May 7, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
565 
FLORAL ECCENTRICITIES. 
Probably no wider field for observation in this 
respect could be found than in the United States. 
Here grief and fancy run riot, and occasionally the 
result is—well, astounding. The " broken wheels,” 
" ditto pillars,” "fallen trees,” “gates ajar,” pillows, 
doves, engines, sheaves, desks, inkstands, books, and 
easels are so ordinary as to attract no particular 
attention. Occasionally, however, a daring inno¬ 
vation arrests the gaze. 
Recently, on the death of a theatrical official, the 
rather ludicrous tribute ofa floral ticket " Admit one," 
was displayed. Gracefully presented to St. Peter, it 
must have had all the charm of novelty about it. 
Nowadays, the addition of "no flowers ” to funeral 
notices among the more refined classes is as common 
as it seems to be in the " old country.” Probably 
this re-action is due to the preposterous floral dis¬ 
plays so frequently made, occasionally too when they 
can ill be afforded. 
These montrosities are generally composed chiefly 
of Immortelles, and are of simple construction, 
although I have seen some fancies very beautifully 
worked out, entirely in natural flowers. Prices are 
much about the same as at home. Coloured flowers 
are much more used at funerals here than in Britain. 
I fancy to the overworked 
florist this would be a 
great relief were the fa¬ 
shion more generally intro¬ 
duced there. It is often 
with great trouble that all 
white flowers are produced 
in sufficient quantities, at 
certain seasons, as 1 can 
vouch for, from many 
nightmare reminiscences. 
Why should not the 
flower appropriate to each 
month be used exclu¬ 
sively at funerals ? What 
more charming than a 
mass of Snowdrops, Daffo¬ 
dils, Violets, Roses, or 
Chrysanthemums, asso¬ 
ciated with feathery green 
by a skilful hand? Again, 
nothing could be more 
effective than tall spikes of 
Liliums, or Callas, in con¬ 
junction with their own 
foliage. The ideas which 
could be carried out in : .f| 
such an innovation are 
endless, and would have 
the merit of simplicity, as 
well as that of bringing a 
floral offering within the 
reach of a slender purse. 
A handful of Primroses 
need then fear no invidi¬ 
ous comparison with rare 
exotics. Indeed, the latter would suffer by compari¬ 
son with Nature’s woodland children en masse. 
There is no doubt the wreath and cross business 
has been overdone, and such a departure would 
bring a fresh influx of trade in quarters where it 
is more required, as white flowers are always in 
sufficient demand, whereas others are not always so. 
To market growers especially a large access of trade 
for easily grown subjects would follow. And surely 
the disuse of wire and frames would be a great boon : 
certainly they seem out of place in such sad and 
tender associations. Funeral reform will surely and 
steadily advance, and in its wake may come such 
changes as the above. In simply strewing flowers 
on a bier we stray back to Nature, and whatever 
conduces to that end must always be most natural 
and lovely.— C. Macquarie, Chicago. 
ALPINIA MALACCENSIS. 
Upwards of 40 species of Alpinia are known to 
science, and are natives of the warmer parts of Asia, 
the Pacific Islands, and Australia. That under 
notice comes from the Straits of Malacca, and gives 
promise of being a useful subject for window culture. 
The stems are about 12 in. to 18 in. long and are well 
furnished with elliptic-lanceolate, long-pointed leaves 
of a deep green. In general appearance they resem¬ 
ble those of a small Hedychium, and are most agree¬ 
ably scented, especially when rubbed. The odour is 
aromatic, resembling th^it of the Cardamon (Amomum 
Cardamomum). Its dwarf habit is a recommendation 
for window culture. Some of the species attain a 
height of 4 ft. and A. nutans varies from 6 ft. to 13 ft. 
when grown in the stoves of this country, and there¬ 
fore requires a great amount of space for its accommo¬ 
dation. A. malaccensis can hardly be expected to 
flower when grown in a window, but the foliage alone 
is sufficiently ornamental to raise it in the estimation 
of those who like fine-foliage plants. A suitable 
compost would consist of loam, leaf soil, and peat in 
equal proportions, with plenty of clean sharp sand to 
keep the whole porous and open. The drainage must 
also be good, as a considerable amount of water is 
required during the summer time when growth is 
being made. Nor must the soil be allowed to get 
dry even in the winter, as the plant is evergreen and 
still in leaf. Our illustration was taken from a plant 
grown in the nursery of Messrs. B. S. Williams & 
Son, Upper Holloway, who have a nice stock of it. 
-- 
DALKEITH PALACE GARDENS. 
J- HE gardens of Dalkeith Palace, Midlothian, have 
always held a high reputation in the horticultural 
world. They have a standing that perhaps no 
Alpinia malaccensis. 
other centre of gardening in the world has, and, 
without disparagement to any other such institution 
in or out of the United Kingdom, we unhesitatingly 
aver that its fame is nothing more than it is entitled 
to merit. We have just recently been making a 
visit to this place, and like all former occasions, 
when so engaged, we were more than amply 
furnished with profitable reparation for any little 
difficulties which stood in our path in accomplishing 
our long anticipated visit. 
In a place such as this, where early forcing of 
flowers and fruits are so extensively carried on, 
one would have thought that the unprecedented 
character of our spring weather would, in a marked 
degree, affect the progress and development of 
indoor vegetation to an extent greater than it has. 
On the contrary it would appear that this powerful 
influence hindered but little the floral and vegetative 
development of all classes of plants, and place them 
at once on an equal footing with those of more 
favourable past seasons. At all events we should 
conclude from the fine display of flowers which 
graced the greenhouses and conservatories and the 
advanced and incipient fruits of various kinds, that 
this was the case, a fact which goes to prove the 
wonderful mastery art has achieved over nature. 
Notwithstanding the period of our visit being Easter 
week—a time when much of the available material 
for decorative purposes is called into requisition—an 
uncommonly rare wealth of floral display prevailed 
throughout the entire plant structures. 
It is not often that the Cineraria, with its 
resplendent and diversified colours, is to be seen at 
its best. Here we had the pleasure of seeing a 
magnificent array of superb and well-grown plants 
of this very fine decorative plant. This plant when 
properly treated is one of the first-class of winter and 
spring plants, and though not of much value for cut 
flowers it is eminently useful as a lustre - giving 
quality to the otherwise sombre character of the 
greenhouse and conservatory in the dull months of 
winter. The strain was an exceedingly good one, 
and we believe it to be that of Messrs. Veitch! 
London. Interspered with much art and taste! 
along the front stages were some fine plants of 
Cyclamen giganteum, which very effectively har¬ 
monized with the dazzling gaiety of the Cine- 
rarias. 
The forcing department, despite the outward and 
extremely trying winter and spring, is far advanced. 
We consider this achievement an indubitable 
testimony of the excellent management under which 
everything is here conducted. Strawberries 
were exceedingly well fruited, well coloured, and 
abundant. Vines, Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, all 
bore testimony to the un¬ 
remitting care and atten¬ 
tion bestowed upon them. 
Perhaps it will not be 
presumptuous on our part 
to say that one of the 
greatest features of this 
place is the Pine Stove. 
The luxuriant growth and 
splendid fruits at once 
denote that no longer, 
when grown under the 
skilful management of Mr. 
Dunn, can this class of 
plants be ranked among 
the unprofitable luxuries 
ofhorticulture. Mr. Dunn 
has, we understand, prac¬ 
tised for some years a 
method of culture, which 
is an entire departure from 
the ordinary conventional 
and orthodox system. To 
this is due the fine quality 
of fruit and vigour of 
plants one may here ob¬ 
serve, and withal its 
superiority over the old 
system is so immensely 
gratifying and satisfac¬ 
tory, that it entirely re¬ 
moves from Pine culture 
one of thegreatest barriers 
which hitherto inevitably- 
confined it to the domains 
of the very wealthy. 
The beautiful batch of the Queen of Adiantums 
(Adiantum Farleyense) to be seen at Dalkeith, is one 
of the most admirable we ever saw. Throughout 
Mr. Dunn has been eminently successful in main¬ 
taining this beautiful P'ern in that original vigour and 
vitality which at one time characterized it, and made 
it the general favourite of the gardener. Few can 
boast of having done this, and, as is well known in 
most places where it was once grown, it no longer 
finds a place, and simply because it icon 7 grow-. We 
have known gardeners who nursed and coddled 
the last consumptive and untractable morsel for 
years, and at last with sworn disgust flung it to the 
rubbish heap as a thing not worthy of the attention 
it required. This perhaps is more universal than 
most are aware of, and on that account greater 
must be the credit of Dalkeith for its magnificent 
lot of Farleyense—w-hich is worthy of a visit of itself. 
It may be worthy of remark that here also is 
perhaps one of the most floriferous plants of 
Stephanotis in the country. Tw-o years ago a fruit 
was successfully ripened on it, and with one excep¬ 
tion all the seeds germinated. None of the seedlings 
as yet, though one of them is of considerable size, 
has shown a disposition to the floral qualities of the 
parent. This year no doubt will determine whether 
or not they shall partake in any degree those 
qualities. We also saw a few nice seedling plants of 
Dionea muscipula two years old and doing well. 
