156 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 9, 1889. 
Autumn Leaves. 
At this season, when flowers become fewer, a bit of 
colour in the garden is valuable. My friend, Mr. 
McIntosh, advised me to plant Yaccinium Pennsyl* 
vaticum for the beauty of the autumn tints of its leaves. 
When getting it from Woking, Mr. Waterer recom¬ 
mended in addition Andromeda arboiea and A. Mariana. 
All these are now very beautiful; we have Dutch Azaleas 
and Liquidambar near them, but their colours are much 
the brightest. I should be much obliged if any of your 
correspondents could suggest a means of circumventing 
water rats. Our Aponogeton distachyon (Cape Pond- 
weed) was in beauty, when a rise of the river sent 
rats up into the ponds, and they have eaten a great 
many of the flowers olf. —George F. Wilson, Heather - 
bank, Weybridge Heath. 
Lapageria rosea, Nash Court. 
It will probably be some years before this grand 
variety becomes disseminated throughout the length 
and breadth of the land in the same way as the typical 
form and its white variety, but it is certain to make 
great headway when better known. The constitution 
of the plant, to all appearance, is much more vigorous 
than that of its progenitor, and both the leaves and 
the flowers are much larger. Like the common one, it 
seems to bloom at any time, according to the age of the 
shoots ; and at present there are some fine clusters of 
flowers on a large plant in a cool conservatory in the 
nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. The 
leading features of the plant are the great length of the 
flowers, which are tubular and much narrower at the 
mouth than the common form ; also the great substance 
of the segments and their intense crimson-red colour. 
Considering their great size, they are produced in large 
numbers, forming dense clusters or long leafy wreaths. 
The leaves are long, ovate, very leathery, and sufficient 
to distinguish the variety from both the common and 
white forms growing in the same house. 
Croton, Mrs. Dorman. 
Narrow-leaved Crotons are more valued for table 
decorative purposes at the present day than are broad¬ 
leaved ones. There is no lack of variety amongst them 
even now, especially in some northern nurseries, and 
the number is likely greatly to increase from time to 
time. The above-named variety we noticed recently in 
the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
The loDg, narrowly-linear, drooping leaves are yellow 
with green edges in the young state, deepening to a 
rich gold, and more or less suffused with crimson as 
they reach maturity. The chief recommendation of 
these long narrow-leaved varieties is their graceful, 
elegant, and light character compared with the broad¬ 
leaved kinds when placed on the table. 
Single-handed Gardeners. 
As a constant reader of your valuable periodical, and 
one of the class referred to at p. 132, I must say that I 
think you expect rather too much from us. I consider 
the single-handed gardener performs his part well in 
comparison with men in larger places. It is those who 
ought to be the shining lights of the profession, but I 
am sorry to say the majority of them are very dim 
lights indeed—scarcely visible to the naked eye. They 
have time, appliances, strength, and means at their 
disposal ; yet what have they done to deserve our ad¬ 
miration ? Nothing, I would say, but what we could 
have done had we the same opportunities. I hold that 
there are as good practical gardeners amongst the 
single-handed division as you will find in the majority 
of men filling larger places. We cannot all be gardeners 
to dukes, earls, and so on. It is not to gardeners that 
I would attribute the advancement of horticulture, but 
to the enterprising florists and nurserymen.— A Single- 
handed Gardener, Aberdeen. 
The Elm at Dawn on a November 
Morning. 
The striking effects of the rising sun upon the dying 
leaves of the English Elm (Ulmus campestris) in the 
grey dawn of a November morning can hardly be 
described, and need to be seen to be fully understood. 
On the first of this month, early in the morning, the 
glimmer of the rising sun on the heavy clouds of the 
eastern skies cast a glare of unwonted beauty on every¬ 
thing that would throw back a reflection, and the 
whole tops of the Elms seemed a huge pile of living 
gold. Though the expression may seem somewhat 
metaphorical, the phenomenon could hardly be ex¬ 
pressed in more appropriate terms. 
THE AVOCADO OR ALLIGATOR 
PEAR. 
In his book on Fruits and. Fruit Trees, Mr. Leo 
Grindon, in dealing with tropical fruits, remarks 
“ That we never see certain of them—among them the 
Alligator Pear—in England, because too perishable to 
be conveyed across the water.” But at the present time 
fine fruits of the Avocado are being brought to this 
country from the West Indies, and some, I believe, from 
Madeira, and they can now be seen in many of the 
fruit shops. The fruit in dimensions and shape is like 
a good-sized Green Pear, while the pulp is of a pretty 
firm consistency, and has a delicate, some say rich 
flavour. Many who taste this fruit do not like it at 
first, but afterwards take a fancy to it. It is so rich 
and mild that most persons who use it for dessert 
purposes make use of some spice or pungent substance 
to make it of a higher relish, and for this purpose 
wine, sugar, lime-juice, pepper, salt, &c., are employed. 
There is a large kernel enclosed within a fine inner 
rind, and when this is removed it looks like the inside 
of a walnut, but more solid, and with all the crevices 
filled up. This is considered by some to partake of the 
delicate rich flavour of the Peach, but to be infinitely 
more grateful. This fruit grows upon a tree of about 
the size of our ordinary Apple tree. The leaves are 
oblong and veiny, and the flowers are of a yellowish 
green colour.— JR. D. 
-- 
THE POISONOUS PRIMULA 
OBCONICA. 
I AJI quite able, and think it right, to confirm from 
personal experience, and that of other members of my 
family, the poisonous nature of Primula obconica. The 
effect on different constitutions was different in degree, 
in one case the hands and arms only being attacked, 
whereas in others the swelling of the face and eyes, as 
occurs in erysipelas, was so great and the fever so high 
that the repeated attacks of inflammation became very 
seriously detrimental to health. The attacks continued 
throughout a period of nine months, and it was not 
until our attention was arrested by a warning in 
Garden and Forest, New York, in April last, similar 
to that which appears in your current issue, that the 
true source of our malady was suspected. An im¬ 
mediate discontinuance of all contact with the plants 
which had previously been grown in quantity here, 
resulted in entire cure, since which there has been no 
return. It is only fair to state that the poisonous or 
irritant property in Primula obconica does not affect 
all constitutions. Many persons can handle it with 
impunity, and it is with infinite regret that we have 
banished so pretty and useful a plant from our green¬ 
houses. The gardeners re-pot it without injury, and 
my own impression is that the irritation is produced 
mainly by the downy hairs of the leaves and stems—a 
point worthy, it would seem, of scientific investigation. 
—K. L. D., Wernolen, Ammanford, R.S.O., South 
Wales. 
During the summer of 1887 I had occasion to handle 
a lot of this favourite plant, after which I suffered in 
the same way as your correspondent “ X.” (p. 138). As 
I could not then account for the cause, I and my bothy 
companions came to the conclusion that it was some 
form of itch, which caused me no little annoyance, 
being far removed from either doctor or chemist. In 
my despair I had recourse to Hughes’ Fir Tree Oil, 
which gave me immediate relief. Early last spring I 
had a batch of plants to divide and re-pot, and was 
again attacked in the same way. Not having any Fir 
Tree Oil at hand I had to bear with my troubles, and 
drawing my superior’s attention to the matter found 
he could not account for it either. Shortly afterwards 
I had my mind relieved by a newspaper correspondent, 
who pointed out the cause of the mischief.— M. 
I have been suffering from the effects of poisoning by 
Primula obconica for some time past, and I have been 
affected much worse than your correspondent “X.” 
seems to have been. I have had the inflammation and 
itch in the eyes so bad, as to completely close them for 
a few hours. Of course, I had it on my hands first, 
and felt just as your correspondent did. The remedy 
prescribed by the doctor made it worse. Others on 
the place felt the effects of it, and several neighbouring 
gardeners have felt it just as I did. It is time the 
matter was inquired into.— A. B. [It would be a great 
benefit to the gardening community if Prof. Church, or 
some other analytical chemist, would take this plant 
in hand, with a view of discovering the cause of the 
irritation, and. if possible to find an antidote to the 
poison. This is the sort of useful, practical work that 
ought to be done in the Jodrell Laboratory at Kew, 
but unfortunately there is no one in charge there to 
render such service.—E d.] 
The Amateurs' Garden. 
—-j-— 
Auriculas. 
The weather keeps so mild generally that the plants 
are less inclined to go thoroughly to rest than is 
desirable. They may be encouraged, however, to go 
to rest by withholding water till the soil becomes 
moderately dry, but not such as to kill the young 
roots. Any flower buds that may still be showing 
should be pinched out in order to prevent all un¬ 
necessary exhaustion of the plants, otherwise they 
cannot be expected to flower so well in the spring. 
Carefully remove all damping leaves as they die away 
and the crown becomes reduced in size. Should green¬ 
fly still make its appearance, fumigate on one or two 
nights to destroy them, after which there will be no 
further trouble till after the flowering period is over. 
Hollyhocks. 
It is a common custom with many cultivators to lift 
their old roots, pot them up and stand them in pits, 
cold frames, or greenhouses for the winter. This is 
not absolutely necessary, however, except in the case 
of tender or choice kinds, for even in the northern 
parts of the island they will outlive the winter easily if 
planted out against walls. If it is decided to leave 
them out, some protection may be given in the form of 
a mulching of manure round the crowns. An addi¬ 
tional advantage resulting from this is that the 
nutrient materials of the manure are washed downwards 
by rain, and so enrich the soil to the benefit of next 
year’s growth. Hooted cuttings in small pots may be 
encouraged by re-potting into a size larger, for by this 
means the plants are enabled to start strongly in 
spring, and produce tall, flowering stems next summer. 
Lifting Dahlias. 
The long spell of comparatively mild weather, and the 
absence of frost during October has favoured the con¬ 
tinued growth of Dahlias and other tender plants, with 
the result that they still continue in flower, in many 
places, contemporaneously with Chrysanthemums. 
Unless the ground is wanted for something else, such 
as spring bulbs, Dahlias may be allowed to grow till 
cut down by frost, after which the stem should be cut 
over about 6 ins. from the crown of the root. A 
fine day should be chosen for the operation, if possible, 
so that when the roots are dug up they may be exposed 
to the sun or winds to dry them. Care should be 
exercised in digging them up lest the fleshy roots get 
broken. After removing them indoors they should be 
placed upside down in order that any water accumulated 
in the hollow stems may drain away. A dry rather 
warm position should be selected for them for a time 
near a flue, or even on the shelves of a greenhouse, 
where they will be acted upon by the sun. As soon as 
thoroughly dry externally, and they have parted with 
some of their superfluous moisture, store in a cool dry 
place out of the reach of drip. They may be examined 
once or twice during winter to see that any decaying 
ones are not spoiling the rest ; but with that exception 
they will occasion no further trouble till again started 
in spring. 
Phloxes. 
Unlike Penstemons, the garden varieties generally 
spoken of as summer and autumn Phloxes are perfectly 
hardy, so that young plantations can be made either 
now or in spring. Frames need not be incommoded 
with young plants in pots at this season if the room is 
required for something else. A bed of good soil may 
be well manured and dug when the weather is suffi¬ 
ciently dry to admit of the operation, and the planting 
forthwith accomplished. Old plantations may now 
have the stems cut down, the surface lightly stirred, 
and a good mulching given all over, avoiding the 
crowns, however. This will assist the roots greatly 
during the winter and spring months, enabling the 
plants not only to make better growth during the 
summer, but also to withstand drought better during 
the heat of that season, which is generally most trying 
just as the plants come into bloom. 
Bulb Planting in Beds. 
The summer bedding plants—especially where they are 
of the ordinary tender kinds, such as Pelargoniums, 
Fuchsias, Lobelias, and others—have long been past 
their best, and may be rooted up to make room for the 
planting of Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Crocuses, 
Scillas, Chionodoxas, and similar popular subjects. 
Give the beds a coating of old hot-bed manure, or in 
the case of heavy soils, a quantity of partly-decayed 
leaves from last year’s heap ; then dig the beds over, 
level, and rake them smooth. Mark out the lines in 
