410 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r Us; 17,1888. 
Laing ik Sons for Caladium Charlemagne, large, deep red; Comte de 
Germiny, red, spotted white ; and Clivia sulphurea, pale orange yellow; 
also for Clivia Orange Perfection and Gloxinia Matlame Bleu. To 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons for Tuberous Begonias, Lady Mary Fitz- 
william, double rose; Miss W. F. Bennett, double pale yellow; and 
Enchantress, double salmon. To Mr. J. H. Virgo for Myosotis dissitiflora 
grandiflora, and to Messrs. Barr & Son for Narcissus poeticus grandi- 
florus, and to Messrs. W. Paul & Son for Tea Rose Sappho, rosy salmon 
in the bud, becoming pale yellow when expanded ; and to Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, for Geum miniatum. 
Botanical certificates were awarded to Mr. J. Cypher, for Lmlia pur- 
purata Arch Duchess, with blush sepals and petals and deep crimson 
lip ; and L. purpurata nobilis, with broad white petals and a large 
rich crimson lip. 
AUSTKALIAN APPLES. 
By this post I have sent you sample of five Apples plucked on or 
about 1st February last from my garden, and I shall be glad to hear in 
what condition they reach you. They are aU of the usual size grown 
here except Ribston Pippin and Jonathan ; most of the Ribston Pippins 
this year were from 9 to 12 inches in circumference. Home Rule is a 
fine keeping Apple, good for dessert and culinary purposes ; it generally 
has a nice red cheek. Jonathan is generally one-third larger, and is 
bright red all over, a grand keeper, and good for •ny purpose. Burton’s 
Pippin and Royal Russet are good market Apples, and no doubt are well 
known to you. American Ajrples are largely grown here and do well. 
If these Apples arrive in good order I shall be glad at any time to send 
you a sample case of the best varieties grown here, including many 
colonial-raised kinds. At present I devote only 10 acres to fruit 
culture.— John Patterson, Calrossy, N.S. IF., March 22nd, 1888. 
[We are obliged to our correspondent for his letter and samples, but 
sorry to say that only one fruit, Jonathan, arrived in a really sound 
state. Home Rule was fresh in appearance, but when cut proved dis¬ 
coloured and “ fuzzy.” Jonathan, beautiful dark red, with a bloom 
upon it like Red Astrachan, flesh yellow, remarkably juicy, with a very 
rich flavour unlike an Apple, and the aroma a mixture of rose and 
vanilla. Home Rule, a handsome Apple, like Golden Noble and Stirling 
Castle, the first being 13 inches in circumference.] 
THE LATE MK. JOHN SMITH. 
Many horticulturists will learn with much regret that Mr. John 
Smith, the second ex-curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew, died on Friday 
last after a fortnight’s illness at his residence, 12, Hamilton Terrace, St. 
Margaret's, Twickenham. It will be remembered that Mr. Smith re¬ 
signed his post at Kew two years ago in consequence of ill health, which 
had been caused to a great extent by a succession of severe domestic 
afflictions, and it is somewhat strenge that he has survived his pre¬ 
decessor so short time, whose official career was marked by similar 
family troubles. Mr. Smith was born in Roxburghshire, and commenced 
his gardening career in 1841 by being apprenticed to Mr. C. Pillans, 
gardener to the Duke of Roxburgh, Floors Castle, Kelso. During the 
three years spent in this garden, which was then one of the most noted 
in Scotland for the skilful practice there displayed, he laid a good 
foundation for his after experience. At the end of that period Mr. 
Smith proceeded to Alnwick Castle Gardens, and he remained in the 
service of the Duke of Northumberland for twenty years. He worked 
at Alnwick Castle in a subordinate position until 1855, but the time so 
spent was most valuable in results, for by his assiduity and perseverance 
he gained the esteem ol his noble employer, who assisted him in many 
ways. In the year named he went to Syon House Gai-dens to gain some 
knowledge of tropic.al fruit culture, returning to Alnwick in 1856, but 
was shortly afterwards appointed gardener on the Duke of Northumber¬ 
land’s estate, Werrington Park, Cornwall. Three years later—namely, 
in 1859—Mr. Ivison resigned the management of the Syon House Gar¬ 
dens, and Mr. J. Smith succeeded him. In 1864 the curatorship of Kew 
became vacant, and the appointment was offered by Sir William Hooker 
to Mr. J. Smith, whose qualifications for the post were well known. 
From then until 1886 he creditably discharged the difficult duties con¬ 
nected with the office of curator, and was much respected for his 
courtesy and kindliness of manner. 
PLANTING HARDY PERENNIALS. 
The weather being now more favourable for the planting, in con¬ 
tinuing my selection of good plants I will first name— 
Lithogpermam prostratum .—An evergreen, shrubby alpine. This, 
when smothered in spring with brilliant blue flowers, is delightful in the 
extreme ; it is of easy culture, succeeding well in deep, rather moist 
sandy ]oam, and given a position sheltered from east and north-east 
winds it always appears happy. I attach more importance to position 
for this plant than to soil, for if planted in exposed parts of Ill-con¬ 
structed rockeries, as is usually the case, one-half of the plant is 
blackish brown. Never plant it on a cold clay, it only lingers out an 
existence for a time. 
Linum, peremw alluni .—This very graceful plant does well in 
ordinary loam, and the great succession of its silvery white blossoms 
throughout the summer meet with many admirers. 
Lohclia cardbialts and varieties .—Although I do not consider 
myself justified in including this among genuine hardy plants, it is so 
attractive and easily taken care of that I mention it by the way. It-is 
perfectly hardy in certain soils and in certain seasons, but not those that 
Britishers too frequently experience. I know few plants that can be 
employed with such grand effect as these. Take as an example a few 
Gannas in the centre of a circular bed, around which may be Chrysan¬ 
themum frutescens with the vermilion scarlet of the Lobelia pushing 
its spikes well above all ; or, again, Nicotiana affinis and the Lobelia 
blended make an excellent bed, and so on may we use the bronzy, 
crimson-leaved form called Queen Victoria, a most handsome plant 
when judiciously employed. When frosts arrive it may be lifted with a 
ball and cared for after the manner of Calceolarias, when the clumps 
will be grand for use again. 
Lychnis chalcedonisa .—The vivid scarlet heads of this fine perennial 
herbaceous plant have no equal among hardy plants. It is certainly one 
of the grandest of old-fashioned flowers. No plant is more easy of 
culture or more accommodating among hardy plants, while its glowing 
scarlet heads surpass anything I know. The type may readily be 
increased from seeds, and apart from this may be mentioned the double 
scarlet and double white ; the first of these has flowers the same telling 
colour as the type, while the latter has whitish flowers, which cannot by 
any stretch of imagination be regarded as pure. ■ 
Lychnis ditima fl. pi .—In most hardy plant lists this is given 
(though erroneously) as L. dioica fl. pi., a totally distinct plant. In 
May the above commences flowering, and continues for some time ; the 
flowers are of a rosy crimson hue, and produced in quantity. It is a 
very handsome free flowering perennial, adapted to almost any ordinary 
garden soil. If the spikes are taken off as they fade it will flower more 
or less throughout the summer. 
Lychnis Ilaageana.—A. very attractive and variable plant easily 
raised from seeds, the flowers ranging in colour from scarlet to milk 
white. It grows a foot or 15 inches high in good garden soil. 
Lychn is viscaria splendens plena .—This is without doubt one of tlie 
best perennials in cultivation, both from a decorative point and also 
from its free and compact growth and flowering. From a close tuft of 
narrow leaves spring numerous stems thickly set with lively rosy ral 
flowers, not unlike those of a double Stock, with the spikes produced ia 
great quantities from even small plants. Its usual height is atout 
15 inches, consequently it is most attractive. This one is especially 
suited for massing, and may be used with great advantage in large or 
small gardens. It increases readily by division, and spare plants, if 
divided and planted at once, would make fine tufts for flowering next 
year. A fairly rich soil is beneficial to its well being. 
Lychnis vespertina fl. pi. (Double White Campion).—This is tlie 
only pure double white Lychnis, and certainly a gem. It is sj nony- 
mous with L. dioica alba pi. It is impossible to praise this too highly. 
Those who may require one of the most profuse of all perennials shoukl 
get this if they do not already possess it. When well established it 
forms a perfect bush 3 feet high and as much through, and is not easily 
forgotten when seen in perfection. The blossoms individually are nearly 
2 inches across, pure white, fragrant, and may be had in abundance from 
June to the arrival of autumn frosts. I have prolonged the flowering 
to Christmas by lifting and potting in the end of September. Few 
hardy plants are more deserving of liberal culture than this, and none' 
repays so quickly and fully. Its comparative rarity may be traced to 
some little difficulty in propagating it, but as I have fully gone into 
this in the past pages of the Journal I will not detail it now. 
Lupinus arhoresevns .—As fashion runs just now the soft pleasing yel¬ 
low of this plant should find many admirers. As the specific name im¬ 
plies, it is tree-like in habit, and this fact gives rise to wonder why such 
an one, call it a tree, or flowering shrub, or what you may, is not more- 
extensively employed in shrubbery planting. Given a few years, a 
handsome bush 12 feet across might easily be formed, and this in flower 
would, I think, make a feature in any garden. The association, too, of 
its glaucous glistening foliage with that of more sombre hue would also 
be an advantage, while its racemes of yellow fragrant flowers would be 
very pleasing. It is an excellent plant for the large rockery, where 
plenty of space for free development may be afforded, and while I have 
never seen it employed in isolated positions on the lawn, I am of opinion 
that it might make a very handsome plant for the purpose. 
Lupinus polyphyllus vars .—The purple and white of these Lupins 
are very attractive, make bold effective plants when established, which 
they do quickly. They grow 3 4 feet high, and should be placed in the 
back row. These are herbaceous, the same remark applying to L. noot- 
katensis, a dwarf species, 18 inches high, and having dark blue spikes 
of flowers. 
Megaseas.—A distinct and attractive group of plants, with bold 
leathery leaves and panicles of variously coloured flowers. The hardiest 
are crassifolia, with rose-coloured flowers ; cordifolia purpurea, purple 
magenta ; and ligulata, having fine panicles of rose-coloured flowers. 
All are good for conservatory decoration, and the last named is used by 
Mr. Ingram at Belvoir in the spring garden with grand and telling 
effect. The several other species of this group, which is usually in¬ 
cluded with the Saxifrages, are more or less tender, and require either 
a frame or warm sheltered position to grow them well. 
Monarda didyma (Bergamot).—A most refreshing plant by re.ason 
of its agreeable fragrance when drawn through the hand on passing it. 
For forming lines or for massing this is very effective. Its average 
height is 2^ feet, erect, numerous whorls of bright scarlet flowers being 
produced in great numbers even from a single plant. Will grow in aay 
soil or situation.—J. H. E. 
