June 6, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
645 
qualities. Stand in full sun during summer and 
water a little sparingly if anything. 
A few weeks ago someone inquired of me whether 
the XL All Vaporiser had an injurious effect on 
Asparagus foliage. Having most of a hundred plants 
of this valuable foliage plant myself, can safely 
assure the said inquirer that it has none whatever. 
I am continually using it now and can safely say it 
is the best thing in the market of its kind. For Tea 
Roses in pots this season it has been a boon. The 
injury done to these by green fly some will know. 
The way the fly re-appears, after syringing and 
tobacco smoke needs endless work. The XL All 
is most effective in its work and- can be manipulated 
by a child.—/. G. Pettinger, Strawberry Dale Nursery, 
Harrogate. 
--f.- 
Hardening |Jiscellany. 
DAHLIAS IN THE OPEN GROUND THROUGH 
THE WINTER. 
It is not often one has Dahlia roots remaining in the 
ground and passing through the winter safely. But 
this has occurred in our garden this year, and a good 
number of other plants fared in a similar way. Last 
autumn we had a number of roots more than we 
wanted to take up for storing; accordingly, we 
allowed them to remain where they grew. This was 
amongst shrubs and in a hardy mixed border close 
to a wall. Not caring for them they received no 
protection whatever ; but to our surprise, this spring, 
almost every one of them came up. At the present 
time, May 27th, these look better than those stored 
in frost-proof stores, and, no doubt, will bloom early. 
— Chard. 
DOUBLE-SPATHED RICHARDIA. 
A case of curious behaviour, in the shape of a 
Richardia with two dissimilar spathes, comes from 
Mr. D. Baird, The Gardens, Homefield, St. Stephen’s 
Road, Ealing. One spathe was normal or nearly so, 
the only abnormal feature being three ovaries below 
the spathe and not protected by the latter. The 
supernumerary spathe was evidently an ordinary 
leaf, slightly modified and out of its normal position. 
It was situated about the middle of the flower scape, 
and had a grooved, sheathing petiole like that of an 
ordinary leaf. The lamina or blade, was white with 
a green tip, but in every other respect it conformed 
to the character of a true leaf. The auricles were 
proportionately not quite so long as those of an 
ordinary leaf; but they were not rolled over one 
another as in the case of the true spathe. We have 
seen a great number of twin or double spathes, but 
not one of them was fashioned exactly after this 
particular pattern. 
THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. 
It is very true that Atropa Belladonna is becoming 
a scarce plant with us, as Mr. J. C. Stogdon says on 
page 621 of last week’s issue of The Gardening 
World, but there are still several places in the 
country within my own knowledge where it grows in 
profusion besides Furness Abbey. It is to be found 
in quantities in the more secluded portions of the 
grounds at Park Place, Henley-on-Thames, the seat 
of Mrs. Noble. It is also very abundant in some 
portions of the Aldermaston estate, the property of 
C. E. Keyser, Esq. Quite recently I came across a 
grand plant of it fully 4 ft. in height, and between 
3 ft. and 4 ft. in diameter. It was growing in the 
partial shade cast by a huge clump of Laurels. No 
doubt the scarcity of the plant is due to the per¬ 
sistency with which it is hunted up and carried off 
by various herbalists. In parts of Northern Hamp¬ 
shire, and Southern Berks, I have met carts full 
of it from time to time, which have been collected 
and taken off for medicinal purposes.— A. S. G. 
EARLIEST OF ALL TOMATOS. 
This Tomato is well named and merits that name. 
For years I have been observing which is the earliest 
Tomato and after much notice and experience I 
should say the one under notice. Some three or four 
years ago I was calling at Lindisfarm, Bournemouth, 
very early in the spring, and Mr. Strong had this kind 
growing in 8-in. pots on a shelf near the glass roof 
and laden with fruits, many being ripe, though this 
was early in March. This year, early in May, I was 
looking over the gardens at Sherborne School, and to 
my surprise Mr. Dean, the gardener, showed me into 
a very small house in which was growing a numerous 
collection of things from Strawberries to Tomatos 
and he had ripe fruit of this Tomato then in 8-in. 
pots.— Chard. 
A SHOWY HOUSE. 
Seldom indeed is it that we come across a house 
which contains so much floral beauty as the 
Tropical house in the gardens at Park Place has 
done during the past few weeks. The superb old 
specimen of Bougainvillea glabra, is as usual a mass 
of bloom. B. speciosa was at its best before B. 
glabra, but it also has done remarkably well this 
year. Of the Stephanotis it would be difficult to say 
too much in praise. We have seen larger plants, but 
never one that could vie with it for freedom of 
blooming, for look where we would, huge trusses of 
the snow-white fragrant blooms well nigh obscured 
the foliage, and hung veritable tresses of Flora from 
the roof on to the heads of the passers by. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM WESTERN KING. 
Of this new American variety glowing accounts 
come across the “herring pond.” In fact it is 
credited with being better than Mutual Friend, 
which it somewhat resembles in habit and build of 
flower. This to those who know the latter variety, 
will appear to be a very tall order, and we shall 
watch with some interest how Western King makes 
good these brilliant promises. A small plant of it 
was quite recently flowering with Mr. H. J. Jones, 
at Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green Lane, Lewisham, 
S.E. The florets are of great substance, pure white, 
and slightly thorned on occasion. 
IRIS SUSIANA. 
Amongst all the Irises I. susiana stands out as one 
of the most distinct and showy. It does not boast 
such brilliant colours, perhaps, as some other gay 
varieties, but all the same it would be impossible to 
pass it by in a collection. What other Iris is there 
to compete with it in size ? The colour too is peculiar. 
The falls are French grey in hue, flushed with red, 
and heavily barred and reticulated with deep purple- 
maroon. The standards are of the same colour as 
the falls, but the bars and reticulations are not quite 
so heavy. A splendid specimen of this noble Iris 
caught our attention in Messrs Barr’s establishment 
at Long Ditton a short time ago. 
EXPRESS CYCAD GROWING. 
Everyone who has had much experience of Cycads 
knows how remarkable is the speed with which they 
develop their new fronds when onec the latter have 
begun to make a start. A plant of Cycas revoluta 
at Park Place, however, is evidently desirous of 
breaking the record for speed of growth. It is a fine 
specimen, with a trunk the thickness of which indi¬ 
cates the passage of many many years. Having 
been badly treated before it came under the care of 
Mr. Stanton it presented the appearance of a bare 
lifeless trunk, until a few days ago a plume of leaves 
was observed to be making its appearance. The 
plant was accordingly taken out and shaded care¬ 
fully, and in three days a fine head of healthy 
vigorous fronds had been developed. 
*--*»- 
OLYMPIA. 
The third of the series of flower shows held by 
Olympia. Ltd., in the large new annexe leading to 
the new grounds, took place on the 27th, 28th, and 
29th ult. Flowering and foliage plants, Orchids, 
hardy cut flowers, and table decorations were all 
strongly represented, and the whole show was 
characterised by an exceedingly bright and attrac¬ 
tive appearance, great taste having been exercised in 
the arrangement of the several groups. Great credit 
is reflected thereby upon Mr. Bick, and the company 
have to congratulate themselves upon a most 
successful departure. 
A group of Orchids staged by Messrs. B. S. 
Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, N., contained, 
amongst others, fine samples of Cattleya Warnerii, C. 
Mendelli, C. Mossiae, C. Mossiae splendens, Dendro- 
bium devonianum, Odontoglossum hastilabium, Cy- 
pripedium grande, andC. almum (Silver Gilt Medal), 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Company, Upper Clapton, 
N.E., sent up a large circular group of Orchids. A 
great deal of variety marked this exhibit, for Odonto- 
glossums, Cattleyas, Laelias, Cypripediums, etc., 
were represented in profusion. Of the rarer plants 
mention must be made of fine pieces of Cypripedium 
Gertrude Hollington, C.lawrenceanum, C.bellatulum, 
C. Lowii, and C. niveum. A nicely-flowered plant of 
Dendrobium Parishii was also conspicuous here, 
(Silver Gilt Medal). Mr. P. McArthur, The 
London Nursery, Maida Vale, W., was likewise 
responsible for a neat and effective group of Orchids. 
Miltonia vexillaria, Odontoglossum citrosmum, and 
O. luteo—purpureum, were very showy here. Ferns, 
small Palms, and Isolepis, were judiciously used to 
set off the bright colours of the flowers to advantage 
(Large Silver Medal). 
A huge exhibit made by Messrs. John Laing & 
Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., and which extended two- 
thirds of the distance across the hall, received a 
Gold Medal. It comprised stove and greenhouse 
foliage and flowering plants, and hardy cut flowers in 
great quantity and in first-class condition. The 
hardy flowers were arranged in glowing banks on 
either side of the plants, and included Irises, 
Delphiniums, Poppies, Pyrethrums, and Paeonies, in 
innumerable shades of colour. The central group 
of plants comprised amongst other subjects, 
Gloxinias, a few Orchids, Begonias, Caladiums, 
Dracaenas, and Crotons, in grand condition. 
Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, 
occupied two roomy tables with a superb collection 
of hardy cut flowers. Paeonies, Irises, Gladioli, and 
Poppies, looked exceedingly gay here, (Large Silver 
Medal). A similar award was made to Messrs. J, 
Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, who contributed a 
wondrously pretty piece of rockwork, hardy cut 
flowers, chiefly Azaleas, and Pyrethrums, and a 
couple of dozen bunches of bedding Violas in as 
many colours. A group of Coniferae set up by 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, contained some well- 
grown and shapely specimens, and received a Large 
Silver Medal. Herbaceous Calceolarias were well- 
shown by Messrs. J. Carter & Company, High 
Holborn. The plants were dwarf, and well-flowered, 
and represented a first-class strain (Silver Medal). 
Double and single-flowered Petunias, and Gloxinias 
were also shown in different groups by the same firm ; 
a Silver Medal being awarded to each. Both 
Petunias and Gloxinias were all that could be desired 
with regard to habit, floriferousness, and the size of 
he individual flowers, whilst the range of colour 
forthcoming was remarkable. 
One of the most conspicuous exhibits in the whole 
of the show, both for size and excellence of the 
material composing it, came from Mr. H. J. Jones, 
Ryecroft Nursery. Hither Green, Lewisham, S.E. In 
front of a background of Palms, and Lilium Harrisii, 
some right regal show and decorative Pelargoniums 
displayed their varied charms. Single and double- 
flowered Begonias and double Petunias occupied the 
front ranks, all in the condition that betokens high 
class culture. Cocos weddeliana, Asparagus 
plumosus nanus, Pteris Wimsettii, Adiantum 
cuneatum and A. scutum were freely used in arrange¬ 
ment (Silver Gilt Medal). On the left hand side of 
the central group of plants were displayed about 
seventy bunches of cut blooms of zonal Pelargoniums, 
illustrating the wealth of the Ryecroft collection. 
These were awarded a Silver Medal. Bunches of 
cut blooms of show and decorative Pelargoniums 
afforded a mass of brilliant colouring on the right 
hand side. These were decorated with the Large 
Silver Medal card. 
Close to the bandstand Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s 
Lane Nurseries, Upper Edmonton, had set up a 
superb group of exotic Ferns and Selaginellas, for 
which he was awarded a Gold Medal. A superb 
specimen of Lomaria attejuatawas very conspicuous 
here, also fine plants of Platycerium grande, and P. 
alcicorne, with Davallias, Adiantums, Pterises, and 
Polypodiums in great variety. Included amongst the 
Selaginellas were S. apoda, S.cognata, S. dichotoma, 
S. molliceps, and S. rubella. Mr. Howe, gardener 
to H. Tate, Esq , Park House, Streatham Common, 
set up a grand group of stove and fine foliage plants, 
comprising Dracaenas and Anthuriums in superb 
health. (Silver Gilt Medal). A group of large 
specimen Ferns was also contributed by the same 
exhibitor, for which a Large Silver Medal was given. 
Three dozen grand trusses of hardy Rhododendrons 
sent by Mr. Anthony Waterer, Knap Hill Nursery, 
Woking, Surrey, obtained a Silver Medal. Hardy 
Azaleas in pots were also well shown by this 
exhibitor. A similar award was made to the 
