August 8, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
781 
NATURE HER OWN 
GARDENER. 
A very good instance of this occurs in a London 
locality formerly noted for its horticulture and horti¬ 
cultural associations. Two large circular beds on a 
lawn, having been left untilled and unfilled with plants 
by the hand of man, are now perfectly furnished with 
a spontaneous growth of Matricaria Chamomilla, as 
closely arranged as if it had been artificially planted. 
The old statement that '■ Nature abhors a vacuum ” 
might well be applied here, only slightly modified, so 
as to read “ Nature abhors empty flower-beds.” 
Nature, however, generally likes a mixture, and a 
few plants of Sisymbrium officinale do indeed appear 
amongst the Wild Chamomile; but the latter is 
really the occupant of the beds in question, while the 
Sisymbrium from nature’s point of view is neither an 
intruder nor a weed. What makes these two beds 
Hence, when they get into cottage gardens they con¬ 
stitute permanent stock, while the less-enduring 
subjects have to be renewed every year. In the 
shubberies of the public parks several of the forms 
are now conspicuous objects. Propagation may be 
effected in the spring by division of the stout and 
fleshy root-stock, but seeds are freely produced, and 
the best plants would probably be obtained in that 
way. 
THREE WHITE PENT- 
STEMONS. 
Pentstemoxs with pure white flowers are difficult 
to obtain, notwithstanding that selection has been 
tending towards an acquisition of that kind for many 
years past. In a bed of different varieties of this 
useful autumn-flowering subject in the gardens of the 
Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, there are 
ALLAMANDA 
WILLI AM SII. 
There are something like a dozen species of Alla 
manda, but they are difficult to define botanically. 
In gardens, however, we find differences in habit 
which are of great importance to the cultivator, 
inasmuch as some of them are comparatively dwarf 
with stiffish stems of erect habit and are therefore 
suitable for pot culture; while the taller and more 
rampant climbing kinds, such as A. Schottii and A. 
Hendersoni, are well adapted for training up the 
rafters and over the roofs of stoves. All of them 
are natives of South America, and one extends as far 
as Central America. Some of them partake of the 
nature of trees in their native country. The 
flowers of all are sufficiently large and showy to be 
worthy of cultivation, provided they are not too 
bulky for accommodation. All the finer ones are, 
Allamaxda Williamsii, 
so noticeable is the neatness of the lawn itself, for 
the grass is kept neatly mown and trim. From a 
gardener's point of view Matricaria inodora would 
have been more showy, because the flower heads are 
larger and the rays not reflexed. Some of the 
improved garden forms of M. Parthenium would 
have been infinitely better and more orthodox. 
a ■» m 
THE GOAT’S RUE. 
There are two, if not three, forms of the Goat’s 
Rue (Galega officinalis) in cultivation. There is the 
typical blue-flowered form which was introduced in 
1568 from South Europe, and which varies in height 
from 3 ft. to 5 ft. according to soil, situation, and the 
age of the plant, or its vigour. The white-flowered 
variety (G. o. alba) was introduced from Persia in 
1823, and is sometimes spoken of as G. Persica. A 
dwarf pale lilac or pale purple variety is often met 
with in cottage gardens, where it is one of the most 
ponspicuous objects for many weeks during July and 
August. 
Its dwarfness is particularly noticeable, for old 
pnd well-established pieces do not exceed 18 ins. or 
2 ft. in height. Being long-lived plants the species of 
Galega when once established continue to flower 
abundantly every year ^yith a minimum of attention, 
three kinds which are all but pure white. The finest 
one is undoubtedly that named Adonis. The buds 
are tinted with salmon-pink, but much of this dis¬ 
appears when the flowers are fully expanded, in fact 
the whole flower is then white, with exception of a 
pale pink tint round the margin of the segments, 
forming a broad edge. The leaves are pale in hue 
as white-flowered plants, that is, albinos, usually are. 
The stems are about 18 ins. high, and vigorous. 
Another variety, named Fenelon, has flowers which 
are of a deep red on the upper side while in bud, and 
fade to a rosy-purple as they expand. The edge of 
the segments is tinted with pink as in Adonis, and 
the rest is white. The lamina is as large as that of 
the last named, but the tube is distinctly narrower. 
The plant is perhaps of somewhat more vigorous 
constitution than in Adonis. The same may be said 
of Clio, which, under the same conditions, grows 2 ft. 
high, and has deep green foliage. The flowers are 
smaller than Adonis, with a narrower tube, and are 
pure white, with exception of a pale pink tint round 
tfie border of the lobes of the limb. All three are 
worthy of a place in collections ; but Adonis is urn 
doubtedly the finest, if not the most vigorous, by 
reason of the wide pure white tube and broadly ex* 
panded flowers, 
however, to be found in British gardens, and all 
have flowers of some shade of yellow, sometimes 
striated with orange, with the exception of A. 
Violacea, which has dark purple flowers of medium 
size. 
A. Hendersoni is variously reckoned as a variety 
of A. Schottii and A. Cathartica; and A. Chelsoni 
is a garden hybrid. The subject of these remarks, 
namely A. Williamsii, is assumed to be a hydrid 
between A. neriifolia and A. Chelsoni, and has the 
stiffish erect habit of both those kinds, and will 
make a grand exhibition plant without having to be 
trained like the climbers. The flowers are similar i.i 
shape to those of A. Chelsoni, and quite as large. 
The lower portion or tube is long and slender, 
suddenly becoming widened and bell-shaped with 
spreading, five-lobed lamina of a clear, bright 
yellow; the interior of the tube is beautifully 
striated with orange-coloured lines, as in A. nerii¬ 
folia. The leaves are lanceolate-elliptic, pubescent 
beneath, especially on the midrib, and mostly 
always produced four in a whorl; a few of them are 
alternate on the terminal flowering shoots. 
A First-class Certificate was awarded it when 
exhibited by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper 
Holloway, at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, on the 21st ult. Being now in a position to 
give an illustration of this beautiful stove plant, we 
take the opportunity of again referring to it. 
