132 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  8,  1901. 
Scented  Flowers  and  Leaves. 
Luculia  gratissima  has  delightfully  scented  pale  mauve  flowers, 
borne  in  trusses  during  the  sombre  days  of  winter.  It  is  rarely  seen, 
as  it  is  not  amenable  to  pot  culture  ;  but  planted  out  in  a  well  drained 
border  in  a  warm  conservatory  it  does  well.  After  flowering  shorten 
back  all  shoots  to  within  an  inch  or  two  from  whence  they  sprung,  and 
keep  the  plants  rather  dry  at  the  roots  until  new  growth  commences. 
There  is  a  fine  specimen  of  this  plant  at  Firbeck  Hall,  Rotherham, 
Yorks,  and  one  at  Patshull,  Staffordshire. 
Traohylospermum  (Rhynchospermum)  jasminoides  flowers  during 
summer,  when  its  dark  green  glossy  leaves  are  almost  hidden  with 
snowy  white,  sweet  scented  flowers.  It  does  well  either  in  pots  or 
planted  out  in  a  cool  greenhouse  or  conservatory  in  a  partially  shaded 
position.  There  is  a  fine  specimen  of  this  plant  in  the  conservatory  at 
Temple  Newsam,  Yorks,  also  one  at  Edenhall,  Cumberland. 
Brugmansia  (Datura)  suaveolens  is  delicately  scented,  as  is  the 
semi-double  form  Knighti.  They  are  both  fine  plants  for  rooms  when 
grown  as  standards  in  large  pots ;  their  pendent,  fragile  trumpets  of 
white  are  most  attractive.  As  they  are  gross  feeders  they  require  a 
substantial  loamy  compost,  and  when  the  pots  are  full  of  roots 
frequent  applications  of  liquid  manure,  soot  water,  or  artificial  manure. 
They  are  as  easily  struck  as  most  softwooded  plants,  and  when  in  the 
propagating  house  may  be  frequently  sprinkled  overhead  to  prevent 
flagging  until  roots  are  formed.  In  winter  they  should  be  kept  dry 
and  stored  away  like  Fuchsias,  and  again  started  in  spring  in  a  moist 
atmosphere,  as  in  a  vinery  at  work,  but  previous  to  this,  shorten  back  to 
an  eye  or  two  from  the  base  of  the  past  year’s  growth.  When  new 
growth  has  been  made,  shake  most  of  the  old  soil  from  the  roots  and 
repot. 
The  popular  Heliotropium  may  be  flowered  at  any  season  of  the 
year  by  preparing  batches  of  plants,  and  where  it  is  planted  cut  against 
the  back  wall  of  a  sunny  greenhouse  it  will  produce  quantities  of 
flowers  for  cutting,  although  as  a  cut  flower  it  is  rather  disappointing, 
only  lasting  a  day  in  perfection.  It  is  easily  raised  from  cuttings  of  the 
young  shoots.  Loam,  leaf  mould,  and  sand,  with  a  little  old  manure, 
will  grow  it  well  if  its  other  wants  are  attended  to,  as  watering  and 
full  exposure  to  light.  When  growing  for  winter  flowering  stand  out¬ 
doors  on  an  ash  bottom  during  summer,  keeping  all  blooms  pioked  off 
until  the  end  of  September,  when  the  plants  should  be  placed  in  a 
light  house  close  to  the  glass,  where  a  night  temperature  of  50°  to  55° 
can  be  maintained.  As  a  standard,  well  grown,  it  is  very  effective  in 
the  flower  garden,  and  I  well  remember  seeing  it  in  quantity  as  dot 
plants  on  the  lawn  between  flower  beds  some  years  ago  at  Llangedwyn, 
North  Wales. 
Boronia  megastigma  is  a  most  desirable  plant,  with  rather  dull 
brown,  inconspicuous  flowers,  but  with  a  strong  aromatic  pe>  fume.  One 
plant  is  sufficient  for  a  large  room.  It  requires  most  careful  watering, 
extremes  in  either  direction  are  resented.  Being  a  fine-rooted  subject 
fibry  peat  and  silver  Band  is  the  oompost  to  grow  it  in  ;  very  firm 
potting,  and  a  cool,  airy  house  in  summer,  Be  oareful  that  the  rays 
of  the  sun  do  not  strike  the  pots,  or  the  fine  roots  will  perish.  Keep 
under  glass  throughout  the  year,  and  use  as  little  fire  heat  as  possible. 
Another  plant  rarely  seen  in  a  thriving  condition  is  Daphne  indioa, 
and  yet  its  wants  are  simple ;  but,  like  the  Camellia,  if  it  once  gets 
into  a  bad  state  it  is  rarely  brought  round.  The  finest  plants  on  record 
have  been  raised  from  cuttings — namely,  those  at  Berkeley  Castle, 
Gloucestershire,  whereas  nurserymen  usually  graft  it  upon  the  seedlings 
of  Daphne  Mezereon,  and  this  may  have  something  to  do  with  the 
fickleness  of  Daphne  indioa.  A  good  loamy  compost  suits  it  better 
than  peat,  and  it  is  rather  impatient  of  muoh  cutting  with  the  knife. 
When  alluding  to  sweet-scented  flowers,  Violets,  Roses,  Carnations, 
Sweet  Peas,  Mignonette,  Tuberoses,  and  many  bulbous  plants  require  a 
reference,  but  the  prominent  place  they  hold  in  the  estimation  of  all 
flower  lovers  precludes  me  at  present  entering  on  their  culture,  seeing 
also  that  they  are  frequently  and  ably  dealt  with  by  other  writers  and 
growers  in  the  Journal. 
Sweet-Scented  Leaves. 
And  now  to  consider  plants  with  sweet-scented  leaves.  Scented¬ 
leaved  Pelargoniums  must  have  a  place,  as  their  popularity,  either  as 
plants  for  sitting  rooms,  or  to  out  for  intermixing  with  other  flowers. 
This  may  appear  an  anomaly,  as  I  have  before  protested  against  foreign 
foliage,  but  the  peculiar  properties  of  fragrant  leaves  take  away  the 
objection.  There  are  a  considerable  number  of  varieties,  amongst  which 
Lady  Scarborough,  Fair  Ellen,  filicifolia,  citriodora  and  tomentosum,  and 
the  white  variegated  Lady  Plymouth  may  be  mentioned.  Where  they 
are  required  for  cutting  I  think  they  are  best  planted  in  a  narrow 
border  and  trained  against  a  back  wall  of  a  sunny  greenhouse,  feeding 
them  occasionally.  When  grown  as  pot  plants,  pot  firmly  in  loam, 
leaf  mould,  and  sand,  giving  stimulants  when  the  pots  are  full  of  roots. 
When  in  constant  demand  as  room  plants  a  good  stock  is  needed,  as 
they  soon  become  shabby  in  the  dry  atmosphere  or  badly  lighted 
positions  they  have  to  occupy.  They  are  easily  struck  from  cuttings, 
selecting  good  shoots  6  inches  or  so  in  length.  I  prefer  to  allow  them 
to  dry  for  a  day  or  two  before  insertion,  as  I  find  they  are  less  liable  to 
damp.  If  struck  in  autamn  or  spring  plaoe  on  shelves  in  a  warm  house 
with  a  temperature  of  60°,  removing  to  a  lower  temperature  when 
struck.  [We  would  be  delighted  to  see  better  and  larger  collections 
in  gardens  everywhere ;  the  scented  Pelargoniums  are  gems  in  every 
respect. — Ed.] 
Lippia  (Aloysia)  citriodora  is  available  during  summer  and 
autumn.  It  is  easily  increased  by  outtings  of  the  young  shoots  in 
spring;  an  old  plant  put  into  a  moist  warm  house  will  produce  a  good 
many  such  cuttings.  The  outtings  after  insertion  should  be  placed  in 
the  propagating  house,  plunging  the  pots  in  cocoa-nut  fibre,  leaves,  or 
sawdust,  sprinkling  the  cuttings  twice  daily,  so  as  to  prevent  flagging  ; 
after  rooted  potting  into  small  pots,  pinching  occasionally  to  form 
symmetrical  plants,  which  in  the  second  year  may  be  cut  from  as 
needed.  The  Lemon-scented  Verbena  is  often  dried  off  during  winter, 
being  deoiduous  ;  but  this  is  undoubtedly  a  mistake.  It  should  be 
watered  as  required,  not  allowing  the  soil  to  become  parched,  and 
wintering  in  any  frost-proof  plaoe.  In  the  south  of  England  with  a 
little  winter  protection  it  stands  outdoors.  There  was  e,  circular  bed  of 
this  plant  at  Temple  House,  Great  Marlow,  Bucks,  whioh  was  thatched 
with  straw  during  winter.  Eucalyptus  citriodora  and  E.  globulus  are 
easily  raised  from  seed  sown  in  warmth  in  early  spring,  make  nioe 
•plants  for  room  decoration  in  winter  in  5  or  6-inch  pots.  They  must 
be  grown  in  a  light  position  in  a  cool  airy  house  in  summer,  and  an 
intermediate  house  to  retain  the  glaucous  hue  of  globulus  in  winter. 
Diosma  eriooides,  a  plant  rarely  seen,  but  most  useful  to  mix  with  cut 
flowers  for  its  fragrance  and  its  light  and  graceful  effeot.  I  remember 
well  some  large  bushes  of  it  grown  in  large  pots  in  a  Yorkshire  garden 
that  were  freely  cut  during  the  autumn  and  winter.  Its  treatment  is 
almost  identical  with  what  an  Indian  Azalea  requires — a  peaty  soil,  with 
silver  sand  to  keep  it  porous,  a  free  supply  of  water  during  summer,  and 
to  ba  placed  in  the  open  air  ;  but  where  they  are  protected  from  the 
fierce  rays  of  the  sun,  being  a  fine-rooted  plant,  syringe  regularly,  and 
in  the  autumn  remove  to  a  cool  light  airy  house. 
Myrtles,  both  broad  and  narrow-leaved,  are  plants  whose  culture  is 
of  the  simplest.  A  loamy  oompost,  a  cool  house,  close  attention  to 
watering,  and  to  be  well  syringed  to  keep  down  thrip.  When  grown  in 
tubs  they  are  useful  in  conjunction  with  Sweet  Bays  and  Laurustinus 
for  standing  on  terraces,  balconies,  verandahs,  or  under  porticoes,  as 
their  sombre  aspect  and  pungent  odours  lend  themselves  to  architectural 
dignity  with  appropriateness.  Reference  must  be  made  to  the  hardy 
Chimonanthus  fragrans  (Winter  Sweet),  flowering  as  it  does  in  the 
dreary,  dark  midwinter  days  when  the  garden  is  desolate.  Its  flowers 
are  dull  in  colour  but  exquisite  in  perfume,  but  most  useful  to  cut  for 
glasses.  After  flowering,  when  grown  against  a  wall,  spur  in  all  shoots 
that  have  flowered  to  within  two  or  three  eyes  from  their  base,  as 
flowers  are  produced  from  the  ripened  shoots.  Jasminum  grandiflorum 
flowers  in  the  early  autumn  trained  against  a  wall  and  allowed  to 
ramble  freely  in  an  unrestrained  informal  way,  pruning  being  confined 
to  the  removal  of  old  wood  and  thinning  out  where  crowded  in  the 
early  spring,  as  the  resulting  lateral  sprays  are  the  flowering  shoots. — 
F.  Street. 
Gonnersbnry  House. 
It  is  doubtful  whether  Europe  and  the  Western  World  generally  had 
any  deep-seated  respect  for  Japan  and  the  Japanese  prior  to  the  war 
of  1894,  when  the  island  inhabitants  completely  defeated  the 
equivocating  Celestials.  We  have  for  long  found  amusement  in  the 
practices,  even  the  ordinary  operations,  of  the  Jap ;  everything  he 
does  is  done  exactly  opposite  to  our  method  ;  he  even  shakes  hiB  own 
hands  instead  of  those  of  his  friends  when  parties  meet  in  the  street.. 
Yet,  withal,  the  Japs  are  clever  and  active  minded;  they  have  imbibed 
the  acute  business  predilections  of  the  West  (for  wisdom  sometimes  goes 
East),  and  perhaps  in  no  sphere  of  occupation  more  than  that  of 
horticulture  has  his  energetic  presence  become  prominent.  His  land  has 
furnished  a  host  of  the  handsomest  and  most  beautiful  trees,  shrubs, 
and  flowers  that  British  gardens  contain,  and  he  trades  upon  the  English 
love  for  these  magnificent  gifts  of  Nature’s.  And  so  it  oomes  that  we 
now  find  collections  of  Japanese  plants  and  shrubs  being  arranged  and 
planted  as  features  of  some  of  our  home  gardens  here ;  and  when  such 
collections  are  ohoioe,  the  designing  and  planting  being  accomplished 
with  care  and  skill,  a  Japanese  garden,  indeed,  furnishes  an  exceedingly 
interesting  addition  to  the  ornamental  grounds. 
At  Gunnersbury  House,  a  residence  of  Leopold  de  Rothsohild,  Esq,,. 
Mr.  James  Hudson  has,  since  last  October,  completed  one  of  the  most 
strictly  true  and  magnifioent  gardens  of  Japanese  design  and 
composition  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the  kingdom.  The  ground, 
before  any  alterations  had  been  made,  was  such  as  one  oould  point  to 
in  almost  any  garden.  It  lies  sheltered,  and  falls  from  the  northward, 
being  somewhat  broadly  basin  shaped,  in  extent  under  an  acre,  and 
flanked  at  the  southward  extremity  by  an  Ivy-clad  wall,  and  the  green 
encrusted  ruins  of  a  castellated  building.  It  was  necessary  to  lift  and 
re-arrange  the  majority  of  the  afore-existing  shrubs,  and  to  lop  a 
number  of  large  trees  to  secure  light,  air,  and  space.  A  rugged  wall, 
built  with  old  bricks,  with  an  uneven,  dishevelled  top,  and  reoesses  and 
buttresses  upon  the  face  of  it,  had  to  be  built  at  what  I  term  the  north 
line  of  demarcation.  More  will  presently  be  noted  in  reference  to  this 
wall  (which  is  now  a  ohief  feature  of  ornament),  but  in  the  meantime  I 
simply  point  out  that  it  was  ereoted  and  matohes  the  orumbling,. 
