784 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 8, 1891. 
YELLOW COCKSCOMBS. 
Few probably would care for a batch of yellow 
Cockscombs, or to substitute them for the red and 
crimson kinds which are sought after by all 
cultivators alike. The different strains in cultiva¬ 
tion vary greatly in the depth of the red and crimson 
hue of the flowers and bracts, and the darker kinds 
are selected in preference to all others. Yellow 
varieties do sometimes, however, make their appear¬ 
ance, and look so novel by contrast that the wonder 
is they do not get more encouragement; for surely a 
race of different colours would be as interesting 
and ornamental as the same colours in Celosia 
pyramidalis, and which are grown by many culti¬ 
vators. Some yellow Cockscombs recently appeared 
on the exhibition table at a local show, and looked 
pretty by contrast, but could not, of course, be 
expected to compete successfully with the crimson 
kinds. The sides of the crest presented a satin and 
slightly yellow lustre, while a golden line traversed 
the apex of the comb, following its sinuous and wavy 
outline. _ 
LILIUM TESTACEUM. 
This old garden Lily is supposed to be a hybrid 
between L. candidum and L. chalcedonicum, the 
characters of which it combines in an evident manner. 
The lower leaves are ascending, the upper ones ad- 
pressed to the stem, and all are of a shining green 
and somewhat twisted as occurs in L. chalcedonicum. 
The flowers are borne in a terminal, thyrsoid raceme, 
and are pendulous with the segments reflexed. The 
latter are of a clear light yellow, evenly suffused with 
a pale red, a mixture of colours which is readily 
expressed by the specific name, which is, moreover, 
more often applied to certain insects than to plants. 
We can therefore conceive of the colour being a 
mixture of the white Lilium candidum and the scarlet 
L. chalcedonicum. The slender stems vary from 
3 ft. to 6 ft. in height, and appear to best advantage 
when peering from amongst Rhododendrons and 
other plants, as may be seen in some of the London 
parks at the present time. No particular soil or 
cultural care is necessary for this Lily, as it flowers 
freely every year with the same freedom as the 
common white species. 
CAMPANULA RHOMBOIDALIS. 
There are several species of Bellflower which 
require a particular kind of cultural treatment in 
order to grow and flower well. The rockwork is the 
best place for a large number of the smaller kinds, 
and some of them are seldom seen in perfection 
except when grown in a greenhouse or cottage 
window where they get protected from frost and wet 
during winter. The Bellflower under notice will 
grow in any ordinarily good garden soil without any 
further attention than that accorded to herbaceous 
plants generally, which when once established in a 
border can pretty well take care of themselves if 
merely kept clear of weeds and from being over¬ 
grown by one another. It has found its way into 
cottage gardens, where it thrives like a weed, and 
flowers as profusely as it would in the garden of a 
prince. The stems grow from 12 ins. to 18 ins. high, 
branching towards the top with racemes of drooping, 
bell-shaped, deep-blue flowers. It is a native of 
various parts of the Continent, from whence it was 
introduced in 1775 ; and we may reasonably suppose 
it has been grown somewhere or other in British 
gardens since that time, possibly in some of the old- 
fashioned cottage gardens. 
THE INVOLUCRATED HONEYSUCKLE. 
A finely-flowered specimen of this Honeysuckle has 
been sent us by a correspondent from Scotland. As 
a species it is both handsome and very distinct from 
any other. It is the Lonicera involucrata of Sir 
Joseph Banks, and holds the same relation to the 
other Honeysuckles which the Marcartney Rose 
(Rosa bracteata) does to the rest of ,the Roses. The 
flowers in both cases are surrounded by large and 
somewhat conspicuous bracts. The Honeysuckle in 
question is an erect shrub, with stout branches of a 
deep bronzy-red on the upper or exposed surface. 
The large, stiffish leaves are oblong, dark green and 
finely wrinkled, and from the axils of these the 
peduncles arise, bearing each a pair, more rarely 
three, closely placed flowers. These are surrounded 
by two large, ovate, crimson-red bracts, inside of 
which are four less highly-coloured bracteoles 
united in pairs, forming two obversely hearbshaped 
pieces. The tubular flowers are yellow tinted with 
red. The bracts remain after the flowers drop and 
constitute the more enduring ornamental part of the 
inflorescence. The species was introduced from 
Saskatchewan, a district of Canada bordering on the 
Rocky Mountains, in 1824. Later on it was brought 
from California in 1838, and described as anew species 
by Dr. Eschscholtz, under the name of Lonicera 
Ledebourii, but whoever cares to read the description 
of the two will see that they have been described in 
almost identical terms. 
THE ALPINE ERYNGO. 
Many years ago Eryngium alpinum was the glory of 
cottage gardens during the summer months. The 
climate of Scotland seems to suit the plant better 
than the more sunny Southern counties of England. 
No doubt under the latter conditions the same 
influences tell upon the constitution of the plant, 
which have a weakening tendency on that of many 
other alpines which have a difficulty in getting 
established here. That Eryngium alpinum is hardy 
there can be no doubt, and when once established 
under suitable conditions it is a long-lived plant. 
The root-stock increases rather slowly it is true as 
far as off-sets are concerned; but fine foliage 
develops around the crown, and strong flowering 
stems are thrown up annually, bearing large oblong 
heads of flowers. The upper part of the stem, 
together with the long, much divided and somewhat 
spiny involucral bracts, all assume a fine steel-blue 
appearance, remaining in beauty for many weeks 
together and for long after the flowers themselves 
have performed their functions and passed into the 
fruiting stage, The flower heads with their bracts 
may be cut while still in perfect condition with their 
accustomed steel-blue tints, and used for decorative 
purposes amongst other cut flowers as they retain 
their beauty for a long period. Few of the species 
of Eryngium are more showy of their kind than E. 
alpinum, which was first introduced in 1597. 
MUTISIA DECURRENS. 
The last winter was sufficiently severe on all hands 
to test the hardiness of this plant. Notwithstanding 
the frost and snow it lived through the winter on the 
wall of No. 1 Museum at Kew, and has been flower¬ 
ing freely for some time past. The worst part of 
this shrubby composite is the slowness of its growth 
and the few branches it makes in the course of a 
year. Those few branches terminate in a large 
solitary flower head of considerable beauty, while 
they are well enough furnished with foliage ; all the 
lower parts of the plant, including the main stem, 
get naked, and no branches are developed to cover 
their nakedness. Nor does the plant seem inclined 
to throw up suckers from the root. The leaves, as 
the specific name implies, run down upon the stem, 
forming wings ; they also terminate in tendrils in the 
same manner as those of Gloriosa superba, by which 
the plant is enabled to cling to anything which 
comes in its way. The flower heads measure about 
4 ins. across, and the long bright orange rays are 
somewhat reflexed. The species is a native of the 
Andes of Chili. 
LELAND'S FIERY THORN. 
The Fiery Thorn (Craetagus Pyracantha) becomes 
an object of great beauty in the autumn and winter 
months when covered with its fiery scarlet berries. 
The common form usually gets to some size before 
it fruits well, more especially if raised from seeds ; 
the fruiting condition would be promoted by grafting 
pieces of old trees on the roots of the common 
Hawthorn. Leland’s Fiery Thorn (C. P. Lelandi) 
flowers and fruits while yet in a small state, and has 
lively orange-scarlet berries. It is largely planted in 
clumps of three or five specimens upon the grass in 
the public parks of Paris. The trees are allowed to 
grow up with a single stem which throws out lateral 
branches forming narrow pyramids, which fruit with 
remarkable freedom almost from the ground upwards. 
THE DOUBLE-FLOWERED BEARBIND 
Apparently only the double-flowered form of Calys- 
tegia pubescens has been introduced to this country. 
Like the other species it requires to be planted 
where it is not likely to become a nuisance to its 
neighbours on account of its long, underground, 
fleshy stems. Notwithstanding this freely running 
habit it is evidently not at home in certain soils or 
positions. Probably a shady position would suit it 
best, as it does well in some villa gardens where it is 
allowed to ramble amongst shrubs. The flowers are 
perfectly double with numerous small petals resem¬ 
bling a Rose, and are pink at first but afterwards 
become of a bright rose hue. 
CENTAUREA MACROCEPHALA. 
In spite of the few flower heads produced by this 
species, it has a bold and telling effect in the herba¬ 
ceous border during July. Each stem is about 2 ft, 
to 3 ft. high, and terminates in one large bright-yellow 
head. The radical leaves are large, and from amongst 
them rise the stems, which are leafy to the top, the 
leaves being slightly twisted and closely set, giving 
the plant a characteristic appearance. 
LAYIA ELEGANS. 
The two-coloured rays of the flower heads of this 
composite give it an attractive appearance. They 
are broad, trifid, clear yellow at the base and white 
at the apex, and being closely arranged the colours 
fall into two concentric zones. The stems are 
slender, much branched, and ultimately become pro¬ 
cumbent when they attain some length. They are 
furnished with small, lanceolate, hairy leaves. The 
species is a hardy annual of the easiest cultivation, 
and showy when in full bloom, 
_ 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers' Calendar. 
Continue to give careful attention to watering. 
Most Orchids require plenty of water while making 
their growth. Shade from bright sunshine, but do 
not use the blinds when they can be done without, 
as the plants are benefited by all the light they can 
receive, except in bright sunshine. Cattleyas 
especially should have the blinds rolled up when the 
house is syringed early in the afternoon. Those 
plants which are maturing their growths should 
have the water somewhat withheld, but never to such 
an extent as to allow the growths to shrivel. Den- 
drobium nobile, D. aureum, D. Wardianum, &c., 
having finished their growth, should be removed to 
a cool, airy house, where water can be sparingly 
given, and the plants allowed to rest. Plants so 
treated flower more freely when again introduced 
into heat than those allowed to remain in a warm 
moist temperature. 
Odontoglossum vexillarium will now' require atten¬ 
tion. Turn the plants out of their pots and remove 
all decaying material from the roots, and re-pot in 
clean well-drained pots, using good fibrous peat and 
clean sphagnum. Fill the pots about three parts with 
potsherds and keep the plants a little above the rim 
of the pots, and use live sphagnum for the top. 
Care should be taken not to over-pot, a mistake 
often made with this plant. Place the plants at the 
warm end of the cool house, and latter on they can 
be removed to the cool end of the Cattleya house. 
The plants will not require much water for some 
time until the young roots are in active work. 
O. Roezlii should also be seen to, the same material 
is suitable for potting, but the plant requires more 
heat to do it well. I have found it do best grown in 
baskets and suspended from the roof of the plant 
stove, where it can be freely syringed. I have tried 
for some years to grow it along with O. vexillarium 
in the cool house during summer, but failed. 
Calanthes and Lycaste Skinnerii will be benefited 
by watering with weak manure w'ater twice a week. 
I use horse droppings with the addition of a little 
soot, and find that as good as anything I have tried. 
— A. W. 
Dendrobium Dearei. 
Although introduced from the Philippine Islands 
as recently as 1882, the utility of this species for cut 
flower work is already well-known. The stems vary 
from 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, but they flower with wonder¬ 
ful freedom when only half that height. Whether 
grown in pots or baskets, the plants should be 
suspended near the glass, in order to ripen the wood 
properly. July and August are the months during 
which the flowers are developed, but notwithstand¬ 
ing the plethora of flowers of all kinds, those of the 
subject in question are so choice that they wilj 
always be in request. The pedicels, trigonous ovaries 
and flowers are pure white, with exception of a 
yellowish-green blotch on the lip, striated witfl 
darker lines ; the blotch, however, serves to give 
tone and character to the flowers, adding much to 
