THE GARDENING WORLD. 
488 
March 13, 1897. 
SPECIMEN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
No doubt the beau ideal of all growers will to some 
extent differ; but it may be fairly asiumed that the 
reproduction from an original photo which you gave 
last week will, iu the maiD, accord with most 
people's conception of what a specimen Chrysanthe¬ 
mum should be. At the same time it seems to me 
that the Mrs. G. Rundle, as represented, was not 
quite up to the mark in respect to the number of 
flowers. They seemed rather too wide apart. My 
notion is that to reach perfection, not only should 
the foliage be well retained, but the flowers ought 
not to be more widely distributed than just enough 
to show them off to advantage. Either the indivi¬ 
dual blooms should have been much larger or largely 
increased in numbers. As an illustration of the wide 
divergence of opinion upon this subject, 1 will relate 
an incident which occurred at one of the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s meetings at South Kensing¬ 
ton during the early part of the seventies. When a 
small prize was offered for six specimen show Chry¬ 
santhemums, I am not quite certain, but think there 
were only two lots put up, one by Mr. Forsyth con¬ 
sisting of some of the leading varieties of that- day, 
grown after the style of the specimen represented in 
your last issue, and the other by Mr. James, then of 
Isleworth. Those of the latter were incurved 
varieties grown in either No. 24 or 16 pots, after the 
present style of growing cut blooms for exhibition 
purposes, three flowers to a plant, and very well 
done. To the surprise of most and disgust of some 
present, the judges placed these first and the big 
specimens second ; and although quite contrary to 
the general procedure, and having seen a fair 
amount of Chrysanthemum shows since, I cannot 
bring myself to call in question their decision. The 
one lot had an artificial look about it ; the other 
looked fresher and more natural. I suppose that as 
the show boards have been enlarged to properly 
display the large mops which have come into fashion, 
gardeners will have to enlarge the house accommo¬ 
dation for the 22 ft. specimen which Brother 
Jonathan is going to treat us with.— W. B. G. 
--—- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
CYCLAMEN AT GODINGTON PARK, 
ASHFORD, KENT. 
The Cyclamen is a most popular flower and growing 
more so every year, and rightly too when seen as 
here. No florists' flower is more useful, and none 
other at this season of the year produces such a 
succession of flowers which last a considerable time 
than these. I was most agreeably surprised to find 
some 200 to 300 well-grown plants, some with as many 
as six dozen expanded flowers in 32-pots, and many in 
6o-pots carrying two dozen. Such grand varieties as 
Sutton’s Butterfly, the best of whites, the deep 
coloured Vulcan, the delicate Salmon Queen, and 
this giant strain are everything one could wish. Mr. 
William Frost is to be congratulated upon his 
success. The dozen plants he showed in London, at 
the Chrysanthemum Show at the Aquarium on 
December 3rd, astonished many of our brother 
gardeners and professional growers, and for which he 
was most worthily awarded 1st prize, and which 
were ooly a few of the many grand examples of 
Cyclamen culture as seen here..— Kusticus. 
APPLE BRABANT BELLEFLEUR. 
British Apples become scarce by the time that 
March comes upon us ; nevertheless.there are several 
varieties that maintain their reputation for another 
three months under good treatment. Some samples 
of the above that reached us recently from a corres¬ 
pondent were both attractive in colour, in excellent 
preservation and palatable. The fruits are of large 
size, varying in shape frcm conical to oblate, the 
former being the prevalent form. The sunny cheek 
at this season of the year is bright red, streaked with 
crimson, while the other is clear yellow. The flesh 
is of a clear yellowish-white or almost pure white 
for an Apple, crisp, tender, juicy and slightly acidu¬ 
lated rather than sweet, a quality which should make 
it useful for culinary purposes, even if it should not 
please the palate of those who give preference to 
such as have the sweetness of Cox's Orange Pippin. 
Tne variety is much liked by a large number of 
growers for late use. 
AESCHYNANTHUS LOBBII. 
Less attention is paid to the species of Aeschynanthus 
as basket plants for the stove, than they deserve. 
Numerous species have been introduced to cultiva¬ 
tion at ore time or other, and that under notice, 
though not the most gorgeous, is undoubtably one of 
the most easily managed. It only wants a compost 
of peat and loam, to be suspended in a basket from 
the roof of an intermediate or moderately warm 
stove, and to be attended to with water. The ovate_ 
light green, bronzy tinted, leathery leaves abund¬ 
antly clothe the drooping stems, which are slender 
and about a foot long. The curved and tubular 
flowers are borne in succession from the axils of the 
leaves. The outer face is bright scarlet, and the 
interior yellow, spotted with crimson in the throat 
of the flower. A plant has been flowering for 
months past in the garden of E. H. Watts., Esq., 
Devonhurst, Chiswick, under the care of Mr. J. 
Gibson. 
CONOCLINIUM IANTHINUM OR 
HEBECLINIUM IANTHINUM. 
Amongst the many novelties of grand culture at 
Hothfield Gardens, Ashford, Kent, is the above. 
There are, I believe, only two species in commerce, 
and both are well worth growing as winter-flowering 
stove plants. The other is C. atrorubens, which 
varies from the one above mentioned by being 
slightly coarser in growth, more woolly in the leaf, 
and a shade darker in colour, which is a lavender- 
blue. C. ianthinum, as seen at Hothfield, in grand 
plants in 32-pots, about 2 ft. high, as much through, 
and producing eight to nine heads of flowers like 
gigantic Ageratum trusses, will be found a useful 
plant for winter work. This grand old place has 
greatly improved during these last few years in every 
department, and will continue to do so in the practical 
hands of Mr. William Craik.— Rusticus. 
FREESIA REFRACTA ALBA. 
For some time past a splendid batch of this popular 
plant has been a feature of one of the houses at The 
Croft, Park Hill, Ealing, the residence of T. Lilley, 
Esq. The bulbs had been more thinly potted than 
we are accustomed to see them, there being only 
about five in each 48 size pot. The plants were 
brought on slowly, and must have been admirably 
treated in every respect, judging from the remarkably 
vigorous growth they made. The leaves would 
remind one of Crocosmia aurea when well grown 
under favourable conditions, or even of Gladiolus 
Colvillei. The stems, leaves, and flowers varied 
from 18 in. to 2 ft in height or more; the trusses 
of flowers were correspondingly large, deliciously 
fragrant, and in every way testified to the ability of 
the gardener, Mr. John Hay. Richardia africana 
was equally vigorous, the strength and bulk of the 
leaf stalks bffng remarkable. The spathes were of 
good substance and measured 6 in. across. Mr. Hay 
evidently understands these soft-wooded plants, but 
he is also an exce'lent fruit and vegetable gardener. 
MESSRS. LAING'S CYCLAMEN. 
The other day we received samples of the strain of 
Cyclamen grown by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest 
Hill, London. The colours ranged from pure white 
to dark reddish-crimson. The latter belonged to the 
ordinary C. persicum type, as a giant strain of a real 
crimson or maroon-crimson still remains a desidera¬ 
tum. Intensity of colour for some reason or other 
seems to cling to the smaller size of flowers. Never¬ 
theless the floriferous character of the plants makes 
compensation for lack of size One or two shades of 
an intense purple or reddish-purple were also very 
pretty. Then came white and blush varieties with a 
dark purple base, and which serve to increase the 
number of colours, adding value to the strain. The 
giant strain was also represented by white flowers 
with a purple base. The pure white flowers belong¬ 
ing to the giant strain are always highly appreciated 
in every establishment. The flowers in this instance 
were notable for the great breadth of their segments, 
and the consequent massiveness of the flowers. The 
popularity of the Cyclamen is increasing every year, 
and we may assume that to be a true indication of 
their usefulness. 
BEGONIA GLOIRE DE SCEAUX. 
The bold character of the bronzy olive-green leaves 
of this garden hybrid are very striking in themselves ; 
but they become more valuable from a decorative 
point of view in association with flowers. The latter 
in themselves would be easy to surpass by those of 
many garden plants, but owe their value in a large 
measure by association with such fine foliage. Each 
leaf is of great size, and this is increased in propor¬ 
tion to good cultivation ; it is obliquely heart-shaped 
and purple beneath. For the last few years great 
attention has been given to this Continental hybrid 
the popularity in its favour setting in practically 
since the first group of it made its appearance in 
public. It is now cared for and well-grown in many 
private establishments and elsewhere ; and this 
oomes as a result of what is likely to happen when a 
neglected plant is taken up by a sympathetic culti¬ 
vator, and its capabilities shown off to the best 
advantage. These facts were again brought to mind 
on seeing some fine, bushy and pyramidal specimens 
1$ ft. to 2$ ft. in height in the gardens at Falkland 
Park, South Norwood Hill. 
SUCCESSFUL CULTURE OF CANNAS. 
The beautiful new forms of Canna are yearly 
becoming more popular. Those of Crozy's hybrids, 
with dwarf habit and gorgeous flowers in the hands 
of the florist, are rapidly gaining favour both for 
bedding out and for decorative purposes. A happy 
idea struck Mr. Fox, the gardener of Batteshall 
Mount, Worcester, last summer in connection with 
these beautiful and useful subjects. A new span- 
roof house having been erected and finished too late 
for the purpose he intended it, for a stop-gap 
arrangement he planted out a bed throughout the 
centre of the house, intermixing with them Lilium 
auratum. The result was a grand show. The 
Cannas assumed, with free root run, noble pro¬ 
portions, reaching 6 ft. to 8 ft. high, with corres¬ 
pondingly firm spikes of bloom ; not only did the 
plants flower well, but long. I saw in November 
cut spikes a foot in length ; the flowers were beautifully 
marked, stout and firm in texture. — A.P. 
GOLD LACED POLYANTHUS. 
A question was asked in The Gardening World 
of February 27th concerning the qualities of Poly¬ 
anthus Middleton Favourite as compared with Mrs. 
Brownhill. Middleton Favourite is a red ground, 
well laced with gold, a free grower, and one of the 
best of its class or colour in cultivation. Mrs. 
Brownhill is a black ground, well laced with gold, 
and the best of that colour grown. The following 
sorts are grown in our neighbourhood: —Mrs. Brown¬ 
hill, Middleton Favourite, Cheshire Favourite, 
Lancer, Exile, Sidney Smith, George IV., William 
IV., and President, besides some seedlings that are 
not yet named.— George Thornley, Hebers, Middleton. 
CORDYLINE ARGENTEO-STRIATA. 
A very handsome and somewhat rare Cordyline is 
this, the merits of which should be made known far 
and wide. The leaves are linear-lanceolate in shape, 
acuminate, and gracefully arched over from the stem. 
The variegation consists of narrow lines of silvery- 
white running from base to apex. The plant 
naturally takes on a symmetrical habit, and holds its 
leaves well to the bottom. 
* 
A few remarks on seed sowing may be useful to 
beginners at this important season in the kitchen 
garden. It is always desirable to make an early start 
with every crop, but the state of the soil and the 
surrounding condition of atmosphere must be taken 
into consideration if early germination is expected. 
The barometer should be studied for settled weather, 
and a thermometer a foot under ground will give a 
useful guide to the degree of warmth. When this 
rises to 40° or 45® all hardy plants will germinate, 
and when the heat reaches between 458 and 50° ger¬ 
mination soon takes place. Where it is desirable to 
have an early plant, the beds or rows should be 
covered at nights after sunny days, this will preserve 
a much more equable temperature and facilitate 
growth. The nature of the soil must also be con¬ 
sidered. A cold heavy soil will require special care, 
or the loss of good seed will be the result. In such 
a case it is always advisable to cover the seed with a 
prepared light sandy soil. In drawing the drills the 
point of the hoe and not the back of a rake should be 
used, as the latter method forms a firm channel in 
