794 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 15, 1891. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
Choice Plants in Flower. 
Chrysanthemum lacustre.— The specific name of 
this species would lead us to suppose that it lives on 
the margins of lakes, or at all events delights in wet 
places. Under cultivation, however, it may be 
successful grown under precisely the same conditions 
as other inhabitants of the herbaceous border. It 
must not, however, be planted under the shade of 
trees, or where the ground is rendered dry by 
the roots of the latter. The stems vary from 2 ft. to 
3 ft. high, and terminate in a single flower head, but 
other blooms are produced on the axillary branches. 
The species flowers later in the season than C. 
maximum, and has broader, lanceolate-elliptic, 
coarsely serrated, or toothed, leaves. The heads 
measure about 2 ins. across, and have deeply trifid 
white rays, with a yellow disc. The species is a 
native of Portugal, and is serviceable in this country 
for cut flowers. For all intents and purposes it may 
be regarded as a giant Ox-eye Daisy. It has been 
flowering finely for some time past in Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons’ Trial Grounds, at Chiswick. 
Lysimachia clethroides.— For border culture, 
none of the Lysimachias are finer than this one. 
There are fine clumps of it, from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
diameter, and 18 ins. high, in the garden at Clare 
Lawn, East Sheen. The broad, dark-green foliage 
forms a fine back ground to the terminal, spike-like 
racemes of pure white flowers. The apex of the 
raceme is nodding during the time the lower flowers 
are in perfection, but ultimately becomes straight. 
The flowers are not unlike those of a white Veronica, 
but are larger, and are useful both for border decora¬ 
tion or for mixing with cut bloom. 
Rosccea purpurea.-— About six species of Roscoea 
are known to science, all of which are herbaceous 
plants from the Himalayas, usually treated as stove 
plants. That under notice proves hardy in various 
parts of England, and is considered to be a slight 
variety of R. sikkimensis. The leafly-stems grow 
about ioins. to 12 ins. high, terminating in spikes, 
from which the flowers arise in succession. The 
segments are of a deep purple with exception of two 
lateral ones, which are pale-purple and unite in one 
piece .vithin the large hooded upper one. The 
broadly obovate, bifid and somewhat crumpled lip is 
the largest and showiest organ of the flower. The 
connective of the anther is produced at the base into 
a deeply bifid process which projects into the threat 
of the flower, so that large insects coming into con¬ 
tact with it bring down the anther and style upon 
their back. The roots are tuberous, and the plant 
may easily be propagated by dividing them. A fine 
plant may be seen in the rockery at Kew. 
Helianthus rigidus.— Few of the perennial 
Sunflowers are more useful for cut flowers than this 
one, notwithstanding the fact that it flowers in late 
summer while hardy flowers are yet plentiful. The 
usual height is 3 ft. in good soil and the golden 
yellow flower heads measure from 3 in. to 4 m. 
across. The disc, as in several other Sunflowers, is 
of a dull chocolate hue. The species is synonymous 
with H. diffusus, and is best known in gardens 
under the name of Harpalium rigidum. It is easily 
propagated by division of the root-stock in autumn 
alter it has done flowering, or again in spring while 
growth is j ust commencing. In good soil a large stock of 
it can soon be got up. There is a large clump of it in 
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons’ Trial Grounds at 
Chiswick, from which cut flowers are obtained in 
great quantity, 
Queen of the Prairie. —Such is the popular and 
very appropriate name applied to Spiraea Lobata 
just as S. Ulmaria is termed the Queen of the 
Meadow in this country. The Queen of the Prairie 
is, however, only half the height of the latter, or 
even less, and has similar but smaller leaves, and 
terminal panicled cymes of rose flowers, 
fading to pink with age. About 12 in. to 
18 in. is the usual height of the plant, and 
flowers are so freely produced as to give the plant a 
charming appearance. Every garden should possess 
this dwarf and showy Spirgea. The flowers have 
the odour of the young leaves of the Birch The 
species was originally introduced from North 
America in 1765, but is far from common. A tall 
form of it may often be fovmd jit gardens under the 
Iism? of S yenustfV 
Potentilla nepalensis. —The habit of this 
plant is somewhat similar to that of P. argyro- 
phylla, and seeing that both come from the 
Himalayas, they are no doubt closely allied. The 
former may, however, be recognised by the radical 
leaves being cut into five divisions or leaflets all 
springing from one point and the under surface has 
not the silvery appearance of P. argyroph'ylla. The 
flowers of the latter are, however, yellow ; but the 
variety P. A. atrosanguinea has crimson flowers, 
That under notice has rosy flowers, and crimson 
towards the base, with black anthers. It grows 
from 18 in. to 2 ft. in height, and is perfectly hardy 
even in the north of Scotland. P. argyrophylla and 
its crimson variety P. A. atrosanguinea is also quite 
hardy there. 
Saxifraga diversifolia.— The habit of this 
Saxifrage is strikingly different from that of most 
others in cultivation. The stems are erect, 12 in. to 
15 in. high, and terminate in an umbel of flowers. 
The petals are yellow, dotted with orange, the upper 
part being almost barred with the same hue. The 
radical leaves are ovate or heart-shaped and stalked, 
while the stem ones are stalkless, numerous and 
clasp round the stem. It was introduced from the 
Himalayas as recently as 1882 and is evidently quite 
hardy, judging from a specimen which has been on 
the rockery at Kew for some years, and stood out 
last winter. 
A New Aster. 
We learn from Meehan's Monthly that a new species 
of Aster has been illustrated and described in a recent 
number of the Botanical Gazette. It is called Aster 
Orcuttii, and is from the Colorado desert in Califor¬ 
nia. It is described as being a handsome species, and 
well worth cultivating. The flowers are not borne 
in clusters or panicles, as in so many Asters, but 
singly on the ends of the stalks. The edges of the 
leaves are also deeply cut as to be almost comb-like, 
and very different in appearance to the ordinary run 
of the Asters as seen in the Eastern States. 

NOTES ON FRUIT 
CULTURE.* 
Horticulturalists may rest satisfied that their 
interests are increasing in popularity. If we 
take up a daily newspaper it is not an uncommon 
thing to find in it a few notes regarding some branch 
of horticulture; it may be a description of Tomato 
growing by the small Sussex farmer, or a short 
account of the exhibits at a local Horticultural 
Exhibition. I might remark also that in my opinion 
the ordinary newspaper reporters barely treat their 
readers liberally on this point, as in populous centres, 
such as Preston or Manchester, the readers of news¬ 
papers who have a direct interest in gardening, are 
far more numerous than those directly connected 
with farming. A paragraph went the round of the 
papers last spring about the Ladies’ Gardening 
Company, at Sawley, near Derby, and beyond that 
I know nothing about the concern, but I may say that 
some years ago I had charge of Lord Harrington’s 
garden at Elvaston, whose estate comprises part of 
Sawley, and I thought I knew the capabilities of that 
soil fairly well. The district isno doubt subject to late 
spring frosts, being in the vale of Derwent. In the 
matter of fruit culture it is of the first importance to 
obtain a suitable and fertile soil, and between Derby 
and Trent station on the Midland line there is some as 
fertile land as any in England. But it is nothing 
after all very uncommon to find females among the 
workers in horticulture, their labours ranging from 
marketing strawberries to the conduct of a florist’s 
business. 
And may I say that I know a woman who helped 
to build her own glass house for growing Tomatos. 
It is 20 ft. long by 10 ft. wide, and it is heated by a 
flue. The first Tomato flowers opened about the 
first of July and out of that small house that year 
she cut 400 lbs. weight of fruit. This quantity seems 
almost incredible, but the house not being closely 
glazed in places, there was always a circulation of 
air, and with the dry atmosphere from the flue 
nearly every flower set. From this case can we not 
see that we are often wrong in our atmospheric condi¬ 
tions for a g >od set of Tomato flowers, which seems 
to be the main point in its culture, not that I wish 
to quote this house as a pattern, or to recommend 
going back to the old flues. 
*A papsr Fead at the meeting af the Prsstpn and FuhvoOfi 
jlp'. tjcultvtral Scc ety. on Saturday, August 1st - - 
In the management of private gardens consider¬ 
able pressure is often brought to bear upon the 
subject of its cost. Occasionally we hear the remark 
made that garden produce can be bought cheaper 
than it can be grown. This is a point that can be 
argued with considerable force, except as regards 
price, but then there is the pleasure of a garden 
for one thing, and the quality of the articles 
grown for another. I might ask where is the com¬ 
parison between a perfectly-ripened bunch of grapes 
grown in a private garden and that which is usually 
marketed. Excepting it be in midwinter there is 
usually a great difference, as those who market 
cannot wait for the fruit to be fully-ripened, as a few 
weeks further hanging often means a considerable 
reduction in price. The same might be said as 
regards Strawberries ; compare those fresh gathered 
from the garden with those usually sold in the 
market. Then with Gooseberries, try the difference 
between a perfectly-ripened Warrington picked off 
the bush with the average market sample. 
Nevertheless a large number, from circumstances 
are quite precluded from having a garden and grow¬ 
ing their own produce, and in the neighbourhood of 
London, to supply the public demand, it is astonish¬ 
ing the size that some of the market gardens there 
have attained. Here are some figures which will 
given an idea of one of the largest market places in 
Hertfordshire. The glass covers twelve acres; 
one hundred and ninety tons of Tomatos are expected 
to be marketed this year ; thirty tons of Grapes, and 
about 30,000 dozen Cucumbers. If these figures are 
carefully considered they well be found to represent 
in their way something wonderful. It is very 
interesting, and of great educational value, to look 
round a good London market garden. 
Regarding Apples I think this year we have a very 
fair crop. The season is late, and that we can ill- 
afford, as it takes the best English summer all its time 
to ripen Apples to perfection. But the trees with us 
are very much cleaner of caterpillars this year than 
last, which possibly may be owing to the severe 
winter. Out of a good many sorts of culinary 
Apples grown for, say ten years, Grenadier proves to 
be one of the best. Then Lord Grosvenor produces 
a fine sample. Cellini is one of the finest croppers, 
and is much liked in the kitchen, but in appearance 
it is not so fine as the two former. Lord Suffield 
usually produces fine fruit, but this year they are 
very thin. For small bush trees none are more 
fruitful than Stirling Castle. 
Pears are very good crop, too, this year, though a 
number of kinds are not at all reliable when put to 
the test of flavour when ripe, even if fine looking 
fruit is obtained. I think a good deal of imforma- 
tion is still wanted as to the quality of kinds of Pears 
to grow. Plums this year are almost a failure ; we 
had a blossom of great promise, but the late frost 
quite destroyed it. The Apple, the Pear, and the 
Plum, may be considered our main orchard trees in 
this part. 
A considerable amount of good has been done of 
late years in stimulating improved culture. Exhibi¬ 
tions of fruit are of great use in encouraging good 
culture, but success in this matter will not cover all 
the points. For example, the finest specimen Apples 
exhibited in London last year were Mr. Barlow’s 
Peasgood's Nonsuch ; but my experience of this kind 
is that it would never do to recommend it as a 
profitable orchard tree. It is diplorable to see so 
many worn-out and dilapidated orchards, seeing 
that healthy, fruitful trees take up no more room 
than bad ones. 
To help to make the most of this matter I have 
thought that if public orchards were established and 
notes kept as to the relative value of different sorts 
over a series of years, valuable information would be 
gained as to the sorts it would be safest to plant; 
and if the bad ones were done away with from time 
to time and replaced by others such orchards might 
be made self-supporting. It is a great disappoint¬ 
ment to those who plant fruit trees to find, after 
growing them a few years, that they have to be 
rooted out, owing to their worthless character. 
Cutting over the trees and re-grafting only entails 
further delay of time. This more particularly 
applies to Apples and Pears, but is is equally necess¬ 
ary-to know what sorts suit each locality as regards 
Plums. Near Cheadle I have not been able to obtain 
a crop on the wall even of Greengages, whereas jn 
the South they do quite well in some pajqa ps, 
ordinary orchard standards. 
