April 8, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
503 
coloured Wallflower. The present plant is as 
upright as the latter, but has smaller flowers ; but, 
nevertheless, might readily be mistaken by the 
uninitiated for a Wallflower, and is certainly 
desirable for the rock garden or for pot culture. It 
may be seen on the rockery at Kew. 
HELLEBORUS COLCH 1 CUS. 
The month of March is really the time to see the 
Lenten Roses at their best, when the newly developed 
flowers are in their first blush of freshness. By the 
month of April, especially in early seasons like the 
present, the flowers lose their depth of colour and 
gradually .assume that hue characteristic of the seed¬ 
bearing stage. H. colchicus is one of the latest to 
bloom, and consequently is not devoid of beauty 
even in the early days of April, although the petals 
and stamens have fallen. The broad overlapping 
sepals are of a deep plum-purple, with a glaucous 
bloom, that renders them both attractive and 
interesting. No other spring flowering subject out 
of doors has the same depth of colour. The sepals 
from this time onwards gradually assume a green 
tint which continues till the seeds are ripe. The 
plant may be grown in any rich soil that continues 
moderately moist during the summer months. 
CLIMATE IN SCOTLAND. 
In your issue of April ist “ Nemo ” says that Ross- 
shire is not excelled by any county in Scotland for 
soil and climate. Well, the soil may be good, but I 
think it is excelled in climate by Ayrshire, if not by 
both Moray and Nairnshire, and East Lothian. Can 
the farmers of Ross-shire send new Potatos as early 
to market as the Ayrshire farmers do ? I think not, 
and I think that the earliness of the produce of a 
county or district is a good guide to the climate. 
“ Nemo ” says that the climate of Aberdeenshire is 
colder than Ross or Sutherland shires, and that the 
north-east coast of Aberdeenshire is the coldest 
place in Scotland. Well, I have lived in both the 
north-east and west of Aberdeenshire, and I would 
say that the north-east and east coast of Aberdeen¬ 
shire has a better climate than west Aberdeenshire, 
where I now live, the crops coming earlier to 
maturity (if I am not mistaken earlier than in Ross). 
Frost is not so severe nor does snow lie so long or 
deep as in the west; and I have also seen Peaches 
ripen on an open wall, and which were juicy enough 
but flavourless. I have lived in Edinburgh in 
winter and spring, and with its east wind I would 
say that it is as cold a place as any in Scotland at 
that season.— J. C., Aberdeenshire 
SAXIFRAGA STRACHEYI. 
The species under notice and S. ligulata are the 
earliest to come into bloom of the Megasea section. 
S. Stracheyi appears also to be the most tender, for 
the flowers are very liable to suffer from late spring 
frosts when about half blown. This is more 
particularly the case where the plants are grown in 
a sunny position, it may be on a rockery facing the 
east, so that the morning sun strikes the plants while 
yet frozen. In such cases the flower stems cease to 
elongate, and the beauty of the white flowers is lost. 
On a northern aspect the flowers would not only be 
later in making their appearance, but would get 
thawed in the shade before the sun could strike upon 
them very warmly. The species flowers very 
regularly every year, and when it happens to escape 
the spring frost the flowers are bold and handsome. 
The leaves, of course, are produced after the flowers, 
and remain in good condition all the summer. 
PU LM ON ARIA OFFICINALIS ALBA. 
The Pulmonarias are now mostly at their best 
and very pretty they are in the spring months with 
their quaint and changeable flowers. In reference 
to the last character it may be said that the flowers 
are always white and do not change colour. They 
are produced in great abundance, but they appear 
smaller than those of the ordinary type, more 
particularly on account of the way that the corollas 
are incurved at the mouth as if only partially 
expanded. The grey spots on the leaves are also 
pretty clearly defined, especially in the spring months, 
when the foliage is young and fresh. Propagation is 
easily effected by division when the plants are at 
rest, or before they are in active growth. Good 
sized clumps, however, always give the best effect, 
and propagation need only be resorted to when a 
number of plants is required. The white variety 
would appear to best advantage by contrast with the 
ordinary type. 
ANEMONE BLANDA ALBA. 
Many plants are grown under this name which 
they have no right to, seeing that they are not white. 
The outer face of the sepals is usually pale blue, so 
that when the flowers are in bud they merely appear 
paler than those of the ordinary type. When the 
sun causes them to expand they then appear pure 
white, because the inner face only is shown. We 
noted a really pure white variety, however, in the 
nursery of Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, so 
that whether in bud or full bloom the flowers are 
always pure white. 
_ , ♦ , _ 
FERNS, FLOWERS, AND 
SEAWEED. 
We have had several inquiries lately concerning the 
proper method of preserving Ferns and flowers for 
decorative and botanical purposes, and therefore a 
few general directions may be found useful and 
interesting. Ferns and Grasses are most valuable 
for decorative purposes. The Grasses keep well 
until summer comes round again, and they should 
be plucked in dry weather, and just before they are 
ripe for seeding, with stalks as long as possible. 
They simply need keeping in a dry, shady place, and 
should not be placed in water at all. If not required 
during the summer, they may be tied in a bundle, 
wrapped in brown paper, and placed in a dry cup¬ 
board until needed. Ferns and leaves must also be 
gathered dry. Spread them out on white botanical 
blotting-paper quite smooth and flat ; then place a 
sheet of blotting-paper over them, and iron over 
this with a moderately warm heater. Place in a 
press or under a heavy weight, and keep there until 
they are quite dry, changing the blotting-paper if 
required. Two or three weeks is generally long 
enough for this operation, though young leaves often 
require longer, as the sap keeps them moist, but 
autumn leaves are very quickly dried. The same 
method may be employed to dry flowers, and the 
greatest care must be observed in placing each 
blossom on the blotting-paper, and also in regulating 
the heat of the iron. Small blossoms, such as 
Primroses, Ragged Robins, Field Poppies, Violets, 
and all the more delicate of field and garden flowers, 
require less heat than larger, stronger blooms, and 
less pressing also. All the flowers specified are 
extremely pretty for mounting on screens or 
mingling with dried grasses. These, like every¬ 
thing else intended for preservation, must be 
plucked in dry weather, and kept in a per¬ 
fectly dry place afterwards. A more elaborate plan, 
and one which requires no little skill and dexterity, 
is to dry the flowers with sulphur. A small wooden 
box must be procured with all the seams papered 
over, and a lid provided to fit down over the top to 
render the case perfectly air-tight. At the top 
slender wooden or wire rests should be fitted, from 
which the flowers to be treated must be suspended. 
These must be quite dry, and the ends of the stalks 
may be either waxed or gummed. They are tied 
heads downward to the rests ; a very little powdered 
sulphur placed in a tin saucer is set in the bottom of 
the box aud ignited—it will smoulder only, not burn 
—the box is then closed, and the flowers left to be 
dried by the sulphur. It is only by experience that 
the exact time necessary for the operation caD be 
ascertained. Large flowers take longer than small 
ones, and those with a superabundance of sap or 
vitality will, of course, take longest. One hour’s 
immersion in the sulphur fumes may be sufficient 
for some flowers ; others, such as Roses and Dahlias, 
will take a day. On being removed from the case 
every vestige of colour will be found to have gone, 
but on exposure to air and sunlight this will return, 
and the flowers will not require pressing afterwards. 
Skeleton leaves are extremely effective and 
interesting portions of a botanical collection. The 
skeleton may be obtained by steeping the leaves in 
rain-water in a deep plate or dish ; expose them to 
sun or air, and, as the water evaporates, add more. 
When the leaves putrefy, lay them on a clean white 
plate filled with fresh water, and gently remove the 
external membranes, separating them carefully near 
the middle rib. The process is a lengthy one, as the 
tissues take a long time to decay, but it may be 
hastened by the use of a tablespoonful of cholride of 
lime to a quart of spring water, instead of the rain¬ 
water. Soak the leaves in this for about four hours ; 
then wash them in clear water, and expose them to 
the light to dry. 
The treasures of the sea-shore, or what Eliza Cook 
designated “ the flowers of the sea,” are exceedingly 
useful for table decoration, hand screens, and many 
other purposes, when properly dried and mounted. 
When freshly gathered the seaweed should be well 
washed in fresh water; then put in a deep plate with 
enough water to float it, and separate every little 
spray and tendril by means of a camel-hair brush, all 
tiny stones or grits being removed by a pair of dimi¬ 
nutive pincers. When the weed is quite cleared, 
slip a sheet of white paper under it, arrange it 
lightly on this with the camel-hair brush, lift the 
paper out of the water, drain it, and set it aside with 
the seaweed to dry. It will be quite light and 
feathery when dry, and will remain fresh for years. 
Seaweed should only be pressed when required for 
mounting in specimen books. Sometimes it is not 
convenient to indulge in these drying operations 
when on a seaside visit ; but the seaweed can be 
washed in clear water, roughly dried, rolled up in a 
tight bundle, and treated as suggested when the 
home haven is reached again, though it should not 
be kept more than three or four weeks in this fashion 
In my young days, spent in fair Devon, I used to 
turn all the treasures of the hedgerows and sea- 
beach to good account ; but even those whose lot is 
cast in London may easily procure grasses and wild 
flowers whereon to try their skill. The Thames tow- 
path above Kew is a famous place for beautiful 
feathery grasses, and the early summer always finds 
me there gathering a store wherewith to replenish 
my tall Chinese jars .—The Lady. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Certificates according to merit were accorded the 
undermentioned Orchids, exhibited at the meeting of 
the Royal Horticultural Society, on the 28th ult. 
Dendrobium Wardianum album 
The stems of this variety are similar to those of the 
type but more slender. The sepals and petals are 
pure white, and the lip of the usual form, but the 
orange-yellow blotch in the throat is smaller and the 
two eye-like spots are very small and almost washed 
out ; the rest is white like the sepals and petals. A 
First-class Certificate was awarded it when exhibited 
by W. R. Lee, Esq. (gardener, Mr. T. Billington), 
Beech Lawn, Audenshaw. * 
Dendrobium Bryan. 
In this we have a very distinct hybrid obtained from 
D. luteolum crossed with D. Wardianum. The 
stems are slender, but somewhat stouter towards the 
top, and about 2 ft. high. The sepals are oblong and 
pale primrose with a faint tint of purple at the apex. 
The petals are ovate, and similar in colour without 
the purple tips. The lip is large with a brownish 
orange blotch in the throat, and a few lines radiating 
from it, but is otherwise primrose yellow. A First- 
class Certificate was awarded it when shown by N. 
C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne. 
Cypripedium microchilum 
This hybrid was obtained from C. niveum crossed 
with C. Druryi. The oblong leaves are reticulated 
with dark green on a paler ground. The one- 
flowered scape is about 8 in. high. The upper sepal 
is roundly' ovate and white with a purple midrib, 
reminding us of C. Druryi, and is somewhat 
undulated. The petals are oblong, slightly twisted, 
white with a purple midrib and thinly dotted with 
that colour. The lip is small as indicated by the 
name, slightly compressed laterally and white. An 
Award of Merit was accorded it when exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Cattleya speciosissima Manda's var 
The sepals of this variety are oblong-spathulate 
and pink. The petals are of great size, oblong-ovate, 
wavy and crisped, and of a pink hue. The tube of 
the lip is several shades darker, but the lamina is of 
a rich purple with a lilac edge, and yellowish side 
blotches; the throat is purple with radiating white 
lines. The great feature of the variety is the large 
size and rich colour of the roundish and deeply bifid 
lamina of the lip. An Award of Merit was accorded 
it when shown by Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, 
Hextable, Swanley. 
Cochlioda Noetzlianum. 
The plant exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, 
(grower, Mr. W. H. White), Burford Lodge, Dork- 
