January 5 , 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
293 
Weather in London.—Saturday was bright, 
clear, and frosty, but Sunday was rainy and dull, 
and so was Monday. New Year's Day was most 
disagreeable, becoming foggy in the afternoon. 
The Orris-root Industry.—The Orris root is used 
as the basis of many perfumes by manufacturers in 
England, France, and Germany. At the present 
time this root is only obtainable around Florence 
and in the neighbourhood of Verona, both in Italy. 
In these days of rampant speculation it is not 
surprising to hear of a strong syndicate having made 
"a corner” in this indispensable article. In 1891 
the price was as much as /120 per ton, but in 1898 
it had fallen to £26 a ton. The perfume manufac¬ 
turers, however, are now feeling uneasy as to what 
price the syndicate will demand. 
Death of Lord Armstrong.—At the age of 
ninety, Lord Armstrong, the inventor of the Arm¬ 
strong gun, and patentee of many hydraulic 
appliances, died at his splendid country home, 
Craigside, Rothbury, Northumberland. For many 
years Lord Armstrong has lived the life of a country 
gentleman. But even in his retirement his 
engineering talent was employed, for he applied 
hydraulic power to shift his large conservatory 
plants ! Craigside estate lies in the midst of a wild 
moorland district, with lofty hills, crowned with 
beetliDg crags, on the top of which many entrench¬ 
ments indicate their occupation by British fighting 
men. The dale is hemmed in by these great eleva¬ 
tions, and the rocky ledges peep out about the richly 
wooded steeps, while below a river winds over a 
rocky bed. The scenery is extremely grand, the 
deep woods giving it a special character. 
Beckenham Horticultural Society.—Beckenham 
gardeners had a very pleasant evening with Mr. 
Gregory, of Croydon, who gave them an address on 
"Walks and Talks in Kew Gardens,” which was 
richly illustrated by lantern slides. The pictures 
shown were taken by Mr. Gregory, who is an old 
Kewite. They were explained to the members, and 
some very useful information was obtained. He 
took the members by the slides through all the 
houses, also showing the exterior. As the interior 
was being shown, he explained how various plants 
were cultivated, also their peculiarities, as the night¬ 
flowering Cactus, the cultivation of the Victoria 
regia, giving illustrations of both varieties. The 
herbaceous department proved very interesting. 
For subtropical work the Paulownia can be use¬ 
fully employed for bold effect if planted out, cut 
down every year, and trained to one stem Other 
plants were spoken upon as the slides were shown. 
The beauties of the rock garden were shown ; also 
the usefulness with which bulbs can be employed, 
when planted on grass, and which, judging by the 
slides, must have been beautiful. The address was 
so well illustrated that members could almost fancy 
themselves walking around the garden with Mr. 
Gregory as a guide. A hearty votes of thanks was 
given by Dr. Stilwell, hon. secretary, seconded by 
Mr. Barge and Mr. Webster. 
Ipswich Horticultural Society.—The annual 
general meeting of the Ipswich and East of England 
Horticultural Society was held on Thursday night, 
December 27th, at the Town Hall, Ipswich, the 
Mayor of the Borough (Mr. W. F. Paul) presiding. 
There was a large attendance of members. The 
committee’s report for the year, after slight dis¬ 
cussion, was adopted on the motion of Mr. A. E. 
Stubbs, seconded by Mr. Southgate. The shows 
held in July and November had not been quite so 
successful this year, yet the society has a balance of 
^44 I 5 S - 2 fl- to its credit. The necessity for having 
an Agricultural Hall was remarked with emphasis. 
A somewhat vivacious discussion ensued upon the 
proposition for the adoption of the report,because the 
secretary (Mr. H. E. Archer) had not given the mem¬ 
bers notice of certain notices, which one of the mem¬ 
bers (Mr. Close) had proposed to bring up at this 
meeting. Ultimately an amendment proposed by Mr. 
Close, and seconded by Mr. Cander, was unani¬ 
mously carried in favour of postponing the annual 
meeting for a fortnight. The dates fixed for the 
shows of the coming year were July 3rd for the 
summer exhibition, and November 12th and 13th for 
the late autumn show, subject to the proviso that 
it followed the London N.C.S. show. The officers 
and committee of the society were then elected, after 
which the meeting dissolved. 
A boa of Carnations and Asparagus. — Florists 
in America try all sorts of " catchy ” designs, and 
the latest seems to be the making of Carnation boas 
for ladies’ necks, to wear at the opera and suchlike 
places. Seen upon a well proportioned lady, when 
massively and loosely arranged, these floral and 
foliage boas are charming. 
Refreshing Brussels Sprouts.—In the streets of 
London, during the mornings, one may see the 
greengrocers pouring water over the well-filled 
baskets of Brussels Sprouts. This has a refreshing 
influence on the “buttons” or sprouts, after their 
transit first to Covent Garden Market, and thence to 
the shops for retail. 
Pedigreed Fruit Trees.—In an address before 
the American Pomological Society, Professor G. H. 
Hall, of the Delaware Agricultural College, said 
" Three Winesop Apple trees in the same orchard 
showed a difference of from 30 to 50 per cent, in the 
yield of Apples. This seems to show that there 
are strong inherent qualities in fruit trees. I think 
these strains of light and heavy bearing are gener¬ 
ally found in orchards. Are the qualities hereditary, 
and can they be transmitted through the buds and 
scions from the most productive trees ? Can we 
establish pedigree in fruit trees, and obtain the re¬ 
sults of a selection that extends through several 
generations ? ” Prof. Hall thinks that individuality 
can be transmitted, which is surely a very evident 
fact, and needs no advancing at this time of day. It 
is well to propagate from the most productive 
trees. 
CALADIUMS. 
These fine ornamental foliage plants are some of the 
most useful we have grown either as table plants 
or for decorative purposes, and no one with a 
stove should be without a few bulbs. The tubers 
should be started in February and March, in small 
pots, in a moist temperature of 6o° to 70°. When 
sufficiently rooted, pot into large 6o’s, 4 S’s and 32's, 
for the table ; but for other purposes, pot them on 
as they may require it, into larger sizes. A thorough 
drainage is necessary as Caladiums require plenty of 
water during the summer, feeding with weak liquid 
manure and soot water once or twice weekly, and 
shading through the brightest hours of the day. In 
the autumn when the foliage shows signs of fading, 
less water must be given, gradually lessening it as 
they die down. After which they should be placed 
on their sides under the stage in the stove, where 
they generally get sufficient moisture during the 
winter to prevent them getting too dry, as some¬ 
times many tubers are lost tnrough this cause. 
Caladiums succeed well in a mixture of fibrous 
loam, two parts, one part well-decayed cow-manure, 
and sufficient sand to keep it porous. There are so 
many good varieties in commerce that it is useless 
to put down a lot of names, but for small pots C. 
argyrites and C. minus erubescens are indispens¬ 
able. And nothing is much prettier for dot plants 
on the table than the first named.— John Botley, 
Blythewood Gardens, Maidenhead. 
PERNETTYAS, 
These very beautiful dwarf evergreens are highly 
ornamental particularly during the winter and spring 
months when they are densely covered with berries 
of various shades and brilliant colours. Alba is a 
newer variety, with white tinted blush berries ; atro- 
coccinea, dark scarlet; atro-lilicina, dark lilac; 
pallida, light lilac ; atro-sanguinea, rich crimson ! 
stricta, light crimson; nana, flesh pink; rosea 
macrocarpa, bright rose; elegans, light pink ; rosea 
purpurea, rose, shaded purple ; rubra purpurea, red- 
purple ; rubra lilacina, red-lilac ; rosea gigantea, rose- 
purple ; purpurea, bright-purple ; and the beautiful 
maroon-black variety, nigra major. There are many 
others unnamed above, yielding a variety of similar 
shades and colours. Pernettyas love a light soil, 
preferably of peaty loam, and seem to thrive best in 
semi-shade. However, they are not fastidious, often 
doing well in soil destitute of peat provided it be 
well drained and shaded from the noonday sun. 
They are easily propagated by division or raised 
from seed ; the seedlings berry after three or four 
years, often producing berries of new and distinct 
shades.— H. H. Gibson, The Gardens, Glencairn, 
Belfast. 
EARLY CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Early or autumn flowering Chrysanthemums are 
increasing in favour every year, and justly so, as they 
are very useful for cutting, and almost every shade 
of colour found in the late varieties can be pro¬ 
cured in the early ones. The general idea is that 
they require to be kept in frames all winter, but 
this is a mistake, unless where the soil is wet and 
clayey. If one wishes to multiply them from 
cuttings it is better, however, to keep the latter 
free from frost. All that is required with old plants 
before winter sets in is to make up a mixture of one 
part lime, one riddled ashes, one sand, and a little 
soot. Spread a shovelful round each plant, and 
they will come through the winter months without 
further trouble. I have strong plants of the leading 
sorts that have been in the same spot for several 
years. The light mulching serves to keep the frost 
from hurtiog the suckers or young shoots that push 
up, and the lime and soot in it prevent the slugs 
from feeding on the young growth. I use this mix¬ 
ture also for several of the choice herbaceous plants, 
as the snails are very destructive to this class, 
especially in an open winter. A much lighter cover¬ 
ing is all that is needed for them. Chrysanthemums 
make splendid surface roots and flourish exceedingly 
well with this dressing. - JohnC. Dick, Champfleurie, 
Linlithgow. 
--- 
PRIMULAS. 
One of the most effective and profitable is P. 
stellata. It is invaluable for cutting. It has an 
advantage over the Chinese Primula by throwing 
ts petiole or leaf stalk well up above the foliage, 
with its showers of star-like flowers radiating out¬ 
wards, hence its name (stellata). To prevent these 
damping at this time of the year, insert three short 
stakes at triangles round the base of the plant; or 
some fibrous peat round the collar of the plants will 
act as a damp proof. P. floribunda is a species we 
rarely see grown. This is what the amateur calls a 
bit ticklish to grow. A staging under the shade of 
the Peach house is a very suitable place for this plant 
while it is making its growth in summer. With a 
little liquid manure once a week, it will continue to 
bloom now well on into the spring. Primulas enjoy 
a temperature of 50* at night. Keep the plants free 
from decaying leaves, and do not damp the leaves in 
watering. Where there is space devote a house to 
stellata alone, or at least the warm side of a green¬ 
house. P. sinensis and obconica come next for effect 
and similarity in culture. P. nivalis, a very good 
white, requires to be kept indoors over winter, in 
these wet and cold shires of. Lanark and Renfrew. 
These grown to perfection will hold good against the 
more recent winter flowering plants, as the Bou- 
vardias, Poinsettias, and the seemingly easily grown 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine in the south. The 
photograph, which you will have now, can speak for 
itself, that it is not a mystery here either .—Adam V. 
Main, Coltness Gardens, Wishaw. 
CHIMONANTHUS FRAGRANS. 
Athough introduced as far back as 1766 from Japan 
the above still continues to be one of our most 
admired plants in the winter, the name Chimon- 
anthus coming from cheimon, the winter, and anthos, 
a flower, “ The Winter Flower." The flowers com¬ 
mence to open in December and continue well into 
January, being a pale yellow outside, with a purplish 
centre. To produce the best results it should be planted 
against a wall, with a south or west aspect, in some 
deep, rich sandy soil, and the growths kept neatly 
trained to the wall. A little pruning annually will 
be beneficial, leaving the principil branches well 
clothed with young wood, as the flowers are pro¬ 
duced on the former season’s growth, the pruning 
may be done when the flowers are over. In all 
southern parts of the country it succeeds well grown 
in bush form, likewise in mild winters in almost any 
part of the country, but it should be planted in an 
open, sheltered part of the shrubbery where every 
ray of sunshine can reach it, as much depends on 
the ripening of the wood during the previous sum¬ 
mer. As to its free flowering we have here at the 
present time a large bush profusely flowered, but we 
have taken the precaution to afford it some slight 
protection against frosts and cold winds, by placing 
round it a temporary framework and covering of 
canvas when required. — A. Thatcher, Aldenham, 
Elstree. 
