7 



258 



HOKTICULTURi: 



February 19, 1910 



in having flat, ovate, white bracts, instead of sterile 

 flowers surrounding the inflorescence. It is to these 

 bracts that the plant owes its ornamental value which is 

 much greater than that of the climbing Hydrangea. In 

 China several species of Schizophragma occur, all of 

 them dwarfer in habit than the Japanese S. hydrange- 

 oides. One of the finest of all, and the only Chinese 

 species at present named, is S. integrifolium. In man- 

 ner of growth this plant and its relatives behave in a 

 similar way to the common ivy. After creeping over 

 rocks for a year or so it grows up into an erect branch- 

 ing bush 5 to 8 ft. tall and then flowers. The flowers 

 are borne in flat corymbs, a foot or more across, and 

 partially surrounded by numerous, ovate, more or less 

 pointed, white or creamy-white bracts, each li/o to 2^^ 

 inches long and % to 1 inch across. These bracts per- 

 sist till late in the season, becoming pinkish and ulti- 

 mately brown with age. The Chinese members of the 

 family are all sun-loving plants and one and all are 

 extremely ornamental and easily grown. 



The Eibes family is, generally speaking, more useful 

 than ornamental and the new Kibes longeracemosum is 

 scarcely an exception. This plant is simply a black- 

 currant with simple, pendulous racemes of flowers 15 to 

 18 inches long ! The fruits are jet black, about the size 

 of an ordinary black-currant and of good flavor. The 

 fruits are scattered thinly down the raceme, but if this 

 plant was crossed with some of the better varieties of 

 garden black-currants great things might result. Hy- 

 bridizing amongst hardy shrubs, save in a few families, 

 is only in its infancy and the near future will see vast 

 expansion and improvement in this work. When one 

 thinks of the wonderful work accomplished in a few 

 families by Mons. Lemoine alone, one marvels that 

 others do not launch out on new lines in this field in- 

 stead of devoting themselves to following in the foot- 

 steps of -others. : ^- 



-^^ 



^-X^-*^-v^ 



ly, should be used in this manner, as they have a rather 

 leggy appearance when grown singly in pots, and when 

 grouped in this manner they make a handsome speci- 

 men. These plants may be also used for subtropical 

 bedding in summer. If a bed of this kind is desired in 

 a sliady corner, they look well among ferns and othei' 

 shade-loving plants, care being taken to have them well 

 liardened off before being planted out. Pot grown 

 plants come in handy for filling up dark corners of 

 piazzas during summer and, if one has a vase to fill in a 

 rather shady corner of the lawn, one of the broad-leaved 

 varieties makes a good centre plant for it. 



Diffenbachias are propagated by top cuttings and 

 suckers ; the stems also may be cut into two-inch lengths 

 and planted in a cutting bed, with a good bottom heat. 

 In a short time the buds at the joints will start into 

 growth and throw out roots when they may be potted 

 into small pots and shifted along into the size required 

 or grouped in the manner described above. In cutting 

 up the cane great care should be exercised on the part 

 of the operator as it is said that if the sappy Juice is 

 conveyed to the mouth it causes intense pain and dumb- 

 ness. 



These plants are not at all fastidious about what they 

 are grown in, provided the material is good and open. A 

 good compost is, equal parts of good rough fibry loam, 

 rather flaky leaves, and dried cow manure, with sand 

 enough to make it feel gritty. A little charcoal may 

 be also added to keep the soil sweet. The pans or pots 

 they are grown in should be well crocked, as these plants 

 though they like a moist atmosphere do not like wet feet. 

 Frequent syringings are necessary to keep red spider in 

 check. The "Stott Nozzle" is an ideal implement for 

 this object and cannot be too highly commended for 

 syringing purposes. 



A few good varieties to grow are Diffenbachia amcena, 

 D. Carderi, D. Chelsoni, D. Jenmani, D. Leopold!, D. 

 magnifica, D. majestica, D. nobilis, D. regina, D. rex. 



Dieffenbachia 



In a recent number of IIoeticultdee Mr. Farrell in 

 his notes mentioned this genus as worthy of propaga- 

 tion by the florist. It might be well to enter a little 

 more into the usefulness and requirements of these noble 

 looking, evergreen, tropical plants. "They are natives 

 of tropical America; and it is said there are only about 

 half-a dozen species of this genus, but there are quite a 

 number of fine varieties which are very ornamental 

 when blended with other foliage decorations and, for 

 this purpose, the trade ought to grow them largely. To 

 use an everyday expression, "they stand the racket." 

 Their handsome well-formed leaves have curious blotchy 

 markings, and I have heard people ask if they were 

 real or if paint had been dropped on them. The broad 

 leaved varieties make fine single-stemmed plants for 

 jardinieres, and they keep in good condition for a long 

 time if watered with care and kept in a temperature 

 around sixty degrees. 



Wlien Diffenbachias are grown for exhibition they 

 are generally grown in large pans or shallow tubs, sev- 

 eral plants being placed about three inches apart in 

 each receptacle. The narrow leaved varieties, especial- 



British Horticulture 



IN THE POLITICAL ARENA 



The even tenor of business has been upset during the 

 last few weeks by the excitement and turmoil of a gen- 

 eral election. There were several leading actors in the 

 stirring scenes well known in the horticultural world. 

 Prominent, of course, was Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, a 

 veteran statesman and Tariff Keform leader, who for 

 many years has had one of the finest collections of 

 orchids in the country. Ill health has prevented Mr. 

 Chamberlain from taking an active part in the fray; 

 it was a sportsmanlike act, under the circumstances to 

 allow him to be returned a member of Parliament with- 

 out opposition. Not so fortunate was Sir Albert Rollit, 

 the versatile president of the National Chrysanthemum 

 Society, who contested the Epsom division. Sir Albert 

 had changed his political views, and this may have had 

 some effect in a hostile direction. A similar disaster 

 befell the candidature of Mr. A. Cross, who is a mem- 

 ber of a well known firm of Glasgow seedsmen. During 

 the closing months of the last session he changed over 

 from one side of the House of Commons to another, but 

 this alteration has not been endorsed by his constituents. 

 The distributive side of the market growing industry 



