September 22, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
61 
year since. Nothing was used to enrich the common 
garden soil, which is of rather a strong but friable 
texture upon a good clay. So far as I remember no 
top-dressing has been applied so that anyone wishful 
to grow them need have no fear of being unsuccess¬ 
ful. I may observe that the part last planted has 
flowered more freely than that put in two years ago, 
which I believe is rather contrary to the opinions of 
some who hold that the corms should remain undis¬ 
turbed for several years.— G. P. Bell. Clive House, 
Alnwick. 
THE POMEGRANATE. 
This is a more hardy plant, I believe, than many 
who are acquainted with it generally imagine. I have 
known a plant of it nailed up to the wall of a house, 
some 6 ft. in width, and at least 30 ft. high,which has 
withstood the frosts of our most severe winters without 
the slightest protection during the last twenty years. 
I do not know the age of the plant, but may say that 
in all probability it is not less than fifty years old. 
It, however, flowers very sparingly, the system of 
pruning being, I believe, at fault; the practice hav¬ 
ing been for a long series of years to spur it close in, 
whereas some at least of the previous summers' well- 
ripened growths ought to be retained, because it is 
from these that flowers may be expected. Some 
thirty-five years ago I fruited a plant of it in the 
open air, and this anywhere in the home counties is, 
I think, a rare occurrence.— W. B. G. 
VARIETIES OF GOLDEN FEATHER. 
For years past, and practically since the ordinary 
Golden Feather (Matricaria Parthenium aureum) 
was first used as a bedding plant, various cultivators 
have selected and perpetuated many distinct forms 
which have appeared amongst sowings of it; and to 
several of them names have been given. Notwith¬ 
standing all this the ordinary form still holds its own 
and is grown in the greatest abundance, and to all 
appearance will do so as long as it continues popu¬ 
lar. Several of the varieties may be seen under 
trial in the Portland Road Nursery of Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading. The ordinary Golden 
Feather is the best for bedding purposes, because it 
is dwarfest even when planted out and allowed to 
grow as it likes. That named Laciniata has much 
more deeply and finely cut leaves, but as they are 
rather open they do not give the desired effect. 
Selaginoides is notable for the great size of its deeply- 
cut leaves, but the segments are broad and im¬ 
bricate ; it is more frequently cultivated than the 
last named variety. The double Golden Feather is 
pretty and interesting from various points of view, 
but it would we fancy be comparatively valueless if 
used as a substitute for the single-flowered old kind. 
As the name would suggest the plant must be 
allowed to come into bloom to show its peculiarity, 
the flower heads are neatly and beautifully quilled, 
and the foliage yellow. The plant as a whole forms 
a neat upright tuft about a foot high and flowers 
very freely; it might therefore be used as a dot 
plant in carpet bedding, or to fill small beds in 
flower gardens. 
LOBELIA CARDINALIS QUEEN VICTORIA. 
One of the prettiest beds in the flower garden 
at Kew during the past season has been a most 
pleasing combination of Gypsophila paniculata and 
Lobelia cardinalis var. Queen Victoria. The rich 
crimson flowers of the Lobelia borne upon exception¬ 
ally strong spikes stand out of the glittering sheen of 
sil very whiteness produced by the well- flowered pani¬ 
cles of the Gypsophila with vivid grandeur. Lobelia 
cardinalis Queen Victoria is one of the most useful 
bedding plants we have, but being so stiff and formal 
in habit it should always be used in conjunction 
with some other dwarfer and lighter subject when 
its great beauty becomes apparent to even the most 
casual observer. I have seen it used with very 
striking effect, as a dot plant in beds of yellow 
calceolarias. It is a free grower, and may readily be 
kept through the winter if its flower spikes are cut 
off, the roots lifted with good balls and placed in 
boxes with a little soil shaken loosely about them. 
Place them in a cold frame and give them no water 
until spring or they will damp off. They may be 
propagated either by cuttings or by root division. 
The former will strike readily during March and 
April in a bottom heat of 65° Fahr., and there is but 
little difficulty in working up a stock from two or 
three plants only.— G. 
THE ANTWERP HOLLYHOCK. 
The above name applies to Althaea ficifolia, a plant 
that has been in cultivation since 1597, and there¬ 
fore almost as old as the Hollyhock itself. Never¬ 
theless we seldom see it in cultivation although it is 
evidently possible to develop a race of garden flowers 
of considerable beauty from it, seeing that single 
varieties of various colours and a double form have 
at one time or other been obtained from it. The 
ordinary pale yellow flowered form may be seen in 
the Portland Road Nursery of Messrs. Sutton and 
Sons, Reading. The stems are 10 ft. high, very much 
branched, and therefore in that respect very different 
from the stately, slightly branching Hollyhock 
(Althea rosea) from China. The leaves are three to 
five-fingered, and the primrose yellow flowers very 
abundantly produced all over the main stem and the 
branches. Although moderate in size compared 
with those of the Hollyhock, they make amends for 
this by their great numbers. Appropriate positions 
might be selected for plants in the herbaceous border, 
in the shrubbery, or even in the pleasure grounds, 
where clumps, beds or masses of it would prove very 
effective even from a distance. The species was 
originally introduced from Siberia. 
ANTIRRHINUMS FOR BEDDING. 
A splendid strain of Antirrhinums, sent out by Mr. 
Ernst Benary, of Erfurt, is now on trial in the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, at Chiswick. 
Many of the plants are excessively dwarf, barely 
ten inches in height (including the flower spike). 
They are all of sturdy growth and extremely flori- 
ferous, whilst the size and colour of the flowers are 
wonderful. A dwarf type of these pretty plants 
should prove of inestimable value to the gardener. It 
has been promised us for a long time, and we really 
seem to have got it at last. A bed of Antirrhinums 
of mixed colours which I saw last year looked parti¬ 
cularly fine, but the plants were of rather straggling 
habit compared to that of Benary’s new hybrids, 
which are, indeed, models of compactness. Antirrhi¬ 
nums are easy of propagation. Cuttings taken in 
September and dibbled into pans or shallow boxes, 
and placed in a cold frame, will root as readily as 
any other bedding plant. Besides, they will need 
but little protection during winter, being as near 
hardy as could possibly be desired.—S. 
PROPAGATING CARNATIONS BY CUTTINGS. 
To those who have failed to secure the necessary 
number of layers, I would like to recommend 
propagating them by cuttings as being a sure way of 
getting 90 per cent. Proceed as follows Choose 
well ripened grass and remove the lower leaves well 
to the top, then cut it in the same way as you would 
a layer. A close frame is the best place for them 
afterwards. Cut out a shallow trench, ij in. deep or 
2 in., then put the cutting in with the end slightly 
turned up. To ensure keeping the cut open throw a 
dash of sand on to each cutting, water well, then 
cover up, and a good strike will be the result.— J. 
Pettinger, Strawberry Dale Nursery, Harrogate. 
THE HOLLYHOCK. 
It is a great pity that the flowers of this old garden 
favourite should be so sensitive to frost as they un¬ 
fortunately are. In many districts of the North of 
England, when the fore part of the season is cold f 
and vegetation as a result is backward, this noble old 
plant is sadly handicapped. Scarcely does it com¬ 
mence to bloom than its beauty is spoiled by a single 
night’s frost, and its career checked for the season. 
When the plants have thus been cut down, they 
should be lifted, with good balls if possible, and 
placed in shallow boxes. A little fine soil shaken 
over the roots, and a place in a cold frame is all that 
is necessary until spring. They will keep through 
the winter easily enough, if treated in this way, but 
no water should be given them until it is desired to 
start them into growth for purposes of propagation. 
Then, however, it is the wisest plan to place them 
in a gentle heat to facilitate growth. An early 
vinery or a peach house that is being started will 
suit them admirably ; but do not keep them in it too 
long, or the growth will get weak and leggy—not a 
desirable occurrence.— IV. 
FRUIT TREES FOR TOWN GARDENS. 
A special type of fruit tree is being accorded a trial 
at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, at 
Chiswick, that will be eminently suitable for the 
villa garden, where, as a rule, space is an object and 
a very important one too. The trees in question are 
of cup-shape form and are spurred back as is usual 
with that particular system of culture, but are very 
much dwarfer in stature. Their fruitfulness was, 
however, remarkable, and they gave every promise 
of proving a thorough success. This is a departure 
that will doubtless be hailed with delight by the 
holder of small villa and town gardens.— Amateur. 
HELMHOLTZIA GLABERRIMA. 
This beautiful plant, which was figured in the 
Botanical Magazine under the name of Philydrum 
glaberrimum, is now in flower in the temperate 
house at Kew. Its pretty white panicled inflorescence 
affords a pleasing contrast to the long narrow dark 
green leaves. It is of easy culture, and succeeds 
best when planted out in a bed or border in the 
same way as at Kew. A compost of loam and peat 
will meet its requirements, plenty of water being an 
essential. H. glaberrima is a native of the Pacific 
Islands. 
LEPTOSYNE MARITIMA. 
The plant here noticed is sometimes named 
Coreopsis maritima, but if anyone can imagine a 
plant of Cosmos bipinnatus reduced in stature with 
the leaves of a fleshy and greatly thickened 
character, pale green, and bearing large yellow 
flowers, then he will have some conception of 
Leptosyne maritima. The branches take a spread¬ 
ing racher than an upright direction, consequently 
the plant forms a spreading bush, each branch of 
which terminates in a long flower stalk bearing a 
single bloom. This long stalked character makes 
the blooms suitable for cut flower purposes, and 
their removal does not interfere with the growth of 
the plant, but rather enables it to go on developing 
fresh flowers and foliage. It is a perennial, and 
may be grown in the open border. We noted it in 
the nursery of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. 
STREPTOCARPUS WENDLANDll. 
The length of time during which this plant remains 
in bloom is marvellous. A batch of plants com¬ 
menced flowering in the nursery of Messrs. Sutton 
& Sons, Reading, last Christmas, and fresh flower 
stalks still continue to be produced from the base of 
the old ones and to expand their blossoms. It is 
true that the plants are now laden with seed pods 
and that they therefore lack their pristine, showy 
character, but the fact remains that they have been 
continuously in bloom for nine months out of twelve.' 
The single large leaf which each produces is purple 
beneath and very striking, while the blue flowers, 
with a large white blotch on the lower lip, are very 
distinct and pretty in their way. 
--- 
Quescions add adsojghs. 
Names of Plants.— N. McF : 1, Please send 
when in flower; 2, Asparagus plumosus nanus; 3, 
Jasminum simplicifolium; 4, Acacia linearis: 5, 
Acacia lophantha; 6, Croton undulatum. W. Y. : 
A fine variety of Laelia elegans and darker than 
L. e. Turneri. 
Cattleyas.— H. Thomas : Your plants of Cattleya 
Trianae are very late if they are only throwing up 
their young growths now. You do not tell us 
whether the plants are newly imported, nor whether 
they are old plants only now commencing to grow, 
nor on the other hand whether they are pushing up 
a second growth for this year. If the latter is the 
case you must have been keeping them too wet and 
in too high a temperature. The best plan now 
would be to keep the temperature up to 6o Q or 65 9 
by night to encourage growth, so that it may be com¬ 
pleted, or nearly so, before the dark days of winter 
set in, otherwise the new pseudo-bulbs will be very 
short and .poor. Established plants of Cattleya 
labiata will start of their own accord sometime after 
they have finished flowering. You can determine 
when to give them more water and a higher tempera¬ 
ture by observing when the young roots commence 
to push out. That is the time to repot them if 
necessary. It should be done when the roots are 
quite short otherwise they will be liable to get 
broken. The temperature should be gradually 
raised as the temperature outside rises. Consult 
the Orchid Growers' Calendar in our pages every 
second week. 
Black Specks on Grapes.— G. P. : The injury 
seems to have been caused some time ago when the 
berries were rapidly swelling. All the black spots 
are situated near the stalk of the berry, and where 
the swelling berries have been pressing upon one 
