376 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
May 6, 1905. 
vigorous .plants if large heads are wanted, but what is more im¬ 
portant, recently broken up and transplanted specimens con¬ 
tinue to grow for a much longer period, and thus keep up a 
greater succession of bloom. The bright golden-yellow heads 
measure IT in. to 2( in. across, according to the vigour of the 
plant, and besides their use for cut flowers are highly effective 
not merely in the garden border of large places, but are even 
more effective in villa gardens. When the . cultivator has 
sufficient stock, he should plant only the young crowns to be 
found on the outside of the clump. 
An Early-Flowering Allium (Allium zebdanense). 
During recent years the Neapolitan Allium has become very 
popular for forcing puiposes in order to supply cut flowers. 
That under notice is a more recent acquisition hailing from 
Syria and Armenia. The white flowers are bell-shaped, less 
expanded than those of the Neapolitan species, but come into 
bloom during the latter part of April and continue during 
the first portion of May. These flowers are obtainable much 
earlier than those of the Neapolitan species when grown in the 
open border, and as the flowers are borne on long stems they 
offer facilities for placing the flowers in vases. 
Fortune’s Globe Flower (Trollius asiaticus Fortunei). 
Being a variety of the Siberian Globe Flower, this has large 
deeply lobed and cut leaves on the same plan as our native 
species. The flowers are scarcely larger than the British one 
when grown under similarly favourable conditions, but their 
rich orange colour at once appeals to the eye as something 
distinct, even amongst Globe Flowers. The length of the 
petals is one of the chief distinctions between this and the 
British one, where they are scarcely noticeable amongst the 
stamens. In the matter of culture there is practically no 
difference between the two. As they both like plenty of mois¬ 
ture during the growing and flowering season, a fairly moist 
though well-drained soil should be selected for it. Some people 
plant, it in the bog garden, but if the planter is careful to avoid 
diy and hot soils he has eveiy reasonable hope of success. 
When only a moderate number of plants is required this can 
readily be'obtained by lifting and carefully dividing the crowns 
in March. 
The Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum). 
A little careful observation will show that the neater and 
dwarfer species of Comfrey bloom in spring—that is, April and 
May—whereas the taller and coarser-growing forms require 
longer time to mature their growth and come into bloom. A 
fair"average height for the plant which hails from the Caucasus 
is 18 in. The leaves are narrowly oblong, and the flowers, of a 
very bright blue, are produced in clusters all along the greater 
portion of the stems. Few of the Comfrevs are worthy of 
general cultivation in gardens, but that under notice is an ex¬ 
ception on account of the brightness of its flowers and the 
earliness with which they are produced. The species prac¬ 
tically blooms at the same time as the Oriental Comfrey, which 
is also of neat habit for a plant of this genus, and is usually 
.recommended for early flowering. In general, it may be said 
that the chief value of the Comfreys would be for border 
decoration, and this one would appeal to those who are looking 
for a oreater amount of variety in the border at tins period 
of tlie C year. Division of the crowns will supply all that is 
generally wanted in the way of increase for border culture. 
Alchbmilla. 
Chrysanthemum Shoeing. —The smoking of dried Chrysan¬ 
themum petals was recommended some time ago by Gorton's 
medical officer of health as “ a pleasant and harmless sub¬ 
stitute” for tobacco. Now, according to a medical contem¬ 
porary, Chrysanthemum smoking has been responsible for a 
wonderful improvement in a victim of fifteen years’ standing to 
frequent and violent epileptic fits, the result of chronic dys¬ 
pepsia. Since his first smoke of Chrysanthemum petals in 
January last the patient has exhibited remarkable signs of 
improvement ; he not only walks now without the aid of a 
stick, but enjoys immeasurably better sleep, and, as the report 
states, “ can even attend church.” A run on Chrysanthemum 
blooms for purposes of smoking may be anticipated. 
The Packing of Fruit. 
The packing and grading plays a. very important part in the 
fruit industry. From a commercial standpoint great care 
must attend this work, for careless packing makes all the 
difference to the monetary value at the market, especially as 
our railway companies bestow but little care in transit. 
For small quantities of fruit boxes are the best. There are 
many sizes and makes used for this purpose, but I might sug¬ 
gest a few that might be found generally useful: For large 
fruit 15 in. by 13 in. and 7 in. deep; for smaller fruit, 16 in. 
by 8 in. and 4 in. deep; for very small fruit, such as Straw¬ 
berries, 12 in. by 6 in. and 3 in. deep would be a suitable size. 
For packing Strawberries there is no better method than to 
wrap each up in their own foliage, the box being first lined 
with the leaves. The fruit should be placed as tightly as 
possible, to ensure that no movement will occur. The softer 
leaves should be used if possible, or some which had been pre¬ 
viously cut and allowed to get limp. 
With great quantities—as commercially—it is best to put 
them in punnets, and send these away in crates. Handled 
baskets are the best for sending grapes away. The stems 
should be tied to the sides of the basket. 
Peaches and Nectarines require the greatest care. They 
should be gathered before they are quite ripe. Some use boxes 
partitioned off with a compartment for each fruit. In any 
case, the box must be well lined with wood-wool or cotton 
wadding. Place a square piece of tissue paper round each 
fruit, screwing the ends at the top of the fruit. If wadding is 
used in addition, the smooth side should be next to the paper, 
a layer of it being placed over the whole, as in all cases each 
one must be made firm. Those fruits of a fairly firm-skinned 
nature will travel well with only wood-wool. 
Gooseberries, Raspberries and the like travel well in punnets. 
They should not be picked for transit until the fruit is dry. 
Apples and Pears being generally more thick-skinned, travel 
all right with the usual lining of wood-wool and tissue paper 
placed in layers in deep boxes. 
With some varieties of Pears, which are easily bruised, it 
is a safe plan to wrap each in several thicknesses of tissue 
paper. Grading is also an important consideration. English 
growers might well imitate the methods of our colonial and 
foreign friends. A. J. 
Iris tingitana. 
The, species of bulbous Iris which comes from Tangier might 
be compared to the two species from which the English and 
Spanish Irises respectively were derived. It flowers early in 
the season, however, and has never been so extensively cul¬ 
tivated as those two well-known groups. Judging from the 
size of the flowers, the species is worthy of marked attention iu 
order to effect improvements, and if, as is reputed, this North 
African Iris is somewhat difficult to> cultivate, it is just possible 
that varieties raised in this country would have a stronger con¬ 
stitution and prove more adapted to our climate. The plant 
makes its growth early in the season, and probably that is the 
chief reason that it causes any difficulty whatever. 
Each stem when well grown stands about- 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height and carries two blooms. The falls are 3 in. to 4 in. in 
length, with a broadly oval blade of a soft lavender-blue, with 
a large rich orange blotch that extends from the middle of the 
blade to the base of the claw, the latter portion of the blotch 
being much narrowed upon the claw. On the blade, however, 
the bright colour of the blotch stands out in marked contrast 
to the rest of the flower, giving it a veiy effective and marked 
appearance. The standards are narrow but erect, 4 in. long, 
and of a deep blue. The arms of the style are pale blue and 
surmounted by large crests which are deeply cut and toothed 
on the oblique outer edge. The leaves are somewhat similar 
to those of the Spanish Iris. Flowers were exhibited at the 
meeting of the R.H.S.' on the 25th ult., and which had been 
brought up from their new.gardens at Wisley. 
