September  19,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
267 
H,  autumnale  striatum,  frequently  sold  as  H.  grandicephalum 
striatum.  The  fault  it  has  is  that  if  strongly  grown  it  becomes 
too  tall,  and  makes  too  much  growth  at  the  expense  of  its  flowers. 
When  established  in  good  soil  it  will  grow  5  or  6  feet  in  height, 
and  then  presents  rather  a  coarse  appearance.  This  can  be  easily 
remedied  by  planting  in  poorer  soil,  or  by  lifting  and  replanting 
annually.  Its  combination  of  red  and  gold  in  the  colour  of  the 
flowers  renders  its  blooms  very  acceptable. 
Very  fine,  too,  in  their  way  were  several  plants  of  Rudbeckia 
or  Echinacea  purpurea,  with  their  dark  central  cones  and  drooping 
purple  rays.  Echinacea  is,  I  believe,  the  recognised  name  at 
present,  but  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  find  any  rest  for  the  soles 
of  our  feet  in  our  wanderings  after  accuracy  in  nomenclature. 
Meanwhile,  we  take  our  stand  on  the  Kew  name,  satisfied  at  any 
rate  that  the  plant,  whate’er  its  name,  is  a  fine  one.  There  are, 
however,  considerable  differences  in  point  of  colour  among  the 
plants,  and  some  are,  indeed,  a  trifle  dull,  and  a  little  more  bright¬ 
ness  infused  into  the  colouring  of  the  ray  petals  would  be  an 
improvement  to  all  I  have  yet  seen.  There  is,  too,  some  difference 
in  point  of  stature  and  also  in  the  length  of  the  petals,  due,  in  all 
likelihood,  to  variations  from  seed. 
A  very  beautiful  star-like  flower  is  Erigeron  salsuginosus. 
Daisy-like  in  flower,  but  not  in  habit,  growing  as  it  does  some 
2  feet  or  more  high,  and  bearing  a  profusion  of  flowers  with 
narrow  petals,  which  I  see  described  as  “  whitish,”  a  description 
apt  to  be  repellant,  giving  one  the  idea  of  dinginess.  The  flowers 
of  E.  salsuginosus  may,  however,  be  better  described  as  “pale 
lilac  ”  or  even  as  “  blush  whits.”  It  is  a  beautiful  member  of  an 
attractive  genus. 
Not  unlike  the  Erigeron  in  some  respects,  but  taller  and  lighter 
in  its  habit,  is  Boltonia  asteroides  of  L’Hdritier,  from  North 
America,  and  growing  more  than  4  feet  high  in  good  soil.  The 
tallest  plant  I  saw  was  about  5  feet  high,  and  looked  very  graceful 
and  pretty,  with  its  “  flesh-coloured  ”  Daisy-like  flowers.  I  am 
again  quoting  the  colouring,  and  again  have  to  differ  from  the 
description,  although  unable  to  give  a  more  satisfactory  one, 
beyond  venturing  to  say  that  pale  lilac  comes  nearer  to  it  than 
“  flesh.” 
A  very  beautiful  Gentian  was  nearly  open,  and  was  so  pretty  in 
this  stage  and  is  so  seldom  seen  that  a  note  on  it  is  quite  called 
for.  This  is  Gentiana  alba,  and  said  to  be  synonymous  with 
G.  ochroleuca,  which  is  again  said  to  be  synonymous  with  G.  inter¬ 
media.  This  Gentian  does  not  appear  to  be  in  the  Kew  collection, 
as  it  is  not  included  in  the  “  Hand-list  of  Herbaceous  Plants.”  It 
is  an  erect  grower,  and  was  about  15  or  18  inches  high.  The  leaves 
are  oval-lanceolate,  and  the  flowers  are  a  kind  of  creamy  white,  and 
are  borne  in  a  terminal  head.  G.  ochroleuca  is  given  in  the 
“  Dictionary  of  Gardening  ”  as  “  blue.”  G.  alba  is  a  native  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  The  good  plant  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  was  growing  in  the  ordinary  border  in  good  loam. 
Another  plant  whose  behaviour  in  the  climate  of  south-east 
Kirkcudbrightshire  I  have  watched  with  interest  for  the  last  year 
or  two  was  coming  into  flower  at  the  end  of  August,  and  although 
not  open,  one  could  admire  its  fine,  broad,  sword-like  leaves,  which 
made  it  very  ornamental,  even  without  the  flowers  so  soon  to  open. 
This  is  Antholyza  paniculata,  a  bulbous  plant  from  South  Africa, 
and  seldom  cultivated  in  the  open  ground  in  our  northern  latitude. 
It  is  thus  all  the  more  gratifying  that  the  Arctic  winter  of 
1894-5  did  not  cause  this  fine  Irid  to  perish  in  the  herbaceous 
border.  Its  habitat  is  given  as  “  Natal  ”,  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Baker,  who 
also  states  that  it  was  first  gathered  by  Gerrard.  When  in  full 
flower  A.  paniculata  will  be  very  handsome  with  its  long,  broad 
leaves,  and  its  dense,  many-flowered  spikes  of  red-yellow  flowers 
from  3  to  4  feet  in  height. 
A  few  experiments  with  some  of  the  Agapanthi  have  made  one 
very  sceptical  as  to  their  hardiness  without  protection.  There  is, 
however,  a  pretty  little  one,  which,  besides  having  in  favour  of  its 
hardiness  the  authority  of  gardening  works,  has  been  tested  in  the 
south  of  Scotland  with  satisfactory  results.  This  is  Agapanthus 
umbellatus  Mooreanus,  which  only  grows  about  18  inches  high,  and 
has  narrower  leaves  than  the  typical  umbellatus,  and  pleasing  dark- 
blue  flowers.  It  was  introduced  in  1879,  and  is  deserving  of  much 
more  notice  than  it  has  hitherto  received.  In  the  open  border,  or 
in  many  other  positions,  the  umbels  of  flowers  and  attractive  foliage 
of  this  dwarf  African  Lily  will  be  found  very  useful.  Clematis 
Davidiana  is  proving  a  very  distinct  species,  and  its  hardiness 
renders  it  an  acceptable  addition  to  the  herbaceous  border.  One 
fine  plant  in  full  beauty  was  most  pleasing  with  its  whorls  of 
tubulous  blue  flowers.  It  appears  to  grow  about  44  feet  high  after 
being  established. 
While  Tropseolum  speciosum  grows  and  flowers  freely  with  us 
when  established,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  similar  success  cannot 
be  reported  with  T.  tuberosum,  which  generally  survives  the 
winter  in  the  open  in  this  district,  but  does  not  bloom.  I  fear  we 
must  thus  write  it  down  as  only  suitable  for  starting  in  heat  and 
planting  out  afterwards,  so  a#  to  give  it  a  longer  period  of  growth 
before  cold  weather  sets  in.  I  have  again  had  the  opportunity  of 
seeing  this  Peruvian  Nasturtium,  and  am  thus  induced  to  make  the 
above  remarks. 
As  usual,  time  and  space  fail  me  in  endeavouring  to  tell  of 
some  of  the  flowers  which  one  saw  with  pleasure  or  profit.  As  I 
write  they  present  themselves  before  the  “  mind’s  eye  ” — masses  of 
Phloxes  of  the  most  advanced  types  ;  sheets  of  grand  Snapdragons, 
which  would  please  the  most  exacting  florist,  and  great  beds  of 
Pentstemons  with  Gloxinia-like  blooms  of  the  various  shades  and 
markings  to  be  found  in  Pentstemons  of  the  florists’  type.  Then 
there  are  summer  Chrysanthemums,  Dahlias,  Montbretias, 
Gladioli,  and  many  other  flowers,  the  thought  of  whose  beauty 
will  remain  when  the  breath  of  winter  has  despoiled  them  of  their 
charms. — 8.  Arnott. 
SEASONABLE  NOTES. 
The  fast-shortening  days  and  chilly  nights  remind  us  that  no 
time  must  be  lost  in  preparing  for  the  storms  and  cold  of  the 
winter.  In  each  department  of  gardens  it  is  necessary  to  grapple 
with  difficulties  and  forward  work,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  King  Frost 
whenever  he  swoops  down  on  us. 
With  this  end  in  view  winter-flowering  plants  which  have  been 
growing  in  the  open  air  during  the  summer  months  should,  if 
planted  out,  be  lifted  at  once.  Marguerites  treated  in  this  way 
make  grand  specimens.  I  have  frequently  had  them  4  feet  in 
diameter,  and  with  proper  treatment  at  lifting  time  they  have 
scarcely  lost  a  leaf,  and  flowered  profusely  throughout  the  autumn. 
I  make  a  practice  of  severing  the  roots  with  a  spade  at  about 
9  inches  or  a  foot  from  the  stems  a  week  before  the  plants  are 
lifted,  always  giving  them  a  good  watering  after  this  root- 
severing  has  been  performed,  and,  if  necessary,  watering  again  a 
day  before  the  plants  are  lifted,  then  there  is  no  fear  of  the  soil 
crumbling  away  from  the  roots.  Pots  id  proportion  to  the  size  of 
the  plants  must,  of  course,  be  used  ;  but  nothing  is  gained  by 
having  them  unduly  large.  After  potting  give  one  good  watering 
through  a  rose,  and  stand  the  plants  in  a  shady  position — the  back 
of  a  north  wall  is  a  suitable  one. 
The  secret  of  success  in  preserving  the  foliage  and  enabling 
the  plants  to  quickly  recover  themselves  lies  in  frequent  syringings. 
During  bright  weather  this  should  be  done  three  or  four  times 
daily,  no  water  being  given  at  the  roots  until  the  soil  is  slightly 
dry.  The  plants  should  be  left  in  the  open  air  as  long  as  it  is  safe 
to  do  so,  because  the  night  dews  are  so  invigorating,  and  when 
there  are  signs  of  slight  frosts  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  cover  with 
tiffany.  The  first  or  second  week  in  October  is  usually  early 
enough  to  place  them  under  glass,  and  they  may  sometimes  be  left 
out  till  the  end  of  the  month.  Callas,  Bouvardias,  Solanums, 
Eupatoriums,  and  Sparaxis  succeed  under  precisely  the  sarne 
treatment.  Wallflowers  too,  though  not  so  generally  grown  in 
pots,  are  amenable  to  the  same  course  of  procedure, _  and  when 
established  they  may  be  placed  in  cold  pits,  frames,  or  in  any  cool 
house  where  there  happens  to  be  a  little  vacant  space,  and  in  the 
early  spring  months,  when  they  have  done  flowering,  consigned  to 
the  rubbish  heap,  and  thus  have  more  room  for  other  plants,  which 
are  by  that  time  increasing  in  size. 
It  is  also  an  excellent  practice  at  the  present  season  to  pot 
plants  of  Deutzia  gracilis  required  for  forcing  ;  young  roots  will 
then  be  emitted  before  the  leaves  have  fallen,  and  the  plants  be  in 
the  right  condition  to  pass  satisfactorily  through  the  ordeal  of 
forcing.  .  ,  i-, 
Pelargoniums  intended  for  winter  flowering  should  now  be 
placed  in  the  houses  or  pits  they  are  to  occupy  during  that  period, 
but  no  attempt  at  coddling  must  be  resorted  to  ;  on  the  contrary, 
abundance  of  air  should  be  given  except  during  frosty  weather. 
A  firm  sturdy  growth  will  then  be  secured,  without  which  abundance 
of  flowers  during  the  winter  months  cannot  be  obtained.  Frames 
filled  with  Primulas,  Cyclamen,  and  Cinerarias  ought  to  be 
thoroughly  overhauled  and  the  plants  thinly  arranged.  Through 
lack  of  space  at  the  present  time,  when  so  many  plants  are  re¬ 
arranged  under  glass,  there  is  a  general  tendency  to  overcrowd.  If 
this  is  done  with  the  invaluable  softwooded  plants  first  enumerated 
sturdy  compact  little  specimens  cannot  be  produced.  When  it  is 
found  that  plants  are  more  numerous  than  space  at  command 
provides  for,  the  best  should  be  selected  and  arranged  thinly  and 
the  remainder  placed  more  closely  together,  when  they  will  probably 
supply  useful  cut  flowers,  though  the  plants  may  be  drawn  in 
consequence  of  overcrowding.  r-i  j.  u 
In  the  reserve  garden,  where  seeds  of  Foxgloves,  Canterbury 
Bells,  and  Antirrhinums  were  sown  in  August,  a  good  deal  of 
transplanting  will  now  require  to  be  done.  If  these  seedlings  are 
