712 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 22. 1903. 
In passing through the house we noted Dicksons’ Daisy Der- 
stro-yer, in the form of a. white salt, which proves' very effective 
in eradicating Daisies and fertilising the grass. There are no¬ 
tes s than five- flatsi in this warehouse, and in each of them is a 
different set of men for the various operations of seed cleaning 
and seed storing. Seeds of all kinds are sent to various parts 
of the world. 
We also passed through the agricultural department for 
implements, noting a great variety of machinery. In the 
garden department' for implements' and machinery we noted 
mewing machines in great variety, also 1 forks, spades, and 
primers of all sorts, including tree primers. The walls of 
another room arei pigeon-holed for the reception of packets of 
seed, ready filled for the execution of orders. 
The Daffodil bulbs grown in the nurseries here are already 
in their various bins, ready to> be supplied to- the customers of 
the firm. It is interesting to- note that this firm is responsible 
for securing that splendid Daffodil, Sir AYatkin, from oblivion 
in a. Welsh garden about sixteen years- ago. It is still the 
best cf its class for general culture, and succeeds as well here as. 
it- did when first sent out. We may state, however, that it is 
accorded fresh ground every year. 
The Best Flowering Plants at Kew. 
“ There are more plants in the- garden than ye wot of.” 
Bredia hirsuta. 
A small shrub, naturally attaining a- height of 2 ft. to 3 ft., 
which, however, owing to- its propensity of flowering freely in a 
small state, is most frequently to be- seen on greenhouse stages 
as plants varying from 6 in. to 15 in. high. Its slender branches 
and petioles are of a red-brown colour, finely pubescent, and 
clothed with spreading bristly red hairs, directly contrasting 
with the vestit-ure of white bristly hairs on the leaves. The 
dark green leaves are 2 in. to 1 in. long and pale bluish-green 
on under surface'. Tim pale- rose-coloured flowers, |- in. in 
diameter, are very freely produced in terminal lax panicles. 
Native of Japan. 
Tacsonia Van-volxemii. 
One of the most beautiful and desirable of summer-flowering 
climbing plants for conservatory or greenhouse. Amongst its 
virtues are its easy culture, rapid growth and prolonged flower¬ 
ing season. Where- it can be allowed to, it speedily attains a 
height of 20 ft. to 30 ft. The main stems branch profusely, 
giving a light drapery of slender branches, clothed with three- 
lobed leaves, 3 in. to 5 in. long, and producing freely bri ght 
red flowers. The individual flower is from 5 in. to 7 in. across, 
and produced singly. Native o-f Colombia. 
Watsonia Meriana, var. 0. Brienj. 
This handsome iridaceous plant, generally known under the 
varietal name of Ardemei, is an improved form of AY. M. iridi- 
folia. Leaves, Iris-like, or broadly lanceolate, 2|- ft. long. 
Stem, 3 ft. long, the upper portion producing two- ranks of 
pure white, waxy, funnel-shaped flowers. Small clumps in 
6 in. or 8 in. pots are very useful for the greenhouse, and 
though somewhat formal, the flowers are, in floral decorations, 
rather artistic, providing they have added to them some light 
airy greenery. 
Bravoa geminiflora. 
Though hardy in sheltered positions, this Amaryllid is 
essentially a pot plant, and, as such, succeeds best when 
accorded frame treatment, until it comes into- flower, when it 
will form a- desirable adjunct in the embellishment of the 
greenhouse. Leaves, linear, ensiferm, from amongst which 
arises an erect flower-stalk some 18 in. high, bearing on its 
upper portion orange-coloured flowers, usually in pairs-, tubular 
in conformation, and drooping in habit. Native of Mexico. 
Erythrina hmneana (syn. E. Humei). 
A robust species-, having a stout, gouty, erect stem 10 ft. or 
more high, according to age, terminating in a round head 
of closely inserted branches, clothed with termite leaves, and 
producing erect terminal flower-spikes. The flowers, 11 in. 
loim, are chiefly composed of the erect standard, the sides of 
which are folded, only opening a little at its apical extremity, 
whilst the minute wings and keel are liid by its base. 
Described in the “ Botanical Magazine ” as E. caffra, this 
forms a handsome plant, in an intermediate house, when 
crowned by its spikes of brilliant scarlet flowers. Native of 
South Africa, 
Veronica subsessilis. 
Considered by some as a. Japanese variety of the European 
V. longifo-lia, which it somewhat resembles, it is at Kew 
accorded specific rank. Let it-s botanical characters be what 
they may, its position as a useful garden plant is assured, the 
effect produced by it in beds being very desirable. A her¬ 
baceous plant about 18 in. high, with oblong, lanceolate, deeply 
serrated leaves, 3 in. to 4 in. long, deep green on upper and 
light green on under surface, narrowed at base into a short, 
broad petiole. Inflorescence, terminal and axillary, of usually 
five- to seven spikes, each 6 in. to 10 in. long, on a single- 
stemmed plant. Those spike-like racemes are- cylindrical and 
densely set- with blue flowers, suffused with lighter-colouied 
striations, the throat of which has a well-defined circle o-f white 
hairs. 
Gilia coronopifolia, 
A conspicuous herbaceous plant which, from a short, stout 
root-stock produces a tuft of erect- slender branches 18 in. to 
2 ft. high. The leaves, which are frequently produced in 
threes so closely together as to appear whorled, are about \ in. 
long, imparpinnate, of nine to eleven very slender segments. 
Terminating the plant is a branched raceme, the main axis 
giving rise to axillary peduncles, bearing three shortly pe-dice- 
late-d flowers- Flowers tubular, about 1 in. long, coral-red 
externally and white internally, the inner face being streaked 
with deeper-coloured or crimson streaks of the same hue as 
the limb. This is a showy herbaceous plant which will give 
great satisfaction. 
Pentstemon campanulata alba. 
A showy, whitet-flowere-d variety, which, being of a different 
habit to I 1 , barbatus, would associate well with it. It forms a 
branching plant about 18 in. high, with linear lucid-green 
leaves. The white tubular flowers are fully 1 in. long, pro¬ 
duced in twos or threes on axillary ascending peduncles, giving 
rise to a spike-like inflorescence which is both graceful and 
attractive. 
Hypericum hookerianum. 
A handsome evergreen shrub, whose graceful habit, florifer- 
ousness, and large showy yellow flowers give it rank amongst 
the very best of present hardy flowering shrub®. The bright 
yellow flowers are produced in corymbs at the extremity of the 
branches. 
Olearia Haastii. 
AYhat- a fine hardy ornamental evergreen flowering shrub from 
New Zealand this is-! It was introduced by the great Veitchian 
establishment, a firm that lias done-—and is doing—so much 
to enrich our gardens with beautiful shrubs. It received a 
First-class- Certificate when exhibited before the Floral Com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society by Messrs. James 
A’e-itch and Sons on August 6th, 1873. 
Having a quiet and enjoyable walk recently through Ravens- 
court Park, Hammersmith, one of the best and most prettih 
kept of the smaller parks under the control of the London 
County Council, 1 was charmed to- see its free and most- effectrv t 
use by Mr. AY. B. Gingell, the courteous and capable superin¬ 
tendent- here. AYhat- a delicious smell Olearia Haastii has! 
No two people are alike in their descriptions of colour and 
fragrance, but- I would compare the perfume o-f the snui 
under notice to honey. It is a shrub that deserves more 
generous planting. 
Chiswick. 
