THE GARDENING WORLD. 
(ii8 
J<ily 18, 1903. 
Cespedesia discolor. 
About three or four species of Cespedesia are known to 
Science, all natives of South America. They belong to' the 
little-known order Ochnaceae, of which several species of Ochna 
are in cultivation, either for the sake of their flowers or for 
their fruit. As far asi we know, only two of the species of 
Cespedesia are in cultivation. In some cases then - flowers are 
orange-yellow, but they are chiefly grown for the sake of their 
ornamental foliage. 
That under notice is a small tree with the habit of a T’heo- 
phrasta, and is valued for the sake of its large leathery leaves, 
especially in the young state, when, they are just unfolding, 
because they are then handsomely coloured. 
Like the lash named tree, Cespedesia. discolor re¬ 
quire® stove treatment. It produces showy, 
yellow flowers in large bractless panicles. The 
chief decorative feature of it, how r ever, lie® in 
the ornamental coloration of its young leaves, 
which are rapidly developed from terminal buds 
when the plant begins to grow in May or .Tune. 
From the terminal bud five or six long drooping 
lanceolate leaves are produced. At the stage 
shown in our illustration they are of a pale cin¬ 
namon-buff or biscuit colour, finely suffused with 
rose and veined with pale yellow, forming a 
striking contrast to the dark green of the 
matured leaves. 
When brought before the Floral Committee of 
the Royal Horticultural Society some time ago 
it was awarded a First-class Certificate. Like 
several other plants of this character, it is valued 
for stove and warm conservatory decoration at. 
all periods of the year. It is handsome when, 
displaying the tints, of its, young foliage, and 
after these are matured the leathery leaves 
enable the plant to be used even in cooler houses 
during the summer months, though the stove is 
certainly the best place for it, unless the cul¬ 
tivator possesses a, warm conservatory. The 
stately character of the tree and its fine foliage 
give' it a bold and handsome appearance amongst 
plants, of a, soft wooded nature or those of a less, 
imposing character in the matter of foliage. It. 
is, one of the introductions of Messrs, Wm. Bull 
and Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea., in whose nur¬ 
sery our photograph wa® taken. 
Strawberries in Barrels. 
It sometimes happens, that people wish to 
grow Strawberries in their gardens where there 
is little or no, convenience for carrying out, this 
object in the usual way. The plan of growing 
them in barrels enables the gardener or other 
cultivator to accommodate a, number of barrels in limited space, 
so that if the garden were even paved down they could grow 
Strawberries. This method also has the advantage of keeping 
the fruits; off the ground, so that there is, no necessity for 
tying up the fruits or for covering the ground with straw. * The 
plan offers even a greater advantage for those who have only 
a town garden, where cats are numerous and destructive as well 
as annoying. 
The illustration shows the Strawberries when they have 
reached the flowering stage. The plan of culture is; simple 
enough. Those who put the plan on the best footing should 
have the barrel fixed up on, a pivot, so- that it could be moved 
round in order to expose the fruits to sunshine if it is desired 
to hasten their ripening. On the other hand, the barrel, if 
left in one, position, would have a, cool side, and therefore keep 
the fruits late by way of succession. 
A tube or pipe, is fixed up the centre of the barrel with holes 
in it for the purpose of distributing water through the, soil in 
the different parts of. the barrel. Then a compost may be 
made up consisting chiefly of fibrous loam that has been stacked 
for some time previous to use in order’ to render it friable. A 
liberal allowance of well-decayed cow manure should be mixed 
with this loam and sufficient sand in order to render the whole 
porous and open. 
Well rooted runners, are inserted in hole® 1 all over the sides 
of the barrel at equal distances apart. These runners are in 
rows alternating with one another all round the sides of the 
barrel. The compost is filled in gradually as the plants are 
put into position and made firm. When the barrel has been 
filled a few plants may be inserted in the top. 
Cespedesia discolor. 
The illustration will serve to show this method of culture 
at a, glance, so that further description is unnecessary. These 
barrels, however, may be stood in the open or kept in a hot-; 
house', according to the convenience of the cultivator, and the 
fruits will be earlier or later accordingly. Some modifications: 
of this plan of cultivating Strawberries have already been put 
into operation,. 
Kniphofia aloides var. nobilis. 
This early-flowering variety of Flame' Flower forms a con¬ 
spicuous object as seen massed in beds, the effect, of which is 
bold and striking when viewed from a distance. The typical: 
aloides, which is: more of an autumn flower, is generally known 
as Tritoma, Uvaria,, and from it the bulk of the many large 
flowering garden forms have been derived. 
