394 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
May  9,  1901. 
Plants  within  Plants. — A  very  striking  group  of  Protococooidese 
is  formed  by  some  unicellular  Algae  which  live  in  the  interoellular 
cavities  of  certain  plants,  such  as  Lemna  trisulca,  Lysimachia 
Nummularia,  and  Ajuga  reptans ;  living  in  but  not  on  their  hosts. 
Primula  rosea. — One  may  travel  far  before  they  come  upon  a 
finer  or  more  showy  Primrose  than  this  old  favourite.  The  Drill  Hall 
on  the  23rd  ult.  was  graced  with  some  very  fine  pans  from  Woking 
Nursery.  These  pans  were  of  a  large  size,  perhaps  1£  foot  in  diameter. 
The  plant  is  so  floriferous,  so  neat,  and  has  such  a  brilliant,  pleasing, 
and  distinctive  rosy -pink  colour,  that  among  hardy  spring  flowers  it  is 
quite  unique.  As  regards  culture,  a  shady,  moist,  peaty  soil  answers 
its  demands. 
Aii  Indoor  Waterpool. — Two  of  the  prettiest  features  of  the 
Himalayan  house  at  Kew  are  the  waterpools  at  the  eastern  end, 
surrounded  as  they  are  with  huge  boulders  of  yellow  sandstone,  and 
fringed  with  suitable  plants.  These  have  now  lost  their  newness,  and 
consequent  artificial  appearance.  The  water  is  perhaps  2  feet  or  2^  feet 
deep,  and  upon  the  surface  lie  spread  the  odorous  white  blossoms  of 
the  Cape  Pondflower.  Growing  from  the  chinks  between  the  boulders 
are  robust  plants  of  the  Megasea  (Saxifraga  Stracheyi)  and  Aaron’s 
Beard  (S.  sarmentosa).  The  yellow  variegated  variety  of  Tussilago 
farfara  is  also  present,  and  recently  some  splendidly  flowered  bulbs  of 
Narcissus  Empress  added  charm  to  the  feature  as  a  whole.  Primula 
rosea  and  P.  vulgaris,  together  with  Oxalis  in  variety,  Alismas,  Scirpus, 
Osmunaa  species,  and  other  varied  subjects  line  the  edges  of  these 
pools,  which  are  about  8  or  9  feet  in  width  and  breadth.  The  beautiful 
gold  fish  in  the  water  are  greatly  admired. 
Cactus  Dahlias. — If  you  wish  to  grow  Caotus  Dahlias  for 
exhibition,  the  following  are  amongst  the  best  : — Up-to-Date,  crimson  ; 
William  Treseder,  a  fine  white  ;  Magnificent,  salmon  rose ;  Arachne,  white 
with  crimson;  Emperor,  plum;  Major  Weston,  crimson;  Cornucopia, 
salmon;  Mrs.  Carter  Page,  crimson ;  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crow,  fine  yellow;  Uncle 
Tom,  dark,  almost  black ;  Mayor  Tuppenny,  fine  orange  shading  to 
fawn  ;  and  the  popular  Starfish,  a  glowing  scarlet ;  these  are  amongst 
the  best,  but  the  amateur  may  also  add  the  Matchless,  Gloriosa,  Lady 
Penzance,  Ajax,  Red  Rover,  Charles  Woodbridge,  Loyalty,  and 
Mrs.  Sanders.  The  above  may  be  regarded  as  first  class  exhibition 
flowers,  and  most  of  them  as  good  garden  ornaments.  There  are, 
however,  some  that  are  good  for  producing  exhibition  flowers,  while  they 
are  poor  as  decorative  plants ;  for  the  latter  purpose  we  may  add  to 
the  above  such  sorts  as  Red  Rover,  Loadstone,  Ruby,  Cycle,  J.  E.  Fremer, 
and  John  Goddard.  These  are  the  cream  of  the  Cactus,  Dahlias,  and 
should  be  found  in  every  collection. 
Crapes.  —  This  luscious  and  refreshing  fruit  possesses  valuable 
food  and  medicinal  properties.  It  contains  3  ozs.  of  solid  substanoe  in 
a  pound  ;  much  sugar,  also  gum,  tannin,  bitartrate  of  potash,  sulphate 
or  potash,  tartrate  of  lime,  magnesia,  alum,  iron,  chlorides  of  potassium 
and  sodium,  tartaric,  citric,  racemic,  and  malic  acid,  and  some  albumen 
and  azotised  matters,  with  water — a  most  formidable  list.  The  skins 
and  seeds  of  the  Grape,  eajs  Albert  Broadbent,  in  “  Fruits,  Nuts,  and 
Vegetables,”  are  astringent  and  constipating,  the  juice  and  pulp  are 
laxative.  For  this  reason  they  are  of  the  greatest  value  as  a  food  for 
young  children  when  teething.  The  seeds  should  be  taken  out  and  the 
skins  removed,  the  juice  and  pulp  only  being  given  without  other  food. 
This  simple  remedy  will  be  found  to  be  superior  to  teething  powders. 
It  usually  works  like  a  charm.  The  juice  is  also  good  for  thrush  in 
children.  The  juice  of  Grapes  is  about  the  only  food  that  is  taken  into 
the  circulation  without  apparent  digestion.  It  warms  and  fattens  the 
body  quickly,  and  is  invaluable  in  severe  colds  and  fevers.  The  juice 
of  sour  Grapes  is  useful  for  bruises  and  sprains.  Grapes  quickly 
promote  a  flow  of  urine  when  taken  in  quantity.  They  are  not 
recommended  to  those  suffering  from  slow  digestion  and  acid  dyspepsia, 
or  those  suffering  from  gout  or  rheumatism.  On  the  Continent  what 
is  known  as  the  Grape  cure  is  practised,  patients  consuming  from  3  lbs. 
to  6  lbs.  daily.  This  cure  is  of  great  value  to  those  who  have  blocked 
the  system  by  overfeeding. 
Gentlana.  acaults  In  Pans. —  Much  more  might  be  done  with 
hardy  plants  if  growers  would  more  frequently  give  them  the  advantage 
of  pot  or  pan  culture.  Such  a  plant  as  the  one  named  above  makes  a 
really  splendid  greenhouse  or  conservatory  subject  for  this  time  of  year. 
The  foliage  makes  a  first-rate  contrast  and  foil  for  the  deep  Ultramarine 
blue  of  the  tubular  flowers.  When  grown  under  glass  the  flower  stalks 
lengthen,  and  become  more  graceful  than  when  the  plant  has  the  full 
flush  of  outdoor  hardiness.  Moss  can  be  used  over  the  surface  soil  of 
the  pans. 
Mnscarl  conlcum  Heavenly  Blue  — Even  though  this  Grape 
Hyacinth  were  mentioned  in  every  number  of  the  Journal,  no  one  surely 
would  say  that  it  was  space  needlessly  filled.  We  can  never  have  too 
much  of  a  good  thing,  as  the  old  aphorism  says,  and  certainly  if  only 
gardeners  knew,  or  could  see,  the  aggregation  of  this  deep,  shinjng, 
blue-flowered  plant  growing  from  a  grassy  bank,  as  seen  in  a  garden 
near  Surbiton,  they  would  determine,  I  feel  sure,  to  plant  a  few  dozen 
bulbs  in  the  autumn.  The  effeot,  when  a  mass  of  this  plant  is  seen,  is 
indeed  charming. 
Iiathyrus  (Pea)  differs  from  the  Vetches  mainly  in  having  fewer 
and  larger  leaflets,  broader  petals,  and  the  flattened  styles  downy  only  on 
the  inner  side,  being  quite  glabrous  on  the  outer.  The  two  commonest 
British  species  are  L.  pratensis  and  L.  macrorhizus.  L.  Aphaca  has 
the  entire  leaf  converted  into  a  tendril,  the  ordinary  leaf  functions 
being  performed  by  the  large  foliaceous  stipules.  L.  sylvestris,  the 
Everlasting  Pea,  occurs  in  many  localities.  The  Everlasting  Pea  of  our 
gardens  is  known  as  L.  latifolius,  but  is  supposed  to  be  only  a  variety 
of  the  wild  species.  The  Sweet  Pea  of  our  gardens,  L.  odoratus,  is  a 
native  of  Sicily  and  Southern  Europe.  The  ordinary  garden  or  field 
Peas  are  usually  regarded  as  belonging  to  a  distinct  genus,  Pisum ;. 
but,  according  to  Professor  Oliver,  there  seems  no  sufficient  reason  for 
this  separation. 
Old  Double  Primroses. — Thanks  to  a  few  of  the  hardy  plant 
nurserymen,  the  beautiful  little  double  Primroses,  once  the  pride  of 
every  old-fashioned  garden,  have  been  preserved  to  us;  and  as  the  taste 
seems  to  be  reviving  in  favour  of  many  old-time  denizens,  the  double 
Primroses  may  also  share  in  the  good  fortune  of  becoming  popular. 
Surely  nothing  under  our  northern  sun  is  prettier  than  the  mauve- 
coloured  rosette  flowers  of  the  Double  Mauve  Primrose.  This  variety 
is  exceedingly  floriferous,  and  upon  my  word  it  is  one  of  the  showiest 
dwarf  plants  anyone  could .  name  for  early  spring  flowering.  Besides 
this,  there  are  the  Double  White,  Double  Sulphur,  Double  Lilac,, 
all  of  which  are  inoluded  in  the  Messrs.  Barr’s  beds  at  Loag  Diotou- 
It  would  certainly  be  a  gain  and  a  grand  feature  to  many  gardens  were 
the  double  Primroses  employed  in  beds  and  as  edgings. 
Carnations. — In  his  lecture  before  the  Workmen’s  Club,  Kidder¬ 
minster,  Mr.  C.  Herbert  recommended  the  following  varieties  of 
Carnations  as  suitable  for  gardeners  in  the  Midlands  : — Robert  Houl- 
grave,  J.  S.  Hedderley,  Master  Fred,  George  Rudd,  W.  Skirving, 
George  Melville,  Gordon  Lewis,  Sportsman,  Mrs.  Rowan,  John  B  ixton, 
John  Wormald,  Brunette,  Isabel  Lakin,  Thomas  William,  Mrs.  Gorton, 
Miriam,  Amy  Robsart,  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Payne,  Mrs.  Sharp,  Favourite, 
Nellie,  Pride  of  Seton,  Helmsman,  Her  Grace,  Seagull,  Exile.  Mrs. 
James  Douglas,  Germania,  Mrs.  Colby  Sharpin,  Comet,  Britannia, 
Nabob,  Dick  Donovan,  Perseus,  Monarch,  Brodrick,  Eldorado,  Golden 
Eagle,  Czarina,  Voltaire,  Lady  C.  Walsh,  The  Gift,  Miss  Mackenzie, 
Algol,  Clara  Butt,  Mrs.  Douglas,  Mr.  Nigel,  Wanderer,  Hygeia,  Mohican, 
Mrs.  Tremayne,  His  Excellency,  Stanley  Wrightson,  Bertram  Thomson, 
MrS.  R.  Sydenham,  Ladas. 
• 
Propagating-  Violets. — For  frame  culture  few  plants  are  more 
valuable  in  winter  and  spring  than  Violets,  as  they  are  always 
acceptable,  but  too  often  one  finds,  instead  of  well-developed  blossoms 
with  fine  fo'iage,  only  insignificant-looking  flowers  and  poor  leaves. 
This  is  often  brought  about  by  neglecting  to  remove  the  runners,  and 
thus  the  bed,  instead  of  presenting  distinct,  healthy  clumps,  is  nothing 
more  or  less  than  a  confused  mass  of  roots.  Those  who  have  Violets 
will  find  that  year-old  clumps  are  beginning  to  throw  off  runners. 
These  should  be  severed  and  planted  separately  in  good  loam  and  leaf 
soil,  with  old  manure  added.  Beds  so  made  should  be  on  a  north  or 
west  border,  where  the  sun  is  off  a  portion  of  the  time,  as  coolness  is 
necessary  for  them.  Violets  enjoy  copious  supplies  of  water  during 
the  summer,  and  towards  September,  before  the  frame-lights  are 
placed  over  them,  liquid  manure  will  benefit  them. 
