October 26, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



821 



however, 

 branches 



fruits. 



autumn, for at that period the 

 are heavily laden with golden 



p. Scheideckeri. 



This has only become really well known 

 during the last ten or twelve years. Of 

 hybrid origin, its parents are said to be 

 P prunifolia and P. floribunda. ilie 

 flowers are semi-double, and larger than 

 those of either parent, and they are borne 

 with such freedom that growth suffers, and 

 the bushes are apt to assume a stunted 

 character, whilst it is often diflScult to get 

 good growth buds for purposes of propa- 

 gation. It is popular alike for border cul- 

 ture and for forcing. 



P. spectabiiis. 



A native of China and Japan, this is 

 rarely represented in this country, except 

 by one or other of its double-flowered 

 forms. The type assumes the proportions 

 of a well-grown apple tree, and bears large 

 flowers 1^ to 2in. across. The variety flore 

 pleno is extremely ornamental, both when 

 in flower in April or May, and again in 

 autumn, when the leaves assume very 

 pretty tints previous to falling. This form 

 has large pink and white flowers ; flore albo 

 has white flowers, and Kaido rich rose- 

 coloured blooms. 



P. Toringo. 



Another Japanese tree of showy appear- 

 ance when in flower ; it is, however, of less 

 general worth than the double-flowered 

 form of P. speetabilis. 



In addition to the kinds mention^ed above, 

 the numerous large-fruited craba of the 

 John Downie type are all very pretty when 

 in flower. AV. Dali.im6re. 



Kew. 



BUDDLEIA VARIABILIS AND 



ITS VARIETIES. 



Probably no packet of seed amongst the 

 numerous ones received from the Arnold 

 Arboretum in 1908 more fully justified great 

 expectations than did the one of Buddleia 

 variabihs. Mr. Wilson, the well-known 

 collector, speaks of the particular bush from 

 which he gathered the seed as being a good 

 form, with flowers of a dark purple hue, 

 and this no douht accounts in a great mea- 

 sure for the many beautiful and distinct 

 varieties that have been raised from it. 



The seed in question was sown with many 

 others in shallow boxes and placed in a 

 warm house early in the New Year, and 

 there remained for a month or two, any 

 that showed signs of germinating being re- 

 moved immediately to a cooler structure. 

 When well hardened off, the seed hoxes 

 were transferred to cold frames, and the 

 pricking off of the seedlings into other 

 boxes with a rather greater depth of soil 

 received attention in due course. For a 

 time they were kept close, and carefully 

 watered until csta^blished, when air was 

 treely given, the plants making luxuriant 

 growth. 



The largest plants were in the same sea- 

 son pricked out in a border, chiefly with a 

 yiew to test their hardiness. The foUow- 

 ^^g s-pring they were replanted, and made 

 excellent growth, and flowered abundantly, 

 the different varieties were noted and 

 marked accordingly. Si nee then w^e have 

 planted them freely amongst our flower- 

 V^g and other shrubs, and few sub- 

 jects during the season of flowering have 

 been more greatly admired. \ 



The varieties of Bnddleia variabilis 

 ^^ght to be planted in every garden w^here 

 ^ home for shrubs is found, as they are 

 ^ot exacting in their requirements, are 

 quite hardy in constitution, and though 



the foliage may be cut with early autumn 

 frosts before fully matured, they will break 

 again with wonderful freedom in the spring. 

 The spikes of flowers can only be described 

 as magnificent, and frequently one sees a 

 growth six to eight feet long bearing ahuge 

 terminal spike with numerous lateral 



them this autumn, it may be stated that 

 the addition to the soil of manure, road 

 sand, and leaf-mould w ill be found of bene- 

 fit. Where the plants are grown in masses 

 of rhododendrons and allowed to pioduce 

 their flowers above the foliage of the latter 

 as I have seen them, the spikes naturally 



G,M.407 



-L- 



lUDDl.KlA 



VARIABILIS SUPERBA. 



A distinct and handsome variety; the flower spikes very large, and the colour rich blue 



growths that will bloom later. For quite 

 two months they continue in bloom, and 

 the spikes last a long time when cut and 

 placed in water for room decoration lo 

 obtain the largest blooms the plants should 

 be pruned back fairly luird in the sprmg 

 as growth is commencing, and tor the in- 

 formation of those who may intend planting 



lose in point of size, but a large oush is 



most effective. 



Propagation is effected by means of cut- 

 tineas, which arc best taken during the 

 month of August, and inserted in pots of 

 sandy soil, using clean, well-drained po^ 

 and a compost of finely-sifted loam, leaf- 

 mould, and coarse sand. Make fairly firm, 



