November 9, 1889, 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
155 
sterilise it, and the Incurved represent the most com¬ 
pletely sterilised form, while the Anemone-centred is a 
form in which fertile florets occur, not by accident, but 
as an integral part of the true model. 
The Corea is a cold country, and Japan is a cold 
country, and their climates had contributed to the 
sterilisation, which in the case of the Incurved had 
been completed by British cultivators. Indeed, this, 
the most perfect, the most satisfying, and the most 
exacting of all forms of the flower known to us, is 
really a cold climate form, as our friends in the South 
of France discovered in its refusal to be managed by 
them ; while on the other hand the Japanese type in 
their hands became as a new creation. These iacts are 
of vital importance in the study of the making of this 
grandest of all florists’ flowers. If we are to have new 
forms, we must have fertile flowers to begin with, and 
we must cease to disbud, give no preference to this or 
that bud, allow the plant to show its flowers, and as the 
climate is too cold for seeding, we must make a climate 
for the purpose. English cultivators have hoped for 
seed from incurved flowers of the noblest forms and 
proportions, in accordance with the Shakespearian 
motto, “ From fairest flowers we desire increase,” but a 
first-class incurved flower was as incapable of producing 
seed as the bud that never opened. 
But we are not entirely dependent on seed for new 
varieties, for this is a sportive plant, and a considerable 
proportion of our gains in new varieties have been by 
means independent of the cultivator, who has only had 
to keep what nature gave without his asking. Sports 
were probably of seminal origin ; in other words, they 
represented the parentage on one side or further back 
than the immediate progenitors, and the occurrence of 
the sports that appear to be identical at different 
places at the same time seemed to prove that the 
quality newly exhibited in the sport was an inheritance 
and of strictly seminal origin. 
Looking to the future, Air. Hibberd discussed at 
some length the developments that might he anticipated. 
Referring to a figure in the Keramic Arts of Japan, 
and to one of the customary blue Chrysanthemums on 
a Japanese Cloisonne jar that he placed upon the table, 
he said we might hope for a much nearer approach to 
blue and to red than as yet shown, but it was unlikely, 
perhaps undesirable, that high positive tones of 
blue or scarlet should appear. We may hope for more 
blue and more red, and for the full development of an 
agreeable odour. The Asteraceous order is characterised 
by the production of aromatic principles that often are 
far from pleasant, and our favourite is given to the 
manufacture of an odour that reminds one of Camo¬ 
mile. But a very trifling variation in the constituents 
of aromatic substances would often make all the differ¬ 
ence between odours that create disgust or that give 
delight, and there were a few examples of pleasantly- 
scented “Mums ” to encourage us. We had gone for¬ 
ward in the development of form, but we should have 
to go backward to obtain anything like a new departure, 
for all our forward work tends directly to sterilise the 
flower and bar all further progress. 
On Wednesday Mr. Shirley Hibberd presided, taking 
the chair at 2 o’clock. Mr. F. W. Burbidge, of Trinity 
College Gardens, Dublin, read a paper on Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Seed and Seedlings ; Mr. W. B. Hemsley, of 
Kew, made some remarks concerning the coloured 
plates and dried specimens sent to the conference from 
Kew. Mr. C. Orchard read a paper on Dwarfing and 
Grouping Chrysanthemums ; after which the subject 
of market Chrysanthemums was dealt with by Mr. C. 
Pearson; and Mr. W. Piercy, followed with a paper on 
Summer and Early Autumn Chrysanthemums. Mr. 
S. Hibberd and Mr. Burbidge made some further 
remarks and the proceedings terminated with the usual 
votes of thanks to the chairman and the readers of the 
papers. 
---— 
Pteris CRETICA KOBiLls.— The chief recommenda¬ 
tions of this comparatively new variety are its robust 
and compact habit and its distinctness. The leaves 
form close erect tufts, and are deeply branched 
and crested at the top. This upright habit is very 
different from that of the ordinary green as well as 
the variegated forms now pretty widely disseminated 
in gardens, and among which the variety P. c. 
albo lineata is no doubt very prominent, both as 
to number and distance. The dark green hue of the 
variety under notice forms a strong contrast to the 
lighter-coloured kinds, and will prove equally service¬ 
able or even more so for market purposes, and on 
account of its hardiness will no doubt prove to be a 
good window plant in winter. 
Hardening Miscellany. 
--j--- 
The Fringed Heath. 
One of the finest of hardy Heaths is that named Erica 
ciliaris, a native of western Europe, and also a British 
plant, inasmuch as it is found in Cornwall and Dorset. 
The general appearance of the plant is similar to that of 
the widely distributed E. Tetralis, to which it is also 
closely allied. The leaves are broader however, ovate, 
strongly ciliated, giving rise to the specific name, and 
arranged in whorls of three, while those of E. Tetralis 
are narrower, and more often arranged in whorls of four. 
The flowers are larger than those of any other British 
Heath, with the exception of its near ally above men¬ 
tioned, of a beautiful rosy red hue, and arranged in 
one-sided terminal racemes. It is as hardy and as 
easily grown as any of the rest, and merely requires the 
admixture of a good quantity of peat in the soil to 
ensure healthy growth and plenty of bloom. August 
and September are the months during which it gen¬ 
erally flowers ; but the season of bloom is sometimes 
prolonged till well into October. A patch of it forms an 
appropriate object upon a rockery, and in choosing a 
situation for it, one should be selected where the soil 
can easily be kept moist during dry summer weather. 
Erythrina Crista-Galli. 
The common Coral Tree is an old-established favourite, 
and must now be familiar to everyone possessed of an 
ordinary amount of horticultural knowledge. E. 
Crista-Galli is synonymous with E. laurifolia, is a 
native of Brazil, and was introduced into this country 
in 1771. This species is almost hardy, and according 
to some authorities is successfully cultivated in favour¬ 
able situations in shrubberies in the southern counties 
of England ; but as it is only occasionally that one 
observes it flowering in the conservatory during the 
summer months, I am disposed to conceive that the 
occasions upon which it is seen in shrubberies is com¬ 
paratively rare. This species is woody, but the y 7 oung 
annual shoots generally get killed down during winter 
when left in the open ground. When the shoots are 
thoroughly matured, they can be cut away, and if 
growing in the open ground, the rootstocks must receive 
protection from the frost during winter. Notwith¬ 
standing that a few well-grown pieces are always 
attractive and handsome in the conservatory, and 
invariably elicit the approbation of visitors, one never¬ 
theless cannot refrain from expressing surprise at 
its cultivation being so limited.— J. Peebles. [A fine 
old specimen, in full flower, might have been seen in 
the Parc Monceau, at Paris, during August, Sep¬ 
tember, and October last. The whole plant stood 
about 8 ft. high, and the two-forked woody stem alone 
was more than 3 ft. high, measuring 6 ins. or 8 ins. 
in diameter below the forks. The w'hole formed a 
standard with a broad spreading head, and was, indeed, 
a glorious sight. Now this specimen must undoubtedly 
be many years old, and appeared to have been grown 
there planted out. The temperature at Paris during 
winter is frequently as low, if not lower, than that at 
London, while the mean temperature of March is only 
l - 56° higher than in London.—E d.] 
Aponogeton distachyon. 
It would not be at all difficult to cultivate this charming 
plant in a sitting-room, provided it be kept near the 
light. It does well in a tank or inverted bell-glass, 
where it can have 18 ins. to 2 ft. of water. It is best 
to start the plant in a small basket, and when estab¬ 
lished to drop it into the tank, placing some soil about 
it. The floating leaves and sweetly-fragrant blossoms 
come to the surface of the water, and the latter appear 
in spring, summer and autumn. It is hardy enough 
to live in a slightly running stream of water in a 
sheltered spot.— 11. D. 
Cratsegus pyracantha. 
I NOTICE that the plants of this species, growing in 
my own neighbourhood, are laden with berries this 
season. I know of no plant so suitable for covering 
a house front at this season of the year as the one at 
the head of this paragraph. It is evergreen, it is of 
comparatively slow growth, and when trained hori¬ 
zontally, which is the usual practice, it displays to the 
best advantage its white flowers in summer, and its 
coral-red berries in winter. It is at its best when so 
many of the berried trees and shrubs have either shed 
their berries, or have been cleared away by birds. 
It is most striking during November and December, 
when its decorative service is most valuable. Do the 
birds care for the berries ? and has any one a knowledge 
of their being turned to practical use ? Cratmgus is a 
large genus, ranging from the common Hawthorn to 
the fruits of C. avarolus and C. avonia, from Southern 
Europe ; and C. coccinea, from South America. The 
fruit of these are serviceable for tarts, and in combina¬ 
tion with Apples.— R. D. 
Winter Flowers at Lypiatt Park. 
That most useful plant for the decoration of the con¬ 
servatory at this dull season of the year (Cassia 
corymbosa), is now to be seen in extra fine condition at 
Lypiatt Park, near Stroud, the seat of Sir J. E. 
Doniugton, Bart., M.P. In the well-kept conservatory 
there is a noble specimen planted out in one of the 
beds, and fully 10 ft. high, and more in diameter, 
which is a mass of bright golden yellow flowers. When 
planted out in a suitable situation it produces enormous 
branched spikes of flowers, and lasts a considerable time 
in bloom. In the same structure there is a noble plant of 
the old Brugmansia sanguinea, literally covered with its 
trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers ; and trained up the 
pillars, forming an arch, is Habrothamnus elegans, 
flowering very freely, and also producing fine racemes 
of fruit of a rich purplish red, resembling very much 
the berries of some of the Pernettyas, only in conical 
bunches, with over 100 berries in each. This is very 
attractive, and adds an additional interest to the plant. 
The subjects mentioned, combined with fine groups of 
well-grown Chrysanthemums, and the front stage of the 
house occupied with many dozens of well-grown and 
most profusely-flowered double and single Pelargoniums 
and Bouvardias, nicely edged with drooping foliage 
plants, which hang gracefully over the stage fronts, 
make a most imposing display. In addition to these, 
there is a house devoted to the culture of the Chinese 
Primula, in which many varieties are to be seen, mag¬ 
nificently grown and well flowered. Mr. Bailey, the 
gardener, is to be congratulated upon the marked 
improvement he has wrought in the various garden 
departments of this fine old place.— Rusticus. 
Begonia Lubbersii. 
Owing to the strange and curious shape of the leaves 
of this species, it is remarkably distinct and interesting, 
being quite a departure from the ordinary obliquely 
heart-shaped or even the sub-orbicular types. The 
leaves are peltate and elliptic, with the petiole attached 
near the middle, and they taper about equally to both 
ends. A peltate leaf of this form is very rare in 
nature, and the nearest approach, perhaps, may be seen 
in some of the Alocasias. Here, however, the basal 
portion is much shorter proportionately than in 
Begonia Lubbersii, and nearly, if not always, ends in 
two points corresponding to the two basal auricles of 
the leaf. Peltate leaves are numerous enough in the 
vegetable kingdom, but they are generally more or less 
orbicular, occasionally perfectly so, as in Victoria 
regia, Cotyledon umbilicus, some of the species of 
Hydrocotyle, and others. The upper surface of the 
leaves of the Begonia under notice is of a deep bronzy 
green, variously blotched with silvery grey patches. 
If well grown it must he both curious and beautiful. 
It is comparatively a new species to this country, and 
we noted it recently in the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing 
& Sons, Forest Hill. 
Polygonum vaccinifolium. 
There is much truth in the statement made by your 
correspondent, Mr. G. F. Wilson (p. 139), that this 
charming Alpine is not often seen in gardens, and 
certainly is not half so common as it might he. The 
reason for this is very difficult to understand, judging 
from its hardiness in various parts of the country, and 
its neatness and extreme beauty when covered with 
numerous rosy pink spikes. The herbage is dwarf, 
compact and trailing, and is admirably adapted for 
covering the slopes or hanging over the ledges of a 
rockery. The leaves are small, finely and obsoletely 
serrate, deep green above, glaucous beneath, and 
densely clothe the procumbent stems. One thing, 
however, must be observed, and that is, the plant 
should be allowed to completely monopolise the ground 
it occupies, while it must not be overgrown by ranker, 
coarser-growing plants, nor overhung so as to be 
shaded by them. The situation must be open, so that 
the full sunshine may be enjoyed at least during some 
part of the day. Such is my experience, for the stems 
seem to ripen and produce bloom much more freely 
under these conditions than when unduly shaded. 
Probably the reason why so little notice is taken of the 
plant is because it is old, and therefore rouses scarcely 
any interest when written or spoken about.— J. 
