April 4, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
497 
mined to continue the experiments during the winter 
of 1890—91. During the first trial an engine and 
dynamo was procured, and the electricity was generated 
at the trial grounds. The second trial was conducted 
by introducing a street lamp into the houses ; but the 
light was continued for only half the night. 
Besides the experiment on the forcing of vegetables, 
another was conducted during the past winter for the 
purpose of ascertaining the effect of the electric light 
upon the colour of flowers, and for the purpose named 
Petunias, Coleuses, Heliotropes, Tulips, Verbenas, 
Fuchsias, Primulas, and other subjects were used. The 
results of tho experiment will be looked forward to with 
much interest. 
-->X<-- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
—»*-— 
Azalea mollis flore pleno Norma. 
Several semi-double forms of Azalea sinense, popularly 
known in gardens as A. mollis, are now in cultivation. 
That named Norma has flowers of a soft red, produced 
in great abundance at the end of every shoot. The 
doubling consists of an inner set of segments, equalling 
in number those of the outer set—namely, five, and 
the inner ones generally alternate with the outer, but 
not always regularly. The flowers are slightly fragrant. 
Another one of the same affinity was also shown at the 
same time as *the above, and named Mecene. This had 
white flowers, slightly tinted with yellow on the tube 
externally, and the doubling was of the same kind. 
The variety is very floriferous. Both were shown by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, at the Drill Hall, on the 
24th ult., and an Award of Merit was granted in each 
case. The flowers of the last-named kind are also 
slightly fragrant, and the trusses or corymbs are in¬ 
clined to be racemose. 
The Hollyhock as an Annual. 
There is no difficulty in sowing the seed, raising 
plants of Hollyhocks, and flowering these the same year. 
It is a simple matter of sowing. But it is necessary 
that this operation be performed early in January, 
sowing the seeds in fine light soil, raising them on 
bottom-heat, potting them off, growing on generously, 
and planting out in the open in May, after the plants 
have been appropriately hardened off. A year or two 
ago I saw a fine piece of seedling Hollyhocks at the 
Portland Nurseries of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, at 
Reading, and they were flowering freely in August 
and September. But the plants had been well looked 
after, and that is the main condition of success.— E. I). 
Arum palestinum. 
The leaves of this plant are somewhat similar in shape 
to those of Richardia africana, but they are smaller 
and shorter. The spathe is about 6 ins. long, rolled 
round the flowers at the base and flattened upwards, 
where it narrows to a point. The outer surface is of 
a pale green, striated with red in front, and the interior 
is of a blackish velvety maroon, and yellow at the very 
base, where it forms a cup. The spadix is darker, 
almost black, cylindrical, and somewhat shorter than 
the spathe. The female and the barren flowers are 
drawn out into tail-like processes. A plant was shown 
at the Drill Hall on the 24th ult. by Mr. Gold, gardener 
to H. D. Ryder, Esq., High Ashurst, Dorking, when a 
First Class Certificate was awarded. 
An excellent Spiraea for Forcing 1 . 
Vert bad results have been obtained during the past 
winter in the forcing of many subjects in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London on account of the fog, combined 
with the insufficiency of light. It may afford some 
matter of consolation for all concerned, that Spirrea 
media, better known in gardens as S. confusa, is not 
only readily amenable to forcing, but the flowers are 
of a purer white than when grown out-of-doors under 
natural conditions. The species is a native of northern 
Asia, is shrubby, and varies from 2 ft. to 4 ft. in 
height, according to the conditions under which it is 
grown. The flowers are borne in corymbs and in great 
abundance all along the sides of last year’s wood. The 
leaves are elliptic-lanceolate or obovate, or somewhat 
wedge-shaped, being rather variable on the same plant, 
with a few serratures or coarse teeth towards the apex. 
They become fully expanded at the same time as the 
flowers are in perfection, and are then of a rich, dark 
green. No great heat is required, and the plants can 
therefore bo forced into bloom in a vinery or peach- 
house at work, after which they'may be transferred to 
the greenhouse or conservatory as may be required. 
The trusses may also be cut and used for mixing with 
cut flowers. Besides the two names already given, the 
plant is also known as S. oblongifolia. 
Hardy Flowers from Lincolnshire. 
The flowers in Lincolnshire appear to be much farther 
advanced than they are in the neighbourhood of 
London, judging from a boxful sent us by Mr. John T. 
Gilbert, Anemone Nurseries, Dyke, Bourne. The 
Crown Imperials gave evidence of good cultivation or 
very rich soil, for the flowers were massive and borne 
in huge clusters on the top of stout stems well furnished 
towards the base with broad healthy-looking foliage. 
The typical form had deep orange flowers with darker 
veins, and the yellow variety (Fritillaria imperialis 
lutea) showed off by contrast the bright yellow of its 
huge flowers with more bluntly-pointed segments. 
Accompanying them were some Anemones, notably A. 
fulgens and A. coronaria (King of Scarlets), a beautiful 
fully double kind of great beauty. Seedling Polyanthus 
are already in full bloom in the Anemone Nurseries ; 
but we were agreeably taken with the delicious odour 
of a variety named Ye Primrose Dame, the flowers of 
which were of good average size, bright yellow, and 
darker around the eye. Being an old variety it is 
doubtless of good constitution, and, furthermore, like 
most of the other flowers sent, it had been grown in 
the open air. Now very few flowers of these kinds are 
yet in bloom about London—White Crown Imperials 
are only a few inches above the soil. A few flowers of 
the pretty Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus minimus were 
also sent us, but they had been grown in an unheated 
house. 
Saxifraga Boydi. 
The leaves of this plant are subulate, of a Cfesious grey, 
and densely arranged in small rosettes, forming close 
tufts or patches. The flower scapes bear a few blooms 
at the apex, and rise about 1 in. or in. above the 
foliage. The flowers themselves are comparatively of 
large size, with obovate, bright primrose-yellow petals. 
A piece of it was shown at the Drill Hall on the 
24th ult. by Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, and 
received a First Class Certificate. 
Castor Oil Plants. 
These are always acceptable plants in the garden 
during the summer months, on account of their fine, 
bold, and handsome growth. They are easily raised 
from seeds, which are large and so full of oil that they 
will readily ignite. But these plants being strong 
feeders need some nutriment in the soil, and when 
planted out a good-sized hole should be dug, a spadeful 
of manure put into it, and on the top of this 3 ins. of 
soil. When the weather is warm a quick growth sets 
in, the plants attain to a great size, and are strikingly 
handsome. There are many varieties, but two or three 
that are well worthy of cultivation are Silver Stemmed, 
very fine and bold ; Sanguinea, red stems, and hand¬ 
some red leaves ; and Gibsoni, of dwarf growth, red 
stems and leaves, but quite distinct from the foregoing. 
— E. D. 
Olivia, Prince of Orange. 
The foliage of this variety is very dark, rich green, 
and leathery. The flower scapes are well thrown up, 
and bear large, shortly funnel-shaped flowers, with a 
comparatively short tube. The segments are of a 
deep orange, and clear yellow at the very base ; 
they are broad and overlapping, but particularly 
the inner ones, which are broadly obovate. An Award 
of Merit was granted this variety when shown at the 
Drill Hall on the 24th ult. by Messrs. B. S. Williams 
& Son, Upper Holloway. 
Iris caucasica. 
The weather has been altogether too cold for this plant 
to make much progress in the open air unprotected, 
although it blooms naturally during February and 
March in mild seasons. It belongs to the genus 
Xiphion, with short bulb-like rhizomes, but differs 
markedly in its outward aspect from I. reticulata, 
I. xiphion, I. xiphioides, and others of that type, in 
having leaves all along the stems. The latter are 
generally about 6 ins. high or sometimes shorter, and 
bear a double rank of arching, light green leaves. The 
flowers are of large size, and produced one to three 
together at the apex of the stem, but singly in the 
axils of the bracts. They are of large size, pale yellow, 
and scentless, The fijlls are obovate, and the petaloid 
stigmas are broad and placed opposite the former, hy 
reason of which the flowers assume a somewhat three- 
rayed appearance, as the standards are narrow and 
inconspicuous. Those who have the convenience of a 
frame or hardy plant house would find it a suitable 
subject for pot work. 
Shortia galacifolia. 
The leaves of this plant are orbicular, leathery, ever¬ 
green, and resemble those of Galax aphylla, to which 
the specific name applies. The flowers are compara¬ 
tively of large size, produced singly on scapes of 3 ins. 
or 4 ins. in height, and drooping. The corolla is white, 
slightly tinted with blush, prominently crenated at the 
edges, and supported beneath with a salmon-coloured 
calyx. The plant belongs to the natural order Diapen- 
siaceae, which is closely allied to the Heath family. 
Amongst the latter it may be compared to Pyrola in 
habit, but more especially in the shape and character 
of the leaves. The species is as rare in a wild state as 
it is beautiful, and it is to be hoped that cultivators 
will greatly extend its culture in gardens, for it would 
undoubtedly be a great loss should it become extinct. 
Localities given for it are the mountains of Carolina 
and Japan, but even there very little of it has been dis¬ 
covered. For pot work it is undoubtedly a gem, and 
is apparently not difficult to cultivate when placed 
under conditions suitable for the cool culture of alpine 
plants generally, in a compost of loam and peat or leaf- 
soil with sand and efficient drainage. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
-- 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
There is now no scarcity of flowers in the Orchid 
houses, but the reverse, and it is well worth a little 
extra trouble to attempt to arrange the plants which 
are flowering in the various houses in such a manner 
that they will show to the best advantage. This is 
done generally in one of two ways, either by keeping a 
house mainly for plants in flower as a show house, and 
intermixing them with foliage plants and Ferns, or 
else by making a group or bank of those plants which 
are in flower in each house, so that they may be seen 
better and therefore more fully appreciated than when 
many of them are almost out of sight. Plants which 
are not well established are best left in the houses in 
which they have been growing, and any small or 
weakly plants likewise, for if they aie allowed to carry 
flowers for a long period, the penalty must be paid 
which often means that the plant will not be able to 
start away strongly at the growing season, because it 
has been carrying its flower spikes too long, and the 
premature death of many a fine variety can be 
attributed to no other cause. 
Many plants which commence pushing their flower- 
spikes in the dull months of November and December 
have had those spikes to support for nearly six months 
before a flower was fully open in April or May, and 
looked at in this light it must be apparent that those 
plants feel the strain more than the ones that produce 
their flower spikes in the spring or summer when they 
are brought to maturity in less than half the time. 
The orchid flower-holder introduced by Mr. Outram 
some time ago has proved very useful for the purpose of 
keeping those flower spikes which have been cut off to 
ease the plants, and when pushed into the pot on which 
the spike grew the show of flower in the houses is not 
interfered with. 
Lselia anceps, L. autumnalis, L. albida, and L. 
Gouldiana are now pushing their brittle roots, and if it 
is desirable to give them more pot room they must be 
attended to shortly. The bulbs of our plants are now 
getting quite plump again, and the young growths are 
in readiness to come away. A good autumn is of great 
benefit to them in plumping and ripening the eyes, as 
well as to fruit and other trees, and I believe that 
many of the plants of the white varieties of L. anceps, 
which have not yet flowered, will give better returns 
this year. A light dewing of the young roots daily is 
what they greatly enjoy in bright weather, but- the 
chief cause of them not flowering is undoubtedly over¬ 
shading or insufficient sunlight. 
Oncidiums of the crispum, prmtextum, varicosum, 
Rogersii, and Marshallianum sections are now making 
young growths, and will probably require a little fresh 
sphagnum on the blocks, rafts, or baskets in which 
they are grown. When in good health strong pieces will 
invariably produce flower spikes far too large to allow 
of their remaining on the plant until they fade, if the 
future as well as the present good of the plant be con¬ 
sidered. 
