3 ° 
January 18, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Tritoma 
(Kniphofia). 
I would that I could paint in words the 
splendour of this noble plant, whether 
seen in landscape or garden ; for other¬ 
wise it is impossible to do proper justice 
to either the gorgeous colouring of the 
tall spikes of bloom, or to the handsome 
erect Iris-like foliage. The plant looks 
most effective in large clumps, but may 
also be planted singly, for each crown 
will produce a flower. It is probably 
more widely known as the “ Red-Hot 
Poker,’’ which designation is most appro¬ 
priate, for nothing in the plant world 
bears a more distinct resemblance to the 
useful domestic implement, when heated 
to melting point, than does the Tritoma. 
Another of its designations is the “Torch 
Lily.” A careful observer cannot help 
appreciating this nickname, for it 
assuredly bears a striking likeness to a 
lighted torch. Yet another familiar term 
is the “Flame Flower,” the application 
of which is not so easy to see, unless it 
bears reference to the flaming tints of its 
brilliant hues. 
In these notes I shall not have space to 
further dwell on my enthusiasm for this 
lovely subject, but this I would say, that 
I know of no hardy perennial that will 
produce a more gorgeous show of blooms. 
The Tritoma is most easy to propagate, 
all that is necessary being to pull apart 
its roots, as one would those of a Phlox or 
a Pyrethrum, which operation should be 
done either shortly after flowering or as 
soon as the mild spring weather arrives. 
I will now enumerate the more import¬ 
ant sorts, stating any noteworthy points 
in their connection. 
The best known of all is the common 
T. aloides (Uvaria), red and yellow. 
The T. a. nobilis is far superior, both 
as regards size of flower spikes and in¬ 
creased brilliancy of colouring. 
T. caulescens, reddish salmon, to white 
tinged with yellow, is a rather expensive 
species. 
T. Macowanii is not a, large growing 
plant, but bears beautiful aprkot 
coloured blooms. 
T. Pfitzerii is distinct orange-scarlet. 
T. Tuckii is deep salmon red, and 
when the bloom has reached maturity it 
changes first to yellow and later fades to 
white. 
T. grandis is, perhaps, only notable be¬ 
cause it is the last of the species to come 
into flower. 
T. corallina and T. corallina superba: 
The colour of the type and its variety is 
of a coral red, as their names imply. 
Unlike the majority of the species and 
varieties, these demand a mild, sheltered 
situation. 
T. Rooperi is, in mild districts, practi¬ 
cally a continuous bloomer, but will 
thrive in colder ones. 
T. citrina is well worthy of especial 
consideration on account of its dwarf 
habit. 
There are very few cultural directions 
to be observed, but those that there are 
I will mention. It must be borne in 
mind that the Tritoma is a gross feeder, 
it being difficult to manure it too 
generously, whilst it is fatal to starve it. 
To obtain the finest results, it is necessary 
to plant in a well-drained, although not 
parched position, and most certainly 
where it will get an abundance of sun. 
The plant will derive great benefit from 
having its foliage tied up during the win¬ 
ter months, which will prevent a possible 
tendency that the crowns have to rot. To 
avoid all likelihood of loss during the 
severe weather, it is advisable to afford 
protection by means of a layer of bracken, 
straw, well-decayed manure, or coal 
ashes. When planting, remember that to 
cultivate the subjects to perfection, they 
must not be cramped, for they insist on 
an open position, free from too close a 
contact with surrounding plants. If one 
should wish to start with a fully-developed 
clump, this object may be obtained by 
planting three crowns triangularly, leav¬ 
ing a space of about 12 inches between 
each.. 
E. W. D all man Page, F.R.H.S. 
♦ ♦4 - 
Novel Punishment. 
An Ealing schoolboy convicted of 
damaging a Corporation tree was ordered 
to provide another tree and plant it him¬ 
self or pay a fine of £1 and costs. 
-- G. W. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS.— Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any wayji any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making *he award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. .Entries received later 
th id Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
160 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “J. W. Forsyth” for the article 
on “Howto Make a Fruit Border,” page 17. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “F. F.” for the article on 
“ Streptocarpus from Seed ”: and another to 
“H. W. Wakely" for the article on “Anebusa 
italiea Dropmore var,” page 18. 
Chrysanthemums. 
The Best for 
General Purposes. 
Now that the propagating season has 
again come round, it may be helpful 
for amateurs and those about to start the 
cultivation of these most useful of late 
autumn and winter flowers, to have a few 
practical hints on the management, and 
also a list of the most useful sorts that 
lend themselves to various methods of 
treatment with equally satisfactory re¬ 
sults. In the pages of The Gardening 
WORLD from time to time we get the very 
best advice as to the proper methods of 
culture to secure the large shorv blooms, 
but much less is written about the pro¬ 
duction of a plentiful supply of good 
flowers for cutting and for greenhouse 
decoration. I am therefore all the more 
inclined to say a few words that may be 
useful to the large number of growers 
who cultivate these plants for home con¬ 
sumption, as I might say. 
As a rule one need not be in quite so 
great a hurry to insert cuttings as in the 
case where showing is the main object, 
but, all the same, it Is as well to get a 
start made by the end of the first week 
in December. The best cuttings obtain¬ 
able should be used, and these can be in¬ 
serted in 3-inch pots of nice sandy soil, 
three or four round the edges oi each. 
When well rooted pot off singly and 
give the same treatment as is required 
for the large bloom varieties, except that 
each plant should be pinched after it is 
five inches high, so as to induce a sturdy, 
bushy habit. One more pinching about 
the middle of May will be sufficient for 
the method I am advocating. Subse¬ 
quent pottings may be given at the same 
times as is advised for producing large 
show blooms, and the same composts 
used. About six or nine shoots should 
be allowed to each plant, and if flowers 
of a fair size and fine colour are wanted, 
only one flower is retained to each branch. 
The most useful and beautiful flowers, 
however, for cutting are to be had by al¬ 
lowing sprays of from three to five blooms 
to expand on each shoot, all buds over 
that number to be rubbed out as soon as 
they appear and all surplus growths kept 
rigorously under. These plants require 
a fair amount of feeding; in fact the best 
results are to be had by giving periodical 
top-dressings of some 'approved chemical 
mixture, such as Thomson’s special Chry¬ 
santhemum manure. This may be varied 
by applications of ordinary liquid manure 
and Ichthemic guano. After housing the 
plants give all the space possible, and do 
not overfeed or the colours will he poor. 
The following dozen varieties are by no 
means new, but all the same will give 
flowers of fine colour and in great pro¬ 
fusion. Here they are: — Lady Esther 
Smith (incurved white), Niveus (purest 
white), Pride of Ryecroft (pale yellow), 
Source d’Or (orange), Phoebus (yellow), 
Soleil d’Octobre (yellow), Viviand Morel 
(pink), Lady Hanham (rosy cerise), 
Charles Davis (rosy bronze), Mrs. J. 
Ritson (white), Etoile de Feu (red), and 
W. Duckham (pink). 
For very late flowers of best quality 
nothing can beat Niveus, Phoebus and 
