330 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 27, 1876. 



Bome is A. elegantiaeima. The leaves are digitate and pen- 

 dnlous, of a very deep Kreen, the midrib of each leaflet being 

 white, and with white-mottled footstaLks. A. leptophylla is 

 also a fine species with very dark stems; the loaves are green 

 distinctly mottled with white. A. macnlata is also striking by 

 its purple hue and distinct green spots ; but one of the most 

 elegant and not sufficiently known is A. gracillima. It is 

 almost impossible to depict the slender elegance cf this plant. 

 The stem is ertct ; the leaves springing from it and for a foot 

 of their length are horizontal, when they gracefully recurve 

 and taper to a point. They are bright green with ivory-white 

 midribs. This is undoubtedly one of the most distinct and 

 chaste of the Aralias, and will prove of great value for table 

 decoration. Besides these are some new kinds which are not 

 yet in commerce. 



In this house is a large stock of the new Gnstavia gracillima, 

 which was sent from Colombia by Mr. Koezl. It was figured 

 in the " Botanical Magazine " for March, 1875, and the flower 

 as figured there and also in Mr. Bull's catalogue is extremely 

 bold and striking. Near it is a batch of the dark-foliaged 

 plant Erauthemum tricolor, which at the first glance reminds 

 us of the Ireeines. The colour is olive green with purplish 

 and pink blotches. It is evidently of free growth and easy 

 culture. 



Other large stoves are crowded with Ferns, Palme, Panda- 

 nuses, and Musas, the stock of Musa ensete being very large 

 and fine ; and in the propagating house is a most attractive 

 collection of Bertolonias. B. Van Houttei is in superb con- 

 dition ; it is popularly referred to as the " shot silk" plant, 

 and its glistening colours warrant the appellation. In fine 

 contrast is the " Jewel Plant " (B. superbissima). The foliage is 

 large, bright green, each leaf containing three rows of spots 

 arranged with mathematical regularity, the spots being of a 

 purplish rose colour. It is a superb plant, requiring, to have 

 it in good condition, heat, shade, and the moist still atmo- 

 sphere of a glass case. A description of this nursery would 

 be incomplete without a brief note on the 



Orchids. — The stock of these plants is very extensive, roofs, 

 floors, stages, and walla being covered with them. The plants 

 are generally small, and fresh consignments are continually 

 arriving from foreign collectors. The cool Orchid house was 

 so crowded that it was impossible to walk round, but it has 

 Biuce been cleared of a portion of the valuable stock — valuable 

 because the floor was covered with hundreds of healthy plants 

 of the fine new Odontoglossum oirrosum, which was recently 

 certificated by the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society, and was generally considered to be one of the most 

 important introductions of late years. The plant is evidently 

 of hardy constitution and easy growth ; it is a free bloomer 

 and will probably become as popular as 0. Alexandra. 



Amongst the general collection of Orchids many were in 

 flower, tho most notable being Cattleya citrina, of which the 

 stock is immense ; Burlingtonia fragrans, the perfume exactly 

 resembling that of May blossom, but is more powerful ; Cypri- 

 pedinms in variety ; Dendrobiums Wardianum and lituiflorum 

 in excellent varieties, and the dainty gem D. barbatulum. For 

 afl'ording cut blooms for bouquets and sprays for wreaths this 

 pure and free-flowering species is invaluable. 



Besides the Orchids growing and flowering, a consignment 

 of plants just arriving demands notice as conveying an idea 

 of the magnitude of Mr. Bull's transactions as an importer. 

 Of Sophronites grandiflora, Dendrobiums, Vandas, and Ai-rides 

 there were certainly some, hundreds being unpacked, and of 

 Pleiones there were many thousands — in fact, the Crocus-like 

 hulbs filled seventeen boxes of 3 feet square each. These are 

 principally P. humilis, and had arrived in excellent condition. 

 It is certainly the largest importation which has ever arrived 

 in England. 



There remains one more plant to notice which — the name at 

 least — has recently been in everybody's mouth — Erythroxylon 

 Coca. This now celebrated plant is included in the ofticinal 

 collection. For ruany years it has but rarely been inquired 

 for, but now the demand for plants can scarcely be met. 



The nursery is densely crowded with plants, all space under 

 glass being filled, and the outside squares packed with Liliums. 

 A busiueae-like activity pervades the establishment, and every 

 part ia in good order. — W. 



DiELYTBA spECTABiLis as a decorative plant for the green- 

 house cr oonservatory in spring is not so generally used as it 

 deservtB. It ia well known as an occupant of mixed borders, 



Ac, flowering in summer; but there being such abundance of 

 other flowers at that season, I think it is only by using it for 

 the purpose referred to that its beauty can be fully appreciated. 

 Here it has been in flower for some time past in the conserva- 

 tory with charming effect, in gracefulness and beauty I would 

 almost say surpassing even the Fuchsia. It certainly far more 

 than repays the trouble it costs. What can be more simple 

 than sticking a few roots into pots in the autumn, and winter- 

 ing them in a cold frame? — J. Haedie, Logi,- l\[ar. 



REPORT ON PLANTS GROWN FOR TRIAL AT 

 CHISWICK IN 1875. 



By THOMAS UOOEE, F.L.S., Floral Director. 



It was stated in the last Report of the Chiswiok Board of 

 Direction, that the work in the floral department had been in 

 some degree crippled by the diminished facilities granted to 

 the Superintendent, but that nevertheless some very good work 

 had been accomplished. This consisted in the cultivation, 

 with the view to a comparison of their merits, of collections 

 of 82 varieties of bedding Pansies, of 125 varieties of FuohsiaB, 

 and of 350 varieties of bedding Pelargoniums. The Floral 

 Committee held several meetings during the blooming season 

 for the critical examination of these collections, and awarded 

 twenty-three certificates of merit to different varieties of Pan- 

 sies, twenty-one certificates to the best varieties of Fuchsias, 

 and seventeen certificates to Pelargoniums which were con- 

 sidered as improvements on those previously rewarded. 



The following are descriptive notes of the several varieties 

 in each group to which certificates were awarded, the notes 

 being sufficient to give some notion of the habit, colour, and 

 charaoteiistics of the kinds, and also to afford some clue to 

 their identification. 



BEPDINQ P.WISIES AND VIOLAS. 



The varieties of these plants subjected to the test of trial 

 were contributed by Messrs. Dickson & Co. of Edinburgh, 

 Messrs. Cocker & Sons of Aberdeen, Mr. R. Dean of EaUng, 

 Mr. G. Westland of Witley Court, Dr. Stuart, Messrs. Milligan 

 and Kerr, and Messrs. Robertson & Galloway. Those only 

 are here described which obtained certificates. In several in- 

 stances the certificates granted in 1874 under less favourable 

 conditions were now confirmed. The plants were inspected 

 by the Committee on June 9th, and again on July IGth. The 

 following may be regarded as a selection of the best of the 

 bedding Pansies, chosen from the point of view of showing 

 compactness and dwarfness of habit, profuseness and con- 

 tinuity of bloom, and useful and eiifective colours rather than 

 that of size and shape in the individual flowers — chosen, in 

 fact, for those special features which give them their value aa 

 bedding plants. 



PIEST-CIjASS ceetificates. 



1. Alpha. — Dickson cf Co. — A very compact-growing, vigor- 

 ous-habited, free-flowering variety. Flowers large, bluish 

 purple, with a reddish flush ; the eye yellow, with a bilohed 

 dark spot in front. Good and lasting. 



2. Bkdfont Yellow. — Dea;i. — A free-growing compact- 

 habited sort. Flowers large, bright golden yellow, with pen- 

 cilled eye. Good and effective. 



3. Blue Bell. — Dean. — A very showy variety of compact, 

 spreading, free-blooming habit. Flowers numerous, medium- 

 sized, mauve purple, with a small yellow eye pencilled with 

 dark lines. The individual flowers are deficient in shape, but 

 the effect of the mass is good, and the plant is a continuous 

 bloomer. Awarded a first-class certificate in 1874, which was 

 now confirmed. 



4. Blue PBBrECTiON. — Westland. — Of compact free-blooming 

 habit. Flowers medium-sized, of a deep reddish mauve, with 

 yellow eye. A fine effective self-coloured variety. The variety 

 sent in as Purple Perfection proved to be the same as this. 



5. Db. Stdabt. — Stuart. — Of dwarf compact habit. Flowers 

 mauve purple, with small yellow eye surrounded by a narrow 

 dark ring. A neat and pretty flower. 



G. Golden Gem. — Dickson iC- Co. — A variety of dwarf spread- 

 ing habit, and a free bloomer. Flowers large, deep yellow, 

 with deeper eye, over which occur dark pencillings. Good and 

 lasting. Awarded a first-class certificate in 1874. 



7. LiLAciNA. — Dean. — A charming vaiiety of dwarf compact 

 spreading habit, free-growing, and very distinct. Flowers of 

 moderate size, the upper petals of a reddish lilac, the lower 

 ones bluish lilac, with small yellow eye. An exceedilgly pretty 

 and taking flower. 



