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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  September  26,  1901. 
Muscarl  “Heavenly  Blue.”-— We  call  attention  to  this  wonderful 
variety,  than  which  nothing  in  the  way  of  blue  exoels  it  in  the  spring. 
Secure  and  plant  a  few  bulbs  on  any  sunny  hank  by  the  side  of  a  hedge ; 
in  such  a  position  it  grows  luxuriantly,  and  appears  more  in  effective 
keeping  with  its  surroundings  than  when  planted  in  bare  borders. 
X  Ilium  Batemannlae.  —  This  is  a  beautiful  Japanese  species, 
which  flowers  early  in  August ;  the  plant  attains  the  height  of  feet,  and 
is  a  good  grower.  The  flowers,  which  are  of  a  deep  apricot  yellow  in 
colour,  are  very  pleasing  to  the  eye,  especially  when  seen  in  large 
masses.  The  stalks  average  from  five  to  ten  blooms  each,  and  these 
last  remarkably  well,  either  on  the  plant  or  in  a  cut  state.  Although 
comparatively  cheap,  L.  Batemannise  is  not  grown  so  largely  as  it 
merits. 
Ardlsla  Ollverl. — During  the  past  few  weeks  this  has  been  one  of 
the  most  attractive  flowering  plants  in  the  Palm  house  at  Kew.  It  is  a 
small  evergreen  bush,  about  1^  foot  high  as  represented,  though  given 
plenty  of  room  it  makes  quite  a  large  plant.  The  leaves  are  ovate,  and 
are  conspicuous  by  reason  of  their  glossy  dark  green  surfaoe.  The 
flowers  are  borne  in  large  terminal  heads,  and  are  rosy-purple  in  oolour. 
They  are  followed  by  dark,  almost  black  fruits,  whioh  add  a  further 
interest  to  the  plant.  It  has  been  in  cultivation  about  twenty-five 
years,  having  been  introduced  from  its  home  in  Costa  Rica  in  1876.  Its 
cultivation  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  general  run  of  stove  plants, 
and  given  rich  open  soil,  a  moist  atmosphere,  and  plenty  of  water 
whilst  growing,  it  is  almost  sure  to  succeed.  A  figure  of  it  may  be 
seen  in  the  “  Botanical  Magazine”  at  t.  6357. — W.  D. 
Kochla  scoparla,  Schrad.,  is  a  pretty,  light  green  foliaged  annual, 
and  was  shown  growing  in  a  pot  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s 
meeting  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  September  10th.  It  received  on  that 
occasion  a  first-class  certificate.  By  the  courtesy  of  Messrs.  H.  Cannell 
and  Sons,  Swanley,  the  introducers  of  the  above,  we  are  enabled  to 
furnish  a  reduced  likeness  of  this  graceful  and  somewhat  peculiar 
plant.  Its  cultural  treatment  is  as  simple  as  that  of  a  Balsam  ;  one 
need  only  sow  the  seeds,  and  the  plants  will  grow  to  perfection  without 
any  great  amount  of  attention.  April  is  a  suitable  month  for  sowing, 
and  by  the  end  of  May  the  plantlets  may  be  pricked  out  in  open 
borders.  It  is  at  times  named  Summer  Cyprus  or  Mock  Cypress, 
appellatives  that  in  a  measure  describe  its  appearance.  The  genus 
Kochia  derives  its  name  from  Prof.  W.  D.  J.  Kooh,  1771-1849,  who 
held  the  chair  of  botany  at  Erlangen  for  a  considerable  period.  The 
flowers  are  inconspicuous,  the  genus  being  included  under  Chenopodiacese. 
The  plant  dies  within  two  weeks  of  flowering.  The  height  of  K.  scoparia 
is  usually  21  feet,  and  its  foliage  becomes  crimson  in  September,  from 
which  character  it  has,  in  one  case  at  least,  received  the  erroneous 
common  name  of  Mexican  Fire  Plant.  It  is  a  remarkable  plant. 
Heterogeneous  Crafting. — Horticultural  journals  are  giving 
currency  to  a  statement  that  M.  Bonnier  showed  that  plants  of  entirely 
different  families  had  recently  been  grafted  with  success — for  example, 
the  Maple  upon  the  Lilao,  the  Kidney  Bean  upon  the  Castor  Oil  Bean, 
and  the  Cabbage  upon  the  Tomato.  This  was  at  the  Paris  Academy 
of  Sciences.  Statements  such  as  these,  wholly  opposed  to  the 
experience  of  practical  men,  should  not  be  trundled  around,  says 
Meehans’  Monthly,”  without  a  word  of  caution.  Years  ago,  a 
correspondent  of  the  writer,  a  gentleman  of  character  and  oaution, 
wrote  that  he  had  succeeded,  in  Florida,  in  grafting  the  Japanese 
Persimmon  on  the  Oak.  He  was  asked  for  specimens,  and  kindly 
sent  some.  Truly,  the  scions  had  budded  forth  to  young  branchlets — 
but  a  close  examination  showed  that  there  was  no  actual  union.  The 
scions  fitted  tightly  in  the  cleft  made  in  the  Oak  pla  t,  and  had 
managed  to  suck  in  enough  moisture  to  permit  the  pushing  out  of 
the  growth.  They  sprouted  just  as  they  would  have  done  had  they 
been  in  a  vessel  of  water.  They  were  dead  before  the  season  was 
o^er.  One  may  not  say  Professor  Bonnier  is  wrong— but  may  say  that 
unlikely  things  should  be  closely  tested  before  being  given  out  as  facts. 
Readers  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  may  recall  the  able  artiole  on 
*'  Impostor’s  Grafting,”  that  appeared  on  January  17th  last. 
Blchorlsandras. — It  is  advisable  in  treating  this  genus  to  retain 
them  in  a  warm  house.  A  suitable  compost  consists  of  rich  light  loam, 
sand,  and  peat.  Thorough  drainage  is  absolutely  essential,  and,  while 
in  growth,  abundant  supplies  of  water  may  be  allowed.  Occasional 
applications  of  weak  liquid  manure  are  very  beneficial  to  the  plants,  and 
greatly  improve  the  size  of  the  flowers  and  heads.  After  flowering 
less  water  is  necessary,  but  the  soil  must  never  be  allowed  to  beoome 
excessively  dry. 
Wild  Fruits. — Three  of  the  very  finest  of  our  useable  wild  fruits 
are  the  Bramble,  the  Elder,  and  the  Mountain  Ash.  All  are  in  great 
abundance  just  now.  Everybody  knows  how  to  utilise  the  Bramble. 
The  use  of  the  Elder  and  the  Mountain  Ash, or  Rowan,  says  “The  Sun,’ 
is  not  so  familiar.  The  Elder  makes  a  fine  soothing  jelly,  and  also  the 
king  of  home-made  wines.  The  latter,  however,  when  well  made  and 
aged  is  insidiously  intoxicating.  The  Rowan  berry  makes  a  jelly 
superior  in  appearance,  and  much  more  piquant,  than  Red  Currants, 
but  this  fruit  is  said  to  destroy  the  memory. 
Aralla  splnosa. — Aralia  spinosa  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  Bmall  trees.  Its  immense  flower  heads  develop  fully  about  the 
15th  of  August.  Besides  the  flowers,  the  large  spread  of  the  leaves 
should  be  observed,  each  leaf  being  of  a  compound  nature,  developing 
to  a  length  of  from  2  to  3  feet.  To  see  the  tree  when  bare  of  foliage, 
it  is  the  last  to  suggest  its  giving  shade,  yet  large  specimens  form  an 
overhead  canopy  entirely  ample  to  shade  those  who  may  be  seated  under 
it.  It  is  frequently  seen  planted  among  shrubs  and  trees,  but  this  is  not 
such  an  appropriate  place  for  it  as  an  open  one,  when  it  may  stand 
alone. 
Extermination  of  Medicinal  Plants  In  America. — The  curse 
of  professional  root-diggers,  who  systemetioally  traverse  the  country, 
devouring  with  the  avidity  of  seventeen-year  loousts,  threatens  seriously 
the  annihilation  of  some  of  our  medicinal  plants.  For  the  past  few 
years  the  demand  has  been  especially  for  Ginseng,  resulting  in  its 
almost  complete  disappearance  from  former  haunts,  after  two  or  three 
seasons  of  this  persistent  thievery  by  travelling  diggers.  Blood-root 
has  entirely  disappeared  from  this  vicinity,  within  the  remembrance  of 
many,  and  Goldenseal  is  extremely  rare,  also  Goldthread.  All  bnt  the 
first  of  these  plants  were  probably  secured  by  local  hunters. 
Bocconla  cordata. — In  a  garden  famous  for  herbaceous  flowers, 
namely,  that  of  Miss  Humberston  at  Newton  Hall,  near  Chester,  I 
recently  saw  a  large  patch  of  this  decorative  plant  growing  luxuriantly 
and  to  great  advantage  (see  illustration  on  page  291).  This  was  planted 
in  a  border  some  20  feet  long,  at  the  back  of  which  was  an  old  brick 
wall,  which  gave  added  effect,  as  seen  through  the  light  coloured  foliage 
of  the  Bocconia.  Mr.  Wakefield,  the  head  gardener,  also  showed  me, 
with  some  amount  of  pride,  his  excellent  collections  of  other  herbaceous 
flowers,  the  most  notioeable  of  which  were  perhaps  Lobelia  cardinalis 
var.  Firefly,  Chrysanthemum  maximum,  hybrid  Gaillardias,  perennial 
Helianthus  of  sorts,  and  Veronica  subsessilis,  Soabiosa  oaucasioa  and 
alba,  and  many  others,  from  which  he  had  oulled  his  numerous  prize 
collections,  including  those  gained  at  the  great  Shrewsbury  Show. 
— Visitor 
Ixoras  at  Hew. — Throughout  August  and  September  a  very  fine 
lot  of  Ixoras  made  a  most  effective  display  in  the  Palm  house,  and 
oame  in  for  a  great  amount  of  admiration.  The  most  effective  group 
was  made  up  of  a  number  of  fine  plants  of  I.  maorothyrsa,  a  species 
from  Sumatra,  remarkable  for  its  immense  heads  of  large  vermilion- 
red  flowers,  the  heads  being  in  some  instances  quite  a  foot  across. 
Among  the  other  species  and  varieties,  each  of  which  was  represented 
by  a  number  of  plants,  the  following  were  conspicuous — I.  cocoinea, 
represented  by  bushes  3  feet  high  and  2J  feet  through,  smothered  with 
red  flowers,  and  its  varieties  Fraseri,  Pilgrimi,  and  Dixiana,  all  well 
flowered.  I.  cocoinea  var.  lutea  added  variety  by  reason  of  its  yellow 
flowers,  and  I.  biachiata  performed  a  similar  servioe  by  means  of  its 
large  heads  of  white  blossoms.  I.  spectabilis,  a  Burmese  species,  was 
very  showy,  while  well  flowered  specimens  of  javanica  were  very 
noticeable  by  reason  of  their  orange-soarlet  blossoms.  Of  others 
mention  must  be  made  of  Prince  of  Orange  and  incarnata,  whioh  were 
both  very  fine.  The  high  temperature  and  moist  atmosphere  of  the 
house  appear  to  have  just  met  the  requirements  of  the  plants,  whilst 
being  in  a  very  sunny  position  the  wood  has  had  a  good  chance  to 
beoome  thoroughly  ripened.  Although  at  one  time  very  popular  plants, 
Ixoras  appear  of  late  years  to  have  declined  in  favour,  and  are  now 
absentees  from  many  gardens.  When,  however,  they  are  seen  as  at 
Kew  this  year  they  must  again  become  fashionable. — W. 
