September 1, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
11 
Metis, dark scarlet, white eye. Miss Hamilton, blush. 
Eurydice, lilac-pink, white eye; good. Niphetos, 
white ; an excellent one. Aspasia, white, pips some¬ 
what rounder than the last mentioned. Rev. Atkinson, 
brilliant scarlet. — F. R. S. 
-- 
THE CHISWICK TRIALS. 
The Fruit and Vegetable Committee met at Chiswick 
on the 21st ult., when the following crops on trial this 
season were inspected :— 
1. Potatos. —Of the eighty-six varieties being grown, 
all, with very few exceptions, were found to have suffered 
severely from the disease, the early varieties more 
especially so. The following varieties proving to be 
good croppers and of fine appearance were subjected 
to the test of cooking, viz., Governor (Dean), Lavington 
Conqueror (Lye), Epicure’s Delight (Smith), Vegetarian 
(Dean), Renown (Webb & Son), Debutante (Ellington), 
Castle Morton (Collins), Nelly Blue Eyes (Dean), 
Basford Beauty (Howard), Bluebeard (Dean), Purple 
Beauty (Dean), Stirling Castle (Murdoch). None of 
them was considered of superior quality, being some¬ 
what watery, a-result attributable to the excessive wet 
season. 
2. Spiring-sown Cabbages. —A collection of forty varie¬ 
ties. The following were selected as the most desirable 
varieties to cultivate for use at this season, viz., Early 
Etampes (Vilmorin), Early Paris Market (Vilmorin), 
Leeds Market (Rutley & Silverlock), Prince’s Nonpareil, 
Early Dwarf York. 
3. Tomatos. —A collection of fifty-two varieties grown 
in pots. None of these were considered superior to 
sorts certificated in 1837, and now in general culti¬ 
vation. 
The Floral Committee met on the 21th ult., when 
the collections of Stocks and Asters on trial in the 
gardens were examined. Of the large-flowering Ten- 
week Stock from Messrs. Vilmorin the following colours 
were selected as the most distinct, and awarded three 
marks, viz., white, sulphur, lilac, blood-red, violet, 
light violet. Of the same section from Messrs. Benary, 
the white, dwarf white, brick-red, and light blue 
received three marks; also of the Dwarf German 
Chamois and those of the new Giant Perfection 
(Benary), sulphur-yellow and light blue, received three 
marks, and the dark blood-red from the Novelty and 
Specialty Seed Company. 
Amongst the Asters the following received three 
marks. Half-dwarf: Multiflora, white ; ditto, light 
yellow (Vilmorin) ; Globe P®ony-flowered, copper 
coloured, white edge (Vilmorin). Dwarf: Chrysan¬ 
themum, rose (Vilmorin); and ditto, scarlet-red (Vil¬ 
morin) ; Dwarf Queen, crimson (Benary) ; Dwarf 
Queen, white (Benary) ; Mignon (Benary). Pyramidal: 
Hedgehog or Needle, dark crimson (Benary) ; large- 
flowered rose, dark scarlet (Benary) ; Triumph (Novelty 
Company). The following assortments of various 
colours from Benary were commended, viz., double 
dwarf, early flowering, fourteen varieties ; dwarf 
bouquet-flowered (Boltze’s), eight varieties ; dwarf 
Chrysanthemum-flowered, ten varieties ; dwarf pyra¬ 
midal-flowered, twelve varieties. The latter will be 
further examined. 
--— 
FERNS FROM SPORES 
Adiantum Farleyense. 
If this splendid form is not a distinct species, under 
what species must we class it as a variety ? If it is a 
form of A. tenerum it should be called A. tenerum 
Farleyense, if a form of A. scutum it should be similarly 
named A. scutum Farleyense. Then why has it never 
had its proper characteristic name applied to it in the 
same way as all the varieties of the Lady or Male Fern 
are treated? If we saw exhibited plants of Athyrium 
Filix-fcemina plumosum, or any other variety of A. F-f. 
under the simple name of Athyrium plumosum, Fern 
experts would at once hold up their hands in abhorrence 
at such a barbarous use of the varietal name, without 
the specific name being applied first. Well do I 
remember, when under Mr. Abraham Stansfield, now of 
Kersal Moor, Manchester, but at that time with his 
esteemed father of the same name at the Vale Nursery, 
Todmorden, what a dressing down I should have got 
had I wrote a label (or tally) without the usual prefixes 
of A. F-f., or L. F.-mas, or B. S. for the hardy Fern. 
Now in the matter of A. Farleyense, why should all 
the authorities (both in books and in catalogues) 
countenance the idea of slipping the specific name, and 
applying a varietal name only, thus at once misleading 
all young gardeners and beginners in Fern culture, 
without giving them an inkling "of the specific name. 
Then again, may I ask through your columns how 
it is that so many varieties of Adiantums exist without 
anyone knowing to what really specific form they 
belong ? [?] It would appear as if they were all species, 
for anything we know to the contrary, except the forms 
of A. Capillus-Veneris, which are readily traceable ; but 
how many of the forms now under cultivation 
might be termed mere varieties of A. cuneatum, which, 
there is no doubt, is the parent of many of the new sorts 
that are being sent out at the present day.— Nimrod. 
[At Kew the plant has been labelled Adiantum 
tenerum Farleyense for several years past, and it is so 
named by Mr. Nicholson in the lately-issued Dictionary 
of Gardening. Our correspondent should remember 
that both gardeners and nurserymen are very con¬ 
servative in the matter of names, and that when a 
popular garden plant does get sent out under an 
incorrect name, it is almost an impossibility to suppress 
it. Numbers of instances of this kind could be cited. 
—Ed.] 
-- 
(Hardening §1iscellany. 
Cannas as Dacorative Plants. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons have for some time been 
collecting the finest dwarf varieties of Cannas, with a 
view to growing them mainly for autumn and mid¬ 
winter blooming, when they prove most valuable, as 
anyone may see by inspecting the fine collection at 
Swanley. At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society) on Tuesday last they exhibited a number of 
exceedingly pretty forms, and received First Class 
Certificates for the following : Capricieuse. — The 
foliage of this variety is of a deep green colour, and 
comparatively small or medium size. The flowers 
are also moderate in dimensions, but of a brilliant 
scarlet, with a narrow yellow margin to each segment. 
Admiral Courbet .—For sub-tropical gardening this 
variety would be very ornamental, on account of the 
great length and breadth of the leaves, which may not 
inaptly he compared with those of a Musa. The flowers 
are yellow, splashed and spotted with red. Madame 
Just .—This also has ample deep glaucous green foliage. 
The three segments of the flower corresponding to the 
petals are broad and-orange yellow, while three inner 
ones, consisting of petaloid stamens, are narrower and 
scarlet. Francisque Morel. —The leaves in this instance 
are similar to those of the last, and would doubtless 
prove useful for outdoor or sub-tropical gardening 
purposes. The flowers are larger than any of the 
above mentioned perhaps, with broad crimson-scarlet 
. segments. The latter was also exhibited by Mr. T. S. 
"Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham. 
Adiantu m versaillense. 
Under this name Mr. B. S. Williams exhibited, at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday 
last, a large plant of a variety of A. Capillus-Veneris, 
which forms a close compact bush, every frond of 
which consists of a terminal mass or tuft of branches 
and wedge-shaped, overlapping pinnules, while the 
lower portion of the stalk is quite naked. The pinnules 
are small, and the whole is of a graceful and ornamental 
character. It was deservedly awarded a First Class 
Certificate. 
G-aillardias as Bedding Plants. 
The showy Gaillardias are not so often seen bedded in 
masses in the flower garden as their decorative merits 
warrant, being more frequently relegated to the mixed 
border, where, of course, they are not out of place, but 
do not give the same bold effect as when planted en 
masse. One of the dwarfest and most suitable bedding 
varieties was shown with others at the meeting of the 
R. H. S. on Tuesday, by Messrs. Kelway & Son, 
under the dreadful name, for garden purposes, of 
G. splendidissima plenissima. As a variety it is 
certainly distinct and showy, all the florets being 
shortly tubular at the base, and the central ones most 
decidedly so. They are also intermediate between the 
tubular and the strap-shaped type, of a deep crimson- 
red with yellow tips. It was awarded a First Class 
Certificate. 
Campanula isophylla alba. 
Of the several pretty trailing Campanulas which are so 
largely grown in windows, few are more popular- 
judging by the extent to which it is cultivated—than 
C. isophylla, of which Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, 
has now a white form that is destined to meet with as 
much or more favour. The pure white nearly flat 
flowers are produced in great abundance on stems that 
sometimes attain a considerable length and become 
pendent over the sides of the pot or basket in which 
they are grown. The lower leaves are ovate, and the 
stem leaves lance shaped. For window or conservatory 
work it is invaluable. Mr. Ware exhibited a good 
plant of it at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, on Tuesday, and received a First Class 
Certificate for it. 
Delphinuim Horus. 
At the last two or three meetings of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society Messrs. Kelway & Son have exhibited 
a number of exceedingly fine Delphiniums, some of 
which have already been noticed in these columns. 
On Tuesday last, among others, they had the above 
named beautiful variety, the flowers of which are of a 
rich, intense blue and semi-double, while the centre is 
filled up with small white petals. The spike shown 
was of moderate length, closely but not densely packed 
with flowers of large size, a feature much in its favour. 
It was awarded a First Class Certificate. 
An Effective Flower Bed 
Having this season to fill a large bed, more with a 
view to preserving stock than to securing any par¬ 
ticular object as regards decoration—I planted it as 
follows :—The centre is filled with Pentstemons of 
various colours, with a few plants of Salvia patens 
dotted in among them. Then comes a broad band of 
Ageratum Lady Jane, and outside of all a wider one of 
Yiola lutea grandiflora. Neither the Pentstemons nor 
Salvias are staked, and look better for being without 
them. The combination proves to be most pleasing — 
much more so indeed than I had any idea of realising 
when the bed was planted.— Con. 
New Tuberous Begonias. 
At the meeting of the R. H. S., on Tuesday, Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons exhibited numerous plants of their 
dwarf strain of Begonias, and received First Class Cer¬ 
tificates for the following : Mrs. Lynch. —The dwarf 
habit of the plant (being only about 6 ins. high), and 
the large, fully double flowers are first-class qualities. 
The petals are of a delicate pink, fading almost to 
blush as they become fully expanded ; they are also 
broad, beautifully crisped at the margin, and arranged 
in several rosettes. Mrs. Lascelles. —The blooms in 
this case, measuring about 4^ ins. or 5 ins. in diameter, 
are just as large as we should like to see them. They 
are of a fine rosy pink however, and the petals are 
arranged in numerous rosettes. The centre is white at 
first, but becomes darker like the rest when fully 
expanded. The Lady. —This is a pure white variety, 
with yellow stamens, the flowers being produced on 
stiff erect stems raised well above the foliage. The 
latter is ample, and confined to within 3 ins. of the 
surface of the pot, but being a seedling it will no doubt 
grow taller next season. 
The Botanical Syllabus of the Science 
and Art Department. 
Considerable changes have been made this year in 
the above syllabus, just issued by the South Ken¬ 
sington authorities. The preliminary subjects of 
morphology, histology, and physiology have been re¬ 
arranged, and a new clause added, directing attention 
to the influence of light and heat on the various 
functions of plants. This latter clause will be prac¬ 
ticably an instructive and useful addition for students 
who are in any way connected with gardening. The 
principal change has occurred in the list of natural 
orders that are required to be studied for a pass in the 
first or elementary stage, and the students of that 
stage form the majority of those who go up for exami¬ 
nation. Up to the May examination of 1887 the 
following was the list:—Ranunculace®, Crucifer®, 
Caryopliyllace®, Leguminos®, Rosace®, Umbellifer®, 
Composit®, Scrophulariace®, Labiat®, Chenopodiace®, 
Cupulifer®, Orchidace®, Lilace®, Cyperace®, and 
Gramine®. This year Chenopodiace®, Orchidace®, 
and Gramine® have been struck out of the list, and 
three other natural orders added in their stead. From 
a horticultural point of view, the change is interesting. 
The natural order Primulaee® takes the place of one 
of the discarded families, and containing, as it does, 
some of the most useful and popular garden plants, is 
thus given a prominence that its wide range of subjects 
entitles it to. The inclusion of Boraginace® in the 
