32il 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r April 19 188». 
Aqiiilegias in many varietien, all very beautiful ami pleasing. The 
best are coerulea, blue and white; californica, scarlet and yellow, 
3 feet; chrj'santha, golden yellow, 3 feet, one of the best ; glandulo.sa, 
blue and white, a very telling plant, 1 foot high, and others. 
Armerias, or Thrifts, are a very interesting group. The best are 
cephalotes rubra, alpina grandii'ora, and plantaginea. The flowers are 
produced from grassy tufts of leaves on erect stems, from 1 foot to 
IJ foot high, terminating with globose heads, thriving in any ordinary 
soil, and revelling near the sea coast. 
Arnebia echioides is one of the gems among hardy plants that no 
garden should be without ; it flowers continuously from May to Sep¬ 
tember, grows about 1 foot high, and produces in endless quantity 
sulphur and yellow flowers, on which arc some black spots, that dis¬ 
appear when the blossom has been e.xpandcd for a day or two, perfectly 
hardy, and succeeding well in any rich light loamy soil. 
Asters or Michaelmas Daisies are 'ery serviceable throughout summer 
and autumn. Very useful for cutting for harvest festivals, church de¬ 
coration and the like. A few of the best are longifolius formosus, 
pinkish rose ; ericoides, white, very elegant; bessarabicus, fine blue ; 
novas-angliffi, magenta ; novic-anglire rubra, red ; la3vis, rich blue ; 
lucidus, clear lavender blue. There are many more, but these are all. 
good and showy. 
Campanulas or Bell Flowers constitute a very important group, and 
no garden should be without a dozen of the best, such as carpatica and 
its variety alba, glomerata s.eciosa, persicifolia alba coronata, and 
nersicifolia alba plena, grandis, and erandis alba, Hosti, nobilis, pulla, 
pumila, latifolia and Van Houttei. These would make a good assortment 
to commence with, all being good and show'y. 
Perennial Cornflowei's, Centaurea montana, and varieties.—All of this 
group are daily becoming more popular ; they are extremely useful and 
free flowering, specially attractive as cut flowers, and have the addi¬ 
tional advantage of flowering twice in the same year, and being of an 
average height of 2 feet are suited to large or small gardens. The colours 
vary from white to pink, bright red, Iflue, and sulphur. They com¬ 
mence flowering in June. If the old stems are cut away when this 
flowering is completed they will produce a second crop in the late 
summer months quite equal to the first. In the case of old clumps 
divide and replant. They do much better if watering be attended to 
till re-established. 
Chelone barbata coccinea, a brilliant perennial, with spikes of scarlet 
Pentstemon-like flowers, 3 feet high ; the leaves are of a bright glossy 
green produced in spreading tufts. 
Chrysanthemum maximum, showy perennial Marguerite ; flowers 
pure white, 3 inches across, plant 2 feet high, very free flowering. 
Coreopsis lanceolata. —The true type of this is comparatively scarce, 
that usually sold for it being, no doubt, seedling forms of C. auriculata. 
The true plant has been beautifully figured in thQ Journal of Ilortioul- 
ture, and both in form and general appearances far surpasses any other 
of its tribe ; the colour is bright golden, height 2 feet, and flowers in 
the wildest profusion. It may be distinguished when not in flower by 
its slightly procumbent growth and distinctly lance-shaped leaves. 
That usually sold under the name has compact tufts of leaves, very 
much in the way of (Enothera serotina or Youngi. 
Delphiniums.—These are all handsome plants of easy culture ; their 
noble spikes are always admired, and when established no plants have a 
more majestic bearing. F'or a.ssociation with Hollyhocks in the back 
row of the herbaceous border these are most fitting. , Many fine forms 
may be raised from seeds, and if a good strain of the latter is obtainable 
it will prove most interesting. The best named varieties are really thus 
obtained, so that by careful selection a good assortment may soon be had. 
When planted in a deep rich loam and left for several years their 
massHe flowering .spikes are handsome in the extreme. 
Dictamnus Fraxinella andalbus are old-fa.shioned perennials, growing 
2,j feet high, forming neat bushes, and producing handsome spikes of 
red and white flowers. Vtry attractive border pLants. 
Doronicum (Leopard's Bane).—Nothing is more effective among 
spring flowers than those expanding their flowers in April and continuing 
tor weeks in succession. Their flowers may be described .as related to 
the Marguerit®, .and of a bright golden, splendidly adapted for cutting 
or for pot culture for cool conservatory. The best are D. austriacum 
(2 feet high), and D. pl.ant<agineum excelsum (3 feet) ; the flowers of 
the last named are about 3 inches across ; it is very handsome, though 
not so freely flowered .as the first-named kind, nor yet so early. Both 
are grand for the border. 
Echinacea (Rudbeckia) purpurea is one of the most distinct plants 
among perennials ; the colour can hardly be called purple, as would be 
gathered from its specific name ; it is rather a reddish claret with a 
magenta shade, and compares with no other plant of my acquaintance 
in this respect. At 100 yards distant this plant attracts attention ; the 
effect is excellent when grouped, it flowers in August and September ; 
flower bracts 3 inches an l more across, produced in quick succession. 
The plant has a vigorous habit, and may be classed among the hand¬ 
somest of all hardy herbaceous plants. Bees are extremely fond of it. 
As it is somewhat slow of increase at the root, endeavours should be 
made to secure seeds, and thus add to the existing stock. April and 
May is an excellent time to divide this plant, and by reason of its 
woody rootstock I find it a good plan to wash away all the soil previous 
to dividing them. 
Erigeron speciosum, an attractive border perennial, growing 2| feet 
high, the flowers are of a bluish mauve, about 2 inches across, and borne 
in great profusion throughout summer and autumn ; it is excellent in a 
cut state, lasting fully a fortnight, quite fresh, and invaluable. 
Eryngium amethystinum.—This singularly beautiful plant is rapidly 
increasing in popularity. Few plants are more picturesque than this 
when in flower. It attains 3 feet high, h.aving somewhat spiny leaves 
and cone-shaped flower heads of an amethystine blue, the same colour 
pervading the stems and bracts. The plant has a much-forked in¬ 
florescence, generally rigid ; and when by hot sunshine it is all beautifully 
coloured it is effective in the extreme. Among cut flowers this lovely 
tint is quite unique. 
Gaillardias.—In this gi’oup we have all that the richest colours and 
brilliancy could suggest, such as are not found in any other genus. 
There are crimson, orange, .and gold to be found in happy combination 
in some flowers, intensified beyond description in many others, and 
toning down to clear primrose seifs in others ; indeed, from a single 
packet of seal hardly two flowers will be alike, while all are beautiful. 
The plants are easily managed, and succeed well in good ordinary garden 
soils.—J. H. E, 
(To be continued.) 
BIGNONIA TWEEDIANA. 
The genus Bignonia, of which over 200 species have been described 
by botanists, contributes several beautiful climbing plants to our col¬ 
lections both in stoves and conservatories. Their chief fault is one that 
is not too common in cultivated plants—namely, an excessive luxuri¬ 
ance that can only be kept in due bounds by a liberal system of thin¬ 
ning or pruning. 'For largo conservatories they are, however, very useful, 
and produce their showy flowers in great abundance. An old but beau¬ 
tiful member of the genus, B. Tweediana, was shown at a recent meet¬ 
ing of the Royal Horticultural Society from the Pendell Court gardens, 
when a first-class certificate was awarded for it. A small branch loaded 
with its lar^e bright yellow Allamanda-like flowers, as shown at the 
meeting in question, is represented in fig. 42, which gives a good idea of 
its character. The flowers are 3 inches in diameter, with broad lobes, 
and tubers about the same length. The plant was introduced from 
Buenos Ayres by the Hon. W. F. Strangways in 1838, and gradually 
found its way into many of the larger collections of plants, but it is not 
very often seen at the present time. It thrives well planted out in a 
conservatory, a suitable compost consisting of fibrous loam, peat, or leaf 
soil and sand. 
GHENT INTERNATIONAL SHOW. 
April 15th to 22nd. 
Ghent, which is e.ssentially a great emporium of plants, is, during 
the period indicated, the great centre of interest in the horticultural 
world. From all the countries of Europe hortioulturists have congre¬ 
gated in the interesting old Flemish city ; many by invitation as jurors 
appointed to co-operate in awarding the honours at the great Show ; 
many in the capacity of visitors to inspect its treasures ; some as exhi¬ 
bitors, and all as friends to the object in view—the representation of 
horticulture on a broad basis and in its highest form. As friends, too, 
all who by their presence gave their adherence to that object have been 
received by the courteous and hospitable Belgian people, who are iden¬ 
tified with horticulture, commercially, or as patrons and supporters of 
it, as an element that knows no nationality, and which contributes 
powerfully to the sum of human happiness. 
The Ghent Quinquennial Exhibitions are, as the term implies, held 
every five years. There is no uncertainty about them, for they come when 
the time comes and are i)reparcd for accordingly. With such prepara¬ 
tion, and under an organisation that appears as stable as it is complete, 
great expectations were created and great results are achieved. As indi¬ 
cating the extent of the preparations for the Exhibition it maybe stated 
that the schedule embraces 370 classes, and nearly 800 medals are 
offered, about ninety of these being gold of 200 francs and 100 francs in 
value, the remaining medals, which are offered in the minor classes, and 
as first and second prizes in the more important competitions, being 
mddailles de vermeil (silver-gilt) and medailles d’argeut (silver). No 
money prizes appear to be granted exeept in one optional case, but 
objects of art equal or exceed in value the gold medals. Large gold 
medals are given by the King and Queen, the former for twenty-five 
specimen Palms, the latter for the largest and most meritorious 
collection of Orchids ; by the English Van Houtte Memorial 
Committee for new Azaleas and forced shrubs in honour of the 
illustrious man whose name will never die ; by the President and 
Secretary of the Society, the Comte de Kerchove de Denterghem, 
and Mr. Charles Leirens for collections of plants ; by the brothers 
De Smet, in remembrance of their father, the late active and genial 
M. Louis de Smet, for 60 Azaleas ; by the Members of the Council of Ad¬ 
ministration for 20 Imantophyllums ; by Baron Henri de Ranst de Ber- 
chem for 30 Cypripediums in memory of the Comte de Gomer ; and by the 
Federation of Belgian Horticultural Societies for forty gi'and specimen 
Azaleas, this prize consisting of a special gold medal and a work of art, 
or their value, 500 francs. The remaining prizes are offered by the Royal 
Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Ghent, supplemented by grants 
