552 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 28, 1894. 
by the long beak of a humming bird, which goes to 
drink the nectar contained at the bottom of the tube 
and to find the insects with which it loves to nourish 
itself. Young plants, easily obtained from cuttings, 
are not long in coming into flower. 
PLEOPELTIS FOSSA. 
Ferns please us by their bold and rigid forms as 
much as by their graceful elegance in other cases. 
That under notice would be more correctly named 
Polypodium fossa; and it is one of those which are 
characterised by the boldness of their outline. The 
fronds vary from I2 in. to i8 in. in length, and are 
deeply but irregularly pinnatifid, that is, some of the 
segments are longer than the rest. They are of a 
rich deep green, and marked by little elevations 
which correspond to the cavities in which the sori 
are sunk on the under side. This character is more 
strikingly manifested in Polypodium nigrescens, the 
surface of which appears studded over with elevated 
warts arranged in two parallel lines on each segment. 
Both of these species we noted in the collection of 
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson's Lane Nurseries, Upper 
Edmonton. 
AGLAOMORPHA MEZENIANA. 
This constitutes a section of the large genus 
Polypodium, and is popularly termed the Bear’s 
Paw on account of the short and stout, shaggy 
rhizomes, from which the fronds are developed. 
The latter are deeply pinnatifid, and the bulk of the 
segments are very broad, giving the frond a massive 
appearance. The terminal portion, or about a fourth 
or fifth of the frond, is greatly modified, and bears 
the fructification ; in fact, the spores are entirely 
confined to this portion, all the rest being barren. 
The segments bearing the spores are long, linear, 
and scolloped along the edges, in such a way as to 
resemble a necklace. On the whole, it may be 
regarded as a bold and massive Fern, which should 
not be used for general decorative purposes, but 
used in the fernery for giving effect to more slender 
and graceful kinds, and to be stood in prominent 
positions amongst them. It may be seen in fine 
form in the nursery of Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s 
Lane, Upper Edmonton. 
THE POET S NARCISSUS ON THE GRASS. 
For some years past tentative attempts have been 
made to naturalise Daffodils, Crocuses and other 
bulbous plants on the grass at Kew ; but the planta¬ 
tions were made in positions from which the public 
were excluded, so that a distant view only was 
enjoyed. The authorities seem to have taken the 
public more into their confidence, for large areas 
have been planted in situations where the masses of 
the public have free access. So long as the latter 
are under the impression that the flowers belong to 
somebody and that a watchful eye is upon them, 
practically little or nothing will be molested. 
Irregular patches and also a mound of considerable 
breadth have been planted this past winter with the 
Poet’s Narcissus ; the variety used is Narcissus 
poeticus ornatus, and certainly the effect is charm¬ 
ing. The pure white flowers' having a back ground 
of bright green grass, are shown up to the best 
advantage without the formality which beds give 
the plant. This is the best and doubtless the most 
common of the early varieties ; but it would be highly 
desirable to plant some of the later sorts, particularly 
N. p. recurvens which would continue the display 
until INIay. The double form of it in ordinary 
seasons continues the seasons into June, but it seems 
to degenerate after some years on poor and unculti¬ 
vated soil. In any case the single variety (N. p. 
recurvus) so popular with the market growers is 
well worthy of consideration, for it is certainly the 
best late sorts. 
STREPTOCARPUS AT REIGATE. 
The floriferous nature of the varied forms of 
Streptocarpus now in cultivation was amply demon¬ 
strated by a box of blooms sent us by Mr. Harry 
Bailey, gardener to W. L. Barclay, Esq., The 
Briars, Reigate. They were seedlings of last year, 
and bloomed for eight months out of twelve; not¬ 
withstanding that, they have already been in bloom 
for six weeks or more, and promise a better display 
even than they did last year. The flowers sent were 
of wonderfully large size, with long tubes, but did 
not vary greatly in colour. Light blue was the pre¬ 
vailing shade, though some exhibited shades con¬ 
siderably more intensified. The violet lines in the 
throat sometimes become amalgamated into three 
broad and richly coloured bands. The average 
number of flowers on a scape was two, but some had 
five and six blooms very little, if at all, reduced 
below the average in size. IMr. Bailey tells us that 
any deficiency in the way of colour is more than 
compensated for by the way the flowers last when 
cut and placed in water. He uses them largely for 
such a purpose, and they are greatly admired. 
ONYCHIUM AURATUM. 
The slender, finely divided fronds of O. japonicum 
are well known, and recall the elegance of Davallia 
Jenuifolia or Pteris scaberula. The less known 
species, O. auratum, is altogether a stronger growing 
plant, developing fronds 2 ft. to 2J ft. in length, and 
three or four times divided, the ultimate segments 
being linear. The sori are borne on the under sur¬ 
face, and have a bright golden appearance; hence 
the specific name. The petioles are erect or 
sharply ascending, and borne in a dense tuft, while 
the lamina assumes a spreading direction. In this 
respect it resembles Pteris tremula in habit, but is 
altogether different in appearance. We noted some 
well-grown and handsome plants in the Dyson’s 
Lane Nurseries of Mr. H. B. May, Upper 
Edmonton. 
PEAR FERTILITY. 
This variety of Pear, of which a figure is given in 
L'Illustration Horticole, PI. 188, was raised by Messrs. 
T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth. Our contemporary 
above quoted states that it is strongly recommended 
in England, and deserves to be so. A small vertical 
cordon about 4 ft. high produced sixteen beautiful 
fruits in 1891, in the collection of the State 
School of Horticulture, Ghent. The Bulletin 
d'Arboriculture of 1892 cites a specimen under 4 ft. 
high, having given forty-nine beautiful Pears. The 
tree is vigorous and pyramidal habit, with rigid 
wood, and grows rapidly. The fruit is of medium 
size, shortly Pear-shaped, and of a bronzy-copper 
colour, often spotted or washed in places with pale 
green. The flesh is fine, tender, very sugary, 
greenish, and very juicy. The tree readily lends 
itself to all the forms of dwarf training and to pot 
culture as well as to standard and half standard 
form. 
THE GARLAND FLOWER. 
When established and thriving upon rockwork or in 
any other position this forms a pleasing and 
beautiful trailing shrub, of which many planters 
are yearly becoming more cognisant, and endeavour¬ 
ing to establish. It takes kindly to some soils and 
gardens from the very first, while in other cases it 
creates a considerable amount of difficulty. It does 
not like disturbance in the process of transplanting, 
particularly if lifted after it has been established for 
some time. The flowers are produced in dense, 
umbellate clusters at the apex of the slender shoots, 
where they are fully exposed to the eye, and 
although individually small, their deep or rosy 
colours, their number and delicious fragrance, 
make this shrub a gem of the first water. The 
shoots are trailing, and for that reason the plant 
may be used for edging beds of shrubs, for filling 
the beds, or for trailing over the ledges of the 
rockery. It is now in full bloom, and occasionally 
flowers a second time in autumn, but in any case 
retains its beauty for w^eeks. A little peat or leaf 
soil, mixed with the ordinary material, would help 
it greatly, particularly if the staple is of a clayey or 
retentive nature. It must not get dry and baked, 
otherwise the plant will suffer; after the slowly 
trailing stems cover the ground they serve to keep 
the soil cool about the roots. Daphne Cneorum is 
the botanical name. 
CORONILLA EMERUS. 
Unlike the shrubby and greenhouse species, this 
continues to develop flowers during the greater part 
of the summer season from spring onwards. It is 
perfectly hardy, whether grown as a bush in the 
open air or against a w'all. It is also sometimes 
used for making hedges, which, w'hen allowed to 
ramble rather freely in summer, have a rustic effect 
and flower freely. During winter it may be well 
pruned back and suffers no harm from the process. 
The other hardy species of this genus constitute 
dwarf, trailing, or even compact herbs closely 
hugging the soil. 
AESCULUS RUBICUNDA. 
This beautiful tree, according to Dr. Sargent, is not a 
true species in the proper sense of the term. It is an 
intermediate tree, probably a natural hybrid between 
the Red Buckeye (Ae. Pavia) and the common Horse 
Chestnut (Ae. Hippocastanum). The flowers are 
furnished with four pale red petals like those of Ae. 
Pavia; it is not so tall as the common Horse 
Chestnut, and its fruits are less spiny. Nevertheless 
it is one of the handsomest trees of our parks and 
pleasure grounds when in blossom. 
THE ViSETABLE BARDEN. 
Thinning Vegetable Crops. 
There is not enough attention as a rule paid to this 
important branch of cultivation, particularly in the 
early stages of grow’th. We often see young seed¬ 
lings crowded together in such a manner as to fairly 
choke each other, and thinning is not resorted to 
until the plants have become somewhat weakened 
through this overcrowding. Take for example a 
plot of Radishes or Turnips, the former in particular. 
Most people sow these, especially the former, far too 
thickly, and if the seed germinates .freely the plants 
become crowded as soon as they are in the rough 
leaf. Where birds are numerous some of the seed 
is taken—were it not so, in a great many instances 
there would be far more top than roots. It is an 
easy task to thin to about half-an-inch apart, and if 
this were done early roots would form quickly, so 
that one half might be drawm for use. But when 
half-a-dozen plants are allow’ed to occupy that 
space there is but a poor chance of roots being 
formed. I know some will laugh at the idea of 
thinning Radishes, but let them practise the plan, 
they will then see the benefit by the results. 
Market gardeners in this set a lesson to those in 
private establishments, for by sowing a large breadth 
the seed is scattered thinly over the ground, thus 
rendering thinning unnecessary, whereas in small 
gardens only a limited quantity is sown, and for 
this reason there is a tendency to use more 
seed than is necessary. Turnips again are often 
left too thick in gardens, and if more space 
w'ere allowed betw'een the drills the roots would form 
much quicker and be of better quality, for the faster 
such things grow the more tender they are, there¬ 
fore the aim of the cultivator should be to see that 
they have room from the first. Farmers sow 
Turnips in drills twenty-seven inches apart, but 
gardeners want to crow'd three rows into that space, 
with the result that there is more top than roots. If 
the rows stood from fifteen to eighteen inches apart, 
and the plants nine inches from each other in the 
row, the crop would be ready for use much sooner 
than when they are allowed to remain so over¬ 
crowded. Spinach again is often left without any 
thinning at all, the consequence being the plants 
make but poor foliage, and soon run to seed. In 
order to induce large juicy leaves the plants should 
not stand nearer to each other than a foot’s length. 
Perhaps one of the crops that is thinned the least 
is Peas. It is seldom that cultivators have the 
heart to pull out plants of these, but if more space 
were allowed between the plants in the rows there 
would be less mildew in hot weather. The value of 
thinning can easily be attested if the cultivator will 
only take the trouble to thin half a row and leave 
the other untouched. Though we recommend thin 
sowing, about half a pint to twenty yards, it is 
sometimes even necessary to thin where two plants 
happen to be too close together. Onions is a crop 
that should be thinned early, for the less the roots 
of these are disturbed the better. .After thinning 
give a good dressing of soot when the dew is on 
them, and if this should be washed off by rain repeat 
the dose two or three times. I have had the ground 
covered with soot and no harm has happened to the 
crop. Carrots, Parsnips, and Beet should also be 
thinned early, for the more sturdy the foliage of 
these from the start the finer the roots. Seakale 
raised both from seed and sets will need thinning, 
the former to at least a foot apart, and the latter 
should have all growths removed from each crown 
except the strongest. In order to do this well the 
soil should be removed so that any that are only 
just starting may be seen. Finally, the thinning of 
all the Brassica tribe should be done as early as 
possible. If the plants cannot be put into their 
permanent quarters at once they should be pricked 
out so as to avoid overcrowding .—Kitchen Gardener. 
