April  23,  1896.1 
JOtllNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GAIWENM. 
-  Kniphofia  pauciflora. — This  is  a  distinct  species  of  what 
is  generally  a  showy  genus,  and  it  will  flower  very  early  with  little 
encouragement,  but  only  a  botanist  would  recognise  this  as  one  of  the 
Red-hot  Poker  plants.  The  tubular  flowers,  slightly  less  than  1  inch 
long,  are  borne  sparsely  on  one  side  and  at  the  top  of  a  thin  scape  some 
18  inches  long.  They  are  of  a  light  straw  colour,  and  pretty  rather  than 
striking.  The  leaves  are  very  narrow  and  deeply  channelled. 
-  Natural  History  Museum. — To  the  botanical  gallery  of 
this  Museum  there  have  been  some  noteworthy  additions  to  the 
exhibited  series.  In  the  table  cases  on  the  right-hand  side  there  are 
shown,  says  a  contemporary,  an  illustrated  series  of  British  Mycetozoa 
and  a  selection  from  the  Wheeler  drawings  of  fungi  recently  presented 
to  the  Trustees  by  Messrs.  Edwin  and  Henry  Wheeler.  The  drawings 
are  remarkable  for  their  rendering  of  the  colour  character  of  fungi. 
There  is  also  a  partial  exhibition  of  insectivorous  plants — the  Pitcher 
plants  being  fully  illustrated  by  drawings,  models,  and  specimens.  It 
is  intended  to  devote  all  the  table  cases  ultimately  to  the  illustration  of 
plant  adaptations,  and  this  case  is  the  first  of  a  series  which  will  include 
parasites,  methods  of  seed  dispersal,  and  cross  fertilisation. 
-  Primroses  at  Bedfont. — A  very  beautiful  show  of  these 
flowers  is  just  now  being  made  in  an  open  field  at  Bedfont,  where  Mr. 
R.  Dean  has  wonderful  quantities,  not  merely  of  Primroses  proper,  but 
also  of  Polyanthuses  in  thousands.  Associated  with  them  are  Violas, 
Doronicums,  Aubrietias  violacea  and  Leichtlini,  the  very  best  in  com¬ 
merce,  and  numerous  other  charming  hardy  plants.  But  the  Primroses 
and  Polyanthuses,  whether  found  in  blocks  of  one  colour  or  intermixed, 
are  most  attractive,  indeed  no  other  plants  could  give  such  variation  in 
colour  and  so  much  of  beauty  as  these  do  in  the  month  of  April.  When, 
too,  it  is  remembered  that  hundreds  of  plants  may  be  had  by  anyone, 
next  spring,  and  if  well  cared  for  blooming  finely  from  a  packet  or  two 
of  seed,  it  is  rather  surprising  that  so  many  gardens  should  still  be 
found  devoid  of  these  most  delightful  spring  flowers. — A. 
-  Polyanthuses  at  Hampton  Court.— Mr.  Graham  and  his 
foreman,  Mr.  Barnshaw,  are  to  be  congratulated  on  the  very  bright  and 
beautiful  show  of  Polyanthuses  they  are  now  displaying  at  that  place  of 
popular  resort — Hampton  Court  Palace.  For  several  years  the  efforts 
made  to  utilise  the  fine  border  Polyanthuses  of  to-day  for  garden 
decoration  in  the  spring  have  been  very  successful,  but  in  no  case  more 
so  than  this  year.  The  numbers  of  plants,  and  large  plants  too,  put  out 
into  beds  and  the  long  borders  under  the  tennis  courts  must  run  to 
many  thousands.  This  season,  too,  they  include  several  beds  of  selected 
dark-coloured  varieties,  thus  affording  welcome  variation  from  the 
abundant  whites  and  yellows  so  largely  employed.  The  atmosphere  as 
well  as  the  soil  at  Hampton  Court  seems  to  suit  these  spring  flowers 
admirably.  The  show  now  is  well  worth  a  visit. 
- Arctic  Distribution  of  Flowering  Plants.  —  The 
influence  of  the  glacial  epoch  upon  the  flora  of  the  British  Isles,  was 
discussed  by  Mr.  H.  D.  Geldart  in  his  presidential  address  on  the 
occasion  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Norfolk  Natural  History  Society. 
In  the  course  of  his  address,  says  a  contemporary,  Mr.  Geldart  suggested, 
as  a  probable  solution  of  the  difficulties  arising  from  the  present  dis¬ 
tribution  of  arctic  and  alpine  floras,  that  before  the  commencement  of 
the  glacial  epoch  what  is  now  commonly  known  as  the  Scandinavian 
flora,  but  which  would  be  better  called  the  arctic  flora,  was  distributed 
from  land  then  existing  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Pole  ;  that  a  part 
of  this  flora,  being  well  established,  had  held  its  own  without  migration 
even  to  the  present  time,  and  that  the  hypothesis  of  destruction  and 
migration  of  plants  from  north  to  south  and  back  again  was  unnecessary 
to  account  for  the  actual  facts  of  distribution. 
-  Action  of  Frost. — Respecting  the  courteous  note  from  my 
critic,  “  S.  S.,”  on  page  298  (to  whom  I  apologise  for  not  acknowledging 
it  before),  I  must  just  (remark  that  I  am  quite  open  to  conviction,  that 
possibly,  even  probably,  my  inferences  re  radiation  as  affecting  our 
seasons  are  erroneous.  Yet  I  am  somewhat  sceptical  as  to  whether  we 
can  or  may  ignore  our  thermal  stores  derived  from  solar  influence  as  well 
as  terrestrial  internal  fires,  each  of  which  individually  or  combined  exert 
an  influence  on  our  atmosphere,  such  influence  being  to  more  or  less 
extent  diversified  by  air  currents.  The  interesting  excerpt  by  “  A.  C.” 
on  page  324  is  a  higher,  literally  and  figuratively,  view  of  the  matter. 
Fascinating  as  is  this  astronomical  note  I  must  not  be  tempted  into 
expression  of  thought  on  a  subject  in  the  immensity  of  which  a  gardener 
pure  and  simple  would  probably  founder.  Unfortunately,  where  proofs 
are  wanting,  much  of  this  exposition  of  natural  phenomena  is  conjec¬ 
tural,  or,  at  least,  failing  the  exhibition  of  proofs,  must  to  some  extent 
be  regarded  as  such. — Invicta. 
BEAUTY  IN  THE  SHRUBBERY. 
In  many  establishments  the  shrubbery  borders  are  of  great  importance, 
and  looked  on  bv  some  employers  as  one  of  the  principal  features  of 
gardens.  Unfortunately  in  many  gardens  this  department  is  greatly 
neglected,  especially  as  regards  the  choice  of  plants.  In  nine  cases  out 
of  ten  there  is  a  deficiency  of  flowering  shrubs  and  trees,  and  what  I 
wish  now  is  to  draw  attention  to  a  few  that  render  our  borders  gay  in 
the  spring  months.  These,  if  planted  judiciously  amongst  the  commoner 
plants,  would  greatly  relieve  the  monotony  of  ordinary  borders.  In 
forming  new  shrubberies  a  good  selection  of  plants  is  indispensable, 
and  if  due  consideration  be  given  the  shrubberies  should  be  bright  for 
several  months  in  the  year.  The  undermentioned  are  all  beautifully 
in  flower  during  April. 
Amongst  the  most  prominent  are  the  Berberries,  and  B.  Darwini  is 
now  about  its  best.  This  is  a  first-rate  plant  for  borders  or  iu  small 
groups  alone ;  the  branches  appear  to  be  weighed  down  with  the 
quantity  of  flowers  they  almost  yearly  produce.  The  flowers  are 
bright  in  colour,  and  produced  in  clusters  on  the  previous  year’s  growth. 
When  sufficient  space  is  allowed  for  it  to  develop,  bushes  5  or  6  feet 
high  and  8  feet  through  can  be  obtained,  and  when  seen  covered  with 
their  pendulous  orange-coloured  blossoms  they  are  very  attractive. 
B.  stenophylla,  a  garden  hybrid,  somewhat  resembles  B.  Darwini,  the 
last-named  being  one  of  the  parents,  but  is  a  fortnight  or  more  later  in 
flowering  :  it,  however,  is  a  useful  variety,  and  deserves  a  place  in  any 
border.  Mahonia  (Berberis)  fascicularis  is  a  useful  shrub,  and  is  now 
handsome,  the  bright  canary  yellow  flowers  being  produced  in  clusters 
at  the  tips  of  the  shoots.  This  is  a  plant  suitable  for  planting  in  or 
near  the  front  of  a  border.  M .  rotundifolia  is  nearly  related  to  the 
latter,  but  has  smooth  leaves,  and  M .  Murrayana  is  a  good  companion 
to  it,  but  has  large  spiny  leaves  ;  the  flowers  are  similar  in  size  and 
colour.  These  make  a  grand  display  and  look  well  at  a  distance. 
Spirma  prunifolia  and  S.  prunifolia  flore-pleno  are  amongst  the 
earliest  of  the  genus.  These  are  valuable  acquisitions  on  account  of 
their  pure  white  flowers  produced  the  whole  length  of  the  previous 
year’s  growth.  They  look  remarkably  well  with  evei green  shrubs  or 
planted  singly  as  specimens. 
Pyruses  are  very  fine.  P.  Malus  and  P.  Malus  floribunda  are 
beautiful,  the  rose  coloured  flowers  being  abundant.  Following  a  little 
later  is  P.  baccata,  the  individual  flowers  of  which  measure  inch 
across,  are  light  rosy  pink,  and  deliciously  scented.  The  latter  may  be 
grown  as  bushes  or  standards.  When  grown  as  standards  they  appear 
well  planted  towards  the  middle  of  the  border  ;  they  are  also  fine  as 
single  specimens.  Pyrus  japonica  is  well  known.  There  are  some 
varieties  which  far  surpass  the  type.  P.  japonica  var.  Maulei  is  a  little 
gem,  and  deserves  to  be  planted  extensively  ;  is  very  free-flowering,  and 
extremely  drawf.  P.  japonica  var.  princeps  is  very  rich  in  colour,  but 
not  nearly  so  free-flowering  as  the  former  ;  and  P.  japonica  var.  nivalis 
is  a  valuable  variety,  with  large  white  wax-like  flower*. 
Prunus  triloba  succeeds  well  trained  against  a  wall ;  it  does  equally 
well  planted  out  as  a  bush.  Those  on  the  wall  will,  of  course,  flewer  first  ; 
the  flowers  are  double  and  soft  pink.  This  plant  is  too  little  known.  It 
is  also  useful  for  forcing.  It  is  surprising  how  grand  two  or  three  of  the 
common  Cherries  are  just  now,  being  covered  witn  flowers.  We  have 
some  in  the  borders  backed  up  with  higher  trees,  and  the  effect  is 
splendid  whilst  they  are  iu  flower.  Amygdalus  persica  rosea  is  valuable 
for  planting  amongst  larger  trees  and  shrubs  :  the  flowers  are  dark  rose, 
and  should  certainly  find  a  place.  We  must  not  pass  the  Forsythias, 
which  have  been  in  flower  for  some  two  or  three  weeks  past.  F .  viridis- 
sima  and  F.  Fortunei  are  both  worth  planting  ;  they  are  also  useful  for 
forcing. 
I  am  under  the  impression  that  the  Ribes  are  not  employed  so  much 
as  they  deserve  for  borders.  R.  sanguineum  and  its  varieties  are  the  most 
showy.  R.  sanguineum  var.  atrorubens  has  bright  crimson  flowers,  and 
is  very  free-flowering.  R.  sanguineum  var.  atro-sanguineum  has  larger 
flowers,  but  not  so  deep  in  colour  ;  the  leaves  are  also  larger  than  the 
last-named  variety.  R.  sanguineum  var.  albida  bears  flowers  of  a  pinkish 
white  colour,  and  is  worth  growing.  R.  Gordanianum  has  flowers  of  a 
reddish  yellow  tint.  The  above  are  the  best  of  the  sanguineum  section, 
and  the  following  are  three  good  yellow  forms : — R.  palmatum  I  con¬ 
sider  the  best,  R.  aureum,  and  R.  aureum  var.  prmcox,  the  latter  of 
which  bears  the  largest  flowers,  and,  to  add  more  to  its  value,  is  very 
fragrant. 
Magnolia  conspicua  is  seldom  seen.  Why  this  should  be  is  not  easy 
to  imagine.  It  has  been  grand  for  the  last  two  or  three  weeks,  and  will 
last  as  much  longer.  The  flowers  are  pure  white,  of  good  size  and  sub¬ 
stance,  and  deliciously  scented.  The  free-flowering  habit  of  tbi s  plant, 
together  with  the  usefulness  of  the  flowers,  are  qualities  sufficient  to 
recommend  it  to  anyone.  Good  formed  bushes  are  not  to  be  despised  as 
specimens  in  the  open.  M.  Yulan  and  its  varieties  should  also  be 
included.  The  flowers  of  M.  Yulan  differ  considerably  from  the  former  in 
colour,  being  marked  with  purple  ;  in  shape  and  size  it  closely  approaches 
M.  conspicua.  Cytisus  albus  makes  a  good  border  plant  ;  the  long 
sprays  of  pure  white  flowers  contrast  favourably  with  the  surrounding 
dark  green  foliage.  I  lately  saw  some  large  bushes  of  the  common 
Furze,  also  the  double-flowered  variety,  planted  amongst  Laurels  and 
Aucubas,  and  the  effect  was  very  imposing.  Amelanchier  canadensis  is 
always  appreciated  when  in  flower,  and  now  its  beautiful  white  flowers 
are  very  conspicuous  ;  this  also  appears  well  grown  as  single  specimens. 
The  above  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  neglected  plants  that  should  be 
more  extensively  cultivated. — K.  W,  G, 
