December 13, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
235 
©/Sr* 
ARDENING gflSCELLANY. 
-- 
Judging by Points. 
I EXCLOSE you a copy of a card which I have prepared 
for use in judging Roses, Chrysanthemums, &c., in the 
case of close contests and keen competitions for valuable 
prizes. The judging is sometimes so very unsatisfactory 
that something of this kind seems to be much needed. 
The advantages of the card are :—(1) That exhioitors 
would at once see their exact positions and find out 
their weak and strong points, .and this would often 
save a deal of trouble and bad feeling between 
exhibitors and judges; (2) that young exhibitors 
would see what to aim at in selecting flowers for 
exhibition, and it would also teach them how to judge 
correctly ; and (3) that a better idea of the show would 
be conveyed in the newspaper reports to those who 
cannot attend, by having the total number of points 
given to each exhibit. Also the show of one season 
could be correctly compared with others, and thus an 
exact record of the progress being made could be 
obtained. — TV. P. Cocker, Morning field Nursery, 
Aberdeen. [Mr. Cocker’s suggestion has the great 
merit of being simple and useful. The card sent is 
intended for use in a class for thirty-six Roses, distinct, 
and on it is a diagram consisting of three rows of 
squares, as Roses are usually shown in such a com¬ 
petition, so that the exact value of each bloom can be 
indicated, as well as the number of points awarded 
for arrangement and superior staging. It is intended 
that the card, when filled up, should be left on each 
stand, but to that arrangement we think objection 
may be taken, on the ground that it would take up too 
much time if adopted in every competition ; otherwise 
the suggestion of Mr. Cocker hasour warmest approval. 
—Ed.] 
Roses on their own Roots. 
Ax abundance of fine Roses may be obtained until 
very late in the season by bending the strongest shoots 
of dwarf plants to the surface of the soil, and securing 
them with wooden pegs, after being pruned in the 
spring. The shoots burst into growth close to the 
roots, and that portion which is imbedded in the soil 
roots firmly. In early winter they may be lifted and 
replanted in rows, in ground well trenched and heavily 
manured, where they grow strongly and flower 
abundantly. Being on their own roots there is no 
trouble with suckers, and frost does not affect them 
to the same extent as those that are budded or grafted 
on stocks. I am prompted to make these remarks 
from noticing the abundant inflorescence on long lines 
of Roses treated as indicated above, as well as some 
hundreds placed temporarily in the border last winter, 
which flowered till late in November. A Gloire de 
Dijon has done extra well. — A. P. Smither, Carron , 
Stirlingshire, 
Gooseberry Pruning. 
It is a great fallacy to suppose that a large amount of 
fruit can be obtained by leaving the Gooseberry bushes 
thick, as some cultivators assert. They may obtain for 
one season a great quantity of green Gooseberries, but 
when size, quality and ripeness are considered, they 
must be kept open by pruning on the spur or thinning 
system to allow sun and air to reach wood and fruit. 
It is a palpable fact that bushes are improved by 
annually removing a portion of the old wood and re¬ 
placing it by new. Lifting and replanting a portion of 
the bushes every few years reduces gross growth, and 
thereby produces fruitfulness.— A. P. Smither. 
Nymphsea stellata zanzibarensis. 
Ix a state of nature, there are several very distinct 
forms of Nymphsea stellata in different geographical 
regions. There can be no question that the finest of 
all of them is the variety N. s. zanzibarensis, introduced 
from Zanzibar in 1880, and already pretty widely 
distributed in collections. It has been flowering all 
the summer and winter in the "Water Lily house at 
Kew, and even continues to produce flowers up till now. 
In the centre of the tank is a brick-built enclosure, at 
one time used as a receptacle for a large specimen 
of Cyperus Papyrus, or the Paper Plant of the ancient 
Egyptians. This was filled with good soil, and the 
tubers of the Nymphaea in question inserted in it. 
The result shows what can be done with Nymphreas 
under good treatment. Even large pots do not give 
the necessary or desirable amount of root room, as 
the results of this experiment have shown. 
Sweet-scented Flowers. 
Ix answer to the request of “M. W.” (p. 187), 1 send 
the names of a few flowers which add to the charm of 
the garden by their fragrance, as well as their beauty. 
Besides those mentioned, I have noticed, amongst those 
suitable for walls and screens, Chimonanthus fragrans 
and a deliciously fragrant white-flowered Honeysuckle, 
which is, I think, Lonicera fragrantissima. I have 
gathered flowers of both of these in January. Others 
are Wistaria sinensis, Clematis montana, C. flammula, 
and the Lemon-scented Verbena (Aloysia citriodora). 
Amongst our hardy wild flowers may be found the 
Mezereon (Daphne mezereum), the Sweet Woodruff 
(Asperula odorata), and the Meadow Sweet (Spiraea 
ulraaria). In hardy perennials we have an abundant 
choice, some of the best being Sweet Alyssum, Sweet 
William, Sweet Sultan, Eremurus robustus, the white 
Musk-scented Mallow (Malva moschata alba), Trollius 
europeus, Dictamnus fraxinella with its fragrant 
foliage, the common Musk, and the Winter Heliotrope 
(Petasites fragrans), which produces spikes of fragrant 
bloom in winter, and will thrive on banks or in 
shrubberies. Hedges or bushes of Swestbriar have a 
pleasing effect in summer, and give out a delightful 
perfume. Amongst annuals and biennials I think the 
Tobacco (Hicotiana affinis), some of the Evening 
Primroses (CEnothera), Stocks, and Wallflowers deserve 
a place in every garden, giving a double charm, 
especially at evening, also Sweet Peas, Erysimum, 
Petunias, and Mathiola bicornis. The white Madonna 
Lily (L. candidum) must not be omitted. L. auratum 
and many others, as well as some of the Day Lilies 
(Hemerocallis) are sweet. Many more might be named 
amongst flowering shrubs, herbaceous border plants, &c. 
Those I have mentioned are nearly all half-hardy and 
hardy plants, and will thrive generally in good garden 
soil in various positions, some under taller shrubs in 
shade, and some will thrive in poor soil.— T. 0. M., 
Ealing. 
Primula obcontca. 
This is a valuable species of Primula, flowering as it 
does in the dull, sunless days of the winter and spring 
months. Its delicate umbels of lilac flowers are pro¬ 
duced freely, and as they are carried well above the 
foliage, it shows them to the best advantage. Of late 
this gem has been a terror to a great many of the 
gardening fraternity, and I can vouch that its effects are 
very troublesome to those on whom the malady takes 
effect. An instance of it occurred to one of the men in 
the garden here ; his arms were covered with blotches, 
and accompanied with a great heat in the skin. After 
consulting a medical man a cure was got in the form of 
ointment, and applied till it finally disappeared. A 
strange thing, too, is that if the man touches them in 
any way the old symptoms appear again. In cases like 
these no person who is subject to its bad effects should 
in any way touch the plant if possible. Propagation 
is generally effected by seeds and dividing the old 
plants. Seeds should be sown early in March, and 
grown on liberally till they reach a 6-in. pot, a size 
which is capable of growing nice plants. Their 
summer treatment consists in growing them in a 
cool frame, shaded from sunshine at all times. Liberal 
waterings with manure water will greatly assist them. 
By the end of September they should be removed to 
the greenhouse, where they will flower with freedom, 
and well repay the cultivator all the care bestowed on 
them.— TV. Angus, Dumfriesshire. 
Pavetta borbonica. 
Theee are several plants in gardens of which the 
correct botanical name is doubtful, including the 
plant known as Pavetta borbonica a handsome 
ornamental shrub from the Isle of Bourbon. The 
plant is of more robust growth and stiffer habit than 
the other Pavettas in cultivation, which are cultivated 
for the sake of their white flowers, which closely 
resemble those of an Ixora of the same colour, but have 
long protruded styles, whereas those of an Ixora are 
included in the tube. The leaves of the cultivated 
plant vary from 6 ins. to 10 ins. in length, and are of 
a rich dark green with a red or crimson midrib, and 
are beautifully marbled all over with greenish yellow 
blotches. Coming as it does from the Isle of Bourbon, 
it requires stove treatment, and is most ornamental in 
the young state, bearing foliage to the pot. It is 
therefore necessary to take off and strike the top when 
the plant gets too tall, and by doing so, the old stem 
will be induced to throw out side shoots, which can in 
their turn be rooted as fresh plants. 
Roses for a Low Situation. 
Will some Rose-growing reader of The Gap.dexixg 
Would kindly give me the names of about twenty of 
the best sorts of H. P. Roses to be grown in beds as 
dwarfs in a low situation? Our garden, in Dorsetshire, 
is almost on the same level as a river, and the subsoil 
is stony gravel, the top soil strong loam. Many 
efforts have been made to grow H. P. Roses, but with¬ 
out success although Teas succeed grandly on low stone 
walls. We are about to try again in another situation, 
and should be glad if any reader similarly situated 
would name the sorts that succeed with him. e 
want them to cut from, and for garden decoration and 
not for exhibition.— Pock. 
Flowers as Christmas Greetings. 
The love of change is inherent in human nature, hence 
no wonder such a variety of things are introduced for 
use as Christmas greetings. Christmas cards are 
becoming monotonous, and are not so much appreciated 
as formerly, and it has occurred to me why not use 
flowers ? In these days of cheap postage and quick 
delivery, a box of flowers can be sent to friends at a 
distance at very little cost, and what can be more 
suitable, what would be more appreciated by those who 
have not the accommodation to grow them in winter ? 
To the mistress of the house a box of bright, sweet 
flowers for her Christmas table would be most joyously 
received—what more suitable for the young man with 
no family cares than a neatly made button-hole flower ? 
I venture to say that in either case the flowers would 
cause the receiver to remember the sender with quite as 
much pleasure as would a mere card which is often put 
on one side as soon as it comes, and is thought no more 
about. Some may ask what can be had at this season; 
and I reply, plenty of things, quite a wealth of flowers 
to be found in the markets. — Con. 
Solanum Seaforthianum. 
The flowers of this species are lilac-purple, and indivi¬ 
dually of no great size, but they are produced in large 
bunches opposite the leaves. There seems to be no 
particular flowering season, for so long as the stems 
grow, a succession of flowers is produced for months 
together. The leaves are finer and more divided than 
in several other species in cultivation, each being 
lyrate-pinnatifid, with six or seven lobes. The plant 
might best be described as a trailer if left to itself, 
owing to the weakness of the stems ; but when grown 
in a stove, it forms a suitable subject for training up 
under the rafters. It is a native of the West Indies, 
from whence it was originally introduced in 1804. 
Plants in the Water Lily house at Kew are still 
flowering with tolerable freedom, as they have been 
since early spring. 
West’s St. Peter’s Grape. 
This, although an old variety, is nevertheless a good 
and desirable one for late use. It is often called the 
invalid’s Grape—a most appropriate name. When 
Black Hamburgh is over I know of no other black 
Grape so soft and tender as is West’s St. Peter s ; the 
flesh is soft, very juicy and thin skinned, a property 
found in no other of the late-keeping kinds. It keeps 
up till the end of February. I well remember many 
years ago, when a boy and serving under the then 
gardener, Mr. DawsoD, at Rood Ashton, a vinery that 
contained many canes of this kind, where it kept fine 
till the end of February. It is a good kind to plant 
one or two canes of in a large early vinery where thick- 
skinned kinds will not find favour. This variety forces 
well with such kinds as Black Hamburgh, and comes 
in and gives a good dish of fruit when the Hamburghs 
are over. AYe have a A ine here in our late house, and 
it is doing us good service just now. It is an old one, 
and should I need to plant a late house I should always 
have a Yine of this, so well do I think of it.— Con. 
Cereus giganteus. 
Notwithstaxding the singularity of this species, and 
the interest attaching to it as the largest of the genus, 
or indeed of the order, it does not seem to have been 
previously introduced to this country, or at all events 
it has never become established. In its native habitats- 
it reaches a height of 50 ft. or 60 ft., and remains 
unbranched, or throws out a few side shoots which 
eventually turn upwards, and grow parallel with the 
main stem. It is a native of Mexico, and is known 
amongst the natives as the Suwarrow or Saguaro. The 
stout columnar stems bearing a few branches near the 
top resemble telegraphic posts distributed amongst the 
