201 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 7,1903 
Fox by breaking into- a tasselled section, as well as an extra 
plumose one, affording at one leap, as it were, better and more 
diversified results by mere sporting than have so far been 
obtained by any hybridising combinations. The question here 
arises whether similar possibilities are not lying latent in the 
other plumose Athyria, Horsfall; the kalothrix plumosum, 
which is very like it, Wills, Barnes ; Poundens, Mrs. Hodgson's. 
All these, I believe, are sparsely fertile, and, seeing how 
many years axminsterense stood firm, as did its first departure, 
plumosum elegans, Parsons, the parent of superbum, who 
shall say that some fine day a batch of new ones may not 
suddenly see the light on the particular lines of beauty of some 
of the other plumosums? These old forms are, I think, left 
too much to themselves, divisions only being availed of for 
propagation and the spore® of novelties alone' utilised. 
The superbum section owes its existence entirely to an 
accident, a pinna of elegans being sent me because it bore 
bulbils, and not possessing elegans at the time, I sowed the 
associated spores to get a plant, getting, as most of you know, 
only two plants of elegans out of about 100 crested ones, one 
of which was superbum, a second one very good, and the rest 
more or less rogues—about the most unlooked-for crop con¬ 
ceivable. The original superbum would never be imputed to 
Axminster blood had it resulted as a. chance seedling; but apart 
from many points of resemblance to its associates in the batch, 
which was, moreover, raised under the most careful conditions, 
the fact that many of its progeny are undoubtedly refined 
Axminsters, soral bulbils and all, place its origin beyond all 
doubt. 
(To be continued .) 
Round the Nurseries. 
Richmond Nursery. 
A visit may be made to the establishment of Mr. John 
Bussell, Bichmond Nurseries, Bichmond, Surrey, at any period 
of the year in the hope of finding something of interest. A 
collection of trees and shrubs is always interesting, and some 
of them are already in flower or fruit, either out of doors or 
under glass. 
We paid a visit the other week in order to inspect their col¬ 
lections of fine foliage stove plants. We may commence our 
notes, however, by mentioning a few of the flowering trees and 
shrubs which have been utilised for forcing purposes. Lilacs 
have been plentiful in the establishment for some time, and 
the same may be said of Prunus triloba fi. ph, which may be 
seen in various shades of colour, according to treatment. In 
illustration of the utility of this plant and its ready response 
to cultural treatment, it may bei mentioned that a, plant in the 
open ground was immediately placed in strong heat, and it' 
came into bloom in five days. As may be supposed, the 
flowers are pale, and not very durable. Other plants: brought, 
along more slowly are laden, with richly-coloured flowers, and 
these, when kept in a cool house, last for a space of ten days, in 
good condition. Other hardy shrubs to be seen are Prunus 
Pseudocerasus (Japanese double Cherry), P. Pissardi, Staphy- 
lea colchica, and Deutzia Lemoinei, which lias larger leaves 
than the well-known D. gracilis and numerous trusses of white 
flowers. 
Several Azaleas are also in bloom, including the brightly- 
coloured varieties of A. mollis, A. viscosa, and A. rustica. A 
fine form of the latter is that named Phidias, with Apricot 
flowers tinted salmon. 
The propagating house contained some plants of Leea 
amabilis splendens, having the principal ribs white or tinted 
pink when young. Bertolonias have made excellent, growth 
without any protecting frame other than that of the roof of 
the house. 
In one of the stoves we came upon numerous specimens of 
Acalypha hispida in quite a small state, and bearing numerous 
tassels of their peculiar scarlet flowers. The plants were only 
6 in. to 12 in. high, and the flowers in perfect condition, even at 
this early period of the year. A fine batch of Adiantum farley- 
ense, recently potted, will presently make a fine display in 
48-size pots. There are also fine batches of the ever-useful 
Caladium argyrites and C. minus erubescens in small pots 
and from now onwards a, supply of this class of plants will 1,. 
kept, up all through the season for various decorative purposes 
At this season of the year the leaves of Croton Mi's. Iceton are 
of a bronzy black colour, while, the young leaves are yellow, 
with green veins, thus making a beautiful contrast. An un¬ 
common flower is that named Passiflora trifurcata, having three- 
lobed green leaves with a pink blotch in the centre, imitating 
the outline of the leaf exactly. 
The collection of Alocasias here is the largest, we believe, in 
the country, as far as the number of species and varieties is 
concerned, there being at least a score of them. The leaves or 
A. argentea are wholly of a silvery-gray hue, very distinct and 
pretty. In the case of A. argyrea, having a similar meaning, 
the leaves have broad silvery bands along the principal ribs, 
with a silvery netting, and are therefore quite distinct from 
those called by the Latin name. 
The large sinuous leaves of A. sanderiana are now well 
known, and need no further description. There is, however, a 
miniature form, which resembles the former in many respects, 
but is quite distinct, as the blade of the leaf was equallv 
scolloped, and only 3 in. to 6 in. long. The upper surface is 
deep green, with silvery ribs, those in the centre of the leaf 
being often tinted with purple^red, giving the leaf a peculiar 
appearance. This form is named A. gandavemsis. Tire leaves 
of A. watsoniana are deep green, with silvery veins more or less 
suffused with a silvery tint. A. mortfontainensis has bright 
shining green leaves, with silvery ribs only, and slightly scol¬ 
loped at the margins. The stems of A. plumbea are black and 
covered with a gray bloom, which gives them the characteristic 
colour indicated by the name. 
Better known, perhaps, is A. Veitchi, with silvery ribs and 
edges to' the leaves. For some reason or other, this variety 
seems to have become scarce for some time past. The leaf¬ 
stalks of A. zebrina are olive-coloured and striped with light 
green. The leaves of A. Leopoldi are of huge size and scolloped 
like those of A. sanderiana, but they are of a very bright green 
colour, with very pale green ribs. One of the most distinct is 
A. Johnston!, having arrow-shaped leaves and red ribs, as well 
as clusters of short and curious spine like processes on the leaf¬ 
stalks. The leaves of A. Lowii are deep green, and wrinkled 
with silvery ribs. One of the largest-leaved species is that 
named A. thibautiana, which attain, a great size, when the 
plants are grown vigorously and allowed to attain the full 
development of which they are capable in a few year's’ time. 
They are' remarkably handsome: when seen in their best form. 
The leaves of A. Martin Clnizac are characterised by a few large 
wrinkles with silvery bands and netting. A. metallica used to 
be very popular for exhibition purposes, arid is still a very 
striking: form when seen in gpod condition. The areas between 
the principal lateral ribs are of a coppery or metallic hue in¬ 
dicated by the name, while the lower surface is violet. 
The collection of Dracaenas is also very representative of all 
the best sections of the genus. Amongst the narrow-leaved 
types Superba, with bright-red edges, is a graceful and elegant 
variety. The leaves of Lord Wolsey are somewhat broader, 
with broader red edges, but they belong to the same type. The 
narrowest leaves of all are produced bv the Queen, the newest 
of the: type, which scarcely differs from Superba, except that 
the leaves are much narrower and the whole* plant lighter in 
appearance. The leaves of Alexander Laing are of medium 
width, and often the whole of the lower half of each is red. 
The broader-leaved type is represented by Sydneyi, which has 
deep red edges. The whole leaf of Nonpareil is variegated 
with red and yellow of different tints. Cooperi has much 
broader leaves, with a red edge of varying width. A very 
broad-leaved type 1 also, is Hybrida, with green leaves and a. red 
edge, or the terminal leaves may be almost wholly red and 
white. The leaves of Shepherdi are of large size, and bronzy- 
purple, striped with red. 
