JOUBNAL OP HORTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEll. 



445 



Bummer. A. HoEfeflornm is the result a cross between A. Dar- 

 winii and A. Boale de Keige, and is a very distinct and effective 

 variety — dwarf in habit and new in colour. — 1>. L. 



KOSES. 



" I HOPE anyone who reads these notes will compare thorn 

 with his own experience, and let us know through the Eoae 

 Journal how these Eoees grow with them." So wrote " Wyld 

 Savage" in last week's Journal, and it is in the hope of giving 

 and receiving some little Rose information that I take up my 

 pen. 



But let me ask, What has Gloire de Dijon done that he is to 

 be left out of the list ? My experience says that this, and not 

 Marie Van Hontte, is the hardiest and most continuous flower- 

 ing of all the Teas or Noisettes. Next in order come Maruchal 

 Niel and Devoniensis, but I am afraid all others mast be 

 classed as " Wyld Savage " classes his secondary list — viz., as 

 varieties that may chance to give us a fair bloom, but more 

 often do not. 



May I ask for the opinion of your correspondent as to the 

 habit of growth of Hybrid Perpetual Doke of Edinburgh '.' In 

 the summer of 187iJ I had a cutting of it given me, and in- 

 serted a bud which last summer sent up three healthy stout 

 shoots about '2 feet lung, and the blooms were splendid, but 

 this spring the growths of the same tree and two buds inserted 

 last summer are the most wretched puny-looking things I have 

 ever seen. How is this '' 



Hoping that other Rose-growers, and especially young ones, 

 will be encouraged to send ua their experience, I beg to sign 

 myself — A Two-ieabs Kose-gkowek. 



P.S. — One of the most important items in Rose-growing 

 experience is soil and situation. My soil is a sort of non- 

 descript garden mould, and my Kituatiou about two miles 

 north of ou* " royal observatory," Camden Square. 



VENIDIUM CALENDDLA.CEUM. 



To the long list of ornamental annuals contributed to our 

 gardens by the extensive natural order of Composite plants the 

 Venidinm oalendulaceum proves, says Mr. Thompson in the 

 " English Flower Garden," to be a not unimportant addition, 

 and, perhaps, among the recently introduced species few will 

 be found of a more showy character. 



Its specific name is so far appropriate that some readers 

 may suspect it to be an old acquaintance under a new designa- 

 tion ; but although it certainly lesemlles in colour and form 

 some of the Marigolds, botanically it is sufliciently distinct. 

 In the Calendulas, of which the common Marigold may be 

 taken as a type, the involucre surrounding the flower head is 

 composed of many narrow, pointed, erect leaflets, nearly equal 

 in size, and arranged in one series. In the genus Yenidium 

 the scales of the involucre are of two kinds : those composing 

 the innermost series immediately next the florets of the ray 

 are of an oval form, with a thin transparent colourless margin ; 

 external to these are several rows of imbricated scales of a 

 narrower form and covered with shaggy hairs, especially at the 

 tip, which is reflexed. 



The seed is also of a difl'erent structure to that of the Calen- 

 dulas, as the accompanying figure will show. The Venidiums 

 are more closely allied to the old genus Arctotis, with which 

 some of them were formerly incorporated ; but in Arctotis the 

 seeds are famished with a chaDy pappus, an appendage which 

 appears to be wanting in Yenidium. 



The present species is a dwarf annual plant, not often ex- 

 ceeding, even when in flower, 5 or flinches in height; the 

 radical leaves are of a broadly ovate almost orbicular form, 

 with a sinuate margin, and long footstalks more or less winged 

 at their edge ; the whole leaf, but especially its margin, nerves, 

 and petiole, being clothed with long white, clammy, spreading 

 hairs. The leaves at the base of the flower stalk are of a 

 similar form, but rather narrower, and have their petioles more 

 winged ; those higher up are sessile, becoming more pointed 

 as they approach the flower. 



The blossoms are produced singly on terminal pednncles, of 

 which each plant yields a considerable number. As those which 

 spring directly from the root fade, others are developed from 

 the axils of the stem leaves. 



The oiroamference of the flower head is composed of abont 

 fifteen to twenty strap-shaped florets, arranged in a single 

 series and of a fine light orange colour ; they bear no stamens, 

 but only a short style terminated by a stigma, divided into 



two broad black lobes. The florets of the disc, or central por- 

 tion of the flower, are tubular, and contain both stamens and 

 style. Before the tubes open the disc is green, but as they 

 expand it assumes a blackish purple tint, which is due to the 

 black tips of the segments of the florets. The character of 

 the scales of the involucre has already been explained, as well 

 as the absence of the pappus, so peculiar to most Composite 

 plants. The receptacle on which the florets are seated is 

 slightly pitted, but otherwise quite smooth, or naked as it is 

 termed in botanical parlance. When fully expanded the 

 flowers are about 1§ inch in diameter. They will open in 

 diffused light, but usually close about two o'clock — a cu:oum- 

 stance which their showy character leads us to regret. 



Fig. fi;^.— VeLidium calenjulare 



Yenidium calendulacentii requires the treatment of most 

 other half-hardy annuals, such as Zinnias, Stocks, Asters, &e. 

 There are several other species, chiefly of perennial duration. 

 All of them, as well as the present plant, are natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



ON DWARFING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



As some correspondents have asked for information on this 

 subject, we publish the following practical article from ",The 

 Gardener;" — 



The great objection to the Chrysanthemum when grown in 

 pots and allowed its natural bent is, that it is apt to become 

 leggy and too tall for any purpose except the decoration of 

 large houses, entrance-halls, staircases, and such-like roomy 

 places. Those who have plenty of time and a taste for tor- 

 turing plants out of their natural habit get over this objection 

 by following the plan adopted by the growers for exhibition. 

 They tie their plants into any shape they please ; mushrooms, 

 spheres, half-spheres, pyramids, or standards, or any form 

 except the one natural to the plant, which is rather straggling 

 and ungainly. Whatever may be' thought of the result of this 

 process when it is fully realised in all its precise formality, as 

 regards its fitness for general decorative purposes, there can 

 be no doubt but that it is the thing that carries the day at ex- 

 hibitions. He would be bolder than wise that could venture 

 to one of the great Chrysanthemum thows with a set of plants 

 grown and staged after nature, to compete with those trained 

 according to the fashion of the present time. The judges 

 would look at hia exhibit only to condemn it, and perhaps 



