October 22, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
123 
appeared on them when coming direct from their 
native habitats. Too often this plant is received and 
put on blocks and baskets, and grown fairly well for 
a year or two, with an occasional truss of flowers, 
after which they decline, disappointment follows, and 
a dwindling and diminishing plant, that seems hard 
to kill, hangs about as an eyesore and annoyance. 
So often is this the case that I venture to say that 
I venture to say that almost any time during the 
past few seasons, the imported lots, even if in dozens, 
could not find a purchaser, as it was considered so 
mifly a thing to do. It is to be hoped the display 
made at the Drill Hall will at least, to some extent, 
controvert that idea. Given the right treatment 
there is no reason why this Dendrobe should not be 
grown as freely and flower as abundantly as any of 
those usually considered easy to grow. 
As I had an opportunity of seeing these plants 
during the past summer, I may perhaps be pardoned 
if I say on referring to notes made on July ist, the 
date of my visit, that I find I had recorded my 
impressions as follows :—" Dendrobiums growing in 
a house without any shade. D. formosum, grand, in 
baskets, freely rooting, with growths of immense 
size. D. wardianum, D. goldieanum, D. Phalaenops- 
is, &c., growing with them.” Here then were 
these grand plants hanging from the roof, constantly 
syringed, and treated to a great amount of heat and 
sunshine, in fact, if the temperature ran up to go° or 
more it made little difference, the object being during 
the growing season by these means to develop the 
finest growth and bulbs possible. Then Mr. Hudson 
felt assured he would succeed in blooming them in a 
creditable manner. The treatment given and hopes 
entertained have been fully justified, and I most 
heartily congratulate him on this method of culture 
and success in flowering. What was the nature of 
the award he received I do not remember seeing. I 
hope it was a medal showing the high appreciation 
of the group. [It was a Silver Gilt Flora Medal.— 
Ed.] For my part I should have felt inclined to 
have given it one of the best medals for culture the 
society has at its disposal. Simply now repeating 
that which I said at the beginning of this note, that 
for vigour and floriferousness, there has not been 
seen at any public exhibition such a group of estab¬ 
lished plants of this particular species, as was staged 
by Mr. Hudson on the occasion referred to. I can 
only say, well done ! Do it again.— W. Swan. 
MICHAELMAS DAISIES AT LONG 
DITTON. 
No matter in which direction we look in the southern 
and midland counties the baneful effects of the 
abnormally dry summer of 1898 are apparent. Some 
plants have passed through the ordeal better than 
others, as is only natural, but all have suffered to 
some extent. The Michaelmas Daisies, with their 
love for deep, rich, soil and plenty of water, have 
not escaped, although with their tough constitutions 
they have not suffered so much as might be ex¬ 
pected. For this we cannot be too thankful, for 
what would our gardens be in autumn but for the 
Starworts ? Whether we regard them simply as 
decorative plants for the garden, or whether we look 
at their value for cutting from, they are alike indis¬ 
pensable, and their grand weather-resisting qualities 
cannot receive too high commendation. 
There is such a wealth of variety of height, habit, 
colour and size of flower, and time of flowering 
amongst the members of the genus that there is 
something to suit all tastes, something to please 
everybody. Then again, the plants may be planted 
in such a variety of situations that an immense 
number of them can be employed without im¬ 
parting aay appearance of monotony to the garden. 
A Starwort border is a feature that every garden 
that is big enough to contain it should possess. It 
only needs to be seen to be admired, especially where 
a representative collection of species and varieties 
has been brought together. Again, what can look 
better than an imposing clump of some of the taller 
forms standing by itself in bed or border ? Some, 
indeed many, of the plants take kindly to the wild 
garden, and, planted in the grass and partly shaded 
wiih trees, generally delight the eye with a blazon 
of their showy flowers during the autumn months. 
The most common practice, perhaps, is to dot the 
plants here and there amongst the other subjects in 
the mixed herbaceous border, and under such con¬ 
ditions they always give a good account of them¬ 
selves. 
One of the very finest collections in the country is 
undoubtedly that to be seen in the nurseries of 
Messrs. Barr & Sons, at Long Ditton. Next to his 
beloved Tulips and Narcissi, Mr. J. W. Barr loves 
the Michaelmas Daisies, and a smart look-out is kept 
for new or improved forms that may make their 
appearance in other quarters. This year the plants 
are rather dwarfer than usual, owing to the drought, 
and the flowers are smaller, but the latter fully make 
up in their profusion and their brilliancy of colour¬ 
ing for any decrease in size. 
At the present time there is a greater number of 
forms in flower than at any other, for some of the 
early ones, such as Aster acris, are still in bloom, 
whilst the October flowering forms are all in full 
beauty, and are already joining hands with the late 
ones. 
The Novae-Angliae varieties are not so useful for 
cutting from as many others, but they are valued on 
account of their stately habit, for they make capital 
clumps in bed and border. A. N.-A. roseus and A. 
N.-A. pulchellus, the latter a grand blue flower, are 
the best of these. They are both 5 ft. in height. 
A. laevis is one of the most distinct of all the 
Starworts. The flowers are of medium size and 
light blue. They are not numerous, but are dis¬ 
posed on the ends of long, straggling branches, on 
which the leaves are reduced to very small size. Both 
for culture in pots and for planting in the open 
ground A. laevis is one of the most valuable mem¬ 
bers of the genus. A, 1 . Calliope is a very fine form 
of this species, with soft mauve flowers. The com¬ 
paratively new variety, Coombe Fishacre, which 
was raised by Mr. Archer Hind, is in magnificent 
condition at LoDg Ditton at the present time, and 
the plants are conspicuous amongst all the rest by 
reason of their extreme floriferousness. The bronzy- 
red and white flowers much resemble those of A. 
diffusus horizontalis, its parent, but they are larger 
and finer. The height is about 3.$ ft. As a vase¬ 
filling plant there is nothing to beat this variety, for 
the stems are well clothed with long, lateral 
branches, all full of flower, so that a single stem in a 
vase presents a perfect pyramid of bloom. If a 
selection had to be made of a dozen forms, this 
should certainly be one of them. 
A. diffusus horizontalis takes second place to none 
for beauty, although this beauty is of a type quite 
distinct from that of any of the others. The plant is 
dwarf, for it only runs to about 2$ ft. in height in an 
ordinary season, and this year it is well under 2 ft., 
some of the plants being quite pigmies, but, pigmies 
or no, they are all exceptionally full of flower. The 
branches are rather short and stiff, and as the 
varietal name denotes, are horizontal in their general 
trend. 
The 11 versicolor ” section contains several hand¬ 
some varieties. The flo wers are rather small but are 
very freely produced, and are of some shade of blush 
white or pink. A. v. nanus is the dwarfest, and is a 
perfect little gem, not more than 18 in. in height. A 
v. Themis is a little taller, being just over 2 ft., and 
A. v. Antigone is taller still, boasting a height of 
3$ ft. All three should be in every collection of any 
size or claim to representativeness. 
The " cordifolius " group of varieties is especially 
noticeable for extreme elegance of habit, and 
great suitability for cutting. A. c. elegans has 
small lilac flowers, A. c. major, flowers of the same 
colour but a little larger than those of A. c. elegans, 
and A. c. albulus is a comparatively new form with 
grey-white flowers. Photograph is another very 
handsome sort belonging to this group. The flowers 
are pale lavender in hue, and both chaste and pretty. 
A. ericoides and its charming variety Clio should 
also not be forgotten by those who want plants to cut 
from and to fill vases within doors. In the same 
category we may place A. vimineus, A. v. Cassiope, 
and A. v. nanus, the last a charming dwarf not 
more than 2 ft. in height. 
The Novi-Belgii section is numerically the 
strongest, and it comprises very many handsome 
flowers. A. N.-B. Pleiad is a dwarf form with 
relatively large, bright rose flowers. The name 
Pleiad has been given in deference to the popular 
name Starworts, and certainly no more suitable 
varietal names could be chosen. Such varieties as 
Robert Parker, superbus, Minerva, Berenice, E. G. 
Lowe, and Maia are all good and useful plants. 
Amongst the latest section of the Michaelmas 
Daisies A. Tradescantii is very distinct by reason of 
its finely cut, light green foliage, and small, white, 
starry flowers. The plant is well worth growing for 
its foliage alone, and stands out prominently amongst 
the darker green hue of the foliage of other forms. 
A. turbinellus is noteworthy on account of being 
one of the largest flowered varieties of all. The 
blooms exhibit a rich shade of violet, flushed and 
tipped with rose. Mention may also be made of A. 
grandiflorus, which claims notice as the latest of all 
Asters to flower. It does not commence to expand 
its blooms until November, and it is usually so late 
that the frost finds it out before it has time to flower. 
Its value, therefore, to the gardener, is not in 
proportion to its lateness. 
A most pleasing feature of the Long Ditton 
collection is the late-struck cuttings of various sorts. 
These bloom quite as profusely as the older and 
taller plants, and present a perfect picture of floral 
beauty. This practice of striking late cuttings in 
order to obtain dwarf plants to flower the same 
season, carried on so successfully by Mr. J. W. Barr, 
might well be extensively copied. 
- M - 
CULTURE OF THE AZALEA. 
The Azalea is one of our most useful greenhouse 
plants. The plants can be had in flower for six 
months at least. They force well and last some 
lime in flower. Small plants for table decoration 
are very valuable, and fine specimen plants last 
some time in the hall. 
They are easily cultivated. They are peat-loving 
plants. I prefer the Exeter peat to any other. 
Many years ago when living at Crowe Hall, Bath, 
I went down to the Exeter Nursery when it was in 
its glory. The late Mr. Pince was an enthusiast. 
When I saw his house of Cape Heaths, I was so 
much struck with them that I asked him to show me 
his peat. He at once placed one of the sods on the 
potting bench and with a bent stick knocked it all to 
pieces, then put it through a i-in. sieve. He picked 
out all the Heath roots, but retained all the Fern 
roots, then what the sieve retained was placed over 
the crocks to keep the drainage open. There is no 
sand in the Exeter peat so that a liberal quantity 
requires to be mixed with it when sifted. For 
specimen plants 1 much prefer the pyramidal to the 
method of growing them on the Continent. Their 
mode, however, is very useful for table decoration. 
I have grown some beautiful varieties, both double 
and single. We are indebted mostly to the Conti¬ 
nental growers for most of them. I recollect well 
some years ago the rage there was between two 
leading growers in the south of England. Merely 
place the plants in greenhouses of a span-roofed 
form. All the better growers syringe the plants 
every afternoon and shade them during strong sun¬ 
shine. 
Not later than the middle of July take advantage 
of a rainy day to put them out of doors. I used to 
pot those requiring it before putting them out when 
short growth is made. Place the pots in aDy 
place where they will be fully exposed to the sun. 
About the middle of October they ought to be 
moved indoors. In the month of November when 
they begin to shed their leaves, it is nice amusement 
to break off all the small fruits, also to thin off some 
of the flower buds which throws vigour into the 
plants. Leave enough of flower buds to have room 
to expand, so that, when in flower, they should be one 
mass of bloom with scarcely a leaf to be seen. 
After the plants are potted and placed out of dcors, 
every evening get a pair of steps and get up and give 
the plants a good shower with a rose so that the 
foliage may be in a wet blanket all night. No thrip 
will then interfere with them. 
Azaleas are generally grafted, or they may be 
struck from cuttings, but for specimen plants I 
prefer the grafted ones. They may also be raised 
from seed crossed to get new varieties. I believe I 
was one of the first to cross Azalea amoena with A. 
Stella and Flag of Truce. The stamens must be 
removed before the pollen comes on and the stigma 
protected by a piece of white gauze. The seed pod 
will be ripe in November. Sow it at once and in four 
years the seedlings will flower. Messrs. B. S. 
Williams & Son, of Holloway, sent out my seedling 
Azaleas, Mrs. Carmichael and W. Carmichael.— W. 
Carmichael, 14 , Pitt Street, Edinburgh. 
-- 
The Orange Tree bears fruit till it is 150 years of 
age at least. 
