March 26, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
4G9 
numerous kinds. Another division of the same 
house is occupied with cool Odontoglossums, 
amongst which O. crispum guttatum, O. c. Rucker- 
ianum, O. Pescatorei. andCochlioda rosea, otherwise 
known as Odontoglossum and Mesospinidium 
roseum, were flowering. Some highly improved 
seedlings of Clivias were stood about amongst them. 
A large and wide lean-to house, divided into 
several compartments, contains a great assemblage 
of plants of various kinds. One of these divisions 
is filled with Ferns, including fine pieces of Adian- 
tum curvatum brasiliense, A. formosum, A. trapezi- 
forme Sanctae Catherinas, A. diaphanum, A. hispi- 
dulum, Davallia pallida (D. Mooreana), and a huge 
piece of Asplenium Belangeri. The narrow front 
bench is occupied with flowering Begonias, and other 
subjects, prominent amongst them being B. mani- 
cata, B. hydrocotylifolia, B. erecta Grayi, and B. 
Veitchi, the latter two being notable for their foli¬ 
age. Another division contains a large batch of 
Gloxinias intended to take the place of the Primulas. 
Many of them are well advanced and showing 
flower. A large piece of Clerodendron Balfourianum 
is nearly always in bloom. Some finely-coloured 
specimens of Acalypha constitute a conspicuous 
feature in this house. Crinum Mooreanum has 
flowered the third time since last June. 
The Cattleya division of the house is occupied 
with batches of C. Trianae, C. Mossiae, C. Mendelii, 
C. Gaskeliana, C. Lawrenceana, and C. labiata. We 
noted a fine and vigorous piece of Cypripedium 
bellatulum showing well for flower. The end divi¬ 
sion is filled with a great variety of Crotons and 
Dracaenas with finely-coloured foliage, all arranged 
in the most effective way. The leaves of Croton 
Youngi are often over 2 ft. long. The variegated 
Pineapple was also finely-coloured with a red mar¬ 
gin. Near by is a large span-roofed house being 
repaired for Pelargoniums and Begonias. 
The vineries, four in number, are filled with Black 
Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, Lady Downes, 
and Gros Colmar Grapes, and have been started in 
succession. A great improvement in the vigour of 
the vines has been effected since Mr. Kemp took 
them in hand. The four Peach houses are in a 
similar state of progress. The Peaches grown are 
Noblesse, Princess of Wales, and Crimson Galande ; 
while the Nectarines are Lord Napier, Downton, 
Pineapple, Humboldt, and Elruge. Figs are grown 
on the back walls of some of them. On the north 
aspect of the wall of this house is another, also di¬ 
vided into compartments. The Victoria Nectarine 
and some Figs in tubs find a place here. One com¬ 
partment contains forced subjects; another has 
Azaleas and a piece of Rhododendron Veitchi in 
bloom ; while a third is filled with Camellias planted 
out and well laden with flower buds. 
--*■- 
HARDY TREES & SHRUBS. 
The Pavias. 
The old genus Pavia is sometimes included under 
jEsculus. The chief distinction lies in the fruit of 
Pavia being smooth, whereas that of the Horse- 
Chestnut (zEsculus) is spiny. But in reality the dis¬ 
tinction often breaks down, for the fruit of the com¬ 
mon M. Hippocastanum and M. rubicunda is often 
almost smooth. The leaves of the Pavias arc 
generally smaller and smoother, that is, not wrinkled 
as happens in the true Horse-Chestnuts. The few 
species in cultivation are all highly ornamental, and 
ought to be more frequently planted in parks and 
pleasure grounds than they are at present. Although 
in no case are the flowers so conspicuous as those 
of the Horse-Chestnuts, yet they are highly orna¬ 
mental, and serve to give variety to a collection of 
trees and shrubs in early summer, and in the case of 
Pavia alba, late in summer. All are perfectly hardy, 
and are readily increased by layers, budding, graft¬ 
ing, and by seeds when the latter are produced. The 
larger growing species are generally budded or 
grafted upon the common Horse-Chestnut, and as 
P. alba produces underground stolons or suckers, it 
can be quickly enough increased by removing the 
rooted suckers or by layering. 
P. rubra. — Of this species there are several forms, 
but the typical one is a tree varying from 20 ft. to 
40 ft. in height, and when in full bloom constitutes a 
very conspicuous object in the landscape. It flowers 
in May,and has deep red flowers produced in a moder¬ 
ately close, upright, oblong panicle. It was intro¬ 
duced from North America in 1711, but is not very 
common at the present day, although a few fine trees 
are to be met with here and there. The competition 
between it and /Esculus rubicunda is keen and rather 
overpowering, owing to the greater size of the flowers 
of the latter. There are forms of P. rubra noted 
for their dwarf habit, and others have laciniated or 
deeply cut leaves. 
P. flava. — The yellow Pavia, or Sweet Buckeye, is 
a smaller tree than the last, generally varying from 
10ft. to 20 ft. in height, and is both distinct and 
beautiful. The flowers are pale yellow, with a red 
blotch on one or two of the petals, and this varies so 
much in some individuals or seedlings that the two 
upper petals are sometimes of a lively red hue. The 
latter is distinguished under the name of P. f. pur- 
purascens, and has received various other names at 
different times. It was introduced from North 
America in 1764, and flowers freely in this country 
during the month of May. It appears to be equally 
if not more common in British gardens than P. 
rubra, and where a number of trees are grown—the 
produce of seeds—there is a considerable range of 
variation both in the colours of the flowers and 
the time of blooming. 
P. ALBA.— Without exception this is the most suit¬ 
able Pavia for small gardens, as it forms a close- 
habited bush, 3 ft. to 9 ft. in height, and flowers 
during the months of July and August. The flowers 
are white, and are produced in long racemes termi- 
Pavia alba. 
nating the shoots of the current summer's growth. 
They are rendered the more conspicuous by the long 
stamens which project considerably beyond the 
petals, and are tipped by pink or red anthers. The 
leaves consist of five to seven oval-obovate, smooth 
leaflets arranged in the usual digitate or radiating 
manner, as may be seen by reference to our illustra¬ 
tion. It was introduced from North America in 
1820, and is getting tolerably common. Although it 
looks very effective in a shrubbery mixed with other 
subjects, yet the finest effects are obtained by plant¬ 
ing it on the lawn so as to be isolated from every¬ 
thing else so as to get the full advantage of light. If 
planted on grass, its habit of producing suckers may 
easily be corrected by pulling up the shoots which 
appear at a distance from the parent plant, if they 
are not wanted for increasing the stock. In that 
case they might be left to complete their growth and 
then be carefully dug out with as many roots attached 
to them as possible. The species rejoices in a num¬ 
ber of synonyms, including P. macrostachya and 
zEsculus macrostachya, in allusion to its long 
racemes of bloom, and JE. parviflora, in reference to 
the small flowers. 
P. californica.— As the name indicates this is a 
native of California, and is, perhaps, the least com¬ 
mon of the Pavias, while, nevertheless, one of the 
most ornamental. The flowers are white or pale 
rose, with orange-coloured anthers, and are produced 
in great quantity in dense oblong panicles all over 
the head of the tree, which is of no great height but 
has widely-spreading branches. It varies from 10 ft. 
to 20 ft. in height, or even more in specimens that 
have grown well, but is generally much broader than 
high. The broad-fingered leaves of all the species 
give them an ornamental value that should not be 
overlooked in the landscape. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
The Cheltenham Greentop, and other Beets. 
I do not know to whom we are indebted for this 
selection, but I can heartily recommend it for its 
distinctive character, and what is better still, its high 
quality. I take it to be a selection from the type 
known as Henderson’s Pine Apple ; the root is large, 
handsome, rich in colour, and the flesh tender, while 
the top is green and quite destitute of colour There 
is a danger in sowing Beet seed too early, and if a 
dry time sets in, the plants throw up an inflorence, 
and become valueless. As a matter of course if it is 
desired to have Beetroot for exhibition in July or 
early in August the seed shou'd be sown at the end 
of this month or early in April on a warm border 
where the soil is fairly light: but fresh manure is not 
desirable, and is indeed injurious ; it is best to sow 
seed of Beet on land manured last autumn For 
early shows, the Egyptian Turnip-rooted is best, it 
makes a large and handsome bulb, and it will do well 
on fairly heavy land. 
In the case of the long Beets, it is found that too 
rich soil produces forked roots, and then they are 
spoiled for exhibition. Seed of Beet should be sown 
in drills 1 in. deep, the drills 21 in. to 24 in. apart; as 
soon as large enough the plants should be thinned 
out until they are 12 in. apart. It is curious to 
notice how gardeners differ in opinion as to the ex¬ 
pediency of watering, but some say it is of little 
value, and some that it is highly advantageous. I 
should certainly water if the crop is growing on light 
shallow ground, but on deep and fairly heavy soil, 
water is scarcely needed, unless the drought be un¬ 
usually severe. I think a little weak manure water 
might be given with advantage to roots being grown 
for exhibition. In selecting Beet for this purpose, 
the roots should be of uniform size and length, but 
they should not be taken up from the ground until 
before the evening, if it can be avoided, as the roots 
lose their appearance if removed from the soil too 
long before the time they are required. What wash¬ 
ing is required should be done with the greatest care, 
as if the skin becomes broken through rough usage the 
handsome appearance which is such a marked 
quality in good Beet is sacrificed to some extent.— 
R. D. 
Potato Sets. 
We have much to learn in the way of selecting 
Potato sets, and it is quite time the old barbarous 
practice of pitting Potatos in autumn, picking out 
the largest to eat, and then planting the small ones 
in spring, after they have shrunk to half their size, 
was altogether abolished. I find that the allotment- 
holders about here who grow excellent Potatos for 
exhibition by the second week in July are fully alive 
to the importance of the preparation of the sets. 
They make boxes by using some | in. boards 6 in. in 
width. Some of these are cut down the middle, and 
some to 18 in. lengths. Then they are nailed so as to 
form shallow boxes, 3 in. deep and 12 in. wide. Ad¬ 
vantage is taken of a late autumn or early winter 
evening to fill these w : ith seed Potatos, with the 
crown or broad end upwards. Then they are placed 
on shelves or any cool place, where there is light, but 
where frost cannot reach them. If on mild, drying 
days the boxes can be taken to the open air, and 
have a sprinkling overhead, and then be returned to 
the shelves when the drip has ceased, the tubers are 
benefited. I find in speaking to cottagers on vege¬ 
table culture the Potato interests them as much as 
any vegetable, and they are pleased to get hints as to 
the preparation of the soil and the sets. I think in 
my experience as a lecturer there is no audience so 
appreciative as the cottagers of a country village, 
and the enjoyment is all the greater when they can 
be induced to ask questions.— R. D. 
COSTUS IGNEUS. 
Several of the species of Costus are grown for the, 
sake of their foliage, but this may be grown for the 
beauty of its flowers, which are of a bright orange- 
scarlet or fiery orange. The whole plant does not as 
a rule exceed 12 in. to 16 in. in height; the stems 
being amply clothed with elliptic, and smooth leaves 
of a rich green. The species was introduced from 
Bahia in 1822, and requires stove treatment in this 
country. The flower consists of several small 
segments, completely covered by one large, obicular 
piece which is jagged at the edge and which con¬ 
stitutes the ornamental part of the flower. 
