August 15, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
797 
GLADIOLUS 
NANCIEANUS. 
Until within the last few years, the large-flowered 
Gladioli grown in gardens have all, or mostly, origi¬ 
nated from one stock, namely, from the crossing of 
G. gandavensis and G. brenchleyensis, both of which 
were originally obtained by hybridisation of wild 
species. G. gandavensis was considered by Van 
Houtte to have originated by hybridising G. psit- 
tacinus and G. cardinalis, while the Rev. Dean 
Herbert was of opinion that G. psittacinus and G. 
oppositiflorus were the parents. However this may 
be, certain it is that the large-flowered varieties were 
the descendents of the above-named varieties. 
Within the last few years two other races have been 
originated by M. Victor Lemoine, in France, namely, 
Lemoinei and its forms, and Nancieanus and its 
forms. The former were derived by the hybridi¬ 
sation of G. purpureo-auratus with some of the 
Gandavensis type, and reciprocally. The newest 
race is known as G. nancieanus in its various forms, 
and G. Saundersii and G. gandavensis are the parents 
of the same. Sometimes 
the progeny leans towards 
one parent and sometimes 
towards the other. They 
are, however, generally 
characterised by a dwarf 
habit, when the affinity 
points strongly to G. 
Saundersii, which varies 
from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height 
and has large, brilliant 
scarlet flowers, shaded 
and spotted with crimson 
on a creamy-white ground 
on the two inner and 
lateral segments. The 
type or race arising from 
this parentage is generally 
recognisable by the pre¬ 
sence of these characters 
and colours, but the latter 
may be of various shades 
and in various combina¬ 
tions. Another strong 
feature is the more decid¬ 
edly spreading segments 
of this race than occurs 
in any of the others. 
Should the varieties of 
the G. nancieanus type 
prove constitutionally as 
strong as those of G. gan¬ 
davensis and G. Lemoinei 
(and there seems no rea¬ 
son why they should not), 
they are certain to become 
popular in a few years’ 
time, both with nursery¬ 
men and amateur growers. 
The accompanying illustration, for which we are 
indebted to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, will give 
an idea of the form of the flowers and their general 
appearance. 
- 
LILIUM AURATUM 
VIRGINALE. 
Any and all of the forms of the golden-rayed Lily of 
Japan are worth growing, more especially if they can 
be grown out of doors. The variety under notice 
can be so treated, and there seems no reason why the 
other kinds should not be cultivated, with few excep¬ 
tions, in the same way. Both the type and the 
variety under notice have been grown in a peaty bed 
amongst Rhododendrons, for the last five years, at 
Devonhurst, Chiswick. The bulbs when first planted 
continue to grow and flower strongly for about three 
years, when they degenerate or break up. The offsets 
recruit and the bulbs reach a flowering size again 
about the second year. A flower we measured was 
about ii ins. across, and the inner segments 
slightly over 2 ins. in diameter about the 
middle. All the segments are pure white with a pale 
yellow ray along the middle, fading to pure white in 
the upper portion. The purple or crimson spots of 
the type have entirely disappeared, and the little 
elevations or protuberances usually occupied by them 
are pale yellow. The throat also is partly closed 
with pale yellow glandular fringes. The anthers if 
not removed are liable to soil the purity of the 
flowers with the brownish orange pollen, which is 
developed in large quantity. The fragrance of the 
flowers is equal to that of the type at certain stages, 
but the cut flowers may be kept in a room without 
any inconvenience to the inmates arising from the 
same, and they last well in water. 
_ - •» _ _ 
m m 
PEACH CULTURE UNDER 
GLASS. 
Peaches are largely grown at Gunnersbury Park, 
Acton, one of the seats of the Messrs, de Rothschild. 
The earliest house is a span-roofed structure in a sunny 
position, and here the crop has been gathered. A 
long glass case on a wall facing slightly towards the 
south-east is occupied with Peaches on the back wall, 
and Plums, Cherries, &c. against the glass. This 
structure is divided into five compartments, two of 
which are unheated. One compartment is closed 
early so that the Peaches in it are about equally as 
forward as those in the span-roofed house. The crop 
has been gathered. 
.Gladiolus nancieanus. 
Two other compartments were started somewhat 
later, and the fruit of several of the earlier kinds was 
being gathered during the latter part of July. A tree 
of the Nectarine Peach bore a fine crop of richly- 
coloured fruit. The latter is remarkably pointed, a 
peculiarity which makes it unsuitable for travelling 
long distances unless great care is taken in packing 
it. The projecting point is very liable to get bruised, 
thus spoiling the appearance of the whole. Other¬ 
wise it is a showy and useful kind. The fruit of Sea 
Eagle is well known for the showy orange and yellow 
tints which it assumes. Crawford’s Early is now 
ripe, and is notable both for its size and rich colour. 
The flesh is yellow, but rather of indifferent quality 
compared with other more popular sorts. The 
earliness of the variety and its beautiful colour are its 
chief recommendations. Late Admirable has rather 
a scanty crop, and as a rule is a shy cropper at 
Gunnersbury House, when grown under glass. Belle 
de Doue is a large fruiting kind of a rich red all over, 
with a richly flavoured melting juice, and is now 
nearly ripe. Out of doors it does not mature till the 
end of August, or beginning of October. The crop 
of Dymond is excellent and is now nearly ripe. The 
skin is marked with red on the exposed side, and the 
pale flesh is highly flavoured. A good old kind is 
Noblesse, with large pale-coloured fruit; the crop is 
a heavy one, and was ripe by the end of July. 
The Nectarines in this house were quite a feature, 
and being mostly ripe, showed the rich colours they 
are capable of assuming under good cultivation. 
Foremost amongst these must be placed Lord Napier, 
both for quality and weight of crop, the latter being 
ripe. This variety is followed by Pine Apple, which 
keeps up a succession till the Victoria Nectarine is 
ripe. The fruit is relatively small, with the fine 
colour of Lord Napier, but is somewhat liable to 
crack. Another very pretty Nectarine is Dryden, 
ripening at the same time as Lord Napier, than 
which the fruit is smaller but of a deep crimson red, 
or often almost of a dark plum purple with a con¬ 
spicuous bloom. It is of good quality ; but the tree 
seems to be weak in constitution. At all events the 
tree has been worked on the Plum, and the union is 
a bad one, which may account for the weak state of 
the tree. The Victoria Nectarine is the latest in the 
house, and is yet very far from being ripe, but bears 
an excellent crop. 
Towards the other end of the range is another 
compartment which was started about the same time 
as the above, so that the fruit here also is being 
gathered for use. Several of the same varieties 
already mentioned are grown here, including Belle de 
Doue and Dymond 
Peaches, and Lord Napier 
and Pine Apple Necta¬ 
rines all of which carry 
a good crop. Goshawk 
Peach also bears well, and 
has pale-coloured fruit of 
excellent quality. The 
fruit is slightly pointed 
but not so markedly so 
as in the Nectarine Peach. 
It was originally raised 
from an American variety 
named Cooledge’s Fav¬ 
ourite. All the trees in 
this house were taken off 
walls out of doors in the 
autumn, and the fact that 
they carry a good crop is 
due in no small measure 
to the skill of Mr. G. 
Reynolds, the gardener. 
The difficulties with which 
cultivators have to con¬ 
tend in suburban districts 
against the influence of 
the London fogs is greater 
than those in the open 
country can imagine. 
This is more especially 
the case with houses that 
are forced, consequently 
bringing the trees into 
bloom at an unfavourable 
time. 
The fruit in the unheated 
compartments has just 
finished stoning, and the 
crop is excellent. Several 
of the above kinds are also grown here, including 
the Dymond Peach, Lord Napier, Pine Apple and 
Victoria Nectarines. In addition to these, Belle- 
garde, Princess of Wales, Alexandra Noblesse and 
Royal George Peaches are grown. The last named 
is of weak constitution and liable to mildew both in 
and out of doors. Pitmaston Orange, and Spenser 
Nectarines are also grown. The Victoria variety is 
not expected to be ripe before October. On the open 
wall the Alexandra Peach is finely coloured and 
almost ripe when we saw it on the ist inst., but as it 
usually ripens in the third week of July, it is fully a 
fortnight late this season. 
Vine Culture in Palestine.—Mr. Gillman, the 
United States Consul at Jerusalem, says that at the 
present time the cultivation of the Vine in Palestine 
brings from 40 to 50 per ceut. better returns than 
does that of any other product of the soil. As a 
consequence, each succeeding year more and more 
land is planted with vineyards, and various improve¬ 
ments are introduced and new experiments tried. 
The German and Jewish colonies around Jaffa and 
in its neighbourhood are as yet the chief fields 
for this industry, and the best wine is made there. 
Extensive ancient vineyards of native culture are, 
however, still seen at Eshcol and Ramallah, and at 
other places in the vicinity of Jerusalem and Bethle¬ 
hem. There can be little doubt, says Consul 
Gillman, that at no distant day, vineyards will cover 
the hill-sides of Judea to such an extent as has never 
been previously known. 
