790 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 13, 1892. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER, 
Choice Plants in Flower. 
Echinops Ritro. — The finest of all the Globe 
Thistles is that here named. It varies from 18 in. to 
3 ft. in height according to the character of the soil 
and the nature of the season. The heads are 
globular and of a deep blue, lasting a considerable 
time in beauty. The rich dark green leaves are 
pinnatifid and spiny, while the under-surface is 
white and cottony. Some authorities say that the 
leaves are not spiny. 
Coreopsis lanceolata. —Of all the species of 
Coreopsis in gardens (and they are pretty numerous) 
that under notice is acknowledged to be the best of 
the perennial species. The stems vary from 18 in. 
to 2 ft. in height and bear an abundance of golden 
yellow heads. The leaves are lanceolate and 
altogether undivided. It hardly ever fails to do 
well even in soils of a very opposite character, while 
it is perfectly hardy. Propagation is easily effected 
by division in spring, and should a large stock be 
required for bedding or massing, cuttings of the 
moderately firm short shoots might be used, and 
the old stools divided into as many pieces as bear a 
bud and a few roots, care being taken to water them 
till thoroughly established. 
Lythrum alatum.— The stems of this neat grow¬ 
ing species are square, slightly winged at the angles, 
and 2 ft. high. The leaves are small, and ovate, in 
fact not larger than those of a Myrtle. The flowers 
are large, purple, and borne singly in the axils of 
the leaves all along the stems. 
Hypericum pyramidatum. —Rarely do we see this 
North American species in gardens although intro¬ 
duced so early as 1764. The stems are herbaceous 
notwithstanding the fact that they attain a height of 
3 ft. or 4 ft., and are furnished with relatively large, 
oblong-lanceolate, stem-clasping leaves of a dark 
green hue tending to be glaucous. The flowers are 
large, clear yellow, and produced a few together at 
the ends of the main stem and its few side branches. 
Although neither the flowers nor foliage can lay 
claim to the refinement of many others in cultiva¬ 
tion, both of the herbaceous and shrubby types, yet 
it constitutes a bold and characteristic type for the 
second or third line of the border. 
Epilobium rosmarinifolium. —The dwarf habit 
of this plant is something to recommend it to the 
attention of lovers of herbaceous subjects. The 
leaves are linear of a deep green, not unlike those of 
the Rosemary, and thickly clothe stems 12 in. to 
18 in. high. The flowers are large and rosy-purple 
with a dark centre. 
Geranium Wallichianum. —One ' of the best 
recommendations of this species is its continuous 
flowering nature. The stems are procumbent or 
trailing and continue to elongate all through the 
summer, producing flowers at the same time. The 
latter are rose coloured with purple veins, while 
many individuals are of a decidedly-blue tint. It seems 
further liable to vary, for there is a variety in culti¬ 
vation with a white centre, and which is certainly 
pretty. Owing to its procumbent habit it is more 
suitable for planting on mounds or on the ledges of 
rockwork than in the herbaceous border proper. 
Platycodon grandiflorum Mariesii. — The 
typical form of this Bellflower grows generally 
about 12 in. or 18 in. high, but the variety here 
noted is characterised by its dwarfness, being seldom 
over 6 in. high, with erect, widely bell-shaped deep 
blue flowers. The rootstock does not increase very 
fast, but the plant may however be propagated from 
seeds. 
Campanula glomerata flore pleno. —• The 
doubling of this Campanula consists of three to four 
corollas inserted one within the other, hose in hose 
fashion, and of a blue purple hue. Even the outer 
corolla is somewhat smaller than that of the single 
form, which some growers would doubtless prefer. 
The double variety is, however, distinct and to some 
extent showy, and some would be’pleased to add it 
to their collection. 
Lychnis Flos-cuculi alba plena. — There are 
double forms of several species of Lychnis in culti¬ 
vation, but that under notice has recently been added 
to the list, and has as yet found its way into a few 
gardens only. Whether it will ever become common 
remains to be seen. The flowers are only moderate 
in size, perfectly double, and pure white with ragged 
petals. 
Roscoea purpurea. —Some authorities regard this 
as synonymous with R. sikkimensis, and only having 
darker and rich purple flowers with exception of the 
two small lateral ones hidden in the upper segment 
and which are white. The lip is obovate and the 
largest organ of the flower. The stems only grow 
about 9 in. or 12 in high, and are covered with 
lanceolate leaves. The roots are tuberous and prove 
perfectly hardy in the southern portion of England 
at least. Altogether it is a distinct and desirable 
subject, and should be planted in light turfy loam 
Veratrum nigrum. —The flowers of this Lilywort 
are of a blackish-purple, and although they cannot 
be considered showy they are strikingly distinct, and 
very telling amongst other herbaceous subjects. The 
stems grow 2 ft. to 3 ft. high or even more under 
good cultivation, and the larger they are the finer is 
the effect. The leaves of robust growing plants are 
very handsome, being about a foot long and 6 in. to 
8 in. wide. 
--f.- 
Gardening ITiscellany. 
Cjo NTi 
VALLOTA PURPUREA CARNEA. 
There are now some good varieties of this old 
fashioned subject in cultivation, although we rarely 
meet with any but the typical form which most 
growers are still content to cultivate. That under 
notice has flesh coloured or nearly white flowers, 
funnel-shaped, and freely produced even from small 
bulbs, some of the latter throwing two spikes each. 
We noted it recently in the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, where some other varieties 
could also be noted, including a salmon-pink one. 
Other varieties in cultivation, if they still exist, are 
V. p. eximia, and V. p magnifica with a white throat, 
besides V. p. major, and V. p. minor with the throat 
more or less netted with white. Those that 'we 
mention above are more notably distinct than the 
last four named kinds. 
PINK ERNEST LADHAMS. 
The flowers of this variety are of great size, perfectly 
double, and full. The petals are white with a large 
crimson blotch at the base, and shallowly toothed at 
the apex. We noted it in pots in the nursery of 
Messrs J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, but were informed 
that it was suitable for border culture. Its appear¬ 
ance would, however, suggest that it might be 
successfully grown in that way; having as it does 
the characteristic appearance of some of the old- 
fashioned garden Pinks, but larger in flower, and of 
a different colour. 
INDIGOFERA GERARDIANA. 
In gardens this is doubtless best known under the 
name of I. floribunda, which would certainly be a 
good name for it considering the quantity of flowers 
it produces. The latter are purplish-red, and pro¬ 
duced in many-flowered racemes. During the months 
of July and August it is at its best, and only those 
who have seen a large plant of it can have any idea 
of the immense quantity of flowers it will bear. A 
great space of wall is covered with it in the nursery 
of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, showing its 
adaptability for this purpose when grown out in the 
open, young plants are liable to get somewhat 
injured in severe winters, but with the protection of 
a wall it seems perfectly at home and happy. 
DIANTHUS MONSPESSULANUS. 
To the ordinary observer this Pink would in all 
probability present very few attractions compared 
with the fine single, but more especially the double 
forms of D. plumarius.the Garden Pink. To those, how 
ever, who are fond of Nature's wildings, it possesses 
many recommendations to their attention in the size 
of the flowers and the profusion with which they are 
produced on stems 12 in. to 15 in. high. The petals 
are pale lilac-purple, with a slightly darker coloured 
and bearded blotch at the base ; the ends are ragged, 
however, in the same way as the unimproved 
varieties of D. plumarius. The foliage is of a dull 
green, and therefore considerably different from that 
of the Garden Pink, and the individual leaves longer. 
If a subject was wanted for improvement it would 
seem that D. monspessulanus might be taken in 
hand. If it were possible to successfully hybridise 
it with D. plumarius, we might soon be in possession 
of a variable race of plants capable of much improve¬ 
ment. Hitherto, however, there has been very little 
hybridisation amongst the species of Dianthus con¬ 
sidering the number that are known to exist both in 
gardens and in a wild state. Neither has it been 
proved apparently whether it is capable of being 
crossed with any other species or not. 
THYMUS COMOSUS. 
There is a considerable amount of likeness amongst 
many of the species of Thyme occurring in gardens, 
though several of the common sorts are admitted to 
be merely forms of one species. That under notice 
is a native of Transylvania and is very' distinct, 
while at the same time it may be compared to a 
greatly magnified Thymus Serpyllum Chamaedrys. 
The leaves are ovate or elliptical, thinly pilose and 
two or three times as large as those of the last- 
named. The inflorescence is also similar in both 
cases, but here again very much larger, with the 
flowers arranged in a terminal head and several 
smaller ones lower down the stem in the axils of 
the leaves. The flowers vary from rose to pink and 
possibly other shades of colour, and the stems are 
procumbent at the base with the flowering portion 
erect. The rockery is the best place for it, as its 
beauty would be lost in the ordinary herbaceous 
border. It may be seen on the rockery at Kew. 
DAVALL.IA TENUIFOLIA VE1TCHI. 
The typical form of this Fern is a slender and 
elegant plant, but the variety Veitchi is characterised 
by greater vigour and more tenuity of all its parts. 
The fronds are 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, and droop elegantly 
all round when the plant is suspended in a basket, 
as it is in the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea. Half the beauty of the plant would be 
lost if grown in pots and stood amongst other plants 
of any kind. Those who like basket plants would do 
well to give this one a trial, as it is so different from 
the Davallias usually grown in baskets. 
PASSIFLORA IMPERATRICE EUGENIE. 
The general appearance of this garden form of 
Passionflower would lead one to suspect that it is a 
hybrid between P. caerulea and P. quadrangularis or 
P. macrocarpa, the first-named being probably the 
seed parent, judging from the character of the leaves 
which are very broad and three-lobed. The flowers 
are of large size, with ovate pink sepals, and petals 
one-third longer, nearly white externally, and rosy- 
pink internally. The corona is very large, and forms 
the most conspicuous element of the flower, and 
recalls P. quadrangularis or P. macrocarpa very 
strongly. The outer series of rays is 1 in. to in. 
long, purple in the lower portion, violet upwards, and 
white at the junction of the two colours. Inside of 
this is another two rows of very short purple rays, 
followed by other two rows, the rays of the outer of 
which are blackish-purple, and the inner almost 
black, and shorter. We noted some flowering plants 
of it in the houses at Falkland Park, South Norwood 
Hill. 
--—- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, Aug. gth.—As usually happens 
about this time of the year, the meeting on Tuesday 
was a small one. Orchids were as well represented 
as anything. Bell flowers, Sweet Peas, Carnations, 
Stocks, Streptocarpus, and other subjects in small 
groups were the most prominent features of the dis¬ 
play, which was by no means a large one. A Silver 
Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. F. Sander 
& Co., St. Albans, for a group of Orchids, consisting 
largely of Cattleyas and Cypripediums, and a mauve 
and Durple-flowered Calanthe named C. Sanderiana 
\ anda Sanderianawas also good A fine plant of Laelia 
crispa superba, Statter’s variety, and some other 
Laelias were exhibited by Thomas Statter, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. Johnson), Stand Hall, Whitefield, 
near Manchester. A bigeneric hybrid named Lselia- 
Cattleya Ingrami was shown by C. L. M. Ingram, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. T. W. Bond), Elstead House, 
Godaiming, and received a First-class Certificate. 
Some plants of Oncidium macranthum nanum, with 
flowers of large size ; Anguloa Turneri and Zygope- 
talum Wailesianum were exhibited by Messrs. 
Charlesworth.Shuttleworth & Co..Heaton, Bradford, 
and Park Road, Clapham. Flowers of Phaius 
Humboltii var Henryii were shown by A. H. Smee, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. YV. Cummins), the Grange. 
