March 4. 1&99. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
425 
Albinos of popular plants are always in request, 
and Ramondia pyrenaica alba, Anemone Pulsatilla 
alba, Anemone Hepatica alba, and Heuchera san- 
guinea alba are all very valuable additions. The 
genus Heuchera has been much strengthened of late, 
for in addition to he white form of H. sanguinea, 
Arnebia cornuta. 
break, whilst amongst the singles the large rosy 
flowers of Monarch entitle it to every attention. For 
cutting from, the Pyrethrums are very near the top 
of the list. To touch upon another favourite race, 
the Lupines, the past year has seen the difference 
between L. arboreus and L. polyphyllus, broken 
down in the hybrid L. p. Somerset, which may be 
described as the only yellow herbaceous perennial 
Lupin in existence, with the fine flowers of L. 
arboreus, and the best habit of L. polyphyllus. 
Lobelia Rivoirei, a pale pink form of the cardinalis 
and fulgens type, betrays the advance made in that 
direction ; whilst of late summer and early autumn 
flowering plants we have only to mention Helenium 
autumnale superbum, with its huge branching head 
of golden flowers, and those charming Rudbsckias 
Golden Glow and Autumn Glory. 
-- 4 —- 
ARNEBIA CORNUTA. 
Most growers of hardy plants are familiar with 
the Prophet Flower (A. echioides), but the two 
annuals now in cultivation are more manageable, and 
may be raised in any quantity from seeds sown in 
the open air in April. A. Griffithi is a native of the 
Himalayas, but A. cornuta is a native of the Orient 
and Turkestan, from whence it has been recently 
introduced to cultivation, though previously known 
to science for a good many years. The plant varies 
by dense clusters of long-tubed flowers, having a flat, 
shallowly five lobed limb. The flowers are of a 
bright golden yellow, with five heart-shaped black 
blotches, and are produced in profusion over a long 
period. The accompanying illustration was lent us 
by Mr. T. S. Ware, Ltd , Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham. 
THE CHINA ASTER. 
Several names have been given to this plant, which 
has been cultivated for so many years, probably 
centuries, that it has given rise to a complicated race 
of garden varieties, necessitating classification under 
several sections. Linnaeus named it Aster chinen- 
sis, and that, at first sight, would seem to suffice ; 
but more recent botanists say that it is not an 
Aster at all. The Index Kewensis records it under 
the name of Callistephus hortensis. Other variants 
upon this are Callistephus chinensis, Aster chinensis, 
and A. sinensis. A “ Rose by any other name would 
smell as sweet,” and the plant under notice will sim¬ 
ply be the China Aster to gardeners, and nothing 
more. 
The varieties cherished in gardens everywhere 
are double, with either quilled, fluted, or flat florets. 
Now and again single varieties would turn up 
amongst the seedlings, but gardeners usually regard 
them as rogues or weeds to be exterminated, and 
a charming hybrid, H. brizoides has been raised by 
crossing that species with H. Richardsoni. The 
progeny has a double-barrelled attractiveness, for it 
not only produces sprays of rich crimson flowers with 
great freedom but the foliage turns a dark bronzy- 
purple in the autumn that makes the plant well 
worth growing for that alone. Ramondia pyrenaica 
alba was first offered in 1871, but it is still rare, 
although it is a gem of the first water. 
Anemone sylvestris flore pleno resembles in 
general habit the typical A. sylvestris, but it bears 
large double flowers on strong stalks pushed well 
above the foliage, and these are like nothing so much 
as a good Turkish Ranunculus. Given a moist, light 
soil it is one of the brightest plants in the border in 
the month of showers—April. Alyssum saxatile flore 
pleno is another instance of doubling to advantage. 
The herbaceous border has no more stately 
occupant than the Eremuruses, for not only is their 
beauty of a very high order of merit, but it is also dis¬ 
tinct from that of anything else. That charming 
species E. robustus has given rise to a number of 
seedlings, of which the best is E. r. elwesianus. It is 
fully three weeks earlier than the type, and rather a 
stronger grower, with more pink in the flowers. E. 
himalaicus is a gem with white or pale blusb-wbite 
flowers, and rich yellow anthers ; the spike being 
remarkably dense and showy. It is one of the hardiest 
of Eremuruses, although it, too, needs to be protected 
from cutting winds. 
Amongst plants of similar habit we mav count the 
Poker plants (Kniphofia-). Our old friend K. coral- 
lina has also given birth to a number of seedlings, of 
which one of the most distinct is K. c. superba, with 
colossal spikes of bright coral flowers. The nodding 
Foxglove of the woodland has now bequeathed its 
trust to a very handsome race of descendants known 
as Digitalis purpurea grandiflora which, while their 
hardiness and vigour is unimpaired, exhibit a marked 
improvement in the size and varied colours of the 
flowers. 
To pass from these stately plants to a diminutive, 
but none the less beautiful one, Calochortus Purdyi, 
has achieved fame during the past year. Its white, 
heavily bearded flowers, with the characteristic purple 
eye, constitute it one of the finest of the Mariposa 
Lilies. 
It was known prior to 1898 that the Bellflowers 
exhibited a wide range of variation, but the curious 
C. mirabilis has been introduced from the Caucusus 
to extend this range still further. The large, pale blue 
flowers are, undoubtedly, those of a Campanula, 
although the round, succulent leaves and fleshy root- 
stock are so distinct. 
The varieties of Pyrethrum roseum are legion ; and 
yet there is always room for good, new ones. Lady 
Kildare, a grand double flower of pale peach hue 
with an apricot centre, gives us yet another colour 
The China Aster (Callistephus hortensis). 
from 1 ft. to 2 ft. in height according to the richness 
or otherwise of the soil in which it is grown, and the 
character of the season. In dry soils and seasons 
the plant is dwarfer and appears well calculated to 
withstand drought. The branching plant is clothed 
with lanceolate leaves, the branches being surmounted 
only the inconvenience of having blanks in the beds 
or plantations, at a time when blanks are an abhor- 
ence, prevents these stray singles from being forth¬ 
with uprooted. Now it has been shown that a single 
China Aster may be, and is really, very beautiful, 
thanks to Messrs. Barr & Sons. King Street, Covent 
