop 
can  be  had  from  canes  specially  grown.  Our  Vine 
rods  are  from  (i  feet  to  8  feet  long,  and  average 
eight  bunches  each.  (!.   Wythes. 


made  use  of  is  rough  stable  litter  from  which  the 
manure  has  been  shaken.  This  is  beneficial  in 
another  way  than  as  a  protection,  for  the  ammonia 
remaining  in  the  litter  is  washed  down  by  spring 
showers,  thus  leaving  the  litter  a?  clean  and  sweet 
as  new  straw  by  the  time  the  fruits  reach  a  good 
size.  Where  large  quantities  of  weeds  are  annually 
apt  to  appear,  this  stable  litter  must  not  be  put 
on  too  early,  but  the  alleys  between  the  rows  of 
Strawberries  should  be  run  over  two  or  three  times 
with  a  Dutch  hoe  on  sunn\'  or  windy  days  before 
putting  on  the  litter,  otherwise  the  weeds  will 
push  through  and  become  a  great  nuisance,  for  the 
hoe  could  not  then  be  used. 
Stoni'hiijK.  H.  T.  Martin. 


MANURING   STRAWBERRIES. 

The  Strawberry  as  grown  in  the  open  air  requires 
well  mamning.  Some  growers  dress  the  beds  with 
farmyard  manure  in  autunni  or  winter,  and  auch  a 
dressintr  is  doubtless  of  value,  but  how  much  more 
beneficial  to  the  plant  must  be  an  application  of 
manure  given  just  as  the  plant  is  starting  to  make 
new  growth?  The  roots  are  then  waiting,  as  it 
were,  to  take  up  some  kind  of  stimulant  to  assist 
in  building  up  a  strong  plant  that  will  at  no 
distant  date  produce  a  wealth  of  flowers  and  fruit. 
To  increase  the  vigour  of  the  plants  at  this  time  is 
to  ensure  the  production  {if  other  conditions  are 
favourable)  of  strong  trusses  of  flowers,  and  the 
stronger  these  are  the  better  are  the  chances  of 
obtaining  large  and  luscious  fruit. 

In  the  majority  of  gardens  there  is  a  tank  to 
receive  the  drainings  from  stables  or  cow  sheds, 
and  as  large  quantities  have  not  been  used  during 
the  winter  months  it  may  well  be  applied  (when 
diluted  slightly)  to  the  Strawberry  beds  at  this 
time.  To  prevent  the  fruit  from  becoming  soiled 
later  in  the  season  various  materials  are  used  for 
placing  around  the  plants,  but  that  now  generally 


PLUM   REIXE   CLAUDE   VIOLETTE. 

This  Plum,  though  of  small  size,  is  one  of  the 
richest  flavoured  in  cultivation,  and  should  be 
grown  in  every  garden.  It  may  be  grown  either 
against  an  east  or  west  wall — the  latter  for  pre- 
ference—and, being  of  rather  weak  growth,  it 
should  be  mulched  with  short  manure  early  in  the 
summer  and  receive  several  good  waterings  with 
liquid  maiuire.  It  crops  enormousl}',  and  the  fruit 
is  produced  in  clusters.  It  is  deep  purple  in  colour 
and  covered  with  a  dense  bloom,  the  flavour  being 
exceedingl}'  rich  and  sugary.  If  protected  from 
birds  it  will  hang  on  the  tree  a  long  time,  and 
when  slightly  shrivelled  forms  a  delicious  sweet- 
meat. Young  trees  should  not  be  cropped  too 
heavily  for  a  few  years.  .1.  Crawford. 


high  up,  at  least  the  mass  of  roots  was  far  too 
bulky  to  admit  of  planting  sufficiently  deep  to 
cover  the  union  ami  therebj'  encourage  roots  from 
that  point,  although  I  think  it  somewhat  doubtful 
whether  roots  would  be  produced  directly  from 
the  plant  above  the  union,  as  would  be  the  case  in 
many  other  plants  so  grafted.  Of  course  I  am 
aware  that  to  obtain  plants  by  layering  we  must 
first  grow  plants  sufficiently  large  to  layer  from, 
and  this  is  a  tedious  matter  so  far  as  this  country 
is  concerned.  I  have,  however,  no  doubt  that  the 
•lapanese  have  plants  large  enough  for  this  purpose, 
and  it  would  be  far  better  for  them  to  charge  a 
little  more  per  plant  than  to  graft  and  sell  them  at 
lOd.  and  is.  each  and  disappoint  their  customers, 
as  is  now  the  case.  Tho.mas  Arno[.i>. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

( The,  Kditor-i  are  not   respoiviihle   for  the  opiinom 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  J 


GRAFTING  TREE  PEONIES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SI  R; — The  evil  of  grafting  Tree  P.-eonies  is 
one  more  instance  of  the  abuse  of  this 
method  of  propagation.  We  see  it  on 
every  hand  as  we  pass  amongst  the  hardy 
shrubs  and  other  plants.  Recently  I  was 
looking  at  a  group  of  Genistas,  all  of 
which  are  grafted  on  the  common  Laburnum,  and 
to  keep  this  all  too  vigorous  stock  in  check  one  has 
to  cut  the  stock  away  annually,  and  even  then  the 
plants  often  succumb.  Another  instance  is  grafting 
that  lovely  shrub,  Prunus  triloba,  on  the  Myrobalan 
or  Mussell  stock,  which  is  sure  to  kill  it  in  a  few 
year.=.  Still  another  mistake  is  grafting  Lilac  on 
the  broad-leafed  Privet,  which  is  evergreen,  while 
the  Lilac  is  deciduous.  One  is  antagonistic  to  the 
other,  and  it  is  impossible  to  keep  the  Privet  in 
check  do  what  one  will.  This  persists  in  throwing 
up  shoots  in  all  directions. 

For  several  years  my  employer  has  been  anxious 
to  get  together  a  collection  of  Tree  Piconies,  and 
some  two  years  since  we  received  a  collection  direct 
from  Japan.  Tliey  were  a  shabby  lot  to  say  the 
least,  and  I  could  see  from  the  way  they  were 
worked  and  the  abundance  of  vigorous  roots  of  the 
common  purple  stock  that  they  were  not  likely  to 
be  a  success.  As  soon  as  they  were  unpacked  they 
were  carefully  potted  and  placed  in  a  cool,  shady 
place.  Growth  soon  commenced,  and  all  went  well 
for  a  time.  The  following  spring  the  stock  asserted 
itself  in  the  most  masterly  way,  and  since  then 
there  has  been  constant  war  between  knife  and 
stock.  But  under  such  circumstances  how  can  one 
reasonably  look  for  any  degree  of  success  ? 

Why  not  layer  Tree  Pa-onies?  I  have  seen  this 
done.  They  take  a  couple  of  years  to  form  sutfi- 
cient  roots  to  be  parted  from  the  parent  plant,  but 
one  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  one  has 
the  genuine  article,  as  well  as  a  much  larger  plant, 
which  will  soon  become  established.  I  have  several 
plants  giown  from  layers  which  are  excellent  in 
every  way.  Mr.  Peter  Barr  mentions  the  great 
demand  in  .Japan  for  these  plants,  and  the  limit  of 
three  buds  per  plant.  The  plants  we  received  from 
.Japan  were  all  limited  to  two  and  three,  none  more 
than  three,  and  each  was  worked  in  the  most 
clumsy  manner  possible.      They  were  worked  too 


[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  note  on  page  102  of  The  Garden, 
Februarj'  1."),  that  the  Rev.  Canon  Ellacombe 
wishes  to  know  something  about  the  grafting  of 
Tree  Peonies  in  .Japan.  The  principal  place  where 
Pitonia  arborea  is  raised  and  propagated  in  .Japan 
is  the  village  of  Ikedanear  Osaka.  The  usml  mode 
of  propagating  there  is  that  they  graft  upon  the 
roots  of  a  wild  variety  of  P;eonia  arborea,  which 
bears  a  purplish  pinkish  tinted  single  flower.  I  say 
wild  variet}',  which  is  perhaps  not  correct,  for  it 
does  not  grow  wild,  but  is  cultivated  just  for  the 
purpose  of  grafting  upon.  The  roots  of  this  stock 
are  very  flesh j'  and  somewhat  over  a  fo'^t  long. 
The  process  of  grafting  is  very  simple,  and  is  done 
during  the  months  of  September  and  October.  In 
order  to  protect  the  graft  against  breakage  and 
make  it  take  more  quickly  the  growers  there 
stick  a  piece  of  Bamboo  piping  around  the  graft, 
which  they  fill  with  earth,  and  the  Bamboo  piping 
itself  sticks  in  the  earth,  so  it  is  perfectl}'  firm.  In 
February  or  March  the  grafts  are  generally  well 
grown  together  and  the  Bamboo  pipes  removed, 
and  the  proper  culture  begins,  consisting  of 
manuring  the  plants  and  keeping  them  free  from 
wild  suckers  and  weeds.  Alfred  Unger. 


PRUNING   OR    NOT  PRUNING  FRUIT 

TREES. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — Evidently  the  deduction  to  be  drawn  from 
the  correspondence  and  controversy  in  refpect  to 
the  pruning  or  non-pruning  of  >oung  Apple  trees 
is  that  those  who  plant  in  "  the  bright  freshness 
of  morning,"  with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  "  years 
good  store,"  or  with  an  altruistic  view  to  posterity, 
should  prune  and  thus  secure  large  trees  and  vast 
crops  in  the  future,  while  others  who  sufi'er  either 
from  brevity  of  land  tenure  or  the  "disease  Anno 
Domini,"  and  who  want  immediate  results,  should 
leave  the  knife  alone. 

I  am  one  of  the  latter.  Some  si.v  years  or  so  ago 
I  planted  a  great  many  young  trees,  being  curious 
to  test  a  lot  of  the  newer  varieties.  I  let  them 
alone  and  have  had  large  and  continuous  crops  from 
them  ever  since.  Of  course  I  feed  them  with  the 
utmost  liberalit}'.  With  two  exceptions  they  have 
grown  but  little,  but  I  did  not  want  them  to  grow. 
If  they  hiid  done  so  they  would  have  been  less 
crowded.  1  wanted  fruit,  and  I  got  it.  The  two 
kinds  that  have  grown,  I  may  say  luxuriantly  in 
spite  of  good  crops,  are  Bismarck  and  liramley's 
Seedling,  both  first-rate  varieties,  Bramley's 
keeping  much  the  later. 

I  wish  some  one  would  tell  us  whether  Newton 
Wonder — so  much  praised  in  a  late  number  of 
The  G.^ruen— succeeds  in  a  cold  damp  climate.  I 
am  afraid  of  it,  as  I  believe  Cox's  Orange  Pippin  is 
one  of  its  parents,  and  its  produce  with  me  is  small, 
stunted,  and  cracked.  I  have  now  put  it  against 
a  wall  and  await  the  result  with  curiositj-. 

Counti/  Carait.  D.  K. 

CATERPILLARS    AND    PEONIES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — Mr.  P.  Barr's  note  (page'23.5)  under  this  head 
is  interesting  to  me.  The  corpim  di/irii  which 
formed  the  subject  of  the  inquisition  of  the 
scientific   committee   of   the    Royal   Horticultural 


May  3,  1901] 


THE  GARDM. 


263 


Society  on  February  11  last,  came  from  my 
garden.  Mr.  Wilks  kindly  sent  me  full  infor- 
mation about  him.  He  is,  it  seems,  known  to 
science  as  Hepialm  Huniidi,  and  is  the  larva  of  the 
moth  usually  called  the  gliost  moth.  The  brute 
In  question  has  a  yellowish- white  body  with  a  brown 
head,  and  has  some  general  likeness  to  the  larva  of 
the  cockchafer,  which  appears  to  have  the  same 
tastes  in  the  matter  of  food,  for  Mr.  Wilks  tells 
me  that  this  latter  grub  has  done  for  his  Pasonies 
what  Hepiahi^  Hamuli  has  done  for  mine.  Mr. 
Wilks'  experience  (and,  as  I  should  infer,  also  Mr. 
Barr's)  agrees  with  mine  that  these  pests  attack 
only  choice  species  of  Paaony,  such  as  the  varieties 
of  P.  albifloraand  P.  wittmauniana,  which  I  almost 
lost  from  the  same  cause.  I  have  lately  discovered 
that  this  same  enemy  has  been  destroying  also  some 
plants  of  Campanula  carpatica,  which  I  noticed 
last  year  were  dwindling  and  dying  out.  I  have 
since  had  occasion  to  dig  them  up,  and  it  seems 
likely  they  have  done  the  same  for  some  strong 
clumps  of  the  pale  blue  and  white  varieties  of 
C.  turbinata,  which  I  see  have  entirely  disappeared 
since  last  year.  My  garden  is  surrounded  by 
Hop  gardens,  and  Hepialus  Humuli,  as  the  name 
indicates,  is  the  Hop  grub,  but,  nevertheless,  I 
cannot  find  that  any  of  my  friends  and  neighbours 
who  are  interested  in  Hop  cultivation  recognise  it 
as  an  enemy.  J.  Carrington  Ley. 


THE    AVISTARIA. 

Wistaria  time  is  approaching,  and  with  me 
one  of  the  most  pleasant  seasons  of  the  year. 
A  few  noble  examples  may  be  seen  in  the 
suburbs  of  London,  especially  at  Kew,  where 
the  trees  must  be  a  great  age,  while  quite  a 
fine  plant  is  in  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  also. 
What  may  be  achieved  with  this  plant  if  some 
attention  to  its  needs  were  forthcoming  is  not 
clear,  for  most  of  the  Wistarias  we  see  from 
time  to  time  shift  for  themselves,  and  by  the 
position  they  occupy  must  have  large  numbers 
of  their  roots  in  dusty,  dry  soil.  In  former 
days  it  was  always  the  custom  to  plant  this 
fine  climber  at  the  base  of  the  dwelling-house 
wall,  but  now,  with  a  fuller  knowledge  of  its 
robust  growth,  its  widely  extending  branches, 
and  equally  its  wide-rooting  capacity,  other 
positions  may  with  advantage  be  secured  for 
it.  One  example  may  be  seen  at  Kew,  where 
a  fine  plant  covers  a  huge  cage-like  structure. 
Another  good  way  would  be  to  plant  it  to  ran 
over  pergolas,  and  with  Clematis  to  succeed 
the  Wistaria,  the  effect  would  be  distinctly 
good.  R.  B.  A. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

PLANTING  OUT  EARLY-FLOWEKING 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

A  LTHOUGH  the  plants  are  somewhat  later 

/%  than  usual  in  becoming  established  and 

/   %  fit  for  planting  outdoors  there  is  plenty 

/      %        of  time  for  the  work.  The  young  plants 

£  \_     ia  3-inch  pots  are  sturdy,  the  earliest 

batch  being  in  4:i-inch  pots,  and  now 

well   hardened    off.      The  latter  will    be   planted 

in  their  flowering  quarters  at  once,  and  be  given 

the  warmer   and   more  protected   quarter  of   the 

garden.      A   late  April  planting  in   a   warm   and 

less   open   position    answers    admirably   when   an 

early  batch  of  plants  can  be  got  for  the  purpose. 

By  these  means  plants  of  splendid  proportion  may 

be  developed   by  the  flowering   period,  and  their 

season    of     flowering     may    also    be    somewhat 

extended. 

In  cold  and  exposed  situations,  and  with  such 
positions  one  is  familiar,  there  is  always  a  tendency 
to  hurry  forward  the  planting.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances defer  planting  until  the  third  week  in 
May.  As  a  rule,  by  this  time  the  weather  is  very 
genial,  and  the  risk  of  damage  by  late  frosts 
remjte.    Of  course  the  varieties  differ  oonsidei'ably 


in  vigour  and  hardiness.  As  an  instance  we  may 
take  the  plants  of  the  Mme.  Marie  Masse  group. 
Here  we  have  typical  representatives  of  what  a 
border  Chrysanthemum  should  be.  They  are 
robust,  branching  in  growth,  rarely,  if  ever,  exceed 
a  height  of  3  feet,  and  remarkably  profuse.  Of  all 
the  early  varieties  left  in  the  open  border  during 
the  winter  the  plants  of  Mme.  Marie  Masse  and 
its  progeny  appear  to  suffer  little  or  no  incon- 
venience from  the  frosts  and  soddened  condition  of 
the  soil.  Numerous  instances  could  be  given  as  a 
contrast  to  that  of  the  variety  already  described. 
What  one  could  successfully  do  with  plants  of  the 
excellent  sorts  above-mentioned  it  would  be  most 
unwise  to  do  with  others.  Take  Mychett  White, 
as  an  instance.  This  is  one  of  the  mostbeautiful 
of  the  early-flowering 
white  .Japanese  varie- 
ties, but  must  not  have 
the  same  treatment  as 
Mme.  Marie  Masse  and 
other  strong  growers. 
For  this  reason,  there- 
fore, the  planting  out- 
doors of  the  weaker 
growing  varieties  may 
well  be  deferred  until 
May.  Exception  may 
be  taken  to  this  advice, 
but  from  personal  ex- 
perience in  a  garden  in 
a  cold  and  exposed 
situation  1  am  satisfied 
it  is  the  better  course 
to  follow. 

The  stronger  growing 
varieties,  especially 
those  of  branching 
growth,  should  be 
planted  3  feet  apart 
either  way,  as  long 
before  the  flowering 
period  has  arrived  most 
of  thespaces  intervening 
should  be  well  filled  up. 

The  Japanese  varie- 
ties, as  a  rule,  are 
represented  by  larger 
plants  than  the  Pom- 
pon. A  space  between 
plants  of  the  latter  type 
of  the  Chrysanthemum, 
of  some  2A  feet,  should 
be  allowed  in  each 
instance,  this  satisfying 
the  needs,  with  a  few 
exceptions,  of  the  whole 
of  the  catalogued  varie- 
ties. The  exceptions 
are  Mrs.  CuUingford, 
ifiss  Davis  (sport  from 
the  former),  Lyon, 
Alice  Butcher  (sport 
from  the  last-named), 
Yellow  Gem,  and  Pre- 
cocile.  Plant  firmly  and 
in  exposed  situations, 
giving  the  young  plants 
a  small  Hazel  stake  for 
support. 

Some  writers  advo- 
cate liberal  dressing  of 

the  ground  with  manure  at  the  time  of  deeply  tilling 
it,  but  in  the  experience  of  many  growers,  and  this 
I  can  heartily  support,  such  treatment  has  a 
tendency  to  develop  coarse  growth.  A  moderate 
dressing  of  well-decayed  manure  answers  well. 

D.  B.  Crane. 


Peach  blossom — literal  and  figurative — has  been,  is 
now,  and  will  be  for  some  while  to  come  very  much 
in  evidence  at  Kew.  One  of  the  earliest  of  the 
Peaches,  the  Chinese  Prunus  davidiana,  began  to 
open  its  flowers  in  January,  but  owing  to  the 
check  of  severe  weather  was  not  fully  in  bloom  till 
towards  the  middle  of  February.  It  is  valuable  in 
both  its  forms  of  pink  and  white,  not  only  for  its 
early  flowering  but  also  for  this  good  quality  of 
keeping  itself  in  reserve  for  better  times,  even 
when  far  advanced,  if  the  season  proves  itself 
unfavourable.  In  March  came  the  rosy  flush  of 
Almond  blossom — as  much  the  harbinger  of  spring 
in  suburban  districts  as  the  Violet  and  the  Prim- 
rose of  country  lanes — and  so  lavish  is  the  Almond 
of  its  frail  flowers  that  the  very  stems  sometimes 


KEW^     NOTES. 

Peach  Blossom. 
When  botanists,  under  the  generic  name  of 
Prunus,  include  not  only  Plums  but  such  distinct 
trees  as  Almonds,  Peaches,  Apricots,  and 
Cherries,  and  even  the  evergreen  Laurels  as  well, 
gardeners  may  reasonably  be  absolved  from  em- 
ploying the  all  -  embracing  euphony  of  Peach 
blossom   for  the  flowers  of   the  same   tribe,  and 


wistaria  sinensis. 

cannot  forbear  to  put  forth  clusters  of  pink.  But 
Almond  blossom  passed  quickly  away,  and  in  the 
middle  of  April  the  true  flowering  Peaches  took 
their  place.  A  wall  or  orchard  house  when  the 
fruit  trees  are  in  flower  is  always  a  charming  sight, 
but  the  flowering  varieties,  double  as  well  as 
single,  which  are  not  expected  to  fruit,  have 
greater  decorative  value,  and  the  standard  or  bush 
form  in  which  most  of  them  are  grown  at  Kew 
heightens  their  general  effect.  A  large  bed  of 
grouped  varieties  coming  into  flower  is  beautiful 
just  now  in  tlieir  mingled  shades  of  brilliant 
colour,  ranging  from  pink  to  carmine-red.  A  form 
named  magnifica  is  peculiarly  bright  and  may  be 
found  planted  singly  in  many  other  positions. 
Doubtless  these  flowering  Peaches  may  be  delicate 
enough  to  require  a  certain  amount  of  thelter,  but 


294 


THE    GARt)E:N. 


[May  3,  190^. 


it  is  well  that  they  should  be  recalled  to  the  minds 
of  any  who  are  making  out  lists  of  desirable  trees 
for  planting  in  shrubberies  or  detached  groups. 

Apricots  are  represented  by  more  than  one 
species.  P.  Munie  is  a  handsome  early-flowering 
kind  which  comes  from  Japan,  where  it  has  been 
taken  in  hand  by  the  hybridists,  and  has  broken 
into  a  number  of  varieties,  some  of  which  are  a 
good  deal  better  than  others.  It  is  also  one  of  the 
trees  successfully  subjected  to  dwarfing  treatment 
by  the  Japanese,  with  whom  it  is  in  high  favour 
for  temple  and  domestic  decoration.  With  us 
P.  Mume  is  invaluable  with  other  early  species  of 
Prunus  for  the  conservatory,  as  the  mere  shelter 
of  glass  suffices  to  bring  them  into  dower  some 
weeks  before  those  that  are  planted  out  of  doors, 
while  they  last  in  perfection,  if  protected,  for  a 
much  longer  time.  Of  all  the  Apricot  section, 
however,  P.  triloba  is  by  far  the  most  noteworthy. 
A  long-established  specimen  against  a  south  wall 
in  the  gardens  is  a  picture  not  easy  to  put  into 
words.  A  Persian  might  be  excused  for  spreading 
his  carpet  before  it  and  finding  a  fit  ideal  for 
reverent  homage.  One  wonders  why  such  delight- 
ful and  easily  grown  plants  are  not  more  often  seen 
in  our  gardens.  A  wall  is  not  essential  to  the 
well  doing  of  this  fine  species,  for  it  is  quite  hardy, 
but  it  conduces  probably  to  the  better  ripening  ai 
the  wood,  for  it  is  not  always  covered  with  so 
queenly  a  mantle  of  rose-pink  when  grown  in  bush 
form. 

Plums,  taken  as  a  whole,  are  scarcely  so  orna- 
mental in  flower  as  their  congeners.  P.  Pissardi 
with  dark  purple  foliage  is  well  known  and  has 
been  largelj-  planted  of  late  years.  Bushes  of  the 
typical  P.  cerasifolia  are  very  pretty  with  their 
fresh,  bronze-coloured  leaves,  with  here  and  there 
a  white  flowei'.  The  double  form  ®f  P.  spinosa— 
our  common  Blackthorn— with  bare  branches  com- 
pletely covered  with  small  fiat  snow-white  flowers, 
almost  Daisy-like  in  effect,  is  singularly  good.  It 
may  confidently  be  recommended  for  positions 
where  its  low  growth  and  profuse  flowering  at  this 
season  would  make  it  valuable. 

When  Peach  blossom  proper  is  over.  Cherries, 
which  are  full  of  bud,  will  take  their  turn,  and  we 
may  safely  reckon  that  during  the  first  five  months 
of  the  year  our  gardens  may  l)e  made  the  brighter 
by  one  or  other  of  this  beautiful  tribe  of  Prunus. 

Though  belonging  to  a  different  division  of  the 
.same  order  of  Rosacea  Amelanohier  canadensis 
must  not  be  allowed  to  pass  unnoticed.  It  is  a 
small  tree,  not  more  than  8  feet  or  10  feet  in 
height,  with  somewhat  weeping  branches,  the 
graceful  curves  of  which  are  veiled,  not  hidden,  by 
crowds  of  small  white  flowers  in  drooping  racemes, 
which  are  produced  before  the  leaves.  Nothing 
can  be  more  beautiful  in  its  way  than  the  silvery  I 
green  of  the  countless  budding  sprays,  as  they  I 
gradually  swell  into  flowering  size,  until  at  length  ' 
the  whole  is  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  white  blossom. 
In  autumn  the  leaves  become  brightly  tinted,  and 
from  the  hanging  bunches  of  purplish  fruit  the 
tree  goes  by  the  familiar  name  of  Grape  Pear,  so 
that  it  is  altogether  a  desirable  addition  to  any 
good  garden. 

Kew,  with  its  myriads  of  Daff'odils  in  the  grass, 
its  formal  beds  of  early  bulbs  in  all  their  bright 
colours,  and  its  Peach  blossom  and  Magnolia 
flowers  overhead,  gives  just  now  a  notable  example 
of  spring  gardening. 


being  carefully  hardened  off  plunge  the  plants  in  a 
sheltered  position  out  of  doors  in  a  bed  of  ashes. 
Afford  them  a  little  protection  at  night  until  the 
foliage  becomes  hardened.  Hybrid  Perpetual 
varieties  after  flowering  must  not  be  pruned,  but 
placed  out  of  doors  in  a  sunny  position  until 
autumn.  Water,  syringe,  and  keep  clean,  for  the 
ripening  of  the  wood  for  next  season's  flowering  is 
one  of  the  chief  points  in  the  successful  cultivation 
of  Roses  under  glass. 

Beooma  Gi.oire  de  Lorraine 
and  other  fibrous-rooted  Begonias,  as  becomes 
necessary,  should  be  transferred  into  3-inch  pots 
and  given  a  position  near  the  glass  in  a  house  or 
pit  having  a  temperature  of  about  6.-)".  Syringe 
them  and  shade  from  strong  sunshine,  removing  all 
flowers  as  soon  as  they  appear.  Begonia  Gloire  de 
Lorraine  and  its  varieties,  as  far  as  my  experience 
goes,  should  be  grown  in  a  warm  temperature  until 
they  come  into  flower,  when  they  may  be  gradually 
inured  to  cooler  conditions.  We  are  now  inserting 
our  main  batch  of  cuttings.  In  about  three  weeks 
these  cuttings  will  have  rooted  and  should  be 
placed  on  a  stage  covered  with  ashes  in  a  low 
span-roofed  house.  Here  they  are  kept  until  the 
flowering  period.  By  shutting  up  early  very  little 
flre-heat  will  be  wanted  to  keep  up  the  required 
temperature.  There  is  no  better  safeguard  against 
an  attack  of  thrips  than  by  keeping  the  plants 
growing  vigorously. 

Gardenias. 
Cuttings  that  were  put  in  as  advised  should  now 
be  growing,  and  may  be  pinched  occasionally  and 
kept  near  the  glass  in  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere. 
Liberal  syringings  will   be  necessary  until  growth 
is    completed.      Cuttings    may    still    be    inserted 
should  a  batch  of  successional  plants  be  required. 
Bouvardias. 
Rooted  cuttings   may   be  potted  in  a  mixture  of 
turfy  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand.     Place  the  plants 
in  a   frame   having  a  temperature  of   about  611^, 
syringing  them  daily.     Attention  should  be  paid 
to  pinching  the  young  shoots  ;  ventilate  freely  in 
favourable  weather. 

Ferns. 
Stove  Ferns  are  now  growing  well  and  should 
have  plenty  of  water  at  the  roots,  and  also  atmos- 
pheric moisture.  Adiantums,  Gymnogrammas,  or 
other  species  witn  powdery  or  hairy  fronds  should 
not  be  syringed.  Too  much  heat  and  shade  is 
hurtful  to  many  Ferns.  John  Fleming. 

irf.t7ia»i  Park-  Gardens,  Slouyli. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

The  Rose  House. 

PERMANENT  climbing  Roses  that  have 
flowered  should  have  all  superfluous  and 
weak  growths  removed,  the  vigorous 
flowering  shoots  slightly  shortened,  and 
the  best  growth  for  future  flowering 
neatly  tied  in.  Afford  liberal  applica- 
tions of  liquid  manure  and  freely  syringe  the 
foliage  ill  bright  weather.  Tea  and  Hvbrid  Tea- 
scented  Roses  in  pots  that  are  out  of  flower  may 
have  their  flowering  shoots  shortened,  and  after 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

French  Beans. 

Little  difficulty  will  be  found  now  in  keeping  up 

a  "ood  supply  of  this  much-appreciated  vegetable 

where  a  reasonable  amount  of  glass  is  at  command. 

Very  little  fire-heat  will  be  required,  except  during 

cold   nights.     Thorough  syringings  of  the  foliage 

should  be  given  twice  daily  to  ward  off  attacks  of 

red   spider ;     close    the   ventilators   early   in    the 

afternoon,  and  apply  manure  water  to  the  roots  at 

every   other   watering.      Excellent   crops    can    be 

assured   by   planting   out    young   plants    in    cold 

frames  and  admitting  abundance  of  air  whenever 

the  weather   will    allow,   and   later   on,    when   it 

is    safe    to    do    so,    remove    the   lights    entirely. 

Thus   treated   an    unbroken   supply   will   be  had. 

For  planting  in  the  open  the  first  plants  should 

be  raised   under   glass    in   quite    cold    structures, 

either  in  boxes  or  small  pots,  and   transplant  in 

a   warm  sheltered   part  of   the   garden   any   time 

after   the  20th  of   the   month.     These   will   coin- 

mence  to  bear  much  more  quickly  than  if  sown  in 

the   open  ground.     It    may    be   necessary  to  give 

slit'ht  protection  when  frost  is  likely  to  occur,  but 

the  little  trouble  incurred  will  be  amply   repaid 

where   choice   early    vegetables    are    appreciated. 

Ne  Plus  Ultra  and  Canadian  Wonder  are  two  of 

the  best  kinds. 

Cucumbers  ix  Pits  and  Frames. 
Plants  in  full  bearing  will  need  frequent  mulch- 
ing and  thinning  of  the  growths  to  induce  them  to 
make  clean,  vigorous  shoots,  and  do  not  over-crop. 
Everything  will  depend  on  the  care  and  attention 


the  plants  receive  in  their  younger  stages  as  to  the 
length  of  time  they   will  continue  to  yield  good 
crops  of  fruit.     Black  fly  frequently  attacks  them, 
and  unless  means  are  taken  to  completely  eradicate 
this  pest  it  will  cause  serious  injury.     Fortunately 
the  XL  All  Vaporiser,  when  judiciously  used,  is  a 
safe  and  certain  remedy,  and  to  be  on  the  safe  side 
it  is  well  to  fumigate  occasionally,  whether  any 
insect  life  be  observed  or  not.       Ventilate  in  good 
time  in  the  morning,  but  syringe  and  shut  up  the 
house  early  in  the  afternoon.     Another  sowing  of 
seed  should  be  made  in  small  pots  in  heat.      The 
seedlings  can  be  grown  successfully  in  quite  cold 
frames  or  pits  for  late  summer  use. 
Ridi:e  Cocumbers 
may  now  be  planted  under  hand-lights  on  slight 
hot-beds,  and,  when  it  is  quite  safe  to  do  so,  the 
lights  may   be   entirely   removed   and   the   plants 
will  come  at  once  into  full  bearing. 
Tomatoes. 
Plants  bearing  fruit  will   need  a  good  deal   of 
assistance  from  stimulants.     Every  other  watering 
will  be  none  too  often  to  apply  farmyard  manure 
water,  properly   diluted,   and   occasionally   slight 
doses  of  some  approved  patent  manure.       Surface- 
dress  the  plants  with  good  fibrous  loam,  half  rotten 
coiv  manure,  and  a  little   bone-meal.      Pot  on  or 
plant  out  for  succession  under  glass.     Those  which 
are  intended  for  fruiting  in  the  open  should   be 
potted    on    and    induced    to   make    good    strong 
sturdy  plants.     Small   late  plants  cannot  be  de- 
pended upon  and  are  practically  worthless. 

The  Mushroom  house  should  be  keep  as  cool  as 
possible,  frequently  damping  down  the  walls, 
paths,  and  beds.  Now  is  a  capital  time  to  make 
up  beds  in  the  open,  choosing  a  position  under 
a  north  wall  if  possible.  These  will  often  pro- 
duce abundance  of  good  Mushrooms  during  the 
hot  days  of  summer  when  they  are  most  difficult 
to  obtain.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldmham  Hont'e  Gardens,  E/slree,  Herts. 

THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Strawberries. 
Keep  up  a  good  supply  of  ripe  fruit  from  pot 
plants  until  the  most  advanced  outside  crops  are 
ripe,  and  to  do  this  successfully  is  comparatively 
easy.  Plants  for  this  purpose  should  have  been  pre- 
pared by  being  top-dressed  with  fresh  compost  when 
they  commenced  to  grow  and  by  keeping  the  soil 
uniformly  moist  by  supplying  diluted  liquid  manure. 
Too  fre(|uently  late  plants  are  left  to  take  care  of 
themselves,  as  it  were,  until  they  are  wanted  under 
glass,  when  they  are  found  to  have  suffered  con- 
siderably from  neglect  whilst  making  their  early 
growth,  which  no  after  treatment  can  wholly  rectify. 
Late  plants,  especially  when  placed  upon  shelves 
near  the  glass,  should  have  turves  placed  beneath 
the  pots,  as  this  not  only  lessens  watering,  but  the 
turves,  by  being  saturated  with  liquid  manure, 
become  a  desirable  rooting  medium.  The  condition 
of  the  weather  at  this  season  usually  admits  of  free 
ventilation,  which  both  assists  fertilisation  of  the 
flowers  and  improves  the  flavour  and  colour  of  the 
fruit. 

Figs. 
Trees  planted  in  a  restricted  rooting  space,  and 
that  have  been  resting  in  order  to  provide  the 
latest  crops  of  fruit  (here  Negro  Largo  is  depended 
upon  for  this  purpose)  should  have  their  shoots 
shortened  to  two  basal  buds.  Strong  growths 
should  be  encouraged  by  syringing  and  preserving 
a  moist  and  moderately  humid  atmosphere  ;  they 
should  be  disbudded  and  thinned  in  a  sufficient 
degree  to  permit  the  sun  and  air  to  properly  mature 
both  wood  and  fruit.  As  the  growths  extend 
carefully  secure  them  to  the  trellis,  and  stop  them 
at  intervals  from  the  fifth  to  the  eighth  leaf.  By 
stopping  in  this  manner,  and  thinning  the  fruit  so 
that  some  of  the  earliest  and  latest  are  selected  for 
the  crop,  the  supply  will  be  accordingly  lengthened. 

Pot  Trees 
that  have  furnished  a  supply  of  early  fruit  may  be 
allowed  to   carry   a   light  second   crop,    but   it  is 
better  to  sacrifice  this  and   induce  the  trees  to 
thoroughly  mature  their  wood. 


May  3    1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


295 


The  Early  Peaoh  House. 

When  the  earliest  fruits  commence  to  ripen  the 
temperature  of  the  house  can  with  advantage  be 
slightly  lowered,  more  air  being  admitted  by  day, 
and  a  little  at  night  when  possible.  This  treat- 
ment, accompanied  by  a  cessation  of  syringing, 
will  tend  to  improve  the  flavour  of  the  fruit  and 
prolong  its  ripening  season.  The  practice  of  sus- 
pending nets  to  catch  fruits  that  fall  is  not 
iieoessar3'  if  the  fruit  is  carefully  gathered  daily. 
It  should  not  be  left  upon  the  trees  to  become 
sufficiently  ripe  to  drop,  for  when  this  is  done  its 
fullest  flavour  has  passed  before  it  is  sent  to  table  ; 
by  gathering  early  and  giving  it  a  few  days  to 
ripen  in  the  fruit  room,  or  in  packing  cases  during 
transit,  its  best  flavour  is  developed,  and  the  fruit 
is  not  so  liable  to  be  damaged.  After  the  trees  are 
cleared  of  fruit  freely  ventilate  the  structure  and 
remove  all  useless  wood,  such  as  that  which  has 
carried  the  fruit,  for  which  young  shoots  to  replace 
it  have  been  laid  in.  T.  Coomber. 

The  Hendre  Gardetis,  Monmouth. 


THE  FLOWEE    GARDEN. 

A  Border  of  Frabrant  Flowers. 
The  odours  of  flowers  are  welcome  in  the  cool 
of  the  late  evening  when  the  beauty  of  the 
ordinary  border  cannot  be  seen.  Here  at  St. 
Pagans  there  is  a  long  border  beside  a  terrace 
walk  that  is  more  frequented  in  the  evening 
than  an}'  other  period  of  the  day,  and  it  has  been 
my  wont  to  arrange  it  simplj'  to  please  and  attract 
at  that  particular  hour.  For  this  purpose  I  use 
principally  sweet-seen  Led  flowers  and  flowers  that 
open  early  in  the  evejiing  and  are  quite  poor  in 
effect  during  the  da}',  when,  in  fact,  the  border  is 
somewhat  unsightly.  I  try  as  much  as  possible  to 
keep  the  different  odours  from  clashing  by  using 
occasionally  non-odorous  plants,  and  separating 
the  more  delicate  from  the  heavier  fragrant  flowers. 
I  believe  one  could  keep  on  perfecting  and  im- 
proving this  arrangement  every  year  until  a  high 
degree  of  success  is  obtained. 

For  this  kind  of  border  the  little  night-scented 
Stock  (Mathiola  bicornis)  is  pre-eminently  one  of 
the  best  of  flowers,  and  should  be  sown  in  broad 
masses.  In  the  daytime  it  has  a  detracting  dead 
appearance,  but  in  the  evening  it  seems  to  imbibe 
new  life,  and  with  its  pretty  faint-coloured  pink 
and  lilac  flowers  and  grey  foliage  looks  quite  prettj', 
while  it  diffuses  the  air  around  with  the  sweetest 
perfume  that  it  is  almost  possible  to  imagine. 

The  sweet-scented  Stock  is  an  annual  and  easy 
of  culture,  and  can  be  sown  at  any  time  now. 

The  Mignonette  is  another  hardy  annual  admir- 
ably adapted  for  this  border,  and  if  properly  thinned 
out  when  the  seedlings  are  up  to  allow  plenty  of 
space  to  develop  makes  a  good  display  as  well  as 
giving  off  a  delicious  fragrance. 

Sweet  Alyssum,  Evening  Primrose,  Sweet  Peas, 
Sweet  Sultans,  and  some  other  hardy  annuals 
can  be  used,  while  the  Tobacco  Plant  is  in- 
valuable. This  latter  should  be  sown  in  boxes  in 
heat,  and  when  the  seedlings  are  large  enough 
pricked  off  into  fresh  boxes,  giving  ample  room  to 
grow,  hardened  off,  and  then  planted  out  with 
sufficient  room  all  round  to  attain  their  natural 
size  untrammelled.  I  usually  sow  quite  a  month 
earlier  than  this,  but  it  is  not  by  any  means  too 
late  to  sow  now.  Marvel  of  Peru,  though  not 
scented,  certainlj'  should  find  a  place  in  this  border, 
as  it  is  a  handsome  plant  and  its  flowers  nearly  an 
inch  and  a  half  across,  of  numerous  shades  of  colour, 
open  in  the  evening.  It  is  really  a  perennial,  but 
may  be  treated  as  an  annual,  and  if  sown  now  in 
boxes  in  heat  and  then  potted  singly  into  pots  of 
.good  rich  soil  when  large  enough  they  should  by 
the  middle  of  June  be  ready  to  plant  out. 

There  are  different  kinds  of  Lilies  suitable,  and 
as  bushes  the  Myrtles,  Rosemarj',  Lavender,  and 
Sweet  Briars  are  indispensable. 

On  supports  of  branches  or  walls  the  Clematis 
Flanimula  is  delightful  in  the  evening,  both  on 
account  of  its  shower  of  white  flowers  and  its 
wonderful  fragrance,  but  it  requires  to  be  established 
a  year  or  two  before  it  is  effective.  Honeysuckle 
and  Jasmine,  too,  have  their  place  here. 

Castle  Gardens,  St.  Fagans.    H.  A.  Pbttigrew. 


THE    STRAW^BERRY. 

(  Oontinued  from  page  .'Mi.?. ) 

It  is  not  unusual  for  a  plantation  of  Strawberries 
in  flower  to  suffer  considerable  damage  from  late 
frosts  in  the  spring  if  they  are  not  protected  in 
someway.  From  flowers  whose  pistils  are  damaged 
it  is  of  course  impossible  to  obtain  good  fruits. 
Where  a  large  acreage  is  devoted  to  Strawberry 
culture  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  protecting 
the  plants  is  that  already  mentioned,  to  loosely 
shake  over  them  the  straw  that  is  used  to  keep  them 
clean.  Where  the  extent  of  ground,  however,  is 
not  so  great  more  effective  measures  can  con- 
veniently be  taken.  Some  growers  erect  a  per- 
manent framework  of  wood,  and  this  is  an  excellent 
plan  where  it  can  be  carried  out,  for  it  serves  to 
support  a  covering  of  netting  to  protect  the 
flowers  when  they  are  open,  and  also  to  shield  the 
fruits  from  the  ravages  of  birds.  A  good  deal  of 
protection  is  provided  by  a  covering  of  netting, 
although  one  might  perhaps  not  think  so  ;  this,  if 
the  plants  are  covered  with  straw  also,  should 
form  sufficient  protection.  The  wood  supports 
may  be  from  4  feet  to  6  feet  high,  so  as  to  allow  a 
man  to  move  about  underneath  the  netting  with  a 
certain  amount  of  convenience. 

An  especially  valuable  crop  of  Strawberries  is 
that  obtained  from  a  warm  south  border  at  the 
foot  of  a  \iaU,  and  particular  care  may  therefore 
be  given  to  make  these  plants  secure  against 
damage  from  frost.  One  method,  absolute!}'  frost 
proof  and  therefore  to  be  recommended  because  it 
has  the  great  merit  of  being  effectual,  is  worthy 
of  being  well  done.  And  it  is  as  simple  as  it  is 
effectual.  Wooden  stakes  are  driven  into  the 
ground,  both  along  the  top  and  along  the  bottom 
of  the  border,  at  a  distance  from  each  other  of 
6  feet.  The  stakes  must  be  so  high  that  when 
driven  in  the  border  the  portion  above  ground  is 
about  IS  inches  high.  Connect  each  stake  and 
also  the  stakes  at  the  foot  and  base  of  the  border 
by  means  of  strong  pieces  of  wood,  nailing  them 
on  firmly.  This  structure  is  then  ready  to  receive 
the  canvas  blinds.  One  end  of  these  should  be 
fastened  to  the  framework  at  the  top  of  the 
border  and  a  wooden  roller  fixed  to  the  other  end 
so  as  to  facilitate  its  rolling  and  unrolling.  It  is 
not,  of  course,  necessary  to  have  the  canvas  fixed 
to  the  wooden  roller,  but  unless  this  is  done  it  is 
somewhat  inconvenient  to  roll  up.  It  is  a  simple 
matter  to  let  down  the  canvas  over  the  framework 
at  night  and  to  roll  it  up  in  the  morning.  Although 
the  expenditure  of  a  certain  amount  of  trouble  in 
erecting  this  structure  is  necessary,  this  should  not 
prevent  its  being  done,  for  to  go  to  the  expense 
and  labour  of  cultivating  these  early  plants  and 
then  to  neglect  them  at  the  most  critical  period  of 
their  existence  is  obviously  unprofitable. 

Unless  the  runners  are  required  for  increasing 
the  stock  of  Strawberry  plants  (and  it  is  far  better 
to  obtain  runners  from  plants  that  are  not  allowed 
to  fruit)  they  should  be  removed  when  they  appear 
during  the  summer,  so  that  the  full  energies  of  the 
plant  may  be  devoted  to  the  production  and 
development  of  the  fruit. 

When  the  fruits  conmience  to  increase  in  size 
they  should  be  assisted  by  applications  of  liquid 
farmyard  manure,  and  if  the  weather  is  exception- 
ally dry  they  ought  to  be  previously  well  watered 
with  clear  water.  It  is  surprising  how  great  is  the 
benefit  Strawberries  derive  from  such  a  manurial 
application  during  the  time  they  are  swelling.  Its 
use,  however,  must  be  discontinued  when  the 
fruits  commence  to  colour. 

Gathering  and  Packing  the  Fruit. 

There  is  perhaps  no  hardy  fruit  so  liable  to  be 
bruised  and  disfigured  by  careless  handling  as  the 
Strawberry.  In  gathering  the  fruits  great  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  touch  them  ;  they  must  be 
removed  from  the  plants  to  the  baskets  by  means  of 
their  stalks.  The  most  convenient  articles  to  place 
the  Strawberries  in  as  one  gathers  them  are  punnets. 
They  may  be  had  in  various  sizes,  and  those  about 
9  inches  or  10  inches  in  diameter  are  perhaps  the 
most  serviceable.  Place  a  Cabbage  leaf  at  the 
bottom  of  the  punnet  before  placing  the  fruits 
therein,  this  keeps  them   cool  and  prevents  their 


being  bruised.  To  travel  any  considerable  dis- 
tance by  road  or  rail  Strawberries  need  to  be 
carefully  and  properly  packed,  and  they  should 
not  be  wet  when  required  for  this  purpose.  Wet 
fruits  are  much  more  easily  bruised  than  dry  ones, 
and  in  packing  Strawberries  one  cannot  be  too 
careful  in  every  detail.  A.  P.  H. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 


NOTES    FROM    THE 
HASSOCKS  NURSERIES. 

ON  E  of  the  most  interesting  nurseries 
in  the  kingdom  to  visit  is  the 
Hassocks  Nurseries,  because  here 
can  be  seen  plants  rarely  to  be  met 
with  elsewhere.  The  firm  of  Messrs. 
Balchin  and  Sons  have  two  nur- 
series— one  the  above  ;  another  at  Hove,  which 
adjoins  Brighton  ;  and  then  in  the  Western  Road, 
which  is  the  central  depijt  of  the  business,  and  the 
leading  one  in  Brighton,  are  the  offices,  seed 
shop,  and  a  palatial  conservatory  for  show  and 
decorative  purposes. 

At  the  Hassocks  Nursery,  where  there  is  a 
considerable  quantity  of  glass,  many  plants — 
flowering  and  foliaged — are  grown  both  for  sale  in 
the  conservatory  at  Brighton  and  for  supplying 
cut  bloom,  and,  in  addition,  many  hard-wooded 
New  Holland  and  other  plants  with  which  to 
supply  orders  and  the  trade.  It  is  here  one  sees 
certain  subjects  not  generally  met  with  in  nur- 
series, grown  to  a  large  extent  and  with  remarkable 
skill;  and  instead  of  the  half-starved  examples 
sometimes  seen,  vigorous,  healthy,  and  finely- 
flowered  plants  meet  the  eye. 

Diosma  ericoides,  a  South  African  Heath-like 
shrub,  which  produces  small  white  blossoms,  is 
elegant  in  growth ;  the  foliage  has  a  strong, 
penetrating,  yet  agreeable  fragrance  when  handled. 
D.  capitata  is  of  shrubby  growth,  throwing  a  kind 
oi  truss  of  small  pink  blossoms  at  the  points  of 
the  shoots.  Both  species  are  rarely  seen  ;  the 
latter  especially  is  too  good  to  be  quite  neglected. 
Darwinia  (Hedaroma)  tulipifera,  but  now  known 
as  macrostegia,  and  I).  fuchsioides(?),  with  its  deep 
red  bell-shaped  involucres — plants  which  some 
years  ago  were  grown  as  exhibition  specimens,  but 
are  now  rarely  seen  at  flower  shows — were  to  be 
seen  in  -IJ-inch  pots,  the  specimens,  two  years  old, 
and  both  blooming  in  fine  character  ;  and  then  the 
plants  of  Bjrnes'  deep  coloured  variety  of 
Phieuocoma  prolifera,  a  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ever- 
lasting, a  subject  said  to  ie  difficult  to  grow,  but 
here  to  be  seen  as  three  year  old  plants  in  4i-inch 
pots,  averaging  2^  feet  in  height,  with  foliage  quite 
down  to  the  pot,  and  having  from  six  to  eight 
flowering  stems,  soon  to  be  alive  with  blossoms. 
There  are  many  of  them,  and  it  grows  freely  enough 
at  Hassocks,  because  its  culture  is  thoroughly 
understood.  Some  of  the  readers  of  The  Garden 
are  familiar  with  the  very  fine  examples  of  this 
plant  that  Mr.  James  Cypher,  of  Cheltenham,  is  in 
the  habit  of  exhibiting  dining  the  summer  months, 
specimens  nearly  or  quite  5  feet  through,  and 
crowned  with  rose-coloured  inflorescences.  It  is 
propagated  to  a  considerable  extent  by  Messrs. 
Balchin  and  Sons. 

The  deepest  coloured  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
Aphelexis  is  grown  here  under  the  name  of  Barnesi. 
It  is  probably  a  selected  form  of  humilis  purpurea, 
and  is  very  striking,  and  yet  the  type  humilis, 
growing  by  its  side,  appeared  to  be  of  dwarfer  and 
more  compact  growth,  the  blossoms,  of  course, 
much  paler.  At  our  large  provincial  flower  shows 
fine  examples  of  these  Cape  everlastings  are  staged, 
but  it  is  rare  to  meet  with  plants  in  private 
establishments. 

Two  years  or  so  ago  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Sons 
exhibited  at  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  Erica  propendens,  a  very 
attractive  species,  with  bell-shaped  flowers  of  a 
pleasing  pink  tint.  Though  introduced  as  far  back 
as  ISOO  it  had  been  almost  entirely  lost  sight  of 
until  rescued  from  oblivion  by  Messrs.  Veitch  and 
Sons,  and  It  came  with  all  the  novelty  of  a  new 


296 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  3,  1908. 


plant.  The  reason  assigned  for  its  having  prac- 
tically dropped  out  of  cultivation  was  that  it  wis 
ditBciilt  to  grow.  The  visitor  to  the  Hassocks 
Nurseries,  who  can  see  some  hundreds  of  free 
flowering  specimens,  would  not  think  so  from  its 
appearance.  It  is  found  to  increase  readilj'  from 
cuttings,  and  here  could  be  seen  plants  1.')  inches 
to  18  inches  in  height  in  vigorous  healthy  growth 
and  foliage,  full  of  spikes  of  blossom.  It  should 
become  a  highly  popular  market  plant.  Acacia 
armata  and  A.  diffusa  are  largely  grown,  the  latter 
a  highly  ornamental  decorative  plant ;  small  ones 
were  laden  with  blossom. 

One  must  go  to  Hassocks  to  see  the  regal 
Leschenaultia  biloba  major  in  all  the  brilliance  of 
its  rich  blue  blossoms.  Tiny  plants  4  inches  high, 
from  cuttings,  were  seen  bearing  a  flower  or  two 
at  the  point.  These  points  are  pinched  out,  and 
then  the  plant  breaks  into  growth  and  forms  the 
foundation  of  a  good  specimen  :  but  it  takes 
three  or  four  years  before  a  plant  gets  into  any- 
thing like  size  ;  at  Hassocks  its  management  is 
perfectly  understood  and  it  thrives. 

Boronias     serrulata,     heterophylla,     the    later 


other.      This  is   probably   the    vigorous    growing 
evergreen  form  at  Hassocks. 

Eoheveria  retusa  is  here  in  splendid  colour,  the 
flowers  apparently  larger  than  are  usually  seen. 
They  last  a  long  time  in  a  cut  state.  It  is  difficult 
to  find  in  the  whole  nursery  a  plant  freer  of  bloom 
than  the  Australian  Tetratheca  ericoides ;  or, 
according  to  Mr.  Nicholson,  T.  pilosa,  of  Heath-like 
growth  ;  the  specimens  are  laden  with  thin  mauve- 
purple  blossoms.  It  is  a  free  growing  and  free 
blooming  subject. 

Such  are  some  of  the  treasures  at  the  Hassocks 
nurseries ;  but  they  b}'  no  means  exhaust  the 
contents  of  the  man}'  plant  houses. 

R.  Dean. 


HARDY  FRUITS   IN   SEASON. 

Apple  Winter  QnEENiNG. 
The  Apple  season  is  coming  to  an  end,  and  the 
varieties  now  to  be  seen  are  not  numerous.     Yet 
the  condition  of  an  Apple  at  this  time  of  the  j'ear 
is  proof  of  its  value  as  a  keeper,  and  if  it  has  also 


THE   SEVEN   SISTERS  ROSE   OVER  DRIVE  AND   SHRUBS. 


blooming  elatior,  with  the  fragrant  B.  megastigma, 
are  largely  grown  also.  They  bloom  abundantly. 
Two  years  ago  a  creamy  sport  appeared  on  B. 
megastigma,  and  this  is  in  course  of  being  fixed, 
and  will  eventually  make  a  pleasing  variety. 

Grevillea  alpina  is  a  hard-wooded  greenhouse 
plant  not  often  seen.  It  is  of  compact,  shrubby 
growth,  and  produces  a  number  of  small  Pea- 
shaped  red  and  yellow  blossoms,  and  it  remains  a 
long  time  in  bloom.  Posqueria  longiflora  is  a  noble 
Ixora-like  plant,  and,  though  not  yet  in  bloom,  is 
laden  with  bold  trusses.  It  is  an  evergreen  stove 
subject.  What  can  be  more  beautiful  in  the  way 
of  a  variegated-leaved  plant  than  Saxifraga 
sarmentosa  variegata  with  its  gay  tricolored 
leaves?  It  appears  to  be  a  whimsical  plant,  for 
Mr.  Richardson  said  it  would  succeed  in  one 
particular  part  of  a  certain  house  only.  Here  it 
was  perfectly  at  home,  as  could  be  seen  from 
dozens  of  vigorous  plants. 

Agapanthus  umbellalus  albus  is  here  in  vigorous 
evergreen  form.  Mr.  Baines  tells  us  in  his  book 
on  "Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants"  that  there 
are  two  forms  of  the  white  African  Lily,  that 
known   as   candidus   being   much  superior   to  the 


a  bright  appearance  it  is  sure  to  attract  attention. 
Winter  Queening  is  a  case  in  point,  for  we  have 
few  better  or  more  attractive  Apples.  It  is  not 
exacting,  for  it  does  well  on  cold,  stifif  soils,  and  if 
left  on  the  tree  as  late  as  possible  will  keep  well 
for  a  long  time.  The  variety  is  usually  classed  as 
a  cooking  Apple,  and  indeed  it  is  a  capital  baker, 
but  at  this  season  it  is  not  to  be  despised  for 
dessert.  On  the  retentive  soils  in  the  Weald  of 
Kent  I  have  seen  some  splendid  examples,  and 
there  the  southern  sunshine  puts  on  brightness  of 
colour  on  the  fruit  which  never  fails  to  tell  in  the 
market.  H. 

Apple  Nancy  Jackson. 
This  useful  late  Apple  is  more  grown  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  kingdom  than  elsewhere  ;  it 
is  grown  under  different  names.  I  saw  this  in 
only  one  collection  at  the  great  Apple  congress  at 
Chiswick  in  1883,  held  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  but  it  is  only  fair  to  state  that  the  northern 
part  of  the  country  had  much  fewer  exhibits  than 
the  south.  It  is  a  great  favourite  in  the  northern 
portion  of  Yorkshire  on  account  of  its  free  crop- 
ping and  good  cooking  qualities,  and  though  its 
season  is  supposed  to  be  from  December  to  March 


it  keeps  sound  well  into  May  when  given  cool 
storage.  It  may  be  said  we  have  newer  kinds  of 
great  merit,  but  I  do  not  know  one  that  keeps 
better.  The  fruits  are  a  fair  size,  conical,  and 
bright  crimson  on  the  sunny  side,  yellowish  green 
on  the  reverse,  flesh  firm,  crisp,  and  very  juicy. 
Even  now  it  has  a  brisk  acid  flavour.  At  Alnwick 
Castle  this  is  one  of  our  best  late  Apples,  and  it 
crops  even  when  others  fail.  G.  Wythes. 


THK    SEVEN     SISTERS    ROSE. 

This  old-fashioned  Rose,  the  Seven  Sisters,  is 
here  shown  growing  on  an  archway  over  the 
drive  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  C.  M.  Betterton, 
Oversea!,  Ashby -de-la-Zouch.  It  is  about 
12  feet  high,  and  at  the  time  the  photograph 
was  taken  was  a  mass  of  bloom,  not  only  on 
the  arch  but  also  over  the  shrubs  which  grow 
near  to  it. 


OBITUARY. 


MR.     THOMAS    KING. 

FEW  men  were  better  known  in  horti- 
cultural circles  in  the  West  of  England 
than  Thomas  King.  As  cultivator, 
exhibitor,  and  judge  he  had  gained 
many  honours  in  his  lifetime.  He  was 
an  able  gardener,  with  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  details.  What  he  grew  for  exhibi- 
tion was  always  of  the  best,  and  it  was  staged  in 
an  attractive  manner.  A  keen,  fully  qualified, 
and  thoroughly  straightforward  judge,  he  gained 
the  confidence  of  exhibitors  in  a  remarkable  degree. 
He  was  a  man  of  singularly  high  character  and  of 
the  most  genial  disposition,  and  his  death  is 
sincerely  regretted  by  all  classes  in  the  town  of 
Devizes,  where  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
Born  at  Roundway,  near  Devizes,  in  18.S5,  he 
went  into  the  gardens  of  Roundway  Park  in  due 
course,  and  in  time,  by  industry  and  application, 
qualified  himself  to  take  a  leading  position.  Hia 
opportunity  came  at  the  end  of  1860,  when  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  gardens  of  Devizes  Castle, 
at  that  time  the  residence  of  R.  Valentine  Leach,  - 
Esq.  Mr.  King  in  course  of  time  thoroughly 
reorganised  the  gardens,  new  houses  were  built,  and 
he  at  once  entered  upon  a  successful  career  as  an 
exhibitor.  He  grew  splendid  specimens  of  Fuchsias, 
and  on  one  occasion,  at  a  large  exhibition  held  b}'  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  at  South  Kensington, 
he  won  two  first  prizes  of  £10  each  with  Fuchsias, 
and  also  received  a  special  medal  for  high  culture. 
He  grew  and  exhibited  excellent  Grapes,  his  Black 
Hamburgh  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  being  noted 
for  their  finish.  He  produced  very  fine  Peaches 
and  Nectarines,  and  held  his  own  ■nhen  competing 
with  the  productions  from  such  noted  places  as 
Rood  Ashton,  &c.  I  never  saw  more  highly 
finished  Chasselas  Musque  Grapes  than  he  used  to 
exhibit  at  the  Trowbridge  and  other  shows.  He 
had  a  method  of  culture  which  overcame  the 
constitutional  tendency  of  the  berries  to  crack. 
When  some  j'ears  ago  Mr.  Leach  offered  the 
property  for  sale  he  made  arrangements  by  which 
lie  took  over  the  gardens  on  his  own  responsibility, 
finding  an  outlet  for  his  produce  in  the  neigh- 
bouring cities  and  towns.  He  then  ceased  to 
exhibit,  but  his  services  became  much  in  request 
as  a  judge  at  Bath  and  other  places.  He  also 
superintended  the  Chrysanthemum  exhibition  held 
annually  in  the  Corn  Exchange  in  connexion  with 
a  bazaar  by  the  Devizes  Benevolent  Society,  and 
he  will  be  much  missed  at  future  shows.  By  his 
death  I,  in  common  with  many  others,  lose  an  old 
and  valued  friend.  Mr.  King  was  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  R.  Dean. 


M.   LOUIS    ROWLAND. 
M.  Rowland,  who  for  the  past  eighteen  years  was 
head  gardener  at  the  National  School  of   Horti- 
culture at  Versailles,  died  recently.     He  was  one 
of  the  best  practical  fruit  growers  of  the  day. 


GARDEN 


— y^- 


si»s: 


«-^ 


No.  1590.— Vol.  LXL] 


[May   10,  1902 


HYACINTH     CULTURE     IN 
THE    BRITISH     ISLES. 

WE  have  received  the  following 
remarks    about   what    should 
be  an  important  industry  in 
these  isles  from  Mr.  Beckett, 
Lord    Aldenham's    excellent 
gardener,  and  they  should  prove  interesting  to 
those  who  have  the  British  horticultural  trade 
at  heart. 

"During  the  past  few  weeks  I  have  seen 
paragraphs  in  the  daily  press  describing  the 
new  industry  of  British  Hyacinth  culture. 
These  have  been,  as  usual,  more  or  less  in- 
accurate. One  of  the  young  men  trained  at 
Aldenham  House  is  engaged  in  the  business  of 
Hyacinth  culture,  and  has  kept  me  well  in- 
formed of  its  progress  by  accounts_  of  the 
trials  of  the  various  methods  and  specimens  of 
the  flowers  produced.  A  short  account  of  these 
methods  will  be  of  interest  to  those  who  wish 
to  know  about  the  successful  production  on 
our  own  shores  of  what  has  been  considered 
the  foreigners'  monopoly. 

"There  are  evidences  in  old  garden  books 
that  Hyacinths  have  been  propagated  in 
England,  as,  in  a  guide  by  Thomas  Mane, 
dated  1784,  instructions  are  given  as  to  the 
sowing  of  seeds;  but  the  industry  has_  cer- 
tainly never  been  carried  out  in  a  business 
way  until  recently. 

"The  Dutch  soil  is  sandy  and  impregnated 
with  salt.  Abundance  of  water  exists,  yet  the 
land  is  never  sour.  Many  years  ago  Narcissi 
were  cultivated  in  England  for  the  bulbs,  and, 
later  on,  farmers  have  grown  them  as  market 
flowers.  Three  or  four  years  ago  an  article 
appeared  in  a  magazine  describing  the  Dutch 
methods  of  the  propagation  of  the  Hyacinth. 
A  few  were  tried  as  an  experiment  at  Terring- 
ton  St.  Clement's,  Norfolk,  and  as  they 
appeared  to  be  successful  several  growers  have 
planted.  Mr.  W.  .1.  Belderson  lias  provided 
me  with  the  results  of  his  trials,  and  as 
he  was  trained  in  gardening  at  Aldenham 
House  I  have  taken  a  keen  interest  in  the 
experiment.  He  has  sent  me  blooms  from 
English  bulbs  finer  than  any  I  have  seen  of 
the  Dutch.  Last  year  he  exhibited  a  stand  of 
hard,  heavy,  and  large  bulbs  at  our  local  show. 
The  soil  of  the  district  has  been  recently,  so  to 
speak,  reclaimed  from  the  sea  ;  it  is  sandy, 
saline,  and  very  rich.  Fine  Potatoes  are 
produced  there ;  indeed,  crops  of  all  kinds 
appear  to  grow  with  ease,  equal  to  the  results 
that  others  toil  for  in  vain.  Even  the  grass  is 
so  rich  that  it  is  said  sheep  and  cattle  fatten 
on  it  batter  than  on  cake  and  corn  in  some 
places.  The  sulisoil  is  of  very  fine  sandy 
particles,  slightly  mixed  with  loam,  and  no 
stones  exist.  The  Hyacinths  are  planted  much 
deeper  than  is  generally  considered  advisable, 
5  inches  or  6  inches  being  the  depth.    When 


the  bulbs  are  full  grown  and  needed  for 
propagating  they  are  cut  by  having  the  base 
scooped  out  with  a  sharp  knife.  The  mutilated 
bulbs  are  then  laid  to  dry  in  boxes  or  on 
shelves  where  a  current  of  air  passes  between 
them. 

"Some  Dutch  growers  make  incisions  across 
the  bulbs  instead  of  taking  the  bottom  out. 
Any  cut  given  to  a  Hyacinth  bulb  when  at  rest 
will  cause  a  number  of  bulblets  to  form,  vary- 
ing in  size  from  a  pin's  head  to  a  good-sized 
Bean,  according  to  the  number  produced,  but 
certain  varieties  give  better  results  if  treated 
in  particular  ways.  The  power  of  reproduction 
in  a  Hyacinth  bulb  is  remarkable.  When  the 
single  bulb  is  destroyed  by  cutting  it  forms  a 
number  of  bulblets  to  replace  the  old  one. 
The  bulbs  are  then  planted  and  make  little  if 
any  top  growth  the  first  year.  They  are  lifted 
early  in  June  and  dried  when  the  bulblets 
separate  from  the  parent,  the  latter  being 
nothing  but  a  few  dried  flakes. 

"  These  bulblets  rarely  flower  the  first  year, 
but  the  second  season  flowers  are  obtained.  The 
bulbs  are  planted,  and  a  period  of  three  to  five 
years  from  the  time  of  cutting  is  necessary 
before  they  are  fit  for  the  market.  The  spikes 
of  flowers  average  9  inches  high. 

"  I  feel  sure  there  is  a  great  future  for  the 
English  Hyacinth,  and  one  great  recommenda- 
tion to  gardeners  who  force  is  the  fact  that  the 
bulbs  can  be  got  two  months  earlier  than  the 
Dutch— which  is  a  matter  of  great  importance 
—giving  a  longer  period  for  root  action  before 
the  plants  are  forced." 


attempts  to  deprive  the  great  British  public  of 
their  just  rights.  It  is  possible  to  walk  round 
this  enclosure  and  enjoy  the  beautiful  scene, 
but  it  is  not  possible,  we  are  glad  to  say,  for 
the  too  often  thoughtless  public  to  tramp  over 
the  Bluebells  and  disturb  precious  bird  life. 
Acres  adjoining  are  available,  with  seats  in 
plenty  ;  there  is  no  hardship  in  keeping  this 
retreat  round  the  Queen's  Cottage  secluded. 
We  hope  the  Director  will  fight  against  any 
proposal  to  spoil  this  picture,  the  only  one 
remaining  that  visitors  cannot  trample  under 
foot. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


IS    KEVST   A    PUBLIC    PARK? 

JuD(4iNG  from  an  appeal  recently  made  to  the 
Right  Hon.  A.  Akers-Douglas,  First  Commis- 
sioner of  Works,  there  is  an  impression  that 
the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  are  a  public  park 
for  visitors  to  wander  in  without  regard  to  the 
flowers  or  birds.  This  is  surely  a  mistaken 
notion.  Visitors  have  grumbled  that  the 
grounds  surrounding  the  Queen's  Cottage  are 
not  thrown  open  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
British  public.  We  have  not  the  slightest 
wish  to  say  one  word  against  the  toilers  of 
London  going  in  their  thousands  to  stroll  in 
the  botanic  gardens,  but  to  regard  them  as  a 
public  park  is  absurd.  The  gardens  are 
"  botanical,"  a  living  herbarium,  wherein  is  con- 
tained, as  far  as  possible,  examples  of  the 
plants,  exotic  and  otherwise,  of  our  own  and 
other  lands.  The  public  have  free  access  to 
almost  every  part  of  the  many  lovely  acres, 
and  because  the  Director  in  his  wisdom  rails 
off  the  seciuestered  grounds  about  the  Queen's 
Cottage,  now  a  veil  of  Bluebells  and  a  sanctuary 
for  rare  birds,  he  is  regarded  as  a  despot,  who 


From  Mrs.  Edward  Bayldon,  in  Devon,  comes  a 
beautiful  gathering  of 

Primula  Sieboldi  from  the  Open  Ate, 
in  colourings  of  white,   blush,  lilac,  purple,  and 
magenta.     Some  of  the  blooms  are  nearly  2  inches 
across. 


From  Lady  Chance  comes  a  superb  gathering  of 
Wallflowers 
grown  from  Messrs.  Sutton's  seeds,  doing  credit 
alike  to  good  cultivation  and  to  the  eminent  firm 
that  has  done  so  much  to  improve  so  many  garden 
flowers.  There  are  flowers  of  lemon,  orange,  and 
the  usual  grand  mahogany  tints,  and  tender  colour- 
ings of  daintiest  flesh  colour  and  pink  with  rosy 
buds,  and  grand  purples  of  velvet-like  texture. 
The  flowers  are  not  only  fine  in  colour,  but  are  of 
large  size  and  firm  substance. 


From  Mrs.  Champernowne  come  bunches  of 
some  of 

The  Barer  Double  Polyakthoses, 
namely,  Harlequin,  crimson,  with  yellow  centre  ; 
Marie  Crousse  (true),  large  flowers  of  a  pleasant 
low-toned  rosy  colour  ;  lilac  Marie  Crousse,  a  good 
flower  of  bright  lilac  colour  ;  and  Prince  Silver- 
wings,  a  half-double  flower  of  a  purple  colour, 
splashed  with  white,  with  strong  orange  blotches 
at  the  base  of  the  petals.  A  most  interesting 
series. 

Note  about  Polyanthuses. 

Mrs.  Champernowne  writes  of  them  thus  :  "  You 
may  like  to  see  blooms  of  two  double  Polyauthuses 
which  are  very  little  known.  Prince  Silverwings, 
unfortunately,  had  the  best  blooms  picked  by 
mistake,  and  these  are  poor.  It  has  a  tendency 
to  come  single,  but  when  it  comes  out  as  it  should 
is  a  very  handsome  flower  ;  it  is  a  vigorous  grower, 
throwing  a  very  large  truss  of  bloom.  Harlequin 
sometimes  comes  a  shade  brighter  in  colour,  but  is 
also  much  admired.  Can  you  tell  me  the  origin 
of  these  two  varieties  ?  I  do  not  think  they  are 
old.  They  came  to  me  originally  from  a  lady  in 
Ireland,  who  did  not  know  the  name  Harlequin. 
I  send  also  a  bloom  of  the  real  Marie  Crousse 
double  Primrose,  as  identified  by  Mr.  Richard 
Dean,  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  and  others.  AVhy  is 
it  that  a  totally  different  Marie  Crousse  is  now 
recognised  as  true  Marie  Crousse?     I  send  you 


298 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


this  also.  The  old  is  a  very  late-blooming  variety  ; 
my  specimen  is  hardly  out,  and  it  is  most  rare. 
You  will  notice  it  is  of  a  reddish  crimson,  spotted 
with  white.  The  modern  varietj'  is  pinkish  lilac, 
and,  as  Marie  Crousse  is  often  spoken  of  as 
"  Crousse's  lilac,"  it  seems  to  me  the  old  variety 
might  be  renamed  with  advantage,  or  that  they 
should  be  called  red  Marie  Crousse  and  lilac  Marie 
Crousse.  The  lilac  variety  is  a  fairly  early  bloomer, 
and  the  habit  is  different.  I  might  mention  that 
the  red  Marie  Crousse  came  from  Mr.  Wilmott's 
nursery  near  Exmouth,  who  sold  the  stock  to  the 
managers  of  Northfield  Gardens." 

From  the  Hon.  Emily  Lawless  comes  a  charming 
gathering  of  blooms  from 

Seedling  Narcissus  triandkus, 
showing  how  well  this  charming  small  Daffodil  is 
willing  to  be  acclimatised  on  the  warm  sands  of 
the  Surrey  uplands.     It  is  growing  in  grass  and  in 
a  copse. 


From    Lady  Acland,   near  Broadelyat,   Devon, 
come  flowers  of 

Iris  tingitana  and  Iris  ieerica, 
with  the  following  remarks  from  the  gardener,  Mr. 
Coutts :  "Iris  tingitana  has  been  here  for  five 
years  and  has  never  flowered  before,  and  now  we 
have  only  had  a  few  flowers.  It  was  planted  at 
the  bottom  of  a  south  wall,  and  has  grown  very 
strong.  The  plants  have  received  no  protection 
all  the  winter  ;  another  season  I  will  protect  from 
winter  rains.  I.  iberica  was  planted  for  the  first 
time  last  autumn,  at  the  bottom  of  a  south  wall, 
in  good  loam  and  plenty  of  lime  rubbish.  It  has 
had  the  protection  of  hand-lights  during  heavy 
rain  and  severe  weather.  I.  susiana,  also  under 
the  same  treatment,  has  done  very  well.  I.  Uatesii 
has  made  good  growth,  but  so  far  has  not  shown 
flower." 

The  flowering  of  Iris  tingitana  is  extremely 
interesting,  as  it  is  a  diflicult  species  to  flower  in 
England.  There  is  no  need  to  protect  I.  iberica 
or  any  of  the  Oncocyclus  group  from  winter  rain. 
It  is  the  moisture  of  late  summer  and  early  autumn 
that  must  be  kept  from  them.  The  rule  is  to  put 
lights  over  them  in  .July  and  to  remove  them  in 
October. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

EARLY  SINGLE  TULIPS. 

ON E  of  the  leading  features  of  the 
Midland  Daffodil  show  at  Birming- 
ham is  the  class  for  six  pots  of  early 
single  Tulips,  in  which  the  compe- 
tition is  very  keen  and  the  varieties 
wonderfully  well  grown.  The 
schedule  of  prizes  requires  that  the  pots  in  which 
the  Tulips  are  grown  shall  not  exceed  7  inches 
in  diameter  inside  measurement,  and  that  there  be 
six  and  not  more  than  seven  bulbs  in  a  pot.  In 
the  old  days  of  the  spring  shows  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  at  South  Kensington  it  was 
usual  to  limit  the  pots  to  5  inches  in  diameter  and 
to  five  bulbs  in  a  pot.  The  larger  sizes  of  pot,  as  at 
Birmingham,  appears  to  secure  the  best  results,  as 
blooms  of  lai-ge  size  and  high  quality  are  the  rule. 
There  were  five  competitors,  and  all  had  good 
flowers.  There  was  a  fine  struggle  for  the 
supremacy  between  Mr.  R.  C.  Cartwright  and 
Mr.  Robert  Sydenham,  the  former  having  rather 
larger  and  more  developed  blooms,  the  latter 
younger  flowers  and  wanting  a  little  in  evenness. 

Of  self-coloured  Tulips  the  finest  are  Vander 
Neer,  dark  violet,  very  fine  form,  and  an  indis- 
pensable exhibition  variety  ;  Proserpine,  bright 
silken  rose,  a  very  fine  variety  for  pot  culture  ; 
White  Pottebakker,  creamy  white,  a  stout  flower 
of  fine  build  ;  White  Joost  van  Vondel,  a  long 
white  variety  with  petals  a  trifle  pointed,  still  a 
very  fine  variety  ;  Snowflake,  well  named  because 
so  pure  in  the  white,  not  so  large  as  the  preceding, 
still  a  flower  of  fine  build  and  qualit}' ;  Prince  of 
Austria,  bright  orange-red,  large,  and  of  fine  form  ; 
and  M.  Tresor,  which  appears  to  be  one  of  the,  if 


not  the,  finest  yellow'  in  cultivation,  being  deep  in 
tint  and  of  very  fine  build. 

Of  tipped  or  edged  Tulips  there  were  Keizer 
Kroon,  a  flower  probably  a  century  old,  scarlet- 
crimson,  feathered  with  bright  yellow,  a  splendid 
variety  for  pot  culture  or  bedding.  Duchess 
of  Parma,  crimson,  with  a  slight  feathering 
of  gold,  a  most  useful  variety,  but  inferior  to 
the  foregoing ;  and  Grace  Darling,  sometimes 
described  as  a  fier3'  scarlet  self.  As  shown  at 
Birmingham  the  petals  had  a  bright  bronzy 
crimson  base,  flushed  with  orange  on  the  petal 
edges  in  the  form  of  an  irregular  margin. 

Of  flamed,  striped,  or  flaked  Tulips  there  are 
several  beautiful  forms,  such  as  Pottebakker, 
white  and  gold,  known  at  Birmingham  for  several 
years  past  under  the  name  of  Unique,  but 
rechristened  in  the  spring  of  1901  Brunhilde.  It 
received  an  award  of  merit  under  this  name 
from  the  floral  committee  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  in  spite  of  a  vigorous  protest 
against  the  unnecessary  creation  of  a  synonym. 
This  is  a  white  Pottebakker,  with  a  flame  of  pure 
yellow  flashing  up  the  centre  of  each  petal  towards 
the  top.  In  the  competition  at  Birmingham  Mr. 
Cartwright's  flowers  of  this  variety  had  the  flame 
much  more  developed  than  in  the  case  of  Mr. 
Sydenham's  blooms.  It  should  be  grouped  with 
the  Pottebakkers,  as  there  is  always  a  tendency 
to  revert  to  the  white  self  form.  Queen  of  the 
Netherlands,  a  beautiful  variety,  the  ground 
white,  flushed  with  a  delicate  soft  pink,  very 
chaste,  large,  and  of  fine  shape  ;  Fabiola,  delicate 
rosy  violet,  flaked  with  white,  very  finely  shown 
on  this  occasion,  the  flowers  not  only  massive  but 
handsome!}'  marked  ;  Spaendock,  one  of  the  most 
distinct  varieties  in  cultivation,  having  a  pale 
bronzy  red  base  flaked  and  feathered  with  cream  ;and 
Van  Vondel,  deep  rosy  crimson,  flushed  with  white, 
in  size  and  build  exactly  like  its  white  variet}'. 

To  the  foregoing  may  be  added,  though  of  a 
rather  lesser  degree  of  quality,  Isabella,  pale  rose, 
flushed  with  white,  the  petals  rather  pointed  ; 
(iolden  Lion,  amber,  flushed  with  deep  orange; 
and  Jenny,  delicate  rose,  but  shorter  in  the  petals 
than  some  others.  R.  D. 


POLYANTHUSES  IN  THE  WEST. 
Within  the  past  few  days  I  have  seen  fine  displays 
of  those  most  beautiful  of  all  spring  flowers, 
border  Polyanthuses,  in  the  West  of  England.  At 
those  fine  gardens,  Bryanstone,  Sherborne  Castle, 
Forde  Abbey,  Cricket  St.  Thomas,  and  Streatham 
Hall,  Exeter,  one  of  the  finest  kept  and  most 
beautiful  places  in  that  locality,  I  have  found 
these  flowers  in  exceeding  beauty.  I  may  make 
a  distinction,  not  only  in  numbers  but  in  variety 
and  excellence,  in  favour  of  Forde  Abbey,  Chard, 
where  Mr.  J.  Crook  grows  these  plants  not  only 
for  garden  decoration  but  also  for  purposes  of 
improvement,  hence  he  raises  annually  and  plants 
out  many  hundreds  of  seedlings,  always  saving 
from  the  finest  flowers  borne  on  plants  having  good, 
compact,  effective  habits  and  finely  formed  flowers. 
Here  have  I  seen  this  season  the  very  finest 
flowers  and  the  greatest  variety  of  colours  I  have 
found  anywhere.  Some  of  the  whites,  sulphurs, 
oranges,  yellows,  reds,  roses,  crimsons,  and 
purples  were  superb,  and  show  what  can  be  done 
in  the  way  of  developing  the  beautiful  qualities  of 
Polyanthuses  by  constant  selection  when  done 
with  a  true  florist's  knowledge  of  what  are  the 
requirements  of  those  who  grow  them  for  garden 
purposes.  That  there  is  in  the  strain  curious  and 
quaint  colours  which  it  is  true  I  can  hardly  admire ; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  many  persons,  and  ladies 
especially,  whose  colour  tastes  often  differ  from 
those  of  practical  men,  intensely  like  the  buff's, 
browns,  bronzes,  terracottas,  and  other  curious 
hues.  These  may  be,  and  doubtless  are,  more 
effective  in  masses  than  as  individual  plants.  I 
had  experience  many  years  ago  at  Bedford  that 
quaint  colours  had  hosts  of  admirers ;  but 
generally  for  garden  purposes  the  most  favoured 
colours  are  good  pure  whites,  yellows,  reds,  and 
crimsons,  and  these  are  in  great  .abundance.  I 
spent  a  little  time  one  morning  during  an  all  loo 
brief  visit  at  Forde  Abbey  in  marking  some  plants 


which  I  esteemed  to  be  the  very  best,  and  these  Mr. 
Crook  promises  to  save  seed  from  and  call  it  Dean's 
Selection  ;  but  he  has  been  so  selecting  for  some 
years,  and  as  evidence  of  his  efforts  in  that  direction, 
and  also  of  keeping  all  colours  as  fully  represented 
as  possible,  he  showed  me  some  fifteen  packets  of 
seed  saved  from  diversely  coloured  flowers.  Some 
day  perhaps  it  may  be  possible  to  set  these  hues 
by  isolating  plants  of  each  one ;  indeed,  that  is 
being  done  now  partially  in  a  small  way,  but  to  do 
so  effectively  a  wide  area  is  needed.  Long  imbued 
with  the  belief  that  there  is  for  these  hardy  plants 
a  great  future,  I  have  been  more  impressed  with 
that  belief  since  I  have  seen  what  Mr.  Crook  has 
done.  To  reach  one's  ideal  it  may  perhaps  require 
t%venty  years  of  hard  and  persistent  selection,  but 
the  time  should  come  when  it  may  be  possible  to 
purchase  seed  strains  of  at  least  a  dozen  diverse 
colours  of  the  finest  form  and  the  most  perfect 
habits.  With  respect  to  general  culture,  whilst 
those  who  purchase  seed  for  the  securing  of  plants 
to  give  spring  displays  only  usually  sow  early  in 
the  spring,  I  find  Mr.  Crook  follows  my  old  plan 
of  sowing  in  the  autumn,  usually  in  August,  in 
shallow  pans  or  boxes,  getting  the  seedlings 
dibbled  up  thinly  later  into  other  boxes  or  direct 
into  cold  frames,  then  lifting  and  planting  them 
out  where  to  bloom,  in  April,  thus  securing  deep 
rooting  and  strong  growth  ere  hot  weather  sets  in. 
North  and  east  borders  are  much  used  for  this 
purpose,  as  the  foliage  is  then  less  injured  by 
insects  than  is  the  case  when  it  is  fully  exposed  to 
the  sun.  Plants  so  treated  give  great  heads  of 
bloom  in  the  succeeding  spring.  I  observed  that 
in  the  grounds  of  Forde  Abbey,  where  Primroses 
grow  in  immense  numbers,  there  are  many  coloured 
ones  practically  wild.  So  also  were  there  many 
at  Sherborne  Castle,  but  there  especially  were 
great  numbers  of  pure  white  ones  wild.  These 
diversities  I  regard  as  due  to  the  presence  of 
coloured  and  white  Polyanthuses  in  the  gardens 
close  by.  A.  D. 


THE     STRAWBERRY. 

(Continued  from  page    -^95.) 
Shallow  boxes  about  20  inches  long  and  15  inches 
wide,  with  four  equal  divisions,  are  very  suitable 
for  packing  Strawberries  in.     In  the  bottom  of  the 
boxes    place  a  layer  of  Vine  leaves — preferably ' 
young  ones  and  picked  from  an  outdoor  Vine,  as 
then  they  are  quite  soft  ;  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to 
grow  a  few  Vines  out  of  doors  for  the  use  of  the 
leaves  alone  ;    they  are  in  the  best  condition  for 
packing  Strawberries  when  the  latter  are  ripe — to 
provide  a  soft  base.      Then  carefully  take  up  by 
the  stalk  and  lay  each  fruit  separately  in  a  Straw- 
berry leaf  in  lines  across  the  divisions  of  the  box, 
filling  one  division  before  another  is  commenced. 
The  stalks  should  first  be  removed  from  the  Straw- 
berry leaves,  as  they  are  very  liable  to  bruise  the 
fruits,  or  at  least  to  derange  them.     Do  not  place 
the  Strawberries  flat  in  the  box,  but  rather  upon 
their  sides  ;  thej'  travel  better,  because  they  can 
be  fitted  in  more  firmly  and  more  can  also  be  got 
in   the   box.      Keep   the   largest   and    best    fruits 
together  and  the  inferior  ones  together  also.     The 
object  of  the  packer  should  be  to  fill    the   boxes 
with    fruits   placed   so   closely   that   they   cannot 
move,     yet    not     so     that    they    will    be    at    all 
crushed.     To   do  this   well   and   quickly  requires 
considerable   practice.       When   the   box    is   filled 
cover  with  a  layer  of  Strawberry  leaves,  and  over 
these  again  place  a  few  Vine  leaves.     It  should 
have  been  mentioned  that  great  care  is  necessary 
not  to  have  the  fruits  the  least  bit  higher  than  the 
sides  of  the  box,  or  they  run  a  great  risk  of  being 
crushed.     Three  boxes  of  the  size  and  shape  above 
mentioned   may   be    securely   tied   together   with 
cord,    provided    that   the   fruits   in   each  one   are 
efficiently   covered   with    a   layer   of    Strawberry 
leaves  and  another  of  Vine  leaves.     One  lid  only 
will  be  necessarj- — to  cover  the  box  that  is  upper- 
most.    Securely  fastened  together,  such  a  package 
will  travel  hundreds  of  miles  without   the   fruit 
being  any  the  worse  for  it. 

Treatment  after  Froiting. 
There  remains  but  little  to  be  done  after  the 


May  10,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


299 


fruit  is  gathered.  All  remaining  runners  and  dead 
leaves  should  be  removed,  as  well  as  the  straw- 
placed  over  the  soil  to  protect  the  ripening  fruits. 
Then  lightly  fork  over  the  ground,  and  nothing 
more  need  be  done  until  the  spring.  If  the  practice 
followed  by  many  good  cultivators  of  securing 
two  crops  of  fruits  only  from  the  Strawberry 
plantation  is  adopted,  it  will,  of  course,  be  neces- 
sary to  make  a  new  plantation  every  two  years  if 
an  unbroken  yearly  supply  of  fruit  is  wanted.  For 
instance,  if  No.  1  quarter  were  planted  in  1900  it 
would  fruit  in  1901  and  1902,  and  would  also  be 
destroyed  in  1902,  therefore  the  next  quarter  ought 
to  be  planted  the  same  year  to  provide  fruit  in 
1903.  It  is  more  satisfactory  to  make  a  fresh 
plantation  every  two  years  than  to  allow  the 
plants  to  fruit  for  three  seasons,  although,  if 
moderate  sized  fruit  is  all  that  is  required,  this 
and  in  quantity  should  be  obtained  from  plants 
three  years  old. 

Propa<iation. 
strawberry  plants  are  easily  increased  by  rooting 
the  runners  that  are  produced  in  quantities  during 
the  summer  months,  and  this  is  the  usual  and  best 


Make  the  soil  fairly  firm,  and  be  sure  that  it  is 
nicely  moist  before  placing  it  in  the  pots.  When 
the  latter  are  all  filled  they  may  be  taken  down  to 
where  the  Strawberry  plants  are  growing  in  con- 
venient quantities  as  required.  Select  strong 
runners,  and  examine  them  closely  to  see  that  the 
tiny  plants  are  not  "blind."  A  fair  number  will 
be  found  to  have  no  proper  centre  ;  it  is  as  though 
growth  had  been  arrested.  Such  as  these  will  not 
produce  a  satisfactory  crop  of  flowers — if,  indeed, 
they  bear  any  at  all — and  are  therefore  useless. 
This  is  a  matter  of  importance,  for  when  the  time 
for  planting  arrives  it  is  very  disappointing  to  find 
many  of  the  runners  practically  worthless.  Carefully 
examine  them,  therefore,  before  layering,  and  dis- 
card any  that  are  of  doubtful  value.  A.  P.  H. 
(^  To  be  continued. ) 


VARIETIES   OF  THE  COMMON 
BROOM. 

The  wild  Broom,  whicli  during  the  next  few 
weeks  will  give  a  golden  glow  to  every  gravelly 
common  in  these  islands,  from  the  Highlands 


THE   MOONLIGHT  BROOM   (CVTISUS  SCOPARIUS   VAK.    PALLIDUS). 


method  of  propagation.  They  may  also  be  raised 
from  seed,  but,  except  it  is  desired  to  raise  new 
varieties,  this  method  is  not  resorted  to  because 
the  seedlings  take  several  years  to  become  strong 
enough  to  bear  fruit.  The  runners  should  be 
rooted  as  early  in  the  season  as  possible,  so  that 
they  may  develop  into  good  plants  by  the  time 
they  are  required  for  planting  out  in  August.  The 
term  "  runner,"  it  may  perhaps  not  be  out  of  place 
to  explain,  is  the  name  given  to  long,  thin  growths 
bearing  tiny  plants  at  intervals,  which  proceed 
from  the  parent  plant  somewhat  numerously  and 
"riin"  along  the  ground.  The  earliest  runners 
possible  should  be  secured,  and  these  will  be  avail- 
able by  the  end  of  June  or  early  July.  Cultivators 
adopt  various  methods  of  encouraging  the  runners 
to  form  roots,  but  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
plants  to  form  a  permanent  outdoor  plantation 
there  can  be  little  doubt,  I  think,  of  the  following 
being  the  best.  In  the  first  place,  obtain  as  many 
small  pots  of  the  size  known  as  "  sixties,"  and  fill 
them  with  good  loam  from  which  all  rough  particles 
have  been  sifted.  Before  doing  so,  however,  place 
one  crock  in  the  bottom  of  each  pot,  and  so  large 
that  it  more  than  covers  the  hole  there. 


to  Cornwall,  and  from  Wicklow  to  Connemara, 
has  associations  which  English  peoi^le  are  apt 
to  overlook,  though  connected  so  intimately 
with  the  history  of  their  country,  more  so 
than  any  other  wild  flower.  For  was  not  the 
common  Broom  the  badge  of  the  Plantagenet 
race  of  English  sovereigns  %  Then  it  was  that 
the  flower  was  held  in  high  esteem,  and, 
according  to  some  writers,  it  was  the  favourite 
flower  of  the  Scotch. 

But  the  shrub,  beautiful  as  it  is  and  brighter 
than  any  other  native  flower  by  its  abundance 
as  a  wildling  in  some  places,  is  seldom  con- 
sidered worthy  of  culture  in  the  sense  that  it 
should  be  in  a  garden.  Yet  no  shrub  that  I 
know  produces  such  a  glowing  effect  of  rich 
yellow,  and  so  valuable  to  the  planter  in 
districts  where  the  shrub  is  not  abundant  in  a 
wild  state.  "As  common  as  Broom"  is  a 
phrase  one  often  hears  in  a  Surrey  garden  and 
other  parts  where  it  is  abundant,  but  in  the 
Midlands  and  other  places,  where  the  natural 
conditions  of  soil  are  not  congenial  to  the 


Broom,  the  amount  of  pleasure  masses  of  it 
afford  in  a  garden  at  flower  time  would  scarcely 
Ise  realised  by  those  who  see  it  about  them  in 
a  wild  state. 

In  every  garden  in  localities  where  the 
Broom  is  not  plentiful  in  a  wild  state  there 
should  be  masses  of  it,  and  if  the  soil  is  not 
suitable  it  can  be  made  so  with  little  trouble, 
for  all  that  the  shrub  asks  for  is  an  open  well- 
drained  soil,  and  this  can  be  done  even  in  the 
stiffest  clays.  It  does  not  object  very  much  to 
a  chalky  soil  if  there  is  other  soil  mixed 
with  it. 

The  conditions  that  suit  the  comnion  Broom 
are  of  course  suitable  for  the  varieties  of  it, 
and  these  are  very  few,  but  all  extremely- 
beautiful. 

The  variations  from  the  typical  common 
Broom  are  singularly  few  considering  the 
millions  of  seedlings  that  must  be  continually 
appearing  in  every  place  where  it  is  a  wild 
plant.  So  far  as  I  know,  there  are  but  four 
distinct  varieties.  These  are  the  pale  yellow, 
almost  white  sort,  known  as_  the 
Moonlight  Broom,  named  botanically 
C.  scoparius  sulphureus  or  pallidus^ 
the  drooping  variety  named  pendulus, 
very  elegant  with  its  drooping  branches 
and  flowers  of  the  same  colour  as  the 
type,  and  the  increasingly  popular 
variety  andreanus,  which  was  found  a 
few  years  ago.  just  by  chance,  in  Nor- 
mandy by  J[.  Edouard  Andre,  to  whom 
we  should  be  all  grateful  for  discovering 
and  making  known  such  a  splendid 
hardy  shrub.  The  Moonlight  Broom 
is  a  very  old  variety,  as  it  was  described 
by  Loudon  sixty  years  ago,  but  it  is 
still  a  rare  shrub  not  easily  obtainable, 
though  it  is  grown  in  some  of  the 
largest  nurseries.  It  maybe  seen  at 
Kew  in  perfection  during  the  coming 
month,  and  its  pale  yellow 
flowers  are  in  beautiful  harmony 
with  the  rich  yellow  of  the  type  and 
Andreanus.  The  only  private  garden 
where  I  have  seen  it  in  established 
mass  is  in  that  of  Mrs.  Robb  at 
Liphook,  where  all  kinds  of  tree  and 
shrub  varieties  are  treasured.  I  do  not 
know  if  it  comes  true  from  seed,  but 
I  fancy  it  does  not. 

The  Drooping  Broom  is  also  not  a 
common  plant,  and  it  is  strange  that 
both  it  and  the  Moonlight  Broom  are 
not  "taken  in  hand"  by  nurserymen. 
At  Jiew  the  pendulous  variety  makes 
a  beautiful  mass,  never  rising  as  the 
common  sort  does,  and  always  looks 
as  if  a  bank  or  rock  garden  is  the  proper 
place  for  it  to  show  itself  to  the  best  advantage. 
Andre's  Broom  everybody  knows,  as  it  is 
now  a  common  stock  plant  in  most  nurseries, 
and  is  planted  in  even  commonplace  gardens. 
The  rich  brownish  crimson  and  yellow  of  the 
masses  of  bloom  render  it  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous of  flowering  shrubs  in  May  and  June, 
producing  a  colour  effect  which  lasts  for  weeks. 
The  original  variety  of  this  Broom  is  the  finest, 
for  though  seedlings  have  been  raised  by 
thousands,  none  appear  to  excel  m  richness  of 
colour  the  variety  first  discovered  by  Andre. 
The  tendency  rather  in  seedlings  from  it  is 
to  revert  to  the  typical  yellow  Broom,  and 
therefore  it  is  most  desirable  to  obtain  plants 
on  their  own  roots  from  the  original  stock. 

This  Andre's  Broom  is  remarkable  in  another 
way,  as  it  illustrates  in  a  conspicuous  maimer 
the  vagaries  of  Nature's  laws  of  variation.  The 
common  Broom  known  for  ages  had  never 
before  this  variety  appeared  been  observed  to 
vary  in  colour  character  of  its  flower  excepting 


800 


THE    GAllDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


the  |iile  variety  (Moonlight).  Suddenly  there 
appeared  in  an  out-of-the-way  place  in 
Normandy  this  astonishing  crimson  variety, 
vphich  did  not  escape  the  keen  eye  of  Andre, 
the  French  landscape  gardener.  Now  that  the 
spell  has  been  broken,  we  may  yet  have 
further  variations  of  flower  colour  in  the 
Broom.  We  may  have  a  rich,  clear  red,  and 
another  without  any  trace  of  yellow  in  the 
flowers,  as  it  is  a  weli-known  fact  that  when 
once  a  variation  breaks  away  from  a  type 
species  the  change  generally  goes  on  evolving 
from  the  first  variation. 

A  point  about  Broom  culture  I  might 
mention.  People  often  ask  how  Brooms  are 
to  be  pruned  when  the  plants  get  "  leggy  "  in 
a  few  years.  The  answer  is  that  nothing  can 
be  done  to  make  dwarf  bushy  plants  from 
"leggy"  plants.  The  better  plan  is  to  start 
afresh  with  new  plants,  as  leggy  plants  if  cut 
hard  back  to  the  old  wood  do  not  break  afresh 
in  a  satisfactory  way.  The  pruning  of  Brooms 
must  be  continually  carried  out  while  the 
plants  are  still  dwarf,  and  the  cutting  away  of 
straggling  branches  must  take  place  so  as 
to  leave  vigorous  green  barked  growth  below 
the  cut  away  parts.  By  doing  this  shapely 
bushes  may  be  kept  for  years. 

I  have  said  so  much  about  the  common 
Broom  and  its  varieties  that  it  would  be 
tiresome  to  continue  about  all  the  many  kinds 
of  Cytisus  that  will  give  colour  in  the  garden 
from  now  until  August.  The  conspicuous 
Brooms  of  the  present  week  are  the  sulphur- 
yellow  C.  ijrascox,  the  low  trailing,  now  hybrid, 
C  kewensis,  quite  a  gem  of  a  shrub  for  the 
rock  garden  ;  C.  Ardoini,  also  dwarf  little 
rock  shrub  of  bright  yellow  colour  in  masses  of 
small  flowers.  Then  will  follow  the  white 
Spanish  Broom  (C.  albus)  and  the  common 
Broom  and  its  varieties,  with  the  yellow  C 

Eurgans,  which  with  C  albus  produced  the 
ybrid  C.  pnecox.  Following  these  come  the 
species  C".  biflorus,  C.  capitatus,  C  hirsutus, 
<J.  se.ssilifolius,  and  last  of  all  the  very 
beautiful  C.  nigricans,  an  August-flowering 
shrub  that  is  not  much  known  or  planted,  but 
is  a  most  worthy  plant  to  grow.  I  omitted  to 
mention  the  fourth  variety  of  the  common 
Broom.  This  is  the  double  variety,  or  so-called 
double,  which  has  some  of  the  petals  dupli- 
cated, but  the  variety  is  in  no  way  superior  to 
the  type,  though  it  is  interesting  as  being  one  of 
the  few  double  varieties  in  Pea-shaped  flowers. 

KetV.  W.  GOLDEING. 


NOTES   OF_THE   WEEK. 

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

May  12. — Committee  Meeting  of  the  United 
Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 

May  20. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet  ;  Royal  National  Tulip  Societies' 
Exhibition  (Southern  section) ;  both  at  Drill  Hall, 
Buckingham. 

May  21.  —  Ancient  Society  of  'S'ork  Florists' 
.Show ;  exhibition  of  the  Societe  Nationale 
d'Horticulture  de  France  (six  days.) 

May  24.  —  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
•Society. 

May  27. — Annual  General  Meeting  and  Dinner 
of  Members  of  the  Kew  Guild  at  the  Holborn 
Restaurant. 

May  2H.— Temple  Show  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  (three  days)  ;  Annual  Dinner  of 
the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  at 
the  Hotel  Metropole. 

OxaliS  rosea.— Amongst  a  batch  of  Oxalis 
rosea  I  raised  last  year  from  seed  one  came  out 
with  white  flowers.  I  kept  the  seed  of  that,  and 
ths  year  I  have  four  or  five  plants  all  white 
flowered.     It  is  a  novelty  to  me,  though  possibly 


it  has  been  met  with  before.  It  is  a  pure  white, 
and  alongside  the  rosea  will,  I  think,  be  very 
effective.  1  mention  this  to  you  in  case  you  care 
to  put  it  in  garden  notes. — Georoe  Dixon,  .4s/.'e 
Hall,  Chelford,  Cheshire.  - 

The  fpuit  prospects  in  AVales.-  The 

prospects  of  a  good  crop  of  fruit  in  North  Wales  are 
very  assuring.  Owing  to  the  delightful  weather 
recently  experienced  the  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and 
Apricots  have  set  freely,  while  the  Apple,  Pear, 
Plum,  and  Cherry  trees  are  covered  with  flowers, 
which  later  on  will  set  freely  provided  tliey  are 
not  destroj-ed  by  frosts,  ifec.  Last  year  tlie  fruit 
crop  was  comparatively  small,  and  meant  a  loss 
of  dessert  fruits  during  winter.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  this  occurs  without  fail  every  two  j'ears,  and 
a  remedy  has  not  yet  been  found.  The  thinning 
of  the  crop  does  not  seem  to  impart  vigour  to  the 
trees  any  more  than  a  liberal  feeding  during 
summer,  therefore  it  may  be  presumed  that  even 
trees  recjuire  a  rest  sometimes. — J.  Denman. 

Bamboos  In  the  North.— Many  of  the 

Bamboos  can  be  quite  successfully  grown  in  a 
northern  climate,  and  are  not  at  all  exacting  in 
their  requirements.  <  )ace  started  they  require  but 
little  care.  The  chief  thing  to  look  for  is  shelter 
from  cold  winds,  which  are  the  chief  enemy  to 
these  plants.  Given  this  shelter  the  rest  is  easy. 
An  abundance  of  vegetable  or  leaf-mould  should  be 
mixed  into  the  soil  to  a  depth  of  at  least  .3  feet. 
During  dry  weather  they  should  have  an  occasional 
good  soaking  of  water,  especially  ■  when  newly 
planted,  also,  when  it  can  be  procured,  a  dose  of 
well  -  diluted  liquid  manure  from  the  farmjard 
will  help  in  the  growing  season.  For  the  rest  it 
is  advisable  to  give  an  annual  top-dressing  of 
manure  or  leaf-mould,  or  both  together  in  the 
winter  or  early  spring.  The  following  five  kinds 
are  what  I  should  recommend  for  a  beginning  in  a 
cold  climate :  Arundinaria  japunica  (Metake)  : 
Bambusa  palmata  has  large  foliage,  and  grows  to 
about  4  feet,  very  good  hardy  sort  :  Phyllostachys 
Henonis,  very  attractive  and  graceful,  good  grower  ; 
Phyllostachys  nigra,  with  dark  stems  ;  Phyllo- 
stachj-s  viridi  -  glaueescens,  a  tall  flower.  Two 
others  that  are  attractive  and  do  well  are  Bambusa 
tesselata,  very  large  foliage,  a  dwarf  sort ;  Arun- 
dinaria nitida,  very  bright  and  graceful.  To  ensure 
success  the  Bamboos  should  be  planted  during  the 
present  month  or  early  June,  when  growth  is  com- 
mencing.— N.  B. 

The   Temple  flower  show.— For  the 

fifteenth  year  in  succession  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  will  hold  their  great  annual  flower 
show  in  the  Inner  Temple  Gardens  (by  the  kind 
permission  of  the  Treasurer  and  Benchers)  on 
May  28,  29,  and  .30.  Ever}'  year  the  desire  of 
growers  to  exhibit  increases,  and  the  ofheials  of 
the  society  have  a  very  anxious  task  in  endeavour- 
ing to  do  justice  to  those  growers  who  regularly 
support  the  fortnightly  shows  of  the  society  held 
at  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  and  yet  at 
the  same  time  to  encourage  others  also  to  come 
forward.  The  space  is  absolutely  limited  by  order 
of  the  Temple  authorities  ;  no  more  or  larger  tents 
ma}'  be  erected,  hence  everj'  new  exhibitor  whose 
entry  is  accepted  means  curtailment  of  the  space 
allotted  to  previous  supporters.  The  society  will 
issue  an  oiEcial  catalogue,  comprising  a  history  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  particulars  of  the 
meetings  and  exhibitions  held  at  the  Drill  Hall, 
of  the  Coronation  Rose  show  at  Holland  House, 
Kensington,  on  June  24  and  25,  and  of  the  fruit 
show  to  be  held  at  the  Crystal  Palace  on 
September  18,  19,  and  20,  also  schedule  of  plants 
with  the  names  and  addresses  of  all  the  Temple 
exhibitors  entered  up  to  May  20.  There  will  also 
be  the  programme  of  the  music  to  be  performed 
each  day  by  the  band  of  His  Majesty  s  1st  Life 
Guards.  The  judges  will  meet  at  the  secretary's 
tent  at  10..30  a.m.  on  May  28,  at  which  hour 
punctually  the  tents  will  be  cleared  of  all  exhibi- 
tors and  their  assistants.  The  fruit,  floral,  and 
Orchid  committees  will  assemble  at  the  secretary's 
tent  at  11  a.m.  sharp,  and  the  show  will  be  opened 
at  12.30.  All  plants  for  certificate  must  be 
entered  on  or  before  Friday,  May  2.3.  Address, 
Secretary,  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  117, 
Victoria   Street,    London,    S.  W.      A   notice  on   a 


post-card  will  be  sent  to  each  exhibitor  on  Wednes- 
day, May  21,  slating  the  number  of  square  feet 
allotted  to  him,  and  the  number  of  the  tent  (or 
tents)  in  which  the  exhibits  are  to  be  placed.  No 
plants  can  under  any  circumstances  be  entered  on 
the  day  of  the  show,  i 

National   Dahlia   Society.  —  This 

society,  of  which  Mr.  E.  Mawley  is  the  president, 
Mr.  J.  F.  Hudson,  M.A.,  is  llie  hon.  secretary, 
and  Mr.  C.  E.  Wilkins  the  treasurer,  seems,  we 
are  pleased  to  say,  in  a  prosperous  way.  Tlie 
report  for  last  year  sajs  :  "  The  past  summer  was 
again  a  trj'ing  season  for  Dahlias  in  the  southern 
half  of  England,  owing  to  the  scanty  rainfall,  the 
great  heat  and  dry  atmosphere  that  prevailed 
during  the  daytime  in  .July.  For  the  fifth  con- 
secutive season  exceptional  drought  has  been 
experienced.  The  few  days  immediately  preceding 
the  exhibition  were  marked  by  high  winds,  which 
did  much  damage  to  the  blooms  of  many  growers 
and  made  it  most  difficult  to  secure  specimens  of 
the  single  varieties.  The  annual  exhibition,  held 
at  the  Crystal  Palace  on  September  6  and  7,  was 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  history  of  the  society  ;  a. 
magnificent  display  of  all  sections  of  the  Dahlia 
being  produced.  Omitting  the  blooms  submitted 
for  certificates,  and  lliose  staged  "not  for  com jk'- 
tition,"  the  number  of  shows  and  fancies  taken 
together  was  1,41G,  an  increase  as  compared  with 
the  previous  exhibition  of  114  ;  of  Pompons  1,992, 
an  increase  of  84  ;  of  Cactus  2,4t)3,  a  decrease  of 
162;  of  singles  1,4.")2,  an  increase  of  240;  making 
a  total  of  7,323  blooms,  an  increase  of  27(). 
Twenty-two  certificates  were  awarded  to  new 
Dalilias  on  this  occasion.  On  September  24  a 
meeting  was  held  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster, 
in  conjunction  with  the  fortnightly  meeting  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  wlien  nineteen 
certificates  were  awarded  to  new  varieties.  The 
committee  desire  to  convey  their  best  thanks  to 
the  donors  of  special  prizes,  viz.,  the  President, 
Mr.  F.  W.  Fellowes,  Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams  and 
Co. ,  Messrs.  J.  Cheat  and  Sons,  Messrs.  J.  Burrell 
and  Co.,  Mr.  J.  Stredwick,  Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Mr. 
A.  Dean,  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Mr.  T.  Hobbs,  also  to  the 
Horticultural  Club  for  kindlj'  allowing  the  society's 
meetings  to  be  held  in  the  club  room.  The  list  of 
Cactus  Dahlias  that  has  been  published  annually 
by  the  society  for  some  years  will  not  in  future  be 
issued,  as  the  society  considers  that  such  a  list  is 
no  longer  necessary.  The  arrangements  made  with 
the  Crystal  Palace  Company  the  last  two  years 
having  proved  far  from  satisfactory,  the  committee 
have  decided  to  hold  the  exhibition  in  1902  in 
conjunction  with  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
in  their  exhibition  hall  at  Buckingham  (iate,  West- 
minster. Their  thanks  are  due  to  the  president 
and  council  of  the  Roj'al  Horticultural  Society  for 
granting  the  society  this  privilege,  and  also  for 
placing  their  staff  of  assistants  at  the  service  of 
the  committee  on  the  show  dajs.  In  order  that 
this  new  venture  may  prove  in  every  way  a  success, 
the  committee  request  the  kind  co-operation  of  the 
members  in  making  the  exhibition  generally  known 
among  their  friends,  and  by  inducing  new  members 
to  join  the  society.  The  income  of  the  society 
from  all  sources,  including  the  balance  of  t'ti  10s.  .'id. 
in  the  society's  favour  from  the  year  1900,  amounted 
to  £222  17s.  lid.  ;  and  the  entire  expenditure, 
including  the  payment  of  all  prizes  awarded  at  the 
exhibition,  amounted  to  £219  18s.  9d.,  leaving  a 
balance  in  the  treasurer's  hands  of  £2  19s.  2d. 
The  annual  exhibition  for  this  jear  will  be  held  at 
the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster, 
S.W.,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  September  2 
and  3.  A  committee  meeting  will  be  held,  also  at 
the  Drill  Hall,  on  Tuesday,  September  23,  for  the 
purpose  of  awarding  certificates  to  seedling  Dahlias. 
Entries  will  be  received  by  the  hon.  secretary  at 
the  Drill  Hall,  before  11.30  a.m.,  on  the  morning 
of  the  show.  Members  subscribing  £1  are  entitled 
to  four  tickets  of  admission  to  the  society's  grand 
exhibition  at  Westminster  ;  those  subscribing  10s. 
to  two  tickets  ;  and  those  subscribing  ."is.  to  one 
ticket.  Each  member  joining  the  society  for  the 
first  time  this  year  will  receive  a  copy  of  the 
'Official  Catalogue  of  the  National  Dahlia  Society.' 
Members  alone  have  the  privilege  of  exhibiting  at 
the  exhibitions  of  the  National  Dahlia  Society." 


May  10,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


301 


National  Rose  Soeiety.— The  Metro- 
politan Exhibitioa  will  be  held  in  the  Temple 
Gardens,  London,  on  Wednesday,  July  2 ;  the 
Southern  Exhibition  at  Exeter,  on  Friday,  July  -4 ; 
and  the  Northern  Exhibition  at  Manchester,  on 
Saturday,  July  19.  Prizes  will  be  ofifered  by  the 
society  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
Conference,  which  will  be  held  at  Holland 
House,  Kensington,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
June  24  and  25. 

Tufted  Pansy  Molly  Pope,— With  the 

constant  introduction  of  new  yellow  rayless  Violas, 
it  is  pleasing  to  know  that  this  charming  variety 
is  still  one  of  the  best.  Plants  are  now  flowering 
freely,  and  make  a  good  mass  of  colour.  It  is 
planted  freely  in  Waterlow  Park,  and  for  some 
months  to  come  there  should  be  a  welcome 
display  of  blossoms.  It  is  a  lighter  shade  of 
yellow  than  A.  J.  Rowberry,  and  more  effective. 
In  one  of  the  papers  read  before  the  Viola  Con- 
ference at  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Regent's 
Park,  in  August,  1896,  this  variety  was  referred  to 
as  a  good  new  one,  but  many  of  the  newer  Violas 
are  quickly  superseded  by  others. — D.  B.  C. 
Roses   in  Southern   California.  — 

The  rapid  and  immense  growth  of  all  Rose  plants 
is  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  all  newcomers  in 
Southern  California.  There  are  hundreds  of 
climbing  Roses  that  have  grown  2.5  feet  and 
30  feet  in  three  years.  At  the  Arlington,  in 
Santa  Barbara,  there  is  a  climbing  Rose  bush  some 
twenty  years  old,  whose  innumerable  branches 
cover  an  area  of  over  2,000  square  feet  on  the  long 
side  of  the  hotel.  Its  four  main  trunks,  3  feet  above 
the  roots,  are  each  5  inches  in  diameter,  and  it  is 
common  for  people  in  Santa  Barbara  to  be  photo- 
graphed sitting  on  a  curve  made  by  one  of  these 
trunk  branches.  At  Riverside  there  is  a  Lamar- 
que  Rose  bush,  fourteen  3'ears  old,  that  has 
twisted  its  huge  branches  serpent-like  about  the 
trunk  of  a  mammoth  Pepper  Tree,  and  followed 
each  limb  of  the  tree  out  to  the  end,  so  that  in  the 
weeks  of  blooming  the  tree  looks  like  a  stupen- 
dous bouquet  of  green,  flecked  with  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  white  Roses.  Climbing  Roses  that  bear 
10,000  and  12,000  blossoms  at  a  time  are  common 
in  every  locality  in  Southern  California.  Some  of 
the  bushes,  about  ten  years  old,  in  Pomona  Valley, 
have  for  several  years  borne  annually  from  20,000 
to  30,000  blossoms  at  a  time.  There  is  in  Ventura 
a  magnificent  specimen  of  a  white  Lamarque  Rose. 
It  was  planted  in  November,  1876,  and  has  been 
trained  over  a  large  arbour.  Its  main  stem,  im- 
mediately above  the  ground,  measures  2  feet 
9  inches  in  circumference.  Two  branches  start 
from  it,  and  each  is  2  feet  1  inch  in  circumference. 
It  has  been  cut  back  and  heavily  pruned  each  year, 
and  last  year  over  a  waggon  load  of  prunings  was 
taken  away  from  it.  For  several  years  the  girls 
and  boys  of  Ventura  have  counted  the  number  of 
blossoms  every  March  and  April.  In  five  years 
they  have  annually  been  over  14,000,  and  last  April 
they  numbered  21,640.  Botanists  say  they  can 
discover  no  signs  of  degeneracy  due  to  old  age  or 
rare  fecundity  in  the  wonderful  plant.  —  The 
Weekly  Post  of  New  York. 

AVaterlOW  Park. — At  all  seasons  this 
charmingly  situated  North  London  park  has  much 
to  interest  visiters,  and  especially  those  who  have 
a  love  for  gardening.  The  Hyacinths  are  just 
past  their  best,  but,  judging  from  what  we  saw 
of  some  of  the  beds  and  borders  in  sheltered 
positions,  they  have  made  a  very  effective  display. 
At  the  time  of  writing  the  Tulips  were  brilliant,  the 
method  of  planting  adopted  here  making  the  most  of 
the  material  available.  At  the  main  entrance — by 
St.  Joseph's  Retreat — there  is  an  immense  sloping 
border  with  a  southern  aspect,  and  at  all  times  the 
best  is  made  of  this  valuable  position.  The  upper 
part  of  this  broad  sloping  border  is  planted  with 
superb  Narcissi  in  masses  of  certain  effective  sorts, 
Maximua,  Sir  Watkin,  Emperor,  and  others 
making  a  great  show.  Below  these  an  immense 
breadth  of  Wallflowers  just  coming  into  blossom 
promises  well,  although  the  quality  of  flowers,  at 
least  what  was  seen  of  them,  was  hardly  up  to 
the  usual  standard.  The  Tulips  are  planted  at  the 
lower  end  of  this  broad  border  in  groups,  arranged 
in   semi-circular    form,   and    they  were    without 


doubt  the  brightest  of  all  the  occupants  of  the 
beds  and  borders.  Proserpine,  with  its  refined 
rosy  lavender  blossoms  in  splendid  form,  was 
feeling  the  cutting  effects  of  the  strong  easterly 
wind.  Specially  effective  were  the  groups  of 
Keizer  Kroon,  with  large  flowers  of  crimson- 
scarlet,  margined  golden  -  yellow.  Some  little 
distance  removed  masses  of  Duchesse  de  Parma 
were  seen  to  advantage.  The  ever-popular  Cottage 
Maid,  with  dainty  blossoms  of  soft  lake  and  white, 
was  greatly  admired,  as  were  the  yellows  repre- 
sented in  this  instance  by  Ophir  d'Or,  rich  golden 
yellow,  and  Yellow  Prince,  of  a  brighter  shade. 
Belle  Alliance  was  a  brilliant  group  of  dark  scarlet 
blossoms,  and  there  was  promise  of  this  being 
succeeded  by  a  beautiful  mass  of  Couleur  de 
Cardinal,  a  fiery  scarlet.  The  foregoing  are  a  few  of 
the  more  striking  sorts.  The  herbaceous  border  is 
always  interesting,  and  as  this  aspect  of  gardening 
is  carefully  considered  at  Waterlow  Park,  each 
week  sees  the  list  of  plants  in  flower  augmented. 
The  older  forms  of  the  Aubrietia  are  just  now  very 
pretty,  and,  as  they  are  represented  by  immense 
clumps,  they  are  greatly  admired.  There  are 
three  small  lakes  here,  and  in  one  of  the  three 
some  of  the  newer  Nymphsea  might  with  advan- 
tage be  planted.  This  is  a  splendid  opportunity 
for  the  Parks  Committee  of  the  London  County 
Council  to  make  these  beautiful  Water  Lilies 
known  to  the  London  public. — D.  B.  C. 
Spring"  protection  for  Pears.— There 

are  signs  of  a  very  heavy  crop  of  Pears,  every  de- 
scription of  tree,  from  the  cordon  of  some  three  or 
four  years  from  the  planting  to  the  big  fan-trained 
that  must  be  close  on  100  years  old,  being  loaded 
with  blossom.  In  the  case  of  cordons  I  protect 
them  with  a  double  thickness  of  ^-inch  mesh 
netting,  which  always  ensures  a  good  set,  but  the 
older  trees  have  to  take  the  risk.  I  think  the 
advisability  of  spring 
protection  for   the   best  , 

Pears     should     receive  ^ 

more  attention,  for, 
given  a  long  wall  oi 
cordons  planted  with  the  •  ■. . 
best  sorts,  ranging  from 
.Jargonelle  to  Josephine 
des  Malines,  the  value 
for  dessert  is  unques- 
tionable. Personal!}',  I 
always  pick  out  the  best 
nets  for  the  Peaches  and 
cordon  Pears.  When 
natural  copings  that 
admit  ef  the  nets  swing- 
ing clear  of  the  trees  do 
not  exist,  it  is  advisable 
to  fasten  a  stout  board 
to  the  top  of  the  wall 
and  hinge  another  on  to 
this  that  can  be  lowered 
at  will  to  project  some 
6  inches.  The  nets  can 
be  secured  to  the  pro- 
jecting board,  and  the 
latter  pushed  back  on 
the  top  of  the  wall  when 
the  nets  are  not  required. 
We  find  them,  however, 
quite  as  necessary  in 
autumn  as  in  spring. 
Tits  are  very  trouble- 
some, and  without  pro- 
•  eotion  a  lot  of  the  best 
fruit  would  be  spoilt. — 

E.    BURBELL. 

Anemone  apen- 
nina. — This  charming 
Anemone  is  one  of  the 
most  welcome  of  our 
spring  flowers.  It  is 
quite  happy  in  places 
where  many  plants 
would  scarcely  find  a 
living,  at  the  feet  of 
shrubs  and  in  edges  of 
shrub  thickets.  Where 
garden  joins  woodland 
is     its      favourite     and 


most  appropriate  place,  though  there  is  many  a 
shaded  bank  or  rough  outer  edge  of  rock  garden 
where  it  will  do  well.  Those  who  have  ridden  in 
spring  time  in  the  Roman  Campagna  will  remember 
the  little  blue  stars  studding  the  edges  of  thickets 
and  brambly  brakes,  just  the  kind  of  places  where 
at  home  we  find  the  sweet  wild  Violets,  which 
indeed  are  there  also. 
Horticulture  in  Monmouthshire.— 

Mr.  W.  J.  Grant,  the  organising  secretary  to  the 
Technical  Instruction  Committee  for  Monmouth, 
sends  a  copy  of  his  report.  It  deals  with  poultry, 
dairy  work,  cheese  making,  &c.,  besides  horti- 
culture. It  is  interesting  to  know  that  there  are 
hedging  classes,  attended  almost  entirely  by 
farmers'  sons,  and  much  attention  is  given  to 
orchards  and  fruit  culture.  Mr.  Grant  says : 
"In  every  instance  the  attendance  was  most 
encouraging." 

Flowers,  in  Park  Lane,  Hyde 
Park. — A  brilliant  blaze  of  colour  is  afforded 
just  now  by  bulbous  flowers  from  Park  Lane  to 
Stanhope  Gate.  All  round  there  appears  to  be  a 
much  stronger  bloom  than  last  year.  A  brief  notice 
of  a  few  of  the  more  prominent  beds  may  be  worthy 
of  record.  Tulips  contribute  much  to  the  floral 
display.  Bright  is  a  bed  of  Joost  van  Vondel,  rosy 
crimson,  flaked  white,  associated  with  herbaceous 
Pyrethrums,  the  foliage  of  the  latter  enhancing  and 
toning  down  the  brightly  coloured  Tulips.  Ver- 
milion Brilliant,  a  dazzling  colour,  with  yellow 
Wallflowers,  is  good.  Very  pleasing  is  Keizer 
Kroon,  yellow  and  red,  large  flowers,  carpeted  with 
Myosotis.  A  good  effect  is  produced  with  Keizer 
Kroon  having  a  band  of  Joost  van  Vondel.  Very 
striking  is  a  small  round  bed  planted  with  Jonquil 
Campernelle  and  having  a  carpet  of  red  Daisies. 
Jonquils  and  Tulip  Crimson  King  present  a  very 
bright  combination.  Beds^devoted_to  the  following 


A  OBOnriNO  OF  ANEMONE  APBNNIKA.     (From  a  jjlioto(jraph  by  Mies  WiUmott.) 


202 


THE    GAllDEN. 


[May  10,  19(2. 


Tulips  are  very  efifective  :  Pottebakker,  searlel, 
very  large  flowers  ;  Mars,  bright  crimson  ;  Cottage 
Maid,  white  and  rose,  exceedingly  pretty  ;  and 
White  Pottebakker,  good  ;  Queen  of  Violets  and 
Thomas  Moore,  beautiful  apricot,  with  dots  of  a 
dark  Wallflower,  present  a  line  appearance.  Two 
beds  of  mixed  Auriculas  are  making  a  good  show. 
A  border  on  the  west  side  of  the  Marble  Arch,  also 
one  at  the  Dell  (east  side  of  the  Serpentine),  are 
now  looking  grand,  planted  with  Tulips,  Hyacinths, 
and  Narcissi  in  blocks  of  colour.  They  are  the 
admiration  of  all  who  see  them. — Quo. 

Destruction    of   queen  wasps.— I 

am  glad  to  report  a  great  falling  o2'  this  year  in 
the  number  of  queen  wasps,  only  a  few  dozen 
having  been  killed,  as  against  hundreds  in  former 
years.  It  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  be  equally 
scarce  at  the  time  fruit  is  ripe.  Might  I  again 
ofter  the  suggestion  that  their  destruction  both  so 
far  as  the  queens  and  nests  are  concerned  might 
be  taken  up  by  parish  and  district  councils  in  all 
districts  where  they  are  locally  troublesome,  as 
they  are  a  source  of  annoyance,  not  only  in  private 
gardens,  but  to  many  branches  of  the  community, 
such  as  grocers,  confectioners,  butchers,  &c.  I 
am  aware  that  they  do  a  certain  amount  of  useful 
work,  but  during  the  last  few  years  they  have 
visited  us  in  such  numbers  that  the  damage  done 
to  fruit  has  been  very  great. — E.  Burreli.. 

Royal    Caledonian    Hopticultupal 
Society  and  Scottish  Hopticultural 

Association.— For  many  years  the  Pvoyal 
Caledonian  Horticultural  Society  held  a  large 
summer  show  in  the  Waverley  Market  in  July, 
but  since  1889  that  has  been  discontinued.  The 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association  has  for  a  few 
years  held  a  small  summer  exhibition,  and  in  U)UO 
the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society  also 
held  one.  In  this  the  Coronation  year  of  His 
Majesty  King  Ed«  ard  VII. ,  the  two  councils  have 
cordially  agreed  to  hold  a  summer  show  in  the 
Music  Hall,  (ieorge  Street,  Edinburgh,  on  Wednes- 
day, July  16.  Exhibits  of  Roses,  Carnations, 
Sweet  Peas,  herbaceous  flowers.  Irises,  and  other 
midsummer  flowers,  Strawberries  and  other  fruits, 
also  plants  and  vegetables  that  may  be  interesting  to 
horticulturists,  are  specially  invited,  and  medals  or 
other  awards  will  be  given  to  meritorious  exhibits. 
If  desired,  the  councils  will  make  arrangements  for 
unpacking  and  staging  any  exhibits.  Every  care 
will  be  taken,  and  exhibits  will  be  returned,  if 
desired.  The  societies  will  take  precautions  to 
safeguard  such  exhibits,  but  will  not  be  responsible 


for  any  loss  or  damage.  Exhibits  must  be  staged 
before  11  a.m.  on  the  day  of  the  show,  and 
intimation  of  the  proposed  exhibits  and  the 
probable  space  to  be  occupied,  with  a  description 
of  the  character  of  the  exhibit,  should  be  made  to 
either  of  the  joint  secretaries  not  later  than 
July  12.  In  the  case  of  exhibits  sent  by  rail  or 
post,  they  should  be  sent  to  the  Music  Hall,  and 
a  separate  advice  or  post  card  should  be  sent  to 
either  secretary.  Unless  this  be  done  the  risk  of 
parcels  going  astray  will  be  greatly  increased.  The 
notice  sent  to  us  is  signed,  in  name  of  the 
respective  councils,  by  Mr.  P.  Murray  Thomson, 
5,  York  Place,  Edinburgh,  Secretary,  Royal 
Caledonian  Horticultural  Society,  and  Mr.  Peter 
Loney,  6,  Carlton  Street,  Edinburgh,  Secretary, 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association. 

Eng'lish  Gooseberries  in  Michigan. 

— The  following  remarks  occur  in  a  report  pub- 
lished by  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College 
Experiment  Station  :  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
English  varieties,  Goosebenies  did  as  well  as  usual 
this  season.  Champion,  Chautauqua,  Lancashire, 
and  Orange  were  the  most  productive  of  the 
English  varieties.  Chautauqua  made  the  best 
showing  of  any  of  the  varieties  of  this  class. 
Among  the  American  kinds  Downing,  Pearl,  and 
Red  Jacket  gave  the  largest  yield.  Pearl  and  Red 
Jacket  are  promising  new  varieties.  This  season 
they  bore  fruit  a  little  larger  than  that  of  the 
Downing,  but  were  a  trifle  less  productive.  The 
plants  of  these  two  varieties  do  not  quite  equal 
Downing  in  vigour.  Flowers  of  sulphur,  one  ounce  to 
three  gallons  of  water,  was  again  used,  as  for  several 
seasons  past,  for  the  prevention  of  mildew,  which 
is  especially  liable  to  attack  the  English  varieties. 
The  first  application  was  made  on  May  1,  and  was 
followed  by  others  at  intervals  of  ten  days  until 
the  fruit  ripened.  The  disease  appeared  in  June, 
but  only  to  a  slight  extent,  upon  two  or  three 
English  varieties.  English  varieties :  Apex, 
Champion,  Industry,  Orange,  and  Triumph.  In 
a  list  of  the  best  varieties  for  home  and  market, 
out  of  seven  enumerated,  four  are  English,  viz., 
Chautauqua,  Columbus,  Keepsake,  and  Lancashire. 

Two  good   new  Ferns.  —  Apart  from 

Pteris  Wimsetli  multiceps,  which  was  given  an 
award  of  merit  at  the  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  on  April  '22,  there  was  an 
extremely  beautiful  variety  shown  asPteris  Childsi 
in  a  group  from  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  of  Edmonton, 
which,  judging  by  many  of  the  remarks  overheard, 
will  be  much  sought  after  when  it  is  distributed. 


It  forms  rather  a  dense-growing  specimen  about 
a  foot  high,  but  any  suggestion  of  lumpiness  is 
prevented  by  the  lightness  of  the  crisped  and 
undulated  fronds.  The  fronds,  whose  divisions 
vary  in  width  from  half  an  inch  to  double  that 
amount,  have  cut  and  slashed  edges,  and  as  regu- 
larly waved  as  if  they  had  been  goffered,  while 
many  of  them  are  crested  at  the  tips.  In  addition 
they  are  of  a  pleasing  shade  of  light  green,  which 
without  any  suggestion  of  sickliness  furnishes  a 
tint  but  little  represented  among  Ferns  in  general. 
It  is,  I  presume,  of  garden  origin,  and  its  general 
appearance  suggests  that  Pteris  Wimsetti  may 
have  played  a  part  in  its  production.  The  form  to 
which  an  award  of  merit  was  given,  viz.,  P.  Wim- 
setti multiceps,  has  the  fronds  much  cut  and 
crisped.  It  is  a  delightful  Fern  of  good  habit  and 
constitution. — T. 


SIMPLE     METHODS     OF 
FORCING    RHUBARB. 

There  are  various  methods  of  forcing  Rhubarb 
practised  by  gardeners  of  to-day,  yet  we  think 
those  herewith  illustrated  are  as  simple  and 
effectual  as  any,  and  therefore  to  be  commended. 
They  are  adopted  in  the  Syon  House  Gardens 
of  his  Grace  the  Dukeof  Northumberland,  where 
Rhubarb  forcing  is  carried  on  to  a  considerable 
extent.  The  illustrations  convey  the  lesson  so 
simply  that  very  few  words  or  explanatory 
remarks  are  necessary.  In  both  cases  the 
Rhubarb  roots  are  planted  out  of  doors,  and 
their  growth  has  in  the  one  case  been  hastened 
by  a  covering  of  long  manure,  and  in  the  other 
by  means  of  an  ordinary  barrel.  With  the 
help  of  these  simple  expedients  Mr.  Wythes 
obtains  forced  Rhubarb  of  excellent  quality. 


, — =:^-^*-., 


i^^r 


^SC:-.: 


■*.        \         ■.  ""^ 


■'t'*ir 


roRCING   RHDB.\Rr;    IIY   A   SIMPl.K  COVERIN'd    OF   MANnRE. 


THE     KENTISH     CHERRY 
ORCHARDS. 

Kent  is  a  beautiful  county  at  most  seasons  of  the 
year,    but   never  more  so   than  when  the  Cherry 
orchards  are  masses  of  flower.      A  single  Cherry 
tree  when  in  blossom,  whether  it  be  in  oi chard  or 
garden,  is  a  beautiful  object,  but  when  it  comes  to 
miles   of  thtm,  stretching  away  almost  as  far  as 
one  can  see,   then  words   are  quite  inadequate  to 
describe  the  effect.     It  is  singular  that  one  corner 
of   England  holds  the  monopoly  for  the 
cultivation  of  this  fruit,  but  such  is  the 
_.       case  ;    indeed,  the  Cherry-growing  area 
is  not  large,  but  more  fruit  is  produced 
there  than  in  all  the  rest  of  the  country 
put  together.     Some  authorities  say  that 
Cherries    would    grow   equally   as    well 
elsewhere,  but  people  do  not  plant  them 
on    anything    like    a    large    scale,    and 
meanwhile    the    growers     in    the    Hop 
county   enjoy   the   enviable    position   of 
being    witliout    serious    competitors    in 
this  particular  industry.     I  say  without 
competitors,   but  I  must  not  forget  the 
growers  on  the  other  side  of  the  Channel, 
who   are   something   of   a  thorn    in   the 
side  of  the   Kentish   cultivators,   parti- 
cularly with    the   early    supplies.      One 
thing,  however,  is  certain.  Cherries  are 
at  home  in   Kent.      Whether  it  be  the 
soil,  or  the  situation,   or  a   mixture  of 
both,  it  is  obvious  that  the  fruit  rejoices 
in  the  conditions,  and  this,  perhaps,  is 
the  keynote  of  the  whole  thing.     It  is  all 
very  well  to  advocate  fruit  culture,  but 
Nature  should  be  the  guide  in  selecting 
localities,  and  the  trees  which   grow  in 
the   Hop   county  prove  that  so  long  as 
the  cultivator  does  his  part  there  need 
be  nothing  to  fear. 

To  get  into  the  heart  of  the  Cherry 
country  one  can  make  Maidstone,  Sitting- 
bourne,  or  Faversham  the  starting  point, 
and  work  through  miles  of  orchards  just 
now  clothed  in  their  mantles  of  blossom. 
The  pink  and   white  of  the  clusters  of 


May  10,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


303 


rORCING  EUUBAKB   WITH    THE  HELP   OV  AN    OLD   EAKREL. 


flowers,  and  the  delicate  tint  of  the  bursting 
growths,  make  a  delightful  contrast  to  the  sur- 
rounding vegetation  and  the  bright  green  of  the 
fresh  grass  beneath  the  trees.  The  individual 
who  sees  only  the  beautiful  side  might  go  in 
raptures  over  the  picture,  but  the  practical  man, 
though  he  be  not  wanting  in  admiration,  observes 
something  more  than  a  sea  of  flowers.  He  has 
before  kim  an  illustration  which  flatly  contradicts 
the  oft-repeated  statement  that  tlie  methods  of 
English  fruit  growers  are  altogether  behindhand.  I 
hold  no  brief  for  Kentish  Cherry  growers,  but  there 
are  acres  and  acres  of  orchards  in  the  county  com- 
prised of  trees  that  are  examples  of  good  cultivation, 
both  by  the  way  in  which  they  were  originally 
planted  and  by  the  method  of  training  and 
pruning  to  which  they  have  since  been  subjected. 
There  are  numerous  instances  also  of  the  vitality 
of  the  Cherry  tree  when  grown  under  favourable 
conditions,  and  nothing  could  be  better  than 
Kentish  loam  with  the  lime  element  present  in  the 
chalk. 

There  are  giants  with  boles  and  limbs  equal  to 
those  of  a  forest  tree,  towering  upward,  and  spread- 
ing this  way  and  that,  with  every  twig  a  wreath  of 
blossom.  These  represent  the  Cherry  when  most 
profitable,  but  there  are  relics  also  of  once  vigorous 
specimens,  partly  decayed,  but  so  long  as  a  spark 
of  life  remains  they  seem  capable  of  producing 
flowers  and  afterwards  fruit.  The  young  orchards, 
on  the  other  hand,  speak  of  the  future.  The 
vigorous  shapely  standards  are  planted  in  straight 
symmetrical  rows  ;  the  intervening  spaces  are  not 
yet  filled  up,  but  they  will  be  in  time,  when  the 
older  orchards  have  finished  their  work. 

Naturally  enough,  when  the  whole  country  is 
beautiful  with  blossom,  the  all-absorbing  question 
is  the  prospect  of  fruit.  Judging  from  the  flower- 
laden  trees  the  promise  is  fair  enough,  but  Cherries 
are  a  precarious  crop,  and  the  grower  is  never 
really  sure  of  them  till  they  are  safe  in  the  basket. 
A  nipping  frost  may  quickly  upset  all  calculations, 
a  hailstorm  after  the  fruit  is  set  may  spread 
devastation,  and  continued  wet  about  ripening 
time  result  in  wholesale  decay.  Bird  life,  too,  has 
to  be  reckoned  with,  and  from  early  morning  till 
dusk,  when  the  ripe  fruits  hang  thick  on  the  trees, 
a  continual  watch  must  be  kept  to  keep  off  the 
marauders.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  Cherry 
growing  is  not  certain,  but  one  would  think  that 
all  fear  ended  with  the  picking  of  the  fruit.  It  is 
hard  to  believe  that  there  could  be  a  glut  of 
Cherries  when  one  county  practically  produces  the 


country's  supply,  but  such  a  thing  is  not  unknown, 
and  last  year,  when  the  crop  was  above  the  average, 
many  tons  of  fruit  were  sold  that  did  not  show  a 
profit  after  expenses  were  paid.  This  does  not 
reflect  very  creditably  on  our  system  of  dis- 
tribution. 

The  Cherry  growers  are  at  the  beginning  of  an 
anxious  time.  The  crop  means  something  to  them 
in  these  days  when  other  branches  of  the  farms  are 
none  too  profitable.  The  bright  display  of  showy 
blossom  gives  ground  for  hopes,  but  these  are 
mingled  with  doubts  and  fears,  as  many  things 
ma}'  happen  between  now  and  the  time  of  picking. 
The  casual  observer,  however,  who  is  not  finan- 
cially interested,  has  none  of  these  things  to  worry 
about,  and  can  therefore  enjoy  the  mass  of  blossom 
undisturbed  by  any  cares  for  the  future. 

G.  H.  H. 


THE     ROSE    GARDEN. 


1 


HYBRID    TEAS    UNDER 
GLASS. 

F  this  beautiful  and  modern  group  has  special 
claims  as  garden  Roses  they  also  are  the 
most  useful  for  pots  or  for  planting  out 
under  glass.  Whilst  combining  all  the 
charms  of  the  true  Teas,  they  are  by  their 
sturdier  nature  more  easily  grown  and 
require  less  artificial  heat.  Moreover,  the  stiff 
erect  stems  of  the  majority  of  kinds  are  wanted 
at  the  present  day  when  so  many  flowers  are  in 
demand  for  cutting. 

I  do  not  wish  to  depreciate  the  true  Teas,  but  I 
always  like  to  recommend  Roses  that  anyone  can 
grow  easily  under  ordinary  conditions.  To  grow 
the  true  Teas  to  perfection  houses  entirely  devoted 
to  this  class  are  needful,  but  the  Hybrid  Teas 
would  thrive  with  other  cool  greenhouse  plants 
providing  a  uniform  treatment  is  accorded.  Most 
of  them  will  even  flourish  in  cold  pits.  In  fact, 
this  is  an  excellent  way  of  obtaining  Roses  a  few 
weeks  earlier  than  outdoors,  and  it  also  lays  the 
foundation  for  a  stock  of  forcing  plants  for  another 
year.  If  a  quantity  of  a  few  good  varieties  are 
potted  up  in  autumn  and  plunged  at  once  into 
these  cold  pits  they  may  be  pruned  in  February, 
and  would  be  in  bloom  by  the  end  of  May  and 
early  in  .lune.  The  method  of  culture  brings  out 
many  tints  which  we  do  not  see  in  flowers  outdoors. 


Under  glass  the  beautiful  yellow  shading 
of  Antoiue  Rivoire  is  very  pronounced, 
but  outdoors  the  rosy  flesh  tint  predo- 
minates. Then,  again,  Grace  Darling  is 
almost  another  Rose  under  glass,  and 
this  is  true  of  others.  One  not  much 
known  and  a  variety  I  have  hitherto  had 
but  little  opinion  of  is  Violoniste  Emile 
Leveque.  A  flower  under  glass  this  year 
was  quite  a  golden-yellow  colour.  Kaiserin 
Augusta  Victoria  is  a  superb  Rose  for 
forcing.  It  is  not  so  good  for  winter  as 
it  is  from  April  to  May ;  its  flowers  are  so 
double  that  they  do  not  expand  well.  The 
market  growers,  instead  of  disbudding, 
allow  all  the  buds  to  remain,  the  first 
flowers  being  rather  short  stemmed,  but 
afterwards  fairly  long.  The  climbing  form 
of  this  Rose  is  very  vigorous  and  well 
adapted  for  a  lofty  conservatory  wall  or 
loof.  The  secret  as  to  the  origin  of 
Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  has  only 
recently  leaked  out.  Herr  Peter  Lambert, 
whom  1  believe  was  its  raiser,  although 
he  did  not  introduce  the  variet}',  says  it 
resulted  from  a  cross  between  Coquette 
de  Lyon  and  Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam. 

Liberty  seems  destined  to  supplant  all 
crimson  Roses  for  forcing.  The  market 
growers  are  well  satisfied  with  it,  which 
is  not  surprising  when  flowers  of  this 
variety  early  in  the  j'ear  brought  as 
much  as  12s.  a  dozen  wholesale.  It 
makes  fine  strong  growths  when  the 
plants  are  established.  All  who  have 
large  demands  for  crimson  Eoses  for  late 
autumn,  winter,  and  early  spring  should  lose  no 
time  in  planting  or  potting  on  a  stock.  Caroline 
Testout  with  all  its  faults  of  lumpiness  is  a  fine 
pot  Rose.  It  is  very  free  in  growth,  and  in  spite 
of  being  weak  at  the  neck  the  half-open  flowers 
are  very  effective.  Naturally  we  turn  instinctively 
to  La  France  or  Duchess  of  Albany,  because  here 
we  have  beautiful  imbricated  form,  and,  moreover, 
exquisite  perfume.  Ferdinand  Jamin  is  a  some- 
what neglected  Rose.  I  believe  it  will  surpass 
Mme.  Abel  Chatenay  for  indoors,  but  it  can  never 
supplant  it  outside,  although  some  may  prefer  it. 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant  is  still  grown  by  a  few  market 
growers,  but  there  is  one  serious  objection  to  the 
variety,  i.e.,  it  is  apt  to  fade  soon  after  being  cut, 
otherwise  its  beautiful  long  buds  are  most  useful. 
Mme.  Jules  Grolez  is  being  used  as  a  substitute 
for  the  latter  with  much  success. 

Captain  Christy  is  a  favourite  pink  Rose  for 
forcing,  probably  because  of  its  massive  flowers, 
but  surely  if  a  sweet-scented  Rose  is  available  this 
will  not  be  wanted.  Souvenir  de  Mme.  Eugene 
Verdier  is  one  of  the  best  nearly  white  Roses,  as 
also  is  Souvenir  du  President  Carnot.  The  long 
buds  of  the  latter  make  it  most  useful  for  cutting. 
It  is  rather  defective,  however,  in  growth.  There 
are  now  so  many  white,  or  nearly  white,  Roses 
that  it  is  difficult  to  select  the  best.  White  Lady 
remains  one  of  the  best,  its  shapely  buds  and  huge 
open  flowers  being  magnificent.  L'Innocence  is 
good  under  glass,  but  requires  much  care  in  culti- 
vation, its  petals  being  very  thin.  It  is  rather 
difficult  to  know  when  to  call  a  Rose  a  Hybrid 
Perpetual  and  when  a  Hybrid  Tea,  especially 
when  it  is  known  that  one  of  the  parents  is  a 
Hybrid  Tea  and  the  other  a  Hybrid  Perpetual. 
Certainly  the  beautiful  Rose,  so  well  exhibited  by 
Messrs.  William  Paul  and  Son,  of  Waltham  Cross, 
on  a  recent  Tuesday,  namely,  Frau  Karl  Deuschki, 
seemed  to  come  perilously  near  the  Hybrid  Teas, 
although  announced  as  a  Hybrid  Perpetual.  The 
raiser  describes  it  as  the  result  of  a  cross  between 
Merveille  de  Lyon  and  Caroline  Testout.  It  will 
be  a  grand  Rose  for  cutting,  but  whether  it  is  as 
free  as  the  Hybrid  Teas  has  yet  to  be  ascertained. 
Gloire  Lyonnaise  must  not  be  omitted  from 
even  a  small  selection  of  Hybrid  Teas,  even  were 
it  only  for  its  yellow  buds,  but  the  big  expanded 
flowers  are  very  showy,  whether  cut  or  growing 
on  the  plant. 

Clara  Watson  is  not  grown  one  half  so  much  as 
it  should  be.  Were  I  restricted  to  six  Hybrid 
Teas  this  would  be  one  of  them.     Mme.  Eugenie 


304 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  10,  190?. 


EKttBERIS   STKSOPHVLLA    IN    THE    BERBEIilS    DELL,    KEW.       {An  exanlp'e  ••/  silliph  tjruuiliiuj.) 


HouUet  is  perhaps  one  of  the  most  attractive  of 
the  Hybrid  Teas  in  colour.  It  is  bright  vellow, 
shaded  with  deeper  yellow,  with  a  tinge  of 
carmine,  a  beautiful  harmou}'.  Of  the  deeper 
coloured  Roses,  Exquisite  is  steadily  gaining  in 
popularity.  It  has  both  form  and  fragrance,  and 
the  objectionable  dull  hue  of  the  oldest  flowers 
outdoors  is  not  present  on  those  grown  in  heat. 

Lad3'  Battersea  will  be  a  useful  Rose  in  the  bud 
state.  For  want  of  a  better  term  what  I  will  call 
the  decorative  group  of  the  Hj-brid  Teas,  such  as 
Canioens,  Oriiss  an  Teplitz,  and  Viscountess  Folke- 
stone are  not  a  success  in  pots,  neither  are  they 
wanted  here.  We  have  ample  material  already. 
The  great  desiderata  is  a  good  rich  3-ellow. 
Billiard  and  Barre  and  Mme.  Ravary  are  the  best 
at  present,  but  signs  are  not  wanting  that  we 
shall  have  even  better  before  long. 

The  best  kinds  to  grow  in  cold  pits  are  Caroline 
Testout,  all  the  La  France  tribe.  Marquise  Litta, 
Mrs.  W.  .J.  Grant,  Captain  Christ^',  Gloire 
Lyounaise,  Exquisite,  and  White  Lady. 

Philomel. 


AMERICAN    NOTES. 

Notes  on  Aquatics. 
It  is  most  gratifying  to  note  that  with  the  onward 
march  of  prosperity  horticulture  keeps  abreast  of 
the  times.  There  is  an  increasing  demand  for 
flowers,  plants,  and  trees  in  all  lines,  and  for  a 
higher  grade  of  goods.  There  is,  too,  a  very  great 
demand  for  hardy  plants,  perennials,  herbaceous 
plants,  old-fashioned  or  whatever  these  hardy 
plants  may  be  called.  The  demand  for  this  class 
of  plants  only  confirms  the  fact  that  there  is  more 
care  taken,  more  thought  given  to  the  home 
garden,  wliere  tender  exotics  are  not  considered 
indispensable  to  make  a  garden  attractive  and 
inviting.  This  demand  will  continue  to  grow  with 
an  ever-increasing  love  of  Nature  and  Nature's 
gardens  and  flowers.  The  home  garden,  of  the 
cottage  as  well  as  the  mansion,  is  receiving  greater 
attention,  and  homes,  too,  without  gardens  are 
decorated  with  plants  and  flowers,  not  only  at 
festivities  of  ro\'alt}'  but  on  every-day  occasions. 
Flowers  also  find  their  way  to  the  sick  chamber 
and  hospital,  carrying  health,  brightness,  cheer- 
fulness, pleasure,  and  much  more  to  the  sick.  Let 
us,  and  esiiecially  those  that  are  sick  and  unable 


to  visit  Nature's  gardens,  have  more  of  them. 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  note  the  increasing  numbers 
of  rural  homes  under  construction  and  the  improve- 
ments of  old  ones,  the  delights  of  country  life,  and 
the  tendency  toward  natural  gardening.  The 
landscape  is  not  complete  without  water,  and 
where  there  is  water  surely  there  ought  to  be 
something  in  the  way  of  water  gardening,  and 
where  the  garden  is  limited  water  gardening  may 
be  had  in  miniature.  To  a  lover  of  flowers  ail  are 
lovely,  but  all  flowers  have  their  season,  some 
sadly  too  short  and  others  not  in  place  at  all  times. 
But  of  Water  Lilies  it  may  be  said  none  come  too 
soon,  none  stay  too  late.  They  are  with  us  as 
soon  as  winter's  chillj'  blast  is  o'er,  and  they  are 
still  with  us  till  winter  conies  again.  Spring,  long 
anticipated  and  delayed,  is  here  again,  and  prepa- 
rations are  made  or  being  made  for  the  season's 
planting,  so  there  is  activity  all  along  the  line. 

While  it  is  most  gratifying  to  realise  an  ever- 
increasing  demand  for  aquatic  plants,  it  is  particu- 
larly noticeable  that  there  is  little  change  in  this 
line  in  our  public  parks,  certainly  not  the  progress 
we  might  expect.  There  are  different  styles  of 
water  gardening,  and  some  fine  examples  are  seen 
and  fine  specimens  of  flowers,  but  where  is  there  a 
model  water  garden  to  be  seen  to-daj'  ?  Facilities 
plenty,  material  abundant.  Our  public  men  are 
too  much  engrossed  in  business,  politics,  or  what 
not,  and  too  niggardly  to  make  appropriation 
sutficient  for  an  enterprising  man  to  carry  out  any 
elaborate  style  of  gardening.  I  know  a  case  where 
a  progressive  superintendent  has  been  working 
four  or  five  years  to  construct  a  water  garden,  and 
who  has  nearly  accomplished  his  object,  but  has 
no  funds  to  purchase  stock,  but  would  gladly 
exchange  other  stock  that  he  may  the  sooner 
attain  his  desired  and  long-looked-for  water  garden. 
There  may  be  others  working  under  similar  diffi- 
culties, but  it  ought  not  to  be  so. 

On  the  other  hand,  many  are  constructing  ponds, 
building  aquatic  houses,  ponds  or  pools  adjacent 
to  buildings.  These  must  conform  to  architectural 
designs,  and  are,  consequently,  formal,  stiff, 
unnatural,  unsuitable  in  more  ways  than  one ; 
sometimes  too  deep,  at  other  times  too  shallow, 
and  in  most  cases  too  small.  Yet  under  these 
conditions  success  is  expected,  however  great  the 
difficulty.  It  has  been  our  desire,  and  we  have 
endeavoured  to  remedy  this  error  in  construction 
by  inviting  all  persons  intending  planting  aquatics 


to  write  us  giving  particulars  of  the 
proposed  pond  and  so  forth,  and  we 
gladly  offer  practical  suggestions  as 
to  construction,  selection  of  plants, 
and  any  other  information,  yet  in 
most  cases  the  pool  or  fountain  basin 
or  pond  is  made  and  all  ready  to 
plant,  and  in  man}'  cases  very 
inadequate  for  the  plants  intended 
to  be  grown. 

Water   Lilies   or   Nymphseas   are 
very  strong  and  attractive  flowers, 
but    there     is    a    great     difference 
between  the  hardy  and  tender  varie- 
\       ties  in   growth,   size  of   flower  and 
j       foliage,  and  to  the  ordinary  observer 
j         he    largest   flowers    and    the    most 
j       attractive  colours  make  the  keenest 
"       impression.     These  are  undoubtedly 
•       the  tender  or  tropical  varieties,  and 
]       should    these   plants   have   a    name 
"       attached  to  them  it  is  very  likely 
such   varieties    might   be   added    to 
the     list    another    season    without 
'       consideration  as  to  their  fitness  for 
I       the  desired  place  or  purpose.     The 
trouble  is  that  few  of  us  realise  what 
tropical  vegetation  is,  and   do   not 
give   the   plants  a  chance   to   grow 
or  to  develop  their  true  character. 
Let  all  get  closer  to  Nature,   have 
more  natural   ponds  and  surround- 
;       ings,  and  not  attempt  too  much  on 
:,       a  limited  area,   but  select  suitable 
varieties  in  each  case,  and  if  certain 
varieties  are  desired  see  that  ade- 
quate means  are  allowed  for  perfect 
development. 
The  culture  of  these  plants  is  better  understood 
to-day  than  ever  before,  and  for  those  desirous  of 
obtaining  knowledge  in  this  line  there  are  books, 
pamphlets,  cultural  notes,  and  so  forth.     To  those 
who  may  propose  growing  these  charming  and  most 
fascinating  flowers,  I  would  say  devote  all  available 
space,  and  if  the  space  is  limited  to  a  few  hundred 
square  feet  do  not  attempt  to   grow  everything, 
but  select  suitable  varieties  that  are  most  likely  lu 
give   the  best  results.      Do    not   plant   too   soon. 
Hardy  varieties  may  be  planted  as  soon  as  vege-- 
tation  is  quite  active  and   flowering  shrubs  aie  in 
blossom.      Thej'   may   also    be   planted   any   time 
during   the   growing   season    right   to  the   end  of 
August,    but    at    this    late    date   thej'   will    only 
establish  themselves,  but  will  be  in  excellent  con- 
dition to  start  quite  early  the  following  spring. 

Do  not  plant  Nelumbiums  before  warm,  settled 
weather  is  assured,  which  is  usually  May,  but  no 
date  can  be  just  stated  for  general  guidance  over  so 
vast  an  area.  Conditions  must  guide  in  all  cases, 
and  what  is  right  for  one  class  of  plants  may  be 
altogether  wrong  for  another.  Tender  or  tropical 
varieties  should  not  be  planted  till  early  summer 
and  the  water  is  warm,  the  season  varying  with 
locality  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  first  week 
in  .June. — Wm.  Trilker,  in  Gardening  (America). 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

AUCUBAS. 

JUST  now  the  Aucuba  is  displaj'ing  the  full 
beauty  of  its  brilliant  scarlet  berries  and 
adding  a  cheerful  note  to  the  spring 
colouring.  The  complaint  is  often  made 
that  though  Aucubas  have  been  full  of 
fruit  when  obtained  the  berries  in 
succeeding  seasons  have  been  conspicuous  by 
their  absence.  The  reason  lies  in  the  fact  that 
in  Aucuba  the  two  sexes  are  borne  on  separate 
plants,  and  therefore  it  follows  that  if  all  the 
plants  procured  are  bearing  berries  they  cannot 
carry  another  crop  afterwards  for  lack  of  a  male 
plant  to  effect  fertilisation.  To  distinguish  the 
two  sexes  if  no  fruit  is  present  is  not  an  easy 
matter  before  the  flowers  expand  in  April,  but  if 
carefully  watched  from  October  onwards  the 
flowers   spikes   will   show   themselves  strongly  in 


May  10,  1902. 


THE    GARDEN. 


]05 


the  mile  plants,  but  in  the  female  they  are  so 
small  as  to  be  scarcely  visible.  When  expanded 
the  small,  star-like  male  flowers  are  of  a  bright 
chocolate  colour,  while  in  the  female  plants  the 
blooms  are  smaller  and  much  paler. 

Of  late  years  a  great  number  of  named  forms  of 
Aucubahave  been  sent  out  by  various  firms,  chiefly 
continental,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  name 
is  the  most  distinctive  part.  Many  of  them  can 
be  found  on  ordinary  plants  growing  under  certain 
conditions  of  soil  and  shade.  Besides  the  typical 
mottled-leaved  form,  which  is  probably  the  best 
one  to  grow,  the  following  are  distinct  and  worthy 
of  cultivation  :  — 

A.  japonica  car.  fructu-albo. — This  is  a  tall 
growing  and  rather  upright  form,  with  large 
shining  green  leaves  4  inches  to  6  inches  in  length 
and  about  3  inches  broad  at  the  widest  part.  It  is 
a  strong  and  vigorous  evergreen,  but  the  berries 
being  of  a  yellowish  white  colour  are  practically 
inconspicuous. 

A.  j.  VOLT,  latimaciilata. — This  is  a  spotted  form 
which  much  resembles  the  common  Auouba,  but  it 
is  bushier  and  rather  dwarfer,  and  the  variegation 
is  also  more  pronounced. 

A.  j.  var.  limbata. — This  is  a  small  growing 
variety,  with  medium-sized  leaves,  the  centres  of 
which  are  bright  green  and  the  edges  broadly 
margined  with  gold.  It  seem?  rather  poor  in  con- 
stitution, but  answers  admirably  for  window  boxes 
or  the  edges  of  beds.    ' 

A.  j.  rar.  vera. — This  is  a  dwarf  growing,  bushy 
plant,  with  thick  shining  green  leaves  rarely  more 
than  3  inches  in  length  by  rather  less  than  half 
that  in  width,  and  coarsely  dentate.  If  berries  are 
desired  this  is  the  best  form  to  grow,  as  the  fruit 
is  of  the  brightest  scarlet  colour  when  ripe,  and 
vary  freely  produced.  The  leaves  also  being  small 
the  fruit  is  not  hidden  so  much  as  it  is  in  some  of 
the  other  larger  foliaged  forms. 

A.  j.  var.  viridis. — This  is  another  green  form 
with  lanceolate,  pointed  leaves,  4  inches  to  6  inches 
long  by  IJ  inches  in  width,  with  entire  and  some- 
times wavy  margins.  The  berries  of  this  variety 
are  the  finest  coloured  of  the  Aucubas,  being  of  a 
deep  shining  scarlet  and  very  conspicuous. 

The  Aucubas  can  be  grown  almost  anywhere,  but 
they  are  very  partial  to  a  cool,  partly  shaded 
position  and  a  good  soil  with  a  fair  dressing  of 
manure  in  it.  Propagation  is  effected  by  seeds  and 
layers,  rooting  readily  by  the  latter  method. 
Cuttings  are  easily  rooted,  but  the  plants  never 
seem  to  grow  well  afterwards,  often  standing  for 
years  without  making  any  perceptible  growth, 
while  from  layers  good  plants  can  be  obtained  in 
three  or  four  years. 

Bagshol,  Surrey.  J.  Clark. 


BERBERIS  STENOPHYLLA. 

This  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
graceful  of  all  hardy  shrubs,  and  we  are  pleased  to 
illustrate  it  as  showing  the  beauty  of  a  single 
group.  It  is  a  hybrid  between  B.  Darwini  and 
B.  empetrifolia,  and  is  beginning  to  flower  at  Kew 
in  the  Berberis  dell. 


TROPICAL     FRUITS     FOR 
ENGLISH     GARDENS. 

(Continued  from  jMffe  390.) 
Mangoes. 
The  Mango  (Mangifera  indica)  is,  par 
excellence,  the  fruit  of  the  tropics.  Originally 
a  native  of  India,  it  has  become  widely  dis- 
tributed wherever  the  conditions  are  suitable. 
It  .has  been  termed  the  Peach  of  the  tropics, 
and  the  descriptions  given  of  first-rate  Mingo 
fruits  by  those  who  have  tasted  them  make 
one's  mouth  water.  All  attempts  to  import  ripe 
Mangoes  into  England  have  so  far  failed.  To 
enjoy  them  we  must  therefore  either  go  to  the 
tropics  or  master  their  cultivation  at  home.  I 
have  never  heard  of  any  serious  effort  to  grow 
Mangoes  in  this  country.  It  is  true  that  fruits 
have  been  produced  on  plants  cultivated  at 


Kew  and  in  several  other  gardens,  but  they 
satisfied  no  one.  The  tree  grows  to  a  large 
size— "trunks  .30  feet  to  40  feet  high  and 
10  feet  to  15  feet  in  circumference" — but  it 
may  be  kept  much  smaller  than  this.  The 
plant  which  fruits  at  Kew  is  only  some  8  feet 
high.  It  appears  to  require  the  same  treat- 
ment as  an  Apple  or  Pear,  except  that  the 
temperature  must  be  tropical,  or,  at  the  lowest, 
sub-tropical.  It  likes  manure,  plenty  of  it, 
and  a  loamy  deep  soil.  According  to  VVoodrow, 
in  whose  book,  "  Gardening  in  India,"  there  is 
an  excellent  account  of  the  Mango,  bones  in 
any  form  are  good  for  the  trees,  and  an  annual 
dressing  of  salt,  as  much  as  lOlb.  to  each  big 
tree,  is  given  in  October  or  November  to 
encourage  the  formation  of  flower-buds. 

There  are  many  varieties,  as  many  as  of 
Apples,  according  to  Woodrow,  and  they  are 
as  different  in  .size,  flavour,  and  value  as  Apples 
are.  The  best  are  excellent.  They  are  all 
grafted,  a  .seedling  Mango  being  of  as  doubtful 
merit  as  a  seedling  Apple.  The  best  sorts 
recommended  by  Woodrow  are  Alphonse, 
Pirie,  Pakria,  Punhala,  Borsha,  Mulgoba, 
Banchore,  and  Massarata.  In  addition  to 
these  he  recommends  and  enumerates  many 
other  varieties.  His  description  of  Alphonse 
is  worth  quoting  :  "  Universally  admitted  to 
be  the  finest  of  all  Mangoes.  In  flavour  its 
fruit  is  indescribable  ; 
it  seems  to  be  a  subtle 
blending  of  all  agree- 
able flavours.  In 
weight  it  averages 
8  ounces  ;  its  colour  is 
green,  with  a  rich  crim- 
son glow  on  the  exposed 
side  ;  its  shape  is 
oblong,  thickened  at 
the  upper  end  without 
any  stigmatic  point  or 
beak.  The  variety  is 
to  be  recognised  when 
not  in  fruit  by  the 
bright  red  mid-rib  of 
its  leaves.  The  tree  is 
stunted  or  irregular, 
rarely  forming  a 
shapely  specimen.'' 

Plants  of  the  best 
LVIangoes  can  be  pur- 
chased in  India  for 
about  2s.  each,  and 
they  are  easily  sent  to 
England  in  a  Wardian 
case,  as  has  been  re- 
cently shown  by  the 
collections  obtained  for 
Trinidad  from  Cal- 
cutta, and  which  were 
transported  via  Kew. 
The  cost  of  a  house 
suitable  for  their  cul- 
tivation would  not  be 
greater  than  that  of  a 
large  Peach  house  or 
vinery,  and  the  labour 
of  cultivation  certainly 
no  more  than  that  of 
forced  Peaches.  A 
house  filled  with  Man- 
goes in  fruit  would  be 
highly  creditable,  espe- 
cially as  it  might  be 
the  means  of  adding  to 
the  list  of  English 
dessert  fruits  another 
which  in  flavour  and 
quality  is  unlike  any 
fruit  we  have.    W.  W. 

(  To  he  contiiiw.d. ) 


THEIR 


FRITILLARIAS    AND 

CULTURE.-L 

The  Fritillarias,  a  race  of  Lily-like  bulbous 
plants  widely  spread  throughout  the  northern 
hemisphere,  are  a  varied  group.  Their  flowers 
range  in  form  from  the  tubular  outline  of  the 
well-known  recurva  types  to  the  inflated, 
balloon-like  flowers  of  the  F.  Meleagris  group. 
Their  rootstocks  vary  from  a  Pea-like  bulb  to 
a  flat  disc  the  size  and  shape  of  a  crown  piece, 
■whilst  in  stature  they  range  from  the  tiny 
3-inch  stems  of  F.  armena  to  the  tall  com- 
manding shafts  of  the  Crown  Imperials. 

They  are  closely  allied  to  the  Lilies,  both  in 
bulb  structure,  floral  structure,  methods,  and 
habit  of  growth,  and  their  geographical  dis- 
tribution agrees  with  that  of  the  genus  Lilium. 
One  might  call  them  lesser  Lilies,  for  whereas 
the  ideal  Lily  is  tall  and  graceful,  we  are 
satisfied  with  the  more  humble  stature  of  the 
majority  of  the  Fritillarias,  and  regard  them 
fitted  for  rockeries,  choice  borders,  woodland 
walks  and  glades,  and  meadow  land.  'Their 
colours  are  mainly  of  the  subdued  order, 
requiring  close  inspection  for  the  thorough 
appreciation  of  their  quaint  blends  and  unique 
chequered  designs.  A  few  of  them,  notably 
the  largest  and  the  smallest,  are  brilliantly 
coloured  some  shade  of  j^ellow  or  red. 


.\    EDNCH    OF    MANliUKS. 
{The  natural  size  of  the /nut  is  as  .follows  :  The  toji  rir/ht  hand  fruit  measured,  heixiht 
3?,  inches,  width  Sinchej;  left  hand  fruit,  height  Si  vnahes,  widths  inohes"    ' 
bottom  fruit,  height  4  inches,  width  3:]  inches.) 


306 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


The  genus  contains  about  sixty 
species,  of  which  perhaps  twenty- 
five  are  sufficiently  ornamental  to 
be  worthy  of   a  place    in    most 
gardens,  whilst   quite   twenty   of 
these  are  really  first-class_  garden 
plants,  bright  and  interesting  to  a 
marked  degree.    Their  cultivation 
is,    in    the  main,  quite  an  easy 
matter ;  the 
chief     diffi- 
c  u  1  t  i  e  s 
centre 
around    the 
resting 
period,     for 
the  majority 
of   these 
plants     hail 


from  drier  countries  than  our  own,  and  the 
chief  difficulty  the  cultivator  has  to  face  is 
that  of  keeping  the  bulbs  sound  and  plump, 
yet  dry  in  early  autumn,  or 
they  will  start  to  grow  early 
in  the  winter  and  perish  in 
the  attempt. 

As  may  be  expected  of  a 
group  of  plants  so  widely 
distributed,  cultural  condi- 
tions necessary  for  the  one 
are  entirely  unsuitable  for 
the  other,  hence  the  need  to 
group  them  according  to 
their  requirements,  and  it 
will  be  noted  that  most  in 
each  group  have  the  same 
bulb  formation.  In  the  study 
of  bulbous  plants  it  is  very 
important  to  note  the  bulbous 
rootstocks  and  their  methods 
of  rooting,  for  these  will 
often  convey  as  much  infor- 
mation to  the  cultivator  as  if 
a  visit  had  been  paid  to  the 
place  where  they  grew  wild. 

In  the  Lilies,  bulb  study 
is  essential  if  one  would  grow 
them  well.  With  Fritillaria 
this  is  scarcely  less  necessary. 

Group  I. — The  Ceown 
Imperials. 

This  group  has  been  con- 
.sidered  monotypic  until  the 
recent  addition  of  F.  ask- 
habadensis,  a  new  species  of 


much  pro- 
mise. They 
are  stout- 
growing  gar- 
den plants, 
well  suited 
for  general 
border 
planting. 
Their  bulbs 
average  the 
size  of 
a  man's 
fist,  the 
stems  are 
markedly 
stout,  and 
the  flowers, 
generally  six 
to  eight,  are 
borne  in  the 
axils  of  the 
lower  whorl 
of  the  leafy 
tuft  which 
surmounts 
the  tall 
stem.  They 
prefer  a 
warm  posi- 
tion and  a  light  ricli  soil  of  deep  tilth,  free  from 
stagnant  moisture.  Here  they  will  grow  .3  feet  to 
4  feet  high,  thriving  and  increasing  without 
further  attention,  save  that  of  a  dressing  of  rich 
soil  as  the  staple  becomes  exhausted.  They  are 
vigorous,  hardy  plants,  and  gross  feeders,  well 
able  to  take  care  of  themselves  once  planted 
in  the  right  place.  The  bulbs  rest  for  a  short 
season  only,  and  they  are  best  planted  before 
October  at  the  latest.  There  are  eight  forms  of 
F.  imperial!.':.— The  accepted  type  has  from 
five  to  ten  dull  red,  bell-shaped  flowers  ih  inches 
in  length  and  span  ;  they  are  marked  vnth 
prominent  crimson  veins  and  zoned  with  dull 
crimson  on  the  outer  base.  Lutea,  a  pale 
yellow-coloured  form  of  similar  proportions, 
and  its  double  variety ;  sulphured,  a  citron- 
yellow  flowered  form,  with  brick  red  or  orange 


FRITILLARIA   ACREA   (NATURAL  SIZE). 


G.  Moon.) 


basal  tints,  and  aurora,  a  wavy  petalled  form 
of  reddish  hue,  having  a  purplish  sheen,  are 
well-known  inhabitants  of  our  gardens.  They 
are  plants  one  could  recommend  for  the  wild 
garden  or  the  informal  border  where  similar 
old-time  plants  are  allowed  to  grow  and  spread 
at  will. 

Of  rarer  and  large  flowered  types,  the  magni- 
ficent longipetala,  a  full  crimson  flower  .3  inches 
to  4  inches  across,  with  broad,  wavy,  half- 
reilexing  petals  (figured  in  The  Garden, 
November  4,  1899),  and  lutea  platypetala, 
with  pale  yellow,  broad-petalled  flowers,  borne 
in  fives  on  massive  stems  clothed  with  broad 
lustrous  leafage,  are  two  types  representing  a 
great  advance  on  the  old  forms  of  a  century 
ago.  The  plants  are  very  strong,  and  make 
imposing  clumps  4  feet  high  when  planted  in 
small  groups  of  six  to  eight  bulbs  each.  Their 
flowers,  having  long  pedicils,  are  well  removed 
from  the  ample  leafage,  in  so  much  that  the 
inflorescences  span  10  inches  in  e.xtreme 
diameter. 

Crown  upon  Crown,  an  old  Dutch  form, 
having  two  distinct  tiers  of  flowers,  and  the 
two  variegated-foliaged  forms— one  variegated 
white,  the  other  citron-yellow  —  and  the 
variety  inodvra,  a  plant  resembling  the  type, 
but  devoid  of  the  unpleasant  odour  too  charac- 
teristic of  the  others  practically  close  the  list 
of  the  most  distinct.  The  Crown  Imperials  are 
old-time  garden  plants  of  Oriental  origin  ;  they 
are  inseparably  associated  with  records  of  the 
earlier  types  of  British  gardens. 

F.  asl-habadensis. — This  is  a  new  species 
recently  figured  in  these  columns.  It  received 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  award  of 
merit  on  March  25  last,  and  looks  a  promising 
plant.  As  shown  at  the  Drill  Hall  it  had 
several  broadly  campanulate,  pale  yellow 
flowers,  shading  to  creamy  white  at  the  tips, 
somewhat  in  the  way  of  the  American  F. 
liliacea.  They  averaged  1  inch  in  length  and 
span,  and  were  borne  on  longer  and  more 
flexible  pedicels  than  is  usual  in  this  group.  . 
Judging  from  its  native  habitat  and  the  high 
elevation  at  which  the  plants  were  found,  it 
should  prove  perfectly  hardy  and  easy  to  grow 


A    COLONY    OF    THE    MEADOW    FRITII.LARY    (F.    MELEACRIS    VARS.  ). 


May  10,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


307 


in  a  soil  not  too  rich  in  vegetable  humus,  but 
of  this  it  is  yet  too  early  to  speak  with  any 
degree  of  certainty.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
plant  may  become  plentiful. 

GeOUP  II.—  F.  LIBANOTICA  AJ^D  ITS  AlLIE.S. 

These  are  mostly  strong-growing  plants, 
ranging  from  1  foot  to  3  feet  in  height.  Their 
foliage  is  glaucous  ;  their  flowers  occur  in  the 
leaf  axils  and  form  a  loose  spike.  Their  bulbs 
are  conical  or  nearly  so,  generally  larger  than  a 
walnut.  A  dry  warm  border  suits  them  well, 
planting  the  bulbs  twice  their  own  depth. 
They  start  to  grow  early  in  the  year,  but  are 
rarely  injured  by  spring  frosts. 

F.  lihaiiotica,  a  jiyramidal  plant  of  a 
glaucous  hue,  2  feet  high,  bears  twelve  to 
twenty  bell-shaped  flowers  under  an  inch  in 
length  and  span.  They  vary  in  colour  from 
creamy  white  to  lilac,  some  of  them  are  hand- 
some, several  are  poor  and  badly  coloured. 
The  plants  badly  need  re-selection 
before  they  can  become  popular. 

F.  2-iluriflora,  a  plant  of  similar 
dimensions,  hailing  from  Western 
America,  has  pretty  rose  or  rosy  purple 
flowers,  each  above  an  inch  across. 
They  are  broadly  campanulate,  and 
have  a  prominent  green  line  down 
each  petal  on  both  surfaces.  It  was 
introduced  about  three  years  since, 
and  has  improved  much  under  culti- 
vation. With  this  plant,  as  with  F. 
libanotica,  a  rigorous  weeding  out  of 
poor-coloured  forms  is  necessary,  for 
these  spoil  the  reputation  of  what  are 
really  good  garden  plants. 

F.  liliacea  (Lindley),  a  Californian 
species,  1  foot  high,  bears  a  loose 
spike  of  from  five  to  six  broadly 
campanulate  flowers  IJ  inches  across, 
pure  white  with  a  green  star-like 
nectary  at  the  throat,  covered  with  a 
sweet,  viscid  fluid.  The  bulb  is  com- 
posed of  several  clasping  scales  with 
leafy  tips,  much  resembling  the  bulbs 
of  Lilium,  the  number  of  scales  agree- 
ing with  the  number  of  stem  leaves, 
viz.,  eight  to  ten.  It  is  a  very  pretty 
plant  of  real  merit  and  interesting 
botanica'ly  as  the  closest  ally  of  the 
genu3  Lilium  in  the  western  world. 
A  cool  position  on  the  rockery  is  all 
that  is  needed,  and  it  will  grow  quite 
well  in  the  plant  border  if  it  can  be 
kept  dry  during  the  autumn.  It  is 
curious  that  this  charming  little  plant 
should  be  so  little  grown. 

F.  camtxchatcensis  (Gaul.). — "The 
Black  Lily "  is  a  Siberian  plant  with 
whorled  leaves,  sparsely  clothing  a  stem 
above  a  foot  high  like  a  miniature  ilartagon 
Lily.  It  bears  several  nodding,  black-purple 
flowers,  ranging  from  1  inch  to  2  inches 
across,  tinted  true  purple  on  the  margins, 
intensifying  to  a  very  dark  purple,  almost 
black,  near  the  middle  of  each  petal.  The 
anthers  are  golden-yellow,  and  appear  in 
vivid  contrast  to  the  black  ground  colour 
in  the  centre  of  the  flower.  A  cool  site 
on  the  rockery  suits  the  plants  best,  but  they 
are  difficult— very  difficult — to  keep  thriving 
for  many  years.  I  incline  to  the  belief  that 
this  plant  is  naturally  short-lived  under  any 
circumstances,  agreeing  with  the  choice  Siberian 
Lilium  tenuifolium  in  this  respect.  I  have 
remarked  that  both  these  plants  rarely  make  a 
good  bulb  after  flowering  well  once. 

F.  Tunfasia  (Heldreich). — A  new  species 
closely  allied  to  "the  Black  Lily"  in  its 
flowers,  grows  8  inches  to  10  inches  high,  and 
bears  from  four  to  six  intensely  dark  maroon 


campanulate  flowers  about  an  inch  across. 
The  leafage  is  long  and  glaucous,  and  several 
growths  proceed  from  the  same  bulb.  One 
form  I  have  under  cultivation  has  flowers 
quite  as  dark  as  those  of  F.  camtschatcensis. 
Its  hardihood  and  value  as  a  garden  plant  has 
yet  to  be  fully  tested,  though  the  plants  look 
promising  enough.  G.  B.  Mallett. 

(To  be  continued.) 


CLEMATIS     MONTANA. 

One  of  the  earliest  and  most  beautiful  of  our 
flowering  climbers,  this  lovely  Clematis  should 
be  in  every  garden.  It  can  be  put  to  every 
purpose  that  a  beautiful  rambling  plant  is 
capable  of  fulfilling.  It  will  drape  whole  walls 
with  sheets  of  bloom  in  May  ;  it  will  run  up 
trees  and  festoon  them  with  clouds  of  its 
charming  white  bloom  ;  it  will  cover  unsightly 
buildings  ;    it  will    roof   and    festoon    whole 


the  conditions  under  which  they  grow  on  the 
mountains.  Speaking  from  personal  experience  I 
remember  well  the  failure  of  my  first  attempts  to 
grow  such  easy  plants  as  the  Edelweiss.  The  first 
specimen  collected  on  the  La  Dole,  on  the  French 
Jura,  I  brought,  with  a  bag  full  of  the  rock 
on  which  it  grew,  and  planted  in  a  garden  sur- 
rounded by  high  walls,  but  the  tufts  soon  died,  as 
well  as  other  plants  collected  at  the  same  time. 
My  next  trial  with  seeds  collected  on  the  same 
mountain  later  in  the  year  and  grown  in  the  open 
proved  far  more  satisfactory.  Those  alpines 
that  grow  on  the  Alps  in  altitudes  of  7,000  feet  to 
8,000  feet  are  generally  the  more  difficult  to  grow. 
The  intermediate  species  and  varieties  grow  in 
altitudes  of  3,000  feet  to  6,000  feet,  and  the 
sub-alpines,  descending  often  to  the  plains,  but 
still  more  often  with  a  strictly  alpine  character. 
There  are  also  those  of  the  high  and  intermediate 
alpines,  found  in  valleys  brought  down  by  the 
action  of  avalanches,  whether  by  so-called  snow, 
mud,  or  stone  avalanches,  and  by  the  action  of 
water  of  overflowing  mountain  streams,  &c.    Thev 


CLEMATIS  MONTAHA.      (From  a  photograph  by  Miss  Willmott.) 


arbours  and  pergolas.  It  has  also  another 
season  of  beauty,  when  in  late  autumn  the 
feathery  awns  of  its  fruits  make  soft  cloud-like 
masses  that  in  many  cases  persist  throughout 
the  winter.  It  has  also  the  merit  of  being  a 
fast  grower,  and  is  easily  raised  from  seed. 


ALPINE  FLOW^ERS  AT  HOME.— I. 

The  popularity  of  the  charming  class  of  hardy 
plants  known  as  alpines  is  quite  of  recent  date, 
and  not  many  years  ago  alpines — in  fact,  hardy 
perennials  generally — were  regarded  by  most  people 
as  weeds,  and  even  at  the  present  time  they  receive 
far  less  attention  than  they  deserve.  The  number 
of  hardy  plant  lovers  is,  however,  still  on  the 
increase.  At  one  time  the  culture  of  high  alpines 
in  the  lowlands  was  considered  impossible,  but 
since  we  know  more  about  them  and  their  require- 
ments, although  we  are  unable  to  give  them  the 
pure  mountain  air,  with  few  exceptions  the  greatest 
dilBculties  are  well  overcome.  Nothing  is  more 
helpful   in  their  successful  culture  than  to  study 


are  more  often  less  difficult  to  grow,  and  easily 
amenable  to  lowland  culture.  The  really  difficult 
ones  such  as  Eritrichium  nanum.  Primula  glutinosa, 
and  a  few  others  I  have  never  met  anywhere  else 
but  in  high  altitudes,  although  there  is  no  doubt 
that  there  are  times  when  both  seeds  or  plants 
of  these  are  carried  down  by  natural  agencies  to 
the  valley,  where,  however,  the3'  soon  perish. 

Further  north — for  instance,  in  Norway — with 
unfortunately  a  less  rich  flora  than  in  the  Alps, 
Carpathians,  or  Pyrenees,  vegetation  is,  of  course, 
much  restricted,  and  the  same  species  found,  say, 
01  the  Monte  Rosa,  Mont  Blanc  or  Oeitler  in  the 
highest  altitudes,  where  plant  life  is  still  possible 
for  a  few  months  during  the  year  ;  the  same  high 
alpines  grow  in  much  lower  altitudes,  until  they 
are  almost  at  sea  level  in  countries  approaching 
the  Arctic  zone.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
explorers,  travellers,  and  even  mountaineers  of 
note  are  not  at  the  same  time  botanists  or  plant 
lovers  with  a  general  knowledge  of  plants.  How 
much  more  interesting  would  the  numerous  books 
be,  recently  written  by  travellers,  were  they  also  to 
contain  a  good  description  of  the  flora  and  fauna, 


no8 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


Although  an  enthusiastic  mountaineer  myself,  I  feel 
sure  I  should  not  care  for  the  highest,  most 
difficult,  and  inaccessible  mountain  did  I  not  also 
expect  to  meet  some  rare  treasures  in  the  way 
of  alpine  plants.  Unfortunately,  I  have  never  had 
an  opportunity  of  going  beyond  the  Alps,  Car- 
pathians, Pyrenees,  as  well  as  the  minor  ridges, 
such  as  the  Jura,  &c.  In  my  rambles  in  the  Alps  I 
have  always  had  a  decided  preference  for  the 
Eastern  Alps  of  Tyrol  and  Lower  Austria  as  well 
as  the  Alps  of  Upper  Savoy. 

Switzerland  is  too  much  overrun,  and  to  make  it 
worse  there  will  very  soon  be  hardly  a  hill  without 
a  grand  hotel  and  ""  Chemin  de  fer  funiculaire," 
the  abhorrence  of,  I  should  say,  every  true  friend  of 
Nature  or  mountains.  The  Eastern  Alps,  on  the 
other  hand,  are  still  natural,  and  with  their 
hospitable  inhabitants— the  finest  of  the  Teutonic 
race — there  is  an  immense  variety  of  really  pretty 
and  interesting  plants  on  the  mountains,  easily 
accessible  in  most  cases  without  the  help  of  guides, 
thanks  to  the  efforts  of  the  various  branches  of 
the  German-Austrian  Alpine  societies,  who  have 
built  refuge  huts  and  made  proper  paths  on  most 
mountains  up  to  9,000  feet  altitude.  As  many  of 
the  mountains  of  the  Eastern  Alps  are  less  known 
to  Englisli  people  than  those  of  Switzerland,  the 
hunting  ground  of  the  English-speaking  race,  I 
shall  start  my  description  with  such  of  those  best 
known  to  me. 

The  Untersberg,  near  Salzburu, 
is  easily  reached — about  three-quarters  of  an  hour's 
walk — from  the  old  city  of  Salzburg,  at  one  time  a 
German  possession,  now  belonging  to  the  Austrian 
Empire.  The  excessively  moist  climate  of  Salzburg 
(the  popular  saying  is  that  it  rains  here  every  day 
in  the  jear)  is  very  favourable  to  some  plants,  and 
the  meadows  on  either  side  of  the  road  about  mid- 
summer are  ablaze  with  flowers.  Most  conspicuous 
are  the  terrestrial  Orchids,  such  as  the  common 
Orchis  Morio,  the  pretty  pink  0.  globosa,  0. 
niascula  (the  common  Man  Orchis),  0.  maculata, 
and  the  fine  form  speciosa,  approaching  tlie 
British  0.  maculata  superba,  but  still  not  as  fine, 
nor  is  the  white  form  of  0.  maculata  of  such 
purity  as  we  have  had  recently  from  Ireland.  The 
sweetly  scented  Gymnadenia  odoratissinia  and 
conopsea,  with  their  long  spikes  of  pink  purple 
flowers,  and  the  smaller  G.  albida  are  everywhere 
plentiful.  The  pretty  but  disagreeably  scented  0. 
coriophora,  as  well  as  the  dull-coloured  Elder- 
scented  O.  sambucina  and  0.  s.  incarnata,  and 
the  Platantheras  are  allied  to  the  more  showy 
Habenarias  of  North  America,  with  greenish  white 
flowers  and  rather  tall  growing.  Both  the  interest- 
ing Listera  ovata  and  cordata  are  very  common, 
also  Epipactispalustris,  with  its  whitish  or  purplish 
Sowers.  The  Western  form  grows  in  almost  pure 
disintegrated  limestone  in  wet  places,  but  here  it 
grows  equally  as  well  on  meadows  where  limestone 
is  wanting,  showing  how  certain  plants  can  adapt 
themselves  to  circumstances.  After  all  I  believe 
it  is  of  greater  importance  for  the  growth  of  hardy 
Orchids  to  have  certain  plants  about  them  which 
give  shelter  as  well  as  food  than  soil,  and  owing  to 
this  fact  alone  many  are  unable  to  grow  hardy 
terrestrial  Orchids  in  their  gardens. 

G.  Reuthe. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


DISBUDDING     CHERRIES 
ON  WALLS  IN  SPRING. 

THE  work  of  disbudding  such  trees  as 
the  Peach  and  Nectarine  on  walls  is 
now  in  full  swing  in  most  parts  of  the 
country,  but  it  often  happens  that  such 
trees  as  Cherries  and  Plums  are  left  to 
themselves.  I  have  only  mentioned 
Cherries  in  my  heading  of  this  note,  but  much  the 
same  remarks  apply  to  Plums.  It  often  happens 
that  the  main  branches  or  leaders  are  much  tcjo 
crowded,  and  disbudding  is  a  great  gain.  Another 
point  is  that  bj'  removing  useless  wood  early  there 
is  additional  space  for  that  left,  which  will  allow 


stronger  growth  and  give  larger  leaves  and  better 
fruit.  I  would  also  point  out  that  trees  badly 
crowded  are  the  first  to  become  infested  with 
black  fly,  one  of  the  worst  pests  the  Cherry  is 
subject  to,  as  when  once  it  gains  hold  of  the 
shoots  it  is  difficult  to  get  rid  of.  More  shoots  or 
growths  will  always  be  found  on  healthy  trees 
than  can  be  matured,  and,  though  I  am  well  aware 
the}'  are  often  left,  how  frequently  it  happens  that 
in  after  years  such  trees  fail  either  through 
exhaustion  or  gumming  and  canker,  owing  to  the 
knife  having  been  used  too  freely  to  allow  the 
crowded  leaders  more  light  or  space. 

A  much  greater  number  of  shoots  may  with 
advantage  be  removed  at  this  season  with  the 
finger  and  thumb  than  when  cut  out  later  on 
with  a  knife.  At  the  same  time  I  would  not 
advise  disbudding  all  at  once,  but  do  it  piecemeal ; 
indeed,  I  go  farther  than  many  growers,  and  I 
would  not  hesitate  to  thin  the  flowers  also  if 
necessary.  Everyone  knows  that  many  growths 
are  so  placed  that  they  are  of  little  value.  These 
may  with  advantage  be  removed  at  the  start.  In 
other  cases,  though  more  shoots  are  necessary 
than  with  the  Peach  and  Nectarine,  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  by  partial  disbudding  much 
labour  will  be  saved  later  on.  Even  Morellos  will 
benefit  by  removal  of  useless  crowded  growths. 
In  all  eases  when  thinning  the  shoots  retain  a 
strong  growth  at  the  base  of  a  fruiting  shoot, 
rub  out  others  not  required,  and  preserve  a  good 
growth  above  the  fruit.  In  other  cases  some 
shoots  are  best  left  when  close  to  the  wall  on  main 
branches,  and  later  on  pinched  back  to  form  fruit- 
spurs.  G.  Wytiies. 

THE     GOOSEBERRY. 

(Continued  from  page  S71. ) 
Distance  at  which  to  Plant. 
In  the  market  garden  the  Gooseberry  is  usually 
utilised  as  a  ground  crop  for  the  Plum,  the  Cherry, 
or  the  Pear  orchard-,  succeeding  perhaps  better 
than  any  other  fruit  in  the  partial  shade  of  the 
taller  trees.  In  this  case  the  distances  apart  at 
which  the  trees  can  be  planted  must  be  governed 
by  the  distances  the  permanent  trees  are  planted 
apart.  Supposing  the  latter  are  planted  12  feet 
apart,  then  three  rows  of  Gooseberries  could 
profitably  be  planted  between  them.  When  a 
quarter  in  the  garden  is  devoted  to  their  culture 
they  should  be  planted  in  rows  in  a  line  from 
north  to  south  at  4  feet  apart  and  ti  feet  between 
the  rows.  Planting  against  a  trellis  is  an  excellent 
way  of  growing  late  (iooseberries  for  dessert,  as 
they  can  be  netted  over  and  eff'ectually  protected 
from  the  depredations  of  birds,  thus  lengthening 
the  season  in  which  Gooseberries  can  be  had  for 
dessert  by  several  weeks.  This  period  can  be  still 
further  lengthened  by  planting  cordons  against  a 
wall  facing  north,  where  they  succeed  well  and 
where  tie  variety  Warrington  may  be,  when  netted 
over,  preserved  until  well  into  the  beginning  of 
November. 

Cultivation. 
To  obtain  the  best  results  the  land  should  be 
liberall}-  manured  and  bastard  trenched,  and  it 
goes  without  saying  that  it  should  be  properly 
drained.  In  the  south  the  land  in  the  coolest 
position  of  the  garden  or  orchard  should  be 
selected,  as  hot  shallow  land  is  the  worst  possible 
position  in  which  to  plant  the  Gooseberry.  A 
liberal  mulching  of  manure  should  be  applied  early 
in  the  summer — this  greatly  helps  the  tree  to 
carry  and  mature  heavy  crops.  Should  the  grower 
be  sufficiently  ambitious  to  grow  Gooseberries  for 
exhibition  then  a  corner  of  the  garden  should  be  set 
apart  where  trees  of  as  many  sorts  as  it  is  desired 
to  have  should  be  planted  (on  trenched  and  well 
manured  land)  5  feet  apart  each  way.  The  ground 
as  far  as  the  roots  of  the  trees  extend  should  have 
a  mulch  of  short  rich  manure  laid  on,  and  the  tree 
receive  occasional  waterings  of  weak  manure  water 
from  the  stable  yard  at  intervals  of  a  week  or  ten 
days  in  the  summer  until  the  fruit  is  fully 
developed  ;  discontinue  this  before  the  appearance 
of  ripeness  sets  in.  The  trees  should  be  more 
severely  thinned  at  pruning  time  than  is  usual  at 
ordinary  pruning — say,  S  inches  space  should  be 


left  between  each  of  the  main  branches.  The  tree 
should  only  be  allowed  to  carry  a  light  crop,  the 
greater  number  being  thinned  off  when  small. 
Before  the  berries  are  ripe  the  finest  should  be 
selected  and  provision  made  to  protect  these 
from  both  hot  sun  and  rain,  otherwise  there  is 
a  danger  of  their  being  disfigured  by  scalding  or 
splitting.  Gooseberry  trees  are  at  their  best  from 
six  years  to  ten  years  old,  being  then  a  remunerative 
crop,  especially  when  placed  on  the  market  in  a 
green  state,  often  realising  from  £30  to  £50  per 
acre. 

The  cost  of  cultivation  is  not  a  serious  item,  as 
the  most  we  have  to  do  is  to  keep  the  land  cle.^n 
by  hoeing  in  the  summer,  mulching  with  manure  in 
winter,  and  in  doing  this  a  5  pronged  fork  should 
be  used,  and  the  surface  of  the  soil  near  the  roots 
of  the  trees  not  be  disturbed  deeper  than  3  inches 
or  4  inches. 

The  Gooseberry  tree  seldom  suffers  from  disease, 
but  occasionally  from  the  attacks  of  the  Gooseberry 
caterpillar  and  red  spider.  Prevention  in  this 
case,  like  many  others,  is  easier  and  better  than 
cure,  and  to  this  end,  after  pruning,  all  prunings 
should  be  cleared  away  and  burnt,  and  a  thin  crust 
of  the  soil  under  each  tree  should  be  drawn  awa}' 
by  the  hoe  and  burnt  with  the  prunings  and  the 
trees  afterwards  well  .sprinkled  with  quicklime 
and  root  in  equal  proportions  immediately  after  a 
shower  of  rain  or  early  in  the  morning  when  the 
dew  is  on  the  trees. 

Thin  generally  succeeds  in  keeping  the  cater- 
pillar at  bay,  and  is  more  or  less  effective  in 
preserving  the  buds  from  the  depre.Iations  of  birds 
during  the  winter.  It  is  seldom  that  red  spider 
attacks  the  (iooseberry,  except  when  planted  on 
thin,  poor,  and  hot  soils  ;  the  best  remedy  for  this 
is  to  apply  tlowers  of  sulphur  after  rain. 

Varieties. 

These  are  innumerable.  The  following  will  be 
found  amongst  the  best  in  their  several  sections  : 


White 
Bright  Venus 
Lady  Leicester 
.SnOAvljall 
Wliitesmith 
t'areless 
Jenny  Lind 
Crystal 
White  Champagne 


Dessert. 

Red 
Red  Champagne 
Ked  Warrington 
.Scotch  Nutmeg 
Wilmot's  Early  Red 
Crown  Bob 
Ironmonger 
Speedwell 
Whinham's 

Industiy 

Green 
Early  f!reen  Hardy 
Slatchless 


Yellow 
Golden  Gem  (New) 
Yellow  Champagne 
Langley  Gage  (New) 
Yellow  Sulphur 
Broom  Girl 
Leader 
Goldflnder 
Leveller 


Keepsake 
Random  Green 
Stockwell 


Green  Walnut 
Green  Gascoigne 
Pitmaston  Gieengage 

Best  for  Exhibition. 
W/iitc  lied  Yellow 

Whitesmith  Crown  Bob  Leveller  (Early) 

Lady  Leicester  Rifleman  Coiner 

Lancer  (Late)  Dan's  Mistake  Ringer 

Antagonist  Duke  of  Sutherland  Catherina 

Nonpareil  (Late)       Beauty  (Early)  Criterion 

Transparent  (Late)  London  Stella 

Peakman  Prince  Regent  Trumpeter 

King  of  Trumps        Lord  Derby  High  Sheriff 
(Early) 

Green 

Keepsake  (Early)      Shiner  Telegraph  (Late) 

Stockwell  Matchless  British  (j.ueen 

Thumper  Green  Overall 

The  Be'tl  Varieties  for  Marhet,  either  for pnlling 
(jreen  or  ripe. 
White  Green  Yellow 

White  Lion  Tom  .Joiner  High  Sheriff 

Antagonist  Thumper  Ringer 

Lancer  Stockwell  Leader 

Ked 
*  Whinham's  Industry      Lion  Slaughterman 

Lancashire  Lad  London  Warrington 

*  This  variety,  taking  it  all  round,  is  acknowledged  to  be 
the  best  market  sort  we  have. 

Best  for  Preserrivg  or  Bottlivg. 

Turkey  Red  Red  Champagne  Lion's  Provider 

Rough  Red  Keen's  Seedling         Ironmonger 

Warrington 

0.  Th O.MAS. 


Mp.  Frank  Cant.  —  This  well  -  known 
rosarian  has  been  elected  a  member  of  the  Col- 
chester 'I own  Council.  Mr.  Cant  lives  on  the 
hilltop  at  Braiswick,  where  many  acres  of  Roses 
are  grown,  and  at  this  season  the  indoor  flowers 
are  a  refreshing  picture. 


May  10,  1902.1 


THE    GARDEN. 


309 


SALVIA  AZUREA  GRANDI- 
FLORA. 

This  is  a  very  beautiful  autumn-flowering 
Salvia  for  the  greenhouse,  and  is  often  known  in 
gardens  under  the  name  of  S.  Pitcheri,  but  it 
is  merely  a  large  flowered  form  of  S.  azurea, 
■which  was  introduced  from  North  America 
nearly  a  century  ago.  Cuttings  root  freely  in 
March  or  April  and  make  strong  blooming 
plants  by  August  or  September,  at  which  season 
it  usually  flowers,  lasting  a  long  time  in 
beauty.  Salvias  are  now  very  popular  again 
as  autumn  and  winter  blooming  greenhouse 
plants,  and  at  Glasnevin  Botanical  Gardens 
the  other  day  we  saw  the  show  house  ablaze 


this  and  several  other  kinds  grow  and  flower 
along  with  the  Chrysanthemums.  All  who 
like  plants  a  little  out  of  the  common  would 
admire  Salvia  azurea  grandiflora  and  S.  leu- 
cantha,  which  are  quite  as  easily  grown  as  is 
the  more  brilliant  S.  splendens. 

F.  W.  BrEBIDGB. 


BOOKS. 


SALVIA  AZUREA  GRANDIFLORA  IN   THE  BOTANIC 

with  S.  splendens  and  with  zonal  Pelar- 
goniums. S.  splendens  is  now  largely  grown 
from  cuttings  or  seed,  and  some  of  the  new 
forms  of  it  from  German  nurseries  are  improve- 
ments on  the  old  type,  bearing  dense  spikes  of 
flowers  12  inches  to  15  inches  in  length. 
There  is  also  a  form  of  S.  splendens  called 
nanus  that  is  well  worth  growing.  Another 
very  charming  and  distinct  Salvia  grown  in 
quantity  at  Glasnevin  is  S.  leucantha,  a  hoary 
plant  from  Mexico,  now  bearing  great  branching 
spikes  of  its  thick  set  velvety  purple  oalices 
and  white  flowers.  It  was  introduced  in  1847, 
but  is  not  often  seen  in  ordinary  collections. 

Our  illustration  is  from  a  photograph  by 
Mr.  George  E.  Low,  which  was  taken  in  his 
own  garden  at  Kingstown  near  Dublin,  where 


The  Book  of  the  Rose.*— Those  who 

grow  Roses  in  a  serious  spirit,  and  especially  those 
who  grow  for  exhibition,  will  welcome  the  second 
edition  of  a  sound  book  on  Rose  culture  by  this 
well-known  rosarian.  If  some  of  us  think  that  the 
author's  view  of  the  use 
of  Roses  is  a  somewhat 
narrow  one,  let  us  not 
complain  of  his  book  on 
that  score.  It  is  merely 
that  the  one  aspect  of 
Rose  use  and  enjoyment 
appeals  to  him  more 
strongly  than  any  other, 
and  that  that  aspect  is 
the  exhibitor's.  To 
quote  his  own  words . 
"In  my  estimation  the 
value  of  the  Rose  is  in 
the  glory  of  its  indi- 
vidual flower,  and  in 
these  pages  at  least  the 
idea  is  not  the  Rose  for 
the  garden  but  the 
garden  for  the  Rose." 

Cyclopedia  of 
Ameriean  Horti- 
culture. I —With  the 

completion  of  this 
remarkable  American 
work  on  horticulture, 
the  "Nicholson's  Dic- 
tionary of  Gardening" 
of  America,  the  labours 
of  Mr.  Bailey  and  all 
who  have  been  associated 
with  him  come  to  an 
end.  We  have  written 
of  this  work  in  review- 
ing the  previous  three 
parts,  and  with  its  com- 
pletion we  can  congra- 
tulate all  concerned  in 
producing  a  work  of 
inestimable  value  to 
gardener,  botanist,  or 
anyone  with  a  desire  to 
receive  fuller  informa- 
tion on  horticultural 
subjects  than  afforded 
by  mere  handbooks  and 
treatises.  The  scope  of 
the  work  is  as  follows : 
"Suggestions  for  culti- 
vation of  horticultural 
plants,  descriptions  of 
t'ne  species  of  fruits, 
GARDENS,  DUBLIN.  vegetables,  flowers,  and 

ornamental  plants  sold 
in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  together  with 
geographical  and  biographical  sketches."  It  is 
illustrated  with  over  2,000  original  engravings, 
not  always  good  and  sometimes  bad.  Mareohal 
Niel,  page  1564,  might  be  labelled  with  the 
name  of  one  or  a  dozen  varieties  and  no  one  the 
wiser,  and  an  opportunity  has  been  lost  of  not 
illustrating  some  of  the  beautiful  native  flowers  of 
the  prairies  and  woodlands  which  are  grown  in 
the  English  garden.  "Garden  Rhododendron  in 
bloom,"  page  1517,  we  had  to  look  at  twice  to 
knOw  what  the  figure  represented,  and  many  other 
instances  it  is  possible  to   indicate.      But  it    is 


»  "The  Book  of  the  Rose."  By  the  Kev.  A.  Foster-Melliar. 
Macmillan  and  Co.,  London.   1902.   .Second  edition.   Price  6s. 

t  "Cyclopedia  of  American  Horticulture."  By  L.  H. 
Bailey,  assisted  by  Wilhelm  Miller,  Ph.D.,  assistant  editor, 
and  many  expert  cultivators  and  botanists.  Price  21s.  net. 
Macmillan  and  Co.,  Limited. 


unkind  to  criticise  a  work  so  sound  and  thorough 
as  this  contribution  to  American  horticultural 
literature,  and  in  the  present  volume  our  curiosity 
is  satisfied  as  to  the  way  the  cyclopedia  was 
begun.  We  learn  from  the  preface  or  "  retro- 
spect" that  the  editor  has  had  this  work  under 
consideration  for  more  than  ten  years,  but  its 
actual  preparation  has  taken  four  years,  and  a  list 
of  every  botanical  and  horticultural  work  in 
existence  almost  has  been  consulted.  The  assis- 
tant editor  has  devoted  the  whole  of  his  time  to 
the  cyclopedia,  with  the  assistance  of  other  leading 
American  authorities.  In  his  "prospect"  the 
editor  says  :  "  The  book  represents  a  living  horti- 
culture. It  has  attempted  to  account  for  the 
species  that  are  actually  in  cultivation  in  the 
cjuntry  rather  than  those  that  chance  to  have 
been  described  or  pictured  in  other  cyclopedias  or 
in  periodical  publications.  .  .  .  The  species 
are  compared  and  contrasted  as  well  as  described. 
.  .  .  The  leading  articles  are  signed  with  the 
name  of  the  writer.  Therefore  is  responsibility 
fixed  and  due  credit  given.  More  than  450  persons 
have  aided  in  the  making  of  the  cyclopedia.  .  .  . 
The  actual  writing  on  the  cyclopedia  was  begun  in 
January,  1899.  A  year  had  been  spent  in  making 
indexes  and  collecting  data.  The  proof  of  the 
letter  Z  was  received  December  31,  1901.  On 
January  8,  1902,  the  cyclopedia  office  was  vacated. 
It  was  a  sad  parting."  Again  we  congratulate  all 
concerned  in  the  production  of  this  excellent 
American  cyclopedia.  We  consult  it  frequently, 
and  welcome  its  completion  as  adding  one  more 
trustworthy  reference  work  to  those  in  existence. 
Horticultitrists  in  America  have  reason  to  thank 
Mr.  Bailey  and  his  army  of  helpers. 

Practical  Botany  for  Beginners.* 

— A  useful  abridgment  of  the  larger  "Course  of 
Practical  Instruction  in  Botany,"  keeping  to  the 
main  types  only.  It  is  a  condensed  scientific 
treatise  on  vegetable  structure  and  anatomy,  with 
detailed  instructions  for  preparing  and  observing 
specimens,  with  diagrams  and  other  illustrations. 
The  Country  Gentlemen's  Estate 

Book,  1902.t — This  volume  forms  an  extremely 
useful  compendium  of  all  the  subjects  relating  to 
estate  management  in  480  closely  printed  pages, 
a  remarkable  book  for  its  price.  Besides  the 
usual  contents  of  such  a  manual,  there  are  some 
good  plans  and  illustrations  of  lodges  and 
labourers'  cottages,  and  there  is,  among  much 
instruction  in  matters  allied  to  the  subject,  a  short 
chapter  of  unusual  interest  on  charcoal  burning, 
a  detail  of  estate  and  house  economy  that  is  almost 
invariably  neglected. 

Report  of  the  Nova  Scotia  School 

of  Horticulture.!- It  is  satisfactory  to  see  by 
such  pamphlets  as  this  report  that  good  instruction 
is  being  given  by  practical  experiment  in  this  pro- 
vince of  the  Dominion  of  Canada.  The  report 
deals  principally  with  the  experimental  stations  for 
the  growing  of  hardy  fruits — Apples,  Peaches, 
Cherries,  Plums,  &c.  The  illustrations  show 
well  grown  orchard  trees  in  fine  bearing. 

The  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Soeiety.§ — Few  publications  con- 
cerning horticulture  are  more  welcome  than  this 
journal,  which  continues  to  improve,  although  at 
first  sight  improvement  seems  impossible.  But 
the  careful  reader  will  notice  little  features 
added  which  show  that  the  editor  is  determined 
to  make  this  journal,  with  its  now  immense 
influence  for  good,  practical  and  interesting,  and 
"  up  to  date."  The  commonplace  notes  we  always 
read  with  more  than  ordinary  interest,  and  those 
who  love  Grapes  should  read  and  take  heed  of  the 
remarks  about  "  Neglected  Varieties  of  Grapes," 
a  sound  commonsense  little  article,  extolling  the 
virtues,  and  rightly  so,  of  the  delicious  Frontiguans 
and  condemning  the  big  watery  bags  called  Grapes, 


*  "  Practical  Botany  for  Beginners."  By  F.  0.  Bower  and 
D.    T.    Gwynne  -  Vaughan.    Macmillan  and  Co.,  London. 

t  "  The  Country  Gentlemen's  Estate  Book,"  1902.  Edited 
and  compiled  by  Wm.  Broomhall,  London.  The  Country 
Gentlemen's  Association,  Limited.    Price  3s.  6d. 

{  "  Report  of  the  Nova  Scotia  School  of  Horticulture."  By 
Professor  F.  C.  Sears. 

§"The  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society." 
April,  1902.  Price  (to  non-Fellows)  7s.  6d.  117,  Victoria 
street,  S.W. 


310 


THE    GAEDEN 


[May  10,  190?. 


and  given  such  names  as  Gros 
Maroe  and  Gros  Colnian.  There 
has  been  much  of  this  praising 
of  flavourless  Grapes  at  the 
expense  of  the  less  pretentious 
and  a  thousand  times  more 
agreeable  Sweetwaters  and 
Frontignans.  Dr.  Cooke's  con- 
tribution to  the  knowledge  of 
"Fungus  pests  of  the  Carnation 
family  "  is  important,  and  the 
coloured  illustrations  are 
decidedly  helpful.  Hardy  fruits 
for  Scotland  are  dealt  with  at 
length  by  Messrs.  Donald  Mae- 
lean  (north),  William  Wright 
(central),  and  James  Day 
(south).  "  Hybrid  Orchids," 
by  J.  Gurney  Fowler,  treasurer 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  will  please  Orchid 
growers,  but  it  is  unnecessary 
to  give  a  list  of  all  the  reprints 
of  lectures  delivered  during  a 
part  of  last  year.  They  com- 
prise such  subjects  as  "  Plant 
Diseases,"  by  George  Massee, 
F.L.S.  ;  "Insecticides  Experi- 
ments," by  R.  Newstead, 
A.L.S.  ;  "Mangoes,"byCharles 
Maries,  V.M.H.  ;  "A  Public 
Horticultural  Garden,"  by 
J.  Forsyth  Johnson  ;  "  Whole 
Fruit  Preservation,"  by  J.  E. 
Austin ;  "Forestsand Manuring 
Forest  Trees,"  by  F.  E.  H.  W. 
Kriehauff,J.P. ;  "Arbor  Day," 
byE.  H.  Till;  "May-flowering 
Tulips,"  by  Herr  Ernst  Krelage ; 
"Fruit  Drying  and  Evapora- 
tion," by  James  Udale  ;  and 
"Notes  on  Recent  Research  and  Abstracts." 
The  "Abstracts"  are  from  current  horticul- 
tural periodicals,  and  indicate  the  most  interest- 
ing articles.  A  Fellow  can  turn  to  these 
pages  and  find  perhaps  an  article  upon  the 
subject  information  is  desired.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  again  praise  the  editor,  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  for 
adding  another  volume  to  the  splendid  series 
already  published.  Although  many  of  the  subjects 
treated  of  are  extremely  technical  and  therefore  of 
small  interest  to  many  of  the  Fellows,  there  is  a 
refreshing  brightness  about  the  journal ;  it  is  quite 
readable. 


THE  children's  GABDEK   AT  MELFORD    PARK,   SUFFOLK    (THE   RESIDENCE   OF  THE   REV.    SIR   W.    HYDE   TARKER,    BART.). 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

THE  CHILDREN'S  GARDEN 

IN  a  home  garden  there  is  a  good  deal  of 
diversity,  and  not  a  little  that  is  pathetic, 
to  be  found  in  the  plots  given  over  to 
children.  For  the  most  part  these  are 
banished  to  some  out-of-the-way  corner,  as 
much  for  the  good  of  the  children  as  for  the 
comfort  of  their  elders ;  for  child  experiments, 
such  as  the  digging  up  of  roots  to  see  if  they  are 
growing,  the  puddling  of  miniature  ponds  and 
canals,  the  building  up  of  "  lovely  "  rock  works,  do 
not  always  make  for  garden  beauty.  Let  us  never 
grudge  or  interfere  with  such  innocent  efforts,  for 
have  not  we — children  of  larger  growth — to  go 
through  similiar  passages  before  we  learn  the 
lessons  which  experience  teaches.  By  every  means 
in  our  power  let  the  little  ones,  then,  have  some 
garden  ground  out  of  sight  where  they  may 
dig  to  their  heart's  content  and  do  no  harm. 

There  is  a  good  deal  to  be  said  on  the  other  hand 
for  such  a  children's  garden  as  the  illustration 
depicts— one  that  is  subject  to  the  same  rule  of 
order  and  care  as  the  rest  of  the  demesne,  yet 
where  the  children  may  have  a  reasonable  amount 
of  liberty  of  choice  in  the  planting,  and  of  freedom, 
no  less,  in  gathering  of  flowers.  Nothing  is  more 
delightful  to  the  child-heart  than  to  tread  closely 
in  the  footprints  of  the  "grown-ups,"  and  the 
children's  garden  may  thus  be  made,  by  precept 


and  example,  a  most  valuable  aid  to  the  formation 
of  the  self-controlled  character  so  inestimable  in 
after  life.  The  parental  interest,  the  inculcation 
of  kindly  thought  for  others,  the  gentle  persuasion 
to  give  up  momentary  gratification  for  the  sake  of 
future  good,  the  training  of  the  eye  to  see  wherein 
lie  the  true  lines  of  beauty  ;  all  these  and  many 
more  give  welcome  opportunities,  in  which  the 
children's  garden  may  be  the  handmaid  of  the  best 
kind  of  education. 


WRITERS  ON  HORTICULTURE. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  who  reads  all  the  penny  horti- 
cultural weeklies  sends  us  this  impression  of  the 
supposed  methods  of  some  of  their  contributors. 

Hints  to  Young  Writers. 
Gardening  Articles  and  How  to  Write  Them. 

Recipe.  —  Take  one  catalogue,  and,  having 
selected  your  family,  enumerate  the  varieties  at 
length,  serving  up  the  catalogue  descriptions  with 
any  variations  that  may  occur  to  you — if  you 
happen  ever  to  have  seen  the  plants  so  much  the 
better,  as  a  little  extra  warmth  can  then  be 
introduced  into  the  panegyric — and  recommend 
them  strongly,  one  and  all,  to  the  amateur's  notice. 
Some  catalogues  contain  such  detailed  lists  that 
you  will  be  able  to  mal^e  quite  a  nice  long  article 
of  the  useful  practical  order  in  this  way,  while 
^fith  a  really  taking  title,  such  as  "Blue  Beds," 
"  A  charming  Crimson  Concatenation,"  or  "  Easy 
Erigerons,"  a  500  word  "  fill-up"  can  be  concocted 
with  delightful  quickness  out  of  any  plant  list 
that  gives  colour,  height,  and  time  of  blooming. 
This  is  a  most  useful  recipe  for  general  purposes, 
but  I  am  not  sure  that  you  may  not  find  another 
which  I  am  now  going  to  give  you,  more  profitable, 
because  the  articles  are  capable  of  much  greater 
extension  ;  in  fact,  they  can  be  continued  indefi- 
nitely until  you  have  used  up  all  the  material  to 
be  found  in  monumental  compilations  such  as 
some  of  the  great  hardy  plant  firms  are  so  kind 
as  to  issue  to  your  unending  convenience  and 
advantage. 

Recipe. — Take  someone  else's  garden  and  walk 
round  it  at  intervals  (N.B.  If  you  cannot  manage 
this,  that  is,  should  there  be  no  garden  available 


or  it  is  a  wet  day,  it  will  do  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as 
well  to  turn  over  the  catalogue  pages  at  random, 
but  be  careful  not  to  do  so  consecutively,  especially 
should  the  list  be  alphabetically  arranged),  and 
after  each  walk  compile  a  fervid  description  of  all 
you  have  seen.  Occasional  inaccuracies  in  nomen- 
clature are  of  no  importance,  provided  you  gush 
with  suflicient  eloquence  over  the  loveliness  of  all 
you  see,  and  a  little  comic  relief,  such  as  a 
gardener  with  stupid  speeches  in  three  or  four 
local  dialects,  well  mixed,  will  carry  oft' any  trifling 
error,  such  as  a  confusion  between  Tulips  and 
Calochorti  or  the  placing  of  Saxifraga  Bhei  as  a 
January  bloomer,  which  may  unavoidably  crop 
up.  The  ditticulty  of  presenting  a  consecutive 
plan  of  the  garden,  if  you  have  never  been  in  it, 
or  it  really  does  not  exist,  can  be  got  over  by 
visiting  a  dift'erent  part  of  it  on  each  occasion  ; 
this  will  guard  against  your  filling  bed  A  with 
ex(|uisite,  faintly  fragrant  Tea  Roses  during  your 
February  visit  and  presenting  it  as  a  glorious 
conglomeration  of  sky  and  fire  (red  and  blue 
Salvias)  when  you  next  see  it,  in  the  March  number. 
Before  I  send  these  hints — which  I  hope  may 
be  the  means  of  enabling  you  to  earn  a  nice  little 
sum  without  any  necessity  for  knowing  anything — 
let  me  suggest  to  you  as  suitable  for  strong  recom- 
mendation to  the  beginner  or  amateur  gardener  a 
few  things  which  usually  prove  of  considerable 
interest  and  are  a  source  of  pleasurable  occupation 
even  to  advanced  horticulturists.  When  so  much 
success  is  invariably  the  complete  amateur's 
return  it  would  be  cruel  of  you  not  to  advise  him, 
on  all  possible  occasions,  to  grow,  for  instance,  the 
Oncocyclus  Irises,  all  the  tiny  and  rare  Saxifrages, 
Mutisia  decurrens,  Ostrowskya,  Gentiaua  acaulis 
(grows  everywhere),  the  Globularias,  the  Andro- 
saees,  and  such  weeds  for  easy  flourish  and  increase 
under  all  circumstances  as  the  Lanuginosa 
Clematises  and  Tropasolum  speciosum. 


HARDY   FRUITS    IN    SEASON. 

Apple  Bess  Pool, 

This  is  a  distinctly  valuable  winter  and  early 
spriiift  Apple,  either  for  dessert  or  kitchen  use. 
It  is  in  season  from  December  to  April,  is  of 


May  10,  1902,] 


THE  GARDEN. 


311 


medium  size  to  large,  conical  in  shape,  skin 
yellow,  and  sometimes  striped  with  red.  It  is 
easily  recognised  by  the  five  knobs  which 
usually  surround  the  eye,  and  also  by  a  swollen 
growth,  which  generally  appears  on  one  side  of 
the  very  short  stalk.  Its  flesh  is  white,  juicy, 
and  the  flavour  sweet.  The  variety  is  strong 
growing,  and  is  more  fitted  for  the  orchard 
than  for  the  garden.  Unfortunately,  it  is  not  a 
consistent  or  a  very  free  bearer,  especially 
whilst  the  trees  are  young,  but  after  they  have 
attained  to  mature  age  it  is  no  worse  in  this 
respect  than  many  other  good  Apples  under 
cultivation.  The  variety  has  one  valuable 
attribute,  viz.,  that  it  blooms  late,  and  in 
consequence  frequently  escapes  spring  frosts, 
which  sometimes  prove  so  destructive  to  other 
sorts,  consequently  Bess  Pool  often  bears  a  full 
crop  when  others  are  furnished  with  scanty 
ones.  The  variety  should  be  represented  in  every 
good  orchard,  if  only  for  the  sake  of  this  one 
distinguishing  good  quality.         O.  Thoma.s. 

Apples  from  GLoncESTEKSHiRE. 
Mr  gardener  is  sending  you  a  few  Apples,  as  to 
the  condition  of  which  I  should  like  your  opinion. 
The  Co.x's  Orange  Pippin  fruits  I  think  good  in 
flavour  for  the  time  of  year — May — when  you 
receive  them.  I  am  uneerlain  if  we  have  others 
rightly  named.  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  inform 
me.  I  feel  more  strongly  every  year  that  while 
a  Cox's  Orange  is  in  season,  and  we  have  had 
abundance  of  them  for  the  last  six  months,  no 
other  Apple  can  touch  it,  and  I  certainly  should  not 
if  I  had  to  plant  again  think  of  putting  in  any 
quantity  of  dessert  Apples  to  come  in  after  the 
beginning  of  November.  We  find  our  Apples 
keep  much  better  for  being  moved  into  a  well- 
ventilated  cellar.  I  have  put  a  pipe  through  the 
roof  of  the  building  with  an  air  exhauster  on  the 
top.  Since  the  sun  has  got  round  to  the  north 
I  have  raised  the  temperature  of  the  Apple  room. 
I  should  be  glad  to  know  if  highly  coloured  fruit 
such  as  }'ou  see  at  autumn  shows  keep  as  well  as 
their  greener  brethren  ?  I  fancy  not.  I  hope  the 
Apples  will  reach  you  in  good  condition,  but  the}' 
so  soon  go  off  when  brought  up  out  of  the  cellar  ; 
they  are  now  quite  free  from  wrinkles. 

H.  C.  B. 
[The  Apples  arrived  in  excellent  condition,  and 
we  quite  agree  with  your  way  of  keeping  them. 
Many  Apples  are  spoiled  by  placing  in  a  too  dry 
room.  We  have  not  found  any  difference  in  the 
keeping  of  highly  coloured  and  green  Apples,  but 
there  may  be  something  in  it.  We  also  endorse  all 
you  say  about  Cox's  Orange  ;  it  is  undoubtedly  the 
king  of  dessert  Apples,  and  your  samples  are  very 
fine,  especially  for  this  time  of  year.  The  Apple 
marked  Bismarck  is  Schoolmaster ;  Blenheim 
Orange  is  Dutch  Mignonne.  All  the  others  are 
correct. — Eds.] 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The   Editors  are  not  responsible  for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents. ) 


AGAPANTHUS    UMBEL- 
LATUS    ALBUS. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR,  —  I  have  noticed  a  good  deal  of 
correspondence  in  The  Garden  recently 
regarding  the  difficulty  in  flowering  the 
above  plant  in  England.  In  ray  travels 
in  the  southern  hemisphere  I  have  found 
it  on  the  whole  even  freer  than  the  blue 
type.  I  first  saw  it  in  New  Zealand,  and  to  me  it 
was  quite  a  new  sensation,  as  I  had  never  before 
seen  the  plant  in  bloom.  I  was  greatly  delighted 
with  its  fine  effect  in  gardens.  I  found  it  abundant 
in  Australia,  and  still  a  profuse  bloomer.  When  I 
came  to  its  native  country — South  Africa— I  found 
it  a  leading  feature  in  the  gardens  of  the  Cape 
Peninsula,  its  season  of  flowering  at  the  Cape  being 
Ddoember,  January,  February,  and  the  early  part 


of  March.  These  are  the  driest  months  of  the 
year,  the  rainfall  being  trifling.  The  rains  have 
now  commenced,  and  soon  the  young  growth  will 
take  place.  The  plant  is  neither  deciduous  nor 
semi-deciduous.  That  there  should  be  varieties  is 
not  at  all  wonderful,  as  the  plant  seeds  freely,  and 
as  far  as  observations  have  been  made  it  appears 
seldom  to  throw  back  to  blue.  It  is  not  known  how 
the  plant  was  introduced  into  cultivation,  but  is 
supposed  to  be  an  albino  found  by  some  farmer 
and  taken  into  his  garden,  as  has  occurred  on 
many  occasions  in  regard  to  other  plants,  notably 
Watsonia  O'Brieni,  no  doubt  an  albino  of  W. 
rosea,  and  the  pure  white  Nerine,  an  albino,  no 
doubt,  of  N.  sarniensis.  Why  there  should  be 
any  difficulty  in  England  in  flowering  so  free- 
flowering  a  plant  as  the  white  Agapanthus  is 
difficult  to  comprehend  unless  it  is  the  plants  are 
small  or  the  pots  used  are  not  large  enough  for  so 
gross  a  rooting  plant.  It  must  have  been  observed 
that  the  number  of  flower-spikes  thrown  up  by 
Agapanthus  is  small  compared  with  the  growths. 
I  feel  quite  sure  if  the  same  treatment  is  given  to 
the  white  variety  that  the  blue  receives  the  results 
will  be  quite  equal.  When  I  have  looked  at  the 
large  heads  of  bloom  of  the  white  Agapanthus,  my 
thoughts  have  gone  back  to  the  market  growers  of 
Covent  Garden  who  supply  cut  flowers.  This  plant 
might  be  useful  to  them,  as  each  head  would  supply 
a  multitude  of  flowers  which  (wired) 
would  come  in  useful  in  bouquets,  and 
several  wired  together  would  make  a 
nice  feature  in  wreaths,  as  the  flowers 
are  very  lasting. 

Throughout  the  southern  hemisphere 
there  are  several  varieties  of  the  blue 
Agapanthus,  early  and  late,  dark  blue 
and  light  blue.  In  the  municipal  garden 
of  Cape  Town  there  is  a  very  late- 
Howering  variety,  which  might  be  called 
"  The  Hen  and  Chickens  Agapanthus." 
From  the  umbel  rises  a  stalk  with  a 
second  umbel,  and  from  the  sides  come 
many  small  umbels,  but  the  most 
curious  of  all  is  an  Agapanthus  from 
the  Transvaal,  where  the  flowers  on  the 
umbel  hang  down  like  the  crystal 
ornaments  around  an  old  -  fashioned 
crystal  chandelier.  This  species  is 
deciduous.  At  present  there  are  only 
a  few  plants  in  Cape  Town.  After  the 
war  is  over  many  may  be  collected,  as 
it  is  a  unique  plant,  and  I  think  worth 
being  introduced  into  cultivation. 

Peter  Barr,  V.M.H. 

Cape  Town. 

N.B. — Referring  to  Nerine,  I  under-  apple 

stand  Mr.  Elwes  has  made  a  break  in 
this  family  and  has  produced  many  shades  of 
colour.  On  the  slopes  of  Table  Mountain,  on 
the  narrow  ledges  where  the  Nerine  sarniensis 
grows,  there  are  several  shades,  from  almost 
white  up  to  the  rich  colour  of  the  species 
named.  It  is  somewhat  curious  and  interesting 
that  N.  Fothergilli,  which  is  such  a  grand 
plant  in  England,  is  unknown  as  a  wild  plant 
here.  I  mention  this  as  a  subject  of  investigation 
in  England  relating  to  the  history  of  its  origin. 
Can  anyone  throw  light  on  the  subject  ?  The  name 
Fothergill  should  make  its  solution  easy. 

PLANTING    A   RESERVE    GARDEN. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — I  have  just  got  a  new  reserve  garden  (about 
half  an  acre),  in  which,  as  well  as  flowers,  I  want 
to  grow  fruit  and  vegetables,  planting  fruit  trees 
such  as  Pears,  Cherries,  Apples,  Raspberries, 
Strawberries,  Potatoes,  Violets,  and  Carnations. 
In  the  small  greenhouse  against  a  piece  of  the  long 
south  wall  there  are  Grapes.  The  whole  piece 
slopes  to  the  south,  but  I  do  not  know  anything 
about  fruit  in  a  practical  way,  and  should  be 
obliged  if  you  would  tell  me  when  to  begin  putting 
in  these  various  things  ;  the  Violets  and  Carna- 
tions I  know  about.  I  also  want  to  know  if  it 
would  be  possible  to  grow  Muscat  Grapes  in  the 
unheated  greenhouse  ?  Cartouche. 

[Our   correspondent  does  not   inform   us  what 


condition  the  half  acre  of  land  recently  acquired 
for  the  growth  of  fruit,  vegetables,  and  flowers  is 
in  ;  whether  it  is  already  under  any  sort  of  crop  ; 
and  whether  the  crops  intended  to  be  grown  are 
for  sale  or  private  use.  The  south  wall  spoken 
of,  if  not  already  furnished  with  trees,  would  be 
admirably  adapted  for  Peaches  and  Nectarines. 
The  best  Peaches,  which  are  named  in  the  order 
of  ripening,  are  Amsden  June,  Royal  George, 
Stirling  Castle,  Violette  Hative,  and  Mr.  Glad- 
stone. The  best  Nectarines  are  Early  Rivers,  Sir 
Charles  Napier,  Pineapple,  Elruge,  and  Victoria. 
The  Apricot  would  also  succeed  well  on  this  wall, 
and  the  best  variety  to  plant  is  the  Moorpark. 
The  amber-coloured  Muscats  will  not  succeed  in 
the  unheated  greenhouse,  but  the  Madresfield 
Court  Black  Muscat  Grape  would  do  very  well 
under  the  care  of  some  one  having  a  rudimentary 
knowledge  of  Grape  growing.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  flavoured  Grapes  we  have,  with  a  distinct 
Muscat  flavour.  We  presume  the  piece  of  land  is 
already  intersected  by  walks.  By  the  side  of  the 
whole  of  these  walks,  at  a  distance  from  them  of 
4  feet,  we  should  plant  fruit  trees  of  one  sort  or 
another,  and  as  we  presume,  from  the  position  of 
the  land  being  near  the  sea,  that  it  must  at  times 
be  exposed  to  high  winds,  we  would  suggest  that 
dwarf  bushes  be  planted  in  preference  to  any  other 
form  of  tree  as  being  less  exposed  to  danger  from 


BESS  POOL.     (Oriijinal  height  2Jf  inches,  width  23  inches.) 

this  cause.  By  the  sides  of  the  walks  leading 
from  north  to  south  we  would  plant  Apples, 
Plums,  and  Cherries  at  distances  of  9  feet  apart. 
By  the  sides  of  the  walks  leading  from  east  to 
west  plant  Pears  and  the  best  of  the  Green  Gage 
Plums,  and  on  the  cooler  side  of  the  garden  the 
Morello  Cherry  would  succeed  well  if  planted  in 
bush  form.  Raspberries,  Strawberries,  Currants, 
and  Gooseberries — in  fact,  all  bush  fruit— would 
be  better  grown  in  the  body  of  the  garden  by 
themselves,  where  they  can  be  conveniently  netted 
when  ripe.  The  remaining  part  of  the  body  of 
the  garden  could  then  be  devoted  to  vegetables, 
choosing  a  warm  position  for  a  good  plot  of 
Tomatoes.  This  popular  fruit  would  succeed  well 
in  the  open  garden  in  your  climate.  The  4  feet 
space  between  the  fruit  trees  and  the  walks  could 
be  devoted  to  the  growth  of  flowers,  including 
Carnations,  Violets,  and  all  the  most  popular  of 
our  hardy  plants  and  Roses.  Arches  could  also 
be  thrown  over  the  walks  here  and  there  and 
planted  with  some  of  the  many  beautiful  climbing 
flowering  plants.  The  best  time  for  planting  fruit 
trees  is  at  the  end  of  October  and  during  November. 
If  the  land  has  been  previously  neglected  or  badly 
cultivated,  the  ground  should  be  trenched  and  well 
enriched  with  manure  before  planting  takes  place. 
If  Strawberry  runners  are  secured  as  early  in  the 
summer  as  they  are  formed,  layered  in  small  pots, 
and  then  planted  in  well-prepared  and  manured 
land  in   August,   a  good  crop    can    be    had   the 


312 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


following  year.  If  these  strong  and  early  runners 
cannot  be  secured,  the  ordinary  runners  are  planted. 
October  is  soon  enough  to  plant  these,  but  no  fruit 
in  any  quantity  can  be  e.xpected  until  the  second 
year.  A  list  of  the  best  varieties  of  hardy  fruits 
for  this  sized  garden  can  be  given  if  desired. — 
Eds.] 

ANTS  AND  APHIDES. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — In  looking  over  some  back  numbers  of  The 
Garden  I  noticed  in  the  issue  for  July  14,  1900, 
page  34,  a  note  from  a  correspondent,  in  which  he 
says  that  he  is  inclined  to  believe  the  old  theory 
that  ants  carry  aphides  about  with  them  to  fresh 
fields  and  pastures  new.  It  may  interest  your 
correspondent,  should  this  meet  his  eye,  and  other 
readers  to  know  that  in  the  summer  of  last  year  I 
discovered  in  the  corner  of  a  scullery  (concrete 
floor  with  brick  walls  covered  with  plaster)  a 
number  of  black  ants,  and  among  them  were  several 
fat  wingless  aphides.  As  there  was  nothing  to 
attract  the  aphides  to  this  spot  it  is  only  reason- 
able to  suppose  that  the  ants  brought  their  captives 
with  them  from  the  garden.  While  on  the  subject 
of  entomology  the  following  fact  may  also  interest 
your  readers.  A  few  weeks  ago,  on  lifting  a  large 
pot  in  the  garden,  under  which  were  some  Shallots, 
I  found  a  spider,  which  on  being  disturbed 
attempted  to  make  off,  carrying  .something.  This 
on  examination  proved  to  be  a  wireworm. 
South  Wimbledon.  E.  M.  Ryder. 


future  depredations,  all  the  aft'ected  fruits  should 
be  gathered  and  burned  once  they  can  be  dis- 
covered by  their  unnatural  shape. 

Apple  Blossom  Weevil. 

This  small  beetle  lays  its  eggs  in  the  blossom 
buds,  from  which  in  a  few  days  grubs  are  hatched 
and  commence  to  destroy  the  blossoms.  It  is 
usually  most  prevalent  upon  neglected  trees  and 
in  badly  cultivated  plantations,  for  then  the  weevil 
is  left  undisturbed  to  hibernate  during  the  winter 
in  the  crevices  of  the  trees.  Winter  spraying  of 
the  trees  with  the  caustic  soda  and  potash  com- 
pound, together  with  lightly  turning  the  surface 
soil  and  applying  dressings  of  chemical  manures  in 
spring,  for  which  instructions  have  already  been 
given,  act  as  deterrents  to  this  pest.  At  the 
present  time  it  may  be  caught  by  spreading  in  the 
evening  a  sheet  beneath  the  trees  and  sharply 
tapping  the  branches,  while  infested  blossoms 
should  be  gathered  and  burned  before  the  grub 
leaves  them.  T.  Coomber. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Injurious  Insects. 

BEFORE  the  crops  of  hardy  fruit  trees 
are  safe  from  frost,  insect  pests,  in  the 
form  of  aphides,  caterpillars,  weevils, 
&c. ,  have  usually  to  be  battled  with. 
The  most  satisfactory  way  of  dealing 
with  these  pests  is  lo  be  on  the  alert, 
and  on  their  first  appearance  to  at  once  take 
stringent  measures  to  eradicate  them.  This  is  at 
least  a  comparatively  easy  task  when  dealing  with 
aphides  of  any  description,  compared  to  what  has 
to  be  done  after  trees  have  become  badly  infested. 
Take  the  case  of  Plums,  Peaches,  Cherries,  &c., 
fur  instance,  that  are  invariably  attacked  by 
aphides  of  one  or  another  species.  If  they  are 
thoroughly  sprayed  with  a  solution  of  Quassia 
E.xtract  warmed  to  a  temperature  of  about  85'^ 
immediately  after  their  flowering  season,  and  sub- 
seiiuently  once  a  week  for  some  time,  the  trees 
and  their  crops  will  be  kept  clean  and  safe  from 
these  troublesome  insects. 

Woolly  Aphis. 
This  is  difficult  to  eradicate  after  trees  have 
become  badly  infested,  and  in  cases  where  the 
winter  treatment  has  not  provec"  to  be  wholly  suc- 
cessful, warm  weather  will  be  found  congenial  to 
its  increase.  Although  the  cleansing  of  old  standard 
trees  is  scarcely  possible,  no  trouble  should  be 
spared  to  free  bush  or  other  garden  trees.  There- 
fore, soon  after  they  are  out  of  blossom,  the 
matured  wood  of  affected  trees  should  be  thoroughly 
scrubbed  with  a  strong  solution  of  soluble  paraffin 
oil,  taking  care  that  it  does  not  come  into  contact 
with  the  young  wood  and  fruit.  This  should  be 
followed  up  by  forcibly  syringing  the  trees  with 
the  same  insecticide,  anil  subsequently  frequently 
examine  the  trees  and  dress  affected  parts  with  the 
above  or  spirits  of  wine  by  the  aid  of  a  brush. 
In  bad  cases  the  roots  of  trees  are  attacked,  but 
they  are  best  attended  to  when  the  trees  are  at 
rest. 

The  Pear  Midue. 

Of  late  years  we  have  suffered  considerablj- 
from  this  insect,  and  its  attacks  appear  to  have 
become  more  general  during  recent  years,  or  at 
least  we  hear  more  about  them  than  formerly, 
but  a  satisfactory  preventive  has  not  yet,  so  far  as 
I  am  aware  of,  been  found.  As  a  means  of  checking 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

There  is  a  lovely  plant  of  the  Bell-flower  family 
called  Michauxia  campanuloides  that  I  should  like 
to  recommend  to  all  lovers  of  hardy  flowers.  In 
height  it  grows  from  4  feet  to  8  feet  and  the  flowers 
are  white,  tinged  with  purple,  and  arranged  in 
a  pyramidal  candelabra-like  head,  which  gives  it  a 
very  imposing  appearance,  and  makes  it  most 
effective  for  mixed  borders.  It  is  a  perennial, 
but  I  think  the  best  results  are  obtained  by 
treating  it  as  a  biennial,  and  the  present 
is  a  good  time  to  sow  for  flowering  next  year. 
If  sown  in  a  box,  and  the  seedlings  whtn  large 
enough  are  potted  up  into  small  pots  the  plants 
will  be  ready  to  put  out  into  their  flowering 
ijuarters  in  the  autumn.  This  year  I  am  trying 
them  as  annuals,  or  nearly  so,  as  I  sowed  in  heat 
in  December  last  and  potted  them  on  as  soon  as 
they  were  fit.  They  are  now  sturdy  strong  plants 
in  4-iuch  pots,  and  I  anticipate  seeing  them  in 
flower  by  the  autumn.  A  warm  sheltered  border 
of  deep  moist  rich  loam  is  suitable  for  this 
valuable  plant. 

The  Corsican  Daisy  (Erigeron  mucronatus), 
with  its  pretty  pink  flowers  shaded  white  is 
another  beautiful  plant  suited  for  the  hardy  flower 
border  or  the  rock  garden,  and  it  remains  in  flower 
for  a  long  time  during  the  summer  months.  It  is 
perennial,  but  flowers  easily  the  first  year  of  sowing. 
For  shallow  vases  and  for  barrels  it  is  most 
useful.  The  best  time  to  sow  it  is  in  March,  but 
if  sown  now  in  heat  the  plants  will  flower  well 
in  the  autumn. 

The  Arctotis 
is  a  Cape  plant  that,  though  of  great  beauty,  is 
very  little  met  with  in  gardens.  A.  leptorhiza  is 
the  only  one  of  which  I  have  any  experience,  and 
this  is  a  very  useful  annual  that  may  be  now  sown 
in  the  open  where  it  is  intended  to  flower.  It 
requires  a  dry  warm  spot,  where  then  the  rich 
orange-coloured  flowers  are  produced  in  profusion. 
When  the  seedlings  are  up  they  should  be  well 
thinned  out  to  allow  each  plant  plenty  of  space  to 
develop.  There  is  a  half-hardy  annual  A.  grandis 
that  has  been  sent  out  during  the  last  few  years, 
and  from  all  accounts  it  is  a  very  striking  plant,  but 
though  I  have  attempted  to  germinate  it  two  or 
three  years  the  seeds  have  always  failed. 

Hugh  A.  Pettiobew. 
Castle  Gardens,  St.  Pagans. 

THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
Thinninu  the  Crops. 
One  of  the  greatest  mistakes  made  in  the  kitchen 
garden  is  overcrowding,  and  this  applies  to  nearly 
every  vegetable  cultivated.  It  is  far  better  to  allow 
each  plant  sufficient  space  to  develop,  and  espe- 
cially does  this  apply  to  Peas  and  Beans.  These, 
in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  are  sown  and  permitted  to 
grow  too  thickly  together,  the  consequence  being 
the  plants  crowd  each  other  and  the  yield  is  poor 
and  of  short  duration.  This  work  should  be  done 
as  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  sufficiently  large 
enough  to  pull  out,  and  all  such  crops  as  Onions, 


Parsnips,  Turnips,  Beet,  Lettuce,  &c. ,  should  be 
thinned  out  twice.  Keep  the  ground  stirred 
between  them  with  the  Dutch  hoe,  and  dust  over 
the  young  growths  frequently  but  lightly  with 
fresh  soot,  which  is  not  only  one  of  the  best  stimu- 
lants to  apply  at  this  season,  but  will  protect  them 
from  the  ravages  of  birds  and  other  pests. 

Globe  Artichokes. 

The  best  varieties  have  suffered  considerably 
during  the  past  winter  in  many  places.  Many  of 
the  old  stools  are  so  weakened  that  they  will  need 
much  assistance  to  bring  them  back  into  a  good 
condition.  The  soil  which  has  been  pointed  over 
should  be  thoroughly  stirred  up  with  the  draw  hoe, 
the  ground  well  mulched  with  stable  litter,  and 
drench  the  plants  thoroughly  with  manure  water 
in  dry  weather. 

Parsley'. 

Continue  to  plant  out  the  young  plants  raised  in 
boxes  under  glass.  To  grow  Parsley  to  perfection 
the  ground  should  have  been  heavily  manured  and 
deeplj'  trenched,  using  farmyard  manure.  The 
surface  will  by  now  be  in  such  a  condition  that  it 
can  be  raked  down  finely.  Plant  with  a  dibber 
1  foot  apart  each  way,  and  dust  frequently  with 
soot — the  finest  Parsley  is  produced  in  this  way. 
Make  small  sowings  at  intervals  of  about  three 
weeks  in  various  parts  of  the  garden. 

Endive. 

Make  small  sowings  about  every  ten  days,  but 

only  sufficient  for  immediate  use,  as  early  sowings 

are   certain   to   run   to   seed.      Model    and    Moss 

Curled  are  very  suitable  for  sowing  at  this  season. 

Lettuce, 
both  Cos  and  Cabbage,  should  be  sown  frequently. 
Plant  out  spare  plants  from  each  sowing,  so  that 
no  break  is  likely  to  occur.  Water  freely  in  hot, 
dry  weather,  a  quick,  crisp  growth  being  thus 
ensured. 

Cardoons 
should  be  sown  at  once  in  well-prepared  trenches, 
adding  plenty  of  good  half-deca3'ed  horse  manure, 
and  cover  with  fine  soil.     Make  small  holes  at  a 
distance  of  20  inches  apart,  placing  three  or  four 
seeds  in  each.     Cover  to  the  depth  of  1^  inches, 
and  thin  to  one  at  a  station  when  large  enough. 
When   more   than   one   row   is    required   allow   a  ' 
distance  of  5  feet  between  each,  and  never  let  the  ■ 
plants  suffer  from  want  of  water  at  the  roots. 

Runner  Beans. 

Prepare  trenches  as  for  Celery  as  soon  as  possible 
after  this  date,  allowing  a  distance  of  10  feet 
between  each,  when,  if  left  until  towards  the  end 
of  the  month  for  receiving  the  seed  or  plants 
which  have  been  raised  under  glass,  the  soil  will 
be  in  a  good  workable  condition.  Great  advantage 
is  gained  by  raising  the  first  batch  in  boxes  and 
planting  them  out  after  being  properly  hardened. 
These  will  commence  to  bear  much  earlier  than  if 
sown  in  the  open,  and  are  practically  free  from 
frost  and  the  attacks  from  slugs  which  often  do 
much  damage  to  these  in  the  earlier  stages  of  their 
growth.  Best  of  All  is  the  best  and  most  prolific 
variety  I  am  acquainted  with.  E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  Houxe  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Tree  Carnations. 

When  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots  they  may  be 
moved  into  4i-inch  pots,  in  which  they  may  be 
allowed  to  flower  if  supplied  with  liquid  manure 
occasionally  when  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots. 
Use  three  parts  turfy  loam  and  one  part  leaf-soil, 
with  the  addition  of  charcoal  and  enough  coarse 
sand  to  keep  the  whole  porous.  Pot  the  plants 
moderately  firm  and  afford  good  drainage.  After 
potting  place  the  plants  back  in  the  frame  and 
give  them  plenty  of  air  until  they  are  well  rooted  ; 
then  plunge  in  a  bed  of  coal  ashes  in  a  sunny 
position  out  of  doors.  Plants  propagated  later 
should  be  repotted  as  they  require  it  until  placed 
in  their  flowering  pots.  Remove  the  tops  of  young 
growths.  All  plants  intended  to  be  kept  for 
flowering  should  be  placed  in  a  cool,  airy  pit. 
Repot  into  larger  pots  at  the  end  of  this  month  or 


MA.Yi  10^- 1902.] 


THE'   GARDEN. 


31^ 


•early:  in  June,  after  which  they  may  be  placed  out 
-of  doors,  plunged  in  ashes,  and  afforded  protection 
■against  heavy  rains. 

Malmaison  Carmations 
that  are  coming  into  flower  should  be  shaded  from 
strong  sunshine  and  have  the  flowering  shoots 
neatly  staked.  If  large  flowers  are  required  the 
buds  should  be  thinned  as  soon  as  they  appear. 
Abundance  of  air  should  be  given  them,  and  afford 
liberal  supplies  of  liquid  manure.  A  sharp  look  out 
should  be  kept  for  green  fly. 
LlLIUMS. 

:  The  early-flowering  bulbs  of  Lilium  auratum,  L. 
lancifolium  album,  L.  rubrum,  &c. ,  may  be  brought 
indoors  from  cold  pits.  Later  batches  that  are 
sufficiently  advanced  in  growth  should  be  top- 
■dreased  with  rich  fibrous  loam  and  well-decayed 
manure  in  about  equal  parts.  Plunge  in  a  bed  of 
•coal  ashes  out  of  doors.  Syringe  the  plants  in 
bright  sunnj'  weather,  and  tie  the  stems  to  neat 
stakes. 

The  Conservatort. 
Primulas  and  Cinerarias  that  are  over  should  be 
■cleared  away,  and  Azaleas  be  removed  into  a  warm 
temperature  and  kept  well  syringed  until  they 
•complete  their  growth.  The  conservatory  may  be 
kept  gay  at  this  period  by  introducing  plants  of 
the  show  and  fancy  Pelargoniums,  also  zonal  and 
Ivy-leaved  varieties,  Fuschias,  Hydrangeas,  Ericas, 
Begonias,  Tuberoses,  Liliums,  Coleus,  etc.  The 
rearrangement  of  the  flowering  plants  in  this 
house  affords  an  opportunity  to  prune,  cleanse,  and 
tie  the  growths  of  all  climbers. 
Balsams. 
Seedlings  should  always  be  repotted  in  time  to 
prevent  the  roots  from  growing  through  the  bottom 
■of  the  pots.  At  each  potting  place  the  plants 
<leeper  than  before,  as  they  will  root  from  the 
stem.  Stopping  and  disbudding  spoil  these  plants. 
They  and  Celosia  plumosa  and  Cockscombs  require 
a  liberal  treatment.  John  Fleming. 

Wexham  Park  Oardens,  Slough. 


USES   OF   BRITISH  PLANTS.-II. 

Crucifer^e. 
This  order  receives  its  name  from  the  four  petals 
standing  crosswise  ;  but  as  other  flowers  have  four 
petals  the  four  short  and  two  long  stamens  must 
be  looked  for  as  well.  No  member  of  the  family 
is  poisonous,  and  many  are  edible.  A  pungent  oil 
■characterises  several,  as  Mustard  and  Cress.  I 
will  take  the  genera  in  the  usual  sequence,  or 
that  in  Hooker's  "  Students'  Flora  of  the  British 
Isles":— 

Watercress  (Nasturtium  officinale)  was  familiar 
to  the  Greeks  as  Kardamon,  being  used  as  a  salad 
and  for  its  medicinal  virtues,  as  it  was  also  in  the 
fourteenth  century,  then  known  as  Nasturtium 
aouaticum.  lu  Pliny's  time  it  was  regarded  as 
■efficacious  for  brain  disorders,  as  insanity,  the 
<Jreek  name  signifying  "  Head  subduer.  '  It  was 
first  cultivated  in  England  in  ISOl.  Its  nutritive 
value  depends  upon  the  aromatic  oil  and  mineral 
ingredients,  in  which  it  exceeds  all  other  salad 
plants. 

Wintercrtss  (Barbarea  vulgaris  and  prsecox), 
formerly  called  Herb  St.  Barbara,  hence  the  Latin 
Dame.  It  was  formerly  cultivated  as  a  salad  plant. 
It  is  eaten  boiled  in  Sweden. 

Hedge  Garlic  (Sisymbrium  AUiaria)  is  readily 
known  by  its  Garlic-like  odour.  It  was  formerly 
used  as  a  green  vegetable  under  the  names  "  .Jack- 
by -the-hedge  "  or  "Sauce  alone,"'  and  was  boiled 
With  meat.  In  Wales  it  is  fried  with  bacon  and 
herrings. 

Rape,  Colza  and  Sn-edish  Turnip  (forms  of  Bras- 
sica  campestris,  proper)  ;  Turnip  and  navew  (Sub. 
sp.  Rapa).  Rape  and  Colza  are  grown  for  their 
oil  in  the  seed,  though  often  also  as  fodder  plants. 
The  oilcake  made  from  expressed  seeds  is  used 
as  food  and  manure.  Pliny  speaks  of  turning  the 
Rape  into  the  Turnip  (which  he  regards  as  a 
variety)  by  sowing  the  seed  in  a  "  cloggy"  soil. 
A  similar  result  occurs  with  Radishes  and  Carrots 
or  that  long-rooted  forms  occur  in  a  loose,  but 
short  ones  in  a  stiff  soil. 


The  Turnip  was  known  to  the  Greeks  as  Gongulos, 
"round,"  and  seems  to  have  been  grown  more  for 
its  supposed  medicinal  virtues  than  for  food,  though 
Manlius  Curius  was  discovered  by  the  Samnites, 
who  tried  to  bribe  him,  cooking  Turnips  over  his 
watch  fire,  which  he  said  he  esteemed  more  highly 
than  their  gold.  It  was  cultivated  through  the 
middle  ages,  and  probably  introduced  into  England 
by  the  monks.  It  was  much  grown  in  fields  in  the 
sixteenth  century  ;  but  the  best,  Gerarde  says, 
were  cultivated  at  Hackney  in  a  sandy  soil,  and 
brought  by  women  for  sale  at  Cheapside.  In  the 
seventeenth  century  they  were  grown  for  cattle. 
The  Turnip  has  no  real  amount  of  nourishment, 
over  90  per  cent,  being  water,  and  more  than  that 
when  boiled. 

Cabbage,  Can/ ijloirer.-:,  Kalts,  dc.  (Brassica 
oleracea),  found  wild  on  our  chalk  cliffs.  The 
cultivated  forms  are  innumerable,  though  there  are 
none  wild.  There  are  four  types,  viz.,  "Greens" 
or  "  hearting  Cabbage,"  Kales  with  loose  foliage, 
Cauliflower,  and  Broccoli,  which  have  a  hj'pertro- 
phied  inflorescence,  and  Kohl-Rabi  with  a  Turnip- 
formed  stem.  It  was  well  known  to  the  ancients 
both  as  a  vegetable  and  for  its  numerous  supposed 
medicinal  virtues.  It  was  also  pickled  with 
vinegar.  The  "  sprouts,"  probably  flowering 
shoots,  were  also  eaten.  Gerarde  figures  a  Cauli- 
flower, but  a  very  poor  specimen  apparently  in 
his  day  (1.397).  Having  been  brought  from  the 
Mediterranean  regions,  where  plants  are  sown  in 
September  and  are  perfected  in  spring,  the  Broccoli 
still  follows  this  rule,  whereas  the  Cauliflower 
pursues  its  course  according  to  our  climate,  and 
matures  later. 

Mustard  (black,  Brassica  nigra  :  white,  B.  alba). 
— Of  these  the  former,  with  dark  coloured  seeds, 
grows  in  edges  round  the  coasts,  being  often  4  feet 
or  5  feet  in  heigh  t,  as  in  Cornwall,  with  stems  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  thick.  This  is  the  Mustard  of 
the  parables.  It  is  said  to  grow  taller  than  a  man 
on  horseback  in  Palestine,  'i  he  white  is  a  field  weed 
having  yellow-coated  seeds.  When  ground  up  to 
powder  and  mixed  with  water  the  strong  pungent 
flavour  is  evolved,  so  that  the  oilcake  can  only 
be  used  as  manure.  It  is  much  cultivated  about 
Wisbech  for  "  Colman's  Mustard." 

George  Henslow. 


THE    KITCHEN   GARDEN. 


BEET    CHELTENHAM 
GREEN    TOP. 

FEW  Beets  are  better  than  this  if  quality 
alone  is  considered,  and  no  matter 
whether  this  last  remark  concerns 
vegetables  or  salads,  quality  alone  should 
be  the  chief  point.  There  are  certainly 
more  shapely  roots  than  the  Cheltenham 
Green  Top,  Pragnell's  for  example,  but  in  my 
opinion  it  does  not  equal  it  in  quality  or  the  colour 
of  the  roots  when  cooked.  Inferior  roots  of  Chelten- 
ham Green  Top  often  result  when  the  seed  is  sown 
in  too  rich  soil  or  too  early.  In  the  southern  part 
of  the  kingdom  I  find  early  in  May  quite  soon 
enough  to  sow  this  variety,  and  about  ten  daj's 
earlier  in  the  north,  but  even  then  much  depends 
upon  the  soil  if  heavy  or  light.  When  the  land 
is  well  cultivated  excess  of  rank  manures  means 
coarse  roots  and  loss  of  colour.  This  root  when 
growing  is  not  at  all  striking,  having  a  green  top, 
but  the  colour  is  a  bright  red  when  cooked,  and  the 
flavour  very  fine.  For  salad  I  do  not  know  a 
better  variety  for  colour  and  flavour.  I  have 
grown  it  for  twenty  years,  and  cannot  find  one  to 
surpass  it.  G.  Wythes. 


«PEIXG  CABBAGES  FAILING. 
For  some  seasons  past  the  spring  Cabbages  have 
not,  as  it  is  called,  "  bolted,"  but  this  year  I  regret 
to  say  our  losses  are  very  great,  and  this  experience 
is  general.  I  am  unable  to  account  for  such  excel- 
lent varieties  as  EUam's  Early  Dwarf  failing,  as  so 
few  have  done  so  before,  but  no  matter  what  the 
variety  the  siime  losses  occur  both  with  the  earliest 


sown  and  also  the  later  batch.  I  am  aware,  too, 
early  sowing  promotes  "running."  We  always 
sow  twice  or  even  three  times  so  as  to  secure  a  good 
plant,  but  I  fear  the  erratic  season  is  in  a  great 
measure  the  cause  of  the  plants  running  so  badly  as 
in  our  own  case.  The  plants,  owing  to  a  mild  early 
winter,  made  an  early  start,  and  the  growth  was 
severely  checked  by  severe  frost  late  in  the  winter. 
This  I  fear  in  a  measure  is  answerable  for  the  plants 
going  wrong.  This  theory  may  not  be  the  correct 
one,  but  the  readers  of  The  Garden  may  be  able 
to  give  a  cause,  as  we  cannot  afford  these  losses. 

G.  C.  N. 


INSECT    PESTS. 


THE    PEAR   MIDGE. 


AT 


OST  owners  of  Pear  trees  are  familiar 
with  the  spectacle  of  the  ground 
underneath  the  trees  being  strewn 
with  fruits  the  size  of  marbles  in  the 
early  part  of  .June,  and  many  will 
have  noticed  that  the  appearance  of 
the  Pears  is  not  healthy  but  stunted,  while  the 
usual  smooth  roundness  has  given  place  to  malfor- 
mation, the  surface  being  uneven  or  knobbad. 
This  falling  of  the  Pears  is  generally  attributed 
either  to  the  drj'ness  of  the  season  or  to  the 
unhealthy  condition  of  the  trees  ;  or,  if  they  bore 
a  heavy  crop  the  year  before,  it  is  put  down  to 
their  exhausted  condition.  Of  course,  Pears  do 
sometimes  drop  off  for  one  or  all  of  these  reasons, 
but  when  the  fallen  Pears  are  malformed  in  the 
way  just  described  it  is  fairlj'  certain  that  the 
cause  must  be  sought  in  the  action  of  the  Pear 
midge,  and  any  doubt  on  the  matter  can  be  at 
once  set  at  rest  by  cutting  a  Pear  open,  when  the 
flesh  will  be  found  to  be  honeycombed  by  a  light- 
coloured  grub  less  than  the  tenth  of  an  inch  in 
length,  and  this  grub  is  the  larva  of  the  Pear 
midge. 

This  larva  has  no  legs,  but  can  crawl  and  jump, 
and,  when  the  Pear  falls  to  the  ground,  the  larva 
which  have  not  let  themselves  down  to  the  ground 
while  the  Pear  was  on  the  tree  emerge  from  their 
dwelling  and  bury  them.selves  in  the  surface  soil, 
never  above  an  inch  in  depth.  This  happens  in 
•June,  and  in  the  earth  they  remain  till  March. 
At  what  time  they  change  into  the  pupal  state  is 
not  certain,  but  the  grubs  remain  in  the  soil  for 
some  time  before  they  invest  themselves  in  a  cocoon, 
and  remain  in  the  larval  state  within  the  cocoon 
for  some  time  longer  before  they  become  pupal.  In 
March  the  fly — the  fully  developed  midge — hatches 
out,  with  a  body  an  eighth  of  an  inch  long  and 
wings  wide  in  proportion,  while  its  legs,  antennal 
and  ovipositor  are  all  likewise  very  long.  When 
the  Pear  blossom  is  in  bud  it  pierces  the  unopened 
bud,  either  through  the  petals  or  through  petals 
and  calyx  together,  and  deposits  several  eggs  in 
the  interior,  which  hatch  very  quickly,  the  minute 
larva;  instinctively  making  for  the  core  of  the 
embryo  Pear,  and  so  the  life  cycle  is  complete. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  description  of  the 
life-history  of  the  Pear  midge  that  either  in  the 
larval  or  pupal  stage  it  is  lying  under  the  trees 
within  an  inch  of  the  surface  of  the  ground  from 
.June  until  March.  Where  the  ground  between  the 
trees  is  not  grass  digging  the  ground  i  inches  or 
.5  inches  deep  and  turning  the  soil  right  over 
would  bury  most  of  the  midges  so  deeply  that  the 
flies  would  not  be  able  to  force  their  way  to  the 
surface  in  the  spring.  The  efficacy  of  this  treat- 
ment would  be  increased  by  a  little  treading  down 
after  digging,  or  by  the  heavy  rains  of  autumn  and 
winter.  This  practice  continued  for  two  or  three 
years  would  pretty  well  exterminate  the  pest  in 
the  same  way  as  the  Gooseberry  sawfly  has  been  so 
successfully  exterminated  in  some  places.  Another 
execUent  remedy,  and  one  which  is  very  beneficial 
tothe  trees  as  well,  is  the  application  of  kainit,  at 
the  rate  of  a  ton  to  the  acre,  the  latter  half  of  June 
if  possible,  just  before  or  just  after  rain.  The  kainit 
is  slowly  dissolved  by  the  rain,  or  by  the  dews  if  it 
is  on  gra?s,  and  the  caustic  solution  burns  the 
bodies  of  the  larvse.     The  advantage   of  applying 


314 


THE  GARDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


£f& 


the  kainitas  earlj'  as  June  is  that  the  effect  upon 
the  larvMi-  is  greater  before  they  have  invested 
themselves  in  their  cocoons.  Where  the  kainit  is 
put  on  a  grass  orchard  the  grass  should  be  cut 
very  short  previously.  With  dwarf  trees  of  any 
sort  a  simple  remedy  would  be  the  picking  off  and 
burning  of  all  Pears  .seen  to  be  infested  before  the 
larv;e  have  had  time  to  mature  and  get  to  the 
ground,  either  in  the  Pears  or  out  of  them. 

It  has  been  observed  that  it  is  the  early  Pears, 
the  blossom  of  which  is  usually  early,  which 
are  most  liable  to  be  infested.  The  Pear  most 
liable  to  it  of  any  is  undoubtedly  Williams'  Bon 
Chretien,  trees  of  which  last  year  that  were 
thickly-set  with  fruit  at  the  beginning  of  June 
being  almost  bare  of  fruit  bj'  the  end  of  the  month. 

In  one  district  of  Essex  practically  the  whole  of 
the  Williams'  crop  was  destroyed  in  this  way, 
and  where  no  steps  have 
been  taken  to  remedy  mat- 
ters the  same  maj'  be 
expected  again  this  year, 
unless  climatic  conditions 
are  very  unfavourable  to 
the  hibei'nation  of  the 
midge.  Other  Pears  which 
are  particularly  liable  to 
infestation  are  Beurre  de 
I'Assomption,  Marie  Louise, 
Jargonelle,  Pitmaston 
Duchess,  and  Souvenir  du 
Congres,  which  are  all  early 
Pears,  and  in  shape  some- 
thing after  the  style  of  a 
Williams'  Bon  Chretien, 
though  this  latter  may  be 
merely  a  coincidence. 

This  pest  spreads  very 
rapidly  from  one  district 
to  another,  as  the  insects 
are  well  adapted  for  flying 
good  distances,  and  thus 
it  is  of  comparatively  little 
use  tryint;  to  get  rid  of 
the  pest  in  one's  own 
garden  or  orchard  if  a 
near  neighbour's  garden  is 
infested  with  it  and  he 
makes  no  attempt  to  cope 
with  it.  This  is  remark- 
ably demonstrated    by  its 

spread  in  the  United  States,  where  it  is  said 
to  have  been  unknown  until  its  discovery  on  a 
farm  in  Connecticut  in  1880.  Alger  Petts. 


the  classes  for  show  and  alpine  Auriculas  were  much  more 
numerous  than  was  expected.  The  examples  of  gold-laced 
Polyanthus  were  much  superior  to  those  seen  in  London,  and 
there  were  some  charming  baskets  of  species  and  varieties 
of  Primulas  ;  and  in  one,  that  from  the  nurseries  of  Messrs. 
.T.  Pope  and  Sons,  at  Kings  Norton,  were  some  very 
attractive  hybrids  shown  as  P.  ciliata  (•),  but  probably  the 
results  of  using  P.  viscosa  or  P.  pubescens  and  the  show  or 
alpine  Auricula  as  parents.  The  opening  ceremony  was 
performed  by  one  of  the  patrons  of  the  society.  -Mr.  Alder- 
man Lawley  Parker,  who  complimented  the  committee  on 
their  exhibition,  and  alluded  to  the  adaptability  of  the 
Auricula  for  culture  in  towns  by  working  men,  many  of 
whom  in  the  great  industrial  centres  about  there  grew  a 
few  plants  in  pots  in  a  back  yard.  It  was  stated  that  the 
culture  of  the  Auricula  in  pots  had  so  extended  in  the 
Birmingham  district  that  many  little  shows  were  held 
during  the  Auricula  season. 

At  the  luncheon  which  followed  the  opening  ceremonial, 
at  which  Sir.  John  Pope  presided,  attention  was  called  to 
the  protrusion  of  the  pistil  in  some  of  the  newer  varieties  of 
alpine  Auriculas,  and  it  was  mentioned  that  one  exhibitor 
had,  in  the  case  of  two  or  three  plants  of  a  particular 
variety,  removed  the  pistil,  not  with 
the  intention  of  deceiving  the  judges, 
but  in  order  to  raise  the  i|uestion  as  to 
the  lawfulness  of  the  practice.  There 
was  a  very  animated  discussion  on  the 
eligibility  of  "pin-eyed  '  flowers  to 
compete,  t'nder  the  old  practice  of 
exhibiting  in  the  North,  the  presence 
of  the  pistil  among  or  above  the 
anthers  had  always  led  to  disqualifica- 
tion, and  now  there  were  so  many 
tine  .\uriculas  mimis  this  defect  it 
was  held  some  action  was  necessary. 
Eventually  the  following  resolution 
was  passed  without  dissent :  "That 
in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  of 
members,  exhibitors,  and  judges  at 
the  third  annual  exhibition"  of  the 
Midland  .Section  of  the  National 
Auricula  .Society,  it  is  highly  desirable 
the  old  rule— that  a  pin-eyed  flower 
.  (that  is,  a  flower  in  which  the  pistil 
appears  above  the  base  of  the  anthers) 


■  Ci 


^ 


NARCISSUS    CORONATA. 

This  is  a  charming  flower  sent  to  me  recently  by 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  of  t'ovent  <  Jarden.  It  is  a 
sturdy  and  bold  flower,  good  in  colour,  and  excep- 
tionally so  in  form,  one  of  the  finest  of  its 
Sfection.  (_'. 


SOCIETIES. 

NATIONAL    AURICULA    SOCIETY. 

MlDLANb    SECTIOX. 

The  Midland  Auricula  growers  had  their  tteld  day  on  the  3uth 
ult.,  and  held  a  most  satisfactory  exhibition  in  the  show 
house  of  the  Botanical  Gardens  at  Edgbaston.  The  fixture 
was  favourable  to  bringing  together  growers  from  the  North 
and  South.  The  Rev.  ¥.  D  Horner  brought  some  of  his  new 
flowers  from  his  distant  home  in  North  Lancashire,  and  he 
also  had  as  his  floricultural  squire  the  veteran  Ben  Simonite, 
of  Sheilield,  who  came  to  assist  in  the  judging;  and  from 
his  high  elevation  at  Todmorden,  Mr.  Thomas  Lord  brought 
some  of  the  .\uriculas  he  grows  with  so  much  success  on  that 
breezy  upland.  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley  was  there  also  from 
Stakebill,  Manchester,  where,  with  Auriculas,  Tulips,  and 
Carnations,  he  maintains  the  floral  character  of  this  the 
home  for  so  many  years  of  the  late  Mr.  Samuel  Barlow.  I 
may  say,  incidentally,  that  Mr.  Bentley  has  now  probably 
the  finest  collection  of  Tulips  in  the  kingdom,  and  he  is 
making  a  distinct  headway  as  a  raiser  of  alpine  Auriculas. 
From  the  South  there  went  to  Edgbaston  Mr.  .Tames  Douglas, 
with  some  of  the  finely-grown  and  bloomed  plants  he  is  in 
the  habit  of  exhibiting,  and  Messrs.  Phillips  and  Taylor,  of 
Bracknell,  Berks.  Mr.  R.  Dean,  in  the  capacity  of  judge, 
represented  the  South. 

The  exhibition  was  gratifying  because,  though  only  the 
third  held  by  the  society,  it  was  considerably  larger  than 
that  of  last  year,  and  the  quality  of.  the  bloom  generally,  I 
thought,  exceeded  that  of  the  London  show.    The  entries  in 


NARCISSUS   CORONATA   (REDUCED 


is  a  disqualification  on  the  exhibition  table— be  earnestly 
affirmed  and  enforced  for  the  future  at  the  exhibitions 
of  the  Midland  branch  of  the  society.'  As  this 
resolution  was  supported  by  such  leading  supporters  of 
the  exhibitions  of  the  Northern  Section  of  the  National 
Auricula  Society  as  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  Messrs. 
Richard  Gorton.  T.  Lord,  B.  Simonite,  and  J.  W.  Bentley, 
this  resolution  will  certainly  be  enforced  also  at  Manchester. 
It  now  remains  to  be  seen  what  action  in  reference  to  the 
matter  will  be  taken  by  the  representatives  of  the  Southern 
Section,  who  have  hitherto-been  a  little  lax  in  the  admission 
of  pin-eyed  flowers  to  competitions.  It  is  desirable  that 
the  South  fall  into  line  with  the  Jlidlands  and  the  North  in 
order  to  secure  uniformity  of  action. 

S/iow  Auriculas.— ^In  the  competitive  classes  the  principal 
one  was  for  six  show  .\uriciUas,  and  Mr.  J.  Douglas,  Bookham, 
was  placed  first  with  finely  grown  plants  of  Chloe  and  Mrs. 
Henwosd.  green  edged  ;  George  Lightbody  and  Olympus, 
grey  edged  ;  Mrs.  Dodwell,  white  edged ;  and  Ruby,  self. 
Mr.  Thomas  Lord,  florist,  Todmorden,  came  second,  he  had 
Abraham  Barker  and  Mrs.  Kenwood,  green  edged  ;  George 
Lightbody  and  Richard  Headly,  grey  edged  ;  Acme,  white 
edged  ;  and  Ruby,  self.    With  four  plants  Mr.  Thomas  Lord, 


Todmorden,  was  placed  first,  he  had  Abraliam  Barker  an* 
Mrs.  Henwood,  green  edged  ;  George  Lightbody,  grey  ;  and 
Acme,  white,  all  very  good.  The  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  Kirby 
Lonsdale  came  second,  he  had  of  his  own  raising  Belle- 
rophon,  a  bright  green,  and  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner  (Simonite), 
green  edged  ;  Loveliness,  a  dark  self ;  and  Favourite,  a. 
beautiful  rich  purple  self,  both  raised  by  Mr.  Horner.  Mr. 
J.  Douglas,  was  third,  having  Abraham  Barker,  green- 
edged,  in  fine  cliaracter.  With  two  plants,  the  Rev.  F.  D. 
Horner  was  first  with  Undaunted,  a  bright  green  edged ;. 
and  Eurydice,  a  dark  self,  both  of  his  own  raising.  Mr.  W. 
n.  Midgley,  was  second,  he  had  a  very  pleasing  white  edge,, 
raised  by  himself,  and  named  Letitia. 

In  the  single  plant  classes,  the  best  green  edged,  in  the 
order  of  merit,  were  Abraham  Barker,  Shirley  Hibberd,  and 
Mrs.  Henwood  :  grey,  edged,  George  Lightbody,  George 
Rudd,  and  Marmion  ;  white  edged.  Modesty  and  Horner ; 
new,  Morna  and  Heather  Bell ;  selfs.  Challenger  (Horner)., 
rich  ruby-red,  Gerald,  and  Artemis  (Horner),  violet.  The 
premier  show  Auricula  was  Horner's  Favourite,  self. 

Alpine  Auriculaft.—'U^ese  were  numerously  produced,  and 
generally  in  excellent  character.  Mr.  J.  W.  Bentley  was. 
first  with  six  varieties  of  his  own  raising,  viz.,  Aglaia,  Mrs. 
Lord,  Attraction,  Mary  Bentley,  Coronet,  and  Olivia  ;  Mr. 
.T.  Douglas  was  second  with  Golden  Disc,  a  striking  variety 
on  account  of  its  brilliant  golden  centre;  Stella,  Firefly, 
.1.  F.  Kew,  Ziska,  and  Duke  of  York  ;  Mr.  A.  R.  Brown,  Hands- 
worth,  was  third.  -Mr.  J.  Douglas  came  in  first  with  four 
varieties,  having  Firefly,  Dean  Hole,  Duke  of  York,  and 
Ziska  ;  Mr.  ,T.  W.  Bentley  was  second,  and  Sir.  Brown  third. 
Sir.  .T.  Clements  was  first  with  two  varieties,  he  had  Mrs., 
Martin  R.  Smith,  and  Winnifred  ;  Mr.  J.  Goodwin  was 
second.  The  best  golden  centres  were  Mrs.  Gorton,  Duke 
of  Y'ork,  and  Ziska ;  the  best  white  centres,  Modesty,  Mrs, 
H.  Turner,  and  Blue  Bell.  In  the  class  for  two  i)lants  shown- 
by  maiden  growers,  Mr.  K.  C.  Cartwright  came  first,  with 
Dean  Hole  and  Firefly.  The  premier  alpine  was  Aglaia,. 
shaded  with  bright  rose,  from  Mr.  Bentley. 
■  Certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  to  the  following 
novelties  ;  Chloe,  green  edged  (J.  Douglas) ;  Letitia,  white 
edged  (W.  H.  Midgley),  with  Favourite,  Nigella,  and  Erebus, 
three  fine  selfs  shown  by  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner.  Sir.  J.  W. 
Bentley  was  the  only  exhibitor  who  obtained  certificates  of 
merit  for  new  varieties  of  alpines  ;  he  was  fortunate  with 
Aglaia,  Sirs.  Lord,  and  -Attraction.  - 

(iold-laced  Poli/anthus.-  Slessrs.  Pope  and  Son  were  placed 
first  with  four  plants  having  in  good  character  Exile, 
Cheshire,  Favourite  (2),  and  George  IV.  Sir.  .1.  Stokes  was 
second,  having  Miss  Turner  and  Sliddleton  Favourite, 
distinct  from  Slessrs.  Pope's  varieties.  The  latter  had  the^ 
best  specimen  in  George  IV.,  and  Mr.  Stokes  was  second- 
with  the  same. 


ROYAL   HORTICULTURAL  .SOCIETY. 

In  spite  of  the  cold  and  unfavourable  weather  of  last  week 
and  the  early  part  of  this  week,  the- Drill  Hall  was  again 
well  filled  on  Tuesday  last.  Flowering  shrubs  in  variety, 
hardy  flowers,  and  Orchids  were  all  numerously  represented. 
The  gold  medal  was  given  to  the  choice  display  of  Orchids 
exhibited  by  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esii.  No  less  than  three  awards  of 
merit  and  one  first-class  certificate  were  given  to  Orchids  in. 
this  group.    Fruit  and  vegetables  were  sparsely  represented. 

ORCHIll  CoMJIIITTEE. 

Present  :  Slessrs.  Harry  J.  Veitch  (chairman),  .Tames. 
O'Brien,  .Teremiah  Colman,  de  B.  Crawshay,  H.  M.  Pollett, 
Frank  A.  Rehder,  "Walter  Cobb,  H.  Little,  James  Douglas,: 
N.  F.  Bilney,  H.  T.  Pitt,  T.  W.  Bond,  J.  W.  Odell,  F.  J., 
Thome,  G.  F.  Sloore,  W.  Boxall,  W.  H.  S\  hite,  W.  H„ 
Young,  H.  A.  Tracy,  J.  SVilson  Potter,  F.  Sander,  and  H. 
Ballantine.    - 

H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill  (gardener,  Mr.  Thurgood),, 
displayed  a  group  of  interesting  and  choice  Orchids  in  great 
variety.  Included  amongst  many  beautiful  things  were 
Cattleya  Schncderic  beatonense,  C.  schilleriana  Pitt's  var., 
Cypripedium  lawrenceanum  hyeanum,  Dendrobium  rhodo- 
pterygium,  several  choice  Odontoglossums,  and  others. 
Some  of  the  flowers  in  this  group  received  awards  of  merit, 
and  are  noticed  at  length  elsewhere.  The  Orchid  committee 
awarded  a  gold  medal  to  this  splendid  display. 

Sir  Frederick  SVigan,  Bart.,  Clare  Lawn,  East  Sheen. 
(Orchid  grower,  Sir.  \V.  H.  Young),  exhibited  an  excellent 
group,  consisting  of  Sliltonias  principally.  SI.  ve.\illaria 
chelsoniensis,  SI.  v.  Empress  Victoria  Augusta,  M.  v.  alba, 
as  well  as  plants  of  the  type,  were  finely  in  flower.  Others, 
included  in  the  group  were  Aerides  Fieldingii,  Cattleya. 
Slossiic,  Odontoglossum  ruckerianum,  Cypripedium  law- 
renceanum, C.  niveum,  C.  bellatulum,  Cymbidium  devoni- 
anum,  &c.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Slessrs.  James  Veilch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  dis- 
played a  showy  lot  of  Orchids,  chiefly  consisting  of  Lailio- 
Cattleyas,  Cattleyas,  and  hybrid  Lajlias.  Noticeable  were 
Lrelio-Cattleya  hyeana,  L.-C.  Aphrodite  alba,  Cattleya 
Slendelii  var.  Aurora,  C.  Schrbderie,  0.  Mendelii,  La!lia 
purpurata  alba,  L.-elia  x  Latona,  Lrelia  digbyano-pur- 
purata,  and  Cattleya  Niobe  ;  Slasdevallia  veitchiana  was  alsa 
well  shown.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Slessrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  Enfield,  showed- 
a  group  of  Orchids,  which  included  a  splendid  plant  o£ 
Cattleya  Skinneri,  Liclia  tenebrosa,  Cattleya  intermedia 
alba  C.  Schodei-c  var.  Phyllis,  C.  schilleriana  Regnellii, 
odontoglossum  Hallii,  I'attleya  Slossiic,  Cymbidium  ebumeo- 
Lowi,  and  others,  all  excellent  forms.  Silver  Banksiarv 
medal.  ,  . 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford,  Dorkmg,  exhibited, 
La^lia  Pacavia  (a  beautiful  flower,  the  result  of  a  cross 
between  L.  tenebrosa  x  purpurata),  Dendrobium  Ethel 
(japonicum  ■;  Rolfie  roseum),  and  Sla.xillaria  fractifleca 
(Rchb.),  which  gained  a  botanical  certificate. 

Norman  C.  Cookson,  Esq.,  sent  Cattleya  Jupiter,  C. 
lawrenceana  x  C.  SVarscewiczii. 

Liclio-Cattleya  General  Baden  Powell  (L.  grandis  tenebrosa. 
X  C.  lawrenceana)  was  shown  by  J.  E.  Vanner,  Esq.,Camdea 
Wood,  Chislehurst  (gardener.  Sir.  W.  H.  Robbms). 


May  10,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


815 


Baron  Schroder,  The  Dell,  Egham  (gardener,  Mr.  Ballau- 
tine),  was  awarded  a  silver  Banksian  medal  for  a  group  of 
Odontoglossums.  These  were  remarkably  fine,  and  comprised 
0.  wilckeannm  var.  giganteum,  0.  harryano-crispum  Duchess 
of  York  (award  of  merit),  O.  triumphans  var.  Dellense,  0. 
andersonianum  Dell  var.  0.  excellens,  and  0.  triumphans 
latisepalus,  Cypripedium  lawrenceanum  hyeanum  was  also 
shown. 

H.  F.  Bischoffheim,  Esq.,  The  Warren  House,  Stanmore, 
showed  Cattleya  Mossiro,  Warren  House  variety. 

.Teremiah  Colmau,  Esq.,  showed  Cattleya  louryana. 

La^lia  x  cinnabarusa  Tring  Park  var.  was  sent  by  the  Hon. 
Walter  Rothschild,  Tring  Park  (gardener,  Mr.  B.  Hill). 

Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  and  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  N-, 
exhibited  a  miscellaneous  group  of  Orchids,  which  included 
Cattleya  Mendelii,  C.  Mossitc,  Odontoglossum  Uro-Skinnerii, 
Cypripedium  lebaudyanum,  Odontoglossum  n.Tvium  majus, 
Trichopilia  suavis,  and  other  good  things.  Silver  Banksian 
medal. 

Awards. 

Odontoglosmm  crispum  Pittia-. — A  beautifully  marked 
variety  of  excellent  form.  The  flower  is  of  medium  size, 
the  ground  colour  milk  white,  the  reddish  purple  markings 
upon  sepals  and  petals  forming  an  irregular  ring.  Exhibiced 
by  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill  (gardener,  Mr.  Thurgood). 
First-class  certificate. 

Dendrohium  Ethel. — A  flower  of  delicate  beauty,  obtained 
by  the  crossing  of  D.  japonicum  and  D.  Rolfa;  roseum.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  white,  except  that  the  ends  of  the 
latter  are  tinged  with  lilac.  The  base  of  the  lip  is  also 
marked  with  the  same  colour,  and  below  the  column  is  a 
mass  of  pale  green.  Exhibited  by  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart., 
Burford,  Dorking  (Orchid  grower,  Mr.  W.  H.  White). 

Odontoglossum  Harri/o-crispuin  var.  Duchess  o.f  York. — 
The  sepals  and  petals  of  this  flower  are  heavily  marked  wi*-h 
light  chocolate-brown,  their  apices  being  white.  The  flat  lip 
is  prettily  marked  with  dull  purple,  its  base  being  white. 
Exhibited  by  Baron  Schroder,  The  Dell,  Egham  (gardenerj 
Mr.  Ballantlne),    Award  of  merit. 

Odontoglossum  triumphans  latisepalum: — The  broad  sepals 
and  petals  of  this  variety  are  tipped  with  green,  the  remain- 
ing portion  being  chocolate-brown.  The  marking  on  the 
petals  is  slightly  relieved  by  streaks  of  white  at  the  base. 
The  lip  is  white,  heavily  marked  with  a  light  chocolate. 
Exhibited  by  Baron  Schroder.    Award  of  merit. 

Disa  Luna.— The  parents  of  this  hybrid  are  D.  racemosa 
and  D.  Veitchii.  The  flowers  are  very  attractive,  a  beautiful 
soft  rose  colour  throughout.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  James 
Yeitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea.     Award  of  merit. 

Odontoglossum  Halli  Queen  Alexandra.  —  A  flower  of 
striking  appearance.  The  sepals  are  of  a  very  deep  chocolate 
colour  with  green  tips  ;  in  the  petals  the  same  colour  pre- 
dominates, although  it  is  relieved  by  yellow.  The  lip  is 
yellow,  marked  with  deep  red.  Exhibited  by  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq. 
Award  of  merit. 

Odontoglossum  crispmn  Fairy  Footsteps.— A  large  and 
pretty  flower.  There  were  only  seven  flowers  on  the  raceme, 
but  these  were  of  such  a  size  as  to  make  quite  a  good  display.' 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  broad,  almost  white,  the  petals 
being  slightly  marked  in  the  centre  with  red.  Exhibited  by 
H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.    Award  of  merit. 

Odontoglossum.  hristrix  Secundum  NuUi. — A  distinct 
flower  of  bold;appearance  ;  the  flowers  stand  directly  away 
from  each  other  on  opposite  sides  of  the  stem,  thus  detract- 
ing from  the  appearance  of  the  raceme.  Tlie  sepals  are  deep 
chocolate,  with  pale  greenish  yellow  tips,  the  petals  bein" 
less  heavily  marked.  The  heavily-fringed  white  lip  is 
marked  with  red.  Exhibited  by  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.  Award  of 
merit. 

Cattleya  Mossice  Amoldii  Westficld.  var. — This  is  a  lar^^e 
and  beautiful  flower.  The  petals  are  broad  and  droop- 
ing. The  lip  also  is  large,  prettily  marked  with  purple 
this  colour  and  yellow  intermingling  in  the  throat.  Exhi- 
bited by  F.  Wellesley,  Esq.,  Westfleld,  Woking.  Award  of 
merit. 

Fedit  Committee. 

■  Present :  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  (chairman),  H,  Balderson 
Joseph  Cheat,  M.  Gleeson,  S.  Mortimer,  Alex.  Dean  Edwin 
Beckett,  W.  Pope,  George  Keif,  G.  Reynolds,  C.  G.  A.  Nix 
G.  Norman,  H.  Soraers  Rivers,  James  H.  Veitch,  Henry 
Esling,  F.  L.  Lane.  W.  Bates,  0.  Thomas,  and  J.  Jaques. 

From  the  Horticultural  College,  Swauley,  Kent,  was  sent 
a  collection  of  Strawberries,  the  fruits  were  both  of  good 
size  and  colour.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Lady  Plowden,  Aston  Rowont  House,  Oxon,  was  "iven  a 
cultural  commendation  for  a  basket  of  Lemons.  ° 

Jlessrs.  R.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Exeter,  showed  Radishes 
Great  Northern,  Great  Western,  and  Great  Eastern.  Vote 
of  thanks. 

Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.,  High  Holborn,  showed  Radish 
Icicle. 

Messrs.  W.  K.  Rowe  and  Son,  Barbourne  Nurseries 
Worcester,  showed  Apple  Edward  VII.  ' 

Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  exhibited 
two  splendid  fruits  of  Cucumber  Challenger. 

Floral  Committee. 

Present :  Mr.  W.  Marshall  (chairman),  and  Messrs  H 
Turner,  C.  T.  Druery,  Geo.  Nicholson,  R.  Dean,  J.  f' 
McLeod,  J.  Jennings,  James  Hudson,  William  Howe  J  A 
Nix,  C.  R.  Fielder,  Charles  Dixon,  R.  W.  Wallace  Herbert 
J.  Cutbush,  Charles  Jeffries,  C,  E.  Pearson,  Charles  E.  Shea 
H.  J.  Jones,  W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  W.  J.  James' 
George  Paul,  R.  C.  Notcutt,  J.  Fraser,  E.  T.  Cook  and 
Edward  Mawley. 

There  was  much  beauty  and  interest  in  the  plants  and 
flowers  shown  at  the  Drill  Hall  this  week,  and,  as  usual  a 
good  deal  of  attention  was  directed  to  the  hardy  flowers  of 
spring.  Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie,  of  Dundee,  had  a 
notable  display  of  their  fine  border  Auriculas  and  Polyan- 
thuses, the  former  perhaps  receiving  far  the  larger  share  of 
praise.  Messrs.  Storrie  had  a  delightful  series  of  theself- 
yellow  class  of  Auriculas,  and  for  boldness  of  truss  ahd 
large  flowers  they  hold  a  first  place.    For  example,  such  as 


Goldfinch,  Polaris,  Juno,  Venus,  Victoria,  Cyclade  and 
others  are  all  good  yellows  of  light,  intermediate,  or  deep 
shades,  and  surrounded  with  a  strong  white  meal  or  paste 
in  the  centre  are  most  attractive.  Some  good  Polyanthuses 
were  shown,  but  these  were  not  so  good  as  other  types  known 
to  us.  The  same  flrm  also  showed  their  strain  of  Albino 
]s.ales.     Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  William  Cutbush  and  Sons,  Highgate,  set  up  a 
group  of  Carnations,  Tree  Pfeonies,  Azaleas,  and  the  like 
In  the  former  we  noted  the  fine  self  yellow  Cecilia  very 
good  ;  Boadicea,  excellent  scarlet ;  Winter  Beauty,  free  and 
dwarf,  together  with  many  of  the  Malmaison  section 
bearing  good  and  handsome  flowers.  In  the  midst  of  a 
generally  attractive  gioup  a  flue  array  of  Tree  Preony  Reine 
Elizabeth  was  noted.  This  is  of  a  fine  cerise-scarlet  tone 
the  flowers  very  double,  and  full  and  extremely  showT' 
Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  had  a  flne  array  of  Tulips,  mostly  of  the 
select  bedding  class,  together  with  large  attractive  masses 
of  sucli  as  Picotee,  and  the  pretty  yellow  T.  retroflexa  and 
others.  Then  boldly  in  front  was  La  Noire,  one  of  the  near 
approaches  to  the  so-called  black  Tulips,  the  colour  beiiin-  a 
dark  maroon  or  shade  akin.  ° 

Messrs.  J.  Laing  and  Sons  showed  a  few  pots  of  Clematis 
such  as  Henryi,  Princess  of  Wales,  lanuginosa  Candida  and 
small  examples  of  Andromeda  speciosa. 

Messrs.  Paul  and  Sons,  Old  Nurseries,  Cheshunt  showed 
the  beautiful  Tea  Rose  Mrs.  Berkeley  in  superb  form  a  trio 
of  magniflcent  flowers  that  would  be  difficult  to  surpass  any 
day  in  the  year.    Unanimous  vote  of  thanks. 

Messrs.  Jackman  and  Sons,  Woking,  sent  one  of  their 
most  charming  exhibits  of  hardy  alplnes,  arranged  in  an 
artistic  as  well  as  natural  way  that  commanded  attention  at 
once.  We  do  not  pretend  to  mention  all  the  plants  shown 
but  a  few  of  the  best  or  more  conspicuous  were  Gentiaua 
verna,  Onosma  taurica,  Lithospermum  canescens,  Dianthus 
neglectus,  Myosotis  rupicola,  Ramondia  pyrenaica  alba 
which  with  the  type  was  very  finely  done;  Primula  iaponica' 
Androsace  villosa,  Ranunculns  amplexicaulis,  with  satiny 
white  flowers,  the  pretty  Oxalis  enneaphylla,  and  a  double 
Snowdrop  Anemone,  were  some  of  the  best.  Then  in  the 
midst  of  all  we  noted  a  flne  lot  of  Cypripediums,  as  specta- 
bile,  pubescens,  Calceolus,  acaule,  occidentale,  that  with 
Bletias  and  Habenarias  formed  a  very  welcome  exhibit 
Silver-gilt  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.,  Holborn,  staged  a  large  group  of 
Cineraria  stellata  in  colours,  the  plants  well  flowered  and 
attractive.  This  strain  promises  to  be  of  considerable 
importance  tor  decoration.    Silver  Banksian  medal 

Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough,  had  a  flne  exhibit  of  well-flowered 
pans  of  Primula  Sieboldi  in  variety,  the  more  prominent 
shades  being  represented  by  Victor,  red  ;  Queen  of  Whites 
Mr.  Ryder,  pink  and  white;  Mrs.  Crossland,  pink-  albo- 
magnifica,  Harry  Leigh,  lilac;  Novelty,  a  fringed  white  &c 
Side  by  side  were  some  seedling  alpine  Auriculas,  some 
rather  promising,  but  yet  hardly  up  to  the  old-time 
standard.  In  the  show  kinds,  such  as  grey  and  green  edges 
and  so  on,  we  noted  some  choice  things,  such  as  Rev  F  D 
Horner  Blue  Peter,  Duke  of  Argyll,  Mrs.  Pott,  and  Jthers! 
Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  showed  excellent 
Malmaison  Carnations,  such  as  Princess  May  Prime 
Minister,  Lord  Rosebery,  rich  scarlet  ;  C-ilypso,  a  deep 
shade  of  blush  ;  together  with  Mrs.  Thomas  W,  Lawson  of 
the  Tree  section,  flowers  deep  rose-pink  ;  and  Jliss  Ferguson 
a  pure  white  Tree  Carnation,  very  free  and  profuse  flowering' 
the  petals  slightly  notched  at  the  margin.  Schizanthus 
wisetonensis  grandiflorus  anil  many  Heaths,  Palms,  and  the 
like  were  also  set  up. 

Mari5chal  Niel  Roses  were  shown  by  Mr.  J  Walker 
Thame,  Oxon,  in  quantity,  the  blooms  of  nice  quality  and 
medium  size.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  most  striking  exhibits  in  the  Drill  Hall 
were  the  St.  Brigid  Anemones  from  Messrs.  Reamsbottom, 
King  s  County,  Ireland.  The  flowers  of  this  famous  strain 
are  of  great  size  and  stature,  marvellous  in  their  endless 
colouring  and  superb  in  the  unique  quality  of  the  flowers 
Need  we  say  more  than  this?  If  so,  it  is  to  express  the  hope 
that  such  wealth  of  beauty  may  be  more  often  seen  in 
English  gardens  than  is  the  case  to-day,  though  we  cannot 
give  the  humid  and  rich  soils  of  Ireland  that  these  lovely 
flowers  so  much  appreciate.  A  silver-gilt  Flora  medal  was 
awarded. 

A  very  interesting  collection  of  hardy  Ferns  came  from  Mr 
U.  B.  May,  Edmonton,  in  which  we  noted  sets  of  varieties  of 
several  things,  for  example  the  Polypodies  were  represented 
by  P.  Phegopteris,  as  well  as  three  varieties  of  P.  vulgare  i  e 
cambricum,  elegantissimum,  and  pulcherrimuni ;  these  'were 
all  distinct  and  good.  Adiantum  Capillus  veneris  magni- 
flcum  one  or  two  finely  crested  Harfs-tongue,  and  a  greater 
variety  of  the  crested  forms  of  Athyrium  fllix-fojmina  in  all 
the  delicacy  of  their  early  spring  attire.  In  this  last  lot  we 
were  pleased  to  note  A.  f.-f.  cristata  angustata,  a  kind  that 
will  produce  its  nearly  linear  fronds  to  a  length  of  25  feet  or 
3  feet.  The  group  was  most  interesting.  A  group  of  zonal 
Pelargoniums  was  also  shown.    Silver  Banksian  medal 

Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.,  of  Colchester,  set  "up  a 
magniflcent  lot  of  cut  Roses  in  boxes,  in  which  quite  a  host 
of  new  kinds  figured.  Quite  apart  from  the  novelty  the 
blooms  were  of  the  highest  exhibition  quality,  and  in  not  a 
few  instances  were  simply  superb.  A  vase  of  Lady  Roberts 
was  very  flne  and  then  of  new  kinds  we  must  mention 
Muriel,  a  fine  deep  pink  and  superb  form  ;  Mrae.  Ravarv  a 
soft  apricot  shade,  a  lovely  Rose  ;  Mrs.  F.  Cant,  soft  pink 
very  full  Mr.  Edward  Mawley,  together  with  Maraaii 
Cochet,  Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  Cleopatra  Ulrich 
Brunner,  and  many  others.  Those  named  were  indeed  as 
good  as  need  be  shown,  and  reflect  the  highest  credit  on  the 
skill  of  the  cultivator.    Silver-gilt  Flora  medal 

Mr.  Amos  Perry,  Winchmore  Hill,  showed  hardy  plants  in 
his  usually  charming  way.  Lithospermum  canescens  was 
very  flne  ;  Iris  atropurpurea,  double  white  Arabis  Cypri- 
pedium pubescens  ;  Iberis  perfecta,  a  very  white  kind  in  the 
way  of  superha ;  Auricula  Alexandra,  yellow  ;  Dodecatheons 
in  variety,  Fritillaria  recurva,  Haberlea  rhodopensis    very 


choice.  Phlox  amcena  and   P.   Nelsoni,  Trollius,  and   the 
bolder  things  m  flower.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

A  beautiful  lot  of  flowering  shrubs  came  from  Messrs.  J. 
Cheat,  Crawley,  such  as  Amelanchier,  Exochorda,  several 
Pyruses,  such  as  P.  Mains  floribnnda,  P.  baccata,  pink 
and  white  ;  P.  nitida,  white  ;  Spirrea  arguta,  the  curious 
Akebia,  Eleagnus  longipes,  and  many  more  full  of  beauty 
and  interest  in  their  great  variety  and  profusion.  Silver 
Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  John  Waterer  and  Sons,  Bagshot,  Surrey,  hail  a 
flne  bank  of  Acers,  mostly  of  the  palmata  and  japonica  types 
the  plants  in  their  delicate  beauty  having  a  beautiful  effect. 
Rhododendron  George  Hardy,  nearly  white,  was  also  well 
shown.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Alessrs.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  had  a  large 
group  of  Primula  japonica,  some  sixty  pots  in  bloom,  a  fine 
bank  of  the  double  German  Wallflowers  in  rich  yellow  and 
golden  shades  mostly,  together  with  a  host  of  pans  fllled 
with  varieties  of  Myosotis,  of  Wallflowers  of  a  dwarf  strain 
Aubrietias,  the  pretty  Nepeta  Glechoma  fol.  var.,  and  others' 
Fine  branches  laden  with  flowers  of  Cerasus  serrulata 
backed  up  these  exhibits.  In  another  lot  were  Daffodils 
and  besides  a  choice  set  of  the  best  things  now  in  bloom  we 
noted  Mrs.  H.  J.  Veitch,  Laura,  and  Euterpe,  a  trio  of  golden 
trumpet  Daflfodils  that  will  require  some  beating  as  to  size 
Some  of  them  are  perfect  giants.  In  addition,  such  as 
Glory  and  Grandiflorus  represented  the  Poeticus  set  while 
Red  Star  is  a  striking  member  of  the  Incomparabilis  group 
Silver  Flora  medal. 

Mr.  J.  Russell,  Richmond,  had  a  superb  lot  of  Maples  in 
the  most  elegant  kinds,  chiefly,  however,  of  the  palmata 
sorts  ;  but  the  freshness  and  beauty  were  quite  a  feature. 
The  varieties  ornatum,  atiopurpureum,  and  palmatifiduni 
being  very  flne.    Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  C!ovent  Garden,  had  a  noble  lot  of 
fiowers  of  the  late  or  Darwin  Tulips,  in  which  we  noted  such 
fine  things  as  Frail  Angelica,  Circe,  Mrs.  Krelage,  White 
Queen,  Hecla,  and  the  Pride  of  Haarlem,  the  last  a  magnifi- 
cent kind  of  a  glowing  cerise-scarlet,  very  effective?  In 
addition  the  cottage  and  other  Tulips  were  in  evidence  and 
in  some  quantity.  Saxifraga  Stansfleldi,  white,  a  massy 
kind.  Phlox  Nelsoni,  Cytisus  Ardoinei,  very  dwarf,  Trilliums 
Anemone  stellata  White  Queen,  Trollius  Orange  Globe  and 
a  goodly  set  of  the  later  Daffodils.  In  these  we  noted  Red 
Star,  an  Incomparabilis  with  spreading  perianth  and  lone 
tube-hke,  almost  scarlet  cup,  SnowHake,  a  white  Ajax,  Alida" 
a  short-crowned  N.  grandis,  and  a  set  of  the  finest  poets 
kinds  were  also  remarked.  Muscaria  conicum,  dwarf 
Phloxes,  and  many  other  spring  flowers  were  also  shown 

Mr.  M.  Prichard,  Christchurch,  Hants,  staged  a  flne 
group  of  the  showy  perennials,  as  for  example  Trollius 
Orange  Globe,  T.  asiaticus,  Geum  miniatum,  Polemonium 
reptans,  Tulipa  retroflexa,  grand  yellow,  Phlox  Nelsoni 
P.  canadense,  Iberis  superha,  Scilla  nutans,  and  S.  campanu- 
lata  (each  in  blue  and  white  forms  and  very  flne),  Saxifraga 
muScoides  atropurpurea,  Berberis  Thunbergi  (pale  yellow), 
Euphorbia  pilosa  major,  with  such  things  also  as  Aubrietia 
.Souvenir  de  W.  Ingram,  which  is  one  of  the  best  of  this  class. 
These  and  many  more  constituted  a  really  flne  group  Silver 
Flora  medal. 

Mr,  W.  J.  Caparne,  Guernsey,  showed  in  some  quantity 
his  new  Ins  intermedia  group,  which  is  the  result  of  crossing 
Oncocyclus,  and  other  forms  of  Irises,  species  or  varieties, 
with  I.  puniilaand  others  nearly  allied.  The  resultso  tar  is 
a  great  variety  of  forms.  The  chief  value  of  these  plants  is 
their  time  of  flowering,  thus  filling  up  the  gap  between 
I.  pumila  and  the  summer  flowering  flag  Irises  that  come  in 
June.  We  think  there  is  a  serviceable  place  for  these  early 
comers  in  the  garden.     Bronze  Flora  medal. 

Primula  obconica  and  P.  o.  alba  were  from  Frank  Lloyd, 
Esq.,  Coombe  House,  Croydon,  nicely  flowered  plants  of 
medium  size. 

Anemones  of  the  fulgens  and  coronaria  strain  came  from 
Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Son,  Dyke  Bourne,  Lincolnshire,  the  one 
named  A.  fulgens  oculata  being  a  distinct  kind,  while  the 
double  coronaria  is  very  intense  scarlet  in  colour.  Vote  of 
thanks.  Anthericum  arethusa,  a  white  kind  nearly  allied  to 
A.  algerense  was  sent  by  Mr.  G.  Yeld,  York. 

Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Colchester,  had  a  varied  and 
beautiful  lot  of  hardy  flowers,  among  which  some  choice 
species  of  Tulip  were  seen.  Of  these  ostrowskyana  (orange- 
vermilion),  T.  cornuta,  T,  kolpakowskyana,  and  T.  retroflexa 
were  prominent.  In  addition,  there  were  Darwin  Tulips  in 
variety,  and  such  things  as  Ery  throiiium  giganteum  (yellow), 
Fritillaria  recurva(very  flne),  Lewisia  redeviva,  the  miniature 
Golden  Iris,  several  Cypripediums,  as  C.  pubescens  and  C. 
occidentale,  and  a  good  pan  of  Anemone  fulgens  bicolor. 
Bronze  Flora  medal. 

A  large  basket  of  Schizanthus  and  one  of  Mignonette 
of  a  capital  strain  came  from  Lady  Susan  Byng,  Bayman 
Manor,  Chesham.    Vote  of  thanks. 

Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Limited,  Feltham,  again  showed  a  nice 
lot  of  hardy  things,  as  e.g.,  double  yellow  Wallflowers, 
Saracenia  purpurea.  Iris  Korolkowi,  I.  susiana,  very  strong ; 
Saxifraga  granulata  plena,  Androsace  villosa,  Viola  pedata,' 
Iberis  Little  Gem,  Saxifraga  aretioides,  a  charming  lot  of 
Primula  cortusoides,  in  various  colours  ;  Phloxes  of  the 
alpine  set,  Gentiaua  verna,  very  beautiful,  and  many  others 
equally  good  and  interesting.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

A  showy  zonal  Pelargonium  Coronation  formed  a  fiery  bank 
of  rich  scarlet  in  the  large  group  staged  by  Mr.  R.  J 
Ching,  Crescent  Nurseries,  Enfleld. 

Messrs.  B.  Cant  and  Co.,  Colchester,  showed  some  capital 
blooms  of  Roses,  such  as  Crown  Prince,  Duke  of  Wellington, 
Duke  of  Edinburgh,  freely  flowered  for  this  sort,  and 
growing  as  a  standard ;  Bride  and  Bridesmaid,  Muriel 
Graham,  Mrs.  Sharman  Crawford,  Anna  Oliver,  Antoine 
Riviore,  Mrs.  Grant,  Caroline  Testout,  and  others  in  first- 
rate  form.  Pot  plants  as  well  as  boxes  of  blooms  were  set 
up.    Silver  Banksian  medal. 

Awards  ok  Merit. 
Saxifraga  Guildford  Seedling.— This  is  a  crimson-flowered 
form  of   S.  Rhei  and  a  nearly  self-coloured    fiower   thjt 
originated  in  the  collection  of  the  late  Mr.  Selfe-Leonard  ^t 


316 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  10,  1902. 


Guildford.  The  freedom  of  its  flowering,  with  its  distinct 
and  intense  colouring,  should  commend  it  to  all  lovers  ot 
these  plants.  Shown  by  the  Guildford  Hardy  Plant  Com- 
pany, Millmead,  Guildford.  ^    ,  .  j 

Pelanimiiam  Colonel  Baien-Powell.  an  Ivy-leaved  kind 
of  very' considerable  size  so  far  as  individual  dowers  go, 
while  its  freedom  of  flowering  is  a  feature.  The  colour  is 
blush-pink  or  flesh,  with  occasional  stripes  of  carmine  or 
rose.    From  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  Slough. 

Anemone  St.  Briyid  (the  strain).— This  is  obviously,  as 
shown,  a  strain  of  much  excellence,  of  large  size  individually, 
and  embracing  a  wide  range  of  colour.  Quite  a  large 
(inantity  of  the  flowers  must  have  been  fully  4  inches  to 
!i  inches  across  and  varied  in  the  extreme.  Exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Reamsbottom,  King's  County,  Ireland. 
Narcissus  Committek. 

The  following  received  a  first-class  certificate  :— 

Nardssvs  Ada.— A  pure  waxy  white  kind,  generally  with 
three  flowers  in  a  scape;  obviously  the  influence  of  ^. 
triandrus,  which  is  one  of  the  parents.  It  is  an  exquisite 
flower,  and  the  rounded  character  of  the  upper  portion  ol 
the  trumpet  characterises  it  greatly. 

Awards  of  merit  were  given  to :—  ,,         j    « 

Narcissus  Moon  Ray.— This  is  whiter  generally,  and  ot  a 
parentage  akin  to  N.  Ada.  It  is  a  larger  flower,  but  with 
rather  less  substance  and  character. 

NarcUsus  Cecil  Rhode.'!.— A  giant  pale-flowered  Queen  of 
Spain,  the  possible  result  of  crossing  N.  triandrus  and  JN. 

A'arSus  Watch  Fire.-X  striking  and  distinct  flower 
the  ssgments  of  the  perianth  of  a  creamy  huH'  tone,  and 
the  crown  deep  cinnamon,  margined  lightly  with  deep 
orange.  All  the  above  new  Narcissi  were  shown  by  Miss  t 
Willmott,  Warley  Place,  Essex. 

MIDLAND  DAFFODIL  SOCIETY. 

Amongst  the  certificated  Narcissi  at  the  recent  exhibition 
of  this  society,  and  meniioned  in  our  last  issue,  were  the 
three  following,  of  which  full  descriptions  were  not  then 
given.    We  are  now  able  to  give  them. 

Egret.— A  beautiful  Burbidgei,  pure  white,  with  Arm,  well 
formed  segments,  the  cup  very  flat  and  wide,  clear  yellow. 
Exhibited'by  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart.    First-class  certi- 

ji; rs.  nillhouse.—A  refined  bicolor  Daft'odil,  trumpet  bright, 
clear  yellow,  rather  longer  than  the  segments,  which  are 
pure  and  of  good  substance.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  Pearsons 
and  Sons,  Chilwell  Nurseries,  Lowdham,  Notts  Award  of 
merit.  ,    ,     „ 

Araidne.—A  Leedsi  with  very  wide  cup,  the  whole  flower 
ivory  white.  Exhibited  by  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart. 
Award  of  merit. 

READING  GARDENERS'  ASSOCIATION. 
The  last  meeting  of  the  winter  session  in  connexion  with 
the  above  association  was  well  attended,  when  Mr.  E.  H. 
Jenkins,  of  Hampton  Hill,  gave  a  most  interesting  paper  on 
"The  Bock  Garden."  Hedivided  his  remarks  under  the  follow- 
ing headings:  Position  of  garden,  general  aspect,  suitable 
material,  general  construction,  soil  and  plants.  The  discus- 
sion which  followed  was  taken  part  in  by  Messrs.  Stanton, 
Neve,  Bassel,  Townsend,  Cretchley,  Hinton,  Lever,  and  Fry. 
The  display  of  flowers  was  interesting,  and  consisted  of 
honorary  exhibits  and  exhibits  for  the  certificate.  In  the 
"honorary"  division,  Mr.  W.  Townsend,  Sandhurst  Lodge 
Gardens,  showed  a  pretty  lot  of  Polyanthus,  and  Mr.  G. 
Santon,  Park  Place  Gardens,  flowering  sprays  of  Bougain- 
villea  speciosa,  and  Browallia  Jamesoni ;  whilst  for  the 
certiflcate,  Mr.  H.  House,  The  Gardens,  Oakfleld,  and  Mr.  F. 
Lever,  The  Gardens,  Hillside,  gained  the  awards,  the  former 
with  twenty-four  beautiful  bunches  of  zonals  (twelve  seed- 
lings and  twelve  named  varieties),  and  the  latter  with  a 
group  of  Cineraria  stellata.  Jlr.  F.  Alexander,  The  Gardens, 
St.  Mary's  Hill,  staged  a  large  plant  of  Dendrobium  nobile. 
Three  new  members  were  elected. 


OBITUARY. 

MR    J.   CRAWFORD. 

It  is  with  sincere  grief  we  hear  of  the  death  of 
this  good  gardener,  who  has  during  recent  years 
borne  intense  suffering  with  great  bravery,  and 
struggled  to  support  his  family  by  writing  for  the 
horticultural  journals  notes  and  articles,  many  of 
which  were  contributed  to  The  Garden.  Mr. 
Crawford  began  gardening  at  Thorndon  Hall, 
Brentwood,  Essex,  the  residence  of  the  late  Lord 
Petre,  where  his  father  had  charge  of  the  gardens. 
He  then  went  to  the  gardens  of  Sir  Joseph  Pease, 
Hutton  Hall,  Yorkshire,  and  thence  to  the  late 
Mr.  James  Martin,  Chiselhurst.  From  these 
gardens  he  went  to  (Junton  Park,  Norwich,  the 
residence  of  Lord  Suffield,  as  foreman  to  Mr. 
Allan.  His  next  move  was  as  foreman  to  Sir 
Edward  Scott,  Sundridge  Park,  Bromley,  and 
then  to  his  late  position  as  head  gardener  to 
Mr.  James  Thorpe,  Coddington  Hall,  Newark. 
He  remained  at  Coddington  Hall  for  fourteen 
years,  and  left  through  ill-hoalth.  It  was  hoped 
that  the  air  of  Norwich,  rest,  and  constaiit 
medical  aid  would  restore  Mr.  Crawford  to  his 
former  health,  but  this  was  not  to  be.  After 
suffering  for  four  years  and  a  half  the  end  came  on 
April  IS,  in  his  forty-seventh  year,  leaving  a  widow 
and  five  children  absolutely,  we  believe,  unprovided 
for.  Through  his  long  and  weary  illness  he  was, 
we  understand,  cared  for  with  brotherly  kindness 
by  Mr.  Allan,  the  head  gardener  to  Lord  Suffield, 
at  Gunton,  and  such  devotion  is  not  rare  amongst 
gardeners.  We  hope  that  some  of  the  gardening 
charities  will  remember  the  family  of  Mr.  Crawford. 
It  is  a  singularly  painful  case  for  their  con- 
sideration. 


Cyphomattia    lanata.  —  In    reply  to 

"J.  C.'s"  ennuiry  I  beg  to  state  that  one  specimen 
Cyphomattia  lanata  is  still  under  cultivation  here. 
— Max  Leichtlis,  Biden- Baden. 

Lacking'  pain.— Whilst  there  is  no  great 
amount  of  sunshine,  certainly  not  so  much  as  we 
naturally  look  for  at  this  time  of  the  year,  all  the 
same  we  get  very  little  rain.  April  was  dry, 
hence  a  disappointing  month,  and  if  May  proves 
no  better  we  shall  be  in  a  somewhat  unpleasant 
position  when  really  hot  weather  sets  in.  Ground 
has  never  worked  better  or  drier  than  it  has  during 
this  spring  ;  but,  pleasant  for  the  gardener  as  that 
may  have  been,  he  all  the  same  looks  forward  to 
the  effects  of  heat  and  drought  on  soil  that  is  now 
so  deficient  of  moisture  somewhat  ruefully.  Par- 
ticularly important  is  it  that  we  have  ample  rains 
shortly  that  tlie  roots  of  fruit  trees  may  find 
moisture  to  sustain  their  crops  later.  The  con- 
tinuance of  dry  seasons  constitutes  a  grave  danger 
to  crops  of  all  descriptions.  On  the  other  hand,  a 
wet  summer  may  prove  even  worse  all  round  than 
a  dry  one.  — A.  I). 

HOPtiCUltUPal  Club.— The  usual  monthly 
house  dinner  was  held  on  Tuesday  evening  last, 
when  the  Pvev.  George  Engleheart  talked  about 
Daffodils.  There  was  a  large  attendance  of 
members ;  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch  was  in  the  chair. 


Miss    Jekyll.— After   the   end   of   May   all 

communications  for  The  Garden  should  be 
addressed  to  the  Editor,  20,  Tavistock  Street, 
Co  vent  Garden,  W.C.  Miss  Jekyll  is  leaving 
England  for  a  prolonged  rest,  and  no  letters  or 
communications  will  be  forwarded. 


TRADE      NOTES. 

Messrs.  Messenger  and  Co.,  Loughborough,  and  122, 
Victoria  Street,  S.W.,  have  sent  us  a  booklet,  excellently 
produced,  containing  illustrations  of  glass  houses  of  all 
descriptions,  as  well  as  sketches  of  iron  stagings,  heating 
apparatus,  Ac.  Messrs.  Messenger  claim  that  their  system 
of  construction,  combining  iron  muntins  and  light  rafters, 
strengthened  with  tension  rods,  ensures  perfect  rigidity 
without  undue  obstruction  of  light  by  heavy  timbers.  The 
Loughborough  boiler,  still  one  of  the  most  economical  and 
reliable,  is  also  illustrated. 

New  Creeper  Wall  Clip. 

This  is  a  practical,  simple,  and  cheap  invention  for  train- 
ing all  kinds  of  creepers,  trees,  and  plants  up  walls,  fences, 
A'c,  sent  out  by  the  Patent  Creeper  Wall  Clip  Company, 
Kedditch.    The  accompanying  illustrations  will  give  a  good 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS. 

Names  of  plants-— Jfiss  C— TroUius  asiaticus  var. 

aurantiacus. D.    HI.    D.,    falkirk.  -  TiiUp    Prince    of 

Austria F.  A.  Stiirye.—The  small  Narcissus  is  N.  Barri 

A.  F.  Barron,  the  larger  one  N.  Nelsoni  aurantius  (though 
a  poorly  coloured  form) ;  Arabis  albida. —  J.  Podmorc.— 
Epimediuni  alpinum  rubruin. 

Plants  by  Foreign  Parcels  Post  (M.  E,  C.)  — 
Plants  are  not  generally  accepted  by  parcel  post  in  Italy, 
but  small  iiuantities  can  be  sent  by  sample  post  labelled 
"  samples  no  value  "  (Cainpioni  senza  valore,  or  Echantillons 
sans  valeur).  Bulbs  in  flower  must  be  replanted  at  once, 
and  even  then  they  take  a  year  to  recover.  They  can  only 
he  stored  for  a  certain  time  when  they  have  ripened  naturally 
and  the  foliage  has  completely  died  down.  We  regret  that 
this  query  has  remained  some  time  unanswered. 

Moss  and  Lichen  (H.  H.  A.).— The  quickest  way  to 
induce  the  growth  of  Moss  is  to  keep  the  stones  constantly 
watered.  Small  pieces  of  the  Moss  can  also  be  planted  in 
the  chinks  and  joints.  Lichen  cannot  be  planted  ;  it  might 
he  induced  to  grow  by  shaking  the  spores  over  the  stone, 
but  ill  any  case  it  is  of  extremely  slow  growth.  A  good  way 
might  be  to  collect  some  lichened  stones  and  place  them  on 
the  new  work  and  wait  for  them  to  shed  the  spores  naturally. 

Rubus  dellclosus.— Mr.  T.  Arnold,  The  Gardens, 
Cirencester  House,  writes  that  in  his  note  on  the  above 
plant  (page  277,  April  26)  the  last  sentence  in  the  first 
paragraph  should  read  :  "  In  such  a  position  it  wilt  soon  be 
one  mass  of  flowers." 

Rose  Celeste  (M.  O'B.).  —  Rose  Celeste  is  not  a 
rambler,  but  a  beautiful  Rose  of  bush  habit  of  the  alba 
class.  You  could  no  doubt  get  it  from  Messrs.  Paul  and 
Sons,  the  Old  Nurseries,  Cheshunt.  The  name  "  .Seven 
Sisters  "  is  so  loosely  applied  to  many  cluster-blooming 
rambling  Roses  that  you  would  probably  get  what  you 
require  if  you  asked  for  Bennett's  Seedling  or  Dundee 
Rambler. 

Plant  Vases  (H.  H.  A.).— We  are  unable  to  recommend 
any  special  vases.  Among  those  to  be  had  in  England  there 
is  but,  little  choice.  But  there  is  always  the  resource  of 
using  half  paraffin  casks,  which  make  excellent  plant  tubs, 
and  are  suitable  for  nearly  all  gardens.  They  have  also  the 
great  advantage  of  large  capacity,  giving  plenty  of  space 
for  the  rooting  of  plants  and  small  shrubs  or  even  climbers. 

Diseased  Schizanthus  (W.  G.).-  I  have  examined 
your  plants  of  Schizanthus  very  carefully,  and  can  find  no 
clue  to  the  disease.  There  are  no  signs  of  insects  or  eel- 
woims.  I  have  cut  and  stained  sections  of  the  diseased 
part  of  the  stems  and  cannot  find  any  trace  of  fungi  of  any 
kind,  and  the  roots  appear  to  be  healthy,  so  that  I  am 
completely  puzzled  as  to  the  cause  of  the  decay.— G.  S.  S. 

Correction.— In  our  report  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society's 
Exhibition  held  on  April  23,  it  was  mentioned  that  two 
hybrid  Irises  (Canary  Bird  and  Bridesmaid)  bad  received 
awards  of  merit  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Mr. 
Perry  tells  us,  however,  that  the  awards  of  merit  were  given 
by  the  Royal  Botanic  Society. 


idea  of  the  clip  and  its  working.  It  is  fixed  by  simply 
driving  three  specially  made  small  tacks  into  the  wall,  which 
will  enter  the  hardest  or  most  fragile  mortar  or  wood  with 
ease,  without  displacing  or  splitting  them,  and  will  hold  the 
clip  firmly  in  its  place.  After  fixing,  the  clip  is  opened  with 
the  fingers,  and  the  creeper  passed  in,  thus  avoiding  all  risk 


APPLIED  FOR 


of  striking  the  creeper  with  the  hammer  and  injuring  it,  as 
is  often  the  case  when  using  cloth.  The  metal  is  so  very 
thin  that  the  clip  will  expand  as  the  creeper  grows.  The 
latter  can  be  cut  down  when  necessary,  and  another  trained 
in  its  place  without  removing  the  clips.  These  will  not  rot 
or  wear  out  like  cloth. 


Catalogues  Received. 

Bardii  Border  and  Rock  Plants,  Water  Lilies,  etc.— Mr. 
Amos  Perry,  Hardy  Plant  Farm,  Winchmore  Hill,  N. 

New  and  Rare  Hardy  Perfnnials  and  Alpines. — Messrs. 
T.  S.  Wa'e,  Limited,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Feltham. 

General  Plant  tis!.- Messrs.  Clibrans,  Altrincham  and 
Manchester. 


INDEX. 


American  notes  

Books      

Broom,  common,  varieties  of  the  (illustrated) .. 

Cherry  orchards,  the  Kentish        

Clematis  montana  (illustrated)     

Correspondence  

Editors'  table 

Flower  garden,  the     

Flowers,  alpine,  at  home     

Forthcoming  events 

Fritillanas  and  their  culture  (illustrated) 

Fruit  garden,  the       

Fruits,  hardy,  in  season  (illustrated)      

Fruits,  tropical,  for  English  gardens  (illustrated) 

Gardening  of  the  week         

Hyacinth  culture  in  the  British  Isles     

Insect  pests 

Is  Kew  a  public  park  '?  

Kitchen  garden,  the 

Miscellaneous  (illustrated) 

Narcissus  coronata  (illustrated) 

Notes  of  the  week      

Plants,  British,  uses  ot         

Rhubarb,  simple  methods  of  forcing  (illustrated) 

Rose  garden,  the         

Salvia  azurea  grandiflora  (illustrated)    

Societies 

Strawberry,  the  

Trees  and  shrubs  (illustrated)       


Page 

304 
309 
ZD9 
302 
307 
311 
297 
298 
307 
300 
305 
3U8 
310 
306 
312 
297 
313 
297 
313 
310 
314 
300 
313 
302 
303 
309 
314 
298 
304 


GARDEN 


-y^- 


^X^^L 


No.  1591.— Vol.  LXL] 


[May   17,  1902, 


T 


ARE     PLANT    DISEASES 
HEREDITARY? 

I  HE  hereditary  transference  of 
diseases  to  succeeding  generations 
is  unknown  in  the  vegetable 
world.  The  seed  of  plants 
afflicted  with  all  possible  sorts 
of  disease.?  may  be  utilised  without  the 
slightest  concern  for  the  formation  of  new 
crops." — Professor  Hartig,  quoted  by  Nisbet  in 
"Studies  in  Forestry,"  page  172. 

The  above  quoted  passage  will  seem  to  many 
readers  very  extraordinary  if  not  positively 
erroneous.  They  will  say  :  "  !Many  diseases 
of  man  and  animals  are  hereditary ;  why  should 
not  the  same  rule  apply  in  plants?"  And, 
indeed,  the  statement  of  Professor  Hartig 
being  expressly  limited  to  the  vegetable  world 
would  seem  to  acknowledge  that  it  does  apply 
in  the  case  of  animals.  But  although  the  belief 
that  it  does  so  apply  has  been  till  very  recently 
almost  universally  held  by  biologists,  of  late 
years  great  doubt  has  been  thrown  upon  the 
fact,  due  mainly  to  the  researches  of  Galton 
and  Weisman,  leading  to  the  belief  that 
"  acquired  characters "  are  not  transmissible 
to  oflfspring,  and  that  diseases  are  certainly  in 
most  cases  acquired  by  the  parent,  not  born 
with  him. 

In  a  very  interesting  and  original  work, 
"  The  Present  Evolution  of  Man,"  by  Dr.  G. 
Archdall  Eeid,  this  subject  is  very  fully 
discussed,  and  it  is  shown  that,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  there  is  no  proof  whatever  of  the 
inheritance  of  disease  in  man,  but  only  of  the 
inheritance  of  a  tendency  to  the  special  disease 
of  the  parent,  so  that  under  similar  unhealthy 
conditions  of  life  or  of  exposure  to  infection, 
the  child  is  likely  to  contract  the  same  disease, 
which  will  thus  appear  to  be  hereditary  with- 
out being  really  so.  This  is  clearly  the  case 
with  gout  and  consumption,  which  have  both 
been  held  to  be  hereditary,  but  in  no  case  has 
an  infant  been  born  suffering  from  these 
diseases. 

The  only  diseases  which  appear  to  be  really 
transmitted  are  those  in  which  a  mother  suffers 
from  one  of  the  zymotic  diseases  previous  to 
the  birth  of  her  child,  and  the  disease  germs 
through  her  blood  obtain  access  to  the  blood 
of  her  unborn  offspring.  Thus  children  are 
sometimes  born  apparently  suffering  from 
syphilis  and  even  from  small-pox,  when  the 
mother  is,  or  has  recently  been,  actually  suffer- 
ing from  those  diseases  ;  but  Dr.  Eeid  ufges 
that  this    cannot    be    held  to    prove    actual 


heredity  of  the  disease,  but  merely  that  the 
otherwise  healthy  child  has  been  infected 
through  the  mother  before  birth,  just  as  it 
might  be  after  birth  through  the  milk  of  a 
wet-nurse  suffering  from  the  same  disease.  In 
this  latter  case  no  one  could  possibly  say  that 
the  infection  proved  the  hereditary  transmis- 
sion of  the  disease,  but  only  an  infection  as 
purely  extraneous  as  if  the  poor  child  had  been 
inoculated  with  it,  or  had  been  in  close  contact 
with  another  child  suffering  from  it.  It  seems 
therefore  highly  jirobable  that  the  statement 
made  by  Professor  Hartig  as  regards  plants  is 
really  true  as  regards  the  higher  animals  also ; 
but  there  is  a  special  reason  why  it  should 
apply  more  rigidly  in  the  case  of  plants  which 
it  may  be  as  well  to  mention.  It  is  very 
doubtful  whether  any  of  the  diseases  to  which 
domesticated  animals  are  so  subject  really 
exist  among  fully  adult  animals  in  a  state  of 
nature — that  is,  in  regions  where  they  are  not 
in  contact  with  domesticated  animals  of  their 
own  species,  or  where  their  natural  conditions 
of  life  have  not  been  injuriously  modified  by 
human  agency.  The  cause  of  this  immunity  is 
the  severity  of  the  action  of  natural  selection 
or  the  "  survival  of  the  fittest,"  which  in  this 
special  case  may  be  best  expressed  as  "  the 
extinction  of  the  unfittest."  If  we  consider 
that  a  wild  animal  can  only  maintain  its 
existence  day  by  day  through  being  able  both 
to  obtain  food  and  to  escape  from  its  enemies, 
and  that  any  serious  illness  would  certainly 
endanger  its  existence  by  rendering  it  unable 
to  do  either,  we  see  that  all  liability  to  disease 
has  been  so  constantly  eliminated  generation 
after  generation  during  the  whole  course  of  the 
development  of  the  species,  that  almost  perfect 
health  under  the  normal  conditions  of  existence 
has  long  since  been  attained.  But  however 
rigid  this  selecting  process  is  in  the  case  of  the 
animals,  it  is  much  more  rigid  in  the  case  of 
most  plants,  because  the  actual  or  potential 
rate  of  increase  is  so  much  greater.  However 
numerous  may  be  the  offspring  of  the  higher 
animal,  those  of  plants  are  far  more  numerous, 
often  in  the  proportion  of  a  hundred  to  one. 
Every  year  millions  of  seeds  germinate  which 
never  grow  into  mature  plants,  and  as  the 
slightest  tendency  to  disease  or  constitutional 
weakness  in  any  seedling  would  certainly  give 
that  individual  a  special  cause  of  extinction  in 
addition  to  the  general  causes  which  affect 
those  which  are  healthy,  it  follows  that  all 
tendency  to  injurious  disease  would  be  eradi- 
cated among  plants  even  more  early  and  more 
completely  than  in  the  case  of  animals. 


Although  I  have  no  acquaintance  with  the 
detailed  facts  on  which  the  statement  at  the 
head  of  this  article  was  founded,  I  am  disposed 
to  accept  it  as  an  accurate  one  from  its  accord- 
ance with  the  general  principles  of  evolution 
and  the  now  generally  accepted  laws  of 
heredity.  Alfred  R.  Wallace. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

Now  that  flowers  are  plentiful  we  shall  be 
glad  to  see  any  either  of  special  beauty,  rarity, 
or  good  cultivation. 


Seedling  Fritillaria  Meleagris. 

I  have  pleasure  in  sending  you  herewith  flowers 
of  seedlings  of  Fritillaria  Meleagris.  These  seed- 
lings only  reach  half  the  height  of  the  parent 
form,  and,  as  you  see,  are  quite  long  and  narrow. 
If  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  white  form  is  already 
known  under  the  name  of  contorta,  but  as  far  as  I 
know  the  pale  and  dark  brown  forms  do  not  exist. 
—A.  M.  C.  Van  der  Elst,  Dedtmsvaart ,  near 
Zwolle,  Netherlanch. 

Unfortunatelj',  the  flowers  were  too  shrivelled 
to  pass  any  safe  opinion  upon  their  merits  ;  they 
were  evidently  longer  and  narrower  than  the 
typical  Meadow  Fritillary,  but  we  doubt  whether 
this  is  an  advantage.  The  work  of  raising  seed- 
lings is  very  interesting,  but  the  graceful  stem  and 
big,  somewhat  bell  shape  of  our  native  Fritillary 
are  things  to  keep,  not  to  suppress. 


Narcissus  Leedsi  Elaine. 
Messrs.  Dicksons,  of  Chester,  send  flowers  of  an 
exquisite  Narcissus,  appropriately  named  Elaine. 
It  was  raised  by  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart,  and 
Messrs.  Dicksons  write  that  "we  purpose,  all 
being  well,  distributing  it  in  the  autumn  of  1903, 
as  we  have  already  purchased  the  entire  stock." 
It  is  well  known  that  Messrs.  Dicksons  grow  Nar- 
cissi largely,  and  this  is  one  of  the  gems  of  the 
collection.  The  flowers  have  a  broad  perianth  of 
softest  yellow,  almost  primrose  colour,  and  a  small 
primrose  coloured  cup.  Its  delicate  beauty  suggests 
many  uses  for  the  flower. 


Tulips  from  Ireland. 
A  very  beautiful  gathering  of  Tulips  comes  from 
Mr.  Hartland,  of  Cork.  The  flowers  sent  are 
Gold  Flake,  scarlet,  striped  with  yellow  ;  Fulgens 
lutea,  grand  blooms  of  purest  yellow  ;  Marjoleti,  a 
neat  pale  yellow  bloom  with  rosy  clouds  towards 
the  outer  base  of  the  petal ;  Didieri  alba,  a  tender 
and  beautiful  flower ;  Shandon  Bells,  rose  and 
white,  large  ;  Gesueriana  alba,  white,  with  a  slight 
rosy  picotee  edge ;  Aurantiaca  maculata,  large 
orange-red  ;  Lutea  pallida,  pale  canary,  large  ; 
Vitellina,  tenderest  pale  lemon,  a  lovely  flower  ; 
Sunset,  red  and  yellow  ;  Ixioides,  yellow,  with  a 
telling  greenish  black  blotch ;  York  and  Lancaster, 
cream,  splashed  rose ;  Aurantiaca  striata,  red  and 
yellow  ;  Fairy  Queen,  coloured  in  half  tones  of 
yellow  and  purple  ;  Leghorn  Bonnett,  a  beautiful 
self-coloured  flower  of  bright  straw-yellow  ; 
Othello,  dark  red  ;  Virginie,  white,  splashed  and 
spotted  rose  ;  Picotee,  white,  edged  rose,  of 
charming    garden    shape  ;    Elegans    alba,    ivory 


318 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  17,  1902. 


white  with  minute  picotee  edge,  a  most  lovelj'  and 
refined  flower  ;  The  Fawn,  white  and  fawn  colour 
outside  ;  Bouton  d'Or,  a  globular  flower  of  splendid 
3'ellow  ;  John  Ruskin,  of  graduated  quiet  rose  and 
yellow :  and  Maculata  globosa  grandiflora,  a 
splendid  dark  scarlet  with  black  eye  edged  with  golil. 

Berried  Adcttba  Sprays. 
From   Mr.    H.    J.    Clayton,    Tadcaster,   Yorks, 

came  some  very  finely  berried  sprays  of  Aucuba. 
The  berries  are  of  unusual  size,  some  scarlet  and 
some  pale  pink.  The  following  letter  accompanied 
them;  "Not  being  much  of  a  traveller  my  vision 
on  the  matter  is  a  limited  one  :  all  the  same,  I 
must  say  that  Aucubas  are  not  so  freely  planted 
in  northern  gardens  as  their  merits  deserve.  Some 
ten  years  since  we  planted  two  clumps  of  them  in 
the  grounds  here,  and,  to  say  the  least,  they  are  a 
valuable  addition  to  our  collection  of  evergreen 
shrubs.  The  soil  they  are  growing  in  is  a  moist 
loamj'  one,  of  a  limestone  character,  and  the  larger- 
leaved  varieties  are  fully  5  feet  in  height.  Out  of 
about  two  dozen  plants  no  two  of  them  are  exactly 
alike.  For  small  groups  or  single  specimens  in 
our  smaller  gardens  I  think  tliey  are  admirable. 
For  instance,  what  could  be  more  beautiful 
than  a  large  plant  of  the  one  sent  you  marked 
No.  1,  growing  on  the  front  edge  of  a  shrubbery 
or  as  a  single  specimen  on  the  grass  in  some 
sheltered  nook  ?  It  is  necessary  for  them  to  be 
exposed  to  the  full  sunshine  if  they  are  to  berry 
freely  like  the  specimen  sent.  I  find  the  seeds 
grow  fairly  well  if  sown  in  shallow  boxes  filled 
with  light,  loamy  soil  and  the  seeds  covered,  say, 
half  an  inch  with  the  same.  The  boxes  should  be 
put  in  a  cold  frame.  All  the  seeds  do  not  germi- 
nate the  first  j-ear  with  us,  though  we  find  the 
later  ones  are  weakly  in  character.  An  amateur 
friend  of  mine  who  is  fund  of  having  some  living 
vegetation  in  bis  sitting-room  when  he  cannot  get 
a  few  flowers  in  early  spring,  tells  me  that  small 
branches  of  what  he  calls  '  variegated  Laurel ' 
(Aucuba  japonica)  nearly  always  form  roots  when 
kept  in  water  for  some  time.  By  planting  them 
in  a  sheltered  nook  in  his  garden  and  being  careful 
to  put  them  in  a  bit  of  nice  sandy  loam  he  has 
reared  several  healthy  plants.  Experienced  gar- 
deners will  know  that  I>rac;i?nas  can  be  propagated 
in  this  way.  Pieces  of  the  one  marked  No.  1 
come  in  very  nicely  for  decorating  the  dinner  table. 
They  light  up  very  well  under  artificial  light.  I 
thought  the  specimens  sent  might  be  interesting 
for  '  Editors'  Table.''' 

Marechai.  Niel  Roses. 
Mr.  T.  B.  Field,  Ashwellthorpe  Hall  Gardens, 
Norwich,  who  sends  so  many  interesting  flowers  for 
our  table,  sends  superb  flowers  for  colour  and  form 
of  the  favourite  Man-chal  Niel,  a  fragrant  bowlful, 
and  comforting  to  look  at  when  a  biting  north-east 
wind  is  shrivelling  every  leaf  on  the  Roses  out  of 
doors. 

Iris  pfmit.a. 

Mr.  Field  also  sends  this  charming  little  Iris, 

with  the  following  note:   "  This  lovely  little  plant 

does  well  on  a  dry  border  and  flowers  freelj' ;  it 

makes  a  nice  carpet  in  the  partial  shade  of  trees." 


A   COLLECTIOX   OF   DAFFODILS  FROM   GRASS    LaND. 
Mr.    R.   Carruthers  sends  from  his   interesting 


garden  at  Eden  Grove,  Carlisle,  a  delightful  series 
of  Daffodils,  with,  among  other  remarks,  the 
following :  "I  regret  I  did  not  send  these 
Dafi'odils  sooner  as  they  would  have  been  fresher 
and  in  their  full  beautj".  Some  are  over,  and 
of  course  these  I  cannot  send.  I  have  planted 
several  varieties  late,  and  have  yet  to  see  in 
■flower  a  group  of  100  of  each  of  the  following  : 
N.  Magilalene  de  Graaf,  Burbidgei  Little  Dirk, 
Leedsi  Duchess  of  Westminster,  the  trumpet- 
flowered  Mrs.  Thomson,  and  Incomparabilis 
Owyther.  I  have  now  in  flower  a  colony  of  100 
bulbs  of  N.  bicolor  Victoria.  The  variety  Incom- 
parabilis plenus  (Butter  and  Eggs)  seems  with  me 
at  least  this  year  to  have  reverted  to  a  semi-double 
and  even  single  form,  as  example  sent  will  show. 


All  the  Daffodils  sent  are  grown  in  grass  land 
except  Maximus  and  (iolden  Spur— the  latter 
planted  late — incomparabilis  plenus  (Butter  and 
Eggs),  Orange  Phu-nix,  nanus,  and  lobularis.  My 
favourites  are  Emperor,  Horsfieldi,  Barri  Lidding- 
ton,  Barri  conspicuus,  Incomparabilis  Beauty, 
Incomp.  Sir  Watkin,  Incomp.  Autocrat,  Leedsi 
Minnie  Hume,  Leedsi  M.  Magdalene  de  Graaf, 
Leedsi  Duchess  of  Brabant,  Leedsi  Acis,  Leedsi 
Duchess  of  Westminster,  Johnstoni  t>>ueen  of 
Spain,  P.  R.  Barr,  Obvallaris,  pallidus  pra'cox. 
Albicans,  and  Maximus." 

[An  interesting  letter  and  series  of  flowers  from 
one  who  grows  Dafi'odils  well.     As  this  is  Dattodil 
time  it  will,  I  hope,  interest  our  readers  to  know 
the  kinds  sent  by  our  correspondent.     We  take 
them  as  they  are  in  the  box,  with  Mr.  Carruthers' 
remarks  :  Burbidgei  A'anessa,  Burbidgei,  Tortuosus 
(twisted   perianth,    trumpet    sulphur,    passing   to 
white),  Incomp.  Fanny  Mason  (very  free),  Incomp. 
Magog,    Bicolor   Michael   Foster,  "Bicolor   Portia, 
Nelsoni  major,   Nelsoni    Wm.   Backhouse,    J^eedsi 
Beatrice  (lovely  after  opening,  an  exquisite  flower), 
Leedsi    amabilis,    Poeticus    priecox    grandiflorus, 
Barri    Geo.    Murray   (dwarf   and    free),    Incomp. 
Autocrat,  Barri  Golden  Gem,   Incomp.  plenus  or 
Butter  and    Eggs   (to  show  how  this  has  turned 
into  the  single  form),  (4olden  Spur,  Leedsi  super- 
bus,   Leedsi  Princess  of  Wales,  P.  R.   Barr  (ver}' 
large,  and  a  splendid  grower),  Bicolor  A'ictoria  (a 
beautiful  flower),   Humei    Hume's   (;iant,   Shirley 
Hibberd,    Incomp.     Goliath,     Princeps,    Achilles 
(planted  late,  a  very  free  and   fine  variety,  early, 
follows    pallidus     pra?cox),     Spurius    (earlj',     but 
planted  late).   Emperor,   Bicolor   scoticus   (dwarf, 
planted    late),  Incomp.    (Jwyther   (tall,  very   free 
and    beautiful),    Bicolor    Empress,    Bicolor    Dean 
Herbert,  Incomp.  Sir  Watkin  (very  free  and  fine), 
Barri    ^Miriam    Barton,    Incomp.     plenus    Orange 
Phamix    (Eggs   and   Bacon),  Nelsoni   Mrs.    Back- 
house,   .Johnstoni    Queen   of    Spain,    Bicolor    Ada 
Brooke  (flowering  midwaj'  between  Empress  and 
grandis),    Obvallaris    (Tenby   Daffodil ;    this    was 
planted    late,    hence    the   reason   of    its    present  I 
flowering  ;  old  clumps  are  fairly  satisfactorj'  with 
me),  Bicolor  Horsfieldi  (very  free  and  fine),  Leedsi 
Duchess    of   Westminster,   Countess   of   Annesley 
(planted    late),    Leedsi    Mrs.    Langtry,    Incomp. 
Princess   Mary,   Barri    (Jolden    JIary,    Burbidgei 
John  Bain  (lasts  long  in  bloom),  Mr.  3.  Berkeley 
(a   lovely   flower   witli   a    perfume   of    Almonds), 
Bicolor  "variiformis  (planted  in  grass  and  dibbled 
in  as  thrown  down),  and  Leedsi  Acis  (verj'  lovelj- 
on  opening,  a  beautiful  apricot  colour).     A  pile  of 
flowers  is  still  before  us,  so  we  must  select  a  tew 
only  of  those  remaining  for  comment.     We  were 
charmed  with  the  flowers  of  Leedsi  N.  Magdalene 
de  Graaf.     It  is  a  lovely  Narcissus,  very  free,  and 
sometimes     two-flowered    with    Mr.     Carruthers ; 
albicans   (ver)-   beautiful   and  very   free,   trumpet 
lemon,   changing   to   white),    Barri   Flora   Wilson 
(very   free   bloomer    and    grand    grower),    Leedsi 
Duchess  of  Brabant  (very  free  and  pretty),  Leedsi 
Grand  Duchess  (a  delicately  beautiful  flower,  cup 
apricot  at  first),   C.   W.   Cowan  (a  lovely  flower, 
sulphur  trumpet,  white  perianth),  Burbidgei  Fal- 
staff  (very   pretty),   Wm.    Goldring   (Swan's-neck 
Daffodil,  free  with  me  in  grass),  and  superb  flowers 
of  Barri  conspicuus.     Mr.  Carruthers  also  sends  a 
bunch   of   the   dainty    Angel's    Tears    (Narcissus 
triandrus  albus),  the  brilliant  Anemone  coronaria 
fl.  -pi.  King  of  Scarlets  (Gilbert's),  the  most  fragrant, 
we  think,  of  all  double  Violets,  Belle  de  Chatenay, 
and  Muscari  Heavenly  Blue,  a  beautiful  blue  shade, 
one  of  the  best  of  its  family.] 


ARAHIS   ALEIDA    KL.-1'L. 

We  are  reminded  of  this  good  garden  plant  by 
flowers  from  Mr.  Carruthers.  This  is  one  of  the 
best  things  introduced  of  late  years  :  it  is  wonder- 
fully strong,  and  as  free  in  every  waj-  as  the  t3'pe, 
each  flower  like  a  little  white  rosette.  Those  who 
have  not  got  this  double  Arabis  should  do  so.  As 
the  flowers  are  quite  double  they  naturally  last 
longer  in  beauty  than  the  single  Arabis  we  know 
so  well. 

Polyanthuses  from  Somerset. 
Mr.  Crook,  The  Gardens,  Forde  Abbe}',  sends  a 
delightful  series  of  Pol3'anthuses  of  good  colours, 
yellow,  orange,  white,  rose,  and  manj'  beautiful 
shades  ;  the  flower  stems  strong,  and  held  well 
above  the  leaves.  We  have  seen  this  strain  before, 
aud  consider  it  one  of  the  best  ever  raised,  as  the 
colours  have  been  kept  distinct. 


Primrose  Evelyx  Arkwright. 

We  seem  to  have  lost  sight  of  this  fine  Primrose, 
but  Mr.  Carruthers  reminds  us  of  it  by  sending  a 
bunch  of  flowers.  A  coloured  plate  of  this  variety- 
has  appeared  in  The  Garden,  and  an  award  of 
merit  has  been  given  to  it  by  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society.  It  is  quite  a  distinct  Primrose, 
of  much  the  same  shade  of  yellow  as  our  common 
wilding,  but  much  larger,  and  larger,  indeed, 
in  all  ways,  as  the  leaves  are  remarkably  long 
and  broad.  We  should  much  like  to  know  how 
this  Primrose  has  behaved  with  others. 


NOTES   OF    THE   WEEK. 

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

May  20. — Royal   Horticultural   Society's  Com-  • 
mittees   meet  ;     Royal   National  Tulip  Societies' 
Exhibition  (Southern  section) ;  both  at  Drill  Hall, 
Buckingham  Gate,  S.W. 

Ma}'  21. — Ancient  Society  of  "S'ork  Florists' 
Show ;  exhibition  of  the  Societe  Nationale 
d'Horticulture  de  France  (six  days.) 

May  2-4.  —  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
Society. 

May  2". — Annual  General  Meeting  and  Dinner 
of  Members  of  the  Kew  Guild  at  the  Holborn 
Restaurant. 

May  28. — Temple  Show  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  (three  days)  ;  Annual  Dinner  of 
the  (iardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  at 
the  Hotel  Metropole. 

A  vegetable    exhibition.  —  Believing 

that  high-class  garden  vegetables  have  fully  as 
much  value  in  garden  economy  as  plants,  flowers, 
and  fruits,  which  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
by  its  shows  and  meetings  specially  favour,  and 
realising  that  to  every  gardener  vegetables  are  of 
the  highest  importance,  it  is  our  desire  to  secure 
from  the  council  more  complete  recognition  of  the 
value  of  vegetables  than  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  at  present  gives.  To  that  end  we  wish  to 
see  at  least  one  meeting  annuallj'  at  the  Drill  Hall 
devoted  to  a  vegetable  exhibition,  suggesting  that 
to  enable  various  season's  products  to  be  displayed 
that  these  exhibitions  be  held  in  the  months  of 
July  and  October  alternately.  'VVe  therefore  beg 
of  you  to  kindly  insert  this  communication  in 
your  columns,  that  readers  interested  in  good  class 
vegetable  culture  maj'  read,  and,  if  they  will  do 
so,  kindly  send  to  one  or  other  whose  names  are 
appended  below  on  a  post-card  intimation  that 
they  wish  their  names  to  be  aflixed  to  a  memorial 
to  the  council  it  is  purposed  later  to  present 
inviting  that  body  to  accede  to  the  request  thus 
made. — E.  Beckett,  Aldenhani  House  Gardens, 
Elstree,  Herts;  and  A.  De.\n,  62,  Richmond  Road, 
Kingston-on-Thames.  [We  heartily  support  the 
desire  that  vegetables  receive  their  full  share  of 
recognition  at  the  meetings  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  and  knowing  how  desirous  the 
society  is  to  lielp  the  pursuit  of  horticulture  in 
every  possible  waj',  we  feel  sure  that  if  dates  can 
be  fitted  in  the  council  will  do  everj-thing  in  their 
power  to  assist  the  movement. — Eds.] 

Plants  by  Foreign  Parcels  Post. 
— Referring  to  the  reply  to  "M.  E.  C,"  in  The 
Garden  of  Maj'  10,  I  may  saj'  that  I  receive 
plants  from  Italy  every  year  bj'  parcels  post, 
either  in  light  boxes  or  baskets.  This  is  not  only 
bulbs  at  rest,  but  also  green  plants  of  various 
kinds.  If  packed  with  damp  moss  the}'  generally 
arrive  saf el}'. — S.  Arnott. 

Experiments   in  hybridising.  —  In 

reference  to  the  experiments  recently  carried  out 
by  Mr.  Sutton  at  Reading,  in  demonstration  of  the 
liability  of  cruciferous  plants  to  cross-fertilise 
naturally  (see  page  102),  the  experience  of  a  grower 
at  the  Antipodes  may  be  of  some  little  interest  as 


May  17,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


S19 


confirming  the  result  of  Mr.  Sutton's  experiments. 
Two  years  ago  I  saved  several  plants  of  Cauliflower 
in  order  to  secure  seed  of  a  variety  not  to  be 
obtained  locally.  At  the  same  time  two  varieties 
of  Kohl  Rabi  (purple  and  green)  were  flowering  in 
the  vicinity.  The  Cauliflowers  seeded  freely  and 
a  large  crop  of  plants  were  raised,  with  the  result 
that  not  more  that  5  per  cent,  were  true.  The 
remainder  all  showed  more  or  less  the  enlarged 
stalk  of  the  Kohl  Rabi,  with  distinct  evidence  of 
both  Kohl  Rabi  parents,  while  most  of  the  hybrids 
also  developed  a  mongrel  Cauliflower  head,  green 
in  colour  and  of  practically  no  value  for  table 
purposes. — Henry  Selkirk,  Lands  Department, 
Sydney,  New  South  Wales,  April  .3. 

A  young-  Ipish  gardener's  success. 

— Readers  ot  The  Garden  will  remember  that 
some  time  ago  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society  offered  prizes  to  young  gardeners  for  the 
best  plan  for  laying  out  a  piece  of  ground,  about 
20  acres  in  extent,  as  kitchen  garden,  flower 
garden,  &c.  We  understand  that  twenty  plans 
were  submitted  to  the  judges — Mr.  Whitton, 
superintendent  of  parks  and  botanic  gardens, 
Glasgow,  and  Mr.  McHattie,  superintendent  of 
parks,  Edinburgh — and  that  the  first  prize  has 
been  awarded  to  Mr.  Alexander  Trotter,  foreman 
Coollattin  Park,  Shillelagh,  County  Wioklow. 

Erigeron    mucronatus   (De    Can- 

dolle). — On  page  .312  I  observe  the  name  Corsican 
Daisy  given  to  this  plant,  which  I  have  never  seen 
so  named  before,  but  as  its  habitat  and  its  identity 
are  often  mistaken  I  may  be  excused  for  saying 
that  it  is  a  native  of  the  mountains  of  Mexico  and 
was  for  long  confused  with  Vittadinia  triloba  (De 
CandoUe),  an  Australian  Daisy,  similar  in  stature 
and  habit,  but  botanically  distinct,  with  leaves 
divided  at  the  end  into  three  equal  lobes,  whilst 
those  of  the  Erigeron  have  two  lateral  incisions 
dividing  the  leaf  into  very  unequal  parts,  each  of 
which  has  a  visible  cusp  (mucro)  at  the  tip.  This 
Mexican  Daisy  is  naturalised  in  several  parts  of 
southern  Europe,  such  as  the  Italian  lakes  and 
Sicily,  and  it  may  be  so  in  Corsica,  and  might 
easily  be  established  as  a  wild  plant  in  warm 
situations  in  England  and  Wales.  Here  in  Cheshire 
plants  of  it  live  for  several  years  where  they  sow 
themselves,  and  are  hardier,  as  well  as  more  orna- 
mental, than  the  Vittadinia,  though  opinions  differ 
as  to  the  merits  of  this  Erigeron  for  garden 
decoration. — C.  Wolley  Dod,  Edye  Hall,  Malpas. 

The  Temple  show  — re  Sherwood 

Cup  competition. — Intending  exhibitors  for 
the  Sherwood  Cup  are  requested  to  note  that  all 
groups  competing  for  the  cup  will  be  staged  in  the 
open  air,  and  must  not  occupy  more  than  .500  square 
feet,  but  the  actual  space  to  be  allotted  to  these 
groups  cannot  be  decided  until  the  number  of 
competitors  is  known,  as  the  space  at  command  is 
limited,  and  must  be  divided  equally.  Tuesday, 
the  20th  inst. ,  is  the  last  day  for  entering. — By 
order  of  council,  W.  Wilks,  Secretary. 

Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 
Society  and   Royal  Gardeners' 

Orphan  Fund, — The  Earl  of  Ilchester  has 
kindly  placed  the  beautiful  private  pleasure  gardens 
of  Holland  House  at  the  service  of  the  above  great 
gardening  charities  on  the  first  day  of  the  show. 
A  charge  ot  Is.  for  admission  will  be  made,  and  the 
proceeds  be  given  to  the  charities  in  the  proportion 
of  two-thirds  to  the  benevolent  and  one-third  to 
the  orphan  society.  Entrance  will  be  only  from 
the  show  ground. 

Dielytra  spectabilis  at  Hackwood 

Park. — If  I  were  asked  to  mention  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  hardy  herbaceous  plants  which 
bloom  in  the  spring  I  should  name  Dielytra 
spectabilis,  although  perhaps  next  would  come 
Doronicum  Harpur-Crewe.  I  saw  this  Dielytra 
the  other  day  as  a  noble  pot  plant  standing  in  a 
vase  in  one  of  the  large  rooms  of  Forde  Abbey, 
Chard,  Somerset,  and  for  this  purpose  a  more 
graceful  or  beautiful  plant  could  not  be  found. 
Mr.  Crook  finds  in  the  comparatively  cool  rooms  ot 
the  Abbey  that  it  endures  for  some  time.  Few 
plants  have  such  distinct  beauty  as  this.  At 
Hackwood  Park,  Basingstoke,  Mr.  Bowerman  has 
noble  plants  of  it  on  the  flower  borders,  where  it  is 
greatly  admired.     Were  it  just  now  introdu«ed  as 


a  new  plant  it  would  create  a  sensation.  It  is 
surprising  how  soon  our  enthusiasm  over  new 
things  cools  when  they  are  easily  grown  and  become 
common.  Let  it  be  something  even  inferior  but 
costly  then  is  it  worshipped.  Can  anyone  name  a 
more  beautiful  plant  tor  spring  flowering  than  this 
Dielytra?— A.  D. 
Myosotis  dissitifloraat  Sherborne 

Castle. — I  saw  this  e&rly  and  most  beautiful  ot 
all  the  Forget-me-nots  at  Sherborne  Castle  recently, 
where  Mr.  Turton  grows  it  largely.  He  does  not 
save  seed  and  sow  it,  as  there  is  always  plenty 
naturally  dropped,  and  seedlings  in  the  autumn 
are  abundant.  There  is  not  a  blue  spring  blooming 
plant  that  can  excel  this  Forget-me-not  for  effect 
or  beaut}'.  Its  broad  or  spreading  habit  and  mass 
of  ccerulean  blue  flowers — in  all  not  6  inches  in 
height — can  hardly  be  excelled  for  effect.  I 
noticed  in  one  fine  place  numerous  plants  of  the 
pretty  M.  alpestris  Victoria,  but  at  that  time  not 
one  was  in  bloom.  Really,  these  would  be  fully 
six  weeks  later  than  would  be  the  lovely  M. 
dissiti  flora.  As  for  the  tall  Myosotis  sylvatiea 
it  cannot  be  compared  with  the  former.  M. 
dissitiflora  should  alway  be  raised  from  seed ; 
tor  that  reason  it  is  more  a  seedman's  plant  than 
it  is  the  hardy  plantsman.  It  certainly  does 
best  on  somewhat  raised  ground  and  where 
partially  sheltered. — A.  D. 

Fritillaria  Imperialis  (Crown  Im- 
perial) in  pots. — These  stately  plants  tor  the 
past  fortnight  have  made  a  very  welcome  feature 
in  the  garden.  The  success  of  their  culture  in  pots 
is  the  chief  reason  for  this  note,  excellent  results 
having  been  obtained  from  this  treatment.  Earlj'  in 
October  last  bulbs  were  placed  in  S-inch  pots  in  a 
compost  of  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  coarse  sand,  the 
first-named  material  largely  predominating.  The 
pots  were  plunged  in  the  ordinary  waj'  and  left 
undisturbed  until  the  last  week  in  March.  When 
removed  from  the  plunging  material  the  fleshy 
roots  were  laid  bare  on  the  surface  and  means 
adopted  to  prevent  the  plants  experiencing  a 
check.  They  were  placed  just  as  they  were  into 
10-inch  pots,  and  the  surface  heavily  mulched 
with  some  loamy  soil.  By  these  means  copious 
supplies  ot  water  have  been  frequentl}'  applied, 
and  the  plants  have  succeeded  in  consequence. 
The  plants  were  not  more  than  3  inches  or 
4  inches  high  at  the  end  of  March,  and  by 
April  20  were  handsome  and  stately  specimens 
quite  3  feet  6  inches  in  height.  Since  the  plants 
were  first  removed  from  the  plunging  material 
they  have  been  placed  in  a  cold  greenhouse,  and 
this  structure  has  been  abundantly  ventilated  both 
night  and  day.  This  treatment  has  had  the  effect 
of  keeping  the  growth  steadj',  thereby  developing 
sturdy  plants.  The  curious  and  rather  unpleasant 
odour  which  the  bulb  gives  off  is  not  nearly  so 
pronounced  as  the  plant  finishes  ;  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  at  the  time  of  writing  it  is  hardly  perceptible. 
I  have  only  three  varieties,  but  these  make  a 
handsome  display.  The  leaves  are  about  6i  inches 
in  length,  and  the  lower  ones  are  almost  2J,  inches 
in  diameter.  This  will  give  readers  of  The  Garden 
some  idea  of  the  character  of  the  growth  under  pot 
culture.  Those  out  in  the  open  border  create  a 
beautiful  effect  when  grouped  in  colonies  of  halt  a 
dozen  to  a  dozen  plants  in  each.  The  yellow 
variety  appears  to  be  the  more  vigorous,  judging 
by  its  stout,  tall,  and  erect  stems. — D.  B.  C. 

New  Cactus  Dahlias.— The  schedule  ot 

the  National  Dahlia  Society  and  annual  report 
just  issued  is  to  lovers  of  Cactus  Dahlias — and  who 
are  not  ? — very  interesting  reading.  The  report  as 
to  awards  made  by  the  society  last  year,  to  new 
varieties  therein  published,  shows  that  it  is  re- 
sponsible for  no  less  than  twenty-seven  such 
awards.  Then  the  advertisement  pages  of  the 
schedule  show  that  various  well-known  raisers 
offer  this  year,  as  new,  not  less  than  thirty-seven, 
and  as  that  number  does  not  include  nine  awarded 
certificates  last  year,  added  to  the  thirty- 
seven  makes  it  forty-six,  and  as  there  may  be 
others  still  not  mentioned,  it  is  quite  possible  that 
fifty  new  ones  will  this  season  be  put  into  com- 
merce. That  fact  serves  to  show  that  it  is  high 
time  the  National  Dahlia  Society  established  a 
higher  and  more  severe  standard  of  excellence  for 


seedlings  than  now  exists.  It  is  not  pleasant  to 
learn  that  some  varieties  getting  these  awards  are 
found  a  year  later  to  be  ver}'  poor  growers  or 
bloomers.  Surely  it  is  possible  to  make  seedling 
requirements  so  much  higher  that  only  the  very 
best,  quite  superior  to  older  varieties,  should  get 
awards. — D. 

Pyrus  floribunda.- Of  the  numerous 
species  of  Pyrus  suitable  for  the  shrubbery  or  for 
isolated  specimens  on  the  lawn  this  is  one  of  the 
very  best,  as  it  makes  a  compact  bush,  and  can  be 
depended  on  to  flower  grandly  every  year.  At 
Kew  it  is  used  for  a  variety  of  purposes,  and  is 
always  charming,  whether  seen  in  groups  with  a 
background  of  conifers,  in  shrubberies,  or  as  single 
specimens.  The  tallest  plants  at  Kew  do  not 
exceed  9  feet  in  height,  but  are  quite  12  feet  in 
diameter,  the  flowers  being  so  numerous  as  to  hide 
the  branches.  In  colour  the  flowers  ot  the  type 
are  light  pink,  but  there  is  a  variet}'  known  as 
atrosanguinea  which  has  much  darker  and  richer 
coloured  blossoms.  It  is  a  native  of  Japan,  and 
has  been  in  cultivation  for  a  great  number  of 
years. — W.  Dai^hmore. 

Crown  Imperials  under  trees.— I 

have  grown  these  for  two  seasons  in  a  shady 
position  under  trees  in  rather  damp  soil,  and  they 
have  failed  to  flower  satisfactorily.  The  bulbs 
were  sound  and  good.  Can  any  of  your  readers 
give  me  full  particulars  for  successful  culture,  as  I 
am  rather  disappointed  with  m}'  experience '!  All 
other  Lilies  and  Fritillaries  are  good  here. — 
Walter  Smyth,  Holyu-ood,  Comity  Doirn. 

The  Judas  Tree.— Throughout  May  and 
early  .June  Cercis  Siliquastrum — which  is  the 
correct  name  of  this  shrub  or  small  tree — is  very 
beautiful,  being  smothered  with  pretty  Pear-shaped 
red  blossoms.  At  Kew  it  is  flowering  well  in 
numerous  places.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean region,  and  grows  to  a  height  ot  20  feet  or 
more,  though  in  gardens  here  it  is  more  often 
represented  by  bushes  of  less  than  half  that  height. 
It  thrives  in  sandy  loam,  and  likes  plenty  of  sun 
and  air.  The  flowers  are  produced  trom  all  parts 
of  the  stems,  much  ot  the  old  wood  being  often 
smothered  with  flowering  spurs.  A  variety  with 
white  flowers  is  in  cultivation,  and  this  may  also 
be  seen  in  flower  at  Kew.  In  addition  to  this 
species,  canadensis  from  North  America,  and 
chinensis,  a  native  of  China  and  .Japan,  are  also 
grown,  whilst  a  fourth  species,  reinforniis,  from 
Western  China,  has  lately  put  in  an  appearance, 
but  it  has,  however,  so  far  proved  more  tender 
than  the  others. — W.  Dallimore. 

Squirrels  and  Horse-chestnuts.— 

I  am  enclosing  some  young  shoots  of  Horse-chestnut 
for  your  inspection.  They  are  gnawed  off  by 
squirrels.  I  do  not  think  there  is  an3'thing  really 
new  about  this  ;  but  what  has  often  puzzled  me  is 
that  most  of  the  shoots  gnawed  by  them  are  on 
about  three  trees.  Other  Horse-chestnuts  are  easily 
accessible,  yet  they  confine  their  attention  to  a  few 
trees.  .Judging  by  the  way  the  young  shoots  are 
eaten  it  is  evidently  the  pith  that  the  squirrels  are 
after.  Perhaps  those  eaten  are  more  tasty  than  the 
others.  Can  you  or  j'our  readers  throw  any  light 
on  the  matter? — H.  J.  C. ,  Grimiton,  Tadcaster. 

Blanching    Seakale    outdoors.  —  1 

noticed  recently  in  the  fine  garden  at  Sherborne 
Castle,  Dorset,  that  early  planted  root  cuttings  of 
Seakale  had  made  good  top  growth  and  were 
ready  for  crown  thinning.  The  gardener,  Mr. 
Turton,  mentioned  that  a  portion  was  not  lifted, 
but  blanched  in  the  open  with  soil,  but  not  in  the 
common  ridge  fashion.  He  has  specially  made 
round,  drain-like  pipes  10  inches  long  and  6  inches 
broad  inside.  These  are  placed  singly  over  crowns, 
then  filled  in  with  fine  soil.  When  the  tops  of  the 
leaves  show  signs  of  coming  through,  the  pipes 
of  so  many  heads  as  needed  are  lifted  off,  the  soil 
then  falls  away,  and  the  heads  are  easily  cut.  In 
another  garden  I  observed  that  8- inch  pots 
inverted  over  the  crowns,  the  holes  being  stopped 
with  moss,  are  used,  but  the  Kale  was  in  this  case 
less  thoroughly  blanched.  The  largest  Kale  any- 
one has  yet  seen  probably  was  that  recently  shown 
at  the  brill  Hall  by  Mr.  Russell,  of  Richmond, 
finely  blanched,  but  all  the  same  too  large  for  a 
gentleman's  table. — A.  D. 


320 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  17.  1902. 


Calceolaria  chelidonioides.— This  is 

a  useful  little  plant  with  lemon-yellow  flowers  that 
one  seldom  sees  as  a  bedding  plant.  It  is  a  half- 
hardy  annual,  flowers  in  July  if  sown  now,  and 
grows  about  15  inches  high.  The  colour  is  exactly 
the  same  as  that  of  Calceolaria  amplexicaulis. 
The  young  seedlings  are  very  sturdy  and  easy  to 
handle. — E.  C,  Surrey. 

A  springs  bOP.dsr. — One  of  the  most  satis- 
factory ways  of  planting  the  border  of  a  shady 
path  for  spring  is  to  have  a  carpet  of  white  Arabis 
about  a  foot  wide,  with  blue  wood  Hyacinths 
(Scilla  nutans)  planted  among  it.  The  white 
flowers  and  grey-green  leaves  of  the  Rock  Cress 
show  up  the  sombre  blue  of  the  Hj'acinths,  which 
to  me  have  always  rather  a  gloomy  appearance 
when  planted  alone.  In  this  garden  these  two 
always  bloom  at  the  same  time. — E.  C. ,  Surrey. 

Kew  Guild. — The  annual  dinner  will  be  held 
at  the  Holborn  Restaurant  on  May  27  (the  day 
before  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Temple 
Show).  Mr.  J.  G.  Baker,  F.  R.S.,  will  preside,  sup- 
ported by  the  Director,  Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer. 
Sir  George  King,  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters,  Dr.  Baylej' 
Balfour,  Mr.  .lames  H.  Veitch,  Mr.  J.  Sander, 
and  Mr.  F.  W.  Moore  have  been  invited  as  guests 
of  the  Guild.  The  annual  general  meeting  will  be 
held  the  same  evening  at  6. .SO,  also  at  the  Holborn 
Restaurant. 

Ppitnroses  and  Ladies*  Smocks.— 

A  charming  combination  was  noted  recently  in  a 
narrow  copse  strewn  with  Primroses  and  Ladies' 
Smocks,  the  latter  with  their  pale  lilac  colours 
associating  beautifully  with  the  brighter  Prim- 
roses. What  happy  marriages  in  the  colour  way 
may  often  be  seen  in  the  woodlands  just  now,  the 
time  when  they  present  their  fullest  beauty. — Quo. 

Blue    Hyacinth   Grand    Maitre.— 

With  reference  to  your  answer  regarding  a  good 
blue  Hyacinth  in  The  Garden  for  April  26,  allow 
me  to  say  that  on  April  14  I  paid  a  visit  to  Hyde 
Park,  when  many  of  the  flowers  in  the  beds 
parallel  with  Park  Lane  were  at  their  best.  Of 
the  numerous  Hyacinths  with  blue  blossoms  there 
represented  the  finest  was  undoubtedly  Grand 
Maitre,  a  pleasing  rather  light  blue  flower.  Several 
beds  were  planted  entirely  with  this  kind,  and, 
though  not  there  associated  with  Daffodils,  it 
would,  of  course,  go  well  with  them. — T. 

Phillyrea    vilmoriniana.— This 

splendid  evergreen  is  now  flowering  profusely.  I 
do  not  remember  having  seen  it  bloom  so  abun- 
dantly as  this  year.  One  cannot  overlook  it,  for 
its  fragrance  arrests  attention.  This  fragrance 
reminds  me  of  WoodruB',  yet  it  is  more  powerful. 
The  white,  Jasmine-like  flowers  are  produced  in 
axillary  clusters,  and  contrast  well  with  the 
dark  myrtle-green  foliage  The  leaves  on  well- 
developed  bushes  are  fully  6  inches  long  and  about 
IJ  inches  broad.  This  fact,  combined  with  the 
perfect  globular  form  the  plants  develop,  make 
it  one  of  the  most  desirable  evergreens  to  grow. 
It  is  readily  raised  from  seed. — P. 

Early-flowering  Chrysanthemum 

(Horace  Martin).— This  was  the  plant  to 
which  so  many  referred  last  autumn  as  being  the 
one  likely  to  eclipse  all  other  existing  jellows.  It 
is  a  variety  of  Mme.  Marie  Masse.  In  this  case, 
however,  Crimson  Marie  Masse  is  its  immediate 
parent,  and  as  this  group  is  of  exceptionally  good 
habit  and  flowers  profuselj'  the  good  opinion  held 
of  its  excellent  qualities  is  not  in  the  least  mis- 
placed. The  flowers  are  golden-yellow  and  of  good 
form,  even  without  disbudding.  As  a  sort  for  pot 
culture  it  should  be  in  great  demand,  as  we  are  by 
no  means  overburdened  with  good  yellow  Chrysan- 
themums throughout  September  and  early  October. 
Some  of  the  sports  from  Mme.  Marie  Masse  begin 
to  flower  much  earlier,  and  it  is  fairly  safe  to 
assume  that  this  variety  will  al.so  do  the  same. 
This  is  a  good  time  to  begin  planting  for  outdoor 
displays.— D.  B.  Crane. 
A    difference     of    opinion.  —  That 

opinions  differ  is  of  universal  experience,  finding 
expression  in  the  old  Latin  proverb  "Quot  homines, 
tot  sententiae,"  but  you  seldom  find  such  a  contrast 
as  that  contained  in  the  two  following  extracts  from 
letters  from  two  Fellows  recently  received  :  "  There 
is  no  other  society  in  the  world  which  gives  you  so 


much  for  one  guinea."  "  It  seems  to  me  I  do  not 
get  much  for  my  guinea."  Let  us  reckon  up,  as 
far  as  possible  in  money  value,  what  a  Fellow  of 
our    society   gets   for    his    subscription   in    1002  : 

1.  Twenty-two  Drill  Hall  meetings  at  Is.,  £1  2s.  ; 

2.  Temple  show,  first  day  7s.  Od.,  second  2s.  Od., 
third  Is.,  lis.  ;  .'i.  Rose  show,  first  day  7s.  6d., 
second  23.  6d.,  lOs.  ;  4.  Fruit  show,  three  da3's  at 
Is.,  3^.  ;  5.  Three  issues  of  the  journal  at  7s.  fid., 
£1  2s.  6d.  ;  total,  £3  8s.  6d.  (A  £2  23.  Fellow  gets 
three  times,  and  a  £4  4s.  Fellow  six  times,  these 
items.)  Besides  this  there  are  certain  things  which 
cannot  easily  be  assessed  at  an  exact  money  value, 
for  instance  :  (i.  The  use  of  the  best  horticultural 
library  in  England  ;  7.  A  share  in  the  surplus 
plants  ;  8.  Facilities  ot  chemical  analysis  at  reduced 
cost.  —  From  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Journal,  April,  11102. 

Tulipa  EiChleri  (Regel).— This  rare  and 
magnificent  Tulip  has  many  of  the  good  attributes 
of  its  fellow-countr3'man,  T.  Greigi ;  indeed,  I  do  not 
know  which  is  the  better  of  the  two.  In  T.  Greigi 
we  have  a  gorgeous  scarlet,  occasionally  orange 
colouring,  the  inner  petals  of  the  flowers  being 
exceptionally  massive.  T.  Eichleri  has  broad, 
glaucous  leafage,  a  stem  18  inches  high,  and  a 
highly  refined  crimson  or  scarlet-crimson  flower 
measuring  4  inches  in  length  and  (J  inches  to 
8  inches  in  span  when  fully  open.  The  outer 
petals  are  heavily  flushed  grey  on  the  outside,  a 
line  of  scarlet  extending  from  apex  to  base.  The 
most  wonderful  bit  of  colour  is  on  the  inside,  a 
full  rich  glowing  crimson.  The  outer  petals  have 
a  black  blotch  at  the  base  of  each,  which  forms  an 
orbicular  disc,  a  prominent  canary-yellow  line 
dividing  the  two  main  colours.  The  inner  petals, 
on  the  other  hand,  are  rayed  black,  also  with  a 
canary-yellow  dividing  line,  but  the  rays  are 
shaped  like  three  sides  of  a  Maltese  cross,  the 
apical  and  broadest  portion  of  the  rays  being 
broadlj'  bifid.  Looking  into  the  centre  of  the 
flower  one  gets  the  unusual  form  of  a  three-raj'ed 
Maltese  cross  resting  on  a  black  disc,  the  edges  in 
every  case  being  sharply  defined  bj' the  glistening 
yellow  lines.  The  inner  petals  are  broad,  with  a 
sharply  incurved  margin  when  they  first  open, 
and  the  outer  petals  are  somewhat  reflexed  and 
pointed  as  in  T.  elegans.  On  the  second  and  third 
day  of  opening  the  flower  assumes  the  shape  of  a 
Tigridia,  having  a  well-defined  central  cup  or 
basin,  whilst  the  upper  halves  of  the  petals  stand 
out  horizontall3-.  It  is  a  magnificent  Tulip  of 
fine  stature  and  grand  colour,  a  good  grower,  and 
one  of  the  best  of  its  kind. — Geo.  B.  Mallett. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 


CUPRESSUS  LAWSONIANA 

THIS  handsome  Cypress  has  been  very 
noticeable  this  season  by  reason  of  the 
numerous  male  cones  produced  by 
some  trees.  About  a  month  ago  they 
had  quite  a  rosy  pink  colour  when  seen 
from  some  distance  and  with  the  sun 
shining  on  them.  No  doubt  the  fine  dry  summer 
and  autumn  of  last  year  had  something  to  do  with 
this  in  fully  ripening  all  the  tissues.  Conifers 
generally  are  not  a  success  on  our  limestone  soil. 
This  is  particularly  the  case  with  all  Piceas, 
except  P.  Pinsapo. 

Cupressus  lawsoniana  does  particularly  well. 
We  have  some  specimens  fully  40  feet  high,  with 
branches  quite  to  the  ground.  They  have  been 
planted  exactly  thirty-three  years  I  am  told  ;  at 
any  rate  thej'  were  not  6  feet  high  when  I  came 
here  in  1872.  The  circumference  of  the  stem  of 
the  largest  tree  is  over  4  feet  at  3  feet  from  the 
ground.  It  has  often  occurred  to  me  that  in 
suitable  positions,  say,  in  the  home  covers,  it  would 
be  a  useful  conifer  to  plant  for  estate  purposes. 
Judging  bj'  the  growth  of  our  trees  they  might  be 
planted  no  more  than  8  feet  apart  for  this  purpose. 
An  acre  of  land  would  give  an  immense  quantity 
of  timber  of  a  useful  size,  in,  say,  thirty  to  forty 
years.  I  do  not  know  from  experience  anj'thing 
of   its  lasting  properties,  but  from   the  external 


appearance  of  the  stems  it  is  very  solid  looking. 
I  believe  it  is  easily  propagated  from  seed,  which 
of  course  is  very  necessary  with  any  tree  likely  to 
be  used  for  estate  purposes.  C.  lawsoniana  was 
introduced  in  18.')4,  by  Messrs.  Lawson,  at  that 
time  a  very  famous  firm  of  nurserymen  in  the 
Scottish  metropolis,  and  is  a  native  of  Northern 
California. 

Grimston.  H.  J.  Clayton. 


FOESYTHIA  SFSPENSA. 
The  various  notes  that  have  appeared  in  The 
Garden  about  this  delightful  free-flowering  shrub 
have  exhausted  nearly  all  that  can  be  said  in  its 
favour,  the  only  thing  remaining  being  to  point 
out  how  well  it  succeeds  in  London,  that  is,  if 
given  anything  like  favourable  conditions.  I  am 
acquainted  with  a  large  specimen  in  a  London  back 
yard  which  clothes  a  fence  fully  exposed  to  the 
sun,  and  each  recurring  spring  the  Forsythia 
flowers  profusely  and  forms  an  object  of  great 
beaut3-.  Immediately  the  season  of  blooming  is 
past  the  plant  is  severely  pruned,  the  old  and 
exhausted  wood  being  cut  out  and  the  vigorous 
shoots  spurred  back  to  within  three  or  four  eyes  of 
the  base.  This  results  in  the  production  of  long 
wand-like  shoots,  which  are  allowed  to  develop 
at  will,  hence  they  dispose  themselves  in  a  loose 
and  informal  way,  and  being  from  the  position  of 
the  plant  thoroughlj-  ripened  the  spring  display  is 
in  every  way  satisfactory.  In  direct  contrast  to 
this  I  was  recently  shown  another  large  specimen, 
similarly  situated,  whose  owner  has  carefully 
followed  out  the  pruning  instructions,  but  instead 
of  doing  it  in  the  spring  he  had  selected  the 
autumn  for  the  purpose  and  consequently  cut  away 
the  best  portion  of  the  flowering  wood.  T. 


BERBERIS  DARWINII  AT  STEEATHAM 
HALL. 

I  have  seen  this  noble  spring-flowering  shrub  in 
many  places  from  time  to  time,  but  the  finest 
plant  I  have  yet  seen  isat  Streatham  Hall,  Exeter, 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Thornton-West,  and  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  places  in  the  favoured  county 
of  Devon.  The  specimen  of  Berberis  Darwinii 
there  planted  somewhat  high,  and  literally  a  mass 
of  bloom,  burst  upon  me  the  other  day  when- 
visiting  there  with  a  blaze  of  glory  in  a  fine  setting 
of  green  foliage,  as  in  the  foreground  were  two 
noble  specimens  of  Cupressus  lawsoniana,  which 
formed  a  pleasing  framework  for  ihe  orange 
mass  of  colour  behind.  How  I  wished  for  a 
camera  that  this  picture  might  have  been  trans- 
mitted to  paper.  The  shrub  is  fully^  20  feet  broad, 
and  proportionall}'  thick  and  high.  It  evidently 
revelled  in  the  soil  of  the  high  bank  on  which  it  is 
growing.  This  Berberis  was  also  a  fine  feature  at 
Bryanstone.  B.  stenophylla,  a  beautiful  plant 
also,  was  rather  later.  A.  Dean. 


DECIDUOUS  SHRUBS  FOE  PILLAES 
AND  ARCHES. 

As  I  write  I  see  before  me  a  grand  specimen  of  a 
seedling  from  Cydonia  Japonica  trained  against  a 
post.  This  plant  is  some  8  feet  high  and  0  feet 
through.  I  say  it  is  trained,  and  by  that  I  mean  the 
post  supports  its  main  growths.  Of  course  one 
would  never  think  of  training  this  lovely  shrub  in 
the  formal,  and  to  me  hideous,  way  as  usually  seen 
against  walls.  Its  colour  is  a  charming  carmine 
tint,  and  when  in  full  blossom,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Plum  and  Pear  trees  around,  it  forms  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  features  of  the  garden.  At  the 
base  are  clumps  of  Hemerocallis  and  Chinese 
P.tonies,  which  by  their  foliage  give  yet  further 
variety  of  colouring  in  harmonious  blending.  The 
Cydonia  has  the  summer  growths  pinched  back, 
which  assists  the  formation  of  flower  buds  con- 
siderabl}'.  Gne  should  be  careful  to  obtain  own 
root  plants  of  these  lovely  Cydonias.  Some 
gardeners  graft  them,  which  I  think  is  a  mistake. 
Another  beautiful  floral  picture  I  saw  recently  in 
the  form  of  an  arch  consisted  of  Forsythia  suspensa. 
It  was  quite  a  natural  arch,  having  no  support 
whatever,  and  the  fine  growths  were  covered  with 
the  golden   blossoms.     Hedges  of   F.  viridissima 


May  17,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


321 


are  also  just  now  a  pretty  feature,  and  would  be 
far  better  as  a  bordering  to  a  herbaceous  garden 
than  many  things  often  used.  The  best  plan  to 
adopt  as.  a  preparation  for  an  arch  of  flowering 
shrubs  is  to  plant  a  strong  young  specimen  on 
both  sides  of  the  walk,  and  to  train  them  indi- 
vidually to  a  stake  for  a  year  or  two  until  of 
sufficient  height  to  meet  across  the  path.  They 
will  then  take  care  of  themselves.  Some  of  the 
old  wood  should  be  removed  annually  in  order  to 
keep  up  a  supply  of  new.  Philadelphus  would 
make  a  fine  subject  for  arches,  and  in  fact  any 
shrub  that  makes  free  and  vigorous  shoots.       P. 


THE     STRAWBERRY. 

( Continued  from  page  299.  J 

As  has  been  said,  two  or  three  plantlets  will 
develop  at  intervals  along  the  long  stalk-like 
growth,  but  it  is  advisable  to  layer  only  one  of 
these  (the  one  nearest  to  the  parent  plant  is  gene- 
rally the  best)  if  sufficient  can  be  obtained  without 
the  others.  There  are,  as  a  rule,  plenty  of  runners, 
and  unless  the  quantity  required  is  out  of  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  runner-bearing  plants, 
there  should  be  no  need  to  layer  any  but  good 
runners.  Having  selected  a  number  of  the  best 
(it  may  be  from  six  to  ten  or  more),  bring  as  many 
of  the  small  pots  as  there  are  runners  to  be  layered 
and  plunge  them  in  the  ground  conveniently  around 
the  parent  plant.  A  simple  and  eS"ectual  method 
of  securing  the  tiny  plants  in  the  small  pots  is  to 
loop  a  piece  of  matting  (shreds  pulled  from  old 
mats  are  suitable)  round  the  stalk  about  half  an 
inch  or  less  from  the  plantlet,  and  then  press  both 
ends  of  the  matting  together  in  the  soil.  In  doing 
this  the  young  plant  will,  of  course,  be  brought 
down  also.  It  should  be  so  deep  that  its  base  is 
quite  covered,  but  the  centre  of  young  and  tender 
leaves  is  above  the  soil.  One  should  make  sure 
the  runner  is  quite  firmly  fixed  in  its  new  quarters. 
If  it  is  loose  its  rooting  may  be  considerably 
retarded,  for  it  is  liable  to  be  disturbed  by  rain 
and  wind. 

When  layering — the  term  given  to  the  practice 
of  placing  the  runners  in  pots — is  finished,  the 
only  labour  they  will  occasion  is  that  of  watering, 
and  it  is  important  that  they  should  never  suffer 
in  the  least  from  the  want  of  water.  Except  in 
wet  weather  it  will  be  necessary  to  water  them 
every  day,  and  often  twice  a  day,  when  they  are 
moderately  well  rooted.  The  roots  make  rapid 
progress  in  the  new  soil,  and,  as  the  pots  are  but 
small,  it  is  surprising  how  quickly  the  soil^becomes 


m 


dry.  Careful  and  regular  watering  will  result  in 
the  production  of  vigorous  and  healthy  plants ; 
likely,  when  transferred  to  the  open  ground,  to 
make  a  profitable  plantation.  Where  possible,  a 
small  quarter  of  Strawberry  plants  should  be 
reserved  for  the  production  of  runners  alone,  and 
all  the  flowers  be  picked  off.  Runners  of  better 
quality  and  in  greater  quantity  are  then  obtained 
than  it  is  possible  to  get  from  plants  that  have 
fruited.  Excellent  runners,  however,  can  be  had 
from  fruiting  plants  one  and  two  years  old.  I 
mention  the  alternative  plan  as  one  likely  to  give 
even  still  better  results. 

Vakibties. 

The  selection  of  suitable  varieties  of  the  Straw- 
berry is  naturally  a  matter  of  importance.  Sir 
.Joseph  Paxton  has  long  been  a  great  favourite 
with  market  growers,  j'et  it  has  to  a  great  extent 
been  superseded  by  Royal  Sovereign,  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  most  valuable  Strawberries  for  general 
purposes  now  in  cultivation.  It  is  an  earl}' variet}', 
and  has  to  a  great  extent  taken  the  place  of  the 
older  early  and  smaller  sorts.  The  fruits  are  large 
and  handsome,  although  they  cannot  be  said  to  be 
of  quite  first-rate  flavour.  The}'  are,  however, 
very  good.  The  chief  reason  of  the  popularity  of 
Royal  Sovereign  is  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  it 
is  such  a  vigorous  grower  and  cropper.  Good  or 
bad  seasons  have  apparently  but  little  effect  upon 
it.  Noble  is  a  very  early  fruit,  ripening  several 
days  before  Royal  Sovereign,  yet  its  flavour  is  so 
poor  that  it  cannot  be  recommended.  Keen's 
Seedling,  also  an  early  variety  and  one  of  the  best 
of  the  older  ones,  has  very  sweet,  medium-sized, 
dark-coloured  fruits,  which  are  abundantly  pro- 
duced. La  Grosse  Sucree,  ripening  soon  after 
Royal  Sovereign,  is  an  excellent  sort,  one  that  can 
always  be  relied  upon,  and,  moreover,  is  of  hand- 
some appearance  and  first-rate  flavour.  The  colour 
is  a  dark  shining  red,  and  the  fruits  are  of  good 
size.  This  should  be  largel}'  planted  ;  in  fact. 
Royal  Sovereign  and  La  (.irosse  Sucree  are,  in  my 
opinion,  the  two  best  early  Strawberries. 

Those  who  are  able  to  successfully  cultivate 
British  Queen  should  certainly  do  so,  for  it  is 
generally  considered  to  be  the  finest  flavoured  Straw- 
berry grown  ,  although  personally  I  considerCountess 
to  be  equally  good.  British  Queen,  howe\-er,  is  in 
some  soils  and  districts  not  a  success,  and  until  it 
has  been  tried  it  would  be  unwise  to  plant  it 
largely.  It  is  a  mid-season  variety.  Countess,  in 
season  at  the  same  time,  is  a  large  fruit,  of  a  true 
conical  shape,  crimson  colour,  and  richh-  flavoured. 
It  bears  good  crops,  and  I  think  has  few  superiors. 
Aromatic  and  Lord  Sutfield  are  other  Morthv  mid- 


/ 


^^<^v        >  /* 


ASl'Ali.itJL'S   CEU   ABODT  TWELVE   YEAKS   OLD   I.N    THE   aAKDB>'S   OF  SYON    HOUSE,    MIDDLESEX. 


season  kinds  ;  the  former  has  quite  a  distinct  and 
pleasing  flavour,  the  fruits  are  large  and  very  freely 
produced.  Lord  Suffield  is  a  handsome  fruit  of  a 
crimson  colour  and  good  qualit}',  in  fact  a  reliable 
and  excellent  sort. 

Of  Late  Strawberries 
those  I  would  recommend  are  Waterloo,  Dr.  Hogg, 
Veitch's  Perfection,  and  A.  F.  Barron.  There  are 
several  others  in  general  cultivation,  but  these  I 
consider  to  be  the  best.  Waterloo  is,  of  course, 
easily  recognised  by  its  intensely  dark  colour, 
sometimes  almost  black.  The  fruits  are  large, 
richly  and  distinctly  flavoured.  Veitch's  Perfec- 
tion is,  I  believe,  the  result  of  a  cross  between 
Waterloo  and  another  ;  it  is  also  large,  handsome, 
and  the  fruits  are  delicious.  The  variety  Dr.  Hogg 
produces  large  fruits,  which  are  almost  as 
deliciously  flavoured  as  those  of  British  Queen, 
while  A.  F.  Barron  is  a  valuable  late  sort,  dis.- 
tinguished  by  its  large,  almost  oblong-shaped,  and 
rather  light  coloured  fruits.  A.  P.  H. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

PERMANENT     ASPARAGUS 
BEDS. 

FO  R  many  years  the  culture  of  Asparagus 
has  been  a  great  feature  in  the  Syon 
House  Gardens,  and  at  various  times  I 
have  referred  to  the  value  of  perhianent 
beds  where  a  large  supply  is  needed 
every  season.  Our  system  is  an  old 
one,  and  I  am  afraid  1  have  nothing  new  to  relate 
as  regards  culture.  When  Asparagus  is  forced 
annually  with  leaves  and  manure  its  natural 
flavouring  is  preserved,  and  beds  forced  regularly 
respond  to  the  forcing  without  much  heat  being 
applied.  In  making  new  Asparagus  beds,  I  mean 
for  forcing,  the  same  results  could  be  obtained  from 
hot-water  pipes  with  less  outlay  for  labour,  after 
the  first  expenditure,  and  the  forcing  could  be  done 
with  ease.  It  is  not  convenient  in  all  cases  to  have 
a  separate  boiler  and  connexions  specially  for  this 
purpose,  though  for  large  supplies  the  cost  would 
soon  be  repaid.  At  least  three  years  growth  is 
necessary  before  roots  can  be  lifted  for  forcing, 
and  the  roots  are  useless  afterwards.  Doubtless 
there  are  other  advantages  with  hot-water  pipes, 
over  leaves  and  manures,  and  that  is  earliness,  as 
the  beds  can  be  started  earlier  and  a  regular  heat 
maintained  in  severe  weather,  whereas  leaves  are 
more  readily  affected  bj'  cold  and  the  growth  is 
slower,  but  I  think  the  produce  is  better,  being 
more  succulent. 

The  illustration  will  show  our  system  of  forcing, 
a  suitable  one  for  gardens  where  there  are  many 
forest  tree  leaves.  There  is  no  expense  other  thaij 
labour  in  placing  the  materials  in  position,  aqd  ■  in 
any  case  the  heating  materials  used  must  be  cleared 
away.  Permanent  beds  last  many  yeara,  if  well 
looked  after  in  the  shape  of  ample  moijtur4 
during  later  growth,  that  is,  when  cutting  cS.nses 
and  the  plant  is  building  up  the  crown  growths  for 
another  season.  When  making  new  beds  intended 
for  annual  forcing  make  them  in  the  garden  where 
carting  can  be  done  close  to  them  and  thus  prevent 
carrying  litter  from  one  part  to  another.  i 

Formation'  of  the  Beds.  | 

Ours  are  what  may  be  called  fixtures,  having 
brick  sides,  though  it  is  only  right  to  add  I  hav* 
forced  ordinary  beds  where  there  are  wide  alleysi 
by  merely  digging  out  the  alleys  and  trlling  in  with 
fermenting  material,  although  I  would  recommend 
what  we  term  permanent  beds.  Once  these  are 
made  there  is  little  trouble  afterwards.  As  regards 
the  size  and  number  of  beds  this  must  be  governed 
by  the  quantity  of  "  grass'' required.  In  our  own 
case  we  want  Asparagus  for  the  first  six  months  of 
the  year  in  good  quantity,  from  Christmas  to  mid- 
summer, and  though  we  get  the  first  six  weeks 
supply  from  lifted  roots,  the  permanent  beds  fill  in 
a  period  -ef -abo*t- ten  weeks,  and-  should  the 
ordinary  season  be  late  these  beds  are  invaluable, 
as  they  yield  freely  until  the  open  beds  are  ready. 


322 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  17,  1902. 


Oar  beds  are  4  feet  wide,  50  feet  long,  and  have 
3-feet  alleys  between  them.  The  alleya  are  3  feet 
deep,  and  when  these  are  611ed  there  is  nearly 
5  feet  of  fermenting  material,  as  we  have  nearly 
2  feet  above  the  beds.  No  matter  how  firmly 
placed  there  is  great  shrinkage.  There  are  three 
rows  of  plants  in  each  bed  ;  this  is  quite  close 
enough.  Where  space  is  no  consideration  two 
would  be  ample,  and  I  would  advise  planting  at 
the  start  in  preference  to  sowing  the  seed.  The 
walls  are  only  4i  inches  thick  and  holes  are  made 
in  them  so  as  to  allow  the  warmth  to  reach  the 
the  roots  freely.  On  the  top  of  the  walls  we  place 
a  framework  of  wood,  merely  wooden  boards  bolted 
together  and  supported  by  cross  pieces.  Formerly 
we  used  sliding  shutters  over  the  beds,  but  now 
merely  cover  with  dry  litter,  Bracken,  or  anything 
light,  as  it  is  desirable  to  allow  the  "grass  "  to  get  a 
little  colour  in  fine  weather.  Of  course,  if  glass  or 
frames  were  used,  it  would  be  better  to  "green" 
the  tops  of  the  growth,  but  I  do  not  advise  it 
unless  hot-water  pipes  were  used,  as  there  are 
constant  breakages.  Ineed  hardlysay  thesoil  inside 
the  beds  is  good  at  the  start;  it  was  ordinary 
garden  soil,  well  enriched  with  manure,  dug  or 
trenched  3  feet  deep,  the  rough  material  being 
placed  in  the  bottom  for  drainage. 

When  manure  is  the  fermenting  material  less 
depth  between  the  beds  in  the  alleys  would  suffice, 
but  it  would  need  more  constant  renewal  and  should 
not  be  allowed  to  heat  too  much.  In  our  own  case  the 
old  leaf-soil,  after  being  in  the  alleys  nearly  twelve 
months,  is  cleared  out  in  October,  and  is  then  in 
good  condition,  as  the  liquid  manure  the  beds 
receive  finds  its  way  to  the  alleys  and  enriches  the 
decaying  leaves  there  more  quickly.  The  new 
leaves  are  then  wheeled  into  the  alleys  in  Novem- 
ber, and  as  each  layer  of  leaves  is  placed  in  position 
they  are  well  trodden.  I  do  not  advise  placing  all 
in  as  they  are  gathered,  but  to  place  in  bulk  for  a 
time  ;  they  then  get  heated,  and  can  be  made  more 
solid  than  when  used  in  a  dry  or  fresh  state.  I 
prefer  to  do  the  filling  in  at  the  end  of  November  ; 
the  boards  are  then  placed  in  position  and  the 
leaves  filled  in  to  the  top.  In  two  or  three  weeks 
it  is  necessary  to  add  more  material,  and  if  the 
Asparagus  is  required  early  I  place  warm  litter 
over  the  surface  of  the  beds,  and  cover  this 
with  rough  covers  to  throw  off  rain  or  snow,  but 
otherwise  dry  litter  that  is  soon  removed  when  the 
cutting  is  done  is  preferable. 

We  cut  our  first  supplies  at  the  end  of  January  or 
early  in  February,  according  to  the  weather,  and 
from  the  middle  of  February  with  six  beds  being 
forced  we  are  able  to  cut  daily. 


I  have  tried  resting  three  beds  one  season  and 
cutting  hard  the  next,  but  there  is  no  gain  in  this. 
I  find  it  best  to  force  all,  and  take  a  moderate  crop, 
and  the  supplj',  as  I  have  previously  noted,  lasts  ten 
weeks  or  more.  With  plants  grown  thus  there 
must  be  ample  feeding  in  the  summer.  We  give 
liberal  supplies  of  liquid  manure,  or  failing  this 
artificial  foods,  and  well  water  them  in  with  the  hose. 
Salt  and  soot  are  applied  as  soon  as  the  cutting 
ceases,  and  a  mulch  of  decayed  manure  is  given  on 
the  surface.  Some  of  our  beds  have  been  regularly 
forced  for  man)'  years,  and  in  the  early  autumn  the 
tops  are  cut  and  the  beds  freely  exposed  ;  it  is  well 
not  to  allow  any  seed  berries  to  fall,  and  when 
cutting  the  grass  remove  every  bit  of  it.  That  not 
large  enough  for  use  as  a  vegetable  is  used  for 
soups.  I  would  also  add  that  the  beds  are  raised 
18  inches  above  the  surface,  and  there  is  a  strong 
coping  on  the  walls.  This  is  necessary  to  support 
the  walls  when  filling  up. 


FORCING    SEA.KALE. 

Few  forced  vegetables  are  more  delicious  than 
Seakale,  and  where  roots  are  numerous  a  supply 
may  be  kept  up  throughout  a  considerable  period. 
Where  only  a  limited  quantitj'  is  required  the 
Mushroom  house  is  a  good  place  in  which  to  force 
this  vegetable.  That  shown  in  the  accompanying 
illustration  was  grown  in  a  box  in  a  Mushroom 
house.  As  complete  darkness  and  a  temperature 
of  about  60°  are  necessary,  the  Mushroom  house 
is  an  ideal  place  for  Seakale  forcing. 

G.  Wythes. 


AMERICAN     NOTES. 

Growing  Water  Lilies  from  Seed. 

The  process  of  growing  Water  Lilies  from  seed 
is  not  very  tedious,  and  may  be  done  as  successfully 
in  the  humblest  home  as  in  the  finest  conservatory. 
I  submit  a  few  notes  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
desire  to  try  growing  them  from  seed,  but  who  do 
not  have  access  to  a  greenhouse. 

Hardy  Nymphiian. — An  important  item  in  this 
connexion  is  fresh  seed.  The  best  time  to  sow 
it  is  in  the  autumn,  soon  after  maturing.  Self- 
sown  seeds  nearly  all  germinate.  When  this  has 
been  omitted  they  can  be  sown  out  of  doors  in 
either  natural  or  artificial  ponds,  in  March  or 
early  April.  Select  a  sunny,  sheltered  place  where 
the  water  is  6  inches  or  S  inches  deep,  with  good 
soil  bottom.  Plant  each  seed  by  pressing  it  into 
the  soil  and  covering  it  a  quarter  of  an  inch  deep. 


Protect  from  fish  and  water-fowls.  I  prefer  to 
sow  in  boxes  of  soil  sunk  in  the  water.  Then  in 
case  of  a  rise  or  fall  of  the  water  the  boxes  can  be 
dragged  in  or  out,  keeping  the  young  Lilies  at  a 
congenial  depth  until  they  become  strong  enough  to 
battle  against  drought  and  flood.  If  one  has  no 
ponds,  seed  may  be  sown  in  tubs  filled  half  full  of 
soil  and  to  the  brim  with  water.  With  the  warm 
days  of  spring  and  early  summer  most  of  the  seed 
will  germinate  and  the  plants  may  remain  in  the 
seed  beds  until  the  following  spring. 

Xf/umliin>yi>i  may  be  planted  in  exactly  the  same 
way  as  hardy  Nympha;as.  The  seed  should  first 
have  a  hole  filed  through  the  hard  shell  to  al'ow 
the  water  to  penetrate  to  ihe  kernel,  else  they  may 
lie  in  the  water  indefinitely  without  germinating. 

Tender  Kymp/mafi. — In  the  absence  of  a  green- 
house probably  the  best  way  to  sow  these  is  in 
a  tub  of  water  in  a  bay  window  or  other  light 
window  near  to  a  heater.  With  the  majority  of  us, 
probably  the  kitchen  window  with  a  southern 
exposure  and  close  to  the  range  is  most  convenient. 
The  time  fpr  sowing  these  is  now  at  hand  in  order 
to  have  early  bloom.  Fill  some  5-inch  pots  with 
garden  soil,  sprinkle  the  seeds  on,  press  down 
firmly  and  cover  one-eighth  of  an  inch.  Sand  is 
preferred  for  covering,  as  it  holds  the  soil  in  place 
and  prevents  the  seeds  from  floating.  Two  or  three 
pots  will  be  sufficient  for  a  packet  of  seed.  Set  the 
pots  in  a  tub  and  pour  in  water  until  the  pots  are 
covered  4  inches  or  5  inches.  Keep  the  water  at  a 
temperature  of  70"— a  little  higher  in  the  daytime 
would  be  better — and  some  of  the  varieties  will  be 
up  within  two  weeks.  Others  will  linger  for  a 
month.  When  the  first  leaves  begin  to  float 
transplant  them,  giving  each  plant  a  2-inch  pot. 
In  course  of  a  month  they  will  need  another  shift 
and  may  call  for  more  tub  room  before  removing 
to  the  ponds  out  of  doors  in  June.  Persons  not 
having  space  enough  to  admit  a  tub  can  sow  the 
seeds  in  pails,  bowls,  pans,  or  any  convenient  and 
clean  vessel  that  will  hold  water,  preserving  the 
same  idea  as  given  above. 

Seeds  of  tender  Water  Lilies  may  also  be  sown 
out  of  doors  after  the  manner  recommended  for 
hardy  ones,  except  they  should  not  be  planted 
until  danger  of  frost  is  over  and  the  water  becomes 
warm.  This  throws  the  blooming  period  so  late  in 
the  autumn,  however,  it  is  but  little  practised, 
except  to  grow  the  tubers  to  keep  over  winter  for 
another  season. 

Victoria  Heyia  and  V.  Randi  require  a  tempera- 
ture of  90°,  and  an  attempt  to  grow  them  without 
a  greenhouse  generally  ends  in  failure.  V.  Trickeri 
(Cruziaua)  will  germinate  under  the  same  con- 
ditions as  the  tender  Nympha^as. 

]'arietie>i. — A  word  on  this  might  not  be  out  of 
place  just  here.  All  seed  cannot  be  relied  on  as 
producing  absolutely  the  same  variety  as  its  parent. 
All  varieties  of  Water  Lilies  do  not  mature  seed  ; 
some  seeds  are  slow  to  germinate.  For  these 
reasons  the  practice  of  reproducing  Water  Lilies 
from  seed  is  not  in  general  favour.  A  sufficient 
degree  of  success  may  be  gained,  however,  to 
liberally  reward  one's  eft'orts.  The  varieties  that 
do  best  from  seed  are :  Tender — Victoria  Regia 
and  its  varieties  ;  N.  Zanzibarensis  and  its  varieties  ; 
N.  dentata,  N.  O'Marana,  N.  Lotus,  N.  gracilis, 
N.  sculifolia,  N.  citrulea.  Hardy — N.  odorataand 
most  of  its  varieties  ;  N.  tuberosa  and  its  varieties  ; 
the  Nelumbiums. — liEo.  B.  Moulder,  in  American 
Gardenimj. 


SE.iK.iLE    FORCED    IN    B0.\    IN    MUSHROOM    HOUSE. 


Xanthoceras    sorbifolia. — A    Handsome   Tree 
FOR  a  Lawn. 

Xanthoceras  sorbiftilia  is  a  tree  well  adapted  to 
lawn  decoration  anywhere  except  in  the  most 
northern  regions  of  New  England,  being  quite 
hardy  as  far  up  as  Massachusetts.  It  is  not  over 
particular  as  to  soil  and  prefers  a  sunny  position. 
It  is  a  deciduous  small  tree,  very  eft'ective  with 
its  flowers,  while,  red  streaked  at  the  base  of  each 
petal. 

It  is  a  native  of  Northern  China,  related  to  the 
Bladder  Nuts  and  Horse  Chestnuts,  and  further 
interesting  as  being  the  only  representative  of  the 
genus  to  which  it  belongs.  Its  name  is  given  for 
the  presence,  between  the  petals,  of  curious  yellow 


May  17,  1902  ] 


THE  GARDEN. 


323 


horn-shaped  glands.  It  is  one  of  the  most  attrac- 
tive of  the  hard}'  plants  which  our  gardens  owe  to 
Northern  China,  the  region  from  which  many  of 
the  most  beautiful  trees  and  shrubs  in  cultivation 
have  been  brought,  and  was  discovered  seventy 
years  ago  b^'  the  German  botanist  Bunge,  who 
accompanied  a  Russian  mission  which  travelled 
overland  from  St.  Petersburg  to  Pekin.  It  was 
not,  however,  introduced  into  our  gardens  until 
nearly  forty  years  later,  when  the  French  niis- 
sionar}'  David  sent  it  to  the  Jardin  des  Plantes,  in 
Paris. 

In  spite  of  its  hardiness  and  the  beauty  of  its 
flowers  Xanthoceras  is  still  rare  in  gardens.  The 
opposite  pinnate  leaves  are  S  inches  to  1'2  inches  in 
length  ;  the  leaflets  are  alternate,  linear-oblong, 
acute,  coarsely  serrate,  dark  green  and  glossy  on  the 
upper  surface  and  pale  on  the  lower.  The  flowers 
are  produced  in  great  profusion  in  lateral  racemes 
8  inches  or  12  inches  long,  appearing  as  the  leaves 
are  unfolding.  The  fruit,  which  is  a  Pear-s'iaped 
capsule,  not  unlike  that  of  some  of  the  smooth- 
fruited  Horse  Chestnuts  in  general  appearance, 
finally  splits  into  three  valves,  and  contains  a 
number  of  globose,  nearly  black,  shining  seeds  half 
an  incli  in  diameter. 

Most  of  the  plants  which  have  been  tried  in  this 
country  liave  perished  sooner  or  later,  and  it  is  un- 
usual to  find  either  here  or  in  Europe  so  large, 
vigorous,  and  healthy  a  specimen  as  the  one  at 
Dosoris,  New  York. 

In  the  Garden  and  Forent  in  189.3  we  read  : 
"  From  the  Abbe  David's  notes  we  learn  that 
Xanthoceras  is  a  tree  15  feet  to  18  feet  high,  and 
exceedingly  rare  in  those  parts  of  China  aud 
Mongolia  which  he  visited,  that  it  is  cultivated  in 
the  gardens  of  Pekin,  and  that  the  seeds  are  eaten 
by  the  Chiuese." — Ameri:an.  Gardtitin;/. 


"WHITE     CORALILLA     (PORANA 
PANICULATA). 

This  is  a  favourite  climber  in  Jamaica.  Climbing 
white  Lilac  is  its  best  and  shortest  description. 
It  has  a  delicious  scent,  not  quite  that  of  Lilac, 
and  yet  not  altogether  unlike  it.  The  leaves  are 
glaucous,  witli  a  powdery  surface,  and  add  greatly 
to  the  beauty  of  the  milk  white  flowers,  the  colour 
relation  being  most  harmonious.  The  sprays  as 
they  are  seen  in  the  basket  show  the  various 
arrangements  to  which  as  a  cut  flower  this 
Coralilla  lends  itself.  The  stalks  are  stitt'  and 
wiry,  and  terminal  sprays  will  either  stand  up  or 
hang  down.  The  lateral  panicles  and  the  stiff'ness 
of  their  stalks  are  clearly  shown  in  the  picture. 
The  whole  flower  spray,  including  terminal  and 
laterals,  runs  often  to  several  feet.  Rather  short 
pieces  here  have  been  chosen  for  the  illustration. 
The  basket  is  21  inches  long,  and  as  it  stands  on 
the  table  measures  something  over  0  inches  high 
at  the  ends  and  8  inches  iu  the  dip  by  the  handle. 
This  will  give  the  scale. 

Porana — which  means  traveller — is,  as  its  name 
implies,  a  climber  of  riotous  growth.  Left  to 
itself  the  quick-growing  sprays  drop  upon  the 
ground  and  root  so  that  it  soon  takes  possession 
of  a  large  tract  if  not  looked  after.  It  climbs  to 
the  top  of  the  highest  trees.  Its  chief  use  in  the 
garden  is  to  cover  walls  and  fences,  and  we  like 
to  have  it  within  reasonable  reach  for  picking. 
By  affinity  it  is  a  Convolvulus,  but  Lilac  is  what 
it  looks  like.  W.  J. 


FRITILLARIAS    AND     THEIR 
CULTURE.-I. 

(  Continued  from  page  303. ) 
Group  III. — F.  Meleageis  anb  its  Allies. 
This  group  contains  a  number  of  important 
garden  plants.  They  are  low-growing  herbs, 
ranging  from  a  few  inches  to  2  feet  in  height ; 
stems  slender,  often  curiously  twisted,  bearing 
nodding  balloon-shaped  inflated  flowers,  gene- 
rally and  very  lieautifully  netted  with  some 
contrasting  colour.  Their  bulbs  are  round, 
and  are  composed  of  two  thick,  starchy  scales, 


with  a  growing  bud  at 
the  junction  of  the 
two  halves.  Mice,  rats, 
and  other  rodents  are 
very  fond  of  these 
liulbs,  and  they 
should  not  be  planted 
in  places  known  to 
be  infested  with  these 
depredators. 

Culturally,  these 
Fritill  arias  need  a 
light  soil  and  a  warm 
position ;  the  dwarfer 
ones  grow  best  on 
rockery  slopes,  not  too 
steep  ;  the  taller  and 
stronger  plants  will 
grow  anywhere — the 
herbaceous  border, 
the  wild  garden,  the 
woodland  or  shrub 
beries  are  all  suitable 
places  ;  they  grow 
alike  in  shade  and 
sunshine,  and  they  are 
what  I  call  sociable 
bulbs,  v.g.,  they  thrive 
so  much  the  better 
in  turf  or  among 
plants  such  as  would 
form  a  carpet  over 
them  and  assist  them 
at  a  time  when  they 
are  heljiless  by  with- 
drawing moisture 
from  the  scale  bases. 

A  poor  soil  where 
grasses  struggle  to 
keep  alive  will  not 
support  Fritillarias  ; 
a  light,  not  too  rich, 
soil  will  grow  them 
well  enough.  They 
may  be  planted 
beneath  deciduous 
trees  if  grasses  grow 
there  also,  but   they 

will  not  succeed  in  places  where  the  grass  does 
not  grow.  A  few  species  are  rare  garden  plants ; 
these,  of  course,  would  find  a  place  propor- 
tionate to  their  worth  in  the  rare  plant  border. 

F.  Meleagris,  the  popular  or  variable 
"Snake's  Head  Fritillaria,"scarce]y  needs  either 
description  or  praise.  The  flowers  range  in 
colour  from  almost  pure  white  through  shades 
of  grey,  brown,  chocolate,  rose,  purple,  and 
maroon.  They  are  freely  produced,  generally 
in  ones  a,nd  twos,  and  they  average  1  inch  to 
2  inches  in  length  and  span.  The  bulbs  being 
itjexpensive  and  easy  to  establish,  it  is  a  plant 
one  can  confidently  recommend  for  naturalising. 
It  seeds  freely  and  increases  fairly  well  by 
means  of  off'sets,  and,  being  a  British  plant, 
cannot  fail  to  do  well.  Once  established  and 
left  to  themselves,  they  will  not  maintain  so 
great  a  range  of  colours  in  the  second  and  third 
generations  as  they  now  embrace,  these  being 
the  results  of  careful  selection  by  wholesale 
growers.  A  very  wet  or  very  dry  soil  will  not 
suit  them,  and  the  difiiculty  with  mice  must 
have  frequent  attention.  A  great  many  coloured 
forms  have  received  descriptive  names  at  the 
hands  of  their  raisers  ;  alba,  the  earliest  to 
flower,  coniorta  (white),  rosea,  rubra,  purjmrea, 
/ore-p!eno,  &c.,  describe  themselves  ;  one  selec- 
tion known  as  latifolia,  really  a  Caucasus 
species,  originally  described  by  Willd.,  but 
now  merged  into  the  Meleagris  group  by  inter- 
crossing, and  collectively  called  "the  broad- 
leaved  Fritillaria,"  are  very  vigorous  and 
varied  in  colour.    They  make  better  garden 


WUITE  CORAHI.LA   (PORANA   PANICULATA). 


plants  than  F.  Meleagris  proper,  succeeding 
best  in  clumps  of  twenty  or  more.  They 
do  not  naturalise  so  readily  as  the  narrow- 
leaved  types,  as  they  are  gross  feeders  and 
speedily  resent  neglect. 

F.  aurea  (Schott.). — An  Asia  Minor  plant, 
and  one  of  the  most  fascinating  of  all  Fritil- 
larias, grows  but  a  few  inches  high,  and  bears 
a  solitary,  pendulous,  balloon-shaped  flower 
from  1  inch  to  2  inches  across,  golden -yellow 
in  colour,  faintly  netted  on  both  surfaces  with 
maroon  tracery,  but  moreheavily  flecked  maroon 
on  the  outside.  The  outer  base  of  the  flower  is 
also  flushed  with  the  same  colour.  The  bulbs 
are  scarcely  larger  than  a  good-sized  Pea,  but 
they  are  wonderfully  tenacious  of  life.  This 
plant  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage  when  planted 
in  breadths  on  gentle  slopes  or  raised  borders, 
sowing  the  bulbs  broadcast  as  one  wou'd  do 
Peas.  The  plant  is  very  hardy,  and  the  bulbs 
should  not  be  lifted  to  store.  They  attain 
much  greater  size  and  flower  in  greater  pro- 
fusion when  allowed  to  remain  in  the  ground. 

G.  B.  Mallett. 
(To  he  contimied.) 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS    FOR 
ENGLISH    GARDENS. 

Since  Loudon  published  his  great  work  on  the 
trees  and  shrubs  grown  in  Britain,  now  more 
than  sixty  years  ago,  they  have  greatly 
increased  in  number.    There  is  now  available 


324 


THE    GAEDEN. 


[May  17,  1903. 


THE    WAYKARING    TREE    (VIBCKNT.M    LANTANA)    JN    FLOWER. 

for  tlie  planter  a  splendid  host  of  hardy '  requirements  as  to  soil  and  other  conditions, 
woody  plants  to  select  from,  comprising  things  and  care  and  thought  are  needed  in  selecting 
thsa  are  suitable  for  almost  every  variety  of  conifers  for  any  given  place.  Their  indis- 
poWtion  ani aspect,  soil  and  climate.  Vet  the  criminate  planting,  however,  three  or  four 
interest  taken  in  trees  and  shnibs  is  neither  so  ,  decades  ago  not  only  caused  what  has  since 
general  nor  so  comprehensive  as  one  might  proved  to  be  a  loss  of  much  time  and  money, 
expect  ;  certainly  it  has  not  increased  .since  but,  still  worse,  it  led  also  to  the  neglect  of  the 
Loudon's  time  in  the  same  ratio  as  the  number  hardy  flowering  trees  and  shrubs,  which,  after 
of  introduced  exotic  shrubs.  Nurserymen  will  all,  must  form  the  most  important  and  most 
tell  you  that  it  "does  not  iiiy"  to  keep  up  i  permanent  feature  of  a  garden.  Among  the 
large  collections  :  the  general  demand  is  for  a  trees  that  have  never  been  adequately  repre- 
few  popular  things.  sented  may  1  le  mentioned  the  magnificent  Oaks, 

Surprising  ignorance  exists  among  those  who  Ashes,  Maples,  Hickories,  Birches,  Magnolias, 
have  the  management  of  gardens  of  the  wealth  and  Amelanchiers  of  North  America  ;  the 
of  trees  and  shrubs.    One  need  never  go  far  Cherries,  Peaches,  Magnolias,  Craljs,  Thorns, 


White-beam  trees.  Alders,  and  Walnuts  of 
Northern  Asia  :  the  Limes  of  Eastern  Europe  ; 
as  well  as  many  other  fine  trees  like  the  Liquid- 
ambar  and   Tulip  Tree.     Many  shrubs  have 

■        ■  The 


to  see  evidence  of  this.  Who,  indeed,  is  not 
familiar  with  the  typical  "mixed  shrubbery" 
of  English  gardens,  both  public  and  private, 
that  depressing  repetition  of   Laurel,  Pontic 

Rhododendron,  Privet,  Aucuba,  and  such  like.  ,  never  received  the  notice  they  deserve. 
It  is  an    arrangement  that   gives   a   bank   of    Wayfaring  Tree  (see  illustration)  is  one. 
greeneiy-nothing  else.    There  . is  nothing  in  ,  ^        AekaN(!EMENT  of  Teees  and  Shrubs. 
It  that  invites  one  to  examme  it  m  detail.    Ihe 

greater  prominence,  however,  that  the  horti-  The  art  of  arranging  plants  to  the  best 
cultural  press  is  giving  to  this  branch  of '  advantage,  both  as  regards  health  and  general 
gardening  will,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  bring  about  ettect,  is,  to  judge  from  appearances,  not  \vide- 
a  change.  However  fashion  and  taste  may  '  spread.  Yet  it  is  the  most  important  of  all 
alter,  the  hardy  trees  and  shrubs  must  always  '  mattera  connected  with  the  'use  of  trees  and 
constitute  the  most  important  feature  of  the '  shrubs  in  gardens.  The  choicest  and  most 
garden.  In  other  words,  they  must  always  beautiful  of  plants  are  ineffective  if  the 
form  the  background  or  framework,  if  nothing  arrangement  and  treatment  are  unsuitable. 
more,  for  all  other  branches  of  outdoor  The  commonest  fault  in  planting  shrubberies 
gardening.  *incl  groups  is  the  absence  of  any  leading  idea 

At  present,  trees  in  gardens  are,  as  a  rule,    in   regard  to   the   disposition   of  the  material 
better  cared  for  and  more  interesting  than  the   that   has  to  be  used.     Often   the  sole  object 


shrubs.  Their  size  protects  them  in  a  great 
measure  from  the  indiscriminate  huddling 
together  that  their  dwarfer  allies  are  often 
sut)jected  to.  But  the  same  failure  to  appre- 
ciate  to   the  full   the  abundant   variety  and 


appears  to  be  to  fill  up  the  space  with  little 
regard  to  anything  more  than  the  size  of 
the  plants  at  the  time  they  are  put  out.  A 
temporary  symmetry  is  all  that  is  aimed  at. 
Yet  nothing  gets  out   of   hand  sooner  than  a 


beauty  of  hardy  trees  is  as  ajijiarent  as  it  is  '  shrubbery  so  planted.  In  the  perfectly  planted 
among  shrubs.  The  conifer  "  craze,"  which  shrubbery  or  group  every  specimen  tells  its  own 
was  at  its  height  thirty  to  forty  years  ago,  did  I  tale.  Above  all,  indiscriminate  mixing  of  the 
good  in  introducing  to  the  gardens  and  parks  material  to  be  used  should  be  avoided.  This 
of  Britain  many  noble  and  beautiful  trees.  But  so  often  produces  the  monotonous  effect  seen 
conifer  planting  was  overdone.  Many  members  in  shrubberies, 
of  this  family  are  somewhat  particular  in  their  i      Undoubtedly  the  best  way  of  planting  shrubs 


is  in  bold  and  informal  grouping ;  and 
this  for  several  leasons.  In  the  first  place, 
the  beauty  of  all  plants,  more  especially 
of  the  smaller  ones,  is  greatly  increased 
when  they  are  planted  in  the  mass  ;  and, 
in  the  second,  they  do  not  afterwards  give 
so  much  trouble  in  thinning  out.  If  the 
plants  are  allowed  to  get  crowded  the  effect 
is  not  spoilt  as  it  is  where  shrubs  are 
mixed  indiscriminately,  whilst  if  trouble  is 
taken  to  periodically  space  them  out  as 
they  increase  in  size  the  general  scheme  of 
arrangement  is  not  disturbed.  Again,  the 
cultivation  of  a  collection  of  shrubs  is 
more  satisfactory  where  the  grouping 
system  is  adopted,  for  it  allows  each 
species  to  get  the  most  suitable  conditions, 
especially  in  regard  to  such  matters  as 
soil  and  aspect.  Nor  are  plants  so  likely 
to  suffer  from  the  encroachments  of  greedy 
neigh bour.s.  In  how  many  gardens  are  one's 
gardening  instincts  hurt  by  seeing  (for 
instance)  a  Darwin's  Barberry  in  hopeless 
conflict  with  a  Cherry  Lairel,  or  a  Privet 
smothering  out  some  choicer  but  less 
vigorous  neighbour  !  Where  beds  are  cut 
out  on  lawns  the  arrangement  necessarily 
has  to  be  more  formal,  but  there  exists 
the  same  or  a  greater  necessity  for  using 
plants  in  the  mass  as  opposed  to  the  mixing 
of  various  things. 

All  this,  of  course,  does  not  preclude 
the  judicious  association  of  two  or  more 
species  with  a  view  to  enhancing  each 
other's  attractions.  To  the  experienced 
planter  many  such  arrangements  suggest  them- 
selves. Aniong  shrubs  with  variegated  or 
coloured  foliage,  for  instance,  an  association  of 
golden  and  purple  is  very  ettective,  such  as 
Prunus  Pissardi  with  an  undergrowth  of  Cornus 
Spaethii.  Shrubs  with  flowers  of  the  same 
purple  and  yellow  colours,  and  blooming 
simultaneously,  also  make  bright  effects. 
Nothing  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  year  is 
more  charming  than  a  group  of  the  .Japanese 
Witch-Hazel  (Hamamelis  arborea),  grown  as 
standards  rising  out  of  a  mass  of  the  fragrant 
purple  Mezereon  (Daphne  Mezereum).  Another 
pretty  combination  is  Berberis  Aquifolium  and 
Jasminum  nudiflorum.  The  flower-laden 
branches  of  the  latter  (them.selvos  leafless  at 
the  flowering  time)  are  furnished  with  a  very 
effective  background  in  the  purple  tinted 
foliage  of  the  Berberis.  Nearly  all  shrubs 
or  small  trees  of  spare  or  erect  hal)it  are 
better  planted  thinly  enough  to  allow  of 
.shrubs  growing  beneath  them.  But  spreading 
.shrubs  like  the  Philadelphus  or  Diervillas 
are  not  adapted  for  associating  with  other 
things. 

All  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs  that  flower 
early  in  the  year,  such  as  Forsythia,  Daphne 
Mezereum,  Witch  -  Hazels,  Almonds,  and 
Peaches  should  have  a  background  of  ever- 
green. Nowhere  do  the  Almonds  and  Peaches 
look  so  lovely  as  when  they  are  planted  in  a 
group  with  a  mass  of  Holly,  Holm  Oak,  Yew, 
or  similar  evergreen  behind  them. 

The  Abuse  of  Variegated  Plants. 

One  of  the  most  curious  of  modern  crazes  in 
gardening  is  the  fashion  for  variegated  plants. 
Some  of  the  greatest  rubbish  that  has  ever 
been  foisted  on  the  planter  has  been  in  the 
shape  of  these  plants.  Really  well  variegated 
shrubs  are  valuable ;  shrubs,  that  is,  whose 
foliage  has  the  white,  red,  or  golden  markings 
clear,  abundant,  and  well  defined.  But  the 
practice  has  arisen  of  naming  and  putting  on 
the  market  any  plant  which  shows  the  least 
variegation,  no  matter  how  spotty  and  meagre 
it  may  be.    It  is  a  good  plan  never  to  buy  new 


May  17,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDKN. 


325 


variegated  shrubs  on  the  strength  of  catalogue 
descriptions.    See  them  first. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  trees  and  shrubs  with 
golden,  purple,  or  parti-coloured  leaves  are  of 
the  greatest  use  in  gardens  when  used  in 
moderation  and  in  their  proper  place.  They 
can  be  planted  more  freely  and  in  a  greater 
proportion  in  small  enclosures  like  the  ordinary 
villa  garden  than  they  can  where  broad  land- 
scape effects  are  obtainable.  The  remarks  that 
have  already  been  made  in  regard  to  the 
massing  of  single  species  of  shrubs  apply  with 
particular  force  to  variegated  kinds.  They  are 
infinitely  better  when  used  to  produce  a  few 
large,  broad  masses  of  colour  than  they  are 
sprinkled  about  amonjst  ordinary  green-leaved 
plants.  The  variegated  Negundo, 
one  of  the  brightest  and  best  of 
variegated  trees,  has  been  planted 
so  freely  in  some  places  as  to 
become  wearisome.  The  golden- 
leaved  form  of  Ligustrum  ovali- 
folium— fatally  easy  of  propaga- 
tion and  cultivation  —  whilst 
undoubtedly  the  bestof  variegated 
Privets,  and  very  useful  in  towns 
and  dull,  bricked-in  places,  is  in 
danger  of  becoming  a  nuisance 
elsewhere.  Prunus  Pissardi, 
lovely  as  it  is  in  the  tender  ruby- 
red  of  its  young  foliage,  turns  a 
heavy,  dull  purple  later  on,  and 
is  to  my  mind  taking  too 
prominent  a  place  in  gardens. 
On  the  whole,  it  maybe  said  that 
while  the  prevailing  tone  of  the 
garden  should  be  a  restful  green, 
variegated  plants  are  useful  for 
producing  occasional  bright 
effects,  especially  at  seasons  when 
flowers  are  scarce  out  of  doors. 
W.  J.  Bean. 

(  To  be  continued. ) 


an  excellent  plant  for  rough  ground  in  company 
with  Crambes  and  Rheuma  and  plants  of  a  like 
nature. 


IRIS  WILLMOTTIANA. 

One  can  hardly  have  too  many  Irises,  especially  of 
those  which  bloom  early  in  the  year,  and  a  new  one 
of  merit  is  always  worth  securing  it  possible. 
Among  those  which  have  flowered  here  for  the  first 
time,  and  which  has  withstood  the  past  ■ninter, 
was  Iris  willmottiana,  a  beautiful  little  plant, 
which  opened  its  first  flowers  in  the  earliest  days 
of  April.  It  has  been  grown  in  sandy  peat  with  a 
south-west  exposure,  and  passed  through  the 
winter  with  perfect  safety,  although  unprotected 
in  any  way.      It  is  a   delightful   little   Iris  with 


NOTES  ON   HARDY 
PLANTS. 

MUSCAEI    HELDPvEICHI. 

ONE  of  the  earliest  of 
the  Musearis  or  Grape 
Hyacinths,  this  is  also 
one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful, and  its  increase, 
like  that  of  most 
others  of  the  genus,  is  so  rapid 
that  one  would  expect  to  find  it 
even  cheaper  than  it  is.  It  has 
good-sized  flowers  of  a  pretty  light 
blue,  edged  with  white  and  produced 
in  a  raceme  of  a  fair  length.  I 
first  procured  it  by  way  of  Italy, 
but  hearing  that  a  better  type  was 
to  be  procured  in  a  Dutch  nursery 
I  obtained  it  from  there,  with  the 
result  that  there  was  no  visible 
difference  between  the  plants  from 
the  different  sources.  I  have  seen 
it  with  longer  spikes  than  I  can  grow  here,  but  I 
attribute  this  to  my  cultivating  it  in  light  soil, 
where  the  Musearis  generally  increase  freely,  though 
I  think  they  are  usually  finer  in  a  good  loam.  It  is 
a  pleasing  Grape  Hyacinth,  which  associates  well 
with  any  of  the  others,  although  earlier  than  most 
of  these.  S.  Arnott. 


linear,  and  of  a  light  green  colour.  Out  of  the 
centre  of  the  foliage  comes  the  sessile  umbel  o£ 
short  pedicelled  erect  flowers,  resembling  in  shape 
very  much  those  of  our  Crocus  when  about  half 
expanded,  but  when  fully  opened  they  are  salver- 
shaped,  with  slender,  rather  long  tubes.  The 
colour  of  the  flowers  is  pure  white,  and  they  are 
deliciouslj'  scented,  reminding  one  of  the  scent  of 
Lilium  candidum.  According  to  Mrs.  Austin,  a 
great  authority  on  Califoruian  p)ants,it  grows  in  dry 
sandy  soil  in  valleys  and  on  hillsides  of  California, 
while  Mr.  E.  L.  Greene  found  it  in  moist  alkaline 
soil  on  the  banks  of  the  Shasta  River,  California. 
Under  cultivation  it  seems  to  succeed  well  as  a  pot 
plant.  Several  bulbs  can  be  grown  together  in  a 
pot  or  pan  in  sandy  soil  or  a  mixture  of  leaf-mould, 
loam,  and  sand,  or  planted  out  in  a  sunny  corner 
of  the  rockery  or  the  border.  If 
planted  or  potted  during  the  early 
autumn  when  the  bulbs  are  dormant 
flowers  appear  in  March  and  April. 
Apart  from  their  great  beauty,  they 
are  exceedingly  interesting,  and  a 
few  will  scent  a  whole  room. 
Leucocrinum,  or,  as  it  is  also  named, 
Weldenia,  is  only  represented  by  a 
single  species — Weldenia  Candida  of 
Schultesfil — as  it  has  never  been 
fiiund  again,  and  is  evidently 
identical  with  the  above,  especially 
as  plants  sent  to  us  under  the  name 
of  Leueocrinuni  candidnm  have 
never   differed    from     those   of    the 


well-known  species. 


G.  R. 


SENECIO   MACROPHTLLUS  :     ITS   VALUE  ON   EDGE   OF   WOODLAND. 


pale  lilac  standards  and  lilac  falls,  with  a  large 
white  blotch  and  spots  of  rather  deep  blue  near 
the  blotch.  It  is  only  about  5  inches  high,  and, 
like  many  of  the  dwarf  Irises,  is  very  pretty  in 
its  habit  of  growth.  S.  Arnott. 

Eosedene,  Carsethorn,  by  Dumfries,  N.B. 


SENECIO  MACROPHYLLUS. 
There  are  many  plants  of  bold  form  and  im- 
portant aspect  that  are  either  a  little  too  coarse  for 
association  with  the  best  plants  in  a  mixed  border 
or  are  wanting  in  the  attractiveness  of  bright  colour, 
but  that  are  delightful  things  to  come  upon  in  a 
half  wild  place.     Such  an  orie  is  this  large  Senecio, 


LEUCOCRINUM  MONTANUM. 
This  is  a  very  pretty  and  distinct  spring  flower  of 
the  Lily  order.  If  better  known  I  feel  sure  it 
would  be  a  great  favourite  with  lovers  of  this  class 
of  plants.  It  has  a  whitish,  fleshy  root  or  bulb 
about  2  inches  long,  which  produces,  usually  in 
March,  several  erect  and  stiff  leaves  about  9  inches 
to  1  foot  long  and  half  an  inch  broad,  narrow  and 


HESPEROCALLIS  UNDU- 
LATA. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
plants  of  the  Lily  order,  but  unfor- 
tunately under  cultivation  it  does- 
not  always  succeed  as  one  could 
wish.  Besides,  the  supply  of  well- 
matured  large-sized  bulbs  has  of 
late  years  run  very  short,  and  plants 
in  flower  are  consequently  rarely 
seen.  The  bulb  of  this  nionotypic 
genus  is  ovate,  resembling  that  of 
some  of  the  trumpet  Narcissi.  The 
linear  fleshy  leaves  are  distinctly 
wavy  at  the  margin,  from  9  inches 
to  1  foot  long  and  about  half  an  inch 
wide  ;  the  stem  is  about  I  foot  high, 
and  bears  several  white  flowers,  of 
which  the  perianth  is  funnel-shaped  ; 
the  tube  is  rather  long  and  slender. 
It  flowers  usually  during  March  and 
April,  but  sometimes  later.  The 
most  provoking  part  is  that  very 
often  perfectly  large-sized  and 
apparently  well-ripened  bulbs  refuse 
to  grow,  or  are  most  erratic  by 
growing  and  flowering  quite  out  of 
season,  or  a  bulb  will  remain  dor- 
mant in  the  ground  and  grow  when 
one  has  given  up  all  hope  of  ever 
seeing  it  in  beauty  again.  It  should 
be  potted  up  during  the  late  autumn 
in  a  mixture  of  soil  consisting  of 
about  half  of  loam  and  sand  and  half 
of  crushed  granite  or  other  hard 
stone.  The  soil  should  at  first  be 
kept  perfectly  dry  till  about  the 
New  Year,  when  now  and  then  water  should  be 
given.  If  planted  out  of  doors  (it  is  perfectly  hardy) 
it  is  best  planted  in  a  warm  position  against 
a  south  wall  or  in  a  rock  garden  in  a  similar 
mixture  of  soil,  and  the  bulbs  should  be  lifted 
immediately  when  ripe  and  stored  away  in  dry 
sand  under  glass  exposed  to  the  sun  to  give 
them  a  good  baking. 

In  America  its  appropriate  name  is  Desert 
Lily,  no  doubt  because  it  grows  in  the  dry, 
arid  soil  of  Colorado.  Collectors  tell  me  that 
the  ground  in  which  it  grows  is  so  hard  when  the 
bulbs  are  mature  that  even  with  a  pick  it  is  most 
diflicult  to  get  at  them,  and  they  are  there- 
fore rarely  collected  until  later  on,  when  the 
autumn  rains  soften  the  soil  and  make  collecting 


326 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  17,  1902. 


less  difficult.     Like  many  other  bulbs  of  the  Lily 
tribe,  they  are   regarded  as  food   by  the  Indians. 

G.  Reuthe. 

CARDAMINE  ROTUNDIFOLIA. 
When  March  comes  round  this  Cardamine  never 
fails  to  flower,  and  one  would  not  willingly  he 
without  its  white  flowers,  even  although  the 
whole  plant  is  not  one  of  the  choicest,  if  we  judge 
by  the  standards  of  plants  which  follow.  If, 
however,  we  take  it  and  look  at  it  by  the  side  of 
others  in  bloom  at  the  Fame  time  we  find  it  has 
merits  of  some  kind.  For  one  thing  it  is  earlier 
than  the  Arabis,  another  white  crucifer,  and  it  will 
also  do  for  suppl3ing  a  picking  of  flowers  from  the 
open  earlier  than  anything  of  its  class  with  white 
blooms.  It  has  also  the  advantage  of  growing 
well  in  a  shady  place  and  of  flowering  for  a  long 
time  at  a  stretch.  Then,  it  will  also  grow  in  poor, 
rich,  light,  or  heavy  soil,  and  is  readily  increased 
by  division.  !^.  A. 


TROPICAL   FRUITS   FOR 
ENGLISH  GARDENS. 

(Continued  fiviJi  jmi/f  ■In-!.) 
Ban.vnas. 
Banan.\s  are  largely  consumed  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  tropical  countries,  being  excelleut  food. 
They  are  also  now  an  ini])ortant  article  of  food 
in  temperate  countries,  large i|uantities  of  them 
being  imported  all  the  year  round  from  the 
West  Indies  and  the  Canary  Islands  for  con- 
sumption in  the  British  Islands.  They  are 
cheap,  conveniently  portable,  and  so  wholesome 
that  they  will  soon  rival  if  they  do  not  surpass 
the  Orange  and  even  the  Apple  for  general  use 
among  all  classes. 

The  imported  Banana,  from  the  fact  that  it 
has  to  be  cut  before  it  is  ripe,  and  for  other 
reasons,  is   necessarily   inferior   in   i|uality  to 


PRIMUI^A   C;-nSJANA   (LIFE   SIZE). 


fruit  that  has  been 
allowed  to  mature 
on  the  plant.  Con- 
sequently high  - 
class  Bananas  can 
only  be  obtained 
in  this  country 
from  homegrown 
plants.  A  good 
Banana  is  one  of 
the  most  enjnya' le 
of  fruits.  At  Kew 
and  m  a  few  other 
large  gardens  in 
England  where 
they  can  be  con- 
veniently cultivated  they  are  grown  to  per- 
fection. '  There  are  numerous  varieties,  vary- 
ing in  size  from  9  inches  in  length  by 
3  inches  in  diameter  to  dainty  little  thin- 
skinned  fruits  no  bigger  than  a  man's  thumb. 
They  are  either  angular  or  smooth  and  regular, 
their  colour  is  either  yellow  or  russet-red,  and 
their  flesh  resembles  that  of  a  ripe  Apricot  in 
colour  and  mellowness  or  is  pale  yellow  and 
less  juicy.  Some  sorts  are  said  to  be  of  a 
briaht  green  co'our  when  ripe. 

There  are  about  forty  species  of  Musa,  only 
few  of  which  have  edible  fiuits,  the  best  of 
tlu.se  being  M.  sapientum,  of  which  there 
are  many  varieties,  and  i\f.  Cavendishii  or 
chinensi.s  the  Chinese  Banana.  The  Plantain 
is  distinguished  only  by  having  fruits  that 
reipiire  to  be  cooked  to  be  palatalile. 

'Ihe  best  of  tho.se  tried  at  Kew  are  Champa, 
Medji,  Raja,  Ramkela,  Guindy,  Arracan, 
Martaban,  and  Ladies'  Finger.  Other  sorts 
have  recently  been  obtained  from  the  Malay 
Archipelago  and  are  being  tested  at  Kew  and 
also  in  the  West  Indies.  The  Chinese  Banana 
is  the  principal  variety  grown  in  the  Canary 
Islands  ;  it  is  also  a  favourite  with  English 
cultivators,  because  of  its  comparatively  dwarf 
stature  and  the  enormous  size  of  its  bunch  of 
fruits,  weighing  nearly  a  hundredweight  and 
bearing  about  dM)  "lingers"  (fruits).  Such  a 
bunch  may  be  developed  in  a  house  not  more 
than  H)  feet  high.  Each  stem  produces  one 
bunch  of  fruit  and  then  dies,  to  be  succeeded 
by  several  other  stems  from  the  same  root- 
stock.  It  is  not  advisable  to  allow  more  than 
one  stem  to  each  stool,  the  others  may  be 
removed  and  grown  singly  in  pots  or  tubs. 
The  bunches  should  be  cut  when  the  fruits 
begin  to  change  colour  and  hung  in  a  warm 
room  to  ripen.  They  are  at  their  best  when 
fairly  soft  to  the  touch. 

First-rate  results  may  be  had  from  plants 
grown  in  large  pols  or  tubs.  The  root-system 
of  a  Musa  is  large,  and  therefore  a  liberal 
allowance  of  space  is  necessary.  They  like  a 
strong  loamy  soil  and  liberal  supplies  of 
manure.  All  the  forms  of  M.  sapientum 
require  a  tropical  temperature  ;  the  Chinese 
Banana  may  be  grown  in  an  intermediate 
temperature,  but  it  is  at  its  best  only  in  a 
house  where  the  winter  temperature  does  not 
fall  below  CO"  and  in  summer  not  lower  than 
70°.  If  a  border  can  be  aflforded  for  Musas  it 
should  be  at  least  3  feet  deep,  and  contain 
■2  feet  of  rich  soil  on  1  foot  of  drainage.  The 
soil  should  be  renewed  for  every  fresh  planta- 
tion. Musas  enjoy  plenty  of  sunshine  and 
a  liberal  supp'y  of  water  at  all  times. 

Tree  Tomato. 
A  Solan um-like  plant, Cyphomandra  betacea, 
which  has  become  popular  in  some  tropical  and 
sub-tropical  countries  where  the  fruits  are  eaten 
raw  or  made  into  a  conserve.  It  is  a  native  of 
Peru,  where  it  is  known  as  Tomato  de  la  Paz. 
The  fruits  are  sometimes  offered  for  sale  by 


V.>, 


PRIMULA   ALI.IONII    (UFE  SIZE). 

London  dea'ers.  As  with  the  Tomato  proper, 
a  liking  for  the  Tree  Tomato  has  to  be  ac(iuired. 
They  are  really  palatable  and  refreshing  to 
those  who  have  learnt  to  appreciate  thein. 
Their  flavour  is  that  of  the  Sweet-Cup  (Passi- 
tlora  edulis)  with  a  suspicion  of  raw  Potato 
added.  The  plant  grows  readily  from  seeds, 
and  if  planted  in  a  warm  house  in  good  loam 
it  forms  in  al  lOut  two  years  a  big  herbaceous 
shrub  not  unlike  a  Datura,  copiously  branched, 
and  bearing  pendent  clusters  of  egg-shaped 
orange-yellow  fruits  -Ih  inches  long ;  the  thick 
leathery  rind  encloses  a  soft  pulp,  which  can 
be  easily  sucked  or  squeezed  into  the  mouth. 
Several  hundreds  of  fruits  are  borne  by  a 
single  iilant.  They  keep  well,  and  no  doubt 
would  travel  easily. 

With  regard  to  this  plant  we  have  yet  to 
teach  English  fruit  eaters  that  it  deserves  a 
place  among  dessert  fruits.  In  hot  weather 
it  is  decidedly  refreshing.  Twenty  years  ago 
it  was  difficult  to  get  many  people  to  eat 
Tomatoes,  and  most  of  those  who  did  partook  . 
of  them  only  in  a  cooked  state.  It  is  very 
different  now.  In  tropical  countries  the  Tree 
Tomato  is  rapidly  growing  in  popularity. 

The  Pomegbanate. 

Fruits  are  rarely  produced  by  the  Pome- 
granate (Punica  granatum)  in  England,  where 
it  is  grown  only  as  an  attractive  flowering 
shrub  ;  but  in  countries  where  the  sun  has 
more  power  it  fruits  as  freely  as  the  Apple 
does  with  us.  It  has  been  cultivated  by  man 
from  an  early  period,  being  frequently  men- 
tioned in  the  Bible.  It  is  wild  in  Cabul  and 
Persia,  and  is  cultivated  throughout  the  warmer 
regions  of  the  globe.  The  best  varieties  are 
propagated  by  grafting.  Seedlings  only  should 
be  used  as  stocks  for  the  several  tirst-tate 
varieties  which  bear  fruits  containing  plenty 
of  pulp.  There  is  a  seedless  variety  known  to 
Indian  cultivators.  Captain  Burton,  in  his 
"  Pilgrimage  to  El  Medina  and  Mecca,"  de- 
scribes three  which  he  met  with  in  Arabia : 
"  The  best  is  Shami  ;  it  is  red  outside  and 
very  sweet,  almost  stoneless,  like  a  Muscat 
Grape,  deliciously  perfumed,  and  as  large  as 
an  infant's  head.  Turki  is  large  and  of  a 
white  colour.  Misri  has  a  greenish  rind  and 
a  somewhat  sub-acid  and  harsh  flavour." 

This  fruit  is  worthy  the  attention  of  the 
English  fruit  specialist.  It  is  not  difficult  to 
picture  a  light  house  with  a  southern  aspect 
filled  with  Pomegranates  trained  as  espaliers 
close  to  the  glass  in  the  same  manner  as  Peach 
trees  are.  They  would  certainly  flower  freely, 
as  they  do  against  a  south  wall  outside, 
and  if,  by  a  little  skilful  manipulation,  a  good 


May  17,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


327 


set  of  fruit  could  be  obtained,  they  would, 
when  ripe,  be  a  "  beautiful  picture  of  bright 
green  leaves  and  solid  crimson  fruit  of  the 
richest  hue  and  most  admirable  shape."  A  good 
Pomegranate  is  good  eating,  but  a  seedless  one 
is  much  to  be  preferred  to  those  one  usually 
gets  from  the  shops,  which  have  been  compared 
to  a  bag  of  moistened  shot.  Canon  Ellacombe 
states  that  in  1876  he  counted  more  than  sixty 
ripe  fruits  on  a  Pomegranate  at  Bath,  which 
demonstrates  that  sunshine  sufficient  to  mature 
the  fruit  can  be  obtained  ia  some  parts  at  any 
rate  of  these  islands.  W.  W. 

( To  he  continued. ) 


Miss  Willmott's  at  Warley,  where  it  is  grown 
in  a  cold  frame  and  in  well-drained  )3ots, 
furnished  with  small  pieces  of  limestone.  It 
is  shown  in  the  "Icones"  of  Keichenbach, 
XVIL,  t.  60. 

P.  alpina  (Schleich)  syn.  P.  EhiBtica  (Eeich.) 
is  figured  in  the  "Icones"  of  Keichenbach, 
page  1121.  It  is  a  natural  hybrid  of  P.  Auricula 
and  viscosa,  inclining  more  to  Auricula  :  the 
leaves  are  those  of  Auricula,  but  the  flowers. 


THE    MOUNTAIN    PRIMULAS. 

(Continued  from  page  373.) 
II. — Saxatile  oe  Rock-loving  Species. 
This  section  is  essentially  European,  com- 
prising exclusively  the  species  of  the  Auricula 
group  which  are  found  in  the  Alps  and  the 
mountains  of  central  and  southern  Europe. 
The  type  of  this  group  is  Primula  Auricula 
(see  page  272),  the  parent  of  all  the  garden 
Auriculas.  All  the  species  are  furnished  with 
stout  fleshy  roots,  having,  like  others  of  the 
Primulacew,  a  pleasant  anise-like  smell.  These 
roots  are  reservoirs  of  sap  and  moisture ;  their 
extremities  and  their  rootlets  are  thrust  far 
down  into  the  interstices  of  the  rocks,  searching 
for  moisture  in  their  deepest  recesses,  and  then 
developing  a  thick  wig-like  mass  of  rootlets. 
Their  rooting  arrangement  is  thus  specially 
fitted  for  rocky  fissures  or  walls,  where  they 
can  resist  drought,  having  these  reservoirs  of 
sap  hidden  av.'ay  in  their  roots.  They  only 
need  for  their  nourishment  a  little  vegetable 
humus  or  mould,  and 
all  stagnant  moisture 
must  be  avoided  or 
they  will  rot.  In  pot 
culture  there  must  be  j* 
ample  drainage,  which 
entails  regular  and 
frequent  watering. 
They  like  a  horizontal 
position  in  the  cracks 
of  rocks  and  walls, 
in  full  light,  and 
greatly  dislike  fog  and 
smoke. 

The  following  is  a 
description,  arranged 
alphabetically,  of  the 
species  of  this  group 

that  are  in  cultivation,  with  their  hybrids  .and 
varieties  : — 

P.  aclmontenns  (Gusm.)  is  simply  a  P. 
clusiana  with  denticulate  leaves,  a  character 
which  also    occurs  not    unfrequently  in   the 

P.  Allionii  (Lois.)  is  a  rare  plant  of  the  Alps 
of  Piedmont  and  the  Maritime  Alps,  where  it 
grows  at  a  height  of  4,000  feet  to  .5,000  feet  in 
the  fissures  of  calcareous  rocks  of  the  Cairos 
and  the  Fenetre  Alps.  It  grows  in  close,  short, 
dwarf  tufts,  and  retains  the  dried  leaves  at 
the  base,  which  form  greyish  cushions.  The 
green  leaves  are  few  in  number,  viscous,  slightly 
denticulate,  and  faintly  margined  at  the  edge  ; 
they  are  collected  in  small  rosettes,  from  which 
the  flowers  rise,  one  or  two  upon  so  short  a 
peduncle  that  they  are  almost  hidden  among 
the  leaves ;  the  corolla  is  lilac-rose,  with 
emarginate  lobes.  This  species  is  very  near 
P.  tyrolensis,  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by 
its  opaque  and  almost  entire  leaves,  by  the 
sharper  lobes  of  the  calyx,  and  by  the  lobes  of 
the  corolla  being  not  bifid,  but  only  emargipate. 
It  is  rare  in  cultivation.   I  have  only  seen  it  at 


p.    C.VRNIOLICA   (life   SIZE). 

of  a  violet  colour,  are  nearer  those  of  viscosa.* 
B.  Arctotis  (Kern.),  also  a  natural  hybrid, 
often  produced  between  P.  Auricula  and 
hir.mfa.  Kerner,  who  greatly  admired  this 
hybrid,  described  it  in  187.')  +  The  leaves  are 
glandular,  showing  the  influence  of  P.  hirsuta, 
and  the  calyx  has  none  of  the  farinaceous 
powder  that  characterises  Auricula.  It  is 
found  wild  in  the  calcareous  Alps  near  Thun, 
and  in  those  of  the  Engadine  and  the  Tyrol. 
It  abounds  in  the  gardens  of  the  country 
people  in  the  Pusterthal  (Tyrol).  It  has  been 
grown  there  from  time  immemorial,  and  here 
may  possibly  have  been  the  origin  of  the 
garden  Auriculas  of  Holland  and  England,  in 


which  countries  they  were  already  established 
m  the  sixteenth  century.  1  Mr.  Arends,  at 
Ronsdorf,  has  made  a  speciality  of  Primula 
Arctotis,  and  has  produced  some  beautiful 
varieties.S  The  type  of  P.  Arctotis  of  Kerner 
has  velvety  red-brown  flowers,  but  rose  and 
yellow  colourings  also  occur  among  the  natural 
varieties. 

P.  Auricula  (L.)  syn.  P.  lutea  (Vill.),  a  well- 
known  plant  in  gardens,  where  it  is  seldom 
seen  in  the  wild  form,  this  having  been  so 
generally  modified  by  cultivation.  It  grows 
naturally  in  the  cracks  of  calcareous  rocks  of 
the  alpine  chain,  in  the  Black  Forest,  the 
Appenines  and  Carpathians,  up  to  7,000  feet. 
It  has  fleshy  ovate-elliptical  leaves,  glabrous 
on  both  sides,  narrowing  gradually  to  the  base, 
with  a  very  short  glandular  ciliation.  The 
flowers  are  golden-yellow,  with  a  pale  powdery 
circle  at  the  throat.  From  two  to  tea  of  the 
powerfully  scented  flowers  are  borne  in  an 
umbel  ;  the  calyx  is  often  powdery  and  is 
ovately  toothed.  This  plant  enjoys  limestone 
and  a  half  sunny  place.  It  is  easily  grown  in 
the  rock  garden  or  in  the  open  garden. 

P.  Balhisii  (Lehm.),  a  synonym  of  P.  ciliata 
(Moretti). 

P.  bellunensis  (Venzo),  of  the  Italian  Tyrol, 
is  a  synonym  of  P.  ciliata  or  Balhisii.  I 
cannot  see  myself,  nor  am  I  aisle  to  find  out, 
any  difference  between  them. 

P.  Bernime  (Kern.),  syn.  P.  Salisii  (Briigg) 
has  occasionally  been  found  in  the  Bernina 
Alps.  It  is  a  hybrid  of  P.  hirsuta  (All.)  and 
viscosa  (All.).  The  leaves  are  large  and  downy, 
slightly  viscous  ;  flowers  reddish,  sometimes 
very  deep  violet,  but  the  colour  is  variable. 
It  is  midway  between  the  two  parents. 

P.  biffora  (Huter),  a  plant  of  the  Tyrolese 

Alps,  a  hybrid  of  /'.  Hoerkeann  and  minima. 

Very  pretty  and  quite  dwarf,   inclining  to  P. 

minima.    The  leaves  are  cuneate-obovate  with 

from  five  to  seven  &hort  teeth  ;   the  stem  is 

not  glutinous,  and  the  involucral  leaves  of  the 

calyx  are  very  short,  thus  distinguishing  it 

from  minima.    The  flowers  are 

large,  their  colour  lilac-mauve, 

with  a  pale  circle  at  the  throat. 

P.     Cadinensis    (Porta),     a 

synonym  of  P.  wnenis  (Thom). 

P.     cah/cina     (Reich.),      a 

synonym     of     P.     spectabilis 

(Tratt.). 

P.  carniolica  (Jacq.),  syn. 
P.  inte^rifolia  (Scop,  non  L.), 
syn.  P.  Freyheri  (Hladnik), 
P.  jellenkiana  (Freyh.),  P.  mulliceps  (Freyh.). 
This  ]ilant,  which  was  distributed  a  few  years 
ago  by  a  German  botanist-nurseryman  under 
the  name  P.  multiceps,  belongs  to  the  calcareous 
Alps  of  Carinthia  at  .3,000  feet  to  4  .500  feet.  The 
leaves  are  entire,  light  green,  slightly  waved, 
shining  ;  the  lilac-rose  flowers  are  borne  in 
bouquets  of  two  to  fifteen  together.  In  cul- 
tivation the  plant  becomes  densely  tufted,  and 
gives  a  large  quantity  of  bloom  in  April  and 
May.    At  the  garden   of  La  Linntea,  at  aa 

•  In  our  Swis3  Alps,  especially  in  Hie  limestone,  a  good 
number  of  natural  hybrid  forms  of  P.  Aurmi'a  s,nA  insc na 
may  be  found  in  many  tints  and  colours.  In  the  Vaudoia 
Alps,  on  the  Croix  de  .Tavernaz  and  the  flanking  buttress  of 
the  Dent  du  Midi,  also  on  the  Uent  de  V;ilerette,  these 
iiatui-al  crosses  are  abundant.  They  also  occur  in  the  neigh- 
boui-hood  of  Davos. 

t  "  Ost.  bot.  Ztschr.,"  1S7.5,  page  124. 

J  Kerner:  "  Geschichte  der  Aurikel,"  Zeitschriff  der  D. 
and  O.  Alpenvereins,  vol.  vi. 

§  Just  lately,  M.  Arends,  whom  I  had  asked  for  informa- 
tion, tells  rae  that  he  obtained  his  varieties  of  P.  Arctotis 
from  a  P.  nlrea  (Hort.)  and  a  P.  pubescens  "albo  ciliata 
macrantha"  which  he  had  crossed,  and  further  by  successive 
crosses  with  P.  speutabiUs,  hiisuta,  &c.  In  the  case  of  these 
varieties  it  is  therefore  not  the  P.  Arctotis  of  Kerner  that  is 
in  question,  but  a  hybrid  Primula  which  can  be  known  by 
any  popular  name  that  will  serve  to  distinguisli  it  for  garden 
use. 


^^ 


328 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  17,  1902. 


111., 
in 


altitude  of  5,.360  feet,  the  tufts  spread  to  more 
than  a  foot  across. 

P.  Caruelii  (Porta). — This  is  a  hybrid  of 
P.  sjiectabilis  and  glaucescens  that  the  Abb6 
Porta  found  in  the  Alps  near  Bergamo,  and 
which  also  occurs  fairly  often  in  the  mountains 
of  the  Val  Camonigo,  above  the  Lac  d'Iseo. 
The  leaves  closely  resemble  those  of  spectabilis, 
that  is  to  say,  they  are  green  and  glutinous, 
not  bluish,  and  show  marginal  dots ;  the 
flowers  are  large  and  of  a  bright  carmine-rose, 
the  bracts  being  shorter  than  the  pedicels  of 
the  flowers,  which  is  the  character  of  P. 
illaucexcens. 

P.  Chui-chilli  (Hort.).— This  plant,  distri- 
buted by  the  German  horticulturist  Gusmus, 
as  a  hybrid  of  P.  Auricula  and  clusiann,  is  in 
fact  one  of  the  numerous  forms  of  Primulii 
Arctotis. 

P.  ciliata  (Moretti). — This  is  figured  in  the 
"  Icones "    of    Keichenbach    t.    b'2.   f. 
Syn.  P.   Balhisii  (Lehm.).     It  grows 
Dolomites  and  the  southern 
and   eastern    limestone   Alps 
of  Austria.     This  species  is  , — 

distinguished  from  Auricula 
by  its  deep  yellow  scentless 
flowers,  by  the  leaves  which 
are  longer,  stouter,  and  more 
pointed  and  edged  with 
glandular  hairs,  and  by  the 
general  absence  of  the  whitish 
powder  which  is  found  only 
on  the  corolla,  whereas  in 
Auricula  it  is  spread  more 
or  less  over  all  the  portions  of 
the  plant  that  are  above 
ground.  It  does  well  in  cul- 
tivation, growing  even  larger 
than  the  type  Auriculn. 

P.  clusiatm,  (Tauch),  syn. 
P.  ciliata  (Koch  ),  P.  specta- 
bilis (Fuss,  non  Tratt).  Cal- 
careous Alps  of  Austria  from  3,000  feet  to  6,500 
feet.*  One  of  the  most  beautiful  species 
of  the  genus.  Unfortunately,  P.  glaucescens 
and  P.  spectabilis  are  often  sold  for  it,  so  that 
many  amateurs  are  misled.  P.  clusiana  has 
dark  green  leaves,  neither  dotted  nor  viscous, 
which  distinguishes  it  from  spectabilis,  and 
neither  stiff  nor  glaucous,  which  distinguishes 
it  from  glaucescens  :  they  are  very  slightly 
margined  with  wbite.  The  flowers  are  large, 
even  very  large,  of  a  bright  violet-carmine 
colour  and  highly  ornamental ;  the  lobes  of  the 
corolla  are  divided  to  the  middle,  while  in 
glaucescens  they  are  only  cut  down  one-third 
of  their  length.  It  is  figured  in  Reichenbach's 
"  Icones,"  XVII.,  t.  nS.  It  succeeds  admirably 
in  cultivation,  flowering  in  April  and  May,  and 
sometimes  even  in  the  end  of  March,  and  likes 
half  shade. 

P.  commutata  (Schott). — A  rare  species,  only 
known  in  the  Herberstein  in  Styria  in  the 
fissures  of  porpbyrytic  rock  at  an  altitude  of 
1,000  feet  to  1,-iOo  feet.  It  is  figured  in 
Reichenbach's  "  Icones,"  XVII.,  t.  66,  and  is 
distinguished  by  the  length  of  petiole  and  by 
the  even  denticulation  of  the  leaves,  which 
widen  much  to  the  top  ;  the  flowers  are  large 
and  of  a  fine  rose-violet  colour.  It  is  es- 
tremely  rare  in  cultivation. 

P.  confinis  (Schott),  syn.  P.  ciliata  (Schrank 
non  Mor.). — Pax  makes  this  only  a  variety  of  P. 
hirsuta  (All.),  (Reichenbach's  "Icones,"  XVII., 
40,  t.  62).  It  is  distinguished  from  the  type 
hirsuta{PiM.)  by  the  extremely  regular  denticu- 

•  It  i3  doubtless  in  error  that  Wahlenberg  (Fl.  Carp.  55) 
ascribes  it  to  the  Carpathians,  where  it  has  never  been  found 
since  his  time ;  he  may  have  meant  to  indicate  it  in  the 
mountains  of  Transylvania,  where  it  grows  freely. 

t  .Tournal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  vol.  vii., 
No.  2,  page  27a. 


selves.  There  were  about  fifty  plants  of  all  colours 
growing  in  8J-inch  and  9i-inch  pots,  and  the 
number  of  flowers  on  each  plant  averaged  250, 
whilst  the  age  of  the  eorms  varied  from  two  to  ten 
years.  The  old  veterans  were  flowering  as  freelj' 
as  the  younger  ones.  Mr.  Jones  has  no  secrets  as 
to  his  treatment  of  the  corma,  but  imparted  his 
knowledge  very  readily  to  me,  and  I  believe  he 
would  to  anj'one  else  requiring  it.  His  mode  of 
treatment  may  be  new  to  a  great  many,  but  it  is  a 
plan  which  he  has  practised  with  great  success  for 
a  number  of  years.  Early  in  May  the  plants  are 
planted  in  a  fairly  rich  garden  soil  on  an  east 
border,  backed  by  a  high  wall,  consequently  they 
receive  little  sun.  They  are  planted  12  inches  to 
15  inches  apart,  and  remain  in  this  position  until 
the  end  of  October  or  even  later.  Should  there  be 
any  signs  of  frost  Mr.  Jones  puts  a  mat  over  them. 
They  are  then  taken  up  and  potted  in  the  size 
pots  above  stated,  put  into  a  cool  house  or  frame, 
and  afterwards  into  an  average  temperature  of 
55'*  to  flower.  Your  readers  need  not  hesitate 
to  plant  out  the  corms  about  the  middle  of  April, 
because  I  know  of  some  that  were  planted  at  that 
date  this  year,  and  since  that  time  there  has  been 
8"  of  frost,  and  neither  flowers  nor 
foliage  are  in  the  least  injured. 

Wherwell.  W.  Pascoe. 


\ 


PRIMULA   COMMUTATA   (LIFE  SIZE). 

lation  of  its  leaves,  which  are  also  characterised 
by  a  very  distinct  margin  set  with  glandular 
hairs.  The  flowers  are  large  and  of  a  bright 
carmine  colour. 

P.  coronata  (Porta). — A  hybrid  of  P.  specta- 
bilis and  minima,  found  in  South  Tyrol  by  the 
Abbe  Porta  in  1886,  and  quoted  by  Mr.  Dewar 
in  his  synonymic  list  of  the  genus  Primula.t 
We  received  the  plant  from  Porla  for  the 
garden  of  La  Linntea,  but  were  unable  to 
keep  it.  The  leaves  are  very  regularly  toothed 
and  .set  with  glandular  hairs.  I  have  never 
seen  it  in  flower. 

(j'eneva.  H.  (_'oEEE\  on. 

(To  be  continued.) 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

( The   Editors  are  not  responsible  for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondeiits.  J 


OLD    CYCLAMEN    CORMS. 

[To  THE  EniTOR  OF  "  The  Garden."] 

SIR,  —  When  reading  in  The  (Garden, 
April  19,  of  the  wonderful  results  by 
"  E.  H."  respecting  old  corms  of  Cycla- 
men persicum,  I  thought  an  account  of 
some  Persian  Cyclamens  I  had  the 
privilege  of  inspecting  about  six  weeks 
ago,  when  they  were  in  full  beauty,  would  be 
interesting  to  your  readers.  The  plants  were 
grown  bv  Mr.  Jones,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Silva,  Test- 
combe  House,  Andover,  Hants.  They  were  the 
finest  plants  for  size  and  quantity  of  bloom  that  I 
have  ever  seen,  and  I  have  seen  many  collections 
in  difi'erent  parts  of  the  country.  They  reflect 
great  credit  on  the  grower.  I  am  sorry  that  I 
cannot  send  you  a  photograph  of  tlie  plants  so 
that  your  numerous  readers  might  see  for  them- 


ACACIA  CULTRIFORMIS. 
■^S.  [To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."! 
^  Sir, — As  some  doubt  existed  concerning 
the  name  of  the  Acacia  shown  by  Mrs. 
Denison,  of  Berkhamstead,  in  February 
\  last,  and  awarded  the  first-class  certi- 
ficate of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  I  would  like  to  ask  Jlr.  W. 
Ballimore,  whose  notes  on  the  plant 
appear  in  The  Garden  of  April  19, 
page  255,  whether  he  is  quite  sure  of 
his  ground  in  referring  the  exhibited 
plant  to  the  above-named  species.  In 
my  own  mind  I  am  strongly  of  opinion 
that  a  mistake  has  been  made,  and  there 
is  certainly  very  considerable  difference 
between  the  exhibited  examples  and 
Mr.  Dallimore's  description.  At  page  255  it 
is  stated  to  be  "one  of  the  most  popular," 
which  is  equivalent  to  its  being  either  a  well- 
known  or  a  freely  grown  plant.  As  a  matter 
of  fact  hardly  a  member  of  the  floral  committee 
knew  anything  about  it.  Again,  it  is  further 
described  as  being  "distinguished  by  its  rather 
loose  habit,  glaucous,  knife-shaped  phyllodes,  and 
short  racemes  of  fluffy,  deep  yellow  flowers."  In 
some  respects  this  description  is  quite  at  variance 
with  Mrs.  Denison's  plant.  In  this  latter  the 
phyllodes  are  nearly  cuneate,  or  between  this  and 
open  fan-shaped,  while  the  racemes  are  not  short, 
but  very  long,  compact,  and  densely  furnished 
with  globular  heads  of  yellow  flowers.  The 
flowering  sprays  are  often  2  feet  or  3  feet  long,  and 
a  distinguishing  feature  of  all  the  growths  shown 
on  February  25  is  their  attenuated  character. 
This  character  and  the  long  drooping  flowering 
sprays  are  both  fairly  well  shown  in  the  illustration 
at  page  255  of  The  Garden.  Indeed,  there  is  the 
drooping  character  of  the  Willow  in  Mrs.  Denison's 
plant,  that  also  possesses  a  strong  Hawthorn-like 
fragrance.  Another  feature  of  the  latter  plant  is 
the  way  the  flowers  terminate  on  the  long  sprays 
and  are  followed  by  the  nearly  cylindrical  growth 
that  extends  for  several  inches  in  length,  till 
tapering  at  the  extreme  point.  On  this  unflowered 
portion  the  phyllodes  are  so  closely  and  densely 
set  that  were  the  stems  erect  instead  of  drooping 
a  closely  imbricate  feature  would  be  set  up. 
Finall}'  there  is  a  greyish  tone  in  the  young  stems 
or  branches  and  a  blue  or  sea-green  tone  in  the 
phyllodes.  In  the  French  edition  of  the  "  Dic- 
tionary of  Gardening"  (Nicholson)  is  a  coloured 
plate  of  Acacias,  A.  cultriformis  figuring  therein  ; 
and,  assuming  this  to  be  true,  as  it  agrees  witli  Mr. 
Dallimore's  description  of  the  species  in  several 
respects,  it  is  safe  to  say  there  is  nothing  in 
common  between  this  and  the  examples  shown  of 
Mrs.  Denison's  plant.  "Don,"  who  in  his 
Dictionary  enumerates  nearly  300  species,  describes 


May  17,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


329 


A.  cultriforrais  thus :  —  "  (Cunningh  MSS.) 
branches  smooth,  angular,  phyllodia  eultriform, 
ending  in  an  acute  hooked  mucrone,  which  leans  to 
one  side,  and  furnished  with  a  gland  on  the  middle 
of  the  upper  margin,  1.  nerved,  the  nerve  nearly 
parallel  with  the  lower  margin,  heads  crowded, 
disposed  in  racemes,  which  are  either  axillary  or 
terminal.  Phyllodia,  8  lines  to  10  lines  long  and 
4 lines  broad."  Nothing  is  said  of  fragrance,  quite 
a  strong  point  in  the  exhibited  plant,  and  the 
dimensions  of  the  phyllodes  are  quite  foreign  to 
this  also.  The  subject  is  well  worth  a  little 
ventilation  and  should  be  cleared  up  ;  indeed,  the 
characteristic  beauty  and  elegance  of  Mrs.  Denison's 
plant  almost  demand  this. 

Hampton  Hill.  E.  H.  Jenkins. 


THE    LONDON    DAHLIA    UNION. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  G.^rden."] 
Sir, — I  was  pleased  to  read  the  paragraph  in  your 
recent  issue  regarding  the  meeting  of  the  London 
Dahlia  Union.  It  is  a  little  unfortunate  that  a 
fuller  report  of  that  meeting  was  not  made  public, 
as  it  would  have  entirely  dispelled  the  idea  which 
exists  in  the  minds  of  a  few  that  the  London 
Dahlia  Union  is  in  any  way  antagonistic  to  the 
National  or  other  Dahlia  societies.  It  is  true 
there  was  a  feeling  expressed  on  the  part  of  one  or 
two  gentlemen  present  that  they  should  form 
themselves  into  a  society  with  officials,  committees, 
&c^,  but,  after  the  chairman's  speech,  this  idea 
was  departed  from,  and  the  meeting  unanimouslj' 
resolved  to  work  on   the.  lines   indicated  ^by   the 


chairman  (Mr.  Cuthbertson).  He  pointed  out  that 
an  exhibition  late  in  September  was  required 
and  would  be  held  by  the  trade  growers,  but  he 
saw  no  necessity  whatever  for  the  formation  of  an 
independent  society.  It  was  necessary,  moreover, 
to  avoid  the  very  appearance  of  antagonism  to  the 
National  Dahlia  Society.  He  thought  that  there 
was  nothing  to  hinder  them  going  on  under  the 
title  of  "The  London  Dahlia  Union,"  having  a 
meeting  similar  to  last  year  at  the  Aquarium,  a 
luncheon  in  the  afternoon,  at  which  any  business 
could  be  discussed  and  at  which  a  chairman  and 
a  secretary  could  be  appointed  to  arrange  the 
show  and  meeting  for  the  following  year.  He  did 
not  think  it  at  all  necessary  to  have  more  office- 
bearers, as  the  two  mentioned  were  quite  sufficient 
to  carry  out  all  arrangements  for  the  exhibition. 
This  method  would  give  a  certain  continuity  to 
the  meetings,  and  he  was  sure  they  would  be  as 
successful,  as  enjoyable,  and  as  profitable  to  the 
trade  as  the  past  ones  had  been.  In  seconding 
and  supporting  Mr.  Calhbertson's  proposal,  I 
pointed  out  that  I  thought  he  had  formulated  a 
most  happy  solution  of  the  position  of  affairs,  and 
that  the  meeting  would  in  reality  be  an  annual 
reunion  of  the  priucipal  Dahlia  growers  of  the 
country.  H.  A.  Needs. 


BRIDGES  IN  JAPANESE 
GARDENS. 

Amoni:  the  many  wonders  of  the  gardens  of 
.Japan  is  the  variety  of  form  and   treatment 


used  in  the  making  of  the  bridges.  In  an 
Iris  garden,  where  the  plants  are  in  rich  mud, 
these  are  perhaps  hardly  to  be  called  bridges, 
but  rather  causeways.  In  this  case  they  are 
made  firm  and  dry  and  broad,  so  that  the 
lovely  flowers  can  be  seen  from  all  sides  in 
perfect  comfort. 

Olten  in  the  most  dressed  gardens  the  bridge 
is  a  massive  slab  of  white  marble,  or  two  such 
slabs,  resting  on  a  middle  upright  pier  passing 
across  the  main  space  of  one  of  the  little 
ponds  ;  or  a  marble  slab  may  bridge  a  small 
space  to  lead  to  a  tiny  island  on  which  stands 
a  sacred  shrine. 

Bridges  spanning  rivers  or  wider  spaces  as 
\vell  as  garden  bridges  are  also  of  wood,  some- 
times quite  flat,  bracketed  out  from  the  two 
shores  by  overlapping  horizontal  beams  with 
a  middle  pier  if  needed ;  or  they  are  of 
wrought  stone,  and  often,  in  strong  currents, 
of  strong  stone  piers  with  wooden  structures 
above. 

A  wooden  bridge  sometimes  takes  a  high 
segmental  curve  so  that  it  forms  a  steep  stair- 
way up  and  down  ;  this  form  of  bridge  is  in 
connexion  with  devotional  ceremonial.  Such 
a  bridge  spans  a  canal  filled  with  Lotus 
(Nelumbium).  A  smaller  one  of  the  same 
form  is  associated  with  a  wonderful  growth 
of  Wistaria  forming  an  extensive  water 
pergola  as  shown  in  the  illustration. 


the  Ron;,D  bridge  at  kameido,  japan",  showing  the  \vo>derful  growth  or  WISTAEI.'I. 


330 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  17,  1902. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

POINSETTIAS. 

REMOVE  some  of  the  old  cut-back  plants 
into  a  temperature  of  about  65"  in 
order  that  they  may  produce  a  batch 
of  early  cuttings,  and  prune  unripened 
^  and  weak  growths  so  that  they  may 
break  stronger.  Syringe  the  plants 
freely,  but  do  not  apply  much  water  at  the  roots 
until  growth  has  commenced,  when  manure  water 
may  be  given  occasionally.  The  remainder  of  the 
cut-back  plants  may  be  removed  from  the  inter- 
mediate house  and  placed  on  their  sides  under  the 
stage  of  the  greenhouse  in  order  to  retard  them 
for  successional  batches  of  cuttings. 

that   have   filled   their   flowering  pots   with  roots 


should  be  regularly  supplied  with  liquid  manure  in 
order  to  develop  their  flowering  spikes.  Suckers 
may  be  taken  from  these  plants  and  placed  singly 
in  3-inch  pots  in  a  close,  moist  atmosphere,  where 
they  will  quickly  root,  and  may  be  transferred 
into  4i-inch  or  (j-inch  pots,  in  which  they  may 
flower'if  kept  well  supplied  with  liquid  manure. 
I  have  alwavs  found  these  suckers  or  cuttings  form 
the  best  plants  for  conservatory  or  house  decora- 
tion ;  being  dwarf  and  in  small  pots  the  foliage  and 
flower  are  equal  in  size  and  colour  and  are  more 
serviceable.  Cannas  require  a  very  rich  porous 
compost,  consisting  of  three  parts  fibry  and  one 
part  leaf-soil,  with  a  good  addition  of  dried  cow 
manure  and  sand. 

SOT^ANnMS    AKD    SALVIAS 

that  are  established  in  their  pots  should  be  placed 
in  cold  frames  to  harden  off,  in  readiness  to  plant 
outdoors  by  the  end  of  the  month.  Bouvardias 
that  are  forward  enough  may  be  placed  in  the  same 
frame.  Later  batches  should  be  kept  pinched  and 
growing. 

Zo.NAL  PEr-ABGONICTMa 
that  are  flowering  should  have  plenty  of  nourish- 
ment given  to  them.  Plenty  of  room  must  be  allowed 
each  plant,  or  they  will  soon  become  drawn.  A 
fairly  dry  atmosphere  and  free  circulation  of  air 
are  also  essential  to  success. 

Fra.vcoas 
that  are  showing  flower  spikes  should  be  removed 
into  a  greenhouse  and  have  soot  and  manure  water 
given  them  occasionally.  Before  the  roots  of  seed- 
lings become  much  restricted  for  room  they  should 
be  potted  oft'  into  larger  sized  pots,  using  a  compost 
of  tibry  loam  and  peat  in  equal  parts,  with  sufticient 
silver  sand,  and  placed  in  a  cold  frame. 
Chrysanthemums. 
When  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots,  and  before 
they  become  root-bound,  afford  them  larger  pots. 
The  compost  should  consist  of  the  same  materials 
as  recommended  in  a  previous  calendar.  Plants 
may  now  be  cut  down  for  decorative  purposes  ; 
they  should  be  cut  back  to  within  about  6  inches 
of  the  soil.  Great  care  must  be  exercised  in 
watering  until  growth  is  perceptible.  Syringe 
freely,  which  will  help  them  to  break.  When 
Chrysanthemums  are  required  in  small  pots  the 
tops  of  these  cut-back  plants  will  form  excellent 
cuttings.  John  Flemino. 

Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Slough. 


night  temperature  from  falling  below  70°  and  the 
plunging  material  at  about  85".  Syringe  between 
the  plants  early  on  bright  mornings,  and  admit  a 
little  air  when  the  temperature  reaches  80".  Finally 
close  the  structure,  so  that  the  temperature  re- 
mains for  a  while  at  or  near  90".  During  dull 
weather  the  day  temperature  should  stand  between 
75"  and  80".  Gently  spray  the  plants  overhead,  and 
also  the  plunging  material,  and  damp  the  floors 
when  the  house  is  closed  on  bright  days.  Remember, 
however,  that  an  excess  of  atmospheric  moisture 
creates  large  crowns,  which  detract  from  the  good 
appearance  of  the  fruit.  Keep  the  fruits  erect  by 
carefully  securing  them  to  stakes,  and  remove  all 
suckers  not  required  for  furnishing  an  ample  supply 
of  young  plants. 

The  Cherry  House. 
Frequently  examine  the  points  of  young  shoots 
and  fumigate  with  XL  All  insecticide  if  aphis 
appears.  Secure  extending  growths  to  the  trellis, 
and  stop  others  beyond  the  fourth  leaf  to  form 
spurs.  The  borders  must  be  kept  moist  as  the  fruit 
approaches  ripeness,  for  if  they  are  allowed  to 
become  dry  and  then  watered  the  fruit  will  split.  A 
similar  result  will  follow  if  a  close,  moist  atmos- 
phere "is  maintained  during  this  period,  or  if  the 
fruit  is  allowed  to  get  wet  by  being  syringed,  &c. 
Keep  the  ventilators  more  or  less  always  open, 
and  give  a  little  artificial  heat  if  external  condi- 
tions necessitate  its  being  done.  The  fruit  im- 
proves in  flavour  after  it  is  coloured  by  hanging 
for  a  time  upon  the  trees.  Trees  in  pots  will 
require  more  frequent  supplies  of  water,  but  in 
other  respects  their  wants  are  those  of  trees 
planted  in  borders. 

Cucumber-s. 
To  keep  up  a  supply  of  fruit  from  the  same 
plants  for  a  long  time  give  suitable  nourishment, 
so  that  the  plants  at  no  time  may  be  checked. 
Keep  the  roots  active  by  frequently  adding  fresh 
layers  of  turfy  loam  and  decayed  stable  manure 
to  the  ridges  of  compost  as  they  become  filled  with 
roots,  in  the  meantime  giving  necessary  copious 
supplies  of  water  and  weak  farmyard  liquid 
manure.  Plants  treated  in  this  way  make  quick 
growth,  which  must  be  regularly  stopped,  tied  to 
the  trellis,  and  thinned  by  removing  the  weakest 
shoots  and  exhausted  leaves.  Thoroughly  syringe 
the  plants  in  the  morning,  and  again  when  the 
house  is  closed  for  the  day. 

Thos.  Coombeb. 
The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Pine-apples. 
Although  there  need  he  no  ditticulty  attending 
the  management  of  the  first  started  Queens,  these 
will  now  require  careful  attention  to  assist  them  in 
developing  their  fruits  ;  more  water  at  the  roots 
will  be  neoesary,  and  this  should  be  used  in  a  warm 
state,  and  enriched  with  Peruvian  guano,  which 
acts  as  an  excellent  stimulant  for  the  Pine-apple. 
To  prevent  injury  being  done  to  the  crowns  of  the 
fruit  thin  tiffany  should  be  used  as  a  shading 
during  the  hottest  part  of  the  day.  Give  more 
ventilation,  and  more  frequently  damp  the  floors, 
and    sufficient   artificial    heat   only   to   keep   the 


ORCHIDS. 
Phaius  ORANDiroLios,  P.  Blumei,  P.  maculatus, 
P.  Wallicbii,  &c.,  and  the  numerous  hybrids,  as 
they  pass  out  of  bloom  and  growth  commences, 
should  be  repotted  if  necessary  ;  the  majority  of 
them  are  free  rooting  plants,  and  on  that  account 
should  not  be  confined  to  small  pots,  but  allowed 
plenty  of  space.  The  plants  should  be  placed  a 
little  below  the  rim  of  the  pot  and  watered  some- 
what sparingly  for  a  time,  but  as  soon  as  they 
have  become  rooted  in  the  new  compost,  and  the 
growths  well  advanced,  they  should  receive  an 
abundance  of  moisture  both  at  the  root  and  in 
the  atmosphere.  Water  them  occasionally  with 
weak  liquid  farmyard  manure  and  give  them  a 
shady  position  in  the  stove.  Peat,  sphagnum  moss, 
and  fibrous  loam  in  equal  proportions  form  the  most 
suitable  compost.  Being  subject  to  the  attack  of 
thrips,  they  should  be  carefully  watched  and 
frequently  sponged  with  some  insecticide. 

The  Angrajcums,  Aerides,  and  Saccolabiums 
should  now  have  attention  in  the  way  of  repotting 
or  top-dressing.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
species  that  have  yet  to  bloom,  those  that  have  suffi- 
cient rooting  space  and  do  not  need  disturbing 
should  have  all  old  moss  removed,  the  surface  of  the 
crocks  and  roots  well  rinsed  with  tepid  water,  and 
be  resurfaced  with  fresh  living  sphagnum  moss. 
Those  that  need  repotting  or  rebasketing  should 
be  carefully  liberated  from  their  receptacle,  all  old 
material  removed,  and  the  roots  well  rinsed.  Any 
of  the  larger  specimens  that  have  become  leggy, 
that  is,  have  lost  many  of  their  lower  leaves,  must 


lower  roots  should  be  carefully  put  in  the  pot  and 
the  plant  so  placed  that  the  lower  leaves  are  brought 
down  as  near  the  top  of  the  pot  as  can  be  con- 
veniently managed.  Carefully  work  the  crocks  in 
among  the  roots,  filling  up  to  within  an  inch  of  the 
rim,  and  fill  the  remaining  space  with  fresh  sphag- 
num moss,  pressing  the  same  moderately  firm. 
Immediately  after  repotting,  the  plant  should  not 
be  watered  too  freely,  but  later  they  should  never 
be  allowed  to  suffer  for  the  want  of  it.  The  majority 
of  the  above  thrive  well  in  a  shady  position  in  the 
stove,  with  the  exception  of  Angr;ecum  falcatum 
and  Aerides  japonioum,  which  should  be  grown  in 
the  cool  intermediate  house. 

Van  DAS. 

If  V.  insigne,  V.  tricolor,  V.  suavis,  \.  stangeana, 
V.  denisoniana,  and  V.  ccerulea  need  repotting  it 
should  now  be  done,  otherwise  a  surfacing  with 
fresh  sphagnum  moss  is  all  that  is  necessary.  The 
repotting,  &c. ,  should  be  carried  out  in  the  same 
way  as  that  recommended  for  Angntcums,  &c. , 
and  any  that  have  become  unsightly  by  the 
loss  of  many  lower  leaves  should  be  similarlj' 
treated.  The  above  Vandas  grow  well  in  the 
Cattleya  house,  but  those  that  have  been  repotted 
should  not  be  placed  in  direct  sunlight  until  they 
have  become  re-established.  V.  sanderiana,  V. 
gigantea,  and  V.  Batemannii  are  other  good  species  ; 
the  former  is  best  grown  suspended  in  a  light 
position  at  the  hottest  part. 

Lielia  anceps  and  its  varieties,  L.  gouldiana, 
L.  autumnalis,  and  L.albida,  if  not  alreadj'  repotted, 
should  have  attention  at  once,  as  the  majority  are 
beginning  to  grow  and  root  freely  ;  they  may  be  • 
grown  in  pots,  pans,  or  baskets,  in  a  compost  of 
equal  proportions  of  peat  and  sphagnum  moss,  and 
very  little  should  be  placed  about  their  roots.  The 
plants  should  now  be  syringed  overhead  morning 
and  afternoon  on  bright  days,  and  should  receive 
every  encouragement. 

Cielogyne  cristata  and  its  varieties  should 
never  be  disturbed  at  the  root,  unless  it  is  really 
necessary.  When  once  placed  in  baskets  of 
moderate  size,  in  good  compost,  they  will  grow 
on  for  a  number  of  years  without  being  disturbed. 
Growth  is  now  beginning.  Look  over  the  plants 
and  make  them  neat  and  tidy  for  their  growing 
season,  merelj'  picking  away  the  old  material  where 
possible  without  disturbing  the  roots.  Replace 
with  fresh  compost,  peal  and  moss  in  equal  pro- 
portions. Where  the  leads  are  creeping  away 
fr»m  their  receptacles  they  should  be  carefully  bent 
round  and  pegged  on  the  compost.  The  variety 
cristata  alba  needs  special  attention  in  this  way  ; 
these  are  best  grown  in  the  Mexican  house,  where 
they  can  receive  plenty  of  light,  but  shaded  from 
the  direct  rays  of  the  sun. 

Thunias  (T.  alba,  T.  marshalliana,  and  T.  Beii- 
sonaj)  are  now  growing  apace,  and  as  soon  as  they 
have  become  well  rooted  should  be  fed  with  a  little 
weak  liquid  farmyard  manure.  Give  sufficient  to 
just  colour  the  water  :  they  need  plenty  of  heat 
but  little  shade,  and  an  abundance  of  moisture 
both  at  the  root  and  in  the  atmosphere.  Syringe 
them  freely  two  or  three  times  a  day  until  growth 
has  finished.  F.  W.  Thurgood. 

Roadyn  Gardens,  Stamford  Hill,  2f. 


KITCHEN  GARDEN. 

Brussels  Sprouts. 

Plants  raised  under  glass  and  pricked  off  into  cold 
frames  should  now  be  quite  read}'  for  planting  in 
their  permanent  quarters.  The  ground  should 
have  been  heavily  dressed  with  farmyard  manure 
and  deeply  trenched.  Lift  with  a  good  ball  of  soil, 
plant  with  a  garden  trowel,  make  thoroughly 
firm,  and  well  water  in.  Allow  plenty  of  room  for 
the  plants  to  properly  mature,  a  distance  of  3  feet 
between  the  rows  and  2  feet  6  inches  between  the 
plants  being  none  too  much.  Hoe  frequently  to 
promote  a  good  start,  after  w  hieh  they  will  require 
little  attention. 

Cai.'i.tflowers. 
Continue  to  plant  out  successional  breaks,  select- 
ng  ground  which  has  not  been  occupied  by  any  of 


have  liie  lower  part  of  the  stem  cut  away,  leaving    the  Brassica  family  for  at  least  twelve  months 
sufficient  roots  above  to  support  the  plant ;  the  |  The  earlier  plantings  should  be  kept  well  watered 


ZNlAT  17,  1902.1 


THE    GARDEN. 


331 


AviLli  manure  water,  and  should  the  weather 
■continue  dry  a  good  mulching  of  stable  litter  will 
be  beneficial.  Those  in  pots  or  planted  out  in 
frames  will  now  be  turning  in  and  give  nice  little 
heads  such  as  are  generall}'  much  appreciated. 
They  must  be  kept  well  supplied  with  water  at 
the  roots,  and  damped  overhead  morning  and 
•afternoon  to  keep  them  growing  and  to  prolong 
their  season.  The  leaves  should  be  tied  up  or 
broken  over  them  to  ensure  being  quite  white ; 
•cut  before  the^'  commence  to  open. 

Onions  (  Winter). 

To  ensure  good  bulbs  heavy  drenchings  of  clear 
:and  liquid  manure  water  should  be  given  fre- 
<iuently.  Stir  up  the  surface  often,  and  damp 
over  the  tops  every  afternoon  early  in  dry  weather. 
Flower  spikes  should  be  broken  out  immediately 
they  can  be  seen.  These  will  never  make  good 
exhibition  bulbs,  but  will  be  useful  for  pulling 
•early. 

Peas. 

Early  Peas,  owing  to  the  long  spell  of  excep- 
tionally cold  weather,  will,  I  fear,  in  many  places 
be  very  late  this  year,  but  thej'  may  be  forwarded 
•considerably  by  picking  out  the  points  of  the 
growths  as  soon  as  a  fair  quantity  of  pods  are  set. 
■Ciive  plentj'  of  water  at  the  roots  and  damp  over- 
head on  fine  afternoons.  This  is  a  good  time  to 
make  large  sowings  of  late  varieties  to  come  in 
-after  the  mid-season  kinds.  Trenches  should  be 
prepared  as  for  Celery  and  three  parts  filled  with 
good  rotten  manure.  Autocrat,  Masterpiece,  and 
Ne  Plus  Ultra  are  all  good  kinds  for  sowing  at  this 
season,  and  generallj'  succeed  in  most  parts  of  the 
■country,  but  if  I  were  restricted  to  one  sort  it  would 
be  the  first-named,  as  it  withstands  drought  and 
■mildew  better  than  anj*  I  am  acquainted  with. 

Celery. 

That  planted  a  fortnight  since  for  very  early 
supplies  has  had  a  sorry  time  of  it,  but  it  will  be 
little  the  worse  if  every  inducement  be  given  to 
■enable  it  to  make  a  rapid  growth  as  soon  as  the 
weather  is  favourable.  Stir  up  the  soil  about  the 
roots,  dust  the  young  leaves  with  tobacco  powder 
to  destroy  greenfly,  strew  the  leaves  with  fresh 
soot,  and  damp  overhead  twice  daily  in  bright 
weather  to  ward  off  Celery  fly.  A  further  planting 
■ought  at  once  to  be  made,  and  Celeriac,  the 
Turnip-rooted  Celery,  also  ought  to  be  got  out 
■early  on  rich  ground.  This  should  be  planted  on 
the  flat  and  kept  well  watered.  An  early  growth 
is  necessary  to  ensure  good  large  roots  by  the 
•autumn. 

Turnips. 

Make  good  sowings  of  both  Snowball  and  Veitch's 
Red  Globe,  the  last-named  being  one  of  the  best 
summer  Turnips  grown. 

Capsicums  and  Chillies. 
Pot  these  on  into  the  pots  it  is  intended  to  fruit 
them  in,  and    grow   on    in    heat   near   the   glass ; 
later  tliey  may  be  removed  to  cold  pits  or  frames. 

E.  Beckett. 
Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Elstree,  Herts. 


THE  FLOWEK  GAEDEN. 
The  present  is  a  good  time  to  sow  seed  of 
biennials  in  beds  in  the  open  ground.  It  is  a 
mistake  to  postpone  doing  so  until  later,  as  the 
dry,  hot  weather  of  July  and  August  is  detrimental 
to  seedlings.  Instead  of  being  small,  weak,  and 
thin,  plants  sown  now  will  be  dwarf  and  strong  for 
planting  out  the  following  winter. 

Wallflowers 
■are  amongst  the  best  of  biennial  flowers  we  have, 
■and  every  flower  garden  should  possess  them.  In 
sowing  Wallflowers  care  should  be  taken  to  prepare 
a  good  seed-bed  for  them.  The  soil  should  be  fairly 
rich  and  friable,  and  broken  up  previously.  The 
seed  must  be  sown  thinly,  and  the  seedlings  when 
.  large  enough  be  thinned  out,  allowing  sufficient 
•space  for  each  plant  to  develop  properly.  During 
■dry  weather  see  that  they  do  not  suffer  from  want 
of  water,  and  keep  the  beds  perfectly  clean  by  the 
removal  of  all  weeds.  For  old  walls  and  dry 
banks  there  is  nothing  better  than  Wallflowers,  for 


once  established  they  perpetuate  themselves, 
though  perhaps  the  perennial  varieties  are  best  for 
this  purpose.  I  find  the  most  successful  way  to 
establish  them  in  old  walls  is  to  insert  a  few  seeds 
with  a  little  soil  in  the  chinks  and  crevices  of  the 
walls  about  now,  and  leave  them  to  look  after 
themselves. 

The  Canterbury  Bell 
is  another  good  biennial  that  should  find  a  place  in 
every  garden  as  a  beautiful  hardy  border  plant. 
The  double  and  semi-double  strains  are  to  be 
greatly  preferred  to  the  old  singles,  as  they  are  not 
onlj'  superior  in  form,  but  also  in  richness  and 
diversity  of  colour.  The  seeds  should  be  sown  at 
once,  either  in  open  beds  or  in  boxes  in  a  cool 
frame,  and  when  large  enough  the  seedlings  should 
be  pricked  out  into  a  well-prepared  bed  in  a  shady 
corner  of  the  garden  ;  water  them  if  dry  weather 
is  experienced.  By  September  they  will  be  strong 
plants,  read}'  for  planting  in  permanent  positions 
in  the  flower  borders.  If  when  they  have  finished 
flowering  the  plants  are  gone  over  and  all  the  old 
blooms  removed  an  autumn  display  of  flowers  will 
be  ensured. 

The  Sweet  William 
should  be  sown  now  in  open  beds  in  as  sunny  a 
position  as  possible,  and  when  the  plants  are  large 
enough  put  them  into  good  soil  about  6  inches 
apart,  and  then  in  September  plant  into  their 
flowering  quarters.  The  single  varieties,  with  one 
or  two  exceptions,  are  to  be  preferred  to  the  double 
ones. 

The  Foxgloves 
are  better  sown  in  boxes  than  in  the  open,  but  the 
present  time  is  opportune  for  practising  the  latter 
method.  Hugh  A.  Pettigkew. 

Cattle  Gardens,  St.  Fagans. 


GARDENING     BOOKS. 

Since  gardening  has  become  the  fashion,  and  so 
many  people  who  have  gardens  now  superintend 
the  laying  out  and  planting  of  them,  a  whole  host 
of  gardening  books  have  appeared — some  good  and 
some  otherwise — to  meet  the  demand  for  further 
knowledge  in  the  handling  of  our  best  shrubs  and 
plants.  When  I  first  began  gardening  I  had  a 
difficulty  in  knowing  what  books  to  select ;  the 
result  was  that  for  the  last  eight  or  nine  years  I 
have  bought  most  of  tlie  new  and  also  many  of  the 
older  ones,  and  anyone  who  has  done  the  same 
will  agree  that  in  some  cases  the  money  spent 
might  have  been  better  emploj-ed.  I  therefore 
hope  that  the  following  lists  may  be  of  use  to  some 
who  may  be  situated  in  the  same  position  in  which 
I  found  myself. 

First  of  all,  and  facile  princeps,  comes  Robin- 
son's "English  Flower  Garden,"  and,  if  I  were 
limited  to  one  book,  it  would,  I  think,  be  this  one. 
Others  that  I  would  place  in  the  front  rank  for 
practical  usefulness  are  : — 

"Culture   of    Vegetables  and   Flowers,"    by 

Sutton. 
"Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs,"  by  Webster. 
"  The  Nursery  Book,"  by  Bailey. 
"  The  Wild  Garden,"  by  Robinson. 
"  Wood  and  Garden,"  by  Miss  .Jekyll. 
A  further  list  of  very  useful  or  very  charming 
books  would  consist  of  : — 

"The    Century    Book    of    Gardening"     and 
"Gardens  Old  and  New,"  both  published, 
I  believe,  by  Country  Life. 
"  Flowers  and  Gardens,"  by  Forbes  Watson. 
"A  Year  in  a  Lancashire  Garden,"  by  Bright. 
"In  a    Gloucestershire    Garden,"   by  Canon 

EUacombe. 
"  In  a  Garden  of  Pleasure,"  "  Days  and  Hours 
in  a  Garden,"  and  several  other  books  bv 
E.  Y.  B. 
"Home   and    Garden,"    "Wall    and  Water 
Gardens,"  and  "Lilies,"  all  three  by  Miss 
Jekyll. 
"  The  Bamboo  Garden,"  by  Freeman  Mitford. 
"Pot-pourri  from  a  Surrey  Garden,"  by  Mrs. 

Earle. 
"  A  Book  about  Roses,  by  Reynolds  Hole. 
"Gardening  for  Beginners,''  by  E.  T.  Cook. 


"The  English  Flower  Garden,"  by  Bright. 
"Gardens  and  Woodlands,"  by  Frances  Hope. 
"  Plant  Breeding,"  by  Bailej'. 
"  Nicholson's  Dictionary  of  Gardening." 
"Mj'  Garden,"  by  Alfred  Ince. 
Then  as  the  appetite  grows  the  undermentioned 
could  be  added  to  the  list : — 

"Thompson's  Gardener's  Assistant." 

"  The  Story  of  the  Plants,"  by  Grant  Allen. 

"  The  Treasury  of  Botany,"  by  Lindley  and 

Moore. 
"  Plant  Lore  of  Shakespeare,"  by  Canon  EUa- 
combe. 
"Favourite  Flowers   of   Garden  and   Green- 
house," by  Edward  Step. 
"A  History  of   Gardening  in   England,"  by 

Alicia  Amherst. 
"  Greenhouse  and  Stove  Plants,"  by  T.  Baines. 
"The  Fruit  Manual,"  by  Hogg. 
"  Johnson's  Gardener's  Dictionarj'.'' 
"Handy  Book   of  the  Flower    tiarden,"   by 

Thompson. 
"The  Book  of  the  Rose,"  by  Foster-Melliar. 
"  Hardy      Perennials      and      Old  -  fashioned 

Flowers,''  by  Wood. 
"The  Garden  jfanual,"  by  the  Editor  of  the 

"  Journal  of  Horticulture." 
"Calender  of  Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs," 

by  Hoare. 
"  Anne  Pratt's  Flowers  and  Grasses.'' 
In  addition  there  are  Mr.  Alfred  Austin's  books 
and  all  books  by  Shirle}'  Hibberd.  Besides  those 
enumerated,  which  do  not  form  by  anj'  means  a 
complete  list,  several  of  Darwin's  books  should  be 
added.  Yer}'  charming  also  are  some  of  the  old 
"  Herballs,"'  such  as  those  of  Parkinson  and  (4erard, 
and  Bacon's  "  Sylva  Sylvarum."  I  should  also 
strongly  recommend  the  budding  gardener,  as  he 
gets  more  advanced,  to  invest  in  an  "  Index 
Kewensis,"  or,  at  any  rate,  he  should  have  all  the 
Kew  Handbooks,  which  are  most  useful.  The}' 
have  a  blank  page  opposite  each  printed  page,  on 
which  notes  of  successes  or  failure  or  dates  of 
planting  (and,  alas  !  often  of  the  death)  of  flowers 
or  shrubs  can  be  entered,  thus  forming  most  useful 
books  of  reference,  becoming  full,  as  time  goes  on, 
of  one's  own  practical  experience  in  one's  own 
garden,  which  is  after  all  more  precious  than  any 
books. 

One  set  of  books  I  have  omitted,  and  they  come 
very  high  on  the  list,  "  The  .Journal  of  the  Ro3'al 
Horticultural  Society,"  which  is  issued  to  all 
Fellows,  is  very  good  indeed.  I  will  add  one  bit 
of  advice  to  all  who  care  for  their  gardens — 
Become  a  member  of  the  society,  if  only  for  the 
sake  of  getting  the  Journal. 

In  conclusion,  I  must  add  that  I  have  only 
enumerated  books  of  which  I  have  personal  know- 
ledge, so  that  I  have  probably  omitted  many  that 
should  have  been  included.  But  perhaps  someone 
else  will  supplement  and  add  to  these  lists. 

N.  B. 


THE   ROSE   GARDEN. 


HARRISON    WEIR  (H.P.) 

I  AM  always  sorry  to  see  Roses  of  brilliant 
colour  forgotten  because  they  make  poor 
growth  as  cut-backs.  To  my  mind  this  is  a 
truly  grand  Rose  in  form  and  colour,  and  no 
one  would  desire  to  be  without  it  if  they 
saw  the  magnificent  flowers  that  the  Briar 
cutting  will  produce  in  yearling  plants.  If  only 
to  obtain  such  blooms  I  would  not  consider  it  a 
trouble  to  bud  a  few  stocks  each  year.  The  colour 
is  scarlet-crimson  with  velvety  shading,  which  one 
would  expect,  seeing  that  it  sprang  from  Charles 
Lefebvre.  It  has  also  inherited  the  rich  fragrance 
of  this  fine  Rose,  but  the  form  is  quite  dififerent, 
being  globular  with  recurved  petals.  P. 


THE  DWAEF-GROWING  HYBEIDS  OF 

EOSA  POLYANTHA. 
Thb  grace  and   charm  of  these  miniature  Roses 
and  their  wide  range  of  colour  should  induce  many 


332 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  17,  1902. 


to  grow  them.  I  would  strongly  advocate  their 
use  as  plants  for  edging.  A  bed  of  half  standards 
or  standards  of  the  large  flowering  Roses  could 
have  no  better  edging  than,  say,  of  Gloire  des 
Polyanthas  (pink)  or  Anna  M.  de  Montravel 
(white).  Perle  des  Rouges  (velvety  crimson)  would 
be  a  good  edging  to  a  bed  of  delicate-coloured 
standard  Tea  Roses,  and  the  excjuisite  Perle  d'Or, 
as  yet  unrivalled,  would  look  well  around  a  mass 
of  crimson  Roses. 


ROSE  GUSTAVE  PIGANEAU. 

It  is  a  pity  that  this  magnificent  Rose  does  not 
grow  more  vigorously.  The  brilliant  carmine 
shaded  blossoms  rival  those  of  Paul  Neyron  in  size, 
and  if  it  only  possessed  the  vigour  of  the  latter,  no 
Rose  would  surpass  it.  It  is,  however,  well  worth 
a  little  trouble  to  secure  its  fine  bloom.  This 
would  be  merely  to  plant  a  few  Manettis  or  Briars 
and  bud  a  dozen  or  two  annually.     The   maiden 


I  do  not  think  anything  is  gained  by  allowing    plants  after  producing  their  flowers  for  exhibition 


these  Polyantha  Roses  to  grow  tall,  which  they 
undoubtedly  will  do  unless  checked.  No  better 
plan  can  be  adopted  than  to  severely  prune  each 
j'ear.  By  cutting  them  down  to  the  ground  a 
more  miiforra  growth  is  obtained.  If  the  plants 
become   too   dense   they    may   easily   be   thinned 


are  useful  for  potting  up  the  same  autumn,  and 
will  give  a  good  account  of  themselves  the  next 
spring  if  grown  on  steadily  until  roots  become 
active.  They  will  then  bear  a  little  higher  tem- 
perature, but  nothing  excessive.  It  may  be  thought 
that  if  the  plants  will  grow  in  pots  they  will  do  so 


Has  anyone  tried  these  pretty  Roses  with  a  car-  outdoors  the  second  year, 
peting  of  Violas  '!  They  form  most  lovely  com-  They  will  certainly  grow,  but  they  somehow  lose 
binations,  and  being  very  free  and  continuous  vigour  the  second  year,  which  the  potting  up 
flowering  they  are  just  the  plants  we  want  for  appears  to  excite  again  for  a  time.  I  have  even 
certain  positions.  \  border  of  these  Roses  com-  seen  small  specimen  pot  plants  of  this  Rose  so  that 
prising  all  the  known  kinds  would  also  be  an  it  evidently  succeeds  better  in  this  way  as  a  cut- 
interesting  feature  where  collections  of   Roses  are    back  than  in  the  gardes. 

made  much  of.    There  are  now  some  fifty  varieties.        There  is  no  doubt  that  Marquise  Litta  originated 
and   these  could   be  divided  into  three    groups,    from   Gustave   Piganeau   in    perhaps   an   indirect 

way,  p  r  o  - 
babl y  by 
crossing  with 
a  Tea-scented 
varietj'.  ilar- 
(|uise  Litta  is 
certainly 
more  Tea- 
like in  its 
freedom  of 
flowering 
than  the 
Rose  under 
notice,  and 
it  was  pro- 
duced by  the 
same  raiser  in 
1IS(».3,  some 
four  years 
later  than  by 
Gustave 
Piganeau.  It 
is  a  splendid 
variety  in  a 
cool  season, 
but  buds  and 
small  shoots 
should  bejwell 
thinned  out  if 
exh  i  hi  t ion 
flowers  are 
desired.  The 
colour  is 
rather  more 
vivid  than 
tliat  of  Gus- 
according  to  their  height.  If  a  space  of  2  feet  tave  Piganeau,  being  of  quite  a  rich  vermilion  shade. 
apart  each  way  were  allowed  this  would  provide  Now  we  have  yet  another  promising  Rose  in  Jlarie 
ample  room  for  Violas.      I  am   not  in   favour   of    Louise  Poiret  somewhat  in  the  same  style  as  the 


APPLE  ELOWEP.  OF  KE.NT.      (Oii(iinat  3  Inches  liigli  and  3'^  inclies  wide.) 


mixed  borders  of  Roses  as  a  rule,  but  in  this  case 
I  think  the  objection  could  be  waived  with  advan- 
tage. A  few  half  standards  interspersed  would 
break  up  the  formality. 

Both  the  French  and  the  (iermans  grow  more 
varieties  of  these  Roses  than  we  do.     I  some  time 


two  latter,  but  the  flowers  are  more  globular, 
after  the  manner  of  Suzanne  Marie  Rodocanachi ; 
it  is  a  cross  between  Caroline  Testout  and  Marquise 
Litta,  and  has  to  a  large  extent  the  bold  petal  of 
Caroline  Testout  with  the  colour  as  it  were  blended 
between    the    latter  and   Marquise   Litta.     It   is 


ago    alluded    to    Eugenie    Lamesch    and    Leonie   quite  first-rate  for  exhibition,  although  all  three 

varieties  named  would  bear  improvement  in  their 
habit  of  growth.  Marie  Louise  Poiret  is  very 
fragrant.  Philomel. 


Lamesch  as  being  two  worthy  novelties,  and 
subsequent  experience  has  raised  them  in  mj' 
estimation.  Another  little  beauty  is  Maxime 
Buatois,  a  cross  between  Etoile  de  Mai  and  Mme. 
Lauretta  Jlessimy,  the  colour  resembling  the 
latter,  though  with  a  richer  suffusion  of  orange- 
yellow.  Schneewittchen  also  seems  to  be  a  good 
new  variet}'  in  the  way  of  Paquerette,  but  with  a 
dash  of  yellow  in  its  flowers,  which  it  probably 
inherits  from  Aglaia,  one  of  its  parents. 

All  the  varieties  make  excellent  subjects  for 
conservatory  cultivation,  but  perhaps  the  most 
useful  is  Anna  M.  de  Montravel,  as  its  snow-white 
blooms  can  be  used  in  so  many  ways.  I  should 
like   to  see  a  really  rich  crimson-scarlet  variety. 


LATE    FRUITS. 

Apple    Flower    of    Kent. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  winter  cooking 
Apples  we  possess,  dating  back  to  the  time  of 
Shakespeare,  according  to  the  account  given 
of  it  in  "  Hogg's  Fruit  Manual."  Of  late  years 
it  has  been  elbowed  out  of  our  orchards  by 


grower,  and  more  fitted  for  the  orchard  thar» 
the  garden.  The  fruit  is  large,  round,  and 
flattened  on  the  top,  the  .skin  when  ripe  being- 
yellow,  occasionally  suft'used  with  dull  streaky- 
red  on  the  sunny  side  and  dotted  overl  witl^ 
grey  spots.  The  flesh  is  white,  firm,  and  juicy^ 
with  a  somewhat  acid  flavour. 

Owen  Thom.4.s. 


OBITUARY. 


later  novelties,  but  is  still  deserving  of  a  place 
Perhaps  now  that  we  have  Griiss  an  Teplitz  this  '  in  all  good  collections.  It  is  in  season  from 
will  be  made  use  of  in  crossing.  Philomel.       November  to  February.     The  tree  is  a  strong 


MR.   THOMAS    DAVIES. 

It  is  with  regret  that  we  record  the  death  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Davies,  which  took  jilace  at  his  residence 
at  Wavertree  on  the  6th  iust.  As  head  of  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  Thomas  Davies  and  Co.,  nurserymeri 
and  seedsmen,  he  has  ably  sustained  the  good 
reputation  of  this  firm,  well-known  in  south-west 
Lancashire  for  nearly  150  years.  Mr.  Davies  was 
born  at  Wavertree  in  l.S'29,  and  commenced  his. 
school  life  in  the  village.  At  the  early  age  o£ 
13  years  he  entered  his  father's  nursery,  and  after 
four  years'  home  life  a  move  was  made  south  for 
the  purpose  of  adding  to  his  experience  and  getting 
a  knowledge  of  the  London  trade,  and  for  this, 
purpose  a  couple  of  years  were  spent  under  Messrs. 
J.  A.  Henderson  and  Co.,  Pine  Apple  Place,  Maida. 
Vale,  and  then  the  next  year  under  Mr.  John 
Shaw  Leigh  in  Bedfordshire.  Returning  home  he 
ably  assisted  his  father  and  uncle  by  main- 
taining the  high  reputation  of  their  business,  and 
eventually,  in  1887,  became  head  of  the  firm. 
About  two  years  ago  the  nursery  and  seed  ware- 
houses being  required  by  the  corporation,  a  move 
was  made  to  new  and  more  commodious  premises, 
where  the  bulb  and  seed  trade  is  now  carried  on. 
.\s  an  employer  he  was  most  generous  and  just.  At 
the  graveside  was  one  employe  with  over  50  years' 
service,  another  with  more  than  40  years,  and  . 
many  others  who  have  been  with  the  firm  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Davies  took  a  keen  interest  in  horticultural 
societies,  &c.  :  he  was  for  seventeen  years  a  member 
of  tlie  committee  of  the  old  Liverpool  society,  for 
fourteen  years  chairman  of  the  defunct  'Woolton 
Societj',  a  prominent  supporter  from  its  infancy  of 
the  Liverpool  Horticultural  Association,  and  of 
many  other  local  institutions.  He  was  of  a 
kindly,  genial,  considerate  nature,  always  ready  to 
help  forward  a  good  cause.  This  was  instanced 
only  a  few  weeks  ago,  when  a  sympathetic  letter 
accompanied  by  a  cheque  for  £5  was  sent  by  him 
to  the  monster  meeting  of  horticulturists,  held 
recently  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the  Gardeners' 
Royal  Benevolent  Institution.  The  Manchester 
LTnity  of  Oddfellows  has  lost  an  ardent  worker  and 
warm  supporter — during  the  whole  of  his  life  his 
services  were  freely  given,  both  to  his  own  lodge 
and  the  district,  and  valuable  testimonials  have 
been  accorded  him.  Mrs.  Davies  died  in  1883, 
leaving  no  children. 

The  remains  were  laid  to  rest  on  the  10th  inst. 
at  Childwall  Parish  Church,  when  the  nurserymen, 
gardeners,  farmers,  and  Oddfellows  were  present 
in  large  numbers  to  tender  their  last  tribute  of 
respect  and  esteem. 


SOCIETIES. 


NOKFOLK  AND  NORWICH  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY'S  SPRING  SHOW. 
This  annual  exhibition  brought  together  a  grand  lot  of 
Narcissi  and  other  spring  hardy  flowers  as  well  as  the  more 
aristocratic  occupants  of  our  stoves  and  greenhouses.  Sir. 
G.  Davison,  gardener  to  Captain  Petre,  Westwick  House, 
Norfolk,  undoubtedly  took  the  blue  ribbon  of  the  show  by 
securing  the  first  prize  for  thirty-six  varieties  of  Narcissi, 
three  blooms  of  each,  comprising  such  grand  varieties  as 
King  Alfred,  Captain  Nelson,  Duchess  of  Westminster, 
Weardale  Perfection,  &c. ;  also  first  for  six  varieties,  six 
blooms  each,  first  for  Anemones,  first  for  twelve  hardy 
flowers  in  bunches,  first  for  hardy  flowering  shrubs,  &c.,  a 
grand  achievement.  Mr.  0.  Corder,  Norwicli ;  Colone) 
Rous,  Worstead  ;  and  Lord  Suffield,  Ounton  Park,  were  also 
notable  exhibitors  in  this  class.  Orchids  from  H.  Rider 
Haggard,  Esq.,  Ditchingham,  were  grand  specimens  of 
health  and  vigour,  a  noble  Cymbidium  being  much  admired. 


GARDEN 


—^p- 


^;^^5#=2 


'"^ 


No.  1592.— Vol.  LXL] 


[May  M,  1902. 


IS    KEW   A    PUBLIC    PARK.^ 

IN  the  main,  Britons  are  a  law-abiding  and 
not  a  law-breaking  jaeople,  which  is  the 
natural  outcome  of  the  glorious  freedom 
of  our  national  institutions,  and  though 
it  may  be  an  Englishman's  privilege  to 
grumble,  he  is  not,  as  a  rule,  unreasonable  in 
his  grumbling  when  a  statement  is  fairly  put 
before  him.  The  question  of  the  fundamental 
laws  governing  the  successful  management  of 
public  parks  and  open  spaces,  to  which  allusion 
was  made  in  a  recent  issue  of  The  Garden 
with  regard  to  Kew  Gardens,  is  a  case  in  point. 
So  far,  indeed,  from  the  British  public  being 
deprived  of  their  rights  in  the  matter  of  access 
to  every  part  of  the  splendid  Botanic  Garden 
and  Park  at  Kew,  all  reasonable  persons  are 
grateful  for  the  unexamjiled  privileges  so 
liberally  placed  at  their  disposal.  There  is  no 
establishment  of  the  kind  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  Europe  which  offers 
such  unparalleled  attractions  to  every  class 
of  the  community.  To  the  scientist,  to  the 
professional  and  to  the  amateur  student,  to 
the  artist,  to  the  mere  lover  of  flowers,  to  the 
weary  dwellers  in  dingy  streets,  these  incom- 
parable gardens  are  free  and  open  every  day  of 
the  week.  Children  play  in  its  secluded  dells, 
and  are  not  interfered  with  so  long  as  they  do 
no  mischief.  In  all  directions,  even  in  the 
wild  parts,  broad  grass  paths  are  kept  smoothly 
shorn  and  in  perfect  order  for  the  convenience 
of  the  visitor,  yet  he  is  not  prevented  from 
wandering  at  will  under  the  shade  of  the 
magnificent  Beeches  and  Oaks.  There  is  not 
a  single  unreasonable  or  ve.xatious  restriction 
to  preclude  any  respectable  citizen  from 
enjoying  to  the  full,  and  entirely  free  of 
charge,  all  the  perfection  which  a  most  happy 
union  of  Art  with  Nature  has  placed  within 
his  reach — the  one  sole  condition  being  that  of 
seemly  conduct. 

A  few  portions  of  the  grounds  are  marked 
private,  because  it  would  be  impossible  other- 
wise to  carry  out  the  comprehensive  scheme  of 
wild  gardening  which  is  the  delight  of  the 
multitudes  of  visitors  who  come,  in  many 
cases,  purposely  to  see,  not  so  much  the 
greenhouses  or  the  formal  beds  of  brilliant 
flowers,  or  the  rare  botanical  specimens,  as  to 
revel  in  the  drifts  of  Snowdrops  under  the 
trees,  the  pools  of  blue  Chionodo.xas  in  earliest 
spring,  the  waving  Daffodils,  the  clustering 
Anemones,  and  the  countless  flowering  plapts 
of  other  lands  which  are  acclimatised  and  find 
themselves  at  home  in  the  green  breadths  of 


the  undisturbed  turf.  In  Bluebell  time  the 
grass  grows  high,  and  in  ten  minutes  a  couple 
of  unruly  children,  making  foot-tracks  across 
the  lawns  which  are  railed  off  round  the 
Queen's  Cottage,  would  spoil  the  beautiful 
picture  for  the  season,  which  for  a  space  only 
too  brief  gives  untold  pleasure  to  thousands. 

No  public  park  is  placed  absolutely  at  the 
disposal  of  the  people  without  let  or  hindrance. 
Rules  and  regulations  must,  in  all  cases,  be 
strictly  carried  out  in  the  interests  of  the 
frequenters  themselves,  no  less  than  for  the 
good  of  the  greater  number.  Perhaps  it  might 
shock  the  sensibilities  of  those  who  regard  the 
indulgence  of  individual  whims  as  of  greater 
importance  than  the  pleasure  and  well-lieing 
of  the  many,  to  learn  that  on  Sheen  and  other 
commons  one  is  faced  by  frequent  notices  to 
the  effect  that  under  severe  pains  and  penalties 
not  a  single  twig  may  be  removed  from  the 
Thorns  and  Furze  and  wild  brambles  growing 
thereupon.  Such  restriction  as  this  on  an  open 
common  may  seem,  at  first  sight,  unnecessary 
and  provoking,  but  a  moment's  thought  shows 
the  absolute  need  for  the  rigid  preservation  of 
these  most  precious  breathing  spaces  in  the 
near  neighbourhood  of  the  mighty  city,  other- 
wise they  would  not  be  preserved  at  all. 

In  the  Victoria  Gardens,  bordering  on  the 
Bethnal  Green  Road,  as  any  one  may  see  who 
will  take  the  trouble  to  penetrate  to  that  far-ofi' 
region  of  the  East  End,  there  is  a  small  but 
well-arranged  rock  garden,  planted  with  taste 
and  judgment  with  the  most  suitable  plants 
that  will  grow  in  the  smoke  and  dust  of  that 
grimy  quarter.  Auriculas  and  Primroses, 
Sweet  Woodruff",  Campanulas,  Irises,  Sedums 
and  Saxifrages,  Pinks,  and  many  herbaceous 
perennials  are  flourishing  marvellously  there, 
considering  their  surroundings,  and  that  little 
bit  of  gardening  with  its  homely  flowers 
touches  the  heart  of  many  a  one,  used  in  earlier 
days  to  a  country  life,  far  more  than  the  set- 
out  beds  of  gay  Tulips  and  Daffodils.  But — 
tell  it  not  in  Gath — the  whole  is  surrounded  by 
a  wire  fence  to  prevent  the  incursions  of  idle 
feet  and  encroaching  fingers,  while  a  stalwart 
guardian  of  the  peace  lingers  in  its  vicinity. 
To  return  to  Kew.  The  law  with  regard  to 
birds'  nesting  happily  provides  for  a  close  time 
which  applies  to  all  the  land,  but  were  it  not 
so  all  bird  lovers  would  thankfully  welcome 
the  strictest  preservation  of  bird  life  within 
the  sheltering  precincts  of  the  Royal  Gardens. 
The  whistle  of  the  blackbird  and  the  lilting 
song  of  the  thrush,  the  laugh  of  the  green  wood- 
pecker as  it  wings  its  dipping  flight  across  the 


glades,  the  ■  delicious  crooning  of  the  turtle 
dove,  even  the  harsh  cry  of  the  jay,  all  lend  a 
fascination  to  this  delightful  spot,  which  it 
would  be  almost  criminal  to  disturb.  Not  long 
ago,  during  a  time  of  severe  frost,  a  colony  of 
pied  wagtails  took  up  their  abode  in  the 
Bamboos  by  the  side  of  the  pool,  and  the  un- 
wonted sight  might  be  seen  of  twenty  or  thirty 
of  these  not  usually  gregarious  birds  running 
in  comimnies  over  the  ice  to  pick  up  what 
fragments  of  food  they  could  find.  At  all 
seasons  here  one  may  watch  at  leisure  the 
numberless  tits  and  finches,  for  their  tamenesa 
in  this  their  sanctuary  is  very  noticeable. 

In  face  of  the  vast  scientific  and  economic 
work  carried  out  with  such  pre-eminent  suc- 
cess at  Kew,  it  might  well  be  that  these  unique 
gardens  should  be  available  only  for  the  chosen 
few.  Instead  of  this,  the  gates  are  opened  wide 
to  all  comers  the  whole  year  round.  It  behoves 
each  one  of  us,  therefore,  as  units  of  the 
British  public— and  more  especially  of  the 
gardening  public,  whose  debt  of  gratitude  is 
so  great— to  be  thankful  for  these  our  far- 
reaching  privileges,  and  to  do  our  part  in  help- 
ing rather  tlian  hindering  the  able  Director  and 
his  hard-working  staff'  in  their  arduous  task  of 
gathering,  with  such  consummate  skill,  the 
interests  of  all  classes  into  one  common  focus. 

[This  is  a  contribution  from  one  of  Kew's 
well-wishers  and  the  outcome  of  our  remarks 
in  The  G.vrden  of  May  10.  The  Director  has 
been,  we  know,  from  paragraphs  appearing 
in  the  Press,  an  object  of  unreasonable— to  use 
a  mild  word— attack,  because  in  his  love  for 
the  gardens  he  strives  to  preserve  their  wild 
flowers  and  birds.  Since  the  advent  of  electric 
trams  and  "  twopenny  tubes  "  the  gardens  have 
become  nothing  more  than  a  suburban  park, 
and  the  comjjlaining  citizen  airs  his  grievance 
by  appealing  to  the  First  Commissioner  of 
Works  that  every  inch  of  space  is  not  his  to 
walk  upon.  We  hope  the  First  Commissioner 
(the  Right  Hon.  A.  Akers-Douglas)  will  assist 
the  Director  in  his  good  work  at  Kew,  and 
allow  him  to  exercise  his  discretion  in  dealing 
with  the  wild  grounds  around  the  Queen's 
Cottage.  Those  who  go  to  Kew  for  study  and 
to  enjoy  its  beauty  have  as  much  right  to  con- 
sideration as  the  general  crowd  of  sightseers 
and  "  picnickers."— Eds.] 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 

New    Intekmediate    Ibises. 
Mr.    Caparne    sends    from    Rohais,    Guernsey, 
flowers  of  his  charming  hybrid  Irises,  which  he 


334 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[May  24,  1902. 


calls  new  "  Intermediate,"  because  they  flower 
about  three  weeks  before  the  Germanica  group  and 
bridge  over  the  times  of  I.  pumila  and  the  former 
section.  There  should  be  a  great  future  for  these 
Irises,  as  they  possess  distinct  characteristics  with 
a  beautiful  variety  of  colouring.  Mr.  Caparne 
sends  .several  varieties.  Dorothea  is  of  delicate 
colouring,  with  broad  standards,  shaded  with  softest 
lilac-blue  and  somewhat  deeper  falls ;  Royal  is 
intense  velvety  purple,  especially  the  falls  ; 
Charmant  reminds  one  of  Dorothea,  but  is  deeper 
in  colour  and  has  broader  falls  :  Dauphin  has 
velvety  purple  falls  and  paler  standards  :  King 
Christian  is  soft  mauve,  a  very  beautiful  colour  ; 
Queen  Flavia,  rich  yellow  ;  Mars,  warm  reddish 
purple ;  Ivorine,  yellow,  paler  standards  than  falls ; 
and  Olivia,  with  almost  white  standards  and 
yellowish  falls.  Mr.  Caparne  is  one  of  our  per- 
severing hybridists,  and  is  accomplishing  good 
work.  We  cannot  have  too  man}-  Irises  of  beautiful 
colouring,  and  these  dwarf  hybrids  are  useful  in 
spring  gardening. 


Flowers  from  Ireland. 
A  gathering  of  very  interesting  flowers  comes 
"from  Mr.  (ireenwood  Pirn  in  Ireland.  It  includes 
the  curious  Tulipa  cornuta,  with  its  narrow  petals 
and  strongly  refie.ved  tips :  the  small  bright  3'ellow 
Tulipa  persica ;  the  lovely  Veronica  lavandiana, 
■with  bloom  and  pink  bud  closely  pressed  together, 
looking  like  a  mass  of  neat  pink-centred  double 
flowers  ;  Rhodotypus  kerrioides,  with  flowers  so 
large  that  at  first  sight  they  looked  like  Rubus 
deliciosus,  which  in  any  case  the  flower  much 
resembles  ;  Convolvulus  cneorum,  with  its  large 
white  flowers  banded  outside  -with  rose  colour  and 
its  pale  satin-like  leaves ;  a  hanging  scarlet-flowered 
spray  of  Lotus  peliorhj-ncus,  which  has  been  in 
l)loom  since  Christmas:  the  beautiful  canary- 
yellow  Calceolaria  Burbidgei  ;  a  dainty  bloom  of 
Primula  cortusoides  amiena,  and  Streptocarpus 
•Saundersi. 


NOTES    OF_THE    WEEK. 

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

Ma3'  2i.  —  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
JSocielj'. 

May  27. — Annual  General  Meeting  and  Dinner 
of  Members  of  the  Kew  Guild  at  the  Holborn 
Restaurant  at  0.30  p.m. 

May  -28.  —Temple  Show  of  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  (three  daj's)  ;  Annual  Dinner  of  the 
<;ardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  at  the 
Hotel  Metropole  at  7  p.m. 

June  3.  —  Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur 
<Jardeners'  Association. 

.June  ."). — Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society. 

.June  7.  —  Meeting  of  the  Societe  Frangaise 
d'Horticulture  de  Londres. 

June  9.  —  Committee  Meeting  of  the  United 
Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 

June  10. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet,  Drill  Hall,  Westminster  ;  Wood- 
bridge  Horticultural  Show;  Cambridge  Summer 
Show. 

June  11. — York  Gala  and  Floral  Fete. 

June  19.— Isle  of  Wight  (Ryde)  Rose  Show  : 
Jersey  Rose  Show  ;  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
Society. 

June  24. — Ro3'al  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
■conference,  Holland  House  (two  daj'S)  ;  Lee  and 
District  Horticultural  Show  (two  daj's)  ;  Oxford 
Commemoration  Show. 

Is  Kew  a  public  park  ?  —  Pressure 
upon  apace  compels  us  to  leave  over  until  next 
week  interesting  communications  in  reference  to 
our  note  last  week. 

Notes  from   Baden  -  Baden.  —  The 

Agapantbus  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Barr,  on  page  311, 
is  A.  Weillighii,  discovered  by  Mr.  Weilligh  during 
a  survey  in  Swaziland.  A  root  was  sent  to  me  by 
ray  friend  Mr.  W.  Nelson,  of  Johannesburg.  The 
pendulous  flowers,  which  are  bright  in  colour,  give 
it  a  very  strange  appearance.  Iris  gracilipes  has 
been  in  flower  for  three  weeks  and  is  very  pretty  ; 


its  white  and  purplish-coloured  flowers  come  on  in 
succession,  and  their  size  is  rather  large  in  com- 
parison with  the  miniature  plants.  Another  new 
species  from  Central  Asia  is  just  out ;  it  is  very 
near  I.  Delavayi,  and  tlie  flowers,  which  have  the 
shape  of  I.  Xiphioides,  are  bright  indigo,  the  falls 
having  a  broad  white  stripe.  Aster  Freniontii  is 
well  worth  cultivating  ;  the  flowers  are  large  and 
of  a  charming  rose-lilac  colour. — Max  Leichtlin, 
Baden-Baden. 

W^ildenia  Candida.— Surely  "G.  R. "  is 

wrong  when  he  makes  out  that  Leucocrinum  mon- 
tanum  and  Wildenia  Candida  are  one  and  the  same 
plant.  Both  of  them  are  in  cultivation  at  Kew. 
The  Leucocrinum  is  in  flower  in  the  Alpine  house, 
and  is  clearly  the  plant  described  in  "  G.  R's.'' 
note  (page  32.')).  But,  whereas  Leucocrinum  is  a 
liliaceous  plant  related  to  Asphodelus,  Wildenia  is  a 
Commelinad,  and  is  related  to  Tradescantia.  There 
is  a  good  figure  of  it  in  the  Botanical  Maijazine, 
t.  740.')  (189.5),  prepared  from  a  plant  flowered  at 
Kew  in  1894,  and  which  was  collected  in  the 
crater  of  Volcan  de  Agua,  in  Guatemala,  by  the 
sou  of  Mr.  Audley  Gostling,  the  British  repre- 
sentative in  Central  America.  It  has  tufted  fleshy 
tubers,  from  which  spring  annual  stems  a  few 
inches  high,  leafj-  at  the  tip,  the  leaves  lanceolate, 
bright  green,  bearing  tufts  of  white  hairs,  and 
clustered  in  the  centre  of  the  rosette,  formed  by 
the  leaves,  the  flowers  spring  in  rapid  succession  ; 
they  are  pure  white,  the  tube  2  inches  to  3  inches 
long,  the  3-partite  limb  H  inches  across,  and  the 
stamens  bright  j-ellow.  It  flowers  annually  in 
spring  at  Kew. — W.  W. 

A   new   Incapvillea.— A  most  beautiful 

hard^'  plant  from  China,  for  the  possession  of 
which  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  M. 
Maurice  de  Vilmorin,  of  Paris,  is  now  in  full 
flower  in  my  garden  for  the  second  time.  It  was 
figured  on  one  of  the  coloured  plates  of  The 
Garden  on  .July  8,  1S99,  from  a  plant  sent  to 
Kew  and  bloomed  under  glass  planted  out  in  one 
of  the  pit  houses,  but  the  plate  fails  to  do  justice 
to  the  full  beaut}'  of  the  flower,  as  the  colour  is 
several  shades  paler  than  it  is  in  the  open  air, 
probably  from  being  grown  under  glass.  The 
French  botanist  M.  Franchet  named  this  plant  I. 
grandiflora  on  the  supposition  that  it  was  a  larger 
flower  than  I.  Delavayi.  but  I  venture  to  think  that 
a  far  more  appropriate  name  would  have  been 
I.  Fargesii,  after  the  French  missionarj'.  Abbe 
Farges,  who  I  believe  first  discovered  this  fine 
plant,  as  the  Abbe  Delavay  did  that  which 
deservedly  bears  his  name.  In  habit  and  general 
appearance,  especiall}'  of  foliage,  the  plants  are 
horticulturallj'  quite  distinct  from  one  another,  so 
should  have  different  names.  This  plant  will  not 
be  generally  seen  in  gardens  for  at  least  two  years 
more,  or  till  1904,  as  seed  of  it  was  only  distributed 
for  the  first  time  last  j-ear  by  Messrs.  Vilmorin, 
and  seedlings  do  not  bloom  till  the  fourth  j'ear  of 
their  age.  This  plant  comes  into  flower  at 
least  a  month  before  I.  Delavayi.  My  first  flower 
opened  on  April  30,  and  each  flower  lasts  in 
beauty  for  twelve  days  before  it  falls.  I  consider 
it  a  much  more  beautiful  flower  than  I.  Delavayi. — 

W.     E.    GUMELETON. 

The  Scotch  g'apden  desig'ns  com- 
petition.— This  competition,  in  conne.xion  with 
the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society,  came 
to  an  official  conclusion  on  May  7,  when  the  prizes 
were  published,  and  all  the  plans  hung  up  for 
inspection  in  the  AVaverley  Market,  Edinburgh. 
I  counted  twentj'-three  designs,  but  one  or  two 
were  not  for  competition.  Some  of  them  were 
undoubtedly  crude ;  but  on  the  whole  the  society 
has  every  reason  to  congratulate  itself  on  giving 
employment  of  so  beneficial  a  nature  to  many 
young  gardeners  during  the  long  winter  evenings. 
Several  of  the  designs,  in  addition  to  those  that 
obtained  prizes,  were  well  executed,  and  no 
doubt  the  adjudicators  had  a  busy  afternoon's 
work  in  coming  to  their  decisions.  Sir  John 
Gilmour,  Bart.,  Montrave,  it  is  said,  intends 
offering  prizes  next  winter  on  the  same  lines. 
Mr.  A.  Trotter,  CooUattin  Gardens,  Shillelagh, 
was  first ;  Mr.  T.  Smith,  Cambusdoon  Gardens, 
Ayr,  second  ;  and  Mr.  R.  Philip,  Botanic  tlardens, 
Belfast,  third.— R.  B. 


Crystal   Palace   Fruit    Show.— The 

Ro^'al  Horticultural  Society's  ninth  annual  show  of 
Bri  tish-grown  fruit  will  be  held  at  the  Crj'stal  Palace 
on  September  18,  19,  and  20.  The  prize  schedule  is 
now  ready,  and  contains,  in  addition  to  the  list  of 
prizes,  au  authoritative  list  of  dessert  and  cooking 
Apples,  Pears,  and  Plums.  Special  prizes  are 
offered  for  preserved  and  bottled  fruits.  Copies  can 
be  obtained  on  application  to  the  Secretary,  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  11 7,  Victoria  Street,  London, 
S.  W.     Applicants  should  enclose  a  penny  stamp. 

Messrs.  Carter's  Cinerarias.— The 

Cinerarias,  grown  chiefly  for  seed,  in  Messrs. 
Carter's  nurseries  at  Forest  Hill,  have  this  season 
been  remarkably  good,  the  plants  were  most 
vigorous,  and  the  shades  of  the  flowers  such  as  to 
delight  the  most  fastidious.  Some  of  the  flowers 
that  seemed  to  us  to  be  strikingly  beautiful  were 
those  of  the  following  colours  :  White,  with  blue 
tipped  edges  ;  deep  purple-carmine,  with  a  white 
centre  ;  an  intense  blue  around  a  white  centre  ; 
white,  the  tips  of  the  petals  marked  with  light 
purple;  a  rich  crimson  with  white  centre;  rich 
purple  ;  pale  carmine.  The  petals  of  these  varieties 
are  of  splendid  substance,  and  are  unmistakable 
evidence  of  the  lasting  properties  of  the  flowers  of 
Messrs.  Carter's  strain  of  Cinerarias. 

Notes    from    North  -  Eastern 

Scotland. — A  week  of  terribly  cold  east  winds 
has  checked  growth  of  all  sorts  in  the  garden.  The 
blooms  of  Magnolia  stellata  have  been  considerably 
touched.  This  is  the  only  Magnolia  I  have  yet 
tried,  but  as  it  has  grown  well  and  flowered 
regularly  ever  since  it  was  planted  I  shall  try  some 
of  the  others,  planting  them  where  they  will 
not  be  so  much  exposed  to  the  east  winds  as  the 
position  in  which  M.  stellata  is  growing.  Anemone 
alpina  (var.  sulphurea)  is  a  beautiful  thing,  rather 
difficult  to  grow  I  believe  on  some  soils,  but  here 
on  the  light  sandj'  loam  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  kill  it.  It  seeds  freelj',  and  herein  lies  an 
additional  attraction,  as  the  heads  of  seed  are 
large  and  fluffy,  and  look  almost  like  small  feathery 
bunches  of  Rhus  Cotinus.  Anemone  apennina  has 
been  lovely  in  the  grass  under  the  trees  ;  as  also 
has  a  planting  of  the  common  Fritillary  under  an 
Oak.  This  is  the  fourth  year  the  latter  have  been 
growing  there,  and  thej'  have  not  deteriorated  in  any 
way.  Rodgersia  podophylla  is  a  plant  that  seems  . 
to  like  shade.  For  several  j'ears  past  I  have  had 
it  in  rather  a  sunny  spot,  where  it  has,  with  the 
greatest  regularity,  been  badlj-  spoiled  by  frost  and 
east  wind  during  the  month  of  May.  This  year  I 
lifted  some  roots  as  soon  as  growth  started  and 
transferred  them  to  a  bed  of  good  soil  sloping 
north  and  backed  bj'  a  thin  growth  of  shrubs,  with 
the  result  that  the}'  have  so  far  been  untouehed, 
while  those  left  in  their  old  position  are  in  a  most 
pitiable  condition.  Amelanchier  canadensis  is  just 
going  over;  to  my  mind  this  is  one  of  the  very 
best  of  small  flowering  trees  for  the  North,  very 
beautiful  in  flower,  and  also  in  autumnal  foliage, 
easy  to  grow,  and  most  accommodating  in  every 
way. — N.  B. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.— At  a 

general  meeting  of  the  above  society,  held  on 
Tuesday  last,  seventy  new  fellows  were  elected, 
amongst  them  being  Sir  .John  Stirling  Maxwell, 
Bart.,  Sir  Albert  RoUit,  M.P.,  Lady  Trevor, 
Lady  Stirling  Maxwell,  Lady  Settrington,  and 
Lad}'  Ryder,  making  a  total  of  590  elected 
since  the  beginning  of  the  present  year. 

Temple  Flower  Show.— The  fifteenth 
great  flower  show  of  this  society,  held  annually  in 
thelnnner  Temple  Gardens,  Thames  Embankment, 
will  open  on  Wednesday  next  at  12.30.  Judging 
from  the  large  number  of  entries  received  the 
Temple  Show  promises  to  be  quite  up  to  its  usual 
standard  of  excellence.  The  following  well-known 
amateurs  are  among  the  names  of  intending  exhi- 
bitors:— Lord  Aldenham,  vegetables  ;  Sir  Frederick 
Wigan,  Bart.,  Orchids  ;  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence, 
Bart.,  Orchids;  Hon.  A.  H.  T.  Montmorency, 
Tulips  ;  Captain  G.  L.  Holford,  CLE. ,  Amaryllis; 
Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Carnations,  Pantia  Ralli, 
Caladiums,  and  fruit;  Alex.  Henderson,  M.P., 
fruit;  Reginald  Farrer,  alpines;  .John  Rutherford, 
M.P.,  Orchids;  J.  Colman,  Orchids;  A.  Meyers, 
Calceolarias. 


May  24,  1902.1 


THE   GAUDEN. 


S35 


Ipis  a>ttica/. — Iris  attiea,  a  new  species  falling 
midway  between  I.  pumila  and  I.  albiensis,  but 
much  smaller  than  either,  promises  to  become  a 
useful  rock  garden  plant.  The  rhizomatous  stems 
are  short  and  cfespitose  and  about  the  size  of  a 
Filbert.  They  produce  five  to  six  leads  each — 
scarcely  more  than  3  inches  high — each  lead  pro- 
ducing oue  flower  of  pretty  shape  and  quaint 
colouring,  averaging  1  inch  across  and  4  inches 
in  extreme  height.  They  are  shaped  like  those  of 
I.  pumiU,  but  the  parts  are  much  smaller  and  the 
falls  completely  reflex.  The  standards  and  style 
branche?  and  the  claws  of  the  falls  are  bronz}' 
purple,  the  standards  in  particular  being  tinted  a 
copper  colour,  reminding  one  of  the  beautiful 
colouring  of  I.  Leichtlinii  of  the  oncocyolus  group. 
The  blades  of  the  falls  are  rich  purple,  but  as  they 
completely  reflex  this  is  searcel}'  noticeable.  The 
plant,  though  sturdy  and  capable  of  making  rapid 
growth,  is  very  dwarf,  in  fact  the  dwarfest  rhizo- 
matous Iris  I  have  yet  seen.  It  is  very  floriferous, 
one  might  count  a  hundred  flowers  on  a  square 
foot  of  growths.  It  prefers  a  wide  flat  pocket 
where  the  plant  can  increase  at  will.  It  grows 
quite  as  freely  as  I.  pumila  in  poor  soils.  A  pretty 
albino  of  this  plant  is  even  more  pleasing  ;  the 
flower  is  almost  pure  white  save  for  the  slight  tint 
of  lavender  on  the  reflexed  falls. — G.  B.  MalFjETT. 

Cyphomattia  lanata, — I  have  to  thank 

Herr  Max  Leichtlin  for  answering  my  question  in 
reference  to  the  above  -  named  plant.  He  will 
confer  an  additional  favour  if  he  will  say  whether 
I  am  right  in  inferring  from  the  wording  of  his 
note  "  one  plant  sVj'W  in  cultivation  '  that  the  plant 
is  either  ditKcult  to  propagate  or  difficult  to  keep, 
or  both.  I  am,  of  course,  aware  that  it  is  very 
rare  at  present,  at  any  rate  in  cultivation.  I 
noticed  this  plant  on  the  rockery  at  Kew  when  I 
was  there  early  in  June  of  last  year,  and  thought 
it  one  of  the  most  remarkable  new  plants  I  had 
come  across  for  many  years  past — remarkable  and 
interesting  rather  than  showy  and  beautiful.  Its 
habitat  was,  if  I  rightly  recollect,  stated  to  be 
Asia  Minor,  and  it  belongs,  I  believe,  to  Boraginea;, 
though  I  do  not  know  that  this  latter  botanical 
truth  is  altogether  "obvious  to  the  meanest 
capacity." — J.  C.  L. 

Sweet  Corn  as  a  vegetable.  —  In 
America  the  Maize  or  Sweet  Corn  is  a  popular  dish 
and  well  worth  extended  culture  in  this  country. 
The  plant  grows  rapidly  when  seed  is  sown  at  this 
season  provided  the  seedlings  are  given  ample  space 
and  a  rich  root-run  with  liberal  supplies  of  moisture 
in  dry  seasons.  I  have  sown  a  few  seeds  in  4i-inch 
pots  in  frames  and  then  planted  out  in  trenches  or 
deep  drills.  The  latter  plan  is  the  better  of  the 
two,  as  in  summer,  if  the  weather  is  hot,  it  is  easj' 
to  deluge  the  plants  with  water.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  sow  under  glass,  as  very  good  results  may 
be  had  in  the  open  from  the  start  if  the  seeds  are 
sown  in  rows — that  is,  a  few  dibbled  in  I  foot 
apart,  and  the  seedlings  thinned  when  above 
ground  to  the  strongest,  2  feet  to  3  feet  being 
allowed  between  the  rows  for  the  large  growers. 
When  used  as  a  vegetable  the  heads  are  gathered 
green — that  is,  before  the  seeds  are  allowed  to 
harden — and  then  boiled  and  served  with  melted 
butter. — G.  Wythes. 

FPitlllaPia  Tuntasia.— This  Fritillaria, 
referred  to  by  Mr.  Mallett,  on  page  307,  resists 
frost  well,  a  plant  which  was  in  bud  at  the  time 
of  the  most  severe  frost  of  the  winter  having 
passed  through  it  uninjured  without  any  pro- 
tection. It  is  more  desirable  than  its  outward 
appearance  would  indicate,  but  the  flowers  have  to 
be  lifted  up  so  that  the  interior  can  be  seen.  This 
is  a  beautiful  deep  chestnut  colour  and  quite 
velvet-like.  It  is  a  plant  more  for  those  who  like 
interesting  flowers  than  for  those  who  like  a  showy 
and  bright  blossom. — S.  Arnott. 

Callfopnian  fpuit  fapms.— Beware  of 
the  pious  old  real  estate  agent,  who  "  just  drops 
in  on  his  way  home  from  prayer  meeting "  to  confer 
a  boon  on  you,  whom  he  has  selected  out  of  all  his 
friends  to  sell  a  fruit  farm  to  !  Beware,  for  one 
of  his  guileless  disposition  is  naturally  badly  posted 
as  to  the  disabilities  of  said  propertj',  especially  in 
minor  details,  such  as  number  of  trees  planted, 
value  of  crop,  amount  of  water  piping,  household 


'  conveniences,  &c.  ;  the  poetic  side  appealing 
strongest  to  him,  the  beautiful  climate,  the  air, 
the  rocks — in  which  his  ranche  abounds  generally — 
all  thrown  in  in  trade.  He  eyes  you  reproachfully 
if  you  express  incredulity,  and  glides  off  into  a 
scriptural  di^isertation,  and  what  more  do  you 
want?  He  exudes  oil  at  every  pore,  fawning  on 
you  as  he  calls  you  brother,  but  oh  !  beware,  have 
a  care,  he  is  fooling  thee.  I  wonder  if  those  lines 
were  copyright  !  See  how  quickly  he  produces 
pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  adroitly  proceeds  to  spin 
his  web  around  you.  Then,  get  out  if  you  can  ! 
Ttiis  is  drawn  from  life,  and  no  fancy  picture. 
His  phraseology  is  deceptive,  and  he  garbles  prices 
in  a  misleading  manner.  Of  course,  when  you  find 
out  that  the  taxes  are  all  payable  by  you  instead 
of  by  the  seller,  as  he  stated,  and  that  the  crop  is 
gathered,  place  run  down  and  poorly  piped,  why, 
"  He  hadn't  been  all  over  it ;  relied  on  his  client's 
description."  The  only  thing  you  can  rely  on  is 
the  climate,  and  he  would  have  a  mortgage  on  that 
if  he  could.  From  all  sanctimonious  old  scoundrels, 
good  Lord,  deliver  us  !-C.  Macquarie,  Chicago. 

National    Rose    Society.  —  By    kind 

permission  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  any 
member  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  by  applying 
to  the  Secretary,  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Office,  117,  Victoria  Street,  S.W.,  on  or  before 
Thursday,  June  19,  can  obtain  without  charge  one 
non-transferable  ticket  to  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society'sponference  on  Roses,  to  be  held  at  Holland 
House,  Kensington,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
June  24  and  25.  This  ticket  admits  the  bearer  at 
12  30  on  June  24.  An  envelope  stamped  and 
addressed  must  be  enclosed.  The  society's 
exhibition  of  Roses  will  be  held  in  the  Temple 
Gardens,  Thames  Embankment,  on  Wednesday, 
July  2.  Three  fifty  guinea  challenge  trophies  will 
be  competed  for,  as  well  as  numerous  other  cups, 
plate,  and  money  prizes.  We  have  received  from 
Mr.  Edward  Mawley  (hon.  secretary.  National 
Rose  Society)  the  schedule  of  prizes  to  be  given  at 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  conference  on 
Roses,  and  we  notice,  in  addition  to  the  numerous 
classes  for  cut  blooms,  one  for  a  representative 
group  of  Roses,  placed  on  the  ground  in  a  space 
not  exceeding  40(1  square  feet.  The  Roses  may  be 
in  pots  or  cut  flowers  in  plain  glasses,  vases,  or 
jars,  and  not  in  exhibition  boxes.  The  first  prize 
is  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  gold  medal  and 
a  £10  silver  cup  presented  by  the  National  Rose 
Society.  The  annual  report  of  the  National  Rose 
Society  for  1901  has  also  reached  us,  and  from  it  we 
learn  that  "  the  past  year  has  been  an  eventful  one, 
owing  to  the  removal  of  the  metropolitan  ex- 
hibition from  the  Crystal  Palace  to  the  Temple 
Gardens.  Fortunately,  the  new  venture  met  with 
very  general  approval,  and,  from  a  financial  point 
of  view,  has  proved  as  satisfactory  as  could  have 
been  anticipated,  considering  how  difficult  it 
always  is  the  first  few  years  to  make  an  exhibition 
of  this  kind  pay  in  London.  The  contributions 
to  the  Temple  Rose  Show  Guarantee  Fund 
amounted  in  all  to  £357  7s.  A  novel  feature  was 
the  insurance  of  the  exhibition  at  Lloyd's  against 
loss,  should  the  attendance  be  seriously  affected  by 
the  show  day  being  wet.  Fortunately,  the  day  on 
which  the  exhibition  was  held  proved  fine,  and 
the  gate-money  sufficiently  good  to  prevent  any 
cleniands  being  made  on  the  Guarantee  Fund.  The 
first  exhibition  of  the  year  took  place  at  Richmond, 
Surrey,  on  June  26,  and  was  the  largest  southern 
show  held  for  five  years.  The  northern  exhibition, 
which  was  held  at  Ulverston  on  July  17,  was,  on 
the  other  hand,  less  extensive  than  usual.  In 
accordance  with  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  A.  Hill 
Gray,  a  series  of  instructions  in  the  cultivation  of 
Tea  Roses  has  been  prepared  and  recently  issued 
to  the  members  under  the  title  of  "How  to  Grow 
and  Show  Tea  Roses."  The  thanks  of  the  com- 
mittee are  due  to  the  three  Tea  Rose  experts,  the 
Rev.  F.  R.  Burnside,  Mr.  0.  G.  Orpen,  and  the 
Rev.  F.  Page  -  Roberts,  who,  at  their  request, 
drew  up  this  helpful  little  treatise  ;  also  to  Mr.  A. 
Hill  Gray  for  a  donation  of  £5  towards  the  expense 
of  its  publication.  The  special  attention  of  the 
members  is  directed  to  the  Rose  conference, 
which  will  be  held  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  at  Holland  House,  Kensington,  on  June  24 


and  25.  This  conference  has  the  warm  support  of 
the  committee,  and  is  likely  to  be  the  most 
interesting  and  instructive  meeting  of  the  kind 
that  has  ever  taken  place.  Although  the  expen- 
diture, owing  to  the  cost  of  holding  an  independent 
show  in  the  Temple  Gardens  was  greater  than  in 
any  previous  year,  the  receipts  have  propor- 
tionately increased,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the 
financial  year  there  still  remains  a  balance  to  carry 
forward  to  next  year  of  £31  8s.  4d.  This  the 
committee  cannot  but  regard  as  eminently  satis- 
factory, particularly  as  much  of  the  increased 
receipts  is  due  to  the  subscriptions  of  new 
members.  During  the  year  200  new  members  have 
joined  the  society.  The  net  gain  during  the  year 
has  been  150  members,  bringing  up  the  total 
number  of  members  on  the  society's  books  to  740  " 
APPang-ementS  fOP  1902.— Arrange- 
ments have  been  made  with  the  Devon  and  Exeter 
Horticultural  Society  to  hold  the  southern  exhi- 
bition at  Exeter,  which  is  the  most  south-westerly 
locality  the  society  has  yet  visited,  on  Friday', 
July  4.  The  metropolitan  exhibition,  by  the  kind 
permission  of  the  Treasurer  and  Benchers  of  the 
Inner  Temple,  will  again  be  held  in  the  Temple 
Gardens,  the  date  fixed  for  the  show  being 
Wednesday,  July  2.  The  northern  exhibition 
will  take  place  at  Manchester,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Royal  Botanical  and  Horticultural  Society  of 
Manchester,  on  Saturday,  July  19.  It  is  nov/ 
sixteen  years  since  the  society  last  held  an  ex- 
hibition in  Manchester,  and  the  committee  look 
forward  hopefully  to  revisiting  that  city,  knowing 
what  successful  shows  they  held  there  in  the  years 
1880,  18S4,  and  188.3.  Prizes  will  also  be  offered 
by  the  society  at  the  exhibition  which  will  be 
held  in  connexion  with  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Rose  conference  in  Holland  Park 

Gpowing  Ipis  petieulata.— As  this  Iris 

grows  very  well  in  our  garden  and  at  present  shows 
no  sign  of  disease,  I  am  very  pleased  to  tell  your 
correspondent  "B.  M.  B."  how  we  manage  it. 
A  friend  who  grows  them  splendidly  at  Bourne- 
mouth gave  me  a  handful  of  the  bulbs  some  years 
ago,  and  told  me  to  plant  "them  at  the  end  of 
August  or  beginning  of  September  in  good  rich 
soil,  also  to  take  them  up  every  three  years  in 
July  when  they  have  thoroughly  died  down  ;  keep 
them  dry  some  weeks  but  not  too  long,  and  then 
sort  and  replant  them.  They  have  increased  mar- 
vellously, and  we  have  them  growing  in  every 
position  about  the  garden.  The  clumps  that  have 
done  particularly  well  this  year  were  the  tiny 
bulblets  of  three  years  ago  put  away  in  a  rather 
poor  border  under  young  Poplar  trees.  Some 
flowered  the  first  spring,  many  the  second,  and 
each  clump  was  a  mass  of  flowers  this  spring.  The 
border  is  top-dressed  with  manure  every  autumn, 
and  the  bulbs  are  also  covered  with  ashes.  We 
leave  the  ashes  in  the  spring  to  protect  them  from 
the  slugs,  which  are  their  great  enemies.  In  more 
"  sluggy  "  parts  of  the  garden  I  plant  the  bulbs  in 
ashes  also.  The  Poplar  walk  is  rather  sheltered 
from  winds  though  sunny.  The  Iris  grass  is  very 
tall  this  year  and  the  patches  are  full  of  maturing 
seeds.  I  am  very  glad  of  "  B.  M.  B.'s"  advice 
about  Iris  alata,  and  shall  certainly  follow  it.  I 
ought  to  add  that  our  soil  is  very  light  and  stony. 
Perhaps  it  is  difficult  to  grow  Iris  reticulata  on 
heavy  clay  soils.— E.  J.  L.  E.,  near  Llangollen. 

Cydonia    pyg-maea.  —  The    Cydonia    is 

always  so  much  liked  in  the  garden  that  it  is 
pleasant  to  have  one  which  can  be  planted  in  the 
rock  garden  of  moderate  size  without  seeming  too 
large  for  its  surroundings.  Such  is  Cydonia 
pygmaja,  whose  dwarf  habit  is  not  secured  at  the 
loss  of  any  beauty,  as  is  sometimes  the  way  with 
dwarf  plants  raised  from  others  of  taller  growth, 
and  which  is  probably  the  origin  of  C.  pygma;a. 
Judging  from  its  aspect  and  colour  one  would 
imagine  this  little  plant  to  be  derived  from  C. 
Maulei,  though  precise  information  on  this  point 
is  not  to  be  had.  At  any  rate,  it  is  not  recognised 
by  the  "Index  Kewensis."  It  came  to  me  from 
Newry  in  1900,  and  flowered  a  little  last  year,  but 
it  is  only  this  season  that  one  could  appreciate  its 
beauties  properly.  It  has  never  grown  more  than 
2  feet  in  height  here,  although  the  branches  have 
been    left    unshortened,    and    it    is    at    present 


336 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  24,  1902. 


exceedingly  beautiful  with  its  branches  simply 
crowded  with  flowers  about  equal  in  size,  but 
lighter  in  colour  than  those  of  C.  Maulei.  The 
flowers  occupy  about  half  the  length  of  the  branch. 
It  is  planted  beside  a  large  plant  of  Arabis  alpina 
fl.-pl.,  and  the  two  look  well  together.  The  time 
will  probably  come  when  we  shall  have  a  variety 
of  colour  in  this  little  shrub,  and  then  we  should 
have  at  command  a  charming  series  of  Cydonias 
for  covering  the  faces  of  large  stones  or  low  rocks. 
The  habit  of  C.  pygrajea  is  erect,  and  no  fastening 
up  is  necessarj'. — S.  Arn'Ott. 


interesting  to  some,  has  chestnut-coloured 
flowers,  striped  with  a  broad  green  band 
down  each  petal  both  inside  and  out,  the 
margins  are  bordered  greenish  yellow.  It 
bears  five  to  six  flowers,  and  grows  freely,  but 


FBITILLARIAS    AND    THEIR 
CULTURE.-II, 


(Contiimed  from  jiage  S2S.) 
F.  Whittallii  (Biker). — A  plant  from  A.sia 
Minor,  resemliles  F.  Meleagris  in  many  ways, 
differing  only  in  having  smaller  bulbs, 
narrower  leaves,  and  in  the  presence  of  floral 
nectaries  near  the  base  of  each  petal,  a  con- 
spicuous feature  in  most  Fritillarias  save  F. 
Meleagris.  It  grows  1  foot  high,  producing  one 
or  two  olive  or  citron-green  inflated  flowers 
1  inch  across  with  slightly  recurved  tips,  the 
whole  flower  being  chequered  with  dull  brown. 
Though  interesting,  it  is  not  so  charming  as 
F.  Meleagris. 

F.  paUidifttra  (Schrenk) — A  variable  but 
fine  species  from  Siberia,  and  very  distinct. 
The  leaves  are  recurved,  broadly  ovate,  average 
ten  in  number,  and  clothe  a  stem  1  foot  to 
-1  feet  high.  The  flowers,  numbering  four  to 
six,  are  arranged  in  a  loose  raceme,  and 
measure  2  inches  in  length  and  span.  They 
are  midway  between  those  of  Meleagris  and 
Imperialis  in  shape,  having  conspicuous 
shoulders  and  reflexing  tips.  Colour,  a  pale 
cream,  approaching  white  with  age,  prettily 
veined  with  olive-green,  and  slightly  spotted 
on  the  inside  with.chocolate,  and  zoned  at  the 
base  with  pale  crimson.  The  bulbs  can 
scarcely  be  distinguished  from  Meleagris  save 
in  the  slightly  larger  size.  There  are  four 
forms  of  this  plant  in  cultivation  ;  the  one 
having  buds  red  on  the  outside  is  the  best, 
both  in  size  of  flower,  purity  of  colour,  and 
simple  culture.  It  is  easy  to  grow  in  a  border, 
sufi'ering  somewhat  from  heat  and  drought  in 
such  places,  however,  unless  carpeted  with 
some  protective  low-growing  plant,  a  feature  I 
have  found  hel|)ful  in  the  cultivation  of  many 
bulbs  and  almost  a  necessity  with  these 
Fritillarias. 

F.  Elwesi. — A  stiffly  erect  plant  recently 
introduced  from  Palestine,  bears  thick  fleshed 
high  shouldered,  olive-green  flowers  of  Melea- 
gris ^shape,  but  con- 
tracted in  the  middle 
and  spreading  at  the 
tips.  The  petals  are 
marked  with  a  broad 
medium  line  of 
brown,  and  the 
margins  are  tinted 
brown,  a  slight 
chequering  ii  con- 
spicuous on  the 
inside,  and  the  outer 
base  is  zoned  with 
purple.  It  is  the 
Utest  of  all  Fritil- 
lirias  to  flower.  F. 
s'ebeaim,  a  plant 
received  last  year 
from  Asia  Minor, 
will,  I  fear,  turn  out 
to  be  this  sjiecies. 

F.  o  I  xi  ne  ns  is.  —  A 
similar  plant  to  the 
foregoing    and  fbitillaria  becdrva  (r.iFE  size). 


(From  a  drawing  by  U.  G.  Moon.) 


it  is  scarcely  to  be  recommended  as  a  bright 
garden  plant. 

F.  Maygridgei  (Boiss).— Said  to  be  a  variety 
of  F.  delphinensis,  a  plant  practically  unknown 
to  horticulture  ;  bears  solitary  nodding  flowers 
most  like  those  of  F.  aurea,  but  with  more 
reflexed  tips  and  with  a  heavy  colouration  of 
brown  at  the  base  of  the  flower.  It  has  all  the 
good  attributes  of  F.  aurea,  with  the  addition 
of  taller  stature.     A  good  garden  plant. 

Group  IV. — Fritillaria  recurva  and  its 
Allies. 

These  Fritillarias  are  comjiaratively  tall  and 
very  graceful,  having  flat  disc-like  bulbs,  tall 
slender  stem.-',  with  leaves  arranged  in  whorls, 
as  in  the  Martagon  Lilies.  Their  flowers  are 
numerous,  pendant,  and  arranged  in  a  loose 
terminal  raceme  or  spike.  The  majority  are 
easy  to  grow,  but  the  best  of  all — F.  recurva — 
still  baffles  the  skill  of  experts  in  that  it 
invariably  fails  to  perfect  a  bulb  after  one 
year's  successful  growth.  It  grows  2  feet  in 
height,  and  has  purplish  stems  supporting 
about  twelve  elegant  nodding  flowers,  mainly 
of  a  yellow  colour,  and  more  or  less  heavily 
spotted  and  flushed  with  soft  scarlet.  Tlje 
petals  are  narrow  and  reflex  at  the  tips.  At 
night  they  are  closely  connivent,  forming  a 
slender  tube,  but  during  bright  sunshine  they 
exjiaud  more  fully,  revealing  the  terra-cotta 
coloured  stamens  and  much  of  the  elegant 
spotting  on  the  inside.  I  have  spent  much 
time  in  trying  to  get  this  beautiful  but 
capricious  Fritillary  to  establish  itself  and 
thrive.  I  have  grown  it  best  in  deep  pans 
filled  with  half-decayed  leaf-soil  well  charged 
with  sand  as  a  rooting  medium,  growing  the 
plants  in  a  cold  frame,  but  ripening  growth 
outside.  I  have  managed  to  save  50  per 
cent,  of  the  bulb.s,  all  well  developed,  under 
this  treatment,  but  I  have  not  obtained  any 
marked  success  with  plants  grown  outside. 
Possibly  in  light  sandy  soils,  ivith  a  little  loose 
2xat  about  the  bulbs,  it  may  do  better.  Sand,  a  . 
good  protection  to  most  bulbs,  sjieedily  cripples 
those  of  F.  recurva.  The  practice  of  growing  the 
bulbs  edgewise,  once  recommended,  appears  of 
little  value.  Hybrid  seedlings  I  have  raised 
between  F.  recurva  and  other  species  (the 
former  being  the  seed  parent)  all  damped  off 
with  one  accord,  whilst  hybrid  seedlings  with 
F.  recurva  as  pollen  parent  are  thriving,  so  I 
have  been  compelled  to  regard  F.  recurva  bulbs 
as  too  tender  to  withstand  our  wet,  wintry 
climate.  In  drier  and  warmer  districts  it  may 
succeed,  but  in  most  places  will  need  the  pro- 
tection of  a  light  whilst  resting,  and  particularly 
when  starting  to  grow  again,  maintain  so 
far  as  is  possible  a  condition  bordering  on 
dryness  till  growth  is  evident. 

F.  coccinea,  considered  a  variety  of  recurva, 
has  a  better  constitution,  but  in  point  of 
beauty  is  far  and  away  behind  the  type  plant. 
The  bulbs  are  roundish,  between  those  of 
INIeleagris  and  recurva  in  shape,  and  the  stems 
grow  6  inches  to  10  inches  high  and  bear  three 
or  four  flowers  as  a  maximum,  darker  and 
richer  than  those  of  recurva  but  more  closely 
arranged  on  the  stem,  thus  losing  the  graceful 
outline  which  has  made  F.  recurva  so  famous. 
It  thrives  for  a  year  or  two  on  a  dry,  warm 
rockery,  but  never  increases,  and  finally 
dwindles  away. 

F.  lanceo/nta,  a  fine  plant  2  feet  high,  has 
broadly  canipanulate  flowers  an  inch  in  length 
and  breadth.  They  are  disposed  in  a  loose, 
elegant  spike  and  are  prettily  netted,  and 
spotted  carmine  on  a  citron-yellow  ground 
colour.  The  three  outer  petals  are  tinted  with 
orange  on  the  outside  only.  The  flowers, 
though  not  so  pleasing  as  those  of  F.  recurva, 


May  21,  1932.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


337 


are  very  bright  and  curiously  marked, 
and  average  ten  on  each  spike.  The  plant 
when  in  flower  much  resembles  a  Martagon 
Lily.  The  variety  (/racilis,  a  slender- 
growing  plant  as  tall  as  the  type,  has 
rich  claret-coloured  flowers  slightly  spotted 


FRITILLAKIA  PUDICA  (UPE  SIZE). 
(From  a  drawing  by  11.  Q.  Moan.) 

with  green,  and  furnished  with  carmine- 
coloured  anthers.  Both  these  plants  are  easy 
to  grow  in  any  warm  situation. 

F.  parvitiorit,  a  rare  and  graceful  slender- 
growing  plant  with  long  grass-like,  whorled 
leaves,  bears  a  long,  loose  spike  of  twenty 
nodding  bell-shaped  flowers  on  slender  pedi- 
cels. They  ai-e  coloured  olive-green,  with 
carmine  margins,  and  have  reddish  anthers. 
The  plant  has  the  light  graceful  outline  of 
Lilium  tenuifolium,  and  is  worth  growing  for 
this  reason  alone. 

Group  V.  —  Feitillaeia  aemena  and  its 
Allies. 

These  little  plants  are  suitable  for  the  rock 
garden  only.  They  average  (J  inches  in  height 
and  have  nodding  bell-shaped  flowers  of  some 
yellow  shade.    The  smallest  species, 

F.  armena,  grows  about  4  inches  in  height, 
and  bears  charming  little  golden-yellow  flowers 
under  an  inch  across.  To  make  eft'ective 
groups  the  bulbs  should  be  planted  freely  on 
little  rockery  slopes,  so  that  when  in  growth 
they  will  cover  the  soil.  It  is  not  difficult  to 
manage,  and,  once  established,  will  soon  spread 
from  self-sown  seeds  to  various  parts  of  the 
rockery,  where  it  may  be  allowed  to  grow 
among  delicate  alpines  without  injuring  them 
in  the  least,  the  growth  being  very  slight.  A 
red-flowered  form  of  this,  riihra,  has  rosy 
flowers  with  yellow  margins.  It  is  often  called 
F.  Zagriga. 

/''.  pudica,  a  Californian  gem  of  much 
promise,  grows  6  inches  to  8  inches  in  height, 
and  bears  nodding  bell-shaped  flowers  about 
an  inch  in  length  and  rich  golden-yellow  in 
colour.  Newly  imported  plants  have  a  con- 
spicuous maroon  ring  at  the  base  of  the  petals 


on  the  outside,  a  feature 
the  flowers  lose  in  the 
second  year.     It  is  one 
of    the    first    of    spring 
\         flowers,  and  for  the  rock 
A        garden    is    difficult    to 
]  beat.      Though    known 

■^<^i«*-'  long  ago,  it  is  only  dur- 

ing   recent    years    that 
the  plant  has  been  intro- 
duced into  general  culti- 
vation.   It  received  the 
first-class    certificate    of    the    Koyal 
Horticultural  Society  in  1896.    Since 
then     it     has     become    exceedingly 
popular,  and  is  now  widely  cultivated. 
F.    citrina   (Baker).  —  This   comes 
from  Asia  Minor,  and  bears  citron- 
yellow   campanulate    or    bell-shaped 
flowers  on  stems  8  inches  to  10  inches 
high.    They  average  1  inch  in  length, 
are    slightly   green    when   they  first 
open,  the  green  giving  place,  as  the 
flowers  age,  to  a  citron-yellow,  the 
petals  being  almost  pure  yellow.    It 
is  a  pretty  plant  of  pleasing  colour, 
most  suitable  for  naturalising  on  a 
rockery,  and  thriving  in  close  turf  or 
in  the  poor  soil  of  a  dry  border.    The 
plant  seeds  freely,  and  the  bulbs  pro- 
duce plenty  of  ofisets,  developing  into 
flowering  bulbs  in  the  second  or  third 
year. 

Fritillarias  are  best  planted  before 
winter  sets  in,  with  the  exception  of 
F.  recurva  and  its  variety,  which,  if 
grown  outside,  should  be  planted  in 
S"ebruary,   so    as    to    avoid    e.xciting 
growth  too  early  in  the  season.     A 
great  number   of   species  other  than 
those  I  have  noted  are  occasionally 
seen   in  cultivation.     The.se  I    have 
purposely   omitted    from    my    notes, 
either  because  they  are 
scarcely  worth  growing, 
save  as  botanical  speci- 
mens, or  because  they 
are     very   difficult    to 
grow,  not  necessarily  on 
account  of  any  inherent 
obstinacy,   but   mainly 
because  we  have  yet  to 
find  out  exactly  what 
they  want. 

If  one  reviews  the 
genus  carefully  it  will 
be  apparent  that  ruany 
of  the  plants  with  poor 
flowt  rs  have  capital 
constitutions  and  many 

other  desirable  characteristics  of  good  garden 
plants,  whilst  some  of  those  with  flowers  of 
beautiful  colour  lack  a  sound  constitution. 
It  appears  there  is  a  splendid  field  for  some 
painstaking  amateur  hybridist  to  work  among 
these  Fritillarias  ;  much  has  been  done  already, 
but  there  is  work  still  for  the  hybridist  to  do. 
The  majority  of  the  plants  are  (juite  hardy, 
and  the  seedlings  flower  in  their  third  year. 
The  majority  of  Fritillarias  cross  readily,  the 
flowers  are  easy  to  manipulate,  and  no  more 
after  care  is  necessary  than  would  be  required 
in  an  ordinary  seed  harvest.  Of  ten  crosses  I 
made  last  year  I  got  twenty-four  capsules  of 
perfected  seeds,  all  of  which  germinated, 
whilotwith  the  sister  genus  Lilium  I  registered 
over  100  crosses,  practically  embracing  the 
whole  genus.  In  twenty-five  instances  I  got 
an  average  of  four  and  a  half  ripened  capsules, 
each  of  apparently  good  seeds.  Of  these,  alas  ! 
but  eight  lots  germinated.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  there  is  greater  hope  of  real  success  with 


Fritillarias,  and  the  success  will  be  all  the 
greater  when  one  considers  that  the  Fritillarias 
need  improvement,  a  statement  I  should  not 
care  to  apply  to  Lilies.       Geo.  B.  Mallett. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 


rr-^] 


SALADS. 

HE  cultivation  of  salads  is  not  the  least 
important  of  a  gardener's  duties,  for 
these  in  many  cases  are  required  for 
daily  consumption  the  whole  year 
round.  Of  salads,  Lettuce  may  be  said 
to  be  the  most  important,  so  this  shall 
be  first  considered.  By  growing  suitable  varieties 
of  both  Cos  and  Cabbage,  and  if  proper  acoommo- 
dation  is  provided,  there  should  be  no  difficulty  in 
obtaining  Lettuce  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
the  year.  The  best  qualities  tlie  Lettuce  can  have 
are  ;  In  spring  the  property  of  turning  in  quickly,  in 
summer  to  be  slow  in  running  to  seed,  the  least 
susceptible  to  damp  in  autumn  and  winter,  and 
hardiness. 

In  order  to  maintain  a  continued  supply  of 
Lettuce  seed  should  be  sown  at  intervals  from 
January  to  September.  In  January  sow  the  seed 
in  boxes  and  place  these  near  the  glass  in  a  gentle 
heat.  If  the  cultivation  of  Lettuce  is  practised 
upon  a  large  scale,  instead  of  sowing  in  boxes, 
sow  either  upon  the  surface  soil  of  a  pit  under 
which  runs  a  hot-water  pipe  or  upon  (3  inches  of 
soil,  resting  upon  a  mild  hot  bed  composed  of  two 
parts  leaves  and  one  of  stable  manure,  in  a  cold 
frame.  From  the  time  the  seedlings  appear  the3' 
should  be  grown  sturdily,  and  must  experience  no 
check.  Ventilate  carefully  accord- 
ing to  the  state  of  the  weather, 
and  so  long  as  there  is  any  likeli- 
hood of  frost  cover  the  frame 
every  night  with  mats. 

Lettuce. 
The  variety  selected  will  depend 
upon  whether  the  cultivator  pre- 
fers a  Cabbage  or  Cos   Lettuce, 


^ 


FP.ITILLARIA    CITRI.VA 


(LIFE   SIZE) 


{From  a  drawing  by  H.  G.  Moon.) 


338 


THE   GARDEN. 


[May  24,  1902. 


the  former  turns  in,  and  is  ready  for  use  more 
quickly  than  the  latter.  An  excellent  Cabbage 
Lettuce  for  the  early  sowing  is  Golden  Queen,  a 
sort  that  is  rather  under  medium  size  with  smooth 
green  leaves.  It  forms  solid,  crisp,  and  tender 
hearts. 

Plants  from  the  early  sowing,  after  being  well 
hardened  off,  may  be  planted  out  on  a  south 
border,  placing  them  about  8  inches  apart.  Instead 
of  putting  them  out  in  this  manner  they  may  be 
dibbled  in  a  rather  rich  and  light  soil  in  a  warm 
frame  about  7  inches  from  each  other.  Grown  in 
this  way  Lettuces  of  the  most  delicious  flavour 
and  finest  texture  are  obtained.  Should  cold, 
cutting  winds  prevail  after  planting  the  young 
plants  outside,  as  above  mentioned,  and  in  early 
spring  they  frequently  do,  temporary  protection, 
furnished  by  means  of  mats  or  branches  of  Laurel 
1  foot  or  2  feet  long,  must  be  given.  Place  these 
branches  in  the  ground  between  the  plants  all  over 
the  bed,  and  there  let  them  remain  until  the 
Lettuces  are  established. 

If  a  Cos  variety  is  required  Veitch's  Superb 
White,  a  selection  from  Paris  White,  is  excellent. 
Growing  as  it  does  larger  than  Golden  Queen,  this 
variety  must  be  placed  at  least  2  inches  further 
apart  when  planted  out.  About  the  first  week  in 
March  a  sowing  may  be  made  out  of  doors  on  a 
south  border.  Sow  thinly  that  the  seedlings  may 
have  plenty  of  room  to  properly  develop.  Whether 
the  sowing  is  made  a  few  days  sooner  or  later  is 
not  material,  but  take  the  first  opportunity  when  i 
the  ground  is  in  a  suitable  state,  i.e.,  when  it  can 
be  trodden  or  raked  without  adhering  to  either 
one's  boots  or  the  rake. 

After  sowing  fix  a  net  over  the  bed,  keeping  it  a 
foot  or  more  above  the  soil  by  means  of  sticks. 
The  two  varieties  recommended  above  for  sowing 
under  glass  in  January  may  be  sown  in  early 
March  outside,  with,  in  addition,  the  Cabbage 
Lettuce  New  York.  This  variety  will  stand  a 
long  time  in  hot  weather  without  running  to  seed, 
and  by  the  time  the  plants  from  early  sowings  are 
ready  for  cutting  hot  weather  is  not  unusual. 

Rojal  Albert,  another  Cabbage  Lettuce,  much 
resembles  New  York,  except  that  it  is  a  lighter 
green  ;  both  varieties  are  large,  with  crinkled 
leaves,  and  form  large,  tender,  and  crisp  heads  of 
the  first  quality.  These  attributes  considered, 
together  with  the  fact  that  thej'  do  not  easily  run 
to  seed,  mark  them  as  the  best  of  summer  Cabbage 
Lettuce.  Veitch's  Chelsea  (iem  is  also  a  good 
Cabbage  variety  for  summer,  of  medium  size,  with 
smooth  leaves. 

Of  Cos  varieties  for  summer.  Mammoth  White 
is,  taking  all  things  into  consideration,  as  good  as 
any,  though  it  is  closely  followed  in  point  of  merit 
by"  White  Cos. 

Whether  one  or  more  of  these  summer  Lettuces 
is  grown,  frequent  sowings  are  necessary  to  main- 
tain an  uninterrupted  supply.  As  soon  as  the 
seedlings  from  the  first  sowing  out  of  doors  com- 
mence to  form  the  first  rough  leaf  a  second  sowing 
should  be  made,  and  whe:i  the  resulting  seedlings 
have  reached  a  similar  stage,  sow  again,  and  so  on 
to  the  end  of  the  season.  Daring  the  months  of 
May,  June,  and  July  sow  the  seeds  thinly  in  drills 
on  a  north  border,  making  the  drills  12  inches 
apart.  At  the  end  of  June  discontinue  sowing  the 
summer  varieties,  with  the  exception  of  Mammoth 
White,  which  is  sown  once  more,  early  in  July. 
Then  are  also  sown  Sugarloaf,  Grosse  Parisienne, 
and  Lee's  Immense  Hardy  Cabbage.  The  first  and 
last-named  are  of  medium  size,  and  the  French 
variety  is  large  ;  all  are  valuable  for  autumn  use. 
These  three  varieties  are  selected  for  the  second 
sowing  in  July,  which,  together  with  the  sub- 
sequent sowings,  is  larger  than  those  made  pre- 
viously, so  as  to  provide  a  plentiful  supply  of 
plants  for  planting  out  for  the  autumn  and  winter 
supplies.  Early  in  September  the  last  sowing  of 
the  season  is  made  on  a  south  border,  the  varieties 
used  being  Sugarloaf,  Lee's  Immense  Hardy,  Bath 
or  Brown  Cos,  and  a  good  summer  Cabbage  variety 
such  as  Perfect  Gem  or  All  the  Year  Round. 
The  first  three  mentioned  are  quite  hardy,  the  last 
two  are  more  tender,  as  also  are  some  others  that 
are  good  for  summer  use,  although  they  survive 
mild  winters. 


As  soon  as  large  enough  the  best  plants  from  the 
September  sowing  should  be  planted  out  on  a  south 
border,  there  to  remain  during  the  winter.  Thej' 
will  be  ready  for  cutting  during  late  April  and  May. 
Brown  Cos  is  at  that  season  excellent — tender, 
crisp,  and  sweet.  The  smaller  plants  are  left  in 
the  seed  bed  throughout  the  winter.  Should  there 
be  insufhcieut  plants  from  the  last  sowing  out  of 
doors,  sow  again  in  October  in  a  cold  frame,  leaving 
the  plants  there  during  the  winter,  and  plant  them 
out  in  the  spring.  Although  some  varieties  of 
Lettuce  are  quite  hardy  when  the  plants  are  small, 
they  are  much  more  tender  when  fully  grown  and 
blanched.  In  the  month  of  October,  therefore,  some 
provision  should  be  made  to  protect  them  from 
frost. 

Those  that  are  fully  grown  and  are  ready  for 
use  may  be  protected  by  means  of  mats  supported 
by  rods  that  are  attached  to  short  stakes  driven 
into  the  ground.  When  there  is  a  likelihood  of 
frost  put  on  the  mats  at  night  and  remove  them  in 
the  morning. 

The  best  protection  that  can  be  given  to  autumn 
and  winter  Lettuce  is  to  lift  those  that  are  well 
developed  (excepting  those  for  immediate  use)  and 
plant  them  in  a  cold  frame  or  a  pit  as  close 
together  as  they  can  be  without  being  crowded. 
In  lifting  care  should  be  taken  to  preserve  as  many 
roots  as  possible  ;  the  plants  ought  also  to  be 
graded  into  two  or  three  sizes,  so  that  when  one 
cuts  them  the  pit  may  be  cleared  by  commencing 
at  one  end  and  proceeding  uninterruptedly.  This 
practice  admits  of  others  being  brought  in  from 
outside  that  have  developed  since  the  first  lot  of 
plants  was  lifted. 

Another  method  of  protecting  the  Lettuces  is  to 
place  frames  over  them  as  they  are  growing — rough 
three-light  frames  are  very  useful  for  this  purpose. 
Mats  and  long  stable  litter  should  be  used  for 
covering  at  night,  taking  care  to  place  plenty  of 
the  latter  around  the  sides  of  the  frame.  During 
mild  weather  draw  the  lights  oft',  tilting  them  at 
the  back  instead  when  it  rains.  Ventilate  every 
day  when  the  temperature  is  above  freezing  point. 

From  a  sowing  made  late  in  the  month  of  August, 
of  both  Cabbage  and  Cos  varieties,  part  of  a  frame 
or  cold  pit  may  be  planted ;  they  will  provide 
excellent  Lettuce  bv  April.  The  plants  raised 
from  seed  in  September  and  put  out  on  a  south 
border,  should  in  January  be  planted  in  a  heated 
pit,  in  soil  resting  upon  a  mild  hotbed.  These 
quickly  develop  into  plants  of  the  best  qualit}'. 
Cabbage  varieties  are  best  suited  for  this  treatment. 
Plants  from  a  sowing  made  in  January,  upon  a 
hot  bed,  will  succeed  the  first  early  crop  sown  in 
the  autumn. 

Planting. 

The  distance  apart  at  which  Lettuces  should  be 
planted  depends  upon  what  size  they  attain  when 
fully  grown.  Small-growing  varieties  may  be 
planted  8  inches  distant  from  each  other,  those 
of  medium  size  at  10  inches,  and  the  larger  ones 
12  inches  apart.  Mammoth  may  be  allowed  even 
rather  more  space  in  which  to  develop. 

It  is  necessary  to  tie  some  Cos  varieties  in 
order  to  blanch  them,  and  this  should  be  done 
a  fortnight  before  cutting.  Cabbage  varieties 
should  not  need  tying  ;  those  that  do  require  it 
we  do  not  think  worth  growing. 

To  obtain  the  best  Lettuce  well  cultivated,  rich 
ground  is  essential.  Liberal  and  frequent  waterings 
are  also  necessary  during  hot  and  dry  weather  ; 
at  no  time  of  the  year,  whether  under  glass  or  out 
of  doors,  must  the  soil  be  allowed  to  become  dry. 

Insect  Pests. 

Slugs  are  frequently  troublesome  ;  as  soon  as  the 
seedlings  appear  above  ground  they  often  eat  them 
oft".  We  know  of  no  better  method  of  checking 
their  ravages  than  by  dusting  over  the  seeds  with 
freshly  slaked  lime.  This  is  preferably  done  early 
in  the  morning.  During  showery  weather  it  may 
be  necessarj'  to  do  this  almost  daily.  The  frequent 
use  of  the  hoe  is  an  important  factor  in  the  suc- 
cessful cultivation  of  the  Lettuce.     As  a  salad 

Enbive 
ranks  next  in  importanoe  to  Lettuce  ;  it  provides  a 
welcome   chanfje   from   the   latter,    and  assists   to 


maintain  the  supply  of  salads  well  into  the  winter. 
The  best  varieties  are  Round-leaved  Batavian  ami 
Green  Curled.  Successive  sowings  may  be  made 
from  June  to  August ;  give  the  plants  the  same 
treatment  as  the  Lettuce  received,  planting  as  far 
apart  as  recommended  for  the  largest  Lettuce. 
Both  the  above-mentioned  varieties  must  be  tied 
to  enable  them  to  be  blanched  perfectly. 

Chicory 
is  a  good  salad  for  use  in  January  and  February 
when  Lettuce  is  scarce.  It  has,  however,  a  bitter 
taste  which  many  do  not  care  for.  June  is  the 
most  suitable  time  to  sow  Chicoiy.  Make  the  drills 
15  inches  apart,  in  which  the  seed  is  sown,  and 
subsequently  thin  the  seedlings  to  6  inches  apart. 
The  roots  are  finally  lifted  and  forced  in  a  dark 
structure,  such  as  the  Mushroom  house,  in  a  similar 
manner  as  for  Seakale. 

CoR.N  Salad  or  Lamb's  Lettoce 
makes  a  welcome  addition  to  the  list  of  salads,  for 
it  also  is  in  season  when  others  are  scarce,  viz., 
during  February  and  March.  Sow  in  drills  1  foot 
apart  in  June,  and  when  the  seedlings  are  well 
through  the  soil  thin  them  out  to  4  inches  apart. 
Corn  Salad  is  quite  hardy. 

Celery 
also  makes  a  splendid  winter  salad,  either  alone, 
with  the   usual    herbs,   or   in  a   mixed    salad.     In 
preparing  it  cut  the  blanched  leaf-stalks  across  in 
small  pieces. 

Tomatoes 

provide  a  delicious  and  favourite  salad  ;  one  may 
use  them  alone  or  in  a  mixed  salad.  Their  in- 
creased utility  and  popularity  are  accounted  for 
by  the  fact  that  they  may  be  had  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  the  year. 

Other  salads  are  Cucumbers,  Radishes,  Mustard 
and  Cress,  Watercress,  Celeriac,  Stachys,  French 
Beans,  &c. ;  indeed,  there  are  few  vegetables  that 
are  not  suitable  for  the  salad  bowl. 

Herbs 
play  an  important  part  in  flavouring  salads. 
Tarragon  is  in  demand  every  day  of  the  year ; 
from  April  to  October  the  supply  is  provided  by 
plants  grown  outside,  and  from  October  to  April  by 
forcing.  To  be  able  to  maintain  an  uninterrupted 
supply  a  fresh  plantation  of  young  plants  should 
be  mads  every  spring  ;  plenty  of  roots  will  then 
be  available  for  forcing.  The  soil  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  Tarragon  should  be  light ;  if  it  is  at  all 
heavy  add  spent  Mushroom  bed  manure  and  burnt 
earth.  This  herb  is  increased  by  division  of  the 
roots.  The  best  roots  for  forcing  are  those  two 
years  old  ;  they  are  then  a  convenient  size  for 
placing  in  pots  or  boxes.  Early  October  is  the 
best  time  of  the  year  to  lift  them. 

Salads  are  very  wholesome ;  they  retain  properties 
that  are  lost  by  other  cooked  vegetables.  Lettuce 
and  Endive  should  not  be  washed  if  it  is  at  all 
possible  to  remove  the  dirt  from  them  by  means  of 
a  dry  cloth. 

Hattield  House  Gardens.  G.  Norman. 


NE\V    AND    INTERESTING 
PLANTS. 

Kalanchoe  Kewen.sis. 
By  crossing  the  bright  coloured  K.  fiammea 
with  a  large  white  -  flowered  species  called 
K.  Bentii,  a  remarkable  and  decidedly 
beautiful  hybrid  has  been  raised  at  Kew. 
K.  fiammea  will  be  remembered  as  a  new 
.'ijiecies  introduced  to  Kew  from  Somaliland 
and  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  1897. 
The  stock  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  >Sous,  who 
distributed  it.  In  general  habit  it  is  not 
unlike  K.  glaucescena,  but  the  leaves  are 
fleshy,  tongue-shaped,  crenate,  and  the  flowers 
are  of  an  intense  scarlet  colour.  K.  Bentii  was 
introduced  to  Kew  from  South  Arabia  and 
flowered  in  1900,  when  it  was  named  by  Sir 
Joseph  Hooker  to  commemorate  the  service.s 
to  botany  of  the  late  Mr.  Theodore  Bent,  the 


May  -'4  1902.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


i.30 


arohiBologist  and  traveller.  The  plant  that 
flowered  at  Kew  had  an  erect  unbranched 
stem  3  feet  high,  with  opposite  sub-cylindrical 
fleshy  leaves  from  3  inches  to  6  inches  long,  and 
a  panicle  of  pure  white  flowers,  each  li  inches 
long  and  nearly  1  inch  across.  It  is  remark- 
able that  the  result  of  crossing  a  white  and  a 
scarlet-flowered  species  should  be  a  hybrid 
with  bright  rose-pink  flowers,  whilst  the  leaves 
are  more  or  less  pinnatifid.  There  is  a  good 
batch  of  plants  from  this  cross,  and  they  all 
show  the  same  leaf  characters.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  reverse  cross,  i.e.,  with  K.  Bentii  as 
the  mother  parent,  the  seedlings  all  have 
simple  sub-cylindrical  leaves,  and  they  are 
barely  6  inches  high,  whilst  the  hybrid  is  fully 
4  feet  high. 

ORNITHOGiLUM  KeWENSE. 

This  is  the  result  of  crossing  O.  thyrsoides 
with  O.  aureum,  and  though  botanically 
these  are  now  looked  upon  as  forms  of  one 
species,  yet  for  garden  purposes  they  are 
quite  distinct.  O.  thyrsoides  has  a  globo.se 
bulb  about  1  inch  in  diameter, 
bearing  five  or  si.x  lanceolate  fleshy 
green  leaves  from  6  inches  to  18  inches 
long,  and  an  erect  flower-scape  over 
1  foot  in  height,  crowded  on  the 
upper  half  with  campanulate  flowers, 
which  are  glistening  white  with  a 
brown-green  eye.  It  is  a  native  of 
South  Africa,  where  it  is  common, 
and  for  more  than  a  century  it  his 
been  cultivated  in  greenhouses  in  this 
country,  flowering  in  spring.  O. 
aureum  has  the  same  general  charac- 
ters as  O.  thyrsoides,  but  the  colour 
of  the  flowers  is  rich  fulvous  yellow, 
and  they  are  less  crowded  on  the 
scape.  The  hybrid,  which  is  now 
flowering  at  Kew  for  the  first  time, 
is  like  thyrsoides,  but  the  colour  of 
the  flowers  is  a  soft  buflf- yellow. 
In  my  opinion  it  is  likely  to  become 
a  favourite  with  bulb  growers.  There 
is  a  form  of  O.  thyrsoides  figured  in 
Jacquin's  Irones  If.,  20,  438,  which 
has  bright  scarlet  flowers.  Is  this 
known  to  be  in  cultivation  1  Possibly 
some  of  our  friends  in  South  Africa 
know  where  it  is  to  be  had.  It  would 
be  a  valuable  plant  for  the  green- 
house in  spring. 

CyMBIDIUM  RHODOCHILtlM. 

About   two  years  ago  M.  Warpur, 
a    Belgian    collector,    brought    from 
Madagascar  a  collection  of  Orcbids  of  more 
than  ordinary    interest,    among    them    being 
Phaius  tuberculosus,  Cynorchis  purpurascens, 
and  the  red-lipped  Gymbidium. 

The  last-named  plaat  M.  Warpur  described 
as  a  strikingly  handsome  Orchid  with  large 
flowers,  and  that  it  was  found  only  on  old 
plants  of  Pktycerium  madagascariensis.  One 
of  the  plants  he  brought  home  is  now 
in  flower  at  Kew.  It  has  ovate  purple- 
brown  pseudo-bulbs,  long,  narrow,  arching 
leaves,  and  an  erect  spike  nearly  2  feet 
long,  bearing  about  a  dozen  flowers,  each 
3  ioches  across,  the  sepals  and  petals 
pale  apple-green  spotted  with  brown,  and 
the  large  crisped  lip  of  a  bright  crimson 
colour. 

The  "  Scarlet  Gymbidium  "  has  been 
heard  of  for  years,  and  it  is  eaid  to  have 
been  introduced  into  English  gardens  under 
the  name  of  C.  Loise  -  Chauvieri.  Mr. 
Rolfe,  however,  believes  that  the  plants 
distributed  under  this  name  were  really 
Eulophiella  Elizibethte,  which,  by  the  way,  is 
also  flowering  nicely  at  Kew. 


PiTCAIRNEA  CfERULEA. 

The  blue  Puya,  as  this  plant  has  been 
called,  is  known  to  frequenters  of  Kew  by  the 
beautiful  picture  of  it  painted  by  Miss  North 
in  Ghili  and  exhibited  in  the  North  Gallery. 
There  is,  however,  a  very  fine  example  of  it 
now  in  flower  in  the  Mesicon  portion  of  the 
temperate  house,  where,  planted  on  a  rockery 
along  with  Agaves,  Euphorbias,  tfcc ,  it  has 
formed  a  tuft  3  feet  acros-^,  and  is  now 
bearing  two  stout  spikes,  3  feet  high,  of  those 
indescribably  beautiful  flowers  which  have 
been  called  peacock  blue  Lipagerias.  It  is 
worth  a  visit  to  Kew  to  sec  this  plant. 

W.  W. 


TROPICAL     FRUITS     FOR 
ENGLISH     GARDENS. 

(Continued  from  page    327.) 

Passion   Flower   Fruits. 
Several    species    of     Passiflora    bear  edible 
fruits.     The   Granadilla   is   perhaps  the  nioSt 


flavour.  The  best  way  to  eat  them  is  as  one 
tikes  a  boiled  egg— that  is,  cut  olf  one  end  and 
consume  the  contents  with  a  spoon,  adding  a 
few  drops  of  port  wine  instead  of  salt. 

P.  mali.formis  (the  Golden  Apple)  has  ovate, 
entire  leaves,  and  fruits  like  small  Apples. 

P.  laurifolia  (the  Water  Lemon)  also  has 
ovate,  entire  leaves,  and  fruits  of  the  fame 
quality  as  P.  edulis,  but  larger.  Mr.  Abraham 
pixon,  of  Gherkley  Gourt,  Leatherhead, 
informs  me  that  the  only  way  to  get  this 
species  to  set  fruits  in  this  country  is  by 
fertilising  its  flowers  with  pollen  from  P. 
raddiana  (Kermpsina).  He  has  grown  it 
many  years  for  the  sake  of  its  delicious  fruits 
obtained  in  this  way. 

The  cultivation  of  these  Passifloras  presents 
no  difficulty.  They  are  stove  climbers,  with 
a  liking  for  an  open  loamy  soil  and  plenty  of 
moisture. 

Vanilla. 

Vanilla  of  commerce  is  the  fruit  of  Vanilla 
planifnlia,  a  climbing  Orchid,  the  cultivation  of 


TUE  l^OMEGR.VNATE.      ( T  lie  fruits  vari]  in  size  ;  these  are  .smaller  than  usuzlly  seen.    Seepage  J26.) 


commendable,  although  the  Sweet  Cup  (P. 
edulis)  is  the  more  frequently  cultivated  in 
this  country.  The  name  Granadilla  has  been 
applied  to  the  fruits  of  no  less  than  three 
dibtinct  species,  elofely  allied  no  doubt,  but 
still  botanically  distinct.  These  are  P.  alata, 
P.  quadrangularis,  and  P.  macrocarpa.  They 
have  angular,  winged  stems,  large,  entire  ovate 
leaves,  and  large,  egg-shaped  edible  fruits, 
considered  by  some'highly  delectable,  by  others 
not  worth  eating.  The  largest  is  P.  macrocarpa, 
with  fruits  the  tize  and  shape  of  an  ordinary 
Melon  or  an  ostrich  egg.  P.  quadrangularis 
and  P.  alata  have  fruits  about  half  this  size. 
All  three  flower  and  fruit  freely  under  stove 
treatment.  The  fruits  have  a  thi(  k  rind 
enclosing  a  mass  of  the  most  deliciously 
flavoured  jelly-like  pulp,  and  numerous  small 
black  seeds.  It  may  be  made  into  a  conserve 
of  a  particularly  pleating  quality. 

P.  edulis  (the  Sweet  Gup)  is  not  uncommon 
as  a  stove  climber  in  English  gardens.  It  has 
trilobed  leaves  and  smooth  purple  fruits  the 
size  of  bantam's  eggs  ;  when  ripe  they  have  a 
hard  rind  and  an  almost  liquid  pulp  of  pleasing 


which  for  commercial  purposes  is  principally 
in  Mauritius  and  the  Seychelles.  It  is  a  native 
of  Central  America.  The  method  of  cultivation 
in  Mauritius  is  as  follows  : — 

It  is  grown  on  jioles  in  ]iartial  shade  in  loam, 
mixed  with  equal  parts  of  .sand  and  leaf -mould. 
Manure  should  not  be  used,  but  the  soil  should 
be  renovated  each  season  with  a  top-dressing 
of  well-rotted  vegetable  mould  and  sand.  The 
bed  should  be  raised  about  6  inches  above  the 
surrounding  surface  and  supported  wilhttones. 
Cuttings  of  the  stems  from  2  feet  to  5  feet  long 
are  planted  and  fastened  to  the  poles  up  which 
they  are  to  grow.  The  soil  is  kept  moist. 
Thus  started  ihey  readily  take  root  and  grow 
into  flowering  size  in  two  or  three  years.  The 
flowers  require  to  be  fertilised  artificially.  This 
is  accomplished  in  exactly  the  same  way  as 
Orchid  flowers  generally  are  fertili^ed.  The 
fruits  grow  to  full  size  in  about  a  month  after 
fertilisation,  but  they  are  not  mature  until  they 
are  about  six  months  old.  They  then  begin  to 
change  to  a  yellow  colour,  when  they  are 
gathered,  placed  in  a  basket  and  plunged  for 
1  half  a  minute  in  hot  water,  and  then  exposed 


n40 


THE    GAliDEN. 


[May  24,  1902. 


to  the  sun  to  dry.  At  night  they  are  kept  in  a 
closed  box.  When  they  have  become  soft  a,nd 
brown  they  are  dressed  with  oil  and  dried 
again.  When  quite  cured  they  are  of  a  rich 
dark  chocolate  colour,  and  when  in  good 
condition  they  are  covered  with  needle-like 
crystals. 

Plants  of  Vanilla  are  grown  and  fruited  at 
Kew, at  Syon  House,  and  in  a  few  other  gardens. 
At  Syon  House  Mr.  Wythes  is  very  successful 
with  it,  bunches  of  as  many  as  twenty  pods, 
each  ;i  inches  long,  having  been  grown  by  him. 
He  e.Kp-ises  his  plants  to  full  sunlight,  except 
during  the  hottest  part  of  the  day.  They  are 
trained  against  the  back  wall  of  a  lean-to  house 


-hJf-K 


BELVOIR  CASTLE  FROM   THE   WOODS 


where  the  conditions  are  tropical,  the  minimum 
winter  temperature  being  about  60".  There  is 
a  narrow  border  at  the  base  of  the  wall,  which 
is  filled  with  peat,  charcoal,  and  crocks.  The 
plants  attach  themselves  to  the  wall  by  means 
of  aerial  roots.  The  pods  are  placed  iii  a  box 
or  drawer  to  dry,  and  they  then  retain  their 
rich  aroma  for  years. 

MONSTERA.   DELICIOSA. 

An  Aroid  with  edible  fruits  is  exceptional, 
the  order  being  remarkable  for  the  acrid  or 
poisonous  nature  of  its  juices.  The  Monstera 
is  very  similar  to  a  big  Philodendron,  or  it 
might  be  termed  a  glorified  Ivy,  the  behaviour 
of  the  plant  generally  being  similar.    Multiply 


all  the  parts  of  the  Irish  Ivy  by  aliout  fifty 
and  then  you  have  Monstera  deliciosa.  There 
is,  however,  the  striking  peculiarity  in  the 
Monstera  of  perforated  or  windowed  leaves, 
and  the  flowers  and  fruits  are  of  course 
very  different.  The  former,  or  rather  the 
inflorescence,  is  not  unlike  that  of  an  Anthu- 
rium,  but  the  spadix  is  straight,  thick,  and 
club-like,  whilst  the  spathe  is  only  jiartially 
open  and  is  boat-shaped.  The  spadix  grows 
to  a  large  size,  a  foot  or  more  in  length,  and 
2  inches  or  3  inches  thick.  It  takes  about  a 
year  to  mature,  becomes  yellow  when  ripe,  and 
is  then  not  unlike  a  huge  Corn-cob,  but  is  soft 
and  pulpy,  deliciou.sly  aromatic,  and  most 
palatable,  except  that 
it  causes  a  pricking 
sensation  to  some 
palates.  On  the  whole, 
I  think  it  better  to 
look  at  and  to  smell 
than  to  eat.  The  plant 
requires  plenty  of  room 
for  its  development,  a 
pillar  or  back  wall  in 
a  large  tropical  house 
suiting  it,  or  the  stem 
of  a  Palm  tree  in  such 
a  structure  as  the  Palm 
house  at  Kew.  It 
would  grow  equally 
well  on  the  ground, 
but  it  would  occujiy 
much  space.  I  have 
seen  it  growing  in 
summer  by  the  side  of 
a  little  pool  in  a  sunny 
position  out  of  doors 
in  the  garden  of  Mr. 
(Jhamberlain  at  Uigli- 
bury,  but  the  plant  is 
essentially  tropical. 

EuiilKIA   U(iNI. 

This  is  a  compact 
little  .shrub,  not  unlike 
a  Myrtle  or  a  Pox, 
whicii  grows  freely  in  a 
greenhouse  or  even  in 
the  open  air  in  the 
warmer  parts  of  this 
country.  In  the  garden 
of  Colonel  Tremayne 
at  Carclew,  near  Fal- 
mouth, it  forms  a 
hedge,  and  its  fruits 
are  gathered  annually 
to  be  used  as  dessert 
or  for  preserving.  They 
are  about  the  size  of 
Black  Currants,  and 
not  unlike  that  fruit 
in  flavour,  but  they 
are  less  juicy  and  more 
aromatic.  They  are 
said  to  make  a  deli- 
cious drink.  The  plant  is  a  native  of  Chili, 
but  it  is  now  widely  distributed  in  sub-tropical 
countries.  It  is  easily  propagated  from  seeds 
or  cuttings. 

The  Guava. 
Psidiiim  Giii/avu  is  a  West  IndianMyrtaceous 
shrub  or  small  tree  with  numerous  branches 
and  ovate  smooth  green  leaves  3  inches  long, 
bearing  in  their  axils  clusters  of  two  or  three 
whitish  flowers  half  an  inch  in  diameter.  The 
fruit  is  globose  (var.  pomiferum)  or  Pear-shaped 
(var.  pyriferum),  and  is  green,  not  unlike  a 
little  Apple,  with  an  agreeable  somewhat  acitl 
flavour.  It  is  largely  grown  in  tropical 
countries  for  its  fruits,  which  are  eaten  raw 
or  form  the  well-known  Guava  jelly. 


P.  Cattleianum,  the  purple  Guava,  is  a 
Brazilian  species,  with  dark  crimson  ,  fruits, 
and  by  some  is  preferred  to  the  common 
Guava.  It  was  first  noticed  by  Mr.  William 
Cattley,  after  whom  the  genus  Cattleya  was 
named.  He  grew  and  fruited  it  in  his  conser- 
vatory at  Barnet,  two  crops  of  fruit  being 
produced  by  one  tree  in  the  same  year. 

These  plants  are  ea.sily  grown  either  as  bushes 
or  trained  flat  against  a  trellis.  Thc-y  have  a 
tendency  to  grow  too  dense  if  not  thinned 
somewhat  freely  every  year.  A  sunny  position 
in  an  intermediate  house  is  the  best  position 
for  them.  An  early  Peach  house  suits  them 
admirably. 

LoijuAT,  oE  Japanese  Medlar. 

Eriohotrya  Japonica  is  an  evergreen  shrub 
or  small  tree,  with  thick  branches  bearing  large 
lanceolate  leathery  leaves,  .sometimes  a  foot  long, 
and  terminal  Hawthorn  -  like  flowers,  which 
are  deliciously  fragrant.  The  fruits  are  Plum- 
like,  yellow,  tinged  with  red,  and  they  contain 
a  larger  core  of  stones  than  is  desirable.  The 
pulpy  iiortion  is  slightly  acid,  very  sweet  and 
aromatic,  suggestive  of  an  Apricot.  In  sub- 
tropical countries  the  fruit  is  a  general 
favourite,  and  it  sometimes  finds  its  way  to 
Covent  Garden  ^larket.  Anyone  who  has 
lived  in  the  tropics  knows  the  value  of  the 
Loi|uat  as  a  dessert  fruit. 

It  is  ii  native  of  Japan  and  China,  where  it 
forms  gnarled  old  specimen  trees.  It  was 
cultixated  and  fruited  at  Kew  nearly  a  hundred 
years  ago.  It  is  grown  there  still,  both  in  the 
open  air,  where  it  is  trained  against  a  south 
wall,  growing  vigorously  Imt  never  flowering  ; 
and  in  the  Temperate  house,  where  it  both 
flowers  and  fruits. 

The  Loquat  is  easily  raised  from  seeds  or  by 
grafting  on  the  Quince,  to  which  it  is  closely 
related.  It  grows  rapidly,  soon  forming  a 
shapely  evergreen  shruli,  bat  it  requires  to  be 
improved  in  the  quantity  of  "meat"  in  its 
fruits  ere  it  can  win  a  place  among  fruit 
trees  for  the  English  garden.  There  is  a  good 
illustration  of  it  in  the  "  Transactions  of  the 
Horticultural  Society,"  III.,  2'J!J  (1820). 

W.  W. 


BRITISH     HOMES     AND 
GARDENS. 


BELVOIR  IN  SPRINGTIME. 

A  T  no  season  of  the  year  is  Belvoir  so 
J\  full  of   charm   and   interest  as   in 

/  \  spring  time,  and,  although  it  then 
/  %  jierhaps  pre-eminently  appeals  to 
1  \.  the  garden  lover,  the  casual  visitor 
will  be  well  advi.sed,  if  he  wishes  to 
see  Belvoir  at  its  best,  not  now  to  delay  his 
journey.  Partly  by  reason  of  its  artificial  gar- 
dening is  Belvoir  delightful,  but  chiefly  owing 
to  the  chaim  of  the  grounds— tastefully  and 
cleverly  ]ilanted  so  many  years  ago  that  all 
signs  of  artificiality  have  now  disappeared.  The 
siring  flower  gardening  at  Belvoir  has  long  been 
familiar  as  household  words,  but  few  are  pro- 
bably aware  of  the  remarkable  colleclion  of 
trees  and  shrubs  that  the  grounds  contain  and  to 
what  luxuriance  many  of  them  have  attained. 
From  the  hill  overlooking  the  Duchess'  garden 
is  as  fair  a  view  of  an  English  garden  as  one 
could  wish  to  see.  Rhododendrons  in  great 
variety.  Camellias  that  are  masses  of  bright 
flower's  and  leathery  green  foliage,  splendid 
clumps  of  Bamboos  of  sorts,  several  Eucalypti 
Azara  microjihylla  many  feet  high  (the 
flowers  of  which  perfume  the  air  for  some 
distance  around),  Berberis  Darwinii,  B.  steno- 


May  24,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


341 


phylla  and  others  that  are  graceful 
and  brilliant  in  flower,  Azalea  amiena, 
Ghent  Azaleas,  and  others  too  numer- 
ous to  mention. 

One  part  of  the  steep  bank  is 
transformed  as  it  were  into  a  cascade 
of  blossom,  for  almost  every  piece  of 
rock  or  stone,  of  which  there  are 
quantities  on  the  hillside,  is  covered 
with  drooping  masses  of  purple  and 
white  Kock  Cre.sses,  and  filling  the 
intervening  spaces  are  innumerable 
other  syiring  flowers — Trumpet  Daifo- 
dils  and  Pheasant's-eye  Narcissi  in 
bold  clumps,  colonies  of  the  Crown 
Imperial  and  other  Fritillaries, 
Anemones,  Primroses,  &c. — making 
this  beautifully  irregular  bank  alive 
with  flowers. 

Two  of  our  illustrations  convey  some 
little  idea  of  the  extent  and  wonderful 
variety  of  the  spring  flower  gardening 
that  is  practised  at  Belvoir  as  in  few, 
if  any,  other  British  gardens.  -  Au- 
brietias  play  an  important  part  in 
the  delightful  combinations  that  Mr. 
Divers  produces,  such  sorts  as  A. 
gr;«ca,  A.  g.  Leiclitlini,  and  A.  Hen- 
dersoni  being  used  to  form  a  ground- 
work for  Tulips,  Hyacinths,  &c.,  or  an 
edging  to  beds  or  borders,  or  they 
may  serve  to  clothe  with  a  charming 
and  graceful  mass  of  colour  rough 
banks,  low  walls,  and  other  position.s 
suited  to  their  growth.  Tulips  and 
Hyacinths  are  extensively  made  use  of  in 
the  numerous  beds  of  spring  flower.^,  but  they 
are  always  associated  with  a  carpeting  of  some 
dwarf-growing  plant,  and  the  blend  of  colours 
as  seen  in  the  results  of  Mr.  Divers'  efforts  is 
quite  pleasing.  Those  who  would  care  to  have 
a  list  of  some  of  the  most  useful  plants  used 
in  the  spring  flower-beds  at  Belvoir,  and  would 
know  how  to  grow  them,  should  turn  to  The 
Garden  for  February  23,  1901,  for  there,  at 
page  1 32,  j\Ir.  Divers  has  given  much  informa- 
tion about  them. 


SPRING   TIME   IN   THE   DUCHESS     GARDEN. 


The  woods  around  Belvoir  Castle  are  a 
continual  source  of  pleasure  to  the  thousands 
of  persons  who  visit  there  during  the  year.  In 
sjiring  the  innumerable  tints  of  the  varied 
collection  of  forest  trees  and  the  blossoms  of 
the  Cherry  trees,  that  themselves  may  almost 
claim  to  rank  with  the  former,  so  immense  are 
they,  are  in  charming  association,  while  Prim- 
roses stud  the  ground  beneath.  Following 
closely  come  sheets  of  Bluebells,  which  trans- 
form parts  of  the  woods  into  a  veritable 
fairyland,   and    these  in  turn    give  place  to 


the  stately  Bracken,  lovely  in  its  early  summer 
garb,  yet  more  lovely  still  when  green  gives 
place  to  the  tints  of  autumn  and  the  bases  of 
the  trees  are  hidden  in  a  sea  of  red  and  yellow 
and  gold.  H.  T. 


BEDS  OF  SPRING   FtOWERS  AT   BELVOJR. 


RECENT    PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The  May  number  of  the  Botanical  Mwjazine  con- 
tains portraits  of 

Kniphojia  mvltiflora,  a  native  of  Natal.  This  is 
a  fine  double  plate,  showing  the  habit  of  growth 
as  well  as  the  entire  spike  of  this 
interesting  new  species.  It  is  one  of  the 
very  few  known  species  with  erect 
flowers.  The  individual  blooms  are 
pure  white,  of  small  size,  with  pro- 
minent yellow  anthers.  The  only  other 
species  with  truly  erect  flowers  is  K. 
pallidiflora  from  Madagascar. 

Bciheris  diclyophijUa,  a  native  of 
Yunnan  in  China.  This  is  almost 
identical  with  the  Himalayan  species  B. 
angulosa,  only  differing  from  it  by  the 
young  shoots  being  glabrous.  It  has 
yellow  flowers  shaded  outside  with  red, 
and  bright  rosy  fruits. 

Aloii  oligospila  (syn.  A.  Bakeri),  a 
native  of  Abyssinia.  This  is  a  pretty 
variety  with  pendulous  tubular  flowers, 
the  inner  half  of  which  is  pale  pink, 
the  outer  bright  yellow,  resembling 
those  of  a  Lachenalia. 

Eucah/ptus  cordata,  a  native  of  Tas- 
mania. This  is  a  variety  with  small 
roundish  foliage  of  a  very  glaucous  hue, 
much  resembling  that  of  E.  pulveru- 
lenta. 

Honckenya  jicifolia,  a  native  of  tropical 
Africa.  This  is  also  known  under  the 
synonym  of  Clappertonia  ficifolia.  It 
is  a  common  West  African  shrub  or 
small  tree,  found  in  watery  situations 
from  Senegambia  to  Angola.  It  produces 
very  beautiful  four-petalled  flowers  of  a 
lovely  shade  of  bluish  lilac,  with  a  bunch 
of  yellow  stamens  in  the  centre.  It  is 
locally  known  as  the  Bolo-bolo  plant, 
the  name  meaning  slippery,  from  the 
slippery   juice  given  out  of  the  leaves 


342 


THE    GARDEN. 


fMAY  24,    \9C: 


when  bruised.  It  bloomed  for  the  first  time  in  the 
stove  at  Kew  in  September,  1901. 

The  Heme  de  V Horticidture  Beige  for  May  has 
portraits  of  the  well-known  and  beautifully  evenly 
variegated  grass  Dey  luki  e'ti/ana  variegata,  which 
requires  the  protection  of  a  greenhouse  from 
winter  frosts,  and  the  beautiful  yellow  Tea  Rose 
Soiirenir  di-  Pierre  Nolting. 

The  first  part  of  the  Rerue  Horlicole  for  May 
figures  Hidalgoi  Wercklei,  the  beautiful  and  now 
prelty  woU-kiiown  climbing  Dahlia  of  Costa  Rica, 
which  was  so  much  admired  by  all  who  saw  it  in 
flower  in  one  nt  the  annexes  of  the  temperate 
house  at  Kow  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of 
last  year.  The  brilliant  orange-scarlet  of  this 
beautiful  flower  is  by  no  means  done  justice  to  in 
this  plate,  and  is  much  more  faithfully  represented 
on  plate  7684  of  the  l'25th  volume  of  the  Botanical 
Magazine  for  1900.  W.  E.  GuMBLETON. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


LILIUM    CANDIDUM 
FAILING. 

1UREW  attention  two  years  ago  to  the 
question  whether  the  failure  of  Lilium 
candidum  might  not  be  due  in  great  part 
to  the  weakening  influence  of  late  spring 
frosts.  Last  year  there  were  few  such  frosts, 
and  (though  I  do  not  assert  it  as  a  conse- 
quence) the  white  Lilies  generally  seem  to  have 
flowered  remarkably  well.  This  year  we  have  been 
having  very  low  temperatures  in  the  early  morning 
during  this  month  of  May,  followed  immediately  in 
many  cases  up  till  lately  by  hot  sunshine.  If  my 
contention  be  correct,  this  should  prove  a  very  bad 
season  for  Lilium  candidum.  Where  the  sun  has 
caught  the  frosted  plant  the  collapse  and  browning 
of  the  leaves  and  stem  may  occur  at  once,  but 
where  the  shelter  of  surrounding  growth  or  other 
objects  has  given  protection  until  the  frost  has 
passed  oft'  there  the  leaves  may  remain  green  for 
a  time,  although  weakened,  and  if  later  on  in  the 
season  the  climatic  conditions  are  favourable  to 
fungoid  growth  I  fear  the  Lilies  will  not  have 
strength  to  escape  its  attack.  Last  season  the 
practice  of  dusting  the  bulbs  with  sulphur  was 
claimed  to  have  been  very  successful  as  a  preventive 
measure  ;  it  will  be  interesting  to  hear  how  far  the 
same  success  has  been  attained  this  year  in  those 
cases  where  it  was  tried  again  in  the  autumn. 
West  Sussex.  C.  Sckase  Dickins. 


where  it  can  have  a  soil  of  moderate  lightness,  and 
at  the  same  time,  is  not  kept  too  dry.  This  is  not 
diificult  to  secure,  especially  as  the  plant  likes  and 
thrives  well  in  a  little  shade.  I  do  not  know  if 
seeds  are  obtainable,  but  it  can  be  increased  by 
division,  and  is  procurable  from  any  of  the  large 
hardy  plant  nurseries  where  new  plants  are  grown. 

S.  Aknott. 


1 


ARCTOTIS  GRANDIS  FKOM  SEED. 

I  WAS  surprised  to  see  Mr.  Pettigrew  describing 
Arctotis  grandis  as  being  difficult  to  raise  from 
seed.  The  requirements  seem  to  be  only  moisture 
in  the  soil  and  a  certain  dryness  of  the  atmosphere. 
Last  year  I  raised  five  plants  from  a  purchased 
packet  of  seed,  from  which  plants  I  saved  the  seed, 
and  this  year  I  have  hundreds  of  nice  young  plants. 
The  method  in  each  case  has  been  to  sow  about  the 
end  of  February  in  light  soil,  in  an  intermediate 
temperature,  tile  atmosphere  of  the  house  being 
rather  dry  than  moist.  I  believe  they  would  come 
equallj'  as  well  in  a  cooler  house,  provided  it  was 
fairly  dry.  The  plant  is  well  worthy  of  extended 
cultivation,  and  should  be  given  plenty  of  space 
for  it  is  a  strong  grower. 

Great  Warley.  T.  H.  C. 

POLEMONIUM  CONFERTUM  VAR. 
MELITUM. 

Several  of  the  Polemoniums  are  capital  dwarf- 
growing  plants  for  the  border  or  rockery,  and  this 
pretty  variety  of  P.  confertum  has  been  fully 
appreciated  since  its  introduction  a  short  time  ago. 
Its  beauty  is  not  of  the  obtrusive  kind,  but  is 
sufficiently  attractive  to  appeal  to  every  one,  with 
its  elegant  foliage  of  a  pleasing  green  and  its 
numerous  creamy-white  flowers.  It  grows  from 
6  inches  to  a  little  more  in  height,  and  is  easily 
cultivated  in  a.  border  or  in  a  rockery  ' '  pocket," 


DWARF  TULIPAS  FROM  TURKESTAN. 

The  stock  of  early  Tulips  of  dwarf  stature  has  been 
much  enriched  of  late  by  the  addition  of  three 
species  of  much  promise. 

T.  piileheUa—B.  pretty  Oriental  species,  (i  inches 
high,  with  deeply  channelled,  narrow,  and 
prostrate  leafage— bears  a  rosy  crimson  flower 
•2  inches  across,  with  broadly  orbicular  inner  petals 
and  boat-shaped  outer  ones,  flushed  on  the  outside 
base  with  streaks  of  dull  violet,  and  heavily  zoned 
on  the  inside  with  rich  violet,  the  extreme  centre 
of  the  flower  being  pure  white.  The  bulbs  have 
thick,  leathery  tunics,  packed  in  several  layers 
like  those  of  T.  persica  and,  culturally,  they 
require  the  same  conditions,  viz.,  a  light  soil  in  full 
sun -planting  the  bulbs  rather  deeply  if  the  soil  be 
very  sandy,  and  but  shallow  if  the  soil  is  heavy  and 
wet.  It  is  also  advisable  to  bury  a  large  sheet  of 
slate  several  inches  below  the  bulbs  to  prevent 
them  from  burying  their  "droppers "at  inordinate 
depths.  I  cannot  yet  understand  ^\hy  Tulipas 
well  provided  for  near  the  surface  should  bury 
their  new  bulbs  so  dcseply.  I  have  dug  out  Tulipa 
kaufmanniana  quite  18  inches  deeper  than  I 
planted  it,  where  it  had  made  a  curious-looking 
bulb  in  yellow  clay,  shaped  like  a  man's  finger. 
This  particular  bulb  flowered  again  but  did  not 
bury  itself  as  before,  making  a  normal  new  bulb. 
The  following  year  it  again  made  a  "dropper" 
bulb  and  perished.  T.  pulchella,  the  plant  under 
notice,  shows  a  marked  tendency  to  descend, 
though  the  plants  appear  none  the  worse  for  it.  It 
makes  a  good  rockery  plant ;  its  dwarf  stature  and 
small  yet  brilliant  flowers  are  very  pleasing.  It  is 
a  plant  one  should  grow  in  dozens  among  dwarf 
herbage  not  too  strong  to  overtop  them. 

T.  Townei — a  plant  of  similar  stature  with  rosj' 
starlike  flowers,  keeled  green  on  the  outside  and 
zoned  with  white  on  the  inner  base — should  be 
similarly  planted.  The  flowers  are  of  soft  colouring 
and  markedly  pretty,  resembling  Crocuses  rather 
than  Tulips  in  general  appearance. 

T.  friphi/lla,  a  dwarf  plant,  kindred  to  the  fore- 
going, has  lemon-yellow  or  orange-yellow  flowers, 
which  span  4  inches  across  when  fully  developed. 
The  flowers  are  pointed  in  a  bud  state,  as  in 
T.  elegans,  and  give  a  pretty  effect  either  in  bud 
or  when  fully  expanded.  The  stems  are  only 
a  few  inches  high,  in  some  cases  the  flowers  are  but 
just  raised  above  the  soil,  hence  they  are  only 
suitable  for  rockery  planting.  The  outer  petals 
are  flushed  with  a  soft  shade  of  grey  when  they 
first  expand,  but  become  self-coloured  as  the 
flower  ages.  All  these  Tulipas  hail  from  Turkestan. 
They  thrive  in  a  fairly  light  soil  and  a  warm 
situation  free  from  much  moisture. 

G.  B.  Mallett. 


SAXIFRAGA  RHEI  (SCHOLT). 
Breadths  of  this,  as  well  as  of  its  sister  variety 
S.  atropurpurea,  are  flowering  now  in  unusual 
profusion.  Both  are  made  in  Engler's  "  Monograph 
of  Saxifraga"  to  be  varieties  of  S.  nioschata 
(Wulf),  whilst  in  "  Index  Kewensis"  S.  moschala 
(Wulf)  is  made  a  variety  of  S.  muscoides  (Wulf)  ; 
but  the  naming  of  these  mossy  Saxifrages  is  too 
complicated  for  me  to  attempt  to  discuss  it.  S. 
Rhei  would  be  excellent  were  it  not  that  a  sunny 
day  after  a  frosty  night  destroys  the  delicate  pink 
of  its  flowers.  I  find  that  self-sown  seedlings  vary 
much  in  colour,  some  reverting  to  the  white  type 
of  S.  muscoides,  whilst  others  from  the  same 
plant  deepen  into  dark  rich  crimson  or  blood 
colours.  1  separated  three  or  four  of  these  last 
year,  thinking  the  dark  colour  might  be  due  to 
soil,  as  the  white  reversions  were  in  deep  soil, 
whilst  the  dark  coloured  were  from  seed  which  had 
germinated  in  shallow  broken  stone  ;  but  this  year 


they  retain  the  full  richness  of  their  colour,  and 

make  a  new  and  useful  shade  in  mossy  Saxifrages. 

Edge  Hall,  Malpas.  C.  Woli.ey  Dod. 


CHRYSOGONUM   VIRGINICUM. 

ALTHOtTGH  the  introduction  to  English  gardens  of 
this  composite  took  place  several  years  ago  it  is 
still  uncommon.  The  plant  is  now  in  flower,  and 
there  are  certainly  few  things  of  the  same 
order  more  distinct  and  beautiful.  The  rootstock 
is  fibrous,  producing  several  runner-like  shoots,  and 
the  flowers  are  bright  golden-yellow.  In  a  fairly 
good  loamy  soil,  with  just  sufficient  moisture  during 
the  summer,  they  are  usually  produced  from  early 
spring  until  autumn,  and  as  the  plant  is  of  dwarf 
creeping  growth  and  not  a  rank  grower  it  is  most 
useful  for  rockwork  or  a  border  in  a  sunny  situation, 
but  the  finest  are  usually  those  in  poorer  or  stony 
soil.  Few  similar  plants  are  better  adapted  for 
pot  culture.  A  native  of  North  America,  it  is 
perfectly  hardy  in  this  country.  G.  Reuthe. 


A     LETTER     ASTRAY. 

A  CoRoN.tTiuN  Flower-bed. 

The  following  suggestions  for  a  Coronation  flower- 
bed, evidently  not  intended  for  The  Garden  (in 
whose  pages  the  subject  is  tabooed),  but  for  one  of 
those  papers  that  just  now  are  so  generously  lavish 
with  suggestions  embodying  not  only  earnest 
practicality,  but  Art  in  its  noblest  exemplification, 
coming  to  the  aid  of  Nature  (Nature,  unluckily, 
does  not  seem  enthusiastic,  so  far) — having  been 
mistakenly  dropped  by  the  postman  into  The 
Garden's  letter  box — seem  to  deserve  publication, 
although,  like  the  other  suggestions  they  were 
meant  to  accompany,  they  present  a  few  difficulties 
easily  overcome  by  the  amateur — when  he  finds 
them  out.  In  the  first  place,  then,  considering  how 
notoriously  unwilling  flowers  are  to  accommodate 
themselves  to  purposes  of  true  art,  and  that  the 
month  remaining  before  the  ecstatic  day  will  pro- 
bably be  insufficient  for  the  bursting  into  full  bloom 
of  the  purple  Viola  cushions,  the  blue  Lobelia,  and 
crimson  Phlox  Drummondi  jewels,  and  the  white 
Ivy  Geranium  monograms,  why  not  supplement 
the  disloyal  garden  beauties  from  the  vast  artistic 
resources  certain  to  be  owned  by  every  loyal  house- 
hold likely  to  desire  flower-beds  like  these  ?  For 
example,  here  is  a  scheme  which  in  its  pathos  and 
patriotism  would,  I  feel  sure,  bring  tears  to  the 
eyes  of  any  personage  with  true  art  feeling  who 
happened  to  see  it,  and  it  may  be  applied  to  either 
a  round,  an  oval,  or  an  oblong  bed  with  equal 
elegance  and  simplicity.  The  central  emblem  is  of 
course  the  crown  ;  but  as  it  would  take  a  really 
skilled  bedder  out,  accustomed  to  carpet  bedding, 
and  provided  with  a  number  of  more  suitable 
plants  than  those  mentioned  in  any  of  the  articles 
I  have  seen,  to  produce  anything  recognisable  in 
this  line,  I  suggest  placing  four  Bamboos  in  the 
centre  of  the  bed,  on  the  top  of  which  a  crown 
made  of  gilt  cardboard  can  accommodate  a  pot 
plant.  Four  Scarlet  Runners  will  add  an  effective 
touch  if  trained  up  the  Bamboos,  and  if  planted  at 
once  will  only  be  three  or  four  weeks  late.  The 
groundwork  of  the  bed  should  e<|Ually  of  course  be 
worked  out  in  the  national  colours,  and  what  more 
beautiful  or  suitable  flower  can  be  found  for  the  red 
part  than  the  Rose,  which,  managed  as  I  shall 
suggest,  has  the  advantage  of  being  so  very  easily 
obtained.  A  ring  of  small  branches  of  Euony  mus  or 
Laurel  should  be  stuck  in  the  ground  to  form  the  out- 
line of  the  bed,  and  when  the  deft  fingersof  the  house- 
hold have  fashioned  enough  red  tissue  paper  Roses 
these  can  be  attached  to  their  twigs  by  means  of 
black  cotton.  This  elaboratel3 -planned  effect  will 
be  best  set  off  if  the  next  ring  is  of  white  Iris 
florentina  ;  but  as  this  flower  unfortunately  only 
blooms  for  a  fortnight  or  so,  and  will  be  over  before 
the  Coronation,  its  place  may  be  taken  by  a  few 
cuttings  of  white  Geraniums,  the  striking  of  which 
should  not  be  delayed,  or  some  Eucharist  Lilies 
could  be  employed  ;  failing  either  use  some  pocket 
handkerchiefs  tied  to  green  flower  sticks.  The 
blue  portion  of  the  bed  can  be  worked  out  in  tuits 
of  Berlin  wool,  great  care  being  taken  to  choose 


May  24,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEIS. 


343 


the  really  Royal  shade,  pegged  down  with  clothes 
pins,  or  Myosotis  Victoria  may  be  sown.  It  will 
not  bloom  until  next  May,  but  that  is  quite  an 
unimportant  detail.  Should  the  weather  prove 
unfavourable,  an  excellent  shelter  for  a  bed  which 
will  certainly  reflect  much  credit  on  its  creator's 
ingenuity,  and  probably  look  quite  as  artistic  as 
anything  else  that  has  been  suggested,  may  be  con- 
trived with  a  gig  umbrella  and  a  few  inexpensive 
sheets  of  corrugated  iron. 


HOUSES  FOR  STRAW^BERRY 

FORCING. 

Although  Strawberries  are  not  produced  by 
artificial  means  to  the  same  extent  as  they  are 
grown  out  of  doors  in  the  Kentish  fields,  they 
are,  nevertheless,  cultivated  in  such  numbers  in 
glass  houses  as  to  form  an  important  industry. 
Curiously  enough,  as  the  bulk  of  open  air  Straw- 
berries are  obtained  from  Kent,  so  also  are  those 
grown  under  glass,  the  neighbourhoods  of  Swanley 
and  Bexley  Heath  being  the  chief  centres  respon- 
sible for  the  early  supplies  of  these  delicioas  fruits. 
During  early  spring  the  prices  asked  for  good 
Strawberries  are  very  high,  and,  taking  into 
consideration  the  expense  and  labour  involved  in 
producing  them  at  such  ao  early  season,  this  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at. 

It  will  be  well  to  first  consider  the  most  suitable 
structure  in  which  to  cultivate  forced  Straw- 
berries, and  in  doing  so  we  shall  find  they  will 
succeed  in  a  variety  of  houses,  providing  these 
possess  two  attributes,  viz.,  an  efficient  heating 
apparatus  and  are  capable  of  admitting  all  possible 
light  and  sun.  These  two  factors  play  a  very 
important  part  in  the  successful  forcing  of  Straw- 
berries. Those  who  grow  supplies  for  market 
endeavour,  of  course,  to  conduct  their  operations 
as  economically  as  possible,  and  therefore  prefer 
span-roofed  houses,  because  they  are  less  expensive 
to  build  and  will  hold  more  plants  than  lean-to 
structures.  So  that  the  plants  may  have  as  much 
sunlight  as  is  possible  for  them  to  have  at  such  an 
early  period  the  span-roofed  houses  should  run 
from  north  to  south.  The  one  side  will  then 
receive  the  morning  sun,  the  other  side  the  after- 
noon sun,  and  the  midday  sun  will  benefit  both 
sides  of  the  house  equally.  For  Strawberry 
culture  the  houses  should  be  low,  otherwise  it  will 
be  necessary  to  erect  wooden  stages  so  as  to  bring 
the  plants    near  the  glass,   and   this  would  incur 


considerable  extra  expense  and  labour.  The 
nearer  the  plants  are  to  the  glass  within  reason 
(they  should  not  be  closer  than,  say,  18  inches) 
the  better  will  they  flower  and  fruit.  Houses 
which  without  any  additional  arrangements  allow 
of  this  item  being  put  into  practice  are  therefore 
the  most  economical  and  the  best.  The  height 
from  the  central  pathway  to  the  apex  of  the  roof 
should  be  just  sufficient  to  allow  one  to  walk 
along  comfortably.  It  need  be  very  little  more 
than  6  feet  high.  At  the  base  of  either  slope  the 
roof  rests  upon  short  brick  walls  about  2  feet  high. 

The  houses  built  by  those  who  grow  Strawberries 
for  market  vary  in  length  from  100  feet  to  200  feet. 
They  are  10  feet  wide  inside  and  6  feet  high  to  the 
apex  of  the  roof.  Along  the  centre  of  the  house 
runs  a  pathway  about  20  inches  or  2  feet  wide,  and 
on  either  side  of  this  are  placed  six  rows  of  plants 
in  6-inch  pots,  a  number  that  convenientlj'  fills  the 
two  beds.  The  brick  walls  of  the  house  are 
18  inches  from  the  level  of  the  ground  outside,  and 
the  pathway  has  therefore  to  be  sunk  in  order  to 
allow  the  workmen  to  pass  along  conveniently. 
Several  houses  are  often  built,  as  it  were,  in  one. 
Supposing  three  houses  to  be  built  together  there 
would  be  three  distinct  span  roofs  but  only  two 
solid  walls,  and  these  the  two  outside  ones.  The 
purpose  of  the  inner  walls  is  served  by  brick 
pillars  built  at  intervals  along  where  the  wall 
would  ordinarily  be.  Whilst  giving  all  necessary 
support  this  system  admits  of  a  free  circulation  of 
air  throughout  the  three  houses,  and  the  plants  are 
almost  as  well  off  in  this  respect — if  the  houses 
are  properly  ventilated — as  if  they  were  growing 
out  of  doors. 

We  see,  then,  that  if  houses  are  specially  built 
for  the  cultivation  of  forced  Strawberries,  low 
span-roofed  ones  are  at  once  the  most  suitable 
and  economical.  These  fruits  may,  however,  be 
obtained  in  various  other  structures  and  equally 
well  also.  Better  fruits  may  perhaps  be  had  from 
a  lean-to  house  facing  due  south  than  from  a  span- 
roofed  one,  but  for  the  reasons  above  given  the 
latter  would  be  preferred  by  a  market  grower. 
Heated  pits  and  frames  are  particularly  well 
adapted  to  the  forcing  of  the  Strawberry,  because 
one  is  able  without  difficulty  to  keep  the  plants 
close  to  the  glass.  They  have,  however,  one 
drawback  in  that  it  is  necessary  to  remove  the 
lights  in  order  to  give  water  to  the  plants.  In  cold 
and  unfavourable  weather  this  is  a  disadvantage. 
Thousands  of  Strawberry  plants  are  grown  on 
shelves  in  vineries,  Peach  houses,  Melon  houses. 


&c.,  and  if  they  are  well  looked  after  in  these 
positions  very  good  results  are  obtained.  Gardeners 
who  endeavour  to  utilise  to  the  utmost  the  valu- 
able space  in  their  glass  houses  will  not  fail  to 
have  shelves  placed  along  the  front  of  the  vineries, 
Peach  houses,  and  high  up  along  the  back  of  them, 
and  Melon  houses  also.  These  shelves  prove  in- 
valuable during  winter  and  early  spring  in  pro- 
viding accommodation  for  Strawberries  in  pots. 
Cold  frames  also  are  very  suitable  positions  for 
pot  Strawberries  for  a  few  weeks  previous  to  the 
latter  being  placed  in  heat.  A.  P.  H. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 


SEED   AND 


STRAW  IJLUUV    liROWI.VC    KOR    MARKET    AT    EEXLEV    HEATH  :     THE   PLANTS    IN    FLOWER. 


HARDY   PLANTS    FEOM 
CUTTINGS. 

NO  W  that  the  growing  season  is  coming 
and  the  best  time  for  raisingf  resh  stocks 
of  most  plants,  &c. ,  many  cultivators 
will  be  anxious  to  raise  young  plants 
to  replace  those  that  are  weak  or 
worn  out.  The  question  how  best  to 
obtain  young  vigorous  stock  is  answered  by 
declaring  for  seed.  This  is  Nature's  method  ; 
but  I  fear  many  gardeners  do  not  study  the  ways 
of  Nature  as  they  should  do.  I  have  been  a  grower 
for  many  years,  and  am  convinced  that  stock 
raised  from  seed  is  more  vigorous  than  that  from 
cuttings,  &c.,  and  I  have  come  to  this  con- 
clusion after  trying  both  ways.  I  am  well  aware 
that  cuttings  frequently  are  the  quickest,  and  in 
some  cases  have  an  advantage  over  seed, 
and  we  could  not  do  without  layering  for 
many  things.  I  have  seen  many  a  grand  batch 
i  of  Rhododendrons  raised  from  a  large  plant 
treated  thus  in  the  Bagshot  Nurseries,  and  I 
prefer  them  thus  raised  to  being  grafted.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  many  other  things. 

Thirty  or  forty  years  ago  Gloxinias,  Cinerarias, 
and  even  herbaceous  Calceolarias  were  increased 
from  cuttings.  1  feel  sure  the  flower-loving  public 
has  benefited  by  the  enterprising  seed  grower 
who  has  now  placed  so  many  good  strains  of  these 
in  our  hands  from  seed  and  has  removed  an  old  and 
useless  method.  Those  who  travel  about  often 
find  the  method  of  increasing  the  stock  of  hardy 
plants  from  cuttings  or  by  division  practised,  but 
generally  raising  them  from  seed  would  be  a 
better  way.  In  proof  of  this  I  have  seen  many 
growers  go  on  dividing  their  stock  of 
Lobelia  cardinalis  until  it  was  worthless. 
If  seedlings  had  been  occasionally  raised 
the  stock  would  have  been  in  a  most 
vigorous  condition. 

Of  Delphiniums  nudicaule  and  cardi- 
nalis, also  Lychnis  haageana,  I  always 
could  depend  upon  strong  stock  from  seed, 
but  not  from  cuttings.  Calliopsis  grandi- 
flora  and  its  varieties  are  much  benefited 
by  replacing  the  stock  with  young  plants 
from  seed.  When  I  grew  a  large-named 
collection  of  Delphiniums  in  a  light  soil 
I  found  many  advantages  from  plants 
raised  occasionally  from  seed.  Sapo- 
naria  ocymoides  got  so  weak  that  I 
replaced  it  every  two  years  in  this  way. 
I  could  name  a  host  of  other  hardy 
plants  in  proof  of  this.  Hardy  Primulas 
are  a  case  in  point,  such  as  P.  rosea, 
denticulata,  and  others,  and  the  same 
holds  good  with  regard  to  Polyanthuses 
and  Primroses.  AH  are  better  when 
replaced  every  year  or  two,  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  the  soil  and 
variety.  I  have  never  seen  Polyan- 
thuses and  Primroses  so  vigorous  from 
division  as  from  seed.  Wilson's  Blue 
Primroses  will  not  survive  the  first  yeer 
in  a  healthy  condition.  I  make  a  rule 
of  raising  a  new  stock  every  year  of 
this  and  border  Polyanthuses  and  Prim- 
roses. 

Turning  again  to  tender  plants,  how 
many  are  still  raising  their  yearly  stock 
of     Ageratums,    Verbenas,     and    many 


344 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  24,  190:! 


things  of  this  kind  from  cuttings,  when  the  better 
way  would  be  from  seed.  Last  year  I  had 
sent  me  three  packets  of  seed  of  Ageratum 
Ada  Bowman  for  trial.  This  was  sown  in 
spring  and  the  .seedlings  planted  out  in  due 
course.  I  have  never  seen  finer  or  more  even  beds. 
Even  in  the  vegetable  garden  seed  propagation  is 
generally  advisable.  I  am  beginning  to  think  that 
it  is  not  all  gain  going  on  dividing  and  replanting 
the  same  roots  of  Rliubarb,  Seakale,  and  l41obe 
Artichokes.  Only  this  year  I  noticed  that  the 
Seakale  roots  were  far  more  vigorous  and  free 
from  decay  owing  to  their  seedling  origin. 

Now  comes  the  question  as  to  the  variations 
from  seed.  Many  things  vary  greatly,  while 
others,  tlirough  careful  selection,  come  almost 
identical  in  colour  and  growth.  Of  course  care 
must  be  taken  in  raising  the  seed. 

Raising  seedlings  is  also  very  interesting.  In 
many  ways  it  is  a  decided  gain  to  have  variety  ; 
added  to  this  the  grower  never  knows  what  may 
occur.  How  much  poorer  our  gardens  would  have 
been  had  not  such  men  as  Mr.  Nelson  and  others 
worked  in  this  way.  Even  the  new  varieties  of 
Mossy  Phlox  are  treasures.  J.  Crook. 


BENNETT'S   SEEDLING   ROSE. 

I  DO  not  think  in  the  whole  range  of  Rose 
varieties  there  is  a  more  charming  climbing 
variety  than  the  double  white  Bennett'.s  Seed- 
ling. I  have  seen  many  references  to  it  in  The 
Garden,  so  I  need  not  talk  about  culture,  in 
fact  it  does  not  want  any  "  culture,"  as  we  use 
the  word.  T.  R. 

[We  are  pleased  to  receive  our  correspon- 
dent's note,  and  also  to  show  this  Rose  growing 
in  two  different  ways — over  a  house  front  and 
over  an  arbour. — Eds.] 


fruits  are  produced  on  bush  trees  not  hard  pruned, 
and,  unlike  many  other  varieties  of  keeping  Apples, 
Prince  Albert  rarely  fails  ;  indeed,  many  ol  our 
bush  trees  crop  so  freely  that  thinning  is  necessary. 
When  grown  as  a  standard  tree  there  should  be 
ample  room  for  the  branches,  as  owing  to  its  free 
cropping  the  weight  of  fruit  causes  the  branches 
to  droop  if  not  supported.  U.  \Yvtiies. 


HARDY   FRUITS    IN   SEASON. 

Apple  Reinette  du  Canada  in  SpRiNti. 
Ir  given  cool  storage  this  retains  its  good  qualities 
well  into  May.  It  is  not  a  satisfactory  Apple  in  all 
soils  ;  it  should  be  allowed  ample  space  and  not  be 
hard  pruned.  The  best  results  in  my  case  have 
been  secured  from  bush  or  standard  trees  grown 
on  the  Paradise  stock.  This  variety  gives  fruit  of  a 
large  size,  too  large  some  consider 
for  dessert,  but  at  this  time  of  year 
one  is  not  much  inclined  to  grumble 
at  mere  size.  I  Bnd  our  best  keep- 
ing fruits  are  those  on  low  standards 
ill  an  open  position.  In  well  drained 
soil  the  trees  are  rarely  pruned,  but 
the  wood  is  lightly  thinned  at  times, 
whilst  the  fruits  are  much  liked 
for  cooking  when  they  can  be 
spared.  The  value  of  small  standard 
trees  is  that  the  fruits  are  produced 
in  greater  quantity  and  are  not  so 
large  as  on  bush  trees.  For  the 
dessert  this  is  an  advantage. 

A.  C.  N. 

Apple  Lane's  Prince  Albert  in 

Spring. 
Few  Apples  are  more  useful  than 
this,  as  though  one  of  the  best  for 
cooking  at  Christmas  it  is  even 
more  valuable  in  April  and  May  for 
dessert.  Manj-  growers  would  not 
plant  Prince  Albert  for  dessert  pur- 
poses, yet  for  use  at  tlie  season  named 
it  is  excellent.  Although  the  flavour 
is  brisk  it  is  liked  by  many.  This 
variety  is  valuable  for  its  free  crop- 
ping in  most  parts  of  the  country  ; 
we  find  it  crops  ei|ually  well  in  the 
North  at  Alnwick  Castle  as  in  the 
South  at  Syon  ;  but  in  the  North 
the  fruits  do  not  colour  so  well  and 
are  more  acid,  but  they  keep  sound 
for  a  longer  time.  Grown  in  standard 
form  in  the  South  few  varieties  crop 
more  freely.     In  the  North  the  best 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editors  are  not   resjMn-siUe   for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  J 

THE    BROOMS. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SI  R, — In  addition  to  the  varieties  of  the 
common  Broom  mentioned  by  Mr.  W. 
t;oldring  in  his  excellent  article  in  The 
(lAKDEN  of  May  10,  there  is  a  variety 
with  variegated  leaves.  The  foliage  is 
creamy  white  and  deep  green.  The  plant 
is  at  its  best  about  May,  and  when  seen  at  this 
season  is  considerably  more  attractive  than  would 
be  expected  by  those  who  see  it  in  autumn.  My 
bush  has  been  prettier  this  season  than  ever 
before,  and  it  has  now  obtained  a  reprieve  from  i  ts 
threatened  removal  to  a  more  out-of-the-way 
corner  where  it  was  intended  to  transfer  it.  It 
seems  as  hardy  as  the  common  Broom,  but  the 
flowers  are  less  freely  produced. 

Carsethorii,  by  Dumfries,  N.B.  S.  Arnott. 
[We  have  not  seen  the  variegated  Broom,  but 
scarcely  think  a  Broom  without  its  full  green 
colouring  a  prett}'  object.  We  merely  mention 
this  to  prevent  any  reader  adding  this  to  his 
garden  without  seeing  it  first. — Eds.] 


SUMMER  PRUNING  OF  FRUIT  TREES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  am  glad  to  see  that  your  correspondent 
Mr.  Alger  Petts,  in  your  issue  of  April  12,  raises  a 
protest  against  the  want  of  knowledge  amongst 
fruit  growers  of  the  principles  of  summer  pruning. 
The  advice  generally  given  is  to  delay  summer 
pruning  till  about  August,  and  when  the  trees  have 
finished  their  summer's  growth  to  cut    hem  back 


to  four  or  five  eyes  and  to  shorten  the  spurs  to  tM  o 
eyes  in  the  winter.  Now  as  I  umlerstand  tht- 
matter  the  great  aim  in  summer  pruning  is  tn 
weaken  the  lateral  shoots,  which  of  course  are  not 
required  for  wood  extension,  .so  that  tliey  nia\ 
eventually  bear  fruit,  and  this  must  be  done  b'y 
depriving  them  of  some  of  the  leaves  which  gixv 
vigour  to  the  branch. 

As  Mr.  Alger  Petts  wisely  points  out  this 
must  not  be  done  all  at  once,  but  from  time  to 
time,  and  I  would  add  that  it  should  be  repeated 
as  secondary  shoots  appear.  I  cannot  help  think- 
ing that  if  summer  pruning  were  consistently 
carried  out  fruit  growers  would  find  root  pruning 
seldom  necessary.  I  lately  had  a  most  inte- 
resting conversation  with  a  friend  of  one  of  the 
first  men  who  introduced  the  cordon  system  into 
England.  He  remembers  well  the  description  of 
his  friend's  experiences  in  France,  where  he  lived 
and  studied  the  system  for  some  time  ;  how  he 
used  to  watch  the  French  fruit  growers  looking 
over  their  cordons  in  the  early  morning  donned  in 
dressing-gown  and  slippers  and  pinching  a  shoot 
here  and  there.  When  he  introduced  the  system 
into  England  he  found  that  the  trees  made  a  much 
more  vigorous  growth  than  in  France,  and  that  he 
had  to  use  secateurs  in  place  of  his  nails.  There  is 
one  other  point  that  I  should  like  to  draw  atten- 
tion to,  that  is,  thai  "  thinning"  or  "rubbing  off" 
ill-placed  or  unnecessary  wood  buds  is  classified  by 
some  as  summer  pruning  ;  this  of  course  is  a  very 
necessary  operation,  but  it  only  indirectly  helps  to 
make  the  tree  fruitful,  and  I  think  it  would  be 
much  better  if  it  were  not  confused  with  what  is 
more  generally  understood  as  summer  pruning. 

R.  T.  H. 


RUBUS  DELICIOSUS. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Your  correspondent,  "  T.  Arnold"  (page 
•277),  need  not  have  any  doubt  that  the  Rubus 
referred  to  by  him  as  bearing  white  blossoms  is 
the  true  R.  deliciosus,  for  the  description  of  the 
flowers  as  purple  in  Nicholson's  "Dictionary  of 
tiardening  "  is  one  of  those  errors  that  will  creep 
into  books  of  such  magnitude.  The  mistake  is, 
however,  set  right  in  the  Century  Supplement- to 
the  publication  in  question,  where  several  additions 
to  the  genus  Rubus  are  made.     It  reads  thus  :  "R. 


liENNETTS   SEEDLINt    ROSE   OVER  A   U0U.SE  FRONT.-     (This  plo'^jraph  shows  its  wonderful prnfiisiun  ijf  flowers.) 


May  24,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


345 


deliciosus.  —  The  flowers  of  this 
species  are  snow-white,  not  red." 
Every  word  of  your  correspondent's 
note  in  favour  of  this  Rubua  is  well 
merited,  for  it  is  really  one  of  the 
most  delightful  of  early-flowering 
shrubs.  It  has,  moreover,  proved 
quite  hardy.  R.  deliciosus  is  a 
native  of  the  western  or  Californian 
side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  where 
it  was  originally  discovered  by 
Torrey  as  long  ago  as  1S22,  but  its 
introduction  in  a  living  state  we 
owe,  I  believe,  to  that  enthusiastic 
gardener,  the  late  Mr.  Anderson 
Henry,  of  Edinburgh,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  many  beautiful 
plants.  This  was  in  1870,  but, 
though  now  over  thirty  years  ago, 
the  Rubus  in  question  is  not  so  well 
known  or  so  generally  met  with  as 
it  deserves  to  be.  To  those  who 
regard  all  members  of  the  genus 
Rubus  as  Brambles  the  species  in 
question  would  scarcely  betray  its 
relationship,  as  it  forms  an  open, 
much-branched  bush,  whose  slender, 
gracefully  disposed  shoots  are  inno- 
cent of  spines,  while  the  leaves  are 
Currant-like  and  soft  in  texture. 
The  pure  white  blossoms,  like  single 
Roses,  are  borne  in  great  profusion, 
usually  about  the  middle  of  May. 
Other  members  of  the  Bramble  family 
for  which  a  place  may  in  most 
gardens  be  found  are  :  R.  odoratus, 
with  large-lobed  leaves  and  rosy 
purple  blossoms :  R.  nutkanus,  some- 
what in  the  way  of  the  last,  but  with  white 
flowers  ;  R.  biflorus,  from  the  Himalayas,  remark- 
able from  its  white  stems  ;  the  double  pink  Bramble 
(R.  fruticosus  flore-pleno),  and  the  cut-leaved  R. 
laciniata.  This  last  is,  from  a  fruiting  point  of 
view,  quite  equal  to  some  of  the  much-praised 
American  kinds.  H.  P. 


EEMNETTS  SEEDLINf!    AS   AN   ARBOUR  ROSE. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

THE      HAMMOCK      UNDER 
THE  OAKS.— HI. 

ROSE  BKAKE,  May  IS.— I  think  it  has 
forgotten  how  to  rain,  for  it  really 
tried  this  morning,  and  a  few  drops 
fell.  The  good  man,  who  is  always 
■^  sanguine,  called  to  Totsie  and  me 
to  hurry  in.  But  I  think  there 
were  not  more  than  nine  drop.s  in  all.  How- 
ever, I  am  grateful  to  the  clouds,  which  kept 
off  the  fierce  sun  for  a  little  while.  Now  it  is 
out  in  full  force.  May  this  year  reminds  me 
of  a  heartless  young  mother,  gay  and  careless, 
who  goes  tripping  it  over  the  graves  of  the 
children  she  has  killed  by  her  neglect. 

Mai/ 19. — I  am  so  glad  that  we  have  had  a 
heavy  rain,  because  I  was  beginning  to  feel 
quite  wicked  about  it.  It  began  when  I  woke 
up  this  morning,  and  I  could  hardly  believe 
my  ears.  It  was  a  steady  downpour,  that  has 
washed  away  all  my  discontent.  It  rained 
until  about  one  o'clock,  softly  but  sufficiently. 
One  such  rain  as  that  a  week  would  keep  the 
garden  fresh  all  summer.  The  first  Rose 
opened  on  the  13th.  It  was  the  old-fashioned 
Rosa  Ginnamomea,  the  doitble  pink  variety.  It 
grows  among  the  rocks  in  what  we  call  the 
Rose  Tangle,  north-east  of  the  house,  in  com- 
pany of  many  purple  Irises  and  a  few  pure 
wliite  ones.  Here  and  there  among  these  rocks 
are  fine  clumps  of  the  double  white  Narcissus 
posticus,  which  is  as  handsome  as  a  Gardenia. 
it  blooms  in  the  Rose  Tangle  every  year,  and 
the  clumps  are  never  disturbed.  The  double 
white  Narcissus  is  a  most  capricious  plant. 


Give  it  the  best  attention  and  feed  it  on  the 
most  delicate  compost  in  a  garden  bed  and  it 
will  sulk  and  have  no  children,  except  little 
blind  buds  ;  but  give  it  its  own  wild  will, 
choked  by  grass  in  a  neglected  corner,  and  it 
settles  down  to  a  useful  life,  and  lives  to  a 
good  old  age,  producing  beautiful  offspring 
every  year.  'The  Cinnamon  Rose  is  always  the 
first  to  bloom  at  Rose  Brake  ;  a  lovely  little 
Scotch  Briar  is  the  second.  It  has  cups  of  a 
delicate  cream  colour,  streaked  with  rose,  and 
very  small  leaflets,  and  innumerable  small 
sharp  spines.  Afterwards  the  rest  of  the 
Roses  come  loitering  along  all  through  May 
and  .June.  The  procession  winds  up  with  Rosa 
wichuriana  and  Rosa  setigera,  the  Prairie 
Rose,  and  then  it  begins  again  with  the  second 
flowering  of  the  Teas,  which  produce  blossoms 
on  new  wood  throughout  the  summer.  Many 
Roses  also  have  a  second  blooming  period  quite 
late  in  the  autumn,  and  even  up  to  Christmas 
in  mild  seasons,  when  the  autumn  rains  start 
them  into  new  growth.  I  have  more  than  once 
found  the  first  Cinnamon  Rose  as  early  as 
May  3,  and  picked  the  last,  Hermosa  or 
Isabella  Sprunt,  early  in  December. 

May  5^.— The  old  rock  garden  is  gay  with 
sheets  of  Saponaria  ocymoides,  with  its  myriads 
of  saucy  little  rosy  faces,  and  different  kinds 
of  perennial  Candytuft  and  Speedwells  make 
sheets  of  white  and  blue  here  and  there.  I 
never  made  a  rockery  before  last  autumn,  but 
this  old  rock  garden  made  itself  in  a  manner, 
and  is  only  a  natural  formation  of  flat  rocks  at 
the  end  of  the  wild  garden  which  I  have  embel- 
lished with  easy  plants  such  as  those  I  have 
mentioned.  Some  white  Columbines  are 
beautiful  here,  and  yellow  is  furnished  by 
quantities  of  Alyssum  saxatile,  Achillea 
tomentosa,  and  Buttercups.  The  new  rockery 
comes  on  apace,  though  our  only  neighbour's 
rooster  thinks  it  was  piled  up  solely  to  make 
him  a  convenient  crowing  hill.  He  scratches 
up  the  topmost  plants  nearly  every  day,  but 
they  are  used  to  it  and  do  not  seem  to  mind.  I 
go  out  and  find  Crucianella  and  Coronilla  with 
their  roots  sticking  up  in  the  air  getting  a  good 


sunning,  but  as  soon  as  they  are  reversed  and 
given  a  bath  of  water  to  counteract  the  sun- 
bath  they  go  on  growing  again.  I  have 
Columbines,  Yarrow,  Bugles,  Speedwells, 
Arrherias,  and  Amsonias  all  blooming  together 
on  this  rockery,  and  likely  to  do  well.  1  have 
just  fortified  the  top  with  more  stones  to  hold 
the  roots  down,  and  now  perhaps  they  will 
not  turn  any  more  somersaults. 

May  23. — I  am  glad  I  can  weed  and  dig  and 
plant  as  much  as  I  please  and  shock  nobody, 
not  even  the  gardener,  for  I  am  the  gardener 
myself,  and  not  easily  shocked  at  that.  And  I 
think  I  enjoy  my  flowers  all  the  more  because 
I  have  prepared  cradles  for  them,  and  assisted 
at  their  birth,  and  helped  them  at  every  stage 
from  tiny  seedlings  to  lovely  blossoming 
maturity.  And  I  wish  I  could  tell  them  how 
much  they  help  and  comfort  me.  And  yet, 
who  knows,  perhaps  they  understand.  They 
do  look  as  if  they  did.  Yes,  yes,  there  is 
certainly  an  understanding  between  us.  Do 
they  not  breathe  lovely  confidences  into  my 
ears  every  day  1  And  do  I  not  open  my  her, it 
as  freely  to  them  1  No  one  who  has  a  gardui 
of  flowers  to  love  and  be  loved  by  need  com- 
lilain  of  being  misunderstood.  "When  I  go  to 
the  garden  with  my  troubles  the  flowers  know 
just  what  to  do.  They  do  not  torment  me 
with  senseless  talk  ;  they  just  look  at  me,  and 
their  beauty  makes  me  forget  my  cares,  and 
their  smiles  restore  nie  to  cheerfulness,  and 
their  fragrance  refreshes  me  and  strengthens 
me  to  bear  what  I  must.  And  I  go  away 
serene  again  and  thanking  God  for  my  garden. 

May  S4. — The  new  Piuonies  are  going  to  be 
superb.  One  e.xquisitely  rich  rose-coloured  one 
is  in  bloom,  and  many  others  are  showing 
colour.  I  have  a  large  round  bed  of  Peonies 
on  the  grass  of  the  lawn  north  of  the  house, 
mixed  with  Auratum  Lilies.  The  Lilies  will 
bloom  in  July  and  August.  These  are  Chinese 
hybrid  Pajonies,  all  full  and  large,  some  of  them 
with  blossoms  built  up  in  three  stories,  with 
tier  on  tier  of  petals,  and  they  are  of  all 
iDeautiful  shades  of  colour,  from  T)ure  white  to 
deep  intense  crimson.     The  pink  ones  that 


346 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  24,  1902. 


liave  silvery  reflections  are  very  lovely,  and  so 
are  the  white  ones  that  have  narrow  inner 
petals  of  lemon-yellow.  One  kind  has  peach- 
blow  guard  petals,  and  salmon-coloured,  strap- 
shaped  inner  ones.  Some  have  beautifully 
fringed  and  crimped  edges,  and  many  of  them 
are  delicately  perfumed,  like  choicest  Roses. 
In  another  bed  I  have  P;eonies  and  German 
Irises.  The  Irises  are  in  full  flower,  and  are  in 
shades  of  light  blue  and  white,  greyish  blue, 
and  clear  light  yellow.  The  P;eonies  here  are 
a  rich  carmine,  but  are  not  yet  in  bloom.  I 
think  the  first  will  open  to-morrow.  How 
impatient  I  am  !  Flowers  never  look  cross 
nor  disagreeable.  They  are  like  very  well-bred 
people,  and  do  not  know  how  to  frown.  I 
believe  their  mission  is  to  teach  us  what  the 
highest  type  of  womanhood  is.  And  are  they 
not  the  best  of  company— the  most  purifying  ? 
Even  when  they  are  dying  they  only  look 
patient  and  pathetic,  not  sulky  and  rebellious. 
They  die  as  they  live,  simply  and  quietly,  and 
make  no  fuss  about  it.  I  love  flowers  that 
take  care  of  themselves,  like  my  hardy  Roses, 
Rockets,  Sweet  Williams,  Cornflowers,  and 
yellow  Lilies  ;  indeed,  I  feel  grateful  to  any 
flowers  that  will  grow  and  spread  on  this  dry 
hill,  asking  so  little  of  Nature  or  of  man.  They 
endure  hardness,  and  are  as  strong  and  sturdy 
as  mountaineers. 

Mai/  HO. — Every  day  now,  every  bright, 
blissful  day,  will  have  its  new  Rose.  Yester- 
day it  was  the  Copper  Austrian  Briar, 
unique  in  colour  among  Roses.  To-day  it 
is  the  prettiest  of  climbers.  Mine.  Alfred 
Carricre.  She  covers  a  trellis  in  the  Rose 
garden,  north-east  of  the  house.  Mme. 
Alfred  Carricre  is  a  Rose  of  most  lu.xuriant 
growth  and  superb  health,  and  yet,  from  the 
appearance  of  her  Luge,  loose  blossoms,  creamy 
outside  and  flesh-coloured  inside,  and  from 
their  delicious  fragrance,  .she  seems  to  have 
Tea  blood.  I  like  her  so  much  that  I  have 
planted  another  of  her  by  one  of  the  posts  of 
the  wire  fence  that  divides  the  wild  garden 
from  the  orchard  north  of  the  grove.  Here 
I  tried  to  have  a  hedge  of  Roses  of  different 
kinds  ;  but  Nature  interfered  and  would  have 
none  of  my  little  Ro.ses,  drying  them  up  and 
killing  them  ott'  as  fast  as  1  planted  them. 
The  fence  is  built  on  the  top  of  a  sloping  shelf 
of  rock.  Here  and  there  was  found  depth 
sufficient  for  a  post-hole,  and  now  I  content 
myself  with  planting  a  Rose  to  each  jiost.  The 
intervening  space  is  utilised  for  hardy  plants 
that  do  not  need  great  depth  of  soil.  A 
multitude  of  Morning  Glories  spring  up  unin- 
vited and  wreathe  the  wires  in  wilful  abandon, 
a  pi  esent  from  Nature,  to  soothe  my  feelings 
for  all  the  little  Roselets  she  killed  last  year. 
On  the  orchard  side  of  the  fence  Hollyhocks 
have  taken  possession,  and  are  already  in  bud, 
so  that  the  line  of  division  will  be  marked  in 
flowers  ere  long.  Danske  D.vNDRiDiiE. 

Rose  Brake.  [Vest  Virginia,  U.,S.A. 


ficial  watering  should  not  be  practised  unless 
required,  but  needy  cases  are  at  times  overlooked 
until  the  trees  are  suffering,  when  it  is  too  late  to 
wholly  remedy  the  evil.  At  all  times  give  thorough 
soakings  at  suitable  intervals,  mere  driblets  being 
worse  than  useless.  Mulch  with  short  litter,  so 
that  quick  evaporation  is  avoided. 

V(iUN(i  Fruit  Trees. 

Late  planted  trees  under  ordinary  circumstances 
invariably  have  a  struggle  to  make  much  headway 
during  their  first  season,  and  when  severe  drought 
sets  in  early  thej-  cannot  even  be  kept  alive  with- 
out much  trouble  being  taktn.  Good  waterings 
are  very  beneficial,  also  mulchings,  but  the  trees 
sliould  be  well  syringed  both  morning  and  evening, 
while  their  stems  may  with  advantage  be  entwined 
with  hay-bands.  The  second  year  especially  after 
being  planted,  Apples,  Pears,  &e. ,  owing  to  having 
had  their  roots  lifted  when  planted  and  their 
growth  consequently  checked,  often  show  a  more 
or  less  heavy  crop  of  fruit,  but  the  flowers  should 
be  removed,  as  when  the  fruit  is  allowed  to  set 
the  growth  of  the  trees  is  hindered  ;  therefore,  if 
satisfactory  growth  is  the  first  consideration,  the 
fruit  should  be  severely  thinned. 

Peach-leaf   Blister. 

Cold  north-easterly  winds  favour  the  fungus 
which  causes  Peach-leaf  blister.  Attacks  of  the 
disease  will  probablj-  be  common,  although  I  may 
remark  that  our  trees,  which  are  placed  upon  a 
west  wall  and  protected  by  a  removable  wide  glass 
covering,  and  also  at  night  by  canvas  blinds,  are 
perfectly  free  from  it.  Spraying  affected  trees 
every  other  day  for  a  time  with  an  efficient  fungi- 
cide, such  as  sulphide  of  potassium  dissolved  at 
the  rate  of  loz,  to  two  gallons  of  warm  water, 
will  check  the  malady,  but  badly  aH'ected  leaves 
should  be  burned. 

Raspberries. 

These  are  somewhat  late  in  making  their  growth, 
but  with  favourable  weather  they  will  soon  make 
rapid  progress  and  push  numerous  slioots  from 
their  stools  as  well  as  suckers,  which,  if  left 
undisturbed,  as  is  sometimes  done,  until  the  fruit 
is  gathered  and  the  old  canes  removed,  will  become 
too  crowded.  The  better  practice  is  to  thin  the 
.shoots  coming  from  the  stools,  selecting  sufficient 
of  the  strongest  for  fruiting  next  year,  and  entirely 
pull  up  the  suckers.  This  will  expose  the  selected 
shoots  to  the  influence  of  sun  and  air,  which  will 
greatly  strengthen  them  and  their  buds.  Autumn 
fruiting  varieties  which  have  had  all  their  old  canes 
cut  down  to  the  ground  push  up  an  abundance  of 
growths,  which  must  be  severely  thinneil,  other- 
wise the  crop  of  fruit  will  prove  disappointing. 
The  Raspberry  is  a  shallow  but  free-rooting  plant, 
and  requires  plenty  of  moisture  and  food.  Manurial 
mulchings  and  copious  supplies  of  farmyard  liquid 
manure  are  the  best  stimulants,  but,  failing  these, 
a  ready-acting  nutritious  soluble  compound  should 
be  applied,  and  preferably  during  rainy  weather. 

T.  COOMEER. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmonlh. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Watering. 

OWINCi  to  the  deficiency  in  last  year's 
k  rainfall  and  that  of  the  present  year 
I  so  far,  it  is  probable,  at  least  in 
i  some  districts,  that  much  artificial 
watering  will  have  to  be  done  to 
keep  hardy  fruit  trees  and  bushes 
in  growing  condition.  Even  at  this  early  date 
those  planted  against  walls  with  their  roots  near 
the  surface  of  the  soil,  or  others  with  roots  rami- 
fying over  porous  subsoils,  should  be  examined 
and  thoroughly  watered  if  the  soil  is  dry.     Arti- 


THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
Summer  Bedding. 
In  themajority  of  places  the  planting  out  of  summer 
bedding  will  now  have  begun  in  earnest.  The 
exceptionally  cold  weather  experienced  during  the 
early  part  of  this  month  has  dela3'ed  the  planting 
out  of  many  of  the  hardier  plants,  thereby  causing 
a  greater  rush  with  this  work  now  that  the 
weather  has  become  a  little  milder.  Most 
gardeners  have  decided  before  this  date  what  their 
bedding  arrangements  for  this  season  are  to  be,  so 
that  once  the  weather  is  favourable  planting  can 
be  done  without  delay.  To  prevent  the  use 
year  after  year  of  the  same  combination  of  plants 
in  the  same  beds — no  uncommon  occurrence  in 
some  gardens— keep  a  register  of  the  bedding 
arrangements  of  each  season.  When,  in  addition 
to  this,  the  number  of  plants  used  in  each  bed 
is  noted,  a  book  of  this  description  is  useful,  not 
only  in  making  timely  preparation  for  the  summer 
bedding,  but  also  for  estimating  the  quantities  of 
plants  required  for  carrying  out  one's  plans. 


All  beds  should  by  this  lime  have  been  cleared 
of  their  winter  and  spring  plants  and  made  ready 
for  the  summer.  Where  the  summer  plants  are 
to  be  Geraniums,  Stocks,  and  Asters,  or  even 
Fuchsias,  they  can  now  be  put  in  with  comparative 
safety  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  kingdom.  All 
growing  in  pots  should  be  thoroughlj-  well  w-atered 
before  being  planted,  and  where  practicable  a 
depression  should  be  left  around  each  plant  and 
filled  with  water,  and  after  it  has  soaked  away 
cover  in  with  fine  soil.  Plants  are  often  thus 
saved  from  the  effects  of  a  short  drought.  This  is 
a  better  method  of  attaining  this  end  than  of 
watering  the  whole  surface  of  the  beds.  Begonias 
and  plants  used  for  sub-tropical  work  should  now 
be  getting  hardened  off,  and  be  removed  to  their 
summer  quarters.  There  is  no  advantage  in  having 
any  of  these  very  large  when  they  are  planted  out 
(as  the  slightest  wind  isaptto  damage  them)  :  it  is 
well  not  to  force  too  much,  for  they  are  all  the 
better  if  short  and  "  stocky." 

Hu<iii  A.  Petticrew. 

Cas/le  Gardens,  Si.  Fai/ans. 

INDOOR    GARDEN. 

BOROMAS. 
BoRONiAS  that  have  passed  out  of  flower  should  be 
cut  back,  and  as  soon  as  growth  commences  may 
be  repotted,  using  a  har<l  turfy  peat  broken  into 
small  lumps  with  an  admixture  of  charcoal  and 
coarse  sand.  It  is  important  that  the  compost  be 
very  firmly  rammed  and  that  thorough  and  efficient 
drainage  be  afforded. 

Ericas. 
The  soft-wooded  Heaths  should  be  eut  hard 
back,  the  tips  only  of  the  weaker  varieties  bein" 
removed,  while  many  of  the  slow-growing  sorts 
seldom  require  pruning  at  all.  The  same  kind  of 
compost  as  tliat  used  for  Boronias  is  suitable 
for  Heaths.  Tiiey  also  require  the  same  care 
in  potting  and  drainage.  Boronias  and  Ericas 
have  very  delicate  roots,  and  great  care  is  required 
in  watering.  The  plants  must  not  become  dry,  at 
the  same  time  excessive  moisture  at  the  root  is 
as  fatal  as  drought.  Soft  or  rain  water  should 
always  be  used,  for  hard  water  will  soon  injure 
them. 

Coleds  thyksoideus. 

This  is  a  new  plant  with  lovely  blue  flowers, 
and  as  it  blooms  during  winter  for  a  period  of  two 
months  it  is  a  great  ac(iuisition.  Cuttings  may 
be  inserted  singly  in  small  pots  and  placed  in  a 
propagating  frame  with  a  good  heat  where  they 
will  soon  root.  When  rooted  give  more  air  and 
pot  on,  giving  a  liberal  shift  each  time,  using  a 
compost  of  two  par  ts  fibrous  loam,  one  part  leaf  soil, 
and  one  part  dried  cow  manure.  Pinch  several 
times  and  keep  them  near  the  glass  to  secure 
bushy  specimens. 

Kalanchoe  flam.mea 
is  another  valuable  plant  of  recent  introduction. 
Cuttings  may  be  inserted  as  soon  as  shoots  can  be 
obtained,  or  it  may  be  raised  from  seed.  It  is 
most  useful  for  decoration,  with  orange-scarlet 
flowers  carried  well  above  the  foliage.  We  have 
at  the  present  time  in  flower,  in  3-inch  pots,  a  few 
good  plants  grown  from  cuttings.  While  these 
are  growing  thej'  should  be  given  ordinary  stove 
treatment. 

RiCHARDtA   ELLIOTTIANA 
is  now  in  full  growth,  and  may  be  given  occasional 
doses   of  liquid  manure  and  soot  water.     During 
their  flowering  period  place  the  plants  in  the  green- 
house. 

A/.ALEAs,  Ghent  or  Mollis, 
that    have    completed    their    growth    should    be 
gradually  hardened  off  and  placed  out  of  doors  to 
ripen  their  shoots  for  future  flowering.     Frequent 
sj'ringings  should  be  given  them. 

Gloxinias. 
The  early  plants  are  coming  into  flower, 
and,  although  these  refjuire  a  moist  atmosphere 
while  growing,  it  becomes  injurious  when  the 
flowers  begin  to  open.  At  this  period  manure 
water  should  be  discontinued.  Seedlings  may  be 
potted  on  and  placed  in  a  pit  near  the  glass  and 


.May  24,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


347 


carefully  shaded  from  the  sun.     Seeds  sown  now 
will    produce   a    display   about   Christmas.     Sow 
thinly,  slightly  oover  the  seed  with  fine  soil,  and 
place  in  a  warm,  moist  place.       John  Fleming. 
Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Slow/h. 


BOqKS. 

Hints  on  Planting  Roses.— We  have 

received  the  third  edition  of  this  excellent  little 
treatise  upon  Rose  planting.  It  contains  revised 
lists  of  choice  Roses,  and  is  one  of  the  many  useful 
publications  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  being 
written  by  a  committee  of  men  who  know  from 
experience  the  best  ways  of  planting  Roses.  The 
following  Roses  for  exhibition  will  show  the  inten- 
tion of  this  treatise,  which,  although  numbering 
only  fifteen  small  pages,  is  full  of  sound  informa- 
tion. The  following  select  lists  have  been  compiled 
from  returns  recently  sent  in  by  the  leading 
amateur  and  professional  rosarians  of  the  day  : — 
List  of  choice  Roses  for  beginning  a  collection. 
Fifty  Roses  for  exhibition  purposes.  Hybrid 
Perpetuals  and  Hybrid  Teas.  White  —  Bessie 
Brown  (H.T.),  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  (H.T.), 
Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  Margaret  Dickson  ; 
blush,  pale  rose,  or  pink — Mrs.  John  Laing,  La 
France  (H.T.),  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant  (H.T.),  Mrs. 
R.  G.  Sharman-Crawford,  Caroline  lestout  (H.T.), 
Her  Majesty,  Mme.  Gabriel  Luizet,  Killarney 
(H.T.)  ;  medium  red  and  rose — Ulrich  Brunner, 
Suzanne  M.  Rodocanachi,  Marquise  Litta  (H.T. ), 
Gustave  Piganeau,  Dupuj'  Jamain,  Helen  Keller  ; 
crimson — A.  K.  Williams,  Alfred  Colomb,  Captain 
Hayward,  Marie  Baumann,  Comte  de  Raimbaud, 
Duchess  of  Bedford,  Victor  Hugo  ;  dark  crimson 
— Charles  Lefebvre,  Horace  Vernet,  Duke  of 
Wellington,  Prince  Arthur.  Teas  and  Noisettes. 
White  or  cream — White  Maman  Cochet,  The 
Bride,  Muriel  tirahame,  Innocente  Pirola,  Souvenir 
de  S.  A.  Prince,  Souvenir  d'Elise  Vardon  ;  blush, 
pale  rose,  or  pink — Maman  Cochet,  Catherine 
Mermet,  Mrs.  Edward  Mawley,  Bridesmaid, 
Mme.  Cusin,  Mme.  de  Watte\-ille,  Cleopatra, 
Ernest  Metz,  Souvenir  d'un  Ami  ;  yellow,  buff, 
or  orange — Mme.  Hoste,  Marechal  Niel  (N.), 
Comtesse  de  Nadaillac,  Marie  Van  Houtte,  Anna 
Olivier,  Medea.  N.B. — In  the  above  list  of 
•exhibition  Roses,  the  varieties  have  been  arranged 
under  the  diiJerent  colours,  according  to  the 
returns  sent  in,  in  their  order  of  merit,  with  a 
view  to  assist  those  amateurs  who  require  only  a 
small  number  of  sorts. 


OBITUARY. 

MR.  JOHN  WILDER. 

Mr.  Wilder,  who  for  nearly  60  j'ears  had  been 
employed  in  the  Royal  Nurseries,  Slough,  and 
who,  owing  to  the  commencement  of  a  long  and 
painful  illness,  had  to  retire  from  there  a  few  years 
ago,  died  a  few  days  since.  He  was  elected  a 
pensioner  on  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution  at  the  last  election.  His  funeral  was 
attended  by  a  number  of  his  fellow  workmen,  and 
among  the  wreatlis  sent  was  a  lovely  one  bearing 
the  inscription:  "With  sincere  regret  from  H. 
and  A.  Turner  and  relations,"  and  another, 
"  With  sincere  sympathy  from  the  employes  at 
the  Royal  Nurseries,  Slough."  He  leaves  a  widow 
and  grown-up  family. 


SOCIETIES. 

KOYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Notwithstanding  the  proximity  of  the  meeting  on  Tuesday 
last  to  the  great  Temple  Show,  and  also  the  unfavourable 
weather  of  the  past  few  days,  the  Drill  Hall  was  well  filled 
with  choice  exhibits.  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence's  Orchids  were  a 
feature,  as  also  was  the  display  of  Tulips  shown  by  the 
various  firms.  The  Calceolarias  from  Farnham  Royal  also 
deserve  a  word  of  praise  ;  they  were  very  fine  plants. 

The  Fruit  Committee  made  an  award  to  a  new  Peach 
■exhibited  by  Jlessrs.  Rivers,  and  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Eaton  Hall, 
gained  a  similar  honour  for  a  new  Carnation. 
Orchid  Committee. 

Present  :   Messrs.    Harry   J.   Veitch   (chairman),    James 
O'Brien,  de  B.   Crawshay,   H.  M.   Pollett,    H.   Ballantine, 


Walter  Cobb,  James  Douglas,  N.  F.  Bilney,  G.  F.  Moore, 
E.  Hill,  H.  J.  Cliapman,  W.  Boxall,  W.  H.  Young,  W.  H. 
White,  H.  Little,  and  H.  A.  Tracy. 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Buiford,  Dorking,  was  awarded 
the  gold  medal  of  thesociety  for  an  extensive  and  interesting 
display  of  Orchids.  The  plants  were  not  arranged  nearly  so 
thickly  as  is  usually  the  case  at  the  Drill  Hall,  and  therefore 
showed  to  much  better  advantage.  Included  were  Masde- 
vallia  harryana  conchiflora,  M.  ignea,  M.  gairiana,  L.-C. 
Lady  Miller,  (Erides  houlletiana,  Thunia  veitchiana, 
Epidendrum  Schomburgkii,  fine  examples  of  Cattleya  Mossire, 
numerous  Odontoglossums,  notably  O.  mains,  O.  excellens 
variety,  Brassia  brachiata,  Masdevallia  ellisiana,  L. 
Cattleya  Sunrise,  Cattleya  callistoglossa  excelsa,  Epiden- 
drum Endresii,  j^nd  Cypripedium  laurenceanum  Hack- 
bridgensis,  and  others. 

H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,  N.,  exhibited  an  excellent 
miscellaneous  display  of  Orchids,  full  of  bright  and  choice 
plants  in  flower.  Miltonia  vexillaria  varieties  were  very  fine, 
and  C  ittleya  ilossia:,  Odontoglossum  Adrianju  Sceptre, 
Bulbophyllum  x  Lobbi,  C.  callosum  sanderre,  Dendrobium 
citiosmum  album,  &c.,  are  a  few  of  many  others  shown. 
Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  displayed 
a  group  of  Orchids  that  comprised  several  remarkable 
hybrids.  L-Tlia  x  Latona  was  noticeable,  with  Lrelia 
purpurata,  L.-C.  Zephyra,  L.-C.  Ascania,  and  L.-C.  hyeana. 
Cyp.  Vipanii  superbum,  C,  gowerianum  magnificum, 
Oncidiura  sarcodes,  O.  marshallianum  were  also  included. 
Silver  Flora  medal. 

A  gioup  of  Masdevallias  was  shown  by  the  Hon.  Walter 
Rothschild,  Triug  Park  (gardener,  Mr.  AV.  Hill).  Included 
wereM.  Lindeni,  M.  Veitchisuperba,M.  Eckhardtii,  M.  Bella, 
M.  X  Cfiurtauldiana  and  others.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

R.  J.  Measures,  Esq.,  Cambridge  Lodge,  Flodden  Road, 
Camberwell,  S.E.,  showed  a  small  group  of  Orchids  that 
included  Cattleya  Schrodene  in  various  very  good  forms 
(C.  S.  var.  RainbDw  beins  very  pretty),  L;clia  purpurata 
Kromerii,  and  the  type.     Vote  of  thanks. 

Norman  C.  Cookson,  Esq.,  Oakwood,  Wylam-on-Tyne 
(gardener,  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman),  exhibited  a  small  yet  very 
pretty  group  of  ( )rclnds.  The  feature  of  the  group  was  made 
by  the  Phaius  Humblotii  hybrids,  two  of  which  were  recom- 
mended awaids  of  merit.  Several  very  fine  Odontoglossums 
were  also  included.  Notably  fine  was  0.  Adrianio  Cookson 
var.     Silver  Flora  medal. 

A  beautiful  hybrid  L:elia— L.  cinnabrosa  Westfield  var. 
(L.  cinnabarina  x  L.  tenebrosa)  was  shown  by  F.  Wtllesley, 
Esq.,  Westfield,  Woking  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  tiilbert). 

W.  P.  Burkinshaw,  Esq.,  the  West  Hill.  Hessle,  near  Hull, 
showed  Cattleya  Mendelii  leucogloFsa  Hessle  variety. 

Hon.  Walter  Rothschild,  Tring  Park  (gardener,  Mr.  Hill), 
showed  Liclio-Caltleya  x  hyeana. 

De  B.  Crawshay,  Esq.,  Rosefleld,  Sevenoaks,  sent  Odonto- 
glossum crawshayanuni  and  (K  crispuni  Raymond  Crawshay. 

D.  M.  Grimsdale,  Esq.,  Kent  Lodge,  Uxbridge  Gardens 
(gardener,  Mr.  W.  Hooker),  was  given  a  vote  of  thanks  for  a 
small  group  of  Odontoglossums. 

G.  W.  Bird,  Esq.,  Manor  House,  West  Wickham  (gardener, 
Mr.  H.  A\'.  Redden),  also  exhibited  some  very  good  Odonto- 
glossums.    Vote  of  thanks. 

Certificated  Orchids. 

A  first-class  certificate  was  given  to 

Odontoglossoin  Adi iarup  rar,  S]/bil. — A  remarkably  fine 
variety  with  sepals  heavily  blotched  with  chocolate  upon  a 
beautiful  pale  yellow  ground.  The  petals  are  rather  more 
lightly  marked.  Towards  the  centre  of  the  flower  the 
ground  colour  becomes  paler.  Exhibited  by  Captain 
Holford,  C.I.E.,  Westonbirt,  Tetbury. 

The  following  obtained  awards  of  merit  :— 

Odontoglossoin  crispum  Marjorie.  —  A  flower  of  unusual 
shape,  whilst  the  sepals  are  of  almost  normal  form,  the 
petals  are  broad,  flat,  with  the  margin  slijihtly  incurving, 
they  are  spotted  with  chocolate-red  upon  a  white  ground, 
the  markings  being  restricted  to  near  the  margin.  The 
sepals  are  slightly  spotted.  Exhibited  by  R.  Ashworth,  Esq., 
The  Gardens,  Ashlands,  Newchurch,  near  Manchester 
(gardener,  Mr.  Edmund  C.  H.  Pidsley). 

Phaius  X  liuby.  —  The  parents  of  this  hybrid  are  P. 
Cooksoniie  x  Humblotii,  and  the  result  is  a  distinct  and 
pleasing  flower.  The  lip  is  maroon  colour,  and  the  throat 
lined  with  yellow.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  of  a  rather 
lighter  hue  than  the  lip.  Exhibited  by  Norman  C.  Cookson, 
Esq.,  Oakwood,  Wylam-on-Tyoe  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  J. 
Chapman). 

Phaius  Phoebe  superhus.~Ti\e  result  of  a  cross  between 
P.  sanderianus  and  Humblotii.  In  this  flower  the  lip  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  one  just  mentioned,  except  that  the 
markings  in  the  throat  are  white  instead  of  yellow.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  a  lovely  rosy  buft".  From  N.  C. 
Cookson,  Es<|. 

Odontoglossotn  Adriance  {Cooksoiis  var.) — This  is  a  pretty 
variety,  the  flower  being  very  regularly  marked.  The  cream 
ground  colour  of  both  sepals  and  petals  is  heavily  spotted 
with  chocolate-red,  and  the  flower  is  of  beautiful  shape. 
From  Norman  C.  Cookson,  Esq. 

Cypripedium  lawrenceanum  hackbridgcnsis.  — A  splendid 
variety  of  the  well-known  C.  lawrenceanum.  The  dorsal 
sepal  is  marked  with  black-purple  lines  upon  a  light  purple 
ground,  the  margin  is  white,  and  there  is  also  a  tinge  of 
white  in  the  centre.  The  lip  is  reddish  black,  and  the 
petals  are  slightly  more  green.  E.xhibited  by  Sir  Trevor 
Lawrence,  Bart.  {Orchid  grower,  Mr.  White). 

Odontoglossum.  crispum  Lady  of  the  Lake. — This  is  a  very 
attractive  flower,  fairly  large,  bold,  and  of  good  form.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  tapering,  and  each  is  blotched  with 
chocolate-red  near  the  centre,  thus  forming  an  irregular  ring. 
On  the  sepals  also  are  faint  tinges  of  purple.  Exhibited  by 
H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,N.  (gardener,  Mr.  Thurgood). 

Cypripedium  latorenceanum  hackbridgensis  was  also  ex- 
hibited by  H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq. 

Fkpit  Committee. 

Present :  Messrs.  Joseph  Cheal,  Geo.  Woodward.  T.  W. 
Bates,  S.  Mortimer,  Alex.  Dean,  E.  Beckett,  George  Keif, 


Henry  Esling,  Horace.).  Wright,  G.Norman,  J.  Willard,  Geo, 
Thos.  Miles,  and  G.  Reynolds. 

ilessrs.  Thomas  Rivers  and  Son,  Sawbridgeworth,  Herts, 
exhibited  dishes  of  three  new  Peaches,  one  of  which, 
Duke  of  Y^ork,  obtained  an  award  of  merit.  The  others  were 
Duchess  of  Cornwall  and  Prince  Edward.  The  latter  is 
larger  and  more  highly  coloured  than  the  former. 

Messrs.  A.  J.  Thomas,  Rodmersham,  Sittingbourne, 
showed  Apple  Diamond  Jubilee. 

Messrs.  W.  Jewson,  Begdale  Nursery,  Elin,  Wisbech,  sent 
a  dish  of  medium-sized  brightly-coloured  Apples  without 
name. 

A  box  of  excellent  Royal  Sovereign  Strawberries,  grown 
within  two  miles  of  Charing  Cross,  was  shown  by  Miss 
Adamson,  South  Villa,  Regents  Park  (gardener,  Mr.  G. 
Keif).     Cultural  commendation. 

Some  splendid  examples  of  Cardinal  Nectarine,  grown 
from  trees  in  pots,  were  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Rivers  and 
Sons,  Sawbridgeworth.     Cultural  commendal-ion. 

Fruits  of  Cardinal  Nectarine  from  pot  trees  were  also 
finely  shown  by  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  Gunnersbury 
(gardener,  Mr.  J.  Hudson).     Cultural  commendation. 

New  Fruit. 

Peach  Duke  of  York.—A  fruit  of  medium  size  and  delicate 
appearance  that  is  coloured  on  the  sunny  side  to  a  rosy  red, 
whereon  are  discernible  spots  of  a  deeper  colour.  The  apex 
of  the  fruit  is  pointed,  and  the  flavour  for  so  early  avariety 
is  excellent.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  Thomas  Rivers  and  Son, 
Sawbridgeworth.    Award  of  merit. 

Floral  Committee. 

Present  :  Mr.  W.  Marshall  (chairman),  Messrs.  C.  T. 
Druery,  Geo.  Nicholson,  James  Hudson,  C.  R.  Fielder, 
R.  W.  Wallace,  Chas.  Jettries,  F.  Page  Roberts,  Herbert  J. 
Cutbush,  N.  F.  Barnes,  Chas.  E.  Pearson,  Chas  E.  Shea, 
W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  W.  J.  James,  C.  Blick, 
W.  Howe,  Chas.  Dixon,  George  Gordon,  and  John  Jennings. 

Messrs.  Wm.  Cutbush  and  Son,  Highgate,  N.,  had  a  display 
of  the  double  forms  of  Ghent  Azaleas  in  white,  pink,  and 
yellow  shades  of  these  charming  flowers  flanking  the  ends  of 
a  fine  central  group  of  the  golden  Calla,  C.  elliottiana,  a 
nice  batch  of  plants,  several  dozens  in  all.  These  were 
accompanied  by  abackground  of  Lilium  longiflorum  towering 
well  above  the  other  plants  named.  Palms  and  other  things 
were  pleasing  in  their  abundant  greenery.  Silver  Bank- 
sian  medal. 

Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Limited,  Feltham,  showed  one  of 
their  interesting  gatherings  of  hardy  flowers,  alpiues,  and 
other  allied  subjects.  In  these  we  noted  a  good  assortment 
of  Primula  Sieboldi,  while  other  Primulas  were  represented 
by  P.  capitata,  P.  involucrata,  &c.  Hardy  Cypripediums 
were  also  well  to  the  fore,  C.  Calceolus,  C.  pubescens,  among 
others,  being  well  shown.  A  feature  in  this  group  were  the 
Oncocyclus  Irises  and  their  near  allies— a  representative  lot, 
including  I.  lupina,  the  very  rare  I.  douglasiana,  with 
creamy  rose-veined  flowers  ;  I.  Barnum;c,  a  purplish  crimson, 
with  highly  fragrant  flowers ;  I.  susiana,  I.  Korolkowi,  &c. 
Among  miscellaneous  things,  Mola  pedata  bicolor,  Achillea 
argentea,  Aquilegia  glandulosa,  (Fnothera  speciosa  rosea, 
Polemonium  confertum,  Ramondia  serbica,  Saxifraga 
aretioides.  Primula  japonica  alba,  and  Gentiana  verna  were 
the  most  noticeable.  Quite  an  exceptional  plant  and  well 
shown  was  Ourisia  coccinea,  a  rarely-seen  plant,  with 
vermilion-scarlet  flowers  on  stems  12  inches  high.  Alpine 
Phloxes,  Tree  Pa:;onies,  and  other  interesting  and  showy 
things  completed  this  group.    Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  Crawley,  again  showed  cut 
specimens  of  flowering  shrubs,  full  of  interest  even  from 
their  great  variety  at  this  season.  Of  the  more  showy, 
Exochorda  grandifiora,  various  Pyruses,  hardy  Heaths, 
Berberls  vulgaris  purpurea.  Ledum  latifoliuni,  white; 
Akebia  quinata,  Berberis  steuophylla,  rich  golden  flowers  in 
long  sprays ;  various  Cerasuses,  Lilacs,  and  other  plants 
whose  foliage  is  now  a  feature  in  the  landscape.  Bronze 
Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  Hogg  and  Robertson,  St.  Mary's  Street,  Dublin, 
set  up  a  fine  lot  of  Tulips,  Darwin,  Parrot,  cottage,  and 
other  kinds  being  disposed  in  large  bunches.  In  the  Darwin 
kinds,  The  Sultan,  Gustave  Dore,  rose  ;  Mrs.  Cleveland,  rosy 
buff;  Early  Dawn,  clear  rose;  Rev.  H.  Ewbank,  purplish 
puce ;  Nezza,  white  and  blush ;  La  Candeur,  white  and 
yellow ;  Perfection,  the  yellowest  of  Darwins ;  Turenne, 
purple,  edged  gold  ;  Edouard  Andre,  satin-puce  and  lilac, 
extra  fine  ;  Millet,  flne  crimson  self,  with  black  base  ;  these, 
with  Phyllis,  nearly  white,  being  among  the  best  of  this 
section.  In  th&  Gesner  kinds,  Leghorn  Bonnet  is  a  most 
striking  Tulip,  the  Leghorn-yellow  band  on  the  outer  petal 
showing  to  advantage. 

Mr.  E.  Potten,  Cranbrook,  Kent,  showed  such  hardy 
flowers  as  border  Auriculas,  TroUius  europieus,  Spira?a 
chama?drifolia,  the  latter  having  long  sprays  of  miniature 
white  flowers  in  great  quantity.  A  new  climbing  Rose 
Dorothy  Perkins  is  described  with  the  novelties. 

Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  Wisbech,  also  showed  Tulips 
in  several  sections,  Gesner's  and  Darwin  with  Parrot  kinds 
largely  predominating.  In  the  Darwins  May  Queen  and 
Clara  Butt  were  very  fine.  The  beautiful  yellow  Tulip 
vitellina  was  largely  shown,  as  also  were  Bouton  d  Or  and 
Euterpe,  The  Sultan,  and  Flambeau,  the  latter  trio  being  of 
the  self  or  Darwin  class.  These  flowers  were  shown  in 
capital  form,  and  elicited  much  praise  for  their  purity  of 
tone  and  freshness. 

Messrs.  J.  James  and  Son,  Farnham  Royal,  staged  a  superb 
lot  of  their  strain  of  Calceolarias,  the  plants  splendidly 
flowered  and  iu  great  variety  of  colour.  Not  a  few  of  the 
plants  were  perfect  examples  of  the  cultivator's  art,  and 
were  upwards  of  2  feet  across,  the  flowers  being  of  the  finest 
description  and  the  dwarf,  compact  plants  generally  of 
much  excellence.    Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal. 

Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea,  also 
showed  Tulips  in  great  variety  and  in  all  the  sections  now 
in  bloom.  Apart  from  many  of  the  Gesner,  Darwin,  and 
Parrot  kinds,  we  noted  such  worthy  species  as  retroflexa, 
Greigi,  and  ostrowskyana,  the  latter  a  richly  coloured  sort, 
very  dazzling  in  full  sunlight. 


348 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  24.  1902. 


Ill  the  self-coloured  class,  Yellow  t^ueen,  Uucephalus, 
Lawrence,  Yiolet  (^ueen,  Bouton  d'Or,  always  a  striking 
plant  among  late  kinds ;  Propalto,  amaranth  crimson ; 
Judith,  rosy  puce  ;  Brunette,  together  with  a  great  mass  of 
the  typical  gesneriana  in  the  centre.  This  is  still  a  worthy 
and  valuable  kind  for  the  garden,  bold  and  telling  to  adeairee. 

Jlr.  'M.  Pricliard,  C'hristchurch,  Hants,  brought  a  fine 
display  of  good  hardy  flowers,  in  which  we  noted  various 
Irises  of  the  germanica  type,  single  Pjeonies,  the  beautifui 
Pyrethruni  roseura,  several  TroUiouses,  Ranunculus  aconiti- 
folus  pi.,  perennial  Cornflowers  in  variety,  Phlox  canadensis, 
Scilla  nutans  losea,  very  tine  ;  Linnm  perenne,  .Saxifraga 
Wallace!,  very  fine  ;  8.  macnabiana,  a  striking  plant  heavily 
dotted  with  crimson;  Thermopsis  montana.  Camassia 
Leichtlini,  a  soft  blue  form  of  some  merit  ;  Lathyrus 
Sibthorpii,  with  rosy  flowers:  Alyssum  saxatile  H.-pl.  ; 
Saxifraga  granulata  plena,  a  good  old  plant  with  double 
white  flowers,  and  others.  Poppies  and  Tulips  were  also 
most  showy  in  this  excellent  lot  of  material ;  the  alpine 
Poppies,  Papaver  alpinum  and  others,  were  also  very 
charming.  A  few  flowering  shrubs  such  as  C'ytissus  and 
others  were  also  in  evidence,  Cytisus  purpureua  incarnatus 
being  marked  as  very  free  and  suited  to  rock  work.  Silver 
Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  O.  Stark  and  Son,  Great  Ryburgh,  Norfolk,  showed 
in  good  condition  Yiola  Hoyal  Sovereign,  a  good  self-yellow 
and  (juite  rayless.  The  variety  is  evidently  very  free  in  its 
flowering  and  of  excellent  colour.  The  individual  flowers, 
too,  are  of  large  size.     It  promises  to  be  a  useful  kind. 

Jlessrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  were  well  to  the 
fore  with  a  grand  lot  of  Tulips,  the  exhibit  being  especially 
strong  in  Darwin  kinds,  of  which  a  magnificent  group  was 
set  up.  Of  these  some  of  the  more  imposing  were  Firebrand, 
Rev.  Eivbank,  The  Sultan,  Aurora,  (^leen  of  Roses,  Clara 
Butt,  King  Harold,  Ant  Rnozen,  Glow,  Pride  of  Haarlem, 
Phyllis,  Peter  Barr,  Cotinette,  The  Shah,  Loveliness,  May 
Queen,  Hecla,  and  many  more,  quite  a  feast  of  these  flowers 
alone.  In  addition,  there  was  a  nice  group  of  English 
Tulips,  the  flaked  and  striped  kinds  so  much  admired  by 
florists,  while  the  Parrot  and  other  late  cottage  or  May- 
flowering  kinds  completed  a  very  rich  display  of  these 
showy  (lowers.  A  form  of  T.  gesneriaiia  called  Scarlet 
Emperor  obtained  the  award  of  merit,  while  among  other 
novelties  were  La  Merveille,  Queen  Alexandra,  bright 
yellow;  The  Fawn,  Goldfiiider,  Ariadne,  a  freckled  flower; 
and  Marjolette,  like  a  small  BiUetiana  in  shape.  Aximeiisis 
is  another  striking  kind,  but  hardly  surticiently  open  to  see 
its  full  beauty. 

\  few  good  kinds  of  May-flowering  Tulips  came  from 
Messrs.  W.  T.  Ware,  Bath.  In  these  we  noted  Red  Dragon, 
Inglescombe  Scarlet,  Coronation  Scarlet,  a  pair  of  intensely 
crimson-scarlet  flowers,  each  with  a  black  base  ;  .\urora,  a 
golden-orange,  with  salmon,  and  Yellow  Gem  are  also  of 
much  merit.  Innovation,  a  purplish  crimson  and  cream, 
with  flowers  of  great  size,  obtained  the  award  of  merit.  It 
is  quite  a  giant  in  its  way. 

Mr.  John  Russell,  Richmond,  showed  a  semi-circular 
group  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  in  variety,  such  plants 
as  Pandanus,  Begonias  of  the  Rex  section,  Crotons,  Cala- 
diums,  Drac;enas,  several  species  of  Aralta,  with  Palms, 
Alocasias,  Cissus  discolor,  and  variegated  Abutilons  figuring 
in  the  arrangement.    Bronze  Banksian  medal. 

Pelargonium  Caroline  Schmidt,  a  bedding  kind  with 
scarlet  flowers  and  silvery  foliage,  was  shown  by  Messrs. 
Cutbush  and  Son,  Highgate.  Malmaison  Carnation  Queen 
Alexandra,  a  creamy  white  kind,  came  from  Messrs.  R.  and 
G.  Cuthbert,  Southgate,  Middlesex. 

Messrs.  B.  Cant  and  Sons,  Colchester,  had  a  flue  display  of 
pot  Roses,  a  charming  group,  that  attracted  a  good  deal  of 
attention.  Some  of  the  best  kinds  were  Margaret  Dickson, 
Mrs.  Cocker,  pink  ;  Fisher  Holmes,  Hon.  Mrs.  Sharman 
Crawford,  La  France,  W.  A.  Richardson,  Chas.  Lefebvre, 
very  dark  ;  Ben  Cant,  crimson  ;  Mme.  Hoste,  yellowy  cream, 
splendid  flowers  both  on  standards  and  dwarfs;  Captain 
Hayward,  Baroness  Rothschild,  and  Mrs.  John  Laing.  The 
copper  and  yellow  Austrian  Briars  were  also  shown  in  good 
bloom.    .Silver  Flora  medal. 

Messrs.  W.  Paul  and  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  also  had  a  fine 
display  of  Roses  in  pots,  many  of  the  plants  of  large  size. 
Of  these  we  noted  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  Enchantress.  La 
Rosicre,  May  Queen,  Grace  Darling,  Mme.  Moreau,  Gloire 
Lyonnaise,  pure  white ;  Duchess  of  Albany,  Soleil  d'Or, 
Griiss  an  Teplitz,  shown  as  a  climber,  and  very  freely 
flowered  ;  Emperor,  very  dark ;  Climbing  Belle  .Siebrecht, 
with  splendid  flowers,  being  of  the  best.  Bronze  Banksian 
medal. 

List  of  Awards. 

-Awards  of  merit  were  given  to  :— 

Carnation  Di'cfwss  of  Westminster. — A  grand  flower  of  the 
Malmaison  type.  The  colour  is  a  full  pink,  with  salmon 
shades  on  the  inner  surfaces  of  the  petals.  The  variety  is 
strongly  fragrant,  and  may  certainly  be  classed  as  one  of  the 
best  additions  to  this  group  for  many  a  day.  Shown  by  the 
Duke  of  Westminster,  Eaton  Hall,  (.'hester  (gardener,  Mr. 
N.  F.  Barnes). 

Iris  Barnitnuf. — A  dwarf  member  of  the  Oncocyclus  group, 
with  almost  self  purple  flowers.  It  is  fragrant  at  certain 
stages,  and  the  species  is  one  of  the  hardiest.  From 
Messrs.  T.  S.  ^A'are,  Limited,  Feltham. 

Narcissus  Aff7ies  Harrey,  evidently  a  seedling  from  N. 
triandrus.  The  flowers  are  white  and  from  one  to  three  in 
a  scape,  the  short  cup  being  well  expanded  at  the  rim.  A 
curious  feature  is  the  yellowing  of  the  tube  in  nearly  all  the 
flowers.    Shown  by  Miss  Spurrell,  Hanworth,  Norwich. 

Tiiliit  Iniioration.—A  flower  of  great  size,  even  among 
Tulips.  The  colour  is  purplish  crimson  and  cream,  with 
occasional  spots  of  the  former  on  a  creamy  ground.  Shown 
by  Messrs.  W.  T.  Ware,  Limited,  Bath. 

Tulip  .'icarlet  Kmperor. — A  large  May-flowering  kind  of  an 
intense  crimson-scarlet,  with  yellow  base.  .\  most  striking 
flower.     Shown  by  ileasrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent  Garden. 

iiosc  Dorotlni  Perkin.^  (Climber).  —  A  charming  new 
climber,  allied  to  wichuriana.  It  is  evidently  a  remarkably 
free-flowering  kind,  the  flowers  appearing  in  trusses  after 
the  Rambler  class,  while  the  soft  pink  colour  will  doubtless 


appeal  to  all  lovers  of  good  climbers.     Shown   by  Mr.  E. 
Potten,  Cranbrook,  Kent. 

List  of  Medals. 

Silver-gilt  Banksian.  — Messrs.  J.  James  and  Son,  Farnham 
Royal,  Slough,  for  group  of  Calceolarias. 

Silver  Flora.— Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons,  Colchester,  for 
group  of  Roses  in  pots  ;  Jlr.  M.  Prichard,  Christchurch, 
Hants,  for  group  of  hardy  flovi-ers. 

Silver  Banksian.  — Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Son,  Highgate,  N., 
for  group  of  Richardias  and  Liliums. 

Bronze  Banksian  —-Mr.  J.  Russell,  Richmond,  Surrey,  for 
group  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  ;  Messrs.  W.  Paul  and 
Son,  Waltham  Cross,  N.,  for  group  of  pot  Roses  ;  Messrs. 
T.  S.  Ware,  Limited,  Feltham.  for  group  of  hardy  flowers. 

Bronze  Flora.— Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Son,  Crawley,  Sussex, 
for  group  of  sprays  of  hardy  trees  and  shrubs. 
The  Lectike. 

A  most  interesting  and  instructive  lecture  upon  the  origin, 
properties,  and  classiflcation  of  the  English  Tulip  was  given  by 
Mr.  A.  D.  Hall,  until  recently  Principal  of  the  Agricultural 
College,Wye,andnowat  Rothamstead.  The  lecturer  said  that 
in  16:i>l  the  Tulip  was  brought  by  Gesuer  to  the  gardens  of 
Western  Europe,  and  previous  to  that  period  there  was  not 
much  recorded  history  concerning  it.  Tiilipa  gesneriana 
was  purely  a  garden  variety,  and,  as  to  the  original  species, 
whence  the  florists'  Tulip  had  developed  they  were  quite  in 
the  dark.  In  the  eighteenth  century  the  Tulip  became 
popular  in  England,  and  early  in  the  last  century  a  number 
of  London  florists  were  working  at  the  improvement  of  the 
English  Tulip.  In  the  sixties  anil  seventies  it  leached  its 
maximum  popularity.  Mr.  Hall  then  emphasised  the 
distinguishing  characters  of  the  English  Tulip.  First,  the 
flower  must  be  pure— there  must  be  no  speck  or  tinge 
of  colour  at  the  base.  If  a  white  flower  then  it  should  have 
a  white  ground  ;  if  a  bizarre  then  the  base  should  be  wholly 
yellow.  Secondly,  it  must  be  cup-shaped,  the  petals  must  be 
broad  and  rounded,  not  pointed  at  the  tip.  Thirdly,  as  to 
the  markings— these  should  be  repealed  with  exactitude 
upon  each  petal.  The  contention  of  those  who  despise 
florists'  flowers,  by  reason  of  their  set  rules  of  shape, 
markings,  Ac.  was  then  discussed,  and  the  lecturer  said 
that  the  criterion  of  the  florists'  Tulip  of  to-day  was  a- 
tradition,  for  florists  had  aimed  to  pnjduce  what  in  their 
experience  was  calculated  to  bring  out  the  highest  points  of 
excellence. 

With  regard  to  classification  the  English  Tulip  is  divided 
into  white  grounds,  and  yellow  grounds  known  as  bizarres. 
The  white  grounds  were  again  sub-divided  into  those  with 
rose,  and  those  with  purple  or  violet  markings  on  the 
petals.  Another  curious  division  was  the  breeder  Tulip, 
which  term  is  applied  to  the  seedling  flower  liefore  it  has 
conmienced  to  break  away  from  the  self  colour.  Sometimes, 
said  -Mr.  Hall,  it  will  be  ten  or  more  years  before  breeder 
Tulips  will  develop  markings.  Flowers  with  markings  are 
divided  into  feathered  and  flamed  varieties,  according  as 
they  are  marked  round  the  edge  of  the  petals  only  or  down 
the  centre  Many  useful  cultural  hints  were  also  given, 
chief  of  which  were:  Do  not  protect  the  plants  during 
winter,  give  them  an  open  border  and  poor  soil,  but  protect 
them  from  severe  weather  when  the  buds  are  unfolding. 
The  English  Tulip  also  does  remarkably  well  in  the  smoky 
suburbs  of  large  towns.  The  lecturer  concluded  by  saying 
he  knew  of  no  flower  whose  culture  could  be  more  strongly 
recommended  to  the  amateur  who  cared  for  a  flower  for  its 
own  sake.  A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer 
brought  the  meeting  to  a  close,  the  chairman  (Mr.  George 
Gordon)  remarking  that  a  few  similar  lectures  would  do  much 
towards  making  the  English  Tulip  again  as  popular  as  it  was 
thirty  or  forty  years  ago. 


MANCHESTER  ROYAL  BOTANICAL  AND 
HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
The  gardens  of  this  society  at  Old  Traftord  again  attracted 
lovers  of  horticulture  from  far  and  near  from  May  17  to  '22. 
T1ie  exhibits  this  year  showed  a  decided  falling  ott' ;  possibly 
this  may  be  attributed  U>  the  late  cold  season  and  that 
Whitsuntide  was  rather  early.  Although  it  is  far  more 
pleasant  to  write  of  an  increased  i|uantity,  this  is  not  so 
important  as  quality,  and  on  this  occasion  Mr.  P.  Weathers, 
the  able  curator,  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  high 
quality  of  material  that  has  been  staged  in  reply  to  his 
invitation.  Amongst  novelties  the  fine  collections  of  late 
flowering  Tulips  stood  out  most  prominently,  and  were  very 
much  admired. 

ORCHins. 

As  usual  these  formed  the  most  attractive  section  of  the 
show,  and  the  quality  throughout  was  of  a  very  high  order. 

For  the  best  amateurs  collection  in  bloom,  E.  Ashcroft, 
Es<|.  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  Holbrook),  Wilmslow.  gained  chief 
honours  with  a  well  grown  lot,  in  which  Miltoiiias,  Odonto- 
glossums,  and  Dendrobium  Yictoria  Regina  appeared  to 
advantage.  W.  Duckworth,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  H.Tindall), 
Flexton,  and  W.  E.  Watson,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  E.  Thomp- 
son), Stretford,  were  placed  as  named. 

For  the  best  collection  for  nurserymen,  Mr.  J.  Cypher,  as 
usual,  staged  the  premier  collection  with  a  very  fine  bank, 
in  which  Odontoglossum  crispum  in  variety  proved  highly 
effective  amongst  many  other  noteworthy  plants,  such  as 
Liclia  digbyana,  Cypripedium  niveum,  Ac. 

For  the  best  collection  of  Cattleyas  and  L;clias,  the 
Cheltenham  Arm  again  was  first,  the  pick  of  a  good  lot  being 
Cattleyas  Mendelii,  Skinnerii,  and  citrina  ;  Lielias  russelliana, 
purpurata  magnifica,  Ac. 

.For  a  collection  of  Odontoglossums,  Mr.  John  Robson, 
Altrincham,  was  awarded  second  prize. 

For  ten  Orchids  in  bloom,  Mr.  Cypher  was  in  his  accus- 
tomed position  with  fine  plants  of  Lielia  purpurata,  L.  p. 
Williamsii,  Cattleya  Skinnerii  oculata,  Cypripedium 
villosum,  Odontoglossum  crispum,  Oncidium  marshallianum, 
Dendrobium  nobile.  D.  n.  majus.  Jlr.  J.  Robson  third. 
Miscellaneous  Plants. 

The  best  local  group  was  from  James  Brown,  Esq. 
(gardener,  Mr.  J.  Smith),  Heaton  Jlersey,  who  won  with  a 
pleasing  arrangement  in  which  Deutzias,  Caladiums,  and 


Rose  Crimson  Rambler  in  arches  proved  highly  I'leasing 
For  ten  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  Mr.  Cypher  was 
again  to  the  fore  with  well  flowered  plants  of  Pimelea 
Hendersonii,  Anthurium  schertzeiianum,  Clerodendrott 
Balfourii,  Hederoma  tulipifera,  Ac. 

The  groups  at  this  show  are  always  excellent,  and  this 
season  they  were  fully  as  good  as  usual.  In  the  amateurs' 
class  for  a  group  not  less  than  2i:iO  feet  square,  Watson 
Baxter,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  F.  Jonison),  Bowdon,  was  a  good 
first,  using  soft  wooded  flowering  plants  with  a  few  Lselias 
to  advantage.  Palms  were  extensively  used  also.  Mr  B 
Upjohn,  Worsley  Hall,  was  second,  in  which  light  coloiirei 
Rhododendrons  were  prominent.  Thomas  Barker,  Esq  (o-ar- 
Oener,  Mr.  Thomas  Mulloy)was  a  good  third. 

In  the  nurserymen  class  for  a  group  not  less  than  :ino  feet 
square,  Messrs.  E.  P.  Ker  and  Sons,  Liverpool,  gained  chief 
honours  with  a  combination  alike  creditable  to  the  designer 
and  inteiesting  to  the  visitor.  Palms  and  Bamboos  broke 
up  a  groundwork  in  which  foliage  Begonias,  Anthuriums  in 
the  newer  varieties,  Crotons,  Caladiums,  Ac,  were  most 
eftective. 

For  six   fine    foliage  plants  (amateurs),  J.    Lamb     Esq 
(gardener,  Mr.  S.  Yickers),  Bowdon,  and  W.  Baxter,  Esq    wai 
second  and  third.  \^/ 

Kor  a  collection  of  Roses,  J.  Brown,  Esq.,  was  well  ahead 
with  plants  of  clean  foliage  and  good  blooms ;  T.  Harker 
Esq.,  followed.  ' 

For  a  collection  of  hardy  heibaceous  and  alpine  plant* 
(amateurs),  J.  Lamb,  Esq.,  was  first  with  an  e\cellent  lot 
For  not  less  than  twelve,  Messrs.  John  Thorley  and  J  W 
Thorley  were  first  and  second. 

In  the  nurserymen's  class,  Mr.  W.  H.  Thorley,Chorlton-cum- 
Hardy,  won  with  a  good  display,  Mr.  J.  Derbyshire  second 

Six  hardy  Ferns  (amateurs),  ,1.  Laiub,  Esq.,  was  to  the 
fore  with  fresh  plants  ;  Messrs.  T.  Harker  and  G.  Hodder 
followed  as  named. 

Collection  of  Amaryllis  :  Messis.  Ker  secured  the  gold 
medal  with  a  grand  lot,  in  which  substance  and  form  were 
remarkable. 

GoLii  jMehals. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  fully 
deserved  this  honour  for  a  grand  display,  in  which  (idonto- 
glossum  crispum  was  noticeable  for  fine  spikes  and  high 
quality. 

Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  for  a  table  of 
miscellaneous  plants  of  Ericas,  .Schizanthus  in  variety 
Carnations,  and  Orchids,  including  large  masses  of  Cattleya 
Skinnerii.  ^ 

Messrs.  John  Cowan  and  Co.,  Gateacre,  for  a  group  of 
Orchids,  Odontoglossum  wilkeauum  King  of  Spain  bein" 
excellent.  '' 

Silver  Medals. 

Messrs.  Dickson  and  Robinson,  Manchester,  for  a  large 
array  of  Darwin  and  May  flowering  Tulips. 

Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  London,  for  a  similar  beautiful 
display  staged  in  bank  form. 

Jlessrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  Belfast,  for  a  very  fine  lot 
showing  splendid  culture,  the  flowers  being  very  large  ' 

Messrs.  John  Waterer  and  Sons,  Bagshot,  for  group  of 
hardy  Rhododendrons,  in  which  Pink  Pearl,  with  its  lar»e 
handsome  trusses,  was  most  distinct.  "^ 

First-class  Certificates. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  for  Odontoglossum  Pesca- 
torei  Charlesworthi,  a  very  fine  form  with  violet  spots  - 
o.  Halli  Heatonense,  La?lio  -  Cattleya  Major-General  Baden- 
Powell,  and  Odontoglossum  crispum  CJIadys. 

E.  Ashcroft,  Esii.,  for  Cattleya  Skinnerii  E.  Ashworth  and 
Cypripedium  Mrs.  A.  W.  Sutton. 

J.  Cypher,  Esq.,  for  Cattleya  ilendelii  superbissiraa. 
Dendrobium  nobile  virginale. 

Messrs.  Sander  and  Co.  for  Odontoglossum  andreanum 
geramatum,  Anthurium  schertzianum  E.  Eogerson. 

Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  and  Sons  for  Amaryllis  Lady  Rose 
Molyneux,  Goliath,  and  Magniflcent. 

.\\vard  of  JIerit. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  for  La;lio-Cattleya  G.  S.  Ballauperba, 
L.-C.  Highbury  ense  nobilior. 

Messrs.  Sander  contributed  a  table  of  Anthuriums  and 
Orchids,  many  of  the  former  being  of  flue  form  and  colour. 

Misses  Hopkins  had  a  small  collection  of  alpines,  and  a 
large  display  of  horticultural  reciuisites  and  garden  novelties 
were  displayed  on  the  lawn. 

The  adjudicators  were  Mr.  P.  Blair,  Trentham  ;  Mr.  N.  F. 
Barnes,  Eaton  Hall ;  Mr.  W.  Stevens,  Stone  ;  and  Mr.  W. 
H.  Young,  East  Sheen.  .\s  usual  Mr.  P.  Weathers,  curatorl 
and  his  eflicient  staft'  carried  out  the  arrangements  in  the 
most  creditable  manner. 


EAST  ANGLIAN  HORTICULTURAL  CLUB. 
The  May  meeting  of  this  club,  held  at  Norwich,  was  well 
attended,  Mr.  J.  Powley  and  Mr.  T.  B.  Field  occupying  the 
chair  and  vice-chair  respectively.  .^  well-written  essay  by 
Mr.  Field  was  read,  entitled  "  How  to  grow  Tomatoes  inside 
and  outside."  The  subject  gave  scope  for  an  animated  dis- 
cussion, especially  the  points  relating  to  the  length  of  time 
of  securing  ripened  fruits  from  date  of  seed  sowing  and  to 
the  proper  class  for  exhibiting  the  Tomato.  On  this  latter 
point  much  interest  was  taken,  one  speaker  stating  that  he 
was  quite  recently  ousted  from  a  first  prize  by  Tomatoes 
overruling  a  bunch  of  Asparagus.  Of  course,  as  was  cleaily 
defined  by  Mr.  E.  Peake,  botanically  it  could  be  nothing 
else  but  a  fruit,  but  then  since  it  did  not  commend  itself  to 
the  palate  unaided  it  was  perhaps  better  classed  as  a  vege- 
table. Against  this  a  member  said  a  large  percentage  of  t°he 
fruits  were  eaten  as  grown  raw,  the  same  as  a  Melon.  The 
pros  and  cons  were  still  being  advanced  when  the  closure  had 
to  be  applied,  leaving  the  subject  still  open.  There  was  a 
charming  exhibition  of  flowering  plants,  cut  Bowers  and 
Asparagus.  Mr.  E.  Peake  brought  a  splendid  plant  of 
Ramondia  pyrenaica,  which,  with  its  perfect  roseate  of 
foliage  and  dainty  bluish  blooms,  was  much  admired.  Mr. 
T.  B.  Field  had  a  grand  bunch  of  Marechel  Kiel  Roses,  rich 
in  coloui,  brought  to  demonstrate  the  vigour  of  a  tree  over 
twenty  years  old,  mentioned  in  a  paper  some   ime  ago. 


GARDEN 


—^^- 


, m, 


No.  1593.— Vol.  LXL] 


[May  31,  1902. 


THE    TEMPLE    SHOW. 

IN  brilliant  sunshine  the  annual  exhibition 
of  the  lloyal  Horticultural  Society- 
opened  in  the  peaceful  grounds  of  the 
Inner  Temple  on  Wednesday  last,  and 
once  again  the  tents  were  filled  with 
flowers  of  all  kinds,  from  Orchids  to  hardy 
plants,  fresh  and  interesting  in  their  variety  in 
spite  of  a  spring  that,  until  the  eve  of  the 
show,  had  forgotten  its  name. 

A  week  ago  a  cold  north-easterly  wind  and 
drenching  rains  swept  across  our  gardens, 
blighting  the  early  crops,  punishing  the 
flowers,  and  spreading  disaster  in  many 
districts,  with,  unfortunately,  permanent 
results.  But  its  traces  were  not  evident  to 
the  casual  visitor  at  this  three  days'  repre- 
sentation of  floricultural  pursuits  in  England, 
although  we  missed  many  familiar  displays, 
partly  for  the  reason  that  the  weather  had 
upset  all  the  intending  exhibitors'  calculations, 
and  in  one  or  two  instances  the  reijuired 
extent  of  space  covered  could  not  be  given  to 
provide  an  adequate  representation  of  those 
exhibits  we  have  regarded  as  amongst  the 
most  delightful  in  the  show. 

But  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is 
helpless.  The  Benchers  of  the  Inner  Temple, 
who  so  kindly  permit  their  grounds  to  be  used 
for  this  show— a  compliment  now  extended  to 
the  National  Rose  Society — will  not  allow  more 
accommodation  than  existed  when  the  first 
exhibition  was  held  years  ago,  and  thus  many 
excellent  displays  are  unavoidably  squeezed 
out  or  shorn  of  much  of  their  former  splendour. 
Our  report  shows  that  the  usual  features 
were  provided,  and  the  truth  is  one  Temple 
show  is  a  reflection  of  the  other,  for  the  good 
reason  there  is  small  opportunity  for  beautiful 
grouping  ;  but  the  keen  lover  of  hardy  flowers, 
of  trees  and  shrubs,  of  Roses,  of  Orchids,  or 
of  pot  fruit  trees  looks  forward  to  the  Temple 
show  as  a  time  of  taking  notes,  of  journeying 
from  the  country  garden  to  see  the  treasures 
there  collected  and  generally  displayed  to 
conspicuous  advantage. 

The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  becoming 
a  power  in  the  land.  It  has  fought  a  stern 
battle  against  procedures  as  old-fashioned  as 
the  gardening  of  the  early  Victorian  era,  and 
is  winning  recruits  determined  to  make  horti- 
culture one  of  the  most  important  industries 
of  the  United  Kingdom,  whilst  we  are  not 
forgetful  of  its  beneficent  influence  in  the 
quieter  pursuit  of  gardening  that  concerns 
the   private    domain.     It    is    entering   upon 


an  interesting  era  in  its  history,  an  era  repre- 
sented, we  hope,  by  the  Hall,  which  the  Council 
has  pledged  itself  to  erect  as  a  memorial  of  the 
centenary,  and  therefore  the  exhibition  that 
has  just  closed  was  of  greater  interest  to  the 
thousands  of  well-wishers  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  than  even  its  predecessors. 

We  have  had  occasion  to  congratulate  the 
secretary  more  than  once  upon  the  1  irilliant  dis- 
plays in  the  Temple  Gardens,  and  we  do  so  again 
as  heartily,  perhaps  more  so,  than  before,  and  in 
doing  so  are  mindful  of  his  excellent  assistants 
who  loyally  work  in  everything  that  concerns 
the  Society  to  make  it  stronger  and  more 
popular  as  the  hundredth  anniversary  ap- 
proaches. The  Council  and  all  concerned  have 
no  reason  to  fear  the  success  of  the  Hall  when 
such  interested  crowds  pour  into  the  tents  as 
were  seen  during  the  present  week. 

To  write  more  is  only  to  repeat  what  has 
already  been  recorded  on  previous  occasions. 
The  Temple  show  of  the  Coronation  year  will 
remain  a  pleasant  memory ;  it  was  a  beautiful 
and  interesting  exhibition,  but  was  somewhat 
marred  by  heavy  rains  during  the  first  afternoon. 

The  King  and  Queen,  accompanied  by 
H.R.H.  Princess  Victoria,  paid  a  private  visit 
on  Wednesday  morning. 


RAISER   AND    WHINNER. 

On  first-class  certificates  I  would  here  ventilate 
a  question  concerning  seedlings  of  our  classical 
florist  flowers,  whether  when  ofiered  for  such 
distinction,  oron  having  it  conferred  upon  them. 
In  the  language  of  the  conventional  legal 
illustration  of  "  Doe  and  Roe  "  or  the  equally 
supposititious  parallel  "  M.  or  N.,"  I  hold 
that  if  floricultural  Doe  raises  a  seedling, 
which  he  privately  entrusts  to  cultural  Roe, 
and  Roe  wins  a  first-class  certificate  with  it, 
then  Roe  should  lie  careful  that,  along  with  his 
name  as  winner,  there  should  equally  go  the 
name  of  Doe  as  the  raiser.  Otherwise  there  is 
nothing  to  show  that  Roe  is  not  entitled  to  be 
reckoned  as  both  winner  and  raiser.  In  fact, 
the  inference  is  that  he  is,  which  is  unfair  to 
Doe,  where  the.se  honours  are  divided.  I  am 
thinking  specially  of  the  florist  Auricula,  with 
which  the  raiser's  name,  at  least  in  older  times, 
was  always  remembered,  and  faithfully  coupled 
co-ordinately,  c.r-/..  Page's  Champion,  Litton's 
Imperator,  Leigh's  Colonel  Taylor,  Taylor's 
Glory,  Syke's  Complete,  Ashworth's  Regular, 
Headly's  George  Lightbody,  Lightbody's 
Richard  Headly,  and  from  these  ancient  heights 
down  to  Ann  Clough's  .Jingling  Johnny.  But 
nowadays  are  to  be  seen  first-class  certificates 
gained  by  exhibitors  whose  sole  merit  was  that 
for  cultivation,  i.e.,  the  development  of  a  plant 
or  flower  already  "in  that  case  made  and 
provided." 


Another  cognate  point  is  this  :  Suppose  M. 
gives  N.  a  few  Auricula  seeds  out  of  which 
may  arise  a  flower  a  stride  ahead  of  its  day. 
Who  is  the  real  raiser  \  I  hold  that  it  is  rather 
the  man  who  was  instrumental  in  producing 
that  seed  than  he  who  simply  helped  it  to 
grow.  Of  course,  if  M.  sells  his  seeds  he  is  so 
far  "  out  of  it,"  that  he  has  accepted  some 
equivalent  for  his  title,  and  the  customer  takes 
the  direct  glory,  though  like  the  inverted 
image  of  a  strong  rainbow  some  radiance  of  a 
reflected  light  may  be,  in  such  way,  shed  on 
him.     Palmam  qui  mendt  ferat. 

Fr.\ncis  D.Horner,  V.M.H. 


NAMING   ALPINE    PLANTS. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  lately"  wrote  from  the 
Italian  Lakes  asking  if  we  would  publish  the 
names  of  persons  who  might  be  referred  to 
to  name  plants  found  in  that  and  other  moun- 
tain localities  in  the  great  European  chain. 
Specimens  can  always  be  sent  to  The  Garden 
office  for  naming,  but  as  our  correspondent 
may  wish  to  save  the  extra  cost  of  foreign 
postage  we  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  any  of 
our  foreign  readers  who  may  be  willing  to 
name  plants  sent. 

The  querist  also  asks  for  names  of  persons 
with  a  knowledge  of  the  wild  mountain  plants 
of  interest  who  would  indicate  where  they 
may  be  found.  Any  such  information  we 
regret  that  we  mu.st  absolutely  decline  to 
publish.  Already  the  more  easily  reached 
alpine  regions  are  being  robbed  of  their  plants 
in  a  way  that  has  in  some  places  achieved,  and 
in  many  threatens,  their  local  extermination. 
As  members  of  the  excellent  "  Society  for  the 
Preservation  of  Alpine  Plants"  we  desire  to  do 
all  in  our  power  to  prevent  reckless  collection. 
We  feel  sure  that  our  correspondent,  himself  a 
careful  amateur,  and  no  doubt  a  reverent 
admirer  of  the  lovely  jewels  of  alpine  vegeta- 
tion, would  personally  do  nothing  to  destroy  a 
habitat,  and  could  be  trusted  with  such 
knowledge  in  his  own  person,  as  indeed  might 
be  the  case  with  many  others  ;  but  our  pages 
are  open  to  all  the  world,  and  it  is  highly  un- 
desirable that  such  information  should  be 
made  public. 


EDITORS'    TABLE. 


Flowers    f  k  o  m     B  e  l  o  r  o  v  e  . 
We  have  received  from  Mr.  W.  Gurableton,  Bel- 
grove,  Queenstown,  Ireland,  a  wonderful  gathering 
of  flowers  from  his  garden,  remarkable  alike  for 
their  rarity  and  beauty.     First  we  find 
Incarvillea  gkandifi.oea. 
This  is  the  flower  mentioned  by  Mr.  Gunibleton 
at  page   .334  of  The  Garden   for  May  24.     It  is 
a  far  superior  flower  to  I.  Delavayi,  being  larger 
and  of  a  colour  with    which   that  of  I.  Delavayi 
does    not    bear   comparison.     The  flower  brought 
by  Mr.  Gumbletou  measured  3|  inches  across  ;   the 
petals  are  of  a  soft  deep  rose,  the  colour  becoming 


350 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


richer  still  towards  the  centre  ;  the  throat  is 
yellow,  faintlj'  spotted  with  purple,  and  there 
are  white  markings  at  the  mouth.  As  Mr.  Gum- 
bleton  says,  the  coloured  plate  given  in  The 
Garden  of  July  8,  1890,  does  not  do  justice  to 
this  flower.  The  colouring  of  the  one  before  us 
is  altogether  deeper  and  richer  than  the  one  repre- 
.sented  in  the  plate,  and  the  flower  is  larger.  The 
more  intense  colour  may,  however,  be  due,  as 
Mr.  Gumbleton  says,  to  the  flower  having  been 
grown  in  the  open. 

Olearia  insignis. 

Quite  the  most  handsome  of  the  Olearias  is 
insignis,  of  which  Mr.  Gumbleton  brings  a  specimen. 
The  leaves  are  large,  leather}',  almost  like  those  of 
ricus  elastica,  and  the  flowers,  borne  on  stout 
stems,  are  Ijest  described,  perhaps,  as  urn-shaped. 
The  ray  florets  are  pure  white,  and  those  of  the 
disc  are  yellow.  The  stem  and  receptacle  are 
covered  with  a  greenish  white  down. 

Anemone  Faxninii, 

the  king  of  Anemones,  is  represented  by  two  of  its 
large,  spreading  creamy  white  flowers,  with  pro- 
minent centres,  borne  on  the  same  stem.  This 
Anemone  is  a  coarse  grower,  reaching  a  height  of 
S  feet  to  4  feet. 

Other  Interesting  Ff-owers  from  Mk. 
Gumbleton. 
The  new  and  rare  Onosma  Bourgrci,  with  white 
but  not  showy  flowers,  is  also  included.  This 
plant  is  quite  new,  having  bloomed  last  j-ear  for 
the  first  time.  There  is  the  extremel}'  rare 
Arctotis  decurrens,  a  flower  cut  from  the  onh' 
plant  in  Europe,  of  a  lovely  rich  orange  colour. 
Everlastings  are  represented  by  Helichrysum 
(iulielmi  var.  Meyeri,  quite  a  new  variety,  and 
H.  Volkensi.  A  showy  and  quite  distinct  flower 
is  a  spotted  variety  of  the  Ivy  leaf  Pelargonium, 
called  Leopard.  The  semi-double  flowers  are  rose 
coloured,  heavily  splashed  with  blood-red,  quite  a 
novelty.  The  double  form  of  Primula  obconica, 
flowering  for  the  first  time,  and  Alyssum  sa.xatile 
flore-pleno,  are  new  forms  of  old  favourites. 
Tricuspidaria  dependens  (syn.  Crinodendron 
Hookeri)  has  curious,  red  drooping  flowers  of 
obovate  form.  Erigeron  Roylei  is  a  beautiful 
flower,  the  ray  florets  being  a  charming  violet-blue, 
and  the  disc  is  a  dull  yellow.  Mr.  Gumbleton 
brought  a  lovely  gathering  of 

LeMOINE'S    new    hybrid    DEUTZI.iS, 

including  many  sorts  that  are  evidentl}'  good 
garden  plants  to  judge  from  their  freedom  of  flower- 
ing. Of  the  best  are  D.  kalmajfiorum,  discolor  flori- 
bunda,  gracilis  eximia,  g.  carminia,  Lemoinei  com- 
pacta  (white,  of  very  compact  habit  of  growth)  ; 
discolor  grandiflora,  gracilis  rosea,  and  Lemoinei, 
all  profuse  bloomers  ;  the  colours  of  the  flowers  are 
white  and  varying  shades  of  rose.  Of  Gazanias, 
Mr.  Gumbleton  brought  several  beautiful  kinds, 
notably  (Jazania  montana,  a  rich  yellow;  ochro- 
leuca,  pale  buGf;  angelica,  creamy  yellow  ;  rigens, 
an  old,  yet  a  good  one,  an  intensely  rich  glowing 
orange ;  and  Cyclope,  which  has  broad  cream- 
coloured  petals.  Such  are  the  most  remarkable  in 
this  wonderful  collection  of  Irish-grown  flowers. 


Tulips  from  Ireland. 
Mr.  Wm.  Baylor  Hartland,  Cork,  sends  a 
few  particularly  choice  Tulips.  There  is  La 
Jlerveille,  of  rosy  red  and  buff  colouring  and  ex- 
ijuisitely  scented,  almost  like  a  Primrose:  Ixioides, 
tall  bright  yellow,  with  a  black  base  to  the  interior 
of  the,  petals ;  Aximensis,  very  dark  red,  tall 
and  vigorous  ;  Mauriana,  bright  red  with  yellow 
base ;  and  Marjoleti,  a  very  dainty  Tulip,  pale 
yellow  splashed  with  red. 

Viola  Blanche. 
I  am  sending  for  your  table  a  few  sprays  of  the 
rather  rare  Sedum  testaceum,  which  is  very  beau- 
tiful, now  growing  at  the  foot  of  a  south  wall.  I 
also  send  blooms  of  Viola  Blanche,  which  is  always 
one  of  the  most  admired  varieties  in  our  collection. 
It  is  a  sturdy  grower,  and  the  flowers  are  very 


large.  The  other  \ariety  enclosed  is  the  result  of 
Lark  x  .lohn  Quarton,  being  raised  here.  Notice 
the  peculiar  kind  of  ruffle  on  the  stalk  adjoining  the 
base  of  the  flower.  — Arthur  R.  Goodwin. 

[Viola  Blanche  is  of  a  delicate  heliotrope-blue. 
On  the  stalk  just  below  the  flowers,  both  of  this 
variety  and  the  hybrid,  is  a  curious  deeply  cut  frill. 
Tlie  h3'brid  flower  is  large,  bold,  and  of  a  creamy 
white  colour,  and  the  plant  is  evidently  a  strong 
grower.  ] 


Meconopsis  cambrica  fl.-pl. 

Some  years  ago  I  obtained  a  plant  of  Meconopsis 
cambrica  fl.-pl.  I  was  fortunate  in  being  able  to 
save  a  little  seed  ;  this  was  sown,  and  resulted  in  a 
few  plants,  some  of  which  flowered  when  ver}' 
small.  From  these  and  their  progeny  I  have  now 
a  very  fine  collection  of  brilliant-flowered  seedlings, 
varying  in  form,  and  of  various  shades  of  yellow 
and  orange.  Enclosed  are  a  few  blooms  gathered 
from  border  and  rock  gardens,  where  they  are  very 
gay  ju.st  now,  and  will  continue  for  a  considerable 
time  in  bloom.  I  may  mention  that  among  the 
seedlings  I  find  single  yellow  and  orange  forms, 
some  of  them  showing  variation. — .1.  McW ALTERS, 
Ar7nai//i. 

[We  must  thank  Mr.  Mc Walters  verj'  much  for 
a  lovely  box  of  flowers  of  this  interesting 
Meconopsis  :  the  flowers  were  large,  perfectly 
double,  and  brilliant  in  colour,  pure  yellow,  red, 
and  rich  orange  ;  a  delightful  series.] 

Xew  Bedding  Lobelia — Mrs.  Clibran. 

Messrs.  Clibran,  Oldfield  Nurseries,  .•Vltrincham, 
send  a  plant  of  their  new  bedding  Lobelia  Mrs. 
Clibran.  Messrs.  Clibran  write  :  "  Without  excep- 
tion, this  is  the  finest  bedding  Lobelia  yet  raised. 
We  introduced  it  last  season  for  the  first  time, 
and  were  raucli  gratified  with  the  appreciation  and 
praise  with  which  it  was  received,  fully  confirming 
the  opinions  we  had  previously  formed  of  it.  It  is 
an  ideal  variety,  possessing  all  the  qualifications 
essential  to  a  bedding  Lobelia  of  the  highest  class. 
It  is  deep  blue  in  colour,  profuse  in  bloom,  and 
compact  in  habit.  These  three  essentials  are  com- 
bined in  this  variet}'  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make 
it  without  an  equal.  Many  bedding  Lobelias  now 
in  commerce,  after  having  been  planted  a  little 
time,  become  of  a  straggling  habit  ;  with  Mrs. 
Clibran  this  never  occurs,  the  plant  remains  of  a 
close  and  compact  habit,  and  is  covered  with  its 
deep  blue  flowers,  possessing  a  small  white  ej'e, 
until  the  end  of  the  season." 

[We  cjuite  agree  with  Messrs.  Clibran  :  this  is 
an  exquisite  varietj'  for  colour,  an  intense  gentian 
blue,  with  white  centre.  It  is  one  of  the  bluest 
of  blue  flowers,  and  the  plant,  judging  from 
the  one  sent  to  us,  is  dwarf,  bushy,  and  very  free- 
blooming.] 

Narcissus  Emperor. 

Mr.  Molyneux,  The  Gardens,  Swanmore  Park, 
Bishop's  Waltham,  sends  "a  few  blooms  of  this 
Narcissus  to  show  the  result  of  a  simple  experiment 
of  inducing  some  bulbs  of  this  variety  to  flower 
much  later  than  the  ordinary  batch,  which  have 
been  over  for  the  last  three  weeks.  If  we  can 
prolong  the  season  of  such  Narcissus  as  this  by 
having  them  later  as  well  as  earlier  something  will 
be  gained.  It  would  be  dilticult  to  suggest  a  better 
all-round  Narcissus  than  Emperor,  the  flower  stalks 
being  so  stout  that  the  blooms  are  easily  arranged 
in  vases  for  room  decoration." 

[Very  fine  flowers  of  one  of  the  best  of  all 
DaS'odils.] 


An  Old  Tulip. 

I  am  forwarding  a  few  specimens  of  an  old- 
fashioned  Tulip  which  I  hope  may  be  found  worthy 
of  a  place  on  the  Editors'  table.  They  are  very 
small,  but  we  consider  them  verj- pretty.  In  an  old- 
time  farmhouse  garden  in  this  village  the}'  have 
been  growing  for  considerably  more  than  fifty  years, 
and  as  they  have  been  allowed  to  run  wild,  so  to 
speak,  there  are  great  masses  of  them,  and 
hundreds  of  blooms  are  gathered  every  year.     A 


few  bulbs  which  have  been  removed  to  fresh  and       J 
richer  soil  have  produced  flowers  much  larger  than       ' 
the  enclosed,  but  these  may  be  sufficiently  large  to 
enable  you  to  identify  them.     We  shall  be  glad  to 
know    the    name    of    the    variety    if    possible. —       J 
William  Clayton,  AppUton  lioehucl-,  Torkx.  I 

[The  name  of  the  Tulip  sent  by  our  correspon- 
dent is  Lac  Van  Rhyn.     It  is  a  pretty  flower  of 
medium  size;  the  petals  area  good  red,  edged  with        . 
white,  and  at  the  base  of  each  one  inside  are  blue       J 
markings  forming  an  irregular  ring.]  1 


The  Bird  Cherry. 

Mr.  Anthony  Waterer,  Knap  Hill  Nursery, 
Woking,  sends  cut  specimens  of  Pranus  Padus,  the 
coninMn  form,  and  also  "  shoots  from  a  very  large 
tree  growing  here  of  an  unnamed  variety,  but  very 
much  finer  than  the  type.  The  tree  was  originally 
sent  here  by  Mr.  Moore  of  the  Chelsea  Botanic 
Gardens,  I  think  under  the  name  of  Prunus  Padus 
Sieboldi."  Mr.  Waterer  also  sends  flowering 
shoots  of  the  lovely  Pyrus  Malus  Schiedeekeri. 
The  variety  of  the  Bird  Cherry  mentioned  is  far 
superior  to  the  type,  the  racemes  of  flower  are 
much  finer,  and  the  individual  flowers  are  also 
larger. 


APPLE    BLOSSOM    IN    KENT. 

As  I  write  the  Apple  trees  in  Kentish  orchards 
and  plantations  present  a  charming  appearance, 
for  everywhere  the  trees  are  laden  with  pink  and 
white  blossoms.  What  the  result  will  be  it  is,  of 
course,  too  early  to  say,  as  cold  drying  winds  and 
sharp  morning  frosts  have  been  the  order  since 
May  came  in,  and  from  various  districts  come 
reports  that  Pears  and  stone  fruits  have  suffered 
in  consequence.  With  Apples,  however,  the 
promise  is  most  fair,  and  there  should  be  no 
scarcity  of  fruit  this  season.  Last  year  the  Apple 
crop  in  this  country  was,  generally  speaking, 
scanty,  and  growers  are,  therefore,  all  the  more 
sanguine  of  a  good  return  this  season. 

Perhaps  at  no  other  time  of  the  year  can  one 
realise  more  fully  what  developments  are  taking 
place  in  Kentish  fruit  culture  than  when  the  trees 
are  in  blossouL  At  another  season  one  might  pass 
through  the  countrj'  by  road  or  rail  without 
observing  signs  of  the  fruit  industry,  unless  one 
were  interested  enough  to  look  for  them,  but 
flowers  appeal  to  everyone,  and  the  show  that  was 
pro\  idcd  a  few  weeks  ago  by  the  Cherries,  Pears, 
and  Plums  is  now  being  continued  by  the  Apples. 
And  the  Kentish  Apple  grower  has  hit  on  the  right 
method  of  establishing  orchards.  He  does  not,  as 
a  rule,  stick  trees  into  meadow  and  pasture  ground 
and  leave  them  to  lh?ir  own  resources,  but  he 
plants  on  rich  Hop  land,  that  is  kept  under 
culti\'ation  for  a  few  years  till  the  trees  are 
established  before  laying  the  ground  down  to 
grass.  By  this  method  splendid  orchards  are 
established  in  a  few  years,  and  in  this  country 
there  are  many  examples  which  refute  the  worn- 
out  contention  that  English  .systems  of  fruit  culture 
are  all  behind  the  times.  I  do  not  say  that  there 
is  not  plenty  of  room  for  the  contention,  but  there 
are  many  bright  exceptions  nevertheless. 

These  young  orchards  that  have  been  planted  of 
late  years,  and  are  now  objects  of  both  beauty  and 
interest,  have  a  strong  connexion  with  the  future 
of  British  fruit  culture.  They  have  been  recently 
established  ;  the  trees,  which  are  rapidly  coming 
to  maturity,  are  mostly  high  class  varieties,  and 
when  they  reach  their  full  bearing  capacities 
Kentish  Apples  will  be  represented  in  the  home 
markets  in  greater  quantities  than  they  have  ever 
been  before.  And,  further,  this  development  is 
still  going  on.  Thousands  of  trees  leave  the 
nurseries  every  year  and  are  planted,  as  the 
Kentish  farmer  who  has  been  hard  pressed  in 
many  directions  of  late  years  has  reasons  for 
putting  faith  in  fruit,  in  spite  of  seasons  of  glut, 
and  hundreds  of  acres  of  j'oung  Apple  trees  now 
bright  with  blossom  do  not  speak  so  much  for  what 
they  will  do  this  season  as  in  the  years  that  are 
to  come.  If  anything  could  be  more  beautiful 
than  a  j'Oung  Apple  orchard  at  blossoming  tjme  it 


Mat  31,  190a.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


351 


is  an  old  one  in  which  the  trees  have  reached  their 
full  proportions.  Every  branch  is  a  spray  of 
flowers,  and  in  making  a  calculation  of  what  the 
crop  will  be  if  all  goes  well  one  can  easily  realise 
the  anxieties  of  the  growers  at  this  season. 
Amongst  the  old  orchards  one  may  see  all  sorts 
and  conditions  without  travelling  very  far,  good, 
bad,  and  indifferent ;  but  there  are  many  instances 
which  prove  that  the  planters  of  a  past  decade 
knew  what  they  were  about,  and  the  present 
occupiers  are  reaping  the  reward  of  their  foresight. 

But  the  orchards  are  not  the  only  places  of 
blossom  just  now,  for  in  the  mixed  fruit  plantations 
half  standard  and  bush  Apple  trees  are  laden  with 
their  flowers.  Kentish  growers  of  late  years  have 
learned  the  wisdom  of  planting  dwarf  trees,  and 
by  growing  them  on  garden  principles  not  only 
are  good  crops  obtained,  but  the  trees  come  ijuiekly 
into  bearing  and  realise  early  profits.  In  spite  of 
the  fact  that  groii  ers  do  not  have  all  their  eggs  in 
one  basket,  but  cultivate  a  variety  of  fruits,  still 
the  Apple  is  of  great  importance,  and  both  for  the 
sake  of  producer  and  consumer  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  hopes  of  the  abundant  blossom  will  be 
realised  in  heavy  crops. 

One  word  more.  Why  do  not  people  plant  Apples 
as  ornamental  trees  ?  I  visited  a  garden  the  other 
daj'  that  was  formed  on  the  site  of  an  Apple 
orchard.  When  arranging  his  garden,  however, 
the  owner  did  not  destroy  all  the  trees,  but  left  a 
few  here  and  there.  Two  of  them  stand  on  the 
lawn  in  front  of  the  house,  and  I  can  imagine 
nothing  more  beautiful  than  these  specimens  when 
smothered  with  their  pearly  blossoms.  There  are 
many  beautiful  flowering  trees  worthy  of  being 
represented  in  pleasure  gardens,  but  when  they 
have  all  been  considered  I  question  whether 
we   have   anything   that    is    attractive    than   the 

Apple.  G.   H.   HOLLINOSWOKTH. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

June  3.  —  Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur 
Gardeners'  Association. 

Jane  o. — Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society. 

June  7.  —  Meeting  of  the  Societe  Franjaise 
d'Horticulture  de  Londres. 

June  9.  —  Committee  Meeting  of  the  United 
Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 

June  10. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
niiltees  meet.  Drill  Hall,  Westminster  ;  Wood- 
bridge  Horticultural  Show ;  Cambridge  Summer 
Show. 

June  11. — York  Gala  and  Floral  Fete. 

June  19. — Isle  of  Wight  (Ryde)  Rose  Show  ; 
Jersey  Rose  Show  ;  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
Society. 

June  24. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
conference,  Holland  House  (two  days)  ;  Lee  and 
District  Horticultural  Show  (two  days) ;  Oxford 
Commemoration  Show. 

Exhibition    of   Rhododendrons.— 

On  Thursday  next,  .June  5,  Messrs.  John  Waterer 
and  Sons,  Limited,  of  the  American  Nurseries, 
Bagshot,  Surrey,  will  open  their  Rhododendron 
exhibition  in  the  delightful  grounds  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  Society,  Regent's  Park.  The  Viennese 
White  Band  has  been  engaged  for  the  afternoon, 
and  alargeattendance  is  expected,  several  thousands 
of  invitations  having  been  issued.  The  exhibition 
remains  open  throughout  the  month. 

The  Kew  Guild.— Although  the  annual 
dinner  of  members  of  the  Kew  Guilcl  has  now 
become  quite  an  institution,  never,  so  it  seems  to 
us,  have  past  and  present  Kewites  met  together 
Avith  such  goodwill  and  manifested  such  efiprit  de 
corps  as  on  Tuesday  last,  when  the  annual  dinner 
was  held  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant.  There  was 
a  large  company  present,  numbering  some  120 
persons ;  included  were  many  distinguished 
Kewites,  both  past  and  present,  and  of  those  who 
supported  the  Chairman  (Mr.  .John  Gilbert  Baker, 
F.R.S.,  late  keeper  of  the  Herbarium)  were  the 
Director  (Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer,  K.C.M.&.), 
the  Curator  (Mr.  W.  Watson),  Dr.  D.  H.  Scott, 


Dr.  Stapf,  Mr.  George  Nicholson,  Mr.  W.  B. 
Latham,  Mr.  W.  Goldring,  Dr.  Burrell,  Mr.  J. 
Hillier  (Curator  of  Museums),  Mr.  W.  J.  Bean 
(Assistant  Curator  of  the  Roj'al  Gardens),  Mr. 
Baker,  jun.,  Mr.  W.  W.  Pettigrew,  and  many 
others  ;  several  ladies  who  have  been  students  at 
Kew  were  also  present.  The  Chairman,  after 
having  proposed  the  loyal  toasts,  gave  the  toast  of 
the  evening,  "The  Kew  Guild."  Mr.  Baker  first 
referred  to  the  good  fellowship  that  such  a  guild 
as  this  engendered,  and  the  real  pleasure  that  an 
annual  meeting  of  this  description  gave  to  all  M'ho 
took  part  in  it.  Then,  after  reviewing  some  of  the 
principal  events  that  have  happened  during  the 
past  year,  both  in  Kew  and  beyond  it,  and  referring 
especially  to  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Nicholson  and 
Mr.  Jackson,  Mr.  Baker  proceeded  to  impress  upon 
the  younger  generation  of  Kewites  the  necessit}'  of 
doing  their  work  conscientiously  and  methodicallj'. 
Mr.  W.  Goldring  responded  in  a  happy  speech, 
and  made  the  suggestion  that  one  day  a  travelling 
scholarship  should  be  provided  from  Kew,  to 
enable  those  students  who  should  prove  themselves 
worthy  of  such  favour  to  take  advantage  of  those 
opportunities  which  intelligent  travel  alone  can 
provide.  In  proposing  the  toast  of  the  chairman. 
Sir  W.  T.  Thiselton-Dyer  referred  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  Kew  Guild  sustains  good  comradeship 
between  its  members,  and  he  also  eulogised  the 
work  of  Mr.  .J.  (J.  Baker.  No  man's  teaching,  said 
Sir  William,  has  been  carried  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth  as  has  that  of  Mr.  Baker.  The  Director 
also  made  the  striking  statement  that  "  there  is  no 
man  who  goes  from  Kew  whose  career  is  not 
known  and  watched  with  interest."  Surely  such 
words  from  the  chief  of  the  Royal  Gardens  should 
stimulate  all  Kewites,  both  past  and  present,  to  the 
best  performance  of  their  respective  duties,  that 
they  may  bring  credit  not  only  upon  themselves 
but  upon  Kew,  their  ahna  mattr. 

Flowers    in    Park    Lane,    Hyde 

Park. — Charming  are  the  floral  changes  in  this 
fashionable  resort.  But  lately  we  were  justly 
admiring  the  glowing  masses  of  Tulips,  Hyacinths, 
and  other  beautiful  spring  flowers,  and  now  Mr.  W. 
Browne,  superintendent,  has  an  entire  change  of 
floral  subjects  in  a  series  of  some  twent3'-one  beds 
that  have  been  filled  with  theirsecond  crop  Some 
of  them,  despite  the  present  unnatural  season, 
make  a  good  show,  and  to  these  deserved  attention 
may  be  accorded.  A  bed  of  crimson  Stocks,  with 
a  groundwork  of  Viola  Snowflake,  looks  well ;  as 
does  also  Solomon's  Seal,  with  a  carpet  of  the 
well-known  Pansy  Earl  of  Beaconsfield.  White 
Marguerites,  in  a  groundwork  of  mixed  Pansies, 
present  a  charmingly  informal  appearance.  A 
most  effective  and  newish  Viola — one  of  Messrs. 
Dobbie's  introductions,  who  have  done  such  good 
work  in  this  beautiful  class  of  flowers — is  that 
named  Shamrock,  flowers  large,  of  good  substance, 
colour  ivory-white,  marbled  round  the  edges  with 
blue,  and  slightly  rayed.  Striking  is  a  bed  of  mixed 
Emperor  William  Pans}',  a  good  blue.  Pansj' 
Earl  of  Beaconsfield,  with  dots  of  Pyrethrura  will 
present  an  attractive  aspect  when  the  latter  are  in 
flower.  Very  effective  is  a  combination  of  Cytisus 
pra'cox  and  a  dark  Pansy  called  King  of  the 
Blacks,  the  yellow-brown  making  a  beautiful 
harmony  of  colour  with  the  black  Pansies.  Yellow 
Viola  Campbell-Bannerinan,  a  very  showy  variety, 
with  dots  of  Canterbury  Bells,  will  be  beautiful 
a  little  later. — Quo. 
Sale  ot  Japanese  dwarf  trees.— 

The  demand  for  these  quaint  trees  is  still  main- 
tained. On  the  23rd  inst.  Messrs.  Knight,  Frank, 
and  Rutley  had  a  sale  by  auction  at  their  galleries 
in  Conduit  Street  of  a  small  consignment  of 
typical  trees  received  direct  from  Japan,  and  the 
following  prices,  amongst  others,  were  realised  : 
Taxus  Sieboldii  and  two  Maples,  33  inches  high, 
£-") ;  .Juniperus  chinensis  procumbens,  120  3'ears 
old,  21  inches  high,  f4  .5s.  ;  grafted  Thuya, 
£3  7s.  (Jd.  ;  Thuya  obtusa  %'ar. ,  30  j'ears  old, 
23  inches  high,  £3  ;  Pinus  pentaphylla,  £3  15s.  ; 
Azalea  var. ,  60  years  old,  £4  4s. 

Narcissus     maximus    and    other 

Daffodils. — I  am  interested  in  your  answer  to 
C.  Prentis  re  Narcissus  maximus.  It  is  the  worst 
bloomer  I  have  out  of  some  seventy  varieties.      I 


should  much  like  to  know  whether  it  is  ever  found  to 
succeed  in  grass,  as  I  propose  trying  it.  N.  Macleaii 
has  flowered  well  in  the  rock  garden  this  year,  in 
not  a  very  sunny  place,  and  best  in  poorish  siony 
ground.  If  you  could  also  tell  me  the  most  likely 
place  to  grow  N.  triandrus  albus  (Angels'  Tears) 
I  should  be  obliged.  It  generally  dwindles  away 
here  after  a  year  or  two.  This  year  I  tried  a  few 
bulbs  in  an  imitation  moraine  made  of  refuse  from 
quarry  of  blue  stone,  and  they  seem  to  be  healthy 
so  far  and  some  have  flowered.  I  understand  it 
grows  in  slaty  rocks  when  at  home.  —  S.  T., 
Havtrthwaite. 

Schizanthuses    at    Totteridge 

Park. —  A  delightful  effect  is  made  by  these 
plants  in  the  long  conservatory  at  Totteridge  Park 
just  now.  The  length  of  this  structure  is  admirably 
adapted  to  display  these  plants  effectively,  and  I 
have  seen  no  more  pleasing  floral  picture  during  the 
present  spring  season,  ilr.  .J.  Brookes,  the  able 
gardener,  has  secured  a  splendid  strain,  the  colours 
and  markings  being  very  varied,  and  the  quality  of 
the  flowers  all  that  one  could  desire.  Seed  is 
sown  as  early  as  July,  and  no  artificial  heat  is  used, 
at  least  for  some  months  ;  cold  frames  and,  as  the 
colder  weather  ensues,  a  cool  airy  greenhouse  are 
used.  In  the  early  days  of  the  new  year  the  plants 
are  finally  potted  into  ti-incli  pots,  in  which  they 
appear  to  succeed  remarkably  well.  It  is  sur- 
prising that  Schizanthuses  are  not  more  used  for 
greenhouse  decoration. — D.  B.  C. 

The  London  Dahlia  Union.— I  do 
not  think  Mr.  Needs,  whom  all  Dahlia  men  so 
warmly  esteem,  fully  justifies  the  couise  taken  by 
various  members  of  the  comniiltee  of  the  National 
Dahlia  Society  in  thus  constituting  a  further 
Dahlia  organisation  under  the  above  title.  I 
should  have  thought  that  loyalty  to  the  original 
and  National  Society  would  have  interposed  in 
such  a  case  and  kept  them  outside  of  such  action. 
Why  could  not  those  who  wanted  a  second  London 
Dahlia  show  in  September  have  instituted  it  under 
the  auspices  of  the  parent  or  National  Society  V  As 
it  is,  the  belief  is  general  that  some  jealousy  of  (he 
National  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  business.  Cer- 
tainly the  National  executive  as  such  never  were 
approached  on  the  subject.  It  is  specially  objec- 
tionable tliat  another  special  Dahlia  organisation 
than  the  National,  which  includes  all  the  best  ' 
Dahlia  experts  in  the  kingdom,  should  be  awarding 
certificates  to  new  varieties. — A.  Dean. 

Iris    Germaniea    by    riverside.— 

Later  than  usual  in  flowering,  on  account  of  the 
backward  season,  is  a  pretty  and  well-established 
colony  of  this  charming  old  favourite  near  the 
Thames  Eyol  at  Chiswick,  and  facing  the  water. 
Although  detached  from  the  pleasant  garden 
proper  of  Mr.  John  I.  Thornycroft  (Eyot  Villa), 
the  colony  referred  to  belongs  to  this  gentleman. 
The  deep"  green  of  the  grass  makes  a  beautiful 
toning  down  and  highly  acceptable  contrast  to  the 
purplish  blue  standard  and  purple  falls  of  the 
Irises. — t||uo. 

Late  Tulips  at  Longp  Ditton.— The 

late  Tulips  are  now  very  beautiful  in  the  nurseries 
of  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Long  Ditton.  Brilliant 
masses  of  colour  are  made  by  T.  gesneriana, 
macrospeila,  and  many  other  beautiful  kinds,  and 
the  "Darwin"  forms  are  superb.  All  who  care 
for  this  glorious  race  of  late  flowering  bulbs  should 
isit  Long  Ditton  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  white  Ag-apanthus.- A  note 
from  New^  Zealand.— I  see  that  there  has 
been  some  correspondence  in  The  Garden  lately 
about  the  white  Agapanthus,  and  it  is  suggested 
that  there  may  be  two  distinct  varieties  of  that 
plant.  It  may  be  so,  but  that  there  is  a  blue  and 
a  white  form  of  the  same  variety  I  think  the 
following  will  show  : — Some  years  ago  I  raised  and 
planted  out  about  fifty  seedlings  of  the  white 
variety.  They  all  produced  blue  flowers.  I  then 
sowed  some  seed  of  these  blue-flowered  seedlings, 
and  planted  out  about  the  same  number  of  plants, 
the  result  being  that  more  than  half  of  them  were 
white  flowered.  The  Agapanthus  flowers  here  the 
third  year  from  seed  sown  in  the  open  ground,  and 
grows  and  flowers  freely  anywhere,  but  best  in  a 
moist  place  without  cultivation. — D.  R.  Macqueex, 
Aucldand,  Nuc  Zealand. 


352 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


AutaPietias  as  rock  plants.— One  of 

the  most  beautiful  effects  I  have  seen  produced  by 
a  big  mass  of  Aubrietia  Campbelli  was  but  recently 
at  the  charming  place  Cricket  St.  Thomas,  near 
Chard,  now  the  residence  of  H.  Fry,  Esq.  The 
rockwork,  one  of  Pulham's  construction,  is 
somewhat  vertical,  and  scores  of  Aubrietias  have 
been  planted  on  the  central  portion.  These 
have  made  strong  growth,  and,  in  bloom,  emit  a 
curious  bluish  sheen  that  was  both  pleasing  anil 
beautiful ;  but  I  would  like  to  see  on  any  preten- 
tious rockwork  not  only  Aubrietias  freely  employed . 
for  they  are  some  of  the  very  best  rock  or  stone 
covering  plants,  but  also  more  variety.  What 
pretty  things  there  are  in  commerce  now.  The 
pale  pink  Bridesmaid,  having  quite  large  flowers, 
is  charming.  Quite  the  converse  in  colour  is  Dr. 
Mules,  for  it  is  of  a  rich  bluish  purple  and  a  very 
attractive  variety.  Another  rich  coloured  form  is 
Fire  King,  the  flowers  being  of  deeper  hue  than 
those  of  the  more  widely  grown  Leichtlini.  A. 
violacea  has  a  rich  violet  tint ;  these  with  A.  Camp- 
belli make  a  first-rate  selection,  and  are  all  good 
growers. — I). 

Magpnolias  at  Versailles.— Why  are 

these  30  neglected  in  English  gardens?  M.  conspicua, 

M.  soulangeana,  and  M.   stellata  are  some  of  the 

most  beautiful  flowering  trees  we  have,  and  are  all 

easy  to    grow,    yet    one    rarely 

sees   them  in   this  country,  and 

a  nurseryman  here  assures  me 

he  cannot  get  a  sale  for  them. 

I     sp3nt    a    month     in    Pari.", 

trying    to   see    all    gardens    in 

the     neighbourhood      (hence     1 

mis.sed       The      Garden      for 

April    5),    and   the     Magnolias 

were  a  glorious  sight,  especially 

in    the    gardens    of    the    Petit 

Trianon   at    Versailles. — H.    R. 

DUC.MORE. 

Anemone    hortensis 

in  grass,  —  Anemone  stel- 
lata, now  called  A.  hortensis, 
is  a  wild  flower  that  deserves 
a  little  careful  aid  towards 
establishing  itself  in  the  wild 
garden.  Though  English  gar- 
deners cm  hardly  hope  in  grow 
it  in  the  open,  yet  in  ihe  grass 
under  trees,  where  ihe  foliage 
keeps  off  the  summer  rains  ami 
yet  allows  plenty  of  sun  in 
winter  and  spring,  it  should 
be  planted,  preferably  as  an 
unflowered  seedling,  for  these 
are  much  the  hardiest  plants. 
The  important  point  is  to  pre- 
serve the  first  broad  leaves,  for 
if  they  are  cut  off  by  the  winter 
the  corms  will  suffer  another  season.  If  that  is  done 
and  the  autumn  rains  do  not  start  the  corms  too 
early  all  will  be  well.  Every  shade  of  colour  from 
white  to  crimson  is  found  wild,  but  a  soft  lilac  is 
the  most  common,  and  to  many  the  most  delight- 
ful.    It  loves  a  calcareous  soil. — E.  H.  Woodall. 

Tufty  Pansy  Mrs.  E.  A.  Cade.— This 

is  one  of  the  newer  tufted  Pansies  (Violas)  of  which 
much  should  be  heard.  The  j'ellow  colouring  is 
rich  and  bright,  and  being  tinted  in  the  centre  with 
an  orange  colour  and  having  a  neat  rayless  eye,  the 
effect  of  a  mass  is  very  striking.  The  habit  is 
dwarf  and  compact,  and  the  constitution  robust. 
The  plant  is  one  of  the  first  to  bloom  with  me. — 
I).  B.  C. 

The  mole  cricket.— in  The  Garden  for 
April  ')  I  .see  "  E.  B.  C."  seeks  information  about 
the  mole  cricket.  I  can  give  him  my  experience, 
as  thirty  years  ago  when  I  first  bought  a  property 
here  on  peat  and  Bagshot  sands  I  was  much 
troubled  with  them.  Now  they  are  well  nigh 
e.xtinct.  Draining  and  frequent  digging  are,  I 
think,  the  best  cure.  They  will  not  live  in  dry 
ground.  I  once  remember  carting  a  dozen  or  more 
loads  of  peat  to  a  high  and  dry  part  of  my  garden 
from  a  moist  part,  and  found  I  had  thus  imported 
any  amount  of  mole  crickets,  but  in  three  months 
not  one  remained  up  there.  In  the  nioister  parts 
my  men  used  to  kill  hundreds  every  time  they  dug 


the  ground,  and  now  but  few,  if  any,  remain.  If 
you  look  over  the  ground  earl}'  in  the  morning  you 
will  see  airy  holes  they  have  made  in  the  night, 
and  j'ou  can  generallj'  follow  these  up  with  a  spade 
and  kill  the  evil  beast  before  he  has  gone  far,  and 
at  night  with  a  lantern  you  may  even  kill  them 
above  ground. — H.  R.  Dlt<:.mork,  I'arlcnloiii:. 

Gladioli     failing-.  —  I     always     grow 

Gladioli  of  all  .sections  in  the  open  ground, 
planted  deep  and  never  disturbed  :  generally  they 
multipl}'  and  make  fine  clumps,  are  very  rarely 
damaged  by  frost,  but  for  two  years  they  ha\e 
been  going  off,  and  on  digging  the  ground  I  find  it 
full  of  a  fungus  consisting  of  very  fine  white 
threads.  I  presume  this  is  the  cause  of  their 
death,  but  should  be  glad  to  know  if  it  is  a  common 
source  of  loss,  and  whether  any  treatment  of  the 
soil  would  effectuall}'  eradicate  this  fungus,  so  tliat 
I  mightsafely  replant  Gladioli. — H.  R.  DrcMORE. 

■Wilite  AgapanthUS.  The  letter  of  Mr. 
Peter  Barr  in  The  (Jarden  of  May  10  seems  to 
prove  conclusively  that  there  are  lim  white 
Agapanthus,  one  being  emynfii  and  originally  a 
sport  from  the  A.  unibellatus,  and  the  other  being, 
as  mine  is,  ahsolittily  ih:ciibion'<  under  every  treat- 
ment, whether  indoors  or  out,  wet  or  dry,  cold  or 
warm,  and  necessarily  a  separate  species,  or  possibly 
a  hybrid.     This  would  account  for  some  of  the 


of  trees  and  shrubs  on  each  side  of  the  walk  in 
their  freshest  spring  dress  1  Noble  Magnolias  in 
flower  attract  us,  as  do  the  great  Lilac  bushes  at 
present  in  beautj'.  In  the  well  and  attractively 
filled  borders  striking  objects  are  the  bold  spikes 
of  rich  purple  flowers  and  massive  leathery  foliage 
of  Megasea  cordifolia  purpurea,  one  of  the  best  of 
this  genus.  To  the  late  season  we  are  indebted 
for  still  beholding  the  Tulips,  which,  even  in 
their  dying  floral  glory,  are  ver\'  brilliant.  The 
large  golden  yellow  flowers  of  Doronieums  give 
fine  and  enduring  patches  of  colour,  and  in  the 
dells  hereabouts  we  get  charming  glimpses  of 
beautiful  spring  flowers  in  rich  variety.  —  Q[to. 

Chrysanthemums    at    Totteridge 

Park. — It  may  appear  early  to  make  notes 
about  Chrysanthemum  collections,  but,  consider- 
ing the  abnormal  character  of  the  spring  season, 
they  may  not  be  out  of  place.  From  this  establish- 
ment some  o;  our  best  Chrysanthemums  have  come 
in  the  past,  and  the  plants  are  very  promising 
this  year.  They  are  now  well  established  in  0-inch 
pots,  with  strong  but  not  coarse  growth.  Mr. 
Brooks  recognises  the  value  of  stopping  and  timing 
his  plants,  and  for  this  reason  man}'  examples  of 
an  early  stopping  or  pinching  out  of  the  growths 
were  seen.  This  excellent  grower,  like  many 
others,  recognises  that  a  first  ciown  bud  selection 


anemone    STELI.ATA    in    the    CRASS. 


contradictory  descriptions  lately  given  by  your 
different  correspondents  in  The  (iARDEN. — H.  R. 
DuOMORE,  7'/i(i  MoiDil,  Parkstoiu'. 

Strawberry  St.  Antoine.— This  little- 
known  early  Strawberry  has  shown  itself  of 
decided  merit  this  spring  on  the  Riviera.  Can 
anyone  tell  me  how  it  answers  under  glass  in 
England  ?  It  is  dwarf-growing,  and  the  flower- 
stalks  are  so  short  that  the  leaves  help  to  protect 
the  precocious  blossoms.  The  flower  is  good  when 
grown  out  of  doors,  and  though  the  clusters  of  fruit 
are  small  the  plants  can  be  planted  much  closer  in 
the  rows  than  can  be  done  with  later  varieties. 
The  special  value  of  this  variety  is  that  the 
runners  give  some  good  dishes  of  fine  fruit  in 
autumn,  and  the  same  plants  bear  still  more  freely 
in  April,  after  which  they  are  pulled  up.  As  yet 
no  other  .Strawberry  has  proved  as  perpetual,  or 
of  equal  size  and  flavour  so  early  in  spring. 
Perhaps  it  may  be  an  acijuisition  for  pot  work  in 
English  gardens. — E.  H.  Woodall. 

Weldenia  Candida.  —  We  are  sorry  a 
mistake  occurred  in  "  W.  W.'s''  note  last  week. 
Our  correspondent  wrote  Weldenia,  which,  of 
course,  is  correct,  but  through  a  blunder  it 
appeared  in  the  paper  as  W/ldenia. 

Flower  Walk,  Kensington  Gar- 
dens.— How  enjoyable  just  now  is  a  saunter 
through  this  i|uarter,  with  its  choice  assortment 


of  several  of  our  best  varieties  is  of  little  value  for 
exhibition  purposes,  this  kind  of  bud  more  often 
developing  large  and  coarse  flowers  of  poor  colour. 
Many  of  these  plants  if  left  to  develop  the  second 
crown  bud  from  a  natural  break  would  perform 
this  function  far  too  late  for  the  resulting  blooms 
to  be  used  for  the  November  shows.  For  this 
reason  Mr.  Brooks,  like  many  other  good  growers, 
so  stops  his  plants  that  the  development  of  the 
second  crown  buds  is  hastened.  By  these  means 
the  second  crown  buds  are  ready  at  the  proper 
time,  and  as  it  is  generally  recognised  that  second 
crown  buds  give  neater  blooms  and  of  better 
colour,  this  system  has  much  to  commend  it.  Of 
course  many  varieties  develop  the  second  crown 
buds  at  a  suitable  time  without  any  stopping. 
We  were  pleased  to  see  the  Viviand  Morel  family 
of  the  Chrysanthemum  growing  far  more  freely 
than  has  been  the  general  experience  during 
recent  years.  Excellent  examples  of  Mrs.  C. 
Harnian  Payne  and  its  sports  were  noticed,  also 
those  of  Mrs.  Barklay,  which  jjroniises  well. 
The  collection  contains  the  best  of  the  newer 
introductions,  as  well  as  the  older  standard  sorts. 
The  northerly  winds  had  been  giving  some  trouble 
just  recently,  and  this,  together  with  severe 
frosts,  almost  every  morning  for  some  time,  made 
the  walled  -  in  garden  an  inestimable  boon. — 
D,  B.  C. 


May  31,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


353 


Prune    growing    in    California.— 

California  is  the  home  of  the  Prune.  There  you 
can  trace  it  to  its  native  lair,  so  to  speak.  The 
mountainous  country  suits  it  best,  the  rains  wash- 
ing down  rich  loose  soil  in  which  the  Prune  revels. 
It  is  grafted  on  one  year  old  Peaoh  or  Apricot 
stocks.  The  plants  begin  to  bear  fruit  when  about 
three  years  old,  blooming  in  March,  most  of  the 
fruit  ripening  in  August.  They  are  allowed  to 
fall  off  the  tree,  are  then  picked  up,  boxed,  and 
sent  to  be  graded  at  the  packing  house.  They  are 
then  treated  to  a  bath  of  hot  lye  to  crack  the 
skins,  dipped  in  cold  water,  and,  finally,  put 
out  in  trays  in  the  sun  to  dry.  There  is  no  likeli- 
hood of  rain  at  that  season.  After  four  or  five 
days  they  are  stacked  for  a  little  longer.  They 
are  afterwards  sorted  into  ten  different  sizes, 
varying  from  twenty  to  eighty  to  a  pound.  After 
being  heated  and  then  boxed  they  are  shipped  to 
various  parts.  Two  pounds  and  a  half  of  green 
Prunes  make  lib.  of  cured  Prunes.  There  are 
62,000  acres  of  Prune  trees  in  California,  and  last 
year  they  bore  nearly  350,l)00,0001b.  of  fruit. 
Usually  100  trees  are  planted  to  the  acre,  and 
they  bear  as  many  as  8001b.  each.  Six  thousand 
freight  trains  could  be  filled  with  last  year's  dried 
produce,  or  a  train  45  miles  long.  The  growers 
have  an  association — the  California  Cured  Fruit 
Association — and  sell  their  fruit  together.  The 
fruit  is  carefully  inspected  by  the  company's 
inspectors.  Properly  cooked  the  Prune  requires 
no  sugar.  Careful,  slow  cooking,  covering  the 
fruits  with  water,  brings  out  the  latent  sweetness, 
and  the  fruit  is  entirely  different  from  the  usual 
dessert  offered.  Prunes  are  also  used  in  cake, 
candy,  and  bread,  and  are  always  acceptable. — C. 
Macquakie,  Ghicayo. 
Railroad    horticulture.— Three  great 

lines  running  out  of  Chicago  now  own  their  own 
greenhouses  and  employ  their  own  florists  and 
landscape  artists.  They  are  supplying  their 
stations  en  route  with  plants  and  cut  flowers,  and 
beautifying  the  road  beyond  belief.  One  road 
uses  1,000  Carnation  blooms  daily  the  year  round 
for  its  dining-cars.  Another  presents  a  small 
bouquet  daily  to  every  lady  passenger.  Constant 
care  is  exercised,  as  the  Philistine  is  constantly 
making  inroads,  breaking  bushes  and  tearing  up 
perennials.  The  grass  and  trees  are  as  religiously 
attended  to,  the  whole  attaining  a  perfection 
hardly  to  be  expected  under  the  adverse  circum- 
stances. I  do  not  know  of  any  English  railroad 
doing  this  on  a  large  scale.  It  might  be  emulated 
with  advantage. — C.  Macquarie,  Chicago. 
Tufted  Pansy  Cottage  Maid.— Why 

this  charming  tufted  Pansy  (Viola)  is  not  more  grown 
it  is  difficult  to  conceive.  It  belongs  to  the  fancy 
type,  and  reminds  one  of  such  sorts  as  Countess 
of  Kintore  and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Gordon  (syn.  Cissy 
Mellows),  the  former  variety  being  known  to  most 
gardeners.  In  the  variety  under  notice,  however, 
the  flowers  are  infinitely  superior  to  those  of  the 
older  Countess  of  Kintore,  the  form  is  better,  and 
the  colour  is  alternately  purplish  violet  and 
lavender.  There  is  no  comparison  in  the  respective 
habits  of  growth,  that  of  the  variety  under  notice 
being  dwarf  and  compact,  and  it  blooms  with  great 
profusion.  Notwithstanding  the  severe  frosts  of 
late  the  plants  have  been  making  a  brave  show. 
— D.  B.  C. 

Calypso  bOrealiS.— It  is  seldom  that  an 
opportunity  occurs  of  seeing  this  rare  little  Orchid 
of  Northern  climes,  which  is  now  flowering  in  the 
Alpine  house  at  Kew.  It  is  one  of  those  minute 
plants  so  apt  to  be  lost  when  entrusted  to  the 
open  ground,  even  in  the  most  carefully  managed 
rock  garden,  yet  so  exquisite  in  its  delicate 
colouring  and  quaint  form  that  it  is  a  red-letter 
day  in  a  gardener's  diary  when  he  first  makes 
its  acquaintance.  A  single  leaf,  with  one  nodding 
pink  flower,  somewhat  pouched  and  slipper-shaped, 
with  pencilling  of  deeper  shade  and  crested  with  a 
touch  of  gold,  such  is  the  individual  plant,  which 
might  well  be  covered  by  a  moderate-sized  specimen 
glass,  but  grown  in  a  group  and  brought  close  to 
the  eye,  as  may  easily  be  done  in  a  cold  house,  it 
cannot  fail  to  delight  and  interest  a  plant  lover. 

Ranunculus  cortussefolius.  —  This 
handsome    Buttercup    from    Teneriffe  is  now  in 


flower  at  Kew,  and  is  a  plant  to  be  noted  for  the 
cold  greenhouse.  Unfortunately,  it  is  not  quite 
hardy  enough  for  ordinary  gardens,  otherwise  it 
would  be  more  familiar  than  it  is,  but  it  might 
safely  be  tried  in  sheltered  positions  in  Devon  and 
Cornwall,  and  would  probably  grow  with  more 
vigour  in  the  open  air  than  under  the  restricted 
conditions  of  pot  culture.  In  its  best  form  it  is  a 
noble  plant,  with  large  kidney-shaped  root  leaves 
and  tall  branching  leafy  stems,  3  feet  or  more  in 
height,  crowned  with  shining  Buttercup  flowers  of 
great  size  and  rich  colour.  The  conditions  under 
which  it  may  be  seen  planted  out  in  the  borders  of 
the  Himalayan  house  seem  to  be  exactly  suited  to 
its  wants. 

The  Custard  Marrows  as  orna- 
mental plantS.--The  Custard  Marrow  is  not 
so  much  grown  as  the  larger  kinds,  and  this  is 
readily  accounted  for,  as  they  do  not  sell  so  well, 
and  I  find  if  the  fruits  are  left  too  long  on  the 
plants  the  seeds  mature  (|uickh-  and  the  flesh  is 
dry  and  lacks  flavour.  On  the  other  hand,  no 
matter  what  kind  of  Marrow  is  grown  the  fruits 
should  be  cut  in  a  young  state  and  not  be  allowed 
to  form  seeds — at  least,  not  allowed  to  perfect 
them.  Although  it  may  be  thought  somewhat 
wasteful  to  cut  the  fruits  when  so  small  it  is  not 
really  so,  as  the  plants  are  better  able  to  produce 
them  in  quantit}'.  The  Custard  varieties,  though 
small,  are  of  delicious  flavour,  and  are  produced  in 
abundance  ;  they  might  with  advantage  be  more 
grown  in  private  gardens,  but  they  must,  to  be  of 
the  best  quality,  be  cut  in  a  young  state.  The 
plants  are  of  a  trailing  habit  of  growth.  This 
variety  grows  well  on  fences  or  may  be  used  to 
cover  a  low  wall,  proving  most  ornamental  when 
grown  thus.  The  plants  also  fruit  very  freel}'  if 
given  a  sunny  aspect  and  plenty  of  moisture  and 
food.-G.  W. 

Begonia  glaUCOphylla.— About  a  year 
ago  a  photograph  of  a  basket  of  this  Brazilian 
Begonia  in  the  Mexican  house  at  Kew  was  published 
in  The  Garden,  together  with  the  dimensions  of 
the  plant.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  give  its  dimen- 
sions at  the  present  time.  The  extreme  length 
from  tip  to  base  is  now  13  feet,  the  width  4  feet. 
The  foliage  is  luxuriant  and  flowers  are  very  much 
in  evidence,  though  the  rose  colour  of  the  young 
leaves  somewhat  detracts  from  their  effect  owing 
to  a  great  similarity  in  colour.  It  is  now  three 
years  since  the  cuttings  which  were  placed  in  the 
above  basket  were  rooted,  the  young  plants  being 
at  that  time  about  6  inches  high.  The  basket  is 
an  ordinary  wire  one  18  inches  across  and  9  inches 
deep.  Rich  soil  was  used  in  the  first  place,  and 
the  young  plants  were  trained  to  cover  the  basket. 
By  the  end  of  the  first  year  the  wirework  was 
hidden  and  the  compost  was  a  mass  of  roots. 
From  that  time  the  plant  has  been  heavily  fed, 
various  kinds  of  manure  being  used.  The  house 
has  a  minimum  winter  temperature  of  50°,  and 
throughout  spring  and  summer  is  kept  fairly  moist. 

Rhododendron  Vaseyi.— This  is  one  of 

the  prettiest  and  most  distinct  of  the  rarer 
deciduous  Rhododendrons,  or  Azaleas  as  they  are 
more  popularly  called.  According  to  Mr.  C.  S. 
Sargent  in  "  The  Garden  and  Forest,"  1888, 
page  376,  it  was  discovered  in  1878  by  Mr.  George 
R.  Vasey  near  Webster,  in  Jackson  County,  North 
Carolina,  growing  in  great  luxuriance  along  the 
low  banks  of  a  small  stream,  and  was  also  found 
several  years  later  by  Mr.  S.  T.  Kelsey  on  Grand- 
father Mountain  in  North  Carolina,  about  two  or 
three  miles  from  Louisville,  at  an  elevation  of  from 
4,500  feet  to  5,000  feet.  Although  it  is  described 
as  a  slender  branched  tall-growing  shrub  15  feet 
to  18  feet  high,  it  is  rarely  seen  here  more  than 
2  feet  or  3  feet  in  height,  though  it  will  doubtless 
grow  to  much  larger  dimensions  under  favourable 
conditions.  The  flowers  are  white,  suffused  with 
pink,  the  upper  lobes  being  marked  at  the  base 
with  dark  spots.  The  flowering  period  is  May, 
the  flowers  appearing  about  the  same  time  as  those 
of  R.  rhombicura  and  R.  sinense.  In  addition  to 
the  t3'pe  there  is  a  variety  with  pure  white  flowers 
which  is  also  worthy  of  attention.  — W.  Dallimorb. 
Erica  aUStraliS.— It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  this  pretty  early-flowering  species  is  not  more 
frequently  met  with,  for  it  is  one  of  the  richest 


coloured  of  the  numerous  Heaths  suitable  for  the 
outdoor  garden.  It  is  a  native  of  Portugal,  and, 
although  it  has  been  known  for  many  years,  it  is 
still  very  difficult  to  obtain  in  this  country,  and  it 
is  seldom  to  be  seen.  At  Kew  a  number  of  plants 
are  to  be  seen,  the  finest  of  which  is  in  full  flower 
in  the  Erica  collection.  It  is  of  loose,  straggling 
habit,  grows  several  feet  high,  and  is  clothed  with 
small  dark  green  leaves.  The  flowers  are  borne 
very  freely  from  near  the  apices  of  the  shoots,  are 
rosy  red  in  colour,  and  larger  than  those  of  most 
hardy  species.  When  planting  a  sheltered  cosy 
nook  should  be  selected,  a,s,  more  particularly  when 
young,  it  is  a  little  tender.  Winters  like  those 
experienced  during  the  last  few  years  do  not  appear 
to  affect  it,  but  it  is  alwa3's  advisable  on  the 
appearance  of  frost  to  sprinkle  a  little  hay  or  dry 
leaves  lightly  over  the  plants  as  a  slight  protec- 
tion. As  with  the  other  species  a  light,  peaty  soil 
is  the  most  suitable.  Propagation  may  be  eftected 
bj'  means  of  seeds  or  cuttings. — W.  Dallimore. 

Seed  of  Lilium  giganteum.— I  should 

like  to  know  the  best  way  to  treat  this.  Should 
it  be  soaked  before  being  sown  ?  Also,  must  it  be 
sown  in  any  particular  soil,  and  in  heat  or  a  cold 
frame?  Does  it  take  a  very  long  time  in  ger- 
minating?— E.  Llotd  Edwards,  neat-  Llangollen. 

Parrot  Tulips.— When  at  Long  Ditton  a 
few  days  since  I  could  but  note  the  unusual 
stiffness  of  the  stems  of  Parrot  Tulips.  In  expla- 
nation of  that  Mr.  W.  Barr  said  that  it  was 
entirely  due  to  deep  planting.  He  now  had  all 
his  "Parrots"  planted  6  inches  deep,  and  as  seen 
in  this  case  the  stems  become  so  stitt'  that  the  fine 
flowers  are  held  erect,  as  is  the  case  with  most 
other  varieties.  It  has  been  one  of  the  objections 
to  the  pretty  Parrot  section  that  their  flowers 
were  not  erect.  It  is  now  evident  that  the  cause 
is  a  removable  one,  and  we  may  have  our  flowers 
as  upright  as  we  wish  henceforth  if  we  will  but 
plant  deep  enough.  May  or  late-flowering  Tulips 
are  this  year  at  Long  Ditton  a  superb  show.  They 
are  there  in  tens  of  thousands,  literally  covering 
acres  of  ground,  and  of  every  conceivable  variety 
and  colour.  Those  whose  intimacy  with  these 
flowers  is  chiefly  derived  from  seeing  collections  in 
bunches  at  the  Drill  Hall  or  shows  can  have  poor 
conception  of  the  wondrous  beauty  found  in  large 
beds  of  them  when  seen  on  a  sunny  day  at  Long 
Ditton.— A.  D. 

Gardening  books.— "N.  B.'s  "  selection 

of  books  on  gardening  is  more  plentiful  in  number 
than  comprehensive  or  complete.  Too  many  of 
the  books  treat  of  sentimental  horticulture  or  so 
called  decorative  gardening.  More  practical  books 
are  needed  for  anyone  who  would  be  a  student  of 
practical  horticulture,  and  amongst  those  unnamed 
is  that  fine  fruit  book  "The  Fruit  Grower's 
Guide  "  (J.  Wright),  the  most  complete  book  on 
the  subject  ever  issued.  To  that  should  be  added 
Mr.  A.  F.  Barron's  "  Book  on  the  Vine,"  a  most 
useful  treatise,  and  probably  on  Grapes  the  most 
authoritative.  Also  should  be  included  Mr.  E. 
Beckett's  vegetable  book,  and  M.  Vilmorin'a 
"  The  Vegetable  Garden,"  and  if  still  in  print 
C.  Shaw's  admirable  book  on  "  Market  Gardening. " 
Many  others  might  be  mentioned  as  right  up  to 
date  in  horticultural  practice. — D. 

Daphne  colli n a. —Though  introduced  from 
Italy  a  century  and  a  half  ago  this  Daphne  is 
very  rarely  seen  in  gardens,  and  even  when  met 
with  it  is  by  no  means  invariably  in  a  thriving 
state,  yet  there  are  exceptions,  and  when  in  good 
condition  it  is  really  a  delightful  little  shrub. 
Numerous  examples  are  to  be  seen  in  Brockwell 
Park,  where  it  seems  quite  at  home.  The  best  of 
them  form  dense  bushes  about  3  feet  high  and 
as  much  through,  which  are  thickly  clothed  with 
small  deep  green  leaves.  The  flowers  are  borne  in 
clusters  on  the  points  of  nearly  every  shoot,  and 
the  value  of  the  plant  is  enhanced  by  the  fact  that 
they  are  produced  more  or  less  throughout  the 
first  six  months  of  the  year.  They  are  of  a  kind 
of  purplish  pink,  and  when  seen  in  a  mass,  as  in 
the  case  of  some  of  the  plants  in  Brockwell  Park 
early  in  May,  they  are  very  pleasing.  Several  of 
the  Daphnes  are  well  worth  more  attention  than  is 
usually  bestowed  upon  them,  as  in  the  case  of  some 
of  them  a  little  trouble  is  well  repaid.— T. 


354 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


TREES  AND   SHRUBS   FOR 
ENGLISH   GARDENS. 


(Continued  from  page  33.j.) 
Hardy  Evergeeens. 

THE  indebtedness  of  British  gardens  to 
tlie  floras  of  other  countries  is  in  no 
instance  more  strongly  shown  than 
by  the  abundance  of  evergreens  now 
at  the  service  of  the  planter.  The 
only  native  evergreen  trees  of  Britain 
are  the  Yew,  the  Holly,  the  Scotch  Pine,  and  the 
Box.  In  Ireland  the" Arbutus  (A.  Unedo)  that 
is  found  at  the  Lakes  of  Killarney,  and  attains 
the  dimensions  of  a  small  tree,  makes  an 
addition.  The  number  of  native  shrubs  that 
have  persistent  foliage  is,  of  course,  consider- 
able, but  they  belong  chiefly  to  the  Heath 
family  and  its  allies,  and  are  small  in  leaf  and 
dwarf  in  stature.  On  the  whole,  then,  the 
evergreens  of  these  islands  do  not  make  a  very 
imposing  group,  although  under  cultivation 
some  of  them,  such  as  the  Yew  and  Holly, 
have  given  rise  to  so  many  striking  varieties 
that  they  still  play  an  important^  part  in 
gardens,  in  spite  of  the  many  foreign  intro- 
ductions. Whatever  proportion,  however, 
evergreens  may  bear  to  deciduous  vegetation 
in  the  flora  of  Britain,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
the  climate  of  the  British  Isles,  especially  of 
the  southern  and  western  parts,  is  exceptionally 
favourable  to  their  welfare.  One  of  the  most 
striking  differences  between  our  gardens  and 
those  of  the  Continent,  where  the  average 
temperature  is  equal  to  or  higher  than  that  of 
these  islands,  is  to  be  noted  in  the  greater 
wealth  and  variety  of  evergreen  trees  and 
shrubs  that  we  possess.  This  group  of  plants 
is,  so  far  as  cool  temperate  latitudes  are 
concerned,  undoubtedly  best  adapted  to  insular 
and  maritime  climates.  Their  abundance  in 
Japan  and  New  Zealand  proves  that.  As  a 
general  rule,  however,  the  evergreen  portion  of 
the  vegetable  kingdom  increases  in  numbers 
and  in  size  as  we  get  nearer  the  eiiuator.  A 
similar  increase  is  ol>servable  also  in  the  size 
of  the  individual  leaf.  The  only  evergreens  of 
cold  latitudes  that  equal  those  of  tropical 
regions  in  stature  and  bulk  are  the  Pines,  Firs, 
and  their  allies,  and  in  these  the  thin,  needle- 
shaped  leaves  present  a  minimum  of  surface  to 
atmospheric  influences. 

Most  Suitable  Conditions  for  Evergreens. 
In  regard  to  the  conditions  which  we  find 
best  for  evergreens,  both  from  experience  in 
cultivating  them  and  from  a  study  of  their 
distribution  over  the  globe,  the  two  most  im- 
portant are  certainly  an  equable  climate — that 
is,  one  free  from  extremes  both  of  cold  and 
heat,  and  an  even,  regular  supply  of  moisture 
both  in  the  atmosphere  and  at  the  root.  In 
other  words,  evergreens  will  thrive  in  a  district 
where  the  temperature  is  comparatively  low 
and  even  much  better  than  in  one  where  the 
average  heat  is  considerably  higher,  but  subject 
to  a  higher  maximum  and  a  lower  minimum. 

We  can  see  how  much  a  maritime  climate 
favours  the  cultivation  of  evergreens  as  com- 
pared with  a  climate  that  is  merely  warm 
without  being  particularly  moist,  by  a  com- 
parison of  the  localities  in  which  the  tenderer 
evergreens  thrive  best  in  Britain.  As  a  general 
rule,  of  course,  the  number  of  evergreen 
species  that  can  be  cultivated  out  of  doors 
increases  as  we  approach  the  south  and  the 
west.  Thus  the  most  favourable  of  all  the 
districts  in  the  British  Isles  are  Cornwall  and 
the  south-western  counties  of  Ireland.  But 
proving  how  little  mere  latitude  has  to  do  with 
the  matter,  it  may  be  pointed  out  that  plants 


— especially  those  from  the  Himalaya  and  New 
Zealand  —  can  be  grown  in  the  counties  of 
Argyll  and  Inverness  and  other  parts  of  the 
west  of  Scotland,  which  we,  near  London,  are 
quite  unable  to  grow  without  glass  protection. 
These  matters,  although  at  first  they  may 
apjiear  to  be  merely  interesting,  are  something 
more  than  that.  Properly  interpreted,  they 
help  to  indicate  the  positions  in  our  gardens 
(wherever  these  may  bo  situated)  where  ever- 
greens are  likely  to  thrive  best. 

The  first  requisite  in  choosing  a  place  for  the 
choicer  and  tenderer  evergreens  is  a  situation 
protected  from  the  dry  winds  that  come  from 
north  and  east.  One  of  the  most  striking 
examples  1  have  metwith  isthe  Duchess'Garden 
at  I?elvoir  Castle.  Belvoir  is  in  the  Eastern  Mid- 
lands, a  district  where  the  average  temperature 
is  certainly  not  high,  and  where  during  my 
stay  there  the  thermometer  fell  on  more  than 
one  occasion  to  zero  (Fahr.),  yet  in  this  par- 
ticular spot  (known  as  the  Duchess'  Garden) 
there  were  tine  specimens  of  Himalayan  Ehodo- 
dendrons— one  of  R.  Falconeri  being  especially 
noteworthy  for  the  way  it  grew  and  flowered— 
an  Azara  microphylla  10  feet  high,  and  other 
similar  examples.  The  explanation  of  these 
successes  1  believe  is  entirely  in  the  situation 
and  exposure  of  the  garden.  It  was  formed  on 
the  slope  of  a  rather  steep  hill,  and  is  in  the 
shape  of  an  amphitheatre  opening  fully  to  the 
south.  The  bitter- north-east  wind  loses  much 
of  its  sting  before  it  reaches  the  plants  in  this 
garden.  In  most  gardens  it  is,  of  course,  im- 
possible to  obtain  sites  so  favourable  as  this 
One  has  to  make  the  best  of  what  exists  But 
at  the  same  time  it  shows  the  desirability — 
often  the  necessity— of  choosing  positions  for 
the  tenderer  evergreens  in  which  this  need 
of  shelter  is  satisfactorily  met.  Bamboos, 
Camellias,  many  Rhododendrons, and  Eheagnus 
all  aftbrd  striking  examples  of  the  value  of  a 
shelter-belt  on  the  north  and  east  sides. 

Evergreens  require  a  continuous  and  even 
supply  of  moisture  at  the  roots  more  than  de- 
ciduous trees  and  shrubs.  They  do  not  to  the 
same  extent  reduce  the  transpiring  surface  by 
shedding  the  whole  or  a  portion  of  their  leaves 
early  when  tried  by  long  drought.  Nor  are 
they  so  well  adapted  by  nature  to  withstand 
long  droughty  periods,  which  with  deciduous 
things  often  merely  ripen  the  wood  better  and 
increase  the  display  of  blossom.  All  this  goes 
to  show  that  the  evergreens  should  have  a  soil 
deep  and  good  enough  to  provide  cool  and 
moist  conditions  at  the  root.  W.  J.  Bean. 
(2'o  be  continued.) 


AMERICAN     NOTES. 


MORE    WILD    VIOLETS   OF 
VIRGINIA. 

SOME  of  the  readers  of  The  Garden 
may  remember  an  article  that  ap- 
jjeared  last  August  on  a  few  of  the 
A'iolets  found  in  the  two  Virginias. 
Those  described  were  Viola  pedata, 
V.  cucullata,  V.  sagittata,  V.  blanda, 
\.  tenella,  V.  canadensis,  and  V.  villosa.  But 
this  is  not  by  any  means  an  exhaustive  list  of 
the  many  species  of  this  interesting  family 
that  can  be  found  in  our  woods  and  on  our 
clitts  or  that  are  naturalised  in  the  grove  here 
at  Rose  Brake. 

We  prize  the  English  single  Violet.s,  both 
white  and  purple,  more  than  any  of  our  native 
species,  however,  both  because  thej'  are  earlier 
than  ours,  and  because  they  are  .so  delightfully 
fragrant,  while  ours  are,  with  one  exception, 


scentless.  The  perfume  of  Viola  blanda  is  so 
famt  that  some  people  deny  it  the  possession 
of  this  crowning  charm.  The  fragile-looking, 
single  white  English  Violet  grows  wild  in  our 
shady  grove,  and  spreads  iiuite  freely,  even  in 
poor,  uncultivated  soil.  It  is  perfectly  hardy 
here,  and  has  been  naturalised  at  Rose  Brake 
for  at  least  thirty  years.  It  blooms  with  the 
Forsythia.  The  ground  under  some  old 
Forsythia  bushes  is  carpeted  with  this  gentle 
and  charming  flower.  In  other  places  the 
purple  English  Violet  has  formed  vigorous 
colonies.  This  sjiecies,  Viola  odorata,  is 
described  in  Britton  and  Browns  Illustrated 
Flora  of  the  Northern  States  and  Canada, 
because,  though  it  came  originally  from 
England,  it  has  escaped  from  gardens,  and  is 
now  naturalised  in  many  places,  especially  in 
the  Virginias  and  other  long-settled  parts  of 
America.  Outdoor  Violets  begin  to  flower 
here  about  the  first  week  in  April  or  the  last 
of  March,  according  to  the  .season,  but  tlie 
native  sorts  are  not  much  in  evidence  until  May, 
which  is  our  great  Violet  month.  One  of  the 
earliest  of  all  is  Viola  palmata,  which  is  found 
in  the  dry  soil  of  wooded  uplands.  Its  leaves 
are  palmate  and  its  flowers  are  bright  blue- 
violet  in  colour.  Some  older  botanists  called 
this  a  variety  of  V.  cucullata,  but  it  is  now 
considered  distinct  enough  to  be  classed  as  a 
separate  species.  I  do  not  see  much  resemblance 
in  this  Violet  to  V.  cucullata.  The  flowers 
are  usually  smaller,  and  have  not  the  variety 
of  colouring  that  distinguishes  those  of  that 
species.  The  whole  appearance  of  the  plant  is 
distinct.  It  is  pubescent.  V.  cucullata  is 
glabrous.  The  leaves  vary  very  much  in 
size  and  sha]ie.  Sometimes  they  have  three 
lanceolate  lol  les  ;  sometimes  none  at  all ;  some- 
times they  are  cordate,  with  crenate-dentate 
margins.  No  two  leaves  are  cut  after  the  same 
pattern,  a  peculiarity  which  makes  this  little 
plant  interesting.  It  is  very  pretty  when  it  is 
covered  with  its  charming  flowers,  which  are 
borne  in  great  profusion,  ^'iola  palmata  is  a 
good  subject  for  the  rock  garden  in  a  situation  - 
partially  shaded.  It  does  not  need  much  mois- 
ture. Early  in  May  we  find  Viola  rotundifolia, 
the  round-leaved  Violet,  a  species  which  is  a 
true  mountain  lover,  climbing  to  a  considerable 
height,  and  clinging  to  the  face  of  rocky  cliffs 
and  precipitous  and  inaccessible  places.  The 
slender  steins,  4  inches  in  height,  bear  aloft  the 
jiale  yellow  blossoms,  which  are  about  two- 
thirds  the  size  of  those  of  Viola  cucullata,  so 
well  known  in  England  that  I  use  it  for  a 
standard  of  measurement.  This  little  flower 
you  see  does  not  hide  beneath  its  foliage  in 
true  Violet  fashion.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  the 
pretty,  rounded,  and  unlobed  leaves  that  seem 
to  wish  to  pass  unnoticed.  They  hug  the 
ground  on  their  short  stalks,  making  the  plant 
inconspicuous  when  out  of  bloom.  I  follow  the 
botany  in  calling  the  fiowers  of  this  Violet 
yellow.  The  form  of  it  that  we  have  naturalised 
here  has  cream-coloured  blossoms.  The  foliage 
is  a  delicate  light  green. 

So  singular  is  the  appearance  of  Viola 
lanceolata,  the  lance-leaved  Violet,  that  when 
it  is  out  of  bloom  it  would  take  an  experienced 
eye  to  perceive  that  it  is  a  Violet  at  all.  The 
narrow  leaves  are  sometimes  .5  inches  in  length, 
and  are  slightly  crenate.  The  sepals,  too,  and 
the  petals  to  some  extent  partake  of  the 
elongated  appearance  of  the  plant.  These 
petals  are  white  and  beardless,  the  lower  and 
lateral  ones  striped  with  violet.  A  slight 
fragrance  is  claimed  for  this  species. 

Viola  hastata  is  the  halberd-leaved  Violet, 
one  of  our  not  uncommon  yellow  Violets,  often 
found  side  by  side  with  Viola  rotundifolia  on 
hilly  and  rocky  slopes.    The  simple  eitct  stem 


May  31,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


3.i5 


of  this  Viola  is  sometimes  a  foot  in 
height,  with  the  stem-leaves  high  in 
the  air.  Sometimes  these  halberd- 
shaped  leaves  are  truncate  at  the  base ; 
sometimes  the  basal  leaves  are  cordate. 
This  species  has  small  yellow  flowers, 
which  have  the  lateral  petals  bearded. 

Viola  pubescens,  the  hairy  yellow 
Violet,  is  easily  distinguished  from 
Viola  hastata  by  the  pubescence  of  the 
entire  plant,  while  the  latter  is  quite 
smooth.  It  IS  also  distinguished  by 
the  reniform  shape  of  the  leaves, 
which  are  much  wider  than  long. 
The  stout,  erect,  usually  solitary  stem 
is  crowned  with  a  bright  yellow 
nodding  flower,  the  veins  of  which  are 
purple.  This  is  one  of  our  prettiest 
yellow  Violets. 

Viola  scabriuscula,  the  smoothish 
yellow  Violet,  has  lovely  blossoms  of  a 
distinct  lemon  yellow,  very  prettily 
veined  with  dark  maroon,  almost 
black.  This  is  now,  April  ii,  in  bloom 
on  a  bank  at  Rose  Brake.  It  has 
sometimes  been  considered  a  variety 
of  Viola  pubescens,  from  which,  how- 
ever, it  differs  very  much  in  shape 
and  size  of  leaves  and  in  general 
appearance.  It  is  smooth,  or  only 
slightly  pubescent,  and  is  a  tall- 
growing  species,  sometimes  15  inches 
in  height.  The  heart-shaped  leaves 
are  rather  coarsely  toothed,  and  of  a  medium 
shade  of  green.  It  is  usually  found  in  marshy 
places  and  in  wet  woods,  but  is  sometimes 


A    HOUSE    or    OATTLEYAS    AT   CAMBRIDGE   LODGE,    CAMBERWELL. 


UyPEIPEDIUM   OLBSnS  ;     ONE   OF  MR. 


met  with  at  an  elevation  of  4,000  feet.  Viola 
striata  is  the  pale  or  striped  Violet.  The 
light  purple  creai  i,  or  almost  white  blossoms 
of  this  species  are 
striped  and  veined  with 
deep  purple,  and  the 
leaves  are  cordate, 
with  crenate  margins. 
The  lateral  petals  of 
this  species  are 
bearded. 

All  of  these  Violets 
are  pretty  and  interest- 
ing in  a  large  collec- 
tion. Here  we  use 
some  of  them  to 
naturalise  under  the 
trees  and  among  the 
rocks  of  the  grove. 
We  do  not  cultivate 
any  of  them  in  garden 
beds  or  borders,  but 
like  to  see  the  ground 
carpeted  with  them 
here  and  there  in  the 
wilder  parts  of  the 
place.  None  that  we 
have  tried,  except 
Viola  pedata,  has  been 
found  very  hard  to 
establish. 

Besides  these  there 
is  now  in  bloom  here, 
in  what  we  call  Violet 
Hollow,  a  rare  form 
of  Viola  ovata,  which 
is  a  species  of  Violet 
not  often  seen  in  this 
neighbourhood.  The 
form  of  it  that  my 
eldest  daughter  found 
when  on  a  visit  to 
some  friends  who  live 
ten  miles  from  here 
grew  on  a  shady  and 
dry  bank  at  the  edge 
of  a  wood  of  Pine  trees. 
We  have  established  it 
ME.isuREs'  HYBRID  ORCHIDS.  here,  and  prize  it  for  the 


unusual  colouring  of  its  flowers,  which  have 
slender  petals  of  pinkish  mauve,  unlike  those 
of  any  other  Violet  known  to  me,  though 
Meehan  Brothers,  of  Germautown,  Pennsyl- 
vania, advertise  a  pink  Violet  which  I  have 
not  seen.  The  leaves  of  this  variety  of  Viola 
ovata  are  not  over  an  inch  in  length  and  are 
oval,  with  cordate  base.  In  the  type  the  blades 
are  sometimes  3J  inches  in  length. 

Danske  Dandridge. 
She2}herdstown,  West  Virginia,  U.S.A. 


ORCHIDS     IN     LONDON. 

The  smoky  atmosphere  of  London  and  its 
suburbs  is  often  abused  by  those  who  en- 
deavour to  practise  gardening  within  its  pale, 
yet  that  this  abuse  is  not  always  justified  is  occa- 
sionally made  apparent  by  e.xcellent  examples 
of  widely  different  phases  of  city  plant  culture, 
which  are  from  time  to  time  brought  to  our 
notice.  It  was  but  the  spring  of  last  year  that 
we  illustrated  and  described  a  rock  garden 
under  the  shadow  of  St.  Paul's,  wherein  certain 
plants  unmistakably  flourish,  and  it  is  now 
our  pleasant  piivilege  to  chronicle  the  fact  that 
one  of  the  best  collections  of  Orchids  in  the 
country  is  within  a  very  few  miles  of  Charing 
Cross,  i.e.,  at  Camberwell,  for  in  the  gardens 
of  Cambridge  Lodge,  Flodden  Road,  the 
residence  of  R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.,  these 
aristocrats  of  the  horticultural  world  are 
extensively  and  successfully  cultivated.  It 
v.'ould  be  folly  to  say  that  the  plants  are  not 
occasionally  somewhat  the  worse  after  a 
persistent  London  fog,  although  the  plants  do 
not  suffer  to  nearly  the  same  extent  as  the 
flowers  and  the  flower  buds.  It  is  pitiable  to 
see  the  effect  that  a  bad  London  fog  will 
sometimes  have  upon  the  expanding  Orchid 
buds,  more  particularly  those  of  Cattleyas. 
They  are  often  completely  spoiled ;  yet,  not- 
withstanding its  drawbacks,  the  London 
atmosphere  is  quite  capable  of  producing 
Orchids  that  are  fit  to  rank  with  any  in  the 
land,  and  often  are  those  from  Camberwell 
exhibited  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
meetings,  held  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster, 
and  almost  as   often  do  these  London-gro\^n 


350 


THE    GAEDEN. 


[May  3l,  19C2. 


Orchids  obtain  a  silver  or  other  medal  as  a 
testimony  to  their  excellence. 

Mr.  Measure.s  is  well  known  as  an  Orchid 
enthusiast,  and  his  collection  contains  many 
rare  and  valuable  plants,  a  number  of  which 
have  been  raised  in  the  Orchid  houses  at 
Camberwell.  The  Cypripedium  that  we  are 
able  to  illustrate— 0.  Olenus  — is  one  of  these. 
The  parents  were  C.  bellatulum  and  C.  cilio- 
lare  ;  the  dorsal  .sepal  and  the  petals  are  liroad, 
and  of  a  beautiful  rose  colour,  dotted  with 
purple-black.  It  is  altogether  a  charming  and 
dainty  flower.  Other  Ladies'  81i])pers  in  this 
London  collection  that  one  might  specially 
note  are  C  callosum  Sanderie,  0.  venustum 
measuresianum,  C.  insigne  Sanderaj,  0.  insigne 
Harefield  Hall  variety,  C.  bellatulum  album, 
and  G.  barbato-lawrenceanum,  all  of  which 
rank  amongst  the  noblest  in  the  world  of 
Orchids. 

Undoubtedly  one  of  the  features  of  Mr. 
Measures'  Orchid  houses  is  the  rejiresentative 
lot  of  Masdevallias  ;  they  form  one  of  the  very 
best  collections  in  England  of  the.se  curious, 
brilliant,  and  interesting  Orchids.  One  notices 
M.  Lowi,  of  great  rarity,  M.  bella,  M.  harry- 
ana,  M.  veitchiana,  and  numerous  others.  Most 
delicately  beautiful  is  the  tiny  Pleurothallis 
ornata,  from  whose  flowers  depend  glistening 
silvery  filaments  so  fragile  as  to  be  almost 
constantly  moving.  Epiphronitis  Veitchi, 
the  bi-generic  hybrid  between  Epidendrum 
radicans  and  Sophronitis  grandiflora  is  bearing 
its  sho\vy  flowers,  and  the  Cattleyas  Schroder;e, 
Mendelii,  and  the  first  flowers  of  C.  Mossite, 
as  well  as  A^andas,  Phahenopsis,  and  Odonto- 
glossums  in  variety,  prove  of  much  interest  in 
the  respective  houses  devoted  to  them. 

Perhaps  even  more  interesting  still  than  the 
Orchids  in  flower  are  the  hundreds,  nay, 
thousands,  of  seedlings  in  various  stages  of 
growth.  Here  one  sees  seed  that  has  just 
been  sown,  or  rather  one  sees  ivhere  it  has 
been  sown,  for  it  is  so  very  minute  ;  there  a 
number  of  tiny  globules  prove  to  the  expert 
that  germination  has  taken  place  ;  and  further 
on  it  would  not  be  difiieult  for  the  most 
inexperienced  to  recognise  the  developing 
seedlings.  The  care  that  must  be  expended 
upon  these  numerous  plantlets,  any  one  of 
which  may  prove  to  be  something  entirely  new 
in  the  world  of  Orchids,  is  almost  beyond 
belief,  for  even  with  the  skilled  attention  that 
the  wide  experience  of  Mr.  Smith,  Mr.  Measures' 
Orchid  grower,  enables  him  to  give  to  them,  a 
certain  percentage  invariably  disappears.  And 
the  patience  that  is  necessary  before  the  results 
of  one's  labours  are  known  !  Even  the  seedling 
Cypripediums,  which  apparently  develop  the 
most  quickly,  rarely  flower  before  three  or  four 
years  have  elapsed,  and  the  majority  of  Orchids 
take  very  much  longer.  With  .such  an  example 
of  successful  city  gardening  before  them, 
dwellers  within  the  radius  of  London  smoke, 
and  particularly  those  who  delight  in  the 
culture  of  Orchids,  should  take  heart  and 
endeavour  to  emulate  the  success  achieved  by 
Mr.  Measures  in  his  Camberwell  garden. 

H.  H.  T. 


ASSOCIATION  FROM  A  GARDEN 
POINT   OF  VIEW. 

Every  situation  of  life  is  made  they  say  by 
what  we  ourselves  bring  to  it,  which  is  only 
another  way  of  saying  that  no  two  v>eople  ever 
see  things  with  the  same  eyes.  This  is  never 
more  true  than  in  the  garden  ;  a  thousand 
subtleties  go  to  the  making  or  marring  of  our 
enjoyment  in  it.  To  the  observation  of  every 
flower,  whether  of  field,  greenhouse,  or  garden, 
we  bring  minds  diverse  as  the  poles  and  sets 


of  associations  that  are  as  varied.  Things 
oft'end  or  please,  not  only  because  of  what  they 
are,  but  of  what  they  may  remind  us.  Even  our 
enjoyment  of  scents  is  influenced  in  the  same 
way  ;  every  scented  flower  or  tree  smells  of,  or 
at  least  suggests,  something  other  than  itself. 

We  pull  a  tuft  of  Groundsel ;  it  is  as 
redolent  of  bird  sand,  cages,  and  the  blown-otf 
husk  as  Gardenias  and  Tuberoses  are  of  kid 
gloves  and  evening  partie.s,  or  as  crushed 
Maidenhair  and  the  heavily  scented  exotic  of 
funerals,  weddings,  or  the  crumpled  ball  dress. 
Poor  ^Maidenhair  !  To  how  many  uses  art 
thoii  put,  how  endless  thy  missions !  Too 
attractive,  too  ready  to  imjirove,  is  it  not 
almost  a  misfortune  that  we  are  unable  to 
disassociate  thy  exquisite  sprays  from  the 
button-holes  of  Harry  and  Harriet  1  who, 
whatever  may  be  the  flower  they  wear, 
invariably  pick  ott'  all  its  own  green,  substi- 
tuting the  inevitable  sprig.  It  is  their  hall- 
mark and  nic/u't  of  distinction  ;  but  it  is  hard 
on  others,  when  the  sight  of  so  beautiful  an 
object  should  recall  a  short  pipe,  a  .stubby 
moustache,  and  a  not  too  iileasing  personality 
In  the  same  way  the  Hyacinth  reminds  us 
not  of  the  slain  son  of  Aniyclas,  but  of  the 
sunny  and  firelit  warmth  of  London  drawing- 
rooms  (sun  and  fire  always  quarrel  at  Hyacinth 
time),  or  ])erchance  of  the  busy  party  of 
Lenten  ladies  at  Friday  work,  the  click  of 
needles,  the  feel  of  flannel,  the  shriek  of 
tearing  cotton,  and  the  tea-cup. 

Some  may  deem  such  notions  fanciful,  but 

over  the  sensitive  and  imaginative  it  is  difiieult 

to  exaggerate  the  )iower  of  association.     We 

know  of   the  little  town  boy  who  refused  to 

lielieve  a  horse  in  the  fields  was  not  a  cow; 

"because,"  he  said,  "horses  had  cabs  to  them  " 

Association  here  was  stronger  than  "  seeing  is 

believing."     We   take   our  friends  round  our 

own  domains  ;  they  never  look  at  the  things 

they  ought  and  we  are  longing   for   them  to 

make  remarks  about  ;   these  are  passed  over 

for  some — by  us  unheeded — trifle  that  appeals 

to  their  individual  tastes  or  memories.    We 

are  seeing  one   thing  and   they   another,  for 

after  all  we  only  see  that  which  we   notice. 

Each  one  of  us  lives  in  a  diii'erent  world.     The 

proper  understanding  of  mental  ijrocesses  such 

as  these  might  explain  much  of  the  fretfulness 

and  apparent  caprice,  with  which  we  torment 

Our  gardeners,  who  are  trying  in  vain  to  please 

us,  and  can  never  wholly  succeed  as  long  as 

their  bodies  hold  one  mind  and  ours  another  ; 

the  only  way  is  to  get  a  gardener  who  is  willing 

to  reflect  our  mind   if   we   have  one.     If  we 

have  not  if.  is  a  difl'erent  thing,  and  does  not 

matter.      It   might    also    give  a   key   to   the 

strange  dislikes  people  take  to  certain  flowers 

and   plants.      One   lady  I   know  has   such  a 

distaste  for  Michaelmas  Daisies  that  not  one  is 

allowed  in  her  house  or  garden,  even  now  when 

there  are  so  many  beautiful  sorts  and  kinds  to 

choose  from.     Investigation  proves  the  root  of 

the  distaste  to  be  nothing  but  association  ;  the 

sight,   even   the   smell   of   them,  spells   tears, 

farewells,  and  the  journey  back  to  school. 

I  have  sometimes  amused  myself  by  trying  to 
find  out  which  was  the  favourite  flower  of  our 
most  familiar  poets,  and  am  sure  it  is  nearly 
always  one  that  has  gathered  round  it  the 
associations  of  childhood.  Walt  Whitman 
never  gets  quite  away  from  the  scent  of  the 
Lilac  bush  and  its  delicate  spires  of  colour 
amid  heart-shaped  leaves  of  green,  as  it  grew 
by  the  palings  of  his  father's  home.stead  on 
the  plain.  I  have  the  same  feeling  for  Sweet 
William,  which  takes  me  back  to  the  age  of 
three,  and  "  E.  V.  B.,"  who  has  .such  a  deep 
love  for  Virginian  Stock,  confesses  how  her 
afl'ection  for  it  began  in  the  gardens  of  Hampton 


Court,  which  as  a  child  she  knew  by  heart. 
To  me  Virginian  Stock  is  the  little  sister's 
grave  beneath  the  tree.  It  is  the  flowers  we 
are  brc^ught  up  with,  enjoying  them  more  than 
we  knew,  which  we  continue  to  love  the  best ; 
no  others  can  vie  with  them. 

Mary  Cholmondely,  in  "  Red  Pottage," 
expresses  the  feeling  very  well.  "As  we 
grow  older  we  realise  that  in  the  gardens, 
where  life  leads  us,  we  never  learn  the  shrubs 
and  trees  by  heart  as  we  did  as  children  in  our 
old  garden  of  Eden  round  the  little  gabled 
house  where  we  were  born."  There  it  was 
that  every  shrubbery  was  an  enchanted  thicket, 
the  whorls  of  long,  limii  Chestnut  leaves  were 
fans  or  feathers,  Laliurnum  real  gold. 

At  Eastertide  there  comes  an  exodus  of 
thousands  of  town  toilers  into  the  country. 
On  every  mantelshelf  of  the  homely  lodging- 
hou.se,  and  on  the  dining  tables  of  smart 
hotels,  will  be  bunches  of  Wallflower  and 
Daflbdil.  They  are  a  part  of  the  holidays,  and 
seem  to  the  Londoner  as  if  they  grew  just  as 
and  where  he  sees  them.  To  the  barrister 
Primroses  are  as  much  a  part  of  the  Easter 
vacation  as  are  his  wig  and  gown  of  life  in 
court,  and  the  Violets  of  the  mead  or  hedge- 
row, generally  a  pale  blue,  and  not  much 
scent  to  them,  picked  on  highway  holidays, 
are  as  difl'erent  from  the  Violets  that  belong 
to  London  baskets — and  smell  of  them— as 
town  air  is  from  country. 

It  is  wise  to  cultivate  pleasant  associations  ; 
they  are  lightly  impressed,  or  seem  to  be  so, 
but  the  seals  they  set  are  indelible,  especially 
when  imprinted  in  childhood. 

"There  was  a  child  went  forth  every  day. 
The  early  Lilacs  became  part  of  this  child. 
And  grass  and  white  and  red  Morning-glories 
and  white  and  red  Clover."  These  are  the 
things,  among  others,  less  lovely,  alas  !  on 
which  our  souls  feed,  and  are  slowly  building 
up  that  part  of  us  which  is  immortal. 

F.  A.  B. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 


SPRING  CABBAGE   'WHEELER'S 
IMPERIAL. 


ago 


AST  year  I  saw  some  splendid  breadths  of 
this  Spring  Cabbage  in  the  West  of 
England,  and  determined  to  give  it  a 
trial.  It  was  originally  sent  out  by 
the  late  Mr.  G.  Wheeler  of  Warminster, 
Wills,  and  I  grew  it  some  twenty  years 
Gloucestershire,  where  it  was  a  great 
favourite,  but  owing  to  various  changes  I  quite 
lost  sight  of  it.  As  EUam's  Early  Dwarf  was 
introduced  afterwards  the  useful  Imperial  was  not 
so  necessary.  With  me  the  older  variety  is  quite 
equal  in  quality  to  the  newer  variety  ;  it  is  of 
delicate  flavour,  and,  though  a  few  days  later,  is 
equally  as  valuable,  slightly  larger,  and  has  few 
outer  leaves.  The  growth  is  compact,  close,  and 
cone-shaped  ;  indeed,  it  is  well  worth  attention 
for  its  good  quality.  I  am  very  pleased  to  get 
hold  of  the  true  stock  of  the  original  Imperial 
Cabbage  through  the  kindness  of  Messrs.  Harraway 
and  Seott  of  Warminster,  and  for  growing  in  a 
private  garden  it  cannot  be  beaten  owing  to  its 
compact  growth  and  excellent  quality  ;  it  is  very 
hardy,  and  grows  close  to  the  soil. 


LETTUCE  LITTLE  GEM. 

There  is  no  difficulty  whatever  in  having  splendid 
Lettuce  early  in  the  summer,  but  the  growers 
trials  begin  in  July,  especiallj'  in  such  seasons  as 
we  have  had  of  late  jears.  Owing  to  the  heat  and 
di-ought  only  a  few  special  varieties  have  stood 
the  test  in  a  light  gravelly  soil.  So  far  Little 
Gem  has  never  failed,  even  in  the  worst  seasons. 


May  31,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


357 


From  a  late  May  sowing  a  regular  supply  has  been 
obtained  at  the  time  named,  one  of  the  worst 
periods  if  the  Reason  is  dry.  Little  Gem,  as  its 
name  implies,  is  not  large,  but  dwarf  and  compact, 
and  the  leaves  are  dark  green  with  very  solid 
hearts,  which  remain  sound  a  long  time  before 
running  to  seed.  This  is  a  great  gain,  and  being 
of  such  splendid  quality  the  solid,  crisp  hearts  are 
much  liked  as  a.  salad.  It  is  a  Cos  variety,  though, 
not  unlike  a  Cabbage  Lettuce,  in  growth  being  a 
little  more  erect.  It  requires  less  space  than 
many  other  Cos  varieties,  and  I  would  advise  two 
sowings  for  summer  supplies,  one  in  the  middle  of 
May,  and  another  about  three  weeks  later.  For  the 
latter  sowing,  sow  very  thinly  in  rows,  and  thin  to 
the  distance  required,  sowing  on  a  cool  border  in 
well-manured  land. 


FORCED  SPINACH  (THE  CARTER). 

Whenever  a  dearth  of  this  useful  vegetable  is 
threatened  a  supply  may  readily  be  had  at  this 
season  of  the  year  by  forcing — that  is,  sowing 
under  glass  and  getting  an  early  supply.  To  many 
it  may  appear  out  of  place  to  force  such  a  simple 
vegetable  as  Spinach,  but  it  is  far  better  to  force 
than  to  run  short,  and  in  some  gardens  there  is  an 
almost  daily  demand  for  it.  We  have  grown 
these  plants  both  in  frames  sown  broadcast,  also 
in  drills  and  in  pots,  and  find  that  to  get  a  quick 
supply  in  a  few  weeks  a  good  return  is  secured 
by  frame  culture  if  a  little  warmth  can  be  given 
at  the  roots.  By  sowing,  say,  in  February,  a 
supply  may  be  had  in  April  and  May,  a  season 
when  there  is  a  scarcity.  When  sown  in  drills  in 
frames  a  row  of  small  Radishes  or  Lettuces  may 
be  sown  between  as  a  catch  crop.  I  prefer  the 
Radishes,  as  they  quickly  mature;  the  Lettuce 
needs  transplanting.  As  regards  varieties  there 
is  a  splendid  new  one  that  forces  grandly,  gives 
very  large  succulent  leaves,  and  is  quite  ten  days 
earlier  than  any  other  variety  ;  this  is  the  Carter 
Spinach,  sent  out  by  Messrs.  Carter,  High  Holborn. 
It  is  also  a  very  fine  Spinach  for  first  crop  in  the 
open.  G.  Wythes. 


SORREL  AS  A  VEGETABLE. 
In  many  gardens  Sorrel  is  grown,  and  a  few  leaves 
are  at  times  used  for  salads.  It  is  also  excellent 
when  boiled  and  served  like  a  green  Spinach  ; 
indeed,  some  prefer  the  flavour  of  ordinary  Spinach 
to  that  of  the  Mountain  Sorrel.     One  advantage  in 


growing  this  plant  for  use  in  vegetable  form  is 
that  its  culture  is  so  simple.  Seeds  sown  in  the 
spring  in  a  well  dug  and  not  very  dry  soil  will 
give  a  full  crop  in  a  short  time.  I  would  advise 
three  sowings  ;  that  for  summer  use  on  a  shady  or 
north  border,  in  rows  18  inches  apart,  and  the 
plants  well  thinned  in  the  rows.  In  gathering  the 
large  single  leaves  should  be  cut,  as  this  allows 
the  smaller  ones  to  develop.  I  have  seen  the 
plants  cut  all  over,  but  do  not  advise  it.  There  is 
no  need  to  sow  once  a  good  stock  has  been  secured, 
as  Sorrel  divides  readily,  and  replanted  every 
spring  will  give  a  season's  supply.  The  Mountain 
Sorrel  is  the  best,  as  this  has  a  much  larger  leaf 
than  the  common  or  field  Sorrel,  and  does  not  run 
to  seed  so  quickly  ;  the  leaves  when  boiled  are  less 
acid,  larger,  and  of  a  much  darker  green.  When 
grown  regularly  by  division  it  may  with  advantage 
have  a  deeply  dug  soil.  G.  W.  S. 


GRAMMATOPHYLLUM 
SPECIOSUM. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Walter  Fox,  curator 
of  the  Botanic  Gardens,  Singajjore,  for  this 
photograph  of  an  exceptionally  fine  specimen 
of  the  largest  of  all  Orchids.  It  has  been  an 
inmate  of  the  Singapore  gardens  for  some 
twenty-five  years,  flowering  annually,  and 
growing  with  a  vigour  that  we  cannot  hope  to 
see  in  our  Orchid  houses,  even  with  the  most 
skilful  treatment.  The  dimensions  of  this 
specimen  are  :  Circumference,  47  feet ;  height, 
10  feet ;  number  of  flower-spikes,  55  ;  length 
of  flower-spikes,  7h  feet  ;  number  of  open 
flowers,  2,090;  of "  flower-buds,  1,110.  The 
flowers,  each  of  which  is  nearly  6  inches  in 
diameter,  remain  fresh  for  about  six  weeks  ; 
the  sepals  and  petals  are  oblong,  yellow,  richly 
spotted  and  blotched  with  red-purple  ;  the  lip 
is  yellow  with  red  lines  ;  their  odour  is  richly 
aromatic.  This  plant  is  growing  in  a  bed  of 
clayey  soil,  which  is  always  moist  (there  is  no 
dry  season  in  Singapore),  and  it  receives  an 
annual  top-dressing  of  cow  manure  and  dead 
leaves. 

The  finest  plants  found  growing  wild  in  the 
Straits  are  usually  high  up  in  the  forks  of  very 
large  trees,  where  they  get  abundance  of  sun- 
light.   About  ten  years  ago  Me.ssrs.  F.  Sander 


and  Sons  tried  to  obtain  one  o{  the  largest  of 
these  Malayan  specimens  to  exhibit  at  the 
Chicago  Exhibition  in  189.3,  but  it  proved  too 
unwieldy  for  the  journey,  and  when  it  arrived 
at  St.  Albans  was  in  too  damaged  a  condition 
to  send  to  Chicago.  The  only  part  that  was 
preserved  is  now  at  Kew,  where  it  flowered 
last  winter  for  the  first  time.  The  first  plant 
to  flower  in  this  country  was  in  the  famous 
Loddiges  collection  at  Hackney  in  1832,  and 
the  second  flowered  seven  years  later  in  the 
garden  of  Mr.  Farmer  at  Ewell.  More  recently  a 
fine  flower  spike  was  produced  in  the  collection 
of  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  who  exhibited 
it  at  the  Drill  Hall  in  September,  1897,  when 
it  was  awarded  a  first-class  certificate  and  a 
gold  medal.  An  Orchid  which  is  literally  a 
load  for  an  elephant,  and  requires  an  area 
equal  to  that  of  a  dwelling-room  for  its 
accommodation,  is  scarcely  a  plant  for  an 
ordinary  collection.  It  is,  however,  one  of  the 
Titans  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  and  one  can 
gain  some  idea  of  its  size  and  magnificence 
from  the  illustration  and  particulars  here 
given.  W.  W. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

IRIS    ASSYRIACA. 

RECENT  additions  to  the  orchioides 
group  of  bulbous  Irises  should  serve  to 
stimulate  some  interest  in  several  of 
the  older  plants  of  the  same  type,  many 
of  which  are  very  beautiful  and  quite 
easj'  to  grow.  Iris  assyriaca,  a  closely 
allied  plant  to  the  well  known  I.  sindjarensis,  is 
one  of  the  most  fascinating  of  all.  The  bulbs  are 
exceptionally  large  and  heavy — of  the  "  come- 
to-stay "  type — and  the  leafage  is  very  broad, 
forming  a  stout  distichous  tuft  18  inches  high. 
The  flowers  are  borne  in  the  axils  of  the  upper 
stem  leaves,  and  are  pure  white  in  colour,  occasion- 
ally sl'ghtly  tinted  with  very  pale  blue  ;  they 
average  4  inches  in  width.  Typical  Iris  assyriaca 
has  semi-transparent  flowers  with  pure  white  falls 
and  pale  lavender  style  branches,  but  a  number  of 
colour  forms  frequently  occur  amongst  seedlings 
and  imported  batches,  as  is  the  case  with  most 
species  of  this  very  sportive  genus. 
Whatever  the  tint  of  colour  may  be.  Iris 
assyriaca  has  flowers  that  may  be 
described  as  marvels  of  delicacy,  remind- 
ing one  of  the  thin  satiny  texture  of  the 
flowers  of  many  exotic  Pancratiums.  A 
single  plant  generally  produces  five 
flowers  in  succession,  though  individually 
they  do  not  last  more  than  three  days 
before  collapsing.  The  plants  can  be 
well  grown  on  a  rockery  with  a  southern 
exposure,  where  they  can  receive  a  good 
ripening  whilst  resting.  The  bulbs  pro- 
duce thick  fleshy  roots,  which  penetrate 
deeply,  and  they  should  not  be  moved 
when  once  established  on  this  account.  All 
the  Irises  of  this  group  thrive  remark- 
ably well  if  plenty  of  builders'  rubbish, 
mortar,  &c.,  is  mixed  with  the  subsoil. 


GRAMMATOPUyLLUM  SPECIOSUM   IN  THE  SINGAPORE   BOTANIC   GARDENS. 


TULIPA  MICHELIANA. 
This  is  a  rare  species,  closely  allied  to 
Tulipa  Greigi,  and  gives  promise  of 
becoming  a  reallj'  good  garden  plant. 
It  grows  nearly  2  feet  in  height,  and 
has  glaucous  leaves  streaked  with  dull 
red  in  the  way  of  those  of  the  well- 
known  T.  Greigi.  The  flowers  are 
coloured  a  rich  glowing  crimson,  flushed 
glaucous  red  on  the  outside  of  the 
outer  petals,  whilst  the  inside  of  the 
flower  is  blotched  rich  black  with  a 
bright  golden  undulating  ring  around  the 
black  throat  as  a  dividing  colour.  The 
flowers  are  as  large  as  those  of  T.  ges- 


358 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


neriana  major,  which  it  also  much  resembles  in 
form  and  habit.  The  most  marked  characteristics 
of  the  newcomer  are  the  striped  leafage  and 
glowing  golden  ring  near  the  centre  of  the  flower. 
It  is  a  handsome  Tulip,  and  likely  to  become  a 
garden  favourite  when  plentiful. 

HYACINTHUS  AZUREUS  VAR. 
AMPHIBOLIS. 
Those  who  recognise  the  value  of  Hyacinthus 
aznreus  for  naturalising  in  grass  and  for  clothing 
stretches  of  flat  rockwork  will  be  glad  to  learn 
something  of  this  new  giant  form.  The  spikes  are 
8  inches  in  height,  and  bear  heavy  heads  of  some 
fifty  bells,  rather  paler  in  colour  than  those  of  the 
type,  due,  doubtless,  to  the  whitish  margins  of 
the  petal  lobes.  From  two  to  three  spikes  are 
produced  by  each  adult  bulb,  and  the  compara- 
tively great  height  of  these  and  the  larger  bells 
render  this  variety  superior  to  the  type  for  grass 


congeners,  either  in  the  rock  garden  or  in  a  cold 
house,  should  complete  the  trio  by  adding  this 
charming  plant  so  soon  as  it  can  be  procured. 
Where  they  cannot  be  grown  in  the  open  air  it  is 
well  to  remember  that  no  finer  dwarf  spring  plant 
can  be  grown  under  the  shelter  of  glass  than 
Shortia  galaeifolia  with  its  multitude  of  pure 
white  flowers,  which  are  not  so  frail  as  they  might 
seem  to  be,  and  Schizocodon  soldanelloides,  though 
possibly  it  might  not  prove  quite  so  free  flowering, 
would  certainly  thrive  under  the  same  treatment 
and  would  make  a  fine  and  interesting  companion 
plant.  The  red-bronze  colour  of  the  new  leaves 
gives  a  fine  contrast.  K.  L.  I). 

TULIPA  GALATICA. 

This  Tulipa  is,  I  believe,  a  true  species  ;  I  first 
saw  it  in  1900.  It  is  very  distinct,  and  in  point 
of  delicate  colouring  and  delightful  shape  the 
flowers  have  much  to  recommend  them.     They  are 


LA    MORTOLA. 

The  picture  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanbury's  residence, 
standing  in  his  far-famed  hill  garden,  will  be 
to  many  of  our  readers  a  pleasant  remembrance 
of  delightful  hours  spent  in  those  private 
grounds,  that  by  their  owner's  kindness  and 
true  desire  to  give  not  only  pleasure  but 
instruction,  may  be  visited  on  certain  days. 
The  garden  of  La  Mortola  contains  in  fact  one 
of  the  most  comprehensive  botanical  collec 
tions  in  Europe,  and  the  conditions  of  the 
rocky  hillside,  of  which  every  advantage  has 
been  taken,  make  it  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
gardens  of  the  world,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
deepest  botanical  interest. 

The  general  view  of    the  house    and    the 

nature  of  the  ground  only  are  shown  in  the 

present  illustration,  but  we  have  the  privilege 

of  describing  and  illustrating  some  details  of 

the  garden's  treasures,  which 

will  follow  in  due  course. 


THE     MOUNTAIN 
PRIMULAS. 


SIB  TIIOM.iS   hanbury's  RESIDENCE   AND   THE   VILLAGE  OF  LA   MORTOLA.      (Photographed  by  Miss  Willmott.J 


planting,  as  the  spikes  and  leafage  are  carried  well 
above  the  grass.  The  bulbs  are  unusually  large, 
but  increase  slowl}'.  On  the  other  hand,  and  this 
is  more  desirable,  the  plants  mature  quantities  of 
good  seeds  which  require  no  harvesting,  as  they 
are  quite  capable  of  germinating  in  all  but  the 
strongest  grass  land.  It  begins  to  flower  at  the 
same  time  as  H.  azureus,  but  lasts  a  fortnight  or 
three  weeks  longer.  G.  B.  Mallett. 

SCHIZOCODON   SOLDANELLOIDES. 

This  beautiful  Japanese  plant,  which  was  intro- 
duced by  an  amateur  in  1891,  is  now  showing  its 
salmon-pink  fringed  bells  above  its  tufts  of  round, 
leathery  leaves  in  a  sheltered  nook  of  the  rock 
garden  at  Kew.  It  belongs  to  the  same  order  as 
Shortia  galaeifolia  and  Oalax  aphylla,  and  is  still 
comparatively  rare  and  little  known.  As  the  name 
implies,  its  flowers  resemble  those  of  Soldanella  in 
shape,  though  not  in  colour,  and  the  whole  plant 
is  more  vigorous  in  habit.  Those  whose  gardens 
admit   of   giving  the  conditions  required  by  its 


of  great  substance,  average  4  inches  in  length  and 
6  inches  to  8  inches  across  when  fully  open,  and 
are  coloured  cream  with  olive-green  throats,  the 
outer  petals  especially  being  prettily  marked  with 
olive-green  veining  on  a  citron-yellow  ground 
colour,  shading  toward  the  margins  a  paler  tint, 
the  extreme  margins  being  of  a  delicate  creamy 
white. 

The  flower  has  much  of  the  soft  colouring  of 
T.  viridiflora  prftcox,  but  it  is  more  refined  and 
shapely.  The  plant  averages  8  inches  in  height, 
the  leafage  is  large,  undulating,  and  nearly  pros- 
trate, and  the  stems  are  very  glaucous,  nearly 
milk  white,  and  very  stout.  The  flowers  last  a 
long  time  in  good  condition,  and  never  lose  their 
cup-like  outline,  even  under  the  influence  of  strong 
sunshine.  It  is  a  very  rare  plant — only  a  few 
growers  have  it  under  cultivation — but  as  it  is  a 
thriving  plant  it  should  soon  find  its  way  into 
many  gardens.  It  requires  the  same  treatment 
as  that  given  to  the  rank  and  file  of  garden  Tulips. 

G,  B,  Mallett. 


{Continued  from  page  o~S.) 
Sax.^tile  or  Rock -loving 

Species. 
P.  CoTiiA  (E.  Widmer). — A 
plant  of  the  Cottian  Alps 
(Val.  Germanasca)  at  3,000 
feet  to  7,000  feet,  in  the 
fissures  of  rooks  (figured  in 
Neubert's  Garten  Magazin, 
January,  1890).  It  is  near 
P.  villosa  and  P.  commu- 
tata :  the  fact  alone  of  its 
strange  and  remote  habitat 
might  have  inclined  its 
author  to  describe  it  under 
a  separate  name,  but  it  also 
pos.sesses  some  distinctive 
characteristics.  This  is  the 
description  of  the  plant 
given  by  Melle  Widmer  from' 
the  specimens  found  by  Dr. 
Kostan,  the  famous  Pied- 
montese  botanist  :  "  Plant 
saxatile ;  leaves  ovate-lanceo- 
late, tapering  gradually  to 
the  petiole,  Ij  inches  to 
.3]  inches,  rarely  4  inches 
long,*  and  three-eighths  of  an 
inch  to  Ij  inches  wide ; 
generally  rounded  to  the  top, 
denticulated  from  the  middle 
to  the  top,  rarely  lower  ; 
flower  stalk  longer  than  the 
leaves,  bearing  two  to  eleven 
flowers  on  pedicels  one-tenth 
of  an  inch  to  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  rarely 
three-eighths  of  an  inch  long  ;  bracts  ovate- 
obtuse,  from  a  quarter  to  half  the  length 
of  the  peduncle,  the  lower  bract  foliaceous, 
but  rarely  longer  than  the  others ;  calyx 
one-eighth  of  an  inch  to  one-quarter  of  an 
inch  long,  divisions  obtuse  or  pointed ;  all 
the  foliaceous  parts  of  the  plant  are 
glandular  -  pubescent,  the  glands  small  and 
reddish.  Flowers  bright  carmine-rose,  going 
off  purplish  ;  tube  outside  and  at  the  throat 
set  with  glandular  hairs  ;  stamens  longer  than 
the  style  ;  capsule  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch 
to  five-.sixteenths  of  an  inch  long."  This 
species  does  well  in  gardens,  but  recjuires  a 
shady  place  in  the  joint  of  a  non-granitic  rock. 
It  flowers  in  April  and  May,  and  ripens  a 
quantity  of  seed. 


•  I  found  some  near  the  Col  d'Abii^'.?,  at  Prali,  in  ttie 
Cottian  Alps,  whose  leaves  were  larger,  but  they  were 
growing  in  rich,  dark  mould. 


May  31,  1902,] 


THE    GARDEN. 


359 


PRIMULA    GLUTINOS.V    (LIFE   SIZE). 

P.  crenata  (Lam.)  syn.  P.  niiir/inata  (Curt.). 

P.  cridalensis  (Gusm  ),  mentioned  by  Dewar,+ 
is  a  synonym  of  P.  Venzoi  (Huter). 

P.  decipiens  (Stein),  Alps  of  the  Val  d'Aofta 
and  of  Piedmont  between  6,000  feet  and  7,100 
feet.  It  is  a  form  of  P.  hirsuta  (All.),  with 
soft  pale  green  leaves  furnished  with  slightly 
glandular  hairs ;  flowers  from  one  to  four, 
rose-lilac,  on  very  short  peduncles.  It  i^  quite 
likely  that  this  is  only  a  high  alpine  form  of 
P.  hirsuta,  which  is  of  infinite  variety,  espe- 
cially in  the  southern  portions  of  the  Alps. 

P.  decora  (Sims),  in  Bot.  Mag.,  t.  1922,  is 
simply  P.  hirsuta  (All). 

P.  dinyana  (Lagger),  figured  in  Reichen- 
bach's  "  Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  60,  under  the  name  of 
P.  muretiana  (Moritzi  non  Kern),  is  a  hybrid 
of  P.  inteqrifolia  and  viscosa,  and  is  halfway 
between  its  parents.  The  dark  purple  flowers 
are  handsome ;  the  plant  is  rare  and  diflacult 
to  grow. 

P.  discolor  (Leyb.)  (Reich.  "Icon."  xvii., 
t.  5.5),  a  natural  hybrid  of  Aurictda  and 
oenensis,  and  nearly  allied  to  P.  Arctotis.  It 
differs  from  P.  cenetms  by  its  flowers  having 
long  peduncles,  by  its  larger  leaves  and  its 
slightly  mealy  calyx,  and  from  P.  Auricula  by 
its  glandular  leaves,  which  are  not  fleshy. 
The  flowers  vary  in  colour,  being  white,  yellow, 
rose-coloured,  or  brown. 

P.  dolomitica  (Baker,  in  Gard.  Chron.,  1884, 
May  3,  page  577).— On  April  22,  1884,  Sir 
John  Llewellyn  exhibited  at  the  Auricula 
Society's  show  a  form  of  P.  ciliata  with  dis- 
tinctly crenate  leaves,  and  with  a  long-tubed 
corolla  that  at  once  appeared  to  distinguish  it 
equally  from  the  type  and  from  P.  Auricula. 
Flowers  bright  yellow. 

P.  Dumoidini  (Stein).— From  the  Tyrolese 
Alps,  a  hybrid  of  P.  minima,  and  spectabilis, 
nearest  to  minima  ;  leaves  spathulate-cuneate, 
coarsely  toothed.    A  small  species. 


t  Journal  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society,  vol.  vii., 
Jifo.  2,  page  278. 


P.  Escheri  (Briig.).— Found  by  Briigger  in '  resembling  P.  Arctotis.      It  is  possible  that 


the  Alps  of  the  Engadine  ;  a  hybrid  of  P. 
Auricula  and  integrifolia.  Flower  dull  red- 
brown,  yellow  at  the  throat. 

P.  exscapa  (Heg.)— From  the  central  High 
Alps ;  only  a  high  alpine  form  of  P.  viscosa 
(All.). 

P.  Facchim  (Schott)  syn.  P.  floerkeana 
(Facch.),    P.   magiassonica    (Porta) ;    another 


this  IS  again  one  of  those  Auriculas  of  un- 
certain origin  grown  in  the  gardens  of  the 
Tyrolese  mountaineers. 

P.  graveolens  (Hegel)  syn.  P.  viscosa  (All.). 

P.  Heerii  (Briigg.).— From  the  high  Alps  of 
Grisons  and  the  Tyrol;  a  hybrid  of  P.  integri- 
folia and  hirsuta.  It  is  superb  in  our  botanical 
alpine  gardens  of   La  Linnaja.    The  leaf 


hybrid  of  P.  minima  and  spectubilis.  It  is  |  short  and  almost  entire,  ovate  and  slightly 
"  '  '    "  '        1.1  glandular ;   the  flowers,  carried  on  very  short 

stalks,  are  large,  numerous,  and  of  a  brilliant 
crimson.     Habit  dwarf  and  tufted. 

P.  helvetica  (Don)  syn.  P.  rhcetica  (Gaud.). 

P.  hirsuta  (All.  non  Vill.)  syn.  P.  viscosa 
(Vill.  non  All.),  P.  decora  (Sims),  P.  villosa 
(Lehm.  non  Lam.  nee  Jacq.).  —  Alps  and 
Pyrenees,  between  2,000  feet  and  7,000  feet 
in  granite  rocks.  (Reich.  "Icon."  xvii.,  t.  56). 
— This  species,  well  known  in  cultivation  under 
the  name  P.  viscosa,  is  the  most  frequent  in  the 


near  P.  coro7iata  and  Dumoulini,  but  larger 
and  stouter  ;  the  leaves  are  orbicular,  bluntly 
toothed  or  sometimes  entire  (Reich.  "Icon." 
xvii.,  t.  59). 

P.floerkeana  (Schrad.  non  Reich.). — A  hybrid 
of  P.  glutinosa  and  minima ;  frequent  in  the 
granitic  Alps  of  the  Tyrol  between  4,000  feet  and 
7,000  feet.  Leaves  spathulate,  tipped  with  nine 
to  fifteen  large  blunt  teeth,  of  which  the 
middle  tooth  is  larger  than  the  side  ones  ;  stalk 
glutinous,   bearing   three   to   five  flowers  of  a 


fine  purple-rose  colour.  Five  difi'erent  Primula  i  granitic  Alps,  where  it  brightens  the  rocks  in 
Hoerkeana  have  been  published  by  Schrader,  the  early  days  of  spring.  It  forms  large 
Facchini,  Lehmann,  Reichenbach,  and  Salzer.  I  rosettes  of  leaves  that  are  glandular-pubescent 
They  are  all  hybrids  ;  those  of  the  four  last  1  on  both  sides,  and  that  are  margined  with  a 
authors  will  be  given  under  their  synonyms.  I  glandular  ciliation  ;  the  leaves  are  ovate- 
P.  Forsferi  (Stein).— From  the  Alps  of  the  !  orbicular,  contracting  suddenly  to  the  petiole 
middleTyrol,  between  .3,000  feet  and  6,000  feet. '  and  coarsely  toothed  at  the  edge  ;  the  flowers 
A  hybrid  of  P.  hirsuta  and  minima,  looking  like  are  crimson  or  purplish  crimson,  borne  two  to 
a  stout  P.  Diinima,  with  rather  longer  flower  ;  fifteen  on  a  viscous  stalk  4  inches  to  6  inches 


stems,  and  bearing  two  or  three  flowers  of  a 
fine  crimson. 

P.   glandidosa    (Bonjean.)— A   synonym   of 
P.  pedetnontana  (Thorns.). 

P.  glaucescens  (Moretti)  syn.  P.  cahjcina 
(Duby) (Reich.  "Icon." xvii.,  t.  58.).— Calcareous 
mountains  near  the  Lake  of  Como.  Near  P. 
spectabilis,  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by 
its  bluish  grey  leaves,  which  are  .stiff,  quite 
glabrous,  not  glutinous,  and  with  a  cartila- 
ginous margin  ;  also  by  the  lobes  of  the 
corolla  being  incised  to  only  one-third  of  their 
depth.  The  large  handsome  flowers,  coming  in 
March  and  April,  are  of  a  fine  carmine-lilac 
colour.  It  does  well  in  the  joints  of  walls  and 
cracks  of  rocks  either  in  sun  or  shade.  Porta 
has  published  a  variety  Loiigo- 
barda,  in  which  the  teeth  of  the 
calyx  are  obtuse  instead  of  acute. 

P.  glutinosa  (Wulfl'.)  (lieich. 
"Icones,"  t.  60,  iv.-vi.).— From  the 
Central  and  Eastern  Alps,  in 
schistose  and  granitic  soils.  A 
glutinous  plant,  every  part  of 
which  is  sweet-scented.  It  is 
small,  and  is  always  found  in  large 
colonies.  Leaves  erect,  narrow, 
standing  up  round  the  flower-stem, 
margined  with  seven  to  twenty 
small  teeth ;  stem  2^  inches  to 
4  inches  long,  bearing  one  to  six 
violet-lilac  flowers.  It  is  occasion- 
ally found  with  white  flowers. 
This  species  is  so  abundant  in  its 
native  places  that  it  forms  the 
main  part  of  the  wild  growth.  It 
is  by  no  means  easy  to  cultivate 
in  gardens.  Here,  at  Geneva,  I 
can  only  grow  it  in  pans  of 
sphagnum  in  full  sun.  At  La 
Linna^a  it  is  a  partial  success  in 
the  open  ground  and  on  rock  work. 
It  evidently  requires  to  be  in  a 
numerous  colony ;  if  isolated  it 
soon  dies. 

Briigger  has  published  (Reich. 
"Icones,"  t.  60,  i.)  a  variety  exilis 
of  P.  glutinosa  of  small  size  and 
with  a  few-flowered  umbel. 

P.  Goblii  or  Gobelii  (Kern). — 
From  the  Alps  of  Styria,  a  hybrid 
of     P,    Auricula,    and     villosa 


pedicels    much    longer 
the    capsule  is   longer 


than 
than 


the 
the 


long,  with 
involucre ; 
calyx. 

It  can  easily  be  grown  in  fissures  of  rock- 
work  and  old  walls.  There  is  a  variety  named 
august ata,  from  the  Alps  of  the  Grisons,  whose 
leaves  contract  gradually  into  the  petiole,  not 
sharply  as  in  the  type.  Pax  has  published  a 
variety  ciliata  syn.  P.  ciliata  (Schrank),  P. 
confinis  (Schott),  of  which  Reichenbach  gives  a 
figure  in  his  "  Icones,"  xvii.,  40,  t.  62,  which  has 
the  leaves  regularly  toothed  and  margined 
with  whitish  glandular  hairs.  Schott  has 
published  another  variety  with  very  irregular 
toothing  and  with  pale  rose  coloured  flowers. 
P.  pallida  (Schott).     Finally,  English  horti- 


PKIBinr.A   HIKSIITA   (ALL.    NON   VILL.)   VAK.    ALBA  ;    KNOWN    AS 
PBIJJCTLA  NIVALIS  IN  ENGLISH  GARDENS  (NKARLY  LIFE  SIZE). 


J60 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


*^v 


^    -> 


»-\ 


PRIMULA  OLADCESCENS   (LIFE   SIZK). 

culturists  have  distributed  under  the  name  P. 
ni'ieanndnimlia  (Hort),  a  beautifal  form  with 
very  pure  white  flowers,  which  seems  to  be 
absolutely  acclimatised  in  gardens  and  is  of 
great  beauty  in  rockwork  ;  we  have  it  growing 
spontaneously  in  the  northward — facing  rocks 
that  are  below  the  garden  of  Lia  Linniea. 

P.  Huguenini  ( Briigg).— From  the  high  Alps 
of  the  Orisons  ;  a  hybrid  of  P.  glutinosa  and 
integrifolia.     I  have  never  seen  it. 

P.  Huteri{KeTn.).  — Ahybrid  of  P.  floerkeana 
and  glutinosa.  L°ave3  ovate  -  spathulate 
ending  ia  eleven  to  fifteen  blunt  teeth,  the 
middle  one  rather  the  longest ;  stem  glutinous. 
Tyrol. 

Geneva.  H.  Goeeevon. 

(7'o  be  continued.) 


THE  CULTIVATION  OF  VIOLETS. 

(Continued  from  page  ~6.f-J 
III.  — Autumn  and  Winter  Treatment. 
I.N  commencing  these  notes  I  pointed  out  how 
necessary  it  was  to  get  the  young  stock  of  plants 
in  their  summer  quarters  before  the  hot  and  dry 
weather  sets  in,  and  to  be  successful  with  them 
during  the  winter  it  is  equally  necessary  not  only 
to  have  them  in  frames,  but  established  ere  the 
short  sunless  days  are  with  us.  To  allow  the 
plants  to  remain  in  the  open  until  the  first  autumn 
trusts  appear,  and  then  suddenly  to  transfer  them 
to  frames  where  they  have  to  be  protected  at  once, 
is  wrong,  and,  managed  in  such  a  way,  the  plants 
will  not  produce  flowers  until  the  roots  take  to 
the  new  soil,  i.e..  in  spring.  The  plants  should  be 
in  the  frames  several  weeks  before  it  is  deemed 
necessary  to  place  the  lights  over  them,  by  which 
time  they  will  have  got  over  any  slight  check,  and 
the  roots  having  become  established  in  the  new 
soil  the   buds  already  formed  will  develop  into 


bloom  at  once,  and  with  due  care  a 
succession  of  flowers  will  be  obtained 
until  April. 

Suitable  Frames. 

However  well  the  plants  may  have  been 
prepared  during  the  summer,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  have  suitable  pits  or  frames 
placed  in  the  most  likely  position  to 
suit  the  requirements  of  the  plants.  If 
portable  frames  are  to  be  used,  and  there 
is  nothing  better  for  the  purpose,  a  snug 
corner  in  the  garden  should  be  selected, 
where  it  will  not  be  e.\posed  to  cold 
winds,  while  the  aspect  must  be  due 
south  so  that  every  ray  of  sunshine  may 
reach  the  plants  during  winter.  A  bed 
of  leaves  and  stable  litter,  about  1  foot 
or  18  inches  high,  should  be  formed  for 
the  frame  to  rest  upon,  making  the  beds 
considerably  higher  at  the  back.  This 
not  only  causes  rain  to  pass  off  quickly, 
but  what  is  of  even  greater  importance, 
the  plants  being  on  a  gentle  slope 
towards  the  south  gain  more  sun  than  the}' 
would  on  the  level.  Of  course  the  frame 
ought  to  be  made  frost  proof,  and  this 
is  easily  done  by  packing  a  good  lining, 
■2  feet  or  more  wide,  of  leaves  and 
litter  around  the  sides  and  ends,  and  also 
by  bringing  the  material  up  to  the  top  of 
the  frame.  Placed  in  such  quarters, 
with  the  lights  properly  covered  during 
severe  weather,  the  plants  are  more 
sheltered  and  cosy  than  when  placed 
in  brick  pits,  which,  as  a  rule,  are  not 
surrounded  with  manure  or  litter,  unless 
they  were  formed  in  the  old-fashioned 
way  with  pigeon-holes.  However,  it  is 
not  heat  the  plants  rei|uire,  but  rather 
an  even  temperature  and  protection  from 
fio-it  and  damp.  Some  shallow  brick 
pits  are  furnished  with  a  small  flow  and 
return  hot  water  pipe,  sufficient  to  expel 
damp,  but  not  enough  to  keep  out 
severe  frost  witliout  the  lights  being 
covered.  Such  a  pit  would  suit  Violets  daring 
the  winter  providing  the  pipes  were  only  slightly 
warmed  when  the  plants  showed  signs  of  mildew. 

Compost. 
Nothing  is  more  suitable  for  Violets  in  frames 
than  soil  that  has  been  used  for  Melons  and 
Cucumbers  mixed  together.  The  former  alone 
might  prove  too  heavy,  and  the  latter  the  opposite. 
Therefore  a  mixture  of  the  two  makes  an  ideal 
compost.  There  should  be  at  least  0  inches  of  this 
placed  in  the  frame.  If  the  frame  is  a  deep  one 
some  other  material  must  be  placed  in  the  bottom, 
so  that  when  the  soil,  it  inches  deep,  is  pat  in  the 
surface  will  be  about  1  foot  from  the  glass.  By 
this  means  the  plants  are  brought  up  to  the  light, 
which  is  an  advantage.  It  is  wise  to  have  the 
frames  in  readiness  to  receive  the  plants  when  the 
first  favourable  opportunity  occurs. 

Removing  the  Plants  to  the  Frames. 
We  find  from  the  middle  to  the  third  week  in 
September  a  good  time  to  lift  and  place  the  plants 
in  the  frames,  but  something  depends  on  the  con- 
ditions of  the  weather  at  the  time.  Should  there 
be  a  few  dull,  -showery  days,  full  advantage  must 
be  taken  to  lift  and  transplant;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  it  would  not  be  wise  to  do  so  during 
drought.  The  plants  will  not  make  much  leaf 
growth  before  spring,  therefore  valuable  space 
should  not  be  lost  by  planting  loo  far  apart ;  each 
specimen,  however,  must  stand  clear  of  its  neigh- 
bour. Watering  or  syringing  may  prove  necessary 
for  a  few  days  if  the  leaves  flag,  but  if  the  plains 
are  cut  round  some  days  previous  to  lifting  with 
a  sharp  spade,  so  as  to  sever  the  straggling  roots, 
and  watered  afterwards,  they  will  lift  with  a 
better  ball  of  soil  and  feel  the  removal  less.  After 
planting  the  longer  the  lights  can  be  left  ott'  the 
better,  as  at  no  time,  even  during  winter, 
should  the  plants  receive  more  protection  than 
is  absolutely  necessary  on  account  of  frost  and 
winds. 


Insects  ajjd  Diseases. 

The  Violet,  like  other  plants  generally,  is  not 
exempt  from  the  attacks  of  insect  pests  and  diseases. 
Red  spider  is  the  most  troublesome,  but  it  is  only 
when  the  roots  suffer  from  want  of  water  or  the 
use  of  fire-heat  is  abused,  that  it  appears  on  plants 
under  glass.  The  causes  should  be  remembered 
and  carefully  guarded  against.  Damp  or  mildew, 
which  spread  very  quickly,  will  sometimes  cause 
plants  to  die  oft',  and  a  want  of  ventilation  may 
cause  this,  or,  what  is  as  bad,  faulty  lights,  which 
allow  the  rain  or  condensed  moisture  to  drip  on 
the  foliage.  Hence  the  wisdom,  as  pointed  out 
above,  of  having  the  frames  on  a  slope.  The 
lights,  however,  ought  to  be  properly  glazed  and 
painted.  During  the  winter  the  plants  require 
very  little  water,  but  they  are  benefited  by  slightly 
disturbing  the  surface  soil  and  removing  decayed 
leaves  at  the  same  time. 

By  following  the  simple  hints  here  given,  suc- 
cessful Violet  culture  will  not  be  found  difficult, 
but  attention  must  be  given  during  the  summer 
to  the  preparation  of  suitable  plants,  then  there 
should  be  no  lack  of  welcome  bloom  in  winter. 

Richard  Parker. 


THE     FLOVVER    GARDEN. 

ST.    BRIGID    ANEMONES. 

A  NEMONE  CORONARIA  is  quite  an  old- 
/\  lime    plant,    having    been   introduced 

/   %         from  the  Levant  more  than  800  years 

/  \  ago,  and  A.  hortensis  has  been  known 
y  ^  to  our  gardens  nearly  as  long.  These 
appear  to  be  the  two  species  from 
which  we  have  obtained  the  beautiful  St.  Brigid, 
or  what  are  sometimes  called  IVppy  Anemones. 
These  have  been  considerably  improved  iluring  the 
past  few  J  ea'-s,  and  the  Alderborough  strain,  which 
was  so  well  shown  at  Birmingham  antl  at  the  last 
meeting  ot  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society',  is 
second  to  none.  It  is  chiefly  by  careful  selection 
and  the  weeding  out  of  any  inferior  flowers  on  their 
first  appearance  that  such  a  high  state  of  perfection 
has  been  reached.  It  would  be  ditticull  to  describe 
the  beautiful  shades  of  colour  from  white  to  rich 
scarlet-crimson  and  purple-blue.  The  flowers  are 
semi -double,  and  as  they  last  so  long  in  flower  in 
the  garden,  and  are  also  valuable  for  cutting,  they 
should  be  much  more  generally  grown. 

It  seems  to  be  generally  supposed  that  only  in 
the  humid  climate  of  Ireland  can  these  beautiful 
flowers  be  grown  successfully,  but  this  is  not  so. 
There  may  be  a  little  difficulty  in  finding  just  the 
right  position,  and  many  fail  through  not  under- 
standing their  natural  recjuirements,  but  they  are 
as  amenable  to  culture  as  the  ordinary  single 
A.  coronaria,  which  when  once  established  in  a 
suitable  position  will  continue  to  flower  most  of 
the  year. 

I  have  found  them  do  well  on  a  border  exposed 
to  the  morning  sun  but  shaded  by  a  hedge  later  in 
the  day.  Thej'  will  grow  in  any  ordinary  garden 
soil,  but  a  rich  deep  loamy  soil  suits  them  best, 
and  the  ground  should  be  fairly  ftrm.  They  may 
be  planted  any  time  during  tlie  autumn,  and  the 
corms  should  be  well  covered,  but  not  planted 
deeply.  They  are  most  liable  to  sulfer  if  the  ground 
gets  very  dry  before  they  are  well  rooted,  and  are 
then  difficult  to  re-establish  :  the  stored-up  nutri- 
ment in  the  corms  is  exhausted  before  the  roots  are 
able  to  give  further  assistance.  This  is  probably 
the  chief  cause  of  failure.  Other  plants  started 
from  dry  corms  are  lial)le  to  sutfer  in  the  same  way 
if  started  prematurely  and  then  checked.  I  may 
add  thit  St.  Brigid  Anemones  seed  freely,  and  seed 
sown  early  in  the  autumn  will  flower  the  following 
year.  They  may  be  lelt  to  flower  without  trans- 
planting. A.  Hemsley. 

THE  LARGE-FLOWERED  MIMULUS. 
The  beautiful  forms  of  large-flowered  Mimulus,  so 
free  and  so  continuous  in  bloom,  do  not  appear  to 
be  so  generally  grown  as  they  deserve  to  be,  and 
yet  it  is  a  plant  of  easy  culture,  coming  quickly 
from  seed,  and  flowering  when  quite  small  in  size. 


May  31,  1902] 


THE  GARDEN. 


361 


The  large-flowered  Mimulus  have  been  greatly  im- 
proved during  the  past  quarter  of  a  century.  The 
late  Mr.  A.  Clapham  led  the  way  a  few  years  ago 
when  he  selected  some  types  of  large  size  and  rich 
markings,  and  plants  of  this  strain,  if  not  permitted 
to  seed,  will  go  on  blooming  for  a  length  of  time, 
especiallj'  if  the  main  stalk  can  be  cut  away  and 
young  shoots  allowed  to  grow  up  and  take  their 
place.  Young  plants  throw  the  finest  blooms  from 
seed,  but  the  size  becomes  slightly  smaller  as 
the  plants  bloom  more  profusely.  A  sowing  of 
seed  may  be  made  at  once,  scattering  the  minute 
grains  very  thinly  over  the  surface  of  a  pan,  pot, 
or  box  of  fine,  rich  light  soil.  Germination  is 
quick,  and  as  soon  as  the  seedlings  have  made  their 
third  pair  of  leaves  they  should  be  pricked  off  into 
other  pans  of  similar  soil,  for  however  carefully  the 
seeds  may  be  sown  they  are  so  minute  that  thick 
sowing  is  inevitable.  Mimulus  may  be  grown  as 
pot  plants,  which  is  the  way  to  have  them  in  the 
most  satisfactory  manner,  or  they  may  be  planted 
out  in  clumps  and  beds,  and  if  they  are  placed  in 
good  soil  and  looked  after  in  the  matter  of  water- 
ing and  supporting  they  remain  a  long  time  in 
bloom.  I  found  that  during  the  height  of  last 
summer's  heat  and  drought  the  Mimulus  was  more 
persistent  in  blooming  than  other  things.  The 
ground  colours  of  the  flowers  are  either  yellow,  as 
found  in  the  normal  form,  or  pale  amber,  and  even 
approaching  white,  while  some  are  bright  dark 
crimson.  Some  time  ago  there  was  a  fine  form  of 
this  in  cultivation  under  the  name  of  Brilliant, 
and  where  seed  of  this  colour  can  be  obtained  the 
plants  make  excellent  pot  subjects.  In  order  to 
keep  a  strain  up  to  the  mark  there  .should  be  a 
selection  of  the  finest  blooms  with  the  richest 
markings  for  a  supply  of  seeds.  The  Mimulus  as 
a  perennial  rootstook  and  a  particular  variety  can 
be  kept  through  the  winter  to  give  increase  of 
stock  in  spring.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  keep  the 
plants  too  dry  during  the  winter  ;  there  should  be 
moisture  enough  to  keep  the  creeping  roots  plump. 
The  roots  will  keep  safely  through  the  winter  on 
fairly  dry  spots  ;  the  roots  are  apt  to  perish  if  they 
are  in  cold  and  wet  soil.  R.  Deax. 


ESPALIER-TRAINED    PEAR 
TREES. 

Of  the  many  ways  in  which  the  Pear  tree  can 
be  trained,  the  espilier,  in  one  or  another  of 
the  various  forms  to  which  this  system  so  con- 
veniently adapts  itself,  is  certainly 
one  of  the  best,  and  amongst  these 
forms  the  low  arched  trellis,  so  much 
in  evidence  in  the  Royal  Gardens, 
Windsor  (see  illustration),  is  as  effi- 
cient, ornamental,  and  economical 
as  any.  They  are  economical,  because 
they  are  inexpensive  and  easily  con- 
structed. Being  made  entirely  of  iron 
they  are  practically  imperishable,  and 
the  cost  of  up-keep  and  repair  is 
reduced  to  a  minimum.  That  Pear.s 
trained  in  this  way  are  ornamental 
goes  without  saying,  and  is  evident 
from  the  illustration.  I  do  not  know 
of  a  more  pleasing  or  of  a  more 
beautiful  fruit  garden  picture  than 
the  broad  central  walk  at  Frogmore 
presents  when  the  Pear  trees  are  in 
bloom,  flanked  as  it  is  on  either  side 
by  what  appear  to  be  banks  of  lovely 
blossom.  In  the  autumn,  if  not  so 
beautiful,  it  is  rendered  intensely 
interesting  by  the  crops  of  fruit  the 
trees  bear,  and  especially  by  the  way 
in  which  the  fruit  is  disposed  on  the 
trees  ;  it  rests  obliquely  on  the 
branches,  where  it  is  well  exposed  to 
the  sun  as  well  as  to  the  view  of 
passers  by. 

This  form  of  training  is  efficient, 
because  results  are  satisfactory  in 
the  way  of  good  and  regular  crops. 


It  is  efiicient  also  in  so  far  that  the  labour 
of  attending  to  the  trees  is  small,  as  no 
ladders  or  steps  are  required.  All  ^  tying, 
pruning,  thinning  the  fruits,  and  gathering  the 
crop  are  well  within  the  cultivator's  reach  as 
he  stands  on  the  alley  on  either  side  of  the 
trellis.  It  has  been  urged  against  this  form  of 
trellis  that  the  trees  are  exposed  to  greater 
danger  from  early  summer  frosts  when  they  are 
in  bloom  by  reason  of  the  large  extent  of  flat 
surface  presented,  and  the  less  protection  from 
foliage  that  this  system  affords  as  coinpared 
with  other  forms  of  espaliers.  The  objection 
on  the  face  of  it  seems  reasonable,  but  in 
practice  this  is  rarely  found  to  be  detrimental. 
A  convenient  size  to  erect  these  trellises  is 

4  feet  high  at  the  apex  and  6  feet  wide.    The 
curve  is    formed   of    ^-inch   iron   rods,   made! 
secure  in  the  ground  by  being  cemented  into 
stones.     They  should  be  fixed  at  distances  of 

5  feet  apart.  The  horizontal  wires  for  training 
should  be  fixed  10  inches  apart,  and  to  make 
the  trellis  perfectly  rigid  they  should  be  j  inch 
thick.  The  position  of  the  trellis  should  be 
from  north  to  south  for  preference,  but  these 
espalier  trees  do  well  exposed  to  any  aspect. 
The  trees  may  be  planted  in  the  centre  and 
trained  down  the  sides,  or  they  may  be  planted 
on  either  side  and  trained  upwards  ;  the 
latter  is  the  most  expeditious  way  of  covering 
the  trellis  with  fruit-bearing  trees.    Visitor. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  EdUom  are  not  responsible  for  the  opinions 
expressed  by  their  correspondents.  J 


MR. 


[To 

S' 


BURBANK     AND     HIS 
WORK. 

THE  Editor  op  "The  Garden."] 
R,  —  During  some  months  residence  in 
Santa  Rosa  a  year  ago  I  had  many 
opportunities  of  observing  Mr.  Burbank 
and  his  work,  and  it  may  interest  your 
readers  to  hear  what  a  variety  of  plants 
he  is  expending  his  energy  upon.  Mr. 
Burbank  has  locations  which  are  very  favourable 


to  his  peculiar  line  of  work.  There  is  very  little 
frost  at  Santa  Rosa,  so  little  that  it  hardly  needs 
to  enter  into  his  calculations.  The  soil  is  rich, 
and  an  ample  supply  of  water  is  available  for 
sprinkling,  while  at  Sebastopol,  seven  miles  to 
the  westward,  where  his  larger  stock  is  grown,  the 
winter  rains  and  summer  fogs  give  ample  moisture. 
Heavy  fogs  are  frequent  during  the  summer  in 
both  localities.  Mr.  Burbank  can  grow  most  of 
his  seedlings  out  of  doors,  and  few  plants  need 
winter  protection.  The  season  of  growth  is  very 
long,  and  in  some  eases  two  generations  can  be 
produced  in  a  single  year.  He  has  one  great  draw- 
back in  the  shape  of  ill-heallh,  and  it  is  only  by 
putting  a  small  stock  of  vitality  to  the  very  best 
account  that  he  can  begin  to  carry  on  his  many 
operations  in  hybridisation  and  selection,  and  even 
then,  the  strain  is  dangerously  great.  Still,  by 
virtue  of  simple,  regular  habits  .ind  the  strictest 
temperance,  he  has  laboured  for  3'ears,  when  most 
men  would  have  sought  a  hospital,  and  has 
■  accomplished  a  vast  amount  of  labour. 

It  is  Mr.  Burbank's  custom,  when  taking  up 
a  new  plant,  to  first  secure  tlie  best  that  can  be  had 
from  any  source  as  a  starting  point  as  well  as  a 
standard  of  comparison.  He  then,  by  hybridisation 
or  selection,  or  both,  begins  the  process  of  im- 
provement or  variation  toward  some  desired  point. 
I  can  bear  witness  to  the  fact  that  he  often  does 
begin  the  process  with  a  definite  aim,  which  he 
often  succeeds  in  reaching,  but  at  the  same  time 
the  forces  which  a  hybridiser  handles  are  so 
complex  and  unknowable  that,  in  the  greater 
number  of  cases,  the  best  resixlts  are  in  lines  not 
foreseen.  I  cannot  see  how  the  element  of  chance 
can  be  made  a  minor  one  in  such  work.  The 
successes  mvist  be  in  the  ratio  of  one  in  thousands 
at  the  very  best.  To  enumerate  all  of  the 
experiments  which  Mr.  Burbank  has  made  would 
be  a  large  undertaking.  Perhaps  no  plant  worker 
who  ever  lived  can  point  to  more  valuable  results, 
yet  ver}'  many  experiments  were  fruitless,  and  the 
reward  for  many  others  was  sadly  disproportionate 
to  the  labour  expended.  As  fast  as  a  plant  was 
improved  to  a  desirable  extent  or  a  failure  shown 
it  was  dropped.  At  present  the  number  of  plants 
grown  yearly  is  verj^  large,  but  any  calculation 
would  be  futile.  The  weediug-out  process  begins 
in  the  seed  beds  and  continues  to  the  last  stage. 

Mr.  Burbank's  first  great  success  was  with 
Plums,  and  they  have  always  been  a  strong  point 
with  him.  In  1901  about  200,000  seedlings  were 
grown   and    100,000    older   seedlings   were    being 


espalier   pear  tree   in   flower   in   the   royal  gardens,    WINDSOl:. 


362 


THE    GARDEN. 


r  May  31.  1902. 


tested.  A  vast  number  show  defects  in  the 
nursery  row  and  are  weeded  out,  the  best  are 
grafted  on  stock  trees  and  tested.  They  are 
hybrids  of  fully  forty  species  and  varieties,  the 
sixth  to  tenth  cross,  and  almost  any  result  may  be 
looked  for  from  these  seedlings.  For  sixteen 
3'ears  he  has  been  hybridising  and  selecting 
Amaryllis  vittata.  There  are  now  75,000  to 
100,000  seedlings  all  in  the  open  ground.  One 
strain,  the  Giant,  are  simply  immense,  and  are  the 
best  result  of  his  year's  work.  I  lack  that  know- 
ledge of  the  best  results  achieved  in  Europe  in 
various  floricultural  lines  that  would  enable  me 
to  make  comparisons  between  these  and  others, 
but  Mr.  Burbank's  best  are  the  finest  I  have  ever 
seen. 

In  Dahlias  he  has  100,000  seedlings  from  plants 
from  the  world's  best  establishments,  and  is  simplj' 
selecting  for  fine  variations  ;  20,000  seedlings  of 
EschschoUzia  Mandarin  twice  a  year  are  being 
grown  to  breed  a  solid  pink  variation,  and  some 
very  fine  ones  have  been  produced,  but  Mr. 
Burbank  is  not  j'et  satisfied.  With  l.jO  zonal 
Geraniums,  the  best  from  a  great  European 
establishment,  he  has  begun  an  attempt  towards 
further  improvement  and  selection.  With  a  stock 
of  KiO  species  of  Sedums,  Echeverias,  &c. ,  he  is 
growing  10,00(1  hybrids  a  year,  with  hopes  of  great 
improvement  ;  '2,],000  Clematis  seedlings,  all 
hybridised,  are  on  hand,  and  15,000  Tigridias, 
the  fourth  generation  of  hybrids,  were  on  hand 
in  1901. 

He  is  striving  for  Apples  which  will  resist  the 
woollj'  aphis,  as  we  call  the  American  blight,  also 
for  very  early  and  very  late  varieties,  and  in  the 
endeavour  has  40,000  seedlings  coming  on  :  41 1,1  Hid 
seedlings  of  Ela?aguus  longipes,  selected  to 
eliminate  thorns  and  secure  better  quality,  are 
another  venture,  and  50,000  garden  Mimulus  still 
another.  He  is  seeking  to  improve  the  \\'alnut 
and  Chestnut,  and  there  are  over  2,000  Japanese 
Chestnuts  of  the  fourth  generation  on  the 
Sebastopol  grounds. 

The  Belladonna  Lily  has  always  been  a  favourite 
with  him,  and  over  25,000  selected  and  crossed 
plants  are  several  generations  from  the  initial 
point.  A  fine  seedless  Plum  and  a  good  hybrid 
between  the  Plum  and  Apricot  are  accomplished 
facts.  Then  the  improvement  of  Apricots,  Quinces, 
Pears,  and  the  American  Grape  have  long  received 
much  attention  at  his  hands.  A  winter  Rhubarb 
is  an  especial  favourite.  Juneberries  selected  from 
the  best  wild  and  tame  have  been  carefully  im- 
proved, Currants  and  Gooseberries  have  not  been 
forgotten,  and  the  production  of  ornamental 
Elders,  edible  improved  Cactus  fruits  and  Potatoes, 
with  beautifully  -  coloured  interiors,  are  mere 
diversions  for  so  hard  a  worker.  Then  Parsnips, 
Aquilegias,  Thalietrums  and  Cherries,  Brodiieas 
and  Caniassias,  Grasses  useful  and  ornamental, 
thousands  of  hybrid  Roses,  each  claim  some  time, 
while  tens  of  thousands  of  Chlidanthus  fragrans 
are  being  grown  and  selected  from  to  secure  better 
flowering  qualities  and  greater  hardiness.  I  had 
almost  forgotten  the  Shasta  Daisy.  Doubtless 
some  credit  is  due  to  Santa  Rosa  climate  and  some 
to  Mr.  Burbank's  skill  as  a  gardener,  but  there  are 
hundreds  of  plants  of  this  beautiful  species  in 
flower,  any  one  of  which  would  create  a  furore  at 
a  great  flower  show  and  immeasurably  superior  to 
the  ordinary  garden  forms  we  know.  I  believe  it 
will  come  to  be  considered  Burbank's  greatest 
floral  success. 

Mr.  Burbank  trusts  no  one  to  select  or  hybridise 
for  him,  although  he  has  excellent  help.  The  strain 
upon  his  nervous  S3'stem  during  midsummer,  when 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  fruits  must  be  tasted  and 
carefully  compared,  can  hardly  be  appreciated  by 
any  one  except  a  tea-taster.  The  fact  that  anv 
sort  of  plant  life  does  better  in  one  locality,  antl 
that,  no  matter  how  satisfactory  a  thing  is  in  one 
place  it  may  be  a  failure  elsewhere,  must  never  be 
lost  sight  of  in  pronouncing  a  verdict  on  new 
plants.  Mr.  Burbank  is  entitled  to  a  full  allowance 
on  this  score,  but  if  he  is  given  credit  only  for 
those  of  his  productions  which  are  universally 
acknowledged  to  be  of  the  best  his  place  among 
plant  breeders  will  be  very  high. 

California.  Carl  PtiRDV. 


BERBERIS    XEPALENSIS    OR 
B.    JAPONICA. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Your  correspondent  "J.  C."  in  the  number 
for  May  3  recommends  raising  this  shrub  from 
seed,  and  says  "plants  obtained  by  other  means 
rarely  succeed  well."  No  doubt  seed  is  an  excel- 
lent plan  for  obtaining  a  number,  but  it  will  be 
many  years  before  such  plants  are  of  any  size.  I 
have  grown  B.  japonica  for  a  number  of  years,  the 
main  clump  of  plants  being  much  crowded  together 
and  growing  under  an  overhanging  Thorn  tree 
where  thej'  hardly  ever  get  a  direct  ray  of  sun- 
shine ;  they  have  consequently  grown  about  5  feet 
to  54  feet  with  bare  stems  and  without  any  side 
shoots.  From  time  to  time,  therefore,  I  bend 
these  long  shoots  down,  and  they  are  so  tough 
that  they  may  be  bent  without  any  fear  of  break- 
ing them,  pegging  them  into  a  shallow  hollow  and 
covering  them  with  a  few  inches  of  earth.  In 
about  a  twelvemonth  they  are  well  rooted.  Such 
laj'ers  move  well  and  grow  away  freely,  and  I  not 
only  have  a  young  plant  2  feet  "to  3  feet  high,  but 
the  stem  remaining  makes  several  breaks,  and  I 
thus  secure  heads  of  foliage  of  different  heights 
in  the  original  position.  Such  young  plants, 
3  feet  high,  I  have  planted  to  the  north  of  some 
shrubs,  giving  them  more  room  and  light,  with  the 
result  that  they  have  branched  out  freely  and  form 
very  handsome  shrubs  clothed  with  foliage  to  the 
ground,  forming  also  a  lovely  basis  for  Tropieolum 
speciosum,  which  clambers  over  them.  Whether 
3'our  correspondent  is  correct  in  saying  that  the 
two  names  above  represent  the  same  shrub  I  cannot 
say,  but  certainly  the  Berberis  that  I  have  grown 
as  B.  japonica  differs  from  that  of  a  neighbour, 
who  purchased  his  as  B.  nepalensis  ;  and,  hand- 
some as  mine  is,  I  think  his  is  still  better. 

Yalding,  Kent.  C.  E.  F. 


BULBS  PLANTED  IN  GRASS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — At  the  present  season  one  of  the  most 
interesting  and  beautiful  parts  of  the  garden  is 
that  in  which  bulbs  have  been  extensively  planted 
in  the  grass.  At  one  time  it  was  generally  thought 
that  Narcissi  were  the  only  bulbs  likely  to  succeed 
in  such  a  position  ;  but  experience  has  taught  us 
that  there  are  many  other  bulbous  plants  which 
will  thrive  equally  well.  Can  one  imagine  a  more 
beautiful  group  of  hardy  flowers  than  Narcissus 
princeps  with  Sluscari  growing  beneath  it?  Or  do 
we  desire  anything  more  charming  than  Narcissus 
Stella  mingled  with  Fritillaria  Meleagris  ?  Both  of 
these  are  now  in  flower,  and  have  been  for  some 
time  past.  Then  there  are  the  May  -  flowering 
Tulips  ;  many  of  these  will  flourish  and  increase 
rapidly  in  grass  where  the  soil  is  moderately  good. 
Tulip  gesneriana  major  is  most  suitable  for  this 
purpose.  I  do  not,  however,  write  of  the  best 
kinds  to  plant,  or  the  best  combinations  to  be 
made,  but  rather  to  point  out  a  few  mistakes 
which  have  come  under  my  notice.  I  believe  it  is 
generally  supposed  by  those  who  have  not  had 
actual  experience  in  grass  gardening  that  any  kind 
of  bulbs  will  succeed  in  any  position  and  in  any 
class  of  soil.  A  greater  mistake  could  not  be 
made.  For  instance,  to  plant  that  fine  Narcissus 
princeps  on  a  poor  sunny  dry  grass  bank  would  be 
folly.  It  would,  of  course,  flower  grandly  the  first 
season,  supposing  good  bulbs  were  planted  ;  the 
second  year  a  few  flowers  would  show  themselves 
with  shortened  stalks  and  foliage,  but  very  few 
flowers  would  be  seen  afterwards. 

But  if  these  bulbs  were  planted  on  moderately 
good  land,  under  the  shade  of  trees  some  distance 
away,  quite  a  difterent  tale  might  be  told.  In 
such  a  situation  they  increase  rapidly.  I  know 
that  the}'  will  succeed  moderately  well  without 
shade  in  good  soil,  but,  nevertheless,  they  do  far 
better  with  it.  This  season  I  counted  eleven 
flowers  from  a  single  clump  or  cluster  of  bulbs, 
the  result  of  bulbs  planted  four  j'ears  ago  ;  but 
at  a  distance  of  50  J'ards,  on  an  exposed  position 
and  in  somewhat  poorer  soil,  where  the  bulbs  were 
planted  at  the  same  time  and  out  of  the  same 
consignment,     they     have     almost     disappeared. 


Crocuses,  however,  seem  to  flourish  amazingly,  and 
would  do  far  better  if  it  were  possible  to  protect 
them  from  the  hares.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  is 
generally  known  that  hares  do  not  care  very  much 
for  purple  Crocus,  but  such  seems  to  be  the  case  ; 
here  they  destroyed  all  the  patches  of  yellow  and 
white,  but  did  very  little  harm  to  the  purple 
flowers. 

The  Gardens,  Cirencealer  Hoiise.  T.  A. 


AGAPANTHUS   UMBELLATUS    ALBUS. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garde.v."] 
Sir, — I  observe  with  interest  what  Mr.  Peter 
Barr  has  to  say  about  Agapanthus  albus.  Seeing, 
however,  that  this  plant  has  received  the  most 
generous  treatment  at  the  hands  of  ilr.  Dugmore  J 
and  many  others,  I  fear  it  would  not  respond  so  I 
readilj'  as  is  the  case  with  the  blue  one.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  as  I  have  already  stated,  when 
this  plant  first  came  into  my  hands  I  treated  it 
much  in  the  same  way  as  I  did  the  ordinary  blue 
Agapanthus,  certainly  giving  it  quite  as  generous, 
perhaps  more  generous,  treatment.  Taking  Mr. 
Barr's  advice,  however,  I  will  put  one  of  the  plants 
here  to  the  test  and  give  it  the  benefit  of  a  good-sized 
tub  and  ample  liquid  manure,  and  all  being  well 
will  report  the  results  in  due  time.  It  is  quite 
worth  while  to  spend  some  care  and  trouble  in 
discovering  a  remedy  for  the  shj'  flowering  of  this 
beautiful  plant,  and  if  this  should  prove  to  be  con- 
veyed in  Mr.  Barr's  hint  certainly  no  one  will  ' 
grudge  it  ample  food  and  attention. 

The  Gardens,  Cirence.^ler  Hoiise.     T.  Arnold. 


GROWING  THE  BLUE  WATER  LILIES. 

[To  THE   Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — I  see  a  question  asked  under  this  head  in 
The  Garden  for  April  5  which  I  had  overlooked 
until  now,  and  if  not  too  late  my  experience  may 
be  useful  to  "A.  B.  W."  The  system  he  suggests, 
of  introducing  the  water  itself  from  the  boiler 
into  the  hot  pond  and  drawing  it  off  at  the  other 
end,  is  precisely  that  which  I  adopted,  for  the 
reason  he  suggests— viz. ,  to  gain  circulation — in 
spite  of  it  not  being  the  accepted  method,  and  I 
have  never  had  any  reason  to  regret  it.  The 
constant  circulation  has  prevented  the  pond  ever 
becoming  stagnant,  and  I  have  never  been  troubled 
with  any  scum  on  the  top,  as  I  believe  my  friend 
Mr.  Hudson,  who  uses  the  other  system,  has.  I 
think  the  fact  that  the  water  is  constantly  passing 
through  the  boiler  itself  is  beneficial  in  destroying 
the  germs  of  many  vegetable  growths  which  tend  to 
make  the  water  impure,  while  I  have  never  found 
it  detrimental  to  Nymphieas  or  Nelumbiums,  the 
lormer  growing  freely  all  over  the  bottom  from 
seed. 

My  pond  is  in  the  open  air,  entirely  unprotected 
winter  and  summer,  and  surrounded  with  all 
natural  growths  of  reeds  and  grasses,  and  I  believe 
at  present  I  hold  the  record  for  having  made  the 
Nelumbium  speciosum  fully  develop  and  expand 
its  flowers  in  the  open  air,  though  I  know  two  or 
more  gardeners  have  attempted  to  do  this. 
Nelumbiums  being  deciduous  are  perfectly  happy 
at  the  bottom  of  the  pond  when  the  top  is  covered 
with  ice,  for  I  never  heat  in  winter,  and  I  always 
preserve  a  few  seedlings  of  the  Nymphasas  in 
Orchid  pots  in  a  hot  house,  and  plant  them  out 
at  the  beginning  of  April.  Some  of  my  blue 
Nymphaas  are  now  (May  17)  in  bloom,  and  I  do 
not  think  anyone  would  care  to  flower  them  before 
May. 

Of  course  if  my  sjstera  of  free  circulation  of 
water  is  adopted  the  pond  should  be  more  or  less 
oval  in  form  to  avoid  corners  such  as  are  in  any 
square  tank,  and  which  alwaj's  tend  towards 
stagnation.  Also  the  boiling  water  should  be  led 
the  whole  length  of  the  pond  in  a  pipe — mine  is 
copper — and  discharged  at  the  furthest  point 
from  the  boiler.  Thus  the  pipe  helps  to  heat  the 
water  throughout  the  whole  length,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  water  in  the  pipe  is  slightly  loweied 
in  temperature  so  as  not  to  be  discharged  at 
boiling  point.  I  like  my  pond  to  remain  at 
between  80"^  and  90"  Fahr.,  but  it  has  not  unfre- 
quently  gone  up  far  above  100",  and  when  it  has 


May  31,  1902] 


THE    GARDEN. 


fl(]:1 


done  this  it  generally  proved  fatal  to  the 
fish,  but  ahvaj'S  improred  the  Lilies  and 
Lotus.  As  I  have  employed  my  system 
for  some  years  I  think  I  may  claim  that 
it  has  had  sufficient  trial  to  warrant  its 
being  recommended. 

H.  R.  DCTGMOKE. 

The  Mount,  Partsione. 


A 


M  I  S  C  E  LLAN E  O  U  S . 

AN   ANCIENT   OLIVE. 

LL  who  are  in  true  sympathy 
with  the  noblest  aspects  of 
tree  life,  and  who  have  wan- 
dered among  some  of  the 
old  Olives  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean regions,  will  remember 
them  as  among  the  most  impressive  of 
living  things.  Whether  among  the  hillside 
groves  of  these  sunnj'  shores  of  southern 
most  France  so  well  known  of  English 
folk,  or  among  the  still  grander  examples 
in  the  beautiful  island  Corfu,  or  among 
the  gorges  of  Algeria  guarding  the  tombs 
of  holy  men,  the  old  Olive  is  a  tree  of 
remarkable  beauty.  Its  hollow  trunk, 
worn  into  a  cluster  of  rugged  pillars  that 
at  first  sight  look  so  old  that  one  thinks 
they  must  be  on  the  verge  of  decaj',  is 
really  full  of  vitality,  for  on  looking 
upward  one  sees  grand  young  growths 
full  of  vigorous  life  dung  aloft  and  abroad 
with  that  wonderful  grace  that  can 
scarcely  be  matched  by  any  other  tree. 
(Jrandeur  of  venerable  age,  beauty  of 
young  strength,  silvery  daintiness  of  grey  bark, 
consummate  grace  of  branch  and  twig,  and  lovely 
disposition  and  form  of  leaf  are  all  qualities  that 
may  be  claimed  by  the  matchless  Olive,  and  all 
this  with  the  sober  restraint  of  colouring  that  gives 
it  its  own  distinctive  grace  of  refined  modesty. 


THE   DOCBLE-FLOWERED  SLOE   (PRUNUS  SPINOSA  FL.-PL.). 


EARLY  -  FLOWERING  CHRYSANTHE- 
MUM MR.  SELBY  AND  ITS  SPORT 
MRS.  E.  STAGEY. 
These  are  pretty  Pompon  varieties  for  the  border. 
The  former  is  well  known.  In  the  trial  of  early 
Chrysanthemums  at  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Gardens,  Chiswick,  in  1897,  the  committee 
awarded  the  parent  plant  x  x  x  on  September  17. 
The  flowers  are  of  a  pleasing  shade  of  rosy  pink, 
and  the  plant,  which  is  very  bushy  and  of  compact 
habit,  is  also  very  free  flowering ;  its  height  is  about 
18  inches.  The  sport — Mrs.  E.  Stacey — 1  believe 
originated  with  Mr.  Wells  at  Redhill.  It  deserves 
extended  culture,  as  it  has  all  the  good  qualities  of 
-the  parent.  The  colour  of  the  sport  maj'  be  described 
as  deep  apricot,  a  shade  little  represented.  It  was 
■well  shown  at  the  Tamworth  early-flowering 
Chrysanthemum  exhibition  last  autumn.  When 
planted  in  groups  of  a  dozen  plants  the  effect  in  a 
large  border  is  distinctly  good.  Small  plants 
placed  in  their  flowering  quarters  at  this  period 
should  develop  into  capital  specimens  by  the  middle 
of  September  next.  D.  B.  C. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  VINE. 

There  would  seem  to  be  no  doubt  but  that  the 
history  of  the  Vine  can  be  traced  to  an  earlier 
period  than  can  that  of  most  fruits,  either  hardy 
or  exotic,  that  are  now  generally  grown  in  Britain. 
It  certainly  has  a  most  remarkable  record,  for 
even  in  the  early  Scriptures  mention  is  frequently 
made  of  the  Vine,  more  particularly  with  reference 
to  its  use  for  wine-making.  In  Palestine,  and  also 
in  many  European  countries,  its  chief  value  lies, 
of  course,  in  this.  An  interesting  point  in  con- 
nexion with  the  mention  of  the  Vine  in  the  Old 
Testament  is  that  it  was  evidently  always  held  in 
the  highest  esteem,  for  we  read  that  Vines  were 
included  in  the  enumeration  of  the  blessings  of  the 
Promised  Land,  and,  when  used  emblematically, 
the  Vine  tree  always  signified  prosperit}'.  The 
Vine  was    apparently   thought    well    of    by    the 


heathens  as  well  as  by  the  Earlj'  Christians,  for  it 
is  recorded  that  Bacchus  was  elevated  to  the  rank 
of  a  god  for  the  simple  reason  that  he  taught  men 
the  use  to  which  the  fruit  of  the  Vine  might  be  put. 

Philips,  in  his  "  Pomarium  Britannicum,"  records 
several  different  ways  in  which  Bacchus  was  repre- 
sented ;  generally  it  was  as  crowned  with  the  Vine, 
and,  according  to  Pliny,  Bacchus  was  the  first  who 
ever  wore  a  crown.  He  has  been  represented  as 
an  infant  holding  a  cluster  of  Grapes  with  a  horn, 
and  has  often  been  depicted  as  an  old  man,  whose 
head  was  encircled  with  the  Vine,  to  teach  us  that 
wine  taken  immoderately  will  enervate  us,  consume 
our  health,  and  render  us  loquacious  and  childish, 
like  old  men. 

The  Vine  is  found  growing  wild  in  the  temperate 
regions  of  Western  Asia  and  Southern  Europe, 
and  is  usually  supposed  to  be  a  native  of  Southern 
Asia  Minor.  "  De  CandoUe,  in  '  L'Origine  des 
Plantes  Cultivees,'  says  of  the  Grape  Vine  that 
it  grows  there  with  the  luxuriant  wildness  of  a 
tropical  creeper,  clinging  to  tall  trees  and  pro- 
ducing abundant  fruit  without  pruning  or  cultiva- 
tion. Its  dissemination  by  birds  and  other  agencies 
must  have  begun  very  early,  perhaps  before  the 
existence  of  man  in  Europe  or  even  in  Asia. 
Seeds  of  the  Vine  have  been  found  in  the  lake 
dwellings  of  Castione,  near  Parma,  and  Vine  leaves 
have  been  found  in  the  tufa  round  Montpellier, 
probably  deposited  before  the  historical  epoch. 
Records  of  tlie  cultivation'  of  the  Grape  and  of  the 
making  of  wine  in  Egypt  go  back  5,000  to  6,000 
years"  (Nicholson). 

The  exact  period  of  the  introduction  of  the  Vine 
into  this  country  is  not  known,  but  it  is  generally 
conceded  to  be  about  the  j'ear  a.d.  10,  at  which 
time  the  Romans  had  possession  of  some  portion 
of  our  island  ;  the  Romans,  therefore,  are  usuallj' 
credited  with  having  been  the  means  of  intro- 
ducing the  Grape  Vine  into  Britain.  That  the 
latter  statement  is  true  is,  I  think,  not  disputed, 
but  the  date  is  given  differently  by  various  writers. 
Philips  thinks  the  date  above  mentioned  is  pro- 
bably correct,  as  the  Romans  upon  settling  down 
here  would  naturally  bring  their  luxuries  with 
them  as  far  as  possible.  The  Phienicians  are  said 
to  have  planted  the  Vine  in  the  isles  of  the  Medi- 
terranean Sea  as  well  as  in  several  parts  of  Europe 
and  Africa,  and,  as  we  have  accounts  of  their 
trading  to  Britain  for  tin,  they  might  have  planted 
it  on  the  English  coast  also.     This,  however,  must 


remain  a  matter  of  conjecture,  only  further  than 
it  confirms  the  Vine  to  have  been  originally 
brought  from  Palestine. 

Historians  record  wonderful  examples  of  the 
(Jrape  Vine.  Strabo,  who  lived  in  the  reign  of 
Augustus,  testifies  that  the  Vines  of  Margiana 
were  so  big  that  two  men  could  scarcely  compass 
them  with  their  arms,  and  that  they  produced 
bunches  of  Grapes  two  cubits  or  a  yard  in  length. 
Theoprastus  mentions  a  Vine  that  grew  so  large 
that  a  statue  of  Jupiter  and  the  columns  in  Juno's 
temple  were  made  of  it.  Pliny  says  thai  Vines  in 
old  times  were,  on  account  of  their  size,  ranked 
amongst  trees,  and  Valerianus  Cornelius  mentions 
a  Vine  of  one  stock  that  encompassed  and  sur- 
rounded a  good  farmhouse  with  its  branches. 
Pliny  also  records  a  Vine  that  was  0(10  years  old, 
and  Miller  says  that  the  vineyards  in  some  parts 
of  Italy  hold  good  above  300  years.         A.  P.  H. 


THE    DOUBLE-FLOW^ERED 
SLOE. 

The  common  Prunus  spinosa  of  our  hedgerows 
is  a  familiar  plant,  for  in  spring  it  is  one  of 
the  earliest  and  most  free  flowering  of  Briti.sh 
shrubs,  and  is  a  very  conspicuous  object  by 
reason  of  its  myriads  of  pure  white  blossoms  ; 
in  autumn  it  is  again  brought  forcibly  to 
notice  on  account  of  its  small,  glossy  black 
fpuits.  The  double-flowered  form  is,  however, 
by  no  means  common,  though  it  is  one  of  the 
prettiest  of  the  early-flowering  Plums.  At 
Kew  there  are  several  specimens  near  the 
Temperate  house,  and  they  never  fail  to  give  a 
good  account  of  themselves  during  late  JIarch 
and  early  April.  It  is  dwarfer  and  sturdier 
than  the  type,  the  branches  being  rigid,  and 
often  armed  with  spine-like  shoots.  The 
flowers  are  pure  white  and  barely  half  an  inch 
across,  their  size,  however,  being  fully  com- 
pensated for  by  their  jjrofusion.  It  is  useful 
alike  for  beds,  isolated  specimens,  and  shrub- 
bery groups.  Some  diflaculty  is  experienced 
in  its  propagation,  the  best  method  being  to 
graft  on  stocks  of  the  type  either  near  the 
ground  to  form  bushes  or  on  stems  several  feet 
high  for  standards.  W,  Dallimoee. 


3(^4 


THE    GAKDEK. 


[May  31,  1902. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Chinese  Primulas. 

SEEDLINGS  which  are  ready  should  be 
transferred  to  well-drained,  clean,  and 
perfectly  dry  small  pots.  The  soil  for 
this  potting  should  consist  of  fibrous 
loam  and  leaf-mould  in  equal  parts,  with 
some  charcoal  and  sand.  A  position  in 
a  close,  warm  pit  should  be  afforded  them.  Let 
the  plants  be  sprinkled  with  .soft  water  morning 
and  evening  until  the  roots  take  hold,  after  which 
more  air  maj'  be  gradually  given.  Endeavour  to 
grow  them  as  hardily  as  possible.  Water  with 
care,  shade,  and  keep  them  near  the  glass.  A 
thick  or  permanent  shading  is  most  injurious  to 
these  plants.  To  provide  a  succession,  another 
sowing  should  be  made,  following  the  method 
I  advised  last  month. 

CiNEEAKIAS. 

As  the  seedling  plants  begin  to  make  their 
tieeond  leaves  they  should  be  placed  in  small 
pots  and  have  the  same  treatment  as  advised  for 
Primulas.  They  delight  in  a  moist  atmosphere 
and  a  cool  bottom,  so  may  be  placed  on  a  bed 
of  coal  ashes.     For  succession  sow  again. 

Cali.as. 
I  would  advise  those  who  require  large  plants 
and  big  blooms  to  plant  out  in  trenches,  choosing 
a  sunny  position  in  the  garden.  The  trenches 
should  be  filled  with  about  9  inches  of  well-rotten 
manure  and  loam  in  equal  parts.  Old  loam,  in 
which  Melons  or  t'ucumbers  have  been  growing, 
will  suit  them  well.  On  a  cold  soil  the  trenches 
may  be  less  deep  than  on  a  light  one.  Break  up 
the  stools  and  plant  the  tubers  singly.  Place  a 
stick  to  each  plant  and  tie  the  leaves,  as  it  is 
advisable  to  keep  the  old  foliage  as  long  as  pos- 
sible in  order  to  help  root  action.  Water  sparingly 
until  this  begins  ;  when  the  young  growth  is  per- 
ceptible water  may  be  given  more  abundantly. 
Plants  required  for  small  pots  may  be  gradually 
dried  off  and  laid  on  their  sides  to  ripen.  Calla 
Little  Gem  should  be  kept  in  pots  ;  if  planted  out 
in  rich  soil  it  soon  loses  its  dwarf  habit  and 
small  spathes. 

SOLANDMS. 

The  berried  varieties  that  have  been  hardened 
oft'  should  be  planted  out  of  doors  (in  the  southern 
districts  at  least),  choosing  an  open,  sunny  position, 
and  afford  water  when  planted.  Syringe  fre- 
quently if  bright  weather  should  follow.  If  the 
plants  are  kept  growing  without  a  check  and 
receive  generous  treatment  red  spider  will  not 
attack  the  foliage.  Salvia  splendens  and  allied 
Salvias  may  also  be  planted  out  and  have  the 
same  treatment  afforded  them. 

John  Fleming. 

Wexham  Park  Oardens,  Slough. 


THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 

The  "bedding  out"  is  still  the  all-engrossing 
work  in  the  flower  garden  at  the  present  time, 
and  will  remain  so  in  many  parts  of  the  country 
for  the  next  week  or  two.  Dahlias,  Begonias, 
Heliotropes,  Petunias,  &c. ,  if  carefully  hardened 
oft',  should  take  no  harm  if  planted  out  now. 
Plants  for  imparting 

Sub-tropical  Effects 
to  the  flower  garden  are  usually  left  to  the  last. 
Among  these  there  are  now  to  be  had  plants 
which  are  of  floral  as  well  as  foliage  value,  as  the 
Cannas,  Solanums,  and  Nicoliana  sylvestris,  and 
such  plants  are  to  be  preferred  to  those  which 
have  only  large  leaves  to  commend  them.  Sub- 
tropical plants  when  well  grown  and  their  asso- 
ciations well  chosen  add  interest  and  variety  to 
the  ordinary  garden.  Similar  effects  may  often  be 
obtained  in  large  shrubbery  borders  without  much 
trouble  or  expense  by  planting  groups  of  such 
plants  as  Rheum  palmatum,  Polygonum  sacha- 
linense,  Eryngiumbromelia;folium,  Silphiura  lacini- 
atutn,   and   the    Cannabis.      Ailantus    glandulosa 


when  pruned  to  the  ground  each  season  also  makes 
a  good  substitute  for  some  of  the  more  tender 
sub-tropical  plants. 

No  sooner  are  summer  bedding  plants  put  into 
their  flowering  quarters  than  it  is  almost  necessary 
to  make  preparations  for  their  successors.  There 
is  all  the  more  reason  for  this  when  such  plants  as 
Ten- week  Stocks,  Asters,  Antirrhinums,  Poppies, 
and  the  more  evanescent  kinds  of  annuals  are  used 
either  in  beds  or  borders,  and  it  is  always  well, 
where  practicable,  to  have  plants  ready  to  succeed 
these  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  look  shabby.  Of 
late  years  the  various  forms  of  Celosias  have  been 
much  used  for  this  purpose,  and  when  well 
cultivated  and  of  a  good  strain  they  make  a 
brilliant  display  as  soon  as  they  are  put  out. 
■Where  Begonias,  Fuchsias,  and  summer-flowering 
Chr3Santhemums  do  not  otherwise  make  a  feature 
in  the  bedding  out  arrangements,  these  come  in 
well  for  succeeding  such  early  flowering  plants  as 
those  just  alluded  to. 

HofiH  A.  Pettigrew. 

The  Gardens,  St.  Fayan's  Caxt/e. 

ORCHIDS. 

Ccelogyne  dayana  (the  Garland  Orchid).  — 
Among  the  numerous  species  of  this  genus  there 
are  few  more  attractive  than  C.  dayana.  The 
flowers,  which  are  not  showy  individually,  are 
borne  on  long  pendulous  inflorescences,  forty  or 
more  being  produced  when  the  plants  are  well 
cultivated.  It  blooms  at  this  season,  and  from 
the  centre  of  the  young  growths ;  to  be  seen 
most  effectively  the  smaller  plants  are  best  sus- 
pended, and  the  larger  specimens  placed  on 
pedestals.  Ccelogyne  dayana,  being  a  native  of 
Borneo,  requires  a  stove  temperature,  a  moist 
atmosphere,  and  a  somewhat  shaded  position ; 
an  abundance  of  water  should  be  given  to  the 
roots  when  the  plant  is  in  full  growth,  and  when 
resting  a  moderate  supply  is  needed  or  the  pseudo- 
bulbs  quickly  shrivel.  After  the  flowers  have 
been  cut  any  necessary  repotting,  &c.,  should  be 
done.  Good  fibrous  peat  and  sphagnum  moss  in 
equal  parts  form  the  most  suitable  compost,  and 
not  too  much  should  be  placed  about  the  roots. 

BULBOPHYLLUMS. 

A  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  the  flowers  of 
which  are,  generally  speaking,  more  curious  than 
beautiful,  most  of  the  species  being  of  botanical 
interest  only.  The  structural  peculiarity  of  some  of 
the  flowers  when  seen  under  a  powerful  magnifying 
glass  is  remarkable  in  the  extreme.  The  majority 
are  not  difficult  to  cultivate,  and,  being  dwarf  and 
compact,  require  but  little  space.  Bulbophyllum 
Lobbii,  B.  barbigerum,  B.  dayanum,  and  others  of 
similar  habit  are  best  grown  in  pans  or  baskets 
suspended.  The  remarkable  B.  grandiflorum, 
owing  to  its  greater  length  of  rhizome  and  freedom 
of  growth,  is  best  grown  on  pieces  of  wood.  They 
thrive  well  in  a  shaded  position  in  the  stove 
with  such  plants  as  Miltonia  Roezlii,  BoUeas,  &c., 
or  with  the  warm  growing  Cypripediums.  Any 
necessary  repotting  or  top-dressing  should  be  done 
when  the  plants  commence  to  grow,  using  as  com- 
post equal  parts  of  peat  and  sphagnum  moss. 
Plenty  of  water  is  needed  when  growing,  and  at 
no  time  should  they  be  allowed  to  shrivel. 

CiRRHOPETALUMS. 

C.  append iculatura,  C.  picturatum,  C.  ornatis- 
simum,  C.  refractum,  C.  Cumingii,  C.  Medusa-,  and 
others  of  this  genus  have,  like  the  Bulbophyllums, 
very  peculiarly  constructed  flowers.  Most  Cirr- 
hopetalums  are  compact  in  growth,  and  are  best 
grown  in  pans  or  baskets  suspended.  The  same 
treatment  suits  these  as  that  recommended  for 
Bulbophyllums. 

Catasetums. 

These  are  a  genus  of  Central  American  epiphytal 
Orchids,  whose  flowers  are  very  interesting.  They 
cannot  be  said  to  be  favourites  with  Orchid 
growers,  though  they  are  well  represented  in  some 
collections.  C.  Bungerothii,  C.  callosum,  C.  niacro- 
carpum,  C.  christyanum,  and  others  are  worth  a 
place  in  every  collection,  and  when  well  cultivated 
they  seldom  fail  to  give  pleasure.     On  account  of 


their  manner  of  flowering  they  are  best  grown  in 
baskets  in  peat  and  sphagnum  moss,  suspended 
at  the  warmest  part  of  the  Cattleya  house.  When 
growth  commences  transfer  to  larger  receptacles 
if  necessary  ;  water  sparingly  until  they  have 
rooted  in  the  new  material  and  the  growths  are 
well  advanced.  Do  not  allow  them  to  become  dry 
at  the  root  until  growth  has  finished.  They  have 
a  long  period  of  rest,  and  during  ihat  time  but 
little  water  is  needed,  sufficient  only  to  prevent 
the  bulbs  from  shrivelling  too  much. 

Cycnoches. 

The  name  of  the  Swan's-neck  Orchid  has  been 
given  to  members  of  this  genus  by  reason  of  the 
long  slender  arching  column  of  many  of  the 
flowers.  The  spikes  are  produced  from  near  the 
apex  of  the  pseudo-bulb.  Cycnoches  chlorochilon 
is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  the  most  generally 
cultivated.  It  thrives  well  in  the  warmest  part 
of  the  Cattleya  house  in  pots,  pans,  or  baskets. 
In  other  particulars  they  should  have  the  same 
treatment  as  recommended  for  Catasetum.  Being 
subject  to  thrips,  they  must  be  watched  and  fre- 
quently sponged  with  some  insecticide. 

F.  W.  Thurgood. 

Eosslyn  Gardens,  Stamford  Hill,  N^. 


THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
Asparagus. 
Beds  will  now  be  in  full  bearing,  and  the  quality 
of  the  heads  will  be  much  improved  if  time  can  be 
found  to  thoroughly  drench  the  roots  with  farm- 
yard liquid,  and  during  showery  weather  give  slight 
dressings  of  artificial  manure.  The  heads  should 
be  carefully  cut  each  day,  leaving  the  weakest 
growths  to  mature  regularly  all  over  the  beds. 
By  so  doing  a  better  crop  will  be  ensured  next 
year.  Keep  the  beds  quite  free  from  weeds  by 
hand  weeding. 

Broad  Beans. 
Pinch  out  the  tops  of  these  immediatel)'  suf- 
ficient flowers  show  for  a  good  crop,  and  support 
the  growths  by  driving  in  a  few  stakes  each  side 
of  the  rows,  and  stretch  strings  along  them.  Should 
black  aphis  appear,  as  they  are  almost  sure  to  do, 
especially  on  the  later  crops,  thoroughly  syringe 
with  soft  soap  and  water  well  mixed — a  sure  and 
safe  remedy.  Make  one  or  two  more  sowings.' 
Broad  Windsor  is  much  the  best  for  this  season. 
These  will  do  much  better,  especially  on  dry, 
shallow  soils,  if  trenches  are  prepared,  filling 
nearly  full  with  half-decayed  farmyard  manure, 
and  adding  sufticient  soil  to  give  the  seeds  a  start, 
as  these  will  require  to  be  well  watered  should  a 
dry  time  be  in  store. 

French  Beans. 
Those  sown  earlier  in  the  month  and  which  are 
pushing  through  the  ground  will  need  protecting 
should  there  be  any  sign  of  frost,  but  this  crop 
will  well  repay  the  little  extra  care  and  trouble 
incurred.  Continue  to  make  small  sowings  on 
good  ground  every  fortnight.  In  many  places 
these  are  preferred  to  Scarlet  Runners,  and  where 
this  is  the  case  a  row  or  two  of  the  climbing 
French  Bean  should  certainly  be  grown.  These 
will  continue  to  bear  for  a  considerable  time, 
providing  the  pods  are  kept  picked  and  the  roots 
are  well  supplied  with  moisture. 

Potatoes. 

The  earliest  plantings  will  now  be  above  ground. 
Hoe  between  the  rows  to  keep  down  weeds, 
protect  the  young  growths  by  moulding  well  up, 
and  apply  long  litter  or  other  protecting  material 
when  necessary. 

Tomatoes. 

Plants  in  full  bearing,  and  especially  those 
growing  in  pots,  will  need  much  feeding.  Cut 
off  the  fruits  immediately  they  are  coloured  to 
prevent  cracking.  These  will  keep  a  long  time  if 
placed  on  a  soft  bottom,  such  as  wood  wool,  in  a 
dry  room. 

SUCCES.SI0NAL  Plants. 

No  difficulty  should  be  found  in  setting  plenty 
of  fruit  if  a  free  current  of  air  is  allowed  them 
when  in  bloom.  Pot  on  later  plants,  and  keep 
them  near  the  glass  to  promote  a  ehort-jointed 


May  31,  1902.J 


THE    GARDEN. 


S65 


stocky  growth.  Make  another  sowing  at  the 
end  of  the  month  for  late  autumn  supplies.  Plants 
which  are  intended  for  outside  culture  ought  now 
to  be  in  a  forward  condition,  and  should  be 
gradually  hardened  off.  It  is  useless  to  put  out 
small  late  plants  and  expect  them  to  ripen  good 
crops  of  fruit  without  the  aid  of  glass. 
(Spinach. 

Make  frequent  sowings  of  some  of  the  broad- 
leaved  long-standing  varieties,  which  are  a  great 
improvement  on  the  older  kinds.  Sow  at  this 
season  on  a  north  border  or  the  coolest  part  of  the 
garden  on  well-manured  and  deeply-worked  soil. 
Make  a  small  sowing  of  New  Zealand  Spinach  on 
a  south  border  at  once,  unless  it  has  been  grown 
in  boxes  and  raised  under  glass  as  previously 
advised,  which  is  much  the  best  way  of  treating 
this  valuable  vegetable.  This  variety  being  very 
tender  should  not  be  planted  till  quite  the  end  of 
the  month  on  a  warm  spot.  Sprinkle  overhead 
frequently  to  give  it  a  good  start. 

E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Ehtree,  He.rtg. 

FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Early  Muscat  Vines. 
Vines  that  were  started  early  enough  for  the 
Grapes  to  have  now  pas.^ed  their  stoning  period 
should  be  induced  to  highly  finish  their  fruits,  an 
achievement  deservedly  considered  to  be  a  credit 
to  the  grower.  A  night  temperature  of  70°  should 
be  maintained,  as  well  as  a  correspondingly 
warm  day  temperature.  Young  growths  should 
be  stopped  so  that  the  bunches  are  not  unduly 
shaded,  but  although  bright  light  is  necessary  to 
produce  good  colour,  yet  in  some  houses  the 
foliage  of  this  Vine  is  apt  to  scald  from  the  effects 
of  powerful  sunshine,  so  that  a  slight  shading  of  fish 
netting  should  be  used.  Keep  the  borders  moist, 
and  the  Vines  properly  assisted  with  nourishing 
liquid  manures  or  top-dressings  of  artificial  com- 
pounds. When  the  Grapes  commence  to  colour 
keep  a  more  or  less  constant  movement  of  warm 
moderately  dry  air  through  the  house. 

Planting  SpRiNfi-RAisED  Vines. 
Directions  have  already  been  given  for  the  making 
of  borders,  which,  if  attended  to,  will  by  this  time 
have  become  warmed  and  in  a  suitable  condition 
generally  to  receive  Vines  raised  from  eyes  early  in 
the  year.  Whether  raised  in  pots  or  upon  turves 
of  soil,  Vines  of  this  description  must  not  have 
their  roots  disturbed  more  than  is  necessary  in 
removing  crocks,  &c.  In  planting,  press  the  roots 
firmly  in  the  border  with  the  hands,  lightly  mulch- 
ing with  short  litter,  and  then  moisten  with  tepid 
water.  Keep  a  moist  warm  atmosphere  from  60° 
to  65"  at  night.  Should  the  foliage  of  the  Vines 
flag  during  the  days  immediately  following  the 
planting  shade  them  slightly. 

Peaches  and  Nectarines. 
Trees  in  successional  houses  bearing  fruit  that 
has  passed  its  stoning  period  will  require  stimula- 
tive assistance  in  the  form  of  liquid  manure  or 
artificial  compounds  in  order  to  enable  them  to 
develop  their  crops  satisfactorily.  The  supplies 
must  be  regulated  according  to  the  demands, 
which  can  be  best  ascertained  by  the  growth  of 
the  trees,  and  this  to  the  experienced  cultivator  is 
a  ready  indicator  of  the  state  of  the  borders. 
Excessive  supplies  of  water  or  of  slimulants, 
however,  are  liable  to  cause  stone  splitting, 
while  on  the  other  hand  the  benefit  of  supply- 
ing needful  manures  will  be  increased  (by  pre- 
venting rapid  evaporation)  if  the  borders  are 
lightly  mulched.  If  it  is  found  that  the  young 
growths  in  any  portions  of  the  trees  have  been  too 
thickly  trained  the  evil  should  be  at  once  rectified, 
at  the  same  time  the  fruit  might  be  fully  exposed 
to  the  sun  in  order  to  improve  its  colour. 

Later  Houses, 
in  which  the  fruit  is  nearing  the  stoning  time, 
must  not  be  unduly  hastened,  for  this  is  injurious 
both  to  this  crop  and  the  young  wood  that  will 
bear  next  season's  fruit.  A  temperature  of  oS"  at 
night  and  60"  to  65"  by  day  will  be  safe.  If ,  the 
Ifuit  has    not    been   finally  thinned  it  should  be 


attended  to.  If  the  wood  was  satisfactorily 
matured,  and  routine  work  is  carefully  and  pro- 
perly carried  out  there  need  be  no  fear  of  fruit 
dropping.  Moreover,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  delaying  the  final  necessary  thinning  until 
after  the  fruit  has  stoned  is  decidedly  over- 
cropping. 

Woodlice. 

These  insects,  if  permitted  to  become  numerous 
in  Peach  houses,  as  they  are  very  likely  to  do  if 
stable  manure  or  stable  litter  is  emplojed  for 
mulching,  are  very  destructive  to  the  ripening 
fruit.  I  find  the  most  effectual  method  of  destroy- 
ing them  is  to  cut  either  Mangel  Wurzel,  Swedes, 
or  Beetroot  in  halves,  slightly  hollow  the  inside, 
and  place  them  with  the  hollow  side  down  in  the 
haunts  of  these  insects.  The  traps  should  be 
examined  every  morning  and  the  insects  brushed 
into  a  vessel  containing  hot  water. 

Thos.  Coomber. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


THE    TEMPLE    SHOW. 


Once  again  we  must  congratulate  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  upon  an  excellent  dis- 
play. The  show  opened  in  brilliant  sunshine, 
but  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day  proved 
showery,  without,  we  hope,  interfering  seriously 
with  the  receipts.  It  was  acknowledged  on  all 
sides  that  this  year's  show  was  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  ever  held.  There  seemed  more  space, 
and  the  groups  weie  brighter.  The  King  and 
Queen  showed  their  interest  in  horticulture  by 
visiting  the  show  on  the  first  day,  accompanied 
by  H.R.H.  Princess  Victoria.  Their  Majesties 
were  conducted  round  the  tents  by  Sir  Trevor 
Lawrence,  Bart.,  the  president  of  the  society, 
and  Captain  Holford  was  also  present. 
Hardy  Flowers. 

Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  or  Colchester, 
showed  Lilies,  new  and  rare  hardy  plants,  &c.,  in 
excellent  quantity  and  quality.  In  the  centre  of 
their  group  were  fine  specimens  of  the  popular  L. 
Henryi,  10  feet  high,  bearing  twenty  to  thirty 
Sowers  each.  L.  excelsum,  a  tall,  graceful  Lily, 
with  large  heads  of  nankeen-yellow  flowers,  was 
arranged  in  four  imposing  clumps,  with  huge 
pots  of  L.  longiflorum  giganteum  between  them. 
On  either  side  of  these  we;e  colonies  of  L.  Han- 
soni,  an  orange-yellow  spotted  "  turncap"  of  great 
garden  value  ;  L.  Marhan  (Martagon  x  Hansoni), 
with  rich  bronzy  yellow  flowers,  heavily  spotted 
with  crimson  ;  L.  Dalhansoni  (dalmaticum  x  Han- 
soni), a  dark-flowered  hybrid  of  similar  parentage  ; 
the  beautiful  pure  white  L.  Martagon  album  ;  L. 
Browni,  a  white  trumpet  Lily  with  chocolate 
anthers  and  reddish  brown  outer  colouring  ;  L. 
odorum,  creamy  white  trumpet-shaped  flowers  of 
much  substance ;  and  the  charming  little  rose- 
coloured  L.  rubellum,  in  excellent  condition. 
Large  pans  of  the  pretty  scarlet  turncap  L.  tenui- 
folium,  a  slender  Lily  of  much  beauty  ;  and  a  host 
of  varieties  of  L.  elegans,  among  which  we  noticed 
the  highly  finished  flowers  of  Orange  Queen  and 
the  dark  crimson  Van  Houttei,  together  with  the 
better  types  of  L.  umbellatum,  such  as  L.  totten- 
hamense  grandiflorum.  Cloth  of  Gold,  &c.,  were 
grouped  here  and  there  in  a  setting  of  Funkias, 
Japanese  Acers,  and  elegant  grasses.  The  front 
of  the  group  was  filled  with  Calochorti,  whilst 
the  pretty  nodding  bells  of  the  Cyclobothras 
were  none  the  less  pleasing.  Next  to  these  came 
Brodiseas  in  several  varieties.  In  addition 
to  these  we  noticed  blocks  of  Spanish  Iris 
in  several  varieties  and  their  curious  brethren 
of  the  Oncocyclus  and  Regelia  types,  lupina 
robusta  and  sofarana  magnifica,  as  two  new 
comers,  as  well  as  the  more  familiar  I.  Vaga,  I. 
Korolkowi,  &c. 

Tree  P;eonies,  Tulips  galore,  including  many 
new  and  rare  species  ;  Ixias,  Sparaxis,  Tritouias, 
and  other  light  and  elegant  South  African  plants, 
Scillas,  Caniassias,  and  many  forms  of  Gladiolus 
nanus  were  represented  by  the  best  of  their  kind. 


An  arrangement  of  hardy.  Cypripediums  at  the 
head  of  the  exhibit,  in  which  we  noted  remarkably 
fine  C.  spectabile,  C.  acaule,  C.  pubescens,  C. 
montanum,  and  others  rare  and  good. 

Mr.  Amos  Perry,  Hardy  Plant  Farm,  Winch- 
more  Hill,  London,  had  a  delightful  and  interest- 
ing display.  He  showed  some  imposing  groups 
of  the  double  Welsh  Poppy  (Jleconopsis  cambrica 
plena),  Lithospermum  canescens,  twenty  fine  spikes 
of  Eremurus  himalaicus,  and  robustus,  flowers  of 
Nympha^a  Marliacea  rosea,  Aponogeton  distachyon, 
and  several  other  pretty  and  interesting  aquatics. 
Besides  these  were  several  very  fine  examples  of 
the  scarce  Phlox  pilosa,  flowers  of  Orobus  varius, 
Alyssum  saxatile  plenum,  Viola  pedata  and  vars., 
several  well-flowering  specimens  of  Ramondia  of 
different  sorts,  the  lovely  Aquilegia  Stuarti,  and 
the  superb  new  Thalictrum  orientale,  with  its 
large  feathery  heads  of  white  flowers  ;  Primula 
luteola,  Gypsophila  repens  monstrosa,  a  new 
plant  of  great  merit ;  Erysimum  barbareum  plenum, 
some  very  pretty  hardy  Orchis  ;  also  Townsendia 
grandiflora,  and  a  fine  imposing  patch  of  (Enothera 
speciosa  rosea.  Mr.  Perry  also  had  many  other 
new  and  interesting  plants.  We  shall  write  much 
fuller  of  the  more  important  rare  things  next  week. 
It  was  a  delight  to  see  the  beautiful  Aquilegia 
Stuarti  so  finely  exhibited.  No  one  grows  this 
Aquilegia  so  well  as  Mr.  Perry.  The  whole 
display  was  of  great  interest  to  lovers  of  hardy 
flowers. 

Mr.  Maurice  Prichard,  Riverslea  Nur- 
series, Christchuech,  Hants,  had  one  of  those 
interesting  and  pleasing  displays  we  always  look 
forward  to  with  pleasure  at  the  Temple  show. 
There  were  such  plants  as  the  beautiful  Achillea 
niongolica,  the  double  white  Arabis  albida,  one  of 
the  most  useful  of  recent  additions  to  hardy  plants ; 
Cheiranthus  versicolor,  the  rare  white  variety  of 
Cytisus  purpureus  named  albus,  a  fit  companion 
for  the  species,  which  is  one  of  the  best  of  the 
trailing  Brooms  for  the  rock  garden ;  also  the 
]pinkish  coloured  variety  incarnatus ;  Eremurus 
himalaicus,  E.  elwesianus.  Irises  in  abundance, 
Lupinus  nutkatensis.  Tree  Pteonies,  the  lovely 
Papaver  pilosum,  and  the  variety  Prince  of  Orange, 
Daphne  Cneorum,  Edelweiss,  Gentiana  acaulis, 
mossy  Phloxes,  such  as  P.  Nelsoni,  P.  canadensis, 
P.  setacea  atropurpurea,  P.  canadensis  alba, 
Ranunculus  speciosus,  Pyrethrums  Decoy,  Tasso, 
Hamlet,  and  other  well  -  known  varieties  ;  Rosa 
altaica,  and  the  yellow  Banksian  Rose.  So  many 
interesting  things  were  exhibited  that  it  is  im- 
possible to  mention  every  one,  but  we  were 
charmed  with  the  double  variety  of  Alyssum 
saxatile  called  plenum  ;  the  white  variety  (alba)  of 
Armeria  maritima,  Dianthus  hybridus  roseus, 
Dodecatheon  Meadia  and  its  variety  album  ;  and 
such  Lilacs  as  our  d'Avergne,  Mme.  Lemoine, 
and  Marie  Legraye  ;  Tulipa  mariana,  and  such 
Saxifrages  as  S.  ajugifolia,  S.  pyrenaica,  and  S. 
teuella.  It  was  one  of  the  most  interesting 
displays  of  the  show. 

Messrs.  Georce  Jackman  and  Son,  Wokinc, 
Surrey,  exhibited  a  group  of  hardy  flowers,  in 
which  the  following  were  conspicuous.  In  the  centre 
a  small  collection  of  Lilies  was  displayed,  of  which 
the  following  were  noticeable  :  L.  japonicum  Col- 
chester!, L.  Hansoni,  L.  Maximowiczii,  L.  Krameri, 
L.  concolor,  and  others.  These  were  flanked  on 
either  side  by  Tree  P;i'onies  and  pans  of  such  good 
things  as  Campanula  Moerheimei,  Trollius  Orange 
Globe,  Gillenia  trifoliata,  Cytisus  incarnatus  pur- 
pureus, Dictamnus  Fraxinella  alba,  double  purple 
Rocket,  &c.  Primula  japonica  in  several  forms 
was  prominent.  A  fine  bank  of  Incarvillea  Dela- 
vayi  was  also  shown,  hardy  Orchids  were  repre- 
sented by  Cypripedium  spectabile,  C.  pubescens, 
C.  Calceolus,  C.  montanum, C.  acaule,  C.  candidum, 
and  C.  calif ornioum,  also  Bletia  hyacinthina  and 
(Jrchis  foliosa.  In  front  a  collection  of  Alpine 
plants  was  arranged,  these  were  well  represented, 
among  many  others  being  Lithospermum  gramini- 
folium  and  L.  canescens.  Primula  capitata,  Saxi- 
fraga  pyrenaica,  S.  pyramidalis,  Onosma  taurica, 
0.  pyramidale,  Dianthus  alpinus,  (Enothera  mar- 
ginata  and  ctespitosa,  Gentiana  bavarioa,  G. 
acaulis,  and  G.  verna  were  prominently  displayed. 
Ramondias  were  represented  by  grand  specimen  s  of  R 


366 


THE   OARDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


pyreiiaica,  R.  pyrenaica  alba,  and  R.  serbica.  The 
pretty  Houstonia  crerulea,  also  Oxalis  enneaphylla, 
Aster  alpiiius,  Morisia  hypognea,  Cheiranthus 
Marshalli  and  C.  alpinus  superbus,  and  some 
capital  flowers  of  Iris  Nazarena  were  among  other 
plants  shown  which,  although  wortliy  of  notice, 
are  too  numerous  to  mention  individually. 

Among  the  new  plants  shown  we  noticed 
Onosma  pyramidale,  with  bright  scarlet  flowers  ; 
Paracargum  tibeticum,  a  new  introduction  from 
Tibet,  with  numerous  clear  blue  flowers  ;  Celsia 
])ontica,  with  whitish  leaves  and  pure  white  flowers ; 
Verbaacum  Linkii,  with  lilac-purple  flowers  :  In- 
carvillea  grandiflora,  a  deep  crimson  with  a 
beautiful  clear  white  and  yellow  throat;  (Enothera 
Cfcspitosa,  having  large  pure  white  fragrant  flowers; 
Iris  coreana,  dark  blue  ;  Rhazya  orientalis,  with 
flowers  of  a  pale  ca?rulean  blue. 

Messrs.  Bakr  and  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  had 
a  glorious  show.  There  were  Darwin  Tulips  in 
abundance,  including  Clara  Butt,  a  lovely  variety, 
soft  and  clear  rose-pink  ;  The  Sultan,  maroou-black  ; 
Pride  of  Haarlem,  cerise,  a  flower  of  enormous 
size  ;  and  Mme.  Krelage,  a  charming  flower,  soft 
cerise,  shaded  with  a  lighter  tone,  whilst  we  also 
noticed  many  beautiful  Cottage  Tulips,  including 
a  handsome  bunch  of  Mrs.  Moon,  the  richest  in 
colour  of  all  the  self -yellow  Tulips  ;  Picotee,  viri- 
diflora,  Bouton  d'Or,  and  La  Merveille,  a  gem  of 
its  race,  elegant  and  distinct,  in  colour  orange,  shot 
with  red,  a  charming  shade,  and  the  flowers  are 
deliciously  scented. 

Knglish  Tulips  included  the  handsome  bizarre 
forms  of  Dr.  Hardy,  ground  deep  gold,  flamed  and 
feathered,  scarlet  flowers  of  great  substance  ;  Sam 
Barlow,  a  handsome  new  bazarre,  &c.  ;  roses 
Mabel,  Kate  Connor,  &c. ,  also  many  fine 
forms  of  bybloemens,  Talisman  being  exception- 
ally fine.  Among  the  Tulipa  species  was  the 
charming  soft  primrose-coloured  Batalini,  which 
should  have  a  place  in  every  rock  garden  ;  it  grows 
G  inches  to  9  inches  high,  is  a  free  bloomer,  and  very 
hardy,  coming  up  year  after  year — never  lift  this 
species — also  the  beautifully  coloured  T.  ostrow- 
skyana.  Large  bowls  of  the  St.  Brigid  Anemone 
were  exceptionally  fine,  the  flowers  large,  and  the 
colours  very  rich,  including  glowing  crimsons, 
whites,  blues,  and  purples.  We  were  also  pleased 
to  notice  the  Lily  of  the  Valley  Fortius  strain, 
which  has  flowers  of  enormous  size  and  very  pure. 
This  -is  the  finest  of  all  the  Lilies  of  the  Valley, 
but  will  not  force  ;  it  must  be  grown  under  cold 
treatment.  Also  represented  were  Spanish  Irises 
in  variety. 

We  also  noticed  a  beautiful  exhibit  of  rare 
alpine  and  herbaceous  flowers.  The  plants  were 
tastefully  displayed,  and  included  Ramondias, 
Dodecatheons,  Primulas,  and  rare  Saxifrages.  The 
new  Spinca  Kneiffii  was  also  shown,  with  Trollius, 
alpine  Phloxes,  and  Water  Lilies,  such  as  Nym- 
phaa  pygmffia  Helvola  and  N.  Laydekeri  rosea, 
both  gems  for  small  basins.  Pa'onia  anoinala  Peter 
Barr  was  also  conspicuous.  This  is  a  good  form 
with  finely-cut  foliage  and  large  crimson  saucer- 
shaped  flowers  ;  single  Ptconia  arietina  Northern 
( i  lory  also  very  fine,  and  many  other  good  hardy 
seasonable  flowers,  such  as  Geums,  &c. 

Messrs.  Dobiue  and  Co.,  Rothesay,  had  a 
charming  display  of  Pansies  (Violas)  in  bunches, 
a  very  beautiful  series,  comprising  such  varieties 
as  Meteor,  Bethea,  Colleen  Bawn,  large  white 
flower,  with  purple  rays ;  Isolde,  large,  yellow, 
deep  orange  centre  ;  Symphony,  white,  yellow  eye, 
few  rays  of  purple  ;  Mrs.  T.  W.  R.  Johnston,  deep 
purple,  lighter  upper  florets,  a  glorious  flower  ; 
Slary  Robertson,  yellow  ;  Edward  Mason,  white, 
yellow  eye ;  Princess  Ida,  pale  lilac,  very  beau- 
tiful ;  Emma  Sophia,  white,  yellow  eye  ;  Nellie, 
creamy  white  ;  Kitty  Bell,  lilac,  almost  lavender  ; 
Shamrock,  soft  yellow  ;  Duchess  of  York,  white, 
purple  rays,  yellow  eye  ;  The  Means,  Ada  Ander- 
son, white,  broad  rose  margin,  and  an  interesting 
collection  of  show  Pansies  in  rich  variety. 

Messrs.  Jones  and  Sons,  Nurserymen, 
Shrewsbury,  had  a  dainty  arrangement  of  Sweet 
Pea  flowers — New  Countess,  a  lovely  lavender ; 
Gorgeous,  the  most  lovely  orange  and  red,  a  beauti- 
ful flower;  Lady  Beaconsfield,  soft  buff;  Emily 
Eckford,  Prima  Donna,  Countess  of   Paris,  pink ; 


(I'ueen  Victoria,  Countess  of  Radnor,  and  also  of 
Spanish  Irises.  The  Sweet  Peas  were  in  dainty 
bunches. 

Messrs.  Stohrie  and  Storrie,  Nurserymen, 
Dundee,  had  a  beautiful  display  of  Auriculas  and 
Primroses,  bold  handsome  flowers  of  quaint  and 
interesting  colours.  We  noticed  several  seedlings 
of  great  merit,  one  in  particular,  a  pure  yellow 
Auricula,  excellent  for  the  garden.  Messrs. 
Storrie  also  showed  their  albino  Borecole,  which 
has  much  interest  :  it  is  a  variegated  variety  of 
fjuaint  colouring. 

Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  had  a  big  dis- 
play of  Tulips,  gesneriana,  macrospeila,  the 
Darwins,  the  Parrot,  and  many  others. 

Trees  and  Shrubs. 

Messrs.  William  Cutbush  and  Son,  Hicik^ate, 
N.  ,  exhibited  a  remarkable  display  of  clipped 
trees,  for  which  speciality  they  have  a  wide 
reputation.  The  number  and  variety  of  shapes  in 
which  these  trees  can  now  be  obtained  is  remark- 
able ;  almost  any  bird  or  animal,  or  in  fact  any 
familiar  object,  may  now  be  purchased  in  tree 
form.  In  Messrs.  Cutbush's  exhibit  there  were 
about  100  trees,  representing  peacocks,  swans, 
serpents,  chairs,  tables,  balloons,  ships,  and  many 
other  subjects,  giving  one  in  fact  a  very  good  idea 
of  the  effect  the  large  demand  for  these  trees  has 
had  in  increasing  the  variety  of  designs. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all  groups  was  that 
from  Messrs.  Fishkr,  Son,  and  Sibrav,  Ltd., 
Hands  WORTH,  Sheitield.  It  was  displayed  near 
the  chief  entrance  and  attracted  much  attention. 
The  arrangement  was  very  free  and  beautiful.  We 
noticed,  amongst  a  host  of  good  things.  Ilex 
Wilsoni,  a  superb  shrub  with  broad  deep  green 
leaves  ;  masses  of  the  rich  yellow  Azalea  Anthony 
Koster  ;  the  golden  Acacia  inermis  and  the  dis- 
tinct variegated  variety ;  a  host  of  .Japanese  Maples, 
including  the  blood  red  leaved  atropurpurcum  ; 
<,luercus  Concordia,  the  Golden  Oak,  Betula  pur- 
purea, Sciadopitys  verticillata,  the  rare  tree  form 
of  Ivy  amurensis,  and  many  other  things  too 
numerous  to  mention.  An  interesting  and  remark- 
able display. 

In  the  big  tent  Messrs.  Fisher,  Son,  and  Sibray 
had  a  superb  group  of  Rhododendrons  in  flower, 
conspicuous  being  Pink  Pearl,  exquisite  in  colour, 
and  standards  of  Michael  Waterer,  Caucasicum 
ochroleucum,  Mrs.  John  Waterer,  Countess  Fitz- 
william,  &c. 

Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  Lowfield  Nur- 
series, Crawley,  had  a  showy  display,  which 
included  a  mass  of  Lilacs,  such  as  Michael  Buchner, 
a  double  lilac  flower ;  President  (irevy,  Marie 
Legraye,  and  Souv.  de  Mme.  Casimir  Perier ; 
also  the  large-flowered  Laburnum  Vossi,  Genista 
scoparius  andreanus,  Spir;ta  contusa,  a  beautiful 
mass  ;  Weigela  Eva  Rathke,  and  many  other 
things.     A  bright  and  instructive  display. 

Messrs.  T.  Cripvs  and  Son,  Tunbuidce 
Wells,  had  many  rare  shrubs.  The  Japanese 
Maples  were  exceptionally  interesting,  and  com- 
prised Acer  japonicum  aureum,  A.  pictum  aureum, 
very  beautiful  in  its  leaf  colouring  ;  A.  gracilis 
Crippsi,  very  delicate  in  its  leaf  formation,  and 
exquisite  in  colour,  a  warm  crimson  ;  A.  polymor- 
phum  roseum ;  the  very  rare  A.  carpinifolium, 
Retinospora  obtusa  Crippsi,  an  exceedingly 
graceful  variety,  of  a  beautiful  golden  yellow 
throughout  the  summer,  and  a  conifer  to  make 
note  of.  It  has  already  received  a  first-class 
certificate.  We  also  noticed  a  golden  Ivy  (Hedera 
Helix  aurea  Crippsi),  which  retains  its  deep  golden 
colour  during  the  summer.  We  must  not  omit  to 
mention  another  .Japanese  Maple  (Acer  palmatum 
atro-sanguineum  Fieldi),  which  has  deep  blood- 
crimson  leaves,  very  fine,  and  A.  p.  tuubridgensis. 
A  mass  of  Hydrangea  hortensis  brightened  the 
display. 

Messrs.  J.  Veituu  and  Sons,  Chelsea,  had  a 
graceful  group  of  Bamboos,  which,  with  a  mass  of 
Japanese  Maples,  made  a  very  pleasing  display. 
We  noticed  large  masses  of  Arundinaria  Simoni, 
Hindsii,PhyllostachysKumasaca,  and  man j' others. 

Mr.  John  Russell,  Richmond  Nurseries, 
Richmond,  had  a  glorious  group  out  of  doors, 
variegated  Maples,  Crimson  Rambler  Rose,  Maples 


of  beautiful  colouring.  Ivies,  variegated  and  other- 
wise. Clematis  montana,  double  flowered  Azaleas, 
Dimorphanthus  mandschuricus  fol.  argentiis  was 
represented  by  an  excellent  specimen ;  the  leaves 
are  pale  green,  cut  into  with  white,  a  good  thing, 
some  good  Euonymus,  and  forming  altogether  a 
delightful  series. 

Messrs.  W.  H.  Rogers  and  Son,  Red  Lodi:e 
Nursery,  Southampton,  had  a  large  group  of 
Rhododendrons  in  a  very  showy  and  well-flowered 
display.  The  plants  were  in  pots  and  thick  with 
flower  heads.  The  most  conspicuous  were  Kate 
Waterer,  Mrs.  Holford,  W.  E.  Gladstone,  (.lueen, 
Samuel  Morley,  Stella,  and  the  beautiful  Fastuo- 
Eum. 

Messrs.  Barr  had  a  large  exhibit,  filling  a  tent 
entirely  of  Japanese  pigmj'  trees,  many  of  them 
•">tl  to  100  years  old.  The  Maples  were  very 
charming,  many  trees  twenty  years  old  growing 
in  vases  of  quaint  shape  and  form,  some  of  the 
vases  not  more  than  "2  inches  deep  ;  also  a  fine 
collection  of  pigmy  Cupressus,  mostly  the  golden 
C.  obtusa,  and  quantities  of  Pinus  growing  on  rock. 
Mr.  a.  Knowles,  Horsell  Birch  Nursery, 
WoKiNC,  Surrey,  senta  groupof  Daphne  Cneorum 
major,  a  delightful  little  shrub  with  fragrant  lilac 
flower  clusters. 

Messrs.  B.  and  G.  Cuthbert,  Southgate,  N.  , 
had  a  magnificent  display  of  Ghent  and  other 
Azaleas.  The  brilliant  mass  of  colour  provided  by 
the  bush  plants  was  effectively  relieved  by 
standards,  varieties  of  remarkable  colour  being 
represented  by  both.  Some  of  the  best  of  many 
lovely  ones  were  A.  occidentalis  magnifica,  cream, 
with  a  yellow  mark  :  Ramona,  small-flowered, 
salmon-tinted  (award  of  merit) ;  Anthony  Koster, 
Purity,  rustica  fi.  pi.  II  Tasso,  Hugo  Koster, 
rich  apricot :  Alphonse  Levallce,  apricot-buff ; 
Kama,  rose-buff;  Byron,  white;  Pha-be,  yellow; 
Prince  Baudouin,  orange-yellow  ;  T.  J.  Seidel, 
fiery  red  and  orange :  and  Bouquet  de  Flore.  The.se 
and  many  more  arranged  to  the  very  best  advan- 
tage, together  with  plants  of  Lilac  Mme.  Lemoinc, 
made  up  a  brilliant  exhibit. 

Messrs.  J.  Waterer  and  Sons,  Limited, 
Bagshot,  had  a  splendid  array  of  Rhododendrons, 
arranged  with  a  proper  regard  to  the  colour  of  the 
flowers,  and  therefore  most  effective.  In  the 
centre  that  unique  variety  Pink  Pearl  was  well 
represented  by  large  loose  bold  trusses  of  its  rich 
pink.  Other  sorts  were  Mrs.  E.  C.  Stirling,  a 
lovely  pale  pink  flower,  the  truss  compact ;  Mrs. 
W.  Agnew,  rose  :  Michael  Waterer,  intense  red  ; 
Princess  Mary  of  Cambridge,  pale  crimson  mark- 
ings on  white  petals  ;  Sappho,  Duchess  of  Edin- 
burgh, Duchess  of  Connaught,  Lady  Helen  Cath- 
cart,  a  glowing  cerise  ;  John  Waterer,  Baroness 
Schriider,  and  Cynthia  ;  these  were  perhaps  the 
best  of  many  good  ones,  all  remarkable  both  for 
pure  rich  colouring  and  vigorous  habit  of  growth. 

Messes.  James  Vbitih  and  Sons,  Limited, 
Chelsea,  displayed  a  most  interesting  lot  of  hardy 
shrubs  that  had  the  advantage  of  being  arranged 
in  a  most  attractive  manner.  In  the  centre  was  an 
excellent  specimen  of  Wistaria  multijuga,  and 
hybrid  Azaleas  were  represented  by  many 
beautiful  plants  in  flower.  For  instance,  A. 
Betsy  de  Bruin,  Anthony  Koster,  Fama,  and 
Rhododendrons  by  W.  E.  Gladstone,  Doncaster, 
&c.  There  was  a  remarkably  fine  specimen 
of  Weigela  Mme.  Couturier,  Alstrjemeria 
aurantiaca  was  very  showy ;  of  Eremuri  there 
were  grand  spikes  of  E.  himalaicus,  and  the 
charming  E.  Bungei  was  well  shown  also. 
Veronica  hulkeana.  Clematis  Marcel  Moser, 
Celmisia  Munroi,  with  large  and  beautiful  Daisy- 
like flowers.  Hydrangea  Mariesii,  Pieonies,  &c. , 
were  some  of  the  more  noteworthy  plants  included. 

Roses. 
jMessrs.  William  Paul  and  Son,  Waltham 
Cross,  showed  a  group  of  Roses  in  pots,  filling  the 
maximum  space  allowed  (400  square  feet),  composed 
of  standard,  pillar  or  columnar,  and  bush  plants, 
faced  with  boxes  of  cut  flowers  of  attractive  kinds 
for  convenience  of  close  inspection.  The  principal 
new  kinds  exhibited  are  the  Waltham  Cross 
varieties :  Morning  Glow,  salmon-rose,  bedding 
Tea  Rose  ;   Stella,  decorative  semi-double  flower, 


May  31,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


367 


brilliant  rose  colour  with  white  eye  ;  Corona,  a 
Hybrid  Tea  with  very  large  and  full  delicate  pink 
flowers  ;  and  the  handsome  Climbing  Belle 
Siebrecht.  Also  the  richly  coloured  red  climbing 
Tea  Frangois  Crousse,  Souvenir  de  Mme.  Chedane 
Guinoisseau  (H.P.),  Papa  Lambert  (H.T.),  the 
wichuriana  hybrids  Alberic  Barbier,  Rene  Anare, 
May  Queen,  and  Evergreen  (Jem,  the  multiflora 
tjueen  Alexandra,  and  the  interesting  perpetual- 
flowering  briar  Soleil  d'Or,  orange-yellow,  suffused 
with  red.  Among  the  standard  plants  the  most 
remarkable  were  Clio,  Spenser,  L'Ideal,  White 
Lady,  Enchantress,  Marquise  Litta,  W.  A. 
Richardson,  and  the  metallic  red  Comtesse 
Festeties  Hamilton.  The  pillar  or  columnar  plants 
included  fine  examples  of  the  single  and  cluster- 
flowered  varieties  Leuchtstern,  Claire  Jacquier, 
and  Crimson  Rambler,  also  Mrs.  John  Laing, 
Ulrich  Brunner  fils,  Clio,  Crimson  Qaeen,  and 
(iriiss  an  Teplitz.  The  bush  plants  comprised 
symmetrically-trained  specimens,  among  others, 
of  La  France,  Aurora  (H.T.),  Duke  of  Edinburgh, 
Caroline  Testout,  Duchess  of  Albany,  Crown 
Prince,  Mme.  Fanny  de  Forest,  and  Baroness 
Rothschild,  while  in  the  cut  blooms  were  superb 
examples  of  Corallina,  Queen  Mab,  Empress 
Alexandra  of  Russia,  Tennyson,  Medea,  Star  of 
Waltham,  Charles  Lefebvre,  Solfaterre,  and  many 
others. 

A  charming  display  was  made  by  Mr.  George 
Mount,  who  showed  a  group  of  cut  Roses.  The 
exhibit  was  30  feet  long,  and  included  eight  boxes 
of  superb  exhibition  blooms.  The  varieties  in- 
cluded Mrs.  John  Laing,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Captain 
Hayward,  Caroliue  Testout,  Niphetos,  Anna 
GUivier,  Catherine  Mermet,  Marechal  Niel,  and 
Mrs.  Sharraan  Crawford.  Between  the  boxes  were 
noble  blooms  with  stems  2  feet  long  (for  which 
Mr.  Mount  is  famous),  the  whole  exhibit  being 
backed  up  with  grand  plants  of  Crimson  Rambler 
and  variegated  foliage,  which  produced  a  very 
unusual  and  pleasing  effect. 

Mr.  Frank  Cant,  Braiswiok  Nursery,  Colchester, 
had  many  boxes  of  superb  Rose  flowers.  Most 
beautiful  of  all  was  Lady  Roberts,  one  of  the 
loveliest  of  Tea  Roses,  a  hybrid  from  Anna 
OUivier.  The  flower  we  have  already  described, 
and  hope  soon  to  illustrate  in  colour.  Besides  this 
were  Clara  Watson,  Lady  Moyra  Beauclerc,  White 
Maraan  Cochet,  a  glorious  box  of  Marechal  Niel, 
Niphetos,  Mrs.  John  Laing,  Mme.  Ravarj',  Mme. 
Cusin,  Caroline  Testout,  Sunrise,  beautiful  in 
colour,  yellow  and  deep  red ;  Liberty,  deep 
crimson  ;  the  Austrian  Copper,  the  lovely 
Alexandra,  Bridesmaid,  Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam, 
Perle  des  Jardins,  Catherine  Mermet,  and  such 
exquisite  climbers  as  Crimson  Rambler,  Irish 
Glory,  Claire  Jacquier,  Gloire  des  Polyanthas,  Irish 
Beauty,  and  AV.  A.  Richardson. 

Messrs.  Paul  and  Sox,  Cheshont,  had  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  groups  in  the  show  and  one 
of  the  best  ever  staged  by  this  firm.  Many  of  the 
kinds  shown  were  of  their  own  raising,  such  as  the 
beautiful  hybrid  Briar  Una,  the  rambling  Rose 
Eleotra,  Wallflower,  and  a  beautiful  new  seedling 
Tea  Rambler,  a  lovelj'  flower,  pink  in  colour,  and 
borne  in  profusion  ;  Psyche  and  the  exquisite  Rose 
sinica  Anemone,  which  we  have  described  on  more 
than  one  occasion,  and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
flowers  of  its  kind  in  existence.  Lo\'ely  standards 
of  Viscountess  Folkestone,  the  dwarf  Lady  Batter- 
sea,  and  such  varieties  as  Tlnnocence,  Liberty, 
Robert  Scott,  Admiral  Dewey  (a  white  sport  from 
Caroline  Testout),  J.  D.  Pawle,  Mme.  de  Watte- 
ville.  Ma  Capucine,  and  Ivillarney. 

Mr.  Charles  Turxer,  Slouoii,  had  a  splendid 
display  of  Roses  which  filled  the  end  of  one  tent. 
At  the  back  were  arches  covered  with  the  Crimson 
Rambler,  and  proving  very  effective.  The  splendid 
bushes  of  pot  Roses  that  formed  the  major  part 
of  the  group  were  relieved  by  standards  of 
Mme.  de  Watteville,  Caroline  Testout,  S.  de  Eugene 
Verdier,  and  others.  The  dwarf  plants  were  of 
Crimson  Rambler,  Perle  d'Or,  Juno,  Celine 
Forestier,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Antoine  Rivoire,  &c. 
At  either  end  of  the  Roses  was  a  group  of 
Malmaison  Carnations  bearing  a  remarkably  fine 
lot  of  flowers. 

Messrs,  Benjamin  C4nt  amp  Sons,  Old  Rose 


Gardens,  Colchester,  had  a  bi-illiant  display  of 
Roses  in  pots,  both  dwarfs  and  standards.  The 
latter  included  such  good  things  as  Mrs.  Sharman 
Crawford,  Anna  OUivier,  ilarie  Van  Houtte,  and 
Merveille  de  Lyon  ;  and  of  the  former  there  were 
Fisher  Holmes,  Ben  Cant,  a  splendid  new  seedling 
Hybrid  Perpetual,  of  a  dark  velvety  crimson 
colour  ;  LeonieLimeseh,  La  France,  Mrs.  .1.  Laing, 
Dundee  Rambler,  Mme.  Hoste,  Souvenir  d'un  Ami, 
Ulrich  Brunner,  and  many  more  were  splendidly 
shown  by  Mr.  Cant. 

Orchids. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton, 
Bradford,  Yorks,  displayed  a  magnificent 
collection  of  Orchids,  which  included  a  number 
of  exceedingly  choice  plants.  The  exhibit  was 
tastefully  and  carefully  arranged,  the  flowers  of 
each  plant  showing  to  the  best  advantage.  We  can 
only  mention  a  few  of  the  many  good  things  in 
Messrs.  Charlesworth's  exhibit,  and  they  are  but 
representative  of  many  more  of  equal  beauty. 
Odontoglossums  were  splendidly  represented, 
and  perhaps  the  finest  one  was  0.  Pescatorei 
Charlesworthii.  This  is  a  remarkably  heavily 
spotted  form,  with  flowers  almost  as  large  as  a 
good  sized  erispum,  quite  the  best  Pescatorei  we 
have  seen.  Another  ver3'  fine  Odontoglossum  was 
0.  erispum  Calypso  ;  the  white  petals  are  marked 
with  deep  red  blotches  of  extraordinary  size,  and 
in  form  the  flower  is  all  that  one  could  wish. 
0.  erispum  Gladys  is  also  a  flower  of  the  highest 
merit,  with  large  red  blotches  on  a  white  ground. 
Other  Odontoglossums  worthy  of  special  note  were 
0.  Hallii  Heatonense,  0.  elegantius,  and  of  hybrid 
La4io-Cattleyas  we  noticed  such  good  things  as 
L. -C.  hyeana  splendens,  a  richly  coloured  form 
of  this  fine  hybrid ;  L.  -C.  Digbyano-Mendelii, 
L.-C.  G.  S.  Ball  in  several  forms,  one  of  which  was 
noticeably  good  and  distinct  ;  a  splendid  specimen 
plantof  L.-C.  Major-(  General  Baden  Powell  bearing 
three  strong  spikes  of  flowers ;  Lielia  Helen 
(L.  tenebrosa  x  Brassavola  digbyana)  is  a  new 
and  attractive  hybrid  that  was  included.  Some 
wonderfully  well  flowered  plants  of  Oncidium 
marshallianum  gave  a  touch  of  rich  colouring  to 
Messrs.  Charlesworth's  group,  and  0.  varicosum 
Charlesworthii,  a  flower  with  a  very  large  3'ellow 
lip  ;  0.  marshallianum  sulphureum  were  noticeable 
also.  Besides  a  number  of  Odontoglossums  repre- 
senting Messrs.  Charlesworth's  type  of  0.  erispum, 
there  were  many  other  Orchids  of  beauty  and 
rarity,  notably  Cypripedium  callosum  Sanderie, 
C.  Argus  Distinction,  C.  Lilian  Greenwood, 
C.  leopardinum,  C.  Lawrebel,  Trichopilia  suavis 
alba,  Cattleya  Mossije  reineckiana,  and  several 
selected  forms  of  La'lia  purpurata,  conspicuous 
being  L.  p.  Sunraj'. 

Messrs.  Stanley,  Ashton  and  Co.,  SntiTH- 
GATE,  London,  N.  ,  arranged  a  collection  of  Orchids 
remarkable  alike  for  the  variety  of  choice  plants 
included  and  also  for  its  extent.  The  specimens 
of  Cattlej'a  Mossiii?  were  alone  worth  a  journey  to 
see  ;  they  included  many  magnificent  and  highly 
coloured  varieties.  Notably  good  were  C.  M. 
Wagenerii,  C.  M.  Pax,  a  new  white  form  ;  C.  M. 
Aurora,  with  a  mass  of  gold  in  the  lip  ;  and  C.  M. 
Marguerite.  If  Messrs.  Stanlej',  Ashton  and  Co. 
had  exhibited  nothing  besides  the  group  of  Cattleya 
MossiiT?  this  alone  would  have  deserved  the 
medal  awarded  ;  but  there  were  many  other 
choice  things  also,  for  instance  Miltonia  bleuana, 
M.  radiata  Chelsoni,  the  finest  form  we  have  yet 
seen,  two  L;elio-Cattleyas  of  the  highest  merit, 
L.-C.  canhamiana  alba  Stanley i,  L.-C.  canha- 
miana,  L.  -  C.  massangeana,  a  magnificent 
form  of  Odontoglossum  erispum,  viz.,  0.  c. 
virginalis,  &c.  Odontoglossums  were  largely  and 
excellently  represented  in  this  collection,  somegrand 
varieties  of  0.  erispum  were  included,  as  well  as 
many  choice  forms  of  0.  Adrians ;  0.  elegans  var. 
superbissima,  a  lovely  flower,  was  also  shown. 
These  were  some  of  the  more  remarkable  Orchids 
in  Messrs.  Stanley,  Ashton  and  Co.'s  extensive 
collection. 

Mr.  James  Cypher,  Orchid  Grower,  Chel- 
tenham, exhibited  a  most  attractive  display  of 
Orchids  in  excellent  variety.  In  the  centre  of 
the     group     were    boldly    arranged    Oneidiuras, 


making  a  bright  and  rich  mass  of  colour.  0. 
marshallianum,  0.  concolor,  and  others  were 
largely  made  use  of.  On  either  side  of  the  On- 
cidiums  was  a  group  of  Odontoglossums  in  great 
variety,  the  plants  being  exceedingly  well  flowered. 
Some  very  good  varieties  of  0.  erispum,  0.  Hallii, 
0.  polyxantbum,  0.  Pescatorei,  and  many  others 
were  included.  Then  came  smaller  groups  of 
Miltonia  vexillaria  arranged  with  excellent 
effect.  Of  other  good  plants  contained  in  Mr. 
Cypher's  group  we  especially  remarked  several 
particularly  fine  Lailia  purpurata,  Cattleya 
Mossi.-e,  C.  Mendelii,  Dendrobiura  nobile,  and 
D.  thyrsiflorum,  both  flowering  with  remarkable 
freedom  ;  the  handsome  Cypripedium  Gowerii 
magnificum,  the  dainty  C.  niveum,  C.  rothsehildi- 
anum,  C.  grande  atratam,  and  C.  lawrenceanum. 
Of  Thunias  there  were  T.  Marshallite,  T.  Veitchi, 
and  Vanda  teres  was  splendidly  shown,  as  also 
was  the  beautiful  garland  Orchid  C^logyne 
dayana,  Palms,  Ferns,  Asparagus,  and  other 
green  foliage  were  effectively  and  tastefully  used 
by  Mr.  Cypher  in  the  arrangement  of  his"  most 
creditable  display. 

Messrs  Sander  and  Sons,  .St.  Albans,  had  a 
glorious  display,  filling  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  centre  of  the  large  tent.  The  grouping  was 
very  beautiful,  the  background  being  arranged 
with  Palms  and  Cymbidiums,  and  there  was  a 
splendid  series  of  Odontoglossum  erispum,  which 
attracted  much  attention.  Cattleya  Mendelii  was 
represented  by  many  superb  varieties,  and  amongst 
other  notable  Orchids  were  La'lia  purpurata,  L. 
pulcherrima,  Masdevallias  in  variety ;  Odonto- 
glossum citrosmuni,  Miltonia  bleuana,  Cattleya 
Mossi*  alba  ca-lestis,  Odontoglossum  Harryano 
erispum,  Phali«nopsis  intermedia  Portei,  Cypri- 
pedium Annie  Measures,  Brasso-Cattleya  Empress 
of  Russia,  L.-elia  Emeline,  Cypripedium  schofieldi- 
anum  var.  0.  erispum  (yellow  lipped),  C.  roths- 
childianum,  &c.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many 
remarkable  flowers  in  this  striking  exhibit. 

Messrs.  Hucih  Low  and  Co.,  Bdsh  Hill  Park, 
Enfield,  N.  ,  had  a  most  representative  group, 
and  in  it  were  included  many  good  things. 
Cymbidiums,  Epidendrums,  Oncidiums,  &c.,  formed 
the  background,  together  with  Palms,  &c.,  and 
prominent  below  were  Cattleya  Mendelii  Wiseton- 
ensis,  C.  Skinneri  (a  splendid  plant),  C.  Mossiai 
var.  in  memoriam  Dr.  Smee,  C.  M.  reineckiana, 
C.  intermedia  alba,  some  other  lovely  varieties  of 
C.  Mossia;,  Cypripedium  lawrenceanum  hyeanum, 
C.-L.  gratrixianum,  Vanda  teres  Agnes  Joacquim, 
Cattleya  schilleriana  Regnelli,  Sobralia  macrantha 
alba,  and  Cyp.  callosum  Sanderaj,  from  Captain  J. 
F.  Laycock,  D.S.O.,  Wiseton  Hall,  Bantry,  Notts. 

Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford,  Dorking 
(Orchid  grower,  Mr.  White)  had  a  most  interesting 
group  of  little  known  Orchids.  There  were  in- 
cluded ilasdevallia  Rushtouii,  Brassia  brachiata, 
Oncidium  Carthaginense,  Epidendrum  paniculatum, 
Maxillaria  pr;estans  (botanical  certificate), Cielogyne 
swaniana,  Zygopetalum  rostratum  (cultural  com- 
mendation and  first-class  certificate),  Aspasia 
lunata  (botanical  certificate),  Trichopilia  rostrata 
(award  of  merit),  Angrfecum  Maloneyii  (botanical 
certificate). 

J.  C'olman,  Esq. ,  Gatton  Park,  Reigate  (gardener, 
Mr.  W.  P.  Bound),  in  his  group  exhibited  some 
splendid  Miltonia  vexillaria  and  Odontoglossums. 
The  Masdevallias  also  were  very  bright ;  particu- 
larly M.  Veitchi  grandiflora,  M.  harryana,  and 
M.  H.  Bull's  Blood ;  of  the  Odontoglossums. 
0.  erispum  Alexandra?,  0.  c.  A.  Mary  Column, 
0.  luteo-purpureum,  and  0.  andersonianum  Queen 
Alexandra  were  grand,  as  also  were  Cattleya 
Mossia;  gigantea,  C.  Schroder*,  Cymbidiums,  and 
Cypripediums. 

In  the  group  shown  by  F.  Wellesley,  Esq., 
Woking,  Cypripedium  Godefroya;  leucochilum, 
C.  G.  1.  pulchellum,  C.  bellatulum,  C.  niveum, 
C.  callosum  Saiidera'  were  particularly  beautiful, 
and  Platyclinis  sp.,  Miltonia  bleuana  Our  Queen, 
La?lia  purpurata,  Cattleya  schilleriana,  and  Brassia 
brachiata  were  all  worthy  of  special  note. 

Sir  Frederick  Wigan,  Bart.,  East  Sheen  (Orchid 
grower,  Mr.  W.  H.  Young),  had  a  magnificent  lot 
of  Orchids,  wherein  were  noticeable  excellent 
plants  of  Lajlia  purpurata,  Lrelio-Cattleya  high- 


368 


THE    GARDEN. 


[May  31,  1902. 


baryensis,  Lvlia  digbyana,  Odontoglossum  citros- 
mum,  0.  Ralfa',  Phalsenopsis  sanderiana  Wigan's 
variety  (first-class  cartifioate),  Cattleya  iater- 
media  alba,  Cypripedium  lawreaceatium  hyeanum, 
Miltonia  vexillaria  varieties,  Phal^nopsis  grandi- 
Hora,  Tliuaia  Marshallia.',  &c. 

J.  Rutherford,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Beardwood,  Black- 
bura,  had  a  lovely  bank  of  Cattleya  Mossiii-, 
Odontoglossum  f^ueen  Alexandra,  Cypripedium 
Annie  Measures,  and  many  more  of  equal   beauty. 

W.  r.  Burkinshaw,  Esq.,  Hessle,  Hull,  had  a 
representative  group,  comprising  Cattleya  Mossi:f 
reineckiana,  Odontoglossum  erispum  var.  Xan- 
tholes,  Miltonia  vexillaria,  L.vlia  tenebrosa, 
Renanthera  imschootiana,  and  others. 

Mr.  A.  A.  Peeters,  Brussels,  sent  several  lovely 
Odontoglos.^ums,  viz.,  0.  erispum  var.  virginalis, 
0.  c.  var.  Peetersi,  0.  c.  var.  Mrs.  F.  Peeters. 

M.M.  LtN'DEX  ET  CiE,  Brussels,  had  some 
splendidly  marked  forms  of  Odontoglossums, 
included  being  O.  Adrian:?  var.  ornatum,  0. 
erispum  Enchantress,  0.  c.  bellatulum,  0.  c. 
dilectum,  0.  picturatum,  0.  Adrian*  var.  Suave, 
and  O.  vpilikeanum  Imperatorum.  (First-class  cer- 
tificate.) 

Mr.  John  Cowan,  Gateacre  Nurseries, 
Liverpool,  in  an  excellent  group,  displayed 
Cattleyas  Mossite,  Mendelii,  Oncidiums,  Odonto- 
glossum triumphans  latisepalum  aureum,  Cypri- 
pedium elliottianum,  splendid  varieties  of  0. 
erispum,  Cypripedium  Charles  Richman,  Miltouias, 

Mr.  B.  S.  Williams,  Upper  Holloway,  N., 
also  showed  Orchid.s  in  great  and  excellent  variety. 
Oncidiummarshallianum,La4iapurpurata,Cattle}'a 
Mossia?,  Cattleya  Warneri,  Cypripedium  lebaudy- 
anum,  Platj'clinis  latifolia,  and  Lailio-Cattleya 
einnabarosa.  Some  very  good  Odontoglossums 
were  noticeable. 

Mr.  John  Robsos,  Bowbon  Nurseries, 
Altrincham,  had  a  small  group  of  Orchids  that 
contained  Cymbidium  concolor,  Laflia  purpurata, 
Cattleya  Mossi*,  Odontoglossums,  and  Oncidiums 
in  very  good  form. 

Mr.  Chas.  Vuylsteke,  Loo  Christy,  Ghent, 
Belcium,  showed  several  new  Odontoglossums, 
including  0.  recens,  0.  bellatulum,  0.  Adriana-,  O. 
wilckeauum  var.,  and  0.   erispum  varieties. 

Messrs.  Janssens  and  G.  Pptzeys,  Mercein, 
Antwerp,  showed  Cattleya  Mendelii  palidosa 
(a  beautiful  flower)  and  C.  Mendelii  Perfection. 

Mr.  J.  Wilson  Potter,  Elrawood,  Park  Hill 
Road,  Croydon,  sent  0.  erispum  Lady  Jane. 

Mr.  Kromjr,  Bindon  Hill,  Croydon,  showed 
Cattleya  intermedia  Aquinei. 

M.  H.  Claes,  6S,  Rue  des  Champs,  Brussels, 
showed  some  beautifully  spotted  Odontoglossums, 
notably  O.  Adrian.-e,  6.  A.  Picador,  0.  erispum 
Pax,  0.  A.  Toreador,  0.  c.  aureum  etterbeekense, 
and  O.  c.  Esquire. 

Fruit. 

Messrs.  George  Bunyard  and  Co.,  The 
Nurseries,  Maidstone,  exhibited  a  display  of 
hardy  fruit  that  demonstrated  very  efiiciently  the 
high  perfection  to  which  British  Apples  can  be 
grown  and  preserved  if  only  the  right  methods  are 
employed.  The  fruits  were  as  sound  as  one  could 
wish,  and,  in  fact,  in  general  appearance  gave  but 
little  indication  of  the  lateness  of  the  Apple  season. 
In  this  remarkable  collection  there  were  alto- 
gether some  ninety  different  varieties,  so  that  of 
late-keeping  Apples  there  is  evidently  no  lack. 
Some  of  the  dishes  of  dessert  Apples  were  Nor- 
man's Pippin,  King  of  Tompkins'  County,  Cox's 
Orange  Pippin,  Sturmer  Pippin,  Winter  Peach, 
Allen's  Everlasting,  and  Reinette  du  Canada. 
Conspicuously  good  amongst  the  kitchen  varieties 
were  Annie  Elizabeth,  Calville  Rouge,  Hormead's 
Pearmain,  Bismarck,  Lane's  Prince  Albert,  Belle 
de  Pontoise,  Wagener,  Sanspareil,  Royal  Late 
Cooking,  Alfriston,  and  Newton  Wonder,  whilst 
of  stewing  Pears  there  were  handsome  specimens 
of  Belle  des  Arbres,  Uvedale's  St.  Germain,  and 
Catillac.  Messrs.  Bunyard's  display  of  Apples 
was  backed  by  finely-grown  and  well-fruited  pot 
trees  of  Peaches  and  Cherries. 

Messrs.     Thomas     Rivers     and     Son,    The 
NuRSEBiES,   Saweridoeworth,   Herts,   filled   a 


space  of  300  feet  in  the  large  tent  with  a  group  of 
fruit  trees  in  pots,  comprising  about  thirty  trees. 
Messrs.  Rivers'  display  of  pot  fruit  trees  is  so 
well  known  that  much  description  is  unnecessary. 
We  can  say,  however,  that  we  have  never  seen 
them  better  than  this  season,  nor  in  greater 
variety.  Most  prominent  in  the  group  were  the 
Cardinal  and  Early  Rivers'  Nectarines,  the  two 
earliest  varieties  of  this  delicious  fruit.  Peaches 
Hale's  Early  and  Early  Rivers',  as  well  as  trees  of 
May  Duke  Cherry  were  included.  Messrs.  Rivers 
also  exhibited  pot  trees  of  their  three  new  early 
Peaches,  viz.,  Uuchess  of  Cornwall,  Duke  of  York, 
and  Prince  Edward.  Peach  Duchess  of  Cornwall, 
which  received  an  award  of  merit  from  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  in  10(11,  is  of  pale  colour, 
rather  small,  but  of  excellent  flavour.  It  fruits 
and  forces  well.  Peach  Duke  of  York  is  a  highly 
coloured  fruit  of  splendid  flavour,  and  the  variety 
is  well  adapted  for  forcing.  It  received  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society's  award  of  merit  on  May  20 
last.  The  parents  of  this  new  Peach  were  the 
Early  Rivers'  Nectarine  and  Peach  Alexander. 
The  trees  were  all  well  laden  with  fruit,  yet  in 
pots  varying  from  11  inches  to  1.")  inches  in 
diameter.  Baskets  containing  splendid  examples 
of  E:irly  Rivers'  and  Cardinal  Nectarines  com- 
pleted this  unique  display. 

Pantia  Ralli,  Esq.,  Ashtead  Park,  Epsom 
(gardener,  Mr.  J.  Hunt),  exhibited  a  decorative 
table  of  fruit.  In  the  centre  was  a  stand  of 
Grapes,  Melons,  and  .Strawberries,  and  on  the  table 
were  very  good  fruits  of  Melon  Sutton's  Ring- 
leader, The  Countess,  Royal  Favourite ;  Straw- 
berr3'  Royal  Sovereign ;  Peach  Early  Grosse 
Mignonne,  and  Apples. 

Mr.  A.  J.  Harwood,  Asparagus  grower,  Col- 
chester, sent  some  very  good  bunches  of  Asparagus. 

Mr.  W.  (iodfrey,  Colchester,  also  showed 
remarkabl)'  fine  bunches  of  Asparagus. 

Vegetables. 

Messrs.  Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley.Kent,  showed 
a  collection  of  vegetables,  which  included  their 
new  Cabbage  (.'annell's  Defiance  ;  Potatoes  Lord 
Roberts,  Pride  of  'I'onbridge,  and  Harbinger ; 
Champion  Leek  ;  Cannell's  Winter  Carrot,  and 
Cauliflower  Eirly  Model.  They  also  exhibited 
some  splendid  Peas  growing  in  boxes;  the  plants 
were  bearing  well  and  looked  remarkably  healthy. 
The  varieties  were  Eynsford  Beauty,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  King  Edward,  and  Duchess. 

S.  W.  iSearle,  Esq.,  Sudbury  Prior}'.  Harrow 
(gardener,  Alfred  Mr.  Hornby),  exhibited  Tomato 
Sutton's  Perfection  and  Cucumber  Al. 

I-ord  Aldenham,  Aldenham  House,  Elstree, 
Herts,  (gardener,  Mr.  E.  Beckett,)  displayed 
a  remarkable  collection  of  vegetables.  They  were 
pleasingly  staged,  the  spaces  between  each  being 
filled  with  Parsley,  which  added  greatly  to  the 
appearance  of  the  exhibit.  Some  of  the  best  of  the 
many  excellent  specimens  shown  were  ;  Asparagus 
Colossal,  Broad  Bean  Leviathan  (Carter's),  Dwarf 
Bean  Canadian  Wonder,  Dwarf  Bean  Ne  Plus 
LTltra  (Sutton's),  Beet  Pragnell's  Exhibition, 
Broccoli  Late  t^Uieen  (Sutton's)  and  May  Queen 
(Webb's),  Cabbage  Ellam's  Early  and  Flower  of 
Spring  (Sutton's),  Carrot  Early  Gem  (Sutton's), 
Cauliflower  Defiance  (Carter's).  Early  Forcing 
(Veiteh's),  Cucumber  Ideal  Beckett,  Sensation 
(new),  and  Marquis  of  Lome  (new),  Leek  Holborn 
Model  and  The  Lyon,  Lettuce  Giant  Bath  Cos, 
Black-seeded  Bath  Cos,  and  .Jumbo  Cos,  Marrows 
Perfection  Luton  (new)  and  Moore's  Cream,  Onion 
White  Emperor,  Giant  Rocca,  and  Crimson  CJlobe, 
Pea  E.  Beckett  (Beckett),  Early  Forcing,  and  Early 
Morn.  Potato  Sharpe's  Victor,  Snowdrop,  Improved 
Early  Ashleaf,  and  May  Queen  (.Sutton's),  Spinach, 
The  Carter,  Tomato  Duke  of  York,  Peachblow, 
Golden  Jubilee,  Winter  Beauty,  Perfection  (Sut- 
ton's), and  Dessert,  Turnip  Forcing  (Carter's), 
Early  White  Milan,  Early  Red  Milan,  Seakale,  and 
Mushrooms. 

All  certificated  plants  will  be  fully  described 
next  week. 

Miscellaneous. 

Messrs.  William  Cutbushand  Son,  Highcate, 
London,  N.,  had  a  remarkably  fine  group  of 
miscellaneous  plants  in  flower,  arranged  with  much 


taste.  At  the  back  were  groups  of  the  new  Rose 
Dorothy  Perkins  (a  charming  new  free  flowering 
climber,  allied  to  wichuriana,  bearing  blossoms  of 
a  soft  pink)  and  Tree  Pajonies,  which  included 
several  new  varieties.  The  feature  of  this  varied 
display,  however,  was  a  splendid  lot  of  Calla 
elliottiana,  bearing  freely  their  beautiful  yellow 
spathes,  and  making  a  remarkably  fine  show. 
Smaller  groups  of  Carnation  Cecilia  (the  new 
yellow)  and  Ghent  Azaleas  in  brilliant  variety, 
some  splendidly  flowered  Malmaison  and  border 
Carnations,  &o.,  completed  the  exhibit.  Notice- 
able among  the  Malmaison  varieties  were  such 
lovely  flowers  as  Princess  of  Wales,  .Jul'ette, 
Calypso,  lolanthe.  Lady  (Jrimston,  Mme.  Adelina 
Patti,  Prime  Minister,  Sir  Charles  Freemantle, 
Sir  Evelyn  Wood,  &c.  The  border  varieties 
included  Sundridge,  Herbert  .7.  Cutbush,  Fanny 
Wilcox,  Germania,  Buff  Queen,  and  many  others. 
Messrs.  Cutbush  also  exhibited  a  group  of  Begonias, 
composed  chiefly  of  new  dwarf  varieties  for 
bedding.  The  habit  of  these  plants  renders  them 
especially  suitable  for  bedding  purposes.  They 
liave  been  named  dwarf  pet  varieties,  and  amongst 
them  we  noticed  White  Pel,  Crimson  Pet,  Scarlet 
Pet,  Rose  Pet,  Orange  Pet,  Carmine  Pet,  Pink  Pet, 
Yellow  Pet,  Cerise  Pet,  Vermilion  Pet,  Cream  Pet. 
We  noticed  a  new  Begonia,  named  Phosphorescens, 
a  showy  double  scarlet  variety,  and  another  new 
bedding  Begonia,  called  Eugene  Verdier,  a  large 
bright  scarlet.  At  the  back  of  this  group  were 
late-flowering  Tulips,  early-flowering  Gladioli, 
Spanish  Iris,  and  many  sorts  of  herbaceous  plants. 

Messrs.  Webb  and  Sons,  Stourbridge,  had  a       ' 
splendid   display.       It   consisted   of    Calceolarias, 
Gloxinias,  and  other  indoor  plants,  and  represented 
their  finest  strains  of  these  popular  flowers.     The      i 
plants    had    been    grown    primarily    for    seeding      ^ 
purposes,   and  the}'   well   illustrated  the  success 
which  this  firm  has  achieved  by  cross-fertilisation 
and    selection.       The    Calceolarias   were   really  a       i 
magnificent  lot,  the  plants  being  of  vigorous  habit,       j 
and   carrying   large   and   well-formed    flowers    in    '   1 
profusion  and  in  great  diversity  and  splendour  of 
colouring.     The  Gloxinias  also  made  a  grand  show. 
The   plants   were   in   6-inch   pots,    and   had   been 
grown  from  seed  sown  in  January.     The   flowers 
were  large  in  size,  of  excellent  substance,  and  the 
most  beautiful  colours  ;  there  were  whites,  spotted 
crimsons,  and  fine  shades  of  purple.     Among  these 
varieties    particularly    noticeable    were    Webb's 
Stanley    (vivid    crimson),    Peerless    (white),    and 
Purple  Queen.  J 

Messrs.  J.  Carter  and  Co.,  High  Holborn,  I 
London,  hada  glorious  display,  quite  as  fine  oreven 
finer  than  that  of  last  year.  Of  course  a  feature  of 
much  interest  consisted  of  their  brilliant  prize  Cine- 
rarias, including  the  beautiful  Stellata  hybrids, 
which  have  gained  much  popularity  through  their 
gracefulness  and  diversity  of  attractive  colours. 
Also  we  noticed  the  prize  Calceolarias,  plants  of 
compact  growth  and  with  solid  heads  of  big 
flowers  of  wonderful  colours,  spotted  and  blotched, 
and  also  pure  clear  selfs,  soft  yellow,  rose,  and 
other  pretty  shades,  while  the  Empress  and 
double  Petunias  attracted  much  attention.  We 
must  thank  Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.  for  so  con- 
sistently bringing  forward  the  claims  of  the 
Queen's  Prize  Mimulus.  The  large  -  flowered 
Mimulus  is  neglected  in  English  gardens,  though 
why  it  is  diflncult  to  say.  The  flowers  are  extra- 
ordinarily showy,  big  petals  dabbed  with  colour, 
and  their  quaint  shape  is  a  recommendation.  It 
was  possible  to  pick  out  a  hundred  shades.  Of 
course  the  plants  were  in  pots,  but  it  must  not  be 
forgotten  that  the  Mimulus  is  a  good  garden 
flower  in  half  shade  and  in  a  moist  place.  A  most 
varied  and  brilliant  exhibit. 

Messrs.  Paul  and  .Son,  Cheshunt,  showed  Tulips 
in  great  variety  ;  Lilacs  Philemon,  Belle  de  Nancy, 
M.  Cisirair  Perier,  Mme.  Lemoine,  Alphonse 
Lavallce,  and  a  magnificent  lot  of  cut  Rhododen- 
dron trusses. 

Messrs.  Sander  and  Sons,  St.  Albans,  exhibited 
a  very  pretty  group  of  Oranges  (Citrus  sinensis)  in 
pots.  The  small  plants  were  loaded  with  their 
bright  yellow  fruits,  and  were  very  attractive. 
Diniorphanthus  mandschuricus  foliis  variegatis and 
a  few  Caladimns  were  also  sent  by  Messrs.  Sander, 


GARDEN 


No.  1594.— Vol.  LXI.] 


[June  7,  1902 


P 


PEACE. 

EACE  on  earth,  and  goodwill  towards 
men."  The  old  Christmas  world- 
greeting  fills  our  hearts  in  these 
lovely  days  of  early  June,  and, 
though  there  is  scarcely  a  house- 
hold in  England  that  has  not  been  saddened — 
some,  alas  !  most  grievously — by  the  long  war 
that  has  now  come  to  an  end,  yet  even  these 
stricken  ones  will  rejoice,  knowing  that  the 
precious  lives  have  not  been  given  in  vain, 
and  that  the  wounds  and  disease  that  have  left 
others  almost  helpless  are  all  so  many  factors 
in  the  regeneration  of  those  vast  countries 
that  have  now  become  a  part  of  the  King's 
dominions. 

For  the  future  of  the  new  colonies  there  is 
every  hope,  their  immense  areas  of  fertile  land 
only  awaiting  skilful  cultivation,  while  capital 
and  enterprise  will  not  be  wanting  for  the 
further  development  of  mineral  products. 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  The  Garden 
to  allude  more  directly  to  the  political  aspects 
of  the  happy  news  of  the  week,  but  we  may  at 
least  unite  with  all  England  at  home  and 
beyond  the  seas  in  holding  out  the  hand  of 
good  fellowship  to  our  late  foes,  now  our 
fellow-subjects,  whose  best  qualities  we  already 
respect  and  admire,  and  in  expressing  the  hope 
that  we  may  so  work  together  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  lands  of  their  birth  under  the 
iirm  but  kindly  rule  of  a  better  government  as 
most  truly  and  effectually  to  "  heal  the  wounds 
■•f  war." 


SOUTH    AFRICAN   FRUIT 
CULTURE. 

EXPORT   AND    LABOUR. 

THE  following  accounts  of  the  state  of 
Fruit  Culture  and  the  Labour 
Question  in  Cape  Colony  are  mainly 
compiled  from  the  Government 
Reports,  written  by  Mr.  Eustace 
Pillans,  which  he  was  good  enough  to  lend  to 
me  for  the  purpose. 

The  second  article  is  a  valuable  paper  by 
Mr.  Pillans,  which  I  have  added  in  its  entirety. 
George  Henslow. 

I. — The  History  of  FRUir  Ccltuee  at 
the  Cape. 

In  the  report  of  the  Agricultural  Assistant, 
Mr.  Eustace  Pillans,  for  1893,  he  observed  that 
the  department  had  kept  in  view  the  necessity 
of  introducing  varieties  of  fruit  not  yet  spread 
throughout  the  colony.    Though  it  would  have 


been  better  had  theylseen  introduced  in  the 
ordinary  way  of  commerce,  yet  it  was  necessary 
for  the  Government  to  take  the  initiative,  so 
as  to  induce  fruit  growers  to  substitute  good 
sorts  for  the  prevailing  bastard  seedlings. 

The  following  were  the  principal  items  of 
importance  for  this  purpose  at  that  date  : — 
Two  cases  of  the  best  Smyrna  Fig  cuttings, 
twenty  varieties  of  Oranges  and  Lemons — 
three  hundred  and  fifty  examples  in  all — were 
imported  from  Naples.  A  small  importation 
of  bitter  Seville  Oranges  was  made  to  ensure 
getting  an  immediate  supply  of  fresh  seed, 
the  object  being  to  raise  a  better  stock  for 
grafting  instead  of  using  Lemon  stocks  as  before 
for  that  object. 

A  supply  of  pips  for  raising  stocks  for 
Apples,  Pears,  and  Cherries  were  also  secured. 

On  enquiring  it  was  found  that  nearly  all 
the  best  varieties  of  fruit  to  be  found  in  the 
Covent  Garden  sales  were  already  in  the 
colony ;  but  the  orchards  were  not  planned 
with  the  view  of  market  production,  being 
only,  as  it  were,  amateur  gardens,  containing  a 
limited  supply  of  one  or  two  varieties  each. 
This  "old-fashioned,  messing  little  way  of 
orcharding,"  wrote  Mr.  Pillans,  "must  give 
way  to  orchards  being  measured  by  morgen, 
and  not  be  a  little  back  garden  place  behind  a 
dwelling-house.  By  such  means  only  can  the 
orchardist  hope  to  share  in  the  fruit  trade." 

"The  department  enlisted  the  services  of 
Mr.  H.  E.  V.  Pickstone,  a  skilled  Calif ornian 
orchardist,  in  order  to  give  practical  demon- 
stration of  the  best  methods  of  pruning  fruit 
trees  at  such  centres  as  should  enable  the 
greatest  number  of  growers  to  attend  and 
compare  notes." 

Since  this  was  written  the  above  experiment 
has  proved  the  greatest  success.  Represen- 
tative men  have  come  from  all  parts  during 
the  past  nine  years,  and  700,000  trees  have 
been  planted.  In  1894  the  Government 
planted  240  Pear,  Apple,  and  Plum  trees  of 
pedigree  sorts,  and  the  best  kinds  of  stone 
fruits  ;  but  this  was  only  a  beginning  and  far 
from  being  representative  of  all  the  fruit  sorts 
suited  to  the  western  climate  and  to  the 
necessities  of  the  exporter. 

From  the  small  portion,  planted  at  that  date, 
large  numbers  of  named  scions  were  distri- 
buted for  grafting  and  for  budding. 

Under  the  heading  of  "  Fruit  Exports  "  for 
1894,  Mr.  Pillans  observes  that  the  farmers 
were  becoming  quick  to  recognise  where  their 
interest  lay,  for  it  was  evidenced  by  the  large 
extent  to  which  certain  kinds  of  fruit  dis- 
appeared from  the  exported  shipments,  and 
their  place  taken  by  others  which  were  found 
to  be  better  suited  for  transport,  and  fetching 
better  prices. 

Mr.  Pillans  then  refers  to  a  serious  draw- 
back,   viz.,    the    )iernicious    custom  whereby 
amateurs  and  outsiders  took  upon  themselves 
to  buy  up  job  lots  of  fruit,  pack  them  anyhow, 
j  and  rush  them  on  to  the  Covent  Garden  sales 
-  as  "  Cape  Fruit,"  to  the  utter  ruin  of  whatever 


prestige  the  best  fruits,  selected  and  packed 
by  the  best  men,  may  have  previously  gained." 

Since  the  above  was  penned,  at  the  present 
time,  1902,  matters  have  improved,  as  it  was 
soon  found  to  be  detrimental  even  to  the 
amateur's  interest ,;  but  even  now  this  has 
not  been  quite  suppressed.  ^Mr.  Pillans  nex.t 
calls  attention  to  the  rise  of  Fruit  Growers' 
Associations  in  the  west.  As  he  observes,  thfe 
great  thing  to  be  avoided  was  the  dead  level 
of  a  stolid  conservatism  and  satisfaction  with 
the  old  unimproved  methods  practised  from 
time  immemorial.  Perhaps  the  most  nqte- 
werihy-sign  of  impravement-was-  -the  .growing 
dissatisfaction  with  the  average  Cape  seedling 
sorts,  raised  hai)hazard,  the  fruit  of  which, 
although  lacking  all  the  qualities  that  the 
buyer  has  a  right  to  look  for,  was  then  still 
being  sent  to  market  merely  for  what  it  would 
fetch.  The  miserable  prices  obtained  for  these 
inferior  qualities  failed  to  cure  the  evil,  and  he 
adds  that  it  was  more  than  probable  that  the 
improvement  signalised  in  1894  was  due  rather 
to  a, spirit  of  emulation,  for  which  thanks  Avere 
due  to  the  associated  meetings  and  the  public 
exhibitions. 

In  his  report  for  1895  Mr.  Pillans  alludes  to  the 
results  of  the  i)lanting  really  good  sorts  of  trees 
in  the  Government  grounds.  In  this  climate 
young  trees  lilossom  and  fruit  in  the  fourth  or 
fifth  year.  The  growth  was  most  satisfactory. 
Farmers  not  only  in  Cape  Colony,  but  in  the 
Orange  River  Colony,  and  also  in  the  Transvaal, 
began  the  practice  of  sending  unknown  fruits 
for  determination.  Moreover,  a  strong  feeling 
was  rising  against  the  propagation  of  the 
nameless  seedlings  of  inferior  qualities,  which 
had  hitherto  been  so  common  everywhere. 

He  also  records  the  fact  that  in  189o  there 
was  a  perceptible  improvement  in  the  stocks 
of  fruit  exhibited  for  sale  in  Cape  Town, 
though  there  was  not  then,  nor  is  there  to-day 
(1902),  any  serious  attempt  to  improve  the 
dessert  forms  of  Grapes.  Indeed,  in  1895  there 
was  no  improvement  in  dessert  fruits  other 
than  Grapes. 

Unmistakable  signs  of  improvement  were  to 
be  seen  in  1895  in  a  few  private  establish- 
ments. In  one,  that  of  Messrs.  Malleson  and 
Dicey,  at  Hex  River,  200,000  selected  orchard 
trees  were  planted,  and  without  deriving  any 
assistance  from  the  Government.  As  another 
instance,  Mr.  P.  J.  Cillee,  of  Wellington, 
devoted  himself  to  the  Prune  industry.  The 
trees  were  supplied  by  Mr.  Pickstone,  who 
revolutionised  the  old  order  of  things  and 
established  in  the  Colony  what  did  not  exist 
before,  viz.,  a  nursery  capable  of  dealing  with 
the  prospective  fruit  farm  demand. 

In  his  report  for  1896  Mr.  Pillans  mentions 
that  additional  ground  on  the  Government 
property  at  Constantia  was  planted  with  the 
best  kinds  of  Pears. 

]  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  climatic 
conditions  of  the  Eastern  side  and  of  Natal  are 
very  different  from  the  Western,  so  that  Mr. 
Pillans  wisely  called    the   attention    of    the 


3?0 


THE    GARDEN. 


[.Tune  7,  1902. 


MESSRS.    I'UTBl'SlI    AND    SON's    YEI.l.OW    I  ALLAS,    CARNATIONS,    ETO. ,    AT    THE    TEMLI.li 


Government  to  the  desirability  of  establishing 
at  least  two  typical  orchards  in  the  Eastern 
Province — namely,  one  for  the  coast  level,  at 
or  near  East  London,  and  one  for  the  higher 
plateau,  preferentially  at  Queen's  Town.  These 
were  established,  and  at  the  present  time  (1902) 
have  proved  to  be  very  successful  and  useful. 
The  plan  adopted  was  as  follows  :  A  portion  of 
unprepared  or  wild  ground  was  rented  of  the 
owner  by  the  Government  for  ten  years.  The 
lessee  undertook  to  fence,  clean,  trench,  plant, 
and  prune  the  trees.  The  amount  was  five 
acres.  After  four  years  the  trees  begin  to  bear. 
The  owner  undertook  to  keep  the  orchard 
clean,  and  to  allow  access  to  all  the  farming 
jiublic  to  inspect  and  learn  from  the  cultiva- 
tion. The  owner  was  entitled  to  the  fruit,  and 
the  whole  finally  reverted  to  him. 

The  total  expense  of  the  Government  was 
covered  by  £300. 

Tiie  following  contributions  of  the  Cajie 
Times  and  Argus  during  the  !M\rch  of  this 
year  are  here  inserted  as  bearing  upon  the 
subject  of  this  paper. 

Export  Trade. 

The  productive  capacity,  as  well  as  the 
present  and  prospective  prosperity  of  a  country 
in  respect  to  certain  indigenous  commodities, 
maybe  gauged  to  some  tolerable  extent  liy  the 
progressive  volume  in  bulk  and  degree  of  its 
export  trade.  There  are  not,  it  so  happens, 
many  native  products  exported  by  South 
Africa  ;  in  fact,  they  may  almost  be  numbered 
on  the  linger  of  one  hand — raw  gold,  diamonds, 
wool,  hides,  feathers,  and  fruit.  But  if  few  in 
number,  they  are  flourishing  in  condition.  It 
is  with  the  latter,  as  a  .staple  of  the  lower 
portion  of  south-western  Gape  Colony  and  the 
Oa)ie  Peninsula,  that  the  present  article  is 
concerned.  The  export  of  Gape  fruit  across  the 
ocean  is  yet  an  infant  industry,  not  as  years 
count,  maybe,  but  decidedly  as  regards  develop- 
ment. Although  .systematically  started  some 
ten  years  ago,  it  is  an  industry  that  still 
requires  sedulous  and  steady  nurturing.  While 
no  great,  or  world-surprising  things  have  been 
accomplished,  no  disheartening  results  have 
been  recorded,  and  there  exists  no  tangible 
reason  why  this  branch  of  trade  should   not 


reach  dimensions  commensurate  in  proportion 
to  those  attained  by  other  South  African 
exports.  It  would  be  ultra-sanguine  to 
anticipate  even  a  propinquity  by  our  present 
generation  of  fruit  growers  to  the  eminent  and 
enviable  status  enjoyed  by  Californian  and 
Australian  competitors,  by  whom  an  enormous 
business  is  done  in  the  supply  of  the  English 
winter  fruit  market.  But  it  is  within  their 
power  to  conmiand,  if  not  pre-eminence,  at 
least  prominence,  and  to  compel  a  strong  and 
well-paying  demand  for  certain  specialities. 
They  may  not  raise  Grapes  "  as  large  as  Plums 
and'as  sweet  as  sugar,"  but  they  can  grow  fruit 
whose  exquisite  flavour  and  lusciousness 
will  tickle  the  fastidious  palate  of  the  most 
exacting  epicure  at  Gatti's  or  Holborn.  And 
if  it  is  not  reasonable  to  opine  that  they  can 
threaten  the  prestige  of  Antipodean  and  Western 
cousins,  they  can  at  least  aspire  to  the  successes 
of  the  older  and  more  experienced  shippers. 

A  Favourable  Opening. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  that  the  argument 
is  advanced  that  the  maw  of  the  English 
market  is  ever  insatiable,  and  that  there  are 
never  occasions  when  the  market,  like  the 
open  emporiums,  experiences  an  over-supply 
or  a  depressed  demand  ;  on  the  contrary,  the 
oversea  fruit  consignments  to  Govent  Garden 
and  kindred  depots  are  at  times  superabundant, 
and  then  the  purchaser  reaps  the  benefit  in 
having  to  pay  a  comparatively  low  price  for  his 
winter  dessert.  But  that  is  a  consideration 
that  need  not  occasion  the  Cape  fruit  grower 
great  perturbation  or  hesitancy,  as  he  may 
rather  derive  a  stimulus  to  persevere  in  his 
packing  for  the  home  market  from  a  know- 
ledge of  the  fact  that  his  juicy  wares  for  the 
most  part  reach  England  at  a  time  when  the 
Californian  fruit  traffic  has  declined  for  the 
season,  and  before  the  Australian  consign- 
ments have  well  begun  to  arrive.  This  very 
convenient  gap  he  should  not  be  laggard  in 
accommodatingly  stepping  into  and  closing. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  the  advocate  of  the 
cultivation  of  this  important  business  to  be 
able  to  juggle  -nath  the  figures  available  with 
the    cunning    of    the    skilled  statistician,   to 


demonstrate  the  remunerative  capacity  and  the 
excellent  and  favourable  prospects  of  an  in- 
dustrial market  in  the  purveyance  to  which 
the  Gape  producer  has  every  right  to  share, 
along  with  existing  competitive  caterers.  For 
the  present  it  will  suffice  to  show  what 
facilities  exist,  or  are  being  created,  for  the 
fostering  of  the  industry,  what  fruit  growers 
are  principally  interested  in  building  up  a  firm 
reputation  for  Cape  fruits,  what  was  accom- 
plished in  the  aggregate  last  year,  what  has 
been  done  so  far  this  season,  and  what  have 
been,  broadly  speaking,  the  net  results 

Shipments  this  Season. 

The  Union  Castle  Steamship  Company  pro- 
vide cool  storage  on  all  the  steamers  of  their 
mail  and  intermediate  fleets  for  the  convey- 
ance of  fruit  from  the  Gape.  The  united 
carrying  capacity  of  the  mail  steamers  total 
l,(  lOO  tons,  while  that  of  the  several  intermediate 
boats  exceeds  1,.j00  tons.  The  fares  of  freight 
charged  per  ton  of  40  cubic  feet.  Cape  Town 
to  London,  are  :  For  Grapes  and  Plums,  fiOs.  ; 
md  for  other  fruits  (Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apri- 
cots, Apples,  Pears,  Quinces,  itc),  70s.,  plu«>, 
in  both  classes,  10  per  cent.  It  may  be 
appropriately  remarked  here,  parenthetically, 
that  fruit  can  be  sent  from  Australian  ports  to 
London,  double  the  distance  covered  by  the 
Gajie  liners,  at  an  even  lower  average  rate 
than  given  above,  the  freight  being  from  60s. 
to  6.-13.  per  ton  all  round,  the  higher  quotation 
being  applicable  to  shipments  from  Hobart. 
But  though  this  may  be  advanced  as  arguing  a 
present  handicap  upon  the  Gape  exporter,  it 
must  be  conceded  that  where  the  cool  chambers 
of  all  the  Australian  steamers  are  filled 
throughout  the  fruit  season,  the  available 
accommodation  on  the  Gape  boats  is  but 
partially  utilised.  The  following  shipments 
have  been  made  this  season  by  mail  steamers, 
no  consignments  having  been  placed  on 
board  the  intermediate  boats.  The  Carisbrook 
Castle  took,  on  .January  2,  about  7  tons  : 
on  .January  8,  the  Kildonan  Castle  shipped 
11  tons;  followed  on  January  1.5  by  the 
Saxon,  with  21  tons  :  and  on  January  22, 
by  the  Kinfauns  C'astle,  with  14  tons ;  on 
January  29,  by  the  Norman,  with  20  tons  ; 
and  on  February  .5,  by  the  Dunvegan 
Castle,  with  26  tons.  In  February  the 
Scot  took  .3.'3  tons,  while  the  Briton,  sailing 
soon  afterwards,  had  over  SO  tons  on 
board  for  the  markets  of  chilly  London. 
These  several  shipments,  if  combined  in 
one  consignment,  would  just  comfortably  fill 
the  cool  chambers  of  the  Saxon,  which  has 
a  carrying  capacity  of  189  tons.  The  value 
of  182  tons  of  fruit  despatched  oversea  to 
date  this  season  may  be  roughly  calculated  at 
about  £4,000.  The  total  shipments  to  London 
during  the  season  of  1900-1901  amounted  to 
480  tons,  the  chief  contributors  to  this  aggre- 
gate being  the  late  jMr.  H.  W.  Hawkins 
(Glaremont),  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  in- 
dustry (though  not  a  grower),  who  shipped 
118  tons;  Mr.  Ehodes's  seven  fruit  farms  in 
the  Groot  Drakenstein  supplied  66  tons ; 
while  the  Caps  Orchard  (Jompany  (Hex 
River)  were  third  on  the  list  with  ,56  tons. 
This  season  among  the  leading  shippers  we 
find  the  names  of  Sir  J.  D.  Barry  (Rusten- 
burg),  who  has  already  packed  and  exported 
37  tons  of  fruit  grown  on  his  fine  farm ; 
Mr.  Pickstone  (the  manager  of  Mr.  Rhodes's 
farms),  Mr.  Nicholson  (manager  of  ^Ir.  J.  X. 
ilerriman's  beautiful  orchards  and  vineyards), 
and  the  Cape  Orchard  Com]iany. 

Temperature  and  Packin<';. 

The  temperature  of  the  cool  chamber  is 
maintained    at    from    38°  to    42" ;    in  other 


June  7,  1902] 


THE  GARDEN. 


371 


words,  at  a  state  varying  from  6"  to  10° 
above  freezing  point.  The  fruit  is  packed 
in  the  regulation  pattern  boxes,  with  bat- 
tens, the  latter,  of  course,  allowing  free 
circulation  of  the  air  current  lietween  the 
packages.  Grape  boxes  measure  20  inches 
by  20  inches  by  7  inches,  including  battens, 
and  nineteen  or  twenty  of  these  boxes  go  to 
the  ton  of  40  cubic  feet.  Peach  boxes  measure 
18  inches  by  12  inches  by  5  inches,  with 
battens,  forty-two  going  to  the  ton.  Plum 
boxes  are  the  smallest  of  all,  about  ninety-six, 
or  thirty- two  bundles  of  three  boxes  each, 
being  the  equivalent  of  one  ton  in  space.  It  may 
be  interesting  to  note  here  that  the  jirices  of 
these  boxes,  locally  made,  range  from  lid.  each 
for  the  largest  size,  down  to  3d.  and  4d.  each 
for  the  smallest  kind,  while  wood-wool,  which 
is  indispensable  in  the  packing,  costs,  also 
locally,  .30s.  to  3.5s.  per  lOOlb.  Of  course,  if 
imported  direct  by  the  packer,  the  prices  all 
round  are  somewhat  lower. 

The  proper  packing  of  the  fruit  is  as  essen- 
tial to  the  complete  sticcess  of  a  shipment  as 
the  judiciousness  of  picking.  Although  a 
slight  shrinkage  (a  peculiarity  with  some 
varieties  of  African  fruit)  may  be  calculated 
upon,  it  is  desirable  to  avoid  crowding.  The 
use  of  abundance  of  wood-wool  is  economy  in 
the  long  run.  Boxes  containing  as  few  as 
twelve  Peaches  have  not  infrequently  realised 
20s.  at  Covent  Garden,  while  at  the  same  time 
boxes  of  eighteen  of  the  same  variety,  which  have 
been  more  closely  packed  and  have  probably  not 
weathered  the  ocean  trip  so  well,  have  fetched 
the  same  price.  An  experiment  made  by  a 
Cape  exporter  early  this  season  in  packing 
Plums  in  crates  of  four  punnets  each,  after  a 
Californian  method,  resulted  very  unsatis- 
factorily. The  fruit,  which  when  picked  was 
of  good  size  and  appearance,  was  placed  in 
tiers,  without  any  packing  in  the  punnets,  and, 
as  might  have  been  expected,  reached  the 
market  in  bruised  condition  and  almost  all 
ruined.  Certain  Plums,  it  has  been  proved, 
hard-skinned  and  not  too  ripe,  have  carried  on 
long  land  trips  in  this  manner  without  ill 
result,  but  the  Cape  fruit,  with  its  greater 
lusciousness  and  thinner  skin,  will  never  carry 
this  way. —  C'o/w  Times,  February  20,  1902. 

Our  Expoet  Industry. — Cool  Storage 
AT  THE  Docks. 

A  very  excellent  society  of  the  greatest  value 
and  utmost  usefulness  in  the  interests  of  the 
Cape  fruit  export  industry  is  the  Fruit 
Exporters'  Association  of  South  Africa.  This 
association  at  the  present  time  consists  of  a 
membership  of  fifteen  of  our  largest  fruit 
growers,  including  the  principals  of  the  Govern- 
ment model  farm  at  Constantia,  and  Paarl, 
Stellenbosch,  Worcester,  Hex  River,  and  Groot 
Dralienstein  experts.  The  secretarjf  of  the 
association  is  Mr.  Green,  of  the  Agricultural 
Department,  a  gentleman  possessing  a  most 
intimate  acquaintance  with  the  details  of  this 
interesting  industrial  art,  and  indefatigable 
in  the  interests  of  his  society.  The  London 
representative  and  consignee  of  the  association 
is  Mr.  G.  E.  Hudson,  one  of  the  biggest  agents 
on  the  Covent  Garden  market,  who  disposes  of 
the  fruit  on  its  arrival  either  privately  or  by 
auction,  according  to  circumstances.  It  is 
noteworthy  that  the  whole  of  the  fruit  exported 
this  season,  with  the  exception  of  about  250 
boxes  of  peaches,  has  been  sent  by  members  of 
the  Fruit  Exporters'  Association.  The  fruit, 
arriving  from  the  country  by  rail,  is  consigned 
to  Mr.  Green,  the  secretary,  who  has  it  imme- 
diately conveyed  to  a  cool  chamber  rented  by 
the  association  from  the  South  African  Cold 
Storage  Company,  Limited,  if  arriving  on  any 


day  previous  to  the  date  of  the  sailing  of  the 
mail  boat,  or  if  on  a  Wednesday  morning, 
direct  to  the  cool  chamber  of  the  steamer.  As 
unity  is  strength,  it  would  be  obviously  in  the 
general  interests  of  the  industry,  as  well  as  to 
the  direct  personal  advantage  and  mutual 
protection  of  all  the  members,  if  every  fruit 
grower  in  the  Western  Province  were  to  join 
the  Exporters'  Association,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  take  an  active  interest  in  the  esploita- , 
tion  of  the  great  English  market. 
Steady  Expan.sion. 
It  is  patent  that  the  industry  has  enormous 
prospective  possibilities  and  breadth  of  scope 
if  the  fruit  growers  only  lay  themselves  out  to  ', 
produce  much  more  than  the  local  South 
African  markets,  including  the  future  revived 
•Johannesburg  market,  can  absorb.  And  they 
should  not  need  much  exhortation  to  set  about 
doing  so  with  unanimous  determination.  The 
business  has  expanded  at  the  rate  of  about 
£1,000  a  year.  Statistical  returns  compiled  by 
the  Agricultural  Department  show  that  in 
1891  Cape  Colony  exported  £1,000  worth  of 
fruit ;  five  years  later  the  income  from  this 
source  was  £4,500 ;  and  in  1900  the  amount 
had  reached  £9,000.  As  has  been  said,  the 
industry  is  yet  in  the  immature  stage  of 
development,  but  it  is  healthy  and  hardy. 

The  Local  Drawback. 
A  hitherto  and  still-existing  drawback  and 
hampering  factor  in  the  development  on  a 
large  scale  of  the  export  industry  has  been  the 
lack  of  cool  storage  accommodation  at  the 
docks,  where  the  fruit  sent  in  during  the 
period  between  the  departure  of  the  one 
steamer  and  the  date  of  sailing  of  the  next  can 
be  stored.  On  the  one  hand,  the  exporter, 
very  naturally,  cannot  be  absolutely  certain 
that,  after  having  informed  his  agent  or  shijiper 
of  his  intention  to  despatch  fruit  by  a  particu- 
lar steamer,  the  climatic  conditions  will  be 
favourable  to  the  picking  of  his  fruit  on  the 
evening  before  or  on  the  morning  of  the  date 
of  sailing.  And,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is 
distinctly  inimical  to  the  prospects  of  the  fruit 
(even  if  picked  under  the  most  favourable 
conditions)  arriving  at  its  destination  in  good 


condition,  if,  after  having  been  once  cooled,  it 
becomes  warmed,  to  ever  so  slight  a  degree,  in 
transit  from  the  temporary  receptacle  on  land 
to  the  cool  compartment  on  the  steamer.  This 
is  a  difficulty  which,  fortunately,  will  soon  be 
overcome.  Cool  storage  at  the  docks,  the 
dne  qvd  non  to  successful  fruit  exporting,  will 
shortly  be  available,  it  being  the  intention  of 
the  Harbour  Board  to  convert  a  portion  of  a 
building  at  the  South  Arm  into  cool  chambers 
for  the  reception  and  storage  of  fruit.  The 
necessary  machinery  has,  indeed,  arrived,  and 
but  for  the  occupation  by  the  military  of  the 
building  in  question,  the  work  would  have 
been  completed  in  time  for  the  present  season's 
export  trade.  The  promise  has  been  given 
that  the  cool  chambers  at  the  docks  will  be 
read}'  for  the  reception  of  next  season's  fruit, 
and  fruit  growers  may  rely  on  the  ratification 
of  that  promise. 

(To  be  continued.) 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

June  9.  —  Committee  Meeting  of  the  United 
Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 

June  10. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Com- 
mittees meet,  Drill  Hall,  Westminster  ;  Cambridge 
Summer  Show;  Horticultural  Club,  committee 
meeting  5  p.m.,  house  dinner  6  p.m.,  paper  after 
dinner,  by  Mr.  Henry  Stevens  upon  "Flower 
Photography  "  ;  committee  of  National  Rose 
Society's  show,  3  p.m.,  Horticultural  Club. 

June  11. — York  Gala  and  Floral  Fete. 

June  19. — Isle  of  Wight  (Ryde)  Rose  Show  ; 
Jersey  Rose  Show  ;  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
Society. 

June  24. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
conference,  Holland  House  (two  days)  ;  Lee  and 
District  Horticultural  Show  (two  days)  ;  Oxford 
Commemoration  Show. 

June  28. — Windsor  and  Kton  Rose  Show;  Maid- 
stone Rose  Show. 

June  30. — Canterbury  Rose  Show. 

July  1. — Southampton  Rose  Show  (two  days)  ; 
Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association. 


THE   OKCHIDS   FROM    MESSRS.    CHARLESWORTII   ASD   CO.,    HEATON,    BRADEOKD,    AT  THE   TEMPI.E  SHOW. 


372 


THE  GARDEN. 


[June  7,  1902. 


July  2. — National  Rose  Society's  Show  in  the 
Temple  (iardeiis ;  Croydon  Rose  Show ;  Hanley 
Horticultural  FcHe ;  Hereford  and  West  of  England 
Rose  Show ;  Newcastle-on-Tyne  Summer  Show 
(three  days) ;  Richmond  Horticultural  Show. 

July  3. — Colchester,  Sidcup,  and  Norwich  Rose 
Shows. 

July  4.  —  National  Rose  Society's  Southern 
Exhibition  at  Exeter. 

Mp.  Owen  Thomas.— We  draw  attention 
with  much  pleasure  to  an  advertisement  in  last 
week's  issue,  in  which  it  is  mentioned  that  Mr.  Owen 
Thomas,  head  gardener  to  Her  late  Majesty  (,l.ueen 
Victoria,  offers  his  services  as  an  expert  in  matters 
connected  with  horticulture.  All  we  can  say  is, 
we  know  Mr.  Thorn vs  to  be  a  man  of  wide 
experience  and  a  thorough  horticulturist. 

Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The 

next  Fruit  and  Flower  Show  of  the  Pvoyal  Horti- 
cultural Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday  next, 
in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster, 
from  1  to  ,5  p.m.  A  lecture  on  "Weeds  of  the 
Garden"  will  be  given  by  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Boyle  at 
three  o'clock. 

Lathypus  latifolius    gpandiflopus 

albUS. — Two  years  or  so  ago  Mr.  .John  Green 
(Hobbies  and  Co.,  Limited),  The  Nurseries, 
Dereham,  exhibited  before  the  floral  committee  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  a  remarkably  fine 
white  Everlasting  Pea,  which  is  now  being  distri- 
buted under  the  above  name.  ■  It  was  so  fine  in  all 
its  parts,  the  growth  robust,  the  Sowers  large, 
much  larger  than  those  of  thg  type,  and  of  the 
purest  white,  that  it  was  unanimously  honoured 
with  an  award  of  merit.  The  value  of  the  white 
Everlasting  Pea  for  cutting  is  well  known.  In  the 
case  of  this  variety  the  length  of  the  spray  of 
bloom  corresponds  with  the  size  of  the  blossom  ;  it 
is  long  and  bold.  As  Everlasting  Peas  are  variable 
from  seeds,  it  is  well  to  secure  a  plant  of  this  fine 
variety  rather  than  trust  to  seedlings.  As  the 
schedule  of  prizes  of  the  National  Sweet  Pea 
Society  invited  sprays  of  Everlasting  Peas,  Hobbies' 
new  form  will  be  invaluable  for  the  purpose. — R.  D 
Stpawbeppy  Black  Prince.- We  have 

grown  seventeen  varieties  of  Strawberries,  and 
this  year  none  show  anything  like  the  profusion  of 
flowers  which  Black  Prince  does.  It  promises  to 
be  the  earliest  of  any  of  the  varieties  grown  (one 
of  these  is  Royal  Sovereign).  The  fruit  is  dark 
and  small,  but  excellent  for  preserving.  We 
looked  up  its  antecedents  and  find  that  it 
was  raised  in  the  year  1837  by  Cuthill.  We 
intend  to  save  all  the  runners  we  possibly  can  for 
a  more  extensive  plantation.  Mr.  Laxton  says  old 
plants  are  useless. — Walter  Smyth,  Holywood, 
County  Down. 

Cyphomattia   lanata.— Seeds  of   this 

plant  were  sent  to  Baden-Baden  by  M.  Sintenis, 
who  then  (six  years  ago)  was  travelling  for  me  in 
the  Kharput  district  of  Asia  Minor.  It  came 
among  a  lot  of  other  new  plants,  and  received  no 
particular  care  ;  it  was  planted  out  and  left  alone. 
My  soil  is  decomposed  porphyr',  mixed  with  clay, 
but  I  am  convinced  it  would  do  in  anj'  soil  provided 
it  (received  a  covering  of  snow  when  winter  comes 
on.  Most  of  the  Asia  Minor  plants  want  this. 
The  two  last  winters  were  snowless  here,  and  thus 
I  lost  all  the  plants  but  one. — Max  Leichtlin, 
Baden-Baden. 

Napcissus  maximus.^On  page  351  I 
notice  a  complaint  that  this  flowers  shyly.  Cer- 
tainly its  flowers  are  fewer  in  proportion  to  its 
leaves  than  those  of  most  varieties,  but  N.  maximus 
when  well  grown  is  such  a  magnificent  flower  that 
it  is  worth  taking  some  trouble  about.  Hardly 
any  Daffodil  is  suited  to  every  soil  and  situation, 
and  except  in  a  very  few  favoured  gardens  the 
likes  and  dislikes  of  each  variety  must  be  studied 
and  humoured.  The  soil  and  climate  of  my  garden 
at  Edge  are  (by  nature)  unfavourable  for  nearly 
every  kind  of  Daffodil,  but  as  I  have  for  many 
years  grown  hundreds  of  varieties  in  grass,  in 
mixed  borders,  and  in  beds  of  made  soil,  I  am 
beginning  to  know  something  about  the  likings  of 
each.  For  instance,  the  PaTlidus  priecox  section 
want  shade,  growing  in  their  home  only  in  woods, 
often    so    thickly    smothered     with     Briars    and 


Brambles  that  it  is  difficult  to  gather  the  flowers. 
All  the  class  of  whites,  such  as  those  generally 
called  moschatus,  ceruuus,  and  intermediate  forms, 
of  which  I  have  many  not  in  commerce,  prefer 
sandy  peat,  dying  out  rapidly  with  me  in  strong 
,soil.  But  to  speak  particularl}'  of  maximus,  of 
which  I  have  a  very  fine  strain  which  I  collected 
in  the  south-west  of  France  in  the  Landes,  a  few 
miles  from  Dax.  They  hate  anything  between 
them  and  the  sun,  and  prefer  to  be  in  its  full  blaze 
and  in  deep  rich  soil.  So  I  plant  them  in  good 
light  loam,  near  a  wall  facing  south,  nearly  a  foot 
deep.  Here  I  have  a  long  row  of  their  flowers  all 
March,  which  is  the  pride  of  my  garden,  but  they 
are  never  left  alone  for  more  than  two  or  three 
years,  about  one-third  of  the  clump  being  lifted 
and  thinned  each  year,  and  the  .soil  in  which  they 
grow  renewed.  A  dusting  of  basic  slag  is  good 
for  all  strong  Daffodils,  about  an  ounce  to  a  square 
j'ard,  cither  spread  on  the  top  at  any  season  or 
dug  ill  when  they  are  planted. — C.  Wolley  Dod, 
Edye  Hall.  P.S. — I  have  never  j'et  seen  N. 
maximus  doing  its  best  in  grass  in  England. 

Tufted  Pansy  Mps.  E.  A.  Cade.— 

This  is  one  of  the  newest  Violas,  and  when 
sufficiently  well  known  it  will  be  much  used  for 
beds  and  borders  during  six  or  eight  months  of  the 
3'oar.  The  foolishness  of  encouraging  plants  that 
simply  develop  large  handsome  blooms  for  making 
up  into  sprays  for  exhibition  has  long  been  mani- 
fest. Those  who  have  the  interests  of  the  Tufted 
Pansy  at  heart  are  popularising  the  varieties 
specially  adapted  for  bedding.  The  flowers  of  the 
variety  Mrs.  E.  A.  Cade  are  large  and  circular  in 
shape,  of  splendid  substance,  and  bright  yellow  in 
colour,  with  an  orange  eye  and  rayless.  The  plant 
is  dwarf  and  tufted  in  growth.  During  the  heat 
of  last  summer  this  variety  was  most  conspicuous 
for  its  free  display. — D.  B.  Crane. 

Plants  in  small  pots.— As  a  rule  plants 
that  are  kept  in  the  dwelling-house  suft'er  more 
from  overpotting  than  from  any  other  cause,  the 
tendency  being  directly  there  are  any  signs  of  ill- 
health  to  put  them  in  a  larger  pot,  whereas  a 
smaller  one  might  have  remedied  the  evil.  There 
is  a  great  tendency,  particularly  with  those  whose 
knowledge  of  plants  is  limited,  to  overwater  them, 
and  when  this  is  the  case  those  that  have  a  large 
mass  of  soil  around  the  roots  are  more  likely  to 
siiffer  than  when  the  pot  is  full  of  roots.  It  is 
surprising  what  fine  Palms  can  be  grown  in  quite 
small  pots,  providing  they  are  not  allowed  to  suft'er 
from  want  of  water,  and  are  assisted  by  an  occa- 
sional stimulant.  There  are  now  many  concentrated 
manures  that  can  be  used  indoors  without  an\' 
unpleasant  effects,  and  provided  the  directions  are 
followed  they  are  very  beneficial.     One  thing  to  be 


particularly  observed  in  applying  any  of  these 
manures  is  to  take  care  not  to  give  it  too  strong, 
as  two  weak  doses  at  a  few  days'  interval  are  pre- 
ferable to  one  strong  one.  The  use  of  pots  larger 
than  necessary  is  not  limited  to  the  amateur's 
plapts,  as  in  many  gardens  ditt'erent  subjects  may 
be  met  with  that  would  be  all  the  better  for 
more  limited  root  room.  Dracaenas  and  Crotons 
often  have  cause  to  complain  on  this  score.  A 
visit  to  Covent  Garden  Market  in  the  early  hours 
of  the  morning  will  supply  a  good  object-lesson  on 
the  successful  cultivation  of  plants  in  comparatively 
small  pots.  — H.  P. 

Clianthus    puniceus    in    wintep.— 

Several  of  these  plants  have  failed  to  flower 
salisfactorilj'  here  this  season.  The  reason  can  be 
traced  to  a  wrong  system  of  protection.  This 
plant  should  never  be  protected  with  matting, 
cloth,  or  such  like  material.  The  proper  method 
is  to  insert  branches  of  the  common  Furze,  or 
Whin  right  along  its  main  branches.  By  doing 
this  a  free  current  of  air  is  secured,  and 
the  plant  is  never  weakened  by  too  much 
clothing.  I  have  a  plant  now  in  full  bloom  out  of 
doors,  notwithstanding  the  very  severe  winter 
we  have  had  here.  Many  of  the  plants  in  this 
district,  though  completely  covered  with  matting, 
have  lost  all  their  green  leaves. — Walter  Smyth, 
Holywood,  County  Down. 

Rudg'ca    macpophylla.— This    Rubia- 

ceous  plant  has  for  its  allies  the  Bouvardias, 
Rondeletias,  Cinchonas,  and  others  of  this  class, 
from  all  of  which  in  general  appearance  it  is  widely 
removed.  Its  usual  habit  is  to  form  a  stout  sp  u  ely 
branched  shrub,  with  large  oblong-shaped  deep  green 
leaves.  The  flowers  (just  now  at  their  best)  some- 
what suggest  those  of  the  Stephanotis,  and  are  also 
of  the  same  wax-like  texture.  They  are  borne  on 
the  points  of  the  shoots  in  dense  globose  clusters, 
which  nestle  among  the  leaves  forming  the  termi- 
nation of  the  branch.  From  their  thick  wax-like 
nature  the  individual  flowers  remain  fresh  a 
considerable  time.  This  Rudgea  is  a  native  of 
Brazil,  and  rec^uires  the  treatment  given  to  the 
general  run  of  stove  plants.  It  was  at  one  time 
more  popular  than  now,  though  I  have  noted  it  in 
several  places  this  season.  Propagation  is  effected 
by  nie.ans  of  cuttings,  for  which  purpose  shoots  of 
medium  vigour  only  should  be  chosen.  If  these 
are  taken  off  at  a  joint,  inserted  singly  into  well 
drained  pots  of  sandy  soil,  and  plunged  in  a 
propagating  case  where  there  is  a  gentle  bottom 
heat  most  of  them  will  root,  though  some  may 
require  a  good  while  before  this  takes  place.  The 
young  plants  have  a  tendency  to  run  up  naked  at 
the  base,  to  prevent  which  they  should  be  freely 
stopped  during  their  earlier  stages. — T. 


THE    POPI'Y    ANEMOMES   FROM    MESSRS.    REAMSliOTTOM    AT   THE   TEMl'LE    A^D    MIDIAXD    DAfFODII 

(From  a  photo^rap/i  xent  l»j  Mr.  Arthur  Gnmlu'in.) 


JUN 


E    7, 


1^02.] 


THE   GARDEN. 


m 


Tulip  notes,— I  was  in  Holland 
lately  for  a  holiday,  and,  though  I  was 
in  some  three  gardens,  I  did  not  make 
more  than  a  note  or  two  of  kinds  that 
pleased  me,  and  which  I  mean  to  have 
in  my  own  garden  next  year.  Most  of 
them  from  their  names  seem  to  be  Irish 
sorts,  namely,  Shandon  Bells,  Harlequin, 
Striped  Beauty,  White  Parisiana,  York 
and  Lancaster,  Crested  Crown,  Silver 
Queen,  and  Fairy  Queen.  The  Darwin 
Tulips,  owing  to  the  frosts,  were  hardly 
in  flower,  and  were  bruised  and  battered 
by  wind  and  hail. — CiEOKC.E  Paul. 

Stpeptosolen     Jamesoni.  — 

This  Browallia-like  plant  is  one  of  the 
finest  evergreen  climbers  we  have  for  the 
cool  greenhouse.  At  the  present  time  a 
magnificent  plant  of  it  is  in  the  con- 
servatory attached  to  the  residence  of 
the  Misses  Gladstone,  Hampton  Hill, 
Swanmore.  The  plant  is  four  years  old, 
and  is  growing  in  a  narrow  border  at 
the  foot  of  the  back  wall  facing  east, 
and  is  now  8  feet  high.  The  flowering 
portion  of  the  plant  covers  a  space  of  but 
4  feet.  Into  this  limited  area  there  is 
crowded  fully  eight  dozen  flower  trusses, 
of  which  I  send  one  or  two.  So  thick 
are  they  together  that  the  leaves  are 
quite  hidden.  The  colour  is  especially 
deep,  an  intense  fiery  orange,  which 
enhances  its  beauty.  The  foliage  is 
of  that  luxuriant  green  colour  which 
denotes  perfect  health ;  in  fact,  if  it 
were  not  so  the  plant  in  question  could 
not  be  carr3'ing  such  a  wealth  of  blossom, 
reflecting  as  it  does  great  credit  on  the  gar- 
dener, Mr.  W.  Cooper. — E.  Molyneux. 
"Variegated    Bpoom."— I    was    much 

interested  in  Mr.  Arnott's  letter  re  this  Broom,  on 
page  344.  Mr.  Milbnrn  pointed  out  a  fine  specimen 
of  it  when  I  was  last  in  the  Bath  Botanic  Garden. 
It  is  growing  on  the  north  side  of  the  rock  garden 
amongst  a  number  of  dwarf  Anemones,  and  while 
not  being  striking,  possesses  a  quiet  beautj'  of  its 
own,  which  is  enhanced  when  the  sun  is  shining 
on  it.  At  any  rate  it  has  found  a  number  of 
admirers,  and  although  the  "craze"  for  varie- 
gation—  much  of  which  is  anything  but  pretty 
or  restful  to  the  eye  —  is  to  be  deprecated, 
3'our  readers  need  not  be  afraid  of  planting 
this  Broom. — Arthur  R.  Goodwin,  The  Elms, 
KidderminMer. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  sending  you  two  sprays 
of  the  variegated  Broom,  taken  at  random  from 
my  bush.  I  quite  agree  with  your  advice  to  readers 
to  endeavour  to  see  it  before  purchasing  it,  as  many 
of  these  variegated  forms  of  favourite  flowers  are 
not  in  any  sense  acquisitions,  and  the  too  frequent 
use  of  variegated  plants  is  to  be  deprecated. 
This  Broom  is  at  its  best  in  May,  and  you  will 
observe  that  some  of  the  later  growth  is  not  so 
bright  as  that  which  appears  earlier.  Occasionally 
a  whole  branch  conies  entirelj'  green,  and  this  has 
to  be  cut  out  altogether.  Like  the  common  Broom 
and  its  varieties,  it  is  greatly  benefited  by  being 
cut  well  in  immediately  after  the  flowering  is  over. 
A  small  piece  does  not,  however,  give  an  idea  of  a 
bush  in  the  garden,  where  a  short  distance  o2^  it 
looks  like  a  flowering  plant. — S.  Arnott,  Eosedene, 
Carnelhorii,  X.B.  [We  always  hesitate  to  recom- 
mend a  variegated  shrub  unless  we  know  its 
worth.  Mr.  Arnott  kindly  sends  several  shoots, 
and  the  leaves  are  of  pretty  colouring,  yellow, 
with  a  trace  of  green  in  tlie  centre  of  each.  At 
this  season  it  is  certainlv  an  attractive  variety. — 
Ed.] 

Azalea  balsaminseflopa.  —  Although 

only  a  variety  of  Azalea  indica,  this  is  one  of  the 
most  widely  removed  from  the  type  of  all  the 
numerous  forms  in  cultivation,  and  it  is  also  one 
of  the  hardiest,  for  it  will  stand  most  of  our  winters 
without  injury,  and  apart  from  this  it  is  a  delight- 
ful little  greenhouse  shrub,  just  now  at  its  best. 
The  habit  is  that  of  a  much  branched  yet  spread- 
ing shrub,  plentifully  clothed  with  narrow  rather 
light  green  leaves,  while  the  flowers,  which  are 
about  2  inches  across,  are  of  a  pleasing  shade  of 


CROUP    OF    MESSRS.    WEBB    AND    SONS     CALCEOLARIAS   AT   THE   TEMPLE   SHOW. 


bright  salmon  pink  and  very  double,  the  petals 
being  imbricated  in  a  regular  manner.  It  was 
introduced  from  Japan  a  little  over  twentj'  years 
ago,  and  bears  beside  the  name  at  the  head  of  this 
note  that  of  A.  RoUisoni  and  A.  ros.tflora.  this 
last  being  most  appropriate  when  the  flowers  are 
partially  expanded,  as  they  then  much  resemble 
tiny  Rose  buds.  As  a  rockwork  plant  in  a  fairly 
cool,  moist,  and  partially  shaded  spot  it  is  quite 
at  home,  while  in  the  greenhouse  it  will  often 
produce  a  few  scattered  blossoms  throughout  the 
winter,  winding  up  with  a  grand  display  in  the 
spring.  It  is  not  at  all  ditticult  to  strike  from 
cuttings  of  the  young  growing  shoots  put  in  very 
sandy  peat  and  covered  with  a  bell-glass,  but  the 
young  plants  make  slow  progress  during  their 
earlier  stages  ;  indeed,  this  Azalea  is  far  from  a 
quick  growing  subject,  hence  it  is  difficult  to 
obtain  any  but  small  plants  from  nurseries.  Our 
friends  on  the  continent  who  propagate  all  Azaleas 
by  grafting  on  to  long  naked  stems,  treat  this  kind 
in  the  same  way  to  its  manifest  disadvantage. — 
H.  P. 

The  spping'  of  1902.— The  effect  of  the 
spell  of  cold  weather — accompanied  by  occasional 
frosts  more  or  less  severe,  which  lasted  from  the 
middle  of  April  until  the  middle  of  May — on  the 
fruit  crops  and  on  vegetation  general!}'  is  some- 
what remarkable,  but  hardly  so  disastrous  as  we 
anticipated.  All  trees  naturally  late  in  develop- 
ing their  foliage — whether  indigenous,  as  the  Ash, 
or  exotic,  as  some  of  the  Magnolias,  the  Mulberry, 
the  Kentucky  Cofl'ee  Tree,  the  deciduous  Cypress, 
and  others — will  only  just  have  burst  their  buds 
by  the  end  of  the  month.  I  regret  to  say  that  our 
fine  specimen  of  Pterocarya  caucasica  (bj'  far  the 
largest  in  England)  has  suffered  heavily.  Although 
an  exotic  it  is  one  of  our  earliest  leafing  trees,  and 
given  a  cold  spring  has  to  pay  the  penalty.  At  the 
present  time  the  ground  beneath  the  tree  is  strewn 
with  catkins,  both  male  and  female,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  young  foliage  is  blackened. 
An  inspection  of  the  fruit  walls  shows  that  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Plums,  Pears,  and  Cherries  (that  were 
covered  with  a  double  thickness  of  half-inch  mesh 
fish  netting)  have  come  safely  through,  and  pro- 
mise abundant  crops.  I  do  not  grow  any  of  these 
fruits  unprotected  in  the  open,  and  cannot  say  how 
they  have  fared  in  such  positions,  but  I  fear  badly. 
Apples   were   fully   out   at    the    time  when    the 


sharpest  frosts  were  experienced,  and  have  doubt- 
less suffered.  There  was,  however,  such  a  profu- 
sion of  blossom  that  we  may  hope  for  at  least  a 
moderate  crop.  All  the  early  Strawberry  flowers 
were  destroyed. — E.  Burrell,   West  Surrei/. 


ARTIFICIAL  MANURES  IN  THK 

GARDEN.-II. 

Ti[E  chief  sources  of  phospliate  are  basic  slag, 
bone  superphosphate,  and  mineral  superphosphate. 
Bone  superphosphate  and  other  manures  made 
from  bone  contain  a  proportion  of  nitrogen,  and 
this  should  be  taken  into  account  when  the  value 
of  the  manure  is  being  estimated  ;  the  mineral 
phosphates  contain  no  nitrogen,  and  their  value 
depends  on  the  soluble  phosphate  present  in  any 
particular  sample.  When  a  phosphatic  manure  is 
wanted,  any  of  the  three  forms  here  mentioned 
may  be  used  with  good  effect  in  most  cases  ;  but 
where  it  is  desired  to  get  a  quicker  result  in  the 
garden  generally,  superphosphate  is  superior  to 
slag,  save  in  cases  where  the  land  is  full  of 
vegetable  matter.  On  grass  lands,  especially  in 
low-lying  positions,  however,  the  improvement 
resulting  from  the  use  of  slag  is  often  most  striking, 
and  a  dressing  could  often  with  advantage  be  given 
to  orchards.  It  is  the  best  phosphatic  manure  to 
use  also  with  nitrate  of  soda,  as  is  superphosphate 
when  sulphate  of  ammonia  is  the  nitrogenous 
dressing  employed.  Bone  superphosphate  should 
contain  about  30  per  cent,  of  soluble  phosphate 
aud  about  3  per  cent,  of  ammonia.  We  say 
"about,"  for  the  quality  varies  greatly,  and  pur- 
chasers should  therefore  not  neglect  to  see  what 
percentages  are  guaranteed  when  comparing  the 
prices.       It   should   be   borne   in    mind    also  that 

I  boiled  or  steamed  bones  are  often  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  superphosphates,  and  in  this  case 
the  quantity  of  nitrogen  present  is  appreciably 
lessened. 

As  a  phosphatic  manure,  the  superphosphate 
made  from  bones  has  no  superiority  over  that 
made  from  minerals,  and  the  nitrogen  in  thefoimer 
can  just  as  well  be  supplied  by  means  of  a 
nitrogenous  manure,  so  it  is  merely  a  question  of 

I  convenience   and   of    price   which   shall   be   used. 

I  Generally  speaking  the  use  of  the  two  manures 


374 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  7,  1902. 


(phosphatic  and   nitrogenous)   will   be   the    more 
economical. 

Considerable  difficulty  is  sometimes  experienced 
by  buyers  owing  to  the  different  forms  in  which  the 
contents  of  the  manure  are  described  in  dealers' 
lists.  There  are  sometimes  references  to  so  much 
per  cent,  phosphate  of  lime  ;  in  others  to  so  much 
per  cent,  phosphoric  acid,  just  as  in  the  case  of 
nitrogenous  manures  there  are  the  similar  references 
.to  nitrogen  and  ammonia.  But  there  i.s  no  difficulty 
in  calculating  the  respective  values  of  any  manures 
offered  if  we  remember  that  1  per  cent,  of  phos- 
phoric acid  is  equal  to  2183  of  phosphate  of  lime  ; 
thus  2.'S  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid  would  be 
equivalent  to  .54 'o  phosphate  of  lime.  As  2'1S3  is 
a  clumsy  figure  to  work  with,  the  calculation  maj' 
be  made  approximately  correct  by  multiplying  by 
2-2.  It  will  be  seen  that  on  this  basis  2.')  per 
cent,  phosphoric  acid  would  be  equivalent  to  55 
phosphate,  and  this  is  near  enough  for  all  purposes 
of  comparison. 

There  is  considerable  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
the  extent  to  which  potash  manures  can  be  pro- 
fitably used.  8ome  soils  of  a  heavy  character 
contain  large  supplies  of  potash,  and  it  has  been 
for  a  long  time  accepted  almost  as  an  axiom  that 
on  such  soils  it  is  unnecessary  to  use  a  potassic 
manure.  Of  late,  however,  this  has  been  questioned, 
and  experiments  carried  out  in  various  parts  of  the 
country  have  seemed  to  show  that  even  on  soils 
which  apparently  contain  large  supplies  of  potash 
the  use  of  kainit  or  muriate  of  potash  has  been 
highly  profitable.  However  this  may  be,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  on  most  light  soils  its  use 
would  be  amply  repaid.  The  chief  sources  of 
potash  are  the  two  manures  named  and  sulphate  of 
potash.  Wood  ashes,  too,  contain  some  potash, 
and  most  gardeners  are  fully  alive  to  their  value. 

The  potash  in  these  manures  is  variably  descrilied, 
a  manure  being  sometimes  said  to  contain  so  much 
"  pure  potash,"  and  again  so  much  "sulphate  of 
potash."  To  calculate  the  value  of  any  sample 
from  the  guarantee  supplied,  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind  that  1  per  cent,  of  pure  potash  is  equivalent 
to  1-85  of  the  sulphate,  and  1  per  cent,  of  the 
sulphate  to  -.54  of  potash.  If  one  manure  then  is 
said  to  contain  2.3  per  cent,  of  sulphate  of  potash 
and  another  13  per  cent,  of  pure  potash  we  shall 
find  on  working  out  the  figures  that  the  latter 
contains  slightly  the  larger  quantity.  Thus  23 
multiplied  by  -54  comes  to  12  42,  which  represents 
the  pure  potash  in  the  sample  showing  23  per  cent. 
of  sulphate.  Or,  conversely,  13  multiplied  by  1  '85 
equals  24-05,  which  is  the  amount  of  sulphate  in 
the  sample  that  is  represented  as  having  13  per 
cent,  of  pure  potash.  Those  who  do  not  want  to 
deal  with  decimals  can  arrive  at  practically  the 
same  result  by  multiplying  the  figure  of  the  pure 
potash  by  174  and  dividing  by  94,  or  reversing  this 
process  when  dealing  with  the  figure  of  the  sul- 
phate. A  sample  of  kainit  of  good  quality  would 
contain  from  11  per  cent,  to  13  per  cent,  of  pure 
potash,  muriate  would  show  slightly  over  50  per 
cent.,  and  the  salt  commercially  known  as  sulphate 
of  potash  would  contain  somewhere  about  25  per 
cent.,  the  range  of  figures  being  rather  wide  in 
different  samples. 

If  the  different  figures  given  here  in  respect  of 
the  three  principal  ingredients  supplied  by  arti- 
ficial manures  are  kept  in  mind,  it  will  never  be 
difficult  to  compare  the  respective  merits  of  the 
goods  offered  by  any  merchant  if  his  guarantee  is 
examined ;  and  if  the  values  of  the  units  of 
nitrogen,  potash,  and  phosphate  are  also  ascer- 
tained it  will  be  possible  to  form  a  tolerably 
accurate  idea  whether  the  price  asked  is  reason- 
able or  not.  A  few  hints  on  this  subject  will  be 
of  some  use.  Let  us  suppose  that  nitrate  of  soda 
containing  15  0  per  cent,  of  nitrogen  is  offered  us 
at  £9  lOs.  a  ton.  By  the  figures  given  in  our  issue 
of  March  29  it  will  be  seen  that  this  is  equivalent 
to  ammonia  18  93  (1  per  cent,  of  nitrogen  being 
equal  to  1-214  ammonia),  or,  to  put  it  in  even 
figures,  say  19.  The  cost  of  the  unit  would  there- 
fore be  £9  10s.  divided  by  19  =  10s.  If,  again, 
sulphate  of  ammonia  containing  24  per  cent, 
ammonia  were  offered  us  at  £12,  the  unit  would 
cost  £12  divided  by  24  =  10s.,  and  it  will  be  evident 
that  so  far  as  price  is  concerned  it  is  a  matter  of 


indifference  which  we  use.  But  these  prices  are 
merely  used  for  illustration ;  the  actual  prices 
vary  from  time  to  time,  and  it  is  possible  some- 
times to  effect  a  considerable  saving  by  making 
the  calculation  before  ordering.  In  the  same  way 
the  market  price  of  the  other  manures  should  be 
studied  to  arrive  at  the  value  of  the  units,  but  it 
may  be  stated  that  that  of  soluble  phosphate  is 
about  23. — rather  less  at  present — of  insoluble 
phosphates  about  Is.  3d.,  and  of  potash  43.  Now 
take  an  example  of  a  manure  offered  with  the 
following  guarantee ;  Phosphates,  made  soluble, 
23;  phosphates,  insoluble,  12;  nitrogen,  2  47 
(equal  to  ammonia,  3).  This  would  represent  a 
reasonable  guarantee  for  a  sample  of  dissolved  raw 
bones,  and,  excepting  that  the  figures  are  simpli- 
fied for  purposes  of  calculation,  they  are  those  of  an 
actual  analysis.   Then,  taking  the  scale  above  fixed, 

i.   s.    d. 

23  per  cent,  soluble  phosphate  at  2s 2    6    0 

12  per  cent,  insoluble  phosphate  at  Is.  3*1.     ...        15    0 
3  per  cent,  ammonia  at  lUs 1  10    0 

Total    £i  11    0 

£4  lis.  then  would  be  the  market  value  on  the 
assumption  that  the  unit  figures  at  the  time  of 
purchase  stand  as  stated,  and  if  more  is  asked  the 
nitending  purchaser  should  go  elsewhere.  If  any 
of  our  readers  will  try  this  plan,  they  will  soon  find 
out  that  the  prices  which  tliey  are  asked  for  some 
mixed  manures  sold  to  gardeners  are  far  beyond 
their  actual  value,  and  that  they  could  get  the 
same  ingredients  if  purchased  separately  at  a  much 
lower  rate.  It  is  only  fair  to  say,  however,  that  it 
is  often  a  great  convenience  to  gardeners  to  use 
mixed  manures,  and  that  the  manufacturers  are 
entitled  to  a  fair  return  for  the  skill  and  knowledge 
they  have  brought  to  bear  on  their  preparation, 
and'  it  is  for  the  purchaser  to  judge  for  himself 
whether  the  extra  price  he  has  to  pay  finds  its 
equivalent  in  the  trouble  he  is  spared.  That  it  is 
to  their  interest  to  look  into  the  matter  will  be 
evident  from  the  following  example  taken  at  random 
from  a  list.  It  is  a  special  manure,  and  the  two 
columns  of  figures  show  the  valuations  (1)  on  the 
minimum  guarantee  and  (2)  on  the  maximum  : 

Minimum.  Maximum. 

Ji.    s.    d.  M    s.    d. 

Phosphates  soluble  IS   to  20   t»    2/-    1  16    0  2    0    0 

insoluble   2   to    3   fa    1/3         2    6  3    :> 

P.jtash    Uto    nicr    4/-         (i    0  10    0 

Ammonia  3    to    3*  («  10/-    1  10    0  1  15    0 


Totals     i3  14    6 


a  8   0 


The  price  demanded  for  this  manure,  free  on  rail, 
is  £7  per  ton. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 

LATE     APPLES     IN     THE 
NORTH. 

ON  page  178  the  best  Apples  in  their 
season  were  ablj'  described  bj'  Mr. 
Owen  Thomas.  The  following  are 
additions  to  the  list  of  varieties 
most  valuable  at  Alnwick  Castle, 
Northumberland.  I  must  in  the 
first  place  refer  to  that  splendid  Apple 

Newton  Wonder, 
which  is  a  great  favourite  at  Alnwick  ;  it  is  one  of 
our  best  late  winter  Apples,  and  the  trees  in  that 
part  of  the  country  do  not  make  the  vigorous 
growth  they  do  at  Syon  in  a  light  gravelly  soil. 
Few  Apples  keep  better  and  longer  than  the 
Blenheim  Orange,  as  the  fruits  in  April  were  very 
firm.  Our  trees  in  the  North  are  mostly  bush  and 
a  very  few  dwarf  standards,  and  exposed  to  severe 
winds  at  times  from  the  east,  but  they  generally 
crop  well  ;  at  Alnw-ick  the  trees  flower  quite  three 
weeks  later  than  in  the  South.  Another  equally 
valuable  Apple  is 

Lane's  Prince  Albert. 
This  is  even  of  greater  value  with  us  than  the  late 
cooking  varieties,   as  in  the  spring  it  is  used  for 
dessert.     I  need  not  dwell  upon  the  merits  of  this 


first-rate  Apple  as  regards  cropping  quality  and 
appearance  ;  it  differs  greatly  in  some  gardens  to 
what  it  does  in  others  in  the  colour  of  its  fruit, 
but  I  have  never  known  Prince  Albert  fail 
anywhere  ;  it  is  one  of  the  most  prolific  of  all  late 
varieties,  and  does  well  either  as  a  bush  or  standard. 
With  us 

Alfriston 

is  a  great  favourite,  and  keeps  well  into  April ; 
indeed,  I  have  seen  some  fine  specimens  at  the 
Temple  show,  but  doubtless  its  season  is  from 
Christmas  to  Lady  Day.  Like  the  last-named,  it 
crops  well.  -  Kvery  other  year  most  of  our  bush 
trees  crop  heavily  ;  indeed,  too  freely,  as  a  lighter 
crop  means  better  fruit.  Our  best  fruits  in  the 
North  are  obtained  from  dwarf  trees ;  indeed, 
standard  trees  are  not  so  trustworthy.  At  Syon 
our  bush  trees  are  remarkable  for  tlieir  vigorous 
growth,  and  though  at  times  severely  pruned  they 
crop  well,  producing  verj'  fine  fruit,  but  with  less 
colour  than  in  sojne  other  places.  I  am  also  sending 
fruits  of 

Br.\mley's  Seedling, 

to  show  how  well  this  variety  thrives  in  the 
North.  The  trees  are  mostly  bush,  and,  like  the 
others  named,  are  in  an  exposed  position,  but 
fruit  well  when  they  have  been  planted  a  few 
years.  This  variety  in  our  light  soil  at  Syon  is 
not  so  good  as  at  Alnwick.  There  it  is  a  most 
valuable  late  Apple,  and  keeps  well  until  Easter. 
With  us  it  is  a  strong  grower,  and  is  best  when 
given  ample  room  and  not  pruned  too  hard ;  there 
are  few  better  cooking  Apples.  Another  very  free 
cropping  variety  which  also  cooks  well,  though  not 
so  late,  is 

Blsmarok  ; 

this  does  well  in  the  North,  keeps  well  into  the 
spring,  though  doubtless  its  season  is  November  to 
February.  It  rarely  fails  to  crop,  and  appears  to 
thrive  in  any  form — standard,  bush,  or  pyramid — 
and  the  fruits  are  very  handsome.  This  Apple  is 
a  great  favourite  in  the  North,  and  one  of  the  most 
profitable  market  varieties  grown.  Another  good 
quality  the  last-named  Apple  possesses  is  its 
quick  fruiting,  as  even  very  small  trees  bear.  This 
is  important  to  large  growers,  as  some  of  our  old 
varieties  require  time  to  make  them  profitable. 
An  old  but  good  late  Apple  and  equally  valuable  for 
cooking  is 

Northern  Greening. 

It  is  not  so  large  as  some  of  those  noted  above,  but  is 
a  good  bearer,  and  keeps  well  into  the  spring.  This 
in  the  North  is  much  grown  for  use  in  the  spring, 
and  it  crops  well  ;  indeed,  far  better  than  it  does 
in  the  South  ;  it  is  of  first-rate  quality,  its  acid 
flavour  being  much  liked.  This  Apple  is  grown 
under  several  names,  but  is  mostly  known  by  the 
one  described.  Strange  to  say  some  varieties  do 
not  thrive  so  well  North  as  one  would  expect;  the 
Wellington  cannot  be  trusted,  and  does  not  keep  so 
long  as  those  noted.  On  the  other  hand,  there  can 
be  no  doubt  whatever  that  it  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  Apples  for  the  London  markets,  and  in 
our  light  soil  at  Syon  rarely  fails,  but  I  would  not 
advi.se  planting  it  in  wet  or  clayey  land. 

G.  Wythes. 
[With  this  note  came  fruits  of  those  described, 
excellent  in  all  ways,  firm,  and  of  good  colour  and 
([ualit\-. — Ed.] 


ESPALIER  APPLE  TREES. 

Whether  there  be  any  general  revival  of  the 
espalier  tree  for  garden  planting  or  not,  I  noticed 
when  in  that  very  fine  kitchen  garden  at  Hack  wood 
Park,  Basingstoke,  the  other  day  that  Lord 
Bolton,  who  now  resides  there,  is  having  numerous 
espaliers  planted  just  behind  the  flower  and  other 
borders  which  enclose  the  vegetable  quarters. 
Some  espalier  Apples  planted  several  j'ears  since 
have  done  so  w-ell  and  have  cropped  so  finely  that 
Mr.  Bowerman  is  now  having  this  form  of  tree 
widely  extended,  and  as  there  is  ample  room  in 
time  some  grand  crops  of  fruit  should  be  produced 
in  that  way.  It  is  really  surprising  that  a 
method  so  admirable  and  admitting  of  such  fine 
ample  fruits  being  produced  is  not  more  generally 


June  7,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


375 


adopted.  I  observed  that  at  Sherborne  Castle 
Mr.  Turton  had  extended  his  espaliers  also.  Some 
day  perhaps  we  may  see  an  enterprising  capitalist 
planling  a  thousand  acres  of  such  trained  trees  as 
a  commercial  speculation.  A.  Dean. 


AN     ANCIENT     OLIVE. 

All  ■wlio  are  in  true  sympathy  with  the 
noblest  aspects  of  tree  life,  and  who  have 
wandered  among  some  of  the  old  Olives  of 
the  Mediterranean  regions,  will  remember  them 
as  among  the  most  impressive  of  living  things. 
Wliether  among  the  hillside  groves  of  these 
sunny  shores  of  southernmost  France,  so  well 
known  of  English  folk,  or  among  the  still 
grander  examples  in  the  beautiful  island  Corfu, 
or  among  the  gorges  of  Algeria  guarding  the 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

ANNUAL   COREOPSIS. 

A  NNUAL  forms  of  Coreopsis  are  beautiful 
/\  border  flowers,  but  the  perennial  species 

/   %         are  more  useful,  entailing  little  trouble 
J      \        compared   to  the  annual  forms.    Now 
£  \_     that  we  have  improved  forms  of  the 

original  type  lanceolata,  which  was 
itself  introduced  into  this  country  from  North 
America  as  far  back  as  1724,  we  ma^'  reason- 
ably expect  this  family  to  be  even  still  more 
widely  cultivated.  Mr.  Ladhams,  Shirley,  South- 
ampton, has  for  some  years  paid  attention  to  the 
improvement  of  this  genus  by  crossing,  selection, 
and  cultivation  that  now  he  has  oblained  a  variety 
which  he  styles  C.  lanceolata  Eldorado.  This  for 
the  individual  size  of  its  blossoras  is  fully  as  large 
again  as  the  type,  and 
much  more  intense  in  its 
olden  colour.  Another 
point  in  its  favour,  too, 
is  the  extra  length  and 
strength  of  its  flower 
stem,  which  for  vase 
decoration  enhances  its 
value  considerably.  In 
point  of  growth,  too, 
it  dififers  from  the  parent, 
the  leaves  are  more 
deeply  cut,  and  have  a 
woolly  appearance. 

E.   MOLYNEUX. 


ANCIENT   OLIVE   AT   CAP   MARTIN   NEAR  MENTONE, 
(From  a  photograph  by  Miss  Willmott.) 

tombs  of  holy  men,  the  old  Olive  is  a  tree  of 
remarkable  beauty.  Its  hollow  trunk,  worn 
into  a  cluster  of  rugged  pillars  that  at  first 
sight  look  so  old  that  one  thinks  they  must  be 
on  the  verge  of  decay,  is  really  full  of  vitality, 
for  on  looking  upward  one  sees  grand  young 
growths  full  of  vigorous  life  flung  aloft  and 
abroad  with  that  wonderful  grace  that  can 
scarcely  be  matched  by  any  other  tree. 
Grandeur  of  venerable  age,  beauty  of  young 
strength,  silvery  daintiness  of  grey  bark,  con- 
summate grace  of  branch  and  twig,  and  lovely 
disposition  and  form  of  leaf  are  all  qualities 
that  may  be  claimed  by  the  matchless  Olive, 
and  all  this  with  the  sober  restraint  of  colour- 
ing that  gives  it  its  own  distinctive  grace  •  of 
r  fined  modesty. 


EANUNCULUR 
FLACCIDA. 

A  LITTLE  known  Japanese 
species,  with  a  fleshy  or 
rliizomatous  rootstock, 
and  .slightly  hairy,  beau- 
tifully marbled  leave.<. 
The  handsome  flowers, 
produced  either  singly 
or  several  together,  are 
about  1  inch  to  2  inches 
across,  and  either  pure 
white  or  faintly  tinged 
with  rose.  On  warm  days 
the  flowers  exhale  a 
sweet  scent.  It  will 
either  grow  treated  as 
the  common  Wood  Ane- 
mone planted  in  a  shady 
spot  or  three  or  more 
together  so  as  to  form  a 
group  in  the  mixed 
border  or  upon  the 
rock  garden,  but  not 
among  rocks  or  in 
a  dry  spot.  It  is  deci- 
duous, starting  into 
growth  during  the  winter 
and  flowering  in  April 
or  May,  and  is  quite 
hardy  and  easily  grown. 
i?.  glacialis,  a  dwarf 
and  slow  growing  high 
alpine,  flowers  here  as 
well  as  the  allied  form  R.  Seguieri  during  April 
and  into  May,  while  on  the  Alps  it  rarely  blooms 
before  July  or  August.  The  quite  round  flowers 
are  about  1  inch  across,  usually  pure  white  and 
occasionally  rose-coloured. 

JR.  Seyuieri  is,  if  anything,  still  smaller  in 
growth,  with  glaucous  green  leaves  and  a  number 
of  pure  white  flowers  ;  it  is  a  very  pretty  plant, 
blooming  under  cultivation  during  April  and  May, 
and  when  once  well  established  and  grown  in 
groups,  I  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  striking 
of  early  alpines. 

B.  pygmwus  is  a  very  rare  plant,  and  so  small 
and  dwarf  in  growth  that  it  will  escape  the  notice 
of  the  keenest  plant  hunter  unless  it  is  in  flower. 
It  grows  usually  on  bare  slopes  among  short  moss 
or  short  grass  at  altitudes  of  6,000  feet  to  8,000 
feet.     The  foliage  is  not  much  unlike  that  of  the 


former,  but  the  short,  almost  sessile  flowers  aie 
large,  as  much  as  2  inches  to  2i  inches  across,  round 
and  of  good  substance,  and  either  white  or  of  a 
delicate  rose  colour.  There  seems,  however,  a 
difference  between  the  eastern  alpine  and  the  more 
western  and  south-western  forms.  The  latter  I 
know  only  from  descriptions,  while  the  former  I 
have  recently  collected  (only  at  few  specimens) 
more  than  once,  and  while  the  one  is  described  as 
having  white  flowers  the  other  is  far  more  variable 
in  colouring,  and  consequently  the  more  interest- 
ing. Under  culture  it  flowers  at  the  present 
time.  G.  Reuthe. 


ARABIS  ALBIDA  FL.-PL. 

I,  TOO,  have  a  good  word  to  say  for  this  Wall 
Cress,  and  I  believe  before  long  that  we  shall  see 
considerably  less  of  the  single  form.  Every 
blossom  is  really  a  rosette,  and  quite  white,  not  a 
dingy  hue.  The  spikes,  too,  stand  up  quite  erect, 
while  the  growth  is  more  compact  than  that  of  the 
single- flowered  form.  The  time,  too,  that  the  double- 
flowered  variety  lasts  in  bloom  is  a  point  in  its 
favour.  E.  M. 


ANEMONE  SYLVESTRIS. 

For  May  flowering  this  Anemone  deserves  a  place 
in  any  collection,  no  matter  how  small.  On  the 
rockery  or  at  the  front  of  the  herbaceous  border 
in  a  mass  its  pure  white  blossoms  show  to  advantage. 
It  is  one  of  the  loveliest  of  all  hardy  flowers,  being 
very  free,  graceful,  and  easy  to  grow.  I  lately 
saw  a  huge  mass  of  it  in  Mr.  Ladham's  Shirley 
Nursery,  where  it  made  quite  a  bright  display 
in  the  landscape.  E.  Molyneux. 


OTHONNOPSIS    CHEIRIFOLIA. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  distinct-looking  plants  in 
the  border  at  this  season.  A  large  plant  in  a  dry 
border  which  has  now  been  in  the  same  position 
for  several  years  has  attained  to  considerable  pro- 
portions, and  presents  an  attractive  and  uncommon 
appearance  with  its  grey-green  leaves,  which  are 
quite  tropical  in  their  general  effect.  Although 
its  flowers  are  of  little  consequence,  the  Barbary 
Ragwort  is  worth  growing  because  of  its  distinct- 
ness. The  flowers  somewhat  resemble  those 
of  a  poor,  single  African  Marigold.  In  mild 
winters  I  have  had  flowers  more  or  less  throughout 
that  season.  This  year  there  are  none.  This 
Othonnopsis  is  not  a  very  reliable  flower  every- 
where. In  some  gardens,  especially  those  with 
stiff  clay  soil,  it  does  not  stand  the  winter  without 
protection.  I  should  not  like  to  say  how  long  it 
has  stood  here  without  protection,  as  I  have  no 
note  of  when  it  first  came  here.  It  has,  however, 
stood  some  of  our  hardest  seasons,  such  as  the 
terrible  winter  of  ISW-Oo,  without  covering  and 
without  suffering  any  injury.  Last  spring  it  was 
rather  cut  by  late  frosts  of  some  severity,  but  it  has 
now  quite  recovered. 

The  Barbary  Ragwort,  as  its  popular  name 
would  suggest,  is  a  native  of  Barbary.  It  is  most 
at  home  in  a  light  soil  such  as  that  here.  In  most 
gardens  it  is  found  to  thrive  best  on  rockwork,  but 
here  it  is  grown  on  a  very  dry,  sunny  border.  Its 
habit  seems  to  make  it  more  suitable  for  trailing 
over  a  large  stone  in  the  rock  garden  than  for 
fastening  to  a  stick  and  keeping  upright  in  the 
border.  When  grown  among  other  vigorous 
alpines  it  has  a  most  distinct  effect  and  gives  a 
character  to  the  place  it  adorns.  It  grows  with- 
out much  difiiculty  from  cuttings  taken  off  in 
spring.  S.  Arnott. 

Carsethorti,  hy  Dumfries,  N.B. 


USES 


PLANTS. 


OF    BRITISH 

III.  — Cbucieer.^. 
[Continued  from  page  313.) 
Scurvy  Grass  (Cochlearia  officinalis)  is  a  common 
plant  round  the  coasts.     The  leaves  are  somewhat 
fleshy  and  the  flowers  white.     The  pod  is  nearly 
globular.     It  abounds  in  a  pungent  oil,  to  which 


376 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  7,  1903, 


anti-scorbutic  properties  are  attributed,  and  would 
form  an  agreeable  salad.  It  was  used  in  the 
sixteenth  century  as  a  supposed  remedy  for  ague. 

HoAie-radisk  (Cochlearia  Armoracia)  is  probably 
an  escape  and  not  a  true  British  plant.  It  was  not 
in  general  use  before  Gerarde's  time  (1597),  who 
says  :  "  Horse-radish  stamped,  with  a  little  vinegar 
thereto,  is  commonly  used  among  the  Germans  for 
sauce  to  eat  fish  with  and  such  like  meats  as  we  do 
mustard."  It  appears  to  be  alluded  to  by  Pliny  as 
Armoracia,  hence  its  present  specific  name. 

Gold  of  Pleasure  (Camelina  sativa)  was  probably 
introduced  with  Flax.  It  is  cultivated  abroad  for 
the  sake  of  the  oil  in  the  seeds,  which  is  u.sed  for 
various  domestic  purposes.  When  the  railwaj' 
cutting  was  made  in  1H.")9  at  Steyning,  in  Susse.x, 
this  plant  suddenly  appeared  on  the  sides  in  great 
quantity  ;  but  it  disappeared  again  a  few  years 
afterwards. 

Pepper  C)v<«  (Lepidiuni  latifolium),  also  called 
"  Dittander,"  is  found  in  salt  marshes.  It  was 
formerly  used  as  a  condiment,  in  consequence  of 
its  pungent  qualities,  and  cultivated  in  cottage 
gardens.  It  is  an  ally  of  the  Garden  Cress  (L. 
sativum),  a  native  of  the  East. 

Woad  (Isatis  tinctoria). — This  grows  to  about 
3  feet  in  height  and  bears  yellow  (lowers  and  small 
fiat  pods  which  do  not  open.  Ctesar  says  lie  foui.d 
the  natives  stained  with  ritrnm,  from  which  the 
word  "  Woad  "  is  derived;  but  by  Plin3',  in  the 
first  century,  it  was  called  ijlastum  (hence  Glaston- 
bury). Glas,  in  Celtic,  means  blue  or  grey,  but  the 
older  name  of  that  town  was  "  ynys  vj'tryn," 
meaning  "Paint  island;"  hence  there  is  some 
obscurity  as  to  the  meaning  and  interchanging  of 
these  words.  How  the  ancients  prepared  the  blue 
dye  is  not  known,  but  Dr.  Plowright,  of  Lynn, 
states  that  Woad  leaves,  when  covered  with 
boiling  water  and  weighted  down  for  half  an  hour, 
and  the  water  poured  off,  treated  with  caustic 
potash,  and  then  rendered  acid  with  hydrochoric 
acid,  yields  a  good  indigo  blue.  If  the  time  of 
infusion  be  increased  greens  and  browns  are 
obtained.  Woad  mills  are  still  worked  at  Wisbech, 
but  not  for  the  dye.  The  produce  fixes  true  indigo. 
Seakale  (Crambe  maritinia). — This  is  common  on 
our  sea  shores,  and  the  people  in  the  West  of 
England  have  been  accustomed  to  cut  the  young 
shoots  and  eat  them  boiled  like  Asparagus.  The 
cultiv.ated  form  is  the  same,  only  larger.  It  has 
long  been  used  by  the  old  herbalists  as  Brassica 
marina  or  Sea  Colewort. 

Radish  (Raphanus  sativus). — This  has  been 
derived  from  the  wild  Radish  (R.  Raphanistrum 
var.  maritimus).  It  is  very  ancient.  Herodotus 
tells  us  that  Radishes  formed  part  payment  of  the 
builders  of  the  Great  Pyramid.  M.  Carric-re,  >vho 
obtained  good  roots  from  the  wild  plant,  found  (as 
Pliny  records  with  Rape)  that  long  roots  are 
produced  by  sowing  the  seed  in  a  loose  soil  and 
short  or  Turnip-rooted  kinds  in  a  stiff  soil.  The 
same  results  occur  with  Carrots. 

Geokge  Henslow. 


ONYCHIUM  JAPONICUM. 

This  is  a  useful  Fern  for  cutting  from,  and  maj'  be 
grown  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  It  is  nearly  hardy, 
but  the  fronds  lose  colour  if  the  temperature  falls 
much  below  40"  Fahr.  Spores  are  not  produced 
freely,  but  it  maj^  be  propagated  by  division. 
The  best  time  for  doing  this  is  in  the  spring, 
when  the  plants  are  starting  into  new  growth  ;  if 
done  carefully,  and  placed  in  a  warm,  close  house, 
they  soon  start  awaj'  again.  When  spores  can  be 
procured  they  germinate  freely,  and  seedlings 
make  pretty  plants,  which  in  a  small  state  are 
useful  for  small  vases. 

ONYCHIUM  AUKATUM. 
This  is  a  most  elegant  Fern,  with  larger  fronds 
than  the  0.  japonicum.  It  is,  however,  a  verj' 
tender  species,  and  requires  a  stove  temperature. 
The  large  finely-cut  fronds  are  produced  from  a 
single  crown,  and  therefore  can  only  be  propagated 
from  spores,  which,  though  plentiful,  do  not  ger- 
minate freely.  It  should  be  grown  in  a  light 
peaty  compost  with  good  drainage,  and  careful 
attention  must  be  paid  to  watering. 

A.  Hemsley. 


THE     FERN     GARDEN, 


OSMUNDA     PALUSTRIS. 

FOR  the  cool  greenhouse  this  is  a  pretty 
Fern.  It  is  a  native  of  .Japan,  and 
somewhatresemblesthe  North  American 
species  0.  gracilis,  but  has  more  sub- 
stance in  the  fronds,  and  is  evergreen, 
while  gracilis,  like  our  Royal  Fern  0. 
regalis,  loses  all  its  fronds  in  winter.  0.  palustris 
comes  freely  from  spores,  and  is  useful  in  quite  a 
small  state.  When  grown  in  a  light  position  the 
young  fronds  have  a  rosy  crimson  tint.  This 
Fern  used  to  be  grown  extensively  for  market, 
but  I  have  not  seen  it  about  so  much  during  the 
last  few  years.  It  is  certainly  well  worth  a  place 
in  the  cool  fernery.  Potted  in  a  compost,  con 
sisting  chiefly  of  fibrous  loam,  and  given  an 
intermediate  temperature,  it  will  grow  freely. 
The  plants  must  not  be  crowded  together,  and  full 
exposure  to  the  light  is  necessary. 


A  W^EST  ROSS-SHIRE  GARDEN. 

The  following  interesting  notes  are  contributed  by 
Mr.  0.  H.  Mackenzie  to  the  Ulastjoiu  Herald  : — 
The  new  century,  which,  I  suppose,  began  on 
January  1,  1901,  started  by  being  more  like 
summer  than  winter,  for  we  were  eating  Globe 
Artichokes  for  dinner,  and  the  drawing-room  was 
decorated  with  a  profusion  of  lovely  out  of  door 
flowers  belonging  both  to  the  old  and  the  new  year. 
Big  vases  full  of  true  blue  Hydrangeas  and  brilliant 
Rhododendrons,  quantities  of  Veronica  blooms, 
besides  flowering  sprays  of  Berberis  Darwinii, 
Andromeda  floribunda.  Iris  Histrio,  and  Schizostylis 
coccinea  galore,  the  former  a  gem  amongst  the 
earliest  of  our  spring  flowers,  and  the  latter  a 
prince  amongst  those  of  late  autumn. 

Rhododemdrons  in  Midwinter. 
Anj'one  living  on  this  mild  West  Coast  should 
go  in  strongly  for  Hydrangeas,  all  varieties  of 
which  bloom  more  or  less  persistently  from  August 
to  January,  except  the  beautiful  H.  paniculata.  I 
feel  almost  shy  of  telling  of  my  precious  Rhodo- 
dendron, a  scion  of  that  famous  big  tree  at  Tulloch 
Castle,  in  this  county,  which  has  bloomed  every 
winter  for  the  last  fifty  years  between  Christmas 
and  February.  1  know  people  will  hardly  believe 
in  Rhododendrons  blooming  in  midwinter,  but 
nevertheless  it  is  a  fact.  It  is  supposed  to  be  the 
R.  nobleanum  ;  but  a  plant  bearing  that  name 
which  I  got  from  one  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens 
some  years  ago,  and  which  should  therefore  be 
true,  has  never  shown  a  flower  in  winter  like  ray 
Tulloch  one.  How  glorious  it  looked  on  last  New 
Year's  Day,  with  fifty  of  its  crimson-scarlet  trusses 
fully  expanded,  and  lots  of  fat  buds  besides  show- 
ing as  red  dots  all  among  the  green  leaves.  It  is, 
indeed,  a  trea.sure,  and  it  would  be  worth  while 
for  any  enthusiast  on  shrubs  to  travel  a  very  long 
way  to  see  it.  Close  to  it  are  some  big  bushes  of 
Veronica  Andersoni,  fully  5  feet  high,  all  covered 
with  bright  blue  flower  spikes.  I  am  told  on  good 
authority  that  this  most  useful  plant  is  a  hybrid 
between  V.  salicifolia,  which  blooms  early  in 
August,  and  which  seeds  itself  profusely  all  over 
this  place,  and  V.  speciosa.  Perhaps  it  would 
not  stand  through  an  East  Coast  winter,  but  here 
it  is  of  great  value  as  a  winter-flowering  shrub  ;  so 
with  these  and  the  golden  foliage  of  the  New 
Zealand  Diplopappus  chry.sophyllus,  the  blue-grey 
boughs  of  Eucalyptus  coccifera,  and  the  Arbutus 
bearing  its  white  bells  and  scarlet  Strawberries 
simultaneously,  there  can  be  no  excuse  for  not 
having  gay  rooms  in  winter  in  this  climate  without 
any  help  from  glass. 

The  February  Blossoms. 
February  blossoms  are  naturally  not  very  plen- 
tiful, but  still  it  is  an  interesting  time  of  year. 
My  best  flowering  shrub  during  that  month  was 
Rhododcndi'on  anuenum  ;  it  is  very  bright  and 
floriferous,   but  its  petals  have  not  the  power  of 


resistance  against  snow  or  sleet  that  its  more 
robust  cousin  the  Tulloch  Rhododendron  has.  Still 
it  is  a  great  acquisition.  Close  to  it  there  are  some 
grand  tree  Heaths,  which,  though  not  actually  in 
blossom  in  February,  were  far  enough  advanced  to 
be  quite  decorative  :  they  are  Erica  arborea  and 
Erica  australis,  the  former  showing  quite  white, 
and  it  reminded  one  of  its  giant  sisters  which  cover 
the  hillsides  in  Corsica,  and  make  them  look  in 
April  as  white  as  if  there  had  been  a  heavy  fall 
of  snow.  I  am  devoted  to  Heaths,  and  have  also 
got  some  plants  of  E.  codonodes,  a  native  of 
Portugal,  like  E.  australis,  but  having  had  the 
former  only  a  year  all  I  can  say  of  it  is  that,  unlike 
E.  australis,  which  is  crimson,  its  flower  is  white. 
They  are  said  to  grow  0  feet  high,  which  can  easily 
be  believed,  as  the  other  two  kinds  of  Ericas  are 
about  that  height  already.  I  certainly  saw  E. 
arborea  '20  feet  high  in  its  native  country,  and 
really  these  look  as  if  they  would  be  very  startling 
Heathers  in  a  few  3-ears'  time.  Like  the  Snowdrop, 
one  could  ill  dispense  with  their  pigmy  cousin 
Erica  carnea.  It  is  a  real  joj'  all  winter  and  early 
spring,  and  he  who  first  introduced  it  (from  Servia, 
I  think),  and  they  who  found  us  those  magnificent 
so-called  Lenten  Roses  or  Hellebores,  which,  how- 
ever, bloom  here  in  January,  as  well  as  Iris  stylosa 
and  I.  reticulata,  richly  deserve  to  have  their 
names  recorded  and  honoured. 

The  Hariiv  Edoaly-pti. 
I    possess    a    curious   Australian    shrub    called 
Correa,   which   seems  very  hardy  and  blooms  all 
the  winter,  its  yellowish  bells  being  interesting  if 
not  very    showy  ;    it  reminds  me  slightly  of   the 
Forsythias,  only  it  is   so  very  much  earlier.     My 
Eucalypti  are,  I  think,  most  attractive  in  winter 
and  earl^'  spring.    It  is  delightful  having  evergreen 
trees,  so  utterly  difierent  from  what  we  have  been 
accustomed  to  look  on  as  evergreens,  such  as  Firs, 
Spruces,   Cupressus,  Retinosporas,  Araucarias,  &c. 
The  colouring  of  the  Eucalypti   is  to  me  so  fasci- 
nating, especially  that  of  E.  tJunnii  and  E.  coccifera, 
and  no  amount  of  wind  and   rain,  snow,   hail,  or 
frost  seems  to  injure  them.     I  hope  it  may  not  be 
thought  an  exaggeration  to  say  that  after  a  specially 
cold,    stoimy    winter   a    fairly    tall    specimen   of 
Euoalj'ptus  Whittinghami,  about  30  feet  in  height, 
and  the  offspring   of  Scotch   seed   ripened  at  Mr. 
Arthur  Balfour's  seat  in  Berwickshire,  looked  less' 
att'ected  than  the  Scotch  Firs  alongside  of  it,  as  they 
did  show  a  certain  amount  of  scorching  in  March 
and  April  from  the  frightful  gales  off  the  ocean  to 
which   they  had  been  subjected,  but  the  leathery 
leaves  of    these  hardy   Australian   gum  trees  are 
proof  against  any  amount  of  cold  and  storm.     I 
have  some  nice  small  plants  of  E.  cordata  from  seed 
ripened  at   Lord   Ilchester's  place  in  Dorsetshire, 
winch  are  said  to   be  very  hard}'  also,  and  these 
four  kinds,  with  the  addition  of  E.  pauciflora  and 
E.  urnigera,  form  so  far  my  small  collection.     How 
I  wish  that  hardy  Eucalypti  had  been  known  in 
1863,  when   planting  was  started  here,  as  in  that 
case  there  might  have  been  some  show  trees  by  this 
time,  for  the  Wellingtonias  planted  then  are  from 
.■)0  feet  to  ()0  feet  high  now,  and  are  still  making 
vigorous  growths  upwards.     Lovers  of  rare  trees 
ought   to   start   Eucalypti,  but   to   beware   of   E. 
globnsa  (the  common  blue  (iuin).     It  is  said  there 
are  3011  species  of  Eucalypti,  but  I  fancj'only  those 
mentioned   by  me  have  proved  themselves  hardy  ; 
even  under  the  influence  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  E. 
globosa  will  sometimes  get  through   one  or  more 
mild  winters  and  rush  up  to  a  big  tree,  but  some 
cruel  spring  frost  is  prettj'  sure  to  come  and  carry 
him  ofl'  eventually.      I   must  confess  to  feeling  a 
little  proud  sometimes  when  I  look  into  one  of  my 
little  exotic  shrubberies,  where  for  the  moment  I  can 
hardlj'  believe  that  all  these  Bamboos,  Camellias, 
Palms,      Phormiums,    Coidylines,    .\ralias.    Tree 
Ferns,  &c. ,  are  not  under  glass  till  I  am  perhaps 
reminded  by  a  sharp  shower  of  hail  that  we  are 
all  of  us  very  much   in  the  open.     One  does  not 
often  come  across  the  Arbutus  on  this  coast,  though 
they  do  so  very  well  ;  here  there  is  one  20  feet 
high   and   laden   with    fruit.       I     possess    now   a 
numbei'  of    new  kinds,    one   of   them    with   pink 
flowers,  but  cannot  otherwise  3'et  say  much  about 
tliem  except  in  the  case  of  Arbutus  Menziesi,  of 
which   I   have    a  promising   young   plant,    and    a 


JUNE  7,  igoj.J 


THE  GARDEN. 


377 


specimen  of  which  was  really  the  tree  above  all 
others  which  I  most  admired  in  Kew  Gardens,  as  it 
was  entirely  covered  by  what  can  only  be  described 
as  gigantic  Lilies  of  the  Valley. 

(To  he  coiitinned.) 


THE     W^EAVER     PLUM. 

One  of  the  most  intfresting  types  of  North 
American  Plum  is  the  widespread  Prunus 
americana.  It  has  many  forms,  but  the 
strongest  and  best  horticulturally  is  the  one 
that  grows  wild  abundantly  along  the  Missis- 
sippi river  and  its  triVmtaries  in  Iowa,  Kansas, 
Nebraska,  and  Missouri.  Many  hundreds  of 
varieties  have  been  selected  from  this,  and 
some  careful  breeding  has  been  spent  upon 
it.  As  a  result  the  horticultural  varieties  are 
now  planted  by  thousands  in  orchards.  They 
are  specitUy  prized  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  Mississippi  valley,  where  the  climate  is 
too  severe  for  other  Plums,  but  where  this 
species  is  quite  at  home.  It  is  probably  the 
hardiest  fruit  of  any  importance  known.  The 
variety  Weaver,  shown  natural  size  in  the 
accompanying  illustration,  is  typical,  but  not 
.'o  large  and  line  as  many  of  the  more  recent 
introductions.  F.  A.  Waugh. 

Vermont  Universiti/,  U.S.A. 


THE     FLOWER    GARDEN. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS      FOR 
THE    GARDEN. 

FE  W  plants  are  so  effective  as  the  many 
varieties  of  Chrysanthemums.  Although 
considered  as  a  tender  plant,  it  is  ver}' 
hardy,  and  the  flowers  are  useful  for 
cutting.  Early  Chrysanthemums  may 
be  used  in  more  ways  than  one. 
Firstly,  for  planting  in  the  mixed  border  ;  secondly, 
for  training  against  walls,  &c. ,  thus  obscuring 
many  an  unsightly  object ;  and,  thirdly,  they  may 
be  grown  in  tubs  or  pots  for  terraces  and  other 
places.  The  Pompon,  Anemone-flowered,  Incurved, 
and  the  more  robust  Japanese  and  re- 
flexed  varieties  succeed  remarkably  well. 
The  cultivation  of  the  outdoor  Chry- 
santhemum is  extremely  simple.  It  is 
propagated  in  distinct  ways,  by  cuttings 
to  raise  young  plants,  and  by  division  of 
the  stools.  If  possible,  it  is  best  to 
obtain  cuttings  early,  about  January,  or, 
failing  this,  as  soon  as  they  are  pro- 
curable. As  in  the  case  of  exhibition 
varieties,  select  those  cuttings  which  are 
rooted  into  the  soil,  because  this  will 
mean  a  saving  of  time,  and  insert  them 
about  3  inches  apart  in  boxes  of  light 
sandy  soil,  not  too  rich,  as  this  tends  to 
stimulate  the  growth  unduly.  Water  the 
cuttings  and  place  them  in  a  shady  frame 
to  strike.  In  a  fortnight  they  will  have 
rooted  sufficiently  to  justify  transference 
toother  boxes.  Give  the  plants  ample  room 
for  development,  and  plenty  of  air,  other- 
wise the  growth  will  be  weakly.  As 
soon  as  the  plants  have  got  well  rooted 
pinch  out  the  tips  of  the  shoots  to  induce 
them  to  break  into  three  or  four  growths, 
giving  these  in  turn  the  same  treatment, 
so  that  by  planting  out  time  the  plants  are 
very  leafy. 

One  point  should  always  be  borne  in 
mind,  viz.,  keep  the  plants  as  hardy  as 
possible,  no  artificial  heat  being  necessary. 
The  Chrj'santhemum  delights  in  a  rich 
compost,  therefore  prepare  the  site  by 
trenching  and  manuring  in  the  autumn 
previous  to  planting.  Provided  the  afore- 
mentioned conditions  are  strictly  adhered 
to  they  may  be  planted  outside  in  April. 
After  planting  carefully  stake  them,  and 


also  from  the  time  they  are  rooted  up  to  the  flower- 
ing period  ;  give  liquid  manure  to  ensure  perfectly 
developed  flowers  in  abundance. 

As  soon  as  the  plants  have  flowered  cut  off  the 
tops  and  destroy  them,  for  should  any  disease 
have  accidentally  obtained  a  foothold  it  may  be 
checked  and  prevented  from  attacking  the  young 
growths.  The  time  to  divide  the  stools  is  spring, 
retaining  a  few  roots  with  each.  The  plants  will 
succeed  better  if  they  are  annually  shifted  to  a 
fresh  situation  and  soil,  that  is,  if  the  plants  are 
kept  for  more  than  one  year,  but  I  advocate  the 
raising  and  growing  of  young  plants  anijuall^',  as  on 
these  the  flowers  are  well  developed. 

This  article  would  not  be  complete  without  a  list 
of  varieties.  The  following  flower  from  July  to 
November  in  sheltered  situations  :  American 
Flora,  white  ;  Mme.  E.  Capitant,  rose ;  Mrs. 
Forsyth,  Blanche  Colomb,  white  ;  Frederick  Pele, 
crimson  ;  Martinmas,  pink  ;  Hermine,  lilac  ; 
Canari,  pale  yellow  ;  Dr.  Rozas,  crimson  ;  Empress 
of  India,  white  ;  M.  R.  Bahnant,  purple  ; 
Christmas  Number,  white  ;  Crimson  Marie  Masse, 
bronze;  Mrs.  Hawkins,  jellow  ;  Ryecrott  Scarlet, 
crimson ;  Harvest  Home,  yellow  -  red,  tipped 
gold  ;  Achievement,  yellow  ;  Lady  Fitzwygram, 
white ;  Jules  Mary,  crimson  ;  Mychett  White, 
white.  JoiTN  Denman. 

Bi-ynhella,  Tremeirchion,  St.  A.mph. 

MAY -FLOWERING    LATE    SINGLE 
TULIPS. 

TiiiKTv-FOUR  Excellent  Varieties. 
AxiMEN'Sis. — Rich    glossy   crimson,    globe-shaped, 
gold  and  green  at  base  ;  from  Swiss  pastures. 

BitlifJiana  Suii-^ef. — Bright  fiery  red  and  gold  ; 
very  brilliant. 

Picotee. — Wax_y  white,  with  faint  line  of  pink 
at  edge,  reflexing  at  the  top. 

Elcijans  alba. —  Glistening  satiny  white,  with 
Picotee  edge  ;  very  lovely. 

Elegtinf  maxima  Inten. — Magnificent  orange,  the 
colour  of  Eschscholtzia  californica  ;  stiff,  erect, 
pointed  twisted  petals  ;  very  vigorous. 

Lrghoni  Bon}ief. — (Tlistening  maize-yellow,  with 
stiff,  broadly  pointed  petals  of  great  substance  ; 
very  fine. 

BoHlon  d'Or.  — Bright  orange,  lovely  cups  of 
bloom  ;  "  F.  W.  B.'s"  favourite  Tulip  among  old- 
fasliioned  border  Tulips  ;  excellent  for  pots. 


John  Builcin. — Orange-yellow,  shaded  pink  at 
the  edge  of  petals  ;  closely  allied  to  Fairy  Queen  ; 
immense  proportions. 

The  Lizard. — A  striped  form  of  Fairy  Queen  ; 
very  handsome. 

Fairy  Queen. — Large,  globular,  Magnolia-shaped 
flowers,  of  a  rich  fieliotrope  and  yellow  when 
young  ;  when  older,  a  dove  colour. 

Xiyretle.  — Black, glistening,  Bouton  d"Or  shaped, 
and  very  effective  flower. 

The  Faipii. — Unique  in  colour;  like  that  of  a 
dove  or  fawn,  Bouton  d'Or  shape  ;  very  rare. 

Ixioide-i. — Large,  soft  canary-yellow,  with  black 
base ;  verv  distinct.  Award  of  merit,  Temple 
show,  1901. 

Othello. — Glistening  velvety  crimson,  with  an 
intense  black  centre  ;  very  fine. 

La  Merveille  (Vilmorin). — Lovely  coral  or  terra- 
cotta colour  ;  very  large,  twisted  petals  ;  sweet- 
scented  ;  splendid. 

Mauriana. — Brilliant  orange-scarlet,  with  rich 
centre  of  old  gold.  Certificate,  Temple  show, 
190L 

Marjoleta. — Creamy  white,  with  cerise  edge; 
from  the  Tyrol  pastures. 

Macidata  glohosa  nana.  —  Globular  shaped, 
shining  crimson,  with  deep  black  and  gold  base ; 
very  chaste. 

Glohom  The  Nigger.  —  Rich  velvety  crimson, 
with  jet-black  base  ;  very  distinct. 

Reje.ra  Mart. — Shining  crimson,  reflexed  petals, 
rich  black  and  yellow  centre  ;  splendid. 

The  Moor. — Rich  scarlet,  with  jet-black  base  ; 
a  very  fine  late  variety. 

Maculata  glohosa  grandiflora. — Immense  velvety 
crimson,  with  intense  dark  and  gold  base ;  the 
finest  of  its  colour. 

Spathnlata  aurantiaca  maculata. — Rich  orange, 
with  dark  zone  at  base  :  in  full  sun  it  is  mag- 
nificent. 

Spalhidata  aiiravtiaea.  —  Brilliant  orange-red, 
with  rich  centre  of  old  goM  ;  very  fine. 

Shandon  Bella. — Sugar-loaf,  pyramidal,  or  globe- 
shaped  bloom  of  apricot-yellow  at  first,  changing 
after  a  week  to  deep  magenta  ;  magnificent. 

York  and  Lavea-iter. — A  fixed  sport  from  the 
former,  lovel}'  apricot  at  first,  changing  in 
colour  to  the  old  York  and  Lancaster  Rose  of 
gardens. 

Silrer  Queen. — A  striped  sport  from  the  latter  ; 
very  fine. 


WEAVER  PLUM   (LIFE  SIZE).      (From  apholoijraiilifrom  Mr.  /<".  A.  Waiijli,  Btirtinr/ton,  ft.) 


378 


THE    GARDEN. 


[JUXE 


10 


Didieri  alha. — Silvery  white,  in  shape 
like  a  Niphetos  Rose,  strong  Sweet  Pea 
perfume  ;  very  useful  for  cutting. 

Emerald  Gem.  —  Rich  coral  colour, 
with  emerald-green  base ;  Sweet  Pea 
scented. 

Fiilijens  ma.eima  lulea. — The  tallest 
and  finest  golden-yellow  Tulip  in  exist  - 
ence  ;  richly  Primrose  scented  ;  magni- 
ficent. 

Geaneriaiia  lutea.  —  Intense  golden- 
jellow,  very  large.  Primrose  scent. 

Genniriana  I  idea  pallida. — Pale  prim- 
rose, sweet-scented  ;  several  certificates 
all  over  England. 

Macro'ipei/a. — I  should  be  sorry  to 
omit  this  gorgeous  Tulip,  particularly 
for  its  rich  crimson  colour  and  lovely 
zone  of  black  and  gold  centre  ;  Sweet 
Pea  scented. 

Firefly.  —  Rich  coral  or  terra-cotia 
colour,  with  green  and  gold  base;  Swtet 
Pea  scented.  Philomel. 

CALYSTEGIA  PUBESCENS  FL - 
PL.  (DOUBLE  BINDWEED). 

Although   it  is  not  desirable  to  p'ant 
this  in  close  proximity  toother  llowering 
plants    ill    borders    or    beds,    yet     the 
extreme    beauty    of    its     pink    douVjlc 
flowers  and  the  twining  habit  of  growth 
fhould    commend    it    for    clothing   low 
walls  or  trellises,   or   for   covering  any 
low   unsightly    object    in    the   garden. 
■  The  plant  is  of  easy  cultivation,  so  much 
so   that    its   creeping    roots   will    soon 
encroach   if    not    kept    within   bounds, 
hence   the    necessity    for   planting   it   away    from 
other    plants.     A  rich   soil  suits    the   plant    best, 
and  it  then   twines  to  the   height   of  (i   feet.     A 
few  strings   stretched   the    required    height   or  a 
few  small  Pea  sticks  placed  against  the  object  it 
is  intended   to   cover   will  suffice  for  the  clinging 
growths  to  hiy  hold   of.       In    mild   districts    this 
plant  flowers  from  the  middle  of   .June  onwards  ; 
but   of  course  in  colder  localities  few   flowers  are 
to  be  had  until   the  month  of  July.     The   plants 
will  be   benefited  by  an  occasional  application  of 
liquid   manure    during   active    growth,    especially 


ALICANTE   GRArES   IM    "BABY       B.VSKET. 


if  the   soil  in    which  they  are  planted  is  poor.- 
H.  T.  Martin. 


PACKING    GRAPES. 

Not  the  least  important  of  the  operations  in  con- 
nexion with  the  management  of  the  Grape  Vine  is 
packing  the  bunches  for  safe  transit  by  rail  or  road, 
either  for  long  or  short  distances.  In  consequence 
of  the  enormous  increase  in  Grape  culture  during 
the  last  twenty  j-ears,    both   for   market  and  for 


Tl;p    "  P4BV  ■'   BASKKT   IN   IIAMPKU   EEADY   FOR  JOUflNKV, 


private  use,  increased  attention  has  been  given 
to  this  important  subject,  not  only  by  growers 
generally,  but  also  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  in  the  encouragement  they  have  given 
to  good  packing  by  the  liberal  prizes  offered 
at  their  great  annual  exhibition  of  fruit  held  at 
the  Crystal  Palace  during  every  autumn.  In 
consequence  of  this  increased  attention  and  en- 
couragementgiventothe  subject,  it  is  now  generally 
admitted  that  the  best  way  in  which  Grapes  can  be 
packed  for  travelling  is  by  the  use  of  cross-handled 
baskets  of  various  sizes,  according  to  the  weight 
desired  to  be  sent  at  a  time.  The  most 
convenient  size  for  marketing  is  one  that 
will  hold  about  ten  bunches  weighing 
from  1-Jlb.  to  151b. 

The  baskets  are  strongly  but  roughly 
made  of  white  wicker,  and  should  be 
deep  enough  to  accommodate  a  good 
sized  bunch  resting  its  full  length  on 
the  side  of  the  basket.  The  basket  is 
prepared  as  follows  for  the  reception  of 
the  Grapes  :  Wood  shavings  are  placed 
in  the  bottom  to  the  depth  of  half  an 
inch,  and  on  this  a  layer  of  cap  paper, 
lining  the  sides  also  with  the  same 
paper.  The  bunches  are  then  placed 
in  the  basket  in  an  upright  position 
resting  on  the  sides,  and  the  piece  of 
shoot  (which  should  always  be  cut  with 
the  bunch)  is  then  tied  securely  to  the 
rim  of  the  basket,  allowing  the  base 
of  the  bunch  to  rest  firmly  in  the 
bottom.  Thus  bunch  by  bunch  (placed 
close  together)  should  be  fixed  until  the 
whole  of  the  sides  of  the  basket  has 
been  filled.  By  this  sj'steni  it  is  neces- 
sary for  its  success  that  the  bunch  rests 
well  on  the  bottom  to  take  oil  its 
weight.  Cover  the  top  of  the  basket 
with  paper  securely  tied  on  and  the 
Grapes  will  travel  any  distance  without 
the  least  injury  to  bloom  or  berry. 
Another  successful  way  favoured  by 
many — after  filling  the  bottom  with 
wood  shavings  and  papering  the  basket 
a  i  above  stated — is  to  place  the  basket 
on  end  at  an  angle  of  45'^,  and  then 
g -adually  build  up  the  bunches  from  the 
b  ittom  upwards  one  against  another 
firmly  placed  until  the  basket  is  filled, 


June  7.  10.2.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


379 


This  is  an  excellent  way,  and  more  weight  can 
be  got  into  the  basket  than  by  the  other  method, 
the  ouly  danger  being  that  possibly  some  of  the 
bloom  may  be  rubbed  off  all  round  the  bunch, 
whereas  with  ihe  other  the  front  of  the  bunch  is 
clear  of  contact  with  anything.  The  efficacy  of 
packing  in  baskets  instead  of  in  bo.Kes  lies  in  the 
fact  that  railway  officials  dare  not  throw  and  bang 
baskets  about  as  they  do  boxes,  but  are  compelled 
to  carry  them  by  the  handle,  thereby  .securing 
immunity  from  the  porters'  negligence,  and  a  safe 
delivi-ry  of  the  Grapes  at  the  same  time.  A  label 
should"  be  attached  to  each  basket  stating  the 
nature  and  weight  of  the  contents,  and  indicating 
the  time  when  delivered  to  the  railway  oompmy  for 
transit,  so  that  in  case  of  delay  the  coni|)any  can 
be  held  responsible.  A.  P.  H. 


NOTES    FROM    NORTH    W^ALES. 

THOtJoii  we  have  had  sucli  a  cold  spring  and 
the  warm  weather  has  only  just  commenced 
(May  24)  it  has  suited  the  spring 
flowers.  The  garden  is  gayer  than 
ever,  and  the  colours  of  the  flowers  are 
so  much  richer,  as  there  has  been  so 
little  hot  sun  to  fade  them.  They  have 
also  lasted  longer  than  usual  for  the 
same  reason.  Against  the  house,  which 
is  of  red  brick  covered  with  Ivy,  Clematis 
montana,  and  other  creepers,  we  have 
had  a  very  effective  bed  ;  bright  yellow 
Wallflowers  at  the  back,  Aubrietias  form- 
ing a  thick  carpet,  very  pretty  in  its 
various  shadings,  and  rising  out  of  this 
single  White  Swan  Tulips.  The  bed  is 
edged  with  white  Daisies.  The  White 
Swan  Tulips  are  very  graceful,  open  or 
closed,  and  have  lasted  for  several 
weeks.  Another  arrangement  opposite 
the  house  would  ha\e  beeii  equally 
pretty  if  the  sparrows  had  not  taken 
a  good  deal  of  the  Aubrietias  to  build 
their  nests  with,  the  little  wretches  ! 
It  has  Aubrietias  as  a  groundwork  with 
clumps  of  Proserpine  Tulips  (a  lovely 
tall  "old  rose  "-coloured  sort)  rising  out 
of  it,  edged  with  pink  Daisies,  and  at 
the  back,  running  into  the  shrubs,  tall 
Forget-me-nots.  In  the  distance  across 
the  bit  of  rough  grass,  which  is  untidy 
now  with  foliage  of  Daffodils  and 
Crocuses,  which  must  not  be  cut  down 
yet,  there  is  a  blaze  of  colour.  An  oval 
bed  with  a  few  shrubs  in  the  centre  is 
edged  with  a  thick  border  of  three  year 
old  plants  of  yellow  Alyssum,  a  very 
bank  of  gold  ;  the  extreme  edging  is 
of  red  Daisies.  Behind  the  Alyssum  rise 
tall  red  gesneriana  and  parrot  Tulips,  in 
places  leaning  over  on  to  the  yellow 
Alyssum.  Behind  again,  here  and  there,  are  double 
Furze  bushes  in  full  bloom— a  gorgeous  effect.  In 
this  same  bed  are  large  clumps,  many  years  old,  of 
scarlet  Oriental  Poppies,  and  of  a  pale  niauve- 
blue  German  Iris,  which  alwaj's  blooms  profusely. 
These  come  out  together  when  the  Alyssum  and 
Tulips  are  over,  and  make  another  grand  feast  of 
colour. 

The  spring  flowers  in  front  will  be  taken  up 
soon  and  half  hardy  annuals  put  in  their  places, 
which  will  keep  the  bed  going  till  the  frosts  come. 
We  are  pleased  also  with  the  clumps  of  pale  pink 
Anemones  between  clumps  of  Her  Majesty  Pink 
edging  the  long  Rose  border.  The  Pinks  are  not  in 
flower  yet,  but  their  grey  foliage  goes  well  with 
the  pink  Anemones,  as  we  expected. 

Anemones  grow  wonderfully  with  us ;  they 
evidently  like  the  hot  stony  soil  when  given 
plenty  of  manure,  and  do  not  mind  the  fully 
exposed  situation.  Perhaps  that  is  why  they 
are  called  wind  flowers.  I  have  a  long  row 
of  them  edging  a  herbaceous  border,  all  raised 
from  the  seed  of  one  lovely  bloom  which  was 
very  double  and  salmon-coloured.  The  seedlings 
are  of  every  shade  of  red,  pink,  and  purple  ;  selfs, 
shaded  ones,  mixed  colours,  and  pure  white,  &c. 
I   have  just  measured  sonie  of  the  largest — they 


are  5  inches  in  diameter.  A  vivid  scarlet  has 
ten  flowers  out  together,  a  white  shaded  with  a 
deep  band  of  salmon  is  equally  large  and  vigorous. 
These  plants  are  three  years  old,  and  I  have  not 
taken  them  up  since  they  were  first  planted.  They 
are  so  easy  to  grow  here  that  we  have  them  all 
about  the  garden,  and  they  are  most  valuable  for 
cutting  in  the  early  spring  when  other  flowers  are 
scarce. 

The  foliage  of  the  individual  Anemone  plants  is 
as  varied  as  the  flowers.  Some  have  very  finely 
cut  leaves  tinted  or  edged  with  reddish  brown, 
others  have  very  much  coarser  foliage  and  of 
quite  a  different  shade  of  green.  I  like  the  finely 
out  tinted  foliage  combined  with  large  self-coloured 
flowers  best. 

The  double  Cherries  are  very  beautiful  now,  con- 
trasting with  the  dark  leaved  Berberis  and  3'oung 
leaves  of  the  Copper  Beech.  The  background  of 
blue  Welsh  hills  shows  them  off.  But  as  when  I 
last  wrote  early  in  April  so  now  that  "unorthodox 
rockery  "  bank  is  still  the  chief  point  of  interest 
in  the  garden  ;  going  down  the  steps  opposite  the 


is  plenty  of  white  still  on  the  rockery,  the 
perennial  Iberis  is  a  mass  of  snow-white  bloom,  a 
Daisy-like  cerastium  runs  neatly  over  the  stones, 
and  many  sorts  of  Saxifraga  are  in  bloom,  nearly 
all  being  white. 

It  is  difficult  to  enumerate  all  the  treasures  that 
cover  the  bank.  Iberis  gibraltarica  grows  very 
freely  and  is  now  covered  with  its  pale  mauve 
flowers  ;  alpine  Phloxes,  pink  and  lilac  ;  Andro- 
sace  villosa,  pale  yellow  ;  Cheiranthus  alpinus, 
Sedums,  and  Saxifrages  of  many  sorts  all  do 
well,  but  have  to  be  watched  carefully  to  prevent 
llie  larger  plants  from  smothering  them.  Anemone 
Pulsatilla  and  (ieum  montauum  are  in  seed  now, 
and  their  feathery  seed  vessels  are  almost  as 
pretty  as  their  flowers. 

Soon  the  rock  Roses  will  keep  the  bank  gay 
for  some  weeks  longer,  and  CEuothera  marginata 
will  delight  us  in  the  evenings  with  its  large 
white  Eucharis-like  flowers.  It  seems  to  delight 
in  the  poor  soil  and  full  sun,  and  comes  up  every- 
where, even  in  the  path.  I  counted  seventeen 
flowers  out  together  on  a  patch  of  it  one  evening 


MAGNOLIA   STELLATA. 


house  and  looking  along  it  it  is  a  blaze  of  colour. 
The  predominant  colour  is  yellow,  so  bright  that 
even  on  a  dull  day  it  has  the  eft'ect  of  sunshine. 
Large  bushes  of  the  double  Gorse  overhang  the 
bank  and  scent  all  the  garden  round.  Clumps  of 
yellow  Aly.ssum,  balls  of  "  gold  dust,"  are  almost 
too  frequent,  having  seeded  themselves  freel}',  and 
overflow  in  places  on  to  the  path  below.  The 
Aubrietia  still  makes  purple  patches  of  varying 
shades. 

Many  healthy  tufts  of  Narcissus  poeticus  fidl  of 
flowers  pii  rje  the  low-growing  plants — I  think  they 
must  have  been  brought  by  birds  or  mice,  as  I  do 
not  remember  planting  them  ;  at  any  rate  they 
are  firmly  established,  and  do  not  seem  to  mind 
the  dryness  of  the  bank — they  break  the  line  and 
have  a  good  effect. 

The  clumps  of  German  Irises  of  different 
colours  at  the  edge  of  the  shrubs  on  the  top 
of  the  bank  are  valuable  as  foliage  plants  even 
when  out  of  bloom,  but  they  are  now  fidl  of 
spikes  of  fat  buds,  and  the  earliest,  Iris  florentina, 
has  one  flower  out.  Although  these  Irises 
cannot  even  get  the  benefit  of  the  rain  among 
the  shrubs  and  overhanging  trees,  yet  they 
never  fail  to  bloom  profusely.  The  white  single- 
flowered    Arabis    alpina    is    nearly    over,    therg 


last  summer,  and  its  scent  is  particularly  good, 
with    a    suspicion    of    lemon    in    it.       It    is    not 
overpowering  like  that  of  so   many  night  scented 
flowers. 
Near  Llangollen.  E.   Lloyd  Edwards. 


TWO    GOOD    FLOWERING 
SHRUBS. 


Magnolia  stellata. 

IN  common  with  most,  if  not  all,  writers,  I 
was  quite  unaware  until  recently  of  the 
existence  of  any  form  of  this  Magnolia  other 
than  that  which  is  so  popular,  and  forms 
such  a  delightful  spring  feature  when  laden 
with  its  charming  blossoms,  each  composed 
of  a  dozen  or  more  pure  white  strap-shaped  petals. 
This  semi-double  form  would,  however,  appear  to 
be  not  the  original  species,  but  a  variety  thereof, 
as  a  single  flowered  kind  has  recently  come  under 
my  notice.  It  is  at  Kew,  where  last  summer  I 
noted  two  plants  in  the  collection  of  Magnolias, 
which,  though  bearing  the  specific  name  of  stellata, 
were  far  more  vigorous  and  robust  in  every  way 
than   the    stejlata    of   gardens,       They    were   go 


380 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  7,  19C2. 


SriR.lCV    FI,  VGEtXIFORMIS    IN    THE    ROYAL    GARDENS,    KEW. 


striking  that  I  resolved  if  passible  to  see  them 
in  Mooni,  and  was  then  surprised  to  find  the 
flowers  siiij»le,  with  a  little  pinkish  tinge  on  the 
exterior.  Though  decidedly  less  attractive  from  a 
floral  point  of  view,  this  single-flowered  form 
of  Magnolia  stellata  is  decidedly  interesting. 
Professor  Sargent  in  his  "  Forest  Flora  of  Japan" 
refers  to  various  plants,  anions:;  them  being 
Magnolia  stellata  in  the  following  terms:  "A 
number  of  shrubs,  familiar  in  western  gardens, 
and  usually  supposed  to  be  Japanese  from  the 
fact  that  they  were  first  known  to  Europeans  in 
.Japan  arid  were  first  sent  from  that  countr}',  are  also 
Chinese  or  Corean,  and  are  only  found  in  gardens 
or  in  the  neighbourhood  of  habitations."  The 
opening  lines  of  this  note  are  slightly  misleading, 
as  there  is  a  form  of  the  common  kind  with  pink- 
tinged  blosscmis  for  which  Messrs.  Veitch  received 
an  award  of  merit  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  nine  years  ago. 

Spir.ea  flagelliformis. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  graceful  of  all  the  Spirueas, 
and  has  many  synonyms.  Of  its  beauty  there  is 
no  question,  as  the  accompanying  illustration 
shows,  the  arching  .stems  being  weighted  with  the 
wealth  of  white  flower  clusters.  It  is  best  planted 
in  a  group  as  shown.  T. 


TREES   AND   SHRUBS   FOR 
ENGLISH   GARDENS. 

(Continued  from pwje  J'i~.) 
Tr.\nsplanting  of  Evergrtskn?. 

THIS  question,  especially  as  regards 
the  time  of  year  when  it  is  best 
done,  is  often  discussed  among 
gardeners.  All  practical  men  agree 
that  the  two  worst  seasons  are 
winter  and  early  spring,  but  they 
difl'er  as  to  whether  autumn  or  late  spring 
is  the  better.  Perhaps  there  is  not  much 
difTerence  in  ordinary  season.s,  but  for  my 
part  I  prefer  early  autumn.  What  one  may 
term  the  leading  principle  of  transplanting 
evergreens  is  this— all  disturbance  of  the 
roots  should  take  place  whilst  they  are  active, 


'  Thus,  if  autumn  be  chosen  as  the  trans- 
planting season,  it  should  be  so  early  that 
the  roots  have  time  to  get  hold  of  the  soil  again 
before  the  cold  weather  sets  in  and  arrests  root 
action.  On  the  other  hand,  if  planting  has  been 
delayed  until  spring,  it  should  be  deferred  till 
j  root  action  has  agaiu  commenced. 

I  do  not  think  the  reason  of  this  as  regards 
the  time  of  transplanting  is  far  to  seek. 
Although  growth  in  evergreens,  as  in  deci- 
duous plants,  practically  ceases  in  winter, 
there  is  this  difference  between  them  — that 
while  transpiration  has  almost  or  quite  stopped 
in  the  case  of  deciduous  plants,  it  still  goes  on 
with  a  certain  amount  of  activity  in  the  ever- 
greens. Consequently,  the  loss  of  the  moisture- 
absorbing  root-tips,  which  transplanting  in- 
volves to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  is  a  more 
serious  matter  to  a  plant  bearing  its  full  crop 
of  leaves  than  it  is  to  one  that,  like  a  deciduous 
plant  in  winter,  is  making  no  demands  on  its 
root  system.  Thus  is  shown  the  necessity,  or 
at  least  the  desirability,  of  transplanting  ever- 
greens at  a  time  when  there  is  sutticient  activity 
at  the  root  to  renew  the  feeding  root-tips 
quickly  enough  to  prevent  a  long  cessation  of  the 
moisture  supply.  I  look  upon  autumn  as  the 
be-it  time,  because  the  weather  then  is  usually 
moist  and  nearly  always  mild  up  to  Christmas. 
The  plants,  therefore,  have  time  to  get  settled 
and  their  roots  well  to  work  again  before  the 
frosts  of  winter,  and,  what  is  still  more  trying, 
the  dry  east  winds  of  spring  arrive.  On  the 
other  hand,  late  spring  is  often  more  con- 
venient ;  in  nurseries,  for  instance,  trans- 
planting has  to  be  deferred  till  after  the  selling 
season,  and  if  it  is  done  in  late  April  and  May, 
and  the  weather  then  happens  to  be  .showery, 
.success  is  almost  as  certain  as  in  autumn. 
Unfortunately,  the  weather  in  England,  even 
in  May,  is  most  uncertain.  Last  year  the  late 
spring  and  early  summer  were  dry,  almost 
rainless,  and  I  know  that  in  some  nurseries 
hundreds  of  newly  transpjanted  evergreens 
were  lost  in  consequence. 

There  are  some  evergreens  that  can,  with 
proper  care,  be  removed  with  perfect  safety  at 


any  time,  except  perhaps  from  July  to 
September.      Ehododendrons     are    an 
e.xample.     During  the  last  ten  years  I 
have  transplanted  them   during  every 
month   of   the   year    e.xcept   July  and 
August.     But  in  the  case  of   Ehodo- 
dendrons, and  indeed    most  evergreen 
ericaceous    plants,    the     jiroblems     of 
transplanting     scarcely    arise,    simply 
because  the  fine  fibres  hold  the  soil  so 
completely  that   the    root   system  can 
with  due  care   be  removed  practically 
intact.     For   the    same    reasons,   very 
careful  transplanting,  such  as  is  prac- 
tised  with    a    transplanting    machine, 
may  also  be  done  at  almost  any  season. 
When   the   roots  of   large  evergreen 
(ilants  have  been  unavoidably  damaged, 
it  is    often  a  good  plan  to   remove  a 
portion  of   the  leafy  branches.      This 
helps  to  restore  in  some  measure  the 
balance   between  root  and   top.     The 
plant    will    frequently  do   this    itself. 
Hollies,  for  instance,  often  lose  a  largo 
proportion    of    their    foliage    after    a 
spring  transplanting.     It  is  one  of  the 
surest   signs    of    success,    just    as  the 
shrivelling  of  the  leaves  on  the  branches 
is   the    worst.     Evergreen    Oaks    also 
lurnish  other  examples.     I   remember 
a  good    proof    of  the    value    of  late 
planting  of  evergreens  being  furnished 
here  by  the  Holm  Oak  (Quercus  Ilex). 
A  gap  in  an  avenue  of  these  trees  had 
to  be  filled   up,  and    a  specimen   was 
planted  from  the  nursery  at  the  end  of  April. 
The  weather  that  followed  was  not  unfavour- 
able, but  by  the  beginning  of  June  1  saw  it 
was  not  going  to  live.     However,  it  was  then 
re])lacedby  a  similar  plant,  the  young  shoots 
on   which  were  already  -2  inches  or  3  inches 
long.     The  young  shoots   ttagged  a  little   at 
first,  but  the  roots  .soon  got  hold  of  the  soil, 
and   the   tree   is   now    one   of   the   healthiest 
specimens  in  the  avenue.    Quercus  Ilex,  how- 
ever, is  notoriously  bad  to  transplant. 

I  Pruning  of  Evergreens. 

Evergreens  differ  from  deciduous  plants  in 
regard  to  pruning  time.  Most  deciduous  things 
may  be  jiruned  at  any  time  between  the 
fall  of  the  leaf  and  the  recommencement  of 
growth  in  sjiring  ;  but  evergreens  should  never 
be  iiruned  in  late  autumn  or  winter.  For  plants 
that  are  grown  merely  for  foliage  sake,  and 
where  the  crop  of  blossom  is  of  no  consequence, 
pruning  should  be  done  just  as  new  growth  is 
commencing.  In  the  case  of  Howering  shrubs 
like  Rhododendrons  or  Berbeiis,  it  should  be 
done  as  soon  as  the  flowering  season  is  past. 

As  a  matter  of  routine  cultivation,  however, 
and  as  an  aid  to  improved  health  or  freedom 
of  Howering,  pruning  is  not  .so  necessary  for 
evergreens  as  with  many  deciduous  plants.  A 
Rhododendron,  a  Pieris,  a  Berberis  steno- 
phylla,  and  all  similar  things  never  want 
pruning  in  the  sense  that  a  Spinea  or  a 
Rose  does.  It  may,  of  course,  be  necessary 
to  reduce  them  from  considerations  as  to  space 
or  as  to  some  desired  shajie,  and  this,  as  I  have 
before  stated,  ought  to  be  done  immediately 
after  flowering. 

Climbing  Evergreens. 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  evergreen 
class  of  plants  is  the  marked  absence  of 
climbing  species  in  cool  temperate  countries.  I 
mean,  of  course,  true  climbers,  not  the  numerous 
things  that  are  made  to  do  duty  as  such  on 
walls,  A'c.  If  one  takes  up  a  tree  and  thrub 
catalogue  of  even  the  best  nurseryman,  one  is 
struck  hy  the  fewness  and  poor  quality  of  the 


June  7,  1902.] 


THE  GAKDEN. 


881 


evergreen  climbers  offered.  In  spite  of  the  fact 
that  the  cool  temperate  regions  of  the  earth 
have  been  S(j  thoroughly  ransacked  durmg  the 
!)ast  century,  no  plant  has  ever  been  found  that 
equals  or  even  approaches  in  value  the  common 
Ivy  and  its  varieties  for  the  special  purposes 
for  which  they  are  adapted.  The  best  that  are 
available  are  the  .Jasmine,  Ercilla  volubilis 
(Bridgesia  spicata),  Smilax,  Clematis  calycina, 
and  tenderer  things  like  Lardizabala,  Passiflora 
ccerulea,  &c. 

Evergreens  as  a  whole  are  very  much 
neglected  in  ordinary  gardens.  I  mean  many 
people  go  on  using  the  same  old  things 
over  and  over  again,  generally  Aucuba, 
Portugal  and  Cherry  Laurels,  Rhododendron 
ponticum,  and  such  like.  The  Cherry 
Laurel  especially  should  be  rigorously  ex- 
cluded from  the  shrubbery.  Few  other  plants 
can  withstand  its  greedy  searching  roots, 
and  its  vigorous  branches  and  big  leaves  kill 
all  other  leaf  growth  near  them.  Grown  in 
the  proper  way,  that  is,  as  an  isolated  shrub 
with  abundance  of  room  to  develop  its  long, 
gracefd  branches  and  brilliant  green  leaves, 
the  Cherry  Laurel  is  a  beautiful  evergreen.  It 
is  especially  useful  in  rather  shaded  semi- 
wooded  tracts.  But,  grown  as  it  so  often  is, 
iammed  up  and  smothering  out  other  things  or 
'kept  within  bounds  by  a  merciless  and  beauty- 
destroying  knife  once  or  twice  a  year,  it  has 
wrought  more  harm  than  good  in  English 
gardens.  .         W.  J.  Bean. 

(To  he  continued.) 


THE  UNHEATED  GREENHOUSE. 

XI.— Hardy  Perennials  for  Sprino. 
There  are  two  seasons  when  a  few  good  herbaceous 
perennials  may  be  used  with  advantage  for  the 
decoration  of  the  unheated  greenhouse.  In  the 
earliest  months  of  the  year,  while  winter  still 
lingers,  they  are  wanted,  not  only  for  the  sake  of 
variety,  but  that  we  may  forestall  the  tardy  spring. 
Again,  towards  the  end  of  September,  when  the 
first  frosts  may  come  any  day  to  rob  us  of  our 
border  flowers,  it  is  well  to  be  able  to  prove  that 
the  plant  world  is  not  peopled  solely  with  Chry- 
santhemums. In  the  one  case,  they  must  be  gently 
forw.arded  by  all  means  at  command  ;  in  the  other, 
with  some  exceptions,  they  must  receive  special 
treatment  to  retard  their  flowering.  In  a  green- 
house in  which  absolutely  no  means  of  heating 
exists,  the  gentle  persuasion  to  earlier  flowering 
of  hardy  plants  afibnled  by  a  glass  shelter  is  of 
special  value.  Another  aspect  of  this  will  be 
treated  of  again  under  the  head  of  the  alpine 
house,  but  a  good  many  perennials  of  larger  growth 
than  most  alpines,  suitable  for  an  ordinary  green- 
house, may  be  mentioned  here. 

The  Christmas  Rose  (Ht-Ueborus  niger)  can  fairly 
claim  a  foremost  place  in  the  winter  list.  These 
are  not  always  easy  to  manage  as  pot  plants.  One 
of  the  most  successful  growers  I  ever  knew  was  a 
farmer's  wife,  whose  Christmas  Roses  were  always 
to  be  envied.  These  used  to  divide  their  yearly 
cycle  between  a  deep  earthenware  washing  pan  in 
which  they  flowered  and  a  shady  border  under  a 
north  wall  to  which  they  were  banished  as  soon  as 
the  flowers  were  past  their  best,  but  not  neglected, 
for  they  received  a  generous  mulch  of  farmyard 
manure  and  an  occasional  drenching  with  rain- 
water, not  wholly  free  from  soapsuds,  during  hot 
and  dry  summer  weather.  When  the  buds  had 
gained  some  size  in  the  late  autumn,  the  clump 
was  carefully  lifted  without  disturbing  the  roots 
and  reinstated  in  the  brown  pan,  whose  winter 
station  was  on  the  broad  window  sill  of  the  best 
parlour.  Here,  sheltered  from  wind  and  rain,  the 
flowers  opened,  pure  and  fresh,  in  due  season.  No 
better  system  than  that  adopted  by  my  old  friend 
can  be  followed,  though  a  broad  deep  garden  pan 
with  drainage  holes  complete  may  be  substituted 
as  more  fitting  for  the  greenhouse,  though  it' is 
doubtful  whether  it  would   prove  an  actual  gain. 


To  prepare  such  a  plant  the  rootstock  of  an  old 
clump  must  be  carefully  broken  up  into  pieces, 
each  with  growing  buds  and  seme  of  the  black 
fibrous  roots  attached,  from  which  the  species 
derives  its  name.  The  only  right  moment  to  do 
this  is  just  when  the  greening  sepals  show  that  the 
flowering  time  is  over  and  active  root  growth  is 
setting  in,  and  these  stems  should  be  cut  away  to 
prevent  an  effort  to  seed.  After  planting  the 
pieces,  not  too  thickly,  the  pan  should  be  plunged, 
preferably  in  a  border  shaded  from  midsummer 
sun,  and  the  surface  mulched  to  keep  the  roots 
moist  and  cool.  It  is  very  possible  that  there 
will  be  no  flowers  the  first  season,  as  Hellebores 
dislike  root  disturbance.  After  the  first  year 
the  plant  shoidd  be  turned  bodily  out  of  the 
pan  into  the  border  during  the  summer  and  re- 
placed in  autumn,  which  can  be  done  with  very 
little  meddling  %vith  the  roots. 

There  are  a  good  many  well-known  garden  plants 
which  may  usefully  be  employed  in  the  same  way 
for  the  cold  greenhouse.  Orobus  vernus  is  valuable 
for  pots  early  in  the  year,  when  its  clusters  of  blue- 
purple  Pea-flowers  are  very  spring-like  and  welcome. 
Several  varieties  of  it  exist,  and  it  is  easily  raised 
from  seed.  The  large-flowered  Forget-me-not 
(Myosotis  dissitiflora)  is  a  gem  of  the  first  water, 
and  may  very  successfully  be  grown  in  pots  or  in 
zinc  troughs  about  4  inches  wide  as  an  edging  for 
groups  of  plants  to  hide  unsightly  pots.  These 
troughs  may  be  made  of  any  size  and  shape,  and 
have  been  found  extremely  useful  filled  with 
growing  plants  of  this  Forget-me-not  or  of  white 
Rook-cress  (Arabis  albida)  in  church  decoration, 
especially  for  windows,  being  less  perishable  as 
well  as  less  formal  than  many  of  the  designs  used 
for  the  purpose.  Shelter  in  early  spring  is  pecu- 
liarly acceptable  to  this  Forget-me-not,  as  the  first 
flowers  are  often  injured  by  frost.  It  is  a  good  plan 
to  grow  some  spare  plants  in  an  outside  border  that 
they  may  scatter  their  seeds,  and  to  use  these  strong 
self-sown  seedlings,  which  answer  far  better  than 
cuttings,  for  potting  in  the  autumn.  In  Italy  the 
larged  leaved  Saxifrage  (S.  crassifolia)  is  used  as  a 
pot  plant  in  all  sorts  of  positions— on  terrace  walls, 
on  the  balustrade  of  a  sunny  loggia,  sometimes 
even  in  the  half  shadow  of  an  over  springing  arch- 
way. The  pink  clusters  of  flowers  rise  well  above 
the  thick  oval  leaves,  and  the  good  eS'ect  of  the 
old-fashioned  plant  thus  grown  takes  one  by 
surprise.  To  get  this  ruddy  flush  of  leafage  the 
plants  must  lie  out  of  doors,  and  be  brought  into 
the  greenhouse  only  in  the  depth  of  winter.  There 
is  a  charming  white  variety  of  this  species  very 
little  known,  and  both  shoidd  be  noted. 

Some  of  the  Uoronicums  are  bright  and  sunny 
looking.  The  dwarf  D.  caucasicum  responds 
quickly  to  kindly  shelter,  and  opens  its  big 
yellow  Daisy-like  flowers  very  early  in  the  year. 
The  tall  D.  excelsum  comes  into  bloom  a  little 
later.  It  is  apt  to  flag  in  the  hot  spring  sunshine, 
and  must  be  kept  as  cool  as  possible. 

Another  favourite  and  good  plant  is  our  old 
friend  Dielytra,  now  called  Dicentra  spectabilis. 
It  is  a  hardy  perennial,  but  in  some  parts  of  the 
oouutry  the  succulent  stems  and  sprays  of  graceful 
pink  flowers  are  often  damaged  by  late  spring  frosts. 
(To  he  continued.) 


SOME     IMPRESSIONS     OF     THE 

MIDLAND    DAFFODIL    SHOV^T. 

The  recent  show  held  by  this  society  will  pro- 
bably rank  as  the  most  magnificent  exhibition  of 
Daffodils  and  other  spring  flowers  which  has  yet 
been  seen  in  this  country.  Competition  in  all  the 
classes  was  very  keen,  and  the  trade  groups  were 
of  a  high  standard  of  excellence.  Taken  as  a 
whole  the  season  has  been  an  excellent  one  for 
Daffodils,  the  mild  showery  weather  which  pre- 
vailed at  the  end  of  March  and  during  the  first 
fortnight  of  April  proving  extremely  favourable. 
Thetwoexhibitswhich  were  staged  by  Miss  Willmott 
and  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Eugleheart  respectively  were 
the  centres  of  attraction  to  the  Daff'odil  enthusiast. 
Miss  Willmott's  group  of  twelve  seedlings — not  in 
commerce — which  secured  the  silver  bowl  given  by 
Mr.    Robert    Sydenham,    contained   no   less   than 


seven  varieties  which  were  certificated,  two  being 
awarded  first-class  certificates,  while  the  others 
received  awards  of  merit.  Charles  WoUey  Dod 
was  quite  the  finest  flower  in  this  exhibit,  and  has 
wonderfully  improved  since  it  was  first  exhibited 
in  1900.  This  is  well  proved  by  the  fact  that  this 
year  it  was  awarded  a  first-class  certificate,  and 
also  a  silver  medal  as  the  best  flower  in  the  Medio- 
Coronati  group.  It  has  been  already  described  in 
The  Garden,  so  it  will  suftice  if  I  mention  that  it 
has  a  long  yellow  crown  prettily  fringed  and  a 
perianth  of  pale  yellow.  One  of  the  most  notice- 
able points  as  regards  Mr.  Engleheart's  renowned 
seedlings  of  the  last  few  years  is  the  important 
part  which  the  little  N.  triandrus  has  played  in 
their  production.  Robert  Berkeley,  Earl  Grey, 
Countess  Grey,  Lilian,  Ariadne,  Moonstone,  and 
others  too  numerous  to  mention  all  show  their 
parentage  to  be  derived  from  N.  triandrus,  and  in 
each  case  there  is  an  increase  of  size  in  the  flower. 
In  the  Barri  section,  too,  Mr.  Eugleheart  showed 
some  wonderful  flowers,  very  highly  coloured  and 
refined.  Firebrand  was  perhaps  the  brightest  ; 
while  others  were  Sceptre,  which  has  a  creamy 
',  ellow  perianth  ;  Vivid,  almost  as  bright  as  Fire- 
brand ;  and  Occident,  with  scarlet  cup  and  seg- 
ments of  soft  yellow.  Astrardente,  Egret,  Imogen, 
and  Bianea  are  probably  four  of  the  finest  seed- 
lings of  the  Burbidgei  section  which  have  yet 
made  their  appearance.  The  first  three  varieties 
have  been  previously  noticed  and  described  in  the 
report  of  the  Midland  Daffodil  show.  Bianea  is, 
however,  quite  distinct  from  these,  in  the  flattened 
cup  which  is  smaller,  and  of  a  deep  lemon  yellow. 
The  segments  are  very  elegantly  shaped  and  of  a 
snowy  whiteness.  Another  most  interesting  flower 
exhibited  by  Jlr.  Engleheart  was  the  result  of 
Ornatus  crossed  with  the  Tazetta— Bazelman  major. 
This  is  stated  to  be  quite  hardy.  In  the  poeticus 
section  Mr.  Engleheart  has  made  great  strides  as 
regards  the  flowers.  It  is  to  be  hoped  at  the  same 
time  that  habit  is  also  receiving  his  attention,  as, 
after  .all,  the  chief  fault  in  this  section  seems  to  be 
the  long  weak  stems  which  during  rain  or  wind 
often  allow  the  flowers  to  fall  to  the  ground  and  be 
splashed  with  dirt.  If  only  these  new  varieties, 
with  their  broad  firm  segments,  possess  stouter 
and  shorter  stems  than  the  type,  then  we  shall 
indeed  have  a  great  gain.  It  is  certainly  to  be 
hoped  tliat  such  noble  flowers  as  Rhymester, 
Laureate,  and  Virgil  will  increase  quickly,  so  that 
they  will  soon  find  their  waj'  into  our  gardens. 

Not  the  least  interesting  feature  of  the  show  at 
Edgbaston  was  the  class  for  Lilium  Harrisii  in 
pots.  Mr.  J.  A.  Keniick's  group  was  placed  first, 
and  next  to  it  that  of  Mr.  Isaac  Cooke,  of  Shrews- 
bury. To  the  ordinary  visitor  the  wonderful  dis- 
play of  Anemones  exhibited  byMessrs.  Reamsbottom 
and  Co.,  of  Geashill,  Ireland,  proved  the  greatest 
attraction.  The  huge  size  and  rich  colour  of  the 
blooms  bore  elociuent  testimony  to  the  prevailing 
mildness  of  the  climate,  and  that  the  soil  mn  t  be 
all  that  can  be  desired  is  proved  by  the  fact  that 
Messrs.  Reamsbottom  have  tried  them  with  great 
success  at  Geashill  planted  in  grass.  In  conclu- 
sion, I  should  like  to  suggest  to  the  committee  of 
the  Midland  Daffodil  show  that  next  year  they 
should  offer  a  prize  for  the  best  arranged  and  most 
suitable  ornament  (other  than  a  bowl)  for  Daffodils. 
This  would  perhaps  help  to  show  the  public  how 
these  flowers  may  best  be  arranged  for  house 
decoration,  and  also  what  shaped  ornaments  are 
the  best  to  use  for  this  purpose.  At  the  con- 
ference held  after  the  show  Mr.  Duncan  Pearson 
rightly  pointed  out  that  the  majority  of  ornaments 
are  now  made  so  that  no  flowers  can  be  tastefully 
arranged  in  them.  There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the 
truth  of  this,  and  I  trust  the  society  will  endeavour 
if  possible  to  give  this  matter  their  consideration. 

Kidderminster.  Arthur  R.  Goodwin. 


BOOKS. 

In    my     Vicarage    Garden     and 

Elsewhere.*— Those  who  have  already  read 
the  chapters  which  compose  this  delightful  book 
in  the  Guardian,  The  Pilot,  and  the  Gardeners' 
Maiiaziue  will  all  the  more  welcome  them  in  their 


382 


THE    GAEDEN. 


[June  7,  19li 


TIIK    l;H'E    I'DYA    (PITrAIKNIA    i  iKRUI.Ea)    N(1W    I\    FLOWER    IN    THE 

TEMPERATE    HOUSE    AT    KEW. 

(TJic  tuft  is  3  feet  across,  and  the  spikes  representi'1  ore  3  feet  hi.jh,  and  llie Jliiwe,s  ha 


been  called  peicock-blue  Laj  ageria^:j 

present  collective  form,  as  a  sequel  lo  (he  autlioi's 
iornier  book,  "In  a  Gloucestersliire  Garden." 
Amnngthe  mass  of  horticultural  pul)licatiuiisof  the 
present  day,  the  suppression  of  nuioh  of  which 
would  have  caused  no  loss  to  readers  seeking 
information  and  inspiration,  these  charming 
chapters,  which  are  fall  of  both  these  good 
qualities,  come  like  a  direct  flowing  stream  of 
clear  and  sparkling  water  in  refreshing  contrast  to 
much  that  is  sluggish  ami  turbid.  Canon  Ellaconihe 
writes  not  only  as  a  keen  observer  and  lover  of 
flowers,  but  as  a  botanist  and  scholar.  Every 
page  is  full  of  instruction  and  matter  of  interest, 
brightly  and  clearly  given,  and  there  is  not  a  dull 
line  from  cover  to  cover. 

The  Narcissus  at  the  Antipodes.f 

— It  is  good  to  know  and  to  see  from  this  very 
interesting  pamphlet  how  well  Daffodils  are  grown 
and  liked  in  the  most  distant  parts  of  the  Empire. 
Out  of  his  own  sound  knowledge  of  his  subject  Mr. 
Wilson  writes  for  others,  saying  :  "  It  is  desired 
to  make  these  notes  on  a  favourite  spring  flower  as 
practical  in  their  drift,  and  as  succinct  as  possible, 
and  with  that  in  view  I  plunge  at  once  into  the 
middle  of  things,   premising  simply  that  what  is 


written  is  intended  for 
tlie  ignorant,  and  not  for 
those  already  knowing  in 
the  flower."  Mr.  Wilson 
first  describes  the  struc- 
ture of  the  flower,  and 
then  the  three  great  divi- 
sions and  the  groups  they 
severally  embrace.  He 
then  writes  of  general 
cultivation,  which  does 
not  materially  differ  from 
our  English  experience 
e.xcept  in  the  matter  of 
time,  tor  we  have  to 
remember  that  the  seasons 
are  reversed,  and  when 
he  writes  "They  should 
be  lifted  before  they  have 
time  to  begin  their  first 
growth,  preferably  in 
December,  certainly  not 
later  than  January,"  we 
have  to  mentallj'  sub- 
stitute the  June  and  July 
nf  our  own  year  for  the 
months  named.  Mr. 
Wilson  also  speaks  of  the 
interesting  work  of  cross- 
ing and  hybridising, 
ilescribing  the  operation 
by  text  and  diagram.  It 
is  a  good  Narcissus  hand- 
book for  all  temperate 
regions,  and  is  amply 
illustrated  with  diagrams 
and  reproductions  frrmi 
l)hotographs.  [We  regret 
that  this  notice  has  been 
delayed. — Eds.] 

The   Story    of 
Lost    England.;  — 

'I'liis  is  one  of   the   most 
interesting  of  the  delight- 
ful series  of  shilling  books 
issued  by  Messrs.  Newnes 
and   Co.      It   is   by  Mr. 
Beckles   Willsan,   and   is 
the    story    of     our    sub- 
merged   coasts,    with 
twenty-four  illustrations. 
The  author  has  compiled 
the  volume  "  in  the  belief 
that  the  historic  diminu- 
tion of  the  area  of  their 
country   is   a    matter    of 
interest  and  importance  to  Englishmen,  who  exhibit 
so  jealous  a  concern  for  every  foot  of  soil  possessed 
by  their  race  in  any  quarter  of  the  globe.    Tlie  dates 
and    circumstances   oi   the   submersion    of    many 
hundreds  of  square  miles  of  territorj'  and  no  fewer 
than    thirty-four  towns  and  villages,   within   the 
modern  period,  have  not  always,  as  the  reader  may 
well  believe,  been   ascertained   without  difficult}'. 
Concerning  the  present  rate  of  erosion  there  are,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  no  Parliamentary  statistics,  although 
it  is  one  which  might  well  offer  scope  for  valuable 
official  investigation."     It  is  a  book  for  every  boy 
and  girl  ;  in  fact,  everyone  interested  in  the  British 
Isles. 


"*  "  In  my  Vicarage  Garrlen  and  Elsewhere."  By  the  Rev. 
Henry  N.  Ellacorabe,  SI. A.  John  Lane,  London  and  New 
York.    1902.    Price  63. 

t  "The  Narcissus  at  tlie  Antipodes."  By  A.  Wilson,  M.A. 
.1.  E.  Stark  and  Co.,  Dunedin,  New  Zealand.  1902. 
Price  2s.  (id. 

J  "  The  Story  of  Lost  England."  By  Mr.  Beckles  Willsan. 
Newnes  and  Co.    Price  Is. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

THE     INDIAN    GARDEN 
IN     SUMMER. 


that  successful  gardening  is  confined  to  the 
all  too  breif  winter  months  and  that  at  all 
other  seasons  of  the  year  there  is  verj'  little 
to  be  done  in  the  garden.  Nothing  could 
be  more  erroneous,  as  we  shall  presently 
show.  It  is  not  to  be  denied  that  the  most  pleasant 
season  for  gardening  is  our  "cold  season,"  when 
the  garden  is  gay  with  our  winter  flowering  annuals, 
most  of  them  natives  of  Europe  ;  when  our  kitchen 
garden  is  filled   with  European  vegetables,  all  of 


which  tend  to  remind  European  residents  in  this 
land  of  their  homes  "far  across  the  sea."  But 
the  summer  is  the  season  for  the  most  important 
operations  of  horticulture,  when  Nature,  in  her 
tropical  dressing,  is  in  her  most  eftective  form. 
From  March  onwards  our  Orchids  come  into 
flower  and  give  us  a  most  gorgeous  display.  They 
have  to  be  overhauled  generally,  and  require  con- 
siderable attention,  which  is  repaid  in  full  measure. 
That  is  also  the  month  when  our  Lilies  of  various 
kinds  are  in  their  resplendent  glory — the  Amaryllis, 
Crinuni,  Pancratium,  Eucharis,  Tuberose,  and 
many  others  are  at  their  best  and  perfume  the 
garden.  Hedychiums,  Kasnipferias,  Cannas,  Cur- 
cumas, and  a  host  of  other  tuberous-rooted  plants 
are  in  full  bloom,  including  Achimenes  and  Cala- 
diums,  Ferns,  Crotons,  Anthuriunis,  Uieffenbachias, 
Marantas,  and  hundreds  of  other  ornamental 
foliaged  plants  now  assume  their  most  brilliant 
tints.  Palms,  Cycads,  and  other  evergreen  plants 
are  now  in  the  full  vigour  of  growth.  Most  of  our 
flowering  shrubs  now  show  to  the  best  advantage. 
Lagerstromias,  Magnolias,  (Jardenias,  and  a  host  of 
others  beautify  the  garden  with  their  gorgeous  and 
fragrant  flowers.  Many  of  the  most  beautiful 
climbers,  such  as  Passifloras,  Cissus,  Bignonias, 
Aristolochias,  Ipomoas,  and  others  are  at  their 
best  and  brighten  up  the  verandah,  the  trellis  work 
screens,  and  plant  houses.  In  fact  Nature  seems  to 
revel  in  floral  beauty,  and  so  compensate  us  in 
some  measure  for  the  inicongenial  weather. 

The  hot  and  rainj'  months  of  the  year  are  also 
utilised  for  the  propagation  of  plants.  It  should 
be  a  most  bus)'  time  for  the  Indian  gardener.  Then, 
again,  we  have  the  choicest  of  tropical  and  sub- 
tropical fruits  in  season,  the  Mango,  Loquat, 
Litchi,  and  even  Apple,  Pears,  and  Grapes  are  now 
in  season,  not  to  mention  Lemons,  Limes,  Melons, 
Custard  Apples,  Pine-apples,  and  a  host  of  others. 
In  the  kitchen  garden  we  have  most  of  the  native 
vegetables,  which  are  so  much  sought  after.  It  may, 
therefore,  be  truthfully  stated  that  the  Indian 
garden  in  summer  is  not  what  one  may  be  tempted 
to  regard  it.  It  is  very  full,  and  tropical  vegeta- 
tion is  at  its  best.  Indeed,  it  may  be  described  as 
more  attractive  in  summer  than  in  winter.  The 
amateur  gardener  is  apt  to  lapse  into  carelessness, 
and  leave  the  garden  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the 
malice.  The  oppressive  character  of  the  weather 
is  in  some  degree  responsible  for  this,  and  is 
perhaps  excusable  to  some  extent  ;  but  to  withdraw 
entirely  from  the  personal  supervision  of  the 
garden  is  to  risk  the  loss  of  many  valuable  plants, 
tor  the  malice  takes  his  cue  from  his  master  and 
does  as  little  as  he  po.ssibly  can,  with  disastrous 
results  to  the  plants.  We  advise  all  amateur 
gardeners  to  give  up  their  early  mornings  to  the 
supervision  of  their  gardens,  and  look  in  particular 
to  the  watering  of  the  plants,  for  the  mallee 
alwa3's  does  this  in  a  perfunctory  manner,  because 
he  does  not  understand  the  science  of  plant 
requirements,  being  ignorant  of  the  physiological 
aspect  of  plant- life.  — Indian  Gardcniny  and 
PIftii/infj. 

LILIES    AT    THE    TEMPLE    SHOW. 

The  lover  of  this  beautiful  class  of  plants  when  at 
the  Temple  show  invariably  wends  his  way  to  the 
stand  of  Messrs.  Wallace,  of  Colchester,  who  each 
j'ear  exhibits  a  representative  group.  Though 
nothing  in  the  way  of  direct  novelties  were  this 
year  to  be  seen,  a  good  collection  was  shown,  some 
two  dozen  species  and  varieties  in  all.  (Jvertopping 
the  group  were  some  stately  shafts  of  Lilium  Henryi, 
which,  however,  bore  evidence  of  having  been 
brought  on  in  heat  to  thus  anticipate  their  usual 
flowering  season  by  some  weeks.  Possibly  no  two 
Lilies  are  so  frequently  confounded  as  Lilium 
odorum,  or  L.  japonioum  Colchesteri  as  it  is  often 
called,  and  Lilium  Brownii,  but  this  need  not  be, 
as  they  are  so  distinct  in  many  ways.  Visitors  to 
the  exhibition  were  there  enabled  to  compare  the 
two,  as  a  group  of  each  was  shown  side  by  side.  The 
L.  Brownii  of  the  Dutch  cultivators,  with  its  long 
gracefully  disposed  dark  green  leaves  and  massive 
trumpet  -  shaped  blossoms,  ivory  -  white  in  the 
interior  and  heavily  tinged  with  chocolate  on  the 
outside,  is  usuallj'  preferred  to  the  other  (L.  odo- 


June  7,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


383 


rum),  in  which  the  leaves  are  shorter,  broader,  and 
of  a  paler  green,  while  the  flower  also  is  not  so  long, 
the  chocolate  tinting  less  dense,  and  the  interior 
has  more  of  a  yellow  tinge.  The  bulbs,  too,  are 
very  different,  the  yellowish  ones  of  L.  odorum 
being  particularly  liable  to  decay  after  flowering, 
though  Mr.  Wallace  tells  me  there  is  an  improve- 
ment in  this  respect  within  the  last  year  or  two. 
Liliani  excelsum  or  testaceum,  which  formed  such  a 
feature  at  the  Lily  conference  at  Chiswick  last 
July,  was  also  very  much  in  evidence,  despite  the 
fact  that  it  is  much  scarcer  than  was  at  one  time 
the  case.  This  belongs  to  the  Martagon  or  Turk's 
Cap  section,  several  other  members  of  which  were 
shown,  prominent  among  them  being  Japanese 
Martagon,  L.  Hansoni,  with  yellow  petals  as 
massive  as  if  cut  out  of  wax.  This  has  yielded 
two  hybrid  kinds,  viz.,  L.  Marhan,  between  L. 
Martagon  album  and  L.  Hansoni,  and  L.  Dalhan- 
soni,  in  which  the  dark  form  of  Martagon  known 
as  dalmaticum  was  used.  As  might  be  expected 
from  its  parentage,  the  flowers  of  Marhan  are 
lighter  in  colour  than  the  other,  which  last  is  of  a 
peculiar  bronzy  brown  lit  up  with  yellow.  The 
best  form  of  L.  Martagon  album  was  also  repre- 
sented. When  in  a  thriving  state  it  is  one  of  the 
most  select  members  of  the  genus,  and  one  whose 
bulbs  always  realise  a  good  price.  L.  tenuifoliura 
with  its  slender  stems  and  bright  red  flowers, 
whose  petals  gracefully  reflex,  was  very  distinct  in 
colour  from  any  of  the  rest. 

Lilium  longiflorum  giganteum,  the  best  of  this 
group,  made  a  goodly  show,  while  in  the  variety 
foliis  albo  marginatis  the  leaves  with  their  clear 
white  border  are  as  effective  aa  some  of  the 
Dracienas.  That  near  relative  of  L.  Krameri, 
namely,  L.  rubellum,  was  also  in  good  condition. 

Numerous  examples  of  the  upright  flowered  cup- 


THK   NEW  CYMBIDItJM    KHODOCHILUM   IN  FLOWER  AT   KEW. 

(The  spike  is  nearly  2  feet  l(mg,  and  eaohjtower  is  3  inches  across,  the  sepals  and  petals  pale 

4pple  green  spotted  with  brown,  and  the  large  crisped  lip  of  a  bright  crimson  colour. , 


shaped  Lilies  were  shown.  They  consisted  of 
varieties  of  the  Europiean  L.  umbellatum  and  the 
Japanese  L.  elegans  or  thunbergianum.  Chief 
among  the  forms  of  this  last  were  the  little  apricot- 
flowered  L.  alutaceum,  which  is  one  of  the  dwarfest 
and  cheapest  of  them  all ;  atrosanguineum,  with 
deep-coloured  flowers  ;  bicolor,  whose  petals  are 
rich  yellow,  flamed  with  red,  but  unfortunately 
somewhat  flimsy,  so  that  they  do  not  last  long  ; 
Orange  Queen,  a  fine  sturdy  form  ;  and  Van 
Houttei,  with  deep  blood-red  blossoms.  L.  umbel- 
latum was  represented  by  the  deep  red  forms 
erectum  and  incomparabile,  as  well  as  the  lighter 
tinted  Tottenhamense.  In  another  part  of  the 
exhibition  was  a  magnificent  group  of  the  Japanese 
L.  longiflorum  as  grown  for  market,  three  bulbs  in 
a  pot ;  and  elsewhere  L.  speciosum  rubrum,  the 
produce  of  bulbs  that  had  been  retarded,  was  very 
noticeable,  the  flowers  being  well  developed  and 
of  a  fine  rich  colour.  H.  P. 

THE  FLOEIST'S  TULIP. 

The  singularly  interesting  and  lucid  lecture  which 
Mr.  A.  D.  Hall,  Principal  of  Wye  Agricultural 
College  and  the  recently  appointed  successor  to  the 
late  Sir  John  Lawes  at  Rothamstead,  delivered  before 
the  Fellows  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Societ}',  at 
the  Drill  Hall  on  the  20th  ult. ,  bad  the  merit  of 
making,  to  all  who  heard  him,  quite  plain  the 
secrets  of  the  Tulip  cult,  as  existing  in  the  National 
Tulip  Society.  It  was  clear,  lucid,  and  eloquent, 
as  well  as  thoroughly  consecutive.  Whether 
tastes  may  run  in  the  direction  of  the  gloriously- 
hued  garden  Tulip,  or  with  Mr.  Hall  for  the  beauti- 
fully and  delicately  marked  florist's  section, 
the  latter,  which  just  now  seems  to  have  so  few 
devotees,  could  but  be  regarded  with  much  greater 
esteem    at    the    close   of 

— ,„^    .        ■■  '-=    ■'=":     the   lecture    than   before 

it  was  heard.  It  is 
greatly  to  be  hoped  that 
\vhen  the  National  Tulip 
Society  holds  its  next 
show  at  the  Drill  Hall 
some  one  will  do  that  for 
the  garden  section  which 
Mr.  Hall  has  done  so 
admirably  for  the  florist's 
Tulip.  The  latter  is  not 
a  flower  that  produces 
any  striking  garden 
ffl'ects.  It  is  perfectly 
hardy,  needs  no  coddling, 
and  does  better  in  poor 
soil  so  far  as  relates 
to  the  production  of 
its  beautiful  markings 
rather  than  in  that  which 
is  enriched.  Manure 
dressings  rather  tend  to 
tlie  demoralisation  of 
these  singularly  refined 
markings,  even  in  the 
most  perfect  varieties. 
It  is  only  when  the 
flowers  are  in  bud  that 
it  is  well  to  fix  over  them 
— some  2  feet  to  3  feet 
above  —  ordinary  frame 
lights  or  a  light  stretch 
iif  tifl'any,  to  shelter  them 
from  hot  sunshine,  late 
frosts,  or  heavy  rain 
storms.  These  things  are 
I'ven  useful  to  the  garden 
Tulip,  but  they  must,  in 
common  with  all  garden 
llowers,  bear  with  the 
weather  as  it  comes. 
Purity  of  colour  in  the 
ground  is  an  absolute 
essential  to  a  good  Tulip. 
Quality  is  evidenced  or 
otherwise  in  the  base  of 
the  flower,  which  must 
be  clear  white  or  yellow, 
and  be  devoid  of  all 
impurity  or  discoloration. 


Such  a  requirement  may  seem  of  little  moment  in  a 
garden  Tulip,  and  so  it  is  ;  but  the  Tulip  florist  has 
to  regard  true  floral  essentials  where  show  flowers 
are  under  consideration.  We  see  in  the  Darwin 
Tulips  something  of  the  florist's  labours  in  the 
noble  form  of  flower,  the  broad  petal,  the  rounded 
margin,  and  remarkable  variety  of  coloration, 
hence  it  will  not  do  to  treat  the  Tulip  florist  as  a 
monomaniac,  for  his  labours  in  the  years  that  are 
past  have  made  their  mark  on  garden  as  on  rectified 
Tulips,  and  gardens  have  immensely  gained.  It 
the  florist's  Tulip  has  to-day  few  cultural  admirers, 
at  least  it  is  not  possible  to  regard  the  singularly 
beautiful  featliered  and  flamed  sections,  other 
than  as  having  features  which  charm  and 
please  the  more  they  are  understood.  Mr.  Hall 
did  so  much  to  make  plain  those  features  that  pro- 
bably many  of  his  hearers  arose  from  their  seats 
far  more  appreciative  of  the  florist's  Tulip  than 
they  had  previousl}'  been. — A.  D. 


RARE    AND     INTERESTING 
PLANTS. 

In  The  Gaeden,  May  24,  1902,  page  339,  will 
be  found  notes  of  several  interesting  and 
beautiful  plants  at  that  time  in  bloom  in  the 
Royal  Gardens,  Kew.  One  was  the  blue  Puya 
(Pitcairnia  ccerulea),  and  the  other  Oymljidium 
rhodochilum.  We  have  the  pleasure  of  illus- 
trating these  lovely  flowers,  and  they  are  worth 
a  visit  to  Kew  to  see  them,  the  Pitcairnia  in 
particular.  It  is  in  the  Mexican  portion  of 
the  temperate  house. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The.   Editor  is   not    responsible  for  the    opinions 
expressed  by  correspondents.) 


NOTES    FROM    BAVARIA. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR, — Confirming  the  view  of  Mr.  H.  J. 
Clayton  (page  320)  as  to  the  influence  on 
the  production  of  cones  of  last  year's 
excessively  dry  weather,  I  send  you  two 
Pine  twigs  laden  with  them.  The  Pine 
forests  this  spring  presented  quite  an 
unwonted  appearance,  every  twig  of  the  trees 
from  tip  to  base  being  weighed  down  heavily  with 
these  rudd3'-coloured  male  cones.  Holiday-makers 
struck  with  this  uncommon  sight  on  their  excursions 
bring  home  armfuls  of  twigs. 

Another  note  (page  326)  on  Cardamine  rotundi- 
folia  prompts  me  to  break  a  lance  in  favour  of  C. 
pratensis  fl. -pi. ,  which  certainly  deserves  more 
consideration  than  it  receives.  I  do  not  know 
whether  this  truly  charming  wild  flower  is  so  rare 
in  gardens  because  it  is  not  sulBeiently  known,  or 
whether  it  is  because  it  is  "  only  a  wild  flower." 
For  my  own  part  I  think  it  vastly  superior  to 
much  rubbish  that  usurps  the  space  on  which  this 
delightful  little  beauty  would  produce  a  ravishing 
sight.  The  moist  edge  of  a  pond  is  the  proper 
place  for  it,  and  once  planted  there  it  will  fight 
its  way  through  thick  grass  and  flower  con- 
tinuously for  three  to  four  weeks,  ever  increasing 
in  beauty  until  the  elongated  panicles  bear  a 
striking  resemblance  to  somewhat  reduced  spikes 
of  the  palest  and  most  delicately-coloured  lilac 
stocks. 

Some  of  the  individual  flowers  are  almost  an 
inch  across.  Seen  in  a  mass  it  is  very  lovely,  so 
graceful,  so  uncommonly  refined,  and  so  delicate  in 
colour,  that  I  consider  the  florists  should  take  it 
in  hand  and  endeavour  to  raise  a  strain  with 
flowers  the  size  of  Stocks.  On  some  meadows  only 
the  single  type  occurs,  an  insignificant  and  worth- 
less plant ;  in  other  places  double  flowers  alone 
are  found.  I  fear  the  flowers  I  have  sent  will  not 
bear  the  journey  well;  they  very  quickly  fade 
when  cut.  E.  Heinkich. 

Planegg,  near  Munich,  Bavaria. 


384 


THE    GARDEN. 


fJuNE  7,  1901 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 

KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

A  T    the    tima  of    writing    these    notes    one 

/\  might   well    imagine  by  the   weather 

/   %         that  it   was    March.     We  are   apt  to 

Z__l        forget,  but  I  certainly  cannot  call  to 

y         ^      mind  sneh  an    ungenial   May   as   the 

present  one,   very   little  rain  or   sun, 

the  wind  north  or  nortli-east  the  greater  part  of 

the   time,  and   frost  here  nearly  every  morning. 

Everything  is  very  backward,  man}'  of  the  early 

crops   have   suffered    considerably,  and    some   are 

completely  ruined.    However,  much  will  have  been 

saved   if   precautions   were    taken   to  protect  the 

more  tender  crops. 

Potatoes. 
These,  fortunately  in  many  places,  were  not 
sutticientlj'  advanced  to  have  been  ilaniaged  to  any 
great  extent,  and  if  the  green  tops  have  been 
covered  with  a  little  soil  will  be  practically 
safe.  Immediately  a  favourable  change  in  the 
weather  occurs  no  time  should  be  lost  in  thoroughly' 
flat-hoeing  between  the  sets  on  a  fine  day.  As  soon 
as  the  growth  is  long  enough  the  earthing  up 
shoulil  be  completed,  and  where  these  have  been 
planted  a  wide  distance  apart  Autumn  Cauli- 
flowers and  other  Winter  (ireens  may  lie  planted 
between  them,  and  the  earlier  this  is  done  the 
better  it  will  be  for  both  crops.  The  Potato  haulm 
will  require-to  be  kept  within  bounds  by  carefully 
laying  them  over  once  or  twice  during  the  growing 
season  to  prevent  the  plants  becoming  too  much 
drawn.  Where  kitchen  garden  space  is  limited  it 
is  absolutely  necessary  to  utilise  the  ground  in 
this  way. 

Brussels  Sprouts. 
Complete  the  planting  of  these  as  speedily  as 
possible,  also  Autumn  (Jiant  Cauliflowers,  Self- 
protecting,  Snow's  Winter  White,  and  Christmas 
Broccoli.  Plant  at  a  good  distance  apart  and 
make  the  ground  thoroughly  firm  about  the  roots. 

COLEWORTS. 

Two  or  three  sowings  at  least  should  be  made  of 
these  in  an  open  position.  Rosette  Colewort  and 
London  Green  are  both  e.\cellent  varieties,  and 
always  much  appreciated  during  autumn  and 
winter.  The  first  sowing  should  be  made  about 
the  second  week  in  .Tune,  another  about  the  end 
of  the  month,  and  the  last  the  second  week  in 
July  ;  make  a  plantation  from  each  of  these.  It 
is  not  always  that  plants  from  the  last  sowing 
make  pretty  heads  such  as  those  from  the  earlier 
ones;  nevertheless,  given  a  favourable  season,  these 
will  be  most  useful  during  the  depth  of  winter,  and 
stand  severe  weather  much  better  than  the  earlier 
ones. 

Runner  Beans. 

Make  another  sowing  of  these  in  the  open  in 
trenches  as  advised  for  the  earlier  sowings.  These 
will  come  in  just  right  for  the  later  supplies. 

Vegetai;le  Marrows. 
All  the  later  plants  should  now  be  placed  in 
their  permanent  quarters.  Give  them  some  pro- 
tection for  a  short  time  during  cold  nights.  If 
hand-lights  can  be  spared  so  much  the  better. 
When  these  are  grown  on  the  flat  large  holes 
should  be  taken  out  and  at  least  one  good  barrow- 
load  of  manure  placed  in  each.  All  unsightly 
rubbish  and  leaf  heaps  when  in  sight  should  be 
planted  with  these. 

Gourds  and  Pumpkins 
should  also  be  planted,  and  plenty  of  good  farmyard 
manure  given  them.  They  are  highly  attractive 
and  ornamental,  and  in  addition  many  of  them 
are  edible  and  very  serviceable  during  winter. 
These  maj'  either  be  grown  about  the  shrubberies, 
trained  up  poles  or  on  buildings  ;  the}'  make  very 
beautiful  pergolas  also. 

RiDOE  Cucumbers. 

Good    strong   plants    should   now   be    planted. 

These  do  best  when  a  slight  hot-bed  is  made  up,  in 

a  sheltered  position   facing  south,  when  just  suflS- 

cient  warmth  from  the  manure  and  leaves  to  give 


T 


the  plants  a  start  is  assured.  These  also  do  best 
when  hand-lights  can  be  placed  over  them  for 
about  a  fortnight,  and  see  that  they  are  cjuite  free 
from  black  aphis  before  planting. 

E.  Beckett. 
Aldenham  Hou'.e  Gardens,  Mslree,  Herts. 


INDOOR   GARDEN. 

Chrysanthemums. 
No  stated  date  can  be  given  for  the  final  repotting 
of  these.  One  can  only  tell  by  an  examination  of 
the  roots  and  the  condition  of  the  plants.  The 
compost  for  this  potting  should  consist  of  three 
parts  fibrous  loam,  broken  up  roughly,  retaining 
only  the  rough  portions.  To  one  part  of  dried 
horse  manure  add  a  G-inch  potful  of  half-inch 
bones,  one  of  bone-meal,  one-half  potful  of  soot 
to  every  two  bushels  of  soil,  with  a  liberal  admix- 
ture of  wood  ashes  and  coarse  silver  sand.  These 
ingredients  should  be  thoroughly  mixed  several 
days  before  using.  Let  tlie  plants  be  potted  firmly. 
The  pots  should  be  clean  and  thoroughly  well 
drained,  covering  the  crocks  with  the  rough  pieces 
of  compost  to  prevent  the  fitie  soil  falling  amongst 
the  drainage.  Just  cover  the  surface  roots  only. 
No  water  will  be  recjuired  for  a  da}'  or  two,  then 
the  plants  should  have  a  good  soaking,  and  after- 
wards water  must  be  given  with  great  care. 
Afternoon  syringings  overhead  with  soft  water 
are  most  beneficial  in  hot  weather.  After  potting 
the  plants  should  be  placed  in  an  open,  sunny 
situation,  but  protected  from  east  and  south- 
westerly winds. 

POINSETTIAS. 

A  batch  of  cuttings  may  now  be  put  in.  Shoots 
about  3  inches  or  4  inches  long  should  be  chosen. 
To  prevent  bleeding  rub  the  ends  well  over  with 
fine  sand  or  powdered  charcoal.  Insert  the 
cuttings  singly  in  small  pots,  in  a  mixture  of  loam 
and  leaf-soil  in  equal  parts,  with  plenty  of  silver 
sand  :  press  the  soil  round  the  cuttings  firmly, 
and  plunge  in  a  close  propagating  frame  with  a 
good  bottom  heat,  where  they  will  soon  root.  Do 
not  give  much  water  or  they  will  soon  rot  in  too 
moist  a  soil. 

Plants  in  Pits  and  Frames. 
Most  of  the  bedding  plants  being  now  out  of 
doors,  the  vacant  pits  and  frames  may  be  utilised 
for  the  cultivation  of  such  plants  as  Primulas, 
Cinerarias,  Cyclamens,  tuberous-rooted  Begonias, 
Balsams,  Cockscombs,  &c.  Let  the  structures  be 
well  washed  out,  and  give  a  good  bottom  of  sifted 
coal  ashes  for  the  plants  to  stand  on.  Let  the 
frames  be  closed  about  3.30  p.m.,  attbrding  an 
overhead  syringing.  On  warm  nights  the  lights 
may  be  tilted,  as  these  plants  delight  in  an  abun- 
dance of  air  at  this  season. 

Trop-I'Xilums. 
Winter-flowering  varieties,  such  as  Ball  of  Fire, 
Clibran's  Gem,  &c.,  are  most  useful  plants  for 
training  over  the  roof  of  a  warm  greenhouse. 
They  will  continue  to  flower  freely  throughout  the 
whole  winter  with  very  little  attention.  Cuttings 
inserted  now  will  make  good  plants  by  the  autumn. 

John  Fleming. 
Wexliam  Park  Gardens,  S/oiigh. 


earlier  in  the  season  for  sowing  the  seed  of  their 
perennial  herbaceous  plants.  When  these  are  sown 
in  beds  fairly  well  shaded  from  the  midday  sun  it 
is  probable  that  in  most  places  they  will  produce 
better  plants,  by  having  more  attention  paid  to 
them  than  would  be  the  case  if  they  came  up  at  an 
earlier  and  busier  season.  Many  of  the  Alpine 
Primulas,  such  as  P.  denticulata,  P.  d.  var.  cash- 
meriana,  and  P.  cortusoides,  if  now  sown  in  pans 
and  the  young  seedlings  grown  on  in  pots,  will 
make  nice  plants  for  putting  out  in  the  rock  garden 
next  spring. 

Routine  Work. 
Many  plants  will  require  slaking.  Carnations 
and  even  Liliums— thanks  to  the  invention  of  the 
spiral  wire  supports— can  be  kept  in  position  with- 
out the  fact  being  made  painfully  patent  to  every 
passer-by.  So  far,  however,  there  seems  little 
chance  of  the  wooden  stake  or  the  bamboo  cane 
being  superseded  by  a  less  obtrusive  implement  for 
supporting  the  stronger-growing  plants. 

Weeds  are  now  coming  into  evidence  in  the 
footpaths,  and  in  most  instances  the  cheapest  and 
at  the  same  time  the  best  method  of  getting  rid  of 
them  is  by  the  use  of  one  of  the  many  well-known 
weed  poisons  at  present  on  the  market.  The  intro- 
duction of  the  fluid  weed-killer  has  done  away 
with  much  of  the  useless  and  wasteful  kind  of 
labour  required  in  connexion  with  the  garden,  and 
enables  the  gardener  to  utilise  the  labour  thus  set 
free  for  gardening  work  proper. 

H.  A.  Petticrew. 
The  Garden.^,  St.  Fajjun'.s  Cast/r. 


THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
SowiNii  Biennials. 
Where  the  sowing  of  Wallflowers,  Canterbury 
Bells,  Aubrietias,  Alyssum,  Arabis,  and  other 
spring-flowering  plants  has  not  yet  been  done,  this 
work  should  be  hurried  on  without  further  delay. 
Aubrietias  and  Arabises  may  now  be  propagated 
by  dividing  up  the  old  plants  and  putting  them  in 
prepared  beds  well  mixed  with  sand  and  leaf  mould. 
\Vhen  there  are  plenty  of  old  plants  to  work  from, 
this  method  of  propagating  is  preferable  to  seed 
sowing,  as  better  and  stronger  plants  are  produced 
and  ready  for  putting  into  their  flowering  places  in 
the  autumn.  The  value  of  the  Aubrietias,  Arabis, 
and  Alyssum  has  been  well  exemplified  this  season, 
for,  notwithstanding  the  cold  backward  spring, 
these  plants  have  flowered  well. 

Sowing  Seed  or  Herbaceous  Plant.s. 
Many  gardeners  prefer  the  present  rather  ihan 


FRUIT  GARDEN. 
The  Fiii. 
Trees  are  late  in  making  their  growth  this  season. 
Early  disbudding  is,  however,  essential,  and  should 
be  carried  out  in  a  way  that  will  allow  the  growths 
retained  ample  space  to  develop  their  large  leaves 
without  becoming  crowded.  This  is  important, 
otherwise  the  wood,  even  of  trees  against  south  or 
west  walls,  will  not  perfectly  mature,  and  the 
natural  result  will  be  unfruitfulness,  and  pos.sibly 
serious  injury  from  frost  during  winter.  The 
growths  as  they  lengthen  should  be  secured  to  the 
wall,  and  be  stopped  if  found  necessary.  The  use 
of  ordinary  li(iuid  manures  is  most  essential. 

MiiRELLo  Cherries. 
The  crops  on  these  trees  will  be  abundant  pro- 
vided they  are  not  unduly  thinned  during  the 
stoning  period,  and  this  not  infrecjuently  happens 
upon  light  soils  from  want  of  water  at  the  roots. 
Now  that  the  fruit  is  set  the  shoots  may  be  safely 
thinned;  at  the  same  lime  provision  must  be  made 
for  next  season's  crop  by  leaving  a  sufficient  supply 
of  the  best  placed  shoots  for  the  purpose,  or  if  the 
spur  system  of  training  is  partially  or  wholly 
adopted,  stop  the  most  suitable  growths  beyond 
the  third  or  fourth  leaf.  Keep  a  diligent  watch 
for  black  aphis,  and  once  it  is  observed  either 
thoroughly  syringe  the  trees  with  Quassia  Extract 
or  submerge  the  aliected  shoots  in  it. 

The  Logan  Berry. 
This  is  most  conveniently  grown  by  securing  ita 
growths  to  a  trellis  or  low  wall.  It  usually  pushes 
an  abundance  of  shoots,  and  enough  of  the  strongest 
of  these  should  be  selected  and  trained  to  or 
between  those  that  fruit  this  year,  the  remainder 
being  pulled  out  of  the  soil.  Avoid  crowding  the 
shoots,  as  the  (juality  of  the  iruit  is  greatly  im- 
proved by  being  exposed  to  the  air  and  sun.  The 
plants  delight  in  plenty  of  moisture  when  they  are 
planted  upon  well-drained  soil,  and  should  conse- 
([uently  be  copiously  watered  in  dry  times,  and 
also  supplied  with  diluted  liquid  manure  when 
necessary,  as  well  as  mulched  with  short  litter. 

The  Gooseberry. 
Upon  light  warm  soils  this  plant  is  especially  sub- 
ject to  attacks  of  red  spider,  which  can  be  easily 
known  by  the  colour  of  the  foliage.  As  a  precau- 
tion see  that  the  bushes  are  properly  nourished 
and  mulched,  but  should  the  pest  show  itself  wash 
the  bushes  thoroughly  with  a  garden  syringe.  If 
the  saw-fly  caterpillar,  which  soon  works  much 
mischief,   makes  ai  attack  upon  the  foliage,   fiisl 


June  7,  1902  ] 


TITE    GARDEN. 


385 


spray  Ihc  bushes  with  water,  and  then  well  dust 
them  with  hellebore  powder  by  the  help  of  a  flour 
dredger.  Once  the  bushes  are  free  of  their  enemy 
free  them  also  of  the  powder,  which  is  poisonous. 
Quicklime  may  be  used  in  a  similar  manner,  and 
will  cause  the  caterpillars  to  fall,  when  they  can 
be  easily  destroyed. 

Strawberries. 

The  cold  weather  has  caused  these  fruits  to  be 
unusually  late.  In  giving  stable  liquid  manure  at 
this  time  care  must  be  taken  not  to  allow  it  to  come 
in  contact  with  the  fruit.  Where  very  fine  fruits 
are  desired  for  special  purposes  freely  remove  the 
smallest  ones,  and  this  is  especially  advisable  in 
the  case  of  late  kinds,  such  as  Loxfnrd  Hall  and 
Latest  of  All,  which  are  only  wanted  for  dessert. 
Carefully  preserve  runners  for,  propagation,  re- 
itioving  all  others. 
*■  Thos.  Coomber. 

Tlie  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


IMPRESSIONS  OF  A  CRUISE 
AMONGST  THE  W^  E  S  T 
INDIAN    ISLANDS. 

Not  having  the  pen  of  a  Kingsley,  who  filled  a 
large  volume  with  an  account  of  his  two 
months  visit  to  two  only  of  the  West  Indian 
Islands,  and  who  had  to  admit  in  his  "  At 
Last"  that  he  was  painfully  sensible  of  the 
poverty  of  words  to  describe  what  he  saw,  I 
face  the  impossible  in  attempting  to  mention 
even  the  tenth  part  of  the  floral  and  vegetable 
wonders  which  we  have  seen  throughout  our 
six  weeks  cruise,  calling  at  the  fourteen  most 
important  islands  in  the  too  short  space  of  six 
weeks  after  our  arrival  at  Barbados. 

It  is  possible  that  what  little  I  am  able  to 
say  may  be  of  interest  to  your  readers,  and 
may  perhaps  induce  some  with  more  knowledge 
to  follow  our  example. 

Starting  from  England  under  the  impression 
that,  although  not  cultivating  stove  plants 
myself,  I  should  know  by  name  and  sight 
nearly  all  of  the  flowers  we  were  likely  to  see, 
it  came  as  a  very  humiliating  shock  to  my  wife 
and  myself  to  find  how  terribly  ignorant  we 
were,  and  in  that  ignorance  we  had  to  remain 
until  our  visit  to  Jamaica  (which  unfortunately 
was  the  last  island  tbat  we  called  at),  where 


through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Fawcett,  the 
Director  of  the  PuMic  Gardens,  we  were  able 
to  get  answers  to  the  numerous  (jueries  we  had 
jotted  down. 

Up  to  our  arrival  at  Jamaica  we  had  to  be 
content  wdth  admiring  the  grandeur  and 
magnificence  of  the  tropical  growth,  or  the 
startling  flaming  brilliance  of  the  flowering 
trees,  climbers,  and  shrubs ;  making  very 
unbotanical  notes  and  descriptions,  as  we 
visited  island  after  island,  for  the  native  names 
are  hopeless  beyond  iDelief,  and  in  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  where  we  expected  help 
and  information,  there  were  no  labels,  not  even 
in  the  gardens  at  Trinidad,  nor  in  the  so- 
I  called  Botanical  Gardens  at  Tobago.  In 
'  passing,  I  may  mention  that  we  read  the 
'printed  rules  which  were  stuck  up.  at  the 
entrance  (always  in  hope  of  some  information), 
and  Kule  4  alone  remains  in  my  memory. 
"  All  visitors  to  the  garden  must  be  completely 
clothed,"  an  unkind  rule,  for  it  bars  most  of  the 
inhabitants  from  visiting  their  own  gardens. 

Before  going  further  it  may  be  well  to  say 
that  it  must  be  understood  that  everything  I 
may  mention,  whether  fruit  or  flower,  i.s  grown 
without  artificial  assistance,  such  things  as 
glass  houses  being  unknown  (except  at  Hope 
Gardens,  Jamaica,  where  there  are  one  or  two 
small  span  houses  for  some  special  purposes), 
the  only  artificial  protection  given  is  in  the 
way  of  rough,  tall,  Bamboo  frames,  where  shade 
is  required  for  Ferns  ;  these  frames  are  densely 
covered  with  Clerodendron,  Bougainvillea, 
Bignonia,  or  some  other  showy  creeper.  It 
will  also  save  confusion  if  I  group  the  whole 
fourteen  islands  in  one,  thus  avoiding  repeating 
the  names,  unless  for  any  special  reason  it 
seems  well  to  do  so.  For  instance,  one 
certainly  ought  to  say  that  it  was  on  approach- 
ing the  lovely  and  fertile  island  of  Grenada 
that  we  first  saw  the  Bois  immortel  (Erythrina 
umbrosa)  in  bloom,  a  never-to-be-forgotten 
sight,  as  can  be  well  understood  when  it  is 
realised  that  I  am  speaking  of  fiowers  seen 
from  the  ship  when  we  were  certainly  several 
miles  from  the  shore.  Imagine  trees  that  give 
such  masses  of  scarlet  flowers  that  even  the 
man  that  only  comes  out  to  say  he  has  been, 


THE   BEAUTIfUL  LILY   Of   THE   VALLEY   GRODl"   FROM   MR.    ICETO.N'   AT   THE   TEMPLE   SHOW. 


and  who  does  not  seem  to  have  a  soul  beyond 
deck  quoits  and  inane  chatter,  asks  "What 
makes  all  that  lot  of  red  in  the  woods  on  those 
hills'?"  To  add  to  the  charm  of  the  Bois 
immortel,  a  closer  acquaintance  showed  that 
the  individual  flowers  were  in  themselves  lovely, 
so  that  the  fiery  efi'ect  was  not  obtained,  as 
many  thought,  by  highly  coloured  foliage. 
Later  on  when  approaching  Port  of  ^ Spain, 
Trinidad  (an  approach  resembling  the  Kyles  of 
Bute),  the  effect  was  even  finer,  but  the  actual 
novelty  was  gone. 

One  learns  many  little  things  on  a  trip  such 
as  this,  for  instance,  not  5  per  cent,  of  the 
passengers  knew  that  Mace  was  not  contained 
in  the  fruit  of  the  Nutmeg  inside  the  pulp,  but 
outside  and  around  the  nut  itself,  and  they 
were  surprised  when  a  fruit  was  cut  open  for 
inspection.  Happening  myself  to  know  this  I 
was  much  amused  to  hear  a  young  American 
lady  say,  "Papa  what  is  it  that  grows  outside 
the  Nutmeg  ?  I  can't  remember,"  to  which  he 
replied,  "  I  guess  it's  the  grater." 

A  Nutmeg  tree  in  fruit  is  quite  a  pretty  sight, 
and  would  have  been  worth  photographing,  but 
the  light  was  always  wrong,  so  that  I  never  got 
the  cbance.  The  trees  are  male  and  female, 
and  when  I  read  in  one  of  the  many  books  on 
the  West  Indies  that  growers  could  never  tell 
what  their  plantations  of  seedlings  would  turn 
out  until  the  plants  were  seven  years  old,  I  not 
altogether  unnaturally  said  that  they  would 
hardly  be  so  unwise  as  to  plant  seedlings,  but 
would  put  in  female  cuttings  or  at  least  grafted 
plants.  Here  again  I  was  only  showing  that 
ignorance,  the  frequent  exposure  of  which  is 
now  sending  me  home  a  certainly  humbler  and 
I  hope  slightly  wiser  man,  for  when  at  last  we 
got  to  Jamaica  I  found  from  Mr.  Fawcett 
amidst  a  mass  of  information  on  other  subjects, 
that  the  Nutmeg  cannot  be  grown  from  cuttings, 
and  that  only  quite  lately  has  it  been  discovered 
that  the  wav  to  get  grafted  plants  was  by 
"grafting  by  approach."  For  this  purpose  small 
Bimboo  platforms  are  erected  around  good 
bearing  varieties,  and  on  these  are  placed 
seedlings  in  their  Bamboo  pots  (the  only  pots 
used  anywhere  in  the  islands),  and  the  attach- 
ment is  made  in  the  usual  way.  Even  now 
success  is  not  invariable,  and  it  is  no  wonder 
that  the  rough  and  ready  planter  gave  up 
trying  a  hundred  years  ago.  There  now  seems 
to  be  a  chance  of  the  supply  exceeding  the 
demand,  but  if  the  price  is  maintained  I 
cannot  imagine  a  more  satisfactory  crop  for  a 
lazy  man,  for  he  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait 
for  his  crop  to  drop  and  rot,  when  the  Mace 
and  Nutmeg  are  ready  to  be  picked  up  and 
sent  home.  With  the  sugar  crop  it  is  very 
different ;  here  the  poor  planter  has  no  chance ; 
it  is  only  the  man  of  capital,  who  can  put  up 
the  most  modern  machinery,  and  grow  1.5,000 
to  20,000  acres  of  sugar,  who  can  now  make 
sugar  pay.  At  one  old  estate  worked  on  ancient 
lines  in  Antigua  we  were  shown  many  hundred 
of  bags  of  sugar  which  at  present  prices 
actually  meant  a  loss.  The  owner  was  really 
(although  he  did  not  seem  to  know  it)  holding 
sugar  for  a  rise;  in  fact,  just  speculating  in  it, 
as  one  might  do  in  the  City  without  the 
trouble  of  growing  it.  When  one  remembers 
that  cane  sugar  can  now  be  bought  for,  say,  £G 
per  ton,  whereas  formerly  the  price  was  £100 
per  ton,  one  cannot  be  surprised  at  the  poverty 
which  prevails  throughout  all  the  islands. 
Poverty  in  the  West  Indies  does  not  mean 
iniserv  by  any  means,  for  the  coloured 
population  has  all  its  wants,  and  during  the 
past  six  weeks  we  have  not  seen  a  hungry  child 
(jr  an  unhappy  looking  face.  Nature  had  been 
too  generous  altogether,  -with  the  result  that 
no  one  could  starve  even  if  he  did  not  do  a 


?86 


THE    GARDEN. 


I 


[June  7,  1902. 


stroke  of  work,  while  one  cannot  be  altogether 
surprised  that  the  people  should  become  lazy 
beyond  belief  wlien  they  can  obtain  what  w'l 
would  consider  luxuries  with  a  minimum  daily 
effort.  A.  KiNijsMiLL. 

(To  be  continued. J 


RECENT    PLANT    PORTRAITS. 

The  June  number  of  the  Botriniral  Magaziw 
contains  portraits  of : 

A/op  peniUn-^,  a  native  of  Arabia.  This  is  a  fine 
Aloe,  with  long  spikes  of  light  red  flowers. 
The  portrait  is  drawn  from  specimens  sent  from 
Sir  Thomas  Hanbury's  garden  at  La  Mortola,  near 
Men  tone. 

^  EiiryopH  socotranii^,  a  native  of  the  island  of 
Socotra.  This  is  a  rather  ornamental  yellow 
flowered  composite  sent  from  the  Royal  Botanic 
Garden,  Edinburgh,  by  Professor  J.  B.  Balfour, 
F.R.S.,  who  discovered  it  on  Mount  Haghier  ir 
Socotra. 

Eranthemvm  a/ropur/.nreum,  a  native  of  th( 
Solomon  Islands.  This  is  a  very  handsome  but, 
unfortunately,  shy  blooming  stove  plant,  with 
spikes  of  pure  white  flowers  with  a  rosy  eye  and 
handpome  deep  purple  foliage. 

Eehinocactiifi  mkro«pei-nius,  a  native  of  Argentina. 
This  is  a  beautiful  Cactus,  with  medium-sized 
pale  yellow  flower.'!,  veined  outside  with  red. 

Pterh-aiilhiix  naixK/u'i,  a  native  of  Natal.  This 
is  a  very  beautiful  and  desirable  species,  being 
much  the  largest  flowered  member  of  its  family. 
It  somewhat  resembles  a  Salvia,  with  flowers  of  a 
djiicate  shade  of  lavender  tipped  with  violet. 
Sent  from  the  University  Botanic  Gardens,  Cam- 
bridge. W.  E.  GUMBLETON. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE. 

CyTistis  PR.t:co.\. 
Mr.  Field  sends  us  from  the  interesting  Ashwell- 
thorpe  Hall  Gardens  a  bunch  of  this  beautiful 
Broom,  which  is  one  of  the  most  precious  things 
for  massing  on  the  lawn.  Mr.  Field  writes  :  "  It 
is  very  fine  this  season."'  Our  correspondent  also 
sends  many  other  interesting  flowers,  and  some 
superb  blooms  of  the  old  Narcissus  poeticus. 


MESSRS.    I'AUL  AND   SOJ(  S   RUSES   AT  TUK  TEMPLE   SHOW, 


VlEDRNUM   PLICATDM. 

Mr.  B.  E.  C.  Chambers,  Grayswood  Hill, 
Haslemere,  in  sending  flowering  shoots  of  this 
beautiful  shrub,  says  :  "  In  your  issue  of  April  10 
mention  is  made  of  Viburnum  plicatum,  and  it  is 
there  said  that  '  the  single  or  typical  V.  plicatum 
is  not  in  cultivation  here.'  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  enclosing  two  sprays  of  it  now  in  full  beauty  here, 
and  as  I  had  the  plant  from  Yokohama  I  think  it 
must  be  the  true  species.  The  flower  clusters 
have  not  so  far  attained  the  dimensions  named  bj 
your  correspondent,  but  may  in  time  do  .so.  The 
shrub  is  certainly  a  very  fine  one,  and  flowers  most 
profusely  every  year.'' 

[The  wild  plant  from  which  Viburnum  plicatum 
originated  is  V.  tomentosum  of  Thunberg,  and  this 
has  been  in  cultivation  a  good  many  years.  Beyond 
this  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  wild  V.  plicatum. 
The  shrub  generally  grown  as  V.  plicatum  is  the 
type.  It  is  merely  Viburnum  tomentosum  with  all 
the  flowers  sterile,  not  merely  the  marginal  flowers, 
as  in  our  correspondent's  specimen.  Briefly,  it 
bears  the  same  relation  to  V.  tomentosum  as  the 
Snowball  Tree  does  to  Viburnum  Opulus.  The 
specimens  sent  from  Grayswood  Hill  were  the 
finest  we  have  seen  in  this  eouutrj-.] 

Flowers  from  South  Devon. 
Mr.  S.  W.  Filzherbert  writes  from  Kingswear  : 
"  lam  sendingyou  flciwers  of  Calceolaria  violacea, 
Ourisia  coceinea,  and  Veronica  hulkeana.  The 
last-mentioned  I  am  .sorry  to  say  is  past  its  best. 
All  are  growing  and  flowering  in  the  open.  The 
Oiirisia  spike  is  a  good  one  ;  it  was  1.")  inches  high 
and  has  fourteen  flowers  and  bud.s.  Calceolaria 
violacea  and  Veronica  liulkeana  received  no  pro- 


tection through  the  winter,  though  the  past  one  has 
been  the  most  trying  I  ever  remember  in  the  south- 
west." 

[A  very  beautiful  gathering,  the  Ourisia  of 
intense  colouring,  and  the  Calceolaria  charming 
in  all  ways.  Both  this  and  the  Veronica  should 
apjieal  to  all  who  care  for  flowers  of  soft  and 
unusual  shades.] 


Primula  .iaponica. 

I  am  sending  you  a  few  trusses  of  bloom  of  this 
most  beautiful  and  telling  plant.  For  the  benefit 
of  the  readers  of  your  valuable  paper  I  give  a  few 
details  of  the  cultivation  that  this  plant  thrives 
under.  In  the  garden  here  there  are  two  very 
fine  beds  well  established,  and  at  present  a 
beautiful  bit  of  colour  ;  the  beds  are  under  the 
shade  of  trees,  a  spring  runs  out  just  above,  and 
the  soil  is  always,  winter  and  summer,  in  a  damp 
condition,  water  frequently  running  over  the  beds. 
The  condition  of  the  plants,  growth,  and  flower 
show  how  well  they  thrive  in  such  a  situation  ;  in 
fact,  once  so  established  Primula  japonica  seems 
well  able  to  take  care  of  itself. — Marion  (4. 
Macara,  Si.  Jame-'i'.i  (ritrdtii.i,  ]\'es/  Ma/veTii. 

[A  superb  boxful  of  flowers  of  the  finest  varieties 
we  have  seen  of  the  .Japanese  Primrose ;  the 
spikes  were  tall  and  strong,  and  crowned  with 
flowers  of  intense  colouring,  deep  crimson  in  the 
centre,  passing  to  a  lighter  shade.  A  group  must, 
as  our  correspondent  says,  "present  a  beautiful  bit 
of  colour.  "J 


pretty  Scilla  our  correspondent  says:  "Although 
in  'Alpine  Flowers'  it  is  mentioned  that  it  is 
certainly  not  worthy  of  cultivation,  except  in 
botanical  collections,  it  is  very  pretty  in  my  rock 
garden  this  year  in  one  or  two  good  patches." 

[A  most  interesting  and  welcome  contribution 
to  our  table  is  this  trio  of  hardy  flowers]. 

A^lBUBNUM   TOMKNTOSUM   MarIESI. 

Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  King's  Road, 
Chelsea,  S.W.,  send  a  shrub  we  should  like  to 
know  more  about ;  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
flowering  shrubs  we  have  seen.  A  branch  was 
sent  smothered  with  flowers,  which  lined  one  side 
and  made  a  perfect  wreath,  with  the  roughish 
leaves  as  a  groundwork.  The  outer  flowers  are 
large  and  the  central  ones  small,  but  it  is  this 
feature  that  gives  the  shrub  so  much  charm.  Those 
in  search  of  a  graceful  and  distinct-flowering  shrub 
should  make  a  note  of  this. 


Primula  japonica. 
Mr.  Samuel  Taylor  sends  from  Birkdault, 
Haverthwaite,  flowers  of  this  handsome  Primula. 
The  stems  are  unusually  tall  and  strong,  and 
slightly  fasciated,  with  large  heads  of  flowers  of 
crimson  colouring.  P.  japonica  is  a  priceless 
treasure  in  the  garden  during  the  early  summer, 
and  a  scattered  succession  of  flower  is  maintained 
for  many  weeks.  The  flowers  vary  greatly  in 
colour,  some  quite  white,  with  a  crimson,  pink,  or 
orange  eye  ;  others  pink,  rose,  crimson,  and  so 
foi  th  ;  but  the  deep  crimson  self  is  as  eflective  as 
any. 


Primula  farinosa  and  Scilla  verxa. 
Mr.    Taylor   also   sends   flowers   of    the   pretty 
Bird's-eye.  Primrose,  a   British  species  unusually 
rich  in  colour,  and  Scilla  verna.    In  reference  to  this 


OBITUARY. 

MR.    WILLIAM    BULL. 

WE  regret  to  announce  the  death,  on 
June  1,  in  his  seventy-fifth  year, 
of  Mr.  William  Bull,  the  famous 
nurseryman  of  King's  Road, 
Chelsea,  who,  a  generation  or  so 
ago,  occupied  a  more  prominent 
position  in  the  horticultural  world  than  he  has 
done  of  late.  This  was  particularly  the  case  when 
the  numerous  stove  foliage  plants  were  in  the 
height  of  their  popularity,  as  he  was  the  means  of 
introducing  and  distributing  many  of  the  most 
popular,  while  in  the  eighties  his  annual  exhibition 
of  Orchids  was  for  a  time  one  of  the  sights  of  the 
fashionable  London  season.  Mr.  Bull  was  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  floral  committee  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  and  was  one  of  th" 
jurors  (of  which,  alas  !  but  few  now  remain)  of 
the  great  International  Horticultural  Exhibition, 
held  at  Kensington  in  1806,  while  in  addition  he 
was  a  member  of  numerous  learned  societies. 
Though  ailing  for  some  time  he  retained  his  keen- 
ness and  application  to  business  to  the  last,  being 
present  on  the  first  day  of  the  Temple  show,  but 
was  taken  ill  on  Thursday,  and  died  as  above 
stated.  "His  death  will  cause  a  vacancy  among  the 
Victoria  Medalists  of  Honour,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  original  members.     The  list  of  plants  that 


I 


June  7,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


387 


he  has  been  the  means  of  introducing  and  dis- 
tributing is  a  long  and  varied  one,  and  of  them  all 
perhaps  Primula  japonica  in  its  day  attracted  as 
much  attention  as  any. 

We  take  the  following  notes  from  The  Metro- 
politan Iferieir  of  March,  1901  : — 

"Mr.  William  Bull  is  the  descendant  of  an  old 
and  honourable  Hampshire  family.  Born  in  the 
ancient  city  of  Winchester,  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  father  at  a  tender  age,  and  was  conse- 
quently nurtured  and  educated  under  the  care  of 
his  grandfather,  a  gentleman  of  independent 
means,  who  resided  at  Shirley,  near  South- 
ampton. When  barely  over  fourteen  years  old, 
the  natural  bent  of  his  genius  for  floriculture 
led  to  his  leaving  school  in  order  to  be  apprenticed 
to  a  nurseryman  in  his  native  town,  and  there, 
during  three  years  of  well-directed  energy,  he 
made  such  marked  progress  that  it  was  found 
advisable  for  him  to  migrate  to  '  fresh  fields  and 
pastures  new.'  He  joined  the  staff  of  the  then 
well-known  establishment  of  Messrs.  E.  (J. 
Henderson  and  Son,  of  St.  John's  Wood,  London. 
Here  he  devoted  himself  with  characteristic  zeal 
to  the  study  of  systematic  botany  and  practical 
horticulture,  and  had  so  thoroughly, mastered  the 
business  details  of  the  industry  that,  before 
attaining  to  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  was  fairly 
launched  as  a  traveller  to  represent  the  house  of 
Henderson. 

"The  confidence  reposed  in  the  youthful  traveller 
was  not  misplaced,  for  he  soon  gained  marked 
success.  By  the  time  he  had  reached  the  maturer 
age  of  six-and-twenty  years  he  was  invited  to  join 
the  staff  of  the  leading  firm  of  Messrs.  William 
RoUisson  and  Sons  of  Tooting.  For  this  house  he 
travelled  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  United  Kingdom,  and  extended  his  journeys 
into  almost  every  country  of  consequence  on  the 
European  continent,  thereby  gaining  the  vast 
experience  and  professional  pre-itii/e  that  were 
destined  to  bear  such  bountiful  harvests  in  years 
to  come. 

"Mr.  William  Bull's  aspirations  naturally  led 
him  after  some  six  years  of  faithful  service  to  seek 
a  partnership  in  the  house  whose  fortunes  he 
had  so  materially  advanced  ;  but,  being  unable  to 
arrange  matters  satisfactorily,  he  decided  to  open 
operations  on  his  own  account.  In  January,  1861, 
he  acquired  the  property,  now  his  freehold,  in  the 
King's  Road,  Chelsea,  S.W. ,  and  from  that  time 
onwards  there  was  no  looking  backward.  His 
business  literally  progressed  by  '  leaps  and 
bounds,'  and  stands  to-day  in  an  enviable  position 
— quite  unique  amongst  the  foremost  horticultural 
establishments  of  the  Empire. 

"  Mr.  William  Bull  may  be  said  to  have  initiated 
a  new  era  in  the  history  of  British  horticultural 
enterprise  ;  for  he  commenced  the  hazardous  work 
ot  a  pioneer,  by  boldly  founding  an  establishment 
for  the  introduction  of  new  and  rare  plants.  That 
was  the  keynote  of  the  remarkable  series  of 
successes  which  he  afterwards  achieved,  and  which 
were  the  practical  outcome  of  his  travelling 
experience,  when  he  was  repeatedly  asked  for 
'something  new,  something  rare.'  As  a  first 
step  in  this  direction,  he  not  only  placed  himself 
in  communication  with  correspondents  in  every 
quarter  of  the  globe,  but  had  his  own  collectors, 
among  the  most  famous  of  whom  may  be  mentioned 
Dr.  Berthold  Seemann,  Roeyl,  Knodler,  Bruck- 
muller,  Balderamma,  Shuttleworth,  Carder, 
Freeman,  and  many  others,  whose  brilliant  efforts 
w^ere  instrumental  in  placing  at  his  disposal 
immense  consignments  of  plants,  many  not  only 
new  to  science,  but  of  high  economic  worth. 

"  In  closing  this  tribute  of  respect  for  the  life- 
long and  valuable  services  of  an  eminent  horti- 
culturist it  may  be  recorded  that  Mr.  William 
Bull  has  deservedly  won  the  lasting  esteem  of  his 
compeers  as  well  as  of  most  of  the  learned  societies 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  was  one  of  the 
favoured  few  selected  to  receive  the  Victoria 
Medal  of  Honour  ...  is  a  Fellow  of 
the  Linn;ean  Society,  the  Royal  Geographical 
Society,  the  Zoological  Society,  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  and  the  Royal  Botanical  Society  ; 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Arts  and  of  the 
Anthropological    Institute.       Mr.    William    Bull 


is  also  a  member  of  the  Soci^te  Boyale  d'Agricul- 
ture  et  de  Botanique  de  Gand,  the  Societe  Nationale 
d'Horticulture  de  France,  and  of  the  Horticultural 
Societies  of  Berlin  and  St.  Petersburg." 

CHARLES  J.  GRAHAME. 
After  many  months  of  great  suffering  this  well- 
known  rosarian  died  on  the  '24th  ult.  at  his 
residence,  Hazeleigh,  Surbiton,  in  his  sixty-second 
year.  We  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  Mr.  Grahame 
for  man3'  years.  His  kindly  heart,  energy,  and 
intense  interest  in  the  National  Rose  Society  will 
long  be  remembered,  and  we  tender  our  deep 
sympathy  to  his  family  in  their  sad  bereavement. 
Mr.  Grahame  was  a  member  of  the  Stock  Exchange, 
but  he  will  be  more  remembered  by  gardeners 
(we  use  the  word  in  its  broadest  sense)  as  at  one 
time  assistant-secretary  of  the  Roj'al  Horticultural 
Society  and  a  member  of  the  committee  of  the 
National  Rose  Society.  Our  late  friend  cultivated 
Roses  with  great  ardour,  and,  especi- 
ally in  his  garden  at  Croydon,  grew 
flowers  which  won  many  prizes  at  the 
leading  exhibitions.  When  he  removed 
to  Leatherhead,  with  its  greater  possi- 
bilities as  regards  Rose  culture,  he  again 
secured  many  triumphs.  Mr.  Grahame 
not  only  grew  Roses  but  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  National  Rose  Society, 
and  tried  in  every  possible  way  to 
encourage  amateurs  to  win  prizes.  A 
few  years  ago  Mr.  Grahame  considered 
that  the  Amateurs'  Challenge  Trophy 
was  not  worthy  of  its  object.  He  forth- 
with determined  to  increase  its  value, 
and,  associated  with  twenty  keen 
rosarian  friends,  increased  its  value  to 
fifty  guineas,  making  it  a  prize  worth 
winning.  In  various  other  ways,  too, 
he  helped  the  society,  especially  in 
rearranging  the  schedule,  and  his  views 
were  expressed  in  many  forcible  letters 
to  The  Garden  at  that  time,  but 
after  stern  battles  with  those  opposed 
to  him  he  won,  and  the  result  is  a 
schedule  that  embraces  practically  all 
classes  of  growers.  The  wisdom  of  the 
alterations  has  long  since  been  recog- 
nised. 

HORACE    RADCLYFFE 
DUGMORE. 

We  are  deeply  grieved  that  one  of 
those  good  amateurs  —  alas  !  too  few 
—like  the  Rev.  Henry  Ewbank, 
Canon  Swayne,  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson,  and 
many  others  who  have  passed  away 
to  our  great  sorrow  during  the  past 
year  or  two,  died  through  the  result 
of  an  accident  last  week  at  the  Military 
Tournament.  Mr.  Dugmore,  of  The 
Mount,  Parkstone,  Dorset,  was  one  ol 
our  constant  contributors.  His  notes 
were  always  helpful,  and  in  him  the 
amateur  gardener,  earnest  in  his  desire 
to  know  thoroughly  the  wants  of  the  flowers  he 
has  about  him,  has  lost  a  true  friend.  His  death  is 
sad  to  contemplate.  A  man  in  robust  health,  he 
came  to  London,  we  believe,  partly  to  see  the 
flower  show  in  the  Temple  Gardens.  He  visited 
the  Tournament  on  the  Wednesday  afternoon,  and, 
as  recorded  in  the  daily  papers,  through  an  acci- 
dent lost  his  life.  Canon  Dugmore,  the  popular 
vicar  of  Parkstone,  Dorset,  hurried  to  the  death- 
bed of  his  brother,  but  the  end  came  before  his 
arrival. 

We  need  only  refer  to  the  practical  and 
helpful  notes  from  Mr.  Dugmore  in  The  Garden 
of  last  week  to  realise  how  great  is  our  loss.  The 
funeral  took  place  on  Saturday  last  at  Parkstone. 
Mr.  Dugmore  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  late 
Mr.  William  Dugmore,  Q.C.,  of  Swaffham,  Norfolk, 
a  Bencher  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  and  brother  of  Lieut. - 
Colonel  Frederick  AVilliam  John  Dugmore,  late 
of  the  Scots  Guards,  of  Hamble  Manor  House, 
Southampton,  and  of  the  Rev.  Canon  Ernest  E. 
Dugmore,  canon  of  Salisbury  and  vicar  of  Park- 


stone, Dorset.  Mr.  Dugmore  was  born  in  ISio, 
and  was  educated  at  Christ  Church,  Oxford, 
graduating  in  1869. 


SOCIETIES. 

FESTIVAL  OF  THE  GARDENERS'  ROYAi, 
BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTION. 
A  SnccEssFiTL  Evening. 
A  REcuRD  attendance  and  a  record  subscription  list  was  the 
pronouncement  made  from  the  chair  at  the  anniversary 
festival  of  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  at 
the  Hotel  Metropole  on  May  2S,  whereat  a  vigorous  cheer 
was  given  by  those  assembled  under  the  presidency  of  His 
Grace  the  Duke  of  ilarlborough,  E.G.  Any  question  of  the 
fitness  of  the  action  of  the  executive  in  selecting  the  first 
day  of  the  Temple  show  for  this  interesting  function  was 
fully  justified  by  the  large  number  present.  Some  of  us 
were  heartily  tired  by  the  labours  consequent  upon  tlie 
show  in  the  Temple  Gardens ;  but  the  noble  room,  the 
flood  of  light  which  pervaded  it,  the  exquisite  tints  of  the 
floral  ^decorations,     mainly    composed    of    Tulips,   which 


THE   LATE   MR.    W.    BULL,  V.M.U. 

harmonised  so  completely  with  the  crimson  and  gold  on  the 
ceiling  and  walls,  floral  decorations  which  reflected  high 
credit  upon  the  ladies  of  the  establishment,  the  pleasant 
interchanges  ot  fellowship,  the  good  cheer,  and  the  sparkle 
of  real  enjoyment,  all  operated  to  bring  about  a  jovial 
gathering.  Some  of  us  wished  that  the  speeches  had  been 
less  lengthy  and  more  lively,  that  there  had  been  more  of 
the  delightful  music,  the  programme  of  which  had  to  be  so 
mercilessly  cut  down.  There  was  yet  the  true  flow  of  soul, 
and  Mr.  Harry  Veitch  keenly  touched  the  sympathies  of 
many  present  by  his  fervid  appeal  for  increased  support  to 
the  institution. 

The  dinner  through  and  the  old  grace  exquisitely  sung, 
the  chairman  rose  to  propose  the  toast  of  "  The  King,"  and 
was  received  with  a  rattling  cheer.  His  Majesty  amid  his 
many  duties  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  charitable  institu- 
tions. He  gave  his  patronage  to  philanthropic  institutions  ; 
he  interested  himself  in  horticulture  and  the  gardening 
industry  ;  he  had  shown  that  by  his  attending  that  morning 
the  Temple  show  accompanied  by  his  Royal  Consort,  and  they 
all  fervently  hoped  there  would  be  a  declaration  of  peace 
before  the  Coronation.  Assured  that  all  present  heartily 
wished  long  life  and  happiness  to  the  King,  he  gave  the 
toast  of  "The  Health  of  His  Majesty."  The  National 
Anthem  followed,  sung  with  great  heartiness. 

In  proposing  the  toast  of  "  The  Queen,  Prince  and  Princess 
of  Wales,  and  the  Rest  of  the  Koyal  Family,"  the  noble 
chairman  said  it  was  a  toast  hardly  less  important  than 


3S8 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  7,  1902. 


that  of  the  King,  (^ueen  Alexandra  was  idolised  by  them. 
Every  day  since  she  first  came  to  this  country  she  liad  more 
and  more  endeared  herself  to  them  all  as  the  years  passed  by. 
The  Prince  of  Wales  was  the  president  of  the  institution, 
and,  with  the  Princess,  was  active  in  taking  part  in  many 
functions  and  assisting  in  every  possible  way  movements 
having  for  their  object  the  welfare  of  the  nation.  The  fact 
that  the  Prince  waS'  then  president  would  make  those  who 
were  engaged  in  gardening  pursuits  all  the  more  willing  to 
diink  to  the  toast,  which  was  duly  honoured. 

Then  followed  what  the  chairman  described  as  the  toast 
of  the  evening,  "  Success  to  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution."  They  were  met  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
interests  of  the  institution,  and,  speaking  as  their  chair- 
man, he  wished  to  express  the  great  pleasure  it  gave  him  to 
preside  at  the  annual  dinner  ;  like  themselves,  he  was  a 
lover  of  flowers.  After  warm  praise  of  the  elegance  of  the 
floral  decorations,  the  chairman  went  on  to  say  that  the 
main  purpose  served  by  the  institution  was  that  of  pro- 
viding pensions  for  those  engaged  in  gardening,  who  for 
various  reasons  found  themselves  in  an  unfortunate  position. 
He  thought  the  toast  was  that  of  flowers.  Many  had  no 
garden  to  enjoy,  but  in  our  parks  and  open  spaces  much 
that  was  beautiful  in  the  way  of  gardening  was  provided  for 
their  enjoyment.  It  may  be  said  of  the  gardener  that  he 
gave  a  place  in  his  garden  to  every  plant  in  the  world  worthy 
nf  cultivation.  Some  gave  the  preference  to  Orchids  ;  some 
to  Roses.  They  had  catholic  tastes  as  lovers  of  flowers,  and 
grew  all  types  and  varieties.  We  build  expensive  glass 
houses  in  which  to  cultivate  valuable  plants  from  foreign 
climes.  For  his  part  he  thought  great  interest  attached  to 
the  old-fashioned  herbaceous  border.  We  must  neither 
fu'get  nor  neglect  our  old-fashioned  English  flowers,  which 
were  the  pride  of  our  fathers.  The  society  in  whose  interests 
they  were  met  that  night  had  existed  for  sixty  years.  In  no 
other  country  did  such  an  institution  exist,notevenin  France 
or  Germany,  where  horticulture  was  much  followed.  During 
the  existence  of  the  institution  a  sum  of  over  £ino,finn 
had  been  expended  among  the  needy  in  the  ranks  of  the 
gardening  profession.  One  excellent  feature  was  that  a  pen- 
sioner dying  and  leaving  a  widow  had  his  last  moments 
cheered  by  the  knowledge  that  she  would  succeed  to  a  pension 
of  i^Ulper  annum.  That  was  a  point  which  should  commend 
the  institution  to  the  support  of  gardeners.  References 
were  made  to  the  Victorian  Era  Fund,  founded  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  Jubilee  of  her  late  Majesty,  and  the  Good 
Samaritan  Fund  established  a  little  later.  The  committee 
were  spending  something  like  £4,01)0  a  year  on  behalf  of 
their  broken-down  brethren.  The  income  from  subsciiptions 
being  only  t'-ion  a  year,  it  was  at  once  evident  how  much 
depended  on  the  generosity  of  the  gardening  community, 
and  so  liberally  had  this  been  rendered  that  the  committee 
were  always  able  to  meet  their  expenditure.  After  a 
reference  to  the  influence  flowers  can  exert  upon  the  dreary 
life  of  the  masses  of  the  people,  the  chairman  said  he  was 
pi'oud  to  associate  himself  with  such  an  institution,  and 
wished  it  every  success.  There  was  no  institution  of  greater 
value  connected  with  horticulture,  and  he  desired  it  should 
be  liberally  supported  by  all  who  took  an  interest  in 
gardening.  The  toast  was  associated  with  the  name  of  the 
treasurer,  Mr.  Harry  J.  A'eitch. 

In  rising  to  speak  to  the  toast  Mr.  Veitch  received  a  very 
hearty  reception.  On  behalf  of  the  executive  he  tendered 
his  heartiest  thanks  to  the  noble  chairman  for  presiding  on 
that  occasion,  and  he  hoped  the  warm  appeal  made  from 
the  chair  on  behalf  of  the  institution  would  have  the  effect 
!»f  loosening  their  purse  strings.  After  a  touching  reference 
to  the  presence  of  Mr.  George  Monro  in  improved  health 
and  to  the  absence  of  Mr.  N.  Sherwood,  who  he  was  happy 
to  state  was  in  improved  health,  and  from  whom  Mr.  Veitch 
read  a  letter,  and  who  sent  a  subscription  of  twenty-flve 
guineas,  Mr.  Veitch  said  it  was  quite  true  the  institution 
had  been  estabUshed  sixty  years  ;  that  at  the  present  time 
there  were  1!>0  pensioners  on  the  fund,  of  which  number 
eighty-seven  were  widows,  all  of  whom  were  receiving 
permanent  help,  and  it  would  give  great  pleasure  to  the 
committee  to  add  to  this  number  had  they  the  means  to  do 
so'.  The  two  oldest  pensioners  were  over  ninety  years  of 
age,  and  both  had  been  on  the  fund  for  nineteen  years. 
The  youngest  pensioner  was  ftfty  years  of  age,  but  that  was 
a  special  case,  the  individual  being  totally  incapacitated. 
The-^'ictortanEra-Kund-Avas -established  by  ^permission  of 
Her  Majesty  the  (Jueen  to  assist  candidates  who  had  been 
subscribers  to  the  fund  but  had  failed  to  secure  election, 
but  recipients  from  this  fund  must  have  been  subscribers  to 
the  institution.  The  Good  Samaritan  Fund  was  established 
to  render  temporary  assistance  in  special  cases  ;  in  this  case 
it  was  not  necessary  to  have  been  a  subscriber.  Mr.  Veitch 
narrated  several  distressing  cases  of  applicants  who  had 
received  assistance.  No  (juestions  were  asked  as  to  creed  or 
nationality.  All  that  was  required  was  good  character, 
long  service,  and  urgent  necessity.  At  the  present  time 
there  were  twenty-four  applicants  awaiting  election,  and 
tliere  would  probably  be  a  list  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  before 
the  next  election  comes  round,  and  yet  they  would  next 
year  be  able  to  add  only  fifteen  to  the  present  list.  Lettei-s 
were  read  by  Mr.  Veitch  showing  how  urgently  assistance 
was  needed  by  several  of  the  applicants,  and  he  feelingly 
asked  what  could  they  do  without  such  aid  as  the  institution 
was  able  to  afford  them?  Having  pointed  out  that  of  the 
thirty-six  persons  forming  the  committee  one-third  were 
practical  gardeners,  Mr.  Veitch  concluded  by  making  a 
very  earnest  appeal  for  increased  support,  as  the  amount  of 
relief  they  could  afford  rested  entirely  upon  those  who  were 
supporters  of  the  fund. 

Colonel  R.  Pilkington,  M.P.,  proposed  the  toast  of 
"  Horticulture,"  an  occupation  which  he  declared  to  be  the 
most  beneficial  and  healthy  in  the  world.  The  only  other 
occupation  he  thought  could  compare  with  a  ganlener  was 
that  of  a  clergyman.  Gardening  was  a  favourite  and  health- 
giving  recreation  with  many.  One  feature  of  the  present 
day  upon  which  they  might  congratulate  themselves  was 
the  adornment  of  their  dwellings  with  flowers.  He  thought 
the  gardens  at  Kew  and  Hampton  Court  great  sources  of 
pelight  to  thousands.   He  was  a  great  admirer  of  the  English 


lawn  ;  there  was  nothing  like  it  in  foreign  countries.  He  was 
a  great  advocate  of  public  gardens  to  which  the  people  had 
access,  because  if  deprived  of  gardens  in  their  homes  they 
could  see  and  enjoy  flowers  in  such  places.  In  giving  the 
toast  he  wished  every  success  to  horticulture.  Mr.  W.  J. 
Jefferies  responded  in  the  unavoidable  absence  of  Mr. 
Arthur  W.  Sutton. 

Mr.  George  Monro  proposed  the  health  of  "  The  Chair- 
man," eulogising  his  generous  patronage  of  horticulture  and 
his  puldic  services. 

The  Chairman  made  a  brief  response,  congratulating  the 
supporters  of  the  institution  on  the  fact  of  a  record  atten- 
dance, and  that  the  subscription  list  announced  by  the 
secretary  was  in  excess  of  any  previous  year.  It  had  been 
to  him  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  preside  on  that 
occasion,  and  he  heartily  wished  prosperity  to  the  institu- 
tion. The  proceedings  closed  with  the  singing  of  the 
National  Anthem. 

The  number  present  was  lOn,  including  the  secretary,  and 
amongst  the  subscriptions  announced  were  the  following  :— 
The  Duke  of  Marlborough,  £25 ;  Messrs.  Rothschild  and 
Sons,  £105  ;  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  £.'>0  ;  the  Baron  Schroder, 
£.^it;  Martin  John  Sutton,  £r>0;  Arthur  J.  Sutton,  £5ii ; 
Lieut.-Colonel  R.  Pilkington,  M.P.,  £25  ;  Harry  J.  Veitch, 
£26  5s.  :  N.  Sherwood,  £26  .''"S.  ;  C.  A.  Smith-Rylands,  £25  ; 
Sir  Charles  Dyke  Acland,  £20;  William  Robinson,  £2U ; 
R.  Milligan  Hogg,  £20;  W.  Mackay,  £21;  James  Veitch 
and  Son,  Limited,  £21 ;  Thames  Bank  Iron  Company, 
£15  1.53.  ;  P.  Rudolph  Barr,  £l.''i  155.  ;  Charles  E.  Keyser, 
£10  10s.  ;  F.  Lloyd.  £10  lOs.  ;  John  A.  Laing,  £10  lOs.  ; 
Henry  Jones,  £in  lOs.  ;  Fisher,  Son,  and  Sibray,  Limited, 
£10  103.  ;  R.  Sydenham,  £10  10?.  ;  W.  H.  Massie,  £10  lOs.  ; 
Proprietors  of  The  Garden,  £5  53.  ;  Proprietors  of  Countri/ 
Life,  £5  53.  ;  J.  T.  Anderson  and  Sons,  Limited,  £5  53.  ; 
James  Douglas,  £5  5s.  ;  William  Sherwood,  £5  5s.  ;  Edward 
Sherwood,  £5  53.  ;  R.  McVitie,  £5  ;  George  Bunyard, 
£5  5s.  ;  N.  L.  Cohen,  £5  Ss.  ;  J.  Mclndoe,  £5  ;  E.  T.  Cook, 
£5  5s.  ;  James  Sweet,  £5  Ss.  ;  Richard  Dean,  £5  os.  ;  W.  J. 
Nutting,  £5  5s.  ;  R.  and  J.  Cuthbert,  £5  53.  ;  Anthony 
Waterer,  £5  5s.  ;  LadyDurning  Lawrence.  £5  ;  ditto,  annual 
subscription,  £2  2s.  ;  W.  J.  Jefferies,  £5;  Geo.  Monro  and 
friends  at  Covent  Garden  and  elsewhere  (including  Geo. 
Monro,  £10  10s.  ;  Joseph  Rochford,  £10  los.  ;  Geo.  Monro, 
jun.,  £5  5s.  ;  E.  G.  Monro,  £5  53.  ;  W.  Poupart,  £5  .53.), 
£134  ;  A.  Watkins,  £33  153  ;  ditto,  annual  subscription, 
£7  Ts.  ;  James  O'Brien  (including  Hon.  W.  Rothschild, 
£10  103.  ;  Captain  Holford,  £10  10s.  ;  Jeremiah  Colman, 
£10  lUs.  ;  Norman  C.  Cookson,  £5  ;  and  George  C.  Raphael, 
t5),  £5S  4s.  ;  Alex.  Mackellar,  £32;  Geo.  Norman,  £20; 
James  Hudson,  tl7  17s.;  Baily  Wadds,  £15  15s.  ;  W. 
Thompson,  £12  2s. ;  H.  G.  Cove,  £10  10s.  ;  Alderman  R. 
Piper,  £8  S3.  ;  Geo.  Woodgate,  £7  7s.  ;  W,  Fyfe,  £6  17s.  ; 
N.  F.  Barnes,  £6  63. ;  David  W.  Thomson,  iL^  2s. ;  R.  Jones, 
£14  15s.  ;  A.  Porteous,  £13  Os.  ;  Charles  Stocking,  £11  1  Is.  ; 
P.  O.  Knowles,  £11  Ss.  ;  J.  Simmons,  £12  ;  H.  Parr,  tlO  10s.  ; 
E.  F.  Hazelton,  £5  10s.  ;  Herbert  Dowding,  £5  2s.  ;  A. 
Bishop,  £12  59.  ;  and  A.  B.  Wadds,  £10  Is. 


ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Temple  Show  Awards.— Floral  Committee. 
The  following  received  a  first-class  certificate  :— 

Nymphfya  stellata  W.  Stone. — A  very  finely  coloured  form 
and  a  good  addition  to  the  stellata  section  of  aquatics. 
The  predominant  colour  is  violet-blue  shaded  with  purple, 
the  flower  being  thrown  into  bold  relief  by  the  golden 
centre.  In  point  of  size  the  new  comer  is  quite  equal  to 
any  that  have  preceded  it.  Exhibited  by  Leopold  de  Roth- 
schild, Es(i.,  Gunnersbury  House,  Acton  (gardener,  Mr. 
James  Hudson). 

Darlingtonia  californica  r\thra. — The  upper  part  of  the 
pouch  of  this  Darlingtonia  is  mottled  red  ;  it  is  altogether  a 
distinct  plant.  Exhibited  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Bruce,  Chorlton- 
cum-Hardy. 

The  following  received  the  award  of  merit  :— 

Phyllocaciiis  Einita.—X  large  and  well  formed  variety 
of  these  showy  plants.  The  colour  is  deep  rose  shading  to 
rose-scarlet  in  the  outer  portion,  while  the  inner  part  of 
the  flower  is  a  rich  salmon  pink  shade.  It  is  one  of  the  best 
formed  varieties  of  this  section  we  have  yet  seen.  From 
M«3srs.  James  Veitch  and  .Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea. 

Iris  so/arano  magnifica,  —  As  may  be  inferred  by  its 
varietal  name,  this  is  a  handsome  kind,  <me  of  the  many  fine 
things  in  the  cushion  Irises.  In  size  it  bears  comparison 
with  I.  susiana,  and  in  other  respects  may  b^  said  to 
partake  of  characters  intermediate  between  thiS' "  aud 
I.  atrofusca.  Shown  by  Messrs.  Wallace,  Colchester,  and 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent  Garden. 

Freesia  aurea.  —  A  rich  golden  -  yellow  self  -  coloured 
Freesia  that  attracted  much  attention.  It  is  the  equal  of 
any  kind  we  know  in  freedom  of  flowering  and  robustness. 
A  native  of  South  Africa.  Shown  by  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co., 
Colchester. 

Thalictriiiii  orientalc-  This  is  a  neat  and  elegant  plant,  in 
which  the  foliage  is  less  dense  than  in  any  of  the  Aquilegi- 
folium  group,  a  feature  that  enhances  its  value.  It  is  less 
than  2  feet  high,  very  f ree,  and  the  flowers  pure  white.  Shown 
by  Mr.  Amos  Perry,  Winchmoie  Hill. 

Paparer  A.  \V.  C/iillen/.—A  very  large  and  showy  oriental 
Poppy.  The  colour  is  of  a  pink  or  salmon-red  hue,  not  of 
the  bright  shades  of  these,  but  of  a  peculiar  combination 
not  easy  to  describe.  A  large  black  spot  is  seen  at  the  base 
of  the  petals.     From  Mr.  W.  Godfrey,  Exmouth,  Devon. 

liilip  Pride  of  Haarlem.— X  late,  May-flowering  or  Darwin 
Tulip,  having  a  flower  of  large  size  and  scarlet-cerise  colour. 
It  is  very  showy.  From  Messrs.  Ban-  and  Sons,  Covent 
Garden. 

Dracifna  indirisa  King  Edward  VJf.—A  variety  having 
the  leaves  margined  with  silvery  white,  thus  forming  a 
distinct  member  of  this  group.  Exhibited  by  M.  Emile 
Coppitters,  Mont  St.  Amand,  Gand,  Belgique. 

Pa-onia  'I'Ht'en  Alexandra. — A  tree  Picony  of  great  size 
and  exceptional  purity.  The  perfectly  handsome  fiowers 
were  saucer-shaped,  and  the  broadly  obovate  petals  in  their 


glistening  purity  commanded  attention  immediately.  This 
handsome  kind  was  remarked  by  Her  Majesty  the  Queen 
when  inspecting  the  show  on  the  opening  day.  Shown  by 
Messrs.  Kelway  and  Son,  Laugport,  Somerset. 

Azalea  rxistica  fi.-pl.  -Ramona.— This  is  one  of  the  dwarf 
semi-double  varieties  that  have  become  plentiful  of  late. 
The  plant  is  dwarfer  in  stature  and  the  flowers  smaller 
than  in  the  A.  mollis  section.  The  colour  is  white,  with 
orange  base,  and  the  petals  sometimes  flushed  with  pink. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cuthbert,  Southgate. 

Priiaula  unpcrialis.^ln  colour  this  is  really  unique 
among  the  species  from  the  higher  altitudes.  The 
plant  when  well  grown  is  almost  as  vigorous  as  P. 
japonica,  which  it  resembles  in  the  way  the  whorls  of 
flowers  are  produced  on  the  stout  Stems.  Their  colour 
is  orange  ■  yellow,  almost  golden.  The  leafage  more 
nearly  resembles  P.  denticulata ;  indeed,  the  margin  is 
distinctly  denticulated,  though  somewhat  bolder  generally. 
The  plant  is  a  native  of  the  Himalayas  and  Java,  and  will 
probably  prove  to  be  not  hardy  in  British  gardens.  This, 
indeed,  is  the  experience  so  far.  Shown  by  Messrs.  James 
Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Chelsea. 

Okchid   Committee. 

First-class  certificates  were  given  to  :— 

J  halivnnpsis  f^anderiana  H'lV/an'A'  tJotr.— This  variety  is  a 
lovely  rose  colour,  the  interior  of  the  lip  being  white. 
Exhibited  by  Sir  Frederick  Wigan,  Bart.,  Clare  Lawn,  East 
Sheen  (Orchid  grower,  Mr.  W.  H.  Young). 

Odontoijliissum  crisintm  Lad;/  Jane.~A  remarkable  flower ; 
the  sepals  are  fairly  large,  white,  with  a  pale  pink  central 
band  ;  the  petals  are  short,  flat,  and  marked  on  the  outer 
half  with  chocolate  red.  From  J.  Wilson  Potter,  Esq., 
Park  Hill  Road,  Croydon. 

Odontoglossui/i  Pescatorci  Charlesworthii.  —  Undoubtedly 
the  finest  O.  Pescatorei  yet  exhibited.  The  flowers  are 
almost  as  large  as  a  good-sized  crispum,  the  pure  white 
sepals  and  petals  being  spotted  with  rich  purple.  Exhibited 
by  Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  Yorks. 

Oncidiuiii  varic'istuni  Cliarlesivortkti.— This  variety  has  a 
remarkably  fine,  large,  flat  lip  of  a  beautiful  rich  yellow. 
In  the  centre  of  the  lip  is  a  mass  of  pale  red  8pot3.  Alto- 
gether a  striking  flower.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford. 

Odontoglossum  wilckcanum  Imperatormn.— The  ground 
colour  of  the  sepals  and  petals  is  pale  yellow,  and  these  are 
heavily  and  regularly  marked  with  rather  a  dull  red.  A 
splendid  flower.  Exhibited  by  M.  Jules  Hye  de  Crom, 
Ghent. 

Zygopetalam  rosiratum.-The  lip  of  this  striking  flower 
is  white,  with  purple  stripes  in  the  centre ;  the  sepals 
and  petals  are  brownish  green.  Exhibited  by  Sir  Tre\ur 
Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford,  Dorking  (Orchid  grower,  Mr. 
W.  H.  White). 

Odontoglossum  Edward  Bex.  — A  splendid  flower,  the 
ground  colour  lemon,  marked  with  brownish  red.  The  lip 
is  white  except  for  a  large  brown  blotch.  Exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Sander  and  Sons,  St.  Albans. 

Lceiio-Cattleya  hyeana  splendeiis.— The  parents  of  this 
hybrid  were  Ljelia  purpurata  and  Cattleya  lawrenceana.  It 
is  a  beautiful  flower,  the  petals  a  rich  purple,  the  sepals 
rather  paler  in  colour ;  the  lip  is  a  deep  velvety  purple. 
The  colouring  of  the  whole  flower  is  very  fine.  Exhibited 
by  filessrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  Yorks. 

Odontoglossum  crispum  atdentissimum.  —  A  striking 
flower,  the  sepals  aud  petals  much  blotched  with  claret-red. 
Exhibited  by  M.  C.  Vuylsteke,  Ghent. 

Awards  of  merit  were  given  to  the  following  : — 

Cypripediuin  Godc/royiv  leucochilxun  pulchellum. — This  is 
a  charming  little  flower.  The  dorsal  sepal  is  heavily  and 
Ijeautifully  marked  with  crimson  upon  a  white  ground. 
The  petals  aUo  are  spotted  with  crimson.  From  Sir  F. 
Wigan,  Bart. 

Odontoglossum  i>Hice.— The,  somewhat  acuminate  sepals 
and  petals  are  blotched  in  the  centre  with  dull  rose  upon  a 
white  ground.  The  flowers  are  borne  on  a  loose  raceme. 
From  M.  C.  Vuylsteke,  Ghent. 

Odontogloxsum  nenijlcum. — A  fairly  large  and  beautiful 
flower,  with  regularly  placed  rosy  purple  blotches  on  petals 
and  sepals.    From  M.  C.  Vuylsteke,  Ghent. 

Odontoglossum,  concinnum. —The  somewhat  round,  slightly 
incurving  petals  and  sepals  are  plentifully  marked  with 
light  chocolate.  The  flower  is  of  medium  size.  From  M.  C. 
Vuylsteke,  Ghent. 

Cattleya  Mossiir  Aurora.— A  lovely  flower ;  the  sepals  and 
petals  are  rose  colour,  and  the  lip  is  of  striking  beauty; 
the  centre  is  splashed  with  purple,  and  the  colour  around  is 
a  lich  yellow.  The  heavily  fringed  edge  is  rosy  pink. 
From  Messrs.  Stanley,  Ashton,  and  Co.,  Southgate,  N. 

Lif'lio-Cattleya  Zephyra  alba.— The  sepals  and  petals  of 
this  flower  are  pure  white,  and  the  throat  is  lemon-yellow. 
The  edge  of  the  lip  is  tinged  very  faintly  with  purple. 
From  Francis  Wellesley,  Esq..  Westfield,  Woking. 

Odontoglossum  Alexandra-  British  Queen. — This  is  a  large 
and  beautiful  flower,  with  pure  white  sepals  and  petals. 
The  centre  of  the  lip  is  yellow,  and  there  are  red  markings 
near  the  margin.  Exhibited  by  Messrs.  Sander  and  Sons, 
St.  Albans.' 

Cattleya  Mossia'  In  Memoriam  Dr.  Sniee. — A  large  flower 
of  great  beauty,  having  rose-coloured  sepals  and  petals  and 
a  very  large  rich  purple,  beautifully  frilled  lip.  From 
Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  Enfield. 

Cattleya  Mcndeliiwisetonensis. — This  flower  is  of  splendid 
form,  tlie  sepals  and  petals  are  blush,  and  the  lip  is  a  rich 
rOse-purple,  delicately  veined.  The  throat  is  yellow,  veined 
with  reddish  purple.  From  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co., 
Enfield,  N. 

L(vlia  X  Uelen. — L.  tenebrosa  x  L  digbyana  are  the 
parents  of  this  hybrid.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  apricot- 
bufl",  the  large  frilled  lip  is  rose,  and  the  throat  cream 
colour.  A  striking  flower.  From  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford. 

Odontoglossum.  eilfpum  ear.  Calypso.— A  pretty  flower. 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  regularly  and  heavily  blotched 
with  brick  red.    From  Slessrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co. 


^fey- 


GARDEN 


-^s?- 


^^^^r- — tm 


So.  1595.— Vol.  LXL] 


[June   14,   1902. 


PRUNING  HARDY  SHRUBS 

WE  have  been  asked  by  one  of  the 
first  horticultural  amateurs  to 
give  some  information  on  the 
subject  of  when  and  how  to 
prune  hardy  shrubs.  The  right 
time  to  do  this  is  often  mistaken,  as  it  depends 
chiefly  on  whether  the  shrub  flowers  on  young 
shoots  of  the  current  year's  growth  or  on 
the  wood  ripened  the  last  season.  We  have, 
therefore,  prepared  the  following  concise 
instructions.  t 

The  art  of  pruning  properly  is  one  that  is 
acquired  by  considerable  practice  and  observa- 
tion. The  flrst  is  necessary  that  the  actual 
work  may  be  well  and  cleanly  done,  and  it  is 
only  by  observing  the  manner  and  times  of 
flowering  of  the  different  trees  and  shrubs, 
which  go  to  constitute  a  well-kept  pleasure 
ground,  that  the  proper  time  to  prune  can  be 
thoroughly  understood.  The  manner  of  pruning 
varies  considerably,  some  pinning  their  faith 
to  a  slanting  cut  towards  a  bud,  some  pre- 
ferring a  straight  cut,  while  others  again  are 
content  with  simply  slashing  off  the  useless 
wood  in  the  quickest  possible  manner.  The 
former  is  the  best  method,  as  it  does  not  present 
a  surface  for  the  lodgment  of  water,  an 
iiuportant  point  with  those  shrubs  that  are  of 
a  pithy  nature  in  the  centre  of  the  wood,  as 
the  presence  of  water  will  quickly  cause  the 
stems  to  rot  and  render  the  plant  unsightly, 
even  if  it  escapes  serious  injury.  All  stems 
that  are  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter  should  be 
tarred  over  to  keep  out  the  wet,  which  either 
rots  them  directly  or  injures  them  indirectly, 
by  making  a  moist,  congenial  home  for  the 
various  fungoid  diseases  to  which  so  many  of 
our  exotic  trees  and  shrubs  are  liable. 

Many  shrubs  which  have  been  in  one  place 
for  some  years,  and  become  stunted  or 
poorly  flowered,  are  often  given  a  new  lease 
of  life  by  a  hard  pruning  in  the  winter,  cutting 
away  all  the  old  wood  entirely,  and  shortening 
the  remainder.  With  a  good  feeding  at  the  same 
time,  they  will  thro  w  up  strong  young  shoots  full 
of  vigour,  which  will  bear  fine  and  well-coloured 
flowers.  Of  course  a  season  of  blooming  will 
be  lost  by  doing  this ;  but  it  will  be  amply 
compensated  for  in  after  years  by  a  healthy 
plant,  in  place  of  a  decrepit  and  unsightly  one. 
The  list  appended  includes  practically  every 
flowering  tree  and  shrub  hardy  in  this  country, 
with  the  proper  time  of  pruning  it.  Those  not 
specified  flower  on  the  old  wood. 

Ahelia. — This  genus  is  barely  hardy,  and  in 
most  localities  is  usually  pruned  sufiiciently  or 
too  much  by  frost.  A  moderate  thinning  of 
the  shoots  in  spring  is  sufficient. 

AcanthojMnax. — There  are  three  species  of 
this  genus  hardy  in  this  country,  and  of  these 
A.  ricinifolium  requires  no  pruning  beyond  the 
cutting  away  of  side  shoots  to  a  single  stem,  as 


it  attains  the  dimensions  of  a  tree  in  .Japan, 
its  native  country.  A.  sessiliflorum  and  A. 
spinosum  are  low-growing  shrubs,  and  require 
an  occasional  thinning  out,  which  is  best  done 
in  late  summer,  to  allow  the  remainder  to 
thoroughly  ripen  before  winter. 

Artinidia.  —  A  genus  of  climbing  plants, 
easily  grown  in  warm,  sheltered  localities.  They 
require  very  little  pruning ;  but  should  be 
watched  in  spring  when  growth  has  commenced 
or  the  twining  shoots  will  get  into  a  tangled 
and  unsightly  mass.  Any  growth  not  required 
should  be  cut  away  in  the  winter. 

JA-e/^/a.  — A  genus  of  climbing  plants,  which 
should  be  treated  in  the  same  way. 

^Escubis  (Horse  Chestnut). — The  common 
representative  of  this  requires  little  or  no 
pruning  ;  but  the  other  species  are  benefited 
by  a  thinning  out  of  misplaced  and  useless 
branches  in  late  summer  to  allow  light  and 
air  to  the  centre  of  the  tree.  This  is  especially 
important  to  all  the  tEscuIus  in  a  young  state. 
yEsculus  parviflora  should  have  a  good  thinning 
if  the  branches  or  suckers  become  at  all  thick, 
cutting  all  growths  not  required  clean  away 
from  the  base. 

Amekmchier. — These  should  be  pruned  after 
the  flowers  are  past,  the  removal  of  badly 
placed  and  weakly  shoots  being  all  that  is 
required.  If  the  plants  are  becoming  too  large 
they  can  be  shortened  back  at  the  same  time. 

Amorpha.  —  If  flowers  are  desired  of  A 
fruticosa  it  should  be  kept  thinned  out  and  not 
be  cut  back;  but  the  flowers  are  not  showy,  and 
it  i.s  usually  kept  cut  down  every  winter  for 
the  sake  of  its  foliage.  A.  canescens  should  be 
cut  down  each  spring  to  within  two  or  three 
eyes  of  the  old  wood  as  it  flowers  best  on  the 
young  growth. 

Andromeda. — The  only  recognised  species  of 
this  genus  is  A.  polifolia,  which  requires  no 
pruning. 

Aralia. — These  should  be  kept  to  a  single 
stem  until  they  have  attained  a  height  of  6  feet 
to  8  feet,  after  which  they  may  be  allowed 
to  branch  or  be  still  kept  to  a  single  stem  as 
may  be  desired. 

Arbutus. — An  evergreen  genus  which  requires 
no  pruning. 

Aristolochia. — A  genus  of  climbers,  which 
succeed  best  if  the  shoots  are  not  allowed  to 
become  too  thick.  The  weakest  should  be  cut 
away  in  the  winter. 

Artemisia. — This  genus  is  best  known  by 
its  common  representative,  the  Southernwood  ; 
but  this  and  the  other  Artemisias  should  be 
cut  down  annually  in  a  young  state.  When 
older  an  occasional  thinning  out  of  the  shoots 
in  winter  is  sufiicient. 

Baccharis.—Oi  this  B.  halimifolia  flowers 
on  the  young  wood,  and  should  be  cut  back 
annually,  while  B.  patagonica  should  not  be 
pruned  at  all. 

Berberis. — Properly  the  Berberis  requires  no 
pruning  ;  but  the  stronger -growing  species, 
such  as  B.  aristata,  B.  Lycium,  B.  viresceus,  B. 


vulgaris,  &c.,  require  an  occasional  thinning  to 
keep  them  within  bounds. 

Berchemia.—k  genus  of  climbing  plants 
which  require  no  pruning. 

Bruckenfhalia.  —A  dwarf-growing  Ericaceous 
genus,  the  seed-pods  of  which  should  be  re- 
moved as  soon  as  the  flowers  are  past  or  the 
plants  will  be  seriously  weakened. 

Bryanthus. — This  should  be  treated  the  same 
as  the  last,  which  it  somewhat  resembles. 

Buddleia.—Oi  these  B.  japoniea,  B.  inter- 
media, and  B.  lindleyana  flower  on  the  young 
wood,  and  require  cutting  back  every  winter  to 
within  two  or  three  eyes  of  the  old  wood.  B. 
globosa  need  not  be  pruned  at  all,  except  in  a 
young  state,  to  keep  it  bushy ;  and  B.  paniculata 
only  requires  thinning  out  if  it  becomes  too 
thick,  which  is  not  a  very  common  occurrence. 
Calluna  (the  Ling).— This  and  its  numerous 
varieties  should  have  the  old  flowers  cut  ofl'  as 
soon  as  they  are  past,  and  any  long  or  straggling 
growth  cut  back  at  the  same  time. 

Calophaca.— The  .solitary  representative  of 
this  genus  is  rather  inclined  to  become  straggly 
if  growing  at  all  freely.  When  this  is  the  case 
the  plant  is  benefited  bythe  cutting  back  of 
the  longer  shoots  in  the  winter. 

Galycanthus. — These  require  an  occasional 
thinning  of  the  branches,  and  any  long  shoots 
may  be  shortened  with  advantage. 

CameWf'a.— These,  which  should  be  grown 
outdoors  much  more  than  they  are,  should  be 
cut  down  if  they  get  unhealthy  or  unshapely, 
which  should  be  done  in  April,  otherwise  no- 
pruning  is  required . 

Caragana.— Cat  away  all  the  straggling  or 
misplaced  branches. 

CaraiicAae^m.— Requires  no  pruning. 
Cassandra.— ^tn  Calluna. 
Cassmirt.— These  are  grown  more  for  their 
foliage  than  for  their  flowers,  and  should  be  cut 
down  in  the  winter  or  early  spring.    This  can 
be  done  annually  or  biennially,  according  to- 
whether  the  plants  are  growing  strongly  or  not. 
Cassiope.— See  Calluna. 
Catalpa.—Th\s     genus     contains  some    of 
our  handsomest  flowering  trees,  all  of  which 
require  careful  pruning  after  the  flowers  are 
past,    thinning    out    the    weakly   wood   and 
shortening  any  long  branches. 

Ceanothus.—Oi  these  C.  americanus,  C. 
azureus,  C.  integerrimus,  and  the  garden 
hybrids,  such  as  Gloire  de  Versailles,  Marie- 
Simon,  Ceres,  &c.,  flower  on  the  young  wood, 
and  should  be  cut  back  in  spring,  allowing 
only  sufficient  shoots  to  remain  to  form  a  well- 
balanced  plant,  and  shortening  them  back  to- 
within  two  or  three  eyes  of  the  old  wood.  The 
remaining  species  flower  on  the  old  wood, 
and  merely  require  a  shortening  back  of  the 
stronger  shoots  and  a  thinning  out  of  the 
weakly  ones  after  the  flowers  are  past. 

Celastrus.—A  climlaing  genus  of  strong  and 
vigorous  habit,  with  showy  fruits.  They  only 
require  sufiicient  pruning  in  winter  to  keep- 
them  within  bounds.  J.  Clark. 

(To  be  contimied.) 


390 


THE     GARDEN. 


[JtNK  14,  i902. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE. 

Arctotis  dec'orrens  (Jacquin). 

On  page  350  of  The  Garden  is  a  reference  to 
this  rare  flower  from  Mr.  Gunibleton.  The 
description  given  is  that  the  flower  "  is  of  a  lovely 
rich  orange  colour,"  but  we  must  make  a  correction. 
Mr.  Gurableton  writes  that  " itx  flonvrfi  are  a  hiu-h 
ivhite,  with  a  claret  under  petal.  I  hope  I  may  be 
able  to  keep  this  unique  plant,  which  will  not 
ripen  seed  in  this  country.  It  never  affords 
cuttings,  as  every  shoot  is  so  full  of  flower  buds 
that  they  will  not  strike." 


Double  Scarlet  Anemones. 
One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the  Anemones  is 
the  double  scarlet  variety  shown  so  frequently  by 
Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Son,  the  Anemone  Nurseries, 
Dyke,  Bourne,  Lines.  We  have  received  from 
them  a  most  welcome  boxful  of  flowers.  Their 
colouring  is  wonderful,  an  intense  crimson,  the 
centre  quite  double,  and  with  guard  florets  of  the 
.same  deep  and  beautiful  shade.  Messrs.  Gilbert 
and  Son  write :  "  This  Anemone  has  been  in  bloom 
since  the  first  week  in  April,  and  is  now  just  over  ; 
the  specimens  sent  are  rather  small."  Small  they 
may  be,  but  the  beautiful  colouring  is  there. 


Seedling  Columbines. 
Mr.  T.  R.  Cuckney  sends  from  the  Cohhani  Hall 
Gardens,  Gravesend,  a  delightful  series  of  Aquilegia 
cierulea  seedlings.  The  flowers  are  large  but 
dainty,  and  of  many  colours — white,  rose,  purple, 
pink,  and  not  one  harsh  or  unpleasant  tone 
amongst  them.  Few  flowers  at  this  time  are  more 
beautiful  than  a  good  strain  of  Aquilegias  ;  they 
are  welcome  in  the  garden  and  on  the  table. 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


FOKTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

June  19. — Isle  of  Wight  (Ryde)  Rose  Show  ; 
Jersey  Rose  Show  ;  Meeting  of  the  Linnean 
Society. 

June  24. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
conference,  Holland  House  (two  days)  ;  Lee  and 
District  Horticultural  Show  (two  days)  ;  Oxford 
Commemoration  Show. 

June  28. — Windsor  and  Eton  Rose  Show;  Maid- 
stone Rose  Show. 

June  30. — Canterbury  Rose  Show. 

July  \. — Southampton  Rose  Show  (two  days)  ; 
Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association. 

July  2. — National  Rose  Society's  Show  in  the 
Temple  Gardens  ;  Croydon  Rose  Show  ;  Hanley 
Horticultural  Fete ;  Hereford  and  West  of  England 
Rose  Show ;  Newcastle-on-Tyne  Summer  Show 
(three  days) ;  Richmond  Horticultural  Show. 

July  3. — Colchester,  Sidcup,  and  Norwich  Rose 
Shows. 

July  4.  —  National  Rose  Society's  Southern 
Exhibition  at  Exeter. 

Coronation   Rose   Show.  —  At    this 

show,  to  be  held  at  Holland  Ho\ise,  Kensington,  on 
the  24th  and  2.5th  inst. ,  all  assistants  and  at- 
tendants at  groups  shown  by  trade  firms  must  wear 
a  badge  with  their  firm's  name.  There  can  be  no 
exceptions  made  to  this  rule.  The  badge  used  must 
be  the  one  approved  by  the  council,  and  no  other. 
The  badge  can  be  obtained  from  Mr.  Pinches, 
27,  Oxenden  Street,  London,  S.W.,  price  Is.  each. 
OakWOOd,  Wisley.— An  opportunity  is 
given  for  some  good  flower  gardener  to  continue 
the  work  of  the  late  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson  at  Wisley. 
The  experimental  garden  is  for  sale.  Particulars 
can  be  obtained  from  Mr.  H.  Wilson,  Heather- 
bank,  Weyhridge  Heath,  Surrey.  Readers  of  The 
Garden  must  have  read  about  the  plants  at  Oak- 
wood,  the  Japanese  Irises  in  particular,  and 
further  remarks  about  the  place  are  needless. 

National    Amateur    Gardeners' 

Association — Mr.   F.   Finch,   117,  Embleton 
Road,  Lewisham,  S.E.,  writes  to  remind  us  that 


the  annual  conversazione  will  take  place  at 
Winchester  House  on  July  1,  tickets  Is.  6d.  each. 
Mr.  H.  Needs,  of  Woking,  offers  a  trophy  to  be 
competed  for  at  the  July  meeting  ;  its  value  is 
three  guineas.  It  is  given  for  twelve  bunches  of 
Sweet  Peas,  distinct,  twenty  stems  in  a  bunch,  to 
be  arranged  with  Sweet  Pea  foliage.  The  trophy 
must  be  won  twice  consecutively  or  three  times  in 
all  before  it  becomes  the  absolute  property  of  the 
winner  ;  the  second  prize  is  a  small  silver  medal, 
presented  by  the  association  ;  and  the  third 
prize  a  small  bronze  medal,  presented  by  the 
association.  This  trophy  will  be  competed  for  on 
July  1  next. 

Mr.  E.  Kemp  ToOgOOd,  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  Toogood  and  Sons,  Southampton, 
has  been  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Linuean  Society. 

Rosa  rugosa  Conrad  Meyer.— That 

hybrid  rugosa  Rose  Conrad  Me3'er  is  the  only 
Rose  that  was  hardy  enough  to  withstand  the 
spring,  and  is  now  flowering  in  Scarborough,  a 
fine  thing,  and  welcome  for  its  exceptional  hardi- 
ness.— Edward  H.  Woodall,  Scarlioi-ough. 
London  Dahlia  Union.— We  are  asked 

to  announce  that  a  big  Dahlia  show  will  take 
place  at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  Westminster,  on 
September  16,  17,  and  18.  The  chairman  for  the 
present  year  is  Mr.  .John  Green,  of  Dereham,  and 
the  treasurer,  secretary,  and  superintendent  of 
the  exhibition,  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Pvanelagh  Road, 
Ealing,  W.  The  schedule  of  prizes  is  a  liberal 
one. 

Veiteh  memorial  medals. —  Amateur 

growers  of  Roses  and  gardeners  are  reminded  that  in 
addition  to  the  silver  cup  oS'ered  as  a  first  prize  by 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  in  Class  9  and  also 
in  Class  lo  of  the  schedule  of  prizes  to  be  competed 
for  at  the  conference  on  Roses  to  be  held  in 
Holland  Park,  Kensington,  on  the  24th  inst.,  the 
trustees  of  the  Veiteh  Memorial  Fund  will  award 
a  large  silver  medal,  suitably  engraved,  to  the 
winner  of  each  of  these  cups. 

Tulip  La  Merveille.— I  was  glad  to  see 

that  "  Philomel  "  included  this  grand  Tulip  in  the 
list  given  on  page  377  of  your  last  issue,  for  it  is  a 
variety  that  deserves  a  place  in  ever}'  garden, 
whether  large  or  small.  It  is  a  vigorous  grower, 
and  with  me  has  flowered  remarkably  well.  The 
flowers  are  borne  on  stout  stalks  quite  2  feet  high, 
and  are  most  handsome.  The  perianth  segments 
are  long,  giving  this  Tulip  in  the  bud  form  an 
elegant  appearance,  and  their  colour  is  a  beautiful 
blending  of  yellow,  buif,  and  red.  The  exterior  of 
each  segment  is  heavily  suffused  and  streaked  with 
carmine-red  upon  a  yellow  ground,  the  bases  of 
the  interior  of  the  perianth  segments  are  rich 
yellow,  and  above,  the  colour  is  a  richer  shade  of 
that  on  the  outside.  Add  to  this  wonderful 
colouring,  good  size,  form,  and  habit,  as  well  as 
a  delicious  Primrose  scent,  and  j'ou  have  the 
characteristics  of  Tulip  La  Merveille.  This  scent 
can  be  detected  when  the  flower  is  young. — 
A.  P.  H. 
Under   Gardeners'  competition.— 

With  reference  to  this  competition,  the  judges 
report  on  which  is  given  on  another  page,  Mr.  P. 
Murray  Thompson  (secretary  of  the  Royal  Cale- 
donian Horticultural  Society)  writes  us  that 
"  when  returning  the  plans  I  gave  each  competitor 
a  note  of  his  main  faults,  and  it  has  been  very 
gratifying  to  receive  replies  thanking  me  for  the 
notes,  and  saying  that  the  competition  had  been 
enjoyed,  had  done  the  competitor  good,  and  asking 
for  the  sketch  plan  for  the  competition  next  year, 
which  we  are  at  present  preparing.  The  manner 
in  which  this  year's  competition  has  been  taken  up 
is  very  gratifying,  and  those  whose  plans  were  not 
commended  write  that  they  will  have  another 
attempt." 

TroUius   Fortunei   plenus.— This  is 

quite  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  Globe 
Flowers  that  I  know.  The  flowers,  which  with 
me  have  not  been  very  plentifully  produced,  are  of 
remarkably  rich  colouring.  The  spreading  outer 
petals  are  a  glowing  orange  red,  and  the  long,  nar- 
row, erect  ones,  which  form  aringin  the  centre  of  the 
flower,  are  more  richly  coloured  still.  The  leaves 
of  this  Trollius  are  also  handsome,  being  deeply 
cut  and  of  a  dark  green. — A.  P.  H. 


Two  g'ood   late   white    Tulips.  —  I 

should  like  to  bring  to  the  notice  of  your  readers 
two  particularly  useful  varieties  of  late  white 
Tulips,  viz.,  Didieri  alba  and  narbonensis  alba. 
The  last  named  is  even  later  than  Didieri  alba,  and 
now  (June  .5)  is  only  just  opening.  Its  flowers  are 
not  large  but  very  choice  and  dainty.  They  are 
produced  on  stiff  stems  about  20  inches  high,  and 
are  not  more  than  H  inches  in  depth  ;  however,  the 
flowers,  being  small,  do  not  droop  and  fall  about 
as  some  of  the  heavier  ones  do.  They  remain 
bright  and  fresh  looking  throughout  their  few 
weeks  of  existence.  The  colour  of  the  perianth 
segments  is  creamy  white,  and  the  margins  of  the 
outer  ones  are  faintly  tinged  with  crimson.  At 
the  base  of  each  segment  inside  is  a  buff-coloured 
blotch,  thus  forming  a  ring  at  the  base  of  the 
flower.  Tulip  Didieri  alba  is  of  a  looser  habit 
than  the  one  just  mentioned,  the  flower  stems  are 
not  so  stiff'  and  erect,  consequently  the  flowers 
droop  more.  They  are  a  purer  white  than  those 
of  narbonensis  alba,  and  the  perianth  segments 
are  longer,  in  fact  the  flower  is  altogether 
larger  and  less  compact.  There  are  no 
markings  whatever  upon  the  white  perianth. — 
A.  P.  H. 

Messrs.  John  Waterer's  Rhodo- 
dendron exhibition. — A  numerous  com- 
pany assembled  in  the  charming  grounds  of  the 
Royal  Botanic  Society,  Regent's  Park,  on  Thursday, 
the  "ith  inst.,  on  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the 
Rhododendron  exhibition  that  has  been  an 
attraction  there  during  the  early  part  of  many 
summers.  For  some  years  past  Messrs.  John 
\Vaterer  and  Sons  have  made  the  exhibition  with 
plants  from  their  nurseries  at  Bagshot,  and  this 
season's  display  eclipses,  perhaps,  all  previous 
efforts.  The  Rhododendrons  are  arranged  in  beds 
in  a  prettily  undulating  part  of  the  grounds  that 
lends  itself  admirably  to  the  purpose,  and  these 
beds  are  now  delightful  masses  of  handsome 
flower  trusses  of  varied  colouring  such  as  the 
Rhododendron  alone  can  give.  Chief  interest  is 
directed  towards  the  central  group  of  plants, 
where  the  prominent  feature  consists  of  a  large 
clump  of  that  lovely  variety  called  Pink  Pearl, 
whose  enormous  trusses  of  pink  bells  make  it 
very  noticeable,  even  amongst  many  other  charming 
varieties.  Others  that  we  remarked  as  unusually- 
beautiful  were  Mrs.  Tritton,  bright  crimson,  light 
centre ;  Everestianum,  rosy  lilac,  most  profuse 
bloomer ;  Duchess  of  Connaught,  white,  with 
lemon -coloured  markings  ;  Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart, 
bright  clear  rose,  with  crimson  spots ;  Mrs.  Holford, 
salmon  crimson  ;  Gomer  Waterer,  white,  slightly 
blushed,  immense  truss,  &c.  But  each  bed  contains 
varieties  that  are  worthy  of  being  specially  noted 
were  it  possible  to  do  so.  Throughout  the  month 
of  June  this  unique  display  of  Rhododendrons 
will  be  well  worth  a  visit,  for  many  of  the  flowers 
are  but  just  opening. 

Notes  from  North-Eastern  Scot- 
land.— Saxifraga  macnabiana  is  a  distinct  and 
pretty  Rockfoil  now  in  flower  in  the  rock  garden, 
its  rosy  centred  flowers  being  very  attractive.  A 
bright  dash  of  colour  is  given  by  Geum  Heldrechi 
and  the  double  white  Arabis  is  a  mass  of  bloom. 
What  a  good  thing  the  latter  is.  Among  shrubs 
the  double  Spinea  prunifolia  is,  as  usual,  full  of 
flower  ;  it  is  a  plant  that  never  fails  me,  and  its 
foliage  is  very  bright  in  autumn,  beaten,  in  this 
respect,  only  by  Berberis  Thunbergi,  which  is  a 
most  attractive  shrub  at  all  seasons.  Rhodotypus 
kerrioides  is  opening  its  clean  white  flowers,  as  are 
the  Kerrias  and  Daphne  Cneorum,  this  latter  in 
the  rock  garden,  and  very  bright  it  is.  Exochorda 
grandiflora  I  cannot  get  to  flower,  and  I  should  be 
much  obliged  if  any  of  your  readers  could  help  me 
with  this  shrub.  I  have  it  growing  in  an  open 
sunny  spot ;  it  grows  well  and  is  very  healthy,  the 
bush  being  about  6  feet  high  and  more  through.  I 
have  not  touched  it  with  the  knife,  and  it  does  not 
appear  to  require  it,  as  it  grows  in  a  nice  open  way 
without  any  crowding  of  the  shoots.  The  fruit 
blossom  on  all  sorts  of  Apples,  Pears,  and  Cherries 
has  been  ver}'  rich  this  spring,  and  if  anything 
like  the  usual  proportion  sets  it  will  require  thin- 
ning very  freely.  I  do  not  think  I  have  ever  seen  a 
finer  show  of  blossom. — N.  B. 


rUNE   14,  19U2.J 


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ofthisvariet^^t^han^f^R^ru^osa   ,^^^^  ^^^^^^  „,  ,,   J  to   Ixias\  Sparaxis,   Tritonias,  and  kindred  foticed.^wing  abundan  ly  upon  m^^^^ 


House  Mr.   „„...^.,  ** o  ;    -,      .        ,^    tj    a/i  " 

which  have  thrown  up  very  strong  stems,  and  plants. -G.B.  Mallett_ 
these  are  fast  coming  into  bloom.  The  flowers,  1  RhOdodendPOn  Little  Beauty.--This 
which  are  very  large  and  of  a  clear  silvery  rose  which  is  one  of  Messrs.  Veitch  s  of  the  Javanese 
colour,  may  be  described  as  having  the  build  of  section  of  Rhododendrons,  is,  apart  from  its  own 
Gloire  de  Diion,  modified  by  the  blood  of  R.  rugosa,  intrinsic  beauty,  of  particular  interest,  from  the 
which  also  asserts  itself  in  the  character  of  the  !  fact  that  it  is,  so  far  as  I  know,  the  only  hybrid  yet 
wood  The  buds  are  numerous  towards  the  points  put  into  commerce  by  this  firm  in  the  production 
of  the  loner  shoots ;  but  below  tliem  numerous  of  which  R.  malayanum  has  plaj-ed  a  part 
strong  shoots  are  being  put  forth  from  the  vigorous    Little  Beauty  was  obtained  by  fertilising  a  flower 

„4- r  „„A  M,,..,^    wV,on  ihfi  fl.iwer-hearins  noiuts    of  the  variety  Monarch  with  pollen  ot  R.  malay- 

The    seed-bearing    parent   has    quite    an 


have  yielded  their  harvest  of  bloom  and  are  cut 
away,  as  Mr.  Hudson  intends  to  have  done,  a 
succession  of  bloom  is  certain.  There  is  no  reason, 
judging  from  the  appearance  of  the  plants,  to 
doubt  that  it  will  prove  a  free  and  continuous 
autumn  bloomer. — R.  Dean. 
Calceolaria   amplexieaulis.— In  the 


interesting  history,  being  the  result  of  intercrossing 
R.  Princess  Alexandra  and  R.  Duchess  of  Edin- 
burgh. The  parents  of  this  last  named  were  R. 
Lobbi  and  R.  brookeanum,  while  in  the  genealogy 
of  Princess  Alexandra  both  R.  jasmiiiiflorum  and 
R.    javanicum    occur.     As   a  garden  plant   Little 


reaction  against  the  over-use  of  bedding  plants  Beauty,  though  less  vigorous  than  many  of  the 
some  usefSl  tender  plants  have  been  apt  to  be  other  varieties,  is  very  beautiful  and  extremely 
overlooked  Our  gardens  are  no  longer  in  danger  '  free  flowering.  The  flowers,  which  are  borne  in 
of  being  sacrificed  to  bedding  and  bedding  only,  compact  clusters,  are  of  a  carmine-scarlet  hue, 
but  there  is  no  reason  why  the  same  tender  plants,  while  the  leaves  are  pointed  as  in  R.  malayanum. 
still      commonly      called      bedding 

plants,  should  not  be  more  thought- 

fully  used.  The  bright  sulphur- 
yellow  Calceolaria  amplexieaulis  is 
an  indispensable  plant.  There  is 
scarcely  anything  else  that  will 
give  that  mass  of  pure  pale  yellow 
in  late  summer  and  autumn,  and 
though  it  will  not  stand  out  except 
in  our  most  favoured  southern 
regions,  it  only  needs  a  cold  frame 
to  bring  it  safely  through  the 
winter. 

Spipsea  Thuntaergi.— 

This    shrubby    Spira;a    is    doubly 
worthy   of    note — first,   because  it 
is  the   earliest   of    that    extensive 
class  to  flower ;    and,  secondly,  as 
beina  one  of  the  parents  (S.  multi- 
flora"  is  the  other)  of  the  charming 
S.  arguta,  which  may  be  truthfully 
described  as  the  finest  of  all  the 
early    flowering    Spiraeas.      Spirsea 
Thunbergi,  however,  flowers  about 
a  fortnight  or  so  before  its  hybrid, 
hence  a  place  may  in  most  gardens 
be  well  found  for  both.     It  forms 
a    dense   twiggy    bush,    3    feet    to 
4feet  high,  the  slenderarching  shoots 
freely   clothed   with    small    narrow    leaves   of    a 
brighter  green  than  those  of  most  Spiraeas.     The 
blossoms,  which  develop  with  the  earliest  leaves, 
are  borne  in  such  profusion  that  when  at  their 
best   the   entire   bush   is   quite   a  mass  of  white. 
Like  many  others  of  its  section  this  can  be  brought 
on  under  glass  and  used  for  the  greenhouse  early 
in  the  year. — H.  P. 

FPeesia  aupea,  a  yellow-flowered  species, 
having  many  of  the  good  attributes  of  F.  refracta, 
should  prove  a  useful  and  interesting  plant  to  the 
amateur  who  has  a  cool  greenhouse.  The  wiry 
stems  are  tall,  three-branched,  and  each  branch 
bears  from  six  to  eight  rich  yellow,  orange-shaded 
flowers  an  inch  long,  differing  but  little  from  those 
of  F.  refracta,  save  in  their  slightly  smaller  size,  in 
their  colour,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  powerful 
sweet  scent  which  has  made  F.  refracta  so  popular. 
F.  aurea  is  an  old  plant  that  has  found  refuge  in 
one  or  two  amateur  collections  for  some  twenty 
years  ;  but  it  has  been  practically  unknown  until 
recently,  when  it  was  exhibited  at  the  Temple 
show  by  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  there  receiving 
the  Eoyal  Horticultural  Society's  award  of  merit. 
Travellers  from  South  Africa  inform  me  that  the 
plant  grows  24  feet  high  in  its  native  habitat,  and 
that  it  flowers  so  profusely  that  belts  of  it  much 
resemble  our  common  wild  Broom  so  rich  is 
the  colour.  Residents  in  warm  dry  countries 
should  particularly  note  this  plant,  for  it  is  said  to 


A    CiKOfP    OF   CALCEOLARIA   .\1U'LEXICAULIS. 


It  is  strange  that  the  variety  Monarch,  whose 
blossoms  are  orange-yellow,  should  have  been  so 
much  influenced  by  the  pollen  of  R.  malayanum 
that  the  progeny  in  nearly  every  respect  resembles 
this  last-named  species.  The  variety  Little  Beauty 
was  given  an  award  of  merit  by  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  December  15,  1896,  thus 
proving  its  value  for  winter  flowering.  Like  all 
the  rest,  however,  though  flowers  are  produced  at 
different  seasons,  the  finest  display,  as  a  rule, 
takes  place  in  early  spring. — H.  P. 
Stonecpops     as     lightning     con- 

duetOPS. — The  name  of  this  family  (Seduni)  is 
suggestive,  for  the  plants  sit  patiently  on  during 
the  extremes  of  beat  and  cold.  Bentley  enumerates 
thirteen  British  species.  The  most  frequent  are  S. 
tectorum  and  S.  acre,  possessed  of  very  opposite 
qualities.  The  former  plant  enjoys  a  curative 
reputation  amongst  old  wives  and  herbalists. 
Since  the  introduction  of  slates  the  sight  of  a  red- 
tiled  cottage  covered  with  this  Sedum  has  become 
rare — at  least  in  the  neighbourhood  of  populous 
towns.  Sixty  years  since  it  added  very  much  to 
the  picturesque  beauty  of  many  a  loof  in  the  La.ke 
District.  When  pedestiianising  in  company  with 
a  brother  pharmacist  (since  deceased)  we  admired 
a  fine  display  on  the  roof  and  outbuildings  of  a 
farmhouse.  The  tenant,  an  aged,  but  hale  and 
hearty  lady  of  primitive  manners,  volunteered  the 
information  that  a  building  was  thereby  protected 


in  Belgium,  where  it  was  known  as  "Dunder- 
blomen  ; "  at  Arras,  in  France,  it  was  styled  "  Fleur 
de  Tonnerre."  It  is  remarkable  that  this  humble 
plantshould  be  thus  recognised  in  places  so  remote 
from  each  other,  and  it  might  be  of  interest  to 
lovers  of  plant-lore  to  investigate  the  subject,  and 
if  possible  extract  the  extent  and  origin  of  the 
legend,  which  may  date  from  remote  antiquity. — 
Phai-maceutical  Journal.  [It  is  quite  likely  that  a 
mass  of  a  succulent  plant  such  as  a  Stonecrop, 
containing  as  it  does  a  large  proportion  of  water, 
may  act  in  the  way  described,  and  in  very  truth 
by  attracting  the  electric  current  to  itself  divert  it 
from  the  house.  Perhaps  some  scientific  reader 
will  kindly  give  a  further  opinion. — Ed.] 

New    Cactus    Dahlias.— Of    the  new 

Cactus  Dahlias  exhibited  last  season,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  in  colour  is  Sailor  Prince,  being  of  a 
rich  claret-crimson  hue,  while  the  flowers  are  of 
quite  the  most  approved  Cactus  shape.    Its  quality 
last  season  was  recognised  by  the  London  Dahlia 
Union  at  the  Royal  Aquarium  and  by  the  Boston 
Dahlia  Society,  in  each  case  a  first- 
class     certificate     of    merit    being 
awarded    to    it,    while    the    Royal 
Horticultural  Society  recognised  it 
by  the  award  of  merit.     It  is  being 
distributed  by  the  raiser,  Mr.  John 
Green  (Hobbies  and  Co.),  Norfolk 
Nurseries,    Dereham.      Mr.    Green 
has    paid    particular    attention    to 
habit     of     growth,     holding     that 
the  Cactus   Dahlia  has  other  pur- 
poses to  serve  than  merely  as  an 
exhibition    flower.       This    variety 
grows  to  a  height  of  from  4  feet  to 
4i  feet,  and  the  blooms  are  produced 
well    above   the   foliage   on   strong 
stifl'  stems,    while    it   is  very   free 
for    a    Cactus     Dahlia ;     it    is    an 
excellent     garden    variety.       Miss 
Grace  Cooke  is  one  of  those  charm- 
ing   rose    and    white   varieties    of 
the  type  of   Delieata  of  which  we 
have  too  few.    It  was  shown  in  fine 
character  by  Mr.  Green  at  Shrews- 
bury last  August,   and  obtained   a 
first-class  certificate.     In  height  it 
is  about  34  feet.    Not  having  seen  it 
growing,   I  am  unable  to  say  any- 
thing as    to    its   habit   of   growth, 
but  the  raiser  states  it  is  very  good.     Flamingo, 
another  of   the   Dereham  seedlings,  has,  in  addi- 
tion to  its  intense  flame  colour,  fimbriated  petals. 
I  saw   this  exhibited  on  two  or  three  occasions, 
and    though    it    failed     to     gain    an    award,     it 
must    be     remembered     that     last    season     was 
remarkable    for    the    number    of    very   fine   new 
varieties  which  obtained  awards,  and  some  failed 
which,  perhaps,  well  deserved  recognition.     But  it 
is  certain  to  make  an  excellent  garden  variety,  the 
habit  is  good,  and  the  blooms  freely  produced  on 
long  stiff'  foot  stalks.— R.  De.an. 


IMPRESSIONS  OF  A  CRUISE 
AMONGST  THE  W^  E  S  T 
INDIAN    ISLANDS, 

(Continued  from  page  3S6.) 
Coming  home  fresli  from  such  scenes  it  is 
hard  to  avoid  generalising,  and  before  now 
your  readers  must  have  wondered  when  they 
were  to  get  some  account  of  the  vegetable  life 
of  the  islands. 

To  give  some  faint  idea  of  the  flowers,  <fec. 
that  one  sees  during  an  ordinary  drive,  I  will 
give  a  list  of  the  wild  plants  which  we  recognised 
when  driving  wp  3,700  feet  from  Kingston  to 
Newcastle,    a  military  station  on  the  hills  :— 


392 


THE    GAKDEJN 


[June  14, 1902. 


Maurandias  in  variety;  Browallia,  Cuphea, 
Daturas,  both  white  and  yellow  ;  Bletia, 
Passion  Flowers  of  two  kinds,  several  distinct 
Solanums,  Lantana,  Hippeastrum  equestre, 
many  species  of  Begonia,  "  Burning  Bush " 
(Pilea  serpyllifolia),  Ageratum,  Agave,  Lyonia 
(very  near  Andromeda),  Red  Salvia,  Oxalis, 
and  Rose  Apple,  the  flowers  of  which  are  like 
a  large  Eucalyptus  bloom.  Higher  up  we  saw 
masses  of  what  was  obviously  Hedychium,  the 
only  thing  in  the  list  not  actually  in  flower. 
Besides  these  there  were  innumerable  plants 
and  trees  in  bloom  which  were  strange  to  us, 
and  in  many  places  the  roadside  was  carpeted 
with  Ferns,  including  occasional  patches  of 
Glycine,  each  patch  many  acres  in  e.xtent.  It 
must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  hills  also  were 
covered  with  fine  trees  of  Bread-fruit,  Mango, 
Silk  Cotton  Trees,  giant  Palms  of  many  kinds, 
&c.,  while,  on  crossing  the  divide,  the  other 
side  of  the  mountain  is  freely  dotted  with  Tree 
Ferns,  the  elevation  being  about  4,000  feet. 

To  attempt  to  describe  the  individual  flowers 
is  entirely  beyond  my  ]iower,  and  I  will  therefore 
only  make  a  selection  of  the  most  showy  and 
striking  of  the  trees,  shrubs,  A-c,  which  were  in 
bloom  during  our  visit,  adding  a  few  of  those 
which,  although  not  in  flower,  were  remarkable 
for  some  other  reason.  First  of  all,  amongst 
the  latter  must  be  placed  for  beauty  of  foliage 
the  Bread-fruit,  while  for  size  alone  I  think 
the  Silk  Cotton  Tree  (Eriodendron  anfractuo- 
sum)  stands  first,  a  handsome  but  useless  tree, 
with  enormous  buttresses  of  roots  ;  the  negroes 
consider  it  a  sacred  tree  (or  rather  the  reverse), 
and  believe  that  the  man  who  cuts  one  down 
will  die  within  a  year  ;  this  superstition  may 
possibly  account  for  the  survival  of  so  many 
grand  old  specimens,  amongst  which  "Tom 
Cringle's  Cotton  Tree  "  is  shown  in  .Jamaica  as 
the  largest  tree  in  the  island.  In  form  and 
stature  the  Cabbage  Palm  (Oreodoxa  oleracea) 
could  not  be  beaten  ;  some  specimens  are  said 
on  good  authority  to  be  over  1.50  feet  in  height. 
The  Sandbox  Tree  (Hura  crepitans)  has  the 
quaintest  of  fruit,  used  by  the  negroes  for 
making  letter  weights  for  sale  to  tourists. 
They  take  out  the  centre  and  fill  up  the  space 
with  lead.  We  were  warned  that  the  fruit  when 
dry  would  explode  unless  the  inside  was  first 
taken  out,  but  we  preferred  chancing  this,  with 
the  result  that  of  the  two  brought  away  the 
larger  one  burst  after  hanging  up  in  the  calsin 
for  a  week,  scattering  itself  all  over  the  place, 
many  of  the  pieces  reaching  the  extreme  limit 
of  the  cabin.  The  smaller  one  has  now,  after 
hanging  up  for  just  two  months,  "exploded" 
and  covered  the  billiard  table  from  end  to  end. 
Unfortunately,  we  were  not  present  on  either 
occasion,  but  to  judge  by  the  ettect  the  force 
must  have  been  considerable. 

Of  Crotons,  of  which  there  are  over  a  dozen 
species  in  Jamaica  alone,  one  cannot  speak  too 
highly.  Any  of  our  leading  nurserymen  would 
be  proud  to  show  a  stand  of  Crotons  equal  to 
what  can  be  seen  in  any  of  the  tiny  gardens 
with  which  the  natives  invariably,  in  all  the 
islands,  surround  their  tumble  -  down  little 
shanties.  In  such  glorious  sun  these  Crotons 
are  grandly  coloured,  and  when  one  comes 
across  some  of  the  newer  forms,  a.'^  in  the 
beautiful  grounds  of  the  Russian  Consul  at  St. 
Thomas,  the  efi'ect  is  very  striking  ;  the 
plants  all  seem  to  enjoy  perfect  health,  and, 
apparently,  nearly  entire  freedom  from  insect 
pests.  Not  only  do  the  coloured  people  grow 
Crotons,  but  almost  all  have  besides  other 
things  at  least  one  plant  of  Hibiscus,  and  in 
some  cases  whole  hedges  of  it,  so  that  one  is 
rarely  anywhere  where  one  could  not  pick  a 
handful  of  the  brilliant  scarlet  flowers.  I  am 
glad    to    say   that    I    only   saw    one    double 


Hibiscus  during  my  visit,  for  it  is  not  to  be 
compared  with  the  .single  form,  at  any  rate 
when  growing  out  of  doors. 

In  a  great   measure   what   I   have   said   of 
Crotons  applies  to  Cannas,  for  they  also  grow 
and  bloom  in  such  perfection  that,  on  hearing 
that    only  the    old   or   what   we   would    call 
common   varieties    were    grown,    I    strongly 
recommended  Mr.  Fawcett  to  get  over  some  of 
the  best  of  the  new  kinds,  when  he  would  be 
startled   to  see  the  improvement.    Surely  it 
would  be  worth  while  for  some  of  the  leading 
growers  to  send  out  their  new  seed  to  be  raised 
under  such  favourable  circumstances.  Another 
striking    tree    is    Napoleona    imperialis,    the 
curiously-coloured  flowers  of  which  cling  to  the 
bark,  occasionally  causing  the  petals  to  meet 
on  the  oppo.site  .side  of  the  smaller  boughs  in  a 
most  quaint  manner.  A  large  number  of  species 
of  Palms  have  been  introduced  from  time  to 
time,  and  all  do  well,  adding  greatly  to   the 
beauty  of  the   more   cultivated    parts   of  the 
islands.   So  far  as  one  could  see  there  were  not 
many  species  of  Bamboo  ;  in  fact,  in  many  of  the 
islands   we   did   not   see   any,   and    the   most 
curious    was   one    very    strong-growing    kind 
which,   when    at    a    height   of   about    G    feet 
from    the    ground,    turned    inwards  at  right 
angles,  making   the   most   impenetrable   mass 
conceivable.     There  was  also  a  kind  with  solid 
stems  ;  possibly  this  was  not  a  Bamboo  at  all, 
but  it  was  so  named  by  the  foreman  of  one  of 
the    gardens.       The    Screw    Pine    (Pandanus 
Vandermeeschii)  was  most  distinct,  and  of  this 
we  managed  to  bring  home  a  fruit,  which  looks 
as  if  it  would  last  for  years  without  losing  its 
character.     The  leaves  of  the   Gamboge  are 
large    and    very   handsome,    owing    to    their 
highly-polished  appearance  ;  the  fruit  is  sliced 
and    the    gum    which   runs   out   is   collected. 
Turmeric,   Cinnamon,  and   Clove   are  all   in- 
teresting,   the    latter    especially    so,  because 
being  in  bud  we  were  able  to  see  for  ourselves 
that  it  was  the  bud  and  not  the  fruit  which, 
when  dried,  became  the  Clove  of  commerce. 
The  one  species  of  Entada  which  we  saw  is 
said  to  bear  the  largest  seed-pod  of  any  tree  in 
the  i.sland,  and  this  is  saying  a  good  deal,  for 
the   many  species   of   Acacia   are   hung   with 
enormous    quantities    of    seed-|iods    of    large 
size,  as  is  also  the  "Flamboyant"  (I  do  not 
know  the  botanical  name),  which  Mr.  Fawcett 
said  was  considered  the  handsomest  flowering 
tree  in  the  West  Indies  ;  it,  however,  does  not 
bloom  until  the  summer.  I  have  just  measured 
the  Entada  seed-pod  which  we  brought  home 
with  us  and  find  that  it  is  26  inches  long  and 
■2  inches  wide.     The  Spathodea  (query  sp.)  is  a 
highly  ornamental  tree,  both  on  account  of  its 
flowers  and  foliage  ;  the  former  are  of  a  bright 
yellow  orange  and  in  shape  not  unlike  a  Tulip. 
The  fruit  of  the  Calabash  (Crescentia  Cujete) 
takes  the  place  of  pottery  with  the   natives. 
We  gathered  a  couple  to  bring  home,  and  when 
scooped  out  and  thoroughly  dried  they  look  as 
if  they  would  last  for  ever.     The  leaves  of  the 
tree  are  small  and  of  a  bright  green,  and  the 
branches  numerous  but  long  and  slender.     As 
the  large  fruit  comes   at  the  tips  of    these 
branches     the    weight     bends     them    almost 
straight  down,  making  the  tree  unmistakably 
recognisable  after  having  been  once  identified. 
The  fruit  of  the  Cannon  Ball  Tree  (Couroupita 
guianensis)  is  used  in  a  similar  manner,  but 
the  tree  growing  to  a  large  size  it  is  almo.'-t 
alarming  to  think  what  would  happen  if  one  of 
the  very  formidable  "  Cannon  Balls "  should 
fall  on  the  head  of  any  passer-by  !     The  Star 
Apple  (Chrysophyllum  Cainito)  is  remarkable 
both  for  the  golden  colour  (as  the  botanical 
name  implies)  of  the  underside  of  the  leaves, 
which  alone  make  it  a  distinct  feature  in  the 


landscape,  and  for  its  fruit,  which  is  about  the 
size  of  an  ordinary  Apple,  and  is  pleasant  to 
the  taste.  A.  Kingsmill. 

(  To  bt  continued. ) 


THE  UNHEATED  GREENHOUSE. 

(Continued  from  paye  3S1.) 
Another  very  charming  hardy  perennial  is  the 
white  form  of  the  Peach-leaved  Bell-flower  (Cam- 
panula persicifolia).  To  get  it  to  flower  in  early 
spring  requires  considerable  forethought,  as  the 
foundation  for  the  next  season  must  be  laid  in  the 
previous  April,  but  the  way  to  manage  it  is  as 
follows  :  Good  side  pieces  must  be  chosen  which 
show  no  sign  of  sending  up  flowering  stems  or  the 
plant  will  be  in  bloom  before  it  is  wanted.  These 
should  be  potted  firmly  in  good  loam,  in  7-inch 
pots,  and  plunged  at  once  in  an  outside  border.  In 
the  autumn  the  pots  must  be  transferred  to  a  cold 
frame  like  most  other  plants  which  are  being 
brought  on  gently  for  early  flowering,  and  later  be 
removed  to  the  greenhouse,  where  the  spikes  of 
pure  white  flowers  will  be  very  acceptable.  There 
are  many  garden  forms,  single  and  double,  of  this 
Bell-flower,  of  which  the  type  is  blue,  but  a  very 
good  one  for  the  purpose  in  view  is  that  known  as 
the  large  white  Cambridge  variet}'.  The  pre- 
paratory process  thus  sketched  will  be  found 
useful  for  other  harbaceou.s  plants,  and  may  be 
tried  with  modifications  for  any  perenuial  which 
seems  in  the  grower's  fancy  to  be  suitable  and 
desirable.  Heuchera  sanguinea  with  its  spikes  of 
carmine-red,  Tiarella  cordifolia,  the  feathery  white 
plumes  of  which  are  never  out  of  place,  though 
never  so  lovely  as  in  their  native  woods,  the  long 
spurred  Rocky  Mountain  Columbines  (Aquilegia 
cuTulea  and  A.  chrysantha)  are  all  wikl  flowers 
of  the  New  World,  well  known  now  in  our  best 
gardens,  but  they  may  be  pressed  into  the  service 
of  the  cold  greenhouse  should  circumstances 
suggest  their  use.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that 
plants  can  be  educated,  so  to  speak,  to  change 
their  time  of  flowering.  A  species  for  example 
which  flowers  naturally  in  June,  by  an  altera- 
tion of  treatment  and  temperature  may  be 
induced  to  bloom  in  April.  The  following  season 
in  all  probability,  with  the  same  treatment,  the 
flowers  will  appear  a  month  earlier,  until,  instead 
of  midsummer,  that  particular  specimen  gradually 
becomes  accustomed  to  open  its  flowers  in  spring. 
This  tendency  to  change  the  habit  is  a  very  useful 
one,  and  should  be  turned  to  the  best  advantage 
by  the  cold  house  gardener. 

Primroses  of  several  different  types  are  valuable 
in  the  earlier  months  of  the  year  and  follow  each 
other  in  obliging  succession.  Dean's  hybrid  forms 
of  the  common  Primrose  (P.  acaulis)  make  pretty 
groups  of  many  shades — pure  white,  lilac,  and  deep 
crimson  being  found  amongst  them,  as  well  as  the 
normal  primrose  colour.  In  arranging  these  in  a 
greenhouse  it  is  well  to  group  them  in  gradations 
of  one  colour,  otherwise  the  variety  is  so  great  that 
they  are  apt  to  lose  their  refinement  of  character, 
which  is  never  the  case  when  care  is  taken  in  the 
juxtaposition  of  tones.  The  fine  race  of  Polyanthus 
Primrose  may  be  used  in  the  same  way,  and  if 
there  be  no  wild  garden  or  bit  of  mossy  woodland 
where  they  can  be  grown  as  Nature  would  have 
them,  it  is  a  moot  question  whether  the  next  best 
way  of  enjoying  these  beautiful  plants  is  not  in 
the  cold  greenhouse,  coaxed  into  flower  a  little  in 
advance  of  their  kith  and  kin  out  of  doors. 
Primula  Sieboldii,  of  very  different  character  to 
either  of  the  above,  is  another  elegant  species, 
especially  when  the  best  hybrid  forms  are  chosen, 
as  the  type  unfortunately  has  flowers  of  rather  an 
ugly  shade  of  rose-purple,  but  this  has  been  much 
improved  upon  by  careful  selection  and  inter- 
crossing. This  Primrose  throws  up  its  tall  slender 
stems  and  clusters  of  six  to  ten  large  flowers  well 
above  the  pale  green  leaves,  and  is  very  distinct. 
It  is  also  better  suited  for  pot  culture  than  for  the 
garden  on  account  of  the  thin  fragile  nature  of 
both  flowers  and  leaves,  which  are,  moreover, 
deciduous.  The  creeping  rhizomes,  which  are 
slender  and  not  very  noticeable,  are  apt  to  be 
dug  up  and  lost  in  the  open  border,  and  therefore 


June  U,  1902,] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


393 


it  is  a  good  practice  to  divide  aud  repot 
the  plants  as  soon  as  the  leaves  show 
signs  of  dying  down.  The  pans,  for  these 
are  best  tor  this  Primrose,  can  be 
plunged  in  a  shady  place  to  take  care  of 
themselves  until  the  time  arrives  in  the 
autumn  to  remove  them  to  the  frame  or 
greenhouse,  when  they  will  need  nothing 
more  than  a  little  top-dressing.  Auri- 
culas, too,  of  the  so-called  alpine  section, 
are  very  good,  and  it  is  interesting  to 
raise  seedlings  both  of  Primroses  and 
Auriculas,  taking  care  in  the  first  instance 
to  buy  seed  of  a  thoroughly  reliable  strain, 
and  afterwards  by  rigorous  selection  and 
casting  away  of  all  doubtful  and  mixed 
colours,  to  work  up  a  first-rate  stock  of 
one's  own  choosing.  All  these  are  com- 
mon every-day  plants,  yet  a  most 
effective  greenhouse  display  can  be  made 
in  early  winter  and  spring  out  of 
materials  such  as  these,  with  a  few 
bulbs  and  hardy  greenery  to  match,  r  t 
It  is  more  interesting  still  to  grow 
uncommon  plants.  One  such,  not  to 
wander  from  the  Primrose,  is  a  Javan 
species,  which  has  been  known  for 
perhaps  half  a  century  to  explorers  by 
the  name  of  the  Royal  Cowslip,  but  is 
nevertheless  comparatively  uew  to  cul- 
tivation and  is  still  rarely  met  with. 
The  climate  of  Java  is  tropical,  but  it 
has  lofty  mountains,  whereon,  at  an 
elevation  of  some  9,000  feet.  Primula 
imperialis  is  found  in  company  with 
Buttercups,  Violets,  Honeysuckle,  and 
other  familiar  English  plants,  choosing,  however, 
only  to  grow  in  moist,  cool  spots,  under  the  shade 
of  bushes  or  in  thickets.  As  far  as  is  known,  this 
particular  species  is  to  be  found  in  no  other  part 
of  the  world.  To  give  some  idea  of  this  giant  of 
its  race,  it  may  be  said  that  it  sends  up  a  stout 
flower  stem  some  3  feet  high,  from  a  rosette  of 
very  large  and  long  Primrose-like  leaves.  The 
flowers,  which  are  borne  in  whorls — in  this  respect 
resembling  some  other  Asiatic  Primulas — are  of  a 
shade  of  yellow,  deepening  into  orange,  peculiar 
to  itself,  and  it  is  in  all  ways,  when  well  grown,  a 
fine  and  striking  plant.  The  difiiculty  has  been  to 
get  foreign  seed  to  germinate,  but  ripe  seed  has 
now  been  perfected  by  home-grown  plants,  and 
probably  it  only  needs,  like  so  many  of  the 
Primrose  family,  to  be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  to 
sprout  quickly  and  freely.  The  Royal  Cowslip 
may  be  given  as  a  type  of  many  another  rare  and 
beautiful  plant  which  will  adapt  itself,  under 
loving  culture,  to  the  cold  greenhouse.  Never- 
theless, it  takes  some  enthusiasm,  no  less  than 
painstaking,  to  enable  us  to  get  off  the  beaten 
track  of  every-day  garden  routine  and  seek  out  i 
for  ourselves  the  far-off  treasures  of  distant  lands 

K.  L.  D. 


THE  GREAT  ALPINE  ROCKFOIL  (SAXIFRAGA  PTEAMIDALIS).     (From  a  photograph  sent  by  Mr.  S.  W.  Fitzherbert.) 


be  found  beneficial.  On  the  rock  garden  the  plants 
require  to  be  planted  annually,  and  new  soil  should 
be  given  them  when  this  takes  place ;  (i  inches 
apart  will  be  sufficient,  and,  if  vigorous  and 
healthy,  the  plants  will  very  soon  almost  meet 
each  other.  They  make  a  pretty  group  in  the  open, 
and  are  much  appreciated  by  those  who  have  only 
seen  the  wild  species  on  the  Alps. 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 


THE    GREAT    ALPINE 
ROCKFOIL. 

A   S  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration, 

/\  this    is    one    of    the    most    beautiful 

/  %         Saxifrages  that  could  well  be  grown, 

/      \        and  all  who  possess  a  garden,  however 

J  J^     small  it  may  be,  can  have  this  floral 

pyramid    in    the    greatest    perfection 

without  artificial  heat.     It  is  biennial   so  far   as 

that  the   rosettes  producing  the  flowers  die  when 

the  season  is  over,  but  previously  from  the  base  of 

these  old  crowns  are  produced  from  six  to  a  dozen 

or  more  of  young  ones  ready  to  take  their  place 

the  next  year.     When  the  plant  is  used  for  indoor 

decoration,  these  young  crowns  are  taken  off  and 

potted  in  good  rich  compost,  grown  on  in  a  cool 

north   house   or   frame,  and   shifted   as   required, 

until   finally,  they  reach  the  pots  in  which 'they 

are  intended  to  flower.     When  the  plants  become 

pot-bound,  a  weak  solution  of  liquid  manure  will 


NEW  CUSHION  IRISES. 
The  Onoocyclus  Irises  have  been  much  enriched 
by  the  addition  of  two  really  magnificent  varieties 
of  strong  growth,  with  flowers  equal  to  those  of 
the  be=it  of  the  genus.  Moreover,  one  year's 
cultivation,  though  insufficient  for  a  definite 
opinion,  shows  that  they  are  not  likely  to  prove 
difficult  to  manage,  for  70  per  cent,  of  the  plants 
have  flowers,  many  bearing  more  than  one. 

I.  sofaraiia  mfujiiifica. — This  grows  18  inches 
high,  and  has  erect  subfalcate  leaves,  and  from  one 
to  two  flowers,  the  petals  of  which  are  semi- 
transparent.  The  standards  are  2i  inches  wide, 
4  inches  long,  and  rich  purple  in  colour  at  their 
bases,  shading  to  a  silver  grey  towards  the  top, 
heavil}'  and  minutely  spotted  with  chocolate,  and 
profusely  veined  with  fine  pui-jilish  tracery 
throughout.  Though  much  darker,  the  standards 
have  much  of  the  elegant  outline  of  those  of  I. 
Gatesi.  The  unusually  large  falls  of  the  I.  susiana 
type  and  shorter  style  branches  are  a  rich  brown- 
purple,  whilst  the  signal  is  velvety  black,  a 
heavy  beard  of  purple  hairs  extending  from  this 
black  signal  to  the  base  of  the  claw.  The  flower 
has  a  certain  resemblance  to  that  of  I.  susiana,  but 
it  is  much  more  refined,  the  standards  and  edges 
of  the  falls  in  particular  being  "shot"  with  a 
lustrous  metallic  sheen  which  intensifies,  diminishes 
or  changes  under  the  influences  of  varying  degrees 
of  light.  Though  the  flowers  produced  by  these 
semi-established  plants  are  very  large  and  beautiful, 
they  do  not  appear  to  have  attained  more  than 
half  the  size  of  dried  specimens  collected  in  a 
wild  state.  The  other,  a  great  beauty,  has  been 
called 

/.  Inpitui  fohusta. — It  is  similar  in  stature  to  the 
foregoing  The  standards  are  silver  grey,  veined 
with  brown,  deepening  near  the  mid-ribs  to  a 
glistening  bronze.  The  style  branches  are  coloured 
old  gold  with  grey  crests,  veined  with  brown, 
whilst  the  falls,  which  are  smaller  than  the 
standards,  are  old  gold,  or  rather  paler,  "shot" 
with  tints  of  pale  green  and  grey,  and  veined  with 


very  delicate  tracery  of  a  bronzy  tint,  the  middle 
of  the  blade  being  furnished  with  a  "  signal"  spot 
of  royal  purple  as  large  as  a  shilling  piece.  The 
beard  running  along  the  claw  of  the  blade  is  of  a 
rioh  yellow  tint.  Nothing  short  of  a  well-executed 
water-colour  painting  could  convey  a  correct 
portrait  of  these  Irises  to  the  mind  of  the  reader. 
Geo.  B.  Mallett. 


TULIPA  MICHELIANA  AND 
T.  GAL.^TICA. 
I  AM  glad  that  Mr.  G.  B.  Mallett  admires  these 
Tulips,  both  of  which  add  greatly  to  the  interest 
of  a  garden,  alike  by  their  beauty  and  by  their 
general  distinctness  from  others  of  this  vaiied 
family.  I  added  both  of  these  to  my  collection  in 
1901,  and  have  been  pleased  with  their  flowering 
this  spring.  The  first  is  a  species  which  remijids 
one  much  of  T.  Greigi  before  it  comes  into  bloom, 
although  the  marking  of  its  leaves  is  not  so  bold 
or  conspicuous  as  on  the  foliage  of  that  fine 
species.  When  in  flower  it  is,  however,  apart 
from  the  colouring,  quite  distinct  from  T.  Greigi, 
being  of  taller  habit  and  the  length  of  the  stems 
more  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  flowers.  T. 
galatica  is  a  distinct  thing,  and  one  is  pleased  to 
see  that  Mr.  Mallett  considers  it  a  true  species. 
One  cannot  improve  upon  the  descriptions  of  these 
flowers  as  given  by  your  contributor  on  page 
357-8.  S.  Arnott. 

CAMASSIA    LEICHTLINI    SEEDLINGS. 

Some  seedlings  of  Camassia  Leichtlini  were  offered 
by  a  firm  of  the  highest  repute  in  England  during 
the  course  of  last  autumn.  They  were  said  to  be 
varied  in  colour  and  in  shade,  and  those  who  like 
the  appearance  of  the  Quamashes  could  not  fail  to 
be  attracted  by  the  prospect  of  adding  some  new 
flowers  to  their  collections.  Of  the  few  bulbs  I 
purchased  the  greater  number  have  already 
flowered,  and  only  one  or  two  are  still  to  open, 
and  I  must  say  that  I  have  not  yet  seen  any  reason 
to  regret  the  cost,  not  a  great  one.  These  seedling 
varieties  have  generally  produced  very  handsome 
spikes  of  flower,  and  the  colours  have  varied  from 
almost  pure  white  to  a  rather  deep  blue,  with 
some  intermediate  shades  of  pale  blue  and  lilac. 
I  regret  that  I  do  not  know  who  is  the  raiser  of 
these  varieties,  but  the  results  of  the  work  lead 
one  to  hope  for  a  still  further  development  of  the 
Quamash    now   that    someone    has    taken   up   its 


394 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  14,  19v.2. 


inijjiovemeat.  With  tlieir  Asphodel-like  habit 
these  Quamashes  are  handsome  flowers  for  May 
and  June.  S.  Arn'ott. 


ALYSSUM  SAXATILE  FLORE-PLENO. 

Okf,  is  pleased  to  see  that  this  useful  variety  of  the 
Old  Rook  Madwort  has  been  brought  before  you 
from  that  collection  of  treasures,  Mr.  Gunibleton's 
garden  at  Belgrove.  It  has  flowered  in  the  open 
garden  here  for  two  seasons  now,  and  one  can  all 
the  more  appreciate  its  good  qualities,  especially 
after  a  storm  of  rain  which  has  taken  all  the 
brightness  from  the  single  form,  while  the  double 
one  is  as  bright  as  before.  Unlike  some  double 
varieties  of  favourite  flowers,  the  double  Rock 
Madwort  i.=  as  free  in  its  growth  and  its  bloom  as 
the  single,  and  a  clump  of  about  IJ  feel  across  is 
exceedingly  cheerful  looking  on  one  of  the  rockeries 
here  at  present.  Its  propagation  is  ell'eeled  liy 
means  of  cuttings,  struck  under  a  handlighl  when 
the  flowering  is  over.  S.  Arnott. 

Carsethorn,  hy  Dumfries,  N.B. 


THE     ROSE    GARDEN. 

ROSE     GROWING     NEAR     LONDON. 
Advice  to  Beginnee.s. 

1  OFTEN  wonder  why  the  amateur 
gardener,  more  particularly  the  sub- 
urban amateur  gardener,  does  not  go 
in  more  for  Roses.  I  come  into 
contact  with  a  good  many  suburban 
residents,  and  I  must  confess  that  with 
very  few  exceptions  they  take  up  a  position  with 
regard  to  Roses  and  Rose  growing  somewhat  of 
this  kind  :  "Roses  !  Yes  I  tried  a  few  standards, 
but  they  were  a  failure.  I  have  a  Gloire  de 
Dijon  and  a  red  Rose  I  don't  know  the  name 
of,  but  it  is  quite  useless  trying  to  grow  Roses 
in  my  garden."  Further  enquiries  as  to  his 
reason.?  for  the  conclusion  he  has  arrived  at, 
elicit  the  fact  that  he  is  far  too  near  London, 
and  that  his  soil  is  not  suitable,  or  he  lays 
the  fault  at  the  door  of  his  gardener,  or  any- 
thing rather  than  the  right  one,  which  is  that 
he  is  too  lazy  to  take  the  slight  amount  of 
trouble  necessary  to  find  out  how  to  grow 
Roses  in  his  own  particular  garden.  I  under- 
take to  say  that  there  is  no  garden,  however 
small,  so  long  as  sun  and  fresh  air  reach  it, 
outside  the  four  mile  radius  from  Charing 
Cross  that  will  not  grow  Roses  of  some  sort 
or  another,  and  grow  them  well. 

1  do  not  now  propose  to  enter  into  the  neces- 
sary details  how  to  grow  Roses,  but  the  details 
can  be  found  in  a  former  article,  if  anyone  is 
sufficiently  curious,  that  ajjpeared  in  The 
Garden  (see  page  312)  October  20,  1900. 

But  the  Rose-showing  season  is  almost  upon 
u.s,  and  the  great  Rose  show  of  this  great  Rose 
year,  to  be  held  at  the  Temple  Gardens,  Vic- 
toria Eml:)ankment,  by  the  National  Rose 
Society,  on  July  2,  will  attract  many  people, 
some  of  whom,  as  a  result  of  their  visit,  will 
probably  make  up  their  minds  to  grow  Roses. 

If  they  are  resident  in  or  near  London,  or  if 
they  have  but  little  experience  of  Rose  grow- 
ing, a  word  or  two  of  advice,  what  to  do  and 
what  not  to  do,  may  be  useful.  The  essential 
thiugs  to  remember  are  a  suitable  selection  of 
varieties,  the  proper  preparation  of  the  beds, 
and  careful  and  firm  planting. 

To  deal  with  the  first  essential.  Rose  grow- 
ing for  exhibition  with  any  chance  of  success 
is  not  to  be  lightly  attempted  by  the  novice; 
it  is  a  science  that  requires  daily  attention, 
accurate  knowledge,  and  no  little  experience  of 
the  requirements  of  each  particular  Rose.  At 
the  same  time,  it  is  one  of  the  most  pleasure- 
giving  hobbies  I  know,  and  when  one  has 
gained  the  necessary  experience  it  is  a  hobby 


that  as  a  general  rule  will  last  one's  life.  That 
by  the  way.  One  must  creep  before  one  can 
walk,  and  that  is  essentially  true  of  Rose  grow- 
ing. Do  not  go  to  the  show  and  order  two  of 
each  of  the  medal  blooms,  and  two  more  each 
of  such  others  as  take  your  fancy.  A  lady 
friend  sent  tne  a  list  of  Roses  after  last  Temple 
.show  that  she  prop  sed  ordering.  I  remember 
that  it  started  with  six  Coratesse  de  Nadaillac, 
and  contained  undoubtedly  the  pick  of  the 
most  beautiful  Roses  in  the  show,  but  there 
was  absolutely  no  chance  of  the  trees  (sup- 
posing they  had  been  ordered)  producing 
.similar  blooms  to  those  she  had  seen. 

No,  the  ordinary  gardener  who  does  not 
propose  to  show  Roses,  but  wants  good  blooms 
and  plenty  of  them,  can  get  them  now  for  the 
asking,  which  he  cannot  do  if  he  wants  show 
Roses.  He  also  could  not  have  done  this 
ten  years  ago.  Few  gardeners  (and  particularly 
the  local  nurserymen,  and  more  particularly 
the  handy-man,  who  tidies  up,)  realise  the  great 
change,  a  revolution  one  might  not  incorrectly 
term  it,  that  has  come  over  the  Rose  world  in 
that  space  of  time.  It  is  possible  now  to  have 
beautiful  Roses  not  flowering  as  they  used  to 
in  July  only,  but  from  June  to  November 
continuously  without  a  break  if  a  good  selection 
has  been  made. 

These  are  the  Roses  to  start  growing.  They 
are  easily  managed,  hardy,  and  most  satis- 
factory ;  they  are  popularly  termed  garden  or 
decorative  Roses,  and  comprise  Hybrid  Teas, 
some  of  the  Teas,  and  the  China  Roses  ;  for  a 
selection  up  to  date,  and  so  arranged  as  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  all  and  sundry,  I 
would  refer  your  readers  to  a  little  pamphlet 
issued  by  the  National  Rose  Society,  price  7d., 
to  be  obtained  of  the  secretary,  Mr.  Mawley, 
Rosebank,  Berkhampstead,  entitled  "Hints  on 
Planting  Roses,"  containing  lists  in  order  of 
merit  for  all  purposes,  garden  decoration  as 
well  as  show,  comjjiled  from  the  returns  of  the 
leading  Ro.se  growers  throughout  the  kingdom. 
And,  further,  if  they  really  care  for  the  Rose 
and  are  interested  in  it,  they  cannot  do  better 
than  join  the  National  Rose  Society  be/ore  the 
Temjjle  show,  namely,  at  once.  The  yearly 
subscription  is  only  10s.  6d.,  for  which  nominal 
sum  a  member  obtains  three  .5s.  tickets,  ad- 
mitting to  the  private  view  of  the  Rose  show 
at  the  Temple  Gardens.  He  has  also  the  right 
to  apply  for  and  obtain  free  a  7s.  6d.  ticket 
admitting  him  to  the  Rose  conference  and 
show  at  Holland  House,  Kensington,  on 
June  2.5,  and,  further,  he  obtains  a  number 
of  pamphlets,  itc.  (that  are  alone  worth  his 
10s.  6d.),  dealing  with  Rose  culture  in  all  its 
aspects,  and  containing  a  fund  of  useful  in- 
formation. I  venture  to  think  that  few 
societies  can  oifer  their  members  such  a  return 
for  their  subscription  as  this. 

I  could  write  at  length  of  the  pleasures  of 
Rose  growing.  My  own  garden  is  small,  far 
too  small  to  meet  the  requirements  of  its 
owner,  but  the  Roses  it  produces  during  the 
season  can  be  numbered  by  the  thousand. 
There  is  no  Ho»er  better  worth  the  growing 
than  the  Rose,  no  liower  better  worth  the 
picking,  and  no  flower  better  worth  the  giving 
away,  and  no  Roses  are  as  beautiful  or  give 
you  such  a  keen  sense  of  enjoyment  as  the 
ones  you  have  grown  yourself. 

Herbert  E.  Molyneux. 

Brantwood,  Balham,  S.  W. 


ROSE  AURORA  (H.T.). 

This  beautiful  Rose  was  well  exhibited  at  the 
recent  Temple  show,  and  proved  its  value  as  a  pot 
Rose.  Although  we  have  so  many  pink  Roses,  this 
variety  is  so   distinct   in   its    shell-pink  clearness 


and  with  the  silvery  margins  to  the  petals,  that 
everyone  who  has  many  calls  for  Roses  of  this 
colour  for  cutting  would  do  well  to  get  up  a  slock 
of  it.  The  buds  are  clean  and  particularly 
bright,  the  half-open  flowers  are  very  beautiful, 
and  the  fully-expanded  blossom  of  large  size, 
quite  fiat  in  form,  reminding  one  of  a  lovely 
old  Rose  now  almost  extinct  —  Marguerite  de 
St.  Amand. 

Aurora  maintains  its  freshness  right  from  the 
opening  bud  to  the  fully -developed  flower.  This 
gives  it  much  value  for  poUvork.  Fine  long- 
stemmed  flowers  may  be  cut  that  come  in  so  useful 
for  table  or  vase  decoration,  and  it  has  a  quality 
which  it  shares  equally  with  La  France  and  its 
reddish  sport  Duchess  of  Albany,  and  that  is 
fragrance.  I  have  noticed  some  writers  describe 
Caroline  Testout  as  being  fragrant.  True,  it  has 
a  tea-like  fragrance,  but  the  perfume  that  seems  to 
belong  to  a  Rose  is  that  which  is  to  be  found  iu 
La  France  and  Aurora.  Whether  grown  indoors 
or  out  Aurora  must  be  severely  disbudded,  not 
only  in  removing  the  surplus  flower-buds,  but  also 
the  growth  buds  down  the  whole  length  of  the 
shoot,  if  they  start,  as  they  very  often  will.     P. 


A  AVEST  ROSS-SHIRE   GARDEN. 

(Continued  from  page  377. ) 
The  March  Shrubberies. 
Last  March  (1901)  the  shrubberies  were  visibly 
progressing,  though  there  was  not  actually  much 
blossom  ;  the  Prunus  Pissardi  and  the  Forsythias 
were  fully  out,  and  an  interesting  shrub,  Nuttalia 
cerasiformis,  whose  leaves,  like  the  Honeysuckle, 
are  among  the  very  first  to  show  green  in  winter, 
and  its  flowers,  which  appear  in  March,  are  like 
snow-white  copies  of  those  of  the  Ri  bes  sanguineum. 
It  is  curious  how  much  alike  some  plants  are  to 
each  other  without  being  related.  Two  charming 
new  evergreens  grow  aide  by  side  here,  viz.,  Drimys 
Winteri  and  Daphniphyllum  glaucescens,  and 
though  their  homes  are  respectively  in  Southern 
Chili  and  Japan,  one  can  hardly  tell  them  from  each 
other.  I  can  recommend  them  both,  and  am  told  the 
flowers  of  the  former  are  white  and  very  sweet 
smelling.  Choisya  ternata  seems  proof  against  any 
amount  of  cold,  and  it  is  another  among  the  newer 
evergreens  which  can  be  recommended.  It  goes  by 
the  name  of  the  Mexican  Orange,  but  its  blooms 
remind  me  more  of  Hawthorn  than  any  of  the 
Citrus  tribe.  The  first  time  I  came  across  it  was 
in  front  of  the  Monte  Carlo  Casino,  in  full  bloom, 
in  April.  Talking  of  the  Citruses  reminds  me 
of  some  big  bushes  of  a  hardy  Orange  (Citrus 
trifoliata)  which  I  came  across  in  Paris  three  years 
ago.  Here  they  seem  quite  hardy  also,  and  we 
hope  for  Orange  blossoms  out  of  doors  one  of  these 
fine  days.  To  anyone  wanting  shrubs  to  grow  by 
the  .sea  in  a  terribly  blasty  situation,  let  me  recom- 
mend the  Pittosporums.  I  think  they  mostly  come 
from  New  Zealand  ;  at  any  rate,  like  the  Eucalypti, 
their  leathery  leaves  seem  proof  against  any  amount 
of  wind  and  salt  spray.  P.  crassifoliura,  P.  Ralphi, 
and  P.  nigricans  are  all  so  good  in  this  way  and  so 
ornamental  as  well. 

April  Blaze  of  Beauty. 
During  April  I  was  away  from  home,  but  on  my 
return  at  the  end  of  May  what  a  blaze  of  beauty 
was  there  seen,  ninety  different  varieties  of  Azaleas 
in  full  bloom  in  one  big  bed,  consisting  of  most  of 
Van  Houtte's  very  best  kinds.  I  had  also  a  few  out- 
standing good  summer-blooming  Rhododendrons, 
and  amgng  them  were  some  kinds  I  had  specially 
picked  out  of  the  collection  at  Kew — viz..  Ascot, 
broughtonianum,  Fastuosum  flore-pleno,  and  the 
new  Pink  Pearl.  When  in  Jersey  I  found  the 
natives  there  were  very  proud  of  their  Buddleia 
globosa  bushes,  but  I  saw  none  better  in  bloom 
than  mine  was  in  June.  My  Buddleia  Colvillei  also 
have  grown  into  huge  bushes,  and  both  they  and 
the  Abuiilon  vitifolium  are  7  feet  or  8  feet  high,  and 
I  expect  that  1902  will  see  them  in  full  blossom. 
Buddleia  variabilis  bloomed  freely  with  me  though 
only  two  year  old  seedlings,  and  they  were  covered 
with  their  lilac  racemes.  The  Madeira  Broom  was 
grand  in  July,  and  the  Spanish  Spartium  equally 


June  14,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


395 


so  in  September.  One  day  in  .July  I  gave  some 
friemds  two  handfuls  of  flowers,  which  were  im- 
mensely admired.  The  one  consisted  of  about 
twenty  perfect  specimens  of  Calochorti  and  Cyolo- 
bothras,  the  other  of  sprays  of  Zenobia  pulverulenta. 
Why  in  the  world  do  not  people  go  in  for  these 
Butterfly  Tulips  or  Mariposa  Lilies?  They  are  so 
exquisitely  lovely,  and  always  remind  me  of  some 
fancy  flower  painted  by  Japanese  artists  on  a  satin 
screen,  being  almost  too  wonderful  to  be  real.  I  got 
mine  from  Messrs.  Wallace,  of  Colchester,  and  they 
are  not  at  all  costly.  The  Zenobias  are  a  kind  of 
Andromeda  (from,  I  think,  North  Carolina),  with 
the  purest  white  Lily  of  the  Vallej'-like  flowers 
hanging  to  their  delicate  branches,  and  their 
leaves  are  of  the  palest  green  and  silvered  over 
with  a  kind  of  bloom  or  powder,  hence  the  name 
Pulverulenta.  They  stand  the  winter  quite  well 
here,  though  not  quite  so  robust  as  Andromeda 
floribunda  and  A.  japonica.  The  latter  entirely 
escaped  my  memory  till  now,  as  it  ought  to  be 
crowned  Queen  of  the  March  flowers.  I  sent  in 
March  some  of  its  boughs  laden  with  blossom,  in 
tin  boxes,  to  friends  in  Jersey  and  on  the  Clyde, 
and  they  will  hardly  yet  believe  that  they  were 
not  grown  under  glass  ;  and  they,  and  their  still 
more  magnificent  cousin,  A.  formosa,  which  caught 
many  an  eye  at  Messrs.  Veitch's  stand  at  the 
Temple  Show,  are  all  as  hardy  as  Laurels,  and  a 
deal  more  interesting  and  useful. 

Out-of-door  Dicksonias. 
My  big  Crinodendron  Hookeri  bloomed,  but  was 
rather  upset  by  having  been  shitted  to  what  I  hope 
is  a  better  situation,  and  it  consequently  dropped 
some  of  its  buds ;  but  now  it  is  covered  with  a 
fresh  crop,  all  ready  to  turn  into  those  gorgeous 
crimson  Chinese  lanterns  which  it  will  produce  in 
June.  I  am  very  hopeful  of  my  out-of-door 
Dicksonias ;  .they  have  now  stood  out  three  winters, 
and  the  best  of  them  was  grown  from  spores 
produced  by  the  famous  Tree  Fern  of  Arran,  which 
should  be  much  in  its  favour.  So  I  can  now  boast 
of  having  Eucalypti,  Dicksonias,  and  Cordylines, 
all  from  Scotch-ripened  seed,  the  latter,  though 
natives  of  New  Zealand,  having  been  raised  at 
Seourie,  in  the  north  of  Sutherland.  The  Indigofera 
bloomed  profusely  with  me  this  last  season,  after 
having  stood  right  in  the  open  for  some  years 
without  showing  a  flower  ;  it  just  shows  that  one 
must  have  a  little  patience.  It  very  much  re- 
sembles the  Australian  purple  Swainsonia,  and  is 
very  pretty  and  uncommon.  Abelia  rupestris 
did  very  well,  and  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia,  from 
Southern  Chili,  made  a  good  beginning,  its  blos- 
soms being  like  white  Dog  Roses,  but  with  crimson 
instead  of  yellow  anthers,  as  in  the  Roses.  If  anyone 
were  to  ask  me  which  above  any  other  of  the  newer 
shrubs  I  would  recommend,  I  think  I  should  say 
get  Romueya  Coulteri,  the  Californiau  Tree  Poppy. 
The  flower  is  like  a  single  white  Pseony  Moutan, 
with  a  great  boss  of  gold  in  the  centre,  only 
with  the  petals  more  delicate  and  silver-paper 
like,  but  the  foliage  and  stalks  are  as  striking  as 
the  flowers,  being  of  a  peculiar  pale  sea-green, 
which  sets  off  the  blossoms  to  perfection.  I  do 
not  think  it  is  a  very  hardy  plant,  and  it  would 
be  the  better  for  a  warm  nook  or  corner.  It  is 
a  most  persistent  bloomer,  and  certainly  my 
Inoarvilleas,  ray  Romneyaa,  and  my  paniculata 
Hydrangeas  were  the  plants  which  were  most 
admired  inside  my  garden  last  year.  As  I  said  of 
the  Eucalypti,  what  a  pity  people  have  only  just 
found  out  that  Palms  and  Bamboos  are  quite  hardy. 
There  are  youngplants  of  Bamboo  here  ( Arundinaria 
Simoni)  which  made  shoots  of  10  feet  last  season. 


ORCHIS    LONGIBRACTEATA. 

The  subject  of  this  woodland  group  is  a 
handsome  Orchis  of  vigorous  growth  and 
foliage  that  is  found  wild  on  the  Kiviera. 
It  has  the  recommendation  of  being  a  real 
winter  bloomer,  beginning  to  flower  at  Christ- 
mastide.  It  loves  the  shelter  of  scrub  Ilex, 
Lentisk  or  wild  Olive  ;  its  most  delicious  scent 
is  wafted  to  you  on  the  breeze  on  a  sunny 
morning,  so  that  is  a  compensation  for  the 
rather  dull  colouring  of  the  sepals.  The  lip  is 
lilac,  and  the  long  bristling  bracts  give  it  a 
character  of  its  own.  It  is  a  pity  it  is  not 
quite  suited  for  outdoor  gardens  in  England 
generally,  but  no  doubt  it  would  accommodate 
itself  to  some  sheltered  woodlands  in  or  near 
the  south  coast.  It  loves  a  calcareous  soil,  and 
is  happy  with  Anemone  blanda. 

E.  H.  WOODALL. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 

AUSTRALIAN    BLACKBERRIES. 


B 


AuTUMi^-TINTBD   LEAVES. 

But  I  fear  my  notes  are  getting  rather  too 
long,  so  must  leave  the  description  of  my  many 
other  treasures  for  another  time,  but  must  just 
finish  up  by  saying  I  think  autumn-tinted  leaves 
come  quite  up  to  flowers,  and  if  anyone  doubts 
me  let  him  make  a  bed  and  fill  it  with  Pyrus 
arbutifolia,  Andromeda  arborea,  Oxydendrons, 
Vaceinium  pennsylvanicum,  a  lot  of  the  finest  of 
the  Japanese  Maples,  C4aylussaeias,  Enkianthus 
campanula ta,  &c.,  and  he  will  have  tints  and 
shades  in  late  autumn  that  are  far  before  those  of 
Geraniums  and  Begonias  at  midsummer.       ' 


LACKBERRIES  thrive  more  luxuriantly 
in  Australia  than  in  Europe  or 
America,  their  growth  being  so  rapid 
that  in  many  places  they  are  regarded  as 
an  agricultural  pest.  In  some  localities, 
however,  the  settlers  and  their  families 

gather  the  fruit  in  considerable  quantities  for  sale 

to  manufacturers  of  fruit  preserves  and  jams.      In 

New  South  Wales,  what 

is  known  as  the  "Black- 
berry country  "  is  found 

in    the    beautiful    coast 

districts  south  of  Sydney , 

although    the     fruit     is 

plentiful  in  many  other 

parts  of  the  State.     The 

trip  by  the  railway,  run- 
ning   between     Sydney 

and    Melbourne,    to 

"  Blackberry  land,"  is  a 

most  delightful  one,  and 

as   Burrawang,    an    old- 
fashioned  village  seldom 

found    on   the   maps,   is 

approached,  the  country 

assumes  a  strongly  rural 

aspect.      The  village  is 

situated  on  the  crest  of 

a  hill,   formerly   known 

as    Mount    Pleasant,   a 

name    well    applied    by 

reason  of  the  numerous 

charming  views  obtained 

in    almost   every  direc- 
tion.   In  the  deep  valley 

which  skirts  the  road- 
side   there    is    seen    an 

abundance  of  Tree  Ferns, 

rock    Lilies,   and    other 

sub  -  tropical     plants. 

"Around   the    village," 

says    an     enthusiastic 

visitor,   "the  formation 

ia  a  succession  of  vivid 

knolls,  and  the  red  road 

winds  and  curves  by  the 

margin    of    a    shadowy 

ravine   overgrown    witli 

Ferns,   creeping  plants, 

and  many  sorts  of 

shrubs.  The  road  ascends 

a    hill    clothed    thickly 

with    beautiful    woods, 

and    the    foliage    is    so 

dense  overhead  that  the 

shadows     beneath      aie 

deep,  cool,  and  sombre, 

contrasting  vividly  with 

the    sun-illumined   road 

beside  it."  Further  on 
a  noble  view  of  what  is 
known   as    the    Winge-  orchis  longibracteata 


carribee  Swamp  is  obtained.  The  surrounding 
land  is  extremely  rich.  Formerly  the  forest 
was  more  dense  than  at  present.  In  early  days 
there  were  many  trees  of  gigantic  propor- 
tions, having  stems  of  from  SO  feet  to  120 
feet  without  a  branch,  and  measuring  as  many 
as  42  feet  in  circumference.  But  here,  as 
everywhere  else,  the  ancient  monarchs  of  the 
forest  are  rapidly  disappearing.  The  swamp  is 
about  11  miles  in  length,  and  lies  at  an  elevation 
of  2,0.58  feet  above  the  sea  level.  Approaching; 
the  township  of  Robertson,  so  named  from  a  former 
State  premier,  the  landscape  becomes  yet  more 
charming.  It  is,  to  again  quote  the  language  of  a 
visitor,  "really  lovely— hill  and  dale,  emerald 
green  slopes  dotted  with  clumps  of  dark  green 
bushes,  and  round  hills  with  bits  of  clustering 
wild  wood  ;  while  the  whole  is  tinged  round  with 
a  circle  of  blue  mountains,  which  make  a  wavy 
line  on  the  horizon." 

The  township,  which  forms  the  headquarters  of 
tourists  in  "Blackberry  land,"  nestles  cosily  in  a 
bright  green  valley  between  a  couple  of  sheltering 
hills,  at  an  elevation  of  2,500  feet  above  sea  level, 
which  explains  the  salubrity  of  its  climate.  It 
consists  of  a  single  street,  through  which  passes 
the  road  from  Moss  Vale  to  Kiama.  Everybody 
seems  to  be  more  or  less  mixed  up  with  the 
dairying  industry,  and  milk  and  butter  constitute 
the  staple  themes  of  conversation.  But  the  butter 
is  delicious.  Even  as  you  must  go  to  a  Scottish 
fishing  village  to  enjoy  the  flavour  of  the  haddock 
or  "caller  herrin',"  so  you  must  go  to  Robertson 
to  taste  Australian  butter,  rivalling  the  finest 
ever  produced  in  Normandy.     Except  its  situation 


AND    ANEMONE    ELANUA    IN    WOOD. 


396 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  14,  iyo2. 


— not  the  most  comfortable  in  unfavourable 
■weather — the  village  possesses  little  of  the  pic- 
turesque ;  but  it  possesses  a  park  which  would  have 
tilled  the  heart  of  Washington  Irving  with  joy-  It 
is  a  place  of  which  the  villagers  are  justly  proud. 
"It  is,"  says  the  writer  before  quoted,  "simply 
indescribably  lovely."  Great,  tall  trees  stand  so 
closely  together  that  the  branches  interlace,  and 
throw  shadows  so  deep,  calm,  and  solemn  that  to 
walk  beneath  the  foliage  in  the  dim  light  and  in 
the  stillness  profound  makes  one  feel  as  if  one  were 
in  church.  The  great  tree  trunks  are  lichen- 
covered,  and  the  brown,  grey,  Venetian  reds  and 
ambers  that  colour  the  outer  bark  would  make  an 
artist  rave.  Vines  trail  and  wreathe  themselves 
around  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  twisted  like  ropes, 
knotted  and  curled,  and  reaching 
upward  and  still  higher,  until  the 
sunlight  is  found.  Beautiful,  glossy- 
leaved  shrubs,  both  tall  and  dwarf 
varieties,  and  Fern  Trees  fill  up 
the  interstices  of  the  forest  primeval 
until  scarcely  a  ray  of  sunshine 
can  penetrate  leafy  recesses.  Every 
gnarled  root,  every  loose  stone,  is 
covered  with  a  veil  of  green  moss. 
Ferns  of  many  varieties  and  delicate 
green  plants  grow  so  thickly  that 
the  ground  is  completely  covered. 
A  few  circuitous  paths  that  have 
been  cleared  are  thickly  coated  with 
a  carpet  of  dry  leave's  upon  which 
no  footfall  sounds.  All  is  silent, 
impenetrable,  mysterious,  and  a  grey 
dimness  veils,  and  makes  picturesque, 
the  whole  perfect  scene.  But  the 
Blackberries,  they  are  everywhere, 
like  the  salt  water  in  Coleridge's 
^' Lay  of  the-  Ancient  Mariner." 
The  hedgerows  are  covered  with 
them,  and  if  the  villagers  were  not 
too  busy  with  their  dairy  work  they 
might  make  tons  of  Blackberry  jam 
such  as  has  never  been  tasted  out  of 
the  old  country.  Like  the  first 
rabbits,  the  original  Blackberry 
vines  have  grown  and  multiplied 
until  they  bid  fair  to  cover  the  face 
of  the  country.  It  is  a  sight,  during 
the  season,  to  behold  large  numbers 
of  men,  women,  and  children  busily 
engaged  in  collecting  the  luscious 
fruit,  and  placing  it  in  baskets 
ready  for  despatch  by  rail  to  Sydney. 
The  berries  are  large  and  of  delicious 
flavour.  The  Blackberry  bushes  arc 
not  cultivated — they  can  look  after 
themselves,  as  many  Australian  agri- 
culturists are  painfully  aware — but 
the  jam  made  from  their  fruit  is 
sutHoiently  tempting  to  make  one 
forget  their  unwelcome  presence  on 
the  farm.  J.  Plpmmer. 

iij/dney,  A  twtralia. 


inside  border  replaced  with  a  new  one  3  feet  wide, 
and  oh  May  5  strong  pot  Vines  were  planted  by 
Mr.  Barkes  at  4  feet  apart  along  the  front  of  each 
house.  The  first  one  and  earliest  forced  contains 
chieBy  Black  Hamburgh,  with  just  one  Vine  each 
of  Madresfield  Court,  Foster's  Seedling,  and  Buck- 
land  Sweetwater.  The  other  house  has  later 
varieties.  These  strong  canes  were  not  cut  back, 
but  with  about  o  feet  of  stem  to  each  left  erect ; 
the  tips  were  then  bent  downwards,  and,  with 
every  lower  break  forming  a  lateral,  the  top  break 
of  the  erect  stem  was  taken  upwards  as  a  leader. 
No  fruit  was  carried  that  season,  and,  whilst  the 
laterals  grew  strong,  the  leaders  went  to  the  top 
of  the  house.  In  the  winter,  whilst  the  laterals 
were  hard  spurred,  the  leader  or  main  rod  was 


FKUIT  TREE  ON  PILLAR. 

The  accompanying  illustration  needs 

but  little  descrijjtion.     It  shows  one 

good    way   of    beautifying   a    pillar 

apart  from'  the  conventional  use  of 

Wistaria,  Rose,   and  other   flowers. 

Here  it  has  been  taken  possession  of  by  an  espalier 

Pear  tree,  which  Mr.  Divers,  the  excellent  gardener 

at  Belvoir  Castle,  where  this  tree  is,  has  trained 

with  the  utmost  care.      Whether  in  flower,  leaf,  or 

fruit,  this  espalier  is  pleasant  to  see,  and  the  pillar 

seems  exactly  built  for  such  a  useful  adornment. 


THE    MOUNTAIN    PRIMULAS. 

(Continued  from  page  360.) 

S.4-X.4.TILE  OR   RoCK-LOVING  SpECIES. 

p.  INTEGEIFOLIA  (L.)  syn.  F.  candolleana 
(Reich.). — From  the  central  limestone  Alps  and 
the  Pyrenees,  between  3,000  feet  and  7,000  feet. 
This  species,  like  P.  glutinosa,  grows  in  crowded 
colonies  and  forms  turfy  masses,  (juite  re- 
placing the  turf  over  large  spaces  in  the 
places  where  it  occurs.  It  is  a  low,  tufted 
plant  formed  of  numerous  rosettes  of  leaves 
that  are  entire  ovate-elliptical,  absolutely 
smooth  and  dry  (non-glutinous),  ciliated  at  the 
edges  ;  flowers  of  medium  size,  of 
a  lilac-rose  colour,  one  to  three 
carried  on  short  peduncles.  Plants 
with  white  flowers  are  sometimes 
found.  Reichenbach  figures  it  in 
"  Icone-s,"  xvii.,  t.  bS. 

It  is  easy  enough  to  grow,  but 
the  l)looming  is  somewhat  capri- 
cious ;  it  should  be  in  half  sun, 
in  light,  well-drained  calcareous 
soil. 

P.  intermedia  (Port)  syn.  P. 
Portenschlagii  (Beck),  P.  floer- 
heana  (Salz.),  is  a  hybrid  of  P. 
clusiami  and  minima  which  is 
found,  though  rarely,  in  the 
mountains  of  Styria  and  Lower 
Austria.  Figured  by  Reichenbach, 
"  Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  65,  ii. 

P.  jellenkiaTia  (Freyher)  a 
synonym  of  carniolir.a. 

P.  Kerneri  (Goebl.).  —  One  of 
the  numerous  hybrids  of  Auricula 
and  villosa,  very  near  Goeblii, 
probably  nothing  but  a  garden 
Auricula. 

P.  kitaiheliana  (Schott.)  syn. 
P.  viscosa  (Waldst.  et  Kit),  P. 
interfrifolia  (Panicc). — Figured  in 
Reichenbach's  "Icones,"  xvii., 
t.  66.  From  the  Alps  of  Croatia,, 
of  Servia  and  Herzegovina.  A 
species  rather  near  spectabiiis, 
apparently  halfway  between  P. 
iiiteijrifolia  and  hirsuta  ;  flowers 
pink  ;  leaves  strongly  glandular 
jiube.scent. 

P.  latifolia  (Lap.). — A  synonym 
of  P.  viscosa  (AH.) 

P.  longobarda  (Porta).— This  is 
a  variety  of  P.  spectabiiis,  whose 
leaves  are  without  the  white  dots. 
They  are  acute  obovate-lanceolate. 
The  divisions  of  the  calyx  are 
almost  acute.  It  is  possibly  a 
hybrid  of  P.  spectabiiis  and 
f/l'iurescens.  It  is  found  in  the 
Alps  near  Bergamo. 

P.  marginuta  (Curt.).  —  From 
the  Western  Alps,  between  2,000 


KAPID   VINE   GROWING. 

I  WOULD  very  much  like  to  learn  the  opinion  of 
experienced  (Jrape  growers  as  to  what  may  be 
their  anticipations  as  to  the  future  of  Vines  grown 
under  the  following  conditions  :  A  couple  of  lean-to 
vineries,  which  had  both  inside  and  outside  bor- 
ders, had  to  be  cleared  out  and  replanted  at  Castle 
Hill,  Bletchingley,  Surrey,  the  residence  of  Mr. 
H.  Partridge.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1900. 
The  arches  in  the  front  wall  were  built  up,  the  old 


PEAR  TREE  0>J  PILLAR   IN   THE   c:ARDE.NS   AT   BELVOIR  CASTLE. 

feet  and  6,000  feet.      Figured  in 
shortened  only  some  3  feet.     When  pushed  into  ;  Reichenbach's   '"Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  54;   syn.  P. 
growth  in  the  new  year,  IHOI,  every  bud  broke  j  c^-g.ji^ja  (Lam.)  P.  Auricula  (Vill.  non  L.). 
freely,  and   every  _  jjortion  of  each  rod  was   well  |      p.TOu-J'ocrt^//.'(Lehm.).— Avery  prettyspecies, 

which,  from  its  suffruticose  stem,  has  the 
appearance  of  a  little  shrub  4  inches  to  6  inches 
high.  The  leaves  are  oblong  and  irregularly 
toothed,  bordered  with  a  light  edging  of 
whitish  powder  ;  flowers  lilac-rose,  from  which 
the  pistil  protrudes  before  their  expansion — 
There  is  a  major  variety,  and 
"of     Constantinople  ;"    this, 


furnished.  Only  four  bunches  were  taken  from 
eich  Vine  that  season,  and  the  leaders  fully  filled 
the  apex  of  the  house.  This  year  the  rods  are 
their  fully  desired  length  of  18  feet,  and  are  carry- 
ing each  ten  bunches,  all  of  good  size  and  full  of 
promise.  The  laterals  throughout  are  all  stout 
and  vigorous.  Certainly  it  does  look  as  if  each 
rod  could  well  carry  fifteen  to  eighteen  bunches  |  April  and  May. 
and    fine    ones   next   3'ear.      The    border   is   now    another    called 

extended  to  6  feet.     The  question  is  :    Does  this  ,  jjo^.ever,  has  nothing  oriental  about  it  except 
style   of    \.ne   growing   present   any   features   o  ^^.^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^^^j^ 

novelty,    or   are   the    Vines   so   rapidly   extended:  '  /^  °  ,.   ,    , 

likely  to  break  less  well  when  older?     So  far  ;  and  Piedmontese  Alps.     The  leaves  are  slightly 
everything. shows   that  the  results  will  be   quite  :  crenulated. 
satisfactory.  A.  D.      1      P.   minima   (L),    S}'n.   P.   Sauteri  (Schulz 


June  14,  1902.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


397 


P.  Jiraseckiana  (Tratt). — Figured  in  Reichea- 
bach's  "Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  59,  i.  and  ii.  Central 
and  Eastern  Alps,  from  2,000  feet  to  7,000  feet, 
the  Carpathians,  Sudetes,  and  Balkans.  A 
very  small  plant,  forming  crowded  tufts  some- 
times of  large  size,  composed  of  numerous 
rosettes  of  spathulate  light  green  leaves,  which 
are  smooth  and  end  in  three  to  nine  coarse 
teeth  ;  flowers  large— very  large  in  relation  to 
the  size  of  the  plant— single  or  in  pairs  on  a 
very  short  stalk  ;  corolla  violet-rose,  the  limb 
deeply  divided  into  five  bifid  lobes.  It  occurs 
only  in  granitic  soils. 

To  succeed  with  it  in  my  garden  I  have  to 
give  it  the  kind  of  treatment  lately  described 
for  the  Soldanellas  (The  Garden, 
page  126).  At  the  Jardin  Alpin 
d'Acclimatation  at  Geneva  we 
grow  it  in  pans  of  sphagnum, 
and  it  succeeds  admirably.  At 
La  Linnsea  at  Bourg  St.  Pierre  it 
flowers  well  in  full  sun,  but  it 
needs  a  porous  soil  and  constant 
moisture  in  the  air.  At  Geneva 
it  flowers  in  March  and  April.  A 
white  flowered  variety  has  been 
known,  but  it  is  very  rare. 

P.  multiceps  (Freyher)  a  synonym  of  P. 
carniolica  (Jacq.). 

P.  muretiana  (Moritzi),  a  hybrid  of  P. 
integrifolia  (L.)  and  P.  viscosa  (All.),  syn. 
P.  dinyana  (Lagg.). — This  hybrid,  which  is 
found  here  and  there  in  the  Alps  of  Eastern 
Switzerland,  between  its  parents,  is  well  known 
in  gardens  where  it  does  very  well.  It  is  fairly 
frequent  in  the  High  Engadine,especially  in  the 
rocky  masses  of  the  Albula.  It  is  a  low  grow- 
ing plant  with  obovate  leaves  furnished  with 


PRIMULA  PEDEMONTANA   (LIFE  SIZE), 


PRIMULA   MINIMA   (LIFE   SIZE). 

brown  hairs.  The  leaves  gradually  diminish 
in  width  to  the  petiole.  They  are  either  entire 
or  very  slightly  toothed  at  the  top  ;  the  flowers 
are  a  very  dark  purple  or  crimson  in  clusters 
of  three  to  ten,  of  charming  effect,  on  stalks 
3  inches  to  4  inches  long.  It  likes  a  northern 
exposure  in  rocky  fissures. 

P.  obovata  (Huter)  hybrid  of  P.  ciliata 
(Mon.)  and  tyrolensis. — It  was  found  by 
Huter  in  1872  in  the  district  of  Belluno.  I 
have  never  seen  it  in  cultivation. 

P.  Obristii  (Stein).— A  hybrid 
of  P.  Ariricula  and  ciliata.  It 
appears  to  me  to  be  simply 
Auricula.  I  have  never  been 
able  to  detect  any  specific 
characters.  Pax  considered 
several  of  these  hybrids  as 
simply  garden  forms. 

P.  oeneiuis  (Thom.)  syn.  P. 
daonensis  (Leyb.),  P.  stelviana 
(Vulp.). 

P.    pool/ana   (Briigg),  P. 
cadineiisis    (Porta),    P.    Plantre 
(Briigg). — Figured   in    Reichen- 
bach's  "  Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  .55-.59. 
From  the  Alps  of  the  Grisons 
and  Tyrol  where  it  grows  abun- 
dantly   in   the   alpine    pastures 
at  5,000  feet  to  7,000  feet.     It  is 
near     P.    hirsuta     (All.),    from 
which  it  is  distinguished  by  its 
thick-set  habit,  its  more  crowded 
tufts,  and    its    leaves, 
which    are   lanceolate- 
cuneiform,  very  slightly 
toothed,      thick,     and 
extremely  viscous.  The 
flowers  are  small,  car- 
mine-rose, with  a  large 
3entral  white  eye.    The 
capsule  is  as  long  as 
the    calyx,    while    in 
hirsuta  it  is  shorter. 

P.  Palinuri  (Petag.). 
—  Figured  in  Bot.  Mag. 
t.  191.  This  rare  and 
curious  species  grows  in 
the  joints  of  rocks  in 
the  Neapolitan  Apen- 
nines, above  Cape 
Falinuro.  It  is  an 
exaggerated  Auricula, 
larger  and  stouter,  dis- 
tinguished   from    the 


type  by  the  leaves  being  finely  serrated,  by 
the  smaller  flowers  on  larger  pedicels,  by 
the  glandular-viscous  leaves,  and  above  all  by 
its  strongly  developed  foliaceous  calyx.  It  is 
not  hardy  at  Geneva,  and  has  to  be  wintered 
in  the  orangery  or  a  cold  frame. 

P.  pallida  (Schott.).  —  See  P.  hirsuta  var. 
pallida. 

P.  2')edemontana  (Thom.).— From  the  Graian 

and  Cottian    Alps,*      Figured   in    Reichen- 

bach's  "  Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  57,  syn.  P.  pubescens 

(Reich.),  villosa  var.  glaiululosa  (Duby),  glan- 

dulosa  (Bonj.),  Bonjeani  (Rug.). — A  plant  of 

distinct  character,  very  beautiful  on  the  rocks 

in  the  valleys  of  Cogne,  Cham- 

porcher,  Valsavaranche,  and  Val- 

grisanche  in  the    Val    d'Aosta. 

It  is  near  P.  viscosa,  (Adl.)  from 

which,  however,  it  diflfers  notably 

by  its  rhombijid  leaves  with  very 

short  ]3etioles  set  on  both  sides 

with   sparse    brown    hairs,   and 

by  the    length  of    the  capsule 

never    exceeding    that    of    the 

calyx — in  viscosa  the  capsule  is 

always  the  longest.     The  width 

of  the  leaves  is  very  gradually 

diminished  into  the  petiole;  they  are  arranged 

in  large  rosettes,  from  which  spring  the  flower 

stalks,  often  several,  each  bearing  many  flovvers 

with  bright  crimson  corollas.    The  whole  plant 

is  furnished  with  brown  hairs.    It  grows  easily 

in  the  joints  of  rocks  in  half  sun,  and  with  us 

flowers  freely  in  March  and  April. 

P.  Peyritschii  (Stein).— One  of  the  many 
hybrids  of  P.  Auricula  and  hirsuta,  frequent 
at  the  Croix  de  Javernay,  in  the  Vaudois 
Alps,  but  hardly  to  be  distinguished  from  P. 
Arctotis. 
P.  Plantce  (Briigg),  a  synonym  of  P.  cetiensis. 
P.  poUiniana  (Mor.),  a  synonym  of  P. 
spectabilis. 

P.  pooliana  (Briigg),  a  synonym  of  P. 
cenensis. 

P.  Portce  (Huter). — Alps  of  the  southern 
Tyrol  between  3,000  feet  and  6,000  feet.  A 
hybrid  of  P.  Auricula  and  oenensis,  distin- 
guished from  Auricula  by  its  non-farinaceous 
calyx  and  by  its  glandular  hairy  flower  stem, 
and  from  oenensis  by  its  long-peduncled  flowers 
and  by  its  broad  and  only  slightly  glandular 
leaves.  Flowers  bright  carmine,  occasionally 
yellowish,  but  variable  in  colour.  This  plant 
has  assumed  gigantic  proportions  at  the  garden 
of  La  Linnasa,  bearing  umbels  of  more  than 
forty  flowers  and  ripening  a  quantity  of  seed. 

P.pubescens  (Jacq,). — A  hybrid  of  P.  Auricula 
and  hirsuta,  frequently  met  with  in  its  alpine 
habitats  inter  parentes.  It  was  figured  by 
Reichenbach,  "Icones,"  t.  68,  and  resembles 
Auricula  more  nearly  than  hirsuta.  The 
leaves  are  almost  glabrous  and  the  calyx  is 
mealy.  It  is  very  near  P.  Arctotis,  which  is 
only  distinguished  from  it  by  its  distinctly 
glandular  leaves,  its  non-glandular  calyx,  and 
its  nearer  resemblance  to  P.  hirsuta.  This 
plant  is  considered  to  be  the  true  parent  of  all 
the  garden  Auriculas.  It  is  probable  enough 
that  this  maybe  claimed  either  for  P.  pubescens 
or  for  P.  Arctotis,  which  are  quite  likely  to 
have  themselves  crossed,  and,  as  in  the  case  of 
so  many  hybrids,  have  resulted  in  a  race  of 
polymorphous  plants  of  strong  constitution. 

P.  puniila  (Kern.). —  From  the  Southern 
Tyrol ;    a  hybrid  of  P.  minima  and  oenensis 


*  It  is  iu  error  that  Pax  in  his  "  Monographie,"  page  157, 
places  this  species  "In  Switzerland  on  Mont  Cenis."  It  is 
neither  a  plant  of  France,  nor  of  Switzerland,  and  has 
never  been  found  elsewhere  than  in  the  Graian  and  the 
Cottian  Alps  in  Piedmont.  Nyman  assigned  it  to  "  Helvetia 
and  Lorabardy."  This  is  still  more  incorrect,  as  it  has  never 
been  seen  in  Lombardy,  It  is  a  species  that  belongs  abso- 
lutely to  Piedmont. 


398 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[June  14,  1902. 


,^-i;^- 


PRIMULA  CENENSIS   (UFE   SIZE). 

that  grows  in  the  joints  of  the  calcareous  rocks 
of  the  Magassione  at  6,000  feet.  I  do  not 
know  it. 

P.  Bhci'tica  (Don,  non  Eesch.),  figured  in 
Reichenbach's  "  Icones,"  xvii,,  t.  6."),  is  a  hybrid 
of  P.  Auricula  and  hirsuta,  rather  nearer 
kh'suta  th&n  jnihescenx,  and  therefore  very  near 
Arctotis,  except  that  the  calyx  is  mealy. 

P.  salisburgensis  (Floerke)  is  a  hybrid  of  P. 
glutinosa  and  minmin,  and  very  near  P.jliny- 
keana  (Schrad.). 

P.  similis  (Stein). — A  hybrid  of  P.  cihata 
and  Auricula  ;  according  to  Pax  probably  of 
garden  origin. 

Geneva.  H.  Correvon. 

{To  be  continued.)\  ^j"    -    '._, 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The   Editor   is    not   responsible    for   the   opiiiiowi 
expressed  by  correspondents.) 


been  a  mass  of  blossom.  The  latter  is  unsurpassed 
as  a  wall  plant  when  given  its  liberty,  but  how 
often  is  it  clipped  with  the  shears  as  if  it  were 
Ivy  ''■  T.  Arnold. 

The  Gardens,  Cirencester  House. 


BERBEkiS    NEPALENSIS. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

SIR, — Your  correspondent  "  C.  E.  F."  is 
quite  right  in  saj'ing  that  raising  the 
above  shrub  from  seed  is  slow  work  ;  it 
is  certainlj'  one  of  the  slowest  of  the 
family  in  this  respect.  At  any  rate,  in 
its  early  stages  it  has  the  ratherawkward 
habit  of  sending  its  thong-like  roots  straight  down 
into  the  soil  below.  Consequently  frequent  trans- 
planting is  essential.  Berberis  nepalensis  is  a  great 
favourite  here,  consequentlj'  some  trouble  has  been 
taken  in  the  choice  of  a  suitable  site  for  it,  and  in 
this  respect  it  is  somewhat  particular  ;  it  certainlv 
resents  full  sunshine.  The  place  best  suited  to  it 
is  the  one  chosen  by  your  correspondent,  \\z., 
partial  shade.  It  also  dislikes  disturbance  in  any 
shape  or  form.  Plant  it  on  good  loamy  soil  with  a 
little  shade — but  neither  an  easterlj'  nor  draughty 
aspect — and  where  it  can  get  ample  moisture.  It 
must  not  be  pruned  severely,  as  it  does  not  break 
so  freely  after  pruning  as  in  the  case  of  such 
Barberries  as  B.  stenophj-Ua,  B.  vulgare  var. 
purpurea,  and  a  few  others.  It  is  of  upright 
growth,  and  when  it  is  well  clothed  with  fully- 
developed  foliage  down  to  the  ground  is  an  object 
of  much  beauty.  This  Berberis  differs  from  B. 
japonica  in  having  fewer  flowers.  The  leaves  are 
not  so  long  as  in  B.  japonica,  and  I  do  not  think 
it  is  so  hardy.  At  any  rate  I  find  that  the  late 
rather  sharp  frost  killed  several,  whereas  B. 
japonica  did  not  sufler  in  the  least. 

B.  japonica  will  not  bear  exposure  to  full  sun. 
This  also  does  better  when  sheltered  from  the  keen 
easterly  winds.  The  Berberises  have  flowered  well 
this  season.     B.  Darwinii  and  B.  slenophylla  have 


THE    LONDON  DAHLIA    UNION. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."! 
Sir, — Under  this  heading,  on  page  3.51,  "A.  D.'' 
states,  in  reference  to  the  Dahlia  Exhibition 
at  the  Royal  Aquarium  in  September  next, 
"  Wh}^  could  not  those  who  wanted  a  second 
London  Dahlia  show  in  September  have  in-  ' 
stituted  it  under  the  auspices  of  the  parent  or 
National  Society  ?  Certainly  the  National  executive, 
as  such,  never  were  approached  on  the  subject."  : 
I  want  his  authority  for  the  last  positive  statement. 
If  only  "A.  D."  would  try  to  grasp  the  real  facts 
before  he  brings  his  muck-rake  into  use  it 
would  save  him  from  many  indiscretions.  "A.  D." 
appears  to  be  quite  unaware  of  the  fact  that 
a  Dahlia  show  has  been  held  in  the  month  of 
September  at  the  Royal  Aquarium  for  some 
twenty  years  past.  R.  Dean,  Secretary. 

YELLOW  AURICULAS. 
[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."]  i 

Sir,— Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie,  of  Dundee,  who 
have  done  so  much  to  improve  the  yellow  border 
Auriculas  and  with  so  much  success,  brought  a  ! 
further  batch  to  the  Temple  show,  but  practically 
destroyed  their  interesting  individuality  by  mixing 
them  up  with  variegated  Kales  and  Oxlips.  Mr. 
Storrie  said  that  one  of  their  lines  of  improve- 
ment was  to  withdraw  from  their  strain  the  zone 
of  white  paste  round  the  tube  and  bring  them  to 
self  yellows.  I  regretted  such  a  statement,  as  I 
had  hoped  their  object  was  to  give  us  a  race  of 
hardy  border  Auriculas,  robust,  free,  floriferous, 
which  should  produce  trusses  of  deep  yellow 
flowers  approaching  the  show  variety — Buttercup 
—in  quality.  A  self  yellow  Auricula  looks  poor 
and  expressionless  by  the  side  of  one  with  the 
ornament  of  a  zone  of  white  paste,  which  is  the 
state  jewel  of  the  flower  round  the  golden  tube, 
and  having  a  stout  circular  deep  yellow  margin. 
We  ha\e  plenty  of  yellow  Auriculas  of  the  type  of 
Celtic  King,  and  that  inferior  form — Alexandra. 
To  descend  from  the  higher  to  the  lower  form 
appears  deplorable.  I  have  secured  a  few  of 
Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie's  deep  yellow  seedlings, 
and  it  is  my  intention  to  work  by  them  in  the  very 
opposite  direction  to  that,  along  which  the  Dundee 
firm  are  proceeding.  1  recently  sent  to  a  lady,  who 
wishes  to  have  beds  of  yellow  Auriculas  next 
spring,  plants  of  Celtic  King,  Alexandra,  and 
some  of  Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie's  seedlings. 
Celtic  King  found  some  favour  with  my  correspon- 
dent ;  Alexandra  she  thought  so  inferior  that  it 
brought  me  a  sharp  letter  of  remonstrance  for 
sending  it  ;  but  a  little  later,  when  I  was  able  to 
send  her  some  of  the  Dundee  seedlings  with  their 
much  deeper  tints  of  yellow  and  zones  of  white 
paste,  her  admiration  was  unbounded.  I  think 
this  lady's  estimate  of  a  bedding  Auricula,  as 
e\idenced  by  her  appreciation  of  the  superior 
flowers,  is  the  correct  one.  R.  Dean. 

INSECT  PESTS. 

[To  the  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 

Sir, — Under  this  heading  Mr.   Petts   (page  313) 
writes  an  instructive  article  upon  the  Pear  midge, 
plainly    elucidating    its    modes    of    existence,    its 
methods   of   damaging   crops,   .and    giving    advice 
respecting  its  destruction.     This  is  good 
counsel,   and    it    is    the  duty  of   each    of 
us  to  do  our  utmost  to  exterminate  this 
pest,  but,  as  Mr.  Petts  observes,  and  as  a 
Mr.    Crump    of    Madresfield    j'ears    ago 
pointed  out,  owing  to  the  midge's  power 
of  taking  long  flights  it  is  comparatively 
useless   for   one   individual  to   go  to  the 
trouble   and  expense    of    combating  it  if 
his   neighbours   neglect    to    take    similar 
means  for   its  destruction.      What   is   to 
be  done,   however,   in   districts   like  this 


for  example,  where  Perry  varieties  of  the  Pear 
tree,  vieing  in  size  with  the  Oak,  are  quite 
common  upon  most  farms.  It  is  quite  impos- 
sible to  gather  diseased  fruits  upon  such  trees, 
and  it  can  hardly  be  expected  that  they 
will  be  sacrificed,  and  so  long  as  thej'  live  or 
similar  ones  are  cultivated  we  shall,  it  appears, 
be  bothered  with  the  ravages  of  the  Pear  midge, 
unless  some  more  efficient  reniedj-  for  its  destruc- 
tion than  has  so  far  been  recommended  is  forth- 
coming. Cannot  one  of  our  horticultural  chemists 
(they  have  already  done  much  for  us)  prepare  a- 
solution  with  which  to  spray  the  trees  when  they 
are  in  bud,  that,  harmless  to  the  trees  and 
blossoms,  would  be  obnoxious  to  the  taste  of  the 
midge  ? 

ily  experience  of  gathering  and  burning  afiected 
fruits  as  a  remedy  is  not  encouraging,  but  at  the  same 
time  our  experience  with  the  midge  proves  without 
doubt  that  it  travels  a  considerable  distance,  as 
will  be  seen  when  it  is  remarked  that  some  years 
ago  we  formed  a  fruit  garden  a  long  way  from 
any  Pear  trees,  and  planted  young  trees,  that 
were  badly  attacked  with  the  midge  the  first  year 
of  fruiting,  and  have  been  so  since  more  or  less 
every  year.  Last  year  we  gathered  and  burned 
the  damaged  fruit  before  the  pest  had  left  them, 
yet,  singularly  enough,  at  the  present  time  it 
proves  to  be  more  destructive  than  ever.  The 
varieties  suffering  most  are  Durondeau,  Bcurre 
Bose,  Emile  d'Hejst,  Souvenir  du  Congres, 
and  Williams'  Bon  Chrt^tien.  The  least  injured 
are  Doyenne  du  Cornice.  Baronne  de  Mello,  Beurre 


pri.mula  siargixata  (like  size). 


JUXE  14,  1902.J 


THE   aARDEJN. 


399 


Fouqueraj',  Marie  Louise,  Beurre  Hardy,  and 
some  others.  The  last-named  has  almost  entirely 
escaped. 

1  would  like  to  refer  to  the  Apple  blossom 
weevil,  which  sometimes  works  great  destruction, 
although  a  friend  lately  told  me  he  thought  it  did 
more  good  than  harm  by  saving  trouble  in  thinning 
the  fruit.  Be  this  as  it  may,  most  growers  of  the 
Apple  would  probably  rather  be  without  it  in  their 
plantations.  Notwithstanding  that  we  never  fail 
to  yearly  spray  our  trees  with  the  ordinary  com- 
pound of  caustic  soda,  &c.,  and  keep  the  ground 
beneath  the  trees  clean,  we  usually  have  some 
blossoms  spoiled  by  this  insect.  Yet  at  no  time  is 
serious  injury  done,  and  this  season  we  appear  to 
be  absolutely  free  from  it.  Rightly  or  wrongly, 
I  attribute  this  in  a  measure  to  the  assistance  of 
the  weather.  After  spraying  the  trees  we  lightly 
turned  the  surface  soil,  dressed  it  with  artificial 
manures,  and  raked  them  in.  This  left  the  soil, 
which  is  rather  retentive,  fine  on  the  surface,  and 
which  by  heavy  rains  was  turned  as  it  were  into  a 
mass  of  cement,  and  effectually  trapped  any 
weevils  taking  refuge  in  the  soil,  whilst  the  spray 
killed  those  on  the  trees.  The  planta- 
tion of  Pears  was  treated  in  like  manner, 
but  we  evidently  had  a  foreign  invasion. 

Monmouth.  T.  Coomekb. 


which  have  quite  suddenly  assumed  more  or  less 
distinct  characters,  and  sometimes  extremely 
abnormal  ones.  As  a  rule,  too,  these  suddenly, 
acquired  peculiarities  affect  the  reproductive 
system  also,  with  the  result  that  their  progeny 
largely  partake  of  the  same  new  characters  as  the 
parents,  assuming  in  this  way  a  specific  character 
between  which  and  species  proper  it  seems  impos- 
sible to  draw  a  line.  A  species  recognised  as  such 
is  merely  a  branch  of  a  genus  in  which  certain 
distinctive  characters  have  become  fixed,  while  the 
fundamental  generic  plan  is  adhered  to.  These 
distinctive  specific  characters  are  constant  in  the 
vast  majority  of  cases,  though  modified  in  minor 
ways  by  variations  of  the  first  category,  which 
may  not  be  merely  that  of  external  form,  but  may 
also  be  constitutional,  so  that  of  two  plants 
externally  precisely  similar  in  habits  and  appear- 
ance, one  may  be  hardier  than  the  other,  or  better 
able  to  withstand  drought  or  insect  or  fungoid 
attack.  In  this  way  it  may  possess  an  advantage 
worth  cultivating  by  further  selection,  and  which 
undoubtedly  plays  and  has  played  a  considerable 
rule  in  evolutionary  historj'.     The  selective  culti- 


as  eccentrically,  and  when  made  the  subject  of 
specially  careful  research,  as  in  the  case  of  Ferns, 
are  proved  to  do  so  on  extremely  liberal  lines, 
while  departing  further  from  the  normal  than  any 
have  done  under  culture. 

Naturally  the  selective  cultivator  finds  in  these 
abnormalities  not  merely  splendid  material  in 
many  cases  which  otherwise  would  have  required 
generations  of  culture  to  arrive  at,  bixt  very  often 
characters  are  presented  of  so  original  a  type  that 
his  ideas  are  revolutionised,  while,  thanks  to  the 
reproductive  power  aforesaid,  he  finds  ready  to 
his  hand  an  easy  mode  of  propagation,  plus  an 
increased  probabilit}'  of  further  variation  by  which 
he  can  profit,  and  a  possibility  of  introducing  the 
new  features  into  allied  species  by  hybridising.  To 
the  biologist  these  sudden  sports  are  of  supreme 
interest,  representing  as  they  do  absolute  examples 
of  that  "special  creation''  which  the  science  of 
evolution  disclaims,  but  which  is  here  strongly  put 
be3'ond  all  dispute  whatever.  Generation  after 
generation  has  passed  and  the  ofispring  have  been 
practically  identical,  the  fundamental  building  cell 
has  been  faithful  to  tradition  and  reproduced  its 


ERICA    CARNEA. 


Of  all  the  hardy  dwarf  Heaths 
more  can,  I  consider,  be  said  in 
favour  of  E.  carnea  than  of  any  other 
species.  It  is  not  only  absolutely 
hardy,  but  it  flowers  with  astonishing 
freedom  at  a  time  of  year  when  flowers 
are  particularly  cherished.  Its  flower- 
ing, of  course,  somewhat  depends 
upon  the  weather,  but  frequently  one 
may  see  its  bright  rosy  bells  almost 
as  soon  as  January  comes  in.  By 
the  end  of  February  the  entire  plant 
is  a  mass  of  beautiful  colour,  and  for 
two  or  three  months  longer  they 
retain  their  freshness  no  matter  what 
weather  may  occur.  So  free-flowering 
is  this  Heath  that  its  flowers  literally 
cover  it.  E.  carnea  is  one  of  those 
plants  (and  there  are  many  of  them) 
which,  although  perfectly  well  known 
and  quite  common,  are  still  not  used 
in  gardens  so  freely  as  they  ought  to 
be.  The  majority  of  our  early-flower- 
ing plants  bear  flowers  that  are  either 
white  or  yellow,  so  that  the  rosy 
red  colouring  of  this  Erica  makes 
a  welcome  change.  However  freely  it 
might  be  planted  it  would  never 
become  wearisome  or  out  of  place  for 
its  tints,  though  bright  and  warm, 
are  not  harsh.  Statements  have  been 
recently  published  to  the  elfect  that  E.  carnea 
is  a  British  plant.  This  idea  appears  to  have 
originated  with  Bentham,  the  botanist,  who 
regarded  E.  carnea  and  E.  mediterranea  as  the 
same  species.  But  the  plant  grown  in  gardens 
and  nurseries  as  E.  carnea  is  quite  distinct  from 
E.  mediterranea ;  it  is  usually  not  more  than 
6  inches  to  8  inches  high,  and  is  a  native  of 
the  mountains  of  Central  Europe.     W.  J.  B. 


ERICA  CAIiNEA. 


"SPORTS." 

It  is  a  matter  of  common  knowledge  amongst 
breeders,  not  only  of  plants  but  of  animals,  that 
thereare  really  two  types  of  variation,  although,  as  is 
always  the  case  with  Nature,  instances  occur  which 
render  it  impossible  to  draw  a  hard  and  fast  line. 
The  one  type  of  variability  consists  of  those  minor 
divergences  which  give  individuality,  and  which, 
especially  in  plants,  often  require  a  ver3'  sharp  eye 
to  discriminate,  or  perhaps  baffle  the  observer 
entirely.       The   olhe     type   embraces   individuals 


vator,  other  than  the  hybridiser,  owes  undoubtedly 
the  bulk  of  his  successes  to  variations  of  the  second 
category,  that  is,  the  marked  and  sudden  kind 
which  may  arise  either  as  seminal  or  bud  sports, 
i.e.,  may  show  their  new  characters  as  seedlings 
from  normal  projenitors,  or  from  forms  which  have 
already  been  modified  by  selection,  or  buds  may 
form  on  plants  of  either  category,  which  as  they 
develop  present  the  novel  features.  Bud  sports, 
however,  are  less  wide  in  range  of  departure  from 
the  parental  form  than  seminal  sports.  Thus  in 
Roses  and  Chrysanthemums  the  new  varieties 
arising  from  bud  sports  are  usually  variants  in 
colour,  retaining  the  other  parental  characters 
intact,  but  here  again  there  is  no  hard  and  fast 
rule,  as  some  rampant  climbing  Roses  were  bud 
sports  from  bush  forms.  As  regards  the  cause  of 
these  sudden  sports  we  are  absolutely  in  the  dark, 
and,  although  naturally  they  are  more  apt  to  be 
remarked  and  utilised  in  plants  under  culture,  it 
is  a  very  open  question  indeed  whether  culture 
acts  as  an  inducement,  since  plants  in  a  perfectly 
wild  state  are  well  known  to  sport  as  widely  and 


parental  type  to  all  intents  and  purposes  thousands 
and  thousands  of  times  exactly  ;  then  suddenly  it 
becomes  inspired  with  a  new  idea  (there  is  no  other 
way  of  putting  the  fact),  and  it  starts  constructing 
on  "a  different  plan,  plays  a  fresh  tune,  as  it  were, 
in  the  great  harmony  of  Nature,  and  in  due  time 
the  "sport"  is  established.  In  pointof  fact  we  have 
here  the  introduction  of  a  new  species,  subject 
only  to  the  proviso  that,  left  alone  in  the  struggle 
for  existence,  it  can  not  only  maintain  its  individual 
existence,  but  also  extend  it,  retaining  its  integrity 
of  type  and  holding  its  own  among  its  near 
relatives. 

Variation  in  these  marked  lines  appears  to 
be  of  the  indiscriminate  type  ;  no  evidence  ha.=; 
been  put  forward  indicating  that  they  form  a 
sympathetic  response  to  environmental  stimuli,  and 
are  therefore  better  fitted  to  their  surroundings 
than  their  unresponsive  neighbours  and  relatives. 
Hence,  doubtless,  the  large  majority  belong  to  the 
"unfit,"  and  eventually  fail;  it  would,  however, 
be  strange  indeed  were  there  no  exceptions,  and 
the  belief  is  becoming  more  and  more  established 


400 


THE    GARDEN. 


(June  14,  1902. 


MAI'LKS    IN    AUTUMN  :,   A    SCENE    IN    JAPAN. 


that  these  sports  have  played  a  material  part  in 
the  formation  of  species  in  the  past,  and  are  still 
performing  a  like  r6lc  in  the  present. 

CiiAS.  T.  Druery,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

NATURAL   AND  ARTIFICIAL   WOOD- 
LAND  GARDENING. 

IT  may  seem  odd  that  the  term  artificial 
should  be  applied  in  any  way  to  what  is 
described  popularly  as  wild  gardening.  But 
that  the  introduction  into  the  garden  sur- 
roundings of  any  proper  garden  of  plants, 
not  indigenous  or  native  to  the  woods, 
is  to  somu  extent  artificial,  there  can  be  no  doubt. 
It  is  all  the  more  so  when,  verj'  mistakenly,  garden 
methods  of  planting  are  introduced,  so  far  as  to 
create  masses  here  and  there  of  diverse,  and 
especially  of  bulbous,  things  in  a  waj'  Nature 
never  taught.  The  best  of  wild  gardening  is 
that  in  which  Nature's  methods  are  instinctively 
followed,  and  all  that  is  of  the  garden  or  artificial 
is  omitted.  Recently  I  have  seen  two  verj-  striking 
examples  of  what  I  can  but  term  the  artificial  and 
the  natural  in  woodland  gardening.  In  the  one 
beneath  a  fine  grove  of  lofty  Beech  trees,  bulbous 
and  tuberous  plants  were  seen  in  blocks  in  indeed 
almost  parterre  fashion.  Scarlet  and  j'ellow 
Tulips,  white  and  yellow  Daffodils,  blue  and  white 
Grape  Hyacinths,  blue,  scarlet,  and  white  Anemones, 
all  very  beautiful  in  their  places,  were  here  in 
patchwork  blocks,  and  not  at  all  as  if  Nature  had 
any  hand  in  the  planting. 

The  natural  scene  I  found  in  one  of  those  singu- 
larl}'  lovely  places  for  which  the  garden  county  of 
Surre}'  is  famous.  It  was  at  Castle  Hill,  Bletching- 
Icy,  the  residence  of  Mr.  H.  Partridge,  a  place 
where  Nature  in  the  ground  formation  and  singu- 
larly steep  declivities,  as  well  as  noble  elevations, 
has  done  so  much,  and  the  gardener  has  done  his 
share  well  also.  But  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
mansion  on  grassy  glades,  beneath  leaf}'  trees, 
and  outside  the  kept  grounds  were  large  expanses 
of  Lady  Sraocka,  Primroses,  white  Anemones, 
Violets,  and  many  other  wild  flower.s,  literally  by 


the  acre,  all  so  very  beautiful.  Here  and  there 
were  a  few  of  the  commoner  Daffodils,  not  in 
clumps  revealing  the  gardener's  hand,  but  just 
singly,  as  though  the  bulbs  bad  accidentally  fallen 
from  the  trees,  and,  becoming  buried,  had  grown, 
and  thus  become  natural  products.  Running  to  a 
long  distance,  under  lofty  trees  and  on  the  western 
side  of  the  mansion,  is  a  striking  steep  hillside 
or  declivitj'  some  l.")0  yards  down.  Here  there  is 
very  little  underwood  growth,  but  on  May  9, 
when  I  saw  it,  the  whole  surface  of  the  ground, 
running  into  many  acres,  was  one  mass  of  Blue 
Bells.  Of  all  the  displays  of  these  wild  flowers  I 
had  ever  seen  this  was  the  finest  and  the  most 
beautiful.  Neither  words  nor  pictures  could  convey 
at  all  adequatel}'  the  wondrous  beauty  of  this 
woodland  garden  of  flowers,  and  especiallj'  when 
pas.sing  heas'v  clouds  at  times  threw  shadows, 
and  their  absence  at  other  times  revealed  the 
scene  lit  up  with  sunlight.  A  narrow  path  cut 
through  this  steep  3'et  glorious  woodland  bank, 
some  halfway  down  it,  enabled  the  sj)e<t5tor  to 
look  up  and  see  the  millions  of  pale  Bluebells 
facing  him  on  the  one  hand  and  the  darker  blue 
backs  of  the  flowers  below.  With  the  Scillas 
were  great  numbers  of  other  wild  flowers,  amongst 
which  stood  out  the  red-flowered  Campion,  Lychnis 
vespertina,  and  particularly  fine  and  efiective, 
though  not  common,  the  yellow  blind  Nettle,  and 
the  pretty  and  common  Stitchwort,  also  Prim- 
roses, Anemones,  and  with  a  green  carpet  of  the 
(iround  Elder.  Jt  is  such  natural  effects  as  these 
that  should  be  imitated.  A.  D. 


EDINBURGH    GARDENERS'    COM- 
PETITION—JUDGES'  REPORT. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Royal  Caledonian 
Horticultural  Society  recently  awarded  prizes 
for  the  best  plans,  drawn  by  under  gardeners, 
showing  how  to  lay  out  20  acres  of  ground  as  flower 
and  vegetable  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds.  Mr. 
P.  Murray  Thompson,  secretary  of  the  society,  has 
kindly  sent  us  a  copy  of  the  prize  plan  and  the 
report  (given  below)  of  the  judges  upon  the  plans 
submitted  to  them. 

"The  sketch  plan  submitted  for  competition 
shows  a  piece  of  ground  only  20  acres  in  extent, 
with  somewhat  steep  gradients,  and  the  mansion 


placed  at  a  height  of  60  feet  above 
the  road  and  about  57  feet  above  the 
stream  immediately  to  the  south  of  the 
house.  The  details  are  such  as  to  make 
competitors  carefully  consider  what  are 
the  possibilities  of  the  ground.  Of  neces- 
sity the  carriage  drive  to  the  house  must 
be  steep,  and  only  one  competitor  has  laid 
out  his  plan  in  such  a  way  as  to  get  an 
easier  gradient  than  one  in  ten.  The 
stream  and  old  ijuarry  are  capable  of 
effective  treatment,  and  the  stables  should 
he  screened  oft'  from  the  mansion  or  house. 
The  character  of  the  ground  is  such  that 
the  best  treatment  seems  to  be  a  'natural' 
one.  With  these  points  in  view  we  have 
carefully  considered  the  twenty-one  plans 
submitted  to  us,  and  are  pleased  to  report 
that  in  our  opinion  the  competition  has 
lieen  a  most  successful  one,  and  that  all 
who  have  entered  for  it,  whether  winning 
a  prize  or  not,  must  have  derived  con- 
siderable benefit.  Several  of  the  plans 
which  have  not  gained  places  show  good 
leatures.  Considering  the  size  of  the 
estate  most  of  the  plans  show  gardens 
too  large,  with  costly  subsidiary  works 
uut  of  all  projwrtion  to  the  area,  but 
the  principal  stumbling-block  with  most 
competitors  seems  to  have  been  the 
gradients.  We  congratulate  the  society 
upon  having  started  so  useful  a  scheme 
and  on  the  success  which  has  attended 
this  first  competition. 

"For  first   place  we  have  chosen   the 

plan  bearing  the  motto  '  Tipperary  Boy.' 

The  carriage  drive  is  formed  effectively, 

though  rather  steep  from   the  stream   to 

the  house.     The  ground  is  simply  treated 

in  such  a  manner  that  it  might  easily  be 

further  developed.     The  flower  beds  to  the  south 

and  west  of  the  house  are  weak.     The  west  wall 

from    the  road  to   the   stream   should  have   been 

screened  with  planting.     The  linking  of  the  walks 

is  somewhat  faulty,  and  a  necessary  and  important 

path  is  wanting  for  service  between  the  kitchen 

gardens  and  house,  while  the  competitor  makes  a 

good  feature  of  the  quarry ;  it  is  strange  that  he. 

almost  entirely  neglects  to  utilise  the  ground  near 

the  stream  for  a  fine  walk.   This,  however,  is  better 

than  showing  needless  paths. 

"For  second  place  we  have  chosen  the  plan 
bearing  the  motto  '  Labor  Omnia  Vincit.'  The 
draughtsmanship  is  a  little  faulty,  but  we  have  not 
given  much  consideration  to  that  in  any  of  the 
plans.  The  drive  from  the  stream  to  the  house  is 
rather  too  steep.  The  kitchen  garden  taken  as  a 
whole  is  rather  large.  The  serpentine  walk 
between  the  lodge  and  the  '  lake'  is  weak,  as  are 
also  the  '  butterfly '  shrubberies  on  the  north  side 
of  the  drive  from  the  stream  to  the  house.  The 
flower  garden  to  the  north  of  that  is  over  elaborated 
and  is  unnecessary.  The  flower  garden  provided 
at  the  east  end  of  the  kitchen  garden  is  a  good 
feature,  well  thought  out,  and  of  sufficient  size  for 
the  property. 

"  For  third  place  we  have  chosen  the  plan  bear- 
ing the  motto  '  Carnation.'  This  would  have  taken 
a  higher  place  had  it  not  been  too  elaborate,  and 
consequently  very  expensive  to  lay  out.  The  drive 
is  well  planned,  and  is  of  the  easiest  gradient  sub 
mitted  to  us.  The  ground  along  the  course  of  the 
stream  is  well  developed.  The  quarry  is  well 
treated,  except  for  the  posiUon  of  taking  in  the 
water  from  the  stream.  The  kitchen  garden  is  too 
large,  and,  taking  thJ  contour  of  the  property, 
is  not  well  placed.  This  applies  also  to  the  tennis 
lawn.  The  tennis  lawn  and  bowling  green  should 
be  together,  and  easily  accessible  from  the  house. 
The  straight  boundary  of  the  belt  of  trees  along 
the  road  is  weak.  The  back  walk  along  the  west 
side  of  the  property  is  unnecessary.  The  subsidiary 
road  for  carting  from  the  avenue  to  the  stables  is 
not  well  placed.  The  flower  garden  as  placed  would 
be  much  shaded  by  the  house  during  a  great  part 
of  the  day.  The  connexions  between  some  walks 
are  faulty.  The  screen  of  trees  between  the  house 
and  stables  should  have  been  nearer  the  stables. 
"  The  plais  mnrked  '  Omnia  Vincit  Labor  '  and 


Junk  14,  1902.J 


THE    GAJiD£]N. 


4Ul 


'  A  Rolling  Stone  Gathers  no  Moss,'  contain 
various  good  features,  and  may  in  our  opinion  be 
commended. 

"(Signed)  J.  W.  McHattie,  Superintendent  of 
Public  Parks,  Edinburgh,  and  Jas.  Whitton, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Parks,  Glasgow." 


JAPANJiSE     MAPLES. 

Thr  Japanese  Maple  i.s  so  highly  thought 
of  in  this  country  that  the  illustrations  of 
it  in  Japan  may  interest  readers  of  The 
Gardes  : — The  j\Iaples  differ  greatly.  Some 
are  tall,  others  dwarf,  and  there  is  as  much 
distinction  in  the  leaf  colouring  and  formation 
as  in  their  dimensions.  The  .Japanese  Maple 
is  Acer  palmatum,  of  which  there  are  several 
varieties.  Aureum,  sanguineum,  and  septem- 
lobum  are  three  handsome  varieties,  the  second 
of  those  named  in  particular.  This  has  leaves 
of  deepest  crimson.  These  may  be  planted  in 
a  small  garden,  as  they  do  not  grow  very  large, 
and  are  quite  hardy,  enjoying  fairly  light  soil 
and  open  positions.  A  tree  for  the  park  or 
pleasure  grounds  is  the  variety  of  Norway 
Maple  (A.  platanoides)  called  Schwedleri.  It 
is  tall,  vigorous,  and  has  very  beautiful  leaves, 
which  pass  to  quite  a  bronzy  red  with  age. 
The  Silver  Maple  (A.  dasycarpum),  A.  cir- 
cinatum,  the  leaves  quite  crimson  in  autumn, 
the  Sugar  Maple  (A.  saccharinum),  very  showy 
in  autumn,  the  Red  Maple  (A.  rubrum),  and 
the  well-known  A.  Negundo  and  its  variegated 
variety  may  be  named.  It  is  a  mistake  to  use 
A.  Negundo  variegata  too  freely,  as  it  always 
has  a  spotty  effect. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


INDOOR    GARDEN. 

Hekbaceous  Calceolarias. 

SEED  may  be  sown  now  in  well  drained 
pots  or  pans  in  a  fairly  light  rich  porous 
soil.  Fill  the  seed  pans  within  half  an 
inch  of  the  rim,  press  the  compost 
firmly,  making  the  surface  perfectly  even, 
and  sprinkle  fine  silver  sand  over  it. 
Water  the  soil  with  a  fine  rose,  sow  the  seed 
thinly,  and  sift  over  it  a  mere  dusting  of  fine  soil. 
The  seed  is  so  very  small  that  it  will  germinate 
without  any  covering  at  all.  Place  the  pans  in  a 
moist,  shady  frame  where  the  temperature  is  even, 
and  cover  the  pans  with  a  sheet  of  glass  to  check 
evaporation.  The  glass  must  be  dried  with  a 
cloth  every  morning.  In  about  eight  or  nine  days 
the  seedlings  will  be  above  the  soil,  and  they  must 
be  gradually  given  more  air  until  finally  the  glass 
is  removed. 

Bouvardias 
that  have  been  hardened  off  may  now  be  planted 
out  of  doors ;  choose  a  sunnj'  position.  It  is 
necessary  that  the  plants  should  receive  plentj' 
of  water  during  the  period  of  active  growth  or 
they  will  become  a  prey  to  red  spider.  Overhead 
syringings  until  well  established  are  very  desirable 
in  hot  weather,  are  a  check  to  red  spider,  and  will 
encourage  growth.  Bouvardias  may  be  planted 
out  permanently  in  prepared  beds,  in  heated  pits, 
or  frames.  The  lights  may  be  removed  during 
summer  after  the  plants  are  established. 

Camellias 
that  have  completed  their  growth  may  be  stood  in 
the  open  for  the  wood  to  ripen  and  the  flower- 
buds  to  become  plump.  Choose  a  somewhat  shaded 
and  sheltered  situation.  These  plants  should  be 
freely  syringed  morning  and  afternoon,  and  water 
should  be  given  liberally  at  the  roots.  The  white 
scale  sometimes  makes  its  appearance,  and  this 
should  be  sponged  off  with  warm  water  and  soft 
soap. 

ZosAL  Pelargoniums 
may   be    placed    in    their    flowering    pots.    '  For 
spring-struck  plants  5-inoh  or  6-inch  pots  will  be 


large  enough.  A  suitable  compost  for  this  potting 
is  one  of  a  good  fibrous  loam,  with  an  addition  ut 
wood  ashes,  bone  -  meal,  and  coarse  silver  sand. 
Pot  firmly  and  afford  efficient  drainage.  Place  the 
plants  in  an  open,  sunny  position  out  of  doors  on 
boards  or  a  bed  of  coal  ashes.  Timely  attention 
must  be  given  to  watering,  stopping,  and  removing 
all  flower-buds.  Show,  decorative,  and  fancy  Pelar- 
goniums that  have  finished  flowering  should  be 
placed  out  of  doors  in  full  sun  that  the  wood  may 
be  ripened. 

Fuchsias 
that  are  coming  into  flower  should  be  kept  well 
supplied  with  liquid  manure  and  soot  water  ;  later 
plants  may  be  given  larger  pots,  using  a  good 
rich  soil.  The  plants  should  be  placed  outside  in 
a  sheltered  spot,  for  high  winds  soon  play  havoc 
with  the  young  and  tender  growths. 

John  Fleming. 
Wfxham  Park  Gardens,  Slongh. 


THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Late  Vinekibs. 
These  will  during  this  month  require  much 
attention.  As  soon  as  the  berries  are  sufficiently 
advanced  to  make  possible  a  selection  of  the  be&"t 
bunches  a  final  thinning  of  the  latter  should  be 
made.  In  the  case  of  free  setting  varieties  this 
may  be  done  almost  immediately  after  the  flowering 
season  is  over,  but  undue  haste  in  this  matter  with 
Muscats,  Alnwick  Seedling,  and  other  uncertain 
setters  might  end  in  disappointment.  It  is  always 
better  to  under-crop  than  over-crop  Vines.  Tlie 
cultivator  must,  however,  judge  for  himself.  He 
will  know  what  he  can  command  in  the  way  of 
stimulants,  &c. ,  and  the  weight  of  fruit  that  they 
should  be  able  to  mature  perfectl}'.  An  experienced 
thinner  of  the  berries  readilj'  discerns  which  to 
leave,  and  the  distance,  according  to  variety,  that 
they  should  be  apart  in  order  to  form  a  perfect 
bunch,  and  selects  the  most  prominent  and  largest 
berries,  with  thick  footstalks,  to  form  an  outline 
to  the  bunch,  at  the 
same  time  avoid  crowd- 
ing the  centre.  In  con- 
sequence of  the  short 
footstalks  of  some  kinds, 
Lady  Downe's  Seedling 
for  instance,  they  must 
be  thinned  both  early 
and  freel}',  otherwise 
they  will  soon  become 
so  closely  crowded  that 
it  will  not  be  possible 
to  attend  to  them 
without  spoiling  the 
bloom.  Such  varieties 
as  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
and  Alicante  should 
have  their  large 
shoulders  carefully 
looped  to  the  laterals 
before  being  thinned, 
and  sufficient  berries 
should  be  left  upon 
them  to  keep  them 
compact.  Attend  to 
keeping  the  Vines  pro- 
perly supplied  with 
nourishing  liquids,  to 
the  stopping  of  their 
sublaterals,  and  parti- 
cularly guard  against 
excessive  artificial  heat. 

Early  Hamburgh 
Vines. 

The  atmosphere  of 
the  house  containing 
ripe  fruit  should  be 
moderately  dry.  Give 
a  free  circulation  of  air 
in  favourable  weatlier, 
avoiding  cold  draughts, 
and  expelling  excessive 
moisture  by  means  of  a 
little  artificial  warmth. 
The  colour  and  plump- 


ness of  the  berries  will  be  more  satisfactory  if  hot 
sunshine  is  subdued  by  light  shadings,  the  border 
kept  moist  and  mulched  with  dry  litter. 

The  Orcharb  House. 
Pot  trees  that  have  been  allowed  to  come  on  as 
it  were  naturally  should  have  their  crops  thinned. 
Top-dress  them  slightly  with  rich  short  stable 
manure  and  loam  in  equal  parts,  and  subsequently 
these  operations  should  be  repeated  at  intervals  as 
soon  as  the  dressings  become  well  filled  with 
roots.  This  will  greatly  assist  them  to  grow 
and  swell  their  fruit,  thus  making  liquid 
manures  almost  or  quite  unnecessary.  Water 
must,  however,  be  freely  given,  and  it  will  in  hot 
weather  be  often  needed  twice  a  day  to  keep 
the  trees  from  suffering  from  dryness  at  the  roots. 
Dryness  results  in  inferior  fruit,  and  will  cause  that 
of  Cherries,  Plums,  and  Peaches  to  drop  whilst 
stoning.  The  trees  of  the  latter  must  be  freely 
syringed,  both  in  the  morning  and  evening,  to 
prevent  redspider  from  getting  a  foothold,  but  if 
Pears,  Cherries,  or  Apricots— which  resent  much 
syringing  and  a  close  moist  atmosphere — are 
associated  with  them  they  should  be  kept  at  one 
end  of  the  house  and  treated  accordingly.  The 
temperature  must  be  kept  moderately  low  until 
the  fruit  has  stoned  and  commenced  its  second 
swelling,  when  its  progress  may  be  safely  hastened 
by  closing  the  house  early,  so  that  the  temperature 
reaches  about  85"^  from  solar  heat.  Atmospheric 
moisture  must  at  such  times  be  given  freely. 

Pine-apples. 
Successional  plants,  which  may  suitably  consist 
of  Smooth  Cayenne,  Charlotte  Rothschild,  and 
Black  .Jamaica,  should  be  kept  slightly  drier  at 
the  roots  and  maintain  a  drier  atmosphere.  They 
will  then  show  fruit  early  next  month,  and  an 
early  winter  supply  should  be  forthcoming.  Once 
the  fruit  shows  give  a  good  soaking  of  weak 
guano  water.  Young  plants  of  the  above  should 
be  shifted  into  their  fruiting  pots  before  the  roots 
become  pot-bound — a  condition  that  would  cause 


A  JAPANESE  maple.     (From  a  photograph  taken  in  Japan.) 


402 


THE  GARDEN. 


[JUNE  14,   1902. 


premature  fruiting  —  and  be  incited  to  make 
vigorous  progress  by  being  subjected  to  early 
closing  and  moist  atmospheric  conditions.  Guard 
against  the  foliage  being  unduly  browned  by 
lightly  shading  it  from  powerful  sunshine.  There 
need  be  no  apprehension  of  the  plants  becoming 
drawn  at  this  season  of  the  year  if  the  houses 
are  properly  ventilated.  Suckers  of  these  varieties 
to  provide  for  future  demands  should  be  potted 
as  they  become  fit.  T.  Coomeer. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Mrnimoulh. 


THE 


FLOWER   GARDEN. 
Lawns. 


These,  if  well  kept,  are  always  pleasing  and  attrac- 
tive features  in  a  flower  garden  during  summer, 
though  if  they  are  patchy  and  uncared  for  the 
eft'ect  is  the  reverse.  Newly-made  lawns  require 
care  now  both  as  to  mowing  and  watering,  and 
weeds  that  invariably  spring  up  with  the  grass 
seed  should  be  carefully  removed.  Watering 
should  be  given  in  the  evening  and  in  such 
quantities  that  frequent  applications  will  be 
unnecessary.  One  good  soaking  a  week  is  now 
far  more  beneficial  than  daily  sprinkles.  Dustings 
of  some  good  chemical  manure  during  rainy 
weather  stimulate  the  young  roots  and  give  a 
healthy  appearance  to  the  grass.  The  mowing  of 
newly-made  lawns  should  not  be  rashly  under- 
taken, as  the  roots  if  unduly  exposed  to  the  hot 
raj's  of  the  sun  are  liable  to  be  burnt  up,  whilst 
on  the  other  hand  allowing  the  grass  to  become 
long  and  then  mowing  it  close  gives  a  very  bad 
effect  for  a  long  time,  and  makes  the  prospect  of 
a  soft  velvety  lawn  a  distant  one. 


A  little  fresh  gravel  on  walks  and  the  use  of  the 
roller  after  a  shower  of  rain  will  do  much  good, 
but  this  should  not  be  done  until  all  the  traffic 
caused  by  the  bedding  out  is  finished. 

Annuals. 
The  different  groups  and  clumps  of  annuals  will 
now  require  thinning  out,  and  care  should  be 
taken  not  to  neglect  this  important  work,  as  it  is 
the  one  thing  essential  to  success  in  growing  these 
beautiful  flowers.  Every  seedling  should  be 
allowed  sufficient  room  to  grow  and  develop 
properly.  To  make  a  display  in  late  autumn 
many  annuals  may  now  be  sown,  as  these  are 
flowers  one  cannot  have  too  many  of. 

Roses. 

Now  that  the  blooming  season  approaches  Roses 
require  special  attention.  A  good  soaking  of 
manure  water  would  help  the  expanding  buds 
immensely.  Care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  buds 
free  from  grubs,  which  are  so  disastrous  to  them. 
They  may  easily  be  seen  curled  up  in  the  leaf, 
and  can  easilj-  be  destroyed  by  squeezing  the 
latter.  If  black  fly  is  troublesome  syringe  with 
Quassia  Extract.  AH  suckers  must  be  removed  or 
they  will  soon  weaken  the  plants. 

Hugh  A.  PaTTKiREW. 

Canlle  Gardens,  Si.  Fnyann. 


TART    VIEW    OF    A    KOCK    AND    WATEK   (JARDEN. 

(Exhihlt'il  hi/  Mi'ssm.  Rnber'  I'eitcli  and  Snn,  Exeter,  at  thf  recent  Bath  and  West  oj 

E'lfjland  S/to  v  at  Plinnout/i.) 


KITCHEN  GARDEN. 

Mushrooms. 
As  ordinary  Mushroom  houses  will  be  of  little  use 
for  producing  good  crops  at  this  season,  it  will  be  far 
better  to  make  up  good  beds  either  in  the  open  in 
cool  positions,  or  in  oaves,  or  cellars,  and  clear 
out  the  houses  proper, 
making  any  necessary 
repairs,  and  holding 
everything  in  readiness 
iur  the  autumn.  Every 
particle  of  the  old 
material  should  be  taken 
care  of,  as  it  forms  one 
of  the  most  valuable 
items  a  gardener  can 
have  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year,  and  it  is 
ecfually  useful  in  nearly 
every  department.  Beds 
which  are  in  bearing  in 
the  open  should  be  exa- 
mined frequently ;  re- 
move the  long  litter 
and  renew  with  fresh 
from  the  stables  every 
now  and  then.  This 
will  add  new  life  to  beds 
which  have  been  in 
bearing  some  time. 
Syringe  twice  daily, 
thoroughly  soak  the  beds 
with  tepid  water  when 
dry,  and  to  any  becom- 
ing exhausted  apply 
farmyard  liquid  manure 
of  moderate  strength. 

Cucumbers. 
These  may  be  grown 
easily  during  the  next 
three  months  either  in 
houses,  pits,  or  frames 
with  the  aid  of  little 
fire  heat,  but  much 
attention  will  be  needed 
to  keep  the  plants 
liealthy  and  in  good 
bearing  condition.  Over- 
cropping should  in  all 
cases  be  strictly  guarded 
against  or  the  plants  will 
become  exhausted  and 
the  produce  poor.  The 
plants  should  be  looked 
over  at  least  three  times 
a  week  in  whatever 
structure  they  are  grow- 
ing.     Remove    with    a 


knife  as  much  of  the  old  wood  as  can  be  con- 
veniently spared  to  induce  as  much  young 
growth  as  possible ;  this  should  be  stopped 
often.  Badly  shaped  fruit  should  be  taken  off  as 
soon  as  formed,  also  old  decaying  leaves.  Add  a 
small  top-dressing  of  turfy  loam  and  well  decayed 
manure  about  every  fortnight  or  three  weeks.  No 
fruits  other  than  those  required  for  seed  should 
be  left  on  the  plants  after  they  are  fit  for  cutting, 
as  these  will  keep  fresh  for  some  time  by  standing 
the  ends  in  a  little  water  in  a  cool  place, 
changing  the  water  often.  Syringe  twice  daily, 
and  water  thoroughly  whenever  the  plants  require 
it,  applying  stimulants  once  a  week  when  in  full 
bearing.  Fumigate  with  XL  All  immediately  any 
signs  of  aphis  or  thrip  appear,  for  once  the  growths 
become  badly  infested  it  is  very  difficult  to  eradi- 
cate, especiall}'  so  in  pits  or  frames.  Make  another 
good  sowing  of  seed  singly  in  small  pots.  These 
fruits  will  come  in  well  for  earlj'  autumn.  Outside 
ridge  varieties  which  were  planted  early  under 
hand-lights  will  now  do  without  this  covering.  Peg 
the  growths  evenly  about  the  ridges. 

General  Work. 

Nearly  every  plot  of  ground  in  the  kitchen 
garden  ought  now  to  be  properl3'  cropped,  and  as 
fast  as  one  thing  is  over  another  should  take  its 
place.  The  hoe  should  be  kept  in  constant  use, 
both  for  destroying  the  weeds  and  assisting  the 
growth  of  the  various  crops.  Few  people  realise 
the  large  amount  of  good  frequent  hoeings  do  on 
all  kinds  of  land.  Take  advantage  of  showery 
weather  for  applying  soot  and  artificial  manures  in 
equal  proportions.  Give  too  little  rather  than  too 
much — a  little  and  often  being  the  best  coarse  to 
pursue.  Onions,  Carrots,  Beet,  Parsnips,  Celery, 
Cauliflowers,  Beans  of  sorts,  Peas,  and  the  like  will 
all  greatly  benefit  by  this  when  in  active  growth. 
Strong-growing  Peas,  in  addition  to  being  staked, 
will  often  require  to  be  further  supported  by 
having  lines  of  strong  string  stretched  along  each 
side,  and  all  Broad  Beans  should  be  stopped 
immediately  sufficient  flowers  are  open,  supported 
and  kept  in  an  upright  position  by  driving  in 
stakes  at  intervals.  Use  two  lines  of  strong 
string.  Salads  of  sorts  should  be  frequently  sown, 
that  there  may  be  no  danger  of  a  break  in  the 
supply.  Mustard  and  Cress,  Radishes,  Chervil,, 
and  Onions  for  drawing  young  are  best  sown  in 
cool  parts  of  the  garden.  E.  Beckett. 

A/dfiiham  Hoii^e  Gardens,  Ehtrei-,  Herts. 


FLOWERS   AT   THE   BATH    AND 

W^EST   OF  ENGLAND  SHOW^. 

The  central  feature  of  the  excellent  floral  exhibi- 
tion at  the  Plymouth  show  of  the  Bath  and  West  of 
England  Society  was  a  really  artistic  erection,  for 
which  Mr.  F.  W.  Meyer,  landscape  gardener  to 
Messrs.  R.  Veitch  and  Son,  of  Exeter,  was  respon- 
sible. It  was  between  50  feet  and  60  feet  in  length, 
about  20  feet  deep,  and  '25  feet  high,  and  included  a 
rock  garden  with  waterfall  and  a  Water  Lily  pond 
filled  with  Marliac's  choice  Water  Lilies.  From  a 
boulder  of  rock  was  suspended  the  Crimson 
Rambler  and  other  climbing  Roses.  Among  the 
plants  were  Rhododendrons,  intermixed  with 
Bamboos  and  Japanese  Maples,  around  the  pond 
were  Irises  and  other  water-loving  plants,  Fortin's 
new  Lily  of  the  Valley  in  excellent  condition,  tall 
spikee  of  Eremurus,  the  scarlet  Metrosideros, 
Heaths,  Azaleas,  branchesofEmbothriumcoccineum, 
and  a  handsome  group  of  the  yellow  Richardia, 
backed  by  Clematises  (among  which  was  C.  Nellie 
Moser).  The  whole  was  a  model  of  good  taste,  and 
came  in  for  much  admiration  from  the  crowds  who 
visited  the  exhibition.  Messrs.  John  Waterer 
and  Sons,  of  Bagshot,  showed  some  very  fine 
Rhododendrons,  including  Cynthia  (rose).  Pink 
Pearl,  Everestianum  (mauve),  and  Frederick 
Waterer.  Messrs.  Curtis,  Sanford  and  Co.,  of  the 
Devon  Rosary,  Torquay,  showed  Tulips,  Pelar- 
goniums, Carnations,  Pansies,  and  Coleus.  In 
addition  to  the  rockery  mentioned  above,  Messrs. 
Veitch  showed  a  nice  collection  of  Sarracenias, 
Dionaia  muscipula,  and  other  insectivorous  plants. 
Mr.  Henry  Hodge,  of  St.  Austell,  showed  Begonias, 


June  U,  i90:i.J 


THE    UAitUEJN. 


403 


including  a  striped  double.  Messrs.  Cooling  and 
Sons,  of  Bath,  made  a  speciality  of  Gladioli  and 
Gesner  Tulips,  with  some  very  fine  Clematises. 
Mr.  Godfrey's  (of  Exmouth)  collection  included 
Palms,  Caunas,  Anemones,  Irises,  Lilacs,  and 
Oriental  Poppies.  Lord  Auckland  sent  some  fine 
plants,  including  Hsemanthus  and  Gloxinias,  and 
J.  C.  Williams,  Esq. ,  some  very  pretty  Tropasolums, 
Cypripediums,  and  fine  foliaged  plants.  Mr.  F. 
Hooper,  of  Widcombe  Hill,  Bath,  exhibited  Pansies, 
Callas,  and  Fuclisias.  The  flower  exhibition  at  the 
Bath  and  West  of  Engalnd  show  not  being  competi- 
tive, the  chief  object  in  view  is  to  get  a  good  effect; 
it  is  never  so  large  as  to  be  wearisome,  and  care  is 
taken  to  get  a  varied  collection  of  plants.  By  this 
means  it  is  always  a  delightful  show  to  visit,  and 
every  year  it  seems  to  be  improving  in  quality. 


FROST    AND    FRUIT    CROPS. 

Promise  or  a  Great  Apple  Year. 
Some  weeks  have  now  passed  since  that  fatal 
morning  about  the  middle  of  May  when 
the  thermometer  registered  10°  below 
freezing  point,  and  in  the  meantime  oppor- 
tunities nave  been  afforded  of  noting  the 
difference  that  the  one  night  made  in  the 
calculations  of  fruit  growers.  Until  then 
prospects  could  not  well  have  been  better. 
Fears  were  even  entertained  that  crops  would 
prove  too  heavy  to  be  profitable.  We  hear 
another  story  now,  and  thougb  there  have 
been  exaggerated  reports  about  whole.sale 
failures,  things  are  not  so  bad  as  all  that,  and 
there  will  be  fruit  when  the  time  arrives  for 
picking.  In  Kent  the  frost  was  general,  though 
it  va'ied  in  severity  and  in  effect.  Amongst 
vegetables  early  Potatoes  suffered  the  most, 
and  though  they  have  now  made  fresh  growth 
this  is  weak  and  the  crops  will  be  late  and 
small.  Two  fruits  that  seemed  to  come  off 
the  best  were 

Pears  and  Apples. 

I  have  seen  instances  where  the  former  suffered 
in  low  lying  districts,  but  generally  speaking 
the  blooms  were  well  set,  and  the  fruits  now 
swelling  promise  well  for  the  crop.  Whereas 
the  earliness  of  the  bloom  saved  the  Pears, 
the  lateness  of  the  Apple  was  doubtless  the 
salvation  of  this  important  crop.  Except  in 
the  case  of  a  few  early  varieties,  the  Apple 
blossoms  were  not  expanded  on  the  night  in 
question,  and  since  then  things  have  been 
favourable  for  a  good  set.  Situation,  of  course, 
made  some  difference,  and  I  recently  heard  a 
grower  deploring  the  fact  that  his  Apple 
blossom  was  ruined,  but  his  orchards  are 
situated  in  the  valley  close  to  a  river,  and  this 
caught  the  full  rigour  of  the  frost.  Provided 
all  things  go  well  this  should  prove  to  be  a 
great  year  for  Apples,  and  opportunities  will 
probably  be  afforded  for  experimentalists  to 
prove  how  surplus  fruit  can  be  profitably 
disposed  of.  There  need  be  no  fears,  I  think, 
about  the  best  samples  of  high-class  varieties. 

At  the  time  when  the  orchards  were  white 
with  flowers  growers  discussed  the  prospects  of 
another  great 

Pldm 
year.  This  was  not  done  in  a  cheerful  spirit 
altogether,  as  no  one  knows  better  than  Kentish 
growers  what  a  glut  of  Plums  means.  A 
common  variety  in  the  country  is  the  Kentish 
Bush  Plum,  a  round  purple  fruit  of  fair 
quality.  In  moderate  seasons  these  Plums 
pay  well,  but  the  variety  is  a  great  cropper, 
and  in  years  of  plenty  their  market  value 
reaches  the  minimum,  and  the  price  of  better 
class  varieties  is  also  reduced.  From  observa- 
tions I  have  been  able  to  make  I  find  that  the 
frost  has  had  its  effect  on  the  Plums,  aild 
though  there  may  be  sufficient  left  to  make  a 


crop  on  many  trees,  I  do  not  think  there  is 
any  fear  now  about  a  glut.  I  know  instances 
where  every  fruit  turned  black  and  fell,  and  in 
such  cases  the  growers  are  deploring  their 
losses.  To  those  who  escaped  the  damage,  the 
frost  may  prove  something  of  a  blessing,  as  the 
results  of  that  one  night's  cold  are  sure  to  tell 
upon  the  prices  later  on.  It  made  one  feel 
sad  to  observe  some  of  the  early 

Cherry 
trees  after  the  frost.  The  day  before  every 
branch  was  studded  with  swelling  fruits,  and 
the  effects  of  the  frost  were  not  observed  at 
first.  Then  the  shrivelling  and  the  blackening 
told  the  fatal  story,  and  they  came  down  like 
a  shower.  This  was  unfortunate,  as  early 
Cherries  are  usually  a  paying  crop.  With 
Cherries,  however,  as  with  other  fruits,  situa- 
tion has  made  all  the  difference.  During  the 
last  few  days  I  have  noticed  orchards  occupy- 
ing high  situations  where  the  trees  are  bearing 
good  crops,  so  that  the  man  in  the  street  may 
hope  to  get  his  Amber  Hearts  and  Bigarreaus 
later  on,  in  spite  of  what  his  daily  paper  may 
have  told  him  to  the  contrary,  though  he  will 
doubtless  have  to  pay  more  for  them  than  he 
did  last  year.  One  phase  of  the  Cherry 
season  has  already  begun,  and  small  fruits  of 
foreign  importations  were  fairly  plentiful  in 
the  markets  before  the  end  of  May,  but  in 
quality  these  will  bear  m  comparison  with 
the  large  luscious  fruits  from  Kentish  orchards. 
To  give  an  example  of  the  effect  the  frost 
had  on 

Bush  Fruits 
in  certain  districts,  I  had  occasion  to  go  into 
a  large  plantation  where  Gooseberries  and 
Black  Currants  are  extensively  grown.  Suffi- 
cient time  had  elapsed  for  the  full  extent  of 
the  damage  to  be  seen,  and  the  sight  was  a 
pitiable  one.  The  ground  beneath  the  bushes 
was  strewn  with  Gooseberries  and  Currants, 
and  very  few  were  left  on  the  branches  above. 
According  to  the  estimation  of  the  grower  that 
one  night's  frost  has  made  a  difference  of  a 
couple  of  hundred  pounds  to  him,  which  is  a 
serious  item  in  these  days.  Half  a  mile  away, 
but  in  a  higher  position,  the  frost  did  not  seem 
to  have  done  much  damage.  The  thinning  of 
the  Gooseberries  will  probably  put  money  into 
the  pockets  of  those  who  have  not  suffered 
much,  as  the  returns  to  the  growers  are  only 
small  when  these  fruits  are  plentiful.  With 
Black  Currants  it  is  different,  as  the  dreaded 
bud  mite  has  ruined  so  many  plantations  that 
a  glut  of  Black  Currants  is  almost  impossible, 
and,  with  the  additional  damage  done  by  the 
frost,  prices  will  probably  rule  high  this 
season.     Probably 

Strawberry 
growers  were  hit  the  hardest  by  the  frost. 
The  first  blooms  were  fully  expanded,  and  it 
is  from  these  that  the  finest  and  earliest  fruits 
are  obtained.  A  few  days  ago  1  was  in  the 
plantation  of  a  grower  who  has  made  some 
fortunate  hits  in  the  past  by  the  earliness  of 
his  Royal  Sovereigns.  He  looked  like  doing 
the  same  again  this  year,  but  the  frost  upset 
his  calculations.  When  I  saw  them  the  early 
blooms  were  all  black  in  the  centre,  and  all 
hopes  of  Strawberries  at  Is.  per  lb.  are  gone 
for  this  year.  This  is  not  a  solitary  instance, 
and  the  effect  will  be  I'clt  on  the  Strawberry 
supply  about  Coronation  time.  Fortunately, 
late  varieties  and  succession  iOoonis  have  had 
nothing  to  check  them.  Happily,  the  weather 
has  been  more  favourable  lately.  Warm 
welcome  rain  has  fallen,  followed  by  genial 
sunshine,  and  the  fruit  that  safely  passed 
through  the  trying  ordeal  of  INIay  has  a  chance 
now  to  come  to  perfection.  G.  H.  H. 


NURSERY    GARDENS. 


MESSES.!  SUTTON    AND    SOMS' 
CALCEOLARIAS  AND  GLOXINIAS. 

NO  tender  plants  perhaps  produce 
flowers  more  brilliant  and  more  richly 
coloured  than  do  Gloxinias  and  Calceo- 
larias, so  indispensable  during  early 
summer  in  the  embellishment  of  the 
conservatory  and  warm  house.  One 
may  now  see  these  in  a  high  state  of  perfection, 
both  as  regards  the  culture  of  the  plants  and  the 
varieties  of  the  flowers,  in  Messrs.  Sutton's 
nursery  at  Reading.  Mr.  MacDonald,  who  for 
considerably  more  than  a  generation  has  practised 
the  art  of  plant  growing  in  Messrs.  Sutton's  estab- 
lishment, thinks 

The  Calceolarias 
have  never  before  been  so  good  as  they  are  this 
year,  which  makes  one  regret  that  they  were  not 
exhibited  at  the  recent  Temple  show,  and  one 
would  indeed  have  very  far  to  go  in  order  to  meet 
with  plants  more  satisfactory  in  every  way  than 
those  in  the  Reading  nursery.  Furnished  with 
foliage  which  tells  at  once  of  their  robust  health, 
and  bearing  splendid  bunches  of  Sowers  in  all  those 
remarkable  shades  of  colour  and  variety  of  mark- 
ings which  give  to  the  Calceolaria  its  charm  and 
account  for  its  popularity,  ilessrs.  Suttons'  plants 
make  a  striking  picture.  Beautiful  as  are  those 
varieties  which  have  flowers  of  colours  almost 
indescribable,  there  is  one  named  Cloth  of  Gold 
that  is  conspicuous  amongst  all  others  ;  its  flowers 
are  self-coloured,  a  rich  clear  yellow.  We  learned 
the  interesting  fact  that  this  is  the  only  Calceolaria 
in  Messrs.  Sutton's  collection  that  can  be  relied 
upon  to  come  really  true  from  seed. 

Calceolaria  Cloth  of  Gold 
is  extensively  represented  in  these  nurseries  ;  one 
may  therefore  conclude  there  is  a  large  demand 
for  it,  and  when  one  sees  how  striking  and  how 
richly  coloured  a  variety  it  is  this  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at.  Some  flowers  are  already  commencing 
to  lose  their  beauty,  and  the  reason  is  not  far 
to  seek.  It  is  not  that  they  are  fading  naturally 
on  account  of  age,  but  they  have  been  fertilised 
for  the  purpose  of  producing  seed,  and,  as  every 
gardener  knows,  nothing  so  quickly  causes  a  flower 
to  lose  its  beauty  and  its  petals  to  fade  and  fall. 
Those  that  have  not  been  touched  by  the  operator's 
brush  have  quite  a  different  appearance  ;  they  are 
as  fresh  and  bright  as  when  first  they  opened.  A 
really  lovely  sight  is  made  by  those  houses  wherein 
are  arranged 

The  Gloxinias. 
These  flowers,  unique  in  their  delicate  markings 
and  colouring,  have  been  greatly  improved  in 
recent  years.  Some  there  are  that  remind  one  of 
fine  lace  in  the  wonderful  tracery  on  the  petals, 
outlined  in  colours  of  the  most  delicate  hues ; 
others  are  boldly  marked  with  rich  masses  of 
colour.  There  are  "Coronation"  flowers  in  red, 
white,  and  blue,  and  there  are  many  more  whose 
velvety  petals  are  splashed,  spotted,  and  marked 
in  innumerable  other  ways  as  to  make  one  wisely 
desist  from  attempting  to  describe  them.  The 
appearance  of  the  Gloxinia  is  much  added  to  by  its 
handsome  marbled  leaves  of  various  shades  of 
green.  In  some  varieties  the  marbling  is  very 
marked  and  quite  a  feature. 

The  Star  Cinerarias 
are  now  making  a  brave  show,  and  here  again  one 
meets  with  shades  of  colour  and  forms  of  flowers 
that  one  would  think  could  not  be  improved  upon. 
And  yet  it  is  one's  invariable  duty  annually  to 
chronicle  improvements  upon  existing  varieties. 
The  true  Star  Cineraria  is  seen  in  excellent  form  in 
Messrs.  Sutton's  collection;  we  say  the  true  Star 
advisedly,  because  one  sees  so  many  so-called  Star 
Cinerarias  that  are  not  star-like  at  all,  except  in 
name.  And  when  the  star  form  is  preserved  with 
the  lovely  colours  of  the  florists'  Cineraria,  one  has 
a  choice,  elegant,  and  invaluable  plant.  Most  of 
the  brilliant  and  rich  colours  that  one  is  accus- 
tomed to  see  in  the  flowers  of  the  dwarf  Cinerarias 


401 


THE    GAKDEK. 


[June  14,  1902. 


appear  to  have  been  obtained  in  the  Star  Cinerarias, 
to  judge  from  Messrs.  Sutton's  varieties,  and 
the  plants  have  lost  nothing  in  elegance  of 
habit. 

Tuberous  Begonias 
are  now  in  full  bloom,  and  the  multitude  of  flowers 
includes  many  beautiful  kinds  amongst  the  single, 
double,  fringed,  and  crested  forms.  We  had  the 
privilege  of  peeping  into  the  seed  room,  where  were 
many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Primula  seeds  ;  we 
should  probablj'  not  be  incorrect  in  substituting 
millions  for  hundreds  of  thousands.  We  noted  too 
the  seedling  Cyclamens  that  even  in  small  pots 
filled  several  houses,  and,  so  soon  as  they  shall 
have  been  transferred  to  larger  pots,  will  evidently 
till  several  more.  The  exhibition  of  the  Royal 
Counties'  Agricultural  Society  is  being  held  at 
Reading  this  week,  and  we  had  an  opportunity  of 
noting  the  extensive  floral  decorations  that  iSIessrs. 
Sutton  ax-e  providing  around  the  Royal  Pavilion 
and  elsewhere  in  the  exhibition  grounds. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 


OUTDOOR    CUCUMBERS. 

IF  less  labour  were  expended  in  the  creation 
of  new  house  or  frame  Cucumbers,  and  more 
were  devoted  to  efforts  to  obtain  really  good 
outdoor  varieties,  greater  gain  to  garden- 
ing would  result.  We  have  now  fully  fifty 
assumed  distinct  or  diverse  varieties  of 
house  Cucumbers  in  commerce,  and  others  are 
being  yearly  added,  although  it  is  now  most  diffi- 
cult to  find  in  any  of  these  material  imprevements 
on  old  ones.  Some  fifteen  varieties  were  staged 
by  diverse  persons  at  the  recent  Temple  show,  all 
long,  green,  handsome,  and  good.  Probably  all 
are  as  prolific  as  Cucumbers  well  can  be.  But  of 
outdoor  varieties,  apart  from  the  old  Gherkin, 
which  is  too  small-fruited  for  ordinary  use,  there 
is  nothing  better  than  the  well-known  Ridge 
variety  or  a  slightly  improved  form  known 
variously  as  Stock  wood.  King  of  the  Ridge,  Long 
Ridge,  &c.  Is  it  not  possible  to  secure,  by  crossing 
the  best  of  the  Ridge  section  with  Telegraph  or 
another  free-growing  frame  variety,  one  that 
would  do  well  outdoors  in  the  summer  ?       A.  1). 


CABBAGES    "BOLTING." 

Evidently  Cabbages  bolt  off  to  flower  in  a  some- 
what erratic  wa3'  in  various  places,  as  is  evidenced 
by  whit  your  correspondent  "  G.  C.  N."  has 
written.  But  my  experience  of  Spring  Cabbages 
this  season  is  that  "  boilers  "  are  remarkably  few.  I 
have  seen  Cabbages  in  a  score  of  diverse  gardens 
and  places  just  recently,  and  in  five  counties 
where  of  necessity  the  conditions  must  greatly 
vary,  and  I  think  I  have  never  seen  fewer  bolters. 
If  there  be  1  or  2  per  cent.,  such  proportion 
is  not  worthy  of  consideration.  But  I  would  like 
to  give  details  of  a  trial  of  Cabbages  in  eighteen 
named  varieties  obtained  from  leading  seedsmen  : 
Sutton  and  Sons,  Veitch  and  Sons,  Carter  and  Co., 
Cannell  and  Sons,  Dobbie  and  Co.,  .Johnson  and 
Co. ,  and  Webb  and  Sons.  Tlie  Lrial  may  now  be 
seen  by  auyone  on  the  Crown  allotments  at 
Englefield  Green,  Berks.  There  were  of  each 
variety  two  sowings,  the  first  made  on  July  24,  the 
second  on  August  16  ;  the  plot  on  which  they  are 
planted  is  exposed,  and  the  soil  a  deep  retentive 
sand,  not  rich.  The  first  planting  of  one-half  the 
plot  was  made  on  September  25,  the  second  on 
October  16.  Thus  in  each  case  the  plants  were 
put  out  just  two  months  from  the  sowing  of  the 
seed.  The  reasons  for  making  the  two  sowings 
were — first,  to  test  effect  on  bolting  ;  second,  on 
earliness  to  heart  in.  There  are  two  rows  of 
each  variety  right  across  the  plot,  thus  making 
thirty-six  in  all,  and  forty  plants  in  eacli  row,  or  a 
total  of  1,440,  a  big  number,  which,  equally  divided, 
gives  720  to  each  planting.  Now  as  to  bolters. 
Out  of  this  big  number  there  were  in  the  first 
planting  eleven  only,  and  of  the  second  planting 


not  one.  That  is  a  point,  although  a  very  small 
one,  in  favour  of  the  second  or  later  sowing  and 
planting.  With  respect  to  early  hearting  the 
merit  lies  with  the  early  planting  certainly,  but 
judging  from  the  nature  of  growth  shown  on 
May  10  I.  expect  the  second  planting  will  give 
finer,  though  later,  heads.  A.  Dean. 


VEGETABLES  FOR  EXHIBITION. 

The  superb  collection  of  seventy- two  dishes  of 
vegetables,  which  Mr.  E.  Beckett  set  up  at  the 
recent  Temple  show,  served  to  illustrate  in  a  most 
effective  way  the  attractiveness  of  these  products 
at  exhibitions.  Few  objects  attracted  more  atten- 
tion at  the  show  ;  few  collections  more  thoroughly 
merited  attention.  It  may  be  comparatively  easy 
to  set  up  big  displays  of  flowering  plants,  or  to  go 
into  nurseries  and  cut  vast  quantities  of  flowers 
wherewith  to  make  a  big  bank  of  bloom,  but  only 
a  master  in  the  art  of  gardening  could  produce 
and  show  such  a  collection  of  vegetables  as  was 
the  one  from  Aldenham  House  Gardens,  and  not 
everyone  could  arrange  those  products  with  such 
singularly  pleasing  effect.  No  wonder  great 
numbers  of  visitors  to  the  show,  satiated  with  the 
masses  of  brilliant  colour  so  plentifully  furnished 
elsewhere,  found  great  pleasure  and  relief  in  the 
vegetable  collection.  The  presentation  of  this  fine 
collection  and  the  popularity  which  attached 
to  it,  plainly  show  the  need  there  is  for  at 
least  one  meeting  in  the  year  at  the  Drill  Hall 
for  a  vegetable  display.  If  one  big  collection 
was  so  attractive  how  much  more  so  would  be 
many  such,  though  for  competition  purposes 
necessarily  smaller  ones.  Some  twenty  collections 
of  a  dozen  dishes,  as  many  of  nine  dishes,  and 
again  of  six  dishes  with  a  dozen  or  more  of  single 
dishes  would  make  at  once  a  fine  and  a  representa- 
tive display.  If  the  council  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  would  give  a  lead  in  the  matter 
no  doubt  members  of  the  seed  trade  would  readily 
follow  with  offers  of  prizes,  and  thus  at  a  trifling 
cost  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  might  place 
before  its  thousands  of  Fellows  an  exhibition  of 
vegetables  that  would  include  the  finest  quality 
the  kingdom  could  produce,  and  be  second  to  none 
of  other  similar  shows  in  the  whole  world. 

A.  Dean. 


BUTTERFLIES  AND  CATERPILLARS. 

A  COMMON  sight  in  the  kitchen  garden  during  the 
warm  days  of  June  is  that  of  numerous  white 
butterflies  flitting  about  in  the  sunshine.  If  their 
movements  are  watched  it  will  be  observed  that 
they  frequentl}'  settle  on  the  Cabbages  and  other 
greens.  In  themselves  they  are  harmless  enough, 
and  it  would  seem  a  pity  to  destroy  them,  but  the 
prospect  of  caterpillar-ridden  Cabbages  makes  it 
necessary  that  stringent  measures  should  be  taken, 
and  the  destruction  of  butterflies  now  will  save  a 
lot  of  damage  later  on.  Some  of  the  cottagers  in 
my  district  hang  up  pieces  of  stone  brimstone 
over  their  Cabbage  beds  to  drive  away  the  butter- 
flies, but  the  riddled  leaves  beneath  often  afford 
proof  that  the  remedy  is  not  infallible. — G.  H.  H. 


SOCIETIES. 


COMMONS    AND    FOOTPATHS    PRESERVATION 

SOCIETY. 

Hainault  Fokest  and  Lambourne  Common. 

We  have  been  asked  to  publish  the  following  letter : — "  You 
were  good  enough  recently  to  give  publicity  to  an  appeal 
made  by  Mr.  Edward  North  Buxton  to  the  Corporation  of 
the  City  of  London  for  aid  in  carrying  out  a  proposal  for  the 
extension  of  East  London  open  spaces.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  Corporation  may  he  found  wilHng  to  make  a  substantial 
response  to  the  appeal,  but  in  any  event  the  realisation  of 
the  scheme  will  to  a  great  extent  depend  upon  the  measure 
of  support  accorded  to  it  by  those  who  are  in  sympathy 
with  the  open  space  movement.  The  proposal  is  in  the 
first  place  to  acquire  for  the  sum  of  £3,600  the  rights  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Manors  in  Lambourne  Common  over  312  acres 
of  land,  and  thus  to  bring  to  a  conclusion  all  questions  as  to 
the  validity  of  certain  old  enclosures,  and  to  secure  from 
injury  or  destruction  the  beautiful  and  valuable  timber  for 
which  the  common  is  noted,  and  which  is  the  undoubted 
property  of  the  Lords  of  the  Manors,  Colonel  Lockwood, 


M.P,,  and  Captain  Ethelstone.  In  the  second  place  it  is 
proposed  to  add  to  this  open  space  by  the  purchase  of  the 
whole  of  Fox  Burrows  Farm,  containing  475  acres,  formerly 
waste  of  Hainault  Forest,  enclosed  by  the  Crown  under  the 
Hainault  Forest  Act  of  1851,  and  let  as  farm  lands.  Bearing 
in  view  the  object  for  which  it  is  required,  the  Commissioners 
of  Woods  and  Forests  are  willing  to  sell  the  freehold  of  the 
land. 

"  It  is  estimated  that  the  total  cost  will  amount  to  at  least 
£27,000,  for  which  sum  859  acres  will  be  secured  with  all  the 
timber,  an  average  of  Ji:il  an  acre.  As  it  is  hoped  to  secure 
a  sufficient  sum  to  allow  the  arable  land  to  be  laid  down  in 
grass  and  sown  with  gorse  and  forest  seeds,  the  estimate 
may  be  considerably  exceeded.  By  way  of  comparison  it 
may  be  pointed  out  that  the  purchase  of  the  rights  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Manors  over  Epping  Forest  involved  an  outlay 
of  £'240,000  for  5,542  acres,  or  over  £43  an  acre,  although  the 
illegality  of  all  enclosures  was  successfully  established.  On 
the  other  hand,  of  the  present  purchase,  521  acres  enjoy  a 
parliauientary  title.  It  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  in 
commemoration  of  the  Diammid  Jubilee  of  the  late  Queen 
Victoria,  1G6  acres  of  open  spaces  were  purchased  in 
Wandsw()rth,  Highgate,  Wood  Green,  Edmonton,  and 
Tottenham.  The  cost  of  the  five  schemes  amounted  to 
£121,300,  or  £750  per  acre.  Now  that  the  nation  is  about  to 
celebrate  another  event  of  importance  in  the  history  of  the 
country,  may  we  express  a  hope  that  many  persons  who 
desire  to  see  the  Coronation  remembered  in  some  lasting 
manner  may  recognise  the  fitting  character  of  open  space 
memorials.  The  present  scheme  atfords  them  an  oppor- 
tunity, which  it  is  safe  to  say  will  never  recur,  of  assisting 
in  the  acquisition  of  a  wide  tract  of  beautiful  forest  and 
other  land  upon  the  most  favourable  purchase  terms  ever 
offered  to  the  Metropolis.  The  Commons  and  Footpaths 
Preservation  Society  has  been  consulted  with  reieience  to 
nearly  all  of  the  larger  Metropolitan  open  space  schemes, 
and  from  the  experience  it  has  had,  as  well  as  from  its 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  whole  of  the  facts  in  relation  to 
the  present  proposal,  it  is  able  to  warmly  commend  the 
scheme  to  the  consideration  of  the  public.  The  land 
occupies  a  most  commanding  position  on  the  elevated  ridge 
lying  between  the  KiverRoding  and  the  Thames  Valley.  A 
large  proportion  is  well  wooded,  and  it  will  shortly  have  a 
station  witliiu  easy  reach,  and  thus  be  accessible  to  all 
inhabitants  of  the  metropolis,  and  particularly  to  the  vast 
and  expanding  population  of  Ilford,  Romford,  and  other 
great  urban  centres  in  the  district.  Not  only  is  this  the 
case,  but  the  scheme  proposes  to  add  to  the  Metropolitan 
open  spaces  at  the  cheapest  rate  the  largest  aiea  acquired 
for  many  years. 

"  It  is  belit-ved  that  the  greater  part  of  the  sum  required 
will  be  contributed  by  public  authorities  and  private  donors 
within  the  county  of  Essex.  Indeed,  Mr.  E.  N.  Buxton  has 
already  received  promises  of  about  £3,500  from  his  personjil 
friends,  while  the  Ilford  Urban  District  Council  have  made 
a  grant  of  £4,000,  and  the  other  large  urban  authorities  havt- 
the  question  under  consideration.  The  balance  needed, 
however,  must  come  from  those  interested  in  the  proviaitui 
of  open  spaces,  and  we  venture  to  appeal  to  your  readers 
for  aid  in  carrying  out  the  proposal.  Contributions  may  1"^ 
forwarded  to  the  secretary  of  the  Commons  and  Footpath?^ 
Preservation  Society,  at  25,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster  : 
to  the  Lambourne  Forest  account  at  Prescotts'  Bank  ;  or  t" 
Jlr.  Alfred  Buxton,  at  50,  Cornhill,  E.G.,  the  treasurer  of 
the  fund.  G.  Shaw-Lefevre,  chairman  ;  E.  N.  Bu.\ton,  vice- 
president  ;  Octavia  Hill ;  Lawrence  W.  Chubb,  secretary." 

WOODBRIDGE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  fifty-first  annual  show  of  this  society  will  be  held  in  the 
Woodbiidge  Abbey  Grounds  on  Thursday,  July  10.  The 
schedule  is  a  very  representative  one,  including  many  classes 
for  Roses,  Carnations,  pot  plants,  cut  flowers,  decorations, 
fruit,  vegetables,  &c.     There  are  altogether  1G6  classes. 


BRENTWOOP  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

On  Thursday,  July  10,  the  annual  show  of  this  society  wiU 
be  held.  One  of  the  attractions  of  the  schedule  is  a 
handsome  silver  challenge  cup  for  the  best  exliibit  of  Roses; 
this,  together  with  the  many  other  good  prizes,  should 
induce  a  good  competition.  By  kind  permission  of  E.  Murray 
Ind,  Esq.,  the  show  will  be  held  at  Coorabe  Lodge. 

HULL  AND  DISTRICT  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  second  annual  exhibition  of  this  society  is  to  take  place 
on  September  10  and  11,  in  the  Artillery  Barracks,  Park 
Street,  Hull.  Excellent  prizes  are  offered  for  a  group  of 
miscellaneous  plants,  collections  of  fruit,  i'c,  and  thoae 
given  in  the  amateurs'  classes  are  also  unusually  good. 

IPSWICH  AND  EAST  OF  ENGLAND  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

Wednesday,  July  9,  is  the  day  fixed  for  the  summer  show 
of  the  above  society,  which  will  be  held  in  the  Upper 
Arboretum,  Ipswich,  and  an  unusually  attractive  prize  liat 
has  been  arranged.  Roses,  cut  flowers,  fruit,  plants,  (fee,  are. 
all  to  be  well  reptesenied. 

RICHMOND   HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

The  twenty-eighth  annual  flower  show  will  be  held  in  the 
Old  Deer  Park,  Richmond,  Surrey,  on  Wednesday,  July  2. 
We  notice  that  two  splendid  silver  challenge  cups  are  given 
for  Roses  and  fruit  respectively.  That  for  Roses  (value 
twenty  guineas),  the  Gunnersbury  Park  Challenge  Cup,  is  to 
be  held  by  the  first  prize  winner  in  the  class  for  forty-eight 
Roses  (distinct),  three  blooms  of  each,  for  one  year.  This 
cup  is  presented  by  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.  Mrs.  Max 
Waechter's  silver  challenge  cup  (value  twenty  guineas)  is  to 
be  held  by  the  winner  of  the  first  prize  in  the  class  for  a 
collection  of  fruit,  not  less  than  nine  dishes  (distinct). 


GARDEN 


-^^p- 


i^^ss^ 


No.  1596.— Vol.  LXL] 


[June   21,  1902. 


PRUNING  HARDY  SHRUBS 

(Continued  from  page  3S9.) 

CERCIS.  —  Kequires     no     pruning, 
except  .such  as  may  be  necessary 
to  make  well-shaped  plants,  which 
should  be  done  after  flowering. 
Chimonanthus. — The   shoots  of 
this    should    be    shortened    back 
after  flowering,  and  if  on  a  wall  they  should 
be  spurred  in. 

Ghionanthus. — See  Cercis. 

C'isfus. — Those  which  are  hardy  of  this  genus 
should  be  cut  back  each  spring  while  in  a 
young  state ;  but  when  they  have  attained  a 
flowering  size  no  pruning  is  required.  The 
cutting  back  of  young  plants  induces  a  bushy 
habit,  and  also  keeps  them  from  weakening 
themselves  by  blooming  and  seeding. 

Clematis. — The  garden  forms  of  this  genus 
are  divided  "into  two  sections,  of  which  C. 
Jackmani,  C.  lanuginosa,  C.  Viticella,  and 
C.  aromatica  (C.  ccerulea  odorata)  are  the  types 
of  those  which  flower  on  the  young  wood,  and 
which  require  cutting  back  close  to  the  old 
wood  in  the  winter ;  while  G.  florida,  C.  patens, 
and  C.  montana  are  the  types  of  those  which 
flower  on  the  ripened  wood  of  the  previous 
year,  and  merely  require  a  thinning  out  of 
weakly  or  unnecessary  growth.  Of  species 
other  than  those  mentioned  above  C  Flammula, 
C.  paniculata,  and  C.  "\'italba  flower  on  the 
young  wood,  and  the  remaining  species  are 
either  herbaceous  or  flower  on  the  old  wood. 

Clethra. — These  practically  require  no  prun- 
ing, but  long  shoots  may  be  shortened  and 
weakly  ones  cut  away  with  advantage. 

Colutea. — These  make  better  plants  and 
flower  later  if  they  are  cut  back  every  winter. 
C.  Istria  (a  rare  species)  should  not  be  cut  down 
if  flowers  are  desired. 

Cornus.  —  The  strong  -  growing  shrubby 
Cornus,  such  as  C.  alba,  C.  Amomum,  C.  Baileyi, 
C.  pubescens,  and  C.  stolonifera  require  an 
annual  thinning  out,  and  those  with  brightly- 
coloured  stems  should  be  cut  down  every 
spring  for  their  efi'ect  during  the  following 
winter.  The  remaining  Cornus  require  little 
or  no  pruning. 

Gotoneaster.  —  The  large  -  growing  species 
should  be  pruned  in  late  summer,  but  only 
suflSciently  to  keep  them  within  bounds  ;  C. 
Simonsi  requires  cutting  down  annually  while 
young  to  make  it  bushy  ;  and  the  dwarf- 
growing  kinds  are  best  left  alone. 

Cratcegus. — Keep  the  heads  well  thinned  out 
to  allow  light  and  air  to  the  centre  of  the  tree. 
This  should  be  done  in  late  summer. 

Cytisiis. — These  require  very  little  pruning, 
vsdth  the  exception  of  C.  nigricans  and  C. 
capitatus,  which  flower  on  the  young  wood, 
and  should  be  cut  back  annually.  The  other 
species  and  varieties  make  better  plants  if  they 
are  cut  down  each  year  while  in  a  small  state, 
but  they  should  be  left  alone  when  they  have 
attained  flowering  size. 


Baboecia  (the  Irish  Heath).— Cut  away  all 
old  flower  stems  in  early  vsdnter. 

Dajyhne. — Requires  no  pruning. 

Desmodium. — These  flower  on  the  young 
wood,  and  should  be  cut  nearly  to  the  ground- 
line  every  spring. 

Z>ett^n((.— The  old  wood  should  be  kept  cut 
out  of  these,  but  no  shortening  of  young  shoots 
should  be  attempted. 

Elwagnus. — These  require  an  annual  over- 
hauling to  keep  them  in  good  condition.  This 
should  be  done  in  late  summer,  when  the 
plants  should  be  well  thinned  out  and  all 
useless  growth  cut  clean  away. 

Erica. — See  Calluna. 

Escallonia. — These  are  usually  cut  back  by 
frost,  but  if  they  escape  E.  rubra  and  E. 
punctata  should  have  their  long  growths 
shortened  back  in  spring,  while  the  other 
hardy  species  need  not  be  touched. 

Ej-ochorda. — These  usually  require  no  prun- 
ing, but  if  the  plants  are  getting  too  large  or 
unshapely  they  should  be  cut  back  immediately 
after  flowering. 

Fatda  (Aralia  Sieboldii).— This  is  usually 
cut_  by  frost,  but  it  stands  cutting  back  in 
spring,  when  new  growth  is  soon  made,  which 
will  flower  late  the  following  autumn. 

Fothergilla. — Requires  no  pruning. 
(To  be  continued.) 


THE    HORTICULTURAL    CLUB. 

As  mentioned  in  The  Gakden  last  week,  a  very 
pleasant  reunion  of  this  club  took  place  on  Tuesday 
evening,  the  10th  inst.,  at  the  Windsor  Hotel,  on 
the  occasion  of  the  usual  monthly  house  dinner, 
the  pleasure  of  which  in  this  instance  was  greatly 
enhanced  by  Mr.  H.  Stevens,  the  well-known 
auctioneer,  who,  in  addition  to  that  vocation,  has 
achieved  one  of  the  highest  reputations  as  a  skilful 
and  artistic  photographer.  Floral  photography  was, 
of  course,  the  chief  item  touched  upon  in  the  chatty 
address  which  he  gave  in  lieu  of  a  formal  paper. 
He  supplemented  his  remarks  by  an  exhibit  of 
numerous  specimens  of  his  skill,  embracing,  not 
only  many  superb  photographs  of  Orchids,  Lilies, 
Chrysanthemums,  Roses,  and  other  flowers  asso- 
ciated with  foliage  plants,  but  also  a  number  of 
animal  groups,  cats,  dogs,  and  rabbits  in  a  sort  of 
happy  family  combination,  which  were  undoubtedly 
unique  in  both  style  and  execution.  In  the  course 
of  Mr.  Stevens's  observations,  it  transpired  that 
none  of  his  beautiful  effects  were  due  to  really  up- 
to-date  lenses  or  new  chemical  combinations,  as  he 
adhered  entirely  to  old-fashioned  principles  and 
apparatus.  "How  it  was  done"  was,  as  usual, 
somewhat  difficult  to  arrive  at,  but  in  the  course 
of  an  interesting  discussion,  in  which  Mr.  Shea, 
whose  skill  as  a  telephotographic  artist  is  well 
recognised,  it  transpired  that  the  main  ingredient 
was  "  brains,"  Mr.  Stevens  admitting  this  with  all 
modesty,  and  asserting  that  the  highest  class  work 
could  only  be  arrived  at  by  the  individual  who 
makes  the  special  pursuit  an  absolute  hobby. 
Half-and-half  dilettante  application  was  useless  for 
such  ends,  and  he  stated  that  many  of  his  most 
successful  reproductions  were  the  outcome  of  hours 
of  particular   study  of  the  subject  itself  and  its 


grouping,  and  the  fine  adjustment,  by  means  of 
movable  screens,  of  the  light  effects.  One  important 
point,  too,  was  strict  attention  to  the  shadow  effects 
in  focussing  ;  these  were  studied  much  more  than 
the  high  lights,  the  latter  subsequently  claiming 
attention  in  their  turn  by  skilful  subduing  in  the 
developing  process.  From  the  specimen  photo- 
graphs themselves,  however,  it  wa^  obvious  that 
the  "brain"  factor  of  success  had  many  phases, 
which  were  involved  in  natural  posing  and  skilful 
arrangement  of  both  foreground  and  background, 
plus  many  other  points  which  the  merely  dilettante 
amateur  is  apt  to  ignore,  with  consequent  loss  of 
that  superb  effect  evidenced  in  these  high-class 
productions.  A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
given  at  the  conclusion  of  the  discussion,  and  the 
members  of  the  club  were  greatly  gratified  by  the 
announcement  of  the  chairman,  Mr.  Harry  Veitch, 
that  Mr.  Stevens  had  promised  to  give  a  lantern 
exhibition  of  more  of  his  work  at  one  of  the  winter 
meetings  of  the  club.  Some  thirty  odd  members 
and  guests  attended,  and  it  is  very  gratifying  to 
know  that  the  membership  of  this  pleasant  club  is 
rapidly  increasing. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE. 

Apple  Northern  Greeninc  (Old). 
The  Rev.  Denis  Knox,  Virginia  Rectory,  Vir- 
ginia, Ireland,  sends  some  excellent  specimens  cf 
this  useful  Apple,  with  the  following  note:  "I 
send  you  a  specimen  of  Northern  Greening  (Old) 
Apple  to  see  how  well  the  fruits  keep  with  me. 
About  three  months  ago  there  was  some  con- 
troversy in  The  Garden  about  the  relative  keeping 
of  this  variety  and  the  'new'  one,  but  the  last- 
mentioned  never  keeps  beyond  the  middle  of 
.January.  I  am  sorry  I  have  not  the  address  of 
the  gardener  ^\lio  upheld  the  'new.'  The  fruits 
were  good  in  every  way."  Perhaps  the  corre- 
spondent referred  to  by  Mr.  Denis  Knox  will  send 
his  address.  Mr.  Denis  Knox  sent  the  fruits  on 
June  5. 


Rhododendrons  trom  Messrs.  Veitch. 
An  interesting  and  beautiful  series  of  Rhododen- 
drons comes  from  Messrs.  Veitch ;  the  trusses  were 
cut  in  the  Coombe  Wood  Nursery.  The  varieties 
sent  were  Martin  Hope  Sutton,  Baroness  Schrtuder, 
Mrs.  Mendel,  a  soft  and  pretty  mauve  colouring  ; 
the  beautiful  double  Fastuosum  fl.-pl.,  Sapho, 
Sylph,  Florence,  Mrs.  John  Glutton,  James  H. 
Agnew,  the  cerise-coloured  John  Walter,  Miss 
Jekyll,  pink  colouring  and  dark  spot ;  George 
Paul,  Lady  Grey  Egerton,  Marie  Stuart,  Coucessum, 
Purity,  white,  as  suggested  by  the  name ;  Mrs. 
Samuel  Simpson,  Snowflake,  Bluebell,  Ayrshire, 
Maxwell,  T.  Masters,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Holford,  Lady 
Clementine  Walsh,  Sir  Humphrey  de  TrafFord, 
Mrs.  IngersoU,  H.  W.  Sargent,  Marchioness  of 
Lansdown,  Kate  Waterer,  Pioturatum,  Amphion, 
.James  Macintosh,  F.  B.  Hayes,  Fred  Waterer, 
Mrs.  Tom  Agnew,  Mrs.  John  Pryce  Lade,  Don- 
caster,  Mrs.  John  Penn,  Mrs.  William  Agnew, 
St.  Simon,  Mme.  Carvalho,  Sigismund  Rucker, 
The  Queen,  and  M  chael  Waterer. 


Celsia  cretica  (the  Moth  Mullein). 
I  am  sending  a  plant  of  Celsia  cretica  or  Moth 
Mullein  that  grew  in  the  crevice  of  an  old  wall 


40(5 


THE    UAUDEN. 


'June  21,  1902. 


6  feet  above  ground.  I  think  this  well  worthy  of 
a  place  amongst  the  choicest  herbaceous  plants. 
It  is  one  of  the  easiest  things  to  grow,  reproducing 
itself  from  seed  freely,  and  is  equally  at  home  on 
old  walls,  high  banlis,  or  good  borders,  but  of 
course  grows  much  larger  in  good  soil,  and  flowers 
freely  fully  six  months  out  of  the  twelve.  A 
coloured  plate  of  this  Celsia  was  published  in  The 
Garden  about  twenty  years  ago,  from  Bowering 
spikes  I  then  sent,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  so 
well  known  as  it  deserves  to  be. — W.  Sangwim, 
Trelissick;  Truro. 

[A  beautiful  plant.  The  spike  sent  showed  how 
well  it  succeeds  in  an  old  wall.  It  is  welcome 
almost  anywhere,  in  wall  as  well  as  in  the  border. 
The  plant  Mr.  Sangwin  sent  was  4^  feet  high.  ] 

Fabiana  imbricata. 

I  think  this  solanaceous  plant  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  tender  shrubs.  Here  it  grows  into 
large  bushes  10  feet  to  1'2  feet  high  ;  it  grows  out  in 
the  Isle  of  Wight  and  South  IJevon,  but  will  not 
stand  the  winters  farther  north. — W.  S. 

[Beautiful  sprays  from  Mr.  Sangwin.  It  is  quite 
a  southern  plant.] 


NOTES    OF^THE    WEEK. 

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

June  '24. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
conference,  Holland  House  (two  days)  ;  Lee  and 
District  Horticultural  Show  (two  days) ;  O.xford 
Commemoration  Show. 

June  '28.— Windsor  and  Eton  Rose  Show;  Maid- 
stone Rose  Show. 

June  30.— Canterbury  Rose  Show. 

July  1.— Southampton  Rose  Show  (two  days)  ; 
Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association. 

July  '2. —National  Rose  Society's  Show  iu  the 
Temple  Gardens  ;  Croydon  Rose  Show  ;  Hanley 
Horticultural  Fete ;  Hereford  and  West  of  England 
Rose  Show ;  Newcastle-on-Tyne  Summer  Show 
(three  days) ;  Richmond  Horticultural  Sliow  ; 
Worshipful  Company  of  Gardeners'  dinner,  7.30, 
Prince's  Restaurant. 

July  3.— Colchester,  Sidoup,  and  Norwich  Rose 
Shows. 

The  Coronation  Rose  Show.— By  the 

kindness  of  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Ilchester, 
.and  to  benefit  the  National  Horticultural  Charities, 
viz.,  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institution 
(founded  1838)  and  the  Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan 
Fund  (founded  1887),  visitors  to  the  Coronation 
Rose  Show  on  Tuesday  next  will  be  enabled  to 
inspect  the  beautiful  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds 
at  Holland  House  between  1  and  7  p.m.  on  payment 
of  not  less  than  one  shilling. 

How  to  get  to   Holland  House. - 

'Visitors  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
conference  may  perhaps  care  to  be  reminded  of  the 
various  ways  of  reaching  Holland  House.  The 
entrance  to  the  exhibition  will  be  by  the  gates  in 
High  Street,  Kensington,  and  the  station  of  the 
same  name  (on  the  Metropolitan  and  District 
Railways)  is  the  nearest  one.  Addison  Road, 
Earl's  Court,  and  Netting  Hill  (Central  London 
Electric  Railway)  Stations  are  also  convenient. 

Royal  Hopticultural  Society.— 
Remarkable    increase.  — At  a  general 

meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  held 
on  Tuesday,  June  10, 164  new  Fellows  were  elected, 
amongst  them  being  the  Countess  Roberts,  the 
Countess  of  Selborne,  the  Countess  of  Donough- 
more,  the  Countess  Lewenhaupt,  Viscountess 
Galway,  Lady  Ardilaun,  Lady  Lechmere,  Lady 
Jane  Trefusis,  Lady  Gwendoline  Cecil,  Lady 
Fitzroy,  Lady  Jekyll,  Sir  Theophilus  Peel,  Bart., 
Sir  G.  L.  Molesworth,  and  the  Dowager  Lady 
Southampton,  making  a  total  of  752  elected  since 
the  beginning  of  the  present  year. 

The  General  Flower  Show,  Rose 
Show,    and    Conference.  —  The    Royal 

Horticultural  Society's  great  exhibition  of  Roses 
and  other  flowers  will  be  held  at  Holland  House, 
Kensington — by  kind  permission  of  the  Earl  of 
Ilchester — on  June  24  and  25.     This  meeting  will 


take  the  place  of  one  of  the  ordinary  fortnightly 
shows  at  the  Drill  Hall,  but  will  in  all  essentials 
be  conducted  on  the  same  lines  as  the  annual 
shows  at  the  Temple.  All  classes  of  plants, 
flowers,  and  fruits  may  be  exhibited,  but  no  Roses 
may  be  included  in  any  miscellaneous  or  mixed 
group.  Roses  can  only  be  shown  under  the 
schedule.  Single  plants  for  certificate  may  be 
entered  at  the  secretary's  tent  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th  before  10.30  a.m.  An  official  catalogue  of 
this  show  will  be  issued  and  distributed  gratis 
among  the  visitors.  It  will  comprise  a  short 
historical  sketch  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
particulars  as  to  the  proposed  new  horticultural 
hall,  schedule  of  Rose  prizes,  the  names  and 
addresses  of  all  the  exhibitors  of  other  plants,  &c., 
with  the  nature  of  their  exhibits,  together  with 
the  programme  of  music  to  be  performed  each  day 
by  the  band  of  His  Majesty's  Royal  Horse  Guards 
(Blues).  The  judges  will  meet  at  the  secretary's 
tent  at  10. .SO  a.m.  on  June  24,  at  which  hour 
punctually  the  tents  will  be  cleared  of  all  the 
exhibitors  and  their  assistants.  The  fruit,  floral, 
and  Orchid  committees  will  assemble  at  the 
secretary's  tent  at  11  o'clock  sharp.  The  con- 
ference on  "Roses  and  their  Cultivation"  will  be 
held  at  2. .30  p.m.,  and  will  be  open  to  all  Fellows 
and  visitors.  The  exhibition  will  be  open  to 
Fellows  (showing  their  tickets)  and  to  others 
showing  Fellows  transferable  tickets  at  12.30  p.m. 
on  Tuesday,  closing  at  8  p.m.,  and  at  9..30  a.m.  on 
Wednesday,  closing  at  G  p.m.  The  public  will  be 
admitted  by  payment  at  2  p.m.  on  the  24th  and 
at  9. 30  a.  m.  on  the  2.5th.  The  only  entrance  to  the 
show  will  be  by  the  great  iron  gates  in  Kensington 
High  Street,  and  the  only  exit  will  be  by  a  gate 
leading  into  Melbury  Road,  where  carriages  may 
be  ordered  to  wait. 

National      Amateur     Gardeners' 

Association. — One  of  the  chief  events  of  the 
year  in  connexion  with  this  popular  association  is 
the  annual  conversazione  and  exhibition.  This 
function  is  fixed  to  take  place  on  Tuesday,  .July  1 
next,  at  Winchester  House,  Old  Broad  Street, 
London,  E.C.  The  conversazione  is  to  be  held  in  the 
Great  Hall,  and  no  doubt,  as  on  previous  occasions, 
the  meeting  will  be  a  great  success.  On  this  occa- 
sion Dr.  H.  N.  Collier,  with  his  Red  Admiral 
Pierrot  troupe,  will  provide  the  musical  entertain- 
ment, and  the  members  are  looking  forward  to  an 
enjoyable  evening.  The  reception  lakes  place  at 
7  o'clock  p.m.,  and  at  a  subsequent  period,  when 
the  judges  have  finished  their  labours,  the  exhibi- 
tion, made  up  entirely  of  the  produce  of  the 
members'  gardens,  will  be  open  for  inspection. 
Various  trophies  and  championships  are  to  be 
competed  for  on  this  occasion,  and  if  the  weather 
will  only  improve  in  time  there  should  be  an 
interesting  display.  The  honorary  secretary  of 
the  association  is  Mr.  F.  Finch,  117,  Embleton 
Road,  Vicars  Hill,  Lewisham,  S.E.,  and  he  will 
be  pleased  to  give  any  information  respecting  the 
aims  and  objects  of  this  association. — C. 

Hampstead   Heath    Protection 

Society. — At  a  meeting  of  the  committee  of  the 
Hampstead  Heath  Protection  Society,  held  at 
Hampstead  on  the  13th  ult.,  it  was  decided  to 
continue  the  opposition  to  any  tunnelling  under 
the  Heath,  on  the  ground  that,  notwithstanding 
any  provisions  to  the  contrary  which  may  be 
inserted  in  the  Bill,  the  construction  of  an  under- 
ground railway  under  the  Heath  must  necessarily 
lead,  sooner  or  later,  to  communications  with  the 
surface,  either  for  a  station  or  for  purposes  of 
ventilation,  which  must  inevitably  injure  the 
Heath  ;  and,  even  apart  from  these  considerations, 
on  account  of  the  possible  danger  to  the  springs  of 
water  and  to  the  vegetation  of  the  Heath. 

Sweet  Peas  late  in  flowering.— The 

continued  cold  and  wet  weather  has  checked  the 
progress  of  these  plants,  and  at  the  present  time 
(June  14)  the  chances  of  securing  an  early  display 
are  very  remote.  In  order  that  an  earlier  display 
than  usual  might  be  developed  a  sowing  was  made 
in  pots  at  the  beginning  of  February  last  in  a  cool 
greenhouse.  The  seeds  soon  germinated,  and  from 
the  time  the  seedlings  appeared  the  pots  were 
arranged  on  a  shelf  near  to  the  glass  roof.  By  these 
means  sturdy  growth  was  encouraged,  and  the  plants 


needed  little  in  the  way  of  hardening  off  sub- 
sequently in  the  cold  frames.  The  same  plants 
were  planted  out  in  clumps  in  early  April  last, 
and  notwithstanding  careful  hardening  off  before 
planting  out  of  doors,  the  severe  frosts  and  cold 
and  cutting  winds  were  almost  too  much  for  them. 
The  rains  which  fell  at  a  later  date  fortunately 
saved  them  and  they  soon  began  to  grow.  For  the 
past  fortnight,  however,  there  has  been  little 
advance,  but  no  doubt  the  plants  will  quickly 
come  into  bloom  with  more  sunshine.  In  other 
years  the  plants  have  flowered  quite  early  in  June. 
-D.  B.  C. 
Bletia  hyaeinthina.— This  was  one  of 

the  floral  gems  at  the  Temple  show,  a  good  example 
in  flower  occurring  in  Messrs.  Jackman's  group 
from  Woking.  The  colour  is  unusual,  too,  among 
the  terrestrial  Orchids,  and,  in  truth,  the  warm 
rosy  purple  is  not  too  abundant  even  in  the  rarer 
epiphj'tes.  In  any  case  it  is  welcome,  and  always 
admired  when  seen.  The  elegant  raceme  of  flowers 
is  about  2  feet  high.  The  plant  is  nearly  or  quite 
hardy,  yet  sufficiently  rare  to  be  worthy  of  much 
attention,  and  certainly  a  little  protection  in 
winter  is  well  repaid. — E.  .Jenki.vs. 

Hardy  flowers  and  pigmy  trees  at 

Regent's  Park.— In  the  corridor  of  the 
large  conservatory  at  the  Botanic  Gardens, 
Regent's  Park,  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  of  King 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  have  a  most  interesting  and 
attractive  exhibition  of  the  dwarf  .Japanese  trees 
that  have  recently  become  so  popular,  and  also  of 
hardy  flowers  in  great  variety.  As  one  enters  the 
corridor  from  the  conservatory,  the  one  side  which 
is  completely  filled  with  flowers  and  pigmy  trees 
presents  a  very  pretty  fight,  and  upon  closer  exami- 
nation the  items  of  this  seasonable  display  prove 
individually  to  be  well  worthj'  of  note.  A  group  of 
Pj'rethrums  in  manj'  lovely  colours  introduces  one 
lo  the  exhibition,  and  is  closely  followed  bj'  several 
Ijanks  of  Irises  that  are  lovely  masses  of  delicate 
form  and  colouiing.  There  are  varieties  of  I.  pallida, 
I.  squalens,  and  I.  germanica,  that  are  alone  well 
worth  a  visit,  and  they  are  accompanied  by  a 
small  group  of  Iris  sibirica  varieties.  These 
flowers  are  extremely  pretty,  and  their  long  some- 
what slender  stems  and  elegant  leaves  give  an 
additional  charm.  The  lovely  and  easily 
grown  Aquilegias  are  represented,  and  one 
sees  what  a  number  of  beautiful  flowers  may 
be  had  from  the  unnamed  seedling  forms. 
Several  new  Tree  Lupines  are  particularly  attrac- 
tive, the  flowers  are  bi-coloured,  white  and  varying 
shades  of  blue  chiefly,  and  Butterfly,  white  and 
rich  blue,  and  Admiration,  white  and  a  lighter 
blue,  are  two  of  the  best.  The  Yellow  Lupine 
Somerset  is  noticeable,  and  Princess  Ida,  primrose  ; 
Emperor,  violet-blue  ;  and  Leander,  purple,  are 
other  good  ones.  A  remarkably  pretty  plant, 
both  in  foliage  and  ilowers,  is  Thalictrum  aquilegi- 
folium  purpureum,  and  one  that  all  should  have 
who  grow  the  type.  The  Oriental  Poppies  make  a 
brave  and  brilliant  show,  and  the  group  of  P.^sonies 
includes  some  lovely  varieties,  notably  Lord 
Roberts,  white ;  Fairy,  salmon  rose ;  Fianc(5, 
white,  all  Tree  Pa;onies ;  and  of  the  Chinese 
varieties  the  best  undoubtedly  is  Otto  Fro?bel,  a 
rich  scarlet  single  flower.  Another  plant  well 
worthy  of  note  is  Anemone  alpina  sulphurea,  not 
new  by  any  means,  but  rarely  met  with.  The 
colour  of  its  flowers  is  a  rich  sulphur-yellow. 
Liliums  were  not  omitted  from  the  display,  and 
perhaps  the  best  of  them  was  L.  monadelphum 
szovitzianum  with  flowers  of  citron -yellow.  These 
and  many  other  hardy  flowers,  together  with  a 
most  varied  collection  of  Japanese  dwarf  trees, 
which  comprise  several  perfect  specimens,  go  to 
provide  an  exhibition  of  more  than  usual  interest. 

The   "Victoria  Regia   at   Regent's 

Park. — Mr.  Elderbert  F.  Hawes,  head  gardener 
at  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Regent's  Park, 
N.W.,  writes:  "The  Victoria  Regia,  growing  in 
the  Regent's  Park  Botanic  Gardens,  opened  its 
first  bloom  on  Saturday  last,  and  another  will  be 
open  at  the  end  of  the  present  week.  Notwith- 
standing the  absence  of  bright  sunlight,  the  plant 
is  blooming  nearly  a  month  earlier  than  last  year, 
and  now  has  several  leaves  S  feet  6  inches  ii) 
diampter." 


June  21,  1902,] 


THE  GARDEN. 


407 


Ravenseoupt  Park,   Hammer 

smith. — The  rockery  of  this,  one  of  the  best 
kept  of  the  smaller  parks  under  the  control  of  the 
London  County  Council,  is  just  now  very  gay. 
Lithospermum  prostratum  makes  quite  a  display 
with  a  mass  of  brilliant  blue  flowers.  Phlox 
stellaria,  a  charming  little  plant  and  one  of  the 
best,  is  very  pleasing  with  its  large  lilac-coloured 
flowers.  Silene  raaritima  fl. -pi.,  which  bears 
double  blooms  as  large  as  the  old  double  white 
Pink,  was  not  quite  in  full  beauty  when  these 
notes  were  made.  White  Saxifragas,  pink  and 
mauve  Aubrielias,  the  well-known  Primula 
japonica,  and  Ai|uilegia3  are  other  plants  worth 
mentioning.  Trees  and  shrubs,  too,  in  various 
parts  of  the  Park  at  this  period  of  the  year  add  to 
the  general  interest.  The  air  is  redolent  of  the 
fragrant  perfume  of  the  Lilac,  Acacia,  and  the 
Hawthorn.  The  Horse  Chestnuts  are  later  than 
usual  in  flowering  this  year,  and  of  these  there  are 
some  grand  examples.  A  fine  specimen  of  the 
Golden  Laburnum  near  the  Public  Library  has 
been  exceptionally  good.  Weigela  rosea  is  quite 
worth  a  note,  as  are  the  Guelder  Roses,  Magnolias, 
and  a  magnificent  Catalpa  with  its  Orchid-like 
flowers. — Qdo. 

Gentiana  verna. — How  beautiful  was  the 
mass  of  shining  brilliant  blue  of  this  plant  as 
shown  by  the  Messrs.  Barr  at  the  Temple  show  ! 
Curiously  enough — and  it  is  unusual — the  flowers 
remained  fully  open  under  the  heavy  canvas. 
Their  early  expansion  needs  some  liberal  help  from 
the  sun's  warmth,  but  having  reached  the  maturity 
stage  appear  to  remain  more  or  less  fully 
developed.  Those  who  can  permanently  grow  and 
flower  this  brilliant  gem  have  one  of  the  best  of 
all  alpines. — E.  J. 

Lemoine's  hybrid  Deutzias.— I  hope 
that  your  note  on  these  plants  in  The  Garden  of 
May  31  will  do  something  towards  the  introduction 
of  the  new  Deutzias  to  a  larger  number  of  gardens 
than  as  yet  possess  them.  I  have  several  of  them 
here.  Among  them  I  much  like  that  named  D. 
gracilis  carminea,  which  is  a  charming  thing,  either 
when  in  bud  or  when  in  full  flower.  The  buds 
may  fairly  be  described  as  carmine,  and  the  open 
flowers  are  bright  and  pleasing  with  their  rose 
interiors  against  the  carmine  of  the  outside.  It  is, 
M.  Lemoine  informs  us,  derived  from  T>.  gracilis 
and  D.  discolor  purpurascens.  The  habit  of  growth 
is  rather  arching  when  the  flowers  are  on  the  plant, 
though  more  erect  at  other  times.  As  a  garden 
plant  D.  g.  Boule  de  Neige  also  promises  to  be  a 
great  gain,  as  its  habit  is  erect  and  the  rather 
creamy  white  flowers  form  a  pretty  head  of  open 
blooms.  This  is  from  D.  parviflora  and  D.  gracilis, 
the  parents  of  D.  Lemoinei,  one  of  the  first  of 
M.  Lemoine's  productions  in  hybridising  these 
pretty  shrubs.  D.  g.  campanulata,  D.  g.  kalmiie- 
flora,  and  D.  g.  venusta  are  all  acquisitions  as  well. 
— S.  Arnott. 

Hippeastrums     at     the     Temple 

show.  —  While  the  diS'erent  garden  forms  of 
Hippeastrum,  or  Amaryllis  as  they  are  so  generally 
called,  continue  to  gain  in  popularitj'  each  year, 
so  that  in  many  places  they  alone  form  an  annual 
feature,  the  display  is  generally  considered  to  be 
much  past  its  best,  if  not  actually  over,  by  the 
end  of  April,  yet  at  a  corresponding  period  in  May 
Mr.  Chapman  at  Westonbirt  has  for  two  consecu- 
tive seasons  at  the  Temple  show  put  up  a  fine  and 
representative  group,  the  flowers  composing  which 
are  as  bright  and  fresh  as  if  the  season  were  a 
month  or  six  weeks  earlier.  The  large,  massive, 
and  in  most  cases  brightly  coloured  flowers,  borne 
on  stout,  sturdy  stems,  form  not  the  least  interest- 
ing item  of  a  noteworthy  exhibition.  When  one 
compares  the  flowers  of  the  present  day  with  the 
native  species  from  whence  they  have  originally 
sprung,  the  great  improvements  that  can  be 
effected  by  judicious  fertilisation  and  selection  are 
then  very  apparent.  The  credit  of  this  must  in 
the  first  place  be  given  to  Messrs.  Veitch,  whose 
annual  show  is  a  really  brilliant  feature,  but  of  late 
the  lead  has  been  followed  by  many  others,  notably 
at  Kew,  where  in  No.  4  greenhouse  there  was  for 
some  time  a  grand  display.  The  increased  interest 
shown  in  this  class  of  bulbous  plants  is  doubtlj3ss 
to  some  extent  due  to  the  fact  that  it  has  now 


been  well  demonstrated  that  seedlings  can  be 
flowered  in  a  quicker  time  than  was  at  one  time 
considered  necessary. — T. 

The  fruit  prospects.— The  fruit  pros- 
pects in  Gloucestershire  and  North  Wales  offer  a 
very  marked  contrast.  In  both  places  the  severe 
weather  lately  experienced  has  damaged  various 
crops  to  no  small  extent.  Strawberries  have 
suft'eied  more  in  the  former  than  in  Wales, 
especially  where  the  position  is  very  bleak.  This 
means  a  great  pecuniary  loss  to  the  cultivator 
who  depends  upon  the  Strawberry  crop.  Cherries 
are  more  satisfactory,  if  anything,  in  Gloucester- 
shire. Pears  have  not  suffered  to  any  great  extent 
in  either  place,  because  the  fruit  was  set  before  the 
severe  weather  was  experienced.  Gooseberries  are 
not  too  prolific  anywhere  this  year.  This  may  be 
accounted  for  by  the  trees  having  borne  a  heavy 
crop  last  year.  The  Currant  crop  will  be  a  good 
one  if  the  plants  are  not  crippled  later  on  by 
caterpillars.  Apples  are  very  satisfactory.  This 
crop  may  possibly  make  up  for  the  other  defi- 
ciencies. Peaches  are  very  abundant  in  'Wales, 
Apricots  being  also  a  good  crop.  Nectarines 
have  not  set  so  well  as  usual ;  this  is  due  probably 
to  the  naturally  tender  qualities  of  the  tree.  Figs 
outside  are  very  promising,  a  good  quantity  of 
foliage  and  fruit  being  in  evidence.  Plums  are 
fair  on  the  average,  but  not  equal  to  last  year. — 
John  Denman,  Stroud,  Gloticester.iliire. 

The    Snowdrop   AVindflower.— 

Anemone  sylvestris  is  lovely,  as  your  note  says 
(page  375),  where  it  will  grow.  It  grew  with  me 
in  profusion  for  years  on  the  London  clay,  but 
here,  on  the  sand,  I  have  found  it  always  dwindles 
away,  whatever  soil  or  position  I  have  given  it. — 
J.  R.  D.,  Reiyate. 

The  Strawberry  crop.— Whilst  much 

of  the  earliest  of  the  Strawberry  bloom  was 
destroyed  by  frost,  thus  checking  by  several  days 
the  early  production  of  ripe  fruit,  yet  so  far  as  my 
own  observation  has  gone  there  seems  to  be  little 
reason  to  anticipate  a  short  fruit  crop  on  that 
ground,  for  bloom  is  particularly  abundant  and 
fine,  and  before  now  a  great  quantity  of  it  has  set 
fruit.  That  the  ensuing  crop  will  owe  much  to 
the  heavy  rains  that  have  so  plentifully  fallen 
there  can  be  no  doubt,  for  it  is  long  since  Straw- 
berries have  had  such  summer  soakings  as  they 
have  this  year.  But  if  these  rains  continue  to  fall 
after  the  ripening  time  has  set  in,  then,  having  so 
much  helped  to  make  the  fruit  crop,  they  may  ruin 
it.  Those  who  can  raise  their  fruit  well  from 
the  ground,  rather  than  letting  it  lie  on  a  saturated 
bed  of  straw  litter,  will  come  off  best.  Even  with- 
the  fine  bloom  seen  everywhere,  present  appear- 
ances are  not  hopeful.  Dri'ness  and  sunshine  are 
badly  needed  to  ensure  good  sweet  fruit.  — A.  I). 

Zonal  Pelargonium  Snowdrop.— A 

better  representative  of  the  white  flowered  sorts  it 
would  be  very  difficult  to  find,  and  as  seen  at 
R3'ecroft  Nursery  a  few  days  ago  superb  plants  of 
remarkably  sturdy  growth  were  carrying  a  splendid 
crop  of  handsome  trusses  of  bloom.  Not  only 
were  the  trusses  very  full,  but  the  individual  pips 
were  strikingly  large  and  handsome,  and,  what 
is  of  importance  also,  their  substance  was  all 
that  one  could  desire.  This  plant  cannot  be 
regarded  as  a  shy  bloomer,  as  the  batch  of  very 
strongly  -  grown  specimens  was  flowering  quite 
freely.— D.  B. 
A  new  method  of  growing  W^ater- 

CreSS. — A  quiet  walk  recently  round  the  pleasant 
and  well-kept  Thames-side  garden  of  Mr.  John  T. 
Thornycrof  t,  at  Chiswick,  showed  how  well  garden 
space  can  be  made  use  of.  Mr.  F.  Mears,  the 
energetic  gardener,  placed  some  soil  in  the  gutters 
of  the  plant  houses,  the  seed  was  sown  in  the  usual 
wa}',  and  a  good  crop  of  Cress  has  been  the  result. 
Moisture,  which  is  necessary  to  successful  culture, 
has  been  well  supplied  by  the  copious  rains  of 
late. — Qao. 

Holland  House.— Next  week  illustrations 
will  be  given  of  this  beautiful  house  and  garden, 
the  residence  of  the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  and,  as  this 
number  is  the  last  of  the  halt  volume,  it  will 
include  the  index  and  dedication,  this  being  to 
Mr.  Bennett-Poe.  The  Rose  conference  will  be 
reported  as  fully  as  possible,  but,  owing  to  the 


public  holidays  in  connexion  with  the  Coronation, 
The  Garden  must  go  to  press  considerably  earlier 
than  usual. 

Notes  from  Baden-Baden.  -Perhaps 

the  most  showy  among  early  flowering  Asters  is 
A.  subcairuleus  from  the  Himalaj'as ;  the  numerous 
ray  florets  are  of  a  bright  lilac,  and  the  orange 
disc  has  a  touch  of  scarlet ;  the  large  flowers  look 
very  bright  above  the  deep  green  foliage.  The 
quaint  large  flesh-coloured  flowers  of  Silene 
Hookeri  attract  attention  (fig.  Bot.  Maij.),  and 
Dianthus  callizonus  is  a  worthy  companion.  The 
numerous  large  flowers  of  the  latter  are  on  stalks 
only  1  inch  to  2  inches  high,  and  of  a  deep  rose 
colour.  Primula  Stuartii  is  also  flowering ;  it 
wants  moisture  and  absolute  shade  in  summer 
and  a  dry  sunny  position  during  winter. 
Meconopsis  paniculata  shows  dozens  of  big  sulphur 
yellow  flowers  and  buds  ;  it  is  a  noble  plant,  but 
of  difficult  cultivation.  A  splendid  variety  of 
Delphinium  cashmirianum  is  much  admired  ;  this 
is  flowering  not  in  a  corymbose,  but  in  a  paniculate 
manner ;  the  branches  bear  numerous  bright 
flowers,  and  thus  the  plant  forms  a  large  pyramid 
— one  sheet  of  showy  blue.  Among  Lathyrus  I 
may  mention  L.  Mulkak,  a  perennial  hardy 
species  from  Central  Asia ;  it  is  in  the  way  of  L. 
grandiflorus,  but  bears  more  flowers,  which  are 
deeper  in  colour  and  fragrant. — Max  Leichtlin. 

A  valuable   Brussels   Sprout, 

May's  Northaw  Prize.— There  are  some 
excellent  types  of  Brussels  Sprouts,  some  too  large 
for  private  gardens,  others,  such  as  Northaw  Prize, 
being  well  worth  more  than  passing  notice,  as  not 
only  is  it  a  close  firm  Sprout,  but  of  the  best 
quality.  For  years  I  grew  several  varieties  of 
Sprouts  to  test  them  for  keeping  purposes  and 
quality  alone,  and  the  one  noted  above  was  so 
superior  that  we  have  grown  it  in  quantity  ever 
since.  It  is  a  splendid  variety  for  gardens  of 
limited  size,  as  the  plants  make  a  compact  growth, 
being  closely  packed  with  small  solid  bullet-like 
sprouts.  This  varietj',  though  not  new,  is  not  so 
miich  known  as  it  deserves  to  be.  Only  last  season 
I  saw  large  quantities  of  Sprouts  being  grown  ;  the 
variety  is  known  in  the  trade  as  Imported  Seed, 
and  poor  they  were  in  comparison  to  the  Sprouts 
sent  out  from  our  own  seed  growers.  At  one  time 
I  know  Imported  Seed  was  much  liked,  but  such 
is  not  the  case  now.  Varieties  like  the  above  are 
superior,  the  jield  is  much  greater,  and  the  plant 
far  better,  being  true  to  name  ;  if  the  seed  is  sown 
early  and  the  plants  well  treated  they  give  a  good 
return  to  the  grower. — G.  Wythes. 

Viola  pedata  and  p.  bicolor,— The 

commoner  form  or  type  of  the  above  seems  to  be 
the  later  one  to  flower.  Too  much  cannot  be  written 
about  these  pretty  Violets.  The  colours  of  the  type 
vary  from  French  grey  to  warm  and  delicate  shades 
of  violet.  The  bicolored  form  has  a  larger  and 
fuller  flower,  flatter,  and  with  the  two  upper  petals 
of  a  deep  velvety  purple,  having  the  appearance  of 
a  Pansy.  Both  are  profuse  bloomers,  and  readily 
lend  themselves  to  pot  treatment.  We  grow  them 
successfully  in  equal  parts  of  peat,  sand,  and  loam. 
They  should  be  in  half  shade,  and  the  roots  con- 
tinually kept  moist.  These  two  Violets  would  form 
beautiful  subjects  for  naturalisation.  Viola  pedata 
is  sometimes  said  to  be  of  biennial  duration  only, 
but  this  must  be  an  error,  as  we  have  repeatedly 
flowered  the  same  plants  3ear  after  year.  These 
Violets,  I  must  say,  are  extremely  valuable  both 
for  their  long  flowering  periods  and  for  the  lasting 
properties  of  the  individual  flowers.  A  patch  of 
about  a,  dozen  plants  of  one  variety  would 
last  in  bloom  for  about  eight  weeks  at  least,  and 
a  patch  made  up  of  both  varieties  much  longer. — 
J.  Wood. 

Two  new  bedding  zonal  Pelar- 
goniums.— Although  the  zonal  Pelargoniums 
are  not  so  freely  used  for  bedding  out  as  was  the 
case  at  one  time,  there  is  still  a  keen  demand  in 
certain  c^uarters  for  plants  specially  suited  for  this 
purpose.  The  well-known  and  popular  H.  Jacuby 
has  all  along  been  regarded  as  an  invaluable  bedding 
zonal,  and  as  the  two  new  sorts  are  sports  from 
that  excellent  variety  they  are,  therefore,  invested 
with  a  special  interest.  The  curious  feature  in 
connexion  with  the  plants  of  Edward  VII.  is  that 


408 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  21,  1902. 


the  habit  is  very  similar  to  that  of  West  Brighton 
Gem,  only  perhaps  an  improvement  on  that 
variety.  As  will  readily  be  appreciated  the 
plants  have  a  dwarf,  compact  habit,  having  light- 
coloured,  in  fact  almost  white,  flower-stalks  and 
leaf-stems.  The  colour  of  the  flowers  may  be 
described  as  rich  crimson-lake.  The  second  sport 
is  being  distributed  with  the  first-named  by  Mr.  H. 
J.  Jones,  and  is  named  Prince  of  Wales.  In  this 
case  the  flowers  in  colour  are  exactly  similar  to 
those  of  H.  Jacoby,  and  the  foliage  is  irregularly 
edged  with  creamy  white.  It  is  a  distinct  gain 
to  the  variegated  foliage  kinds,  and  should  have 
a  good  future. — C. 

SpiPSea.  aPgUta. — This  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  deserving  of  praise  of  all  the  shrubby  Spirajas. 
Of  a  most  graceful  and  yet  neat  habit,  it  is  not  too 
vigorous  in  growth,  and  is  delightful  in  the  choice 
shrubbery  or  border.  The  foliage  is  not  thick, 
thus  allowing  other  plants  to  grow  underneath  it. 
For  this  reason  it  may  be  planted  to  advantage  on 
overhanging  rock  work  or  in  a  conspicuous  position 
in  the  low  border,  though  it  is  of  too  delicate  a 
nature  to  plant  in  the  common  shrubberj'  with  the 
coarser  things  such  as  Laurels,  Rhododendrons,  &c. 
A  patch  of  such  pure  white  as  this  shrub  presents 
when  in  flower  is  very  acceptable,  even  when  fruit 
trees  and  sheets  of  Iberis  are  in  full  bloom.  Its 
height  is  from  3  feet  to  4  feet. — J.  Wood,  Kirh- 
Ktall,  near  Leedx. 

Ipis  lacustris. — This  minute  and  interesting 
Iris  is  quite  rare  in  cultivation.  The  height  of  a 
flowering  stem  is  .3  inches  to  4  inches  as  grown  here. 
The  colour  one  would  describe  as  bluish  lilac  and 
gamboge.  One  of  its  good  points  is  that  «  hen  grown 
in  a  fairly  dry  sandy  soil  facing  south  it  may  be 
had  in  bloom  three  times  in  the  j'ear.  Like  most 
of  the  rhizomatous  Irises,  it  should  be  planted  with 
the  rhizome  showing  above  ground  to  ensure  a 
good  amount  of  flower.  A  well-grown  clump  about 
1  foot  in  diameter  is  a  pretty  picture  when  in  bloom. 
I  cannot  say  why  it  is  not  cultivated  more,  other- 
wise than  by  the  evident  fact  that  it  is  not  well 
known,  as  it  is  really  most  easy  to  grow  and 
increases  quickly. — J.  Wood,  Kirk^tall,  ntar  Leids. 


THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

ONCOCYCLUS      IRISES  — A 
TEST    RECORD. 

TO  make  any  fair  estimate  of  ex- 
periments that  have  been  inter- 
rupted by  death  is  always  sad  and 
somewhat  difficult,  and  such  a  task 
has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  the  present 
writer,  who  is  only  too  well  aware 
that  it  can  be  but  very  inadequately  carried 
out  by  any  other  pen  than  that  of  the 
originator.  Headers  of  The  Garden  will 
recall  the  enthusiasm  with  which  the  late 
Rev.  Henry  Ewbank,  of  St.  John's,  Ryde, 
Isle  of  Wight,  wrote  from  time  to  time  of  his 
experiences  with  the  beautiful  but  rather 
intractable  race  of  Oncocyclus  Irises,  and  the 
very  interesting  paper  on  their  cultivation 
which  was  reproduced  in  the.se  pages  no  longer 
ago  than  in  January  of  the  present  year  from 
a  recent  issue  of  the  Journal  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  It  was  there  mentioned 
that  in  conjunction  with  M.  Hoog,  the  repre- 
sentative of  M.  0.  G.  van  Tubergen,  jun.,  of 
Haarlem,  he  was  about  to  institute  a  series  of 
experiments,  of  which  "  the  real  purport  was 
that  of  finding  out  if  these  particular  plants 
are  influenced  or  not  by  the  .soil  in  which  they 
are  planted."  Analysis  of  the  soil  in  which 
they  naturally  grow  had  revealed  the  presence 
of  a  considerable  proportion  of  lime,  and  from 
this  and  other  ascertained  facts,  Mr.  Ewbank 
himself,  after  a  liberal  trial  of  lime  in  the  form 
of  bone-meal  in  the  compost  in  which  his 
Oncocyclus  Irises  were  planted,  was  strongly 
inclined  to  believe  that  without  doing  away 


with  other  and  ordinary  precautions  in  their 
culture  therein  lay  the  crucial  secret  of 
success. 

As  far  as  can  be  gathered  without  actual 
dates,  of  which  there  are,  apparently,  no 
accurate  records,  the  plants  in  the  four  older 
frames  have  been  treated  for  some  four  or 
more  years  past  on  what  Sir  Michael  Foster 
has  called  the  '"covering-up"  .system;  and 
have  been  grown  in  a  compost  to  which  a 
generous  addition  of  bone  -  meal  has  more 
recently  still  been  made.  Former  visitors  to 
Mr.  Ev.'bank's  interesting  garden  will  remember 
these  concrete  frames,  which,  by  his  own 
measurements,  are  "12  feet  long,  3  feet  or 
3i  feet  wide,  and  have  a  depth  of  IJ  feet  or 
2  feet,  above  a  foot  or  more  of  drainage,  over 
which  inverted  sods  have  been  put,"  and  which 
contain  representatives  of  almost  every  known 
species  of  Cushion  Iris,  as  well  as  many  of  the 
sturdier  race  classed  under  the  name  of 
Regelia  During  the  last  week  in  May,  when 
the  writer  .saw  them,  many  of  the  latter  — such 
as  I.  Korolkowi  and  its  varieties,  I.  K.  venosa, 
I.  K.  violacea,  I.  Leichtlini,  and  others  — were 
in  strong  and  beautiful  flower,  fully  bearing 
out  the  experience  of  growers  in  general  that 
these  and  their  like  always  do  well.  Of  the 
true  Oncocyclus  Irises  fewer  have  flowered 
this  season  than  last  year,  owing  perhaps  to 
the  cold  and  uncertain  spring  which  has  made 
it.self  felt  even  in  the  genial  climate  of  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  but  many  of  the  clumps  gave  promise 
of  bloom  later  on.  Fine  specimens,  however, 
of  I.  iberica  and  of  Van  Houtte's  variety  I.  i. 
insignis,  and  the  newer  yellow- flowered  I. 
urmiensis,  lately  introduced  by  M.  C.  G.  van 
Tubergen,  jun.,  Haarlem,  were  individually  in 
perfection  ;  I.  Gatesi,  I.  Sari,  and  I.  lupina 
were  in  strong  bud,  while  the  two  forms  ol 
I.  susiana — I.  s.  major  and  I.  s.  atropurpurea — 
had  just  closed  what  had  been  most  finished 
flowers.  The  mo-t  serious  gaps  in  the  ranks 
have  occurred  with  I.  susiana,  I.  Lorteti,  J. 
atrofusca,  and  I.  paradoxa.  It  is  a  little 
singular  that  the  typical  form  of  I.  susiana, 
which  is  the  oldest  known  in  our  English 
gardens,  and,  comparatively  speaking,  an 
acclimated  species,  should  have  almost  entirely 
disappeared  from  the  frames. 

The  real  experiment,  however,  was  initiated 
in  a  large  new  frame  in  which,  with  M.  Hoog's 
co-operation,  eight  species  of  Oncocyclus  Iris 
were  planted  in  four  sections  in  as  many 
difterent  composts.  A  melancholy  interest 
attaches  to  this  experiment,  inasmuch  as  the 
rhizomes   were   planted   in   this   frame  under 


Mr.  Ewbank's  own  superintendence  on  the 
diy  of  his  death.  Since  that  time  they  have 
been  carefully  attended  to  by  the  gardener 
who  has  been  for  some  years  in  Mr.  Ewbank's 
employ,  and  who  perfectly  understood  his 
jilans  ani  his  wishes.  The  rhizomes  of  these 
eight  species  were  treated  on  the  contrary 
system  to  those  occupying  the  four  older 
frames,  having  been  taken  up  from  the  open 
ground  in  July,  1901.  They  were  then  spread 
cmt  upon  a  greenhouse  shelf  to  ripen  The 
difficulty  aboutthe  ''taking  u|)"system  is  this, 
that  at  no  time  do  these  Cushion  Irises  appear 
to  be  ab.'^olutely  dormant  when  they  are  in 
health,  with  regard  to  the  long,  thong-like 
roots  which  they  send  down  from  their 
rhizomes.  It  so  happened  that  after  the  par- 
ticular Irises  in  question  had  been  lifted  and 
placed  in  their  summer  quarters  on  the  green- 
house shelf,  a  sudden  burst  of  intense  heat  and 
.sunshine  set  in,  and  for  several  days  they  were 
subjected  to  it  without  notice.  The  rapid 
shrivelling  of  the  thongs  and  scorching  of  the 
rhizomes,  so  soon  as  it  was  discovered,  gave 
great  anxiety  both  to  Mr.  Ewbank  and  his 
girdener,  who  feared  tbat  the  transition  had 
been  too  quick,  and  means  were  taken  to  make 
the  drying  ott'  more  gradual.  Possibly  the 
mischief  was  already  done,  and  the  failure  and 
disai)pearance  of  a  good  many  of  the  rhizomes 
planted  in  the  experimental  frame  may  be 
attributable  to  this  cause.  The  soil  test  cannot 
therefore  be  said  to  be  conclusive,  but  as  this 
in  any  case  could  scarcely  be  decided  by  one 
year's  trial,  it  is  hoped  that  another  season  of 
cultivation  on  the  same  lines  will  give  more 
definite  results.  In  the  meantime  the  sub- 
joined table  may  be  of  some  suggestiveness  to 
growers  of  this  unique  section  of  a  most 
beautiful  race  of  plants  which  we  may  hope 
some  day  to  see  growing  in  our  gardens  with 
more  freedom  than  at  present,  when  their  wants 
are  more  thoroughly  understood.  Comparison 
of  the  results  of  the  two  methods  of  treatment, 
so  far  as  they  have  been  carried  out  in  these 
frames,  tends  to  corroborate  in  every  particular 
the  opinion  recorded  by  Sir  M.  Foster  that  for 
our  English  climate,  with  its  alternations  of 
temperature  in  early  spring,  the  "  covering- 
up  "  plan  will  prove  the  most  reliable  and 
.satisfactory.  Reference  should  not  be  omitted 
to  the  very  fine  species  (or  possibly  Variety) 
named  Iris  Ard  Akluk,  which  opened  its 
flowers  in  the  test-frame  on  May  27.  It 
appears  to  be  a  much  more  robust  form  than 
most  others,  and  may  probably  be  of  more 
recent  introduction. 


Iris  lupina 

I.  Ar,l  Akluk 

I,  paradoxa 
I.  urmiensis 


Luam  ami  coiv  manure. 

Six  plants  ;  four  of  Lhem 
strong,  one  weak,  one 
dead. 


Two  plants  only ;  pood 
with  three  or  four 
Kiowths  to  each,  both 
Howering  strongly. 

One  plant,  healthy  two 
growths. 

All  rhiz  )nies  decayed. 


Loam,  bone-meal,  and 
lldb.  of  mafjnesia. 
Eight  plants;  fourdoiiig 
fairly,  hub  not  increas- 
ing, two  sickly,  two 
dead. 


Loam  and  bone-meal 
only. 
Four  plants  ;  two  strong, 
one  of  them  with  four 
good     growlh-i,     two 
weak. 


Loam  ulth  large  propor- 
tion of  lime  rubble. 
.Six  plai]ts  ;    two  strong 


and  increasing, 
fairly  good,  two 
zonies  dormant, 
may  start  yet. 


two 
ihi- 
hut 


All  rhizomes  decayed.        .\11  rhizomes  decayed. 


I.  atro-purpurea    Two  plants,  very  weak 
I.  II  iriuuiKC  Two  plants,  weak. 


.  ibeiica  . .  Six  plants  ;  two  small  hut 
healthy,  two  rather 
stronger,  two  very  weak. 
Some  rhizomes  sound, 
hut  either  only  just 
btarting  or  still  dor- 
mant. 


Three  plants  ;  one  with 
six  growths, no  flowers, 
two  weak,  one  rhizome 
sound,  but  not  started. 

Three  plants:  one  strong, 
one  fairly  good,  one 
very  weak. 

One  plant  fairly  strong, 
two  dead 


Five  plants  living  out 
of  nine  or  ten,  four- 
fairlystrong,  onesraall 
but  going  to  flower. 


Two  plant*  otdy,  not  in 
good  Condition. 


Three  nice  plants  in- 
creasing, one  with 
seven  growths,  no 
flowers. 

Three  plants  left,  all 
healthy;  one  has 
flowered,  most  of  the 
other  rhizomes  have 
decayed,  but  one  or 
two  are  still  plump 
and  may  start  yet. 


One  healthy  plant  with 
three  growths,  the  rest 
decayed. 


Only  one  good  plant  out 
of  the  three  rows  ; 
one  just  starting,  and 
several  others,  though 
dormant,  are  likely  to 
grow. 


N.B. 


One    plant  fUily   liviti 
weak. 
-Dots  indicate  that  the  rhizomes  have  entirely  disappeared  or  were  never  planted  in  the  row. 


June  21,  1902.1 


THE    GARDEN. 


409 


w 


FOREIGN    NOTES. 

AN  ARBOR  DAY  FOR 
INDIA. 

E  are  pleased  to  learn 
that  Mr.  C.  H. 
Mounsej',  Collector 
of  Cuimbatore,  has 
come  forward  with  a 
scheme  for  celebrat- 
ing the  Coronation  and  the  Coronation 
anniversaries  in  future  in  a  general, 
useful,  and  lasting  way,  and  that  is  by 
planting  trees. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Mounsey  suggests  that 
every  household,  if  not  every  man, 
should  select  that  day  on  which  to 
plant  a  tree,  and  as  such  anniversary 
comes  round  it  should  be  celebrated  in  a 
similar  way. 

The  form  these  plantations  should 
take  ought  to  be  topes,  village 
avenues,  and  shade  spots  round 
village  wells,  &c.  He  says  that  his 
suggestion  is  in  accordance  with  the 
Hindu  Shaiilras—tha,t,  one  of  the  three 
essential  things  that  man  must  do  is 
to  plant  a  tree — and  the  present  is  an 
opportunity  of  fulfilling  that  obligation. 
"Plant  a  tree,  dig  a  well,  and  go  to 
heaven"  is  an  Oriental  aphoi'ism, 
and  we  commend  Mr.  Mounsey's 
suggestion  for  serious  considera- 
tion. Other  countries  have  their  "arbor  day," 
why  should  not  India  ?  —  Indian  Gardening  and 
Plaiitinij. 


A  COLONY   OF  AQUILEGIA   STUARTI   AT   KIRKSTALL. 


A  FEW  .JUNE-FLOWERING  "  BULBS." 

The  spring-flowering  bulbs  are  over.  They  were 
mostly  Tulips  and  old-fashioned  Daffodils  —  in 
public  places — for  it  really  seems  that  contracting 
planters  know  little  of  anything  else.  A  search 
through  the  private  gardens  in  many  places  gives 
but  little  more  of  variety. 

There  are  a  number  of  pretty  plants  for  June 
flowering  in  the  middle  States  or  in  some  cases  a 
little  later  further  north.  To  produce  a  telling 
effect  they  should  be  grouped  together  singly  or  in 
intersection.  The  English  Yellow  Iris  Pseud-acorus 
is  disposed  to  naturalise  on  the  edges  of  streams 
where  I  write,  and  would  have  become  abundant 
long  ago  if  allowed,  but  so  soon  as  a  yellow  flower 
becomes  noticeable  it  is  pulled  up  and  taken  to  the 
gardens,  where  good  sized  clumps  are  often  seen 
and  flourish  well  in  comparatively  dry  places.  It 
is  usually  full  of  flowers  some  time  during  the  first 
half  of  June.  With  a  little  care  in  .selection  some 
of  the  finer  late  Iris  germanica  may  be  had  in 
company  with  it.  Sisyrinchiuni  in  two  or  three 
forms  will  thrive  in  similar  moist  situations. 

Gladiolus  communis  in  both  purple  and  white 
forms  are  quite  hardy  to  the  lower  lakes,  and  form 
handsome  groups.  Zephyranthes  Atamasco  is  a 
favourite  plant  in  cottage  gardens  hereabouts. 
Paradisia  Liliastrum  will  also  flower  during  June ; 
so  will  Asphodelus  luteus.  The  gigantic  Eremurus 
robustus  and  several  other  species  of  comparatively 
recent  introduction,  as  well  as  the  older  species, 
are  mostly  June  flowering,  white,  yellow,  brown, 
reddish  or  rosy,  very  showy  plants,  but  little  if  at 
all  grown,  except  possibly  in  a  botanical  collection 
or  two.  They  are  natives  of  the  Caucasus, 
Afghanistan,  and  the  greater  part  of  Central  Asia, 
and  most  likely  all  are  hardy.  Authericum  Liliago 
and  A.  ramosum  are  both  June  flowering  and  useful 
to  mix  with  such  lower  growing  pink  flowering 
plants  as  the  Zephyranthes.  The  blue  flowered 
Allium  azureum  and  the  yellow  flowered  A.  Moly 
should  be  tried  in  intersection  or  in  ribbons  ;  their 
scent  is  not  commendable,  but  they  maybe  depended 
upon  for  colour.  Scilla  hispanica  may  be  had  in 
flower  in  June,  too,  together  with  its  pink  and 
white  varieties.  Perhaps  these  are  best  knowi^  as 
S.  campanulata. 

Lilium  tenuifolium,  L.  Grayi,  and  possibly  some 


of  the  varieties  of  L.  elegans,  &c.,  may  be  had  in 
flower  during  June,  but  the  great  bulk  of  the 
Lilies  are  July  flowering,  especially  northwards. 
The  Pontederias  will  require  aquatic  treatment, 
but  given  that  a  mass  of  them  is  by  no  means  to 
be  despised  in  a  garden.  Both  they  and  the 
Tradescantias  will  yield  a  good  many  surprises  in 
the  way  of  well  marked  varieties  to  the  zealous 
collector. 

The  whole  of  these  plants  may  be  grouped  in  a 
small  space  with  a  mass  of  Yucca  angustifolia  and 
Y.  filamentosa  as  a  foil,  and  perhaps  a  few  small 
dark  leaved  conifers.  Such  light  coloured  foliage 
as  that  of  the  Funkias  (some  of  which  also  flower 
in  June)  cannot  have  a  better  setting. — J.  MacP.  , 
in  Park  and  Cvmeiery  (Chicago). 


NOTES  ON  HARDY  PLANTS 

AOUILEGIA     STUARTI. 

1SENI)  you  a  photograph  of  a  large  patch 
of  Aquilegia  Stuarti.  In  this  case  the 
Columbine  is  growing  against  a  wall 
facing  almost  south.  It  just  misses  the 
early  morning  sun,  however,  which  is  so 
detrimental  to  the  leaves  and  flowers  whilst 
they  are  still  wet  with  dew.  The  soil  is  a  good 
friable  loam.  The  plant  succeds  best  as  a 
biennial,  seeds  being  sown  as  soon  as  ripe. 
Root  divisions  and  old  clumps  do  not  flower 
so  freely  or  so  well  as  two  year  old  seedlings. 
If  not  pampered  and  disturbed  at  its  roots  the 
plant  is  quite  happy. 

Kirhtall,  near  Leeds.  J.  Wood. 


PRIMULA  ALLIONL 

Some  time  ago  I  sent  you  a  note  on  P.  AUioni, 
in  which  I  stated  that  the  cultural  directions  as 
given  by  the  distributors  were  all,  or  nearly  all, 
wrong.  I  am  again  moved  to  call  attention  to  this 
beautiful  and  interesting  plant  by  the  statement 
of  Mr.  Correvon  that  he  has  not  seen  it  cultivated 
anywhere  in  England  other  than  Warley  Placp, 
and  there  in  pots  and  in  a  cold  frame.  This  is  an 
uncalled  for  luxury,  as  during  last  winter,  when  we 
had  28°  of  frost,  growing  in  the  open  rock  with  no 
protection  whatever,  it  not  only  came  through  well, 
but  those  in  the  most  exposed  positions  did  best. 
I  have   already  expressed  my   opinion,  backed  by 


actual  experience,  that  we  have  been  entirely 
misled  as  to  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was 
found  wild.  It  is  popularly  supposed  to  resent 
damp  in  the  foliage.  Our  best  group  was  regularly 
watered  overhead  (no  other  way  being  possible 
owing  to  the  position  in  which  it  was  planted) 
during  the  dry  weather  last  year,  and  was  all  the 
better  for  it.  To  those  intending  to  add  this  bright 
gem  to  tlieir  collections  I  would  say  plant  where 
you  would  a  Ramondia,  in  the  crevice  of  a  rock, 
and  during  winter  insert  a  sheet  of  glass  or  a  flat 
stone  on  the  top  to  ward  oS'  excessive  moisture. 
In  the  summer  keep  it  growing  in  dry  weather  by 
means  of  frequent  waterings,  and  you  will  be 
rewarded  by  fine  healthy  rosettes  and  abundance 
of  bright  coloured  flowers  in  early  spring. 

ALLIUM   PEDEMONTANUM. 

This,  I  think,  is  the  most  beautiful  of  the  Allium 
family,  the  flowers  a  rich  rose-pink  in  colour, 
and  looking  like  bells  of  satin  glinting  in  the  sun- 
light ;  a  good  plant  to  grow  if  given  proper 
conditions  at  the  time  of  planting.  A  heavy  cal- 
careous soil,  with  a  good  sprinkling  of  grit,  is  an 
ideal  compost  in  which  to  grow  it.  In  poor,  light, 
sandy,  or  peaty  soil  it  flowers  the  first  year,  and 
then  gradually  dwindles  away.  In  such  a  compost 
as  recommended  above  it  flowers  and  increases 
rapidly.  The  best  position  for  growing  and  seeing 
it  at  its  best  is  one  facing  south  or  west,  high  up 
and  sloping  forward  on  an  open  stone  ledge,  where 
you  can  look  up  and  under  the  flowers  and  catch 
a  glimpse  of  its  bright  colouring  in  the  distance  ; 
it  is  essentially  a  rock  garden  plant,  and  one  well 
worth  growing. 

Grey  Towers.  A,  F. 

HARDY  UYPRIPEDIUMS. 

It  is  a  good  sign  of  the  frequent  demand  for  these 
plants  to  see  a  representative  gathering  of  them  in 
all  the  leading  hardy  plant  groups  in  a  show 
like  that  at  the  Temple  recently.  Yet  I  think 
Messrs.  Wallace  carried  oif  the  palm  for  the 
pretty  way  tliej'  colonise  these  plants.  It  is  in- 
structive, and  the  plants  are  not  hidden  in  a 
massed  bank  of  the  gayest  flowers.  Prettily 
grouped  at  intervals  and  issuing  from  their  mossy 
bed,  the  entire  lot  told  to  advantage,  and  nearly 
all  the  kinds  known  to  commeice  were  shown. 
There  was  a  large  displaj'  of  the  North  American 
C.  spectabile  with  its  ruddy  crimson  pouch,  bold 


410 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  21,  1902. 


and  well  inflated  always;  C.  candidum,  with  small 
flowers  ;  C.  occidentale,  also  with  dainty  blossoms ; 
C.  acaule,  C.  pubescens,  C.  Caloeolus,  and  others 
being  noted. 

Most  of  these  are  of  easy  culture,  and  of 
those  named  C.  acaule,  the  stemless  Lady 
Slipper  so-called  is  perhaps  the  most  difficult  to 
establish  permanently.  This  may  be  due  to  its 
making  so  few  fresh  root  fibres  after  planting,  and 
of  course  it  may  be  equally  due  to  the  crude 
manner  of  collecting  the  plants  abroad,  by  which 
method  the  roots  are  torn  away.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  the  plants  so  well  shown  will  give  a  fresh 
impetus  to  the  culture  of  this  group  generally. 
Writing  concerning  this  matter  recently  in  The 
Garden,  Mr.  Mallett  conveyed  the  idea  that  a 
substratum  of  chalk  or  lime  was  essential  to  the 
well-being  of  these  plants.  This,  however,  is  not  the 
fact.  If  we  take  such  as  C.  Calceolus,  parvifloruni, 
and  pubescens,  all  these  may  be  finely  grown  in 
loam  and  leaf-mould,  while  the  first-named  is 
especially  to  be  recommended  for  calcareous  loam  ; 
indeed,  I  believe  it  was  the  late  Mr.  Selte-Leonard 
who  a  j'ear  or  two  ago,  having  in  mind  the  idea  of 
re-naturalising  this  species  in  the  British  Isles, 
obtained  a  good  supply  of  seed  and  offered  it  free 
to  all  whose  gardens  were  in  chalky  districts  so 
long  as  the  supply  lasted.  In  all  loamy  soils  there 
is  a  certain  percentage  of  lime,  and  the  only  species 
I  have  not  grown  well  in  loam  is  C.  spectabile. 
The  others,  with  C.  acaule,  I  have  grown  in  this 
district  in  sunken  beds  of  loam  and  leaf  soil,  of  the 
latter  one-third,  and  adding  to  the  bulk  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  old  mortar  rubble.  It 
may  be  due  to  many  who  would  grow  these 
pretty  plants  to  know  that  peat  and  a  boggy 
spot  are  not  absolutely  necessary.  On  the  other 
hand,  C.  spectabile  is  happiest  in  wet  peat,  and 
if  the  root  fibres  are  near  the  water  so  much 
the  better.  During  growth  all  the  kinds  delight 
in  plenty  of  moisture.  E.  J. 


SOUTH 


AFRICAN 
CULTURE. 


FRUIT 


CLEMATIS  MONTANA. 

This  Clematis  is  so  beautiful  when  in  full  flower, 
as  shown  in  the  illustration,  that  we  feel 
another  representation  will  not  weary  our  readers. 
Here  it  is  seen  growing  in  profusion  and  makiug  a 
mantle  of  purest  white.  The  effect  of  the  mass  of 
white  against  the  trees  in  the  background  was 
very  beautiful. 


(Continued  from  page  371.) 
An  Encouraging  JRepoet. 
Granted  fine  selected  fruit,  proper  packing, 
and  transport  in  unimpaired  condition,  the 
Cape  product,  it  is  safe  to  say,  will  always 
command  the  best  prices  on  the  home  markets, 
and  the  export  industry  will  not  alone  be 
exceedingly  lucrative,  but  should  become 
exceedingly  large.  So  far  as  we  are  at  present 
concerned— that  is,  with  the  1902  export— the 
report  of  the  result  of  the  first,  or  early 
season's,  shipment  of  Peaches,  Plums,  and 
Ayiricots  is  favourable  and  encouraging.  With 
the  exception  of  the  Plum  consignment,  a  la 
Californian  style,  already  alluded  to,  the  first 
freights  arrived  in  moderately  good  condition, 
and  realised  substantial  iirices  on  a  London 
market  that  was  not  in  a  firm  and  satisfactory 
state,  with  a  comparatively  meagre  demand  and 
a  capricious  C(jterie  of  buyers.  Some  of  the 
fruit  was  not  picked  quite  soon  enough,  and 
reached  the  market  rather  overripe,  but  the 
Plums  arrived  in  excellent  condition,  and  the 
Peaches,  which  formed  (piite  a  novelty,  were 
.sold  at  a  high  price.  The  reports  on  the  result 
of  subsequent  shipments  have  not  yet  been 
received,  and  are  awaited  with  some  degree 
of  interest  and  expectancy.  —  Cape  Times, 
February  24,  1902. 

Aids  to  Export. 
The  absolute  insignificance  of  the  exporta- 
tion of  agricultural  products  done  by  Cape 
1  Colony  has  long  been  a  matter  of  grave  dis- 
credit to  the  Colony,  and  of  the  greatest 
concern  to  those  who  have  the  interests  of  the 
Colony  and  of  South  Africa  at  heart.  This 
discredit  and  concern  arises,  not  so  much  from 
a  mere  desire  to  export  as  from  a  desire  to 
see  the  agricultural  resoiu'ces  of  the  country 
developed  to  their  very  utmost.  Were  there 
in  Cape  Colony  a  great  urban  population, 
which  could  use  every  iota  of  agricultural  pro- 
duce that  could  possibly  be  extracted  from  the 


A   WREATHING   OF  CLEMATIS   MONTANA.      (Fioiii  a  photograph  hij  MiisWillmoU.) 


country,  no  one  would  w  ish  to  see  the  growth 
of  an  export  trade  in  such  ])roduce.  At  present, 
however,  Cape  Colony  could  turn  out  agricul- 
tural produce  suflicient  for  a  hundred— nay,  a 
thousand— times  its  inhabitants.  Not  only 
does  it  not  do  so,  but  it  requires  to  import  such 
produce  from  other  lands  ;  and  hence  the 
absence  of  export  trade  in  those  lines  becomes 
at  once  a  criterion  of  its  agricultural  back- 
wardness. This  backwardness  is  not  made  to 
appear  the  less  by  comparison  with  what  is 
done  in  other  British  Colonies.  Take,  for 
instance,  the  State  of  Victoria  in  the  Australian 
Commonwealth.  There  is  in  London  an  official 
who  is  styled  the  "Superintendent  of  exports 
for  the  Victorian  Government  and  Eepresenta- 
tive  of  theDepartment  of  Agriculture,  Victoria, 
Australia,"  and  this  gentleman  has  recently 
issued  a  little  ten  page  pamphlet  giving  in- 
formation concerning  the  products  exported  by 
the  State  of  A'ictoria  to  Great  Britain.  If 
anything  could  bring  the  blush  of  shime  to 
the  collective  face  of  our  own  Agricultural 
Department,  this  little  pamphlet  would  be  the 
thing.  It  points  lessons  to  Cape  Colony  in 
two  main  directions,  neither  of  which "  are 
altogether  novel,  and  both  of  which  have  been 
many  a  time  and  oft  drawn  attention  to  in 
these  columns. 

In  the  first  place,  there  is  the  mere  fact  that 
Victoria  has  in  London  a  permanent  official 
charged  with  the  duty  of  furthering  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  the  State.  In  addition, 
at  the  offices  of  this  official,  there  are  "  com- 
mercial show  rooms,"  where  the  wool,  grain, 
flour,  mne,  brandy,  dried  and  canned  fruits, 
fruit  pulps,  canned  meats,  honey,  tobacco, 
fibres,  and  other  products  of  Victoria  are  on 
exhibition,  and  where  samples  can  be  in.spected. 
Where  is  the  corresponding  agent  of  the  Cape 
Agricultural  Department,  and  where  are  the 
corresponding  show  rooms  for  the  e.xhibition  of 
Cape  products  ?  The  appointment  of  such  an 
official  in  connexion  with  the  Cape  has  been 
advocated,  in  dift'erent  forms,  again  and  again  ;' 
and  its  advisability  and  great  utility  needs  no 
elaborate  demonstration.  We  drew  attention 
a  week  ago  to  the  fact  that  Mr.  W. 
Willcocks,  C.M.G.,  the  great  Egyptian 
irrigation  engineer,  advocated  very 
strongly  the  establishment  of  an  agri- 
cultural bureau  for  South  Africa  on 
the  lines  of  the  Washington  institution 
of  that  name.  If  such  a  bureau  were 
established,  an  official  in  London — 
similar  to  the  agent  of  the  Victorian 
Agricultural  Department  —  would 
necessarily  be  part  of  the  scheme. 
An  agricultural  bureau  for  South 
Africa  moy,  however,  not  be  looked  for 
all  at  once  ;  but  the  appointment  of 
an  agricultural  agent  of  the  Cape 
C'olony  is  a  matter  which  could  be 
settled  in  a  moment  or  two.  It  cannot 
— bearing  in  mind  the  reputation  for 
lavishness  acquired  by  the  Agricultural 
Department — be  want  of  money  which 
forbids  the  step  ;  the  only  conclusion, 
therefore,  that  can  be  come  to  is  that 
it  is  due  to  want  of  enterjjrise.  And 
want  of  enterprise  will  assuredly  prove 
as  fatal  to  the  business  of  a  colony  or 
state  as  to  the  business  of  a  com 
mercial  house.  The  pamphlet  we  have 
referred  to  contains,  however,  materials 
of  another  sort  for  uneasy  reflection  by 
Cape  Colonists.  In  its  pages  one  is 
constantly  coming  across  statements 
such  as  the  following:  "Trade  in 
butter  has  been  opened  up  with 
South  Africa "  ;  "  Victorian  flour  is 
largely  exported   to   South  Africa "  ; 


Junk  21,  1902.] 


THE     GAliDEN. 


411 


"Victoria  .  .  .  exports  large  quantities 
of  frozen  meat  to  .  .  .  South  Africa"; 
"turkeys,  geese,  ducks,  and  fowls  are  also 
exported  from  Victoria  to  South  Africa "  ; 
"an  increasing  export  trade  in  canned  and 
dried  fruits  to  South  Africa  ...  is  being 
developed";  and  so  on.  The  idea  of  South 
Africa,  which  includes  Cape  Colony,  importing 
butter,  flour,  meat,  and  fruits  from  Victoria,  or 
anywhere  else,  is  lamentable  in  the  extreme. 
South  Africa  for  the  purposes  of  such  produce 
is  blessed  with  an  excellent  climate  ;  it  has  one 
of  the  best  soils  for  agriculture  in  the  world ; 
and  with  irrigation,  which  we  have  insisted  on 
so  often,  and  which  is  perfectly  possible  and 
practicable,  its  advantages  would  be  second  to 
few  countries  in  the  world. 

The  Victorian  Department  of  Agriculture 
offers  us  still  another  object-lesson.  The  great 
essential  in  an  export  trade,  no  matter  of  what 
commodity,  is  uniformity  of  quality.  And  in 
this  essential  what  little  export  trade  Cape 
Colony  does  is  very  deficient.  Victoria,  on  tbe 
other  "hand,  takes  the  utmost  pains  to  ensure 
that  all  its  exported  agricultural  products  shall 
he  only  of  the  highest  quality.  Its  butter,  for 
instance,  is  all  carefully  inspected  in  the  cold 
storage  chambers  in  Melbourne  by  Govern- 
ment experts  appointed  for  the  purpose,  and 
every  box  passed  as  of  first  quality  receives 
the  official  stamp  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. More  than  that,  on  the  arrival  of 
the  butter  in  London,  a  representative  of  the 
Agricultural  Department  makes  an  inspection 
of  the  shipments  of  butter  during  discharge, 
in  order  to  see  that  the  contract  of  shipment 
has  been  carried  out,  and  that  the  butter  is 
landed  in  thoroughly  good  and  proper  condi- 
tion. This  is  a  rational  and  business-like 
method  of  procedure,  and  a  State  which  takes 
this  trouble  is  bound  to  succeed  to  the  full, 
and  to  find  an  eager  market  for  its  produce. 
Cape  Colony  will  do  well  to  take  a  lesson  from 
Victoria  before  it  is  too  late  It  cannot  be  too 
often  impressed  that  the  ultimate  salvation  of 
South  Africa  rests  on  the  proper  development 
of  its  agricultural  resources,  though  its  imme- 
diate prosperity  may  depend  upon  the  Rand 
Mines.  And  as  Mr.  Willcocks  pointed  out  in 
regard  to  irrigation,  the  game  is  in  Lord 
Milner's  hands  ;  if  he— and  it  is  hard  to  con- 
ceive him  doing  otherwise — appoints  an  agent 
in  London  to  further  the  agricultural  interests 
of  his  two  Colonies,  the  Cape  must  follow 
suit,  or  got  hopelessly  left  behind.  Under  the 
circumstances,  perhaps  the  best  thing  to  hope 
for  is  that  Lord  Milner  will  make  such  an 
appointment  ;  it  may  be  the  only  way  of 
wakening  up  our  own  Agricultural  Department. 
In  the  little  pamphlet  to  which  reference  has 
been  made,  the  following  sentence  occurs  :  "It 
may  be  safely  stated  that  no  other  country  in 
1  he  world  exercises  more  careful  State  super- 
vision over  the  exportation  of  its  agricultural 
products,  or  any  Government  taking  greater 
interest  in  giving  such  assistance  as  will  help 
to  raise  the  standard  of  these."  The  absolute 
converse  of  these  two  statements  would  fit 
Cape  Colony.  —  Argus,  February  24,  1902. 
(To  be  continued.) 


ODONTOGLOSSUM     CRISPUM 
LADY    JANE. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  varieties  of 
O.  crispum  ever  exhibited.  It  was  shown  by 
Mr.  J.  Wilson  Potter,  Park  Hill  Eoad,  Croydon, 
at  the  Temple  show,  when  a  first-class  certifi- 
cate was  awarded.  The  illustration  represents 
the  spike,  but  the  flowers  are  almost  twice  the 
size  of  those  represented  ;  they  are  broad  and 


robust,  the  sepals  and  petals  pure  white,  the 
former  having  a  pinkish  central  band,  and  the 
petals  are  streaked  on  the  upper  half  with 
reddish  brown.    It  is  a  lovely  flower. 


ECONOMY. 

In  many  small  gardens  economy  is  a  watch- 
word, often  to  their  grave  disadvantage.  Money 
that  would  be  spent  without  the  slightest 
hesitation  in  other  domestic  departments  is 
grudged  to  the  garden,  and  year  after  year  the 
same  old  plants  are  divided  and  redivided  and 
put  back  into  the  same  soil,  while  the  vegetable 
arrangements  go  on  in  an  un- 
broken routine  based  upon  the 
fundamental  principle  of  getting 
as  much  as  possible  out  of  the 
ground  and  patting  as  little  as 
may  be  into  it.  The  charming 
pen-picture  of  the  lady  going 
round  in  her  goloshes  to  snip 
off  the  dead  Roses,  with  which 
all  novel  readers  are  familiar, 
always  transports  me  mentally 
into  a  garden  where  economy  of 
this  kind  j  ire  vails.  While  she  is 
performing  the  elegant  office  up 
comes  the  gardener,  mildly  and 
with  hesitation,  knowing  his 
errand  an  unpopular  one,  to  ask 
for  feeds,  for  plants,  and,  worse 
than  all,  for  manure.  '■  You  are 
always  wanting  something"  is 
probably  the  sentiment,  if  not 
the  utterance,  of  far  too  many 
garden  owners  in  this  unfor- 
tunate lady's  position,  as  I  feel 
persuaded  it  is  her's.  She  toII 
cut  the  blooms  of  the  Roses,  and 
of  everything  else  to  any  extent, 
and  she  thinks  she  is  doing 
some  valuable  garden  work  when 
.she  spends  an  hour  removing 
dead  heads,  but  beyond  that 
any  interest  she  takes  in  her 
garden  is  strictly  economical. 
Real  garden  lovers  do  not  need 
telling  that  such  economy  as  this 
is  not  economy,  in  its  true  sense, 
at  all.  There  are,  however, 
some  economies  that  the  most 
ardent  amateur  gardeners — I  do 
not  like  that  word  amateur,  but 
I  am  forced  to  use  it  in  expres- 
sion of  the  garden  owner  who, 
more  or  less,  and  umally  more, 
works  with  his  own  mind  and 
hands,  and  puts  his  own  per- 
sonality into  his  beds  and 
borders,  as  apart  from  the 
owner  who  is  only  a  criticising 
perambulator  and  employer  of 
labour  —  would  find  to  theii 
advantage.  These  are  savings  of 
time,  which  in  a  garden  is  often 
priceless,  and  of  labour,  which 
may  be  very  valuable  if  it  is 
skilled  and  loving,  and  wt-11  worth  concen- 
tration. Numbers  of  folk  who  do  their 
own  gardening  make  themselves  work  in 
the  most  reckless  way.  They  thickly  sow 
large  quantities  of  seeds  in  shallow  trays, 
never  thinking  of  the  worry  that  will  ensue 
when,  all  in  a  rush,  they  have  to  be  pricked 
out  because  they  have  exhausted  their  pittance 
of  soil.  They  rear,  or  expect  their  gardener  to 
rear,  quantities  of  plants,  of  which  Lettuces, 
Cabbages,  and  JIarrows  are  good  exemplars, 
from  seed,  instead  of  buying  them  ready  to 
plant  out,  which  is  an  infinite  saving  in  small 
establishments  ;    and    they    arrange   summer 


bedding  without  a  thought  as  to  the  exigencies 
of  water  carrying  that  later  on  will  have  to  be 
faced. 

A  good  deal  of  labour,  so  far  as  flower  seed- 
lings are  concerned,  can  be  spared  by  sowing 
thinly  in  rather  deep  pans  or  boxes.  Where 
there  is  plenty  of  soil  and  the  seeds  are  not 
crowded,  they  will  often  go  on  quite  comfort- 
ably in  their  original  quarters  until  planting 
out  time  comes ;  this  is  especially  the  case 
with  compact  things  like  Pansies  and  Pyre- 
thrums.  The  continual  shifts  of  the  prescribed 
and  proper  "  bustle  them  along  "  process  are  all 
very  well  where  a  number  of  under  gardeners 


ODONTOGI.OSSrM   CRISPUM   LADY  JANE. 
(A  icanled  a  Jirst-dass  certificate  at  the  recent  Temple  show.     About  half  s 


'-) 


have  to  be  kept  employed,  but  for  one  man  or 
one  owner  with  a  whole  garden  on  his  hands 
they  are  apt  to  breed  despair  in  their  cumula- 
tion. A  most  fertile  way  of  laying-up  work 
is  the  inveterate  habit  some  people  have  of 
taking  endless  cuttings  and  keeping  them 
through  the  winter.  In  most  small  gardens 
quite  as  many  cuttings  as  are  needed  could  be 
bought  in  the  spring  for  half  the  cost  of  fuel 
and  labour  through  the  winter,  while  bedding 
Geraniums  and  so  on,  as  bought  from  nursery- 
men in  spring,  are  generally  vastly  superior 
articles  to  the  half- alive  miseries  that  have 
fought  through  the  months  of  depression  in 


412 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  21,  1902- 


some  damp,  stagnant  greenhouse,  linlf  heated 
by  an  oil  lamp  or  a  grudging  lit'le  bodcr.  Even 
where  the  conditions  are  somewhat  better,  and 
the  aid  of  a  "proper"  gardener  (as  distinct 
from  the  anomalous  hybrid  of  jobbing  per- 
suasion) is  available,  his  time  and  trouble,  and 
his  master's  coal  and  anticipations,  are  often 
wasted  for  the  most  ridiculously  inadpquate 
return,  to  lieep  alive  a  few  hundreds  of  pink 
Ivy  Geraniums,  Crystal  Palace  Gem?,  and  so 
forth,  in  order  that  the  garden  nest  year  may 
look  exactly  the  same  as  it  does  this  summer. 
This  is,  again,  the  economical  plan  the  lady  of 
the  goloshes  follows,  and  no  power  will  ever 
persuade  her  that  it  would  not  be  extravagant 
to  dig  all  her  tender  plants  into  the  ground  in 
November,  let  out  her  fire  in  her  one  green- 
house, fill  it  with  choice  l»attodils  and  pot 
Hyacinths,  save  fire  and  labour  through  the 
long  winter,  and  in  the  spring  buy,  at  the 
astonishingly  low  prices  modern  nurserymen 
seem  able  to  live  upon,  a  set  of  fresh  new 
])lants  for  such  of  her  beds  and  borders  as 
must  be  yearly  remodelled.  M.  L.  W. 


the  interesting  garden  of  8ir  Thomas  Hanbury, 
La  Nfortola,  which  contains  a  comprehensive 
collection  of  rare  and  beautiful  plants.  It  is  a 
lovely  garden,  and,  as  our  illustrations  show,  of 
deep  botanicil  interest.  We  have  several  more 
illustrations  of  plants  at  La  Mortola,  showing 
how  extensive  is  the  collection  grown  in  this 
famois  garden. 


THE    INDOOR    GARDEN. 


m 


VIEWS    IN    SIR    THOMAS    BAN- 
BURY'S   GARDEN. 

The  accompanying  illustrations  will  recall  to 
many  of  our  readers  pleasant  hours  s])ent  in 


BIGNONIAS. 

ADE  up  almost  entirely  of  shrubby 
climbers  is  the  genus  Bignonia,  the 
majority  of  which  are  remarkable  for 
their  beautiful  flowers.  The  habitats 
of  this  genus  are  in  the  warmer  parts 
of  South  America,  the  southern 
United  States,  and  the  West  Indies.  An  idea  of 
the  extent  of  the  genus  may  be  gathered  when  it 
is  slated  that  upwards  of  2(10  species  are  enume- 
rated in  the  "Index  Kewensis."  Of  this  number, 
however,  very  few  are  in  general  cultivation, 
twenty  species  only  being  grown  at  Kew.  The 
distinguishing  marks  of  the  genus  are  opposite 
simple  or  compound  leaves,  compound  leaves 
usually  having  but  two  leaflets.  The  leaves  are 
almost  always  terminated  by  tendrils,  which 
enable  the   plants   to   cling   to   supports ;    flowers 


terminal  or  axillary',  sometimes  in  long  racemes  or 
panicles,  at  other  times  singly  or  in  pairs,  tubular 
in  shape,  with  a  spreading  mouth,  and,  in  the  case 
of  many  of  the  introduced  species,  pretty  and 
ornamental.  In  gardens  considerable  confusion 
exists  in  the  nomenclature  of  this  and  several 
other  genera,  species  of  Bignonia,  Teconia,  Tabe- 
buia,  Anemopsegma,  Colea,  and  Sterospermum 
often  being  placed  in  the  wrong  genus.  The 
species  with  which  mistakes  are  often  made  are 
referred  below  to  their  respective  genera. 

With  regard  to  cultivation  the  majority  of  the 
species  reiiuire  the  protection  of  a  stove  or  warm 
greenhouse,  but  one  species,  B.  capreolata,  is  (piile 
hardy  on  walls  in  the  South  of  England,  whilst 
one  or  two  more  have  been  flowered  on  warm  walls 
during  the  summer  months.  Save  in  a  few  cases 
Bignonias  are  shy  flowerers,  and  to  be  successfully 
cultivated  require  to  be  well  understood.  Border 
culture  is  in  most  instances  preferable  to  pot 
culture,  providing  the  borders  are  thoroughly 
drained  and  too  great  a  root  run  is  not  given.  A 
depth  of  H  feet  of  a  compost  consisting  of  equal 
parts  good  fibrous  loam  and  peat  with  the  addition 
of  sand  and  grit  will  be  found  suitable.  If  a 
greater  depth  of  soil  is  given  it  is  apt  to  induce 
much  growth  and  few  flowers.  As  they  are  sun 
lovers  a  light  place  must  be  provided,  the  best 
position  being  on  wires  6  inches  below  the  glass 
for  indoor  species  and  a  warm  south  wall  for  the 
hardy  ones.  Attention  must  be  given  to  thinning 
the  shoots  or  a  great  tangled  mass  will  be  made 
from    which    few    flowers    will    appear.      Strong, 


%m' 


•^  ^m^. 


m^^ 


M^-SC 


^'^^v 
■»•*>**•-    - 


--■ '     .^t- 


THE    PAL.4ZZO    OKENGO    AT    LA    MORTOLA.       ( P/iolograplied  bij  Miss   Willlilutl.) 


JUNE  21,  1902.] 


TllEGAliDEN. 


413 


sturdy  shoots  must  be  euoouraged, 
which  should  have  the  best  possible 
opportunities  of  maturing.  After  the 
flowers  are  over  the  shoots  may  bo 
spurred  back  to  within  an  eye  or  two 
of  the  old  wood,  and  from  these 
spurs  strong  shoots  will  appear. 
Propagation  is  effected  by  inserting 
cuttings  of  halt-ripe  shoots  during 
the  summer  months  in  sandy  soil 
in  a  warm,  close  case. 

Thn  following  is  a  selection  of  the 
best  of  the  species  in  cultivation, 
together  with  a  few  species  belonging 
to  other  genera,  which  are  in  gardens 
usually  spoken  of  as  Bignonias  : — 

B.  ivqainoctialU. — About  135  years 
ago  this  was  introduced  from  tropical 
Ameriev.  It  grows  to  a  considerable 
height,  anil  makes,  naturally,  a  dense 
tangled  mass  of  thin  branches.  The 
leaves  are  onjugate  and  hairless 
The  leaflets  are  2  inches  to  3  inches 
long,  broadly  lanceolate,  and  from 
between  them  a  tendril  is  produced. 
The  flowers  are  borne  during  summer 
ill  pairs  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves 
and  also  in  terminal  racemes.  They 
are  tubular,  2  inches  or  sometimes 
more  long,  and  yellow.  It  is  rather 
diflicult  to  induce  this  species  to 
flower  under  cultivation,  and  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  thinning  of  the 
shoots  is  essential. 

B.  argyreo-riolascens.  —  The  chief 
beauty  of  this  lies  in  its  ornamental 
foliage.  The  leaves  are  simple, 
ovate,  acuminate,  green  prettily 
marbled  with  rose  and  white,  the 
rose  being  most  noticeable  in  the 
young  leaves.  It  is  a  native  of  South 
America,  and  was  first  exhibited  by 
Mr.  Bull  of  Chelsea. 

B.    huccinaforia.  —  This    will    be 
better  known  to  many  people  under 
the  name  of  B.  Cherere  or  Kerere, 
as  it  is  sometimes  written,  a  name 
which  is  a  synonym  of  the  species. 
According  to  the  "Index  Kewensis" 
there  is  a  true  B.  Kerere,  however, 
and  a  figure  of  it  is  given  in  Aublet's 
"Histoire  des  Plantes  de  la  Guiane  Fran9aise." 
From  the  figure  the  flowers  appear  to  be  consider- 
ably smaller  than  are  those  of  buooinatoria.     The 
species  under  notice  is  one  of  the  most  showy,  and 
is  the  one  which  is  probably  most  often  seen  in 
cultivation.     Although  it  is  stated  to  have  been 
introduced  in  the  eighteenth  century,  very  little 
was   known   of    it   until    the    Eirl    of    Granville 
introduced  it  into  his  garden  at  Dropmore  in  1837. 
When   it   flowered   specimens  were  forwarded  to 
Dr.    Lindley,    who    figured    it    in    the    Botanical 
Begister  as  B.  Cherere.     It  is  a  native  of  Central 
Mexico,  where  it  grows  at  an  elevation  of  6,000  feet 
to  8,000  feet.     Under  cultivation  it  succeeds  best 
in  a  sunny  greenhouse,  but  it  must  not  be  expected 
to   flower   before    it    attains   a   good   size.       The 
branches  grow  to  a  considerable  length,  and  are 
stouter  than   those  of   many  other  species.     The 
leaves  are  compound,  and  vary  in  character,  some 
being   ternate,    others   having    but    two    leaflets. 
The  leaflets  are  ovate,  acuminate,  and  glabrous. 
The  flowers  are  4  inches  to  5  inches  in  length  and 
IJ  inches  to  2  inches  across  the  mouth,  orange-red 
in  colour,  though  of  many  shades,  and  are  borne 
in  large  cymes.     When  well  flowered  it  is  a  lovely 
sight  and  the  plant  is  well  worthy  of  attention. 

B.  capreolata. — On  a  south  wall  at  Kew  this 
flowers  freely  every  year.  Like  most  of  the  other 
species,  it  has  been  in  cultivation  for  a  consider- 
able period,  a  figure  of  it  prepared  from  a  specimen 
grown  in  the  Phj'sic  Garden  at  Chelsea  having 
been  published  in  the  Botanical  Magazine,  t.  864, 
in  1805.  The  leaves  are  conjugate  or  sometimes 
simple  with  small  three-parted  tendrils.  The 
leaflets  are  rather  large  and  cordate.  The  flowers 
are  borne  singly  or  several  together  from  the 
axils  of  the  leaves  during  summer.  They  are 
3  inches  to  4  inches  long,  and  of  an  orange  colour 


ALOE  STTPEALjEVIS  IN  FLOWER  IN   APRIL  IN   THE  GARDEN    AT  LA  MORTOLA. 
(Photographed  by  Miss  WiUmott.) 

or  orange  sufi'used  with  scarlet.  For  a  warm 
wall  it  is  an  excellent  subject,  as  it  can  be 
depended  on  to  flower  freely  every  year.  A 
variety  with  darker  flowers,  known  as  atrosan- 
guinea.  has  been  introduced. 

B.  Caroliiiae. — In  1842  this  is  recorded  as  having 
flowered  in  the  garden  of  the  Earl  of  Ilchester  in 
Dorsetshire.  The  flowers  are  cream-coloured, 
with  a  yellow  throat.  The  inflorescence  is  a 
raceme. 

B.  C'hamberlaynii. — The  plant  known  in  gardens 
under  this  name  is  correctly  Anemopa'gma 
racemosum  ;  B.  Chere,  correetlj'  B.  buccinatoria  ; 
B.  chi-ysantha,  correctly  Teooma  chrysantha  ;  B. 
Colei,  correctly  Colea  mauritiana. 

B.  Framri. — In  general  habit  and  appearance 
this  closely  resembles  tweediana,  though  the 
flowers  are  slightly  smaller.  At  Kew  a  good-sized 
plant  is  to  be  seen  growing  against  the  south  wall 
of  the  tropical  Orchid  house,  where  it  flowered 
very  freelj'  last  summer,  and,  except  for  slight 
injury  to  the  youngest  shoots,  it  has  passed 
safely  through  the  winter.  B.  grandiflora, — This 
is  correctly  Tecoma  grandiflora,  a  well  known, 
hardy,  autumn-flowering  climber.  B.  jas7ninoide<i, 
correctly  Tecoma  jasminoides. 

B.  Lindhyi. — This  is  a  lovely  plant,  the  flowers 
being  freely  produced  from  the  leaf  axils.  They  are 
fairly  large,  of  a  violet  colour,  freely  marked  with 
rich  purple  veins.  It  flowered  for  the  first  time 
in  Messrs.  RoUisson's  nursery  in  1842,  and  was  at 
that  time  recommended  for  growing  on  trellises  in 
pots,  a  rich  loamy  soil  being  advised  for  it. 
Grown  on  a  roof  it  flowers  freely,  and  is  an 
excellent  greenhouse  plant.  It  is  a  native  of 
Argentina. 

B.  magnifica. — A  figure  of  this  was  given  in 
Mr.   Bull's  catalogue  for    1879,   it    having    been 


introduced  from  Colombia  a  few 
years  earlier.  It  has  simple,  oppo- 
site, ovate,  acuminate  leaves,  and 
large,  spreading  flowers,  which  vary 
in  colour  from  delicate  mauve  to  rich 
pur]plish  crimson,  the  flowers  being 
in  large  panicles.  It  succeeds  best 
in  a  warm  greenhouse.  B.  Pandorea. 
— This  is  correctly  Tecoma  australis. 
B.  picla.  —  This  is  correctly  B. 
Lindleyi. 

B.  purpurea. — Of  the  stove  species 
this  is  one  of  the  most  free  flowering. 
It  is  an  old  introduced  plant,  having 
been  figured  in  1869,  and  for  thirty 
years  previcnisly  said  to  have  been 
in  cullivalion  at  the  Liverpool 
B  jtanie  Garden.  It  is  of  slender 
growth  with  coiijugale  leaves,  the 
leaflets  being  obovate,  2i  inches  to 
3^  inches  long,  and  bright  green. 
The  flowers  are  borne  in  pairs  from 
the  axils  of  the  leaves  in  spring  and 
eaily  summer,  two  flowers  usually 
being  logelhor.  The  corolla  is 
funnel  -  shaped,  1  inch  or  more 
long,  mauve,  with  a  large  white 
eye. 

B.  riigoxn. — This  was  discovered 
l>y  Wageupr  in  the  province  of 
Choco,  Uniled  States  of  Columbia, 
at  an  ilHvntion  of  4,000  feet,  and  is 
ilescribed  as  growing  to  a  height  of 
20  fed.  In  1872  seeds  were  sent 
to  Kew  by  Dr.  Ernst,  and  a  plant 
flowereil  in  the  large  Palm  house 
in  1SS9.  The  branches  are  slender, 
Ihe  leaves  bifoliate,  with  oval  leaflets 
3  inches  to  4  inches  long  and 
pubescent,  as  also  are  the  young 
stems.  The  flowers  are  primrose- 
3-enow,  2  inches  to  2i  inches  long, 
and  borne  in  axillary  cymes.  A 
figure  is  given  in  the  Botanical 
Magazine,  t.  7124. 

B.  speciosa. — In  many  respects  this 
closely  resemble?  B.  purpurea,  differ- 
ing principally  in  the   wider  corolla 
tube  and  shorter  calyx.     It  makes  a 
good  -  sized     climber    with    slender 
stems,    leaflets   3    inches    long    and 
li    inches    wide.       The    flowers    are   very    hand- 
some.      They    are    very    freely   borne    from    the 
axils    of     the     leaves     in     spring     and     early 
summer,   are   lilac,    streaked    with    darker   veins, 
the    throat    being    yellow.      It    wis     first    sent 
by      Mr.      Tweedie      from      Buenos      Ayres      to 
Wobnrn    Abbey,    where    it    was    in    cultivation 
previous  to  1839.      It    is   one   of   the   most   free- 
flowering  species. 

B.  ticeediana.  —  A  lovely  yellow  -  flowered, 
slender-stemmed  plant  from  Brazil,  growing  well 
and  flowering  freely  in  a  warm  greenhouse 
temperature.  The  flowers  are  axillary  2^  inches 
to  3i  inches  long,  and  upwards  of  2  inches  across 
the  mouth.  The  leaves  are  conjugate,  the  leaflets 
lanceolate.  This  has  been  flowered  out  of  doors 
on  the  wall  of  a  warm  house,  but  it  is  doubtful 
whether  it  will  recover  from  the  effects  of  the 
winter. 

B.  Unguis-Cati. — This  is  a  tropical  American 
species,  resembling  to  a  great  extent  the  foregoing. 
The  plant  known  as  B.  Unguis  in  gardens  is  a 
synonym  of  this. 

B.  venusta. — When  well  flowered  this  is  one 
of  the  most  lovely  of  all  species,  but  in  very 
few  places  is  it  really  well  done.  It  is  a 
Brazilian  plant'and  grows  to  a  great  height,  the 
shoots  being  strong  and  the  leaflets  large  and  dark 
green.  The  flowers  are  in  terminal  corymbs,  and 
are  often  5  inches  or  6  inches  long,  funnel-shaped, 
and  crimson  in  colour.  It  succeeds  best  in  a 
warm  greenhouse  exposed  to  full  sun,  but  is  rarely 
flowered  well.  It  has  been  in  cultivation  upwards 
of  eighty  years.  The  above-mentioned  are  the 
principal  species  in  cultivation.  Many  others  have 
been  described,  but  if  they  have  been  introduced 
they  are  now  lost  or  almost  lost  to  cultivation. 

W.  Dallimore. 


414 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  21,  19i,2. 


THE    FRUIT    GARDEN. 


FIG  CULTURE  OUT  OF  DOORS  AND 
UNDER  GLASS. 

EVERY    year    the    Fig    is    becoming 
more  sought  after,  and   as  the  art 
of  growing  it  to  greater  perfection 
becomes  better  known  so  will  there 
be  an  increased  demand  for  the  fruit, 
and   as   this    greater    perfection   of 
culture  Can  only  be  arrived  at  by  glass  culture 
to    this    method    our   thoughts   will    now   be 
directed. 

There  are  two  well  -  known  methods  of 
growing  this  fruit  under  glass,  one  by  planting 
the  trees  out  in  prepared  borders,  allowing  the 
branches  to  extend  to  almost  any  limit  which 
the  grower  may  be  able  to  command,  and  the 
other  is  by  growing  them  in  pots  or  in  tubs 
in  a  much  more  restricted  way.  The  latter 
system  is  much  better  adapted  for  the  amateur, 
where  space  miy  be  limited,  and  whpre  it  may 
be  desired  to  grow  a  number  of  the  best  and  most 
interesting  varieties.  Where  quantity  and  size 
of  fruit  are  of  the  greatest  importance,  then  the 
system  of  planting  the  trees  outis,  in  my 
opinion,  unquestionably  the  best.  The  Fig  tree 
is  a  strong  grower,  and  will  succeed  in  any  form 
of  house  as  long  as  there  is  room  for  expansion, 
but  a  lean-to  structure  with  a  long  and  high 
jiitched  roof,  or  a  span-roofed  house,  suits  them 
best.  One  of  the  best  houses  of  Figs  I  have 
seen  is  the  one  at  Chatsworth,  and  this  has  a 
large  lean-to  roof.  I  would  limit  the  border 
for  the  first  year  to  2  feet,  and  not  add  the 
(luarter-inch  bones  ;  this  is  in  order  to  prevent 
too  gross  a  growth,  and  the  tendency  of  the 
planted-out  Fig  to  do  this  must  always  be 
guarded  against,  especially  for  the  first  few 
years  after  planting.  As  is  well  known,  it  is 
almost  impo-ssible  to  ripen  properly  very 
strong  growth,  therefore  let  the  grower  be  on 
his  guard  against  conditions  that  in  any  wa,y 
favour  this  evil.  Supposing  the  house  it  is 
desired  to  plant  be  a  good  sized  lean  -  to  I 
would  suggest  that  it  be  planted  with 
three  trees— one  in  the  middle  and  one 
at  the  two  ends -one  tree  will  soon  be 
large  enough  to  fill  the  house,  but  if  it  is 
desired  to  have  two  varieties  I  would  plant 
the  two  ends,  one  with  Brown  Turkey  and 
one  with  White  Mar.^eilles,  and  another 
Brown  Turkey  in  the  middle,  this  to  be 
taken  out  as  soon  as  the  end  trees  reach 
the  middle,  and  if  it  should  ultimately  be 
a  question  of  quality  and  quantity  of 
fruit,  as  foon  as  the  two  end  trees  meet 
after  the  middle  one  has  been  cut  out,  then 
let  the  White  Marseilles  be  gradually  cut 
away,  making  room  for  the  Brown  Turkey, 
until  alternately  the  one  tree  fills  the 
house.  The  border  must  be  added  to  little 
by  little  every  year,  but  the  fact  must 
always  be  borne  in  mind  that  rather  a 
restricted  root  area  is  best  for  the  Fig.  I 
do  not  know  any  fruit  tree  which  forms 
surface  roots  in  greater  abundance  in  so 
short  a  time  as  the  Fig,  and  this  fact  must 
always  be  borne  in  mind  by  the  cultivator, 
as  herein  lies  one  of  the  secrets  of  success, 
enabling  one  to  feed  the  trees  with  surface 
stimulants  after  a  good  crop  is  secured, 
and  when  there  is  no  dansrer  of  adding  to 
the  grossness  of  the  tree's  growth.  For  this 
purpose  there  is  no  better  top-dressing 
than  deer  manure  and  loam  in  equal 
proportion,  and  there  is  no  better  liquid 
manure  than  that  from  the  cow  or  stable 
yard.  This  should  be  given  freely  in  the 
height  of  summer,  once  a  week  not  being 


too  often,  and  whilst  the  fruit  is  swelling  an 
occasional  slight  sprinkling  of  nitrate  of  soda 
works  wonders,  in  selecting  the  trees  for 
planting  care  must  be  taken  to  choose  those 
only  which  have  a  clear  stem  of  at  least  2  feet 
from  the  ground.  This  is  in  order  not  to  lie 
troubled  with  suckers  from  the  base,  to  which 
the  Fig  is  very  subject.  When  these  appear 
they  should  be  rigorously  cut  away  close  to 
the  roots.  I 

Tr.\inino.  I 

There  are  two  ways  of  training  the  Fig  when 
planted  out  and  allowed  to  grow  away  freely. 
One  is  by  allowing  it  to  cover  the  whole  trellis 
(which  .should  be  2-  feet  from  the  glass),  and 
the  other  is  by  confining  the  growths  to  single 
cordons  under  the  rafters,  with  .side  shoots,  in 
the  same  manner  as  Vines  are  grow-n,  only 
that  the  shoots  are  t'ed  rather  closer  to  the 
rafters.  This  system  of  training  answers  well, 
admitting  as  it  does  a  certain  amount  of  light 
and  sun  heat  amongst  the  fruit  and  branches, 
helping  them  in  a  remarkable  way  to  mature 
and  bring  the  fruit  to  the  highest  perfection, 
at  the  same  time  securing  the  perfect  ripening 
of  the  wood  for  future  crops.  The  covering  of 
the  entire  roof  with  bearing  wood  not  too 
thickly  distributed  als)  answers  excellently, 
but  I  do  not  think  the  quality  of  the  fruit  is  so 
good  as  when  rafting  training  is  adopted,  where 
the  benefit  of  the  sun's  rays  is  fo  amply  secured. 
The  Fig  bears  more  than  one  crop  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  somet'uies  even  three.  The  first 
crop  is  always  the  most  valuable,  because  it  is 
the  earliest,  and  as  such  is  the  most  ai  ipreciated, 
whether  at  the  private  table  or  in  the  market. 
This  crop  is  produced  on  the  .shoots  of  the 
past  year's  growth,  and  it  is  the  crop  which 
requires  by  far  the  most  skill  to  produce,  and 
its  success  or  failure  depends  almost  entirely 
on  the  care  and  forethought  given  to  maturing 
the  growth  of  the  previous  summer  and  autumn. 
Should  this  be  soft,  green,  and  immature,  the 
prospect  of  a  first  crop  worth  having  is  ml. 
The  second  crop,  which  is  produced  on  the 
1  shoots  of  the  current  year's  growth,  is,  generally 


speaking,  a  full  crop,  and  easily  produced. 
The  third  crop  is  produced  on  the  lateral 
growth  of  the  shoots  which  has  produced  the 
.second  crop,  and  should  never  be  taken  unless 
under  very  exceptional  circumstances,  as  the 
fruit  is  small  and  seldom  appreciated.  There- 
fore I  would  advise  that  this  crop  be  sacrificed 
by  plucking  the  fruit  as  soon  as  it  is  perceived, 
thereby  husbanding  the  strength  of  the  tree 
for  next  year's  crop.  There  are  two  ways 
of  managing  the  summer's  growth  of  the 
Fig — one  is  by  stopping  the  shoots  at  the 
sixth  or  seventh  leaf,  and  the  other  is  by 
allowing  the  .shoot  to  grow  to  its  full  length 
without  stoi)ping  at  all.  I  have  practised 
them  both  for  many  years,  and,  according  to 
my  experience,  one  system  answers  as  well  as 
the  other,  and  the  cultivator  can  ado)it  that 
best  suited  to  his  circumstances,  always  bearing 
in  mind  that  overcrowding  of  the  shoots  must 
be  guarded  against. 

Thinnini;  the  Fecit. 

The  Fig  sets  its  fruit,  as  a  rule,  most  freely, 
and  I  think  that  greater  liberty  is  taken  in 
consequence  by  allowing  it  to  carry  crops  out 
of  all  proportion  to  its  strength.  It  is  a 
singular  fact,  but  nevertheless  true,  how  seldom 
one  comes  across  a  really  grand  dish  of  Kigs. 
1  have  had  the  honour  of  judging  some  of  the 
best  collections  of  fruit  exhibited  in  this 
country  during  the  last  twenty  years,  and  I 
can  safely  say  that  during  the  whole  of  that 
time  to  find  a  really  grand  dish  of  Figs 
has  been  the  exception  and  not  the  rule, 
and  I  believe  that  the  chief  reason  for  this 
must  be  looked  for  in  the  evil  of  over- 
cropping. This  is  a  weakness  which  must 
be  guarded  against,  as  far  better  in  every  way 
is  it  to  have  one  fine,  well-nourished  and  ripened 
fruit  than  half  a  dozen  dried  u]!  things  with 
no  inside  in  them.  The  Fig  stands  forcing  as 
well  or  better  than  any  of  our  fruit  trees.  It 
can  be  exposed  to  greater  heat,  both  artificial 
and  natural,  than  any  other  hard-wooded  fruit, 
excepting  perhaps  the  Vine,  and  there  is  no 
crop   which   can  be  jiroduced  and  matured  in 


FAN -TRAINED   FIG  TREE. 


June  2],  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


415 


the  winter  months  in  so  little  time, 
for  by  starting  a  house  towards  the 
end  of  November  ripe  Figs  can  be 
had  at  the  end  of  March  or  the  first 
week  in  April. 

Ventilation, 
especially  in  early  spring,  must  have 
the  cultivator's  thoughtful  care.  In 
the  case  of  the  first  crop— expected 
to  be  ripe  at  the  end  of  ilarch— no 
front  air  should  be  given,  except  the 
weather  should  be  exceptionally  hot 
towards  the  end  of  the  month,  as  it 
sometimes  is,  when  a  little  may  be 
admitted  in  the  middle  of  the  day  for 
a  short  time.  The  temperature  of  the 
house  at  this  time  of  the  year  can 
easily  be  regulated  by  the  top  venti- 
lators alone.  More  air  should  be 
admitted  as  the  fruit  shows  signs 
of  ripening,  but  not  to  the  same 
extent  in  the  case  of  the  Fig  as  in 
that  of  the  Peach,  as  the  fruit  gets 
a  better  size  and  of  better  quality  in 
rather  a  close  and  moist  atmosphere 
than  in  too  dry  a  one. 

The  Time  of  Flowering  and  Fer- 
tilisation OF  the  Fig 
are  important  points,  bearing  on  its 
suocessfu]  culture,  as  if  fertilisation 
should  only  be  partial  then  complete 
success  is  impossible.  It  is  not  easy 
to  describe  to  an  inexperienced  person 
the  actual  time  in  the  case  of  the  Fig 
when  fertilisation  takes  place,  but  generally 
speaking  after  the  young  fruit  makes  its  appear- 
ance it  swells  freely  and  without  interruption 
until  it  attains  about  the  size  of  a  Walnut.  It 
will  then  be  observed  that  the  fruit  appears  to 
remain  at  a  standstill  for  some  considerable 
time— from  a  fortnight  to  three  weeks— and 
during  this  time,  with  the  object  of  bringing 
about  a  good  set,  the  temperature  of  the  house 
should  be  kept  at  a  uniform  heat  as  near  as 
possible,  and  lower  by  3"  or  4'=  than  the  normal 
temperature  for  the  season  of  the  year,  and  the 
atmosphere  should  also  be  of  a  drier  nature 
for  this  short  period.  During  this  time  of 
suspended  growth  it  will  be  well  to  cut  an 
occasional  fruit,  when  it  will  be  interesting  to 
watch  the  ditferent  processes  from  the  flowering 
period  to  that  of  complete  fertility.  A  sure 
outward  indication  that  this  has  taken  place 
is  in  the  resumption  of  growth  in  the  fruit, 
and  another  indication,  also  always  apparent 
more  or  less  at  this  time,  is  in  the  fact  that  the 
tree  will  cast  oif  most  of  the  barren  fruit — that 
is,  unfertile  fruit.  This  need  cause  the  inex- 
perienced no  alarm,  as  it  is  a  natural  process  of 
the  tree  divesting  itself  of  a  load  it  has  been 
unable  to  carry  to  complete  fruition.  The 
fruit  will  now  swell  freely  and  rapidly,  and 
generous  treatment  should  be  given  in  the  way 
of  warmth,  syringing,  and  watering. 

When  the  first  crop  has  been  gathered  it  will 
be  necefcsary  to  overhaul  the  trees,  as  at  this 
time  the  house  will  have  become  too  full  of 
foliage.  All  weak  shoots  that  can  be  spared 
must  be  cut  out,  leaving  only  sufiicient  of  the 
best  shoots  of  the  current  year's  growth  to 
produce  the  next  and  main  crop.  These 
branches  should  now  be  regulated  and  tied 
down,  the  border  given  another  slight  dressing, 
this  time  of  fresh  horse  manure,  and  a  good 
soaking  of  manure  water  at  a  temperate  of  80". 
The  treatment  afterwards  must  be  a  generous 
one,  giving  plenty  of  water  at  the  root,  as  well 
as  copious  syringings  morning  and  afternoon, 
closing  up  with  a  good  hoat,  running  up  the 
temperature  with  sun-heat  from  80°  to  85°. 
After  the  second  crop  is  gathered   the   same 


FIGS   OnTDOOES   AT  TARRING,    NEAR  WORTHISG. 


routine  must  be  observed  in  thinning  out  weak 
growths  as  recommended  after  the  first  crop. 
■These  two  prunings  are  all  that  are  needed 
in  the  course  of  the  year,  excepting  that  in 
winter,  when  tying  the  branches  to  the  trellis 
it  may  be  found  necessary  to  cut  a  few  more 
out.  The  insect  enemies  of  the  Fig  are  few 
compared  to  the  enemies  which  attack  many 
other  of  our  fruit  trees,  the  most  troublesome 
being  the  brown  and  white  scale,  the  latter 
being  by  far  the  most  to  be  dreaded.  I  do  not 
think  the  latter  is  so  frequently  met  with  now 
as  it  used  to  be  in  days  gone  by,  at  any  rate  it 
has  not  come  so  much  under  my  observation, 
the  reason  being,  I  think,  the  hopelessness  of 
ever  being  able  to  eradicate  it.  No  remedy 
that  I  know  or  have  heard  of  is  efficacious 
for  the  purpose,  without  at  the  same  time 
crippling  or  even  destroying  the  trees.  The 
remedy,  therefore,  is  as  bad  as  the  evil, 
so  that  in  my  opinion  anyone  unfortunate 
enough  to  have  his  trees  infested  with  this 
horrible  little  pest,  the  best  thing  he  can  do 
for  his  own  peace  of  mind,  as  well  as  for  the 
welfare  of  his  Fig  crops,  is  to  burn  the  whole 
of  the  trees  afl'ected,  and  to  sue  the  party  for 
damages  through  whom  it  was  introduced. 
The  brown  scale,  although  of  not  so  persistent 
and  vicious  a  character,  or  so  difficult  to 
eradicate,  is  still  a  troublesome  pest,  and  the 
only  chance  the  cultivator  has  to  combat  with 
it  is  in  the  winter  season  when  the  trees  are  at 
rest,  and  the  best  remedy  I  have  found  for  its 
destruction  is  hot  water,  and  the  most  effective 
way  to  apply  this  is  by  a  painter's  brush, 
taking  care  that  every  portion  of  the  surface 
of  the  trees  affected  is  dressed.  I  need 
scarcely  point  out  that  great  care  must  be 
exercised  in  carrying  out  this  work,  and  only 
a  skilled  and  trustworthy  workman  should  be 
entrusted  with  the  duty.  The  water  must  be 
hot  enough  to  scald,  otherwise  it  will  not  kill, 
but  it  must  not  be  boiling,  and  the  water  must 
be  used  as  sparingly  as  possible.  With  these 
precautions  properly  observed  the  remedy  is 
simple,  safe,  and  efiectual.  Ked  spider  and 
thrip   are   occasionally  troublesome,   but  the 


syringe  will,  if  frequently  applied,  keep 
these  enemies  in  check,  but  where  they 
have  unfortunately  secured  a  hold  upon  the 
trees,  flowers  of  black  sulphur  applied  to  the 
pipes  when  hot,  and  the  house  closed,  is  the 
best  remedy  for  the  former,  and  fumigation 
by  XL  All  is  the  best  remedy  for  the  latter. 
Figs  in  pots  will  be  treated  under  the  heading 
Orchard  House  trees.  O.  Thomas. 

( To  he.  continued. ) 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

(The  Editor  is  not   respmvnhle  for  the    opinions 
expressed  by  correspondents. ) 


HARDY     FLOWERS     FOR 
THE    GREENHOUSE. 

[To  THE   Editor   of    "The   Garden."] 

SIR, — I  observe  you  invite  further  informa- 
tion, re  "A  New  Subscriber's  Query,"  on 
the  above  subject.  Seeing  that  the 
greenhouse  in  question  is  to  be  heated, 
and  that  the  temperature  of  55"  can  be 
maintained,  I  see  no  reason  why  the 
ordinary  greenhouse  plants  might  not  be  grown 
the  whole  year  round.  A  temperature  of  55"  is 
more  than  sufficient  for  an  ordinary  greenhouse  ; 
in  fact,  flowers  would  last  much  better  in  a 
lower  temperature,  say  45".  Your  correspondent 
probably  means  useful  greenhouse  plants  and  not 
hardy  plants  as  usually  understood  by  that  name. 
If  this  be  so  why  not  try  a  few  of  the  more 
eas.ily  grown  Orchids,  viz.,  Cypripedium  insigne, 
Lycaste  Skinneri,  Cjpripedium  Boxallii,  Ccelogyne 
cristata,  Dendrobiuni  nobile,  and  I  have  found 
Cypripedium  spicerianum  so  far  better  in  such 
a  temperature  than  a  higher  one.  Why  not  begin 
with  these  few  easily-grown  Orchids,  placing  them 
in  the  shadiest  part  of  the  house,  where  the 
moisture  will  not  escape  too  rapidly?  Then  there 
are  Arum  Lilies,  Olivias,  the  old  C.  miniata,  for 
instance,  is  a  beautiful  and  easily  grown  plant 
for  spring  flowering  ;  Indian,  as  well  as  mollis 
Azaleas,  are  indispensable.  Streptosolen  Jame- 
soni  is  a  beautiful  and  easily  grown  plant ;  Vallota 
purpurea,  or  Scarborough  Lily,  is  a  great  favourite; 


416 


THE    GAKDEN. 


[June  21,  i9o2. 


Amar^  llises  are  easily  grown  and  very  effective  ; 
Gloxituas,  Achimenes,  Begonias,  especially  those 
fine  plants  B.  Gloire  de  Lorraine  and  B.  President 
Camot,  Genistas,  Coronilla  glauca  is  a  fine  old 
greenhouse  plant  ;  Crinum  Moorei  is  a  fine  green- 
house plant  and  very  easily  managed  :  so  also 
is  Agapanthus  umbeUatus.  A  few  Roses,  Tea 
and  Hybrid  Teas,  might  be  grown  for  supplying 
buds  for  spring.  Such  varieties  as  Catherine 
Mermet^  Niphetos,  Marechal  Kiel,  The  Bride, 
Marie  Van  Houtte,  and  a  great  many  others  are 
equally  as  beautiful  and  easily  grown.  Then  there 
are  a  great  many  bulbous  'plants  which  can  be 
brought  on  for  early  spring  flowering,  such  as 
Roman  Hyacinths,  Polyanthus  Narcissus,  Tulips, 
Narcissus  princeps.  Sir  \Vatkin,  Emperor,  Empress, 
bioolor  Horsfieldi,  and  large-flowered  Hyacinths. 

Lilies  should  play  an  important  part  in  the 
summer  display,  viz.,  L.  auratum,  L.  lancifolium, 
L.  1.  album,  L.  Harrisi,  and  L.  c.indidum.  Lily 
of  the  Valley  is  always  appreciated  ;  so  are 
Freesias  and  Lachenalias,  particularly  that  fine 
variety  Nelsoni.  Spir:eis  will  also  be  usefid  for 
early  spring  time,  particularly  Astilboides  and 
A.  grandJQora.  Of  course,  Coleus  will  be  grown 
for  summer.  The  above  are  amongst  the  most 
useful  flowering  plants  for  the  greenhouse.  Space 
will  not  allow  of  details,  therefore  the  best  advice 
I  can  give  "New  Subscriber"  is  to  follow  the 
advice  given  week  by  week  in  these  pages  by 
competent  writers.  T.  Arnold. 

Tliir  Ganleiis,  Virencesler  Hoiifii'. 

[Although  we  print  this  letter,  as  '-New  Sub- 
scriber" will  probal)ly  get  some  useful  hints  from 
it,  we  feel  sure  only  hardy  plants  aie  desired, 
therefore  the  useful  articles  by  "  IC.  L.  D. ,"  now 
running  through  The  Garden,  will  be  especially 
helpful  to  our  correspondent.  We  hope  any  reader 
who  lias  grown  certain  hardy  plants  in  the  green- 
house with  success  will  also  help  "New  Subscriber :" 
it  is  an  interesting  subject.  An  article  published 
in  The  Garden,  March  1  last,  page  136,  entitled 
"  The  Alpine  House  at  Kew,''  should  also  prove 
useful.— Ed.] 


come  into  contact  with  the  roots  of  Daffodils  ;  this 
1  find  is  quite  misleading.  Here  in  our  stiff,  heavy 
soil  I  cannot  apply  too  much  n)anure  apparently, 
when  preparing  a  new  plot  a  month  or  so  before 
planting.  Not  only  N.  ma.vimus,  but  such  varieties 
as  Golden  Spur,  Emperor,  forms  of  Phtcnix,  as 
well  as  the  double  white,  and  many  others  appear 
to  revel  in  highly-manured  soil  when  it  is  trenched 
and  thoroughly  broken  up  2  feet  deep.  The 
bulk  of  these  strong-growing  forms  of  Narcissi 
appear  to  me  to  like  freedom  of  rooting  space, 
with  something  in  the  soil  to"  pull  at," as  it  were, 
and  abundance  of  air  and  exposure,  quite  away 
from  overhanging  trees.  The  variety  that  I  com- 
plain of  as  being  shy  flowering  and  of  weakly 
growth  is  N.  princeps.  This  certainly  does  not 
succeed  anything  like  as  well  as  the  others. 

South   Haulfi.  E.    MOLYNEDX. 


CAULIFLOWER  SEEDLINGS  BLIND. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — Readers  of  The  Garden  would  feel  obliged 
if  growers  of  Cauliflowers  and  the  Early  Broccoli 
would  give  them  advice  concerning  the  failure  of 
these  plants  in  the  seed-bed.  For  years,  at  least 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  I  have  observed  certain 
varieties  of  Cauliflower  plants  are  blind,  and  this 
has  led  me  to  try  various  remedies.  All  have 
failed,  and  the  same  thing  happens  yearly-.  For 
instance,  in  a  season  like  this,  with  ample  moisture 
and  .sowing  at  the  usual  dates,  there  is  the  same 
loss.  Ample  space  is  given,  a  fresh  site  yearly, 
good  land,  and  there  is  no  crowding.  I  am  aware  it 
may  not  be  due  to  climatic  conditions,  but  to 
insect  agency.  The  evil,  however,  only  affects  the 
Cauliflower  and  early  Broccoli  Sprouts.  Kales  and 
Cabbage  treated  in  the  same  waj-  are  quite  free, 
whereas  quite  5(1  per  cent.,  indeed,  often  much 
greater,  of  the  plauls  named  are  useless.  No  matter 
if  planted  early,  they  go  blind  afterwards,  and 
the  worst  in  this  respect  are  the  Autumn  (Jiant 
Cauliflower  and  the  Eirly  Protecting  Broccoli.  If 
the  readers  of  The  Gardes  can  give  any  remedy 
I  should  be  grateful,  and  I  may  add  the  seed  fs 
not  to  blame  ;  at  least,  it  is  obtained  from  the  best 
sources.  tiROWER. 


NARCISSUS  MAXIMUS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden.'] 
Sir, — Until  reading  the  recent  correspondence  in 
The  Garden,  I  had  no  idea  this  Narcissus  \\as 
shy  flowering.  Here  N.  maximus  has  always  been 
regarded  as  a  free  flowering  variet}',  and  quite  the 
best  in  all  the  Narcissi  family.  Last  October  I 
planted  100  new  bulbs  in  a  newly  trenched  plot 
of  grass  land  quite  in  the  open,  the  result  being 
satisfactory  in  every  way.  All  the  bulbs  flowered, 
many  giving  two,  and  some  three  blossoms,  of  a 
size  and  richness  of  colour  unsurpassed  even  by 
those  at  the  great  Daffodil  show  in  the  Drill  Hall  in 
April.     Many  say  that  fresh  manure  should    not 


SEED   OF  LILIUM  GIGANTEUM. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Gaxdex."] 
Sir,— On  page  ^U  Mr.  E.  Lloyd  Edwards  asks  for 
information   as    to   this,    and    puts   the   following 
questions:    (I)  Should  it   be  soaked    before  being 
sown  y— Answer :    No.      (2)  Must    it   be   sown    in 
any  particular  soil,  or  in  heat  or  cold '/—Answer  : 
Use  veiy    sandy  loam    and  cover   the   seed    fully 
three-eighths  of  an  inch  deep.     Cold  frame  is  best, 
or  a  cool  house  of  not   more   than   45°  or  ."lO".     As 
to   the   time    the   seed    takes    to   germinate,    this 
depends  entirely  on   the  quality  and  freshness  of 
the  seed.      Speaking  generally  all  Lily  seed  should 
be  srown  as  soon  after  it  is  ripe  as  possible.     Where 
this  is  done  a  cold   frame  is  the  best  place  for  it. 
L.  giganteum   I  formerly  sowed  in  boxes  3  inches 
deep  at  least.     A  rather  deep  box  or  pan  possesses 
an  advantage  over  a  more  shallow  article— firstly, 
to  allow  of   drainage  ;    secondly,  a  fair  depth   of 
soil ;  and,  thirdly,  a  cavity  of  an'inch  at  the  surface. 
It  is  best  when  making  the  sowing  to  sow  thinly, 
so  that  no  disturbance  is  necessary  for  a  year  or 
more  after  the  first  leaf  growth  appears.    When  the 
seeds  are  sown  as  if  so  much    Mustard  and   Cress 
this  cannot  be  done.     The  lifetime  above  ground 
of  the  first  appearing  seedlings  is  but  a  question  of 
a  few  weeks,  and  under  these  circumstances  it  is 
necessary  that   no  interference  be  made.     Let  the 
growth  be  made  as  slowly  and  naturally  as  possible, 
let  the  decay  of  the  seedling  plant  be  also  so  re- 
garded,   and  from    this    time   until   the  season  of 
growth    comes    round     a    season   of    comparative 
dryness  should  prevail— that  is   to  say,  suthcient 
moisture  to  permit  of  no  dust-dry  tendency  in  the 
soil.       With    the   second  season's    growth    in  the 
seed    boxes  a   longer  time  will   be    required,  and 
growth   should  be  maintained  as  long  as  possible. 
Sometime  after  the  seedlings  die   down  again  is 
favourable  for  the  first   replanting,  then  secure  a 
frame  with  a  depth  of  good  rich  and  sandy  loam, 
and  place  in  the  small  bulbs  which  you  will  have 
to  secure  by  nie.ins  of   a   fine  mesh  sieve.     Prick 
them  out  in  drills,  2  inches  or  3  inches  asunder,  or 
you  may  leave   the  replanting  till  growth  appears 
again.     As,  however,  the  spring  is  then  at  hand, 
work  is  plentiful  in  other  waj-s,  therefore  I  have 
chosen  autumn.     A  light  shade  on  the  glass  and  a 
sprinkling  of  water  at  evening  will  keep  the  }-oung 
plants  going  well.     In  such  a  frame,  with  9  inches 
clear  head  room,  the  young  plants  will  be  safe  for  a 
couple  of  years,  when  richer  soil  and  more  spacious 
quarters  will  be  necessary.     The   flowering  usually 
occurs  in  seven  or  eight  years,  and  the  young  plants 
in  their  fourth  year  should,   if   well' treated,    be 
ready   for  their  permanent  quarters  in  the  open 
ground.     Sown  as  soon  as  ripe,    the  bulk  of  the 
seed  will  grow  the  following  year. 
Hamptoti  Hill.  E.  Jenkins. 


page  207,  fourth  edition,  in  part  relating  to  the  fruit 
garden,  states  that  T.  mollissima  bears,  in  great 
abundance,  a  pale  green  fruit  of  the  size  of  a 
goose's  egg  and  of  r,.ther  an  agreeable  flavour  ; 
while  Nicholson,  in  his  "Dictionary,"  is  silent  as 
to  this  fruit  being  edible,  but  states  that  that  of  a 
somewhat  similar  plant,  viz.,  T.  mixta,  is  edible. 
Can  you  or  any  of  jour  readers  kindly  enlighten 
me  on  this  apparent  discrepancy?  Mr.  S.  W. 
Fitzherbert,  in  The  Garden,  vol.  lix.,  page  3, 
states  that  T.  mollissima  is  hardy  in  the  south- 
west of  England  on  a  house  wall. 

E.  F.  Burton. 
Villa  Pfudii-f,  Bordiyhera,  Italy. 


TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 


F 


TACSONIA  MOLLISSIMA. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  (!arden."] 

Sir, — A  Tac-ionia  mollissima  raised  from  seed, 
sown  March  last  year,  has  since  May  111  bo'.ne  a 
succession  of  its  long  tubular  pink  flowers  and 
already  covered  some  1(1  yards  of  a  pergola  in  mj' 
garden  here,  and  its  fruit  is  now  maturing. 
Firminger,  in  his  "Manual  of  (Indian)  Gardening," 


DECIDUOUS    KHODODEXDHuNS 

(AZALEAS). 

OR    many    years    the    hardy   deciduous 
Rhododendrons   Mere    known    only   as 
Azaleas,  and  iji  njany  places  the  name 
Azilea  is  still  retained.     When  the  two 
sections — deciduous  and  evergreen — are 
compared   it  will  be  readily  teen  that 
there  is  no  real  structural  d'flerence  between  the 
two,  and  although  in  the  making  of  the  two  genera 
the  number  of  stamens  was  considered  one  of  the 
principal  points,  it  has  since  been  shown  that  it  is 
a  point  not  worthy  of   notice,   as  the  number  of 
.stamens  varies  considerably  in  both  deciduous  and 
evergreen   species.      For    garden   jjurposes,    how- 
ever, it  is  extremely  doubtful  whether  the  name 
Azalea  will  be  dropped,  for  a  considerable  time  at 
any  rate,  so  fast  has  it  become  rooted  in  the  minds 
of  horticulturists. 

About  twenty  species  have  been  known  under 
the  name  of  Azalea,  some  three  or  four  of  which 
are  evergreen,  the  remainder  deciduous.  Of  these 
about  half  a  dozen  are  really  well  known  in 
gardens  either  by  type  plants,  hybrids,  or  garden 
forms.  The  majority  of  the  species  belong  to 
China  and  Japan  and  North  America,  one  species 
being  found  in  the  Caucasus.  Several  of  the  North 
American  species,  such  as  arborescens,  calendu- 
laceum,  nudiflorum,  &c.,  the  Chinese  and  Japanese 
species  sinense  (better  known  as  Azalea  mollis), 
and  the  Caucasian  fiavum  (syn.  Azalea  pontica) 
have  formed  splendid  breeders,  and  in  the  hands 
of  the  hybridist  a  wonderful  assortment  of  varieties 
have  been  obtained,  which  for  delicate  shades  and 
rich  colouring  are  unsurpassed  among  hardy 
shrubs.  The  colours  range  from  white  to  pink, 
and  from  pink  to  blood  red,  from  lemon  to  deep 
yellow  and  orange-scarlet,  with  all  sorts  of  inter- 
vening shades  and  combinations  of  colour. 

Jlanj'  of  these  hybrids  have  been  raised  in 
Ghent,  a  fact  which  has  given  rise  to  their  name 
of  Ghent  Azaleas.  In  England,  Mr.  Anthony 
Waterer  has  raised  very  large  quantities  of 
seedlings,  and  to  him  we  are  indebted  for  many 
of  the  best  reds.  Of  late  years  these  Rhododen- 
drons, particularly  the  sinense  group,  have  been 
called  into  use  for  forcing,  and  they  are  extremely 
useful  plants  for  that  purpose,  as  has  been  well 
demonstrated  by  the  bright  showy  groups  exhibited 
at  various  meetings  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Societ}'  b_\-  Messrs.  Cuthbert  and  other  firms.  Of 
the  various  species  in  cultivation  the  following  are 
selected  as  being  of  most  value  :  — 

/i'.  arhoreareiit  (syn.  Azalea  arborescens). — In 
1810  this  was  first  brought  to  notice,  a  description 
of  it  being  published  by  Pursh  in  his  "Flora  of 
North  America,"  he  having  found  it  growing  in 
the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania.  It  had,  however, 
been  found  previously  by  Mr.  John  Bertram,  but 
not  described.  It  is  a  native  of  the  mountainous 
regions  from  Pennsylvania  to  South  Carolina  and 
Tennessee,  especially  about  the  lower  portions  of 
tlie  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  where  it  is  said 
to  grow  along  the  borders  of  streams,  attaining  a 
height  of  from  15  feet  to  20  feet.  Its  flowers  are 
fragrant  and  white,  tinged  with  rose,  the  stamens 
being  scarlet ;  occasionally,  however,  the  colour 
is  rose.  Here  it  does  not  grow  to  the  above 
height,  S  feet  or  9  feet  being  about  its  size. 


June  21,  1902.] 


THE    GAKDEIN 


417 


B.  c'lhnchdaceum  (syu.  Azalea  calendulacea). — 
This  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  commonest  shrubs  in 
the  Alleghany  Forests,  where  it  ^rows  in  great 
masses.  Here  it  forms  a  large  bush  about  8  feet 
high,  and  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  species.  It 
flowers  in  May  and  June,  and  exhibits  a  great 
range  of  colour,  yellow,  red,  and  orange  all  being 
found.     It  has  been  known  for  nearh'  a  century. 

B.  flarnni  (syn.  Azalea  pontica). — Few  Rhodo- 
dendrons are  better  known  than  this,  as  it  has 
been  grown  for  upwards  of  a  century  in  English 
gardens.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Caucasus,  grows  6  feet 
or  8  feet  high,  has  fairly  large  shiny  leaves,  and 
yellow,  fragrant  flowers.  Besides  useful  outdoors, 
it  is  also  excellent  for  forcing. 

B.  imlicam  (syn.  Azalea  indica). — Though  not  a 
deciduous  Azalea,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to 
mention  this,  as  it  is  a  species  which  is  usually 
called  Azalea  in  gardens.  It  is  widely  distributed 
in  the  mountains  of  China  and  Japan,  and  has 
long  been  a  garden  favourite.  It  has  been 
improved  considerably  from  the  wild  state,  and 
there  are  many  very  fine  garden  forms  of  it.  The 
majority  of  these  are,  unfortunately,  not  hardy, 
and  a  few  only  can  be  used'  outside  with  any  ! 
degree  of  success.  About  ten  years  ago  Professor 
Sargent,  of  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  collected  seeds 
of  the  type  in  the  mountains  of  Japan,  and  the 
young  plants  have  proved  fairly  hardy,  but  flower 
as  a  rule  too  early  to  be  of  any  great  garden  value. 
The  well-known  variety  amrtnum  is  the  hardiest 
of  the  set  varieties.  It  is  well  known  bj'  reason 
of  its  reddish  hose-in-hose  fashioned  flowers.  The 
variety  balsaraiiiieflorum  is  a  dwarf  plant  suitable 
for  the  rock  garden  ;  it  has  pretty  double  Rose- 
like salmon-coloured  flowers. 

B.  ledi/olinm  (syn.  Azalea  ledifolia). — In  some 
respects  this  resembles  the  old  white  indicum  of 
gardens,  but  the  leaves  are  more  hairy,  and  it  is 
hardier.  It  is,  like  the  preceding,  an  evergreen. 
Its  country  is  China  and  Japan.  At  Kew  it  grows  I 
well  out  of  doors.  ! 

B.  imdifiorum  (syn.  Azalea  nudiflora). — This  is 
an  extremely  useful  plant,  and  has  been  of  con- 
siderable service  to  the  hybridist.  It  has  been 
known  for  nearl}'  200  years,  and  is  widely  dis-  1 
tributed  from  Canada  to  Florida  and  Texas.  It 
grows  about  6  feet  high,  makes  a  spreading  bush, 
and  bears  pinkish  flowers,  though  flowers  of  many  | 
hues  are  to  be  found  among  its  many  forms. 

B.    occidentale    (syn.    A.     occidentalis).  —  This  \ 


species  flowers  later  than  most  of  the  others,  and 
by  using  it  as  a  parent  hybrids  have  been  raised 
between  it  and  the  earlier  species,  which  prolong 
the  flowering  period.  It  is  a  native  of  California, 
forms  a  good-sized  bush,  and  flowers  freely,  the 
flowers  being  white  and  fragrant.  The  leaves  of 
this  species  are  very  glossy. 

B.  rhombicum  (syn.  A.  rhombica).  —  In  early 
April  this  plant  begins  to  show  the  colour  of  its 
flowers,  and  by  the  end  of  the  month  is  in  full 
bloom.  It  is  a  native  of  Japan,  and  is  easily 
distinguished  by  its  rhomboid  leaves  and  large 
rosy  lilac  flowers.  In  the  seedling  stage  it  is  rather 
tender,  and  until  it  is  several  years  old  it  is  difficult 
to  grow. 

B.  siueiise  (syn.  A.  mollis). — When  at  its  best 
few  things  are  more  showy  than  this  plant,  for  it 
blooms  with  great  fieedom,  the  flowers  are  large 
and  brilliantly  coloured,  and  it  is  easy  to  grow. 
It  is  found  in  both  China  and  Japan,  grows 
about  4  feet  or  5  feet  high,  and  has  red  or 
bright  yellow  flowers.  By  crossing  and  selection  a 
lovely  race  has  been  raised,  which  shows  a  wide 
range  of  colour. 

B.  Vaieyi. — Of  the  lesser-known  species  this  is 
one  of  the  prettiest,  and  it  is  worth  including  in 
every  collection.  It  is  found  in  the  mountains  of 
Carolina,  and  makes  a  small  bush  with  pretty 
■H  hite  flowers  suffused  with  pink.  A  variety  is  in 
cultivation  with  pure  white  flowers.  It  is  in 
cultivation  at  Kew,  a  small  bed  of  it  being  near 
the  Azalea  garden,  in  addition  to  a  number  of 
plants  in  the  mixed  beds. 

/'.  ciscosum  (syn.  A.  viscosa). — As  a  rule  this 
does  not  flower  until  most  of  the  others  are  over, 
its  flowering  period  being  late  June  and  July.  It 
is  a  North  American  species,  and  is  easily  re- 
cognised by  means  of  its  viscid  leaves.  The 
flowers  are  usually  white,  though  occasionally  pink 
varieties  are  found. 

As  previously  stated,  the  species  which  have 
entered  most  largely  into  the  production  of  the 
garden  forms  are  arborescens,  calendulaceum, 
flavum,  nudiflorum,  occidentale,  sinense,  and 
viscosum.  From  calendulaceum  most  of  the 
orange  and  orange-scarlet  and  red  forms  have 
originated,  flavum  has  been  responsible  for  many 
of  the  yellows  and  terra-cottas,  arborescens, 
occidentale,  and  viscosum  for  the  whites  and  pale 
rose  varieties,  also  for  the  late  flowering  ones, 
while  nudiflorum  has  been  responsible  for  a  great 


number  of  hybrids  of  all  shades.  As  a  rule,  it  is 
much  easier  to  trace  R.  sinense  blood  among 
hybrids  than  that  of  other  species,  the  flowers  in 
that  case  being  larger  and  the  leaves  more  closely 
resembling  the  species,  but  even  in  some  of  these 
repeated  intercrossing  has  almost  obliterated  the 
special  sinense  characters.  Of  named  varieties 
there  are  hosts  of  both  single  and  double,  and  of 
these  it  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  make  a 
selection,  as  all  are  worthy  of  cultivation.  Uue 
variety,  which  is  very  fine  at  Kew  this  year,  is 
called  "  odorata  Davisii ;  "  it  has  buff-coloured 
1  flowers,  with  deeper  marks  on  the  upper  petals. 

W.  Dajllimore. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


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IN   THE  AZALEA   OAKDEN   AT   KEW. 


KITCHEN     GARDEN. 

MOLOHING. 

NEARLY  all  vegetable  crops  are  greatly 
beneflted  by  thorough  mulchings  to 
the  roots  in  good  time,  especially 
while  in  active  growth,  either  on 
light  or  heavy  laud,  as  it  conserves 
the  moisture,  keeps  the  roots  cool 
during  hot  weather,  and  prevents  the  ground  to  a 
great  extent  from  cracking.  For  the  purpose  I 
prefer  long  stable  litter  for  such  things  as  Peas, 
Beans  of  all  kinds.  Cauliflowers,  Globe  Artichokes, 
and  Rhubarb  ;  for  Beet,  Onions,  and  Carrots  old 
Mushroom  bed  manure.  One-half  the  watering  can 
be  dispensed  with  in  dry  weather  when  this  is 
properly  carried  out. 

Peas. 
Thin  out  and  stake  all  main  crop  varieties  as 
soon  as  readj',  and  keep  the  earlier  sowings  well 
supplied  with  manuie  water.  Make  the  last  sowing 
of  suitable  varieties  in  trenches  on  well-prepared 
ground.  It  will  be  of  little  use  sowing  after  this 
date  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  and  if  the 
ground  is  well  prepared,  suitable  kinds  selected, 
such  as  Autocrat,  and  the  seed  sown  thinlj',  there 
will  be  no  need,  as  with  liberal  treatment  these  will 
continue  to  bear  quite  late  in  the  autumn.  Allow 
plenty  of  distance  between  the  rows,  and  drill 
Spinach  between  them,  which  is  sure  to  come  in  at 
a  time  when  this  is  none  too  plentiful. 

Turnips. 

Good  breadths  should  be  sown,  choosing 
as  far  as  possible  showery  weather.  It  is 
a  capital  plan  during  spells  of  drought, 
after  drilling  the  seed,  to  strew  over  the 
surface  about  half  an  inch  thick  of  short 
lawn  grass.  This  not  only  keeps  the 
ground  moist,  but  will  to  a  very  great 
extent  prevent  the  seed  being  ravaged  by 
birds  and  the  Turnip  fly.  Thin  out  earlier 
sowings  as  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  suffi- 
ciently advanced,  partially  at  first,  and  set 
them  out  to  the  proper  distance  after  the 
first  rough  leaf  is  made.  Dust  the  crop 
with  a  small  application  of  patent  vegetable 
manure,  wood  ashes,  and  soot,  and  stir  the 
ground  frtquenlly  with  the  Dutch  hoe 
to  promote  a  quick  growth,  always  so 
essential  in  Turnip  culture.  As  soon  as 
the  bulbs  of  the  Early  Milan  t3pe  are  of 
a  fair  size  they  thould  be  pulled  and  stored 
in  a  cool  place,  as  they  quickly  get  hot  and 
sliiugy  at  this  season  if  left  in  the  ground. 
Lettuce. 

Sow  frequently  Mammoth  and  Palis 
White  Cos,  also  Cabbage  vaiieties  if 
required,  and  plant  out  part  of  the  thin- 
nings from  each  sowing. 

Endive. 
Both     Batavian    and     curled     varieties 
should   be  sown  fortnightly,  choosing  cool 
parts  of  the  garden,  where  they  will  mature 
much  better  at  this  season,  otherwise  these 
will  quickly  run  to  flower. 
Radishes 
also  should  now  be  giowu  on  north  borders 


418 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  21,  1902. 


or  shady  positions,  and  make  small  sowings  every 
ten  days.  Radishes  should  always  be  grown 
(juickly  and  pulled  quite  young.  French  Breakfast 
is  hard  to  beat  for  summer  and  autumn. 

Carrots. 

Make  another  good  sowing  on  a  warm  border  of 
the  Short  Horn  type.  Tliese  are  often  preferred 
to  large  specimens. 

Leeks. 

The  earliest  plants  of  these  will  need  much 
attention  by  way  of  blanching.  It  is  useless  to 
allow  them  to  make  a  stout  growth  and  then 
expect  long  blanched  stems ;  this  must  be  done 
when  quite  young.  Nothing  is  better  than  brown 
paper  collars,  which  can  either  be  purchased  at  a 
small  cost  or  made  at  home,  and  after  the  desired 
height  is  obtained  the  earthing  up  can  be  done. 
The  Leek  is  a  moisture-loving  plant,  and  during 
the  growing  season  abundance  of  water  must  be 
given,  both  at  the  roots  and  overhead.  There  is 
yet  plenty  of  time  to  plant  and  grow  good  Leeks 
for  all  kitchen  use,  and  these  should  be  planted  in 
trenches,  making  double  rows,  or  plant  on  the 
flat,  boring  deep  holes  and  dropping  down  the 
plants  so  that  the  tops  of  the  leaves  are  level  with 
the  surface,  and  gradually  filling  up  the  holes  as 
the  growth  is  made  to  ensure  blanching.  Any  last 
year's  plants  which  have  not  been  used  should  at 
once  be  lifted  and  stored  under  a  north  wall,  where 
they  will  last  for  some  time  fit  for  use. 

K.  BecivETT. 

Aldenham  Houie  Gardetis,  Etclree,  Herts. 


INDOOR  GARDEN. 
Work  in  the  Flower  Houses. 
Now  that  the  large  plants  for  bedding  out,  and 
many  other  things,  such  as  Camellias,  Roses,  &c., 
have  been  placed  out  of  doors  for  the  summer,  pre- 
parations should  be  made  to  fill  the  houses  with 
other  subjects.  To  me  it  is  surprising  that  with  such 
a  variety  of  hardy  plants  and  annuals,  one  often  sees 
so  many  houses  during  summer  bare  and  almost 
empty  instead  of  presenting  a  bright  and  cheerful 
appearance.  I  am  quite  alive  to  the  fact  that  where 
so  many  winter-flowering  plants  are  grown,  it  is 
difficult  to  keep  the  houses  gay  in  summer.  In 
our  own  case  we  grow  hardy  plants  that  will 
winter  with  little  or  no  protection.  For  instance, 
a  house  used  for  forcing  Azaleas,  bulbs,  &c.,  is 
now  filled  with  tree  and  border  Carnations.  The 
Camellia  house  is  being  filled  with  Humeas  and 
Campanula  pyramidalis,  Coreopsis,  &c.  ;  another 
witliGypsophila,  Schizanthus,  Khodanthe,  Liliums, 
(Gladiolus,  &c.  I  venture  to  say  that  if  gardeners 
would  grow  more  hardy  plants  indoors  glass 
structures  would  be  less  expensive,  and  would  be 
looked  upon  with  more  real  pleasure  by  their  owners 
if  kept  as  bright  in  summer  as  in  winter.  A  few 
things  well  done,  used  in  quantity,  will  produce  a 
far  finer  efl'ect  than  a  mixed  jumble  or  the  old 
unthinking  raixed-up  way  of  thrice  the  quantity  of 
plants. 

Propagatino  Variehated  and  Foliace  Plants. 
The  propagating  quarters  are  generally  less 
crowded  during  this  month,  so  that  no  opportu- 
nity should  be  lost  of  increasing  the  stock.  The 
constant  use  of  plants  indoors  soon  causes  them  to 
become  unsightly,  and  as  there  are  often  useful 
cuttings  or  tops  on  them  they  should  be  taken. 
Abutilon  Thompsoni  and  A.  Savitzii  are  most 
valuable  for  the  decoration  of  rooms  or  the  dinner 
table,  and  under  artificial  I'ght  there  are  few 
things  to  equal  them.  Cuttings  taken  now  of  the 
young  wood  will  make  nice  plants  for  autumn  and 
winter.  Insert  singly  in  small  pots  in  a  compost 
of  equal  parts  peat,  leaf-mould,  loam,  and  silver 
sand,  and  place  in  a  propagating  frame,  with  a 
temperature  of  aliout  71'"  or  811"',  where  they  will 
root  freely.  Acalyphas,  Crotons,  and  Panax  Vic- 
toria should  be  similarly  treated. 

Ficus  radicans  variegata. 

This  is  one  of  the  prettiest  plants  for  the  inter- 
mediate house.  It  makes  a  good  basket  plant,  and 
is  also  excellent  as  an  edging  for  the  stage.  Insert 
about  five  cuttings  in  a  small  pot  and  grow  on 
without  disturbing  it.   This  plant  is  a  slow  grower, 


not  like  too  much  water  at  the  roots, 
and  thrives  best  in  a  moist  atmosphere.  Panicuin 
variegatum  may  be  inserted  in  the  same  way. 
Dracienas  that  have  lost  their  lower  leaves  should 
have  their  heads  cut  off,  placed  in  3-inch  pots, 
plunged  in  a  good  bottom  heat  in  a  propagating 
frame,  and  shaded  from  the  sun.  If  not  allowed 
to  flag  they  will  retain  their  leaves  and  soon 
make  nice  plants.  The  stems  may  also  be  cut  into 
lengths  of  .'?  inches  or  4  inches,  put  in  pans  filled 
with  sandy  soil,  and  placed  in  the  same  frame. 
Dieffenbachias  may  be  treated  in  a  similar  manner. 

John  Fleming. 
We.rliam  Park  Gardens,  Slowjh. 

THE  FLOWER  GARDEN. 

Aqitilegias 
Are  such  beautiful  plants  both  in  flower  and 
foliage  that  they  are  invaluable  for  borders  of 
herbaceous  plants  at  this  time  of  the  year.  Not 
only  as  decorative  plants  in  the  border  are  they  to 
be  admired,  but  for  cutting  they  are  most  useful, 
and  sliould  be  grown  extensively  in  the  reserve 
garden  for  that  purpose.  Though  the  rarer  species 
are  somewhat  difficult  to  get  and  require  to  be 
propagated  almost  annually  from  seed,  the  lovely 
varieties  and  hybrid  fornjs  of  the  common  Colum- 
bine are  particularly  easy  of  cultivation.  So  free 
and  hardy  are  they  that  they  are  eminently 
adapted  tor  growing  in  the  wild  parts  of  the 
flower  garden,  either  by  the  streamlet  or  on  slopes 
in  the  grass  along  with  other  naturalised  subjects 
such  as  Foxgloves,  Anchusas,  and  Camassias.  At 
the  present  time  seed  may  be  either  sown  in  the 
spots  where  the  plants  are  to  flower  or  on  pre- 
pared beds  in  some  out  of  the  way  part  of  the 
garden,  and  after  thinning  out  the  seedlings  properly 
may  be  left  until  next  spring,  when  they  can  be 
transplanted  to  the  positions  assigned  to  them. 

Matrioakia  inodora 
is  another  plant,  though  belonging  to  a  genus  that 
has  not  much  to  recommend  it,  and  being  chiefly  of 
a  weedy  appearance,  is  itself  a  pleasing  plant 
with  pretty  foliage  and  pure  white  Chamomile-like 
flowers,  which  are  borne  in  profusion  on  the  ends 
of  the  growing  shoots.  Tire  feathery  foliage 
resembles  Fennel,  and  is  of  a  deep  green  colour 
that  makes  it  very  desirable  in  a  mixed  border  ;  it 
is  of  a  creeping  habit,  and  should  be  pegged  down 
to  have  it  at  its  best,  with  plenty  of  room  to 
develop.  It  is  perennial,  in  most  soils  is  perfectl}' 
hardy,  and  may  be  propagated  at  almost  any  time 
of  the  year  bj'  cuttings  or  divisions  of  the  roots. 
Hugh  A.  Pettigrew. 
Cas/le  Gardens,  Si.  Fayans. 


THE   FRUIT   GARDEN. 

OnTDOOR  Grape  Vines. 
These  having  been  disbudded,  finally  thin  out  the 
lateral  growths,  so  that  the  strongest,  which 
usually  show  the  best  bunches  of  fruit,  are  left 
about  15  inches  apart.  These  should  be  stopped 
at  two  leaves  beyond  the  best  bunch,  and  those 
that  are  not  fruiting  at  a  corresponding  length,  all 
sub-laterals  being  pinched  at  one  leaf.  Secure  the 
growths  to  the  wall  or  trellis,  and  put  extending 
shoots,  which  should  be  left  3  feel  apart,  in  position, 
while  in  necessary  cases  young  growths  should  be 
retained  to  replace  unsatisfactory  rods.  Young 
Vines  planted  in  poor  soil,  or  old  ones  that  have 
exhausted  their  supplies  of  nourishment,  re(|uire 
to  bo  freely  assisted  with  liquid  manure  in  drj' 
weather  or  nourishing  top-dressings  of  artificial 
manures,  which  must  be  washed  into  the  soil  by 
watering  if  the  rainfall  is  deficient.  They  will  be 
much  helped  if  the  borders  are  mulched  with  short 
litter.  In  hot,  dry  weather  keep  red  spider  from 
becoming  t  roublesome  by  a  free  use  of  the  .syringe. 

Cherries. 
When  in  blussom  the  dessert  varieties  were 
remarkably  promising,  but  the  cold  east  and 
north-east  winds  which  prevailed  at  the  lime 
played  great  havoc,  and  the  oops  of  fruit  are  very 
thin  in  consequence.  Apart  from  this  the  trees,  par- 
ticularly those  belonging  to  the  Duke  family,  have 
lost  many  spurs.    Summer  pruning  should  be  carried 


out  before  the  fruit  ripens  by  cutting  the  shoots  in 
to  about  five  leaves,  leaving  extending  branches 
where  necessary,  and  if  there  are  any  black  aphis 
upon  them  dip  the  affected  parts  in  a  strong  solu- 
tion of  t^»uassia  Extract  or  tobacco  water.  Subse- 
quently thoroughly  wash  the  trees  with  the  garden 
engine  to  clear  away  all  filth  and  dead  blossoms, 
and  protect  the  fruit  from  birds  once  it  commences 
to  colour.  These  remarks  apply  both  to  trees  upon 
walls  and  bush  trees.  Growths  on  pyramid  or 
bush  trees  of  Belle  Magnifique,  the  Kentish  and 
Morello  should  be  thinned  and  stopped,  so  that 
crowding  is  prevented  and  the  trees  kept  to  a  neat 
habit.  These  early  varieties  are  often  attacked  by 
aphis,  and  should  be  sprayed  with  a  good  insecticide 
when  it  is  needed.  Upon  dry  soils  especially  a 
mulch  of  short  litter  and  soakings  of  diluted  liquid 
manure  will  greatly  improve  the  size  of  the  fruit. 
ArRiGOTs. 

If  the  shoots  were  not  sufficiently  thinned  when 
disbudding  was  attended  to  the  superfluous  ones 
should  be  now  stopped  at  about  the  fourth  leaf, 
and  those  left  for  next  year's  bearing  secured  to 
the  wall  at  a  foot  apart,  and  be  stopped  when  they 
reach  a  foot  or  more  in  length,  according  to  the 
space  at  command,  the  secondary  growths  being 
stopped  at  one  leaf.  Gross  and  otherwise  unsatis- 
factory shoots  should  be  entirely  removed  rather 
than  stopped,  as  this  would  cause  a  thicket  of 
unfruitful  wood.  The  young  shoots  may  be  laid  in 
and  kept  in  position  until  the  winter  training  by 
being  crossed  with  a  willow,  with  its  ends  inserted 
beneath  the  branches  on  either  side.  The  trees 
should  be  examined  periodically  and  caterpillars 
picked  off.  The  borders  must  also  be  examined, 
especially  close  to  the  walls,  and  watered  if  neces- 
sary, for  if  neglected  in  this  respect  fruit  dropping 
may  ensue.  Keep  the  fruit  expo.sed  so  that  it  may 
fully  colour,  which  if  shaded  is  impossible. 
Red  Cdrrants  and  Gooseberries. 

Here  the  crops  of  fruit  escaped  injury  from  frost. 
The  lateral  growths  should  now  or  at  an  early  date 
be  shortened  to  the  sixth  leaf,  leaving  those  wanted 
to  impreve  the  bushes,  or,  in  the  ease  of  young  ones, 
those  that  are  necessary  to  form  them.  Plants 
trained  upon  walls,  &c.,  should  have  similar  treat- 
ment. A  mulching  of  short  litter  will  lessen  the 
need  of  artificial  watering  should  dry  weather  set 
in,  and  also  keep  the  fruit  from  being  soiled  through  ' 
heavy  rains.  T.  Coomber. 

Tlie  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


ORCHIDS. 
Angdloas. 
TuESE  are  a  remarkable  and  stately  class  of  plants, 
having  large  pseudo-bulbs  6  inches  or  more  high  ; 
their  flower  scapes  are  about  12  inches  long,  and 
issue  from  the  base  of  the  bulbs,  just  as  they  begin 
to  grow.  The  flowers  are  large  with  thick  fleshy 
sepals  and  petals.  Though  not  possessing  the 
graceful  beauty  of  many  Orchids,  they  are  showy 
and  distinct,  and  form  useful  plants  for  exhibition. 
A.  eburnea,  A.  Clowesii,  and  A.  Ruckerii  are  the 
most  beautiful  and  useful,  the  colour  of  the  flowers 
being  distinct. 

A.  eburnea  is  a  magnificent  species,  having  flowers 
of  the  purest  white,  except  the  lip,  which  is  spotted 
with  pink  ;  A.  Clowesii  is  a  distinct  and  free- 
growing  species,  the  sepals  and  petals  bright 
yellow,  the  lip  white  or  yellow  tipped  with  orange  ; 
A.  Ruckerii  has  rich  dark  flowers,  of  which  the 
sepals  and  petals  have  crimson  spots  on  a  yellow 
ground,  and  the  lip  deep  crimson  ;  A.  media,  a 
garden  hybrid  ;  A.  dubia,  a  supposed  natural 
hybrid  :  A.  Turnerii,  and  A.  virginalis  are  all 
worth  a  place  in  every  collection.  Anguloas 
are  by  no  means  difficult  to  cultivate,  and  are 
useful  plants  for  amateurs,  as  they  do  not  require 
much  heat ;  they  are  generally  termed  cool  house 
Orchids,  but  they  require  a  few  degrees  more  heat 
than  the  crispum  section  of  Odontoglossums,  and 
are  best  grown  in  pots  at  the  warmest  apd  driest 
part  of  the  cool  intermediate  house.  Soon  after 
growth  begins  roots  issue  from  their  base  when 
but  a  few  inches  long  ;  then  is  the  time  to  repot 
should  this  be  needed.  If  this  operation  is  left 
over  till  after  the  plants  have  flowered,  the  new 


June  21,  1902.] 


THE  GAEDEN. 


419 


roots  will  have  penetrated  the  compost,  and  it  is 
then  more  difficult  to  perform,  without  causing 
injury  to  the  roots.  Peat  and  moss  in  equal  pro- 
portions is  the  most  suitable  compost,  using  Fern 
roots  as  substitutes  for  crocks.  After  the  young 
growths  have  well  advanced  they  need  plenty  of 
water  at  the  roots  until  the  bulbs  have  fully 
developed.  During  the  long  period  of  rest  they 
need  only  sufficient  to  keep  the  bulbs  moderately 
plump.  Their  propagation  is  effected  by  dividing 
the  pseudo-bulb,  merely  cutting  the  rhizome 
between  first  and  second  or  second  and  third 
bulbs  just  as  the  plants  are  commencing  to  grow. 

Chondrobhyncha  Chestertoni. 
This  is  a  beautiful  stove  epiphytal  Orchid,  the 
flowers  of  which  are  yellow,  the  lateral  sepals 
developing  into  a  long  sharp  point,  the  petals 
having  a  fully  developed  fringe,  the  lip  also.  It 
blooms  very  freely.  Although  not  producing  many 
flowers  at  one  time,  it  continues  to  bloom  throughout 
the  spring  and  summer  months.  The  plants  thrive 
well  in  a  shady  stove  with  such  things  as  Miltonia 
Uoezlii  or  the  warm-growing  Cypripediums.  When 
new  growth  commences  they  should  be  repotted  if 
necessary  in  peat  and  sphagnum  moss,  using  rather 
large  pots,  according  to  the  size  of  the  plants. 
Owing  to  their  being  exceptionally  free  rooters 
they  should  never  be  allowed  to  become  dry. 

ODONTOGLOSStTM  GRANDE 
is  a  most  useful  autumn-flowering  species,  and  one 
of  the  most  showy.  It  blooms  very  freely,  is  easy 
to  cultivate,  and  requires  little  artificial  heat  to 
bring  it  to  perfection.  Thus  it  is  a  most  suitable 
Orchid  for  amateurs  or  those  commencing  to 
grow  Orchids.  They  are  best  grown  in  pots  in 
peat  and  sphagnum  moss,  and  Fern  roots  should  be 
used  as  substitute  for  crocks.  After  a  long  period 
of  rest  they  are  now  beginning  to  grow,  and  should 
be  repotted  at  once  if  necessary,  as  they  issue  new 
roots  from  the  base  of  the  young  growth  when  but 
an  inch  or  two  long.  They  grow  well  in  the  cool 
intermediate  house — that  is,  a  few  degrees  warmer 
than  the  cool  Odontoglossum  house. 

F.  W.  Thurgood. 
Rosslyn  Gardens,  Stamford  Hill,  N. 


SOCIETIES. 


YORK  GALA. 

As  announced  in  our  last  issue  this  important  horticultural 
f6te  was  held  in  the  Boothara  Field,  York,  on  Wednesday, 
Thursday,  and  Friday,  the  11th,  12th,  and  13th  inst.  We 
then  gave  a  brief  summary  of  the  most  important  classes,  and 
now  append  a  full  report  of  the  show.  Bad  weather  was 
unfortunately  experienced  on  all  three  days  ;  this,  however, 
did  not  prevent  a  good  attendance.  The  non-competitive 
exhibits  were  not  so  numerous  as  usual,  not  one  firm  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  London  being  represented  by  an 
exhibit,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Kussell  of  Richmond.  At 
the  luncheon,  held  on  the  first  day,  the  Lord  Mayor  of  York 
presided,  and  there  was  a  large  gathering  of  well-known 
horticulturists. 

Won- COMPETITIVE  Exhibits. 
ISfessrs.  J.  Backhouse  and  Son,  The  Nurseries,  York,  had 
an  extensive  and  showy  group  of  Rhododendrons  in  many 
good  varieties,  and  the  arrangement  of  their  display  was 
made  effective  by  interspersing  between  the  Rhododendrons 
many  beautiful  Japanese  Maples,  Goldeu  Ivy,  Azaleas, 
Spanish  Broom,  Liliums,  &c.,  while  the  background  was 
formed  of  Bamboos,  Maples,  (tc.  The  society's  gold  medal 
was  awarded  to  this  exhibit. 

Messrs.  Richard  Smith  and  Co.,  Worcester,  showed  a 
group  of  plants  that  was  remarkable  for  the  number  of 
splendid  Clematises  contained  in  it ;  for  instance,  Grand 
Duchess  (pale  mauve).  Excelsior  (deep  mauve),  Venus 
Victrix  (double,  lilac-blue),  Sensation  (rich  blue),  and  Mrs. 
George  Jackman  (white).  At  the  back  of  this  display  were 
arranged  various  Conifers,  Bamboos,  Acers,  &c.,  and 
throughout  the  group  were  placed  Golden  Conifers,  notably 
Cupressusmacrocarpalutea,  Euonymus  Euryas,  Pyrethrums, 
Anthuriums,  &c.,  a  pretty  edging  being  formed  of  Ferns, 
and  other  dwarf  plants.    Gold  medal. 

Messrs.  Cowan  and  Co.,  Gateacre,  Liverpool,  were  awarded 
the  gold  medal  for  the  best  collection  of  Orchids.  They  had 
an  interesting  and  brilliant  display,  in  which  varieties  of 
Odontoglossum  crispum  were  largely  made  use  of.  Towards 
the  top  of  the  group  were  some  excellenc  plants  of  Ljelia 
purpurata,  Cattleya  Mossifc,  Odontoglossums,  Cymbidium 
lowianum,  &c.,  and  such  good  things  as  Cattleya  Warneri, 
G.  granulosa,  Cypripedium  swanianum,  Ltelia  Latona,  L. 
cinnabarina,  Lycaste  aromatica,  and  Oncidium  gardnerianum 
were  remarked.  Worthy  of  special  note  also  were  Odouto- 
glossunS  loochristiense,  O.  Adriantc,  and  Cattleya  Mendelii. 

Mr.  John  Russell,  The  Nurseries,  Richmond,  Surrey, 
displayed  a  group  of  stove  plants  that  he  grows  and  exhibits 
gp  wellf     Jfany  handsome  Aralias,  Alocasias^  Caladiums, 


Pandanus,  Begonias,  Phryniura,  Grotons,  and  Acalyphas  were 
included  in  this  notable  group.  Dracaenas,  Cocos,  Araucarias, 
&c.,  formed  the  background,  and  Caladium  argyrites  formed 
an  extremely  pretty  edging.  Mr.  Russell  exhibited  three 
plants  that  are  worthy  of  special  note,  viz.,  Dimorphanthus 
argenteus  marginatus  variegatus,  Cupressus  erecta  nana, 
and  ElEcgnus  pungens  aurea.  Dracaena  Guilfoylei  was  also 
very  fine. 

Alessrs.  Eent  and  Brydon,  Darlington,  exhibited  a  mis- 
cellaneous collection  of  shrubs  and  other  plants.  The 
Azaleas  were  very  bright,  and  a  free  use  of  Acers,  some 
splendid  Malmaison  Carnations,  Hydrangeas,  Saxifraga 
pyramidalis.  Verbena  Ellen  Willmott,  and  numerous  other 
plants  made  up  a  pleasing  display. 

Mr.  J.  Wood,  Hardy  Plant  Club,  Eirkstall,  Leeds, 
exhibited  a  collection  of  most  interesting  rock  and  alpine 
plants,  arranged  on  a  miniature  rock  garden  erected  in  one 
of  the  tents.  All  the  plants  were  in  flower,  and  there  were 
many  who  lingered  aronnd  this  exhibit  charmed  with  the 
beauty  of  these  tiny  gems.  We  specially  remarked  some 
splendid  clumps  of  Lithospermum  prostratum,  the  lovely 
Viola  pedata  bicolor.  Iris  verna,  I.  cristata,  Erigeron  Roylei, 
Dryas  Drummondi,  Saxifraga  Cotyledon  pyramidalis  (true), 
Saxifraga  Zimmeteri,  Androsace  fnliosa,  Cypripedium  acaule, 
Helianthemum  rubrum  (very  pretty),  Silene  pusilla,  A'eronica 
prostrata  nana,  the  beautiful  Ramondia  pyrenaicaalba,  and 
Myosotis  Rehsteineri,  all  of  which  are  plants  of  particular 
interest. 

Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Laugdon,  Twerton  Hill  Nursery, 
Bath,  had  a  lovely  stand  of  tuberous  Begonias  ;  indeed,  there 
were  many  who  expressed  the  opinion  that  finer  ones  had 
rarely  been  exhibited.  There  were  both  double  and  single 
varieties  in  quantity,  and  of  the  former  conspicuously  hand- 
some were  Mr.  S.  Pope  (large  Picotee),  Mr.  F.  W.  Sinnock 
(brilliant  scarlet),  Masterpiece  (rich  rosy  crimson),  Seagull 
(white).  Lady  Cromer  (white),  Ida  (salmon  frilled),  and 
Magnificent  (large  salmon);  of  singles  unusually  good  were 
The  Queen  (white  with  carmine  edge).  Yellow  Queen,  Grand 
Duke  of  Hesse  (vermilion),  and  Princess  Henry  of  Battenberg 
(white  tipped  with  rose).  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon 
also  showed  blooms  of  some  new  Carnations,  and  of  tliese 
we  thought  Emperor  (purple)  and  Novelty  (purple  flaked) 
worthy  of  special  note, 

Mr.  Robert  Sydenham,  Tenby  Street,  Birmingham, 
exhibited  a  beautiful  lot  of  Sweet  Peas  very  tastefully 
arranged  in  glasses  with  Gypsophila  and  Fern.  The  colours 
were  pure,  and  such  lovely  varieties  were  represented  as 
Gorgeous,  Countess  of  Radnor,  Prima  Donna,  Lady  Mary 
Currie,  Navy  Blue,  Her  Majesty,  Blanche  Burpee,  Salopian, 
and  Lady  Grisel  Hamilton. 

Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  Wisbech,  showed  a  group  of 
Carnations  that  was  much  admired,  and  included  some 
beautiful  sorts,  representing  a  great  variety  of  colour. 
Uriah  Pike,  Mrs.  Trelawny,  Nautilus,  Florizel,  Horace 
Hutchinson,  Jane  Seymour,  Sir  Evelyn  Wood,  and  other 
good  sorts  were  shown.  Messrs.  Bath  also  exhibited  a 
display  of  hardy  flowers,  consisting  largely  of  Pyrethrums, 
and  these  charming  early  summer  flowers  were  exceedingly 
well  represented.  Poppies,  Pajonies,  Delphiniums,  and 
Violas  were  also  noticeable  in  quantity. 

Messrs,  Richard  Smith  and  Co.,  Worcester,  also  con- 
tributed a  handsome  exhibit  of  hardy  flowers,  in  which 
Irises  were  largely  and  splendidly  shown,  the  varieties 
Gazelle,  Sampson,  Aurea,  Darius,  and  others  being  notice- 
able. Linum  alpinura,  Hemerocallis  Sieboldii,  Achillea 
mongolica,  Pyrethrums,  and  some  splendid  Preonies  were  in 
this  group.  Messrs.  Smith  also  displayed  some  models  of 
Apples  and  Pears,  very  true  likenesses. 

Messrs.  Reamsbottom  and  Co.,  Geashill  Nurseries,  King's 
County,  Ireland,  exhibited  a  display  of  their  beautiful 
Alderborough  Anemones.  They  were  much  admired  by  the 
large  crowd  of  visitors,  and  well  might  this  be  the  case,  for  not 
only  are  the  flowers  exceedingly  pretty  in  themselves,  com- 
prising as  they  do  so  many  shades  of  colour,  but  they  were 
also  arranged  with  much  taste  and  skill,  with  a  proper 
regard  for  colour  harmony. 

Rustic  table  decorations  were  exhibited  by  Messrs.  W. 
Edwards  and  Son,  Woodthorpe  Drive,  Sherwood. 

Messrs.  W.  and  J.  Brown,  florists,  Stamford,  had  an 
exhibit  of  Heliotropes,  Geranium  Fire  Dragon,  (Enotheras, 
&c.  A  certificate  was  given  to  Heliotrope  Lord  Roberts, 
exhibited  by  aiessrs.  Brown. 

Mr.  Robert  Sydenham,  Tenby  Street,  Birmingham, 
exhibited  some  very  pretty  silver  rustic  ware  for  table 
decorations. 

A  collection  of  hybrid  Irises,  raised  and  exhibited  by 
Mr.  George  Yeld,  Clifton  Cottage,  York,  contained  several 
beautiful  sorts. 

Plants. 
For  a  group  of  miscellaneous  plants,  Mr.  J.  S.  Sharpe, 
Valley  Nurseries,  Almondbury,  Huddersfleld,  won  the  first 
prize  with  an  arrangement  that  was  elegant  and  graceful. 
There  were  large  Kentias  at  the  back  of  the  group,  and 
towards  the  front  was  a  mound  crested  with  a  large  plant  of 
Cocos  weddelliana,  and  richly  furnished  with  Orchids  in 
flower.  The  groundwork  of  the  group  consisted  of  miscel- 
laneous plants,  such  as  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  Caladiums, 
Ferns,  &c.,  while  rising  from  this  were  taller  ones  of 
Abutilon  Savitzii  (these  were  splendid,  quite  10  feet  high), 
Phyllanthus,  Crotons,  Lilies,  Lygodium,  &c.  Towards  the 
edge  of  the  group  were  clumps  of  Lily  of  the  Valley, 
Strobilanthes,  small  and  splendidly  coloured  Crotons, 
Selaginellas,  Ac.  Jas.  Blacker,  Esq.,  Thorpe  Villas,  Selby 
(gardener,  ilr.  W.  Curtis),  was  second  with  a  very  similar 
though  not  so  bright  an  arrangement.  The  large  Crotons 
were  well  coloured,  and  the  Alocasias  and  Anthuriums  were 
very  good.  E.  B.  Faber,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Belvedere,  Harrogate 
(gardener,  Mr.  W.  Townsend),  was  third  with  a  handsome 
group,  but  the  tall  columnar-like  plants  were  too  regularly 
and  systematically  placed ;  the  Acalyphas  were  very  fine, 
but  the  whole  arrangement,  though  bright,  reminded  one  too 
much  of  a  number  of  floral  pillars.  Mr.  W.  Vause,  florist, 
Leamington  Spa,  was  fourth  with  a  somewhat  sombre 
group  that  lacked  boldness. 
For  twelve  stov^  or  greenjiouse  plants  jp  bloom,  Mr,  J. 


Cypher,  Queen's  Road  Nurseries,  Cheltenham,  won  the  first 
prize  with,  as  usual,  magnificent  specimens.  Pimelia 
Hendersonii,  Erica  faireana,  Bougainvillea  sanderiana, 
Hederoma  tulipifera  were  perhaps  the  finest ;  Mr.  W.  Vause, 
Leamington,  was  second,  E,  ventricosagrandiflora,  Aphelexis 
macrantharoseabcing  very  good  ;  Colonel  Harrison  Broadley, 
Welton  House,  Hull  (gardener,  Mr.  Charles  Lawton),  was 
third,  showing  well  Erica  lindleyanaand  Vinca  oculataalba. 
For  six  stove  or  greenhouse  plants  in  bloom,  Mr.  Cypher 
was  again  first,  his  best  specimens  being  Erica  ventricosa 
magnifica,  Franciscea  exiniea,  Dracophyllum  gracile,  and 
Bougainvillea  glabra ;  Mr.  W.  Vause,  Leamington,  was 
second  with  smaller  plants. 

For  six  stove  or  greenhouse  plants  in  bloom  (pots  not 
exceeding  10  inches  diameter),  amateurs.  Colonel  Harrison 
Broadley  (gardener,  Mr.  C.  Lawton),  was  first,  and  T.  M. 
Lambert,  Esq.,  Beechlands,  The  Mount,  York  (gardener, 
Mr.  John  Vear),  was  second. 

Mr.  Cypher  was  first  for  three  stove  or  greenhouse  plants 
in  bloom  ;  Colonel  Harrison,  Broadley,  second;  and  Messrs. 
R.  Simpson  and  Son,  New  Lane,  Selby,  third. 

Mr.  Cypher  also  won  the  first  prize  for  a  single  specimen 
stove  plant  in  bloom,  with  a  grand  Bougainvillea  Cypheri ; 
Mr.  Vause  was  second  with  Anthurium  schertzerianum  ;  and 
Mrs.  Tetley,  Fox  Hill,  Weetwood,  Leeds  (gardener,  Mr.  Isaac 
Eastwood),  third,  with  Stephanotis  floribunda. 

Mr.  Cypher  again  won  for  a  single  specimen  greenhouse 
plant  in  bloom,  showing  Dracophyllum  gracile  ;  Mr.  Vause 
was  second  with  Azalea  Mrs.  Carter  (very  finely  flowered) ; 
and  Mr.  F.  Styan,  Rawcliffe  Lane,  Clifton,  York,  was  third. 
For  six  ornamental  fine  foliage  or  variegated  plants,  Mr. 
J.  Cypher  won,  showing  splendid  specimens  of  Latania 
borbonica,  Kentia  australis,  K.  belmoreana,  Croton 
montefontainensis,  &c.  ;  Mr.  W.  Vause  was  second ;  and 
Jlessrs.  R.  Simpson  and  Son  third. 

Mr.  Cypher  won  the  first  prize  for  three  ornamental  fine 
foliage  or  variegated  plants,  with  Croton  Queen  Victoria  as 
his  best ;  Mr.  W.  Vause  was  second,  and  Colonel  Harrison 
Broadley  third. 

For  a  specimen  Azalea  or  Rhododendron,  Mr.  W.  Vause 
won  with  a  splendid  plant  of  Azalea  Modfele;  Mr.  Cypher 
was  second,  and  Mr.  J.  Sunley,  Ashleigh,  Milford  Junction, 
third. 

E.  B.  Faber,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Townsend)  was  first 
for  three  Crotons,  Baroness  James  de  Rothschild  being  his 
best  plant  and  a  fine  one  ;  Messrs.  R.  Simpson  and  Son  were 
second. 

For  a  single  specimen  Cape  Heath,  Mr.  Cypher  was  first 
with  Erica  ventricosa  magnifica. 

Mr.  George  Lee,  Baker  Street,  Bootham,  York,  won  the 
first  prize  for  six  specimen  Coleuses  (distinct),  and  splendid 
plants  they  were  ;  Mrs.  Tetley  was  second. 

Mr.  S.  Hardcastle,  Bishop  Wilton,  near  York,  won  the 
premier  prize  for  a  collection  of  twenty  alpine  and 
herbaceous  plants. 

Ferns. 
Forsix  exotic  Ferns,  Mrs.  Tetley,  Fox  Hill,  Weetwood,  won 
the  first  prize,  with  excellent  plants;  and  the  Rev.  G.  Yeats, 
Heworth  Vicarage,  York  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  Snowden),  was 
second. 

In  the  class  for  three  exotic  Ferns  the  names  of  these  two 
prize  winnei's  were  reversed. 

For  ten  hardy  Ferns,  distinct,  Messrs.  R.  Simpson  and  Son 
were  first,  and  ilr.  J.  Nicholson,  Heworth  Green,  York,  was 
second. 

For  six  hardy  Ferns,  distinct,  Mr.  Nicholson  was  first, 
Messrs.  Simpson  second,  and  the  Rev.  G.  Yeats  third. 

Carnations. 

For  a  group  of  Carnations,  Jlr.  J.  P.  Leadbetter,  gardener 
to  A.  Wilson,  Esq.,  Tranby  Croft.  Hull,  was  a  good  first  with 
a  most  beautiful  lot  of  Malmaisons  ;  Mr.  J.  Roberts,  gardener  ^ 
to  the  Duke  of  Portland,  Welbeck  Abbey,  won  the  second 
prize. 

Gloxinias. 

For  a  group  of  Gloxinias,  T.  M.  Lambert,  Esq.,  was  first 
with  very  well-bloomed  plants,  Mrs.  Tetley  being  second, 
and  H.  E.  Leetham,  Esq.,  third. 
Roses. 

Mr.  J.  D.  Hutchinson,  Kirby  Moorside,  was  first  for  a 
collection  of  pot  Roses,  showing  well  -  developed  plants; 
ilrs.  Tetley  was  second,  and  Jlr.  H.  Pybus  third. 

For  six  distinct  pot  Roses,  Mr.  John  Wragge,  Burton  Lane, 
York,  won,  and  the  second  and  third  prizes  fell  respectively 
to  Mrs.  Tetley  and  Mrs.  Bennington. 

Messrs.  Walshaw  and  Son,  Scarborough,  were  given  the 
first  prize  for  a  group  of  Cannas,  theirplants  making  a  bright 
display. 

Orchids. 

Mr.  J.  Cypher  won  the  first  prize  for  a  table  of  Orchids, 
12  feet  by  5  feet,  with  a  pretty  display.  Well-bloomed 
plants  of  Odontoglossums,  Oncidiums,  &c.,  were  at  the 
back,  and  below  them  were  arranged  small  masses  of 
Cattleya  Mossite,  Miltonia  vexillaria,  Odontoglossums,  tfec. 
Oncidium  papilio,  various  Cypripediums,  Dendrobiums,  and 
Masdevallias  were  also  nicely  arranged  throughout.  Mr. 
John  Robson,  Bowden  Nurseries,  Altrincham,  was  second 
with  an  exhibit  hardly  so  elegant  in  appearance.  Lrelia 
purpurata,  Cattleya  Mossire,  various  Oncidiums  and  Odonto- 
glossums gave  some  good  colour  upon  too  heavy  a  setting  of 
Asparagus. 

Mr.  Cypher  was  first  for  ten  Orchids  in  bloom,  his  best 
being  Miltonia  vexillaria,  Oncidium  marshallianum,  Epiden- 
drum  vitellinum  majus,  Cattleya  Warneri;  Mr.  J.  Robson 
was  again  second  ;  W.  P.  Burkinshaw,  Esq.,  The  West  Hill, 
Hessle  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  T.  Barker),  being  third. 

For  six  Orchids  in  bloom,  Mr.  Cypher  also  won,  showing 
excellent  plants  of  Epidendrum  prismatocarpum,  Masde- 
vallia  veitchiana,  Leelia  purpurata,  &c.  ;  Mr.  J.  Robson  was 
second. 

For  three  Orchids  in  bloom,  W.  P.  Burkinshaw,  Esq.,  was 
first,  and  G.  Whitehead,  Esq.,  third. 

In  the  amateur's  class  for  six  Orchids  in  bloom,  W.  P. 
Burkinshaw,  Esq.,  was  first,  J.  F.  Laycock,  Esq.,  second, 
^u4  Walter  |!atenjan,  Esq.,  third, 


4?0 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  21,  1902. 


For  a  single  specimen  Orchid  in  bloom  (amateurs),  J.  F. 
Laycock,  Esq.,  won  with  Odontoglossum  crispiim,  Colonel 
Harrison  Broadley  being  second. 

For  four  Orchids  in  bloom  (amateurs  or  gentlemen's 
gardeners,  prizes  offered  by  Messrs.  J.  Backliouse  and  Son), 
Colonel  Harrison  Broadley  was  first,  showing  Ltclia  pur- 
purata,  Mr.  Mclndoe  being  second. 

Pelargoniums. 

These  formed  one  of  the  most  beautiful  features  of  the 
show,  and  some  excellent  plants  were  exhibited.  For  fifteen 
show  Pelargoniums,  distinct,  Mrs.  Tetley  (gardener,  Mr. 
Isaac  Eastwood)  was  tlie  only  exhibitor,  and  was  awarded 
the  first  prize.  Perhaps  the  best  varieties  of  those  repre- 
sented by  M  I.  Eastwood's  grand  plants  were  Mme.  Desmoulin 
and  Mme.  Thibaut. 

For  six  show  Pelargoniums,  Mrs.  Tetley  was  again  first, 
ilrs.  Tetley  also  won  the  first  prize  in  each  of  the  following 
classes  :  Three  show  Pelargoniums,  a  group  of  not  less  than 
six  fancy  Pelargoniums  (T.  B.  Oldham,  Esq.,  gardener,  Jlr. 
W.  Pink,  being  second  in  these  two  classes) ;  twelve  zonal  or 
nosegay  Pelargoniums  (second  ilr.  H.  Pybus),  six  zona!  or 
nosegay  (second  Mr.  Pybus),  six  double-flowered  Pelargo- 
niums (second  ilr.  George  Lee,  third  i\Ir.  H.  Smith),  three 
double-flowered  (second  Mr.  Pybus,  third  Miss  Wharton), 
six  double-flowered  Ivy  leaf  Pelargoniums  (second  Mr.  H. 
Pybus),  and  for  three  double-fltiwered  Ivy  leaf  (second  Mr. 
J.  W.  (,'larke).  For  three  zonal  or  nosegay  Pelargoniums 
yiT.  H.  Pybus  was  first,  Mrs.  Tetley  second,  and  Mr.  Clarke 
third.  Thus  in  ten  out  of  the  eleven  classes  for  Pelargoniums 
Mr.  Isaac  Eastwood  carried  off  the  first  prize,  a  remarkable 
record. 

For  a  group  of  tuberous  Begonias,  Mr.  F.  Styan  won  the 
premier  place.  Colonel  Harrison  Broadley  being  second,  and 
Mr.  J.  T.  Heppell  third. 

In  the  class  for  six  Fuchsias,  ilr.  George  Lee  was  a  good 
first,  showing  some  excellent  pyramidal  plants  ;  Miss 
Wharton  was  second,  and  Mr.  V.  Styan  third.  For  three 
Fuchsias,  Mrs.  Tetley  was  placed  first,  and  Miss  Wharton 
second. 

The  first  prize  for  a  group  of  t'alceolarias  fell  to  Mrs.  Lloyd, 
Mrs.  Bennington  being  second,  and  Mr.  G.  Cottam  third. 

Floral  Designs. 
For  the  best  exhibit  and  greatest  variety  in  floral  designs, 
Messrs. W.  Artindale  and  Son,  florists.  High  Street,  Sheftield, 
were  first.  Their  exhibit  comprised  a  harp,  cross,  crown, 
horsehoe,  Ac,  as  well  as  bouijuets  and  baskets  of  flowers. 
The  best  of  the  bouttuets  was  one  composed  uf  pink  Carna- 
tions, and  the  baskets  of  yellow  Spanish  Irises  and  of 
mixed  Orchids  were  very  charming,  as  also  was  the  floral 
anchor  of  Cattleyas  arranged  upon  a  base  of  wliite  flowers. 
Messrs.  R.  Simpsun  and  Son,  New  Lane,  Selby,  were  second  ; 
their  exhiliit,  however,  was  somewhat  crowded.  Included 
was  a  beautifully  made  cross,  composed  of  Cattleyas,  Lilies 
of  the  ^"alley.  Stephanotis,  Ferns,  &c.  Miss  Austey  was 
aw^irded  the  third  prize. 

Cut  Flowers. 

KOSES. 

For  seventy-two  Roses,  single  blooms.  Messrs.  R.  Harkness 
and  Co.,  Hitchin,  won  the  first  prize  with  a  very  good  lot,  of 
which  the  best  we're  Suzanne  Marie  Rodocanachi,  Mar^chal 
Niel,  AVhite  Slaman  Cochet,  and  Gustave  Piganeau;  Mr.  J. 
D.  Hutchinson,  Kirby  Moorside,  was  second,  showing  well 
Catherine  Mermet  and  Comtesse  Nadaillac  ;  Mr.  George 
Prince,  Longworth,  Berks,  was  third. 

Messrs.  R.  Harkness  and  Co.  were  first  also  in  the  classes 
for  forty-eight  distinct  varieties  of  Roses,  for  thirty-six,  and 
for  twenty-four.  Mr.  George  Prince  was  second  in  the  last- 
named  class.  Messrs.  Harkness  and  Mr.  Prince  were  also 
first  and  second  respectively  for  eighteen  distinct  varieties 
of  Roses. 

For  a  stand  of  white  and  yellow  blooms,  Mr.  George  Prince 
won  first  place  with  an  excellent  lot.  Messrs.  R.  Harkness, 
Hitchin,  and  Messrs.  Harkness  and  Son,  Bedale,  following  as 
named . 

Mr.  W.  Hutchinson  won  premier  place  for  eighteen  Roses, 
distinct  (amateurs),  a  bloom  of  Mar^chal  Niel  being  the  best, 
Mrs.  Tetley  was  second,  and  Mrs.  Bennington  third. 

Hardy  Flowers. 

Messrs.  Harkness  and  Son,  Bedale,  were  given  the  first 
prize  for  a  collection  of  hardy  cut  flowers.  They  had 
arranged  a  splendid  bank  of  them  in  great  variety.  Eremuri, 
Papaver  Prince  of  Orange.  P:eonies,  Globe  Flowers,  Irises, 
Pyrethrums,  Delphiniums,  *tc.,  were  all  well  represented. 
Messrs.  G.  Gibson  and  Co.,  teeming  Bar,  Bedale,  were 
second,  and  in  their  display,  nctably  good,  were  Tulip 
Yellow  Prince,  Pyrethrums,  and  Irises  ;  Messrs.  R.  Harkness 
and  Co.,  Hitchin,  were  third. 

For  twenty-four  bunches  of  hardy  border  flowers,  Messrs. 
Harkness  and  Son,  Bedale,  were  first  with  a  lovely  lot, 
including  P;vonies,  Pyrethrums,  Spiraeas,  Polemoniums, 
Trolliuses,  &c.  ;  Mr.  G.  Cottam,  Alma  Gardens,  Cottingham, 
was  second,  and  Messrs.  G.  Gibson  and  Co.  were  third. 

For  twelve  bunches  of  hardy  border  flowers,  Mr.  William 
Hutchinson,  Kirby  Moorside,  won  the  first  prize,  Mr. 
Mclndoe  the  second,  and  Mr.  Leadbetter  third. 

Table  Decoration. 

Mr.  G.  Cottam  was  placed  first  for  a  vase  of  flowers  for 
the  dining  table,  Mr.  George  Webster  being  second,  and 
Mr.  W,  Vause  third. 

Messrs.  Perkins  and  Son  won  for  a  hand  basket  of  cut 
flowers,  Messrs.  Artindale  were  second,  and  Mr.  Vause  third. 
Messrs.  Perkins  were  also  first  for  a  similar  basket  (Orchids 
excluded). 

The  first  prize  for  a  single  bouquet  was  gained  by  Messrs. 
Perkins  with  a  lovely  arrangement  consisting  of  PhaLxnopsis, 
Odontoglossums,  Oncidiums,  &c,  ;  Messrs.  Artindale  were 
second  with  a  bouquet  of  pink  Carnations. 

Fruits  anu  Vegetables. 
For  a  decorated  table  of  ripe  fruit,  Mr.  Goodacre,  Elvaston 
Castle  Gardens,  was  first,  gaining  ujnety-six  points  out  of  a 


possible  lo6.  The  decoration  was  extremely  pretty,  the 
glasses  along  the  centre  of  the  table  being  filled  with 
Odontoglossum  crispum,  Masdevallia  harryana,  Heuchera 
sanguinea.  Asparagus,  &c.,  an  arrangement  which  proved 
bright  and  effective.  The  Grapes  shown  were  Black  Ham- 
burgh and  Foster's  Seedling,  and  there  were  Strawberry 
Royal  Sovereign,  Nectarine  Lord  Napier,  Melons  Blenheim 
Orange  and  Monarch,  Figs  Brown  Turkey  and  Brunswick,  and 
Peach  Royal  George,  all  very  good.  Sir.  Mclndoe,  Hutton 
Hall  Gardens,  Guisborough,  was  second  with  an  exhibit  that 
gained  seventy-five  points.  The  flower  vases  were  filled 
with  Clerodendron  fallax,  Dendrobiums,  Odontoglossums, 
grasses,  &c.,  and  there  were  small  glasses  in  which  were 
placed  Cattleya  blooms.  Air.  Mclndoe's  Grapes  Black 
Hamburgh  and  Golden  Champion  were  very  good,  as  also 
were  the  dishes  of  Plums  Purple  Imperial  and  Early 
Transparent  Gage,  Peach  Grosse  Mignonne,  Nectarine 
Early  Rivers",  Melons  Best  of  All  and  a  Queen  Pine.  Mr.  C. 
E.  Simpson,  Huntress  Row,  Scarborough,  was  third  with 
seventy-two  points.  The  table,  which  was  decorated  with 
Orehidsand  Poppies  chiefly,  had  a  somewhat  bare  appearance. 
The  Plums,  Cherries,  and  Nectarines  were  good. 

For  a  collection  of  fniits  (six  kinds)  Mr.  J.  C.  McPherson, 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Londesborough,  won  the  first  prize. 
The  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  were  excellent,  although  the 
Muscats  were  green.  Melon  Frogmore  Scarlet,  Nectarine 
Lord  Napier,  and  Peach  Royal  George  were  of  good  (juality  ; 
Mr.  Mclndoe  was  second,  his  best  dfshes  being  Early  Rivers' 
Nectarine,  Grosse  Mignonne  Peach,  and  Melon  Best  of  All. 

For  a  collection  of  fruits  (four  kinds)  Mr.  McPherson  was 
again  first.  Particularly  good  were  Nectarine  Early  Rivers 
and  a  Melon  Frogmore  Seedling  x  Royal  Jubilee  ;  Mr.  John 
Easter,  Nostell  Priory  Gardens,  Wakefield,  was  second,  his 
Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  being  good ;  Mr.  Mclndoe  was 
third. 

Mr.  J.  Roberts,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Portland, 
Welbeck,  was  easily  first  for  one  Pine-apple,  showing 
Smooth  Cayenne;  Mr.  Thomas  Hague  was  second  with  a 
poor  Queen. 

For  three  bunches  of  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes,  Mr.  Mclndoe 
was  first  with  splendid  bunches,  good  berries  and  well 
coloured;  Mr.  W.  NichoUs,  gardener  to  the  Right  Hon. 
Lady  Beaumont,  Carlton  Towers,  was  second  with  very  good 
Grapes,  but  the  bunches  smaller ;  and  Mr.  McPherson  was 
third  with  bunches  that  somewhat  lacked  finish ;  there 
were  several  other  exhibitors. 

Mr.  Nicholls  won  for  three  bunches  of  ^Vhite  Grapes  with 
well-finished  Buckland  Sweetwater,  Mr.  M.  Murchison, 
gardener  to  F.  B.  Grotrian,  Esq.,  Ingmanthorpe  Hallj 
\^'etherby,  being  second  with  the  same  variety  ;  and  Mr. 
Mclndoe  was  third,  showing  Duke  of  Buccleuch  that  lacked 
finish. 

Mr.  D.  Williams,  gardener  to  Earl  Feversham,  Duncombe 
Park,  Helmsley,  was  first  for  six  Peaches,  showing  splendid 
fruits  of  Hale's  Early;  Mr.  Roberts,  Welbeck  Abbey 
Gardens,  was  second,  showing  the  same  variety;  Mr.  R. 
Doe,  gardener  to  Earl  Derby,  Kuowsley  Hall,  was  third  ; 
and  Mr.  Goodacre  fourth. 

Mr.  R.  Doe  won  for  six  Nectarines  with  some  grand  fruits 
of  Early  Rivers',  splendidly  coloured  ;  Mr.  J.  Doe,  gardener 
to  Lord  Savile,  Rufford  Abbey,  Notts,  was  second  with  fine 
Lord  Napier,  and  Mr.  Goodacre  was  third. 

Again  Mr.  R.  Doe  was  first  for  a  scarlet  fleshed  Melon, 
showing  the  variety  Lord  Derby  ;  Mr.  Mclndoe  was  second 
with  a  large  fruit  of  Scarlet  Premier,  and  Mr.  D.  Hazel  wood, 
gardener  to  Colonel  Gascoigne,  Parlington,  Aberford,  Leeds, 
was  third. 

Mr.  R.  Doe  won  also  for  a  green  fleshed  Melon,  showing 
a  fruit  of  Countess  of  Derby:  Mr.  Uazelwood  was  second 
with  Royal  Jubilee,  and  Mr.  McPherson  was  third. 

Mr.  Leadbetter  won  for  a  white  fleshed  variety ;  Mr. 
McPherson  being  second,  and  Sir.  Mclndoe  third. 

Mr.  Roberts,  Welbeck  Abbey  Gardens,  was  first  for  a 
dish  of  Figs  ;  Mr.  D.  Williams  second,  and  Mr.  G.  E.  Thomas 
third. 

Jlr.  Dawes,  Temple  Newsam  Gardens,  won  the  first  prize 
for  a  dish  of  Cherries  with  a  splendid  dish  of  Early  Rivers'  ; 
Mr.  Roberts  was  second,  and  Mr.  Goodacre  third. 

For  a  dish  of  Strawberries,   Mr.  R.  Doe  was  first  with 
splendid  Royal  Sovereign ;  Mr.  W.  Chuck,  Brodsworth  Hall 
Gardens,  Doncaster,  being  second,  and  Mr.  Goodacre  third. 
Vegetables. 

Mr.  D.  Williams  was  placed  first  for  a  dish  of  Tomatoes, 
Mr.  W.  Nichols  being  second,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Hague  third. 

For  a  collection  of  vegetables,  six  distinct  varieties  (prizes 
offered  by  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading).  Mr.  Beckett, 
Aldenhara  House  Gardens,  was  first ;  Mr.  Mclndoe  second, 
and  Mr.  Thomas  Hague  third. 

For  a  collection  of  vegetables,  six  distinct  kinds  (prizes 
oflfered  by  Messrs.  Webb  and  Sons,  Stourbridge),  Jlr.  E. 
Beckett  was  again  first,  and  Mr.  Mclndoe  next ;  Mr.  Thomas 
Hague,  who  would  have  had  second  place,  was  disqualified. 


TO 


ANSWERS 
CORRESPONDENTS. 


Names   of  plants.— IT.  S.   Tillett— The  Iris  is  I. 
variegata  Chelles,  and  the  white  flower  is  Achillea  mon- 

goliea. F.  B.  M.,  Blackhcath.~'Po\emammu  reptans. 

T.  U.  ^.— Asclepias  fiuticosa. Itosslyn.—l.  The  name  of 

the  sketched  plant  is  Tradescautia  virginiana,  a  native  of 
North  America.  2.  Tradescantia  virginiana  is  perfectly 
hardy,  and  may  be  grown  in  ordinary  garden  soil  in  the 
herbaceous  border  or  on  the  rockery.  It  may  be  increased 
by  division  in  early  spring  or  by  seeds.  3.  Adiantum 
trapeziforme.  This  should  be  grown  in  a  moist  stove  in  a 
mixture  of  equal  parts  good  fibrous  peat  and  loam  to  which 
has  been  added  a  quantity  of  grit  and  sand.  It  must  never 
be  overpotted,  and  should  always  be  civen  perfect  drainage 
When  growth  is  aptjve  copious  supplies  of  water  are  neces- 


sary, reducing  the  supply  in  winter  when  the  plants  are  at 

rest,  but  never  allowing  the  balls  to  become   dust  dry. 

Propagate   by  division,  or,    better  still,  from  spores.     4. 

Davallia  buUata  var.  Mariesii.    Grow  in  the  same  house  as 

the  Adiantum. A.  M.  S.— Siberian  Iris  (I.  siberica). 

Vine  leaves  diseased  (J.  M.,  Dumfriesshire.— We 

can  trace  no  indication  of  the  appearance  of  red  spider  on 

the  Vine  leaf  sent  for  our  inspection. 

The    leaf    is  well-developed    and  of 

good  substance,  but  too  young  to  be  ^ 

subjected    to   sulphur    fumes    from  \  N 

heated  pipes.    We  suspect  that  this  )^ 

has  caused  the  discolouration  on  the 

underside  of  the  leaf,  although  it  has 

much    the   appearance   of    what    is 

commonly  understood  as  Vine  rust — 

a   form   of    fungus— an    attack  from 

which  is  generally  brought  about  by 

the  injudicious  admittance  of  currents 

of  cold  air.    Should  it  prove  to  be  rust 

your   sulphur   fumes    will    probably 

have  killed  it  ;    on  the   other  hand, 

should  it  be  caused  by  the  fumes,  as 

the  Vines  are   evidently  healthy,  a 

change  to  warmer  weather  will  soon 

bring  about  a 

favourable 

result. 
Cytisu  s 

p  p  se  c  o  X 

(JI.).— This    is 

a  Ij  e  a  u  t  i  f  u  1 

Cytisus,      and 

we     give    a 

little  illustra- 

t  i  o  n   of  it. 

Several    notes 

have   recently 

appeared       in 

The  Garpen. 
Li  i  1  ium 

candidum 

failing- (CT. 

Corn  ish).— 

The  Lilies  sent 

show  no  trace 
of  disease. 

They  appear 
to  have 
suffered  from 
late  frost  and 
cutting  winds, 
and  to  have 
been  grown  in 
a  soil  much 
too  poor  to 
support  them. 
As  the  plants 
have  been 
growing  in  the 
same  place  for 
years  it  would 
be  best  to  lift 
them  all  and 
move  them, 
even  if  only  a 
yard  away 
from  the  old 
site.  Do  this 
in  August,  pre- 
pare the  new 
site    by   deep 

digging,  and  give  a  dressing  of  manure,  burying  this 
0  niches  or  S  inches  below  the  bulbs.  The  bulbs  you  send  are 
perfectly  sound,  but  bear  evidence  of  a  struggle  for  existence 
in  their  thin  scales  and  in  the  poorness  of  growth  ;  from 
their  appearance  your  garden  is  a  dry  one,  and  it  would  be 
well  to  continue  to  water  them  heavily  early  each  year,  and 
again  after  flowering. 


CTTISUS   PB.ECOX. 


QUESTIONS. 

Lupines  losing-  theip  buds,  tan  you  inform  me 
the  cause  of  the  whole  of  my  Lupines  losing  all  their  flower 
buds?  The  flower  stems  are  fully  developed,  and  then  the 
buds  begin  to  fall  off ;  the  plants  otherwise  remain  in  good 
health.-C.  L.  A. 

Does  Hellebopus  altifollus  seed?— I  would 
be  much  obliged  if  you  or  any  of  your  readers  could 
tell  me  whether  Helleborus  altifolius,  the  giant  November 
flowering  Christmas  Rose,  ever  bears  seed.  The  ordinary 
Helleborus  iiiger,  of  course,  seeds  freely,  but  I  have  been 
trying  in  vain  for  several  years  to  procure  seeds  of  the  giant 
variety.  This  spring  one  of  my  plants  produced  a  few  empty 
capsules,  but  these  have  now  withered  and  dropped  off. 
Seedling  plants  always  grow  with  much  more  vigour  than 
those  which  are  merely  divided,  and  I  am  very  anxious  to 
increase  my  stock  in  this  way.  Taking  all  things  into  con- 
sideration, I  think  the  Giant  Christmas  Rose  is  one  of  the 
best  outdoor  flowers  we  possess.  It  is  thoroughly  hardy 
and  free-flowering  in  this  climate  (S.E.  Scotland,  700  feet 
above  sea-level),  where  the  later  Michaelmas  Daisies  are 
useless.  With  a  minimum  of  protection,  such  as  an  inverted 
wooden  box  propped  up  in  front  on  a  forked  stick,  we  had 
these  lovely  white  flowers,  faintly  flushed  with  pink,  at 
Christmas  time  last  year  with  a  foot  of  snow  on  the  ground. 
— B.  .M.  H.,  Beru-ickstdre. 

Destroying  moles  In  flowep  bopdeps.— I 
should  be  most  grateful  if  you  or  one  of  your  numerous 
readers  could  tell  me  of  some  expeditious  manner  of  getting 
rid  of  moles.  I  am  overrun  with  them  in  my  flower  borders. 
The  ordinary  trap  seems  practically  useless.  Can  I  bait 
them  with  something  that  is  irresistible  to  the  mole  palate, 
pr  can  I  put  some  poison  in  their  rups  l—U.  A.  PKTti, 


I  ^^^^ 


GARDEN 


«— ^ 


No.  1597.— Vol.  LXL] 


[June  28,  1902 


THE    CORONATION. 

WITH  all  the  British  people  at 
home  and  beyond  the  seas  we 
rejoice  in  this  time  of  national 
joy  and  thankfulness.  And 
it  is  fitting — at  the  moment 
when  our  King  receives  the  outward  emblems 
of  the  solemn  trust  that  is  laid  upon  him  and 
the  homage  of  the  chiefs  among  his  people, 
who,  according  to  ancient  tradition  represent 
the  vast  masses  of  those  of  lower  rank — to 
remember  with  loyal  gratitude  how  great  a 
thing  a  King  does  for  his  people  merely  in  the 
holding  of  his  kingly  office. 

Those  who  have  the  inestimable  benefit  of 
quiet  homes  in  this,  our  beautiful  England, 
who  may  freely  come  and  go  without  the  glare 
of  publicity  or  the  irksome  restraints  of  a 
great  position  whose  ceremonial  attitude  can 
be  but  rarely  relaxed,  should  remember  how 
little  of  this,  one  of  the  commonest  and  truest 
of  life's  good  things,  can  be  enjoyed  by  a 
king.  It  is  well  also  to  remember  how  long  and 
patiently  he  has  laboured,  as  Prince  of  Wales, 
to  fulfil  all  the  public  duties  and  ceremonies 
that  must  often  have  been  a  weariness,  but 
throughout  which  he  never  failed  to  bear 
himself  with  that  gracious  dignity  and  kindly 
tact  that  gave  the  impression  that  what  he 
had  in  hand  was  truly  a  work  of  pleasure 
rather  than  a  toil.  We  also  know  well  how 
not  only  the  greater  Royal  duties  and  vast 
Imperial  interests,  but  those  practical  details 
of  national  economy  that  directly  touch  the 
welfare  of  the  people  are  near  the  heart  of  the 
King,  as  is  shown  by  his  unceasing  interest 
in  the  prosperity  of  hospitals  and  the 
difficult  problem  of  the  housing  of  working 
people. 

Queen  Alexandra  has  long  been  enthroned 
in  the  hearts  of  the  English  people,  and  the 
thoughts  of  all  are  with  her  in  loving  thank- 
fulness on  the  day  when,  with  the  King,  she 
will  be  solemnly  anointed  and  crowned. 


TSING  I,   OR  CHEUNG   HUE 
ISLAND, 

Probably  the  majority  of  the  readers  of  these 
notes  will  have  some  considerable  difficulty  in 
finding  the  name  of  this  island  on  their  atlases, 
so  I  might  as  well  give  them  an  idea  of  its 
approximate  location.  It  is  situated  to  the 
north-west  of  the  island  of  Hong  Kong,  its 
nearest  point  being  only  four  or  five  miles 
■distant  from  the  latter.  From  the  mainland 
it  is  not  much  more  than  half  a  mile.  It  is 
■one    of    the   islands    included   in    the    New 


Territory,  and  leased  to  Great  Britain  by  the 
Convention  of  1898. 

Cheung  Hue  is  about  two  miles  in  length 
and  one  mile  in  breadth,  and  has  an  area  of 
considerably  over  1,000  acres.  The  island 
consists  of  a  rugged  mountain  range,  broken 
into  several  peaks,  the  highest  of  which  is 
1,000  feet  above  sea  level.  These  hills  are  inter- 
sected with  ravines,  and  it  is  in  such  places 
that  the  vegetation  is  generally  most  abundant. 
On  the  north-east  end  of  the  island  are  two  or 
three  small  villages,  the  inhabitants  of  which 
obtain  a  livelihood  by  agriculture  and  fishing. 
There  is  not  much  land  under  cultivation,  but 
considerably  more  could  be  utilised  for  this 
purpose.  The  principal  crops  I  noticed  when 
on  a  visit  to  the  place  in  .July  last  were  Rice, 
Sweet  Potatoes,  Ground  Nuts,  and  Jute  (Cor- 
chorus  capsularis).  A  piece  of  ground  had 
been  prepared  for  the  Pine-apples,  and  as  they 
do  very  well  on  the  opposite  mainland  there 
is  no  reason  why  they  should  not  thrive  on 
Cheung  Hue  Island.  Around  the  villages 
there  were  a  few  small  orchards  of  Litchis 
(Nephelium  Litchi),  Longnans  (Nephelium 
Longana),  Peaches,  and  Pumeloes.  The  trees 
were  planted  in  such  a  way,  however,  that  I 
should  think  the  crops  would  be  extremely 
poor.  They  were  so  close  together  that  only 
the  tops  of  the  trees  got  any  sunlight,  and 
pruning  and  manuring  appeared  to  be  entirely 
neglected.  The  villagers  no  doubt  planted  the 
trees  with  the  idea  that  they  would  produce 
fruit,  but  how  they  could  be  expected  to  under 
such  conditions  I  do  not  know. 

The  island  is  well  stocked  with  Pine  trees 
(Pinus  massoniana),  but  the  majority  of  these 
are  not  more  than  ten  years  old.  Many  of 
them  are,  I  should  say,  self-sown,  but,  unques- 
tionably, the  villagers  have  planted  a  large 
proportion.  As  soon  as  the  trees  get  a  few 
feet  high  the  lowest  branches  are  cut  ofi'  for 
firewood,  and  this  process  continues  until  the 
trees  assume  a  mop-like  appearance  and  all 
growth  is  arrested,  and  then  the  woodman's 
axe  completes  the  destruction.  For  every  tree 
cut  down  another  is  planted — such,  at  least,  in 
theory,  is  the  method  pursued  by  the  Chinese 
in  the  south  of  China ;  but,  without  stating 
that  such  is  actually  the  case,  I  may  say  that 
many  of  them  certainly  replant  cleared  areas, 
and  in  this  way  a  continuous  supply  of  fire- 
wood is  maintained. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  the  villages  were 
some  fine  natural   forests,  the  biggest    trees 
being  those  of   Machilus  rimosa.      Machilus 
velutina  was  also  found  there,  with  several 
species    of    Ficus,    Pithecolobium    lucidum,  j 
Mallotus  cochinchinensis,  Sterculia  lanceolata,  i 
Aquilaria     grandiflora,     Sapium     sebiferum, 
Bischoffia  javanica,  Celtis  sinensis,  Eustigma 
oblongifolium,  Gleditschia  chinensis,  Gordonia 
anomala,    and     Heptapleurum    octophyllum. 
Underneath  the  shade  of  the  trees  I  observed  I 
Lygodium     scandens,    L.    japonicum,    Pteris 
crenata,     Davallia    tenuifolia,     Nephrodium 
molle,  Nephrolepis  exaltata,  and    Blechnum ' 


orientale  as  representatives  of  the  Ferns. 
Growing  on  rocks,  in  the  bed  of  a  small  stream 
which  runs  through  one  of  the  woods,  I  came 
across  Lasia  heterophylla  in  quantity,  an 
interesting  Aroid,  as  it  is  not  found  in  Hong 
Kong.  There  is  a  specimen  of  this  plant  (un- 
named) in  the  herbarium  of  the  Botanical 
Gardens,  found  by  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Bodinier  a 
few  years  ago  in  Paimoshan.  It  is  rather 
curious  that  it  is  not  found  in  Hong  Kong,  as 
there  are  many  places  in  the  island  which  are 
exactly  similar  to  the  spot  it  was  found  in  on 
Cheung  Hue.  Hibiscus  tiliaceus,  with  its  large 
canary-coloured  flowers,  with  a  blotch  of  purple 
j  on  the  inside  of  the  petals  at  the  base,  and 
iEcigeras  majus  were  plentiful  in  places  near 
the  sea.  A  few  large  trees  of  Ficus  retusa  were 
thriving  in  the  vicinity  of  the  villages. 

On  the  hillsides  Melastoma  candidum  and 
I M.  sanguineum  were  abundant,  and  both 
:  were  coming  into  flower.  They  are  both 
j  exceedingly  showy  species,  with  flowers  of 
]  somewhat  similar  colour  and  size.  Osbeckia 
1  chinensis,  another  Melastoma,  was  also  met 
with  in  long  grass.  Pandanus  urophyllus,  a 
stemless  species,  was  observed  in  shady  woods, 
and  P.  fascicularis  was,  as  usual,  plentiful 
on  the  lower  levels.  This  latter  species  is 
largely  used  for  making  hedges  in  Hong  Kong 
and  the  neighbourhood,  but  when  left  to  itself 
it  often  forms  a  small  tree  about  15  feet  high. 
For  hedge  making,  branches  are  chopped  off 
and  just  stuck  in  the  ground,  where  they  readily 
take  root.  Rhaphiolepis  indica  and  Ehodo- 
myrtus  tomentosa  are  two  pretty  flowering 
shrubs,  which  were  met  with.  The  Rhaphio- 
lepis is  somewhat  like  the  Hawthorn,  hence  the 
common  name  of  Indian  May.  The  Rhodo- 
myrtus,  as  its  name  implies,  is  a  rose-coloured 
Myrtle.  Acanthus  ilicifolius,  very  appropri 
ately  named,  was  luxuriating  in  salt  water 
swamps  ;  and  on  the  banks  of  the  fresh  water 
streams  Adina  globiflora,  a  rubiaceous  plant, 
and  Symplocos  spicata  (Styracese)  were  flower- 
ing. The  Symplocos  is  a  sweetly  scented  shrub 
about  8  feet  or  9  feet  high,  with  oblong 
acuminate  thick  leathery  leaves  on  petioles  of 
half  an  inch,  and  .3  inches  to  5  inches  long, 
with  crenate  margins,  with  the  upper  surface' 
shining  and  the  under  dull.  The  flowers  are 
small  and  produced  in  spikes,  several  together, 
in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  and  are  .3  inches  or 
4  inches  long.  In  shady  places  Ardisia  crispa, 
A.  pauciflora  and  Alpinia  nutans  were  quite 
at  home,  and  Anisomeles  ovata,  a  labiate, 
was  growing  in  a  swamp.  Encircled  around 
trees  Dalbergia  Hanali  looked  very  pretty,  its 
bright  green  foliage  showing  up  to  distinct 
advantage  against  the  darker  green  of  the 
other  plants.  When  this  Dalbergia  gets  old 
very  formidable  thorns  are  produced  on  its 
woqd.  Crinum  asiaticum  was  found  along  the 
shore  in  considerable  quantities  in  full  flower, 
its  large  umbels  of  white  flowers  being  a  very 
pleasing  sight. 

I  read  the  other  day  in  a  book  on  gardening 
that  Crinums  were  not  worth  cultivating  for 


422 


THE    GAltUKJN. 


[dVNE    28,    1902. 


their  flowers,  as  they  were  produced  so 
sparingly,  but  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  state 
that  my  experience  differs  from  that  of  the 
writer  of  the  article.  Some  time  ago  I  was 
coming  down  the  Sam  Chun  River,  which 
forms  a  part  of  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  New  Territory,  and  for  a  few  miles 
Crinum  asiaticum,  ^cigeras  majus,  and 
Acanthus  ilicifolius  were  the  most  noticeable 
plants  on  its  banks';  and  as  the  Crinuras  were 
in  flower  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the  finest 
sights  I  had  seen  for  many  a  day.  It  has  been 
remarked  to  me  that  there  is  nothing  in  nature 
to  equal  a  field  of  red  Poppies  in  flower,  and 
for  gorgeousness  1  suppose  there  is  not.  At 
the  same  time  I  think  it  must  be  admitted 
that  there  are  many  more  beautiful  sights. 

Many  of  our  hillsides  at  certain  seasons  of 
the  year  are  simply  pictures  of  beauty.  When 
Rhododendron  (Azalea)  indicum  is  in  bloom, 
its  thousands  of  flowers  dotted  about  amongst 
the  green  foliage  of  other  shrubs  render  it  a 
sight  for  any  lover  of  nature  to  wish  to  see. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  Melastomas, 
Rhodomyrtus  tomentosa,  Mussjenda  pubescens, 
and  a;host  of  other  things.      W.  J.  Tutcher. 

(To  be  continued.) 


NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK. 


FORTHCOMING  EVENTS. 

June  28. — Maidstone  Rose  Show. 

June  30. — Canterbury  Rose  Show. 

July  1.  ^Southampton  Rose  Show  (two  days)  ; 
Meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners' 
Association. 

July  2. — National  Rose  Society's  Show  in  the 
Temple  Gardens ;  Croydon  Rose  Show  ;  Hanley 
Horticultural  Fete ;  Hereford  and  West  of  England 
Rose  Show ;  Newcastle-on-Tyne  Summer  Show 
(three  days) ;  Richmond  Horticultural  Show  ; 
Worshipful  Company  of  Ganleners'  dinner,  7.30, 
Prince's  Restaurant. 

July  3. — Colchester,  Sidcup,  and  Norwich  Rose 
Shows. 

July  4.  —  National  Rose  Society's  Southern 
Exhibition  at  Exeter. 

Beaumontia    gpandiflora.— This 

handsome  climber  is  too  rarely  seen  in  gardens,  for 
when  at  its  best  it  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental 
plants  imaginable.  It  is  an  Indian  species,  and 
has  been  cultivated  for  about  eighty  years.  It 
succeeds  particularly  well  in  an  intermediate 
temperature,  planted  in  a  border  of  loam  and  peat, 
where  it  quickly  covers  a  large  space,  and  flowers 
freely  in  June.  The  leaves  are  thick  and  leathery, 
and  ovate  in  shape.  The  flowers  are  white,  tubular, 
with  a  spreading  limb,  and  nearly  4  inches  long, 
while  the  flowering  period  extends  over  a  month 
or  six  weeks,  and  there  are  usually  a  large  number 
of  flowers  open  at  once  on  well-grown  plants.  In 
the  Mexican  house  at  Kew  a  fine  plant  is  in  flower. 
It  can  be  increased  by  means  of  cuttings,  which 
may  be  rooted  in  sandy  soil  in  a  close  case. — 
W.  Dallijiore. 

PapaveP  pilOSUm.  —  Of  all  species  of 
the  Poppy  none  is  handsomer  than  this,  either 
growing  or  in  a  cut  state.  For  vase  decoration 
cut  a  spray  with  buds  as  well  as  opening  blossoms. 
This  is  the  way  to  see  this  Poppy  at  its  best, 
lasting  as  it  does  quite  fresh  for  several  days,  the 
coral-coloured  blooms  light  up  so  well,  too,  at 
night.  As  a  border  plant  this  Poppy  has  few 
equals  in  the  month  of  June.  It  is  one  of  the 
easiest  to  increase.  Every  scrap  of  growth  with  a 
root  attached  will  make  a  display  later  on  if 
shaded  from  bright  sun  until  new  roots  are  formed 
— E.  M. 

The  yellow-floweped   Paeony.— This 

plant  first  flowered  at  Kew  two  years  ago,  the 
colour  being  new  to  the  genus.  At  the  present 
time  the  same  plant  is  flowering,  and  forms  one  of 
the  most  interesting  features  of   the   Himalayan 


house.  The  Kew  plant  was  sent  to  Kew  from  the 
Paris  Botanic  Garden  in  1898  several  plants  having 
been  received  in  Paris  from  Western  China.  Its 
correct  name  is  Pieonia  lutea,  and  when  out  of 
flower  it  strongly  resembles  P.  Moutan.  The 
flowers  are  small,  about  3  inches  across,  with  deep 
golden  yellow  petals  and  stamens.  It  is  of  very 
slow  growth,  increasing  in  height  only  an  inch  or 
two  annually.  At  Kew  it  has  not  been  tried  out 
of  doors,  but  grows  without  fire-heat. 

National  Rose  Society,— The  Dean  of 

Rochester  will  open  the  National  Rose  Society's 
Show  at  noon  on  July  2. — Edward  Mawley, 
Hon.  Sec. 

The  grreat  Coronation    Rose   and 
flower    show   at   Holland   House.— 

This,  the  most  important  horticultural  exhibition 
of  the  year,  took  place  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday 
last,  and,  by  kind  permission  of  the  Earl  and 
Countess  of  Ilchester,  was  held  in  the  grounds 
adjoining  Holland  House,  Kensington.  Five  large 
tents  accommodated  the  exhibits,  and  they  con- 
tained an  unique  display  of  plants,  flowers,  and 
fruits.  The  fact  of  the  exhibitors  having  plentj' 
of  space  in  which  to  arrange  their  displays  had  a 
marked  efi'ect  upon  the  appearance  of  the  groups. 
They  were  altogether  more  artistic  than  is  usually 
the  case.  By  reason  of  the  extraordinary  late 
season  the  classes  for  cut  Roses  were  not  keenly 
contested.  The  deficiency  in  this  respect  was,  how- 
ever, more  than  compensated  for  by  the  magnifi- 
cent groups  of  plants,  that  were  exhibited  for  the 
most  part  by  nurserj-men.  Not  only  were  the 
tents  well  filled,  but  out  of  doors  were  arranged 
several  groups  of  hardy  trees  and  shrubs,  remark- 
able either  for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers  or 
foliage.  Prominent  amongst  these  was  a  dis- 
play of  clipped  Yews  and  Box  trees,  extending 
the  full  length  of  one  tent,  from  Messrs.  Cut- 
bush  and  Son,  Highgate,  N.  This  collection 
contained  many  specimens  of  remarkable  shape. 
The  Box  trees  were  a  very  pretty  green, 
and  one  could  notice  excellent  representa- 
tions of  arm-chairs,  baskets,  ships,  wheelbarrows, 
&c.  Prominent  at  the  back  of  the  group  were 
Yews  in  the  shape  of  peacocks,  spirals,  &c.  ;  all  the 
plants  were  growing  in  tubs.  Messrs.  J.  Cheal 
and  Sons,  Crawley,  Sussex,  displayed  an  attractive 
bank  of  shrubs  in  considerable  variety  ;  Messrs. 
T.  Cripps  and  Son,  Tunbridge  Wells,  were  repre- 
sented by  a  large  and  handsome  group  of  Japanese 
Maples,  and  Messrs.  John  Laing  and  Sons,  Forest 
Hill,  showed  a  bright  lot  of  hardy  flowering  shrubs. 
Japanese  Maples  in  quantity  and  excellent  variety, 
together  with  Liliums,  &e. ,  were  sent  by  Messrs. 
Fromow,  Chiswick,  and  a  pretty  display  was  made 
by  Messrs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited, 
Chelsea,  with  a  large  group  of  hybrid  Aquilegias 
and  spikes  of  Eremurus,  these  being  surrounded 
by  Bamboos  in  tubs.  Mr.  Russell,  Richmond,  also 
arranged  an  attractive  group  of  miscellaneous 
shrubs  out  of  doors.  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons, 
Reading,  had  a  charming  exhibit  of  Gloxinias, 
tastefully  arranged,  and  forming  a  very  pretty 
mound  of  flowers  and  greenery.  They  were  pro- 
tected by  a  large  glass  stand,  and  this  again  was 
under  a  canvas  covering,  so  that  the  many  beautiful 
varieties  of  these  flowers  were  seen  at  their  very 
best.  In  the  first  tent  Mr.  Amos  Perry,  Winch- 
more  Hill,  had  a  delightful  lot  of  hardy  flowers, 
and  an  interesting  collection  of  water  plants, 
including  all  the  best  Nympheas  ;  and  Messrs. 
Wallace,  of  Colchester,  displayed  a  beautiful  group 
of  Lilies,  Irises  in  great  variety,  hardy  Orchids, 
Sparaxis,  and  a  host  of  other  plants.  From  Messrs. 
Dobbie  andiCo.,  Rothesay,  N.B.,  came  a  bright 
and  pretty  display  of  cut  Pansies  and  Violas,  and 
a  charming  lot  of  hybrid  Aquilegia  flowers  arranged 
in  glasses.  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon,  Bath, 
showed  a  group  of  finely  grown  tuberous  Begonias  ; 
Messrs.  Cutbush  made  quite  a  mass  of  flower  with 
a  new  white  Anemone-flowered  Marguerite  called 
Coronation  ;  and  Messrs  Jones  and  Son,  Shrews- 
bury, had  a  pretty  exhibit  of  Sweet  Peas,  Spanish 
and  other  Irises.  An  extensive  display  of 
hardy  flowers  was  set  up  by  Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware, 
Limited,  Feltham,  and  by  Messrs.  George  Jackman 
and  Son,  Woking ;  while  Messrs.  Reamsbottoni 
'and   Co.,  Geashill,  King's  County,  showed   their 


lovely  Aldeborough  strain  of  Anemones.  Hardy 
flowers  were  largely  shown  by  Messrs.  Paul  and 
Son,  Cheshunt,  and  also  by  M.  Maurice  Prichard, 
Christchurch,  Hants,  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Wade, 
Colchester.  In  the  next  tent,  Messrs.  Paul  and 
Son,  Cheshunt,  had  a  lovel}'  group  of  standard 
and  dwarf  Roses.  Mr.  Martin  Smith  arranged  a 
display  of  Malmaison  and  other  Carnations  that 
included  some  remarkably  beautiful  varieties,  and 
Mr.  W.  Iceton,  Putney,  exhibited  a  charming 
bank  of  Lilies  of  the  Valley,  Liliums,  and  Palms. 
Mr.  George  Bunyard,  Maidstone,  showed  fruit 
trees  in  pots,  dishes  of  Cherries  and  Apples,  as 
well  as  Rhododendrons  and  hardy  flowero.  An 
attractive  group  of  Begonias  was  shown  by  Messrs. 
Peed  and  Son,  West  Norwood.  Mr.  George  Prince, 
Longworth,  Berks,  made  a  pretty  display  with 
cut  Roses,  and  Messrs.  Canuell  and  Sons,  Swanlej', 
exhibited  the  brilliant  Cannas  they  grow  so  well. 
Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Son  had  a  magnificent  group 
of  Carnations,  consisting  of  splendidly  grown 
plants,  and  Messrs.  Rivers  and  Son,  Sawbridge- 
worth,  exhibited  their  unique  fruit  trees  in  pots. 
Some  of  the  Cherry  trees  are  wonderful  specimens, 
and  all  are  bearing  good  crops.  The  exhibit  from 
Messrs.  Fisher,  Son,  and  Sibray,  Handsworth, 
Yorks,  took  the  form  of  a  group  of  stove  plants. 
It  was  quite  one  of  the  best  arranged  displays  we 
have  seen,  and  the  plants  comprised  were  unusually 
choice  and  well  grown.  Mr.  James  Cypher, 
Cheltenham,  also  exhibited  a  group  of  miscel- 
laneous stove  plants,  that  included  many  good 
specimens,  and  was  of  distinct  and  good  arrange- 
ment. Messrs.  John  Waterer,  Limited,  Bagshot, 
showed  a  delightful  group  of  Rhododendrons,  that 
included  some  beautiful  sorts,  notably  Lady  Clemen- 
tine Walsh,  blush,  with  lemon  blotch  ;  and  Mar- 
chioness of  Tweedale,  rich  rose,  with  yellow  blotch, 
both  new.  Fancy  and  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums  were 
shown  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Lewisham  ;  a  splendid 
lot  of  Begonias  was  sent  by  Messrs.  B.  R.  Davis, 
Yeovil ;  and  Messrs.  Cannell  displayed  an  exten- 
sive collection  of  A<(uilegia  flowers  Messrs.  Veitch, 
Chelsea,  exhibited  a  grand  collection  of  stove  plants 
and  choice  flowering  plants ;  Messrs.  Hugh  Low 
and  Co.  showed  Hydrangeas,  Liliums,  Heaths,  &c. ; 
and  a  choice  display  of  Gloxinias,  and  Lilies  of  the 
Valley  was  made  by  Messrs.  James  Carter  and  Co., 
High  Holborn.  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  King  Street, 
CoventGarden,  exhibited  a  beautiful  and  extensive 
gathering  of  hardy  flowers,  filling  one  side  of  a 
large  tent.  The  Irises,  Pieonies,  Poppies,  and 
innumerable  others  were  grand.  Messrs.  Kelway 
and  Son,  Langport,  showed  some  magnificent 
varieties  of  Pasonies,  both  single  and  double, 
also  Delphiniums,  and  an  excellent  lot  of  Sweet 
Peas  was  displayed  by  Mr.  Robert  Sydenham, 
Tenby  Street,  Birmingham.  Mr.  W.  J. 
Godfrey,  Exmouth,  showed  Oriental  Poppies ; 
Messrs.  John  Laing  and  Sons,  hardy  plants 
and  cut  flowers.  Begonias,  Gloxinias,  &c. 
A  very  bright  exhibit  of  cut  flowers,  chiefly 
Spanish  Irises,  came  from  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams, 
HoUoway,  and  Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.  displayed 
Pigmy  Trees,  hardy  flowers,  a  miniature  rockery 
of  Alpine  plants,  a  collection  of  vegetables,  &c. 
There  were  some  grand  displays  of  Orchids,  notably 
those  from  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co. ,  St.  Albans, which 
included  many  lovely  things  ;  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  also  very  bright; 
Messrs.  Stanley,  Ashton  and  Co.,  Southgate  ; 
Messrs.  Hugh  Low  and  Co. ,  Enfield  ;  Messrs.  Cowan, 
Gateacre,  Liverpool  ;  Jeremiah  Colman,  Esq., 
Gatton  Park,  Reigate  ;  and  Sir  Frederic  Wigan, 
Bart.  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co.  also  exhibited  a 
collection  of  remarkably  fine  stove  plants',  and 
these  were  also  shown  by  Jeremiah  Colman,  Esq. 
Mr.  H.  B.  May  showed  a  group  of  well  grown 
plants  of  Ivy-leaved  and  zonal  Pelargoniums,  and 
Messrs.  Wood  and  Son,  Wood  Green,  displayed 
their  Coronation  baskets,  which,  filled  with 
flowers,  were  very  effective.  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sons  sent  a  collection  of  pigmy  trees ;  Mr.  S. 
Mortimer  showed  some  fine  Melons,  Tomatoes, 
and  Cucumbers;  Messrs.  R.  Veitch,  of  E.xeter, 
several  new  plants  ;  the  Misses  Hopkins,  hardy 
plants ;  and  Mr.  Percy  Waterer,  Sweet  Peas. 
We  shall  give  a  full  report  of  this  exhibition  in 
our  next  issue. 


June  28,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


423 


Eaply-floweping-  Chrysanthemum 
Mm^e.  Marie  Masse  and  its  sports. 

— Much  has  been  written  of  late  with  regard  to 
this  interesting  family  and  of  the  many  really 
first-rate  early-flowering  Chrysanthemums  in  culti- 
vation, those  represented  by  the  above  are  the 
best.  In  looking  through  the  collection  of  varieties 
which  blossom  in  September  and  early  October  the 
plants  of  Mme.  Marie  Masse  and  its  sports  appeared 
to  stand  out  more  distinct  than  all  others.  These 
varieties  have  often  been  described  as  ideal  border 
Chrysanthemums,  and  they  may  fairly  lay  claim 
to  that  distinction.  The  growth  is  robust,  branch- 
ing, and  flowers  are  produced  in  profusion.  A 
point,  too,  often  overlooked  by  admirers  of  these 
autumn-flowering  plants  is  the  splendid  length  of 
foot-atalk  which  each  plant  without  disbudding 
develops.  A  plant  which  has  flowers  in  a  closely 
packed  cluster,  with  short  flower-stalks,  can  never 
be  regarded  with  the  same  favour  as  one  which 
develops  its  blossoms  on  long  foot-stalks  in  a 
natural  way.  All  the  members  of  this  family  of 
early-flowering  Chrysanthemums  are  alike  in  this 
respect,  and  for  this  reason  each  flower  may  be 
used  in  a  cut  state  with  little  or  no  previous 
disbudding.  Small  pieces  planted  out  at  this 
comparatively  late  period  will  quickly  make 
charming  specimens.  Mme.  Marie  Masse,  Ralph 
Curtis,  Crimson  Marie  Masse,  Rabbie  Burns,  and 
Horace  Martin  also  belong  to  this  group. — D.  B. 
Ckane. 

The  business  of  the  late  Mr. 
'William  Bull. — In  future  the  business  will 
be  carried  on  by  Mr.  William  and  Mr.  Edward 
Bull,  under  the  style  of  William  Bull  and  Sons. 
As  is  so  well  known,  the  address  of  the  nursery  is 
536,  King's  Road,  Chelsea,  London,  S.W. 

Australian   Raspberries.— The  first 

consignment  of  Raspberries  for  jam  making  from 
Australia  has  been  condemned  on  arrival  at  Liver- 
pool. Defective  packing  was  the  explanation  given 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Health  Committee.  The  fruit 
broke  loose  when  at  sea,  and  eleven  tons  had  to  be 
destroyed.  The  hope  was  expressed  that  the 
failure  of  their  first  venture  would  not  deter  the 
Colonists  from  exporting  this  fruit. 

Primula  imperialiS.— Some  eleven  years 
ago  great  attention  was  directed  to  this  Primula, 
then  flowering  at  Kew,  for  though  known  to 
botanists  for  a  long  time  it  had  not  till  then 
flowered  in  this  country.  Since  that  period  I  have 
met  with  it  only  as  isolated  plants, 
hence  was  agreeably  surprised  to  see  a 
fine  group  of  it  associated  with  its  new 
ally  (P.  japonica)  at  the  Temple  show. 
The  plants  were  in  company  with  Messrs. 
Veitch's  Bamboos,  and  were  also  from 
that  well-known  Chelsea  firm.  The  general 
aspect  of  the  plant,  in  leafage,  sturdy 
flower-stalk,  and  whorled  arrangement  of 
the  blossoms  is  much  like  that  of  P.  yj?*>. 
japonica,  the  most  marked  distinguishing  *''  - 
feature,  and  that  a  prominent  one,  being 
the  rich  golden  colour  of  its  flowers. 
Primula  imperialis  is  a  native  of  the 
highest  parts  of  some  of  the  mountains  of 
Java,  and  numerous  attempts  were  made 
to  introduce  it  into  cultivation  before 
any  of  them  were  successful.  Before  the 
plant  flowered  at  Kew  I  received  several 
consignments  of  seeds,  but  none  of  them 
grew ;  then  from  one  small  packet  I 
obtained  about  fifty  plants,  but  before 
they  attained  flowering  size  those  at  Kew 
had  bloomed.  By  some  means  or  other 
this  Primula  has  been  confounded  with 
the  Himalayan  P.  prolifera,  ar>  altogether 
inferior  plant,  which  was  figured  in 
the  Botanical  Mayazine  in  1884  as  P. 
imperialis. — H.  P. 

The  Cambridge  Botanic 
Garden    Syndicate    report.  — 

The  annual  report  has  just  reached  us, 
and  we  take  from  it  the  following  interest- 
ina  particulars: — During  the  year  1901, 
999  plants,  3,307  bulbs,  and  3,305  packets 
of  seeds  have  been  received.  Contribu- 
tions have  been  received  from  the 
principal   botanic  gardens  of  the  world, 


and  a    return    has   been  made   to  most  of   them, 
1,246   plants   and   4,607   packets  of   seeds  having 
been   distributed.       Among    the   more  interesting 
plants  that    have   been  received  during    the  year 
are  Viscum    cruciatum   (Bot.     Mag.     tab.     7828), 
the    Spanish    Syrian   and     Maroccan    red-berried 
Mistletoe ;    Eucalyptus   ficifolia    {Bot.   Mag.    tab. 
7697) ;  Heliophila  scandens  (Bol.  Mag.  tab.  7668), 
remarkable  as  a  climbing  Crucifer  ;  Streptocarpus 
Armitagei,  Bak.  fil.  and  S.  Moorei,  sp.  nov.  (.Xourn. 
Bot.  1901,  page  262) ;  Abies  arizonica  var.  argentea, 
noticeable  on  account  of  its  silvery  and  exceptionallj' 
corky   bark ;    Artocarpus   incisa,    the   Bread-fruit 
Tree  ;  Cassytha  capensis,  a  parasite  of  similar  habit 
to  Cuscuta,  of  the  Nat.  Order  Lauracese  ;  Antiaris 
toxicaria,  the  Upas  Tree  ;  Quercus  tinctoria,   the 
j  North    American    Oak,    which   yields    Quercitron 
bark,   used  for   dyeing   yellow  ;    Eremurus   Olgae 
X  Bungei,  hybrid  raised  by  Professor  Sir  Michael 
Foster ;     Bryophyllum    crenatum,    from     Central 
Madagascar;     Neobentbamia    gracilis,     "a     very 
singular  terrestrial  Orchid  dififering  much  in  habit 
from  any  hitherto  described" ;  Kniphofia  multiflora 
(Bot.  Mag.  tab.  7832),  exceptional  on  account  of  its 
erect  flowers  ;   Michauxia  Tchihatchefii  (Bot.  Mag. 
!  tab.  7742),  a  magnificent  campauulaceous  biennial 
from  the  Cicilian  Taurus  ;  Lilium  sulphureum  (Bot. 
Mag.   tab.   7251),  a   comparatively  new  Lily  from 
Burmah  ;  Pasonia  obovata,   a  long-desired  species 
[  from   Eastern  Asia  ;  also  seedlings  of  the  famous 
I  weeping   Oak   at   Moccas   Court;    "many   of    its 
branches  are  30  feet  long,  and  no  thicker  in  any 
part  of  this  length  than  a  common  rope  ;  this  tree 
transmits  its  weeping  character  in  greater  or  less 
degree  to  all  its  seedlings."     {Darwin,   "Animals 
and  Plants  under  Domestication,"  vol.  i.,  page  461.) 
Among  the  plants  that  have  flowered,  and  have 
been,  or  will  be  published  from  Cambridge  material, 
are  Aloe  oligospila  (Bot.  Mag.  tab.  7834),  a  new 
species     raised     from     seeds     collected     by     Dr. 
Schweinfurlh  in  Abyssinia  and  received  from  the 
Ziirich  Botanic  Garden  ;  A.   Camperi,  also  a  new 
species  from  the  same  country,  to  be  published  in 
the   Botanical   Magazine ;    Bauhinia    j'unnanensis 
(Bot.  Mag.  tab.  7814),  that  climbs  by  means  of  its 
numerous  side  branches,   which  are  coiled  like  a 
watch-spring;    Aster  Tradescanti  (Bol.  Mag.  tab. 
7825),  the  true  Michaelmas  Daisy  ;  Solanum  Xanti 
(Bot.     Mag.     tab.     7821),      remarkable     for     the 
extraordinary  variation  of   its  leaves,   introduced 
to  Cambridge  from  southern  California  ;  Clematis 


brachiata  (Gard.  Chron.,  vol.  xxx.,  page  367),  a 
Cape  species;  C.  smilacifolia  (Gard.  Chron., 
vol.  XXX.,  page  466),  native  of  Sikkim  Himalaya, 
and  possessing  large  ornamental  leaves ;  Plec- 
tranthus  saccatus,  introduced  to  Cambridge  from 
the  Cape  (to  appear  in  the  Bot.  Mag. ),  and  Lobelia 
tenuior  (Gard.  Chron.,  vol.  xxix.,  page  46).  The 
Gourds  on  the  herbaceous  ground  were  exception- 
ally fine,  and  a  full-paged  plate,  prepared  from  a 
photograph,  formed  a  supplement  to  the  Gardeners' 
Chronicle  of  December  21.  The  groups  of  hardy 
Opuntia,  for  some  years  the  finest  in  the  country, 
have  been  illustrated  in  The  Garden  (vol.  lix., 
page  429)  and  in  the  Gardener's'  Chronicle  (vol. 
XXX.,  pages  408,  409).  The  fine  old  Asparagu.s 
retrofractus  in  the  temperate  house  has  been 
illustrated  in  TflE  Garden.  Other  plants  of 
interest  that  have  flowered  are  Gerbera  "Sir 
Michael,"  a  fine  yellow-flowered  variety  of  Gerbera 
Jamesoni ;  Kalanchoe  sonialiensis  (Bot.  Mag.  tab. 
7031),  received  from  Somaliland,  a  fine  white- 
flowered  species  ;  Acacia  farnesiana,  raised  from 
seed  collected  in  the  Bight  of  Benin  by  the  late 
Miss  Mary  Kingsley  ;  Arclotis  Gumbletoni  (Bot. 
Mag.  tab.  7796),  one  of  the  finest  of  the  species  ; 
A.  stoechadifolia  (Gard.  Chron.,  vol.  xxx.,  page 
109)  ;  Jasminum  floribundum  from  Somaliland, 
and  some  hybrid  Sarracenias  which  were  exhibited 
at  a  meeting  of  the  scientific  committee  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  The  number  of 
specimens  supplied  for  botanical  purposes,  including 
those  put  into  spirit,  during  the  year,  amounts  to 
nearly  89,000. 


BRITISH     HOMES 
GARDENS. 


AND 


HOLLAND    HOUSE. 

WHEN  the  long  green  stretches 
of  Hyde  Park  brought  us  to 
the     rural     .surroundings    of 
Kensington,  and  to  the  woods 
and    thickets    that    bordered 
the      IJxbridge     Road,     rare 
interest  attached    to    the    old    mansion,    not 
only  because  of   its  fascinating  literary  and 
social  memories,  but  because,  to  all  Londoners, 


HOLLAND   HOUSE  :     THE   ROSE   WALE. 


424 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  28,  1902, 


it  is  the  visible  type  of  the  country  seat  of 
former  days.  As  we  pass  along  the  Kensing 
ton  Road  and  catch  glimpses  of  it  through  the 
trees,  the  stately  old  place,  we  confess,  might 
be  neighbour  to  the  country  seats  of  Warwick, 
Heitford,  or  Kent.  There  is  a  great  deal  in 
the  decorated  pillars  and  crestings,  and  the 
windows  and  gables  of  the  mansion  that  is 
eminently  typical  of  Elizabethan  and  early 
Stuart  times.  Sir  Walter  Cope,  who  built 
it  about  the  year  1007,  employed  as  his 
architect  the  well-known  John  Thorpe,  who 
worked  at  many  noblemen's  mansions  in  the 
shires. 

In  this  way  the  central  block  of  Holland 
House  was  raised,  with  its  flanking  turrets, 
while  the  wings,  and  the  somewhat  unusual 
arcade  which  distinguishes  the  frontage,  were 
added  by  the  husband  of  his  daughter  and 
heiress.  Sir  Henry  Rich,  afterwards  Earl  of 
Holland.  The  place  was  much  adorned  by  its 
new  possessor,  who  made  it  a  centre  of  rank 
and  fashion,  to  which  the  fops  and  beauties  of 
the  Court  of  James  resorted.  In  the  troubles 
that  followed,  the  Earl  steered  his  course 
unskilfully,  for  he  was  at  various  times  twice 
confined  in  his  house  by  both  parties  in  the 
.struggle,  and  when  he  had  lost  his  head  as  a 
Cavalier  in  Palace  Yard,  Westminster,  where 
he  appeared  in  1649  in  satin  doublet  and 
silver-laced  cap,  the  stern  horsemen  of  Fairfax 
were  quartered  in  his  hall.  It  was  but  a 
temporary  shadow,  however,  for,  if  the  gos- 
sippers  speak  truth,  when  the  sour-faced 
Puritans  had  set  themselves  to  crush  natural 
enjoyments,  the  players  were  used  to  gather 
secretly  at  Holland  House  for  the  diversion 
of  the  noblemen  and  gentry,  who  resorted 
thither  in  small  numbers. 

Many  notable  people,  including  the  first 
Earl  of  Anglesey,  Catherine  Darnley,  Duchess 
of  Buckingham,  William  Penn,  and  Shippen, 
the  Jacobite,  subsequently  lived  at  Holland 
House,  but  it  did  not  gain  its  fame  as  a  literary 
centre  until  Addison  married,  in  1716,  the 
widow  of  Edward  Rich,  Earl  of  Warwick  and 
Holland.  At  Holland  House  Addison  enter- 
tained many  literary  and  political  friends, 
being  Secretary  of  State,  and  there,  it 
is  believed,  he  befriended  Milton's 
daughter.  From  the  family  of  Rich,  Earls 
of  Holland  and  Warwick,  the  mansion 
passed  by  sale  to  Henry  Fox,  first 
Lord  Holland  of  a  new  creation,  the  ^v 
astute  and  able  politician  who  en-  ]»^ 
deavoured  to  buy  majorities,  eloped  ^ 
with  the  daughter  of  the  Duke  of 
Richmond,  and  seems  to  have  pro- 
vided well  for  himself.  Charles  James 
Fox,  the  more  celebrated  statesman, 
was  his  younger  son,  but  it  was  in  the 
day  of  Fox's  nephew,  the  third  Lord, 
at  Holland  House  that  the  place 
became  famous  as  the  centre  of  a  social 
and  literary  coterie.  Talleyrand, 
Lansdowne,  Melbourne,  Wilberforce, 
Macaulay,  Tom  Moore,  Byron,  and 
Campbell  were  among  his  guests,  and 
he  was  beloved  by  all  his  friends.  His 
house  was  likened  to  the  home  of 
Socrates,  the  more  so  that  Xantippe 
was  his  lady.  It  was  she  who  presided 
at  the  literary  gatherings  of  which 
Macaulay  has  given  an  excellent  pic- 
ture. She  ordered  her  guests,  we  read, 
as  a  renturion  his  soldiers.  "  It  is  to 
one,  '  Go,'  and  he  goeth  ;  to  another, 
'  Do  this,'  and  it  is  done  ;  '  ring  the 
bell,  Mr.  Macaulay';  'lay  down  that 
screen,  Mr.  Russell,  you  will  spoil  it ' : 
'Mr.  Allen,  take  a  candle  and  show 
Mr.   Cradock    the    pictures   of    Bona- 


I 


parte.'"  Rogers,  whose  seat  is  by  Inigo 
Jones's  beautiful  gateway  in  the  garden,  was 
the  exponent  of  Holland  House,  and  pro- 
mised to  induct  Macaulay,  as  a  neophyte, 
into  its  ways. 

Such  are  a  few  of  the  memories  that  linger 
about  the  quaint  old  mansion.  Silence  seems 
to  have  gathered  within  it,  and  it  stands  amid 
its  old  gardens  retired  from  the  busy  world 
that  surges  and  rumbles  without,  powerless  as 
yet  to  invade  its  solitude.  Its  builder  still 
walks  in  the  gilt  room,  ruefully  tenanting  the 
scenes  of  his  greatness,  and  gruesomely  carry- 
ing in  his  hand  the  head  which  he  lost  in  the 
Stuart  cause.  This  is  the  spacious  drawing- 
room  over  the  hall,  which  extends  from  front 
to  back  of  the  house,  and  has  prospects  of 
beautifully  timbered  grounds  and  delightful 
gardens  on  both  sides. 

The  long  gallery,  known  as  the  library, 
has  memories  of  Addison,  who  is  pictured 
to  us  walking  to  and  fro  shaping  his 
essays,  and  sipping  as  he  went  from  a  glass 
placed  with  a  bottle  of  wine  at  each  end 
of  the  chamber.  The  staircase  is  greatly 
enriched  with  carved  balusters,  pillars,  and 
panelling,  and  the  house  bears  the  true 
aspect  of  former  times.  Its  chambers  are  hung 
with  many  pictures  by  famous  masters.  In 
the  "  Sir  Joshua  Room  "  hang  several  works 
by  Reynolds,  and  in  the  yellow  drawing-room 
and  the  map  and  print  rooms,  and  ehsewhere 
throughout  the  house,  the  walls  are  lined 
with  choice  examples  of  the  Italian,  Dutch, 
Spanish,  and  English  schools.  There  are 
portraits  of  Lady  Sarah  Lennox,  whom 
George  III.  would  have  made  a  queen,  of 
Moore  and  Rogers,  and  many  more.  There  is 
the  table,  too,  that  Addison  used,  and  the 
collection  includes  many  memorials  of  Mary 
Queen  of  Scots  and  Napoleon.  Varied,  there- 
fore, are  its  interests  and  charms,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  the  day  foretold  by  Sir  Walter  Scott 
is  far  distant  when  the  hou.se  and  grounds  will 
be  swept  away  for  the  building  of  streets  and 
squares. 

There  is  perpetual  beauty  in  the  noble  trees 
and  gardens  that  surround  it.  A  delightful 
alcove  behind  the  house  was  the  beloved  resort 


of  Rogers,  and  bears  an  inscription  from  the 
hand  of  the  late  Lord  Holland  : 

"  Here  Rogers  aat,  and  here  for  ever  dwell 
With  me  those  pleasures  that  he  sang  so  well. 

Here  the  favoured  visitor  walks  under  the 
spreading  trees,  or  through  the  quaint,  well- 
kept  old-fashioned  gardens,  remembering  the 
statesmen,  wits,  and  beauties  who  have 
traversed  the  paths  before  him,  for  Holland 
House,  now  a  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Ilchester, 
has,  indeed,  the  aspect  of  a  bygone  age,  though 
standing  within  earshot  of  the  din  and  bustle 
of  the  town. 

The  rare  privilege  of  visiting  this  beautiful 
])lace  discloses  many  surprises.  In  former 
days  the  garden  consisted  of  the  large 
lawn  north  of  the  house  and  the  Dutch 
or  Italian  garden  to  the  west ;  on  this  side  also 
was  the  shady  green  alley  of  large  tree.s,  in 
former  days,  with  the  lawn,  the  site  of  the 
famous  garden  parties  of  between  thirty  and 
forty  years  ago.  In  later  years  a  very  large 
addition  to  the  garden  has  been  made  towards 
the  north,  in  ground  that  was  formerly  a 
pasture,  bounded  on  the  townward  sides  by 
tine  trees.  Several  acres  of  this  are  now  within 
the  garden,  and  groves  and  alleys  of  flowering 
shrubs,  detached  clumps  and  single  specimens 
on  grass,  Roses,  Lilies,  and  a  large  number  of 
good  hardy  plants,  well  massed  and  displayed, 
show  what  a  gardener  of  Mr.  Dixon's  unusual 
ability  can  do  in  a  place  so  much  within 
London  that  one  would  have  thought  that  the 
cultivation  of  most  Roses  was  impossible  and 
that  of  the  many  hardy  plants  here  seen  in 
perfection  would  have  been  difficult. 

Among  the  many  interests  of  this  new 
portion  is  a  rock  garden  well  stocked  with 
good  plants,  and  a  series  of  pools  connected  by 
rills,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Japanese  garden, 
show  hardy  aquatics  grandly  grown.  Lilies 
of  the  best  garden  kinds  are  everywhere, 
Penzance  Briars  and  the  free-growing  Roses 
ramp  about  as  they  do  in  the  heart  of  the 
country,  and  it  is  only  when  one  sees  the  grime 
of  London  on  the  bark  of  the  trees  that  one 
can  remember  that  one  is  still  a  mile  or  two 
within  its  vast  expanse. 

A  large  new  Water  Lily  tank,  with  central 


WALL   OF   SHRUBBY    CLIMUERS    AT    HOLLAND    HOnSK. 


June  28,  1902.] 


THE    GAEDEN. 


425 


let,  accommodates  a  choice  collection  of 
Nymphreas  and  stands  well  on  a  lawn  to  the 
south,  of  the  house.  The  whole  place  shows  in 
a  most  instructive  and  encouraging  way  what 
good  gardening  can  achieve  in  London. 


THE    KITCHEN   GARDEN. 

THE    EARLY    PEA    CROP. 

nCR  this  season  than  usual  is  the  early  Pea 
crop  ;  in  our  own  case,  quite  a  fortnight 
later  than  last  year,  and  some  kinds 
will,  I  fear,  be  even  later  still.  The 
backwardness  of  the  plants  is  readily 
accounted  for  in  the  southern  portion  of 
kingdom,  as  the  late  frost  actually  destroyed  pods 
that  were  just  formed  and  also  severely  crippled 
the  tops  of  the  plants  though,  on  a  south  border, 
under  a  high  wall.  I  note  that  the  plants  that 
suffered  most  were  the  small  dwarf  kinds.  The 
foliage  of  the  taller  section,  such  as  Gradus,  Daisy, 
and  Early  Giant,  was  not  hurt,  but  the  tender  pods 
just  formed  suffered  badly.  I  have  rarely  seen 
vegetation  suffer  so  severely  so  late  in  the  season 
as  was  the  case  this  year,  and,  of  course,  the  crop 
will  be  poorer  through  these  severe  checks  during 
growth.  We  usually  gather  our  first  dishes  the 
last  week  in  May  from  plants  raised  under  glass 
and  planted  out.  This  year,  as  previously  stated, 
we  are  only  able  to  gather  the  second  week  in 
June,  and  not  then  so  plentifully  as  we  have  often 
done  in  May.  I  am  aware  it  is  useless  to  grumble 
at  seasons,  and  one  must  make  the  best  of  it,  but 
there  can  be  no  getting  away  from  the  fact  that 
kitchen  gardening,  as  regards  the  supply  of  early 
vegetables,  has  been  most  difficult  to  manage  this 
season.  Asparagus  was  much  later  than  usual,  and 
the  useful  Spring  Cabbage  is  none  too  plentiful  in 
many  districts,  although  June  is  well  advanced. 
Our  earliest  Pea  this  year  was  Sutton's  May 
Queen  ;  this  is  one  of  the  first  to  mature,  and 
is  always  in  demand  on  account  of  its  size  and  good 
quality. 

The  plants  were  raised  in  cold  frames  and 
planted  out,  and  grown  thus  they  rarely  exceed 
2  feet  in  height,  but  this  year,  with  greater  rain- 
fall, the  haulm  is  a  few  inches  higher.  Gradus, 
one  of  the  best  Peas  the  late  Mr.  Laxton,  of  Bed- 
ford, raised  follows  very  closely  on  May  Queen  ; 
it  is  of  large  size  and  crops  freely.  Although  a 
Marrow  Pea,  having  a  large  pod  and  the  haulm 
running  to  nearly  4  feet,  this  variety  is  as  early  as 
anj'  smaller  kind.  This  is  a  great  gain,  as  one  gets 
both  size  and  quality.  Of  course  I  would  not 
advise  sowing  large  Marrows  in  cold  wet  soils  for  an 
early  crop,  but  sown  in  pots  or  frames  there  is  no 
difficulty,  and  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  country 
Gradus  should  be  a  great  favourite  for  its  earliness. 
I  have  referred  to  Sutton's  Early  Giant ;  this  very 
fine  Pea  is  happily  named,  it  bears  splendid  pods, 
and,  though  not  quite  so  early  with  me  as  those 
noted  above,  is  a  splendid  variety,  and  invaluable 
where  large  supplies  are  required.  It  is  a  much 
larger  Pea  than  May  Queen,  but  like  it  is  a  grand 
cropper.  For  some  seasons  I  have  grown  large 
quantities  of  Bountiful  to  follow  the  varieties 
named,  and,  though  not  a  distinct  Marrow,  it  is 
far  superior  to  the  small  round  white  Peas  still 
grown  for  first  crop.  Where  many  bushels  of  Peas 
are  needed  for  a  certain  date  I  do  not  know  of  a 
more  profitable  variety  than  this,  and  its  moderate 
haulm  makes  it  more  useful  in  gardens  where 
space  is  none  too  plentiful.  If  the  last-named  is 
sown  in  the  open  early  in  the  season  it  comes  in 
just  as  those  raised  under  glass  are  getting  past 
their  best,  and  this  variety  can  be  sown  much 
earlier  than  the  true  Marrow,  whilst  for  heavy 
soils  it  is  invaluable.  Another  very  good  variety 
that  follows  those  noted  is  Carter's  Daisy  ;  indeed, 
this  soon  follows  Gradus,  and  its  good  qualities 
are  well  known.  We  always  sow  it  under  glass 
for  first  crop,  and  grown  thus  it  is  about  a  week 
or  ten  days  later  than  May  Queen  ;  it  is  dwarfer 
than  Gradus,  but  equal  in  quality,  and  when  sown 
on  a  warm  border  it  gives  a  longer  supply  than  any 
round  Pea,  and  its  quality  is  better.     Other  good 


early  varieties  are 
Harbinger,  Empress 
of  India,  Chelsea 
Gem,  Veitoh's  Acme, 
a  promising  new 
variety,  and  Exonian. 
G.  W. 

CABBAGES 

(WINTEK). 
The  value  of  Cole- 
worts  for  autumn 
supplies  is  so  well 
known  that  there  is 
no  need  to  refer  to 
culture.  My  note 
refers  more  to  the 
season  when  the  Cole- 
wort  is  over  in  the 
latter  part  of  the 
year,  and  when  the 
early  spring  supply  is 
not  ready.  By  the 
term  Winter  Cabbage 
I  mean  such  kinds  as 
St.  John's  Day  and 
Christmas  Drumhead, 
and  to  these  may  be 
added  the  newer  St. 
Martin,  recently  sent 
out  by  Messrs.  Veitch. 
These  kinds  turn  in 
for  use  from  Decem- 
ber to  March,  and 
that  is  a  season  when 
good  vegetables  are 
scarce.  Sown  for 
winter  supplies  the 
varieties  named  are 
most  serviceable. 
Another  point  that 
must  not  be  over- 
looked is  that  the 
winter  varieties  are 
first-rate  as  regards 
quality.  Having  been 
gr  owing  in  the 
autumn  months  they 
are  without  the  strong 
flavour  of  some  of 
the  Brassicas,  being 
closely  allied  to  the 
tender  Colewort,  one 
of  the  best  flavoured 

vegetables  grown,  but  too  tender  to  stand  hard 
frost,  whereas  the  Winter  Cabbages  are  harder  and 
not  so  quickly  injured  ;  they  are  short  legged  and 
the  hearts  are  well  covered  by  outer  leaves.  The 
plants  should  be  got  into  their  growing  quarters 
before  midsummer  or  as  early  in  July  as  possible 
in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  country. 

G.  Wythes. 


s 


ORCHIDS. 

ORCHIDS    AT    GLEBELANDS. 

ITUATE  within  10  miles  of  the  heart 
of  London,  close  to  a  busy  railway 
station,    and    in    the    centre    of    a 


THE   FLOWER   (iARDEN    AT    HOLLAND    HOUSE. 


by  huge  snow-white  blossoms,  and  though 
individually  the  flowers  are  rather  fugitive, 
ample  compensation  is  made  by  their  number 
and  the  long  period  during  which  they  are 
successively  produced.  There  is  an  indefinable 
attraction,  too,  about  the  blossoms  which  the 
more  substantial  blooms  of  white  Cattleyas, 
Lffilias,  ifec,  fail  to  evoke.  Apart  from  their 
size  and  purity  of  colour,  the  flowers  of  the 
Sobralia  are  exquisitely  modelled,  and  the  lip 
is  so  crimped  and  fluted  that  one  can  but 
intensely  admire  them. 

Cyjyripedium  foivleriamirn.  —  A  hybrid 
derived  from  C.  harrisianum  superbum  crossed 
with  C.  bellatulum.    Compared  with  the  white 


suburban  town,  is  the  residence  of  i  ^ooraiia  mis  piant  presents  quite 
J.   Gurney  Fowler,  Esq.     From  the  ;  cliaracter  and  colouring,  and  yet 


Sobralia  this  plant  presents  quite  an  opposite 
character  and  colouring,  and  yet  is  so  fasci- 
nating in  its  rich  markings  and  bold  shell-like 


surroundings  one  would  hardly 
expect  a  large  and  well-kept  garden,  to  say 
nothing  of  a  really  comprehensive  and  choice 
collection  of  Orchids,  the  condition  and  quality 
of  which  testify  to  the  enthusiasm  and  keen 

interest  taken  in  them  by  the  owner.     At  the  i    .  ,    i  .  -,.1,    i     i  ,. 

time  of  the  writer's  visit  attention  was :  "'^^^f  P  maroon-crimson,  with  darker  spo  s 
attracted  by  a  well-grown  plant  of  the  very  i  dashed  with  purple,  almost  black  in  its. 
beautiful     •'  *=  ^  •'  \  intensity.     It  may   be  said  here  that  Cypri- 

Sohralia  macrantha  alba.-Oi  all   Albino  I  Pfdiums   of    the   bellatulum^  section,    i.e.,  C. 


contour  that  it  is  difficult  to  say  which  is  the 
more  beautiful  of  the  two.  The  shape  of  C. 
fowlerianum  might  be  taken  as  a  model  for 
all  bellatulum  hybrids,  so  clearly  cut  and 
boldly  defined  are  its  outlines  ;  the  colour  is  a. 


Orchids  this  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  hand 
some  and  probably  the  largest  of  them  all. 
The  reed-like  leafy  stems,  graceful  and  orna- 


niveum,   C.  concolor,  and   C.   Godefroyas  are- 

j  exceedingly  well  grown  at  Glebelands.     Quite- 

specimen  plants  can  be  shown  of  the  dainty 


mental  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  are  crowned   C.  niveum  and  C.  concolor. 


426 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  28,  1902. 


The  plant  of  Cypripediuni  callosum  Sander;e 
recently  exhibited  at  the  Drill  Hall  was 
pointed  out  still  in  full  beauty.  It  has  eleven 
growths,  and  four  of  its  grandly  shaped  charming 
blossoms  of  the  purest  white  striped  with 
emerald  green,  the  lip  tinted  with  soft  yellow 
and  green.  The  variety  has  been  so  often 
deseriV)ed  that  repetition  is  needless,  but  the 
plant  under  mention  may  be  cited  as  a  criterion 
for  good  culture  for  all  time. 

L(t'lia  jiKvpuirita  rus.^ellimhi.  —  A  grand 
specimen  of  this  famous  variety  is  particularly 
striking.  Although  one  of  the  oldest  varieties 
known  of  Ltelia  purpurata,  the  plant  in  the 
Glebelands  collection  is  certainly  one  of  the 
largest  in  cultivation,  as  well  as  being  the 
best  form,  carrying  numerous  spikes  of  large 
blossoms,  the  sepals  and  petals  of  which  are 
daintily  flushed  with  rose,  while  the  lip  is  soft 
rose,  ]iassing  to  yellow  in  the  throat.  It  is 
regrettable  that  nowadays  one  so  seldom  sees 
really  good  specimen  Orchids  with  a  goodly 
number  of  spikes,  a  sight  so  familiar  to  old 
time  exhibitors.  Looking  at  a  specimen  such 
as  the  variety  under  notice  one  cannot  help 
remarking  how  much  handsomer  the  beautiful 
flowers  appear  when  seen,  as  here,  in  a  large 
number  surmounting  the  deep  green  foliage. 
However  well  grown  the  smaller  plant  may  be, 
and  however  fine  the  flowers,  the  telling  efl'ect 
of  the  specimen  is  lacking  in  the  smaller  plant. 
Comparison  is  similar  to  that  between  a  large 
and  a  small  diamond.  Mention  on  some  future 
■occasion  may  be  made  of  a  few  of  the  other 
many  good  hybrids  and  varieties  of  Orchids 
brought  together  at  Glebelands.     Argutus. 


THE    W^ARDIAN    CASE. 

Ihe  Wardian  ease  is  nowadays  so  familiar  an 
object  that  we  are  apt  to  lose  sight  of  the  immense 
revolution  in  plant  culture  which  the  recognition 
of  the  principle  involved  therein  has  led  to. 
At  the  time  when  Mr.  Ward  grasped  this 
principle,  i.e.,  that  a  closed  glass  case  gave 
an  immense  control  over  several  vital  factors  in 
plant  life,  an  enormous  number  of  plants  were 
perforce  confined  to  their  native  habitats,  since 
their  removal  and  transport  involved  drastic 
changes  of  temperature  and  humidity  which  they 
could  not  stand,  and  hence  the  attempts  of 
travelling  botanists  to  enrich  our  home  collections 
were  in  most  cases  nugatory.  The  accidental 
development,  however,  of  a  tiny  Fern  in  a  closed 
bottle  inspired  Mr.  Ward  with  the  idea  that  more 
than  half  the  battle  would  be  won  if  similar 
conditions  of  equability  could  be  secured  on  a 
larger  scale,  and  it  is  from  this  tiny  germ  of 
thought  that  have  grown  raany  of  the  facilities  of 
transport  to  which  we  owe  the  vast  extension  of 
our  collections  of  living  plants  from  all  parts  of 
the  world.  For  the  amateur  plant  lover  the 
Wardian  case,  with  which  may  be  associated  bell- 
glasses  provided  with  appropriate  soil  receptacles, 
should  be  of  far  greater  use  than  it  really  is,  since 
it  is  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule  to  find  such 
a  case  properly  furnished  and  with  the  contained 
plants  in  proper  condition.  To  this  several  causes 
contriljute,  firstly,  the  drainage  arrangements  are 
apt  to  be  bad,  sourness  of  soil  and  unhealthy 
plants  resulting  inevitably  ;  secondly,  insufficient 
light  is  given  and  the  plants  become  drawn  and 
unsightly ;  thirdly,  unsuitable  plants  are  intro- 
duced, both  as  regards  constitution  and  size  ;  and, 
fourthly,  there  are  frequently  too  many,  the  result 
being  a  tangled  jungle  in  lieu  of  a  pretty  group.  We 
propose  therefore  to  deal  with  these  evils  seriatim. 
To  secure  proper  drainage  the  soil  box  should  be 
provided  with  an  outlet  pipe  with  an  external 
tap,  and,  prior  to  any  soil  being  put  in,  the 
outlet  should  be  carefully  covered  with  concave 
pieces  of  broken  pot,  a  good  layer  of  the  same  being 
arranged  as  loosely  as  possible  all  over  fhe 
bottom  of  the  box  as  well.  Upon  this  layer  spread 
another  of  mossy  fibrous  material  so  as  to  form  a 


sort  of  mat  to  prevent  the  soil  settling  closely 
down  into  the  drainage  layer  and  choking  it.  The 
soil,  consisting  of  a  rubbly  open  compost  of  loam 
and  peat  or  leaf-mould  in  equal  portions,  with  a 
liberal  dash  of  coarse  silver  sand,  may  then  be 
filled  in,  and  is  none  the  worse  for  a  mixture  of 
pieces  of  free — i.e.,  porous — stone.  Anything, 
indeed,  which  will  tend  to  prevent  the  soil  from 
settling  down  into  a  wet  impervious  mass  is  good, 
and  watering  should  be  deferred  until  the  plants 
are  in  and  any  little  rockwork  arrangement  on  the 
surface  completed.  Every  time  the  case  is  watered 
the  tap  below  should  be  opened  until  all  surplus 
is  drawn  off,  and,  this  being  done,  it  is  clear  that 
with  such  arrangements  as  are  indicated  a  stagnant 
accumulation  is  an  impossibility. 

As  regards  the  second  point  of  light,  as  much 
direct  daj'light,  but  not  sunshine,  should  be  afibrded 
as  is  possible  ;  the  case  if  at  a  window  should 
stand  close  against  it,  a  north  or  easterly  aspect 
being  best.  At  the  best  there  is  always  a  tendency 
with  window  plants  to  get  drawn  towards  the 
light  with  some  sacrifice  of  grace  and  vigour,  and 
the  more  top  light  or  nearly  top  light  we  can 
afford  the  less  they  will  suffer  in  this  respect. 
This  really  hinges  to  some  extent  on  our  third 
point,  the  suitability  of  the  plants  grown,  which 
is  a  very  material  one  indeed.  Where  it  is 
impossible  to  provide  ample  light  filmy  Ferns  and 
Selaginellas  are  alone  available,  and  for  quite 
cold  culture  we  suggest  the  former,  especially 
Trichomanes  radicans,  the  Killarney  Fern,  and  one 
or  two  native  Hymenophyllums,  H.  tunbridgense 
and  unilaterale,  while  if  the  case  be  a  large  one 
nothing  finer  can  be  imagined  than  a  specimen  of 
Todea  superba  as  a  central  object  with  the  others 
around  it.  For  such  a  group  a  rude  rockery  must 
be  constructed  by  breaking  up  the  soil  into  a 
mound  and  inserting  lumps  of  sandstone  or  other 
porous  rock  all  over  the  .surface.  The  Todea  can 
be  simply  planted  in  the  centre  in  the  ordinary 
way,  but  the  others  should  be  tied  on  to  the  rock 
pieces,  spreading  their  running  roots  or  rootstocks 
over  their  faces.  Mulch  then  with  a  little  more 
compost  80  as  to  bury  the  roots,  and  finally,  when 
all  is  finished,  drench  the  surface  well  in  such  a 
way  as  to  wash  the  mulching  in,  and  so  expose  the 
rootstocks  again  to  the  air.  Selaginellas  look  very 
pretty  for  a  time,  but  grow  as  a  rule  too  freely, 
and  hence,  if  used,  it  is  better  to  grow  them  sepa- 
rately as  representative  specimens  rather  than  with 
other  plants  which  they  are  apt  to  overrun.  Where 
a  good  north  light  is  available  the  same  rocker3' 
system  can  be  utilised  for  a  group  of  dwarf  or 
small  species  of  hardy  Ferns,  all  the  varieties  of 
the  Maidenhair  Spleeuworts  (Asplenium  tricho- 
manes) doing  well  if  planted  in  chinks  on  the  slope 
facing  the  light.  A  group  of  the  crested,  incised, 
and  other  fine  varieties  of  this  species  would  fill  a 
case  to  great  advantage,  and,  space  permitting, 
there  are  some  charming  dwarf  Lady  Ferns, 
Male  Ferns,  and  Hart's-tongues  which  would  do 
capitally  as  associates.  Here,  however,  a  word  of 
warning  as  to  watering  may  well  be  interpolated. 
Never  wet  the  fronds  at  all  is  a  good  rule.  Even 
the  Filmy  Ferns  are  better  without  if  the  case  be 
kept  close.  The  fronds  have  little  or  no  chance  of 
drying  when  once  wet,  and  hence  any  decay  is  apt 
to  spread.  The  fourth  point  means  the  provision 
of  adequate  space  at  the  outset  and  the  removal 
of  some  of  the  plants  if  they  grow  too  large  and 
shoulder  their  neighbours  too  roughly.  A  crowd 
of  foliage  is  a  mistake  ;  all  grace  and  detail  is 
lost,  to  say  nothing  of  the  weakness  engendered 
by  the  consequent  struggle  for  light  and  room. 
This  must  be  borne  in  mind  when  first  planting,  as 
it  is  much  better  to  have  the  case  a  little  bare  for 
a  time  and  then  filled  up  on  healthy  lines  than  to 
find  immediately  the  plants  start  growth  that  they 
overlap  and  handicap  each  other. 

In  planting  there  is,  of  course,  room  for  wide 
diversity  of  taste,  and  much  depends  upon  the 
space  and  shape  of  the  case  or  other  receptacle. 
A  very  handsome  effect  may  be  produced  by  one 
bold  specimen  Fern  in  the  centre  of  the  back- 
ground, so  as  to  allow  its  fronds  to  arch  over 
freely  to  the  front,  the  soil  or  rockery  in  minia- 
ture being  dotted  with  dwarf  varieties  or  Selagi- 
nellas of  the  small  persuasion.     So  far  we  have 


treated  of  the  Wardian  case  on  the  original 
Wardian  lines,  i.e.,  as  maintaining  a  constantly 
humid  atmosphere.  It  subserves,  however,  another 
purpose — protection  from  dust  and  aerial  impuri- 
ties— and  hence  in  sunny  windows  or  exposures, 
and  with  a  greater  provision  of  air,  it  may  be  used 
to  advantage  for  collections  of  dwarf  Cacti  and 
other  drought-loving  plants,  these  being  either 
planted  in  dry  rockeries  or  inserted  in  the  soil,  pot 
and  all,  the  pots  being  marked  bjf  pieces  of  stone. 
A  minimum  of  water  and  a  maximum  of  light  are 
the  two  desiderata  with  plants  of  this  class,  while 
in  the  winter  they  must  be  guarded  from  frost. 
Chas.  T.  Druery,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H. 


THE    FRUIT  GARDEN. 

THE      EARLIEST      STRAW- 
BERRIES. 

North    and    South. 

IN  various  parts  of  the  country  the  Straw- 
berry season  differs  greatly,  for  instance  at 
Syon  fruits  of  Royal  Sovereign  on  south 
borders  specially  planted  for  first  supplies 
are  ripe  quite  three  weeks  in  advance  of 
the  same  variety  in  Northumberland  ;  the 
seasons  differ,  but  those  in  the  North,  though  later, 
are  less  injured  by  spring  frosts.  It  will  be  seen 
that  earliness  is  not  everything,  and  I  suppose 
growers  who  endeavour  to  get  such  early  fruit 
must  put  up  with  losses  in  such  seasons  as  the 
present  one.  Our  earliest  Royal  Sovereign  plants 
this  .season  were  in  bloom  in  the  middle  of  May,  ard 
our  thermometer  registered  12'-'  of  frost ;  indeed, 
the  cold  was  so  severe  that  it  actually  blackened 
French  Beans  in  cold  frames,  so  that  it  was  im- 
possible for  the  Strawberry  bloom  to  escape.  It 
may  be  asked — What  is  the  use  of  growing  such 
early  fruit,  and  where  is  the  gain?  Those  who 
have  for  months  been  relying  on  forced  fruits,  and 
who  need  Strawberries  in  quantity,  will  be  glad  to 
get  the  earliest  fruits  possible  from  the  open  ground. 
For  years  we  grew  Noble  for  first  supply  till 
the  advent  of  Royal  Sovereign,  the  last-named  in 
my  opinion  being  one  of  the  most  useful  varieties 
ever  introduced,  both  for  crop  and  earliness.  I 
recently  saw  a  note  that  the  old  Black  Prince  could 
not  be  equalled  for  earliness,  but  the  fruit  cannot 
be  compared  in  size  to  the  newer  introduction.  At 
the  same  time,  I  would  add  Black  Prince  should 
not  be  lost  sight  of  ;  it  is  a  splendid  Strawberry 
for  preserving,  and  if  the  fruits  are  preserved 
whole  and  the  juice  of  the  Red  Currant  added 
whilst  cooking  it  is  delicious. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  for  outside 
culture  the  earliest  Strawberries  should  be  grown 
on  the  one-year  system  (as  biennials),  but  to  do  this 
there  must  be  special  attention  to  early  runners  ; 
it  is  useless  to  get  runners  from  plants  that  have 
fruited,  but  from  maiden  plants,  and  get  them 
into  their  fruiting  quarters  as  early  as  possible. 
Only  this  week  (June  12)  I  saw  large  breadths  of 
Strawberries  in  exposed  places  in  the  North  and 
not  a  bloom  injured,  whereas  our  first  bloom  was 
totally  destroyed  three  weeks  earlier  in  the  South. 
But  the  same  advice  as  concerns  earliness  and 
varieties  holds  good  in  different  localities.  I  find 
Royal  Sovereign  is  not  grown  so  largelj'  in  the 
North  as  it  is  in  the  South,  but  my  remarks  more 
concern  culture  and  earliness,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  of  the  value  of  young  plants  for  first 
supplies. 

For  years  we  have  protected  our  early  Straw- 
berry blossom  on  south  borders,  and  have  always 
had  a  good  return.  This  year  the  severe  cold 
reached  the  bloom  in  spite  of  the  care  taken.  We 
strain  wires  at  18  inches  from  the  soil  over  the 
plants,  and  over  this  at  night  is  placed  a  thick 
woollen  netting,  which  is  usually  sufficient  to 
protect  the  blossom.  Of  course  plants  grown  as 
advised  are  much  earlier  than  older  ones,  given 
ordinary  culture,  but  even  when  earliness  is  not  an 
important  point  size  of  fruits  often  is,  and  I  would 
advise  young  plants  for  the  production  of  large 
fruits.      Though    my   note   does   not   touch   upon 


June  28,  190a.] 


THE    GAKDEN. 


427 


culture  under  glass,  I  would  add  few  crops  are 
more  profitable  than  Strawberries  given  cold  frame 
protection,  and  the  plants  may  either  be  grown  in 
the  frames  from  the  start,  that  is,  grown  for  one 
season's  fruit,  or  otherwise.  I  have  found  there 
is  always  a  brisk  demand  for  these  fruits  at  this 
time  of  year,  that  is,  when  the  forced  fruits  under 
glass  are  just  over  and  the  early  supply  in  the 
open  air  not  in.  To  get  fruits  from  cold  frames 
I  have  adopted  several  plans,  and  I  think  the  one 
that  gave  us  the  greatest  return  was  from  runners 
placed  in  boxes  and  grown  on  like  pot  Strawberries 
and  placed  under  glass  to  fruit  early  in  May. 
They  were  wintered  in  the  open,  the  boxes  being 
placed  close  together.  If  the  plants  are  put  out 
when  small  the  frames  cannot  be  used  for  other 
purposes.  I  have  seen  excellent  crops  by  lifting 
plants  with  a  good  ball  and  placed  in  cold  frames, 
but  this  requires  great  care,  and  the  plants  to  be 
grown  in  a  stiiT  loam  and  watered  carefully  at  the 
start.  Few  varieties  yield  a  better  return  than 
Royal  Sovereign  if  given  cold  frame  culture,  but 
when  grown  thus  early  thinning  of  blooms  is  a 
necessity  ;  indeed,  this  is  advisable  for  very  early 
fruits  in  warm  borders  to  get  the  best  results,  as 
if  the  small  blossoms  are  removed  the  plants  will 
be  stronger  and  better  able  to  finish  the  remainder 
of  the  crop.  G.  Wythes. 


BKAMLEY'S  SEEDLING  APPLE. 
Your  correspondent  Mr.  Owen  Thomas  (April  5) 
states  that  this  Apple  is  more  fitted  for  the  orchard 
than  the  garden.  I  find  it  quite  as  good  in  the 
bush  form.  The  tree  shown  in  the  illustration  I 
worked  on  a  seedling  stock  six  years  ago.  It  is 
planted  at  the  rate  of  1,210  to  the  acre,  and  last 
season  bore  401bs.  of  fruit,  several  of  which  weighed 
over  lib.  each.  The  stock  called  Paradise  I  have 
discarded,  as  this  may  mean  anything.  The  Codlin 
variety  readily  takes  root  in  this  form,  even  the 
old  Yorkshire  Burnott  being  better  on  a  seedling 
stock  than  on  either  the  so-called  English  or 
French  Paradise.  Probably  no  other  experimen- 
talist in  fruit  culture  is  so  restricted  in  ground 
area,  viz. ,  half  an  acre.  The  greatest  space  I  can 
allow  my  trees  is  6  feet,  but  I  am  a  firm  believer 
in  unrestricted  root  action. 

Shobdon.  J.  Ward. 


NOTES    FROM    W^ORCESTER- 
SHIRE. 

Ikis  GBAMINEA. — What  a  delightful  species  this 
is  !  I  saw  a  large  mass  of  it  in  full  bloom  at 
Messrs.  R.  Smith  and  Co.'s  nursery  on  the  7th 
inst.  The  elegant  deep  green  Rush-like  foliage 
almost  hides  the  flowers,  and  their  charm  really 
remains  concealed  until  they  are  gathered. 
It  is  a  decidedly  uncommon  flower,  with  its 
upright  purple  standards  and  yellow  claw,  which 
is  striped  at  the  end  with  blue.  As  I  stood  over 
the  bed  I  noticed  that  quite  a  sweet  fragrance 
was  exhaled  by  the  flowers,  something  akin  to  a 
faint  scent  of  Iris  stylosa.  It  seems  to  delight  in 
a  moist  position  where  it  can  get  full  sunshine. 
The  photograph  I  send  you  shows  well  the 
character  of  both  flowers  and  foliage. 

Anthemis  Biebersteinii. — This  is  in  full  beauty  as 
I  write,  and  is  quite  the  most  attractive  member 
of  the  family  which  I  have  as  yet  seen.  If  it  were 
only  for  its  delightful  laciniate  silvery  foliage  it 
would  be  well  worth  growing,  but  to  this  is  added 
the  striking  yellow  blossoms,  to  my  mind  far  finer 
in  every  way  than  those  of  Anthemis  tinctoria  or 
its  varieties.  This  is  essentially  a  rock  plant,  and 
is  certainly  an  ornament  to  any  rook  garden.  It 
dies  down  in  winter,  and  the  chief  difficulty  in  its 
culture  lies  in  the  fact  that  when  the  young  growths 
make  their  appearance  in  the  spring  slugs  are  very 
prone  to  graze  them  completely  off  unless  the 
plants  are  well  looked  after. 

Amphicome  Emodi. — This  very  beautiful  plant, 
which  hails  from  high  elevations  in  India,  was 
exhibited  by  Messrs.  R.  Smith  and  Co.  at  the 
Temple  show.  Mr.  W.  Horsman  informs  me 
that  it  was  received  by  Messrs.  Smith  from  Mr. 
Irwin   Lynch.     In   appearance   the   rosy   orange 


flowers  very  much  resemble  those  of  Incarvillea 
Delavayi,  but  are  neither  so  bright  nor  so  large. 
The  plant  is  herbaceous,  and  although  only  classed 
as  half-hardy,  looks  as  if  it  would  succeed  outside 
on  a  warm  border,  provided  it  was  given  the 
protection  of  a  hand  frame  during  winter.  With 
Messrs.  Smith  it  has  proved  a  free  bloomer  under 
glass,  but  so  far  they  have  not  yet  propagated  it. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  learn  whether  any  of 
your  readers  have  tried  this  plant  outdoors. 

Lilhonpenmim  pi-oxtratnm  and  Arenaria  ijrandi- 
flora  are  two  plants  which  group  well  together  in 
the  rock  garden.  Both  bloom  profusely  at  this 
time  of  the  year,  are  easily  grown,  and  here,  in  a 
fairly  moist  south  position,  succeed  to  perfection. 

Incarvillea  Delavayi  has  this  year  further  im- 
proved its  already  good  reputation.  A  nice  plant 
of  the  dwarf  Incarvillea  grandiflora  is  the  latest 
addition  to  my  collection,  but  is  not,  of  course, 
expected  to  bloom  this  year.  The  leafage  I  con- 
sider differs  more  from  I.  Delavayi  than  would 
appear  from  the  coloured  plate  of  it  which  was 
given  in  The  Garden,  vol.  Ivi.  In  my  plant  the 
chief  difference  is  in  the  terminal  leaflets,  which, 
in  contrast  to  I.  Delavayi,  are  almost  oval. 

^Ethionema  pulchelltmi  is  a  plant  well  worth 
growing,  and  is  now  quite  a  torrent  of  bright  pink 
flowers  where  it  has  been  planted  in  a  sunny 
position.  It  dislikes  shade,  and  particularly 
objects  to  being  closely  surrounded  or  overhung 
by  other  subjects.  Its  habit  is  shrubby,  forming 
a  little  bush  about  18  inches  or  more  high.  As  a 
rule  it  has  a  prostrate  position  on  rockwork, 
and  its  glaucous-foliaged  branchlets,  when  decked 
with  the  rose-pink  blossoms,  prove  very  attractive. 

Veronica  peclinafa 
rubra.  —  Amongst  the 
myriads  of  varieties  now 
to  be  found  in  gardens 
this  is  well  worthy  of 
consideration.  It  will 
soon  clothe  a  rocky 
bank  with  its  neat 
pubescent  grey  foliage, 
which  helps  to  show  off 
its  tiny  spikes  of 
reddish  pink  blossoms  to 
advantage. 

Eamondias. — On  the 
north  side  of  my  rock 
garden  these  are  now 
(June  14)  very  beautiful. 
They  distinctly  prefer  to 
be  planted  between  red 
sandstone  rock  to 
granite,  the  former  re- 
taining more  moisture 
during  drying  winds. 
Ramondia  serbica  var. 
Nathaliecame  into  bloom 
on  May  25,  and  was  quite 
over  before  R.  pyrenaioa 
had  even  unfolded  any 
of  its  flowers.  R.  serbica 
is  only  a  day  or  two 
earlier  than  R.  pyre- 
naica,  but  is  certainly 
not  so  desirable,  as  its 
flowers  are  smaller  and 
less  showy.  R.  pyrenaica 
alba  is  blooming  better 
than  usual,  but  it  is  not 
so  free  as  the  type,  and 
seems  of  slower  growth. 

Solanum  jasminoide.^. 
—  Your  correspondent 
Mr.  S.  W.  Fitzherbert 
may  be  interested  to 
learn  that  even  in  this 
cold  district  Solanum 
jasminoides  thrives,  and 
with  a  straw  protection 
has  come  through  the 
winter  almost  uninjured. 
I  grow  it  in  a  warm  and 
sheltered  corner  against 
a  south  wall,  most  of 
which  is  devoted  to 
Peach  trees.      The  wall 


is  14  feet  in  height,  and  it  has  now  quite  reached 
the  top.  Although  badly  lighted,  like  every- 
thing else  here,  I  am  hoping  to  cut  some  of  its 
flowers  early  in  July. 

Kidderminster.  Arthur  R.  Goodwin. 


PRUNING    HARDY    SHRUBS. 

(Continued  from  page   405.) 
Genista. — G.  tinctoria  flowers  on  the  young 
wood,  and   should  be   cut  back  every  spring. 
The  other  species  of  Genista   should   not   be 
pruned  except  to  keep  them  in  shape. 

Halesia. — These  are  small  trees  or  large 
shrubs,  and  should  not  be  shortened  back  ;  but 
they  are  improved  if  the  growths  are  kept 
thinned  out,  which  should  be  done  after  the 
flowers  are  past. 

Halimodendron. — Requires  no  pruning. 

Haniamelii. — Thin  out  regularly,  as  they  are 
very  apt  to  get  thick  and  make  weakly  growths. 

Hedysarum. — This  flowers  on  the  young 
wood,  and  should  be  cut  back  each  spring,  but 
not  too  hard.  The  growths  can  also  be  pegged 
down  to  improve  the  plant,  which  is  apt  to 
get  straggly. 

lielianthemum. — Cut  away  all  dead  flowers 
and  seed-pods  after  blooming. 

Hibiscus. — Thin  out  in  winter,  but  only 
shorten  the  longest  shoots. 

Hydrangea. — These  flower  best  on  young 
wood,  and  should  be  cut  down  in  winter. 


_-&. 


bramley's  seedling  apple  tree  (six  years  old). 


428 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  28,'^1902 


Hyj>encvMi. — These  should  be  cut  back  fairly- 
hard  in  early  spring,  as  they  all  flower  on  the 
young  growth. 

Indigofera. — Cut  down  every  spring,  as  they 
flower  on  the  young  wood. 

Ilea. — Keep  the  growths  thinned  and  cut 
away  all  old  wood. 

■Taniesia. — This  should  be  treated  as  the 
preceding. 

Jasminum.  —  J.  fruticans  and  J.  humile  are 
shrubs  which  should  be  thinned  regularly, 
and  J.  nudiHorum  and  J.  officinale  are  climbers 
which  should  be  spurred  in  after  flowering. 

Kidmia. — Keinove  seed-pods  as  soon  as  the 
flowers  are  past. 

Kerrin. — Cut  away  the  old  wood  to  encourage 
the  young  growths,  which  yield  the  best  flowers. 

Lnhiirnuni. — These  should  be  thinned  after 
flowering,  cutting  away  the  old  or  weakly  wood 
and  shortening  any  long  or  straggling  shoots. 

Lavandula. — Cut  away  all  flower-spikes  after 
they  are  past. 

edum. — Kemove  seed-pods  after  flowering. 


should  be  performed  in  autumn  or  winter,  as 
they  flower  practically  all  the  summer. 

Lyonia. — Rei|uires  no  pruning. 

Magnolia. — Generally  speaking,  the  Mag- 
nolias should  not  be  pruned,  but  any  useless 
or  decaying  wood  should  be  cut  away.  Every 
wound,  however  small,  on  a  Magnolia  should 
be  tarred  over  immediately. 

Microglossa. — The  solitary  shrubby  repre- 
.sentative  of  this  is  M.  albescens,  which  should 
be  cut  down  in  winter,  as  it  flowers  best  on  the 
young  wood. 

Myrira. — An  occasional  thinning  is  sufficient 
for  this  genus. 

Myricaria. — Flowering  on  the  young  wood, 
this  should  be  cut  back  every  spring. 

Neillia. — Thin  out  every  year  after  flowering 
is  past,  cutting  back  the  old  wood  to  strong 
young  shoots. 

Nei'iuda. — This  requires  the  same  pruning 
as  Neillia. 

JVofospartium — Requires  no  pruning. 

Ntdtallia. — The  single  species  of  this  flowers 


Peraphylluiii. — The  solitary  hardy  species  o^ 
this  should  not  be  pruned  or  disturbed  in  any 
way  if  it  can  be  avoided. 

Pernettyn. — These  should  not  be  pruned  at 
any  time. 

(To  he  continued. ) 


THE    INDOOR    GARDEN. 


RHODODENDRON     PR-BCOX     IN     THE     EDI>'BDE(iH     BOTANIC    GARDENS.       (From  a  photo,jrai,h  by  Mr.  D.  S.  Fish.) 


Xesjoerfeia.— See  Desmodium,  which  it  much 
resembles. 

Leucothoe. — L.  axillaris  and  L.  Catesbasi 
flower  much  better  if  the  old  growths  are 
removed  and  strong  young  shoots  encouraged. 
The  rest  of  the  genus  retiuire  no  pruning 

Leycesteria. — Thin  out  old  growths  every 
spring. 

Ligustrum. — L.  ovalifolium  and  its  golden 
variety  are  all  the  better  for  being  cut  down 
each  winter  while  in  a  young  state.  The 
reniainder  merely  require  an  occasional 
thinning. 

Liriodendron. — Requires  no  pruning. 

Lonicera. — The  shrubby  Loniceras  are  nearly 
all  inclined  to  become  very  thick  and  full  of 
weakly  shoots  if  not  well  looked  after.  A 
thinning  out  should  take  place  after  flowering 
is  past.  The  climbing  Honeysuckles  should 
only  be  pruned  sufficiently  to  keep  them 
within  bounds. 

Lycium. — These  should  be  served  the  same 
as  the  shrubby  Loniceras,  but  the  operation 


in  February,  and  is  improved  by  a  good  thinning 
out  of  the  old  wood  when  blooming  is  past. 

Olearia. — Reijuires  no  pruning. 

Ononis. — O.  rotundifolius  should  be  cut 
down  every  winter,  as  it  flowers  on  the  young 
wood.  The  remaining  species  flower  on  the 
older  wooi,  and  need  not  be  touched. 

Osinanthus. — These  should  not  be  pruned 
unless  a  particular  shape  is  desired,  when  the 
plants  may  be  clipped  with  a  pair  of  shears  in 
spring. 

Orycoccus. — This  is  a  small  creeping  genus, 
allied  to  Vaccinium,  and  requires  no  pruning. 

O.rydeivlron. — Remove  seed-pods. 

Paliurus,. — This  attains  the  dimensions  of 
a  small  tree,  and  should  be  kept  trimmed  uj) 
for  that  purpose. 

Parrotia.—'Y\i\\\    out    in    spring  after   the 
flowers  are  past. 

Pauhiwnia.  —  Keep  to  a  single  stem  to  a 
height  of  about  8  feet,  and  then  allow  it  to 
branch.  If  used  for  sub-tropical  bedding  it 
should  be  cut  down  to  the  ground  every  winter. 


RHODODENDRON  PR.^COX. 

ON  E  of  the  most  useful  of  the 
numerous  hybrid  Rhododen- 
drons raised  by  the  late  Mr. 
Isaac  Davies  in  his  Ormskirk 
nurseries  is  Rhododendron  prae- 
cox.  It  has  only  one  defect 
as  a  shrub  for  the  open  air  in  all  except 
the  most  favoured  portions  of  the  British 
Isles,  namely,  its  habit  of  pushing  into  flower 
so  early  as  often  to  be  spoilt  by  frost.  When 
favoured  by  mild,  frostless  weather,  its  flowers 
in  the  open  in  ^larch  add  a  glow  to 
the  garden  uneciualled  by  any  other 
flowering  shrub  of  early  spring,  except, 
perhaps,  Forsythia  suspensa,  and  it 
has  a  glow  of  a  difterent  kind. 
Nothing  in  gardening  is  more  exas- 
perating than  the  destruction  of  early 
flowers  by  frost,  and  this  Rhododen- 
dron generally  gets  caught  just  when 
its  myriads  of  fat  buds  are  bursting, 
full  of  promise  for  the  morrow,  but 
blasted  before  morning  by  frost.  One 
must  1)6  content  to  wait  and  hope 
for  better  luck  next  year,  or,  better 
still,  determine  to  save  the  flowers  on 
the  best  plants  next  time  by  removing 
them  into  a  glass  house  to  open.  The 
plant  is  sometimes  lifted  from  the 
open  and  planted  in  an  unheated 
house  before  the  buds  are  sufficiently 
expanded  to  be  hurt  by  cold.  The 
result  is  often  most  gratifying.  Every 
bud  expands.  After  flowering,  the 
plant  can  be  replanted  in  the  border 
outside,  and  with  ordinary  care  it 
will  be  none  the  worse  for  its  short 
stay  under  glass.  Of  course  R.  prascox 
is  well  known  as  a  useful  plant  for 
forcing  in  pots,  but  the  treatment 
here  described  is  not  forcing,  and 
therefore  has  not  that  weakening  eflfect 
which  forcing  proper  always  has  on 
shrubs  of  every  kind.  Forced  Rhodo- 
dendrons generally  are  much  more 
satisfactory  when  planted  in  a  pro- 
perly prepared  border  as  soon  as  the 
flowers  are  over,  so  that  they  can  recoup  them 
selves  by  winter.  Kept  in  pots  they  rarely 
recover,  much  less  make  up  for  use  again. 

THE  VARIEGATED  PINE-APPLE. 

HicHLV  coloured  and  well-grown  specimens  of 
this  plant  (Ananas  sativus  variegatus)  are  very 
desirable  subjects  for  the  adornment  of  rooms 
as  well  as  for  hot  hou.ses.  Like  the  Pine- 
apple of  commerce,  this  plant  delights  in 
abundance  of  moist  heat,  and  this  ensures  a  healthy 
growth.  This  variety  is  not  such  a  quick  grower 
as  the  type,  and  if  the  plants  can  be  plunged  for 
a  few  weeks  immediately  after  repotting  in  spring 
in  a  bed  of  tan  or  fermented  manure  and  tree 
leaves  thej-  will  commence  to  form  new  roots  more 
quickly  than  they  otherwise  would.  Repot  the 
plants  at  any  time  in  spring,  using  clean  pots  and 
plenty  of  well  placed  drainage.  The  compost  should 
be  of  a  rough  character,  with  plenty  of  charcoal 
and  crocks  broken  small  added  ;  a  little  mortar 
rubble  is  a  good  thing  in  the  soil.  The  compost 
should  consist  of  two  p.arts  fibrous  loam  and  one 
part  peat,  with  a  few  lumps  of  dried  cow  manure 


June  28,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


429 


PRIMULA   WULFENIANA   (LIFE  SIZE). 

incorporated.  Gradual  hardening,  by  placing  in  a 
somewhat  cooler  structure,  must  be  given  before 
the  plants  are  taken  into  airy  rooms  in  the  home. 
A  sojourn  there  of  a  week  or  two's  duration  will 
not  then  injure  them.  H.  T.  Martin. 


THE    MOUNTAIN    PRIMULAS. 

(Continued  from  page  39S.) 

Saxatile  or  Eock-loving  Species. 

P.    SPECTABILIS   (Tratt.)    syn.   P.   integrifolia 

(Tausch    non    L.),    P.    calycina    (Eeich.),   P. 

glaucescens  (Reich.). 

P.  spectabilis  var.  denticulata  (Koch),  P. 
2)ollimana  (Mor.),  P.  intermedia  (Heg.)  and 
P.  carniolica  (Poll,  non  Jacq.). — From  the 
Alps  of  Eastern  Austria,  between  3,000  feet 
and  4,000  feet  on  limestone.  A  beautiful 
species  near  clusiana  and  glaucescens,  from 
which  it  is  distinguished  by  the  bright  green 
viscous  leaves,  dotted  and  margined  with 
white,  and  by  the  bracts  being  usually  shorter 
than  the  pedicels.  Flowers  large,  of  a  fine 
violet-carmine  colour  in  March  and  April.  Of 
easy  culture  in  half  sun  in  the  joints  of 
calcareous  rocks. 

P.  Steinii  (Obrist). — Alps  of  the  middle 
Tyrol,  a  hybrid,  unknown  to  me,  of  minima 
and  hirsuta,  more  nearly  resembling  the  latter. 

P.  Sturii  (Schott.).— From  the  Styrian  Alps 
(Reich.  "Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  60,  iii.  67,  vi.-vii.) 
.syn.  P.  Allionii  (Hanson  non  Lois.).  From 
thehigh  limestone  Alps  of  the  Southern  Tyrol, 
from  3,000  feet  to  8,000  feet.  A  pretty  little 
plant,  near  Allionii,  resembling  it  in  its  dwarf 
habit  and  the  small  size  of  its  leaves,  but 
clearly  distinguished  from  it  by  its  denticulate 
translucent  leaves  (opaque  in  Allionii),  by  its 
very  obtuse  calyx  lobes,  and  by  those  of  the 
corolla  which  are  bifid.  Leaves  and  calyx  are 
glandular -viscous ;  the  flowers  are  one  or  two. 
upon  short  peduncles.  The  corolla  is  lilac- 
rose.  The  plant  is  only  1  inch  or  so  in  height 
and  forms  large,  flat,  dwarf  tufts. 


This  species  is  by  no 
means  easy  to  grow ;  it  rarely 
flowers  in  our  gardens 
either  at  Geneva  or  La 
Linnasa.  We  have  not  yet 
found  out  how  to  treat  it. 
tkM  P.    venusta    (Host).  — 

.^Pffi^^        Figured     in    Reichenbach's 
.'^^^      "Icones,"  t.  53.      From  the 
.      -"^^r      limestone  Alps  of  Carinthia, 
*  between  3,000  feet  and  4,000 

feet.  A  hybrid  of  P.  Auricula 
and  carniolica.  A  pretty 
plant  rather  near  P.  Arctotis, 
but  distinguished  from  it  by 
its  rose  -  coloured,  purple, 
violet  or  white — never  yellow 
— flower,  and  by  its  leaves 
thinning  to  the  base,  regu- 
larly serrated  and  edged  with 
white  as  in  nmrginata.  The 
•whole  plant  is  covered  with 
mealy  powder,  and  the  corolla 
has  a  distinct  mealy  spot  at 
the  throat.  It  is  easily  grown 
in  the  same  way  as  Auricida. 
P.  Venzoi  (Huter)  P.  cridalensis  (Gusm.).— 
A  hybrid  of  P.  ividfeniana  and  tyrolensis, 
which  I  have  never  succeeded  in  growing. 

P.  villosa  (Jacq.).— Figured  in  Reichen- 
bach's "Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  66.  Granitic  Alps  of 
Styria,  of  Carinthia   and  Carniola,  between 

3,000  feet  and  4,000  feet.  A  low-growing 
species,  abundantly  viscous-pubescent,  without 
farinaceous  powder;  leaves obovate-spathulate, 

obtuse,  fairly  regularly  and   finely  toothed; 

petioles  very  short,  capsule  as  long  or  slightly 

longer  than  the  calyx. 

It  is    often    confounded  with  hirsutu  and 

viscosa  in  gardens  ;  but  hirsuta  is  distinguished 

from  it  by  the  leaves  suddenly  contracting  to 

the  petiole,  whereas  in  viscosa  the  breadth  of 

the  leaf  narrows  down  very  gradually  ; 

leaves  are  also  narrower  and  less 

toothed ;    the   capsule   is   longer 

(shorter  than  the  calyx  in  hirsuta), 

and,  above  all,  it  is  distinguished 

by  the  brown  glandular  villosity 

with  which  it  is  covered.   It  diflers 

from  viscosa  (All.  non  Vill.)  by 

the  tube  of  the  corolla  being  two 

or  three  times  as  long  as  the  calyx 

(three  or   four  times   as  long  as 

viscosa),  by  the  very  short  petiole, 

and  by  the  colour  of  the  flower, 

which  in  viscosa  is  violet  -  lilac. 

This  plant  does  well  mth  us,  but 

must  be   kept  away  from  lime, 

which  soon  kills  it.     It  likes  a 

rocky    joint    in    half    siin,    and 

flowers  in  March  and  April. 
P.  viscosa  (All.  non  Vill.),  syn. 

P.    hirsuta  (Vill.  non  AIL),    P. 

latifolia    (Lap.),     P.     graveolens 

(He'get.).— It  is  found  in  Reichen- 
bach's "  Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  57.    Alps 

of  the  Grisons  and  of  the  Mount 

Cenis,     also     Piedmontese     and 

Maritime  Alps,  in  granitic  rocks 

from  3,000  feet  to  5,000  feet.    This 

plant  is  well  known  in   gardens 

under  the  names  gra.veolens  and 

latifolia.     Like  P.  marginata,  it 

has    a    thick    suffruticose    stem 

sometimes  divided,  from  4  inches 

to     6     inches    high,     making    it 

look  like    a    little    shrub.     The 

leaves  are   broad,   obovate,    and 

toothed,      glandular  -  pubescent, 

ciliated    at    the    edge    with 

glandular     hairs  ;     the     flowers 

are  numerous,  lilac-violet,  form- 


ing large  and  handsome  bouquets  in  April  and 
May. 

P.  vochinensis  (Gusm.).  —  This  I  received 
some  time  since  from  Gusmus  as  a  hybrid  of 
wulfeniana  and  minima,  but  I  have  been 
unable  to  do  anything  with  it. 

P.  waldensiana  (Reich.).  —  From  Monte 
Baldo ;  a  hybrid  of  P.  ciliata  and  spectabilis, 
which  I  have  never  seen. 

P.  Wettsteinii  (Wiem.). — From  the  Wiener 
Schneeberg  in  Austria  ;  a  hybrid  of  clusiana 
and  minima  which  is  unknown  to  me. 

P.  loxdfeniana  (Schott),  syn.  integrifolia 
(Sturm  non  L.). — From  the  limestone  Alps 
of  Eastern  Austria.  It  is  figured  by 
Reichenbach,  "  Icones,"  xvii.,  t.  63.  Leaves 
narrow,  slightly  glaucous,  margined  with 
white  from  the  presence  of  numerous 
glandular  hairs  only  to  be  seen  with  a 
magnifying  glass ;  flowers  large,  one  to 
three  on  a  short  stalk ;  calyx  in  obtuse 
divisions,  corolla  of  a  fine  carmine  colour. 
It  flowers  abundantly  in  ilarch  and  April, 
and  requires  limestone  rockwork  in  half 
sun. 

I  have  stated  that  the  Primulas  of  the 
Auricula  group  are  essentially  saxatile,  and 
require  rockwork  or  the  joints  of  old  walls. 
Nevertheless  they  may  all  be  grown  in  pots  in 
porous  and  spongy  soil  with  plenty  of  drainage. 
As  a  rule  they  are  better  not  in  full  sun,  but 
in  some  half-shady  place.     Stagnant  moisture 


PRIMULA   VILLOSA    (LIFE   SIZE). 


430 


THE   GARDEN. 


[June  28,  1902. 


PRIMDLA    SPECTABILIS    (LIFE   SIZE). 

is  fatal,  as  they  rot  easily.  They  all  bloom  in 
spring  from  March  to  May,  and  are  increased 
by  division  and  seed. 

Geneva.  H.  CoRREVON. 

(To  be  continued.) 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

( The  Editor  is  ?iot  respmisible  for  the  opiaiotvi 
expressed  hy  correspondents. ) 

EUCALYPTI  — A      NOTE 
FROM     SYDNEY. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Gakden."] 

SIR, — I  notice  a  letter  by  Mr.  H.  R. 
Dugmore  on  page  145  in  your  issue  of 
March  1.  Eucalyptus  Gunnii  is  a  species 
which  in  its  glaucous  (type)  form  is  con- 
fined to  the  high  mountains  of  Tasmania, 
Victoria,  and  New  South  Wales.  It  can 
consequently  stand  a  good  deal  of  frost ;  but  the 
species  in  one  form  or  another  (it  is  very  variable) 
is  found  in  all  the  States  except  Western  Australia, 
and  in  some  places  elevated  but  a  few  hundred 
feet  above  the  sea.  Seed  from  such  plants,  although 
still  E.  Gunnii,  would  produce  plants  not  likely  to 
be  hardy  in  Northern  Europe.  Most  forms  of  E. 
Gunnii  prefer  damp,  low-lying  situations. 

E.  coccifera  and  E.  urnigera  are  Tasmanian 
species  growing  in  cold  localities  ;  the  former  grows 
at  a  higher  elevation  than  the  latter. 

E.  polyauthemos  is  chiefly  found  in  New  South 
Wales,  and  is  not  capable  of  standing  anything 
like  the  cold  temperature  of  the  last  two  species. 

The  E.  longifolia,  which  is  synonymous  with 
E.  amygdalina,  is  E.  longifolia  (Lindl.).  The 
true  species  is  E.  longifolia  (Lind.  and  Otto),  and 
is  confined  to  the  coastal  districts  of  New  South 
Wales,  and  hence  will  not  stand  much  winter  cold. 
The  amount  of  cold  that  E.  amygdalina  can  stand 
depends  upon  where  the  seed  was  collected,  for 
the  species  has  a  very  wide  range  in  Australia  and 
Tasmania. 

Australia  is  a  very  extensive  country,  and  in 
New  South  Wales  alone  we  have  at  least  six 
climatic  districts.  J.  H.  Maiden. 

Botanic  Gardens,  Sydney. 


THE   LONDON   DAHLIA  UNION. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "The  Garden."] 
Sir, — It    is    not  my  intention   to  enter   into  any 
unseemly  personal  discussion  in  your  columns   re 
the  above  union.     A   recent   communication  from 
me  was   a   reply   to,  and  a  criticism  on,   a  letter 


which  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs,  always  a  courteous 
gentleman,  had  sent  you,  and  seemed  to  be  a  sort 
of  apology  from  him  for  forming  this  so-called 
union,  if  I  have  any  quarrel  at  all,  and  it  is 
certainly  a  friendly  one,  it  is  rather  with  those 
colleagues  of  tlie  National  Dahlia  Society,  who, 
whilst  yet  members  of  the  committee,  join  in 
setting  up — it  is  now  unhappily  made  so  jjlain — 
what  purposed  to  be  a  rival  organisation.  What 
would  be  said  I  wonder  were  a  few  persons  to  start 
a  London  Rose  Union,  or  a  Carnation  Union,  with 
established  national  societies  having  their  homes 
in  London. 

Still  more,  what  would  be  said  were  members 
of  the  executives  ot  such  national  societies  to 
join  and  promote  these  rival  organisations  V  They 
may  plead  that  trade  or  personal  interests  override 
all  considerations  of  loyalty  to  the  original  and 
national  organisation.  I  do  not ;  but  then  I  am 
not  a  trader  or  a  grower.  I  have  been  a  member 
of  the  executive  of  the  Dahlia  Society  for  some 
two  years,  and  have  not  during  that  time  heard 
of  any  application  to  hold  a  second  show  at  the 
Aquarium  or  elsewhere.  However,  that  is  a  small 
matter.  I  contend  that  once  allied  as  an  executive 
otticial  of  the  National  Dahlia  Society  common 
loyalty  to  that  body  should  prevent  at  once  a 
retention  of  that  position  and  holding  a  similar 
office  in  connexion  with  a  rival  organisation. 

A.  Dean. 

[This  discussion  must  now  close. — Ed.] 


and  its  two  sports.  Silver  Queen  and  York  and 
Lancaster.  Then  we  have  amongst  the  perfumed 
sorts  Gala  Beauty,  Emerald  Gem,  Mrs.  Moon  (a 
wonderful  Tulip),  gesneriana  lutea  and  its  pale 
form  pallida.  Firefly,  macrospeila,  and  last  but  not 
least,  vitellina,  with  its  Almond  perfume.  I  was 
glad  to  see  the  list  given  by  "Philomel"  in 
The  GARDE^f,  but  I  should  like  to  have  a  con- 
ference on  Tulips,  such  as  we  had  over  Daffodils 
in  1S84. 

Cork.  W.  Baylor  Hartland. 


TREES  AND 
ENGLISH 


SHRUBS   FOR 
GARDENS. 


THE    HARDY    HEATHS. 


G 


EAELY 


PLANTING  BETWEEN 
POTATOES. 

[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden."] 
Sir, — I  was  pleased  to  note  that  such  an  excellent 


for  the  last   six 

years,     and 

cultivator  as  Mr.    Beckett  does  not  hesitate   to  I  although      the 

plant  such  crops^as  autumn    Cauliflowers  between  '  winters      during 

many    gardens  -'     - 


,NE  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the 
Heaths  is  E.  australis,  and  also 
one  of  the  rarest.  L^nfortunately, 
it  is  not  so  hardy  as  the  majority. 
In  the  southern  and  western 
counties,  however,  it  will  thrive 
admirably,  withstanding  20"  of  frost  without 
serious  injury,  provided  it  is  not  too  prolonged. 
It  is  curious  that  in  spite  of  its  beauty  it  is  but 
little  known  even  in  Cornwall,  Devon,  and 
similar  localities  where  it  would  doubtless 
thrive  to  perfec- 
tion. It  has  been 
grown    at     Kew 


rows  of    early  Potatoes, 


that  time  have 
not  been  parti- 
cularly severe,  it 
has  stood  outside 
all  the  time,  and 
it  flowers  regu- 
larly and  pro- 
every 
It    can 


this  were  done  it  would  be  much  better  for  the 
Cauliflowers,  and  the  Potatoes  would  not  suffer.    I 
am  aware  many  condemn  growing  the  two  crops 
together,    but  the   advice  to  keep   clear   of   each 
other  is  easily  given.     Even  in  my  own  case,  with 
a  large  acreage  of  kitchen  garden,  we  are  obliged 
to  do  this,  as  it  frequently  happens  (it  is  the  case 
this  year)  that  the  early  Potato  srop  is  late.    If  the   f  u  s  e  1  y 
Cauliflowers   were  left   the  latter  would,   by   the  |  spring, 
time    the    Potatoes     were   cleared,    get 
drawn   and    become    almost    worthless. 
With  early  Potatoes  given  a  fair  space 
the    Brassicas    do    little   harm,    and    if 
planted  early  they  soon  get   above  the 
haulm,    and    care    then    in    lifting   the 
Potatoes  is  very  necessary,  and   the  soil 
they  get  then  moulds  up  and  does  good. 
This  year,    unfortunately,    the   green 
plants    get     more    room     than     usual, 
owing  to  the  frost  having  cut  down  the 
first  growth,   and  this  in  spite  of   con- 
stant earthing  and  protecting  with  litter. 
In  our  case  frost  actually  got  into  cold 
frames.     It  is  well  to  note  that  to  wait 
for    such    crops    to    be    cleared    means 
weakened  seedlings  at  planting. 

G.  W.  S 

MAY-FLOWEEING  TULIPS. 
[To  THE  Editor  of  "  The  Garden." 
Sir, — I  was  glad  to  see  your  correspon- 
dent's (signed  "A.  P.  H.")  words  in  The  Garden  of 
the  14lh  inst.  There  is  no  doubt  that  what  he  says 
of  Tulip  La  Merveille  is  quite  correct.  The  only  two 
that  I  know  for  effect  and  colour  surpassing  La 
Merveille  are  T.  spathulata  aurantiaca  and  its 
maculated  form.  fjnfortunately,  however,  there 
is  no  perfume.  Your  correspondent  is  perfectly 
right  in  his  remarks  about  Narbonensis  alba  (syn. 
Sweet  Nancy)  and  Didieri  alba.  The  latter,  when 
it  gets  plentiful  enough  to  grow  for  market  work, 
will  be  largely  grown  on  account  of  its  colour  and 
Sweet  Pea-like  perfume.  A  few  other  splendid 
May-flowering  sorts  are  Leghorn  Bonnet,  Fairj' 
(Jueen,  Nigrette,  The  Faun  (very  beautiful), 
Ixioides,  mauriana,  maculata  reflexa,  Mars,  maeu- 
lata  globosa  grandiflora,  Sprengeri  Shandon  Bells, 


be  increased  by 
cuttings  put  in 
about  the  end 
of  July  or  the 
beginning  of 
August.  Erica 
australis  is  a 
native  of  Spain 
and  Portugal, 
and,  flowering 
in  April  and 
May,  lasts 
eight  weeks  in 
beauty.    The 


primula   VISCOSA   (life   SIZE). 


June  28,  1902.] 


THE    GAUDEN. 


431 


flowers  are  of  a  rich  bright  rosy  red,  brighter 
indeed  than  those  of  any  other  Heath.  They 
are  fragrant,  pitcher-shaped,  and  about  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  long.  The  species  has  been  con- 
founded with  E.  mediterranea,  which,  indeed, 
-often  does  duty  for  it,  but  it  is  distinguished 
by  having  the  Howers  produced  generally  four 
•or  eight  together  in  terminal  clusters.  (Those 
of  E.  mediterranea  appear  in  the  leaf  axils). 
For  those  who  have  gardens  well  sheltered  or 
situated  in  mild  localities  this  Heath  is  strongly 
to  be  recommended.  The  difficulty  at  present 
is  to  get  hold  of  the  right  thing.  1  am  glad 
to  know,  however,  that  some  trade  firms  are 
taking  it  up.  It  is  said  to  grow  6  feet  to  8  feet 
high,  but  I  have  not  seen  plants  more  than 
ialf  as  high. 

E.  mediterranea. — Of  all  the  taller  Heaths 
this  is  the  one,  I  think,  that  deserves  to  be 
most  freely  planted  in  districts  no  warmer  than 
the  London  one.  The  three  ]5receding  sisecies, 
so  beautiful  when  seen  at  their  best,  are  more 
adapted  for  the  southern  and  western  counties. 
Of  sturdier  constitution,  -  E.  mediter- 
ranea may  be  planted  in  large  quantities 
with  a  view  to  producing  broad  effects. 
At  Kew  a  group  70  feet  across  planted 
three  or  four  years  ago  already  makes 
a,  striking  mass  of  purple  each  spring. 
The  habit  of  remaining  for  a  long 
time  in  full  beauty,  which  is  so 
marked  and  valuable  a  character  of  the 
Heaths,  is  possessed  to  the  full  extent 
by  this  species.  It  is  beautiful  from 
March  to  May,  and  is  all  the  more 
appreciated  because  the  majority  of 
the  trees  and  shrubs  that  flower  at 
that  season  have  yellow,  pink,  or 
white  flowers.  In  the  typical  E.  medi- 
terranea the  flowers  are  bright  rosy  red, 
but  there  is  a  charming  white  flowered 
variety  (alba),  another  with  bluish 
foliage  (glauca),  and  a  dwarf  one 
{nana).  The  flowers  are  borne  near  the 
ends  of  the  shoots  in  the  axils  of  the 
leaves,  and  are  pitcher-shaped.  The 
name  mediterranea  is  misleading,  for 
according  to  Moggridge,  the  Mediter- 
ranean botanist,  it  is  not  a  native  of 
that  region  at  all.  It  is  rather  of 
Biscayan  origin,  and  is  found  in 
Western  France  and  Spain. 

On  the  boggy  heaths  of  Galway  and 
Mayo  a  form  of  this  species  is  found ; 
it  is  known  as  E.  mediterranea  var. 
hibernica,  and  grows  2  feet  to  5  feet 
high.  The  typical  E.  mediterranea 
was  represented  in  the  Syon  Gardens 
seventy  years  ago  by  a  specimen 
10  feet  high.  Do  any  such  noble  examples 
remain  in  the  country  now  1 

A  variety  intermediate  between  this  species 
and  E.  carnea — probably  a  hybrid— is  known 
as  E.  mediterranea  hybrida.  It  is  the  earliest 
of  all  the  hardy  Heaths  to  flower,  and  is  often 
bright  in  the  New  Year.  It  is,  as  might  be 
expected,  taller  than  E.  carnea,  but  the  flowers 
are  very  similar,  although  of  scarcely  so  bright 
a  red.  It  is  one  of  the  most  charming  of 
Heaths,  and  worthy  of  being  planted  in  large 
■quantities. 

E.  striata.  —  Although  not  so  strikingly 
beautiful  as  the  Heaths  previously  mentioned, 
this  species  is  the  hardiest  of  all  the  taller 
Ericas.  It  may  be  recommended  for  inclement 
•districts,  where  a  tall  Heath  is  desired.  It 
grows  5  feet  to  6  feet  high,  and  is  of  erect, 
sturdy  habit.  Its  leaves  are  borne  in  whorls, 
four  to  six  together  ;  they  are  deep  green,  in 
•consequence  of  which  a  large  mass  of  plants, 
with  their  erect  plumose  branches,  produces  a 
rather  noteworthy  effect.      The  species,  like  so 


many  Heaths,  has  a  long  flowering  season.  It 
commences  to  bloom  in  June  and  is  at  its  best 
in  July,  but  three  months  later  flowers  may 
still  be  gathered.  The  flowers  are  pale  purple, 
and  are  produced  in  terminal  clusters.  E. 
stricta  has  been  in  cultivation  since  176.5,  and 
is  a  native  of  South-Western  Europe.  It  is 
occasionally  met  with  in  gardens  under  the 
name  of  E.  ramulosa. 

E.  scopiiria. — In  my  experience  of  Heaths 
near  London  this  species  has  proved  to  be  the 
tallest,  for  it  has  during  the  last  few  years 
attained  to  as  much  as  9  feet  in  height.  This 
character  gives  it  a  certain  distinction  ;  still, 
when  regarded  as  a  flower-bearing  plant,  it  is, 
I  think,  the  least  worthy  of  the  Heaths.  The 
flowers  are  crowded  in  the  leaf  axils  in  great 
numbers,  but  are  small  and  greenish  white. 
The  habit  of  the  plant  is  somewhat  straggling 
and  uneven,  but  the  species  has  the  merit  of 
being  quite  hardy.  I  have  seen  its  stems  split 
by  hard  frost  on  more  than  one  occasion  during 
the  last  dozen  years,  but  it  has  never  suffered 


charming  colour,  and  for  tw©  or  three  months 
longer  they  retain  their  beauty,  no  matter 
{  what  weather  may  occur.  So  profuse  is 
this  plant  in  its  flowers  that  they  literally 
cover  it. 

Erica  carnea  is  one  of  those  plants  (and  there 
are  not  a  few  of  them)  which,  although 
I  perfectly  well  known  and  quite  common,  are 
I  still  not  used  in  gardens  so  profusely  as  they 
I  ought  to  be.  The  majority  of  our  early- 
flowering  plants  bear  flowers  that  are  either 
white  or  yellow,  so  that  the  rosy  red  colour  of 
this  Erica  makes  a  welcome  change.  However 
freely  it  might  be  planted  it  would  never 
weary  or  be  out  of  place,  for  its  tints,  though 
bright  and  warm,  have  not  the  least  suggestion 
of  harshness  in  them.  Statements  have 
recently  been  published  to  the  effect  that 
Erica  carnea  is  a  British  plant.  This  idea 
appears  to  have  originated  with  Bentham,  the 
botanist,  who  regarded  E.  carnea  and  E. 
mediterranea  as  the  same  species.  Following 
out  this  idea  he  included  the  plant  which  I 


A  GROUPING   OF  EKICA   MEDITERRANEA. 


permanent  injury.  It  flowers  in  June,  and  is 
a  native  of  the  mountainous  country  to  the 
north  of  the  Mediterranean,  especially  about 
Mentone. 

The  Dwarfee  Heaths. 

E.  carnea. — The  dwarf  Heaths  can,  of  course, 
be  used  very  differently  from  the  more  tree- 
like species  that  have  just  been  described.  As 
a  carpeting  beneath  other  species  of  sparsely 
planted  shrubs,  for  furnishing  sloping  banks, 
or  for  growing  on  the  small  terraces  of  the 
rockery  they  are  equally  useful,  and  of  all 
these_  dwarf  Heaths  more  can,  I  consider,  be 
said  in  favour  of  E.  carnea  than  of  any  other 
species.  It  is  not  only  absolutely  hardy,  but 
it  flowers  with  astonishing  freedom  at  a  time 
of  year  when  flowers  are  particularly  cherished. 
The  advent  of  its  first  flowers  is,  of  course, 
somewhat  dependent  on  the  weather,  but 
frequently  one  may  see  its  bright  rosy  red  bells 
almost  as  soon  as  January  comes  in.  By  the 
end  of  February  the  entire  plant  is  a  mass  of 


have  already  alluded  to  as  a  form  of  E. 
mediterranea,  and  which  is  found  in  Western 
Ireland,  in  his  "  Flora  of  Britain  "  as  a  form 
of  E.  carnea.  Possibly  he  was  right  from  the 
botanist's  standpoint,  but  the  plant  grown  in 
gardens  and  nurseries  as  E.  carnea  is  quite 
distinct  from  E.  mediterranea.  It  is  usually 
not  more  than  6  inches  to  8  inches  high, 
and  is  a  native  of  the  mountains  of  Central 
Europe. 

E.  cinerea. — Over  almost  the  whole  of  these 
islands,  from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  to  the 
moors  of  Devon  and  Cornwall,  this  Heath 
occurs  in  greater  or  less  abundance.  During 
the  late  summer  and  early  autumn  (it  flowers 
from  July  onwards)  it  covers  miles  of  Exmoor 
with  its  bright  purple  blossoms,  being  mostly 
associated  with  one  of  the  dwarf  autumn- 
flowering  Corses  (Ulex  Gallii).  In  gardens  it 
has  produced  several  forms,  the  two  most 
brilliantly  coloured  of  which  are  called  atro- 
sanguinea  and  atropurpurea.  But  all  the  forms 
of  this  Heath  are  beautifully  coloured.     It 


432 


THE    GARDEN. 


fJuNE  28,  1902. 


produces,  indeed,  some  of  the  loveliest  colours 
that  are  to  be  found  among  the  hardy  species, 
and  they  range  from  white  to  crimson.  It  is 
a  plant  that  loves  the  cool  pure  mountain  air, 
and  on  hot,  sandy  soil  in  the  Thames  Valley  is 
short-lived.  At  the  same  time  it  thrives 
admirably  in  gardens  where  a  moist,  cool 
bottom  can  be  given  it  and  where  the  air  is 
pure.  Altogether  it  makes  an  admirable 
succession  plant  to  E.  carnea. 

(To  he  continued.) 


FIG  CULTURE  OUT  OF  DOORS 
AND  UNDER  GLASS. 

(Continued      from    j^age     415.) 

Vaeieties  Under  Glass. 

Brown  Turkey. — An  old  well-known  variety, 
and  for  general  purposes  still  the  best. 

Negro  Largo. — A  black  variety  of  large  size, 
highly  flavoured,  flesh  pale  red,  very  tender 
and  juicy  ;  a  good  cropper  and  grower  ;  one  of 
the  best  of  the  dark  varieties.  It  should  have 
a  limited  root  area. 

Pingo  de  Mel. — This  is  a  yellow  fleshed 
variety  of  great  excellence.  The  fruit  is  large, 
and  as  regards  flavour  it  is  one  of  the  sweetest 
of  all  and  one  of  the  earliest. 

White  Marseilles. — This,  one  of  the  oldest, 
is  still  amongst  the  best.  It  is  hardy,  a  good 
grower,  bears  freely  ;  the  fruit  is  a  good  size, 
the  skin  pale  yellow-green,  and  the  flavour 
rich  and  excellent ;  succeeds  well  out  of  doors 
in  suitable  localities. 

The  above  enumerated  varieties  are  the 
best  for  planting  out  under  glass.  Those 
more  suitable  for  pot  culture  will  be  given  in 
the  article  treating  of  this  subject. 

Appro.vimale  Table  of  Temperature  for  theforcimj 
and  growth  of  the  Fig  under  glass. 


Day 

maximum. 
Degrees. 

Night 

minimum 
Degrees, 

November 

from  50  to  5o 

.      from 

40  to   45 

December 

54    „    68 

45     „    48 

January 

64     „    58 

48    „    51 

February 

58     „    61 

49    „    64 

March     . . 

58    „    63 

64     „    60 

April 

60     „    64 

55     „    60 

May 

65    „    68 

57    „    63 

.Tune 

67     „    74 

60     „    65 

July 

68     ,,    75 

60    „    65 

August    . . 

66     ,,    75 

60     „    63 

September 

64     „    73 

57    „    60 

October  .. 

57    „    08 

55     „    69 

The  above  table  indicates  only  the  tempera- 
ture which  should  be  ajjproached  to  as  near  as 
possible  in  the  absence  of  sunshine  and  in 
ordinary  weather.  In  the  case  of  stormy  or 
very  severe  weather  it  is  better  to  let  the 
temperature  fall  slightly  lower  than  the  above 
rather  than  force  the  trees  too  much.  In 
brilliant  and  warm  weather  the  temperature 
may  remain  for  a  time  considerably  higher  than 
the  figures  given  and  fire-heat  more  or  less 
dispensed  with. 

Figs  out  of  doors. 

Few,  if  any,  of  Worthing's  attractions  are 
more  noteworthy  than  its  Fig  Gardens,  of 
which  perhaps  the  most  interesting  are  those 
at  Tarring,  a  small,  and  once  isolated,  village, 
now  almost  a  part  of  West  Worthing.  The 
industry  of  Fig  culture  in  Britain  may  be  said 
to  be  centred  in  Worthing,  though  how  this 
neighbourhood  should  come  to  possess  the 
most  extensive  Fig  orchards  it  is  hard  to  say. 
There  are  other  localities  upon  the  south  coast 
that  one  would  imagine  to  be  equally  well 
suited  for  Fig  culture,  yet  the  fact  remains 
that  the  majority  of  home-grown  green  Figs 
sent  to  Covent  Garden  Market  come  from 
Worthing,  and  these  are  all  grown  in  the 
open. 

Those  who  have  never  had  an  opportunity 


of  visiting  the  Worthing  Fig  orchards  would 
be  astonished  to  learn  of  the  size,  age,  and 
vigour  this  tree  attains  there.  Even  in  cottage 
gardens  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  the 
Fig  tree  thrives  remarkably  well.  It  is  in  and 
around  the  village  of  iSompting  that  the  chief 
market  supply  of  Figs  is  obtained.  The  trees 
are  here  planted  in  groves,  irregular  now 
because  some  have  died  and  been  replaced  by 
younger  trees,  and  many  of  them  are  20  feet 
high  and  as  many  through.  They  are  not 
allowed  to  grow  higher  than  this,  otherwise 
the  labour  of  gathering  the  fruit  would  be 
increased.  On  an  average  the  trees  are  about 
80  years  old,  some  there  are  of  considerably 
over  100  years  of  age,  whilst  others  are 
appreciably  less. 

It  is  surprising  to  learn  how  little  attention 
these  Fig  trees  receive  beyond  the  removal  of 
branches  when  they  are  quite  close  to  the 
ground,  and  therefore  almost  useless  and  very 
inconvenient  by  reason  of  their  preventing 
access  to  the  centre  of  the  tree,  so  essential 
during  the  gathering  of  the  fruit ;  dead  or 
unfruitful  wood  has  also,  of  course,  to  be  cut 
away.  They  receive  practically  no  manure, 
yet  it  is  but  rarely  that  a  satisfactory  crop  of 
fruit  is  not  produced  by  these  remarkable  and 
aged  trees,  although  some  seasons  are  more 
conducive  to  a  full  crop  than  others.  Late 
spring  frosts  do  considerable  damage  sometimes 
when  the  fruits  are  quite  small. 

Only  one  crop  of  fruit  is  obtained  each  year, 
and  gathering  commences  about  the  second 
week  in  August  as  a  rule,  and  is  not  really 
over  until  the  middle  of  October,  although  the 
fruits  gathered  then  will  not  be  so  fine  as  those 
picked  earlier  in  the  season.  The  year  1901 
was  a  record  one  so  far  as  the  quantity  of 
produce  is  concerned.  One  large  firm,  in  fact 
the  largest  Fig  growers  in  the  neighbourhood, 
sent  to  market  1,000  boxes  or  more  of  Figs, 
whilst  the  record  of  the  best  year  previously 
did  not  exceed  700  boxes.  As  each  box 
contains  seven  dozens  of  fruits,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  total  number  does  not  fall  far  short  of 
100,000  Figs.  These  are  forwarded  principally 
to  Covent  Garden  and  Brighton,  although  many 
are  disposed  of  locally.  In  these  Fig  orchards 
there  are  some  wonderfully  fine  old  Medlar 
trees,  .30  feet  or  40  feet  high,  apparently  as  old 
as  the  Fig  trees  themselves,  and  almost  equally 
as  productive.  They  become  practically  covered 
with  fruits.  These  also  are  easily  disposed  of 
at  Covent  Garden. 

The  Tarring  Fig  Gardens  are,  as  previously 
mentioned,  now  practically  within  the  town  of 
Worthing,  so  quickly  has  the  latter  extended 
of  late  years.  They  are  extremely  quaint  and 
interesting,  and  are  half  an  acre  or  so  in  extent. 
A  narrow  central  walk  and  side  walks  are 
connected  by  intersecting  ones,  so  there  is 
nothing  at  all  elaborate  in  the  design.  The 
central  pathway  is  bordered  on  either  side 
with  picturesijue  old  trees  that  have  a  delightful 
and  unicjue  effect.  The  branches  extend  over 
the  path  to  such  an  extent  that  in  some  places 
they  almost  meet.  In  the  large  irregular  square 
beds  formed  by  the  surrounding  walks  are  also 
Fig  trees,  and  many  of  the  specimens  are  of 
great  age  and  vigour.  On  a  hot  summer's  day 
the  Tarring  Fig  Gardens  make  a  delightful 
retreat  ;  arbours  of  Fig  trees,  formed  almost 
without  the  help  of  human  hands,  are  not 
infrequently  met  with  as  one  makes  the  round, 
everywhere  the  cool  restful  green  of  the  Fig 
leaves  meets  the  eye,  and  fruits  abound  where- 
with to  quench  the  thirst  and  satisfy  the 
palate. 

These  gardens  have  a  peculiarly  interesting 
history,  as  the  following  extract  from  an  old 
ocal  book,  "  Sussex  Industries,"  will  show  : — 


"  The  Tarring  Fig  Gardens,  as  a  garden,  date 
back  to  the  year  174.5,  but  an  old  gnarled  tree 
standing  in  the  middle,  well  projiped  up  on  all 
sides  and  stretching  its  partly  bare  branches 
upwards  (it  was  struck  by  lightning  some  years 
ago  and  split  partly  in  two),  is  said  to  have  been 
planted  by  Thomas  A'Beckett  himself.  This- 
tree  still  bears  occasionally.  It  is  on 
record  that  the  sainted  Bishop  of  Chichester, 
Richard  de  la  Wych,  grafted  fruit  trees  at 
Tarring  with  his  own  hand,  and  it  is  presumed 
these  were  Fig  trees.  The  Tarring  Fig  Gardens 
can  show  a  plantation  of  lOO  to  iOQ  trees,  and 
2,000  dozen  excellent  fruits  or  so  are  produced 
annually,  besides  a  mass  of  small  ones.  In 
summer  the  garden  looks  thoroughly  un- 
English.  Dense  foliage  produces  deep  shade, 
which  adds  to  the  picturesque  efl'ect,  giving 
fictitious  length  to  the  walks  and  making  the 
half  acre  assume  the  proportions  of  a  forest. 
The  trees  are  not  allowed  to  grow  high,  nor 
are  the  branches  thinned,  the  object  is  to 
produce  a  mass  of  overshadowing  foliage. 
They  like  heat,  but  not  exposure  to  the  sun. 
The  manure  is  put  on  sparingly  in  spring  and 
in  a  fluid  state.  Of  several  varieties  grown 
White  MarseOles  is  the  most  valued  and 
luscious.  The  variety  Ischian  is  said  in  hot 
summers  to  ripen  to  a  brick-red  colour,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  identical  with  the  historic  red 
Fig  which  King  James  tasted  with  pleasure  in 
the  Dean's  garden  at  Winchester.  Brown 
Turkey  is  also  grown.  The  harvesting  or 
picking  of  the  Figs  begins  early  in  August  and 
continues  to  the  end  of  October.  During  that 
time  from  30  to  100  dozen  are  gathered  daily 
and  disposed  of  in  Worthing,  Brighton,  or 
London." 

Far  better  prices  are  now  obtained  for  Figs 
than  was  the  case  some  years  ago.  Whereas 
then  3d.  or  4d.  per  lb.  would  have  been  con- 
sidered a  fair  price,  the  growers  of  to-day  are 
content  with  nothing  less  than  8d.,  and  more 
is  often  realised.  This  is  a  curious  and  so  far 
as  I  know  an  unique  circumstance.  With 
every  other  market  fruit  it  will  be  found  that 
an  increased  demand  has  been  met  with  such 
a  largely  increased  supply  that  prices  have 
gone  down  as  a  result.  With  the  Fig,  how- 
ever, the  fact  apparently  is  that  the  demand 
has  of  late  years  considerably  increased,  but 
the  supply  has  not  done  so  proportionately, 
and  prices  therefore,  instead  of  falling,  have 
gone  up. 


GARDENING  OF  THE  WEEK. 


INDOOR    GARDEN. 

GARDENIAS  that  are  growing  in 
4i-inch  pots  and  are  full  of  roots 
should  be  repotted  into  8-inch  ones, 
after  which  pinching  should  be  dis- 
continued. Later  rooted  cuttings 
in  small  pots  should  be  kept  near 
the  glass  and  pinched  occasionally  in  order  to  form 
bush}'  specimens.  All  cut- back  plants  that  have 
made  growth  from  1  inch  to  2  inches  long  should 
be  repotted  into  larger  pots,  using  a  compost  of 
equal  parts  turfy  loam  and  peat,  adding  bone-meal, 
charcoal,  and  coarse  silver  sand.  When  growing 
Gardenias  require  a  moist,  warm  atmosphere,  and 
frequent  syringings  over  head.  After  growth  is 
completed  they  may  be  more  fully  exposed  to  the 
sun  and  removed  to  a  cooler  temperature.  A 
close  watch  must  be  kept  for  insect  pests,  and 
measures  taken  to  eradicate  them.  Mealy  bug  and 
scale  are  the  most  troublesome.  Green  fly  and  red 
spider  may  be  kept  at  bay  by  syringing. 

Azalea  indica. 
These  plants  may  be  placed  out  of  doors  to  ripen 
their  growth  and  set  the   buds  for  next  season's 


June  28,  1902] 


THE    GAKDEN 


4:'J3 


flowering.  A  sunny  sheltered  position  should  be 
chosen,  and  if  possible  plunge  the  pots  to  about 
half  their  depth  in  coal  asbes  ;  this  will  keep  them 
firm  and  the  roots  cool  during  summer.  Ericas 
and  Epacrises  that  have  finished  growing  may  be 
treated  in  a  similar  manner.  When  such  plants 
as  Azaleas,  &c. ,  are  lirst  placed  out  of  doors  they 
should  be  shaded  for  a  short  time  as  the  tender 
foliage  is  apt  to  get  scorched  when  placed  in  the 
full  sun.  Azaleas  are  liable  to  the  attacks  of  red 
spider  and  thrips ;  frequent  syringings  with  soot 
water  will  materially  help  the  growth  and  keep 
these  pests  down. 

CA^rPANULA  PYRAMIDAMS. 

Plants  in  bud  may  be  placed  indoors,  and  the 
application  of  liquid  manures  as  previously  advised 
must  be  continued.  Seedlings  are  now  making 
rapid  progress  and  may  be  placed  in  larger  pots  as 
they  require  it.  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  and 
allied  ones  are  rooting  rapidly,  and  should  be 
transferred  to  larger  pots.  A  compost  suitable  is 
one  consisting  of  two  parts  fibrous  loam,  with 
the  fine  particles  shaken  out,  one  part  leaf-soil,  one 
of  peat,  and  a  good  addition  of  dried  cow  manure 
and  silver  sand.  Attention  should  be  given  to 
the  drainage.  Keep  the  plants  in  a  warm,  moist 
atmosphere,  and  shade  them  from  strong  sun.  A 
successional  batch  of  cuttings  should  now  be  put 
in,  following  the  method  advised  in  previous  notes. 

POINSETTIAS 

that  are  rooting  in  propagating  frames  should  be 
inured  to  light  and  air  by  gradually  tilting  the 
frame  top.  These  plants  should  not  be  checked 
in  any  way  or  they  will  be  stunted  ;  they  must  be 
treated  judiciously  with  regard  to  watering  at  all 
times  or  the  foliage  will  be  lost.  Insert  cuttings 
as  they  can  be  obtained. 

•    Cyclamen  persicum. 

As  soon  as  the  pots  are  well  filled  with  roots, 
and  before  they  become  root- bound,  transfer  the 
plants  to  larger  pots.  If  manures  are  applied  in 
a  weak  state  at  frequent  intervals,  when  the  pots 
become  filled  with  roots,  it  will  obviate  the 
necessity  of  using  large  and  unsightly  pots.  Pull 
off  the  lights  entirely  on  fine  and  warm  nights. 
The  night  dews  are  most  beneficial  to  these  plants. 

John  Fleming. 

Wexham  Park  Gardens,  Sloiigh. 


THE  FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Melons. 
The  cold  dull  weather  has  not  been  favourable  to 
plants  in  frames.  When  in  flower  a  comparatively 
dry  atmosphere  must  be  maintained,  as  a  close, 
moist  one  is  very  detrimental  to  a  good  set  of 
fruit,  as  is  also  dense  growth  ;  these  conditions  are 
also  liable  to  produce  canker.  The  laterals  should 
therefore  be  well  thinned  from  the  time  the  plants 
are  planted  out.  Give  the  plants  a  thorough 
watering  before  the  flowers  expand  to  carry  them 
over  the  flowering  season  ;  fertilise  the  blossoms 
and  stop  the  growths  at  one  leaf  beyond  the  fruit. 
Once  sufficient  fruits  are  swelling  increase  the 
atmospheric  moisture  by  syringing  the  plants  at 
closing  time  on  fine  days,  and  give  good  supplies 
of  weak  liquid  manure,  avoiding  welting  the  soil 
near  the  bases  of  the  plants.  The  demand  for  water 
will,  however,  be  regulated  by  the  condition  of 
the  weather,  and  must  be  supplied  accordingly. 

Late  Melons. 
Where  late  Melons  are  valued  seeds  should  be 
sown  at  intervals  until  the  end  of  July,  and  the 
plants  in  due  course  be  planted  upon  firm  ridges 
of  rough  compost,  made  upon  warm  beds  in 
structures  well  supplied  with  artificial  heat. 
These  late  crops  which  ripen  their  fruit  while  the 
days  are  shortening  should  be  allowed  ample  space; 
expose  the  foliage  to  the  sun  and  air  so  that  it 
and  the  stems  of  the  plants  may  be  firm. 

Early  Peach  Houses. 
When  the  trees  are  cleared  of  fruit  the  houses 
should  at  once  be  thoroughly  syringed  to  free  the 
foliage  from  dust  and  red  spider,  which  sometimes 
secures  a  foothold  when  the  fruit  is  ripening,  and 
should   aphis  be   present  fumigate  with   XL  All 


ERICA   CINEREA  ALBA. 


compound.  Subsequently  .syringe  daily  to  keep 
the  trees  clean,  and  if  water  was  withheld  from 
the  borders  during  the  ripening  period,  as  it  should 
have  been,  a  good  soaking  sufficient  to  thoroughly 
moisten  them  throughout  should  now  be  given. 
A  dry  rooting  medium  at  any  time  is  harmful,  but 
at  this  stage  when  the  buds  are  being  developed 
for  next  year's  crop  it  is  particularly  so.  These 
remarks,  of  course,  refer  especially  to  inside 
borders,  which  should  also  be,  if  it  is  necessary, 
replenished  with  mulching  material.  The  trees 
should  now  be  reljeved  of  useless  wood  by  cutting 
away  such  as  has  produced  fruit  and  can  be 
replaced  by  young  shoots.  The  house  should  be 
thrown  open  to  its  fullest  extent  and  kept  as  cool 
as  possible,  and  if  it  can  be  done  remove  the  lights 
when  the  leaves  begin  to  fall. 

Bananas. 

These  plants  require  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture 
at  both  the  roots  and  in  the  atmosphere,  with 
liberal  supplies  of  liquid  manure,  soot,  or  artificial 
fertilisers.  Plants  in  tubs  will  require  more 
frequent  attention  in  this  way  than  those  planted 
in  borders.  During  the  brightest  days  a  slight 
shading  will  be  beneficial.  Large  clusters  of  fruit 
should  by  some  means  be  supported,  as  they  are 
liable,  after  the  fruit  has  become  weighty,  to 
suddenly  break  ofi'. 

Late  Tomatoes. 

Sow  seeds  in  gentle  heat  and  grow  the  plants 
on  in  a  light  airy  position,  ultimately  planting 
them  out  in  a  light  house  with  a  southern  aspect 
and  freely  ventilated.  The  cordon  is  the  most 
simple  and  indeed  the  best  mode  of  training ; 
closely  pinch  the  side  growths,  carefully  preserving 
the  flower  clusters.  It  is  not  advisable  to  use  a 
rich  compost,  one  consisting  of  ordinary  loam  and 
mortar  rubble  answers  admirably  ;  should  the 
loam,  however,  be  poor  add  a  little  bone-meal. 

T.  Coomber. 

The  Hendre  Gardens,  Monmouth. 


THE    KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

Potatoes. 
Complete  the  earthing  up  of  all  late  planted  crops 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  the  haulm  of  the  early 
plantations  which  are  intended  to  produce  ideal 
tubers  for  exhibition  should  be  supported  in  an 
upright  position  by  thrusting  in  stakes  at  intervals 
and  stretching  lines  of  stout  cord  along  them  so 


:  that  the  sun  and  air  can  play  about  them.  Frequent 
dustings  of  soot  should  be  applied  to  the  crop  in 
showery  weather. 

Lettuce. 

Keep  a  good  portion  of  this  important  crop  tied 
up,  using  broad  pieces  of  bast  for  the  purpose,  and 
should  the  weather  be  dry  give  an  abundance  of 
both  clear  water  and  liquid  manure,  taking  care 
•  that  the  latter  does  not  come  into  contact  with 
the  leaves.  The  more  rapid  the  growth  the  better 
will  be  the  quality.  Sow  frequently  and  transplant 
small  quantities  in  various  parts  of  the  garden. 
Sutton's  Mammoth  is  an  excellent  variety  for  this 
season  ;  it  is  large,  of  good  flavour,  turns  in  quickly, 
and  requires  but  little  tying. 

Onions — Spring  Sown. 

Those  raised  under  glass  and  planted  out  and 
intended  to  produce  large  bulbs  should  now  be 
growing  rapidly,  but  they  will  require  much 
assistance  in  the  way  of  artificial  and  liquid  manure, 
and  thorough  drenchings  of  water  must  be  given 
both  at  the  roots  and  overhead  during  hot  and  dry 
weather.  Continue  to  apply  sprinklings  of  fresh 
soot  during  early  morning,  carefully  watch  for  any 
traces  of  mildew,  and  should  the  slightest  sign  of 
I  it  appear  remove  all  afiected  parts  and  burn  them. 
Take  immediate  steps  to  prevent  its  spreading, 
which  it  does  with  alarming  rapidity  if  allowed  to 
go  unchecked.  Seedlings  that  have  been  partially 
thinned  may  now  be  safely  left  at  their  proper 
distance.  In  the  case  of  any  badly  affected  with 
maggot  it  will  be  wise  to  leave  them  at  least  as 
thicklj'  again  as  one  would  in  the  ordinary  way. 
Fortuuately  the  Onion  fly  does  not  seem  to  be  so 
troublesome  as  it  has  been  during  the  past  few 
seasons.  Keep  the  soil  constantly  stirred  between 
the  rows,  and  dust  often  with  soot,  wood  ashes,  and 
artificial  manure  in  equal  proportions. 
j  Shallots. 

Those  which  were  planted  early  will  have 
practically  made  their  growth  by  now.  Imme- 
diately this  has  fallen  down  lift  the  bulbs  and 
place  them  to  dry  and  ripen  in  a  sunny  position, 
but  in  case  of  a  long  spell  of  wet  showery  weather 
these  are  best  placed  on  the  stages  in  cool  houses, 
or  even  cool  pits  or  frames  where  they  can  be  kept 
dry. 

Cauliflower  Autumn  Giant. 

Many  of  the  plants   from   the  earlier  sowings 

have  proved  blind  this  season,  which  is  no  doubt 

'  owing   to  the   severe  check   the   plants  received 

during  early  spring  when  they  should  have  been 


434 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  28,  1902. 


growing  freely.  These  should  be  carefully  looked 
over,  and  every  one  which  is  so  afflicted  removed, 
and  any  spare  plants  remaining  in  the  stock  bed 
lifted  with  as  large  a  ball  of  earth  as  possible, 
planted  firmly,  and  kept  watered  for  a  few  days  to 
replace  them. 

Brussels   Si'Rodts. 

Another  good  plantation  of  these  should  be  made 
as  soon  as  possible  on  precisely  the  same  lines  as 
advised  for  the  first  plantation.         E.  Beckett. 

Aldenham  House  Gardens,  Ehtree,  Herts. 


NURSERY   GARDENS. 


TUFTED     PANSIES 
TAMWORTH. 


AT 


k  N  annual  pilgrimage  to  Tamworth  in  the 
/\  early   summer   is   an   event   that    one 

/  %  always  looks  forward  to  with  pleasure, 
/  %  as  each  succeeding  j'ear  shows  advance 
£  1.  if  the  popular  tufted  Pansies  (Violas), 
which  do  so  much  to  brighten  our 
hardy  flower  garden  during  several  months  of  the 
year.  Our  Viola  specialists  in  the  past  relied 
largely  upon  the  efforts  of  both  amateur  and  pro- 
fessional gardeners  for  their  new  sorts,  and  to 
these  enthusiasts  we  are  much  indebted  for  the 
many  good  varieties  that  now  find  public  favour. 
Methods  change,  however,  and  as  an  instance  of 
this  Mr.  William  Sydenham — than  whom  there  is 
no  more  enthusiastic  grower  of  these  plants — raises 
the  bulk  of  those  sorts  which  so  many  gardens 
throughout  the  United  Kingdom  possess.  This 
trade  specialist  has  set  himself  the  task  of  raising 
new  and  improved  varieties,  and  in  this  particular 
it  must  be  admitted  he  has  been  singularly 
successful.  Mr.  Sydenham  rightly  regards  the 
question  of  habit  of  the  plants  as  of  first  import- 
ance, and  would  combine  a  profuse  flowering 
tendency  with  colour  and  substance  of  the  blooms 
as  other  important  traits.  It  is  really  astonishing 
how  great  has  been  the  progress  during  recent 
years. 

Visitors  can  see  at  Tamworth  the  difference 
between  the  old  and  new  favourites.  With  very 
few  exceptions  indeed  the  newer  varieties  com- 
pletely eclipse  the  older  ones,  and  while  being 
grateful  for  the  charm  the  latter  have  given  to  our 
gardens  in  the  past  we  can  confidently  look 
forward  to  great  things  in  the  near  future  as  a 
result  of  present  day  efforts. 

Thousands  of  seedlings  are  raised  each  season  at 
Tamworth  of  white  and  yellow  colours.  It  is 
difficult  to  conceive  a  more  interesting  occupation 
than  that  of  looking  through  a  large  collection  of 
seedling  plants.  On  the  occasion  of  our  visit  those 
developing  blossoms  of  a  yellow  colour  were  largely 
in  evidence,  and  among  these  seedling  plants  we 
noted  flowers  ranging  from  a  bright  glistening 
yellow  to  that  of  an  intensely  rich  orange-yellow 
colour.  The  form  of  the  flowers  was  very  good, 
and  their  substance  should  not  fail  to  satisfy  the 
most  fastidious.  The  white  sorts  and  the  fancy 
edged  flowers  had  some  delightful  representatives, 
and  another  season  will  see  many  of  the  best, 
which,  by  the  way,  are,  compared  with  a  very 
high  standard  of  quality  set  up  in  other  good 
things,  catalogued  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  find 
pleasure  in  growing  the  Violas. 

It  is  curious  to  note  how  the  old-fashioned  rayed 
flowers  are  being  superseded  by  the  new  rayless 
kinds,  and  they  also  have  the  charm  of  being 
delightfully  fragrant.  A  few  of  the  more  striking 
sorts  among  the  large  number  of  really  excellent 
tufted  Pansies  were  :  — 

Admiral  of  the  Bines. — The  finest  break  in  blue 
flowers  we  have  seen  for  some  time.  It  may  be 
described  as  a  deep  blue,  deeper  than  most  others, 
having  a  neat  yellow  eye.  It  is  a  good  all-round 
flower.  There  is  room  for  improvement  in  its 
habit,  although  for  exhibition  this  is  not  considered 
essential. 

Andromeda.— Thm  is  a  1900  seedling  which  has 
unfortunately,  been  little  seen.     It  is  a  very  large 


bright  yellow,  paling  somewhat  towards  the  edges, 
and  has  a  much  deeper  shade  of  yellow  on  the 
lower  petal.  The  plant  has  a  good  tufted  habit 
and  is  free  flowering. 

Bland  G.  Sinclair.— &.  seedling  of  1901,  and 
distinctly  useful  for  bedding.  It  is  a  bright  yellow 
flower,  very  free,  developing  a  dwarf  and  creeping- 
like  style  of  growth.  It  is  highly  thought  of  as  a 
bedding  variety'. 

Calliope. — This  is  a  seedling  from  A.  J.  Row- 
berry,  and  a  vastly  improved  form  of  that  much 
prized  flower.  The  colour  is  rich  yellow,  suffused 
orange  around  the  eye,  and  is  a  most  effective 
flower.  The  habit  is  distinctly  ahead  of  that 
possessed  by  the  parent  plant,  and  is  described 
as  "good." 

Cream  King.— 01  all  the  cream-coloured  Violas 
in  cultivation  this  deserves  the  place  of  honour. 
It  is  a  great  advance  upon  Primrose  Dame.  The 
flowers,  which  are  of  much  substance,  are  very 
large,  of  circular  shape  and  good  form,  and  also 
rayless.  The  plant  has  a  very  good  habit,  and,  like 
several  other  plants  of  this  kind,  is  benefited  by 
having  the  strong  centre  growth  pinched  out. 
The  beauty  of  the  flowers  is  enhanced  with  the 
neat  orange  eye  of  this  variety. 

Crimson  Redder. — Although  described  as  a  tufted 
Pansy  or  Viola,  this  is  really  a  form  of  the  ordinary 
bedding  fancy  Pansy.  It  has  been  much  admired 
for  its  bright  crimson-scarlet  colour,  and  there  is 
little  doubt  it  will  become  a  popular  plant.  It  has 
a  dark  blotch  similar  to  that  seen  in  a  fancy  Pansy 
and  is  very  effective. 

Crown  Jewel. — A  flower  somewhat  similar  in  its 
markings  to  that  of  the  Countess  of  Kintore,  but 
in  this  instance  the  colour  is  much  brighter  and 
also  better  defined,  it  is  purple-blue  on  a  white 
ground.  Its  habit  is  better  than  most  of  this 
type. 

Edward  Mason. — A  beautiful  flower,  very  refined, 
pure  white,  with  a  yellow  eye  and  rayless.  It  is 
a  most  satisfactory  white  variety,  being  a  very  free 
bloomer,  and  with  an  excellent  habit.  It  is  at  its 
best  in  very  hot  weather. 

Seagull. — A  gem  of  the  season  of  1901.  This  is 
another  pure  white  rayless  flower  with  a  yellow 
eye,  and  may  be  classed  among  the  most  floriferous 
plants  of  this  kind.  Very  fine  in  every  way,  with 
a  charming  bedding  habit.  Pinch  out  the  centre 
growth  and  as  a  result  a  grand  tuft  develops. 

Orangeman. — This  was  described  as  a  seedling 
from  A.  J.  Rowberry,  and  develops  very  large 
circular  rayless  blossoms.  The  flowers  are  a  very 
rich  yellow,  and  the  plant  is  one  of  considerable 
promise. 

While  Dot.  — This  develops  a  mass  of  miniature 
pure  white  blossoms,  and  is  invaluable  during  hot 
weather.  Either  massed  or  as  an  edging  to  a  large 
border  it  is  most  effective. 

Pigmy. — Like  the  last  mentioned  this  is  a 
miniature  flowered  Viola,  and  flowers  profusely, 
the  plants  being  of  splendid  constitution.  The 
colour  is  a  deep  blue  with  a  neat  yellow  eye,  and 
rayless.  D.  B.  C. 


BOOKS. 

Gapdeningr  for  Beginners.*— This  now 

well-known  book  for  beginners  has  reached  a  second 
edition,  and  an  opportunity  has  been  taken  of  adding 
to  it  no  less  than  sixty-four  pages  of  matter 
useful  to  those  who  know  not  the  mysteries  of 
gardening.  One  chapter  will,  we  think,  be  much 
appreciated,  and  that  is  "  English  Names  for  Wild 
and  Garden  Flowers,"  and  many  pages  are  devoted 
to  explaining  certain  garden  terms  likely  to  perplex 
the  beginner,  such  as  "Forcing,"  "Hybrid,"  and 
so  forth.  "  Odds  and  Ends  "  will  be  helpful,  as  this 
chapter  consists  really  of  certain  questions  frequently 
asked  by  amateurs,  and  here  answered,  such  as 
how  to  get  rid  of  scum  on  a  pond,  the  use  of 
sticks  and  stakes,  &c.  Other  chapters  concern  the 
"Quick    Effects  by  Spring   Planting,"   "How  to 


*  "Gardening  for  Beginners."  By  E.  T.  Cook.  Second 
Edition.  Countm  Life  Library.  Published  at  20,  Tavistocli 
Street,  and  by  George  Newnes,  Limited,  Southampton  Street, 
Strand. 


Make  and  Crop  a  Kitchen  Garden,"  "  Cacti  for  the 
Amateur,"  &c.  This  book  should  satisfy  those 
who  know  nothing  of  gardening ;  it  is  quite  a 
beginner's  guide. 


MAKING    A    VINE    BORDER. 

Ddring  recent  years  the  methods  of  making  Vine 
borders  have  undergone  considerable  changes,  or 
perhaps  it  is  that  a  practice  which  has  long  been 
in  vogue  with  some  gardeners  is  now  more 
generally  followed,  and  with  advantage.  Wheu 
one  intends  to  plant  a  vinery,  and  it  becomes 
necessary  to  make  a  new  border,  it  is  a  great 
mistake  to  make  up  the  whole  of  the  border  at 
once.  It  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  if  the 
latter  is,  say,  10  feet  wide,  the  Vines  cannot 
possibly  fill  all  that  space  with  healthy  roots  for 
several  years  to  come ;  it  would,  therefore,  be 
folly  to  utilise  a  great  deal  of  new  and  valuable 
soil  in  making  the  border  that  could  not  possibly 
benefit  the  Vines  for  at  least  two  or  three  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  it  would  certainly  not  be  in 
so  sweet  and  wholesome  a  state  as  was  the  case 
when  it  first  was  put  there,  and  most  probably  it 
would  be  in  such  a  condition  that  the  roots  of  the 
Vines  upon  reaching  it,  instead  of  making  headway, 
would  gradually  die  back.  If  a  firm  mass  of  soil, 
such  as  a  Vine  border  is,  is  placed  in  a  glass  house 
where  a  certain  amount  of  heat  and  moisture 
prevail  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  year. 
It  must,  especially  when  not  permeated  by  living 
roots,  soon  become  sour,  damp,  and  probably 
waterlogged. 

When  forming  a  border  in  which  to  plant  young 
Vines  do  not,  therefore,  make  it  larger  than  is- 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  first  season,  because  it 
can  very  easily  be  added  to  later.  This  is  one  of 
the  great  secrets  of  success  in  the  culture  of  the 
A'ine.  Always  endeavour,  by  adding  continually 
to  the  border  (by  enlarging  it  so  long  as  this  can  be 
done,  then  by  top-dressing),  to  provide  the  roots, 
with  a  certain  amount  of  fresh  and  sweet  soil,  for 
nothing  will  encourage  them  to  grow  more,  and  o£ 
course  the  more  energetic  the  roots  the  better 
will  be  the  results  above  ground.  Presuming  the 
Vines  to  be  quite  young  ones  when  planted  (say, 
twelve  months  old)  the  width  of  the  border  for  the 
first  season  need  not  be  more  than  3  feet,  such  an. 
one  will  contain  quite  sufficient  nourishment 
wherewith  to  support  and  encourage  the  growth 
of  the  young  canes.  In  succeeding  years  it  will, 
unless  the  Vines  are  making  exceptionally  vigorous 
growth,  not  be  necessary  to  add  more  than  this 
amount.  It  is  far  better  to  give  too  little  than 
too  much,  for  more  can  always  be  added,  and  one 
can  alwaj's  have  recourse  to  stimulants  if  extra, 
nourishment  is  needed.  And  now  for  the  method 
of  making  the  border.  As  the  Vine  is  a  vigorous- 
and  free  growing  plant  when  in  a  healthy  condition, 
it  follows  that  when  in  full  leaf  very  large 
supplies  of  nourishment  are  necessary,  and  these 
are  obtained  in  solution,  that  is,  by  the  medium  of 
water.  It  will,  therefore,  be  quite  apparent  that 
the  Vine  border  must  be  thoroughly  well  drained, 
otherwise  large  quantities  of  water  cannot  be  safely 
administered,  for  instead  of  benefiting  the  plant 
and  the  surplus  being  carried  away,  this  latter 
would  remain  and  eventually  render  the  soil  sour 
and  unwholesome. 

It  is  important  to  avoid,  if  possible,  erecting  the 
vinery  upon  low,  damp  ground,  for  not  only  would 
this  entail  some  expense  in  extra  drainage,  hut- 
there  would  alwaj's  be  the  danger  of  the  Vine 
roots  reaching  the  cold,  damp  subsoil,  an  occur- 
rence that  would  probably  cripple  them  altogether. 
Presuming,  however,  that  the  situation  is  not 
unduly  low  and  damp,  good  drainage  is  still  most 
essential.  If  the  ground  has  a  natural  gentle  slope 
so  much  the  better  ;  indeed,  such  a  position  would 
be  an  ideal  one  for  a  Vine  border.  If,  however, 
such  a  site  should  not  be  available,  much  can  be 
done  to  improve  matters  by  making  use  of  a  few 
small  drain-pipes.  These  should  be  placed  in 
parallel  lines  about  4  feet  or  5  feet  apart,  running 
towards  and  also  slightly  sloping  to  a  main  drain 
along  the  front  of  the  house. 

The  depth  at  which  these  are  placed  should  b& 


June  28,  1902.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


435 


as  nearly  as  possible  3  feet,  for  this  we  find  to  be 
quite  deep  enough  for  a  Vine  border.  If  it  should 
happen  that  the  only  situation  available  is  wet 
and  low,  it  is  advisable  to  concrete  the  bottom  of 
the  border  so  as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  the 
roots  getting  down  to  the  bad  subsoil.  It  is,  how- 
ever, only  when  the  conditions  are  quite  unfavour- 
able that  such  a  precaution  is  necessary.  Having 
fixed  the  drain-pipes,  a  layer  of  old  broken  bricks 
should  be  placed  over  the  border  to  form  its  base. 
This  layer  should  be  10  inches  to  1'2  inches  deep, 
for  it  serves  as  the  real  drainage.  Over  this  is 
placed  a  layer  of  thick  whole  turves,  with  the 
grass  side  downwards.  This  is  to  prevent  the 
smaller  soil,  which  will  compose  the  remainder  of 
the  border,  from  falling  into  and  filling  up  the 
drainage.  This  is  an  important  point,  for  unless 
the  latter  is  kept  perfectly  clear  and  intact  the 
excellence  of  the  other  portion  of  the  border  will 
avail  but  little.  Having  now,  as  it  were,  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  border,  we  will  proceed  to  con- 
sider the  preparation  of  the  soil  of  which  the 
border  will  consist.  A.  P.  H. 

(To  he  continued.  J 


A  PRACTICAL  METHOD  OF 
COMMEMORATING  THE 
CORONATION. 

We  do  not  know  of  a  more  practical  way  of 
commemorating  the  Coronation  of  the  King 
and  Queen,  nor  one  more  in  touch  with  the 
well-known  sentiment.s  .so  often  expressed  by 
their  Majesties,  than  that  adopted  by  the 
committee  of  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution.  We  understand  that  the  committee 
of  this  old-established  charity,  of  which  their 
Majesties  the  King  and  Queen  are  patrons, 
have  decided  to  commemorate  the  Coronation 
by  placing  on  the  pension  list  for  June  26  the 
eleven  unsuccessful  candidates  who  had 
previously  been  subscribers  to  the  institution. 
The  committee  have  also  voted  the  sum  of  £5 
to  each  of  the  unsuccessful  candidates — thirteen 
in  number  —  who  had  not  previously  been 
subscribers. — Communicated. 

[We  feel  sure  that  the  supporters  of  the 
Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  will 
heartily  endorse  the  action  of  the  committee 
and  make  the  present  memorable  year  remem- 
bered for  the  earnest  endeavours  of  the  charit- 
able to  celebrate  the  Coronation  of  their 
Majesties  by  thinking  of  the  suffering  and 
needy  who,  by  their  infirmities  and  poverty, 
are  unable  to  enter  with  the  same  spirit  into 
the  rejoicings  in  celebration  of  a  great  event  as 
those  blessed  with  health,  happiness,  and  pros- 
perity. We  hope  the  present  year  will  be  a  year 
of  good  deeds  as  well  as  of  rejoicings,  and  those 
interested  in  horticulture  have  an  opportunity 
of  showing  practical  sympathy  by  assisting  the 
committee  of  the  Gardener's  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution  to  accomplish  their  purpose. — Ed.] 


SOCIETIES. 


ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Scientific  Committee. 

Present  :  Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke  (in  the  chair),  and  Messrs. 
Odell,  Saunders,  Douglas,  Veitch,  Drs.  MUUer,  Masters,  and 
Rev.  W.  Wilks. 

Pear  leaves.— Mr.  Saunders  reported  that  the  leaves 
submitted  to  him  were  attacked  by  the  Pear  mite  Eriophyes 
pyri. 

Fusarium  Solani.—A  letter  was  read  from  Professor 
Perceval  in  which  he  stated  that  he  had  proved  experimen- 
tally that  healthy  Potatoes  could  be  affected  by  this  fuugus. 

The  Narcissus  Fly.— Rev.  W.  Wilks  showed  specimens  of 
the  perfect  insect  Merodon  which  he  had  reared. 

Diseased  Fig.— A  specimen  was  exhibited  and  referred  to 
Dr.  Cooke  for  report. 

Iris,  overgrowth  o/.— Miss  E.  Cocker  sent  specimens  of 
Iris  squalens  which  had  apparently  grown  too  fast  and  too 
vigorously,  and  in  which  in  consequence  the  stems  had 
snapped  across  from  some  injury. 


Moth  on  Pear. — Mr.  Perry  sent  specimen,  which  was 
referred  to  Mr.  Saunders  for  report. 

Tomatoeii.— The  same  gentleman  also  sent  specimens  of 
diseased  Tomatoes,  which  will  be  reported  on  later. 

Apple  leaves  crippled. —  Mr.  Getting,  of  Ross,  showed 
Apple  leaves  puckered  and  of  a  deep  green  colour.  No 
aphis  or  fungus,  was  visible.  The  specimens  were  submitted 
to  Dr.  Cooke  for  future  examination  and  report. 

Tomatoes.— Mt.  Lumsden  sent  specimens  of  some  grubs 
found  in  the  stem  of  a  Tomato,  and  which  will  be  reported 
on  later. 

CaiUijloivers.-'Mv.  C.  Hooper  sought  information  as  to  the 
reason  why  certain  Cauliflowers  on  his  farm  were  all  good, 
whilst  others  in  another  situation  failed  to  form  a  "  curd." 
Without  further  particulars  it  was  not  possible  to  give  a 
satisfactory  explanation. 

l7isects  injurious  to  Apple  graft.— In  reply  to  a  question 
from  Mr.  Dunlop,  of  Armagh,  the  following  letter  was  read 
from  Mr.  Saunders  :  "The  beetle  you  sent  me  the  other  day, 
said  to  be  the  cause  of  injury  to  Apple  grafts  at  Loughall, 
County  Armagh,  belongs  to  the  weevil  family,  and  is  known 
as  the  Brown  leaf  weevil ;  its  scientific  name  is  Phyllubius 
oblongus.  It  is  a  well-known  pest,  feeding  on  the  leaves  and 
buds  of  various  fruit  trees  ;  but  I  can  find  no  record  of  its 
feeding  on  the  bark.  It  is  said  to  be  particularly  fond  of 
attacking  grafts,  and,  if  it  will  feed  on  the  buds,  I  can  see 
no  reason  why  it  should  not  alsu  feed  on  the  bark,  particu- 
larly when  it  is  young  and  tender.  It  is  recommended  that 
the  grafts  should  be  smeared  with  grafting  wax  or  clay  to 
keep  the  insects  away  ;  but  I  feel  uncertain  whether  this 
would  not  be  prejudicial  to  the  graft.  These  beetles  can 
fly  very  well,  but  on  a  dull  morning  they  might  be  shaken 
from  the  trees  on  to  a  white  sheet.  The  eggs  are  laid  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  the  grubs  feed  on  the  roots 
of  various  plants,  and  undergo  their  transformation  in  the 
soil.  The  beetles  emerge  in  the  spring.  It  might  be  useful 
early  in  the  spring  to  give  a  good  dressing  of  kainit,  nitrate 
of  soda,  or  soot,  which  would  be  injurious  to  the  beetle 
when  it  emerges  in  a  tender  state  from  its  chrysalis  and 
tries  to  make  its  way  to  the  surface." 

The  Raspberry  moth,  Lamproniaruhiella.— The  life-history 
of  this  insect  is  rather  unusual ;  the  moth  emerges  from  the 
chrysalis  in  the  spring,  and  the  females  lay  their  eggs  in  the 
open  flower,  the  egg  being  laid  just  below  the  surface  of  the 
receptacle  (the  core  of  the  fruit) ;  here  it  feeds  until  the 
fruit  is  ripe,  it  then  leaves  its  quarters  and  spins  a  small 
white  cocoon  in  some  place  at  the  foot  of  the  bush,  frequently 
selecting  the  stool.  It  remains  in  this  cocoon  all  the 
winter,  and  in  the  spring  makes  its  way  to  the  buds,  piercing 
them  and  feeding  within  them  in  the  manner  which  is  so 
well  known.  The  most  effective  remedy  is  to  pick  ofl'  the 
infested  buds  or  shoots  and  burn  them,  taking  care  that  the 
caterpillars  do  not  escape  during  the  operation.  It  has 
been  suggested  that  it  would  be  useful  to  throw  dressings  of 
ashes,  or  sand  mixed  with  paraffin  oil  (one  quart  of  oil  to 
one  bushel  of  sand),  among  the  stools  in  the  winter,  but  I 
should  think  it  was  very  questionable  if  this  was  of  any 
practical  use.  Raking  away  the  earth  and  rubbish  from 
round  the  stocks  and  then  earthing  them  up  again  has  been 
recommended.— G.  S.  Saunders. 

Virescent  Tulip.— Mr.  Saunders  showed  a  specimen  in 
which  the  perianth  segments  were  partially  virescent,  and 
in  one  instance  from  irregular  growth  the  segment  had  been 
torn,  the  coloured  portion  uplifted  with  the  growing  stem, 
whilst  the  green  portion  remained  beneath. 

Cytisu.s  Adami. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  fine  specimens  of 
this  curious  hybrid,  showing  both  parental  forms,  and 
various  intermediates  proceeding  from  the  same  branch. 

Hoses  dying. — Specimens  were  also  exhibited  wherein  the 
upper  shoots  and  the  stock  were  dead  or  dying.  The 
appearances  were  considered  to  be  due  to  an  overdose  of 
strong  manure. 

Melon  disease.  —  Further  specimens  were  shown  and 
submitted  to  Dr.  Cooke  for  examination.  Dr.  Cooke 
remarked  that  as  the  fungus  lived  within  the  tissues  uf  the 
plant  remedial  measures  were  of  no  use  as  preventatives. 
The  plants  should  be  burnt,  the  soil  sterilised,  and  the 
house  whitewashed  and  disinfected. 

Supposed  wild  forrtb  of  Lilium  candidum. — Dr.  Masters 
showed  from  Mr.  Sprenger,  of  Naples,  specimens  from  the 
mountains  of  Calabria.  The  segments  were  smaller, 
narrower,  and  less  recurved  than  in  the  ordinary  cultivated 
form. 

Fruit  of  the  Tea  plant.— J>t.  Masters  exhibited  from  Mr. 
Guttridge,  the  Botanic  Garden,  Liverpool,  a  specimen  of 
Thea  Bohea  bearing  a  ripe  capsule.  Similar  but  larger 
fruits  are  not  uncommon  in  Camellias,  but  are  not  so  often 
met  with.  Mr.  Odell  remarked  that  he  had  frequently  seen 
specimens. 

Diseased  Larch.— M-v.  Elwes  sent  specimens  for  exami- 
nation and  report. 

Diseased  Vin^s. — Mr.  Close  sent  specimens  in  which  the 
roots  were  dying  or  dead.  On  examination  it  was  considered 
that  the  mischief  was  due  to  an  over-rich  soil  or  to  having 
been  kept  too  long  in  a  pot. 

UNITED    HORTICULTURAL    BENEFIT    AND 
PROVIDENT   SOCIETY. 

The  monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was  held 
at  the  Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  on 
Monday,  the  9th  inst.,  Mr.  C.  H.  Curtis  in  the  chair.  The 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  signed.  Four 
new  members  were  elected,  making  a  total  of  fifty-seven 
this  year.  The  death  certificate  of  the  late  Mr.  J.  N.  Forbes 
was  produced,  and  the  amount  standing  to  his  credit  in  the 
ledger  (£4  Is.  5d.)  was  directed  to  be  paid  to  his  nominee. 
Three  members  were  reported  on  the  sick  fund.  The  amount 
of  sick  pay  for  the  month  was  £9  12s.    , 

EAST  ANGLIAN  HORTICULTURAL  CLUB. 

The  June  meeting  of  this  club  was  well  attended,  and  a 
splendid  display  of  flowers  and  vegetables  bedecked  the 
txhibition  tables.    Foremost  among  the  exhibits,  not  for 


competition,  must  be  mentioned  a  choice  collection  of 
blooms  from  the  herbaceous  garden  and  flowering  shrubs  set 
up  by  Mr.  G.  Davison,  Westwick  House  Gardens.  Most 
prominent  was  a  bunch  of  seedling  Genista  andreana, 
which  showed  a  diversity  of  colouring,  a  new  seedling 
Heuchera,  a  great  improvement  upon  the  existing  type  both 
in  length  of  spike  and  intensity  of  colour,  single  and  double 
varieties  of  Viburnum  and  a  grand  spike  of  Lilac  President 
Gr^vy.  Mr.  T.  B.  Field  brought  up  some  blooms  of  €ypri- 
pedium  parviflorum  grown  by  him  at  Ashwelthorpe,  also  a 
bunch  of  Austrian  Briar  and  Fortunes  Yellow  Roses  ;  these 
were  very  beautiful.  In  the  competitive  classes  some  grand 
varieties  of  herbaceous  flowers  were  staged,  the  Irises  from 
Mr.  J.  Williams,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Louis  Tillett,  Catton, 
being  very  fine.  Mr.  W.  Rush,  gardener  to  F.  P.  Hinde, 
Esq.,  The  Fernery,  Thorpe,  had  the  best  plants  of  show  and 
zonal  Pelargoniums,  and  a  grand  collection  of  cut  trusses  of 
regal  and  show  Pelargoniums,  and  Mr.  D.  Howlett  had  grand 
specimens  of  Gloxinias.  An  interesting  discourse  was  given 
by  ilr.  E.  Peake,  head  master  of  one  of  the  Norwich  Board 
Schools,  and  an  ardent  horticulturist,  upon  "The  Scholar's 
Garden."  The  remarks  were  centred  upon  the  desirability 
of  infusing  into  the  minds  of  the  young  generation  a  love 
for  the  beautiful,  which  in  after  years  might  be  to  their 
benefit  and  the  brightening  up  of  the  surroundings  of  our 
towns,  also  a  desire  might  arise  for  many  to  keep  to  the  land 
who  now  made  their  way  into  towns,  He  found  also  that  it 
was  beneficial  in  their  ordinary  elementary  education.  Four 
of  the  largest  public  Board  schools  in  Norwich  were  now 
working  these  school  gardens,  Mr.  Peake  oaing  fortunate  in 
having  secured  for  his  school  a  plot  in  the  best  paik  in 
Norwich.  An  interesting  discussion  was  well  maintained, 
members  agreeing  entirely  with  the  principles  laid  duwn, 
and  hopes  were  expressed  that  good  progress  in  the  work 
might  be  made. 

COMMONS    AND    FOOTPATHS    PRESERVATION 
SOCIETY. 

A  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Commons 
Preservation  Society  was  held  at  25,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  recently,  the  Right  Hon.  G.  J.  Shaw-Lefevre 
presiding.  Amongst  others  present  were  Lord  Thring,  Sir 
William  Vincent,  Bart.,  Sir  John  Brunner,  Bart.,  M.P., 
Sir  Robert  Hunter,  Mr.  E.  North  Buxton,  Mr.  Percival 
Birkett  (hon.  solicitor),  and  Mr.  Lawrence  W.  Chubb 
(secretary). 

It  was  reported  that  during  the  current  session  the  society 
had  been  able  to  secure  the  insertion  of  satisfactory  clauses 
in  upwards  of  thirty  railway,  water,  and  other  Bills,  with 
the  result  that  (»ver  2,000  acres  of  common  land  had 
been  saved  from  absorption.  The  committee  resolved  to 
strenuously  oppose  the  Swansea  Corporation  Bill,  now  before 
the  House  of  Lords,  on  the  ground  that  it  involves  an 
evasion  of  the  Commons  Act,  since,  under  it,  the  corporation 
seek  power  to  utilise  for  L'uilding  and  other  purposes  forty- 
eight  acres  of  commonable  lands  known  as  Graig-Trewyddfa, 
situate  in  the  borough.  The  proposed  purchase,  as  a  park, 
of  a  tract  of  forest  land,  S.^9  acres  in  extent,  formerly  part 
of  Hainault  Forest,  Essex,  and  lying  in  the  parishes  of 
Lambourne  and  Chigwell,  was  further  considered.  Mr.  E.  N. 
Buxton  stated  that  applications  for  grants  were  before  the 
Essex  County  Council,  the  City  Corporation,  the  Woodford 
Urban  District  Council,  the  Romford  Urban  District  Council, 
and  other  local  authorities.  .£7,500  had  already  been 
promised  or  received  out  of  the  minimum  sum  of  £27,000 
which  was  needed  to  complete  the  scheme  A  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  Buxton  for  his  efforts  in  the  matter  was 
accorded  on  the  motion  of  Lord  Thring,  and  it  was  deter- 
mined to  issue  an  appeal  to  members  of  the  society  and 
others  for  aid  in  carrying  out  as  a  permanent  memorial  of 
the  Coronation  a  scheme  which  the  committee  unanimously 
felt  was  deserving  of  the  assistance  of  all  open  space 
supporters.  It  was  pointed  out  that  the  land  is  wiihii 
twelve  miles  of  the  Bank  of  England,  and  that  it  is  offeit- i 
to  the  public  at  a  far  cheaper  rate  than  that  paid  for  anv 
other  metropolitan  open  space.  The  secretary  stated  tli;.t 
considerable  indignation  had  arisen,  owing  to  the  fact  tli»t 
seven  alleged  public  rights  of  way  in  the  parishes  of  Hoo, 
Frindsbury,  and  Colling,  Kent,  had  been  obstructed  on  land 
owned  by  the  Admiralty.  The  society  resolved  to  co-operate 
with  the  local  authorities  in  obtaining  the  removal  of  the 
obstructions  in  the  event  of  sufficient  evidence  as  to  the 
public  nature  of  the  paths  being  forthcoming. 

It  was  also  determined  to  assist  in  securing  the  protection 
of  rights  of  way  at  Leagrave,  Beds,  Saddleworth,  Yorks,  and 
elsewhere.  Approval  was  given  to  a  petition  from  the 
society  to  the  House  of  Commons  praying  to  be  heard  by 
counsel  against  amendments  being  allowed  to  the  New 
Forest  (Sale  of  Lands  for  Public  Purposes)  Bill.  As  its 
suggestions  had  been  adopted  in  framing  the  Bill  the 
society  had  informed  the  Government  that  while  it  would 
not  object  to  the  Bill  in  its  present  form,  it  would  vigorously 
oppose  any  proposal  for  the  extension  of  power  authorising 
the  alienation  of  forest  lands.  It  was  resolved  to  co-operate 
with  the  Metropolitan  Public  Gardens  Association  and  the 
other  open  space  societies  in  taking  such  steps  as  may 
be  necessary  to  secure  the  better  protection  of  disused 
burial  grounds. 


Harrow   Horticultural  Society.  — 

The  annual  show  takes  place  on  Tuesday,  July  8 
next.  There  are  several  interesting  Rose  classes, 
in  which  good  prizes  are  ofifered. 

Southend  Rose  Society.— This  society 

will  hold  its  show  on  July  1'2  next  in  The 
Shrubbery,  Southend-on-Sea.  The  hon.  secretary 
is  that  well-known  exhibitor,  the  Rev.  F.  R. 
Burnside,  Great  Stanbridge  Rectory,  Rochford, 
Essex. 


436 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  28,  1902 


Japdin  Alpin  d'Acclimatation 

Geneve — M.  H.  Correvon  informs  us  that  this 
alpine  garden  is  about  to  be  transferred  from 
Plainpalais  to  Floraire,  Chene-Bourg,  which  is 
reached  by  tram  from  Geneva  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour.  A  general  illustrated  catalogue,  containing 
instructions  as  how  best  to  reach  the  garden,  will 
be  published,  and  copies  sent  to  all  clients. 
October  1  next  is  the  date  of  the  opening  of  the 
new  garden. 

Ornamental  memopial  trees.  — To 

commemorate  the  Coronation  of  King  Edward  and 
Queen  Alexandra  Mt.  Hugh  Dickson,  Royal  Nur- 
series, Belfast,  who  has  recently  been  appointed 
nurseryman  to  the  King,  has  generously  offered  to 
present  to  every  charitable  institution  in  Ulster  a 
choice  ornamental  tree  to  be  planted  in  their 
grounds.  The  offer  held  good  until  the  2oth  inst., 
and  we  are  glad  to  learn  from  Jlr.  Dickson  that 
many  availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity.  It 
is  an  example  that  might  worthily  be  followed  by 
others. 


TO 


ANSWERS 
CORRESPONDENTS. 


RULES  FOR  CORRESPONDENTS. 

Questions  and  AnswGPS*— The  Editor  intends  to 
make  The  Garden  helpful  to  all  readers ivhodesireassistance, 
no  matterwhat  the  branch  of  gardening  itiay  be,  and  with  that 
object  mil  make  a  special  feature  of  the  "  Ansivers  to  Corre- 
spondents" column.  All  cojnmunications  should  be  clearly 
aJid  concisely  written  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only,  and 
addressed  to  the  Editor  of  THE  GARDEN,  20,  Tavistock  Street, 
Covent  Garden,  London.  Letters  on  business  ahould  be  sent 
to  the  Publisher.  The  name  and  address  of  the  sender  are 
required  in  addition  to  any  designation  he  may  desire  to  be 
used  in  the  paper.  When  more  than  oTie  query  is  sent,  each 
ehotUd  be  on  a  separate  piece  of  paper. 


Names  of  Plants.— TTj/cAiior  Park.—X  species  of 
Ophrys  probably,  but  the  condition  of  the  little  bit  sent 
precluded  all  hope  of  determination.  If  you  could  send  a 
complete  plant  with  tuber  intact,  packed  in  moss  in  a  small 

tin  box  we  may  assist  you  in  a  more  definite  way. W.S.  S.— 

Phacelia  campanularia. R.    H.  £den.  —  Apparently    a 

slight  form  of  Ulmus  campestris,  but  a  small  twig  with  no 
description  of  the  tree  is  insufficient  to  positively  determine, 
particularly  in  the  case  of  such  a  difficult  class  of  plants  as 

this    belongs     to. K.     H — Azara    microphylla. F. 

Ftederici,  Italy.— The  large  leaf  is  that  of  Berberis  nepa- 
lensi3,the  next  largest  of  B.  Aquifolium,  andthe  purple  leaf 
of  B.  vulgaris  variety. 

WiPewopms  in  tupf  (Mrs.  R.).— The  only  practical 
way  of  dealing  with  ground  infested  with  wireworms  when 
plants  are  growing  on  it  is  by  trapping  the  pests  by  burying 
slices  of  Potato,  Turnip,  Mangold,  or  Carrot  near  the 
plants  about  an  inch  below  the  surface,  examining  them 
every  mornint;,  and  picking  out  any  of  the  wireworms  that 
may  be  feeding  on  them.  If  a  small  wooden  skewer  be 
stuck  into  each  bait,  the  latter  will  be  more  easily  found  and 
handled.  Pieces  of  rape  cake  may  be  used  for  the  same 
purpose,  if  broken  up  tolerably  fine  and  sown  broadcast  over 
the  beds.  The  rape  cake  may  attract  the  wireworms  from 
the  plants,  but  it  will  not  kill  them.  Ground  that  can  be 
fallowed  should  be  given  a  heavy  dressing  of  gaslime.—G.  S.  S. 

Trees  in  partial  shade  (Tempus  Fcgit).— For 
partial  shade  the  Judas  Tree  (Cercis  Siliquastrum), 
Laburnums,  and  Pyrus  coronaria  var.  flore*pleno  will  be 
found  to  answer  very  well.  Slost  of  the  small-flowering 
trees  succeed  fairly  well  if  not  overhung  or  their  roots 
robbed  by  larger  growing  subjects  near  them,  the  full  sun, 
of  course,  being  best  for  them,  but  if  they  have  light  and 
air  they  will  thrive  and  flower  nearly  as  well  as  those  that 
are  fully  exposed  to  the  sun.  For  the  more  open  portions 
of  the  piece  of  ground  we  should  recommend  trying  the 
double  Cherries,  both  pink  and  white,  Pyrus  floribunda, 
P.  spectabilis,  and  Amelanchier  canadensis,  None  of  these 
grow  very  large,  while  in  addition  Prunus  Pissardi,  with 
purple  foliage  ;  Laburnum  vulgare  var.  foliis  aureis,  with 
bright  golden  leaves ;  Betula  alba  var.  purpurea ;  and 
<^uercus  concordia,  the  golden-leaved  Oak,  may  be  employed 
with  advantage  in  the  shade. 

Lichen  on  Azaleas  (M.  R.  w.).— To  destroy  lichen 
on  various  shrubs  the  best  way  is  to  place  a  few  lumps  of 
lime  in  a  pail  and  slake  with  water,  then  thoroughly  mix, 
and  when  it  is  about  the  consistency  of  paint  apply  to  all 
the  affected  stems  with  an  ordinary  paint  brush  after  the 
manner  so  often  adopted  by  fruit  tree  growers  for  the  exter- 
mination of  insects  that  hibernate  in  the  bark.  The  lime 
must  not  be  applied  while  hot.  Though  Azaleas  particularly 
dislike  lime  in  the  soil  this  application  to  the  stems  in  the 
manner  detailed  above  will  not  hurt  them. 

Laying*  out  a  new^  g'apden  (Rev.  Rollo  Meyer). 
—It  is  a  good  plan,  as  suggested,  to  take  note  of  the  trees  and 
shrubs  that  succeed  best  in  the  district.  In  the  present 
instance  the  smallness  of  area  is  against  trees  of  any  size 
being  planted,  but  for  the  South  we  suggest  Limes  as  among 
the  less  rampant ;  failing  this,  a  graceful  and  pretty  tree  is 
the  Birch.  For  East  and  West  a  variety  of  things  should 
include  Pyrus  Mains  floribunda  in  standards.  Laburnum, 
Weigelas,  Lilac,  &c.  In  limited  areas,  and  where  border  space 
is  not  easily  given  up  to  tree  and  shrub,  try  to  create  screen- 


like effects  by  planting  Clematis  Jackmani,  C.  montana, 
C.  Viticella  rubra,  and  others,  in  conjunction  with  Rambler 
and  Climbing  Roses,  to  be  trained  above  any  partition 
fence,  on  wire  mesh  or  its  equivalent.  These  could  be 
arranged  nearest  the  fence,  and  the  flowering  trees  already 
given  in  front  and  at  intervals.  Yew,  Holly,  Chinese 
Juniper,  with  Cupressus  lawsoniana  would  be  useful,  and 
such  moderate  growing  flowering  shrubs  as  Ribes,  Forsythia 
suspensa,  and  Mock  Orange  may  also  intervene  in 
the  breaks.  Tilings  to  avoid  are  Privet,  Portugal  and 
common  Laurels.  For  the  rest,  we  may  suggest  at  the 
soutbern  end  a  plantation  of  Magnolia,  such  as  conspicua, 
stellata,  &c.,  and  if  possible  with  the  duuble  Pink  Thorns 
(standards)  behind  or  near  to  throw  them  into  bolder  relief. 
For  borders,  east  and  west,  say  S  feet  or  10  feet  wide, 
wherein  tall  Michaelmas  Daisies,  Bocconia  cordata.  Holly- 
hocks, and  such  like  could  tower  among  the  shrubs,  and 
nearer  the  front  Perennial  Pea,  Phloxes,  Pyretliiums, 
Pa'unies,  Day  Lilies,  Japan  Anemones,  and  a  good  general 
assortment  in  effective  masses  rather.  Give  a  wavy 
outline  to  border  and  edge  with  Aubrietia  or  some 
such  good  showy  plant.  We  expect  a  small  central  grass 
plot  will  be  more  or  less  necessary,  but  with  beds  of  Roses 
in  fine  kinds,  and  the  Daffodils  and  Pteonies,  or  some  with 
Gesner  and  Parrot  and  other  Tulips  there  is  still  room  for 
much  beauty.  A  corner  or  two  as  you  emerge  from  the 
house  may  be  replete  with  Lavender,  or.  again,  Rusa  rugosa 
will  the  more  quickly  convert  into  home-like  effect,  and  you 
should  not  omit  the  yellow  and  copper  of  Austrian  Briar 
preferably  as  the  southern  end  of  the  lawn  is  reached.  Azalea 
mollis  may  be  quite  at  home  near  or  under  the  shelter  uf 
the  Magnolias,  and  some  of  the  choice  Berberis,  such  as 
stenophylla,  Darwinii,«S;c  ,  may  be  helpful  in  other  positions. 
There  may  be  other  details  still,  and  the  style  of  building 
may  be  suggestive  of  goud  groups  to  follow. 

Rose  g-powingr  by  the  sea  (A.  E.,  Eastbourne).— 
In  the  ninth  edition  of  Mr.  A\'m.  Pauls  excellent  work  "  The 
Rose  Garden,"  the  author  gives  several  instances  of  Roses 
flourishing  by  the  sea,  and  especially  at  Berne  Vicarage, 
where  Mr.  Paul  says  he  has  never  seen  Roses  in  better 
health  or  finer  bloom.  This  should  be  comforting  to  your 
correspondent  "A.  E.,"  who  writes  from  Eastbourne.  If 
locality  is  of  no  importance  I  would  advise  him  to  live  upon 
a  fairly  high  and  sheltered  spot  in  Hertfordshire  or  Essex. 
I  have  found  Roses  flourish  best  where  the  native  Blackberry 
and  Oak  grow  luxuriantly.  If  a  garden  could  be  secured  in 
either  one  of  the  counties  named,  sheltered  from  the  north 
and  east  by  buildings,  but  preferably  walla,  also  from  the 
south-west  gales,  then  he  should  be  able  to  produce  Roses  of 
the  highest  quality.  Rather  than  select  a  garden  over- 
shadowed by  trees  he  would  do  well  to  secure  a  portion  of 
meadow  land  and  surround  it  by  walls  not  too  high.  If  his 
preferences  were  for  Tea  Roses  he  could  produce  these  to 
perfection  on  the  walls,  whilst  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals  and 
Hybrid  Teas  would  occupy  the  open  part  of  the  garden. 
If  your  correspondent's  desire  be  to  grow  Roses  exclusively 
he  would  find  a  new  piece  of  land  a  grand  opportunity  to 
form  an  ideal  Rose  garden,  and  it  would  enable  him  to  utilise 
many  of  the  lovely  rambler  and  pillar  Roses  without  in  the 
least  interfering  with  the  perfect  culture  of  the  exhibition 
varieties.— Philomel. 

Peach  leaf  blistep  (Great  Brampton  and 
H.  D.  S.). — The  Peach  leaves  sent  show  one  of  the  worst 
forms  of  blister,  as  commonly  called,  but  really  the  result 
of  an  attack  of  a  fungus  which  in  cold,  dull  springs 
invariably  attacks  outdoor  Peaches  more  or  less,  especially 
where  they  are  exposed  on  walls  to  keen  cold  winds.  There 
does  seem  to  be  reason  to  think,  judging  by  the  gross  and 
soft  nature  of  the  leaves,  that  the  trees  have  been  some- 
what liberally  fed,  as  even  the  wood  shoot  sent  is  soft  and 
pithy.  It  is  not  possible  to  remedy  the  evil,  except  by 
picking  off  the  very  worst  diseased  leaves,  then  a  few  days 
later  others,  until  after  a  third  time  all  the  blister  is 
removed,  burning  all  thus  gathered.  New  leafage  will 
soon  form  that  will  not  be  injured.  Next  year,  if  it  be 
possible,  endeavour  to  give  the  tree  a  little  protection  from 
cold  by  putting  glass  lights  against  it,  with  mats  to  close 
the  ends.  Sprayings  will  do  no  good,  as  the  low  temperature 
is  the  prime  cause  of  the  evil. 

Wistaria  fpom  seed  (Planter).— The  Wistaria  is 
easily  raised  from  seed,  which  usually  takes  from  two  weeks 
to  six  weeks  to  germinate.  It  is  also  propagated  by  layers, 
and  some  of  the  rarer  kinds  are  grafted  on  stocks  of  common 
W.  sinensis,  but  seeds,  if  procurable,  are  the  best.  The 
most  desirable  Wistarias  are  W.  sinensis,  the  common 
purple  one  ;  W.  sinensis  var.  alba,  with  white  flowers,  but 
a  rather  shy  bloomer:  W.  multijuga,  which  bears  racemes 
upwards  of  3  feet  in  length,  with  flowers  of  a  pale  purple 
colour;  and  W.  multijuga  var.  alba,  with  rather  shorter 
racemes  of  a  pure  white.  Besides  these  there  are 
W.  frutescens,  which  has  short,  thick  racemes  of  deep 
purple  flowers  ;  W.  frutescens  var.  alba,  with  white  flowers, 
and  W.  f.  var.  magnifica,  which  is  a  handsome  form  with 
deep  purple  flowers  borne  on  long  racemes.  Most  of  our 
leading  nurserymen  send  plants  abroad  during  the  year, 
hardy  trees  and  shrubs  going  during  the  winter  or  early 
spring  months.  One  firm  has  sent  to  America,  India,  and 
Australia  annually  for  over  fifteen  years,  and  has  received 
no  complaints  up  to  the  present,  but  of  course  the  packing 
has  everything  to  do  with  the  ultimate  success  of  the  plants. 
Sowing*  seeds  of  annuals,  biennials,  and 
pepennials  (Ignoramus).— The  chief  thing  to  observe 
in  the  two  first-named  groups  is  that  the  sowing  be  done 
at  the  proper  time.  For  example,  it  would  be  useless 
sowing  a  large  number  of  annuals  late  in  July  or  beyond 
that  date,  because  if  they  flower  at  all  prior  to  frost 
appearing  in  the  early  autumn  not  one-half  of  their  bnauty 
would  be  revealed.  Biennials  also  require  to  be  sown 
sufficiently  early  in  ■  the  year  that  a  good  plant  may  be 
built  up  in  that  year,  and  so  on.  The  whole  thing  resolves 
itself  into  one  of  proportion,  and  as  concerns  the  time  it 
takes  to  flower  from  the  sowing  more  particularly.  Peren- 
nials, such  as  named  in  your  list,  may  still  be  sown,  though 
it  were  better  done  three  months  ago.  In  the  case  of 
Gentians  and  other  rock  plants  the  former  are  usually  of 


uncertain  germination,  at  times  the  seeds  may  remain 
dormant  a  couple  of  seasons,  and  at  others,  from  a  winter 
or  early  spring  sowing,  a  good  crop  of  seedlings  may  appear 
in  the  ensuing  summer.  This  group  is  an  exception,  and 
quite  a  large  number  of  rock  plants,  however,  germinate 
both  freely  and  quickly. 

Ipis  ffepmaniea  diseased  (C.  J.  Cornish).— Tlie 
roots  sent  are  afflicted  with  the  common  Iris  disease.  Pull 
up  and  burn  all  badly  infected  plants  and  cut  away  diseased 
portions  of  others  only  slightly  affected.  Next  February 
spray  the  plants  with  a  solution  of  potassium  sulphurate, 
half  an  ounce  to  a  gallon  of  water,  again  in  March,  and  again 
in  April.  The  substance  is  not  harmful  to  use,  and  can  be 
got  from  any  chemist  for  a  few  pence. 

Red  spidep  on  Vines  (Newman).— Sponging  the 
leaves  with  soft  soap  and  tepid  water  is  the  safest  and 
most  effectual  cure  for  red  spider  in  a  vinery.  Where  this 
is  not  practicable,  sulphur  fumes  from  heated  pipes  are  one 
of  the  best  antidotes. 

Almonds  diseased  (J.  R.  W.).— The  damage  to  the 
Almond  tree  foliage  is  caused  by  what  is  commonly  under- 
stood as  the  "Peach  tree  blister."  It  is  caused  by  a  check 
to  growth  by  cold  weather,  and  is  prevalent  this  year  in 
consequence  of  the  inclement  season.  As  warmer  weather 
comes  on  the  trees  should  grow  out  of  it,  and  the  fruit  suffer 
little  or  no  injury. 

Bottlingr  Goosebeppies.— In  answer  to  one  of  your 
correspondents  early  in  the  year  I  send  the  following 
recipe  for  bottling  green  Gooseberries,  which  has  always 
answered  extremely  well  with  us.  Pick  the  Gooseberries, 
put  them  in  bottles,  fill  up  with  cold  water,  and  place  in 
a  slow  oven  until  the  fruit  is  tender  but  does  not  break. 
Then  take  the  bottles  out  of  the  oven,  All  them  with  boiling 
water,  and  cover  securely  with  cork  or  bladder  while  hot. 
I  have  not  tried  the  above  recipe  for  green  Peas,  but  I 
should  imagine  it  would  answer  very  well.— Maud  Heaton. 


a^ 


a 


TRADE      NOTE. 

Messrs.  Wood  and  Son,  Limited,  Horticultural  Specialists, 
Wood  Green,  London,  N.,  have  sent  us  particulars  of 
some  new  designs  In  floral  suspending  baskets,  one  of 
which,  known  as 
"The  Queen,"  we 
are  pleased  to  be 
able  to  illustrate. 
These  hanging 
baskets  are 
almost  sure  to 
be  in  great  re- 
(juest  this  year, 
as  they  are  indis- 
pensable to  the 
best  decorative 
work,  and  will  be 
more  particu- 
larly when  the 
advantages  of 
fertilising  moss 
as  a  medium  are 
more  widely 
known.  Soil  may 
now  be  dispensed 
with,  for  the 
lightness  of  this 
moss  and  its 
freedom  from 
anything  unplea- 
sant make  it  an 
ideal  medium  for 
hanging  baskets. 
These  new 
"Coron  ation " 
baskets  are  of 
polished  copper 
and  iron,  and  are 
of  handsome 
appearance ;  the 
single  stem  sus- 
pender when  the 
basket  is  fur- 
nished  with 
plants  looks  far 
prettier  than  the 
ordinary  three 
chains  or  rods 
which  always 
give  the  impres- 
sion of  being  out 
of  character.  Of 
course  the  three 
short  rods  are 
quickly  covered 
by  the  foliage, 
and  then  nothing 
impedes  the 
freedom  of  the  plants.  The  oval  pockets  below  the  nm 
admit  of  plants  being  easily  inserted  in  the  fertilising  moss 
round  the  basket.  Other  recent  specialities  of  Messrs.  Wood's 
are  the  Perfecta  Spraying  Syringe  and  the  Muratori  Hand 
Spray.  The  extremely  fine  mist-like  spray  this  latter 
produces  has  proved  to  be  highly  beneficial  to  Orchids  and 
other  plants,  especially  when  Oirected  upwards  so  as  to 
descend  upon  the  plants  in  an  almost  imperceptible  aerial 
dew.  The  Perfecta  Spraying  Syringe  is  one  of  the  easiest 
filling  syringes  on  the  market;  it  sprays  directly  forward, 
or  at  any  angle  within  an  arc  of  90"^  from  the  axis.  It  will  of 
course  spray  at  long  range  with  the  open  jet. 


N'EW   FLORAL   SUSPENDING    BASKET 
"  THE   QUEEN." 


Catalogue   Received. 

Neiv  Daffodils.  —  An  interesting  description  of  new 
Daffodils  with  prices.— J.  Kiugsmiil.  nurseryman,  Sharow, 
Ripon. 


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