June 27, 1908. - THE gardening world. 
427 
Pgrethrums from Ltai^gport. 
MESSRS. KELWAY AND SON’S 
For many years past Messrs. Kelway 
and Son, Langport, Somerset, have been 
notable for a number of specialities in 
the flower line. One of these specialities 
is the Pyrethrum, which they have deve¬ 
loped into a large number of very beauti¬ 
ful varieties, both single and double. 
The other day a consignment of these was 
sent us, showing how beautiful and effec¬ 
tive flowers may be. obtained from the 
open border in June. In colour, they 
range from pure white to the brightest 
red or crimson. 
Single Varieties. 
Commencing with the lightest colours 
of the single varieties, first we were much 
taken with Snow White, which is a beauti¬ 
ful flower just over 3 in. in diameter, re¬ 
sembling a gigantic Marguerite. Aunt 
Nancy might be described as an Anemone- 
Pyrethrum, as it has a crown of very 
short white petals in the centre, nearly 
covering up the yellow disc. Those who 
dislike the yellow disc would probably be 
pleased with this flower. Several pink 
varieties were sent us, including the pale 
Lord Strathcona. Roseen has flowers a 
shade darker than the previous, although 
not so large. The finest flower amongst 
this lot, however, was Goring Thomas, a 
large rosy pink, flower with numerous 
rays. 
Three beautiful Rose varieties were De¬ 
coration, Mrs. Briggs and Stewart Clark. 
The latter was a bold and handsome 
Grand Single and Doable Varieties. 
flower quite eclipsing the other two for 
size, and was also as dark as any. Good 
Hope and Uncle Jim were of the darkest 
shade of rose-purple, more or less shaded 
with crimson. Amongst the. darkest were 
Langport Scarlet and General French. 
Amongst crimsons, these we should think 
could scarcely be beaten. In good light, 
General French has quite a fiery glow, 
but possibly Langport Scarlet would tell 
better in artificial light. 
Double Pyrethrums. 
Several of the double varieties were 
notable for the development of the central 
florets in quilled form. The prettiest, 
perhaps, of this class was one named Vir¬ 
go, which was extremely neat in form, 
though not very large. By comparison 
with this, Mdlle. Van Houtte was a giant, 
but though describable as a white, it is 
inclined to be blush upon close inspec¬ 
tion. Distinctly quilled in the centre was 
the pure white variety named Queen 
Alexandra, a flower which we think would 
take the fancy of many for cut flower 
work. Souce was another double white 
of large size, though we like those pre¬ 
viously named better. Passing from the 
white to the coloured varieties, a very 
pleasing and chaste blush-coloured flower 
was Ne Plus Ultra. Equally beautiful in 
its way, but differing in colour, was Lady 
Kildare, with the softest salmon-blush 
flowers. 
The double rose-coloured varieties 
differed remarkably in size, the smallest 
sent being named Magician, which is 
quite a globular flower, tinted with lemon 
in the centre. Millie Fowler was silvery 
rose. The bloom of Regulus was three 
times as large as the two previous ones, 
and beautifully fimbriated at the end of 
the florets. The smallest of the darker 
coloured flowers was that named Capt. 
Nares, with crimson rays and somewhat 
lighter central florets. Lord Rosebery 
was a much larger flower, showing a sil¬ 
very reflection in the centre of the flower. 
The largest of these crimson varieties was 
Seduction, with massive crimson flowers 
tinted with lemon in the centre, at least 
in the early stages. 
These flowers are amongst the brightest 
in the June garden, and those who would 
attempt their cultivation should get plants 
in March and plant them out in well pre¬ 
pared beds or borders. They may be ob¬ 
tained, of course, in the autumn, but 
when procured at that time they should 
be wintered in cold frames if the plants 
are small, so as to keep them safe from 
slugs during winter. As they are gross 
feeders and well repay liberal treatment, 
the ground should be deeply dug or 
trenched and manured during the winter 
in preparation for their reception in 
spring. After being planted about 18 in. 
to 2 ft. apart each way, according to the 
size of the plants, they require little fur¬ 
ther attention, beyond keeping them 
clean. If the ground is shallow, of course 
water would be highly advantageous. 
After they go out of bloom, the flower 
stems should be cut down to the base, and 
if we have a warm, moist August or Sep¬ 
tember, another set of blooms is fre¬ 
quently obtainable from the same plants. 
Rhododendron Frederick Waterer. (See p. 426.) 
\_Madaren and Sons. 
