May 11, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
•585 
Japanese Dwarf Trees. —An interesting sale of 
horticnltural curiosities took place recently at 
Willis's Rooms. There was a varied collection, and 
many of the specimens commanded high prices. 
Altogether the 138 lots realised over £280. They 
included Plum, Cherry, Cinnamon, Camphor, Elm, 
Maple, Apple, and Beech. It was not a collection 
such as is generally seen, consisting almost entirely 
of Conifers, but was composed almost entirely of 
flowering and foliage trees. 
Polypodium incanum.—Mr. Thomas Meehan, 
Germantown, Phila., has some interesting notes on 
this Fern in The Fern Bulletin. He says that accord¬ 
ing to his experience it is not merely an epiphyte but 
also in a certain sense a saprophyte if the term may 
be used for chlorophyllous plants. He gives an 
account of some plants he bad sent to him from 
Florida, growing in a mass of decayed Hypnums. 
They soon died, for when the cld roots were torn 
from their attachment they were deprived of the 
food they derived from the old bark. The block was 
allowed to remain in the conservatory, on account 
of some other plants growing on it. In the autumn 
thousands of spores from the dead Ferns germinated 
on the surface of the dead moss. At the time of 
writing he states that his plants were in their third 
frond from the protballus, and very varied in 
character. Some of the third series fronds were 
nearly sessile, others had stipes £ in long. In some 
the phyllous section of the frond was broadly ovate, 
in others linear. Most were entire but a large num¬ 
ber were bilobed. Hybridisation as a factor in these 
variations was out of the question, as no other 
plants were near. 
FORSYTHIA SUSPENSA. 
This is a very handsome shrub in the early part of 
the year, when it is covered by an abundance of 
blooms. It was introduced to this country in 1864 
from Japan. It is perfectly hardy, but requires a 
sheltered position or its blooms are destroyed by the 
wind. The flowers are of a golden colour, and pro¬ 
duced as they are all along the shoots they form a 
conspicuous feature in the pleasure grounds when 
in full bloom, which is about the end of March, or 
belter and more often in April. It is indifferent as 
regards soil so long as not planted in the extremes. 
When it has finished flowering it should be cut well 
back so that it may produce strong growths for the 
next season. 
CATALPA BIG NON 101 DES. 
Some magnificent specimens of the tree are to be 
found about the country, but in many parts it is too 
cold for its successful cultivation. It does well in 
the southern counties. It is a tree quite distinct 
from most of its neighbours in this country, its 
foliage being so large. The flowers are produced in 
great profusion, and are of a large size. They are 
white, tinged with violet, and have a purple-spotted 
throat with a yellow blotch. The tree attains the 
the height of about 30 ft. to 35 ft , when on a good 
loamy soil. The seeds are borne in large pods, 
which resemb'e kidney Beans. From this charac¬ 
teristic feature the tree has got the common name of 
Indian Bean. 
BERMUDA LIulES. 
Yearly the cry is raised by growers of this popular 
Easter flower, that the condition of the imported 
bulbs is becoming more and more impaired, and the 
supply of blooms is less in consequence. Accotding 
to Mr. Bishop, who is superintendent of the Ber¬ 
muda Botanic Gardens, the leading cause of this 
failure is to be found in not giving the soil a proper 
rest; next in the selling of all the best bulbs, and 
planting the weak ones for stock. The non-obser¬ 
vance of this latter practice must surely lower the 
standard and reduce the vitality to a large degree. 
Mr. Bishop is taking a great interest in the industry, 
and if the farmers would only take his advice and 
have a rolation of crops and plant better stock, there 
is no doubt tha bulbs would be got back to their 
previous standard of perfection. He has crossed 
Lilium longiflorum with L. Harrisii, the result being 
a good combination of both with a more sturdy 
habit and better fitted for shipment. 
THE MOVEMENTS OF PLANTS. 
In a lecture before the Riyal Horticultural Society 
on June 9th, 1896, the Rev Professor Henslow, 
M.A., F.L S., made some interesting observations 
regarding the sleep of Clover and the movements 
accompanying it. He says, speaking of mature 
leaves, ■* At sunset the two lateral leaflets rotate till 
they are vertical. They then approach each other 
and press their upper surfaces together, while the 
terminal leaflet passes through half a circle and 
comes down over their upturned edges like a roof.” 
LARGE HELIOTROPES. 
I was greatly interested in hearing of the large 
plants described by " Brightspade ” on 557. I am 
afraid that I cannot give him the age of the plant 
here. I, however, was acquainted with the gardener, 
who had charge of the gardens here some thirty-five 
years ago, and it was a large plant when he took 
charge. It will, therefore, I think be safe to put 
down its age as about forty years. " Brightspade ” 
misunderstood me as regards greenfly on Heliotropes. 
What I meant to say was that this large plant is 
never infested with greenfly, and that to me is 
strange, as when grown in pots it is most difficult to 
keep them free of the pest. I should also have said 
that I could easily extend this plant by many 
feet on either side, only my employer is very fond of 
a Rose growing on one side, and a Zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium on the other, so the Heliotrope has to be 
kept to its own place.— C. Blair. 
With reference to Brightspade's article on the 
above, in-your issue of last week, p. 557,1 may state 
there is a plant here growing on the site mentioned 
by Brightspade, and which covers a space of 16 ft. 
by 15 ft., with a stem measuring 9 in. in circumfer¬ 
ence 3 in. from the surface of the soil. From April 
till November large quantities of flowers can be cut 
from this plant, which certainly makes it a very 
valuable one to have in any greenhouse. I am of 
opinion, however, that when a plant of Heliotrope is 
allowed to grow too long in this way (planted out) 
the flowers deteriorate in quality .—D Buchanan, 
Bargany Gardens, Dailly, Ayrshire. 
--5-- 
DAFFODILS PLANTED AT 
CHRISTMAS. 
The question of the proper time for planting Daffo¬ 
dils has often been raised, experts generally affirming 
that the best time is as early as possible, or, in other 
words, that the best results are obtainable from 
bulbs that have been planted early in autumn, say 
about the end of August and onwards through the 
month of September. No doubt the earliest flowers 
and the largest would be obtainable from bulbs 
planted at an early date, all other conditions being 
equal; because it stands to reason that bulbs kept 
in a dry room or shed till a late period must lose by 
drying and shrinking, which must mean loss of 
energy or reserve material. All the same, we find 
by experiment that Daffodil bulbs put up with a 
great deal of bad usage, before they show the influ¬ 
ence of such treatment. 
In order to test the matter we planted fourteen 
varieties on December 25th ; and if they had been 
kept out of the ground till January 1st we do not 
think that it would have made any material differ¬ 
ence. How late in the new year Daffodils may be 
planted and yet flower satisfactorily the same year, 
that is, in the following spring, is a matter well worth 
testing, if only for the sake of experiment. All of 
the fourteen varieties were planted the same day in 
light, friable or alluvial soil, and under precisely 
similar conditions in ground more or less occupied 
with the roots of shrubs and also by late flowering 
florists' Tulips. Golden Spur was the first to 
expand a bloom, on April 13th, other flowers of 
splendid size opening in succession during the next 
few days. Countess of Annesley followed on the 
14th, and, though a large flower, hai not the bold, 
upright habit of Golden Spur, which is indeed a 
grand early Daffodil, and forces well. Narcissus 
obvallaris (the Tenby Daffodil) at one time, in con¬ 
junction with pallldus praecox, looked upon as the 
precursors of the race in the open ground, expanded 
on the 18th, N. odorus rugulosus (the Campernelle) 
keeping it company. Mrs. Thomson, a variety of 
N. moschatus, first expanded on the 20th. This 
was followed next day by Sir Watkin (the largest of 
the forms of N. incomparabilis, in general cultiva¬ 
tion, at least), and by N. Johnstoni Queen of Spain, 
with the clipped trumpet and elegantly reflexed and 
twisting segments. N. Barrii conspicuus and N. 
incomparabilis Beauty commenced to expand on the 
22nd. The freedom with which the former flowers 
year after year, even under adverse conditions, is 
well known. N. Johnstoni King of Spain differs 
from its near relative in having the trumpet frilled 
at the mouth, or, in other words, more or less deeply 
cut and revolute at the rim. It first expanded on 
the 25th. N. bicolor Horsfieldi first opened on the 
26th; so that late planting evidently retards its 
blooming, as bulbs planted earlier were several days 
in advance of that. N. Leedsii Mrs. Langstry, that 
elegant hybrid with a yellow Picotee edge, began to 
open on the 30th, and was accompanied by N. poeti- 
cus ornatus, both behind their natural time by 
several days. 
N. Burbidgei Ellen Barr does not appear as if it 
intended to flower at all; though the reason for this 
behaviour is not very evident, unless its affinity with 
N. poeticus (one of the parents) may be held account¬ 
able for it. Some species and varieties do prove 
refractory in this way when recently transplanted, 
and particularly when grown in pots. Amongst 
these N. poeticus and its varieties, N. maximus, and 
some of the forms of N. incomparabilis may be 
mentioned. 
It will thus be seen that the above, with one ex. 
ceptioD, flowered during the month of April, although 
the bulbs were not put in the soil till December 25th. 
On May 7th, good flowers were still carried by N. 
Johnstoni Queen of Spain, N. J. King of Spain, N. 
Leedsii Mrs. Langstry, N. incomparabilis Beauty, N. 
bicolor Horsfieldi, N. Barrii conspicuus, and N. 
poeticus ornatus, the latter being then in its heyday, 
as becomes a Narcissus belonging to one of the latest 
groups to pass out of bloom. It will thus be seen 
that half of them carried passable flowers in the 
second week of May. Late planting and a cold 
spring may be accountable for this, but the recent 
hot weather and a warm sheltered position hastened 
their flowering considerably. 
-- 
CACTI IN WINTER. 
Ca cti will perhaps endure more than moU plants in 
tb6 vegetable kingdom, growing, as they do, in the 
poorest of soils, and surrounded with a bakiDg 
atmosphere. A correspondent, writing in your paper 
the other week, criticises your advice to " F.,” when 
you say 50^ in the winter is a suitable temperatuie 
for Cacti generally. I do not keep my collection 
quite so warm as that, but it ranges from 45° to 50°, 
according to the external conditions. I do not 
doubt but that they would live or linger through the 
winter with a temperature of 35 0 ; but I cannot 
agree with Mr. Ellison when he says that such a low 
temperature is conducive to their health. My 
reason is very simple.. They are mostly natives of 
countries south of the Equator, therefore our 
seasons are opposite. Our winter being their grow¬ 
ing season they have a great tendency to start into 
growth late in the autumn. Some plants will not be 
retarded as to their proper season, but Cacti are 
both slow growers and slow "diers,” and do not 
mind it so much. But surely, if they are allowed to 
grow in their own season, they will thrive better, for 
they are not plants that are likely to draw much. If 
the temperature is kept too low in winter there is 
nothing to counteract our cold moisture laden at no¬ 
sphere. I endeavour to make my plants start into 
growth late in June by withholding water until then, 
but not so much as to dry them up. I then give 
plenty of water and frequent sprayings overhead, 
and allow them as much sunshine as possible. They 
soon start into vigorous growth when afforded this 
treatment, which they are able to mature before 
Christmas, when I rest them by keeping them drier 
at the root until the next June. Of course there are 
a few that will thrive in the open if protected from 
very severe frost; Opuntia Raffinesquii for instance 
will do well planted out under the shelter of a wall. 
The Cereus group thrives well in the stove if they 
can be given sufficient light. I only send these notes 
as an amateur, but I pride myself on my success, and 
in conclusion will give the advice of one of our best 
professional men, Mr. Geo. Nicholson, F.L.S., 
Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where 
a very large collection is to be seen. In an article 
