THE GARDENING WORLD. 
748 
December 5, igoS 
Zep^grapthes. 
Flowering Bulbs. 
Zephyranthes is a fanciful name given 
by Herbert, derived from Zephyros, the 
west wind, and anthe, a flower; and 
some of the appropriate popular names 
of the species are Fairy Lily, Flower of 
the West Wind and Zephyr Flower. The 
genus contains over thirty known species, 
of which all but one (from Western 
Tropical Africa) are natives of America, 
from Virginia, New Mexico and Arizona 
to South Chili. The bulbs are small, 
as compared to most Amaryllids, to 
which family they belong. The leaves 
are few and grass-like, appearing with 
or after the flowers, and the latter are 
always solitary (one to the scape) and 
either pink, white, purplish or yellow, 
though sometimes various-coloured in the 
same species. 
They do their growing and blooming 
during the summer months, resting in 
winter, and may be grown either in pots 
or the open ground. In pot culture, 
plant three or four bulbs in a 5 or 6 
inch pot of good sandy soil, merely cov¬ 
ering the bulbs, and late in the autumn 
let the soil go nearly dry, when they may 
be stored in a cellar, if not too damp 
and dark, but do not let the soil dry out 
completely. 
Another very pleasing way is to plant 
the bulbs round the edges of large pots 
or tubs containing pot shrubs or any 
large growing plants, and leave them 
there until they increase so as to need 
dividing. The roots of the large plants 
will keep the soil sweet and the Zephyr¬ 
anthes bulbs will take care of themselves, 
blooming at intervals, and often when 
least expected. In the open ground, 
plant out in spring, either in clumps or 
borders, and in autumn lift and winter 
in sand. 
Species and Varieties. 
In this country the best known sorts 
are the following \+Z. Atamasco, the 
Atamasco Lily, flowers white, changing 
to light pink on stems a foot high; Z. 
Candida, the Peruvian Swamp Lily, flow¬ 
ers white, but very distinct from the 
above, and produced constantly from 
July until frost; leaves fleshy and rush¬ 
like and the bulbs multiply rapidly. It 
is as .hardy as a Snowdrop. Z. texana 
is a dainty little species from Southern 
Texas, which is sometimes catalogued as 
Z. Andersonii, of which it was formerly 
considered a variety; it bears beautiful 
little golden yellow flowers much like a 
Crocus. The correct name of the species 
almost universally grown in this country 
under the name of Z. rosea is Z. carinata, 
a native of Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and 
Guatemala, and is a much better species 
than the true Z. rosea; flowers beautiful, 
clear rosy pink, and produced through¬ 
out the summer. Thos. Francis. 
-- 
Chrysanthemum Felton’s Favourite. 
The above is a decorative variety with 
recurving, compactly arranged white 
florets. Award of Merit by the R.H.S. 
when exhibited by Mr. Philip Ladds, 
Swanley Junction. 
Japanese Chrysanthemum Master James. 
The blooms of this variety are very 
broad and of a rich dark chestnut-red. 
First-class Certificate by the N.C.S., 
when shown by Mr. H. J. Jones, Rye- 
croft Nursery, Lewisham. 
Cypripedium Dante magnificum. 
The dorsal sepal is the most handsome 
part of this variety, being nearly orbicu¬ 
lar, large, heavily marbled and blotched 
with claret-purple on a white ground. 
Award of Merit by the R.H.S., when 
shown by Col. Holford, C.I.E. (grower, 
Mr. H. G. Alexander), Westonbirt, Tet- 
bury, Gloucester. 
Perpetual Flowering Carnation Society. 
The fifth show of the above society will 
be held in the Royal Horticultural Hall, 
Vincent Square, Westminster, on Wed¬ 
nesday, December gth, and will be open 
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Valuable money 
prizes and medals are offered in 38 classes 
and there is every prospect of a very 
attractive display as a result, of the fine, 
open weather which has prevailed for 
some time past. There will be groups or 
collections of cut flowers, artistically dis¬ 
played, and numerous classes for 36 and 
18 blooms in vases as well as baskets. 
—_ a. w. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL 00HDITI0M8.—Competitors mast 
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 way,! any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN 8 HILLING 8 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 the award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
following date of issue. Entries received later 
than Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded eaoh 
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. 
A prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “ J. M. T.,” for the article on 
“ Chrysanthemum Mme. C. Desgranges,” 
page 738. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “L. S. Small,” for the article 
on “ Marigold Legion of Honour” ; and another 
to “S. H.” for the article on “Greig’s Tulip,” 
page 746. 
Wistaria chinensis 
A Fine, 
Hardy Climbc 
The above well-known hardy clin: ;r 
is a native of China and was introdi c 
into this country nearly one hum ;d 
years ago. As it’s pruning and r< di¬ 
lating will soon require attention, it 
present seems an opportune time to iv 
something of its culture. 
Oftentimes one sees it enjoying it 
luxury of greenhouse protection, but .is 
is not necessary. The writer has see it 
emerging scathless from a winter v in 
the thermometer on one occasion fel a; 
low as 10 degs. below zero. This p- 
pened in the early eighties on Tw d- 
side. 
It is well known to be one of the fi st 
hardy plants for covering walls, cott; 
affording shade to balconies, or cove lg 
trunks of trees or other bare spaces. In 
town gardens these plants are al ys 
objects of surpassing interest and be. v. 
the amount of pleasure derived : m 
the sweetly-scented, lavender-colo id 
racemes by town dwellers cannot be 
reckoned up. 
The Wistaria will thrive in any • li- 
nary garden soil, if well-drained. it 
is naturally of a light sandy nature an 
admixture of sandy loam would p ve 
beneficial. On the contrary if the ul 
is of a stiff, tenacious character, tx 
with it some leaf mould or wood a: '5. 
and, if possible, a little mortar rut ;h 
to make it of a freer nature. In lis 
compost the Wistaria will grow a:iz- 
ingly, and when once well establi ed 
will need no further attention in he 
matter of soils. 
This plant flowers both on spurs nc 
the long shoots of the previous y r's 
growth; consequently, both system of 
pruning adopted in the case of V ;s. 
viz., spur and long rod pruning, re 
practised, and, in some instances, ire 
found combined on the same plant. In 
the event of spur pruning being adopd. 
all shoots — except extension ones on 
the leading stems should be pin ed 
back in August to within one foot o he 
main stem, in order to check the r ip- 
ant growth. These shoots will aiin 
break into growth and after growi' a 
few inches in length should be stooec 
in the same way. The result will b the 
formation of flower spurs at the fc ol 
the shoot first shortened. When pned 
these must be cut back to within fi 01 
six eyes of the main stem ; the resdan 
shoots from these, eyes are to be tr Itec 
in the same way as those of the prejou: 
year, and so on, year after year. fh< 
other system of retaining the long spot 
also gives a wealth of flowers. 1 ; 
seen shoots of this description two trdi 
long, or thereby—simply one long,;Oiv 
tinuous wreath of flowers. All the uiw 
perhaps, the spur system is prefeibli 
as the plants present a more orderLam 
trim appearance. 
Stirling. S. I- 
- +++ - 
The winter-flowering Jasmine (Jpnu 
num nudiflorum'! has now been in b on 
for two or three weeks in gardens .t■ tht 
south of London, in sandy and cllk] 
districts. 
