22 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 10, 1887. 
A. Williamsi is a very free-growing species, making 
fronds of great length, which are furnished, in a young 
state, with golden powder. It is a general favourite 
with gardeners for cutting purposes, and makes a very 
fine exhibition sort; it may be grown quite cool. 
Small sorts for basket work may be summed up in 
the following—which are all useful for the purpose 
stated—viz., A. caudatum, A. lunulatum and A. 
Edgeworthii. [A. dolabriforme is synonymous with 
A. lunulatum, a Fern widely distributed in both 
hemispheres.— Ed. ] 
Good sorts for planting in masses or pans, or for 
growing in small pots for edging, are A. helium, a very 
pretty close-growing species, an introduction some years 
ago from Bermuda ; A. Legrandii, a very pretty variety 
with finely cut pinnae overlapping each other very much, 
giving the whole frond a very crisp appearance ; and 
A. Pacottii, similar to the last, but with coarser pinnre. 
Curious forms of Adiantums are to be seen in the form 
known as A. Luddemanianum, which is crested, crisped, 
and curled, giving to the plant the appearance of a 
conglomerated mass. 
Neither can we dispense with our old friends A. 
cuneatum, A. c. gracillimum, and A. decorum, which 
may be grown in very large quantities where decorations 
are carried out, or where fronds for cutting are wanted 
in large quantities. 
To go through a larger number of kinds would be 
tedious, but those who may be fond of variety can find 
plenty in nearly every nurseryman’s catalogue. Should 
they be fond of novelty in variety, and be disposed to 
raise new forms for themselves, are blessed with a great 
amount of patience to wait for the germination of the 
spores, and do not object to the after care of pricking out 
and potting on, then they may venture to sow spores 
for themselves, provided they have means to do so. 
Spores of Perns of any kind will germinate, that is, if 
they are kept moist and close enough, and may be 
sown at any time when obtainable. Sown on the 
flat surface of pots or pans well drained, and the pots 
afterwards covered with glass, and kept in a brisk 
heat, they soon show signs of germinating, but it takes 
a, very long time before they break away from the 
prothallus to form the first frond. It is when in this 
interesting condition that the patience is sorely tried, 
more especially if some new variety is expected. As 
soon as they start to throw up the first frond they 
must be pricked off into small tufts on finely prepared 
soil, and again kept close till established. Afterwards 
they may be again divided and potted into single pots, 
when they may be gradually exposed to the fernery, 
either warm or cold according to the sort. 
Sowing spores is much to be preferred, where the 
species or variety spores freely, to splitting up old 
crowns ; but all species and varieties do not fructify 
freely, and when this is the case, splitting up must be 
done. — TV. G. 
-~>X<~- 
GARDEN PLANTS ILLUSTRATED. 
Cypripedium insigne punctatum violaceum. 
The typical form of this Slipperwort has always been 
a great favourite in gardens from its accommodating 
nature and floriferous character. That known under 
the above name is a great improvement, chiefly 
noticeable in the upper sepal, which is large, roundly 
oval, and green in the lower part, pure white in the 
upper, and richly spotted with clear violet-purple at 
the junction of the two leading colours. The petals 
are purplish green, netted and veined with dark umber, 
while the lip is deep chestnut-brown. The upper 
sepal is not so much narrowed at the base as in C. 
Maulei.— Orchid, Album, t. 278. 
Oncidium papilio majus. 
The dorsal sepals and petals of this variety are of the 
usual narrow elongated antennse-like form, while the 
broad lateral sepals are much broader and deflexed, 
purplish brown, transversely banded with yellow, and, 
together with the labellum, constitute the most con¬ 
spicuous part of the flower. The large flat yellow 
labellum has a broad somewhat lobed bright reddish 
brown border, and reminds one of 0. Krameri, but has 
flattened not terete peduncles, thickened at the nodes. 
This Butterfly Orchid need not be confounded with the 
British plant of that name .—Orchid Album, t. 279. 
OdONTOGLOSSUM PoLLETTIANUM. 
Under this name we have a highly ornamental cool 
Orchid—another of the many fine things supposed to 
be natural hybrids of 0. gloriosum and 0. crispum. It 
Crmes from New Grenada, and is very robust, bearing 
numerous flowers on a pendent spike. The sepals and 
petals are lanceolate, and similar in shape and size, 
suffused with rosy purple on a white ground, and 
copiously blotched with deep brownish red. The 
labellum has one large blotch about the middle, and is 
yellow at the base. It is a cool decorative Orchid of 
rare merit, and flowered in the collection of H. M. 
Pollett, Esq., Fernside, Bickley. — Orchid Album, 
t. 280. 
SOBRALIA LEUCOXANTHA. 
The reed-like stems of this terrestrial Orchid grow 
about 12 ins. to 18 ins. high, bearing numerous deep 
green plaited leaves, that remain on all the year round. 
The flowers are terminal, open singly, are large and 
pure white, with the exception of the labellum, which 
has a rich golden yellow throat, striated towards the 
base with orange-red veins. The sepals become revolute 
at the tip, and the lamina’of the labellum is beautifully 
undulated and crisped at the margin. It flowered in 
the gardens of H. Grose Smith, Esq., The Priory, St. 
Helen’s, Hyde, Isle of "Wight, and is a native of Costa 
Rica.— Orchid, Album, t. 271. 
--~>7C-<-- 
HARDY PLANTS FOR THE SUB¬ 
TROPICAL GARDEN. 
Tree op Heaven. 
Of the three known species of Ailanthus, none have 
attained the popularity of A. glandulosa, or become 
spread over a wider area of the earth’s surface, both in 
tropical and temperate climes. The beauty of the 
drooping plume-like leaves is unquestionable, and some 
idea of the suitability of the plant for sub-tropical 
gardening purposes may be derived from the fact that 
the leaves of young specimens, under favourable con¬ 
ditions, attain a length varying from 2 ft. to 6 ft. 
Leaves half the latter size are very handsome and 
imposing, and may be seen in villa gardens where the 
occupier has the good taste to obtain and plant young 
trees, which are easily procurable from root-cuttings, or 
suckers from the roots of old ones, which spring up 
spontaneously wherever planted. Light but rich and 
moist soils are most favourable to the proper develop¬ 
ment of this tree ; although, on the whole, it is not 
very particular. Furthermore, it can be made to suit 
the requirements of large or small gardens. In the 
latter case, or where large beds are planted with the 
view of producing a sub-tropical effect, the plants should 
be cut hard back early in spring, before growth com¬ 
mences to move. The result is strong and vigorous 
shoots, producing a wealth of healthy foliage of 
enormous proportions. "Where space can be afforded in 
sheltered places, it will form a large and beautiful tree, 
and in the case of female kinds, produce large and 
beautiful panicles of fruit, like the keys of the Ash, 
but of a handsome bronze and gold colour, such as we 
have seen in various parts of the country this year. 
Stag’s-horn Sumach. 
Of smaller dimensions than the Tree of Heaven, this, 
so far as the foliage is concerned, is one of the most 
handsome shrubs in cultivation, for it seldom attains 
the size of a tree in this country. It is the Rhus 
typhina whose decorative value has been recognised by 
not a few, as we have evidence on every hand in 
suburban, villa, and other gardens. On thriving 
specimens the leaves grow from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, 
finely serrated, with a plumy appearance, and more or 
less distinctly white on the under side, especially in 
dry seasons, and in the variety R. t. frutescens in 
particular. Their decorative value is greatly heightened 
when ruffled by the wind, so as to turn up the whitish 
or snowy undersurface as the case may be. As in the 
case of the Ailanthus, the foliage is greatly improved 
by hard cutting back early in spring ; but except for 
bedding purposes, the shrub or small tree should be 
allowed to assume its natural form, and bear fruit, 
which is singularly beautiful. We notice everywhere 
this season the glowing crimson torch-like panicles of 
fruit terminating the stems and branches. The foliage 
assumes in autumn, when maturing and cold sets in, 
brilliant hues of purple, crimson, and gold ; and while 
it drops, the fruit persists throughout the winter 
although losing its brilliant colour. 
Fern-leaved Sumach. 
This name is given to a variety of Rhus glabra with 
laciniated leaves, and well recognised under the 
botanical name of R. laciniata. The form in question 
is generally seen as a bush from 2 ft. to 5 ft. high, 
although the type will attain 12 ft. or 18 ft. Fruit is 
produced even on small bushes in this country, but 
being of a greenish red, is neither conspicuous nor very 
ornamental. The foliage, however, is handsome, while 
in autumn it assumes almost a uniform glowing red, 
which is truly superb. Being of dwarfer habit than 
R. typhina, it is more adapted for small gardens, or 
for the margins of large beds. It is, moreover, neither 
so well known as the latter, [nor so widely planted as 
its merits deserve. For mixed beds of ornamental- 
foliaged shrubs, it has few or no rivals of its kind. 
Gum Copal Rhus. 
The leaves of R. copallina are smaller and less orna¬ 
mental than those of either of the_ before-mentioned 
species ; but, owing to the glossy deep green of the 
upper surface, would, by contrast, show itself up more 
conspicuously, and greatly to the advantage of all the 
three kinds. The terminal panicles of fruit are red, 
and in their more open and spreading character are 
comparable to those of R. glabra. The foliage, which 
dies off a purplish red in autumn, may also be improved 
for sub-tropical bedding purposes by cutting down the 
stems annually. 
Koelreuteria paniculata. 
By the treatment and crowding amongst other 
subjects which this frequently gets in gardens, one 
would be led to suppose it was really half hardy, 
whereas it flourishes grandly in fully exposed situations, 
and attains a height of 20 ft. or 40 ft. in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London, where it sometimes perfects its 
bladder-like fruit. Plants that cannot otherwise be 
described than as large bushes are everywhere flower¬ 
ing profusely this season, and the terminal panicles of 
yellow blooms are by no means devoid of ornament, 
while the brownish white fruit ripens in October. The 
decaying foliage is yellow, and just now the pinnate 
leaves and curiously cut leaflets are of great value for 
decoration. The tree may be kept within prescribed 
limits by hard pruning for the sake of its handsome 
foliage. 
Kentucky Coffee Tree. 
The naked stems and branches of Gymnocladus 
canadensis have a naked, stiff and rigid appearance ; 
but this is a small matter to those who grow it for the 
sake of its foliage. The younger the plant is, and the 
more rapidly it is grown, the larger will be the hand¬ 
somely bipinnate leaves. This object will also be 
secured by cutting down the stems annually, so as 
to induce the production of shoots with a rampant 
vigorous growth. As a matter of course, this kind of 
treatment could only be tolerated where large beds 
having a sub-tropical effect is desired. The seeds of 
this tree were formerly roasted and ground as a sub¬ 
stitute for Coffee in Kentucky and other places—hence 
the popular name. 
The Honey Locust. 
For sub-tropical bedding purposes, Gleditschia tria- 
canthos is the most serviceable species, both from its 
greater vigour, more rapid growth, graceful and elegant 
pinnate and bipinnate foliage. It bears the knife 
remarkably well, and affords great relief to other and 
heavier kinds of leafage when planted in contiguity to 
such subjects. The beauty of young trees or cut-back 
specimens is such that the wonder is growers do not 
more fully recognise and plant it extensively. As a 
lawn subject it is simply handsome, and large trees are 
this year bearing an abundance of brownish or bronzy 
red pods, which, in autumn, attain great length, and 
from their thinness and proneness to become twisted 
and curled, have not inaptly been compared to Apple- 
parings. 
The Paulownia. 
Notwithstanding the fact that the young unripened 
wood is susceptible of injury from frost in autumn, and 
the flowers from the same cause in spring, Paulownia 
imperialis is capable of producing a magnificent sub¬ 
tropical effect by a system of rich feeding and rigid 
cutting back in winter, which does not seem to be fully 
recognised. There can be no doubt about the propriety 
of this practice in the minds of those who have seen it 
performed. When allowed to develop naturally, and 
assume the form of a tree, the leaves annually become 
smaller and smaller till they' closely resemble those of 
a Catalpa ; but when the stems are cut back, rampant 
and vigorous branches shoot upwards, bearing enormous 
heart-shaped almost undivided leaves that, even in 
such a dry season as the one just experienced, measure, 
on an average, 18 ins. in diameter ; while in moderately 
wet or moist seasons they are very much larger. 
Gunnera scabra. 
The magnificent appearance and sub-tropical effect 
this plant is capable of producing when it has attained 
a large size under favourable conditions and cultivation 
needs to be seen to be fully credited and appreciated. 
The roots are impatient of disturbance, and when once 
