April 23, 1888, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
339 
that they are regaining their original popularity is weleoine news. To 
insure success with these secure strong vigorous plants from the open 
ground, and free from disease, carefully avoiding those that are crippled 
in jxits, and which have been coddled in heated structures. The strains 
of these flowers are so generally goo<l that many of the seedlings arc 
quite equal to the naraeci varieties, and for bonier decoration. 
Jheris corifolla (Perennial Candytuft).—A plant of shrubby habit, 
dwarf and bushy, covered in May and June with white flowers. Very 
attractive for rockery or border. 
Irh gfirmanica .—The genus Iris contrib des a wealth of beauty 
both as regards diversity of colour, form, and time of flowering that 
cannot be equalled among perennials. In the grou,i above named we 
have many superb plants, in colours varying from pure white and white 
suffused with the most delicate tint of satiny blue, to primrose yellow 
chrome, lavender, mauve, purple, dark blue, lilac, white with violet 
pencilling, and a host of other intermediate shades which almost defy 
description. All are perfectly hardy and robust, and delight in any 
fairly good soil, many being especially .suited for towns and smoky 
districts ; they flower in May, June, and .luly. Those who have never 
seen a choice collection can form but little idea of their great beauty, 
and should make a point of visiting some of the nurseries where these 
are grown extensively, and judge for themselves. Either in the border 
or for cutting they are most mseful. If cut when the first flower 
expands and placed in water every blossom upon the spike will perfect 
itself, which is much in their favour, especially when this occupies some 
eight or ten days from the first bloom to the last. It is interesting to 
watch them develope and note the varying shades of their flowers. 
Inula glanduloga .—I consider this all that could be desired in habit, 
vigour, and free flowering qualities. It is a true herbaceous perennial, 
flowering in midsummer. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, thickly set 
with short hairs, and form a compact tuft close upon the ground. 
The flowers are pure gold, anil are composed of numerous thread-tike 
florets, which give the pi int an extremely pleasing appearance. To give 
the reader a clearer idea of its beauty and grace, I cannot do better than 
compare its flowers to a single Cnry.santhemum variety with blooms 
about 4 inches across. No collection of hardy plants can be complete 
without this. It prefers a strong loamy soil, and was introduced from 
the Caucasian and Georgian Alps in the early part of this century. 
LatUyrux latifolius and allms (Everlasting Pea).—These are among 
our oldest acquaintances, forming huge bushes in country gardens where 
they have stooil for years, annually to be covered with flowers which 
are very serviceable for cutting purposes. The pure whitp variety is espe¬ 
cially serviceable for this purpose, and is a by no means common plant. 
Usually it is seen supported by a few rough stakes or tied to a trellis, 
while it is perhaps most effective planted on the large rockery anil 
allowed to trail at will. Thus placed and overhanging a huge boulder it 
produces an effect almost unique, and gives it a more natural appear¬ 
ance. . 
liliumn .—It is my intention at this ti.ne only to advance a word or 
two of caution respecting these. It is not a time to be planting them ; 
this should be done in early autumn, and those who plant Lilies now, 
unless they are established in pots, will hardly expect them to do much 
good. Protect Lilies from spring frosts. All the forms of L. speciosum, 
longiflorum, and others are now several inches through the ground, and 
frosts will do them much harm unless they are protected in some way. 
This is easily accomplished when planted in clumps by placing a few 
boughs round them, or if in a bed a light awning or net will give them 
the required protection if placed on each evening. 
Llatris. —.4. singularly interesting group of herbaceous perennials 
from North America. The several species are all of compact habit, 
and produce erect stiff spikes of rosy purple, purple, or pale purple 
flowers during summer and autumn. Any light loamy soil will grow 
them perfectly, and it may be remarke 1 that they were apparently 
unaffected by the great drought of the past three summers. Bees are 
very fond of their flowere. All are perfectly hanly. Another pecu¬ 
liarity is they commence flowering from the top of the spike and con¬ 
tinue flowering downwards. In most plants the reverse is the rule. 
L. elegans, pycnostachya, and odoratissima are perhaps the lest of this 
family. - J. H. E. 
(To be continued.) 
CYCLAMENS AT RIPON. 
The best grown Cyclamens that I have seen of late years are grown 
by Mr. Wilson in Dr. Fremantle's garden. The Deanery, llipon. Some 
are grown in 6-inch pots and others in 4-inch pots, the number and size 
of the blooms and corms being remarkable. I counted as many as 
100 blooms on a plant in a 6-inch pot, and of a size and substance not 
often seen, at least in this neighbourhood. I think his practice differs 
somewhat from that adopted by most people, for after flowering he cuts 
off all the old foliage, gives them a fortnight’s rest, then shakes out 
the plants and repots t’nem. They are placed in a Melon or other pit 
where there is a good bottom heat until well rooted, and are then trans¬ 
ferred to a shelf in a cool vinery near the glass, where they remain until 
they again come into flower. 
The compost employed is one part each of loam, peat, leaf soil, and 
well decomposed cow manure, well mixed, and the plants are potted 
firmly. The result is a credit to the cultivator, plenty of the flowers are 
from to 2 inches in depth, and with stout stems.—K., Bixha^dun. 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultueal Society held 
on Tuesday last, Rev. W. Wilks, Secretary, in the cha r, 106 candidates 
were duly elected Fellows of the Society. 
- Ih answer to many inquiries from home and foreign corre¬ 
spondents, we have pleasure in announcing that Dr. Hogg has practi¬ 
cally recovered from his indisposition while in Ghent. 
- In connection with the International Exhibition at 
Brussels, which will be opened in May this year, and continue until 
October, a series of horticultural shows will be held, of which a compre¬ 
hensive schedule has just been issued. From May 5th to October 31st 
there will be a permanent exhibition of trees, shrubs, and flower garden 
plants in the grounds. On July 1st and 2nd an exhibition of cut 
Roses will take place ; but the principal exhibition will be that fixed for 
August, 19th to 23rd, when 134 classes are proviied with nearly 270 
gold, silver-gilt, and silver medals as prizes. Sections will be devoted 
to new plants, Ferns, Cycads, Palms, Aroids, Bromeliads, Orchids, and 
numerous other plants ; there are also sections for bouquets and floral 
decorations and fruit. An exhibition of fruit, vegetables and Dahlias 
will be held on September 30th and October Ist, and in addition from 
August 11th to 23rd there will be an international agricultural 
Exhibition. 
- Another of the older British horticulturists has joined the 
majority—namely, Mr. Thomas Cripps, who died on the 17th inst. in 
his seventy-ninth year. Mr. Cripps founded the firm of Cripps & Son, 
Tunbridge Wells, more than half a century ago, and steadily developed 
ai'laige business, the nursery having been noted chiefly in recent years 
for Clematises, shrubs, and trees. The first Fuchsia with white sepals— 
Venus victrix—was sent out from this nursery in 1842 at a guinea per 
plant. It was purchased from the raiser, Mr. Gulliver, gardener to the 
Rev. S. Marriott, Horsmonden, Kent, and was believed to have been 
obtained from Fuchsia gracilis, which it resembled in foliage. The 
variety is still included in some nurserymen’s lists, but is rarely seen in 
garden.s, though very distinct. 
- The Weather. —‘‘B. D.,” writing from Scotland, says:— 
“ The first half of the week ending 23rd inst. was very showery, with 
a high temperature and little sunshine. On the 19th, after midday, 
a sharp thunderstorm occurred in South Perthshire. A fall of the 
thermometer immediately followed, and with a return of piercing 
N. and N.E. winds, the; weather has since been bitterly cold.” In the 
south the weather has been very dull, with frequent heavy rain— a 
very unpleasant change from the previous week. 
-Referring to Writing on and Cleansing Zinc Labels, a 
correspondent, “ F. C. S.,” remarks :—“ Chloroplatinic acid is good, but 
it is not always easy to obtain platinum. Copper salts (e.y., the sul¬ 
phate) do well if the label be previously washed in a dilute solution of 
acid, as by this means a chemically clean surface is obtained. I use a 
solution of about one part of hydrochloric acid to ten of water. I write 
this to suggest the advantage gained by cleaning the label, which should 
subsequently be washed in water.” 
- In a shady part of the Vanda house at Burford Lodge there is a 
very fine specimen of the Lattice-leaf Plant (Ouvirandra 
FENESTRALIS). It is grown in .a tub filled with clear water, and an 
occasional drip at regular intervals from a vessel above is sufficient to 
keep the water disturbed, ivhich seems quite necessary to grow this 
interesting plant. Some of the leaves measure 15 inches in length 
without the stalk, and in width 5^ inches. Many seedlings are 
springing up. 
_ Glazed Flower Pots. —We have received from the Cum¬ 
nock Pottery Company, Cumnock, N.B., samples of the glazed flower 
pots prepared by them, and which were highly commended by our 
corre-spondent “ Dum Spiro Spero ” on page 27 (January 12th) this 
year. They arc thoroughly well made, of various sizes, the outer 
