572 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 6, 1899. 
open pastures. In indoor cultivation means must be 
adopted to prevent too frequent watering of the 
foliage. This has been done by some growers in 
America, as described by Arthur and Bolley. Pieces 
of wire netting bent into a /\ shape are placed between 
the rows of plants, so as to keep the lower leaves 
clear of the stages. The watering is done by a hose 
directed into the /\, and the water is distributed to 
the roots by a nozzle, delivering on both sides. 
Arthur and Bolley give illustrations in paper sent 
herewith. The method has been successful against 
this and other diseases of indoor Carnations. Where 
this disease has already shown itself, it may be 
checked by spraying the foliage with Bordeaux 
Mixture.” 
Vines Malformed.—Mr. G. Wythes, of Syon 
House, sent branches of Vines with malformed 
flowering branches, supposed to be due to fog ; but 
they presented a not uncommon condition of being 
tendrils bearing abortive buds. As Darwin pointed 
out, Vine tendrils are homologous with flowering 
shoots, and such transitional states between pure 
tendrils and bud-bearing ones occur on all Vines, 
and have nothing to do with external climatic 
conditions. 
Effect of Lightning on an Oak.—A specimen 
received from Dr. Plowright, of Lynn, showed how 
Oak wood is sometimes torn into longitudinal fibres 
by electricity. “ The trunk from which this specimen 
was taken was that of a tree grown in East Anglia, 
and purchased for timber by a timber merchant in 
King's Lynn, from whose woodyard it was obtained. 
The amount of injury was comparatively slight, 
consisting only of a groove cut from top to bottom 
of the trunk, about 2 in. wide, and extending only a 
very short distance into the woody tissues, but 
tearing them up longitudinally into strips several feet 
in length.” 
Witches' Broom on a Scotch Fir—This was 
received from Dr. Plowright, who writes :—“ The 
specimen is sent by Hamon L'Estrange, Esq., and 
was found growing upon one of the Fir trees in his 
park at Hunstanton Hall, Norfolk. It consists of a 
mass of hypertrophied ' dormant buds,' measuring a 
meter in circumference round its widest part, and 
weighs 2\ kilogrammes. It is borne upon a branch 
which shows eight annular rings and springs from a 
lateral shoot. It is interesting to observe that this 
shoot is itself hypertrophied, as compared with the 
corresponding one on the opposite side of the branch, 
but that this hypertrophy only extends as far as the 
growth, beyond which it is atrophied and dead. The 
growth itself consists of seven or eight rounded 
masses, composed of aborted shoots—partially deve¬ 
loped buds closely aggregated. The masses are of 
varying ages, some bearing green leaves, while others 
are quite dry and dead.” The origin is supposed to 
be due to the attack of a Phytoptus. 
Malformed bulbous plants.—A quantity of 
decayed and arrested bulbous plants were received, 
both from St. John’s Wood Cemetery of Marylebone 
and from Lincoln's Inn Fields Both cases illustrated 
the effect of premature growth from the very mild 
winter, followed by severe check during the week of 
frost, and subsequently by excessive wet. Mr. 
Henslow observed that on the high ground and 
clay soil of Holland Park bulbs have come 
up exceedingly well, having been planted in 
September. 
Apple trees’ affected by grubs.—Specimens 
received from the Chiswick Gardens were referred 
to Mr. McLachlan, who has reported as follows:— 
" The larva in the Apple twigs is no doubt that of 
Laverna vinolentella, which was formerly considered 
a variety of L. atra (the larva of which feeds on the 
fruit of Hawthorn) but is now regarded as distinct. 
I am not aware that it has ever been found sufficiently 
common to occasion serious damage, but as the egg 
is, no doubt, laid in or on a bud, and the depredation 
primarily confined to the bud, it is evident that 
the question of serious damage is only one of 
degree.” 
Odontoglossum Alexandrae.—Dr. Masters ex¬ 
hibited a spray on which every flower had three 
stamens instead of one only. It was received from 
Mr. Cookson. 
Jatropha podagrica.—This scarlet-flowered 
species was awarded a Botanical Certificate. It is a 
well-known plant in botanical gardens. 
The American Cranberry is superior to the British 
one for cultivating. 
SPRING BEDDING IN THE LONDON 
PARKS. 
Hyde Park. 
Perhaps nowhere, other than in our larger parks is 
there sn much of the really beautiful and decorative 
to be seen at this, the awakening period of the year. 
At our recent visit to Hyde and Regent's Parks our 
appreciation of the aesthetic in Nature was inevitable. 
We saw the charms of Hyde Park brought to their 
fullest under the bright light of the morning sud. 
There was the Serpentine stretching in a broad 
expanse over thirty acres. Its sides are skirted all 
along with tall, fresh-leaved trees, and over at the 
right hand margin they bend and touch the water. 
Away in the distant view we see a sturdy five-arched 
bridge spanning the lake, and beyond it great clouds 
of trees which bank up the background and give 
relief to such a sight as we might only look for in 
nobler country estates. Rising banks of the prettiest 
green fall back along the southern boundary of the 
water and from between the trees glimpses of the 
distant city homes come to us. On our left again, 
Rotten Row with its galloping scores of equestrians, 
and a little beyond it the flashes from sun-smitten 
weapons and accoutrements of many soldiers, and 
the wafted strains of their music gave the additional 
items to an ideal scene. But we had gone purposely 
to see the flowers and their arrangement. Mr. 
Brown, the superintendent, after a pleasant chat 
gave us an escort in one of his able "lieutenants,” 
Mr. J. Linford, who very courteously showed us 
throughout the park. 
Glancing first at that large and very brilliant 
series of beds along the southern boundary of the 
park, one or two of the more massive beds, all of 
which are laid in grass and well raised up, take the 
eye even amid all the others. A " Red, White and 
Blue” combination may be mentioned, consisting of 
Hyacinth La Francaise, white; H. Priestley, light 
blue; and H. Mdme. Rachel, deep pink; while to 
give grace to the show, the Campernelle swings 
interspersedly above the Hyacinths. This bed took 
the public eye as well as any. 
Beds with a " body” of one variety and an edging 
of another are fairly ccmmon. Hyacinth Von 
Schiller, a deep pink or rose type, filled the centre 
of a bed to which H. Regulus made a bordering, 
and Narcissus maximus was used to lighten all. One 
of the richest beds of the season was that of 
Hyacinths Grand Maitre, Marie Stuart, and Lord 
Macaulay, and Narcissus Emperor. For a neat bed 
we recommend an oblong one containing the crimson 
Queen of the Hyacinths, edged with the peach- 
coloured H. La Francaise and N. Sir Watkin dotted 
throughout. Hyacinth Grand Maitre filled more than 
one bed, used alone. Mr. Linford thinks this one of 
the best varieties we have. He also thinks well of 
Narcissus Horsfieldii, of which a large quantity of 
fine blooms are facing one way and another in the 
different beds. Shades of red, deep yellow, and 
blue one would hardly imagine would go well 
together, yet one of the nicest beds was such a 
union of colours. Narcissus odorus, Hyacinth 
Priestley, pale blue, and H. King of the Belgians 
made this display. 
A fashionable coloured bed resulted from the blue 
H. Priestley and the white Marie Stuart. For a 
sweet and very effective, round, corner bed what 
could surpass such a one where the blue Scilla 
sibirica made a bright display below the much taller 
yellow Narcissus odorus ? 
Other fine circular beds had selected Primroses 
and Polyanthuses. The Joost van Vondel Tulip 
was much in evidence, as wereT. Keizer Kroon and 
T. Proserpine, all of which had splendid spikes and 
large, well-formed blooms. What a living flame 
does the little scarlet Windflower (Anemone fulgens) 
make ! A brilliant show was put forth by a bed of 
dwarf Wallflower Beauty of Cranford, and a purple 
Tulip named Rembrandt. 
Narcissus maximus keeps its colour well, and for 
this it may be recommended. One of the finest 
beds in the host resulted from T. Due van Vandel 
and T. Yellow Prince, with a groundwork or carpet¬ 
ing of Pyrethrums. Later on, when the Tulips 
have died down and the Pyrethrums are up, Violas 
are put in, and, being sheltered and shaded, they do 
exceedingly well. 
For blaze of colour and richness the union of 
Tulip Proserpine and T. Keizer Kroon is undoubtedly 
unsurpassed. Near the Marble Arch the shrubbery 
is belted with a mixed flower border, whose 
heterogeneous gaudiness probably suits the popular 
taste. At the far end of the lake from here there is 
another border much like this, and really the show 
could not be excelled. Tulip Thomas Moore, an 
ochre-yellow, and Hyacinth Fabiola were very 
strong, good and regular. The beds and borders are 
often stirred and hoed, and everything is very 
spruce. 
Kensington Gardens were visited, but the show 
of flowers here is not great. These gardens are 
fresh with many wooded walks and avenues of Horse 
Chestnut trees nearly in full leaf. We can imagine 
nothing more invigorating or refreshing than a quiet 
stroll or a short rest among these shady glades. The 
larger trees are all in verdant newness, including the 
Laburnums and scarlet bushes of Pyrus japonica,. 
flowering standard Peach or Almond trees with 
drooping Birches and Lilacs, and mounds of Ivy, 
Cedars, Magnolias, and Bamboos, all in loose 
arrangement, and all just in the best places. Sheets 
of blue Scillas and the Grape Hyacinth, Primroses, 
and Violets make a winding, varied carpet, and are 
more beautiful to many than are the briliiant blooms 
away up in the larger park. Mr. Brown has cea- 
tainly a very large and varied charge, but judging 
from results and the general condition of all we saw 
no one could satisfy demands in a better way. 
-■ » ■ - 
ORCHIDS FROM CRAIGCLOWAN, 
PERTH. 
A boxful of Orchid flowers reaches us from Mr. F. 
Nicoll, gardener to Thomas Roy, Esq., Craigclowan, 
Perth. Craigclowan lies about two miles south of the 
ancient city of Perth, nestling amongst hills, and 
commanding a fine view of that place, while the 
classic Tay winds its way seawards through the 
grounds. 
The proprietor is a great lover of Orchids, and 
commenced about six years ago to get together a 
collection, having made marvellous progress in the 
time. His gardener has been equally successful in 
the management of the collection, which is now ex¬ 
tensive. Great attention is paid to cool Orchids, 
and, needless to say, a large percentage of the 
flowers sent belonged to the genus Odontoglossum. 
A spray of O. Hallii was taken from a plant of one 
" lead ” carrying seventy-two flowers. A spike of 
O. polyxanthum (No. i) carried eleven large flowers 
of a richly coloured and dark blotched variety. 
Some detached blooms were even finer in having 
much broader segments, and measuring 4 in. by 
3i in. across both ways of the flower. A striking 
form of O. luteo-purpureum (No. 2) was notable for 
tbe rich chestnut-red covering the whole area of the 
sepals, with the exception of the base and tip; while 
the petals and lip were handsomely blotched with 
the same hue. The flowers of d. triumphans were 
of great size, and richly coloured. A form of O. 
l.-p. sceptrum also accompanied the rest. 
O. crispum usually so prominent did not figure 
largely in the consignment of flowers, but one form 
was exceptional in that the golden disc was the only 
contrast to the pure white of the rest of the flower. 
Another had a small spot on each sepal and petal. 
O. c. ruckerianum had large flowers, richly tinted 
with rose. O. Pescatorei was also represented by 
variously-tinted flowers. O. Cervantesii is always a 
charming little thing with its concentrically arranged 
brownish-purple bands in the centre. Equally or 
more pleasiDg is O. C. rosea, delicate in colour, and 
charming in form. O. Rossii majus is evidently a 
favourite at Craigclowan, judging from the number 
of varieties sent. Many of the flowers were large for 
this type, and many of them characterised by a pure 
white lip and petals, the latter being spotted at the base 
only. Other equally large flowers were more or less 
tinted and veined with lilac, thus showing a tendency 
towards O. R. rubescens. One flower had a curiously 
small lip and a white crest. 
Richly-coloured flowers of Oncidium sarcodes 
represented a beautiful species now in season, and 
well adapted for cut flower work, as it lasts well. 
The orange blotch in the throat of Dendrobium for- 
mosum giganteum was very rich. Miltonia 
vexillaria was represented by many flowers of large 
size, ranging in colour from a soft pink to dark rose- 
purple, the latter being a very handsome variety, the 
lip and the petals having the richest colours. Miltonia 
cuneata (No. 3) was represented by a beautiful 
