March 15, 1890. 
THE HARDENING WORLD. 
443 
causing A. gracillima, no doubt, to be seldom tried 
from cuttings. Appearances are, however, sometimes 
deceptive, and this may be a case in point. Another 
example may be found in Asparagus plumosus, which 
strikes readily from cuttings, while A. p. nanus cannot 
be so propagated. I trust that gardeners who may 
have any plants of A. gracillima that have got too 
leggy for table decoration, aud yet who wish to keep up 
their stock of this plant, will be induced to try this 
mode of increase, and let the readers of The Gardening 
World know with what results.— A. W. 
Williams’ White Primula. 
We received the other day a box of blooms of a white 
form of Primula sinensis from Messrs. B. S. Williams 
& Son, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper 
Holloway. The flowers were large and flat, or nearly so 
so, and of the purest white, with exception of the eye. 
The latter consisted of a broad, orange-yellow band, 
with five to six radiating, rounded or angle lobes, from 
which the green, usually very prominent in the modern 
forms of this Primula, had almost become eliminated. 
The eye then constituted a bright feature of the flower, 
and served by contrast to make it appear of a clean 
and untinted pure white. We venture to add that a 
batch of them along the front of a staging of the conser¬ 
vatory would have a very telling effect amongst the 
mixed collection of plants usually found there. 
The Chinese Prunus as a Standard. 
For winter forcing purposes Prunus sinensis flore 
pleno is well known, and highly esteemed as a bush ; 
but a pleasing effect is obtained by grafting it standard 
high, as we noticed the other day at Stanstead Park, 
Forest Hill, where the plants had a clear stem of 31 ft. 
The stock seems to impart vigour to the scion, judging 
from the strong willow-like shoots proceeding from 
the latter. After the head attains some size, so as to 
form a loosely globose mass, it would prove an 
attractive and useful adornment to a conservatory, so 
as to relieve the monotony of dvvarfer plants. The 
typical and single form is also grown, although not so 
extensively as the double one. There is also a double 
rose-coloured form; but like the last it is not so 
popular, although it might be grown for the sake of 
contrast, when its merits would be more appreciated. 
Fuchsia triphylla. 
The usual flowering time of this handsome dwarf 
species is towards the end of summer and in autumn, 
but it seems capable of being flowered in winter, as we 
noticed the other day at Forest Hill, in the nursery of 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. It forms a neat little bush 
from 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, producing a raceme of flowers 
from the apex of the shoots. These flowers are moderate 
in size, as they are in most of the wild unimproved 
forms ; but if horticulturists take it in hand with 
earnestness, there seems no reason why they should not 
be greatly improved. They are wholly scarlet or of a 
bright cinnabar-red, and if increased in size, and varied 
in colour by hybridisation, a dwarf and beautiful race 
of Fuchsias might be obtained. The leaves are moderate 
in size, deep green above and tinted with red, while the 
whole of the under surface is of a deep purplish red. 
Acacia ovata. 
Even amongst the old-fashioned hard-wooded subjects 
there are many things of great ornamental value, and 
which might be turned to more profitable account than 
they are at the present day. One of these is Acacia 
ovata, a small and densely twiggy bush, with the leaves 
reduced to small oval or elliptic phyllodia—that is, 
laterally flattened petioles. These are so closely 
arranged on the shoots as to cover them ; and from 
their axils the small, globose, bright yellow heads of 
flowers arise. "We noticed a number of bushy little 
plants, not exceeding 10 ins. in height and frequently 
under, in the nursery of Messrs. J. Laing k, Sons, Forest 
Hill. So dwarf is it and short jointed, that it might 
be grown in quantity in small pots in the same way as 
Heaths for decorative purposes. 
Pliyllanthus mimossefolius. 
The branches, and the peculiar arrangement of the 
leaves upon them, combine to produce a very deceptive 
appearance to the casual observer, and even to those 
who have not learned to observe very closely. From 
theypright axis branches are given off, assuming nearly 
a horizontal position; these in their turn give off 
short lateral ones at right angles to them. The 
secondary ones bear numerous small, oblong leaves, 
closely arranged in a two-ranked fashion ; so that the 
whole bears a striking resemblance to a compound 
leaf. The small, insignificant flowers are borne in the 
axils of the small leaves, furnishing evidence of the 
true nature of the latter. The decorative value of the 
plant is dependent upon the foliage, combined with its 
arrangement on branches representing compound 
leaves, such as are seen in some species of Mimosa or 
Jacaranda. 
Rhododendron arboreum roseum, 
Ax first sight this might not seem very different from 
the Rhododendron of the Neilghcrries ; but the flowers, 
although similar in colour, are somewhat smaller, and 
possibly a shade paler, with few or no purple spots in 
the throat or upper side of tile tube. It is, however, 
a much earlier variety, commencing to flower about the 
new year, and its value for decorative purposes in a cool 
house may commaud attention from the fact that it is 
still in full bloom, although the earlier trusses are now 
fading, and considerably paler in colour. On theeontrary, 
It. a. nilagericum is now in perfection. The under 
surface of the leaves of It. a. roseum is covered with a 
rusty tomsntum. There is another form with rose- 
coloured flowers, but it is a sub-variety—namely, It. a. 
cinnamomeum roseum, which has the leaves of a pale 
brown or cinnamon colour beneath. The form under 
notice may still be seen flowering in the temperate 
house at Kew. 
--- 
PANSIES FOR EXHIBITION. 
At the May exhibition of the interesting series of 
flower shows Mr. Holmes has arranged at the Royal 
Aquarium there are classes for fancy and show Pansies, 
as also Violas, in pots. It seems rather odd to find 
30s. offered as first prizos for twelve of these plants in 
pots, and 20s. for twelve bunches of flowers only, as 
the one will weigh a hundredweight, whilst the latter 
may be carried in a small bos. But whilst I welcome 
these classes, I regret that that large and varied clas3 
of Pansies known as bedding is not encouraged. Show 
Pansies we know, because they must possess undoubted 
florists’ qualities. Fancy Pansies we kno w also, because 
of their large flowers and rich-coloured markings. 
Violas, too, we know, because these have, or should 
have, close compact habit of growth, aud carry medium¬ 
sized flowers iu great abundance. But about London 
at least, and I think largely elsewhere, the bedding 
Pansy is most widely grown, and is, on the whole, the 
most popular. Grown literally by hundreds of 
thousands, wonderfully effective iu the mass, but pro¬ 
ducing blooms hardly good enough to fit them to pass 
muster as show varieties, yet do they produce fine 
effect. These Pansies would be remarkably effective 
on the show table if lifted from the open ground, put 
up in baskets or boxes, and clumped together, but still 
not too densely, as natural effect is lost when too 
thickly compressed. 
We have of favourite bedding Pansies—bines, such 
as Archie Grant, Blue King and Blue Beard ; of purples, 
Cliveden Purple, Duke of Perth and Mulberry ; of 
yellows, George Rudd, Yellow Beauty and Golden 
Gem ; of whites, Mrs. Cannell and Dickson’s Queen ; 
and of bronze or belted forms, Aurora, Bronze Beauty 
and others. A first-class dozen of bedding Pansies in 
baskets or boxes might he made, and I am sorry that 
so useful a class does not find recognition. It is not 
easy to distinguish between the bedding Viola and the 
bedding Pansy, hut our growers of these plants for 
market°sale’ find most demand for the Pansy section, 
because the flowers are larger. Those unfamiliar with 
this trade would be surprised to see what pretty effects 
are produced by the growers when they lift these 
plants into small boxes—usually two dozen in each, 
all the flowers being turned one way and boldly shown. 
Many of the varieties have no names which are found 
in trade lists. 
Seedlings raised and found to have some distinct 
features or specially useful characteristics are selected, 
and worked up until they have grown into thousands. 
Now some common name is given and to market they 
go. The weakest section is the white one, not that 
there are not plenty which produce fine pure flowers, 
but so few have that dense compact habit and robust 
quality, without which no market Pansy will be 
profitable to grow. Pansies even of the hardiest and 
earliest kinds are later than usual in showing bloom 
this year, but nearly all will be well in flower soon if 
the weather keeps open. None are, perhaps, so widely 
grown as Blue King, for an earlier and on the whole 
a better sort has never been raised. 
A pure white one so good and early would be 
invaluable. A white sport from Blue King was last 
year reported from Ireland, bat nothiag farther has 
been heard of it. Dickson’s Queen is a compact grower, 
bat blooms both late and sparingly. Yellows are 
robust, early and plentiful, and next to the blues seem 
to be in most favour. I hope yet that some one may 
show us bedding Pansies in quantity at the May Royal 
Aquarium show.— A. D. 
SEASONABLE WORK IN THE 
GARDEN. 
Newly Potted Plants. —Care will have to be 
exercised in the watering of stove plants that have 
recently been re-potted. The severe weather that 
prevailed in the early part of the month necessitated 
the application of much artificial heat, thereby in¬ 
creasing the amount of evaporation ; but with a return 
of milder weather no more water should be given than 
is actually necessary to assist the young growths to 
start. 
Calatiieas. —-Tho present is a good time to propa¬ 
gate the various species of Calatheas, including those 
grown under the name of Maranta. The most practical 
method is simply to divide the pieces into as many 
crowns as can be separated with roots attached, if 
stock i 3 desired. Small pieces without roots may, 
however, be preserved and rooted with facility. 
Usually the desire will be to get qdants of a useful 
size, so that large pieces may be split into two or four 
according to size. 
Pete ROM has.—T he number of useful kinds is compa¬ 
ratively limited ; bat such as are grown in gardens 
may now be divided if they are too large. Cuttings 
may also bo rooted readily if such are required. The 
most useful kinds are P. Sandersii, P. marmorata, P. 
maculosa, P. clusiaefolia, P. brevipe3, P. resedfefiora. 
The last named is a handsome, fragrant-flowering 
species. 
Dedtzias and Azaleas after Forcing. —Instead 
of turning them into a cool house, as is too frequently 
done after the flowers have faded or have been cut, 
Deutzias should be encouraged to make growth for a 
time in a warm house, and after being gradually 
hardened off, put in a pit until the weather is sufficiently 
warm to have them placed out of doors. Remove the 
seed vessels from Azaleas, and urge them into growth 
in a warm house, syringing them twice a day at least 
during bright weather. 
Adiantums. —Evergreen kinds, with fronds of a 
leathery texture, should not be entirely defoliated at 
any one time ; but as the young fronds arise and 
expand, the more shabby of the old ones may gradually 
he removed, particularly any that may be affected with 
scale. 
Camellias.— Some handy and usable-sized speci¬ 
mens in pots may be urged into growth in a vinery or 
Peach house at work, in order to get them well 
forward for early forcing next winter. Before intro¬ 
ducing them to those houses see that they are 
thoroughly free from scale, bug, and other insect pests, 
which would rapidly increase in the warmth. 
Early Batch of Cinerarias and Primulas.— 
The first batch of these—particularly the former—will 
now be past their best. For next winter’s supply a 
sowing of seed should be made at once, so that they 
may be ready to commence flowering in autumn. 
Muscat and Black Hamburgh Grapes. —The 
early house of the first-named and succeeding houses of 
the latter must now receive attention in the matter of 
disbudding and tying down the shoots, to prevent their 
coming in contact with the glass. This is an operation 
that must he done with some care, in order to prevent 
snapping off the young brittle shoots. 
Peaches. —Take every advantage of sunshine for 
promoting an early growth of the young wood, which 
will accordingly ripen at a correspondingly early period, 
and he conducive to the production of flower buds. 
Close early, allowing the temperature to rise con¬ 
siderably above the standard figure with sun heat. 
Damp down every available surface to promote atmos¬ 
pheric moisture. This applies to trees where the fruit 
is set and swelling. 
Disbudding. —Attend to disbudding in succession 
houses, and tie down the leading shoots required for 
fruit bearing next season. Syringe well provided the 
trees are not in bloom, in order to keep down insect 
pests. Should green-fly make its appearance, fumigate 
at once before it gets established. 
Tojiatos. —Attend to the pinching out of the 
laterals as they appear in order to confine the plants to 
single stems. Provided the plants are being grown in 
good rich soil, no manure water will he required until 
the plants are bearing fruit of considerable size. This 
applies to plants in pots ; those planted out require 
comparatively little water even at midsummer, because 
it encourages too great a development of leaves and 
shoots at the expense of the fruit. 
Seed Sowing. —Make snccessional sowings of Peas, 
Beans, Turnips, Radishes, Spinach, Lettuce, Cauli¬ 
flower, and others. Sow also Chervil, Parsley and 
various other herbs according to the requirements of 
the place. 
