May 2, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
557 
is harried—I cannot call it driven—over many miles of 
country, crowded into trucks, and shunted and bumped 
about frequently for days and nights until they arrive 
at a place now celebrated for its Roses—Homebush. 
Here those animals which have not broken their legs 
or necks, horns or backs en route are transferred to the 
sale yards, and, half-famished and partially sun-struck, 
are sold by auction, taken away, and their misery 
ended. Probably the stock-whip, the railway journey, 
huDger, thirst, and exposure combined are responsible 
for the toughness of tissue I complain about. True, I 
am growing older, and our climate is not celebrated for 
its beneficial effects on the teeth ; this also may have 
a little to do with the matter about which 1 complain. 
I had a run out to Parra¬ 
matta the other day to the 
celebrated nursery of Mr. 
Samuel Purchase, and was 
delighted with my visit. 
It is, indeed, a treat to an 
English gardener, everything 
in the Somerset Nursery 
being in such grand order. 
Not a stick or stone out of 
place, and every path as clear 
as the decks of a man-of- 
war, and that statement 
means much. Hundreds of 
Chrysanthemums are grown 
here in 12-in. pots, in the 
“ Molyneux ” style, and 
well they look. Amongst 
newer varieties with buds 
well advanced, 1 noticed 
Louis Bcehmer, which in 
habit shows a decided im¬ 
provement on that of Mrs. 
Alpheus Hardy, for it was 
4 ft. 6 ins. high, and carried 
its foliage well to the pot 
—a matter not yet accom¬ 
plished with its progenitor. 
Mrs. Alpheus Hardy was 
plentifully dispersed amongst 
the collection, but does not 
seem quite at home as yet in 
Australian soil. In fact, 
the worst doers in the whole 
collection appeared to be 
Roseum Pictum, its beauti¬ 
ful sport Mrs. J. Johnson, 
and the ‘ 1 Mum” just referred 
to. Primula sinensis in 
hundreds, and quantities of 
Cyclamen Persicum were 
noticed in frames, doing 
grandly. Stephanotis, An- 
tigonon, Boutinia, &e., 
rambling over walls in the 
open, were in the most 
robust health, while the 
carpet bedding was worth 
going miles to see, so char¬ 
mingly designed and well 
kept was it as well as its sur¬ 
rounding of verdant sward. 
The Aleppo Pine, Stone 
Pine, and P. insignis were 
thriving magnificently in 
hundreds, and the charming 
tints of their young growths 
assisted to make up a 
-pleasing and interesting 
study in greenery. Araucaria 
Cookii, the best of the tribe, 
A. excelsa Cunninghamii, 
and A. Rulei were there too, with other things too 
numerous to mention, all in grand health. The courtesy 
of Mr. Purchase and his able foreman, Mr. Smith, is 
proverbial ; but whether this quality, so strongly 
inculcated both in master and man, is equal to their 
skill, is a point I shall not attempt to decide. Judging 
by the robust and healthy character of every plant in 
this nursery, and the extreme cleanliness and good 
order everywhere prevailing, he would be indeed a bold 
man who hazarded an opinion. The term “ anything 
is good enough for the colonies” assuredly does not 
hold water here. A “wrinkle” for many a well- 
established nurseryman in the Old Country might 
be obtained in these nurseries of Mr. Purchase, so 
orderly and so systematically are they conducted. I 
enjoyed my brief stay very much indeed 
March 19 th, 
THE SPECIES OF ADONIS. 
Tiie annual and perennial species of this genus differ 
widely in habit; but of the former only two are in 
cultivation out of the eight or ten known species. The 
perennial sorts, or such of them as are to be found in 
gardens, are dwarf, compact and showy plants, suitable 
for roekwork or borders amongst other low-growing 
plants where they are not likely to get overgrown and 
killed by coarse herbage. The annuals are popularly 
known under the names of Adonis Flos and Pheasant’s- 
eye, but notwithstanding the superior size and showi¬ 
ness of the flowers of some of the perennial species, the 
latter do not seem to have any popular name applied to 
them. All may be propagated from seeds, and the 
Anthurium Andeeanum. 
annuals of course only, by that method ; the perennial 
kinds on the other hand are increased also by the 
division of the tuberous rootstock. The plants, how¬ 
ever, are tufted, make fresh crowns very slowly, and 
should therefore be disturbed as little as possible after 
they get established. 
Pheasant’s-eye ( Adonis autumndlis ).—The flowers 
of this are small, but of an intense red or crimson hue, 
with a dark centre ; hence the popular name from the 
eye-like appearance of the blooms. The stems are very 
much branched, and freely furnished with finely divided 
leaves resembling those of the annual Larkspurs. The 
specific name is not very appropriate, seeing that it 
commences flowering early in the summer according to 
the time of sowing. It has become established or 
grows wild in some places in this country. 
The Summer Adonis {A. aestivalis). —The stems of 
this are about the same height as those of the last— 
namely, 1 ft., and are clothed with similar leaves. 
The flowers, are, however, much larger and deep 
crimson. It is a native of the south of Europe, and 
was introduced about 262 years ago. Flowering 
commences in June. The season can be considerably 
prolonged by sowing in rich soil and thinning out the 
seedlings to allow of the proper development of the 
plants. 
The Vernal Adonis (A. vernalis ).—"Without doubt 
this is the most popular and the most widely grown of 
the perennial species. The petals are large, shining 
yellow, ten to twelve in number, and the flowers 
commence to expand in March in mild seasons, but are 
in beauty during April and 
May in a cold spring like 
the present. It was origi¬ 
nally introduced in the same 
year as A. lestivalis from 
the Continent, and delights 
in a rich, moist, but light 
soil. The stem varies from 
6 ins. to 9 ins. in height, 
bearing on its lower part 
leaves reduced to scales, 
but finely divided ones 
upward. Seeds may be 
sown in March in a cold 
frame, or the old plants 
may be divided as growth 
is commencing. Those who 
desire to use it for spring 
bedding should grow a 
quantity of plants in pots, 
plunged in ashes in the 
reserve garden till required 
for use, as the roots are very 
impatient of frequent removal 
and disturbance. 
The Pyrenean Adonis 
(A. pyrenaica ).—This was 
introduced from the Pyre¬ 
nees in 1817, and although 
similar in general appearance 
to A. vernalis, may be dis¬ 
tinguished by its taller 
(12 ins. to 15 ins.) and 
branched stems, also by 
flowering in June and July. 
The lower leaves are well 
developed and borne on long 
stalks, while the cauline 
leaves are sessile. The 
flowers also consist of eight 
to ten petals that are 
smaller and blunter than 
those of the last-named 
species. It is valuable for 
rock-work, and choice, both 
on account of variety and 
from the fact of its forming 
compact tufts that do not 
encroach on their neighbours. 
The mixed border, if well 
drained, is also a suitable 
place for it. 
The Volga Adonis (A. 
volgensis). — This takes its 
name from the river Volga 
in Russia, of which country 
it is a native. It holds 
an intermediate position 
between A. vernalis and 
A. pyrenaica, having the 
branching stems of the 
latter and the dwarf habit of 
the former, with likewise the scale-like leaves on the 
lower part of the stems. The sepals are, however, 
pubescent on the outer surface, which is not the case 
with either of the other two. Introduced in 1818. It 
will thus be seen that each of the above three are 
closely similar and related, require the same cultural 
treatment, and differ widely from the annual specie?. 
--»3=<-- 
ANTHURIUM ANDREANUM. 
The peculiar feature about this species is the large 
corrugated or crumpled spathe. The species does not 
seem to have been used very much as a seed or pollen- 
parent in the production of hybrids, but where that 
has been the case, the corrugated character of the 
spathe disappears in the progeny as far as we have 
seen. The yellowish spadix is well shown off against 
