602 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May IS, 1895. 
favourable to canker, and lastly do not allow them 
to grow at random, which sooner or later renders 
them liable to mutilation. In short, nothing but 
careful management will keep canker at bay. 
Varieties to Grow. 
As regards varieties, every gardener has his 
favourites, so I will only mention those which I have 
grown. Green fleshed : Golden Perfection, \ ictory 
of Bath, and Windsor Castle. White fleshed : 
The Countess, Hero of Lockinge, and Crawley 
Paragon. Scarlet fleshed: Blenheim Orange and 
Scarlet Premier. 
In my estimation the following are all especially 
good varieties:—Golden Perfection (green flesh). 
This variety still holds its own as one of the best 
flavoured Melons. It has been in cultivation for a 
considerable time, and perhaps for quality is unsur¬ 
passed. Scarlet Premier (scarlet flesh), a beauti¬ 
fully netted variety, handsome in appearance, a good 
cropper, and flavour quite up to the average. Hero 
of Lockinge (white flesh) a very fine Melon, a free 
setter, and of good quality. The Countess is also 
one of the very best Melons grown. There is not 
one quality that it does not possess; it is a free 
setter, of good appearance, good flavour, and good 
constitution. Crawley Paragon is a good flavoured 
Melon of medium size, but not often met with. I 
have also grown Windsor Castle. It attains a large 
size, but, being of recent introduction and not 
having had altogether a good season to start with, 
I cannot say much for or against it. 
Cucumbers. 
There can be but few gardeners who do not culti¬ 
vate the Cucumber more or less in the spring and 
summer months, and a great many grow it in 
winter also. Still, it is in the hot summer months 
when Cucumbers, like Melons, are most appreciated 
and deservedly so. Although I may boast of cutting 
about a thousand Cucumbers yearly, I do not intend 
going far into their cultivation, as I think they 
deserve a paper to themselves, because if there are 
not many complete failures there are many inferior 
crops grown. The coupling of Cucumbers with 
Melons is to some extent misleading, as there is 
some difference between them as regards cultural 
requirements. The Melon is a sun-loving subject, 
and has a ripening process to go through, therefore 
it requires at certain times rather a dry atmosphere, 
rather heavy soil, and a firm root run. While the 
Cucumber delights in partial shade, abundant atmos- 
spheric moisture in all stages of its growth, rather 
light soil, and a free root run. A few seeds of 
Cucumbers may be sown about the same time as 
Melons for a first crop and planted out when strong 
enough. After the foundations of the plants have 
been laid it is my practice to keep the leading 
shoots persistently pinched at the third or fourth 
joints, and to pinch all laterals at or above the second 
joints. As regards airing, watering, etc., this should 
be much the same as for Melons with the few 
exceptions previously referred to. Cucumbers may 
have rather more soil than is good for Melons, and 
may be planted a bit deeper, and when getting 
nearly spent out may be allowed to root at their 
joints to give them renewed vigour. It is bad 
practice to allow Cucumbers to stay on the plants 
and get seedy if not wanted. It is far better to give 
or throw them away than to let them exhaust the 
plant. As to varieties, I might say that Improved 
Telegraph and Lockie’s Perfection are in all respects 
excellent. 
--*—- 
FAIRFIELD, ABERDEEN. 
Aberdeen glories in its Roses, likewise its Orchids ; 
indeed the latter seems to have taken a very 
prominent position in and around the granite city. 
On a recent visit to Fairfield, the residence of A. O. 
Gill, Esq., I was pleased to see a brilliant display of 
Orchids and other plants. The most striking plant 
was a splendid specimen of Lycaste Skinnerii with 
the handsome number of thirty-four open flowers and 
more to follow. The plant was a perfect picture. 
Dendrobium thyrsiflora was represented by a fine 
plant bearing fourteen spikes"; though the flowers are 
of short duration it is invaluable. The beautiful 
Dendrobium Jamesianum was well done, as also D. 
nobile, Wardianum and Crassinode. Cypripediums 
were flowering freely, the kinds being C. Callosum, 
Lawrenceanum, Barbatum and others. Laelia cin- 
nabarina was striking with its rich colour. Cym- 
bidium Lowianum and giganteum were pushing forth 
fine spikes. Odontoglossums were flowering freely, 
and a fine plant of O. maculatum carried twenty- 
four flowers, O. Alexandrae, cirrosum, Pescatorei 
and a charming Rossii majus were equally gcod. 
The beautiful Cattleya citrina was also in flower, 
and numerous others were showing flower. 
The plants were admirably arranged in a span 
house along with other flowering and foliage plants. 
The stove was filled with many rare Orchids and 
plants, and mention may be made regarding the 
cleanliness of all the plants a very important item in 
their culture. Mr. Gregor is an accomplished 
Orchid grower as his plants testify.— Vanda. 
--S-- 
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS. 
Myosotis rupicola. —This is a distinct and pretty 
alpine species of great beauty at this season of the 
year, and also quite distinct in character from all 
other Forget-me-Nots. Being of very dwarf and 
compact habit, growing only about 3 in. to 4 in. in 
height, it will when better known entirely super¬ 
sede the well known M. dissitiflora for bedding pur¬ 
poses. It is easily grown in any ordinary garden 
soil, and is also well adapted for pot culture, but the 
flowers are not so conspicuous as when grown in the 
open. Its flowers are deep blue, and produced in 
such profusion as to form a dense mass of colour, 
quite hiding its foliage. It was formerly found in 
great abundance in Scotland but is now very 
rarely found in a wild state, as it has been lost to 
cultivation for some years past. It is perfectly hardy 
and easily increased by cuttings or division in spring 
and autumn. 
Cheiranthus alpinus. —Few people are aware of 
the beauty of this dwarf species of the Wallflower 
family, which now forms a perfect mass of its pale 
yellow flowers, which are also very fragrant. 
Although a native of South Europe and introduced 
so far as 1810, it very rarely seen in our gardens and 
as its culture is of the simplest it will when better 
known be greatly prized, the flowers being well 
adapted for cutting. It grows well in any good 
garden soil and is readily increased by cuttings or 
seeds. There are other species somewhat similar to 
the foregoing, notable among which is C. Marshallii 
which is supposed by some authorities to be an 
hybrid, and is quite distinct from C. alpinus in 
flower, the flowers being of a dark orange colour, 
and also very fragrant, while C. multiflorus has 
purplish flowers, and is also quite as useful and is 
frequently met with under the synonymous name of 
C. mutabilis. This is a native of Madeira whence 
it was introduced in 1777, and will be found 
described in Botanical Magazine t. 195. It is quite 
hardy having survived the past severe winter and is 
now flowering freely. All the species are useful for 
borders or the rockwork, and form a striking 
display during the early summer months.— E. Scapel- 
horn, Woking. 
-- 
PLANT NAMES: THEIR DERIVATION 
AND MEANING.* 
(1 Concluded \from p. 589 ) 
Taking my former division into 5 groups I find 
that this century and a half of plants will be separated 
as follows: 
Original names 
. . 12 
Mythological and Heroic .. 
8 
Local 
• • 2 
Personal 
.. 22 
Descriptive .. 
.. 108 
152 
Eliminating all classes as I said before except the 
descriptive section we now come to the Greek and 
Latin derivatives. 
Descriptive Words. 
Acacia : ac, a point; akazo, to sharpen. 
Acanthus : same root and antlios, a flower. 
Agapanthus : agape, love ; antlios, a flower. 
Althaea: altheo, to cure; in allusion to healing 
properties. 
Alyssum : a and lyssa, rage. 
Ampelopsis : ampeles, a vine. 
Androsace : anev, a man : sahos, buckler. 
Anemone ; anemos ,the wind. 
Antirrhinum : anti, similar; rhin, nose, snout of an 
animal. 
Aquilegia: aqv.Ua, an eagle. 
*A piper read by Mr. S. Arthur Sewell at a meeting of the 
Ealing Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society, on the s6th 
March. 
Arenaria : arena, sand. 
Aristolochia : aristas, best, and locheia, parturition. 
Asparagus : sparasso, to tear ; some species have 
strong prickles. 
Aster : a star. 
Auricula : little ear ; from aura, an ear. 
Azalea: azaleos, dry, arid. 
Campanula : a little bell from campana, a bell. 
Cheiranthus : Arabic name is klieyry, antlios. 
Chrysanthemum : chrysos, gold; anthos, a flower. 
Cineraria: cineres, ashes; referring to the grey 
down on the leaves. 
Clematis: hlema, a vine branch. 
Chorozema : choros, a dance, and zema, a drink. 
This name was given to the plant by Labillardiere 
who discovered it in Australia near a spot where 
after suffering great thirst, he and his party found 
an abundance of water. 
Convolvulus : convolvere, to twine. 
Coreopsis: koris, a bug ; opsis, like ; referring to 
the seeds. 
Croton : kroton, a tick, applying to the seeds. 
Cyclamen: kuklos, a circle ; referring to the 
circular leaves. 
Delphinium : delphin, a dolphin ; in allusion to the 
nectary. 
Dianthus: dios, divine; anthos, a flower; referring 
to the fragrance and beauty. 
Doronicum : altered from Doronigi, an Arabic name. 
Draba : drabe, acrid, biting leaves. 
Digitalis : digitus, a finger ; referring to the shape 
of the flowers of the Foxglove. 
Diosma : dios, divine; osme, smell. 
Epilobium : epi, upon : lobos, a pod ; the flower 
appears seated on the top of the pod. 
Epacris : epi, upon ; akros, the top; growing on 
the top of hills. 
Eryngium : eringion the Greek name. 
Erysimum, eryo, to draw or cure; cures sore 
throats, draws blisters. 
Erythraea; erythros, red ; the colour of the 
flowers. 
Eriostemon : erion, wool; stemon, a stamen ; woolly 
stamens. 
Eucharis : eu, well ; charis, grace. 
Fumaria, fumus, smoke; referring to the smell of 
the plant. 
Geum : geum, to give a relish ; the roots of G. 
urbanum. 
Gladiolus : gladius, a sword ; in reference to the 
shape of leaves. 
Gnaphalium: gnaphalon, the soft down on the leaves. 
Gypsophila : gypsos, chalk, and phileo, I love ; in 
reference to habitat. 
Geranium : geranos, a crane ; the beak-like fruit of 
the plant. 
Helianthemum : helios, the sun ; antlios, a flower. 
Helianthus has the same derivation and meaning. 
Heliocarpus, Heliophila : both have reference to 
the sun. 
Helleborus : helin, to cause death, and bora, food ; 
their poisonous nature is alluded to. 
Hieracium : hievax, a hawk, but no reason why. 
Hydrangea : hydor, water, and aggeion, a vessel; 
alluding to the capsule of some. 
Jasminium: ion, a violet, and osme, smell; or 
ysmyn, Arabic. 
Leucojum: leukos, white, and ion, a violet; the 
colour of the snowflake. 
Linaria : similarity of leaves to those of linum. 
Lunaria : luna, the moon; applied to the seed 
vessels. 
Lupinus : lupus, a wolf; destructive to land. 
Lychnis : lyclinos, a lamp ; brilliancy of flowers. 
Lycopodium: lykos, a wolf; pous, a foot. 
Lysimachia : lysis, dissolving, and maclie, strife. 
Malva : malache, soft ; emollient qualities or soft¬ 
ness of the plants. 
Meconopsis : mekon, a poppy, and opsis, resem¬ 
blance. 
Mesembryanthemum: mesembria, mid-day, and 
anthemon, a flower. 
Mimulus : mimo, an ape or actor ; in reference to 
the ringent corollas. 
Myosotis : mus, a mouse, and ous, ear. 
Nymphaea : nymphe, a water nymph. 
Oenothera : oinos, wine, and tliera\ pursuit of. In 
ancient times roots of Oe. biennis were taken to 
increase desire for wine. 
Ononis and Onobrychis: onos, an ass. 
Oxalis : oxus, acid. 
Papaver : papa, thick milk pap, juice mixed with 
children's food to make them sleep. 
