December 14, 1907. 
785 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Colchicum speciosum album. [Alaclaren and Sons. 
The Showy White 
JVteadow-Saffton 
(Colchicum speciosum album). 
Those who are not acquainted with the 
species or varieties of Meadow-Saffron are 
apt to regard them as Crocuses. The 
structure of the flower will very quickly 
dispel the illusion. A Crocus has only 
three stamens, whereas a Meadow-Saffron 
has six. The beauty of these Meadow- 
Saffrons is unquestionable, and the chief 
regret is that the flowers are so brittle 
and perishable if our autumn weather 
happens to be wet and stormy. That 
character applies more particularly to our 
native species than it does to the fine 
plant under notice, the ordinary form of 
which has rosy-purple flowers, or, as some 
would describe them, rose-tinted with 
lilac. 
The plant under notice differs only by 
having pure white flowers slightly tinted, 
it may be, with yellow at the base. The 
tube of the flower varies from 6 in. to 9 in. 
above ground, and is altogether much 
stouter than that of our native species, 
and does not get broken down with the 
rain and wind. The coloured form comes 
from the Caucasus, but the variety is of 
more recent origin. Both are well worth 
adding to a collection of the most select 
hardy flowers. Our photograph was taken 
in the rockery at Kew on the 10th Octo¬ 
ber, after the plant had been in bloom 
for more than a week. The earliest 
flower to open can be seen on the right, 
where it is more open than the rest, and 
not likely to become cup-shaped again. 
-- 
Polygonatum multiflorum 
. . . As a Pot Plant. 
Where it is intended to have something 
in bloom early next year let me recom¬ 
mend this novel and pretty plant, Solo¬ 
mon’s Seal or Polygonatum multiflorum. 
It is but seldom met with in our gar¬ 
dens, and ' even less appreciated by 
amateurs as a pot plant for forcing. 
I would like to say that I had a plant 
grown this way in a cold greenhouse last 
spring, which was much admired by all 
who saw it. It threw up arching stems 
two feet high, with pretty clusters of pen¬ 
dent, cream-coloured flowers, tipped with 
green, which hung bell-like from the axils 
of the leaves. 
The present time is quite the most suit¬ 
able for potting up the crowns or clumps, 
which may either be taken from the open 
ground or purchased, and if prepared 
placed in a cold frame for a short period 
and then brought into a gentle heat and 
forced into bloom. After the flowers have 
faded, the plants still have a very orna¬ 
mental appearance, and associate well 
with other plants. Used with Palms, 
Aspidistras, Dracenas, or Ferns, in a 
greenhouse or window, they are exceed- 
inglv effective. 
J. M. 
Border Carnations. 
Light and air should be the watchword 
amongst those who have their stock of 
plants in cold frames for the winter. If 
rain is kept from falling upon the plants, 
no other protection will be needed. 
Young gardeners especially should bear 
these facts in mind in connection with 
such hardy plants as Carnations, which 
suffer from wet more than they do from 
hard frost. Leaves showing traces of 
disease should be carefully gathered and- 
burned. See that aphides do not get a 
footing on the young leafy shoots during 
the prevalence of mild weather. \\ hen 
only a plant or two is affected, the pots 
could be held in the hand and the aphides 
rubbed off with a small brush, which 
should be kept handy for the purpose. 
Carnations in the open garden require 
an occasional inspection during times 
when there is alternate freezing and thaw¬ 
ing, otherwise the labels may get thrown 
out and mixed or lost. In districts, too, 
where game abound, the grower should 
keep a close watch upon rabbits, hares, 
pheasants and other animals likely to eat 
the plants. 
Show Carnations and Picotees. 
Where these are kept in cold frames 
like the border varieties, see that drip is 
not falling in the crowns. It often hap¬ 
pens when there is little slope on the 
glass that water percolates through some 
crack or may be blown between the laps 
of the glass. 1 he plants may often be 
shifted aside to save them. Drip falling 
in the crowns of hardy plants of most 
kinds is more deleterious to the plant 
than if they were entirely in the open. 
Where these choice Carnations are 
grown in houses there is less dangei, but 
a sharp eye should be kept on the plants 
in case Carnation spot or fairy ring spot 
may attack the plants. Green fly must 
also be guarded against. A entilate 
freely on all favourable occasions, and 
that means always, except in hard frost. 
Tree Carnations. 
Even where a temperature of 50 degs. 
to 55 degs. is maintained to enable this 
class of plant to open their flowers, it is 
of the utmost importance to maintain a 
drv and buoyant atmosphere by giving 
a little ventilation at the’ top, even 1 in. 
or less, during mild open weather, will 
prove beneficial. This can be done be 
the top ventilators, even when a strong 
wind is blowing, as the ventilator in span- 
roofed houses can be opened on the shel¬ 
tered side of the ridge. If suitable con¬ 
ditions are maintained, a fair harvest of 
flowers' will yet be obtained. 
