October i7, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
865 
turn. The fronds of this latter, when matured, are 8 ft. to 
10 ft. long. Other plant-houses are in formation for Malmai- 
sons, Orchids, etc. Primulas claim space in a house, including 
P. sinensis and st el lata-; also a few of the new yellow sinensis 
fimbri&ta. 
The fruit range comprises four vineries, two Peach houses, 
Fig, and Orange houses. Grapes all over have been above the 
average, especially so in Muscats. Inside Pears are good. The 
Orange trees are cif very small importance to anyone; the 
fruits are tasteless. We find Tomatos in every spare corner. 
A house is devoted to winter growing. Melons and Cucumbers 
also demand separate structures. From the report of shows, 
one finds that. Grapes are in advance. I could say, by taking 
the vineriesi all over, they were going back. At some of these 
larger places Grapes have deteriorated considerably. That 
is a failing of the present-day gardeners. It baffles them to 
train up their vineries as it was done some years back. Some 
of the young vineries are a poor spectacle, the stunted foliage 
devoured by insects. The canes are run up 3 ft. and 4 ft., if 
not more, eveiy year. Borders are deficient. Such are the 
conditions too often visible. I admit there are a few expert. 
Grape growers, but the majority are imperfect. I shall allude 
to this, in a separate note soon, if permissible. Pits and frames 
are filled up with general inside stuff. Orchid houses are 
composed of Dendrobiums, Odcntogloc-sums, Oncidiums, Cy- 
pripediums, Laelia, Aerides, Coelogyne, Calanthes, and an 
exhaustive stock of Cattleyas. ’Mums are chiefly of the do 
corative class. Buds of Mme. G. Henry, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. G. 
Mileham, Mrs. White Pophani, Nellie Pockett, Lady Phillips, 
etc., demand the use of one pot each. Large quantities are 
lifted from outdoors, the semi-early section potted up or 
planted in borders. I cannot adequately remark on a tenth 
of the varieties of the stuff represented in the glasshouses. 
In the series of notes, which have appeared in this paper 
I have only given attention to the chief elements of gardening, 
being explicit and concise, showing the vast amount of know¬ 
ledge we must acquire to come to any distinction. The notes 
emanate from a garden of fair dimensions, with nine or ten 
hands. I will elude taking recognition of the structure for 
young gardeners, also the grievances which abound in our 
private gardens. I do not desire to be the perpetrator of any 
such controversy at this period. These subjects have been 
expounded freely in these pages, culminating without much, 
proficiency in our welfare. It seems an impossibility to have 
a- union to amend our grievances. We must resort to each 
individual and place rectifying their own causes. 
Adam V. Main. 
The Herbaceous Border. 
PLANTS IN BLOOM. 
Aconitum paniculatum. 
The common Aconite or Monkshood (A. Napellus) flowers in 
the. early part of summer, and is a showy enough border plant 
while it lasts. It is, however, excelled by its near ally, A. pani¬ 
culatum, which becomes one of the most ornamental of border 
plants during the month of August and early September. In 
fairly good garden soil the stems reach a height of 6 ft. or 7 ft., 
branching freely for 2ft. or 3ft. at the top of the stems. The 
dark blue flowers are similar to those of the better known and 
early flowering species, but they are produced in. much greater 
numbers; indeed, strong-growing plants form pyramids of 
bloom that make this conspicuous for a great distance. The dark 
green five to seven-lobed leaves are similar to those of the 
better known species. Well drained and friable garden soil 
should be selected for this species, and if the tubers are not too 
crowded they produce veiy stately stems. Even for cut flower 
purposes many of the side branches might be utilised, either by 
themselves or in mixture with other flowers. Propagation is a 
very easy matter by seeds or by offsets. 
Lobelia fulgens. 
When speaking of a scarlet- Lobelia many gardeners’ revert, 
at once to L. cardinal is; but there' are three scarlet-flowered 
species, natives of North America, and L. cardinalis is the least 
ornamental of the three, both in respect to the foliage and the 
flowers. In my opinion, L. fulgens, a native of Mexico, is the 
finest of the ttiree. In a season like the present the stems 
attain a height of 3 ft. to 4 ft., and assume a rich blackish 
purple hue. The leaves themselves are lanceolate and of a 
rich metallic purple, almost black, and would be sufficiently 
ornamental for garden purposes without flowers. The latter 
have broad segments of a velvety scarlet, and are indeed larger 
than those of the other two species in this group. It comes 
very near indeed to L. splendens, but may be distinguished' by 
its larger flowers and the pubescence on the upper part of the 
stem and the flower stalks. The present season suits this 
species on account of the heavy rainfall, but cultivators might 
grow it in boggy situations if such are at their command, and 
good growth will be made any year. 
Kuiphofia rufa. 
Several species of the Red Hot Poker have been introduced 
from South Africa recently, including that under notice, which 
hails from the Orange River Colony. I should not recommend 
it for those who believe only in big heads, such as are pro¬ 
duced by the common K. aloides, but it nevertheless has a 
beauty of its own, and bears its stems much more gracefully 
than the heavy-headed ones. The spikes vary from 24 ft. to 
3 ft. in height, and bear a raceme of flowers rather sparsely 
placed over the stem so as to form a sort of open spike. These 
flowers are dusky red at first, but they change after expansion 
to a clear bright yellow, except the short lobes at the mouth, 
which are nearly white. The three-edged leaves are narrower 
than those of the common species, and of a light glaucous 
green. It is well worthy of cultivation for late summer and 
early autumn effect. 
Veronica subsessilis. 
The above Japanese species is more rigid in habit than any 
with which I am acquainted. This- is due to the relatively 
short and stout stems, as the plant seldom exceeds 2 ft. in 
height. The leaves are also unusually broad for the genus, 
being ovate and very shortly stalked, as implied by the specific 
name. The flowers are of large size, dark blue, and produced 
in racemes varying from 6 in. to 12 in. long, several racemes 
being produced from the top of the stem. To get the best 
results, the plants should never be allowed to remain so long 
in one place as to become densely crowded. Young plants can 
always be obtained iby division, or by taking cuttings of shoots 
that have not flowered when such are obtainable. The species 
comes from Japan, and for many years has been known in 
gardens under the name of V. longifolia subsessilis, but it is 
quite as distinct as several others which have received specific 
names. 
Lythrum Salicaria roseum. 
Those who have seen the wild plant growing on our river 
banks will have noted two or more distinct shades of colour. 
It is almost necessary, however, to go some considerable dis¬ 
tance from large towns in order to see these fully developed, 
as the public so readily plucks them when exposed near public 
thoroughfares. One set is dull purple and the other has bright 
rose flowers, the distinctions being quite apparent when brought 
in contact with one another. The variety under notice has 
the more cheerful flowers, and is well worthy of cultivation in 
the garden border. A very fine effect could be produced by 
planting a row of them along the margins of a lake or sheet 
of ornamental water in the pleasure grounds. The plant will 
grow fairly well in shady positions, but I find that they always 
flower better when fully exposed to light and air. 
Echinops Ritro. 
Of the several species of Globe Thistle known, none is more 
suitable for border culture than the subject of this note. The 
stems seldom exceed 2 ft. in height, and even if they do grow 
taller, they are sufficiently neat to be tolerated amongst other 
herbaceous plants on account of the bright blue heads of bloom. 
The plant is not so easily multiplied perhaps as Eryngium 
giganteum, which seems such a favourite with many people, 
but the bright blue heads are just as showy in the cut state, so 
that the plant is useful whether left in the border or for indoor 
