June 19, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
667 
slender in growth, and has yellow flowers, a rare colour 
in the genus Rhododendron. It is rather teuder, but 
here in a warm corner of Surrey it escapes injury, 
though it does not bear its flowers in great numbers. 
Has anyone tried to cross this with any allied species ? 
I have tried it with the two named but have not 
succeeded in obtaining seed. If a race of dwarf hybrids 
could be formed with yellow, purple and red flowers, 
they would be attractive plants, and would probably 
become more floriferous than the parents.— Surrey 
Amateur. 
-- 
FRUITS, FLO WERS & V EGETABLES. 
Rose Prospects.— The weather that succeeded 
the frost and snows of March was such as to raise 
high hopes in the Rosarian’s breast. Pruning was 
delayed rather later than usual, the wood proving 
firmer and in a better condition than could hardly 
have been expected after passing through such a trying 
ordeal. Early in May the plants had made a splendid 
start, the growth, although backward, looking in every 
way most satisfactory, the foliage being as clean and 
fresh as if grown under glass. But a change occurred 
on May Sth, which brought hail, rain, sleet, and frost; 
rain falling every day with the exception of two up to 
the 27th. The heaviest amount of rain registered was 
on the 7th, 0'20 ; 8tli, 0T8 ; 9th, 0'26 ; 11th, 0'55 ; 
12th, 076; 13th, 1’04; 15th, 0 30; 25th, 0'60; 26th, 
0’20 ; 27tli, 0'28 ; and 31st, 0‘26. The amount for 
May reaching the unusual total of 5 "57 ; the tem¬ 
perature during this continual downpour was very low, 
the maximum on the 13th, being 39°, on which day, 
in twelve hours, the rainfall was 1 ’37. This proved a 
most severe check, searing the foliage as if burnt with 
a hot iron, and in some cases blacking the centre of 
the young growths at their base and so making them 
useless. Those planted in November felt this strain 
acutely, and, although well protected by long litter, 
deaths occurred to about six per cent. During the pre¬ 
sent month they have made steady progress and are now 
as early as last season; disbudding was commenced two 
days earlier this year than last, the growth promising to 
be stronger than in previous years. A few Teas planted 
last November on a raised bed, protected by litter and 
mats to throw off heavy rains, have stood well, breaking 
into good growth and showing buds in advance of the 
H. P.’s. The minimum temperature is some 5“ higher 
than this time last year, so that unless a very great 
change occurs the season will not prove an unusually 
late one, although “the Royal” show is quite ten or 
twelve days too early for Roses in this distinct. 
“Cuckoo spittle” is unusually prevalent this year.—- 
W., Liverpool. 
Double-flowered Ivy-leaf Pelargoniums. 
—In several places and in many different situations I 
noted these last year, and from their great beauty I 
could not help thinking they might appear in more 
gardens than they do in place of other and less worthy 
things. My chief object in mentioning them is to 
point out their usefulness and beauty as wiudow-box 
plants. To my mind few plants can compare with 
them for this work, as their foliage is handsome and 
the flowers bright and lasting; they may also be 
allowed to hang over the fronts of the boxes or be 
grown as bushes if tied up. Mr. Henry Cannell, of 
Swanley, has a very fine collection of them, varying in 
colour from w'hite to cerise, rose, scarlet, and crimson, 
and altogether better in doubleness of flower and habit 
of growth than the old kinds. Mr. A. Bradshaw, gar¬ 
dener to Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, is a clever 
grower of this class, his pyramid specimens rival¬ 
ling show plants of Azaleas in beauty, but they are 
more lasting. I believe these plants will be extensively 
grown, and they are well worthy of a place in any gar¬ 
den. They also grow admirably trained over trellises 
as window plants summer and winter.— M. A., Camb. 
Peeonies. —How bold and striking are the Psonies ! 
There are two distinct types—viz., the tree Paeonies 
(Pseonia arborea), and the herbaceous Paeonies (P. 
officinalis). The former will grow in the open air in 
the warmer parts of the country, but they are liable to 
injury from frost ; and yet the flowers are very fine 
that are produced by some of the varieties. We have 
this season seen them from 6 ins. to 9 ins. across, and 
of various colours—from white to deep crimson and 
purple. They should be planted in warm, sheltered 
spots, and where some trees, or neighbouring trees on 
the east and north, can screen the plants from the late 
spring frosts. They have a fine effect isolated on lawns, 
subject, of course, to having some shelter. We have 
seen them growing in pots in a cool Vinery in early 
spring, brought on into bloom under such protection, 
and then taken into the conservatory, where they are 
objects of great beauty for a time. The herbaceous 
Peeonies die down in autumn, renewing their foliage in 
spring, which produces flowers. They are so hardy 
that the most severe frost can scarcely injure them. 
The rich old double crimson Pceony must be known to 
many of our readers. It grows very strongly in a rather 
deep stiff loam, and not only produces its flowers freely, 
but also of large size and great fullness. It will do 
well under the shade of trees, but to be seen in all its 
beauty should have an open, sunny spot. There are 
now a large number of varieties of different colours— 
some delicate in tint, others rich and deep ; but the 
most popular and most frequently met with are the 
crimson and scarlet varieties. — It. D. 
Strawberry Viscomtesse Hericart de 
Thury. —This is an excellent variety, and a great 
bearer. Here it succeeds well on a yellow clayey soil, 
and has given great satisfaction. We gather the largest 
fruit for the dessert, and preserving whole with the 
stalks attached to the fruit. It is also one of the earliest 
kinds in cultivation, but in this respect varies according 
to locality and situation. It is also well suited for 
forcing in pots.— J. R. 
Kershaw’s Crimson Sycamore. —On a re¬ 
cent visit to the Slead Syke Nurseries, Brighouse, 
while walking through the quarters allotted to forest 
and ornamental trees, I was'particularly struck with 
the splendid appearance of a quarter planted with a 
new Sycamore, the colour of the foliage of which 
formed a striking contrast with the bright vernal 
green foliage of the other trees by which they were 
surrounded. The leaves at first come out of a brilliant 
crimson colour, changing as they become older into a 
bright red, thus giving us in leafy June, and through 
summer onward, the beautiful autumnal tints so pre¬ 
valent in some of our trees ; as, for instance, the 
foliage of the Virginian Creeper, and others that may 
be cited. In ornamental and pleasure grounds, no 
doubt this Sycamore will have a fine and conspicuous 
effect, and will be a good companion for the purple 
Beech. I ascertained that it was certificated by the 
Royal Horticultural Society in 1884. Unfortunately, 
Mr. Kershaw has not been so successful in increasing 
the stock of it, as, relying on budding, it w'as found 
that the buds do not take so readily ; however, other 
means of propagating it have been found, and it will 
most probably be sent out next year.— B. L., Bindley. 
Paragon Rhubarb.— While in the nursery I 
took the opportunity to look over two quarters of 
Paragon Rhubarb, of about two acres in extent. This 
variety does extremely well here, and I must say that 
it does full justice to the high eulogiums that the raiser 
bestows upon it. At one end of one of these quarters, 
wdiere the roots or crowns had not undergone the process 
of pulling, were some plants, of which I must certainly 
say that I never saw better, nor could anyone wish to 
have any better Rhubarb, taking all the qualities of 
colour, size, and quantity of stalks combined, especially 
the latter. To bring such a weight out of mother 
earth as some of the roots of this variety do, leaves 
one to infer that there must be something in the soil to 
recompense for it, as well as the peculiarities of the 
variety itself. I learnt that this quarter w T as planted in 
the ordinary soil of the nursery, where Broccoli had 
previously been, and it is the custom to give it an 
annual winters top-dressing, which helps to keep the 
crowns warm also. Mr. Kershaw grew this variety for 
many years prior to his removal to his present more 
extensive place, thus testing it thoroughly, and knowing 
it to be good, he determined to let the world have the 
benefit of it. In an ordinary spring and summer, he 
calculates to pull at the rate of £50 an acre. It is a 
cross between the Victoria, and the old Tobolsk, a va¬ 
riety almost extinct. Referring to Mr. Gilbert’s note in 
a recent number, I may say that Mr. Kershaw does not 
claim that it is the earliest, but that it is early ; nor 
does he think it has been sufficiently long out in the 
country to establish itself, and to test its true merit. 
But for earliness, flavour, colour, and productiveness 
combined, it stands without a rival.— B. L. 
A Variegated Rose. —Two years ago one of 
my Rose trees, Thomas Mills, sported, one of the 
shoots came variegated, white and green tipped with 
pink. I budded it, and did so again last year, it is 
now very pretty, just like Fuchsia Sunray. It is 
almost entirely white, tipped with pink, with an 
occasional small spot of green in the leaves. It is now 
coming into bloom for the first time, and if the blossom 
be as curious as the foliage it will be a great curiosity. 
I have had considerable experience in Rose-growing, 
and never saw anything like this before, neither has 
anyone to whom I have shown it, amongst whom are 
several nurserymen of large experience. Has such a 
freak of nature come under your notice before ?— J.L.L. 
[We have no recollection of having seen a sport of this 
character. — -En. ] 
-->*<-- 
Cuckoo Spittle. — I was somewhat surprised at 
the statement made in a short paragraph of your last 
week’s paper, respecting this peculiar insect, viz., that 
it makes a small puncture in the stem of the pilant on 
which it is found, and that the frothy material by 
which it is always surrounded is drawn from the plant. 
I am not in a position to flatly contradict it, though I 
have always been under the impression that the frothy 
surrounding was generated by the insect itself. I have 
frequently dislodged them from plants, but could never 
perceive such puncture. Of one thing I am certain, it 
should always be destroyed when found, for the leaves 
on which it fixes itself seldom do much more good. I 
have always been led to think that it was of a poisonous 
nature. Let me state a fact respecting it. I took one 
from the leaf of a Chrysanthemum some six weeks 
ago, and was careful to mark the particular leaf and 
plant, in order that I might watch the result. The 
leaf iu question seemed to remain at a stand still for a 
week or ten daj^s, after which it began to curl up into 
a tiny ball, gradually appearing to get less, when about 
a week ago I removed it from the plant as being 
useless. I perhaps ought to mention that every other 
leaf on the same plant is exceedingly stout and 
vigorous.— George Kidson, Hull. 
Orange Rust ox Roses. —Will some of your readers 
kindly advise me as to the best means of getting rid of 
orange rust on Roses ?— S. 
Wire-worms in a Vine Border. — 1 have a newly 
planted Vinery, the borders of which are literally 
swarming with wire-worms. The Vines were planted 
in February, and some have made a good growth, both 
in rod and at the roots, but others have not. I have 
been trapping with potatos and oil-cake for six weeks, 
and have destroyed at least 5,000 wire-worms in a 
border 60 ft. long, and 25 ft. wide. My friends say I 
must be thinning them out ; I know I am catching 
the big ones, but how about the young ones ? Can 
you tell me whether there is any other means of get¬ 
ting rid of them—any liquid that can be applied, to 
kill young and old, wdthout injuring the roots 1 I 
have been advised to try ammonia water, but I know 
nothing about it. I have a kitchen-garden in the 
same state ; what would you advise me to do with 
it ?— D. R. [In the case of the Vine border, we can 
only advise you to persevere with the oil-cake ; but 
perhaps some of our readers can suggest a more expedi¬ 
tious method. In the kitchen-garden, you should 
take advantage of any ground being unoccupied, to 
give it a liberal dressing of salt, say at the rate of 
6 cwt. to 8 cwt. per acre, in cloudy weather, and hoe 
the ground frequently for a time, to -well mix the salt 
with the soil. — Ed. ] 
--——- 
THE FERTILIZATION OF 
ORCHIDS. 
( Concluded from p. 6 46 .) 
Cross and Self-fertilisation. 
The beneficial effects of cross-fertilisation may be in¬ 
ferred in the abstract by its almost universal occurrence 
throughout the great Orchid order. In fact there can 
be little doubt that it has been the leading and most 
potent factor in the production of the immense variations 
of form, colour, and habit, which we now find. The 
mere act of fertilisaton introduces a new element, a 
physiological potential to further development, and 
initiates the very origin of change. The offspring re¬ 
sulting from cross-fertilisation possessing a renewed 
or re-invigorated constitution, will be able to compete 
successfully against their less favoured relations for the 
suitable places of the earth’s surface most adapted 
to their well-being. In favour of this view we find the 
largest and most highly developed, as a rule, producing 
the largest flowers, and adapted to suit the convenience 
of large insects ; while both insects and flowers of this 
type may be looked upon as the aristocracy of their kin. 
Cross-fertilisation would also affect the area of the dis- 
