August 23, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
811 
ARDENING fj|ISCELlANY. 
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Lilium auratum. 
This is mentioned as a grand Lily in a recent number, 
a specimen in a 10-in. pot having five strong growths 
from one bulb with thirty-six open blooms. In 1868, 
when I entered on my duties at Keithock, in Forfar¬ 
shire, I found an Auratum bulb in a 6-in. pot ; I 
grew it for nineteen years, and during that time it was 
potted only six or seven times. The same bulb grew 
year after year, increasing in strength until one season 
it threw up a stem of unusual vigour that bore fifty- 
nine blooms. Had that happened in the neighbourhood 
or in the surrounding counties of London it would 
have been noticed in gardening papers as something 
wonderful, and the gardener accredited with being able 
to do wonders in the cultivation of the Auratum Lily. 
I want to point out, however, that there was no special 
care bestowed beyond what was really necessary to 
keep the plant healthy. As I have already said, it was 
seldom re-potted, but watered with a mixture of soot 
and cow-urine, and grown on the most hardy system 
possible. It was nearly all the time outside, being put 
in the greenhouse while in bloom, and kept in an open 
shed all the winter, with some dry leaves over the pot 
in frosty weather.— And. Kemp, Coolhurst, Horsham, 
Sussex. 
Lobelia, Devonhurst Seedling. 
The origin of this variety was a seedling selected from 
a sowing of Kaiser William. It is well known that, 
although Lobelias come tolerably true when raised from 
seed, yet the plants are more straggling, and individual 
seedlings may nearly always be picked out which show 
a difference in some respect or other from the parent 
type. Some are dwarfer, more compact or more flori- 
ferous, and if propagated by cuttings will retain that 
habit. The Devonhurst Seedling was so selected on 
account of its promising appearance, and now the beds 
in the flower garden are all edged with it. The plants 
are now a mass of bloom of a very dark blue shade, 
with a small white spot on the base of the lip. When 
looked at as the declining sun is shining upon them 
they appear of a distinct purple tint, while others close 
by on which the sun is not shining retain their real 
hue. Lobelias of the bedding type always flower best 
in dry seasons, but the variety under notice has been 
flowering magnificently all the summer, weather 
notwithstanding. 
The Cape Hyacinth. 
The old name of Hyacinthus candicans is still often 
maintained for this plant in gardens, although 
botanists always name it Galtonia candicans. The 
flowers of a true Hyacinth are spreading or nearly 
erect, while those of Galtonia droop like a Snowdrop. 
Of the two known species, both from the Cape, that 
under notice is by far the best, with the largest, showiest 
and purest white flowers. When well grown, whether 
indoors or out, it has a stately appearance, rising as it 
does to the height of 2 to 4 ft. The leaves themselves 
will attain a length of 2J ft., are bright green and of 
great width. In all respects then, it is totally different 
in general appearance from the Oriental or any other 
Hyacinth in cultivation. We noticed some fine pots 
of it recently in the conservatory at Syon House, 
Brentford, where five bulbs were grown in a pot. It 
may be subjected to a considerable amount of heat 
when being brought into bloom, but the largest 
flowers are produced when the plant comes naturally 
into bloom in the open air. 
Solanum jasminoides. 
This old favourite is worthy of more extended culti¬ 
vation by those who have space in a Peach house or 
any light airy structure from which severe frost is 
excluded. We flowered it for several seasons in suc¬ 
cession some years back in the open air, when it was 
much admired, but did not come the pure white we get 
it under glass. No plant can well give less trouble 
than this, nor better reward what little attention is 
given it, for from this time till late in the season it 
furnishes a profusion of white flowers that are really 
beautiful, and well adapted for epergne and vase 
decoration. After flowering it should be cut hard 
back, and during the period of growth will require 
some little attention to keep it within proper limits, as 
it has grown some 15 ft. with us this summer. Beyond 
this, all that is necessary is to water it occasionally_ 
W. B. G. 
Bocconia eordata. 
The flowem of this Chinese plant are small, buff 
coloured, and individually neither showy nor striking, 
but when seen in a mass as they are produced on long 
branching panicles they have a fine effect. The stems 
vary from 5 ft. to 9 ft. in height, according to the 
situation, the soil in which it is grown, and the amount 
of moisture at command. Of course, the soil must be 
well-drained, and when such is the case a wet season 
results in growth of wonderful dimensions, and the 
plant has a sub-tropical appearance. The leaves are 
heart-shaped, lobed, glaucous green above, almost white 
beneath, and add greatly to the fine appearance of the 
plant. It is perfectly hardy even in the northern parts 
of Britain, but succeeds best when sheltered from high 
winds, which are liable to injure the stems by blowing 
them about. There are some splendid pieces of it in 
the herbaceous border at Syon House, Brentford. 
Verbena Uranie. 
The flowers of this variety are large, and produced on 
a somewhat elongated raceme, almost destroying the 
usual umbellate or rather corymbose character of this 
class of plants. The corolla is large and purplish blue, 
with a conspicuous white eye. A truss of flowers was 
shown by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, 
at the Drill Hall, Westminster, on the 12th inst., when 
an Award of Merit was accorded the variety. 
Tilia euchlora. 
Young trees of this species produce very large leaves of 
a conspicuous character, and quite different from other 
Lime trees generally seen outside of botanic gardens. 
They are obliquely cordate, smooth and dark, and 
shining green on the upper surface. It is said to 
answer well as an avenue tree, as it retains its leaves 
better than the common Lime. A First Class Cer¬ 
tificate was awarded it by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, when shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons on 
the 12th inst. 
Nepenthes Burkei excellens. 
The leaves of this variety are linear, leathery and light 
green. The pitchers are about 6 ins. long, exclusive 
of the lid, much inflated in the lower part, constricted 
in the middle or above it, and again widened at the 
mouth. They are of a light green, heavily blotched 
and striped with daik crimson on the upper part 
especially. The wings are absent, while the annulus 
or collar is broad, recurved, undulated at the margin, 
transversely ridged and furrowed, and bright crimson, 
with black ridges. A curiosity of the annulus is that 
a fold of it clasps the stalk firmly, and so serves to 
keep the large pitcher upright, even when filled with 
liquid. The lid is ovate, netted, and suffused with 
crimson on both surfaces. The interior of the pitcher 
at the neck is dark crimson. An Award of Merit was 
granted it by the Royal Horticultural Society when 
shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons on the 12th inst. 
Pteris scaberula. 
This New Zealand Fern may be grown in houses at 
various temperatures, but it is so nearly hardy, that 
much heat is altogether unnecessary ; in fact, it seems 
to grow best in a house where the frost is merely 
excluded in winter. Possibly we have seen it in its 
best condition, and certainly in the greatest quantity, 
planted out on the rockeries of cool ferneries and as an 
edging casually in other cool houses, to beds of such 
things as Camellias or Rhododendrons. The frond is 
ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 times divided, with the ultimate 
segments toothed. From this fact one may glean 
something of the elegant and plumy appearance of the 
frond as a whole, and when seen in a mass the effect is 
very pleasing. This species is remarkable for the 
sparing quantity of fructification it produces, at least 
under cultivation. A few small patches of sori may be 
found along the edges of some of the pinnules ; rarely 
is a frond met with having most of the pinna; fertile. 
Specimens collected in its native country bear plenty 
of sori, almost covering the under-surface of the pinnae. 
Good specimens may be seen in the nursery of Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway. 
Dracsena, Miss G-lendinningt 
This garden form has a slender and graceful habit, 
with narrow, linear-lanceolate, spreading and drooping 
leaves. They are of a deep bronzy or olive-green, with 
a broad red margin. A plant was shown by Messrs. B. 
S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, at the Drill Hall 
on the 12th inst., when a First Class Certificate was 
awarded it. 
Early Chrysanthemum Sport. 
A nox of cut flowers of a sport from the summer¬ 
flowering Hendersoni was sent us the other day by 
Mr. Geo. Ross, The Gardens, Cranford, Ruthrieston, 
Aberdeen. He has grown the variety for the last three 
years, and finds it an earlier flower than the parent, to 
which it corresponds in height. The young expanding 
heads are of a deep bronzy hue, but they fade some¬ 
what as they attain their best, and then appear of a 
light bronze hue with a yellow centre. During expan¬ 
sion the florets appear half quilled, and although they 
flatten out a little, they retain the incurved character 
to the last. It is very floriferous, judging from the 
branching specimens sent us, and its early flowering 
habit is an additional recommendation. It would 
prove useful either for cut flowers, for pot-work, or for 
bedding-out, seeing that it comes into flower so early 
even in the latitude of Aberdeen. It is said by an 
expert in Chrysanthemum-growing to be a good thing, 
and distinct both in shape of petal and bloom. 
Clerodendron fallax splendens from 
Seed. 
This fine old stove plant is not so often seen as it 
deserves, but on visiting Umberslade, near Birmingham, 
recently, the seat of G. F. Muntz, Esq., I saw several 
young plants in large 48-pots, about 15 ins. high, and 
each with a good-sized head of orange-scarlet flowers. 
These were raised from seed sown in February last in 
heat, and potted off and grown on, Mr. Pritchard, 
the head gardener here, having saved the seed himself, 
and he remarked that to the exhibitions of groups of 
plants at our August shows they would be most 
valuable. Another old favourite, Crocosmia (Tritonia) 
aurea, is well grown here, and here again is another 
most useful plant for group and other decorative work, 
its rich orange-tinted spikes of flowers being effective. 
— W. D. 
Nepenthes Burkei proliflca. 
The above varietal name has been given to this plant 
on account of the freedom with which it produces its 
pretty oblong pitchers, which vary from 3 ins. to 4£ ins. 
long, exclusive of the lid. The body of the pitcher is 
light green, blotched upwards with pale crimson. The 
reflexed and transversely-ridged and furrowed annulus 
is bright crimson, and the lid is lightly suffused with 
the same colour. The leaves are narrow and linear. 
The pitchers have a tendency to become constricted 
above the middle when they attain full size. It was 
shown at the Drill Hall, Westminster, by Messrs. 
J. Yeitch & Sons, on the 12th inst., when an Award of 
Merit was accorded it. 
Sequoia sempervirens albo-spica. 
Some forms of this tree, especially in a young state, 
have their foliage of a deep glaucous tint. An 
additional recommendation is presented by this variety 
in the tips of the young shoots being creamy white or 
yellow, giving the tree a beautiful and distinctive 
character. It is admirably suited for growing as an 
isolated specimen on a lawn. A tree about 2 ft. high 
was shown by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, at the Drill 
Hall, Westminster, at the last meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, when a First Class Certificate 
was awarded it. 
Crocosmia aurea. 
In most gardens where this good old Cape plant is 
grown, it is known under the name of Tritonia aurea. 
The flowers are much larger and the lamina more 
expanded than in the case of the other favourite 
Tritonias, better recognised under the name of Mout- 
bretia. They have a long slender tube, and a deeply 
six-parted spreading lamina, the inner segments of 
which are inrolled at the margins. The colour varies 
from an orange-vellow to an orange-red. In the 
southern parts of this country it proves tolerably hardy 
when grown in a sheltered position with a well drained 
soil. It is, however, a beautiful subject for pot work 
when properly grown and looked after. We have seen 
it standing about in some establishments with the corms 
so crowded in the pots that no flowers were ever 
produced, although they continued to produce a fair 
amount of foliage. The corms increase so fast by 
means of rhizomes that they must frequently be 
separated to prevent overcrowding. We recently noted 
some pots of it in full bloom in one of the greenhouses 
at Syon House, Brentford. The flowering stems stood 
about 2£ ft. high, and the flowers were very large. 
