March 31, 1888. 
• THE GARDENING WORLD- 
491 
gallons of water and stable drainings, the latter not 
being used very strong. 
Disbudding: This operation must commence about 
the middle of August, and continue forward until all 
the buds are secured, leaving only one to each shoot, 
removing all that may form round the centre one ; also 
remove any little side shoots which may appear below 
the stems. 
Pests: If, whilst the plants are in the open air, 
green-fly puts in an appearance, the best way to destroy 
them is to dust the plants with tobacco powder or 
snuff, early in the morning when the foliage is damp. 
Several species of caterpillars infest the plants, which 
are a source of much trouble, and can only be destroyed 
by hand picking. A diligent search for these depre¬ 
dators must be made daily, especially after the buds 
are set. Mildew often makes its appearance towards 
the autumn ; this must be kept in check by syringing 
the foliage with a mixture of one ounce of soft-soap to 
each gallon of water, with a little flowers of sulphur 
mixed with it. It is advisable to syringe with this 
mixture before housing the plants, whether affected 
or not, as this acts as a prevention, which is better than 
cure.— J. Walker. 
--- 
ARDENING ffflSCELLANY. 
Galanthus Elwesii. 
This Snowdrop, the finest of all now cultivated in our 
gardens, is not met with nearly so often, nor in such 
quantities as its great merits would deserve. Size, 
form, colour, length of blooming-season, and hardiness, 
are some of the good qualities it possesses ; seldom all 
found in the same plant. Though G. plicatus and G. 
Imperati can at least boast of size, still they do not 
possess the same fine development of form as G. Elwesii, 
nor have they the very distinct and beautiful markings 
which are found on the three inner segments of this 
plant. I have again this spring found the period of 
blooming remarkably long, having gathered the first 
bunch of blooms about the 25th of January ; and now 
I have before me as I write (March 27th), a good bunch 
of late blooms. Amongst a large number of the 
Snowdrops grown here I noticed several distinct forms, 
and had I selected them earlier in the spring, I should 
have been able to send a representative set for illustra¬ 
tion. I have sent some more blooms with globose 
ovaries, showing that the one figured last week was 
not altogether an exceptional thing. — J. T. Poe, 
Piverston, Nenagh. — 
Spring Flowering Plants. 
A very pretty and interesting feature at the late 
Preston Spring Show, consisted of collections shown 
by J. B. Dixon, Esq., and the Misses ffarington, of 
“twenty pots of bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes in 
6-in. pots.” I noticed in the groups several old- 
fashioned plants now seldom seen at shows, but which 
are always objects of pleasure and interest. Besides 
Callas, Tydeas, Gloxinias, Amaryllis, Eucharis, 
Narcissus, Hyacinths, and Tulips, there were some 
good pots of Iris reticulata, Lachenalia bicolor, Scilla 
sibirica and S. nutans alba, Snowdrops, Tropsolum 
tricolorum, Anemone fulgens, Trillium grandiflorum, 
Eritillarias and Liliums. These were much admired, 
each plant being well grown and flowered, and reflecting 
credit on their respective owners. — W. S. 
“ A Grower ” prefers larger pots ; but with us success 
has proved more certain with small ones at that ofttimes 
dull season of the year when neither much soil nor 
moisture are essential. It will be noticed, too, that at 
the time I recommend the first stopping the plants 
will have made good headway, and will have several 
joints to break from, which they certainly will do 
when grown under cool treatment If potted quite 
firmly, and thoroughly exposed to sun and air when 
outside elements will permit, their natural breaks will 
be more frequent. If kept in strong heat and large 
pots, gross growth is caused, necessitating frequent 
stoppings, and a less hardy constitution—objects to be 
studiously avoided. Early potting and stopping means 
plenty of time for them to make and consolidate their 
growths—much preferable, in my opinion, to plants 
placed in 12-in. pots at the end of July, a size not often 
so accommodating as two well-grown plants in 6-in. 
pots, entailing less labour and attention than under the 
exotic treatment.— J. F. 
Successful Mignonette Culture. 
Mr. A. 'Waters, Farington House, near Preston, has 
at the present time some grand examples of Mignonette 
in pots. These were sown last July in small pots, the 
seedlings as they appeared being thinned out to the num¬ 
ber desired, which, in due course, were potted, and when 
necessary were again potted into 8-in. pots. They were 
then stood on pots on the front stage of the greenhouse, 
and attended to in regard to staking and tying, so that 
at the present time they are about 18 ins. above the 
pots, 1 yard or more round, full of stout and vigorous 
foliage, and covered with fine heads of sweet-scented 
flowers. To lovers of this plant—and who do not 
admire it ?—these are capital examples of good culture. 
Mr. Waters has also a fine lot of Eucharis amazonica 
free from mite or any other ailment. These have 
rewarded him with a fine batch of flowers, and can be 
made to do so again at almost any reasonable period. 
The Vines at this establishment are examples of 
excellent culture. I hope, however, to see them a 
little later on, when I will send a few notes respecting 
them. — W. Swan. 
The New Garden Pest. 
After reading the account given by “ E. T. B.” 
(p. 154) of this new enemy to the gardener—namely, 
the Orthezia insignis—I felt very much interested in 
the new comer, and had a quiet stroll through the 
hothouses at Kew to see if the evil was anything more 
than an imaginary one, or whether, especially on being 
made public, the authorities there had taken steps to 
eradicate the pest. Even after the dull winter season 
the Orthezia seems as flourishing as ever, without 
apparently being molested in any way. There is no 
difficulty in finding it, as it is rather a sluggish and 
conspicuous insect of some size, resembling on super¬ 
ficial examination the appearance of a mealy-bug. On 
closer inspection, however, there is not the least 
difficulty in identifying the adult female specimens 
with the excellent illustration given by “ E. T. B.” 
Besides the plant given by your correspondent as the 
favourite haunt of this siugular insect, others are also 
affected, such as Gesnera elongata, belonging to another 
family of plants grown in the Begonia house, where it 
was stated to have first been noticed. Plants allied to 
the Strobilanthus, however, seem to be most affected, 
such as Barleria and Goldfussia isophylla. A colony 
has also found its way to the Palm-house, where 
Justicia hyssopifolia is severely attacked. —A Gardener. 
Double-flowering Zonal Pelargoniums. 
In reply to “ A Grower ” (p. 457) whose kindly-dis¬ 
posed criticism and cultural details one cannot fail 
to appreciate, and who, in providing plants in 12-in. 
pots well furnished and suitable for producing large 
quantities of flowers in mid-winter, most worthily 
justifies his nom de 'plume. That plants can be 
grown in one season to the above dimensions I am 
fully aware, though not for the above purpose, the 
object in view being to obtain good foundations for 
working up exhibition specimens the following season. 
Even then they are not flowered in 12-in. pots ; but 
after resting through the winter, are shaken out, root- 
pruned, and potted back into 10-in. pots, relying more 
upon the aid of artificial stimulants than a large mass 
of soil. The large-potting system has been discarded 
by us long since for plants generally in favour of 
smaller pots ; and though these incur rather more 
attention with the water-pot during very hot weather, 
yet we find our extra labour is fully compensated by 
more useful-sized and perfected plants, much more 
suitable for their various purposes. In striking them, 
Renton’s Monarch Leek. 
This excellent Leek, which is the result of a cross 
between the Eouen and Carentan varieties, was raised 
by Mr. Renton, Lees, Coldstream, and was distributed 
four or five years ago by Mr. Inglis, seedsman, Kelso. 
But, from the supply of seed (which was not plentiful 
at the time of distribution) being short, or from 
some other causes unknown to me, it seems a long 
time in coming to the front, where it undoubtedly has 
a right to be. Both as an exhibition and culinary 
vegetable, long before the seed was given to the public, 
the Leeks grown by the raiser and his friends had 
taken leading prizes at many of the exhibitions on the 
Scotch and English borders, and at least one first 
prize at the autumn exhibition in Edinburgh. The 
average size of this vegetable when fairly grown is 
16 ins. long and 4 ins. in circumference ; these figures 
apply to the white or cooking portion only, which is of 
good flavour and very firm. I may mention that 
Coldstream is rather famous for large Leeks, and for a 
good strain of seed; in fact, the inhabitants are 
occasionally troubled with what is called, in local 
parlance, “ the Leek fever,” and it is no uncommon 
occurrence to see an intending exhibitor poking his 
fingers down to the roots of his Leeks to learn what 
length of white there is below ground, while his 
friends stand by in breathless expectation. — J. T., 
Arlary. — 
What Next? 
For many years Centropogon Lucyanus has been 
grown at Kew, where it was stated to be a garden 
hybrid produced between C. fastuosus as the seed 
parent, and Siphocampylus betulmfolius as the pollen 
parent. This has been recognised as the true state of 
matters for a considerable number of years, and further, 
that the plant was raised from the parentage above 
given by M. Desponds, of Marseilles, in 1856. A 
figure of it is given in the Ptvue Horticole for 1868, t. 291. 
In the leaves and shape of the flowers it bears con¬ 
siderable resemblance to C. fastuosus, the seed parent, 
but has larger and somewhat broader leaves, that are 
also very different from those of Siphocampylus 
betukefolius. At Kew, the parentage is now ignored, 
and the plant is stated to be a native of Cuba, as if it 
were a distinct species. How does all this come about, 
and what is the motive of the authorities at that 
national establishment for radical alterations like these 
of old and well-known facts ? — A Gardener. 
Douglasia laevigata. 
There are four or five species of this genus as at present 
known, that under notice being described as new to 
this country. D. Vitaliana—generally known under 
the name of Androsace, or Aretia Vitaliana—represents 
the genus in the European flora. The plant under 
notice forms dwarf, compact, rosette-like tufts of dark 
green leaves resembling those of Dianthus alpinus or 
Lychnis alpina in no small degree ; and judging from 
appearances, this species possesses a more vigorous and 
robust constitution than most of the kinds of Androsace 
cultivated in gardens, with the exception, perhaps, of 
A. lanuginosa and A. sarmentosa from the Himalayas. 
The flower-stems, including the flowers themselves, do 
not much exceed 1 in. in height, and for the plant bear 
comparatively large rose-coloured flowers with a red 
eye. It comes from the Rocky Mountains, and should 
it prove perfectly at home in our climate, will un¬ 
doubtedly become an acquisition for the rock garden. 
At present it may be seen in the hardy plant house at 
Kew. _*_ 
Chorozema cordata splendens. 
With the remarks made at p. 475 respecting this old 
favourite I think everyone will agree. It is unques¬ 
tionably one of the most beautiful and profuse winter¬ 
flowering plants that we have, and its adaptability to 
various modes of training renders it all the more 
serviceable. Pillars in conservatories will present a 
notable appearance if covered with it. It also con¬ 
stitutes an important feature as a specimen plant, and 
when neatly trained in balloon or pyramidal shape 
and wholly covered with flowers it is very attractive 
and useful during the winter months.-— J. Peebles. 
The Hop Aphis. 
It would be exceedingly interesting to learn from some 
of the Kentish fruit growers how far experience has 
with them borne out Mr. Whitehead’s assumption that 
the Damson forms in the winter a “host” plant for 
this insect pest. It is generally noticed that insects 
destructive to one race of plants are found to frequent 
some others which are allied to the first in family or 
genus. Hops and Damsons have, however, no affinity, 
and there is nothing to lead to the inference that the 
latter, being simply deciduous trees, are more favoured 
than are hedgerow trees, Nuts, or even Apples, Pears, 
or Cherries. If there were to be shown any special 
reason for the Aphis vegetating through the winter on 
the Damson, then it would be more easily understood ; 
but I wish specially to refer to the fact that whilst an 
evil is pointed out, the proposed remedy—viz., washing 
the trees—seems absolutely incomplete. Unless a 
powerful fire-engine, with a wonderful supply of water, 
were at hand, it is certain that any practical good in 
washing the trees could not result. Still further, there 
is the fact that much of the fruit hangs as long as the 
leaves, especially where it is desirable to make a late 
market. Then we should like to know to what extent 
Hop gardens are free from the Aphis to which there are 
no contiguous Damson trees, because it is obvious that 
if there be no such “host” trees near, either the 
insects must be absent in the summer through lack of 
winter resting-places, or else the assumption as to 
the Aphis specially frequenting Damson trees is baseless. 
