Maj 31, 1877. ) 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOOLTDRE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



409 



When water ia uaed it is difficult to carry out a tasteful 

 arrangement without some stiff base being iirst inserted into 

 the water, such as sprigs of some evergreens, as Laurnstinns 

 or Sweet Bay. Common moss is a clumsy material in practice 

 for a base, however much in theory it may have to recommend 

 it, and its use is often insisted on by employers. Wet sand 

 can be trimmed into any form of surface, flat, globular, or 

 pyramidal to suit any dish, and the building-up of a graceful 

 and showy decoration with suitable flowers is easy. In carry- 

 ing out varieties of decorations night after night a general 

 plan should be conceived for each occasion, and to work with 

 the style of plate to be used ; for instance, light-coloured grace- 

 ful things might be used together for variety, such as Centaurea 

 gymnocarpa well grown as standards ; Pandanus Veitchii or 

 P. javanicus variegatua, Cyperus alternifolius var., with which 

 might be associated tall slender glasses of out flowers lightly 

 and gracefully done with light material. 



Again, there is such a variety among Dracaanas that they 

 will give an effective change by themselves. The long linear 

 leaves of indivisa, the striped Guilfoylei, the striped and digni- 

 fied D. regina, and the many varieties of red-leaved sorts, are 

 all specially adapted for the table. 



Among Palms alone variety is endless, and almost all are 

 enitable ; different shades of colour and habits exist among 

 Arecas alone, also among the Chamaedoreas, Thrinax, and the 

 Cocoa family. 



Small healthy seedling Ferns in thumb pots are indispensable 

 for working into detail, such as tracery on the table-cloth, im- 

 bedded in scrolls of Lycopod, as alluded to before, or to work 

 into little pyramids at salient points, or for surrounding the 

 bases of vases or other ornamenta, or for inserting into little 

 cups or glasses to be distributed for variety about the table. 

 These, alternating with similar cups or glasses, filled with cut 

 flowers, have a neat and tasteful effect round the table near 

 the margin, under the eye. Large Perns are not, as a rule, 

 very workable for table decoration, unless of the Tree Pern 

 section. The most of these when young are admirable, such 

 as the Cyatheas, AlsophUa australis, and the tender-stemmed 

 Lomarias, and Dioksonia squarrosa in the young state. — The 

 Squibe's Gakdeneb (in The Gardener). 



NOVELTIES IN THE BOYAL GARDENS, KEW. 



An interesting selection of tuberous Aroideas is flowering 

 in the Heath and Mesembryanthemum house at Kew. The 

 newest of these is Proteinophallus Eivieri, better known under 

 the generic name Amorphophallus, but from which it differs 

 in many important particulars, possessing, however, the same 

 kind of leaf. It is supposed to be quite hardy, though in any 

 case it is very desirable for subtropical gardens, a use to which 

 it should be applied if obtainable even in small quantity. The 

 several species of Amorphophallus, from their highly tropical 

 appearance, oonld also be need with great effect. The petiole 

 of Proteinophallus Bivieri grows quite erect and reaches a 

 height of 18 inches, supporting a much-divided circular blade 

 2 feet in diameter. The flowering stem reaches a height of 

 nearly 3 feet. The epathe forms a convolute tube, spreading 

 above into an orbicular limb, which may grow to a circum- 

 ference of nearly 4 feet ; its colour ia a dull livid purplo with 

 green Inatre. Above this the somewhat cylindrical appendix 

 of the spadix is extended considerably, and is of the same 

 peculiar tint. 



AriEioma specioaum is one of the most ornamental of its 

 genns, partly from the deep purple epathe with white linea, 

 but also from the dark green leaves which are margined with 

 blood red, a feature by which it is easily known. The spadix 

 is provided with a wonderful flexuons tail, which trails on the 

 ground ; by its means it is supposed that wingless insects 

 reach the flowers and so bring about their fertilisation. It is 

 nearly if not quite hardy, and may be grown in a cold frame. 

 Another pretty species is A. concinnnm, having a pale green 

 spathe marked with white lines, and leaves with narrow seg- 

 ments which radiate in all directions. Of leas interest than 

 these is A. helleborifolinm. As one of the group we notice the 

 new yellow- flowered Pelargonium oblongitum, which, though 

 distributed for hybridising purpoEos, does not seem yet to have 

 given any result. 



A fine specimen of Aponogeton distachyon grown in an 

 inverted bell-plaas is just passing its best. According to an 

 article in the " Rnvue Horticole " by M. Carrie-re, it is possible 

 to cultivate this plant successfully as an ordinary pot plant 

 without immersion in water. A trial of this method has not 



given very satisfactory results either in appearance or vigorous 

 growth. The leaves float under natural circumstances, but in 

 this case require support as well as the flower stems, so that 

 the characteristic effect of the plant is almost entirely lost. 



The peculiar flowers of Heterotropa asaroides may now be 

 seen. They sit on the surface of the soil, are in shape like an 

 urn, equal a walnut in size, and are of a strange black-purple 

 colour. The leaves afford an instance of plant-mimicry by 

 taking the form and general appearance of Cyclamen. 



The true Eucharia Candida is flowering in the Begonia house, 

 and is truly an elegant plant ; it is apparently also very flori- 

 ferous. About nine flowers are borne in an umbel : they are 

 smaller than those of E. grandiflora, but with pure white 

 colour and gracefully recurved segments are equally beautiful. 

 That usually grown under this name is Calliphruria subedentata, 

 which rarely blooms and is much less beautiful. Torenia 

 Fournieri is a recent and extremely pretty addition to English 

 gardens. It much resembles T. asiatica. The flowers are 

 smaller but have the addition of a golden blotch, and it has 

 the advantage of a more shrubby habit. 



In the Victoria house are two fine young plants of Castilloa 

 elastica, the Caoutchouc Tree of Central America. This plant 

 is of great interest from its peculiarity of detaching the lateral 

 branches from the main stem at the point of insertion, which 

 detachment takes place in order from below upwards as height 

 increases. They are separated in the same way as a leaf, and 

 the fall is apparently governed by the same conditions. In 

 due time the fruiting branches are produced, which are not 

 deciduous. In some other plants, as in Phyllanthus, tho 

 flowering branches are deciduous, and so closely resemble 

 leaves as to have been described as such. 



Among the Orchids are several of rare interest and beauty. 

 Exquisite in colour, almost without rival, is Phalsenopsis Liid- 

 demanniana. Dendrobinm barbatulum is a pure white and, 

 until recently, very rare species. The fine varieties of Cattleya 

 MoasiiB which before have excited attention are again coming 

 into flower. Ccelogyne ochracea ia a rare though very select 

 species ; the flowers are of moderate size, pure white, with a 

 golden blotch on the lip edged with orange. A small plant of 

 Masdevallia Veitchii is extremely well flowered, having seven 

 strong spikes. M. Peristeria has peculiar orange flowers with 

 brown spots. M. ionocharis is one of the prettiest of the 

 small kinds. The sepals form a campanulate tube, pure white 

 except near the bottom, where blotched with -rosy lilac; the 

 tails are pale yellow. 



In the Conservatory may often be found many effective 

 plants wtich are rarely, if ever in some cases, used for pur- 

 poses of decoration. Veronica Hulbeana is extremely beautiful 

 at the present time, and is quite distinct from any other in 

 cultivation. It bears a profusion of pale lavender flowers in 

 large panicles, and the stems though long are so flexible as 

 to form with a few ties the most perfect specimen. Arototis 

 grandiflora is a fine old shrub of Compositae, and bears im- 

 mense flowers in colour reaembling Gazania splendens. 



Darlingtonia californica is just now of particular interest 

 from its flowering out of doors, where it has been for the last 

 two years, with only the protection of a bell-glass. It is in 

 one of the recesses at the rockwork, where it was placed when 

 quite a small plant, and has ever since grown with the best 

 health and vigour. It has now about fifteen leaves, the largest 

 of which is 7 inches long. The flower stem about equals it in 

 height. This plant has been grown in a pot plunged to the 

 level of the ground, and the bell glass has been so fitted that 

 while admitting a little air the internal moisture could not 

 dry up. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOB 

 THE PRESENT WEEK. 



HARDY FKUIT GABDEN. 



We have been looiiog over the fruit trees. Some kinds have 

 borne-up bravely, while from others all the blossom has dropped 

 ofl; and it has just struck aa that if correspondents would look 

 over their trees and send notes to the Journal of those which 

 have set their fruit beat under the influence of frost, they would 

 confer a great boon alike on gHrdeners and amateurs. For in- 

 stance, take a row of pyramid, bush, standard, or espalier trees 

 alike unprotected, and give the names, with the effect of the 

 frost upon them. At Loxford there arc four Cherry trees in a 

 row; first comes the old Kentish which has an abundant crop. 

 May Duke has none, Governor Wood baa set its fruit freely, 

 Black Eagle set very badly, and they were all in flower about 

 the same time. Cherries and Pears on the walls have set well. 



