March 19, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
235 
Notes on the Illustrations in this Issue. 
Colchicum libanoticum. 
The species of Meadow Saffron with which gardeners ara 
most acquainted bloom in the autumn. The varieties of C. 
autumnale are most widely distributed in gardens in. various 
parts of the country, but there are several others which are 
much finer in every way that might be more adequately re^ 
presented in gardens ; and there are some species which bloom 
during our winter, and consequently serve to render the garden 
interesting at a time when flowers in the open are relatively 
scarce. 
In the open air it must be understood that although the 
proper flowering season for such plants is winter, they can 
only bloom during mild periods unless they are protected. 
They may thus be had in the open blooming when they can, 
but the enthusiastic cultivator will also grow a few of these 
in pots, so 1 that he may protect them in a cold frame or green¬ 
house or even the conservatory* where they could not fail to 
serve the purpose of making the house interesting and diversi¬ 
fying the display. 
The species to which we wish to refer on this occasion 
is C. libanoticum, a native of Syria,, and most probably 
first collected on Mount Lebanon, the home of the 
Cedar, as the specific name would imply. Under glass 
this has been flowering more or less in the latitude of 
London since November last, but the finest display was 
made in, February. Out, of doors it bloomed to some 
extent in February, but the present winter has not 
been genial, although we have had very little frost, 
consequently some of the plants may still bloom during 
the present month. 
The pot of plants from which our illustration was 
taken bloomed in the collection, of Mr. G. Reuthe, 
Hardy Plant Nursery, Heston, Kent. The flowers of 
this species are produced in company with the leaves, 
and are so very short as to be almost globular' when in 
full bloom. This appearance is brought about largely 
by the segments of the flower being incurved at the 
tips during a large portion 1 of the time the flowers are 
in perfection. They do open fully, however, at 'a cer¬ 
tain stage, as may be seen by the illustration. The 
solitary plant on the' extreme left of the picture shows 
a slightly different form of flower which occurs 
amongst, imported conus of C. libanoticum. The seg¬ 
ments 1 are lanceolate, erect and more pointed. The 
colour varies from pale purple to pure white amongst, 
v imported conns, and as each gives rise to a variable 
number of flowers, sometimes reaching seven or ten, a 
clump of this species has a very cheerful effect during 
the winter months. Headers will remember that our 
native C. autumnale does not produce its leaves till 
spring. The leaves of C. libanoticum are now much 
longer than the flowers, and enclose the withered ret¬ 
ina ins of the latter. 
^rachelospermum crocostomum 
For many years past, gardeners have been familiar 
with T. jasminoides, perhaps better known as T. rhynchosper- 
mum, and which has been used a,s a greenhouse plant, for a 
very long period. Some regard it as a climber, while 
others train it oh a framework as a specimen plant for con¬ 
servatory decoration or for exhibition purposes. 
That to which we now refer was for some time believed to be 
a, variety of it, and when we first made its acquaintance twenty 
years ago or more on a wall at Hew it was named T. jasi- 
minoides angustifolium. It was then a very small plant, but 
has since greatly increased in, size, covering a space about, 8 ft. 
wide and 10 ft. high. When the plant, came into bloom it was 
found to be quite distinct from T. jasminoides, and was de¬ 
scribed as a new species under the name of T. crocostomum. 
The leaves are much smaller than in the better-known type, 
lanceolate, leathery in. character and evergreen. 
Last year the plant bloomed splendidly when our illustration 
was taken, as may be seen- by reference to the picture. Those 
starry flowers are creamy-white with an orange centre, as the 
specific name is intended to indicate. The origin of the plant 
is not well known, but it is believed to have come from China. 
During all the years which it has been growing upon the wall 
it has never received any protection whatever, so that it is 
perfectly hardy in the latitude of London, at least. All that 
it requires is a. little attention in the nailing in of the exten¬ 
sion shoots and cutting away any shoots produced for which 
there may be no room on the wall. 
It will thus be seen that we have' a very beautiful wall 
climber indeed, and, being evergreen, one that would serve to 
cover walls in places where deciduous climbers would be im- 
admissible. It, is very neat at all periods of the fear, qryj 
continues in bloom for some weeks. 
Melons. 
The chief thing in Melon culture is the root action, after 
getting the hotbed in and allowing it to 1 remain a week or two 
before planting. For early Melons you do' not require too 
large heaps, but get them in, a day or two before planting, so 
that they will get, warm.. For a, compost, get some good loam 
and a, good sprinkling of lime rubble. A few horse droppings 
will help it a, lot. Ram the soil very hard, allowing the ball 
to remain about Jin. in above the level of the soil ; then press 
the hall round the side with your hand, so> as to get it on a 
good slope all round 1 . Then give a, thin covering of sifted 
loam all over the' bed to finish off with, and for the young roots 
to ramble into'. Where you are troubled with wood-lice, it is a 
good plan to have some tins made as will hold water to fit 
round the base of the plant about 6 in. from the stem. It is 
then impossible for wood-lice to get to them. Do not allow 
the plants to make more wood than, is necessary, keeping the 
latter also well in hand. If they do not show fruit, pinch 
them back to' the first break. Where they show fruit let the 
) 
Colchicum libanoticum, a winter flowering species. 
