494 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 2, 1898. 
specific rank under the name ledgeriana ; and 
Trimen, of Ceylon, agreed with him. 
But there can be no doubt, I think, that Howard 
was right, and his name ought to stand. At any 
rate, the Government of Bengal adhere to it. It is 
a most variable plant in foliage and habit of growth, 
as well as in colouration of the flowers, which vary 
from pure white to bright pink. After the general 
flowering of the trees, chemical analyses showed 
that those with white, noddiDg flowers, and small 
seed-capsules, were rich in quinine, whilst those with 
pinkish flowers, however slightly tinged, or with 
straight flower-stalks or large seed-capsules, were 
poor; but as there is rarely a rule without an except¬ 
ion, it turned out that the very richest of all in Java 
had pink flowers. But with this notable exceptioni 
so far as I know, the rule holds good that the white- 
flowered varieties are rich in quinine, and the 
coloured poor. For instance, a mixed sample of 
bark collected under my own personal supervision 
from twenty trees bearing white flowers, but differ- 
more or less from each other in foliage and habit of 
growth, yielded 8 per cent, of crystallised sulphate 
of quinine; whilst a corresponding sample, collected 
at the same time and place from twenty trees, with 
flowers tinged pink, yielded but 2 93 per cent., or 
nearly two-thirds less ; so the formation of planta¬ 
tions, consisting of the rich varieties only, became a 
matter of the first importance, for it cost no more to 
grow a rich sort than it did a poor, and the yield of 
quinine would be more than doubled But to do this 
with absolute certainty, some plan of artificial pro¬ 
pagation was necessary, as the seedlings often came 
untrue to type, and sometimes were a very mixed 
and inferior lot indeed. Attempts at propagation by 
cuttings had ended in failure everywhere, and layer¬ 
ing was a slow and unsatisfactory process. The 
other obvious plan was grafting, but that in the 
ordinary way was slow and expensive, as it had to be 
done under glass-roofs; so in the end, in Sikkim, 
we had to do the best possible with selected seed, 
and give up artificial propagation, much to our 
regret. But in Java, where the climate and soil are 
both more favourable to Cinchona growth, plants 
grafted under glass, and afterwards planted out in 
the open, made good growth, and yielded profitable 
returns on the expenditure. 
(To be continued.) 
- 8 -- 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL BOTANIC.— March 30 th. 
The spring exhibition of this society, which was 
held as usual in the large conservatory and corridor 
in the society’s gardens at Regent’s Park, on this 
date, was favoured by fine spring weather. The 
competitive exhibits in the classes according to 
schedule were, however, very few. There were no 
competitors in the majority of classes, and the com¬ 
petition in the others was not keen, although the 
exhibits were of high quality. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Totten¬ 
ham, N , had a comprehensive display of hardy 
flowers, Anemones, Saxifrages, Fritillarias, aad 
Primulas were present in variety, and in capital con¬ 
dition. The first prize was well won by this group. 
The Silver Daffodil Cup, presented by Messrs. 
Barr & Sons for a collection of Daffodils to illustrate 
the three sections, was won by Mr. W. Grant, 
Bassaley, Monmouth, with a capital exhibit, in 
which there were upwards of sixty distinct forms. 
N. Emperor, N. incomrarabilis Sir Watkin, N. 
odorous rugilobus, and N. Leedsii Duchess of 
Westminster were especially fine. 
Messrs. Barr & Sons, King Street, Covent Garden, 
received first prize for twelve pots of Tulips. Of 
the varieties shown, Ophir d’Or, Keizer’s Kroon, 
Prince of Austria, and Vermillion Brilliant were the 
best. 
Mr. J. Mowbray, gardener to the Hon. H. C. 
Legge, Slough, staged the first prize lot of twelve 
Cinerarias. Messrs. Morle & Co., Finchley Road, 
were first for six hardy Azaleas in pots; and Mr. 
W Kemp, Gungale Nursery, Barnes, second. The 
St. George's Nursery Company, Han well, staged 
twelve superb pots of Cyclamen, and well deserved 
the first prize which fell to them. 
There was only one entry for six Orchids, and 
this was from Mr. G. Cragg, gardener to W. C. 
Walker, Esq., Percy Lodge,Winchmore Hill,who was 
awarded the first prize. Messrs. Morle & Co. 
received the second prize for twelve Hyacinths. 
The miscellaneous exhibits comprised by far the 
major portion of the show, for they were both 
numerous and effective. 
Messrs. si. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
N., showed Clivias and Amaryllis in excellent form 
(Large Silver Medal). A nice lot of Orchids came 
from the same firm, whilst in other parts of the con¬ 
servatory and corridor they staged groups of Azalea 
mollis, and various floral arrangements. Amongst 
the latter a basket of Narcissi was splendily designed 
and executed (Large Bronze Medal). 
A highly effective exhibit of miscellaneous flower¬ 
ing and foliage plants was set up by Messrs. John 
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E. The centre piece of 
this grand group was a large and superbly coloured 
piece of Croton Laingi. Acacias, Caladiums, Leea 
amabilis, Dracaenas, Streptocarpus and Ferns 
were all in first class condition (Large Silver Medal). 
The same firm contributed a number of elegant and 
recherche floral arrangements. Roses were 
employed very tastefully here, and a good' deal of 
variety was evident (Large Bronze Medal). Mr. W. 
Kemp sent a group of Azalea mollis, and Messrs. 
Morle & Co., a nice batch of Mignonette (Bronze 
Medal). Messrs. Wm. Paul & Sons, Waltham Cross, 
were well represented by a fine lot of Camellias, 
both cut flowers and plants being shown. 
The Waltham Cross firm also set up a group of 
pot Roses in which the variety Enchantress figured 
conspicuously. The array of Hyacinths in pots 
sent out by the Messrs. Paul was very imposing and 
included most of the leading varieties. (Small Silver 
Gilt Medal). 
The Church Road Nursery Company, Hanwell, 
sent a capital lot of Cyclamen. The plants were 
well flowered, and the individual flowers large and 
substantial (Silver Medal). 
The Cyclamens sent by the St. George’s Nursery 
Company, Hanwell, were from all points of view 
first-class. The whites, and crimsons were really 
superb (Silver Medal). 
The Daffodils sent by Messrs. Barr & Son were 
worthy of the firm, for they well illustrated the range 
of type forthcoming in this genus. Narcissus Hors- 
fieldi, N. Golden Spur, N. Victoria, N. Emperor, N. 
Leedsii, Grand Duchess, and N- obvallaris, were 
some of the most notable forms (Small Silver 
Medal). 
Messrs. J. Hill & Son, Lower Edmonton, sent a 
grand lot of Ferns both large and small, chiefly of 
marketable varieties. The plants were in the rudest 
of health (Large Silver Medal). 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park 
Nurseries, Forest Hill, S.E., sent a nice group of 
miscellaneous plants; Ghent Azaleas, Ericas, and 
Clivias represented the flowering element, and 
Ferns, Caladium argyrites, and Begonia Arthur 
Malet were some of the prettiest foliage plants. 
(Small Silver Medal.) 
The group of flowering plants submitted by Mr. 
G. Keif, gardener to Mr. Abbot, South Villa, 
Regent’s Park, contained some capital Tulips and 
Hyacinths, and spoke well for the resources of 
this town garden. (Silver Medal). 
The exhibit coming from Messrs. Wra. Cutbush 
& Son, Highgate, N., consisted largely of hard- 
wooded plants; Acacia Drummondi, Eriostemon 
intermedia, Ericas, and Boronias were well shown 
Magnolia soulangeana in pots was a pretty feature, 
as was also a batch of Ricbardia eiliottiana. 
(Small Silver Medal). 
Messrs. James Carter & Company, High Holborn, 
displayed their well 'known strain of Cinerarias, for 
which a Silver Medal was given ; whilst Mr. T. 
Janncck of Dersingham has a superb lot of Lily of 
the Valley (Small Silver Medal). A showy group of 
Orchids was contributed by Messrs. Hugh Low & 
Company, Bush Hill Park, Enfield (Large Silver 
Medal). 
Mr. W. Rumsey, of Waltham Cross, sent cut 
Roses in first-class condition (Large Bronze Medal). 
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, had a nice 
group of Ferns (Ltrge Bronze Medal). Messrs. A. 
W. Young & Company, Stevenage, sent Cinerarias 
(Large Bronze Medal). 
A meritorious collection of Narcissi, sent by Mr. 
T S. Ware, received a Large Bronze Medal. 
Qoesnons add snsojeFS. 
*,* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged bv their so doing. 
[ Correspondents, please note that we cannot undertake to 
name florists' flowers such as Carnations, Pelargoniums, 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, nor such as are mere garden 
varieties, differing only in the colour of the flower. 
Florists' flowers, as a rule, can only be named by those who 
grow collections of them.'] 
Watering Tomatos Overhead —Bulbs : There is 
no necessity for watering Tomato plants overhead, 
even when established in pots. On the other hand we 
consider that it often leads to injury of some form or 
other, though it may be indirectly. A close, moist 
atmosphere makes the stems thin and leggy, while 
the lower leaves remain soft and thin, falling before 
they get very old. This was the cause of the 
lower leaves turning yellow, and falling last year 
as you mention. To grow Tomatos sturdily and 
short jointed they must be placed near the glass, 
fully exposed to sunshine, and freely ventilated after 
they have commenced growing, that is, after they 
have made a start. Plants in pots should never be 
allowed to get dry at the roots, and while loaded 
with young fruits, liquid manure at the roots will 
help them greatly. As for the rest give the plants 
full exposure to sunlight and plenty of ventilation, 
according to the season, more being necessary in 
summer than during the present cold weather. At 
present the watering had best be done in the morn¬ 
ing, but in summer the principal watering should be 
given before leaving off work. Should any of the 
plants appear dry in the morning you should water 
them then, but not otherwise. In cloudy or wet 
weather comparatively little water will be needed, 
but in any case every plant should be examined. 
Overhead watering lays the plants liable to be des¬ 
troyed by fungoid diseases; a close damp atmos¬ 
phere has the same effect, particularly in summer. 
At that time the atmosphere of the house should be 
kept dry and cool. 
Dendrobium nobile yar.— E. K. : The flowers 
you sent us represent a very good, light-coloured D. 
nobile, but their stalks are too strong and upright 
for the variety to be placed under D. nobile pendu¬ 
lum. The flowers of that should hang downwards 
in the type most true to name. Some growers are 
not over particular in the application of the name, 
which they will sometimes give to a form whose 
flowers are only horizontal instead of being decid¬ 
edly drooping. 
The Dum Palm.— A. C. : It is the Hyphaene 
thebaica, a fan Palm native of Egypt and the neigh¬ 
bouring countries. We prefer, however, to spell the 
name Doum or Doom Palm. It is also known as the 
Gingerbread tree of Egypt. The fruit is about the 
size of an Apple and the outer portion, surrounding 
the large solitary seed, is mealy, fibrous and tasting 
remarkably like gingerbread, It is rather a coarse 
kind of food by reason of the amount of fibre in it. 
Celery Seedlings in Small Trays. —Bulbs : The 
reason why tne seeds of Celery germinate more 
freely in small or shallow trays is that the soil is not 
so liable to get sodden as it does in deep ones. A 
large quantity of soil is quite unnecessary, and even 
bad for germinating seeds, because there are no roots 
to keep it sweet. The surface may be dried up by 
the beat of the sun, while the great body of soil may 
be quite wet. By the time the seedlings appear 
their roots are unable to penetrate the sour wet soil; 
and this is also the reason why they do not attain 
the same vigour as seedlings raised in shallow trays, 
but lag behind them in a weakly, sickly condition. 
Seedlings in shallow trays do better right away, you 
say; then you should follow up your discovery by 
employing those only. 
Names of Plants —Mr. J. Reynolds : 1, Azara 
microphylla ; 2, Hibiscus schizopetalus ; 3, Ceano- 
thus rigidus.— C. Mackenzie : 1, Picea smithiana ; 2, 
Picea pungens ; 3, Cupressus lawsoniana var.; 4, 
Junipsrus recurva; 5, Abies Veitchi; 6, Podocarpus 
andtna, but often called Prumnopitys elegans in 
gardens; 7, Thuya orientalis; 8, Thuya gigantea ; 
9, Retinospora obtusa pvgmaea aurea; 10, |uniperus 
chinensis (lemale plant); it, Kalmia latifoha; 12, 
Piptanthus nepalensis (Himalayan Laburnum) ; 13, 
Cupressus lawsoniana; 14, Cupressus lawsoniana 
var. ; 15, Cupressus nutkaensis ; 16, Kalmia latifolia 
myrtifolia.— B. R. : 1, Primula denticulata; 2, Iris 
reticulata ; 3, Helleborus foetidus— H.J. ; i.Odonto- 
glossum crispum andersonianum ; 2, Dendrobium 
chrysotoxum; 3, Dendrobium devonianum; On- 
cidium spilopterum.— W. R. ; 1, Erica mediterranea; 
2, Akebia quinata ; 3, Berberis japonica; 4, Saxi- 
fraga ligulata.— W. L.\ Cantua buxifolia (it is 
variable in the toothing of the leaves and the length 
of the flower). 
Communications Received.—Robert Mason.—F. 
Tutnail.—) .T.Thurston.—J Thurstan.—A.F.Barron. 
— J. Laing & Sons.—Alex James Monro.—Ludwig 
Moller. — W. M. W. —T. Hendry. — West.—Nemo. 
—W. B.—G. Peddie.—T. W.—P. H.—R. W.—X. 
-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
H Cannell & Sons, Swanley. Kant.—Illustrated 
and Complete Floral Guide of Plants for 1898. 
J. Cheal & Sons, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, 
Sussex.—Spring Catalogue of Dahlias. 
