202 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  15,  1898. 
of  regretting  the  performance,  gloried  in  the  2-pounders  above 
mentioned.  I  expect  he  will  hear  of  this  heresy  now  that  his  little 
ways  are  made  known  to  a  critical  and  censorious  world. — W.  Pea. 
SEPTEMBER  FLOWERS. 
Not  yet  have  autumn  winds  and  chilly  nights  robbed  us  of  our 
treasures  of  leaf  and  flower;  not  yet  have  we  to  linger  over  a  few 
flowers,  the  relics  of  those  which  have  passed  away.  Though  the 
harvest  treasures  are  fast  disappearing  from  the  fields,  those  of  the 
garden  are  bright  with  beauty  and  delight-giving  as  in  eailier  times. 
I  shall,  for  a  time,  sally  out  into  another  garden  to  look  upon  its 
treasures.  By  the  sea  it  lies  near  to  Ilatham  Isle  (to  adopt  for  the 
time  the  name  used  by  Crockett  in  his  stirring  tale  of  “  The  Eaiders.”) 
If  Galloway  has  its  hills  and  rocks,  its  wild  moors,  and  wilder 
mountain  sides,  it  has  its  gardens  too.  In  one  of  these  let  us  see  what 
flowers  are  given  in  the  ninth  month  of  the  year. 
As  we  come  round  by  the  garden  front  we  stand  delighted  by  the 
white  Passion  Flower — Passiflora  Constance  Elliot — beautiful  with 
its  charming  blooms.  Wreathed  with  blossom  has  it  been,  and  its 
chaste  flowers  are  numerous  yet.  Delightful,  too,  is  that  fine  plant 
of  Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles,  which  covers  a  portion  of  the  house- 
front  with  a  sheet  of  pale  blue  flowers.  On  the  garden  wall  hard  by 
is  a  white-flowered  Ceanothus  as  well,  but  it  looks  poor  and  ineffective 
after  seeing  the  Versailles  Glory  in  its  full  beauty.  On  the  house 
wall,  also,  is  a  fine  specimen  of  Magnolia  grandiflora.  Healthy  does  it 
look,  but  it  is  flowerless  still,  though  one  would  expect  it  in  a  year  or 
two  to  give  some  of  its  magnificent  blooms.  If  the  Magnolia  is  chary 
with  its  blossoming,  truly  prodigal  is  Berberidopsis  corallina,  which 
sheets  the  wall  with  its  quaintly  beautiful  flowers.  Who  cannot 
admire  it,  and  who  cannot  but  rejoice  that  this  corner  of  old  Galloway 
can  produce  in  perfection  the  flowers  of  this  South  American  shrub  ? 
Other  choice  shrubs  there  are,  but  we  must  wander  on,  for  the 
garden  has  much  to  show.  First  must  come  the  fine  clumps  of  Lilium 
auratum,  now  some  three  years  planted,  and  6  feet  high  and  laden 
with  flowers.  Among  the  beds  of  Rhododendrons  and  shrubs  in  and 
by  the  grass  we  go,  seeing  with  pleasure  how  much  progress  they  have 
made  since  last  we  looked  upon  them  two  years  or  more  ago.  There 
are  not  many  flowers  among  them  now,  but  wre  can  well  understand 
how  fine  these  Rhododendrons  were  as  we  see  how  healthy  they  are. 
In  one  bed  Cytisus  nigricans,  valuable  for  its  late-flowering  habit, 
pleases  us  with  its  yellow  flowers. 
Now  we  come  upon  the  little  lake  just  formed  when  last  this  garden 
was  seen.  Pretty  is  it  with  its  placid  waters  through  which  the  granite 
which  forms  its  bed  is  seen  where  the  water  is  not  too  de<  p,  and  with 
its  fringe  of  plants  now  beginning  to  show  what  a  few  years  will  give. 
Wisely  it  is  not  intended  that  the  Nymphaeas  should  spread  until  the 
surface  is  covered,  and  delightful  now  look  the  floating  leaves  and  fine 
flowers  of  Eymplueas  Marliacea  rosea,  M.  chromatella,  and  M.  albida, 
with  their  surroundings.  There,  too,  are  the  yellow  flowers  of  Villarsia 
nymphaeoides,  and  at  the  side  the  native  Ranunculus  lingua  raises  it-; 
spears  surmounted  by  their  Buttercup  flowers.  A  bold  clump  of 
Iris  Ksempferi,  now  out  of  bloom,  but  a  short  time  ago  laden  with 
flowers,  rises  out  of  the  shallow  water  by  the  margin,  and  two  Side¬ 
saddle  Flowers  occupy  nooks  at  the  base  of  a  high  bank,  and  are  alike 
curious  and  beautiful  with  their  pitchers  and  flowers.  One  of  these  is 
Sarracenia  purpurea,  which  forms  an  attractive  contrast  with  its  dark 
colour  to  S.  flava,  the  other  species  grown  here,  whose  yellow  hues 
look  bright  by  the  water  side. 
The  sloping  and  shelving  rocks  of  granite  above  begin  to  be 
marked  with  green  patches  where  the  Stonecrops  and  Houseleeks  have 
commenced  to  grow.  Just  above  the  fine  Hypericum  calycinum  major 
opens  its  great  yellow  flowers,  and  near  by  in  the  grass  are  patches  of 
bright  purple — the  flowers  of  Colchicum  variegatum.  The  great 
Gunnera,  G.  manicata,  is  on  the  grass  at  one  side,  and  when  it  has  got 
hold  will  please  all  with  its  massive,  rugged  leaves. 
As  we  leave  the  lake  we  come  upon  a  bed  of  the  best  of  the 
Cactus  Dahlias,  and  examine  these  awhile  and  note  among  othe  s 
how  fine  Starfish  is  with  its  pointed  petals.  A  herbaceous  border 
which  we  shall  see  by-and-by  makes  us  cast  longing  eyes  upon  its 
imposing  array,  but  our  steps  are  turned  towards  the  rock  garden, 
which  seems  as  if  many  years  had  elapsed  since  it  first  took  shape. 
The  sound  of  rushing  water,  which  from  a  small  rock  basin  finds  its 
way  to  Water  Lily  pools  below,  greets  us,  and  brings  with  its  babbling 
noises  a  refreshing  thought  of  coolness  ’mid  the  bright  sun.  Treasures 
galore  meet  the  eye  of  the  gardener.  Here  is  a  fine  patch  of  Ptero- 
cephalus  Parnassi  with  its  hoary  leaves  and  pale  mauve  flowers;  there 
is  the  dainty  little  Erodium  Reichardi  writh  its  white  flowers;  there 
towers  Bambusa  nana,  which  seems  curiously  inappropriately  named 
when  seen  in  association  with  the  tinier  flowers  of  the  rock  garden. 
Now  we  look  with  delight  on  some  Acasna  screening  the  rock  or  the 
pretty  little  Arenaria  balearica  covering  it  with  a  veil  of  green  spangled 
with  small  white  stars. 
Anon  we  think  with  astonishment  of  the  vagaries  of  plants  which 
makes  Echeveria  glauca  form  a  sheet  of  glaucous  rosettes  in  the- 
crevice  of  a  perpendicular  rock,  and  touching  the  water  of  the  pool 
below.  Near  by  it  also  is  the  Chinese  Sedum  Sieboldi,  with  its 
hanging  stems  just  touching  the  water  and  about  to  bloom.  In  the 
small  bog,  Irises  and  Rushes  struggle  together,  and  by  its  margin 
Primula  rosea  has  formed  a  spreading  mass  which  must  be  delightful 
when  in  bloom.  There  is  Globularia  nana,  and  here,  as  we  look  at 
that  high  rflound,  is  a  broad  festoon  or  Polygonum  vacciniifolium 
hanging  down  the  rocks.  More  frequently  seen  in  the  border  Clematis 
Davidiana  looks  surprisingly  beautiful  hanging  over  the  stones,  ita 
pale  porcelain-blue  flowers  very  fine  indeed.  The  glory  of  the  rock 
garden  may  truly  be  over  for  the  season  ;  but  the  beauty  of  the  leaves, 
the  habit  of  the  plants,  give  pleasure,  even  if  not  enhanced  by  the 
brightness  of  flowers  named  and  others  left  unnoticed  now. 
The  brightest  time  of  the  purely  herbaceous  borders  is  largely  past, 
but  there  are  yet  great  towering  spikes  of  Bocconia  cordata :  immense 
masses  of  Sunflowers,  Aconites,  Phloxes,  Japanese  Anemones, 
Rudbeckias,  Peach-leaved  Bellflowers,  Pentstemons,  and  numerous 
others.  Fine  does  this  border  look  with  the  wall  behind  clothed 
with  Tropaeolums  and  other  climbers.  Through  the  garden  gateway 
go  we  nowq  and  we  are  in  a  scene  brighter  still,  for  annuals  aud. 
bedding  plants  are  judiciously  used  to  take  up  the  tale  when  the 
earlier  flowers  have  gone.  We  see  the  neat  Coreopsis  tinctoria,  blue 
Salvias,  Asters,  brilliant  scarlet  Lobelias,  early  Chrysanthemums, 
Nicotianas,  Ageratums,  and  the  host  of  other  flowers  which  can  be- 
had  by  those  who  care  for  such.  Very  brilliant  and  beautiful  they 
are,  and  though  behind  them  grow  plants  prized  more  for  their  utility 
than  for  their  loveliness,  what  of  that  ?  Those  pyramids  of  Sweet 
Peas  cannot  supply  our  creature  wants,  and  he  has  a  poor — nay,  an 
immeasurably  narrow — idea  of  beauty  wrho  does  not  see  in  that 
Cabbage  or  that  Lettuce  something  of  that  quality  of  symmetry 
which  gives  pleasure  to  the  mind.  In  their  colours,  too,  differing 
though  ic  does  from  the  hues  which  give  brilliance  to  those  Gladioli,, 
there  is  charm  as  well. 
This  is  not  our  theme,  however,  nor  shall  we  seek  to  tell  of  the 
flowers  and  plants  which,  under  glass,  please  those  who  love  them 
best.  Autumn  is  indeed  kind  to  us.  Grain  and  fruit  and  flowers  to 
minister  to  our  needs  and  enjoyments  are  freely  given.  Of  some  of 
these  gifts  of  flower  we  have  essayed  to  tell  in  halting  and  imperfect 
ways. —  S.  Arnott. 
SOME  OF  JAPAN’S  FLORA. 
During  a  trip  through  Japan  some  months  ago,  I  was  much  struck 
with  the  beauties  of  the  vegetable  life  of  the  islands.  Many  growths 
impressed  themselves  upon  me  as  almost  unique  compared  with  any 
other  country  through  which  I  have  travelled.  At  a  lovely  little 
place  called  Nara,  famous  for  its  beautiful  deer  and  wonderful  Shinto 
temples,  there  are  magnificent  Cryptomerias,  not  such  as  we  have 
round  our  English  lawns,  but  gigantic  mammoths. 
A  notable  feature  in  parts,  especially  near  Kioto,  towards  the 
river,  which  affords  such  excellent  and  exciting  sport  by  shooting  the 
rapids  in  flat  boats  (an  entertainment  enjoyed  by  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Connaught  some  years  ago),  is  the  forests  of  delicate  light 
green  Bamboo,  waving  their  supple  stems  in  the  breeze.  These 
possessed  a  peculiarly  subtle  charm  and  fairy-like  fascination.  But 
perhaps  more  striking  than  anything  was  the  size  of  the  Camellias. 
I  saw  them  in  various  parts — quite  wild,  of  course — but  perhaps  at 
their  best  near  the  coast  some  twenty  miles  or  so  from  Yokohama, 
and  also  in  a  lovely  little  islet  in  the  same  vicinity.  Here  they  were 
thick-stemmed  trees  of  a  foot  and  more  in  diameter,  in  full  flower,  and 
attaining  to  a  height  of  30  to  40  feet. 
The  only  native  fruit  I  tasted  wras  dried  Persimmon,  a  species  of 
the  Date  Plum,  which  I  understand  is  being  introduced  into  England. 
I  was  too  early  .to  experience  their  summer  products.  The  Japanese 
are  intensely  fond  of  flowers,  especially  the  blossom  of  fruit  trees. 
In  all  the  Temple  gardens — which  are  used  as  much  for  pleasure  fairs 
as  purposes  of  religion — there  is  a  wondrous  display  of  Plum,  Peach, 
and  Cherry  blossom.  These  trees,  indeed,  are  cultivated  almost 
entirely  for  the  blossom,  and  small  branches  are  cut  wholesale  for 
festivities  and  decorative  purposes.  The  Ueno,  and  other  parks,  too, 
iu  Tokyo,  the  capital,  are  gorgeous  with  fleecy  clouds  of  pink  overhead. 
The  Chrysanthemum,  of  course,  I  saw  nothing  of,  or  the  beautiful 
Wistaria,  which  is  so  universal,  save  the  huge  growths  of  the  latter, 
of  which  there  was  abundant  evidenc  ■,  tangling  and  twining  about  up 
great  trees  and  trailing  down  in  innumerable  cords,  and  forming 
ofttimes  what  appeared  to  be  a  veritable  stem  in  itself.  Neither  did  1 
see  the  curious  Lotus  flower  which  they  are  so  fond  of  working  in 
their  lacquer  and  objects  of  art.  This,  however,  I  had  previously  seen 
in  Singapore.  To  do  justice  to  the  striking  natural  beauties  of  Japan 
an  entire  twelve  months  would  be  necessary,  as  I  heard  on  all  sides 
the  autumn  foliage,  lasting  till  after  the  turn  of  the  year,  is  a  sight 
so  marvellously  gorgeous  that  no  one  should  lightly  miss  it. — 
J.  A.  Carnegie-Cheales. 
