718 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 11, 1896. 
TWO NEW LILIES FROM CHINA. 
In November of last year the Nuevo Giornale Botanico, 
an Italian publication, gave a coloured illustration of 
two new Lilies from China. They were collected by 
Padre Giraldi upon Thae-pe-chan in February, 1894, 
and the bulbs, cultivated in the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Firenze, flowered on the 21st of June, 
1S95. 
The Bullettino della R. Societd Toscana di Orticultura 
for June gives a new reproduction of these two Li.ies 
in one plate. The leaves of the two are intermixed 
so that the flowers are brought together for com¬ 
parison. They are closely similar at first sight, but 
botanically they differ considerably from one another. 
The bulbs were sent by Padre Giraldi (Father 
Giraldi) to Mr. Antonio Biondi, and were described 
by Dr. Baroni. One of them he named Lilium 
chinense. The bulbs consist of whitish imbricate 
scales, and throw up a stem about 12 in. to 16 in. 
high, bearing 100 to no leaves, and a solitary 
flower. The leaves are linear acuminate, recurved 
towards the base, and scattered or occasionally in 
whorls of three. The flower is somewhat similar in 
shape to those of L. Martagon, but larger, and the 
segments are not nearly so strongly revolute. They 
are of a beautiful rosy-orange, etched over the 
greater portion except at the tips, with dark purple 
spots. Dr. Baroni describes a variety of it under 
the name of L. c. atropurpureum, the intensely dark 
purple colour being brought about by the very 
numerous dark spots. The typical form first flowered 
about the 17th or 18th of June, but the variety did 
not open till the 1st of July. 
The other species was named L Biondii, in com¬ 
pliment to Mr. Biondi, and is botanically very 
distinct, though at first sight the differences are not 
so apparent. From a gardener's point of view, the 
salient differences are that L. Biondii bears relatively 
few scattered leaves upon the stem, though similar 
in shape to those of the other ; that the segments 
are more strongly revolute, the flowers of a more 
decided orange-scarlet, the segments furnished at 
the base with a beard of fleshy or thickened 
filamentose papillae, and the bulbs not so large. 
These additions to garden Lilies should add con¬ 
siderable interest to a genus of popular and beautiful 
plants, more especially if they should prove hardy 
and of easy cultivation. More than likely only a < 
few bulbs were introduced, but the number could 
probably be greatly increased by some cultivator 
taking their introduction in hand. Both the species 
above described are altogether distinct from the 
older and fairly well-known L. tenuifolium, and 
judging from the illustration above mentioned are 
far more ornamental. 
--S-- 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Carnation Culture for Amateurs : Containing 
full instructions for the Culture of Carnations 
of all classes in the open ground and in pots, 
Illustrated. By B. C. Ravenscroft, London : L. 
Upcott Gill, 170, Strand, W.C., 1896. Price is. 
In this we have a small octavo bookrunning toeighty- 
four pages including an index. It is divided into 
ten chapters, the first one of which is the introduc¬ 
tion which deals with the neglect of the Carnation 
during the bedding craze, the past history of the 
species from which the numerous garden varieties 
have been developed and allied species of Dianthus. 
The author says that D. hortensis is a name used by 
old writers for D. Caryophyllus, the Carnation. We 
have never found such to be the case ; on the other 
hand Dianthus hortensis was applied to those 
varieties of the Pink which has a dark zone in the 
centre, and from which the laced Pinks of the florist 
tnay very well have sprung. 
Seeing that the book is chiefly intended for 
amateurs a considerable amount of attention is 
devoted to the border Carnation which has been 
greatly improved of recent years and rendered 
popular by reason of its hardiness and easy culture. 
The annual routine of treatment given the Carnation 
is dealt with at some length, and if no new T information 
is furnished, safe and reliable instructions for the 
guidance of those just taking up the cultivation of 
this useful flower are generally vouchsafed. Low, 
damp spots are to be avoided in selecting situations 
to plant Carnations ; trenching, manuring, and 
otherwise ameliorating unsuitable soils will prove 
useful and no doubt interesting to amateurs. 
The author believes that pod-splitting varieties are 
being strongly discouraged, and we hope that this is 
the case. A very large proportion of the border 
varieties do, however, split the calyx when grown in 
the open ground ; and it is hardly possible to make 
a selection of varieties that will be entirely free from 
this disappointing character. The author is not 
responsible for the raising of them, but gives direc¬ 
tions for preventing pod-splitting. Big flowers 
will burst the calyx unless tied up. The best remedy 
is to educate the public taste to forego, huge and 
Cauliflower-looking blooms for they are really not 
ornamental. Lists of the best varieties are given, 
but the reader is advised to examine collections in 
bloom and make his selection there and then. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
By The Editor. 
Cypripedium ridolfianum, Nov. hyb. angl- 
A coloured plate of this hybrid appears in the 
Bullettino della R. Societd Toscano di Orticultura for 
May last. It was raised by Messrs. F. Sander 
& Co., St. Albans, between C. wallaertianum, and 
C. insigne Chantini, the latter being the pollen 
parent. It was named in compliment to March. 
Carlo Ridolfi, the president of the Royal 
Horticultural Society of Florence, Italy. The 
upper sepal is green with black markings arranged 
in lines along the course of the principal veins, 
while the apical portion and the sides are white. 
The petals are brown along the upper longitudinal 
half, while the corresponding lower half is pale 
green with darker veins. The lip is also shaded with 
brown. In these respects the hybrid is intermediate 
between the parents, and recalls many of those in 
which C. insigne forms one of the parents, as far as 
form is concerned, but the colours are very 
different. 
-- 
THE GERANIACEAE. 
This natural order is practically represented by three 
or at most four, genera, viz. : — 
(1) Geranium or Crane's-bill from geranos, a 
crane. 
(2) Pelargonium or Stork's-bill from pelargos, a 
stork. 
(3) Erodium or Heron’s-bill from erodios, a heron. 
Of these the Geraniums probably do not exceed 
more than seventy or eighty species, and are princi¬ 
pally natives of temperate or even cold climates. 
The Pelargoniums, on the contrary, comprise an 
immense number of species, about 400 hat mg been 
catalogued, while there are in addition an enormous 
number of hybrids. They come almost without 
exception from the Cape of Good Hope 
The Erodiums are under fifty in number, and are 
natives of the temperate regions of the old world. 
Another genus "Monsonia" comprises about ten 
species. 
The genera Geranium and Erodium are alone 
represented in Britain, and comprise thirteen species 
of the former and three of the latter, It is of these 
that I propose to treat with a few remains as the 
results of my experience as a collector in a fairly 
extensive range of country. 
1. Geranium pratense.— This which I consider 
the most beautiful of all the species is fortunately 
nearly the commonest. Though named pratense, it 
is more usually met with by river sides than in 
meadows, except where there are ditches or water¬ 
courses. It would be an ornament to the flower 
garden. 
2. G pyrenaicum.— This is more local than rare. 
Your interesting correspondent C.B.G., draws 
attention to it in your last issue. It is very plentiful 
in the neighbouring county of Bucks, and in a lane 
near Gerrard’s Cross. I have seen it in such masses 
—a perfect bank of flower for more than half a mile 
— as to be quite a conspicuous object from a 
distance. 
3. G. lucidum. — This is very local, but its bright 
shining foliage betrays its existence where it grows. 
This is principally on banks and walls. It is fairly 
frequent in west Middlesex, and east Bucks ; and I 
know at least three localities, but do not seem to 
have met with it elsewhere than in the Isle of 
Wight. I have found it very difficult to naturalise 
in a garden. 
4 G. robertiaxum. —This is, perhaps, the 
commonest of all, and if introduced into a rockery, 
becomes a pest, which is a pity, as its foliage is very 
beautiful. I have met with the white variety. 
5. G. molle. —This delightful little plant, with its 
soft, downy leaves and modest pink flower, is one of 
the best known to children. The whole plant has a 
delicate smell by which it can be readily dis¬ 
tinguished. In some situations it becomes so robust 
that it might at first be mistaken for another 
species. 
6. G. pusillum and 7. G. dissectum are also 
very common; but 8. G. ^rotundifolium is not so 
frequent. 
9. G. columbinum is local. I have found it 
plentiful in Surrey. 
10. G. phaeum. —This, which is called the 
Dusky Crane’s-bill, is easily distinguished by its 
very dark colour, almost approaching black. I have 
met with it in Essex, and know where it grows on 
the sides of a water-course in Surrey. In the gardens 
of St. John’s College, Oxford, it is quite a weed, 
growing in great quantities in the shrubberies. 
11. G. sanguineum. —This also has come under 
the notice of C. B. G., who recommends it as a garden 
plant, with which I quite agree. It is mostly found 
in rocky localities; but I do not think I have seen it 
wild out of Scotland. 
12. G. sylvaticum is rarely found south of 
Yorkshire. 
13 G. nodosum— This appears to be a naturalised 
plant; I have never met with it. 
There is, however, another species which is not 
included in the British flora, and which is becoming 
naturalised in some places, I refer to G. striatum, 
the " Pencilled k Geranium " so common in gardens 
forty years ago. I have met with it in Surrey (our 
locality), but more often in Cornwall at a consider¬ 
able distance from any garden and where it appeared 
thoroughly established. 
Of the three Erodiums two are quite common and 
E. maritimum local. 
It will be seen from the above that although 
Geranium is the popular name for all the beautiful 
species in the greenhouse or garden, that we must in 
effect banish it from every place but the field and use 
no other term than " Pelargonium.”— Sigma. 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 
We are now approaching the period that will mar 
or make our plants. The roots of those that were 
potted early should now be a network of diligent 
feeders, and immediately that time arrives the 
grower must be in a position to give the needed help, 
and that in the most approved manner. 
Feeding 
is generally looked upon as the most important 
feature of “ 'mum " culture. It is a well-known fact 
that the "Autumn Queen" is blest with a keen 
appetite. Not only must she have quantity, but to 
do her justice, quality is also needed. Although 
feeding must be dealt with in no niggardly spirit, the 
grower must be careful not to over-dose ; better err 
on the side of weakness, than give a mixture that is 
too strong, which will destroy the young and tender 
rootlets, and so hinder instead of help on to the 
desired haven. Stimulants in no form should be 
given when the plant is suffering from dryness ; if 
the plant is flagging, clear water will prove more 
satisfactory to renew the resources of plant life ; in 
fact manurial agents will have a tendency to increase 
the damage done by drought. Feeding is a matter 
that is somewhat difficult to clearly define; one 
grower may pin his faith to one system, whilst 
another may be equally successful in rendering aid 
in an altogether different manner. Oft times one 
grower may not be able to follow out his own wishes, 
as what he prefers is difficult to obtain, and he is 
therefore compelled to use what he has got, in place 
of what he would like. Therefore, in dealing with 
this question of 
Manures, 
we will endeavour to notice those generally in use by 
successful growers, with a repeated warning not to 
give them over strong. Natural manures are more 
generally in request, for the reason, possibly, that 
the grower has generally a better knowledge of their 
strength. The strongest of these is that obtained 
from the open cesspool or privy. A bucketful of 
