THE GARDENING WORLD. April a, i 9 o s. 
294 
In tlie first place they are thoroughly practical in every way, 
and looking ac the question from this standpoint I state with¬ 
out reserve that the work they do is a credit to the trade. Tire} 
would make many a journeyman look pretty small by the 
methodical and intelligent manner they perform their duties. 
And do not run away with the idea that it is only 
light, easy tasks that the lady gardener can perform. 
Nothing of the sort. She can dig, trench, wheel 
heavy barrows, stoke fires, etc., as well as thin Grapes, 
water plants, or group together a selection of greenhouse sub¬ 
jects for a pleasing effect. Ask her about pests and diseases 
affecting- various forms of plant life, and she will describe them 
all, and the manner of exterminating them. Does she know 
anything about soils and their composition l That is easy foi 
her to talk about. In botany she is practically at home, while 
in such thing's as bee-keeping, jam-making, or fruit-presei\ing, 
which the ordinary gardener knows very little about, she is an 
expert, . , , , , 
At one time I held similar views to your correspondent, but 
after making the aquaintance of one or two lady gardeners my 
opinions were revolutionised. That there are many more who 
have passed through one of their training schools, equally as 
clever, goes without saving. I wish them all success, and if 
they really prove themselves capable gardeners, which is cer¬ 
tain, then let us all start fairly from the same mark, and hear 
less of this petty talk. It would introduce that tone and 
vigour in our profession, which at present is sadly wanting. 
A Member of the B. G. A. 
Schizocodon soldanelloides. 
Hailing front Japan, this plant, which in some respects re¬ 
sembles Shortia galacifolia, and in others is similar to Epigaea 
repeats, is just such a plant as is frequently required to cover 
the space of ground formed by a small bay in the- ro-ckeiy. 
Its prostrate stems ramify both under and on the- ground, and 
the finely tinted and highly polished leaves with their toothed 
edges make a good under-ground for such things as Ramondias, 
Cypripediunrs, and Trillium® growing oat the ledge® and 
pockets of the bay. 
The flowers of the plant are quaint- and pretty, chiefly by 
reason of the raggedly fringed edges- to the blooms, while the 
colour is a delicate blending of rose, pink, and creamy-white. 
Peaty soil, with an addition of porous stone 1 , appears to suit 
the plant, and it- is a good plan to place a few flat- stones- upon 
the prostrate stems. During periods of drought- the foliage 
may be kept- fresh and attractive by means of watering over¬ 
head with a fine-rosed can, choosing the latter part of the- day 
for the task. Heather Bell. 
Caliipsychc eucrosioides. 
Only three species of the above- genus are known to science, 
and all come from some part of South America. That under 
notice comes from Guayaquil. Very few people undertake 
their cultivation, except the authorities of botanic gardens and 
enthusiasts for bulbo-us plants of this character. Two of the 
species are at present flowering at Kew—namely, the subject of 
this note and C. mira-bilis. The flowers are produced in umbels 
o-f eight to- ten, and in advance of the leaves. The flower proper 
is only an inch long or slightly more, and consists of six seg¬ 
ments o-f a scarlet and greenish-yellow hue, the combination 
being rather peculiar. The flowers are also rendered more 
conspicuous owing to the great- length of the stamens- and style-, 
which are directed downwards, and being 3 in. long, they ex¬ 
tend much beyond the perianth. The leaves do- not make 
their appearance until after the flowers, but when developed 
they have a blade about a foot in length and 4 in. broad. The 
flowers are, however, sufficiently conspicuous and interesting 
to make this bulb worthy of cultivation. While- in blo-o-m the 
pots containing the plants may be stood amongst other sub¬ 
jects in the stove so- as to- hide the bare flower-scape-. The 
species was originally introduced in 1-844. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, LONDON, 
The first- spring s-how was held in the Botanic Society’s large- 
conservatory and corridor on Wednesday, March 22nd. It was 
an ideal spring day; as one passed among the Crocuses in 
the grass to the conservatory, where the spring flowers were 
clustered, one indeed realised that spring was Upon us. 
Besides the numerous spring flowers, of which the corridor was 
full, in the conservatory Messrs. J. Hill and Son, Barrowfield 
Nurseries, Lower Edmonton, showed a magnificent collection of 
Ferns, in the centre of which was a grand specimen of the! 
tree Fern Dicksonia Schiedei, flanked on either side by groups 
of Brainea insignis and W-oodwardia orientate, with their deli¬ 
cate tinted foliage ; also Cheilanthes elegans, Pteris nemoralis, 
Pteris Childsii, Davallia fijiensis elegans, Adiantum Collisii 
and A. tin-ctum were effectively grouped, and Pellea robusta, 
with its very dark green foliage stood out in great contrast to 
the rest. One of the finest specimens in the exhibit was a Poly- 
podium glaucum giganteum of immense size. The whole col¬ 
lection was edged up with the green and variegated Ficus repens, 
and overhung with large baskets of Asplenium caudatum. 
Nephrolepis exaltata. 
Amongst the exhibits in the corridor the finest was a large! 
group of Cyclamen, most abundant in flower and rich in colour 
grown by Mr. John May, Gordon Nursery, St. Margaret’s, 
Twickenham. Mr. G. Reuthe, Fox Hill Hardy Plant Nursery. 
Kest-on, Kent, gave a fine display of alpine plants, including 
many Saxifragas, and Primulas including P. -cashmeriana, P. 
acaulis duplex, P. denticulata, etc., Anemones including A. 
blanda, A. fulgens, etc. Hepatica triloba caerulea was in great 
evidence, with its beautiful littie blue flowers produced in great 
profusion ; the pure white one also attracted much attention. 
Mr. G. Keif, gardener to Miss Adamson, South Villa, Regent's 
Park, set up a large collection of flowering and foliage plants, 
including many Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, Azaleas, Cine¬ 
rarias, Dielytra spectabilis, and Lilies of the Valley, backe 
up with Palms, Arums, ATagnolias, etc. The whole formed i 
very attractive group. 
A collection of Alpines and Narcissi of many varieties were 
shown by Messrs. Thomas Ware, Limited, Felt-ham, Middlesex 
amongst which Primulas were in abundance, also some fine 
specimens of Trillium sessile Snow Queen. A group of Begonia: 
Gloire de Sceaux was very prettily arranged and intersperse- 
with Maidenhair Ferns. The Begonias, being very fine spe 
cimens, gave a very pleasing effect. Mr. John R. Box, Wes 
Wickham, was the exhibitor. 
Mr. -S. Mortimer, of Row!edge, Farnham, Surrey, exhibited 
a large number of Wallflower-leaved Clove-scented Stock, witl 
double white flowers, which claimed many • admirers. A grea 
point in. this Stock’s favour is that it is a continuous flowerer 
and quite 90 per cent, of the plants were double flowered. 
Messrs. J. Ambrose and Son, Chesliunt, Herts, staged a col 
lection of Tree Carnations, amongst which were “Fascination,' 
which received much attention last year, and the new scarle 
one “Flamingo,” the flowers of which were exceptionally fin- 
and brilliant, and were greatly admired. 
A collection of Begonias and Anth'uriums was exhibited b; 
Messrs. John Laing and Sons, Forest Hill, S.E. 
Table decoration was done by Air. J. Williams, 4a, Oxforo 
Road, Ealing, W. , 
A group of interesting economic plants was set up by th> 
Royal Botanic Society, -including Quillaja Saponaria, the soa], 
bark. The Chilians use the hark of this plant as a soap 
Another plant was Amomum angustifolium, which is used fo. 
spicing, Sansevieria grandis, from which bowstring liemp i 
secured, and -other subjects were shown. 
The gardening school showed some botanical experiments ii 
connection with their laboratory work, including the absorptioi 
of the sun’s rays by plants, plant respiration, evolution o, 
oxygen, etc. Alicrosccpical slides, mounted by the students- 
were shown under the microscope. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 
Scientific Committee, March I4th. 
Present: Dr. M. T. Alasters, F.R.S. (in the chair) ; Drs. AI 
Cooke, V.M.H., and II. Muller Revs. W. Wilks. G. Henslow 
and G. Engleheart ; Professors G. S. Boulger and G. F. Scott 
Elliott ; Messrs. Douglas, Veitch, F.lwes, Holmes, "W alker, Odell 
Baker, Gusis-ow, Bowles, Saunders, Alassee, Hooper, am 
Chittenden (lion, secretary). 
Henslow Testimonial. —Dr. Masters, on behalf of the coni 
mittee, after referring to the great interest Prof. Henslow lia< 
