January 16, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
307 
Gardening IIiscellany. 
Cjb •S»T) 
PSYCHOTRIA CYANOCOCCA. 
The dark, almost indigo-blue fruits of this plant are 
very peculiar, and when produced in quantity on a 
well-grown plant, are very ornamental during the 
winter months. As the species is a native of Nicara¬ 
gua, it requires stove temperature to grow it to per¬ 
fection. As far as the flowers and foliage are 
concerned there is nothing striking to attract the 
cultivator’s attention ; but the uncommon colour of 
the berries and the length of time they hang on the 
plant during the dullest part of the year is sufficient 
to recommend this subject for stove decoration. 
Something like 500 species of Psychotria are known 
to science, but very few of them have been intro¬ 
duced to cultivation. The best known to gardeners 
is P. jasminiflora, usually called Gloneria jasmini- 
flora. The bulk of the species are of no horticultural 
value. 
NERINE FLEXUOSA. 
The flowers of this species are smaller than those of 
N. curvifolium or N. sarniensis, but they are grace¬ 
ful and pretty owing to the undulated or wavy 
character of the segments of the perianth. When 
grown in pots the flower stems attain a height of 
18 in. to 20 in., and are surrounded at the base by 
narrowly linear, bright green leaves which are con¬ 
temporaneous. The flowers are blush or rose- 
coloured with a darker midrib fading with age. The 
bursting of the seed vessels, and the exposure of the 
seeds while yet relatively small is a peculiar feature 
of the Nerines, and as this species produces a large 
number of seeds, the umbel, as the flowers wither, 
becomes laden with green or whitish seeds that 
ultimately become reddish, mottled with a darker 
hue. Their development can be no advantage for 
the bulbs, and unless seed is required, the flower 
6capes should be removed after the bloom withers and 
the foliage encouraged to make as good growth as 
possible, and gradually ripened off only after it 
naturally shows signs of decay, 
D/EDALACANTHUS MACROPHYLLUS. 
Both this and Eranthemum pulchellum are often 
grown for winter decoration, and are generally in¬ 
cluded amongst lists of winter-flowering plants, the 
latter perhaps being the most frequently grown, 
perhaps on account of its dwarfer habit and larger, 
more showy flowers. The plant under notice, however, 
produces the greater quantity of bloom, and when 
well grown is quite pretty. The flowers of E. pul¬ 
chellum are always produced few at a time, and, 
although certainly pretty, have no duration. The 
flowers of Daedalacanthus macrophyllus are pro¬ 
duced in long branching racemes, and commence 
opening from the base upwards, a considerable 
number being open at one time on the same branch. 
The whole inflorescence is often 12 in. long or more, 
and with its numerous branches is quite pretty. 
The flowers are very irregular in form, and two¬ 
lipped, with the upper lip consisting of four light 
blue segments, and the lower lip is deep blue and 
netted with violet veins. The leaves are elliptic and 
furnished with numerous strong incurved veins. 
The plant is a native of Burmah, and when grown as 
a winter-flowering subject in this country does best 
when propagated from cuttings annually, and grown 
on through the summer like other plants used for the 
same purpose. 
CYCLANTHUS CRISTATUS. 
The species of Cyclanthus are allied to Carludovica, 
but at present are rarely seen in gardens. Both are 
New World representatives of Pandanus and its 
allies in the Old World. Some of the species of 
Carludovica are amongst the most elegant of stove 
plants, rivalling the Palms. Cyclanthus cristatus 
appears worthy of attention as an ornamental-foliaged 
plant for the stove, judging from the bold and hand¬ 
some character of its leaves. The bulk of the latter 
on a plant in the Victoria house at Kew are oblong- 
elliptic, on long petioles, with two strong nerves 
running down the lamina and about equally prominent 
on both surfaces. The object of those two nerves is 
not at first sight apparent, but a few of the leaves 
fire bifid, and a still smaller number divided almost 
to the base into two pieces. The whole plant is; 
about 3 ft. high, and forms a close mass of leaves of 
nearly upright habit, such as would prove useful for 
decorative purposes. 
PILOCEREUS BRUNNOWII. 
The species of Pilocereus, or such of them as are 
cultivated in gardens, become familiar objects from 
their slow growing nature, and the almost unvarying 
appearance which they present from one year’s end 
to the other. The chief variation consists of the new 
annual growth, which appears fresher and cleaner 
than the old. The species under notice is of erect 
habit with numerous ribs and furrows between them. 
Along the edges of the ribs are clusters of sharp 
spines, in the centre of which is a long one ; the 
whole are embedded in long cottony hairs on the: 
upper part of the plant, and which are finer with a. 
more silky appearance than in the case of P. senilis,, 
known as the Old man, and a very familiar object in 
some old-fashioned gardens. The long cottony hairs 
fall away from the lower and older part of the plant, 
leaving the stems naked with exception of the spines, 
which are all but concealed on the upper and ycsmger 
part of the plant. It is equally interesting as P. 
senilis, prettier and finer. 
ABUT1LON THOMPSONI FLORE PLENO. 
When seen in good condition the flowers of this 
species are not without decorative value in the late-, 
autumn months. They are of moderate size, and', 
perfectly double, although not in any way crowded. 
They are deep yellow or orange-coloured with pur¬ 
ple-red veins running through them, as in the single 
and typical form. In addition to the flowers must, 
be added the beauty of the foliage, which is hand¬ 
somely blotched with bright yellow. To ensure 
dwarf yet vigorous plants it is necessary to raise a 
fresh stock from cuttings in the spring time and grow 
them on. Old plants would, however, be the more 
bushy of the two, and some might prefer them on 
that account. Then instead of throwing away the 
old plants, they should be hard cut back and re¬ 
potted when they start into fresh growth. 
-- 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
Aberdeen Gardeners and Fruiterers’ Annual 
Assembly.— The annual assembly, under the 
auspices of the above, was held in the Royal Albert 
Hall, Aberdeen, on Wednesday evening, 6th inst. 
Under the decorative skill of Messrs. Shirras & 
Son, Schoolhill, Aberdeen, the hall was made to 
assume a festive and gay appearance in keeping with 
the occasion. Mr, A. G, Watson, St. Nicholas 
Lane, Aberdeen, presided, and on the platform were 
also Messrs. Asher (Messrs. Asher & Sons), Smith 
(do.), Leslie (Messrs. Leslie & Duthie), Milne 
{Messrs. A. Milne & Son), Johnstone (Messrs 
Smith & Johnstone), Darling (Messrs. Cardno & 
Darling), John | Gray (Messrs. A. & R. Gray), 
Mitchell, Regent Quay ; Robson (Smith & Sons), 
John Troup (Messrs. Ben Reid & Co ), &c. After tea 
the chairman made a few remarks relative to their 
trade. Compared with 1891, the prospects for the 
present year were much brighter, he said, for fruit 
growers and fruit sellers. The cultivation of fruit 
was extending both on the continent and in this 
country, and the means of transit had also been in¬ 
creased and considerably accelerated, the result being 
that the produce of the garden was brought 
into the market in better condition and much quicker 
than used to be the case. The trade was only now 
in its infancy, and would yet develop to greater 
dimensions. On the whole he did not think that 
traders or retailers had much reason to complain of 
the sales during the past year. He complimented 
the French on the manner in which they packed 
their fruit, and stated that other countries might take 
a leaf out of their book in that matter. A pro¬ 
gramme composed entirely of songs was then dis¬ 
coursed, and a dance followed, which was thoroughly 
enjoyed. 
A meed of praise is due to Mr. Alexander 
Burns, Junr., New Market, the obliging and inde¬ 
fatigable secretary, to whose efforts was due much of 
the success that attended the assembly. 
Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural 
Society. —At an adjourned meeting held on the 6th 
inst., it was resolved that the Society should be 
carried on for another year, and that two exhibitions 
be held in 1892, the one (a spring show) on Wednes¬ 
day, 30th March, and the other (an autumn show) 
on Wednesday, 7th September; and that these 
shows should be held in the New Olympia Hall, in 
New City Road, a large and spacious covered en¬ 
closure, similar to the Waverley Market in Edin¬ 
burgh, and eminently well suited for such a purpose 
as a horticultural exhibition. The committee further 
recommended the appointment of a new directorate, 
including eight nurserymen, eight gardeners, and 
eight amateurs ; the election of Mr. Charles Mac¬ 
donald. Williamson, 194, West George Street, to the 
combined post of secretary and treasurer; the ap¬ 
pointment of Mr. John Hamilton, gardener, Shaw- 
field, Rutherglen, as collector. The recommen¬ 
dations of the committee were all adopted. A board 
of directors was afterwards elected. 
-r*-r 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL 
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
We are indebted to the secretary, Mr. Ingram, for a 
copy of the statement of accounts, published here¬ 
with, to be presented at the annual meeting on Janu¬ 
ary 15th, a report of which will be given in our next 
issue. 
STATEMENT of the RECEIPTS and PAYMENTS of the GARDENERS’ ROYAL 
INSTITUTION for the Year ending 31ST December, 1891. 
Dr. 
To Balance, 1890 . 
„ Transfer from Deposit 
Account. 
£ d. 
Advertisements 
Dividends on Stock ... 
Interest on Deposits... 
685 
86 
£ s. d. 
692 2 1 
1,000 o o 
£ s- d. 
„ Annual Subscriptions... 1,33910 o 
„ Donations at and in 
consequence of the 
Annual Dinner. 1,241 3 o 
,, Collecting Cards. 126 16 4 
47 18 o 
8 9 
5 8 
Stock Invested.£25,000 
Pension Adjustment Account ,..£2,650 
1,692 2 1 
2,755 7 4 
77i 14 5 
3,527 I 9 
£ *• d. 
By Pensions and Gratuities... 
„ Late Secretary’s Salary 
and Honorarium . 133 10 o 
,, Locum tenens. 64 o o 
„ Secretary’s Salary . 65 13 9 
„ Rent of Offices (including 
Repainting). 
,, Stationery . 
„ Printing . 
,, Postage and Expenses of 
Appeal . 
,, Expenses of Annual Meet¬ 
ing and Election . 
„ Marion & Co., for Frames 
„ Books of Cheques. 
,, Wreath for Mr. Cutler’s 
Funeral... 
„ Advertisements for vacant 
Secretaryship. 
,, Expensesof AnnualDinner 206 6 5 
,, Less Tickets Sold. 123 18 o 
„ Postages, Wages, and Tra¬ 
velling Expenses. 
Placed on Deposit with 
Bankers .. 
„ Balances ■=— 
With Treasurer at Ban¬ 
kers . 
,, Secretary . 
BENEVOLENT 
Cr. 
£ s. d. £ s. d. 
... 2,739 16 8 
262 3 9 
77 17 o 
29 2 4 
157 14 6 
40 12 0 
18 17 3 
3 3 2 
6 13 4 
4 14 6 
4 9 6 
S3 8 5 
92 14 6 
780 10 3 
3,520 6 11 
800 0 o 
4,320 6 II 
8S8 16 11 
10 o o 
£5,219 3 10 
S9S 16 11 
£5,219 3 10 
