116 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 22, 1887. 
Mr. James Whitton, who for the last eleven years 
has been gardener to J. Houldsworth, Esq., at Coltness, 
Wishaw, concerning which establishment we published 
some notes in our last issue, has been engaged to succeed 
the late Mr. George Johnstone as gardener at Glamis 
Castle. Mr. Whitton was foreman at Glamis from 1870 
to 1876, and we feel sure that under his care the high 
reputation of Glamis for good gardening will be fully 
maintained. 
The death is announced of W. D’Arcy Godolphin 
Osborne, Esq., E. L.S., of Villa Louis, Biarritz, who 
was well known to most of the amateur collectors of 
Daffodils in this country. 
In our last issue mention was made of Pumpkins 
weighing 140 lbs., 109 lbs. and 106 lbs. respectively, 
being exhibited at the Crystal Palace. We have since 
received intimation of one grown by Mr. John Gillam, 
gardener to George Remington, Esq., Ulverston, which 
weighs 104 lbs. It is the largest ever grown in the 
district; measures 5 ft. by 5 ft. 11 ins., and is a good 
specimen as regards colour and shape. 
Old Chiswick men will regret to hear of the death, on 
Wednesday last, of George Gale, who for many years 
past had been employed in The Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Gardens as painter. He had been a great 
sufferer for a long time. 
A destructive Fire broke out at Cleveley, 
Allerton, near Liverpool, the residence of J. S. 
Timmis, Esq., on the 14th inst., and the whole of the 
stabling, coach-houses, &e., were totally destroyed. It is 
gratifying to hear that the magnificent ranges of glass, 
recently erected by Mr. Timmis, and which contains a 
valuable lot of plants, though situated in close 
proximity to the destroyed buildings, escaped injury 
from the fire. 
In connection with the meetings of the Fruit and 
Floral Committees of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, on Tuesday next, an extensive display of 
vegetables is expected, special prizes being offered for 
competition by the following firms :—Messrs. James 
Carter & Co., for a collection of vegetables; Mr. H. 
Deverill, for Onions, Celery and Brussels Sprouts ; 
Mr. C. Fidler, for Potatos ; Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
for Onions, Potatos, Celery, Beet, Carrots, Leeks, and 
Parsnips ; Messrs. Webb & Sons, for Potatos ; and 
Messrs. W. Wood & Son, for Potatos. 
In our last issue we published an illustration of the 
fine Nepenthes cincta, which had been kindly placed 
at our service by Messrs. Veitch & Sons, but which we 
have since learnt originally appeared in The Gardeners' 
Chronicle. We were unaware of the fact at the time, 
or most certainly we should have then, as we hasten 
to do now, render all due acknowledgment to the 
journal in question. 
We have before us an advance copy of the programme 
of the Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society 
of Ghent, for the twelfth Quinquennial Horticultural 
Exhibition, which is to take place in April, 1888. The 
competitive exhibits for which prizes are offered are 
divided into sixteen sections, which are named as 
follows:—“New plants, Orchids in flower, stove 
plants, Palms, Cycads and Pandanus, Ferns, orna¬ 
mental and well-grown plants, flowering plants, bulbous 
and tuberous-rooted plants in flower, Azaleas in flower, 
Camellias in flower, Rhododendrons in flower, special 
competitive exhibits, Agave, Yucca, Aloes, &c., 
conifers, art and horticultural industry, science and 
horticultural industries.” Amongst flowering plants, 
prizes will be given by an English committee, to do 
honour to the memory of Mr. Louis Van Houtte. 
These are for a collection of the most beautiful varieties 
of Azalea indiea obtained since 1880, and for a collection 
of hardy rural trees and shrubs forced into flower. The 
judges will also have at their disposal a special prize, 
to be given at their discretion for the best exhibit of a 
plant, or a group of plants, presenting the greatest 
interest as a novelty, or for its horticultural merit. 
Provision is made both for amateurs and professionals, 
and altogether there are 414 classes in which prizes are 
offered. __ 
PERNS FOR TALL ROCKWORK 
AND BASKETS. 
The subject of Ferns can scarcely ever be ex¬ 
hausted, on account of their ever changeable character 
and appearance, which makes them favourites with 
most people. Although some of the species and 
varieties are deciduous during the winter season, yet, 
when they start again into growth in the spring, they 
come upon us with a new freshness that lasts all the 
spring and summer-time, and never seem to lose then¬ 
loveliness until quite denuded of their fronds in the 
depth of winter. More especially is this applicable to 
British Ferns of the Lady Fern family, whether grown 
outside or protected by glass constructions. Ferns for 
suspending must not all be classed under the title of 
basket Ferns, for many species have large arching 
fronds that bend over gracefully, and make excellent 
subjects for planting on large rockeries, either in 
winter gardens or on rockwork shaded from the strong 
sunshine in the open air. 
In some cases these special kinds of Ferns frequently 
suit the tall rockeries better than anything else, for 
when planted in this position they show their graceful 
characters to greater advantage than when grown in 
pots and elevated here and there in glasshouses—a 
method which frequently causes the exposure of red or 
unsightly pots that would be better hid from view. 
Ferns of this kind are again more suitable for planting 
on the top of rockeries or on projecting ledges of 
rockwork than erect stiff-growing sorts, such as tree 
Ferns, &c., that sometimes may be seen perched up at 
great heights, with their fronds invariably crushing 
against the roof, spoiling the whole effect that was 
intended to be produced. There are also many other 
smaller species and varieties that should always be 
planted in conspicuous positions, where they can show 
their proper habit to advantage, but by pushing them 
into out-of-the-way corners they can never properly 
develop themselves. 
In the matter of basket Ferns, too, many subjects 
are often used that are totally unfit for the purpose— 
stiff-fronded kinds, that will never droop over, and 
thus hide the basket or pot from view. The whole 
object, in my opinion, of using basket plants or Ferns 
should be to hide all artificial matter, whether of wire, 
wood, or pot. To do this effectually, sometimes more 
than one subject may be needed ; but at all times it 
should be the whole study of the workman or artist to 
make his baskets as quickly as possible a mass of 
vegetation, that will hide all traces of them from view. 
For instance, in the case of Ferns, many suspending 
varieties have bulbils attached to the ends of the fronds. 
A few of the latter, turned up and pegged down on the 
edge or sides of the basket, soon take root-hold and 
form small plants, these all helping to make fronds, 
which droop with those from the parent plant, soon 
filling up the sides of the basket and hiding it from 
view. As specially good subjects to mention for this 
work, nothing can be better than Adiantum lunulatum, 
A. ciliatum, or Nephrolepis Duffii. 
In the case of Ferns that are nicely fronded, but yet 
will never make good basket subjects by themselves, 
any of the above three will help to hide the basket 
from view quickly ; also a few plants of Asplenium 
flabellifolium, which js a quick-growing plant, pro¬ 
ducing small plants at the end of every frond, and soon 
covering the surface ; or A. obtusilobium, a Fern of 
quick growth, producing myriads of little plants freely. 
In the matter of Ferns for suspension, the subject 
has been so often dealt with, and all sorts of species 
and varieties recommended, that it almost seems folly 
to name the same things over again ; though still, in 
some cases, it can scarcely be avoided. However, a 
few may not appear out of place ; therefore, I will call 
attention to a few sorts specially suitable for the rock¬ 
work part of the programme first. 
For the tops of large rockeries, and where heat can 
be applied, what Fern can surpass a good plant of 
Cibotium Schiedii ? It is a magnificent Fern, making 
large arching fronds that bend over in the most graceful 
manner, often attaining the length of 20 ft. from the 
base of the stipe to the apex of the frond, which is pro¬ 
portionately broad, the pinnae handsomely divided and 
somewhat overlapping, giving the appearance on the 
surface of a plush-green velvet. Accompanying this 
Cibotium, the noted C. Barometz species should not be 
overlooked—not on account of its historical character, 
but because it is a Fern well adapted for planting on 
the ledges of rockwork. Its fronds drooping slightly, 
and being of a peculiar glaucous green shade on the 
under surface, always look bright and are firm in 
character. 
Another excellent genera of Ferns for the same 
purpose are the Woodwardias, W. orientalis and 
W. radicans being about the best, both making long 
arching fronds, peculiarly cut in the pinns, and bearing 
innumerable little plants on them, by which means a 
stock of young growths can easily be obtained. The 
variety W. radicans cristata is also very handsome when 
planted in a conspicuous position, its tasselled ends 
showing it off to great advantage.— TV. G. 
( To be continued.) 
THE CULTURE OF ZINNIAS, 
In light warm sandy soil Zinnia seeds will grow if 
sown in the open air, but the seeds should not be 
placed in the soil until the end of April or the be¬ 
ginning of May, and then it is necessary to put an 
inverted flower-pot over them to assist germination. 
The Zinnias are classed with the tender annuals, and 
if put out too early they are in danger of injury from 
late frosts. 
Those who grow for exhibition cultivate well, planting 
in rich soil, and mulching the surface of the beds with 
manure during the summer. Disbudding is also 
necessary if increased size and symmetry would be 
obtained. Double Zinnias are generally shown in 
stands like Dahlias and Roses. The best exhibit of 
these flowers I ever saw was in a recent show at 
Reading; the exhibitor was Mr. John 'Walker, of 
Thame, and he had cut his flowers with 9 ins. or so of 
stem, with the bold green leaves attached to them ; 
and when they were arranged in the stand some 4 ins. . 
at least of foliage was seen below the blossoms. Mr. 
Walker had blooms of large size, richly coloured and 
highly finished. 
I may remark that the single Zinnias are much less 
grown than they formerly were, owing to the im¬ 
provements made in the double forms. In the case 
of some popular flowers, the single types are pre¬ 
ferred to the double ; in others—and the Zinnia is a 
case in point—the double are preferred. And so tastes 
vary. 
Then there is Zinnia Haageana, which may be 
regarded as an improved form of Zinnia mexicana. 
There was introduced to English gardens a few years 
since a single yellow flower of large size, but of a more 
spreading as well as a dwarfer growth than the 
varieties of Z. elegans ; but it is not a popular flower, 
and never will be. A double-flowered type was 
obtained from this, but it is not much grown. Later 
on appeared another continental novelty, named 
Z. Darwinii, and it was said to have originated with a 
German firm, as the result of a cross between the 
double Z. elegans and the double Z. Haageana ; some 
variation in colour gave several varieties, but they also 
have failed to become popular ; indeed, they cannot 
hope to rival the very fine forms of Z. elegans seen in 
gardens in the present day. — R. D. 
-- 
ODONTOGLOSSUM RUCKERI- 
ANUM INSIGNE. 
The sepals and petals, and, indeed, the whole flower, 
of this variety is much larger and more conspicuous 
than in the type, the chief character of which consists 
of the pale yellow ground-colour, as seen in O. Ander- 
sonianum, being suffused, especially towards the 
margins, with a rose tint. In the present instance, 
both these colours are more distinctly and prominently 
brought out. The blotches on the sepals and petals 
are larger and more crimson than in the ordinary 
variety. 
The labellum is oblong-ovate, suddenly narrowed 
to a point, and toothed or jagged at the margins ; 
the upper part is white with a few crimson blotches, 
while the basal part is yellow. Those who do not 
already possess this fine variety would find it a 
very handsome addition to a collection. Our illus¬ 
tration was prepared from a plant in the collection of 
H. M. Pollett, Esq., Fernside, Bickley. 
-—>*o- 
A BLACK FROST. 
The real finisher of the season, in the shape of a 
very sharp frost, ranging in this locality from S° to 12°, 
visited us during the night of the 12th inst., and next 
day everything tender was flat and blackened. Whilst 
the frost was white enough—in fact, almost as white 
as if snow had fallen considerably—yet the effect was 
of the most blackening I have ever noted. Possibly, 
this arose from the fact that vegetation was for the 
time of the year unusually tender and sappy. Potatos 
especially, the day previous not much hurt and full of 
vigour, were so floored, as to resemble boiled cold 
greens. Dahlias, too, -were prostrate, with their tops 
black and apparently rotten, whilst everything half 
tender was settled effectually. 
Such a severe frost so comparatively early in the 
autumn very effectually dispels all hope of an Indian 
summer such as October sometimes presents to us. 
Leaves on trees, such as the Ash, Chestnut, and 
Sycamore, came down wholesale, literally leaving the 
branches bare. I have rarely seen such a fall of leaves 
