July 13, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
727 
Achillea Gerberi. 
In general habit and appearance, this plant may be 
compared to A. tomentosa, which is well known 
wherever there is a good collection of hardy plants. 
The flower stems, however, would appear to be more 
leafy, but this habit would have to be confirmed after 
some years of growth. We noted a small specimen in 
the hardy plant house at Kew. It was grown in a pot, 
and the stems were about 1 ft. in height or less, bearing 
a number of small yellow flower-heads in a sort of 
umbel or corymb. The leaves are linear, twice divided 
into narrow segments, and have a hoary appearance 
from being covered with hairs. Should it prove hardy, 
it will be very suitable for the rock garden on account 
of its dwarf and compact habit. 
Erysimum arkansanum. 
The genus Erysimum includes about seventy species, a 
large proportion of which are weedy plants of no garden 
value. E. Peroffskianum has long been known in 
gardens as an exception on account of its deep orange 
flowers, which are plentifully produced on well-grown 
plants. Both this and E. arkansanum may now be seen 
in full bloom in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society at Chiswick. The latter species bears flowers 
several times the size of those of E. Peroffskianum, but 
are of a pale or bright yellow in different individuals. 
The blooms bear a strong resemblance to those of the 
well-known E. ochroleucum, better known under the 
erroneous name of Cheiranthus alpinus. The palest 
blooms of E. arkansanum are, however, several shades 
darker than those of E. ochroleucum, and have a bold 
and telling effect when well grown. The stems rise to 
a height of 12 ins. or 18 ins., and are well clothed with 
lanceolate, toothed, deep green leaves. Like E. Peroff- 
skianum it is an annual. 
Primula frutescens. 
The so-called prsemorse root of the Primula is merely 
the lower and older end of the stem, otherwise called 
a rootstock, which gradually dies away as the younger 
end keeps growing and lengthening. In some of the 
Alpine species, as well as the old plants of P. auricula 
or P. sinensis, the stem rises a little way above ground 
bearing a tuft of leaves at its apex. We meet with an 
extreme case of this in P. frutescens, a Californian 
species seldom seen in this country outside botanic 
gardens. We more seldom see it in flower, but noticed 
a pan of healthy flowering plants the other day in the 
hardy plant house in the herbaceous ground at Kew. 
The stems are smooth, pale green, rising to the height 
of 4 ins. or more above the soil, and are about twice or 
three times the thickness of a goose-quill. They are 
persistent, and if not particularly woody, have earned 
for the plant the specific name frutescens, which means 
shrubby. On the top of these are borne the spathu- 
late, coarsely toothed leaves in rosettes. The scapes 
rise to the height of 6 ins. or thereby, and bear an 
umbel of rosy purple flowers, with a yellow eye. The 
blooms are much larger than we should have expected 
them. —.— 
Shallots and Garlic. 
The dry weather will assist these in ripening much 
earlier than was the case last year, and as the leaves 
wither the bulbs should be pulled and laid in a dry 
sunny position to dry and complete the ripening 
process, after which they may be hung up in some 
cool airy position till required for use. Garlic, as a 
rule, requires longer to ripen than Shallots. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
♦ 
Habenaria fimbriata. 
The species of Habenaria are terrestrial in habit, closely 
resembling an Orchis, and they enjoy a wide distribu¬ 
tion over various parts of the world. That under 
notice is a native of North America, and being much 
more showy than our native species, which are in 
their way exceedingly interesting, should be widely 
cultivated, if not in the open garden, at least in frames 
and hardy plant houses. In habit and appearance at 
a little distance it may well be compared with Gymna- 
denia conopsea, the fragrant Orchis of our meadows 
and pastures. The flowers are borne in a long and 
close terminal spike, and are of a beautiful rosy or 
lilac-purple. The most striking feature of the bloom is 
the lip, which is deeply three-lobed, and the segments 
again finely fimbriated or fringed, hence the specific 
name. The petals are also more or less toothed at the 
margin, but not deeply. In pots the plants usually 
attain a height of 12 ins. or 15 ins. 
The Gard eners 1 C alendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Damping and Ventilation.— It is the practice in 
many establishments to discontinue the use of artificial 
heat in the stoves during warm weather at midsummer, 
and where such is the case, a slightly different method 
of procedure should be adopted. Less damping down 
must be given, or none at all when the ventilators are 
closed in the evening, and it would be an advantage to 
leave a chink of air on, so that the superfluous moisture 
can escape during the night. 
Insect Pests. —During the prevalence of dry 
weather, and the stress of work out of doors, a sharp 
outlook should be kept that plants of various kinds, 
including Dracsenas, Crotons, Anthuriums, and Ixoras, 
do not become infested with red-spider, thrips, or other 
pests of a similar nature. A plentiful syringing and 
occasional sponging of the fine-foliaged plants during 
their most active period of growth will do much 
towards warding off the enemy, and keeping the plants 
in a healthy condition. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
New Holland Plants. —As these go out of flower, 
no time should be lost in having the old blooms re¬ 
moved, so as to give the plants every incentive to make 
good growth. Pimelias, including P. spectabilis, P. 
decussata, and others, may be pretty hard pruned back 
after flowering, so as to keep them in shape. Draco- 
phyllum gracile had best be pruned back to where the 
young growths are seen to be starting, and as Aphelexis 
throws out its buds close to the origin of the flowers, 
care should be taken in removing the latter that the 
young buds are not injured. Poly galas may be pretty 
hard cut back if they have outgrown the space at their 
command ; but under such circumstances they cannot 
be expected to flower so freely next year. Re-pot into 
a size larger such as require it, using good fibrous peat 
and plenty of clean silver-sand. Broken charcoal will 
be found very advantageous if the peat is soft, fibreless, 
and apt to form a compact soddened mass. Keep the 
plants close for a short time until the roots have taken 
to the fresh soil. 
Pelargoniums. —As the show and fancy kinds go 
out of bloom, stand them out of doors in some sunny 
and fully-exposed position, at the same time with¬ 
holding water, to induce the wood to ripen, after 
which it may be pruned back in the usual way. 
Cinerarias and Primulas. —The early batch of 
Cinerarias will now be of some considerable size, and 
should be shifted on before they get pot-bound or in 
any way stunted. Later batches, as well as Primulas, 
will also require close attention in the way of watering, 
potting, and favourable treatment generally, so as to 
get them into good form for flowering during autumn 
and winter. A cold frame is the best place for them 
now if they have not already been transferred there. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Vineries. —During the warm and dry weather we 
frequently experience in July, late Grapes, or those just 
about half grown or at the stoning period as it is called, 
are very liable to get scalded if proper attention is not 
paid to ventilation. If artificial heating is left off at 
night it is all the more necessary to use caution in 
damping down, and also in leaving air on all night, to 
prevent the accumulation of moisture upon the foliage 
and fruit. One of the leading points to secure is 
plenty of large, healthy, and leathery leaves, which 
can only be obtained by thorough exposure to light, 
giving at the same time a free ventilation when the sun 
is warm. - 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Celery. —The first or earliest Celery may now have a 
little soil drawn up against them, being careful that no 
soil gets into the crown of the plant. Before this, 
however, the small outside leaves and any suckers that 
may have been thrown up from the crown should be 
removed to give due encouragement to the main crown 
of leaves. The latest batch of Celery should be planted 
in trenches in the usual way as soon as ground for the 
purpose can be cleared. 
Parsley.— The winter supply of Parsley is often a 
serious matter with the gardener. With this object in 
view a sowing should be made about the middle of the 
month, either in some position where it is to remain 
for the winter, or in a bed if other ground cannot be 
spared. Provided the sowing is made at the proper 
time, the seedlings can afterwauL be transplanted when 
there has been sufficient rain to properly moisten the soil. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
The National Rose Show at the Crystal 
Palace— July 6th. 
The excessive heat and brilliant sunshine, which forced 
the blooms along at such a pace that had it continued 
much longer would have sadly marred the prospects of 
many a Rose society, happily moderated somewhat last 
week, and by steadying the rate of development, 
allowed of a grand lot being brought to the Palace on 
Saturday last. Most of the leading southern growers 
were able to cut at their best, and were consequently 
well represented, though in some cases they had hard 
work to hold their own against northern-grown blooms, 
the beauty of which throughout the show was one of 
its most striking features. The Yorkshiremen were 
indeed in rare form, making a bold bid for the leading 
honours, and securing the first and third awards in the 
champion class for seventy-two blooms. That the 
Messrs. Harkness should have been able to get in first, 
both faithfully indicates the character of the season, 
and bears eloquent testimony of their skill as growers. 
It was a great triumph, and well deserved. Another 
striking feature was the beauty and quality of the flowers 
sent by the Messrs. Cocker, Aberdeen, a plucky effort 
which brought the exhibitors a w’ell-merited reward. 
The hot weather, too, had also a marked effect on the 
Tea Roses, which were most lovely, and no less so on 
some of the light coloured H. P.’s, as witness the 
splendid stands of Her Majesty, the best class in the 
show, Merveille de Lyon, &c. Owing to the special 
arrangements necessitated by the visit of the Shah, and 
the Prince and Princess of Wales and family, the show 
was held in two large tents at the east end of the 
Palace, which was unfortunate alike for the Roses and 
their admirers, as both felt the effects of the great 
heat and the restricted space for promenading. Mr. 
Head, however, did all that was possible to make 
things run smoothly, and succeeded much better than 
could have been anticipated under the circumstances. 
Nurserymen’s Classes. 
There were six entries in the nurserymen’s class for 
seventy-two distinct kinds, and the first honours were 
taken by Messrs. Harkness & Sons, Bedale, Yorkshire. 
Some of their best specimens of H. P.'s were Ulrich 
Brunner, Horace Vernet, Devienne Lamy, Framjois 
Michelon, Duchesse de Moray, Etienne Levet, Mrs. 
Jowitt, Madame Montet, Heinrich Sehultheis, Due 
de Rohan, Harrison Weir, Benoit Comte, Merveille 
de Lyon, Pride of Waltham, Queen of Queens, 
La France, Countess of Rosebery, and Madame Hippo- 
lyte Jamain. Tea-scented varieties were not numerous 
in their stands, but included Niphetos, L’Etoile de 
Lyon, Amazone, Comtesse de Nadaillac, The Bride, 
and Madame Angele Jacquier. Mr. F. Cant, Braiswick, 
Colchester, took the second prize, and had fine samples 
of H.P.’s in La France, Her Majesty, Star of Waltham, 
Jean Soupert, Madame Eugene Verdier, and amongst 
Teas he had Jean Ducher, La Boule d’Or, Madame 
Caroline Kuster, Princess of Wales, Madame de 
Watteville, and others. Messrs. Robert Mack & Son, 
Catterick Bridge and Scorton, Yorkshire, took the 
third place with rather small but fresh specimens. 
They were fortunate, however, in securing the society’s 
Silver Medal for the best H. P. in the nurserymen’s 
classes with a handsome specimen of Ulrich Brunner. 
There were six entries in the class for forty-eight sorts, 
three blooms of each, and Messrs. Paul & Son, Ches- 
hunt, led off with the first prize. They had fine 
samples of La Duchesse de Moray, S. Reynolds Hole, 
A. K. Williams, Her Majesty, Merveille de Lyon, 
Etienne Levet and Comtesse d’Oxford ; while Teas were 
represented by Niphetos, Innocenti Pirola, The Bride, 
and Madame de Watteville. Mr. F. Cant tookthesecond 
place, and Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester, was third. The 
above two classes occupied a considerable amount of 
table space. 
Messrs. Geo. Cooling & Sons, Bath, took the first 
place for forty-eight varieties in another division. 
Their leading H.P.’s were Her Majesty, Countess of 
Oxford, Pride of Waltham, Madame Marie Verdier, 
Magna Charta, Francis Michelon, Baroness Rothschild, 
and Marie Rady ; while Teas included Catheiine 
Mermet, Souvenir de Paul Neron, The Bride, and 
Souvenir d’Elise. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., 
Salisbury, were second in this class ; and Messrs. G. & 
W. H. Burch, Peterborough, came in third. For twenty- 
four varieties in the same division there were seven 
entries, and Mr. Geo. Prince, 14, Market Street, Oxford, 
took the leading award with fine samples of H.P.’s in 
Duke of Teck, Marie Rady, Baron Haussman, A. K, 
Williams, and Abel CarrKre ; while good Teas were 
