792 
THE GAR DEWING WORLD 
September 19, 1903. 
linear lanceolate leaves that appear white on the edge when 
young and fresh, owing to the dense pubescence collected 
together along the margins. 
One of the most notable features about it is the strong and 
peculiar- odour of the flowers, which some people have described 
as “ rather nauseous,” and others as resembling the odour of ai 
“ mangy dog.” We think this is a little strong language 
towards a very beautiful Lily and a very old inhabitant of 
cottage gardens, and productive of many old time reminiscence 
and associations of the old homes of people now scattered over 
the world. We should merely say that the odour is a little 
strong, and it is certainly as pleasing as that of the Elder- at 
the same distance away. In both cases the scent is to be taken 
in moderation and at a respectable distance. The same might 
be said of Lilium auratum, which is certainly overpoweringly 
strong, and should be used in moderation when grown in con¬ 
servatories or greenhouses. 
The Spikenard of the Ancients. 
We usually think of a scent as residing in the flowers: of 
plants, as in the cases of Roses, Carnations, and Stocks. In 
other plants it resides in the foliage, as in Thyme, Balm, Mint, 
and various other well-known, plants. We now proceed to 
speak of a very rare instance of the scent emanating from the 
roots of a plant. We refer to Nardostaehys Jatamansi, which 
is a native of the Himalayas, and has been valued in India from 
ai remote period a-s a perfume. The dried roots must have 
been introduced to this country some' hundreds of years, ago, 
for it was mentioned and also illustrated by Mr. John Gerard 
in 1597, to whom it was known as Indian Spikenard. Dr. 
RoylJ gave it as his opinion that it was. the Spikenard of the 
ancients. 
Two species are known to science, but only that above men¬ 
tioned has been, introduced to. this country. Although the 
roots were introduced to this country so. long ago, probably as. 
an article of commerce, the live plant was not grown in Britain 
till 1878. Possibly the plants, then introduced had been lost, 
for it has been introduced more recently to. Kew, where it 
flowered beautifully on the rockery last summer, where the 
photograph was taken from which our illustration, was pre¬ 
pared. 
The plant is about G in. to 12 in. high, producing dense 
tufts of lanceolate or spathulate leaves 1 about 2 in. to 4 in. 
long, from the centre of which, the scapes arise, bearing dense 
cymes of pale rose-purple flowers. The plant, belongs to the 
Valerian, many of which are scented, but none of them, so far 
as we are aware, -so powerfully as in this instance. 
The roots are spindle-shaped and surrounded by a stout, 
woody root-stock 1 in. to 3 in, long, and densely covered with 
brown or black fibre consisting of the remains of the leaves of 
several seasons’ growth. The delicious odour emanates from 
this black root-stock, which is dried and utilised as an article 
of commerce in India, and, to. some extent, in this country. 
The root-stock communicates this odour to> anything with 
which it may come in contact, such as linen and other clothes. 
Probably in, this, country the raw material undergoes some 
preparation by which it is rendered less cumbersome tha.n by 
using the dried root-stock. 
Manchester Botanical Gardens.— For some time past the 
authorities at the Royal Botanical Gardens have been in negotia¬ 
tion with the Stretford District Council for the transfer of a 
portion, or even the whole, of the Gardens to the Council. At 
a meeting of the Stretford Council on the 1st inst. Mr. F. W. 
Bates, who presided, reported that the negotiations with the 
Royal Botanical Society had been concluded, and the following 
terms agreed upon: 1. The Gardens to be transferred to the Dis¬ 
trict Council, to be used in perpetuity as gardens for the public. 
2. The Council will place such buildings as they may think neces¬ 
sary in a substantial state of repair, and will maintain the gardens 
and buildings for all time. 3. The society will have reserved to 
it for a given number of days in each year the use of the gardens 
and buildings for the shows connected with the society. Several 
matters of a financial character remain to be adjusted. 
Plants Recently Certificated 
By the Royal Horticultural Society. 
August I8th. 
ORCHID COMMITTEE. 
Cattleya pittiana Wilson Potter’s var. 
The parentage of this: beautiful variety was C. aurea x 
granulosa, schofieldiana,. The sepals and oblong petals are of 
a. deep buff hue>. The lip, on the other hand, has a rich purple 
lamina striped with crimson on the shaft of the structure, 
while the lateral lobes are also of a buff or fawn colour. First- 
class Certificate to J. Wilson Potter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. 
H. Young), Elmwood, Croydon, 
Cattleya Tankervillae. 
The: parentage in, this case was C. bicolor x Rex. The 
sepals are creamy-yellow, deepening in, tint towards the edges, 
and having a pink tint along the centre. The petals are 
elliptic, soft, yellow, and tinted with pale pink along the centre. 
The, lip, has a. spoon-shaped deep purple lamina, with a narrow 
lilac line at the wavy edges. The lateral lobes are very short. 
SAXIFRAGA SQUARROSA : FLOWERS WHITE. 
soft purple, with a white edge all round the lower part of 
the column. Award of Merit to Messrs. Stanley Ashton and 
Co., Southgate, N. 
Cattleya Exquisita. 
The above beautiful hybrid was derived from C. Holfordi x 
Pa.rthenia Prince of Wales. The plant is of dwarf habit, and 
that shown by Messrs. F. Sander and Sons, St, Albans, carried 
two, scapes and four flowers. The sepals and elliptic petals 
are white. The lip also- is nearly white, but, has a light p tuple 
blotch at the a.pex, and two others lower down in the tube 
of the lip. The outer face of the latter is: white and faintly 
tinted with purple. Award of Merit, 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
Hidalgoa Wercklei. 
_ Th® leaves of this beautiful climber are twice divided in a 
pinnate manner. The stem® are very slender and ramble over 
a considerable area during the course of a, single: season, pro¬ 
ducing flowers: here and there from the axils of the leaves. 
These flowers resemble a. single Dahlia., having scarlet rays 
