346 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 26, 1901. 
STREPTOCARPUS VEITCH’S HYBRIDS. 
The idea that Streptocarpi can only be successfully 
flowered in summer should soon become dispelled, 
for we have seen a good few of them within the last 
two or three months. A bunch of Veitch’s hybrid 
Streptocarpus comes to us from Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. They were grown in their com¬ 
paratively new nursery at Feltham, Middlesex, where 
a considerable range of glass houses has now been 
built on the north side of their extensive grounds 
there, and beyond the destructive range of the 
London fogs, so prevalent in winter. Some of the 
flowers were of large size and rich purple in colour, 
and ranging from that to nearly white. Quite 
distinct were those of a mauve shade with heavy 
violet lines in the throat. Some of the rose varieties 
were much brighter, the same colour running down 
the white tube in regular lines on all sides. This is 
unusual as the stripes and bands are usually confined 
to the lower side. Most of the varieties sent us on 
this occasion showed that arrangement. Very 
handsome were the rich purple-violet varieties. 
Most of the white varieties that appear in batches of 
seedlings have violet or other lines in the throat, and 
often very heavy bands of colour. Amongst those sent 
us were some pure white ones, without any lines or 
markings whatever. Others again had a white tube 
both externally and internally with a blue or violet 
lamina. A scarlet-flowered variety was notable for 
the great number of flowers on a stalk, though these 
were not so large as when the flowers were confined 
to two or three. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The awards mentioned below were made by the 
Royal Horticultural Society, on thd*i5th inst. : — 
Orchid Committee. 
Odontoglossum Fairy Queen. —The flowers of 
this pretty variety give one the impression that it is 
a natural hybrid between O. crispum and O. 
triumphans. The elliptic sepals are pale yellow, 
with several large Chestnut-red blotches, separate or 
amalgamated The ovate, clawed petals have a 
white centre in the basal area, but otherwise coloured 
and blotched like the sepals. The lip has a large 
horseshoe-shaped blotch of Chestnut-rei with a 
white margin. It might have received a higher 
award, for it is very pretty. (Award of Merit.) Mrs. 
Briggs Bury (gardener, Mr. J. Wilkinson), Accring¬ 
ton, Lancashire. 
Laelia anceps Simondsi. —The sepals and elliptic, 
broad petals of this beautiful variety are white. The 
disc of the lip appears to be dusted with violet in 
the centre, and there are some pale blue lines on the 
side lobes, otherwise the flower is wholly white and 
very choice. (Award of Merit.) H. F. Simonds, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. E Day), Woodthorpe, South- 
end Road, Beckenham. 
Dendrobium Ashworthae.— This belongs to the 
same group as D macrophyllum, as is evidenced by 
the keeled sepals and the curiously hairy character 
of the ovary. There are a few purple lines at the 
base of the side lobes, otherwise the flowers are 
white and very distinct looking. (Award of Merit.) 
Elij a Ashworth (gardener, Mr. H. Holbrook) Hare- 
field Hall, Wilmslow, Cheshire. 
Lycaste lassioglossum.— The sepals of this 
striking species are dark chestnut-brown, and fari¬ 
nose On the face at the base. The petals are yellow, 
and the hairy lip is spotted with crimson. (Award 
of Merit.) Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper 
Holloway, London! 
Epidendrum claesianum. —The flowers of this 
species are small, white, and produced in short, 
dense, nodding racemes terminating the stem. 
(Botanical Certificate) M. Fiorent Claes, 55, Rue 
des Champs, Etterbeek, Brussels. 
Floral Committee. 
Primula floribunda grandiflora isabellina.— 
The flowers of this variety are freely produced in 
whorls upon robust flower stems. They are yellow 
as they expand, but fade to lemon soon after. The 
variety is very pretty, and comes true from seed. 
(Award of Merit.) Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, 
(gardener, Mr. W. Bain), Burford, Dorking. 
Cyclamen libanoticum. — This hardy species was 
introduced from Palestine, and belongs to the group 
without auricles to the base of the segments of the 
flower, which is pale purple or rose with a crimson 
band round the throat or base. The leaves are 
nearly orbicular and marbled, with a broad grey 
band above. (\ward of Merit.) Messrs. Geo. 
Jackman & Son, Woking Nursery. Woking. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
Pear Josephine des Malines. —The small, 
turbinate or shortly Pear-shaped fruits of this 
variety are densely spotted all over with russet. The 
flavour is excellent for this period of the year, the 
variety being indeed one of the best late Pears in 
cultivation. It is in season during January and 
February, but may be kept good for several weeks 
longer. (First-class Certificate.) Messrs. J. Veitch 
& Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
——-- -- 
FREESIAS AS VASE PLANTS. 
The slender habit of the Fressia as it is frequently 
seen does not conduce to its employment as a 
decorative subject, in an isolated position at any 
rate; yet with eight or ten bulbs well grown in a 
5-in. pot few things of similar habit and bulk are 
more effective. In order to produce substantial 
foliage and flower stalks bearing from six to ten 
blooms, thoroughly matured bulbs must be secured 
to start with, the potting material must be 
moderately rich, liquid manure applied judiciously 
during growth, and a position near the glass is 
indispensable. If these conditions are observed fine 
specimens are obtained which can be used in vases 
for domestic adornment and not merely as contribu¬ 
tors to a group of miscellaneous plants. Apropos 
of the notices of Freesias which have appeared in 
The Gardening World, it may interest some to 
hear of a fine lot which was grown at Newbyth, near 
Prestonkirk, the seat of Sir David Baird. They 
were treated in the manner roughly described herein 
and used for the purpose indicated. Considering 
the time of year, viz., first week in December, in 
which they were grandly in bloom, averaging eight 
flowers to a stalk, though many had ten, with 
foliage more resembling miniature Gladioli than the 
sickly Freesias one sometimes sees, great credit is 
due to Mr. Thomson, the gardener there. Possess¬ 
ing pleasiog verdure, graceful contour and a 
delicious fragrance which never palls, a collection 
like this is most serviceable and attractive.— 
Observer. 
AMARYLLIS. 
If a batch of these bulbs is required for early 
flowering they must be at once potted, and started 
into growth. The general rule is to give them a 
thorough resting period, all leaves being allowed to 
wither. This results in more flowers being pro¬ 
duced. Shake all the soil from the bulbs, taking care 
to see that no mealy bug is lurking under the scales, 
for now is the easiest and best time to eradicate 
this, the worst insect enemy of the bulb, by using a 
stiffish brush and any insecticide. The compost 
should consist of a good yellow loam, leaf soil, well 
rotten cow manure, and silver sand. In potting, 
plenty of drainage is essential, and do not cover more 
than half of the bulb with soil; pot firmly allowing 
the old roots to remain on. If possible plunge in 
fibre in gentle bottom heat; give no water beyond a 
syringing on bright days, till root action commences. 
During the flowering period keep the house fairly 
dry, as moisture injures the flowers. After flowering 
and as the foliage expands copious supplies of water, 
an occasional one of manure water, must be given, 
and overhead syriDgiDgs. Now that such ercellent 
strains of seed can be obtained from the leading 
nurserymen, named varieties are not necessary. 
Seeds sown in sandy loam and placed in a temper¬ 
ature of 65° soon germinate, and if pricked off, into 
a bed of good soil if possible, produce flowering 
bulbs in three years.—A’. 
■-- 
CRASSULAS. 
Crassulas are well worth growing by anyone 
possessing a greenhouse where frost can be excluded. 
C. coccinea is the species most frequently grown, 
and is very easy to manage. I have found the 
following method of culture very satisfactory :— 
Take cuttings in March, about 3 in. long, of fairly 
strong side shoots, leaving the stronger flowering 
growth alone. Place five cuttings in a 3-in. pot 
filled with a mixture of loam and leaf soil in equal 
parts, with a liberal addition of sand. The cuttings 
should not be watered for a few days, then well 
watered and placed in a position near the glass. No 
more water will be needed until the soil becomes quite 
dry, and this practice should be adhered to until the 
cuttings are well rooted, when they may be shifted 
(without separating them) into well drained 5-in. 
pots, the soil at this stage consisting of two parts 
loam, one part leaf soil, with a good dash of sharp 
sand. The plants should be grown throughout on a 
sunny shelf in the greenhouse, and the following 
February may be transferred to 7-iD. pots, which 
will much improve them, or they may be flowered 
in 5-in. pots if desired. Staking should be attended 
to before the flowers appear. I have had plants 
(treated as described) in 7-iD. pots, carrying over 
thirty trusses of their beautiful sweet-scented 
flowers. C. falcata is a handsome species, and is 
best grown singly in 5-in. pots.— A. C. 
--J.- 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS FROM SEED. 
Many successful growers of Begonias, I notice, make 
a very poor job of raising their plants from seed. 
There is no reason why this should be so, if a small 
amount of care is exercised. The end of January 
and first half of February is the best time to sow the 
seed. I find 5-in. pots more suitable than any other 
thing for the seed sowing. Drain well, and fill up 
the pot to within ij in. of the top with nice light 
soil passed through a half-inch sieve. Then pass 
some of the same material through a very fine sieve, 
and make up the pot to half an inch from the top. 
Make this smooth and level, give a good watering, 
and let stand for an hour. Sow the seed as thinly 
and evenly as possible, and do not cover. All that is 
required is a slight sprinkling of fine sand. Plunge 
in gentle bottom-heat, Where nothing but a green¬ 
house is to be had, the pots can be put into a box on 
an open stage, over the hot-water pipes, and the box 
covered with sheets of glass. An inch of fine ashes 
in the bottom of the box helps to retain moisture. 
The seed will not germinate so fast but will, if fresh, 
come all right in a few weeks. As soon as practic¬ 
able prick into similar soil, place in same tempera¬ 
ture, and when large enough place in small pots. 
One "wrinkle,” and the most important of all; 
never water the seed pots overhead, but plunge them 
to the rims in water slightly heated. -Chas. Blair, 
Binny, Uphall, N.B. ■ 
--s*-« 
LIBONIA FLORIBUNDA. 
This Libonia is a remarkably free flowering subject, 
whose bright coloured blossoms are freely borne 
throughout the winter months. For some reason 
or other, it is far less popular than it was a genera¬ 
tion or so ago. This Libonia can be readily struck 
from cuttings in the spring, and if grown on freely 
during the summer months will by the autumn form 
neat little specimens full of flower buds. They need 
the temperature of an intermediate house in order to 
develop the blossoms. Though an excess of mois¬ 
ture especially during the winter is fatal to the well¬ 
being of the plants, drought is just as injurious,.and 
in the summer overhead s)ringing is of great 
service, oiherwise they are liable to be attacked by 
red spider, which quickly injures the foliage and 
permanently disfigures the plant. As the pots get 
full of roots, liquid manure is of considerable benefit, 
with additional doses of soot water, as this latter 
tends to keep the foliage in good colour, a very 
important item in the case of the Libonia, whose 
leaves are apt to turn yellow unless carefully 
attended to.— H. Davidson, The Gardens, Netherby 
Hall, Longtown, Cumberland. 
URCEOLINA AUREA. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd , have a number 
of specimens of this beautiful Amaryllidaceous plant 
flowering in one of their warm greenhouses at the 
present time. The proper riame is really U. pendula, 
and the character of the flowers is truly pendulous. 
They are born from a long stout stalk, in a drooping 
cluster at its apex. In colour the tubular flowers 
were yellowish with green tips, and are margined 
with white. There are only three species, the 
broad-leaved, the scarlet flowered, and the pendulous 
variety, under which our note appears. The usual 
flowering period of the latter sort, also called the 
Drooping Urn Flower, is mid-summer, so' that 
special means are taken to have the bulbs in flower 
now. The culture is similar to that of Hippea’ t-unh 
(Amaryllis), and it is well known that by specialised 
culture very early batches of these popular bulbous 
flowers can be had.— L. 
