126 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 160. 



two years ago, there were some magnificent specimens of this 

 Palm shown from Algeria. 



Phcenix R'aebeleni has behaved perfectly in the exceptionally 

 trying conditions that have prevailed during this winter, the 

 plants at Kew being now as healthy as one need wish. I an- 

 ticipate considerable popularity for this Palm and hope that 

 the quantities of seeds mentioned by Mr. Roebelen, its dis- 

 coverer in Siam, will soon find their way into gardens. Like 

 the Chamcedorea this Phcenix may be multiplied by means of 

 offsets. 



Rhopaloblaste hexandra is an elegant Palm in the way of 

 Geonoma gracilis, and, apparently, as easily grown as that pop- 

 ular species. It has been in cultivation some years at Kew, 

 having been obtained from Java. Mr. Bull offered it among 

 his new plants of last year, and published a characteristic 

 figure of a young example in his catalogue. The genus is 

 related to Ptychosperma, and is composed of three species, 

 natives of the Malay Archipelago. R. hexandra ultimately 

 forms a stout, erect stem, bearing a wide-spreading head of 

 arching, feathery, pinnate leaves. Plants only a foot high are 

 pretty in foliage and habit. It requires stove treatment. 



A Hybrid Brownea. — Several hybrids have been raised in 

 gardens from the cultivated species of Brownea, the best of 

 them being the result of a cross between B. macrophylla and 

 B. grandiceps. This was raised by the late Mr. Crawfurd, of 

 Lakelands, Cork, and flowered by him several years ago. Mr. 

 Crawfurd had formed a fine collection of Browneas, which, 

 after his death, were divided between the botanic gardens at 

 Glasnevin and Kew. The hybrid above named is now flower- 

 ing freely in the large Palm House at Kew. The plant is 

 twelve feet high, has large pinnate leaves like those of B. 

 macrophylla, and large terminal clusters of salmon-red or 

 flame-colored flowers. The individual flowers are larger than 

 those of B. grandiceps, being almost as large as the flower of 

 Lapageria rosea. There are about sixty flowers in each head, 

 but they are packed so tightly together that they do not appear 

 to be so numerous. B. macrophylla differs from all other 

 Browneas in its habit of producing its large clusters of brilliant 

 red flowers on the stem, never at the ends of the branches. 

 Afigureofitwas published in Botanical Magazine (t. 7033). InZ?. 

 gratidiceps the flowers are always terminal. For large tropical 

 houses this hybrid will prove at least as useful as B. grandiceps, 

 perhaps the best known of all. The large specimens of 

 Browneas in the Palm House at Kew never miss flowering 

 freely in February and March. Besides those above named 

 we also have in cultivation B. coccinea, B. Ariza, B. capitella, 

 B. coccinea X latifolia, B. ArizaX grandiceps, and B. Leopoldii. 



A tall, single-stemmed plant, long cultivated under the 

 name of B. princeps, was flowered by Mr. Crawfurd in 1888. 

 It proved to be a Talisia, a genus of Sapindacece, very far re- 

 moved from Leguminosece, the order to which Brownea be- 

 longs. A figure of the.Talisia, which Professor Oliver named T. 

 princeps, was published in Hooker's Icones Plantarum in 1889. 

 It was introduced by Linden many years ago as Brow ?tea prin- 

 ceps, and by Loddiges as B. erecta. It has also been called 

 Theophrasta pinnata. In the Kew Palm House there are a 

 pair of tall specimens, one of which is forty feet high, with a 

 magnificent head of foliage. ,,, ,_, 



London. W. WatSOtl. 



Cultural Department. 

 Chrysanthemum Queries. 



A FEW weeks ago, Mr. John Thorpe read a paper on 

 Chrysanthemums before the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, and from it we have already made some 

 quotations. After the paper had been read, many of those 

 who, heard it made inquiries on various points suggested 

 in the discussion, and Mr. Thorpe replied. We give below 

 a selection from these questions and their answers. 



'■' What is known of the new, early varieties offered by 

 European growers ? " 



This is a matter of importance to those who have no green- 

 houses, but it should be said that, with one or two exceptions, 

 the early-flowering varieties raised in Europe have not given 

 satisfaction, because of their inability to withstand the ex- 

 cessive heat of our summers. It will be reasonable to expect 

 a few of the many early varieties offered by Delaux to suc- 

 ceed, but just how many, time and experience alone can tell. 

 The moist and temperate climate of France and England, 

 where Chrysanthemums do well out-of-doors, is very different 

 from ours. If we desire to secure a series of early-flowering 



varieties, which will withstand the vicissitudes of our climate, 

 we must raise our own seedlings and save none but the sturdy 

 ones which prove their ability to endure our trying weather. 

 Delaux claims that his set will begin to flower as early as 

 July 15th. We have already several pompons that would 

 flower by that date if they only could be induced to grow. 

 What we need is a series beginning to flower not earlier than 

 September 1st, of stout, compact growth, bright, healthy foli- 

 age, with good-sized flowers of distinct and desirable colors. 

 M. E. Nichols is a variety having some of these good points ; 

 it is a sturdy grower, it has thick, leathery leaves, the flowers 

 are of medium size, but rather undecided in color, and it 

 blooms about October 5th. Harvest Queen is a good white, 

 and so is Madame Lacroix, and they bloom about Octo- 

 ber 15th ; the flowers of the two last named are much better, 

 however, when grown under glass. 



" Which is the best early variety for cut flowers for 

 market ? " 



That depends upon what color is desired. The best white 

 is Jessica, the best yellow Rohallion, followed by Gloriosum 

 five days later, or about October 15th. It is astonishing how 

 much difference five days make in market prices. 



" What variety remains longest in perfection ? " 



Different flowers, according to the time of year. The dura- 

 tion of bloom varies from twelve to twenty days. By judicious 

 selection and special cultivation, Chrysanthemums can be had 

 in bloom from January 1st to December 31st; the blooms 

 probably will not all be of the first quality as to form, size, 

 substance and color as they are when flowered in autumn, but 

 they will have enough good points to make them acceptable. 

 For ten years I have never been without Chrysanthemum 

 flowers. We have only to remember that they are herbaceous 

 plants, which, when they start to grow, keep on until they 

 produce buds and flowers. It should not be inferred, how- 

 ever, that much is gained by this interfering with their natural 

 time of flowering. Strawberries are best in June, and Chry- 

 santhemums are best in November. 



"Is it wise to award prize medals for new varieties upon the 

 exhibition of the first flowers, or should awards be deferred 

 until the superior character of the new plant has been estab- 

 lished ?" 



The first year my seedling, Mrs. Cleveland, flowered I con- 

 sidered it a capital prize. It was propagated and sold the 

 following spring, and when it flowered the second year, in- 

 stead of proving itself a gem of the first water, it fell as low as 

 the third class. Seedlings should always be tested more than 

 one season, and no prize should be awarded to any until its 

 superiority in character and habit is fully established. It is 

 unwise for a grower to offer to the public any new plant or 

 flower until its merits are shown to be greater than those of 

 existing kinds, especially when varieties are so numerous, and 

 in many cases so excellent. 



" Is there any remedy for the little insect-hopper that so in- 

 jures the plants out-of-doors during summer ?" 



Professor E. V. Riley, of the Department of Agriculture at 

 Washington, has taken a great deal of interest in the inves- 

 tigation of this enemy, which attacks not only Chrysanthe- 

 mums, but Asters, Golden-Rods and other composites. The 

 female stings the stems of the plants to deposit her eggs, causing 

 a disorganization which is shown by numerous excrescences. 



The best preventive I know is a solution of one ounce of 

 bitter aloes in four gallons of water, and with which the plants 

 should be syringed twice a week from July 1st to the middle 

 of August. 



" Can the Chinese incurved varieties shown here take rank 

 with those grown in England ? " 



There are many of the finest old-style, incurved flowers, 

 such as Queen of England, Mrs. Shipman and Princess of 

 Wales, that do not do at all well here, whereas in England 

 they are most popular and give great satisfaction. I have yet 

 to see a really first-class dozen of these kinds in America. 

 Climate must account for this, as we have as much skill and 

 as good appliances as any country has. I have never seen 

 two dozen of these shown on one stand in America that would 

 rank as second, or hardly as third-class in England. The 

 specimen-plants of the old incurved kinds are not equal 

 in quality to the cut flowers. That famous variety, Mrs. 

 Rundle, and thetwosports from it, always appear incompetitive 

 groups. Two out of the three Rundles will be found in any 

 competition of six varieties, and in nine or more varieties it is 

 almost a certainty that all three will be shown. 



" Where did the best twelve Japanese varieties originate — 

 in Japan, America, France, or England ? " 



Probably the best twelve now are direct importations from 

 Japan, but by next year, or the year after at the farthest, 



