December 30, 1893. tHE GARDENING WORLD. 279 
[aRDENING gllSCELLANY. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM GOLDEN GEM. 
We have had our attention called to the value of 
this late decorative variety by Mr. W. H. Lees, 
Trent Park Gardens, New Barnet. The flowers are 
about the size of those of Madame Desgranges when 
grown without disbudding, but they are of a bright 
yellow, with flat, pointed, spreading florets that are 
densely arranged in the centre, and keep on develop¬ 
ing over a considerable period. There is, therefore, 
plenty of material in the bloom, and the centre never 
becomes open, even when left undisbudded. A more 
important feature is the fact that axillary buds are 
developed all along the stem, and these come into 
bloom at the same period as those on the top of the 
stem. The specimens sent us were about 2 ft. long, 
and in that form they are ^ut for decorative purposes, 
making bold and handsome masses for vases. It 
may be remembered that Madame Desgranges and 
the sports from it, simply produce a corymb of 
flowers on the top, and as they fade, the beauty of 
the plant is gone. The latter is of course an early 
variety, but Golden Gem can be had all through 
late autumn and the first half of winter at feast. 
The dark green foliage along the stems made a good 
setting or background for the flowers. 
THE ROTATION OF CROPS IN A POND. 
It has been discovered from long experience that in 
no stew or pond do trout grow so fast as in one 
which is absolutely new. Mr. Andrews, the very 
successful fish-culturist, of Guildford, informed me 
that his best results were obtained in a newly-made 
pond into which he had introduced trout-fry after 
the water had been standing some three months only. 
In Catholic times, when there were no railways to 
bring sea-fish for the Friday's fast from the coast to 
the interior, a series of fish-ponds were found on the 
estates of most country gentlemen, and it was the 
custom to have—to use an agricultural term—a 
rotation of crops. That is to say, the pond having 
been sown with carp eggs by the introduction of 
some spawning fish, the parents were withdrawn, 
and as soon as the resulting young fish—which were 
often artificially fed—had attained maturity, they 
were netted out, the pond drained, and a grain crop 
grown in the mud at the bottom ; then followed 
another crop of fish, and so on. In the same way, 
there is little doubt that to obtain the best results 
from lochs which already contain large numbers of 
small fish, the water should, where it can possibly 
be done, be drained off and the bottom left exposed 
to the light and air for a considerable period. What 
may be the exact change which takes place in a 
pond, stew, or lake leit devoid of water, we do not 
quite know. Without the least doubt the change is 
cne highly favourable to the healthy growth of fish. 
In this matter, as in many others, we profit bv the 
experiences of our unscientific ancestors.— Black¬ 
wood's Magazine. 
CAPE IVY. 
This name is given in the usual popular style 
without any reference to the natural affinities of the 
plant or the order to which it belongs. The plant 
in question belongs not to Hedera Helix (The Ivy), 
but to Senecio macroglossus, a member of the genus 
to which the Ragworts belong. The whole plant is 
very distinct, however, from the true Ragworts 
which have more or less deeply-cut leaves. Those 
of S. macroglossus are hastate, or three to five 
lobed, dark green, leathery, and not unlike those of 
the wild Ivy. The flower heads are produced singly 
in the axils of the leaves, have a golden disc with 
pale yellow rays, and measure from 2 in. to 3 in. 
across. The rambling, climbing stems are com¬ 
paratively slender and attain a great length. They 
should therefore be trained to wires or other sup¬ 
ports under the rafters of a greenhouse, or what 
would be better, a house with an intermediate 
temperature and a dry atmosphere, at least in 
winter. It is a native of South Africa from whence 
it was introduced in 1875, and might therefore be 
more common than it is. Flowers are produced 
during great part of summer and likewise well 
into the winter, and being always accompanied by 
the evergreen foliage are very effective. It may be 
seen at Kew where it has been an interesting plant 
for many years past. Its cultivation is of the 
simplest either in pots, tubs, or planted out in a 
narrow border with a limited amount of soil. 
Ordinary loam will suit its requirements admirably, 
and propagation may be effected by division of the 
plant or by cuttings. 
BOMAREA PATACOCENSIS. 
Occasionally this may be seen under the name of 
B. conferta, a name which refers to the crowding of 
the flowers in umbellate clusters at the apex of the 
shoots. The segments of the flowers are closely 
imbricated, making the flowers similar in shape to 
those of a Lapageria. They measure about 2 in. to 
2^ in. in length, and are of a crimson or scarlet 
colour in different individuals, for they vary. The 
outer segments are about one-fourth shorter than 
the inner, thus increasing the resemblance of those 
above mentioned. All the species are closely allied 
to the Alstroemerias, familiar to many cultivators 
who pride themselves in making collections of 
herbaceous plants. The members of the genus 
Alstroemeria are dwarf (18 in. to 3 ft. as a rule), 
many of them are hardy, or on the verge of it, and 
bear their flowers in terminal clusters or corymbs. 
The segments are irregularly arranged, and some¬ 
what spreading. The Bomareas differ by having 
tall, twining stems, evergreen leaves, more tubularly 
formed flowers, and some slight distinctions in con¬ 
nection with the seed vessels. Moreover, they are 
not hardy, but require greenhouse protection. The 
magnificent clusters of flowers are, however, 
sufficient recommendation for their cultivation in 
establishments where they can be accommodated on 
the rafters of the house. They last a long time in 
perfect condition. 
LOMARIA PATERSONI. 
A CONSIDERABLE number of species of Lomaria are 
grown in gardens, and as they come from widely 
separated parts of the world, with as diverse climates, 
both warm and cool houses can be ornamented with 
them. That under notice comes from South Africa, 
and is valuable for the sake of variety to those who 
have only a cool house in which to grow it. The 
green-house is stated to be its proper place, and no 
doubt it is, but we have seen it grow in a much 
warmer house, and also in a house where the 
temperature never rose higher than 40'’ in wdnter 
and was always below that in the morning after a 
frosty night. The plant is also very distinct from 
all other species which have come under our observa¬ 
tion. The barren fronds are usually 9 in. to 12 in. 
high, nearly strap-shaped,' but tapering gradually to 
the base, dark green and leathery, with a wavy 
margin. They assume a somewhat spreading habit, 
while the fertile fronds are erect and only about one- 
eight of an inch wide. There is a strong growing 
form named L. P. elongata with both fertile 
and barren fronds about 2 ft. long, and both kinds 
arepinnatifid. The barren fronds have only a few 
segments, but the fertile ones have numerous 
pinnae. Neither of the forms are so common in 
collections as they might be, for they are pretty and 
remarkably distinct. The typical form we noted the 
other day in the nursery of Messrs. B. S. Williams 
and Son, Upper Holloway. 
THUNBERGIA MYSORENSIS, 
Some years ago this was more grown and oftener 
seen than it is at present. More is the pity, for it is 
a handsome climber for mid-winter flowering in the 
stove. Nor is it at all difficult to bloom, as many 
cultivators have proved. It used to be known under 
the name of Hexacentris mysorensis, a name which 
doubtless clings to it still in those private establish¬ 
ments where it finds a home. The pendent branches 
are clothed with elliptic leaves, 4 in. to 6 in. long, 
and bear racemes of striking, ornamental flowers. 
The tube is purple, but the lamina is yellow, more or 
less suffused, and sometimes edged with red. 'With 
a fair amount of root room, and plenty of headway, 
the plant rambles extensively ; but when it does so a 
greater amount of blossom may be expected by those 
who manage the plant properly. The wood requires 
to be well ripened, as in the case of other woody 
climbers belonging to the same family, but with 
proper exposure to sunlight, and a limitation of 
moisture after the plant goes to rest, there is no 
difficulty in flowering it. The flowers are of strange 
shape compared with those of the other Thunbergias, 
and that is one recommendation to the other qualifi¬ 
cations possessed by the species. The throat is wide 
open and gaping, while the segments are reflexed on 
the sides of the tube. It has been grown and flowered 
for many years at Kew, and is flowering now, or was 
so recently. It was introduced from Mysore in 
1854, and requires a stove temperature. 
PRIMULA FORBESli. 
Notwithstanding the small size of the flowers of 
this species, they are produced in such quantity and 
for such a length of time, that cultivators every¬ 
where are getting most interested in it, and many 
inquiries are made about it. The statement has 
gone abroad that the species is only an annual, but 
from what we can see of it, the statement has never 
been proved. 'We are so apt to jump to conclusions, 
that further experiment often gives another verdict. 
Further than that our methods of cultivation are 
often allowed to deceive us in many cases. For 
instance, the Scarlet Runner, and Tropaeolum 
majus are looked upon as annuals because mostly 
always killed by the severity of winter. For similar 
reasons many cultivators have allowed themselves to 
become oblivious of the fact that Primula sinensis 
is a perennial, because old plants, except in the case 
of truly double kinds, are thrown away after 
having flowered. P. Forbesii flowers so profusely 
that it may not be a long lived plant, but hitherto 
careful cultivators have been unable to prove that it 
is an annual. The Lilac flowers are produced in 
tiers one above another on slender and graceful 
stems. Individually the flowers are not unlike those 
of the Bird's-Eye Primrose (P. farinosa), but the 
leaves are more like those of P. cortusoides very 
much reduced. The profusion of flowers more than 
makes up for their small size, so that well grown 
plants are both graceful and ornamental. 
PLATYCERIUM HILLII. 
The general aspect of this Platycerium is similar to 
that of the older and better known P. alcicorne. 
The barren fronds are roundish and lie over the 
pots or compost in which the plant is grown, and 
are of a grayish hue. The fertile fronds are much 
taller, several times forked at the apex, and bear the 
sori on oblong or roundish spots near the base of 
the ultimate segments, and differ in this latter 
characteristic from P. alcicorne. It was introduced 
from Queensland in 1878. Like all other species it 
thrives best when suspended, so that it may receive 
the full benefit of light and at the same time be kept 
clear of drip from the glass. The species is by no 
means common, but we noted it in the nursery of 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
DAPHNE ODORA. 
There are few plants which diffuse so strong and 
sweet an odour through a cool greenhouse at this 
dull period of the year as the subject of this note. 
A batch of plants keeps on expanding blossoms all 
through the winter from November till spring where 
the frost is merely excluded. They do this the more 
readily if they have been stood out of doors all the 
summer in a sunny position, so that the wood gets 
well matured and the buds plumped up before they 
are taken indoors in autumn. The flowers are 
purple-red in the bud state, expanding to blush and 
white. There is also a white variety in which all 
the colour has disappeared from the flowers. The 
species is best known in gardens under the name of 
D. indica, and is sometimes recorded in books under 
both names as if they referred to different plants. 
There are also three different plants to which the 
name Daphne indica has been applied by botanists; 
but in neither case is the name retained by good 
authorities at the present day. It is a native of 
China, from whence it was introduced in 1771, and 
has therefore nothing to do with India. Peaty soil 
is the most suitable for this Daphne, in fact similar 
treatment to that which is accorded to Cape Heaths. 
A large batch of plants in the nursery of Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, diffuses a 
strong and most agreeable aroma through the house. 
DAVALLIA TYERMANNI. 
In many establishments where house room is 
limited objection is taken to the amount of space 
required for the larger-growing Davallias with long, 
drooping fronds. The extensively creeping nature 
of some of them also makes them difficult to 
accommodate. Such objections can hardly be 
