234 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 10, 1887. 
pot-hole. How such a one could have been excavated 
on the top of the Ibba-gal, I cannot imagine. There 
are leopards about thej ungle below the “ Vihare,” and 
Kurunegala is particularly prolific in cobras, a shady 
spot at the foot of the Ibba-gal path haviug the repu¬ 
tation of being especially favoured by these reptiles. 
At Batticaloa, on the east coast of the island, there 
are large tracts of thorny scrub, growing in soft, white 
sand, and here V. spathulata also grows, pervading 
the thorny clumps with its tangle, and up-rearing its 
flowers to the sun. This is a decidedly dry locality, 
more so than Kurunegala. 
So far as I have observed, this Orchid flowers when 
it can thrust its growth out of some vegetable tangle 
into the fierce blazing sunlight. In the shade its 
branches show budding leaves of bright vivid green, 
and the older ones of a darker green ; but no flower- 
spikes push from these, and the leaves are somewhat 
far apart. When the plant has forced its way into the 
sunlight, the branches begin to curl, the leaves being 
set close together, and the flower-stem springs upwards 
to a length of 18 ins., terminating in a spike of yellow 
blossom about 6 ins. long. The colour is exactly that 
of the yellow Jasmine. 
I have often brought home pieces of Yanda spathu¬ 
lata, Y. Roxburghi and V. parviflora, and placed them 
in the sunlight, and also in places shaded by large 
trees. In the former situations.they have flowered and 
prospered, but they have never done so in the latter. 
My lamented friend, the late Mr. William Ferguson, 
of Colombo, told me that the word “Vanda” is Tamil, 
equivalent for a beetle, or some such item of insect life ; 
and that the name had been generalised to denote these 
Orchids by some old Dutch governor of a botanical 
turn. If so, he probably picked it up in the north or 
east of the island, where the population is Tamil 
speaking. __ 
PRIMULA OBCONIOA. 
The extreme floriferousness of this new Chinese 
Primula will, when it becomes better known, make it a 
general favourite amongst those who have to supply 
cut flowers with long stalks. It never seems to cease 
flowering, and if a system of continuous potting on be 
adopted, it may be flowered all the year round. Its 
great usefulness will be more apparent during the 
autumn and winter months, when long-stalked flowers 
are rather scarcer than in summer. It throws up 
numerous trusses of flowers from each crown, with 
stalks in many cases 1 ft. long, bearing, on an average, 
a dozen flowers each. When grown quite cool, and 
just kept from frost, the flowers are pale rosy lilac ; 
but if a little heat be given, they will come almost 
white during the darkest of the winter months. 
There can be no doubt but that it will prove a first- 
class flower for mixing with others in the dressing of 
stands for dinner-table decoration ; and owing to its 
light and elegant appearance, will be sought after for 
that purpose. If not required for cutting, it is a capital 
plant for keeping up a continual show in the green¬ 
house, and is one which amateurs ought to grow, for 
by its use they never need be without flowers. More¬ 
over, it should not be too hastily judged when in a 
young and small state ; but by giving it ample scope 
for making strong crowns, the time spent in its culture 
will be well repaid.— TV. G. 
-- 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
Nerine Mansellii. —This lovely bulbous plant 
is a true winter-flowerer, being in bloom throughout 
the whole of December. In the fine collection of these 
plants belonging to John L. Mansell, Esq., at Somerset 
Terrace, Guernsey, it is now in great beauty, the tall 
scapes bearing from twenty to twenty-five large rose- 
pink coloured flowers on each. The leaves are very 
broad and bright green, like those of an Agapanthus, 
and altogether the specimens of Nerin e Mansellii form 
charming objects with which to finish up the protracted 
floral display of these plants, which has here attracted 
so many admiring visitors. In all eighteen distinct 
species and varieties of Nerine have bloomed well with 
Mr. Mansell this season. N. Mansellii was raised 
some years ago by Mr. J. O’Brien, between N. flexuosa 
and N. Fothergillii major or corusca, and named by 
Mr. Baker in honour of Mr. Mansell, who was the 
first to flower it to perfection. 
Chrysanthemums at Ferry House, 
Brentford. — As the Chrysanthemum season is 
rapidly drawing to a close, we cannot let it pass with¬ 
out a little comment on those at Ferry House, 
the residence of — Cunnington, Esq., where they have 
been unusually fine this year, forming a grand dis¬ 
play of well-grown specimens, large, well - formed 
flowers, and furnished with healthy dark green foliage. 
The plants are grouped in a medium-sized conservatory, 
and arranged for effect on both sides. The blooms 
from the crown buds are very fine, measuring from 8 
ins. to 10 ins. across, while Empress of India measured 
5 ins. in depth. The cut-back specimens are also very 
fine, and being dwarf they show to better advantage. 
A large specimen plant of Soeur Melanie bore irpwards 
of 100 flowers ; and amongst others I noticed Golden 
Empress, Emily Dale, Queen of England, Lady 
Talfourd, Mrs. IV. Shipman, Prince and Princess of 
"Wales. Angelina, Barbara, Peter the Great, Criterion, 
Grandiflorum, Cullingfordii, Christine, John Laing, 
Mdlle. Lacroix, M. C. Audiguier, Striatum, Fabias de 
Maderanaz, Duchess of Albany, King of Crimsons, 
Madame Cabrol, and Lady Margaret. The success is 
due to Mr. Loveland, the gardener, who takes a great 
interest in his plants, having upwards of 200, and 
over 100 varieties, the greater part of which are the 
best in cultivation. Amongst other plants we noticed 
several Pine Apples in fruit, which seem to grow 
well.— IV. P. 
Viola, Blue Bell. —I can bear testimony to the 
value of this Viola, having used it for both spring and 
summer bedding for the past fifteen years—so far as my 
memory serves me. "We purchased the stock of Mr. 
Dean, Bedfont, and I have no doubt Mr. Dean can say 
if the Yiola at Kew is the same or not. "We also pur¬ 
chased, at the same time, a variety named Royal Blue, 
but we soon found this would not stand the summer 
heat and drought on our dry, hot soil, so we discarded 
it. Blue Bell flowered with us all through the past 
trying summer. Your correspondent “ W. B. G.” will 
have a good Viola in Blue Bell.— N. Blandford, The 
Gardens, Moor Hill, Southampton. 
Muhlenbeckia complexa.— The flowers of 
this twiggy shrub are small but extremely pretty, and 
of a transparent wax-like consistency. They are not 
very freely produced, however, in the young state of 
the plant at least, which is, for garden purposes, 
admitted by general consent to be the most graceful 
and elegant. The leaves on adult plants, that is after 
they have attained some considerable size, produce 
strong vigorously growing shoots, are elongated 
and somewhat fiddle-shaped, whereas young and 
twiggy shoots develop leaves that are nearly 
orbicular, and of a dark green colour. In this 
condition the plant is very graceful indeed, and 
suitable for basket culture in the greenhouse 
or conservatory. The great value of this species 
lies, moreover, in its hardiness and suitability for 
culture in the rock-garden. Being a native of New 
Zealand we find it essential to keep it rather dry at the 
roots in winter, which is best effected by growing it 
amongst stones in an elevated and well-exposed 
position, where it outlives the winter, and proves both 
interesting and beautiful. We have seen it so grown in 
the neighbourhood of London, and atWoodside, Paisley, 
where it occupies a prominent position on the rockery. 
New Fimbriated Chrysanthemum, Mes- 
sange.— Such is the title of a new fimbriated variety 
sent us by Mr. John T. Poe, Riverston, Nenagh, 
Ireland, and a very pretty thing it is, about 3| ins. in 
diameter and nearly semi-globular in shape, with a 
regular outline. The whole of the florets are tubular 
from the circumference to the centre, which is occupied 
by a few yellow tubular florets, so short as to be 
entirely concealed by the longer and more ornamental 
ones. The latter are a bright pink with the exception 
of the tips, which are "white. The combination of the 
two colours has the effect of giving to the whole the 
colour of Peach-blossom, very much resembling what 
we have in the peach-coloured Mr. Christine. The 
white in the external florets is confined to the extreme 
tips of the teeth, and may with age disappear al¬ 
together ; while in the central florets it extends down¬ 
wards for a distance of § in. or J in. The fimbriation 
consists of long unequal-sized teeth, one to three on 
the anterior side of the florets, and two or three long 
slender teeth on the posterior side—that is, the side 
towards the centre of the head, where the florets are 
split down for half their length. The foliage is of 
great substance, and trifid or deeply pinnatifid. 
Pleroma macranthum floribundum. —The 
greatest amount of bloom is undoubtedly produced by 
this Melastomad when planted out or grown in large 
tubs—preferably the former. So grown, a plant in the 
Glasgow Botanic Garden is 12 ft. in height; while 
another in the Keble Palace, in the same garden, is 
20 ft. high, growing freely, vigorously, and covered 
with bloom produced at almost any season. The great 
height of this specimen is remarkable when we consider 
that the same variety, which is the most suitable for 
pot culture, may be flowered in small pots when only 
3 ins. high. But to do this regularly would entail 
frequent propagation of the terminal shoots; whereas, 
on the other hand, an attempt is frequently made by 
cultivators to tie down the strong-growing shoots, so as 
to restrict the plant within certain limits. Its free- 
flowering tendency is greatly impaired by this practice, 
and plants never look so well when restricted in this 
way. If planted out and allowed to attain something 
like its natural vigour against a pillar, or any well- 
lighted position in a greenhouse or conservatory, the 
most satisfactory results will accrue. The species is 
best known in gardens under the name of Lasiandra. 
Chrysanthemum St. Michael. —This is one 
of the most delightful of Pompon Chrysanthemums. 
The flowers are of medium size, highly symmetrical, 
and of a rich golden yellow colour. In addition, it is 
a rather late variety ; and it is so free that lateral 
blossoms are thrown out all the way down the stem, so 
that you can cut and come again. Add to this the 
charming white Mdlle. Marthe, and we are not far away 
from the two best Pompon Chrysanthemums in culti¬ 
vation.— R. D. 
Dimorphic Colletia.— The accepted name of a 
species very much given to variation is Colletia spinosa ; 
but a specimen is grown in the Glasgow Botanic Garden 
under the name of C. ferox, which is synonymous. The 
inclination of this species to sport would also seem to 
account for a number of other names applied to it by 
different authors from time to time, including C. 
horrida and C. polycantha, both of which, as well as 
those already mentioned, apply to the remarkably spiny 
character of the stems and branches of this plant. 
Besides the ordinary awl-shaped spines, some branches 
of the specimen under notice had developed broad, 
laterally very much flattened ones, similar in all 
respects to those of another species —namely, C. cruciata. 
Curiously enough, this part of the plant was more 
floriferous than the ordinary and typical more slender 
form. 
Brachysema lanceolata.— There are several 
ways of growing this fine old-fashioned New Holland 
plant, that is, in the matter of training, and although 
the attention of gardeners, florists, and we might say 
of amateurs, has been more especially directed to the 
improvement of soft-wooded plants for some years past, 
it is very satisfactory to find that a number of these 
old-fashioned plants are being preserved in the counby, 
until the tide of popularity so far changes, that 
hard-wooded plants will again be reinstated in their 
proper places, and receive that attention from cul¬ 
tivators they so well merit. The stems of B. lanceolata 
being long and slender it is necessary that some form 
of training be employed ; and two years ago Messrs. 
J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill (where the plants are 
grown in pots), adopted the system of tying down the 
branches, and training the whole in a somewhat 
globular or balloon shape. This system has the effect 
of inducing a free production of lateral branches, and 
consequently a great amount of bloom. The pea-shaped 
flowers are generally described as scarlet, but they are 
more nearly crimson, and the quantity of bloom on the 
plants at Forest Hill contrast beautifully with the 
dark green leaves, which are silvery on the underside, 
and occasionally exhibit it. 
The Aigburth Brussels Sprout.—I think 
this variety is worthy of notice in The Gardening 
"World, as it might be of service to some of your 
readers to know of a thoroughly good Brussels Sprout 
on which they can rely. I grew several varieties on 
trial last year, and the Aigburth proved the best of all, 
so that this season I have kept to the one variety. I 
may remark that I have as fine a batch of Brussels 
Sprouts in this garden as could be wished for, and my 
employers say that they have never seen a better or 
had a finer-flavoured Sprout than this. As to hardiness, 
there is nothing to beat it; and I may add that it was 
sent out some few years ago by the Messrs. Ker, of 
Aigburth Nurseries, near Liverpool.— G. Tyler, Plas- 
tirion, near Carnarvon. 
Reineckia carnea variegata. —The specific 
name of this plant refers to the colour of the flowers, 
which resemble, in some degree, those of the Lily of 
the Yalley ; but the value of the plant, from a horti¬ 
cultural point of view, depends on the foliage, which 
springs from the short, creeping, rhizomatous stems in 
dense, graceful, arching tufts. The plant is quite 
hardy, and produces broad spreading patches when 
