i2 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, 
7 
Exochorda grandiflora is another very con- 
spicuous flowering shrub. It attains a large 
size, but is not in this country a very long-lived 
plant and seldom sets any seed, so that it 
is still rather scarce. We have planted two 
groups of Exochordas in prominent places 
where we needed a “high light” in the 
landscape. Each group consists of three 
plants forming an irregular triangle, the 
bushes about six feet apart. They grow tall 
and rather straggling, with slender irregular 
branches,. covered with an abundance of 
- quite Jarge paper-white blossoms. The 
flowers are more delicate than the trumpet- 
shaped bloom of Weigelas, and do not last 
so Jong. 
The Snowball is a very familiar example of 
the conspicuous shrub, but should be used 
with care as it does not harmonize with 
smaller flowers. Neither does it look at home 
~ in the wilder and more woody parts of the. 
» park or home grounds. Its. place is near 
~ the house or in the old fashioned garden, 
- or on the well-kept. lawn, where groups of 
snowballs, pruned into symmetrical shape, 
are very effective. 
All the Viburnums are fine shrubs and 
should be planted more than they are. V. 
prunifolium, the Black Haw, is very beauti- 
» ful in bloom. It has recurving, spreading 
branches, plum-like leaves, and numerous 
clusters of white flowers in spring. All Vi- 
burnums, except the two “Snowballs,” are 
adapted to the wilder parts of the grounds, 
though some of them, such as Viburnum 
-~molle and Viburnum pubescens, make fine 
specimen’ plants for the lawn. Y. molle 
flowers at midsummer. 
Perhaps the most beautiful of the hun- 
dreds of shrubs is a tall, stately speci-. 
men of Xanthoceras  sorbifolia, which - 
may almost be called a small  treé.~ 
About ‘ro feet in height, it wis - clothed 
down to the ground with branches that put 
on a fairy like garment of softest white bloom. 
The blossoms come before the leaves have 
fully expanded, and are large, bell-shaped 
and upright in habit of growth. - ‘They -are 
white, with luminous greenish-yellow centres, 
-and these centres have the singular faculty of 
“deepening day by day during the blooming 
period, first to lemon yellow, and then 
gradually changing to an unusual shade of 
-deep salmon red. ‘he flowers last in per- 
fection a week or ten days, and the little tree 
is the glory of the garden until it fades. We 
hope to see this very beautiful shrub more 
generally planted. It withstands our severest 
winters uninjured. It has fine foliage, of a 
clear, light green, and is an exceedingly orna- 
mental plant even when out of bloom. ; 
All-the Hydrangeas have large showy 
flowers. The best among the hardy kinds 
are the oak-leaved Hydrangea, a noble shrub, 
and the very familiar H. paniculata grandi- 
flora. : 
Flowering Quinces or Cydonias are beauti- 
ful obects in the spring, especially the bright 
scarlet and the pure white kinds. Cydonia 
Moerlosii has exquisite flowers of shaded 
carmine, and there are varieties that have 
bloom of a conspicuous orange-red, such as 
Cydonia aurantiaca, which ought not to be 
planted near Lilacs or shrubs. with rose-pink 
flowers. 
We have mentioned the most orna- 
mental of this class of plants, but there re- 
-and white lead on the glass. 
AucGusYt 1, 1902. 
mains much to be said on the subject of 
conspicuous small trees and vines. This 
will have to be deferred to some future day. 
—Park and Cemetery, 
A Few Hints for the 
Glass House. 
O—— 
GLOXINIAS AND BEGONIA REx. 
®EX Begonias are benefited by shading at 
all times, although very little is required 
in winter time, merely placing them in a shady 
part of the greenhouse. A thin shading will 
suffice during the early part of spring, but as 
the sun becomes more powerful, especially 
during the summer, it will be necessary to 
use a thicker shading. A night temperature 
of 60° is required during the winter months. 
During the summer established plants, which 
need plenty of air day and night, can be 
placed out of doors in some sheltered, shady 
place. Rex Begonias require a rich porous 
soil, composed of two parts loam, one part 
leaf mould, one part rotted manure, one part 
sand and a litile lime. 
Gloxinias, when started, require a night 
temperature from 65° to 70° with a rise of 
5° to ro in day time. They will require 
very little water until they begin to grow 
freely. Maintain.a moist atmfosphere in the 
house. They are more easily watered when 
placed on shelves erected on-the greenhouse 
bench, the highest shelf at the back, with a 
gradual slope to the walk similar to a flight 
of stairs; besides you are less liable to wet 
the foliage when watering, and that is one of 
the essential things to avoid if you want to 
geow good Gloxinias, especially if you use 
cold water from the hose. I prefer to use 
the watering pot when watering Gloxinias and 
water under the- leaves. Wet the benches 
occasionally to keep down thrips. ‘The soil 
should be one part fibrous loam, one part 
half-rotted leaves, a sprinkle of sand, a httle . 
fine rotted cow manure with thorough drain- 
age. When growth has-started the plants 
will need shading lightly by spraying naptha 
As the sun 
gains in strength use lath shades over the 
painted glass. When coming into flower 
water with weak liquid manure- occasionally. 
When in flower remove to a cooler house 
where more air can be given but avoiding 
cold draughts. When through flowering the 
plants can be placed outdoors in a frame 
where they can be protected from heavy 
rains. They can be stored in a warm, dry 
cellar in winter, or the pots can be placed on 
their sides under the greenhouse bench. 
Keep them dry until time to start again.— 
ROBERT SHORE. 
The Pope as a boy was an ardent gardener, 
and especially delighted in raising vines from 
grape stones. Double Violets were popular 
among his pot plants. 
Mr. George Meredith loves to see a house ° 
covered with creepers, and has a particular 
liking for tall herbaceous plants. ‘The wilder 
and more natural the growth of garden 
plants the better is the novelist pleased. 
“401 
The Attractiveness oe 
Plants. 
co) 
fN most instances this depends upon the 
shape and colour of the corolla, but in 
such cases as the Fuchsia the calyx must be 
credited with a large share of the conjoint 
beauty. In the Bottle-brush the petals are 
inconspicuous, and the colour is furnished by 
the red filaments of the anthers. The exsertile 
stamens of the Caper and of the Poinciana 
are main factors of attractiveness, and the 
Bougainvillaea depends upon its coloured 
bracts for its brilliancy.. The variegated 
leaves of such plants as Holly, Beet, and 
Pelargonium, and the autumn tints of 
Maples, Vitis, and Sumach contribute their 
charm. ‘The coloured fruits and berries of 
Pomegranate, Arbutus, Pyrus, Snowberry, 
Berberis, and others entitle them to a place 
in our ornamental garden. 
Even the inflated coloured calyx of 
Physalis, the branches of thé Golden Willow, 
and the curious stems of ‘the Cacti, have a 
claim to our regard. Apart from colour the 
leaves of Grasses and the fronds of ferns are 
a néver failing source of delight. 
Even when the flowers of a plant are small 
and uncoloured a grand effect is produced at 
times by the immense number of simul- 
taneous blossoms, as in the Snowy Mespilus. 
If we turn to another sense we find nume- 
rous plants grown for their perfume, either 
of flowers or of leaves. . We need only in- 
stance Daphne, Rose, Magnolia, Lippia (mis- 
called Scented Verbena), Viola, Rosemary, 
Lavender, and Boronia. 
Japanese Fern Ball. 
O—-— 
is now nearly twenty, years since these 
were first imported into England, and among 
the earlier importations were some made up 
in yarious fantastic designs, but within the 
last few years these have been imported in 
larger quantities and in greater variety of 
designs. Some of them are, perhaps, more 
curious than beautiful, many of the fancy 
designs being very effective; but it is the 
round balls which prove the most satisfactory, 
these being better suited for holding moisture 
and for the roots to penetrate. Davallia 
Maviesi is used for making these designs, 
but it is now often referred to as Davallia 
Bullata. The true D. Bullata has thicker 
rhizomes, densely clothed with reddish-brown 
scales, and in D. Mariesi the rhizoms are 
slender, and on the point of the rhizome the 
scales are slivery white, changing to grey. 
The slender rhizome are flexible, and adapt 
themselves well to twisting round and making 
the various designs. ‘They also possess much 
vitality. It is a deciduous fern, and is im- 
ported while destitute of fronds. It often 
comes to hand ina very dry state, and it 1s 
surprising how soon they start into growth 
when moistened and placed ina little warmth. 
If properly cared for they will make better 
growth the second year than when first im- 
ported, aud although better known in the 
form referred to above, it makes a good pot 
plant. When the frouds ripen they change 
to a pretty bronzy yellow, and are often used 
in yarious floral designs. 
