September 15, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
37 
filaments of the stamens are in many cases altered or 
shortened ; but they produce an abundance of pollen, 
with which the single varieties are crossed, so that 
fresh ones are obtained in this way. The stamens are, 
however, so deeply seated in the tube that more than 
half of the flower has to be cut away in order to expose 
them, and cause them to shed their pollen, which they 
do in a comparatively short time. The doubles are 
spoken of as double rosettes, and 60 per cent, of them 
are obtained from seeds by the above method of cross¬ 
breeding. A very striking variety attracted our 
attention on account of its size and fullness, and from 
the fact that the flowers were equally variegated with 
purple and white in large blotches. Others were 
remarkable manner. In the Camellia strain are white 
mottled and striped with red as well as blotched with 
scarlet. There are also mauve, crimson, and scarlet 
forms, coloured in such a way as to resemble striped 
and bizarre Carnations. 
Rollisson’s Telegraph Cucumber. 
A span-roofed house similar to that which contains the 
Balsams is devoted to the cultivation of this old 
variety, which would yet be hard to beat for general 
purposes by any other sort; while for winter culture it 
is still of the greatest importance to gardeners. The 
plants are grown in boxes stood on staging, and are 
intended for seed. Each plant is furnished with from 
nine to eighteen fruits ranging from 18 ins. to 22 ins. 
THE PERNETTYA. 
Since its introduction in 1828, great improvements, 
from a garden point of view, have been effected in 
Pernettya mucronata. These improvements have, 
moreover, been effected within the last thirty years, 
mainly by an Irish nurseryman, and the wonder is, 
that lovers of hardy shrubs do not grow the varieties 
more extensively for the sake of the variously-coloured 
berries in which the changes have mostly been effected. 
The fruit of the typical plant found at Cape Horn, in 
South America, is red, and now we have white, pink, 
rose, red, crimson, purple and other shades, some of 
them being almost black. The fruits also vary greatly 
in size from that of a Pea to twice that size in the 
Varieties of Pernettya mucronata : 1. Lilacina ; 2. Elegans ; 3. Alba ; 4. Rosea ; 5. Purpurea ; 6. Macrocarpa ; 
7. Atropurpurea ; 8. Rosea macrocarpa. 
purple, crimson and white, self-purple, or light Cam¬ 
bridge blue, and fully double. Yellow, orange, or 
scarlet colours do not seem to exist as yet, any more 
than does blue amongst Dahlias. 
Balsams. 
A large collection of many kinds of Balsams was being 
grown in cold frames, in which they made fairly satis¬ 
factory growth for some time, 'till the main spikes had 
reached the flowering period, when the continued cold, 
sunless, and wet weather destroyed the central spike in 
a very singular way, causing it to rot. After this the 
plants were removed to a span-roofed house, where they 
are now flowering freely. They exhibit a great range 
and variety of colouring in purple, white, rose, blush, 
white spotted with purple, and other shades. There 
are also Camellia and Carnation-flowered sections or 
strains, in which those flowers are mimicked in a most 
in length, or even more. They have made a wonder¬ 
fully free and robust growth, while the fruits are 
rapidly changing colour as they mature. A remarkable 
fact about the true Telegraph is the small quantity of 
seeds a large fruit contains, and that near its apex. 
When it has been properly set it soon gives an 
indication of the fact by becoming somewhat club- 
shaped, that is, bulged out or thickened at the apex. 
Begonias. 
Until quite recently the tuberous Begonia has not 
been a feature of this place ; but an effort is now being 
made to get up a collection. At present a houseful of 
single varieties, in all the varied colours for which this 
class of plants is noted, is bearing a good crop of seed 
pods which tells greatly against their flowering powers, 
although there is still a sufficient display to show their 
true characters. 
variety named P. m. macrocarpa. Eight varieties are 
extensively grown by Messrs. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, 
with whom they berry most freely, and the colous are 
generally indicated by the names, such as P. m. 
lilacina (lilac), P. m. atropurpurea (dark purple), &c. 
The uses to which the Pernettyas may be put are 
endless. Being perfectly hardy, they can be grown 
out of doors in the reserve garden, and when well 
fruited, potted up and used for window or conservatory 
decoration, or for other purposes as fancy may direct. 
They are invaluable for the adornment of the rockery, 
forming dwarf, compact bushes with evergreen almost 
Heath-like foliage. The fruit hangs on till June, 
while the Lily of the Valley-like flowers open in May. 
The berries set in great profusion when the plants are 
grown in a fully-exposed and sunny position, but 
sheltered from north and east winds. 
