July 29, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
759 
health after having flowered. It is easily raised from 
seeds, however, and might therefore be treated as a 
biennial. The bell-shaped flowers vary in number 
according to the strength of the plant, but as a rule 
the latter is very dwarf. The flowering season varies 
from May to July according as to whether it is grown 
in a cold frame in pots or planted out. 
-•*->- 
BATTERSEA PARK. 
The great heat which prevailed throughout the 
month of June and early part of July has been 
favourable to the growth of certain kinds of plants 
and less so to others, chiefly owing to the aridity of 
the atmosphere. The sub-tropical garden is now so 
closely hemmed in by trees that the sun raises the 
temperature as in an oven, and the shelter to some 
extent prevents the moisture from being carried off 
by prevailing winds, so that on the whole the garden 
has not suffered to any appreciable extent, and in the 
course of a month’s time will be at its best as far as 
present appearance goes. Of course, the carpet 
bedding is as fresh now as it will be, although in our 
opinion the Alternantheras are not yet so highly 
coloured as they might be. 
The corner bed at the east side of the sub¬ 
tropical garden Mr. Coppinhas filled again with tall 
standard specimens of Datura Knightii which are 
not yet in flower, but showing well. The ground be¬ 
tween them is interspersed with dwarfer plants of 
Erythrina Crista-galli, Petunias, and Lantanas, the 
two last of which have only made moderate growth 
as yet. The quadruple edging consists of Amaran- 
tus melancholicus ruber, bronze Pelargoniums, blue 
Lobelias, and Echeveria glauco-metallica, the latter 
being outermost. A little behind this on the grass 
are two large circular beds, one of which is very 
effectively filled with Wigandias, Ricinus Gibsoni, 
Aralia papyrifera, and an outer line of Solanum 
robustum, all on a groundwork of white and scarlet 
Verbenas. The edge consists of bicolor Pelargo¬ 
niums and Sempervivum tabulseforme. The other 
bed has a large Yucca gloriosa recurva in the centre, 
surrounded by Y. aloefolia variegata, Dracaena 
indivisa, and Aralia Sieboldii variegata on a ground¬ 
work of Coleus Verschaffelti and Begonias. An ob¬ 
long bed to the right is also bold and effective v\ith 
the broad-leaved Musa ensete with Dracaenas 
between them, and flanked by Ricinus Gibsoni, 
edged with Verbenas. The centre is not yet well 
filled, however, as the Zinnias, Helichrysums, and 
Plumbago capensis have not grown much. 
There is a circular bed of yellow Calceolarias and 
an oval one, in both cases surrounded by a broad 
band of Coleus Verschaffelti. The latter, owing to its 
solid and metallic-looking appearance is rather over¬ 
powering for the Calceolarias, notwithstanding their 
floriferous character. The combination, however, is 
a change from the beds of previous years, and which 
were entirely occupied with Coleus. A half-moon 
shaped bed of Ricinus Gibsoni and a green variety 
intermingled with variegated Maize and Marguerites 
will be pretty when the last named come into bloom, 
as they are only yet in bud. A bed of Lilies is very 
effective a short way off, and consists of Lilium 
longiflorum Harrisi, mixed with L. speciosum, to 
take its place presently on a groundwork of mixed 
Stocks. The edgings are of red Coleus and Centaurea 
ragusina candidissima. A mixture of Eucalyptus 
globulus and Abutilon Thomsoni variegata tells by 
the striking contrast of colour; but the fore part of 
the bed is somewhat marred by a hedge of late- 
flowering Phloxes hiding the Pentstemons and other, 
low plants behind them. A circular bed of Fuchsias 
and Heliotrope will tell better when the former come 
better into bloom. Gourds trained on stakes in 
another bed have not succeeded well this year. A 
large bed, shaped like a pair of spectacles, aims at 
boldness by the plants with which it is filled, com¬ 
prising a large Dracaena indivisa in the centre of 
each half, surrounded by Polymnia grandis and 
Ricinus Gibsoni, the latter of which has hitherto 
grown too rapidly for the former overtopping it. 
Outside of them comes Solanum robustum. The 
groundwork consists of Petunias and Verbenas which 
must become entirely hidden by foliage later on in 
the season. A bed of tuberous Begonias on a 
groundwork of Sedum glaucum looks fresh, but the 
plants have not yet made much growth; more 
effective are two other beds of them on a groundwork 
of Dactylis glomerata elegantissima. In each case 
plenty of space has been accorded the Begonias, so 
that they have a chance of showing themselves off 
individually later on when in full bloom. 
Succulents are not so numerous as they have been 
here, but a large bed of them occupies a side position 
Of several Dasylirions, one of them is about to 
flower with a stem 6 ft. to 8 ft. high. The groundwork 
is done up with Mesembryanthemums, Pilea muscosa, 
and Herniaria glabra. There are numerous relief 
plants, and many long-legged specimens of Semper¬ 
vivum canariense, bearing a single crown on the top. 
The latter are very grotesque, but on the whole, the 
bed has a quiet and cool appearance. The large 
clump of Gunnera scabra in the hollow behind the 
main group of beds, looks bold and healthy, although 
dwarfer than usual. A mixed bed on the west side 
of the garden is rather pretty in its way, and con¬ 
sists of bronzy-red leaved Cannas, Lilium Harrisi, 
and Abutilon Thomsoni variegata, on a ground work 
of variegated Cocksfoot grass. Another side bed 
not far from here is occupied with a mass of Vitis 
heterophylla variegata, with various edging plants, 
but the Vine might have been allowed the whole of 
the space, and the bed would be seen to better 
advantage if made to slope towards the walk, so 
that the eye could see the whole of it. 
A circular bed of bronzy-red Cannas and white 
Lilies appears to great advantage a little way off on 
the grass. Another, close to the walk, has a rich 
appearance at present, and*consists of Carnations, 
mixed with Lobelia splendens Victoriae, and Stocks, 
on a ground of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums also in 
flower. A bed of the Blue Gum, 4 ft. high, and 
mixed with Abutilon Thomsoni variegatum will be 
more effective later on, when the groundwork fills 
up better. The bold edging of Coleus fulgens, and 
bicolor Pelargoniums, gives an effective front to the 
bed. 
What are generally known as the coffin beds are 
occupied with carpet bedding as usual. They have 
been got up with the usual neatness, and consist of 
two oblong pieces with a small circle between them. 
The two larger ones are filled with similar plants, 
but different in design. The centre of one of them 
is occupied with Agave filamentosa in a diamond of 
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, edged 
with Alternanthera versicolor and Mesembryanthe¬ 
mum tigrinum. Then comes a scroll work of Golden 
Feather, Alternanthera versicolor and Echeveria 
secunda glauca. Then comes a sunk ground of 
Mentha gibraltarica, surrounded by a raised edging 
of Alternanthera paronychoides aurea, with 
Echeveria secunda glauca on both slopes of it. All 
through the salient and raised parts of the bed are 
numerous dot plants of Yucca aloefolia quadricolor, 
Gasteria verrucosa, Rochea falcata, Portulaccaria 
pulverulenta, Aloe mitriformis, Agave filamentosa, 
Aloe subulata, and others of a similar nature. On 
the north side of the garden; and facing one part of 
the lake, are two large kidney-shaped beds of carpet 
bedding, the best of their kind this season. One of 
them is intricately laid out in angular patches of 
various forms, mostly filled with four varieties of 
Alternanthera, variegated Mesembryanthemums, and 
Coprosma Baueriana variegata pegged down. The 
groundwork consists of Mentha, and the dividing 
lines of yellow-leaved Fuchsia, Kleinia repens and 
Golden Feather. The other bed is even more 
attractive and simpler in design, consisting of a 
scroll-work of Alternanthera running nearly the 
width of the bed on a ground of Mentha. The 
figures have scarcely any angular points, but are 
mostly rounded and more informal than in the other 
case. 
The Palm and Fern dell is planted much on the 
same lines as on previous occasions, but in the case 
of the grass has suffered much on account of the 
drought. Some of the finer plants are a noble 
specimen of Pritchardia pacifica, Areca lutescens, 
Cycas revoluta, Encephalartos Lehmanni, and a tall 
green plant of Pandanus Veitchii. The tree Ferns 
have very small heads, but the smaller Ferns are in 
better condition. There are also numerous small 
and medium-sized Palms which are in good condi¬ 
tion where they are at all well sheltered and shaded 
by trees. The Alpine garden is planted with Lilies, 
Palms, Araucaria excelsa, tall standards of Datura 
Knightii, and several herbaceous plants on the upper 
reaches. The groundwork consists of Heliotrope, 
Pilea muscosa, and Mesembryanthemums. The 
short but tall hedge of Clematis Jackmanni is very 
floriferous and effective this year. 
(Hardening Miscellany. 
PANSIES AND VIOLAS IN HAMPSHIRE. 
Notwithstanding the long protracted drought, 
these have grown at our Hampshire farm in such a 
way as to quite surprise us. At present we have 
hundreds of plants with from fifty to sixty flowers on 
each. We send you a sample herewith. The plants 
are from cuttings put in last September and planted 
out in March. They are growing in a stiffish clay 
soil, and have received no special attention beyond 
occasional waterings during the dry weather. Not 
one in fifty has gone off, and the beds are masses of 
bloom with every appearance of continuing. It 
seems to us, from several years experience of Pansy 
and Viola growing in this district, that they will do 
well even as far south as within a mile of the Solent, 
if planted early and in a retentive soil .—Bobbie &■ Co., 
Beaulieu and Rothesay. [The plants received were 
all that could be desired, having made a grand 
growth, and were carrying a mass of blooms quite up 
to the best standard of size and brightness of colour. 
—Ed.1 
CALOCHORTUS ALBUS. 
This is also known under the name of Cyclobothra 
alba, but Cyclobothra is now dropped as a mere sec¬ 
tional name. The plant in question closely resem¬ 
bles C. pulchellus in habit and belongs to the same 
section ; but the colour is different. The outer seg¬ 
ments of C. albus are white, netted with green; the 
inner segments are snow white and bearded on the 
upper two-thirds of the inner face. On the contrary 
the anthers are yellow and the ovary pale blue. The 
flowers are pendulous so that the ovary cannot be 
seen till they are lifted up, but on the whole it h a 
curious combination of colours. The species is a 
native of California but as rare as it is pretty. It 
flowered w " recently in the nursery of Mr. T. S. 
Ware, Hale Farm Nursery, Tottenham. 
CALOCHORTUS SPLENDENS. 
In this we have a plant belonging to the typical form 
of the genus, with large, erect, cup-shaped flowers. 
They are of a soft lilac purple, fading to lilac with 
age. The three inner segments are bearded at the 
base only. The species is a native of California, 
growing to a height of 18 in. as a rule and flowering 
in August, but the early season has advanced it con¬ 
siderably, for it flowered with Mr. T. S. Ware, 
Tottenham, in the end of June and the beginning of 
the present month. 
DELPHINIUM VESTITUM. 
Several species of Delphiniums come from the 
Himalayas, the home of the present one, many of 
them having large and even showy flowers. The 
sepals are oblong, grooved or even concave and 
violet purple. The four small petals are black and 
the two lower ones are bearded. The five-lobed 
leaves are of a leathery texture, giving an appear¬ 
ance of robustness. The flowers have the peculiar 
smell of soap-suds, and in that respect resemble the 
leaves of Rubus delicious, one of the showiest of 
spring-flowering Brambles. It may be seen in the 
herbaceous grounds at Kew. 
STREPTOCARPUS DUNNII. 
The brick red, tubular flowers of this species are 
produced in great numbers on each stem, and several 
of these stems arise in succession from the same 
plant, in fact from the base of the same leaf, for the 
plant has only one. The interior has darker red 
lines on a white ground in the throat. This is one 
of the original parents of the hybrid Streptocarpus 
now in commerce, and might still be employed to 
infuse fresh blood, so to speak, into the numerous 
plants that are annually being raised by intercrossing. 
There is a considerable quantity of it in the succu¬ 
lent house at Kew planted out as an edging and 
very floriferous. 
PHYTEUMA CAMPAN ULOIDES. 
In general appearance this plant resembles a Cam¬ 
panula, hence the name ; it differs from most of the 
other Phyteumas in cultivation by the flowers being 
arranged in a narrow panicle instead of being com¬ 
pacted in a cylindrical spike or round head. The 
plant grows about 18 in. to 2 ft. high, and has purple 
flowers with five linear segments. The plant is 
perfectly hardy and suitable for border culture in 
any good garden soil. 
