866 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 17, 1903. 
decoration. For private establishments a sufficient number 
of young plants would always be obtainable by the removal of 
offsets from the root stock. 
Eryngium planum. 
Possibly this is not the most largely-grown species, but it 
is one of the most widely distributed in gardens. Several 
others are favourites in some districts, such as E. olivierianum 
in the South, and E. alpinum in the North. Sometimes that 
under notice is distributed as E. amethystinum, but though 
E. planum may have less vogue than the last-named, it is, in 
my opinion, more generally useful. The flower heads are of a 
bright blue, and produced in great numbers upon gracefully 
branching stems, and for that reason they are always avail¬ 
able for cut flower purposes, and would be useful for decorative 
work where the others named would be too heavy. Usually 
there is no difficulty in obtaining young plants in sufficient 
numbers from offsets. It is a European species of the easiest 
cultivation, and usually varying from 2 ft. to ft. in height. 
G-entiana asclepiadea. 
Of the several species which are cultivated in, gardens with 
more or less success, none of them are more constantly suc¬ 
cessful than that under notice, known as tire Willow Gentian, 
and a native of Europe. There is a white-flowered variety, 
but, except perhaps by contrast, it is not by any means so 
interesting or ornamental as the deep blue of the ordinary 
form. Those who have any difficulty in growing it in the open 
border on account- of dry soil could prepare a space for it, 
using a large proportion of peat. Where the soil is sufficiently 
moist, however, any special preparation for its advantage is 
quite unnecessary, provided the soil is fairly friable and suffi¬ 
ciently moist during the summer. In northern gardens it, may 
be planted without any special preparation, as the soil is 
always sufficiently moist. Seeds are obtainable, provided the 
requisite number of plants cannot be got by division in March. 
Aconitum Fischeri. 
Many names have been given to this beautiful and useful 
late flowering -species of Aconite, including A. autumnale, A. 
californicum, and A. japonic-urn. These may have arisen from 
its being introduced at different times from different countries 
under the supposition that it was a new plant. It is really 
native of Northern Asia as well as North America, and flowers 
in the autumn, this being a sufficient, reason for giving it the 
name A. autumnale. The last of its flowers will not disappear 
in northern gardens until -September is well spent. The flowers 
are of a rich dark viole-t a-nd the stems dwarf, so that- it is 
easily accommodated even in borders of moderate width. 
Oenothera tetraptera rosea. 
This has got into many gardens under the name of Oe. 
speciosa, rosea, but the habit of the plant is different -from the 
last-named species, the stems being much dwarfer. The leaves 
also are shorter, broader,' greener, and -less to-otlied on, the 
margins. Ihe flowers are of a beautiful pink shade, and the 
petals beautifully feathered with rosy veins. If any difficulty 
should be experienced in getting a sufficient number of plants 
by division the method of propagation by cutting is always 
open, but these should be inserted at once, unless the cultivator 
means to employ a little heat, in encouraging them to produce 
roots before the short, days set in. Owing to- the abundance 
of rain for some time past, however, the stems- are fairly soft, 
-so that short -side shoots taken off with-a heel, and firmly 
inserted in pots of sandy soil, should ve-ry soon produce roots 
if stood in an ordinary cold frame. 
Scabiosa caucasica. 
The broad, deeply-lobed, and flat blue rays of this Scabious 
lave always rendered it a popular plant in collections of hardy 
subjects. It may not lie generally known, however, that it can 
leadily be propagated from seeds which offer the means of im- 
pioving the species. If the best of the seedlings are selected 
and again -subjected to improvement, it is just possible that 
we would get a very good double perennial Scabious for border 
culture. The flowers themselves are veiy useful for cutting 
and using in vases either by themselves or for mixino- with 
other suitable subjects. j jpj 
Plants Recently Certificated 
By the Royal Horticultural Society. 
September 1st. 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
Lilium speciosum magnificum. 
The flowers of this variety are of the largest size for the 
s-pecies, with rich ro-se segments edged with white, and hav¬ 
ing crimson spots, much like those of the variety L. s. 
Me-lpomene. The plants- shown by Messrs. R. Wallace and 
Co., Kilnfie-ld Gardens-, Colchester, were very well grown in¬ 
deed. Award of Merit. 
Chrysanthemum Polly. 
The above early flowering var iety lias- golden-bronze blooms 
and a- bright ye-llow reverse to the florets. The flower-heads 
are also pr oduced in great, profusion. Award of Merit to' 
Messrs-. W. Wells and Co., Limited, Earlswcod Nurseries, 
Redhill, Surrey. 
Cactus Dahlia Dorothy Vernon, 
The flowers of this- variety are of medium size and brilliant 
scarlet, witli long pointed florets. The- bright- colour of the 
flowers is a strong point- of the- variety. Award of Merit to 
Hobbies, Limited, Dereham, Norfolk. 
Cactus Dahlia Spitfire. 
The- blooms of this variety are o-f good form, with long 
pointed florets of a bright- scarlet. Award of Merit to Messrs. 
Dob-bie and Co., Rothesay, N.B. 
Cactus Dahlia Mr. Amos Perry 
The blooms of this- variety are crimson-scarlet, and very 
effective as far as. colour is concerned, but- they are rather 
solidly b-uilt compared with several others which have recently 
been honoured with distinction. Award of Merit to Hobbies, 
Limited, and to- Messrs-. Dobbie- and Co. 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COMMITTEE. 
Endive Staghorn. 
The lea-ve-s of this variety are- very deeply cut and ragged 
at the ends, and they are- als-o arranged so- as to- form compact 
heads. 
Cabbage Lettuce Lord Kitchener. 
The leaves of this variety are- of! a, light green, and arranged 
so as to form a large-and very full, firm heart, which blanches 
easily. An Award o-f Merit- was accorded to each of the above 
whe-n shown by Messrs. Dickson and Robinson, 12, Old Mill 
Gate, Manchester. 
By the National Chrysanthemum Society at 
the Crystal Palace. 
October 6th. 
Chrysanthemum Renee. 
The- blooms of this Japanese variety are- of large size and 
massive, being characterised by depth as well a-s width. The 
florets are recurved, more or les-s slightly incurved at the tips, 
of medium width, and soft- lilac-pink o-r lavender-pink, with a 
silvery reverse. As- a light-coloured variety it is certainly 
very handsome, and will be suitable for October exhibitions- if 
it always comes up- so- early as it- has done this- year. First- 
class Certificate to Mr. T. Bullimore, gardener to Arthur du 
Cro-s-, Esq., Canons Park, Edgware-. 
Cactus Dahlia Dainty. 
All the outer florets of this beautifully refined and dainty 
variety are long, slender, sharply pointed and pink, with a 
yellow base-. The centre is made up o-f shorter and more 
flattened florets of a. soft pale ye-llow. First-class Certificate to 
Hobbies, Limited, Dere-ham. 
Cactus Dahlia Sweet Nell. 
This variety is s-imilar in form to the above, but the outer 
and longer florets are of a delicate shade of pink-purple, while 
the florets in, the- centre are- nearly white. First-class Cer¬ 
tificate to Hobbies, Limited. 
