July 8, 18S6. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
21 
would be obtaired from young plants put out in August with scarcely any 
more trouble, and < nly occupy the ground three or four months longer ; 
and in addition to this, as said bef< re, if they were forced early they will 
fruit well again in the autumn of the same season four or five months after 
planting. As regards obtaining runners from them the season they are 
forced, the sorts I have tried are of no use whatever even if the runners 
are left on them which they make in the houses. These never give satis¬ 
faction like those obtained from vigorous plants in the open ground.— 
W. H. Divers, Net ton Hall. 
LESCHENAULTIA BILOBA MAJOR. 
New Holland plants are not much in favour with cultivators at 
the pretent time, and many species that possess far more than ordinary 
attractions have been allowed to gradually disappear from gardens until 
they are almost lost. When popular taste changes nurserymen cannot 
long afford to pay attention to plants, however beautiful they may be, if 
they do not command a ready sale. So it is that the sotwooded quickly 
grown plants have in many establishments quite superseded the numerous 
natives of the Australian continent which delighted horticulturists 
twenty or thirty years ago. Plant-lovers are, however, beginning to 
Fig. 4.—Lesclienaultia biloba major. 
turn their attention once more to some of the old favourites, and many 
collections would be greatly enriched both in beauty and interest by the 
addition of a few hardwooded plauts. If they require more care to 
ensure success the cultivator is well repaid for his efforts, and the strict 
attention absolutely necessary is an excellent training for any young 
gardener, as the modern demand for rapidity in everything is apt to 
produce slovenliness in practical matters that would not have been tolerated 
in gardens in past years. 
A loDg list could be made of the plants that are worthy of re-intro¬ 
duction to gardens generally, but for the present we only wish to call 
special attention to the beautiful blue Leschenaultia, of which a spray is 
represented in fig. 4. The species has been known for over forty years, 
and was at one time frequently seen at shows where classes were provided 
for New Holland plants. Of late it has, however, been greatly neglected, 
and almost the only exhibitor has been Mr. W. Balchin of Brighton, who 
has on several occasions showed groups of small plants that were greatly 
admired. A few small specimens at the Royal Botanic Society’s second 
summer Show last month were particularly handsome, and from one of 
these our sketch was prepared. L. formosa is distinguisied by the bril¬ 
liant scarlet hue of its flowers, but L, biloba aud the variety major have 
much larger flowers, and of an exquisite blue tint that is alwajs appre¬ 
ciated because so scarce 
The plants succeed best in peat and sand with abundant drainage, 
and they require the temperature of a greenhouse. The grea'est care is 
needed in supplying the plants with water, and they should have a 
position on a shelf close to the glass, free exposure to l'gkt being 
important. 
Tue Rotal Botanic Society's Evening Fete, which was 
held on June 30th, proved very successful, upwards of 8000 visitors 
attending. It was one of the most satisfactory gatherings the Society 
has held, and the weather continuing fine induced them to hold another 
on Wednesday, the 7th inst,, which was al o well attended. 
- A correspondent writes in reference to Laxton’s Straw¬ 
berry Noble as follows “ It is a magnificent vaiiety ; as early as 
Black Prince and larger than any variety with which we are acquain'e'L 
The fruits are well formed, beautifully coloured, and highly attractive 
A large dish of fruits was shown at Liverpool, as well as a trayful < f 
clusters as cut from the plants to show the free fruiting character of the 
variety, and in both instances nolhing could be more satisfactory, it 
thoroughly deserved the certificate awarded, and we congratulate JI-. 
Laxton on what may well be termtd the crowniirg of Strawberry raising.’’ 
- A correspondent sends us schedules of the Darl Aston 
and Bilston Shows, the former to be held on August 9tb, and the 
latter on August 17th, and observes: “ It is astonishing to observe the 
interest that is taken in horticulture in the Black Country, and wo - 
derful to see what pitmen and others do on the sides of coal pi' , 
and in patches reclaimed from what looks to be impossible conditions 
as to cultivation.” 
- Arrangements have been made for the examination in the 
Indian Couit of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of certain Commer¬ 
cial Products, which are believed to be insufficiently known cr to be 
suitable for new purposes. Among the substances which will be ex¬ 
amined are fibres, silk and silk substitutes, drugs, tobacco, gums an l 
resins, minerals, oils, oil-seeds and perfumery, dye*, m rdants and pig¬ 
ments, timbers, tanning materials and leather, and food stuffs. Any 
visitors to the Exhibition who are interested in the subject will be per¬ 
mitted to attend these examinations of products, which will take place in 
the Commercial Room, attached to the Economic Court, where all further 
information may he obtained. Should the results of this examination 
ender such a course desirable, conferences of a formal character will pro¬ 
bably be held at a later date. 
- Messrs. Ant. Roozen & Son of Haarlem have sent u3 speci¬ 
mens of some new Double English Irises, which to those who admire 
double flowers will be of some interest, though for ourselves we prefer thi 
single. The doubling consists in the repetition of the series of the petal*, 
or standards as they are popularly called. The colours are very beautifn’, 
and of those which we think the most choice in this respect we note Hits 
Wilding, a lovely blue blotched with darker blue ; Penelope, white 
flaked and blotched with lilac ; Wilhelm, a fine purple ; Emperor, white 
flaked and mottled with delicate lilac ; Gertrude, white flaked will 
reddish lilac. Crown Prince is very much in the way of Miss Wilding, as 
also is Duke of Cornwall. Olympia is in the way of Penelope ; Leo XIII. 
is pale lavender streaked and bio eked with dark lilac ; Jeanette is white 
flaked with magenta ; Formosa has lavender falls and dark lilac standards ; 
and all are beautiful. 
- Among the leading ptizes offered at the Stoke-upon-Trent 
Show, which will be held on August 26tb, are two Veitch Memoria 
medals, one for a group of flowering and foliage plants arranged for eff ct 
in a space of 150 square feet; the other for a group of Orchids inter¬ 
mixed with Ferns in a space of 40 square feet. Money prizes of '.5 
accompany the medals. Mr. F. W. Pepper, 117, Loudon Road, i- me 
Secretary of the Society. 
