552 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
•June 27, 1903. 
pedicels of E. robustus, which are soft and brittle. The 
stamens are as long as the' segments, and bear bright yellow 
anthers. The flower scape is 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height, and about 
2b ft. of such a stem would be covered with flowers. The 
leaves are linear, strongly keeled, almost triquetrous, rough 
on the edges, glaucous, and 1 ft. to 2 ft. in length. June and 
July are the months during which it dowers. 
E. robustus. 
This and its variety are undoubtedly the finest of all the 
species of Eremurus. It is a native of the high mountains 
of Turkestan, and was described by Regel in 1873, reaching 
this country in 1874. The flowers are flesh pink 1-J in. in 
diameter, and produced on spreading pedicels. The stamens 
are at least as long as the segments, and bear orange-red 
anthers, which, with the pale yellow ovary, make a beautiful 
contrast with the rest of the flower. These dowers are agree¬ 
ably scented. The dower scape, when vigorous, grows 6 ft. * 
or 8 ft. high, the greater portion of which is occupied with 
dowers. T lie leaves are strap-shaped, 2 ft. or 3 ft. or more in 
length, and 3 in. or 4 in. wide. It dowers during the month 
of June. The’ variety E. r. elwesianus chiefly differs by its 
greater vigour, as the scapes vary from 6 ft. to 9 ft. in height, 
and bear larger dowers with orange-yellow anthers. 
E. spectabilis. 
This is probably the oldest introduction to this country in 
the history of Eremurus. It was introduced in 1800, and said 
to come from Siberia.. It has been recorded under the name 
of E. sibiricus. In 1834 it. was introduced from the Caucasus 
under the name of E. caucasicus. It is, moreover, a native of 
Asia. Minor and Persia, and the accepted name, is E. spectabilis 
Bieberstein. The dowers are sulphur-yellow tinted with 
orange, and have three to dve nerves to each of the segments. 
The stamens are deep orange. The dowers and fruit, are pro¬ 
duced on erect pedicels, and the valves of the capsule are 
wrinkled, so that, in these respects it differs from any of the 
above mentioned. The leaves are strap-shaped and glaucous, 
and the. stems attain a. height of 2 ft. or 3 ft. It dowers during 
the month of June. 
E. turkestanicus. 
This, species, was first described by the Russian botanist, 
Regel, in 1873, but it did not reach this country till 1881. 
It is a native of Turkestan. The. dowers are reddish-brown, 
each segment being three to dve. nerved and edged with white. 
They form a. dense raceme, but are carried on erect pedicels, so 
that the raceme is contracted by comparison with that of the 
better-known E. robustus. The stamens are very long, and 
the capsule resembles that of E. spectabilis. The dcwer-scape 
attains a height of 4 ft. Tlrei leaves are broadly linear or 
strap-shaped and elongated. 
E. Warei. 
The dower-scapes of this plant vary from 5 ft. to' 8 ft. in, 
height in this country, and carry a raceme of dowers on. hori¬ 
zontal pedicels. The dowers are bright yellow, much darker 
than those of E. Bungei, which might be one of its parents 
if the supposition is correct, that. it. is a. natural hybrid. It 
made its appearance at a. meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on June. 19th, 1900, when it was said to have been 
imported from Central Asia. Since then, however, many of 
the plants have become lost, and some doubts have been ex¬ 
pressed as to whether the true form is still in existence. As 
far as I am aware, at least, two growers claim to possess it. 
One of them describes it as having citron, fawn, and even 
white dowers, If all these colours belong to E. Wared, it. would 
substantiate the idea that it is. a. natural hybrid. It is hoped 
it may dower again soon in this country, so 1 that cultivators, 
may learn something more about, it. On the Continent it. 
bloomed recently. 
Cultivation. 
The various species of Eremurus are best propagated from 
seeds, if, indeed, that be not. the only way to do it. It is 
possible that a successful propagator might increase them by 
cuttings of the de-shy roots. Seeds take about a year to oer- 
minate in the open it they have been imported, and are div. 
Under the same conditions they take dve to seven years to 
become dowering plants. When, planted out in a greenhouse 
they have been known to come into dower in three years, but 
that was an exceptional instance. 
A deep, rich, friable, and well-drained soil should be selected 
for the cultivation of the various species of Eremurus. A 
sheltered position is very desirable in order to protect the 
foliage from being injured during tlrei early spring months. A 
little protection would also* be serviceable in warding od’ late 
spring frosts-, which sometimes injure ths foliage and destroy 
the dower-S'pikeis. They are strong growers, and would amplv 
reward the cultivator for mixing some well-decayed cow manure 
in the soil, o-r some good leaf mould. 
Where the- soil is at all heavy or inclined to be wet, it 
would be advantageous to raise- the soil about 6 in. above the 
ordinary level by the use of additional compost. The- roots 
might be spread on this and covered with 3 in. or 4 in. of 
the same material; that is to say, if young plants are obtained 
for planting. The fleshy ro-ots of a considerable number of 
them are very brittle, and great care- should be exercised not to 
break them when transplanting. These fleshy roots should be 
spread around the- crown in, a, radiating manner, so as to take 
full po-sses-sio-n of the soil in collecting food. October is the 
best month to plant or transplant, though the operation might 
be- performed at other times, provided the- weather is open, 
and the soil in a, dry and workable condition. J. F. 
Geranium pratense flore pleno. 
The ordinary single form of the above is one of the finest 
of the British Geraniums, but the double form is more durable 
and is, well worthy of cultivation in, the herbaceous border for 
the sake of continuing the display. The plant itself is later 
in coming into 1 bloom, -and the flowers last, longer when ex¬ 
panded. Increase can easily be- obtained by dividing the root- 
stock into as. many pieces as there are crowns, preserving the 
roots as carefully as possible. This may be- done at any time 
when, the plant, is at rest, though March would be a better time 
if thp plant, is to be cut into many pieces. 
Syndical Chamber of Belgium IIoRTicri/rrniSTS.- —At the 
•meeting of the above on the 7th inst., in conjunction with the 
Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society of Ghent, the jury of 
the first section awarded Certificates of Merit to a lot of cut 
flowers of Iris germanica presented by M. C. Kerckvoord (with 
unanimity); to Hippeastrum species, presented by M. T. H. 
Pauwels; and to Hydrangea hortensis fl. pi., shown, by M. de 
Vriesere-Remens. Om the same occasion a Certificate for cul¬ 
ture and flowering was awarded to- Azalea pontica alba odorata, 
shown by M. -Ch. Gazelle (with unanimity). A Certificate for 
culture went to Ficus japonica, shown by M. L. De Smet- 
Duvivier (by acclamation). The j-ury of the second section 
awarded Certificates of Merit to Cattleya Mossiae ronseleana, to 
Laeliocattleya canhamiaua alba (L. pui’purata x C. Mossiae) 
and Cattleya laibiata Wameri, all presented by M. le Marquis de j 
Wavrin (with acclamation, and with-the congratulations of the 
jury). Similar awards went to Laeliocattleya, canhamiaua 
albo-violacea, exhibited by M. A. Pesters, of Brussels (with 
acclamation) ; to Oncidium crispum, to, Cattleya hybrida 
dolosa x lobata, and to Laelia purpurata var., all exhibited by 
M. E. Praet. On, the same occasion Certificates for culture and 
flowering were accorded to Miltonia Roezlii and to Odonto- 
glossum crispum, both shown by M. Th. Pauwels. Honourable j 
mention was accorded to Cattleya Mendelii, shown by M. E. de 
Clerc. Honourable mention was also made for flowering to | 
Oncidium leucocliilum, exhibited by MM. J. Vande Putte et Cie. 
The jury expressed the wish to see at a future meeting the Gon- 
gora shown by MM. J. Vande Putte et Cie, and Cattleya 
Mossiae var., shown by M. E. Praet. 
