662 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 3, 1903. 
Royal Botanical Gardens, Regent’s Park. 
Some little time a.go we had a run through the hothouses in 
the gardens of the Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, and 
noted some of those things which have been very successful 
this year. 
The society seems to have been very fortunate in the culture 
of a. form of Victoria reigia known, as the Begent’s Park variety. 
It has been, grown in the gardens for the' last twenty years or 
SO', having been saved from seeds of their own plants. The 
young leave® are quite red or brownish-red until they are So¬ 
ft, in diameter at. least. It has made very vigorous growth this 
year, and had produced three flowers the other week, and no 
doubt bj r this time several others will have made their appear¬ 
ance. This is a success that every cultivator cannot ensure. 
In. the same tank are many other plants, including Eichomia 
azurea, which fills a. large, space in one corner and flowers 
splendidly. On the occasion of our visit the plant had fifteen, 
spikes of its large blue flowers. In another part of the tank 
is a fine floating mass of E. speciosa. of ■much taller growth. 
The stalks of the- leaves are very much longer, and the flower- 
spike carried on a stem of 3 ft. high. 
In, the centre of the tank are some fine plants of Musa 
Cavendishi rubra, the young stems and foliage being tinted 
with olive brown and red. The most important fact concern¬ 
ing this plant was that a sucker was developed to full size, and 
carried a spike of young fruit, in the course of eight months. 
The young fruits did not ripen at the same rate, for the simple 
reason that the plant bloomed in the autumn, when, our skies 
were very much clouded. Nevertheless, the plant matured a 
bunch of fruit weighing 38 lb, _ _ 
Very interesting and equally uncommon in gardens is Crin.um 
augustum, growing on the edge of the tank, with its roots 
just dipping into the water. There are several plants in the 
house, but the largest one had a bulb 12 in. long or more and 
7 in. in. diameter, being like an enormous or titanic thick- 
necked Onion, having a large tuft of leaves on the top. Last 
year the big bulb produced five spikes, each carrying three- 
dozen blooms in an umbel. This must be a record, for twelve 
to thirty is the usual number for this species. The flowers 
are of a dark crimson on the outside of the segments and tube, 
while the interior is of a lighter shade, with a dark band down 
the middle. Crinum Moored also flowered recently, with its 
large drooping white flowers, having a rose band on. the back 
and shining through on the white face. The tube of each 
floiw.efl is 6 in, long and arching. There were sixteen of 
these fine flowers on a scape on. the occasion of our visit. 
The Egyptian bearded ltice and common Bice are also. grown 
in this tank. A fine Cocoa-nut tree germinated in 1900, and 
the leaves are now fully 8 ft. in length. The tree still appears 
standing on the end of the nut from which it grew, recalling 
the behaviour of the double C'ocoanut, the nut of which lasts 
in good condition for an indefinite number of years, Nelum- 
bium speciosum flowered well some time ago, Sagittaria 
montevidensis keeps on flowering for a great length of time, 
the flowers arising in succession. The flowers are white, with 
three velvety-brown blotches. The Egyptian paper plant, 
Cyperus Papyrus, forms an immense clump 10 ft. high at one 
end of the tank, and seems thoroughly at home. 
Of greater botanical interest is a, fine plant of Valisneria 
spiralis, grown in a small tank in the corner of this same 
building. The water Millfoil, Myriophyllum proserpina.coddes, 
keeps the previous plant company, and has a fine appearance, 
owing to the finely cut character of its leaves. 
Some Orchids are grown on the side shelves, including Cath 
leya Mossiae and Cypripedium Stonei. Schomburgkia tibi- 
cinis w r as suspended from the roof on a piece of wood. It 
was late for the Orchids at the time we mention, but the above 
three were in bloom. 
A considerable number of Japanese Ferns have found their 
way here in the shape of baskets and various other designs. 
The Fern used was Davallia bullata Mariesii. A special case 
is employed for fhe cultivation of the Killarney Fern, Tricho- 
manes radicans, of which there were seven, large pans and 
several smaller ones, The atmosphere of this case is kept in 
a moist condition, so that the fronds of the Fern appear in a 
dripping condition, yet we have never seen a larger quantity of 
it in one house in finer condition. 
In another house we noted a batch of seedling Cannas, some 
of which were in bloom, carrying large golden-yellow flowers. 
Erythrina Crista-galli was flowering freely in pots. Another 
important plant annually flowered here is the' night-flowering 
Cerus grandiflorus, which flowers regularly. We congratulate 
Mr. Elderbert F. Hawes for the efficiency with which he keeps 
up the various cultures in the gardens and the successes 
attending the same. 
Violas and Pansies from Rothesay. 
Mr. William Cuthbertson, senior partner in the well-known 
Scottish firm of Messrs. Dobbie and Co., Bothesay, N.B., lias 
sent the writer a lovely gathering of Violas and Pansies, classes 
of flowers in which this firm have done universally acknowledged 
meritorious work. Emma Sophia and Mrs, Macrae, I con¬ 
sider, are the two best rayless Violas in cultivation, whilst 
Bethea and Duchess of York are the two best rayed sorb'. 
Both have excellent habits, which make them suitable for 
bedding as well as. for exhibition. General Baden-Powell is an 
exceedingly rich yellow for exhibition. Primrose Dame, Lady 
Margaret, and Mary Robertson are primrose-coloured flowers, 
the first being an A1 bedder. 
The best rich deep yellows are Bullion, Ivlondyke, and 
Kingcup, the first-named being a good old standard sort. Blue 
Duchess is the best light blue variety for massing. Lady 
Boberts is a charming flower, white, edged pale blue, Flor.izel 
is pale lavender in the mass, It. is one of the late Dr. Stewart’s 
fine introductions. Meteor (Baton) is a grand large rich yellow 
of perfect habit, and of high exhibition standard. Endymion is 
a beautiful lemon-yellow self. Mrs. T. W. B. Johnston, raised 
by Mr. Kay, of Gargunnock, has the upper petals mauve, under 
petals glossy black, blotched with mauve, clean lip and white 
brows, a large and telling flower—one- of the best competition 
Violas ever raised. Paragon—not yet sent out—is a. rich 
deep purplish-violet flower with golden eye. How fragrant are 
these Violas! As one writer poetically puts it, “Violas 
resemble a spray of Western Pine in having a beauty and 
fragrance all their own,” 
Some flowers, of the firm’s new Victoria strain of fancy 
Pansies are a great acquisition, presenting blooms of huge 
size, of gorgeous hue®, and of brilliant markings. 
A cultural note may fitly close these brief notes, and be of 
practical use to. those concerned—and they are many in these 
days. The best, way to obtain, carpets, or masses of Violas is 
to insert cuttings or suckers from the base of the stems in a 
cold frame in August or beginning of September. Such cut¬ 
tings will make nice plants before the winter sets in. In 
February or March the plants should be placed in well-pre¬ 
pared beds 9 in. to 12 in. apart each w T ay. Early planting 
is undoubtedly the best, plan in the southern ancli warmer 
countie® of England, but further north, the end of March may 
suffice, if the weather prevents earlier planting. J. B. 
Chiswick. 
Grants to the West Indies.— Mr. Lough asked the Secretary 
for the Colonies in the House of Commons recently what 
was the total cost to the taxpayers of the United Kingdom of the 
various grant 3 made to the West Indies since the report of the 
Royal Commission of 1897 ; and what was the present annual 
charge, whether for subsidies to any of the Governments of tli * 
Islands, or for any steam packet service, or repayment of 
interest. Mr. Chamberlain said since the report of the Royal 
Commission £306,180 had been voted. In addition, £82.000 had 
been voted in relief of distress by hurricanes, and £250,000 as a 
grant in aid of the sugar industry, a year’s contribution of 
£13,500 towards the subsidy for the Canadian and West Indian 
steamship service, and £20,000 a year was paid towards the 
direct West India fruit and mail services between England and 
Jamaica. 
