October 1 , 1904. 
TtiE GARDENING WORLD. 
777 
the flowers are half out than when, fully expanded. The latest 
batch will have to be shaded, as the bright sun, causes the 
flowers to fade veiy quickly, and on no account should the 
plants suffer for want of water at any time, as they never 
recover from the effects of getting dry. As they go out of 
flower, remove them from the conservatory and place them ini a 
cool house (a late Peach house answers well for this), with the 
exception of Deutzia gracilis, which should have the old flower¬ 
ing wood pruned out, and the young growths springing from 
the base allowed to develop' to their fullest extent in an inter¬ 
mediate temperature. This is a good time to repot this plant. 
About the middle of April, Lilac, Philadelphus', Staphylea, 
colchioa, Viburnum Opulus, and the double Cherry should have 
all straggling wood cut out and be planted in the shrubbery or 
reserve quarters. . Clethra, alnifolia, and the double Plum, are 
best kept 'in) pots, repotting them and plunging in ashes with 
Deutzia gracilis in an, open position. Rhododendrons, Azaleas, 
and Kalmia latifolia are best kept inside until they have 
finished their growth, and any gaps in the border devoted to 
American plants may be made' up with them. 
H. Arnold. 
Iris histrioides. 
The above beautiful Iris belongs to the section Xipliion, as 
in the case of the well-known English and Spanish Irises. Some 
botanists regard it as a, mere variety of I. reticulata, while 
others consider it a distinct species. In any case, it is one 
of the bulbous types suitable for early flowering, and therefore 
for cultivation in pots or pans for the decoration of the green¬ 
house or conservatory, unless tire cultivator lias a properly 
constructed hardy plant house for its reception. If it were not 
for its early flowering it, might bei regarded as hardy, but 
owing to its early flowering character it is necessary to have 
it grown in a very sheltered position or protected by glass in 
some way or other, in order to make certain that the flowers 
will not get destroyed by heavy rains, frost or snow, to all of 
which it may be subjected in our fickle and changeable climate. 
If the cultivator happens to be favoured with fine weather 
when the flowers open we.cam imagine no more cheerful sight 
tlran these early flowering Irises ini a sunny position in the open. 
The flowers are . the most .prominent part of the plant when 
in bloom, because' the leaves are not far advanced, unless' .the 
bulbs happen to have been grown and kept rather close in a, 
greenhouse. Out of doors the leaves remain short until after 
the flowering period. Tliei falls are beautifully mottled or 
blotched with white and lilac, both on the blade and on the 
claw. The standards are pale blue as a rule, and though much 
smaller than the falls;, they are fairly conspicuous, because they 
stand erect, unlike those of the Juno section, and which are 
generally small and reflexed. The arms of the style are similar 
in colour to the standards, and serve to make up a flower of 
beautiful form and colour that adds considerable beauty and 
contrast to the ordinary occupants of the greenhouse or con-’ 
servatoay in spring. Those who would grow this plant, out of 
doorsi should select a situation well sheltered from wind, so as 
to preserve the flowers from injury by rough weather, while a. 
pane of glass or a handlight would afford protection from ivind 
and rain, and to a great extent from the effect of frost. The 
illustration accompanying this note was put at our service by 
Messrs. William Cutbush and Son 1 , Highgate, London. 
Mushrooms in the Streets. —Last week some very large 
Mushrooms developed beneath the paving stone near the door¬ 
step of 37, Bittern Street, Southwark. The Mushrooms raised 
the paving stone for about an inch. That in itself seems a re¬ 
markable phenomenon, but we think it scarcely more remarkable 
than that a cluster of Agarics should arise beneath an asphalte 
walk, solidly built of a good depth of material, and bursting the 
same, till fully exposed to the atmosphere, as if the hardened 
asphalte and concrete had been merely a layer of soil. This we 
have seen in one of the London parks. 
Holyrood Palace. 
Of the countless attractions the Scottish capital can boast, 
none appeals ini a more fascinating way to' the lover of history 
than the ancient palace and abbey of Holyrood. Thither I 
wended my way on, the early mom of Edinburgh flower show, 
partly to see this historic pile, but, mainly to see the grounds 
under the able management of Mr. William Alexander, the 
popular superintendent of this Royal domain. Early as was 
the hour, however, I was none too early to receive attention 
from Mr. Alexander, who personally conducted me over the 
beautiful and historic place. Oh, what memories crowd 
through one’s brain at, sight of this, venerable pile. Of the 
scenes and associations connected with Scottish history, and 
especially with the ill-fated but, beautiful Queen Mary, it is 
not my matter to write, but of the well-kept environments I 
should like to> pen a few lines. 
Though nothing elaborate is attempted in the way of design, 
thei whole, arrangement, has a very pleasing effect when, viewed 
from any point of the grounds. 
Large circular and other beds dotted here and there on the 
smooth-shaven lawns play an important part in the arrange¬ 
Iris histrioides. 
ment. Very noticeable was, a huge bed of single Hollyhocks of 
well-blended colours about 4 ft. high, and which had a, striking 
effect. Other large beds- were, tilled with East Lothian, Stocks 
in seven- colours-, viz., crimson, purple, rose, scarlet- and white, 
with the two Wallflower-leaved varieties, crimson and dwarf 
white, the latter used in some cases' as an edging. Early- 
flowering Chrysanthemums are used as; dot plants, and along 
with the Stocks were in full flower. The percentage of doubles 
might be anything from eighty to ninety, the rose-coloured one 
being especially fine. I have rarely seen, a, more- pleasing 
effect than' tho-se glorious beds of Stocks,, with their long 
close-set spikes', in many cases- eight to ten on, a single plant, 
varying ini length from 6 in. to- 15 in. All this along with the 
air redolent, -of their perfume on that balmy September morn 
shall ever dwell on my thoughts a,s one of those things where 
memory love's 1 to linger. 
I was a little curious to know how and when these Stocks 
were treated to get them in, such splendid condition, and on 
inquiry Mr. Alexander informed me that they were sown in 
the first week of January, grown- on in a lit-t-le heat-, hardened 
off in due course, and planted out in April and May. As a, 
rule, they showed flower in the end of June and will continue 
onward into- November. The seed, he- had pleasure in assuring 
me, lie procured annually from the noted Hawick nurseryman, 
Mr. John Forbes, who- makes a speciality of this flower. A 
very simple but effectively-designed group of beds contained 
the- best kinds of bedding Pelargoniums, Calceolarias', Violas, 
etc., along with early-flowering Chrysanthemums, with an 
outer scroll planted with Ivy, pegged down and neatly arranged 
