March 9, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
435 
some of the leading shows last season, and at the 
Kent County Chrysanthemum Show. Mr. F. Moore, 
Blendon Hall Gardens, Bexley, Kent, exhibited a bloom 
which was adjudged the premier Japanese flower in the 
show. It was specially admired and highly spoken of 
at that exhibition, and when my friend Mr. Molyneux 
sees such a magnificent bloom, I venture to say he will 
alter his opinion.— Observer. 
-->r<-- 
A CENTURY OP PROGRESS IN 
FLORICULTURE. 
At the recent annual meeting of the Ealing Micro¬ 
scopical and Natural History Society, the president, 
the Rev. George Henslow, delivered a lecture, of which 
the above was the title. Alluding first to the Pelar¬ 
gonium, Mr. Henslow observed that its home was the 
Cape of Good Hope. Of species which played an 
important part in modern floriculture, the first to be 
imported were Zonale in 1710, and Inquinans in 1714, 
the latter being cultivated for its variegated foliage. 
The Ivy-leaved Pelargonium came over in 1701, and of 
this a print was shown, the first drawing of the flower 
having been made in 1787. Other species were im¬ 
ported sparingly during the early part of the eighteenth 
century. These were all small,! and the gardeners 
proceeded to hybridise. They would take two forms 
and cross them, and the result invariably was an 
improvement. At the beginning of this century one 
came over which laid the foundation of all our large- 
flowered and fancy Pelargoniums, and this was called 
the Pelargonium grandiflorum. The gardeners now 
took the P. grandiflorum and some smaller ones, and 
crossed them with numerous hybrids, and subsequent 
crosses had been raised since, but those first formed 
early in the century were insignificant, and probably 
now lost to the cultivator. As to the form of the 
flower, the original shape was mostly very irregular, the 
posterior petals being often much the larger, while the 
stamens were declinate, the sub-genus (Horea) having 
lost the anterior petal. This was almost an invariable 
rule, and he offered a theory to account for it. He 
had given it once in that room, and it appeared in his 
book on the Structure of Flowers. When the insects 
went to flowers the}' must rest upon them, and as a 
rule they alighted on the front petals. If the flower 
stood out horizontally, they came to the front, and 
rested on the lower petals, and whenever they did that 
—it did not matter what the flower was—the petal was 
invariably enlarged so that it formed an excellent 
landing place for the insect; but supposing there was 
no petal underneath, and they stood on the stamens, 
their weight was no longer on the front petals, and only 
the posterior petals behind the nectary were stimulated 
to extra growth. In other words, when the insects 
alighted on the petals in front they were always larger, 
and when on the stamens, and not on the petals, they 
were always smaller. This theory also accounted for 
mimetic resemblances in flowers, in that similar insects 
visiting different flowers the latter responded to them, 
and so gave rise to forms having a strong external 
resemblance to one another, but with no real affinity. 
The lecturer came next to 
The Fuchsia. 
The first introduction of the flower was not, he said, 
exactly known. The Fuchsia they saw in their gardens 
one might see in Cornwall forming hedges, and even 
trees ; it had a long pendulous flower, and was known 
as Fuchsia coccinea. But lately it had been found that 
this was not entitled to the name at all. It was 
regarded as having been introduced in 1788. All the 
Fuchsias came from America, with one or two ex¬ 
ceptions from New Zealand. Sir Joseph Hooker found 
this was not the true Fuchsia coccinea, which came 
over about the same time, if not before, and he figured 
it in the Botanical Magazine some years ago. The 
Fuchsia coccinea was really the Fuchsia Magellanica, 
and came from the south of Chili, and was hardy in the 
warmer parts of great Britain. The president showed 
specimens of it on a sheet of paper, which he said had 
belonged to the Professor of Botany at Cambridge 
preceding his father. Several other varieties came 
over at the beginning of this century. The Fuchsia 
Magellanica, however, from the Straits of Magellan, 
was exactly now as it was then, not having, it seemed, 
altered at all. He mentioned as an instance of curious 
crossing, the Fuchsia fulgens, which came over from 
Brazil in 1837, and which was crossed with F. globosa, 
and by this means had been raised one of the best 
hybrids of those days—Fuchsia Standishii, this being 
between two such extremely different species as 
F. fulgens and F. globosa. 
The Calceolaria 
Was next dealt with, it being observed that this genus, 
like the Fuchsia, had its home in South America, and 
came over at the beginning of this century, and it was 
curious that Calceolarias were also found in New 
Zealand as well as Fuchsias. Having shown how four 
species were introduced in 1822 with yellow flowers, and 
a purple followed in 1827, the lecturer went on to say 
that in 1831 Calceolaria erenatiflora was introduced, 
having a yellow corolla spotted with crimson, and a 
deeply-crenated “slipper.” This species, as well as 
the Calceolaria integrifolia, and its varieties, angusti- 
folia and viscosissima, imported in 1831, laid the 
foundation of the subsequent innumerable forms. The 
results of the crossing of these species were that either 
yellow or purple became the ground colour, the other 
forming a large spot upon it, or else they combined, 
producing scarlet, &c. The additional aid afforded by 
the Calceolaria erenatiflora furnished the variously- 
spotted forms now in cultivation. The shape of the 
corolla first aimed at was circular, but of late years this 
had passed into a more ovoid type, while the size had 
increased enormously, so that by calculating the cubic 
capacity of one of Messrs. Carter’s Japanese and Victoria 
Calceolarias, and comparing it, he found that it cons 
tained about twelve times the volume of the slipper of 
the original species. As to 
Petunias, 
The three species which contributed to the formation 
of our present garden varieties were Petunia violacea 
(purple), 1831 ; P. nyctaginifiora (white), 1823 ; and 
P. bicolor, all coming from Brazil. The last species 
was the origin of hybrids of a tender nature, and 
originated the dark-mouthed and streaked kinds, 
having been crossed with the Petunia nyctaginifiora. 
The remarkable fact was pointed out that for many 
years no double specimens could be raised, but in one 
year they appeared in France, Germany, and England 
at once. 
The Dahlia 
Next occupied attention, it being remarked that this 
was the centenary of the flower, which was found 
growing wild by Humboldt, at an elevation of from 
4,800 to 5,6^0 ft., in sandy meadows in Mexico. It 
had long been grown in Mexican gardens, and was 
first introduced to Madrid in 1789. It was taken to 
France in 1800, and was brought to England by the 
Marchioness of Bute, in 1789. But it was lost, and 
Lady Holland re-introduced it in 1804, from Paris. 
All the varieties had arisen since 1802 in France, and 
since 1804 in England. The first indication of doubling 
appeared to have been in a semi-double variety pro¬ 
duced in Madrid, in 1790. A great number of sorts 
was introduced into England, after the war, from 
France, subsequent to 1814. It was first figured in 
the Botanical Magazine in 1814, both single and 
double. At that time only five varieties were known, 
viz., red, purple, lilac, pale, and yellowish. In 1879 
Mr. Cannell, of Swanley, introduced a new form which 
he called “ Cactus” Dahlias, and the Cactus Dahlia of 
to-day was but little different from the first kind of 
doubling known. The dwarf kinds were raised in 
Germany previous to 1850, but not introduced into 
England till about 1860. In speaking of 
Chrysanthemums, 
The lecturer said according to Hooker we had three 
species in Great Britain — the Chrysanthemum 
segetum, the Corn Marigold ; Chrysanthemum leu- 
canthemum, the Ox-eye Daisy ; and Chrysanthemum 
parthenium, Feather-few ; while Bentham would 
include species of Matricaria. The two species fur¬ 
nishing the ordinary Chrysanthemums were the Chry¬ 
santhemum indicum of Linmeus, and Chrysanthemum 
sinense of Sabine. These had been cultivated for ages 
in China and Japan, but the first notice of their 
European culture appeared to have been by Breyn, 
of Dantzic, in 1688. A plant of Chrysanthemum 
indicum, with small and single yellow flowers, was 
grown in the Chelsea garden in 1761, but lost. 
Blanchard, in 1789, grew a white, purple, and violet- 
coloured kind at Marseilles ; from him Mr, Colville, 
of Chelsea, procured the purple sort, and grew it for 
the first time in England, in 1795. In 1846, Mr. 
Fortune introduced the two small-flowering kinds, 
called the Chusan Daisy and Chinese minimum, which 
probably originated from Chrysanthemum indicum, 
and were now the source of all the Pompons. In 1860, 
no less than 760 varieties were known. In that year 
Mr. Fortune introduced the long-pointed petalled 
Japanese forms. He procured several varieties, and 
left them at Shanghai while he went to Pekin ; but on 
his return, he found they had perished, with the 
exception of two or three. These he sent over to Mr. 
Salter, of Hammersmith, who cultivated them and got 
them to grow, and from seeds raised the same quaint 
forms which Mr. Fortune had lost. The curious 
Japanese forms one saw now were the results of the 
species that came over in 1861, and the size had much 
increased. We had probably not got to the limit of 
the Chrysanthemum yet. 
The Hyacinth 
Was last touched upon, it being shown that a wild 
form of this flower grew in this country in 1580, and 
was figured in 1597 by Gerarde, and it was remarkably 
like the wild form of the present day. It was a native 
of the Levant, and abundant about Aleppo and Bagdad, 
growing also near Nice and Toulon. Singles only were 
cultivated at first, and it was not till the beginning of 
the last century that doubles were raised. In 1842, 
Dr. Lindley observed that a yellow Hyacinth was an 
impossibility, but a few years later there were plenty 
of yellow Hyacinths. Where the first yellow one came 
from he did not know, but it broke through the old 
theory, and we might upon the same principb some 
day perhaps have a blue Dahlia, and a blue Rose even ! 
although these had resisted all efforts at present. 
-=-»£<«- 
IfoTES from Scotland. 
F'yvie Horticultural Association. — The 
annual spring show in connection with this society was 
held in the Town Hall, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, on 
Tuesday and Wednesday, 26th and 27th February, and 
was attended with great success. Although it is only 
four years since these spring shows were revived, 
they have annually been growing in point of interest 
and importance. There was a very pretty show of 
early flowers. To have seen the tables set apart for the 
lovely and delicate blooms, gave the onlooker the 
impression that grim winter had fled, and that the 
pleasant days of spring had come. The Hyacinths were 
specially rich and fine. Mr. James Beattie, Gordons- 
town, showed some beauties, as also Mr. A. Milne, of 
Fyvie Station. Mr. Beattie was likewise very successful 
with Tulips, Narcissus, Hepatica, Ferns, and Cinerarias. 
Mr. Robert Lawrence, Mains of Fyvie, was first for 
Hellebores, Primroses, Hepaticas, Crocus, and Snow¬ 
drops. Mr. A. Smith, Beach Cottage, Rothienorman, 
had similar honours for Lily of the Valley, &c. Some 
excellent Leeks were shown, the first prize going to a 
grand lot from the Manse Gardens. Mr. Beattie, 
Cordonstown, was next in order. Onions were good, 
Messrs. AJjMilne, Fyvie ; James Allan, Templand ; and 
Dr. Milne, The Manse, being the most successful 
exhibitors. Potatos were a fair display, Mr. A. 
Smith, Rothienorman, and Mr. George Milne, Millbrex, 
taking chief honours. The first prize for the best 
basket of vegetables went to Mr. A. Milne, Fyvie 
Station ; Dr. Milne, The Manse, being second. Mr. 
Milne exhibited a sample of the Cetewayo Potato, 
kidney shaped, rather deep in the eyes, and black- 
fleshed. The show was well patronised during the two 
days it remained open. The whole of the arrangements 
were carried out in first-class style by the courteous and 
energetic secretary, Mr. Adam Mackie. 
Clematis indivisa at Melville Castle.— 
In the conservatory at Melville Castle, Midlothian, 
some maguificent examples may now be seen of 
Clematis indivisa and C. i. lobata, which stand un¬ 
rivalled as greenhouse climbers flowering at this 
season. During the past fortnight the roof has been 
literally a canopy of white blossoms, many of the 
flowering shoots being from 10 ft. to 15 ft. long. Both 
in flower and foliage the species and variety are very 
distinct, and it is difficult to say which is the most 
admired. The individual flowers of C. indivisa are 
certainly very large and pure, but, on the other hand, 
C. i. lobata has a greater profusion of blooms, and 
seen in a mass are probably more telling. In any case 
there can only be one opinion as to the merits of both 
plants for early spring flowering.— P. D. 
Goodyera discolor. —Comparatively few of the 
Goodyeras are to be met with under cultivation, 
and those few are generally grown for the beauty 
of their foliage. That under notice is a gem amongst 
its kind, and may be considered both as a foliage 
and flowering plant. The ovate-elliptic leaves are 
produced in rosettes arising from prostrate or creep¬ 
ing fleshy rhizomes, by the division of which the 
plant may be propagated. They are of a dark velvety 
green, with from one to three more or less interrupted 
white lines running along them. From the centre of 
the rosette arises the flower stalk to a height of about 
6 ins. or 10 ins., bearing at the top a short raceme of 
pure white flowers, with the exception of a yellow blotch 
on the labellum. The latter organ is curiously twisted 
and slightly bifid at the apex, differing in these respects 
from the other species of Goodyera. A fine batch of it 
may be seen in the nursery of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., 
Clapton. 
