June  4,  1903. 
489 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Deutzia  gracilis. 
Seeing  such  very  beautiful  specimens  of  this  plant  in  the 
flower  show  at  the  Waverl,ey  Market,  I  think  it  would  interest 
some  gardeners  or  horticulturists  to  know  some  of  its  history, 
as  far  as  my  experience  goes.  At  a  flower  show  at  Mannheim, 
in  Baden,  Germany,  in  spring  1847,  a  prize  of  a,  gold  medal  was 
offered  for  the  greate^st  novelty  in  the  plant  or  flower  line,  and 
at  this  show  a  representative  of  the  great  firm  of  nurserjnnen, 
IMessrs.  Louis  van  Houtte,  of  Ghent,  in  Belgium,  showed  a 
little  stripling  of  Deutzia  gracilis,  about  Sin  high,  with  about 
six  or  eight  flowers,  and  claimed  for  it  the  gold  medal  as  the 
only  novelty  exhibitcel.  He  got  the  prize,  and  I  got  a  silver 
medal  for  Azalea  indica  exhibited  by  my  firm.  The  prizes  were 
distributed  by  the  late  Grand  Duchess  Stephanie,  of  Baden,  a 
re-lative  of  thei  family  of  the  first  Napoleon,  and  by  her  side 
stood  Princess  Mary  of  Baden,  who  was  then  about  fourteen 
years  of  age,  and  I  think  she  married  the  Dukei  of  Hamilton. — 
(“  Horticulturist,”  in  “  The  Scotsman.”) 
Meconopsis  Wallichi. 
It  is  impossible  to  estimate  how  much  we  are  indebted  to  the 
for  the  decoration  and  interest  of  our  gardens.  The 
greater  number  of  the  Papaveraceee  in  cultivation,  whether 
annuals,  biennials,  or  perennials,  are  showy  or  attractive  plants, 
Avhile  some  are  among  the  most  gorgeous  of  all  our  flowers.  The 
order  is  an  extensive  one,  but  through  all  the  flowers  there  runs 
a  strong  family  resemblance,  and  the  botanical  differences  are 
not  always  apparent  at  first  sight.  The  genus  Meconopsis  is 
said  to  differ  mainly  from  the  typical  Papaver  by  the  stigmas 
being  borne  on  a  short  thickened  style,  instead  of  being  sessile 
on  the  ovary ;  while  the  seed  vessel  is  more  elongated,  and  opens 
when  ripe  by  six  or  seven  valves  at  the  top.  Of  the  species  of 
Meconopsis  only  one  is  a  native,  so  far  as  I  ain  aware,  and  that 
is  the  bright  little  Meconopsis  cambrica,  which  becomes  too 
ubiquitous  if  allowed  to  seed  in  most  gardens.  It  is,  however, 
a  bright  little  flower,  and  in  the  shape  of  its  old  and  new 
varieties  is  prized  by  many  still.  Those  who  do  not  know’  the 
fine  exotic  species  cannot,  however,  form  any  idea  of  the  cha¬ 
racter  of  these  from  the  Welsh  Poppy,  as  M.  cambrica  is 
familiarly  called ;  for  these  entirely  surpass  it  in  effect  and  in 
beauty,  particularly  if  a  close  inspection  is  made  of  the  plants, 
either  in  or  out  of  bloom.  They  are  truly  handsome  plants,  and 
none  are  more  beaudful  than  M.  Wallichi,  wdiich,  moreover,  has 
the  reconimendation  of  having  blue  flowers,  that  colour  being 
unrepresented  in  the  genus  elsewdierer  though  there  are  some 
with  purple  blooms.  The  tint  is  a  pale  one,  it  is  true,  but  it  is 
so  soft  and  pleasing  that  we  cannot  desire  that  it  should  be 
deepened.  With  the  accompanying  circle  of  yellow  stamens  on 
the  clustering  flowers  the  tout  ensemble  leaves  little  to  be 
desired.  Then  the  foliage  itself  is  worthy  of  our  admiration,  the 
large  radical  leaves  being  from  12in  to  18in  in  length,  and 
prettily  lobed  and  cut,  those  of  the  stem  being  much  smaller 
and  stalkless.  The  whole  plant  may  be  described  as  o'f  a  light 
glaucous  green,  but  greatly  modified  and  adorned  by  the  long 
reddish  hairs  Avith  Avhich  leaves  and  stem  are  covered.  This 
gives  a  group  of  plants  of  Meconopsis  Wallichi  a  distinct  and 
beautiful  appearance.  It  attains  a  height  of  from  2^ft  to  as 
much  as  5ft  or  bft,  the  latter  being  only  when  Avell  grown  and 
m  a  cool  and  rather  moist  position.  It  is  of  biennial  habit,  and 
the  seeds  should  be  carefully  saved  when,  ripe  and  soAvn  in  a 
pan,  either  at  once  or  kept  until  spring.  The  seedlings  ought  to 
be  wintered  in  a  frame,  planting  out  being  effected  early  in 
April  or  May.  The  plants  will  flower  about  June,  though  the 
date  depends  greatly  upon  their  size  and  the  time  at  which  they 
are  planted  out.  Some  soav  in  a  hotbed  in  March,  and  plant 
the  seedlings  out  in  May  ;  but  I  nrefer  cooler  ti-eatment.  Meco- 
nop.sis  Wallichi  should  have  a  cool  and  rather  moist  soil,  prefer¬ 
ably  of  a  peaty  nature.  A  little  shade  is  also  desirable,  the  best 
plants  I  have  ever  met  wdth  being  under  the  partial  shade  of  low- 
trees;  while  others  in  full  sun  Avere  considerably  di.sfigured  by 
the  fading  of  their  foliage  ere  the  blooms  Avere  open.  The 
history  of  M.  Wallichi  is  Avell  enough  knoAvn,  as  it  Avas  first  in¬ 
troduced  into  this  country  from  seeds  sent  to  Kcav  by  Sir  J.  D. 
Hooker,  avIio  found  it  in  the  Sikkim  Himalayas,  the  first  plants 
to  floAver  coming  into  bloom  at  Kcav  in  June.  1852.  Its  intro¬ 
duction  afforded  us  an  opportunity  of  groAving  a  distinct  and 
beautiful  plant,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  fcAv  noAvadays 
aA'ail  thems  'lA'es  of  its  assistance  in  their  gardens. — S.  Aknott. 
Tightening  Soil  about  Newly-planted  Stock. 
An  important  nratter,  obserA’cd  Mr.  Meehan  in  the  “  Florists’ 
Exchange,”  and  one  often  overlooked,  or  its  importance  under¬ 
estimated,  is  the  tightening  of  soil  about  freshly  planted  ti'ees. 
The  labourers  employed  by  nurseiwmen  in  planting  time  ha\'o 
no  idea  of  the  importance  of  this  matter,  and  unless  investi¬ 
gated  it  cannot  be  knoAAii  Ayhetber  the  planting  be  Avell  or  ill 
done.  But  a  loosely  set  tree  is  in  no  condition  to  thrive,  even 
though  it  does  not  die.  It  i.s  a  proper  thing  to  do  noAv  to  go 
over  the  A’arious  roAvs  of  set  out  stock  AA’ith  a  rammer,  making 
firm  the  soil  and  securing  the  tree  in  an  uxiright  xAosition  at  the 
same  time. 
Flowers  Tell  the  Time. 
With  its  mechanical  frame  quite  concealed  beneath  floAver- 
ing  and  A-ariegated  plants,  the  mammoth  floral  clock  that  may 
be  seeir  at  St.  Louis  by  A-isitors  to  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Ex¬ 
position  in  1904  Avill  be  by  far  the  largert  timepiece  ever  con¬ 
structed.  The  floral  clock  is  immediately  north  of  the  agricul¬ 
ture  building,  and  to  the  visitor  apiJears  to  be  made  entirely 
front  contributions  from  the  floral  Avorld.  The  mechanism  of  tho 
clock  is  buried,  and  the  huge  dial,  100ft  in  diameter,  shows  its 
face  6in  above  the  ground.  The  dial,  the  hands,  the  minute 
hand,  being  50ft  long  and  moA’ing  5ft  at  each  move,  and  all 
the  frame  are  so  coA’ered  with  plants  as  quite  to  conceal  any 
mechanical  contrivances.  As  the  hands  of  the  giant  floral  clock 
reach  the  numeral  naming  a  certain  hour,  the  floAvers  in  the 
great  bed  at  the  back  of  the  hour  so  designed  begin  to  oiaen  their 
buds  and  to  exhale  the  perfume  peculiar  to  the  ijlant ! 
Ranunculus  nyssanus. 
There  are  many  hardy  Ranunculuses,  and  of  these  some  are 
exceedingly  good  garden  plants ;  aa  liile  there  are  many  more 
either  of  indifferent  merit  or  entirely  unAvorthy  of  being  culti¬ 
vated  in  the  garden.  Some  are  “stay-at-home”  plants,  Avhich 
are  satisfied  Avith  the  space  alloAved  them  in  the  border;  Avhile 
others,  again,  are  most  aggressive  in  their  Avays,  and  Avould,  if 
permitted,  soon  take  f)ossession  of  a  lai'ge  part  of  the  garden. 
This  rambling  habit  is  lAuxiardonable  in  a  lAlant  Avliich  is  Avorth- 
less  for  its  appearance,  but,  grievous  as  is  the  offence,  it  may 
OA-en  be  condoned  in  a  floAA’er  showing  considerable  beauty.  Did 
Ave  AueAV  the  comparatively  neAv  Ranunculus  nyssanus  solely 
from  the  standpoint  of  its  habit,  it  Avould,  one  fears,  fail  to 
commend  itself  for  our  gardens.  It  has  been  in  my  garden  for 
tAVo  or  three  years,  and  it  has  long  made  it  evident  that  it  docs 
not  mean  to  content  itself  Avith  the  fair-sized  pocket  of  the 
rocliAvork  at  avIioso  base  it  is  planted ;  for  it  has  sent  out 
underground  runners,  and  its  soft  and  silky  leaves  shoAv  here 
and  there  for  a  yard  or  so  from  its  original  station.  This  make.3 
it  an  undesirable  jAlant  for  some  places,  and  had  it  not  been  a 
pretty  floAver  it  Avould  haA'e  been  consigned  ere  this  to  some 
quiet  and  rough  corner,  Avhere'  it  could  roam  at  Avill  ahd  enter 
if  it  pleased  upon  a  tourney  Avith  some  other  floAvers  of  like  Avays, 
BO  as  tO'  test  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  of  the  “  survival  of  tho 
fittest.”  Fortunatelj',  hoAvevcw,  for  this  alpine  Ranunculus,  it 
possesses  a  beautiful,  bright  yelloAv  floAver,  called  by  some 
“citron  yelloAV,”  but  certainly  brighter  than  the  tint  Ave  ascribe 
to  the  term.  It  floAA-ers  freely,  and  these  fine  blooms  arc  from 
lin  to  2in  across,  and  look  remarkably  bright  in  the  sunshine 
of  early  May,  Avhen  they  expand  to  its  advances.  Barring  the 
fault  of  its  rambling  habit,  Avhich  might  be  checked  by  enclo.sing 
it  in  an  earthenAvare  ring — a  good  plan  AA’ith  many  such  plants — 
it  is  a  A'aluable  subject,  and  better  than  the  greater  number  of 
the  plants  of  the  genus.  It  has  never  exceeded  bin  in  height 
Avith  me,  but  in  a  heavier  soil  than  mine  it  Avould  probably  be 
considerably  taller.  We  OAve  it,  I  beheAW,  to  our  good  friend  at 
Baden-Baden,  Max  Leichtlin,  Avho  is  ever  on  the  Avatch  for  neAv 
and  rare  plants.  It  is  (luite  hardy  here,  and  should  be  planted 
very  near  the  surface  Avhen  it  is  received  at  rc.‘;t.  S.  Arnott. 
