December 26, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
.267 
the fire-heat is increased, and weak G nano-water is 
given occasionally. The bracts seem to develope the 
better for a warmer, drier atmosphere during the latter 
end of November and the beginning of December. 
When fully developed, the fire-lieat should be gradually 
lowered, when the plants may be removed to the con¬ 
servatory, where a little extra warmth should be given 
for a time until they get used to the change, gradually 
dropping it or a sudden change will result in loss of leaves. 
As a rule, we get the finest bracts from those struck in 
May, and the dwarfest plants from the July cuttings. 
— S. Pragnell, The Gardens, Broomfield Lodge, Chelms¬ 
ford. 
Yellow-berried Holly. —It is a pity this highly 
ornamental Holly is not more planted : it is but 
seldom met with. The leaves are green, and the 
berries being bright yellow, form quite a contrast to 
the red-berried and variegated kinds. We have some 
hushes of this Holly now full of berries, as all the 
Hollies are this year, and it is quite as beautiful as 
the other varieties.— John Crook, Farnboro’ Grange, 
Hants. 
Chancellor Potato. —“H. T.” probably refers 
to the fact that at the International Potato Show at 
the Crystal Palace last autumn, this Potato was shown 
in both the White Kidney and White Hound classes. 
The sample occasionally varies, and whilst with some 
it may come handsome oval shaped, with others it is 
longer and kidney-shaped. Very much depends upon 
the soil, and its capacity to force the tubers to complete 
development. Fully growm it is a Kidney, but it will 
also produce some tubers that equal in form the 
very handsomest of rounds. There are no selections 
from it. It is a product of Magnum Bonum, crossed 
with the old King of Potatos, and rather favours the 
latter shape, one end being rather larger than the other. 
It is a grand main crop kind, leady to lift in October, 
produces fine, even, and handsome tubers, and is of 
first-class quality. So far it has proved absolutely dis¬ 
ease resisting, and it should be so, as its parents so far 
have proved to be two of the best disease resisting sorts 
we have.— A. D. 
Dessert Apples. —The same querist asks about 
the names of certain Apples returned in the report of 
the Royal Aquarium Show, as in the 1st prize collection 
of dessert kinds, and yet are comparatively unknown. 
No doubt it was a surprise to many to find the judges 
awarding a 1st prize to a collection of six dishes, 
which included two kinds unknown to commerce, but 
were simply highly coloured. The rule so admirably 
applied at the International Potato Show that kinds 
not previously in commerce should be eligible to com¬ 
pete for prizes, seems needful in the case of fruit com¬ 
petitions also, as it is easy enough to manufacture 
names. If the two kinds in question are simply local 
sorts, and not otherwise known, it is odd that if good 
enough to appear in a 1st prize collection of dessert 
kinds of Apples at a big show where the quality through¬ 
out was remarkable, they are not found in commerce. 
The Sussex Nanny is an old kind. I have a tree of it, 
but its peculiar feature seems to be that not only is it 
little known out of Sussex, but that it does not bear 
out of that county also.— A. D. 
Alpine Strawberries. — I remember the late 
Kev. W. F. Radclyffe, who was a great authority on 
Strawberries, once saying that “ every garden should 
have some Alpine or another for September and 
October.” Well, they come in very useful at that 
season of the year ; the old red and white Alpines are 
still very good. The red and white bush Alpines are 
the least trouble, because they do not put forth any 
runners. There is an Alpine variety known as the 
Parsley-leaved, or Le Mendonnaise, which makes a pretty 
plant, but is more ornamental than a good dessert 
variety. One named Blanche d’Orleans was a great 
favourite with the late Mr. Thomas Rivers, and I re¬ 
member his saying in a letter that it was bearing large 
and delicious fruit at the middle of September ; but he 
regarded Galande as the largest and best of all ; the 
latter has dark red fruit, the former white. Mr 
Rivers recommended raising Alpine Strawberries 
from seed, because seedling plants always produced 
larger and better fruits than those propagated in the 
usual manner. If anyone can fancy a delicious dish 
let him try Apine Strawberries with sugar and Alder¬ 
ney cream, or sugar and sherry ; but not without his 
digestion is good.— Ino. 
Rhus cotinus.—This beautiful shrub, which was 
introduced from the South of Europe as far back as 
1656, is also known as the Wig Plant, and the Venetian 
Sumach or Wild Olive. When at Salisbury, in August 
last, I saw in the pleasure-grounds of the Bishop’s 
Palace, in the Cathedral Close, a very large bed of it in 
all the glory of its summer beauty. Here is a shrub, 
long ago introduced to our pleasure-grounds, but yet is 
seldom seen in its beauty —such as I saw it at Salisbury. 
It is of moderate growth, and not over-fastidious as to 
soil or situation. But few subjects are so effective as 
is this plant, when in full flower. The light, airy, 
feathery appearance of the inflorescence is something 
unique—the peculiar bright bronze hue contrasting well 
with the deep green of the foliage. It is a shrub that 
lasts a long time in flower ; and, to be seen to the best 
advantage, should be planted singly on the grass ; but 
I have seen it associated with other shrubs —on one 
occasion, among some dwarf variegated Hollies, with 
surprising effect. The charming inflorescences are well- 
adapted for mixing with other flowers in a cut state. 
It has a light gracefulness, distinct from anything else. 
The flowers of this picturesque plant are hermophrodite, 
many of the flowers are abortive, and, after flowering, 
they assume the appearance of elongated hairy pedicles. 
I can scarcely recommend another shrub more highly 
ornamental. — B. D. [It may interest our correspondent 
and others to know that Mr. Ed. Pynaert Van Geert, of 
Ghent, is now offering an elegant weeping form of the 
Wig Plant—a novelty that comes as a welcome addi¬ 
tion to our select hardy shrubs.—En.] 
Chrysanthemums.—“L. M.,” on p. 254, asks 
two questions, which I will endeavour to answer. He 
asks first, “What objection is there to growing rooted 
cuttings in the open ground for a time, and potting 
them up in August.” My answer to that query is, that 
Chrysanthemums can be exceedingly well grown in 
this way, and they do not require so much time spent 
upon them' in watering ; for where plants in pots have 
sometimes to be watered two and three times a day, once 
will suffice for those in the ground. The best time to 
take them up and pot them is in September, after the buds 
arc set. To the second query, viz., “ Whether cuttings 
from plants left out all the winter are stronger than 
than those kept sheltered,” my answer must be yes. 
Anyone who has grown and left their plants in the 
ground all the winter, cannot fail to have noticed what 
nice strong healthy cuttings they throw up in the 
spring. The roots merely require a little protection, 
such as advised in my notes in last week’s issue of The 
Gardening World, p. 246. I may add that I shall 
give a few hints upon gj-owing Chrysanthemums out¬ 
doors before I have completed my notes upon cultiva¬ 
tion, that are appearing in your columns. Such 
notes will give the best time to plant, and also a 
list of varieties suitable for growing out of doors. — IV. 
E. Boyce, Yerlury Road, Holloway. 
Stephanotis floribunda, Fruiting. —It may 
be interesting to some of the readers of The Garden¬ 
ing World to know that the Stephanotis floribunda 
fruited here in the summer of 1883. The fruit was 
allowed to hang on the plant till the following summer, 
when it was cut, a portion of the seeds were sown at 
once, and almost every seed germinated. I have now 
three dozen plants from 6 ins. to 1 ft. in height, in 
appearance similar to that recently described by one of 
your correspondents.— James Bussell, Poltallock Gar¬ 
dens, Lochgilphead. 
Celery, Sutton’3 White Gem.—To those 
who like a Celery that does not want too much room, 
that will just suit shallow soils, and is always good 
alike, I would say, grow Sutton’s White Gem. I have 
grown it for two years, and shall continue to do so. 
It has an excellent constitution, and an appearance in 
growth of its own ; so that almost everyone on seeing 
it, exclaims, “ What Celery is that ? ” long rows of it 
being as level and even as though each plant had been 
shaped in the same mould, while the flavour is as good 
as in any other variety.— J. H., Sussex. 
Eucharis Amazonica.—We have a fine plant 
of this beautiful Amazon Lily now in bloom, making 
the third time which it has bloomed this year. It is 
growing in a compost of loam, leaf-mould, and sand, 
in a 15 in. pot, in which it has been for the past two 
years. It produced its first crop of flowers in February 
(twelve spikes) ; the second in June (thirteen spikes) ; 
and the third now consists of forty-one flower spikes, 
the majority of which are carrying five flowers, in 
various stages of development. When growing freely, 
and showing its flower spikes, it receives liberal treat¬ 
ment in the way of liquid manure. — IV. Brown, 
Pridcaux Place, Pddstow. 
Skimmia japonica and oblata. —It may 
not be out of place at this season of the year, when so 
many berry-bearing and other plants suitable for deco¬ 
rative purposes are in demand, to call attention to 
these useful low-growing shrubs, than which I know of 
few things more ornamental. Although, perhaps, not 
quite as red in the berry as some of the high-coloured 
Hollies, they are, still, none the less attractive, and 
the berries being borne more in bunches, and at the 
tips of the shoots surrounded by a bunch of green 
leaves, renders them quite distinct from the Holly. 
The chief object of this note is to bring this lovely low- 
growing shrub to the notice of those who may not have 
grown it. It may be grown by every one who has a 
garden, seeing that it grows not more than 2 ft. high, 
and is not particular as to soil. Many people complain 
that it does not berry well ; but this is because it is not 
placed in a suitable position. It sets its berries best 
in the shade. In this garden we used to have a quan¬ 
tity of it planted in the open borders, and they 
remained there for several years, and never had a berry 
on them. They grew very fast, and were everything 
that could be desired, except that they bore no berries. 
Some three years ago we took them up and planted 
them in shady places, and the next season they were 
full of berries, and have been so ever since. Last 
season, when making a bank on -which to grow a few 
Alpine plants, the back of which was under some trees, 
and the bank having only one face, I thought I would 
put some plants of Skimmia japonica on the top, at 
the back, under the branches of a We 3 r mouth Pine. 
In this position they grew well, and at the present 
time are a mass of berries, and nothing could be more 
ornamental at this season. I would strongly recom¬ 
mend everyone to give them a trial, in a shady 
situation. Those who have small gardens in or round 
large towns,, and who have, not space enough to grow 
Hollies, should certainly plant Skimmia japonica. I 
have seen it full of berries, and growing beautifully 
under a large Pinus, from 20 to 30 ft. through the 
branches. They were planted by the 100 under this 
tree in one of the large shrub nurseries. This is 
enough to convince everyone that this is the place to 
grow them, as nurserymen have to study £ s. d.— 
John Crook , Farnboro' Grange, Hants. 
The Pear Conference. —In looking over Mr. 
Barron’s report of the above in your last issue, I am 
surprised to find an omission which is at least singular 
—the county of Dorset is entirely ignored. It is true 
that my collection was the only contribution from 
Dorsetshire ; but as it contained 112 dishes—one of 
the most extensive in the show, and the absolute 
largest exhibited by a bona fide gardener - it could 
scarcely have been over-looked on account of its insigni¬ 
ficance. I trust this is the only omission made by Mr. 
Barron, for as a member of the committee (as well as 
an exhibitor) I can assure your readers that the time 
and attention taken up by such undertakings is very 
considerable, and when it is undertaken solely for the 
good of horticulture, it is not very flattering to be left 
out in the cold altogether.— IV. G. Pragnell, The 
Gardens, Sherborne Castle, Dorset. [We learn from 
Mr. Barron that the omission of any reference to Mr. 
Pragnell’s magnificent collection of 112 dishes, which 
formed one of the most interesting features in the 
exhibition, is due to its having, by an unfortunate 
error, been included in the contributions from Devon¬ 
shire. —Ed.] 
How to Grow Violets. —Put a little good 
fresh soil round your best plants as soon as the runners 
are ready to peg down, and only grow two or three to 
each clump, selecting the strongest. Take them off in 
May when well rooted, and plant out in a bed of good 
loam, into which leaf-mould and well-rotted manure 
have been freely worked. Give them plenty of room, 
pinch off all runners, and sprinkle frequently overhead 
with a fine rose, in hot dry weather. You will thus 
get grand clumps in the latter part of September, or 
very early in October. Place your frame in a sunny 
spot, and make it up with good stuff; mixing leaf- 
mould, rotten cow-dung, and a little sand with your 
loam. Lift your clumps carefully, without disturbing 
the roots much, and plant them firmly in the frame, 
6 ins. to 9 ins. apart, keeping) them close to the glass. 
Give all the air you can except during the prevalence 
