686 
THE GARDENING WORLD. June 22 , isoi. 
too, is badly wanted, as the surface is quite parched. 
On the whole, however, we have little to complain 
of as regards either weather or crops .—Black 
Watch 
-- ~ 
ASPIDISTRAS. 
These excellent room plants, or “parlour Palms, are 
deservedly popular. Their fine foliage being of a coria¬ 
ceous texture enables them towithstand the deleterious 
effects of gas-lit rooms, draughts, dust, fluctuations 
in temperature, and other evils incident to such 
positions as they usually occupy. 
Aspidistras, therefore, are of the utmost value for 
the decoration of windows, passages, fire stoves, and 
such-like places. Moreover, they seem to be prac¬ 
tically immune from insect pests, while their culture 
is of the simplest order. Their leaves, however, 
require to be sponged occasionally with tepid water, 
or —as a lady once informed me—“ with milk and 
water ; it is so nourishing, you know.” 
I have been led to these remarks by the splendid 
condition of some plants in the possession of Mr. 
Launder, of Leppoc Road, Clapbam ; but whether 
he favours the tepid water or the other greasy mix¬ 
ture, I omitted to enquire. At any rate, his plants 
presented an unusually bright and burnished 
appearance, otherwise this note would never have 
been written, 
A particularly fine plant, or plants, is always 
worthy of recognition. Mr. Launder, however, is 
not content with the commonly accepted species, 
viz., A. lurida (and its variegated variety), or as it is 
now called in the jumble of new names, A. elatior. 
He also grows two other interesting forms, viz., A. 
punctulata and A. angustata. The former is some¬ 
what similar to A. elatior in size and foliaceousness, but 
each leaf is distinctly though irregularly punctulate, 
i.e., marked with small white spots. The latter, as the 
name implies, is narrow leaved, and is much smaller 
than the other species. Mr. Launder also possesses 
a variegated form of this pretty, little species, if 
species it is, as I can find no reference to such a 
plant in Nicholson’s “ Dictionary of Gardening.” — 
C. B. G., Acton, W. 
RHODODENDRONS AT REGENT’S PARK. 
Messrs. John Waterer & Sons, of the American 
Nursery, Bagshot, Surrey, are again making an 
attractive display with a large collection of Rhodo¬ 
dendrons in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Regent’s 
Park Words form too inadequate a medium 
wherewith to describe the beauty of the scene. The 
Rhododendrons must be seen to be fully appreciated. 
They are arranged in an ideal position, being in a 
dell, and are protected from the effects of the 
veathtr by a canvas awning. They are arranged in 
a mcst attractive manner, forming recesses, banks, 
and mounds, in which the colours are most delight¬ 
fully harmonised. It is difficult to believe that the 
plants have only recently been lifted trom the 
nursery beds at Bagshot and transplanted to their 
present positions. They have the appearance of old 
established plants, and afford striking testimony to 
the readiness with which the plant lends itself to 
removal. 
The collection exhibited is a representative one of 
most of the best hardy varieties, and includes many 
handsome forms. The first to attract our attention 
on entering the dell were some small plants of a 
variety bearing the name of Gomer Waterer, The 
enormous trusses in which the flowers are borne 
make the plant a conspicuous one, and the colour of 
the flowers in addition to this feature makes it also an 
extremely handsome variety ; they are white, 
slightly blushed towards the margins. It is difficult 
to make a selection of the best when all are of such 
excellence. Some of the most striking and general 
favourites with the visitors are Roseum elegans, a 
true rose colour; James Mason, a light centre, 
gradually increasing in depth until at the margins it 
is a bright scarlet; Alexander Adie, a brilliant rose- 
scarlet ; Countess of Tankerville, a light rose; Mrs. 
W. Agnew, a light rose with lemon centre; Con- 
cessum, a light centre with deep rose margin ; and 
Mrs. Tom Agnew, a pure white with faint yellow 
blotches on the upper petals. 
Mum is one of the best of the white varieties, and 
has a pretty lemon eye. Odoratum is a pretty, 
dwarf variety, vrry much resembling the Azalea, and 
is delightfully scented. Kate Waterer is a rich 
crimson with a large yellow eye; William Whit¬ 
worth, a deep crimson variety, heavily spotted on all 
the petals; Mdme. H. Croux, a very good white, 
deeply spotted ; Sir Henry Mildmay, a rosy crimson ; 
Michael Waterer, one of the brightest crimson 
scarlets. Gloriosum is a general favourite, being a 
large flowering variety with pinkish, white flowers, 
whose beauty is greatly enhanced by the wavy 
margins of the petals. Profusion has pretty curled 
stamens; J. M. Brookes is scarlet with a bronze eye. 
Canon Furze is a very distinct fine rose variety, 
with an extra dark eye; Mrs. John Clutton, pure 
white; Cynthia, rich crimson; and Duchess of 
Connaught, a white, with pale lemon markings. 
Mrs. Alford is a very uncommon colour in Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, being salmon crimson; Butlerianum, a 
white tinged with pink ; Lady Hillingdon, a pure 
white ; and Album elegans is also a very good white. 
A batch of Kalmia latifolia is making a very pretty 
picture at present, and focuses the attention of 
every one who passes round that side of the dell. 
There are also numerous Conifers, &c., dotted about. 
When the visitor sees the exhibition in Regent’s 
Park, he can judge tor himself the picture they pre¬ 
sent in the nurseries at Bagshot, where there are 
sixty acres of them. The exhibition is to last 
throughout June. 
PAEONIES FROM LANGPORT. 
June brings a great variety of flowers in its train, 
and not the least conspicuous of hardy flowers are 
the Chinese Paeonies, so called, which have been 
largely developed in this country and on the Continent 
from the old Siberian Paeonia albiflora, a species 
with white flowers, and in the spring time, rich red 
leaves and stems. The improvements effected con¬ 
sist in the doubling of the flowers and in putting a 
great deal of colour into many of them, the colours 
now ranging from pure white to dark purple, red 
and crimson. 
A boxful of named varieties has reached us from 
Messrs. Kelway and Son, Langport, Somerset. The 
double varieties in this consignment were the most 
numerous, but tome of the singles were also repre¬ 
sented. Many of the varieties of these herbaceous 
Paeonies are decidedly scented, some of them being 
more grateful than others in this respect. This 
odour is stiong upon opening a box of blooms, but 
scented individuals can also be detected. Most 
gardeners are aware of their beauty for garden 
decoration in June, but bold and massive as the 
flowers are they are valuable for cutting, being seen 
to best advantage when cut with long stems 
and placed in large vases in dwelling or other rooms 
where the fragrance of a bunch of flowers permeates 
the place. 
None of the double varieties was entirely white, 
though there were several very pale and choice 
varieties. All the centre of Blanche Fitzmaurice 
was white, consisting of narrow petals, surrounded 
by a double row of broader and larger blush coloured 
ones. That.named Portia is a very handsome one, 
and though slightly tinted with pink on the outer 
petals it would at a short cistance away be regarded 
as pure white, and for all practical purposes it is. 
The flower is very regular and full, the petals being 
broad right to the centre of the bloom. One of the 
most deliciously and distinctly fragrant is Lady 
Alexandra Macduff, a blush white variety with broad 
petals and very full Sowers, the petals 
being arranged round a single centre and 
crimped at the edges. A somewhat different 
flower is Christine Shand, almost of a uniform 
silvery blush from the broad outer petals to 
the centre. All the central ones are moderately cut, 
slightly crimped and of average width. A very 
differently formed flower was Lilia Mayo, the stem 
of which carried three fully expanded flowers. The 
central one was the largest, and though not quite 
full in the centre this was hidden by the great length 
and breadth of the petals, the whole making a 
silvery blush flower of great massiveness and beauty. 
The side blooms were much smaller but shapely. 
The foliage of all was good, but that of Lady 
Romilly particularly so. The stem, though only 
15 in. long or less, carried four large, rich green 
leaves, without a blemish. The flower is a uniform 
silvery pink and very double, so that a bed or bold 
clump of it would be a conspicuous ornament to the 
garden or pleasure grounds. The darkest of all sent 
us was a new one named General Buffer, having 
rather shortly stalked but healthy foliage, and a 
large carmine-rose flower more or less flushed with 
a silvery tint at the tips of the central petals. 
Dolabra is also a very full flower of a rosy-purple 
hue, clouded with silver at the tips of the petals. 
Limosel differs from all the above in the curious 
formation of the flower. The outer petals are very 
broad and stand out boldly from the rest of the 
flower. These are followed by short and narrow 
petals, deeply fimbriated at the apex; then comes a 
series of petals of varying width, some entire and 
some of them deeply fringed, filling up the centre of 
the flower. On the whole, the bloom of this variety 
is very massive and conspicuous, so that it might 
please those who object to the formality of a regu¬ 
larly formed flower. Another strikingly distinct 
flower is that named Agnes Mary Kelly, moderate in 
size and consisting of three rows of broad silvery- 
pink petals forming a guard to a great zone of 
closely packed and short yellow petals, surrounding 
a central knot of purple ones. All of the above are 
excellent varieties for planting extensively in beds 
upon the grass. 
Three single varieties represented a class favoured 
by many growers who prefer single to double 
flowers. The widely expanded flowers of Doris 
have rosy-carmine petals, fading to a silvery cast at 
the edges. Countess Cadogan is notable for its 
large silvery pink flowers, with a great brush of 
yellow stamens in the centre as in the case of Doris. 
Sir Angus Holden is a less expanded flower than 
the other two, but distinguished by the dark crim¬ 
son-red colour of its cup-shaped, single blossoms. 
MULE PINKS. 
This beautiful section of the Dianthus family 
receives far less attention than their merits deserve. 
I would like to induce everyone to grow them, as 
they are not only most useful for cutting, but make 
a gorgeous display in the garden for a considerable 
period. The variety D. hybridus grandiflorus planted 
in a bed and edged with one of the small white Pinks, 
would take some beating. It is rosy pink in colour, 
and a most profuse flowerer. It makes the best 
display the second and third years after planting. 
It is easily propagated by cuttiDgs taken in autumn. 
I prefer about the beginning of September for 
inserting the cuttings. Select nice clean growths, 
dibble into sandy soil in boxes, and place them in a 
cold frame, keeping close for a fortnight. There¬ 
after, treatment similar to Calceolarias suits them 
admirably. Plant in permanent quarters early in 
April in any good garden soil, and that is about all 
the attention they require. Full exposure to the sun, 
I may add, seems to suit them best, although they 
are by no means particular as to situation. I refer 
principally, of course, to D. hybridus grandiflorus, 
which is the strongest grower and most profuse 
bloomer. Other grand sorts are Lady Campbell, 
pink; Napoleon III, bright crimson; and Marie 
Pere, white. The latter is much more difficult to 
root than the others, and the cuttings might with 
advantage be inserted in pots and placed on a shelf 
in a cool greenhouse, where they would secure more 
careful and constant attention than if placed in a 
frame.— C. Blair, Binny, Uphall. 
»■» 
CHRYSANTHEMUM POTTING. 
Most Chrysanthemums are now in their flowering 
pots ; but some growers may have preferred to post¬ 
pone the work of potting till later, but it would not 
be wise to hold them back any longer, as the roots 
will get too thick and will not have room to thrive 
in the small pots. Both standards and bush 
plants can be potted in the same sized pot, 
namely 8 in. Thoroughly wash these inside 
and out before using, and see that they are quite 
sound, also take great care as to the drainage, for 
this means a great deal in the life of a Chrysanthe¬ 
mum. If the pots are insufficiently crocked, the 
roots will either become too dry or on the other 
hand get saturated with sour water. A good sized 
stopper should be placed with hollow downwards 
over the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and 
slightly smaller ones put round this, likewise with 
hollow downwards, and finally some little bits of 
crock thrown on the top (avoid crock dust). A 
little Mushroom bed dung can be placed over the 
drainage prior to the plants being potted. Compost 
should be composed of six parts good loam to two of 
old Mushroom manure and half a part of bone meal 
with a little addition of river sand. Leave three 
sturdy top growths on the standards and remove all 
