March 24, 1900 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
475 
Laelia jongheana. —The sepals and petals of the 
typical form are soft pink, the flower measuring 6 in. 
across the latter. The lip has a curved tube which 
is soft mauve externally ; while the lamina is white 
and tinted pink at the wavy edges. Seven wavy, 
yellow plates or ridges run from the base of the 
lamina down the tube of the flower. (Award of 
Merit.) H. T. Pitt, Esq. (gardener, Mr. F. W. 
Thurgood), Rosslyn, Stamford Hill; and Major 
Joicey (gardener, Mr. F. J. Thorne), Sunningdale 
Park, Sunningdale, Berks. 
Laelia jongheana templeana. —The flowers of 
this variety are darker than the type, and measure 
6J in. to 7 in. across. The long sepals and petals 
are deep rose. The tube of the lip is rose exter¬ 
nally, and the lamina rosy, crisped and waved ; 
while the side lobes are white edged with rose. 
There are seven to nine yellow plates on the throat 
and tube, recalling the genus Bletia to which Laelia 
is allied. (Award of Merit.) Mrs. Temple 
(gardener, Mr. E. Bristow), Leyswood, Groom- 
bridge. 
Floral Committee. 
Pentapterygium serpens. — This beautiful 
Himalayan plant is closely allied to Vaccinium, and 
an’ the gairden line, maun hae some shiftin', sae I’m 
awa .—Gear die Tam. 
—- 
FORMALITY IN GARDENING. 
There is a good deal to be said in favour of 
" A. D.’s " argument on p. 427 that “ gardening, of 
necessity, constitutes formality ” This would apply 
to all formal gardens, usually laid out in squares, and 
meant for the greatest weight or the largest number 
of roots, bulbs, Cabbages, or what not, from a given 
area of ground. That is the utilitarian standpoint, 
and good enough in its way ; but it does not contro¬ 
vert the fact that a planted Wallflower " retains the 
planted-out look to the end of its days." The plants 
I mentioned were not growing in a garden at all, but 
on perpendicular stone walls at Stirling Castle. 
" A. D." asks why a bed of Wallflowers, properly 
planted, should not " be as pleasing to see and to cut 
from as a bed sown, where growing, &c." Well, 
that is, more or less, a matter of opinion. For cut 
flowers, planted Wallflowers would probably be best 
in the greater number of cases ; but, to look at with 
discrimination, or a keenly observant eye, they 
would most likely have the artificially planted 
appearance. 
tions according to their kind, but naturally and 
beautifully.— J. Mad. 
- . | «. 
TRANSATLANTIC LINERS.' 
Who would ever have supposed that anything so 
essentially verdant and bucolic as a seed firm 
could ever be guilty of attempting to perpetrate a 
trust ? Yet the arrest of some employes the other 
week in Chicago brought to light that same thing. 
The firm were thriftily endeavouring to corner the 
linseed market, but were puzzled to account for the 
fact that time and again they were compelled to un¬ 
load at a loss. At length the secret was out. Some 
of their employes, in conjunction with a telegraph 
clerk, were quietly giving away their every move. 
Scant sympathy is theirs, and they have refused to 
prosecute. 
This week there has been on the market a small 
quantity of forced Tomatos from St. Louis, which 
sold rapidly at 23. a pound. They were perfect in 
colouring, and many more could be disposed of as 
easily. 
The supply of fine cut flowers here is at all times 
a thing to marvel at, especially when the low prices 
Caladium Madame Fritz Koechlin. (See p. 473.) 
was indeed named V. serpens in Wight's Illustrations, 
t. 114, and in other works. The long arching stems 
arise from a woody rootstock, resembling a tuber, 
and are thickly clothed with small, lanceolate, 
leathery leaves. The tubular drooping flowers are 
five-angled or winged as the generic name implies, 
and solitary or in small clusters. The corolla is 
red with herring-bone, crimson lines on each face. 
The plant is suitable for greenhouse treatment. 
(Award of Merit) J. T. Bennett Poe, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. J. Downes), Holm wood, Cheshunt. 
■-—=*•-- 
THE FURZE DEBATE. 
It's a far cry to Norfolk, nae doot, but I daursay it's 
a big toon i’ the sooth. Gin the argie bargiein' be a 
a yach toot moot, as 11 Allister Dhu” says, it’s lang 
and braid. Gin he can tak the breeks aff a hielanman, 
he's a clever chiel whateffer. He maun be haiverin' 
a thochtie aboot the Funn busses. Mair and ootower 
he's alarig wye afl the pint o’ the airgiement. The 
snaw has gane, an’ the yird is dry, but as nor’ wast 
win’s are cauld an' dreich for the Funns, sae they’re 
in nae hurry to blaw ; but as Ingions, Leeks, Pizz, 
an' the like are mair in sizzen, the spaad, the yake, 
Wallflowers, like Cabbages, are often sown too 
thickly, and allowed to remain so too long. Instead 
of growing sturdily, thickening their stems from the 
base upwards, and throwing out side-branches, the 
Wallflowers develop a few branches at the top only, 
and the Cabbages become spindly. When at last 
they are planted out they are put deeply in the 
ground to make amends for overcrowding io baby¬ 
hood, so that their thin or spindly shanks spring 
direct from the ground level without that stout 
supporting base which nature intended them to have. 
“A. D.” also mentioned shrubs and trees. They 
likewise have the effects of crowding in the nursery 
lines imprinted upon their faces for years after being 
planted permanently. I do not regard such a state 
of matters as the perfection of gardening, because 
there is considerable room for improvement. Further¬ 
more, trees standing cheek by jowl in a wood or 
forest, and as straight as rifle barrels, may be, and 
are considered beautiful by the forester and timber 
merchant, but they are certainly not ornamental trees 
for the grounds of a private demesne. Isolated trees, 
allowed to grow naturally, taper up from the base 
like the Eddystone lighthouse, and are generally well 
furnished with side branches assuming various direc¬ 
are considered. igh wages and rent notwithstand¬ 
ing, I have never seen anything like the prices 
flowers can be bought for. Fine Pinks and Carna¬ 
tions were sold in the autumn at from 2$d. to 5d. per 
dozen for good blooms, and the Roses are beyond 
compare, all cut with long stems and plenty of 
foliage. 
I have seen small white pieces for is. 3d., while for 
4s. a very good wreath or flat bouquet of such 
flowers as Callas, Primulas, and Carnations can be 
had. Lily of the Valley appears about October. 
Everything is grown to perfection. 
The small florists sell such plants as Nephrolepis 
and Cyperus, potted, for 2jd. each ; Geraniums and 
similar flowering plants for the same. The dry- 
goods stores make great displays of flowers and 
plants for sale. 
One of the finest sights imaginable is Siegel, 
Cooper & Co.'s large electric fountain surrounded by 
Palms and cut flowers, and overlooked by a balcony 
with marble stairs leading to it. A man in Philadel¬ 
phia claims to have the fastest growing Lily on 
record. It grows at the rate of 9 in. every 24 hours ! 
It is called the “ Snake Lily,” and hails from Cochin 
China.— C. Macquarie, Chicago. 
