754 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 27, 1889. 
POTATO DISEASE. 
Anent the remarks on the Potato disease in your last 
week’s issue, I fear your hopeful anticipations of there 
being no special evidence of the disease were somewhat 
premature. Unfortunately we have had special evidence 
of it here since the 27th of June, and during the last 
nine or ten days it has developed and spread to an 
alarming extent in most gardens ; hut I do not see that 
it has touched the later kinds in the fields as yet. But 
even here it is almost too much to hope that they can 
finally escape the dread scourge, with the continued 
daily showers, and the electric-charged atmosphere we 
are now experiencing. 
For the Potato disease to make its appearance and 
spread rapidly during a spell of hot dry weather is an 
unusual occurrence, yet we have this season witnessed 
this phenomena in the advancement of the disease. 
With the exception of one rather heavy storm, June 
was, on the whole, a dry and very hot month, a com¬ 
bination of conditions usually considered as not 
favourable to the generation and rapid spreading of the 
Potato blight. However, on the evening of the 27th 
June, while walking round our vegetable quarters, I 
thought I could sniffin the air unmistakable signs of the 
presence of the Peronospora. Casting about to find 
where it was lurking, and after looking several breadths 
of different varieties over, I found the disease had 
commenced in one corner of a large breadth of Early 
Puritan to the extent of about a yard square, and 
such was the rapid progress of the disease that in 
three days it had spread over the whole breadth, and 
in three days more there was nothing left but 
blackened and withering stalks. With a few exceptions 
the haulm of every root in the breadth has been 
quite dried up for more than a week past now. 
On the sixth day from the first appearance of the 
disease I had several roots lifted, and found the soil 
underneath them not exactly dust dry, but certainly 
bordering that way, and very far from that condition 
which is looked upon as favourable to the generating 
and rapid spread of the blight, namely, an over¬ 
saturated and stagnant condition of the soil. Fortu¬ 
nately, no diseased tubers were found, and it is just 
possible that the dry condition of the soil at the 
time was the safeguard, and which prevented the 
spores from the haulm passing through it and reaching 
the tubers. The quick withering up of the haulm 
may also have had something to do with the saving 
of the crop, for on trying the few roots which 
escaped the withering up, I find to-day that there are 
several diseased tubers at each root, while at the roots 
where no haulm is left every tuber is sound, albeit 
they are only two-thirds the size they would have 
been. 
Other breadths of different kinds, which escaped 
in a great measure the attack which laid low the 
Puritans, have been going very bad the whole of the 
past week, some rootshaving half the tubers diseased.— 
J. Kipling, Knebworth. 
-- 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
The Most Ornamental Maritime Shrubs. 
I have been pretty much around among the villa 
gardens here (Tramore, co. Waterford), on the edge of 
the Atlantic Ocean, and find generally the handsomest 
and healthiest are bushes of Escallonia macrantha ; 
the deep rich green of the foliage contrasts with the 
continuously produced reddish coral flowers. Next in 
hardiness, probably, would be evergreen dwarf Oak, 
Quercus Ilex ; but showy, if not so hardy, would come 
the Euonymus—evergreen also. These might alternate 
with the hardier Hollies, Grislinia littoralis, Laurus 
lusitanicus, Berberis Darwini, and Ligustrum ovali- 
folium. Two sweet-scented shrubs, very perceptible 
along several of the marine parades just now, are the 
large Privet and the mock Orange—Philadelphus. 
The list would be sadly deficient without Fuchsia 
sanguinea and the Jasmines.— W. J. Murphy. 
Helianthus rigidus. 
The typical form of this plant flowers in August, and 
is therefore considerably in advance of most species, 
with the exception of H. decapetalus multiflorus, which 
is already in bloom. There is a variety of H. rigidus, 
however, which flowers about three weeks earlier than 
the type, and is known under the name of H. japonicus 
in gardens, although the application of the name is not 
very apparent, seeing that H. rigidus is a native of 
North America. The stems attain a height of 2 ft. or 
3 ft., so that the species, together with H. decapetalus 
multiflorus already mentioned, must be considered as the 
dwarfest of their kind, and therefore most suitable for 
small gardens. The large size of the flower-heads, with 
their long rays, is another point in favour of H. rigidus, 
which is therefore, in all respects, a useful border plant. 
It has a synonym in H. diffusus, which is better known 
in gardens under the name of Harpalium rigidum. 
Lobelia splendens. 
There are three scarlet-flowered Lobelias—namely, 
L. cardinalis, a native of North America, L. fulgens, 
and L. splendens, both natives of Mexico. Some, or 
all three of them, may be seen in cultivation, and 
when they occur together there is no difficulty in 
distinguishing them by anyone with a practised or 
discriminating eye. The case, however, becomes 
complicated by the presence of hybrids in cultivation. 
The species under notice has lanceolate, slightly toothed 
leaves, which, together with the stems, are glabrous, and 
more or less stained with bronzy red. The variety 
known as Queen Victoria belongs here, and is 
characterised by its dark blood-red, or almost black 
foliage. It is often, though erroneously, referred to L. 
cardinalis ; but the latter has green and differently 
shaped leaves, and altogether smaller flowers with 
narrow segments, and is quite inferior either to L. 
fulgens or L. splendens. There is a variety of the 
latter named L s. atrosanguinea, having very dark- 
coloured foliage, and which was figured in the Botanical 
Magazine, t. 4002. There can be little doubt that 
L. Queen Victoria is closely allied to this plant, if indeed 
it is separable at all. L. fulgens is closely allied to 
L. splendens, but may be distinguished by its pubescent 
leaves, stems, pedicels, and calyx. 
Bignonia Oherere. 
This magnificent climber may either be grown in a 
stove or greenhouse, but it never gives better satisfaction 
than when planted out in a cool conservatory or green¬ 
house and allowed to ramhle to a great distance over 
the roof. All the leading stems should be neatly tied 
to wires or other supports under the rafters, and the 
short side shoots allowed to hang down freely. Under 
these conditions a large quantity of gorgeously-coloured 
flowers will be produced. The flowers are funnel- 
shaped, with an orange-yellow tube both externally and 
internally, and a fine lobed rich crimson-red lamina, 
the whole being of great size. Some sprays were 
exhibited by Mr. F. Boss, at the meeting of the Boyal 
Horticultural Society on Tuesday last, when a First 
Class Certificate was awarded. 
Cyrtomium falcatum. 
Most gardeners are familiar with this old-fashioned 
Fern, but there is a wonderful difference between plants 
as ordinarily seen and those receiving high-class culti¬ 
vation. A large basket of plants was shown by Mr. 
G. Fensom, Tottenham, at the last meeting of the 
Boyal Horticultural Society, when a First Class Cer¬ 
tificate was awarded. All the segments of the fronds 
were of unusual breadth, but the terminal one was 
quite out of its usual character, so large and deeply 
lobed was it. The plants on the contrary were of 
various sizes, but some of them were quite small 
compared with the dimensions attained by large old 
plants of this species. The whole surface was of a rich 
shining dark green. 
Remarkable Begonia Leaves. 
I notice in your last the dimensions of the Begonia 
leaves grown at that far-famed Grape-growing estab¬ 
lishment, Clovenfords, and write to say that I had some 
very fine Begonias of the Bex type last autumn, which 
were in the conservatory adjoining Cyfarthfa Castle, 
South Wales. The largest measured exactly 24 ins. 
by 18 ins. They were grown in good turfy loam with 
a little charcoal, and a good dose of Thomson’s Vine and 
Plant Manure. I may here state that our best Pines, 
pot Vines, Tomatos, and Chrysanthemums are grown 
with this excellent manure.— J. Jeffrey, Caversham 
Park, Reading. 
Chironia palustris. 
A form of this beautiful plant may be seen in one of 
the borders at Kew. In general appearance it may be 
compared to a strong-growing Erythriea, and, like that, 
belongs to the Gentian family. It has, however, 
much stouter stems, and larger, oblong, or linear deep 
green leaves, and is an herbaceous perennial, at present 
about 6 ins. or 8 ins. high, with branching stems 
bearing axillary and terminal cymes of its bright rose- 
coloured flowers. The latter are of appreciable size, 
and produced in succession for a considerable length of 
time from the top downwards, the branches in the axils 
of the lower leaves being the last to develop their blooms. 
Although it may grow and flower freely while the 
summer lasts, it can hardly he expected to outlive our 
winter unprotected. A number of the species have 
been introduced from time to time, either of an her¬ 
baceous or sub-shrubby nature, and are grown in the 
greenhouse. They may be propagated by means of 
cuttings, and succeed best when grown in a compost of 
fibrous or lumpy loam, with a larger quantity of peat, 
and plenty of sand. 
Senecio macrophyllus. 
The handsome character of this magnificent Composite 
can hardly be over estimated when seen in its best and 
most luxuriant form. When planted in deep rich soil, 
and left undisturbed for some years, the roots continue 
to increase in strength, and the stems also get taller, 
ranging from 3 ft. to 6 ft. in height. The leaves are 
mostly radical, oblong-ovate, of a deep glaucous hue, 
attaining a great size, and the whole plant has a sub¬ 
tropical appearance, hence the advisability of utilising 
it in the sub-tropical or even wild garden. It is for 
the matter of that a grand and decorative plant for 
the herbaceous border. The stems bear a few small 
bract-like leaves, and terminate in a large spike-like 
panicle of bright yellow flowers that are very con¬ 
spicuous, even at a distance. The species of this 
section of the genus are generally grown under the 
name of Ligularia, and that under notice is without 
doubt the most handsome of all, and ought to find its 
way into every collection, but unfortunately it is of 
very slow increase, and seldom produces good seeds in 
this country. It is a native of the Caucasus. 
Palava flexuosa. 
The flowers of this plant are of medium size for the 
order, but are not very conspicuous on account of their 
soft colours. They are produced singly in the axils of 
the leaves, but projecting beyond them are seen to 
advantage. The corolla is pale rosy purple, white 
towards the base, with purple claws. The whole plant 
does not exceed 8 ins. or 10 ins. in height, and is 
therefore dwarf compared with the Mallows, Malope 
trifida, and Lavatera trimestris, which generally attain 
a height of 2 ft. or thereby when under good cultivation. 
Palava flexuosa is therefore well adapted for narrow 
borders or small gardens where gross-growing subjects 
cannot be permitted. The species is a native of Peru, 
from whence it was introduced in 1830 ; but although 
it may be considered an old inhabitant of British 
gardens it does not often find its way into cultivation. 
A large patch or bed of it may be seen in the collection 
of annuals in the gardens of the Boyal Horticultural 
Society at Chiswick. 
Centaurea babylonica. 
A FINE sub-tropical effect is obtained where a group of 
this Composite is planted in deep rich soil, and if 
sheltered from high winds so much the better. The 
stems grow from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in height, and are 
clothed for some distance on the lower half with large 
hoary leaves, resembling to some extent a Verbascum 
at a short distance away. The flower-heads are yellow, 
and produced along the greater length of the stem from 
the axils of the leaves. They are neither very large 
nor conspicuous, and the lower ones are partly con¬ 
cealed by the leaves, but as these get smaller towards 
the top of the stems the flowers become more 
prominent. It is quite hardy in this country, and was 
introduced from the Levant in 1710. For the sake of 
the hoary and cottony foliage alone it is well worth 
cultivating, even in the ordinary flower border, but if 
a sub-tropical effect is desired special treatment should 
be given it in the matter of soil, which should be 
moderately moist, in order to encourage vigorous 
growth. Being a perennial, it does not require to be 
raised annually, thus dispensing with the attention 
that half-hardy or tender subjects require. 
The Cacao Tree. 
Interesting as Theobroma Cacao is from an 
economical point of view, it is seldom seen outside of 
botanic gardens in this country, and rarely flowers, 
while the production of fruit is even more rare. There 
is a flowering specimen in the Palm house at Kew, and 
although it carries a considerable number of blooms, 
the fact is probably overlooked by ninety-nine per cent, 
of the visitors to that establishment ; and if the 
botanically inclined are omitted, the percentage of the 
