July 23, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
743 
smooth leaves, and much branched red stems. The 
flowers are pink in bud, and white or pale pink when 
expanded, and produced in great profusion. That 
named Fairy Queen, with small, bronzy, and hairy 
leaves, is evidently a variety of B. Schmidti, and 
apparently closely allied if not identical with a 
Continental sort named B, Carrieri. It is very dwarf, 
at present only about 3 in, or 4 in., freely branched, 
and bearing a profusion of small flowers that are 
pink in bud and almost white when expanded. 
The attention of the beholder is soon centred on 
three varieties of B. semperflorens planted in the 
middle of the bed. B. s. Duchess of Edinburgh has 
large, light, shining green nearly stalkless leaves ; 
and the ovaries and sepals while still in bud are of a 
bright carmine-red, paler internally, or rose and 
white. Alongside of it is the most striking plant in 
the bed, namely B. s. Crimson Gem, notable for the 
bronzy metallic lustre of its leaves, which are some¬ 
what smaller than those of Duchess of Edinburgh, 
and often curled inwards at the base. The flowers 
are of a brilliant carmine-crimson in bud, but more 
of a crimson-red when expanded. The rich colours 
both of the flowers and leaves, but especially of the 
latter, have been brought about by exposure to the 
weather in the open ground, and may be expected to 
become paler later on even if the foliage does not 
become green altogether. None of the other varie¬ 
ties, however, have been effected in the same way, so 
there can be no doubt that some distinction in the 
leaves cf this variety exists which is not present in 
the other varieties of B. semperflorens, which have 
retained their ordinary light shining green hue under 
the same conditions of exposure. A line of smaller 
plants surrounding a bed in another part of the gar¬ 
den close by seems identical with Crimson Gem, 
although under the name of B. s. rubra Vernon’s 
var, from Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieu & Co., of Paris. 
Altogether lighter in hue is Reading Snowflake, in 
fact it is paler in hue than Duchess of Edinburgh. 
The flowers are white in bud, but nearly white when 
expanded, and no doubt would be pure white under 
glass. Exposure to the weather and all its concomi¬ 
tant circumstances has always the effect of deepen¬ 
ing the colours of the flowers of Begonias as well as 
the foliage to some extent. The foliage of Crimson 
Gem is none the less handsome even if it is not per¬ 
manent. 
--J—- 
Gardening Miscellany. 
NEMES1A VERSICOLOR. 
Some of the prettiest of annuals have not yet come 
to be recognized by the general public, and N. 
versicolor is amongst them. It is a South African 
annual, and does best perhaps when raised in pots in 
a cold frame and afterwards planted in the open 
ground to flower in July. If sown in the open ground 
in May it would of course flower much later, but 
would nevertheless be very beautiful and much 
appreciated even then. The flowers are produced in 
shortened terminal racemes, almost resembling a 
corymb in the early stages. They are two lipped 
and owe their beauty to the variable colours of the 
two lips of the corolla. The upper lip is deeply four 
lobed, reminding us of w'hat occurs in Schizanthus, 
bright blue on the inner face and purple externally ; 
the lower lip is bifid and white with four yellow 
ridges forming a palate closing the throat of the 
flower, or the two lateral ridges may be blue. Thus 
then we have blue, red, white, and yellow colours in 
the flowers, and all may be seen at one view inter¬ 
mingling with one another, when the beholder is 
looking at a clump of plants. It grows about 
6 in. to 12 in. high, and flowers all the summer 
after coming into bloom. The lower leaves are 
very few, ovate, and stalked, but the stem leaves are 
numerous, lanceolate or linear, and stalkless. Alto¬ 
gether it is a neat and pretty plant. 
STATICES AND DIPLADENIAS. 
These are remarkably well grown among many other 
things in the garden at Caundon Court, Coventry, 
the residence of George Singer, Esq. The former 
are represented by magnificent specimens of S. 
Butcheri and S. profusa, the former measuring 7 ft. 
over the head of bloom, and the latter 4 ft. The 
Dipladenias include specimens of amabilis, ornata, 
Elliottiana, and Boliviensis, and the three first 
named carried over fifty expanded blooms each, 
besides buds, while D. Boliviensis carried a perfect 
mass of its pure white flowers and was very 
attractive. One seldom sees these plants so well 
done, and Mr. Whatton, the gardener, certainly 
deserves high praise for their skilful management.—- 
Rusticus. 
DIANTHUS ATKINSONI. 
To all appearance this is closely allied to another 
hybrid Pink named Napoleon III., and which in some 
parts of the country appears of delicate constitution, 
while elsewhere it grows and flowers like a weed. 
The variety under notice has relatively large flowers 
produced in cymose panicles, on stems about a foot 
high. Like all the other hybrid Pinks of this class the 
leaves are of a uniform deep green and therefore en¬ 
tirely different from the glaucous hue of the ordinary 
garden Pink. There are three distinct colours in 
each flower and all are very rich ; the outer zone is 
carmine-red followed by a scarlet or crimson zone, 
while the basal portion of each petal is rosy purple. 
The wedge-shaped petals are slightly toothed along 
the outer edges. Each stem bears twelve to eighteen 
flowers, which in the mass are very conspicuous and 
telling. It may be seen on the rockery at Kew. 
BROWN’S ROSE. 
The Himalaj'an form of the Musk Rose (Rosa 
moschata) was at one time considered a distinct 
species ; then it was believed to be synonymous with 
R. moschata, but now Rose growers and authorities 
make Brown’s Rose a variety under the name of R. 
moschata Brownii. The typical Musk Rose is a native 
of South Europe. Brown’s Rose, although single 
flowered, is very showy on account of the profuseness 
with which it flowers during June and July. The 
flowers are white, with a mass of orange yellow 
anthers in the centre and are highly fragrant. The 
leaves are of large size as the plant itself, so that 
something must be given it to ramble - over and 
support its long and vigorous stems. 
CUT FLOWER WORK. 
I could not help thinking the other day when in the 
shop of Messrs. Perkins & Sons, at Coventry, how 
many valuable lessons in the art of making up 
flowers they have given in all parts of the country, 
by exhibiting their choice productions at flower 
shows alone. A great number of young ladies are 
employed in the business, and nimble as they are in 
putting flowers together, their energies are severely 
taxed at times to get off the orders which come in 
from all parts.— Rusticus. 
SALVIA PRATENSIS BAU MGARTENII. 
The typical form of this is a British wilding and has 
large bright blue flowers, while that under notice has 
very slightly smaller flowers, produced in much 
greater abundance. The lower lip is deep blue and 
the upper one bluish purple. The plant grows about 
3 ft. high, and the flowering stems are produced in 
such abundance that they form a mass which is very 
conspicuous even at some distance off. It is there¬ 
fore highly suitable for border decoration, and would 
be no less useful in the wild garden if it is as hardy as 
the typical S. pratensis, and which it has every 
appearance of being. A large and very floriferous 
plant may be seen in the herbaceous ground in the 
Royal Gardens at Kew. 
French Beans. 
In few districts north of the midland counties of 
England can a dish of French Beans be gathered in 
the open at present, and they are not likely to be a 
success at all in the north this year. From plants 
protected under handlights and in pits we can get 
supplies ; but in the open air, even on a south border, 
the plants look starved and stunted. While listening 
to the complaints of friends, I could not help think¬ 
ing that they have not all done their best to raise 
this vegetable, which is so much valued on every 
well-appointed dinner table. When bedding plants, 
forced Potatos, and other things are removed from 
frames and other shelter-giving structures, French 
Beans can be planted, either plants raised in small 
pots or the seed sown, and be materially helped for¬ 
ward by closing up early, and covering with mats at 
night. At the present time, or at all events before 
the month is out, any such structures may be turned 
to account for providing late supplies. During the 
autumn French Beans are much valued when Peas 
become scarce. There are some experienced culti¬ 
vators in the north who do not depend on French 
Beans from the open ground at all .— Stirling. 
Broad Bean Multum in Parvo. 
Broad beans are not guilty of growing to a great 
height under favourable conditions even, but the 
variety shown at the Drill Hall on the 12th inst., by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, was remarkably small in 
various respects. The stems varied from 12 in. to 
18 in. high and were branched at the base, thus 
sending up several shoots nearly as vigorous as the 
primary axis. The pods were perfectly cylindrical, 
but only in. to 2 in. long, and closely filled and 
packed with oblong, light green seeds, exactly filling 
the pod internally. It is evidently very prolific 
judging from its branching character, and there is a 
great economy of material in all parts of the plant 
and its fruit. The pods of Broad and also Long Pod 
Beans usually contain relatively few large seeds, while 
great part of the interior of the ped is wasted. This is 
not the case with Multum in parvo ; the seeds are 
about the size of those of Kidney Beans, but they 
were too far advanced and too near maturity when 
exhibited for us to ascertain their quality for 
culinary purposes. The variety may evidently be 
reckoned upon for hardiness and earliness, and is 
certainly very distinct. 
-- 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
The Rose Bloom.— It is certain that Roses are at 
least a fortnight later than usual in flowering, and 
some of the great growers who often exhibit such fine 
selections at our flower shows complain of want of 
colour in most of the blooms. The weather having 
for weeks past been cloudy, damp, and cold may 
account for the lack of brilliancy, but we have no 
control over such things. There is a practice, how¬ 
ever, current among Rose growers which they have 
complete control over, and which should be put 
down. I refer to the practice of folding back the 
outer petals of the flowers they stage, which gives 
them an unnatural appearance and robs them of 
much of their beauty. This sort of “ dressing ” may 
help to secure prizes from some judges, but those 
who know their business will be more likely to pass 
them over for what they are—malformed flowers. 
We recently heard two leading Rose growers from 
the south commenting upon this system of turning 
down the petals, and their opinions were decidedly 
the reverse of favourable. There is no objection to 
the cutting of flowers half developed, and before 
they are left in the stand to blow them out to their 
natural size. I have a number of such blooms near 
at hand as I write, cut and placed in water ready for 
packing on the morrow, when they will be blown out, 
as I find such blooms travel much better than those 
allowed to fully develop themselves on the plants. 
Some of your readers may find this a useful hint.— 
Stirling. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen.— 
The acting directors of this society held a meeting on 
the 16th inst. In the absence of Colonel Crombie 
through indisposition, Mr. Alexander Robson, of 
Messrs. W. Smith & Son, seedsmen, was called to 
the chair. It was announced that special prizes had 
been received from Her Majesty the Queen, the 
Duke of Fife, and H.R.H. the Duchess; Messrs. 
Doulton & Co., Lambeth, etc. After careful conside¬ 
ration, it was agreed to give the Queen’s prize—a 
handsome solid silver salad bowl—for the best col¬ 
lection of plants in pots. The Fife prize was 
awarded for a bouquet of wild flowers, open to boys 
and girls under 16 years of age, and for which 
no entry fee will be charged. Messrs. Doulton’s 
valuable prize will be given for a collection of cut 
flowers arranged for effect. 
Should the floral gala and military tournament 
result in a financial success.it is proposed to increase 
the prize money oftered in the schedule pro rata to 
the extent of 50 per cent. The gala takes place at 
Central Park, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen, on 18th, 
19th, and 20th August. On Saturday, 20th August, 
special trains, by which return tickets at cheap fares 
will be issued, are to be run by the Great North of 
Scotland Railway Company from Ballater, Alford, 
Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Keith, Banff, Elgin, 
and intermediate stations. The directors are sparing 
no pains to make the exhibition a useful and interest¬ 
ing one, and as the season is rather a late one it is 
expected that the exhibits will be in capital condi¬ 
tion at the date of the show. 
