634 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 5, 1897. 
NEW TYPES OF STREPTOCARPUS. 
In our report of the Temple Show last week, we 
mentioned the fact that Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Limited, Chelsea, exhibited five types of hybrid 
Streptocarpus of which four were new. Three of them 
are now being put into commerce for the first time, 
and the accompanying illustration (p. 633), obligingly 
placed at our disposal by the Messrs. Veitch, shows 
two of them. Gratus is the older of the two and re¬ 
presents a new race obtained by the crossing of that 
remarkable species, S. Dunniiwith Veitch’s hybrids. 
S. Dunnii is remarkable for possessing only a single 
leaf, a yard in length, and half that width, when well 
grown. Such a plant produces an enormous number 
of tubular, brick-red flowers on a multiplicity of stems 
arising, apparently, from the base of the huge leaf. 
Veitch's hybrids have numerous leaves and larger 
flowers of various colours, and the progeny being in¬ 
termediate are decided improvements upon the 
originals. Already there are numerous varieties be¬ 
longing to this new race which flowers profusely 
carrying 20 to 30 blooms on a scape. The solitary 
flower above the plant shows the natural size. 
Awards of Merit have been granted this strain by the 
Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Botanic 
Society. 
The strain known as Mrs. Heal was produced 
from S. Wendlandii (which is no less remarkable 
than S. Dunnii for its solitary huge leaf) and a 
magenta-rose variety of Veitch's hybrids. The 
progeny is taller than that of Gratus, being 12 in. to 
15 in. high, and intermediate between the parents. 
There are numerous flower stalks from a crown, each 
carrying a cyme of ten to fifteen large flowers, 1 j in. 
in diameter or more, as the detached flower in the 
illustration shows. The tube of this race is relatively 
wide, bluish-red above and nearly white beneath. 
The lamina is violet-blue, shaded with purple and 
very handsome indeed. The throat of the flowers is 
yellow along the centre, ornamented with maroon 
spots and streaks and white blotches. Whatever it 
may give rise to the strain is already full of promise 
both in the matter of size, colour and abundance of 
blossom. It has been accorded an Award of Merit 
by the Royal Horticultural Society. 
— - 
SYSTEMS OF VINE PRUNING. 
Nearly every species of fruit tree cultivated in 
gardens has to be pruned in some form, either in '.heir 
early stages of growth, or when the trees are fully 
developed and have attained the size which the 
cultivator may desire. To say which is the most 
satisfactory method to pursue would be difficult to 
decide, as opinions and manipulation are so varied. 
Even the Vine, which is mostly cultivated on the 
spur system, is not exempt from many forms of 
pruning, and uniform success attends all methods. 
Healthy soils, in which there is vigorous root 
action, are items which are most conducive to success. 
The system of cutting to the " best bud ” had many 
votaries over 30 years ago, and a few successful men 
produce excellent fruit in abundance every season by 
this system still ; but this practice is more common 
in England than in Scotland—where the orthodox 
system of close pruning is strenuously maintained— 
there being such antipathy to unsightly Vines in the 
north that the "best bud ” practice is persistently 
eschewed. Indeed, in my wanderings in Scottish 
gardens, I have never seen any system of pruning in 
practice, except short pruning sometimes to one, two, 
or three buds from the rod. In most cases the well- 
known successful grape-growers in the north cut very 
close. They get good bunches, and the extra well- 
ripened buds produce the most compact bunches, if 
not always the largest. 
I adduce examples which may be seen at leading 
graperies while I write. At Clovenfords (where there 
are such marvellous crops of the finest grapes ever 
seen) the Vines are closely pruned—perhaps with 
some exception of such sorts as Duke of Buccleuch 
which have a few more buds left. Muscats are every 
year of the greatest excellence, and the spurs still 
remain short. The other Vines are as productive as 
ever they were. The close proximity to the stores 
of the well known manure may have something to do 
with such vitality. There are other large plants well 
known where immense crops are year by year cut 
and sent to market in the finest form, and the Vines 
are closely pruned. 
Parkhall is a large place for grape culture, and the 
grand exhibits of Mr. Murray have testified again 
and again what that place can produce (Murray & 
Son now rent the glass), and the crops are not likely 
to be less nor the bunches and finish inferior to what 
they have been so long. One long range has been 
cleared of the Vines, which were increasing in vigour, 
to make room for Muscats for market. The Forth 
Vineyards (now very extensive) of Messrs. Buchanan 
at Kippen near Stirling produce capital fruit, ex¬ 
amples of which are often tabled at the large 
northern shows, and are on the short spur system ; 
but among the champion exhibitors we have seen 
nothing of “ best bud” system of pruning in evidence. 
Among these are Messrs. Kirk, of Alloa, Rutherford 
of Airthrey, Leslie of Pitcullen, aud others who are 
as well known on exhibition days at Edinburgh as at 
their own firesides. 
But going back to older champions such as Mr. 
Meredith, when at Garston (his Black Hamburghs 
were marvellous examples of high class culture), Mr. 
Thomson when at Archerfield (and we have on all 
hands heard that at Drumlanrig the prospect of 
great crops of first rate Grapes this year almost 
surpasses the excellence of former years), and the late 
Mr. Johnstone, of Glamis, we find that they all 
stuck closely to short spur pruning. Then why do 
some of our clever friends render their vineries 
unsightly by what they call their "faggots"? In 
private places, the proprietors generally look upon 
order and neatness as an essential warranting the 
maintenance of their gardens. 
It is true that unsightly Vines are seen now and 
again where the spurs almost meet across the glass 
from rafter to rafter. A friend told me some time 
ago, that he could not make up his mind to change 
his Vines to obviate the " unsightly spurs ” as they 
year by year produced such capital Grapes on 
bunches four to five pounds each, and a wise man 
too. 
Reverting to long spurs, I once gave advice to a 
market grower as to how he could find room for bis 
bunches on long gnarled spurs. I advised him to turn 
his shoots at pruning time, in the opposite direction 
to that which they had been trained, which took the 
bunches close to the Vines and was a great success. 
The lease of the place was nearly run out and this 
market grower did not wish to loose a crop, or 
Replenish the vineries which were so soon to supply 
Grapes for a new proprietor. I have often met 
difficulties by going well out of the usual course of 
pruning. One was to maintain the supply of Grapes 
from old Vines with spurs like staghorns for length 
and crookedness. I let shoots grow to over three feet 
along the Vines. All the spurs were removed the 
next year, and the short rods lashed to the old Vines, 
and the crop and quality of the fruit was most satis¬ 
factory. A shoot from the base of the Vine in due 
course soon displaced the short shoots and old 
Vines ; and by lifting the roots inside one year, and 
those in the outside border the following season, the 
best results followed. The summer stopping of 
shoots is practised in a variety of forms—some 
keeping to a leaf beyond the bunch, removing all 
other growths, and others allowing all the growth 
there is room for. The difference in results is more 
nominal than real, but the " best bud” method has 
not yet won our esteem.— M. Temple, Carron, N.B. 
-- 
WISTARIA SINENSIS. 
The Wistaria, or Chinese Bean tree, like many other 
flowering trees, has been exceptionally fine this 
season. The finest specimen, however, which has 
come under my notice this year, is at Wargrave, a 
" sweet, pretty ” village on the Thames, near Ship- 
lake. This occupies the entire front of a large red¬ 
brick house, with bay windows to match, the colour 
of the house having a decided effect in throwing into 
bold relief the bright bluish-mauve, gorgeous-looking 
drooping racemes of this remarkably free-flowering 
hardy tree or shrub. 
On another house—or rather a series of houses— 
in the quaint old-and-new high-street, there is one 
which measures forty-five paces, or about 100 ft. ; 
and, although this is not so showy or compact as the 
one above-mentioned, it is, I think, worthy of com¬ 
ment. Moreover, this particular specimen acts 
somewhat in the nature of an advertisement, for 
does not the 1 Family Grocer " lie concealed — -or so 
much of him as the exigencies of business will 
permit — behind the profuseness of its richly 
tinted, pea-shaped blossoms. Again, the pendent, 
grape-shaped racemes, remind one of the luscious 
fruit of the Vine, that remarkable plant which has 
been subject to cultivation for at least 6,oco years. 
The Chinese Wistaria may be seen in remote 
villages and old-world towns, which speaks volumes 
for its popularity, seeing that it was not introduced 
to this country till 1816. Many of the specimens, 
too, have attained a huge girth, so that they may .well 
be classed as trees, although they seem to require 
support until they become established, when their 
true arboreal character becomes apparent .—C B.G., 
Acton, W. 
-■**-- 
THE TEMPLE SHOW, 
May 26 th, 2jth, and 28 th. 
The undermentioned notes constitute the remainder 
of the report of the Temple Show of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, prepared for our last week's 
issue, but unfortunately crowded out for want of 
space. 
STOYE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
Gloxinias of excellent quality were contributed by 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons. The plants exemplified 
a very fine strain with large boldly-erect flowers 
Many of the plants were this year’s seedlings result¬ 
ing from seed sown in January last. These were 
accommodated in small 48-slzed pots. Besides these 
there was a number of larger plants in 6 in. and 7 in. 
pots, alt full of flower and in the pink of condition. 
The foliage was especially good and bore unmistake- 
able evidences of superior culture. Maidenhair Ferns 
in small pots were freely used in the arrangement of 
the group, and the bright and varied hues of the 
flowers appeared to the utmost advantage peeping out 
from the setting of soft green. Many of the best 
forms bore distinctive names. Of these, Beacon was 
the most conspicuous, not only on account of its 
numerical strength, for a considerable number of it 
was staged, but also by reason of the beauty of the 
flowers. These are fiery crimson-scarlet in colour, 
shading to deep crimson in the throat. Aigburth 
Crimson is a still darker flower. It is deep crimson 
passing nearly to black in the tube, and is a very rich 
looking and handsome form. John Peed has a broad 
white margin with a zone of crimson next to it. At 
the entrance to the throat is a band of rosy magenta, 
whilst the base of the tube internally is creamy white, 
dotted brown. Duchess of York is a charming flower, 
in colour light lilac, spotted with a deep shade of 
mauve. Both its size and colour assisted in making 
it very much in evidence amongst the rest of the 
varieties submitted. The Messrs. Peed obviously 
know how to grow Gloxinias. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co had also a fine strain of 
Mimulus, which they have been improving from year 
to year. The size no less than the colour was re¬ 
markable, for the original or wild Mimulus would 
appear a puny thing by comparison with its modern 
garden representatives. Strictly speaking there 
were several strains, with variations of each as noted 
amongst the flowers. Jubilee is a huge crimson 
flower with yellow margins to the segments. Prin¬ 
cess Beatrice is densely spotted all over with small 
crimson markings on a white and yellow ground. 
Ruby is characterised by being of a light, coppery- 
orange indicating that M. cupreus was at least one of 
the parents. The flowers of Gloriosa are much 
darker, being crimson and coppery-orange. Others 
were notable for the great size of their blotches. All 
were grown in small 48-size pots. 
Messrs. Wills & Segar, South Kensington, con¬ 
tributed a splendid group composed entirely of fine 
foliage plants. As may be expected from this firm, 
the arrangement was most effective. A central feature 
was fine specimens of Kentia canterburyana, K. 
belmoreana, Stevensonia grandifolia, and Verschaff- 
eltia splendida, backed up with fine plants of Cocos 
flexuosa, C. Wallisii, and C. Bonnetti. Several new 
varieties of Alocasia were A. Mrs. Martin Cahuzac, 
A. argyrea and A. rodriguesiana, all magnificent 
leaved kinds. Fine plants of Dracaena Lindenii, 
D. goldieana, and D. latifolia, some splendid 
coloured pieces of Ananassa sativa variegata, 
Crotons of various kinds and fine leaved Begonias 
were very effective, arranged over Maidenhair 
Ferns, and Asparagus plumosus. The latter was 
also very effectively used in clothing the stems 
of the most prominent Palms. Of the smaller 
growing plants Phrynium variegatum was very 
effective in the front of the group. This with 
Tillandsia splendens, Heliconia illustris, Licuala 
