500 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 26, 1898. 
so reveal the green chlorophyll below and between 
them. With regard to the stomata, they are about 
equally and very sparingly distributed. They occur 
on both sides of the leaves. 
Potatos Blackening when Boiled.—Mr. R. 
Morse forwarded raw and cooked Potatos to show 
the difference in those cooked as grown in a field 
and in the garden. The latter were much blackened, 
but not the former. They were the variety Windsor 
Castle. The soil of the field sent was very red with 
the presence of iron, consequently there was very 
little doubt that the tannic acid, being liberated by 
boiling, united with some salt of iron imbibed, pro¬ 
ducing tannate of iron, the usual ingredients of ink. 
Beyond being somewhat unsightly, nothing of a 
deleterious character was present. Mr. Michael 
observed that it was of common occurence in the 
peaty soils of Skye, and even preferred by the local 
inhabitants. 
Monstrous Begonia—Dr. Masters showed a 
male flower, in which the central axis was prolonged 
into a small funnel-shaped structure on a slender 
pedicel. Similar structures are not uncommon as 
foliar excrescences on the ribs of Cabbage leaves,and 
the ovules of Mignonette have been transformed into 
similar funnels or cups, as described by the late Rev. 
J. S. Henslow. 
Structure of Indigo Plant.—Prof. Church 
alluded to a curious discovery he had made in inves¬ 
tigating the seeds of some wild species of Indigofera, 
as I. linifolia, I. cordifolia, and others. He found that 
sections of the embryos showed a marbled surface, 
having brownish patches,due to the colouring matter 
erythrophyll. On boiling crushed seeds to test for 
starch none was found, 33 per cent, being albumi¬ 
noid matters; hence these are the most nitrogenous 
of all leguminous seeds known. On the solution 
being left the true indigo-blue separates and becomes 
insoluble. Thus there are two quite independent 
colouring matters in the same seed. The solution 
being red, the blue formed a ring round the porce¬ 
lain vessel containing it. 
-- 
PHORMIUM TENAX AND ARALIA 
SIEBOLDII. 
In reference to recent notes in the gardening periodi¬ 
cals respecting the hardiness of Phormium tenax 
and Aralia Sieboldii, I feel disposed to add my quota 
to that of the writers of the paragraphs alluded to. 
Regarding Phormium tenax, I may mention that in 
the Fountainbrae Nursery of Messrs. Laird & Sin¬ 
clair, Duodee, there is a nice healthy plant growing 
in the open air that has stood unprotected for the 
last six or seven years. The severity of the storm 
during February and March, 1895, ranks tolerably 
high among meterological records, the thermome¬ 
ter in several parts of these islands, having on that 
occasion registered from 7 0 to g° below zero. But 
even from that intense frost the Phormium did not 
sustain the slightest injury whatever, as when I saw 
it last, twelve months ago, it was growing vigorously, 
pushing up strong, healthy leaves, which would in¬ 
dicate that it had no serious dislike to open air cul¬ 
ture in a comparatively exposed situation among the 
Coniferae. 
In turning over the pages of a back number of a 
contemporary, I observed a few remarks on the 
hardiness of these same plants, from Mr. Melville, 
gardener at Dunrobin Castle, Sutherlandshire. The 
paragraph reads thus :—“ As to the hardiness of 
Phormium tenax, it may be of interest to record that 
a plant has been growing out-of-doors here for 
something over fifteen years. The plant was 
originally growing under glass, but in the course of 
some alterations it had to be removed, when I 
thought it might be of interest to plant it outside, 
and note whether it would live outdoors without pro¬ 
tection. The clump is in excellent health at the 
present time, although it has come through some 
severe winters, notably those of 1878-79, also 1880-81 
and 1895. The two first mentioned winters were 
exceptionally severe, and the temperature, as regis¬ 
tered by tested thermometers in a Stevenson screen, 
sometimes showed from 15 0 to 19 0 of frost. Ice on 
ponds in the neighbourhood measured 10 in. thick 
on deep water, while some shallow ponds of from 12 
in. to 18 in. deep were frozen to the bottom. An 
Aralia Sieboldii and some Eucalypti were planted at 
the same time. The Aralia is still alive and doing 
well, but the Eucalypti succumbed to the first sharp 
frost. The Phormium has flowered on several occa¬ 
sions, throwing up two and sometimes three flower 
stems, 10 ft. to 12 ft. high.” 
Under these circumstances it would appear that 
the protection of an ordinary greenhouse is not 
absolutely necessary to the successful cultivation of 
these plants, but that they are capable of withstand¬ 
ing the grip of a frost of almost arctic intensity.— 
/. Peebles, Brae mar. 
Si NTS FOR AMATEURS. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
"Amateurs' Page ” on the top of their letters. 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine.— Chas. O.: This lovely 
little winter-flowering Begonia will not do in a cool 
greenhouse. It requires more heat, such as that of 
a stove or an intermediate house, having a tempera¬ 
ture of about 55 0 Fahr. by night, with arise of, say, 
5 0 during the day. The plants will last a little while 
in condition in an ordinary dwelling room, but the 
flowers drop if the plants are kept for long in a low 
temperature or are placed in a draughty position. 
You should have no difficulty in purchasing plants 
in flower from any respectable nurseryman at a 
reasonable price. You may work up a sto:k of 
plants by taking cuttings from the young growths 
next spring, say during March and April. Cuttings 
taken then will, if properly looked after, make bushy 
little plants that will flower through the following 
autumn and winter, but you must give them a fairly 
high temperature or you will not succeed with 
them, otherwise there is nothing in the cultivation of 
the plant that need give you any special difficulty. 
Peaches holding their leaves.—Can you tell me 
the reason why Peach trees on a wall outdoors fac¬ 
ing to the west are holding their leaves ? I have 
two trees in such a position, and very few of the 
leaves have dropped, and those that are left are 
almost as green as they were in the middle of the 
summer. Last year the leaves had all fallen by this 
time.— T. G. 
The abnormal character of the season is un¬ 
doubtedly the reason for the trees retaining their 
leaves. The recent rains, coming, as they did, after 
a long drought, have given the trees a new lease of 
life, and stimulated the action of both leaves and 
roots. Again, there has been no frost to speak of 
this season. You will find that the leaves will fall 
fast enough as soon as we get t}° or 7 0 of frost, which 
we had last year before this time. The leaves of your 
Peaches will most probably not turn yellow at all, 
but will maintain their greenness till the last. 
Hoya carnosa , —Yellow : Give the Hoya no water 
whatever for the next two or three months. You 
have been sadly over watering it of late, and that is 
why the leaves have put on that sickly yellow hue. 
Dyed Mahonia Leaves.—I competed recently in 
a class at our show for 11 a basket of Chrysanth¬ 
emums set up with autumn foliage and berries " I 
employed sprays of Mahonia Aquifolium, of which 
the leases had been dyed or subjected to some 
chemical process that imparts to them a deep put pie - 
red colour. The judges disqualified my exhibit be¬ 
cause I employed this foliage. Were they within 
their rights in doing so ?— Carry. 
That must depend, in the same way as all such 
matters must do, upon the terms of the schedule, 
and the instructions imparted to the judges. Dyed 
foliage of the kind you have named is certainly not 
bona fide autumn foliage, and would not be admissible 
in such an exhibit unless a special clause appeared 
in the schedule to that effect. You may take what 
comfort you can, however, from the knowledge that 
you are not the only exhibitor by a great many that 
has erred in similar fashion. 
Grapes Hanging on the Vines ,—Conolly: The 
Grapes will not do the Vines any harm if they are 
allowed to hang on until the sap commences to flow 
freely and the buds to swell in the spring. This is 
only as far as the Vines are concerned, however; 
you will probably find that the fruit would be safer if 
cut, bottled, and locked up in a dark room. Fruit 
has a curious liability to shrink when left in positions 
where it can easily be plucked. 
Prnning Yines.— C. L. R .; You may prune as 
soon as the leaves have fallen. There is nothing to 
be gained by waiting. 
Yellow Incurved Chrysanthemums. — Socer: We 
should not recommend that C. H. Curtis and Major 
Bonnaffon be shown on the same stand, for although 
the two varieties have differences they are often 
found so much alike that it is exceedingly difficult to 
tell one from the other. 
Curious Chrysanthemums.— P. P.: The two 
varieties of which you speak were shown at the 
meeting of the Floral Committee of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society, on the 14th inst., by Mr. 
Wittey, of Nunhead Cemetery. The varieties were 
named What Ho! and Golden Shower. 
. ■—« — 
FALKLAND PARK. 
Jost before the close of the recent drought we 
passed through the gardens of Thomas McMeekin, 
Esq., Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill. 
The gardens and grounds are situated on the 
crown of the hill, where the ground drops away on 
three sides. It is thus elevated and fully exposed to 
both wind and sunshine, but unfortunately the rain 
is comparatively a rare visitor in summer, but partic¬ 
ularly in droughty seasons like the past. The closely- 
mown grass forms a close covering everywhere now, 
having become thoroughly established, though 
rather dry and gray in places on thejoccasion of our 
visit. Mr. A. Wright, the gardener, has also suc¬ 
ceeded in establishing a fine lot of shrubbery,screen¬ 
ing the outskirts of the ground in various places. 
The Rhododendrons and some of the deciduous 
shrubs were feeling the drought most, but probably 
nearly all will pull through. 
Lilies are freely planted in many of the planta¬ 
tions of ornamental trees and shrubs, where crowding 
is not permitted, but all are accorded the necessary 
space to develop their natural characteristics. Several 
varieties of Lilium speciosum were in full bloom, in¬ 
cluding the finest of all the dark ones, namely, L. s, 
Melpomene. Tea Roses were also flowering freely. 
Elsewhere we came across beds and masses of hardy 
herbaceous plants, planted separately or in mixture. 
A combination of Aster Amellus and yellow eariy- 
flowering Chrysanthemums was very fine, but would 
have been more effective if rain had been more 
liberal, instead of absent during the period of 
flowering. 
The Parterre. 
The accompanying illustration shows the parte;re, 
situated on the western aspect of the fine mansion, 
still comparatively new and as yet quite fresh in 
appearance. Being surrounded by a balustrade, it 
looks somewhat formal, but is perfectly in keeping 
with the architecture. Nothing elaborate is 
attempted in the way of bedding, several of the beds 
being occupied with ornamental shrubs, so that the 
place may not look bare even in the winter. Sum¬ 
mer bedding is not a feature of any part of the 
grounds, except, perhaps, on the terrace, not seen in 
the picture. 
The Conifers in the immediate foreground fill up 
what was originally intended for a gateway, and 
consist of Cupressus lawsoniana, C. 1 . erecta viridis, 
and Golden Irish Yews. Elsewhere may be seen 
pyramidal and standard Bays in tubs, and standard 
Hollies, including Ilex aquifolium perryana or 
Perry's Weeping Holly. The Fiery Thorn (Cratae¬ 
gus Pyracantha), Cotoneaster micropbylla, and 
other climbers cover parts of the wall of the man¬ 
sion. A fine bed of hybrid seedling Lobelias show 
a considerable number of varieties, including the 
typical Queen Victoria. The tall Elm on the right 
of the picture is like a " city built on a hill, for it 
cannot be hid.” It is really a giant of great height, 
and appears in nearly every view of the grounds. 
The Glasshouses. 
The conservatory is situated at the opposite end of 
the mansion from where the photograph was taken. 
It is kept bright with flowering plants at all seasons 
of the year, and on this occasion the climbers on the 
roof were a leading feature, including Blue Gums, 
Acacia riceana, the drooping sprays of which were 
laden with buds; also Cassia corymbosa, Solanum 
venustum, laden with bloom; Fuchsia Charming, 
