April 24, 1897, 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
535 
midribs, but have revolute segments reminding one of 
aTurk’s-cap Lily. They are thinly arranged upon the 
scape, and therefore totally distinct from every 
other variety in the park A very dwarf and pure 
white Hyacinth named Mina is pretty and highly 
distinct in its way, the two beds of it being charming. 
Golden Spur Daffodil and Hyacinth Czar Peter 
(light blue with massive spikes) form another of the 
very best beds in the park, in our opinion. The 
contrast is most pleasing to the eye, even at a con¬ 
siderable distance. 
A series of single beds on the left of the path, pro¬ 
ceeding eastward, offers much pleasing variation, 
and though less pretentious than the double set are 
none the less pleasing. The massive light blue 
flowers of Hyacinth Regulus are produced in good- 
sized spikes, The Tulip beds are full of promise. A 
pleasing mixture consists of Hyacinth Czar Peter 
mixed with Narcissus rugilobus and edged with the 
dwarf Hyacinth Madame van der Hoop. Another 
bed contains a similar mixture of other varities. 
The bright dark blue of Hyacinth Orondates is bold 
and handsome. The dark blue Charles Dickens on 
a groundwork of the dwarf Madame van der Hoop, 
and mixed with Narcissus rugilobus, and edged with 
the red Hyacinth King of the Belgians is effective on 
account of the different heights of the respective 
varieties. Hyacinth Couronne de Celle (light blue) 
is peculiar in throwing up two spikes, one after the 
other from a large proportion of the bulbs. Another 
pleasing mixture consists of the dwarf Hyacinth 
Madame van der Hoop, the taller Priestly (light 
blue), and the still taller Narcissus Emperor ; the 
whole is edged with Hyacinth Lord Macaulay. A 
richly varied effect is also produced by a mixture of 
Hyacinth General Havelock (violet), Mont Blanc 
(white), and Narcissus rugilobus, all in diagonal 
lines, and edged with Hyacinth Gigantea. The effect 
is pleasing in its way, and has the effect of adding 
variety to the beds filled with one variety. The 
bulbs here, as well as in the other Royal London 
parks, were supplied by Messrs. J. Carter & Co., 
High Holborn, London. The accompanying illus¬ 
tration, lent by them, serves to show the massive 
character of the beds in Hyde Park. 
-*■» 
As the warmth from the sun increases daily, close 
attention must be given to the airing, thinning, and 
pricking out of Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflowers, and 
other crops that are being forwarded under glass. 
If such crops are allowed to become drawn and 
weakly, their value will be much decreased. Any 
watering required should be done in the early part 
of the day to allow the beds to become dry before 
closing the frames in the evening. Work multiplies 
rapidly at this season, and any arrears should be 
made up at once to start things fairly. Two 
enemies—-weeds and insects—should be extermin¬ 
ated on their first appearance in spring. The former 
ought not to be allowed to reach the flowering stage, 
and the surroundings of the latter should be made 
as unpleasant as possible. 
Scarlet Runners. —An early sowing of these 
may be made in an open sunny position sheltered 
from north and east winds. The drills should run due 
north and south, drawing them early on a sunny morn¬ 
ing and allowing them to remain open for a few hours 
before sowing, as the ground will gather considerable 
warmth in the meantime. A few dozen 48-sized 
pots may also be sown, filling them three-parts full 
of light sandy loam, and putting three seeds round 
the edges of each pot. These by placing them in 
warmth and gradually hardening them off will give 
the earliest supplies, as they can be transferred to a 
warm position without receiving any check. 
Beet.— A piece of good ground that has been well 
manured for previous crops, and is not too much 
exhausted should be selected for this crop. Trench¬ 
ing to a depth of 18 in., and thoroughly pulverising 
the ground is necessary to obtain the finest roots. 
The seed should be soaked for a few hours previous 
to sowing it in drills 15 in. to 18 in. apart. When 
sowing on a small scale the seeds may be dropped 
three or four together every 8 in. in the rows. 
These can be thinned to a single plant, and the hoe 
can be more freely worked among them as soon as 
the seedlings appear. Two good kinds are Dell’s 
Dwarf Red and Pragnell's Exhibition. For the 
earliest supplies the Egyptian Turnip-rooted can be 
recommended, especially for small gardens and 
shallow soils. It is also equally good in quality and 
keeping properties as the long-rooted kinds, and is a 
much handier root for cooking. 
Salsafy and Scorzonera. —Too early sowing 
is not advisable with these roots as they are liable 
to run to seed, and become tough. A sowing of 
each at the present time will give ample time for 
full development of the roots. To obtain nice 
straight roots the ground should be trenched 2 ft. 
deep, and allowed to settle before sowing. Sow in 
drills 1 ft. apart, taking care not to cover the seeds 
too deeply. When the young plants are strong 
enough to handle, thin out to 6 in. or 8 in. in the 
rows.—/. R. 
—-* 3 -- 
The Stove. 
The present time is what gardeners are apt to call 
a “ catchy ” one, for the sun pops in and out amongst 
the clouds with proverbial April fickleness, and the 
air sometimes warm and balmy blows chill and cold 
on occasion. As the majority of plants in the 
stove are now in the full flush of early growth it is 
most important that they should not be allowed to 
sustain a check from frequent fluctuations of tem¬ 
perature. The blinds also should not be suffered to 
remain down when the sky is obscured by clouds. 
The night temperature should not be suffered to 
decline below 70° Fahr., and as soon as it has risen 
to 75 0 in the morning air should be given, whilst 
8o° will be a fair maximum temperature for the day. 
Shut the house up not later than 3.30 p m., and 
earlier if it is so situated that the sun is off it, or if the 
day turns out to be dull In addition to the syring¬ 
ing, which should be copious, the shingle on the 
side stages should be damped the last thing before 
leaving-off time. The shingle holds the moisture, 
and prevents the necessity for throwing so much 
water upon the paths. 
Climbers. —The pressure of work up to the 
present time has been so great owing to the rush of 
potting that the borders in which the climbers are 
growing may well have been overlooked. This is a 
very good time to top dress them, and if this is 
thoroughly carried out the plants will be all the 
better for it. Previous to putting in the Dew soil 
some of the old should be taken out by means of a 
handfork, but the latter must be carefully used to 
avoid injury to roots, which may be near to the 
surface. 
Cycads.— These are throwing up their new fronds 
with great vigour, and as it would be a thousand 
pities to see them disfigured by mealy bug and scale 
a sharp look out must be kept upon the movements 
of these insects. Syringing with clear water is not 
enough, as the bug chiefly finds a lodgement on the 
under side of the pinnae. Turn the plants over on 
their side^, and give them a good syringing with a 
reliable insecticide, afterwards washing this off with 
clear water. It is also necessary to see that the 
young fronds have room to develop, that is that 
their neighbours are not pressing upon or injuring 
them. 
The Edges of the Stages. —In addition to 
growing dwarf plants in small pots for furnishing 
the front row of plants there is another way of 
covering up the edges of the stages adopted in not a 
few establishments with success. This is to push 
back the shingle all along the edge of the stage for a 
width of about four inches, and put in its place a 
small ridge of soil. Into this cuttings of Panicum 
and pieces of Selaginella may be dibbled. These 
soon take root and grow very freely, forming a 
capital edging, that by dint of judicious attention 
will last in condition through the summer until well 
on into the autumn. 
Poinsettias. — Not infrequently these are left 
beneath the stage or some equally unfavourable 
place for too long, the first cuttings being thereby 
damaged. As the plants are now all breaking into 
growth they should be moved up nearer the glass 
and may now be kept supplied with water. The 
cuttings will then be sturdy and short jointed. It 
will scarcely be possible to obtain a sufficient 
quantity of cuttings to form next year's stock at one 
time, so several batches will have to be put in during 
the next six or eight weeks as they can be obtained. 
Plenty of bottom heat is necessary to strike Poin¬ 
settias readily, and we have always been most suc¬ 
cessful with them when they were plunged in a good 
hot bed in its early stages. 
Hedychiums. —These beautiful plants do not 
receive the attention that they are entitled to. 
Possibly their large size is to blame for this, but 
where the stove is fairly roomy no plants could be 
better worth their place. They like a fair amount of 
heat and plenty of moisture, and indeed are never 
seen to greater advantage than they are when 
treated as sub-aquatics. Just now they will be all 
the better for liberal supplies of liquid cow manure. 
Caladiums. — For the very large and heavy 
leaved varieties stakes will be required. Let these 
be as light and thin as is consistent with the strength 
required. Take care also that the leaves are not 
torn by clumsiness in syringing, for the young leaves 
are delicate and will not stand a great deal of knocks 
ing about.— A. S. G. 
- 
©I^aninga fiiinnfljg JDmrlti 
of Scicnrq. 
Poisonous plants of Essex.—In Vol. Ill, at p. 77 
of The Journal of the Essex Technical Laboratories, Mr. 
J. C. Shenstone continues his account of the 
" Poisonous Plants of Essex." The Solanum family, 
including the Potato, contains some of the most in¬ 
tensely poisonous of the British flora. Notwithstand^ 
ing the wholesomeness of the tubers of the Potato, 
Mr. Shenstone notes a case of poisoning that was re¬ 
corded in the Lancet in i860. This can only occur 
when green tubers or sprouts of the same are boiled 
and eaten, and this could only be due to the careless¬ 
ness of the cook in the first instance. The leaves of 
the Bittersweet (Solanum Dulcamara) are narcotic 
and the fruits deleterious, yet they cannot be deadly 
poisonous for we have seen schoolboys chewing the 
stems for the sake of their peculiar flavour and no 
harm resulted. Mr. Shenstone says that Solanum 
nigrum has proved fatal in many cases. The Deadly 
Night-shade (Atropa Belladonna), Thorn Apple 
(Datura Stramonium), and Henbane (Hyoscyamus 
Niger) are all regarded as the most deadly poisonous 
members of the family belonging to our native flora. 
Used medicinally, however, they may be regarded as 
valuable plants. 
The Foxglove, Mezereon and Spurge Laurel 
are all highly poisonous plants, yet all are favourites 
in gardens and shrubberies, and are more or less used 
in medicine, or the two Daphnes for blistering pur¬ 
poses. Children, it is said, have died through eating 
the Sun Spurge and the Petty Spurge. Perennial 
Mercury is said to be poisonous to cattle. Frequent 
reports are given of cattle being poisoned through 
eating the leaves of the Yew, which are considered 
more deadly in a half-faded condition than when 
fresh. Mr. Shenstone says that fatal cases have 
occurred through eating the fruits of the Yew, and 
that some explain it by stating that the stone con¬ 
tains the poisonous principle. There are few we 
should think that would care to grind the hard stone ; 
but Mr. Shenstone thinks it the wisest plan to leave 
the fruits untasted. Nevertheless, we have frequently 
been refreshed or gratified with the pulp of the fruits 
of the Yew when on botanising expeditions, and have 
seen others partaking of them freely without symp¬ 
tom of harmful effect. 
The bulb of the English Bluebell is said to be 
very acrid, but there are few, we should think, that 
would be tempted to eat any part of this plant. 
Moreover, the bulbs of the Quamash (Camassia 
esculenta) a closely allied North American plant 
are eagerly collected by the Red Indians, and baked 
between hot stones when they assume the appear¬ 
ance of baked Pears, and have an agreeable, sweet 
taste, 
It is interesting to learn that Herb Paris (Pari3 
quadrifolia) still grows in Chaulkney Wood, Essex, 
where it was found by Gerard, of herbal fame, four 
hundred years ago. Mr. Shenstone has made a mis¬ 
take in placing Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autum- 
nale) in the Irideae, He must have been thinking of 
Crocus sativus. Deer and cattle have been poisoned 
by eating the leaves of the Colchicum in spring. 
Cases of poisoning have occurred with Arum 
maculatum. Portland Arrowroot used to be made 
from the corms, the poisonous properties being de¬ 
stroyed by heat. The Darnel (Lolium temulentum), 
is considered the only poisonous British grass. 
