October 27, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
141 
SALSAFY. 
This is one of the few vegetables that are seldom 
seen except in large gardens—the holder of a small 
garden is able to devote the space at his disposal to 
better advantage. But to the wealthy owner of 
gardens where space is not a matter of such para¬ 
mount importance, and where the relative values of 
different vegetables have not to be so closely 
calculated, Salsafy finds considerable favour as an 
agreeable change from the usual run of winter 
garden produce. When we take into consideration 
the comparative scarcity of vegetables during winter 
—that is to say with regard to variety—and the fact 
that the demand never really decreases, it becomes 
a matter of considerable importance to take advan¬ 
tage of a vegetable like this, the flavour of which is 
so different to that of any of the other winter vege¬ 
tables of the root class. 
The ground intended for the culture of Salsafy 
should be well manured, trenched in late autumn, 
and the seed sown in drills, which should be from 
12 in. to 14 in. apart, about the end of March or 
beginning of April. When the young plants have 
reached a fair size they should be thinned out to 
8 in. or 9 in. apart. The after cultivation is 
extremely simple, and consists chiefly in the keeping 
of the ground free from weeds, an occasional use of 
the Dutch hoe being all that is required. The roots 
will have finished growth and be quite ready for use 
by the middle of October. 
If necessary they may remain in the ground 
throughout the winter without fear of deterioration. 
It is always advisable, however, to have a supply on 
hand, for, during the prevalence of hard frosts, it 
will be almost impossible to lift them without injury. 
If a few roots are lifted upon the approach of hard 
weather and laid in sand or dry soil in the store 
house they will keep sweet and fresh for a very long 
long. Indeed it is the regular practice of some 
cultivators to lift the whole of the crop at the 
approach of winter and store it. While this practice 
has very much to recommend it, as a rule the roots 
keep in rather better condition when left in the 
ground than they do in the storehouse.— G. 
-4.- 
Hardening IJiscellany. 
SEEDLING HOLLYHOCK. 
Two grand blooms of a seedling Hollyhock have 
been sent us by Mr. JamesBryson, Nurseryman, 173, 
Princes Street East, Helensburgh, Scotland. The 
blooms measured 4 in. across, a fact which will give 
some idea of their bulky dimensions ; they were 
also semi-globular and so full that the guard petals 
were almost hidden, but just formed a narrow, sur¬ 
rounding border. This might be considered a 
defect by some who like to see a well displayed 
guard, but the size and fulness of the bloom made 
ample compensation in other respects. The petals 
were broad, wavy and much interwoven with one 
another, as is commonly the case with a good double 
flower, and they were pink, and beautifully netted 
with light and heavy shades of reddish purple. It 
argues well for a mild autumn that the flowers were 
in such excellent condition at this late period of the 
year. In fact they seemed in good enough trim for 
exhibition purposes, and in proper season would 
answer that purpose admirably. 
ADIANTUM MACROPHYLLUM ALBO- 
STRIATUM. 
I suppose it is a fact that has been demonstrated 
over and over again that when a plant departs from 
the normal green colour of its leaves very rarely 
indeed is it that its constitution is improved. 
Variegation being a form of disease it must of 
course follow that no variegated plant can be as 
healthy as one whose state of health is normal. 
This pretty little fern is no exception to the rule. 
As its name states it is a variety of the well-known 
Adiantum macrophyllum. The variegated form does 
not, however, possess the splendidly robust constitu¬ 
tion and free growing qualities that the type does. On 
the contrary, it is rather delicate in constitution, and 
it is very seldom that one sees a really healthy speci¬ 
men of it, and it is very questionable whether it will 
ever be extensively cultivated. It requires a stove 
temperature, but not so much water at the root as 
the generality of Adiantums need. A compost of 
two parts good turfy loam and one part good leaf 
soil with plenty of silver sand should be used, and 
care should be taken not to pot too firmly. A sharp 
look-out must be kept for cockroaches, who evince a 
particular regard for the young fronds, nibbling 
them off as fast as they appear—a proceeding not 
calculated to improve the health of the plant. 
SALVIA SPLENDENS. 
The Salvias hold a prominent position among the 
list of autumn and winter flowering plants, and 
among them all none are more worthy of cultivation 
than S. splendens—perhaps more often met with 
under the name of S. colorans. If propagated from 
cuttings taken late in spring or early in summer, 
and attention paid to potting when required, splendid 
plants may be obtained by autumn. If not thought 
advisable to grow them in pots during the summer 
they may be planted out in the open ; where they 
may stay until the frosty nights render it perilous 
to leave them longer unprotected. A little care will be 
necessary when lifting them, the roots should dis¬ 
turbed as little as possible, and the plants should be 
• shaded from direct sunlight for a few days, until 
they have recovered from the check consequent from 
lifting and potting. S. splendens attains a height of 
about 3 ft. The flowers are produced in whorls, 
bright scarlet in colour, and in contrast with the 
rich green of the foliage combine to make the plant 
one of the most showy and useful members of its 
class. 
SALVIA AZUREA GRANDIFLORA. 
This is really a prince among greenhouse subjects. 
Like most of the Salvias it is quite easy to grow. 
The tall spike-formed inflorescences are crowded 
with a great number of the bright blue flowers, and 
present both an imposing and a grateful appearance. 
Coming into flower in August it remains in condition 
for some long time after. Indeed at the present 
some well-flavoured specimens of it may be seen at 
Kew, in greenhouse number four. S. a. Grandi- 
flora has rather larger flowers, and a denser 
inflorescence than its type—S. azurea. 
MOLOPOSPERMUM CICUTARIUM. 
Several of the Umbelifers whose flowers, as a rule, 
are neither particularly interesting nor showy, have 
large and much divided leaves, which present a 
handsome appearance, particularly when grown 
under favourable conditions, so that they attain their 
proper development. Such is the case with the 
plant under notice, and of which an illustration in 
black and white is given in the Revue de L'Horti¬ 
culture Beige for October. Other names are given to 
it, such as Ligusticum pelogonense and L. 
cicutarium. It is a native of the mountains of 
Southern and Central Europe, from whence it was 
introduced to this country in 1596. Notwithstanding 
this, it is comparatively little known and less culti¬ 
vated at the present day. The leaves are very large 
and much divided with linear or lanceolate segments, 
and the flower stems rise to a height of 4 it. to 5 ft., pro¬ 
ducing their pale yellow flowers in May, J une, and J uly. 
It should be grown in an isolated position to show 
off its beauty to advantage, and when making its 
growth will derive much advantage from being 
watered with liquid manure. Many a rough bank 
could be adorned with this plant, and the wild garden 
would constitute an excellent home for it. The soil 
should be rich and friable if good results are 
expected, but it is not at all particular. 
RICINUS ZANZIBARENSIS. 
The above name has been given to a new variety of 
Castor Oil Plant, put into commerce from Con¬ 
tinental sources last spring. For sub-tropical garden¬ 
ing it will prove very useful on account of its great 
vigour and the enormous size of the rich green 
leaves. Planted out in the heavy clay soil of Ingle- 
nook, Bellaggio, it has attained the height of 3 ft. to 
8 ft., but under more favourable conditions there 
seems no reason why it might not grow taller, and 
if isolated on an undergrowth of dwarfer plants 
would show its characteristic appearance by deve¬ 
loping side branches, thereby making a handsome 
bush with a decidedly tropical appearance As it is 
the plants we noted recently had strongly ribbed 
wrinkled leaves of a dark almost metallic-olive-green, 
and measuring 2 ft. to 2 ft. 9 in. in diameter. The 
owner, J. C. Stogdon, Esq., is to be complimented 
on his diligence in acquiring new plants and making 
fresh acquaintances. 
APPLE—MERE DE MENAGE. 
Whilst many Apples have been a failure this 
year, Mere de Menage has done remarkably well, 
and heavy crops of fine fruit have been gathered. A 
first-class culinary Apple, it often attains an 
enormous size, added to which it is a first-rate 
keeper. The fruit is highly coloured and often 
prominently ribbed. Being such a consistently good 
bearer, and of robust and hardy constitution, it is 
specially suitable for planting in cottage gardens, in 
many of which it is deservedly held in high esteem. 
Combermere Apple and Flanders Pippin are other 
names under which it is often met with. 
LIFTING BEET. 
Although this is an extremely simple operation, a 
little care is needed when performing it or the roots 
will be damaged. The leaves must not be trimmed 
off too closely to the crown, or bleeding will result. 
An inexperienced hand is very liable to make a mis¬ 
take in this direction, and on that account some 
gardeners will not allow a knife to be used. A safer 
way, but hardly such an expeditious one, is to twist 
the leaves off by hand. In lifting the fork should be 
inserted at a sufficient distance from the plant, for if 
the tap root is broken the root is completely spoiled 
for table.— A. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, Oct. 2yd .—Fruit and vegetables, 
but particularly the former, constituted the stronger 
features of the meeting on Tuesday last. Chrysan¬ 
themums were, however, strongly in evidence, and 
Orchids were also strongly represented for this 
season of the year. A group of Orchids was 
exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, 
a prominent feature in which were the well-flowered 
specimens of Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroderia- 
num and the varieties of Cattleya labiata. Pesca- 
torea Dayana was both curious and beautiful, and 
Cattleya O’Brieniana and Odontoglossum Wattia- 
num superbum were both very beautiful (Silver 
Banksian Medal). A little group of Orchids set up 
by Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
included Dendrobium album, D. Goldiei, D. 
superbiens, and Laelia Perrinii nivea. A good sized 
group of Cattleya labiata in great variety was 
exhibited by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton 
The numerous specimens of Miltonia Roezlii and 
M. R. alba and Phalaenopsis Portei were also well 
flowered and conspicuous, and Vanda caerulea was 
intensely coloured (Silver Banksian Medal). A mixed 
group of Orchids was exhibited by Messrs. W. L. 
Lewis & Co., Southgate. Noteworthy kinds were 
Catasetum Bungerothii, Oncidium Forbesii, Miltonia 
Morrelliana, Laelia Pinellii, Odontoglossum 
madrense, and the varieties of Cattleya labiata. 
They were set up with Palms and Ferns (Silver 
Banksian Medal). A showy and interesting group 
of Orchids was shown by R. I. Measures, Esq. (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. Hy. Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, 
Camberwell, to whom a Cultural Commendation 
was awarded for a huge and well-flowered plant of 
Oncidium ornithorhynchum album. He also had 
well-flowered pieces of Cypripedium Arthurianum, 
C. Mrs. C. Canham, C. Bellona, Pleurothallis 
plumosus, and Odontoglossum Insleayi splendens. 
They were set up with Palms and Ferns (Silver 
Banksian Medal). A large group of Orchids, con¬ 
sisting for the most part of varieties of Cattleya 
labiata was staged by J. Gurney Fowler, Esq., 
Woodford. Amongst others was a finely-flowered 
piece of Cattleya Bowringiana, some pieces of Vanda 
caerulea, and numerous pieces of Calanthe vestita 
(Silver Flora Medal). Laelio-Cattleya Pallas, 
Cattleya Wendlandiana, and C. Clonia, all very 
showy hybrids, were exhibited by Messrs. J. Veitch 
& Sons, Chelsea. Odontoglossum grande with huge 
flowers, also Pleione Reichenbackiana, Brassia 
Lawrenceana, and other Orchids were exhibited by 
J. Foster Alcock, Esq., North Church, Berkham- 
stead, Herts. Odontoglossum aspersum fulvidum 
was staged by Walter Cobb, Esq., Tunbridge Wells. 
Cattleya labiata Young’s var. and Cypripedium 
Hermione were set up by R. Young, Esq., (gardener, 
Mr. Poyntz), Sefton Park, Liverpool. Miltonia 
Leopoldiana was shown by M. Jules Hye-Leysen, 
8, le Coupure, Ghent, who also had a fine piece of 
Cypripedium Albertianum hybridum. A very tall 
piece of Cattleya Alexandra was shown by C. J. 
