558 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
}Iay 2, 1891. 
the scarlet spatlie, but it lacks the curious twist which 
is so characteristic of A. Sherzerianum. The leaves 
are ovate-lanceolate with a deep sinus at the base, and 
are of a rich shining green. There are nearly 150 
species of Anthurium, of which some are notable for 
the magnificence of their leaves. Not one has yet been 
introduced, however, having a spathe so remarkably 
corrugated as that under notice. The plant is usually 
grown in pots, hut is sometimes fastened on a piece of 
Fern-stem, against which the stem gradually ascends, 
throwing out its long fleshy roots. The most suitable 
compost for this class of plants with semi-aerial roots, 
consists of fibrous loam, peat, sphagnum, and pot¬ 
sherds broken small or charcoal if it can be had, with a 
liberal use of clean silver-sand. Such a compost allows 
the great fleshy roots to ramble freely, and the super¬ 
fluous moisture, of which a large quantity is required, 
especially in summer, to pass away. We are indebted 
to Messrs. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, for an 
opportunity of figuring this fine species. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
SEASONABLE WORK in the GARDEN. 
Caladiums. — If these are intended for removal 
from the stove in which they have been grown, they 
should receive some previous preparation. They should 
be fully exposed to all the sunlight possible, which will 
have the effect not only of bringing out the colours but 
of strengthening the tissues, enabling them to with¬ 
stand a drier and cooler atmosphere. Ventilation will 
have to bo given in conjunction with exposure to 
sunshine. 
Gardenias.—A hot-bed of fermenting manure 
should be made up for these in a pit, and the pots 
plunged in it for the rest of the growing season. So 
treated they will make capital growth with full 
exposure to sunlight. The wood may afterwards be 
ripened and consolidated by cool treatment and plenty 
of ventilation in autumn. Should the plants become 
infested at any time with mealy-bug, syringe them 
with a mixture of paraffin and water at the rate of a 
wine-glassful of the former to four gallons of the latter. 
Poinsettias.—Old plants intended to be grown on 
again should be cut back, placed in heat, and watered 
to induce them to make fresh growth. As soon as they 
have commenced to grow, they may be re-potted into 
fresh material. The shoots that are taken off may be cut 
into short pieces bearing a couple of eyes and inserted 
in sand under a handlight in strong heat to form roots. 
Plants not required for growing on again may be 
placed in heat and watered with the object of taking 
cuttings with a slight heel of the old wood. These 
make the best plants, or at least those from which the 
largest and finest bracts are obtained. 
Achinienes and Gesneras.— Attend to the 
potting on of Achimenes as they require it. If the 
stock is short, the points may be taken off the young 
plants and rooted. They will even flower late in the 
season. Gesneras for late autumn and winter work 
should now be started. Select the stronger rhizomes 
and place them in pans of a light compost consisting 
largely of leaf-soil, and placed in a warm pit. Pot 
them off when they appear well above the surface. 
Cyclamens.— Growers • who intend keeping on 
their old plants of Cyclamen for another year will now 
be anxious to remove them from the houses in which 
they have flowered ; but unless a marked change in the 
weather sets in, it would not be advisable to place them 
immediately in a frame unless heated. In the latter 
case the transfer may be made at once ; watering and 
syringing should receive careful attention so as to 
retain the foliage as long as possible in order to recruit 
the tubers after being exhausted by the process of 
flowering. 
Vines.— Give unremitting attention to the cleanli¬ 
ness of the foliage of Vines now bearing ripe fruit. 
Should red-spider make its appearance, painting the 
hot-water pipes must be resorted to. Some growers 
might try syringing, but its damaging effect on the 
bloom of the berries should act as a restraint. “Where 
the berries are only approaching maturity, the house 
should be kept warm night and day so that plenty of 
ventilation may be given. - Maintain a genial 
atmosphere also by keeping the paths and borders well 
damped down. See that the border is in a sufficiently 
moist condition. 
Melons.—Attend to the thinning and tying up of 
young plants, also to the tying up of the swelling fruits 
with strips of matting. Syringing and damping down 
is more than ever necessary to prevent the rapid 
increase of red-spider, as a considerable amount of fire 
heat is still necessary to keep up the required temper¬ 
ature. When the crop is ripening, more ventilation 
night and day will be necessary, in order to secure 
fruits of good flavour. A less humid atmosphere is 
also a requisite condition in order to secure this. 
The Out-door Fernery.—This should now 
receive a thorough overhauling, so as to make all neat 
and presentable for the summer. The clearing away 
of the old and dead fronds can more easily be accom¬ 
plished now without injury to the young ones, than if 
left till growth is more advanced. Some amount of 
transplanting may also he necessary where some of the 
stronger-growing kinds are getting so large as to 
smother dwarfer and choicer kinds. Seedlings also 
spring up 'where the conditions are suitable, and it may 
become necessary to move them elsewhere, in order to 
leave room for the permanent occupants. 
Half-hardy Annuals.—Seeds sown in the open 
ground will not yet have made much advance in growth. 
Such things as Stocks, Asters, Marigolds, Lobelias, and 
similar things under glass will, however, require con¬ 
stant attention in the matter of transplanting and 
watering. As soon as they become established in the 
fresh soil, they will require an abundance of ventilation 
to keep them dwarf and sturdy. It is still necessary to 
guard against late frosts, so that anything of a tender 
nature newly removed from warm quarters should be 
matted up at night. 
Perennial Lobelias.—The Mexican Lobelias, 
such as L. splendeus, L. fulgens, and L. cardinalis, 
with their numerous garden varieties, will now be 
starting into growth, and should be separated into 
small pieces or single crowns, and potted up in pre¬ 
paration for planting out. 
-- 
(&f 
Hardening Miscellany. 
The Royal Horticultural Dinner, 
lor the preliminary schedule of the usual great flower 
show, to be held in the Temple Gardens on the 2Sth 
and 29 th of May, there is notice of an intention to 
have a public dinner in connection with the society at 
the Hotel Metropole, on June 23rd. Tickets are fixed 
so high as 12s. 6d., without wine—a prohibitory price 
to gardeners and others in similar circumstances—and, 
strangely enough, it is requested that tickets be ob¬ 
tained on or before May 27th next. Why on earth is 
it needful to have so high a charge for a mere dinner, 
and why is it needful that tickets should be purchased 
fully a month beforehand ? How many are there who 
can be sure they will be able to attend so long before¬ 
hand, and why should it be needful indeed, having 
regard to the fact that the Temple Show takes place, 
not on the 27th, but on the 28th and 29th '! It seems 
astounding that the announcement did not state that 
tickets for the dinner might be had from the secretary at 
the show on those days. Still, it seems wildly im¬ 
probable that anyone would purchase a dinner ticket 
a full month beforehand. Ho one seems able to under¬ 
stand why the dinner takes place on June 23rd. Why 
not have had it on the evening of May 28 th, when so 
many attending the Temple Show must stop in town? 
The Council should explain itself in relation to the 
matter .—A Fellow. 
Erythronium Nuttallianum. 
Of the eight known species of Erythronium all are 
natives of North America, with the exception of the 
pretty old-fashioned E. Dens-canis, with its curiously 
spotted or marbled leaves. That under notice is new 
to cultivation, and has clear yellow flowers without any 
spotting. They are borne one or two together on 
scapes 3 ins. to 4 ins. high ; and the segments are 
lanceolate, the inner ones being broadest. Each plant 
has a pair of lanceolate, ascending, light green leaves 
without any spotting whatever. By lovers of this 
class of plants it will be hailed with delight on account 
of the distinct and decided colour of the flowers, as well 
as the contrast it affords to the other kinds in culti¬ 
vation, all of which are pretty. A mixture of loam 
and peat forms the best medium in which to grow the 
various kinds, which should be planted in rather cool or 
moist positions on the rockery. When about to trans¬ 
plant them, the operator should wait until the leaves 
have thoroughly died down. E. Nuttallianum has 
been flowering for some time past in the nursery of 
Messrs. Barr & Son, Long Ditton. 
Erica Cavendishiana. 
W hex large Heaths were formerly conspicuous features 
at exhibitions, E. Cavendishiana very frequently 
constituted one of the group, and was, moreover, 
generally the largest specimen in it. Since then, not 
only Heaths, but hard-wooded plants in general have 
declined in favour, as far as the old giants are concerned. 
A reaction seems to be commencing in favour of small 
specimens for decorative purposes. E. Cavendishiana 
is now being grown as a market plant in 43-size pots, 
and a beautiful and telling subject it is in the dwarf 
state, flowering apparently as freely as when in a large 
state. Small bushes, with three or four upright stems 
about 10 ins. or 12 ins. high, bear quite a wealth of 
their large, and showy, tubular, yellow flowers. Staged 
in this condition amongst other conservatory plants it 
has a telling effect. The same grand Heath has been 
shown in similar form at several of the London 
exhibitions during the last two months. The French 
are surprised at its absence from the Paris markets. 
Blue Primroses. 
Covenanter. —The flowers of this variety are of large 
size, and deep violet-purple, or deep purple shaded 
with blue as some describe it. The eye is of large size, 
golden yellow, angled and surrounded by a rich purple 
line just where the dark hue terminates. A small 
plant of this bore about fifty flowers, which will give 
an idea of its floriferous nature. The foliage was also 
well developed. Mary Erskine.— Amongst the 
various blue Primulas which have been shown, this is 
of the palest hue, being of a uniform soft blue with an 
angular blotch of purple at the base of each segment, 
surrounding the small yellow eye. It will thus be 
seen that there is a wide difference between the two, 
and which would be better understood when seen than 
from description. The variety seems as floriferous as 
Covenanter. Both were shown by G. F. AVilson, Esq., 
Heatherbank, Weybridge, at the Drill Hall on the 
21st ult., when Awards of Merit were accorded to each. 
Early-blooming White Pelargoniums. 
In the Birmingham district, where there is a heavy 
demand for white flowers, Yolante National e alba is 
now the popular variety, and our old favourite Yehus 
must now hide her greatly diminished splendour. 
Yolante National e alba has a more robust habit, better 
foliage, is very free blooming, and the flowers are just 
a little purer white in colour, and of greater substance. 
Yenus is of more •‘wiry” habit of growth, and it is. 
gradually giving way to the Yolante, and in one large 
establishment in the district I know it will not again 
be grown after this year. The individual blooms, or in 
trusses, when gummed and wired are invaluable for 
wreaths and other floral work, and even for ordinary 
conservatory decoration. No garden of any pretensions 
should be without a supply of this invaluable variety, 
as it can easily be got into bloom early, and for Easter 
decorative work. — TV. D. 
Leichtlin's Aubrietia. 
There are now Aubrietias in various shades of blue, 
purple and violet, but that under notice, namely, the 
Aubrietia Leichtlini of gardens, has flowers of a clear 
and beautiful shade of rose, at least when grown in 
the open ground. It is well known that Aubrietias 
behave differently under glass and out-of-doors. They 
also vary to some extent according to their age and 
the amount of sunshine to which they are subjected. 
In any case they are invaluable for the planting of beds 
in the spring garden, as well as for massing on the 
rockery, and for margins to borders. The two former 
methods of arranging them are the most legitimate use 
to which they can be put, and the most natural. The 
object should be to avoid all tendency to formality as 
much as possible. The variety may be raised from 
seed, but requires to be propagated from cuttings or 
division, in order to keep it true to name. The best 
plants are obtained from cuttings, as the whole plant 
gets renewed. 
The Golden Fritillary. 
There is a wide difference between’the size and general 
appearance of the Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) 
and the Golden Fritillary (F. aurea), notwithstanding 
their close relationship. The stem of the latter does 
not exceed a height of 6 ins., and in a dry spring like 
the present it is considerably shorter than that. The 
leaves are 2 ins. or 3 ins. long, linear and glaucous. 
The scape bears a single, drooping flower of relatively 
large size for the plant; the perianth can hardly be 
