268 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 22, 1894. 
rounded at the tips, hollow centre or eye a serious 
defect, regular petals, etc.” This section is 
notorious for the differences of opinion amongst 
experts, one will say what a splendid incurved, 
while another will assert of the same flower that it 
is a Japanese incurved. There is no doubt that 
several varieties classed under this section have some 
Japanese blood in them, and, in fact, pollen is taken 
from a Japanese with a view of raising a large flower 
that may be sqeezed if possible into this section. We 
have seen this year one or two new introductions of 
this type, and I have a few myself. They have 
mostly very large and broad petals and an inclination 
to coarseness; and to count the florets is a matter 
of no great difficulty, although Chas. H. Curtis, 
recently certificated, is a very notable exception in 
this respect. Now the petals of this variety as seen 
when certificated were in exact opposition to the 
official characteristics under this section, as the 
florets are neither broad nor rounded at the tip, but 
simply the reverse. 
Then, as regards J. Agate, some class it as an 
incurved, while others affirm that it is a Japanese 
incurved, and there seems to be no sufficient expla¬ 
nation to account for its being classified other than 
as an incurved, but I believe it is only eligible as a 
Japanese incurved. 
Does not this latter case alone illustrate the vast 
importance of the subject to which I am directing 
the attention of your readers, as if this variety were 
classed as an incurved it would doubtless serve as a 
back row flower, while as a Japanese incurved its 
value is practically nil. 
Take also Refulgens sent out so long ago as 1873 
There is seldom an exhibition in which this variety 
is not seen, and yet I have heard experts assert that 
it should not be classed under this section, owing, I 
suppose, to its frequently having the characteristic 
defect of hollowness and an eye. 
These are only a few instances showing the 
inconsistencies under which this section abounds, 
and it is now becoming more so every year, inasmuch 
as several of the good old, but weak sorts are 
dropping out and being reolaced by others more 
robust and having noticeable traces of Japanese 
blood in them. If then a very strict line be not 
drawn there will beyond doubt be terrible confusion 
and dissatisfaction ere long. If one studies for a few 
moments the official catalogue and compares the 
varieties placed under this section with the char¬ 
acteristics, 1 think it is seen that it is the exception 
rather than the rule that conformity is established. 
Let us take a stand of incurved blooms. Do they 
convey to one's mind the impression of having broad 
petals rounded at the tip? eg., could Barbara, 
Prince Alfred, Mrs. Coleman, Lord Wolseley, Mr. 
Brunlees, Nonpareil, Jeanne d’Arc, Miss Haggas, 
Empress Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Nil Desperan- 
dum, Cherub, and I might qncte all, be described 
as having broad petals rounded at the tip ? And, 
moreover, may not the Runle family be accurately 
defined as representative incurved, and would it be 
correct to assert that broad petals were characteristic 
of these three varieties? 
Now let us consider Lord Brooke, Mr. H. Broom- 
head, Louise, Robert Owen, etc., which are classified 
as Japanese incurved, do not they as justly conform 
to the characteristics governing this Section I. as the 
incurved varieties to which I have already referred ? 
Under all these circumstances I venture to say that 
the official characteristics are misleading, and do not 
accurately define the section. We now come to— 
Section II.— Japanese. 
Characteristics.—Irregularity and difficulty in 
defining, etc. This being my summary from the 
Official Catalogue under this heading. But I think 
it will be better for the purpose of my argument if I 
also now deal with the two following sections, viz.: 
Section III.— Japanese Incurved. 
Characteristics.—Incurving of the petals, regular or 
irregular as the case may be, of the florets, many 
being remarkable for the broad grooved petal they 
possess, a feature more noticeable in these varieties 
known to have been introduced direct from Japan 
While in the ordinary Japanese section the florets 
may assume any form, and in the Japanese reflexed 
section the florets must more or less reflex, in the 
Japanese incurved they must he sufficiently incurved or 
curled, as to form blooms more or less globular in outline, 
etc. (the italics are mine). 
(To be continued.) 
THE DARWINIAS. 
Among hard-wooded greenhouses plants, the Dar- 
winias, commonly called Hedaromas, and not unfre- 
quently known by the still older name of Genetyllis 
have always been favourites with exhibitors, and 
are just the one amongst them which tests the skill 
of the grower, because they are among the more 
difficult subjects to grow into specimen plants in a 
satisfactory manner, and no one is likely to succeed 
with them unless they can give them all necessary 
attention, not that the attendant labour is so very 
great. Careful attention is the thing required, 
especially in watering, for if allowed to get too dry 
they receive a check and are soon injured, while on 
the other hand, over-watering is almost certain 
death. Then again, as regards potting, no haphazard 
way of doing this is permissible for potting materials 
and workmanship must be of the very best. 
The compost should be one half of yellow fibrous 
Loam, the other half of brown fibrous Peat, and 
plenty of coarse silver sand. Pot firm, the same as 
you would a Heath or an Azealea, and only give 
small shifts. They are comparatively easy to prop¬ 
agate from cuttings made in April and May, using 
the same material as for established plants, only 
sifting it fine, and after well draining the pots press 
it in firmly and give a good watering with a fine rose 
allowing the pots to stand an hour or two before 
inserting the cuttings, over which bell glasses must 
be placed. Half-an-inch must be allowed for these 
to stand on. Use young side shoots for cuttings, 
from an inch to an inch-and-a-half in length and when 
all are put in give a good watering and allow them 
an hour or so to dry before placing on the bell 
glasses. Place them in a gentle bottom heat, remove 
and wipe dry the glasses every morning and when 
the cuttings commence to grow tilt the glasses upon 
one side a little for a few hours, and give more air 
by degrees till the glasses are entirely removed. 
About August they will be ready for potting off, 
when they will do best in a cold shady frame, kept 
close and shaded from bright sunlight till estab¬ 
lished. The species generally grown are Hookeriana, 
the earliest, Macrostegia and Fuchsioides, this is an 
autumn and winter flower.— W.B.G. 
-- 
A GOOD WINTER 
BROCCOLI. 
Most gardeners find some difficulty in keeping up a 
constant supply of Broccoli through the first two 
months of the year, and especially if they are situated 
in a low damp situation and are badly off for glass 
accommodation. I have both these difficulties to 
contend with, but I have managed to keep up a 
continuous supply the whole season through for the 
last three years. For the winter supply we depend upon 
Veitch’s Self-Protecting, which gives us a constant 
supply for three months, and, given a true stock, I 
know of nothing to beat it in its season. During the 
last six years I have tried several of the January 
varieties, and every season they have been destroyed 
by frost just as they began to fold in. They are, 
consequently, cf no value in such situations as ours. 
When I was living in the Isle of Purbeck, Snow’s 
Winter White could be relied upon for a supply in 
January, but it is worthless with me now. Self- 
Protecting is our Sheet Anchor, and I make it a rule 
to plant a large quarter of this variety from plants 
obtained from two sowings made at different dates, 
in March and again at the end of April, and in this 
way we get a longer season of produce. Our custom 
is to sow thinly in drills on an open piece of ground, 
and the plants come up strong and vigorous. As 
soon as our seedling plants are large enough they 
are planted out between the rows of early Potatos, 
which are purposely set at 30 in. asunder between 
the rows, and by the time the plants are well 
established the Potatos have been lifted, and the 
Broccoli have plenty of room to grow. Our plan is 
to well dress the land and bastard trench it in 
February, so that by the time the plants are put out 
it has settled down, and they find a good firm root 
run. We plant always at 2 ft. apart. These plants 
generally begin to fold in at the end of October, and 
thus come into use when the Cauliflower crop is 
coming to an end. Early in the season they do not 
require any protection, as the leaves fold so perfectly 
over the heads. On the appearance of severe frost 
they are grown over and protected by their leaves, 
and should an extra cold spell set in, a handful of dry 
Fern is placed amongst the leaves. When leaving 
them out becomes dangerous to their safety, we go 
over them, and taking up the big ones lay them 
together in patches, so that a mat can be thrown 
over them. The remainder that have folded in are 
dug up with large balls of earth and placed in garden 
frames, which are kept open as much as possible, 
but protected in frost. In this way we have had 
nice useful sized heads as white as snow till the 
middle of February, when the Penzance variety 
generally takes up the running.— Con. 
--+■-- 
■Hardening Miscellany. 
THE FRUITING OF STEPHANOTUS FLORI- 
BUNDA. 
This, as you justly observe, is not exactly a rare 
occurrence. Still, at the same time, there are many 
who have known the plant for a number of years 
who have never seen it in fruit. It occurs to me on 
reading your account of its fruiting at Park Place 
that having some years back raised a number of 
plants from seed which were somewhat widely 
distributed, that it would be interesting to know if at 
any time there has been any wide difference dis¬ 
covered among the seedlings which have at various 
times been raised. For a plant which has been 
under cultivation the length of time the Stephanotis 
has been not to have developed some variation either 
in floriferousness or size of individual flowers is not 
exactly what might have been expected, seeing that 
it sooner or later takes place among the generality of 
cultivated plants. Although the divergency from the 
original type may be but small, it still exists, and 
often where unexpected. One thing in reference to 
seedling plants worth noticing, is the great contrast 
in appearance between plants so raised and those 
struck from cuttings. Almost any one after once 
having their attention drawn to it, would recognise 
seedling plants ever afterwards at first sight; they 
are more robust in growth, the foliage, too, is of a 
much darker green, and the growth darker in colour. 
—IV. B. G. 
APPLE—PEASGOODS NONSUCH. 
Without doubt this is one of the handsomest 
Apples in cultivation, and that it is deservedly held 
in high esteem by great numbers of fruit growers is 
evidenced by the conspicuous place it has taken at 
most of our fruit shows during the past season. It 
was raised by Mr. Peasgood of Stamford, and was 
awarded a first class certificate by the fruit com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 
18th September, 1872. The fruit is large, roundish 
in shape, the skin being yellow suffused with red 
upon one side as well as being profusely streaked 
with crimson. It has an agreeably acid flavour, is 
suitable alike for kitchen use or for the dessert table, 
and thoroughly deserves a place in every collection. 
ORN1THOGALUM THYRSOIDES. 
There are several varieties of this species hailing 
from the Cape of Good Hope, and that originally 
introduced to this country in 1757 by Messrs. Lee & 
Kennedy was figured and described in the Botanical 
Magazine, t. 190, under the name of O. aureum. 
It was then considered to be a distinct species, but 
has since been referred to O. thyrsoides as a variety 
of it. It is again figured, however, in the Bulletino 
della R. Societa Toscana di Orticultura for November, 
under the name of O. aureum. The typical O. 
thyrsoides has yellow flowers; those of O. t. aureum 
are golden yellow; those of O. t. flavescens are 
saffron-coloured ; and in O. t. flavescens they are 
much deeper yellow than the type. There is also a 
variety named O. t. album that is white with 
exception of a dark centre, and bears large spikes or 
dense racemes of flowers. The scape varies from 6 
in. to 20 in. in height bearing numerous relatively 
large flowers with long, pointed segments. The 
bulbs are about the size and form of those of Lachen- 
alia tricolor, and when grown in substantial but per¬ 
meable soil lightened with sand, and grown in a 
greenhouse or such as is devoted to Cape Heaths, 
they will thrive and flower from June to August. 
Propagation may be effected by means of offsets. 
GOMPHIA OLIVAEFORMIS. 
A plant of this now in flower in the Palm house at 
Kew under the name of G. decorans affords a particu¬ 
larly pleasing picture with its large terminal racemes 
