§8 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 22, 1894. 
HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS IN 
FLOWER. 
Aconitum variegatum. —Sometimes this is spoken 
of under the name of A. Napellus bicolor, but 
whatever name may be given to the plant it is 
certainly highly ornamental. There is a tendency 
on the part of botanists to multiply names on the 
ground of very small differences which may not be 
permanent, especially if plants are raised from seeds. 
The flowers are white with a blue margin to the 
sepals, making them handsome for border decora¬ 
tion. It is a long time since it commenced to bloom, 
but still continues to do so in many gardens, and 
the farther north one goes it may be seen in all the 
better perfection. All parts of the plant are highly 
poisonous ; but in these days of advanced gardening 
no one should mistake the roots for those of Horse 
Radish nor the leaves for those of Celery. 
Anemone japonica alba. —This is now in all its 
glory, and very chaste it is in contrast with yellow 
flowers now so plentiful. The golden cluster of 
stamens in the centre makes a bold contrast with the 
five large white sepals. Coming into bloom as they 
do in autumn they last a long time in purity and 
perfection provided they are not soiled by heavy 
rains and battered about by the wind. Few plants 
are more deserving of extensive cultivation in beds 
upon the grass than this handsome Windflower. It 
is easily increased by the underground rhizomes or 
suckers, which it produces in abundance. 
Lysimachia ephemerum. —Although a native of 
South-Western Europe, this species is strikingly 
different from all the rest that are most commonly 
seen in cultivation. The stems are erect, 2 ft. to 
3 ft. high, and more or less branched in the upper 
portions. Each branch terminates in a long raceme 
of white flowers with a small purple eye. The 
species may therefore be described as pretty and 
graceful, with the slender habit of a Gaura and the 
foliage of a Gypsophila. 
Chelone obliqua. —In this we have a plant 
closely allied to a Pentstemon, bearing a short but 
dense terminal raceme of curiously-shaped purple 
flowers like the mouth of some animal. The plant 
usually grows about 2 ft., but may be dwarfer and 
constitute a neat upright border plant that never 
overruns its neighbours. It may be propagated by 
division in October or March, or by seeds which it 
ripens in plenty, particularly in fine seasons. 
Rudbeckia speciosa. —Notwithstanding the fact 
that this is a Composite, and flowers when other 
yellow Composites are all too plentiful, yet every 
lover of hardy plants who has made its acquaintance 
admits it to be one of the finest of border plants for 
late summer and autumn decoration. Twelve to 
fifteen inches is the usual height of it ; the rays are 
golden and the disc black. The two well defined 
and contrasting colours and the dwarf habit of the 
plant make it a border plant of the first water, and 
suitable alike for large or small gardens. The off¬ 
sets root freely into the soil, and may be detached 
in any desired number. 
Veronica EXALTATA.-The blooms of the ornamental 
Veronicas have been past their best for some time 
back, but while the others were flowering this species 
was growing until it now stands 6 ft. or 7 ft. high, 
with erect, unbranched stems bearing a terminal 
raceme of lilac-blue flowers, and several shorter 
ones from the axils of two to four of the upper 
leaves. The long, lanceolate leaves are sharply 
serrate, deep green, and are set upon the stems in 
whorls of three. It should be planted in the back 
line of the border, and is valuable on account of its 
late flowering and stately habit, but at present is 
rarely, if at all, cultivated outside of botanic 
gardens. 
Gentiana asclepiadea. —As far as cultivated 
species are concerned this is now the glory of the 
garden amongst Gentians. The plant varies from 
1 ft. to 2 ft. in height, and bears a long, leafy 
raceme of deep blue flowers, tinted with purple ex¬ 
ternally along the middle line of the corolla corres¬ 
ponding to the segments. The leaves are opposite 
and decussate, thus forming four rows, which are 
densely arranged upon the stem. 
Helenium autumnale striatum.— Within the 
past few years this variety has been hailed by 
numerous collectors of herbaceous plants as a wel¬ 
come relief to the plethora of yellow flowers. The 
ray florets are heavily striped with brownish-red, 
and in that respect are very distinct. The plant is 
as easily grown as the type, and in a few years, at 
the present rate of progress, must be found in every 
collection of note. Propagation may be readily 
effected by division in autumn after the plant has 
finished flowering. 
-—— 
THE YELLOWS. 
What is this species of jaundice that is bothering 
us all here, because it has damaged the Pea crop, 
cleared off the vegetable Marrows, and even laid its 
hand on the Mangold crop on the farm ? There is 
scarcely a healthy Vegetable Marrow plant in our 
neighbourhood (the centre of the Midlands), and 
Peas have yellowed in patches, and as far as pro¬ 
duction of pods is concerned, have stood still, or 
nearly so ; and a field of Mangolds, which I see 
daily, is covered all over with bright yellow leaves, 
and in some places is gone altogether in patches. We 
are beginning to call the disease “ The Yellows," but 
what is it ? There is a cause for it if only we could 
find it. My own opinion is, that the cold and rain of 
July and August gave such a chill to vegetation 
generally that only the strongest natures could stand 
against it, and that the tender ones succumbed to its 
baneful influence. 
These two crops, Vegetable Marrows and Peas, 
are with me, and more or less with my neighbours, 
a failure this year. Up to mid-summer Peas cropped 
splendidly, but after about the second week in July, 
they have done next to nothing. Nay, the Vegetable 
Marrows gave it up altogether in August, and lay 
down all yellow and profitless. The Peas have gone 
on in a dull, puling sort of way to produce a few 
pods now and then, but nothing like a crop. What 
with the failure of these two crops, and the almost 
non-cropping of Scarlet Runner Beans (any amount 
of flowers, but few pods), it has been very difficult to 
satisfy the daily demands of the cook, and keep the 
“pot a-boiling’’ with what is such a necessity, a 
varying change of vegetables. I should like to know 
if this is a general experience, and whether my ex¬ 
planation of the reason is the right one.— X. 
A FEW GOOD ROOM 
PLANTS. 
Seeing a series of notes concerning plants for rooms, 
and their management, which appeared in your 
paper some time ago, I thought a description of a 
few of the plants most suitable for this purpose, 
might be of service. 
Fatsia japonica, syn. Aralia Sieboldii. —This 
is one of the very few plants that will adapt itself to 
almost any treatment. Its beautiful glossy leaves 
make it a really useful decorative subject, added to 
which it is of robust constitution, and hardy enough 
to stand an ordinary winter indoors. During very 
cold nights, however, it should be removed from the 
window into the middle of the room. Another 
point worth mentioning is, that all plants will stand 
cold much better when they are in a dry state, than 
when they are in a wet one. When watering, care 
should be taken to use luke-warm water—the morn¬ 
ing being the best time to perform the operation. 
Many hundreds of plants are lost annually, through 
the neglect of such little considerations as these. 
Fatsia Sieboldii is now grown in such large quanti¬ 
ties as to bring it well within the reach of everyone. 
I have one particular specimen of this plant in my 
memory_at present. It belongs to a gentleman who 
brought it to me when a young plant, to re-pot. 
This was about four years ago. It has been potted 
by me every year since that date, and is now a 
splendid plant 5 ft. in height, and in the best of 
health. Vigorous plants of this kind will often bloom 
The bloom should, however, be removed, as it tends 
to weaken the plant. Great care should be taken 
■when performing this, that the next succession of 
leaves is not injured. I have a fine batch of about 
a hundred of these plants at the present time. 
They were raised from seed sown this last spring, 
and are now of a nice size, and thriving well. I 
have them in a cold frame, and shaded during hot 
days. 
Aspidistras or Parlour Palms. —These are too 
well known to need description, as they are amongst 
the plants most commonly met with in villas and 
suburban residences. All they want is plenty of 
water and a little attention with regard to potting. 
The green variety in particular should never be 
allowed to get dry, or yellow leaves will be the 
inevitable result. The variegated form does best 
when it is pot bound, and if potted at all, poor sandy 
soil should be used, and good drainage given. The 
plants should be frequently sponged so as to keep 
them in good health and remove the scale and red 
spider which are so partial to them. Plants behave 
very much like human beings. Neglect them and 
their health will suffer, and death will ultimately 
ensue. 
Araucaria excelsa.— This is another very suit¬ 
able plant for indoor decoration, and one well 
worthy a good place in the dining or drawing room. 
Amongst Palms suitable for this purpose Kentia 
Fosteriana and Kentia Belmoreana are the best, 
whilst Phoenix rupicola, P. tenuis, and P. reclinata 
are very hardy and produce an exceedingly pretty 
effect. The old Ficus elastica is not often seen, 
but it can hold its own against any of the plants I 
have mentioned for beauty and for decorative value. 
When the repotting of indoor plants becomes a 
necessity, it is advisable to procure the services of a 
practical and reliable man. If this were done much 
trouble and many failures might be prevented. — 
J. G. Pettinger, Strawberry Dale Nursery, Harrogate. 
-- 
THE DUKE OF YORK 
TOMATO. 
The remarks of Messrs. James Carter & Co. in your 
last issue are decidedly wanting in politeness, and 
are no answer to my complaint, with respect to the 
variety, Duke of York. As to “ irresponsible state¬ 
ments," let me say that my seeds came from head¬ 
quarters, and in sealed packets, and that the plants 
are still here for anyone to see. I have seen another 
batch of the same variety since I first wrote you on 
the subject, and handled a fruit that I could 
liken to nothing but the Old Red. As to “ a 
bad market,” I may say that successful Tomato 
growers have other objects in view besides supplying 
a market. There is such a thing as their 
own personal pleasure and satisfaction, and, besides, 
everyone likes to have what he pays for. If the 
coloured plate is to be taken as the standard of the 
variety, then I say that I have not got the standard, 
and I have an undoubted right to say so.— J. G. 
Pettinger, Strawberry Dale Nursery, Harrogate. [We 
have a further communication from Messrs. Carter 
& Co., in which they state that their traveller visited 
Mr. Pettinger’s nursery in June last, and saw the 
Tomatos growing, when he told our correspondent 
that he was not treating them in the right way to 
make a success of them. “ He further states that 
they appeared to have been forced up to 4 ft. in 
height, and consequently did not possess the strength 
necessary to develop either large or good-shaped 
fruits.” Mr. Pettinger has the right to reply if he 
desires to do so, and. then the correspondence may 
well cease.— Ed.] 
-- 
CELERY. 
In very many places the past wet season has 
resulted in the abnormally rank growth of this in¬ 
estimable vegetable, and it is to be feared that in the 
event of our experiencing a sharp winter, the succu¬ 
lent stems will receive severe damage. A great deal, 
however, will depend upon the way in which the 
plants have been blanched. Next to the selection of 
a suitable sort, or sorts, for cultivation, earthing-up 
is one of the most important operations. Upon its 
proper performance rests the quality of the crop as 
well as its ability to withstand the winter. As soon 
as the young plants have obtained a good start after 
planting out, earthing-up should be commenced. In 
these early stages, however, it should always be per¬ 
formed by hand, and the quantity of soil placed 
around the stems at one time should not be too 
great. Be careful, moreover, not to allow the soil 
to press too heavily upon the plants, or dwarfed and 
crippled hearts will result, that will be of little use 
for the table. 
Yesterday, September 17, I saw several promising 
batches of that fine old standard variety, Major 
Clarke's Solid Red. This is perhaps as good a sort 
as anybody need wish to grow. It comes into use 
early in the season and will stand the winter 
admirably. Another fine red variety, Veitch's 
Standard Bearer, has proved itself to be of sterling 
merit. For a white sort, Turner’s Incomparable 
White, or, as it is sometimes called, Sandringham 
Dwarf White, takes a lot of beating. It is of good 
flavour and will remain a long time in good condition. 
— G. 
