406 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 14. 1904. 
One of the points which would he of importance would be the 
testing the hardiness* of individuals in any given batch of seed¬ 
lings. Supposing that a quantity of bulbs of some new or little- 
known species was introduced, or seeds of certain others from 
which a* batch of seedlings was raised. If these were placed in 
the refrigerating house and the temperature lowered a few 
degrees or so below freezing-point or a few degrees above it, 
according to the kind of plant being- tested, the tendei ones 
would be killed out*, leaving those! that were relatively hardy. 
The* test might be applied still further by reducing the tem¬ 
perature to* a lower degree than previously. Whatever the 1 
plants under treatment might be, the grower would by this 
means be able to secure the hardiest of the individuals in, the 
batch of seedling® or bulbs. 
Those that survived the process could then be propagated 
or, in the case of annuals or perennials, allowed to grow and 
produce seeds under natural conditions. Seeds should be col¬ 
lected from these plants only. The whole batch of seedlings 
raised from them could then be placed in the refrigerating 
house and subjected to similar tests to that previously accom¬ 
plished. By repeating these processes, for a, number of years 
it would he possible not only to get the hardiest individuals, 
but to accentuate this hardinesis by getting seedlings with 
this, constitution. This! would form a process somewhat 
similar to seed sowing and selection, in order to* get* varieties 
possessing certain, qualities—in this case hardines-s—with the 
additional advantage that the cultivator could have them 
tested at* once for their hardiness* without waiting for the 
accident, so to speak, of severe weather. 
Annuals'and perennials would most, readily facilitate these 
operations, because seeds could be obtained once a year, or at 
least every second year 1 in the case of certain perennials. 
The testing house might*, however, bei utilised still further 
in the case* of ornamental trees and shrubs. Taking a, batch 
of seedlings of any given species, the refrigerating house might 
be made to weed out the more tender individuals', so that the, 
remaining trees* and shrubs might be propagated from the 
hardy survivors, instead of from the tender or indifferently 
from either. In the case of a* new tree or shrub, this could 
not be otherwise than of very great advantage, whether to, the 
nurseryman or the gardener in a private establishment. Such 
a tree might o*r might not be absolutely hardy, but the test, 
would show which of the individuals was the better able to 
resist frost o*r a low temperature. 
To give* an instance of this, we might mention the numerous 
specie® of Eucalyptus which many a gardener and proprietor 
would de'S'he to plant, for the adornment, of the estate, pro¬ 
vided it was sufficiently hardy to stand out during winter. 
Some of the species are much hardier than others, but the* 
experiments hitherto* made' have been very isolated and of 
long duration, and that in itself sometimes prevents the* plant¬ 
ing of trees until the public* and even private individuals ha*c e 
forgotten all about them. Even in this case the hardiness* of 
individual seedlings* *of a species might be tested, and those 
that survive the operation could he planted out. In other' 
words, tire refrigerating house would be a scientific means of 
weeding out tender individuals and placing at the command of 
the planter the hardiest available of any given, kind. The 
loss of the weaklings would be no great loss after all, seeing 
that seeds are relatively cheap, and trees that would live out* 
of doors would certainly be a great gain. 
Experiments of this nature might not* be quite practicable 
in the case of forest* trees raised from seeds, but we. might 
mention a*s* a, parallel instance the fact that* nurserymen and 
seedsmen are always anxious to* procure native-grown seeds 
of the Scotch Fir, because tire* seedlings, give* more satisfaction 
than those raised from seeds grown in the south or obtained 
from abroad. 
Such a refrigerator might be applied to plants *of a great 
variety of character. For instance, new plants* brought from 
Syria, North Africa, or China, with a climate somewhat warmer 
and drier than our own,, might* be tested as soon a.si introduced 
to ascertain their relative hardiness. Fruit trees, fruit bushes, 
and Strawberries might all be tested for their degre*e of hardi¬ 
ness when in bloom, both under wet and diy conditions of 
atmosphere. .If certain varieties of Apple trees were found to 
withstand more frost than others, it would be worth while 
planting them more extensively, provided their other qualities 
were sufficient to recommend them. Possibly amongst Straw¬ 
berries some might be found capable of resisting a lower tem¬ 
perature than others, and if such was the case they would be 
likely to escape the late frosts more often than the more tender 
plants. Vegetables, in like manner, might be tested for their 
relative hardiness. 
Raisers*.have* for many years been doing this in a slow and 
laborious way, but by means of a, refrigerating house the test 
could be. brought to a conclusion in the matter of days instead 
of years. It would be a, means of selecting the hardy indi¬ 
viduals from any particular sowing, and that would be a gain. 
Old varieties and new ones could be tested for their hardiness, 
and this would certainly be as useful as testing for their crop¬ 
ping powers. 
Collection of Codiaeums (Crotons). 
(See Supplement .) 
The* number of Codiaeums*, popularly known as Crotons, now 
in cultivation is very great, and every year sees a* few fresh 
additions. The size and variation in form and colouring of 
leaf is very extensive, and a use can be* found for most of them. 
There* are conditions or purposes for which the narrow-leaved 
kinds tire most* suitable, and where the broad-leaved kinds 
would be inadmissible, but* for other purpose® the* reverse would 
be the. case. The love of variety is also a. great incentive to 
have numerous varieties for the purpose of furnishing a change. 
For this reason a large number will always be retained in 
cultivation, all of them having their uses in one establishment 
or another. 
Some little time ago, when visiting the nursery of Messrs. 
James Veitch and Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, we entered a house 
entirely devot-ed to Crotons. Here might be seen a very great 
range of variation in the matter of shape', which we have 
attempted to represent* in our supplement. Being unable to 
get a full view of the whole* of the house, we represent* a, poi tion 
of it, in which a considerable amount of variation is evident. 
To* give an idea of this variation we selected some of those 
which took our fancy, or which we have known to be very 
serviceable and ornamental varieties. 
Amongst, the broad-leaved kinds we have for many years 
been impressed with the* beauty nud massiveness of Baroness 
James de Rothschild on account of its broad and dark ciimson 
leaves. Earl.of Derby is a broad-leaved one, although quite 
*of a, different character, the leaves being somewhat* three 
lobed towards the apex, bright, yellow along the centre, and of 
compact habit. The leave® of Queen Victoria, are of medium 
width, and mostly of a rich orange-yellow when well exposed 
to light. A decidedly lar^e-leaved variety is Reidii, variegated 
w ith dark rose and creamy-pink. Amongst the broad-leaved 
series it enjoys a considerable reputation for bold effect. 
Undulatum is a good variety, with leaves of moderate width 
spotted and blotched with crimson on a dark olive^greeu 
ground. The leaves of Johannis are of similar width, but they 
are longer and richly banded with yellow on a dark green 
ground. The broad leaves of Emperor Alexander III. are of 
upright habit* and bright red. Amongst the large-leaved kinds 
we might also* mention andreanum, which is largely tinted witli 
a bright* orange-red. - Those of Golden Ring are moderately 
long, but curiously coiled or twisted, and are very handsome 
when the plant* is well grown. 
Narrow-leaved varieties are always* popular, because so suit¬ 
able* for table decoration and other decorative work where they 
are not* intended to obstruct the view across the table. Chel- 
sonii would come* into this category, the bright* red leaves being, 
narrow and twisted. For exhibition work very few have had 
a greater run of popularity than Warrenii, the long, nanw 
leaves of which are' twisted and coiled like a* screw, and blotched 
with yellow and red. A very striking contrast is produced by 
