218 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND 0017AGE GARDENER. 
[ March 12, 1885. 
expanded the back of the whole flower retains this colour, whilst the 
front side is rich orange yellow, saving a reniform belt of radiating 
crimson lines near the bottom of the standard. The flowers are produced 
through the months of June, July, and August. 
P. Murrayanum.— Leaves acutely triangular, armed with a sharp 
spine at the apex of the angles, opposite, and dark green. Flowers large 
and freely produced, on footstalks longer than the leaves ; colour clear 
yellow, with a band of deep red at the base of the standard. It flowers 
in May and June. 
P. parviflorum.— The name of this would lead one to infer it is 
worthless, hut its size is only comparative, for although smaller than those 
previously named it is still large enough to be very showy. Leaves 
opposite, ovate lanceolate, smooth and dark green above. Flowers 
Fig. 38.—Platylobium formosum. 
axillary, mostly in threes; colour clear orange yellow, the standard 
streaked with crimson. It flowers during June and July.— W. Gr. T. 
NOTES ON PLANTS. 
Jasminum gracillimum. —This is the most beautiful of all 
indoor Jasmines, and as useful for general decorative work as 
it is beautiful. Nothing can be more charming than a well- 
grown specimen of it when seen covered with its large compact 
trusses of pure white fragrant flowers, and no plant is more 
easily made to form such a specimen. It may be had in flower 
both winter and summer by growing batches of it under slightly 
different conditions. It is distinctly tropical in its requirements, and 
loves an abundance of moisture both at the root and overhead. Grown 
so as to form a pyramid, this Jasmine forms a charmingly graceful 
specimen plant ; it is equally satisfactory when trained along near 
the glass and treated as a climber. When once fairly established it 
makes quick growth, and by pinching out the points of the strongest 
shoots numerous twiggy branches are formed, upon every one of which 
a bunch of flowers is produced. Cuttings of it strike as freely as 
Verbenas. An Australian Jasmine named J. gracile may possibly get 
confused with this beautiful Bornean one, though in appearance and 
beauty the two have nothing in common. 
Wintering Caladiums. —1 am peisuaded that the safest treat¬ 
ment for Caladiums when at rest in winter is not that recommended 
by some teachers, but almost contrary to it. Here is my experience. 
Last spring, on turning out our Caladium tubers we found a large pro 
portion of them rotten, and nearly every one more or less affected. 
These tubers had been kept perfectly dry upon a shelf in a warm 
house. We are told that excessive moisture is the cause of losses 
among these tubers when at rest Excessive, yes ; but what is excessive 
in the case of Caladiums, even though at rest ? In their native 
habitats these plants as well as every other Aroid with a tuberous 
rootstock spend their resting period in swampy land ; they never get 
dry, nor anything like it. Accepting Nature as a safe teacher, at 
least in this case, the tubers which we are now potting and placing in 
bottom heat have been wintered in a moist corner in a temperature of 
55° to 60° where they never become dry. We have hardly a diseased 
tuber this year. I am told that at Kew, Arissemas, Amorphophallus, 
and such plants are preserved through the winter much more 
successfully in moist soil than when taken out of the soil, or allowed 
to get dry. I believe this is the safest as well as the most natural 
mode of wintering all tuberous-rooted Aroids.—W. N. 
Saxifraga marginata, although rarely found among collections 
of these alpine gems, is perfectly hardy near London on dry slopes or 
wedged between stones on the rockery. It belongs to the section 
which Engler in his Monograph calls Kabschia, the leaves being all 
pitted, and having lime secreted at intervals along the margins, which 
enhances the neat little tufts or rosettes. Old lime rubbish, with just 
sufficient loam to keep it firm, seems to be the best compost, and in 
which the plant should be firmly wedged. The flowering stems rarely 
exceed 6 inches in height, the flowers as large as S. Burseriana, and 
pure white, with just a tinge of purple on fading, about a dozen in 
each head. It is a native of Italy, and specimens were introduced 
from Minori through the agency of Mr. Maw two years ago, and later, 
we believe, from Spain by Mr. Lacaite. It commences to flower in 
March in mild seasons. 
Gaijltheria procumbens. —The creeping Winter Green is now 
loaded with its bright red berries. Indeed, it is one of the most 
attractive objects at present on the rockery. Rarely more than 3 or 
4 inches high, it creeps and covers ground in cool peaty places in a 
surprising manner, the only trouble being to keep other plants out of 
its way. The leaves also assist in lending a charm to this plant, 
attaining in the autumn a deep blood red tint, which makes a fine 
contrast with the berries. The pretty little white flowers are produced 
early in June, when water should be given unsparingly until the 
berries are formed. It is found in deep shady woods in North 
America, where it is said to be used as a substitute for tea. It may 
be easily increased by sowing the berries in pots in cold frame or by 
division, the latter being much the easier process. It makes a fine 
hedging plant. 
Primula floribunda. —This is the only one out of a score or more 
in flower with us at the present time. On its first introduction hopes 
were expressed of its proving hardy raised from home-grown seeds, 
but I am afraid our experiments were against this conclusion. Some 
large plants were placed out last summer in a sheltered position on an 
easy slope, and all succumbed to the second frost, which was not very 
severe, their end being perhaps hastened by the foggy weather ex¬ 
perienced about that time. Others planted on an old wall are now 
showing flower. The latter plan I think much the best for all plants 
of doubtful hardiness, as there they may have the advantage and 
protection of glass cut in squares and inserted directly above the 
plants. Besides protecting the plant from frosts and damp in winter 
it serves as a ready conveyance for water in summer, it really being 
very useful where the plants are on the perpendicular. In cold 
frames it flowers freely more or less all through the winter months, 
and sure to become a favourite for the greenhouse, supplying a neat 
habit and excellent colour, much in demand at that time. Plants for 
this purpose may be easily had by sowing the seeds directly they 
ripen and growing the plants in a cool frame. They begin flowering 
early in December, continuing through the summer months. 
I find the seedlings are variable, some having one others two or 
more petals above the usual number, which in time, with careful 
selection, will no doubt become double. It grows from 6 to 8 or 10 
inches high, the leaves oval, margins crenated, and the whole densely 
covered with stiff hairs. The flowerstalks are leafy, much-branched, 
and the bright yellow flowers numerous. It is a native of the 
Himalayas, about 7000 feet high, and although perennial gives more 
satisfaction grown as an annual. 
Bulbs.— Just now the spring Crocuses are flowering freely and 
extremely pretty ; they are peeping from among the grass in company 
with the pearly Snowdrops and Winter Aconite. C. Imperati and 
C. versicolor seem to be the most plentiful, large, and beautifully 
pencilled or feathered. C. Susianus, perhaps better known as Cloth 
