September 10, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
21 
bosses of Alternanthera nana aurea (a very distinct 
and highly coloured variety), and A. amabilis. The 
Jubilee bed, although not the brightest by any means, 
affords an example of what can be done in the way of 
fancy work with plants suitable for carpet bedding. 
The design is an elaborate one, and must have occupied 
a considerable time in tracing the outlines of the various 
figures and in planting. The groundwork consists of 
the Mesembryanthemum mentioned and Leucophyton 
Brownii. A patch of Cotyledon glauco-metallica- oc¬ 
cupies the centre, and this is surrounded by Kleinia 
repens, next to which is a conspicuous band of Iresine 
Wallsd. Towards the long margin of the bed on each 
side are the figures 1837 and 1887, and the letters 
V.R., the meaning of which is very significant, and 
now familiar to everyone. These are formed with 
Alternanthera amabilis and A. purpurea. Patches of 
golden Alternantheras occupy the ends of the beds, and 
have Cotyledon pachyphytum as centres. Two large 
circular beds are very effectively planted with a pleasing 
combination of colours, and prove attractive to the 
public generally. The most striking feature of the 
bed is a large six-rayed star, nearly equal in diameter 
to that of the bed itself. This is planted with 
Alternanthera nana aurea for the most part, and 
centred with a fair-sized specimen of Cotyledon 
pachyphytum. The margin consists of Cotyledon 
secundum glaucum and Sedum glaucum ; while the 
groundwork is of Mesembryanthemum enlivened with 
designs planted with Alternanthera magnifiea, and A. 
nana aurea, outlined with Cotyledon Peacocki. 
It will be seen by the above that comparatively few 
different kinds of plants are required in carpet bedding 
provided the designs and the shape of the beds are 
sufficiently varied. We cannot resist allusion to 
another bed, the principal groundwork of which con¬ 
sisted of Veronica incana, the whiteness of whose silky 
foliage has been remarkably intensified by the dry 
weather, as happens in the case of hairy or woolly 
leaves generally. This bed on the whole was highly 
attractive at the time of our visit. Among mixed beds 
those planted with silver variegated Pelargoniums were 
greatly relieved with the foliage of Violas, the blue 
flowers of which were very effective by contrast with 
the white foliage. Those possessing a fairly acute 
sense of smell, could hardly fail to be attracted by the 
fragrance of Heliotrope Lady Molesworth, a very dark 
variety, planted as a groundwork in some Rose beds. 
The herbaceous plants, consisting of Phloxes, 
Helianthi, Chrysanthemums, Asters, and other things 
of a similar nature, are slowly improving from year to 
year ; but activity in this department ought to proceed 
more rapidly to keep pace with the times. Judging 
from the quantity planted round the margin of a large 
bed, the merits of Aster amellus bessarabicus would 
seem to be well recognised. The narrow border running 
along at the foot of a wall, and planted with a mixed 
collection of Dahlias (single and pompon), Sunflowers, 
Phloxes, Tobaccos, and similar things, are now very 
varied and attractive. Numerous climbers adorn the 
wall, among which Jasminum officinale, Clematis 
vitalba and Tecoma radicans are very conspicuous. 
The last, with its reddish crimson flowers, is a source of 
great attraction to the public visiting the Palace, and 
has been so for several years back. Not the least 
attractive feature of the place are some of the rarer 
and more ornamental shrubbery plants to be seen in 
various situations. Not contented with seeing the 
Virginian Creeper on the walls outside, the inmates in 
the upper stories of the Palace have allowed its shoots 
to ramble in at a window where they disport themselves 
inside the glass. Numerous very tall specimens of 
Spiraea Lindleyana must have been grand objects when 
in flower, as their great panicles of fruit testified. 
Huge bushes of the Smoke Plant (Rhus cotinus), 
attracted not only the attention of visitors, but their 
curiosity as well, for the plants were almost concealed 
with masses of their singular inflorescenses. The 
myriads of hairs clothing the barren pedicles assume a 
smoky grey appearance, and afterwards this becomes 
a reddish simulating flame, and finally smoky grey. 
This species of Sumach deserves to be more extensively 
planted on the sunny exposures of shrubberies, or even 
as specimen plants on the lawn. Another noticeable 
shrub or small tree is Koelreuteria paniculata, by no 
means a common plant. A good-sized specimen is now 
flowering with great profusion, the yellow flowers of 
which are not devoid of ornament, while the curiously 
cut foliage is very ornamental. 
The old Vine still continues a source of great 
attraction to visitors, and this year bore 1,500 bunches 
of Grapes, which, although to the practised eye they 
afford but a poor example of what high-class cultivation 
can do, are, nevertheless, very imposing as the pro¬ 
duction of a single Vine. Neither the bunches nor the 
Grapes are very large, but the latter are finishing well 
—assuming the fine bloom for which the Black Ham¬ 
burgh is noted. A considerable weight of fruit has 
already been cut, much to the advantage of that still 
remaining. __ 
LILIXJM SPECIOSUM VARIETIES. 
Lilium speciositm KeStzeki. — This exquisite 
variety is a great improvement on the older one named 
Album. It produces flowers very freely on stems about 
2 ft. in height, being exquisite in form and of snowy 
whiteness. The petals are very broad and somewhat 
overlap each other, giving the bloom a very close-set 
appearance, which might not be inaptly called the ideal 
of a florist’s flower. Its superiority over Album is at 
once noticeable to the inexperienced eye, its fine form 
and pure whiteness causing it to be a general favourite 
with all who see it. The delicious fragrance of this 
class of Lilies will always cause them to be popular, for 
even when grown in large quantities their perfume 
never seems so overpowering as is the case with Lilium 
auratum. Amateurs or professionals who may be 
looking for a good thing, will find in Lilium Krietzeri 
a plant worthy of their attention as an autumn-flowering 
bulb, which is both useful and ornamental. 
Lilium speciosum rubrum superbum. —This is a 
very highly coloured form of L. speciosum rubrum, the 
petals being much broader than in L. rubrum, the 
spotting being of a very rich colour, and the whole 
petal suffused with crimson. It is a variety well worthy 
of especial attention as an autumn decorative flowering 
plant. Its free habit will always cause it to be a 
general favourite, more especially as the variety becomes 
more plentiful. — JV. G. 
-» >X< —- 
NOTES ON ADIANTUMS. 
Their Variable Character from Spores. 
The number of forms or varieties of Adiantum that 
are at present in the market is simply enormous. The 
distinguishing characteristics of many are very difficult 
to perceive ; but, still, distinct forms do exist, and to 
a very considerable extent. A most noticeable fact is 
that where a collection)of Maidenhairs are cultivated, 
and allowed to fruit and produce themselves from 
spores spontaneously, there will be found the greatest 
number of varieties from individual seedlings. From 
the old form of A. cuneatum, and ever since the good 
sort called A. gracillimum came out, the number of 
seedling Maidenhairs that have sprung up bearing 
distinct features has been very large. If a batch of 
spores of A. cuneatum was grown in company with a 
number of other Ferns, and the utmost care exercised, 
a mixed collection is almost certain to be the result of 
the sowing. In nine cases out of ten the first plants 
to appear on the surface of the pot will be either 
Nephrodium molle or some other weedy Fern that sows 
itself all over every Fernery. These may be considered 
the weeds of the crop—in comparison, as groundsel or 
chick weed grows in the beds of a kitchen garden—and 
must be ultimately exterminated by careful hand- 
weeding. 
That such a numerous progeny should originate from 
one sowing of seed, can only be accounted for by 
the fact that the spores of many—more especially of 
the commoner kinds of Ferns—are allowed to drop 
about anywhere, and, of course, eventually settle on 
the fronds of the finer varieties. 
As a usual thing with many when requiring to take 
the spores of any particular variety, they invariably 
cut the frond off and wrap it in a piece of paper and 
put it in a dry place ; this causes the spore cases to 
dry up and let the spores out into the paper. At the 
time the fronds are drying up they also cast off the 
other spores that have settled upon them from other 
Ferns, and, consequently, the whole mix together, the 
commoner and undesirable forms always germinating 
first. So much for the case of mixed species coming 
up in one sowing of seed ; and I do not think that any 
amount of care can ever alter the matter, especially 
where mixed collections are grown, and syringing is 
resorted to among Ferns. Undoubtedly the Maiden¬ 
hairs, where grown in quantity, have the same peculiari¬ 
ties among them, so far as the spores floating about 
and settling upon other kinds are concerned; and there 
cannot be a shadow of a doubt, that this accounts for 
so many varieties of Maidenhairs cropping up among 
our sowings. A great number of these partake largely 
of the characters of A. cuneatum and A. gracilUmum. 
We do not see so many breaks from the large-fronded 
species, 'of which A. Farleyense and A. macrophyllum 
may be considered fair representations, nor do we see it 
from the cultratum section, of which A. trapeziforme, 
cultratum and A. tetraphyllum may be reckoned the 
type ; but in nearly all cases from the cuneate section. 
Illustrative of this I have one especially fine seedling 
that has been recently named, and of which, at the 
present'time, I have hundreds of seedlings just ready 
to prick off from the spore pans. Out of these pans 
I guarantee to say I shall have a dozen distinct forms, 
if i may judge by a sowing I made twelve months ago, 
and from which sowing I can at the present time pick 
out half-a-dozen very distinct forms, in some instances 
not at all resembling the parent; but still the original 
form was produced in sufficient quantity to warrant me 
saying that by the autumn of this year I shall have a 
fine batch and a dozen new varieties into the bargain. 
This may seem very strange to some people, but it is 
nevertheless true. 
My diversion from the subject on which I commenced, 
or had intended commencing, namely, good Adiantums, 
has led me into making a statement as to the causes of 
Adiantums varying so much from spores ; but my 
object was to recommend a few good species and varie¬ 
ties, and give soms idea of the various uses to which 
they may be applied. 
A Selection of Adiantums. 
Some sorts are better adapted for suspension than 
others, whilst some of the dwarf-growing sorts only 
show to advantage when grown in large masses ; others, 
again, make some of the finest exhibition Ferns. 
Undoubtedly, either for suspension or exhibition, 
A. Farleyense stands about first on the list, but as 
the species is so well known we can pass it as being the 
Queen of the class. Amongst the many kinds that 
may be termed ample-fronded, and all of which make 
grand specimen plants, the following forms stand well 
to the front:— 
A. amabile is a fine variety with pea - green 
fronds, the pinnae being cuneate in form, the whole 
frond being long and somewhat drooping in habit. 
A. curvatum Braziliense has bright shining 
fronds, the pinnse being slightly serrated on the edge ; 
it belongs to the larger-growing section of Adiantums, 
and requires a good stove-heat to bring it to perfection. 
A. cardiochliena has tall erect pedate-shaped 
fronds of a glaucous green colour, and is always very 
attractive in collections. 
A. concinnum, and its variety latum are both good 
sorts, the former being more lax in its character than 
the latter, which is very erect in habit with broad 
stout pinnse. 
A. Flemingi is, I believe, a sport from A. concinnum, 
but is in every way superior to either of the above, and 
is a decided acquisition to any collection ; the pinnules 
very much overlap each other, giving the frond a very 
close set appearance. It is a remarkably good variety 
for cutting from. 
A. Fergussoni is a very elegant robust-growing 
form, being a cross between A. Veitchii and A. con¬ 
cinnum latum, partaking of the robust character of 
the latter, with the slightly serrated pinnse of the 
former. The fronds when young are of a rosy pink 
shade, which change with age into a deep pea-green ; 
and when mature they arch over, giving the plant a 
very graceful appearance. By this time the fronds 
average 2 ft. to 3 ft. in length. It will become an 
extremely useful variety for exhibition ; and was 
named in honour of Mr. Robert Fergusson, the well- 
known gardener at Billinge Scar, Blackburn. 
A. Hendersoni is an ornamental stove Fern, the 
fronds rising about 18 ins. in height and arching over 
as they attain maturity, imparting a very graceful 
appearance to the plant. The yoimg fronds are tinted 
with a bronzy crimson colour, which they retain for a 
long time. This form appears to be becoming extinct 
in many places, perhaps on account of the temperature 
required to grow it, but it thrives readily in ordinary 
stove heat. 
A. Lindeni is another fine form, with curved pinnse 
produced on good long footstalks ; it is very much 
superior to A. curvatum, which it somewhat resembles, 
but A. Lindeni throws up its fronds 12 ins. and 18 
ins. high, and makes a good exhibition Fern. 
A. speciosum is a grand Fern when well grown, the 
great drawback to its beauty being that its texture is 
so soft that it readily breaks when touched. "When 
grown in a house where there is plenty of room it 
always forms an attractive specimen. The fronds 
attain a great size, being from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in length, 
and are deciduous. 
