220 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 1, 1894, 
ber of Peach trees on a wall had been untied and 
treated in the way I have described, to guard against 
any evil effects that might otherwise have resulted. 
--*»- 
RICHARDIA AFRICANA. 
Among the many useful and noble-looking plants 
that we possess, none have a greater share of 
intrinsic merit than this old friend. The large hand¬ 
some leaves and the distinct and elegant flower 
spathes have without doubt made the plant very 
popular with all classes. It is looked upon by the 
gardener as an indispensable subject for the decora¬ 
tion of the greenhouse and conservatory, and it is 
a by no means infrequent occurrence for us to come 
across it flourishing in the window of the cottager, 
where it is every whit as great a favourite as it is in 
the gardens of the wealthy. The plants are exceed¬ 
ingly easy of culture, and can be readily propagated 
from suckers. These are best taken after the 
flowering season is over, in springtime. They may 
then either be grown in pots or planted out in the 
open air. 
With regard to the former method of treating 
them, it is our own experience that the blooms are 
produced earlier from plants thus treated than they 
are when the latter method is adopted. After 
division, therefore, they should be potted up accord¬ 
ing to their size, taking care not to over-pot, for this 
is a great mistake. Two parts of good loam and 
one part of good leaf soil, with a little river sand, 
will suit them very well, but care should be taken 
not to pot too firmly in this initial potting. The 
plants should be placed in a frame or pit and kept 
pretty close for a day or so, a light dewing over with 
the syringe being of the utmost service. A second 
potting may be given when they have filled their 
first pots with roots. The soil used on this occasion 
should, however, have a quantity of dried manure 
in it, as Richardias are heavy feeders and cannot 
well be treated too generously. 
When it is elected to plant the young suckers out 
in the open ground, it is advisable to defer the 
process of dividing up the old roots until all danger 
of frost is past. A light open position should be 
selected, and the ground well prepared previously 
by the addition of a thoroughly good dressing of 
manure, which should be dug well in. Here the 
young plants may be neatly set out in rows, a good 
watering in being given as soon after planting as 
possible; When treated in this way but little trouble 
is given. All that is necessary is to keep the beds 
clean and free from weeds, and if the ensuing 
summer turns out to be a dry one, an occasional 
watering may be necessary. A sharp watch must 
be kept in the autumn for frost, for Richardias are 
extremely sensitive to its attentions. Preparations 
should therefore be made for lifting them as soon as 
there appears to be any likelihood of frost making 
its appearance. After potting, the plants should be 
kept rather close and shielded from the direct rays 
of the sun for a few days, until they recover them¬ 
selves in a measure from the check, which should, 
however, not be very great if the plants have been 
lifted with good balls of earth attached, and the 
roots disturbed as little as possible. As the pots 
become filled with roots supplies of liquid manure 
must be given them to assist in the production of 
large fine flowers. If green fly proves troublesome, 
as it often will during the spring months, light 
fumigations must be conducted. This may be done 
without fear of injury provided the leaves are dry 
at the time and the atmosphere as free from moisture 
as possible.— G. 
SNOWFLAKES. 
Considering the close resemblance there is between 
these and the Snowdrops, and their being equally 
hardy and accommodating, as regards both soil and 
situation, many who do not know them when seeing 
them for the first time, take them for an enlarged 
form of Snowdrop, but their distinctiveness will soon 
be recognised by any one accustomed to observe. 
The foliage is much broader and wanting that 
glaucous hue which is so characteristic of the 
Snowdrop. Then the blotches of colour on the 
edges of the petals are first yellow and shade off to 
green as the flower reaches maturity. Again, the 
flowers are scented. The older Herbals describe it 
as the bulbous white violet in reference to its 
scent. 
Leucojum vernum, the spring Snowflake, flowers 
generally about the middle of March, fully a month 
later than the Snowdrop. We have had it in a wild 
garden where springing up among other things it 
was a gem of the first water. The flowers are 
produced singly on stems, nearly six inches in 
height. They grow well in any ordinary garden soil, 
and being one of the most beautiful hardy flowering 
plants we possess, it certainly merits more extended 
cultivation. It is a native of South Europe growing 
in moist upland meadows and woods. 
L. aestivum, the summer Snowflake, produces two 
and three flowers on a stem, and like the spring 
Snowflake, it will grow readily in any free loam or 
sandy soil. Neither of them should be disturbed 
but seldom, and better never, unless wanted else¬ 
where. In the wild garden referred to they had not 
in all probability been disturbed for fifty years. 
This was under the shade of large Elm trees, but 
they succeed well among the ordinary herbaceous 
plants, among grass, and in shrubberies.— W. B. G. 
Hardening Miscellany. 
ASPLENIUM FRAGRANS FOENICULACEUM. 
In further reference to the correspondence respecting 
Asplenium fragrans var. foeniculaceum, you may be 
interested to know that in response to an advertise¬ 
ment inviting nurserymen to offer us this plant we 
have had only one communication. The letter we 
received (which I enclose) contained two fronds. It 
is from one of the leading London nurserymen. I 
wrote informing him that the fronds were not the 
true Asplenium fragrans foeniculaceum but 
Asplenium fabianum, which Moore and Smith both 
make synonymous with Asplenium foeniculaceum 
Hort, which is so common in nurseries. I then sent 
the largest of the two fronds received to Mr. Baker, 
at Kew, asking him to say what it was and to be 
good enough to send us one of their fronds of 
Asplenium fragrans foeniculaceum. I enclose you 
his reply and the specimens he sent us. You will 
perceive the difference between the Asplenium 
foeniculaceum of nurseries, which is a good basket 
Fern, and Asplenium fragrans foeniculaceum, which 
is not. The former is no doubt a form of or variety 
of Asplenium bulbiferum, and corresponds with 
Asplenium bulbiferum var. tripinnatum in Hooker’s 
" Flora of New Zealand," and in Field's 11 Ferns of 
New Zealand." Anyone who should succeed in 
obtaining Asplenium fragrans foeniculaceum would 
be disappointed with it as a basket Fern.—/. Birken¬ 
head, Sale, Nov. 24 th. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM MISS MARY ANDERSON. 
Single Chrysanthemums are undoubtedly slowly 
but surely working their way into public favour, if 
we may judge by the quantities that are grown now. 
The above beautiful variety may, without doing the 
least injustice to the other members of the section, 
be described as the “Queen of Singles.” It is of 
dwarfish and compact habit, and the flowers are large 
and of a delicate pinkish-white shade. An important 
point in its culture is not to over-pot it, for it always 
does better and blooms more profusely when grown in 
rather small pots and liberally fed with liquid 
manure. 
HEDERA MADEIRIENSIS VARIEGATA. 
From their graceful trailing habit, many of the 
Ivies are very useful subjects for growing in pots for 
the furnishing of the greenhouse and conservatory. 
If the growths are allowed to hang over the edge of 
the stages very pretty effects can be obtained. 
Hedera madeiriensis variegata is one of the very 
best for the purpose, and its beautifully variegated 
leaves trailing over the stage of the greenhouse in 
the way suggested look exceedingly graceful. Plants 
of this kind are well worth growing and amply repay 
any little trouble they may give, as they constitute 
a pleasing variety from the plants usually seen in 
plant houses. 
PEAR LOUISE BONNE OF JERSEY. 
In the smallest collections this old favourite should 
find a place, being hardy and prolific, and succeed¬ 
ing well either as a standard, a pyramid, and an 
espalier, or against a wall. There are many larger 
sorts, but none more handsome when well grown, 
and its flavour is distinct from that of most other 
Pears. Coming into use soon after the latest of the 
Williams, it is a general favourite where known, a 
good dessert Pear, and in our estimation second to 
none for stewing, its pronounced flavour rendering 
it a most enjoyable delicacy when stewed. The 
ordinary stewing Pears, such as Uvedales, St. 
Germain, and Cattilac, as regards flavour, are not 
fit to be mentioned in the same category. —IF. B. G. 
HOYA 1MPER1ALIS. 
A specimen of this noble plant is at present in 
flower in the stove at Kew, and there can be no doubt 
that it possesses a no mean share of beauty. The 
waxy flowers are reddish-brown in colour and are 
produced in large pendent umbels containing from 
six to ten flowers in each. The flowers are very- 
large in comparison to those of the rest of the 
members of the genus, and are, in fact, quite 3 in. 
in diameter. Although Hoya imperialis was 
introduced from Borneo as far back as the year 
1847, it is as yet but little known in gardens— 
certainly not so much as its merits entitle it to 
be. 
FORCING SEAKALE. 
The method adopted for the forcing of this useful 
and highly-prized vegetable at Gunnersbury House;, 
is worthy of imitation. Above a large tank of hot 
water in the Mushroom house a receptacle is 
placed to hold the soil or manure in which the Sea- 
kale crowns are planted out in the usual way. A 
steady gentle bottom heat is, of course, afforded by 
the water below, in which the crowns can scarce 
fail to break strongly and well. Thus by taking 
advantage of the existence of the tank in question, 
abundant supplies of Seakale are obtained with ex¬ 
ceedingly little trouble, and scarcely any labour at 
all. 
TRACHELOSPERMUM JASMINOIDES. 
The plant commonly known in gardens as Rhyn- 
chospermum jasminoides is next to the Stephanotis, 
tne most favoured among white-flowered climbing 
plants with exhibitors. Beautifully white and sweet- 
scented, it has many admirers, but like many other 
climbing plants, specimens of it grown in pots com¬ 
pare unfavourably with those planted out in warm 
conservatories and trained up pillars. Here they 
present a more natural appearance, and the full 
beauty of the plant is shown to better advantage. It 
is far hardier, I think, than many are aware of, for I 
confess to being much surprised to find it flourishing 
under an open verandah during the summer of 
1893, it having been planted out during the previous 
summer and gone through the winter months with 
but little protection other than that of a glass roof, 
the sides of the verandah being open to all weathers. 
At the time I saw it it was in full flower and looked 
quite at home, being clothed with healthy foliage, 
and making vigorous growth. This was some time 
during September, 1893.--IF. B G. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, 27th Nov .—Chrysanthemums 
were again in great force on Tuesday last, and 
Orchids also made a good display considering the 
cold state of the weather. Collections of Cyclamens, 
Potatos, and Apples, also served to fill the central 
tables of the hall. A mixed and varied collection of 
Orchids was staged by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St, 
Albans. The varieties of Dendrobium Phalaenopsis 
Schroderianum were numerous and attractive, as 
were the Calanthes, Coelogyne Gardneriana, 
Catasetum Christyanum, and some others were 
also noticeable. A group of Orchids set up with 
Palms and Ferns was exhibited by Mr. P. McArthur, 
The London Nursery, Maida Vale, W. The 
Cattleyas and Cypripediums were the most 
numerous, but the yellow flowers of Catasetum 
Bungerothii aureum in the centre of the group were 
very conspicuous. Cattleya Percivalliana is already 
in bloom as was seen in this collection (Silver 
Banksian Medal). A small coliection of showy 
varieties of Calanthes was exhibited by N. C. 
Cookson, Esq., (gardener; Mr. Wm. Murray), Oak- 
wood, Wylam-on-Tyne. Calanthe Harold, and C. 
Clive, were two of the darkest, the others being paler 
or white. Cypripedium insigne montana var. was 
shown by Henry Tate, Esq., Liverpool. The lower 
sepal was like the upper one, but larger. A large 
