424 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 56, 1887, 
Helleborus Niger, L. ( Th i Black Hel'ebore, or Christmas Rose')— 
This plant, with numerous varieties and hybrids between it and other 
Bpecies, are now chiefly cultivated in gardens for ornamental purposes, the 
pure white flowers produced in midwinter being especially valued. At on; 
time the roots and rhizomes were considered important in medicine, but 
their use has been to a great extent discontinued, and what suppl es are 
required are obtained from the Continent. It is not difficult to cultivate, 
for, though a native of mountainous districts in several countries of Europe, 
it succeeds in almost any soil that is we'l drained. P anted in good loam, 
rather moist, or in shaded situa'ions, it erows luxu-iantly, forming thick 
knotted roots and abundant foliage. Where the soil is not too heavy, an 
annual dressing of light manure or leaf soil is beneficial to the growth, and 
is especially useful for encouraging young plants; but any rank manure 
■should be avoided, and the older plan's will be bett r without it if they are 
grown for their roots a’one. A good mulching of leaf soil is the safest ap¬ 
plication, but in orcinary girden soil even that can be dispensed with. 
The plants should be plac d in rows where a large number is grown, 
and they can then be lifted as required. Dividing the roots in autumn 
and replanting the divisions in a similar way, is the best mode of in¬ 
creasing it. 
Hydrastis canadensis, L. (Orange Root, Yellow Puccoon.)—A rather 
widely dist'ibuted plant in the United States, where the root is esteemed for 
its fonic and diuretic properties. It has a th’ck yellow root, fiom which 
arises a single stem and two leaves near the summit, and a greenish-white 
■flower. The plant thrives in a moist shaded p >sition, in 1 ght vegetable soil, 
and can be increased either by division or seeds. 
Hyoscyamus NIGER, L. (Henbane).—Though this is known in iwo forms, 
as an annual and biennial, the latter is that chiefly valued for medicinal 
■purposes, and is in some distric s extensively cultivated for its roots, leaves, 
or seeds, all of which possess powerful properties that have been found 
useful in medicine, but exceedingly din e ou3 in the hands of the inex¬ 
perienced. Owing to its possessing large fleshy roots, which strike deeply 
into the soil, the ground must be well dug and prepared for the p’ant, a 
dressing of o’d, not rank, manure, being advantageous. The seeds can be 
•sown in autumn, in drill’, and the seedlings thinned out freely the fol’owing 
■spring. Duiing this first season the roots and basal 1 aves are formed, bat 
in the following year the stems and flowers are produced, and it is then 
that the qualities fer which the plant is noted are most developed. By 
■sowing each season a succession can be had, so th it a certain quantity of 
<the crop can be taken every summer or autumn. 
Inula helenium, L. (Elecampane).—An easily grown member of the 
'Composite, the root of which is employed in medicine, and in the pre¬ 
paration of the liqueur Absinthe. It is a st'ongly growing perennial, a 
native of Europe, with long broadly lanceolate leaves, a stem 4 to 6 feet 
high, and bright yellow flowers. The roots are thick and fleshy, and were 
formerly used, like Salsafy and Scorzonera, as a vegetable or salading, but 
they are now only employed for medicinal purposes. The plant can be 
increased by seeds sown out of doors in autumn, in prepared beds, and the 
young seedlings transplanted the following year to their p rmanent quarters, 
allowing a foot to 18 inches between the plants, which should be placed in 
aows for convenience. A quicker way is to ob'aiu offsets from the roots 
wi h buds attiched, and iusert thf se in rows like cutting’, to be transplanted 
■when roots are formed and growth advancing. In tither case the roots can 
be lifted for use the second year, as they progress rapidly ia good loamy 
a ils. 
Latpa major, Gaeitner (Arctium Lappa, L., The Burdock).—In many 
places this is an excessively troublesome plant, increasing most rapidly, 
and difficult of eradication. It is a biennial, producing strong fleshy tap 
roots in any soil; and a decoction of these has been considered equd to 
Sarsaparilla. The growth is rapid, and the roots of seedling plants from 
seed sown in au'umn are fit for lif ing the following season. A Japanese 
plant, named Gobo, has received the title of Lappa edu is in gardens, but 
has been referred to Lappa major by recent wiiters, being r garded as only 
a cultural form cf that species. It has be n grown in Japan for a great 
many years in the same way that Salsafy and Scorzonera are here, the 
roots being used in a young state—namely, when they are about three 
•months old. 
Menthol. —Mentha arvensis must be propagat’d from root sets or 
cuttings, and care taken to watch the beds, to see that no seedlings take 
roots, for if they do they must be dug out, or the whole bed will be spoiled. 
A small-leaved Mint springs up, from seed it is supposed; hence the 
neceFsi'y for carefully watching the plants when cutting the stems fir 
distillation. When land can be afforded the rows ought to be 3 feet 
«3 inches apart. 
Pimpinella anisuh, L. (Auise or Aniseed).—An annual plant; chiefly 
grown in warm districts of Europe, and requiring, when cultivated here, a 
well-drained Boil in a sheltered position. The seeds can be sown in Aptil, 
and the crop obtained by August in favourable weather. It may be treated 
tin the matter of soil and general cultivation like the other umbelliferous 
plants grown for the same purpose, and of which Fennel and Carraway have 
■already been mentioned. 
Podophyllum pelt at um, L. (The May Apple, or American Mandrake.) 
—An interesting plant, the roots of which supply the Podophvliin, so 
much in demand of recent years. It is a native of the United States, 
where it is found chiefly in woods, thriving in rich vegetable soil, and pro¬ 
ducing its fruits in July, which have a slightly acid taste ; and Gray says 
They are eaten by “ pigs and boys.” It has a very distinct appearance in 
girdens, owingto its large peltate leaves being produced in pairs from each 
root. The latter are thick and fibrous, with a creeping perennial rootstock, 
which in America are collected in August and dried for use. It is not difficult 
to grow in this country, but rtquires a moist light soil, or preferably a peat 
'border, where moderate shade can be provided by neighbouring shrubs. 
Lt can be easily increased by division of the toots, which maybe trans¬ 
planted in rows; but it is a good plan t) reserve a few plants specially 
for propagation, so that it will not be neces’a y t > disturb the general 
stock frequently, or until the root3 are large enough for officinal 
purposes. 
Polygala senega, L. (Rattlesnake Root).—A North American plant, 
■with a perennial root, becoming woody and much branched, with several 
stems a foot or more high, alternate leaves, and loose spikes of white 
flowers. It was introduced to the attention of physiciins in this country by 
a Dr. John Tennent, early in the eighteenth century, and was afterwards 
triel extensively in rheumatic disorders. The flowers are produced in the 
summer, generally during July, but it rarely ripens its seeds out of doors 
here, and the seeds obtained are oftsn uncertain in ger nination. It is not 
difficult to grow, but requires some protection in winter, a light mulching 
over the roots being effectual in the south, but in cold exposed places a 
handlight would be the safest means of preserving it. Oidinary girden 
soil suits it, provided there be suitable drainage. The best way is to obtain 
roots for stock, but increase will be slow, as division must be practised very 
carefully. 
Spigelia marilandica, L. (Maryland Pink Root.)—The Spigelia is in¬ 
cluded in the Strychnos family, which abounds in plants possessing ex¬ 
tremely poisonous quilities, and, like many of its relatives, it yields an 
acro-na co'ic poison employed in medicine. It is a perennial, with fibrous 
roots, and requires a deep moist bed of peat, or a light soil composed largelv 
of leaf mould or vegetable refuse to ensure its success. It is impatient of 
any rank decaying material, and though it can be increased by division, the 
process is a sliw one. 
Valeriana officinalis, L. (Valerian Roots).—A well known perennial 
plant, of which the roots have for a long period been valued as an anti- 
spasmodic. It is found wild in numerous districts in Europe and Asia, aud 
has been cultivated rather extensively in Hollaud and North America for 
medicinal purpos-s. It is generally found in rather dry situations, attaining 
a height of 2 to 3 feet, but under cultivation, especially in shaded moist 
positions and rich soil, it becomes much stronger. Where it is grown for its 
medicinal qualities it is not, however, desirable to have it too strong, as in a 
smaller state, in drier poorer soil”, it has been found that the qualities for 
which it is employed are more concentrated anl powerful. The roots have 
long fleshy fibres, and the plant can be increased by division, either in 
spring or autumn, one or two seisons’ growth rendering them fit for 
lifting, which should be done in autumD, and the roots stored for use. 
Veratruai album, L. (White Hellebore).—An Eiuopean perennial 
plant, of very distinct appearance, owing to i s broad ovate-ribbed leaves, 
which have obtained for it a place in most borders of herbaceous plants. 
The plint requires a rich and deeply worked soil, and in suitable positions 
it grows very luxuriantly, being readily propagated eith r by seeds or 
division. Tne seeds may be sown in the open ground in autumn, thinning 
the seedlings freely, and transplant them in the following spring, allowing 
ample space for development, as their large leaves require plenty of room. 
For quicker increase, dividing the plants is the better method, planting the 
divisions in autumn; and if good sized pieces are taken they will form 
roots large enough for officinal purposes in two or three years’ time. Tus 
seedlings lequire three or four years to attain similar size. This plant was 
cultivated by Gerard in 1596. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 24th. 
There was a comparatively small number of exhibits on Tuesday last, 
but there were several plants and grrups of special interest. 
Fruit Committee. —T. F. Rivers, Esq., in the chair. Present, Dr. Hogg, 
Messrs. Saltmarsh, Les, Warren, Woodbridge, Viitch, Goldsmith, Norman, 
Willard, Ford, Haywood, Blackmore, Smith, and Fitt. 
Mr. Palmer, gardener to Hume Dick, Esq., Thames Dltton House, sent a 
very fine dish of Auguste Nicaise Strawberry, to which a cultural commen¬ 
dation was awarded. He also sent a tine dish of Asparagus, to which a letter 
of thanks was awarded. Mr. E. Ward, The Gardens, Stoke EiithPark, 
Ledbury, sent a late Broccoli. Mr. Lockie, Oakley Court, Windsor, sent six 
specimens of a seedling Melon, ca’led Beauty of Windsor, raised between 
Dr. Hogg and Beauty of Windsor, but it was not superior to others already 
in cultivation. Mr. G. Beaton, The Gardens, Style Hall, Gunnersbury, sent 
three dishes of Pears, Suzette de Bavay, Easter Beurrd, and Winter Bon 
Chretien, for which a letter of thanks was awarded. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Read ng, offered several prizes for a brace of 
Cucumbers, Sutton’s Purley Park Hero and Improved Telegraph. There 
were six competitors. Mr. T. Lockie, The Gardens, Oakley Court, Windsor, 
was awarded the first prize for Sutton’s Improved Telegraph, reryfine, long, 
even fruits. Mr. C. J. Waite, Glenhurst Gardens, Esher, was second wi h 
Purley Park Hero, even and good. J. Downing, Eiq., The Shrubbery, 
Enfield, Middl sex (gardener, Mr. P. Cornish), was third. All the exhibits 
were very even in quality. 
Floral Committee. —Present: G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair; and 
Messrs. J. Douglas, J. Fraser, W. Wilks, H. B nnett, H. Herbst, R. H. 
Lowe, G. Duffield, G. Paul, Richard Dean, B. Wynne, G. Noble, J. Dominy, 
H. M. Pollett, D. Pilcher, F. Baines. J. O'Brien, A. J. Lendy, H. Turner, 
E Hill, Shirley Hibberd, W. Holmes, and James Hudson. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, was awarded a silver Banksian m dal for a 
large and excellent group of Pseonies and hardy flowers, comprising many 
beautiful species and varieties. The Paeonies were chiefly forms of the 
Moutan or Tree type, some of the most noticeable as regards size and 
colour of the flowers (all double) being Athlete, pale rosy purple ; Cerise 
Pallida, blush white; Madame Stuart Low, salmon red; Reine Elisabeth, 
bright red, very fresh and good, together with several that were certifi¬ 
cated. Of the hardy plants there were numerous specimens, Piimula 
Sieboldi being largely represented, one variety named Vivid, with blight 
rosy purple flowers being very handsome. A panful of Trillium grandi- 
florum, with over three dozen large white flow, rs, was prominent in the 
group. The pretty double white Rununculus aconitifolius fl.-pl., the 
Yellow Globe Flowers, Trollius europseus, nanus, and caucasicus were good ; 
the dark crimson Tulipa elegans and fulgens, Fritillarias, Polemonmm 
Richardsoni, Irises, and a few late Daffodils were also in the collection. 
There was a small group of hardy Cypripediums, comprising large pots of 
C. calceolus. lip pale y llow, sepals and petals brown ; C. pubescens, the lip 
of rather a darker yellow colour, with few red markings in the margin, the 
sepals and petals lighter brown, and tho latter more twisted ; C. occidentale 
(montanum), lip white, sepals and petals narrow brown ; and C. arietinum, 
a diminutive form, the lip half an inch long, curiously pear-shaped, 
