October 6, 1897.] 



Garden and Forest. 



393 



After two years of this treatment the shoots were allowed 

 to grow, but as the plants were in eight-inch pots the 

 growth was not too vigorous. By July handsome irregular 

 bushes had been formed and flower-buds showed in abun- 

 dance. The plants were then placed outside, where during 

 August and September they were beautiful objects, being 

 heavily laden with flowers several shades deeper in color 

 than those produced under glass. I believe this plant might 

 be grown to flower on a south wall outside in summer. 



Aberia Caffra. — This, the Kei-apple of south Africa, is 

 again receiving attention, being recommended as a hedge 

 plant for subtropical countries, and its fruit for making jam. 

 It has long been grown for both purposes in south Africa, 

 and I remember seeing about ten years ago a fine hedge 

 fence of it along one side of the Grahamstown Botanic 

 Gardens, thicker and stronger than the stoutest quick 

 hedge and, with its long stout thorns, forming an almost 

 impenetrable barrier to all kinds of animals. It is used 



fruit as there is " meat " in an ostrich-egg, is soft, white, 

 sweet and agreeable to the taste. The small black seeds, 

 although numerous, are no detriment, as they are soft and 

 tasteless. There appears to be at least two forms of the 

 plant, one having fruits only about half as large as those 

 produced at Kew. In such states as Mexico and Florida 

 this plant would, no doubt, grow vigorously and fruit 

 freely without much trouble. 



Nicotiana tomentosa variegata. — The type, better known 

 under the name of Nicotiana colossea, is one of the hand- 

 somest of large-leaved plants for subtropical bedding, for 

 which purpose it is superior to the Wigandia. It is now 

 largely grown in English and French gardens, attaining a 

 height of six or eight feet 111 a season, with leaves a yard 

 or more long and two feet wide. It was introduced from 

 Brazil about ten years ago. I lately saw in the nursery of 

 Monsieur Sallier, in Paris, some plants of a variety which 

 were remarkable for the richness of their variegation. They 



Fig. 50. — Gardens of Pensliurst Place. — See page 389. 



in New Zealand, where, according to the Waikalo Times, it 

 forms a sturdy, short-jointed grower, an evergreen with 

 thorns six inches long, which are a perfect terror to evil 

 doers, be they beasts or human beings. It fruits freely, 

 and the fruits are of the size of green-gage plums. Pro- 

 fessor Macowan, of Cape Town, says of the fruits that 

 although few people like to eat them raw, they make first- 

 rate jam. He recommends a mixture of Kei-apple with 

 tomato as a good jam. This plant fruits freely in the garden 

 of Mr. T. Hanbury, at Mentone, on the Riviera. 



Cereus triangularis. — An old plant of this night-flowering 

 Cactus has, this year, fruited at Kew, and the fruits are 

 so large and handsome, and moreover so palatable, that 

 cultivators might do worse than turn their attention to this 

 plant as a fruit producer. The fruit is as large as an ostrich- 

 egg and weighs two pounds ; it is of a bright rosy crimson 

 when ripe, and the pulp, of which there is as much in each 



were more than a yard high, very leafy, the leaves large 

 and their color soft green with a broad, irregular band of 

 creamy white, most of the leaves being more white than 

 green. It comes true from seeds. It also may be propa- 

 gated from cuttings. It grows with great vigor in the open 

 air, colors without fail, no matter how strong the growth, 

 and it does not burn in bright sunshine. 



Bedding Begonias. — The best bedding varieties among 

 the tuberous varieties that I have seen this year are the 

 following : Lafayette, scarlet ; Major Hope, pink ; Julia 

 Marnier, yellow; Madame E. Turtle, white ; Virginia Van- 

 chon, pink and yellow. These are all dwarf and compact, 

 with small leaves, and the flowers stand well up on stout 

 stalks. Their colors are clear and good. Beds of these in 

 the flower garden are as effective as those of the best 

 Pelargoniums. ,.. Trr 



London. ". II dtsotl. 



