146 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 14, 1903. 
possesses this—a generous gift. A fimbriate form of Stans- 
fieldi—before mentioned—was believed to have been raised by 
Mr. Bolton, of Wart on, near Camforth, from aposporous 
fringes; so that it is evident that the variation and repro¬ 
duction in this particular species are as yet an unknown quan¬ 
tity ; in fact, the mind fails to conceive the possibilities which 
the future may have in store for it. 
Other varieties of the crispum section occur, i.e., some are 
crested, some ramose, and some even conglomerate. Over 
sixty varieties are known to and cultivated by specialists , but 
1 think enough has been said to show that there is something 
in the common Hart’s-tongue to prove that the decorative value 
of these foliaceous plants can hardly be over-estimated. In 
another article I propose to indicate some of the' finer foams in 
other sections of this protean species, which might, with some 
propriety, be dubbed Scolopendrium vai'iabile. 
Acton, W. _ C. B. Green. 
Twelve Best Flowering Plants at Kew. 
“ There are more plants in the garden than ye wot of. 
Hymenocallis macrostephana. 
This handsome Amaryllid belongs to that section of the genus 
which has sessile leaves, of which there are .eight to nine from 
a bulb. The individual flowers are large, white, and fragrant, 
the segments being about 3 in. long, the staminal-cup 2 in. long, 
and the same in diameter at the throat, whilst the yellow anthers 
on filaments about 1 in. long aid to its charm. Its origin is 
uncertain, the plant being a supposed garden hybrid, probably 
between H. speciosa and H. calathina. It. is certainly one of 
the best- of the genus, and worthy of a first place in a cool stove. 
Phaedranassa Carmiolr. 
A greenhouse plant belonging to the Amaryllidae. It differs 
from the other four species of the genus by its possession of a 
perianth tube longer than the segments, whilst the segments 
of the other four are longer than the tube. It has also the pecu¬ 
liarity of being the only species not found oxi the Andes, its 
native habitat being Costa Rica- From the globose bulb arises 
a moderately slender glaucous green peduncle about 2 ft. high, 
bearing an umbel of 8 to 10 drooping flowers, which are cylin¬ 
drical, 2 in. long, and of a bright red colour, whilst the con- 
nivent segments are green, with a pale edge. The one or two 
leaves are produced after the flowers are past. 
Clivia (Imantophyllum) miniata. 
This handsome Amaryllid is too well known to require any 
description, yet too valuable a greenhouse plant to be omitted. 
Formerly this plant formed a monotypic genus, Imantophyllum, 
which now, however, is classed under Clivia. It differs from 
the other two species, C. noblis and C. Gardeni, by being 
decidedly more ornate, and by its erect flowers, with broader and 
more spreading segments. 
Daedalacanthus nervosus. 
The brilliant blue colour of the flowers of this old member of 
our stoves makes it a desirable subject for their decoration. The 
blue flowers are produced on spikes about 4 in. long, arising 
from conspicuous white presistent bracts which are deeply 
veined with bright green. It is also known as Eranthemum 
nervosum and Justicia nervosa in gardens. 
Iris japonica. 
This beautiful iridaceous plant, at present flowering in the 
“succulent house,” vei'ifies the title of “ the poor man’s orchid.” 
The cymose inflorescence attains a height of about 18 in., pro¬ 
ducing 18 to 20 charming lilac flowers, the falls having fimbriated 
edges equal to the finest point lace (accoi'ding to some lady 
admirers), spotted with yellow and white in the centre, and fur¬ 
nished with a yellow ridge-like crest running up the middle to 
about two-thirds of its length, where it ends abruptly. The 
leaves, which arise from a long, slender, creeping rhizome in a 
fan-shaped manner, curving gracefully over near the apex, are 
deep polished green and flexible. 
Erisotemon myoporoides. 
A rutaceous greenhouse shrub, native of Australia, where it 
was discovered by Allan Cunningham in 1823, on the western 
side of the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Either planted 
out in a peat border or grown in pots it is equally effectual, 
producing in great abundance its white, fragrant, orange-like 
flowers in axillary racemes. The plant is evergreen, and the 
stem and branches are profusely covered with glandular warts. 
Reinwardtia trigyna. 
As a yellow flowered greenhouse plant at this season this has 
few equals. The flowers, which are golden yellow, resemble 
somewhat those of a Linum, and are freely produced in succes¬ 
sion over a long period. Along with R. tetragyna it is found 
to inhabit many parts of India. Give warm, intermediate treat¬ 
ment whilst growing. 
Senecio grandifolius. 
To those wTio require a large showy plant for massing, this 
species of Compositae is recommended. It attains a height of 
4 ft. to 8 ft., having large dark green leaves about a foot long, 
and from 4 in. to 5 in. broad, coarsely toothed. Flowers (resem¬ 
bling those of a Ragwort), yellow, produced in large terminal 
corymbs. Greenhouse. 
Salvia Heerii. 
A handsome Labiate which, however, owing to the successmnal 
manner in which the flowers are produced, loses some of its 
effectiveness. It is a tall, somewhat coarse herb, growing to 
a height of 5 ft. to 6 ft., with large leaves. The racemes ter¬ 
minate the branches and branclilets, the flowers being produced 
in whorls of two. The individual flower is very pretty, being 
bright scarlet. The effect is heightened by the two exserted 
anthers, which are darker scarlet in colour, with yellow pollen. 
Native of Peru. Greenhouse. 
Brachysema Drummcmdi. 
A climbing or pillar Pea plant from Australia, with long, half- 
drooping branches. The crimson flowers are freely produced in 
the axils of the leaves, which are in pairs. The keel forms all 
the showy part of the- flower, as the standard is almost obsolete 
and the wings comparatively small. Temperate house. 
Kennedya prostrata Marryatlae. 
Another climbing Australian leguminous plant of great merit, 
and one of the best greenhouse spring flowering climbers. The 
leaves are trifoliate, bright green on the upper and hairy on 
lower surface. The flowers, which are produced singly or in 
pairs in the axils of the leaves, are bright scarlet and of true 
Pea shape, the lower part of the standard having a yellow 
merging into green basal blotch. 
Lindenbergia Grandiflora. 
A beautiful greenhouse plant belonging to the Serophularineae. 
Of the 14 species described this is the handsomest. The general 
habit of the plant is that of a pubescent, much branched, sub- 
scandent herb ; hence it is assumed that it would prove effective 
if grown in a basket. The stem attains to a length of about 
2 ft., producing bright yellow flowers in the axils of the floral 
leaves, and comparable to a small Mimulus. It is a common 
plant on the Himalayas at an elevation of from 2,000 to 6,000 ft. 
Reading University College. 
Courses for Gardeners. 
The class of young men eager for some training which will 
enable them to gain an insight into the scientific aspect of their 
profession is rapidly increasing, and many are anxious to 
attempt the Royal Hoiticultural Society’s examination. Those 
who do this generally feel more or less handicapped by their 
competitor's having a better general education, and, it may be, 
coached in some horticultural college. As far as the former 
is concerned, the young gardener is conscious that he is the 
better man, though his lack of ability to put his knowledge 
into a concise form, and treat it also from the common-sense 
or scientific side, puts him at a great disadvantage. 
The Horticultural Department of the Reading University 
College is doing good work in this direction by granting 
“ studentships,” consisting of a maintenance allowance and 
railway fare to and from Reading, with a coui-se of free in¬ 
struction for six months. Chief among the requirements is 
that the students should divide their time between work in the 
laboratories and in the college gardens in preparation for 
examinations. 
Ample facilities are affoided for gaining a knowledge of the 
methods of plant classification, their anatomy as well as the 
ills to which they are subject, whilst the laws of propagation, 
growing, and breeding are by no means overlooked. Though 
the gardens are small, many useful experiments are about to 
be carried out. Those interested in the course should writ© to 
the Registrar of the University. 
