February 4, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
363 
and well-grown specimen at Tower House, Chiswick, 
affords ample testimony of the massive and superior 
appearance it presents compared with the type, the 
pinna; of which are narrow, making the fronds appear 
open and without substance. The fronds of the 
specimen under notice are 2 ft. or 3 ft. long, corre¬ 
spondingly broad, while so many of them are retained 
in a healthy condition by the plant that the whole 
forms a spreading mass of great decorative value, with 
the fronds overlapping one another tier after tier, and 
quite close. _ 
Cyclamens at The Manor House, 
Chislehurst. 
Having lately paid a visit to Chislehurst, I had a 
pressing invitation to go and see the Cyclamens grown 
by Mr. Heard, the gardener at the above-named place. 
Although this lovely winter flower has been a great 
favourite for several years, it is seldom that we see 
them done well in private places. I must at once 
confess that I was struck with the vigour of the plants 
and the extraordinary size and quality of the flowers, 
which was, to a great extent, the result of good culti¬ 
vation and a choice strain of seed—that of Mr. Williams. 
I hope Mr. Heard will tell you some day how he treats 
his plants to get them so fine. He is not only 
successful with the Cyclamen, but his Calceolarias and 
Cinerarias bore ample testimony of his skill as an 
accomplished cultivator—in fact, the whole of his 
houses were patterns of neatness ; and some alterations 
that were being made in the grounds must be a pleasing 
satisfaction to his employer that his abilities as a 
gardener are not confined, as is too often the case, to 
one department .—A Visitor. 
Cyp9rus Meyenianus. 
Before coming into flower, the long, rich dark green 
leaves of this species form dense tufted masses of a very 
ornamental character. Even when flowering it seems 
superior to either C. alternifolius or C. laxus. C. alter- 
nifolius is the most popular at present, and like other 
matters pertaining to gardening, this state of things 
may continue for years to come. The flower stems of 
C. Meyerianus are much shorter than those of the latter, 
while the short branches of the dense inflorescence 
radiate on all sides in a very attractive manner, and 
are subtended by long drooping bracts resembling leaves 
both in texture, colour and size. Although com¬ 
paratively new, it has found its way to Devonhurst, 
Chiswick, and when more common will, no doubt, be 
freely used for decorative purposes. 
Dombeya Mastersi. 
The species of this genus do not flower very profusely 
unless allowed to grow to a large size, as they are 
naturally shrubs or small trees attaining a considerable 
height. They are objects of great attraction, however, 
when they do flower, owing to the large umbels or heads 
produced by vigorous strong-growing plants. It has 
occasionally been said that the species under notice 
flowers on the young wood only, but a specimen that 
has been flowering in the Begonia house at Kew for 
live weeks or more, has the best and largest clusters of 
bloom on strong rampant young shoots, that have been 
pushed up since the beginning of last autumn. The 
leaves resemble those of Sparmannia africana, and never 
attain the dimensions of those of Dombeya (Astrapcea) 
Wallichi, which has been flowering for some consider¬ 
able time in the Palm house, and is notable for its dense 
massive pendent heads of red, Rhododendron-like 
flowers. The umbels of D. Mastersi assume a slightly 
nodding position, which permits the beholder to have 
the best possible view of them as they hang in their 
natural position. The flowers are white, changing to 
yellow after a month’s time, cup-shaped, and deliciously 
scented. The central cluster of stamens are pinkish, 
but not particularly conspicuous. 
Curious Cyclamen Sport. 
I SEND you a rara avis —at least, it is to me—a curious 
sport from Cyclamen persicum. The enclosed flowers 
are from a seedling plant of the giganteum strain 
(Williams) sown last February. All the blooms have 
the same character ; tell me what you think of it. I 
am retaining all the old flower-spikes, with a view to 
saving seed should they produce any.— D. Crombie, 
Powerscourt, Ennislcerry, Preland. [The specimens 
sent by our correspondent present two noticeable 
features. In the first place, the segments of the corolla 
are horizontal instead of reflexed, so as to stand upright 
in the normal pendent condition of the flower. This 
would be no unusual occurrence if the sport ended here, 
as flowers with horizontal segments are quite common 
in large batches of seedlings, one of which was recently 
certificated under the name of Butterfly. In most of 
the flowers of this kind the segments of the corolla 
spread in various directions ; while those of the speci¬ 
mens under notice were not thus loosely scattered, but 
closely imbricated or overlapping, thus constituting a 
feature of some value. The most unusual characters of 
all, however, were the amount of torsion or twisting 
presented by the corolla, the conspicuous nature of the 
venation, and the great inequality of the two sides of 
the segments. In fact, the latter showed very much 
the same lop-sided appearance as we see in Carissa 
grandiflora and many other members of the Dogbane 
family ; but in this case it was carried to a much greater 
extent, and the segments were developed into a blunt 
triangular lobe of some size. The flowers were pure 
white, with the exception of a pink tint in the throat ; 
and their chief characters, from a decorative point of 
view, were their distinct appearance and the breadth 
of the closely-overlapping segments. Should it prove 
constant, the variety is certainly worthy of preserva¬ 
tion.—E d.] —»— 
Lilium auratum. 
Gardeners are frequently asked by garden-loving 
acquaintances questions respecting the cultivation of 
various subjects in connection therewith, and sometimes 
considerable difficulty is experienced in understanding 
or remembering all that is put forth in conversation ; 
and as the gardening papers are not perused by all of 
the artisan class who feel interested in horticulture, an 
amount of valuable information is often lost or forgotten 
that would be found advantageous to many w T ere it put 
in printed form and kept for reference when occasion 
required. A friend put the following questions to me 
the other day: “When is the best time to plant 
Lilium auratum ? Where shall I get the best bulbs ? 
What kind of soil should I put them in ?” The proper 
time to plant Lilium auratum is with the Hyacinths, 
Tulips, Daffodils, &e., during the months of October 
and November ; and if not already possessed of a few, 
make immediate application to the nurseryman, who 
will supply the best bulbs at a trivial price. Should a 
few be desired for window culture or conservatory 
decoration, procure some 6-in. pots, wash them if 
necessary, and drain thoroughly by placing a large 
piece of crock in the bottom, above which put 1 in. of 
small pieces and flakes of manure to prevent the 
drainage becoming choked. Use a compost consisting 
of half peat, loam and leaf-soil in equal parts, and a 
liberal quantity of sharp sand to secure porosity. Cover 
the bulbs with 1 in. of soil, leaving room for top¬ 
dressing, which is very beneficial to the plants as they 
advance in growth. It is customary to plunge the 
pots in coco-nut fibre refuse for a month or six weeks. 
If this be not obtainable, ashes or sawdust can be sub¬ 
stituted, as the covering is only to afford protection 
from heavy rains, and to encourage root action. The 
soil in which this Lily luxuriates in the open ground 
is composed of the following ingredients—namely, 
fully one-half peat, loam and leaf-soil in equal parts, 
and a quantity of stable-manure and silver-sand. 
Many failures in its cultivation are attributed to the 
want of peat. Admirable clumps of this popular Lily 
can be had in suburban gardens by removing the soil— 
or, in many instances, brickbats and gravel—to a depth 
of 18 ins., and filling up the excavation with the 
above-mentioned compost, planting the bulbs triangu¬ 
larly 3 ins. from each other and 4 ins. deep, from which 
beautiful flowers of great fragrance may be anticipated 
by midsummer. The favourite outdoor rendezvous of 
this charming hardy Lily is in sheltered, but by no 
means shaded, spots in the shrubbery, where clumps 
can be planted and allowed to remain undisturbed for 
years. I have counted as many as twenty-three or 
twenty-four large flowers on one stem, towering above 
a bed of dwarf Rhododendrons, and perfuming the 
atmosphere for yards around.— J. Peebles. 
-- 
PLANTS EXHIBITED IN 1809. 
"We are indebted to M. Laurent Masereel, of Ghent, 
for the following interesting and nearly complete list 
of plants which were exhibited, mostly in flower, at 
Frascati, on February 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, 1809. 
This, we understand, was the first exhibition of plants 
held in Belgium, and at which only one medal was 
given as a prize. This medal is now in possession of 
the Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society of Ghent, 
which is going to hold its twelfth Quinquennial Exhi¬ 
bition in April next. The nurseryman who won the 
medal at Frascati is said to have been at the time a 
kind of travelling dealer in plants, regularly visiting 
the neighbouring towns in turns on certain days ; and 
Napoleon I. gave him a warrant, permitting him to 
visit certain towns in the north of France and trade 
in plants with the inhabitants. The committee of the 
Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society propose, at 
the forthcoming show, to commemorate the exhibition 
of 1809 by showing a group composed of as many of 
the plants named as can be obtained, and which should 
prove an interesting feature :— 
Erica triflora. Medaillc 
Correa alba [ d’encour 
Camellia japonica fl. rubro 
Cyclamen persicum 
Arbutus Andrachne 
Camellia japonica 
Dillenia scandens 
Jasminum glaucum 
Mimosa heterophylla 
Cyclamen coum 
Aletris capensis 
Rosa portlandica 
Mimosa longiflora 
Rhododendron hirsutum 
Rhododendron ponticum 
Rhododendron ferru- 
Agave striata [gineum 
Magnolia grandiflora 
Magnolia ferruginea 
Magnolia nova species 
Illieium parviflorum 
Illicium floridanum 
Viburnum lantana 
Nereum Oleander 
Daphne odorata 
Rosa ehinensis 
Daphne purpurea 
Jasmin de Valence a fleurs 
doubles 
Scylla maritima 
Pancratium amboinense 
Cineraria cruenta 
Ledum latifolium 
Ledum angustifolium 
Justicia pulcherrima 
Ceanotus discolor 
Andromeda lucida 
Andromeda rosmarinifolia 
Andromeda axillaris 
Plumbago rosea 
Phylica ericoides 
Phyliea plumosa 
Phylica spicata 
Erica herbacea 
Porlandia rosea 
Heliotropium peruvianum 
Arbutus unedo fl. pi. 
Sparmannia africana 
Reseda arborescens 
Lonicera tartarica. 
->V<~- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Dracaenas, Cycads, and Pandanus. —Work in this 
department increases, and, therefore, operations in the 
various plant houses must not be allowed to fall behind. 
Draccenas that were cut down in autumn, and the eyes 
put in to strike, will now be mostly fit for potting up. 
Should there still be leggy plants standing about, and 
no particular desire to increase the stock, stronger ones 
can be obtained in the shortest time by taking off the 
tops and striking them ; wdiile the old plants, if placed 
in the propagating pit, will soon push strong lateral 
buds, which may be taken off and rooted in the usual 
way. Pot on all young and grooving plants that 
require it; the ultimate size to wdiich they may be 
allowed to attain depends on the requirements of the 
place. 
The species of Cycas, Zamia, Macrozamia, and others 
of that class do not require very frequent potting, as 
they grow slowly ; but should the soil get into bad 
condition, become waterlogged, or compact and solid 
like a mass of clay, into which no roots can penetrate, 
the plants should be repotted, even if put back into 
those of the same size. Good substantial loam and 
sharp river-sand, with a small quantity of peat, will 
form a suitable compost. Secure good drainage. 
Sandy fibrous loam, well drained, will suit the species 
of Pandanus, as they delight in a liberal supply of water 
during the growing season. 
Gloxinias and Achijienes. —To supplement or 
succeed those already started, fresh batches should be 
taken from wherever they may have been stored, 
watered, and stood on the stages of some house where 
the temperature is moderately high. "When they have 
fairly started into growth, pot them into fresh soil, 
using a compost of fibrous peat, leaf-soil, a small 
quantity of loam, some sheep manure, and a liberal 
allowance of silver-sand. Those batches that have 
already been potted should be watered very sparingly 
if necessary at all, until fairly started into growth, so 
that the young roots may have laid hold of the soil. 
Place on shelves or stages, as near the light as possible, 
on a bed of ashes, or, better still, plunged in a bed 
of coco-nut fibre. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Primula sinensis. —Where it is intended to save 
seed of this useful class of plants, some extra attention 
should be given by selecting a batch of the very best, 
representing each shade of colour it is intended to per¬ 
petuate. These may be gone over daily and carefully 
fertilised, using a camel-hair brush. The best-habited 
and most vigorous plants should be selected for seed¬ 
bearing, dusting the stigmas with pollen from those 
