July 28, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
763 
ARDENING MISCELLANY. 
Notes from Oakwood. 
I SEND a few notes of observations lately made at our 
experimental garden at Oakwood, Wisley. The late 
weather, so objectionable to mortals and so bad for the 
hay, has thoroughly suited some plants. "We have 
never before had Meconopsis Walliehii nearly in such 
beauty as it is in this year, both the blue and the 
purple varieties. Having learnt at Kew that this 
requires a damper situation than M. nepalensis, we 
gave it this in some instances, and the cloudy damp 
weather seems to be just what it likes. The flowers of 
Iris Iviempferi also last longer than they do in the 
sunny weather which usually prevails when they are 
out. I have always believed of this Iris that it was 
important the seed should be sown as soon as ripe, 
that the roots should not be in the water, and that the 
clumps should not be disturbed. Unsuitable weather, 
a pressure of engagements, and other matters prevented 
the seed—which ought to have been in the ground last 
autumn—being sown till May last, when, to my surprise, 
it came up thickly in about a month. I should mention 
that the seed was kept in the pods, but many of them 
had opened. A few plants which I tried with the roots 
in the water look healthy and are blooming well, and a 
visitor to our garden tells me that he has seen a sketch 
taken in Japan where the plants were quite in the 
water. Some of my oldest clumps being rather bare in 
the middle I broke a few up into six or seven pieces, 
and planted them quite near the undisturbed ones, 
where they are blooming the best. I think these 
unexpected results may be worth recording. —George 
F. Wilson, Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath. 
Aquilegia chrysantha. 
Assuredly this is one of the most handsome hardy 
plants that adorns our flower borders at the present 
time, and merits passing notice in your columns as 
being a plant amongst plants, so to speak, and quite 
distinct in colour and appearance from all other 
Columbines, of which family it must, I think, take 
the proud title of being the best. [?] The flowers are of 
a beautiful canary-yellow, with long spurs, and are 
produced on long slender foot-stalks growing to a 
height of 2 ft. or 3 ft., which gives it quite a noble 
look, or, as we call it here, the “aristocrat of the 
border.” It is easily raised from seed, and may be 
sown as soon as ripe, and wintered in a cold frame ; or 
it may be sown in spring, and planted out in the open 
border when large enough.— H. 
Stenactis speciosa. 
We have in this plant a very excellent composite, 
belonging to the natural order Asteracese, that ought 
to find a place in all collections of hardy herbaceous 
plants. Introduced from California so long ago as 
1831, it seems somewhat strange that it is so seldom 
met with in private gardens, seeing that it is so useful 
for cutting and mixing with other hardy flowers along 
with Ferns and grasses for room decorations. Add to 
this its freedom of flowering, together with the fact that 
it will thrive and flower in almost any soil or situation, 
and my reason is given for calling attention to it at 
the present time. The plant grows about 2 ft. high, 
and has pale lavender-coloured flowers with yellow 
centre, somewhat resembling a Michaelmas Daisy in 
general appearance.—Hi J. H. 
Lily of the Valley. 
On p. 730, your correspondent, “W. G.,” gives the 
readers of The Gardening World an instance where 
Lily of the Valley crowns have been potted in November 
and placed in heat for early flowering, but have given 
late flowers instead. 11 W. G. ” asks if any other reader of 
this journal has experienced a like instance. Last 
November I had some clumps (imported) from a well- 
known firm, and which I potted up immediately after 
unpacking them. After I had potted them up I stood 
them close together, and covered them over with ashes 
about 6 ins. deep. My first batch was put into heat 
the last week in November, but as I had not the 
means of plunging the pots in hot material, I placed 
some moss on the hot-water pipes and stood them on 
it, while another pot of the same size, hut empty, was 
turned upside down and placed over the crowns. My 
object was to have flowers in January, and I had one 
spray from eight 32-size pots. Several of the crowns 
elongated about 1 in., and no more; consequently, the 
lot were placed in a cold frame, where they remained 
till about the middle of May, when I had them turned 
out of the pots and planted on a north border, where 
others have year after year been planted after forcing. 
To my surprise these same eight clumps are now 
flowering, and with this note I send you a spray that 
you may see and judge for yourself. An instance of 
this kind has never before come under my notice, and 
though I forced three other batches from the same 
source and under the same conditions, they all turned 
out satisfactorily. — C. G. 
Anemone, King of the Scarlets. 
Theee is no man of my acquaintance who grows this 
magnificent strain of Anemone with so much success as 
Mr. B. Gilbert, Bourn Dyke Nurseries, Lincolnshire, 
who by duly selecting a stock yearly from the finest 
blooms, tries with all his might to send them out true 
to colour, but the sportive character of this class of 
plants is very annoying, as “a rogue” will crop up 
occasionally. I try to comfort him by remarking 
that “variety is charming,” but he answers with a 
shake of the head or a shrug of the shoulder. I 
believe, however, that Mr. Gilbert takes great pains 
with the flower, and he hopes the last fault of the 
striped variety has now been eliminated.— R. Gilbert, 
Burghley. 
Cauliflower, Early Erfurt. 
A sowing of the seed of this useful variety was made 
in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society during 
the month of March last. Of course at that early 
period and owing to the unfavourable nature of the 
weather, the sowing was made in a box. They were 
pricked off and finally planted in the open border on 
the 16th of June, and the first of them were ready for 
use by the 3rd of July. For some time past they have 
been in excellent condition, affording firm, moderate¬ 
sized heads, of a snow-white colour and excellent in 
quality. The foliage is by no means bulky like the 
late Cauliflowers and Broccolis, but moderate ingrowth, 
so that the variety would constitute an excellent sort 
for early work, because it could be planted closely on 
borders, producing a large number of useful heads on a 
small piece of ground. Early Erfurt was the only early 
variety that did any good in the gardens last year, 
because it was fit for use before that memorable drought 
occurred. In dry seasons, therefore, it has proved as 
economical a sort as could be grown, while wet weather 
does not harm it. 
Lilium giganteum. 
A plant of this fine species has flowered with us this 
summer for the first time. The stem is 5 ft. 10 ins. 
high, with seven fully-developed flowers. The bulb 
was planted in the open ground in 1883, but has been 
taken up every autumn until last year, and to this 
latter fact I believe its flowering is due. Our soil is 
not exactly favourable for Lilies, being heavy and on a 
cold clay sub-soil. In close proximity to the former 
Lily is growing some clumps of Lilium testaceum, 
towering quite 6 ins. above the giant Lily, the flowers 
being of a pale buff colour. This species seems as free 
on our soil as the old white one, with which it makes a 
pleasing associate.— J. W. Odell, Pinner. 
Hypericum calycinum. 
Although really a native of South-east Europe, this 
old-fashioned sub-shrub has become naturalised in 
several parts of these islands, especially in the south. 
It is popularly known as Aaron's Beard, from the mass 
of long yellow stamens that fill up the centre, and is 
also termed the Rose of Sharon, from the notion that 
it was the plant mentioned under that name in 
Scripture. During summer it makes a rampant 
growth, usually flowering in great profusion, and the 
deep shining green, almost persistent leaves are so 
showy in themselves as to constitute a rich and 
beautiful carpeting for banks and borders, especially 
where shaded by trees, and where large quantities of 
Ivy would look common. In the grounds of Chiswick 
House, Chiswick, there are several borders, banks, and 
mounds that are now in charming condition, from the 
profusion of large brilliant yellow flowers that rest as 
it were on the top of this living greenery. It is 
extremely hardy and not particular as to soil, but of 
course increases with greatest rapidity when in 
moderately rich free soil. It increases fast by means 
of underground stems, and when the foliage gets 
destroyed towards the end of winter, growth com¬ 
mences afresh from these underground stems. 
The Rush Broom. 
The shrub enjoying this appellation has so been named 
on account of the Rush-like appearance presented by 
the stems, especially in winter, when leafless. The 
shoots are long, twiggy, deep green, and therefore, like 
the common Broom are described as evergreen, although 
leafless. It is now flowering in many gardens in the 
southern counties, and we noticed several well-flowered 
specimens in the shrubberies at Merton Lodge, Chis¬ 
wick. In general appearance it differs from the Broom 
of our commons and banks by its stouter twigs, larger 
leaves, and golden yellow flowers. In winter, it is a 
very characteristic plant in the shrubberies on account 
of its smooth evergreen twigs, and might be used very 
effectively in park shrubbery, in connection with Dog¬ 
woods and Willows presenting other distinct colours. 
-- 
The Gardeners' Calendar. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Primulas and Cinerarias. —The earliest hatch of 
Chinese Primulas intended to come into flower late in 
autumn should receive their final shift into 32-sized 
pots. Keep off all bloom as it appears on the more 
precocious or forward specimens, and encourage a 
healthy vigorous growth, ventilation at the same time 
being freely given, so as to- prevent the foliage from 
becoming weakly and drawn. The lights of the frame 
in which they are grown should be w T ell tilted up night 
and day, and during the prevalence of fine weather 
they would enjoy the dews of night, and be greatly 
benefited, provided that heavy rain does not occur, 
such as has prevailed lately. When exposed to rain 
the matter of watering becomes difficult, as the surface 
of the pots only may be wet, or others may actually be 
waterlogged. Good results, in any case, could not he 
expected if young and growing stuff is thus exposed. 
Cinerarias must also receive due attention, as they 
never do so well afterwards if allowed to become pot- 
bound for want of a shift, nor must they be allowed to 
become dry, otherwise they lose the large leaves which 
are laying the foundation for a good growth. Aphides 
prove exceedingly troublesome to Cinerarias, and the 
plants must be carefully looked after to check the first 
attack of the enemy by fumigating lightly with tobacco 
on several alternate nights if there appears to be any 
necessity. It is well to be careful in the matter of 
fumigating these plants, because the foliage is easily 
damaged, ruining not only the appearance hut the 
vigour of the plants. 
Poinsettias and Edphorbias. —The earlier batches 
of Poinsettias and Euphorbia fulgens (generally known 
as E. jacquiniseflora) should now be put into their 
flowering pots if that has not already been done. 
After re-potting they may be immediately watered, 
not resorting to it again till they are evidently getting 
very dry, or else show signs that they have thoroughly 
taken to the new soil. Wherever they may be kept at 
present, either in pits, frames or otherwise, they should 
be kept near the glass, and receive abundant ventilation 
to keep them dwarf and sturdy. A dwarf set of 
Poinsettias with smaller bracts may be obtained by 
striking a batch of cuttings now. They will prove 
very useful for the front of the staging in the houses 
about Christmas time. Put the cuttings singly into 
thumb pots, so that when rooted they receive no check, 
hut grow along steadily. For the final shift 48-size 
pots will be large enough for them. 
Show and Fancy Pelargoniums. —As these go 
out of flower take cuttings of as many as are desired 
before drying them off, as in this condition they root 
readily, making good plants for flowering in spring, 
when they arc appreciated for conservatory decoration. 
The old plants should then he stood out of doors and 
gradually dried off. During wet weather this may be 
difficult to do in the absence of a glass-roofed shed or 
similar structure, open at all sides. The plants may, 
however, when it is possible to do so, be tilted over on 
their sides, so that no wet can get access to the ball of 
soil and roots. _ 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
The Vineries. —During the prevalence of wet sunless 
weather many cultivators will find it difficult to keep 
ripe berries free from damp. A little artificial heat 
should be applied, making the hot-water pipes warm, 
so that ventilation may be given early in the morning. 
In bright weather artificial heat will not be required 
after the fruit is perfectly ripe, excepting, of course, to 
