May 30, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
623 
Erysimum ochroleucum. 
Amongst horticulturists this is best known uader the 
name of Cheiranthus alpinus. The latter, however, 
has erect, unbranched stems about 6 ins. high, whereas 
Erysimum ochroleucum, the plant under notice, is 
decumbent at the base, with much branching stems. 
The flowering shoots are, however, erect, bearing 
corymbs of large, soft lemon-yellow flowers that fade 
somewhat as they got older ; hence the specific name, 
meaning yellowish white. When in perfection they 
are distinctly fragrant, the odour resembling that of 
Wallflower, though not so strong. As the corymb 
elongates it becomes distinctly racemose, as in so many 
other Crucifers. The plant is readily propagated from 
cuttings, which should be inserted now in pots of sandy 
soil, and placed under a bell-glass, hand-light or frame. 
A large clump of it on the rockery is highly ornamen¬ 
tal at this season of the year. 
Iris Pseud-Acorus variegata. 
The young foliage of the variegated variety of our 
native Flag becomes very conspicuous and highly orna¬ 
mental in the early part of the summer. The inner 
half of each leaf is of a bright yellow, contrasting finely 
with the deep glaucous green tint of the outer half. 
Although naturally a bog plant, or inhabiting the sides 
of ditches, yet it succeeds admirably in any good 
garden soil, even when that is rather dry, as occasionally 
happens. Possibly this dryness assists the colouration, 
and it would be interesting to know whether planting 
it in water would have any prejudicial effect upon the 
variegation. We know that when a clump is left in 
an ordinary border for a number of years, part of it has 
a tendency to revert to the normal glaucous green hue ; 
and seeing that there is a tendency this way in dry 
soil, the question naturally arises whether an abun¬ 
dance of moisture would encourage reversion to the 
normal colour at a greater rate. Being an Iris that 
adapts itself so readily to different conditions, it might 
well be tried in pots for greenhouse decoration. It is 
probable that a moderately high temperature would have 
the effect of bringing’out the colours very clearly, as in 
the case of various other subjects of similar habit. 
Mooecea alpina. 
This is better known in gardens under the name of 
Hutchinsia alpina. It is one of those dwarf, spring- 
flowering Crucifers which are admirably adapted for 
cultivation on rockwork, on banks, or in borders of 
select plants, where a little care is bestowed upon them 
to prevent their getting overgrown by taller subjects. 
If grown upon a flat border, a good plan would be to 
raise a little mound, insert some stones in it, and plant 
the Moccoea so that it may ramify freely amongst and 
over the stones. Better drainage will thereby be 
secured than when planted on flat ground where 
moisture might be inimical to it in winter. The leaves 
on the barren shoots are often spathulate and entire, 
but more often three or more lobed on the flowering 
stems, and always of a rich dark green colour. The 
stems are about 2 ins. to 3 ins. high, terminating in a 
corymb of relatively large, pure white flowers, which 
are produced in great abundance. The inflorescence, 
however, elongates, and becomes truly racemose in 
fruit, as in various species of Iberis, to which it is 
closely allied. A large mass of it presents a sheet of 
white bloom during the month of May. 
Zephyranthus Candida. 
Last year I saved a few seeds from a potful of bulbs 
of this plant, and it is fortunate I did so, for the frost 
killed every one I had. The seeds were sown in the 
early part of April, and have germinated and given me 
a couple of dozen of plants. I presume it will be two 
or three years before they will flower. Can you inform 
me if there is any record of anyone having raised seed¬ 
lings of this plant, and finding variation from the 
type ? If any reader of The Gardening World has 
had experience of raising seedlings, I shall be glad to 
be made aware of it. — R. D. 
The Late Froat. 
The very severe frost on Whit-Sunday morning, doing 
so much damage to the fruit trees and early Potatos, 
cutting the latter completely off, induced me to look 
back a few years in my grandfather’s diary. I find the 
following entry under date "May 17th, 1802.—For 
several mornings preceding this day, we have had sharp 
frosts and very cold weather, but the frost this morning 
by far exceeded any for many years past at this time of 
year; in course of the day a heavy storm of hail and 
snow, and in the afternoon thunder and lightning, with 
another violent storm of snow and hail, so much that it 
covered the ground completely, and in many places 
where it drove, it lay more than a foot deep, and 
continued upon the ground till the 20th of May. Very 
great damage was done to the fruit trees.” I have 
never seen early Potatos that looked so well and now so 
much damaged.— G. JV. Page, Fingringhoe, May 20th, 
1891, in Essex Standard. 
Convallaria majalis prolificans. 
The ordinary Lily of the ValleyJhas a simple raceme of 
flowers, but in this case there are from three to six 
flowers on each of the lateral pedicels ; and the stronger 
the plant is grown the more will there be. This 
plurality of flowers on the pedicels is the explanation 
of the varietal name, for neither are they double nor is 
the plant proliferous in the ordinary sense of the term. 
The segments are white, and frequently edged with 
purple. Under good cultivation the leaves attain a 
height of 18 ins. and a breadth of 3 ins. or 4 ins. in the 
open air, and that even may be exceeded, so that it is 
literally a giant amongst other forms of the Lily of the 
Valley. It was originally discovered in a convent 
garden in Upper Italy, and was brought under the 
notice of horticulturists by the monks. Although the 
inflorescence is less graceful than that of the type on 
account of its branching character, yet the fragrance is 
not in the least impaired, and may be stronger. We 
noted a bed of it in the Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham. 
Peeonia Wittmanniana. 
Altogether this Preony is a very distinct one, and 
may be described as the only yellow one we possess. It 
is still rare in cultivation, although originally introduced 
in 1842, and is a native of the Caucasus, and North 
Persia. Both sepals and petals are orbicular, the 
latter being primrose-yellow, and the whole flower is 
globular and solitary, terminating the stems which are 
2 ft. high. The stamens are crimson at the base, and 
terminated by golden yellow anthers, but owing to the 
globular form of the flowers, these characters are 
mostly hidden. The larger leaves are biternately 
pinnate, with only three segments to each division, and 
the segments or leaflets are remarkable for their width 
and bluntness. A collection of Pteonies would certainly 
be incomplete without this species. Why it should not 
be more common is not evident, as it is quite hardy 
and seems very vigorous in Mr. T. S. Ware’s Nursery, 
at the Hale Farm, Tottenham. 
The Alpine Aster. 
It is still matter for surprise that the more weedy and 
often far from ornamental Asters get disseminated in 
gardens, while those of recognised merit are confined 
to the gardens of the few. Aster alpinus is one of the 
neglected species of great merit, although originally 
introduced so long ago as 1658. The variety A. a. 
speciosus has more recently been brought under notice, 
and is characterised by the greater size of its flower 
heads, which are borne singly on stems 6 ins. to 9 ins. 
high, and often much less than that. The heads, 
which have numerous deep purple rays and a golden 
yellow disc, vary from 2 ins. to 2£ ins. in diameter, 
while those of the type are often only 1 in. across. 
The leaves are lanceolate or spathulate, three-nerved, 
and form a cushion from which the flower scapes arise. 
It has been flowering for some time on the rockery in 
the Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, where it will 
keep good for several weeks to come. 
Beilis sylvestris. 
Under this name a very curious and pretty Daisy may 
be seen on the rockery at Kew. It is a single variety, 
and the dark red ray florets are slender and quilled or 
tubular, while those of the disc are yellow and of the 
usual type, characteristic of the common Daisy growing 
in our fields and meadows. Now, of the various 
double forms of the garden Daisy, some have quilled 
florets, particularly a very old-fashioned form, plentiful 
in cottage gardens twenty to thirty years ago ; but 
most of those in cultivation at the present day have 
ligulate florets. The single, quilled form under notice 
was collected on the Alps, and may originally have 
been the parent of the old quilled red or crimson 
garden form. It is a vigorous plant, and the flower 
scapes vary from 3 ins. to 6 ins. in height. The 
leaves are broadly spathulate or obovate, sub-entire and 
similar to those of the common Daisy. 
Aristolochia G-oldieana. 
The size of the flowers of this species is remarkable, 
and the stems, which die back annually, never bring 
many bloom3 to perfection. The leaves are heart 
shaped, and moderate in size compared with those of 
some other species. The flowers are produced on the 
young wood, and measure 25 ins. to 26 ins. in length, 
by 11 ins. in breadth or nearly 1 ft. The long and 
curious tube is greenish, changing to a reddish yellow 
or flesh colour, while the strongly netted, three- 
lobed lamina is yellowish externally and much reticu¬ 
lated with brown. Internally, most of the ground 
colour is a deep chocolate, interspersed with yellowish 
blotches. The tube projects somewhat into the lamina 
with a wide opening, and is so dark there as to appear 
almost black. The flower lasts in perfection only a 
few days, for one which was in perfection in the Victoria 
house at Kew on the 23rd inst. was considerably 
faded by the 27th inst., but was still sufficiently good 
to show its remarkable character. The species is a 
native of Old Calabar. 
-•>£*»- 
COLUMBINES. 
All the pretty and varied forms of Aquilegia vulgaris 
are just now coming into bloom. They rank amongst 
the earliest of this charming section of hardy perennials, 
and very beautiful they are, especially the finer single 
flowers. I do not like the dumpy-looking doubles, 
and think it a misfortune that any of these Columbines 
were ever raised. Without doubt the singles have far 
the greater grace, elegance, and beauty, and they alone 
are worth cultivation. Following upon the old garden 
forms come hybrids between these and that fine 
species Chrysantha; then follow the pretty Ccerulea 
and its hybrids from Chrysantha, these latter especially 
presenting wonderfully robust and beautiful forms. 
I think the cross-bred products of Aquilegia coerulea 
and A. Chrysantha to be the very best Columbines ever 
raised. Later come A. Chrysantha californica, &c., so 
that the Columbine season is a long one. Of course it is 
wisest where possible to secure seed of all these species 
or hybrids separate, and sow them ; but as myriads of 
small amateurs cannot do so much, it would be very 
helpful to them if they could have packets of every 
good robust kind mixed, so that, once getting plants, 
they would be sure of plenty of strong bloomers for many 
years. Columbines are essentially first-rate perennials; 
it is true, in time the soil about them may become 
poor, and perhaps exhausted, but that can be remedied, 
or the plants transplanted into fresh ground. 
Still, I strongly advise the raising of a batch of 
seedlings every year, especially if some little trouble be 
taken to cross-breed good forms. We need not be 
concerned because the botanists cry out against the 
demoralisation of species, those who garden do not 
care much about species: they are most concerned in 
the securing of a beautiful show of flowers, and they 
will certainly reap a rich reward in that direction if 
they will grow Columbines in variety. Seeds may be 
purchased and sown at once. It is best to sow in 
a shallow box under glass, as germination is helped 
and the soil can be kept equally moist. Once the 
plants have become well rooted and dibbled out into 
good garden soil, little more care or trouble is required. 
ON THINNING ANNUALS AND 
BIENNIALS. 
Annuals of all kinds sown in the open ground are now 
feeling the beneficial effects of the rain, and only 
require warm weather to grow away rapidly. The 
seed beds and borders should therefore be regularly 
gone over, and all thinned to the proper distances 
apart. This must be regulated according to circum¬ 
stances and to the habit of the plant, for it is not 
always the tallest that require the most space, nor the 
dwarfest that require the least. Climbers for instance 
are not usually thinned, because their habit is to run up 
a great height where they find space to branch, or they 
may not necessarily branch much at any stage of their 
progress. On the other hand, spreading, decumbent, 
and branching subjects require a considerable amount 
of space to develop laterally, otherwise they soon get 
injuriously crowded. 
Another point that must not be ignored is to have 
the ground covered in a reasonably short time, so that 
although the plants may not attain the full development 
of which they are capable, yet the ground may be 
covered, and a fair amount of bloom obtained from each 
plant. One of the main objects in thinning seedlings 
is to prolong the season as much as possible ; but this 
