JcLY 5, 1913* 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
499 
PYRETHRUMS. 
The Compositse order is generaUy recog- 
nised in gardens for its beauty or utility, 
and nowhere are these qualities more 
charmingly combined than in the garden 
forms of pyrethrum. As a market flower, 
the sale of pyrethrums each season attains 
enormous proportions, and they appeal first 
to the grower and then the public, and are 
of special value in garden decoration. 
Pvr^hrums are easy to cultivate in any 
' well-tilled soil, but prefer one df medium 
texture to those that are inclined to be 
* heav'y and therefore w^et; the latter, how- 
p ever, if drained and well broken up, incor- 
* porating some half-rotted manure in the 
^ . process, will generally give good results, 
* i while light soils should be solidified by 
■ t heavier material and well-rotted manure. 
? 5 Pyrethrums are best planted in spring, 
I ' but where it is necessary to lift and divide 
I the crowns this may safely .be undertaken 
\ after the flowers fade, choosing, if possible, 
showery weather for the work ; on a small 
scale, artificial watering may be practised 
with success. Pyrethrums develop an enor- 
low, outer petals tinted peach; Delicatis- 
sima, rosy-lilac, centre orange; Le Dante, 
combination of rose and orange ; Paul Jour- 
ner, blush, deepening to rose; Regale, 
large, bright reddisb-crimson; Uzziet, 
striking combination of orange-bronze; and 
La Belle Blonde, large and beautiful white. 
Singles.—Agnes Mary Kelway, bright 
rose-pink; Albert Victor, crimson-scarlet; 
Carmen Sylva, blush-pink ; Clemence, crim¬ 
son ; Elsie Gertrude, pale flesh ; Esmeralda, 
cherry-red and white; Jubilee, scarlet- 
crimson; Mrs. AV. Kelway, flesh-pink; 
Pink Pearl, extra good pink; Princess 
Marie, white; Vivid, bright amaranth; 
and Warrior, carmine-pur^e. 
Thomas Smith. 
Coombe Court Gardens. 
ANCHUSAS AT KEW. 
Prominent among the many features of 
interest in the Royal Gardens, Kew, at the 
present time is that formed by the glo¬ 
rious masses of the Dropmore variety of 
the Italian Alkanet (Anchusa italica). 
It is grown both in large beds, and in bold, 
irregular masses on the banks of the lake 
that flanks the southern side of the Syon 
Vista. There is no occasion to institute 
comparisons between the two methods of 
arrangement. Both are good; and, while 
the formal beds are the best for breadths 
of lawm, the irregular groups are most in 
keeping with the conditions that obtain 
on the margin of a lake that is free from 
formality. We illustrate herewith the ex¬ 
ceptionally fine bed on the lawn, not far 
distant from the northern end of the T- 
range. The bed has, perhaps, a larger 
area than would be advisable in the major¬ 
ity of private gardens, but the modification 
of the size would be a very simple matter, 
and it may well be regarded as a model of 
w'hat such a bed should foe. The plants 
are about 4ft. in height, and remarkable 
for their uniformity, and tlie profusion of 
the large, brilliant blue flowers. 
Tliose of our readers who are specially 
interested in hardy flowers should, if they 
have the opportunity of doing so, visit 
Kew during the next few days. Readers 
A GLORIOUS BED OF ANCHUSA ITALICA DROPMORE VARIETY, AT KEW. 
aious quantity of fine fibrous roots, and, as 
a S^^^^ral rule, they resent disturbance, 
^ moderate display can be 
in season aifter planting. 
1 . ? second and subsequent years the dis- 
P } prodigal in the ^extreme. As decora- 
in the garden they exhibit the 
g est lasting qualities whether as cut 
orallowed to fade naturally on the 
nnj ® ^^lours are bright and pure, 
p considerable variety. 
have either single or double 
main! ^ ^ rf latter case the blooms are 
the ^^^-'oaloured, while in the singles 
from ^®rets are usually very distinct 
roin ^ normal yellow of the disc. 
double sorts include: Queen 
^IoTvfhnght satin, rose-pink flotwers ; 
heZ K .Pnre white, early ; Lord Rose- 
crimson scarlet; Captain 
blush ’ ; Empress Queen, 
-P Ilk, extra good form ; Pericles, yel- 
which are proving veritable surprises to 
not a few of the many visitors. This fine 
form, which some years since originated 
in the gardens of Dropmore, long famous 
for its coniferous trees, is one of the finest 
of all the hardy perennials bearing blue 
flowers and should therefore be given pro¬ 
minent positions in the mixed border, if 
the space will not admit of it being grown 
in bold masses, as at Kew, on the 
or by the waterside. Given a favourable 
position and a deeply-cultivated soil, the 
plants will attain a height ranging from 
4ft to 6ft., and produce side branches so 
freely as to form huge pyramids, densely 
furnished with flowers of the most brilliant 
F^or several years past the cultivation of 
this distinct and beautiful alkanet has been 
steadily increasing at Kew, and this year it 
is so freely represented as to add im¬ 
mensely to the attiactions of the gardens. 
who are desirous of obtaining the fullest 
information on the cultural requirements 
of this handsome anchusa will do well to 
turn to the highly interesting article on 
its culture from the pen of Air. W^dham 
Fitzherbert, which appears in our issue of 
April 20, 1912. 
Blandfordia Cunninghami.— 
It was pleasing to see a good specimen of 
this Australian liliaceous plant at the Horti¬ 
cultural Hall on June 17, when an Award 
of Merit was given it. These Blandfordias 
are much rarer in gardens than was at 
one time the case; still, they are well worth 
attention, their drooping bell-shaped flowers 
of a waxy texture being so beautiful 
Though the specimen shown was in general 
features, characteristic of B. Cunning- 
hami, the exterior of the flowers was 
less richly coloured than I have before seen 
them.—W. 
