THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 19 , 1901 . 
33‘3 
poor mortal he would be mortal no longer. Ha 
would certainly want a better office than that of a 
’ponica." My friend concludes by saying that gar¬ 
dening is the most harassing occupation under the 
sun, but he could not be happy at any other! This 
is from the pen of a practitioner in a southern county 
of England, while Mr. J. C. Dick signs from Linlith¬ 
gow, yet each echoes the other’s remarks. I do 
think that the head-gardeners could do more for 
their assistants — they have done so in many cases— 
and the influence of the press, of horticultural 
societies and the advancing power of education 
among gardeners as a body, might be trusted to up¬ 
raise the whole profession.— John. 
■ -«*»- 
HOLLIES. 
There are many worse features in gardens than a 
good collection of Hollies. This is a roundabout 
way of saying that a collection of Hollies is really an 
attractive and desirable feature in the composition 
of the grounds of the garden. Hollies are wonder¬ 
fully interesting when planted in the fashion of an 
avenue, that is, by the sides of paths and the broader 
sorts of walks. To any one who cares for trees and 
shrubs, the satisfaction secured by comparing the 
different varieties is obtainable ody when the plants 
and specimens are beside or near each other. 
There are many varieties of the Holly and all seem 
to agree in likiog a deep, sandy soil. They can be 
very hard pruned without evincing any deterioratory 
effecls. Holly hedges are proof of this. Various 
topiary designs are executed upon the common 
Holly, Ilex Aquifolium. As a rule the plants grow 
symmetrically and but little pruning is required. 
From the beginning of October till the end of Nov¬ 
ember, and during March and April, the planting 
and transplanting of the Hally may be performed. 
Give tlje plants or trees every chance by thoroughly 
working the ground and by planting carefully. 
Moderate treading is sufficient. A basin should be 
left around the base to hold water, for if the summer 
proves dry they will stand in need of a thorough 
soakiDg occasionally. The Holly is rather a bad tree 
to transplant, so that every precaution should be 
taken. A stout stake ought to be inserted as a 
support to the larger transplanted Hollies. The 
propagation of these shrubs or trees scarcely need 
trouble the gentleman’s gardener, though the sowing 
in springtime of autumn gathered seeds will result in 
a sufficiency of young plants, whose after-treatment 
is simply that of transplanting, and judicious prun¬ 
ing. Of the derivation of the name Loudon writes 
that “ Tneophrastus and other Greek authors 
■named the Holly Agria ; that is, wild, or of the 
fields. The Romans formed from this the word 
Agrifolium; and called it also Aquifolium, from 
acutum, sharp, and folium, a leaf.” (Thename Aqui¬ 
folium was the generic name employed by Tourn- 
forte.) “ C Baukin and Lourciro first named it 
Ilex on account of the resemblance of its leaves to 
those of Quercus Ilex (the evergreen Oak), the true 
Ilex of Virgil. Linnaeus adopted the name of Ilex 
for the genus and preserved the name of Aquifolium 
for the most anciently known specie? 
The name Holly is probably a corruption of the 
word holy, as Turner in his ' Herbal’ calls it Holy 
and Holy tree; probably from its being used to 
commemorate the holy time at Christmas, not only 
in houses, but in churches. The German name 
Christdorn, the Danish name Christorn, and the 
Swedish name Christtorn, seem to justify this con¬ 
jecture. 
There are something like 145 species, not includ¬ 
ing the numerous varieties whose lists are always 
being augmented. Few are Datives of either Africa 
or Australia, their headquarters being in South 
America. Most are hardy. The common Holly 
which, with its varieties,is so common in our gardens, 
is a native of the European Continent, and of 
Britain. 
The undermentioned are disiinct and ornamental 
kinds. 
Ilex Aquifolium. The common Holly is too 
well known to require description. It is one of the 
best liked shrubs of the gardeD, Birdlime is 
got principally from this species Birdlime " is a 
viscous substance usually made of the juice of Holly 
b^rk, extracted by boiling, mixed with a third part 
of nut oil or thin grease, used to catch birds. For 
this purpose the twigs of bushes are smeared over 
with the viscid substance.” 
I. A. Marnockii is a smooth leaved variety re¬ 
sembling the better known I. A. Hendersonii. Well 
berried specimens were shown by Messrs. Paul & 
Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, at a recent Drill 
Hall meeting. 
I. opaca. —This is the commonly called American 
Holly. It is largely grown in the United States from 
which it was brought 157 years ago. It is a neat 
growing species, with moderate sized, prickly leaves, 
though not nearly so forbidding to handle as the 
European Holly. The scarlet crimson berries are 
borne on somewhat lengthy stalks. Young trees 
seem to be finer than old ones. 
I. Aquifulium laurifolia longifolia. —The 
name pretty nearly describes this variety. The 
leaves, however, differ considerably. They are 
usually 4 in. long, and altogether smooth. The tree 
has a fine branching habit. 
I. A. recurva. —The leaves are small, dark green, 
strong and spiny; and the habit is very close 
growing. 
I. A. Hendersonii. —A massive, bushy sort, with 
very stout shoots, and broad dark leaves, in. to 
3i in. long, having also prickly edges. The orange- 
scarlet berries are large. The tree grows in fine 
pyramidal form. 
I. A. crispa. —This special variety cannot be 
mistaken, for its leaves are twisted and folded like a 
roll of parchment. It is interesting. 
I. A. atrovirens. —A bold and handsome variety 
with large, deep green leaves of an ovate-elliptic 
form, and having the margins notched. This is one 
of the best. 
I. A ferox-argentea. —With its close-set habit, 
and " hedgehog leaves,” of a creamy or whitish 
colour, this well known variety is sure always to be 
largely planted. 
I. A. latifolia aureo-variegata is a broad¬ 
leaved golden variety. 
I. A madeiriensis variegata. —Here also we 
have a golden variegated variety, but this has small 
leaves tortuously twisted and spiny. The habit is 
upright and close growing. 
I. A argentea pendula. —This may be described 
as one of the best shrubs in existence. It has choco¬ 
late-coloured shoots, moderate-sized, creamy-edged 
leaves, with a prickly edge. 
I. A. laws on ian a —Lawson's Holly makes a neat 
stout tree, having smooth, though more or less 
irregular leaves. 
I. A. fructa-luteo. —In this variety the berries, 
strangely enough, are canary yellow. The leaves 
are like those of the common Holly. 
I. A lutescens. —This forms a rounded bush, 
dense and compact, the tips of the stools bearing 
the young leaves appearing, at a distance, a rich 
yellow colour. The yellow makes the bushes 
attractive and conspicuous ; and this variety at least 
should not be forgotten. 
I. A. Hodginsii. —One of the best, large and 
massive. 
I. A. crassifolia. —Au attractive variety in its 
way, having narrow, oblong, serrated leaves. 
I. A. aurea medio picTA. —The Golden Milk¬ 
maid Holly is one of the best of the genus, and 
ought to be included ia all collections. 
I. A. argentea medio-picta. —Tois is commonly 
called the Silver Milkmaid Holly, and like the 
Golden variety should also be selected. 
1 . A. pendula. —This is a drooping variety, quite 
distinct in habit, but otherwise like the ordinary 
form. 
I. decidua. —No one seeing this " Holly ” or Ilex 
in winter, would recognise it as belonging to the 
genus. Its shoots are like those of a Hawthorn, and 
are naked, for the tree is not an evergreen. It hails 
from the S. United States. 
I. cornuta. —Here we conclude with a Chinese 
species. The leaves are ” horned ” as it were. They 
are roughly in the shape of d parallelogram with 
three prominent horns at the apex. It is a hardy 
and handsome Holly.— J. H. 
Hardening JJiscellany. 
SUPPRESSING CHRYSANTHEMUM RUST. 
From a trial extending all through the summer a 
grower of 'Mums has had wonderful success in 
combating the rust by using Jeyes’ Fluid at the rate 
of one wineglassfal per gallon of water. This he 
first used as a solution for dipping the cuttings in, 
then he syringed them once a week with the solution, 
used at the same strength all through the summer. 
He reports his plants as being sturdy, clean, and 
healthy. 
# 
ASPARAGUS SOUP. 
Stir three ounces of butter and three ounces of flour 
together in a pan over fire until they are well 
blended. Add, a little at a time, one quart of milk. 
Allow it to simmer for a quarter of an hour. Then 
add the contents of a tin of Asparagus rubbed 
through a sieve. Season and bring to a boil. 
MACARONI A LA BECHAMEL. 
Grate a Carrot and put into a pan with a quart of 
milk. Add a Bay leaf, the stalks of a few Mush¬ 
rooms cut fine, a little Thyme, and seasoning. Bring 
to boil,and simmer for half an hour. Then put through 
a sieve. In another pan blend three ounces of butter 
and three ounces of flour over the fire. Add the 
flavoured milk a little at a time. Bring to boil again 
and simmer for quarter hour. Pour this sauce over 
half a pound of macaroni which has been boiled in 
water .—The Vegetarian Messenger. 
BEGONIA BERTHE DE CHATEAU ROCHER. 
In the Begonia house at Kew are specimens of this 
Begonia. We do not bring it forward as a thing that is 
very startling, but it certainly is worthy of inclu¬ 
sion in winter flowering Begonia collections. The 
plant resembles a tall grown form of B. semper- 
florens rosea, but the flower trusses are in every 
respect much more refined. Other Begonias now 
flowering in the same house include B. Gloire de 
Lorraine, grand, in banging baskets, a yard through 
at least, and suspended just below the lantern-ven¬ 
tilator ; B. haageana, B. Mrs. Heal, B. Winter 
Cheer, B. polyantha, B. Credneri, B. Gloire de 
Sceaux, B. fuchsioides miniata, B. socotrana, B. 
Pres. Carnot, B. coccinea, and B. Ingrami, nearly 
all specimen plants. 
ORCHIDS AT KEW. 
The species mentioned below, among numerous 
others, were in flower at Kew towards the end of 
December :—Calantbe Veitchii, Dendrobium 
aureum, D. Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium tracyanum, 
Cypripedium insigne, Laelia autumnalis atro-rubens, 
Laelia anceps, Oncidium tigrinum, O. crispum, O. 
vaiicosum, O. sarcodes, Cattleya labiata, Oncidium 
unguiculatum, O. excavatum ; also Cochlioda vul- 
canica, bright rosy-amaranth ; Trichopilia fragrans 
nobilis, very fine and fragrant; Saphronitis grandi- 
flora, Oncidium ornithorynchum, Odontoglossum 
crispum, O. madrense, and Cynorchis purpurascens. 
IPOMOEA HORSFALLIAE BRIGGSAE. 
The above is an introduction of recent years, and 
so far as fl iriferousness goes it is superior to Mrs. 
Horsfall’s Ipomoea. The bell-shaped flowers are 
most profusely borne in clusters, and are of a bright 
warm amaranth-crimson. It is certainly one of the 
best of the flowering climbers now in bloom at Kew. 
It occupies a beam on the north wall of the Victoria 
Regia house, and is planted out. 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF HYBRIDISING. 
In the Royal. Horticultural Society’s report of 
the Hybrid Conference held in July, 1899, Herr Max 
Leichtlin, of Baden Baden, Rhine Provence, Ger¬ 
many, contributed a condensed summary of the con¬ 
clusions arrived at by him in his experiences of 
hybridising. First, he says the female gives the 
form and shape to the offspring, also' certain quali¬ 
ties; second, the colour is most often given by the 
male and free-floweriDg qualities are usually trans¬ 
mitted; third, artificially produced offspring give 
larger flowers than the parents; fourth, widely 
separated species, that is, those from widely separated 
habitats, are difficult to hybridise ; fifth, the offspring 
becomes infertile and delicate if the form of the 
flowers of the parents is widely different in shape 
and outline. 
ANOECTOCHILUS. 
The Anoectochili and Goodyeras are amongst the 
few representatives of the Orchid family whose chief 
feature of beauty is their leaves. The foliage is 
remarkably beautiful, being variously veined, 
marbled and crystalled over with bright colours as 
