526 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 18, 1896. 
Alpines. The pretty Shortia galacifolia has been 
flowering for some time past ; and close by it is a 
clump of the fragrant Tulipa sylvestris major in a 
very thriving condition. Few of the Tulips are 
distinctly fragrant, but this is an exception. A large 
bank of Anemone ranunculoides supplies a colour 
that is very uncommon in the genus, for the flowers 
are golden-yellow. It may be remembered that white, 
red, and blue species and varieties are plentiful 
enough. Then we have A. alpina sulphurea, in 
which the flowers are of a light sulphur-yellow hue. 
Dentaria digitata appears quite happy at the base of 
the rockery. 
The beautiful Primula marginata from the Alps 
grows and flowers freely ; its long roots penetrate the 
soil deeply and enable it to obtain the necessary 
moisture. Aubrietia Royal Purple forms a large 
patch of deep purple on the uppermost and most 
exposed portion of the rockery ; it was raised from the 
richly-coloured A. Leichtlinii. The yellow flowers 
of Geum aureum are larger than those of G. 
montanum. The foliage of Tellima grandiflora rubra 
retained a bronzy-red hue all the winter. That of 
the type was green during the same period. The 
variety is certainly pretty for rockwork on account 
of the colour of the leaves. The first of the 
Umbellifers to flower is Dondia Epipactis which still 
retains the yellow colour of its large bracts. 
Oenothera speciosa rambles about here like a weed. 
Primula Auricula marginata is a variety of the 
Auricula with yellow flowers and a farinaceous 
margin to the broad leaves. Under the projecting 
ledge of a large stone are several pieces of Primula 
viscosa, perfectly happy and flowering freely. 
In the immediate neighbourhood of this rockery 
are various other interesting subjects, including some 
thriving patches of Trillium californicum, with 
purple and white flowers. Trinity Flower has been 
suggested as an appropriately popular name for the 
Trilliums, on account of the leaves, sepals, petals, and 
carpels being uniformly three in number. The old 
blue Polyanthus (Primula elatior caerulea) is an 
interesting and pretty variety, even if it lacks the 
intensity now to be found amongst some of the 
modern types. Double Crimson, Double White, and 
Platypetala Plena, are double varieties of the 
Primrose that always find favour. The first-named 
is uncommon. The intensely blue Tecophilea 
cyanocrocus is doing well planted out in an un¬ 
heated frame ; the white centre sets off the blue. 
Scattered about the grounds are many subjects 
which serve to enlighten the garden at this season of 
the year. Amongst a large number of decorative 
Tulips, Due Van Thol Cochineal is the first to 
expand its flowers which are bright scarlet with a 
golden base. It is the largest-flowered form of Due 
Van Thol in cultivation. The sweet-scented Muscari 
conicum bears conical racemes of dark blue flowers. 
It would make a capital subject for filling small beds 
on the grass. Tulipa Greigi is also very fine; and 
some of the individuals have very dark leaves with 
broad purple blotches. The flowers vary from bright 
scarlet to nearly yellow. The first of the Doronicums 
to bloom is D. caucasicum. This is followed by D. 
plantagineum excelsum and D. austriacum majus, 
both of which have been in flower for a long time 
past. 
Near the bulb-drying room some high wooden fences 
are put up for the sake of sheltering some of the 
choicer collection of bulbs and other subjects. A 
considerable number of species of Fritillaries are 
cultivated in the borders on both sides of these 
fences. Fritillaria armena has brownish-purple 
flowers with a gray bloom upon them like some of 
the Plums. The variety F. a. reticulata has greenish, 
and F. a. aurea yellow flowers. All three are very 
dwarf. F. Bommulleri has golden flowers like those 
of F. aurea, but the interior is more heavily 
chequered with brown. The flowers of F. lanceolata 
are larger than those of F. 1 . gracilis, but the dark 
brown and lighter markings of the latter give it a 
more interesting appearance. F, ophioglossifolia has 
glaucous leaves and a solitary, large green flower, 
tessellated with brown internally. The dark 
brownish-purple flowers of F. tenella are distinct, 
and borne on stems 18 in. high. Those of F. 
■Whittalli are green with pale brown tesserae. The 
bold clusters of pale green flowers of F. pallidiflora 
are very conspicuous and well worthy of culture in a 
herbaceous border. More handsome, however, is 
that named F. latifolia Van Staten, which bears a 
large solitary flower chequered with brown externally 
and crimson internally. Another very fine variety 
is F. 1 . nobilis with dark purple flowers. Some of 
the bulbs flowered as early as February. Few of 
the Fritillarias after all are really prettier than our 
British species F. Meleagris. The bulbs having been 
established for some time, many of them bear twin 
flowers, though the latter are normally solitary. 
On the occasion of our visit the latest of the 
Chionodoxas to come into bloom—namely, C. 
Tmolusii—was at its best. The flowers are whiter 
and more stellate than those of C. Luciliae. C. 
gigantea alba had not, however, finished blooming. 
There is also a white variety of C. Luciliae. A rosy 
variety of Scilla bifolia was still blooming on a north 
aspect border, notwithstanding the fact that the type 
is the earliest of its kind to expand in early spring. 
Scilla siberica alba is snowy white and very attractive 
when grown alone or by contrast with the typical 
blue form. Bulbs of various other subjects will 
keep up a display for a long time to come, and the 
decorative or bedding Tulips will be splendid in the 
course of a week. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The awards mentioned below were given by the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the yth inst. 
Floral Committee. 
Polygala chamaebuxus purpurea. —The honour 
accorded to this beautiful hardy plant was well 
merited and might have been given years ago. The 
plant forms a compact, evergreen tuft about 2 in. to 
3 in. high, and produces its charming flowers in 
April and May. The leaves are leathery, and vary 
from oblong to lanceolate. For rockwork or for 
cultivation in pots, this is an admirable subject. The 
two outer petals are deep purple and the three inner 
ones yellow. Award of Merit. Messrs. J. Veitch 
& Sons, Chelsea. 
Stock Sutton’s White Forcing "Purity.”— 
This charming variety belongs to the Wallflower¬ 
leaved section, the characteristics of which are 
shining dark green and smooth leaves. The plant 
forms dwarf, sturdy, pyramidal bushes bearing 
several spikes of large, pure white, sweet-scented 
flowers. The fragrance reminds one of the Clove 
Carnation. A large percentage of the plants come 
double. That the variety may be had in full bloom 
at this early period of the year, should insure for it a 
very wide cultivation. Nothing could be more 
charming for conservatory work. Award of Merit. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. 
Arctotis aureola.— The habit of this species 
recalls that of A. arborescens, but the flowers are 
different in colour. The long rays are deep orange 
and the disc brown. The leaves are pinnatified, like 
those of a Ragwort, and cottony beneath. It makes 
a useful greenhouse or conservatory plant, and 
should more often be cultivated. Award of Merit. 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate. 
Rose Clara Watson. —In this we have a new 
Tea variety, several shades paler than Souvenir d’Un 
Ami and salmon pink. The bloom is cup-shaped 
with revolute edges to the outer petals, and very 
pretty. Award of Merit. Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
Apple Annie Elizabeth. —This grand variety is 
well-known for its late-keeping qualities. As a rule 
the fruits are more or less of a light, shining green, 
smooth and very firm. The specimens shown by 
Mr. Will Taylor, Hampton, Middlesex, were above 
the average size and of a deep yellow, almost golden 
colour with a bright red or crimson check on the 
sunny side. In shape, the fruit is ovate or slightly 
conical with the eye sunk in a deep, slightly plaited 
cavity. Award of Merit. 
Daffodil Committee. 
Narcissus poeticus Dante. —The flowers of this 
beautiful form are large with pure white, overlapping 
segments. The crown is saucer-shaped and yellow, 
with a broad intense orange-scarlet rim. First-class 
Certificate. Rev. E. G. Engleheart, Appleshaw, 
Andover. 
Narcissus poeticus Petrarch. —Compared with 
Dante, this has flowers of moderate size, but with 
very broad, overlapping segments, especially the 
outer ones, and pure white with a peculiar satiny 
gloss in certain lights. The crown is broad and flat 
with a narrow, deep scarlet edge. Award of Merit. 
Rev. E. G. Engleheart. 
THE PUNT HOUSES. 
The Stove. 
With alternating spells of sunshine and rain those 
in charge of the stove department will have enough 
and to spare to do in pulling the blinds up and down. 
The shading will indeed need to be very carefully 
watched, for the sun's rays are very powerful now, 
and scorching will be almost sure to result from even 
a few minutes’ neglect. On the other hand, the 
blinds ought not to be left down during long, dull 
periods, or the tissues of the plants will become 
drawn and weakly. At this season of the year, when 
so many plants are making fresh growths, it will be t 
advisable to keep the stove very much closer than is 
usual later on in the summer. Air should never be 
rushed on in a hurry, although this must not be 
taken to mean that none at all is to be put on. The 
house must be shut up early in the afternoon, when 
a copious syringing should be given. If the tempera¬ 
ture rises then to 85° Fahr. so much the better, as 
less fireheat will be needed. A night temperature of 
from 6 g° to 70° may be thus kept up without driving 
the fires to any extent. Should the nights prove 
very cold, it will do no harm if the thermometer 
drops a couple of degrees or so lower than the 
standard recommended. 
Acalyphas. —These bright-faced foliage plants are 
an ornament to any stove. A. musaica, A. obovata, 
A. macrophylla, and A. marginata are all well worthy 
of cultivation. If any old plants are to hand plenty 
of cuttings may easily be obtained from them. They 
strike very quickly now if placed under a hand-glass 
in a warm pit or in a propagating frame, and will 
soon grow into nice young plants. After the cuttings 
are once well rooted they should be given as light a 
position as possible, in order that the brilliant 
colouring of the leaves may be properly developed. 
Hymenocallis, or to give them their more popular 
garden name, Pancratiums, will now need plenty of 
water. Liquid manure applied to those plants which 
are throwing up their flower scapes will prove of the 
utmost service. The white fragrant flowers come in 
very handy for cutting, and are deservedly held in 
high esteem everywhere. H. macrostephana and H. 
speciosa are the two species most frequently met 
with in gardens, and both are grand plants. The 
former is rather earlier in blooming than the latter 
as a rule. 
Pits and Frames. 
Every available inch of space will be in use here, 
for the hosts of bedding plants that are required in 
most large establishments have seriously to be 
reckoned with. As the bedding-out time is now 
coming on apace the process of hardening off the 
earlier batches will be actively in progress. Happy 
are those gardeners who have sufficient cold frames 
to accommodate the seemingly endless array of pots 
and boxes without the necessity for rigging up 
temporary pieces of framework in an attempt to 
lessen the pressure for space. The nightly coverings- 
up of unheated structures will now in a great 
measure be discarded with the advancing season. 
Great caution in this respect is, however, required, 
for on several occasions of late the mercury has 
fallen perilously near freezing point, if, indeed, it has 
not dropped below it. It is far better to continue 
the covering up until all danger has passed away than 
it is to be caught napping. 
Pricking off. —Like many other operations 
common to gardening this seems to come with a 
rush, and it is hard work to get through with it 
before some of the plants are well nigh spoiled. The 
wary gardener will have done everything possible to 
expedite matters in the way of preparing soil. Avoid 
having too many plants out of the soil at once, for 
the tender rootlets soon perish. It is also very 
necessary to see that the seedlings, to use a gardener’s 
phrase, are not “ hung,’’ or they will get beautifully 
less by degrees. Careful attention must be paid to 
watering and shading if good results are desired. 
Chrysanthemums. —Those plants that are 
destined to produce large blooms must be potted off 
into 6-in. pots without delay. Some of the forwardest 
growers have got this matter over by this time. 
