June 29, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
699 
soap, about the size of a walnut, dissolved in a 
couple of gallons of water at a temperature of about 
75 0 Fahr., will make an excellent washing mixture 
for ordinary purposes.— G. 
--*•- 
CRAMBE CORDIFOLIA. 
This remarkable Kale or Cabbage, which received 
due recognition in last week's Gardening World, 
was duly noted by more than one person ere that 
recognition appeared in print. So much in evidence, 
in fact, was this particular plant that I found, on 
arrival, several ladies transferring its rather cum¬ 
brous title to their dainty little diaries. When, 
however, its real relation to the Seakale of the table 
is revealed to their inquiries, I should like to be 
present to observe the effect it would have upon 
their credulity. Nevertheless it is a noble Cabbage, 
and one which may be used to advantage outside 
the culinary garden. 
Whenever one sees a plant more or less uncom¬ 
mon, the mind instantly reverts to some other form 
of vegetable for comparison, and I could not help 
exclaiming, in this case, how like a giant Gypso- 
phila paniculata! The isolation of large plants of 
this description is well carried out at Kew, and the 
resulting consequence is often one of superb effect 
and bold design, and is thus instrumental in stimu¬ 
lating others to go home and do likewise. In con¬ 
nection with the label, which set forth its place in 
the world of plants, I cannot resist chronicling an 
inquiry by a young “hopeful ” to his paternal parent, 
namely, " Why do plants have names ? ” “So that 
yer may know 'em.” “But I don't know ’em, 
father.” " No more do I—come on, sonny ."—Le Vevt. 
PEAS. 
The weather has been trying for Peas during the 
last six weeks. Some of the tall varieties have 
suffered severely, but late sorts are still growing 
freely, and generally looking well. When they were 
sown the drills were first deluged with water, and 
the seed covered with some half decayed manure, 
then the soil drawn over all. The moisture has kept 
in well, and may be healthily moist for some time to 
come. We gathered a few pods from early varieties 
on May 29th, but regular picking began on the 10th 
of June. The first (very small in pod, but of good 
quality) were American Wonder, very dwarf and 
useful when protection is given. Close to these were 
Chelsea Gem, with pods much larger than the 
former, and vigorous, and stems about 15 in. high. 
I think very highly of this Pea; crop and quality 
are first-rate. Earliest of All has suffered by 
absence of rain and drying winds, but is about as 
early as either of the former varieties. These were 
planted out from boxes late in March, having been 
raised where frost was kept from them. They were 
transferred to the ground in tufts with some light 
kind of soil placed round the roots. Pea trainers 
were put to the tall variety and evergreens by them. 
The two dwarfs had evergreens also placed by them. 
— M. T., Stirlingshire, N.B. 
Gardening 
ISCELLANY. 
CUP-AND-SAUCER CANTERBURY BELLS. 
The ordinary Canterbury Bells are capable of pro¬ 
ducing a fine effect in the garden when they are 
planted in masses, or otherwise disposed to advantage; 
but the curious, as well as beautiful, varieties under 
consideration are not only equal in effectiveness and 
colour, but their distinctive shapes, large size and 
varied hues, combine to render them even more con¬ 
spicuous as bedding plants than their old-fashioned 
progenitors. From " bells " to “ cups ” is, perhaps, 
not a very long way ; but from “ cups ” to “ saucers,” 
must certainly be considered an evolution not even 
dreamt of fifty years ago. When, however, we get 
a distinct cup-shaped corolla, surrounded in turn by 
a subsidiary one still broader and shallower, the idea 
of cup and saucer is very complete ; and the imagina¬ 
tion finds no difficulty in supplying the Mazawattee, 
the fair Bohemian, the consequent gossip, or any 
other little detail which it is desirous should accom¬ 
pany the sipping of the fragrant beverage. The bees 
anyhow, were sipping the nectar sweet, and other¬ 
wise enjoying themselves in the flush of colour, and 
in the radiance of warmth which our good master 
Sol has so liberally showered down upon us. 
Punning apart, however, these beautiful floral cups 
and saucers are well worth growing. A pinch of 
seed sown now produces like results next year, and if 
that seed be “ mixed ” there is no reason why the 
colours should not vary as at Kew from pure white 
to cobalt blue .—Le Vert. 
THE CALIFORNIAN VIOLET. 
The Californian Violet is the latest floral “boom.” 
It is very difficult to get at present, but will probably 
be easier to procure before long, since the flower- 
growing world has become very hungry after it. 
And no wonder! It is the size of a big Pansy, 
perfect in colour, and very sweet in perfume, besides 
being fairly hardy in growth. Imagine a single 
Violet for a buttonhole I 
EARLY PEAS. 
In your last two issues we have been getting the 
dates of early Pea picking in different parts of 
England. It may interest some readers of the 
Gardening World to know when early Peas were 
had in some parts of Scotland. On the 10th June I 
picked a good dish of the old well-known favourite, 
Dickson's First and Best. I may mention the seed 
was sown on strips of turf on the 13th of February, 
placed in a Vinery, and planted out on a south 
border on 5 th March.— D. Buchanan, Bargany, Girvan, 
N.B. 
CAMPANULA LATIFOLIA. 
What a stately plant this is! growing to between 
three or four feet in height, to judge from the speci¬ 
mens now flowering immediately in front of the 
Alpine House at Kew. The long spicate raceme 
carries numbers of the intensely blue flowers, so 
characteristic of many of the Campanulas. The 
leaves are large, the lower ones petiolate and cordate 
in shape, the upper sessile, and ovate acuminate. 
Although a native of England the wild plant, as 
may be well supposed, is far behind the cultivated 
specimens in point of attractiveness, but even in its 
wild state it is exceedingly pretty. With regard to 
geographical distribution, Bentham in his “ Hand¬ 
book of the British Flora” states that it is to be found 
in the woods of Northern Europe and Russia and 
Central Asia, and extending to the Arctic regions; 
pretty frequent in southern Scotland and northern 
England, but apparently shunning the extreme 
counties at both ends of Great Britain, and a very 
doubtful native of Ireland. 
CYPRIPEDIUM SPECTABILE. 
Of all our hardy Cypripediums which may be 
accommodated in the open border C. spectabile is 
one of the most worthy of attention, being as it is 
something decidedly out of the common run of 
hardy flowering plants, with its pure white sepals 
and petals, and large pouch with its characteristic 
rosy tintings. A pretty little batch of it is at the 
time of writing to be seen in the rockery at Kew, a 
charming little nook indeed. Beautiful as the plants 
are of themselves they lose nothing by their imme¬ 
diate surroundings, for to the left on the rockwork 
that surrounds them a batch of Ramondia pyren- 
aica is flourishing, whilst Onoclea sensibilis, 
Hypolepis distans, Athyriums in variety, together 
with other Ferns, all add their quota towards the 
making of what is at present one of the prettiest 
little corners in the whole of the rockery. 
GARDEN RANUNCULUS. 
Near the Palm Stove in Kew Gardens there 
may now be seen two brilliant beds of Persian 
Ranunculus, which, even from an aesthetic 
point of view, require a lot of beating. The 
philosophy of colour is here in all its shades and 
details, blue alone excepted; and poor indeed 
would be one’s appreciation of the beautiful if he 
could not look on this picture with satisfaction and 
regard. The colours, in fact, range from pure 
white, through gradations of pink and red and 
yellow, to crimson and black—a perfect colour 
effect. No wonder that visitors, like inquisitive 
insects, are attracted by the glamour and the glare. 
It is not often that one sees such a wondrous display 
as is here presented, although the plant is designated 
as a “common” form of Ranunculus asiaticus. 
The past dry season has no doubt contributed to 
assist the plant’s development, and thus, as it were, 
produced conditions which approximate more 
closely to those of its natural habitat. Certainly 
the encomiums which were lavished upon their 
gorgeous flowers were well merited; and I 
doubt not that if the sensitiveness of their beautiful 
blossoms could only be measured, it would be found 
that their heads were quite as liable to giddiness 
as those other happy possessors of feminine loveli¬ 
ness.—Le Vert. 
GRUBS, INSECTS AND FRUIT TREES. 
I have no recollection of seeing such severe attacks 
on fruit trees (Apricots, Apples, Cherries, and Plums 
especially) by caterpillars, and it is really difficult to 
cope with them. Soapy water, in which is mixed 
sulphur, hellebore powder, and tobacco powder, has 
decidedly checked the work of mischief. The 
promise of abundant crops (of the fruits named) 
appears to be very favourable everywhere. Small 
fruits with us never were more promising, and no 
insects or grubs have as yet attacked them. Straw¬ 
berries are a heavy crop, but the drought I fear will 
reduce the weight of them very materially.— M. T. 
Stirlingshire, N.B. 
ICELAND POPPIES. 
Of all gay-flowering plants during May and June we 
have seen none to surpass these Poppies. Some are 
very dwarf and the colours of white, yellow, scarlet, 
and crimson, are most attractive. Our stock, on a 
cold damp border, with north-western aspect, was 
frozen for over two months and appeared to be put 
out of existence; but now the foliage and flowers 
being en masse we value them much ! A lady 
showed us how to cut them for room decoration, 
which is when they are about to open from the 
flower bud. By experiments tried in hot and cool 
rooms we find in each case they have opened 
capitally and remain fresh and beautiful for over two 
weeks !— M. T., Stirlingshire. 
BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS. 
Mr. J. B. Crace, 38, Wigmore Street, London, in 
the Times, calls attention to the operations of a 
swindler, whose method was as successful as it was 
elaborate. He went on the benevolent line. 
Wishing to obtain a place for a former gardener of 
good character, Mr. Crace advertised, and received 
a personal call from a professed bailiff to a gentle¬ 
man of Northampton, who explained his presence in 
London by saying that he came once a week to attend 
market on his own account. He expressed himself 
anxious to see the gardener, and, obtaining his 
address from Mr. Crace, journeyed into Surrey with 
that object. He visited him and decided to engage 
him, but advised him to try the place a week before 
moving his furniture. Quite a thoughtful gentleman, 
you will say. Very thoughtful ; for it occurred to 
him just before leaving that he was short of ca=h 
requisite to take him back to Northampton, and 
borrowed £2 of the credulous ex-gardener, who is 
without both his money and his place. The tricks 
of swindlers know no bounds. 
NEW DWARF SWEET PEA. 
Burpee's new dwarf Sweet Pea Cupid, originated by 
Messrs. C. C. Morse & Son, Santa Clara, California, 
who are growing the seed this season, is in fine condi¬ 
tion on their grounds. The plants of this grand 
novelty in the rows of beds do not stand over 10 in. 
or 12 in. high, and present a mass of pure white 
bloom which at a short distance might easily be 
mistaken for beds of snow wh ite Pansies, such a 
mass they make. It is certainly a distinct break in 
Sweet Peas and sure to create a sensation horticul- 
turally when introduced .—American Florist. 
, , 
VARIETY IN BEDDING. 
Of late years the tendency that once existed among 
gardeners generally to fill their flower beds with one, 
or at the most two sorts of plants only, these being 
associated with each other, in most instances because 
they happened to be at their best either with regard 
to flower or foliage at pretty much the same time, 
has become considerably modified—a state of things 
upon which we may congratulate ourselves ; for 
while exceedingly gorgeous effects may be produced 
by this means the display lasts only for a compara¬ 
tively short space of time at most. By associating 
several kinds of plants which flower at different 
seasons in the same beds the display although 
