August 30, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
825 
each series. The other was altogether abnormal. 
There were three perfect sepals and two halves. As a 
perfect sepal intervened between them, they did not 
consist of one split down the middle. Two halves of 
ordinary foliage leaves had grown up in close cohesion 
with the peduncle, ovary, and tube of the flower ; then 
they united with the half sepals, and, like them, were 
free, one half of the compound organ being green, the 
other red. There were four petals and a supernumerary 
piece, one half of which was coloured red like a sepal, 
while the other half was bluish purple like a petal. 
Fuchsia Riccartoni. 
When originally raised in the gardens at Ricearton, a 
private establishment near Edinburgh, this plant was 
considered of little value because it flowered very 
poorly. It had, however, been grown under glass, and 
a young plant of it having been taken to some 
neighbouring establishment and planted out of doors, it 
flowered with great profusion, and gained in popular 
estimation immensely. Since then it has found its 
way all over the country, both north and south. It 
adapts itself admirably to circumstances and climate. 
AVhen planted in an open and exposed place, it forms 
rather a rigid and stiff bush, particularly in northern 
localities where the shoots annually get killed back to 
the hard wood in winter, and producing short lateral 
shoots, flowers most profusely. Under these conditions 
it forms a bush about 2 ft. or 3 ft. high ; but when 
planted against a wall it mounts up to 6 ft. or 8 ft. In 
the Isle of Wight many of the cottages by the waysides 
have their front walls completely covered by it. Like¬ 
wise on the west coast and in the Isle of Man, it 
sometimes attains a remarkable size. 
Calystegia pubescert3 flore pleno. 
Double flowers are quite uncommon in this family, 
and the climber or twiner under notice is perhaps 
unique in this respect. It is closely allied to the Con¬ 
volvulus, and indeed is frequently classed under that 
genus. The plant is a native of China, from whence 
it was introduced to this country in 1844. The flowers 
are perfectly double, with long, narrow, reflexed 
segments inside of the true and trumpet-shaped corolla. 
On first expansion they are of a pale flesh colour, and 
gradually deepen to rose ; and they continue to be 
produced all through the summer and autumn. The 
leaves are narrower than those of the Common Bind¬ 
weed of our hedges, and hastate or shortly lobed at 
the base. The plant is moderately rampant in growth, 
and is suitable for covering trellis-work or climbing up 
a wire or piece of string, as fancy or convenience may 
suggest. 
Lilium tigrinum. 
Popularly this is known as the common Tiger Lily, 
and is one that finds its way pretty frequently into 
gardens ; for it is both easily grown and makes a 
splendid show in the month of August, after the early- 
summer flowering ones have quite disappeared. It be¬ 
longs to the same group as L. auratum and L. speciosum, 
flowering much about the same time in the open air or 
a little earlier. The flowers are deeply orange-red, 
spotted with black, and are produced face downwards 
with widely spreading thin revolute segments. The 
stately stems rise to a height of 3 ft. or 4 ft., and bear 
a terminal and pyramidal raceme of flowers of splendid 
appearance. Like many other kinds it gives great 
satisfaction when planted in a bed of low Rhododen¬ 
drons or something similar, which will keep the ground 
cool about the root and base of the plant. 
Hebenstreitia tenuifolia. 
About twenty species of Hebenstreitia are known to 
science, but very few of them are ever seen in culti¬ 
vation. That under notice is a showy plant for the 
herbaceous border, on account of the quantity of white 
flowers it produces. Individually they are very small, 
but collectively they are very effective. They are pro¬ 
duced in a dense racemose head, which continues to 
elongate from the base upwards as the flowers are 
developed in succession. The flowering period extends 
over a considerable time. The Hebenstreitias belong 
to the order Selaginea, which is closely allied to the 
Verbena family ; and the blooms are somewhat similarly 
constructed, having a long slender tube and a four- 
lobed lamina deeply split down one side. The flowers 
of many kinds are white, but some are yellow. The 
leaves of the species are linear, entire, very narrow, and 
densely clothe the stems, which are about 12 ins. or 
15 ins. in height, giving them a very elegant appear¬ 
ance. Some fine tufty bushes of this and one or two 
other species may be seen in the herbaceous ground at 
Kew. 
Kniphofia Macowani. 
One of the dwarfest and prettiest species in cultivation 
is Kniphofia Macowani. The flower stems vary from 
12 ins. to 18 ins. in height, bearing a dense, conical, 
elongating spike of flowers. They are of a bright 
orange-scarlet, with the shortly six-lobed spreading 
lamina white, or nearly so, on the inner face. The 
tube is much more slender than in the case of the 
taller-growing kinds, and as the flowers fade they drop 
down close against the stem, leaving the opened and 
unopened ones projecting outwards in relief. The 
leaves are very narrow, keeled and rough on the edges 
like those of the well-known K. aloides, than which, 
they are much less bulky. For this reason it is better 
adapted for rockeries of moderate size than the common 
ones, which, however, are noble and telling for the 
upper pockets of large rockeries. It is a native of the 
Cape, from whence it was introduced in 1874, and may 
be seen in the collection near the rockery at Kew. 
Hemerocallis fulva Kwanso. 
The above varietal name has been given to the double- 
flowered form of H. fulva, and not only so, but has 
been considered as of specific value. The flowers are 
perfectly double, and the segments so regularly arranged 
that the bloom is quite handsome. Comparatively few 
of the plants of the Lily family, to which this belongs, 
are double, and what few there are do not find much 
favour with the general public. This double Day 
Lily is, however, a grand thing for an herbaceous border ; 
but, like its other congeners, the flowers do not last 
very long in good condition after being cut and placed 
in water. The great size of the bronzy orange blooms, 
and the fact that several of them are produced in 
succession from the same flower-stalk, are strong 
recommendations for the admission of this subject into 
good collections of herbaceous plants. There is a sub- 
variety of it, with beautifully variegated foliage, useful 
for forcing and mixing amongst flowering plants in the 
same way as Funkias. Some plants of it are grown in 
the collection at Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
Pentstemon puniceus. 
Both the foliage and the flowers of this species are 
very striking, and the brightness of the latter should 
warrant it a place in many a private collection. The 
leaves are glaucous, and more resemble the colour seen 
in many of the Mertensias than that of most species in 
cultivation. The flowers are of a vermilion-red or 
almost scarlet, and appear light and graceful, both on 
account of the manner in which they are disposed upon 
the stem, and narrowness of the tube. The lamina is 
of good size, and spreads nearly at right angles to the 
tube. The stems grow to a height of 2 ft., and when 
in flower are more comparable to the grace of P. bar- 
batus than any other ; but the flowers are, of course, 
larger. It may be seen in full bloom in the herbaceous 
ground at Kew. 
-- 
HOW PLANTS FEED. 
A Lecture to Flower Show Visitors. 
At the annual floral fete, organised by the Royal 
Horticultural Society of Aberdeen, held last week, 
and noticed in another column, immediately after the 
opening ceremony an instructive lecture was delivered 
by Dr. J. W. H. Trail, of the Aberdeen University, on 
“How Plants Feed.” He began by stating that in the 
two short half-hour lectures he intended to deliver—on 
that day, and one on Saturday—he would speak of how 
plants fed (1) by the root, and (2) by the stem. That 
day he would confine his remarks as to how plants fed 
themselves by means of their roots. After a brief 
description of different kinds of roots, Professor Trail 
showed diagrams of a small seedling plant with its root 
largely magnified. When pulled up, the root it would 
be found had small,bits of earth adhering to it; these 
were enclosed by the minute hairs growing from a 
certain part of the root, and which were the real 
feeders of the plant from the substances found 
in the soil. The hairs entwined themselves round 
those small bits of earth, and drew in this 
manner from the ground all the sustenance the 
plant required from this direction. The most part 
of the nourishment came through the leaves and 
stem, but the root also contributed largely, as he had 
stated, to the nourishment of the plant. In great part 
this was composed of water, but in lesser proportions 
the plant also required solid substances, such as salt, 
lime, potash, soda, &c. These it could not take in 
solid form, as animals do, but in the soil they were 
dissolved by moisture caused by rain ; and thus 
absorbed by the hairs of the root. When these sub¬ 
stances were not furnished in sufficient quantity the 
plant died from want of nourishment ; when a super¬ 
abundance was given it became sickly, just as a human 
being would be when he had taken a superabundance 
of food. The other portions of Thursday’s lecture were 
illustrated by diagrams, with the parts of the root 
treated and magnified largely, in some instances 
I, 000 or 1,500 times, such as in the terminations and 
twistings of the hair roots. On Saturday Professor 
Trail continued his lecture before a numerous audience 
in the large marquee, dealing in a lucid and clear 
manner with what the leaves did for a plant. 
- -*&*. - 
A FLOWER SHOW AT FORT 
WILLIAM. 
On Friday of last week the Lochaber Horticultural 
Society held its fourth exhibition in the Drill Hall at 
Fort William, the little town at the foot of Ben Nevis, 
so well known to tourists. The number of entries 
showed a slight falling off, which is partly accounted 
for by the cold and sunless season, and partly by the 
making of the new line of railway from Helensburgh 
to Fort William, which has brought destruction upon 
many a cottage garden. No less than a dozen of the 
regular competitors have had their “ Kail yard ” more 
or less cut up. However, they can bear their loss, and 
philosophically look for pastures new, knowing well 
that increased railway facilities will help forward 
horticulture along with other West Highland industries. 
The committee is well supported by the neighbouring 
proprietors. 
Three excellent tables of plants were on exhibition, 
and greatly added to the attractions of the day. These 
were contributed by Lady Abinger, of Inverlochy 
(Mr. Logan, gariener); Lady Margaret E. Cameron, of 
Lochiel (Mr. Sharp, gardener) ; and Mrs. Macdonald, 
Invernevis (Mr. Stewart, gardener). Messrs. Howden 
& Co., nurserymen, of Inverness, also sent an interest¬ 
ing table of flowering and fine-foliaged plants. The 
most successful competitors were Mr. J. Cameron, 
Nevis Bridge ; Mrs. Paterson, Ardlinnhe ; and Miss 
Robertson, The Fort, with plants; Mr. J. Cameron 
with cut flowers ; Miss Livingstone, The School-house, 
Mr. Cameron, and Miss Maggie Robertson with 
bouquets ; Mr. J. Routledge, Annat, Mr. J. Menzies, 
Banavie, Mr. W. Chisholm, Inverlochy, and Mr. 
A. Macdonald, Fort William, with vegetables ; Miss 
Cameron, Inseagan, Mr. Angus Macdonald, Mr. 
J. Routledge, Provost McIntyre, Mr. D. McNiven, 
National Bank, and Mr. Livingstone with fruit ; and 
Mr. J. McFadyen, Spean Bridge, and Mr. John 
Linton, Cornanan, with field produce.— D. P. L. 
-- 
PRIMROSES. 
The exceedingly moist nature of the summer has 
naturally been favourable to all kinds of hardy 
Primroses and Polyanthuses, and the plants old and 
young are pretty well covered with leafage. I have 
seen some summers, where between heat and thrip not 
a leaf has been visible, except on the youngest plants. 
Those who have leisure, and no gardening can be well 
done where there is no leisure, will find next spring 
ample repayment if they take advantage of this 
condition of the plants, where they have become broad 
clumps of some fifteen to twenty crowns, and lifting, 
divide hard, breaking away all the old hard root-stock, 
and replant up in new rich soil. 
The spring season, just after the bloom is over, is, 
on the whole, the best time for ordinary old plants, 
but if it be needful to save seed, the work cannot be 
performed until too late. When done in the spring, 
however—and in the ease of Primroses, which bloom 
early, it can often be done at the end of April—the 
plants make strong growth at once. As the spring is 
the new root-making season for the Primrose family, 
and fine blooming plants result the following year, 
if division takes place at once, there is ample time for 
the newly planted plants to make good crowns before 
the winter sets in ; but when our winters are mild and 
open, as of late years, the plants really grow all the 
winter through. If a good stock be raised from seed 
every year, old plants need not be preserved, except 
specially good sorts. The seedling plants are always 
the more robust. — A. Dean. 
