May 5 , 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
567 
flowering for some time unprotected on the rockery in 
the nursery mentioned. The stems are leafy to the 
top, with the linear channelled bright green leaves 
arranged in two rows, and so different in appearance 
from Irises in general that there is some excuse for 
applying the name I. orchioides. The flowers are 
large for an early-flowering species, and bright golden 
yellow, with two black spots on the falls, which are 
the broadest and most conspicuous organs of the flowers, 
which are produced in succession from the axils of the 
upper bracts. 
Saxifraga coedifolia purpurea. 
The variety here mentioned is the darkest flowered of 
all the Megasea section, with the exception of S. pur- 
purascens, a Himalayan species, whereas the subject 
under notice comes from Siberia, and is consequently 
much hardier. The purple flower scapes rise well 
above the foliage, exhibiting the deep purple blooms to 
advantage. Being of vigorous growth and perfectly 
hardy, it should be planted on prominent places of the 
rockery, where it has plenty of room to develop and 
make itself as conspicuous as its merits deserve. In a 
sheltered sunny spot the flowers will expand earlier, 
but the crowns ripen better and the flowers are finer 
and more robust when the plants are grown on a fully- 
exposed position. It is now flowering on the rockery 
at Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
Saxifkaga purpurascens. 
In this we have one of the most distinct of the Megasea 
section of Saxifrages, with rich purple flowers produced 
in panicles on purple scapes, rising from a tuft of 
leathery-looking leaves, that are also heavily stained 
with purple, giving them a metallic appearance. The 
latter are also obsoletely toothed at the margin, almost 
entire, and perfectly distinct from those of the other 
members of this giant-leaved group, and are both 
dwarfer and more refined in appearance. It is a native 
of the Himalayas, from whence it was introduced in 
1850. We noticed it in flower in Mr. T. S. Ware’s 
nursery, Hale Farm, Tottenham. There are also two 
other noteworthy kinds—namely, S. Stracheyi Milesii, 
with pure white flowers, and ciliate serrated leaves, 
sessile on the sheathing base ; and S. S. pubescens, 
with shortly-stalked leaves, roughly pubescent at the 
margin, and having pure white flowers. The latter is 
intermediate between the type and S. S. thysanodes, 
which has coarse hairy leaves. 
POLEMONIUM CONFEKTUM. 
It is generally admitted that many of the species and 
forms of Polemonium are rather confused and difficult 
of discrimination, but such is not the case with this 
Rocky Mountain species, which was introduced as 
recently as 1885, and is, therefore, to be considered as 
new. The flowers are rich blue, funnel-shaped, and 
aggregated umbel fashion on the top of slightly leafy 
stems about 6 ins. in height. The leaves are linear in 
outline, and pinnate, with the leaflets densely crowded 
in threes all along each side, giving them a most 
curious and distinct appearance. In fact they might 
be compared to those of a Milfoil, with very broad 
segments, or rather to the less well-known Ivesia. 
It has been flowering for some time in the nursery of 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm, Tottenham. 
Triteleia uniflora. 
This pretty little bulbous plant is very showy now on 
the herbaceous border, and although there is only one 
flower on each stalk (hence its name), yet they are verv 
freely produced. The past season being so dry has 
doubtless suited it, as I never remember seeing it any¬ 
thing like equal to what it has been for the past 
fortnight. In colour, it varies from white with 
porcelain-blue shading to light blue. 
Anemone apennina. 
Amongst the Windflowers the subject of this note is 
well worthy of extended cultivation. Its pretty clean 
blue flowers are very light and effective for cutting 
purposes, and stand well for that object. It will grow 
in almost any situation, but as may naturally be 
expected, flowering earlier when in a warm sheltered 
spot. 
Anemone fulgens. 
This species is also very showy just now, being of 
bright scarlet with dark centre. It is a rich-looking 
flower, whether in the border or in a cut state, and 
being an old inhabitant of gardens, it is frequently to 
be met with in large clumps, thus making a striking 
object in its season. I cannot see what there is in the 
double form to cause it to become such a favourite in 
some quarters ; certainly for appearance and effective¬ 
ness the single is far to the front.— E. Dumper. 
Primula acaulis, Scott Wilson. 
This striking and showy variety seems a great advance 
towards a true blue Primrose. The old-fashioned P. 
elatior ccerulea, although pretty in itself, is in no way 
to be compared with the intense bluish violet of the 
variety under notice. The golden yellow band sur¬ 
rounding the mouth of the tube gives a lively expression 
to the dark colour of the lamina. It is now flowering 
in the nursery of Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm, 
Tottenham. 
Primula denticulata. 
Amongst early-flowering plants P. denticulata and its 
varieties hold a foremost place. Hot particular as to 
soil or situation, they lighten up the garden during the 
early days of spring in a very cheerful manner, and later 
in the season the foliage is by no means to be despised, 
especially that of varieties which show the yellow mealy 
dust on the surface of the leaves. The best method of 
obtaining a stock of plants is by seed, which germinates 
very freely when sown in cold frames, and a few packets 
obtained from different seedsmen will give a good variety. 
Iris tuberosa. 
This is an interesting little flower that deserves more 
attention than is usually bestowed upon it. The 
external divisions are of a dull brown colour, very 
faintly tinged with yellow, reminding one of a small 
fragment of velvet. A few pots or pans of this 
plant are worth a corner in the cold frame, as in this 
position it flowers a little earlier than in the open. 
Early Anemones. 
Ho garden should be without a few plants of A. apen¬ 
nina blanda. It is a lovely deep blue flower, and runs 
the Snowdrop very close for being the earliest to bloom. 
On a sunny bank, or in the most sheltered part of the 
rock garden, is its best position for early flowers. 
The Pasque Flower. 
Anemone pulsatilla is another Anemone that should 
finda place where early blooms are admired. It will 
grow in almost any soil, but is especially happy where 
it can find chalk. Being a British plant, it has an extra 
claim to a good position in an English flower garden. 
Anemone nemorosa alba plena. 
The double form of the "Wood Anemone, is flowering 
very freely with us on heavy clay soil, and is certainly 
a desirable plant for such a position. It is one of 
those old-fashioned subjects that should be planted 
largely anywhere in the wild garden that is not specially 
devoted to other plants.— J. TP. 0., Pinner. 
--> 5 ;<- 
§f0TES FROM 
Pansies and Violas. —Among the useful plants 
of hardy nature to give an early and permanent display 
of inflorescence throughout the season, none are more 
serviceable than Pansies and Violas raised from seed. 
Early last August we sowed some packets of these 
purchased from two distinguished growers, pricked 
them out on a border facing the east (the only space 
we had at liberty at the time), and late in autumn 
frames were placed over the seedlings. They are now 
in excellent order for planting out—coming into flower 
at once they give a lively effect. There have been few 
losses in wintering them, and on deeply cultivated 
ground, well enriched with manure, there need be no 
fear of failure. By obtaining seed from select stocks, 
excellent large flowers may be relied on, and the vigour 
of the plants, as well as their free-flowering proclivities, 
render them decidedly superior to plants from cuttings. 
We have some thousands of choice rooted cuttings, 
which were struck in the borders beside the seedlings, 
and their value is in having the colours distinct for 
bedding. In every part of the kingdom these can be 
grown successfully by deep trenching.— Caledonian. 
Hardiness of Beetroot. — When recently 
clearing off some bedding plants which had been left 
to cover the ground during winter we found in a 
breadth of Antennaria a number of roots of Beet, which 
had remained after the tops had died down, after doing 
duty as “ dot ” plants. They were perfectly sound, and 
apparently uninjured by the severity of the weather. 
Beet is valued by many when dug fresh from the soil, 
in preference to the roots which have been lifted and 
stored, and we do not wonder at this, as they are very 
tender, juicy, and richly flavoured when removed fresh 
from the land to the culinary department. We often 
keep roots late into winter in the ground by drawing 
soil over them, forming ridges ; but when the crop has 
to be lifted and stored, there is not a more satisfactory 
system than by placing the roots into pits—not too high 
—and covering them with soil.— Caledonian. 
Rhododendrons grown without Peat.— 
We have heard much about this lately, but the idea is 
a very old one, and all who have peat in abundance (as 
is so common on many northern estates) will make use 
of their advantage. Loams differ very much, and 
where lime and chalk abound in the soil, few finely- 
grown Rhododendrons will be seen. We could refer to 
many parts of England where their growth, in the 
loam of the district, was tried in the most indefatigable 
manner with but poor success. We know what it is to 
have the greatest of success by planting as undergrowths 
in plantations, slopes of hills, as well as to belt round 
and clothe pleasure grounds. We also know what it is 
to try the same thing elsewhere and be rewarded by 
the most miserable results—rusty stunted growths 
everywhere. The hardy Pontieum, used so extensively 
for undergrowth in the north, seldom fails, but the 
finer class of hybrids grown under similar conditions, 
and although grafted on the Pontieum, are not quite so 
manageable. We have planted in Wilts, Oxfordshire, 
and Suffolk, in the soil of the district, but the work 
was a failure compared with the same system adopted 
in the north. For the last five seasons we have planted 
considerable consignments of choice kinds as well as 
the Pontieum class, but can tell to a plant where peat 
has been well mixed along with the natural soil. 
Mulching with well-rotted manure is also a capital 
adjunct to the free growth and fine flowering of 
Rhododendrons.— Caledonian. 
Spurs on Fruit Trees. —It has never been our 
privilege to see a finer promise of fruit than is exhi¬ 
bited on wall trees generally this year. We have 
always been in touch with the system of inducing spurs 
to form all over the trees, and where there is an 
abundance of these, well managed, there need be little 
fear of good supplies of fruit being forthcoming at the 
proper season. There are some, however, who adopted 
the system of spurring trees, and give it up as a failure, 
and no wonder, because the system is adverse to 
fruitfulness. When the shoots are allowed to grow 
outward from the walls, and added to year by year, 
fruit-setting and maturing is rendered almost impos¬ 
sible, and the appearance becomes hideous. The 
practice of some is to retain gross watery wood which 
cannot be induced to form fruit spurs ; others pinch the 
wood back so close that the growth starts from the 
base, and does not ripen. To get spurs formed which 
remain close to the wall is simple and effectual. After 
the trees have made shoots, as may be desired, all over 
the walls equidistant, we make use of the roots ; not 
by encouraging them to run right across the ground, 
but by cutting back all which are inclined to be gross, 
keeping the ground firm round about them till the 
space becomes matted like a turf with roots, and when 
there is such a mass of fibre there is little difficulty in 
having an abundance of short, natural spurs. Th6 
appearance of the trees are very handsome when the 
branches are perfectly straight, widening at the ends 
to about 15 ins. or so, and on one, or both sides, 
clustered with spurs as close to the wall as they can 
stick. When any symptoms of grossness appears it 
is easy to regulate the growth by timely stopping. As 
spurs become old they are cut out, and by keeping the 
trees fairly vigorous the vacant spaces are easily filled. 
We never at any time had such crops of Cherries as 
last year, and the present season all the trees are a 
mass of fruit-buds. Morello trees seem overladen 
with buds, both on spurred trees and those with shoots 
laid in ; but in all cases the roots have had more 
manipulation than the branches. It is useless, as well as 
being against nature, to cut and chop young wood with 
the view of forming fruit-buds if the roots are allowed 
to run wild. There is a prejudice against spurs, but 
the management of them is the cause of it.— Caledonian. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.— The 
monthly meeting of this association was held on Tuesday 
night in 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, the presi¬ 
dent, Mr. Alex. M’Kinnon, occupying the chair. Mr. 
W. Ivison Macadam delivered a lecture on “The 
Elements present in Plants.” After referring to the 
importance of the subject to practical gardeners, he 
showed the connection between chemistry, the plant, 
the soil, and the atmosphere in which the plant grew. 
Regarding the chemical composition of the plant in 
health and disease, he stated that the problem in 
reality was, “ How can I grow the best plants, obtain 
the best blooms, and at the same time keep my 
specimens in the best health?” The constituents 
present in plants were next alluded to, and the source 
of these was shown. 
SCOTLAND. 
