August 1, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
773 
to the leaves and that is exhaled on the slightest 
pressure is not exactly a pleasant one. The subject 
of this notice is exceedingly handsome. The large 
rosy-pink flowers are produced in umbels bearing 
from six to eight upon long stout scapes. The umbel 
itself is subpendent, owing to the characteristic bend 
of the upper part of the scape. The spathe also is 
of extra large size. Some pots of this Allium were 
quite a picture a couple of weeks ago in the Alpine 
House at Kew. 
ROSA RUGOSACOULBERT'S DOUBLE WHITE. 
Amongst the numerous hybrid and improved 
varieties of this beautiful Japanese Rose, that named 
above holds a distinguished place. The foliage is 
quite typical, and in that respect lies a considerable 
amount of its distinctness and charm as a Rose. 
No other type presents the same bold and wrinkled 
character of the leaves, which are of good texture, 
and never, so far as we have noticed, subject to the 
same severe attack by aphides as the bulk of garden 
Roses are, particularly in seasons like the present. 
For that reason, if for no other, warm encourage¬ 
ment should be given to the development of a new 
race of Roses. Even if attacked by insects, the 
leathery character of the foliage would stand a con¬ 
siderable amount of washing with the hose or syringe 
without getting discoloured or disfigured in the same 
way as those with which the cultivator is more 
familiar. The flowers of the variety under notice 
are of great size and pure white, but practically only 
semi-double, or little more, seeing that the centre is 
open. The petals are individually very broad, so 
that a perfectly double flower of this type ought to 
attain a handsome size. The flower has a fairly 
strong and sweet odour, recalling that of the old- 
fashioned Rosa gallica. A small bush, about 2 ft. 
high and of spreading habit, has been flowering 
freely in the gardens at Kew since the middle of 
May, or, at least, since the third week of that month. 
SOME CURIOUS CACTI. 
Many curious forms of vegetation are met with 
amongst the Cactcae which grow in arid regions 
where the character of the climate will not permit 
the growth oi leaves on account of the lack of 
moisture. Some strange forms are figured in the 
13th number of the monthly issue of the Dutch 
periodical, Tijdschrift voor Tuinbonw, including 
Astrophytum myriostigma, A. m. princeps and 
Echinocactus ornatus. Astrophytum means star- 
plant and in this respect we may compare them to the 
forms of Puffball which are designated by the Greek 
name of Geaster, which means Earth-star. The 
species of Astrophytum are plants consisting of a 
fleshy globular stem, deeply or strongly five to seven 
angled or ridged. A. myriostigma takes its specific 
name from the fact that the angles of the stem are 
furnished with a row of small spots, the scars of the 
fallen spines, on each of the ridges. The variety A. 
m. princeps is characterised by having tufts of small 
spines here and there along the longitudinal ridges. 
The plant figured has seven ridges and a surface 
covered with small protuberances or elevations. 
Echinocactus ornatus has numerous ridges furnished 
with starry tufts of strong spines. Some of the 
species of this genus, notably E. Wislizeni, has very 
numerous strong spines. 
THE SUTTON RHUBARB. 
The chief fault to which many varieties of Rhubarb 
are subject, when the crowns attain a large size, is 
that they run to seed, and so far spoil the best 
ones for forcing purposes. The gardener can 
remove the flower stem at an early stage and thereby 
save the exhaustion of the plant, but in any case the 
main crown will give no further produce. The side 
crowns are, however, encouraged to develop by this 
timely attention. We recently noted a large plan¬ 
tation of the above variety in the nursery of Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading. The plants were very 
vigorous, yet there was a remarkable absence of 
flowering stems. The leaves are dark green and have 
a peculiarity by which the variety may be recognised 
amongst a collection of varieties. The base of the 
blade close to the top of the leaf-stalk developes so 
irregularly as to cause the thin portion to tear away 
from the ribs. This, however has no depreciating 
effect upon the leaf-stalks. 
LILIUM TESTACEUM, 
The flowering time of this beautiful Lily is usually 
from the middle to the end of July, but owing, no 
doubt, to the season being a more than ordinarily 
forward one, it has been displaying its charms fully 
a month earlier this year. It is grown in consider¬ 
able quantities by Messrs. Barr & Son at Long 
Ditton, and for some weeks past the plants have 
been flowering profusely. The flowers are pale 
yellow, slightly suffused with dull red, and from 2 in. 
to 3 in. in depth, and about the same in diameter. 
The racemes vary considerably in the number of 
flowers they bear, but from five to six blooms would 
be a fair average. L. testaceum is of garden origin, 
and is probably a hybrid between L. candidum and 
L. chalcedonicum. 
LEYLAND CARNATIONS. 
In addition to other hardy flowers Mr. C. Walker, 
F.R.H.S., pays a good deal attention to Carnations, 
and a box of blooms which he recently forwarded to 
us from his nurseries at Leyland, contained some 
pretty forms, which, although falling short of the 
florists’ idea of excellence are yet useful decorative 
varieties. One of these a bright magenta hued self, 
was very striking, as exhibiting a colour that is far 
too seldom seen in a Carnation. Several other rose, 
crimson, and scarlet seifs, most of which were clove- 
scented, are well worthy of mention. The deeply 
fimbriated petals are, of course, a detraction from a 
show bloom, but not from a purely decorative 
variety. Some fancy varieties in which the 
markings were of scarlet, and rose should prove very 
useful for the same purpose. Mr. Walker also goes 
in for Pansies to some extent and several of the 
seedlings sent us were of good form and substance, 
but as they had not received names we are prevented 
from referring to them in detail. 
--- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, July 28 th .—Hardy herbaceous 
plants and succulents belonging chiefly to the 
Cactaceae were the features of the meeting on 
Tuesday last. Tuberous Begonias were also an 
important feature. Orchids were not present in any 
quantity, being out of season and many people away 
for the holidays. There were several collections of 
fruit. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited a 
small group of Orchids, including Cypripedium Ade 
Lairesse, C. massaianum, C. Lord Derby, and 
several others. Interesting things were Paphinia 
Randii, Pholidota obovata, Acropera luteola, 
Restrepia elegans, R. antennifera, and Dendrobium 
bracteosum. The group was set off with Asparagus 
albanense. 
A beautiful and very distinct hybrid Cypripedium, 
named C. Harrisander, was exhibited by W. C. 
Clarke, Esq., Liverpool. Cypripedium Mabelliae, 
Cattleya schofieldiana, and C. s. superba were staged 
by Messrs, W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, (grower, Mr. W. H. 
White), Burford Lodge, Dorking, exhibited a well 
grown piece of Odontoglossum aspidorhinum, also 
Dendrobium curviflorum, D. revolutum, Maxillaria 
Hubschii, and Masdevallia infracta, all well flowered 
and either pretty or exceedingly interesting. Most 
of them are in fact very uncommon. S. Banner, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. John Edwards), Sherwood, 
Sefton Park, Liverpool, showed a richly-coloured, 
reddish-purple flower of Cattleya granulosa Banneri. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a 
beautiful hybrid Cattleya named C. Atlanta, as well 
as the beautiful Cypripedium Brysa, and the dark 
flowered hybrid Masdevallia Ajax. Both parents 
(M. Chelsoni and M. Peristeria) were strikingly 
distinct from the progeny. 
Messrs. Lhos. Cripps & Son, Tunbridge Wells 
Nurseries, exhibited a large basketful of well flowered 
plants of Disa grandiflora, showing a great variety of 
beautiful colouring and flowers of large size (Silver 
Banksian Medal). 
The Drill Hall was startled out of its usual staid 
character by a superb group of tuberous Begonias 
and foliage plants set up by Mr. H. J. Jones, Rye- 
croft Nursery, Lewisbam, S.E., that presented a most 
imposing appearance. The arrangement was capital 
throughout, and reflected great credit upon those who 
designed and executed it. The outline of the group 
was charmingly undulated by a series of mounds and 
bays, the whole being edged by Isolepis gracilis, and 
the central bay by Ficus repens and Caladium 
Argyrites. Dotted here and there throughout the 
group were some fine young specimens of Cocos 
weddeliaDa some 5 ft. in height. The Begonias 
were of first-class quality throughout, the doubles 
being especially strong, although singles were well 
represented. The committee awarded a Gold 
Medal for this splendid effort. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Totten¬ 
ham, N., contributed a very pretty lot of hardy cut 
flowers. Pentstemons were a notable feature here, a 
nice collection exhibiting a large number cf colours 
being on view. Carnations, Sweet Peas, Veronicas, 
and Campanulas, were all gay and showy (Silver 
Flora Medal). 
Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, 
were also responsible for a collection of hardy cut 
flowers, for which a Silver Banksian Medal was 
awarded. Herbaceous Phloxes, in spite of the recent 
dry weather, were in fine condition here. 
Messrs. Webb & Brand, Saffron Walden, sent a 
quantity of cut blooms of double Hollyhocks (Bronze 
Banksian Medal). 
A small but choice collection of hardy cut flowers 
was put up by Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, High- 
gate, N. Acanthus candelabrum, Carnations, 
Helianthemums, etc., were all well worthy of praise 
(Silver Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. Young & Dobinson, Stevenage, Herts 
showed a quantity of blooms of double and single 
Begonias. Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, 
Syon House, Brentford, showed some fine cut spikes 
of Campanula alba compacta. Messrs. James Veitch 
& Sons, Chelsea, had samples of hardy ornamental 
shrubs, including Eucryphia pinnatifolia, Pavia 
jnacrostacbya, Stuartia Pseudo-C amelliae, and 
Corylus Colurna. Some small plants of Salisburia 
adiantifolia variegata were forthcoming from Messrs. 
Cripps & Son. 
Mr. R. Jensen, Mansfield Nurseries, Chingford, 
Essex, received a Silver Banksian Medal for an 
excellent group of the grand new zonal Pelargonium 
King of Denmark, the plants being remarkable for 
their floriferousness (Silver Banksian Medal). 
Dahlias made a first appearance for the season from 
the nurseries of Mr. J, Walker, Thame, Oxon. Five 
dozen blooms of showy and fancy varieties were 
contributed by this exhibitor in excellent style. 
Gloire de Lyon, William Rawlings, Golden Gem, 
J. T. West, John Wyatt, Majestic, S. Mortimer, and 
Mrs. W. Slack, were some of the best varieties on 
view. A number of bunches of sweet Peas also came 
from the same source, the flowers showing little 
signs of the prevailing drought (Silver Banksian 
Medal). 
A most Interesting feature of the exhibition was 
the competition for a collection of Cacti which 
finally resulted in Mr. G. J. Pritchard, 78, Godwin 
Road, Forest Gate, E., being placed first with a 
group comprising 230 distinct plants. The second 
prize was carried off by Mrs. Chilton, Wealdstone, 
Middlesex, with a much smaller collection ; and the 
third by C. A Blogg, Esq., 65, Brighton Road, South 
Croydon. 
A Silver Flora Medal was awarded to Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, for a very compre¬ 
hensive collection of cactaceous plants. Some very 
dwarf and wondrously floriferous bedding 
Antirrhinums were also contributed by Messrs, 
Cannell & Sons. 
Mr. M. Leavy, 164, Camberwell New Road, 
exhibited some splendidly finished photos of Orchids, 
including some large pictures of " Miltonia vexillaria, 
and Cattleyas ” in the collection of R. I. Measures, 
Esq., Cambridge Lodge ; Coelcgyne cristata alba, 
and Oncidium ornithorhynchum album. 
Fruit and vegetables were but sparsely represented 
upon the exhibition tables. Messrs. W. Cutbush & 
Son, Higbgate, N., exhibited a couple of new 
Tomatos. One of these called The Cropper, is the 
result of a cross between Perfection and Conference, 
and a marvellously heavy cropper as was demon¬ 
strated by the trusses of fruit exhibited. The other, 
King of the Yellows, is a decided acquisition to the 
list of good yellow varieties. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons showed a hundred dishes 
of splendid gooseberries in distinct varieties. In 
order to illustrate the grand fruiting qualities of 
cordon trained trees, some branches cut fresh from 
the bushes were displayed along with the gathered 
fruit. These branches averaged about three feet in 
length, and were heavily cropped throughout. Some 
dishes of early Apples and Pears, Plums and 
Cherries were also included in this fine collection, for 
