412 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 23, 1895. 
turn his hand resolutely to the work may live in 
good hope of prevailing to open a new chapter, and 
some of these chapters are far more wonder-stirring 
and exciting than any artificial fairy tale. 
Let us glance at few that have been deciphered 
already. We will take the volume of botany first, 
being perhaps that in which the ordinary mind 
would least expect any stirring passages. 
In olden time, when books were few and readers 
not over-critical, travellers and would-be philosophers 
stuffed their pages with prodigies. The appetite for 
“ eye-openers ” was insatiable, and the grossest 
falsehoods were copied from one writer to another, 
and accepted with wonder indeed, but without doubt. 
But it is your patient, plodding student of science 
who is the true “ eye-opener,” in the better sense, 
revealing to his fellows the wonders of the world in 
which we have our being. It is not very many years 
since the true meaning of flowers was made plain to 
us. Formerly they were supposed to have been 
prepared for the glory of God and the pleasure of 
man. That they contribute to both no one will care 
to deny, but how greatly both these functions are 
enhanced when their primary function is understood i 
Now, in order to show that the truths of science 
are no whit less straoge than the fairy tales recounted 
by ancient writers, here is one of the latest 
veritable "eye-openers.” Many years ago an 
Italian botanist discovered in the mountains of 
Sumatra a gigantic Ariod, a plant of the same 
family as the lords and ladies of our hedgerows and 
the beautiful Ethiopian Lily of our greenhouse. 
The tuber was so large, measuring many feet in cir¬ 
cumference, and emitted such an overpowering odour, 
that hecould hardly persuade men to the labour of up¬ 
rooting them. However, after many days he succeeded 
in getting a brace of entire plants, which he directed 
to be placed on a kind of hand-barrow for trans¬ 
port. The bearers turned sick with the stench, and, 
whether by accident or design, both of the enormous 
bulbs were lost over a precipice. The botanist sent 
home a description of the plant, which was so startling 
as to receive very dubious acceptance among men 
of science. Travellers' tales they thought, for the 
leaf-stalks were said to be io ft. long and the leaves 
nearly 50 ft. in circumference. The spadia of the 
flower—that of the central column rising out of the 
spathe—measured 6 ft. in height. No such arum 
was ever known. Luckily for the traveller's reputa¬ 
tion he sent some seeds home to Europe. They 
were red and about the size of olives. Some of 
these were sent to Kew Gardens, where, about ten 
years ago, they were sown in a high temperature. 
They grew and grew till at last there was only one 
place capable of holding the plants—the Victoria 
Regia tank-house. [Finally, great excitement in the 
scientific world was caused, in 1822, one of them 
showed signs of flowering. The signs were fulfilled; 
the great spathe expanded, revealing the monster 
spadia, and discharging an overpowering stench. 
Amorphophallus titanum stood revealed, and the 
good faith of the Italian botanist was vindicated.— 
Sir Heybert Maxwell in "Lloyd's News," 
-**—- 
Questions add snsiueRS- 
%* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged by their so doing. 
Leaves Turning Gray. — Begonias :—The reason 
for the leaves turning gray is no doubt accounted 
for by your own explanation. When plants are 
over-watered, independently of liquid or any other 
manure, before they have taken good hold of the 
soil, they are very liable to behave in the way you 
mention. The excessive amount of water in the 
fresh soil not only retards growth but destroys the 
roots more or less, according to the degree and dura¬ 
tion of the evil. Many plants are entirely killed 
in this way, and others recover by slow progress. 
Of course there are many side issues to be taken 
into consideration. The soft tissues of Begonias 
render them more readily susceptible of harm when 
subjected to sudden changes and checks to growth, 
and the age of the tubers should not be overlooked. 
In a high temperature Begonias might show but 
little injury from over-watering, but in a low tem¬ 
perature and immediately after being re-potted they 
should be watered with great moderation till they 
begin to grow away freely. 
Names of Plants.— G. Hr. 1, Thyrsacanthu, 
rutilans; 2, Cyperus alternifolius variegatus; 3. 
Carex brunnea variegata ; 4, Aralia elegantissima, 
W. C. : 1, Viburnum Tinus; 2, Ruscus aculeatus ; 
3, Pinus Laricio austriaca; 4, Cotoneaster micro- 
phylla ; 5: Phillyrea angustifolia ; 6, Berberis 
japonica. P. M. ; Hippeastrum aulicum. 
Rafflesia Arnoldii.— A.K.: Several parasites 
have been cultivated in gardens with a fair amount 
of success. It is necessary in the first instance to 
know what the plant naturally grows upon, then to 
get this established, after which you may sow the 
seeds of the parasite close to the plant upon which 
you intend to grow it, and there is a possibility 
that the parasite will attach itself to the host plant 
if the seeds are good and capable of germination. 
All this, as you must know in the case of Rafflesia 
Arnoldii, would entail a considerable amount of 
expense in the first instance to obtain the necessary 
materials to work upon, although the difficulties are 
not insurmountable. 
Melianthus major. — T. Menzie : It may be 
propagated readily either from seeds or cuttings. 
The former may be obtained,we presume, from some 
of the larger seed houses. It flowers in this country 
when grown in a tall conservatory and allowed to 
attain considerable size, and may be made to fruit by 
artificial fertilisation, although we are not aware 
that it has ever done so in this country. Cuttings 
may be taken from the side shoots that are getting 
moderately firm at the base ; insert them in sandy 
soil under a bell glass, or in a frame in the stove. 
Bottom heat will make them root all the more 
quickly. 
Communications Received.— J. C. E.—W. H. 
W.—F. S. & Co.—C. T. D — J. L.—H. J. H —H. 
B. J.— S. & S.—S. C.—W. K.—E. D. H. 
-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
February igth, 1895. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, & 39, 
Seed market, Mark Lane, report a slow trade in 
Agricultural seeds. New English Red Clover is in 
short supply, quality medium. No change in values 
of Red Clover, White Clover, and Alsike. Trefoil 
easier. Ryegrasses neglected. Rape seed higher. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
February 13th, 1895. 
Market at a standstill owing to rough weather. 
Vegetables 
t. 
ArtlchokesGlobedoz. 3 
Beans, French, perlb. 1 
Beet.per dozen 2 
Cabbages ... per doz. 1 
Carrots ... per bunch 0 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 3 
Celery.per bundle 1 
Cucumbers .eaih 0 
Endive, French, djz. 2 
Herbs .per bunch 0 
Horse Radish, bundle 2 
.—Average Rbtail Prices. 
d . >. d . t . d , 
6 0 Lettuces ...per dozen 2 0 
2 0 Mushrooms, p. basket 1 ' 
Onlfinc nor hnnnh n 
3 0 
2 6 
5 0 
2 0 
0 9 
Mushrooms, p. basket 1 0 
Onions.per bunoh 0 4 
Parsley ... per bunch 0 6 
Radishes... per dozen 1 6 
Seakale...per basket 2 o 
Smallsaladlng,punnet o 4 
Spinach per bushel 6 0 
1. d . 
0 0 
1 6 
0 6 
2 6 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices 
1. d . s. d . 1 . d . j. d . 
Aspidistras, per doz 18 0 42 0 Evergreens,invar.doz 6 0 24 0 
—specimenplants.eachs 0 15 0 Ferns, invar.,per doz. 30 80 
Cyperus .per doz. 4 0 12 0 Ferns, small, per 100 30 60 
Chrysanthemums, Foliage Plants, doz. 12 0 60 0 
per doz. 60 80 Marguerites, perdoz. 8 0 12 0 
Cyclamen, per doz.... 9 0 18 0 Mignonette, per doz 60 00 
Dracaena term., doz. 18 0 36 0 Palms in variety,each 2 6 10 0 
Dracaena virldis,doz. 9 0 18 0 Palms, Specimen ... 15 0 63 0 
Erica hyemalis, per Primulas,perdoz. ... 40 60 
doz. 12 0 18 0 Solanums, 
„ gracilis per doz. 10 0 12 o| per doz. pots 8 0 12 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s . d . s . d . 
Arum Lilies, I2blms. 40 60 
Azalea.doz. bchs. 6 o 10 0 
Bouvardias, per bun. 06 10 
Carnations...per doz. 20 30 
Chrysanthemums, 
doz. blooms 20 60 
,, doz. bunches 40120 
Double Daffodils, 
doz. bchs. 15 o 18 0 
Single Daffodils, 
doz. bchs. 24 o 30 o 
Eucharis ...per doz. 40 60 
Gardenias 12 blooms 20 40 
Heliotropes,12 sprays 06 09 
Hyacinth (Roman) 
doz. bch. 90120 
Lilac (French) 
per bch. 60 6 6 
Llllum Harrisli, 
doz. blooms 6 0 10 0 
MaidenhairFern,i2bs. 4 060 
Marguerites, 12 bun. 16 30 
s. d . 1 , d . 
Narciss (French) 
doz. bch. 40 60 
Orchid Bloom in var. 
per bloom, from 03 10 
Pelargoniums 12 sps. 06 09 
Pink Roses...per doz. 30 60 
Pyrethrum doz. bun. 2040 
Primula, double, bun. 06 09 
Roses, yellow, dozen 20 a 0 
— Red.doz. blms. 30 60 
— Tea.per dozen 06 20 
Soarlet Geraniums, 
doz. bchs. 50 90 
Tuberoses, per doz 06 10 
Violets (French) 
Parma, per bch. 5060 
Violets (French) 
Czar, per bch. 1920 
Violets (French) 
doz. bch. 40 60 
Violets (English) 
doz. bch. 16 26 
INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS. 
Auction Sales. 
Protheroe & Morris. 402 
Bulbs. 
T. Jannoch.402 
H. A. Tracy .413 
Catalogues. 
Carter’s .403 
Hartland.401 
Little & Ballaotyne.413 
R. Smith & Co.413 
Sutton & Sons.401 
R. Sydenham.403 
Webb & Sons .403 
Chrysanthemums. 
W. J. Godfrey ..403 
H. J. Jones. 402 
W. Wells.413 
B. S. Williams & Son ...401 
Ferns. 
W. & J. Birkenhead .413 
Florists’ Flowers. 
B. R. Davis .401 
J D. Hamon.401 
J. Forbes.403 
J. Laing & Sons. 401 
T. Lord .401 
A. Medhurst. 413 
S. Pye... 401 
J. Wells . 401 
B. S. Williams & Son ...401 
Fruit Trees, &c. 
T. Rivers & Son . 413 
R. Smith & Co. 413 
J. Watkins.413 
Garden Sundries, &c. 
J. Arnold . 415 
Hirst, Brooke & Hirst.... 401 
A. Outram .415 
Rigby, Wainwright, & C0.401 
Sankey & Son ....415 
H. G. Smyth.415 
Heating Apparatus. 
Jones &Attwood . 415 
Messenger & Co.415 
Thames Bank Iron Co... 401 
Horticultural Builders. 
J. Boyd & Sons . 401 
J. Gray . 401 
W. Richardson & Co... 415 
J. Weeks & Co. 401 
Insecticides. 
Clibran & Son .415 
Gishurst Compound. 401 
Nicotine Soap.401 
Manures 
C. Beeson. 401 
W. H. Beeson. 401 
Clay & Son. 415 
W. Colchester.415 
B. W. Colebrook .415 
Icthemic Guano .401 
Ichthion Guano.401 
Native Guano Co.414 
W. Thomson & Sons ...414 
Webb & Sons .414 
Miscellaneous. 
Cadbury’s Cocoa.416 
Epps’ Cocoa . 414 
Epps’ Peat. 414 
H. J. Gasson.401 
Gishurstine. 401 
Jadoo Fibre Co...401 
Smyth’s Orchid Baskets 401 
Orchids. 
John Corran & Co.402 
J. Cypher .403 
P. McArthur. 401 
F. Sander & Co.401 
Roots for Forcing. 
G. Stevens . 401 
Roses. 
T. Rivers & Son .413 
R. Smith & Co.413 
C. Turner .401 
Seeds. 
Barr & Son. 401 
Carter’s .403 
J. Cheal & Sons .413 
Daniels Bros.413 
R. Dean ..401 
Dicksons .403 
J. Dickson & Sons.401 
Hurst & Son.402 
Laxton Bros.401 
Little & Ballantyne .413 
Pitcher & Manda.402 
F. Roemer.401 
R. Smith & Co.._.413 
Sutton & Sons.401 
R. Sydenham.403 
W. E. Tidy.402 
Webb & Sons .403 
Strawberries. 
S. Hamilton .401 
OOITTBHTS. 
PAGE PAGE 
Asparagus planting.406 Hibiscus crassinervis 
Books, Notices of .411 flammens ..411 
Caucasus, fertility of the .. .407 Hyacinth, a floriferous.411 
Coral Animals, the.410 Lapland Stockings .408 
Crocks, Porter’s Invincible 411 Orchids from Perth .406 
Flower Garden, the .407 Orchid Notes .406 
Frost and its Lessons, the 403 Penstemon Antirrhinoides 411 
Fruit under Glass .407 Phalaenopsis Youngeana, 406 
Fungi, Edible in Surrey ...408 Phyllanthus, species of.410 
Gardeners, Thinking.408 Potting, Hints on —.405 
Gardening Charities, Our...405 Ranunculus asiaticus.405 
Garden Soil .411 Roses, Beef Tea for .407 
Granard Gardens .409 Science Gleanings.407 
Hardy Fruit Garden.407 Seed Orders. 4°4 
Hedge Plants .410 Seeds v. Cuttings.408 
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