April 16, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
521 
the shoots form a fine setting to the red-stalked flowers. 
This variety belongs to the greenhouse section of 
Rhododendrons, which are of course hybrids, and now 
becoming popular wherever a collection of greenhouse 
plants exists and is valued. Many of them have the 
slender tube and unmistakeable appearance of R. jas- 
miniflorum, one of the parents that has been much used 
in the production of this class of decorative subjects. 
A marked improvement, however, is observable from 
time to time in the increased size of the flowers, the 
thickness of the tube, and the almost infinite variety of 
colouring that prevails. The slenderness of the tube 
characteristic of R. jasminiflorum gives to the flowers a 
distinctness that separates plants of this race from most 
others generally seen in cultivation. That Pink 
Beauty is one of the finest of its class there is no room 
to doubt, judging from the specimen sent us. Our 
readers will be able to appreciate what has been said 
concerning it from the following illustration (kindly 
lent us by Mr. Bull), which admirably represents it. 
small houses is objectionable ; but flowering plants of 
small size are readily produced from cuttings. The 
ample foliage has a glossy shining appearance, and the 
pale purple flowers are freely produced in axillary and 
terminal panicles. The plant has several synonyms, 
amongst which is that of B. purpurea. It flowers 
freely in a small state with Mr. Bones, at Tower House, 
Chiswick. 
Tree Pruning. —With our increased knowledge 
of all kinds, it is not astonishing to note that people 
are beginning to exclaim, “ Woodman, spare that tree. 
The barbarous mutilating and tree-killing system of 
hacking that has been practised on our naturally 
beautiful London street trees is simply scandalous, 
and the wonder is why the authorities, in whose hands 
is vested the management of such, have permitted, far 
less encouraged, the unsightly pollarding of what would, 
if left to themselves even, form objects of great beauty, 
equalising the great heat of summer by shading the 
streets and houses, and materially improving the con- 
into thumb pots, and when they become established 
in these, then rapid advance is only a question of good 
culture. Time was when seeds of Gloxinias were sown 
in June and July, in order to have plants in bloom the 
following spring. We have altered all that by making 
the Gloxinia a stove annual, sowing the seed and flower¬ 
ing the plants the same season. In this way we 
advance horticultural knowledge and correct practice, 
and every day works some new development of 
culture.— R. D. 
Grevillea Thelemaniana. —Nearly fifty years 
ago this charming species was introduced from New 
Holland, and it is most surprising to find that it is a 
plant seldom cultivated. It is occasionally found in 
gardens where variety is of much more importance 
than fine quality. This can hardly be attributed to 
any difficulty experienced in growing it, as few plants 
are easier to manage in this respect, and it is without 
doubt the most beautiful species of the genus. It is a 
free-growing kind, of bushy yet graceful habit, and 
Rhododendron Pink Beauty. 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
Curl in Potatos. — I am also troubled with this 
disease in one sort of Potato every year, though it is 
planted and treated in every way the same as about 
twenty other sorts. Blanchard, for years past, has 
always come curled, discoloured, and dwarf in the 
tops, though the sets, when planted, are free from 
disease, so far as I can see, and I cannot attribute it to 
wire-worms. The tubers, when dug, are small but 
quite clean, and as free from disease as the others. 
I always, when planting, cover each set with two good 
shovelfuls of compost mixed up for the purpose, and 
consisting, in a great measure, of burnt refuse. I am 
trying it again this year, and will send you s<»me for 
inspection if it reappears. I am pleased to say that I 
am not troubled with it under glass like your corre¬ 
spondent “W. B. G.”— Salopian. 
Begonia nitida. —Those who are familiar with 
this old-fashioned species, know its value for winter¬ 
flowering purposes. When allowed to attain any size 
(for it grows to a height of 4 to 5 ft.), its presence in 
dition of the atmosphere from a sanitary point of view. 
A feeling of dissatisfaction is now prevailing, judging 
from the local papers, not only of Turnham Green, but 
Acton, Bedford Park and Richmond. When tree- 
pruning is necessary, why do the authorities not 
employ skilled labour, seeing that gardeners are plen¬ 
tiful, and frequently find themselves without an oc¬ 
cupation in winter ? They are poorly paid at best, 
and frequently work for a lower wage than the un¬ 
skilled labourer. —A Gardener. 
Gloxinias. —“What!” said an amazed amateur 
the other day, “ Gloxinias in flower six months from 
the time of sowing the seed ? It cannot be.” But, I 
said, it is so. I saw last season at Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, Reading, charming plants carrying eighteen to 
twenty-four blooms each six months from the time the 
seeds were sown. As a matter of course, it was only 
those plants having the strongest constitution that 
flowered so early. Seedling plants are found to vary 
considerably in vigour, as might be expected, and the 
weaker ones flower later than the stronger among them. 
Seed is sown in February in heat, and as soon as they 
are large enough to handle with safety are put singly 
produces finely cut foliage, which gives the plant a 
feathery appearance. It is nearly always in flower, 
and sometimes it is literally covered with bloom. The 
flowers are of a bright reddish colour, and produced in 
large clusters, and they are of such a peculiarly attrac¬ 
tive form, and so regularly arranged that the clusters 
look like some huge tropical insect nestling among the 
feathery foliage. The clusters are pendulous and of 
hairy appearance, and when borne on the tips of the 
slender branches, as they frequently are, they look 
curious, suggestive and beautiful. The plant delights 
in sandy peat, and likes a sunny position in a warm 
greenhouse during winter, but it requires a slight 
shading from the fierce rays of the summer sun.— 
M. Barker, The Gardens, IVatcombc Park, Torquay. 
Burchellia capensis. —Although belonging to 
the same natural order as the Ixora, this plant bears no 
resemblance of its relationship to the latter genus, 
except in the shrubby habit and the leathery evergreen 
leaves. As a stove winter-flowering plant it is very 
distinct, and continues in perfection for some consider¬ 
able time. The tubular scarlet flowers are somewhat 
swollen above the middle, and aggregated in dense 
