April 9, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
507 
devoid of the woody flavour incidental to samples of 
inferior quality, and of the “cloying” properties of 
some Grapes ; the skin is so thin as to appear to dis¬ 
solve in the mouth, and in all respects is the Grape for 
invalids. —J. Udale, Elford, Tamworth. 
-- 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
White Azaleas.— Reference has recently been 
madeby different correspondents to A. narcissiflora and A. 
Deutsche Perle. The latter is an especially good variety, 
and is the most double of any Azalea with which I am 
acquainted, and a good variety for early work. I 
would add a third, also a double, and by far the largest 
in point of size, viz., A. Andrea alba, but not so double 
as A. Deutsche Perle. This variety will form a good 
succession to the two first named, and one well worthy 
of being added to collections where it has not yet found 
a place. I know this variety is by no means new, but 
it is good for all that.— E. Dumper. 
Stephanotis fioribunda. — I am happy to say 
that our experience is different from that of “ W. G.’ 
(p. 473) when he says that Stephanotis fioribunda 
cannot be grown “in a cool greenhouse.” Some six 
years ago 1 bought a small plant, placed it in heat 
where it made excellent growth, when it got covered 
with vermin, and failed to produce one flower. For 
four years I tried every conceiveable treatment, but to 
no purpose ; not a bloom did I get, and I began to 
think my friends were right when they suggested that 
mine was the shy-blooming variety. Just then, how¬ 
ever, several letters appeared in the gardening press 
asserting that all varieties were free bloomers, providing 
they received the right treatment—which was growing 
them cool. As my plant had hitherto been a distinct 
failure, I resolved to experimentalise with it during 
the summer of 1885, and trained it up to the roof of a 
cool greenhouse. During the long frost of 1885-6 the 
points of the shoots were killed, some leaves fell off, 
and the plant looked miserable. But as spring came 
round new growths started in abundance, and bloom- 
buds appeared at every joint. The first truss was cut 
early in May, and a never-failing succession kept up 
till the middle of December. The blooms were ex¬ 
ceptionally fine, and, of course, lasted when cut longer 
than those grown in heat. The plant is now in perfect 
health, having dark and shiny foliage as well as young 
growths starting, and bloom-buds showing in the axils 
of the leaves ; while, owing to the low temperature, 
mealy bug is absent. Now, sir, if after two such 
winters as those we have just experienced Stephanotis 
can be grown and flowered in a greenhouse where the 
thermometer has been with difficulty kept above 32°, 
the fact proves that “ W. G.’s ” assertion that a stove 
is necessary for the well-being of this lovely and 
easily-grown climber is not absolutely true in every 
case.— B. D. Knox. 
Oxalis lutea. —Under ordinary cultivation in a 
cool greenhouse this plant would not be in flower for, 
at least, another month, but if grown in an inter¬ 
mediate temperature, it can be had in flower as early 
as February. The flowers are of a light yellow colour, 
and produced very freely. It is most effective if the 
roots are planted three in a 4-in. pot. This species 
thrives beautifully in a mixture of loam and leaf-soil 
with a little sand. In growing keep the plants near 
the glass, as it is an erect-growing kind, and looks bad 
when drawn.— M. Barker, The Gardens, Wcdcombe 
Park, Torquay. 
“ Curl” in Potatos. —I enclose for your opinion 
some Potato haulm from a frame, not having seen a 
similar affection upon the Potato before. The plants 
were going on first-rate until about a week ago, when 
the pest made its appearance. You will see where the 
disease is iu its most advanced stage, as the foliage is 
decaying most rapidly. Any suggestions you can make 
will greatly oblige.— IF. B. G. [The Potato haulm 
sent in is attacked by the “ curl ’ ’ of Scottish gardeners; 
it is one_form of the common Potato disease. It is un¬ 
usual to see it so early, and in frame Potatos. When a 
disease of this class appears under glass, it is probable 
that the sets were diseased at the time of planting. It 
would be well, therefore, to dig up the sets and send us 
a brief report of their condition. There is considerable 
confusion about the popular term “ curl,” just as there 
is with “finger and toe,” “ Cucumber disease,” &c. In 
open Potato beds it is not uncommon to see the foliage 
of certain plants dwarf, “curled” and discoloured; 
this coudition is often caused by wireworms, and is as 
often termed “curl.” Through a misunderstanding of 
facts, some writers have asserted that the true Potato 
disease is caused by wireworms. Too much care cannot 
be taken in the planting of Potato sets, for the planting 
of these, even if but slightly diseased, is one certain 
means of propagating and spreading the disease in the 
following autumn.— JF. G. /S'.] 
Easy Kitchen Gardening.—I am constrained 
to take friend Gilbert to task by asking him to explain 
in what way his method of successional cropping at 
Burghley differs from that found in most other large 
gardens. In myriads of places it is the rule to plant 
the Brassica family either with Potatos and Peas or 
immediately after them, simply scratching the surface 
with a hoe first to clean it of weeds. Then, too, it is 
the rule to throw out trenches, both for late Peas or 
for Celery, after early crops have been removed, without 
first digging the soil; but I suppose even Mr. Gilbert 
dug between his Pea trenches in the case to which he 
refers, or at least levelled the soil thrown out from 
the trenches neatly before sowing Turnips, Carrots, 
Radishes, Spinach, &c. Still farther, I am sure that if 
the ground was not broken up for such’seeds that very 
much was lost in refraining from so doing, as all 
these things require holding soil, and that would not 
be furnished by some 3 ins. of loose soil upon a hard 
base. There is a method of work which may be saving 
of labour, and there is a method which is slovenly, 
nothing being easier than to let labour-saving de¬ 
generate into slovenliness. I do not for one moment 
assume that such is the case at Burghley ; but when 
lights of the profession like Mr. Gilbert preach kitchen 
gardening made easy, they are apt to be somewhat too 
literally followed by some persons. Soils vary so much 
that the same advice will not suit all cases, and a good 
practical man will soon discover for himself -what form 
of culture is the most desirable.— A. D. 
Beurre Ranee Pear.—The appearance of this 
fine old Pear is not very telling on the table, but its 
late-keeping properties, and butter}', melting flesh 
render it very acceptable for dessert purposes when 
Pears are becoming a scarce commodity. The fruit 
ripens very late, and although it requires the assistance 
of a wall to mature it in the northern part of this 
Island, it succeeds very well as a standard in England 
(at least, in all favourable localities), where the fruit, 
although smaller, is more abundant and richer flavoured. 
It has, moreover, a rich and vinous flavour, and never 
tastes of rancid butter, as the name would lead us to 
imagine. All these qualities are well developed in 
Mr. Hudson’s fruit room at Gunnersbury House, 
Acton. 
Imantophyllum miniatum sulphureum. 
—A seedling exhibited at the Spring Show of the 
Crystal Palace on March 26th by Messrs. John Laing 
& Co. under the above name, was omitted by an over¬ 
sight from the list of plants Certificated in our report. 
Apparently, the variation of this species in the hands 
of the florist is considerable, and if improvements 
continue to be made, we shall, probably, have many 
striking departures from the original. Already the 
flowers have been greatly modified with regard to size 
and colour. That under notice, which received a First 
Class Certificate, had flowers of a sulphury buff colour, 
which adds to the already existing scarlet, yellow and 
white. 
Azalea Davisii.—This Azalea—raised by, and 
named after, Mr. Davis, of Ormskirk—is a very good 
and useful variety for forcing purposes, belonging to the 
A. mollis group. Where plants are used for the deco¬ 
ration of the dwelling-house it is sure to be appreciated. 
When first opening the flowers are cream-coloured, 
with the upper petals blotched yellowish ;. but after 
two or three days the creamy shade disappears, and it 
becomes white. It is deliciously scented, which adds 
much to its other good qualities.— E. Dumper. 
Flinty Ground.—In some parts of North Herts 
there is an excessive number of flints in and upon the 
ground ; so great is the number that Sir Henry 
Chauncy in his History of Herefordshire says, “After 
any great Shower of Rain, not anything appears save, 
as it were, a Heap of large rugged broken Flints ” ; 
yet, says Sir Henry, “very good Corn often grows on 
such Places in dry Summer ; and the Reason given for 
it is, because the Warmth of the Flint (having a Seed 
of Fire in it) preserves the Corn from the cold of 
Winter.” The author further on more correctly says 
that the stones also protect the seeds from being 
scorched by the sun, “so as stringy Fibers of the Root 
reaching to the Clay below, fail not to send up 
Moisture to the Blade and Stalk.”— IF. G. S. 
Spring Flowers at Wisley.— 1 The late trying 
winter seems to have made the early spring flowers late, 
but more beautiful even than usual. At Oakwood we 
have a bank of loam covered with broom and green 
moss, through which small plants of Hepatica have 
thrown up their flowers. I counted eight shades of 
pink, and as many of blue ; these with two sorts of 
white give an effect which could hardly be beaten in 
Switzerland. In some bays of the rockwork Chionodoxa 
Lucilke, Scilla siberica, Galantlius (called Redoutei, but 
as I am told incorrectly), Narcissus nanus and Helle- 
borus purpurascens, side by side, look very pretty. 
Chionodoxa sardensis, when in good clumps, and Scilla 
taurica are, I think, equal in beauty to the favourite 
Glory of the Snow, Chionodoxa Lucilke. Anemone 
fulgens is very late, and will not bloom for some days. 
Narcissus minimus, which I owe to the kindness of its 
collector, is much admired .—George F. Wilson, April 
4 th. 
Tea Rose Princess Beatrice. —We have 
received a copy of a coloured illustration of this attrac¬ 
tive Pedigree Tea Rose, and having seen the Rose itself 
can speak of its beauty and fine appearance for the cut 
flower basket. It received a First Class Certificate 
from the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society in 1885, and at the Spring Show, Crystal 
Palace, recently. The outer petals are pale yellow, 
more or less suffused with rose at the margins, and 
gracefully revolute at the tips, exhibiting the firm bud¬ 
like centre, which is a deeper yellow, and gives the 
Rose a firm and compact appearance. 
Chon de Burghley. —After passing through 
such a severe winter as the past one has been, it is 
worthy of note how well this vegetable has stood the 
ordeal. Broccoli are almost entirely destroyed; Brussels 
Sprouts, after the frosts early in January, looked as if 
they had passed through a fire ; and even the hardy 
Scotch Kale fared little better ; but from Christmas 
onwards we have found Chou de Burghley one of the 
most useful crops in the kitchen garden. It has been 
used as a Cabbage, and a very fine-flavoured one it is. 
Here, I think, lies the point which has caused so much 
disappointment to be expressed in connection with this 
most useful vegetable. It has been grown, and the 
growers, in a great many instances, have expected to 
find something different to a Cabbage. True, in the 
spring, the head contains what may be termed a small 
Broccoli; but I think that it is as a Cabbage that its 
great value lies. By sowing seed about the beginning 
or middle of May, and planting out in suitable quarters 
when ready, we shall have plenty of good Cabbages 
during the winter months, and superior in flavour to 
spring kinds.— A. W. D. 
Winter Quoining Apple. —The name is some¬ 
times written Winter Queening, but this is merely a 
popular error, as the Apple in question derives its name 
from the five angles with which it is furnished, the 
name being taken from quoin, an angle or corner. The 
fruit is sometimes described as small, but judging from 
a large quantity in excellent preservation at Gunners¬ 
bury House, Acton, it often attains a good medium 
size. The conical outline of the fruit, together with 
the fine suffusion of red, and the deeper markings and 
blotches, remind one of Cellini, which, however, is not 
a late keeper. It is a very old English Apple with a 
greenish yellow, rich and sugary flesh, and is useful 
either for kitchen or dessert purposes. Add to this its 
excellent keeping qualities and fine appearance, for 
which it deserves more general recognition. 
Teucrium fruticans. —This plant is a member 
of a genus that contains numerous species, and is of 
comparatively recent introduction. Being a native of 
South Europe, it succeeds best if grown in a green¬ 
house. It is not so attractive as it is interesting. It 
is interesting because seldom seen, and the flowers are 
not without beauty. We are so used to certain forms 
and classes of plants that it seems quite a relief to have 
something out of the ordinary track. Many new 
plants do not possess this relieving power, because 
although, perhaps, they are widely different from 
existing varieties, they possess some feature that we 
have seen before, and the plant is therefore old yet 
new. The subject under notice is of branching habit 
