May 14, 1904. 
THE OARDENINQ WORLD 
407 
Van Oerstedii, which, lias short, narrow, green leaves thickly 
spotted with yellow. The chief feature of it, however, is its 
branching and bushy ha,bit. It is not, particularly suitable for 
wrowino- as a single-stemmed plant, owing t,o this, character, but 
for stove decoration it, finds a place in many establishments. 
Laincni might be described as possessing some of the same 
ilia,bib but is abundantly distinct. The leaves are twisted, 
narrow, and the steins and leaf-stalks are often of a, bright- 
yellow. 
Amongst the very narrow-leaved kinds we cannot, overlook 
aigburthiense, which Iras, grassy leaves largely of an ivory- 
white, yellow and green colour. We, 'believe that angustifo- 
lium was the parent, of the previously-named variety. A broad, 
central band of yellow runs down the middle of the leaf. 
Another narrow-leaved and graceful variety is elegantissimum, 
with bright, yellow leaves hanging gracefully. 
Quite of another’ character is Etna, the short leaves of which 
are of a fiery-red colour when well exposed to light. When 
allowed to attain size the plant, is of bushy habit. The leaves 
of Mrs. Iceton are also short, but, they are' broader' and of a, 
rich rose colour edged with olivei-green. Those of Mrs. McLeod 
are longer and narrower, while yet, of moderate length, bright 
yellow, and make a neat plant of dwarf habit. Majestieum 
lias still longer leaves of moderate width, and rich dark red 
when well coloured. The leaves of Mrs. Dorman are narrow 
and richly variegated with yellow and crimson. For the sake 
of distinction we might, add volutum to this list, which has its 
leaves curled or twisted like a ram’s horn, and mostly of a 
golden-yellow. 
The above are only a selection from the veiy large collection 
to be found here. 
Cape Pelargoniums. 
This charming class of plants are just coming into flower, and 
are most interesting. It is a very extensive' class cf plants, reach¬ 
ing nearly 200 species, and mostly.coming from. South Africa. 
They are of vary easy cultivation, and require to be grown 
perfectly cool; as long as the frost is kep t, out of the house in 
winter is all that is needed. They are plants that will stand a • 
lot of rough usage,, and can, be put to, a good many purposes. 
The leaves of some of the varieties are very sweet-scented, and 
are alone well worth the trouble of growing. Some of the 
common varieties are Mrs. Douglas, Painted Lady, Pretty 
Polly, Sandbeck Beauty, Moor’s Victor, orispum maximum, and 
there are a host of others. 
Some of the scented ones are Lady Scarborough, Attar of 
Roses, tomentosum (Peppermint, scent), Terehinthia (nutmeg- 
scented), and inodorum, filifolia, odorata. All are veiy free 
flowering, whilst glutinosum lias a, sticky feeling almost like as 
if it had been gummed over. Another curious variety is buboni- 
folium, which is suitable for training up pillars, and the flowers 
of this variety are of a greenish colour. Other interesting 
varieties a,re tetragona, sisonifolium, Moulton, Gem, triste 
(tuberous rooted), whilst the stems of Moulton Gem are prickly, 
like that of a Blackberry. Inquinans was one of the parents 
of most, of the scarlet, zonals. In the first place, if anyone 
was to see it put up with a, collection of zonalsr nowadays they 
would be surprised to see what strides have taken, place in 
the past, few years. 
After the plants have done flowering they should be cut, back 
within two eyes of the old wood and kept on thei dry side, or 
they could be laid on their sides out of doors, and in, about, 
six weeks they will be breaking away nicely, and must then 
be shaken out and repotted. They are not very particular as 
to soil. A good mixture for them is two barrowloads loam, 
one of leaf-soil, and half-load wood ashes and a good sprinkling 
of sand. They should then be stood in cold frames so- as the 
lights can be pdt over them in wet weather, n,ot that a little 
shower hurts them; in fact, it does 1 them good; but care 
should be taken not to get them too wet at the roots just after 
t iey have been potted. Cuttings can be inserted at, almost 
any time. If a few plants have been planted in. the borders 
good cuttings can be got in August and root very freely in 
a cold frame. These should be 1 wintered ini their cutting pots 
and potted on in early spring. A good collection of Cape 
species is rarely seen-nowadays. Wherever Pelargoniums are 
grown for decorating a few of these species should be in¬ 
cluded, as their foliage is very useful for mixing with flowers 
of other plants in. winter. When in bloom they require a little 
shading just to break the strongest of the sun a bit, as the 
flowers last much longer if a, little care and attention are 
bestowed upon them. - J. 0. 
Fritillaria pontica. 
The flowers of this Fritillary have a certain kind of quiet 
beauty, and are, besides, quaint, and interesting. The’ different 
species are not cultivated to 1 the extent which they might be. 
For many years the principal members to beffound in the garden 
Fritillaria pontica. 
were the Crown Imperial (F. Imperialis), the Snake’s-head (F. 
Meleagris), and the Pyrenean Frit illary (F. pyrenaica). The 
first two are highly ornamental bolder plants, the Crown Im¬ 
perial often being the glory of the cottage garden during April 
and May. The’ Pyrenean species is; quaint and easily grown ; 
hence it is often to be found in collections, but, the dark brown 
colour of the flowers is not at all striking. The inner face 
is chequered, but of course that isi hidden unless one turns 
up the flowers. 
The species under notice, F. pontica,, flowers during April and 
May in the open border, and carries one or two bell-shaped, 
drooping flowers on a, stem. These are pale green, overlaid 
with a glaucous bloom, and more or less tinted with a, pale 
brown hue on the enter edges, as well as, at the base of the 
flower over* the nectaries. The inner face isi pale green, tipped 
with pale or deep brown on the recurved tips of the segments. 
The specimens of this species which we have seen are not 
at all chequered on either face. 
The species is easily grown in pots, and with the protection 
