270 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 26, 1896. 
and finer of the two plants has collapsed in a 
remarkable fashion in the short space of three days 
from the time when the first signs of distress on the 
part of the plant were apparent. Upon examination 
it turned out that the roots were attacked by a 
fungus which was responsible for all the mischief. 
Naturally some fears are entertained for the safety 
of the remaining plant which is growing in a pot 
standing a few inches deep in the water in the tank 
of the Victoria House. Should this one also 
succumb to the insidious destroyer, Kew will be the 
poorer by two specimens of a most interesting and 
curious plant. 
CYPRiPEDIUM INSIGNE. 
No matter whether this old favourite is considered 
to be surpassed in beauty by some of the other 
species, and the numerous hybrids now upon the 
market, there is very little doubt that for usefulness 
to the ordinary gardener it still holds a foremost 
place— a position, moreover, from which it is scarcely 
probable that it will soon be ousted. It is grown in 
numbers at Kew, and one might go a long way before 
discovering a more meritorious batch than that in 
flower there at the time of writing. The plants are 
arranged on the central stage of the cool Orchid 
house, facing the door, so that visitors coming into 
the T range by that entrance lose nothing of the 
effect. Not only are the plants clean, and the foliage 
vigorous, substantial, and of good colour, but the 
flowers are numerous, and well above the average 
size, the colour, moreover, being excellent. 
BIGNONIA VENUSTA. 
This pretty climber is not nearly so frequently met 
with as its merits would entitle it to be. Probably the 
fact of its being rather a shy flowerer is mainly re¬ 
sponsible for this. Like most of the Bignonias it 
requires plenty of sunlight to ripen the wood 
sufficiently, and unless this state of things obtains it 
is very little use expecting it to flower. The summer 
of 1896 has been very much to its liking, with the 
large amount of bright sunlight and tropical heat. A 
fine specimen of it is now flowering with Mr. 
Wythesin one of the wings of the large conservatory 
at Syon House. The flowers are rather small, 
bright orange-crimson in colour, and produced in 
many flowered terminal corymbs, which, when 
allowed to hang pendant from the roof, are exceed¬ 
ingly handsome. Indeed it would be hard to find a 
brighter touch of colour in the months of late 
autumn and early winter, and if the plants could only 
be induced to abandon the bad habit of shyness, and 
flower pretty regularly each year, it could scarcely 
fail to become a favourite. It is a native of Brazil. 
Questions add snsmeFS 
*,* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged by their so doing. 
[ Correspondents , please note that we cannot undertake to 
name florists' flowers such as Carnations, Pelargoniums, 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, nor such as are mere garden 
varieties, differing only in the colour of the flower. 
Florists' flowers, as a rule, can only be named by those who 
grow collections of them.] 
Names of Plants.— W. W.: 1, Salvia splendens ; 
2, Adiantum decorum ; 3, Aspidium (Cyrtomium) 
falcatum ; 4, Dactylis glomerata elegantissima ; 5, 
Chlorophytum elatum variegatum ; 6, Campanula 
gargaDica.— W. S.: 1, Lotus jacobaeus ; 2, Zalu- 
zianskia (Nycterinia) selaginoides ; 3, Sempervivum 
tortuosum variegatum; 4, Davallia elegans incisa; 
5, Agapanthus umbellatus variegatus.— J. H. : 1, 
Erica gracilis ; 2, Erica hyemalis ; 3, Libonia flori- 
bunda; 4, Pteris quadriaurita argyrea.— T. M.: 1, 
Oncidium crispum ; 2, Oncidium cheirophorum. 
Book on Carnation.— Omega : The best cheap 
book on the subject is “ The Carnation : its History, 
Properties, and Management,” by the late E. S. 
Dodwell. Whatever is said there may be relied 
upon, being the work of an expert. Its price is 
somewhat dearer than you state, being is. 7d. post 
free. 
Staining Flowers. — Ho mo : Various preparations 
are used for the purpose of staining flowers and 
similar objects. Methyl-green, Methyl-violet, 
Fuchsin, &c. are used but we believe your best plan 
would be to get some of the aniline dyes which have 
now been obtained of various colours, including 
aniline blue, green, black, purple, or mauve, red, 
magenta, violet, yellow, and orange. A little of any 
of these should be diluted in water and the cut 
flowers placed with their stalks in the liquid, so that 
the dyes may be absorbed into their tissues and so 
reach the flowers, staining them with whatever 
colour may be used. 
Herbaceous Flowers for Cutting.— James Turner : 
In the front row you may plant Campanula turbinata, 
C. carpatica and its varieties, C. Van Houttei, 
Centaurea montana and its white and red varieties, 
Papaver nudicaule in variety, Armeria cephalotes, 
Dianthus hybridus Napoleon III., Erysimum ochro- 
leucum, Cheiranthus Marshalli, Geum coccineum 
plenum, Helenium pumilum, Christmas and Lenten 
Roses, English and German Irises, Platycodon 
grandiflorum, Hesperis matronalis alba fl. pi., 
Lychnis Viscaria splendens, Forget-me-nots, and 
others of that class. In the second line plant 
Gypsophila paniculata, Achillea Ptarmica The 
Pearl, Pentstemon barbatus Torreyi, early or summer 
Phloxes, Eryngium giganteum, E. alpinum, Pyreth- 
rums, single and double, Campanula persicifolia alba 
grandiflora, Aquilegias of various sorts, Alstroemeria 
aurantiaca, Rudbeckia speciosa, Hemerocallis flava, 
H. fulva, Coreopsis lanceolata, Chrysanthemum 
maximum, Doronicum plantagineum excelsum, &c. 
In the third line put autumn Phloxes, double 
Paeonies, Anemone japonica alba, Galega officinalis 
alba, Helianthus rigidus, H. r. Miss Mellish, H. 
multiflorus fl. pi., Iris sibirica, Hyacinthuscandicans, 
Veronica longifolia subsessilis, Asters, &c. In the 
back line plant Delphiniums, tall Sunflowers, Lyth- 
rum Salicaria, Lychnis chalcedonica fl. pi , Everlast¬ 
ing Peas, and various others too numerous to 
mention on this occasion. Say what kinds you find 
most useful and we will give varieties, &c. 
Arrangement of a Herbaceous Border..— James 
Turner: A border 9 ft, wide should be wide enough 
for four rows of plants running the long way of the 
ground. The back row should be 18 in. from the 
edge of the border; the next about 3 ft. in front of 
the first; the third about 2£ ft. from the previous 
one; and the front row 6 in. from the walk, thus 
leaving 18 in. between it and the row next behind it. 
Each row should alternate with the other to give 
variety, avoid formality and give the plants the full 
advantage of exposure to light. The dwarf plants in 
the front row may be allowed to form wider patches 
than those in the back row so as to occupy the 
ground. Patches of spring flowering bulbs may be 
planted In the rows between the other subjects so as 
to afford a supply for cutting in April, May and 
June. These bulbs may consist of white and yellow 
trumpet Daffodils, single and double Poet’s Narcissus, 
Hyacinths, if you like them, Fritillaries, Gladiolus 
Colvillei The Bride, G. gandavensis in variety, &c. 
Temperature of Greenhouse — Omega ; The 
lowest night temperature at which a greenhouse 
should be kept in winter, depends entirely upon the 
contents of the house. Such things as Pelar¬ 
goniums, Indian Azaleas, Fuchsias, &c., may be 
kept in a healthy condition, provided the frost is 
merely kept out. The temperature may be down at 
32° in the morning occasionally, without any harm 
accruing. On the contrary if you wish to keep 
Chinese Primulas, Cinerarias, Cyclamens, and 
similar plants in a growing and flowering condition, 
the temperature should be kept somewhere between 
45 9 and 50 9 , not much above nor below those 
figures. State the nature of the plants in the green¬ 
house and we can speak more definitely. 
Communications Received.—A. Hope.—W. B. G. 
—J. Peebles.—Rusticus.—J. Hole.—Gyp.—Wm. 
Keen.—Florum Amator.—A. Grigor.—J. M., B.— 
P. Weathers.—H. Bailey.—Wm. Handel Cannon — 
J. M.—S. H.—J. L—A. J —W. M.—R. L.—W. 
Ames.—Ricardo.—B. T. S.—Y. M.—Smith.—X. Y. 
A. B.—May.—F. Elson.—C. C.—Chr. Lorenz. 
-—-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
James Carter & Co., High Holborn, London.— 
Carters’ Tested Garden Seeds, 1897. 
Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, Scotland, and Orpington, 
Kent.—Dobbie’s Catalogue and Competitors' Guide, 
Spring, 1897. 
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset.—Kelway’s 
Manual of Seeds, Plants and Bulbs for 1897. 
Chr. Lorenz, Erfurt, Germany.—Lorenz’s Illus¬ 
trated Catalogue for Owners of Gardens, Amateur 
and Professional. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries, Upper Holloway, London, N.—Descrip¬ 
tive List of Flower, Vegetable and Agricultural 
Seeds, Horticultural Sundries, &c. 
Dicksons (Limited) Chester.—Select Vegetable 
and Flower Seeds, Seed Potatos, Garden Tools, &c. 
J. R. Pearson & Sons, Chilwell Nurseries, Notts. 
—Descriptive List of Garden Seeds, Garden 
Sundries, &c.: also Chrysanthemum Catalogue, 
1896. 
John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, West 
Norwood, London, S.E.—Peed's Seed Catalogue for 
1897- 
Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle.—Garden Seeds. 
1897. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET 
December 2yd, 1896. 
Fruit.—Average ’ 
I. d t. d. 
Apples.per bushel 26 40 
Black Currants j sieve 
Red „ J sieve 
Cherries half sieve... 
Nova Scotia Apples 
per barrel 
Cob Nuts and Fil¬ 
berts, per ioolbs. 35 0 
Vegetables.—Averac 
i. d. 1. d. 
ArtlchokesGlobedor. 205° 
Asparagus,per bundle 
Beans, French, per 
half sieve 2629 
Beet.per dozen 20 30 
Brussel Sprouts, 
per half sieve x 6 1 g 
Cabbages ... per doz. 10 13 
Carrots ... per bunch 0 3 
Cauliflowers.doz. 20 30 
Celery.per bundle 1 0 
Cucumbers per doz. 16 30 
Endive, French, doz, 1 6 
Wholesale Prices. 
t. d, s. d. 
Grapes, per lb . 06 16 
Pine-apples. 
—St. Mlobael's each 26 60 
Plums per £ sieve. 
Strawberries, per lb. 
Tasmanian Apples, 
per case 
1 Wholesale Prices 
1, i, s. d. 
Herbs .per bunch 0 2 
Horse Radish, bundle 20 40 
Lettuces ...per dozen 1 3 
Mushrooms, p. basket 1016 
Onions.per bnnoh 04 06 
Parsley ... per bunch 0 3 
Radishes... per dozen 1 6 
Seakale...per basket 
Smallsalading,punnet o 4 
Spinach per bushel 20 23 
Tomatos. per lb. o 3 04 
Turnips.per bun. 3 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. j. d 
Arnm Lilies. i2blms. 40 60 
Asparagus Fern, bun. 16 30 
Azalea, doz. sprays... 09 10 
Bcuvardlas, per bun. 06 09 
Carnations doz.blms. 06 20 
Chrysanthemums, doz. 
blooms 10 60 
Chrysanthemums, doz. 
bnches. 30 60 
Euoharls ...per doz 3040 
Gardenias ...per doz. 16 30 
Geranium, scarlet, 
doz. bunches 4090 
Hyacinths (Roman) 
doz. sprays 1 0 16 
Lilium lancifolium, 
doz. blooms 16 26 
Lillnm longlflorrm 
per doz. 50 80 
Lilac, White (French) 
per bnch. 4050 
Lily of the Valley doz. 
sprays 10 26 
Mzrguerltes, 12 bnn. 20 40 
MaidenhairFern,i2bs.4 060 
1. d. s. d. 
Mimosa, per bnch. ...10 16 
Orchids, doz. blooms 1 6 12 0 
Pelargoniums,12 bun. 40 go 
Pyrethrum doz. bun. 20 40 
Roses (Indoor), doz. 06 16 
,, Tea,white, doz. 10 22 
„ Niels . 60 90 
,, Safrano . 10 20 
„ (English), 
Red Roses, doz.1 016 
Pink Roses, doz.. 20 30 
Smilax, per bunch ...20 40 
Tuberoses, doz. 
blooms .04 o g 
Primula, doable, doz. 
sprays 0609 
Poinsettia, doz blms. 9 0 15 o 
Violets (French) per 
doz. bnches. 1626 
Violets (English) per 
doz. bnches. 1626 
Violets (Parma) per 
bnch. 30 40 
Violets Czar, large, per 
bnch. 2030 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices 
t. d. 1. d 
Arbor Vitae (golden) 
per doz. 6 0 12 0 
Aspidistra, doz. 18 0 36 0 
„ specimen 30 50 
Chrysanthemums, per 
doz. 40 90 
„ per pot 1020 
Cyclamen, per doz.... g 0 1; 0 
Dracaena, various, 
per doz. 12 0 30 0 
Dracaena vlridls.doz. 9 0 18 0 
Euonymus, var. doz. 6 0 18 0 
Evergreens,lnvar.doz 6 0 24 0 
Erica, per dcz. 9 0 15 0 
1, d. t. d. 
Erica Hymalis, per 
doz. 12 0 15 0 
Ferns, invar.,per doz. 4 012 0 
Ferns, small, per 100 40 f 0 
Ficus elastica, each 1050 
Foliage Plants, var., 
each to 50 
Lycopodiums, doz. 30 40 
Marguerite Daisy doz.g 0 12 0 
Myrtles, doz. 60 90 
Palms in variety,each 1 o 15 0 
Palms, Specimen ...21 o 63 o 
Poinsettia, per doz....12 o iS 0 
Solanums, per doz. 12 0 15 0 
INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS 
Bulbs. 
Barr & Son .257 
A. J. Guilbert .257 
Catalogues. 
Barr & Son .257 
Bunyard & Co.257 
H J. Jones.258 
Kelway & Son .257 
C. Sharpe & Co.258 
R. Smith & Co.258 
Sutton & Sons .257 
J. Veitch & Sons.259 
Chrysanthemums. 
H. J. Jones.258 
R. C. Notcutt.257 
R. Owen.257 
W. Welch .257 
W. Welts .257 
Young & Dobinson.257 
Florists’ Flowers. 
H. Brochner.257 
A. J. Guilbert.257 
A. Pentney.257 
Flower Pots. 
Sankey & Sons, Ltd.272 
Fruit Trees. 
G. Bunyard & Co.258 
J. Laing & Sons .257 
R. Smith & Co.258 
Carden Sundries, &c. 
J. Arnold.257 
Essery'sCoal.272 
Hirst, Brooke & Hirst. ...257 
Porter’s Crocks.271 
H. G. Smyth.-....257 
Hardy Plants. 
M. Chapman.257 
Heating Apparatns. 
W. Cooper, Limited .272 
Messenger & Co.272 
Thames Bank Iron Co ...257 
Twelve Hours Stove 
Syndicate, Limited.272 
Horticultural Builders. 
I. Boyd & Sons.257 
W. Clark.257 
W. Cooper, Ltd. 
J. Gray.. 
W. Richardson & Co 
J. Weeks & Co. 
Insecticides. 
Gishurst Compound 
Manures. 
Clay & Son.. 
W. Colchester. 
.272 
Ichthemic . 
Kirk's .. 
. 257 
W. Thomson & Sons 
...272 
Miscellaneous. 
Darlington. 
Epp’s Cocoa. 
Gishurstine . 
Outram’s Holder .... 
Petroleum. 
Smyth’s Baskets. 
Mushroom Spawn. 
W. Cutbush & Son .... 
Orchids 
H. Brochner. 
J. Cypher . 
W. L. Lewis & Co. 
P. McArthur. 
F. Sander & Co . 
Raspberries. 
G. Bunyard & Co. 
.257 
J. W. Todman . 
Roses. 
J. Laing & Sons . 
H.B. Packer. 
Keynes, Williams Si Cc. 257 
R. Smith & Co. 
J. Walters. 
Seeds. 
J. R. Box . 
R. Smith & Co. 
Young & Co. 
Strawberries. 
B. G. Berry . 
...,.257 
J. Chivers . 
.257 
Head. 
R. Smith & Co. 
.257 
SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS 
Small Advertisements, solid type, 6d. per line of about nine 
words. Displayed Advertisements, per inch, 6s.; per column 
(12 ins. long), £3 5s.; per halfpage, £5; per page, £9. Special 
quotations given for a series. Gardeners and others Wanting 
Situations thirty words for is. 6d., prepaid. 
"GARDENING WORLD" OfRoe, 1, Clement't Inn, 
Strand, London, W.C, 
