26 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  IX.  1900. 
Snow  Schedules, 
“  XV.  G.”  (page  5G1)  cannot  have  seen  naany  autumn  exhibitions 
during  the  last  few  years,  or  he  would  not  suggest  the  inclusion  of  a 
class  lor  “  miscellaneous  plants  arranged  for  effect.”  Nowadays  the 
exception  is  to  find  a  show  without  such  a  class.  Truly,  as  he  says, 
the  Hull  Society  does  include  this  in  their  programme,  and  in  no 
other  exhibition  are  such  groups  to  be  seen.  1  do  not  attach  much 
importance  to  the  suggestion  to  include  more  formally  trained  speci¬ 
mens,  These  are  gradually  being  left  out,  especially  the  standards 
and  pyramids.  Beyond  examples  of  cultural  skill,  what  artistic  effect 
or  even  use  can  be  claimed  lor  such,  I  would  ask  ? 
To  make  our  autumn  exhibitions  more  pleasing  new  departures  are 
required.  In  plants  the  freely  llowered  examples  of  single  Chiysanthe- 
munis.  Pompons,  and  the  smaller  forms  of  Japanese,  intermixed  with 
Palms  and  other  suitable  foliage  plants;  and  dwarf  plants  suitable 
for  conservatoiy  decoration  carrying  exhibition  blooms  in  small  pots, 
showing  the  value  of  the  Chrysanthemum  in  that  form,  would  be  a 
pleasing  addition  to  our  shows.  The  height  of  growth  ought  to  he 
stipulated,  as  also  should  the  size  of  the  pot.  Both  of  these  are 
IJraciical  suggestmns,  and  would  produce  desirable  results. 
In  cut  blooms  any  form  of  arrangtment  that  disj)enses  with  the 
orthodox  cup,  tube,  and  stand  would  be  welcome;  or  perhaps  not 
dispense  with  this  plan  entirely,  but  add  other  methods  for  comparison, 
and  allow  the  best  to  preponderate  in  the  future. 
Chrysanthemums,  large  and  small,  are  admirably  adapted  for 
disposal  in  vases  of  almost  any  type,  with  or  without  added  foliage. 
There  is  therefore  abundant  scope  for  committees  to  give  the  public 
more  variety  at  their  autumn  shows.  Let  us  see  if  they  will  rise  to 
the  occision. 
Decorative  Varieties. 
As  “  XX  .  S,”  (page  561)  correctly  states,  decorative  varieties  are 
equally  a,s  valuable  to  many  growers  as  the  ])opular  show  blooms  are 
to  exhibitors.  The  latter,  too,  pay  special  attention  to  the  decorative 
aspect;  in  fact,  they  are  generally  the  men  who  ascertam  the  qualities 
of  the  newer  varieties  idr  both  purposes.  Many  sorts  wh.ch  are 
unsuitable  for  exhibition  are  most  valuable  additions  to  the  decorative 
section. 
For  the  information  of  “  W.  S.”  and  others  I  have  noted  a  few 
deserving  varieties  that,  added  to  those  named  by  him,  will  provide 
bloom  in  quantity,  and  extend  over  a  long  time.  R.  Hooper  Pearson 
is  without  doubt  the  finest  yellow  flowered  Chrysanthemum  for 
this  purpose.  The  lustre  of  colour  is  rivalled  by  none;  while  the 
habit  of  growth  is  all  that  is  required.  Mr.  Jones  has  given  the 
Chrysanthemum  world  many  sterling  novelties,  but  none  better  than 
this.  Clinton  Chaifont  is  a  cross  apparently  between  a  Japanese  and 
a  reflexed  variet3'.  The  florets  are  broad  and  stiff,  forming  just  the 
flower  required  for  vase  work  ;  the  colour  is  rich.  The  new  Cheveux 
d’Or,  one  of  the  “  featheiy  ”  tyfie,  is  paler  in  tint,  but  very  effective 
in  a  mass.  Madame  Liger  Ligerneau  is  dwarf  in  growth,  clear  yellow 
in  colour,  Hugh  Craw'ford,  too,  is  a  useful  addition  to  the  Japanese 
section.  J.  E.  Clayton,  a  yellow' sport  from  Eva  Knowles,  possesses 
all  the  characteristics  of  a  decorative  Chrysanthemum.  Golden  Gale 
is  one  of  the  best  of  late  yellows,  its  broad  florets  having  a  tawny 
tinge  about  them  that  affords  variety. 
Bright  colours  are  extremely  useful  in  this  section,  especially  when 
they  flower  later  than  ordinary  sorts.  H.  J.  Jones  easily  heads  the 
list  in  this  colour.  The  blooms  are  exceedingly  bright,  the  growth  stiff 
and  floriferous.  Reginald  Godfrey  is  dwart  and  stiff  in  habit,  just  the 
type  for  vase  work  ;  the  blooms  are  full  and  solid.  Joseph  Chamber- 
lain  gives  a  colour  equalled  by  no  other,  while  Matthew  Hodgson  and 
Royal  Standard  are  also  desirable  varieties.  Ryecroft  Scarlet  is  the 
nearest  approach  to  this  colour  of  any,  it  is  dwarf  and  exceedingly 
free.  Prioe  of  Madford  must  not  be  omitted  when  dealing  with  bright 
coloured  varieties,  as  when  grown  to  give  flower  in  quantity  the  florets 
reflex,  showdng  the  bright  purple  amaranth  colour. 
XX  hite  flowered  sorts  are  still  unsurpassed  for  use  at  Christmas 
time.  Madame  Carnot,  one  of  the  finest  exhibition  varieties  we  have, 
is  equally  good  to  give  flower  in  quantity.  The  white  sport  from 
Clinton  Chaifont  is  a  fac-simile  of  its  parent  in  all  except  colour.  This 
is  snow'  white  and  a  valuable  addition.  Isabel  XVilliaras  has  the 
colour  of  Elaine  and  the  petal  of  Niveus.  Mrs.  XVeeks  should  be  more 
grown  for  this  purpose  than  it  is,  as  it  is  really  very  fine.  Tl  e 
grow’th  is  all  that  could  be  wished,  and  the  blooms  extra  fine  in 
quality.  Decidedly  one  of  the  best,  if  not  absolutely  the  best  of 
white  flowering  sorts  for  January,  is  the  Queen.  The  growth  is  some¬ 
what  tall ;  this  is  really  an  advantage,  as  long  stems  can  beicut.with 
the  blooms.  Frarafield  Pink  is  quite  the  best  in  this  section,  the 
colour  is  quite  warm  as  it  were.  Madeleine  Davis  is  paler  but  chaste. 
— E.  Molyneux. 
KALANCHOE  FLAMMEA. 
This  comparatively  new  plant,  that  was  exhibited  at  the  Hybridisa¬ 
tion  Conference,  from  Kew,  and  of  which  the  stock  for  distribution 
has  since  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd., 
has  a  great  future  before  it.  There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  for 
general  use  it  will  become  one  of  the  most  popular  plants  in  cultiva¬ 
tion,  and  that  it  will  “  catch  on  ”  with  the  public  when  it  is  placed 
before  them  by  the  market  growers  is  equally  certain.  By  the 
courtesy  of  Messrs.  Veitch  &  Sons  we  are  now  enabled  to  give  an 
illustration  (tig.  4)  of  this  plant.  It  clearly  depicts  the  habit  of 
growth,  but  does  not  afford  a  true  conception  of  the  bright  beauty  and 
exceptional  attractiveness  of  the  profusely  borne  flowers. 
Relative  to  Kalanchoe  flammea,  “  XV,  D.”  wrote  in  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture  for  July  13th,  1899,  as  follows  :  About  four  years  ago 
seeds  of  this  new  species  were  presented  to  Kew  by  Miss  Cole,  who, 
with  Mrs.  Lort  Phillips — according  to  the  account  given  with  the 
figure  t.  7595  in  the  ‘  Botanical  Magazine’ — collected  it  in  Somaliland. 
It  flowered  for  the  first  time  at  Kew  in  1897,  and  was  then  seen  to 
be  by  far  the  most  ornamental  of  the  Kalanchoes  in  cultivation, 
and  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the  best  indoor  plants  for  general 
work  introduced  of  late  years,  a  future  being  predicted  for  it  equal 
to  that  enjoyed  by  some  of  the  most  useful  market  plants.  A  good 
quantity  of  seed  was  ripened  in  1897,  and  sown  eighteen  months  ago, 
and  from  that  seed  several  large  plants  flowered.  It  is  of  easy 
cultivation.  The  Kew  plants  vary  in  height  from  15  inches  to  2.i  feet, 
and  are  surmounted  with  heads  of  bright  red  flowers,  the  heads  of 
flowers  ranging  from  9  inches  to  15  inches  across.  They  grow  well 
in  a  cool  greec house,  and  can  be  finished  in  pots  from  3  to  G  inches  in 
diameter.  XVhen  young  they  may  be  stopped  once,  or  allowed  to  grow 
with  a  single  stem  until  they  flower.  A  mixture  of  loam,  leaf  mould, 
and  sand  is  a  suitable  compost,  and  propagation  may  be  effected 
either  by  cuttings  or  seeds.  The  flowers  last  in  good  condition  from 
six  to  eight  weeks.” 
GINKGO  BILOBA. 
For  the  vicinity  of  towns  or  smoky  districts  probably  no  tree  is 
better  adapted  than  this  Conifer,  which  is  the  sole  remaining  member 
of  a  genus  which  was  in  former  ages  spread  over  the  whole  of  the 
temperate  and  warmer  parts  of  the  earth  ;  fossil  specimens  of  Ginkgo 
being  comparativtlj’’  abundant  in  various  parts,  and  are  practically 
identical  with  the  only  representative  of  their  race. 
It  is  a  native  of  China,  and,  though  often  given  as  a  native  ot 
Japan,  it  is  only  found  near  temples  in  this  latter  country,  where  it 
has  evidently  been  planted.  Though  very  tenacious  of  life,  and 
enduring  smoke  and  dust  as  well,  or  even  better  than,  any  other  tree, 
it  is  not  very  largely  planted,  probably  because  it  is  slow  of  growth 
and  does  not  make  a  large  tree  in  a  comparatively  short  time.  In  a 
young  state  it  is  an  upright,  straight-stemmed  plant  with  a  few 
short  side  branches,  but  when  older  it  forms  a  spreading  head  and 
makes  a  distinct  looking,  handsome  specimen. 
The  name  of  the  Maidenhair  Tree  applied  to  it  has  been  taken 
from  the  resemblance  the  leaves  bear  in  shape  to  the  separate  pinuse 
of  the  Maidenhair  Fern,  but  the  likeness  is  only  in  shape,  the  leaves 
of  the  Ginkgo  being  2  or  3  inches  across,  two-iobed,  and  thick  and 
leathery  in  texture.  In  general  appearance  it  is  unlike  any  other 
Conifer,  being  one  of  the  few  deciduous  ones,  but  the  flowers  and  fruit 
are  very  like  those  of  some  of  the  Taxacem. 
The  Ginkgo,  or,  as  it  is  also  popularly  designated,  Salisburia 
adiantifolia,  is  said  to  be  cultivated  in  China  and  Japan  for  the 
sake  of  its  fruits,  which  are  stated  to  be  pioisonous  when  raw,  but 
sweet  and  edible  when  roasted.  The  wood  is  of  a  yellow'ish  colour, 
fairly  hard,  easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  very  fine  polish. — C. 
Improvement  in  Quality  and  Germinating  Power  of  Seeds. 
— We  learn  that  the  consulting  botanist  of  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  has  reported  that  the  superior  quality  of  seeds  examined  and 
tested  during  1898  has  been  maintained  during  1899.  The  more 
important  Grass  and  Clover  seeds  have  reached  a  germination  of  over 
90  per  cent.  Only  one  case  of  dodder  in  Clover  seed  was  observed. 
In  this  connection  it  may  be  noted  that  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Agriculture  is  reported  to  be  arranging  for  the  appointment  of  a 
departmental  Committee  to  consider  the  question  of  establishing 
machinery  for  testing  the  quality  and  vitality  of  seeds. 
