September 8, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
25 
favourably of the moistness and mildness of the season, 
and the tree will, no doubt, be able to make a more 
seasonable start next spring. 
Sportive Tomatos. 
A Surrey correspondent, “ W. B. G.,” sends us some 
stems and leaves of Tomatos exhibiting some remarkable 
freaks of growth, quite departing from their usual 
character. The leaves, extending over a considerable 
portion of a stem and its branches, have'become so 
reduced that in most cases nothing remains but the 
midribs, which are rounded and cord-like, resembling 
the tendrils of a Vine, or some similar plant. The 
larger ones are branched, corresponding to the lobes or 
divisions of the leaf, while the small leaves given off 
from the branches are reduced to simple thread-like 
processes. There is a disposition on the part of many 
of them to become twisted towards their apex, and it 
does not take a great stretch of the imagination to 
conceive that the remote ancestors of the Tomato may 
have climbed by means of their leaves. The racemes 
of flowers are given off in the usual way and are quite 
normal. Another curiosity presented itself in the 
development of strong branches bearing leaves from the 
base of the segments of a leaf, where the former join 
the midrib. Shoots from the hunches of fruit or 
flowers are not uncommon, hut we are not surprised at 
the fact, seeing that the peduncle of a Tomato is 
morphologically a branch, or rather the original apex 
of the stem bearing it. 
Variegated Tuberous Begonias. 
Hitherto little in the way of variegation has appeared 
amongst the tuberous Begonias, the variation being 
confined mostly to the flowers. A boxful of leaves, 
however, has been sent us by Mr. B. R. Davis, Henford 
Hill, Yeovil, showing some beautiful tints of colouring. 
The younger leaves, or those produced at the present 
time, exhibit the greatest amount of variegation, which 
is creamy white, more or less tinted and delicately 
suffused with pink on the upper surface, while the 
lower surface is heavily blotched with a lively red and 
traversed with white veins. The normal dark green 
portion of the leaf has been very much reduced. Older 
specimens either do not develop the white and pink 
markings and blotches to the same extent, or they lose 
them after a time, and the leaves become of a glossy 
rich green above, but are more or less heavily blotched 
with deep crimson beneath. The lower leaves being 
green prove of immense advantage to the plant, enabling 
it to remain vigorous and healthy, while the upper 
ones capping the plant render it ornamental and effec¬ 
tive. We have seen a somewhat similar combination 
of colours in Saxifraga sarmentosa tricolor, and pretty 
as they are in the present condition, Mr. Davis may be 
able to effect improvements and give greater variety. 
A diantum Farleyense. 
What your correspondent “Nimrod” says (p. 11) is 
unfortunately too true, and, curious enough, no better 
example of what he points out could be cited than 
that which occurs on the same page, where a 
Fern is noticed under the heading of Adiantum 
versaillense. If, as is stated there, Mr. B. S. Williams 
exhibited before the Royal Horticultural Society a form 
of A. Capillus-Veneris under the name of A. versaillense, 
as one would naturally infer from the heading of the 
note referred to, he is much to blame, but far more so 
is the society which awarded it a First Class Certificate. 
Such a method of procedure is misleading in the 
extreme, and should certainly be corrected by the 
editors of such papers as insert their productions. 
A. versaillense is simply a form or variety of A. Capillus- 
Veneris, as is also the well-known Daphnites and 
Cornubiense ; but if it is sent out under the name 
attributed to it in The Gardening World, even 
Fern connoisseurs will be mystified and misled.— 
A. B. Webster. 
Ixora macrothyrsa. 
Most of the Ixoras flower freely, even when subjected 
to a considerable amount of pruning; but that under 
notice refuses to flower unless allowed to run up with 
stems some three or more feet in length, after which 
they develop flower buds which gradually expand and 
ramify until a sub-globose panicle or cyme is produced 
about 10 ins. or 12 ins. in diameter, the former being 
about the average size of the truss. The flo vers are 
proportionately large compared with those of other 
species, and are of a brilliant scarlet. The effect of two 
or three trusses of the above dimensions on the top of 
a plant may well be imagined. Two plants that have 
been in'full bloom for some'’time in the Victoria house 
at Kew, prove a great attraction to visitors, and put 
the other species entirely in the shade. Although 
profusely flowered, their smaller trusses and blooms 
are not to be compared with those of I. macrothyrsa. 
The leaves are oblong, leathery, of great size, and 
droop on the stems much in the same way as do those 
of Ficus elastica when getting old. The plant was 
introduced under the name of I. Duffi, and used to he 
grown in the Palm-house ; but the closer and moister 
atmosphere of the Victoria-house is more suitable to 
its well-being. 
Unseasonable and Double - spathed 
Richardia africana. 
Double spathes are by no means uncommon in collec¬ 
tions of this plant where the conditions of culture have 
been favourable to a vigorous vegetative growth, but it 
is very unusual to see flowering specimens in September. 
At Devonhurst, the plants are kept in pots 
during the summer, and have been stood in the open 
air where they have been exposed to the weather to a 
certain extent, but are so sheltered by shrubs and 
houses that they have not felt the fury of the blasts 
which we have from time to time experienced lately. 
The lower spathe is no doubt a modified form of an 
ordinary leaf, but is pure white, about the normal size 
of the true spathe, and furnished with a long sheathing 
petiole, the portion where it leaves the flower-stem 
being very wide. Below this it can be traced down 
the scape for a distance of 6 ins., after which it 
becomes completely amalgamated with the stems, and 
the only trace of it is evidenced by the scape not being 
round, but furnished with a broad, blunt ridge. The 
true spathe is somewhat below the average size, and 
stalkless, but scarcely clasping the stem, which is 
carried beyond the point where the lower spathe leaves 
it for a distance of 3J ins. It is, however, nearly 
normal in shape, but some of the female flowers run 
down the scape outside it, where they are fully exposed. 
Viburnum macrocephalum. 
The Cotinus-leaved Viburnum (V. cotinifolium), con¬ 
sidered by some authorities as a form only of the "Way¬ 
faring Tree (V. lantana), sometimes does duty for V. 
macrocephalum in gardens, but judging from specimens 
of the latter in the Coombe Wood Nurseries of Messrs. 
J. Veitch k Sons, the two are very distinct in general 
appearance, and flower at different seasons. V. cotini¬ 
folium blooms in spring or early summer from large 
well-advanced buds that have been formed the pre¬ 
ceding season before the fall of the leaf, and from 
which it can be determined at the winter pruning the 
quantity of bloom that may be expected. V. macro¬ 
cephalum flowers in August and September from the 
young wood of the current season, and is therefore the 
latest-floweriDg species we have. It is a native of 
China, and was originally introduced in 1844. 
Although attaining a considerable size, it flowers 
freely in a small state, as the specimens in question 
do not exceed 18 ins. or 2 ft. in height, and bear 
terminal sub-globose panicles of pure white flowers, 
the calyx of which becomes enlarged and petaloid, 
much in the same way as that of V. plicatum or 
V. opulus sterilis, the barren form of the common 
Guelder Rose. 
Veronica spicata var. 
A pretty pink form of this old border plant is 
flowering well in the gardens of Aldenham Park. 
Mr. Beckett uses this and many other hardy plants 
with good effect in the kitchen garden as borders 
to the vegetable plots.— J. W. 0. 
Tachiadenus carinatus. 
As a Gentianwort this genus possesses a peculiarity 
which only four other genera in the order do—namely, 
a completely two-celled ovary, bringing the family in 
very close connection with that of the Solanum. The 
leaves are, however, opposite, not alternate as in the 
latter order, and the intense blue of the flowers of many 
species belonging to the group is strongly suggestive of 
a Gentian, although the colour in that order is not by 
any means exclusively blue. Of five species known to 
science, and all indigenous to Madagascar, the present 
seems to have been the only one introduced. Other 
species are described as being rose-coloured or white, 
and we have, therefore, in this species the best of the 
genus. The flowers are produced in lax terminal 
cymes, and have long, slender, greenish tubes changing 
to white, while the lamina is of a deep violet-blue, 
more or less tinted with purple, but as it gets old the 
shades become considerably paler. The whole plant, 
which is herbaceous, does not exceed 6 ins. or 8 ins. in 
height, and is so neat as to be accommodated in small 
space, and may therefore he included in select collections 
of stove plants, where its brightly coloured flowers will 
recommend it to the lover of plants. The leaves are 
dark green, three-nerved and shining. A group of 
plants may be seen in the Begonia-house at Kew. 
-—- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
The Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
One of the greatest aids in Orchid culture is cleanliness, 
and nothing assists more in maintaining this than a 
thorough overhauling—plant by plant and house by 
house. This kind of work should always he borne in 
mind by the grower, and whenever an opportunity pre¬ 
sents itself it should be taken advantage of. Periodically, 
however, the thorough review of the plants should be 
the business of the season, and early in September is 
one of the most important periods for such work. 
Beginning at one end of the collection, the whole of 
the plants should be passed through the hands, the 
pots washed, the staging and surroundings cleansed, 
and the foliage of the plants carefully sponged whether 
they seem to want it or not. As a preventive, a 
sponge over with a weak solution of Fir Tree Oil or 
other good insecticide is very useful, especially for the 
destruction and keeping in check of that insidious pest, 
yellow thrip, which will present itself even in the 
best-kept collections. That thrips should be in the 
Orchid houses in summer is not to be wondered at 
when a Carnation bloom out of doors generally has a 
score or two of them ; hut it is the grower’s place to 
keep them under, and if his plants are to thrive he 
must do so, even if he has to take to what I consider 
the last resource—fumigating. 
During the autumn review of the plants, such as 
would seem to be in sour or unsuitable material should 
be re-potted. Occasionally a plant will be met with 
which, not having answered the expectations when last 
shifted, is now in too large a pot; this should be 
remedied, and a smaller one given. Over-potting is 
not only a mistake with thriving plants, but often 
ruinous to weakly ones. Now and then a confirmed 
invalid will he met with, looking very unhappy in a 
pot, and with such, if an epiphyte, a re-establishing 
agent is often found by taking it out and placing it on 
a raft or in a small basket at this season, and suspending 
it near the glass of the roof. Observe that the water 
in the tub in which the green is washed off the pots be 
taken outside and not emptied in the houses, otherwise 
it gives off an offensive and injurious odour for many 
days. 
The Temperatures for the Month of September 
should be : —Warm or East Indian house, 75° to 85° by 
day, 70° at night. Cattleya or intermediate house, 70° 
to 75° by day, 65° at night. Odontoglossum or cool 
house, 60° to 65° by day, 55° at night. Degrees 
Fahrenheit .—James O'Brien. 
Zygopetalum maxillare. 
Of the smaller-growing species of Zygopetalum, Z. 
maxillare is one of the choicest, and might worthily 
be admitted into the most select collections. The 
pseudo-bulbs are moderate in size, as well as the leaves, 
which are linear, lanceolate, and arching. The sepals 
and petals are brown in the lower part, and blotched 
with that hue on the upper portion on a green ground. 
The lip is comparatively large, and forms as usual in 
this genus the most conspicuous part of the flower. 
The apical portion or lamina is broad and rounded, or 
intermediate between reniform and wedge-shaped, and 
of a violet-blue colour. The disk is large, fleshy, deep 
violet and corrugated or ribbed, giving it the ap¬ 
pearance of the jaws of some animal, and suggesting 
the specific name. It also forms with the column — 
which is also of a violet colour—a cup-like process. 
The plant, which usually flowers in August and 
September, has been in bloom for some time at Forest 
Hill, in the nursery of Messrs. Laing & Sons. 
Broughtonia sanguinea. 
I fear this grand crimson-flowered Orchid often gets 
into bad condition at home by being potted or 
basketed in too much stuff. The very best way to 
grow it is on itself— i.e., if a large clump or two or three 
smaller ones be put together so as to form a ball, they 
will soon grow into a solid mass, and can be suspended 
anywhere in a fairly warm house. So grown it is a 
beautiful object when in flower. — 67., Kingston, 
Jamaica. 
