202 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 5, 1904. 
the hob-water pipes. A splendid lot of firm bulbs has been em¬ 
ployed, and will make a. fine display later on. They are potted 
in fibrous loam, leaf mould, and sand. The rest of the 
Amaryllis are now grown at F elf h am . 
Hybrid greenhouse Rhododendrons are never out of season, 
and at present a, very respectable number of them are in bloom. 
The old R. jasminiflorum, one of the original parents, 
with long tubular white flowers, is at present in bloom. 
Some of the large modern types include Princess Beatrice, soft 
salmon-pink, with red filaments; Minerva, deep- yellow, with 
crimson filaments ; Princess Alexandra, white; Rose Perfec¬ 
tion, soft rose; Cloth of Gold, clear yellow, with yellow fila¬ 
ments ; Brilliant, brilliant red ; Aphrodite, pink; Little 
Beauty, one of the Malayan crosses, with rosy-scarlet flowers, 
useful for making sprays; Imogene, cream, with a salmon 
blush ; and Apollo 1 , orange-scarlet, with very large flowers. 
Mrs. Heal has large, pure white flowers; and is still unique in 
being the purest white of the multiflora, section of this race 
of hybrids. Four out of the five original and only double- 
flowered hybrids are now in bloom. This includes R. bal¬ 
sam inaeflorum aureum, with bright yellow flowers; R. b. 
album, white; R. b. caroeum, flesh-coloured ; and R. b. Rajah, 
fawn-yellow, more or less edged with rose. All of these are 
practically sisters, having been obtained from one seed pod. 
Passing into the Gardenia house, we noted’three principal 
types usually grown in gardens; The most popular of all is 
G. florida, with large white deliciously-scented flowers. A 
fine lot: of plants in 6-in. pots consists of plants 12 in. to 
18 in. high, 2 ft. wide, and laden with flower-buds. G. For¬ 
tune! has larger flowers, but somehow or other it. is not so 
popular as G. florida. At. one time G. radicans enjoyed a 
considerable! amount of popularity, and those who wish to 
renew acquaintance with it can find it here. It,, has smaller 
flowers, than either of the, above two, with leaves, not, verv 
much larger than those of a Myrtle. 
In another house is a group, of Begonia, Gloire de Scea,ux, 
with pink flowers and bronzy foliage, making a. beautiful con¬ 
trast. Here also we found a. batch of Rogiera oordata, with 
cyniesi of pink flowers produced freely on small plants in 60- 
sized pots. In another structure Ave noted a fine batch of 
Eucharis grandiflora; grown in large pots and now in full 
bloom. The plants are in perfect health and a, picture toi look 
at. Belonging to- the same family but altogether distinct in 
appearance wats Haemamthus Kalbreyeri, Avith dense umbels, of 
scarlet flowers. 
Hie display produced by Imantophyllum ini a, cooler 'house is 
very effective. The plants vary in size from one to six crowns, 
each like an immense Leiek with leathery strap-shaped leaves 
and flowers, varying from pale, orange to, dark orange-scarlet. 
OAving to the size of each individual crown or tuft of leaves, 
the trusses of flowers are correspondingly large. In another 
cool house Avei noted Calceolaria, Burbidgei, with its large 
yellow flowers and ample foliage. As grown a,t, Feltham this 
gives a supply of flowers practically all the year round. It is 
a hybrid of very bold appearance, and should be in every 
collection of winter'-floAvering plants. Some plants of Eupa,- 
torium vernale are still in bloom. Our readers may remember 
that it got an Award of Merit a few weeks ago and is am 
excellent subject for winter work. 
Tire bulb house is a,t present gay Avith a, great variety of 
bulbs and forced floAverimg shrubs; Hyacinths are very plenti¬ 
ful, very sweetly -scented, and representing a great number of 
colours. The garden varieties of Crocus vermis have blooms, 
of immense size compared with those of the AAuld plant, and are 
extremely useful for early work. Narcissi are represented by 
different varieties of the trumpet Daffodil and an even greater 
profusion, of Polyanthus Narcissi, the latter being deliciously 
scented. A splendid batch of the ordinary scarlet Tulip Due 
van Thol, with bright flowers, made a very fine display. A 
large crimson-flowered variety of another species, aa'&s also, 
notable. A very useful hardy plant, for forcing is Dicetntra, 
spectabilis or Dutchman’s breeches. 
Amongst the Lilacs we noted’ the pure white virginale and 
the lilac-coloured Charles X. developed under normal conditions 
and having lilac flowers. Another Avith narrower leaves and 
distinctly red flowers was closely allied to Syringa cbinensis, a 
hybrid between S. vulgaris and' pbrsica, and knoAvn under a 
variety of names; Nevertheless; it, is veiy distinct, and seme 
AUtrieties of it have- received special names. A batch of 
Staphylea coichioa Avas also very fine. 
In the rockery house are several interesting subjects, in¬ 
cluding Eupatorium ianthinum, Avitli soft, violet-purple floAvers. 
Veiy like a, pelican’s 1 head is the orange and deep blue flower of 
Strelit.zia Regina,e. Very fine, varieties of Imamtophylluin Avere 
Excelsior, orange; Optima,, with over-lapping broad orange- 
scarlet segments; and Favourite, soft sulphur-orange. An 
Award of Merit was accorded to Optima some, time ago. Verv 
interesting and pretty Avas. Billbergia, nutans, with blue edges 
to the dark green flowers. These Avere stood about amongst 
the Feans and were veiy effective. 
In the Nepenthes, house Avas, a good display of pitchers, not- 
Avithstanding the late period of the year for them. If we might 
single out, some of them, Ave should mention Mcrganiae, with 
bright red pitchers!; mastersiana,, dark red ; rafflesiana, with 
richly-blotched pitchers,; distillatoria-, with long green pitchers 
and a red lip,; N. bicalcarata; with its two long bom-like 
spines projecting over the mouth of the pitcher. Sir William 
Thiselton-Dyer is notable for the large size of its light green 
pitchers and crimson blotches; Another very handsome one 
is N. Tiveyi, ‘raised betweeui N. Veitehii and N. C'urtisii 
superba, and named in compliment to the groAver, Mr. Tivey. 
At this season of the year therei are pitchers on it, 9 in. or 
10 in. in, length, pale green and handsomely striped and 
blotched Avith crimson; The collar is of a rich brown, glossy 
and a marvel in structure. 
A veiy graceful green-lea;ved Dracaena is that named D. 
Eeckhautei, which has a, graceful drooping habit not, possessed 
by D. rubra,. A houseful of Aspidistras, is a, sight, that- Avould 
make the decorator green Avith envy. Variegated forms are 
most plentiful, but, green ones are also grown, the leaves in all 
cases being 2 ft. to 3 ft. long. In another house wei came upon 
Dracaenas of quite a different type, mixed with a, variety of 
other plants. For instance; there were large and handsome 
specimens, of D. sanderiana,, D. goldieana, and’ D. Prince M. 
Bey. The last, named lias very broad leaves with a red 
margin. D. Jamesii has narrower leaves with red edges. D. 
Lord Wolsieley has bronzy leaves Avith a, narroAV red edge. 
Strikingly distinct from all of the above Avas D. harcldiana, 
Avith green leave® and a broad crea.my-wliit,e margin to all of 
the upper ones; 
A collection of Ferns is still a feature of the Chelsea, nur¬ 
series; but only the useful decorative, kinds are chiefly grown. 
Amongst, others, picked out, at random we noticed Cyrtonnium 
falcatum, Asplenium Veitehi, Pteris Wimsettii, Adianturns in 
variety, Osmunda, regalis palustriis; and Nephrclepis grandi- 
ceps, with heavy terminal crests to the frondsi. The side 
pinnae are, also crested. The firm is, thoroughly up to date in 
having all the more recent and useful sorts, including the 
splendid N. Pierson,i, with fronds 2 ft,, to 3 ft. long. . The 
most remarkable feature of thisi Fern is the narrow portion at 
the base of the pinna,ei, forming a, sort of handlei to, the outer 
portion which is t,AA r ice deeply divided. Another peculiar form 
is N. Mavii, with A r eiy short, internodes and the Avavy pinnae 
closely overlapping, imitating what is seen in Last,re i Filix- 
rn.fl.-q crispa, deusa. Did space permit, we could mention many 
other subjects, both useful and ornamental, but Aye must in 
the near future give an account of the Orchids which Aveie in 
bloom in the last, week of February. 
Christmas Tree or Neav Zealand.— From Auckland, hew 
Zealand, comes the information that the floAvenng of the Polra- 
tukaAva, or Christmas Tree of New Zealand, denotes the unerring 
accuracy of the festive season. This statement was made just 
tAvo days before Christmas. The tree stands out boldly on the 
most exposed and rugged cliffs, with its enormous roots reach¬ 
ing down almost to the water’s edge. In spite of wind anc 
storm, the plant was covered with a profusion of brilliant dark 
red blossom. So conspicuous was it that it could not fall to 
attract the attention and admiration of all, hut particularly 
the stranger. 
