January 29, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
345 
STAPELIA GIGANTEA. 
This remarkable flower is one of the wonders of the 
vegetable world, and the species under notice is 
certainly the finest and most striking of the genus. 
We have on several occasions seen it in bloom with 
flowers ranging from io in. to 12 in. in diameter ; but 
as far as we know that which was flowered recently 
by Mr. C. F. Wood, gardener to St. Barbe Sladen, 
Esq., Heathfield, Reigate, Surrey, beats the record. 
The accompanying illustration was prepared from a 
photograph of the plant when in bloom. It is, of 
course, very much reduced, for the open flower was 
15! in. in diameter, and the bud also shown in the 
figure measured 14J in. when fully expanded. The 
first records said that the flowers were 12 in. to 14 
in. across, and those figures were considered ex¬ 
cessive for some years. 
Mr. Wood grows and flowers some rare and very 
curious things, having first acquired the love for 
them some years ago when at Pendell Court,Bletch- 
ingley, under Mr. F. Ross, who then had charge of 
the late Sir George Macleay’s renowned collection. 
The flower is slightly concave, but otherwise spread 
out, five lobed, pale yellow, and thickly covered with 
transverse, brownish-red bars, finely wrinkled and 
thinly covered with short hairs, and fringed with 
hairs at the margin. The flower as a whole bears a 
remarkable resemblance to a gigantic starfish. 
The following account of the cultural treatment of 
the plant is supplied by Mr. Wood " Perhaps a 
note of its management may assist those who may 
not have been successful in flowering this wonderful 
plant. Plenty of heat and full sunlight in a stove, 
on a shelf high up over the hotwater pipes, close to 
the glass are what I give our plants. They delight in a 
sandy and rather rough compost, consisting of loam, 
lime rubble, and leaf soil. Good drainage is also 
STAPELIA GIGANTEA. 
necessary ; also a moderate supply of water when 
growing, and a little feeding as soon as the flower 
buds are noticed. Rub off the young growths as 
they appear, that is, which arise on the same stem 
as the flower buds. By doing this while the shoots 
are very young I attribute my success with the 
flowers, for the buds have a nasty way of dropping 
off when left to struggle with the young growths by 
their side.” 
— - 
Cucumber Rollison’s Telegraph is not only a 
standard variety in thL country, but is thought 
highly of and grown largely in the United States. 
GRANARD GARDENS, PUTNEY. 
Last week we made mention of the subjects which 
are grown in quantity by Mr. W. Iceton for tha 
supply of cut flowers. It must not be supposed, 
however, that these monopolise all the attention, for 
Mr. Iceton runs a general plant nursery, paying 
special regard to those plants which find a ready 
sale, and are in request not only in the general 
market but in private gardens also. Just as Lilies of 
the Valley are the speciality among flowering plants, 
so Palms are the chief object of consideration 
amongst foliage plants. There is this important 
difference, however, that the latter are raised and 
reared to saleable size at home, while, as we have 
already noticed, German horticulturists contribute 
the required annual supply of Lily crowns. 
Mr. Iceton has also an extensive business as a 
furnisher and decorator, and several of the largest 
and most important metropolitan hotels are among 
his clients. This part of the business necessitates 
that there shall be a stock of good plants of all sizes 
upon the place, in readiness to replace others that 
come back in a more or less crippled condition from 
a lengthy stay from home, or to supply fresh orders 
at a moment’s notice. To accomplish this, plenty of 
