March 5 , 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD- 
427 
The Effect of Stock on Scion. —Enclosed 
you will find three samples of Aralia Veitchii. No. 1 
is the ordinary type ; No. 2 is the growth made after 
having been worked on the roots of Aralia Guilfoyleii 
some years back. At the commencement of its growth 
it began to assume a larger character ; hut I let it run 
on for a considerable time, when I cut the top off and 
grafted it on the usual stock—A. reticulata. You will 
perceive by the specimen No. 3 it has lost none of its 
coarseness after the blood of A. Guilfoyleii has been' 
instilled into it, and the scion had been brought back 
to A. reticulata. I have just cut both plants back 
again, and intend to let them break again to see what 
character they will assume ; but I rather expect they 
will never come back to their original form of A. 
Veitchii (true). — IV. G. [Aralia Veitchii is a garden 
name for a plant that has not yet flowered in this 
country, so that its true relationship has not been 
determined. Furthermore, we cultivate the juvenile 
state of the plant only for the beauty of its leaves. As 
the plant grows older it entirely loses its juvenile form 
and ornamental character. We have seen plants about 
6 ft. to 8 ft. high with leaves altogether different from 
those sent by our correspondent. The leaflets of the 
type sent were a little over £ in. in breadth, while 
some of No. 2 and No. 3 were nearly § in. On the 
plants we mention having seen the leaflets were 
shorter, broader, flat, and almost worthless compared 
with the true form of A. Veitchii. We also believe 
that no matter on what stock the broad-leaved forms 
were grafted they would not revert to the original, but 
retain their coarse character, or even become coarser as 
the plants increase in size. See a similar instance 
described in The Gardening World, December 25th, 
p. 267, where the juvenile state of Elceodendron 
orientale is grown in gardens under the name of 
Aralia Chabrieri.— Ed.] 
Double Cyclamen persicum. —This seems 
to take place in two different ways—namely, by the 
development of normally-aborted parts, or by the 
duplication or multiplication of those at present 
existing. In the first case, we have a feature of interest 
for the botanist. The stamens in the whole of the 
natural order to which the Cyclamen belongs are 
opposite the segments of the corolla, and the theory 
is that an outer series of stamens are suppressed, or 
that the corolla itself is an outgrowth from the stamens. 
When the corolla develops ten instead of five segments, 
one set occupies the place where we should expect 
stamens. This favours the idea that one set of stamens 
is normally aborted, and occasionally becomes developed 
in the form of petals ; this is sometimes only partial 
when some of the pieces take the form of small but 
distinct scales. Doubling of this kind is pretty 
frequent at Devonhurst on some plants, and Mr. Wright 
intends saving seed to try the constancy of the doubling. 
The increase of parts by multiplication is of less fre¬ 
quent and less constant occurrence even on the plants 
that produce them than in the process above mentioned. 
In the specimen recorded in another column from 
Gunnershury Park, corollas and stamens were several 
times repeated alternately, one within the other, in a 
somewhat broken or irregular manner, similar to what 
we see in many varieties of double Daffodils. — J. F. 
Lenten Roses from Devon. —Mr. George 
Stamp, Bishop’s Teignton, Devon, sends us a box of 
beautiful Hellebores, generally known as the Lenten 
Lilies or Lenten Roses, from their habit of flowering 
during Lent. They have been flowering in the open 
air, however, since December, and stand the frost and 
cold winds without showing signs of distress, and both 
leaves and flowers were in fine healthy condition ; 
they, however, prefer a sheltered situation in rich soil. 
Helleborus antiquorum majus was conspicuous for the 
size of its white flowers, with distinctly incurved sepals, 
and semi-globular appearance. Another form named 
H. guttatus sub-punctatus had smaller, purer white 
flowers spotted at the base. H. g. Gretchen Heine- 
mann is, undoubtedly, a fine and showy variety, with 
rosy flowers, densely spotted with purple on the inner 
face. A pleasing shade of purple was exhibited by H. 
orientalis purpureus, but the rosy pink flowers of H. o. 
roseus were more conspicuous from their size, measuring 
when fully expanded somewhat over 3 ins. A beautiful 
new variety named H. punctatissimus is desirable for 
its fine shade of purple, spotted internally with a 
darker colour. H. purpurascens is one of the perfectly 
deciduous species whose flowers appear best when half 
expanded. They are of a peculiar slaty purple colour. 
In our opinion, the best of all purples is H. colchicus 
when seen in its best and most perfect state. The 
depth of colour is remarkable, and the flowers become 
suffused with a peculiar glaucous bloom. Taken col¬ 
lectively, they present peculiar and unusual shades of 
colour, and should be represented in every collection of 
hardy plants. 
Asparagus plumosus and plumosus 
nanus. — On January 18th I had a box of flowers given 
me, and amongst them were sprays of the above, which 
have lasted perfectly green in water up to the present 
date, showing how useful they are for decorative 
purposes. Another good useful long-lasting plant is 
the Myrsiphyllum (smilax) asparagoides for festooning, 
and where a twining evergreen is wanted, it will be 
found most useful.— A. 0. 
Hippeastrum aulicum. —The huge flowers of 
this handsome Brazilian species require no improve¬ 
ment, at the hands of the florist, for those who can 
appreciate natural flowers left by the finishing touch of 
nature. Two is almost the invariable number of 
flowers produced on a scape, but these are of such 
dimensions when well grown, as to leave further im¬ 
provement in that direction unnecessary. When grown 
in a temperature varying from 55° to 65°, the flowers 
expand of an intense scarlet or crimson colour, 
with a green mid-rib to each segment. Flowers are 
also produced at a lower temperature, but the colour is 
very much duller, detracting from the value of the 
flower. Several strong bulbs have been flowering for 
some time in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden 
at Chiswick. 
Hebeclinium iantliinum. —Good old-fashioned 
neglected plants are well cared for at Hothfield, Ashford, 
amongst them being the above. Some fine well-grown 
plants of various sizes are nicely in flower just now, 
with fine trusses of its bright lavender-coloured blossoms. 
It is very attractive, easily grown, and of a colour that 
is welcome amongst other spring flowers at this season 
of the year, and should be seen more often than we 
meet with it. To those in search of a good useful thing, 
let me advise them to try it. Mr. Craik, the gardener 
here, finds it most useful for decorative purposes.— A. 0. 
Altheuosmia macrophylla.— In this we have 
a very interesting member of the Honeysuckle family 
not hitherto introduced to cultivation. In its native 
habitat, the Northern Island, New Zealand, it is a 
shrub attaining a height of 6 ft. to 8 ft. ; but a plant 
flowering at Kew is under 12 ins. in height. It is figured 
in Hooker's Flora of New Zealand, i., t. 23. The 
flowers have a pink or pale red tube, with a white, 
toothed, regularly five-lobed limb. They are produced 
in axillary or extra-axillary clusters from the stem, and 
are deliciously fragrant. Sir Joseph Hooker says the 
plant when in flower may be detected from a great 
distance by its sweet odour alone. It thus promises to 
be a useful greenhouse or conservatory plant. 
Osborn’s Forcing' Bean. —This Bean is certainly 
a good bearer and forcer. "We grew it in winter and 
spring for a number of years, and were pleased with it 
until we gave Ne Plus Ultra a trial. The latter is, 
however, considerably the better forcing Bean of the two 
varieties, producing not only the greatest number of 
pods, but they are the larger in size also. So well 
pleased were we with the first trial that we have grown 
no other kind since. If Mr. Markham has not already 
grown it, I would advise him to do so, and should he 
be disappointed with the result, he either grew Osborn’s 
more successfully than we did, or cannot do Ne Plus 
Ultra so well as we do.— Mon. 
Skimmia japonica. —This is a grand subject, 
either cultivated in pots or planted out in suitable 
situations. Growing as I saw it recently at Asliburn- 
liam Place, Battle, it is very attractive, and some of 
the finest plants I have ever seen are here planted out 
in the borders, fully 3 ft. high and as much through, 
forming nice compact hushes, literally laden with their 
bright scarlet berries. "Well-grown plants in pots are 
also very useful for window-box decoration. The 
species is very hardy, and a good evergreen.— A. 0. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias. — In reply to 
“Improver,” p. 396, I may say that about twenty-eight 
or thirty years ago, very fine specimens were shown at 
Brighton by the late Mr. W. Holman, Stanmer Park, 
Lewes. The late Mr. Parsons, nurseryman, Brighton, 
also used to grow and show them well. There are no 
such plants grown in that part of the country now.— 
W. H. 
Acacia Drummondi.— Many of the species of 
Acacia soon outgrow the limits of small greenhouses or 
conservatories, but in A. Drummondi we possess a plant 
handsome both in its foliage and flowers, which can 
be grown by anyone with the aid of a small greenhouse, 
but having limited means at disposal. Batches of it can 
be grown for grouping in the conservatories of the 
wealthy, where it can also be kept in a serviceable state 
by occasionally propagating it from cuttings. The pale 
or canary-yellow flowers are produced in dense cylindrical 
spikes in great abundance. Flowering plants may be 
seen in the greenhouses at Syon House. 
Young Gardeners and the Press.— Lest 
the few lines concerning the address which I had the 
honour tc give to the members of the Chiswick Gardeners 
Society recently, and found in your columns last week 
should convey an incorrect impression, I ask per¬ 
mission to give my own interpretation. It might be 
thought that I advised young gardeners to endeavour 
to become press writers. So far from that being the 
case, I rather showed that t oo much attention in that 
direction might prove harmful ; but I did strongly 
advise every young gardener to perfect himself in 
literary descriptiveness for his own special benefit, so 
that his notes on any topics to be used for study or 
reference should be thorough, interesting and ex¬ 
haustive, for such notes if thus well prepared would 
always possess exceeding value in after-life. I also 
showed that when a young man found some discussion 
was proceeding in the papers, in which he felt special 
interest, and wished to intervene, he would find him¬ 
self placed at a great advantage if he had prepared 
himself for such intervention by literary practice and 
study. I even advised young gardeners to study oral 
expression, as being a valuable acquisition also, for too 
many men brimful of practical information lack the 
power to express their thoughts in plain language. 
In the course of the discussion which followed, and in 
which several members joined with great promise, it 
was suggested that not only was little encouragement 
given to young gardeners to write to the gardening 
papers, but that they naturally felt very diffident also. 
I suggested, in reply, that perhaps some editors might 
he found willing to place a column at the disposal of 
young men, under the heading “Notes from Young 
Gardeners,’’ or something in that way. I believe 
already one of your contemporaries prints “ Babblings 
from the Bothr 7 ,” or something of that character ; and 
were other papers disposed to adopt alliterative headings 
we might have columns of “Growls from a Greenhouse,” 
“ Whines from a Winery,” “ Orchid Oracles,” &c.—all 
very attractive, no doubt, but not necessarily instructive. 
On the whole, it is better to keep to simple matter-of- 
fact headings and plain bond fide correspondence ; and 
if there is such a wealth of literary talent amongst 
young gardeners, no doubt their sayings and doings 
would form interesting and meritorious reading. How¬ 
ever, before there is any prospect of getting young men 
to become intelligent correspondents, we must induce 
them to become readers, and they may think the 
lucubrations of their elders but sorry slow stuff after 
all. I am not in the confidence of young men, and 
therefore can give no evidence on this point ; but if 
we are dry and uninteresting, then all the more 
reason why they should practise their ’prentice 
hands.— A. D. 
Peach Culture in the Open-air. — Why 
Peaches do not thrive so well in the open-air as they 
did twenty years ago is a question of great interest to 
every gardener. Probably there may be an increasing 
decline in the sun’s power, but surely the decline is 
not so rapid, unless aided by some other cause, to be so 
apparent in the short space of twenty years. I attri¬ 
bute one thing which counteracts surface radiation, that 
is, where coal and other mining is carried on, which 
must, in time, lower the temperature of the surface 
soil. Where the coal measures exist the evil is more 
apparent. But who can tell, with the rapid extension 
which coal mining has undergone during the past 
quarter-of-a-century, that the evil is slowly and 
gradually extending beyond the limits of the coal 
formation 1 The many ramifications of a coal mine 
has to he thoroughly ventilated for the preservation of 
life, and the many improvements made during the 
last twenty years for the better ventilation of mines 
has increased the evil, I maintain. The rush of air 
through the working of a coal mine is great; drawing 
heat and matter from the surrounding solids, which 
must in time be made good from the adjacent strata, 
