10 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 3, 1887. 
up of the scar or hollow was concurrent with that of 
destruction. At any rate no fresh wounds could be 
discerned. By the application of a lens the mites 
could be seen in myriads. 
The existence of the mite at this time (and perhaps in 
many instances even now), was looked upon as a myth, 
so to speak, and the effects of disease upon my bulbs 
were considered by connoisseurs to be owing to some 
unknown irritating matter in the soil acting the part 
of a corrosive. Alas ! they are now converts to the 
presence of this little pestiferous mite, to their regret. 
Shortly afterwards large pots of Yallottas used for 
exhibition were also potted into lesser pots, and they 
went the same way, as did some fine varieties of 
Amaryllis. How the pest got into my place is a 
mystery, for in no place in the surroundings was any 
diseased plants ; but one thing is certain, I got each 
year quantities of bulbs from Holland direct. 
Two years after showing itself in my bulbs, the 
disease broke out in places amongst Messrs. Eliphaz’s, 
Bildad’s and Zophar’s collections with even more 
virulence than in mine. "We at length threw the 
bulbs with disgust on the rubbish heap, undoubtedly 
the best plan to do when it is discovered that the 
disease has begun, for any persistent struggling to 
make them grow will result in no profitable gain. 
Even should they to all appearance recover, it is only 
to return at some future time when less looked for and 
less welcomed, with, perhaps, redoubled energy. Until 
more is known concerning the conditions favourable to 
the increase or decrease of this insect, little can be done, 
probably, than destroying infected bulbs to ensure the 
safety of others. Eor a time plants in a dying state 
push away in healthy leaf, giving high hopes of their 
recovery, so far showing, I think, that some obstacle 
is in the way of the insect. 
As far as my observation goes, they seem to flourish 
equally well in dry and damp soils, as liquid manure, 
lime-water, or soot-water did not render their habitation 
inconvenient for them. There are two things I noted 
as rather curious. Why should the disease show itself 
immediately after potting ? and if it is entirely due to 
the mite, why, for a season, do the plants, as it were, 
overcome the ravages ? 
If, by division, they are made easier victims to an 
attack—being, no doubt, in a less vigorous state—then 
healthy bulbs would appear to be proof against the 
mite. In the second place, I should be inclined to 
think the presence of the mite is only in part sufficient 
cause for the disease, and would prefer, by far, to 
suppose the possibility of a deep-seated and imper¬ 
ceptible organic defect, acquired, as all life is, from 
various sources; but, perhaps, the chief is sudden 
changes of temperature. However, more knowledge, I 
am sure, on the subject would be very gratifying to 
many of your readers who are troubled with the 
obnoxious pest.— D. Chisholm, War die, House, Edin¬ 
burgh. 
--- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
The Japan Hop. —Those in quest of a rapidly 
growing plant for covering arbours or similar orna¬ 
mental rustic work, would do well to give this handsome 
hardy twiner a trial. It is by no means over plentiful 
as yet in this country, but seeds are procurable, which 
soon develop to the desired extent, covering objects 
against which it is planted in a few months. This 
is amply demonstrated by the specimens covering an 
arbour or airy summer house in the nurseries of Mr. 
James Blundell, in the Man tell Road at West Dulwich. 
The leaves are larger, more handsomely divided, and of 
a livelier green than those of our native Hop. The 
latter is Humulus lupulus, and so well known as to 
need no description. Humulus japonicus is the Japan 
Hop, a native of both China and Japan, and quite 
hardy ; while both are perennial, and only require 
establishing in moderately good garden ground, where 
they form climbers of a very ornamental kind, the 
female being the best on account of its large and showy 
catkins. 
Dracaena Lindenii.— This is a most distinct 
and beautiful plant. The leaves are long, green, 
traversed by creamy white lines ; its different forms of 
variegation render it most attractive and. ornamental. 
It is rarely met with in private collections, which may 
be accounted for, in a great measure, by its compara¬ 
tively recent introduction. It was sent out in this 
country by Mr. Bull in 1881, and was imported from 
Brazil.— F. B. S. 
Veitch’s Miniature Sunflower. —There is 
undoubtedly a fashion in flowers ; the taste for the 
aesthetic Sunflower has made much progress of late, and 
this hot summer has favoured their growth. Suburban 
gardens glow with them ; railway station borders and 
signal boxes are embellished by them, and go where we 
will, they peep at us from many out-of-the-way corners. 
Either in the perennials or annuals the singles are the 
prettiest, and the very best and most useful to be 
obtained from seeds is Yeitch’s Miniature. Its flowers 
are like those of Ilelianthus rigidus (Harpalium), about 
2 ins. across, and produced above the neat foliage in 
great profusion, constituting it a valuable plant which 
will grow anywhere, and give plenty of flowers for 
cutting if required.— J. B. 
A Large Double White Camellia. — 
“ J. E. B.” in his remarks anent a large double white 
Camellia, formerly in the Molineux Grounds, 'Wolver¬ 
hampton, surmises that the plant at the Henburys, 
near Birmingham, which is 17 ft. high, and 17 ft. 
through, must be the same plant. It is not, that 
at the Henburys having been there for over 
forty years. One of the finest plants of C. reticulata 
in the kingdom - is that at the Botanical Gardens, 
Birmingham, which is growing in a large tub.—- 
W. D. 
American Wonder Pea. —Your correspondent 
“ B. L.,” at p. 827 of your last issue, has a good word 
to say about Beck’s Dwarf Gem Bean. I fully endorse 
all he says in its favour, and wish to recommend as a 
companion Pea to it, the American Wonder. I must 
confess that I have been much prejudiced against all 
Peas that grew less than 3 ft. high, but after trying 
American Wonder this year, I feel it due to the dwarf 
Peas to make them some apologju It came into bearing 
three days after William I., and was in use fully three 
weeks after the latter was over. They may be sown in 
drills 2 ft. apart, and the sticks need not be more than 
18 ins. high. It is a most prolific Pea, and the flavour 
and colour all that can be desired.— G. 
The Pyramidal Bouquet Aster. —Among 
a very fine collection of Asters now on view in the trial- 
grounds of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens 
at Chiswick, a specially free and interesting variety is 
the subject of the present note. A row of this par¬ 
ticular kind is remarkable for its branching habit and 
freedom of flowering ; many of the plants carry from 
forty to fifty medium-sized double blooms of good 
quality. The prevailing colour is a pleasing rose. 
The continental varieties, both French and German, 
are well represented, and massed together, as they are 
here, produce such a magnificent display of colour—an 
imposing effect—as to well compensate anyone for the 
fatigue of a long journey.— C. B. G., Acton, W. 
Azolla caroliniana Acclimatised. — In 
several places on the water by the roadside near 
Pinner the surface is red with this pretty American 
water-weed ; indeed, so securely is it established that 
it over-rides the British Duck-Weed (Lemna minor). 
It has doubtless escaped from Mr. Kingsmill’s garden, 
and that gentleman says, that the Azolla has at least 
done him a good turn in the pond in his garden, for it 
has utterly smothered and annihilated the Canal 
Choker (Anaeharis alsinastrum); after that it can be 
guilty of anything. 
Herbaceous and Alpine Plants at East- 
cots. —There is always a goodly sprinkling of sliowj T , 
rare, and curious things in Mr. Kingsmill’s garden, 
some of which he has brought himself from Africa, the 
highlands of North America, and other parts. Just 
now one of those brought from Africa by him is very 
pretty—Convolvulus althaefolius with grey leaves and 
pretty pink flowers. Zauschneria californica is a mass 
of scarlet ; the varieties of Arctotis are very profusely 
flowered ; Plumbago Larpente, lovely masses of clear 
blue ; the Clematis, fine ; and many other things are 
pretty and interesting. In a frame without artificial 
heat a noble Todea superba flourishes summer and 
winter. In the houses some of Laing’s fine Begonias 
are done up to their best culture, and that is saying 
something; they are grand masses of colour, the 
flowers being set on stems as thick as a cedar pencil. 
There is no cause to complain of their straggling habit 
when properly grown like that. 
The G-lutinous Monkey Flower. —Many 
uses are found for the Cape Leadwort (Plumbago 
capensis), but if properly investigated and tried, the 
value of this shrubby Californian species would be 
greatly enhanced in the eyes of growers in search of 
something novel for bedding-out purposes. At Harvey 
Lodge, Roupell Park, Mr. Roupell has it planted in a 
border of hardy herbaceous and other [plants, growth 
has been so free, and flowers so plentiful as to warrant 
a more extended cultivation of this plant for bedding 
purposes, in the same way as has been done with 
Cupheas, Fuchsias, Heliotropes, Abutilons, and similar 
hard-wooded subjects. Should it prove floriferous, 
which it is likely to do, judging from the casual 
specimens planted out at Harvey Lodge, a useful lesson 
will have been learnt, and something out of the usual 
run of bedding plants added to the list of subjects 
suitable for that purpose. 
Mealy Bug'. —When I took charge of this garden 
in May, the stove plants were very much infested 
with bug, and among other plants that I did not wish 
to destroy were two large specimens of Stephanotis, 
and several pots of Eucharis. During the very hot 
weather these plants were placed out-of-doors for a 
few days, and were then shaken out of their pots and 
immersed in a large tub full of solution of “Swift and 
Sure ” insecticide obtained from Messrs. Blackey, Young 
& Co., of Glasgow, at the strength of three-quarter 
of a fluid ounce to the gallon of water, and a temperature 
of 80°. The plants and bulbs were left in the water for 
fifteen minutes, and when dry were re-potted. The 
house was thoroughly cleansed, all glass and wood 
painted with paraffin, and all brickwork washed over 
■with hot lime. I am thankful to say that there is no 
sign of bug now, and the plants and bulbs thus treated 
are growing away most vigorously.— G. 
Tropseolum speciosum. — This beautiful 
climbing plant is seen to great advantage planted, 
amongst Ivy around a raised bed here ; and though 
the season has been a remarkably dry one, and its 
growth in consequence has not been so vigorous as in 
former years, yet I cannot resist alluding to its merits 
through your pages, that others may be induced to try 
this Tropieolum in a similar way. Its growth and 
bright flowers resting on the top of the Ivy render it a 
conspicuous object. From what I can observe it has 
been planted in this position for several years; it 
requires but very little attention, except to keep it 
from trailing over the bed. Such a glowing account 
was given respecting this plant in The Gardening 
World, Yol. II., p. 88, that I feel anxious to endorse 
all that was said in its favour, and to add one other 
way of utilising this very elegant climber.— J. S. T., 
Montgomeryshire. 
Pansy Countess of Kintore, &c.— There 
are many northern growers who can strongly endorse 
what Mr. Downie has written in favour of that lively- 
looking and most useful Pansy, Countess of Kintore. 
We have it planted on good ground and on poor soil, 
in good positions and in untoward aspects, and all are 
doing alike—having been in flower from the beginning 
of the season and going on as favourably as ever. 
There is another kind partaking of the Yiola form, 
recommended to us some years ago, which is most 
useful as a free-blooming kind, named Robin Hood. It 
is among the first to show flower, and is compact and 
massive, most suitable for bedding purposes; the 
colour is a purplish mauve, neither drought nor wet 
impairs its blooming proclivities, and it is as showy 
in October as in May. This has been a most trying 
season for all the Pansy tribe, but where the ground 
has been well manured and deeply cultivated, all are 
doing well.— Northern. 
Alocasia macrorhiza variegata. —This can 
be easily distinguished from the other species of Alocasia, 
and as it makes a fine and effective plant for decorative 
purposes, it is a valuable plant to grow among other 
stove subjects. The leaves are green, blotched and 
marbled white, and the stems broadly streaked with 
white. It thrives well in soil composed of about equal 
parts of loam and peat, while a few lumps of charcoal 
tend to keep the compost sweet, thereby benefiting 
the plant. As it requires plenty of water in the grow¬ 
ing season, the drainage must of necessity be perfect. 
It can be increased by division of the stems, or by 
raising them from seed. A native of Ceylon.— F. R. S. 
Toinatos. —It may not generally be known that 
three distinct competitions, each for a single dish of 
specially named Tomatos, will take place at South 
Kensington on September 13th next. No doubt a 
considerable show of the scarlet fruits will result, and 
if the donors of the respective prizes are satisfied that 
the samples staged are exactly the sorts invited and 
none others, there will be no room for complaint. In 
the meantime, some of us will look with interest for 
the diverse features which shall enable the one to be 
distinguished from the other. But whilst the samples 
staged, let them be what sorts they may, will certainly 
be mostly, very fine, and handsome, no test will be 
afforded by the respective value of each in the matter of 
