406 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 27, 1892. 
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3txzntz. 
Floral variations in Streptocarpus Rexii.— 
A paper recently published in the Journal of the 
Linnean Society contains an account of the observations 
made by Mr. W. and Miss A. Bateson on floral 
variations. Amongst other garden plants Strepto¬ 
carpus Rexii comes in for a share of attention. The 
authors do net seem to have studied the modern 
races of Sinningia speciosa, popularly known as 
Gloxinias, and which have been greatly modified, 
nay almost transformed by the efforts of the florist. 
The variations in Streptocarpus would seem to 
indicate that it is on the high road to become altered 
in a similar way. Amongst the abnormal flowers 
noticed were one of S.Rexii and several of S. polanthus 
having peloric flowers with five petals. This means 
that all the five were streaked with bands of a dark 
colour and which are usually confined to the three 
lower ones only. In one flower only of S.Rexii did five 
perfect stamens occur. Three or four flowers had a 
symmetry of four each of sepals, petals, and stamens, 
with all of the petals of equal size and similar 
markings. Other abnormal but not peloric flowers 
were those having four-petalled, and two-lipped, and 
five, six and seven-petalled bilaterally symmetrical 
corollas. Unsymmetrical flowers are very common 
in some species, other than S. Rexii. 
Insecticides and Wireworms. —In the case of 
those insects which pass their larva state beneath 
the surface of the soil, any insecticides applied, to be 
effective, must be of a penetrating nature and have 
more killing power than in the case of those applied 
to caterpillars on the foliage. Wireworms are the 
more exceedingly difficult to cope with than most 
insects on account of the hard and leathery nature of 
their coats or skins. Some experiments have been 
made upon them with insecticides at the Cornell 
University Agricultural Experiment Station, and the 
results are indicated below. Kerosene oil was applied 
both in the pure state and as an emulsion. In the 
pure state it had to be applied in too strong doses to 
be effective; for the quantity that would kill the 
larvae was also destructive to most kinds of vegeta¬ 
tion. The emulsion was more effective, because it 
would mix more readily with water and therefore 
could be made to permeate the soil more thoroughly 
so as to reach the wireworms. Neither of the two 
could be applied profitably on a large scale. The 
experiments with crude petroleum and crude petro¬ 
leum emulsion were less satisfactory than those with 
kerosene oil. Sweetened dough, poisoned with ar_ 
senic, was laid on the surface of soil containing 
wireworms, by way of a bait, but they were not at¬ 
tracted to the surface by it, nor did they partake of it. 
Experiments with bisulphide of carbon, a volatile 
liquid of a very poisonous nature, were very effective 
when from three to five per cent of the bisulphide in 
water was used. A small hole was made in the soil 
and then quickly closed up after pouring in the mix¬ 
ture. At the above rate it would require 150 gallons 
to the acre, and would therefore only be profitable on 
a small scale where valuable plants were concerned. 
THE HOP-TREE. 
There are six species of Ptelea, natives of the 
temperate parts of North America, but probably no 
more than two of them are in cultivation, and only 
one of them is planted to any extent, namely, P. tri- 
foliata, popularly known as the Hop-tree or Swamp 
Dogwood. It forms a large bush about 4 ft. to 8 ft. 
high, and is highly ornamental when in fruit. The 
flowers are produced in May and June, but are 
small and insignificant. The leaves consist of three 
oval or oblong leaflets, resembling some shrubby 
types occurring in the Pea family; but the subject 
under notice belongs to the Orange family, and is 
remarkable for the peculiar shape of its fruits, which 
are winged, thin, orbicular, and of a light green hue. 
They are produced in remarkable abundance, and to 
their general appearance must be ascribed the 
application of the popular name Hop-trc-e. It will 
thrive in any well drained garden soil, and is also 
valuable for town planting, as it will thrive in the 
very heart of London. It may be propagated by 
layers. There is a variety named P. t. aurea having 
the young leaves of a golden-yellow hue. 
Hardening §Iiscellany. 
GARDENERS' Sc AMATEURS’ SEED ORDERS. 
We have no doubt that our experience as seedsmen 
is the experience of the whole trade, namely, that 
the purchaser of seeds almost invariably withholds 
his order from his seedsman until he requires the 
seeds for use, so that, when we get a period of bad 
weather such as the frost and snow that we have 
lately experienced, the orders to the seedsmen inr 
mediately drop off, and the large staff provided to 
meet the business are for the time practically with¬ 
out occupation. Then the weather as suddenly 
changes, and with the first appearance of sunshine 
the seedsmen are overwhelmed with orders and the 
staff is compelled to work at very high pressure for a 
much longer number of hours per day than would be 
wished either by the employer, or (as we feel sure) 
by the purchasers. Writing in the interest of the 
entire seed trade we purposely omit our name from 
this communication, and feel sure that a word or 
two from your editorial pen as season by season 
comes along, would do very much to bring about a 
more satisfactory state of things .—London Seedsmen. 
VELTHEIM1A VIRIDIFOLIA. 
Considering the ease with which this may be grown 
in a greenhouse and its ornamental value, it is surpris¬ 
ing how seldom one sees it in private establishments. 
Its chief use would be for the embellishment of the 
conservatory during the winter months. The scape 
attains a height of 18 in. to 2 ft. and terminates in a 
dense raceme of tubular drooping flowers resembling 
those of a Kniphofia, to. which this plant is closely 
allied. The colour is, however, altogether different, 
the flowers being closely mottled with pink or rose 
on a yellowish or creamy-white ground; the six 
short segments at the mouth are green edged with 
purple. The strap-shaped leaves are wavy and of a 
bright shining green, as indicated by the specific 
name. The plant is a native of the Cape and may 
be termed half-hardy, but flowers with more cer¬ 
tainty in a greenhouse or stove, to either of which 
mode of treatment it is highly suitable. It has been 
flowering for some time past in the Hale Farm 
Nurseries, Tottenham. 
GLADIOLUS TRISTIS SULPHUREUS. 
It will possibly be remembered by some that 
Gladiolus Colvillei is considered to be a hybrid be¬ 
tween G. cardinalis and G. tristis ; the white variety 
is better known and more popular under the names 
of G. C. alba and The Bride. The flowers of the 
variety under notice are not so large as those of the 
latter, but in many respects they resemble them. 
The ground colour of G. tristis is yellow, and the three 
upper segments are closely spotted all over on both 
surfaces with reddish-brown dots, while the three 
lo-wer ones are spotted on the outer half cnl)'. Some 
flowers of the variety, G. t. sulphureus have been 
sent us by Mr. J. R. Petch, nurseryman, Saffron 
Walden, which are of good average size and are more 
or less of a sulphur yellow hue just when expanding, 
but when fully opened they become almost pure 
white with the exception of a broad pale yellow band 
along the middle on the lower half ; the three upper 
segments have a pale brownish midrib on their lower 
half. Mr. Petch is of opinion that it will become a 
capital early forcing plant, and we agree with him. 
The corms are only of small size compared with 
those of the G. gandavensis section, but that which 
was sent us, although small even for the kind under 
notice, had given rise to two young ones and two 
flower stems. The leaves of this species are strongly 
four-angled, and the angles are themselves square, 
being developments of so many ribs as may be seen 
in Crocus. 
HELLEBORUS APPLE BLOSSOM. 
The above seems a more appropriate name to the 
rose and white flowers of the coloured variety of 
the Christmas Rose than Helleborus niger ruber 
which is generally applied to it. The flowers are 
not red, but rose externally and white internally, re¬ 
minding one of Apple blossom. It is the latest 
variety of the Christmas Rose to flower, as it is the 
darkest coloured, and serves to prolong the season 
till a late period. Owing to the mild weather that 
prevailed during the latter part of January and the 
first half of February Christmas Roses generally 
had been greatly hastened, and all were past their 
best by the 6th inst., except Apple Blossom, which 
was grown in plenty and was beautiful in the Hale 
Farm Nurseries, Tottenham. 
MUSCARI AZUREUM. 
Botanically speaking this is Hyacinthus azureus, 
but so like a Muscari is it that most cultivators 
recognise it by that name. The flowers are bell¬ 
shaped, very short, and not contracted at the mouth, 
the latter character determining its place in the genus 
Hyacinthus. The habit of the plant, however, and 
the compact raceme of flowers bear a strong re¬ 
semblance to a Muscari. The flowers are of a 
beautiful sky blue, and, though small individually, 
are attractive in the aggregate, especially when a 
good clump of bulbs is planted. The species was 
introduced from Asia Minor, and usually comes into 
bloom during February. We have seen it flowering 
at this early period for several successive years in 
the nursery of Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm 
Nurseries, Tottenham. During stormy and frosty 
weather it should, however, be covered with a bell 
glass or hand light, otherwise the flowers would be 
liable to injury just as early-flowering Crocuses 
would be. 
SEEDLING CARNATION. 
We noted the other week in the nursery of Mr. 
T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, a seedling Tree Car¬ 
nation of great promise. It is a cross between the 
brightly coloured Duke of Fife and the terra-cotta 
coloured Mrs. Reynolds Hole. It has the tall, 
freely-branching and vigorous habit of the former ; 
and the specimen we noted was 2 ft. to 2jft. high 
with very numerous lateral branches, but the 
terminal one only was in bloom. The flower is 
perfectly double, but not crowded, with broad, 
slightly toothed petals of a bright red, tinted with 
salmon. This description of the colour is simply 
meant to convey some idea of the hue, for the com¬ 
bination of the scarlet of Duke of Fife with the terra¬ 
cotta of Airs. Reynolds Hole gives a hue that is not 
easily described in words. The branching habit 
will ensure a succession of bloom. 
COLCHICUM STEVENI. 
The large-flowering species of Colchicum bloom in 
the autumn months, but there are several smaller 
flowered kinds not unlike Crocuses, and which are 
interesting to the lover of hardy plants. The nature 
of the weather will of course determine their time of 
flowering, especially if they are grown in the open 
air. The species under notice is a native of the 
southern shore of the Mediterranean extending from 
Morocco to Algiers and Egypt. The flowers are 
about the size of those of C. crociflorum, but they 
are pure white with exception of the anthers which 
are black. When the latter burst they expose an 
