October 27 , 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
131 
head, and a First Class Certificate was awarded in both 
cases by the Floral Committee. 
Sunflower. —The flower-heads of this Japanese 
variety are deep yellow, with long, narrow, somewhat 
twisted florets. It is a new kind of this year’s intro¬ 
duction. Blooms of it were exhibited by Mr. ‘William 
Holmes, at the Drill Hall, Westminster, on Tuesday 
last, and a First Class Certificate was awarded to it. 
Edwin Molyneux. —There is some affinity between 
this Japanese variety and Comte de Germiny, although 
both are quite distinct. The florets are broad, irregu¬ 
larly incurved, brilliant crimson, and nankeen-yellow 
on the reverse side. It was shown at the Drill Hall, 
on Tuesday last, by Mr. Geo. Stevens, St. John’s 
Nursery, Putney, and was certificated by the Floral 
Committee. 
Magicienne. —In this we have another variety 
belonging to the Japanese section, with large bronzy 
orange heads and recurved florets, while many of them 
are tubular till near the apex. It was exhibited at the 
Drill Hall, on Tuesday last, by Mr. Robert Owen, 
Floral Nursery, Maidenhead, and received a First Class 
Certificate from the Floral Committee. 
Capucine. —The flower-heads of this variety are 
bronzy orange, and about the size of those of Madame 
Desgrange. It was exhibited on Tuesday last by Messrs. 
J. R. Pearson & Sons, Chilwell, Notts, and recom¬ 
mended by the Floral Committee of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society as an early-flowering decorative variety. 
Chrysanthemum Shows. 
Our thanks are due to numerous readers for additions 
to the list of dates published in a previous issue, and 
which are of sufficient importance to warrant the re¬ 
publication of the list as amended. 
November. 
6.—Surrey, at Peckham. 
6, 7.—Southampton, and Isle of Sheppey. 
7, 8.—National, at the Westminster Aquarium, Tooting, 
and Bath. 
7. 8, 9.—Portsmouth. 
8. —Dawlish. 
9. —Acton and Hitchin. 
9, 10.—Crystal Palace, and Leicester. 
10. —Derby. 
12. —St. Neots. 
13. 14.—Ascot, Brighton, Winchester, Maidstone, 
Lambeth, Southwark, Southend, Watford, and 
Twyford. 
14. —Ealing, and Chelmsford. 
14, 15.—Bromley, Faversham, Hampstead, Market 
Harborough, Kent and County at Blackheath, 
Dartford, Highgate, and Southgate. 
14, 15, 16.—York, and Falmouth. 
15. —Chiswick, Taunton, Dublin, Wimbledon, Pem¬ 
broke, and Tiverton 
15, 16.—Hinckley, Weald of Kent, Salisbury, Barnsley, 
Ipswich, and Stroud. 
16. —Exeter. 
16, 17.—Provincial Show of the National Society at 
Sheffield, and Canterbury. 
19, 20.—Wolverhampton. 
20. —Oxford, and Finchley. 
20, 21.—Liverpool, Hanley, and Edinburgh. 
21. —National: Floral Committee Meeting. 
21, 22.—Birmingham, and Rugby. 
22, 23.—Hull. 
23, 24.—Bolton. 
24, —Bacup. 
December. 
5.—National: Floral Committee Meeting. 
-»>X<-- 
WINTER-FLOWERING HYBRIDS 
OF BEGONIA SOCOTRANA. 
Notwithstanding the distinct appearance, habit and 
botanical characters of B. Socotrana from other species 
in cultivation, it has proved amenable for producing 
hybrids with other species widely distinct in almost 
every particular by which Begonias are characterised. 
This can best he seen by a consideration of the under¬ 
mentioned kinds. John Heal is decidedly the gem of 
the lot at present, and the type of the ‘' new winter¬ 
flowering race. ” A large batch of it in Messrs. James 
Yeitch & Sons’ nursery at Chelsea is now a conspicuous 
feature in one of the low span-roofed houses there, kept 
at a temperature of from 55° to 60° Fahr., with venti¬ 
lation at top and bottom, making the atmosphere for 
visitors very agreeable. 
The flowers are of a pleasing shade of rosy carmine, 
of moderate size, and borne on loose leafless cymes 
carried well above the foliage, and erect at first, but 
afterwards slightly drooping. They last from eighteen 
to twenty days in good condition, and then wither on 
the plant, commencing at the tips of the sepals. It 
may be mentioned that trusses of flowers cut off and 
laid in the sun on a dry shelf to ripen pollen were quite 
fresh after 24 hours, although the house was venti¬ 
lated. Plants have been staged at exhibitions three 
times in succession, and have not been greatly damaged 
after being taken home. Fog is greatly inimical to the 
flowers, utterly destroying them ; but on the accession 
of a clear atmosphere they commence to open again, 
and the plants, in a short time, look better than ever. 
One very striking peculiarity of this hybrid is that no 
female flowers are ever produced, so that it can never 
be used as a seed parent. More is the pity, seeing that 
the habit is so desirable ! It strikes from cuttings, 
however, like weeds, if they he inserted singly at the 
side of a thumb-pot. The whole batch now flowering 
was struck in July, and are now lovely plants, with 
obliquely heart-shaped light green leaves, densely 
arranged on the base of the stem. The whole plant is 
about 6 ins. or 8 ins. high. 
B. Adonis commences to flower rather later in the 
season than the above, and has larger blooms with a 
good dash of scarlet, the plants running up to a height 
of from 12 ins. to 14 ins. It is the result of crossing 
one of the tuberous hybrids with pollen of John Heal, 
and like that variety, produces no female blooms. The 
relationship to B. socotrana can be seen in the leaves, 
which are nearly orbicular. The flowers are more 
drooping than John Heal, resembling in that respect 
the ordinary tuberous type. A peculiarity to be noted 
here is that both of the above mentioned have been 
propagated from a single seedling in each case, as no 
more germinated, thus exemplifying some of the risks 
that attend hybridisation. Adonis strikes from cuttings 
as readily as John Heal, and both produce bulbils at 
the base of the stem in the same manner as B. soco¬ 
trana. 
Winter Gem is another hybrid, produced by crossing 
B. socotrana with one of the tuberous seedlings. The 
leaves are orbicular, peltate, crenate, and light green, 
like the seed parent. The plant is a true hybrid, but 
the flowers only have been changed, being of a deep 
ciimson-scarlet, and although rather small are very 
freely produced. It flowers even later than the above, 
and is therefore well named. The plants are very 
dwarf, and have not yet commenced to flower. 
Autumn Rose is the result of crossing B. insignia 
with B. socotrana. The former is well known as a 
species which flowers grandly about Christmas, and 
the hybrid shows most affinity to it; but instead of 
being 18 ins. or 24 ins. high, is only about 6 ins. or 
8 ins., very bushy or leafy. The flowers are rather 
small and rose-coloured, but freely'produced in axillary 
cymes that rise above the foliage. The latter is light 
green, resembling that of B. socotrana ; the flowers 
are pretty and already freely expanding. 
A more singular instance of hybridisation is seen in 
a batch of seedlings which have been raised from B. 
socotrana crossed with B. Rex. The two species, as is 
well known, are widely diverse in general appearance, 
and the seedlings show great range of variation in the 
foliage ; but the flowers are of no decorative value as 
yet, whatever improvements may be effected in them. 
All of the seedlings exhibit the obliquely heart-shaped 
form of B. Rex, with the bronzy, silvery grey, and other 
markings ; but the most striking of them has orbicular 
leaves with overlapping auricles, thus showing a great 
approach to B. socotrana. There is a small green 
patch in the centre, surrounded by a broad silvery grey 
zone, and that again by^a bronzy green margin, and 
the under surface is bronzy red. The plant is ever¬ 
green, bushy, leafy, about 6 ins. high, with leaves 
about the size of those of B. socotrana. 
-—- 
otes from Scotland. 
Notes from Fife. —¥e annually read the reports, 
from far and wide, of the state of the fruit crops, and 
the kinds which are bearing best in the districts from 
whence the reports are sent, but we know for certain 
that many of the remarks and facts adduced are not 
representative, being only from one isolated garden, 
and not calculated to give correct data of the district. 
A large garden, with fine walls, plenty of orchard and 
other trees may be seen, but under no system of cul¬ 
tivation, at least, such as might keep the trees in 
fruitful condition. While a short distance off root¬ 
lifting, systematic summer pruning, and skilful 
attention is given, which keeps the trees in such a good 
condition as to warrant good reports in most seasons. 
But while such attention is so justly given to 
furnish correct reports on the fruit crops, it is a matter 
of snrprfse why pains to report vegetable crops is 
not taken, such as noting the kinds, soil in which they 
are grown, productiveness, and quality. Fruit, es¬ 
pecially Apples and Pears, can always be purchased at 
a low rate, but good fresh vegetables are not so easily 
secured in inland districts ; and one hears of, and some¬ 
times sees, great failures, especially when the seasons 
are dry like the summer of 1887, and also wet and cold 
like the past months of 1888 between March and 
September. Correct notes, from reliable sources, 
might show how fair success may be realised in some 
gardens, be the season what it may, and not always 
where situation and soil favours the cultivator, but 
where skilful manipulation of the soil has from year to 
year had consummate attention. While we have seen 
some gardens during the past season which have been 
unproductive, others have been visited which yield 
good crops when cold and wet have been excessive, as 
well as when drought has been scorching. 
Dunnikier Gardens. 
While making a hurried call at the gardens of 
Dunnikier, near Kirkcaldy, a short time ago, we noted 
the skill applied by Mr. Dewar, the head gardener, to so 
manipulate the land that the greatest quantity might he 
taken, as well as to raise produce of sterling quality ; and 
this is not land that can be scratched with a rake after 
the preceding crop has been removed, minus manuring 
or digging, but ground which has been brought to a 
high state of cultivation by deep tilth and abundance 
of hard work. We know that some cultivators can, 
with impunity, avoid trenching and such labour as 
that referred to in this fertile Fife garden, but we also 
are aware that such favoured cases are where the soil 
has in earlier days been turned upside down frequently, 
and every effort made to make it friable and sweet. 
The crops then in use at Dunnikier, and those which 
are to give supplies months hence were alike most 
creditable, and are at all times such as attract attention 
by their profusion minus confusion. Those who object to 
a free use of the spade iu the Vegetable garden might 
be induced to change their opinions if they knew the 
amount of good produce which has from season to 
season been raised at Dunnikier, and the success attained 
in vegetable culture by indomitable perseverance with 
tenacious cold unwieldy soil. The kinds of vegetables 
which are suitable to soil and district are cultivated ; 
new ones of promising character receive impartial 
trials, and good results follow, as we noticed in some 
plots of Potatos that were yielding enormous crops. 
Peas, which have generally filled badly this season, 
were of the finest description, though the names of 
them we fail to remember. 
Vegetable culture is not the only specialty at 
Dunnikier, for herbaceous plants, outdoor fruits, and 
Grapes and Peaches under glass have had skilful 
management for many years, and the quantities of 
them which have been raised from season to season 
have given excellent returns for the labour and skill 
expended. Black Hamburgh is here considered the 
earliest Grape, with Muscat for later supplies, while 
for the latest kind the much-valued Lady Downes 
is cultivated. Among Peaches Royal George appears 
to be valued most. There are many fine features at 
this comely and interesting place which are of interest, 
and worthy of special note. The fine views from the 
beautiful front of the mansion are very attractive, 
stretching across a fine park and woods in the distance, 
beyond which is the Firth of Forth, completing as fine 
a picture in the landscape as may be found in Scotland. 
There are many old plantations giving shelter, which are 
attractive by the density of their outline; walks leading 
to shady nooks, where Ferns and Rhododendrons grow 
in great luxuriance. A path leads through a Fir 
plantation, where one comes suddenly on a small lake 
situated in one of those happy positions which is 
so difficult to find in many places where the formation 
of a lake is very desirable. Additions to this water 
picture have been made with care and due consideration 
to assist a natural object, rather than to deface the same 
by mechanical art, as is too often the case. There are 
outside the private policies miles of walks in glens 
■where the respectable inhabitants of the somewhat 
thickly populated district are admitted to eDjoy, 
unmolested, the quiet and refreshing retreat so ample 
and varied on the beautiful estate of Dunnikier. 
It need not be wondered at that the worthy pro¬ 
prietor has attained a popularity second to none in the 
country. The kindness of J. T. Oswald, Esq., at home 
commands the esteem of those to whom he is best 
known, and the urbanity of his deportment towards his 
neighbours in the district has ensured this Fifeshire 
Laird the respect which he so justly deserves.— 
Caledonian. 
