420 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Z\[ay  14,  1903. 
22  William  Jowitt,  1900 . 
27  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  1899 
27  Lottie  Dean,  1902  . 
27  Lyric.  1901  . 
27  Mrs.  De  Luca,  1902  . 
31  P.  W.  Tulloch,  1902  . 
31  Eingdove,  1902  . 
31  Loyalty,  1900  . 
34  Florence,  1902 . 
34  J.  H.  Jackson,  1902  . 
30  J.  F.  Hudson,  1899  . 
3(>  Imperator,  1901 . 
36  Mrs.  J.  B.  Clark,  1902  .. .. 
39  Columbia,  1902  . 
39  Bessie  Mitchell,  1901 . 
39  Lucius,  1899  . 
39  Night,  1898  . 
39  Eichard  Dean,  1902  . 
1902 
1901  1900 
10 
12 
8 
scarlet 
9 
29 
33 
salmon  and  apricot 
9 
— 
— 
amber  buff,  tinted  rose 
9 
14 
— 
deep  bronzy  red 
9 
— 
— 
yelloAV  and  orange 
8 
— 
— 
salmon  red,  tinted  purple 
8 
— 
— 
pinkish  fawn,  shading  to 
8 
10 
10 
coral  red  [white 
7 
— 
— 
orange  yellow 
7 
— 
— 
maroon 
6 
17 
20 
reddish  carmine 
(i 
10 
— 
ruby  crimson 
6 
— 
— 
cinnamon,  tipped  peach 
5 
— 
— 
scarlet,  tipped  white 
5 
7 
— 
orange,  shaded  salmon 
5 
2.6 
20 
deep  orange 
5 
11 
41 
dark  crimson 
.5 
— 
— 
scarlet,  tipped  white 
Taking  the  leading  twelve  varieties  on  the  list,  seven 
will  be  found  which  appeared  in  the  first  dozen  on  the  same 
list  last  year.  The  absentees  are  C.  Woodbridge,  now  at 
Xo.  14  ;  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  now  at  Xo.  27  ;  Viscountess 
Hherbrooke,  now  at  Xo.  17;  and  Lucius,  now  at  Xo.  39; 
while  Mary  Service  has  disappeared  from  the  list  altogether. 
These  particulars  will  show  that,  although  consiclerable 
advances  are  still  being  made  in  this  section,  there  is,  on 
the  other  hand,  gi'eater  signs  of  stability  than  at  any 
previous  period. 
The  only  1897  sorts  Avhich  still  remain  in  the  table  are  C. 
Woodbridge  (Xo.  14)  and  Starfish  (Xo.  19)  ;  while  Britannia 
(X’o.  4)  and  Xight  (Xo.  39)  are  left  to  represent  1898,  and 
Viscountess  Sherbrooke  (Xo.  17),  Countess  of  Lonsdale 
(X’o.  27),  J.  F.  Hudson  (Xo.  36),  and  Lucius  (Xo.  39)  as  the 
only  representatives  of  the  year  1899. 
Xine  A'arieties  Avhich  secured  places  in  last  year’s  table 
are  no  longer  to  be  found  in  the  present  one,  including  the 
following  sorts  sent  o\it  as  recently  as  1900  :  Emperor,  Elsie, 
and  William  Treseder.  On  the  other  hand,  three  1901 
varieties.  Prince  of  YelloAvs,  Floradora,  and  Bessie  Mitchell, 
not  in  last  year’s  list,  are  to  be  found  in  this  one. 
If  the  1902  varieties 'be  arranged  according  to  their  re¬ 
spective  positions  in  the  list,  they  come  out  as  follows  : 
Mrs.  Edward  Mawley  (Xo.  8),  Alpha  (Xo.  14),  Aunt  Chloe 
(Xo.  17),  Clara  G.  Stredwick  (Xo.  19),  Gabriel  (Xo.  22), 
Mrs.  Winstanley  (Xo.  22),  Lottie  Dean  (Xo.  27),  Mrs.  De 
Luca  (Xo.  27),  P.  W.  Tulloch  (Xo.  31),  Eingdove  (No.  31), 
Florence  (Xo.  34),  J.  H.  Jackson  (Xo.  34),  Mrs.  J.  B.  Clark 
(Xo.  36).  Columbia  (X"o.  39),  and  Richard  Dean  (No.  39). 
Placed  according  to  their  colours,  the  Cactus  Dahlias 
included  in  the  table  may  be  ^rouped  as  follows  :  White, 
Lord  Roberts  ;  yelhae,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Mrs.  EdAvarcl 
MaAvley.  and  Prince  of  YelloAvs  ;  oranye,  Mrs.  De  Luca, 
Florence,  Bessie  Mitchell,  and  Lucius  ;  pinJc  and  rose,  Vesta, 
Zephyr,  Rosine,  and  Loyalty  ;  scarlet,  (Jalliard,  Starfish,  ancl 
AVilliam  JoAvitt;  crimson,  J.  AV.  Wilkinson,  Mrs.  Carter 
Page,  J.  AVeir  Fife,  C.  Woodbridge,  Floradora,  J.  F. 
Hudson,  and' Imperator ;  maroon,  Uncle  Tom,  Aunt  Chloe, 
Xight,  and  J.  H.  Jackson  ;  various  shades  of  red,  sedmon, 
apricof,  Jr.,  Britannia,  Cornucopia,  Ajax,  Viscountess  Sher¬ 
brooke,  Clara  G.  StredAA’ick,  Mayor  Tuppeney,  Mrs.  AVin- 
sJanley,  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Lottie  Dean,  Lyric,  Mrs.  De 
Juica,  P.  AV.  Tulloch.  and  Ringdove  ;  fancy.  Alpha,  Gabriel, 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Clark,  Columbia,  and  Richard  Dean. 
A  glance  doAvn  the  table  Avill  at  once  shoAV  Avhat  a  very 
small  displ.ay  of  Cactus  Dahlias  there  was  at  the  exhibition 
last  year  as  compared  AA'ith  those  of  the  tAvo  previous 
years.  For  example,  in  1900  the  premier  floAver  Avas  staged 
fifty-five  times,  that  in  1901  fifty— tAvo  times,  but  in  1902 
only  twenty-six  times.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  Avhen 
taking  into  consicleration  the  relative  positions  of  the 
different  varieties  in  the  list  that  many  of  the  1902  sorts 
are  not  placed  as  high  as  their  merits  Avarrant.  This,  of 
course,  is  due  to  the  fact  that  last  year  they  Avere  neither  as 
generally  knOAvn,  or  groAvn,  by  exhibitors  as  the  varieties 
of  the  tAvo  previous  years. 
To  those  Avho  Avish  to  keep  their  collection  of  Cactus 
Dahlias  quite  up  to  date,  the  folloAving  list  of  new  varieties 
AA'hich  received  a  first  class  certificate  from  the  National 
Dahlia  Society  last  year  may  be  of  interest :  Albion,  white, 
creamy  centre  ;  Charm,  yelloAv,  suffused  red  and  white ; 
Coronation,  vermilion  red ;  Decima,  yelloAvish  buff  and 
rose  ;  Ella,  apricot,  shaded  vermilion  ;  Etna,  lilac,  suffused 
with  buff ;  Eva.  pure  Avhite  ;  F.  A.  AA'ellesley,  rosy  crimson  ; 
F.  H.  Chapman,  yelloAv,  overlaid  orange  ;  H.  F.  Robertson, 
deep  pure  yelloAv ;  H.  J.  Jones,  primrose  centre,  shading 
to  rosy  pink  ;  lanthe,  base  of  petal  buff,  shading  to  rosy 
pink ;  Mabel  Needs,  crimson,  shaded  carmine  ;  Mabel 
Tulloch,  rosy  pink ;  Manxman,  orange  centre,  shaded 
scarlet ;  Minnie  AAVst,  yelloAA',  tipped  Avhite ;  Mrs.  Sea- 
gi'ave,  purplish  rose  ;  Mrs.  AA^.  Cuthbertson,  deep  maroon  ; 
Princess,  rosy  pink  ;  Vesuvius,  yellow^  ground,  striped 
crimson  ;  AA".  F.  Balding,  yelloAV  centre,  shading  off  to  light 
chrome  ;  Winsome,  Avhite. 
For  general  cidtivation  the  folloAAung  selection  may  prove 
useful,  as  in  it  I  have  endeavoured  to  insert  only  varieties 
of  good  habit,  AA'hich  display  their  flowers  well  above  the 
foliage,  Avith  little,  if  any,  thinning  of  the  shoots :  White, 
Salisbury  AVhite  and  Spotless  Queen ;  yelloiv,  Mrs.  Echvard 
Mawley  and  Mrs.  J.  J.  CroAve ;  oranye,  Lucius  and 
Florence;  crimson,  J.  AAh  AA'ilkinson  and  Red  Rover; 
maroon.  Night  and  Uncle  Tom  ;  various  other  shades, 
Britannia.  Mrs.  AATnstanley,  Goldfinch,  Exquisite,  and 
Lottie  Dean. 
Single  Dahlias. 
The  singles,  although  staged  beloAV  their  avei’age 
numbers,  have  nevertheless  on  several  occasions  in  recent 
years  been  less  frequently  shoAvn.  Arranged  according  to 
their  average  records  for  the  last  three  exhibitions  they 
come  out  as  folloAvs :  1,  Victoria  ;  2,  Aurora ;  2,  Polly 
Eccles  ;  4,  Leslie  Seale  ;  5,  Alice  Seale  ;  5,  Miss  Roberts  ; 
7,  Beauty’s  Eye ;  7,  Tommy  ;  9,  Columbine ;  10,  Naomi 
Tighe  ;  11.  Formosa  :  11,  Girlie  11,  The  Bride  ;  14, 
Donna  Casilda ;  14,  Miss  Glasscock ;  14,  Northern  Star  ; 
14.  Peacock;  18,  Cleopatra;  18,  Demon;  18,  Robin  Adair 
18,  Urban  Youens.""'  The  A^arieties  marked  Avith  an  asterisk 
are  neAv  varieties,  those  sent  out  in  1900,  or  subsequently. 
In  the  above  list  Avill  be  found  A’arieties  of  all  ages.  The 
three  oldest  singles  are  Formosa  (No.  11),  sent  out  in  1887  ; 
Miss  Roberts  (No.  5),  distributed  in  1888  ;  and  Victoria, 
an  1899  A'ariety,  Avhich  occupies  the  premier  position  on  the 
list. 
It  is  difficult  to  make  a  small  selection  for  those  begin¬ 
ning  a  collection,  as  nearly  all  the  above  varieties  are  in  one 
Avay  or  another  so  charming,  if  properly  cultivated.  That  is 
to  say.  if  they  are  alloAved  plenty  of  room  to  develop,  and  the 
seed  pods  are  frequently  removed.  The  folloAving  tAvelve  Avill, 
hoAvever,  be  found  to  be  quite  distinct  and  reliable  :  Polly 
Eccles,  Victoria,  Aurora,  Miss  Roberts,  Beauty’s  Eye,  The 
Bride,  Tommy.  Northern  Star,  Demon,  Rosebank  Cardinal, 
Amos  Perry,  and  Columbine. — E.  M.,  Berkhamsted. 
- - 
Rudbeckia  laciniata, 
Plants  of  commanding  appearance  haA’e  much  in  their  favour, 
either  for  planting  in  the  border  near  the  back ;  for  careful  use 
in  Avild  gardens,  or  for  the  ornamentation  of  suitable  places  in  the 
policies.  It  is  not  eA^ery  floAver,  however,  which  can  be  u.sed 
satisfactorily  in  as  A'ai'iecl  a  manner  as  Rudbeckia  laciniata,  the 
tall  or  green  headed  cone  floAver,  for  not  eA’eryone  can  be  planted 
in  a  moist  thicket.  This  can  be  done  with  Rudbeckia  laciniata. 
which  is  also  as  easily  groAvn  in  a  border  of  good  soil,  though  it 
prefers  one  Avith  a  good  deal  of  moisture.  It  certainly  attains 
its  finest  proportions  Avhen  it  has  a  full  supply  of  moisture  at 
the  root,  and  the  Avant  of  this  has  a  good  deal  to  do  Avith  the 
comparatiA’e  failure  of  R.  laciniata  in  a  poor  and  dry  position. 
It  is  said  to  reach  a  height  A-arying  from  3ft  to  12ft,  but  while  I 
have  neA'er  seen  it  as  Ioav  as  3ft  Avhen  established,  neither  have 
I  eA’er  met  Avith  it  as  much  as  12ft  in  height,  though  I  believe 
that  it  could  be  so  cultiA'ated  as  to  attaiir  these  dimensions.  Of 
commanding  appearance  when  6ft  or  8ft  high,  one  can  Avell  under¬ 
stand  the  effect  Avhich  Avould  be  made  by  a  score  or  so  of  12ft 
plants  of  Rudbeckia  laciniata  massed  together  in  the  Avild  garden 
or  in  a  small  opening  in  the  Avoods.  The  leaAws  are  prettily 
divided  Avith  the  exception  of  some  of  the  upper  ones,  Avhile  the 
floAvers,  Avhich  are  from  2iin  to  Jin  across,  have  bright  yelloAV  ray 
petals  and  greenish-yelloAv  discs.  The  discs  are  rather  longer 
than  broad,  elongating  from  the  time  they  open.  The  flowers 
are  usually  produced  from  July  to  September.  There  is  an 
interesting  and  useful  variety  for  cut  floAvers  called  R.  laciniata 
Golden  GIoav.  Since  its  introditction  a  feAV  years  ago  it  has  been 
largelj^  groAvn  for  exhibition,  and  when  in  good  condition  it 
makes  a  telling  bunch  in  a  stand  of  herbaceous  plants.  The 
floAvers  of  this  A’ariet.A’  Avhen  Avell  grown  are  quite  double  and  of 
a  bright  yellow.  Unfortunately,  it  seems  easily  affected  by  nuich 
rain  Avhen  opening  or  when  in  bloom,  and  it  might  be  found 
desirable  to  coA'er  some  of  the  plants  or  heads  of  bloom  Avith  glass 
so  as  to  protect  the  floAvers  from  hearw  rains.  Rudbeckia 
laciniata,  called  locally  in  some  of  its  habitats  in  America,  the 
“  Thimble  Weed,”  is  a  native  of  Canada  and  the  United  States.  A. 
