September C, 1883. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
213 
light variety. 2 Lemonei. 1 Talma ; purplish blotches with grey 
ground.—B. 
[Our correspondent sends some excellent blooms of single 
Dahlias, large, rich and varied colours.] 
VINES AND DIPLADENIAS. 
An example of successful Grape culture under restricted 
conditions as regards the rooting medium was recently noticed in 
the gardens of Draycot House, Chippenham, and proves beyond 
doubt that extensive Vine borders are unnecessary when properly 
supplied with water. The house in question has done service as a 
vinery for many years, and is provided with an outside border, but 
the Grapes not being satisfactory, steps were taken to furnish the 
house with young Vines from an inside border. Instead of pre¬ 
paring an elaborate mixture, such as is generally adopted with 
these crops, some pure loam of good quality was obtained and 
deposited in an already existing narrow brick pit in the front of 
the house, after being provided with ample drainage. In this some 
young well prepared canes were planted, the old Vines being 
retained for supplying the crop until the young plants became 
well established, the older ones being well pruned to allow of good 
■space for the younger Vines to perfect a sufficiency of leafage. 
The young canes have been planted a little over two years, and 
have furnished the whole length of roof, and also produced some 
'beautifully finished samples of Grapes this season. Madresfield 
Court is represented by bunches weighing between 3 and 4 lbs., of 
•excellent colour and very fine berries, and the same remark applies 
to Black Hamburgh and other varieties. 
The growth made is vigorous and short-jointed, and shows a 
tendency to early ripening, this latter condition probably resulting 
from restriction of the roots, the depth of soil measuring not more 
than 14 inches, and about a yard in width. Such a small quantity* 
j of soil is not as a rule calculated of sufficient bulk to carry Vines 
over so long a period, and it may be added steps are being taken to 
make additions in this respect before another season commences. 
No doubt the secret of success lies in the matter of watering, Mr. 
Gibson being an advocate for abundant supplies at all seasons, 
j Liquid manure, too, is given unstintingly, and occasional dressings 
of Jensen's fish manure is considered important. Very great 
improvements are noticeable in the Muscat house ; plenty of bunches 
of exhibition quality are produced this year, while previous to 
Mr. Gibson taking charge of the gardens the Grapes then grown 
: were scarcely fitted for home consumption. 
In the stove house are some veiy fine seedling Dipladenias of 
the amabilis type. These have been raised and grown by Mr. Gibson, 
i and are the result of crosses between D. boliviensis and others of 
the Brearleyana and amabilis section, and constitute a very interest- 
1 ing collection. The blooms vary in colour from blush white 
through varying shades of pink down to that nearly approaching 
the deep scarlet of D. Brearleyana. They widely differ in shape 
and in size, some being as large as D. amabilis, while others are 
only a trifle larger than the old and useful D. boliviensis. They 
are not treated to large pots, but the vigour with which they grow 
testify to the careful attention bestowed on them by the grower ; 
some of the shoots attain a length of from 12 feet to 18 feet. 
That they are heat-loving plants may be proved from the fact 
■of their being grown in a house which has not had any ventilation 
for the past two seasons, and shaded only with lime applied through 
a syringe. 
Seeing the ease attending their culture, it is unfortunate that 
such a beautiful class of plants should be so little grown, it 
being a noteworthy fact that in few gardens is their cultivation 
encouraged. Overwatering has been the cause of many failures 
with Dipladenias, and to guard against this an open compost con¬ 
sisting principally of peat and sand ; abundant drainage should also 
be provided. They require a position close to the glass, and insects 
must be carefully guarded against. When well grown there are 
no plants that demand greater admiration than Dipladenias, and 
their usefulness for decorative purposes demands for them a 
position equal to that of Orchids.—W. S. 
LITTONIA MODES TA. 
Nearly related to the well-known Gloriosa superba, this little plant 
is yet quite distinct enough to take generic rank, and though of an un¬ 
assuming character as its name indicates, it is of graceful habit, and the 
freely produced flowers are brightly blurred. Littonia modesta is a 
native of Natal, where it was found by Mr. John Sanderson (together 
with many other novelties, including one named in his honour, Sander- 
sonia aurantiaca) during a journey in 1851 from Port Natal to Magalis- 
berg. Most of the plants so found were transferred to the Natal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Garden, then under the charge of Mr. M-Ken. Some 
of these were forwarded to Kew, and amongst them the Littonia, which 
produced its flowers in April, 1853, “ three months after the tubers were 
planted.” Visitors to these gardens may have occasionally seen the 
plant in flower since, but it has rarely been exhibited, and this rendered 
the specimen shown recently the more interesting. 
In habit it is much like the Gloriosa, having tapering leaves termi¬ 
nating in a tendril-like point, which aids it in climbing stems or twigs. 
The flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves, are drooping, and bright 
orange coloured. The tubers are of peculiar shape, brownish, and have 
Flffl. 23.—LITTONIA MODESTA. 
been compared to a Spanish Chestnut, and the manner of growth is very 
curious. It has been grown in a stove and in cooler quarters, an inter¬ 
mediate temperature and sandy soil seeming to suit it best. 
LONDON’S LESSER OPEN SPACES—THEIR 
TREES AND PLANTS. 
NEW SERIES.—No. 9. 
In this autumn of 1888 the trees and shrubs round London, if 
we take them generally, are fresher and greener than they usually 
look. Partly this is, no doubt, to be attributed to the abundant 
rainfall, which has kept their foliage free from deposits of smoke 
and dust ; also it is partly due, I think, to the fact that the cold¬ 
ness of last spring checked the opening of their buds, so that they 
did not put out an early and premature show of leaves, which have 
to come off before the full crop appears, and the result of which is 
to weaken the growth. It is very observable that in many parts 
of London where the ground has been much cut up by the opera- 
