362 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Februarj 4, 1889. 
A rigid selection of the species of Phyllostachys 
would include P. aurea, P. nigra, P. Quilioi, P. 
Henonis, P. viridi-glaucescens, P. mitis, P. Castil- 
lonis, P. flexuosa, P. boryana, and P. ruscifolia, for 
they are the princes of hardy Bamboos. 
MESSRS. R. VEITCH & SON, EXETER. 
(Continued from paqe 343.) 
The collection of hardy herbaceous and alpine 
plants in the nursery of Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, 
Exeter, is very extensive, as they give close attention 
to this branch of the business. The rockeries are 
planted with them, a large stock is grown in pots 
plunged out of doors, and cold frames, usually stand¬ 
ing opeD, accommodate the rarer and smaller kinds 
of which it is advisable to keep duplicates. 
Cold Frames. 
To indicate what we mean by the smaller and rarer 
plants we need only mention such gems as the 
miniature rosettes of Saxifraga aretioides, S. caesia, 
S. squarrosa, Androsace vitaliana, A. villosa, A. 
Lagged, A. helvetica, A. pyrenaica and the fine type 
named A. Chumbyi, having dark red flowers. The 
species of Androsace belong to the Primrose family 
and have white, pink, rose, yellow and other shades of 
colour in the different species. A. oculata is abeauti- 
ful variety of the A. lanuginosa type. Primula For- 
besii was flowering and here is considered a biennial. 
In spring the foliage of Petrocallis pyrenaica becomes 
completely covered with white flowers. Cerastium 
lanatum villosum is of a very woolly character. Heli- 
anthemum Tuberaria is a dwarf and rare Rock-rose 
from Spain. The Heath family is represented by 
such truly alpine subjects as Rhododendron Chamae- 
cistus and Azalea procumbens, both peat-loving 
plants. Globularia vulgaris alba is an uncommon 
variety with white flowers. Leptinella dioica would 
make a useful, hardy subject for carpet bedding. 
Very choice rock plants are the species of Edrai- 
anthus belonging to the Bellflower family and here 
represented by E. tenuifolius, E. serpyllifolius and 
E pumilorum, the flowers of which hang gracefully 
over the edges when grown in a pot. Dwarf and 
choice also are Campanula Cenisia, Primula floerke- 
ana, Saxifraga tricuspidata, Veronica Allioni, Alys- 
sum Mallendorfii, Erigeron leiomeris and E. com- 
positus (both from Colorado), Draba acaulis, 
Pentstemon Hallii (from Colorado) and the hoary 
leaved Eriogonum nivale. Saxifraga Kotschyi is a 
yellow flowered species with rosulate and crusted 
foliage. Ramondia pyrenaica and its white variety are 
well known and remain amongst the choicest of 
alpines. Othonopsis cheirifolia, Bouteleria oligos- 
tachya (a grass) and Senecio Greyi are also located 
in the frames. The last named is a very dwarf, 
evergreen, shrubby species of uncommon aspect. 
Amongst the New Zealand Veronicas very choice 
are V. Hectorii, V. cupressoides and V. pimeloides, 
the first two of which are more like Lycopods than 
anything else. 
The Rockeries. 
Most of the above named subjects are quite hardy, 
but we may now turn to those plants established on 
the rockeries situated in the open nursery, where we 
meet with a variety of subjects not necessarily 
alpine, planted so as to suit different positions. 
Daphne Mezereum and D. M. alba were already in 
full bloom at Christmas. Calceolaria violacea, 
standing near a wall here, is generally regarded as a 
greenhouse plant. Large patches of Androsace 
lanuginosa, Saxifraga juniperina, and Mesembryan- 
themum uncinatum show that they are fully 
established and at home. The last-named has been 
outside for two years, and was still flowering at the 
time we speak. This may be considered late-flower¬ 
ing ; likewise in the case of Oxalis rosea and Con- 
volulus Cneorum, the silvery leaves and pink flowers 
of the latter being very interesting. On the con¬ 
trary, Polygala Chamaebuxus purpurea was flower¬ 
ing early. 
On the higher parts of the rockery, and, in some 
cases against the wall of a house some choice shrubs 
have been thriving for many years. Amongst these 
we would mention tte curious and pretty Veronica 
lycopodioides, the spiny Orange, Citrus trifoliata, 
Notospartium Carmichaeliae, which fruits abun¬ 
dantly ; Carpenteria californica, forming a fine bush, 
4 ft. to 5 ft. high; Freemontia californica, io ft. 
high ; Raphiolepis japonica, covered with black 
berries ; and Eucryphia pinnatifida, the flowers of 
which in summer resemble those of a huge white 
Hypericum, and the foliage like a Mahonia. Strange 
as it may seem we place Sedum populifolium in the 
category of a shrub, for its stems are woody and the 
leaves like those of a Poplar. Romneya Coulteri is 
a woody-stemmed, white Poppy. Grevillea rosmarin- 
ifolia and G. sulphurea are usually regarded as 
greenhouse New Holland plants, but they have been 
planted outside for the last two years. Opuntia 
vulgaris and other species with yellow and red 
flowers may be described as succulent shrubs, which 
at Kew get the shelter of a frame to keep them dry. 
An uncommon variety is Teucrium fruticans lati- 
folium, with broader leaves - than the type. The 
pink flowers of Ononis fruticosa are pretty in summer, 
and Cytisus Weldenii is a scarce plant. The small 
and stiff-leaved Helianthemum lunulatum is very 
compact, and does not ramble like many of the 
Rock-roses. Veronica cataracta is another of the 
shrubby species that always remains dwarf. A 
rockery is never complete without some of the low 
growing and choice shrubs, which the planter has 
always at his command. 
The beautiful foliage of Arum italicum has been in 
evidence for some time. Very choice are Gebera 
Jamesoni, with scarlet flowers ; Calandrinia umbel- 
lata, carmine ; Saxifraga lantoscana, Lithospermum 
petraeum, Teucrium pyrenaicum, Acantholimon 
glumaceum, the new Incarvillea Delavayi, Globularia 
cordifolia, G. nana, and Iberis Pruiti, with glossy 
dark green foliage and white flowers produced from 
January to August. Several of the Francoas are 
grown outside, and Pbysalis Franchetti also does 
well. The Houseleeks include a large patch of Sem- 
pervivum arachnoideum. Tupa salicifolia, with 
scarlet flowers, is allied to Lobelia. There are fine 
pieces of Asperula nitida and Convolvulus althae- 
oides, the latter having rose flowers and darker 
veins. 
On the drier parts of the rockery such things as 
Alyssum spinosum, Festuca punctoria, Saxifraga 
paradoxa, and Cotula squalida succeed very well. 
The very dwarf Erigeron trifidus, from Colorado, 
was still flowering. The bronzy foliage of Heuchera 
bryoides is beautiful in winter. There is also a 
hybrid pink Heuchera. Many species of Dianthus, 
including D. cruentum, are grown upon these 
rockeries. 
Collection in Pots. 
The species grown in small pots and plunged in 
ashes in the open are so numerous that we can only 
refer to a few which we picked out at random in 
glancing over the collection. Saxifraga and Semper- 
vivums are very numerous, as no rockery could be 
complete without them. The same may be said of 
the SedumS, of which S. dasyphyllum has bluish 
leaves, while those of S. spathulifolium become red 
when grown upon a dry bank. The glaucous foliage 
of Acaena Buchanani is very pretty. Zauschneria 
californica splendens differs from the type in having 
more woolly foliage and larger and brighter flowers. 
Choice rock plants are Primula Balbisii, Gentiana 
verna, Frankenia laevis, Pyrethrum argenteum, Thy¬ 
mus micans (with narrow leaves and a creeping 
habit), Hutchinsia alpina, Asperuls carpatica, Ar- 
meriacephalotes, A. bracteata rubra, and Lithosper¬ 
mum prostratum, the blue flower of the latter being 
quite equal to those of a Gentian. By no means a 
common subject is Erigeron glaucus. E. trimor- 
phaeus seems a straDge member of this genus, for 
the leaves are very much cut. The glaucous leaves 
of Benninghaussenia californica make it a noticeable 
bush even in winter. The yellow flowers of Cbryso- 
gonum are as large as those of a Buttercup, and con¬ 
tinually being produced. Handsome and easily 
grown subjects are Gaultheria procumbens and Poly¬ 
gonum vacciniaefolium, that should be freely planted 
in every garden. One of the neatest of the Hyperi¬ 
cums is H. orientale. The blue-flowered Salvia 
Pitcheri is generally regarded as a greenhouse plant. 
The spreading habit of Geranium wallichianum 
makes it particularly suitable for tumbling over the 
ledges of rockwork. Achillea Huteri has the habit 
of A. umbellata; and the white-flowered Potentilla 
alchemilloides is always pretty. A very dwarf and 
freely branching New Zealand Flax is Phormium 
alpinum. Thalia dealbata is an interesting aquatic, 
with leaves like those of a Calathea, on long stalks. 
Some choice shrubs are also located here, includ¬ 
ing Genista humifusa, Lonicera Albertii, Veronica 
corymbosa, and quite a collection of hardy Fuchsias. 
Amongst the latter we noted the well-known F. 
corallina, also F. Enfant Prodigue, F. Drame, and 
F. Volunteer. PinussylvestrisBeuvronens is quite a 
pigmy form of the Scotch Fir. 
- f -- 
PHYSALIS FRANCHETTI. 
It would seem, from the number of complaints from 
correspondents, that 'failures to fruit this Winter 
Cherry are not uncommon : but, as is usual, they 
arise from impatient cultivators, who, notwithstand¬ 
ing that it is a perennial herb, expect results such as 
can be obtained from an annual during the same 
period. If plants are raised in spring and planted 
out in fairly good soil, a fair amount of vegetation 
will be made; but there is an underground system 
co-operating with this top growth, which will in due 
course throw up stout flowering growths, but not 
until the second cycle of growth has commenced in 
a twelvemonth after sowing These growths from 
underground stems will not fail to give satisfaction, if 
my experience is any guide. 
Apart from its value as a hardy decorative plant, 
it is an exceedingly interesting subject to grow, 
affording the observer an extra amount of interest, 
inasmuch as during its growth an unusual phenome¬ 
non of plant growth occurs. During the flowering 
period the calyx will be seen presenting no unusual 
appearance; it is green and somewhat campanulate, 
the sepals being united, unlike those of the Potato 
or Tomato, to which it is related. It is after the 
corolla has fallen that the calyx begins to grow, be¬ 
coming inflated, and enclosing a small ovary, both 
eventually assuming, when fully grown, the bright 
scarlet colouring, making them so conspicuous in 
autumn. With regard to this bright red colouring, 
about which, according to “ Kerner's Natural 
History of Plants,” as yet little is known. It is con¬ 
sidered by the author that its purpose is to frighten 
animals from eating the fruits and bladders. Another 
peculiarity common in many other orders may be 
noted during the growth of Physalis, instanced by 
the above-mentioned author. The flower buds, he 
says, are supported on erect stalks, and turned up 
to the sky so long as they are closed, but before the 
flower is quite open the flower stalk curves down¬ 
wards, and the mouth of the flower is thus directed 
more or less towards the earth. This is a provision 
of Nature to protect the pollen from rain. Regard¬ 
ing the distribution of pollen other interesting facts 
are recorded. The epipetalous stamens hold their 
anthers at the commencement of the flowering 
period underneath or behind the stigmas, and are 
pushed upwards during the flowering period by an 
elongation of the petals, in consequence of which 
they rest in the last stage against the lateral edges of 
the stigmas. It must not be inferred that this is the 
only method of fertilisation, because, as in the 
flowers of Tomato, Nicotiana, Henbane, and others of 
this natural order, which are all protogynous, cross 
fertilisation is possible in the first part of the 
flowering period, and it is, as a matter of fact, very 
frequently effected through the intervention of 
insects. 
The structure of the flowers aids these insect dis¬ 
tributors remarkably. The corolla-tube of the 
Winter Cherry is fluted by five grooves, which 
together with the villous filaments facing them form 
as many tubes. The anthers are so placed with their 
pollen-covered faces in front of the mouths of the 
tubes, that insects inserting their probosces are bound 
to rub against them.- A. P. 
--a—- 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS, 
Calanthes at Harleyford, Marlow —For some 
time past Calanthes in the gardens of Sir William 
Clayton, at Harleyford, have been remarkably fine. 
Mr. Sharp, the gardener, evidently understands their 
culture thoroughly, judging from the length of the 
flower spikes and the number of the individual 
blooms on each. Three bulbs are mostly grown to¬ 
gether in 7 in. pots, but a few are in pairs, also some 
singly, in smaller pots. In each case I could 
notice but little difference in the length of the spike; 
the greater number, of course, had the better effect, 
consequently they are more useful for the decoration 
of the drawing-room. I noticed as many as forty 
blooms on a single spike, and should say the average 
