76 
THE GARDEN ALBUM AND REVIEW 
THE RODGERSIAS. 
The genus Rodgersia consists at present of 
5 or 6 species of handsome plants, natives 
chiefly of China, although the best-known—R. 
podophylla—is indigenous to Japan. A review 
of the genus as it stands at present recently 
appeared in “ The Field,” from the pen of Mr. 
Wilson, who has travelled much in China, 
whence he has sent home many fine garden 
plants. He says “ in a wild state the Chinese 
Rodgersias grow in large colonies, and form a 
striking feature of the mountain flora in 
Central and Western China at elevations of 
5,000 to 9,000 feet. Near water-courses, on 
humus-clad rocks, on moist, shrub-clad moun¬ 
tain slopes, and in woodland glades they occur 
in vast numbers. Throughout July such areas 
are one mass of white pyramidal towers a yard 
or more high, and in the early morning and 
evening their delicate fragrance fills the air. 
The young foliage is bronze green, and changes 
to dark glossy green as it matures.” 
In British gardens the Rodgersias like a 
deep rich soil, well drained, and yet moist in 
character, if the beauty of the plants is to be 
developed. Once established they flower freely 
every year, but to keep them in good condition 
from year to year they should receive a mulching 
of well decayed manure annually. The kinds 
at present known are : — 
R. aesculifolia. —A handsome plant from 
Central China, readily known by its large basal 
leaves, which are often 18 inches across, and 
usually composed of 7 leaflets; the upper 
leaves are smaller, and consists of 3 to 5 
leaflets. The flower stems grow 2to 5 feet 
high, the head of bloom being 1^ to 2 feet long, 
and consisting of flat clusters of pure white 
flowers. 
R. Henrici. —This species was discovered by 
Prince Henri of Orleans in N.W. Yunnan, but 
has not yet been introduced to cultivation. It 
resembles R. aesculifolia in the foliage, but the 
flowers are deep purple instead of white. 
R. podophylla. —This is the best known 
species, and is remarkable for having its large 
leaflets divided into three tapering lobes. The 
flowers are white, but the inflorescence is 
shorter than that of R. aesculifolia. 
R. pinnata. —This is also a native of 
Yunnan, and was first discovered in 1883 by 
the great French botanist, the Abbe Delavay, 
to whom our gardens are indebted for many 
fine plants. The specific name refers to the 
way in which the leaflets are arranged in pairs 
along a central stem, with the odd one at the 
tip. The flower stalks are 3 to 4 feet high, and 
bear clusters of bright flesh pink flowers. The 
variety alba differs from the type in having 
somewhat longer and broader panicles of white 
flowers. 
R. sambucifolia. —This is quite a new 
plant indigenous to the forests of the Chino- 
Tibetan borderland at elevations of 9,000 to 
11,000 feet. The leaves are quite unlike those 
of other Rodgersias, being similar to those of a 
Javan Elder (Sambucus javanica). They are 
9 to 15 inches long, bright green in colour, the 
leaflets being arranged in 3 or 5 widely 
separated pairs with an odd one at the tip. 
The flower spikes are 2-J- to 4 feet high, and 
bear narrow pyramidal heads of white flowers. 
THE NEWER DAFFODILS. 
The energies of the hybridist having been 
devoted to the various sections of Daffodils 
and Narcissi for some years past, it is perhaps 
natural to expect some marvellous develop¬ 
ments as the results of their labours. Those 
pioneers amongst Daffodil growers—Messrs. 
Barr & Sons, of Covent Garden, and Long 
Ditton—have been always in the front rank 
with novelties, and almost every year they 
have something new to submit to the Daffodil- 
loving public. Of course many of the gems 
are still catalogued at very high prices owing 
to the scarcity of stock, but there is nothing 
remarkable in this when one considers that it 
may take from 6 to 8 years, or even more, to 
produce a flowering bulb from the seed of a 
Daffodil or Narcissus. And then the long- 
expected flower may turn out to be a floral 
fraud after all. 
At the recent shows of the R.H.S., Daffodils 
and Narcissi of all sorts, shapes and sizes, 
have been shown by tradesmen and amateurs 
from all parts of the Kingdom. It would be quite 
impossible to refer to every variety that has 
been brought up, many of them being geese 
and comparatively few swans, but the following 
are some of the best that have been noted. 
Admiral Makar off .—This is a fine bold 
flowered, Trumpet Daffodil, of the Emperor 
type, with a primrose perianth and a soft 
yellow tube. 
Agnes Harvey .—This is a beautiful seedling 
of the Leedsi group. It has Triandrus blood 
in it, the perianth being pure white, while the 
cup, which is also white, is sometimes flushed 
with apricot. From one to three flowers are 
borne on a stem. 
Alice Knights .—One of the earliest Trumpet 
Daffodils with white segments and creamy 
white trumpet, the whole flower being of great 
substance and elegant form. 
C. H. Curtis .—Another new Trumpet variety 
with large deep primrose segments, and a bold 
golden trumpet. 
Cleopatra .—This is considered to be one of 
the most refined and perfectly formed of giant 
yellow Daffodils with large trumpets. 
Cygnet .—This is one of the Rev. G. P. Hay- 
don’s successes, and although issued in 1902, 
is still comparatively rare, as each bulb costs 
about 18 guineas. It is a trumpet Daffodil with a 
bold white perianth and a beautiful soft canary- 
yellow trumpet. 
George Philip Haydon .—One of last year’s 
acquisitions worth £20 a bulb. The segments 
are primrose while the bold trumpet is canary- 
yellow. 
