188 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 1?, 1900. 
brighter for summer bedding than when the light is 
scanty in winter. Nevertheless they are of real 
value in winter, and semi-double ones, we 
believe, will prove even more effective than the 
singles. First on the list of semi-doubles of this 
race we should mention B. Triomphe de Lorraine, 
with deep green leaves, and dark red or crimson 
flowers. The counterpart or antithesis of this is 
the white B. Boule de Neige, which is more nearly 
double, and makes a grand companion and contrast 
to B. Triomphe de Lorraine. B. Nancy has silvery- 
rose flowers in winter. The fourth and last of the 
semi double varieties of B. semperflorens we shall 
mention on this occasion is B. Stuttgardia, also 
with silvery-pink flowers, and, like the others, of 
dwarf habit. 
- — 
@Irantngs ft;tint the BHntlii 
af Brirni'e. 
A Collection of the Larger Fungi.—At ameeting 
of the Linnean Society of London, on the ist inst , 
Mr. George Massee exhibited a series of coloured 
drawings and an extensive collection of the larger 
fungi which had been brought for exhibition by him¬ 
self, by Messrs. E. M. Holmes, M. C. Cooke, A. O. 
Walker, E. H. Smedley, A. W. Kappel, and by Miss 
A. L. Smith. Mr. Massee having made some intro¬ 
ductory remarks, a discussion followed in which Dr. 
Cooke, Dr. Shillitoe, Mr. Walker, and the Rev. T. 
R. Stebbing took part. 
Park-lands in Central Africa—At the same 
meeting as the above Mr. J. E. S. Moore, F.Z.S., read 
a paper on the “ Character and Origin of the Park- 
lands ” in Central Africa, which was illustrated by a 
series of lantern-slides. These park-lands in the 
Tanganyika district have quite the appearance of 
having been formed by the hand of man, but are 
really natural growths, due to the fact that light 
.surface-soil has been laid down over what appear to 
have been lake-deposits. Any given line of country 
will show large plantations, with quite a home like 
look, separated by grass-lands ; and, as Tanganyika 
is approached, they dwindle in size till they consist 
of a few shrubs, overshadowed by giant Euphorbias. 
Cactus-like in appearance. Then coxe stretches of 
grass, dotted with Euphorbias, and, last of all, the 
salt steppes by the lake, which is now held to have 
had at one time an outlet to the sea Mr. Moore's 
explanation is that at first only the Euphorbias 
would grow on the salt steppes; but as these sprang 
up they afforded a shade and shelter to self-sown 
shrubs, each of which, as it established a footing, 
contributed to the natural planting of the area by 
the distribution of its seeds, till this process reached 
its highest development in the large plantations 
where the shrubs overtopped the Euphorbias to 
which they owed their growth. Prof. Farmer, 
F.R.S., offered some remarks upon the subject. 
At a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 6th inst., the 
undermentioned subjects were discussed. 
Oaks in Woods of Shirley.—Mr. Wilks ex¬ 
hibited various specimens of Oak leaves. The pre¬ 
vailing English Oak is Quercus robur var. peduncu- 
lata, the leaves of which run into a great variety of 
forms, according to the amount of development or 
arrest of the interstitial tissue between the ribs. A 
second kind closely resembles the leaf of the Turkey 
Oak, Q. Cerris, or the moss-cupped Oak. Others 
appear to be hybrids between Q. Cerris and Q. 
rubra, and also Q. robur pedunculata. Two trees were 
observed having leaves characteristic of the American 
Q. coccinea or Q. rubra. This tree apparently never 
bears acorns in this country. 
Castanea veaca foliage.—Dr. Masters showed 
some remarkable leaves consisting of but little more 
than the midribs, which had issued from the stump 
of a tree which had been cut down. He observed 
that entire trees are known to bear this kind of 
foliage. 
Proliferous Apple-shoot. — He also exhibited a 
specimen of this well known phenomenon, in which 
the leafy shoot appeared to penetrate a ripe Apple 
and then proceed to a length of upwards of a foot. 
It is due to the floral bud beiog replaced by a leaf 
bud within the “ pseudo-fruit," the Apple being 
really of the nature of a stem in which the pistil is 
embedded. 
Leaf-cutter Bees’ Nest.—Specimens of these 
cells made of portions of leaves were sent by Mr. 
Thos. Crosswell, The Gardens, Flomewood, Eden 
Park, Beckenham. He describes the formation of 
these leaf-cells as follows :—" After our Freesiashad 
finished flowering and died down, the sticks that had 
been used for their support around the sides of the 
pots were removed, to facilitate their being placed on 
a shelf in the full sun. The bees took possession of 
the holes left by the removal of the sticks, and on 
turning out the pots of bulbs in August many of 
these cells were found." 
Hardening Jiscellany. 
AOTUS GRACILLIMA. 
This is also figured in the above-named paper for 
September ist. It is a pretty leguminous plant, 
belonging to a genus containing about a dozen 
species, all of which are very interesting. They are 
natives of New Holland. This particular species 
is much appreciated and sought after, especially in 
England, because of its brightness and elegance. 
The flowers are spread somewhat irregularly along 
the length of the slender woody stems, generally in 
verticals. The keel and part of the standard is a 
shade of crimson, the rest of the flower being deep 
yellow. The leaves are sharp, narrow, and about J-in. 
long. A. gracillima closely resembles A. villosa, so 
near, indeed, that several botanists have named 
them as the same. A. gracillima is at all times dis¬ 
tinguishable by its more slender growth and greater 
abundance of flowers. Meisner, a renowned Swiss 
botanist, who is taken as the authority on the genus, 
describes A. gracillima as of smaller growth than the 
other, and finds it also to differ in the morphology 
of its seeds. From a horticultural point of view A. 
gracillima has all the decorative qualities one could 
wish for, and charms us during April. Its introduc¬ 
tion is due to an English botanist named Drummond, 
who found it in Australia in 1842 on the borders of 
the Swan River. The culture is almost exactly the 
same as for Boronias. 
CHRYSflNTHEinp SHOWS- 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM.— November 6th, 
jth and 8th. 
(Concluded from p. 173.) 
The great autumn fete and exhibition of the N.C.S. 
concluded very satisfactorily to all parties concerned. 
The president, vice-president, executive chairman, 
secretary and other officials had worked well, and 
will now feel that their endeavours have made for 
yet further p-ogress. Every corner of the large 
Aquarium was filled and even packed. New exhibi¬ 
tors were to the fore, and the old friends and 
supporters were in-their usual places. Enough has 
been said of the flowers themselves; but in the 
decorative classes we must say there is need for very 
great improvement. There seems to be absolutely 
no thought or originality displayed at all. 
For twenty-four incurved blooms, distinct, prizes 
of £5, £4, £l, £2 and £1 were offered. Mr. W. Higgs, 
gardener to J. B. Hankey, Esq , Fetcham Park, 
Fetcham, was first with a very strong set. He 
staged Hanwell Glory, Yvonne Desblanc, Mdme. 
Vernieul, Mdme. Ferlat, Robt. Petfield, Lord Al. 
cester, Mrs. H. J. Jones, Topaze Orientale, Mr, 
Bennett, C. H. Curiis, Globe d’Or, Thos. Lockie, 
Lady Isabel, Ialine, Pearl Palace, Countess of War¬ 
wick, Mrs. G. Williams, Henry Ellis, Duchess of 
Fife, Violet Foster, Mrs. R. C. Kingston, Chrysan- 
themist Bruant, Ma Perfection and John Doughty. 
Mr. G. J. Hunt, gardener to P. Ralli, Esq., Ash- 
stead Park, Epsom, came second; Mr. W. Mease, 
Downside, Leatherhead, third ; Mr. Silas Cole, 
Althorp Park, Northampton, fourth ; and fifth, Mr. 
S. Foster, Tenterden Hall, Hendon, N.W. 
The best display of cut blooms of decorative 
Chrysanthemums arranged on a table space of 6 ft. 
by 3 ft. was shown by Mr. A. R. Knight, 63, Hard- 
inge Road, Ashford, who received second prize. 
The first prize (a specia Silver Challenge Cup) was 
offered by Percy Waterer, Esq , F.R.H.S., but did 
not seem to have been won. The third prize fell to 
Mrs. A Taylor, 5, Vernon Terrace, East Finchley. 
We hink much more skill might be shown in 
arranging such tables. In Class XXXIV. only one 
entry seemed to be staged and was given the second 
prize, Mrs. A. Taylor here being the recipient. Mr. 
Percy Waterer also awarded a silver cup in this 
class. 
Vegetables.— Mr. Robert Sydenham, Tenby 
Street, Birmingham, offered prizes for vegetables in 
each of the following classes:—For six Leeks, Mr. 
R. A. Horspool, Chirk Castle Gardens, Ruabon, beat 
Mr. C. Brown, Langley House, Abbots Langley. Mr. 
E. S. Wiles, The Rookery, Down, Kent, led off for 
Brussels Sprouts, followed by Mr. C. Brown. Mr. A. 
G. Gentle, Little Geddesden, Berkhamstead, had the 
best dish of Tomatos. Mr. A. G. Genfle again came 
first for two varieties of Potatos, eight of each. Mr. 
Silas Cole was second ; and third, Mr. R. A. Hors¬ 
pool. Mr. C. Brown had the best eight white 
Turnips showing Model White Stone. Again Mr. 
Gentle stood first, this time for eight Onions, variety 
Excelsior. Messrs. S. Cole, C. Brown and R. A. 
Horspool took places in this order. 
For six Beets, Mr. S. Cole received first award 
with good samples of Pragnell’s Exhibition. Mr. A. 
G. Gentle again won for six Parsnips, second Mr. S. 
Cole. The same order stood for six Carrots. For 
six sticks of Celery, first was Mr. S. Cole and second 
Mr. Horspool. For Red (pickling) Cabbage, Mr. C. 
Brown came first, and second Mr. A. G. Gentle. 
For Savoy Cabbage, Mr. C. Osman was first and 
Mr. A. G. Gentle second. For three Cauliflowers, 
Mr. Gentle beat Mr. C. Osman. Mr. Gentle thus 
won the Silver Challege Cup, having 49 points out 
of a possible 65. 
Fruit. —In section six for fruits, there was a nice 
array of Apples, Pears and Grapes. For three 
bunches of white Grapes, Mr. W. Lintott, gardener 
to Walpole Greenwell, Esq., Marden Park, Caterham, 
was first prize winner. Mr. W. J. Batho, Nether 
Street Nurseries, Finchley, N., was second; and 
third, Mr. W. Taylor, gardener to C. Bayer, Esq., 
Tewkesbury Lodge, Forest Hill. 
For three bunches of Gros Colmar Grapes, Mr. 
Wm. Chuck, Brodsworth Hall, Doncaster, beat 
Mr. W. Taylor, though the competition was very 
close. Mr. W. Hill, Rockshaw, Merstham, Surrey, 
came third. For three bunches of black Grapes, 
other than Gros Colmar, Mr. W. Taylor here scored, 
having splendid samples^of Alicante. Mr. Wm. Allen 
of Gunton Park, Norwich, was second, and Mr. Wm. 
Howe, Park Hill, Streatham Common, third. 
There were eight entries. 
For six dishes of dessert Apples, distinct, Mr. 
W. T. Stowers, gardener to G. H. Dean, Esq., 70, 
Harold Road, Sittingbourne, was the most success¬ 
ful exhibitor. His set included Glory of England, 
Blenheim Orange, Fearn’s Pippin, Cox’s Orange, 
Ribston Pippin, and King of the Pippins. Mr. 
Chas. Ross, gardener to Capt. Carstairs, Welford 
Park, Newbury, was a close second. 
The class for six dishes of culinary Apples again 
found Mr. W. T. Stowers first. He showed Cox’s 
Pomona, Emperor Alexander, Gloria Mundi, Peas- 
good’s Nonsuch, Gascoigne’s Scarlet and Bramley’s 
Seedling ; second came Mr. R. Potter, St. Clere, 
Kemsing, Sevenoaks, and third, Mr. S. Osborne, 
East Sheen Lodge, East Sheen. 
The Pears formed a marvellously fine display. 
For six dishes of dessert Pears Mr. Wm. Allan 
was first; Mr. W. Stowers, second; and Mr. S. 
Osborne, third. The best dishes were those of Pit- 
maston Duchess, Beurre Diel, Emile d’Heyst, Marie 
Louise, Marie Louise d’Uccle and Doyenne 
Comice. 
Miscellaneous Exhibit. —Mr. John Forbes, 
Nurseryman, Hawick, Scotland, exhibited Begonia 
Caledonia, the white form of B. Gloire de Lorraine. 
The exhibit was composed of floriferous young 
plants of bushy habit, in 5-in. pots, these being 
close-packed in a large round basket. We unfortu¬ 
nately overlooked Mr. Forbes’ exhibit in reporting 
last week, owing to the crowd. 
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. —November yth and 8th. 
The twenty-ninth exhibition of the above society 
opened on Wednesday, November 7th, in the Corn 
Exchange, continuing on the Thursday. The prize 
money offered amounted to £100. and the show was 
indeed, most satisfactory. The groups were very 
fine; as were the cut blooms set up in vases. 
Whether the provincial societies are emulating the 
National Chrysanthemum Society or not, is not 
decided, but certainly a great many of them have 
this year instituted vase classes. 
