WILLIAM MARSHALL. 
Our illustration of this variety shows 
another type of Cactus Dahlia, for they 
are by no means uniform, even in the 
matter of shape or outline. It all de¬ 
pends upon the character of the florets 
as to what the shape of the fully developed 
bloom will be. Here it will be seen that 
the centre is quite full and the long 
florets are directed, some upwards, others 
downwards, and in all cases they are 
curved in the middle. They are of a 
buff-salmon with a bright yellow centre 
to the bloom, the latter, of course, repre¬ 
senting the younger and partly developed 
florets. The finely cut leaves beneath the 
bloom have, of course, nothing to do with 
the Dahlia, as it was part of the arrange¬ 
ment of a group at Regent’s Park on Sep¬ 
tember 12th, where it was exhibited by 
Hobbies, Ltd.. Dereham, Norfolk. 
-- 
THE- 
-Jasmipe. —- 
It is well known that the Italians obtain 
a perfume from its flowers by a very easy 
process; soaking a quantity of cotton 
wool in some scentless oil, they put it 
into glass vessels, in alternate layers with 
the J asmine flowers; and, after a few 
days, squeeze the oil from the wool, and 
put it into bottles for use, the perfume 
being communicated by that simple 
means. But it would seem that the 
Italians derive little gratification from 
this result, for we are told that they (the 
Romans, at least), have a perfect abhor¬ 
rence of perfumes, and avoid a person 
scented with attar of Roses, with every 
appearance of disgust. Sir James 
Edward Smith, in his “Continental 
Tour, " speaking of the Borghese Chapel, 
at Rome, says that one of the popes hav¬ 
ing dreamed, in the month of August, of 
a fall of snow, and finding that it had 
actually fallen at that season on a certain 
hill, built a chapel on the spot, and in 
commemoration of the dream, on the anni¬ 
versary of the day, caused an artificial 
snow to be showered upon the congrega¬ 
tion then assembled during the whole of 
the' service. This artificial snow was 
composed of the beautiful and fragrant 
flowers of the white Jasmine ; and (can we 
believe it?) the ladies abstained from 
visiting the chapel on that occasion from 
their horror of this sweet perfume. 
Mag. Nat. Hist. 
The Flower Garden. 
November, the month of ill-fame is here, 
and I feel safe in saying that there is small 
chance of its removing the stigma that rests 
upon it. 'What odds if it do not ! The 
year 1907 as a whole has been sadly out of 
line, so we must expect the present month to 
go as crookedly as possible. However, let 
us be philosophical and make the best of d. 
Making Rose Beds. 
If we turn out with a bright new digging 
fj>rk for the purpose of making new Rose 
beds and it comes on to rain and keeps rain¬ 
ing, well, let it. We can’t stop it, but we 
can console ourselves with having made a 
start, for 
“There’s only one method of meeting 
life’s test. 
Just keep on a-striving, and hope for the 
best.” 
Therefore if we follow this policy we are 
certain to get these Rcce beds finished cf£ 
seme time. Personally, I want to get my 
own somewhere near completion within the 
next week or s’. There is one advantage 
in digging turf land, fer cne can work as 
seen as ever the rain leaves eff, as the scil 
'be : a g very light, holds but little moisture. 
To my mind it is a fallacy to imagine that 
grass land is necessarily ferine. More 
November 2, 1907. THE 
Cactus Dahlia 
GARDENING WORLD. 
Arachnanthe rohaniana. 
This Orchid is closely allied to A. 
Lowii, and ha^ three golden-yellow 
flowers with small, crimson-brown spots 
at the base of the spike. Then comes a 
bare portion followed by more handsome 
flowers, blotched with brownish crimson 
on a primrose-yellow ground. The flower 
spike is 2A ft. long. First Class Certi¬ 
ficate by the R.H.S. on October 15th, 
when shown by J. Gurney Fowler, Esq. 
(gardener, Air. J. Davis), South Woodford, 
Essex. 
often than not it is very much the reverse, 
and land of this description is not got into 
condition in one season. A great deal of 
manure and cultivation are essential before 
starved out land acquires its quota of 
humus, etc. 
Rose Planting. 
As regards the planting of Roses, the pre¬ 
sent is generally acknowledged to be the 
best month, as the soil still retains seme 
warmth which encourages root action. 
However, planting should not be done when 
the soil is very wet, for the trampling and 
pressing necessary cause the soil to clog. It 
is generally well known that all trees and 
shrubs get a better hold if very fine and 
fairly dry soil is sifted amongst the roots 
at planting time. Expert plantsmen urge 
the use of sand for tree and shrub planting, 
as it filters around the roots and so fills up 
all air spaces. 
Cuttirg Back at Planting Time. 
Respecting the cutting back of Roses after 
planting c-r prior to planting, I may say 
I am a firm believer in ;t. Contmental- 
grewn Rcse-s are always cut back very hard' 
when received, and they always grow 
strongly. Therefore I would cut newly- 
panted Roses almost to pruning point, both 
climbing and bush sorts. 
cactus Dahlia William Marshall. 
[.Maclaren and Sons. 
