February 23, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
407 
excluded from the genus according to the technical 
distinction between this genus and Ornithogalum, the 
prevailing colour of which is white. The Scillas under 
notice, however, are very pretty subjects for border or 
rockery, and very hardy. To get the finest effects they 
should be planted in clumps of a colour. 
Ground Nuts. 
The fruits of Arachis hypogoea are pretty frequent in 
the greengrocers’ shops of London and the suburbs. 
They are more often described as Monkey Nuts than 
Ground Nuts, the older name given them in this 
country. The so-called nut is really a pod, as it 
belongs to the Pea family, and contains two seeds. 
The pod is about 1 in. in length, cylindrical, slightly 
curved, and reticulated—that is, netted. The seeds 
are about the size of peas. The name Ground Nut has 
been suggested by the habit the plant has of burying 
its fruits in the ground while still in a young state. 
It there swells to its natural size, while if left uncovered 
would never get any size nor mature. Originally it 
was a native of the West Indies and West Africa, but 
is now cultivated in most tropical or sub-tropical 
countries. 
Rock Candytuft. 
The flowers of Iberis saxatilis are smaller than those of 
any other of the popular kinds, but are, with the 
exception of those of I. semperflorens, the first to 
expand under natural conditions. They are pure 
white, and borne on slender, twiggy branches. The 
leaves are also small and evergreen. The plant would 
no doubt become more popular were it thoroughly 
hardy, and better able to take care of itself in the 
open. It is, however, an interesting and choice subject 
for collectors of Alpine plants, and is specially suitable 
for cultivation in pots. During winter it may be kept 
in a cold frame, and even with a northern exposure 
will flower at various periods during winter and spring 
if the season is a tolerably mild one. Seels are rarely 
produced, but like other species of Candytuft it may 
readily be propagated by cuttings just getting firm 
after the new growth has been made in summer. 
Doryopteris nobilis. 
The species of Doryopteris, with the exception of D. 
palmata, are by no means common in ferneries. They 
are, however, bold and distinct-lookiog Ferns, and when 
well grown are by no means devoid of beauty. The 
species under notice is undoubtedly the boldest in 
cultivation, and might well be introduced into every 
collection of stove Ferns. The adult fronds in well- 
grown specimens have a blade of 12 ins. or 18 ins. in 
length, and palmate in outline, that is, having large 
divisions given off in the same manner as in the better 
known species already mentioned. They are bright 
green, and in the young state there is a broad silvery 
band extending along the primary and principal 
midribs. A high temperature is not particularly 
necessary. A loose porous soil is very beneficial, and 
should consist of peat with a quantity of chopped 
sphagnum, some rather finely broken potsherds, and 
sufficient silver-sand to render the whole porous and 
open. 
Crocus susianus. 
The hardiest and one of the earliest of the yellow 
Crocuses is that here named. It is also one of the most 
easily recognised. The flowers appear in February or 
early in March, and are of a rich golden yellow, bearing 
a deep brownish black band along the middle of the 
three outer segments, externally. After the flowers 
first expand, through the influence of mild weather 
with a little sunshine, the three outer segments never 
close up again, but becoming recurved, exhibit their 
golden yellow colour only. By this peculiarity alone 
the species may readily be recognised by those who are 
not botanists. The flowers are not so large as the 
improved C. aureus luteus, spoken of as the Large 
\ ellow or Dutch A ellow ; but the species is equally 
hardy, and when once planted may be left to take care 
of and establish itself. Being very dwarf it is highly 
suitable for naturalising on grass. 
Spring Snowflake. 
Notwithstanding that this is the neatest, prettiest, 
and largest of the Snowflakes, and has been more or 
less grown in this country since 1596, it is the least 
common in gardens at the present day. Botanically it 
is the Leucojum vernum, and is a native of Central 
Europe. Its flowering season has now commenced, and 
will continue for several weeks. The flowering stems, 
surrounded by three to five deep green leaves, rise to the 
height of 6 ins., and carry generally one flower each. 
A vigorous variety is sometimes met with under the 
name of L. v. biflorum. The flower consists of six 
segments of equal length and size, white externally, 
with the exception of a deep green blotch beneath the 
tip of each. Internally they are more or less stained 
with yellow. The generic name comes from leulcos, 
white, and ion, a violet. The flowers are deliciously 
fragrant, smelling of violets at a certain stage. It may 
interest those who grow hardy plants in pots, to know 
that the Spring Snowflake may be grown in that way. 
Indian Pinks. 
Those who have to supply cut flowers in any quantity 
and variety will find the Dianthus Heddewigi, or 
Indian rink, a grand acquisition. They are really 
perennials, but I think for convenience and all general 
purposes they are best treated as annuals, sowing the 
seed in early spring in heat, and treating them in the 
samemanneras half-hardy annuals, finally transplanting 
them to the beds or borders where they are intended to 
flower in the early part of May. There are some 
good varieties of double form, or with peculiarities in 
form or colour, which it may be thought desirable to 
perpetuate or increase. This can easily be done by 
division or cutting, but a packet of mixed seed procured 
from some reliable source, and treated in the manner 
described, will usually produce a large number of 
plants, the flowers of which present great diversity of 
peculiarly rich and brilliant colours, many beautifully 
striped, with fimbriated or ragged petals, very different 
in appearance and character to most other garden 
flowers. Combined with light-foliaged Ferns or grasses, 
they make a nice variety for table decoration .—Alfred 
Gaut. 
-—>3K—- 
FLORAL DECORATIONS.* 
In the following remarks I shall confine myself almost 
entirely to what are termed table decorations, because 
when a young gardener can dress stands suitable for a 
dinner-table he need not fear to undertake any other 
kind of decoration of a floral character, and also because 
I think that if there is ODe particular kind of decora¬ 
tion more than another which the gardener of the 
present day ought to study, it is the decoration of the 
dinner-table. I must at the outset carry you back 
with me for a period of about twenty years to show 
what progress has been made in this branch of our pro¬ 
fession. At that time dinner-table decoration was 
very rarely seen in private establishments, and what 
few attempts were made were of a most primitive 
description, still less were decorated dinner-tables to 
be met with at exhibitions ; while now it is the excep¬ 
tion and not the rule to find a flower show without 
them—and what is more attractive ? 
I had vases to fill at a time as far back as that to 
which I refer which were of a most ugly pattern, and 
try as one would they rarely looked satisfactory to the 
dresser when finished. I am glad to say that such 
vases are now seldom to be seen. For the great change 
which has taken place in the public taste in this matter 
we are, in a great measure, indebted to the Royal 
Horticultural Society and the Crystal Palace Com¬ 
pany, who commenced about the year 1868 to offer 
substantial prizes for the best floral designs for the 
decoration of a dinner table. The gardener I was then 
serving under in the south of England took a trip to 
London, with the object of securing the first prize, but 
he came back disappointed at not being first. When 
however, I tell you that his display consisted simply 
of Marechal Niel Roses and Iresine Herbstii, with a 
little Maidenhair Fern interspersed, it will give you 
some idea of what was then considered good enough to 
win a handsome second prize. Still, he learnt a lesson 
by going, as he saw other tastes and styles, which 
enabled him, after a few trials, to attain the much- 
coveted first place. 
I had never seen a competition of this kind till 
about 1874. I was then living in Buckinghamshire, 
and came up to one of the Royal Botanic Society’s 
shows to assist my old master, who was exhibiting. 
This certainly opened my eyes, and when I think of 
the style in vogue then as compared with that of the 
present day, I must say that the difference is mar¬ 
vellous. The stands were then of a very heavy clumsy 
description, and it required a great deal of skill to dress 
them properly. There were too many side or inter¬ 
mediate trumpets, the stands were too short to show 
* Read at a meeting of the Ealing and District Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Society, February 8th, 1889. 
anything like distinctness between the dressing of the 
base, intermediate trumpets, or hanging baskets, as the 
case might be, and the top trumpets—in fact, it was 
eib ma.sse. We have now stands of the simplest cha¬ 
racter, which make the operation very much easier for 
the dresser. 
The two descriptions I prefer for giving variety are 
the pattern shown in my modest illustration here to¬ 
night. The other I would describe as having simply a 
dish at the base, with a long clear glass trumpet rising 
from the centre. The stands should vary in height, 
the centre one, if three are use!, being some 4 ins. 
higher than the two end ones. To dress a table to 
completion, a few small trumpets or baskets should be 
placed outside the stands, running lengthways of the 
table, and a spray or button-hole should be placed in 
very small glasses for each guest. I am well aware of 
the many other ways of dressing a table that has 
sprung into existence of late years, such as placing a 
bordering of Fern and flowers, or leaves, grasses, &c., 
shaped in all manner of designs on the table-cloth, but 
to my mind there is nothing which approaches the 
stands for effect, if lightly dressed. 
I now come to the actual dressing of the stands, and 
would wish particularly to impress on young beginners 
the one essential point, if success is aimed at, and that 
is the selection of colours. You may easily have too 
many, but it would be difficult to have too few. 
Whether for the family dinner-table or for competition 
nothing is more distasteful than to see in one stand or 
vase ten to a dozen and sometimes more shades of 
colour. The vase may be perfect as regards the dress¬ 
ing, that is, in quantity of material used, and style of 
arrangement, but if blues and violets, pinks and 
yellows, reds and crimsons happen to come together, 
such a conglomeration of colouring is produced as 
every lady would condemn. In a competition such an 
effect would simply be ignored. 
In dressing three stands for competition (it is some 
years since I did anything of the kind at a private es¬ 
tablishment), I generally commence with the top trum¬ 
pets, as this is the most tedious, and requires to be done 
very lightly, a few grasses towering up for a centre, then 
a few very light pieces of flower, the colour to harmonise 
all through the stands alike ; or for a change introduce 
a little more colour in the centre stand, and dress the 
two end ones alike. A few sprays of a drooping 
character, either of flower or foliage, should be placed 
round the edge of the trumpet; this gives a good finish 
to the top, which at all times should be so light as to 
be seen through. Then follow in like manner with 
the side trumpets, if any, which also require to be very 
lightly dressed—three or four small light flowers, a 
little Fern and Grass, and it is complete. As to the 
base, the centre stand should be dressed rather bolder 
than the two ends, as, being taller by some 4 ins., it 
naturally requires it. Place some moss or Lycopodium 
over the sand, then select some bold flowers,commencing 
outside. Water Lilies and pink Dipladenias used 
alternately are very effective, but do not stand at these, 
as there are a host of other flowers that answer the 
purpose. I give this as an example only. A few 
flowers of a deep crimson colour might be introduced 
for the sake of variety in the centre stand, and let the 
flowers rise gradually towards the centre, but not too 
formally. Use plenty of white for the groundwork, 
the purer the better, as this will show to greater 
advantage the other colours afterwards added. 
Work a little Fern between the flowers so that 
the stand may not look naked from any view. 
A few coloured leaves are very effective if placed on 
the bordering of Fern, and immediately outside of 
Water Lilies or other white flowers. Introduce some 
lighter flowers amongst the heavier ones, letting them 
stand out boldly. This will give great relief, and add 
wonderfully to the effect. A few light grasses, and 
some of a heavier nature, sparingly used, will complete 
the base ; and for a change have a piece of Lygodium 
scandens or Asparagus tenuissimus trailing round the 
centre stem. 
I never like more than two or three colours in any three 
stands unless they are very delicate shades, such, for 
instance, as you find in some of the Orchids, Pelar¬ 
goniums, &c. I have seen some of the sweetest stands 
dressed with only two colours, such as pink and white 
and yellow and white, and very cool and refreshing 
they look for summer decoration ; but for winter I 
should introduce more colour, and so impart an 
appearance of warmth and cheerfulness, a point which 
soon speaks for itself when artificial light is brought to 
bear upon it. Whilst on the subject of artificial light, 
I may caution young beginners from using yellow or 
the different shades of blue for night decoration, for 
however beautiful they may appear by daylight, they 
are very insipid under artificial light, losing their true 
character altogether. Much more might be said on 
this subject, especially on what to use and what to 
avoid, but I think most young gardeners will gain that 
knowledge by experience if they tackle the subject in 
earnest.— J. Prewett, Swiss Nursery, Hammersmith. 
