July 27, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
755 
public to notice it would even be less. The small 
inconspicuous flowers are produced in clusters from the 
stem and branches on wood from which the leaves have 
fallen, but at the nodes where leaves at one time 
existed. The petals are small and whitish, suffused 
with pale red, but are exceedingly curious from the 
way they are bent or curved and then hooded a little 
above the base. In this hood, which forms in reality 
a rather deep pouch, the five fertile anthers lie con¬ 
cealed, while five barren ones are long-pointed, erect, 
and completely hide the short style from view. All 
are united at the base into a short tube surrounding 
the ovary. The fruit is a large, oblong-elliptical, five- 
celled body, containing a considerable number of seeds, 
from which the cocoa or chocolate of commerce is 
chiefly produced. 
Lonas inodora. 
In spite of the quantity of flowers produced by this 
Composite it is by no means popular, probably from 
the lack of rays, which robs the flowers of much of the 
interesting character they would otherwise possess. 
For border decoration it merits a place on account of 
the conspicuous appearance of its heads, as seen in a 
mass, and for their long lasting properties. It is 
closely allied to Athanasia, which is also noted for the 
length of time its flowers last in presentable condition. 
In point of fact it has been figured under the name of 
Athanasia annua in the Botanical Magazine, t. 2276, 
and is still grown under that name on the Continent. 
The flower-heads are produced in corymbs well above 
the foliage in the same way as Aster Linosyris, a fact 
which accounts for their conspicuousness in spite of 
their small size. Besides being a hardy border annual 
it is also well adapted for pot culture, and flowers with 
equal freedom under those conditions. By sowing 
rather late it can be brought into flower late in 
autumn, when something for the sake of variety is 
wanted in the greenhouse or conservatory. It wa3 
originally introduced from Barbary in 1686. 
The New Holland Daisy. 
Such is a very appropriate name for Erigeron mucro- 
natus, a small, Daisy-like, much-branched Composite, 
and a native of Australia and New Zealand. It is 
often grown in gardens and nurseries under the names 
of Yittadinia or Yittadenia triloba or V. australis. 
The stems are very much branched, and vary from 
6 ins. to 12 ins. in height, bearing a profusion of white 
rosy-tipped flower-heads, for which Burns’ lines to the 
“wee, modest, crimson-tipped flower” would have 
been specially appropriate. The plant in question is 
a perennial, with slender wiry stems, and is all but 
quite hardy—at least, in the southern parts of Britain. 
It is most adapted for rockwork from the fact that it 
should be kept moderately dry in winter. Propa¬ 
gation can be readily effected by means of cuttings 
under a hand-glass or frame. 
Eucharidium concinnum. 
The flowers of this plant have three-lobed petals 
similar to those of Clarkia pulchella, to which the 
whole plant bears a considerable resemblance, but is 
altogether dwarfer and more suitable for gardens of 
small extent. It is a native of North America, and 
was introduced as long ago as 1787—that is, more than 
a hundred years ago, but is even now far from common, 
although it is difficult to conceive why this should be 
so, considering the pretty effect produced by a patch, 
or even a bed of it. The branching stems grow 6 ins. 
or 8 ins. high, and flower with great freedom during 
the present month. E. c. grandiflorum, usually spoken 
of in seed lists as distinct, merely differs in size. The 
flowers are of a deep rosy purple, variegated with 
branching white veins. There is also a white variety, 
but except by way of contrast there are probably few 
that would be much taken by it if grown by itself. 
- —»£«——— 
ANNUALS SUITABLE FOR 
LONDON GARDENS.—II. 
Poppies and Poppyworts. 
The Poppies that were honoured by the Floral Com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society in the 
manner mentioned in our last issue, are pretty 
numerous, but they are all varieties or races reducible 
to two well-known species—namely, Papaver Rhseas 
and P. somniferum. To the former of these belongs 
the beautiful Caucasian P. Rhteas umbrosum, generally 
considered a distinct species. It is notable for its dwarf 
habit, glaucous foliage, and brilliant crimson-red 
flowers, bearing a conspicuous black blotch at the base 
of each petal, and the black is sometimes surrounded 
by a white line. Double varieties have been grown in 
gardens for many years under the names of Carnation, 
Picotee, and Ranunculus-flowered Poppies, according 
to their particular form and markings. More recently 
a magnificent strain of single kinds presenting a great 
variety of the most delicately blended colours has been 
raised from sports of the wild type under the name of 
Shirley Poppies, and these deservedly met the approval 
of the committee. They thrive as well in London 
gardens as in a cornfield. Hooker’s double Poppies 
belong to an Indian plant of large size and bushy 
habit, and are described under the name of Papaver 
Hookeri, but modern botanists consider the latter only 
a form of P. Rhceas. They are of various beautiful 
colours, but the supernumerary petals are very narrow, 
the whole flower resembling a narrow-petalled double 
Anemone. 
The Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) has been 
grown in British gardens from time immemorial, but 
continental growers seem to have been most diligent in 
raising new varieties, hence the origin of the name 
often applied to them. Several distinct races or strains 
have received marks of distinction, amongst which is 
Mephisto, a single-flowered brilliant scarlet-red kind, 
with a large black blotch at the base of the petals, which 
are ragged at the apex. The Danebrog is a single rose or 
scarlet Poppy, with a large white blotch at the base of 
each petal. Rawson’s Fringe is a beautiful variety 
that may be considered a double Danebrog. The 
petals are very numerous, ragged or fringed at the 
apex, and white with red edges. Steinforth’s strain is 
a dwarf one, averaging about 18 ins. high, and bears a 
profusion of medium-sized but very double pink and 
white flowers with shortly ragged petals. 
The double Psony or Preonireflorum section is well 
represented at Chiswick by a large number of varieties, 
differing chiefly in colour and other minor particulars. 
The distinguishing characters of this strain are the 
large-sized, fully double, broad-petalled flowers, which 
resemble those of a Pseony. They have been selected 
according to colour, each kind being grown separately, 
and they appear to come pretty true from seeds. The 
names given indicate the colours, such as rose, dark 
red, violet-black, double white, dark lilac, white and 
crimson, and striped red. The dark lilac is a very 
dwarf variety with lilac-purple, deeply-fringed flowers, 
while the double white is very floriferous, and might 
well be named Snowdrift. 
Another section of the Poppy family includes the 
Eschscholtzias, whose finely-divided leaves and showy 
flowers win admiration for them in many gardens. 
The different varieties are classed under E. californica, 
E. crocea, and E. tenuifolia ; but all those coming 
under the first two names are mere varieties of E. 
californica, and some authorities consider E. tenuifolia 
another form, and give it the name of E. californica 
caespitosa. It differs so markedly, however, in size 
and in the general character of the foliage from the 
seedling stage onwards that we should hesitate in 
calling it a form of E. californica. The flowers are 
small and pale sulphur-yellow. Mandarin is a beautiful 
variety of E. californica, the outer surface being of an 
intense orange-crimson, while the inner face is orange- 
yellow. Crocea is an orange-coloured form, with rather 
more slender and finely-cut foliage. Aurantiaca differs 
in having the darker colour internally. E. c. alba is 
pure white, with the exception of a pale sulphur blotch 
at the base of the petals, yellow anthers, and part of 
the filaments violet-black ; there is a double form of 
this. Rose Cardinal is of a beautiful soft rose externally, 
and creamy yellow internally, while Rosea plena is a 
double form of it. All are exceedingly pretty, but 
apparently not quit3 constant, as they come mixed. 
Platystemon californicus, with sulphur-yellow flowers, 
must be included here. 
- »>£<- -- — 
JHoTES FROM flcOTLAND. 
-->- 
East of Scotland Union of Botanists’ and 
Naturalists’ Societies’ Annual Conference. 
_The sixth annual conference of these societies was 
held on July 16th to 20 th at Alford, West Aberdeen¬ 
shire. The societies embraced in the Union are the 
Aberdeen Natural History Society, the Alford Field 
Club and Scientific Society, the Arbroath Horticultural 
and Natural History Society, the Dundee Working 
Men’s Field Club, the Kircaldy Naturalists’ Society, 
the Largo Field Naturalists’ Society, the Montrose 
Antiquarian Society, the Montrose Scientific and Field 
Club, and the Perthshire Society of Natural Science. 
The visitors arrived at Alford on the morning of the 
16th, and were met at the station by the Rev. Mr. Bell, 
Keig ; and the Rev. Mr. Gillan, Mr. Baxter, and 
Mr. Stephen, Alford, as a deputation from the Alford 
Society. The party proceeded to the “ Haughton 
Arms ” Hotel, and partook of luncheon. 
Meeting of the Council. 
The Council met in the Volunteer Hall at one o’clock. 
In the absence of Mr. Gilmour, of Montrave (the 
president), Mr. R. 0. Farquharson (the president elect) 
was called to the chair. The financial statement 
showed a balance at the credit of the Union. Mr. 
Ferrier, Montrose, and Mr. Anderson, Aberdeen, were 
appointed auditors. Professor J. W. H. Trail, Aber¬ 
deen University, was re-appointed to edit “ The Pro¬ 
ceedings,” and Mr. Robert Pullar, Perth, was 
appointed to represent the Union at the meetings of 
the British Association at Newcastle. A letter was 
read from Dr. Howdon, Montrose, who, on behalf of 
the two Montrose societies, invited the Union to hold 
their conference next year at Montrose. It was unani¬ 
mously agreed to accept the invitation. The next 
business was to consider the advisability of petitioning 
the Education Department to make one of the two 
science subjects—botany and geology—necessary for 
students attending training colleges. The card of 
business stated that if these subjects were compulsory 
the future teachers of Scotland would be enabled to 
take a practical interest in natural history, and thus 
secure to coming generations the advantages to be 
derived from the studies for which their societies were 
instituted. The chairman remarked that the step was 
a most important one to take ; and, on his suggestion, 
Mr. Sang, the secretary, was instructed—in the name 
of the Union—to draw up a petition on the subject for 
presentation to Dr. Craik. This was all the business 
before the Council. 
The General Meeting 
took place at two o’clock. There was a large attendance, 
and on the motion of Mr. Sang, Mr. R. 0. Farquharson, 
the ' new president, was called to the chair amid 
applause. The chairman returned thanks for the 
honour of being appointed president of the Union, and 
in the name of the Alford Field Club, he stated that 
they would accord them every hospitality, and hoped 
they might find the Vale of Alford quite as good a 
place as they expected it to be. The proceedings of the 
Council were approved of, and a number of interesting 
and instructive papers were then read, which we hope 
to publish summaries of in our next. At the con¬ 
clusion of the reading of the papers, on the motion 
of the chairman, the contributors were warmly 
thanked. A vote of thanks to the chairman, on the 
motion of Mr. Sang, closed the proceedings. The 
savants were then photographed, after which all sat 
down to an excellent dinner provided by Mr. Brown, 
Haughton Arms Hotel, and presided over by Mr. R. 
0. Farquharson. Then, on the invitation of Mr. and 
Mrs. Farquharson, a ramhle in the Haughton grounds 
and gardens took place, and the visitors had the 
pleasure of seeing a microscopical exhibition of 
granites, diatoms, &c. 
Excursions. 
The first excursion was made on Wednesday, when the 
programme consisted of a drive up the Donside Valley, 
the beauty of which was much admired, the features of 
the country being so very different from what many of 
the members anticipated. The cup-marked stones at 
Ley appeared to puzzle the antiquaries. The ord 
houses of Glenkindie and muirs of Kildrummy practi¬ 
cally illustrate the rude and primitive dwellings of our 
forefathers. Kildrummy Castle was inspected, and the 
party photographed. An excellent repast was in 
waiting at Kildrummy Inn, after which a start was 
made to head-quarters (Alford), where all arrived 
highly delighted. On Thursday the party drove to 
Craigievar Castle, and visited the ord houses of Culsh 
and Tarland, Loch Kinnord, the pre-historic city of 
Davon, lake dwellings, &c., and thence drove to 
Ballater, where they put up for the night at the 
“ Invercauld Arms” Hotel. On Friday the route was 
continued southwards, the party botanising through 
Glen Muick, and enjoying to the full one of the most 
beautiful and majestic portions of Scottish mountain 
scenery. On Saturday the journey was continued 
through Glenshee on to Blairgowrie, where the party 
after five days’ companionship broke up amid general 
regrets, but all highly pleased with the conference 
and excursions of 1889. The arrangements of Mr. 
Sang, the secretary of the Union, and the local 
committee proved excellent. 
