70 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 29, 1900. 
ARUM ALBUM MACULATUM. 
This, as frequently met with, is not a very attractive 
subject. The treatment accorded to it does not 
bring out the full merits of the plant. Having 
recently seen a square rod or two of ground densely 
covered with it, has been the motive cause for this 
note. I found it in full flower In the open, where 
no protection has been given It of any kind for 
several years, and the vigour of foliage, its glossy- 
green with clear white spots, and profuseness of 
spathes, rendered it a sight which we think it would 
be difficult to match. Hundreds of flowers could 
be gathered without being very much missed, so 
that in these days when the demand for long-stalked 
flowers is so great a similar plantation to this would 
be a great boon In many establishments. The 
flowers, which are well known to many, are a 
delicate creamy-white colour, with a dark marking 
in the centre which, unless in very fully expanded 
flowers, requires looking for, and are not much 
larger than those of Arum (Richardia africana) 
aethopicum Little Gam. — IV. B. G. 
—--«*«—-- 
BEGONIA “ MOONLIGHT.” 
I think anyone seeing this in good condition will 
agree that it is a most desirable variety. It certainly 
has the merit of being distinct, and though I would 
not guarantee that it would keep up a succession of 
bloom for such a long period as does Gloire de 
Lorraine, it lasts some months in fine condition. 
The plant exhibited at the Aquarium last week had 
been in flower nearly two months, and though the 
three days’ exposure to the dry gaseous air of that 
building punished it somewhat, I can assert that it 
came home in better condition than any of the other 
Begonias, including Gloire de Lorraine, which had 
not a flower or bud left, while Moonlight had quite 
a number of good blooms still fresh. 
It may be interesting to note that Moonlight was 
raised by the late Col. Trevor Clarke, and was the 
result of across between Dreggei and Pearcei (a dwarf 
tuberous variety, with deep velvety-green foliage and 
yellow flowers). It was grown at the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, and received a 
First-class Certificate in the autumn of 1876, but 
since that period it had become almost extinct. 
This was probably owing to its requiring careful trea‘- 
ment. Gloire de Lorraine nearly suffered the same 
fate, but since its culture has been understood, it 
has become one, if not the most popular plant for 
winter flowering, and Moonlight under the same 
treatment makes a worthy companion.— A. Hemsley. 
WEED KILLER. 
I noticed your recommendation of weed destroyers 
to a correspondent some time ago. We are some¬ 
times not inclined to heed advertisements, but 
certainly in the case indicated there is nothing over¬ 
stated. We have tried the liquid weed killer, and 
found that a small portion goes a long way, and is 
most effective. The same can be said of that which 
is sold in powder, and in some cases may be more 
advantageous than in liquid condition. The present 
season is one of the worst years known for growth of 
weeds, but on our walks and roads where the weed 
killer was freely used last season scarcely a weed 
has appeared, except in lines a few inches wide by 
Box edgings where the destroyer was not applied. 
Walks, smooth, firm, and bright are much appre¬ 
ciated by all proprietors, and weed killers have done 
wonders to maintain these conditions. In Scottish 
gardens finely-kept walks are seldom seen. They 
are hard raked and left loose instead of being rolled, 
and kept smooth as pavement, as most walks are 
seen in England. The famous " Kensington ” and 
other such gravels are first-rate.— M. Temple, Canon, 
N.B. 
~~ --— 
MALMAISON CARNATIONS 
That were layered in the beginning of August will 
be finely rooted now. Some may strike them from 
cuttings. We inserted 400 cuttings the first week 
of last month in a frame that was filled with leaf 
mould and sand. The frame was kept rather close 
for a day or two, air being afterwards admitted very 
freely both night and day, shading them with a mat 
on scorching days. An average of 95 per cent, 
rooted. However, layers or cuttings, as the case 
may be, will require to be potted into 4-in. pots. 
Put one crock in these, with a few rough leaves or 
moss over it. To one barrowload of stiff loam add 
one-third leaf mould, a g-in. potful of soot, also one 
of lime rubble and sand, with a good bit of charcoal 
through it. A sprinkling of a fertiliser may be 
incorporated with it. Mix it all thoroughly. It will 
be found necessary to make this compost pretty fine 
for the first shift. Lift the layers very cautiously, 
so that you may not break a root. Pot fairly firm. 
The Peach house will be found the most suitable 
place to stand the pots if there is not a Carnation 
house at command. Water them with a fine rose for 
a time or two, and only when the pot rings out a 
hollow sound when tapped with a short stick or your 
knuckle. These will soon require a shift into 6-in, 
pots.— A. V. Main, Morton Hall Gardens, Liberton. 
STRAWBERRY VEITCH’S PROLIFIC. 
The free bearing character of this variety is one of 
its most telling features, the bunches of fruit being 
of large size and the berries ripening in succession 
over a considerable period. A showery season 
would assist the gradual development of the 
successive fruits. The variety was derived from 
Empress of India crossed with the pollen of British 
Queen, and possesses the aromatic and delicious 
flavour of the latter, with the richer colour of the 
mother plant. The fruits are conical or occasionally 
compressed, the former being the more common 
form, as the variety is characterised by numbers 
rather than the size of its fruits. The accompanying 
illustration, put at our disposal by Messrs. J. Veitch 
& Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, will give a good idea of the 
character of the bunches produced. A First-class 
Certificate was accorded the variety hy the Royal 
Horticultural Society, on July 12th, 1898, in 
recognition of the high quality of the fruits and the 
profusion with which they are produced. 
CANNAS. 
The time will shortly arrive when it'will be neces¬ 
sary to remove these plants from the places they 
occupy in the beds. If they have been well supplied 
with water they will be found to have made large 
masses, and the question is, What is to be done with 
them ? They will be found useful if treated in the 
following manner:—First of all the stock for next 
year must be secured, select the dormant eyes or 
nodes, and sever them close to the shoots that are 
2 in. or 3 in. high. These should be placed in boxes 
of cocoanut fibre, or potted up, and placed in a frame 
where frost is excluded and kept just moist enough 
to keep them plump. They will then be found quite 
sound when they are wanted to start into growth for 
the beds next year. Next there will be found a 
number of shoots from 2 in. to 4 in. in height. 
Sever these where they join the main stems, retain¬ 
ing as many of the roots as possible. Pot them up 
into 24 or 32-size pots, and place them in the inter¬ 
mediate house. They will then flower in the spring, 
and can be removed to the conservatory, where their 
brilliant flowers and bold foliage will form a pleasiDg 
contrast to the plants usually in flower at that time. 
— G. Robins , The Gardens, Dudley House, Springrove, 
Isleworth. 
CRESSINGHAM PARK 
Is the pretty country residence of H. Lonergan, 
Esq., and is situated between Reading and Earley. 
The pleasure grounds are well kept, and are 
ornamented by many fine specimen trees and shrubs. 
Very noticeable were Cedrus Dtodora, C. atlantica, 
C. Libani, Cupressus lawsoniana albc-variegata, a 
fine tree of Thuyopsis dolobrata, and a young tree 
of GiDkgo biloba, &c. On the terrace were some 
fine tubs of Agapanthus umbellatus, carrying from 
eleven to fifteen large trusses of flowers. Mr. 
Chamberlain, the gardener, is a very successful 
exhibitor of fruit, flowers, and vegetables, which his 
medals and certificates testify. He is to be seen at 
the Crystal Palace Fruit Show, the " One and All," 
and also at the Royal Aquarium, besides at local 
shows. The fruit crop is heavy, and the trees look 
remarkably healthy, the colour and shape of the 
fruit excellent. There are many varieties of Pears, 
including Doyenne du Comice, Louise Bonne of 
Jersey, Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre d'Anjou, Glou 
Morgeau, Madame Treyve, Clapp’s Favourite, 
Marie Louise, Williams' Bon Chretien, Brockworth 
Park, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Winter Nelis, Beurre 
d’amanlis, &c. These varieties were all heavily 
cropped, and were trained trees. 
Plums and Greengages were good, as were some 
fine Morello Cherries on a north wall. The Apple 
crop we did not inspect, owing to failing light. The 
vinery is lofty and contains Buckland Sweetwater, 
Black Hamburgh, purple Hamburgh, Royal Musca¬ 
dine, and black Alicante, the latter carrying fifty- 
seven good bunches, from which he will select those 
he requires for exhibition. The Peach house had 
been partially cleared, but the fruit left proved of 
high quality, especially Barrington. Although there 
is a walled-in kitchen garden it is only used to supply 
the house, Mr. Chamberlain preferring an exposed 
piece of ground to grow his exhibition vegetables. 
His Scarlet Runners were remarkable, long, straight, 
and yet very tender; the variety, he said, was 
Strawberry Veitch's Prolific. 
