196 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 24, 1900. 
susceptible to frost ; but the fact of their 
developing this peculiarity in October would 
indicate some physical defect or other cause 
at work. 
One of the finest of all the Bamboos 
is Phyllostachys Henonis whose primary 
stems shjot up to a height of 15 ft. to 16 ft., 
• being at this time erect and very thinly 
leafy. In the second and succeeding years 
a wealth of lateral branches and twigs is 
developed until the older stems get borne 
down gracefully as with their own leafiness 
and weight. There are several splendid 
clumps of it about. P. nigra is similar in 
habit at all times to the earlier stages of P. 
Henonis,being dwarfer, more bushy, densely 
leafy and upright. Where space is 
restricted it might be employed where the 
taller and more bulky species would scarcely 
be admissible. The black stems get more 
or less hidden by the density of the foliage. 
The same may be said of P. n. punctata, 
which differs only by having its stems 
spotted or marbled with black on a green 
ground. A plant of this has fruited at Kew, 
and will, in all probability, die like many 
other Bamboos when they reach the fruiting 
stage. At present it is not an object of 
beauty as the foliage has dropped, leaving 
only inconspicuous tufts consisting of the 
inflorescences. Arundinaria nitida runs 
Phyllostachys Henonis very hard for 
“ pride of place,” and certainly excels it in 
the slender habit of growth and profuse 
leafiness, which bears down the twiggy 
branches in dense masses. The unusually 
rich green hue of the narrow leaves contrasts 
finely with the purple young twigs. For 
upright and dense habit of gro vth Phyllos¬ 
tachys aurea may be compared with P. 
nigra, but the foliage is of a light green, 
and the stems yellow where sufficiently 
exposed to light so as to develop the 
characteristic hue which gave rise to the 
specific name. P. boryana has short, 
lanceolate leaves, and is not unlike P. 
Henonis in habit, though dwarfer. P. 
Quiloi has much longer, narrow leaves, of 
a light green, while the habit is spreading. 
Altogether distinct is the long and 
narrow, dark green leaves of Arundinaria 
Hindsii, which is perfectly erect and shoots 
up to a height of 10 ft. For the sake of 
contrast it is certainly very distinct, but is 
not a favourite with collectors and planters 
of this family. It lacks the grace and 
beauty of most of the other tall growing 
species. Its variety, A. H. graminea, used 
to be contented with a growth of 3 ft.; but it 
now grows to 4 ft. or 6 ft. It has a grassy 
or reed-like habit of growth, and for small 
gardens is superior to the type. None of 
all the Bamboos exceed A. Simoniiin state¬ 
liness as it shoots up to a height of 15 ft. to 
18 ft., but it lacks the easy grace character¬ 
istic of most of the species of Phyllostachys. 
Several large bushes here form a forest of 
stems, branched towards the apex chiefly, 
so that each upright culm carries a heavily 
tufted head. Its vigour makes it a favour¬ 
ite with many planters and growers. Clumps 
of it such as that at Kew are calculated to 
give a subtropical aspect to the situation in 
which they are planted. Between it and 
Phyllostachys ruscifolia is a wide gulf, as 
the latter stands about 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, 
and is clothed with short, ovate-lanceolate 
leaves, forming bushes not inaptly compared 
to the Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus) from 
which it derives its name. The dark foliage 
is not so sombre as in spring. P. castillonis 
is characterised by its spreading habit, light 
green foliage, and variegated stems. As 
seen here P. mitis is more upright in habit, 
and not unlike P. aurea, though, perhaps, 
less densely branched. 
All about the garden, bordering the walks 
and often partly under the shade of the 
taller ones, are broad leafy patches of the 
pigmy species- of Bamboo, presenting a 
more grassy and less noble appearance. 
Being strictly evergreen they are neverthe¬ 
less serviceable adjuncts to the Bamboo 
garden, as they completely hide the ground 
on which they grow. Arundinaria Fortunei 
is, however, distinctly telling in appearance 
on account of the bright silvery white hue 
assumed by the variegation of the mature 
leaves. It is a familiar object in pots for 
greenhouse and conservatory adornment, 
but planted out it grows taller and is far 
more handsome. What used to be con¬ 
sidered the yellow variegated form of this, 
but now named A. auricoma, grows 2 ft. to 
3 ft. high, and though densely leafy, is not 
so conspicuous as in spring and summer 
when the yellow variegation is much 
brighter. A. anceps, of unknown origin, 
forms a dwarf, dense bush, with narrow 
leaves, and fairly pretty. Bambusa dis- 
ticha is of dense, upright habit, 2 ft. to 3 ft. 
high, and densely clothed with dark green 
leaves in two ranks as implied by the name. 
B. pygmaea is the last of the pigmy Bam¬ 
boos we need mention on this occasion. It 
is only about 18 in. high, clothed with long, 
finger-like leaves, and covers the ground as 
with a carpet of green verdure. 
Various other plants are grown in the 
Bamboo garden, some to give 'variety and 
others to trail over and cover the tree roots 
■used round the Sides of the circular and 
partly sunk garden. The Pampas Grass is 
certainly a very fitting associate for the 
Bamboos. The shelter furnished by the 
latter as well as by the deciduous trees in 
the near back ground enables the Pampas 
Grass to attain noble and telling dimen¬ 
sions, while the drooping, silvery panicles 
of flowers are highly conspicuous and 
effective. The fertile character of the soil 
must also be taken into consideration, it 
producing this result, and the fact that 
water is artificially applied when the soil is 
dry. A good soaking by means of the hose 
was given towards the end of last month 
for the benefit cf the Bamboos. Miscan- 
thus (Eulalia) sinensis was very telling the 
other week when the dying foliage assumed 
a ruddy-orange glow, in strong contrast to 
the greenery of the Bamboos. Like the 
Pampas Grass it does not belong to the 
Bamboos, although a fitting associate. 
Mr. Robert Stanton, late foreman at Castle Cliff, 
St. Andrews, has been appointed to a like capacity- 
in the gardens of Sir Malcolm Inglis, Montrose, 
Donnybrook, Co. Dublin. 
Appointment.—Mr. James L. McKellar, for the 
past ten years head gardener to Lord Ashbrook, 
Castle Durrow, Queen's County, has been appointed 
in a similar capacity to John Jameson, Esq., St. 
Marnocks, Malahide. 
Weather in London.—Wednesday, Thursday and 
Friday of last week were wet and cold. Saturday 
was showery, Sunday was dry but very cold; and a 
modification of this weather has continued during 
the past three days. 1 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. — Under the 
auspices of this Kentish society, a course of eight 
lectures will be given in the Church House at eight 
p.m. at intervals during the winter months. The 
first was on November gth by Mr. G. A. Blogg 
(secretary National Cactus Society), illustrated with 
lantern views. Then on November 23rd, Mr. A. 
Hemsley lectures on "Ferns and Fern Culture"; 
December 7th, “ A talk on Horticultural and 
Botanical Books,” by Mr. J. Weathers; December 
21st, "Walks and Talks in Kew Gardens,” by Mr. 
J. Gregory, illustrated with lantern views. This 
lecture will be given in the Beckenham Public 
Hall. On January 4th, 1901, Mr. W. Taylor details 
"A Year’s Work in a Vinery." " Cypripediums " 
is the subject for January 25th, by Mr. H. J. Chap¬ 
man ; February 22nd, " Vegetables for Exhibition,” 
by Mr. E. Beckett; and the last on March 22nd, on 
“ Roses under Glass," by Mr. G. Mount. 
Roses from Cuttings.—With the exception of the 
Moss, Austrian, and a few other varieties of Roses, 
all may be struck from cuttings. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—We under¬ 
stand that the sum of £3 6s. 3d. has just been sent 
to the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund by Messrs. 
George Bunyard & Co., The Royal Nurseries, Maid¬ 
stone, as a result of naming fruits to non-customers 
and the trade, a uniform charge of is. being made 
for every package of fruits named. 
“Brighton in one hour.”—In order to allow 
Londoners to spend a whole long Sunday by the sea¬ 
shore, the London, Brighton, and South Coast Rail¬ 
way have started to run a special pullman train. 
This leaves Victoria Station at 11 a m. on Sunday 
mornings, and runs the fifty miles to Brighton in 
one hour, leaving the latter place at 9 p.m., and 
reaching Victoria at 10. The inauguration will be 
welcomed by many ; but the 12s. fare will appeal 
most to the upper ten. 
Fine Chrysanthemums at Exeter.—" The Chrys¬ 
anthemum show held on the 8th and 9th inst., under 
the auspices of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ 
Association, was the best that has been seen at 
Exeter. No finer thirty-six Japanese varieties have 
been shown at Exeter than those exhibited by Mr. A. 
McDonald, gardener to H. St. Maur, Esq., Stover 
Park, Newton Abbot, his collection being far away 
ahead of the other nine competiters in this class." 
So writes " Devonian," who was prevented at the 
eleventh hour from preparing and pending us an 
account of the show at the time. Mr. McDonald is 
an old and well tried hand at Chrysanthemum grow¬ 
ing, and we know that be has been preparing the 
sinews of war in this direction for the past two 
years. We congratulate him on his success. 
The Neill Prize. — The Council of the 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society awarded 
the "Neill Prize,” on the 15th inst., to 
Mr. Malcolm McIntyre, gardener to Sir 
Chas. Tennant, Bart., The Glen, Innerleithen, 
N.B. The " Neill Prize " is derived from a fund 
bequeathed by the late Dr. Neill (Patrick Neill, 
LL.D ), so that the interest might furnish a medal 
or other prize every second or third year to a distin¬ 
guished Scottish botanist or cultivator. Part of the 
prize must consist of plate or books bearing a suit¬ 
able inscription. The recipients include such noted 
names as Mr. James McNab, Professor Balfour, 
Professor Bayley Balfour, Robert Lindsay, M. 
Dunn, David Thomson, &c. It was fitting that the 
award on this occasion was made by the Council 
unanimously on the proposition of Patrick Neill 
Fraser, Esq., of Rockville, Murray field, seeing that 
Dr. Neill was “name” father to the latter; and 
because all were agreed that Mr. McIntyre was the 
most fitting recipient amongst Scottish cultivators. 
We gave a portrait of Mr. McIntyre in The Gar¬ 
dening World for April 10th, 1897, aQ d another 
with a fuller account of his career as a gardener in 
our issue for April 7th, 1900, to which we refer our 
readers. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Society.—On the 1st inst., at the Mechanics' Insti¬ 
tute, under the presidency of the Rev. Canon 
Spooner, a large number of members and friends 
assembled to hear Mr. R. Wilson Ker, F.S.A., 
F.R.H.S., deliver his two-fold lecture on the " Sweet 
Pea Conference" and "My Russian Journey,” the 
two subjects being splendidly illustrated by about 
eighty lime-light views, many specially prepared for 
this subject. The Sweet Pea Exhibition was ably 
described with its huge display, and the taste 
evinced by many exhibitors in their style of staging. 
Amongst the views were the portraits of the 
executive committee, which were highly interesting 
to those who were unable to take so long a journey. 
The Russian trip in which the lecturer and his 
brother were invited as judges at the great St. 
Petersburg show, was given in detail with many 
incidents on the way. The exhibition was highly 
spoken of and the treatment to the English visitors. 
A hurried journey to Moscow with visits to the 
private palaces proved of great interest. On the 
return journey a break was made at Berlin, when 
some views of carpet bedding were thrown on the 
screen. A vote of thanks was carried by applause 
to lecturer and the rev. chairman. Mr. Ker in his 
reply referred to his indebtedness to Mr. G. Gordon, 
the editor of the Gardener's Magazine, for placing 
at his disposal many photographs of the Sweet Pea 
exhibition. 
