February 12, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
381 
RIVINA HUMILIS. 
This old inhabitant of our stoves I have always con¬ 
sidered to be one of if not the most beautiful berry¬ 
bearing plants we have. Some will object that it is 
very apt to get leggy. This may be remedied to 
some extent by judicious stopping and keeping the 
plants near the light. When once allowed to shed 
its berries about the house there will always be a 
plentiful supply of young plants, so that leggy 
specimens may be cast away without the least 
compunction. The greatest drawback in connection 
with it is the ease with which the berries when ripe 
drop. This precludes the plants being used for 
general decorative purposes, if they have to be sent 
long distances. Could they be taken or sent to 
market as well berried plants in 4-in. pots, a ready 
sale would be found for them, but unfortunately, for 
the above reason, the case is hopeless. I have used 
them grown in pots for house decoration, and in a 
cut state among flowers for table adornment, when 
it has always been much admired. The racemes of 
small shining berries, some 4 ios. in length, have a 
brightness and beauty about them, unique in their 
way.— W. B. G. 
PRIMULA SINENSIS ALBA PLENA. 
I am sure most gardeners will agree with Mr. J. 
Mayne in all he has said in favour of the above 
Primula in a recent issue. It is in the vicinity of 
large towns affected with fogs that one can with 
some pleasure look upon this plant as a special boon, 
in addition to its otherwise useful character. I 
noticed a fine batch a few weeks ago in the gardens 
of Miss Behrens, The Avenue, Regent’s Park, W., 
that would have been a credit to any gardener had 
they been flowering in a pure country atmosphere; 
but the most noticeable feature was that they 
evidently kept flowering away in spite of the fog 
(which has been of an exceptionally severe character 
in London this winter), while other subjects were 
injured even before they had reached the flowering 
stage. Mr. J. Addison, the gardener, had previously 
noticed the value of this Primula for town work,and 
had worked up an exceptionally fine stock of it. A 
batch of single varieties at the same place was 
rendered almost worthless by the log.—James Gibson, 
Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
THE COLT'S-FOOT. 
Tussilago Farfara, the technical name for our 
common Colt’s-foot, is said to be one of the most 
pernicious weeds. True, it is not one that possesses 
much merit in the leafy month of June ; but in mid¬ 
winter its bright, orange-coloured, wheel-shaped 
flowers, refresh the eye with their beauty, inasmuch 
as these are produced amidst the most grotesque 
surroundings and in the roughest and sootiest of 
places. On the last day in January of this year I 
was, therefore, pleased to espy its cheerful blossoms 
on the embankment of the railway at Willesden 
Junction, where the sunshine, combined with the late 
high temperature, had induced them to come forth 
thus early. Is not this a record date for the common 
Colt’s-foot?— C. B. G., Acton, W. 
D1CTAMNUS FRAXINELLA. 
This fine old border plant, one with which many 
among us have been familiar for many years, is 
one of the most attractive and beautiful of our 
hardy perennials, growing from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height. Its spikes of flowers, which are of a 
peculiar reddish tint, are very fragrant. There is a 
white variety the counterpart of the type in every¬ 
thing save colour. It is a favourite plant with all 
who know it, yet comparatively scarce, for the two 
following reasons First, it does not readily admit 
of division. This, in fact, should never be attempted, 
on account of the risk run in losing the parent stool. 
The second reason is that unless the seed is sown 
at once when ripened it rarely germinates. Seed 
can always be bought, but, if success in raising it is 
to be assured, it must be procured from those having 
plants, and at the proper time.— W. B. G. 
THE WITCH-HAZEL. 
Hamamelis arborea, the tree-like and winter-flower¬ 
ing Witch-hazel, is now (January 30th) a mass of 
bloom. It is, in fact, a sight worth seeing, for at 
Kew, where several strong plants have been grouped 
together, the tout ensemble is unique. At a little 
distance from the group the plants or trees appear 
to be in full summer dress, but a closer inspection 
reveals nothing but the flowers. These flowers, 
however, are very curicus and, consequently very 
interesting. They are lavishly produced, and are of 
a bright rich yellow, the calyxes being of a deep 
purple or claret colour. They are, moreover, some¬ 
what spicy in their fragrance, and appearing so 
early in the season, and so profusely, are well worth 
attention in gardens of limited dimensions. This 
particular group is carpeted with the pretty little 
creeping Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), 
whose edible red berries, although they crop up 
above the foliage, do not seem to be readily accepted 
by the avis tribe.— C. B.G., Acton, W. 
DAHLIA CULTURE. 
The cultivation of the Dahlia is not so well under¬ 
stood as it might be, says Professor Harshberger, of 
The University, Pennsylvania. The professor thinks 
that the gardener does not follow Nature closely 
enough, and advises him to alter his tactics in this 
respect. In the Mexican valley the dry season lasts 
from October to June, the rains returning at the 
latter date. The tubers lie dormant during the 
drought, but when the rains come they start to grow, 
and commence to flower about the end of August. 
The rainy season has cool mornings, thundery after¬ 
noons, and rainy evenings. It would be impossible 
to treat our cultivated plants exactly as Nature in 
Mexico does, but after all the difference is not great 
seeing that we only give the plant a longer growing 
season, say from May till October, and a shorter 
resting period. Professor Harshberger comments 
upon the great variability of the Dahlia in its wild 
state, which he says is as marked as when the plants 
are under cultivation. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. — Feb. 8th. 
The stronger features of the meeting on Tuesday 
last were Orchids, Chinese Primulas, Freesias, 
Hellebores and other hardy plants, flowering bulbs, 
flowering shrubs and fruit. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea,exhibited 
a large group of Orchids, including many choice 
hybrid Dendrobiums, such as D. schneiderianum, D. 
endocharis, D. Cordelia flavescens, D. Dulce, D. 
euosmum, D.Dominii, D.splendidissimum, D. s. gran- 
diflorum and others. Very pretty were the hybrid 
Epidendrums, such as E. elegantulum, and E. Endre- 
sio-Wallisii. Oncidium spilopterum is a handsome 
yellow-lipped species having a rich purple disc. 
Sir F. Wigan (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), Clare 
Lawn, East Sheen, exhibited Laelia pumila praestans 
in fine form, and Odontoglossum schillerianum. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, (grower, Mr. W. H. 
White), Burford Lodge, Dorking, exhibited an 
interesting group of well-grown Orchids, including a 
large and floriferous piece of D. burfordiense, a 
massive pan of Sophronites grandiflora, in the collec¬ 
tion since 1889; also fine pieces of Odontoglossum 
andersonianum, Angraecum eburneum, Masdevallia 
polysticta, Epidendrum polybulbon and many other 
fine things (Silver Gilt Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, exhibited a 
group of Orchids, amongst which we noted Dendro- 
bium Venus, D. ballianum, D. Luna, D. crassinode 
and various other hybrids and species. Oncidiums, 
Odontoglossums, and Cypripediums were freely 
iaterspersed in the group (Bronze Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
staged a group of Orchids, a conspicuous feature of 
which was various varieties of Coelogyne cristata. 
Laelia anceps williamsiana was plentiful and freely 
flowered. Other things included Odontoglossums, 
Cypripediums, Dendrobiums, &c. 
Lord Folley (gardener, Mr. Miller), Ruxley Lodge, 
Esher, Surrey, set up a large and well-flowered 
group of Cypripedium insigne in pots. The plants 
were set up with Palms, Crotons, and Ferns. 
Phaiocalanthe grande, Cypripedium Ceris, 
Calanthe splendens, Laeliocattleya Doris, Cypri¬ 
pedium Morganiae, and a grand hybrid C. sander - 
superbiens, were exhibited by M. C. Cookson, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. William Murray), Oakwood, Wylam- 
on-Tyne. Dendrobium nobile Mrs. Wingfield’s var. 
was exhibited by Mrs. Wingfield (gardener, Mr. W. 
Empson), Ampthill House, Ampthill. Philip Crow¬ 
ley, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Harris), Waddon House, 
Croydon, exhibited a choice and very handsome 
Laelia named Laelia anceps waddoniensis. 
Messrs. P. Sander & Co., St. Albans, staged 
Lycaste Skinneri alba, Cattleya Trianaei var. 
Calanthe rubens alba, and some others. Cypri¬ 
pedium villosum Doncaster’s var. was shown by S. 
G. Lutwyche, Esq. (gardener, Mr. T. Paterson), 
Eden Park, Beckenham. W. Thompson, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. W. Stevens), Walton Grange, Stone, 
Staffs., exhibited Odontoglossum excellens specta¬ 
cle, a very fine variety, indeed. He also had O. 
hystrix grandis. Cypripedium Chapmani Chard’s 
var. was exhibited by C. W. Chard, Esq , 15, The 
Pavement, Clapham Common. 
A splendid array of Exotic Ferns came from 
Messrs. J. Hill & Son, Lower Edmonton. It in¬ 
cluded some large fine plants of such kinds as 
Davallia Tyermanni, D. bullata, Nephrolepis 
davallioides furcans, N. exaltata, and Adiantum 
elegans. These were staged in the background. 
In the foreground was a number of shallow, oblong 
baskets filled with healthy young plants of Asple- 
nium Nidus, A. Colensoi, Aspidium caryotideum, 
Pteris palmata, P. Mayii, Cheilanthes elegans, C. 
ellisiaDa, and Adiantum farleyense. A Silver Gilt 
Banksian Medal was awarded. 
A showy collection of miscellaneous flowering 
plants put up by Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell 
Park Nurseries, Norwood Road, S.E., received a 
Bronze Banksian Medal. The display included 
Lilacs, Lily of the Valley, Cyclamen, Saintpaulia 
ionantha, and Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, with a 
backing of Aspidistras and Palms 
On the left-hand side of the entrance to the hall, 
Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, Herts., 
put up a grand group of Camellias. There were 
fourteen large, well-flowered plants, of such varieties 
as Double White, Corallina, Madame A. Verschaffelt, 
and Exquisite. A row of boxes filled with beautiful 
cut blooms formed the front rank (Silver Gilt Flora 
Medal.) 
On the opposite side of the doorway was a very 
meritorious exhibit from Mr. John Russel], 
Richmond, Surrey. It consisted of a large and 
comprehensive collection of Euonymuses, both 
Standard and bush plants being shown. E. japonic- 
us ovatus aureus, E. j. 0. albus, E. j. radicans 
variegatus, E. microphyllus, and E. m. argenteo- 
variegatus were some of the best forms shown ; all 
of them were highly decorative. From the same 
exhibitor came baskets of splendidly-flowered plants 
of Daphne Mezereum, D. M. flore-albo, and D. M. 
atro-rubra; also Andromeda Catesbaei, with its 
highly-coloured foliage. 
Hardy flowers in variety came from Messrs. Barr 
& Sons, Covent Garden. Crocuses, Cyclamen iberic- 
um lilacinum, Iris reticulata bulnoides, Narcissus 
minimus, and Scilla bifolia were all represented, 
whilst Lenten Roses formed a major part of the 
display. Helleborus punctatus, H. guttatus super¬ 
bus, H. antiquorum roseus, H. a. James Atkins, and 
H. viridis graveolens were some of the most notable 
forms shown (Bronze Banksian Medal.) 
Mr. J. G. Mowbray, gardener to Major Hon. H. 
C. Legge, Fulmer, Slough, received a Silver 
Banksian Medal for a splendid display of Freesias. 
The plants were exceptionally well flowered, but the 
flowers were not so strongly scented as usual. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, had a 
long table filled with various types of their renowned 
strain of Primulas. One of the finest varieties was 
an improved form of The Lady, named Lady White- 
head, which has much larger flowers. Mrs. R. W. 
Cannell has also “ The Lady” blood in it and is a 
capital thing. Of the other varieties Swanley Blue, 
Cannell’s White, and Her Majesty were of the best. 
The plants were well-flowered throughout, and bore 
unmistakable evidence of high class culture (Silver 
Flora Medal.) 
Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
had a nice group of hardy flowers, chiefly Lenten 
Roses, which were in capital condition. 
A very bright and comprehensive display of hardy 
flowers came from Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm 
Nurseries, Tottenham, N., for which a Medal was 
voted. Iris reticulata, Anemone Pulsatilla, Saxi- 
fraga crassifolia, and Narcissus Golden Spur were 
especially good. 
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., showed 
Amygdalus davidiana alba in flower. From the 
same firm came a capital collection of Chinese 
Primulas, including such valuable types as Stellata, 
