146 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  13,  1902. 
Hardy  Flower  Notes. 
many  such  gardens  at  times  when  they  might  be  obtained — not 
without  some  expense  ^tis  true.  In  late  autumn,  or  more  cor¬ 
rectly  early  winter  and  the  early  days  of  the  new  year,  this 
shortcoming  is  most  strongly  experienced.  To  meet  it,  then,  we 
need  to  turn  our  attention  largely  to  the  Crocus,  the  Snowdrop, 
and  the  Colchicum,  whioli  in  themselves  may  be  trusted  to 
redeem  our  gardens  from  the  reproach  of  dulness  at  these  times. 
The  autumn  and  winter  Crocuses  in  themselves  might  do  this, 
but  it  is  better  to  join  with  them  the  other  genera  already  men¬ 
tioned,  as  well  as  a  few  more  to  be  trusted  to  give  us  something 
such  as  we  seek. 
One  finds  that  some  of  these  autumn  and  winter  Crocuses 
with  white  flowers  are  thin  in  substance  and  easily  des'troyed  by 
bad  weather.  Curiously  enough  it  is  to  one  of  the  latest  intro¬ 
duced  in  quantity  that  we  have  to  turn  for  the  best  of  these. 
This  is  C.  marathoniscus ;  not  that  sold  as  Boryi  var. 
marathoniscus,  but  an¬ 
other  plant  called 
sometimes  niveus,  and 
which  would  be  better 
if  recogn  sed  as  C. 
marathoniscus,  syn. 
niveus,  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  other,  an 
inferior  plant.  The  one 
of  Avhich  I  now  speak 
was  introduced,  1  be- 
heve,  through  the 
medium  of  Max 
Leitchtlin,  and  is 
among  the  largest  and 
finest  of  the  autumn 
ana  winter  Croci.  It 
seems  constant  in  its 
characters  of  size,  sub¬ 
stance,  and  colour,  but 
it  appears  to  vary  a 
little  in  time  of  bloom¬ 
ing,  as  I  have  conns 
planted  at  the  same 
time  which  have  varied 
from  one  to  nearly  two 
months  in  flowering. 
C.  marathoniscus  syn. 
niveus  is  a  little  smaller 
than  the  best  forms  of 
C.  speciosus,  but  is 
much  stouter  in  sub¬ 
stance,  and  thus  better 
calculated  to  withstand 
bad  w'eather.  It  is  a 
good  white,  the  base 
of  the  flower  being 
yellow.  It  is  a  flower 
of  which  such  connoisseurs  in  the  Crocus  as  Mr. 
E.  A.  Bowles  have  the  highest  opinion.  Mr. 
Bowles  is  at  the  present  time  our  largest  British 
grower  of  the  Crocus  species  and  their  varieties, 
and  a  plant  of  which  he  thinks  so  highly  can  con¬ 
fidently  be  recommended,  apart  even  from  one’s 
own  experience  and  observation. 
Incarvlllea  Delavayi. 
Undoubtedly  one  of  the  best  and  most  distinct  hardy  plants 
of  recent  years  is  Incarvillea  Delavayi,  about  whose  hardiness 
a  good  deal  of  uncertainty  appears  to  prevail  in  the  minds  of 
many  plant  lovers.  In  its  general  aspect  it  undoubtedly  reminds 
one  of  some  greenhouse  plants,  but  from  one’s  own  experience, 
and  from  all  one  can  learn  from  others,  it  is  a  perfectly  hardy 
plant,  and  will  stand  with  impunity  colder  weather  than  many 
flowers,  about  which  no  one  ever  expressed  any  doubt  as  to  their 
perfect  endurance.  Its  appearance  is  quite  distinct  from  that  of 
almost  any  other  hardy  plant  of  its  season,  and  when  it  blooms 
well  into  autumn,  as  it  will  do  if  in  a  cold  and  shaded  position,  its 
flowers  are  peculiarly  acceptable,  for  then  is  the  time  when  the 
composites  are  in  abun¬ 
dance,  and  we  seek  for 
something  which  will 
form  a  variety  from  their 
rounded  flov  ers.  Such  is 
given  us  by  the  Incar¬ 
villea,  with  its  flowers  of 
Gloxinia,  Bignonia,  or 
Bapageria-like  character, 
and  its  pretty  and  dis¬ 
tinct  pinnate  leaves.  The 
flowers  are  of  a  pleasing 
rose-red  colour,  and  are 
large  and  handsome  when 
well  grown.  They  are 
produced  ivith  consider¬ 
able  abundance,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  age  and  vigour 
of  the  plants ;  young  and 
weakly  ones  often  giving 
not  more  than  one 
flower ;  while  older  and 
better  grown  specimens 
will  yield  from  ten  to 
fourteen. 
One  great  feature  of 
this  Incarvillea  is  the 
ease  with  which  it  may  be 
growm  from  seeds,  which 
it  produces  and  ripens 
treely.  These  may  be 
sown  when  ripe,  or  left 
until  spring,  sowdng  them 
in  pots  or  pans  under 
glass,  or,  simpler  still,  in 
a  warm  border  in  the  re¬ 
serve  garden.  I  have 
seen  some  vigorous  speci¬ 
mens  from  seeds  sown  thinly  in  rows  in  the  open 
and  the  seedlings  left  undisturbed  until  they 
fljAvered.  When  in  pots  or  pans,  the  seedlings 
are  best  transplanted  young,  and  had  I  to  groiv 
a  number  for  planting  out  when  of  some  size,  I 
should  transplant  into  small  pots  singly.  The 
roots  of  Incarvillea  Delavayi  are  tuberous  in 
their  character,  and  descend  for  a  considerable 
depth  into  the  soil. 
I  have  experimented  with  this  plant  for  the 
purpose  of  testing  its  hardiness,  and  find  that  it 
Avill  grow  and  flower  well  even  in  an  almost  sun- 
lass  border,  exposed  to  cold  wdnds  all  spring,  and 
in  damp  and  heavy  soil.  It  is  long  of  making 
growth,  and  the  blooming  period  is  retarded 
until  autumn,  instead  of  summer,  but  here  in 
such  a  position  it  has  lived,  flowered,  and  seeded 
tor  several  years.  Its  general  height  is  from 
2ft  to  3ft,  but  it  varies  according  to  the 
soil  and  moisture.  I  have  observed  that  there  ||.js  tectorum. 
is  a  dwarf  variety  offered  on  the  Continent,  but  _  ,  *  , 
I  am  doubtful  if  it  will  be  much  of  an  acquisition  note  on  page  143.) 
in  a  plant  such  as  this,  which  is  much  more 
effective  when  it  is  well  and  strongly  groAvn.  It  is,  perhaps,  the 
best  of  the  genus,  which  comprises  several  handsome  plants,  for 
general  cultivation  in  the  hardy  plant  garden.  We  OAve  it  to 
Abbe*  Delavay,  I  believe,  and  his  name  is  honoured  in  being 
associated  with  this  fine  Chinese  plant.  In  conclusion,  it  may 
be  AA’ell  to  add  that  seedlings  may  be  two  or  three  years  before 
they  flower. 
Crocus  marathoniscus,  syn.  niveus. 
No  hardy  plantsman  worthy  of  the  name  is  satisfied  if  he 
cannot  find  in  his  garden  every  day  of  the  year  some  one  or 
other  of  the  flowers  to  which  his  affections  are  principally  dedi¬ 
cated,  though  heavy  .snows  or  severe  frosts  may  sometimes  render 
h'ln  forlorn  because  he  is  unable  to  have  his  desires  gratified. 
Yet,  it  must  be  said  that  there  is  still  a  great  want  of  flowers  in 
Biarum  or  Ischarum  exlmium. 
A  catalogue  which  has  just  reached  me  from 
Asiatic  Turkey  reminds  me  of  the  curious,  yet  at¬ 
tractive  Biarum  or  Ischarum  eximium,  an  Aroid 
Avhich  w'as  only  introduced  in  1898,  but  Avhich  is 
likely  to  become  known  better  ere  long,  though  it 
is  not  a  floAver  which  is  brilliant  enough  for  the 
average  frequenter  of  shows.  '  The  few  other 
species  knoAvn  as  Ischarums,  but  noAV  considered 
properly  classed  with  the  Biarums,  are  not  so 
hardy  as  this,  which  comes  from  Western  Cilicia, 
where  it  is  a  native  of  the  mountains.  It  grows 
a  feAv  inches  in  height,  and  has  broadish,  simple 
leaves  and  dark  purple  spathes,  having  the  ex¬ 
terior  of  a  green  colour  spotted  with  red.  It 
flowers  here  in  autumn,  and  is  curiously  attractive  when  grown 
in  a  pan,  though  it  is  even  more  a  subject  of  much  value  for  the 
rock  garden.  It  can  be  cultivated  in  common  soil.  One  thing 
I  did  not  know  before,  but  which  the  catalogue  before  me  in¬ 
formed  me,  is  that  this  Biarum  can  be  flowered  without  soil  in 
autumn,  and  may  be  treated  in  a  similar  w  ay  to  such  Colchicums 
and  Crocuses  as  are  placed  in  moss  or  cocoa-nut  fibre  and  thus 
flowered.  It  is  not  a  method  for  which  I  care,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
generally  secured  at  the  expense  of  the  welfare  of  the  bulb  or 
tuber,  but  still  it  is  interesting  to  knoAv,  and  may  serve  to  draw 
attention  to  the  uses  to  which  Biarum  or  Ischarum  eximium  may 
be ’put.  It  is  quite  hardy,  and  well  deserves  the  name  of 
“  eximium  ”  or  “  choice.”  It  certainly  is  a  plant  worthy  of  an 
award.  The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  has  not  been  quite 
so  oblivious  of  its  character. — S.  Abnott. 
