January 8 , 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
301 
been among the most popular of flowering plants for 
something over twenty years. These, as we now 
have them, constitute one of the most triumphant 
successes of the reign. To the foresight and indomi¬ 
table perseverance of Mr. J. Laing, senior, of Forest 
Hill, much of this is attributable When he took 
them seriously in hand, some, who ought to have 
known, thought that very little, if anything, more 
could be accomplished, than had been. Now we 
have nurserymen growing them by the acre, and see 
them displacing to a large extent the older kinds of 
bedding plants; and in tbeir varied forms they con¬ 
stitute one of the principal adornments of our 
conservatories. Many a humble cottager rejoices in 
the possession of a few as window plants. 
Gloxinias, Streptocarpus, and Caladiums have 
improved by leaps and bounds. The same may be 
said of Cyclamens, Primulas, and Cinerarias. I 
have plants of the latter dating back to the early 
part of the reign, which to those who only know 
Cinerarias as they now are, would be scarcely 
recognisable. With respect to Dahlias I am very 
much of Dr. Hogg’s opinion concerning the show 
and fancy varieties. The Cactus varieties, now so 
popular, are quite a rec?nt addition ; and are, many 
of them, for decorative purposes, far superior to the 
older types. 
Now for the'Mums; possibly the most popular, 
with the exception of the Rose, of all cultivated 
flowers. Their present popularity is largely due to 
the introduction and improvement of the Japanese 
section, prior to which they were los : ng to some 
extent their hold on the public. The evolution of 
these from the thread-like and fantastic forms, first 
exhibited by Mr. J. Salter, to the broad-petalled and 
enormous flowers we now commonly see, is one of 
the marvels of the age. These are destined to oust 
from cultivation the older Chinese varieties ; for, at 
the present rate of progress, it will not be long before 
there appears among them incurved varieties as 
perfect in form with much larger flowers, and having 
the robust habit of growth which renders them 
easiest to manage. This will cause a sharp twinge 
of regret to many a lover of the older class of 
flowers ; but the inevitable will have to be accepted 
with as good grace as possible.— W. B. G. 
HURST & SON’S CLOVER AND GRASS 
SEED CIRCULAR. 
January ist, 1898. 
We trust our annual report upon the past Clover 
and Grass seed harvests may be of interest to our 
customers. 
From personal observation and careful enquiries 
in all the Clover seed producing districts of our own 
country, we are of opinion that the total yield will 
be under the average. From some of the Continental 
countries we hear of good supplies, and America 
appears to have an abundance of seed to expert. 
English Red Clover and Cowgrass will vary 
more in quality and character than they usually do, 
and we are of opinion that the superior grades will 
be very scarce. The eastern counties have by far 
the largest crops ; the southern, western, and mid¬ 
land counties have in the aggregate a largish acre¬ 
age, but the samples from these districts that we 
have already seen show inferior quality, not well- 
ripened, and the yield per acre unusually small. 
Yearling, or rather two-year-old, seed, for there was 
only a sma’l quantity saved in 1896, is now almost 
exhausted. As heretofore, we have the most 
favourable arrangements for purchasing English 
seeds on the various markets from veritable sources, 
and whatever we offer as *• English," customers may 
absolutely rely upon. 
Single Cut Cowgrass is in small supply. We 
s l all have as usual some well-known pedigree stocks. 
Foreign Red Clover. —France and America 
seem to have the largest crops : from both countries 
offerings have already been freely made in large 
quantities ; the States seeds are clean, but lack size. 
The North of France samples are the best we have 
seen from there for some years, large-grained, and of 
good character. As usual, there will be considerable 
quantities of the very weedy, small-grained, seed 
from the badly-farmed districts of the South of 
France. Canada has not at present placed much on 
the markets, and neither Germany nor Russia 
offer with the freedom they have done for several 
seasons. 
White Clover —A fair English crop, but fine 
samples will be scarce. The large American supply 
that characterised last year’s trade cannot be re¬ 
peated, but the German offerings are plentiful, 
especially of the lower grades. The finest samples 
are undoubtedly scarce everywhere. 
Alsike seems to be in much smaller compass this 
year. For several seasons it has been abnormally 
plentiful, Canada sending us heavy supplies. So far 
this season the offerings are on a very restricted 
scale, and samples lack good colour. The German 
crop, we hear, is an average. 
Trefoil. —A smaller crop of English than usual, 
and although the Continental crops are not up to an 
average, perhaps, the very large quantities of yearling 
seed still held in this country will prevent prices 
being high, 
Lucerne. —Short crops both in France and 
America. 
Sainfoin. —English Giant an under-average crop ; 
a fair supply of English Common. French Giant is 
reported scarce, and of generally inferior quality. 
Italian Ryegrass. —The French crop is under 
average, and fine Mayenne does not offer freely ; 
the re-cleaned qualities will be very scarce towards 
the end of this season. Irish crop again large, and 
of good quality. English quite up to average. 
Perennial Ryegrasses. —Not quite such large 
crops as for several years past, but still plentiful. 
The natural weight per bushel lower than last 
year. 
Natural Grasses vary as usual. Cocksfoot is in 
fair supply from New Zealand, but we a>"e not getting 
offers from America. Timothy still plentiful. 
Crested Dogstail in larger supply than for several 
years. Meadow Fescue very fine, but not so plenti¬ 
ful as last year. The Poas in short supply; this 
applies also to Sheep’s and Hard Fescue. 
White Mustard.—A fair average'crop of good 
quality. 
Rape.—S mallest crops for some years. 
Spring Tares. —Reported below average. 
Winter Tares. —Very large supplies held over. 
A considerable speculation has taken place in these 
at the tempting prices current last autumn. 
-■**—- 
Hardening Jiscellany. 
BEGONIA HAAGEANA. 
In the newly-erected wing ot the temperate house at 
Kew is a grand plant of this handsome Begonia. In 
common with the other subjects in the house it is 
planted out in a prepared bed, and, like them too, 
has been flourishing finely. The plant in question is 
between 4 ft. and 5 ft. in height, is clothed right to 
the ground with vigorous foliage, and is carrying 
several large panicles of light pink flowers, its 
whole appearance, indeed, being one of apparently 
perfect health. At the other end of the garden the 
pot plants of B. haageana are looking miserable 
enough f/om the effects of the fog. Can it be possible 
that the mere fact of the plant being accommodated 
in a more natural way in a border instead of in a pot 
is the cause for the difference in its behaviour under 
the same trying conditions? Experiments carried 
out on a larger scale would soon.prove this. Mean¬ 
while, if the fact is an accident it is a sufficiently 
striking one. 
SPORTING OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
I was pleased to see Dr. Masters’ remarks at the 
close of the paper on the " Sporting of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums" (p. 281) read by the Rev. Geo. Henslow. 
Thirty years ago I used to cross Pelargoniums 
largely, and found it perfectly easy to produce sports 
in plenty ; indeed, they came oftener than wanted. 
I notice Mr. Pockett, of Australia, is in favour of 
hybridism as the most likely cause of sports, and he 
should be, I think, one of the best authorities, as he 
flowers thousands of seedlings every year.— Geo. 
Russell. 
ROOTS OF PLUM TREES. 
Lately I examined the roots of some Plums growing 
against walls, which were partially lifted during the 
early part of September. The long roots, which 
were then shortened back and re-planted in fresh 
soil, were healed over, and a bunch of healthy fibres 
emitted from each. The growth ceased when the 
lifting of the roots was done, but the foliage re¬ 
mained and ripened off naturally. A number of 
Apple trees, which fruit freely every year, were 
making gross wood, and have been treated like the 
Plums, but not till the crop was gathered.— M. T., 
Carron, N.B. 
HAMAMELIS ARBOREAS. 
The circular bed filled with this fine winter-flower¬ 
ing tree that lies close to tha entrance to the Orchid 
houses at Kew is at the present time a very beautiful 
sight. The plants are sturdy, healthy specimens, 
every branch and twig being loaded with expanded 
flowers or flower buds. The flowers are very hand¬ 
some and conspicuous by reason of the contrast 
between the bright primrose yellow petals, and the 
rich claret sepals. The flowers will stand a good 
deal of frost with impunity, and the plant, taking it 
altogether, is a very desirable subject for the adorn¬ 
ing of the winter flower garden. H. arborea, as the 
specific name denotes, assumes the dimensions of a 
small tree, thereby being distinct from the American 
species, H. virginica. The flowers, too, are larger 
and finer. H. arborea was brought from Japan in 
the year 1862. It has been described in the Botanicil 
Magazine under the name of H. japonica, but is quite 
distinct irom that species. 
PANDANUS BAPTISTil. 
With the notable exception of Pandanus Veitchii, 
the Pandanads or Screw Pines do not bulk very 
largely in the ordinary collections of stove plants. 
The form under notice, however, is well worthy of 
cultivation, for it is a most handsome plant, and is 
withal of noble and distinct appearance. The 
leavesjare loDg, and arch gracefully over. They are 
about 2\ in. in width and very stout and leathery. 
The midrib is yellow and there are two or three 
lines of the same colour running down the whole 
length of the leaf by the side of the midrib so that 
the whole centre appears to be yellow. The margin 
shows a broad band of lively green. The edges of the 
leaves are entire and totally destitute of spines, so 
that there is not the difficulty io handling the plant 
experienced in the case of the prickly ones, such as 
P utilis, P. candelabrum, and P. c. variegatus. 
The plant is a native of New Caledonia, and like the 
other Pandanads needs a stove temperature. A very 
fine specimen is a distinguished occupant at the 
present time of the new Nepenthes house at Kew. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS FROM HELENS¬ 
BURGH. 
With the last week in the old year now gone, with 
its tale of work accomplished or of work left un¬ 
done, into the mists of the past there came to us a 
box of seedling Chrysanthemums from Mr. James 
Bryson, Helensburgh, N.B., for our opinion. Five 
varieties were sent, all of them being singles. The 
most promising among them was one numbered 18. 
This is after the style of Miss Rose in build, size, and 
colour of bloom, but inclined to be larger. The 
plant, too, is evidently of vigorous growth. Not the 
least charm of the flowers is their strong, but by no 
means unpleasant smell. This variety would pro¬ 
bably yield excellent results if grown for supplying 
cut flower. The other varieties were of very little 
value, and certainly not worth troubling more about, 
with the possible exception of No. 13. If this variety 
is a late flowerer it should be of value, although the 
colour, rose-magenta, is not a popular one for some 
reason or other. No. :6 was remarkable chiefly for 
the way in which the flower buds were clustered 
upon the tips of the shoots. 
HELLEBORUS NIGER. 
The Christmas Roses have been very handsome 
objects in the wild garden and on the rock-work at 
Kew this year. The dense fogs shat have visited this 
part of the suburbs of London have not sullied the 
purity of the flowers so much as they generally do. 
In a sheltered nook of the rock garden a batch of 
strong clumps of Helleborus orientalis is already 
throwing up numerous flowers buds, which if the 
weather hold mild for another few days will soon be 
fully expanded. 
KNIPHOFIA PRIMULINA. 
The common Kniphofia aloides, or as it is variously 
called, K. Uvaria, Tritoma Uvaria, or T. aloides is a 
distinguished-looking plant for the outdoor garden 
but the species under notice, K. primulina, is every 
