140 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 2 , 1889. 
Floral Proliferation in Two Natural 
Orders. 
The Hen-and-Chicken Daisy is a -well-known instance 
of this kind, and others appear in the Composita;, such 
as a case that came under my notice recently at 
Devonhurst, Chiswick. Two plants of Chrysanthemum 
Fair Maid of Guernsey produced monstrous heads, and 
the florets, instead of being normal, became developed 
into little shoots, literally branches, bearing little flower- 
heads at their apices. Bertier Rendatler habitually pro¬ 
duces lateral flower-heads of considerable size. Precisely 
the same thing occurred elsewhere in Scabiosa atropur- 
purea, belonging to Dipsaceae, an order closely allied to 
the Compositse. The flowers in this order are densely 
compacted in heads similar to those of a Composite, 
and each is surrounded individually by a little cup, 
termed an involucre, while the head of flowers is also 
surrounded by an involucre of bracts, common to all. 
In the case under consideration, median floral proli¬ 
feration occurred, and instead of a single flower within 
each cup, there was a greater or less number of them ; 
and the pedicel, normally absent or nearly so, here 
became more or less elongated, sometimes considerably 
so, carrying a number of little flowers more or less 
perfect, or with the corolla irregularly split, but of the 
normal colour. Here we have cases in two different 
families, of the florets, not only of the ray, but of the 
whole head, becoming developed into branches, so that it 
would not be difficult to conceive that the flower-heads 
of both the Dipsaceaj and the Composite consist of a 
reduced inflorescence, which in the ancestral forms was 
branched. Owing to the peculiar structure of the 
flower heads of Echinops and its allies, one would sooner 
expect to meet with cases like the above, than in 
Beilis and Chrysanthemum. — J. F. 
Saxifraga sarmentosa tricolor superba. 
This beautiful variegated variety of the old Mother of 
Thousands varies considerably in colour at different 
periods of the year, according to the amount of light 
prevailing. Just now, at Forest Hill, the leaves have 
a central green blotch and a broad creamy white 
margin, tinted with orange or red when young. 
During summer the latter dark and beautiful shades 
are much more prevalent. 
Heliantbus orgyalis. 
A large number of the perennial and autumn-flowering 
Sunflowers have great similarity in appearance on 
account of the little variation in the general shape and 
size of the leaves. This cannot be said of H. orgyalis, 
which has proportionately very narrow leaves, that 
recuive gracefully, simply owing to their own length. 
The stems are also so densely clothed with them that 
they appear quite sprightly and refined compared with 
the coarseness attributable to many of the giants of the 
genus. According to the season and the richness of 
the soil in which they are planted the stems vary from 
6 ft. to 10 ft. in height, constituting a subject that 
should not be lost sight of for planting in the wild 
garden. It is, however, refined enough for the her¬ 
baceous border, where the tall stems, surmounted by a 
panicle of small but bright yellow flower-heads, render 
it a conspicuous object amongst the other occupants of 
the border during the autumn months. 
Solanum sisymbriifolium. 
To see this plant in its best character, seeds should be 
sown in heat and grown on in pots for the decoration 
of the conservatory in autumn. It will vary from 2 ft. 
to 3 ft. under those conditions, and ripen its fruit 
towards the end of summer earlier or later, according 
to the time the seeds were sown, and the temperature 
of the house in which they are kept. Raised in heat 
and planted out, this species will make good growth, 
and also flower and fruit towards the end of the season ; 
but in order to ripen properly before the advent of 
frost, the plants must be well forwarded in heat before 
being planted out. The species may be considered 
ornamental, both for its foliage, its curious prickly 
stems, flowers, and fruit. Typically the flowers are 
pale blue, and very similar to those of many other 
species with which we are familiar, including the 
Potato ; but there are white as well as purple-flowered 
varieties. The leaves are deeply lobed or pinnatifid, 
spiny, light green, and in the peculiar form of their 
divisions have been compared to those of Sisymbrium, 
a genus of Cruciferous weeds, of which there are several 
British representatives. The fruit is a globular berry, 
of a bright orange-red colour when mature, and about 
the size of a large cherry. One occasionally sees this 
plant in garden 3 under the name of S. hsematocarpum, 
which, of course, refers to the colour of the fruit. It 
has also been named S. Balbisii and S. decurrens. It 
might be used in sub-tropical garden designs to great 
advantage. 
Autumn-Flowering' Saxifrages. 
Very exceptional in their season of flowering are Saxi- 
fraga Fortunei and S. cortusaefolia, both nearly hardy 
in the south ; but liable to have their flowers soiled 
or destroyed owing 'to their habit of flowering when 
the trees are losing their leaves, and when everything 
mostly wears a bleak aspect. Both are compact and 
tufted in habit, with dark green, lobed and toothed 
leaves, something between kidney and heart-shaped in 
outline. The panicles of white flowers of S. Fortunei 
rise to the height of a foot, and certainly render them¬ 
selves conspicuous at this season, when peering above 
other and dying vegetation. The petals are very 
unequal in size, one or two of the lower ones being 
much longer than the rest, while all are saw-toothed 
on the margin, affording a character by which the 
species may be readily recognised from S. cortussefolia. 
The latter shows the same irregularity of the petals, 
one to three of them being much longer than the rest. 
Five petals constitute the regular number in a flower, 
but this species seems liable to produce many more at 
times. The flowers are creamy white, and expand 
about the same time as the pure white ones of S. 
Fortunei. Both may be seen in full bloom at present 
in the hardy plant house at Kew. 
The Cornish Moneywort. 
The green form of this British plant is very pretty, 
with its long, trailing stems and circular notched 
leaves overhanging the pot or pan in which it is grown. 
The variegated form, with its broad charming white 
margin, is even a more handsome plant, but is rather 
more delicate and less easily cultivated by those who 
do not understand its habit. In a dry atmosphere the 
white margin is liable to become brown, thus destroying 
the beauty of the plant. On its native rocks it grows 
in partly shaded places where the water trickles down, 
thus furnishing a continuous supply of moisture. 
Where there is a difficulty in keeping it moist it should 
be covered by a bell-glass, or hand-light with a pane of 
glass on the top. 
Begonia metallica variegata. 
The ordinary and typical form of this variety is so 
well known as to need little comment, seeing that it is 
valued both for its foliage and its flowers. There is, 
however, a new variety with large patches or blotches 
of creamy white on the leaves, and the latter being 
paler, show off the red midrib and leading nerves to 
advantage. We noted some young plants of it in the 
nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons at Forest Hill. 
The Neapolitan Cyclamen. 
Nome of the hardy Cyclamens appear better adapted to 
our climate than C. neapolitanum, although the flowers 
come at a season when they are liable to be much 
injured by the rough autumnal gales. They become 
quite gay during August, September, and October, and 
when the first blooms expand are unaccompanied by 
foliage. The latter appears before the flowering season 
is over, and continues to decorate the spots where the 
plants grow during the winter months. The indi¬ 
vidual leaves are cordate in outline, more or less deeply 
lobed or repandly toothed at the margin, and beauti¬ 
fully variegated with grey blotches, forming a zone 
round the centre. The flowers are of a rosy purple hue, 
marked with a deep violet-purple ring round the mouth 
in the typical form ; but several distinct varieties are 
now in cultivation which differ in the intensity of their 
hues from dark purple to pure white. Some of the 
forms are also sweetly scented. The species may be 
recognised from the rest of its congeners by the fact 
of its flowering in the autumn in the open border, and 
by the auricles at the base of the segments of the 
corolla. It may be reckoned one of the hardiest we 
have, and is not only widely distributed in central and 
southern Europe, but is naturalised in a few of the 
southern counties of England. The corms should be 
planted in well-drained situations on the rockery, or 
in beds of good soil along the margins of drives, where 
the plants will be somewhat shaded from bright sun¬ 
shine until the leaves die down in early summer. 
Crocus speciosus. 
There can be little doubt but that this is the 
finest autumn-flowering species of Crocus we have. 
By planting on different exposures, a succession of 
flowers can be ensured for several weeks together 
during the autumn, when but few of that class 
are obtainable. The flowers themselves are of large 
size, warm lilac, and most beautifully feathered 
with deep purple lines, and the combination gives 
them an attractive bluish aspect. The leaves appear at 
the same time as the flowers, and in the course of the 
winter attain their maximum development. As a 
species it is perfectly hardy, and the only drawback to 
its general cultivation is that the flowers are liable to 
get destroyed during stormy weather and heavy down¬ 
pours of rain. But this applies equally to many other 
subjects that flower in autumn, but especially to those of 
a frail nature. During sunny or even calm weather, a 
number of flowers emerge from the soil, and for a time 
appear quite gorgeous, to be succeeded by others a 
little later on. One thing that ought to be borne in 
mind by the planter is that the clumps of this or any 
other autumn-flowering Crocus should be located in 
situations well exposed to light, but sheltered on those 
sides from whence the strongest gales are experienced, 
so that they may last as long as possible. Any 
good garden soil that is not too heavy or clayey will 
suit it. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
-- 
The Heaton House Sale. 
It will be gratifying to holders of good Orchids to 
know that, notwithstanding the depreciation which 
has taken place in the value of ordinary things, 
good varieties still command good prices. This was 
well exemplified at the sale last week of the late 
Mr. Partington’s collection, at which most of the 
leading buyers were represented, and a good sale 
resulted, the total amount realised being over 
£1,000. We append a few of the leading prices 
obtained. The special attraction was the Phalaenop- 
sids, and these were disposed of as follows:—P. 
Sanderiana, with branching spikes, 6i guineas ; a 
plant with nine leaves, 3 guineas ; P. grandiflora, 
eight leaves and spike, 4J guineas ; six leaves and 
spike, 4 guineas; fourteen leaves, 9 guineas ; twelve 
leaves, 7 guineas ; thirteen leaves, 7 guineas ; fifteen 
leaves, £6 16s. 6 d. ; twelve leaves (Borneo variety), 
8 guineas ; ten leaves, £6 16s. 6 d. ; P. amabilis, eleven 
leaves, £5 15s. 6 d. ; eight leaves, 4 guineas ; P. 
Sehilleriana, five leaves, £?8 18s. 6 d. ; seven leaves, 
£7 17s. 67. Masdevallia Harryana, two plants in a 
lot, 6 guineas, 7 guineas, and 8J guineas ; Epidendrum 
vitellinum majus, splendidly grown, 8 guineas, 
3i guineas, and £2 15s. ; Cattleya Gaskelliana albens 
odorata, fourteen bulbs, in flower, 17 and IS guineas ; 
thirteen bulbs, in flower, 10 guineas ; seventeen bulbs, 
13 guineas ; C. Mossis Amstii, 5j guineas ; Lycaste 
Skinneri alba, one lead, two flowers, 5 guineas ; Odon- 
toglossum crispum Partingtoni, ten bulbs, 5 guineas ; 
and O. crispum Mandiana, 5i guineas. 
Lycaste Skinneri, twin-flowered. 
This useful and showy Orchid is now coming into 
bloom, and flowering as it does during the dull part of 
the year, and the length of time the flowers last in 
perfection, makes it a general favourite. I saw a plant 
at Homefield, Ealing, carrying eleven scapes from one 
pseudo-bulb, and one of the scapes bore two flowers. 
When seen in such condition as this, they form an 
attractive feature in the house.— A. IF. 
Macodes Petola. 
In habit and general appearance this Orchid corre¬ 
sponds closely to a species of Anfectochilus, and like 
that, it is grown solely for the beauty of its foliage. 
The leaves are ovate and deep olive-green, with seven 
golden yellow nerves running throughout their length. 
Between these, and connecting them transversely, are 
bundles of yellow veins, like slender wavy lines, as if 
written with a finely-pointed pen. A very suitable 
compost for the plant consists of two parts sphagnum, 
chopped fine, to one of silver-sand, mixing with the 
whole a small quantity of loam and _peat. The surface 
of the pot or pan should also be covered with live 
sphagnum, and the long slender roots of the plants 
inserted in this after pressing it firm. Cover the pots 
or pans with a hand-light, in order to maintain the 
moisture about the plants ; but the top of the light 
should be slightly tilted in the mornings, to renew the 
air about them and prevent that stagnancy which would 
otherwise occur. We noted this and several others in 
the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. 
