June 27, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
687 
Geranium aconitifolium. 
The hardy Geraniums are easily managed, and in 
general extend their area rapidly. That under notice, 
however, is bj' no means a rampant grower, and to its 
other qualities adds that of early flowering. It was 
almost the only species to be seen in bloom during the 
month of May, G. sylvaticum, a British species, being 
perhaps its most important competitor in spring and 
early summer. The flowers are pure white, of medium 
size, and produced in great profusion while they last ; 
but as in the case of G. sylvaticum the duration of the 
flowering period is limited, compared with that of G. 
Walliehianum and G. Endressi. The stems are about 
1 ft. high, well furnished with deeply lobed leaves, 
resembling in some respects those of the common 
Aconite. By the employment of this and several 
other species a long continued succession of bloom may 
be produced in the flower garden, without any special, 
culture or treatment. 
Rapid growth, of Vitis discolor. 
Amongst the gardening fraternity the plant under 
notice is best recognised as Cissus discolor, so useful as 
trained specimens on trellis work or on wires fastened 
under the rafters of a house, and also for basket work, 
the latter plan by no means the least effective. The 
leaves assume their best colouring when grown in a 
moderately warm, moist atmosphere, and partly shaded 
from intense sunshine. Under these conditions they are 
a velvety dark green, with a red mid-rib, large silvery 
grey blotches between the secondary ribs, while the grey 
is blotched with rosy purple. An old specimen planted 
out in one of the stoves at Gunnersbury Park, Acton, 
evidently enjoys the cultural treatment that it receives, 
judging from the size and rich colouring of the leaves, 
as well as the rapidity with whicli the leading shoots 
grow. One of the latter marked on the 1st May was 
found to have grown 7 ft. 9 ins. on being measured 
on the 6th of June. At the same time some of the 
leaves were 9 ins. long, exclusive of the petiole, by 
5 ins. broad. 
The Phoenix Kale. 
This may be described as a sprouting Kale, which 
recommends itself to cultivators who are liable to have 
their winter greens of almost every kind destroyed in 
severe winters like the past. This is more particularly 
the case in the neighbourhood of London and other 
large cities, where the atmosphere during the winter 
months is laden with fog, smoke, and other attendant 
impurities. A batch of this variety planted amongst 
Apple trees in the gardens at Chiswick House, 
Chiswick, was almost the [only kind of winter greens 
which withstood the winter ; and Mr. May found the 
young sprouts very serviceable. Hardly a plant was 
hurt, and sprouts or young shoots were obtainable up 
to the second week of June. The leaves are of a glaucous 
green, resembling those of the Cabbage, and the sprouts 
are developed in the spring of the second year. 
Lychnis Lagascse. 
Several of the species of Campion are ornamental 
garden plants, hut the plant under notice recommends 
itself to the attention of those who cultivate choice 
rock plants. The stems form dwarf tufts about 3 ins. 
to 4 ins. high, furnished with relatively small leaves, 
and terminating in large bright rose-coloured flowers. 
The throat is partly closed, and protected with scales 
or coloured processes as in many others of the genus. 
Propagation is effected by seeds or cuttings, the former 
being the readiest way, as very few barren shoots which 
may be used as cuttings are produced, as a rule. 
The Alpine Forget-me-not. 
Myosotis alpestris is one of the choicest of our British 
natives, and is by no means common, as it occurs only 
at very high altitudes on Ben Lawers, and Mickle-fell, 
Teesdale. The stems are usually very dwarf under 
cultivation, say from 3 ins. to 5 ins. The flowers are 
relatively large when compared with those of taller- 
growing kinds, and are of a brilliant blue with a 
conspicuous yellow eye, changing to white some time 
after expansion. In the case of the common Forget-me- 
not, the eye opens of a pale yellow, and deepens to a 
dark yellow, a hue which is retained to the last. The 
species, from its inhabiting rocks, is sometimes named 
M. rupicola. 
-•*>$<**- 
CHOICE IRISES IN SEASON. 
Where all are good and some are better, it is difficult 
to draw the line at the best. Were the Irises more 
difficult to grow, and especially if they were rare and 
required hothouse treatment, they could hardly fail to 
be as much appreciated as Orchids are at the present 
day, for they are certainly as showy, and, moreover, arc 
botanically closely allied. The bearded Irises are most 
abundant at present, and are represented by I. pallida, 
I. germanica, I. amcena, I. variegata, and some others, 
all of which are very showy in their way. 
I. florentina flowers early, and is now consequently 
over, although a few of its varieties may still be noted 
in cool, moist situations. The large white segments 
are delicately tinted with blue, and netted with 
brownish yellow on the claws. The variety I. f. 
albicans has pure white flowers, with the exception of 
the claws of the segments, which are variegated with 
brown and yellow. The stems are only 15 ins. high, 
and the leaves are very much shorter. The German 
Flag (I. germanica) is an old and well-known favourite. 
The fine variety, I. g. Ivharput, is described in another 
column. Very little, if any difference can be detected 
between I. g. atroviolacea and that named Purple 
King. The falls in both cases are broad, and of a deep 
velvety violet-purple, striated with purple and white 
on the sides of the claw. The large standards are of a 
deep purple, slightly striated with brownish purple on 
the claw. Whether constant or not, the first named 
varies from 18 ins. to 3 ft. high, while the latter is 
only 12 ins. Th.e variety I. g. nepalensis is a giant 
amongst its kind, about 2 ft. high, with panicles of 
huge flowers, the falls of which are rich purple, varie¬ 
gated with brown and yellow on the claw, while the 
standards are pale blue, mottled with red on the claw. 
The delicate shades of blue on the various forms of 
I. amcena are very attractive. Witness, for instance, 
the broad lilac-blue band on the undulated margins of 
Madame Chereau, which is a favourite with most culti¬ 
vators of the Iris. In I. pallida dalmatica, the falls are 
pale blue, shaded with a darker hue on the apical half. 
The standards are large, pale blue, and variegated with 
brown and yellow on the claw. It is an attractive 
and much admired variety. Compared with the last, 
I. amcena Mrs. H. Darwin is even more delicate and 
charming. The falls are white, striated with violet- 
purple at the base ; and the white beard has yellow 
tips to the fringes. The standards are white, and 
mottled with violet-purple at the base. I. a. Donna 
Maria has white falls, tinted with pale blue, darker 
along the nerves, and striped with purple on the claw. 
The bifid or emarginate white standards are striped in 
the same way, but to a smaller extent. 
There are several very striking varieties of I. variegata, 
a name which applies to the remarkably variegated 
character of the flowers. The colours are mostly con¬ 
centrated on the falls, which in I. v. Prince of Orange 
may be described as of a velvety orange-brown, and 
yellow at the base, striped with branching brown lines. 
The standards are orange-yellow, mottled with brown 
at the base, and the stigmas are golden yellow. 
The whole plant is only about 15 ins. high. The 
falls of I. v. Apollon are velvety brownish purple, 
shaded with yellow, especially at the base, and striped 
with white and golden yellow. The falls of I. v. 
aurea are of a light yellow, shaded with white at the 
base, and striped with golden yellow lines. The 
standards are bright yellow and striped with orange on 
the claw. 
A distinct and rather showy Iris is I. flavescens, 
having creamy yellow standards and falls, the latter 
having darker veins, and the basal portion variegated 
with brownish yellow. The stems attain a height of 
18 ins. I. neglecta Nationale is a dwarfer-growing 
kind, with narrower, greener, and less decidedly 
glaucous leaves. The flower-stems are, however, 
cymosely panicled as in the other cases, and stand 
about 2 ft. high. The falls are deep violet-purple 
variegated with purple and white on the lower half ; 
and the white beard is tipped with golden yellow. 
The deep purplish blue standards are variegated with 
brownish purple on the base. All of the above are 
bearded Irises, the hairs of the beard being in most 
cases white, tipped with yellow or orange, and the 
whole reminding one of a hat brush lying along the 
centre of the falls. The individual flowers are not of 
long duration, but they are produced in succession from 
the huge bracts of the inflorescence, and constitute the 
glory of the garden during the month of June. All 
thrive under the same treatment as that accorded the 
common German Flag. 
Another beautiful and free-blooming Iris that must 
not be omitted from a collection is I. sibirica, with long 
grass-like leaves and flower stems attaining a height of 
2 ft. to 3£ ft. in good garden soil. The flowers are of 
medium size but numerous, with the falls bright blue, 
paler towards the base, where they are striped with 
blue. The standards are blue, shaded with violet. 
The double-flowered variety, I. s. flore pleno, has a 
multiplicity of parts, such as five falls, six standards 
and five styles, instead of three of each ; but the 
number varies, and the flowers are sometimes entirely 
single. 
—**•— 
Callages “Bolting.” 
Much has been said and written about the scarcity of 
green vegetables this season, and judging from the 
shrivelled items seen in our home markets one may 
safely believe that there has been no exaggeration. I 
am thankful to say, however, that we have had little to 
complain of as regards “ bolting” or injury from frost. 
After such a mild February, and comparatively mild 
winter throughout, one might have expected much done 
by the severe easterly winds of March, April and May, 
but except being a fortnight late there is little worthy 
of note to relate. Some of the Cabbage we had on trial 
were not what they are represented to be in catalogues. 
A dwarf early kind of our own saving has outdistanced 
in every way these kinds received in expensive packets 
of seed ; and though we have had no rain for three 
months to fairly reach the roots of any plants, green 
crops of all kinds are growing freely. For winter green 
crops (except Broccolis) we trench well, and place a 
layer of well-rotted stuff from the rubbish heap under 
the top spit, which acts well as drainage, and the 
roots of the plants run freely into it during spring, and 
are safe from drought: such a preparation is excellent 
for Spinach or Lettuce.— Stirling. 
Broccoli. 
The crops of Broccoli have been very scarce in some 
parts, but though ours were later than usual in coming 
into use, they have been quite up to the average, and 
we shall be able to send supplies to the culinary 
department till the end of the present month (June), 
when we expect to have a supply of good, compact 
Cauliflower from such kinds as Downie’s Extra Early, 
Yeitch’s Early Dwarf Erfurt, and Snowball. These are 
well represented by vigorous, dwarf plants, the seed of 
which was sown in February in mild heat, grown on in 
boxes, hardened well, and planted between ridges of 
ground during April. Some of the same kinds were 
kept in frames and hand-lights on ordinary borders, 
and were potted and grown on under glass with plenty 
of air, but they are no earlier than those sown during 
February. Keverting to the Broccoli crop, it is not 
well to plant them on very rich, loose soil, as gross 
growth is very liable to suffer from frost.— Stirling. 
Tomatos. 
We do not force these to supply fruit earlier than May, 
hut have been much pleased this season with a kind we 
never grew before, which is named Acquisition, along 
with Acme, Hackwood Park and Orangefield (the last 
named finds much favour for earliness, fine fruiting 
and dwarf habit). Acquisition fruits freely, is of fine 
shape, good size, sturdy upright growth and almost 
devoid of laterals ; the foliage is short and stiff ; the 
flavour is good, hut the magenta colour may not be so 
appreciated by some cultivators as that of others, but 
we do not object to that rich tint, which we suppose 
should not be an objection to a fruit whicli is not, in 
this country, popular on the dessert table, yet it is 
eaten by many off the plants as one would Cherries, 
Peaches, &c. We hope to see it ere long in collections 
of fruits on exhibition tables. Certainly the Tomato is 
more suitable for such a purpose than many of the 
green Apples, hard Pears, and unripe Grapes, which 
never can ripen when removed from the vine. Our 
favourite system of growing Tomatos for early spring 
use is in good rich soil, firmly rammed in the pots, and 
then placed in boxes of soil, also firmly rammed, into 
which the roots find their way, and the crops are 
abundant.— Stirling. 
Parsley. 
It is a mistake to grow Parsley luxuriantly during 
summer and ahtumn for giving plentiful supplies 
during winter. Firm ground, free from manure, should 
be chosen, and the seed sown during June, thinned out 
in due time, and gross leaves pulled off during autumn. 
If the crop is too gross it may be cut down early in 
August, when stiff frost and damp-resisting leaves 
will spring up. Transplanted roots are always stout, 
but seldom too gross and sappy. Last winter we 
were afraid of being caught napping by having short 
supplies, but the bulk of the crop was lifted, placed 
thickly into boxes of soil, and placed in a mild heat, 
which met our requirements. Early in February a 
box of seed was sown, and the plants raised in heat, 
pricked out and afterwards hardened off ready for 
planting during April. The crop was ready for use 
during May, and none too soon, as old plants were 
gradually yielding smaller supplies. Some boxes of 
young seedlings did good service during April, and 
when we had done with them they were given away. 
— Stirling. 
