454 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 17, 1900. 
Report in Growing (Indian) “Famine-Carrot” 
Seed.—As an item in the annual administration 
report of the Government Botanical Gardens and 
Park', Nilgiris, for the year 1898-99, there is 
detailed an account of trials in growing Carrots. 
Carrot seed bad been supplied to the department the 
previous year. The Board of Revenue asked a 
number of questions relative to the culture and 
result of the crop, the curator giving answers Two 
plots were cultivated, each receiving identical treat¬ 
ment, the seed in each case being sown at the same 
date. The final result was that No. 1 plot (a well 
tilled garden soil) gave no return from having been 
left unwatered, while No. 2 (a good friable loam), 
and which was watered, gave fair returns of passable 
roots, good for man but meant chiefly for horses. 
The results thus prove the Carrot as unfit for a 
famine crop. 
ASPARAGUS SPRENGERII AS A 
BASKET PLANT. 
Few gardeners need reminding as to the usefulness 
of the various species of Asparagus, their advantages 
are so well known. I should like to claim attention 
most particularly to Asparagus Sprengerii, a form 
which I do not think is quite so widely cultivated as 
It should be. Viewed from a decorative point of 
view, it is the most useful of all; and its splendid 
constitution renders it invaluable for all Lent pur¬ 
poses, its light, graceful trails being held in high 
esteem. But it is as a decorative plant that I wish 
to draw particular attention. Placed in wire baskets 
(which seem to suit it best) it grows remarkably 
freely ; and a few good baskets hanging in the con¬ 
servatory or greenhouse greatly enhance its natural 
beauty, and add a splendid effect to the house itself. 
It grows so freely, too, that plants put into baskets 
from 48-size pots make really large specimens the 
first season; and should the gardener have to 
decorate the ball-room or the dining-room at Xmas, 
or any other time, he would add a good leaf to his 
book if he had a few good baskets of Sprengerii sus¬ 
pended from the ceiling, or gas jets, where its beauty 
shows up to a remarkable degree. It grows best in 
an ordinary greenhous? temperature, and it matters 
little if shaded or not. Almost any kind of soil suits 
it; and when established, it can be fed with advan¬ 
tage to plant and grower.— H. A. C- 
CELOSIAS 
Are most valuable flowering plants for the green¬ 
house during summer and quite late in autumn, as 
well as the decoration of the flower garden. In fact 
it is here the true character of the plant exhibits 
itself, especially under such tropical summers as 
1S98 and 1899, when they grew away freely, making 
a grand floral display towards July. I have only 
tried the crimson and scarlet kinds outside, edging 
with the white foliage ol Centaurea ragusina, as well 
as an undergrowth of same. Seed should be sown 
at once in 5-in pots filled with light sandy soil, and 
placed in a temperature of 6o° to 70°. As soon as 
up place them near the glass with a view of keeping, 
them dwarf as well as to prevent damping off,, 
potting singly into “thimbles,” returning them to- 
the same position and guarding against a too free; 
use of the water can, or they will collapse. Nip out 
the point at the second or third leaf, shifting imt© 
4-in. pots when fit, and if for under glass 6-in. pots 
the next move ; while for outside work they can be. 
planted direct from the 4-in. After the second 
potting place in cooler quarters preparatory for 
greenhouse and outside work, plying the syringe well 
under >hem. Red spider and greenfly are their two 
chief enemies. They enjoy light, rich soil and 
should not be planted outdoors until the first week in 
June.— J. Mayne, Bicton. 
COLEUS THYRSIFLORA. 
This novelty has been an object of special attraction 
at the Royal Gardens, Kew, during the dullest pait 
of the past winter. The fact that it can be had in 
winter is one point in its favour. Another is that 
i(s flower trusses are bright blue and conspicuous. 
In the latter respect it will thus be seen to differ 
from Coleuses whose merits lie in their pretty- 
foliage. C. thyrsiflora seems to have made a new 
departure in having enlarged the flowering organs 
tt the expense of leaf-colouring, it being almost like 
our common Nettle in respect to foliage. There 
seems no reason against the suggestion that we 
might yet expect to see both beautiful foliage with 
enlarged and showy flowering trusses in our race of 
ornamental Coleuses. Patience and skill have done 
more wonderful things before now. More detailed 
description of this plant is scarcely necessary. It 
grows in bushy form in much the same manner as 
other cultivated species, and the name thyrsiflora 
simply means that the inflorescence is a thyrse, 
such as is seen in Lilacs, though not so broadly 
massive as in Lilac. Of course, the plant under 
cultivation may become yet more worthy of acquisi¬ 
tion. It may be propagated as other Coleuses are. 
It succeeds in an intermediate temperature. 
LABELLING. 
In nearly all well ordered gardens labelling forms 
one of the most interesting subjects. It is far more 
instructive and pleasing, both to the visitor and 
gardener alike, when walking round a garden to see 
neat and correctly spelt labels than to have plants 
without them. For annuals, such as Sweet Peas, I 
advise wooden labels, but for small shrubs and 
hardy perennials, zinc ones, written on with indelible 
ink and varnished over, answer the purpose far better, 
as when the writing becomes indistinct they can be 
cleaned and used again. These last for years in a 
good condition. Every year, when the majority of 
hardy plants are in a dormant state, the labels 
should be looked to, and any that require re-writing 
can be done on wet days and all placed in the ground 
firmly in an upright position. Labels must not be 
placed too near the edges of borders, as they are 
liable to get knocked out by the mowing machine, 
etc. For standard trees, as Apples and Pears, 
hanging labels should be used, made of zinc, and 
written cn in the same way. These can be securely 
fastened on with wire, but not tightly so as to cut 
the wood which is most injurious if allowed to re¬ 
main, and in the end will prove fatal. Over-crowded 
writing on labels should be avoided, and any need¬ 
less words omitted — A. Thatcher, Aldenham, Elstree. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The awards mentioned below were made by the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 27th ult.:— 
Orchid Committee. 
Laelia Edissa. —This bold and handsome hybrid 
was raised from L. anceps (female) crossed with the 
pollen of L. purpurata, the progeny being decidedly 
intermediate as far as the flowers are concerned. 
The sepals and petals are soft purple. The lip shows 
the effect of both parents in form and colour. The 
terminal and side lobes are deep purple, edged white, 
the former being kneed or decurved, owing to the 
influence of L. anceps. Immediately below the 
lamina is a transverse white band. The interior of 
the tube is deep purple, striated with crimson- 
purple lines, recalling the pollen parent. (First-class 
Certificate.) Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., 
Chelsea. 
Odontoglossum Adriane Lord Roberts.— 
The sepals are soft yellow, and adorned with two 
groups of chestnut blotches. The petals, on the 
contrary, have a central group of smaller blotches. 
A large blotch is situated in front of the crest upon 
the lip, and smaller ones are ranged round the sides. 
(Award of Merit.) W. Thompson, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. W. Stevens), Walton Grange, Stone, Staffs. 
Odontoglossum loochristiense Kimberley.— 
Here again the ground colour is yellow, though less 
clear than in the variety Lord Roberts. The sepals 
are lanceolate, with one large blotch on each of the 
lateral sepals, and several blotches on the upper one. 
The petals have one to three Dlotches, and many 
small spots scattered over them. The lip has a 
large blotch on the middle and many small ones 
round the sides of the crest. (Award of Merit.) 
W. Thompson, Esq. 
Zygopetalum Ballii, Rolfe.—This new species is 
both distinct and very handsome. The sepals are 
purple with white tip, base, and edges. The petals 
are similar, but the upper half is marbled with 
white. Tbe roundiy-cordate lip is white, with a 
large, violet-purple blotch towards the base. The 
half cup-sbaped crest is ridged and lined with violet. 
(Award of Merit.) G. Shortland Ball, Esq. (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. J. Gibbous), Ashford, Wilmslow, 
Cheshire. 
Cattleya Trianaei West Bank House var. - 
The flowers of this variety are of great size, bold 
and handsome. The sepals and petals are of a warm 
rose. The lamina is rich crimson-purple, with a 
crisped and rosy margin, while the throat is dark 
orange, and the interior of the tube purple, striated 
with white lines. (Award of Merit.) J. LeemanD, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. Edge), West Bank House, 
Heaton Mersey. 
Dendrobium puniceum. —The flowers of this 
species are rosy-pink, and produced in dense 
racemes after the style of those of D. secundum, but 
several times as large. (Botanical Certificate ) Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart, (grower, Mr. W. H. White), 
Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
Dendrobium jerdonianum. —The flowers of this 
species are borne in clusters of two to four near the 
top of leafy stems, and have orange coloured, narrow 
and pointed segments that render the species strik¬ 
ingly distinct. (Botanical Certificate.) Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart. 
Restrepia striata. —This species takes its name 
from the fact that the united lateral sepals are lined 
with crimson on a yellow ground, and also more or 
less marked with spots arranged in lines. (Botanical 
Certificate.) R. I. Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. 
J. Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, Flodden Road, 
Camberwell. 
Floral Committee. 
Iris stenophylla. —The habit of this new species 
is similar to that of I. Rosenbachii. It is a bulbous 
species with short, channelled leaves and long-tubed 
flowers standing about 5 in. high. The falls are 
obovate-oblong, and violet on the upper half, the 
rest being pale blue, spotted with violet on either 
side of the white and yellow ridge or crest. The 
standards are small, spathulate, horizontal arid 
blue. The petaloid stigmas are very large, and 
deeply bifid, with obovate, clear blue segments, 
forming one of the most conspicuous features of the 
flower. (First-class Certificate.) Messrs. R. Wallace 
& Co., Kilnfield Gardens, Colchester. 
Agapetes buxifolia. —It is quite a pleasure to see 
such a magnificent plant of this New Holland plant as 
was shown by J. T. Bennett Poe,Esq.(gardener, Mr. 
J. Downes), Holmwood, Cheshunt. The tubular 
flowers are somewhat five-angled, drooping, bright 
oraDge-scarlet and very showy. The shrubby 
stems are densely clothed with leathery, deep green 
leaves about the size of those of Box; hence the 
specific name. It is an admirable plant for green¬ 
house culture. (Award of Merit.) 
Primula kewensis. —In this we have an admhted 
hybrid between P. floribunda and P. verticillata, 
having the greater resemblance to the former in its 
yellow flowers, borne in three or four whorls, and 
in the green and toothed leaves. The strong habit 
of the plant recalls that of P. verticillata, being 
about a foot high, but there is only a small trace of 
the mealiness of the latter traceable upon the leaves, 
which are obovate and narrowed to a long stalk or 
petiole. The plant sent up from the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, was about 12 in. high and wide, two years old, 
and is a chance seedling, and being a hybrid is of 
rare occurrence in the genus. (First-class Certifi¬ 
cate.) 
Camellia General Hector MacDonald. —The 
flowers of this variety are of enormous size, very 
strongly recalling those of C. reticulata, except that 
the petals are smoother, not wavy. They are semi¬ 
double, the several rows of rosy-red petals showing 
off the central cluster of stamens to advantage. 
(Award of Merit.) Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. 
Albans. 
- —-— 
'Tulips, Narcissus, and some other of the larger 
flowered spring bulbs are now showing conspicuous 
shoots above the soil. In sheltered spots the 
Narcissi are even showing the flower spike, but the 
cold weather is keeping them at a standstill. The 
ground between them may be gone over and stirred 
occasionally. The carnation beds should especially 
receive this attention. All Pansies in the open air 
should likewise have such timely looking to. Gladioli 
may be planted, and the herbaceous borders require 
to be made up for the season. Pyrethrums, 
Delphiniums, and Paeonies, may be planted. Hardy 
annuals may be sown. The borders or beds for 
their reception need only be raked over, the ground 
