468 



HORTICULTURE 



April 3, 1909 



ored with rose red veining; an inexhaustible bloomer. 

 Jt makes a good standard. 



A DISEASE OK VIOLA COUNUTA VARIETIES 



A peculiar disease has api^eared on the Tufted Pansies 

 (large flowered Viola Coruuta) which makes itself ap- 

 parent in the inward rolling up of the margins of the 

 leaves: and the disease appears mostly in dry weather 

 and in plants growing in poor soil, whilst it is scarcely 

 to be observed during moist weather and in rich soil. 

 ]n the spring there is scarcely any trace of the disease 

 but in the chief flowering and afterwards the disease 

 becomes very general till autumn when it is mucli les.- 

 apparent. The injury done by- the mite on Ihe plants 

 attacked, is to greatly lessen the quantity of the bloom, 

 which on healthly plants is uninterrupted till late aut- 

 umn. The disease has extended itself widely in Switz- 

 erland, and it has appeared likewise in England. The 

 cause of the disease is a mite belonging to Eriophydes, 

 in England known as Eriophya Violat. Tlie creature 

 lives in the curled-up leaf edge, causing by its sucking 

 of the sap the uprolling of the edge. A similar malady 

 has long been known, according to Darboux and Hou- 

 ard, to infest Viola calcarata and V. canina. 



THE BOTANIC GARDEN AT KEW 



This, the largest botanical garden in the world, which 

 can look backward to an existence of 350 years and is 

 tliree times larger than the recently established garden 

 at Dahlim near Berlin, was visited in 1908 by 3,716,- 

 220 persons, that is, 200,000 more than in the previous 

 year. The number of visitors in the last two years is 

 the liighest in the course of its existence. In the last 

 ten years (1898-1907), about 16 i/o millions of people 

 have visited the gardens. The highest number in one 

 day (in August) was 93,388 and the lowest number 

 (January 21), 68 persons. 



ENGLISH DAHLIA TRIALS. 



We learn that the English National Daldia Society 

 will hold this year two shows in September next and 

 inaugurate three trials in order to ascertain the vari- 

 eties suitable for decorative purposes in the flower 

 garden. ' There will be trials of Show and Fancy vari- 

 eties at tlie l?oyal Horticultural Society's garden at 

 Wisley, Cactus varieties at Shcnfield in conjunction 

 with M-r. J. T. West, an eminent dalilia specialist, and 

 of Pompon varieties at Slough, superintended by Mr. C. 

 Turner of the Eoyal nurseries at that town. Garden 

 Dahlias mil be grown under name, and two specimens 

 of each varietv should be fonvarded to the superintend- 

 ent of the R.'H. S.— "Mr. Wright, and addressed, if by 

 railway or the post, to The Gardens, Wisley, Ripley, 

 Surrey, a notice of their despatch being sent by post 

 in either case. In regard to the other trials, new 

 varieties of the Pompon and Cactus varieties are alone 

 invited, which will be grown under numbers. Moreover, 

 comprehensive collections of dahlias in conanerce are 

 trequested to be sent in not fewer than two plants of 

 each variety, not later than the end of the month of 

 May. Persons wishing to send their new varieties 

 should notify their wish to Mr. E. F. Hawes, Royal 

 Botanic Garden, Regents Park, London, N. W.. together 

 ■with the names of the varieties. Packages should be 

 forwarded carriage paid. The plants vriW be judged by 

 a special committee of the N. D. S. 



SAXIFRAGA DR RAMSAY. 



This pretty silvery-leaved Saxifrage bears the name 



of an enthusiastic horticulturist, and was raisc<l by Mr. 

 Robert Lindsay, Kaimes Lodge, Midlothian, N. B., by 

 crossing S. Macnabiana and S. Lantoscana superba, both 

 of wliich species have silveiy leaves. In habit it favors 

 the last named species. The flowers are white with a 

 few red spots that effectively set off the bloom. The 

 rosettes are of a silvery-grey tint, and the plumose 

 spikes of bloom are bent over as in S. Lantoscana super- 

 ba. It is a good doer but too many flowers should not 

 be allowed to develop. Mortar, rubble or pieces of lime 

 stone sliould lie mixed with the soil, Saxifragas having 

 a liking for lime. 



SOrHRONITIS ROSSITERIANA 



This species diifers from the allied garden varieties 

 S. coccinea or S. grandiflora in having much more bril- 

 liant flowers, which are not much smaller. The color of 

 the flower is not easy to describe; it is a glittering red 

 orange that is not common in nature. The color of 

 Imjiatiens Holsti is that nearest to it. The lip shows 

 more of an orange tint. The flowers have a longer 

 petiole, and in consequence are more elevated over the 

 leaves than are those of S. grandiflora, the pseudo- 

 bulbs are more slender, and erect and the leaves smaller. 

 The jjlant is a native of Brazil in the high mountains 

 and is met with growing on the rocks, therefore it should 

 be afforded a light position, near the glass, and a mod- 

 erate degree of warmth. The blooms endure for several 

 weeks in good condition. The plant does not require 

 much moisture at the root nor to be often syringed. — 

 Die Gartenwelt for March 6, 1909. 



EPIDENDRDM VARIEGATUJI. HOOK. 



Comes from South America. The blooms are of a 

 yellow color tipped with brown. The roots come much 

 in contact with the air and fix themselves firmly on 

 cork. Certain Epidendrums refuse even this support. 

 Perhaps because the surface of the cork quickly becomes 

 dry is the reason for this, and in any case better results 

 are obtained with plants fastened to cork than to wooden 

 blocks. — Die Garienivelt for March 6, 1909. 



A ROSE GARDEN FOR BERLIN. 



A project is afoot to form a Weltrosarium, the largest 

 in the world, consisting of 10 morgens of land (a 

 morgen measuring 3.122 square yards, English). Britz, 

 near Berlin, offers the most suitable site for such a gar- 

 den, the soil, a sandy loam being eminently fitted for 

 the growth of roses, and for which it is celebrated, there 

 being at the present time 125 morgens under rose culture 

 at that place. The rose garden will not only draw vis- 

 tors at the flowering time of the rose, but will also be 

 available for scientific research by professional people, 

 and laity, at any time. 



Godetia Schamini fl. pL 



See Colored Plate With This Issue. 



The godetias are excellent border annuals flowering 

 profusely all through the summer and thriving in a 

 rather dry, sunny situation. Nicholson and Bailey class 

 godetia as a sub-genus under Oenethera, the Evening 

 Primrose. The beautiful double-flowered variety illus- 

 tiatcd was introducfd in England three vears ago. 



