March 21, 1896 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
469 
Hardening ||iscellany. 
ASARUM MAXIMUM. 
The genus Asarum does not find its way into many 
private establishments, and it is only in our botanic 
gardens that we are now aod again able to catch a 
glimpse of one or more of its representatives. 
Asarums, it is true, are not, as a rule, very showy 
plants, and this will doubtless account for their 
comparative rarity in cultivation. The one under 
notice, A. maximum, is, however, distinctly an 
exception, if we may judge from the specimen that 
has lately been in flower in the Begonia house at 
Kew. The plant in question is only about 6 in. in 
height, and is growing in a shallow pan which does 
not assist to any extent in multiplying its inches. 
The leaves are about 4 in. in diameter, cordate in 
shape, and bright green in colour. A few mottlings 
of darker green hue are apparent upon their upper 
surfaces. The flowers are produced close to the 
ground, and are almost hidden from view by the 
foliage leaves. The corolla is bell-shaped, three- 
cleft, and fully a couple of inches in diameter. A 
heavy band of dark velvety-purple runs round the 
limb. The tube is marked by a broad band of 
white, commencing at the throat. Altogether A. 
maximum is both an interesting and a pretty plant, 
and well worth a place in any collection of stove 
subjects. 
HARDY FLOWERS IN SEASON. 
Sisyrhynchium grandiflorum and S. grandiflorum 
album are commonly known as the Rush Lily or 
Satin Flower, owing to the rush-like appearance of 
the foliage, and the glossy or satiny appearance of 
the flowers, which are purple in the former and pure 
white in the latter. The plant is about 1 ft. in height: 
the habit is. neat and clumpy. It is not at all 
particular as to soil or situation, it being a most 
accommodating subject; but it should not be planted 
too deep. March, in ordinary seasons, is its month 
of flowering, but this year it has been with us since 
the middle of February, and will be for some time 
yet. It is a very continuous and most valued 
harbinger of spring.— Coila. 
PLATYCERIUMS ON CORK. 
The Elk's-horn Ferns are usually favourites in most 
establishments, althongh it is only on comparatively 
rare occasions that we see them grown in the manner 
that is best suited to display them to the greatest 
advantage. True it is they grow well enough in 
pots placed on ordinary plant stages, but in such a 
position they are robbed of half their charm. An 
old tree stem, to which a few pieces of virgin cork 
have been nailed, makes a capital miniature Fernery 
that may be used to beautify any odd corner in 
either a warm or an intermediate house. On this 
the plants will grow luxuriantly. For compost, 
chopped sphagnum, peat, charcoal, and sand should 
be used. Plenty of water during the summer 
months is a sine qua non to success in this system of 
culture. Twice or thrice a day, therefore, during 
the warm weather, the syringe may be drawn over 
them, for, unlike many other Ferns, Platyceriums do 
not in the least mind syringing overhead. In the 
winter months, but comparatively little water is 
needed, and even this should be applied by means 
of a watering pot, as it is not advisable to use the 
syringe during the dull seasons for obvious reasons. 
-■*-- 
CRYSTAL PALACE SPRING SHOW. 
The first of the Crystal Palace shows for the season 
was held on Saturday last, March 14th. Hyacinths, 
Narcissi, Tulips, Cyclamen, Cinerarias, Primulas, 
Hippeastrums, etc., made a brave show, although 
the quantity of the material forthcoming was small 
compared with previous years, and when the 
favourable character of the past winter is taken into 
account. 
In the class for thirty-six Hyacinths, Mr. Jas. 
Douglas, gardener to Mrs.Whitbourn, Great Gearies, 
Ilford, Essex, as, in former years, came off with 
flying colours. He had excellent samples of such 
standard varieties as Lord Derby, Mont Blanc, 
Captain Boy ton, Sultan, Koh-i-Noor, King of the 
Blacks, La Grandesse, Lady Clinton, Princess Mary 
of Cambridge, and Czar Peter, the bloom spikes 
being large and vigorous. Mr. James Gibson, 
gardener to E. H. Watts, Esq., Devonhurst, 
Chiswick, occupied the second place. Some of his 
best flowers were Moreno, La Candolle, and Sir 
H. Barkeley. The third prize fell to the lot of 
Messrs. James Winter & Son, Bon Marche Nursery, 
Gipsy Road, West Norwood. Mr. James Douglas 
also had the best thirty-six pots of Tulips, three in a 
pot. Some superb blooms were these, Proserpine, 
White Joost Van Vondel, Mons. Trevor, Keizer 
Kroon, and Duchess of Parma being in especially 
fine form. Second came Mr. William Howe, 
gardener to Henry Tate, Esq., Park Hill, Streatham 
Common, S.W., and third, Mr. James Gibson. The 
premier award for twenty-four pots of Polyanthus 
Narcissi (three bulbs to a pot), was likewise carried 
off by Mr. J. Douglas. La Comtesse, Jaune 
Supreme, Mont Cenis, Grand Monarque, Bazleman 
Major, and the new Illustre Soleil were all in first- 
class condition. Mr. Howe occupied the second, 
and Mr. James Gibson the third place, either with 
remarkably fine plants. Mr. Wm. Howe took the 
first prize for the thirty-six pots of Narcissi of the 
Daffodil section, Mr. James Gibson following him 
very closely. 
A class for thirty-six Cyclamen brought out some 
of the most noteworthy exhibits in the show. The 
St. George’s Nursery Co., Hanwell, came out with 
flying colours here. Their plants were large and 
vigorous, and marvellously floriferous, the indi¬ 
vidual blooms, moreover, being of great substance, 
Mr. G. Mowbray, gardener to Major the Hon. H. 
C. Legge, Fulmer Gardens, near Slough, was 
awarded the second prize; and Mr. Thomas Walker, 
Gordon Nursery, Staines Road, Hounslow, and Mr. 
Thos. Pestridge, Boston Park Road Nursery, 
Brentford, W., were adjudged equal thirds. 
The best twelve Amaryllis were contributed by 
Mr. Jas. Douglas, Mr. Wm. Howe coming in 
second. Mr. John R. Box, The Nurseries, West 
Wickham, Kent, showed the best twelve Cinerarias 
in a class in which Mr. W. Leakey, gardener to J. 
M. Douglas, Esq., Kuparra, College Road, Upper 
Norwood, was second. In a similar class, Mr. C. 
Lane, gardener to E. H. Coles, Esq., Brentwood, 
Upper Caterham, was the most successful exhibitor. 
The first award for twenty-four Chinese Primulas 
fell to the lot of Mr. James Bateman, gardener to 
Mrs. King, Sydenham Hill, who showed well- 
flowered and stocky plants. He was followed at a 
distance by Mr. J. G. Mowbray. In a smaller class 
for twelve Primulas there was keener competition. 
Mr. Mark Webster, gardener to E. J. Preston, Esq., 
Kelsey Park, Beckenham, was adjudged first. 
Following in order of merit came Mr. C. Lane, and 
Mr. W. Slogrove, gardener to Mrs. Crawford, 
Gatton, Reigate. 
Mr. Theodor Jannock, Dersingham, staged twelve 
8 in. pans of Lily of the Valley in excellent style, 
winning, thereby, the first award in a class for the 
same. The best six pots of the popular Lily came 
from Mr. J. Gibson, who was followed by Mr. C. 
Lane and Mr. W. Slogrove. Mr. James Wyatt, 
gardener to J. Perry, Esq., Bradenhurst, Caterham 
Valley, had the best nine pots of Mignonette. Mr. 
Robert Wells, Longton Nursery, Wells Road, 
Sydenham, made a brave display with a first-prize 
group of twenty-four greenhouse trained Rhododen¬ 
drons. N ot only were the plants well grown and 
profusely flowered, but a great deal of variety with 
regard to colour was manifested. The following 
exhibitors took first awards in their respective 
classes:—Messrs. James Winter & Son, for twelve 
Tulips (three in a pot), and for twelve pots of 
Daffodil Narcissi ; C. L. Bathurst, Esq., Queen 
Adelaide Road, Penge, for twelve Hyacinths; and 
Mr. Thos. Crosswell, gardener to W. M. Bullivant, 
Esq., Homewood, Eden Park, Beckenham, for a 
similar number of Cyclamen. 
The first prize for a group of Cyclamen arranged 
for effect with Palms and Ferns occupying a space 
of 60 ft. square was carried off by the St. George's 
Nursery Co. The plants composing this group 
were, indeed, marvels of high-class culture. Very 
nice groups were also staged by Mr. Thos. Pestridge 
and by Mr. Thos. Walker, Gordon Nursery, Staines 
Road, Middlesex, who took second and third prizes 
respectively. 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., 
staged a superb group of stove and greenhouse 
flowering aud foliage plants, winning the first award 
in its class. The group in question was arranged in 
an oval space, and occupied 100 square feet of area. 
The variety of subjects it included was remarkable, 
and not only were the plants themselves eloquent 
evidences of good culture, but the arrangement 
throughout was exceedingly praiseworthy. 
The miscellanous exhibits, although not numerous, 
were remarkable for the excellence of the material 
they contained. 
From Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate 
Nurseries, Highgate, came a comprehensive collec¬ 
tion of forced flowering shrubs, including Azalea 
mollis, Staphylea colchica, Acacias, Daphnes, etc., 
and all of the best. The same firm also contributed 
a superb collection of over two hundred pots of 
Hyacinths and Tulips. Among the former most of 
the leading varieties were noted, the flower spikes 
being large and well developed, and the individual 
flowers of more than ordinary merit. The Tulips 
also were exceedingly pretty, and in first-class 
condition. The Barnet Nurseries contributed this 
part of the exhibit. 
Messrs. J. James & Son, Woodside, Farnham 
Royal, Slough, staged a number of plants of their 
wonderfully dwarf strain of Cinerarias that excited 
the admiration of all lovers of this beautiful and 
popular flower. 
Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, Herts, 
were responsible for a really magnificent display of 
Camellias in pots, and cut blooms of the same. All 
the latest and most up-to-date varieties were worthily 
represented, and the result was a remarkable range 
of colour, and a most pleasing variety. 
Mr. John R. Box sent a considerable number of 
well-grown Cinerarias. Dwarf in habit, the healthy, 
green foliage of the plants was surmounted and 
crowned by large trusses of well-formed and 
brilliantly-coloured flowers. 
Mr. T. Jannock, of Lily of the Valley fame, 
weighed in strongly with exquisite cones and mounds 
of that lovely subject. Staged as they were with a 
groundwork of soft green moss, and a few sprays 
of Asparagus, they looked really charming. The 
length of the racemes and the size and substance of 
the bells also merit a word of praise. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
N., came out strongly with a superior collection of 
Hyacinths, Tulips, and Lily of the Valley in pots. 
A small batch of grand Clivias was a'so staged by 
the same firm. 
EILtEY DEANE. 
By Evelyn C. Griffiths. 
(All rights reserved.) 
CHAPTER XI. 
Eiley in a Garret. 
“ You have made my room look so bright I scarcely 
know it, Susan.” 
It was Eiley who spoke to the good-natured Susan, 
who was bustling about, a-putting of the place tidy, 
as she expressed it. The poor girl had done her 
very best to make a nice fire in the small grate, with 
but ill success, the result being aheap of smouldering 
fuel emitting volumes of smoke, more than the half 
of which would persist in coming into the room 
instead of taking its departure up the narrow 
chimney, as any right-minded smoke would have 
done. 
Upon a small table, which formed the centre-piece 
of the room, she had put a jug filled with fresh 
flowers, and had decorated the two-feet-square 
window with some white muslin. “ Drat that fire !” 
she exclaimed, stopping in front of it. " How it do 
smoke; my Jim must be in a bad temper !” 
" I expect the grate has not been used for some 
time,” said Eiley. * 
“ Here it is just upon twelve o’clock,” cried Susan 
excitedly ; “and this blessed smoke is as thick as 
porridge!” * 
Voices being heard on the stairs Susan rushed 
from the room. In another moment she returned 
and triumphantly announced ” Lord Bewdley.” 
Eiley rose quickly from her chair, uttered a low 
cry and fell fainting to the ground, before Lord 
Bewdley, who was nearly blinded by the dense smoke, 
could get to her. 
He raised the light form of the insensible girl 
gently in his arms and placed her in the chair, telling 
Susan to open the window. 
If you please, my lord, it ain’t made to open,” 
cried Susan. 
“ Then break it! ” replied Lord Bewdley, 
desperately. "This smoke is simply stifling; she 
will never recover in such an atmosphere.” 
The window having been smashed by Susan, the 
smoke reluctantly took its departure, leaving the 
poverty of the attic unveiled and discovered. The 
cold air blowing in at the broken window caused 
