November 6, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
153 
LILIUM GIGANTEUM. 
The Giant Lily is a native of the Himalayas, from 
Kumaon and Gurwhal to Kashia and Sikkim, at 
elevations varying from 5,000 ft. to 10,000 ft. In its 
native habitats it flowers during the rainy season. 
Judging from the elevation at which it grows one 
would naturally take it for granted that it would be 
hardy in this country, and it is so as far as the 
southern counties are concerned. 
The accompanying illustration was taken from 
plants in flower on the 22nd July last, at Fernielee, 
Murtle, Aberdeen, the residence of M. M'Laren, 
Esq. Some growers consider themselves lucky or 
successful if they manage to flower bulbs which they 
may have imported or bought, but the Lilies under 
notice were raised from seeds, nursed through their 
babyhood, and brought to perfection during the past 
summer. The botanist Wallich describes the species 
as growing from 6 ft. to 10 ft. high and bearing ten to 
twelve flowers. The tallest plant shown in the 
photograph was 9 ft. 9 in. high, and carried twenty- 
three flowers. The next best plant was a few inches 
shorter, and produced twenty-one flowers, and each 
bloom developed a seed pod nearing maturity in 
September last. 
The seedlings have been reared in the frame seen 
in the photograph, so that we cannot say whether 
the species is quite hardy at Aberdeen ; but it must 
be very nearly so, seeing that a batch of seedlings 
has continued to acquire vigour year after year until 
the flowering stage is reached. About the end of the 
summer of 1896, Mr. M’Laren had hopes of seeing 
his nurslings in bloom after some years of waiting, 
judging from the enormous size the radical leaves 
had attained. His expectations were realised when 
growth was resumed last spring and the enormous 
crown bud began to lengthen. We congratulate Mr. 
M'Laren on his success, and hope he will now ex¬ 
periment with some of his bulbs, in order to 
ascertain the hardiness of L giganteum in his 
northern latitude. 
-—- 
AUTUMN TINTS. 
What a lovely picture Dame Nature presents to us 
about this season of the year; truly such a picture 
no pen, pencil, or brush can imitate. I often 
think what a great pleasure it would give to many 
thousands of people in those large busy towns who 
are compelled to pass their time there, could they 
but spend a few weeks in the country and behold the 
many trees taking on their autumn garb before 
dispensing entirely with it during the winter 
months. 
I will mention a few that give us a splendid bit of 
colouring just now and will take the Liquidambar 
(L. styraciflua) with its glowing crimson-scarlet 
leaves which stand out prominently among the many 
deciduous trees that are given us. We have one 
planted on a island in the centre of a large lake 
which on a bright sunny day shows to great advan¬ 
tage with an undergrowth of Gynerium argenteum, 
whose plumes look well under the crimson foliage 
of this noble tree. Nyssa sylvatica, a native of 
North America, is a tree seldom met with now. It 
is none the less beautiful, with its medium-sized, 
shining, smooth green leaves in summer; but at 
present it is a sheet of crimson and gold, the last, 
named colour predominating, and admired by all who 
see it. The Tulip tree, too, gives us a rich yellow, 
contrasting well with the bright red leaves of the 
Guelder Rose (Viburnum Opulus) not far distant. 
Now, let us turn to the wall, an eastern aspect, where 
we find Ampelopsis Veitchii,and its newer variety, A. 
V.purpurea, which has put on a very deep crimson and 
stands out conspicuously with its neighbour, that 
pea-green, hardy flowering creeper, with us, 
Stauntonia latifolia. And does not the Andromeda 
and some of the American Azaleas, especially the 
old yellow flowering A pontica, give us a brilliant bit 
of colouring, almost indescribable ? Even in the 
kitchen garden some of the Pear trees remind us 
that winter is near at hand by the almost red leaves 
of some and golden-yellow of others, which all help 
to brighten the often dull and gloomy days of 
October and November, while the absence of frost 
has assisted the trees to hold on their foliage much 
longer than is usually the case and given us such 
lovely autumn scenery.— J. Mayne, Bicton. 
THE OLD NURSERIES, CHESHUNT. 
The continued mild weather in the south has been 
very favourable to the prolongation of autumn 
flowers, includir g Roses belonging to various sections, 
and with the object of seeing the famed collection of 
Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
Herts, we paid a visit to the establisnment some 
weeks ago. We had evidence at the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Meeting on the 26th ult. that 
Roses were still abundant, and quite sustained the 
anticipations we had of them on seeing them at 
home. An abundance of fresh Roses all through Sep¬ 
tember and October argues much to re-establish 
the character of our much despised climate. 
Glasshouses. 
Roses are the speciality for which Messrs. Paul & 
Son are most widely reputed ; but trees and shrubs 
generally, herbaceous and alpine plants and various 
other things are more or less extensively cultivated. 
The first house we entered was 100 years old, though 
several times repaired and now to be rebuilt. Here 
we noted Vitis Coignetiae, with highly ornamental 
them. A few specialities in the way of Orchids are 
grown, including a fane batch of Coelogyne cris- 
tata and its varieties now on a shelf close to the open 
ventilators. During the growing period they are 
often dipped in the tank, and kept abundantly 
watered to swell up the pseudo-bulbs, after which an 
abundance of air is given to ripen them. The 
largest batch of Masdevallia tovarensis we have seen 
together was here, there being something over 100 
plants, bearing 15 to 22 flowers each in 48-sized pots. 
The singular Strelitzia Reginae, with orange and 
deep blue flowers, was in bloom. 
Several houses are filled with Roses in pots, includ¬ 
ing a houseful of many sorts, being crossed for the 
purpose of getting new varieties. They are now 
ripening their fruits. A houseful of Tea Roses ready 
to be sent out were bushy, vigorous, and flowering. 
Rose Alister Stella Gray is a Noisette that expands 
of a beautiful deep apricot and fades to white when 
full blown. It is kept all the winter months under glass 
and rested outside in summer. Rose J. B. M. Camm 
is an immensely double sort with 'Bourbon blood, 
Lilium giganteum. 
red leaves. Mr. Paul thinks it possible that Physalis 
edulis might be grown to some extent under glass as 
a dessert fruit by way of a change. The next house 
entered was also a reminder of bygone days, for the 
roof is still filled with small panes of round-cornered 
glass. Oranges are planted out against the back 
wall by way of experiment, and they fruit splendidly. 
Some of the originally planted Camellias still remain 
in the border and are now bristly with flower beds. 
Another very interesting relict consists of two large 
old specimens of Camellia japonica alba plena, which 
were bought at the sale of Messrs Loddiges, Hack¬ 
ney, when that famous nursery was broken up. In 
the same house are some Cypripediums that can be 
grown in a very cool house. The walls and the sides 
of the benches are covered with Ficus repens in a 
very pleasing way. In another well ventilated house, 
slightly heated in summer, the roof was covered with 
a floriferous specimen of the gorgeous Solanum 
Wendlandii. 
An unwonted sight was a collection of some 2,000 
bulbs of Amaryllis, all stood in the open air to ripen 
off. They bad been out for a month when we saw 
and rose pink flowers that continue till late in 
autumn. It is less subject to mildew than the 
hybrid perpetuals. 
Standard Tea Roses in pots fill another large house. 
They are practically baked with drought and heat in 
summer, and brought indoors the first week in Sep¬ 
tember to flower during October and November. 
There are hybrid Teas amongst them. Another 
house in two divisions is occupied with bush Roses 
in pots, excellent stuff, 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and flower¬ 
ing. They are simply the stock for sale. A crimson 
Tea named Princess Sagan flowers very freely. Sun¬ 
set is one of the latest Teas with orange and apricot 
flowers. 
Another Rose house, also in two divisions, is filled 
with plants in 24-sized pots for early spring work. 
F. Dubrueil produces its crimson flowers as freely as 
Niphetos, but is much dwarfer. Souvenir du 
President Carnot is a hybrid Tea bearing an 
abundance of soft blush-pink flowers. It is very 
popular in America and was sent from here. The 
plants are ripened off during October by throwing 
the houses wide open duriDg the day, closing them 
