September 18, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
263 
imagined in the Palm forests of the tropics. The ferneries appear to 
have been to a great extent remodelled, and certainly improved ; the 
Filmy Ferns, of which there is a great collection, having found a loca¬ 
tion exactly suited to their requirements in a narrow case along the north 
side of one of the w'alls of the house. Among the. aquatics the Victoria 
regia is flowering periodically, and the indescribably rich blue Nymphaja 
zanzibarensis should be seen by all, for it is truly magnificent. In the 
herbaceous grounds the Helianthuses are very gay, one of the most distinct 
and attractive being H. cucumerifolius ; and the Michaelmas Daisies, all 
the species correctly named, will be daily more interesting. The rockery 
should be seen. Instead of being almost new it is beginning to look 
old, and is one of the features of the garden ; while growing in all its 
native grace Cyclamen hederaefolium, clustering among the grass, is 
charming. Garden-loving visitors who take advantage of the autumn 
excursions to the Health Exhibition should, if possible, reserve a few 
hours for Kew, and they will not be disappointed. 
- Begonia socotrana. —Not many persons seem to know that 
the rootstock of this species must be broken up into its component parts 
before being started into growth. Each piece will make a plant, and if 
not separated the pieces together make only a starved mass. This is the 
easiest of all Begonias to increase, and now is the time for potting and 
starting it into growth. Each piece requires a separate pot, light rich 
soil, and good drainage. There is no other species at all like this. The 
rootstock alone is sufficient upon which to base a distinct section ; and 
besides, this kind is one of the most beautiful and, it must be said too, 
one of the most useful, for it blooms in December and the winter 
season. Attention should be given to this fine plant at once. 
- ViTEX Negundo VAR. INCISA. —Autumn-flowering shrubs are 
by no means common, so that it is not unimportant to notice this one, 
which is possessed of very much intrinsic merit. It is extremely rare, 
and, unfortunately, not perhaps very easy to obtain, as it belongs to a 
class which of latter years has not been sufficiently remunerative to 
nurserymen. It is of that moderate vigour which so many delight to 
find in plants not exceeding 4 or 5 feet in height. The habit is bushy^ 
leaves digitate, each leaflet coarsely serrated, and every branch terminates 
in a panicle of small lavender-coloured flowers, which last through 
several weeks of August and September, and now in the middle of the 
latter month it is in very good condition. It is a native of China, and 
is perfectly hardy. The specimen which elicits our observation has 
grown for many years in the Cambridge Botanic Garden. 
- Hydrangea quercivolia. — This is another summer and 
autumn-flowering shrub, very handsome and effective both in flower and 
foliage. It is extremely good as an isolated lawn specimen, where it 
must attract notice on account of its distinctive character. It grows 
about 4 feet high, branches freely, and bears large leaves deeply lobed 
and sinuated ; the flowers are white, and appear from June to September. 
This is by far the finest of the North American Hydrangeas. It comes 
from Florida, and is perfectly hardy. 
- Passiflora fchtida.— Though the flowers of this species are 
not showy there is much beauty in them, and on account of one feature 
which we may call remarkable they are highly attractive. This feature 
belongs to the involucel—those bracts situated directly beneath the 
calyx. There are three of them, each one much divided and subdivided 
into slender divisions, and the ultimate divisions terminate in a gland 
which glistens with copious secretion just like Drosera. This is the 
curiosity ; but as the three parts of the involucel curve slightly over the 
pure white corolla, inside of which there is a beautiful flesh-tinted 
corona, the whole can only be described as lovely. Unfortunately, 
these flowers are of short duration. The involucel, however, enlarges 
and persists for some time, enclosing the egg-shaped fruit. The flowers 
are very numerous but not large. The species is widely spread over the 
tropics, and the plant of which we speak in the Cambridge Botanic 
Garden was raised from seeds received from Mr. Thompson of Ipswich 
under the name of Passiflora pectinifera. 
LIFTING PEACH TREES. 
I THINK if “ Thinker ” had experience of Peach-tree growing in every 
part of the British Isles he would in some situations find it quite necessary 
to lift the trees annually, as soon after the fruit was gathered as possible. 
Here, in the south of Ireland, the rainfall is very great, and the atmo¬ 
sphere so much laden with moisture that it is not unusual for Plum trees 
to push roots in great numbers from the branches, which I have taken 
6 feet in length from the trees, and planted them and foimed youngsters. 
Peach trees here that are not lifted in autumn seldom lose their leaves 
until February, and sometimes we have both old and new leaves upon the 
trees at the same time, although the trees are planted in well-drained 
borders with the necessary calcareous and alkali matters. To all that are 
in such situations, I say. Lift the trees annually.—W. O., Fota, Co. Cork. 
GLADIOLUS J. C. BROTIIERSON. 
I WILL feel obliged for your opinion of the seedling Gladiolus forwarded. 
I have named it “ J. C. Brotherson.” It bloomed last year for the first 
time. I had two bulbs planted last spring. The spike sent is from the 
smaller bulb; the larger, as it bloomed earlier, being used for seeding pur¬ 
poses. Both plants are over 6 feet high. It was tbs same height last 
year. The plants are growing on a dry sunny border within .3 feet of a 
brick wall; the only attention they have had was the ground well dug 
and manured last winter, and they have had twice a good watering 
during the dry summer. Early in July the ground was mulched with 
manure. The flowers have not been shaded, but fully exposed to the sun. 
I have seen some fine stands of named flowers lately, but I do not think 
I have seen any individual flower more distinct than the one sent for 
your opinion. Last year, owing to a more moist season and growing in 
a cooler situation, both flowers and spike were larger. By-and-by I may 
send you a few notes how we have grown our seedling Gladioli. The seed 
was sown in spring, 1881; from that time the bulbs have never been 
dried. Nothing can be more healthy than the plants, which are as “ green 
as grass.” You will notice the thickness of the petals ; the flower stems 
are as thickly covered with bloom as a Black Alicante Grape.— Joseph 
Oliver, The Gardens, Eslington Park, Alnwick. 
[Both spike and flowers are splendid ; the latter large, smooth, and of 
remarkable texture. The colour is soft scarlet tinged with rose, with a 
clear white well-defined stripe down each segment, three-fourths of the 
lower division being pure white tipped with bright scarlet. We shall be 
glad to have the notes referred to.] 
SMALL FRUIT AND JUDGING. 
Once more “ J. E. W.” has plunged into the field of controversy. 
Surely he must be one of those persons who are most at home when differ¬ 
ing from others. Respecting winter Onions getting prizes amongst 
Onions sown in spring, I can vouch for the fact that there are growers in 
Kendal and district who know how to grow Onions to perfection ; and if 
they think fit to sow a packet of Tripoli along with somebody’s Excelsior 
during January or February in a frame or cool greenhouse, carefully 
transplant, cultivate well, afterwards bring them t > the exhibition hall 
staged with care and taste, what power have the judges to do otherwise 
than to give the prizes to them, if deserving? VVith regard to Grapes, 
Melons, Peaches, &c., being staged as “ small ” fruits, no wonder your 
good-humoured “ Thinker ” was a little inquisitive. He might be excused 
for thinking little of the gardeners’ experience who ventured to include 
any of them in such a class. I have on occasions exhibited in such a 
class, and with success, but had no doubt as to its true meaning, which, 
taken from the schedule, runs as follows ;—“ Collection of small fruits, 
six varieties, including red and white Gooseberries the latter clause, in 
my opinion, being sufficient to suggest that hardy fruit must be shown. 
I even went so far as to refrain from staging Early Rivers Plum to make 
up the collection. 
As regards the somewhat unusual way some of the collections of 
vegetables were staged, I would ask if judges were to blame in the matter ? 
They did what was best under the circumstances. Numerous little 
instances may be sought out when hard-and-fast rules are not adopted. I 
have exhibited now a few seasons at Kendal successfully, and no commit¬ 
tee can be more ready to accept any useful suggestion that is placed 
befere them. Your correspondent may by some means find pleasure in 
public controversy, but surely learning is to be bad without wrangling.— 
E. Burton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmoreland. 
[Our opinion is that all collections that contained Grapes, Melons, 
and fruit grown under glass in the class quoted ought to have been 
disqualified.] 
TIGRIDIAS. 
I AM at a loss to discover what object “ Specialist ” had in view when 
writing the article on Tigridias at page 234, as he decidedly states his 
intention of never departing from his present method of planting. With 
reference to the question of soil, I have never had the pleasure of 
growing Tigridias in very light sandy soil, and the nature of my employ¬ 
ment gives me a very intimate knowledge of the state of the weather m 
the months alluded to. However, if “ Specialist ” is willing to come to 
Swanley, either Mr. Cannell or myself will be very pleased to show him 
several thousands of Tigridias planted in the manner stated by me, and 
he can then judge for himself of their condition. For the remark as to 
the hardiness of T. Herbeiti I am grateful, and hope soon to test its 
accuracy. As I did not attempt to give any directions for the pot 
culture of these plants, I will allow “ Specialist ” to have the monopoly 
of his extended drain pipes.— G. Guthrie. 
White Cactus Dahlia Constance. — My experience with this 
Dahlia is much different from that of Mr, Welch. I consider it a very 
