CURRENT FOREIGN NOTES, WITH COMMENTS. 
The “other side” of the single Dahlia question is 
very plainly stated by “T. W.in the Gardener’s Mag¬ 
azine. Gome of the points taken seem pretty well estab¬ 
lished: 
“ It is astonishing how little is known of the charac¬ 
teristics of the single Dahlias by many of those who 
write about them. We are told that the Single Dahlias 
bloom very freely, are elegant in appearance, and are so 
effective in the garden as to far surpass any of the 
other sections. Those who write thus found their re- 
marks upon the appearance of the flowers staged at the 
exhibitions, which, if I may be permitted to say so, is 
very different to the appearance they present in the 
border. That Dahlias with single flowers possess much 
merit no one could be more willing to admit than my¬ 
self, and I am not less ready to acknowledge the fact 
that the flowers are of immense value for indoor deco¬ 
ration during the latter part of the summer and early in 
the autumn. But I cannot agree with those who do 
not hesitate to express their opinion that they beat the 
show and pompon e varieties at all points. It may per¬ 
haps be news to many who have been so loud in their 
praises of the single Dahlias that the flowers do not, 
when upon the plants, stand up in the same manner as 
upon the exhibition stage, and that every bloom exhib¬ 
ited is supported by wires. In the garden they are de¬ 
cidedly ineffective, for the flowers are borne upon long 
slender stalks and show more of the back than the face 
of the eye. Many of them also have a thin wiry habit, 
which does not add to their effectiveness. I have a 
good collection of both single and double Dahlias in 
the borders, and I am prepared to say that when the 
show and fancy Dahlias are grown without disbudding 
or other attention beyond receiving the support of 
stakes, as in my case, they produce a far more effective 
display than the best of the single flowers of a corres¬ 
ponding shade of color.” 
* * 
The following Begonia will prove a valuable acquisi¬ 
tion to the already large list of those popular flowers : 
“ In Begonia Nitida coccinea we have a welcome ad¬ 
dition to the Begonias flowering during the autumn and 
winter months, with a habit as compact and elegant as 
that of the well-known B. Weltoniensis are combined 
flowers of a rich crimson color, which, it may be added, 
are produced freely and continuously from October un¬ 
til early in the spring following.” 
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■Jr •X* 
Table Ferns are now essentials where any plant deco¬ 
rations are employed, and “one of the very best of the 
few Ferns suitable for cultivation in the drawing-room 
boudoir, without the aid of a case or glass covering of 
any description, is Pteris cretica, the variegated variety 
of which is so generally cultivated in gardens. It is as 
elegant in appearance as Pteris sermdata, and it is so 
robust in growth, and the fronds so stout in texture, 
that it will make a splendid growth under the most ad¬ 
verse circumstances. The fronds are, indeed, almost as 
stout as those of the rigid-growing Cyrtomium falcatvm, 
and as they are smooth and glossy, the dust does not 
settle upon them to any great extent, and any that 
effects a lodgment can be readily removed, either with 
a sponge or by taking the plant outside and giving it a 
good watering overhead. Plants properly hardened 
when taken indoors may be kept in the best possible 
condition for an almost indefinite period. I have an 
example which has been in a sitting-room in constant 
use nearly four years, and it is now as fresh and healthy 
as when first placed in it, with of course a considerable 
increase in size.” 
* 
*• * 
Ofttimes we are requested to give the most approved 
treatment of the Ixoras; the following notice is from 
one who makes the plant a specialty: “The many 
hybrid Ixoras that have been introduced to cultivation 
of late years enhance the value of the genus to a very 
considerable extent, for not only do they give us new 
and effective shades of color, but they are hardier in 
constitution and can be successfully cultivated by those 
who are unable to afford Coccinea and a few other of 
the kinds sufficient heat. The Ixoras are not particu¬ 
larly difficult to cultivate, but they require careful at¬ 
tention throughout the year. They should be potted in 
good fibrous peat, to which a liberal addition of sand 
has been made, and, as a rule, a shift once a year will 
suffice. Rather liberal waterings are necessary during 
the spring and summer, and moderate supplies at other 
times, but at no time must the watering be overdone or 
the plants suffer from drought. Owing to their suscep¬ 
tibility to the attacks of mealy-bug, the syringe must be 
plied vigorously from early in March until September, 
excepting when they are in bloom. A temperature be¬ 
tween 60 deg. and 65 deg. during the winter, and be¬ 
tween 70 deg. and 80 deg. during the spring and sum¬ 
mer will be the most suitable. Coccinea will derive 
much benefit from a brisk bottom heat during the 
earlier stages of growth.” 
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* ■x- 
Tlie following advice upon Gladiolus corms (bulbs) is 
true to the letter. We wish all who feel aggrieved at 
getting small bulbs when their orders are filled, would 
bear it in mind: “Experienced cultivators of the 
Gladiolus do not need to be told that medium-sized 
corms are more suitable for planting than those of large 
size. But it may be of service to point out this fact, 
for many growers when purchasing prefer the larger 
corms. In March last, I planted several hundred bulbs 
in a long border, beginning at one end with the largest 
roots. Many of them were very large and to all appear¬ 
ance sound, but not more than seventy per cent, of them 
have grown. The smaller corms, which did not exceed 
in size an ordinary filbert, have grown at the rate of 
ninety per cent. What is of most importance, the 
small ones will, according to past experience, give as 
good flower-spikes as the larger ones, but not quite so 
early. The overgrown bulbs are certainly not to be 
desired.” 
* 
* * 
We have watched the Rosa Rugosa for the last twenty 
years with no little interest, and fully indorse the fol- 
