226 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
September 6,1894. 
SOME CHOICE PLANTS. 
The rapidity with which varieties of plants now used for decorative 
purposes increase is astonishing, and simultaneously improvements are 
effected. Such progress is, of course, the outcome of patient hybridising 
and judicious selection, the best kinds being retained for propagation. 
That this is necessary is well known to all who are brought in contact 
with the business, although, other than these, comparatively few persons 
are able to form an adequate idea as to the magnitude of the work 
which is thus involved. In these progressive days it is only flowers 
possessing some distinct or extra good characteristic that generally And 
favour in the eyes of the public, and of this the raisers are apparently 
aware; none more so, perhaps, than Messrs. Sutton & Sons of 
Beading. This Arm has long held a high reputation for the pro¬ 
duction of choice flowers, and during a hurried visit to their nurseries 
last week it was noticed that further progress is being made. There 
were many plants in bloom, and it may be of interest to briefly 
mention a few of the choicer kinds. 
Begonias are famed for their utility, and much attention has been 
given them by the above mentioned firm. The tuberous rooted 
varieties are now flowering profusely, several large houses being devoted 
to their culture, and while the named sorts, arranged according to 
their colours, attract the most notice, the others obviously constitute 
a strain of great excellence. Among the former Queen of the Whites 
may be mentioned as being one of the best single whites in existence. 
The plants possess a robust though bushy habit, the flowers being 
large and of great substance. Meteor is another superb variety with 
bright orange coloured blooms, and Prince of Orange, with its hand¬ 
some orange-scarlet flowers stood out conspicuously amongst the rest. 
Some of the double varieties with a pendent habit of growth, arranged 
on shelves, made a grand display, the flowers being unusually large 
and varied in colour. One variety in particular was remarkable for 
its beauty, the blooms of this being even richer in colour than the 
popular W. A. Richardson Rose. As useful and as popular, though, 
as are these tuberous rooted plants, they have undoubtedly dangerous 
rivals in the recently raised varieties of Begonia sempeiflorens. 
Some of these are really charming, and as serviceable for the em¬ 
bellishment of the flower garden as for the decoration of the green¬ 
house. In small as well as large gardens these fibrous-rooted Begonias 
will soon find a place if they have not hitherto done, for their utility 
cannot pass unnoticed. There are several varieties of them now in 
general cultivation. Crimson Gem being one of the best of these. 
When grown outdoors during the summer this variety is very effective, 
the foliage being a rich reddish bronze, while the flowers are bright 
crimson. Duchess of York, too, is an attractive variety with carmine 
flowers, the same applying to Duchess of Edinburgh, the flowers 
of which are large, white, suffused with pink. After Glow, a variety 
extensively used for bedding in the metropolitan parks, is also worthy 
of notice. A feature with these Begonias that should not be overlooked 
is the fact that if lifted from the beds in the autumn before frosts set 
in, put in pots, and placed in an ordinary heated greenhouse, they will 
bloom nearly all the winter. Indeed it is 
possible by growing a number of plants of 
the various kinds of Begonia semperflorens 
to have a display of bloom all the year. 
What has been said in regard to a con¬ 
tinuance of bloom of Begonia semperflorens 
applies with much force to the Gloxinias. 
Most gardeners are aware that by sowing the 
seeds at intervals, say in January, February, 
and June, a succession ot flowers may be 
obtained for a greater portion of the year. 
Considering the large number of Gloxinias 
that are grown, however, but few cultivators 
make a late sowing, although there is no 
legitimate reason why such should not be 
generally adopted. Where this method is 
practised some of the plants are now in full 
bloom. As a white Her Majesty well holds 
its own, this being one of the finest Gloxinias 
in existence. The flowers are magnificent, of 
perfeet form, pure colour, and stout texture. 
Azure Blue is a novelty of recent introduction, 
the blooms being tinted blue on a white 
ground. Duke of York stands out in striking 
contrast to some of the others with its bright 
crimson flowers edged with white, and the 
spotted hybrids show a variety of colour 
that is practically unsurpassed. Achimenes, 
too, make a grand display, and are of easy 
culture. There are numerous varieties of 
different colours, and a few of them at any 
rate should be given a place in every garden. 
Rosy Queen is a most attractive kind, pro¬ 
ducing an abundance of rosy pink flowers 
with a white throat. The plants, moreover, 
are vigorous growers and exceedingly useful 
for the decoration of the conservatory. Of 
older varieties Alba maxima and Scarlet 
Perfection are well worth growing, these, as 
their respective names imply, bearing white 
and scarlet flowers. The new Saintpaulia 
ionantha, a dwarf-growing Gesneraceous plant, 
is receiving attention and will be extensively 
grown in due course. It is raised from seed, 
and will thrive in a heated greenhouse, 
flowering freely through the summer and 
winter. 
Turning to plants generally cultivated for 
the embellishment of the flower garden, one 
may find a variety of shades among the 
Portulacas to suit all tastes. These are 
effective flowers when judiciously cultivated, 
but they are seldom grown so extensively as 
they might be. For forming edgings to beds 
or borders the Portulacas are exceedingly 
useful, and as seen at the Reading Nurseries 
are really beautiful. There are double and single kinds, including 
white, yellow, scarlet, and other shades, all deserving of universal 
cultivation. Considerable improvements, too, have recently been 
effected in the varieties of Phlox Drummondi, these now compris¬ 
ing the most brilliant hues. The plants, moreover, are less straggling 
in habit, and the flowers are much larger than they formerly 
were. Dwarf Compact, Snowball, and Heynholdi may be taken as 
types of the smaller growing kinds, these rarely exceeding 6 inches or so 
in height, and bearing a profusion of flowers. As regards Asters the 
beauty and utility of these are well known, the same applying to Car¬ 
nations, Stocks, and Zinnias, of which some choice strains are now ia 
cultivation. The dwarf Cannas may also be noted as being plants of 
great beauty, these being most effective when employed in the flower 
garden. A number of plants of the striped French Marigold Legion of 
Honour may also be singled out for special mention. This is a choice 
variety, and one admirably adapted for bedding ; the flowers are yellow 
with dark stripes, and are well displayed. In the nurseries mentioned 
this Marigold is used as an edging plant, long rows of it producing a 
very fine effect.— Visitor. 
