826 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 29, 1891. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
Choice Plants in Flower. 
Liatris spicata. —The usual height of this com¬ 
posite is 12 in., but when grown in pots, it may 
not exceed 6 in. When planted in the herbaceous 
border or on the rockery it is one of the neatest and 
prettiest of the species of Liatris, and one of the 
most easily grown. In the herbaceous border it 
ought to occupy the front line on account of its short 
stature. Other species attain a height of 3ft. or 4ft. 
The flower heads of L. spicata are rosy purple, and 
borne in a spike terminating the stems. Propagation 
is effected by division, but the plant does not increase 
very fast. 
Ganera Lindheimeri.— The white flowers of this 
plant are more or less tinted with pink, which adds 
considerably to their beauty. Young plants keep up 
a succession of bloom during July, August, and 
September, and are, therefore, useful for mixing in 
bedding arrangements where the graceful stems and 
white flowers stand out in beautiful contrast to 
broader or darker-leaved plants, and thus serve 
to lighten them up. The species ought more 
frequently to be planted in the herbaceous border 
than it is. Although so different from the Fuchsia, 
yet it is a member of the same family, and is more 
useful for mixing amongst cut flowers. The plant 
may be increased to any extent from cuttings. 
Physostegia virginiana alba.— The flowers of 
this variety are pure white, and arranged in four 
ranks terminating the stem3. The racemes have 
therefore a square appearance, and appear stately 
when the plants attain a height of 3ft. or 4ft. in good 
soil; in poorer soil, or where the root room is re¬ 
stricted, the stems may not exceed 18 in. in height. 
The individual flowers are of some size, the lower 
part being tubular, and the upper portion near the 
mouth inflated. Increase may be obtained by 
division. 
Veronica spicata. —Both this and V. longifolia 
vary greatly in size, the different forms taking the 
rank of varieties, many of which have received 
distinctive names. The true V. spicata is, however, 
a very dwarf plant, usually about 6 in. high, the 
flowering stems arising from a carpet of barren 
stems spreading upon the ground. The best place 
for the plant is on the rockery, but that need not 
prevent any one from growing it in any border in 
well-drained soil. 
Delphinium nudicaule aurantiacum. — The 
typical form of the species has scarlet flowers, but 
that under notice differs by having orange-yellow 
flowers, the inner surface being yellow, and the outer 
pale orange, and, therefore, quite distinct. It may 
be raised from seeds. 
Myosotis Reichsteineri.— In this we have a very 
dwarf Myosotis from the Continent, an alpine form 
closely allied to M. lingulata. The leaves are smooth 
and of a light green, clothing stems that closely hug 
the ground, forming a beautiful carpet from which 
an abundance of flowers arise in the early spring, 
and continue to be produced more or less till late in 
summer. They are of a bright blue with [a yellow 
eye. 
Parnassia Caroliniana.— In general appearance 
the flowers of the Carolina Grass of Parnassus 
closely resemble those of our native species, but 
the glandular processes have only three instead of 
thirteen or fourteen branches. The petals are white, 
beautifully lined with paler or'greenish veins. The 
flower stems are about 6 in. high, and the leaves mostly 
confined to the base. Plants may be grown in pots 
or on the margin of the bog garden, where they can 
get a plentiful supply of moisture. A cool position 
should if possible be selected for it. 
Erpetion reniforme.— The flowerless stems of 
this plant creep on the ground, and serve to increase 
the plant at a rapid rate. The species is the Spur¬ 
less Violet of New Holland, and differs from a true 
Viola only in the absence of a spur. The petals are 
blue and purple on the lower part, and pure white in 
the upper ; and the flowers are, therefore, pretty and 
attractive although below the middle size. A cool, 
moist position should be chosen for it, and where 
it will be sheltered in winter. A stock may always 
be kept in thumb pots in a frame to provide against 
accident during winter. 
Gentiana linearis.— The flowers of this pretty 
species are borne in a cluster of three to five 
terminating the stems, and are of medium size and 
bright blue, but altogether choice and devoid of the 
weedy and inconspicuous appearance of some of the 
annual species. The stems vary from 6 ins. to 18 
ins. high, but never become gross or bulky at any 
time. The larger leaves are oblong, lanceolate and 
confined to the base of the stem, those on the latter 
being smaller. A somewhat peaty soil will serve to 
keep sufficient moisture about the roots. 
Erythr.ea diffusa.— While amongst the dwarfest 
species, this Erythrsea is one of the prettiest. The 
barren stems are numerous, procumbent upon the 
ground and covered with light-green foliage. It is 
perfectly hardy, and bears a profusion of rosy-pink 
flowers on erect or ascending shoots only 2 in. or 3 in. 
high, during the summer and early autumn months, 
according to circumstances. Cuttings may be ob¬ 
tained in any quantity with which to propagate the 
plant. 
Geum montanum maximum.— The type is well 
known to most lovers of hardy plants for its large 
golden-yellow’ blooms, produced on stems 3 in. to 
6 in. high. The variety differs in being larger in all 
parts including the flowers and the dark-green 
deeply lobed leaves. 
THE JAPANESE 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Some of our readers are no doubt aware that there 
has existed in the Mikado’s Empire a society specially 
devoted to horticulture in all its branches. This is 
not surprising to those who remember how long we 
have been indebted to the flora of Japan for so many 
of our most beautiful and interesting garden flowers, 
of which a mere catalogue would probably occupy 
too much space in a short article like this. Many 
Japanese botanists and horticulturists have of late 
paid lengthy visits to America and Europe, for the 
purpose of extending their knowledge of a scientific 
or a commercial nature, and while present in those 
continents have contributed valuable articles on 
Japanese Horticulture to the American, French, and 
Belgian Gardening press. 
The Japanese people in their desire to advance 
have done much during the past twenty-five years, 
and their horticulturists have not been behind 
their fellow-countrymen of other professions. As 
may be expected, the educated Japanese horticul¬ 
turist desires an outlet for the knowledge he acquires 
when abroad, and so the Japanese Horticultural 
Society, in imitation of Western customs, has 
established a journal to which its''members at home 
and abroad contribute papers of considerable value. 
The numbers of this journal are not printed in the 
old style of Japanese books, but are turned out in 
quite a European fashion. The title is printed 
in four languages on the cover, viz., Japanese, 
English, French, and German; with an index of 
contents in English. A few numbers having recently 
been brought under our notice enables us to say that 
the contents appear to be of a very interesting 
nature, for the articles are written by natives on 
many subjects concerning horticulture in England, 
America, France, and Belgium, besides purely 
Japanese matter. But for this English index the 
contents would have been practically a sealed book, 
and we cannot but think that the journal would be 
of considerable value if printed in bi-lingual form, 
that is to say in Japanese and English, or Japanese 
and French, for as it is at present the whole of the 
text is in Japanese character, and therefore but of 
little use to European or American horticulturists. 
Some of the numbers contain articles with the 
following headings :—A Chrysanthemum Fair in New 
York—On fruit raising—Implements of gardens—On 
the exports of Lily Bulbs—Chinese and European 
Cherries—Bermuda Easter Lily—Japanese curious 
Pines—The Chrysanthemum in Belgium—The flower 
loved by Mahomet—Origin of the cultivated Chry¬ 
santhemum and the effect of artificial fertilization— 
Horticulture in American and European countries, 
&c. Some of the numbers are illustrated with 
excellent chromo-lithographs of flowers, and the 
style of the publication makes us regret that our 
early education was so sadlj’ neglected as not to have 
comprised instruction in the written character of Dai 
N ippon.— mirysanUi , 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen.— 
The annual floral fete of this Society was opened on 
Thursday, 20th inst., in the Duthie Public Park, 
Aberdeen, and continued until Saturday, 22nd. As 
compared with last year’s show there was an increase 
of entries of 124—the total in the 232 classes being 
1731, as against 1607. In pot plants the number of 
exhibits was 258 ; cut flowers, 524 ; fruit, 355 ; and 
vegetables, 594. The show was held on precisely 
the same spot as last year, the exhibits being shown 
in three magnificent marquees. 
Considering the lateness of the season, the exhibits 
were all over excellent. The great centre of attrac¬ 
tion was the marquee set apart for professional 
gardeners. Four large tables were filled to over¬ 
flowing with stove and greenhouse plants. Mr. 
Proctor, gardener at Devanha House, Aberdeen, 
took the blue ribbon of the show—a Silver Cup—with 
a magnificent table. Mr. Proctor was also first 
for the most tastefully arranged collection of 
cut flowers. The second prize table was that 
shown by Mr. Grigor, gardener at Fairfield. The 
plants were only second in point of size to the pre¬ 
mier exhibit, but were perhaps equal so far as they 
displayed taste in cultivation. Mr. Strachan, 
gardener to Mr. Fyffe, Beechgrove House, was 
placed third, with a pretty table ; and Mr. George 
Mackintosh, St. Tiernan, Banchory, gardener to 
Dean of Guild Macdonald, was fourth. 
Considering the backward season which has been 
experienced, the display of cut flowers was a highly 
creditable one. In the professional division Mr. 
John Proctor was again to the front, securing first 
honours for the best collection of cut flowers 
arranged on a table 8 ft. by 3J ft. Roses in all the 
divisions were in splendid condition, and the show 
of Pansies was a very fine one. The amateur and 
working men’s sections were almost equal in quality 
to the professionals. Competition in all the classes 
was of the keenest description, and the judges found 
no little difficulty in deciding the awards. 
The exhibition of cut flowers put forward by the 
nurserymen [and florists was of a most choice 
description. Their Roses were a beautiful show, 
the Duke and Duchess of Fife Roses shown by 
Messrs. Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen, coming in for a 
large share of attention. Dahlias, single and double, 
were well worth seeing. 
Undoubtedly one of the principal exhibitions 
in the show was the exceptionally fine display 
of fruit, which has not been surpassed for years. 
In the professional section, Mr. A. Reid, gardener 
to Mr. H. B. Baird, Durris, was awarded the 
Silver Cup for the best collection ; and Mr. Alex. 
Milne, Queen’s Road West, was first for the 
best collection of hardy fruit. Mr. Strachan was 
again to the fore, with four bunches of beautiful 
Grapes, white and black, well finished. Mr. Reid, 
Durris, was a good second. For Peaches and Apples 
Messrs. R. Kiloh, J. B. Middleton, and J. Grant 
secured premier honours. 
The vegetable department likewise calls for 
special mention, as it was one of the best seen 
in the district for a long time. The working 
classes came out strong in this division, and 
their exhibits were of a quality which ran the pro¬ 
fessionals pretty close. Mr. J. B. Middleton, 
gardener to Sir Arthur Grant, Bart., of Monymusk, 
took the premier place for the best collection, and 
Mr. William Anderson, Lower Cornhill, secured a 
similar position for the best collection open to market 
gardeners only. Mr. W. D. Brownie, Ellon, carried 
off similar honours amongst the amateurs. 
Floriferous Lilies. —It may be interesting to 
your numerous readers to know that in the garden 
of Mr. G. McNeil, joiner, Old Cathcart, near Glas¬ 
gow, there are at present blooming a Lilium 
auratum with three spikes carrying 193 open 
flowers, and another bulb growing alongside which 
has eight spikes carrying 120 open flowers. Th® 
bulbs were planted five years ago, and have steadily 
improved every year until they have arrived at the 
high state of perfection in which they are to be seen 
to-day. As no one whom I have come across has seen 
anything approaching these either grown under 
glass or in the open border, it would be interesting 
to hear what your English readers have to say on 
the subject. — Thomas Robertson, Eastwood, Thornlic- 
banlt, August 18th. 
