February 3, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
3570 
STREPTOCARPUS 
WENLANDI. 
There are a few species of Streptocarpus which 
may not inaptly be termed the giants of the genus, 
or the aristocracy of their tribe. In this category 
S. Dunnii and S. Wenlandi may be placed. They 
agree in each plant possessing only a single leaf 
proper, with a few small ones which may be con¬ 
sidered as bracts. This leaf, remarkable as it may 
seem, is a development of one of the two miniature 
Cotyledons of the seedling, notwithstanding the 
great dimensions it ultimately attains. The two 
species mentioned require a longer time to reach the 
flowering stage than S. Rexii and S. lutea, or the 
numerous progency of seedlings that have been 
derived from the crossing and intercrossing of the 
hybrids obtained from them originally hybridised 
with S. Dunnii. The last named has been used with 
well-marked effect in infusing fresh life and novelty 
into the older garden plants just named, and we 
hope there is a grand future before S. Wenlandi for 
the buds in some cases were almost on the point of 
expansion. The seeds were sown last February so 
that the plants are now close upon twelve months 
old. The leaf of different plants measure about 
i8 in. to 2 ft. long by i2 in. to 14 in. in width. They 
are broadly oblong, curved over the sides of the pots, 
and are deep green above, with numerous strong, 
incurved, parallel ribs, and are deep purple beneath. 
They are entirely devoid of the rusty appearance 
exhibited by the leaves of S. Dunnii, although it 
must be acknowledged that cultivators would appre¬ 
ciate smaller leaves and more of them to a plant in 
either case. That result may be obtained by hybrid¬ 
isation as in the case of S. Dunnii. The flower 
scapes spring from the base of the leaf, and appear 
in succession from the base for a short distance 
upwards upon the midrib. The taller scapes attain 
a height of 18 in. to 2 ft , bearing a branching cyme 
of flowers on the top. In shape they are not unlike 
those of S. polyantha, and have a short curved tube 
with an expanded, oblique, five-lobed blue lamina 
with a white throat. The flowers of S. Dunnii, on 
a cow and have suitable soil would do well to grow 
Parsnips in preference to Mangolds. True, the 
same weight of roots per acre will not be obtained, 
but there is this much to be said, one-half the 
quantity of Parsnips will be ample, for if exceeded 
the milk will possibly be flavoured, and cows give a 
richer milk when fed with them than from any other 
root. 
As regards culture, the Parsnip does best in a 
deep, loose, moderately rich soil, not recently 
manured. If freshly trenched it may be manured, 
but care should be taken to place the manure if 
fresh from the farm-yard well down in the trench. 
Lime, soot, or salt, old potting bench soil, wood 
ashes, or any artificial manure that will readily 
blend with the soil may be spread on the surface and 
dug in. Quarters previously occupied with Broccoli 
or Cauliflower or any other crop which can be got 
off the ground soon after the New Year, will come 
in well for this crop, and give time for the thorough 
working of the soil which is a matter of the first 
importance for all root crops, as ground that has been 
Choice Cypriped.ums ; - a., C. Stonei ; b.,C. Stonei platytaenium 
the same purpose. Although it has previously 
flowered in this country it is still very little known, 
and may be regarded as quite new. 
Except in the case of the huge and solitary leaf 
there is little connection in common with S. Dunnii 
and S. Wenlandi. The flowers, both in structure 
and colour of the latter, seem to possess a consider¬ 
able amount of affinity with those of S. Polyantha ; 
while the leaf of the latter also agrees in being soli¬ 
tary, but is nearly orbicular and very much smaller. 
The leaf may practically cease growing for a time 
and recommence again when the conditions for 
continued growth become favourable. S. Wen¬ 
landi requires about twelve months to attain its full 
development and flowering size, but is well worthy 
of what attention it may require during that time 
for the sake of the quantity of flowers it produces, 
and the length of time they remain in perfection or 
keep up a succession, for they continue developing 
over a long period of time. 
About a month ago we noted a batch of 27 large 
plants and several smaller ones in the Portland 
Road Nursery of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. 
The flower spikes were appearing plentifully, while 
the contrary, are tubular, with a comparatively 
narrow or small lamina, and for the most part brick 
red. 
-»*-- 
THE PARSNIP AND ITS CULTURE. 
The Parsnip is, I think, one of the most nhtritious 
of all root crops, yet possibly the one least thought 
of. I well remember when the Potato disease first 
made its appearance, that the Parsnip was put for¬ 
ward as a substitute, and its more extended culti¬ 
vation with a view to its becoming a more general 
article of diet recommended. But after all, how¬ 
ever nice Parsnips may be, we somehow or other 
don't care to have them constantly placed before us 
as Potatos are. Before Potatos were made scarce 
and bad by disease Parsnips were very enjoyable, 
but when we had them placed before us almost con¬ 
stantly I well remember getting quite tired of them, 
and it was seme years before they became to me 
what they previously had been. I do not know what 
the general experience respecting them is this 
season, but my own is that I have rarely found them 
so good as they are now, the roots being particularly 
tender and sweet. Small holders of land who keep 
well worked and exposed to the fertilising influences 
of the atmosphere is in a vastly better condition for 
the reception of seeds than that which has lain 
undug through the winter. At the same time it 
ought not to be worked when too wet on the surface, 
because especially if it is of an adhesive nature, if it 
gets trampled on in that condition it takes a long 
time to get it into that nice friable condition which 
the roots of the young plants delight to work in. 
From the middle of February to the fifteenth of 
March has always been my favourite time for sowing 
this crop. I have sown much earlier and later, but 
whatever time is chosen let the soil be in good work¬ 
ing order. To put in seeds during wet weather and 
when the ground is in bad order, is to court defeat 
and failure. Sow in drills eighteen inches apart, and 
thin out the young plants from six to nine inches 
asunder. If very large roots are desired give more 
room, but for table purposes the lesser space men¬ 
tioned will be ample. Besides, very large roots do 
not always give the greatest weight per rod, and the 
most useful are the moderate sized ones. As soon 
as the seedlings are seen to be coming up, commence 
hoeing and give the weeds no rest. 
