H O R T 1 C U L T U R E, 



July n, 1906 



British Horticulture 



A BEGOXIA SPECIALIST 



In recent years a young and enterprising begonia ex- 

 hibitor has come to the front in the person of Mr. A. 

 LI. Gwillini. During the three years he has been com- 

 peting he has carried off fourteen medals at the leading 

 shows. From July to October the nurseries are gay 

 with thousands of begonias in a multiplicity of shades. 

 Mr. Gwillim has this season about 80,000 seedlings. In 

 the nursery there are also about 50,000 of the bedding 

 varieties. These are laid out in the stages to start at 

 the end of February and early in ilarch. This year 

 spent hops have been used instead of leaf mould with 

 the loam and sprinkling of sand. The hops are of 

 course cheaper and have been found to answer admir- 

 ably. As regards the colors most in favor, Mr. Gwil- 

 lim states that he sells more of the scarlet, white, yellow, 

 pink, and crimson than all the rest put together. For 

 exhibition blooms as soon as the buds appear a stimu- 

 lant in the shape of liquid manure is administered, with 

 a proportion of guano. Sootwater is also found bene- 

 ficial. Mr. Gwillim is also turning his attention to 

 gloxinias. Of cinerarias, chiefly the stellata section are 

 likewise cultivated. These are very much in demand 

 for the conservatory or table decoration, partly owing 

 to the immense heads of flowers, as well as for the 

 long time they continue in bloom. 



SHOW OF FLORAL DECORATIOXS 



The Royal Horticultural Society had a show of table 

 decorations, vases, bouquets, etc., on June 20th, at the 

 Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster. Visitors who 

 expected to glean some new ideas in the best table dis- 

 plays were doomed to disappointment, for the designs 

 were all on conventional lines. There was a monoto- 

 nous run of tables using the familiar metal flower dis- 

 player in the centre, with corner pieces, and trails of 

 smilax and asparagus. One table was arranged with 

 pink centaurea, and young tips of golden holly branches, 

 with a little adiantum fern. A pleasing combination 

 was obtained with a pale pink pelargonium, lily of the 

 valley, a few sprays of briza, with trailing asparagus. 

 There were some interesting floral designs. One attract- 

 ing considerable attention represented a cross, with an 

 anchor on one side, and heart on the otlier. The cross 

 was formed of white stock, with bands of myosotis run- 

 ning across the base, sprays of cymbidium hanging over 

 from the top. The anchor was outlined with Marechal 

 Niel roses and Erica Cavendishi. A large bell wa.- also 

 a special feature. The outside was composed of white 

 hydrangea, lined with white pinks, pink sweet peas rep- 

 resenting the tongue and ropes. Amongst the bouquets 

 was one consisting of ixias, a small yellow oncidium, 

 and orange and yellow aquilegias, on a base of common 

 asparagus and trailing A. Sprengeri. 



BLOOM BY THE TON 



The county of Lincolnshire, famous for its many 

 acres of potatoes, in modern times has come to the front 

 as a noted bulb growing area. The season for havest- 

 ing the bloom recently completed lias been a very suc- 

 cessful one. Several tons of bloom a dav are despatched 



from Spalding during the busiest time. In one week 

 a grower has marketed two million blooms of double 

 white narcissi. A record lot of tulips has been handled 

 this year. At one time there was a break between the 

 spring and summer flowers, but this has now been 

 filled by the cultivation of large quantities of pyreth- 

 rums. As these popular little flowers are very prolific 

 and grow in a small space they are a remunerative crop. 

 The work of lifting the bulbs was commenced last week, 

 and these are supplied in great bulk, some even being 

 sent to Holland. Chyrsanthemums have been planted 

 out which will flower in August and September. It is 

 estimated that ' the value of the spring flowers ^ent 

 away from the neighborhood of Spalding this year is 

 $.50,000. 



THE REIGN OF THE RHODODENDRON 



A special feature at the Royal Botanic Society's gar- 

 dens at Regent's Park, during June, is the brilliant 

 display of rhododendrons, covering about three-quar- 

 ters of an acre, shown by Messrs. John Waterer & Sons 

 of the American Nurseries, Bagshot. The flowers are 

 artistically arranged under an immense marquee, and 

 the general effect is enhanced by the groups being on 

 undulating ground. Here are to be seen the best speci- 

 mens of this showy flowering shrub which are raised to 

 perfection under the ideal conditions which prevail at 

 Bagshot. The newer varieties brought out by the firm 

 include White Pearl, a fit companion to the graceful 

 Pink Pearl; Mrs. E. C. Stirling, a delightful shade of 

 soft pink; Marchioness of Tweddale, rich rosy red with 

 a blotch of pale yellow on the upper part of the interior. 

 The two last named have received awards of merit from 

 the Royal Horticultural Society, in addition to Gcrmer 

 Waterer. The whole display which is worthy the firm's 

 high reputation, is varied by groups of I\almia latifolia. 



/^r/, C^di^. 



Phoenix Robeleni 



When the first plants of this beautiful palm were 

 introduced a report was circulated that it was doubtful 

 if ever seed could be obtained owing to the birds devour- 

 ing it in its native country, and that we would have to 

 rely upon the stems from time to time for future stock. 



A few years ago through the agency of the original 

 discoverer, Mr. Robelen, in whose honor the plant is 

 named, a quantity of the seed was collected and sent to 

 Europe and we hear that another very large importa- 

 tion is shortly expected from him. 



The Belgium growers have recognized its usefulness 

 as a decorative plant, and they are now growing it 

 by the thousands, and devoting whole houses to its cul- 

 ture; its graceful habit, freedom of gro\\1;h, and re- 

 semblance to Cocos Weddelliana by its narrow pinnae, 

 will place this among the commercial palms, whereas 

 hitherto it has been seen in private collections only. 



One of the original specimens imported is in the col- 

 lection of Mr. D. W. Willis James, of Madison, New 

 Jersey, and has been successfully grown, and exhibited 

 at the prominent New York, and other shows by his 

 superintendent Mr. Wm. Duckham. 



