a PP aa Ree NR, er ae ME Sey Re ea ik” a aR a aE LTT PF 
Marcu 2, 1903. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
ws 
The Sternbergia (sometimes called the 
Australian Crocus) is a native of Palestine, 
of a-rich golden yellow, is one of the most 
charming and useful of autumn flowering 
bulbs. ‘The flowers rise to the height 
of six inches above the gréund,. and the 
leaves, which are produced in considerable 
numbers, and so rapidly that the former 
stand up like golden cups on a verdant 
cushion.” It is perfectly hardy in any 
ordinary situation, and well adapted for 
borders and pot culture. 
Triteleias, equally at home in pots or in 
the border, are of the dwarfest habit, and 
most floriferous; admirably adapted for 
small beds or ribbons. Their pretty round 
flowers—white, blue, or the colors suf- 
fused—have ai most delicate appearance. 
Alliacea is commonly. known as Leuco- 
coryne. 
These few remarks, I feel, are very im- 
perfect, but possibly they may lead to 
some little increased interest in this most 
yaluable and popular class of plants (the 
more valuable because so suited to our cli- 
mate), and are only intended as a slight 
help to those unacquainted with the sub- 
ject. 
; In conclusion I would call attention to 
two great fallacies that appear to be wide- 
spread. Many persons are afraid to cut 
the flowers of bulbs, fearing lest they 
weaken the plants. With very few excep- 
tions cutting the flowers strengthen the 
bulb, and the practice is common with pro- 
fessional men, when the bulbs are weakly, 
to cut off the flower-stalk almost as soon 
as it appears for the purpose of strengthen- 
ing them; but the practice of cutting 
away the leaves (as is often done) imme- 
diately the bulb has finished blooming 
cannot be too strongly condemned, as it is 
most enervating and injurious, and unmis- 
takably shows a great lack of knowledge of 
the nature and life history of bulbs, for 
itis through the leaves-the plant is recruit-_ 
ing its strength and accumulating energy 
for the next year’s work, 
Pe6eeeeoe= 
Pentstemons, 
=e6ee= 
This is one of the most useful and showy 
of hardy perennials, and it is a plant that 
has been improved considerably of late 
years, after a long period of neglect. To 
the cottage gardener this flower should re- 
ceive attention, as it is a profuse bloomer, 
a graceful plant, with a fresh green foliage, 
and requiring little cultivation. ; 
Iti was introduced as a garden flower 
from North America, the chief production 
of varieties coming from California and 
Mexico. The name is aptly appropriate 
and distinctive in description, being de- 
rived from pente, “five,” and stemon, “a 
stamen,”’ having four fertile and one abor- 
tive stamens. Unlike the great bulk of 
other flowers, it has no generally adopted 
nickname, which fact places it somewhat 
in the standard of aristocraits amongst 
the common garden flowers. Until it came 
particularly under the notice of nursery- 
men asa plant worth cultivating the chief 
form of growth was of a shrubby habit, 
with flowers of a somewhat dull crimson 
purple color. The originals were the 
parents of a number of seedlings carefully 
developed into many shades of color from 
deep purple and crimson to an almost pure 
white. With attentive cultivation year 
after year new varieties succeeded each 
other, until they now possess an establish- 
ed and vigorous habit of growth, producing 
bold trusses of flowers, many of them sin- 
gularly delicate in their tints. 
Propagation is very easy, either by seeds 
or cuttings. Any cottager can raise seed- 
lings with only the rudest conveniences. 
First, care must be taken, as, indeed, is the 
caso with all varieties of flowers, to secure 
reliable seeds. Put some good sandy loam 
in pots, shallow boxes, or pans, sow the 
seeds thinly, and if kept,watered- and 
Pentstemons. 
shaded from the strong sun they will soon 
grow. Those who make a practice of 
growing new varieties sow their seed in 
heat, and when the seedlings are ready to 
be moved are potted off either singly or 
three or four planted around the sides of a 
pot, and when grown into sufficient size 
removed into a well-prepared bed. Tf 
heat i: not available the slower process of a 
cold frame can be used, and after plant- 
ing out showery weather will keep them 
going until the winter nurses them 
through the early spring, when a vigorous 
growth quickly sets the plant up for-early 
blooming. 
When a good strain has been procured | 
the plants can be increased by a division 
of roots or by cuttings, set out in a good 
sandy loam, manured from the cowyard, 
and leaf soil also added. The most gene- 
ral, and for ordinary purposes, the most 
successful, method is to take cuttings at 
this season of young growths from the 
main stems, and place in a well-drained 
sandy soil. If kept in a cold frame they 
will soon root, and become established. We 
append a list: of varieties recommended : 
Alba: Pure white. 
Bertha Koch: Delicate pink, white. 
Emblem: Rosy scarlet, white throat. 
Clara: White, bordered with purple. 
Alighiere: Dark purple, white throat. 
Crater: Dark reddish amaranth color 
throat-veined with reddish crimson. 
Diana: Dark rosy violet, throat veined 
with purple. 
Gaulois: Dark rose color. 
(Ci 1DY Siesmayer: Bright red, white 
throat, veined with purple. 
George Sands: Large open flower, vein- 
ed_white lips, tube bright purple. 
Kanun: Reddish scarlet. 
Laura: Rosy lilac, pure white throat. 
Jules Simon: Blue lavender, white 
throat. 
Nee : Fate white throat. 
. Chalbert: Clear ros 1 
white throat lajesay 
Miss Hope: Pure white, shaded with 
rose. 
; Oracle: Rosy salmon, white throat, pen- 
cilled with crimson. 
Sculpteur Bartholdi: 
white throat. 
Tully: Puxple, 
dark purple. 
White Beauty: Pure ivory white, tinted 
rose. 
Clear carmine, 
white throat, veined 
1 E656 6856= 
FLOWERS OB LE CAPE 
OF GOOD KOPE. 
2PeoCcee 
The British colony of the Cape of Good 
Hope at the south of the “Dark Continent” 
has been famous for its wealth of flowers 
from its earliest discovery, and especially 
is it noted for bulbous plants. There are 
few countries in the world where in so 
limited an area flora has so lavishly scat- 
tered her treasures broadcast. Not all the 
districts, however, are so highly favored, 
for some are almost wholly destitute of 
flowers or trees. Dreary, waterless plains, 
with nothing but sparse, coarse grass and 
low scrub extending over large tracts, de- 
pressing to horse and rider, are but too 
often met with. The advent of the “Iron 
Horse,” brought in by the pressing need of 
better transit than the old lumbering 
twelve-ox wagons to transport the hordes 
that flocked to the diamond and gold 
mines, has not been an unmitigated bles- 
sing, here as elsewhere, especially to the 
botanist. Vast tracts of well-wooded land 
have been laid bare that formerly in their 
seclusion abounded in game, both furred 
and feathered, and were ablaze with floral 
loveliness. Early in the sixteenth cen- 
tury, when under Dutch rule, numbers of 
beautiful bulbs were sent to Holland. The 
naturalists who accompanied Captain 
Cook when they touched at the Cape were 
struck with the vast botanical riches of the 
place. In consequence of their reports 
Francis Masson was sent from Kew Gar- 
