March 2,1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
421 
name it accordingly Salix alba vitellina. It used to 
be very frequent in many establishments, but has 
been rather neglected of late years. Unlike that of 
the type, the young bark is pleasing and effective 
when leafless on account of the clear and polished 
yellow hue of the twigs which are as slender and as 
peculiarly graceful as those of the Babylonian 
Willow, though not so decidedly pendulous. The 
most natural position for the yellow-barked Willow 
is in the neighbourhood of water. Specimens 
grafted standard high and planted on the banks of 
miniature cascades or waterfalls in the pleasure 
grounds of an estate, and so placed as to overhang 
the water, are no mean features in a winter land¬ 
scape, when deciduous trees are mostly very dusky 
in hue and uninviting. For association and contrast 
with the Dogwoods, it should be planted in masses 
and treated much in the same way. Although all 
of them may be grown in tolerably dry situations, 
they may be associated with water. The Willow 
may be placed next the latter on the wet margins of 
a lake for instance, while the Dogwoods may be 
planted on slightly higher levels in proximity, how¬ 
ever, to the same. 
The stems of Lonicera Xylosteum are grayish- 
white, and sometimes the species is planted in 
masses for the sake of contrast with those already 
mentioned. The flowering Currant (Ribes sangui- 
neum), with reddish-brown bark, and the brown- 
barked Neillia opulifolia, are other kinds that may 
be introduced for the sake of variety and contrast. 
Any gardener with an eye to effects of this kind, 
might select various other subjects that come under 
his notice; and provided the same are naturally of 
twiggy habit, they can be made to produce combina¬ 
tions of a peculiarly pleasing character, even in the 
depth of winter. Several other Willows not men¬ 
tioned are well adapted for the purpose.— Arbor. 
-•*»- 
HOME GARDENING. 
Most amateurs have a greenhouse, which is the joy 
of their hearts at first, but often, after a couple of 
years, it becomes more and more neglected, and 
sometimes is a mere playground for children on wet 
days, or a rubbish receptacle. The owner says, 
disconsolately, “Things won’t grow for me’’ and all 
the time, perhaps, the twin-greenhouse next door is 
gay all the year round. The fact is, that inexperienced 
folks try too much. Better be content with common 
plants in full blcssom than rare ones with a poor 
starved flower or two and no leaves. 
If correspondents will write to me, and give rough 
ideas of shape and aspect of house, and also of the 
heating apparatus, I can give advice as to what is 
likely to thrive in it. Many pretty things require 
but little heat, and others only need frost to be kept 
out; but some little structures, opening out of rooms, 
are singularly ill-fitted to grow many flowers in, and 
then I should always try to make them gay and smart, 
with a little artistic decoration, bright matting, bead 
curtains, and well-chosen paint, so that the plants 
should blend as part of the decorative scheme, and 
the whole appear as a pretty, quaint, little nook, or 
extra sittingroom, rather than a regular greenhouse. 
The great drawback often is the want of regular 
attention. Plants, like children, require as little 
coddling as possible, but do not like neglect. Water¬ 
ing copiously one week, and leaving them dry as dust 
the next; letting them be kept from all sun one day, 
and then allowing the full blaze to scorch them 
another day; over-potting, and starving in tiny pots, 
are all sources of mischief. Weakly, often-checked 
plants become very liable to mildew, and blight, too, 
and rarely thrive, giving more trouble in the long 
run. Leaves thick with dust cannot be healthy, and 
few plants do well in a very dry atmosphere. This 
may sound complicated, but, really, it resolves itself 
into a little attention daily, and the plants soon repay 
your care. 
Where there is no feeding-house, I advocate pretty 
groups of such things as can be arranged to make a 
permanent foundation, to which, as occasion serves, 
additions can be made. For instance, a good back¬ 
ground of tall Ferns, a couple of Palms, and a varie¬ 
gated Aspidistra, and two or three bronze-leaved 
Begonias, can be relieved by a few well-placed pots 
of Hyacinths and early Narcissi, followed by white 
Colleen Bawn Daffodils, Freesias, and double creamy 
"Codlins and Cream" Narcissi, Primulas, 
Cinerarias, and any other favourite, in succession. 
A wonderfully small number at a time will produce 
a great effect thus managed, though four times the 
quantity would probably have a very poor appear¬ 
ance without the background. 
There is another great secret in good management 
of a tiny house, which is forethought. Amateurs 
often fail in this, and the house is alternately over¬ 
crowded or bare, while the experienced hand has 
always something coming on, to take the place of 
those flowers now in full glory. Bulbs are a capital 
stand-by, as they can be planted in succession ; and, 
in ordering Chrysanthemums, it is most desirable to 
secure some very late ones. Intermediate flowers I 
will write about later, but Chrysanthemums should 
be ordered at once.— Flora, in “ The Lady." 
--I-- 
NEW VARIETIES OF AMARYLLIS 
' BELLADONNA. 
The Belladonna Lily is a native of South Africa, 
notwithstanding the fact that some books say the 
West Indies. It may have been imported from 
thence to British garden s after having been culti- 
voted in the West Indies for a time. It is naturally 
a variable plant within certain limits, but the varia¬ 
tions are confined chiefly to those of colour in the 
flowers of bulbs raised from seed. The species is 
relatively hardy, and when planted near the south 
and west coasts of England succeeds admirably, and 
there are instances of great success with it more 
inland when planted in warm situations close to the 
sides of hot-houses but in narrow borders in the open. 
The culture of it is not half so common as it might 
be considering the beauty of the flowers during 
September and October. It well deserves more 
attention for the sake of ornamental effect in the 
open, but may be utilised to a greater extent as cut 
flowers for house decoration. Cultivation in pots 
is even more neglected, possibly for the same reason 
that many other bulbs of a half hardy nature fail to 
enlist the sympathies-of cultivators sufficiently to 
give the necessary attention and trouble to ensure 
success. 
The species was first introduced in 1712 , and has 
probably been cultivated to a greater or less extent 
ever since, but doubtlessly at times only sparingly- 
In pots it may be treated similarly to the Hippeas- 
trums, except that less heat will be necessary ; even 
in this respect, however, a higher temperature during 
the period of growth would ensure better foliage and 
consequently better bulbs and flowers. The custom 
of setting the pots aside to take their chance after 
the flowering period is over is responsible for much 
of the neglect into which Cape bulbs generally have 
fallen. Open-air cultivation gives most satisfaction 
where practicable, because it gives the greatest 
quantity of bloom with the smallest amount of 
trouble. Sheltered positions should be selected for 
them at the foot of the walls of stoves and other hot¬ 
houses, where the warmth from the same exercises 
a distinctly beneficial effect. The borders should 
be well drained, if not so naturally, and the natural 
soil replaced, if unsuitable, with good loam, leaf- 
soil, and sand in equal proportions. The flowers are 
produced in autumn, as already stated, but they are 
unaccompanied by leaves, which are produced later 
on in winter or early spring according to the state of 
the weather. They not infrequently get more or 
less injured by severe frost in spring, but this gets 
partly repaired by subsequent growth. 
The bulbs should be planted in June or July 
because they commence fresh root-action about that 
time, and to delay them much beyond that period 
would endanger a good harvest of bloom by making 
the flowering season late, and at the same time pre¬ 
venting the bulbs from becoming duly established 
before winter. It will be a greater security to the 
safety of the bulbs against severe frost if they are 
planted 6 in. or 8 in. below the surface. They may 
also be surrounded with sand, and the compost 
made firm about them. They should be left undis¬ 
turbed for a number of years till the bulbs get over¬ 
crowded, or the soil gets worn out and requires 
fresh material added to it to impart fresh vigour to 
growth. This should, of course, be accomplished 
after the foliage has perfectly died down. Some 
advise the covering of the borders with some 
creeping plants, such as Sedum or Saxifraga, for the 
sake of a neater appearer ; but no advantage would 
accrue to the Amaryllis bulbs by allowing them to 
struggle for existence with another set of plants. 
Nothing better can be used than a mulch of 
well-decayed, farmyard manure or old hot-bed 
material. This will supply the bulbs with nourish¬ 
ment, and protect them against the effects of drought 
in summer. Should the appearance of the manure 
be an objection, then it may be covered over with a 
coating of cocoa-nut fibre, or the latter may be used 
alone to great advantage in economising the moisture. 
Keep the surface clean and tidy, and during dry 
leather give the border a good watering with liquid 
manure, which will impart vigour to growth ; even 
clear water would be highly beneficial, more 
particularly if the bed is covered with manure. 
‘ The Italians evidently give the Belladonna Lily 
more attention than we do, doubtless because their 
climate is more suitable. They appear also to have 
got it to sport into more numerous and decided 
varieties than we possess. Four of these are brought 
together in a coloured plate with the January num¬ 
ber of the Bulletino della R. Societa Toscana di Orticul- 
tura. That named Amaryllis Belladonna alba is 
white with a yellow tint in the throat, and very 
sweet-scented. The variety A. B. stenopetala has 
rather narrow segments, but white and beautifully 
ornamented with whitish-rose towards the apex, and 
yellow in the throat. It is therefore delicately 
beautiful and interesting. A. B. magnifica has the 
reverse of the segments white and the interior of a 
lively carmine, while the throat is very pale, and 
the style, curiously enough, is rosy-brown. A. B. 
carminea is very similar to the previous one, ex¬ 
cept that the stamens are purple. Bulbs may be 
raised in quantity from seeds, but to preserve the 
above varieties true to name, they should be in¬ 
creased solely by offsets, which are produced in 
tolerable abundance. They will the sooner reach 
full size if removed from the parents and planted 
separately. 
--*»- 
FRUITS OF THE CAPE OF 
GOOD HOPE. 
The English colony of the Cape can be considered 
as pre-eminently a fruit region; it corresponds 
pretty closely with the Mediterranean region. It 
comprises two distinct parts, that of the east and 
west*; the latter has its maximum rainfall during 
winter, while the eastern region has rain in summer, 
that is to say in November and in autumn, which is 
in February, since the seasons at the Cape are the 
inverse of ours—with this difference, that at the 
Cape it never freezes. In the western part, fruits 
succeed one another without interruption. In 
January there are Strawberries, Apricots, Grapes, 
Pears, Apples, Peaches, Plums, and Figs. February 
is the season of the best Apples, Peaches, and 
Nectarines; in March come the first Oranges; in 
April again there are late Pears, Citrons, and 
Guavas. In May the Loquat of Japan is harvested ; 
in June there are Shaddocks. From June to 
October there are Pomegranates, Lemons, Citrons, 
and Pears again ; then in October the best Oranges ; 
in November, Figs, Strawberries and Black Mul¬ 
berries ; then the Apricots re-commence, accom¬ 
panied very soon by Strawberries and Grapes. 
In the eastern region the cultures meet one 
another with greater difficulty, by reason, doubtless, 
of the greater humidity and the presence of parasites. 
In both districts there yet exists a great negligence 
from the standpoint of the harvest; besides, the 
most elementary knowledge of packing goes entirely 
by default. They yet already speak of important 
exportations to England ; nevertheless, the educa¬ 
tion of the producer must yet be accomplished 
before the fruits of the Cape can clash seriously 
with those of Europe. It is good not to lose sight 
for the present that the instalments and the forced 
products in England and of our country are menaced 
in their existence by the probable introduction of the 
products of the Cape, where the plantations make 
good progress every year. It is convenient not to 
forget that Bechuanaland is in a measure to produce 
the same fruits as the Cape; Pomegranates there 
are already an excellent product. The colony of 
Natal, on its side, furnishes its superb Bananas, 
Pineapples, Guavas, and its Mandarine Oranges that 
it sends upon the markets of Europe. The number 
of vines planted at the Cape already in March, 
1893 , exceeded the figure of 90 , 000 , 000 . A year 
before there existed in Cape Colony, in round num¬ 
bers, more than 1 , 000,000 of Peach trees, 300,000 
Apricots, 300,000 Apples, 250,000 Pears, 60,000 
Plums, 160,000 Oranges, not including the naartjes, 
a sort of small, very savoury Orange, the skin of 
