June 11, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
647 
than ever in the noble cause, and so obey the Divine 
Master's injunction to “Feed my lambs.” — A. J. 
Brown, Local Secretary for Chertsey. 
COMMON FLOWERING SHRUBS. 
Every season as the time for the flowering of trees 
and shrubs comes round one cannot help wishing 
that more of the commoner flowering shrubs were 
planted instead of so many of the everlasting Laurel, 
an excellent shrub in its way but so utterly wanting 
in variety. What can be more beautiful than good 
healthy bushes of Lilac, Guelder Rose, Laburnum, 
and the common and double crimson Thorns. Only 
to-day, June ist, 1 was delighted with a bush of 
the single red Thorn in full bloom. It had a rich 
background of greenery, and was most beautiful to 
behold. Surely these things are cheap enough and 
fast growing enough to suit anybody.— Con. 
CRAT/CGUS PUNCTATA. 
Of the numerous species of Crataegus which have 
been introduced from various parts of the world to 
adorn our gardens and parks, a large proportion of 
them have been neglected for years past and allowed 
to become lost except in a few collections where 
they have received special attention. The collection 
in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
Chiswick, used to be very extensive, but that too has 
been decimated during the lapse of time. A fine 
tree of the above species still exists near the Council 
Room, flowering and fruiting.finely every year. The 
species is a variable one, and although several 
varieties of it at one time existed they have dis¬ 
appeared with the exception noted, and which is a 
variety having yellow fruit slightly tinted with red. 
The tree is now in full bloom, and is about 20 ft. 
high. 
MESPILUS GRANDIFLORA 
The large-flow 7 ered Medlar is very often grown 
under the name of M. Smithii or Smith's Medlar. 
The flowers are large, pure white and produced in 
great profusion either singly or in clusters of two or 
three. The fruits are smaller than those of M. 
germanica, the common Medlar, and although edible, 
they are comparatively worthless for consumption. 
The leaves are oblong-elliptic and serrated, while 
those of the last named are lanceolate and entire. 
As an ornamental tree, however, the beauty of M 
grandiflora is unquestionable. It grows about 20 ft. 
to 25 ft. high, with a broad, spreading head and 
somewhat drooping branches, laden with conspicuous 
white flowers during the months of May and June. 
The most suitable place for it is in the pleasure 
grounds or parks, where there is plenty of space for 
its perfect development. Two tall specimens may¬ 
be seen in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, Chiswick, where however they have been 
rather too closely crowded by other trees to permit of 
their perfect development. 
VERONICA SYRIACA 
Annual species of Veronica as a rule are not very 
showy, and seldom get cultivated, that under notice 
constituting a very unusual exception. It is a native 
of Syria and has ascending or diffuse very much 
branched stems bearing racemes of pale blue flowers 
that are relatively large compared with the size of 
the plant. The leaves are ovate, of a light green, 
and as usual best developed on the lower part of the 
plant. A quantity of it grown in small pots may be 
seen in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. It may be described as pretty, but is 
nevertheless hardly equal in beauty to many of the 
perennial species which are scattered about in 
gardens. The collection of seed and the sowing of 
it every year would be too much trouble for most 
people except those who are enthusiasts. 
POTENTILLA CH 4YSOCRASPEDA. 
The whole aspect of this plant reminds us of P. 
verna or some form of it, such as P. v. aurea. The 
latter is a British species which varies considerably 
even in a wild state and has received various names. 
Some plants under the above name in the hardy plant 
house at Kew have yellow flowers with an orange 
blotch at the base, and some lines of the same colour 
radiating from it. The leaves consist of three 
oblong, toothed leaflets, on stems 3 in. to 6 in. high, 
and the latter terminate in small cymes of flowers. 
P. verna on the other hand has more numerous 
leaflets, about five to seven on the radical leaves, and 
five rarely three on the stem leaves. In either case 
the dwarf compact habit of the plant, and the bright 
yellow flowers with an orange blotch at the base of 
each petal, are characters that strongly recommend 
the plant to those who have a rockery or even a 
herbaceous border. The plants are also compact in 
habit requiring little space for their perfect develop¬ 
ment, and are well worthy of a place in a collection. 
PHLOX SUBULATA MODEL. 
There are several forms of P. subulata in gardens, 
and all were very pretty subjects for rockwork on 
account of their dwarf trailing habit and profuse 
flowering character. That under notice is a garden 
variety with soft rosy-pink flowers, and a small, bifid, 
deep purple blotch at the base of each segment. The 
habit of the plant renders it suitable for planting on 
the shelving ledges of the rockery, to which it gives 
an attractive appearance during the months of May 
and June, in proportion to the size of the patches. 
Thus elevated above the general surrounding level, 
perfect drainage is ensured, and the plants thrive 
better than on level ground, especially if the latter 
is heavy or inclined to clay and therefore wet in 
winter. Propagation is easily effected by means of 
cuttings of the half-ripened young shoots during the 
month of July and August. They should be inserted 
in pots of sandy soil and placed under bell-glasses, 
and if covered by a frame so much the better. 
CRAT/E3US CRUS-GALLI OV^LIFOLIA. 
The Cock's-spur Thorn takes its name from the long 
and stout, solitary spines that are compared to the 
spur on a cock’s foot. The species is variable, and 
several forms have found their way into British 
gardens. Some have narrow and others broad 
leaves, such as the fine variety under notice, a native 
of North America, and which is often considered a 
distinct species. It differs from the type chiefly in its 
broad leaves and half heart-shape stipules, whereas 
the latter are linear in the typical form of the species. 
The tree under notice grows to a height of 15 ft. to 
20 ft. and has a spreading head as broad as high. 
Just now it is in full bloom, and the trusses of large 
white flowers with pink anthers are very conspicuous. 
Then again in the autumn the trees become con¬ 
spicuous with the decaying red and yellow leaves, 
intermingled with an abundance of red fruits that 
hand long after the foliage has dropped. 
GENTIANA PYRENAICA 
Although not always so dwarf as G. verna, still this 
species may be included amongst the dwarf ones. 
The stems are procumbent with the flowering shoots 
rising to a height of ij in. to 3 in., bearing each a 
solitary flower, which although not so brilliant as 
that of G. verna is nevertheless pretty and interest¬ 
ing botanically, inasmuch as the funnel-shaped 
corolla is ten lobed or of five deeply bifid lobes. The 
corolla further is blue shaded with purple, with a 
white throat and more or less tinted with green 
externally in the early stages. The leaves are 
lanceolate, small and crowded in dense rosettes 
upon the ground. It was originally introduced in 
1825, and flowers some time between April and June 
according to the conditions. 
AN ASPARAGUS ISLAND 
The Boston Asparagus market has been largely 
supplied this spring from Hall's island opposite the 
coast of South Carolina. This island of 1300 acres 
is owned by two Boston gentlemen who were originally 
drawn to it in search of game. Notwithstanding it 
is now largely cultivated, game, such as deer, rabbits, 
quail, &c., still abound. About 100 acres are now under 
cultivation to Asparagus, while preparation is being 
made to extend the area next year to 300 acres. 
Stable manure sufficient to “ bring up ” this sandy 
waste would be out of the question. The owners 
have been compelled to resort to the coarse marsh 
grasses which abound on the shore. The past 
season 5,000 loads have been placed within boarded 
pens upon which are pastured, night and day, several 
hundred cows, this grass, in connection with con¬ 
centrated food, being their ration. These cows are 
of the scrub order, purchased of the coloured folk 
throughout South Carolina. The grass is broken up 
by the cows’ tramping and after a season's fermenta¬ 
tion it is, with fertilizers, equal to barnyard manure. 
The crop commenced to be harvested the first 
week in March, when the price received was $1.00 
per bunch; for the most of the season, however, the 
price has been about §6.00 per dozen. There has 
been some loss sustained this season from frost 
Whenever a cold wave has been heralded by the 
government weather service the sprouts jusi pricking 
the ground have been cut deep, thus making light 
coloured stalks, and as the New York market wants 
light coloured Asparagus it is sent there. With 
warmer weather the sprouts are allowed to grow long 
makinggreen Asparagus-which is sent to Boston. The 
amount of Asparagus sent north i his season has 
averaged about 40 dozen bunches per day. — New 
England Farmer. 
NEW Mm PJtTipg. 
(Concluded from page 630. J 
Begonia Leopold Rothschild. — Here the leaves 
are relatively narrow, ovate and oblique at the base 
The large double flowers are of a uniform crimson- 
scarlet, with the outer sepals largest, and all loosely 
arranged round a common centre. On the whole it 
is a bold and conspicuous variety. Award of Merit. 
Carnation Mks. H. Cannell. —The flowers of 
this Carnation are very large, double and of a 
beautiful soft rose. The petals are all broad, undu¬ 
late, and not crowded although quite full. The 
variety is useful for indoor or outdoor culture, and 
the flowers are highly fragrant, a recommendation 
but too often absent in Carnations. Award of Merit 
Both this and the above Begonia were shown 
by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. 
Tree P.eony Orme. —The petals are less 
numerous in this single variety than in the oldest 
forms of Tree Pseonies in cultivation. The petals 
are obovate, slightly toothed at the edges, and of a 
deep maroon red The filaments and ovary are of 
the same hue, but the anthers are yellow. Award of 
Merit. It was shown by Messrs. Kelvvay & Son, 
Langport, Somerset. 
Selaginella elegans. —In this we have evidently 
a form of S. apus, known in gardens under various 
names, It is somewhat taller than the type, with the 
leaves more sparsely arranged, and of a pleasing 
bright green. Altogether the stems would not 
exceed 2 in. or 2J in. in height. First-class Cer¬ 
tificate. 
. Pteris serrulata gracilis. —The fronds of this 
variety are once or twice pinnate at the base, but 
only pinnate upwards. The pinnae are long, but 
comparatively rigid and remarkably narrow, giving 
the plant a graceful appearance as is implied by the 
varietal name. The forms of Pteris serrulata are 
now becoming very numerous, but that under notice 
is wonderfully distinct, and while the pinnae are 
narrow the fronds are very numerous, giving the 
plant a compact or rather well furnished appear¬ 
ance. First-class Certificate. Both this and the 
Selaginella were shown by Messrs. H B. May, 
Dyson’s Lane, Upper Edmonton 
Tree P.eony Snowflake. —The leaves of this 
Moutan Pasony are rather slender with narrow 
segments and light in colour. The flowers are 
single and pure white, with about ten obovate petals, 
slightly undulated, and toothed along the upper 
edge. It was shown by Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, 
and received an Award of Merit 
Pteris tremula densa. —The frondsof this variety- 
are very much shortened, and heavily branched and 
crested, reminding us of some of the varieties of 
the Lady Fern, such as Asplenium Filix-fcemina 
grandiceps, A. F -f. acrocladon, and A. F.-f. 
depauperatum. The whole lamina of the frond is 
branched in this way down to the petiole, and a well 
furnished plant forms a round headed mass about 
8 in. to 10 in. high. It was shown by Messrs. 
Richard Smith & Co., Worcester, and received a 
First-class Certificate. 
Pelargonium Princess May. —The petals of this 
variety are slightly undulated, so that it may be 
classed in the regal or decorative section, and they 
are of a beautiful soft salmon w ith a large crimson 
feathered blotch on each of the two upper ones. 
The variety will no doubt prove useful for market 
purposes An Award of Merit w ; as accorded it when 
shown by Messrs J. & J. Hayes, Lower Edmonton. 
Azalea Mrs. Anthony Waterer. —The flowers 
of this new hardy Azalea are large, with ovate, 
imbricate segments, and pure white with exception 
of a yellow blotch on the middle of the upper 
segment, and this fades considerably as the flower 
gets old. The leaves are elliptic-oblong and 
deciduous. A First-class Certificate was awarded it 
when shown by Mr. Anthony Waterer, Knap Hill, 
Surrey. 
