October 13, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
328 
Clematises. 
The Clematis is, perhaps, the most 
popular and valuable of all our hardy- 
climbers. The profusion of their 
blooming, richness of colouring, and 
comparatively easy cultivation have 
raised them to the front ranks for 
covering walls, bowers, trellises, arches, 
and pillars, to all of which places they 
are well adapted. Few can have any 
idea of their beauty till they have seen 
them well grown. They continue in 
bloom from May till October, pro¬ 
ducing abundance of flowers during 
that period ; and it is almost impossible 
to over-estimate the gorgeous effect 
these plants are capable of producing 
and maintaining during a very con¬ 
siderable period. I do not know of 
anything to surpass Clematis Jack- 
manni when planted in clumps or 
masses at intervals on the herbaceous 
borders. 
Colchicums. 
FIG. 44.— RHODODENDRON MULTICOLOR NEPTUNE. 
Colchicums are without doubt some 
of the most beautiful of all the hardy 
autumnal flowering bulbous plants. 
They are similar to the Crocus in form 
and habit, but the flowers are much larger and are produced in 
the autumn. When planted in clumps, large masses, or edgings 
to beds and borders they produce a very fine effect. 
one of Mr. Heal’s hybrids, but, like the type, will thrive best in a 
warmer temperature. When well known it will doubtless become a 
general favourite. 
and are most showy long after Dahlias and other autumn flowers 
are cut down by the frost. They are equally suitable for planting 
in lines where there is a background of green foliage, the latter 
being a most p'easing contrast to the orange-red of the Kniphofias. 
I have, however, never seen it to better advantage than when it is 
associated with Anemone japonica. The effect, when so employed, 
at this season of the year is really beautiful.— Geo. Parrant, 
Ashby St. Ledgers Lodge , near Rugby. 
RHODODENDRON MULTICOLOR NEPTUNE. 
This plant was exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on October 4th by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic 
Nursery, Chelsea, and a first-class certificate was awarded to it. The 
specimen shown was like a miniature standard, about 1 foot high, and 
bore seven clusters of rich scarlet flowers, as represented in the 
engraving (fig. 44). The flowers are about 1^ inch in diameter, and 
are most effective. This Rhododendron is a greenhouse variety, and 
SEASONABLE NOTES. 
Agapanthus umbellatuf. 
Agapantiius umbellatus, or the Blue African Lily as it is 
more often called, is such a well-known and popular plant that one 
hardly needs to make any remark whatever about it. Too much, 
however, can hardly be said in its favour, and no garden can be 
considered complete without it. The plants can be grown in large 
pots or tubs outside during the summer months, and are exceedingly 
useful for embellishing terraces, balconies, and steps. They are 
not quite hardy, and must be removed in the autumn, placing 
them where they will be protected from the frost, and during the 
winter they should be kept nearly dry. 
As soon as the frosts are over they may be again placed in their 
summer quarters. During the summer, and especially in dry 
weather, the plants can hardly be over watered, and liquid manure, 
if applied at intervals, would prove very beneficial to them, especi¬ 
ally when they are throwing up their flower spikes. The heads of 
clear blue flowers are produced in great profusion during the 
summer and autumn months, the stems rising to a height of from 
2 to 3 feet. One can imagine the 
beauty of such when associated with 
other well-known autumn flowers, 
although they require no “setting off ” 
to exhibit their remarkable beauty. We 
have some large plants in tubs here 
carrying twelve to fifteen spikes on a 
plant, and averaging from seventy to 
ninety flowers on a spike. 
Anemone japonica. 
Anemone japonica differs essentially from other species of this 
family of plants on account of its autumn-flowering habit. It is 
undoubtedly one of the best and most useful of our autumn 
blooming plants. The plants grow to a height of from 2 to 3 feet, 
and their flowers, which are produced in great profusion, are as much 
as 2 or 3 inches across. They will thrive in almost any situation, 
but if planted in good soil and given a favourable position much 
finer specimens can be produced. The flowers, which are borne on 
long footstalks, are most useful for cutting purposes, lasting a 
long time in water. 
Kniphofias. 
Kniphofias, or Tritomas as they are more commonly called, are 
very striking and ornamental autumn-flowering plants. They are, 
in fact, the most gorgeous of our outdoor plants, and for the wild 
garden, shrubbery, borders, or dotted about in sheltered places on 
the lawn, or planted at intervals along the carriage drive, few things 
are more effective during the autumn months. Their stately 
spikes of flame-coloured flowers rise to a height of from 3 to 4 feet, 
MICHAELMAS DAISIES. 
Many of the perennial Asters or Michaelmas Daisies have long 
been inmates of British gardens, but for many years their beauty 
and usefulness remained unrecognised and unappreciated. In this 
respect, however, they have only shared the fate of many other 
fine hardy flowers now being rescued from obscurity and neglect, 
and attaining to a height of popularity they never previously 
obtained. It is gratifying to see how much Michaelmas Daisies are 
admired and the great improvement that has been effected by their 
extended cultivation in gardens, arid by the introduction or raising 
j of new varieties. . . 
That this improvement in the way of introducing or raising new 
sorts has been productive of good results will be readily admitted 
by those who have grown Asters for many years. Here and 
there one might have seen a few good plants, but in most instances 
the Michaelmas Daisies were only represented by varieties of some¬ 
what ineffective colours, and in some cases even of ungainly habit. 
Now all this is being changed, and these useless varieties are being 
weeded out to give place to others of finer colour and more 
