316 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 12, 1895. 
disagreeable odour. That many of the species of 
Cyclamen are powerfully scented, will be news to 
many gardeners ; but only some of the garden 
varieties of C. persicum are perceptibly scented. 
Woodbine spires is doubtless a misprint for Wood¬ 
bine spices. Trichopilia fragrans nobilis is recorded 
under the name of Trichopilia nobilis and Filumna 
nobilis but one name should have served in both cases 
for they apply to one plant only. The Lime (Tilia 
vulgaris) might have been supplemented by several 
others, particularly the Crimean Lime (T. petiolaris) 
which is more powerfully fragrant than the common 
one. It is to be regretted that all the praise should 
be accorded to the Persian Lilac, for the common 
species is really the most popular, and the most 
extensively cultivated. It is also worthy of recording 
that the flowers of the Apple are fragrant, those of 
the Pear slightly fishy, that Progne and Mrs. Langtry 
amongst Chrysanthemums are scented independently 
of the odour of Chamomile of the foliage. The 
Hay-scented Fern (Nephrcdium aemulum) is over¬ 
looked, and the fact that several of the Golden Rods 
smell of heather and wild honey : the purple heather 
of the poet (Calluna vulgaries) might have been 
mentioned by name, also that the foliage of Herb 
Burnett smells like that of the Meadow Sweet, and 
is redolent of meadows and the open air. The Pines, 
Spruces, Silver Firs and Birches of our woods are 
all worthy of being included in a work like this, as 
well as Coleonema alba, grown in many a greenhouse 
for the fragrance of its foliage. We do not at all 
under-estimate the labours of the author, for, on the 
contrary, we confess that he has been very diligent, 
and has got together a remarkable list of sweet¬ 
smelling plants for which his readers will be grateful. 
Amongst the latter we sympathise -with those whose 
sense of smell is feebly developed, and on the con¬ 
trary with those who may " die of a rose in aromatic 
pain.” 
"Exposition Universelle d'Anvers, 1894. Section 
Horticole Expositions permanentes et tempo- 
raires d’Horticulture Anvers. Typographic 
Bellemans Freres, Marche aux Oeufs, 12, 
Antwerp.” 
To those who are interested in the Universal 
Exhibition, held at Antwerp, last year, this catalogue 
will be useful as a reminder of who were the exhibi¬ 
tors, what they exhibited, and the prize awarded. 
It is an official catalogue written in the French 
language, and concerns itself only with the horti¬ 
cultural section of the Exhibition, which was opened 
on the 5th of May, and continued to the 5th of 
November. The book runs to 366 pages, and contains 
a record of the various committees, councils of ad¬ 
ministration, and the judges who made the awards 
in the various classes of plants. A large number of 
exhibits were kept up continually from the com¬ 
mencement to the end of the Exhibition, such as 
ornamental trees, flowering plants for groups, Roses 
and fine foliaged plants ; these are spoken of as the 
permanent exhibits in the gardens. On certain 
occasions, special exhibitions were got up for cut 
flowers, fruit, chrysanthemums, etc., and these are 
all recorded as temporary exhibits. A list is given 
of those who obtained Diplomas of Honour, and 
Medals, and at the end a general list of the exhibitors, 
which will prove valuable to all concerned as a cata¬ 
logue of reference. 
-- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE. 
Your correspondent " Z.” quotes on p. 276 of your 
issue for December 29th, from the old proverbs, by 
which term I assume he means " The Proverbs” of 
Solomon, His quotation is as follows :—” The Fig 
tree putteth forth her leaves reminding us that 
summer is nigh.” These words, however, do not 
appear in The Proverbs, though something like 
them is to be found in the Gospels of St. Matthew 
and St. Mark, the verse in St. Matthew being " Now 
learn a parable of the Fig tree, when her branch is 
yet tender, and putteth forth leaves ye know that 
summer is near.” Quotations from the Scriptures 
should at all times be accurate, but especially so when 
a correspondent signing merely " Z " quotes from 
them, for fear of mistaken identity. Suspecting, 
however, his manly personality, I wish “ Z ” a 
happy new year.— J. C. Stogdon, Inglenook, Bellaggio. 
TOBACCO WATER. 
In your issue about a fortnight since, " C, in 
Orchid Notes, spoke of Tobacco water made from 
two pounds of best Tobacco paper as being an 
effectual means of getting rid of thrips. Would 
you kindly say how the Tobacco water should be 
prepared, the proportion of water, and whether hot 
or cold; if hot, whether the mixture should be 
boiled and strained, &c.; also, whether the Tobacco 
water so prepared would be injurious to the soil or 
roots, if a small quantity was poured occasionally as 
required into the hearts of the shoots of Cypripediums’ 
& c —j. F. A. [Take one pound of Tobacco paper 
and pour over it two gallons of boiling water; allow 
it to cool, then strain out the paper and the liquid is 
ready for use. Another plan is to take a pound of 
good shag Tobacco and pour over it say two gallons 
of boiliDg water, and allow it to cool; then strain 
out the Tobacco and add four gallons of water, 
making six in all, and the liquid is fit for use. Half 
a pound of soft soap put in before the hot water 
would greatly increase the effectiveness of the 
insecticide, especially when the plants are merely to 
be syringed with it. A little Tobacco water in the 
soil would do no harm to the roots, but in the case 
of the shoots you could syringe them twelve hours 
afterwards with clean water if you have any fear of 
their being injured. Rather than soak the roots with 
Tobacco or other water you could lay the pots 
partly on their sides, so that any superfluous portion 
may run away.—E d.] 
TOTTENHAM EARLY RHUBARB. 
The value of all the early varieties of Rhubarb in 
cultivation will be tested to the fullest extent during 
the next three months till the later kinds come into 
use in the open ground in April and May. Those 
which are naturally early will start into growth with 
the smallest amount of forcing, whether under glass 
or in the open ground. Another recommendation of 
no small importance is the quality, colour, and size 
of the stalks when fit for use. The new variety 
named Tottenham Early, seems to excel in all these 
characteristics, both when ready for use and when 
cooked. It was raised some three years ago as a 
cross between Linnaeus and Victoria, between which 
it is intermediate, possessing the bright colour of the 
former and the size of the latter to some extent. 
Some stalks sent us the other day by Mr. W. 
Gradwell, grower to Mr. H. Richmond, ” Ashton- 
Keynes,” Park Lane, Tottenham, N., and which 
were forced in a shed in the northern style, measured 
15 in. in length to the base of the blade, and i£ to if 
in width near the base, and v ere of a bright crimson- 
red throughout. The blades were only 3J to 4^ in. 
long. The interior of the stalk was of a uniform red 
throughout, and this rich hue is maintained even 
after being cooked without the use of sugar or any¬ 
thing else. A very small amount of sugar is sufficient 
to render it not only palatable, but delicious to those 
who have a partiality tor this useful esculent. In 
the fresh state it takes the eye at once by reason of 
its fine colour and the handsome size of the stalks, 
and is certain to become popular for early forcing. 
BROWNEA CRAWFORDI. 
The large bright scarlet fascicled flower heads of 
this noble leguminous plant are once again enlivening 
the Palm house at Kew with a touch of conspicuous 
colour. Although the genus contains a number of 
splendid plants, many of which are eminently 
deserving of cultivation, none are more worthy of 
mention than this really beautiful subject, although 
it is very rarely met with. This is no doubt in a 
great measure accounted for by the fact that it 
requires a large and roomy house to exhibit to the full 
its great beauty. The presence of such large houses as 
are necessary in the ordinary private establishments 
is to say the least of it is rather an uncommon 
occurrence. Still, although it attains to a large size, 
medium-sized plants in pots have been flowered 
successfully, and in this condition its unique beauty 
quite repays any trouble expended in its behalf. 
Brownea Crawfordi is of hybrid origin, and is the 
result of a cross between B. grandiceps and B. 
macrophylla. 
EUCHARIDIUM GRAND1FLORUM. 
This is not a new plant by any means, but it is one 
of the most beautiful of all our Anemones, and 
should be in every garden. It is a cheap annual to 
purchase, and I cannot too strongly recommend it 
for its bright, beautiful, rosy-crimson colour, and 
good habit, growing about 15 in. high and blooming 
profusely. It does best sown out of doors in March 
or April, thinly, as indeed all annuals should be. It 
is a very great mistake—universally made—to sow 
too thickly. It is surprising what neat bushy plants 
many of our annuals form if they only get the chance 
of doing so by getting plenty of room.— Salopian, 
DOUBLE STOCKS. 
When at the great Horticultural Exhibition in the 
Public Park at Wolverhampton last July, I was 
greatly pleased with some beds of double ten-week 
stocks there, one in particular named Princess Alice, 
a beautiful white ; and I enquired of Mr. Thomas, 
the Curator, how he managed year after year—for 
I had seen them in previous years—to get such fine 
plants whilst they were failures in many other places. 
He sows the seed on the 10th of March, or as near 
to it as he can, and then pricks them off into boxes 
as soon as they can be handled, and again into a 
cold frame when they can form stocky, well-rooted 
plants, and they are transplanted into the beds in 
due course. A finer lot I never saw, and as the beds 
were large and well filled, the display was an impos¬ 
ing one.— Salopian. 
CRASSULA FALCATA. 
This wonderfully pretty little species has been an 
occupant of our plant houses for a considerable 
number of years, and has won for itself golden 
opinions as a decorative subject. It is usually met 
with, however, under the better known uame of 
Rochea falcata. Several plants are in flower at the 
present time in the cool end of the succulent house 
at Kew, and are presenting an exceedingly attractive 
appearance. The flowers are thickly borne upon a 
terminal corymb, and are usually of a bright crim¬ 
son colour, that contrasts most agreeably with the 
thick oblong glaucous leaves, which are produced 
in pairs and are joined together at their bases. 
SENEClb GRANDIFOLIUS. 
Whilst the genus Senecio is certainly one of the 
largest in the vegetable kingdom, and although it 
contains very many plants of high value from a 
garden point of view, none of its members can boast 
of a nobler or more attractive appearance than that 
possessed by S. grandifolius. A batch of fine 
plants in 8-in. pots, varying from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in 
height, is at the present time a principal and notice¬ 
able feature in the greenhouse at Kew. The large 
dark green leaves, borne upon the stout, curiously 
mottled stem, together with the large corymbose 
head of yellow flowers, stamp it as a plant of ex¬ 
ceeding beauty and merit. The leaf margins are 
roughly toothed or lobed, and this adds not a little 
to the beautiful appearance of a plant which, 
whether utilised for outdoor decoration as a fine 
foliage plant, or used for the furnishing of the green¬ 
house or conservatory during the winter months, 
can scarce fail to give every satisfaction. S. grandi¬ 
folius hails from Mexico, and was at one time known 
as S. Ghiesbreghtii. 
A NEW AMERICAN ASPARAGUS. 
I am told that a gardener in Fife, or somewhere 
bevond the Tweed, grows a wonderful edible 
Asparagus, which he had from America, and which 
is stated to be very early and good, and grows about 
eight feet high. Should this meet the eye of the 
grower, in question, may I say that particulars would 
oblige his brethren acrose the border.— J. Hamilton. 
BEGONIA GLOIRE DE SCEAUX. 
Among all the valuable winter flowering subjects of 
which the genus Begonia boasts, none are more 
worthy of cultivation than the above pretty and 
distinct variety. A batch of nicely flowered plants 
are at the present time affording a bright and gay 
appearance in a stove at Gunnersbury Park. It 
is also highly thought of at Kew, and in the house 
which is there devoted more especially to the culture 
of the winter flowering section of Begonias, it 
receives an honourable position. It usually runs 
about three feet in height, the leaves are large, 
purplish in colour, and in themselves constitute no 
small part of the charm of the plant. The flowers 
are rather larger than are those of B. socotrana, ate 
rosy-pink in colour, and of good substance. Alto¬ 
gether, the possession of a batch of plants of this 
kind is of the greatest service to the gardener, who 
wishes to keep up a bright appearance in the plant 
houses during the duller months of the year. 
