394 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 19, 1887. 
Hardening Miscellany. 
Spinach. —In common with many in this neigh- 
bourhood we have suffered heavy losses in our crops of 
winter Spinach. Ours gave great promise of a splendid 
crop in the autumn, hut soon began to look unhealthy 
and die off till fully nine-tenths of the plants were 
dead. It makes little difference where or on what soil 
the crops have been sown. They are all affected alike— 
a large breadth in a neighbouring market garden where 
it has never been grown till this season is equally bad. 
Can any of your readers suggest a remedy that admi ts 
of application when the disease first makes its appear¬ 
ance which is likely to save or benefit the crop ?— 
TV. B. G. 
Oestrum elegans. —Under the name of Habro- 
thamnus appears to be grouped most of the species that 
are of any value horticulturally. There are a consider¬ 
able number of them ; but except those belonging to 
the section under notice, the flowers are greenish or 
whitish and worthless. In the decoration of the con¬ 
servatory or greenhouse, C. elegans is invaluable for 
the profusion of flowers with which it is laden a great 
part of the year, even in the dullest winter months. 
If growth is slightly stimulated by a genial tempera¬ 
ture, such as that accorded to houses where a display 
is to be maintained, flowers will be the result, no matter 
in what month. Mr. Wright, at Devonhurst, Chiswick, 
obtains any quantity of bloom from a large specimen 
planted against the back wall of a lean-to greenhouse 
in which Azaleas and Camellias are kept. It is planted 
out and the leading stems secured to the wall, while 
all the secondary branches are allowed to depend at 
their free will. Their natural habit is drooping, and 
they seem to be weighed down by the large branching 
but closely set panicles of club-shaped deep purple 
flowers. Planting out is necessary for the rapid growth 
and free-flowering propensities of this, or, probably, 
any of the species. Summer-produced flowers, if uncut, 
are generally followed by a rich crop of handsome deep 
red berries ; they are also extremely useful for cutting 
purposes, lasting well. It is figured in the Flore des 
Serves, ser. 1, vol. ii., feb. t. 9. 
Iris fimbriata. —Should this showy and desirable 
Iris flower—even in favourable seasons out of doors—as 
I. stylosa does, it would be an acquisition indeed ; 
but its habit, and the exposed nature of the flowers, 
does not even favour the idea. The atmosphere of the 
Cactus-house at Hew is always dry and moderately 
warm in winter, and evidently very congenial to the 
well-being of the Iris in question, judging from the 
freedom with which it flowers annually during the 
winter months. The foliage is evergreen, abundant at 
all seasons, of a light green colour, gracefully arching, 
and from the centre of this rises the cymosely panicled 
inflorescence. The individual flowers are large, and, 
from the fact of their developing successionally, the 
flowering period is extended over several weeks. They 
also offer a feature of great attraction to visitors on 
account of their deliciously fragrant odour—resembling 
that of Primroses—and the charming yet not dis¬ 
cordant contrast of colours. The general tint is 
lavender-blue, but the three reflexed segments are 
bearded and furnished with a deep yellow blotch. 
These segments, together with the broad petaloid 
stigmas, are beautifully fimbriated, suggestive of 
the specific name. The species is figured in several 
works under the above name, including Redoute’s 
Liliacece, 3, 152, and Savis Flora Italioma ; but it is 
also figured in the Botanical Magazine, t. 373, as Iris 
chinensis. 
Sternbergia lutea. —Many are the changes of 
nomenclature this hardy bulbous plant has undergone. 
It resembles a yellow Crocus when peering above ground 
during the dull winter months, but its six stamens 
exclude it from that genus. It was originally known 
as Amaryllis, and may, probably, exist in some gardens 
under that name, as it does in some books, and owing 
to the insertion of the stamens, is sometimes separated 
from its congeners to form the genus Oporanthus. 
Unlike most hardy bulbs it is evergreen, with dark 
green strap-shaped leaves that cover the soil, through 
which the flowers push at different times subject to the 
mildness of the season. This season they made their 
appearance towards the end of January, but, like the 
Snowdrops, are much later than usual. It is of the 
easiest cultivation, and not partial to any particular 
kind of soil provided that it is not too retentive and 
clayey in its nature. It is a native of South Europe, 
and was originally introduced in 1596, or nearly three 
centuries ago. A figure of it is given in Eeichenbach’s 
Flora Germanica, 9, 372-3. 
Azalea Narcissiflora. — For some reason or 
other, the white varieties of the Indian Azaleas seem 
more precocious than the darker-coloured ones. They 
spontaneously start into flower much earlier, require 
less forcing than the latter, and are, therefore, specially 
recommended for forcing purposes. The cultivator 
also knows the advanced state of the buds in autumn, 
and that they commence to expand on the slightest 
provocation wdien they have been grown out of doors 
during summer, and are transferred from thence to 
winter quarters. Mr. Aitken, of Parkside, Ravens- 
court Park, says that it blooms almost perpetually with 
him without any forcing whatever. At present, a 
medium-sized, conically-trained specimen is well fur¬ 
nished with its pure white semi-double flowers. The 
individual blooms are small compared with those of 
many varieties in cultivation, but are none the less 
useful for the cut-flower basket. The petaloid stamens 
are short, causing the flowers to be semi-double ; and 
from their resemblance to the corona of a Narcissus, 
have suggested the name A. Nareissiflora. 
Late-keeping Apples. —Among the culinary 
Apples recommended I have seen no mention of the 
Spring Grove Codlin. There are three tall trees in this 
garden, all heavy croppers year after year. This Apple 
resembles the description of Annie Elizabeth in your 
number for January 29th last, being very large, green 
when gathered, except those exposed to the sun, which 
are red on the sunny side, aud becoming yellow in the 
fruit-room about March and April. I have kept some 
till June in good condition. I believe these trees 
originally came from America. I know of no kind 
which can compare with this for great size, heavy 
crops, late-keeping, and excellent cooking properties.— 
TVm. Jenkin, Boschill, Falmouth. 
Large Yield of Mushrooms. —Growers who 
are interested in the cultivation of Mushrooms in large 
quantities may be pleased to know of a strange freak 
that has been productive of a large yield of good 
Mushrooms for some weeks past. At Edgend Hall, 
Burnley—where Mr. J. C. Durno is usually very suc¬ 
cessful in the production of these edible fungi from his 
ordinary beds—has occurred an extraordinary yield of 
fine Mushrooms, that have sprung up abundantly 
amongst a large bed of Rhubarb roots placed at the 
back of a stove and underneath the stage. These 
roots, after being placed here, were covered over with 
the soil from an old exhausted Mushroom-bed, and 
evidently the heat of the stove has started into life a 
grand lot of spawn, which is now yielding an immense 
crop, and appears likely to go on for some time to come. 
Strange to say, very few of the Mushrooms have 
appeared on the surface of the soil, but have come up 
all over the Rhubarb roots ; in fact, they are a living 
mass of Mushrooms. How long they are going to 
keep up a supply it seems hard to predict, for there 
seem to be hundreds, about the size of a button, 
coming in every direction round these Rhubarb roots. 
For the time of year, these Mushrooms ought to be 
considered valuable, and they are highly appreciated 
by his employer. If they could be produced in large 
quantities like this in the winter season, they would be 
a profitable crop to grow ; but the question in my mind 
is this : Are the Rhubarb roots necessary for the pro¬ 
duction of this extraordinary yield, or is it simply some 
spawn that has been lying dormant, and sprung into 
new life with the heat of the house l — TV. G. 
Hardy Ferns for Pot Culture. —It has 
always been a matter of surprise to me that our hardy 
Ferns have not been used for pot culture. Numbers 
of gardeners have to supply plants by the score for 
house decoration, yet very few of them use hardy 
Ferns. For this purpose we find them invaluable, 
both in summer as well as winter, but more so in the 
latter case, when exotic Ferns are of little use for our 
purpose. They are grown in all sizes from a 3-in. pot 
to an 8-in. one, this being the largest size rve use. 
Their culture is very simple indeed ; we usually pick 
them off the back rvalls of the vineries, or of the pits 
and frames. They are put in the smallest pots possible 
till they become established. They are then potted 
on as they require it; any ordinary potting soil will 
suit them, provided it is porous. During the growing 
season they require liberal supplies of water ; those 
that are full of roots will be materially assisted by the 
judicious use of liquid manure, The plants do not 
require potting every season, we prefer them root-bound 
so that they can be well fed ; they are also hardier 
and stand the atmosphere of the rooms with impunity. 
The Ferns should not be used until they have finished 
their growth, especially the deciduous species, of which 
there are many beautiful forms. It will be found an 
advantage to those w 7 ho have the means to give them 
an early start, thus favouring their earlier maturity.— 
James B. Biding. 
Bouvardias. —It is well to know that this useful 
winter-flowering plant cau be readily propagated from 
cuttings of the old wood. The usual plan is to cut 
back the plants after they have done flowering, and 
place them in heat to induce them to break ; when the 
young growths are about 2 ins. long, they are taken off 
■with a heel and placed in a close propagating pit or 
hot-bed, and so treated they root very freely. The 
successful management of the plant depends, in a great 
measure, on the getting of early cuttings. This season, 
by seeing a piece of a branch which had been stuck in 
a pot pushing out fresh growth, I was induced to try 
some pots of cuttings of the old wood, and the results 
are very satisfactory. The young plants are earlier 
than those treated in the usual way ; and the Bou¬ 
vardias, as is well known, may also be propagated from 
root cuttings.— A. TV. D. 
G-ros Colmar v. Lady Downes. —Mr. J. 
Udale’s experience on the relative merits of these 
Grapes will be read with surprise by many who have 
grown the two in question. This experience has been 
gained under exceptional circumstances, for I think it 
will be generally admitted that Lady Downes would not 
be in favourable company with the Muscats, while the 
Gros Colmar w T ould revel in such a house. If we take 
the former Grape grown in a late vinery, and the latter 
grown in the Muscat house, and then compare them, 
I think the Lady Downes would carry off the palm ; 
at least such is my experience. I have never yet 
tasted Gros Colmar with a first-rate flavour, although 
I have tried many well-grown samples ; its appearance 
is certainly much better than Lady Downes, and it 
will stand much heavier cropping ; but when flavour 
is concerned it must certainly stand aside when com¬ 
pared with many of our late Grapes. It has become 
very fashionable of late years to laud the praises of this 
variety ; I consider if the same amount of attention 
had been given to Lady Downes, or Mrs. Pince’s Black 
Muscat, we should have been quite as well off; for if 
we except the one evil of Lady Downes, namely, 
scalding, which can be prevented by a little special 
management, it is undoubtedly our best late Grape. 
I have seen it in splendid condition in March and 
April after the Gros Colmars are done. No doubt the 
Gros Colmars have been planted to an enormous extent 
during the last few years, owing to its appearance on 
exhibition tables .—James B. Biding. 
- *«<• - 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Potting. —YVe are now potting our stock of" 
Hedycliium Gardnerianum, rendered necessary by the 
rhizomes having reached considerably over the sides of 
the pots, consequently, the young roots would have 
nothing wherein to establish themselves unless potted. 
Divide carefullj 7 , removing as much of the old rhizome 
as can well be spared, and keep the ends of the growths 
in re-potting towards the centre of the pots instead of 
towards the rim ; by this means they last a season or 
two longer without a shift, of which, at all times, they 
are most impatient, presumably on account of their 
thick fleshy roots being so liable to injury. 
iMAXTOPHYiLrats, which should now be throwing up 
their trusses of flower, will be much benefited if placed 
in a growing atmosphere, and liberally treated by 
frequent doses of liquid-manure water, always remem¬ 
bering to keep the plants thoroughly exposed to the 
light, or the colours of the flowers will not by any 
means be satisfactory. Cyclamen are flowering freely, 
and, of course, need abundance of water ; a sprinkling 
of Clay’s will be found of much advantage in bringing 
up the late flowers, which at times, from exhaustion, 
fail to come. YVe have potted on our old stock of 
Show and Fancy Pelargoniums, returning them 
