July 23, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
741 
which has overtaken them will have a good effect. 
They must trade in bulbs or flowers, we do not care 
which, but it is certain they can no longer do both at 
remunerative prices. 
Another meeting of the Union was held on the 20 th 
inst., when it was generally agreed that in consequence 
of the unusually cold spring all growing crops are very 
backward, and that in consequence flower roots, and 
more particularly the Hyacinths, will probably not 
come to maturity at the usual time, so that their 
exportation may have to be effected at a somewhat 
later period than usual. 
-- 
ARALIA REGINA. 
When this new Aralia becomes distributed in 
gardens, it is certain to take the foremost rank amongst 
ornamental-foliaged subjects that are used for the 
decoration of stoves, warm conservatories, or for table 
decoration in establishments where much of this kind of 
work has to be done. It is a very vigorous grower, 
more so than A. Veitchii, and others of that class, 
consequently young plants soon grow to a serviceable 
size. 
For the same reason they do not last so long in a 
state fit for table work; but that is not much to be 
regretted seeing that plants becoming injured and 
unsightly by the hurtful influences of gas or accidents 
when used in dwelling rooms, may soon be restored by 
propagating afresh, and growing on another set of 
plants. As can be seen from our illustration, the plant 
has a graceful habit, and is exceedingly ornamental, 
from the stems being thickly clothed with finely 
digitate leaves, the leaflets of which are long, linear, 
and slender, gracefully drooping from a little above 
their bases. By this it will be seen that the habit is 
much more graceful than in the popular A. Veitchii and 
its allies, where the leaves always assume a horizontal 
position. The leaflets are furthermore of a uniform 
deep green, while the petioles and the stem are 
beautifully spotted or marbled as occurs in other 
species. It may well merit the title of the Queen of 
Aralias. Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries, sent out the plant and has kindly furnished 
us with the accompanying illustration. 
-—>x<—- 
DELPHINIUMS AT PENDELL 
COURT. 
Delphiniums are now the pride of the garden every¬ 
where, but nowhere do they show more luxuriance of 
growth than they do at Pendell Court, Bletchingley, 
the English residence of Sir George Macleay, whose 
unique and ever-interesting collection has been under 
the care of Mr. F. Ross for something over three years. 
A marked improvement is visible in every department 
since Sir. Ross took it in hand ; but nowhere is this 
more evident than in the outdoor crops of all kinds, 
including trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that are 
purely of an ornamental character. 
The herbaceous collection, which is fairly extensive 
for a private establishment, presents a varied display 
all through the spring, summer and autumn months, 
but at no time, perhaps, does any one class of plants 
display such a wealth of bloom as to monopolise the 
attention of visitors, as do the Delphiniums at present. 
Blue, of course, in endless tints and shades, is the pre¬ 
dominant colour, but purple, white, brown or black in 
a lesser degree blend charmingly with the prevailing hue. 
In spite of the absence of rain for many weeks, there 
is no indication of a lack of moisture, as the stately 
stems rise from 3 ft. to 9 ft. or more, according to the 
variety. 
This we are accustomed to see in rich soil in rainy 
seasons, or in northern climes with a cooler moister 
atmosphere; but notwithstanding the drought, the 
growth they have made is remarkable, nor have they 
been watered or mulched in any way. The surface- 
soil is of a light but rich sandy nature, and the 
excellent growth made, not only by the Delphiniums, 
but by everything else in the borders, must be 
accounted for by a loose open subsoil and a free up¬ 
ward passage of moisture from below, seeing that the 
garden lies in a valley at no great height above the 
water in the pond and the various streams that feed it. 
To this must be added a careful and liberal use of the 
spade, and manuring, where practicable, in winter or 
spring. Mr. Ross is no believer in the starvation 
principle of withholding the manure and allowing the 
soil to lie for years in a dormant and lifeless condition, 
firm as a roadway. Herbaceous plants, like most other 
garden subjects, delight in liberal treatment, good 
cultivation, and well repay the labour thus bestowed 
on them. 
The varieties of Delphiniums grown are both 
numerous and varied, but mostly single flowered, 
although there are a number of double and semi-double 
forms so called. The tallest are by no means the 
largest flowered, but their stateliness compensates for 
this deficiency. Bella Donna, a charming light blue- 
flowered variety, with stems 5 ft. high, and Life 
Guardsman, with brilliant blue flowers borne on stems 
6 ft. high, are two useful forms for border decoration ; 
but neither of them have the bold massive appearance 
of Cantabridgensis, whose stems rise to the height of 
5 ft., terminated by massive spike-like racemes of 
clean and attractive light sky-blue flowers. Some 
contrast is afforded by the small black petals, but, as 
a whole, none are more effective at a distance. A form 
named Keteleri is conspicuous for its dense spikes of 
light blue flowers, whose white petals form a fine 
contrast, and typify a group in contradistinction to 
those having black or brown petals. Conspicuum is 
another of this group, with large, brilliant sky-blue 
flowers borne on stems 5 ft. to 6 ft. high. The petals 
of Pierre Joigneana, on the other hand, are variegated 
with white and blue, while the sepals are blue and 
purple —a combination of frequent occurrence. 
Amongst these distinctly bicoloured forms may be 
mentioned Yersicolor, the flowers of uhicli are large, 
with purple and blue sepals and brown petals. The 
so-called semi-doubles also present this peculiarity very 
frequently, and their partial doubling merely arises 
from the petals becoming large, regular or nearly so, 
and purple, while the sepals retain their original blue 
colour. An unnamed variety, with bright blue sepals, 
pertains to this group, as well as Mrs. J. Holms, 
bearing dense slender spikes of flowers with light blue 
sepals. A new variety, named Madame E. Geny, as 
yet but of small stature, will, when it has become 
established, rank as one of the best and most telling 
varieties from the great size of its flowers, its blue 
sepals, and regular purple petals. Several giants as to 
stature are noticeable, even in this dry season ; while 
in a warm moist summer they must have a tropical 
appearance from their rank vegetative vigour. One 
of these forms, with small blue flowers, has stems 
8 ft. to 9 ft. high, and Blue Gem, very little smaller, 
is by no means to be despised, as it bears an enormous 
number of medium-sized deep blue flowers on a very 
much branched inflorescence. 
The double-flowered forms are by no means numerous, 
and if they are more durable than the single-flowered 
varieties, the latter gain in their more natural and 
artistic beauty. One of the best doubles noticed was 
Alopecuroides, translatable as the Fox-tail Delphinium, 
having stems 4 ft. to 5 ft. high, three of -which were 
occupied with full double rosette-like flowers of a blue 
colour, suffused with white at the base. This had 
truly a tailed-like appearance from its great length, 
but was branched at the base, as generally happens in 
vigorously-grown specimens. Another old-fashioned 
very double form is known as Ranunculreflora, possibly 
taken from its resemblance to a double Persian or 
Turban Ranunculus, although the flowers are very 
much smaller. It is also a vigorous grower, attaining 
a height of 6 ft. to 7 ft. with blue and purple flowers. 
Besides Cantabridgensis, Bella Donna, and Madame 
E. Geny, already mentioned, Grandiflora and Herman 
Stenger must be reckoned the finest of the single- 
flowered kinds. Grandiflora has large flowers of a 
deep blue, except the petals, which are unusually 
large, and whitish, borne on leafy stems not exceeding 
2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, and clothed with large beauti¬ 
fully cut leaves. The stems of Herman Stenger, on the 
other hand, attain a height of 7 ft., of which 3 ft. to 
4 ft., are occupied by large flowers of a light sky-blue 
colour. The petals are brownish and bearded, but do 
not add particularly to the beauty of the flower. The 
spike-like raceme, however, has a massive appearance, 
and altogether Cantabridgensis and this variety must 
be looked upon as border flowers of first-class merit, 
and certainly the cream of those now so conspicuous 
and showy at Pendell Court. 
