January 11,1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 33 
doubled in nearly the same proportion. The last addition at least, 
if I mistake not, are worked chiefly on the seedling Briar. With his 
staff of a woman and a boy Mr. Gray has his work provided. The 
Roses of Eastferry are not by any means its only attractions, and 
the extreme conrtesy of its master to a comparative stranger demands 
this acknowledgment at his hands. 
And I saw Drumlanrig. To that wonderful place I may after¬ 
wards have the temerity to revert. Meanwhile your correspondent 
“ P. U.” recalls a visit to another place, the Ormeau Park, Belfast. 
It is seldom in my experience that we see beds of Verbenas now : 
there this season they were beautiful, and these were all from seed. 
I considered several of them well worth preserving; but the Curator, 
Mr. Dickson, informed me that he never fails to secure as good, and 
he has nearly discarded them. I found that he also relied for a white 
and a blue Viola upon two of his own raising. They were, perhaps, 
the most effective I have seen, the white being especially fine, and 
both contrasted very favourably with others of their colour. The 
Park is a fine one, and should not be omitted by visitors to Belfast. 
I will next beg leave to notice one or two of our nurseries in the 
north, some of which were new to me, and may be interesting to 
your readers.— A Northern Amateur. 
ALPINE AND BORDER FAVOURITES. 
ERIGERONS. 
E. aurantiacus .—This is one of Dr. Regel’s introductions from 
Eastern Asia, having but recently found its way into our gardens. 
It is a striking little plant, and quite hardy. The flowers are soli¬ 
tary, on stalks from 4 to 9 inches high, bright orange-red ; in fact, 
just the same colour as those of the old Hawkweed (Hieracium 
aurantiacum), but twice the size. This colour is scarce in the 
Erigerons, and it is on this account very desirable. It is a rock 
plant, enjoying a warm well-drained position, flowering early in 
, e .y. ear ’ an< ^ a ? a i n during the autumn. It is easily increased by 
division of the root, and the seedlings are readily raised in a cold 
frame ; thus stock may be quickly secured. 
E. pMladelphicus .—Although with flowers not so large as many 
of the others, this is one of the best, owing to its very floriferous 
habit. It flowers during the greater portion of the year, until 
checked by frost. It grows from 12 to 18 inches high, with loose 
cymes of pink flowers, being very pleasing. Mr. Wollev Dod re¬ 
gards this as one of the best border plants ; or it may be planted 
on the rockery. It increases rapidly, and is quite hardy. 
E. speciosus (Stenactis speciosa) is a much older inhabitant of 
our gardens, and is very useful, flowering during June, July, and 
August most freely, good masses having a very striking effect. As 
all lovers of these plants know, the flowers are about 2 inches 
across, with blue-purple rays and yellow disks—most useful and 
decorative. The width of the ray florets vary in different plants 
(the wider they are, of course, the better), consequently we some¬ 
times see a form called superba, which has wider rays, and is 
really better than the typical form. This grows from 18 to 
24 inches high ; in warm light soils it does not reach even the 
lesser height. 
E. alpinus grows from 6 to 9 inches high, with small light purple 
flowers. 
E. glabcllus is a pretty border or rock species growing about 
.9 inches high, producing freely purple flowers about the size of a 
shilling. 
E. mucronatus, generally known as Vittadenia triloba, is a 
pretty species, producing small Daisy-like flowers, white tinged 
with pink, in great abundance all through the late spring and 
summer months, until checked by frost. As a rock plant it is 
much to be desired, for, although not very showy, it is extremely 
pretty. 
AUBRIETIAS. 
Among the many Aubrietias now known perhaps none is more 
showy than A. Hendersoni. It is flowering very freely this autumn, 
the flowers being large, bright purple, and very freely produced. 
A. grseca superba is also an excellent variety, flowering very pro¬ 
fusely, but the colour is not so deep as that of the last. A. vio- 
lacea, anew kind, promises to be a very striking addition. I have 
just seen a few flowers, and they were deep violet-purple ; in fact, 
quite distinct from any known to me. If this character is con¬ 
stant it will certainly be a very valuable addition to our spring- 
flowering plants. 
MULE PINKS. 
The Mule Pinks (Dianthus hybridus) are very useful and showy 
plants, sadly too much neglected by our gardeners. The reason 
of this is difficult to understand, as they are very easily grown, 
and well repay in richly coloured flowers for any labour bestowed 
upon them. I should strongly urge all lovers of hardy flowers to 
secure a few and give them a trial. Among those known to 
myself as excellent varieties are the following :— 
Napoleon III .—Very floriferous and compact, producing deep 
crimson flowers about the size of a florin, very double and finely 
fringed, with a slight fragrance, on stiff slender stalks. It is a 
most valuable flower for bouquet work, the size and colour being 
especially suited for the purpose. It has a str#ng propensity to 
flower itself to death. Two batches of plants should be kept, 
one for flowering and the other for securing cuttings from, which 
root freely in a cold frame. 
Marie Pere .—Also a very free-flowering kind, with pure white 
double flowers about the same size as the last, produced in clusters, 
and it is a most persistent bloomer and highly serviceable. 
Miss Paterson is a very vigorous grower, producing large trusses 
of double crimson-pink flowers in abundance. 
Tom Thumb is a very dwarf kind with brilliant scarlet flowers 
on stiff erect stems and very pretty. We rarely see this variety, 
and yet it is one of the handsomest border plants. Others might 
be mentioned, but the above represent the shades of colour, and 
they possess good constitutions. They are readily increased by 
cuttings, which root freely under a handlight in a cold frame. 
CORONILLA IBERICA. 
This is a very showy and useful plant, and which one but rarely 
sees, although it has been known as an inhabitant of our gardens 
for a considerable period. It is dwarf and creeping, with tri¬ 
foliate leaves, and numerous racemes of bright golden-yellow 
flowers produced throughout the summer months up to the present 
time. I know of no place where it thrives so well as at the 
Rev. Ewbank’s of Ryde ; but of course soil and climate there are 
remarkable. 
C. raria is a first-rate plant where it can enjoy unlimited 
room, as it rambles over a large space of ground, producing an 
immense quantity of flowers throughout the spring and summer 
months, of a delicate pink and white colour. If planted in a hot 
and dry position on the rockery it does not ramble so much, and 
the colour of the flowers is rather deeper. It is a useful plant for 
the wild garden or for positions where space is no object.—X. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
January 9th. 
Primulas and Cyclamens were shown in strong force by several 
firms, and indeed these plants formed the chief portion of the display. 
Both Committees were largely represented, but their duties were 
light. 
Fruit Committee. —Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair, and the 
following members were present:—Messrs. Phillip Crowley, John 
Barnett, Arthur W. Sutton, J. Woodbridge, R. D. Blackmore, H. 
Howcroft, G. Bunyard, G. Goldsmith, Sidney Ford, Z. Stevens, John 
E. Lane, J. Willard, and Harrison Weir. Fine samples of Apple 
Calville Blanche were shown by Mr. Z. Stevens, The Gardens, Trent- 
ham Hall, Staffordshire ; they had been grown in pots in an orchard 
house. The Apples were large and of a fine clear yellow colour. A 
cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. Stevens also sent samples 
of Duke of Buccleuch, and Black Hamburgh, and Madresfield Court 
Grapes, the first-named being in fine condition. Mr. Sidney Ford, 
Leonardslee, Horsham, was awarded a vote of thanks for samples of 
Gros Colman from Vines grafted on Black Prince and Alicante, also 
of Mrs. Pince on Royal Vineyard, and Alicante on Raisin de Calabre. 
Some good fruits of Pear Josephine de Malines were also sent. 
Messrs. Downie & Laird and Mr. Dunn of Dalkeith sent samples of 
John Downie Grape, but they were found to be different, and further 
specimens were desired. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. J. 
Cauchoix, Orleans, France, for fine fruits of Doyenn6 d’Hiver 
(Easter Beurrh). The six fruits weighed 5 lbs. 7 ozs. 
A cultural commendation was awarded to Mr. G. R. Allis, gardener 
to J. Shuttleworth, Esq., Old Warden, Biggleswade, for three fine 
bunches of Black Alicante Grapes in good condition and well 
coloured, weighing about 8 lbs. A cultural commendation was 
awarded to Mr. Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, 
for two handsome fruits of Lord Carrington Pine Apple, large anp 
well ripened. Several varieties of Red Celery were sent from Chis¬ 
wick, comprising Williams’ Matchless, Big Ben, and Winchester. 
Floral Committee. —G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair. The 
following members were present:—Rev. G. Henslow, and Messrs. 
T. Moore, J. Laing, W. Bealby, Shirley Hibberd, J. Douglas, H. N. 
Ridley, G. Duffield, W. B. Kellock, H. Cannell, J. Dominy, J. Hudson, 
C. Green, J. James, H. Ballantine, and J. Wills. A silver medal was 
awarded to Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a collection of 
exceedingly well-grown Cyclamens, fine vigorous specimens in 32 and 
24-size pots, the foliage strong and the flowers of great size with 
broad petals. White, crimson, purple, with rose and white, were 
admirably represented. Two plants of the new Cattleya labiata 
Percivaliana were shown in flower by Mr. Salter, gardener to J. 
Southgate, Esq., Selborne, Streatham, and Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper 
Holloway. The flowers are of moderate size, with pale purple sepals 
and petals, the lip very rich crimson streaked with deep orange in 
the throat, the markings being much more prominent mMr. Williams’ 
plant. Apparently the chief recommendation of the plant is the season 
at which it flowers. 
