276 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PENTSTEMONS AT WISLEY, 1914. 

 Report by Mr. C. C. Titchmarsh, Trials Officer. 



Young plants (established cuttings) of one hundred and forty-seven 

 stocks, representing one hundred and thirty-six varieties of Pent- 

 stemons, were received at Wisley during the spring of this year. 

 They were placed in cold frames until the first week in April, 

 when they were planted out — two feet apart — on ground that had been 

 manured and trenched in the previous autumn. 



The cultivation of the plants has been carried out under the 

 direction of the Superintendent, Mr. S. T. Wright, to whom the Trials 

 Officer is indebted for constant help and advice in preparing the 

 material for this report. 



Of the varieties sent from Germany, some did not survive the 

 effects of their journey, and could not, therefore, be included in the 

 Trial. 



The plants made excellent progress, and were judged by a sub- 

 committee of the Floral Committee on July 31, which recommended 

 the awards recorded below. 



Very considerable resemblance appears to exist between many 

 varieties. Inasmuch as some stocks received were much more 

 advanced than others, and since they maintained that advantage 

 throughout the flowering season, it has been impossible to decide 

 finally questions of synonymy. Cuttings of all varieties will be taken 

 and the plants grown under identical conditions next year. A further 

 report will then be made. 



Florists' Pentstemoris appear to be descended, for the most part, 

 from P. Cohaea and P. Hartwegii [P. gentianoides) , the influence of 

 the latter species being particularly evident in the varieties of the 

 ' Southgate Gem ' type. 



The varieties vary but little in general habit, the main differences 

 between them lying in the shape and coloration of their flowers. 

 It may be noted that, as is so often the case, red or reddish pigmentation 

 of the vegetative parts is associated with the fuller colours — reds or 

 purples — and greenness (lack of anthocyan pigmentation) with pale 

 shades. The flowers are usually pendulous, but in some cases are 

 held above the horizontal ; the corolla is bi-labiate, its length may 

 be greater than, equal to, or less than its width at the mouth ; the 

 throat is normally compressed, but in some cases it is very open, 

 giving the flower an almost regular appearance, in which case there 

 is usually an addition to the normal number — five — of the corolla 

 segments. The contours of the three segments of the lower lip 

 are usually each equal to or less than a semicircle, occasionally they 



