570 
THE GARDENING WORLD. May 4, 1901 . 
method the beauty is lost, and from a short distance 
they only look like a coloured cloth over the bed, 
instead of each one showing out individually. Any¬ 
one who has the pleasure of seeing the bulbs on the 
mound at Kew cannot fail to appreciate their effec¬ 
tive display. They are planted in the grass, and 
then left for Nature to provide for them. Early in 
the year it is covered by Snowdrops and Croci, and 
as these disappear the Narcissi take their place and 
cover the mound with a nodding mass of blooms 
which look much happier than their unfortunate 
neighbours drawn up in soldierly lines. Hyacinths 
and Tulips also make their appearance and add to 
the beauty. The bulbs are planted in holes made 
with a crowbar and covered by a little new soil, and 
are then do more trouble. In large establishments 
where bulbs are forced extensively, the pleasure 
grounds might be made gay in spring by planting 
the old bulbs in the grass. The leaves die down so 
early that the mowing will not injure them if left for 
a week or two. Another advantage of growing them 
in the grass is that after a shower of rain they are 
Dot mud besprinkled as when grown on the sticky 
soil. 
STRANGE PARTNERSHIPS. 
If we look closely into Nature we find many strange 
partnerships. Perhaps the strangest and most 
interesting of all is that of plants living in partner¬ 
ship with insects for their mutual welfare. The 
p'aot is a Mexican tree, Acacia sphaerocephala, and 
its partner, a pugnacious species of ant. The 
branches are armed with singular double thorns, 
from which feature it is known as the Bull’s Horn 
Acacia. These thorns are very hard but hollow. At 
the base there is a soft spot which is easily pushed 
in and makes a passage into the hollow of the thorns. 
It is in these hollows that the ants live with their 
heads filling up the holes. When an insect attempts 
to climb past one of these the ant rushes out and 
destroys it, but does not, as might be supposed, live 
on its prey. Its food is provided by the plant in the 
form of little grain-like growths at the tips of the 
pinnae, so that by this partnership the ants protect 
the plant in return for food and shelter.— F. C. 
COLEUS THYRSOIDEUS. 
In the Coleus family one generally expects to see 
highly coloured leaves, and flowers when allowed to 
remain on the plants, of a very inconspicuous kind. 
Ia the above species the leaves are of a clear green, 
and the flowers which are produced in spikes from 
6 in. to 1 ft. in leDgth are a fascinating blue, 
about the same shade as seen in Salvia patens. It 
is a plant that is bound to become popular when 
better knowD, as it has so many good qualities to 
recommend it. It is easily grown, does not require 
much heat, flowers in the depth of winter when its 
brilliant masses of bloom make a pleasing contrast 
w.th the surroundings, which are never very gay in 
that season, and above all the flowers last for a long 
time. It should be treated as a Salvia or ordinary 
Coleus, and grown on into a large plant. It is a 
subject that has a brilliant future before it as a decora¬ 
tive plant for Christmas use when blue is always a 
very scarce colour, 
HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES. 
Th.s shrub is not grown so extensively as it ought 
to be. It is better known perhaps under the name 
of Sea Buckthorn. It is often believed that it will 
not succeed away from the sea, but it only requires 
a trial to explode this ridiculous theory. It will grow 
luxuriantly if provided with a moist sandy soil, no 
matter how far it may be from the influence of the 
salt spray. Its flowers are inconspicuous, and its 
foliage cannot be said to be particularly attractive, 
but it is in the dull winter months that it scores, 
when it is covered with a wealth of orange-coloured 
berries which are a pretty feature amongst its dreary 
surroundicgs. It is well adapted for seaside culture 
as it grows right down to the high water mark with¬ 
out injury. 
CHOISYA TERNATA. 
This is a beautiful evergreen shrub, which if given a 
sheltered position, is no trouble to cultivate, and 
produces its sweetly scented white flowers in profu¬ 
sion about July. It remains for a long time in bloom 
if it dots not suffer from drought. The foliage is a 
very dark colour which shows up the flowers in a 
remarkable manner as they are produced on very 
short stalks, but owing to its somewhat powerful 
odour when cut it cannot be used for cutting where 
objection is taken to the odour of the foliage. The 
soil it seems to thrive best in is a good fibrous loam 
and peat. It is easily propagated by taking well 
ripened cuttings in the spring, and putting them in 
a mixture of sand and sifted peat, placing them in a 
warm house for a time. It is more often grown as a 
pot plant for greenhouse and conservatory decoration, 
for which purpose it is well suited, as it forms a 
pretty plant, even when not in bloom, and has the 
advantage over most other plants in not being 
troubled with insects. Even red spider seems to 
shun it. If it is grown indoors it should be put out 
when it has completed its growth, so that the wood 
has a better chance to become thoroughly ripened. 
It is commonly called tha Mexican Orange. 
LOBELIA CARDINALIS. 
This half-hardy perennial is a native of North 
America, being found in the vicinity of the bogs of 
Florida. It is undoubtedly one of our most beautiful 
bedding plants, as all who have seen it grown well 
and planted in large masses will admit. It requires 
special care, however, to keep it alive during 
winter, and to have it to perfection in summer all 
trouble is amply repaid by the brilliancy of its 
scarlet flowers, and the reddish bronze colour of its 
foliage. It requires a rich loam, rather shady 
position, with an abundance of moisture, and should 
be given a position where it would be sheltered 
from rough winds. These requirements being pro¬ 
vided it will grow to a height of 3 ft. or more, and 
produce an abundance of flowers which last a con¬ 
siderable time, and when planted in large masses 
the effect produced is magnificent. Its vivid scarlet 
flowers form a delightful contrast with those of 
Galtonia candicans, and if masses of each are alter¬ 
nated no prettier effect could be desired. When the 
flower stalks have been cut down by frosts the roots 
should be lifted and placed in a dry place in a cool 
frame or greenhouse, and covered with sandy soil 
which should never be allowed to get too wet, as 
this is certain to cause decay of the roots. In the 
spring the larger roots can be divided and placed in 
boxes or pots, the soil used being a rich loam.— 
F. W. M. 
-a - 
COMPOUND HYBRIDS. 
The idea has been entertained that by fertilising a 
flower of any species (of Orchid, for instance) with 
the mixed pollen of two other different species, the 
seeds of that flower would produce plants whose 
flowers would partake of the characteristics of all 
three parents. That this would be quite impossible 
is at once clearly seen by all who understand what 
takes place in the process of fertilisation. The 
pollen grains are held fast to the stigma by the 
sticky substance provided for this purpose, which 
also induces germination, the pollen grains sending 
out tubes which grow down the style into the 
interior of the ovary, being guided in their passage 
in a wonderful manner by tufts of hairs, &c., on the 
walls of the ovary. In the interior of the ovary each 
tube combines with one of the cells contained in the 
embryo-sacs, called egg cells, and these absorb the 
contents of the pollen tubes, namely, the generative 
nuclei; and this transfer of the nucleus from the 
pollen tube constitutes the act of fertilisation, the 
egg cell immediately increasing in size and ulti¬ 
mately becoming a seed. The ovaries of all the 
Orchideae contain many ovules, and each ovule 
requires a separate pollen tube for its fertilisation. 
To produce a compound hybrid by mixed pollination 
would necessitate the combination of the contents of 
two pollen grains into one egg cell.— F. W.M. 
“VIOLETS.” 
No flower is more appreciated than the ever wel¬ 
come Violet. “ Sweeter are they than the lids of 
Juno’s eyes, or Cytherea's breath." Many flowers 
come into and go out of fashion, but the faithful 
Violet, like Tennyson's brook, goes on for ever. The 
natural flowering season of the Violet extends from 
March till late in the year; but if grown in frames a 
profusion of bloom may be had through the winter 
and spring. Plant single crowns in richly manured 
ground, 12 in. each way, on a north-west aspect, 
water them, keep the weeds down, and mulch with 
some short manure in het weather. About the end 
of September the plants should be lifted and planted 
in a frame (preferably with a south-west aspect) 
which has, we will assume, been prepared for them. 
The frame should be two-thirds full of stable litter 
and leaves, and covered with 6 in. of soil. The 
Violets should be planted close, just to touch each 
other. Water well, and give air on mild days and 
light at all times. Violets thrive best in a rich but 
rather heavy soil. The varieties I prefer are Swan- 
ley White, double white; Marie Louise, lavender- 
blue, double, very large : Neapolitan, pale lavender, 
very free bloomer; whilst for singles, The Czar, 
single blue, long footstalks; Princess of Wales, 
bright blue large flowers and long footstalks, a great 
point in its favour ; and Wellsiana, rich purple, and 
deliciously scented, are all excellent varieties.— T.W. 
Dollery, The Gardens, Whitburn, Sunderland. 
PLEASING CONTRASTS. 
With the advent of genial weather comes the 
opportunity for noting in gay succession the pleasing 
contrasts afforded by shrubs and plants of various 
kinds which bloom simultaneously. Too often we 
see them like the last Rose of summer " left blooming 
alone,” or what may be even worse amidst pitiful 
surroundings. Two instances of current importance 
in the way of harmonious association will here be 
given. That ever welcome spring visitant, Forsythia 
suspensa, whose appearance, methinks, always seems 
to sound the death knell of winter—growing from a 
groundwork of St. Brigid Anemones of varied hues 
from brilliant crimson to spotless white—with ever¬ 
green shrubs in proximity, is a sight never to be 
effaced from one’s memory. Or again, the common 
red flowering Currant in congenial surroundings of 
white and yellow Tulips in no prim or formal array 
but dotted about with a reckless disregard of straight 
lines or sweeping curves, has its own beauty, which 
is not very striking, materially enhanced by its gay 
neighbours. The latter furnishes a little more 
greenery of its own than the former when 
flowering, but both are greatly dependent on external 
aid midst the advancing hosts of Flora’s peerless 
army. Illustrations of this kind could be multiplied 
ad infinitum. These two may be of some interest at 
the present time.— J. McAra, Kingsburgh, Preston- 
kirk. 
CINERARIAS FROM SEED. 
Seeds should be sown in May or June in pans of 
light soil, which should be placed in a shady posi¬ 
tion in a cool greenhouse or frame. Keep close 
until the seedlings appear, when air can be admitted 
freely. When the seedlings are large enough to 
handle, prick off into small pots, using half loam and 
half leaf soil with a dash of sand. Keep close and 
shaded until roots begin to form, and then admit 
plenty of air. As the plants require it they should 
be potted on into larger pots. Small plants will 
flower in 5-in. pots; but if large specimens are 
required, 8-in. or g-in. pots will not be too large. 
For the final pottiDg use a compost of equal parts 
rough fibrous loam and leaf soil with a little sand 
and dry cow manure added. Place in a frame and 
use the syringe freely to prevent red spider, and keep 
the plants thinly shaded on bright hot days, so as to 
keep the plants as cool as possible. In the autumn 
remove the plants to a house from which frost is 
just excluded. Do not let them get dry at the roots 
but keep a dry atmosphere to prevent mildew; 
should any signs of this appear dust the leaves with 
sulphur. When the buds appear give plenty of 
liquid manure. Cineraries are subject to attacks of 
greenfly, which can best be kept in check by fre¬ 
quently fumigating the house or frame.— Cumbria. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
This spell of dry weather we have had has caused a 
lot of anxiety amongst gardeners, as the plants that 
are just coming up require frequent waterings, and 
there are not many establishments where time can 
be well spared for this purpose, as spring is a busy 
time for a gardener, whether he is employed in the 
kitchen garden, the flower garden, fruit garden, or 
in the houses. 
Dahlias. —These should now be nearly hardened 
off, and no time must be lost in preparing places for 
them in the borders. 
